Although there is no funding for the Lone Star Regional Rail Project in the proposed city budget, the Georgetown-to-San-Antonio passenger rail plan can still get up to speed in due time. Lone Star Rail District Rail Director Joe Black told the Austin Monitor on Monday that his organization is not overly concerned about the omission. […]
Tyler Whitson
Posted inDevelopment
Council likely to postpone “Grove” zoning decision
A quorum of City Council members sent a clear message at a Tuesday work session that they plan to postpone a zoning decision set for Thursday related to the Grove at Shoal Creek. “Frankly, I don’t know enough about this tract at this point to set a baseline zoning, so I would anticipate on Thursday […]
Posted inRoads
Alternative to MoPac “double-deck” being studied
In the wake of public outcry against a proposal to add elevated lanes to MoPac Expressway over Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is considering an alternative that the Austin Transportation Department first put forward in May. The staff alternative cuts out a “double-deck” design and a southbound flyover […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council reaches Fun Fun Fun Fest compromise
Amid concerns that Fun Fun Fun Fest would not take place this November at Vic Mathias Shores, City Council has intervened in negotiations between festival organizers and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to ensure that it goes forward as planned. Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday directing Parks and Recreation Department staff to allow […]
Posted inTransportation
Updated: City staff asks for more Uber, Lyft accountability
Uber and Lyft drivers are operating all over Austin, but there is no way, sans app, to point out their cars, and the city can’t keep track of who has signed up. Transportation Department staff, however, are hoping that will change soon. Gordon Derr, an assistant director with the department, recommended to the City Council […]
Posted inAustin
Council not likely to ban bullhooks this year
Based on a discussion at a work session on Tuesday, City Council is not likely to ban the use of the bullhook — a common elephant training tool — in circuses before Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey comes to Austin on Aug. 19. “I understand the interest in not having this take effect immediately […]
Posted inWhispers
Casar to move on Fun Fun Fun Fest resolution
City Council Member Greg Casar announced during a work session on Tuesday that he intends to move forward with a resolution on Thursday’s Council agenda related to this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. It would direct city staff to enter into negotiations to allow festival organizers Transmission Events to temporarily use a limited part of […]
Posted inDevelopment
City staff fixes plan review backlog, looks ahead
When it comes to planning and development, city staff has a lot on its plate in the foreseeable future. It no longer has to worry, though, about a plan review backlog that began to pile up earlier this year. Development Services Department Acting Director J. Rodney Gonzales made the announcement at a City Council work […]
Posted inBudget
City may add as many as 85 new police officers
How many police officers should Austin have? That is a question that City Council members will likely be wrestling with over the next few weeks as they consider the Austin Police Department’s request for 85 new officers in the proposed city budget – 26 more than it took on last year. According to the proposed […]
Posted inAustin
Black business owners in Austin area outperform state
Despite Austin being the country’s only large, fast-growing city with a waning African-American population, businesses owned by black residents in the greater area appear to be outperforming those in the rest of the state. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics that Greater Austin Black Chamber board member Hopeton Hay presented in July, Travis County topped […]
Posted inBudget
Council talks budget affordability and city services
There are some things that the proposed Fiscal Year 2015-16 city budget does and some things that it does not do. Aside from raising the property tax rate, along with utility rates and fees for many homeowners, one of the major things the budget does is implement a 6 percent homestead exemption. One of the […]
Posted inBudget
Proposed city budget includes tax, fee hikes
City management is proposing a budget for fiscal year 2015-16 that includes 85 additional police officers, 12 new paramedics, 19 new 911 call takers and 27 new employees for the beleaguered Development Services Department. Under a proposal presented this morning to City Council, the owner of a median-priced home will see taxes, fees and utility […]