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April 24, 2018 Pete Gilcrease

Votes2

Resolution 2016-10-01: 2016 City Council Election FAN Membership Preferences

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fan-2016-city-council-election-preferences-vote/1642

Vote Language:

Which candidate do think would best further FAN’s cause of neighborhood inclusion and improvement? View the voting record for current council members on FAN issues, FAN’s candidate questionnaire, and the FAN Reddit AMA online candidate forums here: http://www.atxfriends.org/austin-city-council-voting-record, and Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fan-2016-city-council-election-preferences-vote/1642

—–

Vote date: Oct 16, 2016 – Oct 20, 2016

Result: FAN Membership Preferences:

  • District 2 – Delia Garza
  • District 4 – Gregorio “Greg” Casar
  • District 6 – No Consensus
  • District 7 – Natalie Gauldin
  • District 10 – Sheri Gallo

—————

At Large Membership Results (Out of 401 total members):

  • District 2
    • Casey Ramos – 3
    • Wesley Faulkner – 10
    • Delia Garza – 48
    • No Preference – 27
  • District 4
    • Louis C. Herrin III – 5
    • Gonzalo Camacho – 3
    • Gregorio “Greg” Casar – 63
    • No Preference – 17
  • District 6
    • James “Jimmy” Flannigan – 38
    • Don Zimmerman – 23
    • No Preference – 27
  • District 7
    • Leslie Pool – 8
    • Natalie Gauldin – 72
    • No Preference – 8
  • District 10
    • Sheri Gallo – 59
    • Rob Walker – 3
    • Nicholas Virden – 1
    • Alison Alter – 4
    • No Preference – 21

Member Organization Votes

  • District 2
    • Casey Ramos (0)
    • Wesley Faulkner (2)
      • Wooten Neighborhood Association
      • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Delia Garza (5)
      • Friends of Hyde Park
      • Crestview Commons
      • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
      • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • No Preference (0)
    • Did Not Vote (5)
      • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Mueller Neighborhood Association
      • Highland Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Zilker
      • Southbank Neighborhood Association
  • District 4
    • Louis C. Herrin III (0)
    • Gonzalo Camacho (0)
    • Gregorio “Greg” Casar (7)
      • Friends of Hyde Park
      • Crestview Commons
      • Wooten Neighborhood Association
      • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
      • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • No Preference (0)
    • Did Not Vote (5)
      • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Mueller Neighborhood Association
      • Highland Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Zilker
      • Southbank Neighborhood Association
  • District 6
    • James “Jimmy” Flannigan (1)
      • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • Don Zimmerman (2)
      • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • No Preference (4)
      • Friends of Hyde Park
      • Crestview Commons
      • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Did Not Vote (5)
      • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Mueller Neighborhood Association
      • Highland Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Zilker
      • Southbank Neighborhood Association
  • District 7
    • Leslie Pool (0)
    • Natalie Gauldin (7)
      • Friends of Hyde Park
      • Crestview Commons
      • Wooten Neighborhood Association
      • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
      • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • No Preference (0)
    • Did Not Vote (5)
      • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Mueller Neighborhood Association
      • Highland Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Zilker
      • Southbank Neighborhood Association
  • District 10
    • Sheri Gallo (7)
      • Friends of Hyde Park
      • Crestview Commons
      • Wooten Neighborhood Association
      • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
      • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Rob Walker (0)
    • Nicholas Virden (0)
    • Alison Alter (0)
    • No Preference (0)
    • Did Not Vote (5)
      • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
      • Mueller Neighborhood Association
      • Highland Neighborhood Association
      • Friends of Zilker
      • Southbank Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-10-02: Transportation and Mobility Bond For Corridors

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/transportation-bond-referendum/461

Vote Language:

Should Austin issue $720,000,000 transportation and mobility bonds and notes to fund corridor enhancements and sidewalk, bicycle, and transit infrastructure?

