October 2021 October 2021 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News birds. Animal Protection • The live outcome percentage for October was 97.8 percent. • A total of 1,249 animals were brought to the shelter which included 574 dogs, 607 cats, 62 wild animals and 6 • A total of 734 animals were adopted (315 dogs, 390 cats, 1 bird, and 28 small pets). • A total of 139 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 35 animals to their owners in the field during the month of October. • Officers handed out 42 fencing assistance applications, impounded 142 injured animals and delivered 110 wildlife • Officers entered 221 rabies exposure reports and submitted 45 specimens for rabies testing. • 2 microchips were implanted in the field. animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. 8 positive results, all bats. • 31 total coyote related activities o 14 sightings o 2 observations o 6 wild sick (mange) o 3 encounters o 6 incidents • Out of 31 coyote related activities, 23 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). • Encounters: Encounters and Incidents: Pets were a factor in all activities. 44% of encounters/incidents involved mange coyotes o 2 encounters involved coyotes chasing unattended cats in yards (no attack) o 1 encounter involved a coyote entering a yard at night while a dog and human were present (no attack) o 2 incidents involved a coyote injuring unattended livestock in yards o 3 incidents involved coyotes taking unattended cats in yards o 1 incident involved coyotes taking an unattended dog in a natural space • 44 wildlife calls were made that involved activity by raccoon, bat, snake, opossum, fox, bird, skunk, rabbit, turtle, coyote, squirrel, and unknown. Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs October 2021 Animal Services Report • A total of 166 volunteers donated 1,555 hours during October. • The Volunteer Coordinators held 6 orientations for new volunteers in October, introducing 138 people to the shelter programs. 28 new volunteers attended their first training or mentor shifts in October. • More than 200 families provided foster care, and a total of 158 animals were adopted directly from foster care. • There are 1,325 approved fosters in GivePulse, and 90 new foster applications were processed. • There are currently 273 animals in foster homes. • 251 animals were transferred to 30 …
Belinda Hare for Animal Advisory Commission 2022 Proposed Meeting Schedule Animal Advisory Commission Proposed Meeting Schedule, 2022 The City of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission meets on the second Monday of every month, 6 p.m.: • Monday, January 10 • Monday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) • Monday, March 14 • Monday, April 11 • Monday, May 9 • Monday, June 13 • Monday, July 11 • Monday, August 8 • Monday, September 12 • Monday, October 10 • Monday, November 14 • Monday, December 12
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, November 8, 2021 7:00 p.m. City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, Room 1401 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas 78752 District Commissioner 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kannou (Kimberly) Curette VACANT Victor Martinez Holly Kirby Ruben Baeza Rebecca Dreke VACANT Saul Gonzalez District 9 10 Mayor At-Large At-Large At-Large At-Large Commissioner Nan Dowling Brandon Wollerson Marti Bier Grant Loveless Charles Curry Ryn Gonzales (Chair) Melissa Taylor (Vice Chair) CALL TO ORDER AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – Each speaker will have 3 minutes to speak. 1. MOTION TO SUSPEND ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- October 11, 2021 3. REGULAR BUSINESS – The commission may act or make recommendations on the following topics: a. Presentation by Breathe with Pride Coalition. (Sponsor: Wollerson; Strategic Outcome: Government That Works for All) b. Discussion and action on a recommendation concerning the FY22-23 budget process. (Sponsor: Curry; Strategic Outcome: Government That Works for All) c. Update from the Quality of Life Study Working Group concerning public briefings, town halls, and potential sub-working groups. (Sponsor: Taylor; Strategic Outcome: Government That Works for All) ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Staff Liaison Alyssa Parra at 512-974-2834 or email Alyssa.parra@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission, please contact Alyssa Parra at (512) 974-2834.
