Sep 30, 2021 City Council Meetings

THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WITH US HERE TODAY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS PAUL SALDANIA.

I'M A PROUD NATIVE FOURTH GENERATION AUSTINITE.

I'M A PROUD MEXICAN AMERICAN, A PROUD CHICANO, PROUD.

PROUD, LATINO, YOU NAME IT.

UH, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN LATINO COALITION, UH, WITH US TODAY, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE

[00:05:01]

MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN LATINO COALITION, THE DEL VALLEY COMMUNITY COALITION, UH, ABRA, THE U S HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, THE LATINO HEALTHCARE FORUM, LULAC LARISA ROUND TABLE BILL.

THEN CHINGONA PASS LOS VALDEZ.

LATINITAS ACADEMIC HISPANIC VOTERS COUNT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK NETWORK OF TEXAS AUSTIN CHAPTER.

THE YOUNG HISPANIC PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION OF BOSTON, THE ABA YOU BOUGHT THE ACTION FUND GLENN MI MADRE, SOMOS, AUSTIN, HISPANIC IMPACT BOND, THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION, THE AUSTIN LATINO X LEADERSHIP LAB AND LA POLITICA.

AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT I HAVE MISSED, BUT I'M PROUD THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE.

AS THE COUNCIL WOMAN SAID, UH, EACH YEAR AMERICANS OBSERVE NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER 15TH, TO OCTOBER 15TH, BY CELEBRATING OUR RICH CULTURAL HISTORIES, OUR CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WHOSE ANCESTORS COME FROM MEXICO, FROM SPAIN, FROM THE CARIBBEAN, FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

YOU NAME IT.

WE COME FROM THERE, SIMPLY PUT, WE'RE NOT A MONOLITH.

LATINOS COME IN MANY SHADES.

AND OUR DIVERSITY SIMPLY ADDS TO THE BIBLE ANCY ABOUT EVEN HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THIS OBSERVATION ACTUALLY STARTED BACK IN 1968 IF HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEK UNDER PRESIDENT LBJ.

AND THEN IT WAS EXPANDED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN IN 1988 TO COVER A 30 DAY PERIOD STARTING ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AND ENDING OCTOBER 15TH.

THE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 15TH IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES LIKE COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS NICARAGUA, AND IN ADDITION, AND MAKE ONE IN SHEILA, WE CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE STATE ON THE SSAS AND THE SEA AUTO RESPECTABLY.

ALSO THE OTHER LARISSA NOT COLUMBUS DAY, WHICH IS OCTOBER 12TH FALLS WITHIN THIS 30 DAY PERIOD, AMERICA AND AUSTIN GOT ITS FIRST LOOK AT THE 2020 CENSUS DATA WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND WE HAVE SHOWN A PICTURE OF A NATION AND A CITY THAT IS GROWING MORE AND MORE DIVERSE LATINOS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE U S POPULATION GROWTH.

HALF OF THE POPULATION GROWTH IN TEXAS AND 20% OF THE GROWTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, HISPANIC WORKERS ARE THE ENGINE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG AMERICAN MEN AGED 16 TO 60.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL WORKFORCE BY 36%.

AND WE ARE JOB CREATORS.

WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EIGHT OUT OF THE 10 NEW BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THANKS TO THE LATINAS, LATINOS THAT ARE SOME THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.

THANK YOU LATINAS MORE OVER SOME 19 MILLION OF US QUALIFY AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HISPANICS ARE NOT JUST BUSY PRODUCING.

WE'RE BUSY CONSUMING TO DRIVING THE MAJORITY OF GROWTH IN INDUSTRIES FROM CARS TO VIDEO GAMES.

OUR POPULATION HAS A PURCHASING POWER NOW OF 2.3 TRILLION, NOT BILLION TRILLION WITH A T THAT'S AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN THE GDP OF BRAZIL, CANADA, AND RUSSIA.

BUT WHILE WE ARE INCREASINGLY DRIVING BOATING AND BUYER PATTERNS IN AMERICA, WE ARE STILL CRIMINALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN POSITIONS OF POWER IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.

LATINOS ONLY HOLD A GRAND TOTAL OF 3% OF THOSE SEATS ARE LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND POLITICAL OPPOSITES ALSO DISCONCERTING WHEN COMPARED WITH OUR IMPACTS IN ELECTIONS OF, OF ALL 535 SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ONLY 8% ARE LATINO.

