Aug 31, 2021 City Council Work Session

THANK YOU, GINA.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL.

GREAT TO BE WITH EVERYBODY HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE EXCITING THINGS HAVING ON OUR 35.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING AND I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.

IS IT, IS IT BEING PULLED UP? THANK YOU.

HOPEFULLY OUR, OUR TECHNICAL, UH, EQUIPMENT WILL WORK FOR US.

I HAVE SOME GREAT RENDERINGS AND INFORMATION TO SHOW HERE, BUT I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO BEING ABLE TO GIVE PERIODIC UPDATES ON .

I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALMOST ALL OF THEM IN YOURSELF, MAYOR MULTIPLE TIMES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS, BUT, UH, JUST, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT.

DID YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY TO TALK ABOUT THE AUSTIN REGION AND CENTRAL TEXAS BEING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE STATE OR IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M SORRY.

THE, THE LAST TIME WE HAD ANY MAJOR EXPANSION TO WAS THE ADDITION OF THE UPPER DECKS, UH, NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THAT WAS AROUND 1974.

AND THE, THE REGION'S POPULATION AROUND THAT TIME WAS ABOUT 308,000 PEOPLE.

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY.

IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 2.1 AND USING OUR MPOS, UH, THE CAMPO MODEL WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS, THAT'S ALMOST OVER DOUBLED TO GET ABOUT 4.5 AND 4.7 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE, WE'VE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR EXPANSION ON BY 35.

SO I'VE HEARD THE, UM, STATEMENTS IN THE PAST OR THE HISTORY THAT IF WE DON'T NECESSARILY BUILD CERTAIN THINGS, PEOPLE WON'T COME WELL.

WE'VE, WE'VE NOT BUILT IT AND THEY'VE COME AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE, THE GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND BUSINESS CLIMATE THAT WE HAVE IN TEXAS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE AUSTIN REGION, THAT'S ATTRACTING THEM.

AND THOSE

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ARE ALL GREAT THINGS.

BUT ALONG WITH THAT DOES BRING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC.

AND I KNOW WE ARE SHIFTING MODES OF TRAFFIC, BUT EVEN IF A PORTION OF THOSE FOLKS DO BRING VEHICLES AND SUPPLIES AND TRUCKING, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OVERWHELM , WHICH AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW IS THE MOST CONGESTED.

THE NUMBER ONE MOST CONGESTED ROADWAY, UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, EVERY TIME THAT SURVEY IS TAKEN AND, UH, LAST YEAR SURVEY, IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE MOST CONGESTED.

SO WE WILL REMAIN THERE.

AND IF, IF WE CONTINUE TO, UH, DOWN THIS PATH OF NOT ADDRESSING THE EXPANSION AND THE OTHER NEEDS IN ABOUT 35, IT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS SOME STATISTICS OF, OF THE, THE LOCAL TRAFFIC BREAKDOWN AND A LOT OF THE ORIGINS AND DESTINATIONS ON I, 35, OUR LOCAL TRAFFIC.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN BYPASS A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC ON I, 35 TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

THE MAJORITY OF IT, OR 80 OVER 80% STILL WAS USING THE CORE.

AND WE ASKED SOME ISSUES WITH, WITH, UH, SAFETY.

UH, WE ATTRACT THE SAFETY STATISTICS ON I 35, AND IT DOES HAVE CRASH RATES THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE.

AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

SO GREAT CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US A LOT TO DO, AND A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

AND WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ON THESE SALOONS.

THAT WAS DRIVING ME CRAZY.

SO FIRST SHE HIT SPENCER.

UH, THIS SHOWS A TIMELINE AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S NOT BEEN, UM, CONCEIVED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND GOT US TO WHERE WE WE ARE, BUT IT GOES BACK TO THE 1980S AND THE NINETIES AND TWO THOUSANDS AND A LOT OF INPUT AND A LOT OF FEASIBILITY AND A LOT OF INVESTMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE ON THIS PROJECT, UM, FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S INVESTMENT ON FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, LEGISLATURE, IDENTIFYING FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT.

MOST RECENTLY, CAMPO IDENTIFYING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN DEDICATING IT TO .

THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN DOLLARS AND RESOURCES, AND WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED MANY CONCEPTS OVER THE YEARS, UH, LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT.

I'VE LOOKED BACK AND I'VE SEEN, UH, DIFFERENT CONCEPTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD SUCH AS, UM, EXTENDING THE ELEVATED DECKS ON THE NORTHERN SIDE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY LIMITS TO ADDRESS CAPACITY AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK ON AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, AND HAVE ALREADY INCORPORATED A NUMBER OF REVISIONS, INCLUDING REMOVING THE UPPER DECKS AND LOWERING I 35 THROUGH THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE CROSS STREET AND EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY BY SOCAL AND PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATIONS, TRANSIT CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BAKED IN TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND, UH, AND, AND PROUD TO CONTINUE THAT, THAT PARTNERSHIP AND GETTING THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE CITY AND ROB'S TEAM HAS BEEN GREAT IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONTINUING, UH, BUT A LOT HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS POINT AND EVOLVED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND THIS SHOWS A DEPICTION OF THE THREE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE JUST SHARED AT OUR RECENT PUBLIC MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AND, UH, THE TOP LINE AND, AND THIS, I APOLOGIZE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S, IF YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF CHANCE TO ART, SOME TIME TO, TO DIG INTO THIS, IT IS VERY DESCRIPTIVE.

AND THIS IS THE PROFILE LOOKING FROM THE SIDE OF THE HALL OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE TOP ONE SHOWS, UH, WHERE THE ELEVATED SECTIONS ARE, WHERE THE, THE CROSS STREETS ARE.

AND, UH, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW THAT THE YELLOW DOTS ARE THE CROSS STREETS THAT WOULD GO OVER I 35 AND THE RED DOTS ARE CROSS STREETS WHERE GOES OVER THOSE AND THAT TOP ONE IS THE EXISTING TODAY.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE GRAYED OUT AREA ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY ACROSS THAT THAT LINE IS THE UPPER DECKS RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY GO ACROSS THOSE CROSS STREETS.

AND THEN THE THREE, UH, BELOW AT NUMBER, UH, ALTERNATIVE ONE ALTERNATIVE TWO ON ALTERNATIVE THREE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SHOWN AT OUR PUBLIC MEETING ON AUGUST 10TH, UH, GOING THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS AND, UM, AND LOOKING AT THE, THE, THE BENEFITS AND THE DETRIMENTS OF EACH OF THESE WE'VE ELIMINATED A NUMBER, AN ALTERNATIVE NUMBER TWO, UH, THAT WAS THE ONE WITH THE LONGEST TUNNELING, UH, LONGEST TUNNELING STANDPOINT.

AND WE'VE ELIMINATED THAT AND WE'VE MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NUMBERS TWO AND NUMBER THREE.

AND A LOT OF THE COMMENTS WE'VE GOTTEN, UH, THAT ARE ALL THREE OF THESE ALTERNATIVES ARE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE AND THEY ARE, UH, BUT WE WILL BE NOW USING AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO CREATIVITY OF OUR DESIGN FEATURES AND OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, UH, TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES WITHIN THESE.

BUT I GO BACK TO THE, THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE AND INCORPORATED OVER THE DECADES WHERE WE'VE REFINED THIS TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO HAVE A VERY, UM, SPECIFIC PROJECT IN PLACE.

UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE ABILITY TO, UH, SWING WAY OUT OF THE FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIGHTNESS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE BUILT UP.

SO WE ARE VERY LIMITED AND IN A TIGHT FOOTPRINT ALREADY.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME LIMITED LIMITATIONS ON THE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE CAN DO.

UH, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THESE AND MOVING THESE FORWARD

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NEXT, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THESE WERE OUR EVALUATION RESULTS.

AND AS I SAID, ALTERNATIVES, TWO AND THREE WOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD.

AND, UH, THE REASONS FOR THESE IS, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE FASTER RESPONSE TIMES FOR EMS. WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES PARTNERS.

UH, THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE SHORTER AND DURATION.

UH, AS WE KNOW, CONSTRUCTION IS DISRUPTIVE.

ANYTIME YOU DO IT, BUT SPECIFICALLY ON I 35 THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CORE, IT WILL BE, IT WILL BE DISRUPTIVE FOR THE, UH, MANY FOLKS IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.

AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE TRAFFIC AS EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE, UH, IMPROVED TAP TRAFFIC OPERATIONS, LESS UTILITY CONFLICTS, FEWER DRAINAGE CONFLICTS, LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AND THE OVERALL COST OF NOT HAVING TUNNELS WOULD BE A MUCH LOWER BASED ON THE ANNUAL LIFETIME LIFETIME AND LIFE CYCLE COSTS.

INTERSTATE 35, PUSHING IT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUSHING ALL OF THAT TRAFFIC IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.

BUT I DO GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR, UH, THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.

AND, UH, WE WERE ASKED TO EVALUATE THESE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO SEE, WOULD THESE BE GOOD SOLUTIONS FOR, FOR .

AND, UM, WE WANTED TO NOT DO THIS WITH OUR OWN INTERNAL STAFF, BUT WE WENT OUTSIDE TO GET AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS.

WE HIRED THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE OR TTI TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES OF RECONNECT AUSTIN, RETHINK 35, AND ALSO INCORPORATE OR LOOK AT THE EVALUATE THE ULI OPTIONS AS WELL, NOT AS A CONCEPT AS A WHOLE, BUT MANY OF THOSE ELEMENTS, UH, AND THE GREAT WORK THAT THAT GROUP DID A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.

AND BASICALLY WE ASKED TTI TO TELL US TWO SIMPLE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE IS THE CONCEPT VIABLE.

AND WHEN I SAY VIABLE, I KNOW ANYTHING IS VIABLE.

IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, WE, WE ASKED THE SECOND QUESTION, WHAT WOULD IT COST? BUT THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A DETERMINING FACTOR OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS VIABLE.

UM, SO WE DEFINE VIABLE IS CAN IT BE DONE? AND IF IT IS DONE, HOW DOES IT OPERATE WITH THE TRAFFIC THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND THE PROJECTED TRAFFIC GOING FORWARD, AND WHAT WOULD THOSE OUTCOMES BE? SO, AS YOU CAN SEE ON HERE, THE THREE GRAPHS OR THE THREE MAPS IN THE MIDDLE, UH, SHOW THE PROJECTED TRAFFIC PEAK, UH, AFTERNOON PEAK VOLUMES IN 2045, BASED ON THE CAMPO MODEL.

AND IT SHOWS THE TXDOT ALTERNATIVES, THE ONE, TWO AND THREE THAT I SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, PLUS THE RECONNECT AUSTIN, UH, CONCEPT AND RETHINK 35.

AND JUST TO RECAP, UH, RECONNECT AUSTIN BASICALLY WOULD BE TO BURRY ALL OF , UH, THE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC AND, AND CAP IT FROM ABOUT, UH, CESAR CHAVEZ TO MLK, UH, PUT THE FRONTAGE ROADS IN THE MIDDLE AND A BOULEVARD TYPE OF SECTION AND REDEVELOP THE LAND ON TOP OF IT.

SO IT'S VERY CONFINING AND IT DOES LIMIT THE ON OFF RAMPS, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE, THE, THE RESULTS THAT WE WOULD SEE A RETHINK 35 BASICALLY ELIMINATES THE INITIAL INTERSTATE ENTIRELY AND TURNS IT INTO A BOULEVARD SECTION.

SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIX OR A SEVEN LANE BOULEVARD SECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CORE.

AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE, IN THE THIRD ONE.

SO THE LEGEND ON THE LEFT, I WANT TO POINT OUT, SHOWS THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC VOLUMES BASED ON THE 20, 45 EVENING PEAK VOLUME CHANGES.

AND IF YOU SEE A RED LINE THAT SHOWS THAT THE VOLUME OF THOSE ROADWAYS WOULD INCREASE, AND THEN THE THICKNESS OF THAT RED LINE WOULD DETERMINE HOW MUCH IT INCREASES.

SO THE THICKEST OF RED LINE WOULD BE A 25% OR MORE INCREASE ON THOSE DIFFERENT ROADWAYS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TXDOT ALTERNATIVE, UH, WITH THE, THE PROJECTED NUMBERS OF, OF TRAFFIC INCREASING OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS OR SO, UH, WE DO SEE AN INCREASE ON INTERSTATE 35.

IT'S WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT.

UH, WE MAINTAIN THAT A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S ON THE CITY GRID, EVEN TODAY NEEDS TO BE ON 35 ONCE IT'D BE ON 35, BUT THEIR GPS MAY JUST TAKE THEM TO DIVERT A, A SHORT-TERM BLOCKAGE AHEAD.

SO WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THE INCREASES ON 35, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT THAT TRAFFIC TO BE.

IF YOU MOVE OVER TO RECONNECT AUSTIN.

AND AGAIN, SOME OF THE RESTRICTING FACTORS OF GETTING ON AND OFF 35, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE RECONNECT WOULD DO, IT PUSHES QUITE A BIT OF THAT TRAFFIC ONTO THE CITY GRID, WHICH ISN'T DESIGNED TO HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC.

AND IT DOESN'T OPERATE VERY WELL.

SO YOU CAN SEE A 25% OR MORE INCREASES ON A NUMBER OF THE CITY STREETS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, MORE TOWARDS THE EAST SIDE THAN THE WEST SIDE, BUT IT DOES BLEED A LOT OF THAT INTERSTATE TRAFFIC OVER ONTO THE CITY GRID.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE RETHINK 35, UH, IS NOT SURPRISING BASED ON ELIMINATING THE INTERSTATE ALTOGETHER AND TURNING IT INTO A BOULEVARD.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE BLUE WITH INTERSTATE 35 TURNING BLUE, THE VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC WOULD GO WAY DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE OR ON THE MAIN LINE, BUT IT PUSHES EVEN MORE TRAFFIC ONTO THE CITY GRID.

SO WITH THESE EVALUATIONS, WE LOOKED AT THESE AND WE FELT INTERSTATE TRAFFIC NEEDS TO STAY ON THE INTERSTATE PUSHING OR BLEEDING TRAFFIC BY RESTRICTING THE

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IT'S, IT'S SIMPLY, ISN'T THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND I, AGAIN, I'VE MET WITH, UH, MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS MULTIPLE TIMES, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE NOT VISITED WITH YET COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET ON THE CALENDAR AND WE WILL MEET AND HAVE UPDATES.

UH, BUT I WOULD HAVE A VERY HARD TIME SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM ANY ONE OF YOU, WHETHER IT'S VIRTUALLY OR PHYSICALLY IN A ROOM AND PUTTING A MAP LIKE THIS, TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A PROJECT ON INTERSTATE 35, THAT'S GOING TO PUSH 25% OR MORE OF THAT TRAFFIC ONTO THE CITY GRID.

IT JUST SIMPLY IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO THESE CONCEPTS IN AND OF THEMSELVES AS STANDALONE PROJECTS, DON'T OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND DON'T, AND DON'T KEEP THE, THE TRAFFIC ON THAT NEEDS TO BE ON .

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MANY OF THE ELEMENTS IN RECONNECT AND RETHINK ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED INTO OUR DESIGNS ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UH, AS WE DEVELOP, UH, UH, , UH, FURTHER.

SO I'D GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.

AND I WANT TO SHOW THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.

WE CALL MOBILITY 35, AND AS YOU CAN SEE MANY OF THESE LINE UP DIRECTLY WITH WHAT RETHINK AND RECONNECT WANT TO DO IS OPTIMIZING THE FOOTPRINT, INCREASING CAPACITY, ENHANCING SAFETY, MINIMIZING THE ADDITIONAL RIGHT AWAY THAT WE WOULD NEED FOR THIS PROJECT, IMPROVING OPERATIONS, THE NEXT TWO, IMPROVING EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS, UH, IMPROVING COMPATIBILITY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENHANCING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIANS, AND JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED INTO.

UH, THE PROJECT WE'LL BE CONSTRUCTING TWO NON TOLD, MANAGED LANES IN EACH DIRECTION ON 35, FROM TWO 90 TO BEN WHITE BOULEVARD, AND THAT'S TO ADDRESS DARCY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND THE IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY AND OPERATIONS ON THE OTHER EXISTING TRAVEL LANES, WE'RE LOWERING THE TRAVEL LANES.

AND I HAVE AN ILLUSTRATION THAT SHOWS THAT REMOVAL OF THE DECKS AND THEN A RENDERING OF WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE, BUT NOT ONLY IN THE DECK AREA, BUT ALSO IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE WHERE IT'S ELEVATED, WE'LL BE SINKING THAT BELOW GRADE IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATION YOU'LL SEE ON THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR WILL BE THE ELEVATION OF WHERE THE FRONTAGE ROADS RIGHT NOW ARE RIGHT NOW.

EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD BE BELOW THAT.

UH, WE'RE WIDENING OVER 15 EAST WEST CROSSINGS TO INCLUDE BUFFERS, 20 FOOT BUFFERS, AND UP TO 10 FOOT SHARED USE PATHS THAT WILL SEPARATE BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS FROM THE TRAVEL LANES.

WE'RE ADDING SOME NEW EAST WEST CONNECTIONS, ONE FIFTH STREET FOR ALL USERS AND NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT CAP METRO RED LINE, SOUTH, UH, SOUTH OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 51ST STREET AND US TWO 90, WHERE THE, UH, THE PEDESTRIANS WOULD BE MOST LIKELY TO USE IT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT LOWERING DESIGN SPEEDS ON THE FRONTAGE ROADS TO ENHANCE SAFETY ON THOSE LOCATIONS.

WE'RE PROVIDING OVER 16 MILES OF SHARED USE PATHS WITH, AND WE'LL MAKE THE, THOSE SIDEWALKS, ADA COMPLIANT AND ADDRESS BICYCLE SAFETY, OR MAKING 13 CONNECTIONS TO THE URBAN TRAIL NETWORK.

AND WE HAVE 28 INTERSECTIONS THAT WILL CONTAIN BYPASS LANDS, WHICH REDUCE TRAFFIC ON THE FRONTAGE ROADS AND ALLOW THAT TO OPERATE MORE SMOOTHLY.

SO THE ONE THAT I WANT TO, UH, REALLY FOCUS ON A LITTLE BIT AND EXPAND ON IS, IS INCREASING CAPACITY AND GO BACK TO MY FIRST SLIDE OR MY SECOND SLIDE SHOWING THAT THE, UH, THE WAVE OF POPULATION AND VEHICLES ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE HERE IN THE NEXT 20 OR 25 YEARS, WE DO NEED TO INCREASE CAPACITY.

AND AS A TEXTILE ENGINEER, I'M GOING TO SAY INCREASING CAPACITY DOES NOT ONLY MEAN ADDING LANES.

SO YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT FROM A TEXTILE ENGINEER, BECAUSE I KNOW, BUT ANY TIMES AS TO WE'RE ACCUSED OF INCREASING CAPACITIES, ONLY ADDING LANES, BUT IT'S ALSO MORE THAN JUST ADDING LANES.

IT'S HOW YOU USE THOSE LANES.

AND THE MANAGED LANES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

THE TWO NON TOLD MANAGED LANES IN EACH DIRECTION WILL BE HOV AND TRANSIT ONLY OF COURSE, EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE AS WELL, BUT HOV AND TRANSIT PRIORITY LANES.

AND THE ONE THING THAT WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THROUGH OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH AND, AND, AND VISITING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS WE NEED TO PR WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE MOVING PEOPLE OVER MOVING VEHICLES.

AND WE 100% AGREE.

THESE MANAGED LANES ACTUALLY WE'LL DO BOTH IN ORDER TO BE IN THE MANAGED LINE.

YOU NEED TO BE IN A HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE WITH TWO OR THREE OR MORE, UH, UH, OCCUPANTS AT IT.

AND THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED THAT, UH, AS WE DEVELOP THE PROJECT OR A BUS TO BE IN THAT LANE OR THOSE TWO LANES, SO WE WILL BE MOVING MORE PEOPLE IN THE SAME OR FEWER NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAN WE DO TODAY.

SO WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING BOTH MOVING PEOPLE, MOVING VEHICLES, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THIS TIDAL WAVE OF POPULATION AND VEHICLES IS COMING TO US IN THE NEXT, UH, 20 OR 25 YEARS.

THAT REALLY IS IN RESPONSE TO THE, UH, THE GREAT ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

THE SECOND CAPACITY ISSUE I WANT TO ADDRESS, AND I TALKED ABOUT THE BYPASS LANES, UM, IS THE 28 INTERSECTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING THESE BYPASS LINES.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS A, A LANE USAGE THING, NOT

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NECESSARILY JUST ADDING LANES.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU PICTURE YOURSELF ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD SYSTEM AND YOU'RE COMING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, UH, MANY TIMES YOU WILL, UH, BE ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD ROAD.

AND IF YOU NEED TO GO SEVERAL BLOCKS, YOU'LL HIT LIGHT AFTER LIGHT, AFTER LIGHT, AFTER LIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN, AND, UM, AND PEAK VOLUME MORNING AND EVENING RUSH HOURS ARE WHAT THE BYPASS LANES WILL DO IS TAKE ONE OF THE LANES, USUALLY THE LEFT LANE OF THE FRONTAGE ROAD AND APPEAL IT OFF.

AND ONCE YOU GET TO A, AN INTERSECTION AT A USUALLY PEEL OFF AND GO DOWN AND UNDER THE CROSS STREET AND BYPASS THAT INTERSECTION, AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING MULTIPLE BLOCKS, WILL WE BE ABLE TO APPEAL OFF BYPASS THOSE SIGNALS AND NOT GET STUCK AT EVERY LIGHT AFTER LIGHT? AND REALLY THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT NEED TO BE AT THE SIGNALS WILL BE THE ONES WHO ARE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS AT THAT INTERSECTION.

WE THINK THE INCORPORATION OF THESE BYPASS LANES ARE GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE DOWNTOWN CORE.

AND WE'RE INCORPORATING THOSE IN OTHER PROJECTS AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE, UM, THE DIVERGING DIAMOND THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING AT PARMER LANE.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE BYPASS LANES AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO AVOID THE SIGNAL WOULD PARMER AND GO AROUND AND UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE, WE'RE DOING THAT ON 28 INTERSECTIONS HERE.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER, NOT ONLY FOR THE FRONTAGE ROADS, BUT FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO GO MULTIPLE BLOCKS AND KEEP THAT TRAFFIC MOVING AND KEEP IT MOBILE AND KEEP IT MUCH SAFER FOR, FOR EVERYONE.

SO I KNOW THAT CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT, UH, DOES GET A, A BAD RAP SOMETIMES, AND WE'RE ALWAYS ACCUSED OF ONLY ADDING LANES, BUT THE USE OF THE LANES IS AS MUCH IMPORTANT AS ADDING ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO MEET THE DEMAND.

AND WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE NEXT LOT, PLEASE.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

I MENTIONED SOME OF THESE IN MY, IN MY COMMENTS ALREADY, WE'RE LOWERING TRAVEL LANES, UH, MORE THAN 15 WIDENED EAST-WEST CROSSINGS, UH, WITH THE FUTURE OF FIFTH STREET AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT THE NEW LOCATIONS, LOWER DESIGN SPEEDS AND ENHANCED PERSON CARRYING CAPACITY.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED, SO SHOW ON THIS, IT'S A RENDERING THAT WE JUST PUT TOGETHER OF WHAT A, A WIDENED BRIDGE WITH SOME BUFFERS AND, UH, SOME SEPARATION BETWEEN, UH, THE TRAVEL LANES AND THE BICYCLE PATHS OR THE SIDEWALK COULD LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE AESTHETICS PROGRAM AND REINVIGORATING THAT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND STAKEHOLDERS TO REALLY CAPTURE THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY AND INCLUDE, UH, ART OR SCULPTURES OR SHADE STRUCTURES OR ANYTHING THAT WILL BE DETERMINED AT A LATER TIME.

AND NOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A RENDERING, UH, THE DIFFERENT, THE VINYL DESIGN, A DECISION WILL BE FORTHCOMING, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER TO SHOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE ON MANY OF THESE CROSS BRIDGES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE ENHANCING SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE FOR US AS WELL.

AND THIS IS JUST A, A, A SHOT OF THE EXISTING AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

AND THEN THE ALTERNATIVES ONE AND TWO, UH, THIS WOULD BE, UH, ALTERNATE OR I'M SORRY, ALTERNATIVES TWO AND THREE.

UM, EVERYTHING WOULD BE A GROUND LEVEL EXCEPT FOR THE OVERPASS ON ALTERNATIVE THREE, GOING OVER, UH, AIRPORT BOULEVARD, BUT THIS SHOWING AIRPORT, BECAUSE THIS IS ONE WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND MY TRIMBLE'S GROUP TO POSSIBLY LOOK AT SOME PLAZA AREAS OR WIDENED BRIDGES, UH, FOR CAPS AND STITCHES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT, UH, AGAIN, SOME RENDERINGS, THESE, UH, THE DETAILS WILL BE DETERMINED AS WE FINALIZE THE DESIGN ON THIS, UH, BUT VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, FOR MANY OF THESE LOCATIONS.

NEXT SLIDE ONE LAST RENDERING.

THIS IS, UH, I 35 AT SIXTH STREET.

AND I POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT ON THE, THE CURRENT, UH, PICTURE OF THIS IS THAT'S THE ELEVATED SECTION ON FILM MATERIAL THAT SORT OF SEPARATES AND GIVES THAT VISUAL BARRIER BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDE.

AND THAT'LL BE COMING DOWN, WE'LL, WE'LL BE SINKING BELOW THE CROSS STREET.

AND IT WOULD LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THE RENDERING ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THAT.

BUT AGAIN, FINAL DESIGN WILL DETERMINE THE FINAL DETAILS, BUT WE DO INTEND ON SINKING IT, ALTHOUGH THE GROUNDS FROM THE CROSS STREET, IN THE FRONT OF THE ROAD LEVEL SLIDE, OH, AND ONE LAST ONE, THIS IS AT FOUR STREET WHERE WE'LL BE ADDING THE, THE, UM, THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCOMMODATIONS RIGHT THERE AT THE RED LINE.

UH, THIS IS ON BOTH ALTERNATIVES, TWO AND THREE, SO IT WILL BE ACCOMMODATING, UH, ADDITIONAL MODES OF TRAFFIC ON THIS NEXT SLIDE.

I WANTED TO SHOW THIS, AND IT'S PROBABLY VERY SMALL AND VERY, UH, DETAILED AND, AND HARD TO SEE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY, UM, TWO, TWO STRIPS OF AND A FEW PICTURE, A NORTH IS TO THE LEFT AND THE TOP SCHEMATIC OR THE TOP STRIP GOES FROM AIRPORT TO ABOUT MAINER.

AND THEN THAT MATCHED LINE AT THE END OF THAT TOP STRIP WOULD MATCH WITH THE LEFT-HAND LINE ON THE BOTTOM STRIP.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS LAYING OUT THE WHOLE THING, AND I LABELED THE ROADWAYS.

SO YOU CAN GET A FRAME OF REFERENCE, BUT LOOKING, UH, AT WHAT POTENTIAL WE

[00:30:01]

HAVE OF CAPPING AND OR STITCHING CERTAIN LOCATIONS, THIS IS WHAT, UH, WAS, WAS, UM, PROPOSED BY THE ULI LAST FEBRUARY WHEN THEY CAME AND BROUGHT THEIR NATIONWIDE EXPERTS INTO US AND GAVE US SOME SUGGESTIONS, AS WELL AS WHAT TTI HAD HAD, HAD IDENTIFIED AS LOCATION, WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLE NEED FURTHER EVALUATION ON THE CAP AND STITCH LOCATIONS, BUT BASICALLY CAPS OUR DECK PLAZAS BETWEEN CROSS STREETS AND STITCHES ARE WIDENED, WIDENED BRIDGES.

SO YOU CAN SEE AT THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE POTENTIAL FOR A CAP SHOWN IN GREEN AT 38TH STREET, THAT WOULD BE A STITCH OR A WIDER BRIDGE WHERE WE COULD EXPAND THEIR, UH, OTHER CAPITOL LOCATIONS AND POTENTIALS AT DEAN KEATON AND MANNER BETWEEN 12TH AND 11TH, AND THEN FROM EIGHTH TO CESAR CHAVEZ.

AND THEN THE AT 15TH STREET, A POTENTIAL FOR A STITCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 15TH STREET, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.

AND PLEASE WORK WITH MY TREMBLE HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC PARTNER IN THIS AND LOOKING AT DEVELOPING THIS, THEY HAVE A CONSULTANT ON BOARD THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THESE POSSIBILITIES AND ALSO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE THESE AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO OUR PROJECT.

NEXT SLIDE, LET'S TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE OUTREACH.

WE'VE DONE THIS, UH, ON THIS PROJECT, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND I BELIEVE THE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE HAD PERSONALLY WITH MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NEW MAYOR ARE NOT INCLUDED HERE.

SO I'VE PROBABLY HAD 20 TO 30, 28 TO 30 MEETINGS MYSELF, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOU.

UH, WE WANT TO SHOW YOU THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING AND HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND, AND MANY TIMES THERE ARE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS SO YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS WELL AS, UH, BRINGING, UH, CONCERNS AND ISSUES TO US.

WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE INTO, INTO OUR PROJECT AND, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MAKE A SIMILAR PRESENTATION YESTERDAY TODAY, AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMERCE AT THEIR MOBILITY SUMMIT WAS ABLE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH, UM, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT CAP METRO AND HEARD HER PRESENTATION ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT.

AND, UM, OUR PROJECT DOVETAILS VERY CLOSELY WITH WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND AS WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION EXPLOSION, THAT'S COMING OUR WAY, THERE'S NOT ONE SINGLE SOLUTION THAT IN AND OF ITSELF CAN HELP LESSEN THE IMPACTS OF THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING OUR WAY.

AND WE'RE PROUD AND PLEASED TO WORK WITH KAT METRO.

SO OUR PROJECT WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH ARROWS TO ADDRESS IT AT ALL MODES.

THROUGHOUT THIS NOW, WITH THAT SAID NO HIGHER, NO WIDER, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY TRY TO AND STRIVE TO DO ON MANY OF OUR PROJECTS, NO MATTER WHERE WE DO, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT TAKING PROPERTY AND TAKING REAL ESTATE IS VERY SENSITIVE.

THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE THAT I HAD PREPARED, BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING.

