Dear Neighbor:
Throughout this campaign, I’ve been grateful for the chance to share what I hope to accomplish if elected to serve on the Council again. I have also reflected on what I’ve worked on during my previous terms, especially on important issues like the Mopac South Environmental Study.
Yesterday, one of the other candidates in the election sent an email and posted a statement on our community WhatsApp, alleging he knew my record. While I’d like to respond to some of what’s been said later in this note, I also want to take this opportunity to share updates about the Mopac South Environmental Study, which may affect us all after the election.
MoPac South: November 12 and Next Steps
Our community will soon have another opportunity to weigh in on the MoPac South Environmental Study (also referred to as the MoPac South Project). A public comment period on the MoPac South Project has been announced to open Nov 12, 2024 and run through Dec 29, 2024. This is important to our city because the design of any changes to Mopac from Lady Bird Lake to Slaughter Lane will impact city access, along with the potential for additional noise, light and air pollution. Rollingwood has been advocating since 2015 for a design that includes access and safety improvements, both for vehicles and bike/ped, and to prevent elevated lanes that would increase environmental impact along our city’s border. There is also a concern about changes to MoPac and its frontage system that would incentivize more commuter traffic to use Rollingwood Drive as a daily route. The correspondence filed thus far on the City’s positions on this project are available here.
This upcoming public comment period is likely to be the last chance to comment before the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) moves from study to funding, making it essential for Rollingwood to use its standing under federal law and its collective influence of community members to push for a design that addresses our concerns and to consider next steps if the design moved forward will have negative impacts on our city. During my previous terms, I prioritized keeping MoPac updates as a regular agenda item, ensuring residents and Council had monthly access to the latest developments and could react together quickly. If elected, I will continue this transparency and advocacy.
One of the things that is new about the MoPac South Project for this round of public comment is that the results of a study that has been underway in Hays County to connect MoPac with I-35 (referred to as the SH45 GAP Study) are now available to the public. In the past, Rollingwood has commented on concerns about the theoretical potential for a gap filling project that could increase commuter traffic looking to bypass I-35. The details of the study of that project are now a reality and should be analyzed as part of the city’s response to the MoPac South Project in the upcoming comment period.
During previous terms serving on the Council, I prioritized building connections with other stakeholders on the MoPac South Project around Rollingwood. I have continued to maintain and build on these connections, including serving as the Travis County Representative appointed by the Travis County Commissioner Court to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), which is our six-county mobility planning organization. This is important because MoPac South is a regional roadway and Rollingwood has one seat at the table. I am grateful for the elected officials, neighborhoods, and organizations who have joined with Rollingwood in the past in asking for a better design, which will serve the best interests not only of Rollingwood, but the areas surrounding our city.
My involvement with the MoPac South Project first began 10 years ago in 2014 when I was serving on the Council and I attended a Technical Working Group meeting in December for the City. There, I learned about a double-decker toll bridge plan over Lady Bird Lake that would negatively impact Rollingwood, Zilker Park and other neighboring areas. At the very next Rollingwood Council meeting, I presented to the Council what I had seen, which initiated Rollingwood’s immediate advocacy for a more considerate design.
In 2015, I worked alongside our community to focus our response and strengthen our advocacy. Wendi Hundley, also a candidate now for Rollingwood City Council, was a neighbor at the time who shared concerns about the MoPac project, and together we rallied our community to learn the stages and lingo of transportation planning and participate. Neighbors in Rollingwood held coffees and luncheons where we invited elected officials from our area to attend, and strategized about how to best collect and use our city’s voice to both support improvements to MoPac, and to advocate for a better design. At one point, an organized group of neighbors took the city’s position letter on MoPac door-to-door within the community and collected signatures from the majority of our neighbors. As a direct result of the city’s advocacy in 2015, CTRMA went back to the drawing board to consider additional design options for the project, which were released in 2017.
Whether on the Council or not, since 2015, I have supported each of our Mayors in following the MoPac South Project process, along with the progress of other roadway projects that tie into MoPac South. Regardless of the outcome of the election, I am keeping focused on how the city can come together on our next collective response to the MoPac South Project.
Additional Items in my Record (Response to candidate Glasheen's email)
Dog Park: In 2014, I worked with other Council Members to adopt an ordinance allowing off-leash dogs on the upper park fields. Initially, the fields were used by a small number of residents throwing balls for their dogs, providing them with ample space to run - my dogs included! As usage of the fields increased, I supported exploring options to balance off-leash dog access, with the scheduling needs of Little League and softball.
