Though an appeal to a site plan extension failed at the Zoning and Platting Commission’s most recent meeting Aug. 15, the case exposed what happened after mayoral declaration to help development held up by the pandemic went into effect. In this case, Cindy Barron was contesting the extension for a storage unit project at 9718 […]
City Hall
Posted inAustin
Financial justice nonprofit gets boost to expand services
A local financial justice nonprofit group will be able to expand its services in Austin and around the state dramatically with a $250,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The banking giant’s gift will let Financial Health Pathways more than triple the number of participants in its I Save Texas! savings enhancement program and expand […]
Posted inCity Council
Council delays transfer of 37 civilian position to APD, citing transparency concerns
Before City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, which includes record-high police funding, District 4 Council Member Chito Vela proposed an amendment delaying the transfer of 37 full-time civilian staff positions to the Austin Police Department, citing a need for more clarity. Although city staff attempted to answer Vela’s questions and to dissuade such […]
Posted inEnergy
City says Austin Energy’s budget reflects needs
All Austin Energy customers will see a small increase in their electric bills this fall – about $1.04 a month for the typical residential customer. According to the utility, its residential bills are still among the lowest in the state. However, Austin Energy is facing a number of challenges, and several recently were addressed by […]
Posted inCity Hall
As heat wave continues, city fleet department works to improve AC maintenance for Austin Resource Recovery
Amid an ongoing spike in repair requests for Austin Resource Recovery vehicles, managers of the city’s fleet have made some changes to improve air conditioning maintenance. A memo released last week showed that since June and July 2022, the Fleet Mobility Services Department has observed a 49 percent increase in repairs for heating and air […]
Posted inBudget
Council-approved budget contains record-high police funding, sparking dissent from both sides
Three years after mass protests against police violence and racial injustice spurred the now-defunct Reimagining Public Safety initiative, City Council on Wednesday voted 10-1 to approve the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, which includes record-high police funding and sets a new minimum for future city spending. Council’s decision has provoked both the police union and police […]
Posted inWater
Leslie Pool takes question of water extension requests off Council agenda
City Council Member Leslie Pool notified her colleagues that she has withdrawn her request that the group consider a controversial item related to the extension of water and wastewater service in the city’s Drinking Water Protection Zone and outside the city’s jurisdiction. A service extension request is required when a property owner or developer wants […]
Posted inBudget
City Council approves Austin’s $5.5 billion budget for 2024
With Mayor Kirk Watson in the driver’s seat, City Council delivered the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget of $5.5 billion just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, including amendments requested by a variety of assistance groups and pushed forward by Council. Council approved the budget and tax rate by a vote of 10-1, with Council Member Mackenzie […]
Posted inBudget
Equity Action to continue push for community needs not met in new city budget
Late changes to Austin’s next budget, which was adopted on Wednesday by City Council, include a mix of items from the Community Investment Budget. A coalition of community groups led by Equity Action months ago released a proposal for what they called “long overdue investments in public safety.” Equity Action’s members criticized city management‘s budget […]
Posted inAustin
City loans up to $38M could shield Hilton downtown during convention center closure
An expected agreement between Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the board that manages the city-owned downtown Hilton Austin, and bondholders who financed the hotel will clear the way for the next steps in the expansion of the Austin Convention Center. Last week, the board for the Austin Convention Enterprises public facilities corporation approved amendments to its agreements […]
Posted inBudget
Garza pauses changes for Civil Rights, Equity offices until after budget passage
The controversial plan to reorganize the offices of Civil Rights and Equity and two others is being put on hold and will be evaluated after City Council concludes its work to finalize and approve next year’s budget. At Tuesday’s budget work session, interim City Manager Jesús Garza said criticism from community groups and objections to […]
Posted inParks
City Council puts controversial Zilker Park Vision Plan on hold
City Council will not move forward this month with a controversial plan to revamp Zilker Park, Mayor Kirk Watson said Monday. The announcement comes after Council members Paige Ellis, Ryan Alter and Zo Qadri released a joint statement saying that while there’s some consensus around the Zilker Park Vision Plan, there are other elements that […]