Stories by Vicky Garza
Advocates push for permanent animal cruelty prosecutors
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has assigned two prosecutors to handle animal cruelty cases after a family and animal law attorney made the case for a special animal cruelty prosecutor to the Animal Advisory Commission last month during citizens…
City Hall • By Vicky Garza • Jun 15, 2016
State considering sale of land in Central and West Austin
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is considering the sale of state-owned land totaling 223 192 acres on two sites in Central and West Austin. The first step is a study, currently underway, to determine the feasibility of relocating…
Development • By Vicky Garza • Jun 10, 2016
Grove PUD plan punted back to developers
After getting the thumbs-down from the Parks and Recreation Department last week, the Grove at Shoal Creek Planned Unit Development has been put in a two-week timeout by the Environmental Commission to give the developer time to address some outstanding…
Planning • By Vicky Garza • Jun 3, 2016
Parks board weighs in on Shoal Creek PUD
After more than three hours of presentations and testimony, the Parks and Recreation Board decided to send the message that the amount and quality of open space planned for The Grove at Shoal Creek Planned Unit Development is not to…
Parks • By Vicky Garza • May 27, 2016
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Commission votes to clean up ‘East Austin’s Mount Bonnell’
In a move some residents and commissioners referred to as symbolic, the Environmental Commission voted to clean up a site that has been called the Mount Bonnell of East Austin. The La Loma trail and Red Bluff site, located behind…
Environment • By Vicky Garza • May 25, 2016
Tenant relocation assistance program moves forward
In recognition of urgent community need, the Planning Commission’s Committee on Codes and Ordinances voted unanimously to push forward with a proposed tenant relocation assistance program, despite the lack of a draft ordinance at the meeting. As requested by City…
Housing • By Vicky Garza • May 24, 2016
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Proposed ordinance puts charter schools at odds with neighborhoods
Though they gave it a shot, members of the Planning Commission’s Committee on Codes and Ordinances were unable to reach an agreement on what to do with the draft ordinance that would remove site development plan exemptions for charter schools.…
The Code • By Vicky Garza • May 23, 2016
New study envisions major changes around Barton Springs Pool
Austin’s rapid population growth and development, along with Zilker Park’s aging facilities, are threatening Barton Springs, the pool and its bathhouse. In a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday, city staff and members of the Barton Spring…
Parks • By Vicky Garza • Mar 24, 2016
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Animal Services punts spay and neuter proposal
The Animal Advisory Commission voted down a proposal last week that would have allowed animal shelter staff to spay or neuter an animal the first time it is impounded. Instead, the commissioners will wait for the results of a six-month…
Austin • By Vicky Garza • Mar 21, 2016
Daugherty wins Precinct 3 primary
Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty will be able to run again for his Precinct 3 seat in November. With 70.83 percent of the vote, he defeated attorney and businessman Jason Nassour to become the Republican nominee for a sprawling precinct that includes 12…
Elections • By Vicky Garza • Mar 2, 2016
Forum updates on community health initiatives
City and county health officials and health services organizations provided an update last Wednesday night on a five-year comprehensive community health planning initiative that will end in June. About 86 residents attended the community forum at the George Washington Carver…
Public Health • By Vicky Garza • Feb 9, 2016
Parkland dedication fees head to Council, again
The Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee voted on Wednesday to push forward on a long-overdue proposal to amend the city’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance after a one-month delay. During that time, Parks and Recreation Department staff added an additional amendment…
