The task force convened late last year by City Council to study strategies for reversing Austin’s growing affordability and displacement problem has released its initial set of recommendations. Those recommendations include a mix of taxing mechanisms, social services and bond sales among the more than 70 suggested solutions. The Anti-Displacement Task Force will hold its […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Hall
Report highlights flaws in city contracting
City auditors found major flaws in how the city manages its contracts, with many of those weaknesses persisting citywide for several years, according to a special report issued this week. Audit Manager Katie Houston told the City Council Audit and Finance Committee Wednesday that the contracting weaknesses negatively impact the city’s ability to safeguard city […]
Posted inCity Council
City staff gets green light to research public plaza program
While it’s fashionable in the U.S. for private enterprises to attach the word “plaza” to many things that are not, like shopping malls or condominiums, a public plaza can be hard to find (Austin’s beautiful Plaza Saltillo actually prohibits “loitering,” the primary activity in a plaza). However, City Council members now hope to generate public […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 10.23.18
4. Consider and take appropriate action on a charge and membership categories for the Indigent Legal Services (ILS) work group. (Commissioners Daugherty & Gómez) Monitor’s Take: Last week, the Commissioners Court chose to move forward with a plan to establish a public defender office in Travis County by first creating a working group to oversee […]
Posted inAustin
Here’s what to expect when eight floodgates open on the Mansfield Dam
It’s never happened before, but the Lower Colorado River Authority will likely open eight floodgates on the Mansfield Dam above Lake Austin by noon Thursday. So, what can you expect if you live in Austin? Flooding On Some Streets When eight gates are open, 50,000 cubic feet of water per second will flow from the […]
Posted inAustin
More homes, services on the way for homeless with Community First! expansion
A Northeast Austin community constructed in recent years to provide permanent housing to Austin’s chronically homeless has announced its plans for a second phase that will nearly double its physical footprint to 51 acres and, when complete, serve nearly 800 people. At a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the Community First! Village, a mix of […]
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TipSheet: City Council, 10.18.18
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 2: Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 15-9 to […]
Posted inAustin
Convention center fate looms as Tourism Commission scrutinizes Visit Austin budgets
The most recent meeting of the city’s still-new Tourism Commission followed what could become a regular dynamic for the group: detailed “in the weeds” parsing of budgets and policies related to Austin’s tourism industry, with the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center looming over everything. Monday’s meeting bore that out during an hour-plus analysis […]
Posted inCity Hall
BoA fee adjustments cause high tempers
On Oct. 1 of this year, the Development Services Department enacted a new set of fees for those looking to come before the Board of Adjustment to have the board hear their applications for a code variance. Although increases are to be expected as Austin grows, this year’s fees associated with appearing before the board […]
Posted inAustin
Homeless services would get a boost from recommended budget earmarks
A budget amendment expected to go before City Council later this month would seek to direct up to $1 million in new money toward improvements to Austin’s downtown homeless shelter and provide other resources to move people out of homelessness. A recent memo from Interim Assistant City Manager Sara Hensley spells out how the $1 […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 10.9.18
Travis County Commissioners Court will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. for their weekly voting session. In the interests of time and space we have listed a handful of items from the agenda below. The full agenda can be found on the Travis County website. 1. Receive comments regarding a plat for recording: Village at Northtown […]
Posted inBudget
City grants crucial funding to arts organizations
Austin’s art advocates are breathing a little easier since Thursday afternoon, when City Council approved a resolution to award crucial funds to eligible arts organizations for Fiscal Year 2018-19. A total of $8,602,688 will be distributed among the organizations listed here. The awards were requested by the city’s Arts Commission because of the lack of […]