City Council will hold its regular meeting again today, and 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. 7. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 2-1 to establish […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Council
Council members slam Troxclair’s affordability plan
At City Council’s work session yesterday, several Council members hammered on District 8 Council Member Ellen Troxclair’s Austin Affordability Action Plan. The plan proposes that Council focus on affordability in the areas of housing, transportation, budgeting, cost of living and the economy. Troxclair pulled the item from the consent agenda to allow Council members to […]
Posted inAustin
City task force weighs new uses for hotel occupancy tax
With more tourists coming to Austin each year, the city’s hotels are generating more and more revenue. Some of that funding is set aside to support Austin’s tourism industry, and as the number of guests and hotels grow, so does that pot of money. A city task force is exploring new ways to spend the […]
Posted inAustin
Democrats urged to join fight against SB 4
Matt Simpson, policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, told members of the Central Texas Democratic Forum on Monday that Senate Bill 4, the so-called sanctuary cities bill, throws out policies created by sheriffs and police departments across the state about how and when to ask about immigration status. “This is kind […]
Posted inCity Hall
Board of Adjustment considers a fee change
After more than a year of discussion and drafting, the Board of Adjustment continues to move forward with a request to change its fees. Board Member Bryan King read his proposal for a change to the fees charged for interpretation cases at the board’s meeting on Feb. 13. Interpretation cases are opened when someone believes […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.28.17
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. 5. Approve proclamation recognizing March 2017 as “Public Purchasing Month” in Travis County. (Judge Eckhardt) Monitor’s Take: For the average Austinite, […]
Posted inAustin
Homelessness in D4 spurs residents looking to marshal housing resources
Residents in the North Austin area focused in District 4 are looking to assemble a network of local service groups and government resources to respond to what’s believed to be an increase in the homeless population there. There’s no official count for the number of individuals with no permanent residence in the district, but anecdotal […]
Posted inCity Council
New campaign finance rules in the works
Two City Council members, Ellen Troxclair and Jimmy Flannigan, are collecting campaign funds in anticipation of re-election campaigns that seem far in the future. Troxclair is likely to run for re-election in November 2018 for her District 8 seat, but Flannigan will not be up for re-election until November 2020. Both are taking advantage of […]
Posted inAustin
ANC welcomes back the queen of the neighborhoods
After a brief moment of rest, it looks as though Mary Ingle will be heading up the Austin Neighborhoods Council once again. Last Thursday, City Council Member Ann Kitchen appointed then-ANC president David King to the Zoning and Platting Commission. He told the Austin Monitor that he thought it was important to take the opportunity […]
Posted inCity Council
Confusion and frustration continue over Council committees
City Council appears united in the belief that its committee system must change, but debate on Thursday about who will serve on what committee shows that Council members have still not reached a consensus on what exactly the new system should look like. While a measure that cut in half the number of committees (from […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.20.17
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. 2. Approve proclamation honoring Roger Jefferies for his service to the residents of Travis County as the County Executive of Justice […]
Posted inCity Hall
Shifting SXSW focus, permitting changes await music head upon return
Returning South by Southwest to its focus on industries and helping to usher components of the city’s plans to help the local music industry are high on the personal to-do list of Don Pitts, until recently the director of Austin’s Music and Entertainment Division. Pitts, who resigned from his position on Feb. 14 but later […]