Last January, City Council members selecting the next mayor pro tem were torn between two choices: Natasha Harper-Madison or Alison Alter. Mayor Steve Adler proposed a solution giving Harper-Madison the job for 2021, with Alter taking over for 2022. At Thursday’s Council meeting, Adler acknowledged Harper-Madison’s work over the past year and thanked her for […]
2021
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission hears update on police academy after reset
This week the Public Safety Commission heard an update on the Austin Police Department’s first cadet class since pausing cadet training to restructure the curriculum to align with the city’s reimagining public safety process. Dr. Anne Kringen, who joined APD in March to serve as division manager over the training academy, provided a high-level review […]
Posted inWhispers
High school fair shows off district’s offerings
Austin ISD is inviting high school-age students and their families to attend a fair to learn about the many programs they can expect to find at district schools. A news release explains that AISD offers “diverse and innovative programs for students, such as advanced academics, early college high school, fine arts, T-STEM, career and technical […]
Posted inZoning
After long wait, Toomey Road rezoning wins initial approval
At the urging of Council Member Ann Kitchen, City Council gave first reading approval for rezoning the apartment complex property at the corner of Toomey Road and Sterzing Street close to Zilker Park. Tenants of the complex, which will be demolished to make way for a new building, have reached an agreement with the property […]
Posted inWhispers
City website down on Saturday
If you were planning on paying a fine, checking out adoptable animals or looking at your trash pickup schedule online this weekend, the city wants you to know that its website, www.austintexas.gov, will be “undergoing routine maintenance” on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 7-11 a.m. The site will only be offline for a few hours. According to the news release, […]
Posted inTravis County
County irons out details in disaster preparedness plan
The Commissioners Court convened for a work session Thursday to hear a presentation on county preparations for disasters, particularly those in the vein of last February’s Winter Storm Uri. The briefing was a response to a resolution commissioners approved on Nov. 16, directing county executives to flesh out the details of a disaster relief plan. […]
Posted inTransit
Should buses be allowed on a new light-rail bridge over Lady Bird Lake?
Local officials overseeing Austin’s $7 billion expansion of public transit plan to launch an international competition to solicit designs for a light-rail bridge over Lady Bird Lake. Among the many questions swirling around the look and purpose of the structure, one has emerged as perhaps the most contentious: Should Capital Metro buses be allowed to […]
Posted inTravis County
County looks to expand its HUB program
Over the past four years, Stephen Blake, a partner at North Park Consulting, has served as a Travis County contractor, helping county agencies to function more efficiently. His work with the county began through the Travis County Historically Underutilized Business, or HUB, program. As the co-owner of a certified women- and African-American-owned business, a particular […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council pushing for infrastructure, operational improvements at COTA
The city is preparing to use the coming renewal of Circuit of the Americas’ ability to receive state funding for major events as an opening to assess road and infrastructure improvements around the Southeast Austin facility, along with enhancing youth education programs for nearby students. City Council was already set to consider the resolution that […]
Posted inWhispers
Final Council meeting on Dec. 20
Mayor Steve Adler said Wednesday he anticipated City Council would have a special called meeting on Dec. 20 to approve formation of a tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, for the South Central Waterfront area, which includes the former Austin American-Statesman property. Council Member Kathie Tovo has said she would be ready to add the […]
Posted inHousing
County approves bond sale to finance Limestone Ridge senior apartments
On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court approved a resolution authorizing the sale of revenue bonds to help finance a multifamily residential development called Limestone Ridge Senior Project. The item was taken up during a Housing Finance Corporation voting session, following the adjournment of the Commissioners Court for the day. The development is located at 7011 McKinney Falls […]
Posted inWhispers
Smoke gets in our eyes
Seeing smoke on the horizon? It might be from a prescribed burn being conducted today by Austin Water. The utility will be burning on 99 acres of Water Quality Protection Lands, and smoke from the burn “may be visible south of State Highway 45 and MoPac, east of FM 1826, west of Brodie Lane, and […]