—–

Vote date: Oct 16, 2016 – Oct 20, 2016

Result: No Consensus (60% Threshold of Both Neighborhood Associations and At Large Members Not Reached For An Official FAN Position To Be Taken)

At Large Membership Results (Out of 401 total members):

  • Support – 53
  • Oppose – 24
  • Abstain – 11

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (3)
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
  • Oppose (1)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
  • Abstain (3)
    • Crestview Commons
    • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (5)
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-9-01: Guadalupe Activity Corridor

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/postponed-to-oct-6-austin-city-council-item-activity-corridor-on-guadalupe-street-from-29th-street-to-51st-street/1605

Letter from FAN to city council and staff:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN) supports the staff recommendation to designate Guadalupe Street from 29th Street to 51st Street as an activity corridor. Residents of neighborhoods along Guadalupe St. deserve greater access to jobs and walkable amenities, including restaurants, grocery stores, and small businesses, as well as much-needed housing near the urban core.

By further reducing the current restrictive parking requirements, this designation would allow more homeowners within a quarter mile of the activity corridor to build accessory dwellings. FAN members support reducing the restrictions on accessory dwelling units as a way of welcoming new residents and the abundant and diverse supply of housing needed to accommodate them.

With the possible redevelopment of the Austin State Hospital in the near future, the Guadalupe activity corridor designation would allow for additional housing alongside one of the last undeveloped tracts in central Austin.

The characteristics of Guadalupe between 29th and 51st Streets align well with the criteria in Appendix A-30 of the Imagine Austin Plan for identifying activity corridors:

FACTORS USED IN IDENTIFYING CORRIDORS

Connecting the city: Routes that connected multiple activity or job centers or major transportation features.

Core Transit Corridors and Future Core Transit Corridors: Routes identified by the City’s Commercial Design Standards, which require wider sidewalks and street trees.

Strategic Mobility Plan: Corridor studies included in the Strategic Mobility Plan.

Land availability: Areas with vacant land or land identified for redevelopment by neighborhood plans (generally, but not exclusively, calling for mixed-use future land use categories).

This recommendation has gone through the full process from being identified by city staff as part of their 2016 Annual Report for Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and amendments, then to the Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, to the Planning Commission Subcommittee, to the full Planning Commission, and now to the City Council for consideration. Ample time and notification to neighborhood residents has been provided for this update to the Imagine Austin Plan, including a postponement at the City Council for further consideration. We urge the City Council to approve this important designation.

—–

Vote date: Sept 26, 2016 – Oct 3, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 309 total members):

  • Support – 53
  • Oppose – 0
  • Abstain – 1

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (6)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (6)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • Crestview Commons
    • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-9-02: Feedback to TxDOT on IH-35

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/resolution-feedback-to-txdot-on-ih-35/1622

FAN Feedback to TxDOT on IH-35

FAN:

  1. Supports lowering IH-35 (but not necessarily all aspects of the “lowered” option TxDOT is proposing) to reconnect our east and west neighborhoods.
  2. Urges a number of specific improvements to IH-35 that are not currently in any of the proposals (see “FAN’s Suggested Improvements” below).
  3. Among the limited “build” options TxDOT is currently advancing, prefers the “lowered” option.

FAN’s Suggested Improvements

  1. Lower as much of IH-35 as possible through central Austin, including the central and north central portion.
  2. Better east/west connectivity by reconnecting all east/west streets across IH-35.
  3. Cap the lowered portions of the highway.
  4. Improve bridge safety with wide sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and shade trees.
  5. Improve frontage road safety with design speeds no higher than 30 mph, wide sidewalks with continuous shade trees, protected bike lanes, on-street parking.
  6. Any transit along frontage roads and across bridges should travel in dedicated lanes.
  7. Any transit stations in managed lanes of I-35 should be in line (no flyovers for buses out of managed lanes), and east/west transit connections should occur at the in-line stations.
  8. Use natural barriers (e.g. trees) to mitigate additional air pollution from added vehicles.
  9. Mitigate additional noise pollution from added vehicles (but not with 50 ft concrete sound walls or other unsightly barriers).
  10. Full economic analysis of the impacts to City of Austin tax base.