Candidate Glasheen claims that I “proposed we restrict off-leash dogs to a new small, fenced area, too small for grass.” I am unaware of any proposal—by myself or others—for a fenced dog area at that would lack sufficient space for grass. As a Parks Commission member, I participated in developing the Park Master Plan that includes options for a dedicated, always-available off-leash dog area. In 2021, as a Council Member, I also supported a feasibility study for such an independent area, per a request by the Parks Commission to look at options in addition to the access currently allowed on the fields.
Tree Canopy: In 2019, I co-authored with Wendi Hundley, the City’s first tree canopy ordinance, which passed unanimously. This newspaper article highlights the ordinance passing. Before this ordinance, the city had no restrictions on tree removal. The new ordinance established permitting requirements for tree removal, including mandatory replacement and replanting guidelines, that provides a balance between tree removal and reasonable building.
The ordinance incentivizes preserving trees in setback areas with a replanting ratio of 3:1 and requires a 1:1 ratio for trees removed from the buildable footprint of a lot. It aims to encourage tree health by shifting away from policies that would incentivize neglect of trees. Designed as a first step in fostering a sustainable tree canopy in Rollingwood, the ordinance was reviewed by Planning and Zoning (P&Z) in 2021, with a first round of amendments made based on community feedback. I’m pleased to see ongoing discussions about additional amendments to further support a healthy, growing tree canopy in our city.
Tax Notes: In 2020, I voted to secure tax notes at a very low interest rate. After discussing the tax notes with a neighbor experienced in bond financing, I led the Council in creating a multi-step oversight process. This process included public hearings and website updates before any tax note funds could be spent. You can view the oversight process followed through the end of 2021 here. I supported allocating these funds for specific drainage infrastructure projects in the city.
Property Purchase Evaluation: In 2020, the Council was presented with an option to purchase a residential property using the tax note funds. I believed it was worth evaluating the property for exploring temporary office space options for staff and our Police Department during a planned City Hall remodel. At the same time, the City of Austin’s Zilker Master Plan proposes a large parking garage at the end of Rollingwood Drive, raising concerns about the potential for future traffic mitigation and safety management issues in that area.
After considering community input, our Council unanimously voted against proceeding with the property purchase. This evaluation sparked a robust discussion about zoning change thresholds and highlighted the need for a Comprehensive Plan to provide zoning stability. During the evaluation, I requested and led a Council work session to review public input and discuss the next steps in the comprehensive planning process. You can listen to the session here.
Condos: In 2020, the Council I served on initiated a comprehensive planning process. Candidate Glasheen alleges that “the Council wanted to change our zoning to allow mid-rise condos on Bee Caves Road.” This claim does not align with my actions. While the comprehensive planning process included discussions on various zoning types, and both the consultant advising on the process and community members requested an evaluation of condo-style living on Bee Cave Road, I initiated the motion to limit commercial building height on the north side of Bee Cave Road to two stories. I supported establishing the Strike Force to gather community input and draft the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Milk and Cookies: In 2021, Rollingwood residents who volunteered on RCDC evaluated a proposal to add Milk and Cookies in the park, and brought the proposal to City Council with a request to give direction on whether to move forward with further conversations. I voted not to continue looking at the proposal.
As your Council member in previous terms, I came prepared to every meeting, listening to all voices and focusing on practical, community-driven solutions. I worked to establish processes that improved health, transparency, oversight, and stability in our City.
I ran in this election to give you a real choice when you go to vote. I’ve written this note to you as a neighbor who values thoughtful decisions about our City’s resources—not as part of a courtroom trial.
I would be honored to have your vote.
Early voting continues today, Thursday, October 31 and tomorrow, Friday, November 1, with election day on November 5. The Randalls on Bee Cave Road is the closest voting location to Rollingwood, and more information on locations and hours are available here.
If you are out and about tonight for Halloween, please stop by 601 Ridgewood from 5-7p for a Halloween Ice Cream Social hosted by Emily & Sean Doran, and Walt & Kendra Roloson, to grab an ice cream and a chat with Wendi Hundley and me.
Warmly,
Amy Pattillo, Candidate for Rollingwood City Council
3 Rock Way Cove
Rollingwood, TX 78746