TipSheet: Austin City Council, 1.18.24

Today marks the first official City Council meeting of 2024, and despite an extremely abbreviated work session, there are a few things that we’ll be keeping our eye on. As usual, this TipSheet is just a collection of best guesses about what might be interesting today. The meeting agenda can be read in its entirety here. 

Though a plan to shift magistration from the county to the police department has been downgraded from a pilot program to a “trial,” we’re still eager to hear what, if anything, Council has to say about the shift.

Today is also a big day for art and preservation funding, with a list of $31 million in historic preservation grants ready for approval. Council will also consider increasing Live Music Fund appropriations by $300,000 and the Cultural Arts Fund by more than $1.8 million.

After sailing through the resolution phase, a change to the city code that will exempt child care facilities from city property taxes is set to become law.

Council is also set to approve a $2 million contract that will review the region’s homelessness strategies and programming. The scope of work, which could include a review of the city, the county, Central Health, Integral Care and Dell Medical School, can be found here. 

With an expired meet and confer agreement and continued staffing concerns at the police department, Council today will also consider a stopgap measure that will extend the pay and benefits of the expired agreement and reinstate financial incentives for cadet training, staff retention and resuming negotiations for a new meet and confer labor agreement. In addition, the ordinance is to include “appropriate reiteration of the Council’s commitment to the Office of Police Oversight’s investigative authority and unfettered access to APD personnel, records, and processes.” According to the proposed resolution, the extension would last a year or until a new agreement is struck.

Council Member Vanessa Fuentes has sponsored a resolution that asks City Council to throw its weight behind an effort to recall Kia and Hyundai cars that have been targets of theft due to a lack of immobilizer technology. 

In terms of zoning, we’re not entirely sure what will take place today. That said, we’re interested in any discussion about the density bonus at 14th and Lavaca streets; a plan for townhomes on Damon Road that has a valid petition against it; a mixed-use proposal in the “Bird Streets of Pleasant Hill”; removing a restriction on amplified sound on a Rainey Street area property; a plan to preserve an East Austin home against the owners’ wishes, but with the support of the Planning Commission; and the Crestview Village rezoning, among other things.

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