* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:03] AND, UH, IN MAINE, THE, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 10 39 ON APRIL 6TH, 2021, UH, IT'S A MEETING THAT'S BEING CONVENED, UH, VIRTUALLY WE HAVE A COHORT PRESENT. UH, HOPEFULLY SOME MORE COLLEAGUES WILL BE JOINING US. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF BRIEFINGS THIS MORNING MANAGER. AGAIN, I KIND OF RAISED THE ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF BRIEFINGS. THAT MEANS WE GET CROWDED OUT THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER THINGS LIKE THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE ON, UH, ISSUES. IT'S A DAY FOR US REALLY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER, CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO, TO DO THAT. SO I THINK THAT, UH, THERE'S KIND OF A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT WE WANT TO MOVE MORE TOWARD GETTING KIND OF WRITTEN REPORTS, GETTING THE PRESENTATIONS AHEAD OF TIME. AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN MEET AT THE WORK SESSION THAT WE JUST BEGIN WITH. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MEMO AND THE REPORT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HANDED OUT AND THE PUBLIC HAS, AND WE JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE AS A WAY TO, TO HELP US ON THE WORK SESSION DAYS. LIKE PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED THAT THERE AGAIN, TIME TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, UM, ON TODAY'S SCHEDULE, UH, THE ORDER I THINK THAT WILL FOLLOW GIVEN THE LOGISTICS OF THE PEOPLE WAS WE'LL START WITH A BRIEF ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE LEGISLATION SO SHE CAN GET BACK UP TO THE, UH, TO THE CAPITOL. UH, SO WE WOULD START WITH THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE, UH, UH, D ONE DISCUSSION OF ALLOWABLE FAR, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN RENTING FROM WORK SESSION TO WORK SESSION. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE HEAL, UH, BRIEFING B TWO. UM, AND WE'RE GOING TO START THERE. THEN WE'LL GO TO THE POLLED ITEMS, UH, THE ITEM 20 AND ITEMS 33 32, AND THEN BACK TO BRIEFINGS FOR THE DARTY ARTS CENTER. WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE MANAGER AND IT'S THE INTENT TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK ROUGHLY FROM NOON TO ONE, BUT MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, UH, ON THE DOOR TO THE ART CENTER. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT BRIEFING, BUT IF WE NEED TO DO IT ON THURSDAY, WE COULD, THE BOTTOM LINE WITH THAT IS WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT ON APRIL 22ND. SO WE, WE NEED THE TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE TIME, WE COULD DO THAT ON THURSDAY. I JUST WANT TO SKIP IT. AND I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE WORK SESSION BEFORE THE 22ND, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE 22ND. SO CELL HELPFUL INFORMATION, LET'S SEE HOW WE GO IN THIS ORDER. AND THEN WE MAKE A CALL AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT. OKAY. [B3. 87th Legislative Session Update] SO WITH THAT SAID, UH, MANAGER, UH, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND WE DO HAVE TO START OFF TODAY'S WORK SESSION AND UPDATE ON OUR LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY WITH OUR, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF INTER-GOVERNMENT WORK WITH THE PREPARERS BRI FRANCO. AND I'M GOING TO KICK IT OVER TO HER TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL. BRI, THANK YOU. YOU THANK YOU, SPENCER. GOOD MORNING. MARIN COUNCIL, BRIEF BRONCO INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION GOING ON RIGHT NOW, IF IT COULD PULL UP THE POWER PORT. THANK YOU. AND I WILL BE QUICK. IN FACT, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH VERY QUICKLY AND JUST OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL ON THINGS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IT THANK YOU. SO, UH, IN TOTAL THERE'VE BEEN 7,000 BILLS FILED. UM, THAT'S ON TRACK WITH ALL OTHER SESSIONS, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, DESPITE EVERYTHING GOING ON THERE, WE SAW JUST AS MANY BILLS FILED THIS SESSION. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRACKING ABOUT 2200 OF THOSE BILLS THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING MONITORING AND GETTING ANALIZATION ON WHERE WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH SESSION. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN THAT, BUT IT HASN'T. WE STILL HAVE THE SECOND HALF TO GO. 55 DAYS LEFT. THAT'S WHEN THE MAJORITY OF WORK ON THE FLOOR STARTS TO BEGIN. THERE ARE STILL IN HEARINGS RIGHT NOW. IN FACT, THERE'S A NUMBER OF HEARINGS GOING ON THAT WE'RE MONITORING RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, THEY WILL ASSUME BE MOVING TO MORE FLOOR ACTION. THEY, AS YOU KNOW, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SET OUT 31 PRIORITIES FOR ALL 31 OF HIS SENATORS AND THE SPEAKER FEELIN HAD SEVEN PRIORITY BILLS AND RESPONSE. THE MAIN CHANGE BETWEEN WHAT STARTED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION AND NOW IS THAT THEY ADDED, UM, BILLS RELATED TO WINTER STORM HURRY OR UREA. I'M NOT QUITE SURE ON THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION, BUT IN RELATED TO A POWER GRID, STABILITY OR COPY FORM AND SO FORTH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. [00:05:02] THE BILLS I HAVE IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY ARE AT THE VERY TOP OF WHAT WE'RE MONITORING. SO, I MEAN, AND THIS IS JUST SKIMMING THE TOP 15 OR 20 BILLS OUT OF THOSE 2200 WE'RE MONITORING. I'M STARTING WITH THE BILLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY HAVING HEARINGS RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE PRESENTING. SO THERE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, THREE BILLS MOVING RIGHT NOW RELATED TO THE LAKE AUSTIN PROPERTIES, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MAÑANA PROPERTIES. THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE NOT BEING TAXED DUE TO THAT 1986 ORDINANCE. AND THEN THE COUNCIL REPEALED THAT ORDINANCE. AND SO NOW THEY'RE SEEKING TO BE DISHONEST FROM THE CITY, UM, TO NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE CITY LIMITS ANY LONGER. THERE'S ALSO WEST RIM, WHICH IS A REFILE FROM LAST SESSION. AND THEN LOST CREEK IS ALSO ANOTHER COMMUNITY IN THIS, IN THIS AREA. THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE SERVED BY THAT NEW FIRE STATION OUT AT THREE LOOP, THREE 60. SO THEY'RE ALL IN THAT SAME AREA. LOST CREEK IS ALSO BEING HEARD AND LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND ACTUALLY WAS ALREADY HEARD THIS MORNING, WEST RIM AND LAKE AUSTIN ARE BE GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY AS WELL IN THE SAME COMMITTEE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ALSO HAVE UP TODAY, A ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT IS HEARING, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING BILLS. SO TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS THREE BILLS HEARD AND OR FOUR BILLS HEARD IN STATE AFFAIRS AND TODAY IN WAYS AND MEANS THERE ARE FOUR OTHER BILLS BEING HEARD. SO DIFFERENT COMMITTEE, SAME TOPIC. THEY GENERALLY ALL DEFINE THE FUNDING, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS THE SAME. THEY JUST HAVE DIFFERENT PENALTIES FOR THE RESULT, AS IT RELATES TO EITHER THE ABILITY TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES, THE ABILITY TO INCREASE ANY REVENUE OR ALSO SWIPING SALES TAX TO COMPENSATE FOR DPS BEING SENT IN BY THE GOVERNOR TO MANAGE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES. UM, THOSE ARE ALL IN A HEARING GOING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, WITH TEACHER CON PRESENT TO TESTIFY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND AS I STATED, THESE WERE THE BILL, SORRY. SO IT'S FOUR BILLS IN WAYS. THAT MEANS THREE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN STATE AFFAIRS. AND THEN THERE IS AIR IN THE SENATE. THERE IS ALSO SB 23 MOVING BY SENATOR HUFFMAN. THAT IS THE MAIN POLICE FUNDING BILL THAT IS MOVING IN THE SENATE COMPARED TO THE SEVEN TO 10 BILLS MOVING IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THESE ARE THE REMAINING PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS. NEXT SLIDE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW. SLIDE AIDS. IT THANK YOU. UM, ALSO ANOTHER BIG ISSUE RELATES TO THE CAMPY BAN ORDINANCE. THERE IS A BILL THAT IS MOVING FORWARD, THAT IF YOU SEE THE CAMPY MAN AT THE BOTTOM, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A STATEWIDE OFFENSE TO BE CAMPING IN PUBLIC PLACES. THAT WAS HER TWO WEEKS AGO AND STATE AFFAIRS. THIS WEEK IN URBAN AFFAIRS, THERE WILL BE A HEARING ON ONE OF THE SHORTNER BILLS THAT HE FILED IN RESPONSE TO THE HOTEL PURCHASES. UM, IT, IF YOU CAN MOVE BACK TO THAT HOMELESS SLIDE, SOMEHOW WE WENT BACK TO SLIDES. THANK YOU. UH, THERE, THIS ONE OF THEM WILL BE HEARD. THEY BOTH BEEN HEARD BY SCHWERTNER. THEY'VE BOTH BEEN VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE. ALTHOUGH THOSE BILLS ARE RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF THE HOTEL IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, THESE BILLS HAVE A MUCH BROADER EFFECT BECAUSE THEY, THEY RELATE TO HOUSING. ANYONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND TO BE FRANK ALL OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING AT SOME POINT WE'LL DEAL WITH SOMEONE THAT EXPERIENCES HOMELESSNESS, UH, PUBLIC HOUSING IS ABOUT MOVING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE HOMES INTO HOMES. SO THESE BILLS HAVE A MUCH BROADER EFFECT THAN JUST THOSE HOTEL, THAT HOTEL PURCHASE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. THERE ARE ALSO AS YOU KNOW, UH, BILLS RELATED TO AUSTIN ENERGY THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, THE BILLS THAT ARE ARE HAVING HEARINGS ARE BY SENATOR BUCKINGHAM. AND THERE'S A CARRYING BEING HELD IN THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS BY REPRESENTATIVE TAIN. UM, AND THAT'S NOT A FAMILIAR NAME TO OUR DELEGATION, JUST LIKE ON THOSE BILLS. NONE OF THEM, THE PEOPLE THAT FILED THOSE IN THE HOUSE ARE PART OF THE AUSTIN DELEGATION. THIS BILL HAS TO DO WITH, UM, ALLOWING THE PUC TO HAVE RATE APPEALS. IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO THE PUC ANY TIME AND PRACTICALLY ALL THE TIME TO APPEAL AUSTIN ENERGY RATES. UM, AND SO WE WOULD PROBABLY BE UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW BY THE PUC IF THESE BILLS PASSED NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WHAT WE CALL THE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY BILL, THE OTHER SIDE CAUSES THE TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING BILLS, AND THESE [00:10:01] BILLS WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCEEDINGS DOWN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. AND THEY ARE TAKING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT FORMS. UM, SB 10 IS GOING TO BE HEARD AS WELL TODAY AND SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO THERE ARE SO MANY BILLS THAT AFFECT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE SENATE HAS AN ENTIRE COMMITTEE DEDICATED TO IT, BUT THIS BILL WOULD SAY, WE CAN NO LONGER HIRE LOBBYISTS. AND THE TEAM AT TML CAN NO LONGER HIRE LOBBYISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS. UM, IT ALSO IS UNCLEAR ON WHETHER INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICES COULD BE RETAINED, UM, BY CITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCESSES. UM, THEN THERE'S SOME THAT ARE MORE JUST ABOUT DISCLOSURE, ABOUT PUTTING THINGS ON OUR WEBSITES ABOUT PUTTING, UM, THINGS BEFORE COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED, UH, CAPRI LEONI, AND THE HOUSE HAD A BILL RELATED TO THAT, THAT WE SUPPORTED. BEN COURT HAS A BILL RELATED TO THAT, THAT WE ARE ON BECAUSE THEY HAVE LANGUAGE IN THESE BILLS THAT TALK ABOUT THAT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS CAN'T SPEND MONEY TO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A LEGISLATION THAT INDIRECTLY INFLUENCED LANGUAGE IS SO BROAD. IT LEAVES THE LANGUAGE SO VAGUE THAT IT WOULD BE HARD FOR CITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR NOT DOING THAT VIOLATES THESE BILLS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES THAT BILL DIFFICULT. UM, ALSO I WILL NOTE THAT SB 10 BY CENTER HALL ONLY APPLIES TO COUNTIES AND CITIES. SO OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS CAN SPEND TAXPAYER FUNDED MONEY TO LOBBY THE LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, UM, ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE S HB SEVEN 49 BY MIDDLETON DID APPLY TO ALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. UM, SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BILLS RIGHT NOW, NEXT SLIDE IT. AND SO WE ALSO HAVE JUST SOME AUSTIN PREEMPTION STUFF GOING ON TOO. UM, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HB 38, 13, THAT WOULD PREEMPT OUR NOISE ORDINANCE ONLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THIS BILL WOULD ONLY PREEMPT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS NOISE ORDINANCE, EVERY OTHER, ALL CITIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE NOISE ORDINANCES, BUT THIS ONE JUST TARGETS OURS. IT WOULD SAY THAT BARS AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES CAN GO UP TO 75 DECIBELS, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SOUND OF A LAWNMOWER. AND EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 AM, IF THEY'RE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, THE COMMITTEE SUB ACTUALLY REMOVES LIKE MUSIC VENUES BECAUSE OUR LIVE MUSIC VENUE COMMUNITY HAS, YOU KNOW, STATED THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS BILL. THEY HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE ORDINANCES. AND, BUT SO THE COMMITTEE SUB TOOK THEM OUT. IT WASN'T ADOPTED, BUT IT ALSO GOES UP TO 80 DECIBELS AND 80 DECIBELS IS ABOUT THE NOISE OF, UH, CAN BE THE NOISE OF A JACKHAMMER OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE BETWEEN 10:00 AM TO 2:00 AM SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. UM, THERE ALSO IS SB 14 BY SENATOR CREIGHTON. YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BILL FROM LAST SESSION. IT WOULD PREEMPT THE CITY'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDER. IT WOULD PREEMPT OUR WATER BREAK ORDINANCE. IT WOULD CREATE, UM, A NUMBER OF OUR PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE AND SO FORTH. SO IT PREEMPT A NUMBER OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND RIGHTS. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO JUST, AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BILLS THAT RELATE TO SUPER PREEMPTION THAT BASICALLY WOULD PREEMPT ANY REGULATION FOR INSTANCE, FOR ANY LICENSE HOLDERS. SO FOR INSTANCE, POOL OPERATORS ARE LICENSE HOLDERS THAT WOULD AFFECT HOW WE OPERATE OUR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS. UM, SO THAT BILL HAD A HEARING IN MARCH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THEN THERE'S BEEN SOME BILLS OF COURSE, RELATED TO GAS AND PIPELINE ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE, BECAUSE I KNOW, UM, WELL, BOTH OF THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT BILLS. HB 17 BY REPRESENTED DEATHS. HOTEL BECAME A PRIORITY ITEM, BASICALLY SAYS WE CAN'T RESTRICT, UM, OR FORCE IN BUILDING WHICH ENERGY SOURCE IS USED. UM, THE PIPELINE PREEMPTION BILL HB 1683 BY REFS AND LAND GRAPH. I KNOW RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE NEWS BECAUSE IT WAS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON OUR OPERATION OF BARTON SPRINGS. UM, BUT THAT ONE HAS NOT MOVED AND WE ARE WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE LAND GRAPH ON LANGUAGE THAT COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE RELATED TO BARTON SPRINGS. AND HE UNDERSTANDS THAT ISSUE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE PENSION BILL THAT WAS FILED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM. UM, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS WAS FILED ON THEIR OWN, UM, WITHOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON THAT BILL. UM, IN FACT, WE GOT A DRAFT OF THE BILL A WEEK BEFORE THEY WENT TO FIND SOMEONE TO FILE IT. UM, AND OUR INPUT WASN'T, UM, ACCEPTED AS PART [00:15:01] OF THIS BILL. SO IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO ON THE PENSION. UM, THAT BILL IS, HAS BEEN FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE RODRIGUEZ. AND THEN THERE'S A BILL THAT RELATES TO, UM, THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST SESSION AS PART OF THE SB TWO REVENUE CAP DISCUSSIONS. AND THAT WOULD BE THAT, UM, ALL DEBT WOULD HAVE TO BE VOTER APPROVED GOING FORWARD. AND THAT WOULD TAKE OUT THE ABILITY TO USE A LOT OF DEBT THAT WE USE FOR IMMEDIATE PURCHASES THAT WE USE FOR PURCHASE OF THINGS LIKE VEHICLES. UM, AND SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY PRETTY MUCH NEGATE THAT 3.5 REVENUE CAP THAT WE CAN GO UP TO NOW, IF IT WAS MOVED OVER TO OUR SIDE OF THE EQUATION, THAT BILL IS STILL PENDING IN WAYS AND MEANS, BUT WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH SOME FINANCE, UH, LEGISLATION OUT THERE TOO. NEXT SLIDE. AND OF COURSE, AS YOU GUYS CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S DEFINITELY BILLS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC THAT ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE GOING TO LIMIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION DURING PANDEMICS IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE ELECTION ON INTEGRITY BILLS. UM, THAT WAS, UH, WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RELATED TO THESE ISSUES THAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GARZA AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR. AND I KNOW WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN THERE TO TESTIFY AGAINST HB SIX. UM, BUT AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THOSE ARE MOVING THROUGH, THEY CALL THEM ELECTION INTEGRITY. I THINK WE WOULD CALL THEM SOMETHING ELSE. THEY DEFINITELY LIMIT PEOPLE'S ABILITY AND RIGHTS TO VOTE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. I LIKE OUR TITLE. THERE IS MORE BIG BILLS. SO ON SOME BRIGHT SPOTS WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD, UM, WE DO HAVE THEM, THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS A BILL. WE TRIED TO GET LAST SESSION WITH HOUSTON AND THAT IS MOVING FORWARD. IT'S BEEN PLACED ON THE SENATE AND 10 CALENDAR. THE BILLS RELATED TO PRIME OF FACIAL SPEED LIMIT ARE GETTING SOME MOVEMENT. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN SOME ACTION HERE LOCALLY, BUT THAT WOULD STILL HELP US WITH THE FRAME, THE COST OF THOSE ACTIONS WITH THOSE BILLS AND NOT TO MENTION BEING ABLE TO EXPAND IT TO EVEN MORE ROADS WITHIN AUSTIN, THE LOWER SPEED LIMIT THAT IS SUPPORTED BY MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE IS. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE, THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING BILL. UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS NOT MOVED IN AND ST LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS A DIFFICULT COMMITTEE, BUT WE DID HAVE A HEARING ON THE CLOUD COMMUNITY COMPUTING BILL. LAST SESSION, WE HAD A NUMBER OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS COME OUT TO SUPPORT THAT BILL, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO FINANCE, CAL COMPUTING. AND ALSO THE TECH SECTOR WAS IN SUPPORT. RACKSPACE GOT UP TO TESTIFY FOR THAT BILL AS WELL. UM, SINCE USING HARDWARE, COMPUTERS IS NOW BECOMING AND LESS ACCESSIBLE, MORE OBSOLETE, THIS WOULD HELP MODERNIZE THE CODE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE. NEXT SIDE. WE HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT SLIDE. GO AHEAD. BREE. DO YOU KNOW ON THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING, UM, HB 84 HAS REPRESENTATIVE HINOJOSA REQUESTED THE HEARING? I BELIEVE SHE HAS, BUT I WILL CONFIRM RE UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANKS. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CAN YOU TAKE IT DOWN FROM THE SCREEN? THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS FOR BREE PEEL AND THEN, SORRY, VERY, UH, ON THE, UH, THEN THE ANNEXATION OF A BILL, IS THAT, UH, INCLUDED ALL IN ONE, THE WEST RIM, THE LOST CREEK AND THE LAKE AUSTIN, OR IS IT SEPARATE PILLS? THEY ARE THREE SEPARATE BILLS. OKAY. AND, UH, HOW DO THEY LOOK? DO THEY, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GONNA MIGHT HAVE SUPPORT TO PASS. THESE COMMUNITIES DEFINITELY HAVE, UM, CONNECTIONS TO THE CAPITOL. THEY DEFINITELY HAVE STRONG CONNECTIONS TO CAPITAL LAKE AUSTIN FOR INSTANCE, IS BEING CARRIED BY FORMER SPEAKER CRADDICK. UM, AND HE, AS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A VERY POWERFUL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, SO UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO HAVE SOME STRENGTH BEHIND THEM MANAGER. I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT WHAT WE SHOULD DO ON THE EASTERN SIDE SUSPENDING THE KIND OF SPENDING IN THAT AREA UNTIL WE FIND TO THE INTERCESSION, IT'S JUST TO SEE IF WE'RE, UM, UH, IN FACT GOING TO HAPPEN, WHY INVEST OUR, OUR RESOURCES INTO THAT AREA IF THEY REALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO PULL OUT. SO I WOULD FEEL LIKE THAT IF THAT'S WHAT THEY, UH, THE POSSIBILITY THEN THE POSSIBILITY IS THERE. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING A DIME IN THAT AREA. YOU KNOW, WE'RE INVESTED IN A LOT OF OUR MONEY WITH THE FOR THE [00:20:01] BRIDGES AND THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT AT THREE 60. UH, IT'S JUST, YOU'RE NOT AVAILABLE, WANT TO BE PART OF AUSTIN ANYMORE. THEN, THEN WE SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DAMAGED BY ANY OF THE ACTIONS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO SAY ON THE LAKE AUSTIN BILL, TOO, IT ALSO AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT LAKE AUSTIN AS A DRINKING SOURCE. SO WHEN THEY DNX, IT PULLS OUT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS TO PROTECT NOT JUST THE BEAUTY AND CHARACTER THAT'S SHORELINE, BUT THE EROSION THAT COULD RESULT FROM BUILDING ALONG THAT SHORELINE AND THEN THE IMPACT THAT CAN HAVE ON THE WATER QUALITY THAT, THAT WATER SOURCES FOR AUSTIN AND OTHER TEXANS MARIJUANA TO THANK HIM, TAKE A MINUTE TO, TO THINK, UH, BREE AND EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM ARE MANAGING THE MANAGEMENT STAFF, SUPPORTING HER AND OUR TEAM ALONG WITH A LOBBY TEAM. IT'S JUST SUCH, UM, GRUELING WORK, UH, IN SUCH AN INTENSELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. UH, SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU HERE DURING THIS SESSION. UM, UH, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GET WORSE AND WORSE. YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW THAT, UH, THAT PRESENTED, TALERICO FILED A BILL TO, TO CAP THE PRICE OF INSULIN WHERE PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES PAYING A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THEIR INSULIN. AND THAT, THAT SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T ANY REASONABLE LEGISLATURE, I WISH WOULD FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE THAT OR ON HARDENING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OR ON HEARING THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING, UM, REPRESENTATIVE, YOU KNOW, HOSA. BUT INSTEAD IT JUST TO BE CLEAR FROM WHAT YOU NOTICE IN THAT PRESENTATION, WHAT YOU'RE HAVING TO BE FOCUSED ON IS MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE HIGHEST PROPERTY PRICE VALUE PROPERTY IN THE CITY HAS TO STILL PAY TAXES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON OR PROTECTING OUR DRINKING WATER FROM GETTING POLLUTED OR PROTECTING OUR ABILITY TO DEFEND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, GENDER, RELIGION, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PROTECTING OUR RULES FOR WATER BREAKS, HELPING KEEP BARTON SPRINGS OPEN AND PROTECTING OUR ABILITY TO WRITE AND PASS OUR OWN BUDGET. UM, AND THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL WORK. THAT'S BEING DONE BY A SMALL TEAM AND THEY WANT TO CUT THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO EVEN HAVE THAT TEAM. UM, AND SO I JUST WANT TO EXTEND THEM ALL IN A THANKS FOR THAT WORK AND TO RECOGNIZE, UM, HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS THAT INSTEAD OF ADVANCING THE BETTER INTEREST OF THE STATES, WE'RE JUST DOING OUR BEST TO, TO KEEP THE DRINKING WATER CLEAN AND TO ALLOW CITIES TO WRITE THEIR OWN BUDGETS AND TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM DISCRIMINATION OR BAD PRACTICES AT WORK. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, ALICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BRI, HAVE YOU FOLLOWED THE PERMITLESS CARRY BILL? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS PART OF OUR ADOPTED, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL FOCUSED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. UM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD UPDATES ON THAT OR IF YOUR TEAM WAS WATCHING IT, WE ARE MONITORING THE GOD DAMN LEGISLATION COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, UM, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH A MEMO TO ALL OF YOU SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE BILLS. UM, SO I'M SORRY THAT I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW TO SPEAK TO IT, BUT I KNEW THAT WASN'T GOING FORWARD. I KNOW THERE'S HEARINGS ON THOSE BILLS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, TOO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO, TO KNOW MORE ABOUT. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE CONCERNS OF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DNX NATION BILLS THAT, UM, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR DRINKING WATER FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UM, AND ALSO, UM, FLOODPLAIN AND, AND SHORELINE ISSUES. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS ABOUT, UM, ATLAS 14 AND THE FLOOD PLAINS. AND SO JUST UNDERSTANDING, WE HISTORICALLY HAVE HAD AN ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF IT'S IN OUR ETJ, THAT WE CAN DO FLOOD PLAIN VARIANCES AND EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WATCHING THOSE SHORELINES, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON ISSUES WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S IN OR NEAR THE WATER, THE CREEKS AND THE LAKES, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO AFFECT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, POWER THAT WE HOPEFULLY CAN CONTROL AS A CITY. I AGREE. THANK YOU. YEAH. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK, QUICK QUESTIONS. UM, ONE, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LS FOR RAISING THE BILLS RELATED TO PERMITLESS CARRY. I THINK THAT IS INDIRECT CONFLICT WITH, WITH MULTIPLE RESOLUTIONS WITH PAST ASKING, ASKING, UM, OUR LEGISLATURE TO PASS REASONABLE, [00:25:01] UM, GUN REGULATIONS. THIS IS GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND REALLY MAKING, MAKING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE. SO I HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL, BASED ON THOSE PAST RESOLUTIONS, I HOPE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL, WILL AT LEAST WEIGH IN ON THOSE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT COMING BEFORE YOU. AND, AND LET ME TO ADD MY, THANKS TO ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND JAMIE ARE DOING AND IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT HAS MUCH NOT MUCH TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. UM, I TOOK, I WANT TO ASK YOU IN PARTICULAR ONE, AND I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO NOT LOSE SIGHT. I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO THE ANNEXATION BELLS, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, TO ME, THIS IS ABOUT FAIR TAXATION AND WHETHER ALL, ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE RECEIVING SERVICES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE HELPING PROVIDE THE TAX LISTS THAT SUPPORT THOSE INVESTMENTS. AND SO IT, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND A MATTER OF EQUITY. AND I, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM CITY SERVICES BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T SHARE IN THE COST OF, OF HELPING, UM, SUPPORT THOSE THROUGH THEIR TAXES. IT, IT JUST, IT IS REALLY, UM, AN UNFAIR SITUATION, UH, RESOLVED. YES, YES. UH, SENATOR ECKHART DURING THE HEARING, THE SENATE MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT OF HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THESE RESIDENTS VERSUS SIMILARLY SITUATED RESIDENTS. AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN THOSE UP AT THAT PART OF THE SHORELINE VERSUS FURTHER DOWN. AND IT IS CONCERNING THAT THESE BILLS PASS YOU'LL CONTINUE. I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A WAVE OF THOSE THAT CAN FIRE A LOBBYISTS OR HAVE LOBBYISTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, OR HAVE CONNECTIONS TO LAWMAKERS SEEK TO THE ANNEX THAT CONTINUED TO DNX AT THE CAPITOL, AND THAT CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED, UM, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF PRINCIPLES LAID OUT THAT DETERMINE WHAT IS THE STANDARD THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DMX. AND WHAT SHOULD THE CONVERSATION BE WITH BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HOW AND THE RESIDENTS OF HOW THAT PROCESS SHOULD OCCUR? UM, I WILL NOTE DURING THE LOST CREEK HEARING THEIR WORD, A HAM, JUST A COUPLE, BUT SOME RESIDENTS THAT GOT UP THERE TO SPOKE AGAINST THIS SPOKE AGAINST THE BILL THAT FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T, THE BILL DID NOT PROVIDE THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT, HOW WOULD SERVICES BE TRANSFERRED? HOW WOULD THEY, WHO WOULD TAKE OVER? WHAT, WHAT DID THAT MEAN? UM, AND SO I THINK THAT, THAT THOSE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED, UM, WITH US WITH THE CITY OR OTHER PROVIDERS, OR EVEN THE COUNTY PER SE. SO YEAH, THOSE ARE REALLY INTERESTING POINTS, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE, ARE RAISING THEM AND THANKS TO OUR SENATOR FOR RAISING ANOTHER POINT, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN IMPACT ON AUSTIN, BUT I HOPE OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I MEAN, ACROSS THE STATE ARE, ARE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY COULD BE, THIS COULD BE, UM, COMING TO THEM NEXT, NEXT SESSION. THEY MAY HAVE AREAS THAT WANT TO BE DNX BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT TO PLAY PAY TAXES ANY LONGER EITHER. UM, I WANTED TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE PENSION BILLS. SO, UM, I, I AM SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THIS SITUATION BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE COUNCIL WORKING GROUP IN MY, IN A DIFFERENT HAT I SERVE ON, ON THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD. AND SO, UM, I WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THE PENSION RESCUE THAT OUR AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT BOARD WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND IT SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS HAPPENING IN A WAY THAT IT OUGHT TO HAVE. UM, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, DID YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS, WERE YOU ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, REPRESENTATIVE RODRIGUEZ BEFORE THIS BILL WAS FILED? I MEAN, CONVERSATION SINCE IS HE AWARE OF THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAD BEEN DOING, UM, WITH THE STAFF AT POLICE RETIREMENT? UM, I BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE JS WAS, IS AWARE OF SOME OF THIS, UH, UM, WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT WE HAVE NOT, UM, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM YET. AND I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY HAVE CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND HAVE THOSE MEMBERS OF YOU ON COUNCIL THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT HAVE OVERSEE OR OVERSEEING THIS, AND PARTICULARLY YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TOBAR AS A CITY MEMBER ON THE AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT CAN EVEN SPEAK TO THOSE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN DURING THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL, UM, WITH HIM SO THAT HE KNOWS THE FULL STORY. [00:30:01] AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES BELIEVE THE PENSION NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THERE ARE ISSUES WE NEED TO RESOLVE. WE DO, IT DOES NEED MORE FUNDING, BUT ALSO NEEDS, UM, SOME OF THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN PRIOR PENSIONS, I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS STATE. SO WE DON'T END UP BACK HERE AGAIN, OR EVEN TOO SOON, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, TO FIND OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, FIX HOW WE GOT HERE AND THEN ALSO HOW WE CAN SHORE IT UP TO BE A STABLE PENSION FOR THOSE POLICE, UH, MEN AND WOMEN GOING FORWARD. SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH THAT. I KNOW THAT JUST, UH, HAD ANOTHER CORRESPONDENCE TO PATTY FEATHERSTONE EXPRESSING OUR STRONG INTEREST OF WANTING TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE GIGAS. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND I WOULD ECHO THAT, I MEAN, CLEARLY OUR PENSION NEEDS NEEDS REFORM. UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS COMMITTED TO THAT, SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT A PATH TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT WORKS, WORKS AND CREATES A SUSTAINABLE PATH. CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PENSIONS AND UNDERSCORE WHAT MS. FRANCO JUST SAID THAT IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, A SITUATION THAT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A FEW YEARS IN GOOD FAITH. UM, AND WITH THE HOPES OF COMING TO A RESOLUTION THAT ACTUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM, AND DOESN'T JUST KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD, UM, AND DOESN'T CREATE ENORMOUS RISK EITHER FOR OURSELVES OR FOR, UM, THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY AS POLICE OFFICERS. UM, WE HAD PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT DID THAT, UM, AND THE PROPOSAL THAT IS BEFORE US AT THIS POINT, UM, DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHARE. AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL GET TO A POINT, UM, WHERE WE HAVE A STABLE PENSION, UM, AND THAT THE INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE, UM, TO, TO, TO FURTHER THAT. AND I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE RODRIGUEZ. