Editor’s Note: We’re trying out a new format for our City Council TipSheet this week, but the goal remains the same: to highlight the items on the agenda we are keeping an eye on. As usual, the entire agenda is also posted online and real-time updates can be found on the City Council Message Board. Today, […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 3.2.21
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. The meeting will be streamed live on the Travis County website and the Travis County YouTube channel. Item 1: Receive comments regarding […]
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These volunteers didn’t wait around to get homeless Austinites into hotels during the historic freeze
Last Wednesday, Patricia Clark was in a hotel room in North Austin watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” She was bored. Just days earlier, she was outside in the 9-degree weather. The 48-year-old has been homeless on and off for more than half her life, living through cold snaps without heat or water or food […]
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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. “I appreciate the beginnings of how we approach this looking back (on the crisis), ” […]
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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. Fees covered by the waiver include permitting, plan review, inspection, demolition and variance fees for […]
Posted inAustin
Design Commission eyes Dougherty Arts Center plan
The Design Commission on Monday gave feedback on design alternatives for the Dougherty Arts Center redevelopment, setting up a City Council discussion next month. Though commissioners differed on the best alternative, they commended the project as a whole. The “beloved” community arts center, currently located at 1110 Barton Springs Road, will move next to the […]
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Austin Water has restored service to residents, but broken pipes remain a big issue
Areas of Northwest and Southwest Austin that are still under a boil-water notice could be in the clear by Tuesday afternoon, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said at a news conference Monday. “We have collected samples in areas yet to be lifted from the boil-water notice,” he said. If samples come back clear, Austin Water […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 2.23.21
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. The meeting will be streamed live on the Travis County website and the archived footage will be available after the […]
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Council members criticize Cronk’s silence on call for food assistance
Members of City Council have criticized City Manager Spencer Cronk for what they characterize as a poor response to their call last week to have the city set up a food assistance program for residents without food or water in the wake of the winter storm disaster. In a letter penned Sunday, Mayor Pro Tem […]
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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 of residents from losing basic services for days at a time. Council Member Leslie Pool […]
Posted inAustin
With energy, water recovery slow, Austin leaders look for answers
With the city’s energy and water utility systems vastly over capacity, local leaders are pushing for immediate solutions to improve residents’ safety and looking at how the state can prevent a similar statewide failure in the future. As of Wednesday night, Austin Energy had restored power to 16 grids that had gone days without power, […]
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Animal Advisory Commission fields outcry over Gracywoods guinea fowl
In Sub-Saharan Africa, where bloodthirsty predators abound, the guinea fowl’s large numbers, fast legs, and plucky dispositions help protect them from looming peril. But over 8,000 miles away, in the charming North Austin neighborhood of Gracywoods, the birds face a different sort of threat, one their sundry adaptations can’t remedy: indignant neighbors. “I want to […]