Attorneys for District 6 Council Member-elect Don Zimmerman and Austin Bulldog publisher Ken Martin will face off in a Travis County district court this morning over a lawsuit Zimmerman filed related to a Bulldog story that outlined court proceedings in which Zimmerman relinquished managing conservatorship of his daughter. Zimmerman claims in the lawsuit that Martin […]
City Hall
Posted inAustin, Development
Homeowners seek to preserve vegetation, lake view
A fight over the value of invasive species ended in a postponement at the Board of Adjustment last week. Ginger and John Mitchell are permitted to build a dock at their home on Lake Austin. But the places where they could build the dock without a variance would either kill the plants they love or […]
Posted inAustin, Preservation
Commission seeks to preserve Tarrytown home
On Monday, the Historic Landmark Commission pushed to preserve a Tarrytown house. Its owners would like to see it gone. Though commissioners had the option of postponing the case to allow for more research, Commissioner Terri Myers instead urged her colleagues to “go for the gusto” and initiate historic zoning. That initiation passed unanimously. The house, […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
EUC wants ‘fair shake’ in gas plant study
After much discussion about the scope of work for an independent review of Austin Energy’s proposed combined-cycle natural gas plant, the Electric Utility Commission voted Monday to organize a working group and provide the utility with official comments by Jan. 12. Vice Chair Karen Hadden, who made the final motion, said she did not feel […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Elections, Local Politics
New Council set; Gallo, Troxclair, Zimmerman all in
All the players in the new 10-1 Austin City Council are finally in place after Tuesday’s runoff elections. There is a lot that is remarkable about the city’s first Council elected from single-member districts. For starters, 10 of the 11 members are holding a city office for the first time, with only one returning member […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Elections
Mayor-elect Adler wins by huge margin
Austin has a lot of new faces getting ready to sit on a brand new form of City Council. The future mayor, attorney Steve Adler, who beat opponent Council member Mike Martinez with 67 percent of the vote, celebrated with supporters Tuesday night, with his eye clearly focused on the work ahead. Adler said: “I’m […]
Posted inAustin, Elections
Early voting results are posted
These are the Early Voting returns from the Austin Mayor and City Council runoff elections. Elections officials released these numbers shortly after 7 p.m. Mayor Steve Adler 69.79% Mike Martinez 30.21% District 1 Ora Houston 73.39% DeWayne Lofton 26.61% District 3 Sabino “Pio” Renteria 56.97% Susana Almanza 43.03% District 4 Gregorio Casar 63.53% Laura Pressley […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics, The Code
Audit finds short-term rental enforcement lacking
Members of the Council Audit and Finance Committee learned Monday that, though the city has had success in bringing illegal short-term rentals into compliance, those that do not come into compliance are falling through the cracks. On a positive note, a city audit found that the Code Department had been largely successful at bringing unlicensed […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics, Public Health
Council backs new social service contract metric
Austin City Council members Thursday approved a resolution from Council members Mike Martinez, Laura Morrison and Chris Riley that instructs City Manager Marc Ott to tie the city’s social service contract spending to the Consumer Price Index. The action, approved by a 5-2 vote, also calls on Ott to increase the budget of Austin’s Health […]
Posted inAustin, Development, The Code
Cultural icon or not, panel says Airstream is still RV
They may have a dedicated following, but under city code Airstream trailers are still recreational vehicles, and parking one in your front yard comes with the same consequences. Andrew Hutton is asking the Board of Adjustment for a variance from a section of the code that would require him to construct a 6-foot wood or […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Election night is tonight, parties are here
There is only one way to celebrate getting through this long election season, and you might as well celebrate at a party with those who have been in the trenches with you. We have included as many post-election parties here as we could find, below. Mayor Steve Adler Midway Field House (2015 East Riverside Drive) […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Preservation
Council OKs landmark status for Red River house
Those worried that one of Austin’s most beloved houses was destined for demolition could rest easy over the weekend. Despite the owner’s objections, the Austin City Council voted last week to make the Red River International House a historic landmark. Council voted 6-1 to preserve the house, with only Council Member Mike Martinez voting in […]