Austin City Council approves sewer and wastewater contracts, easements and housing support; delays Oakland Avenue items pending DBE review

The Austin City Council approved a series of project awards, contract agreements and land-use decisions at its meeting, while staff warned that items related to the Oakland Avenue project were removed from the agenda pending state Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Office of Civil Rights review.

The council voted to award the Todd Park sanitary sewer work to JJD Companies LLC after the engineering department reported it received informal bids and said the low bid aligned with the engineer's estimate. Staff said the work is budgeted in the 2025 CIP and that building fund dollars would be used to cover any remaining costs.

Council also approved Change Order No. 8 for the wastewater treatment plant project; staff said the cost will be split between the project's domestic and industrial budgets. In a separate vote, the council approved an agreement with consultant SE for inspection and construction management services for phase one of the wastewater levy project. Staff reminded council that the city previously awarded the construction contract to Yulan Brothers (about $7.5 million) and said the city will pair a $4 million DNR grant with local sales-tax dollars on a roughly 50/50 split to fund construction. Staff presented estimated administrative costs for the consultant services in the meeting materials and recommended approval.

Two five-foot easements requested by MetroNet to run along portions of the library and adjacent park/pool parcels were approved after staff said the documents had been reviewed and edited with the company. The easements are intended to allow private utility placement adjacent to the Paramount Theater and nearby properties while following existing utility corridors, staff said.

On housing, council approved a request for financial support for the Cedar View Apartments. Tagert told council the current application window gives the project up to two years to act; one council member abstained from the vote because the project involves their employer, Three Rivers Community Action, and the abstention was noted on the record.

The council also acted on land-use appeals: it denied a fence-height appeal from Armando Pedro (the planning commission had recommended denial) and approved a green-space variance for Arip Properties LLC to reduce required landscaping from 20% to 11% to accommodate a parking reconfiguration tied to a drive-through. Smaller routine items, including accepting donations to the city's flower program, were approved by unanimous votes as announced by the clerk.

Staff told the council that several Oakland Avenue items were removed because the state had not yet completed required DBE and Office of Civil Rights reviews for a federally supported project. Staff noted DBE participation goals that will apply to the approximately $15 million construction contract and said they will schedule a special council meeting as soon as state authorization is received so the project can proceed.

Votes at a glance

- Tax abatement (25th Avenue SW home, estimated value $350,000): approved. - Todd Park sanitary sewer contract award (JJD Companies LLC): approved. - Wastewater treatment plant Change Order No. 8: approved. - Agreement with SE for inspection/construction management (wastewater, phase one): approved. - MetroNet easements (library parcel and pool parcel): both approved. - Cedar View Apartments financial support: approved (one abstention noted due to employment conflict). - Fence appeal (Armando Pedro): denied. - Green-space variance (Arip Properties LLC): approved. - Donations (flower program): accepted.

Why it matters

The council's approvals move forward multiple capital and utility projects that affect neighborhood infrastructure and city-owned property. The wastewater project in particular combines a large construction contract with a $4 million DNR grant and sets the city up to begin a multi-phase construction program that staff said will run into 2026. The removal of Oakland Avenue items until the state completes DBE and civil-rights reviews highlights how federal funding and associated compliance reviews can alter project schedules and require extra coordination.

What's next

Staff said they will request a special meeting once the state finishes its DBE and Office of Civil Rights review for the Oakland Avenue project. The council also confirmed dates this summer for a series of budget meetings, leading to preliminary levy action in September. The meeting recessed and the council moved to a five-minute break before the work session.