In a return to prepandemic form, speakers at the Planning Commission will once again be able to donate and amass time in order to allow presentations of up to 10 minutes. As of today, in-person speakers can receive donated time that is about double what they would normally be allotted. That means primary speakers will […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Hall
Audit shows changes needed at Development Services Department
Nearly a decade after a damning evaluation of the city’s planning and development processes resulted in more than 460 recommended changes, a recent audit of two smaller components of the Development Services Department found some steps left incomplete from a pair of more recent reviews. On Wednesday, the Audit and Finance Committee of City Council […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit examines alleged fraud by employee of Forensic Science Department
The former forensic services manager for the city’s Forensic Science Department allegedly misused his city credit card to purchase $3,000 worth of gift cards and firearm accessories for his personal use, according to a report issued by the Office of the City Auditor. Staff of the Financial Services Department discovered Efrain Perez’s alleged misuse of […]
Posted inCity Council
Delay gives city a hard Dec. 14 deadline to end Seaholm special taxing district
City Council will have until its Dec. 14 meeting to close down a taxing district created to revitalize the Seaholm Power Plant property. That deadline comes because of a decision at last week’s meeting not to close down the tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) that was created in 2008 to fund improvements to the Seaholm […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin throws $2.6 million more into project converting hotel into housing for elderly people without homes
Lee esta historia en español More money is being poured into a former North Austin hotel that will be converted into housing for elderly people who are exiting homelessness. City Council on Thursday authorized an additional $2.6 million for continued renovations to the Pecan Gardens project, raising the total contract to $6.5 million. The contract […]
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Council postpones decision on historic Barton Springs Bridge reconstruction
Although city staff urged City Council to authorize a complete destruction and rebuilding of the historic Barton Springs Bridge, Council postponed action on the item Thursday. Several members of the public urged them not to move forward with the plan and criticized the process for lacking sufficient public input. “When the Council is asked to […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.30.23
City Council will once again convene for a meeting at City Hall today and, as a preview of sorts, we’ve compiled our best guesses as to what might be of interest at the meeting. We’ll note that though Tuesday’s work session was focused on the HOME initiative, that will be the focus of a special […]
Posted inCity Hall
City splits homeless services into new, separate office
The city has created a dedicated office for homelessness services, in a move intended to let city staff address that area more quickly and decisively. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza informed City Council of the change in a memo released Tuesday. He signaled some of his plans for solving homelessness in June, when he assigned […]
Posted inAustin
Disability committee eyes new community census to identify service needs
Local disability advocates appear ready to ask the city to conduct a census or general accounting of the number of local residents with disabilities who may require city services beyond those currently offered locally. Earlier this month, the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities discussed the need for data on disabled people living locally, with […]
Posted inCity Hall
City releases new telework standards for its employees
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has issued a telework policy for city employees. In a Friday memo, Garza explained that a new standards will, in general, allow for 50 percent telework within a two-week pay period. All executives will continue to work in the office during the work week, as will front-line operational staff like […]
Posted inCity Hall
City Council moves toward enshrining remote work options
City Council recently approved a resolution that initiates amendments to the city’s Climate Equity Plan, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan regarding remote work policies for city employees. The amendments – recommended by the Planning Commission and supported by the city employees’ union – would ensure remote work policies align with […]
Posted inAustin
SXSW’s $380M economic impact shows return to prepandemic heights
This year’s South by Southwest appears to have had a local economic impact on par with the years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which nearly wiped out the popular music, tech and film confab in 2020. An analysis from Greyhill Advisors found this year’s event generated $380.9 million in economic activity, a jump of $100 […]