City Council members Thursday approved the creation of a new Austin generation planning task force. The group, as yet unnamed, will “examine and make recommendations regarding the 2014 update to Austin Energy’s current Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan.” Council Member Kathie Tovo was the lead sponsor on the item that created the task force. […]
Local Politics
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics
Spurred by retailers, lawmaker seeks Attorney General opinion on bag ban
Just barely past the one-year-anniversary of Austin’s law banning single-use plastic bags, Texas business interests are taking another shot at it, this time seeking an Attorney General’s opinion on whether such bans violate state statutes. The opinion was requested by State Rep. Dan Flynn, a conservative Republican from northeast Texas, on behalf of the […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council continues to move toward mid-year budget adjustment
City Manager Marc Ott and his budget staff expressed concern about the notion of another mid-year budget adjustment Tuesday even as City Council members moved forward with a process to consider such amendments. As part of their regular Tuesday work session, Ott did his level best to steer Council members away from what he […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council to delay discussion of expanding city’s over-65 tax break
Austin City Council members are set to delay discussion of expanding the tax break for city residents who are 65 and over until March 20. According to Council Member Bill Spelman, the delay comes at the request of Mayor Lee Leffingwell, who will miss today’s meeting. Meanwhile, city staff offered answers to a September […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Eckhardt claims victory over Brown in County Judge primary race
Despite a considerable fundraising disadvantage, former Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt defeated opponent Andy Brown, former Travis County Democratic Chair, Tuesday in the Democratic Primary. She will face Republican Mike McNamara, Libertaian Richard Perkins and other third-party candidates in November to take over the reins of the Commissioners Court when Judge Sam Biscoe retires […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Shea easily bests two opponents for Commissioner Pct. 2 seat
Former City Council member and environmental leader Brigid Shea swept to victory in the race for the Democratic nomination for Pct. 2 Travis County Commissioner Tuesday with 66 percent of the vote as the clock struck midnight. She will face Republican Raymond Frank, a former Travis County Sheriff, and Libertarian Steven Haskett in November. […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Ortega Carter holds off challenge to keep County Treasurer post
Incumbent Dolores Ortega Carter fought off a well-funded challenger in the Democratic Primary Tuesday to win the nomination for Travis County Treasurer. There is no Republican candidate but she will face Libertarian candidate Mike Burris on the November ballot. Ortega Carter polled almost 54 percent of the votes over Austin attorney Ramey Ko, who […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Gomez cruising to sixth term as Precinct 4 Travis Commissioner
Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez cruised to win the Democratic nomination Tuesday with 73 percent of the vote in her bid to keep her seat on the Travis County Commissioners Court. However, her relatively unknown opponent, Del Valle School Board member Darla Wegner, was polling a surprising 27 percent, possibly signaling some unrest among the electorate […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Eckhardt leading Brown 53-46 in Early Vote
After an extremely hard fought race, former Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt took a giant step closer to being county judge tonight with an early vote lead of 53.37 percent to Andy Brown’s 46.63 percent. The Early Vote is considered extremely important because it can represent half of those voting in a race. There […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Shea wallops two opponents in Early Vote
Former City Council Member Brigid Shea took a commanding lead tonight with nearly 65 percent of the Early Vote over her two opponents, Garry Brown and Richard Jung. Out of 7,173 votes cast, Shea had 64.94percent. Jung was a distant second with 19.56 percent and Brown had 15.5 percent. Veteran political consultant Peck Young […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council makes late changes to Downtown Density Program
There were big changes at the last minute for the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program Thursday night. City Council voted 7-0 to codify community benefits of the Downtown Density Bonus Program not relating to affordability. They also voted to include the Rainey Street area in the program and establish an affordable housing land trust […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Transportation
Leffingwell, Spelman offer different views of city’s rail future
With no firm number yet attached to a potential November 2014 City of Austin transportation bond, two Austin City Council members presented vastly differing visions last week of what it might eventually cost. Meanwhile, the Council members revealed further planning details about what a train system might look like in terms of required infrastructure investments. […]