Deciding how to use leftover funds can be a challenge, but the City Council Mobility Committee came quickly to a consensus Wednesday to recommend that about $21.8 million of available transportation improvement funds be distributed equally among the city’s 10 districts. The money in question is the balance of the quarter-cent fund, which consists of […]
Austin
Posted inAustin
Circus animal ordinance stalls in committee
A proposed ordinance aiming to protect circus animals within city limits sparked a passionate debate at a City Council Health and Human Services Committee meeting on Monday, with supporters calling it a major step forward and opponents arguing that it is burdensome and flawed. The committee ultimately chose to table the proposal until its next […]
Posted inAustin
One city employee dead, another in critical condition
One city employee has died and another is in critical condition at Brackenridge Hospital as a result of a collision that occurred in south Austin before noon on Monday. A late-evening memo from City Manager Marc Ott says that Robert Egan, an employee of the Public Works Department, was driving near One Texas Center when […]
Posted inAustin
Barbecue smoke debate takes new shape
While it did not take action on a set of proposed barbecue smoke regulations Monday, the City Council Health and Human Services Committee made it clear that it hopes to find a way to help residents impacted by smoke without setting broad requirements for barbecue establishments. Committee members also said, however, that the city should […]
Posted inAustin
Cemetery Master Plan gets swift approval, some add-ons
Although the city’s 511-page Historic Cemeteries Master Plan has gotten quick approval from relevant boards and commissions before heading to City Council, several bodies have tacked on their own concerns along the way. The master plan, which considers the future of five historic municipal cemeteries in Austin, most recently received unanimous approval from Parks and […]
Posted inPremium Types
TickTock: Austin City Council Meeting 5.28.15
Tick Tock is the sortable-by-item-number transcript of Monitor publisher Mike Kanin’s Twitter feed from Council day. Simply click on the item number to scroll to the corresponding. Votes are color-coded: Green for yeas, red for nays, et cetera. It’s embedded below. ITEMS 1 4 Tick Tock Participants: MKanin 85 slmcdonald77 2 HGerbracht 1 Thursday, May […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Monitor News & Media, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Council Member Ora Houston
Austin City Council Member Ora Houston joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about her first few months in office, her policy priorities, and much more. Sponsored by Kerbey Lane. Embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/208125048″ 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, City Council
Regional leaders sound off on appraisal challenge
In preparation for tomorrow’s decision, City Council members sat down with leaders from regional taxing entities Tuesday to discuss the pros and cons of challenging the Travis Central Appraisal District’s valuation of Austin commercial properties this year. Those in attendance included representatives and legal counsel for Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Central Health, Austin Community […]
Posted inAustin
Affordable housing bans smoking, possibly truancy
Board commissioners with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin approved a motion Thursday that will change the leasing requirements for its public housing tenants. Now, if residents are caught smoking more than four times in non-designated areas, they will be subject to the eviction process, according to the commissioners’ unanimous decision at the regular […]
Posted inAustin, Monitor News & Media, Radio, The Code
Austin Monitor Radio: Accessory Dwelling Units
Council members Pio Renteria and Ann Kitchen join Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk Accessory Dwelling Units. Sponosored by Kerbey Lane Cafe. Show is embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/207317873″ 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 inPremium Types
TickTock: Austin City Council Meeting 5.21.15
Tick Tock is the sortable-by-item-number transcript of Monitor publisher Mike Kanin’s Twitter feed from Council day. Simply click on the item number to scroll to the corresponding. Votes are color-coded: Green for yeas, red for nays, et cetera. It’s embedded below. ITEMS 2 3 4 8 12 15 16 19 22 23 25 29 39 […]
Posted inAustin
Council moves towards higher minimum wage
The city of Austin inched closer to a higher minimum wage for its employees Thursday. City Council members voted to direct City Manager Marc Ott to consider a minimum wage raise when he sits down to craft the coming year’s budget. But if Ott does follow Council’s direction, it’s not yet clear how far he will […]