The Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities has asked city staff to begin gathering information on how to commission a comprehensive report on the quality of life of and prominent issues facing the city’s disabled community. The committee voted unanimously at Friday’s meeting to move forward with the issue, with members pointing to completed studies […]
City Hall
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TipSheet: Travis County, 1.15.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda can be found at the Travis County website. 2. Receive comments regarding changes to Travis County Code Chapters 464 & 482 […]
Posted inThe Code
City proposes new demolition rules
In response to an audit last year that identified a number of problems in the city’s demolition permitting process, the Development Services Department has recommended a number of changes aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring safety. The recommendations were included in a report published by the department in October. The report followed extensive engagement […]
Posted inCity Hall
Austin Energy employee accused of fraud found to be ‘not in violation’
After three hours of discussion surrounding the definition of “intent” in application to fraud, the Ethics Review Commission found Curtis Graves, Austin Energy’s former superintendent of system operations, not in violation of city code by virtue of three votes. “You are here accused of misrepresenting the hours you worked on your timesheet for gain,” Chair […]
Posted inCity Hall
City employee forced out for using city computer for food trucks
A city employee has been fired after city auditors accused him of using his city computer to manage two food trucks that he owns. For his part, the employee claims that he is being treated unfairly and that his mistakes are nothing compared to what he has seen co-workers get away with. An investigation conducted […]
Posted inCity Council
Political accelerator ready for next class of future Council hopefuls
Having been an active presence in Dallas-area Democratic and political organizations prior to relocating to Austin four years ago, Zenette Dorsey noticed some unique traits about local political discourse around big issues. “Austin is going through an identity crisis with the conflict between old Austin and people who are used to what the city has […]
Posted inCity Council
Adler calls on Council to do ‘big things,’ Garza elected mayor pro tem
Mayor Steve Adler began his new four-year term on an optimistic note, saying that the city is “poised to get some really big things done” when it comes to addressing Austin’s major challenges, notably housing and transportation. Adler, along with two new members of City Council and three incumbents who were re-elected, took the oath […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 1.8.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The full agenda can be found on the Travis County website. 17. Consider and take appropriate action regarding: a. Setting a public hearing on […]
Posted inCity Hall
Auditors find misuse of city resources
An Austin Energy employee suspected of driving intoxicated in a deadly crash misused his city vehicle by driving to locations outside the scope of his work and misused work time to hunt on city property, according to an investigative report released this week by the Office of the City Auditor. Investigators said that Jody Wood, […]
Posted inCity Council
Troxclair looks forward to new adventures
After four years in office as the first Council member from Southwest Austin’s District 8, Ellen Troxclair is stepping down. But her departure from Council doesn’t mean we won’t see her at City Hall, she told the Austin Monitor during a recent interview. Troxclair, who was the last conservative on Council, said, “I ran to […]
Posted inCity Council
Houston: Council should be nonpartisan
In her final speech from the Council dais, Ora Houston urged her colleagues to encourage diversity at every level and to put partisan issues aside. The city’s first representative of District 1 said it is important to look at and care for the city as a whole and not concentrate so much on individual districts. […]
Posted inCity Charter
Paige Ellis represents sharp political shift for Southwest Austin’s District 8
Paige Ellis, the incoming City Council member for District 8, has very different political views from her predecessor, Ellen Troxclair, who spent the last two years as the only Republican on Council. Ellis, who made her affiliation with the Democratic Party central to her campaign, triumphed over Republican Frank Ward in the Dec. 11 runoff […]