Tip Sheet: Austin City Council 11-4 & 11-6

The Austin City Council meets in a work session Tuesday and for its regular meeting Thursday.

In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The City Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website, here.

We’ve posted these in chronological order. Where applicable, however, we’ve paired items that appear similar in nature.

For the record, there are, including this meeting, three more Council meetings before the end of the year and the start of 10-1 governance.

Items of interest for both the Tuesday and Thursday work sessions include:

9. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 2-1 relating to boards and commissions.

Monitor’s take: This item would finalize the new structure of the city’s many, many boards and commissions for the incoming 10-1 Council. Among cleanup items that increase membership on many of the bodies to better reflect the change from a seven- to an 11- member Council, the proposal also creates Bond Oversight and Economic Prosperity Commissions, and lets the Board of Adjustment absorb the Sign Review Board.

The matter has received a fair amount of prior Council discussion. Monitor coverage of this is here, here, and here.

15. Approve a resolution adopting the Austin Downtown Public Improvement district service plan and budget for 2015-2016. Related to Items #14 and #70.

16. Approve an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving a proposed 2015 assessment roll for the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District. Related to Items #17 and #71

17. Approve a resolution adopting the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District service plan and budget for 2015. Related to Items #16 and #71

18. Approve an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving a proposed 2015 assessment roll for the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District. Related to Items #19 and #72

19. Approve a resolution adopting the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District service plan and budget for 2015. Related to Items #18 and #72

Monitor’s take: Though the issue is more global than what is above, property valuation has been a hot topic of late for both the City of Austin and Travis County. These items are directly connected to taxing districts that use funds derived from property tax valuations to pay for initiatives in a given region. The roll approval would set up public hearings and final authorization.

21. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 9-2 to authorize the use of “C-weighting” as a sound mitigation tool for amplified sound permits and making other changes relating to posting, notification, and enforcement of requirements for amplified sound permits.

22. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapters 8-1 and 9-2 relating to requirements for amplified sound on city parkland.

Monitor’s take: Item 21 is the formalization of a pitch to adjust the way the city measures amplified sound, while 22 would formalize amendments proposed by Council Member Laura Morrison that would make changes to outdoor sound regulation. Previous Monitor coverage of this is here.

Approve second and third reading of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 5-1 to prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s source of income.

Monitor’s take: This would be the final approval of an item that would add source of income as a prohibited discrimination under the city’s fair housing policy. Previous Monitor coverage of this is here and here.

29. Authorize negotiation and execution of all documents and instruments necessary or desirable to sell two tracts of land totaling approximately 215.436 acres out of and a part of the R.G. Anderson Survey in Williamson and Travis Counties, Texas, known locally as 15700 Anderson Mill Road, to the CITY OF CEDAR PARK, TEXAS, for the amount of $4,100,000.

Monitor’s take: This item would finalize the sale of the Lime Creek Quarry. Previous Monitor coverage is here, here, and here.

35. Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement for booking and related services between the City and Travis County in the amount of $6,579,495 for Fiscal Year 2014-2015.

Monitor’s take: This is not directly related to an Austin Police Department push for a city-run magistration center. However, the shared booking facility remains an issue, both in terms of dollars that some argue could be more wisely spent and the Travis County Sheriff’s participation in the Federal Secure Communities program.

56. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to adopt the coyote conflict management strategy recommended by the Animal Advisory Commission and the City Council Public Health and Human Services Committee.

Monitor’s take: This one has piqued interest at City Hall. Monitor coverage is here.

58. Approve an ordinance waiving Chapter 2-7, Article 6, of the City Code for Decker Lake Golf LLC., with respect to City of Austin RFQS TVN0102 for the development of municipal golf facilities at Walter E. Long Park.

Monitor’s take: This item would allow parties looking to construct golf courses at Walter E Long Park to speak with Council members and staff while Council considers the proposal. In other words: It lifts the city’s Anti-Lobbying ordinance with regard to the proposal. Monitor coverage of the pitch is here and here.

79.NPA-2014-0020.01 — St. Elmo’s Market and Lofts — Approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending the South Congress Combined Neighborhood Plan, an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, to change the land use designation on the future land use map (FLUM) on property locally known as 113 Industrial Blvd, 4323 South Congress Ave., & 4300 Block of Willow Springs Rd. (Williamson Creek and Bouldin Creek Watershed) from Industry to Mixed Use. Staff Recommendation: To deny Mixed Use land use. Planning Commission Recommendation: To approve Mixed Use land use Owner: JFP Industrial Interests, Inc. (William Levihn-Coon). Applicant: GFD Holdings, LLC (Brandon Bolin). Agent: Alice Glasco Consulting (Alice Glasco). City Staff: Maureen Meredith, (512) 974-2695.

