PSH Resolution

• March 25, 2010: Co-sponsored a resolution to develop a permanent supportive housing strategy, and prioritize funding to develop 350 PSH units over the next four years

Low-income Customer Assistance

• August 2009: Initiated the conversation between advocates and AE staff, helped negotiate a new deferred payment plan and no cutoffs for extreme heat
• Stakeholder meetings eventually led to a change in the extreme heat policy with a formal ordinance change in May 2010

Solar Rebate Program

• October 15, 2010: Sponsored a resolution to examine solar rebate options, increase funding for the program if feasible, and clarify the process and any proposed rebate changes for all customer classes.

3 Foot Safe Passing Resolution

• August 27, 2009: Co-sponsored a resolution to require a three-foot safe passing distance for vulnerable road users
• October 22, 2009: Passed amended ordinance for vulnerable road users

CAMPO Regional Bike Map

• Coordinated efforts with the City of Austin and CAMPO to create a regional bicycle map

Country Club Creek Trail

• Convened regular stakeholder group meetings and staff to ensure progress: some additional use of easements have been obtained

Shoal Creek Trail – Gap at 5th and West Ave.

• Brought in property owners to renew discussions with staff about necessary easements
  Monthly updates to ensure project will remain on track and produce a desired outcome for the trail connection

2010 Budget priorities

• Successfully advocated for 2 Case Managers for the Downtown Austin Community Court
• Received commitment for Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coordinator position
• Ensured more positions for dedicated parks maintenance

2010 Strategic Mobility Bond

• March 25, 2010: Co-sponsored a resolution to prepare a multi-modal bond package using less than ½ the debt capacity within the current tax rate
• November 2, 2010: Bond passed with 56% of the vote

Workforce Development Initiative

• June 24th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution directing City Manager to establish a stakeholder group that includes workforce development organizations, ACC, and small businesses
• This group would determine a comprehensive community approach to developing work-ready employees for Austin’s small businesses.
• The City would explore federal funding opportunities with the local workforce development board
• December 9, 2010: Council briefing on progress of the plan

Citizens Water Conservation Implementation Task Force

• August 6th, 2009: Sponsored a resolution directing the Citizen’s Water Conservation Implementation Task Force to consider additional water conservation measures and present recommendations to City Council by January 1, 2010.
• May 13th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution adopting recommendations made in the March 2010 final report of the Citizens Water Conservation Implementation Task Force, endorsing water conservation goals, and directing the City Manager to continue analysis of the recommendations and develop a 10 year conservation action plan.

Construction Emissions Reduction

• February 11th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to identify means of reducing nitrous oxide, particulate, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction and demolition projects.
• Results:
  • CoA applied for a Texas Clean Fleet Program
  • Anti-idling policy: Ensure that signs are posted and education and awareness programs are in place for employees and Creating anti-idling toolkit
  • Drafted specifications for use in City’s construction projects; 4 test projects are selected including a building, street, wastewater line, and water quality project
  • Looking into additional alternative fueling stations round the City of Austin Creating an online resource guide

Green Roofs Advisory Group

• August 27th, 2009: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to convene and assist a green roof stakeholder group which shall develop and present to Council policy recommendations for promoting green roofs in the City on or before August 26, 2010.
• October 28th, 2010: Green Roofs presented their final report to Council; Several City departments collaborated with the advisory group to evaluate the benefits of green roofs, review other cities’ incentives and credit policies, establish a database of green roofs that already exist in the Austin area, and analyze current policies and incentives.
• November 4th: Sponsored a resolution extending GRAG until October 28th, 2011 and directing the City Manager to work with GRAG to support the Five-Year Plan by providing staff assistance for and review of:
  • A downtown density bonus proposal by the end of December, 2010
  • Green roof performance standards by the end of April, 2011
  • Publication of web support materials by the end of August, 2011

Height Exceptions for Solar Installations

• Our office coordinated with staff to process a code amendment to amend section 25-2-531(B) to add solar and wind installations to the list of rooftop structures that can exceed the regular height limits in the LDC.
  September 23, 2010: Approved by Council

Recycling & Reuse of Construction & Demolition Waste

• September 30th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to investigate incentives for the recycling of demolition and construction materials in support of the City’s Zero Waste goals, demolition and construction fee waivers for economic and the application of demolition and relocation fees toward historic preservation reviews.

Animal Services

• 10/22/2009: Co-sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to prepare an ordinance amending the City Code to expand the Animal Advisory Commission’s role and responsibilities.
• 11/5/2009: Co-sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to work with the AAC to develop an implementation plan for the AAC’s recommendations and to present the implementation plan to Council, on or before March 1, 2010

Community Gardens

• 2011 Budget – successfully advocated for designation of a city staff position to serve as a single point of contact for community gardens and urban farms.
• 11/19/2009: Co-sponsored a resolution supporting sustainable urban agriculture and community gardening and directing the City Manager to streamline the process to establish a qualified community garden including any necessary code amendments (defining a “qualified” community garden) and identifying public land suitable for establishing community gardens.

