2026-09-10 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

Mayor Watson called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM (Council Member Laine and Council Member Velásquez by videoconference); recess 10:47 AM to 12:00 PM, then public communication; recess 12:27 to 2:00 PM; adjourned at 2:25 PM.
Consent agenda moved by Council Member Harper-Madison, seconded by Council Member Qadri; all items passed 11-0 except one withdrawn contract item.
The Citywide Density Bonus fee-in-lieu ordinance passed 11-0.
Guadalupe Street land use change and rezoning (third reading) passed 10-0 with Laine off the dais.
Vargas and Christ Church Planning items were postponed indefinitely at the applicants' request, 10-0.
Wonsley Grocery, Circle C Tract 110, West 49th Street and Capital of Texas Highway rezonings were postponed (to September 24 or October 8).
Girls School permit appeal postponed to November 19.
Public communication: nine speakers on Menchaca Road housing and the Lake Austin drawdown, among other topics.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved on October 8.

Resolution prioritizing how fee-in-lieu funds from the Citywide Density Bonus program are spent on affordable housing passed on consent 11-0.
Public hearing and ordinance amending City Code 25-2-656 so certain projects must provide on-site income-restricted units rather than paying a fee in lieu: approved 11-0 on Alter's motion, Duchen's second. The fiscal note says fee-in-lieu collections could fall over time, offset by on-site units.

Third reading of the land use change to Mixed Use (first reading July 23, 9-1; second reading August 27, 11-0): approved 10-0 on Mayor Pro Tem Vela's motion, Harper-Madison's second. Staff had recommended denying Mixed Use in favor of Multifamily Residential.
Third reading of the rezoning, amended so 45 percent of the principal street frontage holds commercial or civic uses: approved 10-0 on Vela's motion, Ellis's second.
Direction (10-0): the City Manager is to keep working with the applicant or any future applicant toward a bike and pedestrian connection to Highland Neighborhood Park, a path at least 10 feet wide on a 14-foot easement.

The land use change and the rezoning for Vargas Road and Lynch Lane were postponed indefinitely at the applicant's request, 10-0, on Vela's motion.

The land use change and both rezoning cases (north and south) were postponed indefinitely at the applicant's request, 10-0, on Vela's motion.

Public hearing on an appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of a conditional use permit for the Girls' School of Austin was postponed to November 19.

Postponed to September 24 at Siegel's request, 10-0; a valid petition in opposition was on file.

Public communication: Perry supported affordable housing but was concerned about the five-story structure and density; Costello spoke on construction truck access; Challis spoke on the proposed development. Another registered speaker was not present.

Public communication: Callejas described negative economic effects of the fall drawdown and the short notice given; Smith and Murphy described effects on local businesses, customers and employees.

Consent items passed 11-0: a new agreement with the African American Youth Harvest Foundation for juvenile delinquency prevention (up to $100,000 a year, $500,000 total), $200,000 in one-time funding for The SAFE Alliance domestic violence shelter (total up to $12,425,000), and an extension for the Asian American Community Health Navigator Program ($528,574).

Proclamations: Austin Galano Club Day, National Preparedness Month, HAAM Music Festival Day, Ukrainian Heritage Month and Felix Gonzalez Day.
Consent items include the Hazard Mitigation Action Plan update, a Travis County emergency medical services agreement (up to $19,546,639, a 3.5 percent increase), a Salesforce contract amendment (plus $19,506,800, total up to $26,000,000), a Schneider Electric grid software contract (up to $17,500,000), and a $6,000,000 state loan application for lead service line replacement. A 17-contract consulting item was withdrawn.
A resolution to create a City advisory board for the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, and a 2027 South by Southwest event code waiver ordinance (March 13 to 21, 2027), passed on consent 11-0.
Bylaws for the Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission approved 11-0 on Mayor Watson's motion, Alter's second.
Rezonings approved 10-0 (Laine off the dais) on Vela's motion, Harper-Madison's second: a Westbank Drive retail parcel (to LR), a Farm-to-Market 620 commercial project (GR-CO), a McNeil Drive parcel (CS) and a West 6th Street parcel (CS-CO-NP).
Board appointments and waivers passed on consent 11-0.