Item 16 — Thursday, May 21, 2026
Agenda PDF Legistar Official votes
Source information changed after this summary was written. The earlier summary is withheld.
Current official agenda wording
Approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of one or more series of City of Austin, Texas, Special Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (Convention Center Project), in a par amount not to exceed $1,350,000,000 to fund the Convention Center expansion project, in accordance with the parameters set out in the ordinance; authorizing related documents; approving the payment of costs of issuance; and rescinding Ordinance No. 20251023-009. Funding: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 debt service requirements and estimated annual administration fees for the paying agent/registrar for the proposed bond sale are included in the Operating Budget of the Convention Center Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue Bond Redemption Fund.
"Without objection, item number 16 is approved" — meeting transcript (unofficial)
What got said
Attributed statements from the meeting transcript, not official agenda values.
- Hotel and visitor industry representatives strongly supported the $1.35B convention center bonds
- Bill Bunch warned the convention industry is declining and called for a 'time out'
- Council member Siegel later added as voting yes after being off the dais
The roll call
Approved 9-0
Member records (11)
- Kirk Watson Mayor Yes
- Natasha Harper-Madison D1 Absent
- Vanessa Fuentes D2 Absent
- José Velásquez D3 Yes
- José "Chito" Vela D4 Yes
- Ryan Alter D5 Yes
- Krista Laine D6 Yes
- Mike Siegel D7 Yes
- Paige Ellis D8 Yes
- Zohaib "Zo" Qadri D9 Yes
- Marc Duchen D10 Yes