City of Austin City Council met Aug. 3.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council of Austin, Texas convened in a Budget Work Session Meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701 and via Videoconference.
Mayor Adler called the Council Meeting to order at 11:45 a.m. Mayor Pro Tem Harper-Madison and Council Members Ellis, Kitchen, Kelly, Renteria, and Tovo appeared via videoconference.
The Mayor recessed the meeting to go into Executive Session at 11:51 a.m.
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.
2. Discuss the employment, duties, and evaluation of the City Manager (Personnel matters -Section 551.074 of the Government Code).
Discussion occurred.
3. Discuss legal issues related to a potential November 2, 2021 election (Private consultation with legal counsel -Section 551.071 of the Government Code).
Discussion occurred.
Executive Session was recessed and the Mayor reconvened the meeting at 12:57 p.m. Council Member Pool was off the dais. Council Member Renteria was absent.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
1. Discussion about the fiscal year 2021-2022 proposed budget and tax rate.
Presentations were made by Kerri Lang, Interim Budget Officer; Jasper Brown, Interim Chief, Austin-Travis County El IS and Andy Hofmeister, Assistant Chief, Austin-Travis County EMS; Adrienne Stirrup, Interim Director, Austin Public Health; Dr. Mark Escott, Chief Medical Officer.
Direction was given to staff to provide clarification on proposed one-time enhancement funding for the 911 operations 11oor reconfiguration and the distinction between the El IS and Emergency Communications Center funding requests for CTAC enhancements.
Direction was given to staff to provide concerted data on 911 mental health call diversion metrics from all public safety departments to help inform future budgets.
Direction was given to staff to provide information on how funds appropriated in the previous budget cycle for staffing the mental health diversion program were spent and further proposed use specificity on the current $7.3 million request for additional staffing funds.
Direction was given to staff to provide information on funding source levels for the ET3 pilot program and how that is working out and potential actions that could be taken by Council to assist EMS' incoming revenue.
Direction was given to staff to identify funding to increase the number of community health workers, whether it be one-time or ongoing funding, and a determination on which newly proposed FTEs can be delayed in order to reallocate those funds to community health workers in APH, or in other departments. Departments should identify critical functions and those that are more perfunctory when analyzing their budget allocations.
Direction was given to staff to explore reaching out to American Youth Works about a potential partnership to assist in expediting the development process of the Community Health Worker Program.
Direction was given to staff to work with Council on identifying opportunities to quickly and responsibly pursue revenue generation recommendations to fund various EMS and Office of the Chief Medical Officer investments.
Direction was given to staff to try and schedule future staff budget presentations further in advance to allow time for Council's questions to be answered and provide more time for Council deliberation during future budget work sessions.
Direction was given to staff to provide information on what tax rate to set so that there is zero impact on the average homeowner and what tax rate to set so there is a negligible impact of $3-4 per month.
Direction was given to staff to explore agenda posting language for future budget cycles that would allow budget hearings and potential adoption to occur in August, but with the option to push budget adoption to September if a tax rate election will not be called.
The Mayor recessed the meeting to go into Executive Session at 3:12 p.m. Council Members Fuentes, Pool and Renteria were off the dais.
EXECITTIVE SESSION CONTINITED
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.
2. Discuss the employment, duties, and evaluation of the City Manager (Personnel matters -Section 551.074 of the Government Code).
Discussion occurred.
3. Discuss legal issues related to a potential November 2, 2021 election (Private consultation with legal counsel -Section 551.071 of the Government Code).
Discussion occurred.
Executive Session ended and the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m. without objection.
https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=366564