The Austin City Council will act first Monday night to approve the appointment of Neil Fedson to the 1st Ward council seat vacated by Roberto Romo earlier this month.

Sunday, October 31, 1999

The Austin City Council will act first Monday night to approve the appointment of Neil Fedson to the 1st Ward council seat vacated by Roberto Romo earlier this month.

Once Fedson is safely on board, the entire council will sail on to hear citizens – including Community Police Officer Ernesto Cantu and Mission owner Bobbi Goebel – address the council.

Cantu has arranged in advance to address the council; Goebel told the Austin Daily Herald on Wednesday that she would be addressing the council, but she was not on the agenda on Sunday. It isn’t necessary to be added to the agenda in advance, however, citizens are given an opportunity to speak near the beginning of each 5:30 p.m. council meeting.

For those who remember the dissension over the airport expansion over the summer of 1998, the council may take one of the final steps toward action Monday with the approval of a contract with ACGS consultants, who will work with the land acquisition and relocation phase of the contract.

One big stumbling block: funding for the airport project is still pending, because the U.S. Congress has yet to authorize the Airport Improvement Program. However, with the council’s approval, much of the groundwork involved with the acquisition of property can be accomplished, leaving the city in a position to acquire property in a timely manner once the funds become available.

For residents of Burrwood addition whose homes – 17 in total – will be removed for expansion, it’s about time. Frustration with the city’s lack of communication and ever-lengthening timeline has been building, according to resident Chris Hogan.

Also on Monday’s agenda is a proposal for a change to the Austin City Code regarding the 18 liquor licenses in the city. Currently, those licenses would mostly be classified as "street bar" licenses. The change would give the city leeway to up the qualifications for several of the licenses – if returned to the city – limiting them to establishments that serve food and seat/sleep a certain number of people.

"I see this as mostly wishful thinking," 3rd Ward Councilman Dick Lang said. "First a license would have to come back to the city, and that would take a place going broke or violating the law. It wouldn’t effect any existing license, and it wouldn’t stop an existing establishment from selling its license to someone else. I predict it will be years before this has any effect at all."

Council meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the lower level of the Municipal Building at 500 4th Ave. NE. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.