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Austin Monitor
Travis County declares local disaster ahead of April 8 total solar eclipse
Travis County declared a local disaster on Friday ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse. The eclipse is expected to bring an influx of people to the area, putting a major strain on roads, emergency services and other needs. The declaration allows Travis County Judge Andy Brown to control...
City Council adopts historic water reuse regulations
City Council on Thursday unanimously and enthusiastically approved mandatory water reuse for most large new developments, with some provisions to exempt affordable housing from the requirement. They also approved an agreement with Travis County to provide reclaimed water connections for the Travis County courthouse, a step forward in partnering with the county on similar projects.
Musician advocates decry city’s inaction on fair pay for SXSW performers
With South by Southwest set to kick off over the weekend, advocates for musicians are calling attention to what they say is inadequate progress on the issue of fair pay for official showcase performances during the festival. Those calls come as city leaders have taken no official action on the small policy recommendations supported by the Music Commission and Parks and Recreation Board to cease fee waivers that allow SXSW to use some city facilities, including Auditorium Shores, for free.
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 3.7.24
Today, City Council will convene for a normal Thursday meeting, and we’ve put together a few of the items on this week’s (short!) agenda that caught our eye. Proposed changes to environmental protections on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail are on today’s agenda and, if it’s anything like the scene at the Parks and Recreation Board, we could be in for a bit of a fight. At the parks board, public speakers took issue with the changes, saying they could literally pave the way for a paved trail, among other concerns, during a two-hour debate over the new rules.
Music Commission’s $3M budget request includes HAAM funds, marketing program
The Music Commission has asked the city for just over $3 million in the next budget to expand some existing programs and provide added economic and medical assistance for local musicians. At Monday’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved six requests for the 2025 budget, which will be submitted to the...
José Garza pushes aside Jeremy Sylestine in Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney
Incumbent District Attorney José Garza claimed victory Tuesday in the race to keep his job as Travis County district attorney. As of 10 p.m., Garza had a more than 30-point lead over Jeremy Sylestine, picking up 38,379 votes to Sylestine’s 19,767, according to the Travis County Clerk. The...
County commissioners prepare for a complicated budget season
Each year, the Travis County Planning and Budget Office presents its budget guidelines for the upcoming fiscal year to the Travis County Commissioners Court, furnishing the court with important data and forecasts while launching talks about further planning efforts. On Tuesday, Jessica Rio, Planning and Budget Office county executive, predicted...
HAAM seeks $500K in next year’s city budget to fund local musicians’ insurance
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is seeking ongoing support from the city and possibly Travis County to cover the costs of subsidized health insurance coverage for more than 2,000 local musicians annually. Tonight’s Music Commission meeting will feature a presentation from HAAM CEO Paul Scott, who is looking for commissioners...
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