AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- An expected update on the City's efforts to find designated homeless encampment sites failed to materialize Tuesday, with city officials asking City Council members for more direction.
In a memo sent Tuesday to Austin Mayor Steve Adler and members of the City Council, Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey said secondary restrictions placed by the Council at its May 18 meeting has made it difficult to locate suitable city-owned sites.
"Applying all of the Secondary Criteria articulated by Council Members at the May 18 presentation and thereafter severely limits the use of City-owned land as an option for consideration," Grey wrote.
City Manager Spencer Cronk last promised an update on the city's search for suitable locations by June 1.
Under a new bill passed by the Texas Legislature and awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, cities would be prohibited from using parkland as temporary encampment sites. Abbott has indicated he plans to sign the measure into law; the bill would take effect on September 1.
The memo is seeking further policy guidance from Council members by June 10th, seeking final direction on the presented encampment location criteria and potential funding details for short-term strategies including encampments.
