On Tuesday, Council Member Mike Martinez told his colleagues at an abbreviated Austin City Council work session that he expects to introduce an amendment that would expand the potential breadth of the city’s pending ban on source-of-income housing discrimination. The item will be considered by council members today. If approved, the city will add “source […]
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, Development, Land Development Code, Planning
More questions raised about Austin micro units
It’s been a tough road for the micro unit ordinance, and so far this week hasn’t been any easier. While City Council passed a micro unit ordinance on first reading Oct. 16, at its most recent work session, it was clear that questions about the proposition remain. Many of those questions came from Council Member […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall
Audit finds problems with performance measures
According to a recent audit, the city’s current performance measurement system could use some work. The audit, which covered the period of time between 2012 and August 2014, was conducted to determine whether the city’s current performance measure system provides “timely, accurate, and relevant information.” The Office of the City Auditor found some problems. The […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning
Council delays vote to choose CodeNEXT process
After listening to opinions from staff, consultants and members of the public about how to move forward with the CodeNEXT process, City Council voted at a public hearing Thursday to keep all options on the table until it reopens the hearing and considers a decision at its Nov. 6 meeting. In order for staff to continue with […]
Posted inDevelopment
Congress hotel closer to Council approval
It has been a long, slow road, but a proposed Congress Avenue hotel passed its first official City Council hurdle in October. Council members unanimously approved a rezoning that will allow for a change to the building’s street setback on first reading, with instructions to work on an agreement with the hotel’s neighbors. The case […]
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
Industrial lofts win first victory at Council
Upending traditional NIMBY roles, a proposed loft project in South Austin pitted heavy industries against a residential project, and presented an interesting conundrum for City Council members. In the end, Council voted to approve the zoning change on first reading on a 4-2 vote, with Council Members Kathie Tovo and Laura Morrison in opposition and […]
Posted inResources, Uncategorized
Code violators may get administrative hearings
The Code Department may soon have a new tool to enforce city code, if an ordinance passes at today’s City Council meeting that would create an administrative hearing process for certain violations. Code Department Director Carl Smart told Council members at Tuesday’s work session that he hopes the new procedure will help to streamline the […]
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 […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
City works to challenge commercial property values
City Council continues to move forward with a potential challenge to commercial property values in the city, but there are still some details to be worked out. The push to challenge commercial property appraisals comes at a time when Austinites are seeing steep increases in their home valuations and property taxes. Recent research has shown […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Concerned over ACL noise, Morrison proposes fix
City Council members discussed a resolution Tuesday that could lead to changes in the outdoor amplified sound permitting process for large-scale music events on city parkland. The move follows complaints from residents about the sound coming from this year’s Austin City Limits festival at Zilker Park. The resolution, which is on the agenda for Thursday’s […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council switch complicates City Auditor search
In addition to all the other changes that will soon take place at City Hall, Austin needs a new City Auditor to replace Ken Mory, who is stepping down in December. And, like everything else these days, the process of finding a new auditor is somewhat complicated by the upcoming changes to the City Council. […]