Columbus
Austin Monitor
City Council recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
City Council issued a proclamation this week recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and the work that Austin, Travis County and a network of advocacy groups and nonprofits are doing to reform the region’s sexual assault response system. City Council Member Alison Alter delivered the proclamation...
County to create new legal division, but advocates call for more autonomy
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a proposal on Tuesday to create a new community legal division along with a county executive position to oversee certain elements of it. Under the plan, the chief public defender would report to a county executive for issues regarding staffing, budget and data collection....
Long Center moving toward shared services pilot program for arts groups
The Long Center for the Performing Arts is moving ahead with planning for a proposed pilot program that would offer shared services and expected cost savings for small, cash-strapped arts organizations around the city. The pilot program, which is expected to include a handful of initial arts groups over a...
The University of Texas says it will help low-income students pay for housing
University of Texas students whose families earn less than $125,000 a year may be able to get money to cover a portion of their on-campus rent for one academic year. University officials teased the new program in an op-ed in the Austin American–Statesman last weekend before officially announcing the program Wednesday.
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 4.20.23
Today, City Council will once again convene for its regular meeting. Given the speed of the newest incarnation of our city government and the fact that this is the second such meeting in as many weeks, it looks like this could be a short meeting, though saying that in print could invite a cosmic jinx. Therefore, we’ll predict a long meeting, despite the lack of major controversy that appears on this week’s (relatively short!) agenda.
City Council interrogates APD, city staff about DPS partnership
More than three weeks after Austin Mayor Kirk Watson announced a new partnership between the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, City Council members had a chance to ask APD leadership and city staff about the recent deployment of state troopers. District 2 Council Member Vanessa...
City on track with lifeguard hiring, director says
Great progress has been made in the hiring of lifeguards, Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley told City Council at Tuesday’s work session. In addition to the $20 per hour salary, McNeeley said those who complete their training and actually work as lifeguards can earn a $750 bonus. And anyone who completes the training – as well as surmounts numerous other hoops that include a criminal background check and instruction to prevent sexual harassment – will receive a $400 stipend, she said.
Council allocates next three years of Project Connect anti-displacement funds
The city continued allocation of Project Connect’s $300 million anti-displacement budget last week. At its regular meeting on April 13, City Council voted to approve a resolution allocating the funds for the next three fiscal years. The first round of funding included $23 million for land acquisition in Fiscal Year 2021-22. Last year, the city allocated another $41 million – this time to put toward existing housing development assistance programs and community-led anti-displacement initiatives.
City Council to consider expanded arts, music venue code language by June
The city’s Music and Arts commissions have given their support to expanded definitions of what constitutes music venues and creative spaces, in the hope that the city will move ahead with building code changes and incentives to encourage those spaces throughout Austin. The unanimous votes – held during a...
Austin ISD requests review of state’s plan to manage its special education department
The Austin Independent School District announced Monday that it is requesting an informal review of the state’s plan to oversee the district’s special education department. Texas Education Agency officials announced last month that they wanted to install conservators because Austin ISD was failing to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
With no end in sight to electric vehicle boom, Austin Energy embraces the transportation sector
As new battery-powered car models from General Motors and Ford roll into the market, Austin Energy is racing to ensure the city’s infrastructure is ready for them. The utility’s electric vehicle and emerging technologies team stopped by last week’s work session to bring City Council up to speed on pending improvements to its charging network and service programs. Executives Richard Genece and Cameron Freberg said electric vehicle drivers can look forward to an increasingly efficient, affordable and reliable charging experience.
Neighbors hope for midnight closing, no loud music at new bar on Guadalupe
City Council gave first reading approval last week for a zoning change for property at 3100 Guadalupe St. that would allow the owners to operate a cocktail lounge on the site after getting a conditional use permit to do so. Neighbors have a valid petition against the change, with more...
Planning Commission proposes changes to compatibility
The Planning Commission Tuesday launched a proposal that would let single-family homeowners decide to allow taller buildings near them. The change to city code would let individual owners waive compatibility, a rule that limits the height of buildings near single-family homes and, critics say, acts as a barrier to building more housing in the city.
Police chief says Austin has seen a big drop in violent crime since state troopers started helping out
Austin’s police chief says the department has seen a 25 percent drop in violent crime since a partnership with Department of Public Safety troopers began late last month. At a news conference Friday, APD Chief Joseph Chacon said the partnership so far hasn’t resulted in a spike in arrests by state troopers, but that their increased presence is an effective “deterrent.”
Business leaders eye contract, job opportunities from $25B in transportation projects
With $25 billion in road, rail and airport infrastructure projects on tap for Austin over the next decade-plus, business leaders are starting to shape how the regional economy and its workforce can get the most benefit from the far-reaching changes in local transportation. The demands and opportunities for Austin businesses...
Planning Commission moves to create new zoning category to allow more housing
The Planning Commission took a step on Tuesday to create a new zoning category that commissioners say would allow more housing to be built across the city. “We’re not building enough housing, and whatever we can do to change that and get transit-supportive density on the ground, we’ve gotta do. And this is a great tool to help get us there,” said Commissioner Greg Anderson, the proposal’s sponsor.
City Council approves additional cameras, park rangers in Rainey Street district
The city will direct more public safety resources toward the Rainey Street neighborhood to prevent additional drowning deaths suffered by patrons of the bars and restaurants frequenting the popular nightlife district. City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday that directs city staff to create an interim pedestrian safety plan for...
May 2023 Austin election ballot propositions: Voter resource
Austin voters will soon decide the fates of two warring police oversight propositions on the May 6 ballot. The election arrives after more than a year of police labor contract negotiations with the Austin Police Association, which City Council scuttled, citing disapproval of former City Manager Spencer Cronk’s handling of the process and a desire to let the voters weigh in on police oversight before locking the city into a four-year agreement.
City may help Travis County with mental illness and substance use disorder pilot
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a resolution last month to create a diversion center for people with substance abuse disorders and other mental health issues, who would otherwise end up in the county jail. On Thursday, City Council approved a resolution directing the city manager to look into “the feasibility of an interlocal agreement” with Travis County to develop a pilot program for such a project and identify funding for it.
TxDOT could put a four-lane road where Austin is building a trail
The Texas Department of Transportation is studying whether to build a four-lane highway along the same stretch of land where Austin is planning to break ground next year on a 12-foot-wide concrete trail. Both projects fall within part of an old railroad route that shut down almost half a century...
Austin Monitor
4K+
Posts
2M+
Views
Five days a week, we bring you the news from Austin City Hall, Travis County Commissioners Court, and multiple other civic entities that make key decisions for central Texas. We stick to the facts. We aim to be fair. When we err, we correct it fast.
The leading platform for local news and information.
By using cutting-edge technology that learns users’ preferences to curate tailored content for them, NewsBreak gathers community-focused news and information from over 10,000 sources in a timely, accessible, and easy-to-use way at no cost to users.
NewsBreak does not allow any content that expresses hate or promotes false information. Instead, we strive to give businesses, communities, and users accurate and reliable local news and information. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Community Standards.