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Most Popular Stories
- New zoning would allow huge building on South Congress
- Austin City Council passes new police contract
- Public lines up to oppose police contract
- Nearly 52% of registered voters in Travis County cast an early ballot
- With backing from a Parkland survivor, Travis County begins hospital-based gun violence prevention program
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Popular Whispers
- Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Siegel in District 7, but his group endorses Bledsoe
- Austin slides from top 10 in ULI’s ranking of top real estate markets
- Towers project planned for Riverside Drive headed back to Council
- This year’s Creek Show highlights theme nights
- Barton Springs Bridge project gets $32M
Key Players & Topics In This Article
Austin City Council: The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2015, the body contained seven members, including the city's Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and as of 2015, 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.
Economic Development Department: This city department heads up business recruitment, urban regeneration, small business development, arts, and music for the city.
historic preservation: Official actions of a municipality such as the City of Austin taken to preserve structures with their jurisdiction. Preservation is often accompanied by a property tax exemption.
Hotel Occupancy Tax: A tax on the rental of a room in a hotel or other rental properties (including apartments) that cost 6 percent of the cost of a room.