Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 9 a.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
This work session covered public comment, three council-pulled agenda items, and a briefing on Austin's first Homeless Strategies and Operations (HSO) strategic plan. Council heard public speakers supporting item A-38 (a vehicle noise ordinance targeting excessive engine noise along FM 2222) and item B-1 (the homelessness strategic plan briefing). Council Member Ellis questioned staff on item A-23 (parks and recreation management software contract with RecTrac) and item A-46 (a $5 million amendment to the Cap Metro interlocal agreement funded by the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for a bidirectional Route 2 circulator). Council members discussed the draft noise ordinance's culpable mental state requirements and enforcement with the City Attorney's Office and APD, and raised due process and enforceability concerns. Mayor Watson proposed creating an alternate position for Council Member Laine on the Audit and Finance Committee, to be filed with the clerk. HSO Director David Gray presented the strategic plan's five focus areas, and council members asked about partner engagement, measurable targets, coordinated entry for shelter beds, philanthropic funding, and the plan's lack of mention of veterans and behavioral health. The council then went into executive session on a legal services agreement amendment and personnel evaluations, and adjourned at 12:59 pm.
0:05 You are watching a meeting of the Austin City Council with Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor pro, tim cheeto,
0:14 Vela council members Natasha Harper Madison, Vanessa Fuentes, José velazquez, Ryan Alter, crystal lane, Mike Siegel, Paige Ellis, zoe
0:37 cadre, mark uchin, city attorney, deborah thomas, city clerk erica brady, and city manager tc.
0:51 Broad.
0:59 Well, good morning, e whoa.
1:03 I kinda like that.
1:04 <Laugh>. Um, good morning everybody.
1:08 Um, I'll call to order the City Council work session, uh, in just a second.
1:25 Council Member, Harper Madison, are you with us?
1:29 I'm here, mr. Mayor.
1:30 Good, good. All right.
1:31 Well then I'll call to order the Austin City Council for this work, for this work session.
1:36 Uh, it's February 24th, 2026. It's nine o'clock in the morning.
1:41 And, um, we're meeting in Austin City Hall and City Council chambers, which is located at 3 0 1 west
1:46 second street in Austin, texas.
1:48 And we have a quorum of the City Council present.
1:51 Lemme tell you how we're gonna proceed during this work session.
1:53 We have, uh, several people that have signed up to speak.
1:56 So we're gonna, uh, go with those speakers and we're just gonna call all the speakers at once.
2:00 'Cause while I say we have several, it's, it's not, it's, it's, uh, not that many.
2:04 And I, and I wanna make sure that they are, have the opportunity to get where they need
2:08 to get. Um, then what we're going to do is, uh, we're going to have a briefing, uh,
2:15 we'll, we'll, we'll actually, we'll take up the items that have been pulled by council members.
2:19 And the order we're gonna go in is a 23, a 38, and a 46, uh, members on
2:26 a num. The item that's a preselected agenda item, item a four, that is an item we will
2:33 take up in executive session.
2:35 So what we will do is we will have the three items that I called out that were
2:39 pulled by council members.
2:40 Then we will have a briefing from our homeless strategy and operations office, and then we will go
2:46 into executive session. And at that point in time, I will call, uh, the four items that are
2:52 posted for executive session and item a four.
2:55 Anybody got any questions or thoughts on that?
2:58 Okay. With that. And, and let me note for the record that Council Member Harper Madison, and council
3:02 member cadre are joining us virtually.
3:05 So with that, I will turn to the city clerk and ask that you please call our public
3:10 speakers. Thank you, Mayor.
3:13 We have marissa liper for a 38, followed by lisa capps.
3:18 And is lauren earthman here?
3:23 Yes. Okay, then lisa will have four minutes, if she's called your name, if you'll just come forward
3:27 and grab one of the chairs and we'll, um, hear from you.
3:31 Okay.
3:35 Good morning. Yeah. Um, I had a short video montage to show y'all, but I didn't understand that
3:44 those need to be submitted the day before City Council and the video montage was gonna be a
3:50 really good display of an issue our neighborhood is having.
3:54 Um, hopefully I can show it Thursday, but if not, you can.
3:56 If you, here, here's the thing.
3:57 The way we, we, the rules that we have, we require for cybersecurity and things of that nature,
4:03 we require, we get it in advance.
4:04 Now, it's my understanding, uh, Council Member uchin has explained to me that, that there May be confusion
4:09 on what our rule is.
