City of Austin Council Message Board

Dear colleagues, I am excited to announce that at the February 15 meeting, I will be introducing an item to create an environmental investment plan to meet our City’s goals for clean air, water, and energy. We have an urgent need to address climate change. As we live through extreme weather events t...

Thank you CM Alter for your tireless dedication to this issue. I share the sentiments of Chair Harper-Madison and am appreciative that she is postponing the start of our meeting so that we may first attend this important event.

Ryan

Thank you, Chair Harper-Madison.

I appreciate your leadership and the opportunity to work with all of my colleagues on these critical housing and affordability issues. I look forward to kicking off a productive year on the Housing & Planning Committee next Tuesday.

Ryan

Colleagues, I would like to thank Council Member Velásquez for bringing this resolution. I support this effort to bring financial assistance to low or moderate income property owners to build or renovate their homes to include additional residential units. While I cannot attend tomorrow's council me...

Colleagues, As we move forward with this much-needed land use update, I want to ensure that we’re taking appropriate measures to preserve and enhance our tree protections. To that end, I will be bringing this motion at tomorrow’s meeting: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincouncilforum/8A-202312340...

I would like to echo all of CM Pool's suggestions here. I agree that RVs present a different type of treatment than tiny homes and as such should not be included. Additionally, I think the two further areas of exploration - FAR limit and preservation of existing homes - both would beneficially advan...

Colleagues, In line with the discussion we had Tuesday about HealthSouth, I plan to offer the following amendment at tomorrow’s meeting. This amendment allows for us to make the most complete and informed decision about the future development of this site. It also accomplishes all the valuable goals...

Colleagues, Items 102 and 103 represent important planning work for the Eastern portion of our shared downtown. For too many years this area has not achieved its potential because of flood risk, poor planning, or simply neglect. This plan, and the public investment associated with it, will help to t...

Colleagues, I would like to pull item 17 for two reasons. First, direction was sent out earlier today in the backup concerning the $2 million for PARD shade structures. I plan to offer the following direction for this item, which you can find here: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm...

Linked below is the revised service plan proposal that was submitted to our staff after negotiations with the Austin Hotel Lodging Association. I have had the chance to review it with law and with our city staff and look forward to passing this as a part of our meeting tomorrow. http://assets.austin...

Colleagues, Councilmember Fuentes and I would like to share an update with you regarding the Austin Tourism Improvement District. Following CM Fuentes’s postponement of the service plan, we met with the Austin Hotel Lodging Association to find a solution to our key concern – the level and timing of ...

Colleagues, To help move things along smoothly tomorrow, I want to provide a couple updates on amendments I have offered to the budget. I appreciate the Manager working with our office on these items that will bring valuable services to our community, particularly our unhoused neighbors. Budgets are...

Colleagues, This budget cycle has highlighted many needs in our community and where we must invest to do better as a City. From these discussions with colleagues, community members, and our professional staff, I have prepared a few amendments for our deliberations this week. In sorting through many ...

An updated version of this amendment is available here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153755.pdf

Colleagues, I am supportive of item 190, but believe that the proposed ordinance would be improved with some additional clarification and safeguards. After consulting with APD and representatives from the community, I will be offering the following amendment that all agree achieve the results desire...

Colleagues, Below is an attachment for direction that I am proposing for item 111 concerning the emergency shelter at the Marshalling Yard. These directives are in line with recent conversations we have had as a dais about investing in results and creating meaningful accountability to ensure we rece...

Colleagues, In early March we passed a resolution establishing a Charter Review Commission and asked for the body to start its work as early as practicable. One of the lessons learned from previous Charter Review Commissions was the need to deliver recommendations early enough for the community and ...

I want to thank CM Alison Alter for starting an important discussion to ensure we achieve the greatest amount of affordability with the tools we have available. Attached is my proposed substitute amendment that explores the potential of a two-tier compatibility reform. First, the manager will contin...

Mayor and colleagues,

I appreciate this amendment and agree that lowering barriers for home ownership for historically disenfranchised communities strengthens this program. We will work with staff to include this language in an updated version of the item ahead of tomorrow's meeting.

Ryan

Colleagues, Tomorrow, I will be postponing item 45 until the June 8th agenda. By way of background, this resolution authorizes the Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) to operate within the City limits for specific permanent supportive housing (PSH) projects. It was developed in response to a n...

Colleagues, I wanted to provide updated language for the motion sheet we will be offering for item 63 related to the Brodie PUD at tomorrow’s meeting. Just as many of you, I have been deeply engaged with the applicant and staff to work towards resolution of the remaining ordinance issues. To that en...

Colleagues, An updated version of Item 23 will be posted to late backup today. After working with staff, we updated the resolution to prioritize the creation of new housing throughout the city. I am excited to bring this item to help create a simpler, cheaper process for small subdivisions. I’d like...

I have included one additional bullet on the last page of this resolution for the Charter Review Commission to consider regarding citizen initiatives:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 102738.pdf

- Ryan

Colleagues,
I am happy to be a co-sponsor on item 26, but I also wanted to offer a small amendment for consideration:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 102356.pdf

-Ryan

Good morning colleagues, After seeing Councilmember Vela's amendment to the ETOD resolution, I am happy to rescind my proposed amendment. My intent was to ensure that value capture tools including TIF/TIRZ are included in the planning process, and I look forward to supporting CM Vela's amendment. Be...