Austin City Council Approves $695M Utility Bond Sale, North Lamar Rezoning and Housing Blueprint Update
Council also pushes Save Our Springs amendment and a Davis Lane rezoning to Nov. 19, and withdraws one eminent domain case
The Austin City Council worked through a 34-item agenda Thursday, approving most items on consent. The meeting included a bond sale of up to $695 million, a major rezoning in North Austin, and a directive to refresh the city’s housing strategy.
City officials note that the action list is tentative and subject to change. Details of individual votes were not recorded in the summary and will appear in minutes approved at a later meeting.
Electric utility bonds and tax revenue dedications
Council authorized the issuance and sale of Electric Utility System Revenue Refunding and/or Improvement Bonds, in one or more series, with a total par amount of up to $695 million. The sale must be completed by April 22, 2027, and can use fixed-rate or variable-rate structures.
Council also approved an ordinance dedicating the city’s share of tax revenue generated by Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 21 to the Housing Trust Fund and the Parks Enhancement Fund. The ordinance requires an annual report on those revenues.
Housing: blueprint update and rental assistance
One of the few items not passed on consent was Item 26, which Council approved as amended. The resolution directs the City Manager to update the Strategic Housing Blueprint to reflect new housing production and preservation goals. The update is to include data analysis, strategies to address displacement, and consideration of a potential bond program. It also calls for stakeholder engagement and a report back to Council.
On consent, Council directed the City Manager to develop and implement a targeted, commercial-space, buy-down rental assistance program. Council also recertified Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation as a Community Land Trust and granted it a property tax exemption on certain properties, covering the city’s portion of property taxes.
North Lamar at Beaver Street rezoning
In the afternoon zoning session, Council approved on all three readings a pair of related changes near North Lamar Boulevard and Beaver Street.
- Plan amendment: The future land use designation for 604, 606, 608 and 706 Beaver Street changes from Single Family to Mixed Use under the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan.
- Rezoning: Properties at 8605, 8607 and 8613 North Lamar Boulevard and the four Beaver Street addresses were rezoned to add the density bonus 90 (DB90) designation. Two of the three tracts include a modification of the ground floor commercial requirement.
Both city staff and the Planning Commission had recommended granting the changes. The owner and applicant is 8609 N Lamar LLC, represented by Drenner Group.
Council also approved floodplain variances for 1213 Fort Branch Boulevard, allowing construction of two single-family dwelling units within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Fort Branch Creek.
Contracts
Council approved a long list of city contracts on consent, including:
- Engineering services: Sixteen firms were placed on the 2026 Small Scale General Civil Engineering Services Rotation List, for up to $17 million combined.
- Austin Water: A $3.12 million contract to renew water and wastewater pipelines on West Congress (Radam/St. Elmo), plus contracts for biomass testing (up to $260,000), calcium hypochlorite (up to $600,000) and asset management software support (up to about $1.25 million).
- Facility painting: Five contractors share up to roughly $7.96 million over the full contract term.
- Uniform and shop towel service: Cintas, up to $1.875 million.
- Austin Public Health billing: Transworld Systems will handle medical billing and coding. The city projects about $1 million in annual revenue, and the contractor is paid 5.10% of claims collected, deducted from proceeds.
- Austin Police: Three handheld Raman spectroscopy analyzers for preliminary narcotics testing, up to $98,175.
- Austin Energy: Analytics software support, up to $480,000.
Land, trails and transportation
Council authorized the purchase of about 1.154 acres plus two easements at 9511 Metric Blvd. for the Rutland to Northgate Trail, for up to about $5.48 million. It also approved right-of-way acquisition at 5525 Johnny Morris Road for the 2020 Bond Substandard Streets project, for up to $153,000.
Council committed up to $1 million toward a dedicated center-running transit lane at Dean Keeton Street and Interstate 35, to be built as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s I-35 Capital Express Central Project.
Parks, schools and community items
- Council approved a phase plan expanding the Pease Park Conservancy’s responsibilities in Pease District Park beyond Kingsbury Commons, which the city says will help offset its costs.
- An interlocal agreement with Austin ISD supports the Literacy First reading and tutoring program, with up to $100,000 per year and a possible total of $500,000 over five years.
- Council waived or reimbursed certain fees for the Village of Western Oaks’ July 4, 2026, parade and celebration at Dick Nichols District Park.
