If the Thursday meeting was any indication, every member of City Council believes that the key to fixing Austin’s transportation problems is reducing the population’s reliance on automobiles. Council members peppered city transportation staff with questions and critiques in response to a presentation at Central Library about the city’s long-term mobility goals. None of the […]
Jack Craver
Posted inHousing
City has tough decisions on affordable housing bond
The city’s affordable housing challenges were thrown into sharp relief during a presentation Tuesday morning by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department to members of City Council. The presentation was before Council’s Housing and Planning Committee, but the chair, Council Member Greg Casar, had invited all of his colleagues to attend due to the […]
Posted inPlanning
Council weighs mixed messages from staff on car dealership
City Council approved a request Thursday to provide water and wastewater service to a car dealership in northwest Travis County over the objections of the city’s Watershed Protection Department. The car lot, 620 Volvo Dealership, is going to be built whether or not the service extension request (SER) is granted, said Jeff Howard, an agent […]
Posted inCourts
City Council approves settlement with Austin Country Club
City Council endorsed a settlement Thursday aimed at ending litigation between the city and the Austin Country Club. At issue is whether the club – which is expanding its clubhouse and adding a new dining facility, and likely plans to develop or redevelop other parts of the property in the coming years – should be […]
Posted inWhispers
Council ponders implications of revenue caps
Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo was the bearer of bad news Tuesday at a City Council work session. Council should not expect the budget process this year to be as easy as it was last year, he said. That would be the case even if the state Legislature does not impose the stringent […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider two Muny-related items
City Council will vote Thursday on two items related to the future of Lions Municipal Golf Course, the historic West Austin course that is operated by the city and owned by the University of Texas. One item will extend the termination of the current leasing agreement until May 2020, giving the city more time to […]
Posted inCity Council
Casar seeks to reduce parking, compatibility requirements for subsidized housing
City Council Member Greg Casar is proposing a measure aimed at maximizing the impact of low-income housing developments in Austin. The measure, which was unveiled Tuesday and will be on Council’s agenda Feb. 21, directs city staff to craft an ordinance that will allow subsidized housing developments to forgo many of the city’s land use […]
Posted inAustin
City to boost lighting for West Campus
In response to concerns about student safety, the city plans to increase spending to repair and upgrade street lights in the West Campus neighborhood. In a memo released last week, City Manager Spencer Cronk outlined short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to increase lighting in the neighborhood, which has experienced major population growth in recent years, […]
Posted inWhispers
Oh sugar
For the fourth consecutive year, City Council kicked off its first meeting of the year with a “wellness workout,” led by local fitness coach Dionne Ross. A 20-second video showing Council members and city staff exhibiting varying levels of enthusiasm for the Zumba routine generated quite a bit of activity on Twitter, but not nearly […]
Posted inAustin
Council kicks off new year with measures aimed at affordability
In its first official meeting since the election, City Council unanimously approved several measures aimed at Austin’s growing affordability crisis. In an attempt to increase funding for affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying part of East Austin, Council approved a change to the existing homestead preservation district, whose boundaries extend roughly between Interstate 35 to […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves new contract for ARCH
The same day Council approved a resolution instructing city staff to identify a property for a new homeless shelter, it also approved a new contract with Front Steps, the nonprofit agency that operates the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless on Seventh Street. The initial term of the contract is for 18 months and $4.5 […]
Posted inCity Council
City proposes ditching Recycled Reads
Some City Council members are alarmed at a proposal from city staff to phase out Recycled Reads, a service operated by the library system that repurposes, recycles or sells books that are discarded by the library or donated by residents. Staffers have asked Council to approve a contract subleasing much of the space at RR’s […]