The city of Austin announced Monday that it would begin a major campaign this week to promote difficult-to-fill jobs. Worker shortages have been particularly noticeable within Austin-Travis County EMS and the police department. According to information provided by Deborah Jennings in the Human Resources Department, the city currently has 16,316 employees, compared to 16,352 in […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inZoning
Council OKs zoning for massive redevelopment of far South Congress area
City Council on Thursday unanimously approved Community Commercial, Mixed Use and General Commercial Services zoning that will allow the site of a Southeast Austin auto salvage yard to become a vertical mixed-use development with more than 1200 multifamily units and 210,000 square feet of office, as well as a 136,000-square-foot shopping center. The site at […]
Posted inWhispers
Alter appoints former opponent
City Council made multiple appointments to city boards and commissions Thursday, including appointing Stephanie Bazan to the Parks and Recreation Board. Council Member Ryan Alter made the motion to appoint Bazan, who was his opponent in the City Council District 5 runoff in December. Sarah Faust, who was appointed by former Council Member Ann Kitchen, […]
Posted inCourts
Central Health, Ascension Texas sue over care for low-income residents
After years of failed negotiations over health care services to low-income residents and payments for those services, Central Health, the Travis County health care district, filed suit Tuesday against Ascension Texas, a nationwide chain of hospitals and health care facilities. Ascension Texas operates Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas as well as […]
Posted inCity Hall
Former city employee allegedly stole, tried to sell city property
Investigators from the Austin Office of the City Auditor have released a report that shows a former employee of the Communications and Technology Management department “stole and attempted to sell a city-owned mobile device in December 2021.” That employee, Brian Cox, a former IT support analyst, resigned from the city in April 2022, thus avoiding […]
Posted inWhispers
Possible crowd coming to parks board
Austinites tuned in to their neighborhood listserv Thursday morning were urged to attend next Monday’s meeting of the city’s Parks and Recreation Board – 6 p.m. at City Hall – to discuss the controversial Zilker Park vision plan. Speakers may sign up ahead of time to speak for the allotted three minutes by calling the […]
Posted inWater
Austin Water making progress but needs more employees
Members of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee have reviewed the findings of a report detailing problems during four significant events at Austin Water’s Ullrich Water Treatment Plant between 2018 and February 2022, including three boil-water notices and a zebra mussel infestation. The utility has addressed many of those problems and is in the process […]
Posted inCity Council
Makeup of City Council committees slated for change
In addition to their work on City Council, Council members also serve on a variety of special committees, both within the city and with members from other entities, such as Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Travis County Commissioners Court. In a City Council Message Board post, Mayor Kirk Watson indicated that he would be […]
Posted inCity Hall
Offering insurance for fertility treatments could cost city $1 million
Including fertility treatments in the city’s employee insurance plan “would have a significant ongoing fiscal impact” on the benefit plan, according to a memo from acting Human Resources Director Rebecca Kennedy (who took on the role of department head at the end of December when HR chief Joya Hayes went on leave). Kennedy said that […]
Posted inWater
UT report offers ‘roadmap’ for changes at Austin Water
In the wake of five incidents between 2018 and 2022 related to water quality problems, including three boil-water notices and a zebra mussel invasion, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros resigned and City Council asked the city auditor to identify a group to study problems at the utility and report back. City Auditor Corrie Stokes led the […]
Posted inWhispers
Fiandaca leaving, Goode staying
Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca, who has worked for the city since May 2019, is going back to Boston to become transportation secretary for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fiandaca held several jobs in Boston’s transportation department before taking the position in Austin. In a memo, City Manager Spencer Cronk praised her contributions to the community, […]
Posted inCity Council
Mayor Watson and others reveal staff appointments
Mayor Kirk Watson told the Austin Monitor Monday that he has hired his chief of staff as well as a number of other new employees. Colleen Pate, who left her position as chief of staff for the Austin Chamber of Commerce to come to the city, will continue to have that title. Before joining the […]