Leaders from all levels of government in Central Texas, plus most of the area’s school districts, learned Wednesday that they could be in for budgetary hits if state lawmakers pass limits on local property tax increases without restructuring the state’s funding system for public education. The symposium at the Austin Convention Center saw most of […]
City Hall
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 12.4.18
To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the Travis County Commissioners Court voting session agenda. The full list of items can be accessed at Travis County’s website. 1. Receive comments regarding the Program Year 2017 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block […]
Posted inCity Council
Should the city move to a two-year budget?
Every week that City Council holds a Thursday meeting, Council members meet Tuesday for a “work session” to discuss items that they plan to vote on at the meeting. In recent months, however, Council has also begun setting aside an hour during some work sessions for a broad conversation about how to make city government […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: City Council, 11.29.18
Welcome to this week’s TipSheet. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire City Council agenda, but here are the items we have our eye on today. The Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here. Item 3: Approve adoption of Water Forward, Austin’s Integrated Water Resource […]
Posted inCity Hall
Harassment policy heads to Council without a commission willing to hear cases
After the Ethics Review Commission declined to weigh in on the city’s newly proposed anti-discrimination and harassment policy, it volleyed the task to the Human Rights Commission, which similarly declined to take on the job. This hot potato of an issue came to the court of commissions from the city clerk’s office earlier this fall […]
Posted inCity Hall
Cronk announces finalists for two ACM posts
On Monday, City Manager Spencer Cronk announced the names of 10 finalists who will be interviewed in the coming weeks for two assistant city manager positions. The interim assistant city managers in those two positions, Joe Pantalion and Sara Hensley, are among the finalists. In July, Cronk outlined the restructuring of his office around specific […]
Posted inAustin
People living on the streets can now clean up Austin’s parks for an hourly wage
People experiencing homelessness can now work for the city of Austin. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with Austin Public Health, The Other Ones Foundation and City Council Member Ellen Troxclair, highlighted the pilot program Monday in South Austin. Joe Pacheco, 51, who’s been living on the streets, is currently working for the program. […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 11.27.18
To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the Travis County Commissioners Court voting session agenda. The full list of items can be accessed at Travis County’s website. 5. Consider and take appropriate action on the creation of the Indigent Legal Services (ILS) work group. (Commissioners Daugherty […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics Review Commission declines to weigh in on city anti-discrimination and harassment policy
City Council recently asked the Ethics Review Commission to review its proposed amendments to the anti-discrimination/anti-harassment portion of the City Code, which includes language such as “No City official or employee shall engage in conduct or use language that is offensive, harassing, sexually suggestive, or hostile.” Last Wednesday night, the ethics commission debated whether Council’s […]
Posted inAustin
City seeks grants, partnerships to implement tech solutions for homeless
The city’s Innovation Office has applied for a $400,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with the goal of directing the money toward implementing a suite of blockchain technology solutions to help the city’s homeless population. The grant application is the next biggest hope for continued progress for the apps and digital platforms created […]
Posted inCity Council
Minimum lot sizes: A roadblock for affordable housing?
Last week, Austin voters approved a record-busting $250 million for affordable housing, but a discussion during Thursday’s City Council meeting showed that building new housing isn’t simply a matter of having enough money. At issue is a small piece of vacant land that the city owns at 3000 Funston St., just east of MoPac Expressway […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: City Council, 11.15.18
Welcome to this week’s TipSheet. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire City Council agenda, but here are the items we have our eye on today. The Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here. Item 6. Authorize negotiation and execution of a design-build agreement with […]