City of Austin Council Message Board

Thank you, Councilwoman Laine, for your strong leadership on this item. I certainly support your direction here and will request to be added as a co-sponsor.

In community,
Vanessa

Colleagues, The proliferation of data centers due to AI and cloud computing poses a significant risk to our local community, our resources, and our environment. The five of us are committed to ensuring that Austin does not allow a single large, “hyperscale” data center within the City limits, and we...

Colleagues,

I strongly support a moratorium on data centers in Austin, at a minimum, while we consider regulations. It’s clear that data centers present real risks to our people, environment, and local resources.

I look forward to our conversation on Tuesday.

In community,
Vanessa

Colleagues, I want to thank Councilmember Alter for bringing forward a resolution (Item 14) that provides a thoughtful pathway for the evaluation and continuation of our social service safety net. I’d like to propose an amendment that provides further direction to the City Manager to utilize this fi...

Colleagues, As I mentioned on the dias, I am committed to restoring our City’s social service net. Last year, the budget included a 10% cut to our social services. This year, we continue to face even more difficult budget decisions. We must do everything possible to protect the lifelines that preven...

Colleagues, I am a firm believer that our local nonprofits and social services are crucial to the infrastructure of Austin. In just one day, they provide shelter, food, books, diapers, childcare, and so much more for thousands in our community. They should not be asked to bear the burden of a budget...

Colleagues, The intersection of Slaughter Ln and Old Lockhart Rd continues to pose a significant safety risk for pedestrians and vehicles. There is on average a crash every month - most recently a crash in the area occurred involving 2 young student pedestrians struck by a vehicle making their way t...

Colleagues, Tomorrow, I’ll be bringing a resolution to ensure the City is engaging with partners like our school districts, CapMetro, Central Health, ACC and others to find opportunities to retain public land as a public good. Unfortunately, we’re seeing some school campuses close across the city. T...

Colleagues, After hosting a community conversation with APD Chief Davis about Federal Immigration enforcement activities, as well as several local stakeholder meetings and one-on-one conversations with residents, the message from our community is clear: Austinites expect their local officials to sta...

Colleagues, Tomorrow, I’ll be bringing a resolution to strengthen our City and County summer youth employment programs to better prepare our future workforce through improved coordination, expanding access to employment opportunities and increasing employer participation. This came from a recommenda...

Colleagues, The Public Health Committee is proud to recommend Item 56 to the full city council for adoption. The committee recommendation aims to provide guidance to the City Manager as he and City staff undertake the Social Service Contract reset and restructuring process. The guidance includes: -D...

Colleagues, We are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the Manager’s new adjusted budget next week. We appreciate the addition of the work session on Wednesday to ensure the public has an opportunity to make their voices heard, as well as the extension of the amendment deadline. In anticip...

I appreciate the policy direction on this reform item. I'd also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Vanessa

Thank you, CM Duchen. We've updated the resolution.

Please find version 2: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/ ... ?id=457903

Colleagues, Item 98 on tomorrow's Council Meeting agenda sets to nominate members of our Council to the Board of Directors and Federal Advocacy Committees of the National League of Cities. I currently serve as Chair of the Transportation & Infrastructure Services Committee. Please comment on thi...

CM Ellis, Thank you for your message. As a fellow co-sponsor of CM Pool's Parks Funding resolution, I am also eagerly awaiting the recommendations from the working group. I support finding a dedicated revenue source for parks - our drop to 55th in ParkScore shows we can't keep doing things the same ...

Thank you, Mayor + colleagues, for bringing forward this resolution to initiate the process of amending DB90 and other density bonus programs. It's essential that we strengthen the effectiveness of these programs so they better serve our low- and moderate-income residents. As we consider updates, my...

Colleagues, I’m looking forward to another productive Public Health Committee meeting tomorrow! Our small, but mighty agenda includes two important items: -Briefing regarding a multi-year plan for the City’s Living Wage for future solicitations of social services. (Briefing update in response to Res...

CM Duchen, Thank you for offering your thoughtful amendment language to further clarify the intent of the resolution. AI is quickly becoming embedded into public services and local governments have the responsibility to protect our communities from the possible risks of AI technology deployment, esp...

Thank you, Councilmember. I appreciate your support!

Vanessa

Thank you, Mayor, for pulling these items for discussion. I also believe in the importance of highlighting our local artists through our public investments, especially at the airport where we welcome so many people to Austin. I'm concerned about the lack of local artists included this phase of the d...

Colleagues, I want to thank Council Member Vela for bringing forward Item 80 on the January 30th council agenda. The way the City responds to mental health crises and calls is an issue that I have been digging into for years, and I am thrilled to see this Item on the first council agenda of the year...

I am looking forward to a robust discussion on committee structures and appointments. Here are my service preferences: STAY: Public Health - Chair Audit & Finance – Member CAMPO- Executive Member JOIN: Economic Opportunity – Vice-Chair As the newly appointed Chair of the Transportation & Inf...

It is crucial that the City of Austin, the Austin Police Association, and the public are fully aligned on what its language means. Earlier this year, our community spoke clearly when they voted for the Austin Police Oversight Act and demanded greater accountability. We must honor that commitment by ...

Colleagues, At our June meeting of the Public Health Committee, HSO presented a brief update on the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter, including the Council authorized extension of operations through March 2025. On the upcoming 9/26 Council Agenda, Item 72 seeks approval to indefinitely operate and...