City Council took the first step toward allowing some Council members to divert all or portions of their own salaries Thursday. Council members voted unanimously to allow the resolution to move forward. However, the issue will have to return to Council for it to become part of the code, and some Council members have reservations […]
City Council
Posted inCity Council, Local Politics, Resources
Zimmerman establishes pole position
As one of their first acts as a body, City Council members examined, then approved, a routine contract for up to $10 million of steel poles for Austin Energy. Council Member Don Zimmerman pulled the proposed contract with TransAmerican Power Products, Inc. for extra scrutiny and abstained from an otherwise unanimous vote. Zimmerman lamented the […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council members debate public input plan
The future of public input at City Council meetings remains unclear ahead of possible action Thursday, as Council members continue to discuss whether and how to limit it in favor of moving it to committee meetings. During a Tuesday work session, Council members reacted to the public feedback they received during and after last Thursday’s […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council hears feedback on restructuring proposal
The new City Council tested out a lot of ideas at Thursday’s meeting, giving members of the public the opportunity to comment on proposed legislative changes via Twitter, call-ins and online polls in an environment evocative of a television program. Though feedback varied on a lot of issues, the overall message from citizens was that […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council postpones salary debate until next week
On Thursday, City Council temporarily backed away from a plan that could have members voting to reduce their own salaries. Council members voted 11-0 to postpone action on the resolution until their Jan. 29 meeting. The resolution directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Fire, Public Safety
Union reps address Council on employment issues
City Council listened to representatives of the firefighters, police and EMS unions Thursday. Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association, and his attorney took the lion’s share of the time to complain about the city’s failure to listen to his group’s input in designing a process to hire new firefighters. The city issued a […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Local Politics, Planning, Zoning
Zoning lesson raises questions for new Council
With single-member districts up and running, myriad changes are on the horizon at City Hall. Tuesday, some clues about how city staff will tackle the nuts-and-bolts of the transition emerged in what was a largely uneventful mock City Council meeting. As part of Council’s ongoing orientation, Planning and Development Review Department director Greg Guernsey explained […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council members consider cutting their own pay
On Thursday, as one of their first official acts as an elected body, City Council members will consider taking an action that could reduce their salaries. Specifically, the resolution on Thursday’s agenda directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their individual compensation and shift funds […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council wraps up orientation, plans policy review
With their first full meeting less than two weeks away, members of the new City Council laid out a plan Thursday to study up on city policy. As a starting point, Council members were asked to consider a plan that had policy workshops taking place once or twice a week, with the last workshop being […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
New Council plans change to meetings, committees
Wasting no time, Austin’s newly inaugurated City Council launched into a proposal Thursday to change its meetings and committee structures. The changes, members say, will make for a more efficient, more transparent city government. For now, the details of the change remain tentative. Council will hold a public hearing Jan. 22 to discuss the change […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Leffingwell says new Council will face challenges
Lee Leffingwell has now retired after serving for four years on the Austin City Council and nearly six years as mayor. The Austin Monitor recently asked him to talk about his favorite part of the job. “I tell people all the time the best part of the job is representing the city of Austin,” he […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Courts, Local Politics
Zimmerman libel suit against Bulldog dismissed
Less than 24 hours after being sworn in to office as the new District 6 representative, City Council Member Don Zimmerman had his lawsuit against the Austin Bulldog dismissed and was ordered to pay court costs and attorney’s fees. Zimmerman filed the lawsuit in October, alleging libel in an article published by the Bulldog written by […]