Austin City Hall Week in Review (Week of January 13th, 2025)

🟪 Council Meetings

• Council’s January 30th Agenda.

🟪 Council News

• January 15th - Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes (District 2) testified before Congress on need for transit infrastructure funds representing the National League of Cities (NLC). The Mayor Pro Tem is also Chair of NLC’s Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee. Watch online here.

• January 17th - Mayor Kirk Watson attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 93rd Annual Winter Meeting, testified before the Conferences Transportation Standing Committee. Mayor Watson serves as Vice Chair of the Conference’s Inter-Modal Transportation Committee.

🟪 City of Austin Leadership Changes

• Effective January 13th, Michael Rogers assumed the role of Assistant City Manager overseeing Austin Water, Aviation, Capital Delivery Services, Project Connect, and Transportation and Public Works departments.

• He replaces Robert Goode now serving as Interim Director of Capital Delivery Services and Mobility Officer for Project Connect Office.

• And lastly, on January 15th, City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced the retirement of Assistant City Manager Veronica Briseño, effective February 28, 2025.

• Mr. Broadnax also stated that in the coming days, he will announce his plans for appointing a new Assistant City Manager to oversee the Austin Convention Center, Economic Development, Housing, Planning, and Development Services departments.

🟪 Council Committee Clarity

• On January 15th, a draft ordinance was published re-establishing the Economic Opportunity Committee and the Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee.

  • The Economic Opportunity Committee:

    • This committee may review topics including industry growth, emerging technology, job creation and retention, workforce development, education, childcare initiatives, small and minority business development, economic incentives, improvement districts, downtown matters, economic development corporations, trade and commerce, local and regional partnerships, minority- and women-owned business contracting policies, tourism, cultural arts, entertainment, and related matters.

  • Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee:

    • This committee may review environmental matters, climate resilience and adaptation, forestry, waterfront, heritage trees, open space, parks, rivers and lakes, aquifers, water quality, trash, recycling, and compost, sustainability, cemeteries, and issues related to the City's water utility, including mission, scope and responsibilities of relevant advisory commissions and task forces, strategic plans, major capital purchases or transactions, and financial policies and the financial status of the utility.

🟪 Updated List of Council Committees and Appointments -> View the latest proposed list (1.17.2025) here. Below find the proposed Chairs and Vice Chairs

• Audit & Finance Committee

  • Mayor Kirk Watson, Chair

  • Council Member Ryan Alter (District 5), Vice Chair

• Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee

  • Council Member Chito Vela (District 4), Chair

  • Council Member Mike Siegel (District 7), Vice Chair

• Climate Water, Environment and Parks Committee

  • Council Member Ryan Alter, Chair

  • Council Member Paige Ellis (District 8), Vice Chair

• Economic Opportunity Committee

  • Council Member Zo Qadri (District 9), Chair

  • Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes (District 2), Vice Chair

• Housing and Planning Committee

  • Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1), Chair

  • Council Member Chito Vela, Vice Chair

• Mobility Committee

  • Council Member Paige Ellis

  • Council Member Zo Qadri

• Public Health Committee

  • Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, Chair

  • Council Member Marc Duchen (District 10), Vice Chair

• Public Safety Committee

  • Council Member José Velásquez (District 3), Chair

  • Council Member Krista Laine (District 6), Vice Chair

🟪 Also Check Out

• Essential Resources for Navigating the City of Austin in 2025