TickTock: Austin City Council meeting 6.8.2017
Monday, June 12, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
TickTock is the sortable transcript of @austinmonitor Tweets from the most recent Austin City Council meeting.
TickTock for Friday, June 9, 2017
Participants:
austinmonitor 106
JimmyFlannigan 2
Aloha_Analytics 1
Thursday, June 08, 2017 9AM
Whispers: ‘Sanctuary cities’ lawsuit gets a court date; more. Read More: https://t.co/bcUDq2g308 June 08, 2017 09:00 AM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 10AM
Good morning! #atxcouncil is up and running. Sorry for the late start, but your @austinmonitor is here! June 08, 2017 10:26 AM
Right now they are talking about an application to join the SAFE cities network. Looks like the deadline is tomorrow. June 08, 2017 10:27 AM
If Austin joins the SAFE cities network, this could mean up to $150,000 in (matching) grant funding for immigrant legal defense. June 08, 2017 10:28 AM
Looked like there was some concern that this could also make Austin (more of) a target as a “sanctuary city” June 08, 2017 10:30 AM
But right now, the dais is focused on what money will be matched and how it would all work. June 08, 2017 10:31 AM
“We’re going to pass it regardless, question is whether there needs to be additional direction,” Casar. June 08, 2017 10:32 AM
Item 24
Item 24 is pulled — that will give time to work out the details. All items pulled: 4, 7 11, 15, 16, 24, 32. June 08, 2017 10:33 AM
.@EllenforAustin voting no on Items 2, 3 and 9 and abstaining on 13, 34 and 35. @kathietovo abstains on portion of 23 (conflict-of-interest) June 08, 2017 10:37 AM
Everything else passes on consent. @AnnKitchenATX is repping the city for CapMetro and @DeliaGarza is repping the city in DC. June 08, 2017 10:38 AM
Item 4
Some details on weatherization here. Item 4. @Alison_Alter ‘s questions answered, passes unanimously. June 08, 2017 10:39 AM
Item 7
Now on to Item 7, @kathietovo wants to know why HOT money is not being used on this project. June 08, 2017 10:40 AM
This is the Zilker Bathouse renovation. PARD’s Kimberly McNeely explains that they spent their HOT money, so this will use bond money. June 08, 2017 10:42 AM
Council to consider tool that would bring permanently affordable housing to East Austin. Read More (via @KUTsyeda): https://t.co/SfyiCyY3Pc June 08, 2017 10:45 AM
.@kathietovo accepts that HOT money won’t be used for this project, but is using it as a bit of an object lesson for the future. June 08, 2017 10:46 AM
RT @cubbie9000: If you still need proof that the mayor and I aren’t the same person, come see us occupy the same stage together: https://t.… June 08, 2017 10:47 AM
Item 7
Council approves Item 7, unanimously. June 08, 2017 10:53 AM
Ok! Time to the city manager search! Search task force chair Laura Huffman up now to explain the process. June 08, 2017 10:55 AM
Basically, the task force is going to come up with a profile for a city manager, and that will be used to find candidates. June 08, 2017 10:56 AM
Right now, the city is working on a timeline that would give us a new city manager by the end of the year. June 08, 2017 10:57 AM
There’s going to be a bunch of opportunities for public input, including meetings in all of the ten districts (and online stuff.) June 08, 2017 10:59 AM
“14 public meetings in the summer months” is the plan now. June 08, 2017 10:59 AM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 11AM
Looks like @LesliePoolATX is hoping to slow down the public meetings. June 08, 2017 11:01 AM
However, there is a public meeting scheduled for this upcoming Monday — no plans to delay THAT. June 08, 2017 11:01 AM
.@Alison_Alter doesn’t seem interested in drawing out the process, offers to share her D10 meeting with Pool (her district is adjacent) June 08, 2017 11:04 AM
Search team rep up now. Warns that delaying the timeline “derails the overall process” June 08, 2017 11:05 AM
.@LesliePoolATX seems alone in her wish to extend the timeline at this point, with Alter, Houston, Flannigan and search team weighed in. June 08, 2017 11:06 AM
.@LesliePoolATX clarifies that she doesn’t want to delay any planned meetings, more of a concern that existing timeline will work. June 08, 2017 11:08 AM
Council digests CodeNEXT compatibility standards. Read More (via @JackCraver): https://t.co/TMam1x0QER June 08, 2017 11:15 AM
.@LesliePoolATX asks for a little more time for “private thought” with a plan to bring it back later in the day. That’s what is happening. June 08, 2017 11:22 AM
On to Parkland Events task force recommendations, which would limit events and such. June 08, 2017 11:23 AM
.@JimmyFlannigan makes a motion to postpone limiting event days for now, given the fact that @AnnKitchenATX is out of town June 08, 2017 11:24 AM
RT @efindell: Your city might have too many task forces when the council member who helped create one can’t remember its name. #ATXCouncil June 08, 2017 11:25 AM
