At their last meeting, City Council members endorsed a change that could allow metered parking spaces to be counted toward off-street parking requirements for businesses outside of downtown. However, it will be up to the new Council to decide whether the idea becomes a reality. In a unique voting bloc, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council […]
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Posted inAustin, Local Politics
Reporter’s Notebook: Council gets a big send-off
What was wrong with David Bowie’s “Ch-Ch-Changes”? … Thursday was the last meeting of the current City Council. Maybe it was a case of managed expectations, but given the length of the agenda, when the meeting ended at just past 1 a.m., it seemed almost reasonable. The meeting ended with a burst of good cheer […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 12-16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 13. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE PROPOSED CHAPTER 48, RULES OF TRAVIS […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Energy, Environment, Resources
Council approves 2025 Austin Energy gen plan
Following a several-months-long stakeholder process, City Council approved an update to the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan with goals to 2025 for the new Council to take charge of next year. Council members made several amendments before adopting the plan at Thursday’s Council meeting. They were eventually accepted by Austin Energy staff […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Local Politics
Chapter 380 won’t stop firms from tax protests
City Council Member Kathie Tovo’s attempt to prevent companies that enter into Chapter 380 economic development agreements with the city from appealing their property tax appraisals ended with something considerably less than that Thursday, after Council members heard from a Samsung representative about how such an effort might backfire. Catherine Morse, general counsel and director […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Council OKs changes to Lone Star Rail agreement
Austin City Council members Thursday approved a set of amendments to an interlocal agreement with the Lone Star Rail District. The action clears the way for rail district officials to count the city — and funding derived from special taxing districts around eight potential Austin stops — among its support as it moves forward with […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing
Source of income rule OK’d, lawsuit threatened
Starting in mid-January, Austin property owners will be barred from discriminating against potential renters based on their source of income. The Austin Apartment Association plans to file a lawsuit to block the new policy. City Council unanimously passed the ordinance Thursday after hearing arguments from public speakers for and against it. Proponents believe it will […]
Posted inAustin, Local Politics, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Mayor Lee Leffingwell
Retiring Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell joins Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin and Political Editor Jo Clifton to look back at his terms and look ahead to the new era in Austin politics. The show is posted below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/181020746″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Austin politics joins world of shadowy PAC action
Even though some political action committees have made a bigger splash in terms of negative messaging during this City Council election season, the Austin Firefighters Association, which has two political committees helping candidates, has spent the most money. Bob Nicks, president of the association, confirmed Wednesday that his two committees have spent close to $250,000 […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Transit, Transportation
City may consider Lone Star funding commitment
Austin’s role in funding a proposed commuter rail line that would run through Austin and San Antonio is up in the air ahead of consideration at today’s City Council meeting, with staff and some Council members disagreeing on whether it is time to commit property tax money to the project. Council members may amend an […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing, Local Politics
Council may amend source-of-income ordinance
Austin City Council members, set to finalize an ordinance that would ban housing discrimination based on one’s source of income, will consider a language change that would bring their version of the rule in line with state and federal codes. Council Member Laura Morrison raised the issue at Tuesday’s work session. “There is a state […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Land Development Code
Hyde Park rezoning tests process, patience
A plan for a new restaurant in Hyde Park revealed bigger problems than just zoning Tuesday night, when a code interpretation had Planning Commissioners calling for a change in procedure. Navid Hoomanrad is seeking a zoning change from single family (SF-3) to Neighborhood Office (NO). Hoomanrad is also asking to amend the Hyde Park Neighborhood […]