Austin City Council members voted 5-2 last night to pass a plan that regulates short term rental properties.
The plan puts no limit on the number of short term rentals that are owner-occupied. But council members put a cap on the percentage of homes per census tract that can be used primarily as short term rentals. All short term rental homeowners will have to register with the city and pay hotel tax.
Council members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo, who had been pushing for an outright ban on rentals that aren’t the renters' primary residence, voted against the regulations.
Council members also voted to put a charter amendment on the November ballot that will ask voters to give city staff job protections and standards similar to those enjoyed by Austin public safety responders. Essentially, rank-and-file city workers could not be fired or disciplined without “just cause,” and would be granted an appeal arbitration.
“Our challenge now is to make city of Austin voters understand what this is about, to win the hearts and minds of these voters,” Greg Powell, business manager for the Local 1624 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that pushed the proposal, told KUT News.
The council also decided to postpone a discussion about expanding the Austin City Limits Music Festival to two weekends. It also pushed back consideration of a new concert event at Auditorium Shores on the weekend of the Formula One race.
Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for August 16. A council work session delving deeper into City Manager Marc Ott’s proposed city budget is scheduled for August 7.