THAT'S, THAT'S GOTTEN SOME ATTENTION OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, AND IT'S REFERRING TO A COMMENT OR A QUOTE THAT HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO OUR CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN, BRUCE BUG, CHAIRMAN OF OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION THAT SAID THAT HE MADE A COMMENT LAST YEAR AT A COMMISSION MEETING IN FEBRUARY WHERE HE COMMITTED TXDOT TO NOT GOING ANY NO HIGHER OR NO WIDER WITHOUT .

AND I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE, THE, THE NEWS RELEASE AND SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE IT'S BEEN SPREAD PRETTY FAR AND WIDE.

AND, UM, THE NO HIGHER, NO WIDER MOTTO IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, UM, REPEATED MANY TIMES BY MANY IN THE COMMUNITY AS, AS A VISION AND AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THE, UM, THE, THE QUOTE THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN BUG MADE LAST YEAR.

I WAS ACTUALLY AROUND WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS AFTER A COMMISSION MEETING, AND IT WAS A, A SCRUM OF REPORTERS THAT WERE ASKING HIM, UH, SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

AND, UM, AND IT WAS, IT WAS A COMMENT THAT, THAT, THAT HE MADE, BUT I BELIEVE WHAT'S BEEN PORTRAYED OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS OR SO AS A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THAT RECORDING AND SEE THE QUOTES.

AND, UM, IN ORDER FOR ME NOT TO MESS IT UP, I I'M GOING TO READ SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER WAS.

SO THE QUESTION WAS AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF THE, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF THE MEETING, AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER BROUGHT UP CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES RIGHT ALONG I, 35 ARE BUSINESSES GOING TO BE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPANSION AND CHAIRMAN BUG'S COMMENT, HIS QUOTE BACK WAS, WELL, OUR COMMITMENT IS NO HIGHER AND NO WIDER.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DISRUPT LOCAL BUSINESSES AS LEAST AS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND HE SAYS, HE IS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HIMSELF, PRIVATE BUSINESS SECTOR.

AND HE SEES WHAT CONSTRUCTION LIKE THAT HAS DONE TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND HE FURTHER WENT TO SAY THAT HE WAS QUOTED THAT, UH, COMMITTING TO NO HIGHER OR NO WATER TO AVOID DISRUPTION TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT FINAL ENGINEERING DECISIONS WILL COME AT A LATER STAGE IN THE PROCESS.

SO TAKING THE ENTIRE CONTEXT OF WHAT CHAIRMAN BHAGAT SAID, HE RECOGNIZES THAT ENGINEERING DECISIONS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND BASED ON THE NEPA PROCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS

[00:35:01]

AND GOING BACK TO THE GOALS THAT I HAD SHOWED EARLIER, UH, OPTIMIZING THE RIGHT OF WAY AND MINIMIZING RIGHT, UH, RIGHT AWAY, UH, TAKES IS ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES THAT WE WILL TRY TO SQUEEZE THAT DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND DEVELOP THESE PLANS OF WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMMUNITY GROUPS AROUND US, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT TO SQUEEZE FOOTPRINT OF THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT CHAIRMAN BUG REALIZED THAT THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS AND THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS WILL DRIVE WHAT THAT FINAL FOOTPRINT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT OUR COMMITMENT IS TO SQUEEZE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MINIMIZE THOSE DISRUPTIONS.

SO I FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE WHAT I'VE SEEN IN SOME PRESS RELEASES AND SOME QUOTES IN ARTICLES ONLY TAKES THAT SMALL SNIPPET OF WHAT CHAIRMAN BUCK SAID.

HE DID SAY THOSE WORDS, BUT IT DOES TAKE IT OUT OF THE FULLER CONTEXT OF WHAT HE MEANT AND WHAT THE PROCESS, UH, FORCES US TO DO AS WE GO THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM.

SO AGAIN, OUR COMMITMENT IS TO MINIMIZE THE TAKES.

SO WITH THAT IN CLOSING, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE, THE ATTENTION AND THE INVITATION MAYOR TO, TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, WE'LL LOOK AT THESE ALTERNATIVES, WORKED WITH THE CITY, UH, WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST POSSIBLE PLAN FOR OUR REGION.

UM, W W WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE THAT DOING NOTHING IS STILL ON THE TABLE.

ANYTIME YOU GO THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, UH, THE NO BUILD OPTION IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED AGAINST ALL OF THE, THE OTHERS, BUT IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING TO TAKE ALL OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TO THIS POINT.

AND WE HAVE A FULLY FUNDED PROJECT BY THE DEDICATION OF OUR COMMISSION AND THROW THAT ALL AWAY, UH, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ENHANCEMENTS OF THE CROSS STREET BRIDGES AND THE SHARED USE PATHS AND THE TRANSIT CONNECTIONS, UH, NONE OF THOSE DO GET TO BE DONE IF WE DON'T DO THE CORE PROJECT AS WELL.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD, ASKING YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, AND ROB'S GROUP HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH US AND, UH, AND, AND LOOK FORWARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.

AND, UH, I WILL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ACTUALLY.

PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

WE COULD JUST GO RIGHT INTO DIRECTOR SPILLER'S

[B2. City of Austin Goals for the I-35 Project.]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH THOUGH.

OKAY, COOL.

IF WE CAN GET THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, MARIN COUNCIL.

LET'S GOOD TO BE HERE IN CHAMBERS AND MAKING A PRESENTATION.

I DON'T THINK I'VE MADE A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO YOU SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT'S KIND OF NICE JUST TO BE BACK.

UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TALK HER INTO ALL THE STAFF AT, UM, THE TEXT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPECIALTY, THE AUSTIN DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD TO WORK WITH.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH PROJECT, AND I WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING THAT TUCKER SAID IS WE'RE, WE'RE NOT AT THE END OF THE PROJECT.

WE'RE, WE'RE VERY MUCH IN THE PROCESS OF DEFINING WHAT THOSE FINAL ALTERNATIVES WILL BE AS THEY CONTINUE TO BE REFINED AS WE GO FORWARD.

UH, AND SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

AND SO IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE RECEIVED SOME PREVIOUS DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THAT, UH, YOU ASKED CITY STAFF TO ENGAGE WITH TEXTILE AND DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL.

I HAVE A FEW OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY.

YOU ASKED US TO ASSIST TXDOT IN AMPLIFYING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CITY WEBSITE ON THAT, THAT COMMUNICATES ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO TXDOT IN A TRANSPARENT WAY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET ACCESS TO THAT.

THAT WEBSITE ALSO PROVIDES, UM, INFORMATION ON UPCOMING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO ASSISTED, UH, WITH, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE IN ANALYZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIDS AND BRIDGES.

UH, AS I SAID EARLIER, UH, THAT EFFORTS LED BY MIKE TREMBLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATD, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING, UH, THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT DECISIONS THAT TECHSTOP MAY HAVE.

UH, WE WERE ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE AS THIS PICTURE SHOWS, UH, THAT WE HAD THE MATERIALS PUBLISHED IN, IN, UH, MAJOR LIBRARIES AROUND TOWN SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GAIN ACCESS TO IT, UH, AS WE'VE MOVED FORWARD, IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

BY, UH, TUCKER, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY REMOVING DOES NOT MAKE STRATEGIC SENSE IN TERMS OF THE FREIGHT THAT MOVES UP AND DOWN THIS CORRIDOR, OUR CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYEE BASE, AS WELL AS RAW MATERIALS.

UM, SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROCESS, BUT I THINK OUR STAFF HAS ALREADY BEEN ON RECORD AND I'LL GO ON RECORD AGAIN, UH, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, WE THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY REGION.

AND SO, UH, AS DISCUSSED

[00:40:01]

WE THINK THAT, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES ALONG HAVE REALLY GROWN UP AND FORMED AROUND, UH, A LIMITED ACCESS FREEWAY IN THIS QUARTER.

AND SO WE, WE SEE THAT AS NECESSARY GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

AND SO, UH, LIKE TECH STOCK, UM, BELIEVES, UH, ELIMINATING SIMPLY IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU TO, TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AS, AS VIABLE.

I CAN GO TO THE NEXT ALTERNATIVE, UM, OR NEXT SLIDE, SORRY, THAT SAID, UM, THE CURRENT DESIGN OF ESSENTIALLY THE NO BUILD, THE EXISTING CONDITION REALLY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

UH, WE KNOW THAT THIS CORRIDOR IS ONE OF THE MORE, UM, UH, DANGEROUS CORRIDORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, JUST OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN 40 PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE FATALITIES, UH, IN CROSSING THE MAIN LINES AS WELL AS THE FRONTAGE ROAD.

SO WE KNOW THAT THE DESIGN IS LEADING TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION.

UH, WE KNOW THAT EVERY DAY, OR IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK SOME PORTION OF IT IS CLOSED DUE TO A VEHICLE TO VEHICLE CRASH.

UH, IT ONLY CLOSES WHEN IT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A FATALITY INVESTIGATION AND, OR A MAJOR BLOCKAGE.

AND SO, UH, THOSE TWO ITEMS ALONG WITH THE FACT, AS TUCKER SAID THAT CURRENTLY IS A BARRIER TO EAST-WEST TRAFFIC LEADING TO MANY OF THE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INCIDENTS, UH, IN PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ACROSS THAT SIMPLY STAYING PUT AND WHERE WE ARE, THE NO BUILD IS, IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM SOLUTION HERE.

AND SO, UM, LIKE MANY IN THE REGION, UH, ATD, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE NEED A TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT TO TRANSFORM THIS CORRIDOR, TO IMPROVE BOTH EAST WEST, AS WELL AS NORTH SOUTH TRAVEL THROUGH THIS CORRIDOR.

AND THAT IS A CRITICAL ITEM THAT LEADS US TO THE BUILD ALTERNATIVES, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK, UH, WHOOPS, WRONG DIRECTION.

I THINK THERE WE GO.

ONE MORE.

THERE YOU GO.

UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVES AND THIS IS A EXTREMELY SIMPLIFIED, UH, UM, CONCEPT TO, TO ILLUSTRATE AN ISSUE, UH, YOU KNOW, TXDOT HAS COME TO US WITH THREE BUILD ALTERNATIVES.

UM, REALLY THEY PROVIDE THE SAME CAPACITY AS INDICATED BY TUCKER, UH, STACKED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND SO WE'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, OPTIMIZING THOSE LINES.

AND SO MANY OF MY COMMENTS YOU'RE ON WILL BE ABOUT HOW DO WE OPTIMIZE THOSE, UH, LANES? I THINK ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE LIKE MANY OTHER FOLKS AT THIS POINT IN THE PROJECT WERE SURPRISED BY, UM, THE NUMBER OF DISPLACEMENTS THAT ARE POTENTIAL FROM THESE ALTERNATIVES.

UH, BUT NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER AND AN INITIAL DESIGN TO WORK FROM, UH, THAT WE ARE EAGER TO WORK IN DETAIL WITH, UH, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO SEE HOW WE CAN MINIMIZE THOSE IMPACTS AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY DISPLACEMENTS ARE ONLY THOSE THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY UNAVOIDABLE AS WE GO FORWARD.

UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH TXDOT ON DESIGN OPTIONS, UH, IN SOME OF THOSE YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDES.

UH, BUT IF I CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UM, IT WILL REALLY ILLUSTRATE THE CONCEPT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SKINNY UP THIS ALTERNATIVE EITHER BY DESIGN ELEMENTS OR BY TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN OPTIMIZE THE, THE LANE ELEMENTS OR THE OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CORRIDOR.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE, UH, ATD STAFF IN TECH STOCK, THANK YOU ARE ENGAGING RIGHT NOW.

AND I KNOW BEFORE THIS MEETING, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UH, TUCKER AND HE SAID, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO SEE HOW, IF THERE'S POSSIBILITY OF SKINNING UP THIS CORRIDOR.

AND SO THE REST OF MY COMMENTS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT OPTIMIZING THIS DESIGN SO THAT IT IS SOMETHING TRULY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF, UH, AND POLICIES AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS THE REGION AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

UM, AND THAT INCLUDES THE SEPARATING OF LANES.

SO WHERE DO WE GO TO LOOK FOR, UH, INSPIRATION OR OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO, TO, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS CORRIDOR? YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, UH, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IS THAT WE NEED TO BE USING THE LATEST NATIONAL AND, UM, UH, BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES.

AND THAT MAY PUSH US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NOT NECESSARILY DOING EVERYTHING, UH, WHICH IS IN TEXTILE DESIGN MANUAL.

IT MAY FORCE US TO LOOK BEYOND THAT, UH, TO EXPERIENCES OTHER LOCATIONS.

UH, THIS PICTURE HERE IS ACTUALLY 51ST STREET INTERCHANGE, AND, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT IN THE STANDARD REPERTOIRE OF TXDOT OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN BEFORE WE ENGAGED TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH A, UH, A SUPERIOR DESIGN HERE THAT MET THIS LOCATION.

THIS OF COURSE IS NOT A PANACEA SOLUTION FOR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR, BUT CLEARLY LOOKING TO NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IS ONE PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO TO, UH, IMPROVE THE DESIGN.

[00:45:01]

UH, I THINK TUCKER CALLED THEM BYPASS LINES.

I CALL THEM CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OR CD LANES AND MAXIMIZE THE LANES THAT WE ARE BUILDING IN THIS CORRIDOR, UH, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND PART OF THAT, UH, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE A PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXISTING FACILITIES.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE SAME LANE TYPE.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS ON THE MAIN LINES, THE MIXING, THE EXITING, THE ENTERING, UH, THE HOV, THE TRANSIT LANES, ALONG WITH A SINGLE OCCUPANCY AND FREIGHT LANE, UH, FREIGHT, UH, TRAFFIC.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY USING OPERATIONALLY INFORMED DESIGN SOLUTIONS, BRINGING IN EXPERTS, UH, IN THE OPERATIONS OF HOV OR, UH, CONTINUING TO, TO, UH, ARGUE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IN THE FUTURE, CONVERT THIS TO HOTLINE, CONCEPTS, UH, HOV AND TOLL AS THEY DO IN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, UH, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN INCENTIVIZE TRANSIT AND HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO CENTRAL AUSTIN.

I THINK HE'S RIGHT REALLY IMPORTANT.

UH, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT TECHNIQUES THAT ALLOWS US TO MANAGE THIS IN REAL TIME, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DEMAND IS GOING TO CHANGE OVER TIME, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO SEPARATION LANE PURPOSE, UH, YOU'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF LANES.

UH, CERTAINLY THERE'S THE CIRCULATION DISTRIBUTION LANES.

THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE MUCH LIKE THE CURRENT MAIN LANES THROUGH DOWNTOWN TODAY.

THEY ALLOW THAT MIXING OF TRAFFIC FROM THE SURFACE LINES, THE FRONTAGE ROADS ONTO THE FREEWAY ORGANIZES IT BEFORE IT PUTS IT BACK INTO THE MAIN LINES.

THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT, UH, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE FRONTAGE ROADS IN, AND ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE AT THE SURFACE.

UH, I BELIEVE WE CAN DESIGN THOSE MUCH MORE LIKE A CITY ARTERIAL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FUNCTION.

UH, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE CONTROLLED IN SPEED REALLY BY THEIR SIGNAL SYSTEM.

UH, WE DON'T NEED ANY OTHER TYPES OF SPEED CONTROL DEVICES.

THE SIGNAL SYSTEMS WILL LARGELY CONTROL THE FLOW.

AND SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE DESIGN THEM TO FIT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, IN TERMS OF OUR ARTERIAL SYSTEM, I'VE LIKENED THE FUTURE FRONTAGE ROAD SYSTEM THROUGH, UH, CENTRAL AUSTIN TO THINK ABOUT GUADALUPE AND LAVACA.

THAT ESSENTIALLY IS, UH, A ONE-WAY PAIR OF ARTERIALS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT, UH, THE FUTURE OF FRONTAGE ROADS WILL LOOK LIKE.

BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS ON ADJACENT LAND USES.

AND ONE OF THE TECHNIQUES THAT WE CAN USE IS USE IS CAMMIE LEVERING, THE FRONTAGE ROADS OUT OVER THE MAIN LINES, AND THAT REQUIRES A HIGHER LEVEL OF, OF CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN.

UH, BUT I THINK THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN.

I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE INSTEAD OF THE FRONT DREADS BEING LIKE THIS, TURNING THEM AROUND AND PUTTING THEM OUT OVER SOME OF THE GENERAL PURPOSE LINES.

NOW THAT'S GOING TO COMPLICATE RAMPING AND ACCESS TO THE SURFACE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, BUT THE CITY ALSO BELIEVES THAT, UM, NOT ONLY IN THIS STATE, BUT OTHER PLACES, UH, COMMUNITIES HAVE DEALT WITH THOSE TYPE OF RAMPING NEEDS USING PORTAL RAMPS THAT MAY NOT COME OUT LIKE THE TRADITIONAL RAMPS THAT, UH, THAT DRIVERS IN TEXAS ARE USED TO, UH, MORE OF A DIAMOND OR DIVERGING DIAMOND TYPE.

UH, BUT THESE MAY COME PERPENDICULAR TO CROSS STREETS FOR INSTANCE.

AND SO, UH, UP ON THE CLYDE WARREN, THERE'S CERTAINLY A PORTAL RAMP.

AND THEN, UH, THIS OTHER EXAMPLE FROM SEATTLE WASHINGTON IS OFF, UH, THE INTERSTATE FIVE.

AND SO, UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH CHECK SPOT TO LOOK AT THE RAMPING VERY CAREFULLY AND SEE HOW WE CAN DO THAT.

I THINK ONE IMPORTANT THING THOUGH, IS AS WE LOOK AT THESE MORE EXOTIC RAMP TYPES, UH, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE, THOSE THEMSELVES MAY CAUSE DISRUPTIONS OR DISPLACEMENTS.

AND AS THAT HAPPENS, UH, WE MAY GET INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, TRADING OFF POINT DISPLACEMENTS, IF YOU WILL, AT INTERSECTIONS FOR MORE OF THOSE LINEAR DISPLACEMENTS THAT MAY BE OCCURRED BY THE CURRENT CONCEPTS AS THEY'RE DESIGNED.

UH, BUT OUR GOAL WILL BE TO MINIMIZE THOSE IMPACTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, AND REALLY TRY TO LOWER THOSE NUMBERS AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO FIT THIS FACILITY INTO OUR EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK ANOTHER THING IS WE, THEY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE OPERATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED ON A NUMBER OF MANAGED LANES SYSTEMS, WHETHER THEY BE MANAGED BY A LOCATION WHERE YOU CAN GET INTO THEM BY HOV OR OCCUPANCY BY TYPE OF VEHICLE TRANSIT, UH, OR EVEN BY TOLL MANAGE VARIABLE TOLL MANAGE.

AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BRING IN THE OPERATIONAL STUDY OF HOW THESE LANES MIGHT OPERATE IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN OPTIMIZE THE DESIGN TODAY.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS, DO WE NEED ALL THE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE DESIGNING AN HOV, UH, TO GO PASS DOWNTOWN? DO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT HOV BE MORE DESIGNED FOR THE MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS OF UTI THE CAPITAL COMPLEX IN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT? BECAUSE IN FACT, I THINK OUR STUDIES WILL SHOW THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE DEMAND IN TERMS OF HIGH

[00:50:01]

COME SEE VEHICLE.

AND CERTAINLY TRANSIT IS DESTINED FOR THE MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS, NOT GOING BY IT.

UH, ALTERNATIVELY, IF WE CAN, UM, CONVINCE THE STATE TO, TO BROADEN THEIR THINKING ON FUTURE TOLL OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT BE HOV, TOLL KIND OF CONCEPT, UH, THEN THOSE LANES MAY PROVIDE A DIFFERENT PURPOSE, MEANING THEY MAY PROVIDE A BETTER WAY TO PROVIDE PREMIUM THROUGH TRAFFIC THROUGH THIS CENTRAL OF AUSTIN.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, UH, THE OTHER LANES, THE MAIN LANES AND THE CD LANES AND ASK OURSELVES, DO WE NEED ALL OF THOSE, IF, IF WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT CENTRAL MANAGED FACILITY TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT CAPACITY.

SO THOSE ARE THE SOME QUESTIONS WHERE I THINK WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN SKINNY UP THIS CORRIDOR, UH, AND THEN ALSO REFLECT THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, UH, AT THE STREET LEVEL CRITERIA LEVEL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

YES, YOU'RE ALSO GETTING HERE CITY STAFF BEGIN TO ADVOCATE MORE FOR OTHER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES TO BE BUILT INTO THE ROADWAY SYSTEM.

UH, SPECIFICALLY THE ABILITY TO MANAGE SPEEDS, UH, VARIABLY ON THIS CORRIDOR, I THINK WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TO EMBED INTO THE CORRIDOR.

UH, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN REDUCE CRASHES IF WE CAN CONTROL SPEED DEPENDING ON DOWNSTREAM CHARACTERISTICS.

AND SO, UH, CERTAINLY THERE'S OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE, UH, DEPLOYED SIMILAR SYSTEMS TO, AS YOU SEE HERE, AGAIN, THIS IS FROM INTERSTATE FIVE IN THE NORTHWEST, UH, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOW AN IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW AND A REDUCED ACCIDENT CHARACTERISTICS.

SO AGAIN, TRYING TO BUILD AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY INTO THIS CORRIDOR AS POSSIBLE.

WE KNOW THAT THAT, UH, TRAVEL NEEDS ARE GOING TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES, UH, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF AUTOMATION, A RUBBER TIRED, HIGH SPEED, CAPACITY TRANSIT, AND POTENTIAL AUTOMATION IN THAT, UH, CATEGORY.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ROADWAY IS SUSTAINABLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, UH, SO THAT IT CAN ADAPT AND, AND BE RESILIENT AS WE MOVE INTO THIS UNKNOWN FUTURE INTO THE FUTURE.

EXPLAIN, UM, W YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY PROUD TO HEAR TUCKER TALKING ABOUT, UH, AESTHETICS AND, AND ART IN THE CORRIDOR.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE.

AND, AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR STAFF ADVISE YOU THAT, THAT WE NEED TO, UM, COMMUNICATE TO TXDOT AND THE REGION, UH, THAT THIS IS, THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THE EAST WEST, AS WELL AS THE NORTH SOUTH.

UH, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL THE NEW CONNECTIONS GOING IN AND THE POSSIBILITY, UH, FOR LIDS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MUCH OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT AS PART OF THE INITIAL PROJECT AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THOSE LIDS A REALITY, NOT JUST A PIPE DREAM IN THE FUTURE.

UM, I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF THIS FREEWAY AND CREATING THE DIVIDE THAT IT HAS BEEN.

UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE.

DID THE, DID DID THE FREEWAY CAUSE THE DIVIDE OR JUST REINFORCE IT? I, I TEND TO BELIEVE IT REINFORCED THE DIVIDE THAT WE CREATED STATUTORILY.

AND SO, UH, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A ROLE IN HELPING TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE AS WELL.

UM, BUT I THINK QUARTER AESTHETICS, INCLUDING THE LID ELEMENTS CAN GO A LONG WAY TO REPAIRING IN MITIGATING THAT LONG-TERM IMPACT THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG TIME.

UH, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONTINUED, UH, DIRECTED EFFORT AS WE GO X LINE.

GLARING MOBILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE IN OUR REGION, AND WE REALLY CAN'T ADDRESS VISION ZERO AND MOBILITY, IF WE DON'T ADDRESS , UM, YOU KNOW, STAFF BELIEVES THAT THAT FREEWAY PLACEMENT IS NEEDED AND THAT A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, UH, STAFF PLANS TO KEEP WORKING WITH TXDOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILD ALTERNATIVES REFLECT CITY GOALS AND POLICIES.

THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS SOME PRETTY INTERESTING AESTHETICS.

IT DOESN'T ALL HAVE TO BE ABOUT LIDS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME, UH, BRIDGE COLUMNS IN THIS PROCESS.

AND I THINK, UH, SAN ANTONIO TEXTILES HAS EVEN SHOWN SOME INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY IN AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER SOME OF THE STRUCTURES.

AND THAT'S, WHAT'S SHOWN HERE IN THIS PICTURE.

AND SO WE'RE A HUGE SUPPORTER OF IDEAS.

LIKE, UH, LET'S DEFINE A COMMUNITY-BASED THEME FOR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR.

UM, I WORKED ON A PROJECT ONCE WHERE IT WAS DEFINED AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ART MUSEUM THAT WE HAVE HAPPEN TO DRIVE BUSES THROUGH, UH, AS OPPOSED TO A BUS TUNNEL THAT IS DECORATED.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THINKING, AND, AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING TEXTILES TO TAKE THAT THOUGHT.

I THINK DENVER AND, AND, UH, CERTAINLY THE PHOENIX AREA HAVE CERTAINLY DONE THAT WITH THEIR FREEWAY CONSTRUCTIONS, UH, REALLY CREATED A THEME THAT, THAT FOLLOWS THROUGH.

AND I THINK THAT CAN BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR FUTURE COMMUNITIES.

UH, EVEN AS WE WORK TO SKINNY IT UP, UH, AS WE GO FORWARD, I BELIEVE THE NEXT SLIDE IS MY LAST Y YES.

SO THE RECORD OR STAFF THAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR A LONG TIME, UH, ALMOST A DECADE NOW, UH, WHEN WE HELPED, UH, THE STATE RESTART THIS PROJECT.

UM, AND BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST

[00:55:01]

AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MINIMIZE DISPLACEMENTS THROUGHOUT THIS CORRIDOR AND THAT WE BUILD A FUTURE FACILITY THAT ENCOURAGES USE OF THINGS OTHER THAN THE SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE.

UM, I WOULD MAKE A REQUEST TO COUNCIL, ACTUALLY, THREE REQUESTS, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO REQUEST FURTHER MODIFICATION OF THE ALTERNATIVES BEING CARRIED FORWARD, UH, REQUEST THAT OF US, THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UH, TXDOT, BUT THAT ALSO WE CONTINUE TO REALLY SCRUB AND LOOK AT COMMUNITY PROPOSALS BECAUSE SOME OF THE BEST CONCEPTS HAVE COME OUT OF, UH, THE COMMUNITY PROPOSALS THUS FAR AND BEEN INCORPORATED, AS TUCKER SAYS.

UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY REMAIN ENGAGED AS A PARTNER THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS, UM, AND ADVOCATE FOR DESIGN MODIFICATIONS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS, UH, THINKING, UH, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, UH, THIS IS TO BE THE LAST IMPROVEMENT.

I THINK THAT CAN BE REALLY MADE DIE 35.

AND SO IT BECOMES AN OPERATIONS, UH, EFFORT FROM HERE ON OUT.

UH, AND THEN ALSO I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO POLITICALLY ENGAGE AT THE REGIONAL AND STATE LEVELS TO PRESERVE PREFERRED OUTCOMES, UH, BASED ON, ON, UH, THE CITY GOALS AND POLICIES AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD OPEN IT BACK UP FOR QUESTIONS TO BOTH TUCKER AND MYSELF, AND WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER AS BEST WE CAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION COLLEAGUES LET'S KEEP GOING HERE, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR A LITTLE BIT.

UH, I THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULD PLAN ON BEGINNING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION NO LATER THAN 15 MINUTES AFTER ONE O'CLOCK.

SO, AS WE LOOK AT OUR CALENDAR, LET'S BEGIN, RIGHT.

HELLO.

YOU WANT TO START US OFF? YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, AS THE CHAIR OF THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, I ASKED FOR US TO HAVE THIS BRIEFING FROM TECHSTOP AND FROM OUR CITY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, SINCE THE PROJECT HAS FURTHER REACHING IMPACTS THAN JUST MOBILITY.

AND GIVEN THAT IT TOUCHES MANY DISTRICTS AND CERTAINLY AFFECTS ALL OF THEM, OUR COMMUNITY HAS SHARED THAT IT WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AS THE PROJECT GETS BUILT, THAT IT DOES.

SO IN A WAY THAT IS MINDFUL OF NOT ONLY MOBILITY NEEDS, BUT ALSO ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO ENSURE THE PROJECT DOESN'T EXACERBATE THE ECONOMIC AND RACIAL SEGREGATION OF OUR CITY AND ALLOWS OUR CITY PLANNING PROCESSES AROUND TRANSIT, BIKE, PASTURE, AND WHEELCHAIR AND STROLLER SAFETY, VISION, ZERO GOALS, AND LOWERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I ALSO KNOW THAT TXDOT DOES HAVE AN END OF THE STREET PROGRAM.

UM, SO I KNOW THAT THEY ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO THE IDEALS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR VISION, ZERO PROGRAMMING.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KEEP GOING BACK TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AND ITS ITS PROGRESSION, IS THAT WHEN I PARTICIPATED IN THE ULI PANEL, I COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS, NOT ONLY AS A STRUCTURE, BUT WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR CITY.

IT'S NOT JUST A HIGHWAY.

IT'S ABOUT HOW WE GET AROUND TOWN.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WAS BUILT ON TOP OF A RED LINE OF SEGREGATION FROM OUR CITY PLANS FROM 1928.

WE FIND THAT UNCONSCIONABLE TODAY.

AND SO THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IDENTIFYING THOSE NEEDS.

IT'S ALSO NOT A SECRET THAT EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE UNITED NATIONS INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE RELEASE ITS MAJOR REPORT, FINDING THAT UNDER OUR MOST OPTIMISTIC SCENARIOS, IN WHICH WE REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AS MUCH AS SCIENTISTS BELIEVE WE POSSIBLY CAN.

OUR PLANET WILL CONTINUE TO WARM FOR DECADES, DROUGHTS, HEAT, WAVES, HURRICANES, SNOW STORMS, THE IPC REPORT CONFIRMS THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAN EVER.

THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING THESE WEATHER EXTREMES MORE COMMON AND MORE INTENSE.

AND IT'S UNEQUIVOCAL UNEQUIVOCAL THAT HUMAN INFLUENCE IS DRIVING THESE ISSUES.

SO IT'S WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EVALUATING THE PROJECT AND IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE AT THIS POINT FOR US NOT TO BE ENGAGING IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT AS CARS DO MOVE THROUGH THE CITY, THAT WE ARE ENSURING THERE IS MORE CONNECTIVITY AND MORE SAFETY FOR BIKES, PEDESTRIANS, AND WHEELCHAIRS AND STROLLER USERS.

