[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483386,"mediaKeyId","5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03","parentId",5827564,"title","Council raises wage requirement for creative content incentive; expands support for local film and game workforce","audioSeconds",259,"startMs",3183000,"endMs",3442000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03&start=3183&end=3442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03/thumbnail_3183000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483386/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-raises-wage-requirement-for-creative-content-incentive-expands-support-for-local-film-and-game-workforce","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483386-9ef0b34965f13fdd11006990372877fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516338&Signature=YjXeL5N8jMWIRwoaJZ~6GSVEavzjwfWLqvmqmwglF5zDvRIuQdzGlV8IroUNAJ8QbbpTMoT9HACnECMsSzIi16kxDIRN~oOJ~YwYevp2KXh-~OeEDQ2PSmTGPX~VP0yGGj3BGyijiOiTiPayZZp79CQyfZCJH26P2-vqSneHUjxpLQmOMs4oskk304cEcfE3if2rQF-1SG3xaj9vB0AzOoB7aLWWTZuD6LwJniRj5oMOICbDcUZo30bTwGcZsd2gPRt972SvUy6xsoYT5LEVpdeRPAJdnWFLI2WuBj881P5G~XduOUaqfXbis9VDKvb97cT5V0atmE15tb8Ee0wbKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin City Council on Sept. 25 amended and approved updates to the city's creative content incentive program to require that projects seeking the incentive pay either applicable union wage rates or the city living wage, whichever is higher.

Councilmember Sabina Siegel, who led the amendment, said the change is designed to make the city's film, television and video-game incentives an investment in Austin’s creative workforce rather than a subsidy that could undercut local pay standards. The amendment was developed with industry stakeholders and adopted by the council; the amended program was then approved as amended.

Why it matters: The state recently expanded incentives for the creative industry and council and staff said local updates were timely to ensure Austin-based projects also benefit local workers. Supporters told council the majority of creative-production workers are gig or intermittent hires who rely on strong hourly wages between jobs.

Process and vote
- The council considered item 9 as a consent-related item pulled for brief discussion. The original motion to adopt item 9 was made by Councilmember Caudrey and seconded by Councilmember Siegel.
- Councilmember Siegel moved the amendment to require union or living wages for incentive recipients; the amendment was seconded by Councilmember Kadri and adopted without objection.
- The main motion as amended was then adopted without objection.

Public comment and stakeholders
No public speakers were present for the item when it was called. Councilmembers said they had participated in stakeholder discussions and thanked Economic Development staff for outreach and for preparing program updates.

Implementation
City staff will update program guidelines to add the wage requirement and incorporate the changes into application materials. The change will be reflected in the program terms for future incentive awards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - City Council Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Council amended the creative content incentive to require applicants to pay either union rates or the city living wage, whichever is higher, then approved the program changes to better support local production jobs.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483390,"Council shifts vehicle-abatement authority to allow civilian staff involvement",337,5672000,6009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03&start=5672&end=6009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03/thumbnail_5672000.jpg","/articles/6483390/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-shifts-vehicle-abatement-authority-to-allow-civilian-staff-involvement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483390-b87f1f9b69f1b781dabab3bbc4129050/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516338&Signature=Y2x~8wftyUTLB-rkwAAUKGT-twNdGtBfXoqOpS6MNs8EgOfGuMsh-LH68QjeaIVgIenKT-xmrTXdVmtzQOgkNkb-qSh~jDjSGDBcm-Wd0qGyNmYE6CO15~~KG6Ag47qNlytONVG8WGOqrTy1cxHcUNrSHok3PmdFdppbGH5370wgSRdixsuSjODO~Yv13MR-9VeD4fh9G7CbYBusB2jq8GV4JERr7g9Wio0ZxhZVEJUtajm0MY5lQf-4M7wSq7XQ0ReIXQJ6MmUxVXwohoFMiTQA~mByB92WOROZfZgGc9U3wVOBektedz5FvgyEjby1JQwGIV1zqOAgfgXWlCVhcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin City Council on Sept. 25 approved an ordinance clarifying that non-sworn personnel may perform vehicle-abatement duties, a move Councilmembers said is intended to address a backlog of abandoned-vehicle complaints and free sworn police officers for other duties.

