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Council OKs measure to have Austin Energy collect all line fees

The Austin City Council unanimously Thursday approved an item that directs Austin Energy officials to collect full reimbursement for the cost of line extensions. The measure, long supported by veteran Electric Utility Commissioner Shudde Fath, would allow the utility to…

City Council orders restaurants to compost organic waste by 2018

Austin City Council members Thursday approved changes to city ordinances that will require food service permit holders to begin composting organic waste by 2018. Under the measure, full enforcement of the new rules will not come until a year later.…

Council votes to cut Seton’s fee waiver request by more than half

Those opposed to offering the future Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas a bundle of fee and requirement waivers can take heart after the Austin City Council cut the total value of the waivers from over $2.4 million…

Council removes covenant but postpones Lake Austin zoning case

Council members dispensed with at least one aspect of the 2208 Lake Austin Boulevard zoning case Thursday. While members postponed the main zoning case indefinitely, Council unanimously voted to remove a restrictive covenant on the property.   Alice Glasco, representing…

Council meeting going strong well past midnight

Despite severe weather Thursday night that left thousands of Central Texans without power, Austin City Council members were still in session with several major items still on the agenda shortly after midnight. The Monitor will have coverage of these issues…

Riley, Cole continue to oppose SH45 SW in CAMPO’s 2040 Plan

Austin Council Member Chris Riley and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole voiced continued opposition to State Highway 45 Southwest toll road project at the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board meeting Monday. Riley and Cole opposed including SH45…

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West Lake Hills’ planner’s actions under ethical spotlight

Actions of a former West Lake Hills City Council member and former city planner are raising ethical and legal concerns since it appears he is representing a client he may have begun a business relationship with while still employed by…

Tovo, Martinez disagree with Mayor over rejection of incentive deals

After learning Monday that National Instruments and Dropbox terminated economic incentive agreements with the city, Austinites learned Tuesday that a third company, U.S. Farathane, also ended its participation in the program which gives companies tax breaks or fee waivers in…

Council members grill Austin Energy over plans for new building

City Council members expressed concern at Tuesday’s work session over the transparency of the route taken by Austin Energy officials in search of roughly $9 million to design a new headquarters building in East Austin and an additional $5.2 million…

Austin Monitor Radio, Show 2

Travis County Chief Appraiser, Austin City Council Member Kathie Tovo, and Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Deece Eckstein join the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin and Beth Cortez-Neavel to talk property tax appraisals.

National Instruments nixes expansion; Mayor calls incentive rules onerous

National Instruments, the Austin-based high-tech firm with a global reach, has opted out of an estimated $7.4 million economic development deal with Austin, Travis County and the State of Texas. The deal, struck in mid-2013, would have brought as many…

Environmental Board OKs redevelopment in Barton Springs zone

The Environmental Board gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to redevelopment plans in the Barton Springs Zone Wednesday night.   Parkside Community School is moving from its current Toomey Road location, where rising rents have become unmanageable, to a new home at…

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