Search found 170 matches

by Don Zimmerman
Thu Dec 01, 2016 4:34 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: DRAFT Resolution on Electronic Billboards
Replies: 0
Views: 5910

DRAFT Resolution on Electronic Billboards

DRAFT RESOLUTION NO _______________ WHEREAS, electronic billboard technology has become the best available and most environmentally-appropriate mechanism for displaying outdoor advertising over the past ten years; and WHEREAS, electronic billboards are more efficient than non-electronic billboards s...
by Don Zimmerman
Mon Nov 28, 2016 8:05 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Draft Ord. Regarding Council Meeting Invocation Offerings
Replies: 0
Views: 6003

Draft Ord. Regarding Council Meeting Invocation Offerings

ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR INVITE PERSONS, ON A ROTATION BASIS, TO OFFER THE INVOCATION AT THE OPENING OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. PART 1. Only a person invited by the Mayor, or by a Councilmember, shall be permitted to offer an invocation at a ...
by Don Zimmerman
Tue Aug 30, 2016 1:28 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: OT1.06 Transportation/Public Wrks CIP Spending by District
Replies: 0
Views: 5962

OT1.06 Transportation/Public Wrks CIP Spending by District

Council Member Colleagues, Please see the below analysis of the Austin Transportation (ATD) and Public Works Department (PWD) CIP FY2017 budget based on Budget Question #106 (ref: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/budget/cbq/index.cfm?action=pushFile&popup=true&FILE_ID=2054CCDACF). This pertains to...
by Don Zimmerman
Mon Aug 08, 2016 2:28 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: DRAFT ballot language for $720M Mobility Bond
Replies: 1
Views: 7639

Re: DRAFT ballot language for $720M Mobility Bond

CM Colleagues - I have cut and pasted the staff recommended ballot language (Agenda Item #3, 11-Aug-16 Regular meeting) which I will be voting AGAINST, if it comes to a vote. As I've said before, I'm insisting on a more public discussion of ballot language particulars. I've also received constituent...
by Don Zimmerman
Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:38 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: DRAFT ballot language for $720M Mobility Bond
Replies: 1
Views: 7639

DRAFT ballot language for $720M Mobility Bond

CM Colleagues: Starting from Pg. 20 of ACM Goode's presentation, "Proposed 2016 Bond Package and Proposition" (Aug 2nd, 2016), I propose clarifying language shown in [brackets], all in section (i): The issuance of $720,000,000 transportation and mobility improvement bonds and notes for (i)...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Jul 27, 2016 1:33 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Resolution: VideoConference to Council District field office
Replies: 0
Views: 5771

Resolution: VideoConference to Council District field office

CM Colleagues, I'm proposing the following Resolution in order to reduce downtown trips while increasing Council meeting participation options for constituents. Simply put, I'm asking Council to go forward with having noon citizen communication (on regular Thursday meetings) live testimony before Co...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Jun 29, 2016 12:08 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Austin Energy Rate Case - Meeting Dates
Replies: 1
Views: 7428

Re: Austin Energy Rate Case - Meeting Dates

Thanks for the posting. I will not be able to make the early morning hours, as I am committing more of my Monday's to meetings and work in District 6, so this conflicts with those objectives as well. Also to repeat a point I made during the 2014 Austin 10-1 Campaign, I believe Council must move in t...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Jun 22, 2016 2:06 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Rationale and call for replacing Austin City Manager
Replies: 0
Views: 6014

Rationale and call for replacing Austin City Manager

Dear Council Colleagues, I am posting this regarding City Manager Marc Ott. Mr. Ott has been the City Manager of Austin since January 2008. He managed the City through the turmoil of the Great Recession. I appreciate his efforts during that period. Unfortunately, there seem to be systemic and chroni...
by Don Zimmerman
Mon Jun 20, 2016 12:31 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Mobility Bond, D6 and other suburban Congestion Relief
Replies: 0
Views: 5750

Mobility Bond, D6 and other suburban Congestion Relief

Dear Council Colleagues, I am excited with all the talk regarding a Mobility Bond. The City has gone far too long without a Congestion Relief Plan and adequate funding. Our residents have been imploring us to do something to relieve traffic congestion. Looking at the various bond proposals, ranging ...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Jun 01, 2016 5:47 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Public Safety Comm. Resolutions 23-May-16
Replies: 2
Views: 9097

Public Safety Comm. Resolutions 23-May-16

CM Colleagues, We have crafted the following two Resolutions based on deliberations from the PSC meeting (23-May-16), which should become Items From Committee to Council for June 9th. If any PSC members wish to edit or clarify these Resolutions, please do so here. Item 3 - Resolution: The Public Saf...
by Don Zimmerman
Thu May 12, 2016 9:58 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Amendment - Item 19 (Tax Swap)
Replies: 1
Views: 7094

Re: Amendment - Item 19 (Tax Swap)

CM Colleagues, I'm in strong opposition to the "tax swap" in principle. There is already a dubious co-mingling of tax dollars with Austin City taxpayers on the hook for over a million city tax dollars being directed at "programs" which AISD claims supports education - education w...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed May 04, 2016 5:08 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Items 3,4 restore auto spinklers to 2016 Drought Cont. Plan
Replies: 0
Views: 5684

