AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here’s what we’re watching at the Austin City Council meeting Thursday.
In reaction to recent gun violence nationwide, the city council may begin a prolonged process of raising the age limit to 21 for buying AR-15s and other semi-automatic weapons.
The resolution would direct the city manager to explore all ways that the city could adopt this law.
“Like everyone in Texas, I am deeply shaken by the shooting in Uvalde. I still remember the horror in El Paso in 2019,” District 4 City Councilmember Jose “Chito” Vela said. “I don’t know yet what Austin can accomplish on gun violence of this kind, but I am committed to finding out.”
A similar item introduced by District 8 City Councilwoman Paige Ellis would urge the Biden administration, congress and the state of Texas to take action to reduce gun violence.
It directs the city manager to identify immediate options to protect residents and reduce gun violence at a local level.
Council members will vote on raising the minimum wage for city employees from $15 to $22 an hour.
According to the City of Austin, 18% of its budgeted positions are open.
For full-time employees, a $22 hourly wage would equal an annual salary of just over $45,000.
City Manager Spencer Cronk estimates that this increase could cost the city between $18.2 and $22.8 million.
District 6 City Councilwoman Mackenzie Kelly has pointed out that the city is limited by a 3.5% cap on the property tax revenue increase,...
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