Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9 a.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
The Austin City Council held a work session on March 24, 2026, beginning with public comment, a closed executive session on legal issues (federal mandates and the yogurt shop criminal cases), and then discussion of pulled agenda items. Members discussed the homelessness strategic plan (item A31), with Council Member Alter describing forthcoming amendments developed with Director David Gray; missing middle and mixed-use housing guidelines (item A40), pulled by Council Members Velásquez and Duchen; and digital wayfinding kiosks (item A66), pulled by Council Member Siegel, who offered amendments to restrict signs in single-family areas and cap new signs at 200. The meeting concluded with a briefing on I-35 cap and stitch funding, where staff recommended proceeding only with the $104 million roadway elements commitment and seeking external partners to fund future cap decks rather than committing additional city funds. The Mayor recessed the work session at 12:48 pm ahead of an Austin Energy Oversight Committee meeting.
0:06 You are watching a meeting of the Austin City Council with Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor pro, tim Vanessa
0:16 Fuentes, council members Natasha Harper Madison, José velazquez, cheeto Vela, Ryan Alter, crystal lane, Mike Siegel, Paige Ellis, zoe
0:39 cadre, mark uchin, city attorney deborah thomas, city clerk erica brady, and city manager tc broad.
0:59 Good morning. We'll start when we have a quorum
2:15 City Council meeting to order.
2:16 Um, it's March 24th, 2026. We're meeting in City Council chambers.
2:22 We do have a quorum of the City Council present.
2:25 Um, and we're meeting on 3 3 0 1 west the second street in Austin, texas.
2:31 Let me see if we now have, we, sounds like we got everything working, uh, members, here's what
2:35 we're gonna do. We're gonna hear from our public comment speakers, and then we're gonna go into an
2:40 executive session. After the executive session, we'll come back and take up the agenda items pretty much in
2:46 order unless, uh, something happens between now and the end of the executive session.
2:50 And then, um, once we complete the, uh, work session, uh, Mayor pro tim Vela will call to
2:58 order as chair of the Austin energy oversight committee, the Austin energy oversight committee, and we will, uh,
3:03 have that meeting. So with that, I'm gonna turn to the city clerk and ask that you call
3:07 the speakers Mayor. We're gonna start with remote speakers.
3:12 Jen robo for item a 31.
3:20 Good morning counsel. I'm jen robes at longtime Austin resident.
3:24 Last time I spoke on this issue, I pointed out that the homeless strategic plan completely omits the
3:29 tax nurse perspective as a key stakeholder.
3:33 And since then, I've spoken with many fellow taxpayers as well as director david gray.
3:37 And while I see that state and federal rules create expensive barriers that we can't fix overnight, Austin
3:43 has immediate control over safety, public spaces, costs, and accountability.
3:48 And while our taxpayers are empathetic towards our unhoused neighbors, we believe that funding heavy, that a funding
3:53 heavy approach is driving up costs, eroding trust in harming our city's culture and environment.
4:00 And so we need a plan that includes all stakeholders.
4:03 And I see that the strategic plan still has serious gaps.
4:07 One is accountability. We need contractors to be tied to self-sufficiency, to be working people out of the
4:13 system and not endless support.
4:15 Second, we need better models looking towards our organizations that emphasize work and self-sufficiency without heavy city funding.
4:22 And we should be building more services to train non-profits and business skills and sustainability.
4:28 Third, we need to address encampments in our environment.
4:31 We have unchecked camps in the green belts and trails that cause real environmental damage.
4:36 Cleanup is costly, but the camps keep reforming.
4:39 And our strategy lacks a solution for people who refuse shelter.
4:43 Of course, we need more data transparency.
4:46 The plan promises better data, but we don't have a public dashboard.
4:50 And this is something that we need more information about.
4:53 Things like point of origin, length of service usage, reasons for homelessness, drug uses, and the real cost
5:01 of xi. And then in addition, taxpayers are looking to vet any outsiders because we believe that our
5:09 services are attracting people from outside Austin, and we lack data on where people are coming from and
5:14 why they're here. This needs to be added into our strategic plan so that we can better address
5:19 this problem. Six, we need to address public safety.
5:22 Thank you, ms. Rob.
5:24 Okay, jen, your time has expired.
