With the specter of dealing with a Texas Legislature that has become even more conservative — if that is possible — with the Nov. 4 election, the City of Austin and Travis County reviewed and approved their respective legislative agendas last week. The primary objectives for both the city and the county for the upcoming […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Council, Development, Land Development Code
Land Development Code rewrite marches forward
A once-divided City Council got behind a compromise Thursday on how the city will approach the Land Development Code rewrite. Council Member Bill Spelman said the decision had been “clouded” by its framing, which had turned the choice between approaches “symbolic and political.” “We all kind of lost sight of the fact that what we […]
Posted inCity Council, Environment, Parks, Resources, Water
Water worries derail Decker Lake golf course vote
Worries about water — and Central Texas’ persistent drought — have derailed, at least temporarily, plans for the Decker Lake golf course. After hearing concerns from Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros, City Council voted 7-0 to postpone consideration of an agreement to turn over 735 acres of parkland for development of a high-end golf […]
Posted inCity Council, Public Safety
Coyote management plan passes despite concerns
The Austin City Council approved the contentious city coyote management plan Thursday evening, to a loud round of applause and a few woofs of approval from community members sitting in the audience. “This may not be the last word on coyotes, but it does portend a very good effort on the part of many in […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, The Code
Council sets overnight concrete pour ordinance
Following lengthy discussion and public input, City Council unanimously passed an interim ordinance Thursday that limits overnight concrete pouring in parts of downtown from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and initiates a 60-day stakeholder process for a permanent solution. The ordinance, which will expire after 120 days, includes a grandfather clause that exempts building permits […]
Posted inCity Hall, Development, Local Politics, Planning
Real estate reform comes from Bull Creek process
City Council members Thursday quietly passed a resolution that instructs Austin City Manager Marc Ott to “forward to Council any written communication received by the City Manager from the State of Texas, or any agency of the State of Texas, regarding offers or options to sell the City real property within two business days of […]
Posted inCity Council, Energy, Resources
Council to consider new utility debt policy
City Council will likely consider a new utility debt policy soon, after learning from staff that customers have accrued about $76 million in electricity debt alone, mostly over the past three years. Staff also reported that customers owe more than $21 million in water and wastewater bills, more than $9 million in waste management and […]
Posted inCity Hall, Development, The Code
Accessory dwelling unit change stalls in committee
The City of Austin wants to make it easier for residents to establish accessory dwelling units — or ADUs — such as garage apartments on their property in order to create more housing in the city center. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Planning Commission’s Committee on Codes and Ordinances, residents spoke out against the changes primarily […]
Posted inCity Council, Housing, Public Safety, The Code
City looks to improve rental registration program
As part of an ongoing effort to beef up how the city addresses problem rental properties, City Council will consider whether to amend its rental registration program today. So far, the program has managed to capture only a handful of properties. Code Department director Carl Smart explained that the poor showing is a result of […]
Posted inCity Council, Local Politics, Parks, Public Safety
Council split on new deal for Austin Pets Alive!
City Council members Tuesday continued to debate a potential extension of a contract for Austin Pets Alive! to operate a facility at the Town Lake Animal Shelter. The extension would also include additional leeway for the organization to make needed repairs to the facility. The discussion touched on what Council Member Laura Morrison suggested was […]
Posted inCity Council, City Hall, Local Politics
Austin Council meetings run far later than peers’
A report from Office of the City Auditor staff appears to corroborate what many Austin City Council observers have long lived: that the city’s Council meetings are much lengthier than those of their peers. The data, presented by Assistant City Auditor Patrick Johnson and Deputy City Auditor Corrie Stokes, suggests that the average length of […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Land Development Code
Future LDC amendments may get Opticos review
Though City Council will likely select a CodeNEXT approach Thursday, it will also consider a resolution designed to ensure that any interim Land Development Code changes are consistent with the goals of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. That resolution, which Council discussed at its work session Tuesday, would direct the city manager to work with […]