Austin City Council Roundup from September 24
Austin City Council worked through a packed agenda Thursday, approving nearly 100 items ranging from multi-million dollar technology contracts to neighborhood rezonings.
Here’s a breakdown of what passed — and what didn’t.
Big-Ticket Budget Moves
Council kicked things off by declaring its intent to reimburse itself for future tax-exempt bond issuances across three major funds:
- $131.68 million for building renovations, a new Waller Creek park, citywide mobility improvements, animal services upgrades, Workday HR system expansion, and technology and vehicle purchases
- $525 million for water and wastewater capital improvement projects
- $876 million for electric utility capital improvements
Together, that’s over $1.5 billion in anticipated debt-backed capital spending across city departments.These are formal declarations of intent, not immediate spending — actual bond issuance for the general obligation debt, for example, isn’t expected until August 2027 or later.
Where the Contract Dollars Went
The consent agenda was loaded with high-value contracts. A handful dominated the spending totals:
The single largest authorization was a $200 million ceiling split among five contractors (Gridco, MasTec, Pike Electric, Renegade Group, and Southeast Power) for Austin Energy distribution electrical services over two years, with extension options. Close behind: $62 million across seven telecom and broadband contracts with major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and $42.5 million for IT staff augmentation services citywide.
Two software contracts with Clariti Cloud, Inc. — one for permitting/licensing software ($28.1M) and one for case management systems ($31.2M) — will modernize how the city handles development review, licensing, and code enforcement.
Council also ratified emergency construction contracts after the fact, including $1.58 million for Shoal Creek Bridge repairs and $2.27 million for structural repairs at the Palmer Events Center garage.
Investing in Social Services and Public Health
A major restructuring consolidated 11 separate agreements with Integral Care into a single agreement covering behavioral health, crisis response, and homelessness services — worth up to $69.7 million over a potential five-year span.
Beyond that, Council renewed and expanded funding for a wide slate of public health partners for the year ahead, including:
- SAFE Alliance (victim services) — increased by nearly $1.08 million
- Texas Harm Reduction Alliance — $600,000 in opioid settlement funds
- Catholic Charities of Central Texas — legal and counseling services
- American Gateways — legal aid for immigrants
- Central Texas Food Bank — mobile pantry expansion in the Eastern Crescent
- Several UT Austin community health and maternal health programs
A new measure focuses on bringing more automated external defibrillators to those who may need it.
Council also approved a cold-weather shelter readiness agreement with Endeavors, worth up to $2.7 million over three years, ensuring emergency lodging capacity is in place before winter.
Land, Housing, and Zoning
Several rezoning cases advanced housing development across the city:
- 4302 Nuckols Crossing Road: rezoned to allow multifamily residential development
- Springdale Road / MLK Jr. Blvd: David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church property rezoned to moderate-high density multifamily
- East Wonsley Drive: rezoned for a neighborhood commercial/mixed-use project (Wonsley Grocery & Kitchen)
- West 49th Street / Rosedale Avenue: AISD-owned property rezoned to highest-density multifamily, despite a valid petition filed in opposition
Council also amended the long-standing Circle C settlement agreement, increasing allowed residential density on a 246-acre tract near Mopac and State Highway 45 and removing a requirement to build the South Bay Extension road.
On the affordable housing front, Council supported Verbena Flats, a proposed multifamily development on West Slaughter Lane, in its application for federal 4% housing tax credits, and approved fee waivers worth $541,314 to help build 100 units of deeply affordable housing at “The Bloom at Lamar Square.”
What Didn’t Move Forward
Not everything sailed through:
- A floodplain variance request for 1120 Denfield Street, which would have allowed converting an accessory structure into a dwelling unit near Tannehill Branch Creek, was withdrawn.
- A site-specific Save Our Springs amendment for 5811 Southwest Parkway was postponed to November 5, 2026.
