In light of our heightened sensitivity to terrorism, City Council voted last week to bring Austin in line with a previously established state law that increases the mayor’s power to respond to emergencies. Among Mayor Gus Garcia‘s new powers: the ability to compel curfews and street closures that can remain in effect for as many as seven days without a Council vote.
Members also voted to cut trails into 2,500 of roughly 6,500 acres of parkland located southwest of Austin and purchased in 1998. The parkland could be opened for public use within the next five years.
In planning news, Council passed the Hyde Park Neighborhood NCCD, but excluded key parts of the Hyde Park Baptist Church property, to the dismay of neighborhood advocates who have spent several years fighting the church’s plan to build a five-story parking garage. NCCD advocates planned to meet with Church counsel Richard Suttle this week. Council also passed the Central East Austin Neighborhood Plan and its attendant zoning changes without controversy, but voted to postpone the more controversial West Bouldin Creek plan until Jan. 10. They also voted unanimously to postpone a subdivision ordinance regulating street connectivity — the so-called “grid street” ordinance — until Jan. 31.
Thinking ahead to Council’s next meeting on Jan. 10, City Manager Jesus Garza said his staff’s proposal to change the city’s lease agreement with Catholic healthcare providers Seton Healthcare Network should be ready for discussion. The lease would reflect changes necessitated by new Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives, which prohibit certain reproductive services at Brackenridge Hospital. City staff has proposed building a “hospital within a hospital” to ensure those services remain available to patients at Brack, the city’s main health care facility.
This article appears in December 21 • 2001.