City of Austin Council Message Board

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...

On June 20, the Council passed Resolution 20190620-184, signaling to the community that, our City Manager would, among other things, be evaluating the ordinances, and that the Council would potentially place additional limitations on camping, sitting, and lying. [“The City Manager is directed to, as...

Dear Colleagues: I hope you are having a wonderful July! I wanted to share with you an IFC that I have launched for the August 8th agenda to create an economic development corporation. As you may be aware, in 2017 I sponsored Resolution No. 20170216-040 directing the City Manager to bring forward sp...

Dear Colleagues, Below are a few additional amendments -- a few amending the proposed base document, at least one amending another proposed amendment. I look forward to the continued dialogue. http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/94-20190501162814.docx Best, Kathie Tovo Council Member Di...

Council Member Casar, Last week we didn't have an opportunity to discuss the amendments you plan to bring forward tomorrow. If you have an opportunity before tomorrow's meeting, could you please explain whether this direction differs from the Downtown Plan and existing zoning, and if so, how? (Or do...

Colleagues: Thank you for the thoughtful and vigorous discussion about these issues. As I look through the most recent versions online, I see much I can support. I'd elaborate, but the hour is late - I'll try to respond to your request to do so in the a.m., Mayor Adler and CM Ellis. I can say that I...

Colleagues, Over the years and through many discussions with stakeholders regarding the Palm School, the Convention Center, Brush Square, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Waller Creek, and the Rainey Historic District, it has become apparent that the city would benefit from a...

Dear Colleagues, Below are my intended amendments. In the instances where I'm adding language, I've designated that with asterisks. Additional language in the new action item for the ACT Plan (B-58): Rainey Neighborhood New Action Item: Complete the Austin Core Transportation (ACT) Plan, an update t...

Colleagues:

I will be joining the delegation and will fly out and back on Thursday.

Best,

Kathie Tovo
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member District 9