Other Notable Items
- Council authorized eminent domain filings for six separate properties — five tied to Austin Energy’s I-35 Capital Express transmission relocation project, and one for an Austin Water easement near Loop 360 and Lakewood Drive.
- A resolution directs the City Manager to explore expanding AED (defibrillator) requirements in public spaces and businesses.
- Four appointments were made to the Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission.
- The city will pursue a National Park Service grant of up to $9 million to fund improvements at Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park.
With the vast majority of items passing on the Consent agenda, Thursday’s meeting reflected steady, largely uncontested progress on infrastructure, housing, and social service priorities — with the two deferred items signaling where more debate is still needed.
The agency building Austin’s light-rail system has scrapped a controversial $47 million plan to relocate its headquarters to a lakefront high-rise at 100 Congress Ave. Instead, the Austin Transit Partnership will expand its existing downtown office to the address next door. (KUT 90.5)
PODCAST
(Episode from September 24, 2026)
A pedestrian is dead after being hit by a Manor police officer’s patrol vehicle early Friday on U.S. 290, police said.
Earlier Thursday, a rider on a bicycle was struck and killed in North Austin.
Earlier this week, an e-bike rider was struck and killed on South Lamar. (Austin Police Department)
Major developments continue to unfold in the North Austin ICE shooting of 28-year-old DoorDash delivery driver Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, as political scrutiny, federal legal action, and new investigative details intensify.
The ICE agent who shot Pérez was not wearing a body camera, video from Austin police shows.
Sunday’s shooting has intensified the national debate about immigration enforcement tactics and policies under the Trump administration.
A federal judge in San Antonio has issued an emergency order temporarily blocking ICE from deporting Garcés Pérez. The court ordered that Garcés Pérez must be physically present for his initial federal court hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30.
According to recent court filings, Shane James—the man accused of killing his parents in San Antonio before launching a deadly shooting spree in Austin—plans to enter an insanity plea.
His attorney formally signaled the intent to raise an insanity defense in Travis County court. James faces four counts of capital murder, alongside charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and the attempted murder of a police officer.
Investigators allege that in December 2023, James murdered his parents at their San Antonio residence, drove to Austin, and killed four more people. He is also accused of shooting a cyclist and two police officers during the rampage. (KUT 90.5)
Austin Police responded to a burglary report in the 200 block of Virtus Bend around 3:51 a.m. Wednesday morning. Upon arrival, officers found Dmario Antonie Jones suffering from evident gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts by Austin-Travis County EMS, Jones was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:10 a.m. (Austin Police Department)
A traffic stop in the Stallion Run subdivision of Mustang Ridge found the driver in possession of 50 vials of THCA.
Austin ISD’s Board of Trustees met Thursday evening.
The Austin school district is over 2,000 students short of its projected enrollment this school year, complicating an already-strained budget which is partially reliant on the quantity of students and their attendance for funding. (Austin Current)
After much debate, the City of Austin will not move forward with a planned drawdown of Lake Austin.
515 Congress Ave. has a new owner. The 26-story building is among several downtown office properties that were sold this summer. As of July, the building was over 80% leased to several tenants. (Austin Business Journal)
CapMetro announced it is planning to add 25 more EBS stations in 2027, bringing the Bikeshare system to more than 40% electrified stations.
Water customers in Pflugerville saw service returned to normal Thursday after a brief outage.
THIS WEEKEND IN THE ATX
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Relief from the late-September heat may finally be on the horizon for Central Texas.
Deep tropical moisture connected to Hurricane Polo—currently churning in the Pacific—is projected to surge inland early next week, raising rain chances across the region. While the system itself won’t directly hit Texas, its remnant moisture will pair with an incoming cold front to set the stage for widespread downpours and much-needed drought relief. Once the system clears out, Central Texans can expect a noticeable fall shift, as temperatures are set to tumble down into a much cooler, crisper pattern.
Caldwell County officials have reinstated a burn ban after recent brush fires.