Parkland task force member up now, talking about the impact of events on parks — notes they are occupied during the best times of the year June 08, 2017 11:29 AM
Limits, she explains, are so citizens can enjoy the parks, not just those who have paid to do so. June 08, 2017 11:30 AM
David King up now. He was also on the task force — says with set up and such Zilker Park is occupied 167 days a year with events. June 08, 2017 11:32 AM
Bit of dithering over timing — trying to figure out whether to postpone (in whole or part) or not. June 08, 2017 11:39 AM
#atxcouncil wants to include @AnnKitchenATX in the discussion, because she is the D5 rep. June 08, 2017 11:41 AM
But there is also concern that next week’s meeting will be crazy… June 08, 2017 11:42 AM
Also, everyone wants to defer to CM Kitchen, but its unclear what she wants. June 08, 2017 11:43 AM
Anyway, that’s postponed with Houston, Pool and Tovo voting in opposition. June 08, 2017 11:43 AM
Item 11
Item 11 passes unanimously. The search for a city manager resumes! June 08, 2017 11:46 AM
Item 16
Item 16 now. This would allow up to 20 events per year for the revamped Republic Square. June 08, 2017 11:48 AM
CM Casar has concerns that this could include “completely private” events, like weddings. June 08, 2017 11:49 AM
Item 11
Item 11 is postponed until the details are worked out. June 08, 2017 11:49 AM
Item 32
Item 32 now — CM Houston’s nomination of Michael Cargill drawing some heat from @CM_Renteria. June 08, 2017 11:51 AM
.@CM_Renteria points out that a self-identified “troll” is not a good fit for a bond advisory task force. June 08, 2017 11:52 AM
.@CM_Renteria has other concerns, including constituent worries and Cargill’s pressure to allow guns in City Hall. June 08, 2017 11:53 AM
All the other nominations to boards and commissions are approved. June 08, 2017 11:54 AM
.@Oraatx1 thanks everyone for sharing concerns, but asks whether people have met Cargill. Describes him as “thoughtful, solution oriented… June 08, 2017 11:55 AM
“We are more than what makes headlines and who we associate with,” says Houston, who says she trusts him with or without a gun. June 08, 2017 11:55 AM
She asks her colleagues to support her nomination and explains that he has agreed not to carry a gun into City Hall. June 08, 2017 11:56 AM
.@GregCasar and @LesliePoolATX concur with Renteria. June 08, 2017 11:58 AM
.@EllenforAustin says she is “baffled” by the refusal to allow different voices on boards June 08, 2017 11:59 AM
.@EllenforAustin calls the opposition “incredibly intolerant.” June 08, 2017 11:59 AM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 12PM
.@GregCasar explains it’s not his political stance, it’s his other behavior. June 08, 2017 12:00 PM
Cargill is not approved. June 08, 2017 12:01 PM
Council will aim to come back at 1:50 p.m. June 08, 2017 12:01 PM
Austin’s fleet maintenance costly, audit shows. Read More (via @JoClifton78704): https://t.co/SFmrltExgs June 08, 2017 12:15 PM
What We Woke Up To: June 8, 2017 – https://t.co/6NBj60UJsN June 08, 2017 12:26 PM
Our Quote of the Day for Thursday, June 8, 2017. Read More: https://t.co/8g3XcLSRIM https://t.co/YHZC6nACfe June 08, 2017 12:30 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 1PM
Public Safety Commission has a HOT debate. Read More (via @JackCraver): https://t.co/UxfxANo3HG June 08, 2017 01:05 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 2PM
RT @EllenforAustin: #ATXCouncil just blocked the nomination of @Oraatx1’s appointment to a city board bc of differing political viewpoints… June 08, 2017 02:18 PM
Item 42
Item 42 is in process now. This is the “Krisland Property” June 08, 2017 02:22 PM
They are hashing out the terms of the conditional overlay. This is in D6 and CM Flannigan is against the COs, which were suggested by ZAP June 08, 2017 02:24 PM
#SB4 news from Houston… https://t.co/1j24GKAnMM June 08, 2017 02:37 PM
Item 44
Now on Item 44, which Council just approved on second reading only. June 08, 2017 02:41 PM
Item 50
Item 50 up now — HPI Residential Spectrum in D6 — was pulled by @JimmyFlannigan June 08, 2017 02:43 PM
.@JimmyFlannigan continues his war against conditional overlays, asks for it to be removed. June 08, 2017 02:44 PM
Council approves the zoning without the CO, in a vote of 8-1, with Alter voting no. June 08, 2017 02:48 PM
#atxcouncil will now break until 3:00 June 08, 2017 02:49 PM
Council digests CodeNEXT compatibility standards. Read More (via @JackCraver): https://t.co/OBORG9T4vi June 08, 2017 02:55 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 3PM
"I never said “war” and we shouldn’t trivialize that word. Just trying to keep code as simple as possible and have… https://t.co/6AkaMpPaor"
@JimmyFlannigan Oh, sorry. No offense intended. June 08, 2017 03:04 PM
Item 42
Item 42 passed on third reading with no Conditional Overlay. Vote was 7-1-1 with Pool voting against and Houston abstaining. June 08, 2017 03:05 PM
"@austinmonitor Just given everything else going on in the news today… @austinmonitor is the last thing offending me!"
