This article was co-produced with KUT News’ Joy Diaz as part of an ongoing City of Austin reporting partnership between In Fact Daily and KUT. Listen to KUT News Monday morning for an in-depth examination of how the interaction described below could play out. Among the changes that will accompany the start of districted […]
Elections
Posted inLocal Politics
City Council rejects attempt to establish ‘Healthy Food Zones’
The City of Austin will not be establishing Healthy Food Zones any time soon. And, for now, the city won’t be looking into whether Austin even needs them. A resolution sponsored mainly by Council Member Laura Morrison would have directed City Manager Marc Ott to gather data from the county and neighborhoods for the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council starts process aimed at putting limits on ‘stealth dorms’
Austin City Council members Thursday unanimously approved a measure that kicks off changes to the occupancy limits for Austin residences. When completed, the move could drop the allowed number of unrelated adults living in one place from the current limitation of six to four. But Council Member Kathie Tovo’s more ambitious set of proposals failed […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
After long debate, Council OKs changes to Urban Farm Ordinance
After hours of discussion, the City Council approved changes to the Urban Farm Ordinance Thursday night, giving East Austin neighborhoods a victory in the battle to stop or prevent slaughtering of fowl and rabbits in single-family neighborhoods—the most important of their demands. The final vote was unanimous. Farmers in single-family neighborhoods were also […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Tovo now pushing for three rental registration programs for city
Council Member Kathie Tovo continued Tuesday to try to persuade her colleagues to approve what are now three separate additional rental registration programs for areas that have been deemed to host problematic rental properties. Those regions include the North Austin Civic Association/Restore Rundberg section, the East Riverside area, and certain portions of central Austin […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Urban Farm stakeholders try to cut deal on chicken slaughtering
With Council members set to vote on an ordinance that would memorialize city policy in regard to urban farms, at least two stakeholders were pitching a compromise over the hotly contested issue Wednesday afternoon. It remained unclear, however, whether their efforts would win Council approval. Planning Commissioner Richard Hatfield and HausBar Farms owner Dorsey […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Council split over plan to give delinquent utility ratepayers more time
Council Members Kathie Tovo and Laura Morrison want to give delinquent Austin Energy ratepayers who participate in the utility’s Customer Assistance Program additional leeway in paying their bills. Their proposal met with some resistance from Mayor Lee Leffingwell and utility staff Tuesday. After some discussion, Leffingwell prompted staff to disclose that it would be […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Developers take concerns over Vested Rights Ordinance to Council
Key players in Austin’s development community brought their concerns about the potential outcome of an upcoming Austin City Council vote on a new Vested Rights Ordinance to Tuesday’s Council work session. There, they expressed concerns that fundamental portions of the new set of regulations would not leave enough space for properly considered projects. “We […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Redistricting Commission gets final public input on district map
Edging ever closer to a final City Council district map, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission held its final public meeting last night and received mostly positive feedback for its work in creating 10 single-member districts. The commission met at the Millennium Youth Center in order to gather input on their final proposed map, which […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Kyle City Council deadlocked over interviewing judge candidates
KYLE — After an hour-long discussion with failed motions and circling banter, Kyle City Council members sent home four applicants seeking the city’s Municipal Judge position without interviewing them as scheduled at a special called meeting on Nov. 7. Current Municipal Judge Sundra Spears’ base salary is $24,000 a year plus city benefits, which […]
Posted inAustin, City Charter, City Council, Elections, Local Politics
Residents express concerns over final Council districts map
A week after the final proposed map of Austin’s first single-member districts was released, Austinites gathered mainly to tell the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission what they felt was wrong with the map and, occasionally tell them what the panel had done right. The meeting, held at The Lodge at 700 Dawson (formerly the Elks Lodge), […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis Commissioners add $1 million to child care program
Travis County Commissioners have approved investing an additional $1 million over the next two years to bolster early childhood programs, particularly those offering child care for low-income families. Commissioners approved a two-part plan that will change the procurement process for existing and expanded programs in Fiscal Year 2015, and will make a one-time $500,000 […]