BG Reads | News You Need to Know (February 5, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 72: Market Talk - Atlanta and Southeast Lobbying with Howard Franklin of Ohio River South (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Council responds to code second draft (Austin Monitor)
City Council took a few hours Tuesday afternoon to respond to the second draft of the revised Land Development Code in light of a new zoning map, a recalibrated density bonus program and reduced overall housing capacity.
Last Friday, Jan. 31, the city’s Land Development Code revision team released the draft after consideration of 199 amendments from Council, city staffers and the Planning Commission.
Since Council’s first reading approval in December, the rewrite team has made several decisions to reduce the overall capacity of smaller multifamily – or “missing middle” – housing types and move those into other parts of the city where they may be less controversial.
At the same time, the team has revised the code’s affordable housing bonus program, incorporated Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza’s concept of the equity overlay in East Austin and tried to increase housing capacity in activity centers and along major corridors.
As with the previous draft, Council focused much of its attention Tuesday on the mapping and capacity of missing middle housing.
Council Member Pio Renteria regretted what he considered to be lost opportunities for missing middle housing types in his district due to the rewrite team’s choice to zone most lots approximate to their current entitlements.
Annick Beaudet of the rewrite team said Council members will eventually be able to take specific areas through a separate planning process if there are places where they see demand and need for zoning changes not reflected in the code map… (LINK TO STORY)
Site For New Homeless Shelter Would Cost At Least $2.5 Million To Redevelop, Take Two Years To Build (KUT)
As Austin seeks short-term housing for its homeless population, city staff say one option for an emergency shelter wouldn't come online for at least another two years.
Officials estimate opening a temporary shelter on city-owned land could cost anywhere from $2.5 million to $6.6 million, with an expected opening date in 2022, according to a memo released Tuesday by the city's Economic Development Department.
Back in November, Austin City Council members asked staff to look into converting the building at 1215 Red River St., known as the HealthSouth building, as a possible solution to the lack of emergency shelter beds for people living on the streets. The city currently has a call out for proposals to redevelop the property, with applications due in March…(LINK TO STORY)
Rising stadium signals that Austin FC, MLS are on their way (Austin American-Statesman)
Since ground broke in September, soccer-enthused Austinites have been peering past a Discount Tire store, flying drones and refreshing webcams, trying to catch a glimpse of the progress being made at 10414 McKalla Place.
In the past several weeks, rising steel has given way to a paradigm shift. Depending on the day, anyone in a several-mile radius can see that a stadium is being constructed in North Austin near the Domain.
“It’s a pretty rewarding emotion,” Austin FC president Andy Loughnane said. “Just in the last two weeks alone we’ve gone vertical quickly. I think the community is probably starting to become aware that this is real.”
On Tuesday, vice president of stadium operations Jordan Enke peered out from the future northeast concourse and painted a picture of what will be the first view for many fans entering the Major League Soccer franchise’s 20,500-seat stadium for the first time in spring 2021.
“It gives you chills,” he said… (LINK TO STORY)
See also:
BG Podcast Episode 46: Austin FC Updates from Club President Andy Loughnane
[TEXAS]
Texas cities warn of millions in sales tax revenue losses over Comptroller's proposed online shopping rule (Dallas Morning News)
From Dallas to Dilley, if you shop online at Best Buy, the sales tax flows to San Marcos. Then, most of it goes right back to the electronics retailer. That’s because city officials inked a deal with Best Buy to move an e-commerce center to town, in exchange for sharing the tax dollars generated by the company’s online sales in Texas. What’s become a windfall for both city and business, however, may soon be stopped by the Texas Comptroller’s office.
In a bid to “even the playing field,” the office is proposing rules that could redistribute sales tax revenue to communities where online orders are delivered. “We’re trying to get our rules up to speed with the 21st century,” said Kevin Lyons, a spokesman for the office. The change marks a major shift in tax policy that could deliver modest gains to cities across the state, while dealing a big blow to a few communities that are home to large distribution centers or warehouses that deal exclusively in online sales. Officials from several North Texas cities estimate the shift could siphon away millions of dollars in sales tax revenue they use to maintain streets and parks. It comes as the state Legislature has limited what cities can raise in property taxes and other funds… (LINK TO STORY)
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Plans To Run For Reelection In 2022 (Houston Public Radio)
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she plans to run for reelection in three years.
“We have so many big projects that we need to take care of in Harris County that we certainly can’t do in just four years, and so that’s definitely my plan,” Hidalgo told Houston Matters with Craig Cohen Tuesday.
The judge said she hasn’t wanted to talk about her own reelection since some of her fellow Democrats are engaged in their own, more immediate primary election races.
Hidalgo just completed her first year in office as the chief administrator for Harris County, the third-largest county in the country… (LINK TO STORY)
San Antonio leaders lobbying in Washington, D.C. (San Antonio Express-News)
More than 200 San Antonians, including City Council members, the mayor and business leaders, are in Washington, D.C., this week lobbying for federal funds to support projects in the military, education, community development, cybersecurity, tourism and transportation. “San Antonio sends a lot of money up there in the form of taxes and doesn’t get it all back,” said Councilman Manny Peláez, who is on the trip. “So, we go up there and we make sure to twist arms and share the San Antonio story.”
Richard Perez, president and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event, said this is the largest trip yet. “There will be 200-plus people from one community, in one room of the nation’s capital,” Perez said. “There is power in numbers. Our voices are going to resonate with people.” While members of the delegation attend panels and presentations during the mornings, in the afternoons they split into “issue teams”— made up of local leaders and experts — who go speak with lawmakers, and advocate for individual projects and topics… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
Five takeaways from Trump's tense State of the Union address (The Hill)
President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday was overshadowed by the tensions in the chamber between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and himself — which led to two viral moments sure to be remembered for a long time.
It was an address steeped in partisan warfare, and it was delivered less than 24 hours before the GOP Senate is expected to vote to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial…(LINK TO STORY)
The Bingham Group, LLC is an Austin-based full service lobbying firm representing and advising clients on municipal, legislative, and regulatory matters throughout Texas.
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