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City Council
Council makes Planning Commission appointments this week
City Council is making clear to those concerned – including Attorney General Ken Paxton – that it will absolutely abide by a city charter provision that requires two-thirds of all planning commissioners to be lay members. Paxton has sued previous…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Mar 4, 2021
Council critiques Uri response – and looks ahead to future disasters
On Thursday, City Council launched a wide-ranging review of the city’s response to the devastation wrought by winter storm Uri, beginning the long, complex work of preparing for the next storm – even as the current crisis persists for many.…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 26, 2021
City says fix the leak now, get the permit later
In an effort to assist residents dealing with the aftereffects of prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain, City Council approved an ordinance Thursday waiving residential permitting and development fees for repairing or rebuilding structures and removing downed trees.…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 26, 2021
City's power, water committees begin looking at post-storm improvements
City Council members closely tied to Austin’s energy and water utilities have started mapping out their priorities for determining what led to this week’s massive infrastructure failures and what can be done in the future to prevent hundreds of thousands…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 19, 2021
Council rejects meeting to consider adding ballot measure
After a majority of Council members told City Attorney Anne Morgan they did not believe a special called meeting on Friday night was necessary, Morgan advised Mayor Steve Adler that the mayor would not have a quorum to consider the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 12, 2021
Austin approves $23M to help prevent gentrification near new transit hubs
Austin City Council has put $23 million toward projects to stop people from getting priced out of their neighborhoods. It’s the first use of money from a larger anti-displacement fund set up to soften the gentrifying effects of planned rail…
City Council • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Feb 8, 2021
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Council passes HEAL resolution to connect homeless to housing, address camping
Those experiencing homelessness and camping in four areas around Austin may soon find permanent homes. By passing the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link resolution (HEAL) on Thursday, City Council set in motion a plan to move people from places that…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 5, 2021
Council approves District 6 hotel purchase for homeless
After hearing from scores of citizens, both in favor of and opposed to the purchase, City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to buy a hotel in far Northwest Austin for conversion to permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 5, 2021
Austin officially moves forensics lab out from under police department
In a move long advocated for by survivors of sexual assault, the Austin City Council voted Thursday to officially transfer its forensics bureau out from under the police department. It will now function as an independent entity. “This move is…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 5, 2021
Council to move forensics department from APD
City Council is set to create a new Forensic Science Department this week as part of its plan to move some civilian operations out of police control. Council members say the reshuffling will make the department more accountable and allow…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 4, 2021
Council likely to pass amended HEAL resolution
City Council is almost certain to adopt an updated version of the HEAL resolution, a measure to address homeless camping around the city. Six Council members now sponsor the item after Council Member Alison Alter added her name Friday in…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 3, 2021
Austin buys one hotel to convert into housing for homeless – and puts off purchasing another.
After hours of debate, the Austin City Council OK’d one purchase of a hotel to ultimately house Austinites experiencing homelessness, while delaying the purchase of another until next week. The two hotels – one in North Austin’s District 7 and…
