Austin Metropolis Council to vote on renovations for hotel-turned-transitional housing

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Here’s what we’re looking at at Thursday’s Austin City Council meeting.

Specially convened meeting

The Austin City Council will decide whether to approve a settlement in a lawsuit filed against the city by a protester who claims an officer shot her in the head with a projectile on May 31, 2020. The lawsuit states that Arianna Chavez fell to the ground when she was hit, suffering concussion, a serious head wound and head trauma.

The lawsuit is just one of several related to the May 2020 protests in Austin after George Floyd’s death.

BACKGROUND: 11 APD officers were disciplined after complaints of police brutality at protests in May

Renovations in a hotel converted into temporary accommodation

The council will decide whether to approve a deal that will ultimately provide funding for renovations at one of the city’s hotels that was purchased to be converted into permanent supportive housing for people affected by homelessness.

The contract, worth up to $1.3 million, would be with Austin-Travis County Integral Care for one year. The hotel to be renovated is the Texas Bungalows Hotel & Suites on Burnet Road.

BACKGROUND: Austin City Council votes to buy motel to house homeless people, postpones voting on another

Council documents say After the building has been refurbished and divided into 60 fully equipped, efficient apartments, Integral Care will be responsible for running the facility and providing on-site support services to the people living there.

The Hotel/Motel Conversion Strategy is part of the city’s HEAL initiative.

Space for the APD mounted patrol unit

The council will determine whether to proceed with the acquisition of the Austin Equestrian Center in Bastrop County for approximately $1.8 million to house the Austin Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit. The center is located on nearly 62 acres off State Highway 21 in Cedar Creek, according to council documents.

The papers say the center and grounds have enough space to house 14 employees, 16 horses, office space, stables, a training area and grazing land. APD currently has a short-term lease with the Austin Equestrian Center that expires June 1st.

Assessment of resource planning for Austin Energy

The council will determine whether to approve a contract for up to $1.2 million with an engineering firm to provide a power transmission, resource planning and market risk study for Austin Energy.

Council documents say The company, Burns & McDonnel Engineering Company, Inc., will assess needs to support the implementation of Austin Energy’s 2030 Resource Generation and Mitigation Plan, approved by the Council in March 2020.

“The objective of the study is to identify potential system improvements to ensure continued safe and reliable power supply to Austin Energy’s electricity customers, with an emphasis on risk management and resiliency,” the council filings read.

Protect tenants/tenants

Two items on the Austin City Council agenda focus on tenant/tenant protection.

point 39 directs council members to approve a resolution “regarding the determination of rights for tenants.” The resolutionif passed, would direct the city manager to prepare a code amendment laying out tenants’ rights, which will be reviewed by the council at the end of July.

The resolution also directs the city manager to consult with stakeholders, including the Austin Apartment Association, Austin Board of Realtors, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Building and Strengthening Tenant Action, and Austin Tenants Council, to help develop the code change .

In point 40, the council will decide whether to approve a resolution that would give a tenant the power to prevent an eviction. if passed the resolution would direct the city manager to prepare an amendment to the Eviction Prevention Act. The amendment would require a landlord to provide tenants with notice of planned eviction prior to eviction, giving tenants ample time to prevent an eviction.

The resolution also directs the city manager to consult with several organizations and departments to determine the appropriate number of days needed between notification of the proposed eviction and notification of the eviction.

May 7 special election

In January the city council approve a voting action, allowing voters to decide whether to eliminate low-level marijuana enforcement and ban warrants. The special election will take place on May 7, but on Thursday the council will decide on setting voting times on Election Day and details for early voting.

BACKGROUND: The Austin City Council puts decriminalization of low-level marijuana offenses on the May vote

At last week’s council meeting This article has been withdrawn.

District 4 election results confirmed

Vela wins election to Austin City Council, District 4, KXAN Projects

Austin City Council will consider confirming the total number of votes collected for the January 25 special election to determine the next District 4 representative. Immigration and Criminal Defense Attorney Jose “Chito” Vela won the election last week about six other candidates. If passed, the resolution would officially declare Vela elected.