Stories by Jo Clifton
City, NXP to help fund child care through Chapter 380 agreement
City Council heard from more than a dozen people talking about the city’s proposed Chapter 380 agreement with NXP Semiconductors at Thursday’s meeting. Almost every one of them praised the company, which has been in Austin since 1974, operating two…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Sep 15, 2023
Council considering allowing tiny homes, RVs as accessory dwelling units
City Council seems poised to initiate changes to city zoning regulations that will allow tiny homes and recreational vehicles to be used as accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods. Council Member Leslie Pool is sponsoring a resolution on today’s Council…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Sep 14, 2023
Council approves development changes as required by state law
With several new state laws going into effect on Friday, Sept. 1, Austin City Council approved some significant changes to the rules governing the city’s Development Services Department this past Thursday. Most of those changes are aimed at making it…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Sep 7, 2023
East 12th Street rezoning wins first-round approval
At last week’s meeting, City Council voted unanimously to approve greater height and a zoning change for a property at 3117 and 3121 E. 12th Street for construction of 80 dwelling units, 10 percent of which would be affordable. The…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Sep 6, 2023
Judge declares city campaign contribution blackout period unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Wednesday declared an Austin regulation on campaign fundraising unconstitutional. The regulation prohibits candidates for City Council seats from seeking or accepting campaign contributions more than a year before an election. Pitman issued his ruling…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Sep 1, 2023
Dianna Grey, Austin’s strategy officer for homelessness, has resigned
Dianna Grey, who has served as Austin’s strategy officer for homelessness since the beginning of 2021, has resigned. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza said in an emailed statement, “Dianna will certainly be missed, and I am sorry to see her…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 31, 2023
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Council hears plan to overhaul site plan review process
Few who have dealt with the city of Austin’s site plan review process would dispute that it’s cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive. But consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which analyzed the process and then outlined improvements for City Council at Tuesday’s…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Aug 30, 2023
City facing new legal challenge over Affordability Unlocked, other rules this week
The 18 plaintiffs who won a judgment against the city of Austin over its attempted rewrite of the Land Development Code in 2020 are going back to court this week. This time, they’ll attempt to overturn city regulations created in…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Aug 29, 2023
City says Austin Energy’s budget reflects needs
All Austin Energy customers will see a small increase in their electric bills this fall – about $1.04 a month for the typical residential customer. According to the utility, its residential bills are still among the lowest in the state.…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 21, 2023
Leslie Pool takes question of water extension requests off Council agenda
City Council Member Leslie Pool notified her colleagues that she has withdrawn her request that the group consider a controversial item related to the extension of water and wastewater service in the city’s Drinking Water Protection Zone and outside the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Aug 18, 2023
City Council approves Austin's $5.5 billion budget for 2024
With Mayor Kirk Watson in the driver’s seat, City Council delivered the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget of $5.5 billion just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, including amendments requested by a variety of assistance groups and pushed forward by Council. Council…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 17, 2023
Watson, Brown declare local state of emergency over wildfire threat
Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown on Tuesday declared a local state of emergency in response to the threat of wildfires. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott said that wildfires in 191 Texas counties “pose an imminent threat…
