City of Austin Council Message Board

Colleagues, I'm thankful to co-sponsor this important resolution. In 2021, voters approved binding arbitration in support of the Austin Firefighters Association in the event they reach an impasse regarding negotiations of their collective bargaining agreement. I support this resolution as this will ...

Colleagues, There are parts of this item that have raised questions that remain to be answered. I would like to have adequate time to speak with city staff about the metrics, outcomes, and decision-making process that will be delivered to us with this item. For example, in an answer to one of the qu...

Colleagues, Austin is a city of innovation and a global leader in technology. This is why leaders from across the world come to Austin to invest in what is on the horizon in areas of technology and innovation. My resolution for the March 24th City Council agenda directs the City Manager to investiga...

CM Alter, Thank you for your leadership on this. I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to this item. I am interested in several aspects of this resolution, including but not limited to the fiscal impact, timeline, and execution. My hope is that an external audit of Austin Water will help us bette...

Colleagues, Thank you for raising this discussion. Like many Austinites, I am frustrated with the failure that occurred at Austin Water. We need an open, transparent, and detailed discussion about what led us to an incident that left residents of Austin without safe drinking water. Still, I have con...

Colleagues, I, too, have heard similar concerns regarding these items and appreciate the Mayor proposing the amendments above as a way of strengthening and clarifying council actions. I support the motions proposed above but would like to offer additional supportive action with a motion sheet for it...

Colleagues,
I would like include my intergovernmental appointments.

I would like to keep my appointments to the following intergovernmental committees:

CAPCOG General Assembly
CAPCOG Executive Committee
CAPCOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Liaison
Hate Crimes Task Force

Warm Regards, 
-mk 

Mayor, Thank you for starting this important discussion. I am happy to continue my service on the following committees of council: Audit and Finance Public Safety Vice Chair of Mobility I would like to serve as chair of the Public Safety Committee. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on this committee...

All,

Due to the rapid growth of our city, I support a special called session on this extremely important issue.

That schedule works for me and I look forward to having a robust and collaborative conversation with my council colleagues.

-mk

Colleagues, I will be bringing forth the attached motion sheet tomorrow on consent. By broadening our resolution and including these partners, we will ensure that our county and school districts are brought into the discussion and have the support that they need in order to fight anti-Semitic hate i...

Colleagues, Kelly Budget Rider 1: Direction for a Modified Police Cadet Academy in FY 2021-22. http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/C7-20210809195256.pdf As of August 9th, 2021, there are 168 APD police vacancies. In addition to vacancies, officers are leaving the department at a rate of...

Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Colleagues, I have enjoyed the discussions regarding the FY 2021-2022 budget. I look forward to reading your amendments and working with you in adopting a budget that best serves the community. Amendment #1 - Fund a full-time Public Health Educator position that works direc...

Council Member Alter,

Thank you for your advocacy of Victim Services. I am in full support of advancing the effort to support survivors of crime.

I am looking forward to this discussion during budget adoption.

Warm Regards,

mk

Mayor and council, Clearly we are seeing a surge in COVID cases across the city. I’d like to understand how current ICU staffing is working to accommodate that. For example, it would be helpful to learn how our medical providers ensure we have enough medical personnel available without reducing medi...

Colleagues, I look forward to examining the budget to ensure we are spending our constituent's tax dollars for the best and highest use. In particular, I intend to advocate for: -Building on the momentum of the current APD cadet class by advocating for two (or more) cadet classes in the coming fisca...

Colleagues, We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to date to address homelessness. I think the mission itself is tremendously worthwhile, but I'm concerned about what we really have to show for it. I would have greater confidence in this proposed spending framework if we had an external effi...

Colleagues,

Given the far-reaching implications of item 40, I would like to request postponement of the matter until June 10 so I am able to participate when council takes up this important issue. Thank you for your consideration.

Warm Regards,

-MK

Colleagues,

As I'll be off the dais tomorrow, I support moving forward with the special called meeting on Monday afternoon at 1PM so I can be part of this important discussion.

Warm Regards,

-MK

Mayor Pro Tem, I’d like to better understand your concern on moving forward with this item on the 20th. My understanding is that the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan outlines the specifics of our vision for Complete Communities and these priorities are reiterated in the Strategic Direction 2023. Gi...

Council Member Tovo, I want to thank you for your leadership and thoughtfulness on item #70. I appreciate the work and research that has been put into this IFC and its addendum. The background information that you provided in this message board post provides insight that was not previously known to ...

Council Member Pool and Colleagues, After reading your post regarding your formation of a Citizen's Review Commission for the November 2022 ballot, I have decided I would like to join your effort as a co-sponsor. Any time that an elected body is able to both encourage and garner input regarding gove...

Colleagues, I wanted to draw your attention to the detailed and compelling memo sent by our Human Resources Department Director, Joya Hayes, this morning. This memo addresses the concerns expressed in the text of Item 5 on today's agenda to the point I believe it resolves the need for this item from...

Colleagues, Thank you to CM Kitchen for these informative, clarifying, and compassionate words about the HEAL initiative. Thank you to Dianna Grey and the host of City staffers who helped craft this outcome. I look forward to further conversations about HEAL when we meet on Thursday. This is an impo...

Colleagues, I am grateful to CM Kitchen as well as, CM Pool, CM Tovo, and CM Renteria and staffs, for working so hard to craft this solution. The “healing” that Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link aims to accomplish is in part the mending of relationships between housed and unhoused ...