4:11 Yes. And I apologize for that.
4:13 But if, if we do an exception for that, then we will have a lot of, uh, of
4:17 problems in, in the future.
4:19 So if you'll make sure that they have a copy of it in advance of the Thursday meeting,
4:23 then we'll make sure you can do that on Thursday.
4:25 I appreciate it. Thank you.
4:26 Thank you, Mayor. Um, forgive me, I didn't introduce myself.
4:30 I'm marisa barreda liper, president of the shepherd mountain neighborhood association, and I am here in strong support
4:36 of item a 38.
4:38 I'm joined by some neighbors behind me.
4:40 For at least five years, I've been part of a community that has partnered with local law enforcement
4:45 and civic leaders to address chronic vehicle racing and unrelenting engine revving along 2222.
4:54 But the problem only gets worse each year.
4:57 Many of us choose to live in this part of Austin because it's scenic and peaceful ranch to
5:02 market. Roads like 2222 were built to connect communities not to function as speedways.
5:09 Our current sound ordinance has no teeth to combat our problem.
5:13 It seems to target amplified music, not explosive engine acceleration.
5:19 It makes real-time enforcement extremely difficult and leaves neighbors reluctant to call enforcement.
5:25 Item eight 30 eight's amendment fixes that it treats extreme engine noise at as what it often is
5:33 a traffic safety issue.
5:35 And it focuses on intentional, unnecessary noise.
5:39 We're not asking for silence, we're asking for reasonable limits and enforceable tools, and we respectfully ask you
5:46 to support item 8 38.
5:48 Thanks. Thank you. And see you Thursday.
5:52 Thank you. His son.
5:56 Try it again. Hello.
5:58 There you are. Hi.
6:00 Thanks for, um, allowing me the opportunity to speak today.
6:04 My name's lisa caps, and I'm also a resident of northwest hills speaking in support of the proposed
6:09 noise ordinance. I live about, um, mile north of 2222 in either direction, um, in an area where
6:18 homes and, um, trees should buffer the sound, but they don't.
6:23 Um, and I'm not giving this example to say this is all about me, but to illustrate the
6:30 magnitude of this noise disturbance, um, vehicles with modified exhaust systems are disturbing entire neighborhoods at all times
6:39 of the day inside our homes outdoors, particularly, um, for those closest to the road.
6:45 It literally sounds like you are standing next to the coda track.
6:50 The problem as, as marisa stated, has persisted for years, and the frustration expressed by residents is reflected
6:57 in a petition that I started about 10 months ago.
7:00 Um, I think that you might have a copy of it in front of you, um, but it's
7:05 just by word of mouth.
7:06 We've gathered more than a thousand signatures.
7:09 So if you have a minute to look at the petition, I think the comments they really speak
7:13 for themselves repeated laps, racing late at night, early in the morning, frustration that the current laws offer
7:22 little protection. Our neighborhood has effectively been turned into an informal practice track.
7:29 Nothing that a homeowner wants, nothing that a homeowner expects when they buy a house in, in this
7:35 area. Um, we understand that enforcement cha and there are challenges to enforcement.
7:44 You know, constant patrol coverage is unrealistic.
7:47 And that's why this updated, uh, noise ordinance really matters to us.
7:52 It creates another and, um, more practical enforcement tool.
7:56 This will help improve public safety by discouraging high speed racing and reckless behavior that we're dealing with.
8:03 It will protect our neighborhoods from chronic sleep disruption.
8:07 It'll support our property values and overall livability of our community.
8:11 And it'll reinforce that our community leaders prioritize our health, safety, and wellbeing.
8:18 We are not asking for perfection.
8:19 We're asking for a practical, enforceable solution that restores basic peace and safety to our neighborhood.
8:27 I just wanna emphasize this isn't directed at responsible drivers, motorcycle owners, car enthusiasts.
8:33 It targets the small group whose behavior that they like to call rev bombing is disrupting entire neighborhoods.
8:42 On behalf of my neighbors, the petitioners and the residents asking you for your help, I urge you
8:47 to pass this ordinance.
8:48 And I thank you for your time and your service.
8:51 Thank you. Justin braggle.
9:00 Morning Mayor, members of council.
9:03 My name is justin braggle.
9:04 I'm a resident of district 10, uh, here in support of item a 38.
9:10 Um, I'm a vice president of the cliff over lake Austin neighborhood association homeowners association.
9:16 Um, and our association is in strong support of this, uh, proposed ordinance.
