A program that was originally intended to help at-risk youth gain job skills has evolved into a city-funded graffiti clean-up service that is doing the work that should be left to private property owners. “It’s a great program and we want to keep it,” said Interim Assistant City Manager Sara Hensley about the Austin Youth […]
City Hall
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TipSheet: Travis County, 5.23.17
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 8. Consider and take appropriate action on a request from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) to accept a donation of […]
Posted inAustin
City Council considers tax swap with school district
City Council is exploring a number of ways the city of Austin can lend a hand to the Austin Independent School District, which will forfeit $406 million this year to the state under Texas’ “recapture” policy. At a work session on Wednesday, Council members discussed whether the city should take over certain programs that are […]
Posted inCity Council
Council hopes new rules will shorten meetings
Meetings that stretch into the wee hours of the morning, lengthy work sessions, budget briefings and additional special called meetings have taken a toll on the 10-1 City Council, those feisty newcomers who thought they could reinvent the wheel when they came into office at the beginning of 2015. During 2016, Council spent about 557 […]
Posted inBudget
Mayor suggests changes to public safety pay
Paying for Austin’s public safety needs could add more than $75.9 million to the city’s General Fund budget over the next five years – with more than two-thirds of that funding going to the Austin Police Department, according to the city’s preliminary needs assessment. That assessment was part of a budget presentation made to City […]
Posted inCity Council
Council considers providing rental assistance to Austin arts groups
Today, City Council is set to consider a plan to provide rental assistance to arts organizations. That’s after Mayor Steve Adler made a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the city’s music scene last year. For many Austin artists, some of the most pressing concerns were finding space and being able to afford it. If […]
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TipSheet: City Council, 5.18.17
City Council will hold its regular meeting again today. Below is a list of items we’re watching. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda. The Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here. 2. Authorize negotiation and execution of interlocal agreements with the cities of […]
Posted inCity Hall
Pool proposes campaign finance rule changes
City Council Member Leslie Pool will be bringing forward an amendment to the city’s campaign finance law in June. Pool’s proposal is an attempt to remedy the city’s First Amendment problem with part of the old law, which federal Judge Lee Yeakel ruled was unconstitutional last July. Former Council Member Don Zimmerman sued the city […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 5.16.2017
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 9. Receive update from City of Austin staff on the Animal Services Office. (Commissioners Shea & Gómez) Monitor’s Take: People in […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics charges dismissed against official in trellis case
A member of the city’s Board of Adjustment will not face a final hearing on charges he involved himself inappropriately in an appeals process involving the neighborhood association of which he is also a founding member. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Ethics Review Commission, commissioners voted 8-0 that there was not enough evidence to move […]
Posted inCity Hall
Allegations fly in music division ethics case
Wednesday’s ethics hearing for a former city employee charged with improperly obtaining city funds featured a series of allegations and testimony against the recently departed head of the city’s Music and Entertainment Division. The 11-member Ethics Review Commission was reduced to a bare six-member quorum because of two absences, two recusals and one vacancy. Commissioners […]
Posted inCity Council
Council outlaws vaping, postpones demolition case
At its abbreviated meeting on Thursday, City Council directed the city manager to make changes to the city’s smoking ordinance to clarify that “smoking” includes electronic smoking devices as well as regular cigarettes, so that vaping will no longer be legal in public places such as bars and restaurants. It also directed the city manager to […]