City of Austin City Council will meet Aug. 16.
Here is the agenda provided by the council:
The City Council will convene at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX and some member may be attending 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
Budget
1. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
2. Conduct a public hearing and consider public comment on the proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Resource Recovery as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 proposed budget.
3. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Energy as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 proposed budget.
4. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Water as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 proposed budget.
5. Conduct a public hearing and consider a proposed drainage charge rate change for the Watershed Protection Department as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Proposed Budget.
6. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance authorizing fees, fines, and other charges to be set or charged by the City for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025, and waiving fees and other charges.
7. Approve an ordinance adopting the City of Austin Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025.
8. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Police Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20230816-010 relating to Police Department classifications and positions.
9. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Fire Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20230816-009 relating to Fire Department classifications and positions.
10. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Emergency Medical Services Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20240718-069 relating to the Emergency Medical Services Department classifications and positions.
11. Ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
City Clerk
12. Approve an ordinance ordering a general election to be held in the City of Austin on November 5, 2024, for the purpose of electing a Mayor (at large) and City Council Members (single member districts) for District 2, District 4, District 6, District 7, and District 10; ordering a special election for the purpose of submitting proposed charter amendments to the voters; providing for the conduct of the general and special elections; authorizing the City Clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political subdivisions as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the elections; and declaring an emergency.
13. Approve an ordinance ordering a citizen-initiated special municipal election to be held on November 5, 2024, on the question of releasing an area from the City of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction into unincorporated Travis County, the area being located on Menchaca Road south of Slaughter Lane; providing for the conduct of the special election; authorizing the City Clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political subdivisions as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the election; and declaring an emergency.
Item(s) from Council
14. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to identify funding or other resources capable of providing small grants to community-based organizations in pursuit of the goals set forth in Resolution Nos. 20071213-058, 20210902-048, and 20240418-076 regarding the African American Cultural Heritage District.
Sponsors: Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, and Council Member Paige Ellis
15. Approve a resolution amending Resolution No. 20021003-040 and directing the City Manager to solidify the City’s efforts and financial support for Juneteenth celebrations, to identify opportunities to further support and sustain other culturally significant and legacy events, and to return to council with updates.
Sponsors: Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, Council Member Paige Ellis, and Council Member José Velásquez
16. Approve a resolution relating to cybersecurity, contract efficiencies, and the Information Security Office.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, and Council Member Mackenzie Kelly
17. Approve a resolution relating to EMS billing process improvements and related system investments.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, and Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela
18. Approve a resolution relating to retention bonus payments for Aviation and Austin Water Utility employees.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, and Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool
19. Approve a resolution relating to maternity leave benefits for sworn firefighters.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Paige Ellis, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, and Council Member Mackenzie Kelly
20. Approve a resolution relating to the Austin Fire Department’s overtime costs.
Sponsors: Council Member Alison Alter, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, and Council Member José Velásquez
21. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan informed by the 2024 Texas Veterans Needs Assessment, and to present the completed Veterans Affairs Action Plan to Council within six months of the publication of the Texas Veterans Needs Assessment.
Sponsors: Council Member Paige Ellis, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, and Mayor Kirk Watson
22. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to conduct a feasibility study to determine potential properties that can host an LGBTQIA+ community center and establish a task force to lead this initiative.
Sponsors: Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Ryan Alter, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
23. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore possible agreements with Travis County and other area partners, identify funding, and engage the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission to explore collaborations or partnerships to address the City’s homelessness response system, including permanent supportive housing.
Sponsors: Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela, and Council Member Vanessa Fuentes
24. Approve a resolution directing the creation of a dedicated fund for the acquisition of land to be used for parkland, protection of the City’s water supply, improved drainage, and flood mitigation.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
25. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to develop a multi-year plan for applying the City’s Living Wage requirements to future solicitations for social services.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Alison Alter, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
26. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to appropriate delinquent property tax penalties and interest to the House Our People Endowment Fund for homelessness prevention services.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member José Velásquez, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
27. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore providing supplemental litter prevention and abatement services.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
28. Approve a resolution initiating an update to the Downtown Austin Plan.
Sponsors: Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, and Mayor Kirk Watson
29. Approve a resolution relating to shade tree planting projects at parks and community tree planting and increasing the allocation from the Urban Forest Replenishment Fund.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member José Velásquez, and Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri
30. Approve a resolution directing the acquisition and development of additional Downtown Austin Community Court facilities to provide criminal justice diversion and navigation services.
Sponsors: Council Member Ryan Alter, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, and Council Member José Velásquez
10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting
31. The 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.
10:30 AM - Mueller Local Government Corporation Meeting
32. 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.
Adjourn
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=433988