City of Austin Council Message Board

Colleagues, Thank you for this opportunity to submit the District 4 budget amendments for public review. I have developed 14 changes which reflect my priorities for the City and my district. My primary areas of focus for the FY24 budget are safety, accessibility, and quality-of-life. Vela 1: Tenant ...

Thank you, Council Member Pool, for sponsoring the HOME Initiative. I am very excited to be a cosponsor and look forward to voting for this item on Thursday! Our median home price is now $609,500, up from $371,250 just 5 years ago. This is not sustainable. We must create lower priced home options fo...

Here are two additional resources: From spring of last year, how compatibility impacted VMU: https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=c634b1679a014bc1b45dabb86d15fc80 Information on compatibility in other Texas cities: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/F5-202306...

Colleagues,

Here is a redlined document for Version 2 that was posted to back-up this afternoon: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 175943.pdf

Chito Vela

CM Alter,

My compatibility item makes citywide changes to compatibility not conditioned on any affordability bonus. I just posted on the message board explaining my rationale and look forward to discussing this tomorrow.

Chito Vela

Colleagues, This week, on the June 8 agenda, I am bringing an item which initiates the process to change compatibility rules citywide. I’d like to briefly explain my reasoning. The prior council passed a “compatibility on corridors” bonus program that allowed certain properties on certain corridors ...

CM Qadri, Thank you for bringing this excellent item! I would like to be added as a co-sponsor. As we see more and more people walk, bike, rideshare, telecommute and use transit, we simply do not need the amount of parking that our antiquated code requires us to build. And requiring so much parking ...

CM Pool,

Thank you for your work in promoting Austin's leadership among cities and taking the time to include us in this initiative. I also see many of the key principles and values of our City and Council included. I would be grateful if my name and title can be included.

Saludos,
Chito

Colleagues, As summer approaches, I want to ensure that our pools are fully staffed and prepared for the onslaught of Austinites who want to beat the heat. In the pursuit of that goal, I would like to request a briefing from our Aquatics team at Tuesday’s work session to discuss lifeguard recruitmen...

I completely agree with CM Velasquez and would also like a briefing on the matter at the April 11th work session.

Chito Vela

I agree with CM Alison Alter about a briefing on the Police Academy and where we are with updating the curriculum, including incorporating the recommendations in the Kroll reports. This has been an ongoing issue that needs to be finalized.

Chito

Colleagues,

Please see the following amendment to item 16 - ETOD.

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100734.pdf

Chito

The original upload of the neighborhood by neighborhood numbers did not upload correctly. You can see the document in PDF form here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 111253.pdf

Colleagues, My office prepared an explanation of item 24 on the March 9th agenda regarding Small Lot Amnesty Disaggregation. You can read that explanation here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/72-20230307183111.pdf In addition, please see the following maps and analysis prepared for...

Colleagues, During my office’s review of CM Kelly’s Citizen Police Academy resolution (item 26 on this week’s agenda), I learned that APD hopes to change the name of the academy to the Community Police Academy. This change was designed to align with the general order related to maintaining an impart...

Colleagues, I am offering the following amendments to my I-35 IFC, item 44. Amendment 1: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/CE-20230222152603.pdf Amendment 2: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/CE-20230222152646.pdf I am offering these as amendments rather than a Version ...

Colleagues, We all agree that our police need the resources to recruit, retain, and appropriately compensate officers. We all know that transparency and meaningful oversight are essential to public safety. We all want a four-year contract that achieves those goals. What my cosponsors and I have prop...

Mayor Watson - thank you for offering your amendment. I support it and will accept it as a friendly amendment. We have very little time left to reach an agreement. Your changes will help us get a 1-year contract that allows the public to vote on the petitions and keeps our police officers under cont...

Colleagues, Given so many other time sensitive issues we are dealing with right now, I am happy to postpone Item 42 to the first meeting in March as it is not a time sensitive item. I will post again before then with some background and explanation of the item, we just have not been able to do that ...

Mayor,

I look forward to working with you and our colleagues to improve our lackluster communications during this crisis. We must demand answers for why Austinites were left literally and metaphorically in the dark.

Saludos,

Chito

Colleagues, As you know, the City and the Austin Police Association are negotiating over a new contract. However, the March 31, 2023, expiration date of the current contract is rapidly approaching. About 250 APD officers are currently eligible to retire and face a February 26 deadline to file for re...

Colleagues,

I am offering this amendment to Item 55 as well. It eliminates parking requirements. The version below has been reviewed by law. Thank you for your consideration.

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100005.pdf

Chito Vela

CM Harper-Madison,

I think you would make an excellent chair for the Housing and Planning Committee and you have my full support.

Chito

Thank you for the post, Mayor. I would like to remain on the Housing and Planning Committee and the Public Safety Committee. I would also like to replace CM Renteria on the Capital Metro board. Since CM Harper-Madison does not wish to continue as chair of the Public Safety Committee, I would like to...

Colleagues, My staff and I have been reviewing TxDOT’s plans to rebuild I-35 through Central Austin. I greatly appreciate the improvements that TxDOT has made to the plan since its initial rollout. And I want to thank TxDOT’s Austin District for the productive and collaborative relationship they hav...