Austin City Council Agenda Highlights: New City Manager, Housing, and Cyclist Safety Measures Under Consideration

The Austin City Council is set to convene for its regular Thursday meeting. With a diverse range of items on the agenda, certain notable ones are expected to garner particular attention. From the appointment of Austin’s next city manager to resolutions aimed at housing and cyclist safety, here is a breakdown of the issues at hand.

Next City Manager in the Pipeline

The first significant item on the council’s agenda is the anticipated official appointment of T.C. Broadnax as Austin’s new city manager. This comes as a significant development following more than a year of operating with an interim city manager. The city Council is poised to finalize the decision of the subcommittee and execute an employment agreement.

An Ode to an Activist

In recognition of impactful activism, the Council is considering renaming Barton Springs Pool Bathhouse to honor Joan Means Khabele. Eminent for her strides towards desegregating the springs in 1960, the decision stands as a tribute to her contributions.

Cyclist Safety Measures

Council Member Paige Ellis has proposed a resolution focused on making cycling in Austin safer by prohibiting parking in bike lanes and introducing other measures to bolster general bike safety. If passed, this resolution could dramatically enhance road safety for cyclists throughout the city.

Affordable Housing Stock Expansion

Fellow Council Member, Natasha Harper-Madison, has a similarly important proposal in the pipeline. Her resolution requests the development and expansion of community land trusts as a means to increase the city’s affordable housing stock. Community land trusts enable residents to purchase homes but lease the land beneath them, thus controlling costs and managing resale values. The resolution also requests the City Manager to explore land banking and partnerships with local nonprofits and governments to proliferate housing options.

Demand Response Program: A Solution for Overburdened Power Grid

Austin Energy’s Demand Response Program is on the session’s agenda too. Council Member Ryan Alter seeks to get all city buildings enrolled in this program, which is designed to reduce pressure on the power grid during peak demand periods.

Crackdown on Human Trafficking

Council Member Mackenzie Kelly presents a resolution to battle human trafficking. The proposal includes establishing emergency housing options in hotels, increasing hospitality workers’ awareness, providing law enforcement with covert digital payment resources for investigations, and enhancing public education on the topic.

Official Standards of Parks Youth Programs

Finally, to comply with state requirements, the city will hold a public hearing to adopt official standards of care for parks youth programs. This includes basic protocols about safety and staffing for said programs.

Zoning Matters

In terms of zoning, several contentious issues are on the table. These include the Bolm East Planning Development Agreement for an ambitious plot of land along the Colorado River, a proposed multifamily development in Old West Austin opposed by OWANA, and the redevelopment of the Nau’s Drugstore and Cafe Medici. Additionally, the council could assign historic zoning to the Women and their Work Gallery and advocate for multi-family zoning for a southeast parcel supported by the Planning Commission.

The Austin City Council’s Thursday meeting promises to be eventful, with several crucial policy decisions that could significantly shape the city’s future. Stay tuned for updates from these consequential deliberations.