Stories by Jo Clifton
Garza makes major changes to city organization
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced a series of major organizational changes in a press release late Friday, saying his “highest priority is to organize our people and our work so that we are operating cohesively and focused on problem-solving.”…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 27, 2023
Council approves rule to allow more use of small lots
In 2016, City Council voted to close a loophole that allowed houses to be built on smaller lots than intended when the Land Development Code was adopted. At the time, some North Austin neighbors were complaining that they had been…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Mar 15, 2023
Berkman zoning change wins City Council approval
City Council approved a major increase in zoning for a less than 1-acre site at 6305 Berkman Drive last week. The move will allow the developer to build about 34 one- and two-bedroom units, compared to the 10 units that…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Mar 14, 2023
Council OKs creation of charter review commission
City Council on Thursday approved a resolution authorizing creation of a 2024 Charter Review Commission with an emphasis on studying whether the city should change the number of signatures required for submitting a proposed ordinance to voters for adoption. Council…
City Charter • By Jo Clifton • Mar 10, 2023
New charter review commission proposed
Although the previous City Council didn’t take action on a 2019 special report on citizen initiatives from the Office of the City Auditor, the current Council appears likely to approve creation of a new citizens commission tasked with recommending changes…
City Charter • By Jo Clifton • Mar 8, 2023
Group again sues city over changes to development rules
A group that stopped the city’s rewrite of the Land Development Code has filed a motion in Travis County District Court to undo changes City Council made to the code after that ruling. Led by Francisca Acuña, the group contends…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 7, 2023
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Jury says Austin Energy retaliated against employee
A Travis County district court jury has voted to award $750,000 to an Austin Energy employee after finding that other city employees retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination based on…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 6, 2023
Council adopts ordinance to preserve police benefits
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve an ordinance that preserves the pay and benefits Austin police officers currently receive and directs interim City Manager Jesús Garza to come up with incentives for new recruits to the department. Council also directed Garza…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Feb 27, 2023
Vela urges TxDOT to cap parts of I-35 through Austin
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Council Member Chito Vela told his colleagues at Tuesday’s City Council work session, referring to cap-and-stitch opportunities for an expanded Interstate 35 through Austin. Vela had prepared a slideshow for an earlier meeting that was…
Roads • By Jo Clifton • Feb 23, 2023
Mayor seeks to add sweeteners to ordinance for cops
At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Kirk Watson added some details to the police pay and benefits ordinance that will be on this Thursday’s agenda. Council Member Ryan Alter authored the proposal in line with ideas Watson outlined on…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Feb 22, 2023
Council directs negotiators to bring back one-year police contract
City Council voted 9-2 on Wednesday to instruct staff and outside counsel to negotiate a one-year extension of the current contract between the city and the Austin Police Association without taking an explicit position on a four-year deal announced last…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Feb 16, 2023
Pflugerville voters file suit seeking tax rollback election
Three voters who signed a petition to cut sales taxes collected by Emergency Services District No. 2 have filed suit against the district’s board, which refused to call an election on cutting those taxes for Pflugerville residents. Jennifer Pakenham, David…
