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Musicians playing city events could see pay bump to $200 per hour
Musicians performing at events organized by the city could see a pay increase to $200 per hour, the first increase since 2016, when the rate was set at $150 per hour. The Music Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 11, 2022
Over 200 affordable homes planned on city-owned property in East Austin
An affordable housing project called the Libertad is set to bring over 200 affordable homes to city-owned property in East Austin. The project at 900 Gardner Road will be built on a vacant, 8.5-acre slice of a larger property that…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 11, 2022
Council OKs 85-foot height for Plaza Saltillo area lot
City Council gave first reading approval last week for a request to rezone a property at 1400 E. Fourth St., within the Plaza Saltillo transit-oriented development plan for the area. The applicant requested to increase the allowed height of a…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Mar 11, 2022
Compensation study for Council staffers could lead to pay increases
City Council members appear ready to pursue increased salaries for their office staff as an answer to the city’s affordability crisis and the current competitive hiring environment that makes it difficult to retain workers. At last week’s work session, Joya…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 10, 2022
Another demonstrator is suing Austin and an APD officer after being shot with a beanbag round
Austin is being sued in civil court by another demonstrator who was struck by so-called “less-lethal” rounds during protests over police violence and racial justice in 2020. On Tuesday, Bomani Barton filed a civil suit against the city and the…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 10, 2022
Compensation Committee suggests countywide pay increases
On Tuesday, Travis County’s Compensation Committee recommended funding a benchmark study to examine and eventually implement competitive pay rates for over 100 county jobs, in addition to an across-the-board pay scale increase for the 2023 fiscal year. The two recommendations…
Budget • By Seth Smalley • Mar 10, 2022
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Ledesma-Woody says she won't ask for recount
Susanna Ledesma-Woody, who came very close to defeating longtime incumbent Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez in the March 1 Democratic primary, said she is withdrawing her request for a recount. As of Wednesday, Gómez had 11,021 votes and…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Mar 10, 2022
Developer off to rocky start with unpermitted demolition of former Frisco Shop
Developers of a new housing complex may find themselves in hot water after forgoing approval to demolish the last remaining fixture of a historic restaurant chain on Burnet Road. The Frisco Shop was sold to developer Oden Hughes following its…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Mar 9, 2022
Report finds Hill Country suffering the demands of rapid growth
Wide open spaces, vistas of wildflowers, dark night skies full of stars, and the charms of country living have all led to unprecedented population growth in the Texas Hill Country. That growth, and the growth that will inevitably follow, have…
Environment • By Jo Clifton • Mar 9, 2022
Travis County likely to close housing assistance program months early after 'deluge' of applications
Travis County last week reopened a program with millions of dollars in funding to help people make their rent and mortgage payments. Initially the county said it could accept applications through September, but staff members now say they will likely…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 9, 2022
Pollinator advocates behind buzz to certify Austin as a Bee City
City Council members smiled for the camera wearing bobbling bee headbands as they welcomed bee advocates to speak on behalf of a recent resolution to make Austin a certified Bee City USA.With the resolution’s unanimous passage at last week’s Council meeting, Austin officially joined…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Mar 9, 2022
Commission recommends moving APD forensics lab
With little fanfare, Austin’s Public Safety Commission voted unanimously Monday to ask City Council to move the Forensic Science Bureau out of the Austin Police Department, making it independent both in structure and budget. Commissioners signaled last month that they…
