After a lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s work session, City Council members decided — without voting — that they would postpone all zoning items on Thursday’s agenda in the expectation that they will have a better understanding of what they are voting on after their briefing on land use issues. Most of the conversation centered around the […]
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, City Council, Local Politics
Council members debate public input plan
The future of public input at City Council meetings remains unclear ahead of possible action Thursday, as Council members continue to discuss whether and how to limit it in favor of moving it to committee meetings. During a Tuesday work session, Council members reacted to the public feedback they received during and after last Thursday’s […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, Local Politics
Price of Council changes still unknown
Though there are no hard numbers yet, Austin’s budget office has begun to review the potential fiscal impacts associated with proposed changes to City Council’s committee and meeting structures. According to a Jan. 23 memo from Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo, the review has included consultation with the Office of the City Clerk, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Water
Watershed Department maps it out in new guides
Though Austin’s new single-member district system has been actively in place for almost a month, there are undoubtedly countless details to be worked out. There are also opportunities for education, as the Watershed Protection Department has illustrated with a recent project. The Watershed Protection Council District Profiles project details citywide and district-specific watershed profiles and […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Austin City Council 1.27 & 1.29
The brand new 10-1 Austin City Council has its first major agenda to deal with this week. At 52 items, this one doesn’t even register on the immediate past Council’s major agenda radar. Still, concerns from at least one Council office over what might previously have been considered routine purchasing items and, what late Friday […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council hears feedback on restructuring proposal
The new City Council tested out a lot of ideas at Thursday’s meeting, giving members of the public the opportunity to comment on proposed legislative changes via Twitter, call-ins and online polls in an environment evocative of a television program. Though feedback varied on a lot of issues, the overall message from citizens was that […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council postpones salary debate until next week
On Thursday, City Council temporarily backed away from a plan that could have members voting to reduce their own salaries. Council members voted 11-0 to postpone action on the resolution until their Jan. 29 meeting. The resolution directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their […]
Posted inAustin, Fire, Public Safety
Austin firefighters to again seek input on hiring
The Austin Firefighters Association will have an opportunity at this morning’s City Council meeting to voice concerns to the new Council about its lack of input on a new process for hiring fire cadets. The firefighters’ hope is that this Council will be more receptive than the previous one to their complaints about U.S. Justice Department […]
Posted inCity Council, Development, Local Politics, Planning, Zoning
Zoning lesson raises questions for new Council
With single-member districts up and running, myriad changes are on the horizon at City Hall. Tuesday, some clues about how city staff will tackle the nuts-and-bolts of the transition emerged in what was a largely uneventful mock City Council meeting. As part of Council’s ongoing orientation, Planning and Development Review Department director Greg Guernsey explained […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, City Council, Local Politics
Council members consider cutting their own pay
On Thursday, as one of their first official acts as an elected body, City Council members will consider taking an action that could reduce their salaries. Specifically, the resolution on Thursday’s agenda directs the city manager to change the current office budgeting structure to allow Council members to decrease their individual compensation and shift funds […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Council wraps up orientation, plans policy review
With their first full meeting less than two weeks away, members of the new City Council laid out a plan Thursday to study up on city policy. As a starting point, Council members were asked to consider a plan that had policy workshops taking place once or twice a week, with the last workshop being […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Local Politics
Fate of Crestview land parcel remains in limbo
Though the fate of an Austin Energy-owned parcel of land in the Crestview neighborhood remains uncertain, there was an update about 6909 Ryan Drive last month. Planning and Development Review Department Director Greg Guernsey wrote the Dec. 10 memo that provided an update on the land, though nothing will be done without City Council initiating action. […]