UM, TO THAT END, MY QUESTIONS TODAY ARE GOING TO FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF HOW DOES TECH STOCKS, PROPOSALS SUPPORT AND ALLOW FOR OUR CITY'S GOALS OF TRANSPORTATION MODE SHIFT AWAY FROM SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES AS DEFINED IN THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.

WE KNOW THAT TECH STOPS COMMITMENT IS TO MOVING VEHICLES AS EFFICIENTLY AS THEY

[01:00:01]

DEEM POSSIBLE.

UM, BUT THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, I AM MOSTLY CURIOUS THE FIRST ONE, CAUSE I KNOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS TODAY IN THIS SETTING IS AS FAR AS BUILDING A CAP OR DOING STITCHING PROJECTS, CAN THE DOLLARS THE REGION PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT? I THINK IT WAS 400 MILLION FOR THE OUTER PROJECTS AND 600 MILLION TO THE CENTRAL PORTION BE USED TO FUND THE CAP IMPROVEMENTS OR HOW MUCH OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS COULD THOSE DOLLARS BE USED FOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

UM, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION THAT BOTH TUCKER AND I SHOULD RESPOND TO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE LOOKED AROUND, UH, WE'VE EVEN HEARD COMMENT FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION THAT, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS IN DALLAS, HOUSTON AND FORT WORTH, UH, HAVE BEEN BUILT USING FEDERAL PASTORY FUNDS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN CAMPO DESIGNATED THOSE DOLLARS, THEY DID NOT, YOU KNOW, DECIDE WHERE THEY WOULD GO.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES NOW WITH THE CHANGE IN ALTERNATIVES, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT TXDOT TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT SOME OF THOSE ARE ALREADY APPROVED FEDERAL FUNDS, UH, COULD BE SHIFTED TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TALKER.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

UH, COUNCIL UMBRELLAS, THE, UH, THE OVER $1 BILLION THAT CAMPO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS VOTED TO DEDICATE TO, UH, UH, MUCH OF THAT THE F THE FIRST 400 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH PROJECT.

SO THAT'S GOING THROUGH THAT CONSTRUCTION.

WE COULD NOT PULL THAT BACK AND DEDICATED TO THE, THE CAPS OR THE STITCHES.

UH, THE OTHER 6 33 THAT WE VOTED ON LAST YEAR, SIMILARLY HAS GONE INTO THE $4.9 BILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WOULD BE THE, UH, THE CENTRAL PART.

SO THAT WOULD ALSO ALREADY BE SPOKEN FOR AND ALLOCATED, UH, TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRAL PROJECT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, THE, THE MONEY THAT CAMP WAS ALREADY DEDICATED COULD NOT BE, UM, THE, THE, THE TOTAL $4.9 BILLION PACKAGE WOULD BE, UH, WHAT IS NEEDED TO BUILD, UH, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CENTRAL.

NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE COULD NOT THROUGH THE NPO PLANNING PROCESS, PURSUE FURTHER FUNDS, UH, AS THEY COME DOWN THE ROAD IN FUTURE YEARS.

BUT, UH, IT HAS BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR BY OUR COMMISSION AND OUR ADMINISTRATION THAT, UH, SEVERAL OF THE CATEGORY FUNDS THAT, THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US, UH, SPECIFICALLY CATEGORY TWO CATEGORY FOUR AND 12, WHICH MAKE UP THE BULK OF THE, THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT CAN NOT BE USED FOR THE LOCAL ENHANCEMENTS.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE RAISED, UH, LOCALLY, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PATTERN AND THE MODEL THAT WAS DONE IN DALLAS.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

I KNOW THAT WE, AT SOME POINT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER PARTNERSHIPS FOR DOING THE CAP ITSELF, BUT THAT SOME OF THE SUPPORT STRUCTURES MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO YOUR PLANS.

UM, LET ME SEE, I'VE GOT JUST ONE OR TWO MORE, BECAUSE I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL ALSO WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

UM, IS THERE ANY PORTION OF THIS THAT CAN BE NARROWED TO MAKE IT SACRED ACROSS? UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SECTION BETWEEN MAINER AND DEAN KEATON HAS A NARROWER FOOTPRINT.

UM, AND SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS CANTILEVER TYPE OF DESIGN BEING UTILIZED IN OTHER, OTHER PORTIONS OF THE SCHEMATIC COUNCILMEMBER, ROB SPILLER, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE, UH, CITY STAFF PLAN TO WORK CLOSELY WITH TECH STOCK TO REALLY PUSH ON THE DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS, TO SEE IF WE CAN, UH, UTILIZE SOME OF THE VERY SAME CONCEPTS THAT ARE BEING USED IN THE AREA.

YOU'VE MENTIONED WHERE, WHERE IT WAS.

IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE NARROWED A LITTLE BIT IF WE CAN USE THOSE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CORRIDOR.

I THINK THAT'S VERY MUCH A TECHNICAL DESIGN ISSUE, UH, IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW, THOUGH.

UH, AND SO THOSE ARE PLACED APPROPRIATELY.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE I'LL ASK IS DO THE HOV LANES PROVIDE THE SAME BENEFITS TO TRANSIT AS THE VARIABLE TOLL LANES? UM, WE'VE SEEN SOME EXCEPTIONAL TRANSIT ADVANTAGES AND INCREASES IN RIDERSHIP IN THE MOPAC EXPRESS LANES THAT USE THE VARIABLE TOLLING SINCE THEY BEGAN OPERATING DO THE PROPOSED ON AN OFF-RAMP LOCATION, SUPPORT CAT METRO'S ABILITY TO MOVE PEOPLE ON BUSES AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, LET ME START WITH THE CENTRAL AUSTIN RAMPS, UH, FROM THAT CENTER.

UM, WE SPECIFICALLY WORKED WITH CAP METRO EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS TO DEFINE THE BEST PLACES FOR TRANSIT, UH, TO COME OFF AND BE ABLE TO OPERATE THROUGH CENTRAL AUSTIN DOWNTOWN CAPITAL COMPLEX, AND HOPEFULLY YOU D

[01:05:01]

I THINK THAT THE QUESTION WILL BE IS CAN WE, THROUGH OPERATIONS ANALYSIS ASSURE OURSELVES THAT TRANSIT WILL HAVE AN ADVANTAGE EVEN OVER TWO-PLUS CARPOOLS BECAUSE THE HIGHER, THE OCCUPANCY, THE BETTER OFF, UH, ABLE TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS, UM, UH, OR POLICIES THAT THE CITY, UH, I THINK THAT'S STILL UP FOR ANALYSIS TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I KNOW THAT CAP METRO IN THE PAST HAS, HAS TALKED ABOUT WANTING TRANSIT ONLY RAMPS.

UH, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE STOCK WITH HIGHWAY FUNDS IS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT.

AND SO WE WOULD NEED OTHER FUNDS TO BUILD SOME OF THOSE TRANSIT ONLY RAMPS.

I THINK THE ADVANTAGE IS IF IT IS A HOTLINE ENVIRONMENT, AS YOU, UH, IDENTIFIED ON MOPAC, UH, THAT YOU CAN USE PRICE INCENTIVES TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THAT TRANSIT, UH, ACCESS, UH, ACCESSIBILITY, UM, IN A SMALLER FOOTPRINT.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT WITH TEXTILES, UH, E EVEN IN THE NON TOLD ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE, UH, INDICATED THAT WE'RE OFFERED VERY OBVIOUSLY, UH, WORKING UNDER, UH, A LIKE US, UH, TO PUSH THAT CONCEPT AS FAR AS WE CAN LET SEE.

I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UM, AND FIRST ON, ON THE HOTLINES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THE, THE DECISION TO TOOL OR NOT, NOT THE TOOL IS NOT A PROJECT LEVEL DECISION, OR EVEN AN AUSTIN DISTRICT DECISION.

THAT IS, THAT IS TEXT DOT'S POSITION RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN NON TALL ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT'S WHAT, HOW WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH THIS PROJECT.

BUT BACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER, LSU ASKED BETWEEN, UH, DEAN KEENAN MAINER, AND THAT, THAT, THAT AREA THAT IS PROBABLY THE TIGHTEST CORRIDOR WE HAVE ON THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF I 35, IT'S ABOUT A 200 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY.

AND, AND JUST TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WITH NOT EVEN EXPANDING THE, THE HIGHWAY AT ALL, JUST TO BRING DOWN AND, AND PERFORM THE DEMOLITION OF THOSE UPPER DECKS, WE'LL TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL FOOTPRINT.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BUILDING ANY, ANY OF US WHO HAVE BUILT SOMETHING, UH, AT THEIR HOME, YOUR FOOTPRINT OF INFLUENCE AND BUILDING DURING CONSTRUCTION IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT LARGER THAN YOUR FINAL PRODUCT.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT AND THE, AND THE FOOTPRINT WOULD BILL WOULD BE.

BECAUSE AS WE'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION, THERE STILL MAY BE SOME RIGHT OF WAY IMPACTS JUST TO GET THE EQUIPMENT IN THERE AND BUILD WHILE WE KEEP TRAFFIC OPEN.

THAT'S THE OTHER CHALLENGE.

WE'RE NOT SHUTTING IT DOWN COMPLETELY.

WE NEED TO KEEP MULTI LANES OPEN ABOUT DIRECTIONS WHILE WE'RE BUILDING THIS.

IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A FOOTPRINT EXPANSION TO BUILD IT.

EVEN IF THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT THE FINAL FOOTPRINT OF THE PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE, BULL A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

I'M GOING TO LIMIT EVERYBODY TO FIVE MINUTES.

UH, SO WE COULD GET THROUGH AS MANY AS WE CAN HERE THE PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THEN WE NEED TO, TO BREAK AND WE HAVE AN EXTRA TIME WE'LL PULL BACK.

THAT'S WHERE EVERY KITCHEN DID THEY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FIVE MINUTES HERE, IF YOU DID, AND YOU'RE MUTED, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY MIGHT NEED TO CALL BACK THERE MAYBE.

OH, THEY CAN HEAR, WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU IN THIS ROOM.

LET US TELL YOU IF YOU TALK, CAN WE HEAR YOU? I JUST WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR LESLIE, WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SPEAK IS WHERE YOU'D SEE INTERRUPTING YOUR BE HEARD.

SO WE CAN'T HEAR ANYBODY WHO IS CALLING HOLLERING YET.

WE'LL LOOK INTO IT THERE THEN, WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, LET'S GO TO THE, TO THE DAY S THEN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR MEETING WITH ME AND FOR YOUR PRESENTATION HERE TODAY.

UM, MR. SPILLER, MY, MY QUESTIONS ARE JUST QUICKLY FOR, FOR YOU WITH THE LIMITED TIME.

UM, SO FIRST, UH, THERE WAS MENTION OF LOWER DESIGN SPEED ON THE ACCESS ROAD, WHICH DESIGN SPEED ARE WE, ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR THE ALTERNATIVES BEFORE US RIGHT NOW? WELL, I THINK YOU'LL GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER FROM TECH SOLDER FROM THE CITY.

SO I'LL LET ME ANSWER QUICKLY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THOSE FRONTAGE ROADS NEED TO GET TO CLOSE TO 35 OR 30, 35, PROBABLY, UM, THAT REQUIRES US TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON

[01:10:01]

THE FRINGE REDS.

NOW, THESE ARE ACTUAL OPERATING SPEEDS, NOT THE DESIGN SPEEDS.

I THINK WITH AN ARTERIAL ENVIRONMENT, IT'S RARE THAT, THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THOSE HIGHER SPEEDS.

THE BENEFIT IS, IS THAT REDUCES THE NEED FOR SOUND CONTROL, UH, BETWEEN THE FREEWAY AND THE ADJACENT ROADWAYS.

IT ALSO PRESENTS A MUCH SAFER PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO W WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN ANY CALCULATION IN THE, UH, FIRST OF ALL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU, THE DESIGN SPEED AND THE OPERATING SPEED FOR EVERYONE WATCHING? RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK, UH, DESIGN SPEED IS WHAT THE CURVATURES, THE RADIO HIRE ARE ALL DESIGNED FOR.

AND TYPICALLY IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT IS.

I WILL POINT OUT THESE ARE LARGELY GOING TO BE STRAIGHT ROADWAYS.

SO THE DESIGN SPEED IS, IS GOING TO BE HIGH, REGARDLESS IF WE ARE PLANNING AN OPERATED AT A LOWER SPEED, BECAUSE ON STRAIGHT ROADWAYS, WE KNOW PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN DRIVE FASTER.

SO THE POINT IS THE OPERATING SPEED IS THE SPEED LIMIT YOU POST, OR THE DESIGN SPEED IS HOW FAST YOU EXPECT PEOPLE WILL LIKELY DRIVE ON IT.

AND SO YOU'RE THE DESIGN SPEED.

AND IN YOUR VIEW, MR. SPILLER, IS THAT ABOUT WHAT, ON MANY OF THE FORENSIC FRIES? UM, I, I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN THAT 40, 45 MILE AN HOUR, SO THAT WE CAN THEN SPEED IT AT 35 OR PUT A SPEED LIMIT ON IT.

SORRY, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHAT WE SHOULD BE AT, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OCCUR? UH, ALTERNATIVES? THE LAST I HEARD WAS 55.

IT MAY HAVE DROPPED SINCE THEN.

AS A DETAIL, BUT CERTAINLY I THINK LOWER DESIGN SPEEDS, UH, COULD GIVE US DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

GOT IT.

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THIS SECTION IS NINE MILES IN LENGTH FROM BEN WHITE TO TWO 90.

SO IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE CONSISTENT 35 OR 40 IN THE ENTIRE LENGTH THAT THE DOWNTOWN WORST, MOST DENSELY POPULATED.

AND WE HAVE MOST OF THE CROSS STREETS IN THE, AND THE BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE LOWER THAN SOMEONE ON THE OUTER EDGE WOULD THAT, THAT IS ALL TO BE DETERMINED.

GOT IT, THANK YOU.

AND YES, I WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT FOR SURE.

AND I DO APPRECIATE, UM, UH, TALKING ABOUT, UH, SQUEEZING THIS INTO THE SMALLEST FOOTPRINT POSSIBLE, MR. SPILLER AT THIS, AT THIS POINT, GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED TO US, UM, SORT OF AS OUR CITY'S TRAFFIC ENGINEER, YOU THINK THAT IT IS, UH, FEASIBLE FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO BE MADE, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE NARROW THAN THE PRESENTATION BEFORE AT THIS POINT, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, AS TUCKER SAID, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION MAY CAUSE US TO HAVE A WIDER FOOTPRINT DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT, UM, WHEN IT'S FINISHED, YES, I, I DO BELIEVE IT CAN HAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT.

SO LET ME TRANSLATE WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE MAY NEED PROPERTIES FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT THEN CAN BE REDEVELOPED AFTERWARDS, UM, AFTER IT'S BUILT.

BUT YES, I THINK THAT THERE ARE BOTH OPERATIONAL AS WELL AS DESIGN OPTIONS THAT WE NEED TO PUSH ON, UH, TO TRY TO SKINNY THIS UP.

I THINK IS REAL IMPORTANT.

AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE, YOU ALL HAVE SHARED A SHARED GOAL FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM MR. FERGUSON, TO TRY TO GET THIS INTO AS MUCH OF THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT AS YOU CAN.

UH, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER, AND, YOU KNOW, AS FERGUSON SAID THAT THE HARDEST PLACES WHERE THOSE DECKS ARE, THOSE DECKS WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH RIGHT AWAY TO FIT AT THE TIME, WHAT WAS THOUGHT WAS NEEDED THERE.

AND SO IT'S A SIMILAR SITUATION NOW IS HOW DO WE FIT AS MUCH IN, UH, WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT? UH, AND THAT MAY MEAN WE HAVE TO EXPAND SOMEWHAT, UH, BUT TO MINIMIZE THAT WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BUILDING THROUGH THE CENTRAL AREA, THE 11TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO AVOID ALL IMPACTS.

UH, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN REDUCE THAT, THAT AS THAT, AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, WE'LL TRY TO COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN, IF OTHER PEOPLE TECH, LET US KNOW WHEN YOU'VE CLEARED THAT, BUT YOU'RE TALKING TO HER.

I HAVE, I'LL TAKE MY LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK IF I COULD, FIRST IS, UH, I'M ALSO IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS PROJECT, UH, AND , UM, AND, AND, AND SEE THE ENGINEERING THAT'S DONE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF WE JUST TURN IT INTO A BOULEVARD.

I THINK THE IMPACTS ON THE STREET SYSTEM, UH, UH, INDICATE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS HIGH CAPACITY, UM, UM, PROJECT GOING THROUGH OUR, THROUGH OUR CITY.

SO FOR ME, IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW DO WE EXECUTE THAT IN A WAY THAT THAT IS BEST? I HAVE THREE CONCERNS, UH, THAT, THAT TO ME, UH, ARE, ARE REAL SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF ULTIMATE SUPPORT FOR THE, FOR THE PROJECT.

AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE, THE, THE SLIPPER QUESTION OR LOWER QUESTION, ALSO, EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO NOT DISTURB, UH, AND TAKE, UH, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 150 AT A HUNDRED BY D PROPERTIES,

[01:15:01]

IT'S ALSO REAL IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY, THAT IT JUST VISUALLY JUST NOT BE THAT.

WHY DID WE GET IT'S? IT HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON, ON HOW PEOPLE MOVE AND HOW PEOPLE SEE ONE SIDE OF THE CITY VERSUS ANOTHER SIDE OF THE CITY.

SO REALLY LOOKING AT WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S BEING DONE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THINGS SLIMMER.

NOW, HOUR, I THINK ARE REAL IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT DISRUPTION.

THE SECOND ONE IS THE CAP OR LID QUESTION.

UH, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAP OR A LID ON THIS.

UH, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT COST THAT'S PAID BY, BY TXDOT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THE TREND THAT I HOPE THAT ANY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THAT, UH, TO BE DONE, UH, WHEN A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS BUILT, IT'S JUST SEEMS TO BE, IT SHOULDN'T BE BUILT WITHOUT THAT.

AND THAT GOES BEYOND MAKING IT CAPABLE.

UH, I THINK, I THINK IT SHOULD, SHOULD ACTUALLY BE DONE IN, IN HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPPING THOSE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, ARE THEY USING LOCAL DOLLARS FOR THAT? DID THEY GO OUT AND RAISE LOCAL DOLLARS OR ARE THEY USING PASS THROUGH DOLLARS? THERE'S A COMBINATION OF LOCAL DOLLARS.

LOOK WHAT, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER ON THE, ON THE DALLAS PROJECT, THERE'S A COMBINATION OF LOCAL DOLLARS.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME OTHER FEDERAL DOLLARS SUCH AS THE EARMARKS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO THEM OVER THE YEARS, THERE WERE SOME MPO DOLLARS.

IN OUR CASE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CATEGORY SEVEN, THE CATEGORY SEVEN MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE MPO TO ALLOCATE.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THE DECISION FOR TXDOT TO NOT USE TWO FOREIGN 12 ON THOSE IS IT IS AN AGENCY DECISION.

THAT'S NOT A DISTRICT DECISION.

SO WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF OUR ADMINISTRATION AND ELIMINATING THOSE FUNDS FOR, FOR CAPS AND, AND THE LOCAL ENHANCEMENTS.

GO AHEAD AND COMMUNICATE BACK UP TO THE HIGHER LEVELS AS YOU'RE HERE, REPRESENTING US AS THE DISTRICT.

I ABSOLUTELY, IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

I MEAN, WHEN WE WERE PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE FUN DAY, IT WAS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR MAJOR PROJECT.

WE COULDN'T OTHERWISE DO.

IN FACT, WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO A MAJOR PROJECT WHEN OTHER CITIES COULDN'T BECAUSE WE WERE WILLING TO PUT UP THOSE DOLLARS.

NOW, THOSE OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE GETTING BIG PROJECTS TOO, EXCEPT THEY HAVE THEIR MONEY LEFT OVER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE, TO CAP IT.

AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

UH, SO, SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS TO END UP AS A, IT'S SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO AN ALTERNATE TIME TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS AND INTEGRATE IT WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

UH, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL, IT JUST BECOMES PART OF WHAT IT IS THAT THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO BE.

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO GET LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN IF IT MIGHT BE WORTH US WAITING FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, UH, TO HOPEFULLY MAYBE THERE'S A DIFFERENT, UH, APPROACH TO THESE KINDS OF THINGS, OR GETTING YOUR LINE AGAIN FOR, FOR DIFFERENT MONIES IN THE FUTURE, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS PROJECT RIGHT THEN TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER MIGHT PRECLUDE US FROM, FROM EVER BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT.

AND OUR LAST ONE IS THE MANAGED LANE ISSUE.

RIGHT? UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, THAT THAT'S NOT A DISTRICT DECISION, BUT A LARGER DECISION THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WOULD ENABLE THIS TO BE CONVERTED, TO MANAGE TOTAL LANES.

IF THAT WAS THE DECISION, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PRECLUDE THAT NOW, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AND YES, WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH THAT IN MIND.

YES, SIR.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

EVEN ON THE NEPA STUDY, YOU KNOW, THE DEEPEST STUDY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT THAT FUTURE POSSIBILITY FOR TWO OR THREE PLUS, OR THEY'LL BE ABLE TO CALL OUT THAT POSSIBILITY WHAT I WOULD NOT LIKE US TO DO, AND COULDN'T SUPPORT A PROJECT MOVING FORWARD IS IF WE WERE DOING DEEPA IN A WAY THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO HAVE TO REDO ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, EVER BE ABLE TO DO IT OR HAD SOURCED FUNDS, DOES THAT MAKE IT DOES? AND I'M NOT SURE OF THE ANSWER TO THAT.

SO I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT BACK TO MY ENVIRONMENTAL EX UH, EXPERTS TO SEE HOW WE INCORPORATE THAT.

IF WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THAT IN OUR PROCESS AND YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN TO ME, AND FOR ME, THAT'S A THRESHOLD ISSUE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT TECH.

WE HAVE, WE CLEARED UP THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ANNUAL, TO TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU.

NO, STILL CANNOT.

I DON'T KNOW.

CAUSE WE COULD HEAR PAGE, OBVIOUSLY THEIR PAGE STOPPED AND THEN WE'VE, WE'VE LOST US.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

YOU CAN HEAR ME.

I CAN.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AND YOU'RE BACK NOW TOO.

AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

OH, OKAY.

GREAT.

YOU KNOW, DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A STRIP THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK ON.

WELL I APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

[01:20:01]

THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE.

UM, I SHARED THE SAME CONCERNS AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE, FOR THE WHOLE, UM, UH, COUNCIL AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU, TUCKER, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, ROB FOR WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.

I THINK THIS IS REAL IMPORTANT.

AND THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, UM, THE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I THINK PROBABLY MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE GAVE OUR STAFF DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, A WHILE BACK, UH, TO WORK CLOSELY WITH, UM, WITH, UH, TUCKER FERGUSON AND HIS TEAM, UM, TO, TO WORK ON THE, UM, UM, UH, ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL.

AND SO I WANT TO JUST REITERATE THAT DIRECTION AND ASK YOU AGAIN TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.

I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THAT MR. SPILLER, UH, JUST WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH MR. FERGUSON AND HIS TEAM, UM, TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK TOWARDS MODIFICATIONS AND WAYS IN WHICH TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCIL IS RAISING.

SO WANTED TO REITERATE THAT.

SO I'M GOING TO DRILL DOWN ON JUST ONE QUESTION SINCE I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO, UM, ASK SOME MORE ABOUT THE, THE, UH, SHARED USE PATHS AND SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE EAST-WEST, UM, CONNECTIVITY'S IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY WITH , UM, AND REALLY ENHANCE THE WAY THAT WE HAVE CONNECTIONS, UM, ACROSS AND UNDER THAT FREEWAY.

SO, UM, MY QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU, I THINK IS, UH, IS IT CONTEMPLATED THAT THE SHARED USE PASS WILL HAVE SOME SORT OF VERTICAL BARRIER LIKE TREES, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, TO PROTECT USERS FROM CARS, UM, AS WELL AS TO MAKE THE FACILITY SHADED AND MORE COMFORTABLE TO USE.

AND AS YOU SPEAK TO THAT, CAN YOU SPEAK TO IF YOU KNOW, YET HOW MANY FEET ON AVERAGE ARE THERE BETWEEN THE EDGE OF VEHICLE TRAVEL LANES AND THE EDGE OF THE SHARED USE PATH? THE PURPOSE OF MY QUESTION IS I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK USE THINGS, DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND MORE FUNCTIONALLY, UM, USABLE FOR PEOPLE AS WELL AS AESTHETICALLY, UM, USABLE OR MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THE FREEWAYS DON'T FEEL LIKE SUCH A BARRIER AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY USE THEIR FEET OR THEIR BIKES, UM, OR ROLL FOR THOSE WHEELCHAIRS UNDER OR OVER THESE FREEWAYS.

SO CAN, UM, MR. SPILLER OR MR. TUCKER, MR. FERGUSON, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE QUESTIONS? SO I'LL JUST START, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S A DETAILED DESIGN THAT I, THAT I KNOW MY STAFF HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO SHADE THOSE CROSS STRUCTURES AND STUFF.

I DON'T KNOW THAT A FINAL RECOMMENDATION HAS COME FORWARD YET, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TUCKER, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT'S A DETAIL THAT WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE TO YET.

UH, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY MUCH ON THE PLACEMENT OF THOSE PATHWAYS STILL AND, AND WHERE THEY BEST CROSS.

I THINK A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE HAVE PARTNERED IS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RED LINE GREAT, SEPARATED OVER THE FRONTAGE ROADS RIGHT THERE, AS IT COMES INTO DOWNTOWN, WHICH MAKES IT A LOT SAFER FOR ALL THE MODES, INCLUDING THE BIKE PATH THAT WOULD GO ACROSS THERE AS WELL.

SO NOT A WHOLE LOT MORE TO ADD THAN WHAT ROB SAID.

I DO.

WE HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY ON THE CROSS STREET BRIDGES AS THEY, THE RENDERING THAT I SHOWED, WE DO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR DESIGN STANDARDS TO HAVE 20 FOOT BUFFERS THEN SHARED USE PATHS OF ABOUT 10 FEET.

SO THAT DOES GIVE SOME SEPARATION AND WE'VE HEARD VERY CLEARLY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT SEPARATION IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE TRAVEL LANE TO THE SHARED USE PATH.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT ALONG I 35, IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE WILL HAVE TO BE FIGURED OUT IN, IN FINAL DESIGN FEATURES AS WELL, BUT, UM, GIVEN THAT WE ARE, ARE CONTINUING TO TRY TO SHRINK AND MINIMIZE THE, THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT.

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE DESIRED 10 OR 20 FEET THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST IN ORDER TO KEEP, UH, THE FOOTPRINT IS, IS SLENDER AS POSSIBLE AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH WITH SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS COMMENTS, BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THE USERS.

UM, THANK YOU.

AND I ASSUME THAT THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, KIND OF APPROACH APPLIES TO, UM, AREAS UNDER, UNDER THE OVERPASSES.

ALSO, UM, AGAIN, THE, THE IN, MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THIS, UM, UH, TUCKER OR THE, THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF WELCOMING, SO TO SPEAK.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE, UH, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE CROSSING UNDER FREEWAYS.

AND SO IS IT PART OF YOUR DESIGN AND PART OF WHAT TECH STOCK CAN LOOK AT IT, THE VARIOUS KINDS OF, UM,

[01:25:01]

TO 85% OF ALL THE TRAFFIC ON 35 IS LOCAL TRAFFIC, MEANING IT STARTS OR STOPS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE CORRIDOR, OR SO WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE 30.

IF WE HAVE AN UNDERPASS LOCATION, WE WOULD INCORPORATE LIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE COULD BE SAFE PASSAGE, BUT IF YOU GO BACK TO ONE OF MY PREVIOUS SLIDES THAT SHOWED THE PROFILES, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CROSS STREETS ARE GOING TO BE OVER 35.

SO IT WOULD LOOK SIMILAR TO WHAT THE RENDERING THAT I SHOWED.

AND THERE'S SOME OPTIONS ON THERE WHERE SOME OF THEM MAY BE UNDER, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE OVER BY 35 TO KEEP THAT DEPRESSED SECTION LOWER THAN THE, THAN THE, UM, THAN THE SIDE STREETS AND THE FRONT OF DRUGS.

SOUNDS GOOD.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, LESLIE.

YOU WANT TO GO? THANKS.

UM, I WANTED TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT ON, UH, UM, ONE 30, THERE WAS A STATEMENT, ROB, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MADE IT OR TUCKER, YOU MADE IT ABOUT TRUCK TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH, UH, GOING NORTH AND SOUTH ON I, 35, IT'S A MAJOR TRUCK ROUTE AND IT'S THE NORTH PART OF OUR COUNTRY DID STUFF THE COUNTRY, BUT BACK IN THE NINETIES, I THINK IT WAS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT BUILDING, UM, STATE HIGHWAY ONE 30, UH, TEXTILE TALKED ABOUT IT, UM, UH, PROSPECTIVELY AS, UM, A TRUCK ROUTE SO THAT WE COULD SHIFT WHERE THE, THE CONCEPT BEING THE MORE TRUCKS AND THROUGH TRAFFIC THAT WAS REMOVED OFF OF ONTO ANOTHER, UH, ROAD.

AND IN THIS CASE, AT THAT TIME, IT WAS ONE 30 BECAUSE IT WAS SEEKING APPROVALS TO BE BUILT.

UM, AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AT THAT TIME ABOUT THAT BEING THE, UH, THE CITY BYPASS AND MANY CITIES DO THAT, BUT IN THE END, AS WE KNOW, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THE TRUCK INDUSTRY HAS A SIGNIFICANT LOBBY UP AT THE CAPITOL, AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE TOLLS.

UM, SO, AND I WILL ALSO REMARK THAT, UH, WHEN YOU, UH, DRIVE ON ROADS IN THE NORTHEAST, THERE ARE PLENTY OF TOLLS ON THOSE MAJOR HIGHWAYS, UH, AND STATE HIGHWAYS, AND THE TRUCKING TRUCKS ARE ON THOSE AND THEY'RE PAYING THEIR TOLL.

SO IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH, UH, TROLL STRUCTURE AND, UM, FACTORING THEM INTO THEIR LONG HAUL.

