TipSheet: Travis County, 6.6.17

The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website.

**A special programming announcement: County Judge Sarah Eckhardt will be off the dais for the next two weeks. Commissioner Margaret Gómez will preside over the meetings in her absence. Tuesday’s agenda won’t be cleared entirely on consent, but it does appear the court is skirting any items of significant controversy. Freelance journalists across the county weep today.

1. Receive comments regarding the issuance of a mass gathering permit for Sierra Nevada Beer Camp to be held on June 24, 2017, at 9507 Sherman Road, Austin, Texas 78742. (Commissioner Gómez)

3. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the issuance of a mass gathering permit for Sierra Nevada Beer Camp to be held on June 24, 2017, at 9507 Sherman Road, Austin, Texas 78742. (Public Hearing 1) (Commissioner Gómez)

Monitor’s Take: Hey, it’s another mass gathering permit application for an event at Carson Creek Ranch. This particular case seems to involve a relatively modest affair – a one-day beer festival with expectations of no more than 5,500 attendees – but events at this venue have attracted their share of scrutiny in the past, so crack open a cold one with us and settle in for what has the potential to be no light discussion.

5. Receive presentation regarding Central Health’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget preparation, including preliminary guidelines and assumptions. (Judge Eckhardt)

Monitor’s Take: Central Health could brief the court on how it’s hot in August and detractors would still come out to rail against the hospital district. And with the recent opening of the University of Texas’ Dell Medical School, new rules imposed on the district by the court last fall, and efforts in Washington, D.C., to rewrite the nation’s health care laws, there should be plenty to talk about during this presentation.

11. Consider and take appropriate action on contribution agreement with Bella Fortuna Public Improvement District Developers. (Commissioner Gómez)

Monitor’s Take: Bella Fortuna is the latest PID to come down the pipeline since the court adopted its PID policy last year. Per that policy, the developer has to cover the county’s costs to review the petition, including real estate analysis and public outreach. In this case, the developer is handing over a $25,000 check, which is almost what we still owe in Blockbuster late fees.

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