Austin City Council has put $23 million toward projects to stop people from getting priced out of their neighborhoods. It’s the first use of money from a larger anti-displacement fund set up to soften the gentrifying effects of planned rail and transportation projects. Real estate development, property values, taxes and rent will likely rise around […]
City Council
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Council passes HEAL resolution to connect homeless to housing, address camping
Those experiencing homelessness and camping in four areas around Austin may soon find permanent homes. By passing the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link resolution (HEAL) on Thursday, City Council set in motion a plan to move people from places that pose risks to their well-being and into housing. “This is immediate action for our unhoused […]
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Council approves District 6 hotel purchase for homeless
After hearing from scores of citizens, both in favor of and opposed to the purchase, City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to buy a hotel in far Northwest Austin for conversion to permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The city will purchase Candlewood Suites at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd. for $9.5 million. District 6 […]
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Austin officially moves forensics lab out from under police department
In a move long advocated for by survivors of sexual assault, the Austin City Council voted Thursday to officially transfer its forensics bureau out from under the police department. It will now function as an independent entity. “This move is a long time coming,” Council Member Greg Casar said before the unanimous vote. “It’s because […]
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Council to move forensics department from APD
City Council is set to create a new Forensic Science Department this week as part of its plan to move some civilian operations out of police control. Council members say the reshuffling will make the department more accountable and allow scientists to do their work better. “This is an important change for public safety and […]
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Council likely to pass amended HEAL resolution
City Council is almost certain to adopt an updated version of the HEAL resolution, a measure to address homeless camping around the city. Six Council members now sponsor the item after Council Member Alison Alter added her name Friday in exchange for amendments to the resolution. The aim of HEAL – the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment […]
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Austin buys one hotel to convert into housing for homeless – and puts off purchasing another.
After hours of debate, the Austin City Council OK’d one purchase of a hotel to ultimately house Austinites experiencing homelessness, while delaying the purchase of another until next week. The two hotels – one in North Austin’s District 7 and another in the more northwesterly District 6 – would collectively cost the city $16.2 million […]
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Council adopts new flood control resolution
In her first move on City Council, new member Vanessa Fuentes authored a resolution directing the city to provide an update on its flood resilience plans. “Often in my community it’s not a matter of if the next big flood happens, but when the next big flood happens,” Fuentes said. “It is essential that this […]
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Council plans hotel purchases for housing homeless, floats camping sites
At Monday’s work session, City Council members discussed purchasing two hotels in North Austin to secure more than 150 permanent supportive housing units for the homeless. Mayor Steve Adler urged Council to act to remedy what he called an “emergency situation,” perhaps using previously rejected measures like setting up designated campsites. In a press release, […]
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Council proposes focus on four encampments in HEAL resolution
The city will focus on four encampments as the first phase of a plan to reduce the growing homeless population by providing housing and support services. The resolution, called the HEAL (Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link) Initiative and slated for the Feb. 4 City Council meeting, directs city staffers to develop a strategy for quickly moving people […]
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Mayor Steve Adler: Reflections on a challenging year
At the start of 2020, Mayor Steve Adler was thinking about how to convince his colleagues to pass a new Land Development Code and how to convince the public to vote for a $7 billion mass transit bond proposal in November. He was not thinking about news from China about the deadly new coronavirus, and […]
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Paige Ellis: Preparing for climate change resilience
Despite enduring a year of trials, Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis is determined to continue getting work done for her constituents and for the city. Two of Ellis’ most significant accomplishments this year with Council include the Healthy Streets initiative and the success of Proposition B, a voter-approved active mobility bond. “These two initiatives […]