The People Living with HIV Stigma Index in Central Texas Michelle Osorio, MPH & Rick Astray-Caneda III, PhD, MPA LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission | March 9, 2026 What is stigma? • Negative attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social feature of a person or group of people that implies social disapproval • Stigma → attitudes and perceptions • Discrimination → actions and behaviors • HIV stigma is negative attitudes and beliefs about people with HIV • Can lead to discrimination, treating people with HIV differently than those without HIV • Affects people’s health and wellbeing, and discourages people from engaging in HIV testing, prevention, and care • Violates the human rights of people living with HIV 2 PLHIV Stigma Index in Central Texas • In-person, interview-based assessment to gather evidence on how stigma and discrimination impacts the lives of people living with HIV • Created by global networks of PLHIV with backing from UNAIDS and Johns Hopkins University • Standardized tool • Covers disclosure; experience of stigma and discrimination; internalized stigma and resilience; interactions with healthcare services; and human rights and affecting change • Questions added about housing, experiences with providers, and what can be done to stop stigma in our community • 100+ countries have completed the study, 100,000+ PLHIV have been interviewed Interviewers and participants (interviewees) are PLHIV • Interviewers receive $125, participants receive $100 Interview takes approximately 60-90 minutes Interviews offered in English and Spanish • • • 3 Methods: Phase 1 • Total sample size: 336* divided into two phases • Venue-based & referral-based sampling • Priority populations: • Gay men and other MSM • Sex workers • Transgender persons • People who use drugs • People experiencing homelessness • All gender identities and sexual orientations may participate • Main inclusion criteria: aware of HIV+ diagnosis for 12 months or longer & 18 years of age or older • Recruitment via social media campaign, strategic alliances with local ASOs, community partnerships, tabling events Number of PLHIV to be interviewed Bastrop Caldwell Hays Travis Williamson 10 10 10 60 12 Phase 1 Total 102 4 What will we learn? This study will guide us to have… Which will help us to address stigma by: • A clearer picture of HIV-related stigma and discrimination and its impacts • Detailed information by county • Detailed information by race, sex, ethnicity, and gender* • Informing development …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: 20260309-008: LGBTQ Legal Navigation and Community Safety Coordination WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ residents in Texas increasingly face confusion and risk due to evolving state policies and administrative requirements related to identity documents, civil rights protections, and access to services; and WHEREAS, timely access to accurate education, navigation support, and trusted referrals can prevent avoidable crises that may lead to housing instability, employment disruption, and disconnection from essential services; and WHEREAS, community stakeholders have identified a need for practical assistance including support with name and gender marker changes, tenant and workplace rights navigation, and connections to trusted nonprofit service providers; and WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors continue to report concerns about safety, harassment, and accessibility in public spaces, particularly during major community events and peak nightlife hours; and WHEREAS, community-based, non-enforcement safety strategies such as de-escalation training, bystander intervention, and coordinated safe-walk partnerships can reduce harm and strengthen community confidence; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Equity Office and Human Rights Division are positioned to coordinate civil rights education, community navigation, and harm-prevention programming across City departments and community partners; and WHEREAS, the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission has identified coordinated legal navigation and community safety infrastructure as one of its highest priorities for the year; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to establish a pilot LGBTQ Legal Navigation and Community Safety Coordination Program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission recommends the creation of one full-time equivalent (FTE) LGBTQ Program Administrator or Manager position to lead, coordinate, and implement this program, and that this role be housed within the City’s Equity Office for cross- departmental coordination and community alignment. . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the responsibilities of this role include coordinating City services, supporting community education, facilitating navigation and referral pathways, and working in partnership with nonprofit and community-based organizations that provide related services. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that program activities may include: • Know-your-rights education and informational materials • Legal navigation and referral support, including assistance related to name and gender marker changes • Tenant, employment, and civil rights navigation resources • De-escalation and bystander intervention training • Coordination of community-based safety efforts such as safe-walk partnerships during major events and peak activity periods BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission recommends …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: 20260309-009: Expansion of MPox, STI, and Vaccination Programs WHEREAS, the City of Austin has recognized the importance of integrated vaccination and prevention programs, including Hepatitis and Flu outreach, as essential components of LGBTQIA+ public health efforts; and WHEREAS, Austin health departments and community health centers serving LGBTQIA+ residents, including community-based clinics and nonprofit providers, have demonstrated strong capacity and effectiveness in delivering culturally competent vaccination and prevention services; and WHEREAS, MPox continues to present an ongoing public health concern, particularly for LGBTQIA+ communities, and requires sustained vaccination, education, and outreach efforts rather than one-time emergency responses; and WHEREAS, recent reductions in federal and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health funding have placed increased pressure on local governments to maintain continuity of vaccination, STI, and HIV prevention programs; and WHEREAS, expanded local funding would support not only MPox vaccination efforts, but also broader STI and HIV prevention services that are critical to reducing long-term public health costs and preventing outbreaks; and WHEREAS, ensuring access to timely, accurate, and culturally competent preventive healthcare improves community health outcomes and reduces strain on emergency and acute care systems; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission recommends that the Austin City Council approve an increase of $80,000 in funding to Austin health departments to expand MPox vaccination, STI prevention, and HIV prevention programs targeting at-risk and underserved populations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the expanded funding should support outreach, education, vaccination access, and prevention services delivered through trusted community-based providers and public health partners serving the LGBTQIA+ community. Date of Approval: Seconded By: . Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________ Ryan Sperling, LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Staff Liaison
MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION March 9, 2026 ▪ 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS/SHUDDE FATH CONFERENCE ROOM 4815 MUELLER BLVD AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Electric Utility Commission maybe participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register to speak remotely, contact Nici Huff, at Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-972-8621. Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Kaiba White, Vice Chair Raul Alvarez Lauren Bellomy CALL TO ORDER Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Al Braden Chris Gillett AGENDA Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Regular Called Meeting on February 9, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for strategic consulting services for Austin Energy with Rifeline, LLC, for a term of three years in an amount not to exceed $450,000. Funding: $150,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. 3. Recommend approval authorizing an amendment to a contract for continued Autodesk solutions suite for Austin Energy with DLT Solutions, LLC, to increase the amount by $500,000 and to extend the term by one year for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $2,200,000. Funding: $500,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. 4. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for the St. Elmo Vehicle Bays Project for Austin Energy with Noble General Contractors, LLC in the amount of $6,999,700, plus a $699,970 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,699,670. Funding: $7,699,670 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. 5. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for maintenance, repair and replacement of electric vehicle charging stations for Austin Energy and Austin Aviation with National Car Charging, LLC for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options in an …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for Ciena Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing products and services for Austin Energy with Netsync Network Solutions, Inc., or one of the other qualified offerors, for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,000,000. Funding: $90,373 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy and $1,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $90,373 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding in the amount of $1,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals RFP 1100 EAL3026 for these goods and services. The solicitation was published on July 28, 2025 and closed on September 16, 2025. Of the five offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at: https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142673 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the goods and services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract is for Ciena Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology. Austin Energy’s (AE) private fiber network connects many components of its critical infrastructure, including data centers, substations, and other facilities. Ciena’s DWDM technology allows the utility to significantly expand fiber capacity and deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity for critical operations such as Supervisory Control and Item 10 Data Acquisition and datacenter …
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Date: March 9, 2026 Subject: Recommendations on AE Budget and Potential Rate Increases Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Recommendation against increasing Austin Energy rates for residential customers in FY 2027 and instead beginning a rate case process with FY 2025-26 as a test year, and recommendations for meeting certain Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan goals through the annual 26-27 budget process. Description of Recommendation to Council The Electric Utility Commission recommends that further increases in residential rates, including to the fixed monthly charge, should be handled through a rate case, similar to the one implemented in 2022. Austin City Council should begin Austin Energy’s rate case process in 2026 to better keep Austin Energy budgets aligned with costs, while ensuring that rates are justified for all customer classes and that rate design aligns with established policy priorities. As a first step, Austin Energy should conduct an assessment of its costs and revenues, using 2025 as a test case year. The City Council should direct the City Manager to initiate the process of hiring a consumer advocate to represent residential customers in the rate case and should initiate the hiring of an independent hearing examiner to preside over the rate case. In addition, the Electric Utility Commission recommends that City Council ensure there is sufficient staff and programmatic money allocated in the Austin Energy budget to meet the goals established in the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035, approved by the city council in 2024. Specifically, the FY 2027 budget should ensure that Austin Energy remains or gets on pace to meet its goals related to energy efficiency, local solar, local storage, renewable energy and transmission upgrades to increase its import capacity. Rationale: Austin Energy has an important mission to serve its customers with affordable, clean and reliable energy. The FY 2027 budget and tariffs should maintain the affordable rates approved by City Council in late 2022 and preserve the basic tenets of the rate design approved. In addition, City Council has adopted an ambitious but achievable Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan and the budget should reflect that plan. 1 of 3 Item 11 20260309-011 The appropriate amount for the monthly Customer Charge for residential customers and the price differentiation between the residential rate tires were hotly contested issues in the last Austin Energy rate case, in 2022. Austin …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for strategic consulting services for Austin Energy with Rifeline, LLC, for a term of three years in an amount not to exceed $450,000. Funding: $150,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $150,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Professional Services. MBE/WBE: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract will provide a range of professional consulting services in support of Austin Energy’s strategic, mission-driven initiatives that benefit from public involvement, community engagement, and information sharing. Rifeline, LLC provides expertise for services including community outreach planning and execution; stakeholder identification, mapping and engagement; key messaging and strategic communications development; and facilitation of public meetings, workshops and listening sessions. The selected contractor has provided strategic services leading up to the adoption of Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035 and Electric System Resiliency Plan. Under this contract, Rifeline, LLC will continue to provide expertise and knowledge in support of key efforts that enhance Austin Energy’s work in alignment with community values. Rifeline’s focus on community engagement through informed consent serves as a model that listens to the community and shapes Austin Energy’s work as a result. Item 2 This contract is essential to ensure meaningful public engagement and incorporate community feedback into Austin Energy’s strategic work. Without this contract, Austin Energy would lack the tools and expertise needed to gather, analyze, and integrate customer input, resulting in initiatives that may not fully reflect community priorities.
Posting Language ..Title Authorize an amendment to a contract for continued Autodesk solutions suite for Austin Energy with DLT Solutions, LLC, to increase the amount by $500,000 and to extend the term by one year for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $2,200,000. Funding: $500,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $500,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Procurement Language: Contract Amendment. MBE/WBE: This contract is exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Prior Council Action: June 3, 2021 - Council approved a contract for Autodesk solutions suite with DLT Solutions, LLC. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract provides Autodesk AutoCAD, Vault Pro Utilities, ProductivityNow, and IMAGINiT licenses and services for Austin Energy. AutoCAD is a digital blueprint tool used by Austin Energy engineers to design power grids, substations, and other infrastructure designs. It enables precise, scalable, and easily shareable designs for critical utility projects. Vault Pro Utilities is a data management solution that securely stores and organizes computer-aided drafting design files. It supports collaboration by allowing multiple teams to access and share designs while maintaining version controls, tracking changes, and enforcing security permissions for sensitive utility data. ProductivityNow and IMAGINiT provide on-demand training, expert support, and optimize workflow for Autodesk tools. Bundling these tools and services under one contract is essential for maintaining a connected design and data management environment. This approach ensures compatibility and provides a scalable foundation for future system upgrades. An additional year and increased authorization on the current contract is necessary while a new multi-year contract is negotiated. Item 3 Contract Details: Contract Term Length of Term Initial Term Proposed Amendment Total 5 years 1 year 6 years Contract Authorization Requested Additional Authorization Revised Total Authorization $1,700,000 $1,700,000 $500,000 $500,000 $1,700,000 $500,000 $2,200,000 Note: Contract Authorization amounts are based on the City’s estimated annual usage.
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for construction services for the St. Elmo Vehicle Bays Project for Austin Energy with Noble General Contractors, LLC in the amount of $6,999,700, plus a $699,970 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,699,670. Funding: $7,699,670 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Energy. Fiscal Note $7,699,670 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 6100 CLMC1022 for these services. The solicitation was issued on September 8, 2025, and closed on December 4, 2025. Of the four bids received, the bids submitted by the recommended contractor was the lowest responsive bids received. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=139493. MBE / WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 17.77% MBE and 4.29% WBE participation. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: February 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This project will construct five covered vehicle bays and storage facilities for the St. Elmo Service Center. The St. Elmo Service Center currently has Austin Energy vehicles and equipment exposed to weather conditions, which can lead to damage and inefficiencies. To address this, a covered truck bay facility that meets Austin Energy’s operational requirements will need to be constructed. The project includes three covered bays to accommodate two bucket trucks per bay, improved loading and unloading capabilities for trucks, enhanced safety measures, improve traffic flow and space utilization and include storage for metering equipment. This project will protect valuable assets, improve efficiency, and ensure the facility meets Austin Energy’s specific needs. Due to the potential for unforeseen site conditions, a 10% contingency in funding has been included to allow for the expeditious processing of any change orders to cover any unforeseen construction costs associated Item 4 with the project. …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for maintenance, repair and replacement of electric vehicle charging stations for Austin Energy and Austin Aviation with National Car Charging, LLC for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $900,000. Funding: $200,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy and $60,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Aviation. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy and Austin Aviation. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $200,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding in the amount of$60,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Aviation. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 DCM3038 for these services. The solicitation was published on July 28, 2025, and closed on September 18, 2025. Of the eleven offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142601 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the service required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide maintenance, replacement, and repair of all current and future electric vehicle charging stations in the Austin Energy Plug-In EVerywhere™ network and at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Services include preventative and standard maintenance, including emergency repair services and will ensure the electric vehicle charging stations continue to provide reliable energy and excellent Item 5 customer service to electric vehicle drivers. The contract replaces a …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for transformer bushings for Austin Energy with Wesco Distribution, Inc., d/b/a Hi- Line Utility Supply Co, LLC or Power Supply Inc., for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000. Funding: $10,000 is available in the Capital Budget and $90,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $10,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Funding in the amount of $90,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Sole Source. MBE/WBE: Sole source contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide transformer bushings for Austin Energy substation transformers across its service area. Transformer bushings provide essential insulation for high-voltage connections, safely guiding electricity through the transformer wall while preventing electrical faults that could lead to explosions, fires, or outages. ABB bushings have been the approved Austin Energy standards since 2000 which are necessary for direct replacement of existing components. All substation transformers use ABB components. Due to the compatibility requirement, a sole source contract is necessary. ABB owns the intellectual property for these parts and authorizes distribution exclusively through Wesco Distribution Inc., d/b/a Hi-Line Utility Supply Co, LLC or Power Supply Inc. This contract replaces the previous agreement with the same contractor. The requested amount is based on budget projections, operations and maintenance needs, and includes a contingency for unplanned events and price escalations. Item 6 If a contract is not approved, the City could face increased risk of extended outages due to bushing failures. Contract Details: Contract Term Initial Term Optional Extension 1 Optional Extension 2 Optional Extension 3 Total Length of Term 2 years 1 year 1 year 1 year 5 years …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for vegetation management around street lighting for Austin Energy with Wright Tree Service, Inc., or one of the other qualified offerors, for an initial term of three years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $9,000,000. Funding: $650,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $650,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 LLM3001 for these goods and services. The solicitation was published on August 25, 2025, and closed on September 23, 2025. Of the four offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142510 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the service required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide vegetation management around street lighting and wires supplying power to street lighting. Services will support the vegetation management program across multiple operational areas, including capital improvement projects, distribution maintenance on circuit, grid, or substation facilities; individual customer requests; after-hours and storm restoration events; and ongoing vegetation suppression. The current contract expires April 23, 2026. The recommended contractor is the current provider of these services. Item 7 An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored Wright Tree Service, Inc. as the best to provide these services based …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for electric distribution vegetation management pre-planning services for Austin Energy with Eocene Environmental Group, or one of the other qualified offerors, for an initial term of three years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $24,000,000. Funding: $1,010,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $1,010,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 LLM3002 for these services. The solicitation was published on September 1, 2025, and closed on October 14, 2025. Of the nine offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142507 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the service required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide pre-planning services for Austin Energy’s vegetation management around distribution electrical facilities. Pre-planning services include coordination and assignment of work to vegetation management contractors, performance of quality control audits, notification and coordination with property owners, and development of detailed vegetation management work plans. These services support capital improvement projects, distribution maintenance on circuits, grid and substation facilities, customer requests regarding outages or complaints, after-hours or storm restoration events, and vegetation suppression. Item 8 The current contract for these services will expire April 17, 2026. The recommended contractor is not the current provider of these …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for construction services for the Lady Bird Lake Bore for Pedernales Reconductor for Austin Energy with Austin Underground, Inc., in the amount of $2,733,915 plus a $273,391 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,007,306. Funding: $3,007,306 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Procurement Language: ustin Financial Services issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 6100 CLMC1056 for these services. The solicitation was issued on May 13, 2024, and closed on October 2, 2025. Of the five offers received, the bids submitted by the recommended contractor were the lowest responsive bids received. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=141090. MBE / WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 72.31% MBE and 0.15% WBE. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: March 9, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The Lady Bird Lake Bore for Pedernales Reconductor project is located East of Interstate 35 and crosses under Lady Bird Lake with the entry/exit points being Edward Rendon Sr. Park and Peace Point Park respectively. This project proposes an infrastructure replacement of the Austin Energy Pedernales 04 and 06 electric feeders which have reached the end of their useful lifespan. This upgrade is necessary due to the load growth along South Pleasant Valley Road and East Riverside Drive. This project will also address system stability and reliability in the region. The project itself consists of the installation of an approximately 1,400 linear foot directional bore under Lady Bird Lake. This bore will allow for an immediate upgrade of the infrastructure feeding the area, as well as providing additional spare conduits to accommodate for future growth. In addition to the bore, the entry/exit points of this project also include two electrical manholes and …
Transmission Import Capacity Critical Importance to Austin Zero Carbon 2035 Goals Al Braden Electric Utility Commission March 9, 2026 Item 12 AE Constrained By Import Capacity • Austin Energy challenged to import enough power. • Not enough import capacity to close lines to modernize and upgrade them. • Not enough in-town generation to support the line outages needed for that work either. • Peakers wouldn’t be ready till 2030 or later. • Transmission is an important tool in our toolbox. • We can build incremental transmission improvements, batteries and solar in that same time – eliminating the need for more fossil plants. AE Grid Based On Historic Gas Generation • Austin relied on in-town generation with gas and oil since 1950’s. • External transmission lines to Fayette and South Texas Project only. • Austin is limited to bringing power from the east, requiring more equipment for voltage support to the west side of Austin. • Transmission links between DFW and San Antonio run to our east – providing indirect access to our wind and solar energy. • Sister cities are encircled by energy beltways - allowing power import from many directions. • Austin’s in-town generation never required extensive transmission lines to the outside world when we were a smaller gas-powered city – until our commitment to transition to renewables a decade ago. Transmission Required to Close Gas Plants • Early wind and solar projects could be handled by the CREZ lines and our import capacity. • As renewables grew in West Texas, congestion costs and price separation became serious problems. • 2020 Generation Plan – AE argued it couldn’t meet our renewable goals and retire our gas plants without additional transmission lines. • Closing the Decker steam units in 2022-2023 left a 700 MW local generation gap. Aging Decker peakers could add 200 MW. Closing Sand Hill in 2035 as the Generation Plan calls for add another 600 MW shortfall. • We need a major commitment to transmission capacity, batteries and local solar generation at all scales to reach that 2035 goal. • Just ten years left! Many of these upgrades may take almost that long. Transmission Plan looked at many scenarios, including closing the gas plants. Elevate Importance of Transmission • By ERCOT market design, transmission providers cannot coordinate with generators. AE generation and transmission can’t collaborate on a common plan. Only public information can be shared. • AE …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, ROOM 1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Animal Advisory Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Nekaybaw Watson at nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2562. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Dr. Paige Nilson, Chair, D4 Koby Ahmed, Mayor Ryan Clinton, Travis County Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Jennifer Daniel, D6 Erin Ferguson, D8 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Whitney Holt, D5 Sarah Huddleston, D9 David Loignon, D10 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Jo Anne Norton, Parliamentarian, D7 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular meeting on February 9, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. DICUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Approve the addition of new members to the Budget Working Group. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to convert two animal care positions to regular full-time employees from temporary employees. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for two dog walkers. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for one animal enrichment specialist. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for expected, ongoing, necessary hardware upgrades. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please email or call Nekaybaw Watson at …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 2026 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Nilson called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Dr. Paige Nilson, Chair, D4 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Jennifer Daniel, D6 Erin Ferguson, D8 Jo Anne Norton, Parliamentarian, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Koby Ahmed, Mayor Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Whitney Holt, D5 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Commissioners Absent: David Loignon, D10 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Sara Mitran – Austin Resource and Recovery Deceased Animal Procedure Robyn Katz Gonzalez – State of Animals in ATX Craig Nazor – Birds and Bats Rochelle Vickery – Dog pickup and care assistance near airport Pat Valls Trelles – Introduction and support of Rochelle Vickery Shelly Leibham – Spay and Neuter Event Reminder APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on January 12, 2026. The minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission regular meeting on January 12, 2026 were approved during the Animal Advisory Commission regular meeting on February 9, 1 2026 on Vice Chair Linder’s motion, Parliamentarian Norton’s second on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Loignon was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. 4. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Staff briefing on the Austin Animal Services Department 30-60-90-day horizon plan. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services. Staff briefing regarding an overview of the Austin Animal Services FY 26-27 budget. Presentation by Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services and Melissa Pool, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services and Melissa Pool, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Animal Services. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. 6. Update from the Pet Friendly Policy Working Group regarding updates from previous meetings and legislative priorities. Withdrawn Update from the Strategic Plan Working Group regarding progress in most recent meeting. Update given by Commissioner Ferguson. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve a list of legislative priorities to be supported by the commission for the upcoming legislative session. …
Reports and Updates Austin Animal Services | March 9, 2026 Updates and Upcoming Events March 2026 Monica Dangler, Director Upcoming Events March 22, 2026 Who Let the Dogs Out On March 22, Borracho Pro is bringing the action to the shelter for a special charity wrestling event benefiting Austin Animal Services! This event helps raise critical resources to support the animals in our care. • • • Adoptable dogs and cats onsite Shelter tours + ways to get involved Admission is donation-based! Bring in wish-list items or donate directly — every contribution goes to helping the animals!! Come for the wrestling. Stay for the animals. March 11, 2026 Upcoming Closure On March 11, Austin Animal Services will be closed for a day of staff development and training. Staff training is essential to successful and safe shelter operations in alignment with Austin Animal Services’ Five-Year Strategic Plan, the Staff and Volunteer priority, Goal 1, Strategy A and D. This month’s training will be focused on safety including CPR, Stop the Bleed, First Aid, and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) trainings. Emergency field services will remain available throughout the closure and normal operations will resume on March 12, 2026. 3 3 30-60-90 Day Horizon Plan Monica Dangler, Director Accomplishments on the Horizon! Completed action items in the past 30 days Process Improvement Evaluation of plea process for large dogs to rescues New Programming Dog's Day Out and Paw-jama Party begin this month and are on track to expand in the future. Enhance Staffing As of Monday, March 9, there are only 3 open Vet Tech positions! Onboarding has begun and offers have been extended to candidates. Improvements to shelter database Volunteer access has been implemented! Volunteer mentors received training and access. Additional training has been scheduled for all volunteers. Initial feedback sessions conducted Engagement with staff and stakeholders is ongoing. Develop plan for re-opening intake Explored foster management tools 5 What does the horizon plan look like for March? 30 Community Engagement • Develop a marketing plan with measurable goals and performance metrics to promote • Pet placement • Events • community education and engagement • capacity management, and • emergency communications. • Create a monthly in-shelter event calendar with success metrics Enhance Staffing • Onboard 3 Vet Techs and recruit 3 additional Vet Techs • Conduct Kennel cleaning time study 6 30 What does the horizon plan look like for March? Process …
Fiscal Year 2026 February 2026 Updates and Upcoming Events March 22, 2026 Who Let the Dogs Out On March 22, Borracho Pro is bringing the action to the shelter for a special charity wrestling event benefiting Austin Animal Services! This event helps raise critical resources to support the animals in our care. Adoptable dogs and cats onsite Shelter tours + ways to get involved Admission is donation-based! Bring in wish-list items or donate directly — every contribution goes to helping the animals!! Come for the wrestling. Stay for the animals. March 11, 2026 Upcoming Closure On March 11, Austin Animal Services will be closed for a day of sta(cid:431) development and training. Sta(cid:431) training is essential to successful and safe shelter operations in alignment with Austin Animal Services’ Five-Year Strategic Plan, the Sta(cid:431) and Volunteer priority, Goal 1, Strategy A and D. This month’s training will be focused on safety including CPR, Stop the Bleed, First Aid, and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) trainings. The public will be informed of the closure through multiple channels, including: The Austin Animal Services website 3-1-1 A media release Social media platforms Advance and day-of signage posted on campus Emergency field services will remain available throughout the closure and normal operations will resume on March 12, 2026. § 3-1-27 - Reporting by Animal Shelter (1) Number of impounded animals 35, Wildlife 2 Guinea 66 Kittens 159 Puppies 1 Reptile Fowl Rabbit Bird 289 Cats 266 Dogs Cat Dog Puppy Kitten Wildlife 823 Intakes February 2026 (FY26) saw 788 domestic animals impounded at AAS. There was an 11.46% increase from January 2026 which brought in 707 domestic animals to the shelter. This number excludes the categories of wildlife, bird (wildlife), opossums, and reptile (wildlife). (2) Number of animals euthanized a description of the animal, including age, species, and size, and the reason for euthanasia Animals Euthanized A breakdown of animals euthanized this month by species and/or age. 1 Fowl 4 Puppies 4 Dogs 6 Wildlife 28 13 Cats Animals Euthanized Animal Type Cats Wildlife Dogs Puppies Fowl Reasons for Euthanasia This chart shows the breakdown of reasons for euthanasia by animal. For example, all 6 animals euthanized for “rabies risk” were wildlife. 1 3 Puppies 2 Dogs 12 Cats 6 Wildlife 1 Puppy 1 Dog 1 Dog 1 Cat Suffering Rabies Risk Agonal DB5 Bites Injured Neurological Each …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: [20260309-004]: Austin Animal Services Budget Recommendation FY ’27 & FY ‘28 Regarding Animal Care Positions WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has had two temporary positions in Animal Care that have been maintained long term and whose workload will be long term and ongoing; and WHEREAS, the city’s strategic plan includes a goal of Economic and Workforce Development; and WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has as one of its six priorities Humane Care with a specific goal to “enhance shelter cleanliness and sanitation,” it is critical that motivated and skilled Animal Care workforce is valued and maintained; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council to support the conversion of two Animal Care positions to regular full time employees from temporary employees. The estimated FY 2027 cost of this would be $169,895, which could largely be made up for by a reduction in part-time employee budget for Animal Care. Seconded By: Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: [20260309-005]: Austin Animal Services Budget Recommendation FY ’27 & FY ‘28 Regarding Staff Dog Walkers WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has had two positions for dog walkers that are both paid not from the general fund but from donations made to Austin Animal Services, but the services they provide are critical and on-going (at least until length of stay in the shelter for large dogs is dramatically reduced), WHEREAS, the city’s strategic plan includes a goal of Economic and Workforce Development; and WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has as one of its six priorities Humane Care with a specific strategy to “enhance capacity to provide enrichment and socialization services,” it is critical to at least ensure that that the current dog-walking staff can be maintained regardless of donation proceeds. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council to provide funding in the general budget for two staff dog walkers (Animal Enrichment Worker). The estimated FY 2027 cost of these two staff positions would be $169,895. Seconded By: Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: [20260309-005]: Austin Animal Services Budget Recommendation FY ’27 & FY ‘28 Regarding Staff Animal Enrichment Specialist WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has employed an animal enrichment specialist paid not from the general fund but from donations made to Austin Animal Services, but the services they provide are critical and on-going given shelter enrichment enhances adoptability of shelter animals, WHEREAS, the city’s strategic plan includes a goal of Economic and Workforce Development; and WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has as one of its six priorities Humane Care with a specific strategy to “enhance capacity to provide enrichment and socialization services to all animals,” it is critical to at least ensure that the current enrichment specialist staff position can be maintained regardless of donation proceeds. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council to provide funding in the general budget for a staff animal enrichment specialist. The estimated FY 2027 cost of this staff position would be $90,053. Seconded By: Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: [20260309-006]: Austin Animal Services Budget Recommendation FY ’27 & FY ‘28 Regarding Expected, Ongoing, Necessary Hardware Upgrades WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services general budget does not currently include funding for expected, ongoing, necessary hardware upgrades; and WHEREAS, the city’s strategic plan includes a goal of a High-Performing Government that promotes operational efficiency; and WHEREAS, Austin Animal Services has as one of its six priorities Staff & Volunteers with a specific strategies of “[analyze] equipment needs for staff and volunteers, and take steps to address them”; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council to provide funding in the general expected, ongoing, necessary hardware upgrades. Seconded By: Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, AT 3:00 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the College Student Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Abrianna Citta, 210-232-4773, abrianna.citta01@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Andrew Lyon, Chair, Austin Community College Elisha Mac Gregor, Austin Community College Sage Zuniga, Austin Community College Mekides Guta, Concordia University Lorian Lopez, Concordia University Aidyn Ogle, Concordia University Aidan Cournoyer, University of Texas at Austin Carson Domey, University of Texas at Austin Kritika Ramesh, University of Texas at Austin Caleb Brizuela, Vice Chair, Huston-Tillotson University Camila Colin, St. Edward’s University Caroline Schilling, St. Edward’s University AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the College Student Commission Regular meeting on January 9th, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve a recommendation to Council on 6th Street Micromobility Lanes. 3. Approve a recommendation to Council on the UNO (University Neighborhood Overlay) Amendments and Student Housing. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 4. 5. 6. Update from TRANSPORTATION working group on their priorities. Update from MENTAL HEALTH working group on their priorities. Update from HOUSING working group on their work around student housing availability. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Dr. Chiquita Eugene at the Youth Initiatives Office, at chiquita.eugene@austintexas.gov or (512-972- 5003) to request service or for additional information. For more information on the College Student Commission, please contact Dr. Chiquita Eugene at (512-972-5003).
COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 9, JANUARY, 2026 The College Student Commission convened in a regular meeting on 9, January, 2026 at 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 in Austin, Texas. Chair Lyon called the College Student Commission Meeting to order at 3:22 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Andrw Lyon, Camila Colin, Carson Domey, Sage Zuniga Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely:, Aidan Cournoyer, Lorian Lopez, Elisha MacGregor, Caroline Schilling PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The motion to approve the minutes of the COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on DECEMBER 12th, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Domey’s motion, Commissioner Zuniga’s second on a 8-0 vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Central Texas Food Bank regarding the College Food Access Program by Emily Larson and Anurita Mittra—presenters were unable to attend; slides were shared and reviewed by commissioners. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 3. Update from TRANSPORTATION working group on their priorities. Update by Chair Lyon. Update from MENTAL HEALTH working group on their priorities. Update from Chair Lyon. Update from HOUSING working group on their priorities. Update from Chair Lyon. 4. 5. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 6. None 1 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 7. None Chair Lyon adjourned the meeting at 3:42 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the January 9, 2026, meeting on Commissioner Domey’s motion, Commissioner Zuniga’s second on a 8-0 vote. 2
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL College Student Commission Recommendation Number 20260306-02: 6th Street Design WHEREAS, 6th Street serves as a key connection between the University of Texas area, downtown, and transit services frequently used by college students, and functions as a late night transportation corridor and entertainment district; and WHEREAS, 6th Street experiences sufficient pedestrian activity to have been closed to vehicular traffic on weekend nights (Thursday through Sunday). This indicates significant non-automotive travel particularly during evening and late night hours; and WHEREAS, the nearest active transportation counter at East 4th Street and Waller Creek recorded 521,445 pedestrians and cyclists in 2025, signaling substantial travel along this general downtown corridor; and WHEREAS, college students are disproportionately reliant on walking, biking, and micromobility for affordable transportation, shown in increased micromobility use around UT Austin and downtown. This is often due to lower rates of personal vehicle ownership. College students are therefore uniquely impacted by the design of 6th Street; and WHEREAS, 6th Street’s role as a nightlife district increases the importance of safe, non-automotive transportation options for students, as students traveling late at night face higher injury risk; and WHEREAS, the lack of clear separation between pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility users increases collision risk and reduces safety and comfort for everyone; and WHEREAS, protected bike lanes support students using bicycles, e-bikes, and micromobility devices, including dockless scooters and services such as CapMetro’s Bikeshare, reducing the need for these devices to operate on sidewalks that are regularly crowded with pedestrians, as on 6th Street; and WHEREAS, safe and accessible transportation options contribute to student well being, campus connectivity, and overall quality of life in Austin; and WHEREAS, in Recommendation 20251201-007, the Bicycle Advisory Council and Pedestrian Advisory Council jointly recommended Alternative 1 and opposed Alternative 3; and WHEREAS, the 6th Street Survey Results and Public Engagement Report found that 63% of 3,723 respondents supported Alternative 1, which included bicycle and scooter lanes with curb insets for vehicle access, while only 27% of 3,706 respondents supported Alternative 3, which included no bicycle or scooter lanes and vehicle curb access on only one side; and WHEREAS, the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that Austin Transportation and Public Works advance Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 for the 6th Street Mobility and Revitalization Project, while City Staff recommended advancing Alternative 3 to final design; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the College Student Commission, in alignment with the …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL College Student Commission Recommendation Number 20260306-03: UNO Amendments and Student Housing WHEREAS, the City of Austin both historically and in the present day continues to have a young college student population that is greater than or equal to approximately 100,000 students; and WHEREAS, housing affordability has become an increasingly significant challenge for college students across the City of Austin, particularly for the majority of students at major Austin-area colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, Austin Community College, St. Edward’s University, Huston-Tillotson University, and Concordia University Texas, who, due to limited on-campus housing capacity, rely on the private rental market for housing during the academic year; and WHEREAS, 48% of renters in District 9, including the area of West Campus, are “rent-burdened,” where a tenant spends more than 30% of their monthly income on housing; and WHEREAS, students attending institutions located near central Austin, including The University of Texas at Austin, Huston-Tillotson University, and Austin Community College’s Highland and Rio Grande campuses, face additional heightened housing pressures due to rising rents, limited supply, and competition with non-student renters; and WHEREAS, student-oriented rental housing in Austin has experienced substantial rent increases in recent years, disproportionately impacting students who rely on fixed financial aid packages, part-time employment, or family support; and WHEREAS, the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) area, particularly West Campus, experiences uniquely intense housing demand due to its proximity to The University of Texas at Austin, resulting in rental prices that significantly exceed the Austin citywide median and serve as a benchmark for influencing student housing costs more broadly; and WHEREAS, rising rents in central Austin neighborhoods have contributed to the displacement of students attending institutions without large on-campus housing availability, including Austin Community College and Huston-Tillotson University, forcing many students to seek housing farther from campus and increasing transportation costs and commute times; and WHEREAS, students at smaller and private institutions such as St. Edward’s University and Concordia University Texas face similar affordability pressures, as limited on-campus housing availability and surrounding neighborhood zoning constraints restrict access to lower-cost off-campus options; and WHEREAS, these affordability challenges affect students across institutional types, including community colleges, public universities, and private universities, demonstrating that student housing insecurity is a citywide issue not confined to a single campus or neighborhood; and WHEREAS, land-use and zoning policies such as the University Neighborhood Overlay play a critical role in shaping housing …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026, AT 2:30 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARD & COMMISSION ROOM, ROOM 1101 301 W. 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by remotely, contact Daniela Romero, daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair Jawad Ali Chris Crookham Cara Dahlhausen Jacob Whitty Martha Lujan William Rice EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Adrienne Sturrup, Director, Austin Public Health Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Perla Cavazos, Deputy Administrator, Central Health AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Regular Meeting on February 4th, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Presentation by the Refugee Collective. Presentation by Meg Erskine, Co-Founder and CEO. Review and discuss goals set for FY 2026. Receive updates from commissioners on assigned action items. Discussion of draft recommendation “Bridging Public Health Funding” created by Commissioner Chris Crookham. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please contact Daniela Romero at Austin Public Health, at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov, or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Health Commission, please contact Daniela Romero at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov.
T H E R E F U G E E C O L L E C T I V E 2024 Impact Report Producing Possibilities for Refugees Through Food & Fiber C E O R E F L E C T I O N S To Our Beloved Community: In 2024 we celebrated 15 years of creatively responding to the needs of Austin's refugee community. Our story has deep roots. It begins with four unlikely friends who met serendipitously and shared their unique perspectives and experiences to form the Multicultural Refugee Coalition in 2009. From 1946-1966, Central Presbyterian Church sponsored a family to support community development efforts in rural DR Congo, one of which was to teach sewing to local women. This was the family of our co-founder Sarah Stranahan, who many years later, taught sewing to refugee women here in Austin that began our work in the textile space. We cherish the beautiful light-filled space we get to work out of in the historic Central Presbyterian Church today for our office and textile studio, and love knowing that these roots run deep. During the Civil War in Liberia in 1989, Johnson Doe and Paul Tiah were from opposing counties. After many years in refugee camps in the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, both made their way to Austin, Texas through the federal refugee resettlement program. Paul arrived first in 2003 and invited Johnson over for dinner once he had arrived in 2004, since they were from the same country and spoke the same dialect. Even though they were supposed to be considered enemies, through love, acceptance, and reconciliation efforts they not only became the best of friends but consider themselves brothers. It is through their love and perseverance that they wanted to start an organization to support other refugees resettled to Austin and provide encouragement and resources to ease their journey. Finally, as a conservation biologist, I was yearning for a more international experience and the world came to me in my own community when I began teaching ESL to refugees in 2006 and met so many people sharing their desires and dreams in their new city of Austin that it changed my life forever. Some of these shared dreams included getting their hands in the dirt growing culturally desired food for their communities and being able to have the resources to sew things for their families. Through our …
-Providing Livelihood Opportunities for Refugees in Austin, Texas -Food Access for the Refugee Community -Implementing Texas’ First Resilient Farm Plan therefugeecollective.org Refugee Collective Farm Staff Matt Simon- Farm Director Matt Simon has been the Refugee Collective Farm Director since 2020. Prior to taking on this role, he managed another certified organic farm, Green Gate Farms, in nearby Bastrop, Texas. His knowledge of all aspects of vegetable production anchor the farm’s food access and regenerative agriculture efforts. Sarah Sims- Community Farmer Program Manager Sarah Sims brings over a decade of experience in refugee-serving organizations, with a focus on program design, data systems, and continuous improvement. Prior to joining The Refugee Collective, she led state- and federal-level mental and physical health promotion initiatives. Sarah is passionate about designing programs that are both data- informed and deeply responsive to the lived experiences of participants. The Refugee Collective Producing Possibilities through Food and Fiber -20 acre Certified Organic farm employs 8 year round refugee team members and 4 seasonal team members growing organic vegetables and eggs for our CSA and Wholesale Outlets -Textile Studio employs 4 year round team members in private label production and our own line of “Farm to Fiber” products which utilize natural dyes grown at the farm. Also piloting flax fiber production. -Wraparound Support for our refugee team members including rides to and from the farm for work and paid English instruction What is Regenerative Agriculture? -Includes common Organic practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, compost application, and refraining from using chemical inputs that destroy life in the soil -In addition Regenerative Agriculture employs No-till planting methods, the establishment of Trees and other Perennials, and the integration of Animals into the Cropping System. -These are all codified in our Resilient Farm Plan, the First of its kind in Texas -Focus is on increasing biodiversity both above and below ground to build a more resilient, carbon rich system that produces more nutrient dense vegetables and animal products, leading to improved health outcomes Farm Livelihoods and Food Access for the Refugee Community -Through ARPA funding and other sources, we’ve built the capacity to send 50-80 Weekly CSA Shares to Refugee Households through partners including Global Impact Initiative, World Relief, IACT, and Literacy Coalition -Community Farmer Program provides education and resources to empower refugees to feed their own communities -78,000 lbs. of Organic Produce To Refugee Households since Fall of ‘22 through …
NEW LEAF AGRICULTURE EVALUATION REPORT 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Introduction Methods, Quantitative Data Results, Quantitative Data Methods, Qualitative Data Results, Qualitative Data Conclusion Acknowledgements UTHealth | New Leaf Agriculture Report 2024 INTRODUCTION The Multicultural Refugee Coalition (MRC) is a non-profit organization in Austin, Texas, which creates refugee livelihoods through employment, training, and education. Since its inception in 2009, MRC has supported nearly 1,000 refugees from 20 countries by employing and training refugee farmers ensuring their long-term success as engaged community members. One of MRC’s programs, New Leaf Agriculture, is based on a 20- acre USDA-certified organic farm where refugee farmers learn about Central Texas agriculture methods and practice organic and regenerative farming techniques. The program is also designed to provide supplemental income to farmers and increase farmers’ families’ and their communities’ healthy food access. One component of the New Leaf Agriculture program focuses on primary farmers. Primary farmers are refugee farmers who work on the 20-acre farm and are full-time employees of MRC. They have a scheduled work time, are paid a wage, and receive additional benefits such as free transportation and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. A second component of the New Leaf Agriculture program focuses on community farmers. Community farmers are refugee farmers who each manage a 750 sq. ft. production-size plot on the New Leaf Agriculture farm and earn supplemental income through produce sales. Before receiving a plot, farmers participate in a six-week training course on regenerative farming practices in Central Texas. New Leaf Agriculture provides supplies, land, education, and culturally specific seeds to the community farmers. Farmers choose which crops to grow, focusing on what they and their community desire, and farm according to their schedule. Produce grown by farmers is bought by MRC and then distributed either by the farmers to their communities or through partnerships with local organizations. UTHealth | New Leaf Agriculture Report 2024 As recipients of the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP) grant, MRC is expanding its New Leaf Agriculture program by providing agricultural land and training for at least 80 refugees. Evaluation of the program will be conducted yearly by The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health (UTHealth) research team over three years. The evaluation is formative in design and fulfills the purpose of tracking the program’s progress toward anticipated short- and long-term outcomes while contributing to continuous …
AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION Wednesday, February 4th, 2025 AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 The Austin Travis County Public Health Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, at 301 West 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Natalie Poindexter called the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Meeting to order at 2:47 pm. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Jawad Ali Chris Crookham Jacob Whitty Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair Cara Dahlhausen William Rice Board Members/Commissioners Absent: Martha Lujan Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance: Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Perla Cavazos, Deputy Administrator, Central Health Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Daniela Romero, Staff, Austin Public Health Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance Remotely: Megan Cermak Juanita Jackson Ex-Officio and Staff Absent: Adrienne Sturrup PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Sharon Behill, CEO of Communities In Schools of Central Texas, advocated for the protection of prevention-focused social services amidst ongoing city budget cuts. She emphasized that school-based "upstream" interventions for student mental health and trauma are vital, cost- effective investments that prevent more expensive long-term crises in public safety and emergency systems. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission regular meeting on February 4th, 2026. The minutes for the regular meeting of January 7th, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Jacob Whitty’s motion, Commissioner William Rice second on a 7-0 vote. (Absent: Commissioner Martha Lujan) DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Presentation by One Voice on impacts of federal funding cuts. Presentation by Sam Woollard, Peter Arellano and Lynne Skinner. Received updates from commissioners on assigned action items. External Coordination: Although absent, Commissioner Luhan is reportedly coordinating future discussions with the Public Safety Commission and Capital Metro. Sexual Health Funding: Efforts to secure data from Austin Public Health (APH) are ongoing. The Commission discussed postponing this item temporarily due to budget uncertainties or shifting the focus to qualitative outcomes rather than just funding. Member Updates: Brief updates were noted regarding recommendations from Commissioners Dahlhausen and Commissioner Crookham, which were slated for the subsequent agenda items. Refugee Clinic: Commissioner Ali introduced Refugee collective CEO to staff. Staff is coordinating presentations for next meeting. 4. Discussed draft recommendation “Bridging Public Health Funding” created by Commissioner Chris Crookham. Commissioner Chris Crookham presented a draft recommendation addressing the …
ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION REFORM COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026, AT 11:00 A.M. UNIVERSITY HILLS BRANCH LIBRARY 4721 LOYOLA LN AUSTIN, TEXAS 78723 Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Elizabeth Nelson, 512-974-6492, Elizabeth.Nelson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT [BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS]: Ian Steyaert, Chair; Gerald Acuna; and Seth Whaland AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up [prior*] to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Construction and Demolition Reform Committee meeting on October 9, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding construction and demolition recycling and processing facility municipal case studies. Presentation by Elizabeth Nelson, Planner Principal, Austin Resource Recovery. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Elizabeth Nelson at Austin Resource Recovery Department, at 512-974-6492 or Elizabeth.Nelson@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, please contact Gustavo Valle at 512-974-4359 or Gustavo.Valle@austintexas.gov.
