Austin committee approves budget recommendations on scooter parking and disability observances

The Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities on March 20 approved two budget recommendations it will forward to the Austin City Council: one asking the city to allocate funds to address micromobility devices impeding public walkways, and another requesting funds to support and recognize observances for people with disabilities.

The recommendations were presented by Commissioner Connor Kelly and discussed by committee members before both passed on voice votes. "The 2 recommendations we have are essentially in line with what we discussed at the last meeting," Commissioner Connor Kelly said, summarizing the proposals. The committee recorded "aye" votes and no opposition; no roll-call vote was taken.

The first recommendation asks the city to allocate funds to develop signage and to enforce the section of the code of ordinances that requires scooters and other micromobility devices to be parked appropriately so they do not block sidewalks or other public walkways. Committee members framed the item as a continuation of ongoing conversations about scooters and pedestrian access. The committee voted to approve that recommendation; the motion was moved by Commissioner Connor Kelly and seconded by Commissioner Kristen Visayo.

The second recommendation asks the city to recognize and celebrate people with disabilities by allocating funds to support attendance at or programming for events such as Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. "I really stand behind this recommendation," Commissioner Kristen Visayo said, noting the committee's prior history of community engagement.

Committee members also scheduled follow-up items for the April meeting, including a presentation from Deb Miller about the paratransit system and proposed changes affecting provisional riders, officer elections and nominations for primary and secondary positions on the joint inclusion committee, and discussion about forming a working group to establish City of Austin interview-panel priorities and participation.

The committee opened the special-called meeting at 5:30 p.m. and approved minutes from its March 7 regular meeting before taking the budget votes. Both budget recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council as the committee's formal recommendations; the committee did not provide dollar amounts or an implementation timeline in the meeting record.