Budget recommendations from boards and commissions are due to city departments at the end of May. However, the Public Safety Commission did not feel there was ample review time since its April meeting was canceled, so commissioners postponed their recommendation on May 4 in favor of calling a special meeting within the next two weeks. […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inElections
County plans to spend $968K to prepare for voting in 2020
Travis County will spend $968,000 to expand ballot-by-mail voting and introduce new safety precautions at voting sites in preparation for the July runoff election and the November general elections. Already, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told the Commissioners Court on May 5 that the county is receiving 200 requests a day from residents who are […]
Posted inAustin
City and county consider long-term telecommuting strategy
When the city and county issued Stay Home-Work Safe orders on March 24, Austin became a community of teleworkers virtually overnight. Although there was minimal preparation for the change in work environment, the effort has been sufficiently successful to prompt both city and county leaders to consider extending work-from-home policies even after the crisis subsides. […]
Posted inWhispers
Public Safety Commission elects new chair and vice chair
Despite all the important business on the agenda of the Public Safety Commission after having missed last month’s meeting, commissioners took a moment to elect the chair and vice chair of the commission. Within minutes, the current chair, Meghan Hollis, was unanimously reelected to serve another year. Rebecca Webber, who is also the current vice […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission requests updates on APD’s response to Tatum investigation
At its May 4 meeting, the Public Safety Commission discussed the findings of a report by outside investigator Lisa Tatum that examined accusations of racism and homophobia leveled against APD’s top brass in recent months. While the report was unable to corroborate all of the claims, the commission determined it was necessary to receive periodic […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 5.5.20
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. This week’s meeting will be broadcast to ensure everyone is able to follow social distancing regulations. The public can access the meeting by watching the livestream or tuning into public access channel 17. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission looks to save Rainey Street’s Bungalow
For years, 90-92 Rainey St. has been home to the Bungalow and the Container Bar, but those two nightlife fixtures could soon be replaced with a 53-floor high rise. However, the Historic Landmark Commission did not greet the project with approval at its meeting on April 27 and instead postponed the case until next month. […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County directs $10M toward small business grant program
Despite the federal government authorizing $659 billion in small business aid, many small enterprises in Travis County are still in need of funds in order to survive the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. To help those business owners, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously authorized $10 million of the $61 million in federal funding received by […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission denies request to remove historic zoning
For over a year now, the owners of the historic Majors-Butler-Thomas House at 1119 E. 11th St. have been asking the city to remove historic zoning from the property. Despite repeated attempts, their requests have been met with denial. The first blow to the case came last April when the Planning Commission voted unanimously not […]
Posted inHousing
Govalle neighborhood looks for compromise in affordable housing project
The city of Austin owns 5 acres of land on three adjacent properties at 1127-1131 Tillery St. Two of those acres are home to a grove of pecan trees that some in the neighborhood worry are in danger of being felled in order to construct affordable housing units. The Austin Housing Finance Corporation is working […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 4.28.20
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. This week’s meeting will be broadcast to ensure everyone is able to follow social distancing regulations. The public can access the meeting by watching the livestream or tuning into public access channel 17. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection […]
Posted inWhispers
University of Houston measures effects of pandemic on restaurant industry
Prior to the spread of Covid-19 throughout the state of Texas, the restaurant industry employed one out of every 10 working Texans. Now, the sobering impacts of the quarantine measures that the state enacted in mid-March are coming to light. According to a study done by the University of Houston Hobby School involving 1,342 restaurants, […]