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TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.21.24
Austin City Council will convene for their regular meeting today and, per usual, there were a few things that caught our eye that we’ve detailed in this TipSheet. For more information, or to make your own decisions, the entire agenda…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 21, 2024
City’s new travel policy aligns with best practices used in other cities
The city’s travel reimbursement process for employees appears to be working well since the policy was updated early this year, according to an audit of the new policy presented Tuesday to City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. While the audit…
Austin • By Amy Smith • Nov 13, 2024
Jesús Garza disputes allegation that he violated city ethics rule
Consultants hired to investigate an ethics complaint against former interim City Manager Jesús Garza have concluded that he violated a city ethics regulation when engaging the services of former city employees Joe Canales and Laura Huffman without consulting City Council.…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Nov 12, 2024
Legal questions cause delay in considering changes to petition rules
At Thursday’s City Council meeting, after hearing complaints from two attorneys that a proposed ordinance would violate state law and the city charter, Mayor Kirk Watson announced that the item would be withdrawn. The proposed ordinance would govern petitions for…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Nov 8, 2024
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Special fund could help Council members respond to neighborhood needs
Under a proposal approved Thursday, City Council members may have the ability next year to fund projects in their districts without following the usual planning and budgeting processes. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, directs the city manager…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Nov 8, 2024
ECHO's $350M plan offers to 'effectively end' homelessness in Austin
The city is projected to need $35 million annually over a 10-year period to effectively end homelessness via a plan that emphasizes adding hundreds of permanent supportive housing units while also addressing emergency shelter and prevention steps to keep people…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 8, 2024
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Downtown Commission questions scope, cost of core transportation plan
The city has identified improvements to several east-west streets through downtown as priority projects in a new plan to address mobility in the area. Last month, the Downtown Commission got the first look at portions of the Austin Core Transportation…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 7, 2024
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.7.24
Well, the show must go on. After a momentous election Tuesday that will also see new Council members in Districts 6, 7 and 10 and probably the return of Mayor Kirk Watson, City Council members are dusting themselves off and…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 7, 2024
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SXSW economic impact sees small dip based on lower spending for ticketing
South by Southwest’s impact on the local economy decreased slightly this year from 2023, according to a new study from business analysts Greyhill Advisors. The study found that the festival generated $377.3 million for local businesses and residents, compared to…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 1, 2024
Council to consider $5.5M contract for redo of city's website
The city’s primary website is slated for a comprehensive revamp from a California-based vendor, due in part to staff’s assessment that the work needed to properly improve the site exceeds their resources and abilities. An item on next week’s City…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 31, 2024
Report finds slashed site plan review times, with further improvements on tap
An analysis of the city’s ongoing work to improve its widely criticized permitting process for building within the city shows substantial improvements in turnaround times for the main types of reviews, with further gains expected as the city moves forward…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024
Auditor examines city's shifting funding, expectations for Cultural Arts grants
A recent report from the City Auditor highlights a recurring state of flux for Cultural Arts funding in recent years, which has fed into the ongoing debate over how the city manages those grant programs. The audit, which was requested…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024
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