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City Council
Should the city move to a two-year budget?
Every week that City Council holds a Thursday meeting, Council members meet Tuesday for a “work session” to discuss items that they plan to vote on at the meeting. In recent months, however, Council has also begun setting aside an…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Nov 29, 2018
Minimum lot sizes: A roadblock for affordable housing?
Last week, Austin voters approved a record-busting $250 million for affordable housing, but a discussion during Thursday’s City Council meeting showed that building new housing isn’t simply a matter of having enough money. At issue is a small piece of…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Nov 16, 2018
Ellis picks up important endorsements
Paige Ellis, the top vote-getter in the Nov. 6 race for City Council District 8, announced Tuesday that her two Democratic opponents in the race, Rich DePalma and Bobby Levinski, had endorsed her. Ellis will face Republican Frank Ward in…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Nov 14, 2018
Council seems ready to OK biosolids contract
The latest chapter in the city’s quest to sign a new contract for handling biosolids at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant appears to be nearing its end after two and half years of struggle. With Council Member Alison Alter…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Oct 31, 2018
City staff gets green light to research public plaza program
While it’s fashionable in the U.S. for private enterprises to attach the word “plaza” to many things that are not, like shopping malls or condominiums, a public plaza can be hard to find (Austin’s beautiful Plaza Saltillo actually prohibits “loitering,”…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 23, 2018
City Council votes: Manchaca to become Menchaca
Austin City Council voted Thursday afternoon to rename South Austin’s Manchaca Road to reflect its allegedly historically accurate spelling: Menchaca. While the issue may appear to be too simple for debate, the vowel in question is a placeholder for a…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 5, 2018
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Council approves plan to revamp incentives, with small businesses in mind
City Council voted Thursday to approve the framework for a restructuring of the city’s economic incentives programs, with the goal of increasing small business growth and improving job opportunities for lower-wage and middle-skill workers. The 9-1 vote saw Council Member…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 31, 2018
Council will try a new tactic to rid Austin of plastic bags. Asking nicely.
City Council is taking up a resolution Thursday encouraging local stores to keep honoring the city’s “bag ban.” It’s the latest response to a state Supreme Court ruling this year that found Texas cities and towns could not enforce regulations…
City Council • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Aug 30, 2018
Council OKs Shady Lane project on first reading
Council approved multifamily zoning for the Flats on Shady at 1125 Shady Lane on first reading Thursday, with only District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria dissenting. The developers at Barton Creek Capital plan to build about 300 units, with 15…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Aug 24, 2018
North Shoal Creek plan prompts debate over density
City Council may have given up on CodeNEXT, the proposed comprehensive rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code, but the debate over growth and development is certainly not going away. On Thursday, Council will take up the North Shoal Creek…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Aug 22, 2018
McKalla proposals hold promise, with no promises from city
Tuesday is the day when those with hopes of turning the city’s property into something other than a 20,000-seat soccer stadium will get a chance to convince City Council members that everything from open space and performance stages to high-concept…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 7, 2018
Council seeks clarity – and more money – in soccer negotiations
Wednesday’s City Council meeting dedicated to the ongoing push that could bring Austin a professional soccer team frequently resembled a public bargaining session, with Council members pushing staff and hired legal counsel to extract more concessions and precise terms and…
