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City Council

Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April

​​The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change,…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 28, 2025

Council solidifies transparency in labor talks over APA’s opposition

City Council on Thursday approved a resolution reaffirming the city’s transparency policy in labor negotiations, despite objections from the Austin Police Association president. The one-page resolution, introduced by Ryan Alter, reiterates the city’s policy that meet-and-confer and collective bargaining discussions…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 28, 2025

Council will likely delay implementing new STR rules pending legislative action

Austin City Council today will consider an overhaul of the city’s short-term rental regulations but is expected to delay implementing most changes until the summer. At Tuesday’s work session, Mayor Kirk Watson suggested pausing the new rules pending the outcome…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 27, 2025

Council approves call for better coordination, planning among downtown projects

The city hopes to bring coordination to the many high-profile projects taking over downtown Austin in the coming years, with the city manager charged with determining the budgetary and planning resources needed throughout the district. On Thursday, City Council approved…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 18, 2025

Council vows to make homelessness a top financial priority

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…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 3, 2025

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…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 31, 2025

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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…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 29, 2025

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…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 17, 2025

Changes coming to Audit & Finance Committee

With the retirement of City Council members Alison Alter and Leslie Pool, who served as the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Council Audit & Finance Committee, as well as Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who served on the committee,…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 14, 2025

At citizens’ request, City Council reannexes land

Some property owners object to the rules and fees governing use of their land in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and seek to escape from those rules. But their neighbors may not agree. City Council took action during their final meeting…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 10, 2025

Watson touts moves toward stability, predictability for city services in 2024

Mayor Kirk Watson returns to the word “stability” frequently when discussing the moves and decisions inside City Hall in 2024 and what residents want headed into 2025. For Watson, stability and predictability come in the form of things like the…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 6, 2025

From deep dives to creative thinking, Alison Alter brought an innovative approach to her policy work

When Alison Alter came into office in 2017, her primary issues were parks, climate change and responsible growth. That was just a preview. Over the next eight years, the District 10 City Council member built an expansive policy portfolio that…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Jan 3, 2025

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