Austin’s economy – if statistical rankings can be believed – is currently among the best in the country. Judging by those rankings, the city is at or near the top of many publications’ lists for job creation, business environment, places to go to school, live, work, socialize and retire. In their annual Economic Development […]
Local Politics
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council approves creation of Cascades MUD on first reading
Although the city has long objected to creation of Municipal Utility Districts in its extra-territorial jurisdiction, Council voted 5-2 last night to approve the Cascades MUD in southeast Travis County. Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo were opposed. Council Member Mike Martinez made the motion to approve the Planning Commission recommendation with its […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Uncategorized
Tovo attempts to change how city hands out fee waivers for events
Council Member Kathie Tovo took a stab Thursday at shifting the way that the City of Austin pays for fee waivers it awards to major events. Though she was ultimately unsuccessful in changing the current policy, Tovo laid the groundwork for what could be a change in the city’s approach in the future to what […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Uncategorized
Council discusses economic incentives for Dropbox, Websense
Austin City Council members Thursday got their first public look at the data behind a potential incentives deal designed to lure two more technology companies, Websense and Dropbox, to the city. Though whispers – and Council debate over an eventually successful development agreement with Athenahealth – leading up to that briefing indicated some level of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council to study homestead preservation districts to boost affordability
Austin City Council members are set to consider a measure today instructing city staff to begin evaluating whether the city could use homestead preservation districts as a tool to promote affordability. Council Member Mike Martinez is the sponsor of the resolution. Council has been down this road before. In 2008, Council members approved a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council considers details of lowering housing occupancy cap
Austin City Council members Tuesday continued to explore a potential change in development rules that lowers the city’s occupancy cap from six to four unrelated persons. Though the measure, brought by Council Member Mike Martinez, is aimed squarely at what some call stealth dorms, wider concerns grabbed council attention. These include questions over how […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rezones downtown lot to make way for chilling station
Despite concerns about downtown noise, City Council members laid the groundwork for a chilling station for Austin Energy at their last meeting. Austin Energy asked for a change from the current Downtown Mixed Use zoning to Public zoning on its 812½ West Second Street property, which is slightly more than one-half acre in size. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Two more tech companies seek incentives from state, city
Both the City of Austin and the Office of Governor Rick Perry announced two separate economic development incentive proposals Thursday that they say would bring 640 new full-time jobs and a capital investment of more than $15 million to Austin. The tech companies are Websense, Inc. and Dropbox, Inc. According to the city’s Economic […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Audit finds Parks Department lax in managing safety hazards
City Auditor Ken Mory reported to Council members Wednesday that the city’s Parks and Recreation Department “is not effectively managing hazards related to patron safety” and, further noted that “there is limited assurance that hazards identified are corrected promptly.” Mory’s finding was part of an audit of the efficacy of the department’s ability to […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
City’s General Fund ends fiscal year 2013 with $14 million surplus
The City of Austin’s General Fund ended fiscal year 2013 with a $14.2 million surplus. That figure amounts to a roughly 1 percent variance from projections made by city staff. Despite the positive figure, Austin’s Chief Financial Officer Elaine Hart told members of the Council’s Audit and Finance Committee Wednesday that management was not […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Task Force meets to determine future of boards and commissions
With just one meeting under its belt, the city’s commission on commissions is diving into the work ahead of them. First on the agenda? Maybe fewer commissions. The Boards and Commissions Transitions Task Force met Wednesday evening, and began work on the daunting task ahead of them: addressing Austin’s upcoming switch to single-member […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rejects bid to remove restrictive covenant on east side lot
City Council members shot down a bid to remove a restrictive covenant on an east side property last week, sending developers back to the drawing board. Hector Avilia was asking for termination of a restrictive covenant at 1120 Tillery Street. Currently, the 3.5 acre lot is home to Ted’s Trees, and zoned for that […]