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2026-09-24 - 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 Harper-Madison by videoconference); recesses 10:49 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:20 to 2:00 PM; adjourned at 5:10 PM.
  • Consent agenda moved by Council Member Fuentes, seconded by Council Member Laine; most items passed 11-0. Social services agreement amendments passed 10-1 with Mayor Watson opposed (9-2 for the sickle cell program, with Alter also opposed).
  • Five Interstate 35 transmission line easement condemnations passed 10-1 (Qadri opposed).
  • Southwest Parkway Save Our Springs amendment approved 11-0, then reconsidered and postponed to November 5.
  • Nuckols Crossing rezoning approved as amended (40-unit cap) and land use change approved, both 11-0.
  • Circle C Tract 110 settlement amendment and rezoning each passed 10-1 with Duchen abstaining.
  • West 49th Street multifamily rezoning passed 10-1 (Duchen opposed).
  • Wonsley Grocery rezoning approved as amended 11-0.
  • Minutes of the August 25 work session and August 27 regular meeting approved on consent 11-0.

Southwest Parkway Save Our Springs Amendment

  • Public hearing on a site-specific amendment to the Save Our Springs ordinance for a site in the Barton Springs Zone. Approved 11-0 on Duchen's motion, Mayor Pro Tem Vela's second.
  • Ellis then moved to reconsider (second by Qadri, 8-0, with Alter, Harper-Madison and Siegel off the dais) and moved to postpone the item to November 5 (second by Vela, 8-0).
  • Votes to reconsider those actions then recorded Alter (10-0) and Siegel (11-0) as in favor of the postponement.

Nuckols Crossing Rezoning

  • The land use change (future land use map) to Multifamily Residential was moved by Fuentes and seconded by Vela, then tabled on Duchen's motion 11-0 so the rezoning could be heard first.
  • Rezoning to multifamily medium density (MF-3-CO-NP): Fuentes's amendment made multifamily a conditional use and capped development at 40 dwelling units (11-0). Fuentes also moved direction asking the City Manager to consider the Street Impact Fee fund for transportation safety improvements, to continue an advisory speed sign on the curve, and to study whether the 30 mph limit is safe (11-0).
  • Ordinance approved as amended 11-0 (Fuentes, Vela); the land use ordinance then passed 11-0 on the same movers.

Circle C Tract 110 Development

  • Ordinance amending the Circle C settlement agreement for about 246 acres in the Barton Springs Zone to increase residential and multifamily density, change parkland, traffic and access requirements, and remove the requirement to build the South Bay Extension. Approved 10-1 on Ellis's motion, Velásquez's second, with Duchen abstaining.
  • Companion rezoning to change zoning conditions on two tracts, approved 10-1 on Ellis's motion, Vela's second, Duchen abstaining. Postponed from September 10 at Ellis's request.

West 49th Street Multifamily Rezoning

  • Austin Independent School District's request to rezone two lots from SF-3 to MF-6-CO; a valid petition in opposition was on file. Postponed from September 10 at Siegel's request.
  • Direction moved by Siegel (second by Vela, 10-0, Harper-Madison off the dais): consider the Street Impact Fee fund for safety improvements and explore intersection improvements at 49th Street and Burnet Road.
  • Ordinance approved 10-1 on Vela's motion, Velásquez's second; Duchen voted no.

Wonsley Grocery Rezoning

  • Rezoning of two lots on East Wonsley Drive to neighborhood commercial with mixed use (LR-MU-CO-NP), postponed from September 10 at Vela's request. Approved as amended 11-0 on Vela's motion, Ellis's second.
  • The amendment prohibits drive-in services and drive-through facilities as accessory uses and removes five conditional uses (consumer convenience services, financial services, food sales, general retail sales (convenience) and limited restaurant).

Interstate 35 Transmission Line Relocation Easements

  • Five resolutions authorizing eminent domain proceedings for electric easements so Austin Energy can relocate three transmission circuits for the highway expansion. Four easements near East 38 1/2 Street were appraised at $33,834, $43,040, $60,643 and $69,526; Siegel moved, Vela seconded, each passed 10-1 with Qadri opposed.
  • A separate resolution for a water line easement for the Capital of Texas Highway at Lakewood Drive project ($101,192 appraised) passed 11-0.

