TipSheet: City Council, 2.7.19

Welcome to this week’s TipSheet. Austin City Council is back, for the second week in a row. This week’s meeting looks to be a short one, but that doesn’t mean it’s all destined to be boring. We’ve picked out the few things that might generate some discussion for you, below. For the rest, the Office of the City Clerk posts a copy on its website, here.

Item 4: Approve a resolution related to an application by FC Burleson Housing, LP, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Burleson Apartments, located at or near 3507 Burleson Road; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 5: Approve a resolution related to an application by City View at Hyde Park, L.P., or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as City View at Hyde Park, located at or near 1000 East 46th Street, in District 9; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 6: Approve a resolution related to an application by FC N Lamar Housing, LP, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Foundation Village, located at or near 11704 and 11706 North Lamar Boulevard; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 7: Approve a resolution related to an application by Pathways at Chalmers Courts West, LP, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Pathways at Chalmers Courts West, located at or near 315 Comal Street; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 8: Approve a resolution related to an application by St. Elmo Commons, LP, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as St. Elmo Commons, located at or near 4510 Terry-O Lane; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 9: Approve a resolution related to an application by Saltillo DMA Housing, LLC, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Talavera Lofts, located at or near 1400 East 5th Street; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 10: Approve a resolution related to an application by The Abali, LLC, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as The Abali, located at or near 4503 N I-35; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 11: Approve a resolution related to an application by Tierra Skyline, LLC, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Tierra Skyline, located at or near 5400 East Oltorf Street; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 12: Approve a resolution related to an application by Vi Collina, LLC, or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction development to be known as Vi Collina, located at or near 2401 East Oltorf; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 13: Approve a resolution related to an application by Vista at Kemp, L.P., or an affiliated entity, for competitive 9% housing tax credits for a new construction rental housing development to be known as Vista at Kemp, located at or near 508 Kemp Street; and related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds within the City and near the proposed development.

Item 14: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by FC Burleson Housing, LP, or an affiliated entity; an application by Tierra Skyline, LLC, or an affiliated entity; or an application by Vi Collina, LLC, or an affiliated entity as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the East Riverside/Oltorf Combined Neighborhood Planning Area.

Item 15: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by City View at Hyde Park, L.P., or an affiliated entity, as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the North Loop Neighborhood Plan Area.

Item 16: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by St. Elmo Commons, LP, or an affiliated entity, as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the South Congress Combined Neighborhood Plan Area.

Item 17: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by Saltillo DMA Housing, LLC, or an affiliated entity; or an application by Pathways at Chalmers Courts West, LP, or an affiliated entity, as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the City of Austin Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zone No. 1.

Item 18: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by Saltillo DMA Housing, LLC, or an affiliated entity, as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the area subject to the Plaza Saltillo Transit Oriented District (TOD) Station Area Plan.

Item 19: Approve a resolution designating an application for competitive 9% housing tax credits by Vista at Kemp, L.P., or an affiliated entity, as contributing more than any other application to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City within the Montopolis Neighborhood Plan Area.

Monitor’s Take: That’s a lot of affordable housing! Before we all get too excited about the prospect, it might be worth noting that this is just one step in the process to get tax credits to build affordable housing. The city’s endorsement counts toward winning the competitive credits, but it’s just one factor in determining which project is ultimately awarded them. Another is region, so expect only a couple/few on this list to make it to the final round, then on to completion. Still, there is the slim, slim possibility that not all of the projects will get Council’s endorsement. Though it’s somewhat rote, such denials are not unprecedented.

Item 31: Approve a resolution directing the City Manager and the City Clerk to identify best practices and recommendations for efficient and immediately visible or audible voting procedures for the City Council.

Monitor’s Take: On the surface, this is a pretty boring resolution. Dig a little deeper, and it’s still a little boring, but we are going to write about it anyway. Currently, the city clerk records Council votes, and those votes (especially on late-night items with a lot of motions) aren’t always immediately available. Combined with a complaint that innovative, on-the-dais polling techniques like the “fist to five” method that involves raising fingers to indicate preference are inaccessible to the visually impaired, and apparently Council Member Leslie Pool decided it’s well nigh time for an overhaul.

Item 34: Consider and take action on Service Extension Request No. 4272 for water service to a 25.96 acre tract located at 10600 N FM 620 Road within the Drinking Water Protection Zone, the City’s Limited Purpose Jurisdiction and Austin Water’s service area. Related to item #35.

Item 35: Consider and take action on Service Extension Request No. 4273 for wastewater service to a 25.96 acre tract located at 10600 N FM 620 Road within the Drinking Water Protection Zone, the City’s Limited Purpose Jurisdiction and Austin Water’s service area. Related to Item #34.

Monitor’s Take: Now this, despite being a service extension request, is interesting. At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Jimmy Flannigan called out what he saw as conflicting staff recommendations in his district. This property was given the go-ahead for zoning that would enable construction of a car dealership. But the water to run the thing? That’s not being recommended by staff, because it’s in a drinking water protection zone.

Item 51: Authorize negotiation and execution of a sublease from the City of Austin to Austin Creative Reuse, a Texas nonprofit corporation, for approximately 4,758 square feet of retail space from the Austin Public Library Recycled Reads Store located at 5335 Burnet Road for a 36-month term.

Monitor’s Take: While the lease isn’t in question per se, the future of Recycled Reads does seem to be. So this item is back from last week in order to further address that question.

Item 52: Authorize negotiation and execution of an amendment to the Brackenridge Development Agreement regarding property located along Lake Austin Boulevard near the intersection of Lake Austin Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard and to the Lions Municipal Golf Course lease, both with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, to extend the Notice of Cancellation dates, to extend the termination dates to May 25, 2020 or such later date as may be agreed to by the parties, to make other amendments approved by Council, and to authorize a lease payment for the golf course in an amount not to exceed $497,663 per year.

Item 55: Authorize negotiation and execution of interlocal agreements with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System and Central Health relating to the realignment of portions of Red River Street between East 12th Street and East 32nd Street and the relocation of associated utilities and authorize the execution of rights of entry in support of the project.

Monitor’s Take: As we reported in today’s Whispers, via Jack Craver, “City Council will vote Thursday on two items related to the future of Lions Municipal Golf Course, the historic West Austin course that is operated by the city and owned by the University of Texas. One item will extend the termination of the current leasing agreement until May 2020, giving the city more time to try to negotiate a deal with the university to prevent all or part of the land from being leased to a more profitable tenant, such as a commercial developer. Council will also vote on a proposal from staff that would allow the city to negotiate a trade of sorts with UT: The city would forfeit control of part of Red River Street – which UT wants to realign to make way for a new arena – and in return get a certain amount of credit toward the purchase of Muny. On Tuesday, some Council members voiced concern about this proposal, saying they wanted to consider what else the city could get from UT besides Muny.”

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