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City Council

Water worries derail Decker Lake golf course vote

Worries about water — and Central Texas’ persistent drought — have derailed, at least temporarily, plans for the Decker Lake golf course. After hearing concerns from Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros, City Council voted 7-0 to postpone consideration of…

Coyote management plan passes despite concerns

The Austin City Council approved the contentious city coyote management plan Thursday evening, to a loud round of applause and a few woofs of approval from community members sitting in the audience. “This may not be the last word on…

Council sets overnight concrete pour ordinance

Following lengthy discussion and public input, City Council unanimously passed an interim ordinance Thursday that limits overnight concrete pouring in parts of downtown from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and initiates a 60-day stakeholder process for a permanent solution. The…

Council to consider new utility debt policy

City Council will likely consider a new utility debt policy soon, after learning from staff that customers have accrued about $76 million in electricity debt alone, mostly over the past three years. Staff also reported that customers owe more than…

City looks to improve rental registration program

As part of an ongoing effort to beef up how the city addresses problem rental properties, City Council will consider whether to amend its rental registration program today. So far, the program has managed to capture only a handful of…

Council split on new deal for Austin Pets Alive!

City Council members Tuesday continued to debate a potential extension of a contract for Austin Pets Alive! to operate a facility at the Town Lake Animal Shelter. The extension would also include additional leeway for the organization to make needed…

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Austin Council meetings run far later than peers'

A report from Office of the City Auditor staff appears to corroborate what many Austin City Council observers have long lived: that the city’s Council meetings are much lengthier than those of their peers. The data, presented by Assistant City…

Future LDC amendments may get Opticos review

Though City Council will likely select a CodeNEXT approach Thursday, it will also consider a resolution designed to ensure that any interim Land Development Code changes are consistent with the goals of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. That resolution, which…

Downtown hotel zoning shifts to code amendment

After almost a year of going through the zoning change process, including trips to four different commissions and winning initial approval from City Council, developers of the Aloft Austin & Element Hotel are now seeking an amendment to the Land…

Long road ahead for TNC ordinance

Since City Council approved an ordinance in mid-October that would legalize transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, city staff has been hard at work. Not only are they drafting contracts that authorize these companies to operate under the ordinance,…

Council passes sound permitting ordinance

City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that subjects large-scale outdoor music events on city parkland, such as the Austin City Limits festival, to more comprehensive sound permitting requirements. The ordinance amends city code to require that applicants seeking outdoor amplified…

Council OKs 'local' loan for planned hotel franchise

Questions from City Council Member Katie Tovo about a proposed Family Business Loan led to an illuminating discussion at Thursday’s Council meeting about what the word “local” really means. Tovo said she was surprised to find out that the program…

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