City Manager Spotlight: Five Issues To Watch for Monday’s Candidate Town Hall
City Manager Spotlight: Five Issues To Watch for Monday’s Candidate Town Hall
As Austin stands at a pivotal crossroads, the upcoming town hall meeting with city manager candidates T.C. Broadnax and Sara Hensley is more than just a discussion—it's a crucial dialogue on the direction of one of America's fastest-growing cities.
With both candidates bringing seasoned experience from their respective cities—Dallas and Denton—their perspectives on Austin's pressing issues promise a comprehensive debate on the future of our city. As we prepare for this significant event, let's dive into the key topics that are likely to shape the conversation, offering background and context to each.
Land Use, Land Code Revisions and Affordability:
Austin's rapid growth has sparked a housing affordability crisis, with rising costs pushing residents to the outskirts. The push to increase housing stock in recent years has showed some positive signs over the past year with rents decreasing modestly and home prices slowing their climb. The outdated land development code, which has not been comprehensively revised since the 1980s, is now being updated in a piecemeal fashion.
Key Considerations:
Density Bonuses: Proposals to allow developers to build taller and denser projects in exchange for providing affordable housing units.
Streamlining Approvals: Reducing bureaucratic hurdles to accelerate the development of both market-rate and affordable housing.
Neighborhood Preservation: Balancing development with the preservation of Austin's unique neighborhoods and cultural heritage.
Public Safety, Police Contract, and Bolstering Staffing
The city has faced challenges in balancing public safety with calls for police reform, coupled with staffing shortages in emergency services that have affected response times and community policing efforts. The city also continues to contend with lawsuits tied to the response to public protests in 2020, as well as perceptions that sections of downtown and other areas are increasingly unsafe.
Key Considerations:
Reforming the Police Contract: Ensuring accountability and transparency while also supporting the recruitment and retention of officers.
Community Policing: Strategies to strengthen the relationship between the police force and the communities they serve.
Mental Health Response: Developing alternative response strategies for mental health and social service calls to reduce the burden on police.
Homelessness
Austin has seen a visible increase in homelessness, with debates on how best to address the needs of the unhoused population while balancing community concerns. Homelessness service agencies such as Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Foundation Communities deliver a substantial supply of permanent supportive housing, especially over the past 12 months, which provides some hope of finding lasting solutions for homelessness. Still, questions remain over how the city can provide ongoing funding for wraparound medical, mental health and related supportive services.
Key Considerations:
Housing First Model: Prioritizing access to housing as a baseline for addressing other issues such as employment, health care, and substance abuse.
Support Services: Integrating social services to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness.
Community Engagement: Collaborating with neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits to create comprehensive solutions.
Transportation and Mobility: Project Connect and Mass Transit, and Interstate 35 Reconstruction
As traffic congestion worsens, the need for sustainable and efficient transportation solutions becomes critical. Projects like Project Connect and the I-35 reconstruction aim to address these issues but are rife with complications. Legal challenges over the funding mechanism for Project Connect have clouded its future. And the city will face roughly a decade of traffic disruptions once the state begins work to bury and expand I-35 beginning in 2026.
Key Considerations:
Project Connect: Implementation of a comprehensive mass transit system, including light rail and bus rapid transit, to improve mobility and reduce reliance on cars.
I-35 Reconstruction: Balancing the need for improved traffic flow with concerns about community impact and displacement.
Sustainable Transportation: Promoting cycling, walking, and electric vehicle use as part of a broader mobility strategy.
Equity and Opportunity Vs. Tight Budgeting
With economic uncertainties looming due to flattening sales tax receipts and the end of federal stimulus programs, Austin faces the challenge of promoting equity and opportunity while managing fiscal constraints.
Key Considerations:
Equitable Development: Ensuring that growth and development benefit all Austinites, particularly historically marginalized communities.
Fiscal Management: Balancing the budget with a focus on essential services and investments in social infrastructure.
Economic Opportunity: Supporting small businesses, workforce development, and education initiatives to build a resilient economy.
The leadership and vision of the next city manager will be instrumental in shaping the city's future, and the town hall will offer a first glimpse into how Broadnax and Hensley view these issues. It will also show the public how they may choose to interact with the members of City Council, including Mayor Kirk Watson and his “action first” approach to conducting city business.
By focusing on these key topics, we can gain insights into their approaches to guiding Austin through its current challenges toward a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future.
//A.J. Bingham, Founder & CEO, Bingham Group
🟪 Contact A.J. at: aj@binghamgp.com