Four City Council members signaled their discontent with the current direction of CodeNEXT process and announced an effort to develop a new code that is “equitable, sustainable, accessible, vibrant and community-driven.” Surrounded by supporters at a City Hall press conference Tuesday morning, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council members Alison Alter, Ora Houston and […]
Jack Craver
Posted inCity Council
Council approves changes to anti-lobbying ordinance
Early Friday morning, City Council approved what supporters described as a temporary solution to an ongoing battle between Texas Disposal Systems and other waste contractors over city lobbying rules. The measure approved by Council makes a few small changes to the anti-lobbying ordinance, which is designed to prevent companies seeking contracts with the city from […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves funding for new fire stations
City Council Member Delia Garza’s complaints about the lack of fire stations in Southeast Austin appear to have had an effect. On Thursday Council approved $6 million for the design and construction of five new fire stations over the next five years, beginning with one in Del Valle in two years. Garza said she hopes […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Five Council members signal support for major housing bond
Mayor Steve Adler and four other members of City Council announced their support Thursday for putting a major housing bond on the ballot in November. Standing in front of scores of activists on the front steps of City Hall Thursday morning, Adler said that funds from previous housing bonds approved by voters in 2013 and […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves interim fire chief
Amidst all of the hype around City Council’s approval of Brian Manley as permanent Austin police chief, leadership changes at the Fire Department have flown under the radar. On Thursday, Council also voted to approve the appointment of Austin Fire Department Chief of Staff Tom Dodds as interim fire chief. In brief remarks in support […]
Posted inLand Development Code
CodeNEXT: Council debates supply and demand
Underpinning much of the debate over development and affordability in Austin is a simple question: Does increasing the number of homes make housing more affordable? At a Wednesday City Council meeting over CodeNEXT, Council members Alison Alter and Leslie Pool suggested that the new code could inhibit the creation of new affordable housing by increasing […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council confronts thorny issue: How much more housing does Austin need?
City Council members engaged in yet another rambling, inconclusive debate over CodeNEXT Tuesday morning, this time over the amount of new housing that the new code should allow to be built. Currently, Council members are not in the process of actually crafting the code, but rather discussing and debating what they want CodeNEXT to achieve. […]
Posted inTravis County
Report shows good, bad and ugly of Travis County economy
People in Travis County are enjoying the fruits of a strong national and regional economy. A new analysis shows that rates of poverty, crime and educational outcomes are moving in the right direction. Between 2012 and 2016, crime dropped by 27 percent. Those living under the federal poverty level decreased from 18 percent to 12 […]
Posted inWhispers
First inmate-trained dog ready for adoption
Panda, an 8-year-old border collie mix, is now available for adoption after a stint at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Panda is the first graduate of Dogs 101, a program that offers inmates the chance to ready dogs from the Austin Animal Center for adoption. “The inmates worked on crate training, leash skills and overall […]
Posted inAustin
Business leaders raise concerns about homelessness
It’s not just advocates for the homeless who have serious concerns about homelessness downtown. Businesses say that the mass of misery on the streets is a threat to downtown commerce and the city’s ability to attract visitors. The effects of the homeless population on business came up in a discussion at the Public Safety Commission […]
Posted inLand Development Code
CodeNEXT: Council agrees on big things but disagrees on key details
During their first day of deliberations on CodeNEXT, City Council members signaled agreement on a number of high-level statements about encouraging the construction of more housing along transportation corridors and not adding significant density to the interior of neighborhoods. And yet, the consensus only related to vague statements proposed by Mayor Steve Adler to guide […]
Posted inAustin
The debate over decriminalizing homelessness
A campaign to decriminalize behaviors associated with homelessness got a boost Monday from the Public Safety Commission, which voted to approve a resolution that instructs the city manager to review ordinances that may “create barriers for people who are trying to obtain housing or employment.” The resolution, which was authored by Commissioner Daniela Nuñez, highlights […]