City of Austin City Council met Aug. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The following represents the actions taken by the Austin City Council in the order they occurred during the meeting. While the minutes are not in sequential order, all agenda items were discussed. The City Council of Austin, Texas, convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX and via videoconference.
Mayor Watson called the Council Meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Council Member Kelly appeared via videoconference.
DISCITSSION ITEMS
Items 1 through 6 were acted on with one combined motion.
1. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
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.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
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.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
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.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
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.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
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.
The public hearing was conducted and motion to close the public hearing was approved without objection.
3. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting the update of the City 01 Austin Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Land Use Assumptions including the Impact Fee Service Area amendments, Capital Improvements Plan and Impact Fees. Ordinance No. 20230816-003 was approved on Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
Items 2,4,5,6, and 7 were acted on in one combined motion.
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.
The proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Resource Recovery were approved on a roll call vote on Council Member Pool's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
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.
The proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Energy were approved on a roll call vote on Council Member Pool's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' second on a 9-2 vote. Thse voting aye were: Mayor Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Council Members Ryan Alter, Fuentes, Harper-Madison, Pool, Qadri, Vela, and Velasquez. Those voting nay were: Council Members Alison Alter and Kelly.
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.
The proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Water were approved on a roll call vote on Council Member I 001'§ motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
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.
The proposed drainage charge rate change for Watershed Protection Department was approved on a roll call vote on Council Member Pool's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
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.
Ordinance No. 20230816-007 was approved on a roll call vote on Council Member Pool's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
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.
A motion to approve the ordinance including Attachment A was made by Council Member Harper-Madison and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ellis.
The following amendment was made by Council Member Ryan Alter and had no motion.
"Allocate $250,000 for Domestic Violence Shelter -Digital Service Delivery"
| Ongoing | One-Time | FTEs | Source of Funds |
| $250,000 | Austin Police Department |
"This amendment proposes an additional $613,942 to the standing contract ($1,290,000). For a total of $1,903,942.
Parent Support Specialist (PSS) are an integral support system for our most vulnerable students and their families. Currently, eight PSSes are funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant (ESSER) which will end with the 23'-24' school year.
PSSes help address the three top needs of families in AISD; Housing Support, Food Access, and Enrollment and Attendance Support. PSS also provides communications and outreach, creates parent leadership opportunities, and offers support through; adult education, parenting classes, tech/internet, mental health resources, financial literacy, employment, clothing/shoes, etc.; Parent Support Specialists work in the community is tied to positive academic outcomes and student success.
The services of the PSSes are available to 40,000 students in AISD, or 54% of AISD's total enrollment. This additional funding will sustain the support provided to title 1 schools economically disadvantaged families, and retain experienced staff who are a lifeline for families."
| Ongoing | One-Time | FTEs | Source of Funds |
| $613,942 | Budget Stabilization
Reserve Fund |
Qadri, Vela, and Velasquez. Those voting nay were: Mayor Watson, Council Members Kelly and Pool.
The following amendment was made by Council Member Qadri and seconded by Council Member Harper-Madison.
"Provide funding for a temporary FTE to immediately fund fair housing education and support for residents and other stakeholders to counter discrimination in the housing and employment markets, which a particular focus on support for people with disabilities. The temporary FTE should coordinate with all city departments on ADA training and measures to benefit people with disabilities. City staff should coordinate with community stakeholders to develop the community engagement and support component of this work."
| Ongoing | One-Time | FTEs | Source of Funds |
| $1000,000 | 1.00 | Budget Stabilization
Reserve Fund |
The following amendment was made by Council Member Vela and seconded by Council Member Qadri.
"Return HR, Building Services, and CPIO positions to their original departments.
The proposed budget reaxsigns 37 employees to the Austin Police Department. 25 originate from Human Resources, 8 originate from Building Services, and 4 originate from the City Public Information Office. Return the 25 Human Resources employees to the Human Resources Department, the 8 Building Services employees to the Building Services Department, and the 4 City Public Information Office employees to the City Public Information Office. The transfer from the respective departments to API) had no cost impact, so reversing the transfer should have no cost impact."
| Ongoing | One-Time | FTEs | Source of Funds |
| 25.00 | |||
| 8.00 | |||
| 4.00 |
The following amendment was made by Council Member Ryan Alter and seconded by Council Member Velasquez.
The City of Austin is committed to preventing domestic violence and ensuring that victims are given safe shelter options. When the capacity of project-based domestic violence shelters are full, additional options are needed to service these individuals and families. Digital service delivery and support to victims of domestic violence allows for temporary placement into hotel or other settings.
