Despite repeated objections from Austin City Council Member Chris Riley, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board voted Monday to soften a policy that directs federal funds toward bicycle and pedestrian projects under a proposed long-range plan. The CAMPO board voted to amend a long-standing policy in the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan that […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Travis County
Council tries for changes in Secure Communities
City Council members Thursday instructed city staff to make a series of changes to a proposed interlocal agreement the City of Austin holds with Travis County for prisoner booking services. If county officials agree to the changes, the cumulative effect could circumvent the Travis County Sheriff’s participation in the Federal Secure Communities program. The move […]
Posted inCourts, Housing, Local Politics, Uncategorized
City Council advances source of income ordinance
City Council members took another step toward prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income Thursday, passing an ordinance on second reading that amends the city code. The ordinance includes language that offers an exemption to property owners who do not directly or indirectly own more than four dwelling units and do not use a […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Local Government
City Council not yet ready to close sale of quarry
The Austin City Council gave city staff the OK on Thursday to begin negotiations over the sale of a soon-to-be former quarry to the City of Cedar Park, but they elected not to authorize the finalization of that agreement. That move came as Council Member Laura Morrison continued to express concern for the level of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Elections, Local Politics, Travis County
Reporters Notebook: Campaign cash still flowing
Adler raises $100K the first day after the election … The election judges hadn’t even caught up on their sleep yet Thursday when mayoral candidate Steve Adler began indulging in a little financial chest-thumping. Adler’s campaign announced that he raised $100,000 from 400 donors during the first day of the runoff election campaign. According to […]
Posted inLocal Government, Travis County
County seeks study to verify office complex budget
Travis County Commissioners are asking for a second opinion on whether the budget to construct a planned office complex at 416 West 11th St. is realistic, or whether they should put the project back out for bids. The initial budget for the Ronald Earle Building came in about $10 million over the county’s $34.5 million […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Travis County
Eckhardt, Shea, Gomez win Travis County seats
There were no surprises Tuesday in the elections for the Travis County Commissioners Court. Sarah Eckhardt handily defeated Republican Mike McNamara for County Judge by about a 2-1 margin. In Precinct 2, Brigid Shea defeated Republican Raymond Frank, also by about a 2-1 margin. And in Precinct 4, incumbent Margaret Gomez polled about 85 percent […]
Posted inElections, Hays County, Local Government, Local Politics
Some San Marcos voters turned away on Election Day
As many as a dozen San Marcos voters were kept from casting a ballot on Election Day due to power outages at polling places, according to the Hays County Elections Administrator. Reports of somewhere between five and 12 voters were turned away at San Marcos Housing – Residents Office at 820 Sturgeon St., Elections Administrator […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Austin City Council 11-4 & 11-6
The Austin City Council meets in a work session Tuesday and for its regular meeting Thursday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The City Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website, here. We’ve posted these in chronological order. Where applicable, however, we’ve paired items that appear […]
Posted inLocal Government, Police, Public Safety, Travis County
Report: County jail needs better medical facilities
Travis County’s correctional facilities have an adequate number of beds to handle its jail’s projected population for the next two decades, but current facilities for inmates with medical and mental health needs are acutely inadequate. That was among the key findings of a System Needs Analysis and Master Plan Update for the Travis County Adult […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Long Park golf courses moving forward
A proposal for a pair of golf courses at the current open space at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park took a small step forward at City Council on Thursday. However, though Council members OK’d staff negotiations with the potential concession-holder for the facility — Decker Lake Golf LLC — they instructed staff to bring any […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics
Council continues to deliberate quarry sale
The proposed sale of a northwest quarry continues to inspire debate among City Council members. At Tuesday’s work session, the revelation that proceeds from the sale would go to a struggling water utility complicated an already-nuanced discussion about the relative merits of the city’s options. Today, Council will vote on whether or not to sell […]