Another light agenda by previous Council standards. Still, a revamped staffing proposal from Mayor Adler, the return — again –of the Garza tract, the proposed Decker Lake golf facility, and much more seem to point to what could be, at the least, a long day. As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda […]
Michael Kanin
Mike Kanin is the Publisher of the Austin Monitor. As such, he doesn't report on much--aside from the workings of the Monitor--any more. In his previous life as a freelance journalist, Kanin has written for the Washington City Paper, the Washington Post's Express, the Boston Herald, Boston's Weekly Dig, the Austin Chronicle, and the Texas Observer.
Posted inMonitor News & Media, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: CM Garza on the Homestead Tax Exemption
District 2 Austin City Council Member Delia Garza joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the proposed 20 percent City of Austin homestead tax exemption. Sponsored by Kerbey Lane. Track is embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/191945793″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners Court, 2.17
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest include: 4. Receive presentation from Emergency Services on current staffing, programs and goals. (Judge Eckhardt) Monitor’s Take: The […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Explainer: Open Meetings and the new Council
On their way to postponing an item that would have allowed Mayor Steve Adler to fund office staff positions via dollars raised by a 501(c)3 organization, Austin City Council members Thursday expressed a handful of concerns. As Kara Nuzback reported Friday, power imbalance and questions over whether the Texas Open Meetings Act would apply to […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Monitor News & Media, Videos
Video: 2.12 Council rundown, KXAN
Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin joins KXAN‘s Sally Hernandez for a quick rundown of Council’s February 12 discussions of Mayor Steve Adler’s plan to fund additional office staff with (c)3 dollars and a now-in-process study of a potential 20 percent homestead tax exemption for Austin residents. Video embedded below:
Posted inFire, Monitor News & Media, Public Safety, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: AFA President Bob Nicks
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about recent developments that put the union, looking for its first contract since 2012, back at the bargaining table with Austin City Management. Sponsored by Kerby Lane Cafe. Track embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190661939″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 2-10 & 2-12
Council is back in voting action this week. The feeling at City Hall is that this meeting may include a return to what might resemble typical business. As always, the Austin City Council meets in a work session Tuesday and for its regular meeting Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching for the […]
Posted inFire, Public Safety
Explainer: AFD, AFA, and the consent decree
Each week, the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week, we look at City Council action from last week that restarts negotiations between the Austin Firefighters Association and city management. It what amounts to its first major non-Council-operations act, City Council members Thursday approved a resolution that instructs Austin […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Austin Monitor Radio: Early Days of the New Council
Austin Chronicle News Editor Michael King and Monitor Editor Liz Pagano join Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin to talk early days of the new, 10-1 Austin City Council. Brought to you by Kerby Lane Cafe. The show is embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/189628873″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Resources
Explainer: The Hays County Water Deal
Each week, the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week we look at the Electro Purification water deals coming out of Hays County. As Andy Sevilla has reported over the past 10 days or so, Electro Purification — a Houston-based company — is looking to pump nearly 2 billion […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council Special Called Meeting 2-5
The Austin City Council will tackle just four items in its Special Called Meeting Thursday. Given the brevity of the agenda, we’ve elected to post (and comment) about all of it below. Links to meeting backup materials can be found here. 1. Council discussion addressing land use issues, the Comprehensive Plan (Imagine Austin) and housing […]
Posted inWhispers
CoTMF awarded official non-profit status
The Capital of Texas Media Foundation, the parent organization of the Austin Monitor, announced late Friday that it had been awarded 501(c)3 tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. CoTMF purchased the then-In Fact Daily from the Austin American-Statesman in October 2013. It had been operating under the fiscal sponsorship of the Online Journalism Project. […]