Council approves consent agenda, settles lawsuits and authorizes eminent domain; housing loans and rezoning moves addressed

Mayor Kirk Watson called the Austin City Council to order at 10 a.m. on May 8 and the council approved a broad consent agenda that included legal settlements, committee actions, eminent-domain authorizations and multiple housing finance items.

The law department recommended, and the council approved as part of consent, a $90,000 payment to settle Carolyn Nelson v. City of Austin for injuries from a May 2022 fall on city property, and a $550,000 payment to settle Jessica Arellano v. City of Austin et al., an officer-involved shooting from Jan. 5, 2021. As the city’s Assistant City Attorney put it during the meeting, the department “recommends that you approve payment based upon these terms,” referring to the releases and dismissal-with-prejudice provisions in each settlement.

Also on consent, the council adopted an Audit & Finance Committee recommendation to amend the Zero Waste Advisory Commission bylaws to remove its Organics Management Committee, and approved reappointments to the Municipal Civil Service Commission. The mayor pro tem, as chair of the Public Health Committee, moved and council approved the appointment of Laurie Eiserlo to the Sobering Center Local Government Corporation board of directors.

Separately, the council authorized two nonconsent condemnation items. The motion, made by Council Member Alter and seconded by Council Member Vela, authorized use of eminent domain to acquire properties described on the agenda for…