Despite the fact that views among City Council members run the gamut as far as implementing a homestead tax exemption, they opted in a 7-4 vote to meet in the middle early Friday morning, approving a 6 percent exemption for this year and expressing an intent to increase it to 20 percent over the course […]
Austin City Council
The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2015, the body contained seven members, including the city’s Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and as of 2015, 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.
Posted inAustin
Council approves most flood buyouts
Though some members of City Council remain concerned about the implications, yesterday they approved the bulk of the Williamson Creek flood buyouts. Although the previous Council had authorized the funds from the Capital Improvement Projects budget, this Council was asked to appropriate $17,986,000 to purchase 63 properties in the Williamson Creek watershed. The properties are within […]
Posted inAustin
Council adopts net-zero community climate plan
City Council voted 8-2 Thursday to adopt the 2015 Austin Community Climate Plan to achieve citywide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Council members Don Zimmerman and Ellen Troxclair opposed. Council Member Delia Garza is on maternity leave. Under the resolution, City Manager Marc Ott will be directed to implement recommendations from the community climate plan and […]
Posted inAustin
Council set to make flood buyout decision today
Today’s City Council agenda includes a decision on whether to appropriate $17,986,000 to purchase 63 flood-prone properties in the Williamson Creek watershed. Those properties are in the 25-year floodplain and are considered at high risk of flooding. The previous Council authorized the funds from the Capital Improvement Projects budget. The city has already purchased a […]
Posted inPreservation
Tricky East Austin case gets more complicated
The story of the Waller on Swede Hill project and why City Council won’t likely consider historic zoning for the Stasswender House until August is a complicated one. Early this year, in an attempt to stave off a proposed condo development in East Austin, the Swede Hill neighborhood asked the city to consider historic zoning […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 6.4.15
The Austin City Council will meet in its regular meeting Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching for the upcoming week. 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. 10. Approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: This week’s Council Committees
As part of our ongoing attempt to keep readers up to date with all that is going on at City Hall, we will now be offering weekly tip sheets for City Council committees. As usual, we will be offering highlights of the meetings, with links to the entire agenda. Health and Human Services Council Committee […]
Posted inCity Council
Council moves forward with appraisal challenge
City Council presented a united front yesterday and voted unanimously to file a petition challenging the Travis Central Appraisal District’s valuation of commercial properties this year. On May 19, the city released a report that showed undervaluation of commercial properties by an average of 47 percent from 2012 to 2014. Many reason that this disparity has […]
Posted inEnergy
Council extends certain hospital energy contracts
Following up on last week’s decision to extend contracts for large Austin Energy customers, City Council voted Thursday to expand the treatment to St. David’s HealthCare and Seton Healthcare Family. The six-month extensions for contracts that were set to expire at the end of the month apply to each of the providers’ primary facilities, which […]
Posted inCity Council
Climate action plan blows past committee
Climate action advocates can rest assured that a proposed 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emission plan will go before City Council in June, though it will not come with a committee recommendation. Due to a lack of quorum, the Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee was unable to vote Tuesday on a recommendation to Council for […]
Posted inBudget
Library budget talks reveal Council divide
Last week, City Council dug into the Library Department’s budget, and it became clear that there are some deep ideological divides on the dais. As part of their budget work session, Council members grilled Austin Public Library Director Brenda Branch about the city’s public libraries. Last year, construction costs for the Central Library went over […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 5.28.15
The Austin City Council will meet Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The Office of the City Clerk hosts a copy at its website, here. 1. Approve third reading of an ordinance amending the electric rate schedules in […]