In October, Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty shot to international viral fame thanks to a campaign ad that sold him as an unmitigated policy geek. And based on his outlook for 2017, that was no act. In an interview with the Austin Monitor, Daugherty weighed in on everything from transportation, the tax rate, his solution […]
Travis County Commissioners Court
The legislative body for Travis County. It includes representatives from the four Travis County Precincts, as well as the County Judge. The County Judge serves as the chair of the Court.
Posted inTravis County
Commissioner Brigid Shea: Preparing for the worst in 2017
Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea will spend her 2017 much as she spent her previous two years in office: ensuring that the county and its residents are ready for the threats posed by climate change. “I’ve worked on climate-related issues for 28 years now and I realized that the county is a unique unit of […]
Posted inTravis County
Travillion ready to hit the ground running
As newly minted Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion moves into his office at 700 Lavaca Street, the Precinct 1 representative is unpacking an ambitious agenda for 2017. “There will be a lot of measuring,” Travillion told the Austin Monitor in an interview on Wednesday inside the office he had just inherited from former Commissioner Ron […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt charts steady course for 2017
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says her administration is moving full speed ahead into the new year. In an interview with the Austin Monitor, Eckhardt said 2017 will be a year of continued progress on long-standing issues, and embracing a new colleague on the Travis County Commissioners Court. Looking back on 2016, the first female […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 1.03.17
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 2. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the issuance of a mass gathering permit for Euphoria Music Festival to be held […]
Posted inTransit
At Travis County, CTRMA’s park-and-ride proposal hits another pothole
The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday pitched a second strike against an elaborate plan to build eight new transit-oriented parking lots along Central Texas toll roads. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s decision to defer action on the proposal put forward by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority comes a week after Williamson County Judge Dan […]
Posted inPreservation
County considers calls to preserve Montopolis Negro School building
A group of activists scurrying to preserve a segregation-era schoolhouse brought their case before the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. Led by East Austin advocates Fred McGhee and Susana Almanza, the group urged the court to help protect the Montopolis Negro School on Montopolis Drive just east of U.S. Highway 183. Austin Stowell of […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Travis County Commissioners consider spending up to $14 million on legal review of DNA cases
The Travis County Commissioners Court considered options for how to handle a review of criminal cases potentially compromised by the local DNA lab. Run by the Austin Police Department, the lab shuttered its doors in June following an audit from the Texas Forensic Science Commission. “What’s particularly concerning about the problems that were happening at […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 12.13.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 2. Approve resolution honoring State Representative Elliott Naishtat on his retirement after 26 years of distinguished service in the Texas Legislature. […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Commissioners Court considers next steps in DNA lab catastrophe
The Travis County Commissioners Court is moving forward with its version of damage control in the wake of revelations about the Austin Police Department’s DNA testing lab. On Tuesday, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt explained to the court how her plans to move forward start with looking backward, namely with the help of an outside expert […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 12.06.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 3. Approve resolution of appreciation for the Citizen Advisory Committee on Civil and Family Court Capacity. (Judge Eckhardt & Commissioner Shea) […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court tackles sanctuary communities, sexual assault in jail, and Trump
Uncertainty over federal immigration policy following the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump nearly derailed plans to fight back against sexual assault in Travis County jails. At its regular voting session on Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to accept a reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Justice for holding inmates with illegal immigration […]