City of Austin City Council met Aug. 7.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
BUDGET WORK SESSION MINUTES
The City Council of Austin, Texas convened in a Work Session Meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX and via videoconference.
Mayor Watson called the Council Meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Council Member Harper Madison appeared via videoconference.
Mayor Watson recessed the meeting to go into Executive Session at 10:31 a.m.
E. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council went into Executive Session, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel, to discuss matters of land acquisition, litigation, and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda and to receive advice from Legal Counsel regarding any other item on this agenda.
1. Presentation and discussion of the City Manager’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget and possible tax rate election.
Conducted.
Executive Session ended and Mayor Watson reconvened the meeting at 11:44 a.m.
D. COUNCIL DISCUSSION
1. Presentation and discussion of the City Manager’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget and possible tax rate election.
The presentation was made by Kerri Lang, Director, Office of Budget and Organizational Excellence; Erik Nelson, Deputy Director, Office of Budget and Organizational Excellence; and Ed Van Eenoo, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services Department.
The following amendments were discussed:
Ellis -02:
Living Streets -Better Barricades (One-Time), Transportation and Public Works, $250,000, enterprise or other funds. Funding available in Parking Management Fund.
Ellis -03:
Street Tree Replenishment (Ongoing), Transportation and Public Works, $50,000, enterprise or other funds. Funding available in Urban Forest Replenishment Fund.
Ellis -04:
Circle C Dog Park Full Implementation, Parks and Recreation, reallocated funding within Parks and Recreation’s F¥26 Budget.
Ellis -05:
Grey Rock/Meridian Connector Trail, Transportation and Public Works,$117,500, enterprise or other funds. Funding available in Golf Fund.
Alter -01:
Parks Special Event Fee increase, Parks and Recreation, TBD, GF Ongoing Revenue.
Alter -02:
Enhanced Park Safety Lighting, Parks and Recreation, $90,000, Debt.
Alter -03:
Austin Parks staffing: Parkland Stewardship and Community-Initiated Park Projects Program Manager, Parks and Recreation, $110,752, GF Ongoing Expenditures. 1 FTE.
Alter -04:
Parks electric lawncare equipment pilot, Parks and Recreation, $250,000, enterprise or other funds, $350,000, Debt.
Alter -05:
Austin Climate and Resilience staffing: Sustainable Program Manager & Energy Manager, Management Services, $124,276, GF Ongoing Expenditures, $104,274, enterprise or other funds, 2 FTEs.
Alter -07:
Restoration of the Neighborhood Partnering Program, Transportation and Public Works, $686,689, enterprise or other funds. 2 FTEs.
Duchen -01:
Direct Austin Energy to redirect funds to implement resilience plan, Austin Energy, $60,000,000, enterprise or other funds.
Alternative TRE-D
2.0 cent Proposal (Duchen)
Alternative TRE-A
3.5 cent Alternative FY 2025-2026 Budget Scenario (Mayor)
Alternative TRE-C
New Revenue Allocation Proposal at 5.75 cents (Laine, Siegel, Ellis, Qadri)
Alternative TRE-B
6.75 cent Proposal (Fuentes, Veldsquez, Vela, Alter)
Harper-Madison -01:
One-time funding for the City’s Domestic Violence Shelter, Austin Public Health, $850,000, GF One-Time Expenditures.
Fuentes -01:
Transportation & Programming for Older Adults, Parks and Recreation, $436,412, GF Ongoing Expenditures.
Fuentes -02:
Historic Preservation Office FTEs, Planning, $439,778, GF Ongoing Expenditures, 2.00 FTEs.
Fuentes -03:
Home Delivered Meals for Older Adults, Public Health, $250,000, GF Ongoing Expenditures.
Veldsquez -01:
IT Geospatial Analyst, Homeless Strategies and Operations, $95,000, GF Ongoing Expenditures, 1.00 FTE.
Vela -01:
Create an International Office, Economic Development, $386,305, GF Ongoing Expenditures, 54,680, GF One-Time Expenditures, 3.00 FTEs.
Vela -02:
One percent (1%) additional wage increase for non-sworn employees not eligible for remote work, Citywide, TBD, GF Ongoing Expenditures, TBD, Enterprise or other funds.