WIDEN THE LENS.

THE PICTURE IS EVEN MORE GRIM.

LATINOS ONLY REPRESENT ABOUT 1% OF LOCAL AND FEDERAL OFFICES ACROSS AMERICA.

YET WE'RE RAPIDLY GROWING AS A SHARE OF THE ELECTORATE.

IN FACT, EVERY 30 SECONDS, LATINO TURNS 18 AND BECOMES AN ELIGIBLE VOTER.

AND HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WE REPRESENT 32 AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, WHICH MEANS WE ARE 313,000 STRONG.

AND IN TRAVIS COUNTY WE REPRESENT 34%.

THAT MEANS WE ARE 429,000 STRONG, APPROXIMATELY 220 LATINOS.

220,000 LATINOS ARE CONSIDERED CITIZEN AND VOTING ELIGIBLE VOTERS.

AND ABOUT 1100, 1000 1100 ARE ACTUALLY REGISTERED VOTERS AS A COUNTRY.

AND OUR CITY GETS INCREASINGLY MORE DIVERSE AND AS MUCH NEEDED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE CONTINUES, LATINOS TO NEED TO BE PART OF AMERICA AND OUR CITY'S CONVERSATION ON RACE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMERICA, AND AUSTIN'S FUTURE IT'S LATINO IS LATINO AND IT STARTS AND IT'S TIME TO START TREATING US.

LIKE WE MATTER THE STORIES ABOUT LATINO HISTORY EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE HAVE POSITIVELY, POSITIVELY INFLUENCED AUSTIN IS INSPIRING.

THE VERY FIRST CENSUS WAS TAKEN IN AUSTIN 146 YEARS AGO AND GET THROUGH THE FIRST TWO NAMES ON THAT CENSUS, WHERE IT WAS A COUPLE OF NAMES, JOSE AND LIZZIE LOPEZ.

AND IN

[00:10:01]

18 75, 297, MEXICAN AMERICANS LIVE ALONG THE SHORES WHERE THE SEAHOLM POWER PLANT USED TO BE.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC AS COUNCILWOMAN OH, WENT AS ALLUDED TO THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF HOW OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DECIMATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND HERE IN AUSTIN, AS OF THIS WEEK, WE'VE LOST 1,095 AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, LATINOS UNFORTUNATELY REPRESENT 50% OF THOSE DEATHS.

THAT MEANS THAT WE'VE LOST 548 LATINOS FROM THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY.

IF WE TRULY WANT TO HONOR THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF LATINOS, THEN WE MUST SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW TO GET VACCINATED, TO PROTECT, TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE, UH, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN'S LATINO COALITION MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM WHO ARE HERE TODAY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS PANDEMIC AND FOR OVER 76 WEEKS.

NOW, WE HAVE PROVIDED CULTURALLY RELEVANT, BILINGUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION, INFORMATION, RESOURCES, SUPPORT, INCLUDING COVID TESTING, FOOD, WATER, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FLU SHOTS, AND VACCINATIONS TO OVER 73,000 FAMILIARS HERE IN AUSTIN AND COUNTING.

FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA , WHO HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE DAY ONE.

WE VALUE AND APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP, HER ADVOCACY, HER VOICE, HER REPRESENTATION ON THE COUNCIL DIAS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS, NOT JUST FOR LATINOS, BUT FOR ALL AUSTINITES WE ADMIRE YOUR PERSISTENCE, YOUR TENACITY, AND EXTREME, EXTREME, PROUD OF YOUR MOTTO.

GOOD ASK.

I WANT TO HAVE JILL SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.

YOU ALSO, DO YOU WANT TO MEET US? I AM THE CEO OF THE LATINO HEALTHCARE FORUM, BUT I'M ALSO A VERY PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN LATINO COALITION.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL.

IT JUST FULFILLS MY HEART TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY.

I AM NOT GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL, WOMAN APPRENTICE I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED AND, AND PAUL, BUT, UH, WE ARE A FAMILY SOMEONE'S GOING TO FAMILIAR.

AND SOMETIMES WOMEN, I GET ALONG A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE AND WE WILL CONTINUE BEING TOGETHER.

