City of Austin Council Message Board

We created an FAQ designed to provide clarity on how the Strong Local Commerce Initiative supports local entrepreneurs while protecting the peace and character of our residential neighborhoods. 1. WHAT IS THE STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE (SLC) INITIATIVE? For decades, Austin’s rules essentially required ne...

Colleagues, Following the recent passage of state legislation (HB 2464 and SB 541) that significantly expands the rights of home-based businesses and cottage food operations, it is clear that the landscape for local commerce in Austin is shifting. While these state laws protect "no-impact"...

Good afternoon Colleagues, I hope you are staying warm this icy Monday afternoon. My office was just informed that City Hall will have a delayed opening tomorrow due to the continued freezing temperatures. The building is scheduled to open at 10 a.m., so we are pushing the Housing & Planning Com...

Mayor Watson, Thank you for outlining the 2026 council committee and intergovernmental appointments. It has been an honor to serve my current committee appointments, as they align with my HEMs policy priorities – Housing, Economic Opportunity, and Mobility. However, in my final year as the represent...

Colleagues, Happy New Year! I’d like to echo Mayor Watson in welcoming our three new Council Members—here’s to a productive and collaborative 2025! I strongly support the new and revised committees. Leveraging these committees as a tool for more efficient policymaking, deeper discussions, and thorou...