Stories by Gene Davis
Travis County cements $291.6M bond election
In what Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis called the largest brick-and-mortar initiative referendum in the history of Travis County, the court approved setting the bond for construction of the planned Civil and Family Courthouse project at $291.6 million. Voters will…
Development • By Gene Davis • Feb 4, 2015
Travis County talks appraisals, city business
In a discussion on state legislative proposals aimed at increasing fairness in property tax appraisals for homeowners, several Travis County commissioners called out City of Austin leaders for not implementing a 20 percent homestead exemption for property taxes. Commissioner Gerald…
Elections • By Gene Davis • Feb 4, 2015
Suicides highlight rift between EMS staff, managers
A second suicide by an Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services first responder within the past seven months has heightened visible tensions between the department’s leadership and its employees. And while multiple EMS first responders took to Facebook earlier this month…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Jan 27, 2015
Lone Star Rail kicks off environmental study
A decade-old project to build a passenger rail line between the San Antonio and Austin areas picked up steam Wednesday with a public meeting of the Lone Star Rail Project. The meeting served as the kickoff to the project’s environmental…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Jan 23, 2015
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Yogurt shop variance request frozen for now
The Board of Adjustment gave an overall warm reception to a parking variance request sought for a new frozen yogurt shop on East Sixth Street. However, instead of granting the variance request, several BOA members said they thought the Development…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Jan 20, 2015
Sign Board postpones confounding variance case
After calling the plan “confusing” and “difficult to follow,” the Sign Review Board voted unanimously Monday to postpone consideration on a variance package to allow larger signs at an Austin hospital. The sign plan sought multiple variances for four signs…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Jan 13, 2015
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Source of Income ordinance blocked, for now
A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked the implementation of a city ordinance that aims to expand housing options for low-income residents who use housing vouchers. The so-called Source of Income Ordinance was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 12. However,…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Jan 7, 2015
CAMPO board OKs list of future transit projects
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board approved a recommended list of regional transit projects Monday, including a commuter rail line from Elgin to Austin and multiple new MetroRapid Bus routes, to prioritize for potential funding under its…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Dec 10, 2014
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LCRA seeks more limits on downstream release
With an analysis predicting the possibility of record low storage levels in lakes Buchanan and Travis early next year, the Lower Colorado River Authority board of directors voted 11-2 Wednesday to ask the state for a fourth year to limit…
Local Government • By Gene Davis • Nov 20, 2014
AE proposes rate change to improve value of solar
At Monday’s Electric Utility Commission meeting, Austin Energy officials presented a rate change that promises to create greater stability in the compensation of residential customers for the value of electricity generated by their solar units. The rate change is part…
Energy • By Gene Davis • Nov 19, 2014
CAMPO weakens bicycle, pedestrian funding
Despite repeated objections from Austin City Council Member Chris Riley, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board voted Monday to soften a policy that directs federal funds toward bicycle and pedestrian projects under a proposed long-range plan. The…
Austin • By Gene Davis • Nov 12, 2014
BoA changes designation for two CrossFit facilities
During a dramatic, packed-beyond-capacity special meeting, the Board of Adjustment voted to reverse a previous staff decision and change the land use designation for two CrossFit locations in Brentwood. The new land use designation could potentially put CrossFit Central, 6205…