AND SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE OF THE WORK I DO, I DID NOTICE THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT US DID NOT SUPPORT IT.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WE DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD BE SUPPORTING US ACTUALLY CAME OVER AND DID MORE THAN THEY HAD TO SUPPORT US.

AND SO WE MET NEW PEOPLE, NEW SUPPORTERS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU CONTINUE DOING THE WORK YOU DO.

I MEAN EVERYBODY, ALL OF YOU GUYS, I SEE YOUR FACES.

AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU, AND I KNOW EVERY MORNING YOU GET UP THINKING OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BETTER FOR OUR LATINO POPULATION.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND EVERY HE HAS COVID WAS HORRIBLE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER WISH ON ANY OTHER POPULATION, BUT IT GAVE US, IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND THINK OF NEW WAYS OF DOING, UH, ADDRESSING OUR ISSUES.

AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR GATHERING AND SUPPORTING PAUL.

I MEAN, I WORK CLOSELY WITH PAUL AND Y'ALL HAVE NO IDEA OTHER WORK.

HE DOES THIS MAN NEVER SLEEPS.

I MEAN, I TALKED TO HIM AT 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AND HE'S UP AT FOUR OR FIVE IN THE MORNING.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT DRIVES HIM? WHAT DRIVES HIM IS THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

AND THANK YOU, VANESSA, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS.

AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

I FELT, I FELT TOO TO THINK WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, OF COURSE, THE FIRST ONE WHO STEPPED UP WAS COUNCIL MEMBER AND HIS OFFICE, THE VERY FIRST MEETING, HE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE COMPLAINING, BUT HE WAS THERE AND OFFERED US RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.

HE WAS THERE.

AND THEN AMONG THE PERS, WHO ALSO HELPED US WITH COUNCIL, WOMAN, ALISON ALTER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND SHE, WITHOUT HER OFFICE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE INITIAL PPE SUPPLIES.

AND IT WAS A COUNSELOR ALTER AND HER STAFF WHO STARTED THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

I HEAR WE HAVE SOME CAFE RIGHT OUTSIDE, AND IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A GROUP PHOTO OUTSIDE IN THE ATRIUM AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD MORNING.

OH, WE WANT TO TAKE ONE.

WE FORGOT TO WEAR IT.

AND WE'LL BE DROPPED ON RESOLUTIONS THAT MEXICO DONATED THIS VERY LAME, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA DO THE GROUP PHOTO WITH A BUNDLE IN THE CUP OF SOUP ON THE STAIRS.

WE'LL SPLIT UP AND GET PEOPLE INTO

[00:15:32]

GLORIA.

GOOD THING.

WE NEED PONDEROSA BEFORE.

OH, GOOD.

SO YOU IN THE ROOM DRESSED, YOU'RE THE FURTHEST TO THE LEFT HERE.

SO WE THEN Y'ALL COME ON, SQUEEZE IN A COUPLE OF Y'ALL SNEAKED INTO MY EMPANADAS.

I SAW THEM PUT THEM AWAY.

LET ME SAY 1, 2, 3 SMILE.

AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE ME, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE YOU IN THE PICTURE AND YOU ON THE END.

YOU'RE NOT YET.

NO, WE DO IT ON THE STAIRS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER ONE OUTSIDE ON THE STAIRS.

Y'ALL ONE MORE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, GREG FACADE.

LESSON LEARNED.

WE DO THIS IN THE CHAMBER.

NO, I'M GOOD TO GO IF YOU WANT ME TO GO.

[2. Proclamation – Code Month – To be presented by Council Member Casar and to be accepted by José G. Roig, Director of the Austin Code Department]

UH, AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY TO, UH, WHERE WE AT HAVE SO MANY FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THE FRONT LINES, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WE'RE AS THE AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FOR THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS, LIVING IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING ZONING, HOUSING, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, AND OTHER CODES AND ORDINANCES.

AND WHEREAS OUR STAFF AT AUSTIN CODE ARE DEDICATED WELL-TRAINED AND HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE CITY'S OUTCOMES OF BEING SAFE IN OUR HOME AND OUR WORK AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS OUR CODE OFFICERS RESPOND AND PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 38,000 CITYWIDE CODE CASES PER YEAR, AND PERFORMING OVER 75,000 INSPECTIONS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR IT.

