Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year! As we begin a new year, I would like to reflect on what we accomplished together in 2022 for District 10 and for Austin. 

In 2022, I worked to advance Austin’s long-term health and sustainability.  I focused on strengthening our resilience and emergency preparedness, expanding access to medical care, improving Austin’s response to hate and sexual assault, and investing in our workforce. I regularly partnered across departments and levels of government to improve delivery of basic services. [Interested in the Cliff Notes version? Check out this recent interview in the Austin Monitor.]

Emergency Preparedness and Climate Resilience

Rebuilding Trust in our Water Utility

In February 2022, Council unanimously passed my resolution calling for an external audit of Austin Water to examine Austin’s recent pattern of water quality challenges and identify appropriate changes and actions. The final report will be presented at the Audit and Finance Committee meeting on January 18th and Austin Water’s implementation plan will be presented on February 15th, 2023.  (I will cover the findings and next steps in more detail in a future newsletter. For now see also my recent message board post). 

During last year’s search for the next Austin Water Director, I also worked to connect community water advocates with the City Manager’s office to provide feedback. Shay Ralls Roalson, who was recently appointed to be Water Director, will play an important role in rebuilding trust in our water utility and ensuring that Austin Water effectively prepares for the water quality and supply issues brought on by the climate crisis.

Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Pilot

This year, I worked with Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) to make it easier for those living North of the river to safely dispose of hazardous waste. ARR customers in District 10 can now schedule a free home pickup of paint, batteries, oil, and more through this pilot. See a full list of items and schedule a pickup at austintexas.gov/hhwpilot.

Expanding the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps

I created the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) in 2020 to provide job training while meeting City sustainability and conservation goals. As our need for a green workforce grows, I implemented a budget amendment adding two full time employees to manage the ACCC program and expand pathways to green jobs.

Austin Energy

In December, I sponsored a resolution initiating revision of our 2030 Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan, which will include a new retirement date for the Fayette Power Project plant. The generation choices that we make have potentially great impacts on our rates and our ability to achieve our climate change goals. I also co-sponsored an initiative to expand access to Austin Energy’s Customer Assistance Programs to households impacted by the rate increases taking effect in March. You can read more about why I voted against the Austin Energy base rate increase in my December newsletter.

Access to Healthcare

In 2022 I authored/co-authored several budget amendments to expand access to healthcare: improving the City’s ability to monitor and respond to infectious diseases, funding a life-saving EMS whole blood administration program, investing in EMS simulation training equipment to expedite medic hiring, and expanding EMS service to the airport. I am also proud that the Paramedic Practitioner Program, I launched in 2021, now has four staff who are dispatched to treat patients where they are, helping them to avoid costly ER visits and keeping our ambulances available to service those in need faster. We also are making progress in my efforts to improve the EMS billing system.

Public Safety

Wildfire Preparedness

I facilitated funding for staffing and constructing the new fire/EMS station opening at 360 and Davenport this February and supported investments in wildfire education and vegetation management. I also sponsored a resolution to incorporate more of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code into Austin’s land development code.

Response to Hate

After a spate of hate incidents in my district, I authored a budget amendment supporting a public education campaign and improvements to the 311 reporting system.

Reducing Gun Violence

Approaching gun violence as a public health issue, I leveraged partnerships to build a stronger ecosystem locally to prevent gun violence. Along with Travis County Judge Brown, District Attorney Garza, and Mayor Adler, I co-hosted a gun violence summit in June. I also authored a resolution directing the City Manager to explore every option to prohibit or reduce the sale of semi-automatic rifles to anyone under age 21 in Austin.

Response to Sexual Assault

An independent evaluation of Austin’s sexual assault investigations, which I commissioned in consultation with survivors and advocates, was published in November. This report recommends systemic changes and improvements to Austin’s sexual assault response system, some of which are already underway. During the budget process I secured the needed financial resources identified in a preliminary report, including a crime analyst for APD’s Sex Crimes Unit, investments in detective training, an increase to the Victim Emergency Assistance Fund, additional vehicles for APD’s Sex Crimes and Victim Services divisions, and funding for 3 previously grant-funded positions to support survivors.

Police and 911 Call Center

I have long maintained that we can both address police culture and bias and improve staffing, training, and response times. In 2022, I co-authored a resolution to develop a comprehensive public safety staffing plan, and supported 3 additional APD cadet classes that will use improved, community-focused curriculum. I also continued my work to address vacancies and emergency response times in our 911 call center through increased compensation and investments in recruitment and retention.

Transportation and Mobility

I supported continued improvements along 360, 183, and on Spicewood Springs and the Redbud Trail Bridge. Additionally, I worked with City staff to update Austin’s Strategic Mobility Plan to better address the wildfire threat and plan for evacuations.

2022 Safe Routes to School Project locations included:

• Austin Woods Drive/Hill Elementary school

• Laurel Mountain Elementary School in Great Hills Reserve

• Doss Elementary School and Murchison Middle School
  

Parks

Every Austinite deserves to live and work within walking distance of a great park. In 2022, I led the effort to require commercial developers to pay their fair share by including parkland in their plans or paying parkland fees.

District 10 parks improvement projects completed or initiated in 2022 include: renovations to the Tarrytown and Reed playgrounds, new artwork and landscaping improvements at Eilers Park, and improved restrooms at the Walsh Boat Landing and Bull Creek Park.

Equity, Opportunity, and Investing in our Workforce

As our City and our workforce face new challenges and a rising cost of living, I am proud to have championed creative approaches to expand equity and opportunity in Austin.

Together with the Asian, Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ chambers and the Economic Development Department, I launched the development of a Regional Economic Equity Development plan. I also initiated a process to create a local preference program to help our small businesses access city contracts.  I supported increasing the City’s living wage to a minimum of $20 per hour and I worked with Capital IDEA and United Way to leverage American Rescue Plan Act funds to strengthen our workforce, healthcare and early childhood ecosystems.

Housing and Land Use

In 2022 Council adopted two policy changes I co-authored, which allow residential uses in commercial zones and relax compatibility requirements on targeted corridors under certain conditions. See my December newsletter for details.

Looking Ahead to 2023

My highest priority in 2023 is to continue to address City recruitment and retention efforts in order to improve our public safety response times and our delivery of essential services. In my view, policy work is not completed simply by passing resolutions and amendments. This year I will thus be stewarding the full implementation of my efforts to strengthen Austin’s long term health and resilience.

In the remainder of this letter, you will find information on my upcoming office hours at a District 10 emergency preparedness event, January volunteer opportunities, a COVID risk update, and more.

Thank you to the many D10 residents, Austinites, and city staff who joined me in this work in 2022. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together this year. And if you read this far, THANK YOU too! 🙂🙂🙂

Regards,