City Council last week declined to even discuss an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to approve a site plan, despite area homeowners’ arguments that the plan violates not only the Save Our Springs Ordinance but also the Hill Country Roadway Ordinance. The SOS Alliance, though not an appellant, argued in favor of the appeal […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Candidate forum for crowded D7 race Thursday
The city’s Ethics Commission and the League of Women Voters Austin Area will be hosting a forum for the seven candidates vying for the City Council seat currently held by Leslie Pool. Pool, who was initially elected in 2014, could run for reelection by gathering a sufficient number of signatures to place her name on […]
Posted inCourts
Judge’s order halts Nov. 5 charter election
Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble on Thursday ordered the city of Austin to eliminate 13 proposed charter amendments from the Nov. 5 ballot because City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in setting a hearing on the proposed charter items. Other items on the ballot, such as Council races, are not impacted […]
Posted inTransportation
Audit: City needs better data to improve e-scooter rules
The city of Austin does not have enough information to ensure it can make and enforce rules governing electric scooters, according to an audit report presented to the City Council Audit & Finance Committee on Wednesday. The audit also indicated that the city has failed to include relevant parties in making those rules. Audit Manager […]
Posted inResources
Texas Gas Service rate hearing at Council this Thursday
City Council will host a hearing on Thursday to allow members of the public, particularly customers of Texas Gas Service, to voice their opinions about a large rate increase the utility is proposing. The city has also joined a coalition of cities seeking to convince the Texas Railroad Commission, which makes the final decision about […]
Posted inAustin, Elections
Texas Supreme Court to decide whether Austin has a charter election this year
The Supreme Court of Texas has accepted a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Save Our Springs Alliance lawsuit against the city of Austin regarding alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act. If the court agrees with the plaintiffs that the city violated the Open Meetings Act in setting a charter election […]
Posted inBudget
Taxes are rising, as are charges for city services
Money paid by city of Austin taxpayers and Austin residents who pay monthly bills for water and wastewater, electricity, trash and recycling collection (as well as a drainage utility fee and a clean community fee) will see their cost-of-living increase starting in October. That’s pretty much the case every year, and this year the city […]
Posted inBudget
Council OKs raising property tax, adding funds for homeless services in new $5.9 billion budget
Austin taxpayers will see an increase in their property tax bills next year, but not so much that it will require their approval. Taxpayers will be charged $0.4776 per $100 taxable value, with a homestead exemption of $154,000 for homeowners 65 years of age and older. Child care facilities will also be exempt from city […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin leader Pete Winstead dies at 84
Pete Winstead, 84, one of Austin’s best-known civic leaders, passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Winstead was a founding member of the Winstead PC Law firm, which started in Dallas in 1973. The firm expanded to Austin as well as Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, the Woodlands, New York City and Charlotte, […]
Posted inBudget
Council budget requests include weatherization expansion, despite Austin Energy reservations
City Council has many possible budget amendments to consider this week. Although city staff has made clear that the city’s growth has not been sufficiently robust to support many expensive changes to the city’s budget, Council will still move forward with what they see as important additions when they meet on Wednesday. The Austin Monitor […]
Posted inBudget
Council lays out budget priorities for a lean year
In a nearly three-hour session on Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council members offered support for a lengthy variety of amendments to the budget they will vote on next Wednesday, and possibly on Thursday and Friday. With a lengthy list of proposed amendments, almost all of which would increase the General Fund budget, Chief […]
Posted inWhispers
Public Safety Commission can’t agree on funds for SAFE
Members of the Public Safety Commission took quite a while Monday discussing a proposed budget amendment to add $328,000 to the city budget for SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone) to increase funding for the forensic nursing staff dealing with victims of sexual assault. Even though the Commission for Women had endorsed the resolution in April, […]