UM, THEIR LONG HAUL COSTS, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY SIT IN THE TRAFFIC WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GO NORTH OR SOUTH THROUGH AUSTIN, WHEN THEY COULD SKIP THOSE BACKUPS, WHICH THEY ALSO CAUSE IF THEY WERE TO BE ROUTED ON ONE 30.

SO I WANTED TO FIND OUT FROM BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN, UM, UH, WHERE IS ONE 30 IN THE DISCUSSION OF EXPANSION AND WHY NOT MAKE A CITY BYPASS FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC AND, AND THE TRUCK TRANSPORT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE I CAN ATTEST TO WHY ONE 30 WAS BUILT OR NOT BUILT.

THAT WAS, UH, BEFORE I WORKED FOR THE CITY HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ONE 30 IS PULLING A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

UH, IT MAY START TO LOOK MORE LIKE COMMUTER TRAFFIC THAN IT IS THROUGH TRAFFIC.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DYNAMICS THAT DRAW THAT ONE THING THAT WE DID LEARN.

AND THIS WAS REALLY FROM THE EARLY STUDIES THAT THE CITY DID ABOUT I, 35 IS THAT MUCH OF THAT TRAFFIC, SOME LIKE 85% SURELY LOCAL TO THE REGION.

AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THAT ALSO TRANSLATE TO TRANSLATES TO MUCH OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC, THAT IT IS REDISTRIBUTING HERE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN, EITHER TAKING 71 OR 180 3 OR, OR TWO 90 OR, OR GOING TO DESTINATIONS LOCATED HERE IN THE CITY.

AND SO THERE'S A PORTION OF THAT TRAFFIC THAT ONE 30 CLEARLY DOESN'T RESPOND TO.

UH, WE SUBSEQUENTLY AS A REGION IMPROVED 180 3 AND I THINK BOTH ONE 30 AND 180 3 ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL WHILE WE ARE CONSTRUCTING I 35.

AND I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE, THOSE THROUGH TRIPS OR TRIPS THAT THOSE CORRIDORS SERVE, UH, WE'LL BE DOING SOME DISCOVERING DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF , UH, OF THOSE OTHER FACILITIES.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THOSE FACILITIES WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN TAKING SOME OF THE LOAD THAT STILL NEEDS TO GET THROUGH AUSTIN WHILE WE CONSTRUCT.

UM, TXDOT SAYS THAT IT'S A SIX YEAR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.

I, MY, MY HUNCH IS THAT'S PROBABLY OPTIMISTIC.

IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE A DECADE WHEN WE GET THROUGH, UM, THE REALITIES WE'VE BEEN BUILDING FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW AND I 35, THE INTERCHANGES AND SO FORTH.

SO, UM, I THINK THOSE ARE STILL GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FROM A, A REGIONAL SYSTEM-WIDE BASIS.

UM, UM, THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, UH, TUCKER MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS CORRECT.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, YOU ARE ONE OF THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON MY LIST THAT WE NEED TO GET ON YOUR CALENDAR AND GET TOGETHER.

WE'VE NOT VISITED YET.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, BUT A GREAT QUESTION IN MANY TIMES COMES UP.

AND I THINK IF YOU REFER BACK TO ONE OF MY SLIDES, ROB IS CORRECT.

I THINK IT'S LIKE 80

[01:30:01]

AND THERE'S ANOTHER FACT ON THERE, I BELIEVE THAT IT SAID ABOUT ONLY 7% OF THE THROUGH TRAFFIC ON 35 IS TRUCK TRAFFIC.

SO MAXIMUM THROUGH TRAFFIC WOULD, IT WOULD ONLY BE 7% AND THAT, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, THAT COULD USE ONE THIRD.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE, WE HAVE SOME LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON FORCING TRUCKS OR FORCING VEHICLES ONTO ONE 30.

AND WE HAD BOND COVENANTS AGAIN FOR, FOR PAYING OFF THOSE BONDS THAT WERE USED TO BUILD ONE 30.

SO I CONTINUE TO GET QUESTIONS THAT, THAT ARE AGENCY QUESTIONS AND POLICY QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT AUSTIN DISTRICT RELATED, BUT, UM, THESE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BEFORE, AND I THINK THAT THE CHANGE WOULD BE MINIMAL SINCE MOST OF THE TRAFFIC IS HEADING SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN OR LEAVING SOMEWHERE FROM DOWNTOWN, THAT THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO USE.

SO GOOD.

WHAT A, WHAT A GO, WE'LL COME BACK.

I DO HAVE MY QUESTIONS.

THAT'D BE SHORT.

UH, MR. , UH, OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT, UH, LAUREN, THE, UH, I STARTED FIVE, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN AREA THAT I, YOU WERE A THING THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT A CAP THERE WHEN Y'ALL WERE BUILDING IT.

AND, UH, AND, BUT Y'ALL ARE JUST GOING TO BUILD JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THEN WE COULD LATER ON COME AND PUT A CAP ON THERE.

IS THAT STILL TRUE RIGHT NOW, THE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE CAP.

WE CAN BUILD IT AS PART OF OUR PROJECT, BUT THOSE ELEMENTS NEED TO BE FUNDED BY THE LOCAL ENHANCEMENTS.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE CLEARING, WE ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARING THE FOOTPRINT THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CAPS, BUT THE, THE ACTUAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF THE LOCAL ENHANCEMENT, THAT WOULD BE A NEED TO BE FUNDED BY THE THIRD PARTY.

SO WE WILL HAVE A ABILITY TO PUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE.

ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR 35.

WE'LL ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAR THAT DON'T BE A PART OF OUR PROCESS AS WE CLEAR THE PROJECT.

GET FROM THE PARK AND RIDE INTO THE MANAGED LANES.

MAYOR PRO TEM IN THE MIRROR.

I BELIEVE THESE ARE TUCKER QUESTIONS, BUT FEEL FREE TO ASK THE MIC, UM, IF NECESSARY.

SO DID THE PROJECT CONNECT INVESTMENTS FACTOR INTO YOUR MODELING HERE? TCI RAN THE MODEL AND I BELIEVE THEY DID INCLUDE THE ORANGE LINE, THE BLUE LINE AND THEIR FACTORS WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY MODELED THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS.

DO YOU KNOW, UM, CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DID THEY HAVE ON FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS, THE, THE CAP METRO MODEL? WHAT, WHAT IMPACTS THEY HAD ON FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS? NO, THE, THE, THE PROJECT CONNECT INVESTMENTS FACTORED INTO THE MODELING.

YOU KNOW, IF, IF THOSE WERE INDEED CONSIDERED WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT I CAN'T TRACK THAT DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW IF TTI RAN A MODEL WITHOUT PROJECT CONNECT AND THEN W ONE WITH PROJECT CONNECT.

BUT I DID LEARN THIS WEEK THAT THEY DID CONSIDER THE BLUE LINE AND THE ORANGE LINE WHEN THEY RAN THEIR TRAFFIC MODEL.

SO I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE IF THEY RAN ONE WITHOUT THAT, WITHOUT THE BLUE LINE AND THE ORANGE LINE IN IT, THAT'D BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THEN, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION WOULD BE IF, IF THEY HAD NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE PROJECT CONNECT INVESTMENTS, AND THE QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT'S THE IMPACT THAT YOU THINK TWO NEW LIGHT RAIL LINES WOULD HAVE ON, ON YOUR TRAPPING REJECTION.

SO THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.

UM, AND SO ARE YOU WORKING WITH CAP METRO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CROSSINGS AT DEAN KEATON AND MLK AND SEVENTH STREET CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH, UM, TRANSIT PRIORITY TREATMENTS FOR THE UPCOMING METRO RAPID LINES? THERE WE ARE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THEIR PLANS AND LOOKING AT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO AND SEEING WHERE THOSE WILL INTERSECT OR OVERLAY WITH OUR, IN OUR RIGHT AWAY AND WITH OUR PROJECT.

AND WE, UH, THERE ARE CERTAIN LOCATIONS WHERE WE, WE WILL BE BUILDING IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THEY WILL, AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE SYNCHRONIZED.

SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT FIRST, OR THEY'RE NOT FIRST AND THE OTHER COMING BACK TO DO THAT, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CONNECTIONS AND THE TRANSIT PRIORITY TO GET INTO THE MANAGED LANES, UH, IS AS FREE FLOWING AS POSSIBLE.

THERE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT MORE SO ON THE NORTH PROJECT AND THE SOUTH PROJECT, REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE LIMITS THAT I ABOUT TODAY, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TECH RIDGE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY TO

[01:35:01]

THEY CAN TRAVEL INTO THE DOWNTOWN CORE AND ALSO ON THE SOUTH SIDE, LOOKING AT SOME OPPORTUNITIES OF WHERE THEY CAN MORE EASILY GET INTO THE DOWNTOWN CORE BY THE, BY WAY OF THE MANAGED LANES, BUT ABSOLUTELY WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.

UH, WE HAVE OUR STAFF ENGINEERS LOOKING AT THEIR PLANS AND THEIR PROFILES TO SEE HOW WE CAN COORDINATE ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SO I HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES AND I HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND SOME COMMENTS.

AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO GO FAST IF YOU CAN HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES, BUT GO AHEAD.

WE ARE HOPING TO BUILD 135 NEW HOUSING UNITS IN OUR CITY LIMITS BY THE END OF THE DECADE, DOES THAT KIND OF INFILL DEVELOPMENT FACTOR INTO YOUR MODELING? THE CAMPO MODEL THAT'S USED DOES TAKE INPUTS FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WHAT THEIR EXPANSION IN THEIR, THEIR ESTIMATE OF POPULATION GROWTH ARE.

SO SPECIFICALLY THOSE 135 UNITS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE CAMPO MODEL, BUT THE CAMPO MODEL DOES USE THE INPUT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON THEIR EXPECTED GROWTH OVER THE NEXT 20, 25 YEARS WHEN THEY PROJECTED TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND POPULATION GROWTH.

IT'D BE GREAT TO KNOW IF IT'S THEIR CALCULATIONS INCLUDE THAT SPECIFIC GOAL NUMBER.

I MEAN, EVEN AS JUST THE BENCHMARK SPACE FOR MORE CARS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN EXPECT FOR MORE CARS TO FILL THAT SPACE WITH OUR CURRENT GROWTH PROJECTIONS.

HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT FOR IT TO TAKE FOR THE NEW TO BECOME JUST AS CONGESTED AS THE EXISTING EITHER? WELL, THE NEW IS NOT GOING TO BE NEW GENERAL PURPOSE LANES.

SO AS I EXPLAINED BEFORE, YOU NEED TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, EITHER TRANSIT OR HOV TO, TO BE IN THEM, BUT WE'RE NOT PRETENDING TO SAY THAT THE EXPANSION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS BUILDING OUR WAY OUT OF CONGESTION.

IT'S MOVING MORE PEOPLE THAN VEHICLES.

UM, YOU HAVE TO BE AN HOV OR A TRANSIT VEHICLE TO BE IN THE LANES.

UH, WE EXPECT AND HOPE THAT SOME OF THE VISION OF THE CITY OF PEOPLE, CAR POLLING AND VAN POLLING AND RIDE SHARING WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE BECAUSE THOSE LANES WILL BE MORE RELIABLE AND, UH, AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE AS WE MOVE TRAFFIC THROUGH.

SO, UM, OUR HOPE IS THEY WILL, UH, BE UTILIZED.

WE'RE BUILDING THEM TO BE USE.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE VACANT, BUT IT WILL BE A MORE RELIABLE TRANSIT ROUTE.

HOV ROUTE IS GOING FORWARD AS, AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS AND THE POPULATION AND THE VEHICLES, UH, BEGIN TO EXPAND.

I DO WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT I APPRECIATE HAVING THOSE QUESTIONS.

SHOULD WE DO TO NOVEMBER? THANK YOU.

UH, MR. FERGUSON, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU RECEIVED OVER 4,000 EMAILS AND COMMENTS SUBMITTED FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU RECEIVED AND HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THAT FEEDBACK INTO THE PROPOSAL.

THE VAST OF THOSE EMAILS WERE, WERE FORM LETTERS AND FORM EMAILS OR SLIGHTLY VARIATIONS OF, OF THOSE ASKING US TO FULLY RE UH, CONSIDER THE RECONNECT, UH, AUSTIN, OR THE RETHINK 35 OR THE WOK AUSTIN MODELS.

AND THE RESULTS OF, OF WHAT WE HAD DONE ASKED TTI TO DO IS WHAT I SHOWED EARLIER, THAT THOSE AS STANDALONE PROJECTS WOULD FUNNEL MUCH OF THE TRAFFIC THAT NEEDS TO BE ON 9 35 INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE MADE THE CONCLUSION THAT THOSE AS STANDALONE PROJECTS COULD NOT BE SUSTAINABLE, BUT AGAIN, MANY OF THE ELEMENTS, THE CROSS STREETS, THE SHARED USE PATHS LOWERING HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCORPORATED INTO OUR CURRENT DESIGN AND, AND MANY OTHER FEATURES ARE GOING TO BE EVALUATED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO, UM, AT THE VAST MAJORITY, I WOULD SAY 99% OF THE 4,000 LETTERS THAT I GOT WERE BASICALLY FORM LETTERS WITH, WITH SIMILAR INFORMATION, ASKING US TO, UH, TO CONSIDER THOSE AS ALTERNATIVES.

GOTCHA.

AND COLLEAGUES JUST WANTED IT, YOU KNOW, GIVE A REMINDER THAT THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE REPLACEMENT IS SLATED TO START.

THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO START NEXT YEAR, JILL, TO BE LED IN JANUARY OF 2022.

AND WE JUST WENT THROUGH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE SOUTH PORTION.

AND I KNOW MY OFFICE HAS ASKED FOR A FEEDBACK.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SURVEYS, THE FEEDBACK SURVEYS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND THE COMMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, THE IMPORTANT NEED FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE CONSIDERED IN THAT EXPANSION AND REPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE CONSTRUCTION IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS AWAY.

THANK YOU, KELLY.

OF TIME, BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE FORETHOUGHT AND DIRECTION THAT WENT INTO THIS PROJECT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN AND A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1986 WHEN I WAS BORN AT ST.

DAVID'S DOWN THERE.

UM, LOOKING AT THESE PLANS IS REALLY EXCITING.

YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT IF WE DON'T BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PEOPLE WON'T COME, BUT CLEARLY WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE AUSTIN IS A GROWING CITY.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICE AND I'LL ASK MY QUESTIONS THEN FOR THE SAKE

[01:40:01]

AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S FINISHED.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

I'M GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE THE DIOCESE.

I'M GOING TO TURN THE, UH, UH, CHAIR OVER TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

I HOPE SOMEBODY ASKS THE QUESTION ABOUT IF THE PROJECT COSTS WENT FROM 4.9 DOWN TO 4.3.

NOW THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THE DEEP AND WHETHER THAT'S AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE CAPPING, UH, AND, AND ROB, YOU'VE HEARD KIND OF MY QUESTIONS.

IF YOU WOULD HELP ME PREPARE A LETTER TO RESPOND TO A TEXTILE THAT I APPRECIATE THAT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AND TURN THE CHAIR OVER TO THE MAYOR PRO TEMP.

WE JUST GOT A PLAN FOR, I KNOW YOU SAID WE NEED TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ONE 15.

UM, ARE WE NOT BREAKING FOR LUNCH OR WHAT, WHAT'S THE PLAN THERE? UH, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD TAKE LIKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND MAYBE PEOPLE COULD GRAB LUNCH AND WALK BACK WITH IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE COUNCIL AT TWO.

UH, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED SESSION AT ONE 15.

THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD ALSO BE THAT YOU CALL UP AND THEN MAKE THE CALL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, YOU FOUR, I'M GOING TO POST ONTO THE MESSAGE BOARD, THE ITEMS THAT ARE LEFT WITH A SUGGESTED KIND OF A TIMEFRAME THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE A, TAKE A LOOK AT WHEN YOU DO IT.

AND I'LL JUST FIND OUT FROM OUR OFFICE, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE DECIDED.

SO KATHY, YOUR FIVE MINUTES START A MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'VE ACTUALLY KEEPING TRACK ON THE, UM, I, UH, BY PHONE HERE ON TIME, AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO THE SAME THING.

UH, GOT SOME MEMBER TOVAR.

GREAT.

WE HAVE TO KIND OF CURTAIL SOME OF THE CONVERSATION.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN, UH, A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION AND I APPRECIATE HAVING IT HERE AT THE WORK SESSION.

SO WE ALL CAN PARTICIPATE.

I DON'T SERVE ON THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, BUT CERTAINLY OF THIS PROPOSAL HAS, UH, WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT, A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON MOBILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT ALSO, UM, SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL, COULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON MY DISTRICT.

AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES.

SO I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THOSE AREAS WITHIN MY DISTRICT, INCLUDING, INCLUDING, UM, SOME OF THE AREAS THROUGH THE CHERRY WOOD AREA.

SO I'D LIKE TO JUST, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR STAFF, AMONG OUR STAFF AND TXDOT.

UM, THANK YOU, MR. FERGUSON, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING TO WORK, TO REALLY MINIMIZE IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE LOTS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THAT CORRIDOR WHO, UM, EMPLOY, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT NOT JUST, UM, NOT JUST LOCAL FOLKS WHO OWN THE BUSINESSES, BUT OF COURSE THEY EMPLOY LOTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SERVE A GREAT PURPOSE.

AND I HOPE THAT I HOPE THAT, UM, AS THE PROCESS CONTINUES, WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE, UH, UM, ALTERNATIVES THAT REALLY HAVE AS LITTLE IMPACT ON THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THAT QUARTER AS POSSIBLE.

MR. UH, SPILLER INSTRUCTOR SPILLER, CAN YOU, UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DESIGN SPEED.

UH, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DEFINITION FOR DESIGN SPEED THAN WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID.

AND SO, AS I UNDERSTOOD YOUR DESCRIPTION OF DESIGN SPEED, IT'S KIND OF THE CAPACITY, THE SPEED CAPACITY THAT THAT ROAD IS DESIGNED FOR, NOT WHAT YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL DRIVE, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE ENCOURAGING, OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE WONKY.

SO I APOLOGIZE THE DESIGN BECAUSE WE ARE SO LIMITED IN OUR TIME.

CAN I ASK THE SECOND PIECE OF MY DESIGN SPEED QUESTION AT THE SAME TIME AND YOU CAN, AND YOU CAN HANDLE BOTH.

UM, AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN SPEED.

SO TO SPEAK SPEED THROUGH THIS ONE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DESIGN SPEED.

ARE YOU ALSO TALKING ABOUT DESIGN SPEED FOR THE HIGHWAY ITSELF OR JUST, UM, THE ACCESS ROADS, AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LENGTH OF THE, THE LANE LENGTH OF THE FRONTAGE ROAD, UM, AND THE DESIGN SPEED, RIGHT.

SO I'LL TRY TO, IS THAT ALSO CORRESPONDING TO THE DESIGN SPEED FOR THE HIGH RATES? SO, YEAH, SO I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF AND THEN TUCKER CAN FOLLOW UP, UH, DESIGN SPEED IS, IS YOU'RE DESIGNING THE ROADWAY TO MEET A SPEED EXPECTATION OF THE DRIVERS.

AND SO AS YOU MODIFY THAT, YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE EXPECTATION OF THE DRIVERS AND THAT'S WHERE YOU START TO SET THE SPEED LIMIT.

UH, YOUR SECOND, HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERED THE FIRST QUESTION.

IF NOT, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

UH, BUT THE FIRST, THE SECOND QUESTION IS YES, THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MAIN LANE SPEEDS AND THE FRONTAGE ROAD SPEEDS.

UH, YOU CAN'T HAVE IE NEED THAT RELATIONSHIP TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH SO THAT DRIVERS CAN PHYSICALLY SLOW DOWN AS THEY ENTER A URBAN STREET ENVIRONMENT FROM A LIMITED ACCESS ENVIRONMENT.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IF, GO AHEAD, OH, I'M SORRY, MR. DIRECTOR SPELLER.

I HATE THIS.

I HATE OUR TIME LIMIT BECAUSE

[01:45:01]

BUT SO IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANTED A 35, IF WE WANTED A 35 MILE THE ON AND OFF RAMPS, DOES THAT SPEAK TO A US, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT SPEAKS TO, UH, A LOWER SPEED ALONG THE HIGHWAY ITSELF.

AND IS, IS MY IMPRESSION CORRECT THAT HAVING SHORT, THAT ALL OF THIS IMPACTS, UM, THAT THE DESIGN SPEED IS REALLY CLOSELY RELATED TO THE IMPACT ON SURROUNDING BUSINESSES AND HOW MUCH AREA YOU MIGHT NEED.

IT CERTAINLY COULD.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE WANT TO LOOK AT, UH, BECAUSE DESIGN SPEEDS AS I THINK, WHERE YOU WERE GOING, HELPS US DETERMINE THE LENGTH OF RAMPS, THE ANGLE OF THE RAMPS THAT NEED TO COME OFF AND, AND HOW FAST DRIVERS CAN SLOW DOWN TO GET TO THAT SPEED.

AND SO THOSE ARE ALL ELEMENTS THAT, THAT I THINK CAN HELP US LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO NARROW THIS UP, BUT THOSE WILL BE AREAS WHERE WE'LL LOOK COMING UP.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TEBOW.

I HATE TO DO IT, UM, BUT YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS THAT I CAN'T SEE? I CAN'T SEE THE, I CAN'T SEE CHAMBERS.

SO IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN CHAMBERS THAT HAD THEIR HAND RAISED TO SPEAK, I CAN'T SEE YOU AFTER.

WE'RE ALL GOOD HERE.

AWESOME.

ANY OTHER TYPE COUNCIL MEMBER? POLECATS MY HAS ALREADY SPOKEN AND I SEE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THEIR HANDS RAISED, CATCH THEM OVER KITCHEN, UH, QUICKLY.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ASK, UM, THE MR. SPILLER, MR. FERGUSON ABOUT AESTHETICS.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ASK MR. FERGUSON TO GIVE, TO TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THAT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE, LIKE, WELL, WHAT WAS PRESENTED THAT, THAT IS A COMPONENT OF DESIGN THAT, UM, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT, UH, WILL AESTHETICS BE PART OF THE ONGOING DESIGN PROCESS? YES.

AESTHETICS WILL BE PART OF THE ONGOING PROCESS.

WE'RE GOING TO REENGAGE THE AESTHETICS PROGRAM THAT WE BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO, POLLING IN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE CITY AND OUR STAFF TO SEE WHAT AESTHETIC WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE DESIGN AND INTO THE PROJECT.

WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S CRITICAL FOR HELP PEOPLE FEEL AND, UH, REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, UM, IN PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO REALLY USE THE SPACE.

AND SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING MR. SPILLER SPOKE ABOUT ALSO THAT THE TWO OF YOU ALL WILL WORK TOGETHER ON THAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND I ENCOURAGE ANYONE ON COUNCIL.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING NEAT ON ANOTHER FREEWAY, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT SAFELY AND SEND IT TO US BECAUSE THAT'S HOW GOOD IDEAS GET COLLECTED.

REMEMBER TEVA.

AND PLACES, PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND TO WORK, NOT FEWER, SORT OF, AS WE'VE SEEN IN THINGS LIKE THE RECONNECT PROPOSAL, CREATING MORE TAX BASE FOR THE CITY, MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE INSIDE OF THE CITY AND SAFER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY ON OUR, ON OUR ACCESS ROADS.

UM, I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS OF OUR DIRECTOR, UM, ABOUT THE RAMPING.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ONE OF THE LETTERS THAT YOU TRANSMITTED TO TXDOT, YOU SUGGESTED AN ALTERNATIVE RAMPING SYSTEM.

AND I WANTED TO ASK WHETHER ANY OF THAT ALTERNATIVE RAMPING SYSTEM IS, UM, HAS BEEN INCORPORATED, UH, AS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO DO SO.

AND IF OUR STAFF HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE OF THE WRAPPING SYSTEM THAT WAS PROPOSED, RIGHT.

UM, SO I SHOWED SOME PICTURES OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER IN MY SLIDESHOW, UM, UH, THE PORTAL RAMPS.

AND SO REALLY NOW THAT, THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK HOW WE MIGHT SKINNY THESE ALTERNATIVES UP.

I THINK THOSE RAMPING OPTIONS BECOME VERY MUCH AVAILABLE.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE TAX STOP FOR SOME TIME ABOUT IT, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN THAT DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW, UH, IN A WORKSHOP THAT IS PLANNED FOR THIS MONTH TO TRY TO LOOK AT SOME ALTERNATIVE RAMPING TECHNIQUES WHERE WE COULD MOVE PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTO THE ARTERIALS, UH, FROM BELOW.

SO THIS IS NOT A BIG BRIDGE OR A HIGH-SPEED RAMP.

THIS IS BRINGING PEOPLE OFF THOSE, UH, DEPRESSED CIRCULATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR BYPASS, UH, LANES DIRECTLY INTO THE ARTERIALS.

WE ACTUALLY THINK THAT WILL IMPROVE, UH, THE CONGESTION LOADING, UM, ATTRIBUTES OF OUR MATERIALS.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY ENGAGED IN THAT.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? THANK YOU.

WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER PESA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME AND PRESENTATIONS.

UH, TODAY, WHEN WE LAST SPOKE ABOUT THIS, WE ALL, UH, SEVERAL OF US HAD OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL LETTERS MOVING FORWARD, MR. SPILLER, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION AND MY HOPE WAS, UH, FOR A NARROWER DESIGN FOR SUPPORT, FOR TRANSIT, FOR MORE SPACE, FOR HOUSING

[01:50:01]

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WITH THE CURRENT ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED TO US, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SIGN OFF ON THIS AS FROM OUR SIDE OF THE SEAT OF THE TABLE AS THE CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, NOBODY I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, IS ADVOCATING FOR THE CURRENT .

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT ISN'T SAFE.

IT HAS TO BE CHANGED, AND WE WANT TO SEE A CHANGE.

UH, BUT EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO AND EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS THAT THIS IS A, NOT JUST A ONCE IN A GENERATION, BUT POTENTIALLY A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY AND WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'VE SPENT THIS TIME AND THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND I KEEP HEARING, ESPECIALLY IN THE PART THAT INTERSECTIONS MY DISTRICT, THAT WE WANT TO SEE SOMETHING BETTER.

AND SO, WHILE I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ALTERNATIVE, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION ACROSS THE DIOCESE.

I APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT.

AND I JUST THINK THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SAYING THAT WE LIKE WHAT WE HAVE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER FOR THE FOLKS LIVING IN THE CITY, UM, WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO GET EAST-WEST, WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY.

UM, AND, AND REALLY WHO IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED A MUCH MORE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE, UM, OPTION FOR US IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND AND SHIFT FROM, FROM THE PAST.

AND SO WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS I JUST WANT TO SEE MORE OF THOSE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE FREEWAY.

SEE THOSE SAFER DESIGN SPEEDS AND TO SEE THIS NARROW IT UP IN THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR JUST THAT IS, UM, TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THESE ALTERNATIVES.

I THINK THE BEST MESSAGE TO PUT OUT THERE IS WE'RE NOT AT THE FINISH LINE YET.

AND I THINK YOU'LL AGREE TO THAT.

UM, THAT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE NOW WE KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS, UH, OR CONTINUE TO DEFINE THAT CHALLENGE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT TOGETHER.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SPELLER.

WERE THERE ANY OTHER, OH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS TODAY, BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE WE WERE GETTING TO THE END OF HIS CONVERSATION.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY WANTED US TO DO SOME OF THIS DISCUSSION, THAT MOBILITY COMMITTEE, JUST BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO DO THIS ALL TOGETHER AT A WORK SESSION.

AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, TUCKER FERGUSON AND DIRECTOR SPILLER DOING THESE PRESENTATIONS WITH US SO THAT WE CAN GET BETTER CLARITY ON SOME OF OUR SPECIFIC Q AND A, UM, AND TO UNDERSTAND NEXT STEPS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPROVE OF DIRECTOR SPILLER WORKING WITH TUCKER FERGUSON TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE, UM, CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT WE STILL HAVE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, BUT IF WE COULD GET A QUICK, UM, DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS, I KNOW THAT IT WAS EXTENDED AND I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW THEY CAN LOOK AT THE INFORMATION TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE COUNSEL MEMORYLESS, BUT WE DID EXTEND IT BY 15 DAYS, 24TH, SEPTEMBER 24TH.

I'M BEING TOLD.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT AGAIN, THAT DEADLINE IS JUST SO THAT COMMENTS ARE PUBLISHED WITH THE PUBLIC OUTREACH, UH, REPORT THAT IS BEING PUT TOGETHER FOR THE LAST PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORT.

UH, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS EFFORT.

AND SO TXDOT WILL KEEP RECEIVING COMMENTS AND ACCEPTING COMMENTS, UH, UNTIL THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, UH, IS REVIEWED BY THE PUBLIC.

SO THIS IS JUST A DEADLINE TO SAY, HEY, LET'S SCOOP UP ALL THE COMMENTS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.

AT THIS POINT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK, TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AS BEST POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS ON HIM WITH THAT.

I ALSO HAD A FEW SORT OF CLOSING COMMENTS.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT'S ROUNDING OUT AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO GET OVER TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO I'LL, I'LL CUT IT SHORT.

BUT, UM, AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, I 35 JUST LIKE PROJECT CONNECT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SAID, UM, MADE REFERENCE TO THAT, AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE.

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES.

YOU KNOW, THOSE HAVE BEEN SPELLED OUT VERY EXPLICITLY IN DOCUMENTS LIKE OUR, IMAGINE AUSTIN, OUR STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLANS, UM, OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, OUR VISION ZERO PLANS.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT IS THAT IT WAS TRULY A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLAN.

KEPT METRO SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS DOING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, COLLECTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK BEFORE RELEASING THE PLAN.

UM, THEN WE, AS A BODY, GOT TO WORK WITH CAP METRO AND THE BOARD TO PROVIDE OUR INPUT BEFORE WE DECIDED WHAT TO PUT

[01:55:01]

BEFORE THE VOTE TO PUT IT TO VOTERS.

SO THEN THE VOTERS GOT TO LEARN ABOUT IT DURING THE ELECTION BEFORE THEY ULTIMATELY DECIDED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT IT.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE GET THAT LUXURY IN THIS PROCESS OF TEXTS THAT DRAWS UP THE PLANS DOES A FEW WEEKS OF PUBLIC INPUT.

