A new set of zoning regulations known as the Lake Austin Overlay got past its first City Council hurdle Thursday night. Council voted on first reading to adopt the regulations, with two more to go before the overlay is adopted. In general, they approved the recommendations backed by the Planning Commission. (See Austin Monitor, […]
Local Politics
Posted inLocal Politics
Council spending for May 15, 2014
We at the Monitor are excited to introduce a new feature after every City Council Meeting. Often overlooked, expenditures make up an important part of the nuts and bolts of city government. Here is a detailed look at expenditures Council authorized last week: · $423,607.50 on the 2014 Miscellaneous Streets Fog Seal Project […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
City hires outside law firm to handle Capitol View Corridor violation
After a closed-door executive session, City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve $1.8 million in legal fees for an outside law firm to protect the interests for a possible violation of the Capitol View Corridor. After some confusion and speculation over what the money was for, the City Manager’s Office issued a statement Thursday, […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Transportation
Council sets up study process for ridesharing, taxi service issues
Taxicab drivers and safer-streets activists were among those with a heavy stake in two transportation-related items at Thursday’s City Council meeting. But in the end, all they got was a stakeholder process that will not be over until mid-November, making it unlikely that the current Council will be enacting new rules. One item calls […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety
Council accepts DOJ consent decree to settle firefighter hiring issue
With Council Members Mike Martinez and Chris Riley dissenting, Austin City Council members voted Thursday night to move forward with a proposed agreement with U.S. Department of Justice that would settle claims of hiring discrimination that have dogged the department for two years. The vote, however, may not be the end of the line […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Kyle Council incumbent’s opponent seeks recount
Kyle City Council incumbent Becky Selbera, who won re-election Saturday by just six votes, is being accused by her opponent in the race of being unqualified to run under city charter rules. Jaime Sanchez also is seeking a recount of the final vote. Sanchez, a former council member who was challenging Selbera for her District […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council questions management’s funding process
The question of funding for Austin’s African-American Cultural Heritage District got wrapped up in an ongoing City Council and management discussion over how mid-year funding for various projects should be vetted. The conversation took place at Tuesday’s work session Though Council members left the conversation – which now stretches back over at least two […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety
Spelman continues to press police department on budget increases
With no attempt at coyness, Council Member Bill Spelman kicked off his questioning about the Austin Police Department budget during last week’s budget work session saying, “This is a ritual, we’ve done it for years – I’ll do it again.” With that, he got right to the point, saying that most of the $23 […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Mayor criticizes use of Austin Water funds to pay for general fund expenses
The Austin Water Utility came under scrutiny at last week’s budget session, as City Council members took a closer look at rate increases proposed by the utility. In fact, Mayor Lee Leffingwell called for “truth in budgeting,” telling AWU officials that he thinks there are expenses they could cut to avoid raising rates. The […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Library offers lean budget now in hopes of increase in future years
City Council members heard a humble request from the Library Department last week. ThoughLibrary Director Brenda Branch is requesting an increase of 4.4 percent in next year’s operating budget, her presentation to City Council noted that that increase did not attempt to address a number of ongoing inadequacies facing the city’s library system. […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety
Austin Fire Chief explains to Council why she can’t expand service
Ranks of the Austin Fire Department are down by 76 members and that number is growing every month as veterans retire, according to Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. Kerr says at that rate, the department would have around 100 vacancies by the end of the fiscal year. The fire department’s predicament stems from its […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council members surprised by changed format for budget process
Several City Council members expressed surprise Thursday about not being provided with budget presentations from city departments as part of their FY2015 budget deliberations. Members also said they were concerned over a decline in the amount of information delivered by staff as part of the budget process. The issue appeared almost immediately as Council […]