Search found 92 matches

by Jose Chito Vela
Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: City Attorney's G-file memo
Replies: 0
Views: 1341

City Attorney's G-file memo

Colleagues, I am posting the legal memo released by the City Attorney yesterday in response to my questions about how police personnel records are treated under the proposed contract, particularly G-file type records. Our City Attorney says that under the contract and relevant court rulings, all rec...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:00 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Requesting Clarification about Police Agreement
Replies: 4
Views: 6884

Requesting Clarification about Police Agreement

Colleagues, I’m glad the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association have reached a handshake agreement on the terms of a potential contract. My top priority is ensuring we have a good public safety system, which requires a mutually-supportive relationship between the City and our employees. A ...
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed Aug 28, 2024 3:36 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Texas Gas Service - Item 168
Replies: 2
Views: 24039

Re: Texas Gas Service - Item 168

Thank you, Mayor Watson, for publicly sharing valuable information surrounding the Texas Gas Service rate case. My office has been closely following the developments surrounding these utility rates. Given the understandably needed improvements to our electrical grid in light of extreme weather incid...
by Jose Chito Vela
Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:05 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: FY25 Budget Amendments
Replies: 3
Views: 27451

Re: FY25 Budget Amendments

Colleagues, My office will add the following amendment to our list of budget amendments for this year. Vela 5: Adjust Pool & Golf Fees - $0 (http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/FC-202408226105256.pdf) This cost-neutral amendment proposes lowering the pool fees to the FY24 level and ...
by Jose Chito Vela
Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:47 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: FY25 Budget Amendments
Replies: 3
Views: 27451

FY25 Budget Amendments

Colleagues, My office will pursue the following four amendments in the FY25 budget. This year, we focused on improving public safety and city services, both within District 4 and throughout Austin. I would like to invite any of you who are interested in co-sponsoring these amendments to reply to thi...
by Jose Chito Vela
Sat Jul 06, 2024 1:04 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Co-Sponsorship Request: Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program/Comprehensive Bond Package for 2026
Replies: 16
Views: 56273

Re: Co-Sponsorship Request: Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program/Comprehensive Bond Package for 2026

Thanks to CM Ryan Alter for sparking this important conversation. His suggestion of "no later than November 2026" language is a good one. A public process reviewing the various planning documents/projects and suggesting possible climate bond investments could be ready for the November 2025...
by Jose Chito Vela
Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:58 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Austin Police Oversight Act Enforcement
Replies: 0
Views: 42743

Austin Police Oversight Act Enforcement

Colleagues, Over a year after its victory at the polls, key provisions of the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA) remain unimplemented. The city is currently defending itself against a lawsuit from criminal justice reform advocates who demand the city open up the secret “(g) file” disciplinary record...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu May 16, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: LDC Amendments
Replies: 1
Views: 4908

Re: LDC Amendments

Colleagues, This is Version 2 of my Item 5, Amendment 1 on Transit Infrastructure http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/20-202405137162022.pdf For Item 6, I will be withdrawing Amendment 1: MFI Buy Down. We learned from staff that existing rules would allow us to require participation in ...
by Jose Chito Vela
Tue May 14, 2024 10:50 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: LDC Amendments
Replies: 1
Views: 4908

LDC Amendments

Colleagues, I plan to offer the following amendments: Amendment 1: MFI Buy down http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/AD-202405135102810.pdf Item 5 ETOD Overlay: Amendment 1: Project Connect Infrastructure http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/AD-202405135102902.pdf Amendment 2...
by Jose Chito Vela
Tue May 14, 2024 8:47 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: UT Austin Protest Response
Replies: 2
Views: 5450

UT Austin Protest Response

Colleagues, We have now had several weeks to absorb and consider the police response to the recent protests at the University of Texas at Austin and will be briefed on the issue today. Before the briefing, I’d like to convey my understanding of the laws and principles surrounding speech protected by...
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed May 01, 2024 3:50 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Invitation to Co-sponsor Item 64 on Transgender Healthcare
Replies: 0
Views: 9166

Invitation to Co-sponsor Item 64 on Transgender Healthcare

Colleagues, Trans children and families are being denied safe, legal access to lifesaving and medically recommended care, while doctors are being forced to make critical, intimate healthcare decisions under threat of prosecution. Tomorrow, my co-sponsors and I are bringing item 64 to deprioritize cr...
by Jose Chito Vela
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:00 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Urban Cultural & Music Festival- Fee Waivers
Replies: 5
Views: 16693

Re: Urban Cultural & Music Festival- Fee Waivers

Thank you for your support of arts and culture in our beautiful city, Councilmember Harper-Madison. The Urban Music Fest is a great event well-timed to coincide with the Texas Relays...another great event! I'm happy to support them with a fee waiver and want to ensure that Austin continues to host a...
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:19 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Item 34 - Crestview TOD Version 2
Replies: 0
Views: 15170

Item 34 - Crestview TOD Version 2

Colleagues,

Here is Version 2 for item 34, my resolution initiating changes to the Crestview TOD.