D-1/1LATE BACKUP From: To: Subject: Date: Mark Hoelscher Ramirez, Elaine Board of Adjustment: Case number C15-2021-0100 Monday, November 01, 2021 11:04:37 AM *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Elaine- I'm emailing you back regarding the request for rezoning on Kinney Ave. My Name: C. Mark Hoelscher Address: 1108 Kinney Ave, Austin 78704 Phone Number: 512.975.9117 Case C15-2021-0100 Comments: In our opinion, please allow for the rezoning of the subject property at 1003 Kinney Ave. The use of the property for an SF-3 single family with pool should be allowed, it is within the former use of the property. As a favor, could an amendment be added to the allowed SF-3 rezoning to prevent the future addition of an ABU on the lot. Thank you to you and your department for reaching out to us as neighbors and "stakeholders." Best regards, Mark Hoelscher CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. D-1/2LATE BACKUP Austin Stowell Ramirez, Elaine From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: 2021-000085 BA - Notice of Support SUPPORT Monday, November 08, 2021 6:33:40 AM *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** My name is Austin Stowell. I Ama Zilker neighbor live at 904 Ethel St and am writing a letter of support in favor of Case # 2021-000085 BA for the property located at 1003 Kinney. The design is far superior than the ubiquitous Hardie plan structures in the neighborhood being erected by many spec builders and will help contribute, not detract to the neighborhood character. The existing structure is in poor condition. All buildings have a natural life.. The IRS limits the functional life of a building to 27.5 years. This particular structure is in disrepair and not economically feasible to be repaired. Every property owner deserves the right to replace their existing home. In this case, the zoning does not allow for reasonable use of the land. I think the Board is justified in approving the request because reasonable use is currently excluded. The property is unique to the area. I am aware of only 3 lots in Zilker that are less than 5750 square feet that are not exempted from variance by the age of the plat. The property is clearly unique and not …
5700 Grover Ave. and 5612 Roosevelt Ave. Variance Request - Multifamily C15-2021-0096 Board of Adjustment November 8, 2021 David Hartman 1 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/1 Project Overview 4.135 acres, comprised of former Dart Bowl bowling alley at 5700 Grover Avenue and a vacant lot at 5612 Roosevelt Avenue. August 2021 City Council approved rezoning Ordinance No. 20210826-099 that zoned the property MF-6-CO-NP. Proposed Recreational Trail connects Woodrow Pocket Park/Recreational Trail to Roosevelt Avenue and Theckla Terrace. Voluntary 10% affordable housing, via recorded Private Restrictive Covenant with Habitat/HomeBase. Requesting following variances: • Maximum 8’ fence height along the western Property line adjacent to single family housing along Woodrow Avenue per agreement with Brentwood Neighborhood Association, and • Compatibility height standards related to adjacent McCallum High School tennis courts/running track/sports field located to the east of the Property along Grover Avenue.. 2 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/2 Project Location 3 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/3 MF-3-NP MF-6-CO-NP 4 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/4 1. Compatibility (east and west property line). 2. Conditional Overlay approved via rezoning ordinance 8-26-21. a. Max 45’ Height and 4 Stories. b. Enhanced 40’ building setback along west property line. 3. CWQZ. 4. Floodplain. 5. Easements. 6. Firelane along south and west property line. 7. PARD recreational trail along south and west property line. 5 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/5 Compatibility Triggered by SF-3 Zoning to East McCallum High School (Tennis Courts/Running Track/Baseball Field) 6 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/6 Compatibility Constraints E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/7 Property Constraints (Floodplain, CWQZ, Easements) 88 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/8 Proposed PARD Recreational Trail Connecting to Adjacent PARD Woodrow Park/Trail 99 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/9 Area Street Views 1010 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/10 Area Street Views 11 11 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/11 Preliminary Concept Plan 1 212 E-5/ PRESENTATION - CORRECTED/12 Requested Variances (Supported