Councilmember Pio Renteria moved the item; it was seconded and adopted without recorded objection. Council discussion described the action as a first legal step that allows civilian staff at multiple departments, including Transportation and Public Works (TPW) and civilian Austin Police Department (APD) personnel, to carry out tagging and other administrative components of the abatement process.

Why it matters: Councilmembers said APD's small vehicle-abatement team had been overwhelmed by the number of calls and that using trained civilian staff could help clear a backlog without creating new sworn positions. The ordinance revises local code to reflect a state change that permits non-sworn officers to perform certain duties previously limited to sworn staff.

What staff told council
Lewis Lehi, assistant director of Transportation and Public Works, said the code change does not automatically shift all duties to TPW; instead it gives the city the legal flexibility to assign non-sworn staff across departments. Sgt. Huling, who oversees the APD abatement unit, told council there are fees associated with towing and that how those fees are treated (general fund receipts versus a dedicated program) will be discussed with the budget office as staff design the operational model.

Speakers and concerns
No members of the public who signed up to speak were present when the item was taken up. Councilmember Vela said the item was a first step and that staff must next map which portions of the abatement workflow—initial response, tagging, documentation, towing coordination—could be handled by civilian personnel and what resources would be needed in future budgets.

Next steps
Staff will return with implementation plans that outline which tasks civilian staff can take on, associated resource requirements and whether non-general-fund fee revenue could help pay for program expansion. Councilmembers asked staff to evaluate options before making budget requests.","Austin voted to clarify code so non-sworn, civilian staff may perform vehicle-abatement duties; Transportation and Public Works will help identify which tasks non-sworn staff can carry out as city teams redesign the program.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483394,"Austin council restores medical authority to shelter veterinarians, requires rescue notice for lactating animals",4119,6686000,10805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03&start=6686&end=10805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03/thumbnail_6686000.jpg","/articles/6483394/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-council-restores-medical-authority-to-shelter-veterinarians-requires-rescue-notice-for-lactating-animals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483394-c224b6b6ed3b6658e6f561e3663a7b20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516338&Signature=MrWgSNMhY9wN5f3WBb-5kYr3HnSoIDrIjlLYjXyFd9a-MknRXz0pWGKWv6sx4cJV-iEFojbRs14qqO7rAzdYAQtxXNGvqUiOJXZj~jBr2JcMvEo-Rvy~66TzrIrJXUSUOGfUaF0WlNI0ObWAzphQ6JAE24YG38uHOM9svU~sJ3nU0Z-5GZu45hoyjp6m1cVcfeocEKf-zPHA~qToz~prR9sLApAGwjdQ70I9IzWeY0pTZvP6MqySUVTccDy1M~ZDX80EkL2Xv9of5hi5xaOQKS23Lj7lfT35GjK2hWN1dvYiVtNu2Y9Y-8FJLBTLbUNOCK5bikymcNznWK1k8h-EOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin City Council on Sept. 25 adopted an amendment to the city animal-services ordinance that restores veterinarians at Austin Animal Center (AAC) primary authority to make medical and surgical decisions for city-owned animals and directs staff to notify a rescue partner when animals are lactating.

The move followed hours of public comment from rescue groups, veterinarians and residents and a council amendment offered by Mayor Kirk Watson to add a specific notification requirement for lactating animals. Councilmember Ann Kitchen Lane made the initial motion to pass the ordinance as posted; the mayor’s amendment was adopted 6–4 with one abstention and the council then approved the ordinance as amended without further objection.

Why it matters: The change addresses a long-running dispute between AAC operations and community rescue partners over whether visibly pregnant or nursing animals should be spayed at the municipal shelter or transferred to rescues. Supporters said returning medical discretion to trained shelter veterinarians will allow faster, humane care and better use of scarce kennel space. Opponents warned the change could hide outcomes from the public and result in more animals being euthanized without full transparency.

