TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.1.24

City Council will meet today for its regular meeting. As usual, there are a few agenda items that we are keeping our eye on, which are detailed in this TipSheet. The entire agenda (also as usual) is available online here, for those who want to decide what’s interesting for themselves.

After a few years of problems and audits at the city’s animal shelter, Council will look at a multipronged effort to improve operations there. The changes will clarify reporting requirements and impound procedures and deal with public safety and the safety of employees. The changes are supported by the city’s union for the protections they will offer and, hopefully, because they will help address persistent staffing issues that have plagued the Animal Services Office.

As we reported earlier, Council will also consider a number of state tax credits for affordable housing. Though the city has no power to approve the financing, the city’s support does count toward its ultimate approval in what is a highly competitive process.

After approving a resolution at its last meeting, Council is poised to move forward with an ordinance that will provide more for the Austin Police Department as contract talks remain stalled.

Recently, Council teamed up with the city’s Planning Commission to hold a joint hearing over the new HOME ordinances in the name of efficiency. Council will today consider an ordinance aimed at making joint meetings like that easier to hold. Speaking of efficiency, Council will consider several fast-tracked housing initiatives that relate to Project Connect.

New requirements for bike parking designed to encourage multimodal transportation are also up for a vote today. Council will also vote to approve moving forward with improvements to Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach that include a fishing pier. 

In terms of zoning and the like, Council will take up changes to the Save Our Springs Ordinance that, if approved, will allow an addition to a site at 1905 and 1908 Airole Way but will reduce impervious cover overall and provide water protections. There’s also a slew of sites on Industrial Boulevard.

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