City of Austin Council Message Board

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...

Colleagues, I will bring a resolution during the August 29th Council meeting to nominate members of our Council to the Federal Advocacy Committees of the National League of Cities. Councilmember Pool, Councilmember Kelly, and I currently serve on the Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Commi...

Colleagues, I would like to share the budget amendments I plan on bringing forward for consideration: Fuentes 1 - Flood insurance: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/6C-202408218163212.pdf Fuentes 2 - Family Stabilization Grant: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/6C-20240...

Colleagues, On behalf of CM Ryan Alter and myself, we wanted to flag several questions regarding our homeless response system to help frame our discussion for the work session next Tuesday, August 6. Addressing homelessness has been a top priority for Council and this has been apparent in our budget...

Colleagues, On behalf of myself, Councilmembers Velásquez, Vela, Ryan Alter, and Qadri, I would like to share some of our budget priorities for the FY 24-25 budget. These items reflect many of the outstanding needs Council has discussed throughout the last year or that have been posted to the messag...

Colleagues, As I mentioned during the May 30, 2024 council meeting, I will be proposing an alternative to the draft ballot proposition for Charter Amendment H (Item 96) regarding the City Attorney. My substitute would bring the reporting structure of the City Attorney in alignment with the overwhelm...

Colleagues, Time and time again, I hear from my constituents, community, and advocates about the urgent need to protect our city from the growing impacts of climate change. Oftentimes, it’s communities like the one I represent that face the brunt of climate-related disasters, such as the deadly and ...

Hello colleagues, Over the past few months, my office has met with constituents and advocates to discuss the upcoming land code amendments. I joined Council Members Velasquez, Vela, and Harper-Madison in hosting the East Austin Open House last week, where we had several conversations with residents....

Please count me in for $500. I am happy to support the Urban Cultural & Music Festival.

Vanessa

Colleagues, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor for Item 33, the resolution to allow mobile food establishments to opt-in to on-site permitting inspections. I want to thank Councilmember Velasquez for bringing forward this item. Having to close down for a day to go get an inspection is a huge b...

Colleagues, As mentioned during Work Session, I plan to offer the following amendments for your consideration: Item 14 (Austin Climate Equity Plan): https://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/6E-20240244163810.pdf Item 14 (Austin Climate Equity Plan): https://assets.austintexas.gov/austincoun...

Colleagues, I am glad to support this much-needed item (Item 23) to maintain current pay levels and provide stability to our police officers while we wait for APA to resume good faith negotiations with the City of Austin for a labor contract. I intend to offer this amendment tomorrow to specify that...

Colleagues,

I also plan to attend the City of Austin's public apology announcement. I stand in solidarity with survivors and also remain committed to improving our sexual assault response system.

Yours in community,
Vanessa

Colleagues, I've posted version 2 of my Library Card Non-resident Fee IFC (item 68) which includes additional direction to staff to consider developing a comprehensive outreach and promotion plan to inform residents of the ETJ and LTD about the removal of the non-resident fee and to encourage librar...

Colleagues, I want to streamline my committee participation and will seek to roll off the Mobility Committee in the New Year. I intend to remain Chair of the Public Health Committee and remain as a member of the Audit & Finance Committee, along with serving as Chair of the Community Advancement ...

Dear Colleagues, I am posting a revised resolution (version 2) for Item 29, initiating amendments to the Climate Equity Plan and to elements of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, including the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, regarding telework policies. This version includes an affirmation of th...

Dear Colleagues, As you all know, there have been a series of critical safety incidents and near misses at the AUS airport this year. Representing the airport district, I am bringing forward a resolution that endorses several Federal safety reforms and directs local action to implement a centralized...

CM Harper Madison,

We have your back. I join our community in sending unwavering support and an abundance of positive energy. Your strength and resilience are an inspiration to us all.

Yours in community,
Vanessa

Thank you, Council Member Harper Madison, for your leadership on these two important issues. I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Yours in community,
Vanessa

Colleagues, Yesterday we heard very loudly and clearly from Austinites about the need to invest in our community. As we continue to deliberate and consider the City Manager’s proposed budget, I remain focused on continuing conversations with the community to ensure we deliver a budget that reflects ...

Thank you, CM Kelly, for calling attention to this issue. The lack of functioning A/C units across City of Austin vehicles is a widespread issue, including in our Austin Resource Recovery collection trucks. We need to be thinking about ALL City of Austin employees during this extreme heat. I am also...

Colleagues, Last summer, the city council unanimously passed a resolution that I brought forward declaring opioid overdoses a public health crisis in Austin and set in motion harm reduction strategies to address the overdose crisis. I want to thank Council Member Kelly and all cosponsors for bringin...

Colleagues,

I've incorporated CM Kelly's proposed amendment and added a minor change to align with CM Ryan Alter's Item 84 into a version 2 of my Item 58 for your consideration:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 091815.pdf

Yours in community,
Vanessa