City Council approved an unusually hefty batch of appointments last week – about 40 – most importantly, perhaps, for current members of the Ethics Commission, who will be joined by two new members. The commission has had trouble recently because of insufficient numbers to carry out its mission. Council Member José Velásquez appointed Alysa Nunez […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inCity Council
New rules for addressing City Council ‘postponed indefinitely’
At the beginning of Thursday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Kirk Watson announced that a plan to cut back on public input had been “postponed indefinitely.” Many speakers criticized rules originally proposed by City Clerk Myrna Rios, and they expressed hope that such restrictions would not come back at any time. Drawing particular condemnation: a plan […]
Posted inCity Council
Council OKs lawsuit settlements related to injuries, land
City Council agreed Thursday to settle five lawsuits, including paying $1.2 million to a protester who was injured during the protests outside the Austin Police Department in May 2020. Bomani Barton, who was shot by a police officer with three beanbag rounds, agreed to drop his suit against the city in return for compensation. Barton […]
Posted inBudget
Proposed budget emphasizes city basics, long-term financial stability
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza and city financial staff on Wednesday presented their proposed $5.5 billion budget for 2023-24. Austin taxpayers currently pay 46.27 cents per $100 taxable value. That rate will decline to 42.42 cents for next year, although increased property values will mean that the typical Austin homeowner will still see a 1.5 […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider changes to water service extension rules
City Council on Thursday will consider changing regulations to take decisions about water and wastewater service extension requests for the Barton Springs and Lake Austin watersheds out of its hands and give responsibility to city staff. If Council approves the resolution, staff will be directed to come back at the end of September with a […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental boards push for telework policy for city employees
Two city environmental panels have approved resolutions asking City Council to direct interim City Manager Jesús Garza to reconsider his proposed policy requiring most employees to do their jobs at the office three days a week. Both the Environmental Commission and the Joint Sustainability Committee have recommended that employees be allowed to work from home […]
Posted inPolice
Austin Police Department keeps running on overtime
In January 2019, the Austin Monitor reported that APD had 110 vacancies and was making up for those vacancies by paying officers overtime. On Monday, Assistant Police Chief James Mason told the Public Safety Commission the department now has 329 operational vacancies. Just as reported in 2019, and again last year, APD is counting on […]
Posted inCity Hall
Insufficient staffing revealed in audit of fraud and waste at Parks and Recreation Department
A former employee of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department fraudulently submitted timesheets stating she was working, according to a report from the Office of the City Auditor, and she collected paychecks for six months in 2021 – although she did no work during that time. The report says that temporary employee Desarae Ybarra, who […]
Posted inParks
Public parking at Zilker confounds parks board
Members of the Parks and Recreation Board struggled with the many facets of public parking at Zilker Park this week, finally postponing a vote until July 24. After a lengthy discussion, board members failed to adopt a resolution asking City Council to eliminate most parking at the environmentally sensitive Polo Fields and direct cars to […]
Posted inCity Council
Mayor expresses opposition to amphitheater, parking garages in Zilker Park Vision Plan
Mayor Kirk Watson on Tuesday expressed strong opinions about the Zilker Park Vision Plan, particularly areas of the plan that have already caused controversy. Watson wrote in his “Watson Wire” email that he was opposed to putting a proposed 5,000-seat amphitheater on the Great Lawn, which would replace the aging Hillside Theater. The mayor wrote, […]
Posted inZoning
Commissioners OK one more mixed-use site on tiny South Austin street
Members of the Planning Commission on June 13 voted unanimously to recommend changing the zoning on two small properties at 1705 and 1707 Evergreen Avenue, just off South Lamar Boulevard, to accommodate business uses and workforce housing. If approved by City Council, the two lots, which currently have single-family residences, would be rezoned from Family […]
Posted inLand Development Code
City code amendments moving slowly, including change to parking requirements
Remember all those amendments to Austin’s land use regulations that City Council directed city staff to write – ideas that seem particularly important in light of the housing shortage? They’re moving slowly. Those amendments include eliminating parking requirements from the land use regulations outside the central business district. Parking requirements have already been eliminated downtown, […]