80.C14-2014-0034 — St. Elmo’s Market and Lofts — Approve second/third readings of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 113 Industrial Boulevard, 4323 South Congress Avenue and the 4300 Block of Willow Springs Road (East Bouldin Creek Watershed; Williamson Creek Watershed) from general commercial services-mixed use-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-NP) combining district zoning, limited industrial services-neighborhood plan (LI-NP) combining district zoning and limited industrial services-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (LI-CO-NP) combining district zoning to limited industrial services-planned development area-neighborhood plan (LI-PDA-NP) combining district zoning, with conditions. First Reading approved Oct. 23, 2014. Vote: 4-2, Council Member Morrison and Council Member Tovo voted nay. Mayor Leffingwell was off the dais. Owner: JFP Industrial Interests, Inc. (William Levihn-Coon). Applicant: GFD Holdings, LLC (Brandon Bolin). Agent: Alice Glasco Consulting (Alice Glasco). City Staff: Wendy Rhoades, 512-974-7719.

Monitor’s take: Council members did not appear overly thrilled with the idea of this project when it came before them two weeks ago. Still, with Mayor Lee Leffingwell absent, they elected to approve the plan on first reading only to allow room for his vote. Monitor coverage of that is here.

83.C14-2013-0158 — 7th and Congress Hotel — Approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 619 and 621 Congress Avenue (Lady Bird Lake Watershed) from central business district (CBD) district zoning to central business district-central urban redevelopment (CBD-CURE) combining district zoning. First reading approved on October 16, 2014. Vote: 7-0. Owner: Finley Company (Tim Finley, VP). Applicant: Matt Frankiewicz. Agent: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Lynn Ann Carley). City Staff: Lee Heckman, 512-974-7604. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request.

Monitor’s take: This has been knocking around for a while. Council approved a zoning change on first-reading two weeks ago that allowed it to move incrementally forward. Developers have instructions to work with neighbors on outstanding disagreements. Monitor coverage of that is here.

85.NP-2014-0030 — South Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan — Approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan by adopting the South Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan. The boundaries for the South Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area are Ben White Boulevard on the north, South 1st Street on the east, William Cannon Drive on the south, and the Sunset Valley City Limits, and generally along Deatonhill Drive and the lot line on the west. First Reading approved on September 25, 2014. Vote: 7-0. Applicant and Agent: City of Austin, Planning and Development Review Department. City Staff: Francis Reilly, 512-974-7657.

Monitor’s take: Second and third readings of what has been something of a contentious item. Monitor coverage is here and here.

92.NPA-2014-0016.02 — Springdale Farm — Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 030327-12, the Govalle/Johnson Terrace Combined Neighborhood Plan, an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, to change the land use designation on the future land use map (FLUM) on property locally known as 755 Springdale Road (Boggy Creek Watershed) from Single Family to Mixed Use land use. Staff Recommendation: To grant Mixed Use land use. Planning Commission Recommendation: To deny Mixed Use land use. Owners/Applicants: Glenn M. and Paula Foore. City Staff: Maureen Meredith, (512) 974-2695.

93.C14-99-2061 (RCT) — Springdale Farm — Conduct a public hearing and approve a restrictive covenant termination on property locally known as 755 Springdale Road (Boggy Creek Watershed). Staff Recommendation: To grant the restrictive covenant termination. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant the restrictive covenant termination. Owner/Applicant: Glenn M. & Paula W. Foore. City Staff: Heather Chaffin, 512-974-2122.

94.C14-2014-0123 — Springdale Farm — Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 755 Springdale Road (Boggy Creek Watershed) from general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-CO-NP) combining district zoning to general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-CO-NP) combining district zoning, to change a condition of zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-CO-NP) combining district zoning, with conditions. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-CO-NP) combining district zoning, with conditions. Owner/Applicant: Glenn M. & Paula W. Foore. City Staff: Heather Chaffin, 512-974-2122. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request.

Monitor’s take: The topic of urban farms has, of course, been heated. The latest chapter is over whether Springdale Farm can hold events and, if so, how many. Monitor coverage of that is here.

118. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adopting the Austin 2014 Bicycle Master Plan and updating the Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan and the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan.

Monitor’s take: The city’s potential new Bicycle Master Plan ran in to some rough going in July. However, things have turned better for the plan more recently. Monitor coverage of that is here.

121. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 to limit the redevelopment of existing small (substandard) lots that are developed as a single building site.

Monitor’s take: This is for small lot amnesty. According to backup documents, the Planning Commission isn’t set to take up the item until Dec. 9. Look for a postponement until after that happens.

124. Conduct a public hearing and consider approval of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 related to safe, mixed income, accessible, and reasonably priced transit-oriented housing.

Monitor’s take: This would be for changes to the transit portion of SMART housing; specifically how close to transit said housing should be and how that figure is measured. Monitor coverage of this is here and here.

125. Conduct a public hearing and consider action on the CodeNEXT Code Approach Alternatives and Annotated Outline.

Monitor’s take: Delayed at the last meeting, the lingering question of how comprehensive the rewrite of the city’s land development code be might could get settled here. Monitor coverage is here.

128. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance on second and third readings amending City Code Title 25 related to the development of multifamily units that are 500 square feet or less.

Monitor’s take: Micro-units return for final approval. Monitor coverage is here, here and here.