—–

Vote date: Sept 26, 2016 – Oct 3, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 309 total members):

  • Support – 48
  • Oppose – 1
  • Abstain – 5

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (6)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (6)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • Crestview Commons
    • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-9-03: Bylaws Update Vote

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fan-bylaw-changes/238/

Bylaws Amendments

View all suggested amendments and changes here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9GHftj8OAbmQnYxY0FCM2Mzbm8/view?usp=sharing

Major Changes:
1) Clarifies annual meetings can be online
2) Clarifies that anyone can be an at-large member that lives in Austin
3) Clarifies FAN board can designate delegates for member NAs that haven’t designated one yet
4) Clarifies how the board can be expanded, if needed, to include more directors
5) Clarifies and simplifies the nominating process

—–

Vote date: Sept 26, 2016 – Oct 3, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 309 total members):

  • Support – 41
  • Oppose – 1
  • Abstain – 12

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (6)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (6)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • Crestview Commons
    • Tarrytown Neighborhood Association

 

2016 FAN Board Election

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/2016-board-nominations/478/

Results:

President – Alysha Haggerton
Treasurer – Evan Gill
Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison, Meghan Skornia

Member Organization Votes

  • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Jessica Castilleja, Roger L. Cauvin, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison
  • Friends of Zilker
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Skylar Buffington, Roger L. Cauvin, Pete Gilcrease, Meghan Skornia
  • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Jessica Castilleja, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison, Meghan Skornia
  • Crestview Commons
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Skylar Buffington
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong
  • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Jessica Castilleja, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison
  • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Skylar Buffington
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Roger L. Cauvin, Brittany Morrison, Meghan Skornia
  • Wooten Neighborhood Association
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Skylar Buffington, Jessica Castilleja, Brittany Morrison, Meghan Skornia
  • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Jessica Castilleja, Pete Gilcrease, Meghan Skornia
  • Friends of Hyde Park
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Skylar Buffington, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison
  • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • President – Alysha Haggerton
    • Treasurer – Evan Gill
    • Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
    • Other Board Members – Matthew Armstrong, Roger L. Cauvin, Pete Gilcrease, Meghan Skornia

At Large Membership Results (Out of 286 total members):

President – Alysha Haggerton
Treasurer – Evan Gill
Secretary – Roger L. Cauvin
Other Board Members – Skylar Buffington, Pete Gilcrease, Brittany Morrison, Meghan Skornia

Question #1
President – Alysha Haggerton 41

Question #2
Treasurer – Evan Gill 41

Question #3
Secretary
Skylar Buffington 9
Roger L. Cauvin 29
Meghan Skornia 6

Question #4
Other Board Members – Please choose up to four candidates to serve as directors on the board. The existing board of directors will expand the size of the board to accommodate up to four candidates receiving at least 60% of the vote.

Matthew Armstrong 18
Skylar Buffington 25
Jessica Castilleja 9
Roger L. Cauvin 33
Pete Gilcrease 30
Brittany Morrison 29
Meghan Skornia 19

 

Resolution 2016-6-01: The Grove

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/time-to-weigh-in-on-the-grove/470/

Letter from FAN to city council and staff:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods supports granting zoning and entitlements at the Grove at Shoal Creek necessary to create a dense, walkable, mixed-use community with an abundance of housing and jobs, and a diversity of housing types and sizes.

Due to our severe housing crunch and the known environmental benefits of compact, mixed-use development, we ask city Staff and the Environmental Board to reconsider demands for the developer to significantly reduce density on this site in our urban core.

Consistent with Imagine Austin’s call for increasing the number of households living within walking distance of parks, we ask the city to calculate parkland requirements for PUDs in a way that does not discourage housing supply in the urban core or compromise the viability of dense, mixed-use developments. In order to promote parkland accessibility, the city should encourage developers to maximize the number of people that can live near existing and future parks instead of focusing on acreage per capita requirements, which incentivize developers to reduce housing to meet parkland requirements.