@JimmyFlannigan Oh good! This format is a little unnatural for me, so sometimes I cling to three-letter words without thinking it through… June 08, 2017 03:08 PM
Item 54
#atxcouncil has returned, on to Item 54. June 08, 2017 03:09 PM
Council approves their Housing and Finance Corp. agenda unanimously, will recess until the 4:00 public hearings can start. June 08, 2017 03:12 PM
Council to consider tool that would bring permanently affordable housing to East Austin. Read More (via @KUTsyeda): https://t.co/6zecdraws5 June 08, 2017 03:15 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 4PM
Council is back, and “in the home stretch,” according to Mayor Adler. June 08, 2017 04:15 PM
Item 59
Consent agenda is Items 57, 58, and 62, Item 59 withdrawn. June 08, 2017 04:16 PM
Item 58
Item 58 is actually being postponed. June 08, 2017 04:16 PM
Item 58
Zenobia Joseph is the only one who takes up offer to speak this week on Item 58. She is pushing for an agreement with CapMetro in advance June 08, 2017 04:18 PM
Joseph wants a commitment for a bus route, not just a plan. Is skeptical of anything not in writing, or negotiations after approval. June 08, 2017 04:20 PM
Item 55
Consent agenda approved, now on to Item 55, which is a Texas Gas Company proposed increase for rates. June 08, 2017 04:23 PM
No one spoke about gas rates, Council approves unanimously. June 08, 2017 04:24 PM
Item 56
Item 56 up now — Stuart Harry Hersh only one signed up to speak. Sticking with “my name is Stu and I live in District 2.” June 08, 2017 04:25 PM
Item 56
Item 56 approved unanimously. June 08, 2017 04:35 PM
Item 60
Up now is Item 60, which is the choice between the Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Residential Code. June 08, 2017 04:37 PM
Glen Coleman with the homebuilders association up now. Council is planning on taking public testimony today, and voting next week. June 08, 2017 04:38 PM
Coleman makes the point that using the uniform plumbing code (UPC) is not cost-effective for building, instead of the International (IRC) June 08, 2017 04:40 PM
So, the homebuilders association of Austin is for the IPC June 08, 2017 04:40 PM
This is pretty technical! But they are talking about plumbing ( and water hammers?) June 08, 2017 04:44 PM
Up now, someone from the international code council… June 08, 2017 04:49 PM
Thanks for the concrete example! https://t.co/0zqSJysq0a June 08, 2017 04:50 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 5PM
I’ll be honest, I’m a little out of my depth here. (Is that a water joke?) June 08, 2017 05:00 PM
Speaker now advocates for the UPC, saying its the clearest guidelines for plumbers in field. Notes vagueness “is never good for plumbing” June 08, 2017 05:21 PM
"@austinmonitor …did they approve Michael Cargill as a commissioner?"
@Aloha_Analytics They did not. June 08, 2017 05:21 PM
Speaker also explains that cheaper isn’t always better — asks Council to listen to the plumbing board recommendations bc they are experts June 08, 2017 05:22 PM
“The acronyms almost blew my brains out,” — CM Houston. June 08, 2017 05:23 PM
Anyway…. that’s postponed until next week. Study up on plumbing codes, y’all! June 08, 2017 05:25 PM
Item 61
Item 61 — last one — up now. It’s a floodplain variance at 7604 FM 969 for a church. June 08, 2017 05:26 PM
Apparently there is some trouble getting access through neighboring land (which is not in the floodplain.) June 08, 2017 05:35 PM
Pool is making the point that, as a church, it’s possible to cancel meetings and services if there are threats of flooding. June 08, 2017 05:42 PM
Austin’s fleet maintenance costly, audit shows. Read More (via @JoClifton78704): https://t.co/toIWf80MQt June 08, 2017 05:55 PM
Looks like this is getting postponed to June 22. That’s all folks. #atxcouncil June 08, 2017 05:56 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2017 6PM
Whispers: ‘Sanctuary cities’ lawsuit gets a court date; more. Read More: https://t.co/Axacnt1tiT June 08, 2017 06:45 PM
Tick Tock
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Key Players & Topics In This Article
Austin City Council: The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2015, the body contained seven members, including the city's Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and as of 2015, 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.
