TipSheet: City Council, 8.31.23

Thursday’s City Council agenda has a variety of things going on – a tour of city issues, if you will. We’ve done our best to pick the highlights from the agenda but, as always, the entire thing is available online for those who don’t want to skip a stop.

One of the most interesting things on today’s agenda might be Council Member Vanessa Fuentes’ resolution that mandates air conditioning for each habitable room in a residence. With temperatures that have been stuck around 105 degrees for months, one might hope that was already a requirement in the city, but it’s not.

We’re also looking at a $2.5 million contract aimed at fixing the city’s permitting process. Judging by the tone of Tuesday’s conversation on the study that lays out just how broken that process currently is, we think it’s likely to be approved. 

Following the quick retirement of Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, Council will now vote to fill in the role on an interim basis by appointing APD Chief of Staff Robin Henderson to the role, effective Sept. 3. 

Council Member Ryan Alter, meanwhile, has brought forward a proposal to create a new House Our People Endowment, or HOPE Fund, that will be dedicated to getting and giving money to help address the issue of homelessness.

Though (terribly) wonky, we’re also keeping our eyes on the discussion around a proposed Austin Tourism Public Improvement District intended to funnel hotel tax dollars into services for people who are homeless. However, at this point, things have been complicated enough by state law that Council members are questioning the efficacy of the plan. 

Council will also vote on quite a few public art pieces, almost $113 million toward funding affordable housing and $760 million to fix up the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

A number of public hearings are also on the Council docket today. One could refine a tenant notification ordinance that is supposed to deter the displacement of tenants when repairs are underway. You can read about the changes on the city website. There will also be a public hearing on a move that would open up the calendar for changes to Future Land Use Maps (more info here). And Council will take up two hearings that will fix city code “related to application processes, appeals, required documentation, approval deadlines, and subdivision regulations regarding lots and streets” in order to be compliant with state law.

In terms of zoning, we potentially will see the return of the Brodie Oaks PUD, a Montopolis downzoning, a mixed-use development on East 12th Street, more mixed-use on South Austin’s Evergreen Avenue and a somewhat-controversial storage unit proposal.

The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.