Vote date: June 16, 2016 – June 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 282 total members):

  • Support – 52
  • Oppose – 2
  • Abstain – 3

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (7)
    • Crestview Commons
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (4)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-6-02: City of Austin Homestead Exemption

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/resolution-on-coa-homestead-exemption/462/

Letter from FAN to city council and staff:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods does not support an increase to City of Austin’s homestead tax exemption. Our membership believes the relatively minor annual financial impact to homeowners does not outweigh the negative impacts to the majority of Austinites: renters and those benefiting from properly funded COA programs.

  • The exemption does not have a significant impact on household affordability.
    • The HEx will not pass down any savings to most Austinites as most Austinites rent their homes.
    • The average homeowner saved $14 with last year’s 6% exemption.
  • Increasing the Hex would shift the taxing burden from established homeowners to low-income renters. This regressive taxation policy is not appropriate for a progressive city like Austin.
  • Our city cannot afford to shift millions of dollars away from other necessary expenses and programs.
    • If the HEx is increased by 5 percent, it would cost an additional $9.1 million in 2016-2017. This is equivalent to over 50% of Neighborhood Housing & Community Development’s 2015-2016 budget.

Vote date: June 16, 2016 – June 20, 2016

Result: Did Not Pass

At Large Membership Results (Out of 282 total members):

  • Support – 35
  • Oppose – 11
  • Abstain – 11

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (2)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (3)
    • Crestview Commons
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
  • Abstain (2)
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (4)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-6-03: Carport Exemption

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/carport-exemption/485/

Letter from FAN to city council and staff:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, in an effort to place importance on people over cars, calls for an increase in allowable floor-area ratio (FAR) equivalent to the current parking exemptions in order to remove the complicated parking exemptions section from Subchapter F known as the “McMansion Ordinance.” This will benefit the review process, review staff, and ultimately reduce entitlements related costs that end up in the price of a home.

Vote date: June 16, 2016 – June 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 282 total members):

  • Support – 47
  • Oppose – 4
  • Abstain – 6

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (5)
    • Crestview Commons
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (2)
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (4)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-6-04: Complete Communities Indicators

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/complete-communities-indicators-resolution/471/

Letter from FAN to city council and staff:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods urges you to guide the CodeNEXT process and Imagine Austin implementation decisions using the plan’s complete communities indicators, and we request that you provide the funding for staff positions and training necessary to apply this approach.

The Imagine Austin comprehensive plan defines a vision of a city of complete communities that are livable, natural and sustainable, mobile and interconnected, creative, educated, prosperous, and that value and respect people. These qualities of complete communities represent the goals of the plan. The plan (pages 225-226) includes 58 indicators that “measure success in achieving plan goals.”

If we are to move forward constructively in achieving the goals of Imagine Austin, we must begin measuring these indicators, and our community must base its decisions on what will move these indicators in the right direction.

The City has access to “Envision Tomorrow” and other tools that staff can use to quantify and predict, for example, the effects of different land development code regulations on measures of household affordability, mobility, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Please direct City staff to provide stakeholders, in advance, with the estimated impacts of Imagine Austin implementation proposals, including the projected impacts of land development code revisions. Please also fund the training and positions that staff needs to produce these estimates.

Vote date: June 16, 2016 – June 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 282 total members):

  • Support – 49
  • Oppose – 2
  • Abstain – 6

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (7)
    • Crestview Commons
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (4)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

Vote on Nominating Committee

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/volunteer-or-suggest-neighbors-for-the-upcoming-fan-nominating-committee/463

Vote Language:

Accept volunteers for FAN 2016 nominating committee? (Select all candidates you wish to accept on the nominating committee. Per the FAN by-laws, the nominating committee must consist of at least three delegates from member neighborhood associations or the at-large individual bloc.)

