While considering a new contract for license plate readers for the Austin Police Department last week, City Council could not reach agreement on how long the department should retain the information generated. Council will consider the policy as part of this week’s agenda. It is set to vote on whether to authorize a contract for […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inThe Code
Board of Adjustment struggling with vacancies
Vacancies on the Board of Adjustment, coupled with a strict requirement for a supermajority vote in order to approve variances, are causing consternation among the members who have tried to address the problem. But one fix proposed by longtime Board Member Michael Von Ohlen conflicted with other city regulations. Austinites go before the Board of […]
Posted inHousing
Council OKs getting rid of some occupancy limits
As expected, City Council on Thursday moved forward with a resolution from District 9 Council Member Zo Qadri directing city management to eliminate occupancy limits related to familial status within the city’s Land Development Code. The final vote was 9-1, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting no and Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison not in attendance. […]
Posted inWhispers
AFSCME objects to Garza’s return-to-work plan
Members of AFSCME Local 1624, representing employees of the city of Austin and Travis County, held a noisy rally and press conference Thursday in the City Hall plaza. They wanted to reinforce the idea that interim City Manager Jesús Garza’s proposed telework policy did not work for them. Garza has said all employees should return […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider eliminating occupancy limits
Today’s City Council agenda includes a few items that may raise the temperature in Council chambers. That includes one related to getting rid of occupancy limits based on familial status. A number of groups – the Austin Justice Coalition, Austin Housing Coalition, Austin Cooperative Business Association, Planning Our Communities, Farm & City and Aura – […]
Posted inCity Hall
Proposal to change Council meeting rules draws opposition
City Clerk Myrna Rios has proposed changes, some of them controversial, to rules for the conduct at City Council meetings. Council is scheduled to take up the new rules at today’s meeting. During Tuesday’s work session, Rios defended her proposals, including a ban on allowing a member of the public to donate time to another […]
Posted inCity Hall
Good news, bad news from Legislature for Austin
For the city of Austin, the just-ended 88th regular legislative session offered both good news and disappointments, as outlined in a lengthy memo from Brie Franco, the city’s intergovernmental relations officer. On Tuesday, as her team was getting ready to monitor the special session Gov. Greg Abbott called to deal with property taxes and border […]
Posted inWhispers
Sudden change in zoning schedule?
During last week’s City Council meeting, zoning officer Joi Harden said the Brodie Oaks PUD would be heard on third reading at 1 p.m. July 20. The date was no surprise, but almost all zoning cases are set for 2 p.m. That has been the rule for several years, and Council Member Alison Alter questioned […]
Posted inPlanning
Brodie Oaks PUD wins second-round approval
City Council last week gave its blessing to the Brodie Oaks Redevelopment Planned Unit Development on second reading and set third reading for July 20. Council Member Ryan Alter, whose District 5 includes the sprawling shopping center, wrote on the City Council Message Board that he had been “deeply engaged with the applicant and staff” […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council votes to make it easier to build along highways
City Council voted Thursday to eliminate a section of the Land Development Code that governs development along highways, hoping the change will help add housing units in the city and “eliminate barriers to the creation of income-restricted units under established city density bonus programs.” In addition, according to a staff report, the change “will prioritize […]
Posted inCourts
Council to vote on payment for wrongful death
City Council is scheduled to vote today on paying the plaintiffs more than $3 million in a wrongful death case brought by the mother of a child whose father died while working a construction job in Austin. Jaime Membreno, a 26-year-old citizen of El Salvador, died in 2009 when he touched one of Austin Energy’s […]
Posted inWhispers
Austinites, beware of fire risk
City Council Member Alison Alter represents District 10, one of the districts closest to the area of Travis County most likely to be impacted by wildfires. At 9 a.m. this morning, Alter will be hosting a Wildfire Awareness Month event and proclamation at City Hall. Joining her will be some of her Council colleagues and […]