by Brentwood Neighborhood Association) 1. LDC Section 25-2-1063 Compatibility Height requirements of Article 10, Compatibility Standards, Division 2 – Development Standards, (C)(2) (Height Limitations and Setbacks for Large Sites) to increase the height limit from 3 stories and 40 feet (required/permitted) to 4 stories and 45 feet (requested) in order to erect a 4 story apartment building. Request is applicable to east property line only. 2. LDC Section 25-2-1063 Compatibility Height requirements of Article 10, Compatibility Standards, Division 2 – Development Standards, (C)(3) (Height Limitations and Setbacks for Large Sites) to increase the allowed height of a structure more than 100 feet but …
Proposed changes to Board of adjustment Rules of Procedure ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Add "(C) MEETINGS 1. The regular meetings of the Board of Adjustment shall be held at 5:30PM on the second Monday of each month at Austin City Hall. 2. Any matters postponed at the request of the Board of Adjustment will be placed at the beginning of the agenda at the Board’s next meeting. 3. Any matters postponed at the request of the applicant will be placed on the agenda at the Board’s next meeting after matters categorized by Article I (C)2 4. At 10:00 PM, the Board may, in its discretion, extend the meeting if necessary." ARTICLE V. HEARINGS AND DECISIONS (B) Order of Business. Add “Who will call each matter will be determined before the meeting by the chair” to the beginning. Move “The chair shall administer an oath to all persons providing testimony or other evidence” to follow “After the chair calls the meeting to order,” Insert “Either the chair or” in front of “the staff liaison shall call each matter in the order” So that it reads: Who will call each matter will be determined before the meeting by the chair. After the chair calls the meeting to order, the chair shall administer an oath to all persons providing testimony or other evidence. Either the chair or the staff liaison shall call each matter in the order filed and shall announce the case number, the name of the applicant, and the location of the property. The staff liaison shall describe the nature of the case and advise the Board of any communications received. F-3/LATE BACKUP-1
City Council & City Manager, Adjustment; and WHEREAS, since the opening of City Hall it has hosted the meetings of the Board of WHEREAS, the Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial sovereign board that has an impact on the development and growth of the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, sovereign boards are held to a higher standard than advisory boards and commissions; and business hours; and WHEREAS, land use board and commission public hearings take place outside normal WHEREAS, the Board of Adjustment is not a city department or service; and WHEREAS, City management has decided to move the meetings of the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning and Platting Commission to the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center (PDC) at Highland Mall without informing the Board or the public; and WHEREAS, moving the Board of Adjustment public hearings to the PDC places an undue burden on the public, the staff and the board members; and WHEREAS, public hearings for variances, special exceptions, and administrative appeals by the Board of Adjustment should be in the same location as city council and other land use commissions to avoid confusing the public; and WHEREAS, PDC signage is lacking, with only small signs on the glass doors facing Wilhelmina Delco Drive, the PDC’s official address, making it easy for participants to miss, yet the public entrance is on Thomas Hatfield Way; and WHEREAS, seven high-frequency bus routes serve City Hall including two MetroRapids, yet only two high-frequency bus routes – the 7 and the 337 – and the Red Line serve the PDC, and the bus stops are closer to City Hall than they are to the PDC; and WHEREAS, the safety and security of participants is paramount and City Hall has metal detectors, security immediately outside the chamber and secure parking; and WHEREAS, Highland Mall is a construction zone so pedestrians and transit riders will have to walk past empty lots at night including a vacated lot used for surface parking across the street from the PDC, while City Hall is in the middle of an active, walkable downtown; and WHEREAS, City Hall has a dais, computers on the dais, work tables for staff and comfortable, permanent chairs for the public while the PDC facility at Highland Mall is a multi- purpose room; and WHEREAS, there is no reason operationally to move the Board of Adjustment meetings to …
CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT A R P A F O O D A C C E S S C O M M U N I T Y - O W N E D F O O D R E T A I L I N I T I A T I V E DONALD JACKSON, BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT NOVEMBER 2021 Community-Owned Food Retail Purpose: Support the development of a cooperative and/or non-profit grocery store in an underserved area of Austin. Supporting City Council Resolutions: • Resolution 20160303-20 (Food Access Resolution) • Healthy Food Access Initiative (Response to 20160303-20) • Resolution 20210112-043 Northeast Austin Planning - Includes supporting the development of grocery stores • Resolution 201020802-072 – Food Sector Economic Analysis C I T Y O F A U S T I N R E D E V E L O P M E N T 00/00/00 2 Community-Owned Food Retail Purpose: Support the development of a cooperative and/or non-profit grocery store in an underserved area of Austin. Supporting City Council Resolutions: • Resolution 20210325-111 and 20210325-66 - Prioritizes addressing food insecurity using American Rescue Plan Funding • 2021-2022 Budget Rider 1B-20210811105337 – Reaffirms “planning and designing of at least one community-owned and/or community-controlled grocery store in an area lacking healthy food retail” C I T Y O F A U S T I N R E D E V E L O P M E N T 00/00/00 3 Community-Owned Food Retail: The Plan Phase I Phase 2 Store Pilot Community Engagement Critical Leadership Development Milestones Funds for Memberships Feasibility Business Planning Review to Proceed Ongoing Support Planning for the Future City Council Engagement Regular Updates on Review of Regular Updates on Project Progress Project Progress Phase I Results Project Review and Future Options Evaluation of Project Options C I T Y O F A U S T I N R E D E V E L O P M E N T 00/00/00 4 Community-Owned Food Retail: The Plan (Fall 2021) Request for Proposals for a consultant team to lead community organizing, business and feasibility analysis, and pilot launch of a community- owned grocery store. • Phase I: Organizing and Development (Spring 2022-Fall 2023) • Pre-feasibility preparation • Extensive community engagement • Robust feasibility analysis and business planning • Recommendations on store location, format, and structure • Cultivation of a Leadership Team and a Founding Member Cohort …
Austin Community-Owned Food Retail Initiative The Austin Community-Owned Food Retail Initiative is an effort to open a new community-owned grocery store in an Austin neighborhood lacking access to healthy food retail options. This project is funded by $500,000 from Austin’s allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Three Step Plan 1. Engage residents to gauge interest and support 2. Develop a business plan for the community grocery store 3. Open a small-scale model to test the grocery store concept The City of Austin will hire a skilled third-party administrator to assist with the Austin Community-Owned Food Retail Initiative. Phase I: Organizing and Development (Spring 2022 - Fall 2023) • Community engagement and organizing • Business planning and feasibility studying • Store planning (e.g., location, format, structure) • Steering Committee and Member Cohort development Phase I: Critical Milestones • Steering Committee has seven to nine members • Member Cohort has at least 300 households • Business plan and feasibility study proves the store will be sustainable Phase II: Pilot Operations (Fall 2023 - Winter 2024) • Provide seed funding • Launch pilot operations • Ongoing assistance and support www.austintexas.gov/edd Questions? Email edd@austintexas.gov Follow @AustinEconDev on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Advocacy Strategy Planning Template Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board - 2016 II. Target Audiences Who has authority to make decisions? Analysis of their position and what might win their support. Who has influence on the decision-makers? “Experts” “Authentic Voices” “People with Clout” Analysis of their position and what might win their support. Who are your community partners and resources? III. Key Messages Message #1 Why it's right, based on the evidence To who and how Message #2 Why it's good politics or business To who and how IV. Action Plan What, by who 1. Research Existing Landscape and Identify Solutions that Build on Existing Infrastructure 2. Develop Solution What is needed, from where, by when? 3. Outreach - Messages, Communication and Materials What, by when, by who 4. Management Who will oversee and how? 5. Evaluation Who will carry out and how?
