Those familiar with the previous City Council’s strict adherence to procedural rules have been left dizzy by the new Council’s first few meetings. Last week, during the Garza Ranch discussion about the maximum allowable number of vehicle trips per day on the tract, that confusion reached new heights — and after some investigation, the Austin […]
City Council
Posted inCity Council, Energy
Council debates deregulation of Austin Energy
When it comes to Austin Energy, there is one word that always stirs up debate. That word is “deregulation.” City Council held a policy workshop with Austin Energy management, stakeholders and policy advocates Monday on the myriad issues associated with the public utility. The conversation touched several times on the merits of Austin Energy’s current […]
Posted inCity Council, Zoning
Council approves rezoning on North Lamar lot
Though Mayor Steve Adler warned that the first approval was “tenuous,” a North Lamar rezoning case will move forward after City Council members approved it on first reading Thursday. Council voted 9-2 to approve a rezoning at 11712 North Lamar Blvd., with Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Member Pio Renteria voting in opposition. […]
Posted inCity Council, Energy, Environment
Council puts energy consulting contracts on hold
Picking up where others left off can be difficult, especially when it involves something as expensive and complicated as the Austin Energy generation plan. Rather than decide on up to $2 million worth of contracts for energy demand management consulting related to the plan, City Council voted Thursday to refer the decision to one of […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Explainer: Zim’s bill on housing scoring heads to State Lege Council
The Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week, Don Zimmerman’s ongoing effort to change the way federal housing subsidies are awarded. City Council Member Don Zimmerman has displayed a certain … distaste for subsidized housing. Before his election to Council, Zimmerman used a rape whistle and the phrase “no […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 3.3 & 3.5
A light agenda for a week when some of the fireworks may be reserved for the March 2 first meeting of the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee–which is set to tackle the latest Council staffing proposal from Mayor Steve Adler. As always, the Austin City Council meets in an agenda work session Tuesday and for […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Council votes for more study of Adler staff plan
On a 6-5 vote, City Council postponed action Thursday on Mayor Steve Adler’s plan to add five staffers to his office, sending the question to the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. Those voting for the postponement included Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Members Ellen Troxclair, Greg Casar, Ora Houston, Don Zimmerman and Delia […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Planning
Council takes small step in Garza case
Though they were only deciding one small detail of a decades-long fight over what was once the Garza Ranch, City Council members took hours to contemplate how many trips per day should be allowed on the last piece of land. In the end, it was a chaotic finish, with motions, suggestions and compromises flying across […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Mayor foresees messy, but effective, City Council
Austin Mayor Steve Adler says in the wake of what he hopes will be a more efficient and more inclusive City Council, don’t be surprised if there’s a little mess. “We have conversations that are out for everyone to see. Sometimes conversations and communications are messy,” Adler told Monitor Publisher Michael Kanin last night at […]
Posted inCity Council
Adler lays out new staffing plans for his office
City Council members peppered Mayor Steve Adler with questions at a work session Tuesday about his new proposal to ask city staff to look into ways to fund five additional full-time staff members for his office and allocate an additional $25,000 for each Council office. As he indicated to the Monitor last week, Adler said […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Council to continue July vacation tradition
Rejoice, city staffers. Your July vacation is probably safe — unless you are part of the budget staff. At Tuesday’s work session, City Council members agreed that they would continue the tradition of not scheduling meetings during July. Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo brought up the issue during a discussion about scheduling Council and Council […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Professor lectures Adler on Austin government
Terrell Blodgett, professor emeritus at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, has written to Mayor Steve Adler and his City Council colleagues expressing concern about the mayor’s plan to add more staff for his office and lecturing him on the fact that the mayor has no more power than any of his Council colleagues or […]