Grants
Council accepted a $90,087 FEMA grant for Austin Fire Department peer support certification training, with a city match of $13,513.
It also accepted two Governor’s Office Public Safety Office grants for Austin Technology Services: $60,000 for role-based cybersecurity training and $287,544 for network threat management. The city match is $15,000 for the first and $71,886 for the second.
Eminent domain: one approved, one withdrawn
Council approved eminent domain proceedings to acquire a wastewater easement from Tarryhollow Homeowners’ Association for the NW Tarrytown Wastewater Pipeline Renewal Project, currently appraised at $4,086. A second, related item for a wastewater easement at 2614 Exposition Blvd., appraised at $20,594, was withdrawn.
Postponed to Nov. 19
Two public hearing items were pushed to Council’s next meeting on November 19:
- Save Our Springs amendment: A site-specific amendment for 5811 Southwest Parkway in the Barton Springs Zone.
- 3601 Davis Lane rezoning: The request to move from GR-CO to CS-CO zoning was postponed at the applicant’s request. Staff recommended denial, while the Zoning and Platting Commission recommended approval as amended.
What’s next
Council also set a November 19 public hearing at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, on a proposed amendment to the Property Maintenance Code. The change would add a local amendment to the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code to establish an emergency demolition process.
Source: City Council action summary for the November 5, 2026 meeting. All information is tentative and subject to change.
Following Sen. Sarah Eckhardt’s election as Texas Comptroller, local community leaders are encouraging an Austin City Council member to run for her newly vacant Texas Senate seat.
Austin Mayor Pro Tem Jose “Chito” Vela (District 4) announced they are “seriously considering” a campaign to represent the district and plan to gather input from community members before making a final decision.
Austin ISD leaders are weighing changes to the district’s legislative priorities after Tuesday’s election, with the district’s future, and the possibility of a state takeover, still uncertain.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, a former president of the Austin ISD school board, has pledged to replace Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath once she takes office.
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees wants Superintendent Matias Segura to negotiate with three finalists looking to purchase the closed school campus.
Austin ISD held a Board Information Session last night:
Austin police are investigating a Thursday afternoon homicide in Central Austin after a man was fatally shot near the 3900 block of Guadalupe Street, directly behind the local Game Republik.
Emergency responders rushed the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to investigators, the suspect remained at the scene, called 911, and is cooperating with police as detectives work to determine what led to the shooting.
Wednesday, one day before his death, Bruce ‘the Batman’, was asked about the outcome of Tuesday’s election.
Austin police are asking for the public’s help in gathering information on a shooting inside Voodoo Room located at 419 East 6th Street last weekend.
A months-long online investigation led to a raid in the Presidential Heights neighborhood of Manor on Thursday after an Internet Crimes Against Children task force detective tracked alleged child sexual abuse material to a local residence. The probe was triggered by an online tip forwarded through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Kyle animal control officials are urging residents to be cautious around wildlife after two rabies cases were confirmed in bats last month.
Northbound South Lamar Boulevard is down to one lane between Treadwell Street and Barton Springs Road while Austin Energy upgrades electrical equipment. The lane closures will remain in place through mid-November—please expect delays or seek alternate routes.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11.
The City of Austin will hold its annual Veterans Day Parade tomorrow morning.
THIS WEEKEND IN THE ATX
WEATHER
THURSDAY/S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The October jobs report will show whether hiring picked up after a weak September, even as inflation continues to outpace wages and markets reel from a sharp selloff.
Democrats are promising relief from high fuel prices, but Congress has limited power to lower them quickly and analysts say prices could stay elevated for months even if the war with Iran ends.
A federal judge blocked construction on President Trump’s 250-foot D.C. arch for 14 days, setting up a broader fight over his efforts to reshape the capital and the checks courts and a new Democratic Congress may impose.
An Air Force contractor was arrested in Comal County on charges of mishandling of classified documents and possession of firearms on Joint Base San Antonio, according to U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. (New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung)
Authorities seized up to 600 illegal gambling machines and arrested 13 people following a sweeping multi-location raid across Bexar County on Wednesday.
Members of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Division executed seven search warrants targeting illicit gambling dens, detaining 23 individuals in total. The 13 arrested face a range of charges, including keeping a gambling place, drug offenses, and outstanding felony warrants.
