Austin City Council welcomes Deborah Thomas as new city attorney

The Austin City Council convened on April 24, 2025, with a focus on procedural updates and key personnel changes. The meeting began with an acknowledgment of Council Member Velasquez, who participated remotely. The council also welcomed Deborah Thomas as the new city attorney, marking her first meeting in this role after the interim title was officially dropped.

Additionally, the council recognized Bob Kahn, the general manager of Austin Energy, who attended his final meeting before retirement. Kahn was honored earlier in the day with a distinguished service award for his contributions to the city.

The agenda for the meeting included a review of changes and corrections, followed by discussions on the consent agenda. Notably, item number 11 was postponed at the request of Council Member Ellis. The council planned to address item number 50 later, pending clarification on whether it would remain on the consent agenda or also be postponed.

The meeting's structure included non-consent items, imminent domain discussions, and public hearings scheduled for noon. Public communication was set for a designated time, with a focus on live music zoning discussions at 2:00 PM. An executive session related to legal matters was also planned for later in the day.

Overall, the meeting highlighted significant transitions within the council and set the stage for ongoing discussions on various city matters. Further updates and decisions are expected as the council continues its agenda.