Downtown Austin Community Court

• Initiated quarterly stakeholder meetings in conjunction with 10 year review of the court
• Successfully added 2 case managers in FY2011 budget to help with the court’s frequent offenders

Farmers Market

• December 17, 2009: Co-sponsored an ordinance waiving fees for the farmers markets downtown and at the triangle
• October 28, 2010: Co-sponsored an ordinance amendment that allows vendors to sell hot food at farmers markets once a week for 14 weeks.

Airport Boulevard FBC

• December 10th, 2009: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to identify funding opportunities and recommend a planning process for developing a form-based code to facilitate innovative, pedestrian, bicycle and transit-oriented development along the segment of Airport Boulevard generally located between North Lamar Boulevard and IH-35, which will serve as a pilot project for future corridor development.
• April 29th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution establishing an advisory group
• October 14th, 2010: Appointed members of the Airport Advisory Group and selected Gateway Planning team as lead consultants to the project

Alley Vacations

• August 5th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution approving an ordinance amending City Code Section 14-11-73 (Review by Commissions) to require alley vacations in the downtown area to be reviewed by the Design Commission and the Downtown Commission

Billboards

• October 22nd, 2009: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to process a code amendment to prohibit the relocation of billboards within 500 feet of a legal residential use and to bring the proposed ordinance to City Council on or before December 10, 2009.
• December 10, 2009: Council approved code amendment.

Design Commission Review

• August 19, 2010: Co-sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to work with the Austin Design Commission on recommendations for design guidelines for infrastructure projects commissioned by the City of Austin, including Austin Energy, the Austin Water Utility, and other city-owned enterprises.
• September 23, 2010: Sponsored a resolution directing the City Manager to defer approval of any site plan or building permit that includes elements approved via Alternative Equivalent Compliance under Subchapter E (Design Standards and Mixed Use) until after the Design Commission reviews the proposed.

East Riverside Corridor Master Plan

• August 5th, 2010: Sponsored resolution directing the City Manager to establish an expedited public input process to develop regulations and a development bonus system for implementation of the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan; and to expedite the board and commission process for the proposed regulations and bonus system

UNO Study

• Worked with the University of Texas, School of Architecture Community & Regional Planning Program to analyze various aspects of urban design in West Campus, such as building typology, architectural character, street network/parking, open space, pedestrian/bicycle environment, vegetation, street furniture, etc. The class included student assessment, revision of, and redesign of some of the UNO design guidelines and development rules.

Capital Metro Initiatives

• Included compressed natural gas capability as an element in the matrix used in all future bus procurements.
• Advocated for a yearly pass for Metro Access users.
• Posted check register and purchase card records online (First transit agency in TX - and perhaps the nation to do so).
• Enhanced reporting of performance measures at board meetings and online to keep people informed and hold service providers accountable.

City Hall- Parking Garage

• Worked with Transportation Department to capitalize on unused parking spaces within the garage – create a new branding strategy for all city garages

Taxicabs

• Cosponsored resolutions that directed the City Manager to work with the Urban Transportation Commission to collect stakeholder input and make recommendations regarding:
  • flat rates
  • cleanup
  • additional cab stands in warehouse district or other entertainment districts
  • ways to link up customers with taxis including pickup/dropoff procedures and potential for use of “hailing icons;”
  • taxicab franchise performance indicators
  • capping fees charged by franchise holder
  • revised method to renew franchises, including integration of key performance measures
• Stakeholders involved in the process included: taxicab drivers, taxicab customers, and franchises and associated businesses.
• September 20th, 2010: Staff presented their final recommendations to Council, including immediate action on:
  • min. fare for trips from Airport ($11.64)
  • clean-up fee: add $0.10 to drop fee per trip and drivers keep additional revenue for cleanup
  • additional taxi-stands
  • design downtown wayfinding system
  • low-speed vehicles included in the city code
  • develop/evaluate changes to franchise & permit approval process

US DOT Policies

• July, 2010: Included US DOT Policies in the CAMPO 2035 Plan
• July 29th, 2010: Sponsored a resolution confirming that the City Council recognizes and endorses U.S. Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian policies and encourages interdepartmental cooperation in ongoing processes related to the goals reflected in these policies.

• Office calendar posted online.
• Our website has a comprehensive list of resolutions and ordinances

Transparency

• Worked with staff to get city contracts online and now launching a new e-Checkbook feature to see payments made on a weekly basis

Social Media

• March 11, 2010: Sponsored a resolution to develop a policy regarding social media so that City Boards and Commissions can utilize social media sites.