AND WHEREAS AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON PREVENTION, THE AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT AIMS TO PROACTIVELY EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZE AND ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO KEEP US SAFE.

NOW, THEREFORE I, GREG GUS ODD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, MY COLLEAGUES DO PRESENT THIS MONTH, OCTOBER, 2021 AS CODE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THANK YOU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE AND, UH, SPEAK OUR APPRECIATION ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS RECOGNITION FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, CASAR, THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR DEDICATING OCTOBER AS CODE MONTH, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, OUR CODE INSPECTORS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR WORK AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DEPLOYING TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO INSPECT PROPERTIES, HOMES, AND BUSINESSES TO HELP ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, WHATEVER THE FUTURE MAY BRING.

WE'D AUSTIN CODE CODED, DEDICATED TO ENSURING SAFE PLACES TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

AND SO ON BAFFIN CODE DEPARTMENT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A MORE RESILIENT AUSTIN.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I'M GOING TO READ IN THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

[Call to Order]

THAT'S CONVENED.

TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021.

[00:20:02]

AND KNOW YOUR EYES.

DON'T DECEIVE YOU.

I AM MAYOR PRO TEM TO TAJ HARBOR MADISON MAYOR OUT THERE WILL BE JOINING US INTERMITTENTLY TODAY.

UM, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT HIS CAMERA WILL BE OFF MOST OF THE DAY AND I'LL BE CHAIRING THE MEETING TODAY.

THE TIME IS 10:14 AM.

WE ARE HERE IN CITY HALL AND ONE OF US VIRTUALLY, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT COLLEAGUES.

[Additional Item 1]

THERE'VE BEEN A FEW CHANGES.

MY HOPE IS THAT THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ITERATION.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CALL UP SPEAKERS AFTER THAT.

WE'LL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN KNOCK OUT HASN'T, UM, US AND HOUSING FINANCE ITEMS, AND THEN THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS OR AS MANY NON-CONSENT ITEMS RATHER THAT WE CAN BEFORE CITIZENS CAN USE COMMUNICATION AT NOON WE'LL THEN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF ITEMS RELATED TO TODAY'S AGENDA, BUT WE'LL GIVE IT A LITTLE ADDITIONAL TIME.

MY THOUGHT WAS, IF WE ALL HAVE, UH, A FEW MINUTES TO GRAB SOME FOOD AND, AND HEAD TO OUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES, WE COULD GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF, UM, I'M SORRY.

SO FOR EVERYONE TO GET THERE, UM, MY APOLOGIES, WELL THEN COME BACK AT TWO TO DO ZONING AND DEPENDING ON WHAT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS REMAIN, WE'LL EITHER GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AFTER ZONING OR WE'LL TAKE UP THE REST OF THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UH, AND WITH THAT, I WILL READ THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.

IN THE RECORD.

ITEM TWO IS RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON A SIX ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS AND GURY BRENNAMAN DAVIS AND SMITH ABSENT WITH ONE VACANCY ON THAT COMMISSION.

ITEM THREE IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON A FIVE TO ONE VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS AND GURY BRENNAMAN DAVIS AND SMITH ABSENT AND ONE VACANCY, UM, ITEM 22 HAS BEEN CORRECTED, UM, STRIKING THE WORD RENTERS, AND THEN ITEM 27, 27 41 AND ONE 20 HAD BEEN POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ACTUALLY NUMBER 27.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE POSTPONED THAT ITEM TO 10 21.

SO WE'LL MAKE THAT CHANGE.

THE OTHERS, THE 14TH ITEM NUMBER 27, THE 10 21 ITEM NUMBER 41 IS POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 73 HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO SEPTEMBER 30TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2022 COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN ELLIS.

THE MAYOR MYSELF HAVE BEEN ADDED AS CO-SPONSORS TO ITEM.

NUMBER ONE, 10 COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAS BEEN REMOVED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 11, AND THEN WE HAVE LATE BACKUP FOR SEVERAL ITEMS. IF THE RATE OF SPEED IS TOO FAST, LET ME KNOW WE HAVE LATE BACKUP ITEMS FOR NUMBER FOUR, FIVE TWENTY SEVEN FIFTY FOUR SEVENTY THREE, ONE OH ONE OH FOUR ONE TEN ONE SEVENTEEN ONE EIGHTEEN ONE THIRTY FOUR, ONE FORTY THREE, ONE FORTY SEVEN, ONE FORTY EIGHT, ONE FORTY NINE AND 1 51 MAYOR PRO TEM.

