Naked City

By far, the biggest item inked onto today's (Thursday) City Council agenda is the expected hiring of Toby Futrell as Austin's real, official, non-interim city manager. Expect much applause. With several other consequential decisions on the table, expect as many thrills and chills as everyone's favorite saga of recent note: the Villas on Guadalupe, approved by council last week on third and final reading. Today's highlights:

Authorizing the city to enter exclusive negotiations with San Francisco developers Catellus regarding development of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport (RMMA) site (see Austin@Large, p.12.)

A resolution proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman directing the Planning Commission to consider neighborhood plans for North University, Hancock, and West University neighborhoods. In recent months, North University in particular has begged the city to include their neighborhood in the planning process as a means to avoid sloppy development.

An ordinance proposed by Council Member Danny Thomas to enable neighborhoods to ban front-lawn parking. The ordinance would not apply citywide, but let neighborhoods "opt-in, opt-out." While 52 neighborhood associations across town have already signed on, several East Austin neighborhoods fiercely oppose the ordinance, which they say will harm renters and poor people who can't afford to build driveways. Two other hearings on the matter will take place on April 18 and 26.

Receipt of $50,200 from the Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) for the "Click It or Ticket-- project, which is intended to increase enforcement of seatbelt laws during the Memorial Day holiday.

Approval of a $6 million loan from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Dept. for the downtown homeless shelter, resource center, and health clinic, slated to open next year.

A public hearing for the full purpose annexation of the Nalle Tract, Avery Ranch Areas, Pioneer Crossing, and Bear Lake PUD.

A possible public hearing and possible action on single-member districts in the event voters approve the concept during the May 4 election.