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 relations officer, offered a sobering glimpse into the future with the property tax rollback rate […]
City Council
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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 details of the move to purchase 1.6 acres of property at 1112 W. Ben White […]
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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 contract is now pegged at more than $10.6 million. As Flannigan explained to the Austin […]
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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 police in cases involving obstructions in the right of way, also known as non-consent tows. […]
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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 Park Pitch & Putt golf course. Council will be taking up the contract for a […]
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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 target the homeless population were definitely not on the same page. Council Member Greg Casar […]
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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 or lying down in portions of downtown and approaching passersby to ask for money. Council […]
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Citing discrimination, City Council considers changing homelessness ordinances
City Council has decided it is time to take a hard look at the city’s policies associated with homelessness and take dramatic action. The homeless population in Austin is continuing to grow as the city’s population swells. According to the annual study conducted by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, homelessness increased 5 percent between 2018 […]
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Flannigan turns blogger with The Clawback
Council Member Jimmy Flannigan has taken to his personal campaign website as a forum for addressing issues and controversies he views as creating confusion around the work of City Council and staff. He launched his new blog, The Clawback, last week and thus far has taken on two hot-button issues: confusion over the city’s scooter […]
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Council OKs Palm School, convention center ideas
In a stunning victory for Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Kathie Tovo, the Austin City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a 27-page resolution directing city staff to gather all the information necessary to move forward with an extensive renovation and expansion of the convention center as well as preservation of an important part of […]
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TipSheet: City Council, 5.23.19
Welcome to this week’s TipSheet. Austin City Council is back again for its regular Thursday meeting, and we’ve taken a stab at the items that might garner the most discussion. As always, the Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here. Item 11: Approve a resolution finding that the design-build method […]
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Neighborhood health center in race against displacement
Austin Public Health wants to build a new neighborhood public health center adjacent to Dove Springs District Park in District 2, but some City Council members are concerned the $12.4 million neighborhood center won’t be ready in time to have a substantial impact on the lives of those who most need it. At Council’s work […]