The Daily Hustle: 4/27/10

TDH has his hands full, but still managed to hit you with a rundown of what's up at this Thursday's City Council meeting. (You're on your own for Wednesday's continuing "financial forecast" presentation to council, City Hall, 9:30am sharp.)

Wade through the agenda with us after the jump.

Agenda highlights for Thursday, April 29:

Items 2-6: Five eminent domain authorizations for electric easement-seeking Austin Energy.

Item 26: Authorizing $5 million in improvements and repairs for the Mexic-Arte Museum, funded from a 2006 bond vote, rolled over from a recent agenda.

Item 28: Relating to temporary food stands, and specifically, sampling at farmers markets. As the agenda backup states, “The proposed changes to the Code will allow open food sampling and service of the 'value added' foods” – prepared foods, breads, cheeses and the like – “while still meeting the intent for food protection of the Texas Food Establishment Rules and City Code.” It allows those vendors to obtain a “sampling permit” to offer bites of their wares.

Item 43: Approving staff recommended “evaluation criteria” for transportation investment projects in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.

Item 48: reassessing – and possibly, easing – eligibility requirements for folks seeking city home repair and weatherization funds. As Laura Morrison (co-sponsoring the resolution with Mike Martinez and Lee Leffingwell) writes in an email, “The City of Austin offers a number of home repair and weatherization programs to its residents. As a condition of eligibility for some these programs, applicants are required to have cleared past due balances owed to both city departments and other agencies like Brackenridge Hospital. However, these programs are important to the City's goals/values and should be made available to all residents in need. This resolution directs the City Manager to assess all of the City’s home repair and weatherization programs and determine where adjustments to eligibility requirements could be made with regard to outstanding balances.”

Item 49: Chris Riley's proposal designating Airport Boulevard, from IH-35 to North Lamar, as a pilot area for form based code comes to council. Form based code upends traditional zoning by focusing more on form and design – and making them compatible with their surroundings – than by zoning based on land use. An advisory group will be appointed to oversee the process at council's May 13 meeting.

Item 59: Per the Strategic Mobility Plan talk, a 10:30am presentation on “Project Prioritization Process” and the Plan timeline.

Item 60: Another AM presentation, from the Citizens Water Conservation Implementation Task Force.

Items 75 and 76: An addendum to the agenda, approving on second reading only the franchise renewals for Austin Cab and Yellow Cab.

What the hell else is happening?

On the city calendar: council's Audit and Finance Committee meets in the Board and Commission room at City Hall, 310 W. Second, 10am. They'll receive their FY 2009 “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Audit” by external auditors Deloitte & Touche, and an update on the Family Connection investigation.

A special called meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission is happening at Waller Creek Plaza, Room 105, 625 E. 10th, 6pm. They'll discuss And take action the city's comprehensive adoption plan, vaccinating all animals entering Town Lake Animal Center, and more.

The Parks and Recreation Board takes over the B&C room at 6pm. Briefs include an update from the “Off Leash Area Advisory Committee.”

The Planning Commission meets in Council Chambers also at 6pm. Ten public hearings come before them.