On a vote of 7-3, last week Council rejected an application to change regulations for a planned unit development that would have allowed a cell phone tower to be erected near a condominium complex and an apartment building west of the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and West Parmer Lane. Only Mayor Steve Adler and […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Council OKs homestead preservation plan
On Thursday, Council approved a plan for investment in the only homestead preservation reinvestment zone that Austin has been allowed to create. The zone is an area in Central East Austin that includes seven predominantly low-income neighborhoods where 20 percent of the tax revenues generated are put into a fund to finance housing for low-income […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Council strongly opposes property tax bills
As Speaker of the Texas House Dennis Bonnen calls the chamber to order today, Austin’s City Council will begin working its way through its regular agenda. That agenda includes a resolution adamantly rejecting House Bill 2, the property tax bill that proposes to lower the property tax revenue cap from its current 8 percent to […]
Posted inWhispers
Elliott to talk about raising people out of poverty
Capital Idea and Austin Interfaith are extending invitations to presentations in Austin today by researcher Mark Elliott about the positive economic impact of helping low-income adults earn credentials that give them access to strong sectors of the economy, particularly health care, trades and technology. Elliott and his team have done a study of Project QUEST […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit says employee misused city computer
Investigators in the Office of the City Auditor have released a report showing that a staff member in the Development Services Department used his city computer to operate his personal online business. Auditors released a report Monday stating they had found evidence that Mauricio Ramos, who works as a site and subdivision inspector, accessed websites […]
Posted inWhispers
Heavy lifting starts today on new land code
At today’s work session, Council is scheduled to begin the process of answering the questions posed by City Manager Spencer Cronk concerning revisions to the city’s land development code. Cronk asked Council members to make clear whether they wanted a wholesale revision of the code or merely a rewrite of certain portions. From their postings […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Austin FC hires legislative lobbyists
The soccer club Austin FC, owned by Precourt Sports Ventures, hired three lobbyists on March 7, the day after Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, introduced legislation that could seriously impact Precourt’s plans for a new soccer stadium at McKalla Place. The club hired Neal T. “Buddy” Jones of HillCo Partners, a well-known lobbyist with many years […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Property tax bill could cost soccer club
Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, has introduced legislation that could put a crimp in the plans of anyone leasing municipal property for a new sports facility – such as a soccer stadium – and planning not to pay property taxes to other local governments. The bill, SB 1771, is aimed directly at Precourt Sports Ventures and its […]
Posted inZoning
Flats on Shady Lane gets final approval
Council Member Jimmy Flannigan has a message for Austinites who think that their neighborhoods are getting more than their share of rental housing: You’re not alone. Last Thursday, as he made the motion to approve zoning that will allow developers to build the Flats on Shady Lane that will add about 290 apartments to the Govalle-Johnson […]
Posted inCity Council
Hyde Park flood plain variance finally OK’d
Even though Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza did not really approve of granting flood plain variances to allow construction of a home at 4515 Avenue D, she changed her vote last week so that the property owner would not have to come back to Council a third time. When the matter came before Council on […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commission loses some duties
Austin’s Ethics Review Commission will no longer be looking at allegations of ethics violations related to most city employees. On Thursday, City Council approved changes to the ordinance governing the commission’s authority after ensuring that reports about such allegations would eventually become public. Mayor Steve Adler proposed the changes after Human Resources Department Director Joya […]
Posted inRoads
Council: TxDOT should pay for underpass cleanup
Several members of the Austin City Council expressed anger at the Texas Department of Transportation after learning at Tuesday’s work session that the city would have to pick up the cost of cleaning up the state’s property at city underpasses. Council Member Leslie Pool was the only one, however, who argued that perhaps the city […]