City Hall
Council urges cutting PFAS from firefighting equipment
On a unanimous vote Thursday, City Council adopted a resolution urging the city’s Fire Department to eliminate PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) from the city’s firefighting equipment, noting that the substance is dangerous not only to firefighters but also to…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Sep 13, 2024
Council delays vote, opts to fine-tune incentive program for creative spaces, legacy businesses
City Council plans to take the next two weeks to fine-tune the guidelines for a proposed place-based economic incentive program aimed at creative spaces, legacy businesses and community needs such as child care providers and grocery stores. Thursday’s meeting featured…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 13, 2024
Council could decide ‘agent of change’ noise dispute issue, after nearly a decade of debate
This week, City Council could end nearly a decade of waiting and staff work to settle disputes between music venues and new developments moving into all areas of the city. Today’s Council meeting will include a proposed ordinance change concerning…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2024
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 9.12.24
Today, City Council will meet once again for its regular Thursday meeting. And we, in turn, have once again read through the agenda and compiled a list of the items that caught our eye. After years of debate, an “agent…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 12, 2024
Animal Advisory Commission considers banning glue traps in Austin
Bats are under attack by glue traps used in the city, advocates for Austin’s bats say. “I would love to see glue traps banned from being sold and used in Austin,” says Austin Bat Refuge’s executive director, Dianne Odegard. The…
Austin • By Hunter Simmons • Sep 11, 2024
Hotels nearing agreement on tax plan to provide homelessness services funding
City leaders expect a long-in-coming new hotel tax that could provide money for homelessness services to be ready for final City Council approval within the month. On Monday, the Austin Business Journal reported that the proposed Tourism Public Improvement District…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2024
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City Council condemns anti-immigrant Senate Bill 4
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed one of its most extreme anti-immigrant laws yet: Senate Bill 4, which gives law enforcement the ability to arrest and hold people suspected of having entered Texas illegally. As the law’s enforcement still hangs…
City Council • By Lina Fisher • Sep 3, 2024
Audit finds low pay, telework policy among drags on the city's worker retention rate
A recent audit by the Office of the City Auditor found the city’s efforts to retain employees are falling short, with compensation, career progression and telework policies standing out as problem areas. With a turnover rate that peaked at 11.77…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 30, 2024
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 8.29.24
Today, City Council will convene to hold its regular Thursday meeting and, to celebrate the occasion, we’ve put together a collection of things that caught our eye while reading through the agenda. Behold! In February, Council approved a new density…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 29, 2024
Texas Supreme Court to decide whether Austin has a charter election this year
The Supreme Court of Texas has accepted a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Save Our Springs Alliance lawsuit against the city of Austin regarding alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act. If the court agrees with…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 27, 2024
Central Health sends 2025 fiscal year budget to Travis County for final approval
Central Health leadership gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a $884 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The budget will go before Travis County commissioners for a final vote in September. As Travis County’s public hospital district, Central Health is…
Budget • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Aug 26, 2024
Developers join city in considering climate resiliency as Austin grows
While the city considers its options for dealing with extreme weather and increasing resiliency across the area, the same questions about the role of climate change in large-scale building projects are top of mind for developers and financial leaders active…
