Election week at City Hall: demolition requests, the Live Music Fund and pedestrian deaths are on the boards' agendas

Election Day is Tuesday and the City Council meets Thursday, but much of the week's city business happens at advisory boards. Their recommendations often shape what reaches the council later. Here is what is posted, based on agendas filed with the city clerk.

Two other previews cover the biggest board items: surveillance technology at the Public Safety and Technology commissions, and Muny and Dog's Head at the Environmental and Public Health commissions. A planning committee is also set to vote on recommending its own dissolution.

Monday, Nov. 2

Pedestrian Advisory Council, 6 p.m. The agenda starts with local pedestrian fatalities reported since its October meeting, and includes a regional project update from Austin Transportation and Public Works, urban trail wayfinding guidelines and a short announcement on Vision Zero speed management. Our Oct. 31 story covered the year's traffic deaths. Daylight saving time ended Sunday, so evening commutes are now darker.

Music Commission, 6:30 p.m. Staff will brief the commission on Live Music Fund collections and the city's arts and music funding programs, along with a second phase of the "Creative Reset" review of cultural facilities and museums and the council's direction on city co-sponsorship of special events. The Live Music Fund draws on hotel occupancy taxes; our Oct. 30 story covered short-term rental tax revenue and arts grants.

Commission on Immigrant Affairs, 6:30 p.m. A short agenda, mostly an update from the Joint Inclusion Committee.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Commission on Aging, noon. A briefing on the city's Human Rights Impact Review and working group updates on the 2027-28 budget and the older adult quality of life study. In October the commission endorsed the city's 2026-2030 Age-Friendly Action Plan. Our Oct. 30 story covers the city's aging population.

Historic Landmark Commission, 6 p.m. The agenda includes owner-initiated historic zoning for the White-Sheffield House at 103 W. 33rd St. and 14 requests to demolish or relocate buildings. Among them:

• Two office buildings at 800 and 801 W. 34th St., from about 1975 and 1968, plus a skybridge. Staff suggest the commission consider starting historic zoning for both, or otherwise approve demolition after the buildings are documented.
• Buildings from the 1920s at 2307 and 2309 Rio Grande St. in West Campus.
• Contributing buildings in the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register district, including 1918 Newning Ave. and 706 E. Monroe St.
• A 1940 building at 2002 New York Ave. in East Austin.

Several other cases, including 1808 E. Cesar Chavez St., were postponed by applicants to Dec. 2. In most cases staff recommend encouraging reuse, relocation or salvage but approving the permit once the city's documentation package is complete.

Public Health Committee, 10 a.m. The council committee takes up encampment cleanups and Central Health appointments. See our preview.

Thursday, Nov. 5

City Council, 10 a.m. Our agenda guide and our post-election calendar cover it.

Municipal Court Week. The court will hold a traffic safety event with a drunk-driving simulator at City Hall from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and at its main courthouse from 12:30 to 4:45 p.m., according to a memo from the municipal court clerk. The court is also releasing videos on jury duty and plea options for Class C misdemeanors.

What our records add

Demolitions and the council. The council is weighing a separate change to how the city handles emergency demolitions. Our story on that hearing explains the proposal.

Who's affected. The 34th Street and Rio Grande cases are in District 9, and the Travis Heights cases are also in District 9, according to the agenda. The New York Avenue and Cedar Avenue cases are in District 1; 1808 E. Cesar Chavez is in District 3.

How to take part

Most boards allow in-person comment and remote comment by phone, with registration due by noon the day before, according to their agendas. Meetings stream on ATXN.