5:26 I also have you signed up for item a 40?
5:34 Yes. Good morning City Council.
5:36 This is jen speaking on item 40.
5:40 Uh, so I am generally in favor of opening up pathways to make middle housing easier to build.
5:45 I love the idea of project sports, duplexes, multiplexes, and town homes, which are far more neighborhoods friendly
5:52 than large apartment buildings.
5:53 And mixed use development.
5:55 Think encouraging one in two story buildings that match existing residential scales, the best way to add density
6:01 and achieve economies of scale without dramatically changing our neighborhoods.
6:05 But while we're rewriting rules, I think it's important to keep important problems in mind, such as extra
6:12 permitting steps and fees that drive up construction costs for builders.
6:16 And this undermines affordability that we're looking for, especially for working families.
6:21 And, um, to address the issue before able-bodied people who are exiting homelessness, uh, we also need to
6:28 be careful about relaxing lot coverage and setback because this risk losing green space, which is the hallmark
6:34 of Austin, it also creates environmental problems and it harms the neighborhood livability.
6:40 And then despite the city stated goals, Austin really isn't a safe walking or public transit.
6:44 City residents already struggle with parking, and so we need to make sure that there's adequate parking allowed
6:50 for in these areas, and we don't cut pack too much.
6:53 And then also to address neighbors that oppose color buildings next to their single family homes.
6:59 This is something that we've seen come up a lot in planning conversations lately.
7:03 And oftentimes these restrictions prohibit them.
7:06 Uh, when people buy a house, they buy it according to the deed restrictions.
7:10 And so any rezoning we do needs to be, um, honoring those contracts that people are signing.
7:18 And so I think we need a clear, more effective way for neighbors to discuss and negotiate changes
7:23 before they happen, uh, especially when those sorts of, uh, these restrictions are being violated.
7:29 And as the city has a, uh, contract with other consulting groups, I think it would make a
7:35 lot of sense for us to consult more closely with our neighborhood district.
7:38 Thank, thank you, ms.
7:38 Robio. We have two in-person speakers.
7:43 Hans maverick for a 66.
7:46 Christopher rouse, b one.
7:50 If you're here, please come forward, mr.
7:54 Maverick. Mr. Rouse, mr.
7:58 Maverick. Mr. Rouse. Okay, Mayor, we've called all the speakers.
8:04 Great. Uh, members, uh, we will now go into members of the public.
8:07 We're, we're gonna go into an executive session.
8:09 Uh, my goal is to have us out of that executive session, uh, at no later than say
8:14 9 45 to nine 50, because we have such a robust work session agenda.
8:20 And then we have the Austin energy oversight committee, uh, meeting that's scheduled as well.
8:24 So, uh, we'll, we'll try to plan accordingly for that.
8:28 So, without objection, the City Council will now go into a closed session to take up two items
8:33 pursuant to section 5 5 1 0 7, 1 of the texas government code.
8:37 The City Council will discuss legal issues related to items e one and e two.
8:42 Item e one is to discuss legal issues related to federal mandates.
8:46 That is a private consultation, as I've indicated with our legal counsel.
8:50 And the item e two is to discuss legal issues related to the yogurt shop, criminal case, uh,
8:56 cases, if there's, is there any objection to going into the executive session on the items announced?
9:01 Hearing none, the counsel will now go into an executive session at 9:08 am oh 8:00 am on March 24th, 2026.
9:11 We are out of a closed session enclosed session.
9:14 We discussed legal issues related to items e one and e two, uh, members that will take us
9:21 to the, uh, full agenda of the City Council work session.
9:26 And we're gonna start with, we're just gonna go in the order of the agenda, unless something happens,
9:29 uh, I'm not anticipating.
9:31 So we will start with item a 31 and something May have already happened.
9:37 I wasn't anticipating is mr. Gray here?
9:46 Yeah, that's all right.
9:47 Um, we came out pretty quick, so let's just pause for a second and we'll, we'll start.
9:56 I can speak to the pool if you want to start.
9:59 Yeah, why don't you?
10:00 Yes, I'll recognize council.
10:01 Well, actually, he ought to be in the room when you speak to the pool, right?
10:04 He knows what I'm gonna say.
10:05 We've talked, but I understand it.