Today, the Texas Public Opinion Research—a nonpartisan polling initiative dedicated to exploring Texans’ beliefs and priorities—will release the results of its latest Texas general election poll.
This survey will be the second release in a regular series of general election tracking polls from TPOR. At the end of each month, from now through the election, TPOR will release horserace numbers on:
- US Senate: Democrat James Talarico vs. Republican Ken Paxton;
- Governor: Democrat Gina Hinojosa vs. Republican Greg Abbott;
- Attorney General: Democrat Nathan Johnson vs. Republican Mayes Middleton;
- And the Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Agriculture Commissioner, Land Commissioner, and Railroad Commissioner races.
Jim Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the ins and outs of all the polling data being generated in the Texas 2026 election, how to read it, and what it’s telling us so far.
(Episode from September 24, 2026)
UPDATE: The poll has been released.
The poll finds Democrat James Talarico (49%) leading Republican Ken Paxton (44%) by five points in the U.S. Senate race.
Meanwhile, Republican Greg Abbott (50%) leads Democrat Gina Hinojosa (46%) by four points in the Governor’s race.
In the Attorney General’s race, Republican Mayes Middleton leads Democrat Nathan Johnson by three points (46% to 43%).
Notably, the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner has narrowed, with Republican Bo French leading Democrat Jon Rosenthal by just one point, 45% to 44%.
The complete poll results HERE.
We had one hell of a Day One at Tribfest 2026, capturing live talks with Gina Hinojosa (one click back) and James Talarico (coming shortly) – but we had to get an In Progress report in from the center of the action at Austin’s Omni Hotel, where we enjoyed an unplanned pop-in from Congressman Greg Casar! Stay tuned for Day Two.
The University of Texas at Austin has cut all Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies courses from counting toward its core curriculum.
A Callaway House resident returned to campus after Labor Day Weekend to find their mezuzah, a sacred Jewish object, removed from where it was hung on their door. (Daily Texan)
Garnet Coleman, a Democrat who represented Houston’s House District 147 in the Texas Legislature for more than 30 years, died Wednesday at the age of 65. (Houston Public Media)
The 2026 State Fair of Texas opens today.
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Austin-area high school football varsity scores from Thursday night.
Pflugerville Weiss 42, Killeen Shoemaker 28
Lake Travis 59, McNeil 6
TONIGHT
Austin-area high school football varsity slate for Friday:
Key Central Texas Matchups
- Austin High vs. Austin Bowie– 7:30 PM (House Park)
- Westlake vs. Midland Legacy (Lee)– 7:00 PM (Chaparral Stadium)
- Dripping Springs vs. Del Valle – 7:30 PM
- Vandegrift vs. Cedar Park Vista Ridge – 7:00 PM
- Pflugerville Connally vs. Killeen– 7:00 PM (The Pfield)
- Bishop Dunne vs. Austin Navarro– 7:30 PM
MLB: The high-stakes battle for the AL West title has boiled down to a three-game sprint to the finish line. Both the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers captured crucial victories on Thursday night, pulling into a dead heat at 79–80 atop the division.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Astros and Rangers Tied at 79–80 Entering Final Weekend
With all American League Wild Card spots officially locked up elsewhere, no second chances remain: the team that wins the AL West will punch its ticket to the postseason, while the runner-up will be eliminated.
Houston maintains a critical advantage as it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas, setting up a low Magic Number of 3 to secure the division. Beginning tonight, the final series will decide it all as the Astros head west to face the Athletics, while the Rangers take on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
TEXAS A&M / TEXAS TECH / HOUSTON – SEPTEMBER 26
Experience the beauty and reverence of Dia de los Muertos in the historic Terlingua Cemetery. Join us for a poignant look at this deeply rooted tradition, where the desert twilight transforms into a vibrant celebration of memory and community.
In Terlingua, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a cherished annual event where families gather to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Witness the cemetery come alive with meticulously crafted ‘ofrendas’ (altars), adorned with marigolds, flickering candles, cherished photographs, and favorite offerings.
