Attorneys for former candidate Laura Pressley and City Council Member Greg Casar will return to court this morning – perhaps for the last time – to argue about whether Pressley has reasonable grounds to continue her election contest against Casar. Casar won the Dec. 16 runoff by a margin of 1,291 votes, or approximately 65 […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inAustin
Economic development proposals going to task force
Mayor Steve Adler pushed for and won more time to consider an economic development plan for East Austin on Thursday. The plan will go along with consideration of an agreement to create PGA-style golf courses at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. Decker Lake Golf LLC is seeking a 50-year license agreement in order to develop […]
Posted inWhispers
Betty Baker retiring after 40 years of city service
Betty Baker, who has served continuously on city planning boards, including 10 years on the Planning Commission and nearly 11 years on the Zoning and Platting Commission – almost all of that time as chair of one or the other – is stepping down. City Council will honor Baker, 82, with a distinguished service award […]
Posted inWhispers
Committee OKs rate hike for Texas Gas Service
The City Council Public Utilities Committee on Wednesday voted 3-0 to recommend that Council approve an increase in customer rates for Texas Gas Service. According to documents provided to committee and Council Members Don Zimmerman, Ann Kitchen and Ellen Troxclair — Council Member Delia Garza is on maternity leave — residential customers will pay about $1.04 per month […]
Posted inDevelopment
Houston sees disparity in treatment of parks
Unless the item gets bogged down by a requirement that a master plan for Lamar Beach be completed first, City Council is likely to approve on Thursday a 50-year agreement with the West Austin Youth Association for renovations to three baseball fields and an additional youth sports field. The same cannot be said for a […]
Posted inWhispers
City manager cancels meeting on values
After first insisting that all directors and assistant directors attend a Monday morning meeting with City Manager Marc Ott on city values, Chief of Staff Ray Baray sent out a memo Friday night to inform city staff that the meeting had been canceled. Some people didn’t see the memo, but noticed Monday morning that their […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council changes impervious cover deal
City Council on Thursday approved two changes to an impervious cover transfer agreement for property at 6308 Spicewood Springs Road, meaning the item will have to come back for a third and final reading. The property, owned by Roy Cavanaugh, is home to Ace Salvage Yard and Ace Discount Glass & Door and abuts Bull […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
Korean church rezoning fails without a motion
By declining to take action, City Council quickly scuttled a developer’s plans Thursday to build 70,000 square feet of office space and approximately 10 apartments in the Crestview neighborhood. Developer David Kahn purchased the site at Justin Lane and Cullen Avenue that was currently occupied by the Korean United Presbyterian Church for redevelopment. But with […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
Council to delay Red Bluff Hotel variance hearing
Although City Council members are scheduled to hear an appeal today on a variance granted by the Planning Commission to allow construction of a new hotel on Red Bluff Road in East Austin, staff will likely seek a postponement to do some research. The variance allows construction within the primary setback described in the Waterfront […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council to consider Crestview valid petition case
On Thursday, City Council will be considering its first valid petition case in which the neighborhood opposes any zoning change for the property in question. Developer David Kahn is proposing to build a project of just under 70,000 square feet, including an office building and a small amount of residential development, in the Crestview neighborhood on […]
Posted inDevelopment, Parks
Decker Golf gets first positive sign from committee
The City Council Committee on Economic Development gave supporters of a proposal for a PGA-style golf course at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park their first victory Monday. The four-member committee voted unanimously to approve a framework for additional benefits for East Austin in a contract with Decker Lake Golf LLC. Council Member Ellen Troxclair, who […]
Posted inThe Code
Committee votes no on barbecue smoke ordinance
After hearing from several opponents of the proposed ordinance to require scrubbers on the smokestacks of restaurants that smoke meat, the City Council Committee on Economic Development voted unanimously Monday against supporting the ordinance. Council Member Ora Houston made the motion not to pursue an ordinance initially proposed by Council Member Pio Renteria. Houston moved […]