Austin’s economy – if statistical rankings can be believed – is currently among the best in the country. Judging by those rankings, the city is at or near the top of many publications’ lists for job creation, business environment, places to go to school, live, work, socialize and retire. In their annual Economic Development […]
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 inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council approves creation of Cascades MUD on first reading
Although the city has long objected to creation of Municipal Utility Districts in its extra-territorial jurisdiction, Council voted 5-2 last night to approve the Cascades MUD in southeast Travis County. Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo were opposed. Council Member Mike Martinez made the motion to approve the Planning Commission recommendation with its […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Uncategorized
Tovo attempts to change how city hands out fee waivers for events
Council Member Kathie Tovo took a stab Thursday at shifting the way that the City of Austin pays for fee waivers it awards to major events. Though she was ultimately unsuccessful in changing the current policy, Tovo laid the groundwork for what could be a change in the city’s approach in the future to what […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Uncategorized
Council discusses economic incentives for Dropbox, Websense
Austin City Council members Thursday got their first public look at the data behind a potential incentives deal designed to lure two more technology companies, Websense and Dropbox, to the city. Though whispers – and Council debate over an eventually successful development agreement with Athenahealth – leading up to that briefing indicated some level of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council to study homestead preservation districts to boost affordability
Austin City Council members are set to consider a measure today instructing city staff to begin evaluating whether the city could use homestead preservation districts as a tool to promote affordability. Council Member Mike Martinez is the sponsor of the resolution. Council has been down this road before. In 2008, Council members approved a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council considers details of lowering housing occupancy cap
Austin City Council members Tuesday continued to explore a potential change in development rules that lowers the city’s occupancy cap from six to four unrelated persons. Though the measure, brought by Council Member Mike Martinez, is aimed squarely at what some call stealth dorms, wider concerns grabbed council attention. These include questions over how […]
Posted inDevelopment
Appeal allows Co-op to move Dabney-Horne House
There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way, but it looks like plans to move the historic Dabney-Horne House 12 feet are fairly unstoppable, due to a scheduling problem. The case has been in and out of the city’s boards and commissions for some time now. Most recently, the University Co-op […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rezones downtown lot to make way for chilling station
Despite concerns about downtown noise, City Council members laid the groundwork for a chilling station for Austin Energy at their last meeting. Austin Energy asked for a change from the current Downtown Mixed Use zoning to Public zoning on its 812½ West Second Street property, which is slightly more than one-half acre in size. […]
Posted inDevelopment
Cascades MUD project finally headed for City Council action
The 10th time proved the charm for the Cascades Municipal Utility District No. 1. The project won the support of the Planning Commission at its last meeting, and has moved on to the City Council. The Planning Commission voted 8-0 to approve the Onion Creek area project, despite objections from the Planning and Development […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rejects bid to remove restrictive covenant on east side lot
City Council members shot down a bid to remove a restrictive covenant on an east side property last week, sending developers back to the drawing board. Hector Avilia was asking for termination of a restrictive covenant at 1120 Tillery Street. Currently, the 3.5 acre lot is home to Ted’s Trees, and zoned for that […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Little Woodrow’s on Burnet survives two-year fight to serve alcohol
It certainly wasn’t easy, but the Little Woodrow’s bar on Burnet Road now has the right to serve alcohol. The City Council granted an appeal late Thursday, permitting liquor sales and a waiver that allows parking closer to residential buildings than otherwise allowed. After a lengthy discussion the Council approved that appeal in a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council OKs building regulations to enhance disabled accessibility
After multiple tries, Austin City Council members finally OK’d a series of new regulations designed to make new construction in the City of Austin more accessible to the disabled. The rules, collected under a visitability ordinance, are set to take effect July 1, 2015. They mandate, among other items, that most entrances and bathrooms be […]