Stories by Eva Ruth Moravec
Occupancy limits made permanent
City Council on Thursday eliminated an expiration date from the occupancy-limits ordinance, making permanent a cap on occupancy in new single-family homes. Council voted to amend the ordinance in a 9-1-1 vote, with Council Member Ellen Troxclair opposed and Council…
Austin • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Mar 4, 2016
Municipal court judge: Our building is in shambles
Austin Municipal Court is so overcrowded that employees are working in closets throughout the building, which is filled with asbestos and is one technical glitch away from not functioning, according to courthouse staff. Presiding Judge Sherry Statman told City Council on…
Courts • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Mar 3, 2016
'Library for the future' soon will be a reality
A decade ago, Austin voters approved a $90 million bond to build a new central library that would better fit the growing city’s needs. Another $30 million later, the “library for the future” is nearly complete. The 200,000-square-foot facility –…
Austin • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Mar 1, 2016
Council adopts new regulations for short-term rentals
City Council on Tuesday passed, on a 9-2 vote, new regulations governing short-term rentals that aren’t owner-occupied. Council also adopted plans to phase out all of the so-called STR Type 2 properties in residential zones by 2022. Council members Ellen…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 24, 2016
Council sets ballot language for May 7 election
City Council on Wednesday voted 9-2 to set the language that will appear before voters in a May 7 election over regulations for transportation network companies. Council members Ellen Troxclair and Don Zimmerman voted against the ordinance to set the…
Elections • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 18, 2016
TNC ordinance heads to Austin voters
City Council late Thursday opted not to adopt an ordinance governing transportation network companies that was proposed through a citizens petition, setting the stage for a city-wide vote May 7. Council Member Don Zimmerman abstained from the vote, and Council members Ellen…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 12, 2016
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Council to vote on TNC petition Thursday
Months of discussion over whether to fingerprint drivers of transportation network companies in Austin are headed for an apex Thursday, when City Council is set to vote on what to do with a citizens’ petition. In December, Council passed an ordinance…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 10, 2016
TNC speakers: 10 for election, 7 for adoption
City Council could be poised to call for an election for a transportation network company ordinance, as the majority of speakers urged it to do Thursday night. “Based on what we’ve heard, we probably are on our way to a May election,”…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 5, 2016
TNC petition is valid, and Adler has a new idea
Almost as quickly as City Clerk Jannette Goodall could say that the Ridesharing Works for Austin petition signatures were valid, Mayor Steve Adler announced that he had a new idea to add to the litany of concepts already proposed for how to…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 3, 2016
Council member fears lawsuits over new ordinance
It’s no secret that on Tuesday, Austin’s city clerk is expected to tell City Council that she has validated at least 20,000 signatures on a petition to change an ordinance governing transportation network companies. And, it’s clear that her announcement will…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Feb 2, 2016
Council stalls mandatory fingerprinting for TNCs, adopts voluntary program instead
City Council on Thursday stalled an ordinance requiring drivers for transportation network companies to pass a fingerprint-based background check and adopted incentives to motivate drivers to voluntarily submit fingerprints. “We’re only deciding whether or not we want to encourage volunteers to get…
City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Jan 29, 2016
Council to discuss incentives for fingerprint requirements
City Council members are poised to kick the transportation network company ordinance down the road. On Thursday, Mayor Steve Adler will ask Council to stall strengthening an ordinance passed in December and, instead, adopt his and Council Member Ann Kitchen’s new…