AND THEN IT'S UP TO THAT DEPARTMENT TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER IT DID A GOOD JOB AND WHETHER IT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S THE KIND OF TOP-DOWN PROCESS THAT GAVE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, A BAD REPUTATION FOR THEIR TRACK RECORD TEARING COMMUNITIES APART AND DISPLACING THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE ARE BEYOND THAT POINT IN OUR HISTORY, BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING I'M WILLING TO LEAVE UP TO BLIND FAITH, UM, TEXT THAT SAYS, LISTEN, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE EXTENDED THE CURRENT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO SEPTEMBER THE 24TH.

I ENCOURAGE EVERY AUSTENITE WHO CARES ABOUT THE CLIMATE, WHO CARES ABOUT SAFE MOBILITY, ABOUT PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, ABOUT RESOLVING THE SENSE OF OUR SEGREGATION HAS PASSED AND ABOUT THE KIND OF CITY WE'LL LEAVE TO OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS.

I ENCOURAGE I AM FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN.

YOU CAN FIND THE INFORMATION ONLINE, UM, FOR OPEN HOUSES AT MY CAP, X 30 FIVE.COM.

UH, THAT'S MY CAP, X 30 FIVE.COM.

UH, WE REALLY HAVE TO LET TEXTILE HEAR ALL OF THE VOICES.

MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T NORMALLY ENGAGE IN THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS ARE FULLY PRESENT AND PARTICIPATING.

UM, AND WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE Y'ALL, I THINK I'M GOING TO

[E. Executive Session]

TAKE US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME TIME CONSTRAINTS WITH COUNCIL OVER THERE.

SO GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT, FIND MY SCRIPT.

SO THE TWO, UM, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE A FOUR ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7.

ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO , UM, DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO BRENDA ALMOST, UM, AT ALL, UH, VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN AT ALL, UH, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7, 4 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO IWAN, CONSIDERED COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE CITY CLERK TO CONSIDER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE CITY AUDITOR CONSIDERED COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK.

UM, IF, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED MAYOR PRO TEM IS ALSO, UH, PLEASE INCLUDE ITEM DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED WITH LAWSUITS AND CLAIMS RELATED TO AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE PROTEST THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 30 AND 31, 20 20, THAT WOULD ALSO BE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0.07.

ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

IS THAT SUFFICIENT THAT YOU ANNOUNCED IT? CAUSE IT'S NOT IN MY SCRIPT.

YES, IT SHOULD BE AS PART OF THE RECORD, IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT THAT AS AN ITEM TO ALSO INCLUDE IN THE ITEMS FOR YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION DURING OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION.

UM, SO WITH NO EXAM WITH NO OBJECTION, UH, TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED, UM, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1:13 PM.

I BELIEVE WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GET OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I'M GOING TO GO DIRECTLY.

UM, AND SO I'LL SEE YOU GUYS OVER THERE.

UH, BUT ON THURSDAY, UH, IT'S ANTICIPATED RIGHT NOW AND IT'S SET UP FOR EVERYBODY TO JUST SPEAK IN PERSON.

SO WE ARE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION, CLOSED SESSION.

WE DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEMS. THIS CONTINUATION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON AUGUST 31ST, 2021.

[D1. Council Meeting Procedures.]

LET'S TAKE A SECOND.

AND, UH, TALK ABOUT, UH, COUNCIL, UH, UH, PROCEDURES.

UM, THE CLERK SAYS THAT, UH, THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 2ND HAS ALREADY BEEN SET THAT'S THIS WEEK.

SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND THEREAFTER.

UH, FIRST, SEPTEMBER 2ND, ALL SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO BE IN PERSON, UH, AND, UH, WE DO NOT HAVE THE, UH, UH, ABILITY TO, TO, UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS ASKED A QUESTION ON THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED LEGAL COUNSEL TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE FOR US.

[02:00:02]

UH, LIKE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SPEAKERS WE'LL USE THE KIOSKS IN THE LOBBY FOR SPEAKER SIGNUP.

SO RATHER THAN GOING ONLINE, AS WE HAVE DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'RE BACKED OUT TO KIOSKS, WHICH MEANS THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY COME HERE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SIGN UP.

UH, WE'RE TAKING SPEAKERS IN TO BATCHES LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING AT THE REMOTE MEETINGS.

SO SPEAKERS SPEAKING ON THINGS OTHER THAN ZONING, UH, WILL BE CALLED ROUGHLY AT 10 O'CLOCK OR THEREAFTER AFTER WE IDENTIFY WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND THOSE SPEAKERS HAVE TO SIGN UP BY 9 45 HERE IN PERSON IN THE MORNING SPEAKERS THAT WOULD BE IN THIS SECOND BATCH AT 2:00 PM TO SPEAK ON THE ZONING CASES, HAVE TO BE HERE IN PERSON IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

JUST A, UH, CAN'T DO IT ONLINE.

UH, AND THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP BY 1:45 PM.

WE CLOSED OUT THE SPEAKER SIDE UP AT 9 45 IN THE MORNING, HAD AT 1 45 IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT HIS SPEAKERS FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH OR THEREAFTER COUNSEL, YOU COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT YOU, UH, UH, IDENTIFY, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, OF POTENTIAL ISSUES FOR, FOR, FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO TAKE SPEAKERS IN BATCHES, UM, IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON, DO WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DONATE TIME? DO WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE PULL ITEMS OTHER THAN COUNCIL MEMBERS? WHEN WE TAKE THINGS IN BATCHES, UM, UH, ANY ONE PERSON CAN PULL A ITEM USED TO BE BEFORE PANDEMIC THAT ARE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

THAT ITEM WAS PULLED BY SPEAKERS.

IN THIS CASE, THEY WILL, IF WE'RE DOING IT AT BATCHES WILL HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.

THEY MAY INSPIRING COUNCIL MEMBER TO PULL SOMETHING, BUT THERE'S THAT QUESTION TO PULLING ITEMS, TIMING OF SPEAKER SIDE UP, UH, DO WE WANT TO EXPLORE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO REMOTE SIGN-UPS WITH THE, UH, KIOSK, UM, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SIGNING UP REMOTELY BEFORE WE HAVE A COUNT THE DAY BEFORE.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO PLAN THE DAY A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING.

UH, THAT'S ALSO ENABLED US TO, TO POTENTIALLY ADJUST THE TIME FOR SPEAKERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITHOUT HAVING TO BE HERE ALL DAY.

UH, AND US BEING HERE ALL DAY, UH, AND WELL INTO THE EVENING.

SO HOW MUCH TIME FOR SPEAKERS IS THAT THE ISSUE, WHETHER THAT TIME IS FOR ALL ITEMS THEY SPEAK ON OR WHETHER, UH, THEY GET THAT ABOUT, ABOUT THE TIME FOR EACH ITEM, WHETHER WE WANT TO MAKE THE TIME AVAILABLE, UH, CONSIDERING TO CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, WHETHER PEOPLE CAN DONATE TIME.

I THINK THOSE WERE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HIGH HAD IDENTIFIED.

I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR EARLY ON A LEGAL ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO, UH, WHETHER SPEAKERS CAN PARTICIPATE, UH, REMOTELY.

AND DO YOU WANT TO ASK THAT QUESTION? UH, YEAH, SO I WANTED TO ASK SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW THAT, AND I JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHAT ALL WE EXPLORED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, UH, AND IT IS A NEW DAY, BUT I, I DO THINK THAT, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO, UH, PARTICIPATE, UM, AND PARTICIPATING WITH VIRTUALLY IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE SET UP A SITUATION THAT PEOPLE CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE IN PERSON, WE'RE EXCLUDING PART OF OUR POPULATION, AND WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEIR OWN HEALTH OR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO TALK TO US.

AND I DON'T, DON'T, I, I THINK WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR ABILITIES AND WITHIN THE LAW TO, UM, TO ALLOW OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY EVERYONE'S CIRCUMSTANCE IS DIFFERENT.

SOME PEOPLE CAN TAKE RISKS, SOME PEOPLE IT'S NOT MUCH OF A RISK.

SOME PEOPLE IT'S A LOT OF RISK.

SO, UM, SO ANYWAY, SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR RANGE OF OPTIONS ARE.

AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT FIRST FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT ARE OUR RANGE OF OPTIONS?

[02:05:01]

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH HOW WE MIGHT DO SOMETHING, BUT I WANT TO START WITH WHAT ARE OUR RANGE OF, OF LEGAL OPTIONS.

AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND IT NOT, I, I RESPECT OUR, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S CONCLUSIONS BASED ON THE LAW.

AND I WANT TO HEAR THAT TOO, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR THE WHY AND WHAT IS THIS? WHAT'S, WHAT'S IT BASED ON, OKAY.

COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL.

WE HAVE CAROLINE WEBSTER ON THE LINE AND SHE'S AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS, CAROLINE WEBSTER.

UH, DID YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD? I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO HAD HER HAND UP, SO I WASN'T SURE IF I NEEDED TO WAIT.

SHE JUST, SHE JUST ASKED THE QUESTION.

UH, SO, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UM, SO THE BASIC LAW IN THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT IS THAT, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, UH, BUT NOT BY TELECONFERENCE, UH, UNDER THE RULES THAT WERE SUSPENDED BY THE GOVERNOR THAT EXPIRE TOMORROW, UH, FOLKS WERE ALLOWED TO CALL IN BY TELEPHONE.

AND OF COURSE THAT'S HOW YOU'VE BEEN CONDUCTING YOUR MEETINGS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

UH, BUT ONCE THOSE ARE ONCE THAT SUSPENSION ENDS, THEN THE ONLY POSSIBILITY IS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, THERE ARE VARIOUS TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO THAT AS FAR AS VISIBILITY, ADI AUDIT LIKE CURABILITY OR WHATEVER THE PROPER WORD IS FOR THAT.

UM, BUT SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FACES, ET CETERA, JUST AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

IT'S JUST THE PRIMARILY THE OPTION OF TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION HAS TAKEN AWAY.

THERE MUST BE A VIDEO COMMUNICATION.

UH, THE LAW IS, UH, SPECIAL IN SOME WAYS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHER LARGE CITIES THAT EXTEND INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES.

UH, MOST CITIES CAN NOT USE THIS VIDEO CONFERENCING OPTION EXCEPT FOR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES EXTEND IT TO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES, WE HAVE A RULE THAT WE CAN, YOU ALL CAN PARTICIPATE BY VIDEO CONFERENCING.

AND SO CAN THE PUBLIC, UH, SO BASICALLY AS LONG AS THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS CAN BE ADHERED TO, UH, THEN IT'S LEGAL FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE OR IN PERSON IN SORT OF A HYBRID SITUATION, UH, MAYOR, IF I MAY FOLLOW UP, UH, IS THERE, UM, WHAT ARE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS? IS IT, UM, UH, CAN, IS THERE A WAY TO SUMMARIZE THOSE QUICKLY FOR ME OR WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL THEY ARE? THEY ARE QUITE DETAILED, SOME OF THEM, SO I CAN'T REALLY GO INTO IT THAT MUCH, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH BASICALLY AGREEING THAT MULTIPLE SPEAKERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK UP ONCE AT EVERY ONE IS VISIBLE.

UH, OF COURSE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHENEVER THEY'RE SPEAKING OR VOTING, THAT NEEDS TO BE VISIBLE, BUT ALSO IF FOLKS ARE PARTICIPATING FROM THEIR HOME, THEY HAVE TO BE VISIBLE.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CAMERA THAT WE CAN SEE THEM, OR THEY HAVE TO BE HEARD BY ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE EITHER PHYSICALLY PRESENT OR PARTICIPATING BY VIDEO CONFERENCE.

SO THERE ARE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS THAT I'M SURE SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE BETTER QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THAN ME, BUT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO WITH.

IT'S NOT JUST YOU ALL BEING VISIBLE, IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S CALLING IN OR VIDEOING FROM THEIR HOME OR FROM THE LIBRARY OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

KNOW, AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE OF CONCERN, I THINK SOME OF THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS ALSO ARE A BARRIER FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD, WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS, IS WITH INDIVIDUALS BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO US TESTIFY TO US, THAT'S REALLY WHAT MY QUESTIONS ARE AROUND.

AND SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT FACETIME MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE POTENTIAL.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A TELEPHONE, SO, OKAY.

WELL THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION, UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND, UH, OTHERS MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD LIKE US.

UM, I WOULD LIKE US TO ALLOW THAT OPTION.

UH, I KNOW THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS TECHNICAL CHALLENGES MIGHT BE.

AND SO I'M, I PROBABLY NEED TO HEAR THAT, BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW THAT KIND OF PARTICIPATION.

SO I WOULD LIKE US TO, UH, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO DO THAT, UH, J ANYTIME THAT YOU WANT TO, TO ALSO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION, TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THESE ISSUES, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU, THAT YOU DO THAT, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND, UH, COUNSELOR THIS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE JEANETTE IS ALSO, SORRY, GO AHEAD, JANETTE, I THINK IS ALSO GOING TO SPEAK PUT AFTER YOU GOT IT.

UM, SO THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU.

UM, VERY PASSIONATELY PRESENTING THAT CONCERN CAUSE I SHARE IT ENTIRELY.

UM, I, I ALSO THINK, YOU

[02:10:01]

SO IT'S LIKE, WE'RE DAMNED IF WE DO DAMNED IF WE DON'T HONESTLY, HOWEVER, I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN AN INTERVIEW THE OTHER DAY.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY MORE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE PARTICIPATING, UM, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EVEN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FRUSTRATION AROUND HAVING TO WAIT ON HOLD FOR HOURS, IT'S EASIER TO DO THAT THAN IT IS THAT THAN IT IS TO WAIT AT CITY HALL FOR HOURS, POTENTIALLY HAVE YOUR ITEM GO THE WHOLE DAY BEFORE YOU'VE ACTUALLY GET TO, UM, SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT YOUR ITEM.

UM, SO I REALLY, I JUST WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS, KITCHENS, SENTIMENT ABOUT FEELING VERY STRONGLY, THAT IT IS OUR OBLIGATION AS A MUNICIPAL BODY TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE, TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

UM, I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO LONG WINDED ABOUT IT, BUT I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PEOPLE WHO AREN'T BORN AND RAISED AND GROOMED FOR POLITICS TO BE PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE A PART OF IT.

THAT DIVERSITY IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT.

AND I THINK HAVING FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE AREN'T, AREN'T A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WEIGH IN BRINGS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND IT IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ALL PARTICIPATE AND I'LL TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

I, I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE SHOULD BE, IT JUST SEEMS WRONG TO ASK A PERSON WHO KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS TO, TO PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK.

AND I MEAN THAT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT I ALSO MEAN IT FOR US, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF THIS BODY, UM, I, I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT BEING IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UH, EVEN WITH MY THIRD DOSE, EVEN IF WITH MY ADDITIONAL, UM, VACCINATION, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING IN THAT BUILDING.

I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNO COMPROMISED OR WHO BY WAY OF THEIR AGE ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE ADDITIONAL RISK TO CONSIDER, TO CONSIDER IT.

IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THIS GOES AGAINST ALL OF OUR ATTEMPTS TO, UM, TO MAKE OUR, OUR PROCESS ACCESSIBLE.

AND IT ALSO, FRANKLY, SEEMS TO ME, LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SOME DEGREE OF LIABILITY FOR ASKING PEOPLE TO RISK THEIR HEALTH.

UM, WE TAKE EXTRAORDINARY, UM, WE GO TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH ADA CONSIDERATIONS.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS ANY DIFFERENT.

UM, SO I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

AND I, I REALLY HATE THAT WE HAVE TO, THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE HERE THAT FEELS WRONG.

UH, JEN, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY.

CATHERINE VERIFIED THIS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO COMMENTS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHARED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF US BEING MINDFUL OF EVERYONE'S RISK LEVELS AND, AND REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR HAVING A, A VIRTUAL OPTION AND ALLOWING US TO EITHER EXPLORE THE FACETIME OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT POINT CUSTOMER KITCHEN TO BRING UP AS PART OF, UH, THE AUDIO VIDEO PORTION OF THE TESTIMONY.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT SETTING UP SITES WITHIN OUR LIBRARIES, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS ANOTHER WAY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO SWING BY THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY AND PROVIDE TESTIMONY FROM THERE.

ALSO WANTING TO SHARE THAT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF TAKING UP TESTIMONY IN BATCHES.

OF COURSE, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IF THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE EASIER ON, ON STAFF AND ON, UH, WORKING FAMILIES WHO PERHAPS ONLY HAVE A LIMITED WINDOW TO BE ABLE TO BE ON STANDBY, TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY RATHER THAN DRIVING TO CITY HALL AND HAVING TO SPEND A GOOD CHUNK OF THEIR DAY HERE WAITING TO TESTIFY.

SO ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF US HAVING THOSE BATCH ALLOCATIONS.

THANK YOU, KELLY.

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM, I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT SIX TO BE ABLE TO CALL IN REMOTELY AND IF POSSIBLE, I, I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THE REMOTE SIGNUPS, JUST SO THAT IT EASES PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR A COUNCIL MEETING.

I'M CURIOUS AT WHAT POINT IT MIGHT BE SUITABLE TO GO BACK TO FULLY IN PERSON GIVEN OUR CURRENT SITUATION.

MAYBE WE COULD LAY OUT A TIMELINE FOR THAT.

MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING TEMPORARY NOW AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER.

SO THEY FEEL INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND CAN PARTICIPATE ON WHAT THEIR PREFERENCE MIGHT BE.

UM, ANY OPTION THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT AND TAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR THAT IS

[02:15:01]

I JUST WANT TO MOVE, GO THROUGH, I THINK, FOUR OR FIVE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU RAISED MAYOR FIRST, I AGREE THAT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO CALL IN BY PHONE, UH, HAS INCREASED.

EVERYBODY'S SEEING THAT IT'S INCREASED THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE CALLING IN, UH, FOLKS CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AT THEIR JOBS, UH, TO TAKE JUST STEP AWAY FOR A MOMENT.

PEOPLE ON THE BUS HAVE CALLED IN.

AND I THINK WE HEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES AND KIDS IN THE BACKGROUND, PEOPLE THAT CAN'T FIGURE OUT CHILDCARE CAN CALL IN.

SO I THINK THE PHONE OPTION, UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD FIND SOME WAY TO TRACK HOW THIS HAS IMPROVED THINGS AND CONTINUE TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO THE LEGISLATURE, UM, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THAT PHONE OPTION, UH, FOR PEOPLE I UNDERSTAND AND WOULD BE INTERESTED FROM THE CLERK AND OTHERS, SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS ABOUT VIDEO CONFERENCING OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY.

UM, I THINK PHONE, UM, UH, WE'VE FIGURED THAT OUT, BUT I, I IMAGINE THAT THERE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT SECURITY ISSUES AND TECHNICAL ISSUES AND OTHER ISSUES WE SHOULD JUST THINK ABOUT AND FIGURE OUT, UM, ON VIDEO CONFERENCE.

I KNOW WE HAVE IT CURRENTLY AT OUR LIBRARIES, BUT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

UM, UH, BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU WANT THAT ACCESSIBILITY, BUT ALSO WANT IT TO WORK AS FAR AS PULLING OF ITEMS. I THINK THAT IT HAS BEEN GOOD THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHOOSE WHETHER TO PULL AN ITEM OR NOT, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST BEEN LOTS OF INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE HAD MAYBE THREE SPEAKERS AND SUPPORTIVE AND ITEM, AND THAT ENDS UP HAVING THE ITEM PULLED THAT THEY HAVE TO STAY ALL DAY AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO, OUR STAFF HAVE TO STAY ALL DAY AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO.

UM, AND SO I THINK IF A COUNCIL MEMBER CHOOSES TO PULL AN ITEM, THAT'S BETTER THAN IT BEING BASED ON A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

UM, AS FAR AS EVERYBODY BEING IN THE MORNING ON THE GENERAL CONSENT, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND EVERYBODY BEING ON AFTERNOON AND ZONING, I WOULD HAVE THE COUNCIL THINK ABOUT IF A SET OF SPEAKERS ALL WANT TO STICK AROUND FOR THE VOTE.

UM, IF THERE MIGHT STILL BE EXCEPTIONS FOR US TO SAY, LOOK, THIS GROUP OF SIX OR SEVEN SPEAKERS IS GOING TO BE HERE ALL AFTERNOON, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR US TO TAKE UP THE ITEM.

MAYBE WE JUST HEAR ABOUT IT THEN WHEN IT IS FRESH, I THINK THAT THAT I'D BE INTERESTED IN WHETHER THAT EXCEPTION WOULD SLOW US DOWN OR NOT.

TO ME, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT HAS SLOWED US DOWN.

UH, BUT THAT MIGHT BE AN EXCEPTION THAT WE COULD CONSIDER.

UM, AS FAR AS REMOTE SIGN UP, I'D BE INTERESTED FROM THE CLERK'S PERSPECTIVE, HOW THAT HAS HELPED US OR NODS FROM THE MAYOR'S PERSPECTIVE, AS FAR AS HOW, HOW THAT HAS WORKED.

I THINK IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT I WOULD WANT TO KNOW HOW, HOW IT AFFECTS OUR OPERATIONS, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME, FOR THE REASONS COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, UH, AS FAR AS DONATION OF TIME, UH, I'M AMBIVALENT ON THAT, ON THAT ISSUE.

UH, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY WE COULD SAY THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON DONATE TIME TO YOU INSTEAD OF WHERE WE WERE BEFORE WE WERE HAVING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE DONATE TIME.

BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO JUST COME AND TALK TO US, GETTING THE CHANCE TO DO THAT IN THE MORNING AND NOT HAVING TO WAIT AROUND ALL DAY, I THINK HAS HAD VERY POSITIVE REVIEWS AND WE SHOULD KEEP TRYING THAT EVEN IN THE IN-PERSON SHIFT AND SEE HOW IT GOES, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE YOU LAYING OUT SOME OF THESE OPTIONS FOR US.

UM, I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE REMOTE SIGN UP JUST BECAUSE IT HELPS US KIND OF SEE AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DAY, UH, WHICH ISSUES WE MIGHT TALK ABOUT MORE IN DEPTH.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR MEETINGS, UM, I DO LIKE BEING ABLE TO DO ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS AT LEAST TOGETHER UPFRONT, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE'S TIME TO BE ABLE TO KNOW AT 10:00 AM, THEY CAN SPEAK OR AT 2:00 PM THEY CAN SPEAK AND THEN THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW OUR DELIBERATIONS, BUT DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE THEIR PHONE ON THE LINE ON HOLD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OR NEED TO WAIT IN CHAMBERS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S HARD ON A LOT OF, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

UM, AND I DO REMEMBER, UH, I THINK THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A CITIZENS COMMUNICATION WHERE WE DID HAVE SOMEONE PARTICIPATE FROM A LIBRARY.

AND SO I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY VERY HELPFUL FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A CITY OWNED FACILITY, UM, LIKE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTAS HAD ALREADY IDENTIFIED.

UM, SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

AND I THINK AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO PULL TO PULL ITEMS, I THINK IF WE TAKE SPEAKERS TOGETHER, UM, THE WAY THAT THE COURT'S BEEN CALLING THEM TOGETHER, WE'RE STILL GETTING THAT SENSE OF WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP ON ONE ISSUE THAT THEY'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AND THEY THINK IT AFFECTS, YOU KNOW, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR, UM, SOMETHING THAT WORKING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I DO LIKE HAVING THEM TOGETHER, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO BE PULLED OFF CONSENT FOR US TO, UM, APPRECIATE THAT VALUE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO HEAR THOSE VOICES.

SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.

[02:20:03]

UM, THANK YOU.

SO I, I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT EITHER TODAY OR IN THROUGH THESE MEETINGS HAS EXPRESSED A PRETTY APPRECIATION FOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT VIRTUAL MEETINGS ALLOW AFFORDED OUR CONSTITUENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WAYS THEY HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO NECESSARILY BEFORE OR TO ALLOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT PARTICIPATED TO PARTICIPATE.

SO I THINK INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME DOING TODAY IS TALKING WITH OUR TECH FOLKS AND OUR CLERK ABOUT WHETHER ANY OF THE OPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED ARE OPTIONS.

AND JUST IN CASE PEOPLE ARE TUNING IN.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, TO REITERATE THAT WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT MAJORITY, IF NOT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL IS REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING THOSE KINDS OF EFFORTS AND WE'RE BEING PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO BY THE STATE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH, UM, OUR CHEQUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP, UM, WRAP UP MY COMMENTS BY COMING AROUND TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF THE CLERK OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE, UM, FROM FACETIME TO A DIFFERENT WEBEX, BUT TO OTHER, OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IN TERMS OF REMOTE SIGNUP.

UM, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT IS WHERE THAT FALLS IN TERMS OF LEGALITY OR IN TERMS OF OUR TECHNICAL ABILITIES.

SO I'M INTERESTED IN THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE POSED MAYOR ARE ONES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE REVISITED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW IN THE COURSE OF OUR, OUR TIME UNDER TEN ONE.

AND SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHY WE'RE, WHY WE'RE, WHY WE WOULD MAKE CHANGES, UM, TO SOME OF THOSE.

I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO REVIEW MEETING PROCEDURES, BUT WE HAVE IN THE PAST SPENT LOTS OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK.

AND I THINK WE HAD DEVELOPED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD DEVELOPED THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEAK IN THE MORNING IF THEY'RE THERE IN THE MORNING OR ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WHEN THE ISSUE COMES UP.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT AISD AS A, AS A, UM, RABBLE-ROUSER I GUESS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT, THAT I AND OTHERS OFTEN HAD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN YOU WERE CONFINED TO THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS PIECE OF IT.

AND THE ISSUE WOULDN'T COME UP UNTIL LATER.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A DECISION MAKER, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE OF HAVING, HAVING THAT TESTIMONY AT THE TIME WHEN DECISION MAKERS ARE MAKING ARE, ARE CONSIDERING AND DELIBERATING ON THAT ISSUE.

AND IT ALSO AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, IF IN THE COURSE OF OUR DELIBERATIONS, WE REALIZE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SOMETHING SOMEBODY SAID, AND THEY'RE STILL HERE.

WE CAN CALL THEM BACK UP TO THE PODIUM AND ASK, I UNDERSTAND NOT EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER WANTS TO DO THAT.

SOME WANT TO COME AND SPEAK IN THE MORNING.

AND, AND WE HAVE AGAIN IN THE PAST MADE PROVISIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT IN A BATCHED WAY IN THE MORNING, THAT'S FINE, BUT I, I WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE TO PRESERVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK AT THE TIME THE ISSUE COMES UP, UM, AS WELL IN TERMS OF THE REMOTE SIGNUP.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP THE DAY OF AN EVENT.

SO I HOPE, WELL, I MEAN THE DAY OF THE MEETING, I HOPE WILL ALLOW FOR THAT TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN THE PRESS COVERS ISSUES ON WEDNESDAY THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THURSDAY.

AND SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE, ARE ONLY HEARING ABOUT A PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT DAY BEFORE.

AND, AND SO THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT I THINK YOU HIGHLIGHTED FOR CONVERSATION, LIKE THE TIME, THE TIME INDIVIDUALS GET TO SPEAK DONATION OF TIME AND WHO PULLS THINGS FROM A CONSENT AGENDA.

AND AGAIN, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD VARIOUS WAVES OF TALKING ABOUT THOSE IN RECENT YEARS.

AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHY I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE WOULD REVISIT THOSE.

I, I THINK THE COMPROMISES THAT WE'VE MADE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, AFFORDING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES ON EACH ISSUE, UM, UNLESS THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THEN IT STARTS CUTTING BACK, UM, THE ABILITY TO PULL THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE, WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOW UP ON AN ITEM, WE KNOW THAT THAT INDICATES THERE IS, UM, THAT'S AN ISSUE WE SHOULD LOOK AT MORE CLOSELY.

AND SO IT GETS PULLED FROM CONSENT.

SO FOR THOSE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED, UM, WHAT IS REALLY A, I THINK A REQUEST TO CHANGE PROCEDURES THAT ARE, I BELIEVE ARE SET NOW IN CODE, I GUESS I WANT TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY, WHY WE'RE CONSIDERING DOING THAT.

UM, I'M ALL FOR OPENING UP, I'M ALL FOR MAKING OUR PROCESSES MORE ACCESSIBLE.

SOME OF THOSE CHANGES I THINK GO IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S SORT OF A QUESTION TO YOU ALL ABOUT WHY WE WOULD CHANGE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF PULLING THINGS FROM CONSENT AND WHATNOT.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET AROUND ME OR TO, TO ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD PAUSE THERE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO JUMP IN.

UM, BUT THEN I WANT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF THE CLERK.

GO AHEAD AND GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR ISSUES.

LET'S

[02:25:01]

I THINK THEN WE'LL ASK STAFF THEN TO RESPOND TO THE IT'S THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, WHICH IS WHY I MENTIONED, OH, NOT QUITE YET.

UM, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR, FOR ME ON THIS, UH, I THINK THAT, UH, ALL THESE ISSUES ARE COMING UP NOW, UH, MY TOE APART BECAUSE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT IN A CERTAIN WAY.

AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PRACTICES RESULT AND, AND, AND MEETINGS.

I THINK IT'S BEEN, UH, I THINK THE WAY THAT THE MEETINGS HAVE GONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THROUGH PRETTY INCREDIBLE WORK ON A PART OF OUR CLERKS STAFF, UH, HAS HAD MEETINGS RUN PRETTY, PRETTY EFFICIENTLY, AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, UH, LEAVING US IN THE POSITION WHERE WE WERE MEETING LATE ON, ON, ON ISSUES.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS REAL, REAL, REAL BENEFIT TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SHARP AND AT THAT HAVE BEEN USING BEST JUDGMENT, BUT FOR ME, I WOULD LET PEOPLE PARTICIPATE REMOTELY.

UH, I THINK THAT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABILITY IS ON THAT WITH FACETIME, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SOMEBODY AS EASILY ON THEIR PHONE, UH, IF THEY HAD A PHONE OR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT IT'S NOT, UH, JUST HAVING TO GO THROUGH TO A LIBRARY, BUT CERTAINLY I WOULD HAVE THAT OPTION AVAILABLE TO SOMEBODY THAT WANTED TO GO TO A LIBRARY THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE A PHONE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

SO BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, IF IT WAS TECHNOLOGICALLY POSSIBLE, SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE LEGALLY POSSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN RULES, I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE THAT.