Notes from the FY 2022 Strategic Planning Meeting of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Discussion after the Purpose and Mission of the ATCFPB presentation: 1. Board members would like to talk about the bylaws at a meeting 2. The word “shall” in the bylaws is a heavy lift because the Board is not provided with resources to do the work that is required. How can the Board leverage the language in the bylaws to obtain funds/resources? Top priority of the Board for 2022 will be the Food Planning Project. Board members will be key to that project and will participate via a work group. Other priorities discussed (from the post-it note exercise) and categorized by the “Purpose and Duties” listed in the bylaws (these priorities could be individual projects that a board member takes on themselves (I) or would require the efforts of the work group (WG)): 1. Monitor the availability, price, and quality of food throughout the Austin and Travis County Area a. Emergency response planning – creating better systems/policies for food access during an extreme weather event (WG) b. Ensure decision makers have the most up-to-date city and county food system data including updating Office of Food Policy reports (WG) 2. Collect data on the food security and the nutritional status of city residents a. Access to healthy culturally appropriate food – affordable produce, easy to access, and locally grown. (WG) this was posted by 2 different board members. 3. Inform city and county policy makers, administrators, and the public at large about the status of the regions food system and food security a. None a. None 4. Monitor and analyze the administration of city and county food nutrition programs 5. Explore new means for the city and county to improve the local food economy, the availability, sustainability, accessibility, and quality of food and our environment, and assist city and county departments in the coordination of their efforts a. “Local” from RGV (WG) b. County invests in food system projects (WG) c. Continue monitoring/informing new CFO process (I or WG) d. Assist with formation of Food Plan CAC (I or WG) e. Find ways to work across gov’t boundaries to make plan regional (I or WG) f. County and City collaborate on food system investments (I or WG) g. Food innovation study – research innovations happening in the food system that could provide opportunities for new …
From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Lorraine Atherton Ramirez, Diana; Ramirez, Elaine Agenda item D-1, 1003 Kinney variance, case C15-2021-0100 Monday, November 08, 2021 10:59:05 AM *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Hello, Ms. Ramirez. Please include these comments in the backup and case file for tonight’s Board of Adjustment hearing on Agenda item D-1, 1003 Kinney variance, case C15-2021-0100. Thank you for your help. Lorraine Atherton 2009 Arpdale, Austin, TX 78704 For the Zoning Committee of the Zilker Neighborhood Association To the City of Austin Board of Adjustment The Zoning Committee of the Zilker Neighborhood Association is opposed to the requested lot size variance for 1003 Kinney because the applicant has not presented a qualifying hardship and because the granting of the variance amounts to a privilege that has been denied to other properties in similar circumstances. We offer these alternatives: 1. Encourage the owner to purchase or otherwise persuade the City to vacate a portion of the alley. 2. Limit the new construction to the dimensions of the demolished house. The request lacks a hardship: Demolition application forms note that the applicant is responsible for checking on whether new construction will be allowed on the lot, before the application is submitted. The applicant must also take responsibility for submitting the correct lot dimensions. The hardship question in this case boils down to whether the applicant checked the box in error, or the City staff approved the demolition in error. Unless the owner at 1003 Kinney can show that staff approved the demolition in error, there is no hardship. If staff approved it in error, then the best the owner can expect is permission to rebuild the house to its previous dimensions. The situation is not unique in this neighborhood: The applicant cites 904 Ethel as a comparable case, but the 904 Ethel variance was sought BEFORE demolition, not after. The BoA decision in the Ethel case on Nov. 14, 2016, was to limit the construction to 1,600 sf. More relevant cases are: 1516 Kinney, where the house was demolished prematurely. That variance was denied early in 2016. The owner eventually bought more land to restore the minimum lot size. The ZNA position in that case was that we would have been happy to discuss a variance to preserve the existing house, but when the owner went ahead and demolished the house, he removed any justification for a hardship. …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Electric Utility Commission Recommendation No. 20211108-022 FPP Resource Plan Working Group Date: November 8, 2021 Subject: FPP Resource Plan Working Group Motioned: Cyrus Reed Seconded: Cary Ferchill Recommendation: Whereas the Austin City Council unanimously approved the 2030 Austin Energy Generation Plan in March of 2020, which commits Austin Energy to a zero-carbon goal by 2035; Whereas a key strategy of the 2030 Plan, as well as previous plans such as the 2014 and 2017 Generation Plans, was to commit Austin Energy to cease the burning of coal at the portion of the Fayette Coal Plant owned by Austin Energy by the end of 2022: Whereas Austin Energy has been working on negotiating a solution with the Lower Colorado River Authority, which co-own the plant for several years; Whereas Austin Energy, after consulting with City Council, officially announced on November 1st, 2021 that it had been unable to reach a reasonable and beneficial agreement with LCRA on how to assure retirement of either one unit at Fayette, or a virtual retirement of the approximately 600 MWs of coal owned by Austin Energy by the end of 2022; Whereas emissions of carbon dioxide from the Fayette Power Plant account for approximately 80% of the emissions controlled by Austin Energy and there is no way to meet the goals of the Austin Energy 2030 Resource Plan without ending our use of coal; Therefore, Resolved, the Electric Utility Commission forms a Fayette Power Plant Resource Plan Working Group that will collaborate with Austin Energy to explore options for reducing and ending our use of coal as soon as possible, including but not limited to: Continued negotiations with the LCRA to either shut down a unit at Fayette, or virtually shut down the equivalent amount of coal-fired power plants through running the unit less by the end of 2022, or another date in the near future, such as 2023 or 2024; Expanded use of REACH to bid into the market at a higher price, and therefore reduce the use of coal; Expansion of zero-carbon resources such as solar and storage at or near the Fayette plant to help in the transition away from coal sooner. Be it further resolved that the working group provide the EUC with bill impact analysis of each recommendation if available; Resolved, to the extent the Resource Management Commission also takes a similar action, the EUC …
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RECOMMENDATION 20211108-F-2 Date: 11/08/2021 Subject: Board of Adjustment bylaw change Motioned By: Vice-Chair Melissa Hawthorne Seconded By: Chair Jessica Cohen Recommendation Article 7(D) - remove monthly and add “at 5:30PM on the second Monday of each month at Austin City Hall” Description of Recommendation to Council An administrative change in the BOA bylaws to specify the time, day, and location for BOA meetings to occur matching the time, day, and location the BOA has traditionally observed since 2004 Rationale: In the interest of transparency, equity, and accessibility for all Austinites to the Board of Adjustment, the Board is in unanimous agreement that future hearings and meetings should continue to be held at Austin City Hall and that as a quasi-judicial sovereign land use board, the time and day should be defined in the bylaws similar to other sovereign land use boards. Vote For: 11 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Attest: Chair Jessica Cohen 1 of 1 Recommendation to Council Audit and Finance Committee for adoption to Board of Adjustment Bylaws Bylaws Article 7 (D) remove monthly and add “at 5:30PM on the second Monday of each month at Austin City Hall”
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RECOMMENDATION 20211108-F-4 Date: 11/08/2021 Subject: Resolution for Board of Adjustment hearings/meetings to continue at Austin City Hall Motioned By: Board Member Thomas Ates Seconded By: Vice-Chair Melissa Hawthorne Recommendation On 11/8/2021 the Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a resolution for board meetings to continue to be held at City Hall. Description of Recommendation to Council Please see accompanying Resolution Rationale: In the interest of transparency, equity, and accessibility for all Austinites to the Board of Adjustment, the Board is in unanimous agreement that future hearings and meetings should continue to be held at Austin City Hall. Vote For: 11 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Attest: Chair Jessica Cohen 1 of 1 City Council & City Manager, Adjustment; and WHEREAS, since the opening of City Hall it has hosted the meetings of the Board of WHEREAS, the Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial sovereign board only appealable to state district court rather than city council that has an impact on the development and growth of the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, sovereign boards are held to a higher standard than advisory boards and WHEREAS, land use board and commission public hearings take place outside normal commissions; and business hours; and WHEREAS, the Board of Adjustment is not a city department or service; and WHEREAS, City management has decided to move the meetings of the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning and Platting Commission to the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center (PDC) at Highland Mall without informing the Board or the public; and WHEREAS, moving the Board of Adjustment public hearings to the PDC places an undue burden on the public, the staff and the board members; and WHEREAS, public hearings for variances, special exceptions, and administrative appeals by the Board of Adjustment should be in the same location as city council and other land use commissions to avoid confusing the public; and WHEREAS, PDC signage is lacking, with only small signs on the glass doors facing Wilhelmina Delco Drive, the PDC’s official address, making it easy for participants to miss, yet the public entrance is on Thomas Hatfield Way; and WHEREAS, seven high-frequency bus routes serve City Hall including two MetroRapids, yet only two high-frequency bus routes – the 7 and the 337 – and the Red Line serve the PDC, and the bus stops are closer to City Hall than they …
