Though City Council members briefly reappeared to help unveil this year’s budget last week, they will have their first regular meeting this week after summer break. As one might expect, the agenda is somewhat overstuffed in an effort to make up for that lost time. We’ve done our level best to discern what the most […]
City Hall
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission gives early OK for city aid to expand Umlauf museum
The Arts Commission wants City Council to give an initial endorsement to an ambitious plan to improve and expand the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, which is managed in partnership with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. At Monday’s meeting, the commission received a presentation on the plan for the 8-acre site, which sits on […]
Posted inCity Council
With an ambitious food plan ready for adoption, all that’s missing is the financing
City Council members heard a briefing Tuesday on a far-reaching food plan designed to eliminate historical barriers to food access in Austin and Travis County. If all goes as planned, the draft proposal will return to City Council on Aug. 29 for possible adoption. The Travis County Commissioners Court is expected to be briefed on […]
Posted inBudget
Council gives first thoughts on $5.9B draft budget for 2025
The early draft of the city’s 2025 budget weighs in at $5.9 billion, a $400 million increase over the current budget. City Manager T.C. Broadnax said the balanced budget offers increases in city staff compensation and benefits despite lower-than-expected sales tax revenues that in recent months had raised concerns that the city may run a […]
Posted inBudget
Community groups await fate of nearly $80M in budget recommendations
A coalition of more than 40 community groups is hoping the new city manager has found room in the next city budget for nearly $80 million of spending to address homelessness, economic insecurity and an assortment of other progressive causes. The groups – which include Austin Justice Coalition, Sierra Club Austin, VOCAL-TX and Equity Action […]
Posted inCity Hall
For one city employee, Facebook posts lead to an impossible process
A city department head who disapproved of her employee’s social media posts about city management has filed a human resources complaint against him, an unusual move that gives her the power to validate her own complaint and field any appeal that might be made in the future. Andrew Rivera has worked for the city of […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Advisory Commission wants pets allowed in cooling centers
The Animal Advisory Commission is urging the city to allow pets inside designated cooling centers as summer heats up. The commission unanimously passed a recommendation that urges the city to identify “a number of cooling centers throughout the City of Austin that persons with companion animals may go to for relief during times of intense […]
Posted inAustin
More animals must leave the shelter before Austin Animal Center will accept them again
The Austin Animal Center has stopped accepting any more animals until further notice. Jason Garza, deputy chief animal services officer, said the shelter has so many dogs and cats that it’s overcapacity. As of Tuesday, there were 683 animals on site, including about 300 medium to large dogs. The shelter has only 252 dog kennels. […]
Posted inParks
Parks Board hears from the public on the next (and former) PARD director
The Parks and Recreation Board got an earful of public testimony earlier this month regarding the city’s national search to replace former parks director Kimberly McNeeley. McNeeley recently left the Parks and Recreation Department after accepting the position of CEO of the Trail Conservancy, one of the department’s nonprofit partners. Several speakers, including some department […]
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission sees potential in proposed cultural district framework
The Arts Commission expressed early support recently for the Economic Development Department’s plans to simplify and standardize the process for creating cultural and economic districts, with the expectation that more districts will be established and funded in the coming years. At last month’s meeting, the commission received a presentation from Matthew Schmidt, a program manager […]
Posted inCity Hall
On homelessness, Broadnax seeks connections with housing and service providers
The Austin Monitor recently sat down with new Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax to discuss some of the more prominent issues facing city staff and City Council as he gets situated in his job. For the last of four portions from the interview, he shares his thoughts on addressing homelessness in the city. On the homelessness […]
Posted inCity Hall
Broadnax considers service adjustments as ‘tough’ budget awaits
The Austin Monitor recently sat down with new Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax to discuss some of the more prominent issues facing city staff and City Council as he gets situated in his job. For the budget process as you’re going through it, are there any big differences that you’ve noticed procedurally in how Austin has assembled […]