I DO LIKE PEOPLE SPEAKING IN, IN BATCHES THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND THEN TO, TO LEAVE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST WOULD CRINGE EVERY TIME SOMEONE WOULD COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING AND SAY, THEY'D BEEN THERE SINCE 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THEY HAD TO WAIT EIGHT HOURS AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN THERE THEY'RE WAY TOO SHORT, A PERIOD OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO TALK, TALK TO US.

SO I LIKE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SPEAK IN BATCHES.

I ALSO LIKE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO, TO, TO SIGN UP, UH, AHEAD OF TIME, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT ENABLES US TO, TO REALLY MANAGE THE MEETINGS A LOT BETTER.

UM, AND IT ALSO, I THINK GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN ON DAYS WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAKING, WE'RE ABLE TO ORDER THE DAY IN A WAY THAT STILL LETS US GET OUR WORK DONE, BUT IT GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND NOT GO TO, UM, DELAYS, WHICH I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, UNFAIR IN ITSELF TOO.

SO I THINK PEOPLE SIGNING UP AHEAD OF TIME.

THE, THE PRACTICE THAT WE HAD IS I WOULD THEN SAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL KNEW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WHAT I WAS RECOMMENDING IN TERMS OF, UH, HOW TO, TO MANAGE THAT.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY ON ANY GIVEN DAY TO, TO, TO SEE THAT RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHAIR AND SAY, NO, WE THINK IT SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD, WE THINK IT SHOULD BE THIS, AS OPPOSED TO, TO THAT ASKING PEOPLE TO GET UP AND SPEAK AND LETTING THEM SPEAK TO ALL OF THEIR ISSUES, I THINK HAS, IS ALSO SOMETHING I THINK THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO, TO KEEP THE MEETINGS MOVING FORWARD.

SO, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT PRETTY MUCH.

I WOULD HAVE US CONTINUE TO DO MOST, IF NOT, ALL OF THE PRACTICES THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, UH, I GUESS I THINK THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE WORKED WELL AND MAY ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE ASK STAFF TO KIND OF RESPOND TO THE UNIVERSE OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, KATHY.

TO RESOLVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES TODAY, SUCH AS WHETHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK AT THE TIME AN ISSUE COMES UP, HAVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, PROCEDURES IN THE KIOSKS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT, BUT I, I ALSO WANT TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF TYPICALLY WE HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND THESE ISSUES.

UM, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THESE ISSUES? I'M NOT SURE THERE IS A PLAN OTHER THAN THEY'RE THERE.

MAYOR I WAS FINISHING MY SENTENCE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S AGREEMENT ON ALL OF THESE POINTS AND I'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WHERE THERE'S NOT AGREEMENT, REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT, UM, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR MAKING MULTIPLE POSSIBILITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND WE CAN DO ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.

I JUST FELT I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, UH, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE SHOULD JUST ADDRESS IT AFFIRMATIVELY AND GIVE SOME DIRECTION TO JANETTA.

I MESSED UP, BUT THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR US TO DO OR NOT DO ANYTHING OR LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO OR NOT TO.

SO SHOULD WE TRY

[02:30:01]

SHOULD WE TRY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES, UM, AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHO, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALLY, HOW MANY WHO, HOW, AND WHEN THINGS GET PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, OR DO WE WANT TO GIVE IT, GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND THINK ABOUT IT? WE COULD PROBABLY DO BOTH.

I MEAN, I THINK HE SAID THERE SEEMS TO BE CONSENSUS ON, OR PEOPLE FEEL WE COULD GIVE THAT DIRECTION TO JEANETTE THE THINGS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE GROUP WANTED TO DO, DO A DIFFERENT PROCESS OR TIMING TO DECIDE THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT WAY TOO.

SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK MOSTLY TO SEE, KIND OF SEE WHERE EVERYBODY IS.

MAY BE WORKING FOR YOU ALL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT IS NOT WORKING FOR US BECAUSE IT IS A NIGHTMARE COMPILING THAT DATA.

AND THEN I WANTED TO SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY OUR STAFF HAVE, HAVE SET UP THE CHAMBERS, UH, IN TERMS OF BLOCKING OFF SEATS AND MAKING SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THERE IN PERSON WILL HAVE APPROPRIATE DISTANCE, UM, FROM THE, FROM THE PERSON ALONGSIDE THEM.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE DO THAT.

I'M NOT, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN CITY HALL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT I BELIEVE LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS IN, I DIDN'T SEE DOTS, THERE MAY BE KIND OF DOTS, UM, AT THE KIOSKS THAT MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THERE AREN'T THAT WE, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE, ARE THERE.

AND THAT THERE'S KIND OF A PLAN WHEN WE HAVE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES FOR HOW, HOW PEOPLE WILL LINE UP AND REGISTER IN THE KIOSK.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WELL, USUALLY IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO IN ADVANCE ACTUALLY.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE, AGAIN, THINGS THAT CONTINUE TO BRING, I THINK WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD RESOLVE IS WHAT THE TECHNICAL TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL AGREE ON, I THINK IS TRYING TO MAKE, TRYING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE VIDEO TESTIMONY OR TO JOIN ME, TO JOIN THE MEETING VIRTUALLY.

AND JUST, EVEN AS WE'RE TALKING, I'M GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT OPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT ON THURSDAY.

SO IF WE COULD TALK WITH OUR STAFF ABOUT THOSE, UM, CHALLENGES AND HOW WE COULD, HOW WE COULD SURMOUNT THEM, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IN THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY DOES, I BELIEVE.

AND AGAIN, I THINK THE RULES HAVE BEEN SET FOR THURSDAY AND I WENT OVER THOSE AT THE BEGINNING AND I COULD GO OVER MY AGAIN IF PEOPLE WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK THAT THE CLARK HAD STAFF ARE KIND OF LOCKED AND LOADED ON THAT.

ALL SPEAKERS ARE PERSON ON THURSDAY, UH, SPEAKERS WE'LL USE THE KIOSKS IN THE LOBBY TO SIGN UP AND SPEAK.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT IN TWO BATCHES, A 10 O'CLOCK BATCH HAVE A TWO O'CLOCK MATCH.

AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING SIGN UPS, CUT, GET CUT OFF 15 MINUTES BEFORE EACH OF THOSE.

SO CUT OFF AT 9 45 FOR THAT BATCH AND CUT OFF AT 1 45 FOR THAT PATCH.

UM, AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM CALLING ANYBODY UP WHEN WE'VE DISCUSSED AN ITEM.

EVERYBODY HAS THAT ABILITY WHEN AN ITEM'S CALLED YOU CAN CALL UP SOMEONE TO, TO ASK QUESTIONS OF, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS DO THAT, UH, AS WELL.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IS AS WELL.

HE HAS OUR KITCHEN.

DID YOU HAVE SOME BEFORE WE, BEFORE YOU, I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE STAFF, UH, JEANETTE AND STAFF SPEAK TO SOME OF THE STUFF.

YEAH, I DO.

AND, AND, UM, JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY ASKED MY QUESTION, BEN JANETTE CAN SPEAK TO IT, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK HER AS SHE SPEAKS TO IT, TO GIVE US SOME TIMELINES.

I KNOW WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, SO I KNOW SHE SHARED SOME INFORMATION WITH US IN THE PAST, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WE, IF WE WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN ALLOW FOR, UM, SO, UM, VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION BY INDIVIDUALS BY OUR SEPTEMBER 30TH MEETING, WHAT'S OUR DEADLINE FOR, FOR GIVING DIRECTION ON THAT.

SO I WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT TOO, SO, OKAY.

JEANETTE, YOU WANT TO TALK TO US ABOUT ANY OR ALL OF THESE? UM, WELL FIRST, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU THINK I CAN SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS THAT, UM, UH, I CAN'T, SO LET ME, UH, SAY THAT FIRST OF ALL, IT'S, UH, WHETHER OR NOT I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE, UH, YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF MY CONTROL.

UM, SO I CAN, WE COMPLETELY, AS STAFF COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN WITH COVID BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING TO PROBABLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FROM DAY ONE.

SO WE COMPLETELY GET IT SECOND, UM, ONLINE REGISTRATION, IT

[02:35:01]

AND SO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FOR EACH COUNCIL MEETING, I PROBABLY SPEND A GOOD 15 HOURS EACH WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING DOING NOTHING BUT COMPILING AND CLEANING UP THE REGISTRATION DATA.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M DOING.

THAT'S NOT WHAT MY STAFF IS DOING WITH EXPORTING IT FOR FROM ONE SYSTEM AND THEN IMPORTING IT INTO THE SPEAKER SYSTEM.

SO I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CTM TO ABOUT MAKING THE KIOSK AVAILABLE, UM, FOR A REMOTE, UM, REGISTRATION.

AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

UM, MAINLY FROM A SECURITY AND RISK PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THAT SERVER CONTAINS OTHER APPLICATIONS THAT IF WE GOT A HUGE NUMBER OF, UH, REGISTRATIONS COMING IN, COULD TAKE THE SERVER DOWN.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE APPLICATIONS ARE ON THERE, BUT ONE OF THEM THAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WOULD IMPACT COUNCIL MEETINGS IS OUR ABILITY TO UPLOAD, UM, AGENDAS AND BACKUP FOR THE MEETINGS.

THAT IS ONE ADDITIONAL SYSTEM THAT'S ON THAT SAME SERVER.

SO THEY WILL NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

AND IN ORDER TO MAKE A MORE SECURE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM, UH, AND PROCESS WHERE THE CLERK'S OFFICE ISN'T SPENDING, UH, HOURS EACH WEEK BEFORE A MEETING, BECAUSE WE HONESTLY CANNOT MAINTAIN THAT LONG, UM, GOING FORWARD, I'LL LET COREY SPEAK TO THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT FACETIME TO KNOW, UM, IF THAT'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY, I WILL TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE LIBRARIES AND WHAT WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST, UM, FROM A NON-TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE IS WHEN WE HAD SOMEONE REMOTE FROM A LIBRARY, WE WERE BRINGING THEM IN FROM THE LIBRARY AND PUTTING THEM UP ON THE BIG SCREEN.

AND ALL OF COUNCIL WAS ON THE DIETS.

THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DIFFICULTY AND THE COMPLEXITY IS WE WOULD BE BRINGING THEM IN, UM, INTO A HYBRID COUNCIL MEETING WHERE SOME OF YOU ARE NOT HERE, SOME OF YOU WERE ON THE DIOCESE.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MERGE TWO DIFFERENT CONFERENCING SCENT, UH, SYSTEMS INTO ONE.

AND WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE HAVEN'T TRIED IT.

UM, AND SO IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL, UH, EQUIPMENT AT THE LIBRARIES TO USE THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE USING THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK FOR A HYBRID COUNCIL MEETING SETTING.

SO THEY WOULD ACTUALLY NEED A DEDICATED COMPUTER OR COMPUTER THERE THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOG IN.

UM, AND THEIR STAT LIBRARY STAFF WOULD HAVE TO KIND OF MANAGE THOSE SPEAKERS AS THEY'RE COMING INTO THE LIBRARY THAT IS POSSIBLE.

UM, IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MANY RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO PUT TOWARDS IT.

UM, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT MY STAFF CAUSE I, I DON'T WORK AT THE LIBRARY.

UM, SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE, UM, FOR A HYBRID COUNCIL MEETING WITH VIRTUAL VIDEO TESTIMONY FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

UM, AS FAR AS BATCHES, YES, IT DOES MAKE IT EASIER FOR STAFF.

UM, BUT I WILL ALSO POINT OUT, UM, BECAUSE I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UM, VIRTUAL MEETINGS ARE MUCH MORE LABOR INTENSIVE.

AND THE EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS IN A PRE COVID PRE PANDEMIC ERA, THE CLERK'S OFFICE USUALLY HAD TWO PEOPLE, UH, SUPPORTING A COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE HYBRID AND THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.

IT TAKES FIVE OF US TO HANDLE THE SPEAKERS PLUS THE MEETING, THAT'S THE IMPACT TO OUR OFFICE.

UM, AND, AND THAT'S JUST MY STAFF.

THAT'S NOT CTM, THAT'S NOT, ATX M THAT'S NOT ANYBODY ELSE.

THAT'S JUST THE IMPACT THAT IT

[02:40:01]

HAS ON THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER COUNCIL WANTS.

UM, BUT IT DOES IMPACT OUR RESOURCES.

UM, I WILL LET COREY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TECHNICAL, UH, ISSUES WITH, UM, THE VIDEO CONFERENCING AND WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO AT THE LIBRARIES, UM, AND WHAT WE COULD OR COULDN'T DO WITH FACETIME, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER USED FACETIME.

SO I AM NOT THE BEST PERSON TO ADDRESS THOSE.

I WILL SAY IF YOU'RE, UM, I WILL SAY FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, THE MORE COMPLEX YOU HAVE YOUR COUNCIL MEETING ROLES, AS FAR AS POLLING, AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES FOR US TO MANAGE THAT AND TO BE ABLE TO LET SPEAKERS KNOW THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE NEED TO BE AVAILABLE AND ONLINE.

UM, SO I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT CASE THAT BATCHING, UH, DOES MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE AVAILABLE.

UH, MAYOR, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE CLERK SAID.

OKAY, GO AHEAD, KATHY.

AND THEN ANSWER JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, JEANETTE, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I WANT TO BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BATCHING, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BATCHING, IF WE ARE ALLOWING ONLINE TESTIMONY, IS THAT RIGHT? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER, SO I, I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT LIKE BATCHING VIRTUAL SPEAKER.

NOT, NOT THAT BECAUSE NOW IF, IF THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT MOST SPEAKERS HAVE TO BE IN PERSON, I'M ASSUMING WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT BATCHING AND THE IMPACT ON THE CLERK, IF, IF IT'S ONLY RELEVANT IN THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT.

EXACTLY.

UM, BECAUSE IN PERSON THEY CAN GET A BETTER FEEL OR THEY CAN HANG OUT HERE SOMEPLACE IN CITY HALL AND WAIT FOR THEIR TIME.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE WOULD TRACK THEM DOWN IF THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING TO COME INTO CHAMBERS, LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WHEN WE'VE HAD LARGE GROUPS, IT'S THE ONES THAT WOULD BE JOINING VIRTUALLY TO SPEAK.

UM, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR US TO KNOW, UM, WHEN TO TELL HIM TO JOIN, IF THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC TIME TO TELL THEM YEAH.

THAT I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT CONCEPT.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, AND YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THIS ON YOUR TUESDAY WORK SESSIONS IS TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC TIME FOR A CERTAIN ITEM THAT WE CAN THEN GROUP PEOPLE LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH THE AUDIO WHERE WE HAD LARGE NUMBERS, UM, OR, AND WE KIND OF SEPARATED OUT, OTHERWISE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR US TO GIVE THEM INSTRUCTIONS ON WHEN TO BE AVAILABLE, VIRTUALLY TO JOIN THE MEETING.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT WAS REALLY FOR ONLINE SPEAKERS, NOT IN PERSON.

AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID THAT I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT, BUT MAYBE THIS IS BETTER ANSWERED BY COREY OR, OR, OR IT CAN ELABORATE, BUT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW THE CHALLENGES OF MERGING OF HAVING THE TWO SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER OF THE LIBRARY, THE LIBRARY, UM, ONLINE TRANSMISSION OR THE LIBRARY VIDEO TRANSMISSION WITH A HYBRID SYSTEM FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THE WAY THE COUNTY WORKS.

COULD, COULD EVERYBODY GET THE SAME WEBEX LINK AND FOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING VIRTUALLY THAT DAY, THEY'RE USING THAT WEBEX LINK AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ARE USING THAT WEBEX LINK.

AND WHEN IT'S NOT THEIR TIME TO SPEAK, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY MUTED.

SO I'M WONDERING WHY, WHY THAT CAN'T BE THE PORTAL JUST IN THE VERY SAME WAY IT'S PROVIDED A PORTAL FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, IF SOME OF US ARE ONLINE, I MEAN, IF MOST OF US ARE IN PERSON AND THERE ARE JUST SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING VIRTUALLY CAN'T THEY ON THE PUBLIC USE THE SAME SYSTEM, I WILL LET COREY, UM, ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COREY, I WILL POINT OUT A BIG DIFFERENCE.

UM, BECAUSE I HAVE SAT IN ON YOUR JOINT MEETINGS IS THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT THE COUNTY HAS VERSUS THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEVEL.

AND, AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT ALSO ON THE QUALITY.

AND SO, COREY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT

[02:45:01]

THAT.

JUST ONE SECOND HAND TO GEORGE'S FACE SPACE BEFORE THEY SPEAK.

WELL, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ALSO FOR JEANETTE, BUT, UM, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE COREY ANSWER THIS QUESTION AND THEN IF I CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS TOO, THAT WILL BE GREAT.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU THAT DAY.

COREY LOWERING YOUR COUNCIL CORIOLIS WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, THE LIBRARY, IF WE WERE TO GO THE ROUTE WITH HAVING A PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM LIBRARIES, WE COULD ALL USE THE SAME WEBEX SYSTEM AND WE COULD ALL USE THE SAME MEETING DESIGN THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING, UH, MEETING THE LIBRARIES WOULD BE ON AN ATTENDEE SIDE.

AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE A SPEAKER FROM THAT LIBRARY, WE WOULD JUST MOVE THAT PARTICULAR LIBRARY OVER TO THE PANEL AND, AND ACCEPT SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE INITIALLY REACHED OUT TO THE LIBRARIES.

UH, SO THEY DO KNOW THAT THIS IS A POSSIBILITY, UM, THAT WE COULD BE COMING TO THEM AND ASKING FOR, FOR RESOURCES OR FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL MEETINGS.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, UH, HERE VERY SHORTLY WITH THEM TO HOPEFULLY BRING THAT TO A REALITY.

UM, AS FAR AS TAKING REMOTE SPEAKERS FROM, UH, ACCEPTING PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM PERSONAL CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE FOLKS IN TO A, OUR WEBEX MEETING, UH, FOR JUST FEAR OF COMPROMISING THE MEETING SECURITY ON THE ATTENDEE SIDE.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO EITHER OFFER A SOLUTION, UH, THAT IS LIBRARY BASED.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A VENDOR OPTION THAT WE'RE EXPLORING THE SAME VENDOR WHO ASSISTED US IN, UM, MANAGING OUR TELEPHONE TESTIMONY OVER THE PANDEMIC, UM, IS DEVELOPING, IS DEVELOPING AN OPTION, UH, THAT MAY ALLOW US TO BRING PUBLIC, UH, IN VIA VIDEO, UH, FROM A PERSONAL DEVICE.

BUT THAT, THAT IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH OUR VENDOR, UH, IN REGARDS TO THAT, UM, I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION IN REGARDS TO MERGING SYSTEMS THAT, UH, SO THE, THE, UM, THE ROUTE WITH THE VENDOR THAT WOULD REQUIRE, REQUIRE US TO MERGE SYSTEMS. SO THEIR SYSTEM IS INDEPENDENT OF OUR WEBEX SYSTEM, AND THOSE TWO SYSTEMS WOULD NEED TO BE MERGED IN THE ROOM IN ORDER FOR TWO WAY COMMUNICATION TO BE ESTABLISHED IN A SECURE MANNER.

BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY SET UP TO MEET THOMA GUIDELINES THROUGH OUR WEBEX SYSTEM.

UM, AND, AND, UM, THOSE, THOSE GUIDELINES CAN CONTINUE OVER IF WE OFFER REMOTE TESTIMONY FROM LIBRARIES.

SO, COREY, I THINK WHAT I STILL AM NOT CLEAR ON.

YOU DID ANSWER MY QUESTION.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK THE PART OF THE QUESTION I'M STILL NOT HEARING A RESPONSE TO IS HOW DOES THAT WORK FROM, HOW DOES THE COUNTY, UM, PROTECT THE SECURITY OF THEIR MEETING IF THEY ARE USING THE SAME WEBEX LINK, IF THEY ARE USING THE SAME WEBEX LINK FOR CALLERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR MEETING, AND MAYBE IT IS AN ISSUE OF SCALE THAT THEY HAVE JUST FEWER, YOU ARE PEOPLE.

SO IT'S LESS OF A RISK.

AND, AND I GUESS TO THE EXTENT OF, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE RISKS, AREN'T SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IN PUBLIC, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT OFFLINE, BUT THAT'S, I'M WONDERING WHY IF THAT MODEL IS WORKING FOR THEM, IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, HOW TO KEEP OUR MEETINGS SECURE, BUT I DO KIND OF A SIMILAR SYSTEM SITUATION, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AYE, AYE, AYE.

UH, WE'LL NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY TO, TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR MEETING DESIGN AND THE WAY THEY'RE ACCEPTING PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

I DON'T, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY CURRENTLY IS COMING THROUGH THE WEBEX SYSTEM.

I BELIEVE IT'S COMING THROUGH A TELECOM SYSTEM, UH, AND BEING MERGED WITH THE WEBEX MEETINGS.

UM, I, I HAVE NOT SEEN A VIDEO TESTIMONY IN A COUNTY MEETING, UH, VIA, UH, FROM A, UH, PUBLIC MEMBER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER.

I THINK THEY'RE USING A SIMILAR SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE USED FOR THE AUDIO, JUST A DIFFERENT VENDOR.

SO I THINK IN THE EARLY ON, SOMETIMES YOU WERE HERE, UM, MAYBE DISCUSSIONS WITH LARRY SCHOOLER.

UH, AND SO HE'S THE VENDOR THAT IS PROVIDING THE, UM, CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIO RECORD, UH, TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC.

SO AGAIN, IT'S ONE, IT'S ONE PERSON IN THE WEBEX THAT IS JOINING ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS.

UH, OKAY, THANK YOU.

A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I ASK I ASKED YOU GUYS TO DO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO TAKE IT OFFLINE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES HERE.

UM, OKAY.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S, WE COULD SPEND

[02:50:01]

IF, IF, IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY FOR YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT YOU ALL ARE, UH, YOU ARE EXPLORING AN OPTION WITH THE VENDOR.

IF I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY, AN OPTION WITH A VENDOR THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR VIDEO WHERE PEOPLE COULD S COULD DIAL IN JUST LIKE THEY DO RIGHT NOW FOR ZOOM OR WEBEX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

DID I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

YES, YOU DID.

SO THERE, UM, WE HAVE INITIALLY CONTACTED THE LIBRARIES JUST IN SUMMARY AND, UH, THE, THE VENDOR THAT WE, UM, ARE CURRENTLY USING TO MANAGE PUBLIC TESTIMONY VIA TELECONFERENCE, UH, HAS DEVELOPED AN OPTION FOR VIDEOS.

SO, UH, IT ISN'T UNDER DEVELOPMENT, EXCUSE ME.

AND, UM, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THEM AND TALKS WITH THEM IN HOPES THAT MAYBE WE COULD, COULD USE THAT FOR, FOR OUR COUNSELING.

WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BACK UP FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T JUST DO A SEPARATE WEBEX OR A SEPARATE, UM, ZOOM, OR THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE USE THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN INTO.

AND I'M NOT AN, I GUESS I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT I WAS NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE CAN'T DO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN DIAL IN, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY? AND WHY IS IT W TH THE OTHER QUESTION IS, UH, PRESUME FOR A MINUTE THAT THE WHATEVER SYSTEM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PARTICIPATING ON IS SEPARATE.

I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM FOR THE PUBLIC TO DIAL INTO IS.

SO WHAT IS THE SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT? IF YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, SET UP, YOU KNOW, AND I MEAN, JUST NOT BE UNDERSTANDING YOU SET UP A MEETING ON ZOOM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW ZOOM MAY NOT BE THE BEST, BUT JUST USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, ZOOM OR WEBEX OR SOME OTHER SYSTEM, AND PEOPLE CAN DIAL IN TO THAT SYSTEM.

WHAT, WHAT IS THE ISSUE AROUND THAT? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CONTROLLING IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF PEOPLE DIALING INTO THAT ADDRESS AND HAVING SECURITY ISSUES WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEETING IS, OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? THE, THE MAIN ISSUE WITH THAT IS JUST THE SAME THING AS IT IS WITH, WITH OUR, WITH Y'ALL'S WEBEX, UH, THE SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE MEETING, THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MEETING BEING OVERWHELMED, BECAUSE THE LINK WAS SHARED TO THOUSANDS OF SOME GROUP THAT HAD SOME MALICIOUS INTENT ON TAKING THE SPEAKER, WEBEX DOWN, THE VENDOR MANAGED OPTION WOULD BE MORE SECURE IN THAT IT IS VERY VENDOR MANAGED AND THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ONE-ON-ONE AS THEY CONNECT TO TEST AUDIO AND, AND, AND THEIR VIDEO BEFORE BRINGING THEM ON INSIDE THE COUNSELOR.

SO IT'S NOT A TECHNICAL ISSUE.

IT'S MORE AN ISSUE OF HOW, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, IT'S NOT A TECHNICAL ISSUE.

IT'S MORE OF AN ISSUE OF HOW YOU ADMIT SOMEBODY INTO, INTO A MEETING AND, AND THE MAN, THE, THE PERSON POWER IT TAKES, UH, TO DO THAT, AS OPPOSED TO JUST GIVING EVERYBODY THE LINK SO THAT THEY CAN SIGN ON.

IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? UM, PARTLY, UM, AND LIKE I SAID, IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF INTEGRITY OF THE WEBEX, MEANING BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE WEBEX MEETING RUNNING, UH, IN A, UH, RUNNING WELL AND PERFORMING WELL.

UH, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MEETING BEING FLOODED OR OVERWHELMED IS, IS THE MAIN, IS THE MAIN ISSUE.

SO IT'S A IT'S, THAT WOULD BE A MATTER OF TOO MANY PEOPLE SIGNING ON.

I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE SPECIFICS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SECURITY AND INTEGRITY, I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T CALL IN AND SIGN ON.

IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVING TO DO THIS.

HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU MANAGE A MEETING SUCH THAT A, YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE SIGNING IN, AND THAT YOU HAVE SOME ORDER TO IT IN TERMS OF IF PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS HOW TO MANAGE THE MEETING, RIGHT? AND WHEN YOU SAY SECURITY OR INTEGRITY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD TAKE DOWN A SYSTEM OR SOME OTHER ASPECT OF IT THAT YOU COULD TAKE THE MEETING DOWN? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THAT ARE IN PLACE ON THE NUMBER PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTUALLY SIGN INTO A MEETING OR, AND WHO THEY ARE.

SO, UH, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING, THAT'S WHAT THE VENDOR IS TRYING TO SOLVE FOR IS THE CONTROLS

[02:55:01]

AND IS THAT NOT AN ISSUE FOR TELEPHONE PARTICIPATION? IS THAT A DIFFERENT ISSUE FOR VIDEO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPEAT THAT QUESTION.

I APOLOGIZE.

I CAN GO HERE.

SO WE DO THIS RIGHT NOW FOR TELEPHONE IS THE KIND OF CONTROL ISSUE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IN TERMS OF THE CONCERNS OF HAVING TOO MANY PEOPLE, TOO MANY PEOPLE, HAVING A LINK SO THAT THEY CAN SIGN IN AND, AND, UH, TAKE DOWN A SYSTEM OR OTHERWISE LOSE CONTROL OF THE MEETING.

IS THAT FOR VIDEO OR IS IT, UH, AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH AND WE'VE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DEAL WITH IT FOR, UM, FOR TELEPHONE.

SO FOR OUR TELECONFERENCE, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BRINGING PUBLIC IN, INTO OUR MEETINGS WHERE THAT IS A VENDOR MANAGED PROCESS.

BUT I MEAN TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF I, IF I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, AND WE CAN TAKE THIS OFFLINE AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION TOO, BUT THE, THE, THE MAIN ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, WILL THE WEBEX GET OVERWHELMED BECAUSE SOMEONE SHARED THE WEBEX LINK WITH A GROUP THAT HAD MALICIOUS INTENT AND, AND TOO MANY PEOPLE JOIN.

UM, WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY AND SECURE THE MEETING, BUT THE, THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY MANUAL PROCESS AND COULD BE SOMETHING THAT, UM, REQUIRED MORE STAFF RESOURCES TO MANAGE.

I MEAN, I, I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR US AND TO SAY AS A COUNCIL, THAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE OUR STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT, TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE REMOTELY AND SILENT REMOTELY.

AND THOSE ARE TWO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU SAY YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO, BUT IF YOU COULD, DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ASK OUR STAFF TO GO AWAY AND TRY TO COME BACK WITH WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE, IF ANY, TO THOSE TWO THINGS? UH, YES, I THINK IT DOES.

AND THAT WAS, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS GETTING TO IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO DO THAT, BUT, UM, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE WORKING WITH A VENDOR ON.

I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE.

UM, AND, UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE.

UM, AND THEN, SO PERHAPS WE COULD, UM, MOVE RELATIVELY QUICKLY ON GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU MEAN, IF THERE'S A WAY TO SET THOSE UP FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH, THAT'D BE GREAT.

AND IF THERE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO US AND TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND, AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS GOING.

SO MAYOR, I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY AROUND THAT.

WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M ASKING, UH, COREY OR MERELY COREY TO DO IS TO, UM, IS TO YOU TO GET BACK TO US WITH, UH, WITH A, UM, A MEMO.

IS IT SOMETHING YOU COULD GET BACK TO US WITH IN A WEEK OR SO, OR WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU AT ON, ON PUTTING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER FOR US? IF, UM, I CAN CERTAINLY SEND A MEMO OUT BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

THOSE ARE THE TWO TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS, CAN PEOPLE PARTICIPATE REMOTELY AND GET PEOPLE SIGNED UP AHEAD OF TIME, UH, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TECHNOLOGY, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COST IF THAT'S GOING TO BE OUT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SECURITY ISSUES, BUT, BUT ALSO TALK TO VENDORS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT YOU OFF AND TALK WITH YOU OFFLINE.

OTHERS MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE TOO, WHICH IS FINE, BUT I'D LIKE TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS.

SO, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, JUST TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE AUDIO IS, UM, WE ARE ACTUALLY CALLING THE INDIVIDUAL.

THEY ARE NOT CALLING US, SO THEY DON'T ACTUALLY EVEN HAVE THE NUMBER.

