TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.9.23

Does everyone remember how boring (but efficient!) Council’s last meeting was? Well, this one promises to be much more exciting. Unfortunately, a lot of that excitement is likely to be expressed behind closed doors during the emergency executive session called to discuss City Manager Spencer Cronk’s employment and future in Austin. (As a programming note, though, the agenda puts that meeting at a 10:45 a.m. start time because of posting requirements that require the public posting of agendas three days in advance of meetings. Though the meeting may start at that time, it really only guarantees that it won’t start before that time.)

At any rate, as we’ve previously noted, Council won’t vote on whether to fire Cronk today. As Jo Clifton explained Wednesday, if they wish to take action, Council will need to post the item 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

Luckily, several other things on the regular agenda that will be discussed out in the open are probably worth watching. 

Though a resolution from Council Member Chito Vela that would extend the police contract for one year was set to be one of the bigger items on today’s agenda, news broke late Wednesday night that the city had reached an agreement in principle with the Austin Police Association for a four-year contract. Though that agreement is, of course, still subject to City Council approval, it pretty much eliminates the need for a one-year extension of the current contract, which is set to expire on March 31. 

Council is also likely to continue Tuesday’s discussion about Austin Energy’s response to last week’s ice storm via a resolution from Council Member Mackenzie Kelly asking for an audit of the utility’s emergency response and its vegetation management plan. Though the resolution had enough sponsors to get on the agenda, there is already dissent from Council Member Leslie Pool as well as co-sponsor Ryan Alter, who has a list of amendments. Kelly also has a resolution that seeks to improve the operation of cold weather shelters, and there are permitting and emergency declaration resolutions that deal with the aftermath of the so-called “ice hurricane” that struck Austin last weekend.

But that’s not all! Council will also vote either to adopt as law or put on the ballot a petition designed to confuse voters this spring. (As we previously reported, the petition drive was denounced by Equity Action for its misleading tactics.) Council is also poised to put money into creative arts, music and historic preservation funding. And the long-in-the works assistance program intended to help defray costs at the Board of Adjustment is finally before Council members today. 

The Brodie Oaks PUD, which promises to be a really involved discussion, will most likely be postponed until the end of March, at the request of the applicant. However, it looks like a vote that would allow taller buildings in the Domain remains on the table today.

There are also a number of zoning cases that may (or may not) be taken up by Council today. Those include historic zoning for the Westgate Tower, a proposed change to the Holly Neighborhood Plan, a Windsor Park multifamily rezoning that sparked debate at the Planning Commission, Vertical Mixed-Use zoning on Cameron Road and a rezoning off of South Congress that drew flooding concerns at the Planning Commission. Council also may vote on whether to allow a garage apartment that would enable a family to care for their disabled son on the property.

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