Austin Monitor

Mary Ann Neely has been the Democratic precinct chair at Pct. 342 Barton Hills Elementary School since 1980. Before Tuesday night’s very polite showdown between the supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, the greatest number of caucus goers Neely can recall seeing was about 40.   On Tuesday night at 7pm, the polls […]

Three Council members are asking their colleagues to allow the release of 1900 acres in the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction so that developers of Villa Muse Studio can build their project in eastern Travis County.   Council Members Brewster McCracken, Mike Martinez and Sheryl Cole are co-sponsoring a resolution to release the land from city taxes […]

The ROMA Design Group will add a study of mass transit options to connect downtown to other parts of the city as part of its work on the Downtown Austin Plan. The Austin City Council on Thursday approved a $250,000 amendment to the contract with the firm, which could present its findings on a possible […]

On a midnight vote, City Council members decided Thursday to postpone until March 20 action on a resolution establishing criteria that must be met before Council considers a proposal to conduct a charter election on single-member districts. After three hours of presentations by the Charter Amendment Committee, a legal expert, public testimony and Council debate, […]

A mostly gray-haired audience of about two dozen members of the League of Women Voters and the ACLU showed overwhelming support Tuesday night for a proposal to move to a system of geographically based districts for Council members.   The proposal could go before voters in November.   The City Council will hear a briefing […]

More than 200 people, many with ties to the film industry, filled the Scottish Rite Auditorium Wednesday night for a meeting on the merits of the proposed Villa Muse studio complex in eastern Travis County. The developers are hoping to build support for their request to be released from the City of Austin’s extra-territorial jurisdiction. […]

For immediate release Feb. 28, 2008 Contact:  Communications and Public Information Office, (512) 974-2220 Duncan named Austin Energy General Manager  City Manager Marc Ott today announced the appointment of Roger Duncan, a recognized authority on green power programs, as General Manager for Austin Energy. Duncan, who has served in the General Manager’s position on an […]

From City of Austin Communications and Public Information Office   Ott names new Assistant City Manager   City Manager Marc Ott today named Robert Goode from the City of Fort Worth as a new Assistant City Manager for the City of Austin. Goode has served as Director of Transportation and Public Works for the City […]

Capital Metro board members on Monday got a look at preliminary plans for increased bus service to the nine stops along the “Red Line” commuter rail that will connect Leander to downtown Austin later this year. The agency plans to boost regular and express bus service to those transit stops and to implement a new […]

The campaigns of Democratic Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were working hard in Austin Sunday as both capitalized on the excitement the race has stirred amongst the young.   At the new East Austin headquarters opening party of the Obama campaign, a seven-year-old girl was introduced to lead the crowd in a […]

Two Council Members who sponsored a resolution calling for a public hearing next Thursday on the question of placing single-member districts on the May ballot said they intend to have that hearing next week even though the city cannot have a charter election until November.   Council Member Mike Martinez said, “Even though we may […]

The Zoning and Platting Commission has endorsed a zoning change for 33 acres of land on Amarra Drive near Southwest Parkway and Barton Creek Boulevard. Owner Stratus Properties is seeking to develop the lot with a 215-unit apartment complex under MF-1 zoning.   The review by the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department supported the request […]