At its regular meeting last week, the Environmental Commission voted to recommend a group of watershed-related Land Development Code changes to City Council, along with a set of recommendations on public engagement and equity. The amendments to Title 25 of city code make much-needed updates to regulations around stormwater drainage, wastewater infrastructure, landscape requirements and […]
2022
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission OKs Stenger demolition
An A.D. Stenger-designed home in South Austin is headed for demolition with the unanimous consent of the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. Normally, this would be an unusual move by the city commission entrusted with evaluating the city’s historic buildings. However, changes to the building in the 1990s and resistance to historic preservation by the owner […]
Posted inWhispers
ACL Fest cometh
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is right around the corner (Oct. 7-9 and 14-16) and various city departments are battening down the hatches as they prepare for a massive influx of visitors to Austin. Of course, road closures are always part of the fun, so you can check out this handy calendar to find […]
Posted inPublic Safety
APD officers continue to direct homeless to campsite closed for new residents
The Austin Police Department has for months continued to direct homeless individuals to a camping site that has been closed to new residents, leaving people with no legal place to find shelter while staying with their belongings. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Downtown Commission, APD Commander Eric Fitzgerald delivered a report about safety issues in […]
Posted inLand Development Code
To improve connectivity, ZAP recommends prohibiting culs-de-sac in most cases
The Zoning and Platting Commission recommended changes to city code on Tuesday to improve street connectivity in new subdivisions. “I look at culs-de-sac as kind of destroying the grid,” said Commissioner Lonny Stern, who initially proposed the changes. He explained that a grid of streets is much easier to navigate than a web of culs-de-sac, […]
Posted inWhispers
Money for the homeless: How should it be spent?
The city is asking for the community’s help in allocating a potential $11.4 million in American Rescue Plan dollars earmarked for the homeless in Austin. Starting Oct. 6, the public can review the revised allocation plan that will be open for comment through Oct. 21. There is also an opportunity to offer public comment at […]
Posted inWhispers
Meet the Trail Conservancy
In an effort to more accurately reflect its official role as the main steward of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, the Trail Foundation has rebranded and will now be known as the Trail Conservancy. To celebrate, the conservancy will be hosting a community event this Saturday, Sept. 24, at Shoal Beach from 9 […]
Posted inPolice
APD releases after-action report detailing response to 2020 protests
In the two years and four months since thousands of Austinites protested the police killing of George Floyd, 19 Austin police officers have been indicted for using so-called less-lethal ammunition, or beanbag rounds, on protesters, and the city of Austin has reportedly paid out $15 million in settlements to those injured. Now, the Austin Police […]
Posted inWhispers
Committee seeks name change
Members of the city’s Commission on Seniors have asked that their group be renamed the Commission on Aging. Stephanie Hall from the Office of the City Clerk presented the proposed name change to the City Council Audit and Finance Committee, noting that the term “seniors” is falling out of use when describing older adults. The […]
Posted inHousing
City falls further behind on affordable housing goals
The city continues to fall behind on its affordable housing goals, according to a report from nonprofit HousingWorks Austin. In 2021, nine out of 10 Council districts failed to achieve district-based affordable housing production goals, and seven out of 10 did not even meet half of their goals. Only District 4, which has the lowest […]
Posted inWhispers
Golf nuts welcome back Roy Kizer
Roy Kizer Golf Course, which has been closed since early March 2022, will celebrate its grand reopening at the end of the month with a live radio broadcast, music, giveaways, breakfast for everyone, and of course, golf. The golf course had a soft reopening earlier this month and now it’s ready to have a party to […]
Posted inCity Hall
City seeks to extend $20 minimum wage to some contractors
Although increasing the minimum wage for city employees to $20 an hour was good news for city workers, the increase did not automatically apply to contract workers. The previous minimum for city employees was $15 per hour, which the city adopted for the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. As James Scarboro, the city’s chief procurement officer, […]