The Council Committee on Public Utilities voted unanimously Wednesday to make no recommendation concerning the Decker Lake Golf proposal. The proposal would create two PGA-class golf courses on undeveloped parkland at Walter E. Long Park. Committee Chair Delia Garza opened the meeting with citizens communications, whose speakers included Barbara Scott, co-president of the Colony Park […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inCity Council
Zimmerman appointee in jeopardy of losing seat
Eight City Council members expressed strong support Tuesday for Council Member Greg Casar’s resolution to rescind the appointment of activist Rebecca Forest to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Forest is the co-founder and past president of the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas, which puts out a strong anti-immigrant message. Forest has written, “Our Muslim President […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Parks
May vote possible on Decker Golf proposal
City Council Member Ellen Troxclair, chair of the Council Economic Opportunity Committee, said she intends for her committee to vote on the Decker Lake Golf proposal at its next meeting May 11. Troxclair outlined some options for her colleagues at Monday’s committee meeting following nearly two hours of presentations and discussion. Troxclair said they could […]
Posted inAustin, Texas State Legislature
Local witnesses urge legislators to reject TNC bill
The House Transportation Committee heard numerous witnesses Thursday both supporting and opposing HB 2440, which would designate the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles as the state agency charged with issuing permits and overseeing rules for transportation networking companies such as Uber and Lyft. The proposal would also eliminate city regulations for such companies. For that […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Austin attorney watching Legislature for city
Cary Grace, an assistant city attorney who is serving as Austin’s deputy intergovernmental relations officer, is counting the days until the end of this Legislative session. On Thursday, she noted that there were 53 days remaining. Those are 53 days that will be primarily devoted to stopping legislation that Austin and other cities perceive as […]
Posted inWhispers
Tovo to testify on TNC legislation
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo is among those who will likely show up at this morning’s meeting of the Texas House Transportation Committee. Tovo plans to talk about HB2440, which would create state regulation of transportation network companies and eliminate local rules, such as those passed by Austin. Tovo told the Monitor, “I’ll be testifying […]
Posted inWhispers
Gov. Abbott signs X Games bill
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday authorizing the Summer X Games to apply for funding from the Texas Major Event Trust Fund. The legislation, SB 293, also allows NASCAR to apply for money from the same fund for races at the Texas Motor Speedway. The X Games will be held June 4-7 at the […]
Posted inWhispers
Zimmerman to open office in District 6
Last week, City Council Member Don Zimmerman announced that he would be opening a field office for District 6 at The Crossing on Anderson Mill Road. In a news release, Zimmerman said he plans to lease the office for an initial period of six months in order to gauge its effectiveness. According to Zimmerman’s chief […]
Posted inElections
Pressley continues District 4 election contest
Nearly four months after a decisive loss to Greg Casar, who became the Austin City Council Member for District 4, Laura Pressley was in court Monday morning, trying to achieve there what she could not achieve at the ballot box: defeat Casar and win a seat on the Council. Her lawsuit also follows a recount […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council puts off controversial appointment
City Council postponed the appointment of a controversial cemetery advocate to two parks committees Thursday, with only Council Member Don Zimmerman, who sponsored Sharon Blythe’s appointment, in opposition. In the past, Council nominations for city boards and commissions have caused little stir. However, Zimmerman’s nomination of cemetery activist Blythe to the Parks Board as well […]
Posted inCity Council, Texas State Legislature
Council OKs X Games bid for major state funding
By a narrow margin, Austin City Council voted Thursday to endorse the application of the Summer X Games to the Texas Major Event Trust Fund for 2015 only. It also voted to remove the possibility that the X Games will be able to request a waiver of $150,000 in city fees. The vote was 6-4, […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider slew of appointees
Since the Austin Monitor ran a story outlining the need for more citizens to volunteer to serve on the city’s boards and commissions, there has been a big uptick in applications, according to the City Clerk’s office. On today’s Council agenda, Council Member Leslie Pool has nominated four citizens to serve, including Garry Brown to […]