Each week, the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week we look at the Garza Ranch. As part of their very first for-real, no-net meeting this week, Austin City Council members are set to consider a lingering portion of what has, to date, been one of the City of […]
Local Politics
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Water
Watershed Department maps it out in new guides
Though Austin’s new single-member district system has been actively in place for almost a month, there are undoubtedly countless details to be worked out. There are also opportunities for education, as the Watershed Protection Department has illustrated with a recent project. The Watershed Protection Council District Profiles project details citywide and district-specific watershed profiles and […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 1.27 & 1.29
The brand new 10-1 Austin City Council has its first major agenda to deal with this week. At 52 items, this one doesn’t even register on the immediate past Council’s major agenda radar. Still, concerns from at least one Council office over what might previously have been considered routine purchasing items and, what late Friday […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council hears feedback on restructuring proposal
The new City Council tested out a lot of ideas at Thursday’s meeting, giving members of the public the opportunity to comment on proposed legislative changes via Twitter, call-ins and online polls in an environment evocative of a television program. Though feedback varied on a lot of issues, the overall message from citizens was that […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council postpones salary debate until next week
On Thursday, City Council temporarily backed away from a plan that could have members voting to reduce their own salaries. Council members voted 11-0 to postpone action on the resolution until their Jan. 29 meeting. The resolution directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics
Who Are the Powerful People in Your Neighborhood?
This story comes to us courtesy of our City Hall reporting partners at KUT. As you might have heard, and most probably have felt, Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. But how it should handle that growth is an ongoing debate. As a new city council steps forward, it might help […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Isabelle Headrick on Source of Income
Isabelle Headrick of Accessible Housing Austin joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the City of Austin’s Source of Income discrimination ban. Program is embedded below. Sponsored by Kerby Lane Cafe. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/187328690″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics
Competing Hyde Parkers: Won’t You Be In My Neighborhood Association?
This story comes to us courtesy of our reporting partners at KUT. For a city of nearly a million people, many big decisions in Austin tend to be influenced by a self-selected few. Lots of small recommendations by neighborhood associations can end up having a big impact on how Austin handles its growth. But now, […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Development, Local Politics, Travis County
Commissioners ponder best date for bond election
Travis County Commissioners began a series of discussions Tuesday to determine the best schedule to fund and build the proposed new $294 million Civil and Family Courthouse building. The main decision will be whether to go to Travis County voters with a bond election in May or November. The new courthouse, which has been in […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Local Politics, Planning, Zoning
Zoning lesson raises questions for new Council
With single-member districts up and running, myriad changes are on the horizon at City Hall. Tuesday, some clues about how city staff will tackle the nuts-and-bolts of the transition emerged in what was a largely uneventful mock City Council meeting. As part of Council’s ongoing orientation, Planning and Development Review Department director Greg Guernsey explained […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics
Subcommittee meeting on ADUs canceled
A meeting of the Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee was canceled Tuesday because not enough members showed up. Voting members James Nortey, Jean Stevens and Nuria Zaragoza along with ex officio member Jeff Jack waited 30 minutes after the 6 p.m. start time before calling it quits. Nortey said he would try to organize […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Despite PAC reports, some campaign facts unclear
The political action committee that funded an attack ad against consultant David Butts has filed a campaign finance report showing contributions from former Texas Monthly publisher Mike Levy and Bryan Hardeman, owner of Continental Automotive Group. Levy and Hardeman contributed $4,800 and $5,000 respectively to the Coalition of Austin Neighborhoods, according to a report the […]