The city is expected to expand its contracts with social service organizations in order to begin deploying a portion of Austin’s budget reserves to residents facing financial peril due to the spread of Covid-19. Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Council Member Greg Casar have teamed up to create a budget amendment and accompanying resolution […]
City Council
Posted inCity Council
No rest for contractors hauling city waste, recycling
Council gave the official nod of approval last week for short-term contracts for collection, processing and disposal of trash, as well as recycling services and disposal of brush and compostable materials, to Central Waste and Recycling and Texas Disposal Systems. The two contracts, which total $534,000, will be in place for up to six months. […]
Posted inCity Council
Council adopts anti-eviction ordinance: Tenant advocates call it a ‘Band-Aid solution’
City Council adopted a 60-day suspension on evictions Thursday that will buy tenants two months before a landlord can seek to evict them for missed rent payments. Many renters and local advocates, however, say the ordinance only kicks the can down the road for those in need rather than providing real relief for renters who […]
Posted inCity Council
City Council to vote on anti-eviction ordinance Thursday
City Council will vote Thursday on establishing a 60-day grace period for renters in an emergency ordinance released Monday. The ordinance, which is sponsored by Council members Greg Casar, Kathie Tovo, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Mayor Steve Adler will create a two-month grace period before eviction proceedings can begin due to nonpayment of […]
Posted inCity Council
Council widens scope of how to lessen COVID-19’s economic impact
A City Council resolution intended to assist small businesses and employees impacted by the cancellation of South by Southwest has been expanded in recent days to include aid for child care services and health care providers for senior citizens, with more additions possible. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan originally took up the measure following the cancellation […]
Posted inCity Council
Council enters new territory with online participants
Under normal circumstances, Council chambers would be packed with city staff, observers and people wishing to comment on various agenda items. Today, under national, state and local emergency declarations, COVID-19 has made these times anything but normal. According to a memo released Friday, Mayor Steve Adler and five of his Council colleagues will appear in […]
Posted inCity Council
City looks for funds, including hotel tax, to cushion COVID-19 economic impact
City staff and members of City Council have fine-tuned their plans for assisting small businesses and employees facing financial difficulties from the cancellation of South by Southwest and other fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan posted a draft resolution on the City Council Message Board Thursday directing staff to create or use […]
Posted inCity Council
Local disaster declaration extended indefinitely
As expected, Mayor Steve Adler has extended the local state of disaster declaration indefinitely, with the unanimous consent of City Council. On March 6, the mayor declared a local state of disaster for one week due to concerns over the new coronavirus, but he needed Council’s approval to extend that declaration. The city joined Travis […]
Posted inZoning
Council gives initial OK for Delwau campgrounds
The case of the Delwau campgrounds rezoning – which Council rejected in 2018 – has returned, minus the sales of hard alcohol that doomed its chances the first time. Last Thursday, Council gave first-round approval for the case that would transform a plot of land next to the Colorado River into a campground for recreational […]
Posted inCity Council
Council declines to vote on airport lounge contract
What started as an objection from the second-place bidder for a lucrative contract to build and operate a lounge at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ended with Council rejecting staffers’ recommendation and sending them back to the drawing board at last Thursday’s meeting. Staff had recommended awarding the contract to MAG USA, which was promising the city […]
Posted inAustin
Petition would recriminalize homeless camping
Travis County Republican Party Chair Matt Mackowiak began the week taking a shot at local Democrats on the Austin City Council, announcing a petition that seeks to recriminalize camping in public places by the homeless. According to local Republican Party spokesman Andy Hogue, however, Mackowiak’s organization, Save Austin Now, is a “nonpartisan, freestanding nonprofit.” Democrat […]
Posted inCity Council
City asks UT for proposals on Muny, Brackenridge tract
City Council sent a friendly message to the University of Texas on Thursday, asking UT to give the city proposals for how to deal with the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course and the Brackenridge Development Agreement as well as other items. Time is of the essence because both agreements expire on May 25. In January, […]