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Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:31 pm
by Ellen Troxclair
Colleagues,

As our community finds itself in the midst of a declared disaster with respect to the state of our public water utility, I would first like to thank: the people of Austin for remaining calm and understanding throughout these past four days, and for making the necessary sacrifices to conserve water and helping to get us back on track to normalcy; our Austin Water staff who’ve been working around the clock on to get clean drinking water back to our residents and businesses; our City Manager for his handling of this unprecedented water service disruption, as well as all of our Emergency Operations Command partners.

While it is essential that we first get through this crisis, looking forward, I believe that the public deserves and would greatly benefit from an open dialogue with City and Water Management, examining what led to our present situation, what went right, what went wrong, and what we can do to be better prepared in the future. It’s important that we, as Austin’s elected officials, demonstrate leadership in working toward ensuring we never find ourselves in this situation again.

Below is also a resolution for which I’m seeking your during our next Council meeting on November 1st, assuming that we have resumed normal operations by that time. I would be grateful for any co-sponsors who wish to support this measure as an addendum to our upcoming Council meeting agenda:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 73037.docx

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:53 pm
by Alison Alter
Good afternoon Council Member Troxclair,

Thank you for drafting this resolution. I would be happy to co-sponsor. I also would like to thank our staff and city manager for their work to restore our water supply, and our residents for their adaptability and patience during this time. I am hopeful that conditions will continue to improve and the boil water notice will be lifted in a matter of days.


Regards,
Alison Alter

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 9:36 am
by Amy Smith (D7)
Council Member Troxclair,

Council Member Pool is confirmed to cosponsor.

Thank you.

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 3:22 pm
by Ann Kitchen
I am interested in cosponsoring the work but need more time to evaluate the direction and the scope of analysis, with a focus on learning for future needs and considering impact of plans like Water Forward. I also think the final report may benefit with some additional time to allow the event to more fully conclude and provide staff some time to ensure systems are safe and back to normal for the public.

I suggest posting for the end of November may be more productive.

Best regards,
Ann Kitchen

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 3:33 pm
by David Chincanchan
Council Member Troxclair,

Council Member Renteria asked me to respond on his behalf. He asked me to thank you for bringing this item forward and echoes your gratitude to Austin residents, local businesses, and City of Austin staff and emergency responders who are all working together and making sacrifices to manage this unprecedented situation. He believes that it is absolutely necessary to have an open and public discussion regarding the circumstances that led to the issuance of the “boil water” notice and potential solutions the City and our regional partners can implement to address and prevent similar situations in the future.

However, he is concerned that placing this item as an addendum on next week’s Council agenda may take essential staff time and resources away from their efforts to address the current emergency.

He said he would like to join as a co-sponsor if you and other Council Members supporting the initiative would consider taking the item up at the second meeting in November in order to allow staff to focus on the immediate needs.

Thank you for your time,

David Chincanchan

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 4:00 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
I appreciate the effort, and clearly hard questions will be asked and staff will be expected to answer them. However, I don't see what this resolution accomplishes that the Manager's office will not already be planning to do.

I also agree with Council Members Kitchen and Renteria in noting that any requests we make of staff right now should be after the event has concluded so that their focus can remain on addressing the current emergency.

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:44 pm
by Amy Smith (D7)
Posting on behalf of Council Member Pool:

I understand the resolution will now be posted on the November 15 agenda. I support the delay as it will give staff time to recuperate and more fully assess the water situation with a focus on future needs as we move toward implementing the Water Forward plan. I would also like us to address how we respond to dramatic weather events in the future, with a roadmap to resilience.

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 4:21 pm
by Genoveva Rodriguez
On behalf of Council Member Ora Houston -

I support Council Member Troxclair's resolution and will co-sponsor the item for the November 15th agenda.

Sincerely,
CM Houston

Re: Our Ongoing Water Crisis - Request for Co-sponsorship

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 4:40 pm
by Ellen Troxclair
Thank you all for your feedback. I'm certainly willing to bring this resolution to the November 15th Council Meeting agenda. Thank you to Council Members Alter, Houston, Pool, and Renteria for your support and co-sponsorship. I look forward to working with you, our Council colleagues, and the City Manager in the coming weeks on this critical issue for our city.

-Ellen