Result:

At Large Membership Results:

Kimberly Levinson (Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association) 28
Dan Brickley (Friends of Zilker) 28
Matthew Armstrong (Crestview Commons) 32

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (6)
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Crestview Commons
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (5)
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

Resolution 2016-5-01: Housing Type Diversity

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/occupancy-limits/290/

Letter from FAN to city council and CodeNEXT Advisory Group:

FAN stands for an inclusive Austin that welcomes people of all socioeconomic backgrounds throughout the city. When our policies limit the amount and diversity of housing, we effectively segregate our communities, preventing all but the privileged few from living in the highest-demand neighborhoods. We strive for diversity to be a defining character common to all our neighborhoods.

We support a broader mix of housing types, throughout the city, to increase the socioeconomic diversity of our neighborhoods. In addition to detached single family homes, the mix of housing types should include options such as row-houses, triplexes, quadplexes, and “tiny homes”,

Permitting these housing types would increase opportunities for more efficient use of very limited land resources, help to address supply-demand imbalances, enable more people to live in close proximity to jobs, shopping, and services, and reduce combined housing, transportation, and utility costs, bringing us closer to fulfilling the Imagine Austin plan’s vision of complete communities, as reflected in the indicators listed on pages 225-226 of the plan.

We call upon city leaders to allow for this housing diversity by decreasing minimum lot sizes and providing more opportunities for the construction of row-houses, triplexes, quadplexes, and “tiny homes” in our neighborhoods.

Vote date: May 4, 2016 – May 11, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 279 total members):

  • Support – 73
  • Oppose – 5
  • Abstain – 1

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (9)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
    • Crestview Commons
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (1)
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (1)
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association

 

 

Resolution 2016-01-01: City of Austin Bicycle Master Plan

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fans-position-on-the-coa-bicycle-master-plan/292

Letter from FAN to city council:

FAN supports an All Ages and Abilities Bicycle Network as defined within the City of Austin 2014 Bicycle Master Plan. The public ROW should be used to provide transportation services that increase the safety and mobility of residents. As roads are redesigned and restriped, Austin’s Active Transportation Department should be supported in designing infrastructure that maximizes the contribution of bicycling to Austin’s quality of life.

Vote date: Jan 13, 2016 – Jan 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 224 total members):

  • Support – 103
  • Oppose – 3
  • Abstain – 4

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (8)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (0)
  • Did Not Vote (3)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Northfield Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

 

Resolution 2016-01-02: Home Sharing/Short Term Rentals

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/vote-on-sharing-economy/289

Letter from FAN to city council:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN) supports sensible regulations on short-term rentals and opposes restrictions that would impair progress towards a more affordable Austin.

Allowing responsible owners to rent their homes for short durations benefits our neighbors and our city by providing:

  • A convenient and affordable place for Austinites to stay in their own neighborhoods during remodels and between houses and leases.
  • Temporary housing for visiting family members, for newcomers relocating to Austin, and for flood and fire victims.
  • A way for local businesses to house traveling employees working in or near our neighborhoods.
  • Income to owners whose homes or accessory dwellings might otherwise sit idle for portions of the year.

We are most concerned that limiting owners’ ability to use their homes as short-term rentals will ultimately slow the growth of our overall housing supply. When homeowners know they cannot, if they wish, rent their homes for short durations, some of them will feel less comfortable building or purchasing new homes, reducing the incentive to add homes to Austin’s housing stock.

Moreover, for some homeowners, the additional income and flexibility STRs provide may be the only affordable option that enables them to continue to live in Austin.

To maximize compliance, STR regulations should be easy to follow, and it should be straightforward to acquire and maintain a license. Please oppose:

  • Outright bans on, or phasing out of, short-term rentals of any type.
  • Distance requirements that prohibit short-term rentals of homes in close proximity to other short term rentals.
  • Intrusive inspections of people’s homes without cause.
  • Reduced occupancy limits based on property or site instead of being based on dwelling or license.
  • Allowing evidence not verifiable by a City of Austin employee to be used when evaluating potential violations of short-term rental regulations.
  • Requiring conditional use permits, board of adjustments approval, or neighborhood association approval to acquire or keep a license.
  • Excessive license fees that render it cost prohibitive to get and maintain a license.
  • Requiring a guest registry that violates the privacy of guests and owners.
  • Any other requirements that unduly hinder responsible owners’ ability receive and maintain STR licenses.

