Don’t expect any more strip clubs downtown. City Council unanimously approved an ordinance disallowing adult-oriented businesses within 1,000 feet of a museum or library. This adds them to a list including schools, day care facilities, churches and public parks. The change was spurred by plans to open a strip club on Congress Avenue near the […]
Sunny Sone
Posted inAustin
Change is focus of Adler’s first State of the City
Change was the name of the game at Mayor Steve Adler’s first State of the City address. Adler discussed a wide range of issues but focused on two of Austin’s most prominent problems — mobility and affordability — and floated several new ideas to address those problems, many of which he had not presented to the […]
Posted inWhispers
Recycled Reads keeps its lease, for now
The Austin Public Library’s Recycled Reads program will stay at its Burnet Road location for the time being. City Council approved the renewal of the program’s lease with a tight 5-5 vote, with Council Member Ann Kitchen off the dais. The lease can be negated after one year with a Council vote. It lasts seven […]
Posted inAustin, Music & Entertainment, Police
Police to enforce noise ordinance during RoundUp
The Austin Police Department says it will enforce the city’s noise ordinance in the West Campus area during the University of Texas RoundUp festivities, scheduled for this weekend. RoundUp is a nationally known weekend of parties and live performances put on annually by the UT Greek community. In recent years, the city has not rigidly […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government
Zimmerman, Clean Air panel clash over EPA letter
After verbal clashes between Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition approved its version of a draft letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday about possible changes in ozone standards. All Council members approved the motion except Zimmerman, who abstained. “I would like […]
Posted inAustin, Transportation
City lacks funding for pedestrian hybrid beacons
Transportation Department staff revealed that the city is out of funding for pedestrian hybrid beacons, leaving a backlog of more than 100 requests for beacons around the city. During the regular meeting of the Pedestrian Advisory Council, staff presented the process and criteria for installing beacons and noted halfway through the discussion that the program […]
Posted inCity Council, Environment, Uncategorized, Water
Riverboat contract has a sewage problem
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and City Council Member Leslie Pool raised concerns last week about Lone Star Riverboat’s practices at the regular Council meeting Thursday, postponing the vote on a revenue contract until March 26. A memo to Council regarding the contract outlined sewage and marine toilet compliance issues and questioned whether Lone Star’s […]
Posted inWhispers
Metered parking ordinance kicked back to committee
An ordinance that would allow businesses to count metered parking toward off-street parking requirements was once again delayed by City Council on Thursday, despite recommendations from staff. Council sent the ordinance back to the Mobility Committee without discussion. The Planning Commission in August voted unanimously against the ordinance, which would amend the Austin Land Development […]
Posted inWhispers
Code Department commercials raise questions
Questions about the use of Code Department funds arose during the Neighborhood Issues policy deep-dive at City Council on Thursday. After remarks about allocating resources to expand the number of code compliance officers, Council Member Sheri Gallo asked whether the department paid for recent commercials about code enforcement officers. Code compliance spokeswoman Candice Cooper confirmed […]
Posted inCity Council, Planning, The Code
Stealth dorm regulations head back to Council
The stealth dorm issue has lived to see another City Council. The Planning Commission took the next step to combat occupancy limit violations at its regular meeting last week. Commissioners voted unanimously to forward a recommendation from the Stealth Dorm Working Group to Council. Those recommendations address code compliance, development and nuisance management, and even […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves committees on consent
City Council approved committee and intergovernmental committee appointments on consent at the regular meeting Thursday. Committee members are appointed by the mayor and ratified by Council. The appointments were confirmed with little discussion, but environmental consultant Scott Johnson spoke to suggest adding another appointee to the Clean Air Force Coalition. Council Member Don Zimmerman is […]
Posted inWhispers
Commission delays discussion on dispatching fire department
The Public Safety Commission on Monday postponed discussing the criteria for sending the fire department with emergency medical services to respond to medical calls. Medical Director Paul Hinchey committed more than a year ago to re-examine which medical calls warrant a response from both EMS and AFD. Vice Chair Mike Levy told the commission last month that […]