Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Winding, narrow Thornton Road to get more housing
After two unsuccessful attempts to update the zoning on some commercial property on a narrow South Austin street, the owners succeeded in getting City Council approval to rezone the property at 2313, 2315, 2401 and 2413 Thornton Road at the…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 19, 2024
Kirk Watson avoids runoff, secures new term as Austin mayor
Kirk Watson has officially won a new term as Austin’s next mayor. Watson led his four challengers on Nov. 5, but did not have enough votes to claim victory outright. He had to win a majority of the vote, or…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 15, 2024
The race for Austin mayor is too close to call. Provisional ballots may tip the scales.
When the Travis County Clerk released the final tally of votes for Austin mayor early Wednesday, none of the candidates had enough to claim victory. Incumbent Kirk Watson was ahead with just over 50 percent of the vote. He needed (and…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 12, 2024
Legal questions cause delay in considering changes to petition rules
At Thursday’s City Council meeting, after hearing complaints from two attorneys that a proposed ordinance would violate state law and the city charter, Mayor Kirk Watson announced that the item would be withdrawn. The proposed ordinance would govern petitions for…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Nov 8, 2024
Special fund could help Council members respond to neighborhood needs
Under a proposal approved Thursday, City Council members may have the ability next year to fund projects in their districts without following the usual planning and budgeting processes. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, directs the city manager…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Nov 8, 2024
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.7.24
Well, the show must go on. After a momentous election Tuesday that will also see new Council members in Districts 6, 7 and 10 and probably the return of Mayor Kirk Watson, City Council members are dusting themselves off and…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 7, 2024
Subscribe to our newsletter
Siegel, Bledsoe headed for a runoff in District 7
In a crowded race to represent North Central District 7, none of the six contenders managed to snag 50 percent of the vote. As a result, Mike Siegel and Gary Bledsoe will face off in a runoff next month. Siegel,…
Elections • By Mina Shekarchi • Nov 6, 2024
Council slated to approve updates to Water Forward Plan and to Austin Water’s Conservation and Drought Contingency plans
This month, City Council will vote on proposed updates to Austin’s Water Forward Plan and to the related Water Conservation and Drought Contingency plans. During a briefing on Oct. 22, Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson presented an overview of…
Water • By Mina Shekarchi • Nov 5, 2024
Austin Watershed Protection Department proposes code updates to further protect the Colorado River
The Austin Watershed Protection Department held a public meeting on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center to discuss proposed code updates regarding the Colorado River. In 2022, City Council passed a resolution directing the city manager…
Land Development Code • By Hunter Simmons • Nov 4, 2024
Incumbents have fundraising edge in districts 2 and 4
Looking at fundraising in the final two City Council races not considered in previous reporting in the Austin Monitor, we see two reasonably popular incumbents with every reason to be optimistic about Tuesday’s election. Regardless of policies, an incumbent almost…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Nov 1, 2024
New reports show PACs at work in Austin Council races
As everyone is keenly aware, there’s an important election coming up next week. Not just the federal contest, but also City Council races. The candidates have now turned in their final campaign finance reports before the Nov. 5 election. These…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 31, 2024
Report finds slashed site plan review times, with further improvements on tap
An analysis of the city’s ongoing work to improve its widely criticized permitting process for building within the city shows substantial improvements in turnaround times for the main types of reviews, with further gains expected as the city moves forward…
