City of Austin Council Message Board

Thank you, CM Alter. As a longtime advocate for more funding for our early childhood development system, I was already supportive of this proposal and had intended to advocate for it as well.

Best,

Kathie Tovo
Council Member District 9

Council Member Casar, Many thanks for engaging with this resolution and proposing these amendments. I've redrafted them to emphasize the community's role in identifying needs and co-creating the hubs and processes; as you'll see below, I've retained your reference to the Urban Sustainability Directo...

Colleagues, I’m looking forward to having the delayed Downtown Density Bonus Program discussion on April 6. I thought it might be useful to provide some context in advance since we haven’t yet had an opportunity to address the subject. As I said previously, I think we need to have some time to discu...

Colleagues, Here are revised amendments for #67: Replace lines 34-38 with the following: The draft work plan appears as Exhibit A; it is Council’s expectation that these sessions will be scheduled as soon as possible for a day-long Special Called meeting or two half-day sessions. Edit lines 41-43 as...

Colleagues: Thank you for your thoughts on this important matter. In answer to the question the Mayor and others of you have posed, I do not personally feel a need to meet tomorrow, and while I would attend a Special Called meeting if one is held, I do not anticipate supporting this measure. While I...

One more important note: I've structured this motion in such a manner that it will *not* trigger a need to resolicit proposals for this project. I meant to indicate that in my comments during the work session. Thanks! I look forward to hearing any questions or ideas you may have. Best, Kathie Tovo

Thank you CM Alter - you have my support!

Thanks, CM Harper-Madison. I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Best,
Kathie Tovo
Council Member District 9

Dear Colleagues, As I mentioned in our budget session last week and work session this week, I am facing a very serious family medical issue. At another point in my time on Council, I might have taken family leave; however, given the critical nature of the issues before our Council at the moment, it’...

Thank you for leading on this and other initiatives to strengthen our City’s gun violence prevention strategies, CM Alter. I supported the creation of the Gun Violence Task Force and sincerely appreciate the time its members spent crafting their report and providing recommendations. I would like to ...

Dear Colleagues, I want to add my support for items 50, 95, and 96 on this week’s Council agenda. I share the sense of urgency in initiating the transformational change we need with regard to policing in the City of Austin, from changing the Austin Police Department’s use of force policies to incorp...

Dear Colleagues, You should have each received a revised version of item 96 at 5:17 pm Wednesday afternoon. I wanted to call your attention to the changes that this draft incorporates: 1. In the fifth Whereas, the reference to “Resolution No. 20100808-144” was corrected to “20190808-144” 2. Language...

Dear Colleagues, Cody Cowan of the Red River Cultural District sent all of us recommendations today suggesting policy changes and city investments that could provide critical support to preserve and enhance the city's music ecosystem during this time. I wanted to let all of you know that I will be b...

Dear Council Member Ellis, Thank you for bringing this forward for Council consideration. I am not sure if you have room for a fifth co-sponsor, but if so, I would welcome the opportunity to work together on this resolution. I’d like to suggest the following additions/amendments, including two Where...

Council Member Flannigan, Thank you for your enthusiasm for this work! I’m very eager to see the caregiver meals begin as soon as possible to help meet this critical need in the community. Some background: Prior to the Social Services Cabinet meeting on Tuesday of this week, our city staff reached o...

Dear Colleagues, I want to alert you to a resolution and budget amendment you will find on our Council addendum for the May 7, 2020, meeting. The resolution and companion budget amendment propose an allocation of currently unencumbered CARES Act funds for the purposes of providing caregiver meals at...

Mayor,
I am available Friday and that would be my preference given the critical and time-sensitive nature of this subject.

Best,
Kathie Tovo
Council Member District 9

Dear CM Flannigan: Sorry about the misfire - as I indicated above and in a separate post, I would strongly urge we move forward with this item on tomorrow's agenda -- or postpone to 4/9. I appreciate your post flagging this as an area of concern for you. You likely have already reached out to staff ...

28. Pay for Success: I see this is still on consent, and I would advocate for us voting on it tomorrow so we can move forward with this critical program. Please see the separate post I will add to respond to CM Flannigan's on this same issue.

Colleagues: Below are a few additional comments about items 20, 28, 48, 52, 55, on tomorrow's agenda. 20. We are working to clarify with staff why this is being proposed for postponement. I would prefer to see it move forward to provide Neighborhood Housing and Community Development with as many res...

Colleagues: As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, we fully support moving forward with adoption of the Item 2 on Thursday's agenda, the Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan to 2030. The EUC Generation Resource Working Group worked co...

Thank you all for your thoughtful work on this urgent issue. In addition to the stakeholders engaged by Council Members Flannigan and Kitchen, I thought it to be prudent to solicit feedback from organizations that represent workers that are directly or indirectly connected to SXSW, as well as Austin...

CM Flannigan: Thank you for the resolution on this critical topic. CM Kitchen, thank you for your additions. I would like to propose the following amendments to encompass the request from Success by 6. I haven't figured out how to call these out with a color/italics/etc as I'm working hastily to get...

Dear Colleagues, Although I intend to add to these amendments and may change wording throughout, below are my draft amendments. CM Tovo LDC Direction December 6, 2019 1. Petition Rights Council affirms that property owners have petition rights regarding the proposed rezoning of their properties and ...

Dear Colleagues, Thank you for your time, patience, and hard work as we move forward on this issue as a community. As the Council Member who represents a District with multiple emergency shelters and a District home to the most constituents experiencing homelessness, this issue is deeply personal to...