City of Austin Council Message Board

Thank you, Mayor, for your work on this issue. I have heard over and over again from residents that they don’t want to see new large-scale data centers in Austin. People are rightfully concerned that data centers use too much water, too much electricity, and make too much noise. That is why I am see...

Thank you Council Member Fuentes for this addition. I've included it into an updated version of my resolution and will get it posted and distributed for tomorrow.

https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 171359.pdf

Ryan

Colleagues, I previewed this during our budget work sessions, but I am bringing forward two small amendments to our fee schedule that will hopefully put more money in the pockets of our creative community: Alter Motion 1 This adjusts down the fee for the application to use the public right of way fo...

Colleagues, I want to provide a slightly different option than what has been offered so far, that is more aligned with staff’s proposal we heard last week. My goals in this proposal are largely aligned with those outlined above. First, I believe we should be making real investments in children and f...

Colleagues, We heard yesterday from a speaker who asked us to address a drafting error in the charter regarding student membership on the independent citizens redistricting commission. As discussed during the meeting, I prepared a motion to make this edit and will bring it forward on Thursday to inc...

Colleagues, In May, Council directed the City Manager to help prepare for a potential bond election by analyzing the projects recommended by staff and the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, as well as conducting due diligence on proposed partner projects. Last Friday, we received a memo containing m...

Thank you, Council Member Duchen for this helpful addition. I've included it in a version 2 of the resolution and will ask the agenda office to distribute and post it.

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 194112.pdf

Ryan

Thank you, CM Qadri, for raising the Austin Film Studios project in this process. We have included it in a version 2 of the resolution. In addition, I've made a small edit to make sure we respect the recommendations from our Bond Election Advisory Task Force by asking for a staff review and preparat...

Colleagues, I would like to highlight Item 5 on tomorrow’s Audit & Finance Committee agenda regarding a possible 2026 Charter Election. As many of you may remember, the City convened a Charter Review Task Force in 2023. Over the course of a year, the task force and city staff developed recommend...

Colleagues,
I am sharing a motion that I will introduce for Item 9 (Texas Gas Service franchise):

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 104348.pdf

Ryan

Thank you CM Ellis for proposing this motion. I support this direction and share the desire to move quickly while also ensuring the ordinance receives a thorough review.

Ryan

CM Laine, Thank you for bringing this item, which will advance the work of HOME I and II make it easier to build much-needed infill housing across our community. Item 26 addresses many of the challenges to creating this type of housing, but the burdensome and expensive subdivision process remains a ...

Colleagues, For nearly a year, staff and the public Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) have been doing the critical work of identifying the greatest capital needs facing our City. This work has been incredibly thorough, and we want to thank the members of the BEATF for their time and dedicati...

Colleagues, We received some last minute but helpful input from community members regarding item 41 (condemnations) and have updated the version posted in backup to reflect that feedback. V3 Clean: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/AC-20260385104337.pdf V3 Redline: http://assets.austi...

Colleagues, I’m attaching the amendments to AHSO’s Strategic Plan that I spoke to on the dais on Tuesday. Director Gray and I have conferred on these amendments, and he is supportive of the changes. With funding uncertainty at both the federal and local level, I’m not comfortable setting numerical t...

Mayor, I want to thank you for your leadership on this effort and voice support for this process. This budget is going to be very difficult. It’s going to require prioritizing what we can and should be funding and what we simply cannot. To your point in your newsletter, this decision making requires...

Colleagues, I support the ordinance regulating engine and motor noise (item 38). As mentioned at work session on Tuesday, I have additionally been working with law on some added direction to the City Manager that I believe can address similar nuisances from non-vehicular noise and explores enforceme...

Colleagues, I believe Item 50, establishing the efficiency assessment program, is vitally important and I look forward to supporting it. This ordinance is responsive to the critical needs of our current financial situation and creates an ongoing process to improve service delivery and identify poten...

Colleagues In advance of our discussion of an efficiency assessment ordinance (item 45), I wanted to share a few minor amendments that I’ve developed with staff. As I noted at the Audit & Finance Committee, I support this effort and believe it will be essential to maintaining effective public se...

Mayor, Thank you for these draft policies governing Council Office Budgets. It is very thorough and well thought out. I would propose one change as it relates to transfers to other City departments. Currently, the "General" category states a transfer to another City department is prohibite...

Mayor, Thank you for taking the lead on this. I agree that looking systemwide at how we can operate more effectively and efficiently is something that we should absolutely do. At a time when we find ourselves in state-created budget deficits, we are going to have to do more with less and this is one...

Thank you, Mayor. I support your suggested allotment to ensure the maximum benefit to our nominees.

Ryan

Colleagues, We all knew this budget process would be tough, and it has been. But I’m encouraged that we’re united on the basics: protecting EMS so medics can keep saving lives, not going backward on our work to reduce homelessness, and making sure people in crisis get help through EMCOT instead of b...

Thank you for proposing this reform initiative. I would like to join you as a co-sponsor for this item. I believe it's an important step in building trust and transparency for the public.

- Ryan

Colleagues, I agree. These past few weeks, we’ve seen the danger of encampment response without compassionate outreach. I’ve long supported the work for a Homeless Encampment Management Dashboard, which provides necessary transparency to service providers, advocates, and the public. Council Member V...