At last week’s meeting of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee, chair Alison Alter thanked city staff for their work over the past several years to ensure a sound pension system for all three sets of city retirees – police, civilians and firefighters. “It is really, really important that we make sure we are planning […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Former PARD director named CEO of The Trail Conservancy
As anticipated by those carefully watching the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and affiliated nonprofit organizations, The Trail Conservancy has announced the appointment of Kimberly McNeeley as its chief executive officer. Earlier this month, McNeeley submitted her resignation as director of PARD, indicating that she would assist the city with its transition plan during the […]
Posted inCourts
Judge considering lawsuit against Central Health
After hearing about two hours of arguments on Thursday, Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum told attorneys for Travis County’s health care district and the three taxpayers who are suing Central Health, over its use of $35 million per year in taxpayer money that she would take their arguments under advisement. She directed both […]
Posted inWhispers
Central Health lawsuit going to court today
Three Travis County taxpayers filed suit against Central Health in 2017, claiming that the health care district did not have authority to transfer $35 million a year to the University of Texas’ Dell Medical School for education, research and administration. Attorneys for the three taxpayers will be in court today, along with the attorneys for […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Environmental Commission recommends site plan changes
At last week’s Environmental Commission meeting, members gave a positive recommendation for reducing the size of infill residential lots, including changes designed to make the process more efficient and less costly, while ensuring that drainage requirements are sufficient to prevent flooding neighboring lots. In addition, they approved a resolution supporting changes to the Land Development […]
Posted inHousing
Council OKs restrictive covenant for Southwest Parkway apartments
The owners of 9.6 acres of undeveloped land at 8413 Southwest Parkway are moving forward with plans to build a total of 438 apartments, including 219 units available to households earning 60 percent of the median family income, as well as 88 units reserved for families at or below 50 percent of the median family […]
Posted inWhispers
Parks department leader McNeeley leaving city of Austin
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced in a memo to the mayor and City Council late Thursday that Kimberly McNeeley, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, has submitted her resignation. He wrote, “After serving 14 years with the city of Austin in various roles, Director McNeeley has made the difficult decision to leave […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic east side home may not get the votes needed to preserve it
City Council surprised staff during Thursday’s zoning hearing when the vote to zone the Sinnigson House at 1100 E. Second St. as historic did not have the eight votes needed for final passage. The home was built in 1888. Although the Historic Landmark Commission and the Planning Commission endorsed the idea of zoning the front […]
Posted inCourts
After city lost case on development rules, it’s been ordered to pay attorneys’ fees
Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum has ruled that the city of Austin must pay $175,000 in attorneys’ fees in a case on the city’s failure to abide by a previous order requiring notice to property owners when the city is changing development rules. Mangrum’s assistant sent notice on Tuesday to the city’s attorneys and to […]
Posted inCity Charter, City Hall
Judge rules that city is violating open meetings law and the city charter
A second Travis County judge ruled Tuesday that the city of Austin is violating the Texas Open Meetings Act as well as the city charter in allowing people who wish to speak to City Council only two minutes, regardless of how many items they want to address. District Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle ruled in favor […]
Posted inWhispers
Last day to vote early in May 4 election
Travis County voters have not shown much enthusiasm for the May 4 election. As of Sunday, only 21,742 registered voters had cast ballots early – just 2.43 percent of the county’s registered voters. Today is the last day to cast a ballot early in the Saturday election to choose members of the Travis Central Appraisal […]
Posted inWhispers
Judge to hear arguments today on addressing Council
The Save Our Springs Alliance and the city of Austin will be back in court today to battle over whether the rules the City Council has been using to allocate citizens’ speaking time are legal under the Texas Open Meetings Act. SOS and its Executive Director Bill Bunch won a temporary restraining order earlier this […]