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BEFORE THE BILL WENT FORWARD IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE WE HAVE A LOT MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND THE RISKS AND HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY FOR MANY YEARS. AND IT'S SET IN MOTION A TO, TO ADDRESS, UM, THE CHALLENGES. UM, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A DIFFERENT SET OF BILLS OR DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES RELATED TO THE LOBBYING, UM, QUESTION, UM, WHICH I APPRECIATE MR. KOSSAR'S, UM, WORDS ON THAT. UM, THIS DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO THE CITY THOUGH, WITHIN AUSTIN. CAN YOU TELL US WHICH OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN AUSTIN WOULD BE UNABLE TO LOBBY? YEAH. ON THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL, IT IS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTIES, CITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, OUR TRANSIT AUTHORITY, WATER DISTRICT, PUBLIC HEALTH, ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, UM, WOULD BE EXEMPTED INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THOUGH, WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT STORY, IT IT'D BE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WOULD BE COULDN'T LOBBY, BUT CHARTER SCHOOLS STILL COULD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, UH, NAMED A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. SO THAT'S SOME OF THE NUANCES THERE. AND FOR INSTANCE, WATER DISTRICTS COULD NO LONGER LOBBY, BUT PRIVATE WATER COMPANIES COULD. UM, SO YEAH, SO BASICALLY ANY ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE DONATIONS TO LEGISLATORS WOULD BE UNABLE, UM, TO LOBBY, BUT ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS WOULD BE ABLE TO LOBBY, BUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE ELECTED AND REPRESENT AND, AND, UM, STORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LOBBY. UH, YES, THAT'S CORRECT. YES. UM, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL NOT SUCCEED. THAT THAT IS, UM, UH, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU EVEN SWALLOW THE LOGIC OF THAT. UM, THE REASON I'M ASKING THOUGH IS WE HAVE, UM, A SERIOUS SITUATION OF A FUNDING PROBLEM WITH OUR SCHOOLS HERE IN AUSTIN. AND IN MANY PLACES ACROSS THE STATE, UM, THE SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM IS STILL BROKEN. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES LAST, UM, SESSION, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE ADOPTED, BUT THERE ARE STILL SERIOUS PROBLEMS. AND THEN TO BOOT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FACING THE PANDEMIC WITHOUT AID FROM THE STATE [00:35:01] WITHOUT TAKING THE FEDERAL AID. UM, I'M ABOUT TO GO, UM, IN A HALF AN HOUR UP TO THE CAPITOL SO THAT MY DAUGHTER CAN SPEAK, UM, ON THE CAPITOL STEPS TO ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO STOP THE SWAP AS WE LIKE TO SAY. SO IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT AWARE, UM, AUSTIN, ACCORDING TO THE FORMULAS FROM THE LAST TWO, UM, CARES ACT AND ARP IS SUPPOSED TO JUST AUSTIN ISD ALONE, NOT ALL OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS IS SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING ABOUT $240 MILLION BY THE FORMULAS. UM, AND AT THIS POINT THERE'S NO CLEAR FOR THAT MONEY TO COME DOWN, UM, TO AUSTIN OR TO ANY DISTRICT TO HELP STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. AND WE, WE, UM, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS NEED THAT MONEY. WE NEED OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN FOR OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY, AND WE NEED THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, UM, AND ANY LEGISLATORS WHO WILL HAVE A SAY ON THIS TO BE ON BOARD WITH GETTING THAT MONEY OUT AS INTENDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I INTEND TO BRING, UM, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THAT EFFORT, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT I SEE THAT VERY MUCH AS PART OF OUR, UM, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BECAUSE IT HAS AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ABILITY, UM, FOR THIS ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND TO INVEST IN THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, AND, AND, AND AS YOU KNOW, CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN LEADING ON THESE ISSUES, IT'S NOT ONLY VITAL WEEK THAT THE SCHOOLS GET THE SUPPORT AND THE FUNDING THEY NEED CAUSE THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US, BUT THAT WHEN THEY DON'T, THEY COME TO US TO HELP FILL THAT GAP. AND SO THE STATE BELIEVING THAT NOT FUNDING, IT MEANS THAT THE NEED NO LONGER EXISTS, DOESN'T FALL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STILL SEES THE NEEDS AS EXISTING AND COME TO US TO ASK FOR HELP TO FILL THOSE GAPS. WOULD YOU ALL HAVE ALWAYS ANSWERED THE CALL? SO, UH, MAY I, YES. GO AHEAD. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, THANK YOU FOR THE, THANK YOU FOR THOSE POINTS THAT YOU RAISED. AND I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD. UH, THIS TOO IS AN AREA WHERE I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS, UM, ASKING THE CITY TO TAKE STRONG STANCES ON, ON SCHOOL FUNDING AT THE LEGISLATURE. SO THIS IS AN AREA LIKE ON PERMITLESS CARRY WHERE I HOPE THAT OUR STAFF FEELS AND BOLDEN AND EMPOWERED BASED ON PAST RESOLUTIONS TO GO FORWARD AND, AND WEIGH IN AS APPROPRIATE. IN FACT, ONE YEAR I BELIEVE WE WERE EVEN IN A, HAD FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF IN THE LAWSUIT. SO I THINK THAT, UM, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WE'VE PASSED A RESOLUTION ASKING FOR IT TO BE ADDED TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TOO. YES, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THERE. ABSOLUTELY. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO, I JUST TO CLARIFY, I WASN'T SUGGESTING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AS PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT SPECIFICS WITH THIS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE SIGNING ON AND I WANT TO JOIN WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER FOLKS IN RAISING THE VOICE AND SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS. YEAH. THAT ALL SOUNDS GREAT TO ME. I JUST WANT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF ARE ALSO, AS THEY SEE APPROPRIATE WAITING IN, IN THE MEANTIME WE DO, UM, IN TERMS OF ASSISTING PARTICULARLY OUR MEMBERS, UM, CITIES OFTEN DON'T GO UP TO TESTIFY ON EDUCATION, UM, RELATED ITEMS TOO OFTEN BECAUSE, UM, WE LET OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TAKE THAT LEAD, BUT WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM AND OUR DELEGATIONS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO CROSS COLLABORATE ON THOSE EFFORTS AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THIS SESSION AS WELL. BUT WE CAN ALSO GO FURTHER IN TERMS OF LETTERS, IN TERMS OF OTHER WAYS TO VOCALIZE SUPPORT, DEFINITELY HAVING COUNCIL MEMBERS GO UP LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER DOES, AND THE WORK THAT SHE DOES TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ON THE ISSUE IS ALSO HELPFUL. REALLY, THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING UP THERE. AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND I'LL LET YOU GET BACK THERE. UM, I WOULD JUST SAY, UH, AT A, AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL, THE LEGISLATIVE, I THINK ALMOST THE ATTACK ON CITIES IS, IS REAL DISTURBING, UH, AND, AND REALLY NOT IN THE, IN THE STATE'S BEST INTEREST. UH, AND IT'S A SHAME, UH, THESE KINDS OF ISSUES BECOME POLITICIZED. UM, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S ONLY 4% OF THE POPULATION IN TEXAS, UH, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING A THIRD OF THE PATENTS AND HALF THE VENTURE CAPITAL, THE STATE ENJOYS A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF CDS [00:40:01] AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT. UH, WHEN, WHEN AUSTIN IS ABLE TO, UH, DRAW A LARGE COMPANIES LIKE TESLA OR APPLE OR OTHERS, UH, THE, UH, THE FUTURES, ARMY FUTURES COMMAND, UH, THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, UH, IN PART BECAUSE AUSTIN IS UNIQUE AND, AND IF THEY DON'T COME TO AUSTIN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GO TO HOUSTON OR TO DALLAS, THEY GO SOMEWHERE OUT OF STATE HOUSTON, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH CORPUS CHRISTI, EL PASO, ALL INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL CITIES, BUT ALL VERY DIFFERENT. UH, AND, AND IN THAT DIFFERENCE, THERE IS A REAL STRENGTH THAT COMES TO OUR, OUR, OUR STATE, UH, AND, AND TRYING TO, UM, FORCE, UH, THOSE, THOSE DIFFERENCES TO DISAPPEAR OR TO HAMSTRING, UH, CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, UH, AND OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT JUST REALLY ULTIMATELY DISTURBS, I MEAN, HURTS THE HURTS THE STATE. I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE, THE ANNEXATION BILLS. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER THE, THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF PEOPLE, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, UM, UM, WANTING TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY DON'T CONTRIBUTE THEIR FAIR SHARE. UM, UM, THESE, THESE ARE, THESE HOMES ARE OUR, THAT DRIVE ON AUSTIN'S ROADS. UH, THEY CHILDREN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF, OF OUR LIBRARIES. IT'S THE COMMUNITY'S LIBRARY IS IT'S A COMMUNITY'S ROADS. IT'S THE, IT'S THE COMMUNITY ECONOMY, UH, THAT THEY AND THEIR BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM WHEN THEY TRAVEL. UH, AND PEOPLE ASK THEM WHERE THEY'RE FROM. THEY SAY THEY'RE FROM AUSTIN. AND THEY SAY THAT WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, WITH A, WITH A REAL SENSE OF, OF, OF PRIDE, THOSE THINGS HAPPEN ONLY BECAUSE NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES JOINING TOGETHER AND, AND HELP SUPPORT, UH, THE, THE ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED MAKE THAT COMMUNITY STRONG. UH, I KNOW THAT THAT SOME OF THOSE FOLKS MAY NOT GET, UH, UH, UH, ALL OF THE WATER UTILITY OR THE ELECTRIC UTILITY. THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT GET THOSE UTILITIES PAY FOR THOSE UTILITIES ON THEIR, ON THEIR WATER, ON THEIR, ON THEIR BILLS AND THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET THOSE UTILITIES DON'T. UM, BUT THE OVERWHELMING, UM, BENEFIT OF LIVING IN A COMMUNITY LIKE AUSTIN GOES BEYOND THOSE THINGS. IT'S, IT'S THE OTHER THINGS, UH, THAT THEY'RE CERTAINLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF. AND, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, WHY ARE THEY WOULD RESIST PAYING THEIR, THEIR FAIR SHARE AND, AND THE, THE, UH, ATTACKS ON, ON CITIES AND ON LOCAL CONTROL, TRYING TO REMOVE FROM COMMUNITIES THAT ARE THE, THE FREEDOM AND LIBERTY INTEREST ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ABLE TO MAKE A DECISIONS, UH, IS, IS DISTURBING. AND THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS THE ONE THAT, UH, WAS BEING CALLED UP TODAY WITH RESPECT TO, UH, SOUND ORDINANCES, UH, AN ISSUE THAT HAS DIVIDED THIS COMMUNITY AND MULTIPLE SECTIONS FOR DECADE ON THIS ISSUE. UH, COMMUNITY PEOPLE ALL SIT DOWN AND, AND WORK OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS TO, TO FASHION UP A COMPROMISE IN THE SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR US. UM, UH, ONLY TO HAVE THE STATE THEN STEP IN WHEN THERE'S A DISGRUNTLED VIEW, UH, WHO, UH, WANTS TO TRY TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY WILL, UH, I CAN GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND, AND FIND, UH, AND HOW TO AREA LEGISLATOR, UH, TO, TO, TO, TO CHAMPION THAT CAUSE THE SUIT'S NOT RIGHT. UH, AND, AND IT ULTIMATELY, UH, PROVIDES A GREAT DISSERVICE TO THE STATE AND OUR STATE'S ECONOMY, UH, AND OUR STATE'S EXCEPTIONALISM. SO THANK YOU FOR GOING UP THERE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING WITH THE OTHER CITIES THAT I THINK ARE HELPING, UH, TO, TO TRY TO, TO, TO PRESERVE, UH, THE ECONOMIC ENGINES AND INCUBATORS AND INNOVATION THAT CITIES ARE OKAY. THAT'S RUBBER ON 30TH. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO CLOSE US? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO CLOSE IT OUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU COULD HEAR MY FRUSTRATION WHEN YOU KNOW THAT, UH, IT HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS, BUT THEY COME HERE AND ATTACK US. AND THEN WE'RE ONE OF THE BEST MANAGED CITIES OR THE MOST POPULAR CITIES. YEAH. I MEAN, WE ARE, AS YOU SAID, MANNER, WE HAVE CORPORATIONS THAT WANT TO MOVE DOWN HERE. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY THEM. YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WANT TO BE HERE IN AUSTIN AND, AND WE HAVE LEGISLATORS THAT [00:45:01] DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMING DOWN HERE AND TELLING US THAT WE'RE, UH, WE'RE NOT MANAGING OUR CITY. RIGHT. AND THEY PASS ALL THESE LEGISLATIONS TO HURT US. AND, AND THEIR FRUSTRATION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ENDED UP TAKING THE BEATING AND COMING OUT EVEN STRONGER. AND, AND, UH, AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO STOP. I MEAN, WE GROW THIS STATE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT POLITICAL POWER, THEY DON'T CARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO OUR CITY WITH A BLOOD LINE, OR THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS. OUR CITIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PRODUCING ALL THE REVENUE, CREATING ALL THE JOBS. AND, UH, AND THESE LITTLE CITIES, I MEAN, WE COULD WORK TOGETHER. WE COULD, WE CAN PROVIDE AND SUPPORT THEIR RURAL HOSPITALS, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF HURTING EACH OTHER AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING, AND THIS COURSE DOESN'T GET US ANYWHERE. AND IT ONLY MAKES US SLOW DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE, UH, AND THEN WE CAN TELL OUR CITIZENS THE FRUSTRATION THEY SAY, WHAT COULD YOU DO THAT? HOW CAN WE BECAME BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING? HOW COME HE CAME? AND WE SAY, WELL, WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT. AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION I HAVE THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HOMELESS. AND, AND WE CAN TELL YOU TO FIGHT IT A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL BATTLES. SO FOR ALL PHOTO PROBLEMS, WE CONSTANTLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND IT JUST WEARS PEOPLE DOWN OR JUST FITS THEM. SO FRUSTRATED, LIKE, LIKE REALLY, I WAS JUST FRUSTRATED TO SEE THAT, THAT I HEAR I'M WILLING TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK, TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, TO GET UP HOMELESS HEALTHCARE. WE WERE JUST SPENDING TIME FIGHTING EACH OTHER. SO THAT'S MY FRUSTRATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S FAIR, YOU KNOW, UH, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE UP TO HERE IN AUSTIN, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP HERE. WE NEED YOU TO CALL THE LEGISLATORS. WE NEED YOU TO JUST LOBBY BECAUSE THEY'RE RESTRICTING US IN A LOT AND YOU PRETTY EVER COMES DOWN TO THAT POINT, BUT WE CAN'T EVEN LOBBY THE LEGISLATORS. AND IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND TO YOUR POINT IN THAT RAISED BY OTHERS, IT KEEPS US FROM WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS. IF YOU GO THROUGH MY POWERPOINT, NOT MANY SOLUTIONS IN THERE, UM, AND THAT'S FRUSTRATED, AND THEN IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT WE CAN'T, UM, THROUGH BANDWIDTH AND THROUGH OTHER MEANS COLLABORATE MORE ON OTHER ISSUES THAT THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT, LIKE BETTER EDUCATION AND REFORM OTHER HOUSING SOLUTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I HEAR YOU ALL AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP, AND THE CITY MANAGER. AND THERE'S A BIG TEAM BEYOND MY OFFICE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, ANSWER OUR EMAILS. AND A MINUTE WHEN WE ASK AND PHONE CALLS AND GO UP TO THE CAPITOL AND TAKE HARD QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO THIS IS A CITYWIDE TEAM EFFORT, AND I'VE GOT THE, YOU KNOW, THANK GOD WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE AT THE CITY TO HELP WITH THAT EFFORT. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM ALL TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. YOU BRING ME IN FOR A TIME. YOU HAD SOMETHING I DID AND I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF TOO. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO, TO ECHO THAT THE THANKS FOR BREE AND HER TEAM, I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS FOR FOLKS LIKE ME WHO ARE NEW TO MUNICIPAL AND STATE LEVEL POLITICS, REALLY JUST DIVING IN HEAD FIRST, IT'S A LOT LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER MARIA SAID, AND THAT IT WEARS YOU DOWN, RIGHT? PEOPLE WHO AREN'T BORN AND BRED TO DO THIS JOB, IT'LL WEAR YOU DOWN TO A NUB. AND I THINK IT REALLY ULTIMATELY AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO, TO DO THAT CAPACITY BUILDING, TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE OF REGULAR PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THEIR MUNICIPALITY. THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT ONLY A COUPLE OF US ON THIS DIOCESE HAD POLITICAL EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO TAKING ON THE BIG JOB OF REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITY. AND SO I, I FIND MYSELF WITH THE QUESTION AND I THINK SOME FOLKS WHO AREN'T AS FAMILIAR AS THE POLICY WALKS, WHO'VE BEEN WATCHING, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN AND THE STATE OF TEXAS FIGHT EACH OTHER FOR TWO DECADES. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT IN THE WAY OF A FRAME OF REFERENCE, BUT I JUST WONDERED TWO THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONVEY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC NUMBER ONE. UM, DO YOU EVER FORESEE A TIME WHERE WE WON'T BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT FRANKLY STRIKES ME AS SO BIZARRE THAT THERE WAS A BILL THAT EXCLUSIVELY AFFECTS ONE CITY? THE CAPITAL [00:50:01] CITY OF THIS GREAT STATE OF TEXAS IS EFFECTED BY BILLS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY DIRECTED AT US. I FIND IT ODD AND BIZARRE. AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MAYBE JUST TELL THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S NORMAL. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TALKING TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN A SIMILAR POSITION AS YOURS, IS THERE ANY OTHER CITY AND A STATE AND I WE'RE GREAT REPUBLIC THAT HAS TO FIGHT THEIR STATE IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS, UM, AS HER BILLS TARGETED AT, JUST AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, LIKE THESE DEANNA TAXATION BILLS. AND, UM, THERE WERE NOISE ORDINANCE, WHICH TO ME IS EVEN KIND OF, UH, FURTHER GOING INTO THE STRATOSPHERE OF THE STATE FITTING INTO LOCAL ISSUES. UM, NO, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S IT'S DO I SEE THAT CHANGING ONLY AT THE POLITICS CHANGE. AND THAT MEANS THAT THE VOTERS HAVE TO TELL REPRESENTATIVES, THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO. AND THIS IS WHAT I SEND YOU DOWN IN THERE TO DO. AND WHAT I DON'T NEED YOU TO GO DOWN THERE AND DO I NEED YOU TO FOCUS ON ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION, LIKE THE WINTER STORM SECURITY SECURITY FOR ELECTRICITY, NEVER HAPPENING THAT SITUATION NOT HAPPENING. AND AGAIN, FOOD SECURITY, YOU KNOW, MEDICAID, THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE THAT THROUGH THEIR VOTES THROUGH ELECTIONS, I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS. UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE'S A GROUP, THERE'S DEFINITELY A GROUP OF PEOPLE, AS YOU SAY, WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS AND HAVE CONNECTIONS AND LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND. AND THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TO THE CITY'S DETRIMENT AND THEN THERE, BUT IT AFFECTS EVERYONE. IT AFFECTS EVERYONE IN THE CITY AND IT LEAVES ALL, IT LEAVES OUT LARGE PORTIONS OF THE CITY OUT OF THAT PROCESS. AND THAT'S WHERE IT EVEN BECOMES, UM, MORE INEQUITABLE ABOUT. AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESS IS, UM, UNKNOWN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT'S I LEARN SOMETHING NEW, EVERY SESSION THAT I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW EVERY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS CAN CALL ME QUESTIONS AND SOMETIMES I KNOW THE ANSWER, AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GO DO A COUPLE OF HUNTING AND LOOKING AND, AND THE ROLES CHANGE AND THE ROLES, YOU KNOW, EVERY SESSION CAN'T BE DIFFERENT. AND SO YOU DO NEED, WE DO NEED EXPERTS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED TO HELP NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS. I NEED HELP NAVIGATING THE PROCESS. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE EXPERTISE, EVEN WITH MY 20 YEARS OF DOING THIS, TO JUST NAVIGATE IT ENTIRELY ON OUR OWN. AND I GROW SO, UM, TO NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VOICE. SO AT LEAST THAT BILL DOES APPLY TO EVERYBODY. IT ISN'T JUST TARGETED AUSTIN, BUT, UM, LIKE YOU SAID, IT JUST THE BILLS THAT DO TARGET AUSTIN, THEY ARE UNIQUE, BUT WHAT OTHER CITIES NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT AS ONCE THEY COME AFTER AUSTIN, THERE ARE CITIES NEXT CAUSE THE DOOR'S BEEN OPENED ONCE THOSE BILLS PASS. SO THAT THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW, THIS GETS STARTED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BRI, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN THE HALF AN HOUR BEFORE LUNCH [D1. Discussion on Section 25-2-739 (B)(6) regarding exceptions to allowable FAR of the Downtown Density Bonus Program.] HERE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND LET'S START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ELLA ALLOWABLE FAR. UM, COUNCILMEMBER TOVO YOU WANT TO, UH, OPEN THAT? YEAH. THANK YOU, MARIN. THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF. I KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF STAFF WHO WERE ON THE CALL LAST WEEK, UM, PREPARED TO TALK AND ARE HERE AGAIN TODAY. SO, UH, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A FEW POINTS THAT I RAISED IN MY MESSAGE BOARD POSTS. SO, AND I'M FRIDAY, I POSTED A PRETTY LENGTHY BACKGROUND, UH, ABOUT, ABOUT THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND IN PARTICULAR, THE ELEMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT TODAY, SOME OF THOSE CHANGES ARE PART OF THE RESOLUTION THAT, THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD, UM, FOR THIS WEEK'S AGENDA. AND THANKS SO MUCH TO MY CO-SPONSORS ON THAT. THAT IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTERIA FONTUS AND ALTER. SO WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE CASES THAT WE HAVE REGARDING RAINY ARE RAISED, UH, A VARIETY OF POLICY QUESTIONS, AND I'M NOT REALLY, I DIDN'T PULL IT FOR DISCUSSION TODAY TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE MERITS OF THOSE CASES. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICY MATTERS. THE FIRST IS, IS, IS ONE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. UM, WE HAD SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS, ONE I SPONSORED TO ASK OUR CITY STAFF TO RECALIBRATE, TO LOOK AT OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, SEE HOW THEY'RE PERFORMING AND CONSIDER WHETHER THEY NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED [00:55:01] AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WORK. AND THAT I THINK WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY ANOTHER, ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT HAPPENED AROUND THE TIME THAT THE COUNCIL VOTED TO DELAY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. SO THAT WORK HAPPENED. THE CITY OF AUSTIN CONTRACTED WITH CONSULTANTS, THEY DID THE WORK OF RECALIBRATING, THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. THEY BROUGHT BACK WHAT THEY WOULD SUGGEST AS THE UPDATED FIGURES. THEY STILL SEEM, UM, TO ME COMPARED TO WHAT IS USED OTHER CITIES, BUT REGARDLESS WE HAVE THEIR RECOMMENDATION. AND THOSE CHANGES WENT THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT PUT THOSE INTO PLACE. AND SO THE RESOLUTION ON THURSDAY'S AGENDA WOULD, WOULD MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES, INCLUDING THAT ONE, UM, ADOPTING THE PASSING THE, THE FEE FEE CHANGE FOR THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT OUR CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDED. WE ALSO HAVE A SITUATION AND HAVE HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHERE THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE DOING THAT ARE NOT DOING RESIDENTIAL, HAVE NO RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT PERCEIVED THROUGH THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. THEY CAN MAKE USE OF THE ENTITLEMENTS AND THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, BUT THE FEE THAT'S ASSESSED TO THEM AS ZERO. SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY PAY NO FEE, UM, THROUGH THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WHEN THEY PARTICIPATE. AND THAT'S, AGAIN, ANOTHER, ANOTHER THAT I THINK IS LONG OVERDUE AND IT IS ALSO FUN FOR STAFF RECOMMENDED. SO THE RESOLUTION, AGAIN, ON THURSDAY, WE DO A VARIETY OF THINGS, BUT THREE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WOULD DO IS TO POST, TO POST FOR OUR COUNCIL, UM, ACTION TO UPDATE THE UNIT, UH, THE UNIT, UH, AFFORDABILITY SET ASIDE, AS WELL AS THE FEES TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THESE FEES INTO ONE SCHEDULE AS OUR STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED SO THAT THESE DON'T NEED TO BE, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A PRODUCTION. WE CAN JUST ANNUALLY REVIEW THEM AND, UM, ANNUALLY MAKE CHANGES, WHICH WAS ALSO PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION. AND IT WOULD CHANGE THAT COMMERCIAL, UM, SLASH UH, THE COMMERCIAL, THOSE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS SO THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD A FEE OF ZERO. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF, OF THE WORK, UH, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S COMING FORWARD. SO THAT'S, I CAN'T TELL IF SOMEBODY ELSE ASKED A QUESTION OR THAT WAS ME. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT OR IF I SHOULD JUST LAY OUT THE OTHER GPS, THE KEY, UM, THE CASES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD ON THURSDAY ARE CASES THAT ARE, THAT WE'VE HEARD AND PASSED ON FIRST. AND IN ONE CASE ON SECOND READING, UM, PENDING THIS CONVERSATION, THESE ARE ALL CASES THAT ARE, ARE PROCEEDING THROUGH THE RAINY AND THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE EXCEEDING THE CAP FOR THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BROKER PROGRAM. AND I PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MORE INFORMATION THAN ANYBODY WANTS IN MY, IN MY POST ABOUT THE HISTORY. AND, UM, THANKS ALLIE FOR GOING BACK AND REALLY RECOUNT, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH TRANSCRIPTS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, UH, BACK IN 2014, WHEN WE PASSED THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM OR THE CHANGES TO THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. AND AT THE TIME WHEN REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT SAID WE'RE PASSING THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WITH CAPS, UH, BUT WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR WASN'T A UNANIMOUS VOTE, BUT IT PASSED, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND EXCEED THOSE CAPS, ANOTHER AMENDMENT ON THAT SAME DAY, BUT ALSO PASSED, SAID, OKAY, BUT IN THOSE CASES WHERE PROJECTS WANT TO EXCEED THE CAPS OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, THERE SHOULD BE SOME DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF WHETHER, UM, HIGHER LEVEL OF FEES APPLY. SO IN ESSENCE, LIKE WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A CAP. IF, IF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WANTED TO, UM, PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, WANT TO EXCEED THE ENTITLEMENTS ARE, ARE STILL PROVIDING THE SAME LEVEL OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS RATHER THAN AN ENHANCED LEVEL OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS. AND ALSO WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT COME FORWARD FOR THAT CASE EXCEPTION? UM, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA THE COUNCIL SHOULD USE TO EVALUATE WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO OKAY, THE CAP, AN EXCEPTION TO THE CAP OR NOT? SO ALL OF THAT POLICY CONVERSATION WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I HAVE NOT MY STAFF AND I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THOSE POLICY CONVERSATIONS EVER HAPPENED. AND SO THAT'S IN ESSENCE HOW WE GOT TO THE SITUATION WE'RE IN TODAY, WHERE WE HAVE THREE CASES COMING FORWARD, ALL PROPOSING, UM, EXCEPTIONS TO THE CAP. AND WE'VE NEVER, UM, AS A CITY REALLY EVALUATED WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE'D HAVE PROJECTS COMING FORWARD ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AND IN ALL THE TIME, SINCE THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE [01:00:01] CASE THAT CAME FORWARD THAT PROPOSED TO EXCEED THE CAP. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK STAFF TO REMIND ME OF THE DETAILS, BUT IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE IT WAS JUST ON THE VERY EDGE OF, OF, UM, ONE ZONE TO ANOTHER. IT WAS PROPOSING A SLIGHT HEIGHT INCREASE. IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO A ZONE ADJACENT, POSSIBLY TO THE ZONE THAT HAD THAT HEIGHT. SO IT WAS A VERY, IT WAS A RELATIVELY MINIMAL COMPARED TO THE CASES WE HAVE BEFORE US ON THURSDAY, A RELATIVELY MINIMAL INCREASE AND, UM, AND WAS DESCRIBED, UM, IN THAT WAY. AND THAT WAS PART OF THE, PART OF THE RATIONALE FOR ALLOWING IT. SO THIS, UH, RESOLUTION ON THURSDAY WOULD ALSO WOULD ALSO, UM, INITIATE A CODE AMENDMENT. AND I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT JUST IN TALKING WITH A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS WHO HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT IT. I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION OVER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THE RESOLUTION WOULD, WOULD S WERE TO INITIATE A PROCESS WHERE THAT, UM, PIECE OF THE CODE THAT ALLOCATES JUST THE VARIOUS SAME BENEFITS, UM, WOULD BE ANALYZED REPEALED AND POTENTIALLY SPACED, BUT IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY IMMEDIATELY UNTIL THAT CODE PROCESS IS DONE. SO I THINK I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR A MINUTE, EXCEPT JUST TO SAY THAT THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS CONVERSATION WENT ON SO LONG, UM, THAT I, I BELIEVE I PARTICIPATED AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER THEN AS A PLANNING COMMISSION COMMISSIONER AND THEN AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. SO IT WAS A VERY LONG PROCESS AND INVOLVES LOTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES, UH, DEVELOPERS, REGULAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF WHICH I WAS ONE CREW. MINE WAS ONE. I MEAN, IT WAS A VERY, IT WAS A PRETTY BROAD, UM, PROCESS THAT INVOLVED A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOICES IN COMING UP WITH THE DIFFERENT ZONES AND WHAT THE CAP SHOULD BE IN DIFFERENT PLACES. AND SO I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WHY DON'T WE REALLY CONSIDER WHAT THOSE CAPS WERE WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY WERE, UH, THEY WERE, THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF REASONS WHY DIFFERENT AREAS OF, UH, UH, DIFFERENT HAD DIFFERENT FIR CAPS HAD DIFFERENT HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS. AND TO THAT, WE MAKE THOSE UPDATES TO OUR FEES THAT OUR, UH, OUR STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED. WE ARE REALLY LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE AND, AND THAT MONEY IS DESIGNATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO WHETHER IT'S UNITS THAT COULD BE BUILT RIGHT THERE ON SITE, ON THE SIDE OF THESE PROJECTS, OR WHETHER IT IS MONEY THAT GOES TO OUR NGOS COMES IN AS FEES, WHICH IS DESIGNATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT'S DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO SET THOSE FEES AS LOW AS THEY ARE ANY LONGER. WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND INCREASE THEM TO THE LEVEL WHERE OUR S OUR CONSULTANT SAID IT SHOULD BE CALIBRATED. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS ARE, ARE CONTRIBUTING, UM, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY HAVE A NEED FOR THAT, FOR THAT MONEY. AND AS WE HAVE ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE SEE GOING ON DOWNTOWN HAPPENING, WE REALLY NEED TO CAPTURE SOME OF THAT BENEFIT AND USE IT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO SHELTER AT ALL, WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, SLEEPING ON OUR STREETS AND DOORWAYS AND ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. AND SO I, I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CHANGE RIGHT AWAY. AND, AND AGAIN, I, AND OTHERS PROBABLY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR STAFF, UM, ABOUT FAR. AND, AND THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT JUST KIND OF LAYS OUT THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK TO DISCUSS ANYBODY, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET TO STUFF. KATHY, YOU WANT TO MAYOR PRO TEM. IF FOR SOME REASON THAT NEW BUTTON ALWAYS SEEMS TO ELUDE ME WHEN I REALLY NEEDED TO WORK OUT FOR ME, I ACTUALLY, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER TOA. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. KICK-STARTING THE, UM, THE CONVERSATION HERE. UM, I KNOW WE ALL SHARE THE SAME DESIRE TO REALLY MAXIMIZE THAT COMMUNITY BENEFIT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS, UM, THAT WE CAN LIBBY FROM OUR DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. BUT THE CLARIFYING QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT INTENT. SO IS THE INTENT TO COMPLETE THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS WORK THAT NACD ECO NORTHWEST, UM, AND THE STAKEHOLDERS DID LAST YEAR, OR IS IT TO AMEND THE EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND REVISE THE FEES BASED OFF THE CURRENT CODE? YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. UM, SO THE ACTION THAT WOULD COME BACK TO US ON OUR NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA WOULD AMEND THE FEES FOR OUR EXISTING CODE, BECAUSE I THINK [01:05:01] WE'D HAVE A LOT OF, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSENSUS AROUND THOSE AND OUR STAFF WERE RECOMMENDED AND THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DID, I THINK ALL OF THAT WORK HAPPENED AFTER, AFTER THE CODE WAS POSTPONED THE FIRST TIME. SO I THINK IT, I THINK IT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS BODY, AS I REMEMBER THAT RESOLUTION, THAT WAS NOT ONE I BROUGHT AND I'M GOING TO, I'M LESS FAMILIAR WITH IT THAN I NEEDED TO BE MAYBE AT THE MOMENT. BUT, UM, IT WAS, IT HAPPENED, I THINK IN THE SAME MEETING. NATY MAYBE EVEN IF IT WAS THE RESERVATION THAT POSTPONED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BUT IT SAID, BUT OUR DENSITY BONUS WORK SHOULD GO FORWARD AND IT DID GO FORWARD, BUT WE JUST NEVER, WE NEVER INCORPORATED THOSE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS INTO, INTO OUR AND D BUT YES, AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. IT WOULD BE FOR THE EXISTING CODE. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. I THINK IT HELPS TO FORMULATE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR STAFF. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, PAGE COUNSELOR ELLIS. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAVE A BRIEF ONE AND MAYBE STAFF IS PLANNING TO COVER THIS, BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE, UM, INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GATHERED OVER THE YEARS MIGHT HAVE POTENTIALLY CHANGED GIVEN THE PANDEMIC. