The city has increased the limit on personal net wealth for individuals looking to take part in the city’s procurement program aimed at hiring businesses owned by women and/or minorities. That adjustment was supported by an analysis of the local economy that found the city’s business growth is likely to have substantially increased the wealth […]
City Hall
Posted inAustin
DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population
Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), which will launch as a six-month trial program on Feb. 1. In partnership with staff […]
Posted inCity Council
City seeks McKinsey’s $2M analysis of programs to address homelessness
Consulting giant McKinsey & Company could take up another study of the city, specifically how four local bodies including Central Health are working to address homelessness throughout the Austin area. At its meeting today, City Council will consider two items related to a proposed $2 million study that is expected to be delivered in the […]
Posted inCity Council
Busy Council day includes a call for cease-fire in Gaza
City Council will hear once again from a coalition asking Council as a whole to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez last month issued a statement in support of the cease-fire. According to a news release from the Austin for Palestine Coalition, the group […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 1.18.24
Today marks the first official City Council meeting of 2024, and despite an extremely abbreviated work session, there are a few things that we’ll be keeping our eye on. As usual, this TipSheet is just a collection of best guesses about what might be interesting today. The meeting agenda can be read in its entirety […]
Posted inCity Hall
Garza appoints new CEO at Austin airport
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has announced the appointment of Ghizlane Badawi as the interim chief executive officer for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Badawi has worked in a variety of leadership roles at ABIA over the past 15 years. She has most recently served as deputy CEO, focusing on operational resiliency and expanding the airport’s infrastructure […]
Posted inCity Hall
Commission approves creation of Finder to Foster working group
The Animal Advisory Commission at its regular meeting Jan. 8 voted to officially create the Finder to Foster working group. Commissioner Paige Nilson explained at the commission’s Dec. 11 meeting that city code currently mandates that when an animal is admitted to the shelter, it must be held for three days. “And city legal is […]
Posted inAustin
Economic forecasters see local climate as ‘strong, but uncertain’ in 2024
After years of financial shocks and ongoing government spending to offset the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, financial analysts expect 2024 to be less volatile but still somewhat uncertain for the nation and state. The good news for the Austin area is strong growth trends and the state’s unexpected budget surpluses in recent years will […]
Posted inCity Hall
In first year, Qadri touts progress on housing, collaboration and I-35 caps and stitches
Zo Qadri knew he’d have plenty to learn and adapt to as a new member of City Council after being sworn in last January. But the learning curve became an almost vertical climb as he and the staff in his newly assembled office worked to help residents dealing with power outages and other hardships caused […]
Posted inCity Hall
Alison Alter diversifies her investments in public safety
District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter takes an expansive view of public safety and prioritizes related investments to ensure the city is prepared when threats arise. “My focus this year has been on safety … resilience and effective delivery of core services,” she told the Austin Monitor. Alter’s 2023 goals included entering into new […]
Posted inCity Hall
Leslie Pool launches into the final year of a busy decade
Leslie Pool’s ninth year on City Council has been a productive and busy one. She recalls that she started out 2023 with the intention of helping her newly elected colleagues learn the ropes and accomplish their goals. For Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez, affordable housing was an important goal. Each emphasized housing in […]
Posted inCity Hall
In 2024, Paige Ellis will focus on her two main loves: mobility improvements and parks
The past year has been a busy one for City Council Member Paige Ellis, who served as mayor pro tem throughout 2023. She described the extra duties of the position as “a great experience.” Noting that Mayor Kirk Watson is very detail-oriented, Ellis said she never had any question about what needed to be done. […]