David King, a longtime neighborhood advocate and frequent voice at City Council meetings, died Sunday after a lengthy illness. King, who was retired from the state, was active in the Austin Neighborhoods Council and other community causes. King was known for his kindness and generosity, as well as his ability to quickly immerse himself in […]
Amy Smith
Posted inCity Council
Council supports relocating and expanding Barton Creek sewage pipe
The prospect of an expanded and relocated Barton Creek wastewater line has Southwest Austin property owners hopeful of getting redevelopment projects off the ground. On the other hand, environmental advocates worry that an expanded sewage pipe will encourage more growth and construction activity in the sensitive watershed. The one point everyone seems to agree on […]
Posted inEnvironment
Watson focuses on how to finance city’s environmental goals
City Council on Tuesday received its first briefing on what is expected to be a painstaking journey toward developing and implementing an investment strategy for funding Austin’s Climate Equity Plan. A public hearing is set for today on the creation of an investment plan – one of the steps outlined in a resolution that Council […]
Posted inEnvironment
Memo outlines the high cost of planning for Austin’s environmental future
With the city already facing a budget deficit exceeding $13 million in the 2025 budget year, a recent staff memo with cost estimates for funding an array of environmental initiatives may be causing sticker shock in some circles. Yet proponents of financing the city’s climate goals view the projected costs as an investment that could […]
Posted inWater
Water quality plan draws opposition from Reed Park neighbors
A water quality improvement project slated for a West Austin neighborhood park has sparked controversy among Tarrytown neighbors opposed to the prospect of losing an informal ball field to a biofiltration pond for stormwater runoff. Reed Neighborhood Park, given to the city in the 1950s by the late Roberta Crenshaw, an Austin environmental doyenne for […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental report points to the city limits and parkland challenges ahead
The 2023 “State of Our Environment” report from the Austin Watershed Protection Department presents a mix of positive and negative findings, but optimistically underscores the city’s proactive efforts in addressing the impacts of urban development and climate change. As in previous years, the annual report tracks Austin’s air, land, water and tree canopy to gauge […]
Posted inWhispers
Cadena-Mitchell to leave City Hall to complete divinity degree
Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, chief of staff to Council Member Alison Alter, will leave the District 10 office later this month to complete his Master of Divinity work to become a hospice chaplain. Alter presented Cadena-Mitchell with a Distinguished Service Award on Thursday in appreciation of his service to the city, which started in 2017. “Kurt was […]
Posted inCity Council
Texas attorney general threatens Austin over City Council’s effort to protect health care for transgender people
Shortly after City Council acted Thursday to protect transgender people from discriminatory health care laws, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a threatening statement, vowing to “consider every possible response to ensure compliance” with state law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors. Against this backdrop of escalating anti-trans rhetoric within the Republican Party, Council passed a resolution […]
Posted inPlanning
Design Commission hears how buildings can be safer for birds
No city in Texas has adopted bird-friendly building policies for new construction or retrofits, but the Travis Audubon Society hopes Austin, a designated “Bird City,” will lead the way. To advance this cause, the organization enlisted Heidi Trudell, a consultant and researcher on preventing bird collisions, to prepare a report that could be presented to […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves initiative to conduct inventory of public trees
On Thursday, City Council elevated the significance of Austin’s trees by initiating a comprehensive inventory of the city’s trees alongside a detailed tree planting and maintenance strategy. The measure follows Council’s approval last month of a direction for more street trees and green infrastructure on future city right-of-way projects. Both actions are part of a […]
Posted inCity Charter
Council hears proposed changes to city charter for November ballot
City Council on Tuesday officially received the Charter Review Commission’s proposed revisions to the city charter, along with some additional staff-proposed changes. Council members limited their questions to the administrative items brought by staff because the commission’s nine recommendations will return to Council on May 2 for discussion and will be considered for action later […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Updated: Council and Planning Commission hear from public on proposed land use changes
With City Council all but certain to approve extensive revisions to Austin’s land use code next month, Thursday’s public hearing on the proposed changes lacked the fire-in-the-belly resistance demonstrated at last October’s hearing. Back then, the joint Council hearing with the Planning Commission lasted well into the evening hours. Thursday’s joint hearing was over by […]