January HOA Meeting

We were blessed by the presence of Mayor Kirk Watson, and it was meaningful to see a solid attendance of at least 100 +folks at the HOA meeting held Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 in the ballroom. He mainly focused on his goals including improving police presence in Austin which is of course important to our neighborhood.

Topics included Public Safety, Recruitment of Police Officers including past negotiations with the Austin Police Association and recent Zoning Changes framed by his sarcastic sense of humor. He came across as someone who gets things done. A bit about Kirk watson from Wikipedia: “Kirk Preston Watson (born 1958)[1][2] is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 59th mayor of Austin, Texas since 2023, previously holding the office as the 54th mayor from 1997 to 2001.[3] A member of the Democratic Party, he ran unsuccessfully for Texas Attorney General in the 2002 election, when he was defeated by Republican Greg Abbott, later governor of Texas. In 2006, Watson was elected to the Texas Senate from District 14.”

Kirk Watson’s goals and outcomes are discussed in his Linked in newsletter The Watson Wire feel free to subscribe if you are interested in following him.

the Mayor explained the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA) need to renegotiate a long term contract for Police officers salaries, benefits, etc. [In the past he gave officers a 4% raise if they stayed longer and a step up $15k recruitment tool mentioning the prior Police union president would not come to the table because he took a strong position and union worked against it.] Since that time, new president of the union, Senior Police Officer Michael Bullock has taken office. The mayor passed a resolution that guarantees salaries and benefits to police officers if they come back to the table to negotiate. See below. GET STUFF DONE AND THEN GET FANCY is my motto!

He also covered emergency 911 reciting that it is a broken system. In November 2023 Brianna Hollis with KXAN News reported 93% of 911 calls were answered within 15 seconds compared to 69%.

Through a partnership with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs last summer, he announced a partnership to invest $65m on emergency shelters and resources to the homeless. The city was short 1000 beds needed by 2025. Here’s a link to the interview by KVUE’s Kelsey Sanchez.

Mayro Watsion discussed that attention needs to be paid to continuing the influx of young people to Austin, Texas. He pointed out how the youth of the city continues to shape Austin and how the growth and vitality of our city depends on it.

Audience Q&A mostly related to safety concerns and experiences where the intruder breached the perimeter of a home, multiple thefts on streets.

Questions about Phase 1 of the HOME initiative  and some disagreement was expressed. Kirk Watson said it is the deed restrictions will prevail with regard to development.

Phase 1 of the HOME Policy Initiative - Community Impact Article

Last city council meeting on HOME

“Alexis Garcia is here and is his point person on permitting” KIRK WATSON STAFF