Stories by Jacob Cottingham
Shady Grove gets variance, ability to rock on
The saga of Shady Grove, the restaurant and sometimes acoustic music venue, seems to have been resolved with a variance granted by the Board of Adjustment on Monday. By allowing the establishment the necessary offsite parking, Shady Grove can now…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Aug 11, 2009
Council ponders public safety budget issues
Council members heard the latest budget presentations Wednesday from the emergency services departments, yielding few surprises from representatives from the Austin Police Department, Fire Department and EMS. Each made a case for their achievements in the last year, the budget…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Aug 6, 2009
Citizens complain about removal of two managers from Travis County
A parade of citizens spoke at Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday in defense of Alicia Perez, an executive manager with the county. Last week in a little-publicized evening motion, the commissioners voted to place Perez and Linda Moore Smith,…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Aug 5, 2009
BSEACD proposing more stringent rules for drought
Due to the severity of the drought, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has formally proposed a series of rules changes that would establish a new tier of responses to extreme drought. The new emergency responses, if enacted, would…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jul 29, 2009
Committee says no to change in Balcones mitigation fees
In a close vote, a divided Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizens Advisory Committee has approved a measure to maintain the current pricing structure on Participation Certificates, which provide financial mitigation for land development in predetermined “habitat zones.” The vote was…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jul 28, 2009
Legislative direction may prompt change in Travis purchasing
Travis County Commissioners will consider a measure this week that, thanks to the Texas Legislature, could cut their weekly workload by a considerable amount. A change in state law expands the cost of purchases county staff can authorize that don’t…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jul 27, 2009
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Travis commissioners decline to challenge commercial appraisals
Travis County Commissioners have declined to pursue an official challenge to the way the county’s Central Appraisal District calculates the value of commercial properties, but said they plan to keep an eye on the situation. Brian Rodgers of Change…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jul 22, 2009
How will city pay for maintaining existing Zilker trees ?
A presentation to the Parks and Recreation / Environmental Boards Joint Committee on Monday covered a draft plan for maintenance of nearly 200 trees in Zilker Park at a potential first year cost of $424,500. The board also voted for…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jul 2, 2009
Travis County Commissioners back hiring freeze
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court effectively voted to immediately enact a voluntary hiring freeze for non-essential county jobs. All elected and appointed officials were asked to freeze all unfilled positions and evaluate which positions were non-essential. According to…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jun 24, 2009
Brackenridge plans do not include Muny
The University of Texas Board of Regents were presented with two plans for the Brackenridge Tract along Lady Bird Lake, both of which would close the Lions Municipal Golf Course, known as “Muny.” The historic 18-hole course has a lease…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jun 19, 2009
Council authorizes 30-year lease extension for Austin Studios
City Council voted 6-0 Thursday to reauthorize the lease of 20 acres at the Mueller development to the Austin Film Society for 30 more years. Council Member Randi Shade amended the resolution to provide enhanced oversight of any subleasing deals…
Uncategorized • By Jacob Cottingham • Jun 19, 2009
Hays spat propels talk of County Judge showdown
A press release from Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton’s office has led to a verbal shooting match between the commissioner and County Judge Liz Sumter and has Hays political watchers eying a potential Democratic primary showdown between the two in…
