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Council committee assignments offer few surprises
By the looks of the new City Council committee assignments approved Thursday, the mayor and most Council members will continue serving in their same appointments – with a few changes. Incoming Council Member Chito Vela, who will be sworn in…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 4, 2022
Future of El Mercado Uptown uncertain following approval of demolition permit
Nearly five decades of serving frozen margaritas and enchilada plates at 1700 Lavaca Street may be coming to an end in the near future. Finding insufficient support for historic zoning, the Historic Landmark Commission approved an application for 1700 Lavaca Street’s demolition in…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Feb 3, 2022
Vaccine effort continues in Travis County with focus on first doses
The Travis County Commissioners Court held a regular briefing Tuesday on the county’s response to Covid-19 and its ongoing vaccine distribution efforts. Several representatives spoke on behalf of independent and governmental organizations, including Central Texas Allied Health Institute, the County…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Feb 3, 2022
Council meeting will be delayed, may be canceled
If you’re planning to speak at today’s City Council meeting, don’t go to City Hall. That’s the word from Mayor Steve Adler, who announced on the City Council Message Board that today’s meeting will have a delayed start time of…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 3, 2022
Why doesn't Austin pre-treat its roads for ice?
State highways are being sprayed with magnesium chloride to lower the temperature at which ice can form. The Texas Department of Transportation has finished pre-treating major roadways and is now focusing on stretches of secondary roads where ice could form,…
Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 3, 2022
TipSheet: City Council 2.3.22
Given the prediction of some pretty wild weather, today’s City Council meeting may be canceled. However, since that decision won’t be made until 10 a.m. (and since this TipSheet was already written), here are our predictions for today’s Council meeting,…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 3, 2022
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Zilker Park has sidewalks and safer bus stops headed its way
In an effort to improve pedestrian safety, Austin’s Public Works Department is working on building better sidewalks and bus stops in and around Zilker Park. Most who frequent the park agree that Barton Springs Road and the connecting Stratford Drive…
Parks • By Willow Higgins • Feb 2, 2022
Council still has many questions about waterfront tax zone
Anyone expecting definitive answers about how the city will pay for improvements for the South Central Waterfront zone after a lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s City Council work session was likely disappointed. At the end of reports from the city’s financial…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Feb 2, 2022
Austin to spend $65 million this year to reduce displacement near future transit lines
The city of Austin is preparing to spend $65 million this year on efforts to prevent people who live near future public transit lines from being priced out of their homes. The single largest transit expansion in Austin’s history is…
Housing • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 2, 2022
County endorses lower speed limits for two Lake Travis ISD schools
On Tuesday, Travis County hosted a public hearing on speed limit considerations for two schools in Lake Travis Independent School District. As it currently stands, neither Rough Hollow Elementary School nor Bee Cave Middle School has a “school zone,” and…
Roads • By Seth Smalley • Feb 2, 2022
Local developers hear call for creative space partnerships through cultural trust
As the city’s recently activated Economic Development Corporation takes its first significant steps to preserve creative spaces, the local real estate and development community is starting to explore ways to partner and bring arts and music uses into new and…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 1, 2022
Loop 360/Davenport fire station lease raises questions
After serious questions about whether staff members had provided City Council with sufficient information before moving forward on construction of a new Loop 360/Davenport fire/EMS station, Council on Thursday approved a 40-year lease for the property at 4601 Westlake Drive.…
