With Council Member Kathie Tovo pushing hard to gain approval of an ordinance that would offer more leeway for Austin Energy ratepayers in deep arrears on their bills, utility officials remained leery of the plan. It will all be hashed out this afternoon as Council members meet for their monthly Austin Energy Committee meeting, which […]
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 members question staff over code enforcement issues
Members of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday questioned city staff over their ongoing efforts to revamp code compliance. Code enforcement has been in the spotlight since a balcony collapse at the Woodridge Apartments set off a wave of criticism after lax enforcement of safety regulations was revealed. As Council members discussed […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council denies zoning change for Bluff Springs convenience store
With negotiations in shambles, there will be no zoning change for construction of the Bluff Springs Food Mart in the near future. The owner of the proposed convenience store was seeking the zoning change in order to remove a restriction that prohibits food sales and restaurant fast food drive-throughs on the property. That change […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Major changes possible with shift to system of 10-1 Council districts
This article was co-produced with KUT News’ Joy Diaz as part of an ongoing City of Austin reporting partnership between In Fact Daily and KUT. Listen to KUT News Monday morning for an in-depth examination of how the interaction described below could play out. Among the changes that will accompany the start of districted […]
Posted inLocal Politics
City Council rejects attempt to establish ‘Healthy Food Zones’
The City of Austin will not be establishing Healthy Food Zones any time soon. And, for now, the city won’t be looking into whether Austin even needs them. A resolution sponsored mainly by Council Member Laura Morrison would have directed City Manager Marc Ott to gather data from the county and neighborhoods for the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council starts process aimed at putting limits on ‘stealth dorms’
Austin City Council members Thursday unanimously approved a measure that kicks off changes to the occupancy limits for Austin residences. When completed, the move could drop the allowed number of unrelated adults living in one place from the current limitation of six to four. But Council Member Kathie Tovo’s more ambitious set of proposals failed […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
After long debate, Council OKs changes to Urban Farm Ordinance
After hours of discussion, the City Council approved changes to the Urban Farm Ordinance Thursday night, giving East Austin neighborhoods a victory in the battle to stop or prevent slaughtering of fowl and rabbits in single-family neighborhoods—the most important of their demands. The final vote was unanimous. Farmers in single-family neighborhoods were also […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Tovo now pushing for three rental registration programs for city
Council Member Kathie Tovo continued Tuesday to try to persuade her colleagues to approve what are now three separate additional rental registration programs for areas that have been deemed to host problematic rental properties. Those regions include the North Austin Civic Association/Restore Rundberg section, the East Riverside area, and certain portions of central Austin […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Urban Farm stakeholders try to cut deal on chicken slaughtering
With Council members set to vote on an ordinance that would memorialize city policy in regard to urban farms, at least two stakeholders were pitching a compromise over the hotly contested issue Wednesday afternoon. It remained unclear, however, whether their efforts would win Council approval. Planning Commissioner Richard Hatfield and HausBar Farms owner Dorsey […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Developers take concerns over Vested Rights Ordinance to Council
Key players in Austin’s development community brought their concerns about the potential outcome of an upcoming Austin City Council vote on a new Vested Rights Ordinance to Tuesday’s Council work session. There, they expressed concerns that fundamental portions of the new set of regulations would not leave enough space for properly considered projects. “We […]
Posted inDevelopment
City studies occupancy limits as latest way to curb stealth dorms
Once again, the city is attempting to tackle stealth dorms. This time they are looking toward a reduction in occupancy rates as one tool to fix the problem. The proposed code amendment would reduce the maximum number of unrelated adults in a single-family structure from six to four. Critics worry that the change could […]
Posted inDevelopment, Resources
Council panel reveals early list of Google Connections finalists
Members of the Council’s Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee Wednesday offered a preliminary list of finalists for the Google Community Connections program. If eventually approved by the full Council — and OK’d by Google – those entities that remain on the list will receive Google’s ultra-high speed Internet service at no cost. City Telecommunications […]