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 161330.pdf

Chito
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:14 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Amendments to Item 37 - Purple Pipe Requirements
Replies: 0
Views: 14962

Amendments to Item 37 - Purple Pipe Requirements

Colleagues, I plan to offer the following amendments at tomorrow's meeting. Amendment 1: Definition of affordable units http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/E0-20240366191059.pdf Amendment 2: 6 month study and additional direction http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/E0-20240...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Feb 29, 2024 10:03 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Amendment to item 73 and Postponing Item 61
Replies: 0
Views: 14237

Amendment to item 73 and Postponing Item 61

Colleagues, I plan to offer the following amendment to Item 73, DB90 http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/97-20240260095316.pdf I will also be postponing Item 61, my resolution initiating changes to the Crestview TOD Station Area Plan, to the March 7th meeting to work on some small chang...
by Jose Chito Vela
Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:56 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: 2/15 - Item 25
Replies: 9
Views: 20339

Re: 2/15 - Item 25

Colleagues: Please see attached my proposed amendments to Item 25 on Thursday's agenda. I believe these changes will provide important clarifying notes to our climate goals. Amendment 1 (http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/3B-20240243165240.pdf) is designed to maximize federal reimburse...
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: 2/15 - Item 25
Replies: 9
Views: 20339

Re: 2/15 - Item 25

CM Ryan Alter, This is an excellent proposal and I would like to be added as a co-sponsor. Our city's infrastructure was built in an age where we had different priorities and concerns. We must upgrade our public infrastructure to meet today's challenges. One item that immediately comes to mind is fl...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:50 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Item 54 ETOD Amendments
Replies: 2
Views: 9132

Re: Item 54 ETOD Amendments

Version 2 of Amendment 4: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 104634.pdf

Based on a recommendation from CM Ryan Alter, it adds "at the same or greater level of affordability" to our amended language.

Chito
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Feb 01, 2024 9:10 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Item 54 ETOD Amendments
Replies: 2
Views: 9132

Re: Item 54 ETOD Amendments

These are my amendments for Item 54 Amendment 1: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/F4-20240232090513.pdf Amendment 2: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/F4-20240232090532.pdf Amendment 3: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/F4-20240232090544.pdf Amendment 4:...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:40 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: 2024 Council Committee Appointments
Replies: 11
Views: 49702

Re: 2024 Council Committee Appointments

Colleagues, Thank you for starting this conversation. Given my membership on the Cap Metro board, I’d like to take CM Fuentes’s spot on the Mobility Committee. Being on both the Cap Metro board and the Mobility Committee will give me better insight in all of our transportation challenges, a policy a...
by Jose Chito Vela
Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:47 am
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: HOME Amendment
Replies: 9
Views: 71654

Re: HOME Amendment

Colleagues,

Here is the language for CM Vela Amendment 3 for street side yard setbacks: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 094450.pdf

Chito
by Jose Chito Vela
Tue Dec 05, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: HOME Amendment
Replies: 9
Views: 71654

Re: HOME Amendment

Colleagues, I plan to bring the following amendments on Thursday. We are working with law for exact amendment language, but wanted to post the ideas as soon as we could. AMENDMENT 1: FLOOR TO AREA RATIO. DRAFT LINK: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/61-202312339201804.pdf 1) For 2 and...
by Jose Chito Vela
Wed Oct 25, 2023 5:40 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Tiny Homes & RVs, plus some suggestions
Replies: 3
Views: 32883

Re: Tiny Homes & RVs, plus some suggestions

CM Pool, Thanks to you and your staff for all the hard work on this important item. I agree with the approach on RVs - excluding them but inlcuding tiny homes that meet International Residential Code standards. With regard to your other suggestions, I need to learn more about the impact of both but ...
by Jose Chito Vela
Mon Oct 16, 2023 2:55 pm
Forum: City of Austin Council Message Board
Topic: Discussing Item 40
Replies: 2
Views: 29249

Re: Discussing Item 40

I also want to thank CM Velasquez for pulling the item. I understand how we're going to use the downtown caps; there are multiple examples of cities successfully burying and capping highways and turning those caps into community assets. However, I want to better understand how we are planning to use...