North Central Austin Edition | September 2023

Government

BY DARCY SPRAGUE & BEN THOMPSON

Austin ocials push for A/C requirement A new rule to ensure all housing across the city is equipped to keep residents cool could be in place as soon as next summer. What happened? While Austin requires residential appli- ances to be in working order, there’s no city mandate for air conditioning in housing in the rst place. As Austinites endured more than 45 triple-degree days this summer, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes proposed a new requirement to keep all rooms in a residence at a “comfortable” level well below outside temperatures. Following council’s Aug. 31 approval of that measure, a city code amendment process will get underway before a nal ordinance solidies any new rules.

Site plan woes Applicants to Austin’s development services are broadly dissatised with the system, according to a survey by McKinsey & Co., as reviews are taking longer to move through the city.

Average city review days per application

200 150 100 50

171 183

152

134 127

100 98 105 111 113

2020 Q4

2021 Q1

2021 Q2

2021 Q3

2021 Q4

2022 Q1

2022 Q2

2022 Q3

2022 Q4

2023 Q1

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Consultants to oversee $2.5M permitting xes McKinsey & Co. consultants will oversee initial updates to Austin’s development reviews, after the rm reported on broad dissatisfaction with the city’s processes this summer. What happened In August, McKinsey released an extensive

report on ndings and proposed improvements after taking a deep dive into Austin’s site plan review process. Some changes are already in eect and others are underway, according to the city. While that work came at no cost to Austin, City Council approved a $2.5 million contract to keep McKinsey around for six months as the recom- mended xes are rolled out. “‘You have brought to us a really robust analysis of what our problems are in the site planning process. Now, we’re hiring you to implement what we need to do to x all those things,’” Mayor Kirk Watson said Aug. 29 about the contract.

Henderson conrmed as Austin interim police chief Robin Henderson took the reigns at the Austin Police Department on Sept. 3 following City Coun- cil’s unanimous conrmation of her appointment as interim police chief Aug. 31. The details of sta overseeing department operations. “I value the trust [Chacon] has put in me to move the organization forward in a positive direction,” Henderson said in a statement. “I am truly honored and humbled and I appreciate the

opportunity to serve as your Interim Chief.” Henderson will remain in the role until a permanent chief is chosen by the city manager and conrmed by council following a search process.

Henderson took over after former Police Chief Joseph Chacon’s retirement Sept. 2. She’s been with the APD for 26 years and was Chacon’s chief

Austin ocials unanimously conrmed Robin Henderson’s appointment in late August.

COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN

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