betty dunkerley

Austin’s City Council approved a watered-down measure whose draconian original version, pushed by a segment of the disabled community, could have dramatically hiked the cost of the city’s dwindling supply of affordable housing.

The amended ordinance, sponsored by retiring council member Betty Dunkerley in her last meeting, passed unanimously.

The approved ordinance was more realistic, requiring design modifications to make any first-floor bathroom in a new single-family home or duplex suitable for future conversion to wheelchair use.

A proposal by outgoing council member Betty Dunkerley that could force Austin homeowners to make expensive modifications to their houses in order to accommodate the disabled is scheduled to be heard during her last official council meeting tomorrow.

It seems to us, that at the very least the name of the ordinance should be changed.

Why is it called “Visitability” when she is asking for thermostats and light switches to be lowered?

The City Council this morning decided to postpone a public hearing, originally scheduled for this evening, on a controversial ordinance pushed by council member Betty Dunkerley that would mandate price hikes on new homes in the city by thousands of dollars.

Word is the public hearing will be rescheduled for June 18, after council members and their staffs receive a recommendation from the city’s Building and Fire Code Board.

Democrats around the country are clamoring for change in a heated presidential campaign. But as the endorsement rounds for the May city council races come to a close back here in Austin, the message is more of the same.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn said yesterday that he won’t be supporting a ballot initiative this year on single-member districts, after sitting on the fence for months.

As the swing vote, Wynn’s public pronouncement effectively kills the stop-start effort, which has has had trouble finding a vocal proponent beyond council member Mike Martinez.

Having taken a pass on a job-creating studio complex, the Austin City Council may now be poised to take a dump.

Will they really go through with it?

Just last week, a majority of the council — Will Wynn, Betty Dunkerley, Jennifer Kim, and Lee Leffingwell — got cold feet and scuttled the Villa Muse deal on 1,900 acres 14 miles east of downtown.

Their decision effectively guaranteed that the project and its new jobs will go somewhere other than the Live Music Capital of the World.

Ex-Planning Commissioner Cid Galindo is getting into the Austin city council race to replace the retiring Betty Dunkerley, bringing to three the number of candidates who have announced for the seat.

One-time City Hall staffer Robin Cravey and veteran neighborhood activist Laura Morrison had previously announced.

Ex-Planning Commissioner Cid Galindo is getting into the Austin city council race top replace the retiring Betty Dunkerley, bringing to three the number of candidates who have announced for the seat.

One-time City Hall staffer Robin Cravey and veteran neighborhood activist Laura Morrison had previously announced.

City Councilman Lee Leffingwell isn’t subtle about his hope to be elected Mayor over expected opponent Brewster McCracken in May 2009.

Some say they’ve even spotted him sneaking into the office late at night to sketch plans for arranging the furniture once he gets there.

Fung shui is fundamental, you know. Especially at Austin’s City Hall.