Planning and Development Review Department Director Greg Guernsey said Tuesday that he plans to ask City Council for an “indefinite postponement” Thursday of an ordinance that would allow the city to issue permits for overnight concrete pouring on downtown mixed-use and public zoned properties. He said he would likely propose a modified ordinance with adjusted […]
Tyler Whitson
Posted inLocal Politics
Concerned over ACL noise, Morrison proposes fix
City Council members discussed a resolution Tuesday that could lead to changes in the outdoor amplified sound permitting process for large-scale music events on city parkland. The move follows complaints from residents about the sound coming from this year’s Austin City Limits festival at Zilker Park. The resolution, which is on the agenda for Thursday’s […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Council approves amended TNC ordinance
Following an extensive discussion and several amendments, City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that will temporarily legalize transportation network companies such as Lyft and Uber in Austin on final reading. The ordinance directs the City Manager to enter into an operating agreement with TNCs within 30 days of the effective date. Council Member Laura Morrison, […]
Posted inWhispers
Spelman plans TNC amendment
City Council Member Bill Spelman plans an amendment during today’s Council meeting to solve an insurance conundrum that is part of an ordinance that would temporarily legalize transportation network companies such as Lyft and Uber. The amendment, which Spelman provided to the Monitor, appears to be modeled after an amendment to California’s new regulations. It […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Mayor candidates’ spar on achieving affordability
Affordability topped the list of issues that Austin mayoral candidates Sheryl Cole, Mike Martinez, Steve Adler, Todd Phelps, Randall Stephens and David Orshalick discussed at Wednesday’s Ballot Boxing Mayoral Forum. Moderators Nathan Bernier of KUT, Shannon Wolfson of KXAN and Michael Kanin of the Austin Monitor covered a broad array of topics. They included how […]
Posted inWhispers
Riley works on micro units passage
Council Member Chris Riley touted potential changes to an ordinance that would amend City Code to reduce restrictions on the construction of micro units at Tuesday’s work session, ahead of a public hearing scheduled for Thursday’s meeting. The new language, he said, is “very simple and clean, and encourages those sorts of units near the […]
Posted inTransportation, Uncategorized
Council still far from agreement on TNC ordinance
City Council members demonstrated Tuesday that there is still considerable disagreement about the finer points of an ordinance that would temporarily legalize transportation network companies in Austin, despite its approval on first and second readings, with a final reading on Thursday’s agenda. The conversation at this week’s Council work session revolved almost exclusively around Council […]
Posted inResources
Skeptical Council hears new AE generation plan
Despite disagreements over exactly how much solar energy Austin Energy should purchase by 2020, both sides in a tug of war over the utility’s generation plan agreed Thursday that Austin Energy should move forward with a request for proposals for more solar power. City Council members, sitting as the Committee on Austin Energy, heard more […]
Posted inWhispers
ZAP delays Ace Auto Salvage rezone
The Zoning and Platting Commission voted Tuesday to postpone a rezoning request for property that is currently home to ACE Discount Glass and ACE Auto Salvage, pending a potential Transfer of Development Rights between the applicant and the city on an environmentally sensitive tract of land. If approved, the agreement would likely influence the commission’s […]
Posted inWhispers
ZAP elects slate of officers, goes home
The Zoning and Platting Commission elected officers Tuesday night. Starting next year, Commissioner Rahm McDaniel will be known as Assistant Secretary of ZAP. The commission also re-elected Chair Betty Baker, Parliamentarian Gabriel Rojas, Secretary Cynthia Banks and Vice Chair Patricia Seeger. Banks made the nomination at Tuesday’s meeting, Rojas seconded and the vote was unanimous. […]
Posted inTransportation
Council approves TNC ordinance on 2nd reading
In an unexpected turn of events, City Council voted Thursday to pass an ordinance legalizing Transportation Network Companies merely on second reading, rather than on the emergency basis that Council Member Chris Riley initially requested. Council Member Laura Morrison cast the sole opposing vote, as she had on the ordinance’s first reading in last week’s […]
Posted inWhispers
Overnight concrete pouring in limbo
Council members discussed an ordinance at Tuesday’s work session that would allow the city to issue permits for overnight concrete pouring on downtown mixed-use and publicly zoned properties, in addition to the central business district. Planning and Development Review Director Greg Guernsey said the city issued a record-high 108 permits for construction of the W […]