UM, THE ONLY TIME THEY GET A DIAL IN NUMBER IS DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING, IF THEY'VE LOST CONNECTION AND THEY EMAIL ME AND I HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE A REGISTERED SPEAKER, UM, THEN I GIVE THEM A CODE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DIAL BACK IN.

BUT PREVIOUSLY THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A NUMBER.

WE'RE THE ONES CALLING THEM VERSUS THEM CALLING US.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE A NUMBER TO SHOW.

I, I, I UNDERSTAND.

AND WHY WOULD, WHY COULD WE NOT? SO, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU THEN, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT NOW IS WHY COULD WE NOT DO THE SAME THING FOR VIDEO? IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE CODE THAT YOU'RE GIVING THEM, BECAUSE I CAN'T CALL SOMEONE TO HAVE THEM JOIN FOR VIDEO.

YOU COULD CALL THEM AND GIVE THEM THE CODE.

I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS OFFLINE, BUT, UM, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO REMEMBER, SOMETIMES WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF SPEAKERS THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO CALL WITH A CODE.

SO MY SENSE IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS, I'M AT THIS, RIGHT.

AND AMBER LIKES TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

UH, BUT IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO US ABOUT LOOKING AT, I THINK

[03:00:01]

IT IS COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN SAID, MAYBE TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU IMAGINE SOMEBODY DOING THIS SOMEWHERE TO, TO BE ABLE TO FIND IT, BUT TO SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THAT WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS ON THE DAY AS IT'S ALMOST FOUR O'CLOCK AND WE STILL HAVE THE PRESENTATION ON THE URBAN THING.

AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT SORT FOR US IF WE CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE OR DECIDE TO CLOSE THAT.

GO AHEAD.

I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST IF IT'S HELPFUL TO YOU.

AND, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, COREY, SO, BUT IF IT'S HELPFUL TO YOU, YOU MIGHT ALSO SPEAK TO THE AUSTIN TECH ALLIANCE.

THEY HAVE HELPED US SOLVE FOR OTHER ISSUES IN THE PAST, AND THEY MAY JUST HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER 30.

YEAH, SORRY, MANAGER.

DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? OH, UM, JUST MINE ALSO.

UH, ALSO, UH, THE CITY CLERK COULD ALSO GIVE US HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT SHE'S GOING TO NEED TO RUN THIS OPERATION MAYOR, JUST A WORD OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR STAFF THAT IS WORKING VERY HARD, NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, BUT AS WE TRANSITIONED BACK TO IN-PERSON, UH, HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE OF OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, I'LL JUST NOTE, UH, FOR THE MEMO THAT WOULD COME BACK AT THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE SOME UPDATES, BUT IT'LL BE ALSO WHAT REMAINING QUESTIONS AND ISSUES THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO.

AND SOME GENERAL TIMEFRAME IN WHICH WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU ANSWERS.

AND SO JUST TO MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, UH, OUTLINE SOME OF THESE KEY THEMES THAT WE'RE HEARING AND, UH, WHAT AVENUES WE MIGHT BE PURSUING TO, UH, HELP PROVIDE CLARITY FOR COUNCIL ON A PATH FORWARD.

GOING TO PULL IT BEFORE PEOPLE START SPEAKING AND THEN SOMETIMES WE ADD TO IT, BUT WE'LL JUST, WE'LL JUST ALL TRY TO MAKE A BETTER EFFORT OF BEFORE PEOPLE START SPEAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A REALLY EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO PULL, HE COUNTS OVER.

UM, SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, SO ON THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SET THOSE UP FOR PATCHES COUNCIL MEMBER.

TOVO SAID HE ASKED THE QUESTION, COULD WE ALSO DO IT AT OUR HYBRID COUNTERWEIGHT? COULD WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE IF THEY WANTED TO SPEAK IN THE MORNING, THEY COULD SIGN UP AND SPEAK A PART OF THAT.

IF THEY WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE ITEM CAME UP, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT TOO LOGISTICALLY.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT.

KATHY, IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND WE'VE SAID, WHAT WE THINK HAS GOT TO BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT ENDS UP, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T KNOW AT THAT POINT, WHETHER IT'S GETTING COLD OR NOT NECESSARILY.

SO THEY'RE HERE IN THE MORNING.

THEY'RE THEY'RE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT IN THE MORNING IF IT'S NOT BEING PULLED, BUT I'M NOT SURE THEY WOULD KNOW WHETHER IT WAS BEING PULLED OR NOT BEFORE THEY HAD TO MAKE THE ELECTION TO SPEAK IN THE MORNING OR NOT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WELL, WOULDN'T IT WORK THE SAME WAY IT DID.

AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT I NEED TO ASK ABOUT THURSDAY, UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, BUT WOULDN'T IT WORK THE SAME WAY IT DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU READ OUT THE CONSENT AGENDA, YOU LET US KNOW WHICH ITEMS HAD BEEN PULLED BECAUSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVING PULLED THEM, OR BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

AND THEN WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE, WHETHER THEY'RE OVER THE PHONE OR VIDEO OR IN PERSON WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP ON IT ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UM, IF IT'S BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THEY WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IT.

NOW THEY SPEAK ABOUT IT NOW, RIGHT? YOU MISSING SOMETHING.

BUT I THINK IT WORKS JUST THE SAME WAY.

IT ALWAYS DID WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IF WE'VE PULLED ITEM NUMBER 90, BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE PULLED IT, WE WOULD ALLOW THAT PERSON TO SPEAK.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT UP LATER, I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CHANGE FROM OUR PRE PANDEMIC PROCESS.

WHAT IF SOMEBODY, WHAT IF AN ITEM GETS POLLED AFTER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND SOMEONE SAYS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PULL IT, I WANT TO SPEAK LATER, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN PULLED YET.

SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK NOW.

AND THEN IT GETS PULLED, WELL, I GUESS MAYOR, WE JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN AS COUNCIL.

I MEAN, USUALLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER OR YOU SAY, HEY, YOUR QUESTIONS ARE MORE EXTENSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD PULL IT.

I MEAN, AS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE JUST ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO, TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHICH ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO PULL BEFORE, BEFORE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND NOW, AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, I MEAN, I THINK THEY, I THINK THE TIMES WHERE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOU ACTUALLY

[03:05:01]

YES, CATHERINE KELLY, THANK YOU.

GET BACK TO YOU.

I AGREE WITH THAT, THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT IF PEOPLE WANT TO STAY AND SPEAK ON A PULLED ITEM, THAT WE JUST HAVE THEM ALL TALK, THEN I DIDN'T HEAR, UNLESS I HEARD THAT THERE WAS SOME INEFFICIENCY WITH IT.

I THINK THAT WORKS FINE FOR US.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S MORE FRESH AND USUALLY WE'VE PULLED IT.

I AGREE WITH, I THINK COMES, REMEMBER, TO-GO SAYING ONE CHANGE IS, UM, IS THAT FOLKS COULD JUST SPEAK IN THE, IN THE MORNING, EVEN IF IT'S PULLED FOR LATER.

THE SECOND CHANGE THAT I HAD MENTIONED IN MY COMMENTS THAT I THINK IS BETTER FOR EVERYONE IS THAT IF A COUNCIL MEMBER, IF NO COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE DINOSAUR PULLING AN ITEM THAT, THAT SPEAKER SIGN UP AND SPEAK ON IT IN THE BATCH IN THE MORNING, THE REASON BEING THAT THAT EITHER HAPPENS WHEN ALL THE SPEAKERS ARE FOR IT TO ANYWAY, AND IT'S GOING TO PASS.

SO WHY HAVE ALL THE STAFF AND PEOPLE WAIT OR SECOND, IF YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS WANT TO REGISTER THEIR DISSENT, BUT IT'S AN, IT'S AN 11 O CONSENSUS ITEM.

THEN IT STILL GIVES THOSE SPEAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.

BUT IF NO COUNCIL MEMBER IS INTERESTED IN PULLING IT, THAT WE DON'T KEEP OUR STAFF AND, AND KEEP THE ITEM HANGING UP.

SO THOSE I THINK ARE THE ONLY TWO DIFFERENCES, BUT I DO.

I AGREE, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT OFTENTIMES WE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO SAY WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, HEY, I'VE WAITED 10 HOURS TO GIVE MY TWO MINUTES.

THERE ARE, OFTENTIMES ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY AND WATCH THE VOTE AND WANT TO GO AND COME AND TALK AT THAT TIME.

AND WE CAN ALLOW THAT AT THEIR CHOICE.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW, CAN YOU SAY, SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS WE DO THE TWO BATCHES PEOPLE HAVE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TALK IN THE MORNING ON THOSE THINGS ON ZONING.

THEY CAN TALK FIRST, IF THEY WANT TO TALK LATER, AND THE ITEM WAS PULLED, THEY GET A CHANCE TO TALK LATER.

UM, IF, IF THEY SPEAK IN THE MORNING, THEY DON'T SPEAK.

IF IT ULTIMATELY GETS PULLED AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR DISCIPLINE.

SO THE OTHER CHANGES, SPEAKERS, DON'T PULL ITEMS, ONLY COUNCIL MEMBERS DO.

AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO ENDEAVOR TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PULLING THINGS SO THAT SOMEBODY STRATEGICALLY KNOWS WHETHER TO SPEAK NOW OR WHETHER TO SPEAK, UH, UH, LATER.

UM, NOT TO REALLY CIRCLE BACK TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN BROUGHT UP, BUT COREY, IF I COULD ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION REAL QUICK, UM, IT SEEMED LIKE YOU HAD MENTIONED, AND MAYBE I WAS INCORRECT, BUT YOU SAID THAT IT WAS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY UTILIZING FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING, IS THAT CORRECT? SO IT'S NOT FULLY DEVELOPED YET, RIGHT? YEAH.

SO REMEMBER KELLY? YES.

UM, I'M SPEAKING TO A, UH, THE SAME VENDOR THAT WE USED FOR TELECONFERENCING DURING THE PANDEMIC IS DEVELOPING A SYSTEM THAT, UH, WHERE THEY CAN MANAGE, MANAGE, UH, BRINGING PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN VIA VIDEO, UH, TO TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

UH, THIS IS, THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS.

THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY DO.

UH, AND YES, THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN NEAR, NEAR COMPLETION FROM WHAT HUNDRED.

SO I GUESS MY CONCERN THERE IS THAT IT WON'T BE READY BEFORE FUTURE MEETINGS.

SO I'M WONDERING IF IN THE MEMO YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH OPTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR CURRENT VENDOR PROVIDES THAT MIGHT DO THE SAME THING.

IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, RIGHT.

IT'S, IT'S MOST LIKELY THAT THE LIBRARY WILL BE LIBRARIES WILL BE READY TO AT LEAST PILOT, UH, SOME SORT OF, UM, UM, PROGRAM WHERE WE COULD ALLOW PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM DIFFERENT LIBRARIES.

SO THAT'S A MORE LIKELY SOLUTION, UH, BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE VENDOR AND GET BACK TO Y'ALL.

SO ANOTHER ITEM FOR US TO DISCUSS, UH, MIGHT BE HOW MUCH TIME SPEAKERS HAVE, WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AS WE'VE TRIED TO DO THE MEETINGS SO THAT THE SPEAKERS IS SPEAK IN THE MORNING BATCH, WE TRY TO, TO KIND OF HAVE THE UNIVERSE OF TIME OF PEOPLE TO SPEAK SUCH THAT WE HAVE A SHOT AT ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IN THE MORNING, AND SPEAKERS HAVE A CHANCE TO, TO, TO SPEAK, UH, IF THERE WERE A LOT OF SPEAKERS IN THAT FIRST BATCH IN ORDER TO STILL PRESERVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE, WE CUT BACK ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THOSE SPEAKERS ADD, BUT THE GOAL WAS TO TRY AND GET US 12, 12 30, PASSED THOSE SPEAKERS AND PASSED A QUICK VOTE ON THE CONSENT, BUT NOT ANY OF THE POLL ITEMS, THE CLOSER WE CAN GET TO NOON, THE MORE WE CAN GET TO, TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS.

THE REASON WE DID THAT WAS I GAVE US TIME FOR LUNCH.

HE GAVE US TIME FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE HAD ANOTHER BATCH OF SPEAKERS, UH, OKAY.

WERE TRYING REALLY HARD TO GET THE FIRST BATCH STARTED IN THE MORNING BEFORE WE HAD THE SECOND BATCH OF SPEAKERS SPEAK.

SO WE HAVE THERE BE SPEAKERS THAT SPEAK AT TWO O'CLOCK

[03:10:01]

IN THE AFTERNOON.

WE TRIED TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE ITEMS WE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO GET PULLED.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PART OF OUR AFTERNOON WORK.

IN ADDITION TO THE ZONING CASES THAT WE HAD, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT THOSE SPEAKERS WERE GOING TO SPEAK BEGINNING AT TWO O'CLOCK, UH, AND TRY TO, TO LIMIT US TO, TO ADJUST, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR OR TWO HOURS, UH, ON SPEAKERS.

SO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TWO HOURS OF SPEAKERS SPEAK AT TWO O'CLOCK, IT GETS YOU TO FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T HANDLED THE PULLED ITEMS FROM THE MORNING OR THE PULLED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

SO BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ITEMS PEOPLE SEEM TO BE PULLING AND WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA AND THAT WE THEN, YOU KNOW, ADJUSTED THAT TIMING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THE OTHER.

SO IT'S HOW MUCH TIME PEOPLE HAVE.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE QUESTION OF WHEN YOU SPOKE AT THAT POINT, DID YOU SPEAK ON MULTIPLE ITEMS? DID YOU HAVE TIME THAT WAS SHARED? SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T SEE IT ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO US ON MULTIPLE MATTERS.

UH, SOMETIMES THEY GET DONATED TIME.

IF YOU HAVE ONE PERSON WHO SPEAKS FOR THREE MINUTES, IT GETS ONE DONATED PERSON, SIX MINUTES.

AND IF THEY COULD SPEAK ON FIVE DIFFERENT ITEMS, WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE COME TO THE DICE AND SPEAK TO US FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON.

AND WE, WE JUST SET UP A SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES THAT, UH, AND, UH, HAS GIVEN EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO TALK.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S TRIED TO PRESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO GET WORK DONE IN A, IN A MANNER THAT LETS PEOPLE HAVE A SHOT AT MAYBE HAVING, GOING HOME AND HAVING DINNER WITH THE FAMILY OR, OR BEING AT HOME IN THIS JOB.

SO THE, THE THREE QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TIMING IS HOW MUCH TIME DO PEOPLE HAVE, CAN IT VARY ON DAYS BASED ON THE WORKLOAD THAT WE HAVE AND ARE PEOPLE SIGNED UP? CAN YOU SHARE A TIME, UH, WHICH IS WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

UM, AND, AND DO YOU HAVE TO SPEAK OF FOR EVERYTHING WITHIN THAT A LOT OF TIME, OR DO YOU GET MULTIPLES OF THAT ALLOTTED TIME? THOSE, I THINK OF THREE QUESTIONS ON SPEAKER, TIMING, HUSBAND, WIFE, THIS THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, JUST TO SPEAK TO THE FIRST ONE IN LOOKING AT HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR DAY, I REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU LAID OUT AND HOW WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT HOW MANY SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED UP AND TRYING TO APPORTION THEIR MINUTE ALLOTMENT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE, BEFORE NOON.

I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY OF DOING IT.

I THINK FOR US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND LAYING THINGS OUT SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DISCUSS BUSINESS BEFORE IT GETS REALLY LATE INTO THE NIGHT, AND YOU'RE TAKING BIG, IMPORTANT VOTES LATE AT NIGHT.

IT'S NOT, IT'S SOMETHING I HOPE THAT WE COULD DO VERY SPARINGLY.

AND SO IF WE CAN PLAN OUT OUR DAY SO THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ON THE CON, IF IT'S A CONTENT AGENDA ITEM, UM, YOU CAN SPEAK IN THE MORNING AND HAVE THAT, THAT TIMEFRAME ALLOWED.

THAT'D BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IN THE PAST MADE A DECISION AS A COUNCIL TO ALLOW, TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC, TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE WAYS.

MARY, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ON, UM, I THINK GRIT COUNCIL MEMBER CASARA AND I, I BELIEVE WE'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO WEIGHED IN ON THE ISSUE RELATED TO WHO, HOW MANY, HOW THINGS GET PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND I MADE MY POINT EARLIER, BUT THEN GREG MADE HIS AGAIN AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO THAT BEING THE ASSUMPTION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE.

SO I THINK OUR COUNCIL RULES ARE APPROVED.

COUNCIL RULES INDICATE THAT IF TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AGAINST SOMETHING IT'S PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO THAT AS I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, MAKING A DIFFERENT DECISION, WHICH IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE GROUP TO DO SO.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY COULD, I HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD RATHER WE CAME UP WITH A DIFFERENT RUSH HOLD IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE FOUND THAT, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, MAYBE THE THRESHOLD ISN'T TOO, MAYBE IT'S FIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I, YOU KNOW, AS I THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, IF NOT AN 11 VOTE, YOU KNOW, UH, OVERWHELMING SUPPORT ON COUNCIL, I MEAN, THOSE TEND TO BE ISSUES WHERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, SOMETIMES, UM, EXCITEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING.

BUT I AGREE IT DOES OFTEN TAKE AWAY FROM, FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER ISSUES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR TIME IS BEST THAT HEARING FROM DOZENS AND DOZENS OF SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE WHERE WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO PASS,

[03:15:01]

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE, WHERE THOSE TWO SPEAKERS WHO HAVE ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK, A CAREFUL, LOOK AT SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, RAISE A POINT THAT SOME OF US HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF.

UM, AND, AND I CAN'T THINK OF AN EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW, BUT I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OPENED UP QUESTIONS FOR, FOR OUR COUNCIL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE THEN HAD TO DELIBERATE ON.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST TWO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE TWO VOICES CAN BE, UM, SIGNIFICANT.

SO AGAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ASK MAYBE THAT THRESHOLD ISN'T CORRECT.

ISN'T THE RIGHT ONE.

UM, WE COULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I MEAN, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A WORK AROUND HERE.

IF I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO IS, WHO IS INTERESTED IN, IN, UM, IN THAT ISSUE, YOU KNOW, I CAN TRY TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES WHERE PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP ON IT.

AND IF WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AN ITEM AND HAVE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL IT UNDER NEW RULES, YOU KNOW, I CAN PULL THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER SO THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I COULD HANDLE IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, THAT, THAT IS A POINT WHERE WE'VE HAD TWO DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT, AND IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE, UM, A LITTLE MORE DIALOGUE EITHER TODAY OR IN THE FUTURE ABOUT IT.

AND ON THURSDAY, I HAVE GOTTEN A QUESTION ABOUT VIDEO TESTIMONY, AS I MENTIONED, BUT THE QUESTION REALLY IS THIS, OUR RULES ARE WHAT THEY ARE, IT'S IN-PERSON TESTIMONY ONLY IN THE PAST, WE'VE ALLOWED AN INDIVIDUAL TO SHOW A VIDEO.

AND SO THE QUESTION I'M GETTING FROM THE PUBLIC IS, IS THAT ALLOWED, CAN SOMEBODY COME AND SIGN UP AT CITY HALL AND THEN SHOW A VIDEO TESTIMONY FROM SOMEONE ELSE? AND I WOULD ASSUME CONSISTENT WITH OUR PAST PRACTICE.

THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES, BUT JUST WANT TO, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S STILL SOMETHING WE'RE SET UP.

IF THAT PERSON HAS THEIR THREE MINUTES OR WHATEVER THEIR TIME ALLOTMENT IS, THAT'S THEIRS TO USE AND THEY CAN CERTAINLY USE IT THAT WAY.

WE WOULD JUST ASK THE, UM, THOSE VIDEOS BE SUBMITTED HOPEFULLY PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM MOVED OVER AND PULL READY TO PULL UP SO THAT WE HAVE THEM.

AND ON THE OTHER QUESTION, KATHY, ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE COULD PULL THEIR OWN ITEMS THAT DIDN'T, I MEAN, I, I HAD TRIED TO RAISE THAT IN THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAD FOCUSED ON THAT ISSUE.

UM, UH, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT YOU PULLED IT BACK UP AGAIN, IF THAT WASN'T, UH, SUFFOLK, THAT WAS, THAT WAS CLEAR OR DECIDED, UM, WHICH IS WHY IT HAS THE QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT, AND I GAVE YOU THE HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION UNDER THAT SCENARIO, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD MOVED PAST IT, BUT DOES IT STOP US FROM CONTINUING IN THAT CONVERSATION HERE AND, OKAY, WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TOBO RES UM, I HAD THE SAME CONCERNS THAT SHE HAS WITH REGARD TO, UM, WELL IN ADAMS, I, YOU KNOW, AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO, I THINK SOME OF IT, SOME OF OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE IN WRITING.

I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY.

I THOUGHT WE DID THIS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A RESOLUTION.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING THINGS, WE NEED TO DO IT WITH A RESOLUTION.

I THINK IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, BUT ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO RAISED, I, I DO AGREE WITH HER ON THAT AND IN NOT SEEING THE NEED TO CHANGE IT AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT WHATEVER WE DO, WE SHOULD PASS A RESOLUTION, ULTIMATELY DOING IT ALL.

YOU KNOW, IN ANY PARTICULAR INSTANCE WE HAVE AS A BODY, HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE, TO DECIDE HOW WE HANDLE THOSE KIND OF PROCEDURAL RULES.

AND CERTAINLY THAT CAN ALWAYS GO TO, TO A VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER TOGETHER, IF ANYBODY ASKS FOR, FOR THAT KIND OF THING, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE, I JUST FEEL, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT BADLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE WAITING ALL DAY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY'RE WAITING, WAITING, WAITING, AND THEN DINNER COMES EVENT IT'S AFTER DINNER AND THEY COME UP AND I HAVE ALWAYS FELT GUILTY AS THEY TESTIFY.

AND I THINK THAT, I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, I THINK HEADACHE HAVE HELPED US, UH, AND THERE WERE ALWAYS TRADE OFFS INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, SO I WAS COMFORTABLE AS HAD SUGGESTED WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T PULL ITEMS, COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD PULL ITEMS IF THEY WANTED TO.

UM, AND THEN RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ANY GIVEN ITEM, ANY ONE OF US CAN CALL ANYBODY UP THAT THEY WANT TO, TO JUST SPEAK TO IT, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE HAT OR WE COULD, WE COULD TAKE A QUICK VOTE ON THAT TO SEE WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE WERE.

[03:20:05]

UH, YES.

MAY PRO TEMP, OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD AND TOUCH IT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S HERE OR THERE, AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF QUESTIONING, I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH, UM, FEEDBACK FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS CONSISTENTLY, UM, THE COMPLAINTS ARE ACCESS OR THE LACK THEREOF AND HOW LONG OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TAKE.

THEY CANNOT WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND WHY WE DELIBERATE, WHAT FEELS LIKE ENDLESSLY OVER ITEMS. UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF COMPLAINT I HEAR FROM, FROM, FROM D ONE CONSTITUENTS, OUR MEETINGS ARE JUST TOO LOW CASPER KITCHEN.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN VOTE RIGHT NOW ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT YOU'RE RAISING.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN BACKUP TO VOTE ON AND PLUS WE'RE IN A WORK SESSION.

SO, UM, MY THOUGHT IS THAT IF, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BRING FORWARD THIS CHANGE, UH, IF, UH, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, BECAUSE I KNOW WE VOTED IN THE PAST ON VARIOUS PROCEDURES, BUT IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY THAT THERE'S A WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT HAS THESE PROCEDURES, THEN UM, THEN IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BRING FORWARD THAT CHA CHANGE, THAT'S FINE.

AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON IT AT THAT TIME, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN VOTE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT ON THAT.

UM, IF THERE'S A CONSENSUS ON IT, WE NEED TO VOTE ON SOMETHING.

I THINK IT DOES HAVE TO COME BACK THAT WAY.

UM, WHAT ABOUT TIMING? DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO, TO, TO ADDRESS THAT? I GUESS, I GUESS WE COULD DO IS I COULD JUST COME BACK OR SOMEBODY COULD COME BACK WITH A PROPOSED LIST OF, OF RULES ON HOW WE SHOULD HANDLE THINGS.

I COULD COME BACK WITH A LIST AND IT TALKS ABOUT HOW WE'VE DONE IT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, OR THAT PEOPLE COULD MAKE CHANGES TO IT.

UH, AND THEN THERE'S ACTUALLY A DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF US FOR PEOPLE TO EDIT.

WE COULD POST SOMETHING TO THE MESSAGE BOARD IN OUR LONG DELAY HERE.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO RAISE ANY OTHER ISSUES OR TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER, UH, ELEMENTS, UH, DONATION OF TIME, UH, HOW MUCH TIME SPEAKERS HAVE, WHETHER ONE TIME IS HER SPEAKER TO SPEAK ON ALL THEIR ITEMS, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN.

I THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD.

SO, UM, CHA IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING ANY CHANGES UP, WE SHOULD DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON.

UM, AND IF, IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING.

SO, SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT POSTING THE MESSAGE FORWARD.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WE WOULD JUST USE OUR NORMAL PROCESSES, UH, AND HAVE SOMETHING PROPOSED THAT WE WERE GOING TO VOTE ON.

SO PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WE WERE VOTING ON IT AND I COULD GO, BUT I COULDN'T TELL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, YEAH, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY.

THE RULES WE USE, UH, ON THE LAST MEETING OF SEPTEMBER WILL BE THE RULES THAT WE, THAT, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO USE.

SO JUST LIKE WE'VE, WE HAVE A SET BASE POLICY, THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE START FROM.

AND IF THERE ARE CHANGES FOR THEM, WE KNOW WE'VE POSTED THAT RECOMMENDATION AHEAD OF TIME.

AND THE COUNCIL COULD ALWAYS SAY NO TO THOSE THINGS.

COUNCIL CAN DO THAT FOR THE LAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.

AND IF ANYBODY WAS TO RAISE ANY OF THOSE THINGS FOR A VOTE, WE CAN HAVE THAT VOTE, BUT I'LL TRY TO GET SOMETHING OUT THAT IDENTIFIES ALL OF THESE VARIOUS ISSUES AHEAD OF TIME.

BUT THE, SO WE'LL HANDLE IT THE SAME WITH NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME OUTCOME WE HANDLED AS WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

AND BEFORE THAT, WHERE ULTIMATELY ON ANY GIVEN MEETING, THE MAJORITY DECIDES HOW THAT MEETING GOES.

ANYTHING ELSE PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT, UH, UM, MARIN COUNCIL, WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH OPTIONS.

UM, I WILL REACH OUT TO OTHER CITIES, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE THAT IS DOING VIDEO TESTIMONY.

UM, MOST OF THEM ARE, OR WE'RE DOING AUDIO AND MOST OF THEM ARE STARTING TO COME BACK IN PERSON ONLY WITH MAYBE AN OPTION FOR THE AUDIO, WHICH WILL EXPIRE, UM, AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

UM, BUT I WILL REACH OUT TO HIM, BUT AS FAR AS I HAVE SEEN AND HER NOBODY IS OFFERING VIDEO AT THIS TIME.

GREAT.

YES, I GUESS SINCE WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL NEED SOME DIALOGUE OR INSTRUCTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON HOW WE WILL PROCEED WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT IN THE MEMO AT THE END OF NEXT WEEK TO MYRNA, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? UM,

[03:25:01]

UM, WE NEED CLARITY FROM MARION COUNCIL AND THEN LIKELY, UM, A LOT DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE MEETING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO ALSO WANTING TO MAINTAIN, UM, VIRTUAL PUBLIC.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO IN THAT MEMO, IF YOU COULD, TO PUT IN A SECTION ON BOARD TO COMMISSION, OBVIOUSLY THE BOARDS AND THE COMMISSIONS ARE ASKING THE SAME CREDIT QUESTIONS FOR THEIR MEETINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE.

UM, HE GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE ARE TELEVISED AND SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT TELEVISED.

UH, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ALL THE RULES RELATE IN THE SAME KIND OF WAY FOR SOVEREIGN VERSUS NON SOVEREIGN BOARDS FROM STATE LAW.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME LOCAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'VE PUT IN THERE, NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW FROM STATE LAW, BUT I THINK GENERALLY THE QUESTIONS ARE THE SAME.

WHAT FLEXIBILITY, IF ANY, EXIST FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO HAVE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, REMOTELY SPEAKERS AND OR MEMBERS OF THE, OF THE, THE BOARD ITSELF, THE COMMISSION ITSELF.

SO IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT IN THAT CONTEXT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TOO.

AND MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP US PUT OUR HANDS, OUR ARMS AROUND THOSE ISSUES IN THAT CONTEXT.

AND THEN I WILL JUST CLOSE WITH JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE THAT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, UM, WE WOULD BE PROBABLY THE FIRST LARGE CITY THAT WOULD BE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A THING.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE, BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US, AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW'S THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS VIABLE LONG-TERM AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY NECESSARILY COMES INTO IT PREJUDGING ANY OF THAT STUFF.

SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE REQUESTS YOU MAY COME BACK AND SAY IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT AND IT'S GOING TO PRESENT SECURITY CONCERNS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT IN RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THAT'D BE FINE TOO, BUT JUST TO KIND OF HELP IDENTIFY THE ISSUES FOR US SO WE CAN PUT OUR ARMS AROUND IT.

ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES,

[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items]

IT IS FOUR 20.

UH, LET'S GO TO THE, UH, PULLED ITEMS FROM, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TAB AND THE PRESENTATION, UH, ON THE, UH, CLOUDIEST 11TH STREET MAYOR PRO TEM.

DO YOU WANT TO OPEN THIS UP OR SHOULD WE LET STAFF SPEAK TO US FIRST? I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF STAFF COULD LAY IT OUT.

SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER REALLY IS JUST SO COMPLEX.

THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY BEHIND IT AND IT'S, MULTI-TIERED, THERE'S JUST SO MANY LAYERS.

SO I THINK THEM GETTING US SORT OF LEVEL SET AND LAYING IT OUT WILL BE HELPFUL.

AND THEN I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO FOLLOW UP WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WOULD WORK.

RODNEY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MARY, FOR TIM.

UH, AND MAYOR, WE HAVE ERICA LAKE AND LAURA KEATING FROM HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT ON THE TOPIC.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL.