Vote date: Jan 13, 2016 – Jan 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 224 total members):

  • Support – 92
  • Oppose – 10
  • Abstain – 8

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (7)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (1)
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (3)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Northfield Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

 

Resolution 2016-01-03: Ride Sharing

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/ridesharing-resolution/327

Letter from FAN to City Council:

Ride sharing companies, or transportation network companies (TNCs), provide an important mobility option for residents of our neighborhoods by connecting drivers and passengers with a seamless user experience. Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN) supports the original TNC regulations the Austin City Council passed in 2014, and we oppose onerous rules that would jeopardize the many positive experiences neighbors have enjoyed so far.

Ride sharing empowers ordinary neighborhood residents to earn income while enabling families to access employment, goods, and services without the expense and burden of owning multiple cars. It provides “last mile” connectivity to destinations beyond the reach of public transportation, thereby making public transportation a more viable option. FAN supports residents making their own choices about whether the ride sharing experience works for them.

Since the City Council approved the original TNC regulations in 2014, drunk driving incidents have declined. Additional regulations that unduly burden TNC drivers, such as requiring fingerprinting, place obstacles on Austinites seeking to earn income by driving for a TNC, would ultimately lead to less access to ride sharing, and could cause an increase in drunk driving incidents.

We urge you to reconsider the recent imposition of additional regulations and to focus on how they may negatively affect the experiences of ordinary Austin residents.

Vote date: Jan 13, 2016 – Jan 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 224 total members):

  • Support – 88
  • Oppose – 16
  • Abstain – 6

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (6)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (2)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (3)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Northfield Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

 

Resolution 2016-01-04: Allowing Metered Parking To Be Counted Toward Minimum Off-Street Parking

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/allowing-metered-parking-spaces-to-be-counted-toward-the-minimum-off-street-parking-required/293

Letter from FAN to City Council:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods supports allowing metered parking spaces to be counted toward the minimum off-street parking required for non-residential uses. Allowing available metered parking to be used for business parking would encourage and support walkable neighborhood amenities, encourage more neighborhood public transportation options, and reduces the amount of impervious cover in our neighborhoods in order to promote green space and help prevent flooding.

Vote date: Jan 13, 2016 – Jan 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 224 total members):

  • Support – 99
  • Oppose – 4
  • Abstain – 7

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (7)
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (1)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (3)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Northfield Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

 

Resolution 2016-01-05: Better Builder Program & FAN Partnership

Link to FAN discussion: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/better-builder-program-fan-partnership/291

Letter from FAN to the Capital Metro Board of Directors:

Dear Capital Metro Board of Directors,

The Leadership and members of Friends of Austin Neighborhoods would like to insist that the developers responsible for the Plaza Saltillo Project be required to participate in the Worker’s Defense Project’s Better Builder Program.

Investing financial resources into independent, on-site monitoring is required to ensure that the BBP standards are upheld throughout the contracting chain. Though this does add cost to the project, finding and solving wage and safety issues through independent on-site monitoring can help reduce project delays, liens, and legal costs associated with poor working conditions, which would benefit the developer and the citizens of Austin in the long run.

The bottom line cannot be more important than the safety and welfare of those workers who bring these projects to life. We as a city will benefit from the fruits of their labor, enjoying a new and exciting mixed-use development at Plaza Saltillo, and we want to stand with them to ensure that they are adequately treated.

Citizens of Austin want the Plaza Saltillo Project to be something we can be proud of—an example of the great work that can happen when public and private entities partner. All stakeholders should be treated fairly, including construction workers, and the way to ensure that their voices are heard is through the Better Builder Program.

Please require the Plaza Saltillo project to be a Better Builder Program Project.

