T.C. Broadnax will be making $82,000 more than his predecessor when he starts his job as Austin’s city manager next month. City Council on Thursday approved an employment agreement with a base salary of $470,000. Broadnax will also receive an array of fringe benefits, including a $5,000 per month housing allowance for six months to offset […]
Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT
Posted inCity Hall
T.C. Broadnax is Austin’s next city manager. Here’s why he was picked.
Austin announced Tuesday night that it will offer the city manager job to T.C. Broadnax, the outgoing city manager in Dallas. Upon his arrival later this year, he will have a full plate of duties and projects to oversee. Broadnax is joining City Hall during major reform in the housing and policing sectors. The city will also […]
Posted inCity Hall
Austin to offer city manager job to T.C. Broadnax, mayor says
City Council is recommending T.C. Broadnax as the next city manager. Mayor Kirk Watson said Tuesday that Council will finalize his hiring April 4. Broadnax resigned as city manager of Dallas last month after calls from a majority of that city’s council. He had had a tense relationship with the mayor and some council members for […]
Posted inHousing
Austin will spend $87 million on property in Southeast Austin for affordable housing
City Council voted Thursday to spend $87 million to buy 107 acres of land in Southeast Austin for affordable housing. Tokyo Electron, which makes semiconductors and display production equipment, announced in February that it was moving from the site. The city plans to build 1,100 units – some of which will be affordable – on the property. It […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Travis County declares local disaster ahead of April 8 total solar eclipse
Lee esta historia en español Travis County declared a local disaster on Friday ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse. The eclipse is expected to bring an influx of people to the area, putting a major strain on roads, emergency services and other needs. The declaration allows Travis County Judge Andy Brown to control and […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin makes library cards free to people outside the city
People who live in unincorporated areas outside the city no longer have to pay $120 for an Austin Public Library card. In December, City Council voted to remove the fees after the Library Commission recommended the change. In their recommendation, commissioners said Austin Public Library is committed to equity, which includes removing barriers that prevent […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Austin police investigating stabbing of pro-Palestinian demonstrator as hate crime
Austin police are investigating a stabbing near the University of Texas campus over the weekend as a hate crime. Zacharia Doar, 23, was grabbing a bite to eat with three of his friends Sunday after attending a rally in support of Palestinian rights and calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The group said they were […]
Posted inPolice
Austin wants to add more money to a program that helps crime victims. Here’s what it does.
Austin is expanding the resources it offers to crime victims. The Austin Police Department, which runs a victims fund, has a $30,000 budget to help people with immediate needs like a new pair of glasses or prepaid cellphone. The money also covers things like travel expenses to get a person to a safe place. Last […]
Posted inPolice
Former APD Chief Acevedo is returning to Austin to oversee police
Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo will take a new position created to oversee the police department, a city of Austin memo shared with KUT confirms. The news was first reported by the Austin American-Statesman. Acevedo told KUT he is excited to return to Austin in this new role focusing on the police department. “I look […]
Posted inEducation
Austin to offer free library cards to people outside the city
People who live outside the city will soon no longer have to pay $120 for an Austin public library card. City Council voted to remove the fees last week after the Library Commission recommended the change. In their recommendation, commissioners said Austin Public Library is committed to equity, which includes removing barriers that prevent access […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin throws $2.6 million more into project converting hotel into housing for elderly people without homes
Lee esta historia en español More money is being poured into a former North Austin hotel that will be converted into housing for elderly people who are exiting homelessness. City Council on Thursday authorized an additional $2.6 million for continued renovations to the Pecan Gardens project, raising the total contract to $6.5 million. The contract […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy customers can expect to see another increase to their December bills
Austin Energy customers should expect to see another increase on their utility bills starting Friday. The city’s energy company said customers will see a bump of 5 percent, or about $2 per month. Matt Mitchell, a spokesperson for Austin Energy, said the increase is for what is called a pass-through charge that the utility company pays […]