Despite some concerns that the case was one of many headed its way, City Council approved an appeal Thursday that will allow a Bouldin Creek house to retain a garage instead of forcing the homeowners to revert to the allowed carport they once had. Gregory Bow and Simmi Metha, who own the house at 905 […]
City Council
Posted inBudget, City Council
Council funds AISD software, debates relationship
When it comes to using tax dollars to serve children in the Austin community, there can be a fine line between education and health and human services. Before passing an agreement Thursday to help fund truancy tracking software for the Austin Independent School District, City Council members had an impassioned discussion about the city’s role […]
Posted inCity Council
City seeking 567 volunteers for commissions
In order to keep the city’s many boards and commissions running on time, City Council must make 500 appointments by June 30. Other groups need to appoint an additional 67 individuals to participate in the process of advising Council on everything from animal welfare to energy and water. As one of its final actions, the […]
Posted inBudget, City Council
Committee reaches few conclusions on new staff
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee had a wide-ranging discussion Monday about the possibility of hiring more staff to help Council, but arrived at no conclusions. The conversation was sparked by an attempt by Mayor Steve Adler to add as many as eight new employees to his own staff. However, as Adler acknowledged during the […]
Posted inCity Council, Transportation
Council members lock down South Austin gate
The Planning Commission and the city’s legal department will address a section of city code today that could give commissioners discretion over connectivity in preliminary plans. Last week, City Council exercised its own discretion and passed a resolution that will install a traffic-blocking gate at Aldwyche Drive. Both discussions were borne out of the Lightsey […]
Posted inCity Council, Housing
Springdale apartment complex appeal denied
City Council has rejected an appeal by DeWayne Lofton, who was seeking to overturn a decision of the Planning Commission to grant a conditional use permit for an affordable housing complex at 5905 Springdale Road. Lofton, president of Pecan Springs/Springdale Neighborhood Association, told Council he felt that commissioners did not pay enough attention to his […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council meetings 3.10 & 3.12
Council cuts it close to the SXSW downtown population boom this week with a voting session just before the start of the interactive portion of the festival. Still, this is as light a Council agenda we here in Monitorland can remember. As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda work session Tuesday and […]
Posted inCity Council, Environment, Uncategorized, Water
Riverboat contract has a sewage problem
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and City Council Member Leslie Pool raised concerns last week about Lone Star Riverboat’s practices at the regular Council meeting Thursday, postponing the vote on a revenue contract until March 26. A memo to Council regarding the contract outlined sewage and marine toilet compliance issues and questioned whether Lone Star’s […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Parks
Two committees to take up Decker Golf questions
After raising numerous questions about the deal it is being asked to approve for creation of two high-end golf courses at the Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park in far East Austin, City Council voted 9-1-1 Thursday to send those questions to two Council committees. District 1 Council Member Ora Houston voted no, and District 4 […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Housing
Council approves lower Onion Creek buyout
Many at-risk residents of the flood-prone lower Onion Creek area were relieved to learn Thursday, after more than a year of waiting, that the city will help them move away from the area most affected by the record-breaking Halloween 2013 flood. City Council voted overwhelmingly at a regular meeting to give city staff the go-ahead […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, The Code
Zimmerman: Fine Code Compliance for losing case
City Council Member Don Zimmerman has proposed a unique punishment for the city’s Code Compliance Department when it loses a case in Municipal Court: It will have to pay. Zimmerman, who has made no secret of his disdain for the department’s involvement in minor matters, has distributed a resolution that calls on the city manager […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Environment
Council assesses potential Onion Creek buyout
While the Halloween 2013 flood continues to impact lives near Onion Creek, City Council will likely decide Thursday whether the city should chip in up to $60 million to help ensure that history does not repeat itself. Council members considered a proposal at a work session Tuesday to purchase 240 homes in the lower Onion […]