TipSheet: Austin City Council, 3.9.23

Today, Austin City Council will meet once again for a regular meeting. Tuesday’s work session was mostly dedicated to briefings on eTOD frameworks (which is up for a vote today) and the Climate Equity Plan (which is not). The full agenda can be found in its entirety online but, as usual, this TipSheet represents our best guesses at what might spark the most interesting discussion and what we’re keeping our eye on.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the discussion on eTODs – or the equitable transit-oriented development plan – is likely to be somewhat weighty. First of all, it’s a big plan. But also, as we explained earlier this week, there are a few questions left about the plan. For example, the committee discussion centered on parking requirements near transit stations. And at work session, Council members looked to hammer out the details on what – and what isn’t – considered a “station” under the plan, as constituents have apparently had some degree of panic about whether all bus stations would be included as pins for increased density. They won’t, but making sure that is clear and enshrined in the plan language was still to be done as of Tuesday. Anyway, here’s a memo that might better explain what’s going on.

Today Council will also contemplate the formation of a Charter Review Commission, which is a crucial step for putting changes to the city charter on the ballot. Though the charter, as the city’s ruling document, has a lot of things on it, today’s item explicitly references petition limits, as we covered earlier this week.

At long last, Council will also consider changes to parking in the absolute cluster soon to be known as the South Congress Area Parking and Transportation Management District. And in fun transportation news for bike fans across the city, the Bergstrom Spur is moving forward with an interlocal agreement on the agenda today that would help pave the way toward completing the project. Here’s a map!

Though it looks like there’s a break in police contract negotiations for the time being, the police are back on the agenda today with a move to restart the “citizen” police academy after a pandemic-related hiatus. The academy is a formal opportunity for residents to learn about the department. It’s also likely to restart as the “community police academy” in line with a current push toward inclusivity. 

In Land Development Code news, there are two items on today’s agenda that deal with lot sizes. The first, which comes from the office of Council Member Chito Vela, would remove a rule that prohibits disaggregation that allows homes to be built on smaller lots. (Here’s a handy explainer from Vela’s office.) The second resolution that is up for consideration comes from the office of Council Member Leslie Pool. It would eliminate minimum lot sizes for areas that are in a commercial highway base district with a planned development area combining district.

And, finally, in zoning cases, Council could take up a new rezoning that would clear the way for a bunch of affordable housing units on eastern Riverside Drive and a Windsor Park rezoning on Berkman that faces a bit of neighborhood opposition.

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