The Daily Hustle: 2/28/11

The Hustle's pried itself away from snooping through other people's e-mail to put together this preview of Thursday's City Council meeting (which, per the new normal, will also be vetted at council's Wednesday work session.)

Item 12: Amending recent changes to decibel limits. Backup states “The approved ordinance inadvertently included the requirement that decibel limits be measured from the source of the sound equipment, rather that at the property line.” We're sure Bachelor (and sometimes "Postmarks" scribe) Brad Womack gives this change a rose!

Item 25: The controversial item that would extend public pay parking hours citywide, to 8am-6pm, Monday-Saturday, and until midnight Downtown .

Item 29: Changes to council's “sit-lie” ordinance, which, while defining “disability” for exceptions to the anti-loitering ordinance among Austin's homeless community, are also expanded to explicitly prohibit sleeping outside.

30: City sponsorship of some festival called South by Southwest.

Item 33: Item from lead sponsor Chris Riley beefing up awareness, enforcement of anti-idling laws for large vehicles.

Item 34: Another item from Riley, asking the City Manager to assess any changes necessary for the Downtown Austin Community Court to begin administration of Project Recovery, “an alternative form of sentencing that includes a treatment model encompassing intensive case management, healthcare, employment assistance, and other measures supporting participants’ reintegration into the community.”

Item 36: Item from lead sponsor Laura Morrison asking the city manager to incorporate an Educational Impact Statement into “code amendments, policy proposals, and permitting for development and redevelopment projects,” as to track the effect of land use changes on neighboring schools.

Items 43, 44: 10:30 am briefings include an update on urban parks, and a briefing on the “Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Preferred Growth Scenario and Plan Framework.”

Item 45: “Legal issues related to a Texas Open Meetings Act complaint, associated requests made under the Public Information Act, and the retention of records” are among the topics in council's Executive Session.

Items 47-59: This week's zoning agenda sees the return of the Park PUD on second and third reading. Laura Morrison was the sole nay vote last go-round, and she only needs one more to stop the project as-is, since it needs super majority approval. However, that's not looking terribly likely.

What the hell else is happening?

On the city calendar: The Urban Renewal Agency meets at the Street-Jones Building, 1000 E. 11th, Room 400A, 6pm.

The Electric Utility Commission meets at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs, Conference Room, 6pm.

The Historic Landmark Commission meets at City Hall, Council Chambers, 7pm.

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