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Three 'no' votes end try for historic zoning in East Austin
Despite efforts from Preservation Austin and approval from two city commissions, the small historic house at 1100 East Second St. failed to get support from the nine City Council members needed for it to be designated historic and avoid demolition.…
Preservation • By Jo Clifton • Jul 23, 2024
Chamber group touts $1M small business loan program ahead of regional plan
Ahead of an in-progress comprehensive plan slated for completion later this year, Austin’s Diversity and Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA) has secured a commitment from two local banks to loan $1 million to member small businesses. The loans, which will be…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 23, 2024
City honors AFD’s work training firefighters for wildland-urban fires
Throughout her time on the dais, District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter has stressed the need for the city to understand and prepare to fight wildfires in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI, which is the area between unoccupied land…
Fire • By Jo Clifton • Jul 23, 2024
Leveraging the diverse strength of our community
Ask any Austinite what the most frustrating thing about living here is, and you likely get a wide gamut of rapid-fire thoughtful, personal and fiery responses. There is no shortage of complex issues that inspire impassioned reactions from us locals.…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Jul 23, 2024
Council OKs 13 proposed charter amendments for November ballot
Voters will decide on 13 potential amendments to the city charter in November, with two of the most significant potential changes affecting the number of signatures needed to recall a City Council member, and requiring elections for citizen-led ballot initiatives…
City Charter • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 22, 2024
Balancing conflicting public interests, Watershed Protection aims to promote native aquatic vegetation
Austin’s reservoirs do a lot of double duty. They’re known both as top-tier recreation spots for Central Texans and our source of dwindling drinking water. Subject to invasive species, drought and big rainfall events that bring in pollutants, they’re still…
Environment • By Lina Fisher • Jul 22, 2024
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Officials update Animal Advisory Commission on strategic plan process
City officials updated the Animal Advisory Commission last week on the strategic plan for the Animal Services Office as the city works to improve the relationship between the Austin Animal Center and key stakeholders, including the commission. Assistant City Manager…
City Hall • By Dylan Ebs • Jul 22, 2024
Council votes to follow traditional process before calling a climate bond election
After one of the most robust deliberations City Council has had in recent history, a resolution on a comprehensive climate bond election moved forward Thursday, but without the immediacy that some Council members would have preferred. Nevertheless, those who favored…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Jul 19, 2024
Council seeks information on creating a public bank
City Council on Thursday approved a resolution by Council Member Zo Qadri directing the city manager to research the question of the city of Austin starting a “public bank.” Unlike commercial banks, public banks are required to operate in the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 19, 2024
With fate of Blocks 16 and 18 decided, focus could turn to 11th and 12th Street corridors
City Council has given the OK for the Urban Renewal Agency to move forward in negotiations with the developer selected last month to lead the redevelopment of the 900 and 1100 blocks of East 11th Street. Known in city planning…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 19, 2024
Stressing community trust, county commissioners consider candidates for Housing Authority board
At its meeting July 16, the Travis County Commissioners Court considered six applicants to fill two vacancies on the board of the Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC). Commissioners will make a final decision this coming Tuesday. Candidates focused on…
Housing • By Lina Fisher • Jul 19, 2024
Mobility councils support extensive lane conversions despite concerns
A proposal to convert a lane on every city-owned main road into a bus or bike lane within five years has received support from mobility advocates, who passed a recommendation calling on City Council to consider the plan. Backed by…