UM, MY CAMERA ISN'T WORKING RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A SHORT PRESENTATION ABOUT, UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THAT USED TO 11TH AND 12TH STREET IN THE CCDS, UM, TO HOPEFULLY MAKE THE CONVERSATION ON THURSDAY, UH, BASICALLY YEAR.

UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU JUST A TINY BIT OF BACKGROUND AND THEN ALSO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS BETWEEN WHAT THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD RECOMMENDED, WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDED AND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.

SO LAURA KEY TEAM, UM, WILL PROVIDE THAT PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICTS, NONE OF THE NCC DS.

CAN EVERYONE HEAR ERICA? OKAY.

KEEP GOING.

WELL, UH, LAURA IS GOING TO, TO TAKE AWAY THE PRESENTATION IF WE CAN GET IT PULLED UP.

OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, COUNSEL, AS THEY'RE GETTING THIS PULLED UP, I'M LAURIE KEATING FROM THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

AS ERICA SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER, UH, BROADLY OVER THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THE EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD

[03:30:01]

UM, THIS PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS DIFFER BETWEEN THE URBAN RENEWAL BORE PLANNING, COMMISSION AND STAFF.

UM, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THESE, UH, DOCUMENTS AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

SO, UM, AFTER PROVIDING SOME BACKGROUND, I'LL GO OVER EACH ITEM SEPARATELY.

UM, AT THE END, I'LL TOUCH ON RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SINGLE FAMILY USES THAT APPLIES TO ALL THREE ITEMS. UH, THE NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE.

SO DEVELOPMENT ALONG THESE CORRIDORS DIRECTLY EAST OF I, 35 IS CONTROLLED BY BOTH URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THEN CCDS THE PLAN SUPERSEDES LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES THE MCC IS THE CURRENTLY THE EAST 11TH STREET NCCD.

AND THAT PLAN HAVE CONFLICTING REGULATIONS FOR SOME PROPERTIES.

AND THIS LEADS TO A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT ENTITLEMENTS.

UM, THE COUNSEL'S PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS INITIATING THESE ZONING CHANGES, INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING GOALS TO UPDATE THE 11TH STREET NCCD TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF URBAN RENEWAL AGC OWNED PROPERTY TO CLARIFY REGULATIONS AND TO ALIGN THE PLAN WITH THE ZONING.

NEXT SLIDE SLIDE.

SO BEGINNING WITH THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, UH, THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS PLAN, WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 1999, UH, ALIGN, UM, EXACTLY WHAT THE 12TH STREET NCCD AND WITH A PORTION OF THE 11TH STREET NCCD PROPERTIES ALONG 35 AND ROSEWOOD AVENUE ARE WITHIN THE 11TH STREET NCCD, BUT NOT WITHIN THE PLANNING BOUNDARY.

NEXT SLIDE, BROAD CHANGES TO THE PLAN INCLUDE, UM, TAKING A DEFINITION SECTION THAT'S FROM MY PRIMARILY RELATED TO LAND USES AND REPLACING IT WITH A LANDRY SECTION THAT MIRRORS THE DRAFT.

AND SINCE THE DEEDS, UM, SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PLAN WILL BE MOVED TO THE ZONING AND REFERENCED BY THE PLAN, THE PROCESS TO MODIFY THE PLAN WILL BE ALIGNED WITH THE REZONING PROCESS FOR EASE OF USE IN THE FUTURE.

UH, AND MANY SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REORGANIZED, OUTDATED INFORMATION HAS BEEN REMOVED AND RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHANGES TO THE AREA HAVE BEEN ADDED NEXT LINE, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADD A VISION STATEMENT TO THE PLAN.

THE VISION THEY DEVELOPED WAS TO CHAMPION SUSTAINABLE REVITALIZATION, REFLECTING DIVERSITY, ACHIEVING EQUITY AND PRESERVING EAST AUSTIN'S CULTURAL HISTORY.

MIAMI COMMISSION RECOMMENDED SOME SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED ADDING COMMUNITY INFORMED AND COMPATIBLE AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THE BOARD RESPONDED, UM, AND THEN THE OFFICIAL LETTER THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN BACKUP WITH, UM, AGREEING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE COMMUNITY INFORMED, COMPATIBLE, AND MIXED USE, BUT THEY JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS, THIS LANGUAGE SHOULD BE IN THE VISION STATEMENT, WHICH, UM, IT'S MORE AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF THE PLAN.

SO MOVING ON TO 11TH STREET, UM, THE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS TOUCH ON SUB DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, FLORIDA AREA RATIO, HEIGHT, AND HOTEL MOTEL.

SUBJECT TO THEIR BASE ZONING AND SETTLEMENTS.

HERE'S A MAP OF THE EXISTING SUB DISTRICT.

THERE'S NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE BOUNDARIES OF SUB-DISTRICTS THREE, WHICH IS SHOWN IN BLUE AND ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SUGGESTED FREE IS OUTSIDE THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN BOUNDARY, AND THERE'S REALLY ALMOST NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO ENTITLEMENTS FOR THIS AREA.

NEXT SLIDE, UH, SOME DISTRICTS PROPOSED BY THE BOARD AND SUPPORTED BY PLANNING COMMISSION CONVERT THE EXISTING SUB DISTRICT FOUR INTO JUST SUB-DISTRICTS WANTING TO, TO ALIGN WITH ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

AND THIS IS JUST THE AREA THAT'S ALSO OUTSIDE THE PLANNING BOUNDARY.

UM, THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO SAYS THAT THIS SUB-DISTRICT WILL NOW BE

[03:35:01]

NEXT SLIDE STOP SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDATION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CREATION OF NEW, THE NEW SUBDISTRICT FOR THE APPLICATION OF BASED ZONING ENTITLEMENTS IN THIS AREA WOULD REDUCE ENTITLEMENTS AND CREATE NON-CONFORMING USES OR STRUCTURES FOR SOME PROPERTIES.

SO STAFF IS JUST RECOMMENDING THAT THESE PROPERTIES REMAIN IN SUB DISTRICT ONE AND TWO.

NEXT SLIDE, AS MENTIONED BEFORE THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THE NCCD IS HAVE INCONSISTENT REGULATIONS, THE AREAS AND PINK ON THIS MAP SHOW THE PLANS, PROJECT AREAS THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS, WHICH SUPERSEDE THE NCCD.

THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH, UM, FAR AND HEIGHT, WHICH WILL BE ON THE NIGHT SLIDES NEXT FINE.

THE CURRENT FAR REGULATIONS ARE VERY COMPLICATED.

THEY VARY BETWEEN THE PLAN AND THE NCCD AND ON SOME PROPERTIES DEPEND ON THE SIZE AND THE USE OF THE SITE FOR BOTH SUB DISTRICT ONE, TWO AND THREE, THE IRV IS RECOMMENDING THE REMOTE, THE REMOVAL OF FAR LIMITS, ALLOWING OTHER SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO CONTROL THE SIZE OF BUILDINGS.

PC HAS WRITTEN BACK RECOMMENDED SPECIFIC FSRS FOR EACH OF THESE SUB DISTRICTS.

UM, BUT THESE ARE THE SAME OR HIGHER THAN CURRENT.

SO NONE OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, WOULD REDUCE ENTITLEMENTS EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT FOUR, AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, APPLYING BASED ON ENTITLEMENTS, UM, WOULD REDUCE ENTITLEMENTS FOR SOME PROPERTIES.

AND THAT'S WHY STAFF IS NOT SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF THAT SUB DISTRICT.

NEXT SLIDE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEIGHT REGULATIONS, UH, THERE ARE ALSO IN CONSISTENCIES BETWEEN THE PLAN AND THE NCCD, UH, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD PROPOSED HEIGHT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM IS BASED ON CONTEXT RATHER THAN SUB-DISTRICT, UM, AND PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTED THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION.

UM, STAFF ALSO SUPPORTS THIS RECOMMENDATION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUB DISTRICT FOUR.

UM, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE MAPS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS EXISTING HEIGHT MAXIMUMS. UM, THE AREAS IN GRAY SHOW WHERE THE HEIGHT COMES FROM THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN RATHER THAN THE NCCD.

NEXT LINE, THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION IS SIMILAR TO CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS FOR SUB DISTRICT ONE AND TWO, BUT PROVIDES A STEP DOWN FROM 11TH STREET TO JUNIPER STREET.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE BLOCKS I SPLIT IN HALF AND IT'S 60 FEET ALONG 11TH STREET AND 40 FEET ALONG JUNIPER.

THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

NEXT SLIDE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION ONLY DIFFERS ON ROSE WOOD AVENUE WHERE STAFF SUPPORTS HEIGHT MAXIMUMS REMAINING.

THE SAME NEXT SLIDE MOVING ONTO USES.

UM, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOTEL MOTEL USE IS PERMITTED WITH CONDITIONS AND SUB DISTRICT ONE.

THE PLANNING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS USE IS CONDITIONAL DUE TO NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS ABOUT A COCKTAIL LOUNGE BEING AN ACCESSORY USE TO A HOTEL.

SO LOOKING AT 12TH STREET, UM, THE POINTS WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS DIFFER ARE SIMILAR, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A LIQUOR LIQUOR SALES USE NO LONGER DIFFERS, BUT I WILL GO OVER, UM, THE DELIBERATION BEHIND, OH, BEHIND THAT USE NEXT SLIDE IN TERMS OF FAR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PLAN AREAS SHOWN IN PINK, DO NOT HAVE FAR LIMITS.

UM, ALL OTHER PROPERTIES ARE SUBJECT TO THEIR BASE ZONING.

RECOMMEND THAT SUB DISTRICT TWO'S HEIGHT MAXIMUM BE REDUCED FROM 50 FEET TO 35 FEET, WHICH WOULD AFFECT MOST OF THE PROPERTIES ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF 12TH STREET.

THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT FAR LIMITS ARE REMOVED TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY FOR ADJACENT PROPERTY.

UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT BASED ON IN STANDARDS APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES.

STAFF IS SUPPORTING THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE IT CARRIES FORWARD ENTITLEMENTS FOR MOST PROPERTIES.

NEXT ONE IN TERMS OF HEIGHT, THE BOARD AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDED NO CHANGE.

THE HEIGHT MAX MAXIMUMS, WHICH ARE SHOWN HERE BY SUB-DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION DID

[03:40:01]

NEXT LINE, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE WAY THAT USES ARE, ARE ALLOWED ON L 12TH STREET IS CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY.

UM, CURRENTLY USES ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR BASE ZONING, UH, WHICH WITHIN THIS INSTANCE, D IS PRIMARILY SEE US OWNING THE NCCS D PROVIDES ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS BY PROHIBITING CERTAIN USES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE NCCC HAS A LIST OF PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED USES THAT ONLY APPLY, UM, TO PARKING GARAGES TO ENSURE AN ACTIVE STREET.

NEXT ONE, THE PROPOSED NCCD WILL FUNCTION MORE LIKE 11TH STREET, WHICH LISTS THE ALLOWED USES WITHIN THE NCCD.

UM, THE INTENT IS TO ENCOURAGE USES THAT CREATE A PEST PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT, UM, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, UNLIKE 11TH STREET, THE USE MUST ALSO BE ALLOWED IN THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT OF THE PROPERTY.

FIRST SF THREE PROPERTIES.

THE BASE ZONING STANDARDS APPLY IN LIEU OF THE PERMITTED USE TABLE WITHIN THAT NEXT SLIDE.

UM, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS JUST ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THIS IS KIND OF ADDITIONAL A LITTLE ON 12TH STREET.

THE BOARD'S ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WAS TO MAKE LIQUOR SALES CONDITION CONDITIONAL ON 12TH STREET.

THIS YOUTH WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE ALLOWED THROUGH THE BASE ZONING.

SO ONLY A FEW PROPERTIES WOULD BE AFFECTED.

A PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT THIS USE BE PROHIBITED, WHICH IS HOW THE ENTITLEMENTS WORK TODAY.

SO AFTER RECONSIDERATION, THE BOARD SUPPORTED CARING FOR THE PROHIBITION OF THIS USE, UM, SO THERE'S NO DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

UM, STOP US RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PETITIONS AGAINST THE 12TH STREET NCCD.

WE ARE STILL WORKING TO VALIDATE THESE PETITIONS AND CALCULATIONS WILL NOT BE COMPLETE BEFORE YOUR COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY, BUT STAFF IS, UM, SEEKING SOME DIRECTION ON FIRST READING.

SO WE CAN BEGIN TO PREPARE THE ORDINANCE FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.

NEXT LINE.

SO THE LAST ITEM IS RELATED TO EXISTING.

SINGLE FAMILY USES THE IRB, UM, CREATED A SECTION CALLED THE SAVE AND ACCEPT SECTION THAT WOULD ALLOW SPECIFIC ADDRESSES, UM, TO HAVE EXISTING USES REMAIN PERMITTED REGARDLESS OF THE USE TABLE.

UM, PC ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT ALL EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY USES CAN REBUILD AND ARE NOT LIMITED IN ANY WAY BY NON-CONFORMING STANDARDS.

UM, SO THE IRBS INTENT, UH, WITH THE SAVING EXCEPTION SAVE AND EXCEPT PROVISION, UH, ALIGNS WITH THE GCS INTENT.

SO STAFF IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE DRAFT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL EXISTING HOMES ARE INCLUDED.

UM, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH LAW TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST IMPLEMENT THIS INTENT, UM, THROUGH THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE.

AND WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE QUESTIONS.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF ERICA HAD ANYTHING THAT SHE WAS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE IN ADDITION TO, SHE WOULD GO AHEAD AND START.

I'M SORRY, SOMETHING ELSE.

HI EVERYONE.

UM, I'M BACK IN THE SYSTEM.

UM, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, UM, JUST THAT WE'RE AVAILABLE TO, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

USING AFFORDABLE DENSITY BONUSES IN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AREA AND, UH, WHAT STEPS WOULD WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE USE OF AFFORDABLE DENSITY BONUSES.

IN WHICH CASE, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR WALKING US THROUGH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, UH, WITH, UM, WITH USING OR THIS WHOLE SUBJECT MATTER.

I KNOW THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S COMPLICATED TO SAY THE LEAST.

UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UH, COULD STAFF TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH

[03:45:01]

TRISH, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO SO LINK WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT? UM, THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. NOW THAT IT GIVES ME A SECOND QUESTION ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO THE URBAN RENEWAL, AS IN HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE, JUST SPEAK TO IT IN GENERAL, HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE? IS IT POSSIBLE? WHAT WOULD IT REQUIRE? IS THAT A COMMUNITY LED EFFORT? IS IT COUNCIL EFFORT? COUNCIL ACTION.

SO THE CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO GENERALLY HOW THE PROCESS WORKS? SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

ON THOSE TRACKS WOULD HAVE THE HEIGHT AT WHAT THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS, UM, THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS DIFFER IN SOME SITUATIONS, THERE ARE 50 IN THE PLAN.

AND, AND TRISH, IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN, CERTAINLY LET ME KNOW.

UM, SO PART OF THE, I'M NOT SURE I CAN GET TO ALL OF THE SPECIFICS OF THAT, BUT BASICALLY, UM, THERE ARE OVERLAPPING REGULATIONS THAT, UM, THAT DO SUPERSEDE ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO AS TRISH MENTIONED, WE WOULD NEED TO, TO SORT OF CHANGE THE, UM, THE REGULATIONS SO THAT THE, THE REGULATIONS THAT SUIT THAT ARE, UM, MOST FINDING THAT MAY NOT BE QUITE THE RIGHT WORD, UM, WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

IT WASN'T OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS PART OF, UM, THE DIRECTION PROVIDED BY COUNCIL AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.

UM, SO THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE DIDN'T LOOK INTO THAT.

UM, IF COUNCIL WAS INTERESTED IN THAT, UM, IT WOULD, I THINK REQUIRE ADDITIONAL, UM, ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION AND AMENDMENTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSTED ON THURSDAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND PERHAPS, PERHAPS WE COULD DO THAT, UM, WHILE YOU ASK OTHER QUESTIONS, CAN'T HEAR YOU.

OH, THANK YOU.

I WAS JUST SAYING, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ARTICULATE MY QUESTION MORE CLEARLY.

SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION AND THINK THROUGH THAT A LITTLE MORE, MAYBE IF I SPEAK TO MY INTENT, UM, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SORT OF REVERSE ENGINEER IT AND GET TO THE RESPONSE.

BUT, UM, BUT MY NEXT QUESTION THOUGH IS, UM, IS WHAT IS THE PROPOSED HEIGHT LIMIT FOR BLOCKS 16? AND YES.

SO THE PROPOSED HEIGHT LIMIT FOR THOSE BLOCKS IS 60 FEET, UM, ON THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE BLOCK FACING 11TH STREET AND 40 FEET ON THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE BLOCK.

I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SAY THAT LAST PART AGAIN, IT'S 40 FEET ON THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE BLOCK FACING JUNIOR JUNIPER STREET AND 60 FEET FACING 11TH STREET.

SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR NOT MAXIMIZING THE ENTITLEMENTS ON THOSE TRACKS TO ENSURE PROJECT FLEXIBILITY, THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING POSSIBLE.

YEAH, SO BECAUSE THE NCCD WAVES, THE TRADITIONAL COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT APPLY CITYWIDE, THE HEIGHT WAS CALIBRATED, UM, TO MIMIC THOSE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WHILE STILL PROVIDING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY, I'M BAD AT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS BASED ON IF YOU SAY CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, THE NCCD WAVES, THE HEIGHT AND SETBACK PARTS OF THE CITY-WIDE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.

SO THEN HEIGHT WAS APPLIED, UM, BASED ON ADJACENCIES, UM, TO MIMIC THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, BUT THE ENTITLEMENTS

[03:50:01]

UM, THE NCCD ALSO HAS ITS OWN.

THE CURRENT INSTANCY D HAS ITS OWN COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.

UM, SO I WOULD HAVE TO MAYBE DIG INTO THE DETAILS AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THE SPECIFIC QUESTION.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE PERSON HAS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN THAT WE'VE POTENTIALLY LOWERED THE HEIGHT ON THOSE TRACKS.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE RATIONALE FOR DOING SO VERY CLEARLY.

UM, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, BEFORE I GO BACK TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE CHANGE WITH THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, UM, ON 12TH STREET, THE USE POLISH OR UNIVERSITY FACILITY IS PERMITTED ONLY ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF A BUILDING, AS OPPOSED TO NOT PERMITTING IT ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

BUT I, THIS SEEMS VERY ODDLY SPECIFIC TO ME.

AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT SPECIFICITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION.

SO MANY OF THE USES, UM, ARE THEY WANTED AN ACTIVE STREET FRONT.

SO IF IT WASN'T VIEWED AS AN ACTIVE PEDESTRIAN USE, IT'S ONLY, UH, PERMITTED ON THE SECOND FLOOR ALLOWING FOR RETAIL OR WHATEVER OTHER SERVICES ON THE MAIN FLOOR.

AND SO THAT APPLIES TO, UH, MANY USES.

UM, THEY'RE EITHER ONLY ALLOWED ON THE FIRST FLOOR ONLY ALLOWED ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

UM, SO THOSE CAN CERTAINLY BE REVIEWED, BUT THAT WAS THE INTENTION BEHIND THAT.

AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT REVIEW PROCESS PLEASE? OH, I JUST MEANT IF THERE, IF COUNCIL WANTED TO REVIEW ANY OF THOSE USES, THAT COULD PROVIDE US MORE DIRECTION ON FIRST READING.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF, IF ERIC, IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT MY, MY QUESTION WITH, UM, CHANGING THE PLAN, I DIDN'T QUITE, I WASN'T ABLE TO GLEAN WHAT, WHAT THE, WHAT PROCEDURALLY, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? STEP-BY-STEP WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? THAT'S WHAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ASK.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I THINK YOU LAID THAT WELL EARLIER.

SO, UM, SO TRISH TRISH CAN ADDRESS THAT.

UM, YEAH.

EARLIER HE STARTED TO RESPOND.

IT WAS A MAN'S VOICE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

SOMEBODY WHO SAID, MAYBE THEY SAID, I COULD ANSWER THAT, OR SOMEBODY ELSE CAN ANSWER THAT.

I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR HIM SPEAKING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY SAID.

I MEAN, I WAS REFERRING TO ERIC AND LEEK WAS, CAN TAKE THAT QUESTION.

OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND I'LL, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT TRISH HAS TO SAY.

MAYBE IT WILL HELP TO PATCH IT ALL TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING.

SO, UH, COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, THE COUNCIL COULD ADD AFFORDABILITY ON LOCKED OR THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AMENDMENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS WEEK, BECAUSE AN NCCD TODAY CAN UTILIZE AFFORDABILITY A LOT.

AND THE AMENDMENT THAT IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS TO ALIGN THE PLAN WITH THE NCCD.

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO BEYOND, UM, THAT, BUT WE WOULD, THE COUNCIL COULD ADD AFFORDABILITY A LOT TO THIS PARTICULAR MODIFICATION THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS WEEK.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU SAID THIS WEEK, SO THIS PROCESS COULD INCLUDE DIRECTION TO ADD AFFORDABILITY A MONTH, CORRECT.

ON THURSDAY COUNSEL ON FOR FIRST READING COULD INCLUDE AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED INTO THE URBAN RENEWAL.

I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE.

OF THE IRB AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND THEN I HAVE A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'M POP, SLAP THEM TOGETHER AND SEND THEM OVER TO YOU GUYS.

UH, YOU GUYS A GROUP, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

IS THE LIMITATION ON WHAT WE COULD DO THIS WEEK ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS ASKING IS THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE PLAN OR THE POSTING LANGUAGE IS JUST TO MAKE IT CONFORM TO THE NCCD.

THE POSTING LANGUAGE IS TO ALIGN THE PLAN AND THE NCC CDS.

AND SO IF COUNCIL WANTED TO HAVE A SEPARATE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, JUST FOR THIS PARTICULAR PLAN AREA, WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK AND GET THE RECOMMENDATION

[03:55:01]

SO WE COULDN'T JUST CHANGE THE POSTING LANGUAGE FOR A SECOND OF THIRD RATING.

LET ME, LET ME THINK THROUGH THAT AND SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK.

BUT THE CONCERN I WOULD HAVE IF WE CREATED SOMETHING NEW FOR THIS PARTICULAR PLAN AREA IS WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, COUNSEL COULD ON FIRST READING, ADD IN AFFORDABILITY ON LOT TO THE PLAN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IT, BUT IF YOU COULD CHECK THAT POST LANGUAGE QUESTION, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

COLLEAGUES, COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION REPERTOIRE.

THANKS FOR POLI.

GET, UH, KATHY, DID YOU OUGHT TO DO 13 HERE? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK MIGHT TAKE A LONG TIME? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

IS THIS OUR LAST ITEM OF THE DAY MAYOR? YES.

SO I PULLED THIS SIGN ON BECAUSE THAT'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

IT, IT APPEARS WE DID A SIMILAR ONE FOR THE SAME FILM LAST YEAR, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD CONVERSATION AROUND IT.

AND IT'S, I NEED SOME HELP UNDERSTANDING, UM, SOME OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE'RE USING.

SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WOULD, WOULD GIVE $213,910 TO A WALKER, TEXAS RANGER SERIES UNDER THE CREATIVE CONTENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT.

AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE DONE A LOT OF.

UM, AND I NEED TO ASK STAFF A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS, INCLUDING, UM, AS I LOOK OVER THE REQUIREMENT GUIDELINES, IT LOOKS AS IF THEY MAY, THEY MAY DATE BACK TO 2014.

UM, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE REFERENCES WITHIN THERE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2014, AND THIS BECOMES RELEVANT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

ONE IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO, TO REVISIT SOME OF OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND DETERMINE WHETHER THIS USE OF GENERAL FUNDS IS STILL THE RIGHT PRIORITY.

UM, TOO, BECAUSE AS I LOOK AT IT, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND SOME OF THE GUIDELINES THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO MEET ARE OUTDATED IN TERMS OF OUR WAGE REQUIREMENTS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE FILM AND TELEVISION PROJECTS NEED TO BE NEED TO PAY AT LEAST UNION WAGES, WHICH I ASSUME THIS PARTICULAR, UM, AWARDEE FITS THAT, THAT, UH, PIECE OF IT, VIDEO GAME AND VISUAL EFFECTS PROJECTS ONLY NEED TO PAY OUR WORK PAY WORKERS $11 AN HOUR, WHICH IS OUT OF STEP WITH OUR CURRENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO STAFF, UM, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND EITHER, UH, IN THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION OR THROUGH THE Q AND A WHAT OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN OF MAKING AWARDS UNDER THE CREATIVE CONTENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT, IS THIS STILL A PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE USING, UM, FOR OUR REALLY SCARCE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS? AND IF SO, WHY? AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF OUR INCENTIVES, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE, UM, MEETING THE, BUT FOR REQUIREMENTS.

SO IS THIS, IS THIS, UM, IS THIS A PROGRAM THAT WOULDN'T BE FILMED IN AUSTIN IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT $213,910 OF INCENTIVE? SO I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF HAVE COMMENTS THEY WANT TO MAKE NOW OR, OR IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEM IN THE Q AND A, I ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHETHER IT TALKS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WAGES THAT WOULD BE SPENT IN THE FIVE COUNTY MSA AREA, BUT IN LOOKING OVER THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, THEY TALK ABOUT A LOCAL SPEND ABOUT, UM, THE CREATIVE INCENTIVE NEEDS TO BE A PERCENTAGE IS CAPPED AT A PARTICULAR PERCENTAGE FOR A LOCAL SPEND.

AND I, OF COURSE THE FIVE, FIVE COUNTY MSA IS LOCAL, BUT IN TERMS OF OUR DOLLARS, I WOULD REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOCAL SPEND IS IN TERMS OF CITY OF AUSTIN WAGES OR WAGES TO CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS, SAN MARIN COUNCIL.

WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF THAT IS LOGGING IN.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT A CHIEF ECONOMIC RECOVERY OFFICER, VERONICA PER SEND YOU ON THE LINE AS WELL AS OTHER STAFF THAT ARE JOINING GOOD AFTERNOON.

COUNCIL BRONCO, BREE TSUNEO, CHIEF ECONOMIC RECOVERY OFFICER.

AND I WILL HAVE STAFF JOINING ME SHORTLY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

UM, BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER TO ASK, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT OVERALL THE, UH, NEED FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

[04:00:01]

TOOLS, THE CREATIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, WE CONSIDER IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A WAY TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THE, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY, A WAY TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY, UH, IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROJECT, THE WALKER, UH, PROGRAMMING, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS FILMED IN AUSTIN AND WAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE, UH, FILMING IN AUSTIN IN REGARDS TO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY HAVING STUFF, UH, LOG ON IN REGARDS TO THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT THROUGH THE Q AND A, IF THAT'S HELPFUL, UM, AS WELL AS TO THE SPECIFICS ON THE SPEND IN THE AUSTIN, UH, AUSTIN, PROPER HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THOSE ANSWERS IN QA.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER KINDS OF, UM, ARTISTIC PRODUCTIONS HAVE RECEIVED THE CREATIVE CONTENT.

UM, IS IT JUST FILM? I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, SUPPORTING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, UM, HAVE OUR, HAVE OUR INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS IN THE PAST FOR CREATIVE CONTENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS, UM, HELP SUBSIDIZE ANYTHING OTHER THAN FILMS. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVEN'T, AS YOU ANSWERED THE HISTORY ONE.

UM, OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THEN HOW ABOUT THE, BUT FOR REQUIREMENT, IS THIS, IS THIS A FILM THAT WILL NOT GO FORWARD? UM, ABSENT DISINCENTIVE CAN, YOU'VE GOT PERFECT TIMING.

KYLE JUST JOINED US.

SO THEN I ASKED KYLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTIONS WAS QUICKLY, UM, THE POLICIES THAT I WAS ACTIVELY TRYING TO JOIN THE WEBEX MEETINGS.

SO IF ARE THERE, UM, YOU CAN REPEAT A QUESTION OR COUNCIL MEMBER TO PROVO.

UM, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION? SURE.

UM, YEAH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF IT.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY GIVEN THE TIME I WILL NEED TO FOLLOW UP IN Q AND A, BUT THE, THE QUESTION I HAD JUST ASKED IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT OUR INCENTIVES PROGRAMS, UM, BUT THAT INCENTIVES SHOULD BE OFFERED IF THEY MEET THE, BUT FOR REQUIREMENT.

SO IS THIS, IS THIS A FILM THAT WOULD NOT BE MOVING FORWARD, BUT FOR THIS CREATIVE CONTENT INCENTIVE THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING? UM, SO JUST WANNA INTRODUCE YOURSELF, KYLE BRAND AND PROGRAM MANAGER WITHIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH I PRODUCTIONS AND CVS, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT FOR THIS INCENTIVE, UH, ADDITIONALLY, UH, BUT FOR THIS INCENTIVE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE THE WAGES THAT ARE BEING PAID TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AS EXPRESSED IN THE COMPANY'S APPLICATION.

AND IT'S ABOUT A 26 MILLION.

SO THE $213,214,000 THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THIS 20, ALMOST $26 MILLION PROJECT IS CRITICAL TO IT HAPPENING.

UH, WE WILL.

SO ADDITIONALLY, THE AMOUNT THAT WE REIMBURSING TO THE COMPANY IS AN ESTIMATE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THE CITY IS SEEING AS A RESULT OF A BAD SPEND HERE LOCALLY.

SO, UH, BASED ON AN ANALYSIS, UM, , UH, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE RECEIVING TOTAL OF $260,000 INDIRECT REVENUE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT.

SO WE'RE REIMBURSING, OR SHE NEEDS THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE AS A RESULT OF THE COMPANY CHOOSING TO COMMIT TO THE CITY AND THE PROGRAM OVERALL.

UM, I WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT ANALYSIS, UM, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE ANSWERS TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, IN PARTICULAR, I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW IT IS.

THERE ARE OTHER, UH, CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, UM, IN TERMS OF APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS FILM COMMISSION FOR FILM INCENTIVES AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, TO, UM, ASK THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT WAGES, WAGE REQUIREMENTS, AND WHETHER, WHETHER THIS IS JUST AN OLD DRAFT FROM 2014, OR IF AN AND THOSE WAGE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED, OR IF, IF THE RAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM JUST HAVEN'T KEPT PACE WITH OUR OTHER WAGE REQUIREMENTS.

LET'S GET BACK TO YOU WITH A RESPONSE ON THAT.