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APD, DPS brief Public Safety Committee on suspended partnership
More than a week after the Austin Police Department announced its controversial partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety had come to a close, law enforcement officials on Monday briefed the city’s Public Safety Committee on the now-defunct deployment and responded – again – to City Council members’ concerns about equity and transparency.
Vacancy rates in Travis County have declined overall since last year, per Compensation Office
Employee vacancy rates in key areas of Travis County are declining as a result of measures taken by county commissioners last year, such as increasing the minimum county wage from $15 per hour to $20 per hour, as well as increasing shift differentials, according to the county’s Compensation Office.
Balcones Canyonlands gets ready to welcome a new visitor center
The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) Coordinating Committee heard an update from Travis County on May 12 about the plans for a new visitor center at the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). Kimberlee Harvey, the committee’s secretary, delivered the update, which was initially created by Melinda Mallia, director of the county’s...
On-street light rail route selected as best option for city’s mass transit plan
Local transit leaders have selected an entirely on-street light rail line that runs through downtown and stretches mostly north and east with a spur that reaches somewhat into southern Austin as the route that will most likely be approved for construction. Austin Transit Partnership today announced that the two-train route...
In surprise move, Blazey releases part of Christopher Taylor’s secret personnel file to the defense team
The district court judge overseeing the trial of the Austin police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Mike Ramos has ruled that parts of the officer’s secret personnel file will be handed over to the defense. Last week, Travis County District Court Judge Dayna Blazey denied...
As wait times for transformers climb to 70 weeks, housing developments are struggling to turn the lights on
As American manufacturers struggle to keep pace with demand, wait times for power transformers have put housing and infrastructure projects across the country on hold. Austin Energy executives joined City Council’s Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee last week to discuss the nationwide shortage, reporting that new units are now taking nearly 70 weeks to arrive. Interim General Manager Stuart Reilly says the utility is taking a number of approaches to tackle the crisis, including expanding its vendor contracts outside the United States and relaxing equipment specification standards.
Public Safety Commission, APD reach a detente
The Public Safety Commission and the Austin Police Department are recovering from a tense meeting earlier this month, at which APD leadership threatened to no longer attend commission meetings and commissioners lamented APD’s unresponsiveness, revealing a widening chasm. That’s why APD leadership’s appearance before the Public Safety Commission was...
Paxton opinion notes likely missteps, possible way forward for Project Connect
Many questions remain about the path forward for Austin’s Project Connect transit plan following an advisory opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that noted some likely legal hurdles related to the funding model created to pay for the system. Paxton issued his opinion on Saturday at the request...
Brodie Oaks PUD wins second-round approval
City Council last week gave its blessing to the Brodie Oaks Redevelopment Planned Unit Development on second reading and set third reading for July 20. Council Member Ryan Alter, whose District 5 includes the sprawling shopping center, wrote on the City Council Message Board that he had been “deeply engaged with the applicant and staff” to resolve remaining issues. Developer Barshop & Oles proposes to provide 1.2 million square feet of office space, 140,000 square feet of retail, 1,700 residential units and a 200-room hotel on the property.
Council approves code amendments to allow for future Butler Trail improvements
City Council passed a resolution last week to initiate a set of Land Development Code amendments that will allow for safety and mobility improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. The item passed on the consent agenda at Council’s regular meeting May 18. Sponsored by Mayor...
ATP reports offer community insights ahead of selecting light rail option next week
A trio of reports from Austin Transit Partnership offer some insights into the shape of Project Connect as the local government corporation in charge of the transit initiative prepares to announce its selection next week of the preferred light rail plan that will service downtown and selected areas to the north, south or east.
Council votes to make it easier to build along highways
City Council voted Thursday to eliminate a section of the Land Development Code that governs development along highways, hoping the change will help add housing units in the city and “eliminate barriers to the creation of income-restricted units under established city density bonus programs.”. In addition, according to a...
Planning Commission OKs housing in industrial area
The Planning Commission on Tuesday supported a rezoning that could bring apartments to an industrial area at the corner of Burleson Road and Montopolis Drive in Southeast Austin. The case concerns properties at 6300 and 6410 Burleson Road. One of the properties is undeveloped and the other has two small...
Austin’s neighbors lead the country in population growth (again)
Four of the top five fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are in Texas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Georgetown tops the list, as it did last year, with Kyle and Leander in the No. 3 and 4 spots, respectively. Little Elm, north of Dallas, placed fifth on the annual list.
Public Safety Commission greenlights license-plate reader program amid police pushback
The Public Safety Commission voted unanimously on Monday that City Council approve a pilot program reinstating the Austin Police Department’s license-plate reader program – with caveats. Council is due to revisit a new contract for license-plate reader systems and related services with a third-party vendor at its Thursday...
Council to vote on payment for wrongful death
City Council is scheduled to vote today on paying the plaintiffs more than $3 million in a wrongful death case brought by the mother of a child whose father died while working a construction job in Austin. Jaime Membreno, a 26-year-old citizen of El Salvador, died in 2009 when he...
Updated: Airport Advisory Commission does not move approve working relationship with Environmental Commission
Though it won the votes of the majority of Airport Advisory Commissioners in attendance, due to vacancies the group did not approve a resolution establishing a working relationship with the city’s Environmental Commission with regard to the environmental impacts of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion projects. At the commission’s May...
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 5.18.23
Once again, this Thursday, Council will convene for their regular meeting. The nitty-gritty of said meeting can be found online, as usual, but we’ve taken some time to read through and make somewhat-educated guesses about what might be interesting today. As discussed at their most recent Public Safety Committee...
Disability committee wants improved transportation to Austin’s major music venues
Improving transportation for the disabled to the Circuit of the Americas and the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park are two of the early goals for members of the city’s committee for the disabled who may opt to serve on an ongoing task force dedicated to improving accessibility at local music venues.
Creative Alliance pushes for new city department for cultural affairs
The Austin Creative Alliance has asked the city to create a new department focused on funding and support for the creative economy, and cites changes in how the Economic Development Department handles grant funding for arts groups as the latest shortcoming. In a letter sent to members earlier this month,...
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