Each week the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week examines the relative costs of getting elected to Austin City Council in 2014. The 2014 Council election was, of course, the most expensive in city history. New Mayor Steve Adler alone spent around $1.5 million over the span of his […]
Austin
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council members consider cutting their own pay
On Thursday, as one of their first official acts as an elected body, City Council members will consider taking an action that could reduce their salaries. Specifically, the resolution on Thursday’s agenda directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their individual compensation and shift funds […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Roads, Transportation, Travis County
Conservation District delays vote on SH45 SW agreement
Representatives of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District voted to put off a decision on an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation that is intended to provide greater environmental protection for the construction of State Highway 45 Southwest. District residents, civic organizations and representatives of Austin and Travis County urged the aquifer district board […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council wraps up orientation, plans policy review
With their first full meeting less than two weeks away, members of the new City Council laid out a plan Thursday to study up on city policy. As a starting point, Council members were asked to consider a plan that had policy workshops taking place once or twice a week, with the last workshop being […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: The Austin Apartment Association and Source of Income
The Austin Apartment Association’s Robbie Robinson joins Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin to discuss recent Council legislation that banned the use of source of income as a means to deny tenant occupancy and the organization’s opposition to the move. Embedded below. Austin Monitor Radio is sponsored by Kerby Lane Cafe. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/186198266″ 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, Development
Waller Creek Conservancy announces CEO, plans
New Waller Creek Conservancy CEO Peter Mullan said Wednesday that he plans to join the city in “pushing the envelope on what is possible” for the ambitious Waller Creek redevelopment project. At a news conference announcing his selection, Mullan addressed Mayor Steve Adler. “I’m excited to work closely with you and your colleagues, (City Manager) […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Local state reps talk turkey at RECA luncheon
On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) gave members of the Real Estate Council of Austin a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Despite the partisan gap, the two representatives found some common ground during the preview. Though they mostly focused on different topics, both addressed issues that could impact Austin […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Environment, Zoning
Neighbors rally against eastside hotel proposal
Developers seeking a variance to turn an old warehouse on Red Bluff Road into a hotel were met with opposition from neighbors, who say the property owners should build within zoning laws to maintain the area along the Colorado River. At the Planning Commission on Tuesday night, Daniel Woodroffe, president of landscape architecture firm DWG, […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Planning
South Austin case closed, garage remains open
A South Austin homeowner’s plea to retain a garage door ended this week at the Board of Adjustment. Ginny Catania, who is the owner of 903 Ethel St., won her latest variance request. Though Catania had initially sought to retain the garage door that she added after buying the house, the amended request allows her […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
EUC members concerned about gas plant study
While the future makeup of the city’s energy portfolio potentially rests on an upcoming independent review of a proposed natural gas plant, members of the Electric Utility Commission continue to vocalize their concerns about the study. Vice Chair Karen Hadden and Commissioner Joep Meijer sent a letter Thursday to Austin Energy staff scrutinizing potential underlying […]
Posted inAustin, Development
BOA puts plan for new kindergarten on hold
Plans to add a kindergarten to St. Andrews Episcopal School remain on hold for now. McLean & Howard, LLP attorney Jeff Howard represented St. Andrews School, which is located at 32nd Street and Wabash Avenue. He explained to the Board of Adjustment that it needed to reduce the required road width with a variance in […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Fire, Public Safety, Resources
Watershed Protection touts wildfire plan progress
Watershed Protection Department staff told the Environmental Board on Wednesday that they have begun to implement an intergovernmental plan designed to help prevent catastrophic wildfires in the future. Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist Ryan Hebrink stressed that the Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan is “not a regulatory document, but a strategic tool.” Travis County, City […]