Funding for this program will be sourced from the existing Austin Police Department budget."
| Ongoing | One-Time | FTEs | Source of Funds |
| $250,000 | Austin Police Department |
Direction was given to staff to:
"Commit to preventing domestic violence and ensure that victims are given safe shelter options. When the capacity of project-based domestic violence shelters are full, additional options are needed to service these individuals and families. Digital service delivery and support to victims of domestic violence allows for temporary placement into hotel or other settings.
Funding for this program will be sourced from the existing Austin Police Department budget but not from the Victim Services budget."
A motion to postpone the amendment to August 16, 2024, was made by Council Member Ryan Alter, seconded by Council Member Pool, and accepted without objection.
Ordinance No. 20230816-008 with Attachment A was approved as amended on a roll call vote on Council Member Harper-Madison's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' second on a 10-1 vote. Those voting aye were: Mayor Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Council Members Alison Alter, Ryan Alter, Fuentes, Harper-Madison, Pool, Qadri, Vela, and Velasquez. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
Items 9, 10 and 11 were acted on with one combined motion.
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.
Ordinance No. 20230816-009 was approved on Council Member Qadri's motion, Council Member Ryan Alter'§ second without objection.
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.
Ordinance No. 20230816-010 was approved on Council Member Qadri'§ motion, Council Member Ryan Alter'§ second without objection.
11. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Emergency Medical Services Department, creating certain positions, and repeating Ordinance No. 20220817-008 relating to the Emergency Medical Services Department classifications and positions.
Ordinance No. 20230816-011 was approved on Council Member Qadri's motion, Council Member Ryan Alter'§ second without objection.
12. Ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The motion to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget adopted by Council today was approved on Council Member Pool's motion, Council Member Qadri's second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
1 Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
The motion that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 44.58 cents per hundred dollar valuation, which is effectively a 3.4 percent increase in the tax rate was approved on a roll call vote on Council Member Pool's motion, Council Member Qadri's second on a 10-1 vote. Those voting aye were: Mayor Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Council Members Alison Alter, Ryan Alter, Fuentes, Harper-Madison, Pool, Qadii, Vela, and Velasquez. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
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 2-90 (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).
The motion authorizing the negotiation and execution of a contract for Medicare Advantage with Health Care Service Corporation doing business as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas was approved on Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' motion, Council Member Alison Alter's second without objection.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
The following items were acted on by one combined motion.
14. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore expansion and funding for the Paramedic Practitioners and the Collaborative Care Communication Center programs. Council Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Jos6 "Chito" Vela.
Resolution No. 20230816-014 was approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison'§ second without objection.
15. Approve a resolution related to exploring the feasibility of placing a mural on the Austin Water storage tank located in Armadillo Park. Council Sponsors: Council Member
Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri.
Resolution No. 20230816-015 wax approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madicon's second without objection.
16. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore a Downtown Austin Community Court Mobile Court pilot. Council Sponsors: Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member Jos6 "Chito" Vela, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri.
Resolution No. 20230816-016 wax approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second without objection.
17. Approve a resolution relating to funding for permanent supportive housing funded with the 2022 Affordable Housing Bonds. Council Sponsors: Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Jose Velfasquez, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes.
Resolution No. 20230816-017 was approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second on a 10-1 vote. Council Member Kelly voted nay.
18. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to add a third personal holiday per year to the City employee benefits package. Council Sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Leslie Pool, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Jose "Chito" Vela.
Resolution No. 20230816-018 wax approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second without objection.
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. Council Sponsors: Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Jos? "Chito" Vela.
Resolution No. 20230816-019 was approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second without objection.
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. Council Sponsors: Council Member Jose Velasquez, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes.
Resolution No. 20230816-020 was approved on Council Member Fuentes' motion, Council Member Harper-Madison's second without objection.
DISCUSSION ITEMS CONTINITED
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, Council Sponsors: Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri.
Resolution No. 20230816-021 was approved on Council Member Kelly's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis' fecond without objection.
AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING
Mayor Watson recessed the Council Meeting and called the Board of Directors' Meeting of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation to order at 3:19 p.m. See separate minutes.
22. The Mayor will recess the City Council meeting to conduct a I3oard of Directors' Meeting of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation. Following adjournment of the AHFC Board meeting the City Council will reconvene.
MUEELLER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION MEETING
Mayor Watson adjourned the Board of Directors' Meeting of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and called the Board of Directors' Meeting of the Mueller Local Government Corporation to order at 3:21 p.m. See separate minutes.
23. 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 reconvene.
Mayor Watson reconvened the Council Meeting at 3:22 p.m.
Mayor Watson adjourned the meeting at 3:24 p.m. without objection.
The minutes were approved on this the 14th day of September 2023 on consent on Council Member Qadri'§ motion, Council Member Fuentes' second on an 8-0 vote. Council Members Alison Alter, Harper-Madison, and Pool were absent.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=415875