10:06 That's, let's, yeah. Fair enough.
10:07 There he is. <Laugh>.
10:13 Sorry we jumped out pretty quickly.
10:15 No worries. Sorry about that.
10:16 No, no, it's not your fault.
10:17 We came out quick.
10:21 Okay. I'll now recognize Council Member Alter to speak about the, he, he is the person that pulled
10:25 the item. So have him speak to why he pulled the item.
10:28 Thank you so much.
10:29 So we, I pulled it just, uh, we were looking at a few potential amendments have had the
10:34 chance to work with director gray.
10:37 Um, and these are kind of trying to harmonize the need for more shelter, more, um, rapid rehousing,
10:47 more prevention or, um, permit support housing.
10:50 And so we have worked together.
10:52 There's gonna be a, an amendment offered on Thursday.
10:54 I'll post to the message board hopefully today.
10:56 Um, it, it addresses the, the targets we have right now around shelter capacity, still having that expansion,
11:04 uh, and adding some kpis around psh and rapid.
11:10 Um, and then looking forward, we talked about maybe bringing it back to, um, the council or the
11:17 public health committee, let's say after the budget.
11:19 You know, the fall when we have more certainty around some of the outstanding questions, whether that's what
11:25 we're funding, what the nofo looks like, um, things of that nature.
11:29 So I just wanna thank director gray for working with us on this.
11:33 And, uh, like I said, we'll post something today to the message board.
11:36 Alright. Do you want to, do you want to talk about what the potential amendments are while we're
11:43 here quickly so that we at least know sure.
11:46 And he can, and we can ask him any questions if we have questions about it?
11:49 Yeah. So right now in the plan, given the uncertainty as, as we talked about last time, the,
11:54 the, the strategic plan has a specific numerical target around shelter capacity.
11:59 But no, nothing else.
12:01 And I was concerned that having there be this one area where we can measure success versus failure,
12:12 steer it, it, when you, when taken in a hole, led the document to say, well, this is
12:17 where we're really focused on success.
12:19 The other areas we're gonna try to do things but not have that, um, more clear target.
12:25 And so we are just striking the, the specific numerical bed capacity, but still having the expansion of
12:33 shelter and the measuring of our expansion within the kpis, uh, because we do need to expand our
12:39 shelter capacity. Um, and then having a clarity around new kpis for psh, new kpis for rapid, just
12:49 so that we're measuring that we can understand as a council where we are in those regards.
12:55 And, uh, clarification within the subpopulations that youth are one of the subpopulations we're looking at.
13:01 So, like I said, we've, we've worked together.
13:03 I really appreciate the collaboration here and, and think we've arrived at a good spot.
13:10 Council, any questions? Mr. Gray, would you like to address any of that?
13:13 Thank you, mr. Mayor.
13:14 And thank you Council Member Alter for working with myself and my staff on those amendments.
13:18 Uh, we're happy to to receive those and we look forward to having the strategic plan, uh, approved
13:24 by council on Thursday.
13:26 Thank you, sir. Alright.
13:27 Yes, Council Member uchin.
13:29 Thank you. I just have one quick follow up.
13:30 Based on the prior, uh, discussion that we had, which was it, from what I can tell you
13:36 included some language about behavioral health services under, uh, the strategic plan 20 25, 22 7 page.
13:44 Is that, uh, is that correct?
13:46 Is that the one place you've made that change to?
13:48 So it's not just in the appendix.
13:50 I'm, I'm sorry, councilman, could you restate the question?
13:52 We had talked previously about including, um, language about behavioral health or mental health.
13:59 'Cause previously when we came back and looked at the plan, it was just sitting in the appendix.
14:03 And I, you mentioned it was a priority.
14:05 I want to confirm that it has been added back into that page called strategic plan 20 25, 27, and
14:11 maybe other places I'm not aware of as well.
14:14 Yes. Cast member. So we, we do have language that speaks to the importance of behavioral health within
14:19 the, uh, on page eight, within the a-h-a-h-s-o strategic plan kind of introduction.
14:26 Uh, we're continuing to work with integral care on prioritizing behavioral health and mental health services for our
14:33 community. Uh, they are the, the mental health authority, obviously, for our area.
14:37 And so, uh, while it is a priority for our office, we wanna make sure that we are