Two pieces of city-owned property have been identified as potential sites for homeless encampments, with an analysis of possible zoning issues preceding the disclosure of where the sites are located. The estimated cost of preparing the sites with the utilities and other services needed to safely help the local homeless population range from $1.33 million […]
City Hall
Posted inBudget
Cap Metro board fields 2022 budgetary updates
At the June 28 meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members fielded budgetary updates for the 2022 fiscal year. Deputy CFO Kevin Conlan presented the broad budgetary developments, important assumptions as they relate to budget, expenses, service priorities, and major revenue and cost drivers. Notable costs included Broadmoor rail development, electric bus […]
Posted inAustin
An Austin nonprofit is raising money to help make state homeless camp feel more like a neighborhood
For the better part of two years, the Esperanza Community in Southeast Austin has been home for many people experiencing homelessness. On any given day, roughly 150 people live and work on the weather-beaten, 5-acre blacktop owned by the Texas Department of Transportation. It doesn’t look like a traditional “neighborhood,” but it has felt like […]
Posted inCity Council
Pandemic, winter storm prompt Council to address local food system
In response to the double-whammy of the pandemic and Winter Storm Uri, City Council adopted a resolution at its June 10 meeting with the goal of strengthening the city’s food system and aiding the local agricultural industry. “During the pandemic, one of the first impacts that I believe became publicly of concern … were the disruptions […]
Posted inAustin
Cyclists split on sharing bike lanes with pizza delivery robots
A small fleet of robots delivering pizza in Central Austin has set off a debate about whether the semi-autonomous machines’ use of bike lanes will squeeze cyclists off the road or launch a technological revolution to reduce motor vehicle deliveries and boost demand for bicycle infrastructure. “My personal view is that I don’t believe these belong in […]
Posted inCity Hall
Downtown Community Court finds new temporary home after long search
After City Council went through the rigmarole of trying and failing to choose a new location for the Downtown Austin Community Court last year, city staffers have found a temporary solution. In the coming weeks, DACC will set up shop for 18-24 months at One Texas Center, a city-owned office building at 505 Barton Springs […]
Posted inBudget
Commissioners Court fields next year’s budget plan
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court fielded a budget process explanation for the 2022 fiscal year from Travis Gatlin and Jessica Rio with the Planning and Budget Office. While the first revenue estimates from the adopted budget sat at about $945 million, Gatlin stated that the county will be crossing the billion-dollar threshold for […]
Posted inAustin
Council OKs new direction on convention center reconstruction
The city will move ahead with another attempt to remake the Austin Convention Center, following the decision in April to abandon a planned westward expansion and reconstruction that would have been completed in two phases. Earlier this month City Council unanimously approved two largely procedural resolutions related to the convention center and plans now to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Herrington leaving his environmental post for new job in Virginia
After 25 years with the city of Austin, Environmental Officer Chris Herrington is retiring and taking a new leadership position in Fairfax, Va. Herrington, who’ll be moving east with his fiancée, Kimberly Horndeski, will serve as director of public works and environmental services for Fairfax County. July 2 will mark his last day with the […]
Posted inAustin
Austin Animal Center continues to struggle with capacity
Earlier this week at the Animal Advisory Commission’s monthly meeting, commissioners discussed the reopening process of the Austin Animal Center as the risk of coronavirus continues to decline locally. In recent months, the shelter has been running out of kennel space for incoming pets – a development that jeopardizes the shelter’s no-kill status. One of the contributing […]
Posted inAustin
With Council approval, new EDC moves forward
City Council has approved the interlocal agreement that will allow the newly created Austin Economic Development Corporation to begin conducting its business, which will be focused around real estate projects addressing affordability and gentrification concerns. The unanimous vote last week came after years of planning and strategizing to decide how the city could create and […]
Posted inAustin
ZWAC looks to extend contract for encampment cleanups
Last week, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted unanimously to advance a contract extension with Relief Enterprise of Texas Inc., a contractor that has handled homeless encampment trash cleanup for the city around Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 183, Loop 1 and U.S. Highway 290. The contract, which was brought before ZWAC last year, was initially […]