Key facts and votes
- Motion to adopt item 3 (ordinance change) was moved by Councilmember Lane and seconded by Councilmember Vela.
- Mayor Watson proposed an amendment directing the city manager to notify Austin Pets Alive (APA) of lactating animals so APA can pick them up within three hours of Austin Animal Center providing notice; that amendment was seconded by Councilmember Alter and passed on a recorded voice count of 6 yes, 4 no, with Councilmember Ellis abstaining.
- The ordinance as amended was then adopted by the council without further objection.

What council and speakers said
Public commenters included veterinarians, rescue volunteers and Austin residents. Veterinarian Paige Nelson said in her remarks that \"spaying pregnant animals is safe and humane\" and urged the council to trust shelter veterinarians’ medical judgment. Ellen Jefferson, president of Austin Pets Alive, said removing the public-notice requirement would “start closing our city doors to the community again” and urged transparency and continued partnership. Community speaker Sandra Muller urged the council to be “proactive rather than reactive,” saying the shelter was already strained.

Councilmembers expressed competing priorities across animal welfare, shelter capacity and transparency. Councilmember Lane said she intended to restore professional discretion to medical staff while requiring clearer data reporting; Councilmember Duchin and others urged more stakeholder engagement and better data before wholesale changes.

Implementation and direction
The adopted amendment leaves medical decision authority with AAC veterinarians and adds the mayor’s direction that the city manager must notify APA of lactating animals so APA can pick up lactating animals within three hours of notice from animal services. Council discussion referenced the 2011 no-kill implementation plan and a 2025 strategic plan as relevant policy documents.

What remains unclear
Speakers on both sides asked for clearer reporting of transfers, court-ordered euthanasias and other outcomes. Several commenters said they had conflicting figures about transfers and intake and urged the council to require consistent, publicly available data from AAC and its partners.

Next steps
Council staff and the city manager’s office will implement the adopted direction and the mayor’s motion. Councilmembers asked staff to continue working with partners on reporting, process clarity and capacity, and several members said they expected follow-up briefing materials and data in coming weeks.

Ending note
The vote concluded a heated public debate over municipal shelter practice and rescue partnerships that has stretched across multiple meetings this year. Councilmembers described the action as an attempt to balance professional medical judgment at the shelter with continued collaboration with rescue organizations.","After weeks of public debate, the City Council adopted changes to the city animal-services ordinance that restore medical decision-making to Austin Animal Center veterinarians and add a requirement that Austin Pets Alive be notified when lactating animals are available for transfer.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483377,"Council approves Convention Center site plan after neighbors raise transparency and waiver concerns",519,6694000,7213000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03&start=6694&end=7213","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03/thumbnail_6694000.jpg","/articles/6483377/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-approves-Convention-Center-site-plan-after-neighbors-raise-transparency-and-waiver-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483377-09035a477717e9cfb19f19af3ef6a6fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516338&Signature=B68Sdi2tQheXt1x9txpBr4h-Fxn7FHMA2U77K5yuc7wp4M6pRonXsrWddrTqb9VlndJUu-IqPZOwwLw3awWSsRi8YTeO9P8NixafemaW~F2DoeRFa1LVS43zIu6ZvtE8QcblXNRMzgFfpjOj4TPL1rJlcXhE9zmGu8RNLesMkT8CHpcwBzwDrjItiXhPnKHB2lx2tvcmZKbhsefJt5J2whDr1TLPkJqha~jNGTjEEL9B1utqCPa1aYKs-wYPogXdSwdtWlxZL2s13memW0MXOOgDMpsXkisjuebN6qVsQM1iZR~1IO3bmHwQJr7PLy6WUveZT5Djy3EzRg0Ijdx47w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin City Council on Sept. 25 closed a public hearing and approved a site plan for the Austin Convention Center expansion (item 63) after receiving public comments from neighborhood groups and preservation advocates who said posting and waiver disclosures were incomplete.

