Based on the latest developments, is there anything the city can do to protect the safety of its citizens from the proposed Permian Highway Pipeline?
The primary control the City of Kyle has is a contractual obligation by Kinder Morgan ensuring the pipeline cannot eventually be used for liquid gasses. I do not condone the ethics associated with this pipeline and stand behind the appeal of the lawsuit against the Texas Railroad Commission for not ensuring the safety of Texans.
With the passage of SB 2, how will this property tax legislation affect the city over the next 5 to 10 years?
The City of Kyle has done an excellent job at holding the line on property tax increases over the past five years, so the 3.5% ad valorem tax cap recently implemented should have no impact on the positive growth and trajectory of the City.
What can be done to ensure builders are paying their fair share so the infrastructure is done right when they build in Kyle?
Appropriate reviews and transportation plans are an imperative part of every development review in Kyle. The cost of the roadway improvements associated with both traffic increases, as well as roadway expansions are an expected part of the development fees. It’s best to get ahead of the development approval to verify transportation expectations are in place prior to approval.
How would you characterize the current debt of the city? What is a manageable debt level for a city the size of Kyle?
The fact that the City of Kyle is able to accommodate growth and pay down debt without raising the tax rate is a direct exemplifier of the City’s ability to manage debt.
What are your thoughts about Kyle's affordable housing situation? If more is needed, how would you provide for it?
Kyle has done well at maintaining “affordable” home costs in Central Texas. If inventory reduces to insufficient volumes, Kyle can explore options for denser development with offsets for affordable housing to guarantee affordable housing for the community.
What do you think about the current proposal to move the Kyle City Hall to the Uptown development in Plum Creek and move the police station to the existing city hall?
I do not think moving the police station into the existing City Hall is the best solution. The police station needs more internally and externally than the City Hall can provide, even with significant renovations. And compounding the cost of a new City Hall with the police station remodel cost, will most likely bring the overall cost higher than building a police station alone would.
The future of the Kyle Police Department facilities is unclear after the rejection of a bond issue proposal in August. What should be done to ensure Kyle PD has adequate facilities?
Kyle should review the original proposal and host stakeholder meetings to ascertain the failure points. With that information, they can create a product that is acceptable to the citizens of Kyle, while possible locating a different funding methodology.
Law enforcement is one of the largest expenses in the city’s budget. What are your thoughts about the size of Kyle's police force and if they are being deployed adequately?
Right now the size of Kyle's police force is almost where it should be. As the city grows, the force will need to match growth. Safety is a frequently heard concern in Kyle, and it’s imperative for citizens to know patrols are frequent enough, and help is available. I believe they are being deployed adequately, but also if anyone has concerns regarding the allocation of resources, the Police Chief is open to discussing the issues.
How will you ensure we continue to have access to quality EMS and fire fighting services?
Similar to the police force, Fire and EMS are mandatory city services that need to maintain growth in line with the City’s population. Response times to all addresses in the city are constantly monitored, and when there’s insufficient response, the City will always take action to ensure resources are provided to make sure help is there when it’s needed. I will always support public safety for the well-being of the community, which may include additional stations for outlying subdivisions as growth occurs.
The Kyle police department rarely uses cite and release for non-violent, low-level offenses. Do you support expanding cite and release by broadening the definition of residency to include "working, living or going to school in Hays County"?
I am in support of the current definition of cite and release.
Do you support a robust diversion program for city law enforcement, such as the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program?
I am interested in learning more about this type of program, and the anticipated impact on the frequency and types of offenses cited in Kyle.
Should Kyle give economic incentives to attract businesses, or is the city’s location on the I-35 corridor and its position as one of the fastest-growing cities incentive enough? Explain.
Economic incentives are a valuable tool in bringing in businesses, but they need to be leveraged carefully to ensure they are having maximum positive impact on the development and workforce that occur in the City. There are different quadrants in Kyle that have different needs, and much of that occurs away from the I-35 corridor. There are also different types of economies that should be leveraged- both small businesses and big-box stores have their place in Kyle, and should be handled accordingly.
What should the city council do to support local businesses?
What it is already being by collaborating with the Chamber and holding community events such as Market Days and Center Street Trick or Treat, just to name a couple.
Considering Kyle’s current growth, does the city have the necessary environmental regulations in place to prevent the pollution of the Blanco River and other watersheds? If so, please explain. If not, what would you propose?
The standards for environmental regulations should consistently be raised. As energy efficiency, materials management and development regulation improve, so too should environmental standards. Waste management and litter improvements are the easy targets that I could work with city departments to improve.
How well is Kyle planning for the future in general? What improvements would you suggest?
Kyle did great creating the last Master Plan. It’s time to update that plan and roll the ball forward on ensuring we maintain the integrity and small town values while accommodating the rapid growth of our rapidly growing city.
What are you willing to do to maintain an open dialog with your constituents?
In addition to being available by all of the standard communication tools, it’s imperative to attend stakeholder meetings across many different work groups to understand as many issues as possible, and to hear the voices of those who have a passionate interest in a subject.
If elected, how will you work to ensure the city council operates in a transparent manner?
Making sure that all city reports and meetings are easily accessible to the citizens of Kyle. I think there is some room for improvement on having documents available and easy to find on the Kyle website, and that’s an initiative I’d like to explore fairly immediately.
Name
Amanda Stark
How can voters contact you?
Describe your educational background
Currently working on my Associates in Business Management
Describe your relevant employment background
Operations Management
Describe your leadership experience background
I am currently the chairman of our Neighborhood Watch and have been in this position for 3 years. I serve on a Fifth Tuesday Task Force with the city. I also serve on a non-profit board and am the secretary for that organization.
Describe your community involvement in Kyle
I have attended the Kyle Leadership Academy, the Kyle Police Alumni Association, Steeplechase Watch and Kyle Parks and Recreation Board, Fifth Tuesday Task Force, my kids are enrolled in the schools so we attend sporting events as well as many other community events.
Stark is challenging Robert Rizo, who won a special election in May for the Place 3 seat on the Kyle City Council. This is an at-large council seat, meaning that any registered voter in the City of Kyle can vote in this election. Rizo has held this seat since May when he won a special election after a previous council member resigned in February.
The Kyle City Council is composed of a Mayor elected at-large by the people for a three-year term and six Council Members, three elected at-large and one from each of the three districts, for staggered three-year terms.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS 2019
Click on the image below to see an interactive map of the Early Voting locations in Hays County. Registered voters can vote at any location.
Click on the image below to see an interactive map of the Election Day voting locations in Hays County. This is the first year that Hays County registered voters can vote at any vote location on Election Day.
