Whispers

Although Ted Eubanks’ appointment to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board faced some headwinds, City Council on Thursday did finally appoint a 40-year parks professional who specializes in heritage and nature tourism. That appointment was postponed last month after some Council members had unspecified objections to his service. On Thursday, only Council Member Paige Ellis […]

Summer is nigh, and the city is getting ready for swim season with two lifeguard hiring events in the next few weeks. The last two lifeguard recruiting events for this season will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. April 17 and May 1 at 2818 San Gabriel St. After a fairly recent hike, pay […]

Austin U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, who served on the Austin City Council from 2015 to 2022, expressed anger after learning that a grant that he had previously helped to secure has been canceled. The $50 million BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was intended to reduce flooding risks […]

Noting that she has worked for the city for 23 years, Mayor Kirk Watson thanked City Clerk Myrna Rios and extended a bouquet to her on Thursday as he announced she would be retiring at the end of the month. Rios was appointed to the position permanently in December 2021. Watson praised Rios for all […]

Council rarely gives out a “key to the city” these days, but Austin entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria was honored with a key during a proclamation Thursday honoring his commitment to doing good. Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison noted that DeJoria’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation had given her struggling flower shop a gift several […]

At the end of today’s agenda, City Council is set to appoint Deputy City Clerk Erika Brady to become city clerk as Myrna Rios retires. Brady has been with the city clerk’s office for nearly 11 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Agenda backup documents indicate that her new salary will be $191,110.40. Rios was […]

The city is planning to make changes to its Residential Permit Parking program and looking to Austin residents to do it. According to a newsletter from the Transportation and Public Works Department, “The goal of the new rules is to balance the needs of residents, businesses and visitors by reducing congestion, improving curb access, and […]

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is working to shape the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026, and Austinites are encouraged to weigh in on their priorities. Through early May, the city’s Budget Priority Survey will be available in multiple languages. This survey follows a series of five community budget conversations that Broadnax hosted across the city […]

A building code amendment that will allow single-stair development up to five stories will be at Council this week and, like the resolution that asked for it, appears to have strong City Council support. Council Member Chito Vela, who sponsored the original resolution, posted to the City Council Message Board about the upcoming vote and […]

The plaintiffs in Rethink35, et. al v. TxDOT filed a motion for summary judgment last week. The move could result in a resolution for the case, which claims that the planned expansion of I-35 did not include a required evaluation of the impact the road’s soot pollution would have on air quality. “The community’s health […]

The Planning Commission voted by consent agenda to “initiate Code amendments to City Code § 25-2-652 – Density Bonus 90 (DB90) Combining District Regulations to add an option for a fee-in-lieu for non-residential space above zoning base district height or zoning base district FAR to be directed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.” FAR stands […]

The 48th annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championship is approaching. The contest, which is free and open to the public, will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Brush Square Park. The event, which is known worldwide, consists of the Punniest of Show and Punslingers contests and will feature live […]