Council: The Next Code is CodeNEXT

City Council, still in exile at Travis County Commissioners Court, today (Oct. 23) faces a relatively sedate 56-Item agenda, and none of the obvious hot-button issues – like regulating transportation network companies – that have energized (or plagued) recent meetings. There are a couple of housekeeping matters related to the upcoming 10-1 transition (City Clerk Items 6 and 7), updating the number that constitutes a supermajority and adjusting inauguration dates (listed on consent, but it might undergo a bit of lexical tinkering from the dais). Also on consent is a purchasing office proposal (Item 23) for a long-term contract for the funding, design, and management of a golf course at Decker Lake Metropolitan Park – based on the external buzz, our guess is that will also earn additional scrutiny.

Council members seem to have nearly exhausted their recent tidal wave of policy resolutions, floating only a couple of new ideas. CM Laura Morrison (seconded by Mike Martinez and Kathie Tovo) proposes moving the amplified sound permit process from Parks and Recreation to the Music Office (Item 29); and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole (Item 30, co-sponsored by Bill Spelman) suggests exploring Internet crowdfunding as a way to help underwrite certain city initiatives, using as a pilot the Neighborhood Part­ner­ing Program (which matches city support to neighborhood volunteer time for particular projects, like park improvements). Other matters of note:

• There's a public hearing (Item 44) to revise "SMART" Housing regs – i.e., "Safe, Mixed-income, Accessible, Reasonably priced, Transit oriented" – though staff has requested a (likely) postponement.

• A first shot at the upcoming rewrite of the land development code – "CodeNEXT" – with a public hearing (Item 52) on "Code Approach Alternatives and Annotated Outline."

• Torchy's Tacos is planning a "flagship" restaurant at the former Fran's location at 1822 S. Congress – the hitch is nearby Fulmore Middle School (across the street), and a waiver request on the "no alcohol sales within 300 feet of a school" rule; public hearing is Item 53.

• A public hearing (Item 54) on revising minimum parking requirements for nonresidential uses to include metered spaces – a contentious issue in and near Downtown.

Among the proclamation honorees are the Austin Valkyries, Austin's storied women's rugby team. And Council will recognize Friday as National Food Day, an occasion to "resolve to make changes in our own diets and to take action to solve food-related problems in our communities at the local, state, and national level." This year's focus is on "food access and justice for food and farm workers." At the Chronicle, of course, it's always Food Day.