Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 10 a.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
The Austin City Council met on July 28, 2026 for a budget work session and a public hearing on proposed charter amendments. The mayor laid out the budget and charter amendment schedule, including a Thursday, July 30 vote on the charter amendments, a 3:00 p.m. budget public hearing, and budget votes August 12-14. City staff presented the city manager's proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, including a 2% property tax scenario requested by the mayor, and departmental presentations on economic development, mobility, critical infrastructure, and high-performing government topics. Council members questioned staff on the 2% scenario, consulting contract spending, utility rates, 311 operations, staffing, permitting fees, and various budget line items. The public hearing on charter amendments was opened, speakers were heard, and the hearing was closed without council action; council members discussed ballot timing, election costs, and a two-year blackout period, with a vote on the amendments scheduled for Thursday.
0:07 You're watching a meeting of the Austin city council with Mayor Kirk Watson,
0:14 Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela, council members Natasha Harper Madison,
0:21 Vanessa Fuentes, José Velásquez, Ryan Alter,
0:30 Krista lane, Mike Siegel, Paige Ellis, zoe
0:39 cowdrey, mark duchin, city attorney deborah thomas,
0:48 city clerk erica brady, and city manager t.c.
0:52 Broadnax. Good morning everybody.
1:00 It's 10:00 in the morning on July 28th, 2026, and I will call to order the Austin city council for this meeting. We have two items on the agenda, and I'll talk more about that in just a second. But what I want to start off today is on a happy note by welcoming back our
1:16 colleague and good friend, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes. We are so glad that you are here.
1:25 We welcome you back and are happy you're here. Let me quickly go through a couple of things. One is we have two items on the agenda today. One is a presentation and discussion of the city manager's fiscal year 2026 2027 proposed
1:39 budget. And the second will be a public hearing on proposed charter amendments.
1:45 The proposed charter amendments. You have a couple of things in there. One is you have those amendments some of those amendments that were were recommended
1:57 by the charter review commission and staff and did not go on the ballot.
2:02 A couple of years ago. So what we have decided to do is bring back some of those to have public comment on it,
2:09 allow the council to have discussions about whether or not we want to put those on the
2:14 agenda. And then there's one petition led amendment, proposed amendment that will also be discussed. We'll have a public hearing on that, and we will vote on that at a at a later
2:27 date. I also want to point out the schedule that we're following with regard to the
2:32 budget. Of course, what we've talked about is today we will have a discussion related to
2:37 economic development and workforce development, mobility and critical infrastructure, and some discussions about high performing government. As I indicated, we will then have a public hearing on the proposed charter amendments and have a discussion only third,
2:52 this Thursday at 10:00, we will start the meeting. It is a Thursday. We have a council meeting and we will start the meeting at 10:00 and we
3:01 will have discussion about that. We will also at that meeting vote with regard to the proposed charter amendments.
3:08 By the way, the way we've also done this for folks is we've broken out each one so that
3:14 people will be able to see each one of the proposals and be able to provide public input
3:20 on each one, as they want to do that. On Thursday, we will also have, at 3:00 pm a public a required public hearing
3:29 by state law, a required public hearing on the budget. That 3:00 is simply a time certain for the meeting that is on Thursday,
3:39 July 30th, so you have to sign up for that public hearing the same way you would sign up
3:45 for a regular meeting of the City Council on July 30th. And if you go to the clerk's website, they have it all set out about when you when
3:54 when the envelope is for beginning to sign up and when it ends,
3:59 I want to point out that on July 30th it is posted, the public hearing is posted as a public hearing and action.
4:08 What we will do for the action is we will not we will not vote on the budget on July 30th,
4:13 but I don't want there to be any lack of clarity. What we will do is we will close the public hearing, and then we will vote on a motion to postpone the final vote until August 12th.
4:26 That is just I don't want there to be any confusion. There's going to be an actual vote on the budget of this coming Thursday.
4:34 Then on Thursday, August 4th, we we are likely to use that date,
4:38 but is tentatively scheduled for a work session Thursday, August. In fact, August 4th. We will have a. Well, we'll worry about that at another point, but but just everybody know we're probably going to have a meeting on that day, Thursday, August 6th we will have a budget work session.
4:53 Again, we'll talk about it on that date. We will talk about council proposed amendments. And if we are asking for those proposed amendments in ifc's. To be in by close of business on August 4th, and we will have the votes.
5:09 With regard to ordering a general election in November taking up everything from the
5:17 charter election to if there's a bond election, then on Wednesday, August 12th, Thursday, August 13th, and Friday, August 14th, we will have a schedule. We will be scheduled to take votes on the budget itself.
5:32 So I think that's all the the cleanup that we need to do at this point. What we're going to do is we're going to take the speakers that have signed up to speak on items one and two. We will take the, what you're going to take the speakers first,
5:45 and then we will go to item number one for the presentation with regard to the manager's
5:51 proposed budget. So I'll turn to the city clerk and ask if you will please to begin
5:56 calling speakers. Thank you Mayor. Starting with item one, I have a couple remote speakers. Omit motwani. Are you there?
6:10 Please unmute. Kanaka says.
6:23 Yes. Please go ahead.
6:33 Hello. My name is and I sit on the board of family elder care. Our mission is to help the most vulnerable in our society, older adults and adults with disabilities, to be self-sufficient as possible.
6:46 We work to get older adults who are experiencing homelessness in the stable housing, and then we work to keep them housed. We provide financial stability programs to help older adults pay bills on time,
6:57 avoid eviction, and recognize scams. We also help enroll people in benefits that they have already earned, such as veterans benefits, disability benefits, medicaid, social security, all of which can be very confusing.
