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Austin Monitor
Council OKs contract for advice on additional water pump station
On Thursday, City Council unanimously approved a $3 million contract with HDR Engineering Inc. for a study to determine where the water utility might locate an additional new pump station and reservoir in Southwest Austin in conjunction with the Davis Lane Pump Station. Austin Water says that on a day when there is maximum demand, the Davis Lane station operates at 75 percent effective capacity – the highest level of use among the utility’s distribution pump stations.
AFD narrows its wildfire preparedness focus on Eastern Crescent
Ahead of national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 4, the Public Safety Commission this week heard an update on how Austin is faring with its own community readiness efforts. The good news is that Austin leads the state in its number of “Firewise” communities – a designation given by...
Summit panel looks at possibilities and challenges of I-35 cap-and-stitch program
While intense construction on the lowering and widening of Interstate 35 isn’t scheduled to begin until mid- or late 2026, local business and political leaders want the public to know that decisions and talks taking place now will have a dramatic effect on how the project reshapes Austin’s future.
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 4.4.24
City Council will convene today for a regular Thursday meeting. But, like every meeting, there are a few things on the agenda that we will be paying particular attention to. Those items have been detailed below in this, our humble TipSheet. Word is out that Austin’s next city manager is...
Austin Water report shows few traces of ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
Austin Water on Tuesday released a report showing that the Environmental Protection Agency had found “little to no detectable traces” of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – in the city’s drinking water. Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS have been linked to birth defects and cancer.
Austin Community College will offer free tuition to high school grads
The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees on Monday approved a pilot program offering free tuition to local students graduating from high school. Eight board members voted in favor of the program, with one abstaining. The board’s vote comes several months after ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart first announced the...
During Social Work Month, county commissioners discuss the field’s low average salaries
On March 26, Travis County Commissioners Court declared March 2024 “Social Work Month” under the proclamation “Empowering Social Workers.”. The proclamation recognized the vital contributions of social workers in shaping policy, promoting systems of equality and diversity, confronting the increasing demand for mental health services and confronting economic inequality on multiple fronts. It also noted the growing demand for social workers juxtaposed against their low average compensation and committed the county to acknowledge that “new investments and innovative policies” are needed to support its social workers as they confront a host of new challenges.
Ellis pushes resolution to increase safety, prevent bike lane parking
City Council Member Paige Ellis, who chairs Council’s Mobility Committee, is sponsoring a resolution on this Thursday’s agenda intended to make cyclists and pedestrians safer and raise awareness of the risks of parking in bike lanes. Joining Ellis as sponsors of the resolution are Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Ryan Alter and Zo Qadri.
Travis County approves tax breaks for child care providers
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a 100 percent property tax break to qualifying child care centers in the county. The decision comes close on the city of Austin’s heels; the city passed a similar break in January and was the first city in Texas to do so after the passage of Proposition 2, which formally enabled child care facilities to receive property tax abatement of 50 percent to 100 percent.
Arguments to continue in lawsuit over deed restrictions
Although Travis County District Judge Madeleine Connor ruled in favor of homeowners fighting to keep a developer from building more than two houses per lot in their subdivision last week, that victory may be marred by further decisions in the near future. Attorney Bill Aleshire represents four homeowners in the...
T.C. Broadnax is Austin’s next city manager. Here’s why he was picked.
Austin announced Tuesday night that it will offer the city manager job to T.C. Broadnax, the outgoing city manager in Dallas. Upon his arrival later this year, he will have a full plate of duties and projects to oversee. Broadnax is joining City Hall during major reform in the housing...
Animal Services working to fix problems revealed by audit
Last September, the city’s Office of the City Auditor released an audit highly critical of the city’s animal shelter operations, saying there was a conflict between its priorities of providing humane care, operating as an open intake shelter and maintaining its live-release goals. On Wednesday, Assistant City Manager Stephanie Hayden-Howard and Animal Services Officer Don Bland told City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee about progress the department has made since last fall.
Downtown Commission revisits funding bid for anti-graffiti policy
Downtown Commissioners are once again asking City Council to address Austin’s ongoing battle against vandalism, with the hope of seeing funding for a dedicated anti-graffiti task force on the budget this August. The proposal dates back to March of last year, when commissioners unanimously recommended that the city allocate...
Report offers city, developers strategies to reduce parking downtown
A new report from public policy and real estate leaders in Austin recommends a variety of approaches the city can take to reduce the presence and impact of multilevel parking decks in new developments in the downtown core and beyond. The recently released technical assistance panel report from Urban Land...
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