Items 3,4 restore auto spinklers to 2016 Drought Cont. Plan

Dear Colleagues, I propose these simple amendments to the 2016 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). The changes provide objective triggers to lifting restrictions, and restore 2x per week watering that existed in 2012 DCP. Item #3 Amend PART 4. (E) Conservation Stage and Drought Response Stage One Wateri...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:02 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Amendment: equally divide $116k climate change consulting
Replies: 0
Views: 6275

Amendment: equally divide $116k climate change consulting

CM Colleagues: I intend to postpone or amend Item #17 (21-Apr-2016 Agenda), "Authorize award and execution of a 36-month contract with ATMOS RESEARCH AND CONSULTING." The scientist for this project, Dr. Hayhoe, is an expert user of extremely complex super-computer based climate models whic...
by Don Zimmerman
Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:07 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Charter for Compassion Resolution: Item 5, Apr 14
Replies: 1
Views: 7834

Re: Charter for Compassion Resolution: Item 5, Apr 14

CM Colleagues, Here are the 3 amendments I proposed today (requested posting from constituent). Item #5, Compassion Resolution – Zimmerman Amendment “A” Amend by adding a new 5th and 6th WHEREAS clause to read: “WHEREAS, Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fello...
by Don Zimmerman
Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:43 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Charter for Compassion Resolution: Item 5, Apr 14
Replies: 1
Views: 7834

Charter for Compassion Resolution: Item 5, Apr 14

CM Colleagues, The video clip below captures today's work session discussion over my objections to the "Compassionate Communities Campaign" Resolution. I still don't have an answer as to whether "...the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without excep...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:30 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Water Bill Administrative Adjustment Policy
Replies: 1
Views: 7497

Re: Water Bill Administrative Adjustment Policy

http://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=449&p=1467&hilit=water#p1467 CM Colleagues, I am a co-sponsor of this Resolution because I'm still interested in a solution to the unexplained water bill spikes. Please see the link above -- I proposed a similar Resolution, and let me cop...
by Don Zimmerman
Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:46 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Limit non-sworn staff raises to 1.873% in budget forecast
Replies: 0
Views: 6201

Limit non-sworn staff raises to 1.873% in budget forecast

CM Colleagues - In advance of the release of the Manager's "Budget Forecast", I request a Council Resolution limiting city staff (non-sworn) pay increases to not exceed the median of our metro area pay increases. Here's a copy of our recent PR on that. AUSTIN—March 30, 2016, the federal Bu...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Mar 23, 2016 4:27 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Fair Chance Hiring ordinance -- amendments for consideration
Replies: 2
Views: 11304

Re: Fair Chance Hiring ordinance -- amendments for considera

CM Casar, Consistent with requests from the Austin Chamber of Commerce and other groups and employment experts, I will move to postpone the vote on this unFair Hiring Ordinance until May (2016); if that fails, I will make several amendments consistent with the objections listed below, compiled in co...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:54 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Res: immediately move Stage 2 to Stage 1 water restriction
Replies: 5
Views: 24175

Re: Res: immediately move Stage 2 to Stage 1 water restricti

Dear CM Colleagues, Over the past 3 days (from March 20-22), LCRA has released over 1.5 Billion gallons of water downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. Lake Travis was at 100% capacity on March 17, 2016 and more rain is in the forecast. However, the City of Austin is still in Stage 2 Drought Restrictions...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:48 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Halt payment of $49k and end Lone Star Rail membership
Replies: 1
Views: 7472

Re: Halt payment of $49k and end Lone Star Rail membership

According to the March 23, 2016 Austin American-Statesman: Hays County Commissioners and Bexar County Commissioners have decided to withdraw membership. The City of San Antonio is considering reversing a pledge of $450,000 to the district. Before we send the taxpayers $49,500; I believe the Council ...
by Don Zimmerman
Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:57 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Halt payment of $49k and end Lone Star Rail membership
Replies: 1
Views: 7472

Halt payment of $49k and end Lone Star Rail membership

Zimmerman Draft Resolution – Lone Star Rail (ver. 2) Whereas, the Lone Star Rail District is made up of multiple cities, counties, Planning Organizations, and Transit Authorities; according to the lonestarrail.com website, “The Union Pacific corridor that parallels I-35 is an important link for movi...
by Don Zimmerman
Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:50 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Stop Austin Energy CAP Discount for Tier 5
Replies: 0
Views: 5444

Stop Austin Energy CAP Discount for Tier 5

CM Colleagues, Here is the draft resolution to remove “CAP Discounts” for Tier 5 that was mentioned in the Austin Energy Oversight Committee yesterday (25-Feb-16). Please let me know if you are interested in co-sponsoring to bring before the full Council. Whereas, the vast majority of Austinites rec...
by Don Zimmerman
Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:39 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Austin Constituents Hearing on City Manager Performance
Replies: 1
Views: 6965

Re: Austin Constituents Hearing on City Manager Performance

Council Colleagues, Based on the press conference this morning, which included a call for more transparency in the city manager's evaluation process, I will be move the following admendments to Agenda Item 16 (Process for performance reviews) CM Zimmerman AMENDMENT (ver. 1) for Item 16, Council Appo...
by Don Zimmerman
Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:43 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: STR Type 2s
Replies: 2
Views: 13813

Re: STR Type 2s

Mr. Mayor & Council Colleagues:
I have reviewed this and I SUPPORT the amendment, for the reasons enumerated.
Regards,
Don