2005

Items approved 4-2, will come back for final vote In what at times played out like a courtroom drama, the Austin City Council listened to almost four hours of arguments for and against approving a set of zoning changes last night that would keep a mediated settlement between the city and Champion sisters on track. […]

Martinez to stress affordability, environment Firefighters union leader Mike Martinez Wednesday made good on his pledge to run for the Austin City Council. Martinez, 36, designated former Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman as his campaign treasurer. He said he would remain as president of the Austin Association of Professional Firefighters through next May, but would […]

Suit says zoning rules discriminate against minorities An unlikely coalition—the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, the National Homebuilders Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)—has filed suit against the City of Kyle, saying its building regulations are designed to raise the price of affordable housing in order to keep […]

Mayoral candidate disagrees with APA on Chief Knee Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas officially launched his 2006 mayoral campaign Monday with an announcement outside City Hall, calling for more inclusiveness in city government while offering some carefully-worded and subdued criticism of Mayor Will Wynn, who is seeking re-election to a second term. “I am not […]

ZAP starts process to aid affordable housing, open space The Zoning and Platting Commission has started the process to introduce a series of amendments to the City Code designed to generate more money for affordable housing in downtown Austin. The idea stems from discussions during a ZAP subcommittee on the Spring Condominium “point tower” proposal. […]

If Williamson County builds a multi-million dollar Emergency Operations Center, will the cities in the surrounding area come and participate? So far, the answer is not yet. County Commissioners recently approved $20 million, along with a $6 million federal grant, to fund the project, which would be located in Georgetown and would coordinate and dispatch […]

Area could be ready for big change in late 2007 The city’s Green Water Treatment Plant is more than 80 years old and is really showing its age, according to Austin Water Utility officials. That means it would cost less to move the water treatment plant (WTP) to another, yet undetermined site somewhere along Town […]

Only Thomas dissents, saying neighborhood issues not addressed The City Council approved a zoning change last night that will allow construction of the 400-foot Spring Condominium point tower, sending a message that Council is committed to a downtown with higher density and more housing, often referred to in commission circles as “Vancouverism.” Six Council members […]

Bill Moriarty, who has headed Earth Tech’s handling of the Austin Clean Water Program (ACWP), has formally requested that the city hold a hearing on whether he should be terminated from his position. Attorney Michael Burnett is asking the city to provide a hearing “before an impartial third-party selected by the Council.” The city has […]

APA files contract grievances; city to investigate source of information to paper An apparent leak of confidential information on a vote by the Citizen Review Panel has resulted in a storm of controversy and finger-pointing at City Hall, including the filing of a formal grievances by the Austin Police Association for violations of its contract […]

Straw vote finds support for $90 million facility, not the requested $124 million The Bond Election Advisory Committee agreed Monday that Austin needs a new Central Library– twice delayed and needed for almost two decades – but a straw vote from the committee indicated members were willing to spend only $90 million. That straw vote, […]

Committee wants TCEQ approval of waste plan amendment before taking action Without a clear-cut indication of where its authority lay, the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) executive committee chose to delay action last week on a recommendation on the proposed expansion of Waste Management Inc.’s landfill in northeast Travis County. Travis County Commissioners voted […]