The median listing price in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro dropped to $439,650, down 10.2% from October 2025, according to Realtor.com’s latest monthly housing report. That decline far outpaced the national decrease of 2.2% and the smaller price drops recorded in other major Texas cities. (Austin American-Statesman)
Industry advocates say they look forward to working with Democratic state leaders on data center issues. (Austin Business Journal)
The fight against Dan Patrick has been exhausting and emotional. Behind every hearing, petition, and lawsuit are real people wondering whether they’ll get to keep their businesses, their jobs, and the products they rely on. Carrying that uncertainty takes a toll. Today, we can finally take a breath. Dan Patrick is on his way out, and we have something we’ve needed for a long time: hope. — Texas Hemp Business Council
Jockeying for the job of Speaker of the Texas House has begun.
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the shocking results of the 2026 election in Texas.
(Episode from November 5, 2026)
A dive into Austin’s booming two-step scene, including why nearly 1,000 people are part of an Austin two-step WhatsApp group. Want the secrets? We got the juicy details.
Nora Soza and Steve Clarke join host Miles Bloxson to share how they got into two-stepping and why Austin’s honky tonk community is unmatched. Later, Double Or Nothing Two-Step dance instructors Vanessa Vaught and Dalton Albus join the conversation to break down the evolution of Austin’s country dancing and why folks keep coming back for more.
Tesla says it will wind down production of its Cybertruck in Austin, instead it wants to refocus on production of the Cybercab.
Texas’ flagship public university has seen major changes under state Republican leadership. What happens once Democrats take over? (Houston Public Media)
A 31-year-old man who was captured on video opening fire during a mass shooting in the Deep Ellum entertainment district of Dallas over Halloween weekend was arrested and faces state and federal charges, officials said.
Four people died in the incident.
DIESEL PRICES
AAA GAS PRICES
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Junior center Matas Vokietaitis posted a game-high 16 points to power No. 7/7 Texas (2-0) to a 98-50 victory over Gardner-Webb (0-2) on Thursday night in Moody Center. Vokietaitis was one of seven Longhorns to reach double figures in scoring during the win. (Texas Basketball)
ON THE SCHEDULE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: With postseason positioning and SEC championship stakes on the line, the Texas Longhorns head into a high-stakes road test on Saturday morning at Faurot Field in Columbia, where only a victory over the undefeated-at-home Missouri Tigers will keep their title ambitions fully intact.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Some Thursday night action on the final week of the season for many teams.
Thursday Night Final Scores (Nov. 5)
| Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Score |
| East View | 31 | Rouse | 0 |
| Hays | 76 | Akins | 0 |
| Wimberley | 65 | Eastside Memorial | 0 |
Note: The remaining Week 11 matchup slate across Central Texas (including 6A/5A games for Westlake, Lake Travis, Vandegrift, and Bowie) concludes tonight, Friday, November 6.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Here is the schedule of Central Texas / Austin-area high school football games for tonight, Friday, November 6, 2026, which wraps up Week 11 and the regular season ahead of the UIL playoffs:
Central Texas Friday Night Slate (Nov. 6)
| Away Team | Home Team | Kickoff Time (CST) |
| Round Rock Westwood | Lake Travis | 7:00 PM |
| Westlake | Stony Point | 7:00 PM |
| Vandegrift | Hutto | 7:00 PM |
| Pflugerville Connally | Weiss | 7:00 PM |
| Lockhart | Cedar Creek | 7:00 PM |
| Jarrell | Burnet | 7:00 PM |
| Boerne-Champion | Manor | 7:00 PM |
| Austin Bowie | Austin Johnson | 7:30 PM |
| Austin High (Lanier) | Elgin | 7:30 PM |
| Austin Travis | Taylor | 7:30 PM |
| Austin Achieve | Lago Vista | 7:30 PM |
| San Marcos | East Central | 7:30 PM |
NHL: Valeri Nichushkin and Kent Johnson scored in the shootout, and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 Thursday night for their third straight home win. (Associated Press)
The Stars have tonight off. They host San Jose tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Plano leadership is reassessing its financing plan for a future Dallas Stars arena after a venue tax proposition was voted down by residents.
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks return to action tonight after a day off Thursday. The Houston Rockets have another day off today.
Over 3,000 captive bred Texas horned lizards have been released at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Crews from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Fort Worth Zoo catch broodstock at the Matador Wildlife Management Area for propagation. At Mason Mountain and a nearby private ranch, a Ph.D. candidate conducts a variety of studies on these popular reptiles.
