With an upcoming rail bond election almost certainly on the horizon, the city continues to take a closer look at what a new urban rail system might mean. A special called meeting gave the Austin City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee a chance to meet with the Capital Metro Finance Committee Monday and go over […]
Local Politics
Posted inLocal Politics
Austin City Council financial reports for June 26, 2014
As we have with Travis County, the Monitor will offer more detail with our weekly city fiscal reports.) The Austin City Council approved the following estimated expenditures June 26, 2014, for an estimated amount of more than $100,000,000. $15,000,000 for a 36-month contract to Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline, LLC to provide Austin Energy with continued natural gas transportation […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Fight over park name means Council will have to vote once again
Despite hours of meetings and two visits to City Council, the park at 3000 Del Curto Road remains officially nameless because of a disagreement among those interested in the question. Three names were originally under consideration for the park: Del Curto Park, South Lamar Neighborhood Park and Tom Lasseter Park. Council postponed the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Public Safety, Resources
Council approves funds for buyout of 140 more homes in Onion Creek
Though some relief is on the way for Halloween Flood survivors, the fact that nearly 15 percent of the funds could be spent on consultants raised some eyebrows at City Council Thursday. Council members approved all four items related to the Onion Creek buyouts but they faced some pushback from citizens concerned about the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Heated discussion ensues at West Lake Hills over ethics complaints
Accusations flew during Wednesday’s meeting of the West Lake Hills City Council, where ethics complaints against a former city employee and former council member continue to fester. The city is in the midst of an investigation into a formal complaint filed by attorney Chris Gunter. That complaint alleges that former city planner and council […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics
Council takes no action on move to remove Leffingwell from BCCP
Activists opposed to State Highway 45 Southwest lost a battle at Thursday’s City Council meeting when a motion died to replace Mayor Lee Leffingwell as chair of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan’s Coordinating Committee. Council Member Kathie Tovo moved to replace Leffingwell with Council Member Laura Morrison, but the motion died for lack of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Resources
Ott pulls Austin Energy building plan from City Council agenda
Austin City Manager Marc Ott plans to remove a controversial item from today’s agenda that would authorize the design of a new Austin Energy headquarters. Speaking from the dais at Council’s regular Tuesday work session, Ott noted the need for more information. “Certainly I recognize that Council has a lot of questions and I […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council members ponder high cost of Highland area renovations
There was widespread support at Tuesday’s work session for the renovations already underway at Highland Mall. But the hefty price tag that will most likely accompany that redevelopment had some City Council members concerned that the city could be overextending itself in the face of so many opportunities. The first phase of the project […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Public Integrity Unit investigating former West Lake Hills city planner
The Travis County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit has opened an investigation into allegations surrounding a former city planner for West Lake Hills who is now in private practice as an architect. Assistant District Attorney Greg Cox confirmed the inquiry Tuesday but said he could not offer any details of an ongoing investigation. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics
Leffingwell clashes with Morrison, Tovo on his position on SH45 SW
A testy exchange between Mayor Lee Leffingwell and several members at Tuesday’s Austin City Council work session put deep divisions about the proposed State Highway 45 Southwest on full display. Leffingwell found himself in the hot seat when colleagues asked him how he’d vote if the highway appeared on the agenda of the Balcones […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Resources
City in line for flood buyout reimbursements from Corps of Engineers
Austin City Council members got a bit of good news with regard to buyouts in the Onion Creek floodplain. The city’s governmental relations officer, John Hrncir, told Council members during Tuesday’s work session that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was likely to reimburse the city for the costs of the program dating as far […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council members look for ways to shorten weekly meetings
Mindful of citizens forced to wait long hours to testify – and perhaps hoping to catch at least a few hours of sleep themselves – Austin City Council members hashed out ways Tuesday to end this Thursday’s meeting a little earlier. As the Council work session wound up, Council Member Kathie Tovo asked that […]