Traffic fatalities are so frequent in Austin that it’s difficult to keep up. That much was clear at the Public Safety Commission meeting Monday, when a person who had been struck and killed by a car just that morning did not make it into officers’ tally of the dead. As the Austin Police Department briefed […]
Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Posted inAustin
Cemetery Master Plan gets swift approval, some add-ons
Although the city’s 511-page Historic Cemeteries Master Plan has gotten quick approval from relevant boards and commissions before heading to City Council, several bodies have tacked on their own concerns along the way. The master plan, which considers the future of five historic municipal cemeteries in Austin, most recently received unanimous approval from Parks and […]
Posted inHousing
Committee reacts to affordable housing study
A new study presented to the City Council Housing and Community Development Committee Wednesday prompted members to question how much the city should regulate rental practices in order to generate more affordable housing and to safeguard renters’ rights. Conducted by the Denver-based BBC Research & Consulting, the study looked at the barriers to fair housing […]
Posted inThe Code
Committee loosens requirements for ADUs
Members of the Committee on Codes and Ordinances voted Tuesday to make it easier for residents to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. The ordinance, approved on a unanimous vote, does away with many of the parking provisions some said were inhibitive. Committee members Stephen Oliver and Jean Stevens were absent. The ordinance eliminates a […]
Posted inCity Council
Council runs up against time-sensitive contracts
While City Council members requested more time to better understand two contracts with city departments Thursday, city staff argued that these agreements were time-sensitive and urged members to avoid further delays. The first item asked Council to approve a contract allowing Austin Energy to service its turbines at the city’s Sand Hill Energy Center in addition to […]
Posted inAustin
Council moves towards higher minimum wage
The city of Austin inched closer to a higher minimum wage for its employees Thursday. City Council members voted to direct City Manager Marc Ott to consider a minimum wage raise when he sits down to craft the coming year’s budget. But if Ott does follow Council’s direction, it’s not yet clear how far he will […]
Posted inZoning
Commissioners OK commercial zoning in East Austin
Acknowledging neighborhood support and ties to the community, Planning Commissioners last week recommended a compromised rezoning designation for an East Austin home. The switch will allow commercial use of the property. The commissioners agreed only after expressing concern that allowing one resident the zoning to have office space on the street would embolden developers and those […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Commission reviews audit criticisms
While members of the Animal Advisory Commission acknowledged Wednesday the deficiencies identified in the city’s first audit of Animal Services, they also argued that scrutinizing city animal shelters differs from auditing other city departments. “Housing animals is not an exact science,” said Commissioner Babette Ellis. “And with an open-intake shelter, you never know what’s going to be […]
Posted inCity Council
Zimmerman takes his turn criticizing nominations
City Council Member Don Zimmerman on Thursday doled out criticism usually targeted at his own nominations to boards and commissions, opposing an appointment to the Municipal Civil Service Commission and igniting a conversation about the merits of objectivity when it comes to considering people for volunteer positions. About an hour before Council convened, Zimmerman posted a […]
Posted inCity Council
Council again questions Zimmerman appointments
Facebook posts did them in. As City Council members nixed two of Council Member Don Zimmerman’s appointees — some citing comments made on social media pages — they debated Zimmerman’s judgment following what they said has been a string of controversial nominees to city boards and commissions. Council Member Greg Casar said he felt the […]
Posted inBudget, City Council
Council begins to define budget priorities
Despite needing to fill a 5 to 6 percent hole to bring the city’s revenue in line with what it spends, City Council members continued to bat around a mix of ideas Wednesday about how to generate that money. At the second of several meetings held before adopting the budget in September, Council members heard […]
Posted inEMS, Public Safety
Momentum slows on Austin/Travis County EMS bill
A bill that supporters say would bring more transparency to the way Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services workers are decredentialed has slowed after some unanticipated momentum. Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Association President Tony Marquardt has been trying to reform the rights granted to EMS workers who lose their credentials. Because Texas is a delegated […]