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City Council
City code to allow camping, solicitation, sitting in public areas, with conditions
City Council approved an ordinance early Friday morning amending city code to decriminalize certain behaviors that are often necessary consequences of living in homelessness. The changes mean that city policies prohibiting sitting, lying down and camping in public areas will…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 21, 2019
Council vote OKs move to open homeless housing center in South Austin
The city’s second homeless shelter will be located in South Austin, as a result of a unanimous vote by City Council on Thursday to approve the purchase of an office building that will be converted into a 100-bed facility, possibly…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 21, 2019
Council votes to tax Lake Austin homes
After hearing from a handful of residents who have never paid city property taxes on their Lake Austin homes, Council voted unanimously on Thursday to repeal an ordinance that exempted about 400 such properties from city taxes. Council also approved…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 21, 2019
City to consider Rainey Street closure pilot
City Council directed the city manager Wednesday to immediately initiate a shared streets pilot to improve mobility and safety in the Rainey Street District. The pilot is to consider restricting vehicle access in some areas to reduce conflicts between cars,…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 20, 2019
Council wants to look at 380 agreements again
A $165,000 economic development agreement between the city of Austin and Austin Community College to help the college provide and maintain what is described as “leading edge” technology equipment for ACC’s fashion incubator could be an early casualty of Council’s…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 19, 2019
Council wants justice for state’s actions
Caught in the wake of the 86th Texas Legislative session, City Council members are directing attention to the state leaders they say have intentionally pitted city governments against their constituents. In a briefing with Council on Tuesday, Brie Franco, intergovernmental…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 19, 2019
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City to pay up to $8.6M for South Austin parcel for new homeless shelter
City Council is expected to vote this week on approving the purchase of a commercial building in South Austin that will serve as the city’s second homeless shelter. A pair of resolutions slated for Thursday’s Council meeting spells out the…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 17, 2019
Nonprofit funds OK'd despite Flannigan questions
In spite of Council Member Jimmy Flannigan’s effort to postpone the vote, Council last week approved adding $319,000 to a contract with Capital IDEA for funds to train young adults for entry into the workforce. The total for the six-year…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 14, 2019
Council sets tow fee to track with consumer price index change
City Council responded Thursday to a request from local towing companies and the Austin Police Department to raise the fee for non-consent tows taking place in the city. The vote sets the fee at $185 for tows initiated by the…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 11, 2019
No decision on Butler Pitch & Putt contract
With Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison both absent for a vote at Thursday’s meeting, City Council has postponed approving a contract of up to 20 years for Pecan Grove Golf Partners for managing Austin’s nearly 70-year-old Butler…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 7, 2019
Sparks fly over proposed changes to camping laws
Representatives of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and the Downtown Austin Alliance continue to stress that they are working together to end homelessness in Austin. But their conflicting messages to City Council on Thursday about proposed changes to ordinances that…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 7, 2019
Council to postpone vote on camping, panhandling ordinance
As the city puts more resources into shelters and programs to assist those without a place to live, City Council is also considering modifying three often-counterproductive city policies that target homeless people. The policies prohibit camping in public areas, sitting…
