Item #45

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Steve Adler
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:12 pm

Item #45

Post by Steve Adler »

Council members,

Below are amendments proposed to the resolution regarding neighborhood planning contact teams.

RESOLUTION NO.

WHEREAS, the Land Development Code (Sec. 25-1-801) defines a
neighborhood plan contact team (“contact team”) as a group of individuals
designated to implement an adopted neighborhood plan; and

WHEREAS, the work of contact teams has varied across the city, and at times included one or more of the following: plan development, work with city staff to prioritize the implementation of the plan, review and initiation of plan amendments, serving as the community point of contact, and working on behalf of neighborhood stakeholders;
and

WHEREAS, the Land Development Code (Sec. 25-1-801) states that a
contact team is a separate body apart from any other existing or future
neighborhood organization; and

WHEREAS, the Land Development Code (Sec. 25-1-805) sets forth criteria
for membership on a contact team but does not identify how the members are
designated; and

WHEREAS, the Land Development Code (Sec. 25-1-805) sets forth certain
reporting responsibilities for a contact team but does not have a codified
enforcement mechanism when a contact team is not complying with the City Code
or its own bylaws; and

WHEREAS, contact teams are self-governing and have varied requirements
for membership and voting, with some requiring a lengthy residency period before
an individual may participate in the contact team; and

WHEREAS, an open and inclusive process for contact teams can ensure
that a variety of voices are heard and well-informed decisions are made; and

WHEREAS, the FY 2015 Audit Plan calls for the Office of the City Auditor
to conduct an audit of Neighborhood Planning Communication including
neighborhood plan contact teams, slated for completion in 2015;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
The City Manager is directed to initiate code amendments to the Land Development Code (Title 25) to add oversight and compliance requirements for
contact teams, including:
• The ability for the City to formally recognize contact teams for
planning areas and to require that contact team bylaws comply with the uniform template described in Sec. 25-1-805(E).
• Requirements for contact teams to ensure official meetings are open to the public, such as advertising the meeting with reasonable advance notice, holding the meeting at a place open and accessible to the public, and preparing documentation of actions,
• A fair process for the City to rescind recognition of a contact team if it does not comply with the requirements, and
• A fair process to handle community-initiated grievances pertaining to contact
teams.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The City Manager is directed to hold public meetings to solicit input regarding the
code amendments from stakeholders (including, without limitation, contact team members, neighborhood residents, and neighborhood associations), hold a public hearing at the Planning Commission, bring the changes to the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee, and present recommendations to the full City Council within 120 days.

ADOPTED: ____________,2015 ATTEST: ________________________
Jannette S. Goodall
City Clerk
Mayor
Steve Adler
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:12 pm

Re: Item #45

Post by Steve Adler »

Word document with proposed amendments: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 155653.doc
Mayor
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