7:10 This is essential income needed to stay housed to eat, to see a doctor. The two Austin deadlines are missed or forms are filled out incorrectly
7:18 and then the income is lost. We provide mental health counseling and programs that combat social isolation and keep older adults engaged and educated and connected to life saving resources.
7:30 These are all common sense initiatives currently funded by the city and showing a great return on investment. These programs actually save the city money in the long run. They are designed to help our clients live independently and with dignity to help them
7:44 help themselves. I'm here to respectfully ask that you vote to keep the funding for family
7:49 elder care programs in the budget. Please continue to help protect the most defenseless and at many times, the most overlooked members in our community. It's not only the ethical thing to do, but it's also fiscally responsible thing to do. Thank you. Monica guzman.
8:10 Good morning, Mayor and council. I'm monica guzman, policy director at go. Austin. Austin. I just want to reiterate everything I testified on last week,
8:23 July the 23rd, to focus on the social service contract,
8:28 the early childhood development and education family stabilization grant,
8:34 the immigrant support for legal representation and mental health services,
8:40 as well as the rest of the community investment budget coalition recommendations
8:44 that were submitted. That is where the money needs to be focused.
8:50 While it May sound cliche, it is. It is documented when you when you provide programs and services for the least of us,
9:00 everyone benefits. And the first and best way to do that is to keep the Austin police
9:06 budget flat. Do not settle them continuously with having to address issues that they are
9:15 not trained for, and that they need to focus on what they are trained for.
9:20 Put the funds where it matters with the people, the community. Thank you.
9:29 That is all the remote speakers I have at this time. So let me switch to in person.
9:34 For item one, I have tracy cornelius, michael rios,
9:41 lisa letourneau, jeff dickerson, and nadia barbeau.
9:46 If I've called your name, please come down to the front desk and then just be sure to state your name into the record before beginning.
10:04 Good morning. We don't please don't just stand. If you can grab a seat either at the dais if you're going to be speaking. If you're not speaking, then just take a seat.
10:24 Please begin. Good morning. I'm tracy cornelius, a leader with central texas interfaith and member of all saints
10:31 episcopal church, central texas interfaith has member institutions in every district in
10:37 Austin and has been organizing for over 40 years around issues that affect our families.
10:44 Today we are asking you to support level funding for capital idea.
10:49 In 1998, central texas interfaith organized faith and community institutions to create
10:54 capital idea. Capital idea ends generational poverty by finding adults with low wage jobs
11:01 and training them for in-demand living wage careers in the Austin area.
11:08 Assistance with tuition, books, fees and child care and career placement. And most importantly, capital idea assists in the fundamental
11:18 belief in the importance of human development. In 2025, capital idea celebrated 176 graduates and 93% of them earning starting
11:29 wages of $33 an hour. Capital idea grows the city's budget.
11:35 Every dollar invested in capital idea returns $7 to our local economy.
11:41 Capital ideas mission is a triple win for the community. It moves families into high earning careers, helps businesses find local talent,
11:51 and delivers a strong return on investment for taxpayers. How can we say we're open for business if we don't invest in the human development of our
11:59 neighbors, to have the jobs they need to survive and grow our economy?
12:05 Central texas interfaith is here today asking that funding for capital idea, a program that grows the city's tax base, be a priority in this year's budget.
12:14 Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir. Good morning, Mayor Watson and council members. My name is michael rios, and I am a proud Austin native and a graduate of del valle high school.
12:27 I grew up in east Austin in the metropolis neighborhood, and I'm a 2017 capital idea alumnus.
12:37 I grew up in del valley. I grew up in minneapolis and graduated from del valley high school. And at the age of 21, I became the adoptive parent of my father, my sister's three children.
12:48 Stepping into the role of dad was the most important decision of my life, but it also meant putting many of my own dreams on hold while I focused on providing for my family. One of those dreams was a career in technology.
13:01 Through a capital idea, I was able to return to school and complete my associate's degree in network administration at assisi capital. Idea provided tuition assistance, books, guidance, and access to opportunities that help me succeed.
13:14 More importantly, they helped me see a future that was bigger than my circumstances.
13:19 Today, I have built a career in cyber technology and cyber security and cloud
13:26 technology. I was able to move from it support to identity access management.
13:32 And now I'm a cloud security engineer. Since completing the programing the program, my earnings has increased by more than 350%,
13:40 creating greater stability, security and opportunity for my family. I'm now the father of three adult children and the grandfather of three grandchildren.
13:50 Capital idea didn't just change my career trajectory, it changed the trajectory of generations of my family. I stand before you today as proof that investing in workforce development and education transforms lives, strengthens families, and creates opportunities for people to give back to their community.
14:07 Thank you for your continued support with programs like capital idea and for investing in austin's future. Thank you. Thank you.
14:26 My name is jeff dickerson, district five. Good morning, mr. Mayor. Council members. Since the end of the covid pandemic in 2023,
14:37 Austin family has spent those years tightening their belts. It is time for City Hall to do the same. The proposed budget grows to $6.63 million.
14:49 $300 Million of that will be funded by mostly tax collections.
14:58 This is not where fiscal responsibility begins. Before asking taxpayers for another dollar, the city of Austin itself should tighten its
15:06 belt, reduce the spending on outside consultants whose costs have increased
15:11 dramatically. Complete the efficiency audit and implemented recommendation recommendation