TipSheet: Austin City Council, Zoning 10.7.15

The Austin City Council will hold its regular meeting Thursday. Below is a list of items we’re watching. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda. The Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here.

2. Approve negotiation of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for the creation of a sobriety center that incorporates the terms recommended by the Austin-Travis County Intergovernmental Working Group.

6. Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County related to operation of a central booking facility and related services in the amount of $6,579,921 for Fiscal Year 2015-2016.

Monitor’s take: We’ve covered both of these interlocal items in the past. For a quick study on them from the Travis County side of things, here is our recent article on the facilities.

4. CD-2015-0009 – Approve the baseline site development standards for determining development bonuses and the trigger for affordable housing in The Grove at Shoal Creek Planned Unit Development.

Monitor’s take: Those hoping to talk about the Grove at Shoal Creek PUD will get their chance – in the future. This particular item will most likely be postponed. Those who simply can’t wait can read the extensive briefing about the project, which has been posted in the backup online.

8. Approve an amendment to Resolution 20150604-044, that created the Flood Mitigation Task Force, to establish a quorum and decision requirement for the task force.

Monitor’s take: Hmmmm. Despite the demand to move forward posthaste with establishing a clear flood policy for the city, it looks like the effort has been slightly delayed by the fact that the seven-page (!) document that created the task force failed to establish quorum and decision-making requirements.

11. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 10-3 related to food handlers.

Monitor’s take: It would be a stretch to say that this revamp of food handler regulations looks interesting. However, given the amount of time City Council spent on food booth fees during its budget hearings, the item should be noted. A list of the proposed changes, for the curious, is here.

16. C14H-2014-0014 – Bluebonnet Hills Historic District – District 9 – Approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2 by rezoning properties bounded by Annie Street on the north, East Side Drive on the east, Leland Street on the south, and Brackenridge Street on the west, and incorporating the south side of the 500 block of E. Annie Street, the 500 block of E. Mary Street, portions of the 400 block of Lockhart Drive, the 500 block of Lockhart Drive, the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Terrace Drive, the north side of the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Leland Street, the west side of the 1800, 1900, and 2000 blocks of East Side Drive, the 1900 and 2000 blocks of Newning Avenue, and the portions of the east side of the 1900 and 2000 blocks of Brackenridge Street (Blunn Creek Watershed) from family residence-neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning and family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning to family residence-historic area-neighborhood plan (SF-3-HD-NP) and family residence-historic landmark-historic area-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-HD-NP) combining district zoning. First Reading approved on June 11, 2015. 7-3. Council Member Renteria, Troxclair and Zimmerman voting nay and Council Member Gallo was off the dais.

Monitor’s take: Though there is a postponement request for this historic district, it is worth noting that the beleaguered application now faces a valid petition of opposition – which means it will require a supermajority of Council to approve its creation.