Travis County employees, Pct. 2 Commissioner Bruce Todd wants you to leave your car at home. And if the plan goes through, the county will pay you to do so. In what turned into a long and wide-ranging discussion about transportation maladies throughout Travis County, commissioners heard proposals on ways to reduce congestion and […]
Jimmy Maas
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Commissioners postpone resolution to support Project Connect
There was no resolution this week from Travis County Commissioners about supporting Project Connect, the high-capacity, cross-agency transit plan for the Austin metropolitan area. The court mainly heard from supporters of Project Connect Tuesday. “I have been in this community just over three years now,” said Linda Watson, President and CEO of Capital […]
Posted inLocal Government
No contract between Travis County and Saxet Gun Show promoters
This weekend’s Saxet Gun Show at the Travis County Exposition Center will likely be the last one at that venue for the foreseeable future. For the second time in three weeks, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard public comment on the continuation of the Saxet Gun Show contract and declined to extend it. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis County approves economic development incentives rules
Finalizing an effort that has been months in the making, the Travis County Commissioners unanimously approved revised economic development incentives for the county Tuesday. “It’s been a struggle working on this and I think we’ve done a pretty good job by involving an array of collaborative efforts with many sources,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis Commissioners approve fee increases for county parks
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to raise fees for visitors to Travis County parks, but it is not clear exactly when that hike will happen. Commissioners approved the increase to close a potential budget gap. This is the first adjustment to any county parks’ fees since 2009 and officials say many of the affected […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
County, promoter at impasse over background checks at gun show
Travis County Commissioners and the promoter of the Saxet Gun Shows reached an impasse Tuesday over a contract provision that would require the promoter to perform background checks on all gun sales. Negotiations for a year’s lease to hold eight gun shows at the Travis County Expo Center have broken off. Background checks for […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Newly formed Civil Service Commission still developing rules
Austin’s newly formed Municipal Civil Service Commission continued to work at answering a number of fundamental questions aimed at developing a set of operating rules at its meeting Tuesday night at City Hall. Voters approved a civil service system for the City of Austin for most non-public safety employees in November 2012. Most public […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Transportation
Council endorses Lone Star Rail but hangs on to the money
Lone Star Rail will move forward with the backing of the Austin City Council, though not with any of the city’s money just yet. In a 6-1 vote, the City Council authorized the city’s participation in the Lone Star Rail District. But it set its funding for the project temporarily at zero. The plan […]
Posted inLocal Politics
City Ethics Commission clears Almanza of conflict of interest
An emotional battle between a business shut down by the city and an Austin Parks and Recreation Board member came to an official end Wednesday. The fallout may be felt for some time, perhaps even into the next election cycle. The city’s Ethics Review Commission voted unanimously that Susanna Almanza, a Parks Board member […]
Posted inTransportation
Project Connect defends decision to bypass Lamar corridor for transit
Almost two weeks after Project Connect recommended the Highland and East Riverside areas to move forward to the next phase of transit expansion in Austin, it opened itself to feedback on the plan last Tuesday. And what most people in the room, on the phone, online or watching TV wanted to know was, “Why […]
Posted inLocal Politics
City Council rejects attempt to establish ‘Healthy Food Zones’
The City of Austin will not be establishing Healthy Food Zones any time soon. And, for now, the city won’t be looking into whether Austin even needs them. A resolution sponsored mainly by Council Member Laura Morrison would have directed City Manager Marc Ott to gather data from the county and neighborhoods for the […]