The head of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday put a wet sponge on the feverish hopes that light rail transit in Austin could become a reality sooner rather than later. “I probably echo what I’ve read (Mayor Steve Adler) has said about it recently: that we’re gonna grow to the point where it’s […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inWhispers
Constable candidates report fundraising results
Often lost in the swirl of headlines spinning off of far more prominent elections and campaigns are the little-watched but wholly important races for the various precincts of Travis County’s constabulary. After Friday’s campaign-finance filing deadline, we now have a better idea of how those contests will shape up in the final weeks ahead of […]
Posted inTransportation
County takes aim at CTRMA leadership
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, who kicked off the new year in part by calling for a change of priorities at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, will soon get a shot at shaking up the leadership at the agency. During a work session scheduled for next week, the Commissioners Court will interview three applicants […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 1.19.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 6. Receive update from the Capital Area Private Defender Service. (Judge Eckhardt) Monitor’s Take: Two weeks ago, representatives from CAPDS told […]
Posted inWhispers
Palm School item surprises Gómez
A planned discussion on what to do with Travis County’s Palm School property in downtown Austin came as a surprise this week to the commissioner leading the charge to preserve the 19th-century building. “I didn’t know the item was going to be on the agenda today,” admitted Commissioner Margaret Gómez after County Judge Sarah Eckhardt […]
Posted inPlanning
Commissioners Court discusses PID policy
The Travis County Commissioners Court waded deep into the weeds of a policy marsh on Tuesday and emerged on the other side a little closer to an agreement that could have significant rewards for construction workers and the affordable housing stock in the county. The lengthy — and at times contentious — discussion came during […]
Posted inWhispers
Food handling certification not ready for Commissioners Court consumption
Travis County Commissioners Court postponed a decision on Tuesday on whether to require food handlers at restaurants in unincorporated areas to have an official training certification. The addition of that regulation would put the county in line with city of Austin rules. However, the notion met bipartisan headwinds from the dais. Republican Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court retains firearms ban for employees
A political shootout at Travis County Commissioners Court ended with victory for proponents of tougher gun restrictions on Tuesday. The court voted 4-1 to update Travis County Code to include language that forbids employees of departments that report to the court from carrying deadly weapons on county property or in county vehicles. The language includes […]
Posted inWhispers
Independent’s day
More than 100 people, including Mayor Steve Adler, turned out on a chilly Monday afternoon to take part in the ceremonial dirt-turning for the new downtown residential tower known officially as the Independent but colloquially as the Jenga Tower. The 58-story building will rise in singular fashion over Shoal Creek at West Third Street and […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt issues public challenge on transit, affordability, justice reform
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt on Monday challenged the public to get involved and help achieve a broad set of policy goals in 2016. In her first press conference of the year, Eckhardt stood before a line of cameras and reporters and laid out a tripartite agenda that focused on transit, economic prosperity and a […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 1.12.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 5. Receive update regarding proposed changes to Travis County Code Chapter 47 – Food Establishment Permits regarding the following: a. Adding […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court adjusts its aim on gun policy
Travis County Commissioners Court will resume a debate over guns at its regular Tuesday voting session, but it won’t exactly be picking up where it left off late last year. In the three weeks since County Judge Sarah Eckhardt postponed a vote on updating the county code to align it with a new state law, […]