City Council last week reaffirmed its commitment to tackling Austin’s homelessness crisis, pledging to use a recent data-driven report to guide housing and services investments over the next 10 years. City officials will work with Travis County, service providers and other regional partners to finance upward of $350 million to strengthen the local homelessness response […]
City Hall
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission questions changes to Nexus’ $500K grant process
With the city’s next round of Nexus cultural arts grants open to applicants, members of the Arts Commission recently discussed how to improve the selection process for awardees so the program better serves emerging and disadvantaged artists. At last week’s meeting, the commission received a presentation from Zac Traeger, executive director of the Museum of […]
Posted inCity Council
Council OKs plan to remove, demolish artwork as part of convention center rebuild
Four large murals and art installations from local artists will be removed from the Austin Convention Center and destroyed ahead of the facility’s forthcoming demolition and reconstruction, despite calls from the artists and supporters to find a way to preserve the works. At Thursday’s meeting, City Council approved a plan for the deaccession of eight […]
Posted inAustin
Real estate leaders hear options for assisting Austin’s threatened creatives
Members of the Austin real estate and development community got a look Wednesday at how unstable many local arts and cultural organizations are – and how they are being threatened by the growth pressures in the city’s hot market for commercial space. Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly breakfast panel was focused on how to preserve […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council 1.30.25
After a long holiday break, it’s time to turn our eyes back to local politics, with the first regular meeting of City Council in 2025. It’s also the first meeting for Council members Marc Duchen, Mike Siegel and Krista Laine. Fun! For those who want the full experience, the City Council agenda is posted online […]
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Austin scrambles to assess local impact of federal grant freeze
President Donald Trump issued a directive on Monday ordering a sweeping freeze on federal grants, including money to state and local governments. This action caused an immediate uproar, as well as lawsuits to put the order on hold. A federal judge stayed the order just before it was slated to take effect but legal wrangling […]
Posted inCity Council
Council to consider first widespread changes to parking rules in 15 years
City Council will consider a series of amendments to the city’s parking and mobility regulations on Thursday that would represent the first citywide changes to parking management in 15 years. The proposed changes to City Code chapters 12-3 and 12-5 include updates to the definitions of parking meters and parking spaces, adjustments to rules governing […]
Posted inAustin
Joint Sustainability Committee looks at agricultural land acquisition and preservation
The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board is looking for support for a plan to preserve and acquire agricultural land in the region, and it’s turned to the Joint Sustainability Committee for help and recommendations. The recommendations are a next step for the goals of the Austin-Travis County Food Plan, which was passed by City Council […]
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New areas at Enchanted Rock could open as soon as this fall after park more than doubles in size
For many Central Texans, Enchanted Rock is a special and mystical place, and now it’s more than doubled in size. Rodney Franklin, director for state parks with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said lots of people have fond memories of hiking to the top of the dome and seeing the view for the first […]
Posted inCity Hall
Memo highlights needs, gaps in achieving city’s climate goals by 2040
The city still has to rework or commit more funding and resources toward the majority of the goals involved in implementing its Climate Equity Plan, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. A recent staff memo from Chief Sustainability Officer Zach Baumer outlines the challenges and next steps involved in realizing the […]
Posted inCity Council
Council Member Krista Laine opts to discontinue District 6 field office
As she prepares for her first City Council meetings later this month, newly elected District 6 Council Member Krista Laine will represent residents of Northwest Austin and a portion of Williamson County without the use of a satellite office that has been available for constituent relations for 10 years. After her November win over former […]
Posted inCity Hall
Animal Services Office releases strategic plan draft
The city’s Animal Services Office released a draft of its 2025-2030 strategic plan on Jan. 8. Enumerated in the draft is the office’s vision “to provide services and resources that allow people and animals to thrive in the city of Austin.” The Animal Advisory Commission was presented the strategic plan at its regular meeting on […]