Birds and the trees that serve as their habitats gained renewed attention from City Council on Thursday with the approval of two measures calling for enhanced protections for both. For the birds, a resolution sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool directs the city manager to explore bird-friendly building standards and develop recommendations for amending […]
City Hall
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City celebrates federal aid to boost community court
District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison held a press conference Thursday to highlight City Council’s approval of funds from the U.S. Justice Department, which she called “a monumental step forward for the Downtown Austin Community Court.” Council approved acceptance of two grants totaling $1.45 million from the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance for the DACC’s […]
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TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.21.24
Austin City Council will convene for their regular meeting today and, per usual, there were a few things that caught our eye that we’ve detailed in this TipSheet. For more information, or to make your own decisions, the entire agenda is also posted online. Though it’s unlikely to be controversial, one of the biggest items […]
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City’s new travel policy aligns with best practices used in other cities
The city’s travel reimbursement process for employees appears to be working well since the policy was updated early this year, according to an audit of the new policy presented Tuesday to City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. While the audit is an inside-baseball look at how employees are reimbursed for authorized work-related travel expenses, the […]
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Jesús Garza disputes allegation that he violated city ethics rule
Consultants hired to investigate an ethics complaint against former interim City Manager Jesús Garza have concluded that he violated a city ethics regulation when engaging the services of former city employees Joe Canales and Laura Huffman without consulting City Council. Garza adamantly disputes that allegation, citing the multiple crises the city was facing and the […]
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Legal questions cause delay in considering changes to petition rules
At Thursday’s City Council meeting, after hearing complaints from two attorneys that a proposed ordinance would violate state law and the city charter, Mayor Kirk Watson announced that the item would be withdrawn. The proposed ordinance would govern petitions for initiatives, referendums and recall of City Council members. After hearing about problems with the proposed […]
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Special fund could help Council members respond to neighborhood needs
Under a proposal approved Thursday, City Council members may have the ability next year to fund projects in their districts without following the usual planning and budgeting processes. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, directs the city manager to explore a pilot program to establish a special fund for each Council member to […]
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ECHO’s $350M plan offers to ‘effectively end’ homelessness in Austin
The city is projected to need $35 million annually over a 10-year period to effectively end homelessness via a plan that emphasizes adding hundreds of permanent supportive housing units while also addressing emergency shelter and prevention steps to keep people from losing their homes. City Council’s Public Health Committee met on Wednesday and received a […]
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Downtown Commission questions scope, cost of core transportation plan
The city has identified improvements to several east-west streets through downtown as priority projects in a new plan to address mobility in the area. Last month, the Downtown Commission got the first look at portions of the Austin Core Transportation Plan, which was developed by the Transportation and Public Works Department as a complement to […]
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TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.7.24
Well, the show must go on. After a momentous election Tuesday that will also see new Council members in Districts 6, 7 and 10 and probably the return of Mayor Kirk Watson, City Council members are dusting themselves off and getting back to business with a regular meeting today. As usual, we’ve attempted to highlight […]
Posted inAustin
SXSW economic impact sees small dip based on lower spending for ticketing
South by Southwest’s impact on the local economy decreased slightly this year from 2023, according to a new study from business analysts Greyhill Advisors. The study found that the festival generated $377.3 million for local businesses and residents, compared to the $380.9 million figure notched in 2023 when by many measurements the event saw a […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council to consider $5.5M contract for redo of city’s website
The city’s primary website is slated for a comprehensive revamp from a California-based vendor, due in part to staff’s assessment that the work needed to properly improve the site exceeds their resources and abilities. An item on next week’s City Council agenda would allocate $5.5 million for a six-year contract with TW Lrw Holdings, LLC, […]