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Austin Monitor
Plumbing problems could cost the county $4 million
On Tuesday, a coalition of Travis County staff appeared before the Commissioners Court requesting funding for a derelict section of plumbing in the Travis County Jail. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Travis County Planning and Budget Office requested $150,000 for an “engineering assessment” of the scope of work necessary to repair the jail’s plumbing infrastructure, with funds to be drawn from a variety of sources, including internally.
Council approves changes to environmental protections to upgrade Butler Trail
With little discussion, City Council last week approved amendments to environmental protections to clear the way for capital improvements on the popular hike-and-bike trail at Lady Bird Lake. The code changes allow for exemptions from critical water quality zone rules protecting Lady Bird Lake, thus giving the Trail Conservancy the...
Author, advocate explores universal income among solutions for homelessness
A San Francisco-based nonprofit group focused on helping people who are homeless is expanding basic income payments, with results that they hope can win over local elected officials willing to try the programs using public money. Kevin Adler, founder of the Miracle Messages nonprofit group and author of the book...
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...
There are two big trolls in neighboring Austin parks – and they might be in love
Pease Park will soon get an 18-foot-tall wooden troll sculpture. But ahead of its opening, Austinites can find a similar (if slightly more disheveled) troll at a miniature park just a few blocks away. “When I heard that the Pease Park was going to be installing that incredible troll as...
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.
City preps for eclipse visitors at a pace to rival SXSW nights
Next month’s solar eclipse is expected to bring a short boost for local hotels that could match some of the nine-day stretch of South by Southwest. Austin’s location as one of the most opportune viewing spots in the path of the April 8 celestial phenomenon is luring tourists from far and wide, with city officials noting that hotel bookings in the lead-up could match the 80 percent to 85 percent occupancy rate that’s typical during spring festival season. A memo last week from Ken Snipes, director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, outlined the steps the city is taking to prepare for the eclipse and issues related to public information, access to viewing the event and appropriate public safety measures.
Council gets briefed on improved path to affordable housing
Now that the state Legislature has added more guardrails to a financing mechanism for affordable housing developments, Austin officials are exploring how to proceed with plans to put more housing on the ground under the welcomed reforms. At its work session Tuesday, City Council heard a presentation from Housing Department...
Austin public safety agencies roll out electronic payroll system
Austin’s public safety agencies – the Austin Fire Department, the Austin Police Department and Austin-Travis County EMS – are in various stages of rolling out an electronic payroll system in an effort to streamline scheduling and other logistical tasks. The city’s Public Safety Commission expressed hope that the new system would improve transparency on how public safety personnel spend their time.
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.
Plaintiffs hope to strike city of Austin from Project Connect suit
The people who filed suit last fall to stop the Austin Transit Partnership from proceeding without another bond election have intervened in a lawsuit filed by the city and ATP seeking to validate bonds needed to build the light-rail system. The plaintiffs’ goal is to remove the city as a party to the bond validation lawsuit. Attorney Bill Aleshire, who represents the group seeking to stop ATP from proceeding without another election, said the suits had been consolidated and an initial hearing is set for March 18.
In a complicated budget year, county commissioners hear advice on employee pay
On Feb. 27, the Travis County Commissioners Court convened for a marathon nine-hour voting session. The agenda was packed with diverse motions, but dollars loomed especially large on the docket. Shortly before hearing the Travis County Planning and Budget Office’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget recommendations, the court heard a presentation...
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...
Conservation district has good news on drought level
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has taken a step back from the most severe drought stage – Stage IV – and after a brief stint in Stage III, has declared the area to be at Stage II Alarm Drought, the least severe stage of drought. But aquifer watchers know that a hot, dry summer could mean a return to the most serious drought stage.
AHFC approves $50M to fund more than 1,000 affordable, permanent supportive housing units
The city has approved more than $50 million in housing funds that will create more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, hundreds of which will serve as permanent supportive housing for people who are currently homeless. Last week, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation voted in support of completing nine funding...
Adjusted density bonus program pushes housing, affordability on commercial properties
Following a December court ruling that invalidated three changes to the city’s Land Development Code, City Council has approved an ordinance change that promotes housing density by using many of the components of the now-obsolete Vertical Mixed Use 2 ordinance. The pair of changes were approved, with agenda Item 70 passing unanimously and Item 73 passing 9-1, with Council Member Alison Alter voting against and Council Member Mackenzie Kelly abstaining.
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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