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FATIGUE WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RAPID INCREASE OF HOUSING PRICES. UM, SO I'M JUST A LITTLE CURIOUS IF STAFF HAS ANY INPUT ON HOW THAT MIGHT PLAY INTO SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE. CUSTOMER RESISTANCE, JERRY RESTAURANT, WITH A HOUSING PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UM, THE, THE CALCULATIONS THAT WERE MADE WERE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. SO THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY, UM, DIFFERENT SET OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT WOULD BE MADE BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE MARKET DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. KATHY RESERVE, SOMEONE YOU WANTED TO STAFF TO, TO LEAD OFF WITH, OR A QUESTION? SURE. NO, BUT I'LL ASK, I'LL ASK A FOLLOW UP ON THAT. UM, MR. RUSS TOBIN, THE REPORTS THAT I'VE SEEN HAVE SUGGESTED THAT HOUSING PRICES, UM, ARE HOLDING FROM THAT CONSTRUCTION IS PROCEEDING ALONG. I THINK, I MEAN, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE FEW INDUSTRIES THAT HASN'T BEEN HARMED BY THE PANDEMIC. HAS THERE BEEN ANY, ANY EVIDENCE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, UM, AT THE CITY THAT, THAT CONSTRUCTION IN THIS AREA IS SLOWING DOWN AND PRICES ARE FALLING FOR HOUSING. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMEMBER JERRY REST OF IT AGAIN. NO, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE. I'VE HEARD THAT THE, UH, THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL MARKET IS SLOWING. UH, WE, WE RELY ON LARGELY FROM THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU KNOW, FROM REALTY COMPANIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD TELLS ME THAT NO, IT HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN AT ALL. THANKS FOR THAT. AND THAT'S, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH STAFF AND WITH OTHERS, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WHILE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE. AND SO TO ME, I THINK THOSE NUMBERS ARE STILL GOOD NUMBERS. WOULD THAT BE YOUR ASSESSMENT TOO, IN TERMS OF, I MEAN, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WERE EVER GOOD NUMBERS AGAIN, THEY'D LOOK TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY LOW TO ME, BUT, UM, WELL I THINK THAT THE, UH, THE NUMBERS WHERE YOU, UM, ARRIVED AT FROM A, UH, ECONOMIC CONSULTING FIRMS. SO I'D HAVE TO RELY UPON THEM TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I DO AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE, UH, THE DOWNTOWN HOUSING MARKET HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN NORTH PRICES COME DOWN. SO, SO KATHY, AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE, THE CONVERSATION KIND OF STRUCTURED IN MY MIND. ONE IS, SHOULD WE RECALIBRATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE CALIBRATED PROPERLY, THE DENSITY BONUSES THAT WE HAVE? AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE CHANGE THE DENSITY BONUS FROM WHAT WE HAVE ARE THOSE TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS? UM, I THINK I WOULD PHRASE HIM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. WE HAVE DONE THE CALIBRATION WORK, WE JUST HAVEN'T PASSED IT AND MADE IT PART OF OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. THE SECOND PART IS WHAT WE DO WITH CASES THAT EXCEED THE CAP. AND, AND FOR ONE THING, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS ARE RELATED BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE APPLYING AN EXTREMELY OUTDATED FORMULA OF BENEFITS TO ALL OF THESE DENSITY BONUS CASES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE NOW ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THE PROGRAM PARAMETERS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DOUBLE PROBLEM, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT, IT IS ONE WE'VE NEVER HAD THE POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT BENEFITS SHOULD, UH, SHOULD COME FROM PROJECTS THAT WANT TO, WELL, NUMBER ONE, WHEN SHOULD WE ALLOW PROJECTS, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA BY WHICH WE EVALUATE PROJECTS THAT WANT TO EXCEED THE CAP? AND [01:10:01] IF, AND IF THERE, IF WE WANT TO PRESERVE THAT OPTION, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA AND WHAT BENEFITS SHOULD APPLY, APPLY BEYOND, BEYOND WHAT'S IN THE CODE CURRENTLY. AND THAT GOES TO THE QUESTION, SHOULD WE CHANGE THE, UH, THE WORD AS WE HAVE NOW? SHOULD WE CHANGE THE PROGRAM? WE HAVEN'T. OKAY. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT THE SAME WAY I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THE NEED TO PASS. WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO, TO, TO CALIBRATE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TAKING THAT AND MOVING IT TO A, TO A FEE SCHEDULE. THAT'S EASIER FOR US TO UPDATE REGULARLY. I THINK WERE TWO THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE PRIOR WORK THAT, THAT MAKE REAL GOOD SENSE. UM, AND I WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THE CHANGES WOULD BE PROPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE, TO THE EXISTING ORDINANCE ITSELF. UM, AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU WANT TO TAKE THE STEPS TO GO AHEAD AND AFFECT THE RECALIBRATION, UM, TO, TO MOVE IT TO A FEE. IT TAKES STEPS TO START MOVING IT TOWARD JUST A FEE SCHEDULE. SO THAT AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET, PERHAPS WE CAN UPDATE IT. UM, BUT THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE CHANGE THE, THE ORDINANCE IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, I APPRECIATE THE LONGER CONVERSATION ON, IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE TRADE-OFFS ARE OR THE LIKE, BUT YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE WHILE THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO CHANGE OR, OR STRIPE THE ORDINANCE THAT EXISTS WHILE WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION? UM, MAYOR, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THESE CASES? I THINK WITH REGARD TO THESE CASES, IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? NO. I MEAN, I MEAN THIS, THE CASE IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT SEPARATE PART FOR THAT, YOUR IFC, I THINK SAYS, HEY, LET'S INITIATE. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO AFFECT THE RECALIBRATION? LET'S MOVE IT TO A FEE SCHEDULE. SO IT'S EASIER TO CHANGE THOSE THINGS. I UNDERSTAND. YOU'VE ALSO SAID, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT RE-EXAMINING THE POLICY ITSELF AND THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM ITSELF, AT LEAST IN THIS REGARD. AND LET'S SEE IF WE'RE ASKING FOR THE RIGHT THINGS OR ENOUGH THINGS OR WHATEVER THOSE THINGS ARE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE CALIBRATION ISSUE. AND IN THE MEANTIME, I COULDN'T TELL WHAT YOU MEANT BY WANTING TO STRIKE THE PROVISION AS THEY EXIST NOW, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE KIND OF LIKE A MORATORIUM. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT OFF THE BOOKS WITH THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING IT BACK ON THE SAME OR DIFFERENTLY. OR IF YOU'RE SAYING, WHILE WE DO THE RECALIBRATION TO RECREATE THE FEE SCHEDULE, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WE CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE. UH, AND IF WE DO THEN, THEN, THEN ULTIMATELY WE CAN, UM, BUT WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE ORDINANCE WHILE WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION OR THAT ANALYSIS. YEAH, I THINK OUR BEST SOLUTION. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THAT THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN SHE HATES THAT LONGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE DO CODE AMENDMENTS. SO IT'S, IT'S ASKING THAT THOSE, UM, THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US NOT TO APPROVE ANY MORE CASES WHILE WE'RE HAVING THAT LONGER CONVERSATION THAT EXCEEDED THE CAP UNTIL WE REALLY HAVE, UNTIL WE HAVE HAD THAT POLICY CONVERSATION THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE 200 2014 AMENDMENT, BUT AS A CHOICE FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE, YOU'RE NOT HAVING AN IFC THAT, UH, UH, ORDERS THAT, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE, THOSE ARE CODE AMENDMENTS, AND SO WE CAN ONLY INITIATE THOSE ACTIONS ANYWAY. GOT IT. OKAY. UM, ANY STAFF YOU WANT TO, UH, TO KIND OF LAUNCH INTO THIS AS WE, I SAW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR HAD HER HAND UP, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE STILL HAS A QUESTION OR NOT. I THINK SHE MAY BE HEADING UP TO THE CAPITOL AND SHE'LL BE BACK, I THINK RIGHT AFTER, RIGHT AFTER WARNED. UM, I DID WANT THE STAFF TO TALK WITH US ABOUT, UH, FAR AND WHY THERE ARE, WHY THERE ARE CAPS ON FAR, BUT SOME OF THE THINKING WAS INSTEAD IN CAPS AND THE DOWNTOWN, UM, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. AND REALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT THERE PROBABLY WERE GOING TO RUN AT A TIME BEFORE WE GET TO THIS PIECE. BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY FAR CAPS WERE WE'RE IN A, WE'RE GETTING INTO B, UM, BECAUSE THERE WERE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAD, UH, HAD KIND OF CANYON EFFECTS HAPPENING IN CERTAIN AREAS. AND SO [01:15:01] MR. RESTO, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO IS MORE GENERALLY AND WHY WE HAVE THEM. AND THEN ALSO, UM, SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE WORK, WHAT KIND OF WORK AND THOUGHT WENT INTO THE APPLICATION OF THEM AND THE SETTING OF THEM HERE IN AUSTIN? SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, YES, THE, I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING WAY BACK AND PLANNING HISTORY. THE VERY, UM, UM, BIRTH OF ZONING CAME BECAUSE OF, UM, TENEMENT HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY AND, UH, DESIRE TO CRY AND TRY AND, UH, CREATE OPEN SPACE FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT DISEASE AND OVERCROWDING, ET CETERA. UM, FAR BY IT, YOU KNOW, BY DEFINITION IS, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP OF, UH, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING TO THE SITE IT'S ON. UM, SO THAT WAS THE, ESSENTIALLY THE, THE, THE, UM, THE CREATION OF ZONING WAS FOR THOSE VERY REASONS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WE'D HAVE TRADITIONALLY, UM, FOR AS LONG AS I CAN RECALL, I THINK POSSIBLY GOING BACK AT LEAST TO THE EIGHTIES, POSSIBLY THE FIFTIES HAD AN EIGHT TO ONE, UM, CAP ON FAR DOWNTOWN AND S WITH CBDS OUTING, UM, WHAT, UH, THAT, THAT CAP IS STILL IN PLACE. UM, HOWEVER, WHAT WE DID DO IN THE MEANTIME WAS WE DID THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, AND THEN WE DID THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PLAN. UM, THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM ALLOWS PEOPLE TO EXCEED THAT F THAT, THAT 81 FAR IN EXCHANGE FOR DOING, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO INCREASE THE, OR UNDER THE DMU ZONING. BUT WHEN THE, UH, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WAS CREATED, THERE WERE CAPS THAT WERE BY DEFINITION ABOVE THE EIGHT TO ONE, WHICH ALREADY EXISTED SAY UNDER CBD, BUT THEY STILL SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN USE THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM BY DOING THESE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, AND YOU CAN ADMINISTRATIVELY WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL GO UP TO, AND THEN IT LAID OUT A MAP OF DIFFERENT FAR IS THAT WE'RE ABOVE EIGHT TO ONE, BUT WE'RE STILL STAGGERED. THE STYRENE GENERALLY WAS OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE W WE WERE OKAY WITH HIGHER FAR IS MORE TO THIS DOWNTOWN CORE, STAY FOCUSED AROUND, YOU KNOW, SAY CONGRESS AVENUE AND SIXTH STREET BEING THE CENTER OF THAT, AND THEN LEFT LESSER FAR AS, AS WE WENT FURTHER OUT. SO AS SHE WENT TO RAINY, AS SHE WENT WEST DOWN FIFTH STREET OR WEST ON SIXTH STREET, THE, UH, AMOUNTS THAT YOU COULD GO ABOVE THE STANDARD FAR WITH THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, DID STAIR-STEP DOWN SOME OF THEIR HIGHEST KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, IN THE CONGRESS AVENUE AREA. AND THEN THEY GO LOWER AS YOU GO FURTHER OUT FROM THAT. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE FAR CHOICES AND, AND RAINY? SURE. SO THE FAR AT RAINY RAINY IS INTERESTING BECAUSE, UM, THE DENSITY BONUS IS ACTUALLY TRIGGERED THE RAINEY DENSITY BUS, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM IS TRIGGERED WHENEVER YOU GO ABOVE 40 FEET IN HEIGHT. SO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN, THAN KIND OF STANDARD DOWNTOWN, IF YOU WILL. UM, BUT THEN, UM, AFTER THAT YOU HAVE THE RAINY STREET DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM KICKS IN. AND, UM, THAT CAN TAKE YOU UP TO EIGHT TO ONE FAR, WHICH IS KIND OF THE STANDARD CBD, UM, DENSITY BONUS. IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THE EIGHT TO ONE FAR IN RAINY, YOU CAN DO THAT USING THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH KEPT YOU AT 15 TO ONE F F A R UNDER THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. SO YOU CAN DO THAT WITH, UM, WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL WHERE YOU NEED CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL IS THE THREE CASES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU ON THURSDAY, BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEKING TO GO ABOVE THE 15 TO ONE FAR. THANKS, MR. RUSSO, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS MAYOR, BUT, UM, I, I DID MAKE, UM, SOME PRETTY FIRM COMMITMENTS TO THE KIDDOS ABOUT WHAT TIME LUNCH WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO I, I WONDER IF, UM, IF I SHOULD JUST HOLD THOSE UNTIL WE GET BACK, I, I THOUGHT WE WERE BREAKING AT NOON. THAT WAS THE GAME PLAN. WE WERE JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THAT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE TRYING TO SNEAK A LITTLE IN HERE TO MAKE BEST USE, AS I SAW YOU GUYS WANT TO BREAK THEM OUT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT I'M, THAT I'M ABLE TO REALLY ACCURATELY CONVEY WHAT MY QUESTIONS ARE SO THAT I CAN GO INTO THE DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE, UM, FEELING CONFIDENT. NO QUESTION. WE'LL COME BACK AFTER LUNCH, DO THE SAME CONVERSATIONS. SO I'LL HOLD OFF. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A QUICK QUESTION OR TWO FOR, FOR JURY BEFORE WE TAKE THE LUNCH BREAK? I THINK I'M IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM. OKAY. WELL THEN LET'S HOLD OFF. UH, UH, WE'LL THEN TAKE A RECESS. THANKS STAFF FOR COMING BACK. WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. WE'RE GONNA DO THE HILL CONVERSATION. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PULLED ITEMS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE, UH, UH, SESSION. WE'LL MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT, UM, UH, THE DARTY, UH, ART CENTER TODAY OR THURSDAY, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS WHERE HER KITCHEN THAT IT HAPPENS THIS WEEK. OKAY. AND MAYOR YES. YES. WELL, WHEN WELL, OKAY. WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE THAT DECISION SOMETIME AFTER WE GET BACK SO THAT OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. HOW ABOUT CERTAIN AS [01:20:01] TO HOW LONG THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF US IS GOING TO JUST KIND OF TAKE, SO I DON'T HAVE A, I HOPE I HAVEN'T GOT MYSELF FOR THAT AND I DON'T RIGHT NOW. SO WHEN WE COME BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK YES. OKAY. I JUST WAIT IN THAT. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION AROUND THE HEEL. AND SO I WOULD SUPPORT MAKING A DECISION. NOW, IF COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, JUST REALISTICALLY, I THINK THURSDAY MAY BE A BETTER DAY. OKAY. IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH PUTTING THE DIRTY OFF FOR THE TILL THURSDAY? IT LOOKS LIKE A RELATIVELY, UM, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD DAY TO MOVE A BRIEFING TO A MANAGER, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THAT FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE OR MOVED ALREADY THEN TO THURSDAY. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU GUYS? UM, MAYOR COUNCIL. I'LL JUST ASK OUR LEGAL WE'RE POSTED FOR THAT BRIEFING. I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE, AND SO THAT MIGHT BE ONE THING WE'LL JUST HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU AFTER LUNCH. WELL, I THINK WE'RE POSTED FORWARD, SO WE'D HAVE TO BE SURE THAT WE COULD DO IT, SO, OKAY. I COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A BREAK. WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK. OKAY. THERE YOU HAVE THAT THEN, UH, AT NOON, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON APRIL 6TH, 2021. AND WE WILL RECONVENE HERE IN OPEN SESSION AT 1:00 PM. SO YOU GUYS DID RECONVENE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TODAY, APRIL SIX, 2021. UH, YEAH, IT IS ONE OH SIX. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION HERE ON ITEM D ONE THAT WE BEGAN BEFORE MUCH. I THINK WE WERE RIGHT AT THE PLACE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE WERE, OR READY TO POSITION TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF, MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU WANT TO START US OFF? SURE. MAYOR. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. UM, I DON'T SEE JERRY JUST YET, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST LET ME FIX MY SCREEN TO WHERE WE'RE ALL VISIBLE. CAN YOU SEE HIM ON YOURS? YES. OKAY. OH, THERE WE GO. THAT'S BETTER. ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET OVER TO MY NOTES KI. ALL RIGHT. SO HOW MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FUNDING IS CAPTURED ANNUALLY UNDER THE CURRENT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM? UH, THIS IS I'M SORRY. UM, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER PERHAPS. UH, GINA COPIC WAS ALSO ON THE CALL. MAYBE SHE MAY HAVE THAT NUMBER, BUT I DON'T HAVE A FIGURE FOR THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT. SORRY. I DO NOT HAVE THAT NUMBER. THIS IS GINA COPIC WITH HOUSING AND PLANNING. I DO NOT HAVE THAT NUMBER, BUT WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, SO WELL, SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS FEASIBLE AND THAT ANY CHANGES WILL CAPTURE MORE FUNDS THAN THE STATUS QUO. SO SINCE THE 2020 STAFF RECOMMENDED FEES WERE BASED OFF HOLISTIC REVISIONS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE 2019 MARKET ANALYSIS, WOULD STAFF RECOMMEND, UM, THAT WE DO A NEW ANALYSIS WITH UPDATED ECONOMIC MODELS BEFORE WE REVISE THE FEES WITHIN THE EXISTING CODE MAYOR PRO TEM. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA. AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, THEY, THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES THAT THE ECONOMIC FOLKS WERE LOOKING AT THE ECO NORTHWEST PRESUMED AN ENTIRE PARADIGM CHANGE OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT WAS ENCAPSULATED IN THE CODE REWRITES. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS WE HAVE THE EXISTING PROGRAM THAT HAS DIFFERENT FAR AS FOR DIFFERENT REGIONS OF DOWNTOWN, ET CETERA, IT LOOKED AT ACTUALLY GETTING RID OF THE FAR CAPS ENTIRELY AND, UM, BASIC ECONOMIC ANALYSIS UPON THAT. SO IT'S, IT'S THAT ANALYSIS WAS DONE ON A WHOLESALE CHANGE OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY PROMISE PROGRAM, AS OPPOSED TO MAKING CHANGES TO THE EXISTING PROGRAM. AM I MUTED? I AM. THANK YOU. UM, I WAS ASKING, UH, CAN YOU GIVE US ANY INDICATION ON WHAT THE PROCESS FOR BONUS PROGRAM AMENDMENTS AND FEE REVISIONS, UM, WOULD LOOK LIKE BASED ON THE DIRECTION PROVIDED IN THE RESOLUTION? AND WHAT WE DO IS WE TREAT IT AS A, BECAUSE [01:25:01] THE CODE REWRITE IS ON HOLD. THIS WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING, UM, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. SO THE WAY I LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW IS IT DOES TWO THINGS. ONE, IT ASKS US TO BRING BACK A RATHER QUICKLY ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, A HALT TO ADDITIONAL PROJECTS, ASKING FOR THE, UM, UM, APPROVED INCREASES, SUCH AS THE THREE CASES THAT ARE ON THURSDAY'S AGENDA. SO IT WOULD, IF WE BROUGHT BACK THAT CODE AMENDMENT, UM, AS DIRECTOR AND THE RESOLUTION, WE WOULD PUT UP, PUT A PAUSE ON PEOPLE ASKING TO EXCEED THE FAR THAT'S IN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH CURRENTLY ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT. THAT THAT'D BE PUT ON PAUSE. THAT WOULD BE THE 25 TO 25 TO FIVE 86 PORTION. IT'S NUMBER ONE IN THE BEAT RESOLVED WITH THE RESOLUTION. THE SECOND PART WOULD ASK US TO GO BACK AND BASICALLY LOOK AT, UM, RECALIBRATING THE, UM, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FIGURES THAT ARE IN THE FORMULAS THAT ARE IN THE PROGRAM. UM, AND THEN, UH, ANOTHER PART WOULD ASK US TO MAKE IT A PART OF THE, UH, THE BUDGET AND THE FEE TABLE, AS OPPOSED TO THE FEE SCHEDULE, AS OPPOSED TO A EXISTING IN A STANDALONE ORDINANCE LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW. SO BASICALLY LONG STORY LONG WAY OF SAYING IT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT. THE RESOLUTION WOULD PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO TODAY'S EXISTING CODE. OKAY, WELL, THAT IS HELPFUL. UM, WITH REALLY JUST HAPPY TO UNDERSTAND, UM, UH, SO I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTARY, BUT, UH, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU PREFER TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE WE COMMENTS ON THE ITEM? IT'D BE FINE. I MEAN, JUST TO KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR WHERE PEOPLE ARE. I MEAN, HIGH LEVEL, I SUPPORT RECALIBRATING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE LDC NUMBERS ARE, ARE, ARE RIGHT AT THIS POINT, BUT I SUPPORTED RECALIBRATING AND I SUPPORT, UM, UH, MOVING TO THE FEE SCHEDULE. I DON'T SUPPORT A MORATORIUM ON THE EXISTING, UH, OR NODES, BUT I AM OPEN TO A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, WHETHER WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FOR, UH, UH, ADDITIONAL HEIGHT. AND I'M WILLING TO AGREE TO ADDITIONAL HEIGHT, TO EXCHANGE FOR BENEFITS, APPROPRIATE BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS BY WAY OF DIRECTION, UH, COUNSELOR OCTO AND IN TERMS OF THE CONVERSATION ON THE LIGHT, BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I AM CUSTOMER POOL. I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. DID YOU NEED ME, OR DID YOU MEAN PAGE AND COUNCIL? REMEMBER I DID HAVE MY HANDS. OKAY. UM, I DO WANT, OKAY WITH THIS WORK, WILL WE HAVE ANY PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THAT AREA THAT HAVE NO CAP ON THEIR HEIGHT? I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING FOR KATHY OR FOR JERRY, UM, ANY COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOT A ERIC PROPERTIES THAT ARE ZONED CBD, OR THERE IS NOT A HEIGHT LIMIT THERE ISN'T FAR LIMIT. AND WHEN YOU GO ABOVE THAT FAR LIMIT, THAT IS WHEN YOU START TO, UM, TURN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS. THE EXCEPTION IS IN RAINY STREETS, THERE IS A 40 FOOT FIVE LIMIT. SO THE DOWNTOWN, THE DENSITY BONUS IS TRIGGERED MOST OFTEN BY THAT 40 FOOT HIGH CAP, BUT IN THE REST OF DOWNTOWN, UM, WITH CBDS ZONING, ANYWAY, THERE IS NO HEIGHT IT'S STRICTLY AS AN FAR ISSUE. MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS A SITUATION WITH THE THREE PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT THAT ENDED UP WITH THERE BEING LITERALLY NO HEIGHT LIMITS. SO YOU COULD GO UP, I MEAN, OF COURSE YOU'D HAVE TO GO DOWN PRETTY FAR IF YOU WANT TO GO UP REALLY FAR, BUT IT COULD GO A THOUSAND FEET OR MORE IN HEIGHT. YES, SIR. IS THAT THE PROPERTIES ARE ZONED, CBD AND CBD DOES NOT HAVE A HEIGHT LIMIT. IT DOES HAVE AN FFR LIMIT, BUT NO HEIGHT LIMIT. SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR AND THAT THAT'S PART OF THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT, THAT I WANTED TO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK THAT THERE WERE SOME VOLUNTARY HEIGHT LIMITATIONS BEING PUT ON PROPERTIES THAT, THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US SO THAT THERE WASN'T ANY QUESTION ABOUT HIGH THAT HOW HIGH THEY MIGHT GO. UM, BUT KATHY, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD BEEN LOOKING AT AND THINKING ABOUT TOO, BECAUSE I, YOU AND I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT, ABOUT THE SPECIFICS. UM, I'M NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, I'M JUST NOT FOLLOWING YOU. I, I, I AM NOT SPEAKING. NONE OF, NONE OF MY RESIDENTS, MY RESOLUTION DOES NOT SPEAK TO HEIGHT LIMIT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN. AND TH AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING. OKAY. OKAY. SO IF IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO HEIGHT LIMIT, IS, ARE THERE, ARE THERE BARS TOO, SO TO SPEAK THE SKY'S THE LIMIT ON HEIGHT WITH CURRENTLY? YEAH. CURRENTLY I'M CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE THERE'S NO HEIGHT LIMITS IN THE CBD [01:30:01] AS MR. SAID, AND, AND I'M NOT SEEKING TO CHANGE THAT. OKAY. AND JERRY, THE, UM, FAR WOULD HELP PUT A LIMIT ON TO SOME EXTENT ON HEIGHT. YES. BECAUSE TH THE, THE FAR FLOOR AREA RATIO, WHAT THAT STANDS FOR IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF HOW MANY, HOW MANY, HOW MUCH SQUARE FEET, HOW MUCH LAND ON THE LOT. SO IT NATURALLY FOLLOWS THAT IF YOU'RE INCREASING THE FAR, THE WAY YOU GET THERE IS BY A GREATER HEIGHT. NOW, IF YOU HAD A VERY LARGE SLOT, YOU COULD STILL HAVE A LARGE FAR AND A SHORTER BUILDING, BECAUSE YOU HAD A LARGER LOT IN THESE CASES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RELATIVELY SMALL LOTS. AND SO TO GET TO THE FAR IS THAT'S A REQUEST, THE BUILDING ENDS UP GOING HIGHER. OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ABOUT THAT. AND, UM, AND, AND THE IMPACTS OF THAT, SO THAT IN THE CBD, THE FAR, THE SIZE OF THE FOOTPRINT WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT HOW TALL THE BUILDINGS IN WHATEVER, ON WHATEVER PARCEL OF LAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE, OR COULD BE, THAT IS CORRECT. YOU COULD, DO YOU HAVE A SMALL LOT W WITH THE, WITH THE FAR BEING THE SAME AND A LARGER LOTS OF SMALLER LOT WOULD HAVE A HIGHER BUILDING THAN THE LARGER ONE. RIGHT. OKAY. THANKS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JERRY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY. CAUSE I THINK WE HAD TEXTED ON IT THE LAST TIME THAT WE MET AND ASKED ABOUT THIS, BUT TYPICALLY THE APPLICANTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE RULES WHEN THEY SUBMIT THE APPLICATION. RIGHT. AND SO IF WE DID SOMETHING TO PAUSE THOSE THAT WOULD BE OUT OF OUR NORMAL EXPECTED, UH, PROTOCOL, UM, THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. I HOPE YES. COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT IN THIS CASE SPECIFICALLY, THE RESOLUTION IS DIRECTING US TO COME BACK WITH A CODE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY PUT A PAUSE ON THIS ISSUE, ASKING FOR THE FAR ABOVE THE CAP, ASKING THE CONSOLE FOR FAR ABOVE THE CAP. SO IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE THREE CASES THAT ARE ON THURSDAY'S AGENDA. BUT REST OF, WHILE WE CAME BACK WITH THE CODE AMENDMENT TO PAUSE THAT SECTION, IT WOULD STOP ANY MORE FROM COMING IN THE FUTURE UNTIL THE REST OF THE RESOLUTION WAS WORKED OUT. AND WE BROUGHT THE WHOLE PACKAGE BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. UM, I CERTAINLY DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS CALIBRATION. I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF US LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS. UM, I AM CONCERNED JUST ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS THROUGHOUT VERY MANY YEARS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE USING ACCURATE DATA, ESPECIALLY JUST CONSIDERING HOW THE LAST YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC HAS, HAS GONE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR A LITTLE MORE INPUT OR A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF AT LEAST REVIEW IT AND SEND US EMAILS TO LET US KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS, EVEN IF THERE'S NOT A FULL REVIEW PROCESS. UM, SO I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE POINT OF COUNSEL NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THAT. UM, AT ALL, I THINK GENERALLY COUNSEL HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF, LET US DECIDE. WE WANT TO MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE PROCESS. UM, SO THAT CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS. AND, UM, IF WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE BASING THESE OFF OF ACCURATE AND CURRENT DATA, I THINK WE ALL MIGHT, YOU KNOW, WANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE ORDINANCE AND TWEAK SOME OF THE BENEFITS AND TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REALLY RIGHT-SIZED. SO I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, BUT STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS COUNCIL MEMBER. YEAH. THANK YOU, MERIT. SO I HAVE, I THINK ONE, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION I JUST WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THESE ARE, THESE ARE, UM, TWO SETS OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN ONE RESOLUTION. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW AND APOLOGIZE TO MY CO-SPONSORS FOR NO HEADS UP, BUT I, I AM, UM, CONTEMPLATING POSTPONING THIS FOR THURSDAY. UM, WE DID GET ONE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AND WE'RE IN CONVERSATION WITH PLANNING OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT, ABOUT SOME OF THEIR QUESTIONS RELATED TO IT. BUT I MAY, I MAY, UM, SEEK A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING, BUT I WANT TO GET BACK, UM, MR. TO THE, TO YOUR RESPONSES AND BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THEM. SO RE JUST TO BE REALLY CLEAR, WE HAVE NOT UPDATED OUR DENSITY BONUS CALCULATION SINCE 2014. I MEAN, SEVEN YEARS IS A HUGELY LONG TIME IN THIS REAL ESTATE MARKET, HUGELY LONG. AND MAYOR, IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION, I SPONSORED SAYING, PLEASE GO CALIBRATE. THE SECOND RESOLUTION WAS YOURS. UM, AND THAT WAS THE 2018 RESOLUTION ASKING FOR THE STAFF TO GO FORWARD AND CALIBRATE. AND THEN THE MEMO THAT WE GOT BACK SAYS, WE'VE DONE THE CALIBRATION AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING ADOPTING THESE CHANGES, APPROVING THESE CHANGES. IT, IT DID NOT NEED PROCEED WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IT WASN'T TIED TO [01:35:01] THE CODE CHANGES IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, NOR DOES I THINK IT NEEDS TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IN FACT, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE UPDATE THOSE NUMBERS. THEY MAY CERTAINLY BE. I THINK IF WE RECALIBRATED THEM, WE MIGHT FIND THEY'RE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE ECO NORTHWEST WAS PROPOSING. BUT I THINK YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THE MARKET HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN IN DOWNTOWN. THE VALUE THE PRICES HAVE NOT DROPPED. WE KNOW WE NEED AT LEAST THAT RECALIBRATED NUMBER. AND I WOULD SAY REGARDLESS OF, OF WHERE WE, I THINK WE HAVE MORE CONVERSATION TO DO AROUND THE CODE AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE INITIATING, BUT I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVING GOES RECALIBRATED FEES. THERE WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION, I THINK, IN THIS MEMO FROM SMART SIX, 2019 TO RECALIBRATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OR IN SOME, IN SOME, ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RECALIBRATING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S AGREE TO DO THAT, BUT HECK I MEAN, I DON'T, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE WANT TO KEEP GOING BACK AND HIRING CONSULTANTS AND SAYING, WE CALIBRATE, LET'S JUST, UH, LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH AT LEAST THE FEES THEY TOLD US WERE ADEQUATE IN 2019 AND, AND AGREE THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECALIBRATE THEM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DELAY THAT ANY FURTHER. SO WITH RESPECT, MR. AND I, I, I AGREE IN PART THAT WE SHOULD RECALIBRATE IN THE FUTURE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO RECALIBRATE WHAT'S WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN RECOMMENDED AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF CONVERSATION COLLEAGUES. GOOD TO KNOW MY SENTIMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I DID BACK IN 2018. UM, NO, WE JUST NEED TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE FOR YEARS LATER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER YEAH. THANK YOU, MAN. I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO PUT IN THE CARE EVERY DAY TO RECALIBRATE, YOU KNOW, IN MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, IF WE ADD JUST 20 FEET MORE DENSITY THAT WE'RE GETTING OVER, UH, OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, SO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, UH, AND THEN WE GET ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE AS COMPETENT AS $1.2 MILLION WHERE THAT ADDED 90 FEET. SO I, UM, I REALLY NEED A STANDARD WHERE WE CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU KNOW, SO THE DENSITY BONUS, SYSTEMIC CARROTS, AND I SEE IN DOWNTOWN, THEY'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY, IT TO REALLY FOCUS ON TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE PROPER AMOUNT OF RATE, BUT I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT MORATORIUM. THAT'S WHAT I SIGNED ON. I, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING A FAIR VALUE OR ARE AFFORDABLE BECAUSE REALLY BASICALLY THAT'S ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE DOWN TO KNOW IN COLLEGE, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR WORKFORCE THERE. AND IF WE COULD ADD MORE TO THIS LIMITED AMOUNT OF LAND THAT WE HAVE HERE FOR, FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING AND, UH, WE, WE, WE NEED SOME MORE RESOURCES, SO WE CAN GO UP HIGHER ALSO FAR PEOPLE. AND, UH, SO THEY COULD STAY HERE AND NOT HAVE TO MOVE OUT. SO, UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING MANY YEARS FROM TRYING TO FIND RESOURCES AND FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND IT'S, IT'S A TOOL THAT WE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT. I I'M, I BELIEVE THE SAME WAY AS ARE PROBABLY LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT WE COULD BE USING TO HELP US, UH, BUILD MORE HOUSING SO THAT WE GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. THAT'S OUR POOL. YEAH. UM, I'M IN THE SAME PLACE IN SUPPORT OF, UM, ADJUSTING THE FEES. I THINK AN ANNUAL REVISITING IS A SMART THING, ESPECIALLY, UM, WITH A MARKET THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN THAT CHANGES, UM, PRETTY, PRETTY QUICKLY IT'S PRETTY FLUID. AND, UM, UH, THAT MEANS THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO GOING FORWARD IS MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN WE TRY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THE WHOLE POINT OF THE DENSITY BONUS WAS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT, UM, OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT BY MAKING SURE THE FEES ARE REFLECTING A CURRENT STATE OF, UM, FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. SO I'M SUPPORTING WHAT KATHY'S TALKING ABOUT. HMM. I DID. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE BEING RECOGNIZED. UM, SO I, I APPRECIATE WHAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR, IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH KIND OF FEELING OUT WHERE [01:40:01] FOLKS ARE AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS. UM, I DO ADMIT THOUGH THAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA FOR APPEALING A PROVISION OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT MAKES THE EXISTING BONUS AND ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR SMALLER LOTS, UM, DOWNTOWN, WITHOUT HAVING A VIABLE, VETTED, ALTERNATIVE TO TAKE ITS PLACE. UM, YOU KNOW, SMALL SITES REQUIRE MORE FAR TO ACHIEVE SIMILAR LEVELS OF DENSITY AS OTHER SITES. SO IN RAINY WHERE, UH, LOTS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN IN MOST OTHER PARTS OF DOWNTOWN, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT DEVELOPMENTS WOULD REQUIRE MORE FAR TO ACHIEVE AFFORDABLE UNITS. UM, AND SO SINCE WE CAN'T REQUIRE PARTICIPATION IN THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE DO THAT RIGOROUS ANALYSIS REQUIRED TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT REALLY STRONGLY INCENTIVIZES, UM, PARTICIPATION AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE SAID DOESN'T LEAVE ANY COMMUNITY BENEFITS ON THE TABLE. UM, SO THAT'S IT OR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS TO MY UNDERSTANDING ARE SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, UM, TO CREATE THOSE MIXED INCOME, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ENVISION IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN. UM, BUT NOT, NOT ALL OF THEM WERE CREATED EQUAL AND SOME ARE CALIBRATED BETTER THAN OTHERS. UM, WHICH I THINK A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO NOW. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN DOWNTOWN VERSUS WEST CAMPUS, UM, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE DOWNTOWN PROGRAM COULD USE SOME WORK. WE NEED MORE HOUSING WITHIN REACH FOR US AND I OF ALL INCOME LEVELS IN DOWNTOWN, THIS IS A HIGH OPPORTUNITY PART OF TOWN THAT IS ABOUT AS COMPACT AND CONNECTED AS YOU CAN GET. SO WHILE I FULLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO RECALIBRATE THE BONUS PROGRAM, UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO MOVE VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT SOMEHOW UNINTENTIONALLY DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND ULTIMATELY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS, UM, CRITICALLY NEEDED, CRITICALLY NEEDED FUNDING FOR OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS. UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, KATHY OR MAYOR, UM, EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS RECEIVED QUESTS FOR POSTPONEMENT. I THINK WE PROBABLY RECEIVED, UM, A SIMILAR REQUEST. UM, AND I, I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS WITH SOME AMENDMENTS. UM, IN WHICH CASE, AGAIN, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO, UM, I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT WE'RE FINALLY PRIORITIZING RECALIBRATE IN THAT DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I WOULD SUPPORT, UM, YOUR MOTION TO POSTPONE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO. THANKS MAYOR. SO FIRST I WANT TO AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT, THE GENERAL SENTIMENT HERE, THAT IF THERE'S DOLLARS BEING LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOMELESSNESS, THEN WE SHOULD MAKE SURE TO RECALIBRATE OR CHANGE OUR FEES TO MAXIMIZE THOSE FUNDS. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR, FOR US TO DO SECOND. UH, I WANT TO ECHO THOSE WHO'VE SAID THAT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DEFINITELY SUSPENDING A PROGRAM WITHOUT A GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN ITS PLACE IN REALLY SHORT ORDER TO FILL IN THE GAP. I WOULD HATE. I THINK WE WOULD, WE WOULD WIND UP FIRST OF ALL, WITH LESS HOUSING AND WORKPLACES AND TAX BASE AND DENSITY, UM, WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING IN CREATE THE INCREASED FUNDING WE WANT, IF A PROGRAM WERE TO BE SUSPENDED FOR, UH, THAT WE DIDN'T REPLACE. AND WE UNFORTUNATELY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST TRACK RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO PUT SOLUTIONS IN PLACE ON THE CODE. SO I FEEL SOME LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT IF WE WERE TO POTENTIALLY INDEFINITELY SUSPEND A PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO MAKE IT BETTER, BUT IT COULD WIND UP LOSING SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE WANT TO RECEIVE. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY PROBABLY SHARES THAT SENTIMENT. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS SOME DISCOMFORT OF THAT, OF POTENTIALLY SUSPENDING SOMETHING AND NOT HAVING SOMETHING TO PUT IN ITS PLACE. UM, AND THEN THIRD AND FINALLY, AND I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I HAVING BEEN ON DYESS FOR SEVERAL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AND VOTES ON THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. UM, I DO WISH THAT WE HAD THIS CALIBRATED EVERY YEAR OR, OR PRETTY OFTEN I WISHED THAT WE HAD ADDRESSED THESE IN THE PAST. AND FRANKLY WE HAVE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, UM, ALL OVER THE CITY, UM, AND LARGE COMMERCIAL LOTS ALL OVER THE CITY WHERE WE ARE EVERY SINGLE WEEK, PROBABLY MISSING OUT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEES THAT WE SHOULD BE PICKING UP. UM, SO IT'S NOT JUST IN DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THE LEVEL OF DOWNTOWN DENSITY, BUT I MISS PROGRAMS [01:45:01] THAT ARE ON DOWNTOWN, BUT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUS PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. UM, AND SO I'M READY AND WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THE WORK ON MAKING THIS ONE BETTER. UM, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S ALSO THESE PROGRAMS CITY-WIDE THAT WE KNOW NEED IMPROVEMENT, AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER AS A DIOCESE AND AS A COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE WE'RE NOT JUST MISSING OUT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FEES HERE, WE'RE MISSING OUT ON THAT CITYWIDE. UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES HERE AND ACROSS THE CITY MAYOR. CAN I, CAN I RESPOND TO HIM? WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE A MISUNDERSTANDING AND GO AHEAD AND THEN TRANSFER KITCHEN. THANK YOU. UM, THERE IS NO ATTEMPT TO SUSPEND THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A POINT OF CONFUSION OR NOT SEVERAL OF YOU, INCLUDING YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. CASARA TALKED ABOUT SUSPENDING THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM TO BE REALLY CLEAR. THE PROVISION THAT I WAS SUGGESTING WE REPEAL IS THAT IS THE PROVISION THAT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT PROJECTS COMING IN ABOVE THE CAP FOR THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. IT HAS, IT WOULD ONLY SUSPEND THOSE PROJECTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO GO BEYOND THE CAP THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, THE REST OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH MOST OF OUR PROJECTS. I MEAN, AGAIN, THERE'S JUST BEEN ONE EXCEPTION. AND IN THESE YEARS, UM, THAT HAS SOUGHT AN EXCEPTION TO THE CAP UNTIL THE THREE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA THIS WEEK. IT WOULD NOT SUSPEND THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM FOR ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS. AND, UM, SEVERAL OF YOU MENTIONED, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNITS, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN ZERO AFFORDABLE UNITS ON SITE IN THE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD IT, EVERYONE OPS FOR THE FAMILY, RAINY THE RATING PROGRAM UP TO EIGHT TO ONE FAA ON OUR CREATES A REQUIREMENT HAS A REQUIREMENT FOR SOME UNITS ON SITE BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM KICKS IN AFTER EIGHT TO ONE AFTER 15 TO ONE THAT IS STRICTLY FEE AND EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN, IT IS STRICTLY A FAMILY. SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT MAKING THOSE REQUIREMENTS, UM, ONSITE RATHER THAN IN BLUE. WE'VE HAD A VARIETY OF ATTEMPTS. UM, I'VE MADE MULTIPLE FAILED AMENDMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS, UM, INCLUDING WITH THE LAST COUNCIL TO CREATE SOME OF THOSE UNITS ON SITE. UM, BUT I I'M VERY EAGER TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN, BUT CAN I JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR THOSE OF YOU WHO TALKED ABOUT SUSPENDING THE PROGRAM? DO YOU UNDERSTAND, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SUSPENDING IT FOR ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH. AND THE INTENT HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IN 2014, THE COUNCIL SAID, GO FORWARD, THINK ABOUT THE CRITERIA, COME BACK WITH CRITERIA, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECOMMENDED BENEFIT AND THAT WORK NEVER HAPPENED. AND SO NOW WE HAVE PROJECTS COMING FORWARD ASKING FOR AN APPEAL TO A CAP AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED. SO THE REPEAL WAS AN INTENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD THE CONVERSATION THIS TIME AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA THAT SHOULD APPLY FOR IF A PROJECT IS, IS REQUESTING A CAP, WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE, UM, BENEFITS THAT SHOULD ACCRUE TO THOSE PROJECTS WHO ARE REQUESTING AN EXCEPTION TO THE CAP? SO IT WAS REALLY THE REPEAL WAS IN PART, OUT OF A WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THAT POLICY CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING SEVEN YEARS FOR MARY. I THINK THAT MAYBE I JUST USE THE WORD PROGRAM TO ME AND THE SECTION THAT WE WERE SUSPENDING, NOT THE SECTIONS THAT WEREN'T BEING DISCUSSED, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT THAT'S, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING ALIGNS WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SAID, I'M GOING TO CLARIFY IT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE MEDIA LISTENING. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I DON'T, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A NARRATIVE TO GET OUT THERE THAT MY RESOLUTION WAS SEEKING TO SUSPEND THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. NO, I, I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. I DON'T THINK WE DISAGREE. HANG ON. I MEAN, JUST SO THAT I UNDERSTAND KENNY, IF SOMEONE GOES ABOVE THE CAP, THEY WHAT'D, THEY HAVE TO DO TO GO ABOVE THE CAP. THEY HAVE TO, WELL, I GUESS JERRY WOULD PROBABLY BE THE RIGHT ONE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING. THEY HAVE TO COME AND ASK US FOR AN EXCEPTION. AND WHAT GOT CODIFIED IS THE SAME LEVEL OF BENEFIT THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE IF YOU ARE WITHIN THE CAP. SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE. LIKE YOU HAVE TO COME AND ASK THE COUNCIL, BUT THERE'S NO HIGHER LEVEL OF BENEFIT. THERE ARE NO DIFFERENT CRITERIA, BUT THERE IS THERE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THOUGH, IS TO GET THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT. DO YOU HAVE TO DO MORE UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE OR A GREATER FEE FOR AFFORDABILITY? NO. AND AGAIN, IT'S FAR, IT'S NOT HYPE NECESSARILY THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED, BUT YEAH, NO, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE RUG. LIKE WHAT GOT CODIFIED IS JUST THE SAME. IT'S [01:50:01] THE SAME, IT'S THE SAME LEVEL OF BENEFITS, WHETHER YOU'RE WITHIN THE CAP OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS OR IF YOU'RE REQUESTING AN EXCEPTION. AND SO MY POINT IS, AT LEAST WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO EXCEED THE CAPS THAT WERE SET IN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD PAY A HIGHER LEVEL OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT. IT'S THE SAME CALCULATION. IN OTHER WORDS, WHETHER YOU'RE WITHIN THE CAB OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAB, IT'S THE SAME CALCULATION, BUT IS IT TIED TO THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL FAR YOU GET? YES, IT IS. SO, SO IF SOMEONE SEEKS TO GO ABOVE THE CAP, YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS OR A GREATER FEE THAN IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO ABOVE THE CAP UNITS BECAUSE UNITS ARE REQUIRED, UNITS ARE NOT REQUIRED AND NOBODY FINDS THEM UNLESS THEY'RE REQUIRED OR GIVES ME A LIT OF TOTAL IS, IS MORE, YES, THERE, THE FEE WILL BE HIGHER, BUT IT'S CALCULATED ALL THE SAME RATHER THAN HAVING A PHASED APPROACH. OKAY. SO, AND THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. AND I HAD AN ISSUE WITH, WITH STOPPING SOMEONE FROM BEING ABLE TO BUILD MORE IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING MORE ABSOLUTE FEE OR MORE ABSOLUTE UNITS, WHICHEVER ONE THEY CHOSE WHILE WE WERE SORTING IT OUT. SO TO BE CLEAR UNDER THE WAY IT EXISTS. NOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO EXCEED THE FAR, THEY CAN GO ABOVE THE CAP, BUT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE MORE IN ABSOLUTE TERMS TOWARD AFFORDABILITY BY THIS CULATION. UH, AND THAT'S THE CHANGE THAT I WAS SUGGESTING THAT I HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WITH. YEAH. THANKS. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A COUPLE OTHERS AT LEAST DO TOO. AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE ALL HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION AND I THINK MAYBE ONE WAY TO HANDLE IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE ARE REALLY STRICT TIMETABLES THAT WE PUT IN THE RESOLUTION. SO THAT, THAT CONFLICTS, WE CAN ASSURE THAT THAT CONVERSATION REALLY HAPPENS. OKAY. COUNCIL, MEMBER, KITCHEN. I THINK WHAT'S NEXT. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME, UH, TO TAKE THE ACTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS PROPOSING IN TERMS OF CALIBRATING THOSE BONUSES. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, THAT WE'RE REAL CLEAR, UH, THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST WE CAN, UM, OUT OF, OUT OF THE, UM, OUT OF OUR HOUSING BONUSES. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, JUST WANTED TO LET COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, SINCE I'M NOT ONE OF HER CO-SPONSORS TO LET HER KNOW I'LL BE HERE ON THIS ACTION. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE? ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THAT'S WHERE ELLIS, JUST TO QUICKLY. I THINK THAT, UM, CLARIFICATION WAS VERY HELPFUL. UM, AND SO I'M KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THIS IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY WHERE THE REGULAR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM IS ESSENTIALLY THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BOTH IN TERMS OF FAR COUNCIL APPROVAL AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WHICH WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF FANTASTIC COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT I WASN'T REALLY EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR DONATION TO PARKS OR THINGS OF THAT LINE. UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE I KIND OF WORRY THAT IF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ONES ARE PROCEEDING, BUT THE OPTIONAL ABOVE AND BEYOND COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE NOT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO REPROGRAM ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THERE'S A LITTLE DISCONNECT FOR ME, BUT CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS AND SHOULD DEFINITELY BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. COULD I ASK YOU TO CLARIFY A COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SPEAKING UP AND IT'S VERY, VERY HELPFUL, BUT I DIDN'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND ONE PIECE OF IT, OF WHAT YOU SAID, UH, WHICH PART, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE, I MEAN, I, I THINK WHAT I THINKS IS THAT THERE IS A ENOUGH AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD APPROVE THE NEW FEES. I THINK SOME PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AS CALIBRATION, BUT I THINK IT'S, BUT I'M PRESENTING IT AS APPROVING THOSE FEES. IT SOUNDS AS IF WE HAVE AGREEMENT ON THAT. AND I, I COULDN'T TELL FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREED ON THAT POINT OR NOT. I THINK WE SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH THAT CALIBRATION PROCESS. I'LL SAY I STILL DO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT NUMBERS WE'RE BASING IT ON AND HOW THE PROCESS WILL PLAY OUT. UM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, MY CONCERN IS THAT THE, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WOULD CONTINUE, BUT THE OPTION TO COME TO COUNCIL WOULD NOT. SO I THINK I'M JUST KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH THAT. [01:55:02] OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT BRIEFING? ALL RIGHT, STAFF, THANK YOU MANAGER. THANK YOU. UM, [B2. Update on the HEAL resolution and homelessness related issues] LET'S DO THE, UH, I THINK THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE HEAL BRIEFING. THANK YOU, MANAGER OR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, AS WE GET OUR STAFF, UH, PULLED OVER TO START THIS PRESENTATION, UH, JUST TO NOTE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR CITY AND FOR CITY STAFF, WE HAVE PUT OUT RESOURCES THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY RESPONDING TO THE RESOLUTIONS FROM OUR COUNCIL, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS THAT, UH, RESOLUTION THAT CAME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, TO SEE HOW WE CAN ALL BE COMING TOGETHER, UH, TO COME UP WITH COMMON STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M STILL SEEING IF OUR, OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER DYNAMIC RATE IS ON THE LINE. AND AS SOON AS SHE GETS MOVED OVER, WE'LL START THE BRIEFING FOR THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. WE CAN'T DO THE, UH, UH, UH, DARDY HEART CENTER BRIEFING ON FRIDAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PICK THAT UP, UH, TODAY. UH, SO WE'LL PROBABLY MANAGE YOUR I'M. I'M GOING TO DO IT BEFORE THE PERSON OUT. CAUSE I KNOW WE CAN MOVE THAT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPLETE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THE DARBY. DID I, SO LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES. IS THAT OKAY? THAT'S FINE. AND I'LL CERTAINLY HAVE STAFF AS, YOU KNOW, THE BACKUP, THE PRESENTATION ISN'T BACKUP. AND SO TO YOUR EARLIER SUGGESTION, IF THERE'S A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT BY ANY OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT MAYBE WE CAN GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IN A FASTER TIMEFRAME, SO WE CAN GET TO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AS SOON AND FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THAT. STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT PART. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND HERE WE HAVE OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER COUNCIL. SO AS A MANAGER, CRA INDICATED, UM, WE'LL BE DOING A BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON ON THE PLANNING PROCESS AROUND THE HEAL INITIATIVE, UM, WHICH COUNCIL APPROVED IN, UH, FEBRUARY, UH, AND, UM, REALLY A HIGHER LEVEL OVERVIEW AND EXPECT TO COME TO YOU WITH SOME ADDITIONAL SPECIFICITY OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS OR SO. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. UM, A BIT, THIS BRIEFING IS SPECIFIC TO THE HEAL INITIATIVE. I KNOW THAT TIME IS TIGHT TODAY, BUT IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND SOME OF THE MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AS YOU MANAGE YOUR CROP MENTIONED, I'M HAPPY TO, TO SPEAK TO THOSE AS WELL AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. SO GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE. SO VERY QUICKLY, I'M GOING TO RECAP THE RESOLUTION. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM DESIGN, THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED. AND THEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THE TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE BOTH IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL INITIATIVE. UH, COUNCIL HAS DIRECTED US TO DO THIS ON A FAIRLY SHORT TIMELINE, BUT THEN ALSO REALLY WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE, UM, SITE TO SITE. ONE OF THE OTHER PIECES OF THE RESOLUTION WAS A THAT WE COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OR AT LEAST INITIALLY SOME, UH, IDENTIFICATION OF STRATEGIES AROUND ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. UH, AS, UH, COUNCIL WAS VERY CLEAR IN ITS DIRECTION THAT THE INTENT HERE WAS NOT TO RE CRIMINALIZE, UM, UH, CAMPING IN THESE SITES, BUT RATHER TO HOUSE FOLKS, UH, BY TARGETING, UH, IN CANDIDATES. AND THEN WE'LL OF COURSE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT STEPS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO FUNDAMENTALLY THE, THE HEAL INITIATIVE, WHICH IS THE HOUSING FOCUS, ENCAMPMENT ASSISTANCE LINK, UH, DEDICATES SHELTER AND HOUSING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS, UM, AND THE RESOLUTION EXPLICITLY, UH, DIRECTED STAFF TO IDENTIFY $3 MILLION AT LEAST IN THE BUDGET FOR THESE PURPOSES. UM, AND I WILL SAY ALSO THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT IS THE PERMANENT HOUSING PIECE. WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED SHELTER, BUT THE ASSUMPTION THERE IS THAT THAT SHELTER IS A SPACE THAT FOLKS MIGHT NEED TO BE IN ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR FINAL PLACEMENT, FOR WHICH THERE WILL BE RESOURCES. A SELECTION CRITERIA WAS IDENTIFIED [02:00:01] FOR FOUR SITES, UH, GENERALLY LOCATED IN NORTH, UH, SOUTH CENTRAL EAST AND IN DOWNTOWN, UH, FOR US TO IDENTIFY THOSE SITES AROUND SOME PARTICULAR PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. THE RESOLUTION DIRECTED US TO, UH, FORMULATE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, UH, AROUND THE HILL INITIATIVE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MANY OF OUR PARTNERS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE HOST TEAM, INTEGRAL CARE ECHO, ET CETERA. THE REQUEST IS THAT THE FIRST, UH, FOUR SITES IN PHASE ONE BE COMPLETED IN TERMS OF HOUSING, HAVING BEEN OFFERED AND FOLKS RELOCATED TO HOUSING AND OR SHELTER WITHIN SIX MONTHS. AND THEN THE, THE INITIATIVE IS FRAMED, UH, AS AN EFFORT IN WHICH ONCE EVERYONE HAS BEEN OFFERED HOUSING, UH, AND SHELTER, THOSE SITES WOULD THEN BE DESIGNATED AS NON CAMPING AREAS IF THEY ARE NOT ALREADY. AND THAT WE WOULD SEEK TO IMPLEMENT SOME REAL INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, UH, AND, AND OTHER RELATIONAL, UH, STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE THERE. AND THEN FINALLY THE RESOLUTION DIRECTS THE WHOLE STRATEGY OFFICE, UH, TO COME BACK, UH, AT A LATER DATE TO SPEAK TO HOW WE MIGHT PRIORITIZE FUTURE SITES, UH, FUTURE ENCAMPMENTS, UH, FOR THIS TYPE OF INTERVENTION BASED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, AND ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT WE BRING ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES TO EXISTING ORDINANCE THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED, UH, IN ORDER TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE INITIATIVE. UH, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE SPEAK TO IT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PRESENTATION, I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE NOT, UH, BRINGING ANY RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO ORDINANCE AT THIS TIME. UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE ALLOWS US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE TOP OF MIND AS WE GO FORWARD, BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS ON, UM, UH, PART OF THIS BRIEFING TODAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THE HEAL INITIATIVE, AS WE'VE DESCRIBED IT AND FRAMED IT, I THINK REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY CONSISTS OF FOUR THINGS. THE FIRST IS THIS VERY TARGETED OUTREACH AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AT PARTICULAR ENCAMPMENTS, AND THAT WITHIN THE, UH, THE CENSUS OR THE RESIDENTS OF THAT ENCAMPMENT, THERE IS AN EXPLICIT AND CONCRETE OFFER OF HOUSING AND THAT SHOULD FOLKS NEED A PLACE TO BE UNTIL THAT PERMANENT HOUSING IS LOCATED, THAT THAT TEMPORARY SHELTER IS ALSO OFFERED AND IS DEDICATED TO THE PROGRAM. SO IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO, WE CERTAINLY, WE HAVE A DEDICATED SINGLE SITE SHELTER IS HOW WE THINK THAT THIS WILL PROCEED. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE OTHER TEMPORARY HOUSING RESOURCES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED ALONG THE WAY, IN TERMS OF PERMANENT HOUSING, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE PRIMARY INTERVENTION WILL BE RAPID REHOUSING, WHICH IS BOTH HOUSING, RENTAL, SUBSIDY AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT CAN BE ANYWHERE UP TO TWO YEARS. USUALLY WE TALK ABOUT RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS BEING EFFECTIVE WHEN WE AVERAGE AROUND A YEAR OF SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, UM, AS THEY THEN, UH, STABILIZE IN THEIR OWN HOUSING, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE DOING SOME DIVERSION, WHICH IS THAT SORT OF LIGHTER TOUCH SUPPORT THAT MIGHT REUNITE PEOPLE WITH, UH, WITH FAMILY OR WITH OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE WILL HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL FUNDAMENTALLY NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THAT MORE, UH, ROBUST AND LONG-TERM SUBSIDY AND SUPPORT. WE WILL SEEK AN EXPLICIT LINKAGE THERE. WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE BUDGET HERE. UM, PSH FUNDS AND, AND, BUT I WILL SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE, WE FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE. WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, TO CREATE THOSE LINKAGES TO PSH RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING ONLINE. AND THEN FINALLY, AS I SAID, REALLY, A FOCUS ON VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO CREATIVELY TO ESTABLISH SITES, UM, AS SPACES IN WHICH CAMPING IS NOT PERMITTED, BUT THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE WELCOMING [02:05:01] TO ALL AUSTINITES, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED AND PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A TOTAL OF ABOUT $4.3 MILLION. AND WHAT THAT COVERS FOR US, UH, UH, ARE PREDOMINANTLY THREE THINGS. ONE IS THE RAPID REHOUSING COST, UM, THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO THIS ESTIMATES ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE INTO A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM. WE WILL KNOW MORE, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CENSUS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SITE, UM, IT FUNDS TEMPORARY SHELTER, THE OPERATION OF A SHELTER. UM, THIS IS NOT A FULL YEAR OF OPERATION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AT PRESENT OUR THINKING IS THAT WHEN WE IDENTIFY WHAT OUR SHELTER STRATEGY WILL BE SPECIFICALLY, THE ASSUMPTION WILL BE THAT THAT SHELTER IS, IS FUNCTIONING PAST THAT DATE, BUT THAT IT WOULDN'T UNLESS WE CONTINUE EXPLICITLY TO DEDICATE IT TO THE HEAL INITIATIVE THAT IT MIGHT BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. AND THEN WE DO HAVE A LINE ITEM HERE FOR ENCAMPMENT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, WHICH GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE THOSE STREET OUTREACH TEAMS AVAILABLE TO GO AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, UM, AND DO THE EARLY WORK THAT IS NEEDED TO PREPARE FOLKS, UM, TO FRANKLY, TRUST US, UM, THAT WE ARE IN FACT, OFFERING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS REAL, UH, AND, AND THAT WOULD HELP THEM BE WILLING TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION, UH, INTO, UH, ANOTHER LOCATION, BE IT SHELTER OR PERMANENT HOUSING. SO THAT TOTAL 4.3 MILLION CONSISTS OF $3 MILLION OUT OF THE NEW SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ALLOCATION IN THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 AND $1.3 MILLION. THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET ORIGINALLY FOR THE OPERATING COST OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN BOSTON SHELTER, WHICH WE ENDED UP NOT PURSUING. SO ARE WE, WE ARE REPURPOSING THOSE FUNDS FOR SHELTER OPERATIONS IN THIS SCENARIO. WHAT IS NOT IN THIS BUDGET, I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO SAY AT THIS STAGE IS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FOLKS ARE MOVED INTO HOUSING. AND WE NOW WANT TO, UM, RE-ESTABLISH THE SITE AS OPEN TO ALL, UM, THAT CAN, COULD, YOU KNOW, BEAR COSTS. AND WE WON'T KNOW CLEARLY WHAT THOSE ARE, UH, UNTIL WE DIG INTO EACH SITE AND IT COULD VARY PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY FROM SITE TO SITE. THEN WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, BUT THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL NEED TO COME TO YOU LATER. UM, BOTH WITH MORE INFORMATION ON AND POTENTIALLY, UH, IDENTIFYING A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEXT LINE. SO THIS IS A SUMMARY VIEW OF WHAT WE THINK THE OVERALL INITIATIVE WILL LOOK LIKE. AND I WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY ANTICIPATE DOING ALL FOUR SITES SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE THINK THEY WILL BE STAGGERED, BUT THERE WILL BE OVERLAP PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE SHORT TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE THE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES, WHICH WE ARE STILL, UM, WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH IS JUST GETTING OUR CONTRACTS IN PLACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND SO OUR HOPE IS TO BRING THOSE TO COUNCIL NEXT MONTH, UH, AND GET MOVING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UH, ONCE THAT HAPPENS, WE SHOULD BE READY IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER TO INITIATE THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, UM, THE RELOCATION TO SHELTER. AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT HERE THAT THE TERMINOLOGY HERE AROUND RELOCATION TO SHELTER SHOULD REALLY BE ATTACHED TO THAT NEXT LINE, WHICH SPEAKS TO HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO THAT PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCE. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT THE RELOCATION TO SHELTER IS NOT THE END OF THAT PATH, BUT IT IS POTENTIALLY A STOP ALONG THE WAY TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE LAST TWO LINES THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE REPRESENT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FOLKS ARE REHOUSED THAT A, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT, UM, HOW THE SPACE MIGHT BE IMPROVED OR REACTIVATED, UM, AFTER THE ENCAMPMENT IS NO LONGER THERE, BUT ALSO THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE CONTINUING OUTREACH ON SITE. UM, SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS THERE AND THAT THE SITE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, UM, FOR CAMPING. SO THIS THEN IS [02:10:01] THAT PRETTY SHORT FIVE MONTH TIME SPAN FROM NOW THROUGH AUGUST. AND THE NEXT SLIDE, THEN IF WE CAN GO THERE GIVES A BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW WE WOULD ANTICIPATE MOVING THROUGH A PARTICULAR PROCESS FOR A SPECIFIC ENCAMPMENT. AND I THINK HERE THE BALANCE IS GIVING ENOUGH TIME FOR RELATIONSHIPS TO BE BUILT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE ENCAMPMENTS, UM, TO DO THAT PLANNING, UH, AND, AND DO FRANKLY, SOME OF THE LEGWORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MOVE, TO GET FOLKS MOVING TOWARD HOUSING, BUT ALSO COMPLETING THE JOB QUICKLY ENOUGH THAT FOLKS DON'T BEGIN TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SIGNALING SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EVER HAPPEN, RIGHT? THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY OFFER FOLKS THOSE RESOURCES IN THE MOMENT THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM. AND THAT THERE IS NOT A HUGE WAITING PERIOD. SO JUST IN TERMS OF THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES HERE, AND I WON'T GO LINE BY LINE, THERE WILL BE SOME INITIAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT AT SOME POINT WE WOULD DO A CENSUS OF THE SITE AND DEVELOP A BY-NAME LIST OF WHO IS IN A PARTICULAR ENCAMPMENT AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. AND I THINK THE REASONING BEHIND THAT BECOMES FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, UH, OBVIOUS THAT AT SOME POINT, THESE, THE CAMPSITES CAN BE FLUID, RIGHT? AND SO WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE'RE ENGAGING IN, IN THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THOSE RESOURCES FOR, UM, WITHIN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN WE WOULD SIGNAL AND DEVELOP A CONCRETE PLAN FOR WHEN FOLKS WOULD BE MOVING OFF OF THE SITE, EITHER INTO SHELTER, UM, OR INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, IF POSSIBLE, OR IN SOME CASES, FOLKS MAY OPT TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE. THEY MAY HAVE ANOTHER RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THEM. ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT, DEPENDING ON WHERE FOLKS ELECT TO GO IS THAT WE WOULD MAKE OUR VIOLET KEEP SAFE STORAGE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE BELONGINGS AT THEIR CAMPSITE THAT THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING TO SHELTER WITH THEM, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE FACILITIES ARE THERE. AND THEN THAT ONCE THEY ARE IN SHELTER, UM, THAT SORT OF IN WEEK FOUR, WE START THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE SITE EXPLICITLY, BUT ALSO WHAT IS NOT REPRESENTED ON THIS TIMELINE IS THE PROCESS THEN FROM, FOR MOVING PEOPLE QUICKLY FROM SHELTER INTO HOUSING, WE WOULD NOT ANTICIPATE THIS BEING ALONE SHELTER STAY BECAUSE WE ARE DEDICATING RESOURCES ON THE BACK END FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, LOCATE BOTH LOCATE AND, UH, HAVE RENTAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES IN PERMANENT HOUSING, UH, IN THE RENTAL MARKET. NEXT SLIDE, ONE OTHER REAL CHALLENGES. I THINK, UM, THAT THAT COUNCIL, UH, CHARGED US WITH WAS IDENTIFYING WAYS THAT WE COULD, UM, IN GOOD FAITH, REALLY PROMOTE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AND WORK WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND, UM, ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS TO CREATE, UM, AND MAINTAIN THESE SPACES WHERE THEY ARE PUBLIC SPACES AS A SHARED SPACE. AND AGAIN, I THINK I WANT TO STRESS ALSO, UM, THAT THIS IS SHARED SPACE AND IT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR USE BY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT NOT AS AN ENCAMPMENT, RIGHT. UM, NEIGHBORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I, FIRST AND FOREMOST HERE, WE SPOKE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL, UM, STREET OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS AND ENCAMPMENTS, BUT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, QUITE CONSISTENT AND COMMUNICATING IN A NUMBER OF WAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THE EFFORT, UH, BOTH TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT SIGNAGE, PRINTED MATERIALS, REPEATED VISITS, ET CETERA. ONCE A SITE, UH, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS, UH, UNAVAILABLE FOR CAMPING, THEN WE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF SITE IT IS AND THE DESIRED USE AND THINK ABOUT WHETHER THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THAT SPACE, UM, THAT MAKE IT WELCOMING FOR ALL NEIGHBORS. AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THE TWO OF THE SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PHASE ONE ARE A LIBRARY AND A PARK SPACE. AND SO OBVIOUSLY THE EXISTING USE AND INTENDED USE OF THOSE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT AND GIVE US SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE MIGHT LOOK AT. OF COURSE THERE IS LANDSCAPING, BUT WE HAVE LOOKED AT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE, UH, INSTALLED NEW SITE AMENITIES, UH, THAT SERVE [02:15:01] BOTH THE GENERAL HOUSED COMMUNITY AROUND THE SIDE, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO MAY STILL BE UNHOUSED, UM, WITH, WITH RESOURCES, LOOKING AT WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE SORT OF CAPITAL, UM, PLANT IS. THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY IN THE SHORT TERM, IS ACTIVATING THAT SPACE, UM, WITH ACTIVITIES THAT, THAT SIGNAL, UM, ITS USE GOING FORWARD. AND SO THAT, UM, CAN BE A VARIETY OF THINGS. WE CAN LOOK AT ONSITE SERVICES, SO POP UP RESOURCE RESOURCES FOR A VARIETY OF, UH, PURPOSES, WHETHER THAT IT CONSTITUTES, YOU KNOW, HEALTH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES, TEMPORARY ART INSTALLATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHICH WE HOPE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC BECOME A MORE VIABLE AND SAFER, AND THAT THOSE ALSO CAN SERVE TO REBUILD, UH, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND IDEALLY SERVE AS A SPACE IN WHICH, UH, BOTH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ARE ABLE TO INTERACT IN A POSITIVE WAY. AND THEN FINALLY WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES AND PARTICULAR SITES WHERE RESTRICTING ACCESS WILL BE NECESSARY NECESSARY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IN SOME CASES AS CLEANUP IS OCCURRING OR AS SITE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS ARE OCCURRING, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME TEMPORARY FENCING OF SOME SORT, BUT WE WILL HAVE OTHER SITES AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S IN PHASE ONE OR SUBSEQUENTLY WHERE WE IDENTIFY AN AREA THAT JUST TRULY IS NOT SAFE, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO BE, UH, OCCUPYING OR EVEN SPENDING TIME IN. AND SO IN THOSE SCENARIOS, WE'LL WORK WITH WHOEVER THE JURISDICTION OR DEPARTMENT IS THAT HAS CONTROL OVER THE PARTICULAR SITE. UM, TO LOOK AT THAT, IDEALLY AS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR LAST OPTIONS WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT, UM, EXPLORING AND, UM, AND IMPLEMENTING AS MANY OF THESE CREATIVE SORT OF MORE, UH, MORE WELCOMING APPROACHES AS WE CAN, AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, AS I SAID, UH, PREVIOUSLY I THINK THAT NEXT, UM, WE ARE TO, EXCUSE ME, WE ARE TO COME TO COUNCIL AT LEAST MONTHLY, UH, WITH A BRIEFING ON HEAL. AND THE RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO POTENTIALLY COMING TO, UM, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETINGS, WHICH WE WILL PLAN ON DOING, BUT IN MONTHS WHERE, UH, THERE IS NOT A COMMISSION MEETING, WE'RE HAPPY TO COME TO, UM, TO WORK SESSION, UH, AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR, UH, TO DO IT IN BOTH SPACES. AND THAT WE ARE HOPING, UM, ON MAY SIX TO BRING ONE OR MORE OF THE SERVICE CONTRACTS TO COUNCIL. SO WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'D BE SEEING THOSE RCAS FAIRLY SOON. AND IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE CONTINUING AND WE'LL BE FORMERLY CONVENING, THE, THE HEAL COLLABORATIVE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THAT COLLABORATIVE AS WE'VE BEEN PLANNING AND REALLY THEN DIGGING INTO THE FOUR INDIVIDUAL SITES AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE THERE, UM, FOR THE LONGER TERM PLAN. NEXT LINE WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION COLLEAGUES. THE MAYOR STEPPED UP THE DICE FOR A BIT. SO I'LL TAKE OVER, UM, FOR NOW ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN. YES. UH, THANK YOU. SO, UM, LET ME SAY FIRST, DIANA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, TO YOU AND, AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO'VE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT'S A VERY HELPFUL PRESENTATION FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. I HAVE TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT I'M, I'M VERY HOPEFUL, UH, THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL OFFER US A WAY TO, TO PEOPLE, TO HOUSING AND SERVICES. AND AS YOU EMPHASIZE TO THE PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING, UH, WITH THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO ACTUALLY TRULY, UM, TRULY, UM, HAVE HOUSING AND, UM, AND NOT TO CYCLE BACK ONTO THE STREETS. SO I REALLY, UM, APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT, UM, WE PURSE TIMELINE YOU PRESENTED, UM, UH, KEEPS US WITH THE, UM, THE GOAL [02:20:01] OF THE HILL INITIATIVE THAT WE PASSED. AND I THINK IS ON A TIMELINE, THEY WILL HELP US MAKE SURE THIS WORKS, UM, AND THAT WE LEARN FROM IT. SO CITY MANAGER, I WANT ONE TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY DO TO TAKE EVERY STEP THAT YOU CAN TO SUPPORT DIANA AND HER TEAM. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP MOVING QUICKLY, UH, TIME OF WHAT HAPPENS TO US IS TAKES TIME TO DO THIS CONTRACT OR TIME TO DO THAT CONTRACT JUST OUR REGULAR PROCESSES AS A CITY TAKE TIME. SO I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT HERE NOW PUBLICLY TO COMMIT TO IMPROVE THOSE PROCESSES. SO, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON THIS TIME, ABSOLUTELY COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE, AS YOU KNOW, THAT SENDS THE ATTENTION OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND SPECIFICALLY AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE LEVEL, WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT CAN BE IT'S ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND SO WE CAN CUT THROUGH ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE ARISING AS WE GET THE PENS MOVING FORWARD. AND AS DIANA COMES WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SO CONTINUE TO PROBLEM SOLVE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY, UH, THINGS ON OUR END, ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, I GET IN THE WAY OF PURSUING THE SUGGESTION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THIS IS TRULY A WE'RE TRULY IN, UM, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO KNOW THAT STEPS TAKE TIME, BUT WE NEED TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY WITH THE HEAL INITIATIVE. SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. AND WE CAN CUT TO THE CHASE AND GET MOVING VERY QUICKLY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THINGS LIKE CALM TIMELINES, KEEPING US SLOWING US DOWN. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTA RIB. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, REPORT. UH, THIS IS OVERDUE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST FEAR AT ALL WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN SAN DIEGO, WHERE A GUY INTOXICATED WENT OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO ACCOMPANY A HOMELESS CAMP CAMP, GROUND ENCAMPMENT THERE UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AND QUEUE UP SOME INCENTIVES TO PEOPLE, TO THE HOSPITAL. AND THEN ALSO WE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THE, THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, THAT ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH, UH, COULD BE SURVIVING AND GET A LITTLE BIT HEAT, YOU KNOW, AND ACCIDENTALLY SPREAD IT LIKE IT DID EARLIER. YOU KNOW, THE STORIES THAT WE HAD FOR THERE WERE THREE MAJOR FIRES AT, UH, 44 HOURS. SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT. BUT WHEN YOU ALSO DEALING WITH THERE AT US, AT OUR LIBRARY, THE NEIGHBORS AROUND THERE WANTS TO PARTICIPATE ON THE RESTORE AND RESTORING THE SITE. SO LET US KNOW WHEN, WHEN THAT HAPPENS SO THAT WE CAN ORGANIZE THE NEIGHBORS AND, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR RESOURCES ANY TIME TO WHEN YOU'RE READY TO WHEN, WHEN THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. AND, AND THERE'LL BE, UH, MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP OUT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I, UM, I BELIEVE I SKIMMED OVER IT A BIT, ONE OF THE EXPLICIT PIECES OF, OF OUR SORT OF PLAN FOR EACH SITE IS THAT WE WILL DO SOME NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT, UM, IN A SENSITIVE WAY, UM, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UH, BOTH HAVE NEIGHBORS HELP THEIR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AS THEY MOVE INTO HOUSING. AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THAT SITE, UM, AFTER IT HAS BEEN TRANSITIONED TO A PUBLIC SPACE THAT IS NO LONGER UTILIZED FOR CAMPING. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. UM, IF NOBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA FOR MENTIONING THAT, AND ALSO DIANA GRAY. I KNOW THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT OUR NEIGHBORS CARE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND, UM, THIS KIND OF INITIATIVE OFFERS SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO, TO, FOR NEIGHBORS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR HOUSING. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS, AS, UM, UH, NEIGHBORS, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER A WELCOME KITS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE WITH THEM TO THEIR, TO THEIR NEW HOUSE. UH, IT'LL VARY OF COURSE BY LOCATION, BUT, UH, BUT I KNOW THAT, UH, THE NEIGHBORS IN, IN, UH, IN DISTRICT FIVE, UH, AND NEIGHBORS AROUND THE CONS, THE AREAS THAT WE'RE THINKING OF FOR THEORY OR WE'RE THINKING OF FOR DISTRICT FIVE, ARE INTERESTED IN, IN HELPING PEOPLE AND THIS, THIS PROVIDES A ROUTE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, SAY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIN. [02:25:01] YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THIS. UM, AND I APPRECIATE IT TOO. UM, MS. GRAY, THE, THE WORK AND THE ENERGY THAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS AND THIS, UM, JUST WANT TO CONVEY IT TO, TO THE MANAGER, THE SPEED AT WHICH I HOPE IT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN. AND SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT CLEAR WHERE YOU NEED RESOURCES AND WHAT OF RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED. I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW KIND OF HOW THIS CONNECTS TO SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE'VE GOTTEN BACK FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ALSO IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL OF THE, OF THE, UM, AREA. UH, THERE ARE, AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, UM, AND CAMP MINTS ON PARKLAND, WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED UNDER THE ORDINANCE. AND SO IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THEY'VE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE IN NATIVE RESOURCES, MORE RESOURCES TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN ENCAMPMENTS, IN PARKLAND, AND ESPECIALLY IN CONNECTING THEM TO HOUSING RESOURCES. AND SO I'M INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING MAYBE NOT RIGHT THIS SECOND, BUT HOW, UM, HOW THE COLLABORATIVE, HOW THE HEAL COLLABORATIVE IS, IS IT, ARE THEY ON TWO PARALLEL PATHS, UM, OR IS PART KIND OF PART OF THIS, THIS OVERALL CONVERSATION? I'M HOPEFUL THAT, UM, ONE OF THE ENCAMPMENTS AND I THINK IT WAS SPECIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION IS ON PARKLAND. SO I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR CONVERSATION WITH, WITH, UM, AS A CITY ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO BE SURE THAT, THAT YOU GET, UM, EVERYTHING YOU NEED, MS. GRAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL JUST QUICKLY TWO THINGS. ONE, I THINK, SPECIFIC TO THIS PROCESS, UM, AND THE HEAL COLLABORATIVE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW FOR PHASE ONE. UH, WE, I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME THINKING TO DO PRECISELY ABOUT WHAT THE INTERACTION FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE IS BETWEEN SORT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE AND THE, THE SITE SIDE, UH, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE MANY ENTITIES, RIGHT. THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE JURISDICTIONAL CONTROL, IF YOU WILL, OVER A PARTICULAR SITE HAVING SAID THAT, UM, WE'LL, THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE INVOLVEMENT. AND FOR PART, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE SITES ON PARKS LAND, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT, UM, BEING VERY ROBUST PARTICIPATION DIRECTOR MCNEELY HAS BEEN, I MEAN, I THINK VERY ANXIOUS, UM, TO WORK WITH US. AND, AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WE'RE ALSO HAVING IN GENERAL ABOUT PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT. UH, WE HOPE THAT WE GET TO A POINT WHERE EVERY ENCAMPMENT WE HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO DEDICATE HOUSING RESOURCES TO IT, BUT WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BETTER, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS RIGHT NOW, A MORE FOCUSED PEEL INITIATIVE. SO THAT'S SORT OF THE, THE NARROW LOOK, BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF TWO BROAD THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, ARE, UM, ARE PENDING. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I'M ANXIOUS TO HAVE CONCRETE OUTCOMES FROM THE SUMMIT FOR YOU GUYS. SO I FEEL LIKE WE'D BEEN PREVIEWING IT FOR AWHILE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, HAVE SOME OVERARCHING GOALS FOR COMING OUT OF THE SUMMIT. WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION AS A COMMUNITY. UM, I BELIEVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WE'LL BE PROVIDING A MEMO NEXT MONDAY AROUND POTENTIAL PRIORITIES SPECIFIC USES OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. AND I'M VERY COGNIZANT AS WE GO THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES, THAT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT RESOURCING THE SOCIAL SERVICE SIDE OF IT, BUT THAT THE, OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT MANAGE THESE PUBLIC SPACES RIGHT, HAVE, UM, HAVE REALLY BEEN, BEEN WORKING HARD WITH SOMETIMES NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO THAT. SO THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT I, YOU KNOW, I AM VERY OPEN TO SUPER THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT, UM, OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHICH MEETS TOMORROW IS TAKING ON, UH, HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING AS ONE OF ITS PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS THIS YEAR. AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION TOMORROW AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER CITY INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING ON AS WELL, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CHECKING IN REGULARLY ABOUT PROGRESS ON THOSE FRONTS. THANK YOU BOTH. I APPRECIATE IT. DOES IT. OH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DIANA, AND YOUR TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING TO WORK ON THIS, TO GET THE BALL ROLLING DOWN THE STREET A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SOLUTION FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE PLAN YOU LAID OUT TODAY. BECAUSE I THINK THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A WELL ARTICULATED PLAN TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND I THINK THAT [02:30:01] THIS REALLY LAYS THINGS OUT AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE. AND FOR THAT I'M REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGED. AND I HOPE THAT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON COUNCIL WHO WORKS SUPER HARD EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THINGS DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL THING. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A FEW MYSELF, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY ELSE. OKAY. SO I'M ON ACTUALLY PULLED UP THE PRESENTATION. DO WHICH SLIDE IS, UM, ON THE SLIDE. I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT ON SLIDE NUMBER EIGHT. UM, IT TALKS ABOUT PROMOTING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, UM, AND, AND I'M, AND I GET THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES. I GET THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, UM, COMPONENT REACTIVATING THE SPACE. UM, IT'S THE, IT'S WHEN I GET TO RESTRICTED ACCESS THAT I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE RESTRICTED ACCESS LOOK LIKE? AND THEN JUST GENERALLY SPEAK IN LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS CALL AND ASK ABOUT, UM, PUBLIC SPACES BEING ENCUMBERED, UM, AND RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THEIR, IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION FOR HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT WHAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL AND NOT BEING ENFORCED. IN WHICH CASE I JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR THEM ABOUT, UM, IF, IF ENFORCEMENT IS NOT HAPPENING CURRENTLY, THEN WHAT PROVISIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE HEAL INITIATIVE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT ENFORCEMENT WILL HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE, AND THEN NUMBER TWO, JUST SOME GENERAL IDEAS ABOUT WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE. I THINK YOU'RE MUTED. IT SOUNDS PASSIONATE THOUGH, OR IT LOOKS BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT I SAID WAS REALLY SMART. UM, THAT, YEAH. SO IN TERMS OF RESTRICTED ACCESS, I MEAN, I THINK FROM THE, THE MOST SORT OF SIMPLE INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS THAT THERE COULD BE FENCING, RIGHT? UM, IN CERTAIN SCENARIOS WHERE WE REALLY DETERMINED IT'S NOT SAFE, AND ONE WOULD HOPE THAT IN CASES WHERE THAT IS DEEMED NECESSARY, UM, WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE THAT SOMETHING THAT FITS IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT. AND, AND IS NOT, UM, I THINK IS CONDUCIVE TO THE FEELING, UM, BUT STILL BEING A PUBLIC SPACE. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, IS USED AROUND THAT AND NOT JUST A BIG CHAIN LINK FENCE, SO THAT I THINK IS THE PRIMARY EXPRESSION OF THAT. BUT I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO DO THAT. UH, I AM NOT A DESIGNER, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SCENARIOS IN WHICH WE DO NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM ENTERING A PARTICULAR SPACE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE ON YOU. SO WHEN, WHICH CASE, I GUESS THE EXTENSION OF MY QUESTION THERE WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO GET SOME VISUAL OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO IF THERE'S SOME COMPARABLE INITIATIVE THAT HAS THE RESTRICTED ACCESS IN PLAY, I MEAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT PHYSICALLY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW, HOW IT DOES. I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE BARRIERS LOOK LIKE AS YOU INTEGRATE THEM INTO COMMUNITIES. UM, AND THEN I ALSO, UH, YOU DIDN'T SAY IT, AND SO I'M, I'M REASSURED, BUT I'M ALSO NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ARCHITECTURE. THAT'S UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT, AGGRESSIVE ARCHITECTURE, UM, LET'S POKEY OR SPIKY, OR, YOU KNOW, MAKE CERTAIN THAT, THAT WASN'T AND THE SUITE OF OPTIONS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, NO COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL WOULD, AGAIN, UH, BEFORE THE SPACE TO FEEL LIKE AN ASSET FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT SIGNALING SORT OF REJECTION OR MARGINALIZATION OF FOLKS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE SPACE AT ALL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT'S WHERE I CAN ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THE INTENT. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL PARTS OF THE PUBLIC SPACES IN OUR CITY. AND SO I, THAT, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, AT THE TOP OF MIND FOR ME, IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE DON'T WANT TO OFFER FAVOR TO ANY, UM, SINGLE POPULATION OF FOLKS. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL PARTS OF TALENT. UM, IN WHICH CASE I THINK THE ONLY OTHER, [02:35:01] UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. OKAY. SO THE RESOLUTION ITSELF EXPLICITLY DIRECTED US TO COME FORWARD WITH, UM, NON CITATION NON-PUNITIVE, UM, STRATEGIES FOR, UM, FOR ENCOURAGING COMPLIANCE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. AND SO THIS QUESTION OF ENFORCEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, I THINK A VERY ACTIVE CONVERSATION IN OUR COMMUNITY OVERALL, RIGHT? NOT LIMITED TO THE HEAL INITIATIVE, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, WE HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AS HSD TO MAXIMIZE OUR UTILIZATION, UM, AND RECOMMENDATION OF STRATEGIES THAT CAN MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT PER SE. HAVING SAID THAT ENFORCEMENT IS NOT WITHIN THE DIVISIONS, UH, FUNCTION, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A TOUGH LINE THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO, UM, TO WORK THROUGH. BUT IN TERMS OF OUR PLANNING AROUND THIS SORT OF WHERE WE GO IS HERE ARE THE WAYS THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT. AND I THINK THAT THE, THE COMMUNICATION WE HAD FROM COUNCIL WAS, AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS SPEAK. SO IF I MISS MISS, I WANT TO MAKE A MISSTATEMENT HERE WAS THAT THE INTENT WAS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE THESE, YOU KNOW, CAMPING IN THESE SPACES, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY IN THOSE PLACES WHERE IT IS ALREADY, UM, IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN PARK LANDS, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS THIS MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE, HOW WE RESPOND TO WHAT IS IN OUR ORDINANCE NOW, PARTICULARLY IN A SCENARIO IN WHICH AGAIN, WE ARE EMERGING FROM THE WORST WE HOPE OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE FOR THE LAST YEAR BEEN FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES AROUND. WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T BREAK UP CAMPSITES JUST TO MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER CAMPING SITE, RIGHT. BECAUSE THE CDC REC, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THAT COULD CREATE SOME DANGER OF VIRUS TRANSMISSION. UM, SO YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE QUITE THE ANSWER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT I THINK WE ARE FOCUSED IN THIS INITIATIVE VERY, VERY CLEARLY, UM, AS FOR THE RESOLUTION ON IDENTIFYING, UM, SOME STRATEGIES THAT WE WILL IMPLEMENT, UM, TO IDEALLY, UM, GIVE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE ON THESE SITES. AND THEN I EXPECT THAT YOU, AS A COUNCIL WILL BE HAVING, YOU KNOW, OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT IN DIFFERENT WAYS AS YOU LOOK AT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE. AND, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY AS THE, AS THE PANDEMIC ONE WOULD HOPE, UH, DIMINISHES. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK YOU ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED, SO IT DOESN'T QUITE GET TO THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR. AND IN LARGE PART, THAT ANSWER, THAT I'M LOOKING FOR ONE IT'S FOR ME, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY CONVEY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING AS A BODY, TO MY TOWER CONSTITUENTS. AND SO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I'M GETTING YOUR RESPONSE DOESN'T OFFER ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE AN ACCURATE AND THOROUGH RESPONSE. UH, THE DISTRICT ONE CONSTITUENTS THAT I'M HEARING FROM ABOUT THE HEAL INITIATIVE THAT ARE ASKING FOR ME TO ELABORATE. AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES? AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I RECEIVE OFTEN IS, YOU KNOW, COPS DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT PEOPLE, UM, CAMPING IN PLACES WHERE IT'S PROHIBITED. NOW, WHAT DIFFERENCE IS THIS GONNA MAKE? YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE BRINGING FORWARD, THE HEAL INITIATIVE AND EXECUTING AND PD WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENFORCING, YOU KNOW, PROHIBITIONS ON CERTAIN SPACES BEING OCCUPIED, IN WHICH CASE THAT'S THE, THAT'S REALLY A LOT OF WHAT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOONER THAN LATER. RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. SURE. AND SO I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, TO CHECK ON HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER IN THIS, UM, EVEN BEFORE, UH, BEING NAMED AS INTERIM CHIEF. AND I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PART OF PERHAPS MY HESITATION THERE IS, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATELY FOR ME TO ANSWER ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND SO PERHAPS WE CAN, UM, WORK TOGETHER AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS EITHER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT IS OFFLINE OR IN ANOTHER BRIEFING AT SOME POINT, THAT'D BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [02:40:08] I'M SORRY. I JUST ASSUMED YOU WERE, YOU WERE BACK AS THE CHAIR, MARY EITHER. UM, BUT I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND THEN, UM, MAYOR ADLER. THANKS. UM, AND I, AND I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS, UM, REMEMBERING CORRECTLY. UM, DIANA, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS NO ENFORCEMENT OR ANYTHING WAS BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WITH THE PANDEMIC, AND WE WERE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, RECOMMENDATIONS, OR GUIDANCE, NOT TO NOT TO DISRUPT, RIGHT. AND THAT GIVES US THE TIME THAT WE NEEDED IN ORDER TO, TO IDENTIFY WHERE OTHER PLACES SAFE PLACES WITH RESOURCES WOULD BE FOR THESE FOLKS. AND I THINK THIS IS, AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN, UM, TELLING MY CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY ASKED ME, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE, UM, PEOPLE CAMPING WHEN YOU GUYS ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FIND THEM HOUSING AND RESOURCES. AND I REMIND THEM THAT BEING IN THE PANDEMIC HAS LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO RELOCATE AND FIND GOOD PLACES FOR FOLKS. SO, UM, I KNOW WE'RE ALL REALLY HELPFUL THAT, UM, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT ALL OF THAT WILL CHANGE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES AND SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE. AND, UH, THAT'S CERTAINLY MY FERVENT HOPE. AND I THINK THE FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AND PROBABLY ALL AROUND THE CITY SHARE IN THAT, IN THAT CONCERN. THANKS, MARILYN. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE THE MOMENTS THAT I HAD TO STEP OFF THE DESK AND MISSED. UM, BUT, UH, UM, I'M STILL REAL PROUD THAT THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AT THE CITY AND THE PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL. UH, I THINK IT'S THE, THE ISSUE THAT I HEAR THE MOST ABOUT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE CITY AND, AND PROUD TO BE PART OF A CITY WHERE I THINK MOST PEOPLE, UM, UM, RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T SOLVE THE CHALLENGE OF HOMELESSNESS BY, BY MOVING PEOPLE AROUND. AND IF WE MOVE THEM FROM ONE PLACE WITHOUT ACTUALLY GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO BE IT'S HEALTHIER AND SAFER, THEN WE HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING. WE JUST FOLLOW THEM AROUND, LIKE AROUND THE CITY AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT AND PROUD TO BE IN A CITY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEND PEOPLE BACK TO THE WOODS, INTO THE STREAMS WHERE IT'S, WHERE IT'S EVEN LESS SAFE THAN, THAN WHERE THEY ARE NOW. AND I CAN ONLY, YOU KNOW, THANK GOD THAT THE FIRES THAT WE SAW WERE HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS SOMEWHERE, UH, UH, OR IN THE AREA WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF TINDER. AND, AND THEN WITH THE ASSOCIATED CHALLENGES THAT WOULD HAVE ARISEN, UH, HAD THOSE, UH, FIRES OCCURRED IN THAT KIND OF PLACE. BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT IT'S IMPATIENT FOR US TO, TO HELP PEOPLE GET HOUSED AND MOVE TO A BETTER, SAFER PLACE THAN THE TENTS THAT THEY, THAT THEY SEE. UH, AND, AND WE DO HAVE ORDINANCES THAT ALREADY SUGGEST WHERE ARE HEALTHIER, SAFER PLACES TO BE THAN NOT AND WAYS FOR US TO, TO BETTER MANAGE SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. UH, OBVIOUSLY COVID HAS PUT US BACK A YEAR BECAUSE THE CDC HAS TOLD US NOT TO MOVE PEOPLE. UM, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY HAS, HAS SEEN, UH, UH, SEEN THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S A VALID THING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPECT MORE OF US, UH, IN A DIFFERENT CHOICE THAN JUST SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WOODS AND THE STREAMS, BUT ALSO GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF TENTS AND OUT FROM UNDER OUR BRIDGES. UH, AND, AND I'M ENCOURAGED WITH, UH, THE HILL RESOLUTION THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND OUR SPONSORS FOR OUR, FOR, FOR, FOR, UH, THIS PERSON DOES FORWARD. AND IT'S CONSISTENT WITH, UH, ACTION THAT THE COUNCILS, I THINK BEEN TRYING TO TAKE IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB. UH, I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE DIANA WITH YOU AND, AND THE CHAMBER IN DAA AND ECHO AND, UH, AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, AND HOME'S NOT HANDCUFFED, BUT EVERYBODY COMES BACK WITH, AT THE END OF THE, AS THE SUMMIT, I THINK THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO KNOW TWO THINGS. HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MEET THIS CHALLENGE? WHAT'S THAT WHAT'S THAT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE? HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE, WHAT ARE THE BENCHMARKS ALONG THE WAY TO SEE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS? UH, AND WHAT DOES IT COST? UH, AND, AND, AND, AND MY SENSE IS FROM LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, THE OTHER NUMBERS WE'VE HEARD IS A BIG NUMBER. IF WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY MEET THIS CHALLENGE OVER A MULTI-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. SO WE CAN [02:45:01] START SEEING IF WE CAN MARSHAL TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, A BIGGER CHALLENGE. THIS IS NOT A CITY CHALLENGE. UH, HAS A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SAT IN THE LAST MEETING WE WERE IN, THIS IS BIGGER THAN THE CITY IS BIGGER THAN THE COUNTY. IT'S BIGGER THAN ANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS EVERYBODY. IT IS PHILANTHROPY. IT'S THE VOLUNTEER GROUPS. IT'S EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKING ON THIS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY WORKING TOGETHER, BUT WE NEED THAT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE. WE NEED THE BENCHMARKS, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS. AND THEN WE NEED A SHORTER TERM PLAN THAT, THAT ACTUALLY HAS US, UM, UH, WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN ENCAMPMENTS AND GETTING THEM INTO HOMES IN A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC COULD SEE AND THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE SO THAT IT BUILDS FAITH. AND SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO, UH, SO THEY CAN SEE THE PROGRESS THAT THE COMMUNITY MAKES GENERALLY IN MEETING THIS CHALLENGE. UH, AND I THINK WE'RE AT A REALLY UNIQUE PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE THE RESOLVE THAT COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT, THAT UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN BEFORE, WE HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT SEEM TO BE COMING TO BEAR THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US IN WAYS NOT BEFORE. UM, WE HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER ON A HOLISTIC PLAN, UH, RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE REALITIES INVOLVED. I THINK THIS IS A PART OF THAT AND AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. AND I, I APPRECIATE DIANA THE WORK THAT YOU AND THE STAFF ARE DOING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SAYING, UH, WHAT COMES UP FOR US OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? I WASN'T SURE IF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, DID SHE HAVE HER HAND UP FIRST? I DIDN'T SEE, BUT I'M, BUT I'M HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, COLLEAGUES. UM, SO I APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION AND THE, AND THE WORK HERE AND, AND, UM, I, I LIKE THIS DIRECTION OF REALLY MOVING PEOPLE INTO HOUSING AND BEING TARGETED, UM, IN WAYS THAT WE, WE CAN SEE MOVEMENT. UM, I WANTED TO ASK DIANA, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO, UM, THE TIMELINE BEYOND SORT OF IMPLEMENTING THESE FOUR SITES AND WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, UM, FOR WHEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OTHER, UM, AREAS. SO, UM, I THINK THAT IT WORKS WELL THAT THIS IS W WINDS US UP ABOUT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, RIGHT? WE HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED DURING ESSENTIALLY THIS FISCAL YEAR WHO WOULD STAY HOUSED. IT WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE, UM, PROVIDED RESOURCES, BUT OF COURSE WE'LL NEED TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IF WE'RE GOING TO DO OTHER ENCAMPMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE GOOD OPTIONS ON THE TABLE FOR DOING THAT. UM, SO, SO I THINK THAT THAT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE. WE WOULD SIMPLY, I THINK, WANT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR SCALE WAS, RIGHT, AND WHAT THAT MEANT IN TERMS OF THE PARTNERS WE NEEDED TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND SORT OF THAT IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE. BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, MENTIONED TO LEARN THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND I'M SURE WE WILL ABOUT, UH, WHAT WE ARE DOING WELL, THAT WORKS AND WHAT WE NEED TO, UH, HAVE A COURSE CORRECTION ON IN SOME CASES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, UM, IT IS NOT, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A HUGE LIFT TO ME TO SCALE THE PR THE, THE, THE INITIATIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN AN ITERATIVE FASHION, DEPENDING ON HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES WE HAVE AND WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AROUND HOW MANY FOLKS WE, WE ARE REHOUSING AND CHILDREN. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO JUST, UM, ADD WAS TO SECOND, SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, AND PERHAPS OTHERS WHO HAVE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS. UM, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN A LOT OF WAYS, UM, BY THE, BY, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT AND, AND JUST REALLY, WE NEED, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGEMENT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE STRAINS AND HELP PROVIDE THE RESOURCES. SO, UM, THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, CAN DO ITS JOB WITH, UM, STAFF AND RESOURCES THAT IT'S NEED THAT ARE DEDICATED TO HOMELESS IF THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT WE'RE DIVERTING OTHER RESOURCES WITHOUT, UM, BEING MINDFUL OF HOW WE'RE DOING THAT. AND WE'RE STRETCHING [02:50:01] PEOPLE REALLY THIN WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOBS THAT WE'RE ASKING OF THEM. