Item No. 24: Proposal for new development services building near ACC Highland

Council will vote on a negotiation agreement that would move several city departments into a building near Austin Community College’s Highland Campus. The city does not have more room for its employees at One Texas Center—a city-owned building on Barton Springs Road that houses the departments of development services, human resources, planning and zoning, public works and watershed protection—according to Greg Canally with the city finance department. The new space would be located at the intersection of Middle Fiskville Road and Highland Mall Boulevard and would be constructed by RedLeaf Properties in about two years, Canally said. A total cost estimate has not been released.

Item No. 29: Negotiate a $122,800 contract to provide recruiting services for the selection of a new city manager

The city is releasing $122,800 to hire a city manager recruitment firm. There is uncertainty about which firm the city will pick. The four groups—Ralph Andersen & Associates,Russell Reynolds, GovHR and Transearch—represent the three directions that the city is looking into. Ralph Andersen & Associates is focused on the public sector, Russell Reynolds on the private sector, and GovHR and Transearch represent a possible partnership between public and private sector firms that council has expressed interest in. Though the choice is still up in the air, the city has determined some of the specific terms of the contract. According to city documents, the contract will be for a 12-month period, but the recruitment must be completed in 120 days. “Therefore, if the selection candidate leaves the position in the first 12 months, a new search will be conducted at no cost to the city,” city documents say. “All work related to the recruitment shall be completed within 120 days unless otherwise directed by the city.”

Item No. 30 and 31: Modify existing speed limits on Lamar Boulevard and Parmer Lane

If passed the speed limits would be affected as follows:

• Lamar Boulevard (from Braker Lane to U.S. 183) from 45 mph to 40 mph
• Lamar Boulevard (from 723 feet north of Oak Brook Drive to Brentwood Christian School): keep the 35 mph speed limit when the school traffic light is flashing and 50 mph at all other times
• Lamar Boulevard (from U.S. 183 to Morrow Street): from 45 mph to 40 mph
• Parmer Lane (from 465 feet east of N. IH 35 Frontage Road to Harris Glenn Drive): from 65 mph to 55 mph
• Parmer Lane (from Harris Glenn Drive to 3,363 feet east of Dessau Road): from 65 mph to 60 mph

Item No. 33: Explore options to fund and complete work on various landmarks and projects in the eastern area of downtown Austin

The resolution will the first major move council takes to begin solving the “downtown puzzle” that Mayor Steve Adler referred to last year. The resolution will authorize the city manager to begin gathering information regarding the financial needs relative to: downtown homelessness, including those who are stationed at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless; improvements to the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center; Brush Square and the other historic downtown museums; improvements to the Red River Cultural District; the Convention Center; Waller Creek Linear Park, Palm School and associated parkland; the East Sixth Street District and the needs of other areas in downtown.

Item No. 34: Amend the city code relating to council committees 

The Austin City Council has acknowledged that its current committee structure is inefficient and have committed to an overhaul this year. The code amendment offered by Council slashes the Public Utilities Committee, the Public Safety Committee, the Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee, and the Economic Opportunity Committee. Council will merge the Housing and Community Development Committee and the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee. The code amendment also increases committee membership from four to five members, moves appointing power from the mayor to Council and affords the ability of Council to create task forces. The committees and task forces will remain as only an advisory group rather than a decision-making group.

Item No. 35: Initiate code amendments to improve efficiency of council meetings and procedures

Council will seek to amend its current council meeting procedure in an effort to enhance efficiency. Some possible changes include starting meetings earlier; setting hard end times except for continuation of public hearings; consider holding separate meetings for larger public hearings items; closing speaker signups for items once taken up by council; reduce the number of people allowed to donate speaking time; instituting standard hard breaks for lunch and dinner; setting earlier deadlines for final agenda posting; setting a deadline for Items for Council to the draft agenda and implementing tools for improved deliberation and discussion.

Item No. 43-45: Plaza Saltillo Mixed-Use Development 

During Tuesday’s work session, District 3 Council Member Sabino Renteria said an amendment would be made to the controversial height cap for an office building on a portion of Tracts 1, 2, and 3. The developer fought the neighborhood on getting a cap of 125 feet, which was approved after much debate by the Planning Commission. On Tuesday, Renteria said he would make an amendment for a height cap of 78 feet, which would satisfy the neighborhood’s original desire. This surprised District 2 Council Member Delia Garza, who said the negotiated height cap of 125 feet was a major part of the deal with the developer. She expressed concern regarding the effect the amendment would have on other aspects of the development. (Editor's Note: Community Impact Newspaper will update its preview for this agenda item as more information is obtained.)