Alter -03:
Austin Parks staffing: Parkland Stewardship and Community-Initiated Park Projects Program Manager, Parks and Recreation, $110, 752, GF Ongoing Expenditures, 1.00 FTE.
Alter -05:
Austin Climate and Resilience staffing: Sustainable Program Manager & Energy Manager, Management Service, $124,276, GF Ongoing Expenditures, $104,274, Enterprise or other funds, 2.00 FTEs.
Alter -06:
Austin Homeless Strategy staffing: Process Improvement and Data Analytics Manager, Homeless Strategies and Operations, $154,000, GF Ongoing Expenditures, 1.00 FTE.
Alter -08:
Non-sworn public safety response pilot, Police, $1,500,000, GF One-Time Expenditures.
Laine -01:
One-Time Gap Funding for Sidewalk Construction, Transportation and Public Works, $10,000,000, Debt.
Laine -02:
Institute Universal Spay/Neuter. Allocate associated savings to veterinary services, Animal Services, Reallocated funding within Animal Services FY 26 Budget.
Laine -03:
Children Advocacy Centers in Williamson County, $300,000
Laine -04:
Charlie Center Showers, Home[ess Strategies and Operations, $27,000, GF Ongoing Expenditures.
Alternative TRE-C
New Revenue Allocation Proposal at 5.75 cent TRE amendment (Laine, Siegel, Ellis, Qadri) Life support ambulances
Alternative TRE-C
New Revenue Allocation Proposal at 5.75 cents (Laine, Siegel, Ellis, Qadri) Food pantries
Alternative TRE-C
New Revenue Allocation Proposal at 5.75 cents (Laine, Siegel, Ellis, Qadri) Restore funding for the Office of Police Oversight
Alternative TRE-C
New Revenue Allocation Proposal at 5.75 cents (Laine, Siegel, Ellis, Qadri) Eliminate fees for pool entry and increase lifeguard jobs
Siegel -02:
RHDA Grant Compliance Monitoring, Housing, $100,000, GF Ongoing Expenditures. Mayor Watson recessed the meeting at 1:38 p.m.
Mayor Watson reconvened the meeting at 2:07 p.m.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Alter:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to provide a sworn monthly overtime management report.
Alter:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to develop a public dashboard to report on the performance of service providers contracted to achieve the homelessness strategy office’s plan.
Alter:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to establish a Parks Maintenance Fund and dedicating revenue from the parks special event fee.
Fuentes:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore ways to erpand the Childcare fee waiver program to include new childcare facilities.
Fuentes:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to work with the Department of Aviation to explore and evaluate the feasibility of fee adjustments and new revenue sources at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Velasquez:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to include specific citywide Parks and Recreation maintenance, restoration, and renovation projects and explore funding for district specific-projects beginning in the FY26 budget.
Ellis:
Approve a resolution related to assessing the feasibility and implementation of a dedicated Parks Maintenance Fee as a sustainable funding source.
Laine:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to support additional shelter capacity for families experiencing homelessness.
Laine:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to report back on the possibility of creating a Joint Emergency Communications Department centralizing 911 and emergency communications functions.
Laine:
Approve a resolution requesting a code amendment that would eliminate procedural impediments to veterinary decision-making regarding spaying and neutering animals owned by the City.
Vela:
Consider a resolution directing the City manager to review development fees and processes and make recommendations concerning the impact of fees considering project scale, economic conditions, efficiency, and sustainability of department finances.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to allocate additional funds from the Urban Forest Replenishment Fund to support Austin Civilian Conservation Corps programs in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to establish a real estate development strategy and asset management system to evaluate existing City-owned lands for purposes related to climate project usage.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to establish a Climate Revolving Fund dedicated to receiving and expending funds from investments in energy upgrades to City facilities, capture related savings, and reinvest funds for additional savings.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution related to the implementation of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 City budget.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to partner with local school districts and the Central Texas Food Bank to establish on site food pantries at Title I Elementary Schools located within the city limits with Parent Support Specialists on campus.
Siegel:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to work with the relevant departments to explore and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a fee to fund a comprehensive solar panel recycling process.
Mayor Watson adjourned the meeting at 2:51 p.m. without objection.
The minutes were approved on this the 11th day of September 2025 on Council Member Siegel’s motion, Council Member Laine’s second on an 11-0 vote.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=458796