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR. I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY. YES. SO, UM, SO TWO THINGS FIRST TO, UM, TO, UH, BESIDES WHAT THE MAYOR HAD SAID, AND OTHERS HAD SAID TOO, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT, DIANA. UH, WE, WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE SUMMIT AND ALSO WITH THE, UM, THE RESCUE PLAN, UM, AT LEAST IN PART, UM, A COMBINATION OF, OF WHAT COMES OUT OF THE SUMMIT COMBINED WITH, UH, COMBINED DOLLARS WITH THE RESCUE PLAN WITH THE COUNTY TO, TO TAKE THE HEALING TIP SCALE. UM, THE HEAL INITIATIVE OF COURSE, IS A PIECE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS, IT COULD, IT COULD PROVE TO BE, UM, A, UM, A VERY EFFECTIVE APPROACH FOR HELPING PEOPLE GET HOUSING, UM, UH, ENCAMPMENT BY ENCAMPMENT. AND SO HAVING DOLLARS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE RESCUE PLAN, UM, COMBINED WITH THE KINDS OF TIMELINE AND RESOURCES THAT MAY COME OUT OF THE SUMMIT, I THINK GIVES US THE POTENTIAL TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PENCE POTENTIAL TO REALLY TAKE THIS APPROACH TO SCALE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS, UM, HE'S BEEN WORKING HARD, HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE SUMMIT, AND ALSO FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT HE BROUGHT, UH, REGARDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THIS IDEA OF REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WORKING BIG IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY WITH THOSE FUNDS. SO, SO THERE'S POTENTIAL THERE. UM, AND AS YOU SAID, DIANA, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE. I W I CAN SEE AS WELL, AS YOU SAID, I CAN SEE A PATH FOR A PHASE TWO, THREE, AND BEYOND ON, ON THE HEAL INITIATIVE. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, AND THANK YOU FOR IS THE WORK THAT YOU DID. IT'S IN BAG IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE WITH THE HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE SURVEY THAT YOU DID WITH HIM AND THE CONVERSATION YOU DID WITH THEM ABOUT THE HEAL INITIATIVE, I FOUND IT PARTICULARLY INTERESTING AND HOPEFUL, I GUESS, UH, THE ADVICE THAT THEY GAVE ON WHAT WOULD MAKE SOMEONE COMFORTABLE ACCEPTING HOUSING OR SHELTER. CAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S ON THE STREETS TO HAVE THE TRUST, UH, TO, TO TAKE THAT STEP TOWARDS HOUSING. BUT I THOUGHT THAT THAT THE THINGS THAT THEY, THAT THEY SAID IN THE SURVEY THAT YOU TOOK, PARTICULARLY THE LAST TWO ITEMS WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS OFFERING SOMETHING OF VALUE THAT PUTS A PERSON THAT HELPS A PERSON SEE THAT THEY'RE ON A PATH FOR THE FUTURE AND IT GIVES THEM HOPE. AND SO TO ME, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT HERE IS GIVING PEOPLE HOPE, GIVING THEM A REAL PATH TO HOUSING IN, IN A, IN A QUICK WAY, IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN TRUST. SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR, UH, REACHING OUT TO THE HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL. I THINK THAT THEY ARE IN A VERY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THEY KNOW THIS. AND SO I'M HEARING THESE WORDS FROM THEM, I THINK IS, IS VERY IMPACTFUL. YES, WE, WE VALUE THEIR, THEIR INPUT IMMENSELY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER TBA, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY. I CAN'T TELL IF COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS MOVING. OH, SHE IS COUNCIL MEMBER TABLEAU, AND THEN COUNCIL WILL BE KELLY. WELL, THANKS. SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I THINK ARE ALSO GOING TO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER CARD NEEDS RESOURCES AND, AND WHAT OUR PLAN IS. AND PERHAPS, UM, MS. GRAY, YOU CAN HELP US WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED, IT'S COME UP AMONG SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE ENCAMPMENTS ON AREAS WHERE WE HAVE, UM, AS A COUNCIL, AGREED, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ENCAMPMENTS. AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE A COUNCIL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE OUR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROACHES. UM, AFTER HEAL, WE HAVE HEAL MOVING FORWARD, CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING RESOURCES AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AND SOME OF THOSE AREAS, WHICH I'VE NOW GROWN TO BE IN CABINETS. UM, BUT IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, ALONG THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, THAT WAS, THAT IS A RELATIVELY RECENT ENCAMPMENT. AND SO I, I'M INTERESTED IN, IN HEARING RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT TODAY, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE AND HUMANE AND PERSON-CENTERED RESPONSE. WHEN WE SEE INDIVIDUALS BEGINNING TO CAMP IN A LOCATION THAT IS, UH, [02:55:01] WHERE IT IS NOT PERMITTED. AND I DO AGREE THAT PART OF THIS, UM, IS, IS ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WELL OUT OF THEIR WHEELHOUSE TO BE WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TRYING TO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES. AND SO A MANAGER, I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND, AND I, UM, I'M STILL A BIT UNCERTAIN ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, KIND OF THE, UH, THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO, INTO, UM, HOW THE CDC GUIDANCE APPLIED TO NEW ENCAMPMENTS. BUT I DO THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM, FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF ABOUT MPR AND POTENTIALLY IF IT'S NECESSARY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION I'M ON OUR COUNCIL. THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT. COUNCILMEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU. UM, AND AGAIN, I, I WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS IS THE MOST SAFE AND COMPASSIONATE WAY TO REALLY APPROACH THE SITUATION WITH OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS. I DID WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT CHANGE OR HOW, IF WE'VE CONSIDERED HOW THIS MIGHT CHANGE PENDING THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IN MAY, UM, WITH PROPOSITION B COMING UP, OR IF WE WOULD CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THIS AS A SOLUTION, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME. IF YOU COULD MAYBE EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT, I'VE BEEN GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT IT FROM CONSTITUENTS. SO I WANT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE AS A, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, I WON'T SPEAK TO, UH, RIGHT THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION. HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE, UM, THE CORE WORK OF HEAL, WHICH IS OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT, HOUSING GOES FORWARD, RIGHT? UM, IN MY MIND, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE HORIZON THAT WOULD SUGGEST A BARRIER TO US DOING OUTREACH AND, AND MOVING FOLKS, UH, INTO, INTO HOUSING OR SHELTER. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WILL SAY IS IN GENERAL, THAT I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT FIRST PHASE FOR US, BUT THEN WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER, UM, CHALLENGE, RIGHT? THAT WE INTEND TO TACKLE LONG-TERM AND, UM, WE WILL RESPOND AND ARE HAPPY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL IN WHATEVER LARGER POLICY ENVIRONMENT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S LIKE THE BIGGER MESSAGE HERE IS THAT HEEL IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THAT'S ON A BALLOT BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO, WE ARE HELPING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS GET ACCESS TO HOUSING, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT'S NEEDED TO HELP SOLVE THE ISSUE AT HAND, AND THEN LIFTING THEM OUT OF THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT OUT OF THEIR SITUATION, GIVING THEM A HAND UP. AND SO I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE HEALING INITIATIVE AND IT STARTS NOW, WHICH IS WHAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT'S ON CANCEL. MY BRAIN WAS SUSTAINED. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, I WANTED TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO. UM, I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER IN ANOTHER MEETING AND JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REPEAT WHAT I HAD SAID, BUT, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CAMPING IN THE PARK SPACES HAS NEVER BEEN ALLOWED AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT ENFORCEMENT, UM, KNOWING THE PANDEMIC IS A DIFFICULT TIME. I STILL AM FEARFUL THAT THERE COULD BE INADVERTENT, UM, SPREADING OF THE VIRUS, BUT BETWEEN DIFFERENT POPULATIONS, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE HOUSED OR NOT, AND WOULD HATE FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL TO BE BRINGING, YOU KNOW, A VIRUS INTO THAT COMMUNITY. AND LIKEWISE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY ALL OF THE TOOLS TO USE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEMSELVES HEALTHY, ARE SPREADING IT AMONG EACH OTHER. AND SO I KNOW IT'S A REALLY DELICATE BALANCE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE. BUT I DO THINK THAT UPHOLDING THE RULE THAT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED, WHICH IS NOT CAMPING IN DESIGNATED PARK SPACES IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THAT GOING FORWARD. IS THAT ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE, IF YOU'RE OPEN TO IT MAY RATHER, I'M HAPPY TO HAND YOU BACK THE GAVEL. I'LL TAKE IT PO DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING JUST AS A FAST CUT COMMENT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE VACCINE COMING OUT AND I BELIEVE BY SUMMERTIME THAT A LOT OF THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO OPEN UP AND THERE COULD BE A LOT MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I, I FEEL LIKE IF WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS, PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE [03:00:01] A PLACE TO STAY KNOW, W WE'D BE ABLE TO HELP THEM A LOT MORE SOONER KIDNEY AND JOB JOBS OPPORTUNITY ABOUT THEIR WORK. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITY. SO I BE ABLE TO GET THEM UP BY GARMENTS AND HAVE THEM MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIFE WHERE IT BECOMES SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A DOOM DOOM, DOOM SITUATION. YEAH. YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST CONCERN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WOODS, ESPECIALLY THERE AT WEST AUSTIN WHERE POTENTIAL FIRE PADS, WHERE IT'S, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE CEDARS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES IN A BAD SITUATION. SO, UH, BUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HIM THERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US AND BEING ABLE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A JOB, UH, A LOT OF JOBS OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF NEEDS FOR WORKERS. SO I THINK THIS TO COME OUT OF A BIG CITY HAS A GOOD POINT. I'M SURE WE'LL TALK TO ABOUT THIS LATER. I WAS TALKING TO, UH, UH, TARBORO WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF, UH, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. UH, AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATIVE THAT, UH, WE, AS A COUNCIL HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO ALONG WITH THE COUNTY, GETTING PEOPLE TO THOSE UNSKILLED JOBS WITH THAT KIND OF RAPID TRAINING. AND I ASKED HER IF THEY, UH, HAD PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAM THAT SELF-IDENTIFY AS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SHE SAID, YES. I ASKED HER WHAT THE SUCCESS WAS OF ACTUALLY TAKING THAT COHORT OF PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM INTO A JOB THAT PAID OLYMPIC RANCH. AND SHE SAID IT WAS 65% SUCCESS. UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO FIND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WE'RE DEALING WITH INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT. BUT TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S REMEMBER AT THE REIA JOBS, I THINK A BIG, A BIG PART OF THAT. AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE CAN BE HAVING WITH THE COUNTY CONCERNS ARE JOINT ALLOTMENT OF THE FEDERAL BOX. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM? YES. COUNCILOR ELLIS. I'M REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP MAYOR. UM, AND I'D BE REMISS NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD WORK OF THE WORKFORCE FIRST PROGRAM TOO, UM, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY AROUND PARK SPACES. AND SO I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR, UM, THEM TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE BUDGET MONEY THIS YEAR. UM, ROLLING FORWARD. I KNOW A NUMBER OF US HAVE WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN IN SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH. AND SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD GROUPS DOING THAT WORK AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, IT'S UH, 10 TILL THREE. UH, LET'S MOVE ON. UM, WE HAD TWO POLLED [A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items] ITEMS, UH, TREAT YOUR NEW CONTRACT AND THE EMINENT DOMAIN CASES. ARE THEY LONG DISCUSSIONS? UM, COWS WERE ALTAR. YOU PULLED THE TREE TRIMMING CONTRACT. I THINK IT'LL BE MAYBE 10, 15 MINUTES. OKAY. AND THEN THE EMINENT DOMAIN QUESTION COUNCIL, NUMBER ELLIS. YOU PULLED THOSE. I ALSO HOPE THAT WILL BE A SHORT DISCUSSION. I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF DAYLIGHT SOME OF THE CONVERSATION I'VE HAD WITH OUR REAL ESTATE OFFICE. JUST VERY BRIEFLY. LET'S DO THOSE TWO REAL FAST AND THEN WE'LL DO THE, UH, DARDY ARTS CENTER, UM, FREQUENT, HOWEVER ALTAR YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 20, JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND HERE. THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN CATHERINE ELLIS WILL COME TO YOU. OKAY, GREAT. UM, SO ITEM 20 IS AN AUSTIN ENERGY CONTRACT FOR THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. AND I PULLED THIS AS STAFF TO PROVIDE A SMALL UPDATE ON THEIR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, AS IT RELATES TO THESE CONTRACTS. UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY FOR A FEW YEARS TO ENHANCE THE VEGETATION, UH, TO IMPROVE HER LIABILITY FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND TO MITIGATE THE WILDFIRE THREAT POSED BY TREES AND TANGLED WITH WIRES. UM, WE JUST GOT WORD THAT PG AND E WAS CHARGED WITH 33 CRIMINAL COUNTS FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE 2019 FIRES IN CALIFORNIA. UM, AND ALSO JUST EXPERIENCED POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE LACK OF VEGETATION MANAGEMENT. SO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK IS VERY, VERY REAL. UM, SO I WANTED US TO PAUSE WHILE THIS WAS ON OUR AGENDA AND ASK, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY. IF THEY'RE ON THE LINE, IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HOW THIS ITEM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT EFFORTS AND HOW THIS RELATES TO THE INVESTMENTS WE MADE LATE LAST YEAR, I KNOW WE HAD AUSTIN ENERGY FOLKS READY, BUT HOLD ON ONE SECOND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ON [03:05:14] MAYOR. THIS IS LT MATRIX. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN. DID YOU KNOW THE QUESTION? OH, HEY. YES, I'VE GOT YOU. EXCELLENT. THANKS MAYOR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER. THIS IS ELTON MERGERS ON THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PHIL OPERATIONS FOR AUSTIN ENERGY AND THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FALLS UNDER MY PURVIEW. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR IN HER COLLABORATION WITH US ON, ON HELPING ON THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UH, ITEM. THE ONE THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSMISSION LINES. THESE ARE THE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES THAT RUN THROUGH THE AUSTIN ENERGY AREA. UH, THIS ONE IS THE ONE THAT IS CONTROLLED, NOT ONLY THROUGH TO THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO NERC. UH, THIS IS A STANDALONE CONTRACT FOR THE TRANSMISSION LINES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IN NOVEMBER, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONTRACT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION LINES, WHICH ALLOWED US TO GO FROM THE SINGLE, UH, CONTRACTOR THAT WE HAD, THE THREE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS TO GET THE DISTRIBUTION LINES BACK INTO THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. AT THAT TIME, WE ALSO DID A CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STREETLIGHT VEGETATION THAT WAS ALLOWED TO GO TO SOME OF THE SMALLER VENDORS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE QUALIFICATION INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, UH, FOR THE LARGER JOBS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE THREE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS THAT WILL HELP WITH THE, NOT ONLY THE RELIABILITY, BUT ALSO THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION AS WE START TO MOVE INTO THE SUMMER AND THE FUTURE SUMMERS. AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS PENDING, UH, THAT THANK YOU. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AS THESE CONTRACTS ARE STRUCTURED, IF WE FIND, OR WE'RE ABLE TO ACCELERATE, UM, THE MANAGEMENT THAT THEN YOU JUST USE UP THE, THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THE CONTRACT PROVIDED THAT THERE'S, UM, CASH ON HAND TO USE, AND THEN YOU WOULD JUST COME BACK FOR FURTHER AUTHORIZATION. SO IF IN OUR, OKAY, SO YES, MA'AM WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I'M SORRY. UH, IS WE'RE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT SPECIFICALLY. WHAT, WHAT OUR NORMAL CYCLE WOULD DO WAS WITH THIS SMALLER CONTRACT. WE COULD ONLY DOSE, WE HAVE SO MANY CIRCUITS THAT WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEN WE HAVE ONES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS UNDERPERFORMING, WHICH ARE THE RELIABILITY ISSUES DUE TO THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED CERTAIN CIRCUITS THAT ARE PRIMARILY ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE CITY, WHICH IS NO SURPRISE HAS BEEN THE WILDFIRE. MITIGATION WAS A NEW CONTRACT, SPECIFICALLY THE DISTRIBUTION. WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING IN A DIFFERENT COMPANY. WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT BULLING UP SOME OF THESE WILDFIRE MITIGATION ONES THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MATTER OF FACT, CONTRACTORS PROVED IN NOVEMBER, THE CONTRACTOR STARTED UP IN ABOUT JANUARY IS WHEN IT ACTUALLY GOT APPROVED. THERE'LL BE FULL BLOWN IN MAY, AND WE'VE GOT TWO OF THE HIGHER RANKED WILDFIRE MITIGATION THAT WE'RE DOING SEPARATELY THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, IF YOU DO, I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT. UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT SOME AREAS THAT WERE OF HIGH RISK FOR WILDFIRE OR RELIABILITY DUE TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ISSUES WERE TREATED BEFORE THE FEBRUARY STORM AND SOME WERE NOT, DID WE HAVE, UM, ANY DATA ON HOW THE AREAS THAT WERE TREATED FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BEFORE THE STORM PERFORMED, PARTICULARLY IN THE PERIOD, UM, BEFORE THE AIR CUT, SHUT DOWN WHEN WE HAD SO MUCH OF THE WEST SIDE OUT, UM, DUE TO THE VEGETATION ON THE LINES? YEAH, IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION. IT WAS ACTUALLY A NORTHLAND ALINE, I BELIEVE. UH, I'VE GOT IT IN A PRESENTATION. WE JUST GAVE TO THE HOMEOWNERS, THAT ONE, WE COMPLETED A FULL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CYCLE TO THE INDUSTRY STANDARD AND THERE WAS ZERO OUTAGES BASED UPON VEGETATION MANAGEMENT. SO THAT, THAT IT WORKS IF WE CAN GET IN THERE AND ACTUALLY GET IT DONE. GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, UM, WAYS, UM, TO IMPROVE OUR CITY, INCREASING OUR EFFORTS ON VEGETATION MANAGEMENT. AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONSIDER THAT IF NECESSARY IN THE BUDGET, IF WE MAY BE ABLE TO JUST INCREASE THE CONTRACTS AND IT MAY MAYBE A YEAR OR SO THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET ON THAT. BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT WE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THESE EFFORTS AFFECT BOTH OUR WILDFIRE RISK AND OUR POWER GRID RELIABILITY IN VERY REAL WAYS. [03:10:01] UM, AND THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY, UM, IMMEDIATE IMPACTS IF WE CAN GET IN THERE AND DO THE WORK APPROPRIATELY FOR THE AREA BASED ON RESTRICTIONS FOR PRINTING, ET CETERA. UM, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE THESE IN APPROPRIATE WAYS, UM, AND WORK WITH NEIGHBORS, WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT WE CAN SPEED UP THESE CONTRACTS. UM, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS SO THAT WE CAN, UM, WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO GET THIS DONE SO THAT NOT EVERY SINGLE HOUSE BECOMES A GIANT, UM, NEGOTIATION FROM THE BEGINNING. UM, BUT THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN WORK WITH AUSTIN ENERGY WAYS IN WHICH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS CAN PARTNER, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT YET TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT I THINK COULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS, BOTH FOR THE PREP AND AS WE MOVE THROUGH. SO, UM, I'M, I'M PLEASED THAT WE MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE CONTRACTS. WE'VE BEEN PUSHING ON THESE. UM, BUT I DID WANT TO PAUSE TO REALLY UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK. UM, AND I'M SORRY IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD ABOUT, UM, THIS WORK AND, AND NEEDS HERE. IF, IF APPROPRIATE, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO DO SO, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT OFFLINE, THAT'S OKAY TOO. UH, ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTER, I, I, YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY, THE COLLABORATIONS YOU'VE GOT IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH YOUR, YOUR RESIDENTS IS ACTUALLY HELPING. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE GOT THAT ARE LIMITATIONS WITHIN THE AUSTIN AREA IS TO OAK WILT AND THE LIMITATIONS ON TRIMMING YOUR OAK WILT, BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRIM DURING OAK WILT, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS ON CLEANING ALL THE TOOLS, STERILIZED AND, AND, UH, FIXING ALL THE WOUNDS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. AND SOMEBODY FOR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATES IS AT THAT TO WORK WITH US, TO ALLOW US TO GET IN THERE ONE TIME, DO THE FULL CYCLE AND GET BACK OUT. AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE THEM AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AND AS FOR OFTEN ENERGY, WE JUST APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH US IN A WAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED US ON, ON GETTING BACK TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. SO I JUST REALLY WANNA APPRECIATE TILL EVERYBODY, WE APPRECIATE YOU FROM AUSTIN ENERGY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, MY NEIGHBOR, THE NEIGHBORS APPRECIATE IT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD FOR IT TO THE SESSIONS WE HAVE SCHEDULED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE OUT DURING THE STORM. SO THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM GREAT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ISSUE, CAN'T REMEMBER ALICE, YOU WILL TALK TO US ABOUT THE EMINENT DOMAIN ACTION ITEMS. YES. AND I WILL WAIT JUST A MOMENT BECAUSE ALEX, GAIL WILL PROBABLY BE MOVING OVER, HOPEFULLY ON THERE IS IN JUST A SECOND. I KNOW IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET EVERYTHING SYNCED UP. UM, THANKS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. UM, I WANTED TO PULL THESE ITEMS THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT AND THEY ARE, UM, PART OF THE OAK HILL PARKWAY PROJECT. UM, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT UTILITY RELOCATION, I JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH. UM, AND MAYBE ALEX, YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, HOW HAVE THESE LANDOWNERS BEEN RESPONSIVE OR SOME OF THE ISSUE THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO GET A HOLD OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO OWN THESE SMALL PORTIONS OF PROPERTIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ALEX GAIL FROM THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE SERVICES FOR THESE, UH, PARTICULAR LANDOWNERS. UM, WE, WE HAVE HAD INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LANDOWNERS, UH, BUT HAVE STRUGGLED TO CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON. UM, SO, SO WE ARE UNDER A DEADLINE AS, UH, INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE ENTERED INTO WITH TECH STOCK, UH, FOR THESE UTILITY RELOCATIONS AS PART OF THE OCO PARKWAY. AND SO WHAT THIS ACTION, THESE ACTIONS DO, EXCUSE ME, ALLOW US TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR TIMELINE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTINUE REACHING OUT TO THESE LANDOWNERS TO SEE IF WE CAN SEEK AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT WITH THEM, BUT DOES ALLOW US TO KEEP OUR TIMELINE TO KEEP THAT PATHWAY MOVING FORWARD. UM, IF WE DO HAVE TO CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF SETTING UP A SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS HEARING WITH THE LANDOWNERS, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, WHEN WE GO THROUGH LAND PURCHASING AGREEMENTS, UM, I THINK THERE'S SOME LAW THAT PROHIBITS US FROM PAYING THAT RATE ASSESSMENT. CAN YOU CLARIFY IF THAT'S ACCURATE? I'M SORRY, YOU BROKE UP ON MY END A LITTLE BIT. COUNCIL MEMBER. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? YEAH. I KNOW SOMETIMES WE'VE TALKED WITH LANDS, [03:15:01] UM, PURCHASE AGREEMENTS THAT WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO OUR ASSESSMENTS OF VALUE AND CAN'T NECESSARILY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THOSE NUMBERS. BUT IF THE, THE, UM, THE STATE LAW THAT WE FOLLOW IS WE HAVE TO OFFER A FAIR MARKET VALUE AS PART OF, UM, THE ESTABLISHING OUR DETERMINATION OF A VALUE TO, UH, SET WHAT THE MARKET RATE WOULD BE FOR US TO PURCHASE OR ACQUIRE THESE PROPERTIES. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THESE PURCHASES TO RELOCATE, RELOCATE THE UTILITIES TO WOULD THE ROAD BE PAVED ON TOP OF THEM, OR HOW WOULD THAT WORK? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE ALSO HAVE, HAVE, UH, SOMEBODY FROM AUSTIN WATER UTILITY ON THE CALL, AS WELL AS WATERSHED WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. BUT YES, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, AUSTIN WATER PREFERS TO HAVE OUR UTILITIES, UH, AS SECURED BY OUR OWN EASEMENTS. UH, OTHERWISE TECHSTOP WOULD BE, UH, ABLE AND WILLING TO, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, PAVE OR, OR KEEP OUR UTILITIES WITHIN THEIR RIGHT OF WAY. BUT OUR PREFERENCE IS TO KEEP OUR UTILITIES OUTSIDE OF TXDOT RE RIGHT AWAY IN CITY, RIGHT OF WAY, UM, WHICH ALLOWS, UH, OUR UTILITIES TO BE ABLE TO BETTER MAINTAIN, UH, AND ACCESS THOSE UTILITY LINES. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, IF INDEED THE ROAD WORK TO GO OVER THE, THE WATER UTILITIES COULD THAT CAUSE ANY DISRUPTION OF SERVICE, SHOULD SOMETHING GO WRONG AND WE NEED TO GET TO THAT UTILITY LINE AND HAVE A HIGHWAY OVER IT WITH IT. IS THAT A POTENTIAL RISK THAT WE HAVE HERE? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. UM, I KNOW I DON'T SEE HER ON THE LINE. I KNOW SHEA ROLSON FROM AUSTIN WATER, WHO IS ONE OF, UM, THE, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTORS. SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BETTER ANSWER THAT QUESTION MORE SPECIFICALLY. UM, I DON'T KNOW, SHEA, ARE YOU ABLE TO, TO HELP ANSWER THAT? YES, I CAN. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YES. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LS, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SHAY ROLSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENGINEERING FROM AUSTIN WATER. UM, THE LOCAL AGREEMENTS STIPULATE THAT WE WILL MOVE AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE MOVED OUT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. AND INDICATIONS FROM TXDOT ARE THAT THE NEW, THE RIGHT OF WAY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY CONGESTED, UH, AND THAT THERE'S NOT ROOM IN THAT PLAN FOR OUR PIPELINES TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE. SO THEY REQUIRE THE MOVE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS IN TEXTILES PROJECT. I, I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN A FEW QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT THESE EMINENT DOMAIN CASES, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL KIND OF WALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE THE UTILITIES. UM, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THESE, BUT JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING AND APPRECIATE. UM, Y'ALL STAYING ON THE LINE TO HELP ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. OKAY. HOLLY, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? SO THIS IS YOUR, OKAY. I THINK THAT TAKES US THROUGH THOSE, UH, MANAGER, THE, UH, REPORT ON, UH, THANK YOU, STAFF, NOAH, THANKS FOR STAYING. UM, BOTH THESE ISSUES MANAGER, UH, TRUE [B1. Update on Dougherty Art Center Design Options] MEDIA DARDY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR TODAY REGARDS THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS AND MANY, MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE NOW REVIEWED THIS. UH, WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE WERE PRESENTING, UH, THOSE, UH, DESIGN OPTIONS AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS COME FORWARD FROM STAFF. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MCNEELY WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE, INTRODUCE THE TOPIC AND THEN TURN IT OVER HER TO HER STAFF DIRECTOR MCNEELY. SURE. SO AS WE ARE WAITING FOR THE, UH, I THINK TO BE BROUGHT UP, BUT IT'S NO THAT, UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS, UH, VISITED EIGHT DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. UM, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT HAVE BOTH BEEN, UH, VIA FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ALSO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND, UH, THE ZACH SCOTT THEATER AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT CARE ABOUT THE BUTLER SPACE AND THEY CARE ABOUT, UM, THE SPACE THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE SYDNEY OFFICE. AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, AS WE START THE PRESENTATION, THAT THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AS IT RELATES TO, UM, THE DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS OR THE DESIGNS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU. HOWEVER, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT [03:20:01] IS RECOMMENDING DESIGN OPTION ONE, B AND R WILL ALLOW KEVIN JOHNSON, WHO HAS BEEN THE PROJECT MANAGER AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU THE PRESENTATION, UH, JUSTIFICATION AND INFORMATION RELATING TO, UM, ALL THE DESIGN PROCESSES, AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ANSWER. SO WITH THAT, I'M TURNING IT OVER TO KEVIN. THANK YOU, KIMBERLY AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, KEVIN JOHNSON, I SERVE AS THE PART PROJECT MANAGER ON THE TAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE STATUS OF THE PRELIMINARY SITE DESIGN. I THINK AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS PRESENTATION SERVES AS A FOLLOW-UP TO COUNCIL ACTION FROM MAY OF 2019, UH, IN WHICH W IN WHICH WE WERE DRIFTED TO PROCEED WITH DESIGN FOR THE DOOR TO YET OTHER SHORES PARK, WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, GIVEN TO THE BUILDINGS PLACEMENT ON THE SITE AND ATTENTION TO HOW VEHICLES ACCESS AND PARK AT THIS SITE AS WELL. UH, SINCE THAT DIRECTION, WE RELEASED RFQ FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION AT RISK SERVICES AS WELL, AND INITIATED ANOTHER PHASE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DESIGN. UM, LIKE KIMBERLY MENTIONED, WE'VE SENT, PRESENTED THESE SCENARIOS TO EIGHT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND WHILE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE WHOLE BEHIND THIS PROJECT, JUST GIVEN ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS AND INTERESTS IN THE PROJECT SITE, WE HAVE NOT HEARD CONSENSUS ON ONE SPECIFIC OPTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, AGAIN, LIKE KIMBERLY MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A PREFERRED SCENARIO, UM, THAT WE FEEL BEST MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE DOOR, THE ARTS CENTER AND THE LARGER DISTRICT. AND I DID JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT THE PROJECT REMAINS IN A PRELIMINARY DESIGN STATE AT POINT, SINCE WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING SO MANY ALTERNATIVES, UM, BUT FOLLOWING DIRECTION WE RECEIVED FROM YOU, OUR HOPE IS TO MOVE FORWARD INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. UH, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS SLIDE DECK, AND I KNOW WE'RE A LITTLE PRESSED FOR TIME TODAY, SO I WILL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THIS. AND I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS FROM OUR CONSULTANT TEAM HERE TO HELP ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AFTER BOTH FROM OUR ARCHITECTURAL TEAM AND A TRAFFIC ENGINEER SERVING ON OUR TEAM AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THE SITE MAP ORIENTS US TO THE EXISTING AND NEW DECK SITES. THEY'RE ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, JUST ACROSS LAMAR BOULEVARD. UH, THE SITE OF BUTLER SHORES IS BOUND BY BARTON CREEK ON THE WEST. AND AS A REMINDER, THE THREE LITTLE LEAGUE BALL FIELDS ON THE WESTERN MOST EDGE OF THIS SITE WILL REMAIN IN OPERATION. UH, THE DECK PROJECT SITE OCCUPIES THE CENTER ABOVE THE SHORES PARK, WHICH INCLUDES THE TWO AISD SOFTBALL FIELDS. AND THOSE WILL BE RELOCATED TO ANOTHER PART SITE. UH, THE ZACK THEATER COMPLEX OCCUPIES THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE SITE AND PROVIDES A NATURAL PARTNER, UH, IN CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMMING, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT. AND OBVIOUSLY THE PART OF MAIN SETS AT THE END OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE ALSO ON THIS SITE. UM, AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT IN COORDINATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT FOR THE NEW PUD THAT WAS APPROVED AT THE FORMER SCHLOTZKY'S SITE. SO THAT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DECK PROJECT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS I MENTIONED, WE RECEIVED APPROVAL IN MAY OF 2019 TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUTLER SHORES SITE FOR THE DOOR YARD CENTER. AND THE GRAPHIC YOU'RE SEEING HERE CAME FROM THAT PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. UH, IT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE SITE WAS FEASIBLE TO ABSORB THE BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE DOHERTY, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 SQUARE FEET. AND THE APPROVAL CAME WITH SOME AMENDMENTS TO STUDY ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES. AND THAT INTEREST WAS REALLY ROOTED IN NOT OVERLOADING TO THE ROAD WITH ADDITIONAL VEHICLE CONGESTION, BY BALANCING THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND ALSO PROVIDING ACCESS FROM BOTH RIGHTS OF WAY TOO MANY ROAD AND RIVERSIDE. AND SEEING WHETHER THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT OFFICE WOULD ALLOW FOR THE MASSING OF THE DECK BUILDING TO SLIDE FURTHER NORTH ON THE SITE AS WELL. SO THOSE ALTERNATIVES ESSENTIALLY BOILED DOWN TO THE THREE SCENARIOS THAT ARE DESCRIBED HERE. AND JUST FOR CLARITY, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE NUMBERING CONVENTION OF THESE DESCRIPTIONS IS TIED TO THOSE DESIGN OPTIONS THAT WE'LL SHOW IN JUST A MINUTE HERE. SO OPTION ONE IS ONE IN WHICH THE NEW DECK AND THE EXISTING PART MAIN OFFICE WOULD REMAIN ONSITE AS YOU'RE SEEING HERE. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO SCENARIOS, ONE A AND ONE B, UM, W WHICH ARE TIED TO THAT DESCRIPTION. OPTION TWO IS ONE IN WHICH THE EXISTING PARD MAIN BUILDING WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, UM, ALONG WITH THE NEW DARK DIRTY ART CENTER. AND THEN A THIRD OPTION IS ONE IN WHICH THE PARD MAIN OFFICE WOULD BE REMOVED OFFSITE ALTOGETHER. UH, AND THE NEW DOOR TO ART CENTER WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE. NOW, THOSE SCENARIOS UNDER OPTIONS, TWO AND THREE ARE NOT FUNDED, UH, THROUGH THE BOND AS THE DOHERTY PROJECT IS, BUT WE DID ENTERTAIN THOSE [03:25:01] DESIGNS, UM, TO, TO SEE THOSE ALTERNATIVES THROUGH. WE ALSO RECEIVED DIRECTION FOR OUR COMPREHENSIVE PARKING SOLUTION ON THIS SITE, WHICH WOULD CONSOLIDATE EXISTING SURFACE PARKING AND MAXIMIZE THE OPEN SPACE BY LOCATING ANY NEW PARKING UNDERGROUND. YEAH, KEVIN, I'M SORRY. I THINK THAT WE'RE NOT ADVANCING THE SLIDES AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT'S HAPPENING. IF YOU NEED THAT TO HAPPEN. NOW WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AS FAR AS I CAN SEE IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING. I APOLOGIZE. YEAH, NO PROBLEM. UM, AND SO WE EXPLORED A UNIQUE, UH, PARKING SOLUTION FOR EACH OF THE OPTIONS SHOWN. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE ASSUMPTIONS IN 2018 BOND REQUESTS ASSUMED ABOVE GROUND PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH THE DECK FACILITIES. SO UNDERGROUND PARKING THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR PROJECT IS ONLY PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR. UM, BUT WE HAVE BEGUN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFICE TO, UH, TO EXPLORE ALTERNATE MEANS OF FUNDING FOR THOSE SOLUTIONS. AND LASTLY, WE WERE ASKED TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY TO GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PHILANTHROPIC INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT. AND PART HAS CONNECTED WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE DOOR, TO THE ARTS CENTER AND OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. UM, THERE IS A LETTER SUBMITTED AS BACKUP ON THIS ITEM FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE DAC, AND THEY'VE COMMITTED TO SEEING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THROUGH IN THE NEXT PHASE OF DESIGN FOR THIS PROJECT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO SPEAKING OF BUDGET, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ASPECTS OF IT AND BE CLEAR ON WHAT PART IS FUNDED FOR THE TOTAL PROJECT. BUDGET COMES FROM THE 2012 AND 2018 BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $28 MILLION. SOME OF WHICH HAS ALREADY ENCUMBERED UNDER OUR CURRENT DESIGN CONTRACTS AND TO CALIBRATE THAT REPRESENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY, JUST ACROSS THE LAKE. UH, THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION AIMS TO COVER THE CORE BUILDING PROGRAM, WHICH YOU'RE SEEING HERE OF ABOUT 45,000 SQUARE FEET. THAT INCLUDES THE SCHOOL AND YOUTH STUDIOS, UM, AN ARTIST'S GALLERY AND THEATERS, AS WELL AS, UH, ADULT STUDIOS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPACES FOR THE ARTS. UH, THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT THAT PART IS NOT FULLY FUNDED FOR WHICH INCLUDE THE DISTRICT WIDE PARKING CONSOLIDATION AND AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE THAT I MENTIONED, LARGE SCALE PARK IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS, UM, BUTLER SHORES, RENOVATION, OR EXPANSION TO THE PARD MAIN OFFICE AND SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL IMPACTS TO THE ZACK THEATER, WHICH I WANTED TO RAISE JUST TO ENSURE EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE ZAC LEASE BOUNDARY AND TO REINFORCE THEY'RE A KEY PARTNER IN OUR PROJECT. UM, WHILE WE'RE SEEKING OUT THE BEST POSSIBLE DESIGN SOLUTIONS FOR THIS AREA, OUR TEAM IS REMAINING COGNIZANT OF HOW THESE SCENARIOS COULD IMPACT THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE WAY THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE THEIR SITE. AND JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE OF THEIR TEAM VOICE, SOME CONCERN OVER POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF THEIR EXISTING SURFACE PARKINGS, WHICH IS UNDER A LONG-TERM LEASE AGREEMENT. UM, ESPECIALLY AS THEY BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT REOPENING THEIR DOORS IN A POST COVID WORLD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE QUICKLY JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE, UH, HISTORIC CONTEXT OF THE EXISTING PART OF MAINE. SINCE WE WERE ASKED TO CONSIDER DEMOLITION OF THIS STRUCTURE, UM, THE, THE OFFICE WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1959 AND SERVED AS THE FIRST PERMANENT HOME FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ITS ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY, IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER. UM, WE TOOK THIS PRESENTATION TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, AND WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED, UM, SOME STRONG LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS BUILDING TO REMAIN FROM THE PRESERVATION COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AS BACKUP ON THIS ITEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE CONDUCTED JUST IN THIS MOST RECENT PHASE OF THE PROJECT. IT CONSISTS OF BOTH LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND MORE TARGETED SMALL GROUP MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC INTERESTS OF THE VARIOUS USER GROUPS OF THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER. ALSO JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO COORDINATE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, ZACK THEATER, ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AS WE'RE, UM, LOOKING AT PARKING AND TRAFFIC CALCULATIONS AND TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. A MISSION STATEMENT CAME OUT OF THAT PUBLIC PROCESS, WHICH MERGES THE MISSION OF THE DAC TO SUPPORT ARTS ACCESS FOR ALL WITH THAT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS TO CREATE COMMUNITY. I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'LL JUMP FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE. UH, I WANT TO POINT OUT THE SITE CONSTRAINTS HERE AT BUTLER SHORES. SO WHILE THE PROJECT SITE IS OF A GENEROUS SIZE, THE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE PREPARED ARE DICTATED LARGELY BY CONSTRAINTS. THIS MAP INDICATES HERITAGE [03:30:01] TREES ON THE SITE AND DARK GREEN CIRCLES, UH, THE PINK AND PURPLE LINES THAT TRANSECT THE SITE INDICATE VARIOUS UTILITY EASEMENTS THAT EITHER LIMIT OR PROHIBIT ALTOGETHER, UM, BUILDING A TOP-UP. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE KIND OF TWO INTUITIVE BUILDING FOOTPRINT LOCATIONS THAT COME OUT OF THESE CONSTRAINTS. ONE THAT'S IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SITE, AND ONE THAT'S TUCKED MORE CLOSELY IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER ADJACENT TO THE ZACK THEATER BUILDINGS. ADDITIONALLY THAT, UH, ORANGE DASH LINE INDICATES THE EXTENSIVE ZAC LEASE BOUNDARY AND INCLUDES THEIR PRIMARY PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO ONE PORTABLE BUILDING ALONG THE TUMI ROAD FRONTAGE. AND BECAUSE THIS BUILDING SITS KIND OF RIGHT AT A KEY ACCESS POINT TO THE SITE, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ZACK SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP THIS PROGRAM SPACE, WHICH THEY USE AS A CLASSROOM AND REHEARSAL SPACE IN AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS. WE DID RECEIVE A FEW QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE SITE AND THE AMOUNT OF PARKLAND AVAILABLE. SO A FEW KEY ASPECTS OF THIS SITE JUST SHOW THAT THE OVERALL SITE IS ABOUT 27 ACRES. AND THE PROJECT AREA IS DESCRIBED MOSTLY BY, UH, NUMBERS FOUR, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN, WHICH IN TOTAL APPROX ARE APPROXIMATELY 11 AND A HALF ACRES. UM, THAT DESIGN SCHEMES THAT WE PREPARED PRIMARILY DUE TO, UH, THE RESTORATION OF THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND TO PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PARKLAND WOULD INCREASE THE NET PARKLAND ON THIS SITE BY ABOUT THREE ACRES. THERE'S SOME VARIABILITY IN EACH SCHEME, BUT THAT'S, UH, APPROXIMATELY CORRECT ACROSS ALL FOUR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS SO ALL RIGHT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE. IT'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE FOUR OPTIONS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. WE HAVE SLIDES TO LOOK AT EACH OF THESE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, BUT JUST TO GET A BROAD OVERVIEW, BOTH OPTIONS, ONE A AND ONE B INDICATE THAT THE PARDON MAIN OFFICE WOULD REMAIN ON THIS SITE. IT'S SHOWN SORT OF RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH IMAGE IN THE CENTER OF THE SLIDE, UM, OPTION ONE, A SHOWS THAT BUILDING MASSING TUCKED TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. WELL, OPTION ONE B SHOWS THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT MOVE TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SITE, RIGHT AT THE END OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE, OPTION TWO IS ONE THAT SUPPOSES THE PART MAIN OFFICE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED ALTOGETHER AND REPLACED, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY THE RECTANGLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT IMAGE. AND THEN OPTION THREE HAS A SIMILAR BUILDING LAYOUT TO THAT FOR THE DOOR TO THE ART CENTER. UM, BUT PROPOSES THAT THE DOOR THAT I'M SORRY THAT THE PARDON MAIN OFFICE WOULD BE MOVED OFF SITE ALTOGETHER. UM, I WON'T READ THEM OFF IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, BUT I DID LIST OUT SOME OF THE REAL KEY OPERATIONAL CRITERIA AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF THIS SITE THAT ALL OF THESE SCHEMES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES AND, AND SOME VERY DELIBERATE CHOICES FOR WHY THINGS ARE SITUATED THE WAY THAT THEY ARE. UM, I WILL POINT OUT THAT, UH, THE CIVIC PRESENCE AND IDENTITY OF THE BUILDING, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE PROJECT TEAMS. UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S SORT OF HIGHLIGHTED BY OPTION ONE B UM, ITS PRESENCE ALONG THE NORTHERN, NORTHERN EDGE OF THE SITE AND THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE FRONTAGE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. SO AN OPTION ONE, A, UH, AS WE SAW IT PROPOSES TO KEEP THE PARD MAIN BUILDING INTACT, AND THE BUILDING MASSING TUCKED INTO THAT SOUTHEAST CORNER, THERE IS A PICKUP AND DROP OFF ACCESS PROVIDED DIRECTLY OFF OF TUMI ROAD, AS WELL AS SERVICE ACCESS TO THE THEATER AREAS. UM, FUNCTIONALLY THIS LAYOUT MOST CLOSELY BUILDS ON THAT OF OUR 2019 PROCESS WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THE PROPOSED PARKING SOLUTION IS RELOCATED TO AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE BETWEEN THE ZACK THEATER AND THE PARK MAIN OFFICE. I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WHILE THIS GARAGE IS ON CITY LAND, IT IS WITHIN THE ZAC LEASE AND WOULD REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THEIR EXISTING, UH, PARKING AGREEMENT AND USE OF THIS AREA. SO WE'VE TAKEN AN APPROACH TO EXPLORE ALL THE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THEY HAVE VOICED SOME OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSED INTERVENTION ON THEIR SITE. UH, THE AVAILABLE PARKING FOOTPRINT IN THIS AREA IS ALSO SMALLER THAN IN SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE SITE. SO THE PROPOSED GARAGE WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS EFFICIENT AND ITS CONSTRUCTION. IT WOULD NEED TO BE THREE LEVELS INSTEAD OF TWO AND AN EARLY TALKS WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THAT COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COST, UH, ON THE RELATIVE COST PER STALL IN THIS LOCATION. BUT SOME OF THE OTHER DESIGN INTENTIONS OF THIS SCHEME ARE TO REMOVE THE WESTERN MOST EXTENSION OF RIVERSIDE AND THE SURFACE PARKING LOT ON THE WEST EDGE OF PARK MAIN AND MAKE A STRONGER CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL THREE OF THOSE FACILITIES THROUGH THIS ARTS PROMENADE. AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO ENHANCE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE SITE IN THIS AND ALL SCHEMES, UH, BY PICKING UP THE TRAIL HEAD AT THE EASEMENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF BARTON PLACE, [03:35:01] WHICH IS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS IMAGE. AND THAT CARRIES ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IN THE SITE. UH, THIS IS A DESIGN SCENARIO THAT WAS FAVORED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PARKS BOARD FOR SIMILAR REASONS, UM, BY KEEPING THE BUILDING AWAY FROM THE TRAIL AND PRESERVING CONTIGUOUS OPENINGS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE OPTION ONE B IS THE PREFERRED SCENARIO OF THE PROJECT TEAM AND IT POSITIONS THE BUILDING RIGHT AT THE TERMINUS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE. LIKE WE DISCUSSED, IT PROVIDES A HIGHER DEGREE OF VISIBILITY AND A STRONG SENSE OF ARRIVAL TO A CIVIC INSTITUTIONS. UH, THE BUILDING SITS TO THE WEST OF THE EASEMENTS THAT COME THROUGH THE SITE AND ALSO NESTLES INTO THE VEGETATED EDGE, RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE TRAIL IN A WAY THAT HAS A RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT DOESN'T IMPOSE ON THE TRAIL ITSELF TO THIS AREA OF THE SITE ACTUALLY FITS ABOUT 25 FEET HIGHER THAN THE GRADE OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, WHICH IS BELOW IT'S UNIQUE IN THE WAY THAT IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE PROPOSED UNDERGROUND GARAGE, BOTH FROM RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND FROM TUMI ROAD. BUT OUR TEAM WAS DELIBERATE AND NOT PROVIDING A CUT-THROUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR VEHICLES ACROSS THIS SITE. UM, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BUILDING TO THE PARK CREATES A PASSIVE LAWN INSTEAD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND, UH, PROPOSES SIMILAR TRAIL EXTENSIONS AND CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU SAW ON OPTION ONE A THAT WINDING ARTS PROMENADE OFFERS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC ART AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AIPP PROGRAM. AND GENERALLY PROVIDES JUST A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM BETWEEN THE ZAC COMPLEX AND THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER. UM, ADDITIONALLY THERE'S ACCESS TO A SERVICE AREA BEHIND THE THEATER SPACES ALONG THE EXISTING GRAVEL ROAD THAT TRACKS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE BALL FIELDS, UH, THAT COULD SUPPORT SOME OF THE BACK OF HOUSE FUNCTIONS AND THE LOAD IN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE THEATER AND STUDIO. SO, AND I THINK THAT LAST POINT HERE I WANT TO MAKE AS WELL, WE'RE SHOWING AN IMPROVED CIVIC PLAZA IN THE LOCATION OF THE EXISTING ZACK SURFACE PARKING LOT. THAT'S POSSIBLE THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT THAT COULD HAPPEN EITHER IN A LATER PHASE OR THAT THE CURRENT FUNCTION OF THAT SPACE COULD REMAIN UNDER THE SCHEME. THIS IS A DESIGN SCENARIO SUPPORTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION THAT COMPREHENSIVELY RESPONDED TO THE CRITERIA THAT WE LAID OUT. AND IT ALSO RECEIVED COMMENTS OF SUPPORT JUST RELATED TO ITS PROMINENCE AND VISIBILITY FOR THE ARTS SCENE IN THE CITY, THE BOSTON, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE I'LL SPEAK BASICALLY TO OPTIONS TWO AND THREE. I DID WANT TO SAY WE, WE GOT LESS FEEDBACK ON THESE OPTIONS. I THINK FOR TWO PRIMARY REASONS, ONE THAT IT WAS, UM, ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD BE DEMOLISHING THE PARD MAIN OFFICE UNDER THESE SCHEMES AND THAT IT HAD SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T FUNDED. SO THERE WAS NO DELIBERATE SUPPORT FOR THESE SCHEMES FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, UM, OR COMMUNITY. BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME, SOME MERITS OF DESIGN IN EACH OF THESE SCHEMES THAT ARE WORTH DISCUSSING. ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT OPTION TWO IS THAT IT SITS ON THE SITE ESSENTIALLY WHERE THE PARDON MAIN OFFICE DOES NOW AND FLIPS THE LOCATION OF THE PARD MAIN TO THE TOO MANY ROAD FRONTAGE. UM, THESE SCENARIOS PROVIDE TWO POSSIBILITIES TO PARK THE SITE, EITHER IN THE CIVIC PLAZA, JUST LIKE AN OPTION ONE A OR DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT, WHICH COULD BE ACCESSED INSTEAD FROM TUMI ROAD. UM, ON BOTH OF THESE SCHEMES, THAT SCENARIO IS SHOWN AS A ONE OR THE OTHER OPTION. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO PROVIDE UNDERGROUND GARAGES IN BOTH SPACES. UM, OBVIOUSLY A BENEFIT OF THIS SCHEME IS THAT IT COULD CREATE THESE INCREDIBLE COURTYARDS THAT CAPITALIZE ON THE HERITAGE TREES THAT SIT ON SITE, BUT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO, UH, LOCATE THE BUILDING MASSING IN THIS LOCATION WITHOUT IMPACTING ONE HERITAGE TREE, UM, AND OPTIONS TWO AND THREE. SO ANOTHER CONSTRAINT THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AGAIN, OPTION THREE IS QUITE SIMILAR TO OPTION TWO. ALTHOUGH UNDER THIS SCHEME, WE ARE SHOWING THAT THE 1959 PORTION OF THE PARD MAIN BUILDING COULD BE REHABILITATED AND REPURPOSED AS PART OF THE DOOR YARD CENTER INCORPORATED INTO THE DECK PROGRAM. OTHERWISE, FUNCTIONALLY THIS SCHEME IS REALLY VERY SIMILAR, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO PART MAIN OFFICE ON THE SITE. UM, THAT APPROACH TO OUR PARKING SCHEMATICS IS THE SAME ON THIS ONE, AS IT IS ON OPTION TWO. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, BECAUSE I JUST THREW A LOT OF INFORMATION AT YOU. THERE'S A GRAPHIC THAT MIGHT CLARIFY, UH, THE PARKING APPROACH IN EACH SCENARIO, AS YOU CAN SEE, OPTION ONE V IS UNIQUE AND THAT IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE FROM BOTH RIGHTS OF WAY. UM, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, DIRECTION THAT WAS, UM, PUT IN FRONT OF US BEFORE THE DESIGN COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS [03:40:01] IN OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND I'LL TOUCH ON THIS REALLY QUICKLY. LIKE I MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER WITH US, BUT I WANTED TO SPEAK VERY QUICKLY TO HOW WE WERE CALCULATING, UH, PARKING NEEDS AND, UM, CONSIDERING TRAFFIC DEMAND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AS A PART OF THE PROJECT AS WELL. SO AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR DESIGN PROCESS, WE FIRST TOOK INVENTORY OF ALL AVAILABLE PARKING ON THE SITE. WE MET WITH DOHERTY ART CENTER AND ZAC STAFF TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHEN THE PRIMARY USES WERE OCCURRING AT EACH OF THESE SITES. AND WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE'RE ABLE TO DEVELOP A MODEL THAT SORT OF, UM, PREDICTS VARIOUS DEMANDS, UH, ACROSS DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY. SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THAT STUDY YIELDED ESSENTIALLY THREE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, ONE A RELATIVELY LOW USE BASELINE WEEKDAY. UH, SCENARIO TWO IS REALLY THE MOST COMMON ON A WEEKLY EVENT IN WHICH THERE WOULD BE EVENTS OCCURRING, BOTH AT THE DORTY AND THE ZACK THEATER. AND SCENARIO THREE IS AN ESPECIALLY HIGH DEMAND SCENARIO, WHICH IS NOT A COMMONLY ANTICIPATED CIRCUMSTANCE. SO FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT, THIS SCENARIO TWO, WE'VE DEALT WITH EVENTS AT BOTH LOCATIONS, ALSO ACCOUNTING FOR LITTLE LEAGUE ACTIVITY AND OFFICE, UM, USE AT THE CARD SITE IS WHAT WE ARE DESIGNING FOR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE SHARED PARKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR TEAM HAS STUDIED. AND, UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE REACHED AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SCHLOTZKY'S PUB FOUR 80 SPACES UNDER THAT DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN FACTORED INTO OUR TRAFFIC CALCULATION MODELS. UM, WE ALSO HAVE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM WHO IS STUDYING TRAFFIC DEMAND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES, WHICH INCENTIVIZE MULTIMODAL TRAVEL, UM, PROPOSE TO CHARGE FOR PARKING IN THE STRUCTURED GARAGE AT THIS SITE. THERE ARE ALSO PRINCIPLES THAT THE ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL MAKE ITS WAY INTO DECK THAT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ARRIVE BY, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER MEANS THAN SINGLE OCCUPANCY CARS. UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT WE DO NEED TO PARK THIS SITE, UM, IN DOING SO WE'RE CONSIDERING THE MOBILITY TRENDS, INCLUDING THE SOUTH LAMAR CORRIDOR PLANS AND EVERYTHING THAT COULD CONSERVATIVELY HELP US REDUCE THE TRIP REDUCTIONS AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION REALLY GOES INTO MODEL THAT, UM, HAS GENERATED AN APPROXIMATE PARKING NEED FOR THE SITE, WHICH IN ALL SCHEMES, EXCEPT FOR OPTION THREE IS TOTAL THAT 449 SPACES TO SEE BASED ON THE, UM, REMAINING PARKING AVAILABLE UNDER EACH SCHEME. THE APPROXIMATE NEED FOR PARKING UNDER THESE SCENARIOS IS BETWEEN 200 AND 240 SPACES. UM, OPTION ONE B SITS RIGHT AT 222 SPACES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO I DID WANT TO JUST END HERE WITH OPTION ONE V THERE'S SOME SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION THAT I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE CAN LEAVE OFF, BUT WHEN CONSIDERING THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES AND WHEN WEIGHING THE POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE PROJECT, OUR TEAM REALLY FEELS THAT ONE B IS THE BEST DESIGN SCENARIO. AS IT RELATES TO THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, WE FEEL THIS OPTIONS BEST SUITED TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC RELATED ISSUES WE'VE HEARD, UM, AND COULD BEST RESPOND TO THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR THE ZACK THEATER WHILE MINIMIZING CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS, UH, TO THEIR FACILITIES. IT OFFERS AN UNDERGROUND PARKING SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT ENCROACH WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY AND CAN BE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND COST EFFECTIVELY BUILT. UM, AND IT ALSO MEETS THAT PREVIOUS DIRECTION TO PROVIDE ACCESS FROM BOTH RIGHTS OF WAY IT'S UNIQUE, AND THAT IT'S THE LOAN OPTION THAT HAS THAT STRONG RELATIONSHIP ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL EDGE. AND IT'S A DESIGN OPTION THAT'S SUPPORTED BY OUR PARTNERS AS THE TRAILS FOUNDATION, AND IT PRESERVES THE PARDON MAIN OFFICE SUPPORTED BY OUR PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION. LIKE I TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON. AND LASTLY, IT'S JUST GOT A PROMINENT SIDING THAT OUR TEAM FEELS IS WORTHY OF THE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JUST ANCHORING THE END OF THAT EMERGING ARTS DISTRICT AT THE END OF THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIGHT AWAY. SO ULTIMATELY IF COUNCIL WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT RATIONALE AND THE CONSIDERATIONS, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS TEAM FORWARD INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY ISSUES LEFT TO WORK THROUGH AND WE WELCOME THOSE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE AND OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. OKAY. HAVE YOU RETURNED THE STREET TO US? AND DID I UNDERSTAND EARLIER THAT THIS WAS COMING BACK TO COUNCIL HERE IN TWO WEEKS, THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SCHEDULE AMERIGAS SOUNDS GOOD. AND YOU WANT TO START US OFF? YEAH. SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T DO TOO MUCH, BUT, UM, [03:45:01] I, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW I'VE SHARED THIS WITH PART, I, I CAN'T SUPPORT ONE B AS IT IS SET UP AND MAYBE WITH IT, BUT, BUT IT IS OPPOSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT SITS ON A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. AND BECAUSE IT DOES NOT, UH, CLUSTER THE, UH, THE NEW GREEN SPACE, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER DO, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR BUTLER CHORES, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO ZILKER PARK. AND SO I HEAR WHAT OUR STAFF IS SAYING, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STAFF IS OKAY WITH THE OTHER OPTIONS ALSO. UM, IS THAT CORRECT? UM, KIMBERLY, I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU ALL COULD LIVE WITH THE OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL. UH, EVEN THOUGH YOU PREFER ONE DAY, I THINK THAT WE ABSOLUTELY PREFER ONE B AND FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT WE STATED, I THINK THAT WE CAN WORK TO, UM, TO MAKE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS AND, AND WORK WITH WITH ONE A, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS ARE REALLY VIABLE OPTIONS BASED UPON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED. SO JUST FOR THAT CLARITY, ONE EIGHT OR ONE B IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY CAN WORK. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I SHOULD'VE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC THERE. SO, UM, SO YEAH, SO, UH, FROM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS PART, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PARKS AND REC, I THINK YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER FROM, UH, FROM SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALSO. UM, I THINK THAT, UH, ONE, ONE V THAT'S CURRENTLY, UM, AS IT'S CURRENTLY SET UP, DOES IT, DOESN'T MEET THOSE, UM, THOSE GOALS FOR THE GREEN SPACE ALONG THERE. SO JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE SIX BASIC GOALS THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR THIS AREA. THE FIRST IS THAT WE MAXIMIZE UNINTERRUPTED GREEN SPACE, ARCH AREA IN CLUSTERING OF BUILDINGS. AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH ONE DAY. UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MINIMIZE THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS TO, TO ME ROAD, TO ME, ROAD IS A, IS, UM, IS NOT, IT CAN HANDLE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF TRAFFIC. SO MINIMIZING THAT TRAFFIC IMPACTS IMPORTANT. UM, AS OUR STAFF HAS MENTIONED, PRESERVING THE HISTORIC PARK BUILDING, WHICH ONE, A AND ONE B BOTH DO PRESERVING THE TREES, THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT. AND THAT IF A TREE DOES NEED TO RELOCATE, IT IS RELOCATED TO ANOTHER AREA ON THE SITE HAVING THE PARK ONSITE OR VERY NEARBY THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO. UM, AND STRONG CONNECTIONS TO OTHER CULTURAL FEATURES SUCH AS ZACK AND THE, UM, THE PUDS PUBLIC ART GALLERY. SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO SOME MORE WORK ON THIS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ONE B GETS US THERE. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE CONCERNS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PARKS AND REC BOARD, UM, HAD WITH THAT. UM, I WOULD ALSO JUST SAY THAT WHEN WE PASS THIS, UM, I DON'T KNOW, BACK IN THE FALL, UM, AND ASK FOR OUR STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, THE, THE SCENARIO WE WERE LOOKING AT RIGHT THEN IT WAS MUCH, MUCH CLOSER TO ONE A THAN ONE B BECAUSE IT WAS FOCUSED ON CLUSTERING, WHICH IS WHAT ORIGINALLY, UM, MOVED TOWARDS. SO, UM, SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO CONTINUE TO PUT PART ON AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS NOT A ONE BEAT THAT GETS US CLOSER TO THE GOALS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PARKS AND REC FORD, UM, WE'RE INTERESTED IN. AND THE OTHER THING IS, ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS ABOUT TUMI ROAD, THERE'S STILL, I STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, THE TRAFFIC TRAFFIC FLOW. AND I WON'T GET INTO ALL OF THAT NOW, BUT THERE'S STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF IMPACT ON TUMI ROAD. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, UH, WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND, UM, IN INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, I'D APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH PART THAT BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH THROUGH THIS TIME AND JUST RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE AT THIS POINT THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET, UH, IN TERMS OF ONE B. AND IF I MIGHT ADD, UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, WE HAVE ALSO ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE, BUT I JUST DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE HAVE, THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT, UM, ONE, ONE A, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT DOES, IT HAS MORE TRAFFIC ON TO ME THAN ONE B DOES. AND ALSO ONE B WAS, UM, REALLY TOOK A LOT INTO CONSIDERATION THE, UM, THE CONFIGURATION AS IT RELATES TO, UM, TO OUR PROGRAMMATIC, THE PROGRAMMATIC OPTIONS OR THE PROGRAMMATIC ITEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEBT, RIGHT? THE DROP-OFF THE LOAD IN THE LOAD-OUT, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AND, AND ABSOLUTELY WELCOME BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES. I JUST [03:50:01] WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I CLARIFY THAT AND NOT TO BE OBSTINATE, JUST TO CLARIFY. YES. WELL, LET ME RESPOND TO THAT MAYOR PLEASE, BUT KIMBERLY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS MORE. IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE TRAFFIC. THE ONE B PUTS THE PARKING GARAGE RIGHT ON TO ME. AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ONE B HAS LESS OF A, LESS OF A TRAFFIC IMPACT, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE DETAILS. AND THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL, ALL OF THESE 1:00 AM ONE B DO HAVE UNDERGROUND PARKING, BUT ONE B PUTS THAT PARKING RIGHT ON TO ME ROAD. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT KIMBERLY, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE, WE HAD, I HAD RAISED THE QUESTION ABOUT SIGNING THIS AND IN ONE OF THE SCHOOL SITES WITH AISD, UH, IF IT WAS GOING TO TURN OUT THAT THAT WAS AN AVAILABLE OPTION. I APPRECIATE YOU PURSUING THAT. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT AFTER YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH AISD, THAT WAS NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR US, THAT CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. IN 2018 LEANNA, LEANNA, CALLA, VOCA, AND MYSELF SPENT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME WITH AISD ACTUALLY TOURING SITES. UM, KEVIN AND HIS TEAM ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAMMATIC, UH, SET OF DOCUMENTS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH AISD FOR CONSIDERATION, NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR, UM, ANN RICHARDS AND ALSO LOOKING AT DAWSON. I THINK IF THAT'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND, UM, EVEN THROUGH ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND A LOT OF WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO IT, IT JUST THAT PARTICULAR PARTNERSHIP OR CONFIGURATION WAS NOT GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, OF, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OR AISD. AND SO, UH, BUT THAT WORK WAS DONE PRIOR TO THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL PROVIDED US IN 2019, IT WAS DONE IN MID TO LATE, LATE 2018. OKAY, THANK YOU. WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE SCOPING THIS, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, AND INEVITABLY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT EXPANDING THIS AT SOME POINT, UH, IN THE, IN THE FUTURE. AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, UH, OVERLAID ON THIS WHERE THE EXPANSION PLAN OR SCENARIO MIGHT LOOK LIKE, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE, THE, THE REALISTIC OPTION FOR THAT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, IF IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SCOPE THIS PROJECT BY, UH, ALLOWING FOR CONSTRUCTION ON TOP OF A GARAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THAT IT'S BUILT INTO THE PROCESS. UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE GIVEN THE DESIGN AND WHAT THE, UH, THE FUTURE EXPANSION REASONABLE FUTURE EXPANSION MIGHT BE. UH, AND THEN I, UH, DO I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE PARKING GARAGE IS SEPARATED FROM THE PARKS BOND FUNDING IN ORDER TO STRETCH THOSE DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UH, UH, UH, PARKING, UM, UM, I WOULD, IT'S CALLED, UM, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BENEFITS DISTRICT. I THINK IT'S PARKING MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT PLEASE I COULD BE WRONG. I'M GOING TO LET KEVIN PLEASE ANSWER BOTH OF YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK HE'S BETTER, BETTER ABLE TO DO SO. SURE. STARTING WITH THE PARKING GARAGE QUESTION. SO WE, WE HAVE BUDGETED, UM, A PORTION OF OUR PROJECT BUDGET TO MEET THE PARKING NEEDS FOR THIS PROJECT. BUT WITH THE REQUEST TO PROVIDE AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE WAS A PART OF THIS PROJECT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WILL INCREASE THE COSTS, UM, OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS REQUESTED UNDER OUR 2018 BONDS. SO, UM, WE HAVE INITIATED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE SOURCES TO MAKE UP TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT EXPANSION. UM, WHEN, WHEN OUR TEAM INITIALLY PUT THE ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM TOGETHER, UH, THE DAC IDENTIFIED OVER 60,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEED, AND TO BRING OUR PROJECT WITHIN BUDGET WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY DESIGNING A 45, 45,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, UM, BUT TO ACCOMMODATE FOR POSSIBLE PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS UNDER THIS PHASE, WE HAVE REPRESENTED THESE FOOTPRINTS JUST SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY BE, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING DOES COME FORWARD. UH, WE'VE ALSO TASKED OUR DESIGN TEAM WITH CONSIDERING FUTURE VERTICAL EXPANSION. UM, AND IN THESE STUDIO AND GALLERY WINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, UH, FOR, FOR FUTURE PHASES THAT MIGHT NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT. ARE YOU ALSO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING VERTICALLY OVER THE PARTY RATIONALE THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT, OR IS THAT NOT A REASONABLE SCENARIO? WE COULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, ALTHOUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CENTRAL IDEAS TO THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE WAS THAT THAT WOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF GREENSPACE ACROSS THAT SITE. AND SO TO BUILD ON TOP OF IT IN THE FUTURE WOULD, WOULD TAKE AWAY ADDITIONAL ACCESSIBLE PARKLAND. UM, BUT, BUT EVERYTHING'S POSSIBLE, UH, WITH ENGINEERING. SO WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION [03:55:01] WITH OUR TEAM, LESLIE, AND THIS CAGE. I WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT WITH AISD. I THINK PART OF OUR DIRECTION BACK IN 19 WAS TO CHASE DOWN WHETHER THERE WERE ANY PARTNERSHIPS WE COULD HAVE WITH AISD, BECAUSE THEY WERE BEGINNING THE SCHOOL CLOSURE PROCESS. AND I KNOW KIMBERLY, YOU MENTIONED DAWSON AND THE END RICHARD SCHOOL, BUT IN THE END, THEY, THEY DIDN'T CLOSE THOSE. THEY CLOSED PS, METS, BROKEN SIMS, AND, UM, ALL PROBABLY, OR AT LEAST THREE OF THOSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE, UM, FACILITIES LIKE STAGES AND SO FORTH SO THAT THEY KNOW. AND IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TIMES, SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TWO YEARS BEYOND WHEN WE WERE ORIGINALLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, THERE MAY BE SOME NEW PERCEPTIONS AT AISD ABOUT HOW A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ART SCHOOL PIECE, THAT I'M JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ARTS SCHOOL, THE DIRTY ARTS SCHOOL PIECE, NOT THE EXPANSION OF THE PART HEADQUARTERS, UH, BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THAT, UH, BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH AISD IN ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON THE EAST SIDE THAT WERE CLOSED, UM, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE NEWER TRUSTEES, AND THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME INTEREST IN HAVING THE CONVERSATION. UM, AND SO, UM, WHAT I WANTED TO GET REMINDED OF, OR JUST GET SOME BACKGROUND IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT DID OCCUR PRE PANDEMIC, UH, WHICH, UH, I THINK KIMBERLY TOUCHED ON WITH THE ENERGY AT SCHOOL IN DAWSON, UM, THAT, THAT DIDN'T GO WELL, IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD WORK FOR AISD WITH US, IS THAT RIGHT? SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, UM, SO REENGAGE AST, BUT IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING, OR AT LEAST REENGAGE AT AISD AND UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING VERSUS THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT, THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED, BECAUSE THEY SOUND A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WHERE WE'RE JUST NOT TALKING TO THE SAME PEOPLE OR THERE'S DIFFERENT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, YEAH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT LIANA AND I HAD, AND WE WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED, UM, THAT THE SITES THAT WERE EXPLORED AT THAT GIVEN TIME, AND I'D HAVE TO GO BACK INTO MY NOTES AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SITES. THOSE TWO THAT I HIGHLIGHTED WERE ONES THAT WE WEREN'T PARTICULARLY ENGAGED WITH, BUT I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER SITES TO DETERMINE, UM, WHAT, WHY THOSE WERE NOT, UM, THEY WERE NOT FOUND TO BE SUITABLE FOR EITHER OF US AND, AND IN SOME CASES, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH SITES, BUT IN SOME CASES, THE BUILDING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT FOR SOME OF THOSE SITES ARE, ARE NOT, OR WERE NOT, UM, FAVORABLE NECESSARILY. AND I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ILL AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SITES THEY WERE, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION THAT WE, IN SOME CASES, THE CITY WOULD BE, UM, BASICALLY WE BUILDING, UM, FROM THE GROUND UP ANYWAY, IF THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING. SO I WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT MORE INFORMATION, SO I CAN PROVIDE YOU THINGS THAT ARE, ARE, ARE CONCRETE AND THAT ARE SPECIFIC, BUT THAT'S THE GENERAL, THAT'S KIND OF THE GENERAL GIST OF THE CONGREGATION. SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THE ORIGINAL GUIDANCE THAT THE COUNCIL GAVE TO PART WAS TO ENGAGE WITH AISD, TO SEE WHAT, UM, ENTITIES, WHAT LOCATIONS HAD POTENTIAL FOR THE NEW ART SCHOOL LOCATION. I THINK THAT THAT IS STILL AN ACTIVE BIT OF GUIDANCE. UM, AND, AND FRANKLY IT DESERVES TO BE UPDATED BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS THAT AISD TRUSTEES MADE AFTER, UM, AFTER 2019 OR AT THE END OF 2019, HAVE REALLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES. AND THERE MAY BE A CHANGED LEVEL OF INTEREST. AND THERE MAY BE SOME INCOMPLETE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE NOBODY THOUGHT ABOUT NET'S BROKEN SINS AT THE TIME, AND NOW THEY ARE CLOSED AND THAT'S HAD A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN ENGAGE WITH AISD, TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION IN WAYS THAT MAY BENEFIT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE ART SCHOOL AND, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. MY UNDERSTANDING BACK IN 18 AND 19, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT DAK AND MOVING, IT [04:00:01] WAS THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP IT CENTRALLY LOCATED THE, THE PARENTS WHO WERE BRINGING THEIR KIDS TO THAT SCHOOL LIKE THAT LOCATION. AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR AWAY FROM THAT. I THINK EVEN THAT, UM, THAT INTEREST HAS SHIFTED. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE TWO TO THREE YEARS SINCE WE FIRST GAVE THIS GUIDANCE AND THE COMMUNITY. AND IT JUST, THE GENERAL ZEIT GEIST IN OUR CITY HAS SHIFTED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE WE FIRST BEGAN REALLY PUTTING PENCIL TO PAPER ON WHERE WE SHOULD PUT DAK, KNOWING WE CAN'T LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS NOW, UM, HOW CLOSE TO THE RIVER FRONT WE DIDN'T LIKE THE STADIUM BEING THAT CLOSE TO THE RIVER FRONT. IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THAT WAS THE FIRST SITE ON THE WELL ON THE BUTLER BALL FIELDS WHERE THE SOCCER STADIUM FOLKS WANTED TO LOCATE. AND WE, WE PUSHED BACK PRETTY HARD ON THAT. SO WITH THE CHANGE IN NATURE OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMICS AND SCHOOL CLOSURES AND SUCH, I THINK THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR US TO DIG BACK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTNERING WITH AISD AT ONE OF THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSED, PARTICULARLY ON THE EAST SIDE, OBVIOUSLY P'S IS CENTRAL, BUT I'M SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE ONES THAT ARE EAST OF I 35 FOR THE ART SCHOOL. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE HEADQUARTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT IN A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON DIRTY. I, I RE I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN YOUR FEEDBACK AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN TRUST US TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE. I DO WANT TO ALSO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THERE'S ALSO AN EMERGING, THERE'S ALSO BEEN DIRECTION OR INTEREST IN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN EMERGING AS AN ARTS DISTRICT OR A CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT KIND OF COMES DOWN THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD STARTING WITH. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO LOOK AT THIS SITE, BUT CERTAINLY I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR I WROTE IT DOWN. SO THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU, KIMBERLY, AND KEEP MY STAFF AND ME POSTED. THANKS. I THINK IT WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER TOTAL. THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS UPDATE. UM, I MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DIGEST THE PRESENTATION, WHICH IS GREAT AND VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO ALLOW US TO VISUALIZE THESE OPTIONS AND TIME TO TALK WITH MY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT IT. UM, MY 2 CENTS ON THE EXISTING PARKS AND RECREATION BUILDING, I JUST LOVE THAT BUILDING. I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL. UM, I COULD BE OKAY WITH AN ADDITION POSSIBLY, UM, BUT DON'T WANT TO SEE IT TAKEN AWAY, UM, BY ANY MEANS. AND I, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BE HEADQUARTERS THERE. UM, UH, MY QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT, UM, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THEN COST AND TIMELINES. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERING THE TRAFFIC IMPACT OF GENERAL CARS, ATTENDEES NEARBY RESIDENTS. UM, HAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR EMERGENCY RESPONSE BEEN BUILT INTO THESE OR COULD THERE BE ADJUSTMENT ALONG THE WAY? AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT CONVERSATION HAPPEN FOR THESE SCHEMATICS AND JUMPED IN WITH THE START OF AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? IT IS SOMETHING THAT ON A VERY PRELIMINARY LEVEL, WE ARE ACCOUNTING FOR. WE'VE INDICATED SOME FIRE LANES IN, IN THESE GAMES THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN DASH LINES, JUST THAT IS KIND OF SPEAKING TO THE CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SPACE, BUT WE ARE VERY EARLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY IRONED OUT THE DETAILS OR INITIATED THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH AFD OR FOR, YOU KNOW, THE APPROPRIATE CONTACTS THAT THEIR DEPARTMENT YEAH, THAT'S HELPFUL. UM, AND THEN ON CONSTANT TIMELINE, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE A FEW OF THE OPTIONS HAVE, WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION FOR ANY FUTURE COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR US TO GET A LITTLE MORE FIRMNESS? IS THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS, COUPLE MONTHS WAIT FOR THE FUNDING. HOW DOES, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK WELL, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT WOULD OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN PHASE. WE DO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON BOARD WHO CAN PROVIDE COSTS AS WE MOVE THROUGH SCHEMATIC DESIGN. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BE SURPRISED BY A CONSTRUCTION NUMBER THAT'S PRESENTED TO US AT THE END. UM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT EARLY ON TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOALS FOR THAT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN MIGHT BE. SO WE CAN JUST ALIGN BUDGET EXPECTATIONS WITH WHAT WE'RE ASKING OUR DESIGN TEAM TO PUT DOWN ON PAPER. UM, I KNOW THAT'S ONLY THE START OF AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. UM, [04:05:01] AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITHIN THE CITY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECT COMPONENTS, I MIGHT DEFER TO KIMBERLY. UM, ALTHOUGH AGAIN, WE HAVE INITIATED SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE SPEAKING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION OR, UM, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS MAKING UP SOME PARKING REVENUE FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE. GOSH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, I I'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS THIS DESIGN IS EMERGING, WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY EXPLORING FUNDING OPTIONS. SO I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T HAVE FOR YOU, UM, A CONCRETE WAY OF WHICH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FUND EACH AND EVERY COMPONENT, BUT I HA WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE, UH, POSSIBILITIES AND WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE. SO BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THE FRIENDS OF THE DOOR OF THE ART CENTER ARE INTERESTED IN A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. UM, AND WE'VE HAD VERY PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, WELL, WHAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE AMOUNT THAT YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO, UM, YOUR GOAL, RIGHT? YOUR FUNDRAISING GOAL. AND WE'VE HAD VERY PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS, BUT NO CONCRETE, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE START TO, UM, MOVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT MORE OF THOSE THINGS INTO, UH, INTO, UH, INTO SOMETHING THAT'S A REAL BUDGET. AND WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT, UM, REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING A PARKING STRUCTURE, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE, UM, FEES AND HOW CAN THOSE FEES BE USED TO SUPPORT CERTAIN PARTS OF, UM, OF THE, OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKING WITH OUR BUDGET OFFICE AND OUR FINANCE TEAM. AND ALSO WITH OUR LOT DEPARTMENT, W WHAT ARE WE ABLE TO DO AND WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURE CAN WE PUT IN PLACE TO, TO, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DOCK AND THE BENEFIT OF CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT WAS A LONG WAY TO SAY THAT WE'RE, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE STILL EXPLORING EVERYTHING. AND SO ALL OPTIONS ARE CONTINUING TO BE ON THE TABLE. OKAY. SO THERE'S STILL A FEW THINGS MOVING AROUND BEFORE WE REALLY CAN NAIL DOWN TIMELINE AND EXACT COST. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S A VERY EXCITING MOMENT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE FUTURE OF THE DECK. UM, I THINK I'M MORE IN LINE WITH ONE A AND ONE B, UM, BUT CERTAINLY LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS PROCESS AS WELL. UM, I THINK IT WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND HE GOT SOME IN ROADS AREA. NO, IS THAT RIGHT? DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, MARY, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME YES, I DID. THAT WAS TOLD WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER ENTER. YEAH. UM, THANKS VERY MUCH. UM, I'M REALLY KEENLY INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF, AS I THINK I MENTIONED DURING OUR, OUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS, THIS FACILITY IS CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT NINE. AND, AND SO I'M SAD TO SAY IT LEAVING DISTRICT NINE, BUT I THINK THE TRANSFORMATION OF THAT SPACE, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO THE PARK IS GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING. AND THE POSSIBILITIES THAT THE DAC AS IT MOVES NEXT DOOR TO DISTRICT FIVE ARE, ARE REALLY GREAT. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK ON THIS AND SEE IT AS JUST A TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENT IN THAT FACILITY'S HISTORY, IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF PROGRAMMING IT CAN PROVIDE. AND I, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AKIN TO WHAT WE SAW AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. I HAVE A LOT OF, I'M STILL REALLY SORTING THROUGH THE INFORMATION AND THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER OPINIONS. AND SO I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T HAVE A COHERENT LIST OF, UM, OF OPINIONS IN TERMS OF WEIGHING IN ON THE DIFFERENT DESIGN ELEMENTS, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT I TOO, I'M INTERESTED IN, I'M INTERESTED IN THE CONVERSATION I'M INTERESTED IN AND CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. UM, AND THIS LOCATION WITH A DESIGN THAT CONSIDERS SOME OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. I AM ALSO INTERESTED SEPARATE FROM THAT AND, AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH AISD. I DO WANT TO SAY IT WASN'T ANN RICHARDS. IT WAS BERTHA SUBTLER MEANS YOUNG LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. THAT WAS THE, IT WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR CLOSURE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT RECORD CORRECTED, BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED THAT WE KNOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID CLOSE SOME SITES. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS A CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST AT THE JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT WHAT PARTNERSHIPS MIGHT EXIST WITH SOME OF THOSE CLOSED SITES, SORT OF SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE, FROM THE DIRTY ART CENTER CONVERSATION THOUGH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY, I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT YOU LEARNED IN THAT PROCESS IS USEFUL. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 15 MINUTES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE ON SOME OF THOSE STRUCTURES, IF IN THE EVENT WHERE THOSE SCHOOL SITES MIGHT NEED TO BE CLOSED, WHICH AGAIN NOW HAS HAPPENED. AND I ALSO THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT THE KIND OF PROGRAMMING THAT THE DIRTY ART CENTER DOES AND SEE WHETHER THERE ARE, WHETHER WE CAN EXTEND SOME OF THAT PROGRAMMING INTO SCHOOL SITES, ABSENT, UM, OR [04:10:01] JUST ON ITS, ON ITS OWN. WHAT ARE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXIST? YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK OF THIS NEW GENERATION OF THE DAC AND WHAT IT COULD BECOME, I THINK THIS FACILITY IS GOING TO DO GREAT WORK THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO COME TO THAT SITE, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THOSE REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY POTENTIALLY IN A MORE SCATTERED WAY. AND SO I HOPE WE CAN BE OPEN TO THOSE OPTIONS. I KNOW, YEARS AGO, BAKKER ELEMENTARY WAS CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE, UM, ARM OF THE DAC THAT MAYBE SOME CLASSES COULD BE OFFERED THERE ONSITE, UH, AND, AND THAT NEVER TOOK OFF. BUT I THINK IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING MODEL THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE. SO THOSE ARE TWO KINDS OF JOINT PARTNERSHIPS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE WITH AISD, WHETHER THEY'RE COMMUNITY USES FOR THEIR EMPTY SITES, BUT ALSO ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE TO LOCATE MORE OF OUR CITY PROGRAMS WITHIN SCHOOL SITES, ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY BRING, BRING THOSE PROGRAMS. THOSE REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, REALLY POPULAR PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHO MIGHT HAVE AN IMPEDIMENT TO TRAVELING TO DAK. AND LASTLY, I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE BOND MONEY FOR THE DAC LONG, LONG BEFORE 28 18. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE? I KNOW ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE NEVER MOVED FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. AND SO THERE WAS NEVER SUFFICIENT FUNDING. WELL, THEY WERE LINKED RIGHT. THERE WAS NEVER SUFFICIENT FUNDING IN THE BOND TO ACTUALLY DO THE REPAIRS ON THE WORK THAT THAT WAS NEEDED. SO THOSE REPAIRS NEVER HAPPENED. SO, BUT, BUT THAT MONEY PREDATED 2018. SO DID THAT MONEY JUST GET REALLOCATED TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS OR, AND HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH WOULD IT HAVE BEEN MOUNTED TO, OR DOES IT AMOUNT TO, WITH THE PRE 2018 BONDS, I NEED TO GET YOU THE EXACT FIGURES AND KEVIN MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME, BUT THE 20 THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON THE DOCK RIGHT NOW IS INCLUSIVE OF SOME OF THOSE PRE 2018 BOND FUNDS. AND SOME OF THOSE PRE 2018 BOND FUNDS WERE USED TO DO SOME OF VIRGIN OR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO THE DOOR OF THE ART CENTER AND ITS CURRENT LOCATION IN ORDER TO ALLOW PROGRAMMING TO CONTINUE. THERE WAS AT ONE POINT IN TIME, A, UM, A BREACH IN THE, IN THE ROOF. AND THERE WAS ALSO, UM, SOME PLUMBING ISSUES THAT HAD TO, THAT HAD SOME REQUIREMENTS, SOME SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS WHERE SOME OF THAT FUNDING WAS USED. AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE FUNDING WAS USED FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES IN SOME VERY PRELIMINARY SORTS OF THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DOC. BUT I, I WILL, WE CAN GET YOU A FULL LIST OF THE EXPENDITURES. I KNOW WE HAVEN'T, BUT KEVIN MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WELL, AND ACTUALLY, YOU BET, THANK YOU. I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. AND I DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE AMOUNT FOR YOU 2018. UM, WHAT YOU'VE PROVIDED ME AS SUFFICIENT, BASICALLY ALL OF, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR ALL THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED. AND, AND THAT SATISFIES ME THAT YOU HAVE, AND I'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE REPAIRS THAT DIPPED INTO THAT. SO THANKS FOR THAT ADDITIONAL INFO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO DID SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS SWIRLING AROUND. AND SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE EXPECTED THAT TO BE IT, AND THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT. SO THE REASON WHY WE WERE GLAD AND THANKFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE OUR WORK SESSION PRESENTATION TODAY IS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES US AMPLE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE 22ND TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS MOST WILLING TO SET UP INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH YOUR OFFICES OR GROUP MEETINGS, AS LONG AS OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T REPORT THEM TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER, VIA COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR. THANK YOU, MARRIOTT. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN. I ONE B YOU KNOW, AND I, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA I DESIGNED, BUT, UH, A LOT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE THE LONGER WEEK WITH EIGHT TYPE OF PROJECTS AND THE MORE WE STUDY IT, THE HIGHER THE COST CODES, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH A MAC, WE GOT THE DESIGN, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG DISCUSSION FOR ABOUT A YEAR 10. THEN BY THE TIME WE SET OUT UPON CONSTRUCTION, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO COMPLETE TWO OF IT. AND THEN WE HAD TO GO AND WAIT AND GO BACK TO THE TAX PAYERS, THE VOTERS, AND TO GIVE PERMISSION TO INCREASE OUR, OUR, OUR BOND TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE COULD COMPLETE THE MAC. SO I, I HOPE THAT WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE LONGER, THE WAY IT IS THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT'S GOING TO BE, AND IF THEY CAN'T RAISE THAT KIND OF FUNDING, THEN IT WILL JUST BE PARTIALLY DONE. AND THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY OR DURING THE BOTTOM CLASS INTO INCLUDED. SO I HOPE [04:15:01] THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK INTO THAT ALSO, AND HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THAT FOR ALL THE APPS GOING TO BE ADDED ONTO THAT? AND THEN PLUS IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE SO LONG, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD THAT COST BECAUSE MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ARE GOING UP IF NOT GOING DOWN, AND IF THE INCREASE IN IT, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE ALL OF YOUR, YOUR PROJECTS. SO, UH, THAT'S MY, MY OPINION OF IT GOING THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE OF SEEING THESE PROJECTS WHEN THEY'RE DELAYED, HOW MUCH FURTHER THE WHOLE COMPLETION BEHIND COUNCILMEMBER ALTAR. THANK YOU. UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE, UM, THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD AND TO SEE, UM, THE OPTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE US, I'M GOING TO NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO, TO SIT WITH THEM AND, AND UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER AND, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONCERNS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES. UM, BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO PROVIDE IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK. UM, YOU KNOW, MR. JOHNSON STARTED HIS PRESENTATION BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS A $20 MILLION PROJECT AND THE LIBRARY, WHICH WE ALL LOVE WAS A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING PLUS PROJECT. UM, AT SOME LEVEL YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. AND SOME OF US, AS LONG AS WE ARE STICKING WITH 20 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE FEWER BELLS AND WHISTLES, UM, THREE THAT, UM, I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE PART OFFICES. UM, SO I THINK THAT IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR PART TO BE IN THAT AREA, UM, IN THAT LOCATION. UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT, THAT I HAVE QUITE THE APPRECIATION FOR THE BUILDING. UM, HAVING SPENT A BIT OF TIME INSIDE THE BUILDING. UM, AND I THINK THAT OUR STAFF DESERVE BETTER, UM, DIGS INSIDE THE BUILDING. I I'M AGNOSTIC AS TO WHETHER WE, WE KEEP THE SAME FRAME, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES REALLY WELL IS IT CONSTANTLY IS LIVING ON A SHOESTRING AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER SOME FABULOUS NEW PROJECTS. UM, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS NEVER FUNDING FOR THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, AT THE LEVEL THAT WE SHOULD, THAT'S WHY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AND HEAL THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PART HAS THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS, UM, WITH RESPECT TO HOMELESSNESS, BUT HERE TOO, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A PART DIRECTOR. WHO'S TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE PART OFFICES AS A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OTHER NEEDS. UM, BUT OUR EMPLOYEES THERE DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN SUITABLE ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL. UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE REFERENCE BACK TO THE STADIUM, THE STADIUM, AND NOT WANTING THE STADIUM THERE. UM, AND I DID NOT SUPPORT PUTTING THE STADIUM THERE. UM, I DON'T SEE THE EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE ARTS CENTER AND THE STADIUM. UM, TO ME THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT. THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT BEINGS. UM, I, HAVEN'T MADE A, YOU KNOW, A DECISION IN MY MIND BETWEEN OPTION ONE OR A AND B, I NEED TO LOOK THROUGH THEM. UM, BUT AS A PARENT, LOOKING AT THE LAWNS, UM, GUMMING BETWEEN TWO ME AND THE BUILDINGS, AND THEN HAVING THE TRAIL ON THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A LAWN THAT IS BLOCKED ON THOSE SIDES, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THE LAWNS RUNNING RIGHT INTO, UM, THE TRAIL. IT OFFERS POTENTIALLY A LOT OF PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH FOR ZACK AND FOR THE ART CENTER TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE LAWNS AS EXTENSIONS OF, UM, THEIR PROGRAMMING IN WAYS THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS POSSIBLE IF THOSE WERE OPEN ON THE OTHER AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND AGAIN, I HAVEN'T THOUGHT THAT THROUGH, BUT I, BUT I CAN SEE THE VALUE OF THAT, UM, FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, UM, I'M GONNA NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PARKING IMPLICATIONS AND STUFF. AND THE OTHER THING IS, UM, HOW THE TIMING OF THESE, OF THE USES OF THESE BUILDINGS PLAYS TOGETHER IS KIND OF INTERESTING THERE. UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE, THE ZACK THEATER DOESN'T WORK AT THE SAME HOURS AS THE PARK BUILDING, BUT THEN WHERE DOES THE DOUR, THE ART CENTER FIT IN THERE? UM, I JUST THINK, I NEED TO THINK THAT THROUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE AND MAKE SURE I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE PLACEMENT, UM, OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE BEING, UM, ON THE MORE NORTHERN, THE MORE NORTHERN END. UM, SO AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T HAVE A STRONG FEELING [04:20:01] ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M ASKING MYSELF AND THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT. UM, I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SUGGESTED ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THESE ARTS, UM, TO MANY OTHER AREAS OF TOWN, UM, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF, YOU KNOW, FURTHERING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THESE SCHOOLS THAT MAY HAVE CLOSED OR MAY CLOSE, UM, SO THAT THOSE SPACES CAN CONTINUE TO BE, UM, COMMUNITY SPACES. UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. UM, AND I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER, MARIA, THAT IF WE EXTEND THIS TOO LONG, WE JUST MAKE THE PROJECT, UM, MORE EXPENSIVE AND THAT WE HAVE TO FACE SOME TRADE-OFFS AND WE CANNOT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY PERFECT UNLESS WE HAVE, UH, FIND A WAY FOR, FOR THE BUDGET. UM, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO BE SPENDING ANOTHER 10 MILLION, 15 MILLION ON AN ARTS CENTER, UM, THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO GET ALL DIRTY AND OTHER STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO PUT THAT INTO OTHER SPACES SAYING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE 20 MILLION JUST DECLARE. OKAY. ARE THERE THOUGHTS CONCERNING KITCHEN? UM, YEAH, SO, SO I APPRECIATE HEARING WHAT EVERYBODY'S THINKING ABOUT JUST TO BE A LITTLE CLEARER ON WHAT MY CONCERNS ARE ABOUT ONE B AND THAT PERHAPS WE COULD MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THERE OR DO SOME ADJUSTMENTS BETWEEN ONE A AND ONE B IS, UM, IS THE AMOUNT OF, OF GREEN SPACE. SO I, I HEAR WHAT A DIRECTOR YULIA WAS SAYING WITH REGARD TO, UM, THE TRAFFIC. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL JUST ASK THE STAFF TO LOOK AT IS WITH THAT PARKING GARAGE, UM, OPENING ON TO, TO ME, I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE WAYS TO, UH, ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THAT TRAFFIC ON THE, TO ME PERHAPS, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT INGRESS AT THAT AREA ONLY AS OPPOSED TO GOING IN AND OUT AT THAT AREA. SO THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD WANT TO TALK WITH THEM MORE ABOUT. UM, I ALSO CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE A AND ONE B IN TERMS OF THE, THE LEVEL OF, OF, UH, GREEN SPACE THAT'S AVAILABLE, THE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE THAT'S AVAILABLE. SO MAYOR, THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD RAISED, UH, WITH REGARD TO EXPANSION, UH, I GUESS I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE, UM, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT SHARED WITH US TOO. UM, I WOULD NOT WANT TO ALLOW FOR ANY EXPANSION THAT REDUCES THE GREEN SPACE EVEN FURTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE END UP WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF A ONE A OR ONE B SO, AND, UM, SO I'M, I'M GOING TO BE WANTING TO TALK TO PART ABOUT, UH, MAKING THAT REAL CLEAR THAT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, LIMITS THE TYPE OF EXPANSION SO THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY USE SO THAT IT DOESN'T REDUCE SCREEN SPACE IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT THE LOCATION HERE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS ALONG THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND ALONG THE LAKE AND NEXT TO ZONE. SO THE GREEN SPACE, THE AVAILABILITY OF GREEN SPACE IS JUST REALLY CRITICAL. AND THAT'S WHY WE SAW THE KIND OF CONCERNS FROM BOTH THE, UM, UM, FROM BOTH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, THE PARK BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST ONE B AS IT'S CURRENTLY SET UP. SO, BUT I THINK WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, UH, PART IS, UH, INTERESTED IN THAT. AND SO PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT FOR ME, THE PARAMOUNT CONCERN HERE IS THE, IS THE D WHICH GREEN SPACE IS AVAILABLE AND CLUSTERED TOGETHER. UM, AND I'M NOT JUST NOT SEEING THAT IN ONE B OKAY. CAUSE OVER HERE. OH, OKAY. AND, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR WHEN I WAS STARTING THE SOCCER STADIUM, THAT, THAT, AND WHAT I DIDN'T ADD WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DIDN'T PURSUE THE SOCCER STADIUM AT THAT SITE WAS BECAUSE IT'S PARKLAND AND WE WANTED TO KEEP THE CONTIGUOUS GREEN SPACE, UM, AS MUCH A BIT AS WE POSSIBLY COULD. SO IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE HEADQUARTERS, CAUSE I'M STILL HOPING TO PURSUE A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT, UM, ON THE ARTS CENTER, UM, IN A SCHOOL. UM, BUT AS FAR AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR PART, I, I TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE, WAS IT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PARKS BOARD COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER WAS UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, WAS ALSO NOT IN FAVOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VOTE COUNT WAS [04:25:01] FOR THEM. OKAY. YEAH. THE PARKS BOARD ORIGINALLY VOTED FOR THE CAME BACK RESCINDED AND THEN VOTED OR WON ANY, BUT NOT ALL THE SAME PARKS BOARD MEMBERS WERE PRESENT. SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE MEETINGS TO SEE THE COMMENTS THAT RELATED TO THAT. BUT COUNCIL NUMBER KITCHEN IS CORRECT. AND EVENTUALLY THEY GOT TO ONE EIGHT INSTEAD OF ONE. AND IT ALSO IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THINKING CHANGES OVER TIME. AND SO I, I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT VOTING THIS TODAY, UM, IN ANY REAL FORM OR FASHION, BECAUSE I THINK, UM, I'VE GOT SOME MORE THINKING I NEED TO DO ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND I THINK STAFF FOR, FOR THE GOOD PRESENTATION REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM AT THIS POINT? AND THEN THE DIRECTION AND THOUGHTS. OKAY. KIMBERLY, THANK YOU, KEVIN. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT FIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TURN OVER THE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK TO, TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WE WANT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW OR PICK THIS UP THURSDAY AT 50 MINUTES MATTERS. IF YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE, IF WE CAN EVEN JUST GO IN FOR 10 MINUTES, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND THEN WE CAN PICK IT UP ON THURSDAY AS WELL. LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. UH, SO, UM, SO [E. Executive Session] WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO FIVE, FIVE, ONE OH SEVEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT CODE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM E TWO, WITHOUT OBJECTION HERE AT FOUR 11 ON APRIL SIX, 2021. AND WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE COUNCIL MEETING GO INTO CLOSED. SO YOU GUYS THERE, WE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSE SESSION, WE DISCUSSED PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM E TWO. I PAYING THE LAST, UH, PIECE OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S WORK SESSION AGENDA YOU'RE ON APRIL SIX, 2021 AND FOUR 26. I ADJOURNED THE WORK SESSION MEETING STAFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.