City of Austin City Council will meet Aug. 18.
Here is the agenda provided by the council:
The City Council will convene at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 18, 2023 at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX and some members may be participating via videoconference
Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely. For full instructions on participation in person or by telephone, please visit the Council Meeting Information Center: http://austintexas.gov/department/city-council/council/council_meeting_info_center.htm
The City Council may go into a closed session as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act, (Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code) regarding any item on this agenda.
10:00 AM – City Council Convenes
Financial Services
1. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
2. Conduct a public hearing to receive and consider public comment on the proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Resource Recovery as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Proposed Budget.
3. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting the update of the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Land Use Assumptions including the Impact Fee Service Area amendments, Capital Improvements Plan and Impact Fees.
4. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Energy as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 proposed budget.
5. Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Water as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 proposed budget.
6. Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment and consider a proposed drainage charge rate change for Watershed Protection Department as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Proposed Budget.
7. Approve an ordinance authorizing fees, fines, and other charges to be set or charged by the City for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2024.
8. Approve an ordinance adopting the City of Austin Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2024.
9. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Fire Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20220817-006 relating to Fire Department classifications and positions.
10. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Police Department; and repealing Ordinance No. 20220817-007 relating to Police Department classifications and positions.
11.Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Emergency Medical Services Department, creating certain positions, and repealing Ordinance No. 20220817-008 relating to the Emergency Medical Services Department classifications and positions.
12. Ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Financial Services- Contracts
13. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for Medicare Advantage with Health Care Service Corporation d/b/a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, for one year in an amount not to exceed $9,000,000.
(Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C (Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established).
Item(s) from Council
14. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore expansion and funding for the Paramedic Practitioners and the Collaborative Care Communication Center programs.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, and Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela
15. Approve a resolution related to exploring the feasibility of placing a mural on the Austin Water storage tank located in Armadillo Park.
Sponsors: Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Ryan Alter, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
16. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore a Downtown Austin Community Court Mobile Court pilot.
Sponsors: Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
17. Approve a resolution relating to funding for permanent supportive housing funded with the 2022 Affordable Housing Bonds.
Sponsors: Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, and Council Member Vanessa Fuentes
18. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to add a third personal holiday per year to the City employee benefits package.
Sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Leslie Pool, Council Member Ryan Alter, and Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela
19.Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to initiate amendments to the City’s Personnel Policies and any related documents to eliminate the waiting period for new City employees to use accrued vacation leave.
Sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Ryan Alter, and Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela
20. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to initiate a study to identify the full population of need and options for providing additional resources for City employees already receiving the full non-taxable amount of dependent care stipends, as well as a pilot program for City employees to increase childcare stipends.
Sponsors: Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, and Council Member Vanessa Fuentes
21. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to prioritize funding that enhances extreme weather shelter operations and increases direct outreach and support for unsheltered individuals.
Sponsors: Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting
22. Mayor will recess the City Council meeting to conduct a Board of Directors' Meeting of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation. Following adjournment of the AHFC Board meeting the City Council will reconvene. (The AHFC agenda is temporarily located at http://austintexas.gov/department/city-council/2023/20230818-ahfc.htm).
10:30 AM - Mueller Local Government Corporation Meeting
23. Adjourn
The Mayor will recess the City Council meeting to conduct a Board of Directors' meeting of the Mueller Local Government Corporation. Following adjournment of the MLGC Board meeting the City Council will re-convene (The MLGC agenda is temporarily located at http://austintexas.gov/department/city-council/2023/20230818-mlgc.htm).
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.
For assistance, please call 512-974-2210 or TTY users route through 711.
A person may request a Spanish language interpreter be made available by contacting the Office of the City Clerk not later than twenty-four hours before the scheduled time of the item on which the person wishes to speak. Please call (512) 974-2210 in advance or inform the City Clerk’s staff present at the council meeting.
Cualquier persona puede solicitar servicios de intérprete en español comunicándose con la oficina del Secretario/a Municipal a no más tardar de veinte y cuatro horas antes de la hora determinada para el asunto sobre el cual la persona desea comentar. Por favor llame al (512) 974-2210 con anticipo o informe al personal del Secretario/a Municipal presente en la sesión del Consejo.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=413327