The Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week, Don Zimmerman’s ongoing effort to change the way federal housing subsidies are awarded. City Council Member Don Zimmerman has displayed a certain … distaste for subsidized housing. Before his election to Council, Zimmerman used a rape whistle and the phrase “no […]
Austin
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 3.3 & 3.5
A light agenda for a week when some of the fireworks may be reserved for the March 2 first meeting of the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee–which is set to tackle the latest Council staffing proposal from Mayor Steve Adler. As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda work session Tuesday and for […]
Posted inAustin, Budget
Council considers health care for more employees
Though the City of Austin offers health coverage to most of its regular employees, City Council has kick-started a process that could lead to an expansion to all employees in the next fiscal year. Council voted Thursday to direct city staff to identify and categorize city employees who are not eligible to receive health coverage […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Council votes for more study of Adler staff plan
On a 6-5 vote, City Council postponed action Thursday on Mayor Steve Adler’s plan to add five staffers to his office, sending the question to the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. Those voting for the postponement included Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Members Ellen Troxclair, Greg Casar, Ora Houston, Don Zimmerman and Delia […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Planning
Council takes small step in Garza case
Though they were only deciding one small detail of a decades-long fight over what was once the Garza Ranch, City Council members took hours to contemplate how many trips per day should be allowed on the last piece of land. In the end, it was a chaotic finish, with motions, suggestions and compromises flying across […]
Posted inAustin, Parks, Resources, Uncategorized, Water
Plans for Decker golf course divide Parks board
A proposed golf course split Austin’s Parks and Recreation board down the middle Wednesday night when members landed undecided on whether to recommend to City Council a 50-year license with Decker Golf LLC to build a high-end golf complex in East Austin. “It goes forward split to the City Council, and they will be making […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Mayor foresees messy, but effective, City Council
Austin Mayor Steve Adler says in the wake of what he hopes will be a more efficient and more inclusive City Council, don’t be surprised if there’s a little mess. “We have conversations that are out for everyone to see. Sometimes conversations and communications are messy,” Adler told Monitor Publisher Michael Kanin last night at […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Council to continue July vacation tradition
Rejoice, city staffers. Your July vacation is probably safe — unless you are part of the budget staff. At Tuesday’s work session, City Council members agreed that they would continue the tradition of not scheduling meetings during July. Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo brought up the issue during a discussion about scheduling Council and Council […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Parks
Parks to consider Decker Golf; Council may punt
Although consideration of an agreement with Decker Golf LLC is on this week’s City Council agenda, Mayor Steve Adler said Monday that staff would be requesting postponement of an item allowing a 50-year license agreement for construction of new PGA-style golf courses at Walter E. Long Park. And Council Member Greg Casar said he would […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Professor lectures Adler on Austin government
Terrell Blodgett, professor emeritus at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, has written to Mayor Steve Adler and his City Council colleagues expressing concern about the mayor’s plan to add more staff for his office and lecturing him on the fact that the mayor has no more power than any of his Council colleagues or […]
Posted inAustin, Transportation
Work on Fifth Street to continue through SXSW
Utility construction on Fifth Street will continue through South by Southwest, despite plans to the contrary. On Friday, Public Works Department Director Howard Lazarus sent a memo to city staff explaining the situation. Though work on the Fifth Street chilled water line was scheduled to conclude by the end of February, the discovery that welds […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.24 & 2.26
Another light agenda by previous Council standards. Still, a revamped staffing proposal from Mayor Adler, the return — again –of the Garza tract, the proposed Decker Lake golf facility, and much more seem to point to what could be, at the least, a long day. As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda […]