REGULAR MEETING OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025, 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 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 Dominic Polidor, 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 Special Call meeting on November 25th, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding rental housing fee transparency. Presentation by Chase Bryan, Austin Housing. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion on potential future presentations by Austin Planning and CapMetro. 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 priorities. 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 SPECIAL CALL MEETING MINUTES 24, NOVEMBER, 2025 The College Student Commission convened in a special call meeting on 25, November, 2025 at 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Mac Gregor called the College Student Commission Meeting to order at 3:59 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Elisha Mac Gregor Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Andrew Lyon, Caleb Brizuela, Camila Colin, Carson Domey, Aidan Ogle, Caroline Schilling, Kritika Ramesh PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The motion to approve the minutes of the COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on OCTOBER 24th, 2024, was approved on Chair Lyon’s motion, Commissioner Colin’s second on a 8-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. None DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Introduction of new commissioners and assignment to working groups—Commissioner Ramesh was introduced and joined the mental health working group. 4. The motion approve the 2026 College Student Commission meeting schedule was approved on Commissioner Colin’s motion, Chair Lyon’s second, on a 8-0 vote. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 5. Update from TRANSPORTATION working group on their priorities. Update by Chair Lyon; staff briefing from Austin Planning requested, and presentation from CapMetro requested. 1 6. 7. Update from MENTAL HEALTH working group on their priorities. Update from Chair Lyon. Update from HOUING working group on their priorities. Update from Chair Lyon; staff briefing from Austin Housing requested. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 8. None FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 9. Follow up on the College Access Food Grant—Chair Lyon Commissioner Mac Gregor adjourned the meeting at 4:21 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the January 17th meeting on Chair Charlie Mossberger’s motion, Jacob Hamerslough’s second on an 8-0 vote. 2
Rental Housing Fee Transparency Austin Housing | December 12, 2025 Content Overview Stakeholder Engagement Other Research Next Steps Questions and Discussion 2 College Student Housing According to 2024 research from Austin Housing, roughly 88% of college students in Austin live in off-campus housing. Excluding Austin Community College, the figure is ~80%. 4 Rental Housing Fees & Issues Fees appear to have become more common in some rental housing. Three main categories of fees include: One-time Mandatory recurring Optional recurring Research indicates that tenants too often learn about mandatory monthly fees after they have paid for and submitted applications. Inconsistent disclosure practices, transparency, and awareness lead to unexpected housing costs for tenants and difficulty comparing housing options. Federal, State, and Municipal efforts have sought to improve fee transparency. 5 Council Resolution No. 20241024-045 Require landlords who own 5+ dwellings to disclose all application, move-in, mandatory, and optional fees upfront, so prospective renters can accurately compare housing costs. Ensure prospective renters know total costs early in the process, before they apply for housing. Align local requirements with federal efforts and industry commitments to disclose fees and present total rental costs consistently. Engage stakeholders, explore feasibility of including fees in advertising, and prepare a public awareness campaign for landlords and prospective tenants. 6 Project Timeline Initiation Legal Framework Engage Stakeholders Draft Ordinance Public Review Council Consideration Implementation We are here July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jun 25 Feb Mar Apr May Jan 26 7 Legal Framework Disclosure requirements should be before the prospective tenants pay for and submit applications. Noncompliance would not invalidate leases or prevent evictions. Violations would proceed to Municipal Court and could result in fines. 8 Public Engagement We have engaged the public through two main methods: Focus groups 2 meetings with housing providers (October 1st and 2nd) 2 meetings with tenant advocacy organizations (October 8th and 9th) Public survey (October 31st to December 15th) Open to all tenants, tenant advocates, property owners, property managers, real estate agents, and other interested community members Main goals Understand what is happening now Understand opportunities and challenges for a fee disclosure ordinance 10 Recent Research Child Poverty Action Lab (2024), The Role of Junk Fees in the Summer 2024 Dallas Rental …