9:20 Uh, we wanna thank, um, Council Member uchin and the, uh, public safety committee as a whole for
9:25 their hard work as well as commander smith for, for working on this item.
9:28 Um, you know, I won't repeat what the other speaker said a little only then just to, to
9:32 note where our neighborhood geographically sits.
9:34 Um, we have about 30 residents for 30 homes that are within 20 yards of 22, 22.
9:40 They share a, a fence line with the roadway.
9:43 Uh, but, uh, as the other speakers indicated, increasingly over the last several years, we've experienced loud vehicle
9:51 revving, motorcycle revving, um, high rates of speed, um, up and down the roadway that goes off the
9:57 cliffs. It's, it's very, very disruptive and of course, dangerous as well.
10:01 And, and as we, uh, use that roadway, 2222 is the only way in and out of our
10:06 neighborhood. We have no other means of ing ingress or egress, but, uh, as we go in and
10:11 out and use that roadway, you know, we see, um, increasingly aggressive behavior by vehicles.
10:16 We believe that this ordinance gives the Austin police department another tool in the toolbox, a way for
10:23 them to go after, um, the most egregious behavior.
10:27 Um, even when an officer doesn't witness a a speeding, they May be able to capture the loud
10:33 vehicle noise and take action appropriately.
10:35 We don't think this, um, over, uh, criminalizes behavior, um, we don't think that this is going to,
10:42 um, disproportionately affect any sort of marginalized individuals, um, in the area.
10:47 But, but rather, again, give a pd another tool in the toolbox.
10:51 So again, we, we hope that you'll support this ordinance.
10:53 Uh, I'll answer any questions y'all May have.
10:55 Thank you very much.
10:56 Thank you. I have one remote speaker on a 38 xena pitar or pi car.
11:10 Zena, are you there?
11:16 We will try to get back in contact.
11:23 So moving on to item b one, andy brower.
11:27 Pierre barain and jason denny.
11:45 Good morning. Morning. Do I have two or three minutes?
11:48 You have two minutes.
11:49 Two minutes. Okay. My name is andy brower and I am the cpc program manager.
11:54 I also, um, lead the homeless advocacy project and I am a board member of the trinity center.
11:59 Um, I've registered as neutral on this, but I do support the plan.
12:03 I appreciate that it's, it's been made and it exists.
12:06 Um, it's gonna help, um, make services for our unhoused neighbors more efficient.
12:12 Um, as a trinity center board member, I just wanna say, um, finally supporting navigation centers is, is
12:17 great. Um, the trinity center is a critical resource for our neighbors in downtown Austin, and I hope
12:23 that we can work together with the city to strengthen resources for existing navigation centers and any new
12:28 ones. Um, I also applaud the goal of having easy access to basic needs and shelter.
12:35 The plan calls for 650 new beds, um, or closing.
12:41 So I'm adding new 650 new beds.
12:43 Um, but we know that it's still not going to be able to shelter all of our homeless
12:47 folks in Austin. So I am giving you a handout that I've already submitted to your staff a
12:53 couple of months ago about the very critical need to prioritize those beds.
12:59 Um, this is best practice.
13:01 It's been recommended by Austin public health and the national alliance to homelessness.
13:06 Years ago, it was never implemented.
13:09 Um, when we don't prioritize those beds, some of our most at risk people, um, get left out.
13:15 And I have gotten late term pregnant people, elderly people, people in mental health crisis in because I
13:21 had a phone number.
13:22 But had I not, then those people would've been at the bottom of the wait list and given
13:27 up. So I really hope that, um, all three will please work together and consider that it's really
13:33 important when we're gonna have, um, really precious resources.
13:36 Also, families. There's no number for family shelter beds in there.
13:40 I hope that you'll consider putting one in.
13:42 I'm glad that this is an evolving plan and it can be, um, added to there.
13:47 There's nothing in there about workforce.
13:49 We need to help people get back to work.
13:52 Thank you. Okay, thank you.
13:54 Yes, sir. Good morning, Mayor and Council Member and city manager.
14:00 My name is jason denny, and I'm a united states marine corps veteran with lived experience in homelessness and
14:06 housing instability. I'm also the former chairman of the Austin veterans commission and currently serve as the chief
14:13 executive officer and president of the military veterans empowerment network.
14:18 First, I want to thank director david gray and the homeless strategies and operations for the work that has
14:24 gone into fy 2025 and 2026.