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City Council
Downtown puzzle up for vote Thursday
Consideration of Mayor Steve Adler’s complex “downtown puzzle” resolution will apparently move forward on Thursday despite doubts some of his colleagues have expressed about the timing and about a key piece of the plan: expansion of the Austin Convention Center.…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Sep 27, 2017
Austin explores a new approach to helping the homeless
Austin leaders are considering whether to try out a simple strategy for helping the homeless: give them jobs. The idea is based on a program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that has gained national attention and been credited with connecting homeless…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Sep 11, 2017
'Downtown puzzle' plan sets aside millions for Austin music
City Council endorsed one new plan for hotel occupancy taxes last week. At the end of this month, it will take up another. Last Tuesday’s release of Mayor Steve Adler’s Initial Financing Framework for Downtown Investments – known colloquially as…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 6, 2017
Casar issues call for citywide paid sick days
This Labor Day, a group of community advocates and leaders gathered to celebrate the holiday with a push for more progressive employment legislation in Austin. The group, led by Council Member Greg Casar, issued a call for City Council to…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 5, 2017
Council supports reducing HOT funds for convention center, visitors bureau
After a lengthy public hearing featuring scores of public speakers on all sides of the issue, City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday night in support of diverting millions of dollars generated by hotel occupancy taxes from the Austin Convention…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Sep 1, 2017
Council looks to Waller Creek TIF for homeless funds
City Council is looking to tax increment financing, a tool designed to address urban blight, as a way to address homelessness in downtown Austin. Council is considering extending the life of the Waller Creek Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone for…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Aug 30, 2017
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Council debates best use of HOT dollars
Some City Council members are clearly more convinced of the role that the Austin Convention Center plays in driving the city’s tourism industry and economy than others. The day after several Council members signaled support for a proposal by Council…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Aug 24, 2017
Troxclair: Hotel tax plan separate from Adler's 'downtown puzzle'
Today’s City Council budget work session will almost certainly feature discussion about a proposal from Council Member Ellen Troxclair that seeks to reallocate money from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax to pay for more expenses for Austin’s parks, which she…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 23, 2017
Memo identifies preliminary locations for temporary homeless shelters
As part of a recent push to help Austin’s homeless, the city has been looking into using city-owned buildings to help ease overcrowding in downtown shelters. Last week, the Parks and Recreation Department provided a list of recreation centers that…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 21, 2017
Taxes from unregistered short-term rentals sit unused
Millions of dollars in tax revenue from unregistered short-term rental properties sits unused because the city cannot collect it, according to Visitor Impact Task Force Chair James Russell. In 2016, City Council passed an ordinance to phase out Type 2…
City Council • By Lisa Dreher • Aug 18, 2017
Council to tackle two displacement resolutions today
While Mayor Steve Adler is touting a new task force on gentrification as a fresh opportunity to come up with ideas to address economic displacement, some of his City Council colleagues stress that it will only be a worthwhile effort…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Aug 17, 2017
Initiative to rename Robert E. Lee Road moves forward
Cities across the country, including Austin, are swiftly making strong statements following the recent clash in Charlottesville over removing a Confederate statue, which ended in a woman’s death and a response from President Donald Trump some deemed lukewarm. Council Member…