Speakers representing neighborhood associations and the Save Our Springs Alliance urged the council to delay approval until staff provided additional budget details and clearer public notice about waivers referenced in plan documents. Attorney Bobby Levinsky told the council he had found multiple waivers embedded in posted plan documents and asked why the case packet stated \"waivers: none.\" Staff responded that the waivers were approved administratively and therefore not before council for action.

Council action and questions
The council voted to adopt the site plan on consent; Councilmember Duchin asked for time to review late materials and was shown abstaining on the vote. Interim Austin Development Services Director Keith Marrs told council that administrative approvals had addressed technical waivers and that no waivers required council action.

Why it matters
Speakers questioned transparency and the availability of detailed budget and waiver documentation for a multi-hundred-million-dollar project. One commenter who opposed the site plan noted the city has not produced the full financing breakdown that was promised in earlier briefings.

Next steps
Council adopted the site plan. Staff said additional details on drainage outfalls and other technical components will be coordinated with future filings and that administrative waivers remain documented in the project file. Councilmember Duchin’s abstention was recorded on the final vote.","Council closed a public hearing and approved the Convention Center site plan; nearby residents and preservation groups asked for more disclosure about waivers and fiscal details, which staff said are being handled administratively.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483382,"Austin Housing Finance Corporation approves five affordable-housing loans totaling about $31.2 million",690,4456000,5146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03&start=4456&end=5146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827564-e468d5f4c355573f08b0673f052f0b03/thumbnail_4456000.jpg","/articles/6483382/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Housing-Finance-Corporation-approves-five-affordable-housing-loans-totaling-about-312-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483382-8b5c68679904abe5788b395efa0eb8de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516338&Signature=fobP16zyRrTZzelsGdVwGBW2abzfPH3Lgs7oGiIouTfVr2itG2sKSIFyZFA4HKwoeClUbJyQ6bX5n8F6GzbdxeNbnzyJ5PC0lShqoBaKBOeTkJtBVhBWkzy2C2YZ72PCrDg7ysFJYTKRTWYIogKBYZR~lkiZiyRVNFgb-2T6LAfDmDSdXlskpLwj1pCE1IdGVZ0aWZlwdNeoVlrS9buFeTkpnN04z1~JBsZEpETWKFNO3GELISuc9CGjHtpJeDEH3nSGIUs-okcg1dczuB0yZabdZTplCgJc2Hni~qmNJP0r~yzllGJsjfnjdXr2hQz1brvCOZn9ewfXX5dS-1XjMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) board voted on Sept. 25 to approve five loan-related items on consent totaling approximately $31.2 million to support affordable housing projects across multiple council districts.

Board members approved:
- Up to $11,700,000 in a loan agreement with Foundation Communities for Crossroads Apartments (110 units) in District 7.
- An amendment to the Housing Authority local voucher program contract for about $7,800,000.
- A $4,500,000 agreement for the redevelopment of Santa Rita Courts (96 units) in District 3 with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin.
- Up to $1,700,000 for rehabilitation of St. George's Court senior housing (60 units) in District 4.
- Up to $5,500,000 for a 9% tax-credit project, Waverly North (76 units) in District 9.

The items were offered on consent by AHFC staff and approved with no objections. Board members praised staff for the housing-department work that supports construction and preservation of affordable units. Council member and board members requested continued attention to equitable siting and transit access for new developments.

Why it matters: The loans support preservation and construction of deeply and low-income housing and voucher programs across several council districts. Board members highlighted the value of federal tax-credit leverage and local loan support to keep units affordable.","The Austin Housing Finance Corporation board approved five loan agreements on consent, including funding for Crossroads Apartments, Santa Rita Courts redevelopment, St. George Court senior housing and Waverly North tax-credit project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council raises wage requirement for creative content incentive; expands support for local film and game workforce

Council shifts vehicle-abatement authority to allow civilian staff involvement

Austin council restores medical authority to shelter veterinarians, requires rescue notice for lactating animals

Council approves Convention Center site plan after neighbors raise transparency and waiver concerns

Austin Housing Finance Corporation approves five affordable-housing loans totaling about $31.2 million