Vote date: Jan 13, 2016 – Jan 20, 2016

Result: Passed

At Large Membership Results (Out of 224 total members):

  • Support – 73
  • Oppose – 8
  • Abstain – 29

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (3)
    • Highland Neighborhood Association
    • Southbank Neighborhood Association
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
  • Oppose (1)
    • Judges Hill Community Circle
  • Abstain (4)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Zilker
    • Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Mueller Neighborhood Association
  • Did Not Vote (3)
    • Midtown Austin Neighborhood Association
    • Northfield Neighborhood Association
    • Wooten Neighborhood Association

 

 

September 2015 FAN Board Election

Election of a president, treasurer, secretary, and four at-large directors.

Voting period: Sept 30th, 2015 – Oct. 7, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fan-board-nominations-sept-election/169

Result:

  • Highland NA: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Kristen Fox, Brendan Wittstruck, Ricky Hennessy, Natalie Gauldin
  • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Pete Gilcrease, Frank Harren, Ricky Hennessy, Evan Gill
  • Friends of Hyde Park: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Kristen Fox, Ricky Hennessy, Natalie Gauldin, Evan Gill
  • Judges Hill Community Circle: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Pete Gilcrease, Frank Harren, Natalie Gauldin, Meghan Skornia
  • DANA: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Kristen Fox, Frank Harren, Ricky Hennessy, Natalie Gauldin
  • Midtown NA: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Frank Harren, Ricky Hennessy, Natalie Gauldin, Evan Gill
  • At-Large Caucus: Roger L. Cauvin, Alysha Haggerton, Cory Brown, Ricky Hennessy, Natalie Gauldin, Pete Gilcrease, Kristen Fox
  • Mueller NA: did not vote
  • Northfield NA: did not vote

Outcome: Roger L. Cauvin (President), Alysha Haggerton (Treasurer), Cory Brown (Secretary), Natalie Gauldin, Ricky Hennessy, Frank Harren, and Kristen Fox elected to the board.

Become an Evolve Austin Partner

Resolution:

Friends of Austin Neighborhood (FAN) appreciates and accepts the invitation to join the Evolve Austin network of partners. We believe our neighborhoods, by welcoming new neighbors, abundant and diverse housing, and jobs and amenities, can contribute to Imagine Austin goals. We look forward to working with other partners to achieve them.

Vote date: Sept 16th, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/evolve-austin-partners-partnership-candidate-for-fan/175

Result: Passed

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (5)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Downtown Austin NA
    • Friends of North Shoal Creek
    • Mueller NA
    • Midtown NA
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (1)
    • Highland NA

At Large Membership Results: 39 support, 3 oppose, 3 abstain

Outcome: We will send a letter to Evolve Austin accepting the invitation to be a partner.

 

Blue Bonnet Hills Local Historic District

Resolution:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods respectfully asks the City Council to vote against the Blue Bonnet Hills Local Historic District.

Please also encourage the City Manager to sponsor an update to the Local Historic District ordinance and its processes through an effort led by City Staff which includes an inclusive Citizen Advisory Group.

The creation of Local Historic Districts should be transparent, involve all stakeholders, and require a two-thirds majority (65%) of neighborhood support, since the policies enforced through an LHD will restrict property rights in an area, and could harm the affordability and sale-ability for both homeowners and renters. Property right restrictions themselves (i.e. “the design standards”), including their administration and enforcement, must be clear to everyone involved prior to voting.

Vote date: Aug 6th, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/draft-of-a-local-historic-district-resolution/118/

Result: Passed

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (4)
    • Downtown Austin NA
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Midtown NA
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain: (1)
    • Mueller NA

At Large Membership Results: 41 support, 4 oppose, 7 abstain

Outcome: We will send a letter to city council and city staff. We will also be sharing the results in person.

 

Small Lot Amnesty

Resolution:

Small lot amnesty is an infill tool that some neighborhoods opted into that allows homeowners to use their original lot sizes for their homes. Small lot amnesty allows for more diversity in our neighborhoods, helps address affordability, and provides more housing options by allowing some homes on smaller lots.

