Stories by Josh Rosenblatt
Council approves changes to Historic Landmark Ordinance
On Thursday, the City Council unanimously approved a $2500 cap on tax exemptions for all newly designated owner-occupied historic landmark properties Thursday. However, they rejected a recommendation from Mayor Lee Leffingwell that would have imposed that cap on all properties…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Aug 9, 2011
Council to address election postponement and single-member districts
Council will begin discussion today on two enormous proposed shifts in the way the city votes for its representatives. At Tuesday’s work session, Council members acknowledged the legal and political difficulties that could result from the city’s moving its election…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Aug 4, 2011
Council to consider settlement in historic landmark lawsuit
The City Council will consider changes this week to regulations governing historic zoning as part of a settlement of a lawsuit that challenged the way it has been granting tax exemptions to owners of historic properties. In the lawsuit…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Aug 3, 2011
Council reluctantly rejects appeal of on-site sewage line permit
A Council discussion about an on-site sewage facility turned into a debate about the city’s authority over infrastructure in far west annexed areas of the city. Even as they voted against an appeal to stop construction of the facility, Council…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Aug 2, 2011
Council members spar over police staffing at budget briefing
City Council members got their first look at the proposed FY2011-12 budget yesterday, a budget City Manager Marc Ott said “reflects the priorities and values of the Council, of staff, and the community.” (See In Fact Daily, July 27, 2012.)…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 28, 2011
Council discusses delaying extended paid parking downtown
Four months after approving a controversial ordinance to extend paid parking hours in the downtown area, City Council will consider tomorrow whether to delay implementation of that plan in order to get more public feedback. Co-sponsored by Council Members…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 27, 2011
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Austin budget: More police, 2 percent employee pay raise proposed
The city’s Budget Office and City Manager Marc Ott presented their proposed FY2012 budget to City Council this morning, and it shows once again that Austin has one of the strongest economies in the country. While many local governments…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 27, 2011
Planning Commission votes to support Capital Improvements plan
The Planning Commission has signed off on FY2012 recommendations for the city’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP) plan, despite requests for some $180 million in projects for which there is no current funding. The five-year plan, updated annually, itemizes the…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 25, 2011
Downtown Commission gets glimpse of second proposed convention hotel
The city got its first look at another proposed convention center hotel at last night’s meeting of the Downtown Commission. The 1,100-room hotel from the San-Diego based Manchester Texas Financial Group would be the second large hotel going up over…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 21, 2011
Arbitration ruling hovers over second round of Fire Department interviews
Nearly two months to the day after city officials announced that they would be re-testing more than 2,500 candidates for cadet positions in the Austin Fire Department, the city’s Human Resources Department began the new round of structured oral interviews…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 19, 2011
New Formula 1 committee could face future conflict-of-interest issues
Two weeks after City Council endorsed a controversial plan to bring Formula 1 to Austin, the committee authorized by Council to act on the city’s behalf held their first public meeting Saturday. The Circuit Events Local Organizing Committee will hold…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 18, 2011
Health/human services budget facing severe cuts in FY2012
The next fiscal year is shaping up to be a tough one for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. Faced with significant reductions in the amount of grant money available from the state and federal governments, and a…