Social Services Contract Amendments

  • Interlocal agreement with Integral Care consolidating 11 agreements: $13,946,970 for the first year, four renewals, up to $69,734,850 total. Passed 11-0.
  • Twelve-month extension and funding amendments with Mexic-Arte Museum (plus $135,000), Central Texas Food Bank (plus $162,000), Catholic Charities of Central Texas (plus $188,872 and plus $126,720), American Gateways (plus $161,280 and plus $378,000), Texas Harm Reduction Alliance ($600,000), Get Up Project (plus $135,000) and the University of Texas at Austin (three agreements). Each passed 10-1 with Mayor Watson opposed.
  • Sickle Cell Texas Marc Thomas Foundation (plus $349,710) passed 9-2; Watson and Alter voted no.
  • Amendments with Integral Care for HIV housing services (plus $172,392) and The SAFE Alliance (plus $1,084,975) passed 11-0.

Tax Exempt Debt Reimbursement Resolutions

  • Three resolutions declaring the City's intent to reimburse itself from tax-exempt debt proceeds: $131,680,000 in general obligation debt (issuance in August 2027 or later), up to $525,000,000 for water and wastewater projects, and up to $876,000,000 for electric utility projects. All passed on consent 11-0.

Clariti Permitting Software Contracts

  • Two contracts with Clariti Cloud: permitting software licenses and support (up to $28,129,160, three years plus six one-year options) and an enterprise case management system (up to $31,181,334, with $24,100,000 in the capital budget). Both passed on consent 11-0.

Bloom at Lamar Square Fee Waiver

  • Ordinance waiving or reimbursing right-of-way fees, up to $541,314, for a 100-unit deeply affordable housing development on Lamar Square Drive; sponsored by Qadri, Vela, Alter, Laine and Ellis. Passed on consent 11-0.

Quinlan Park Road Disannexation

  • Public hearing and ordinance removing about 1.86 acres from the City under Senate Bill 1844, partly in full-purpose and partly in limited-purpose jurisdiction in District 10. Approved 11-0 on Siegel's motion, Ellis's second.

Private Activity Bond Housing Projects

  • Public hearing and resolution supporting an application by Verbena Flats LP for federal 4 percent housing tax credits for a private-activity-bond-financed multifamily development on West Slaughter Lane. Approved 11-0 on Siegel's motion, Laine's second; the City takes on no funding obligation.

Other business

  • Public communication: six speakers present, on immigration support, historic electric bills, internet service, a gallery permit application and related topics; four were not present, including speakers on utility billing and the parks adult indoor athletics transition.
  • Settlements approved on consent 11-0: $300,000 in the City's suit with EP Austin Purchase Company and $112,000 in a Williamson County suit against the City.
  • Other consent items include Austin Energy rebates ($23,475,000), $3,862,221 in federal COVID-19 reimbursement, a $200,000,000 distribution electrical services contract (five firms), seven telecommunications contracts (up to $62,050,000), information technology staff augmentation (up to $42,500,000), the District Cooling Plant condenser water replacement ($27,335,853), and a $4,000,000 GoPurple water reuse incentive pilot.
  • Resolution on automated external defibrillators in more public places, sponsored by Fuentes, Ellis, Duchen and Laine; fee waivers for community events; Public Health Commission appointments; board and commission appointments and waivers. All passed on consent 11-0.
  • Parks and Recreation Board bylaws and code amendment (review of park concessions and nonprofit agreements) approved 11-0 on Mayor Watson's motion, Vela's second.
  • Withdrawn: a floodplain variance for a Denfield Street accessory structure. Outdoor recreation grant application for a park (up to $9,000,000, 50 percent City match) approved 11-0.
  • Restrictive covenant terminations and rezonings on Banister Lane, West 35th Street and Springdale Road approved 11-0 on Vela's motion, Ellis's second.
  • Proclamations: Cathy McHorse Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, Opioid Awareness Day, Fall Prevention Awareness Day and National Police Women Day.

Sources