City of Austin staff now proposes that if a single owner ever built a home or fenced a property on multiple lots; that those multiple lots can never again exist independently with individual homes or be “disaggregated.” FAN does not support this change.

Imagine Austin calls for smaller lots in Austin and FAN believes that neighborhoods should be allowed to keep this important infill tool.

Vote date: Aug 6th, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/small-lot-amnesty/102/

Result: Passed

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (4)
    • Downtown Austin NA
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Midtown NA
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain: (1)
    • Mueller NA

At Large Membership Results: 48 support, 2 oppose, 2 abstain

Outcome: We will send a letter to city council and city staff. We will also be sharing the results in person.

 

Type 2 Short Term Rentals and Accessory Dwelling Units

Resolution:

The Planning Commission recommended banning Type 2 short term rentals (STRs) in accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and that recommendation is being considered by the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee on August 17th. Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN) does not support this policy.

Out of all new ADUs permitted in Austin between 2004 – 2014 there are approximately 12 ADUs that are Type 2 STRs showing that there is not an abundance of Type 2 STRs in ADUs. The current STR ordinance limits Type 2 STRs for all dwelling types to a small number of licenses – 3% of dwellings per census tract, making sure that no one census tract can have many Type 2 STRs (addressing “clustering” concerns) and limits their number city wide (addressing housing stock concerns). The current STR regulations in place provide strict limits and even without the limits the data suggests there would be few Type 2 STR ADUs in Austin.

FAN supports abundant and diverse housing in Austin; including temporary housing options. STRs benefit our neighborhoods by providing a convenient place for Austinites to stay in their own neighborhoods during remodels or between houses or between leases, allows temporary housing for new Austinites relocating to Austin, provides housing for visiting families, provides local businesses temporary housing for their employees that work near our neighborhoods, provides temporary housing for flood and fire victims, while allowing homeowners the ability to make additional income in order to help pay their increasing property taxes so they can continue to live in the Austin homes that they love. FAN does not support the policy that would ban Type 2 STRs in ADUs.

Vote date: Aug 6th, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/type-2-short-term-rentals-in-adus-resolution/109/

Result: Passed

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (4)
    • Downtown Austin NA
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Friends of Blue Bonnet Hills
    • Midtown NA
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain: (1)
    • Mueller NA

At Large Membership Results: 47 support, 2 oppose, 3 abstain

Outcome: We will send a letter to city council and city staff. We will also be sharing the results in person.

 

Vote on Accessory Dwelling Units

Resolution:

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN) recognizes that all of our neighborhoods play an important part in welcoming new residents and in contributing to an abundant and diverse supply of housing. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) address affordability by providing homeowners with additional income in order to help them offset their increasing property taxes, provides renters the opportunity to live in a neighborhood community, provides more housing options at a time when Austin is struggling with the lack of housing choices and diversity in our central Austin neighborhoods, and fits in with the existing character of our Austin neighborhoods.

FAN supports families having the discretion to make their own decisions about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) based on their unique circumstances.

FAN does not support opt-­in and opt-­out provisions for ADU regulations. Complicated rules add additional cost burdens to families, makes it difficult for city staff and families to understand and implement regulations, and further complicates our land development code. ADU regulations should be city wide. FAN recommends the following ADU regulation changes:

● Remove on site parking requirements
● Remove the minimum lot size requirement
● Building separation requirement should be lowered or removed
● Submetering should be allowed
● Changes should be city wide

Vote date: June 18th, 2015

Forum Discussion Link: http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/fan-adu-resolution/67

Result: Passed

Member Organization Votes

  • Support (3)
    • Friends of Hyde Park
    • Downtown Austin NA
    • Friends of North Shoal Creek
  • Oppose (0)
  • Abstain (1)
    • Mueller NA

At Large Membership Results: 21 support, 1 oppose, 1 abstain

Outcome: We sent a letter to city council and city staff. We will also be sharing the results in person.