TipSheet: this week’s Council Committees
Monday, May 11, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
As part of our ongoing attempt to keep our readers up-to-date with all that is going on at City Hall, we will now be offering weekly tip sheets for City Council committees. As usual, we will be offering highlights of the meetings, with links to the entire agenda.
Economic Opportunity Committee
Monday, May 11. Agenda here
3. Overview of the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Program.
4. Overview of the Cultural Arts Funding Program.
6. Review and consider a design and commission agreement with Virginia Fleck in an amount not to exceed $68,000 for artwork for the Women and Children’s Shelter Renovations and Expansion Project at 4523 Tannehill Road, Austin, TX (District 1).
Monitor’s take: One of the noticeable differences between the new City Council and the old one is its continued scrutiny of funding for the arts in the city. These three items promise more of the same, though that scrutiny has generally originated from Council Member Don Zimmerman, who is not on this committee.
7. Briefing and possible action on the initiation of a code amendment to mitigate the effects of smoke emissions from restaurants and mobile food vendors near residentially zoned areas.
Monitor’s take: Proposed regulations for smoke-producing restaurants and trailers have already paid a visit to the Health and Human Services Committee. This week, Council members will, presumably, consider the economic impact of potential code amendments.
8. Review and consider a 50-year license agreement with DECKER LAKE GOLF, LLC to provide funding, design, development, management, and maintenance services for a golf course at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park.
Monitor’s Take: The saga of two proposed golf courses at Decker Lake continues Monday. The Austin Monitor has reported on this issue extensively in the past, and will continue to follow the issue, which continues to inspire passions on both sides.
City Council Budget Work Session
Wednesday, May 13. Agenda here
Monitor’s Take: This is the second part of Council’s look at next year’s budget, and the potential impact of a proposed homestead exemption on next year’s budget. As part of that discussion, we are expecting to hear more details about five percent cuts in each department (which would accommodate the full 20 percent exemption) as well as the potential impact to renters in the city.
City Council
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Key Players & Topics In This Article
city budget: The city’s plan for expenditures based on income.
Decker Lake: Also known as Walter E. Long lake, Decker Lake is actually a power plant cooling reservoir managed by the city of Austin and located in East Austin.
