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Local Politics
County ponders how to deal with heritage tree in path of road extension
Travis County Commissioners will face a tough decision next week as they decide the fate of a 100-year-old oak tree that is in the way of an extension of Frate Barker Road in South Austin. The item came up…
Local Government • By Mark Richardson • Oct 31, 2013
Council approves fund to preserve heritage of Rainey Street District
Though they ultimately voted unanimously to create a Rainey Street District Fund from collection of development fees, it took at fair amount of bickering for City Council members to get there last week. It remains to be seen exactly how…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 29, 2013
Fleet Services says it needs more staff, bays to service vehicles
The head of the city’s Fleet Services Department told members on the Council Audit and Finance Committee last week that his department has numerous unmet needs, noting that department is short 60-80 repair bays for the city’s vehicles, including nearly…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 28, 2013
ICRC continues hearing on preliminary 10-1 Council Districts map
As a deadline for establishing Austin’s first single-member districts looms, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission continued to listen to citizens over the weekend. The commission is currently on a whirlwind tour of the four Travis County Commissioner precincts. This…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 28, 2013
Final vote on Special Events Ordinance may wait until January
Though Council members unanimously approved the pending on first reading Thursday, that action came with anticipation of the creation of a Council subcommittee that would deal with lingering issues about the matter. Chief ordinance sponsor Council Member Mike Martineztold his…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013
Council votes to raise water impact fees to near maximum rate
Austin City Council members Thursday approved an immediate increase of impact fees for public infrastructure to just below the maximum allowable rate. Those are the fees that the Austin Water Utility assesses to help offset the cost of extending water and…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013
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Council reluctantly votes to end overnight access to bicycle trails
City Council members voted Thursday to end the pilot program that had opened portions of the city’s urban trails to bikes overnight, though many members expressed frustration about the position the issue put them in. Council members had the…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 25, 2013
Council OKs prevailing wage as part of economic development deals
The City Council on Thursday voted to make Austin the second city in Texas to mandate prevailing wages for construction workers as part of its economic development process. Mayor Lee Leffingwell was the only Council member to oppose the measure.…
Development • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013
Council to hear proposals linking wage rules to development deals
Council members remain at work on potential amendments to a proposal from Council Members Mike Martinez, Kathie Tovo, and Laura Morrison that would link wage requirements to city economic incentive deals. It was unclear as of Wednesday afternoon just what…
Development • By Michael Kanin • Oct 24, 2013
Council scrutinizes details of proposed Special Events Ordinance
Austin City Council members will have the opportunity to take action tonight on what Council Member Laura Morrison on Tuesday called the “much discussed, monster ordinance on special events.” At the work session, Council discussion focused on a host…