I NOTICED THAT ITEM ONE 20 IS POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 14.

DID YOU WANT TO READ THAT INTO, UM, THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS? YES.

AND THEN ALSO I THINK ITEM FOUR WAS PULLED TO BE HEARD AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS THERE ALSO A LAID BACK? ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN PULLED.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTRA WOULD YOU LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER FOUR? YES, I WOULD.

TO BE HEARD AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THEN ALSO ITEM 1:58 AM, PULL ITEM NUMBER 58.

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ON THE ITEMS PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA LIST.

SO I WAS JUST ASKING IF THAT WAS ONE THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED.

I'M SORRY, IF IT WAS ONE THAT I MENTIONED, I CAN'T HEAR YOU IS ITEM 1 58, PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA

[00:25:01]

I CAN LET YOU KNOW, IN ONE SECOND, MAYOR PRO TEM IT'S ON THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE IT ON THE LIST OF CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT I'M LOOKING AT.

SO MY APOLOGIES COLLEAGUES, THE LAST ONE THAT I HAVE ON THIS LIST OF CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS IS NUMBER ONE 20 MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A EARLIER VERSION BECAUSE ALSO FOR, UM, ONE 11 MYSELF COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAD SIGNED ON TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, LSA, ABORTION ACCESS.

I AM ONE OF 11 COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS COSAR MAYOR ADLER, MYSELF COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTAR COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE BEEN ADDED.

AND THEN THAT WAS THE ONE WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAD BEEN REMOVED.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UH, YES, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT FOR ITEM ONE 10, SO I WANT TO PULL IT, I THINK IT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE ARTHUR.

IT'S A MINOR AMENDMENT, BUT, UM, BUT I'M GOING TO PULL IT IN, POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN, AFTER I GET THAT DONE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE IT UP QUICKLY.

SO, SO ITEM FOR THE RECORD ITEM, NUMBER ONE, 10 HAS BEEN PULLED AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NUMBER FOUR, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT ONE 18.

I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY ARE CONDUCTED THEY'RE CONNECTED.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, AND I ALSO WANT TO BE SHOWN TO BE SUPPORTIVE AS SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED IN THE 1, 1, 1, 1 11.

AND LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER IDENTITY HAS BEEN ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, 11, ANY OTHER PULLED ITEMS? COLLEAGUES.

OH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEMS THREE.

THESE ARE RELATIVELY SHORT ONES ITEMS 3 83, 84 96.

AND THE, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY BEEN PULLED, UH, THE WATER FORWARD ITEMS AND THAT'S ITEM NUMBER, UH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER THREE.

THE WATER ITEM.

THANKS FOR THAT.

SORRY.

ONE 17 IS NOT ON CONSENT.

SO THE RECORD WILL SHOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE A PULL 3 83 84 AND 96.

ANY OTHER PULLED ITEMS? SCALIES.

SO, UM, I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I ALSO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS AN AMENDMENT ON THE MAYOR'S PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ITEM.

IF THAT'S NOT ALREADY BEEN FILLED AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING WHICH NUMBER IT IS.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE THAT NOW? 1 62.

AND SO ITEM NUMBER 1 62 HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AS WELL.

THAT'S YOUR SHOULD BE SHORT.

COULD WE JUST REVISIT THE ENTIRE FULL LIST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT OUR PAGES? ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE ONE, I THINK WE WERE MISSING WAS NUMBER 1 58, ACTUALLY.

NO, IT SAYS, OKAY, I'LL GO BACK THROUGH THE FULL LIST.

DID IT TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS, ITEM NUMBER TWO, ITEM NUMBER THREE, ITEM NUMBER 2227 IS POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 21ST 41 AND ONE 20 HAD BEEN POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 14.

73 HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

UM, ITEM NUMBER ONE 10.

IT JUST SHOWS THE ADDITIONAL, UM, CO-SPONSORS ITEM NUMBER ONE 11, UM, ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAS BEEN REMOVED AS A CO-SPONSOR LATE BACKUP ITEMS. ANYBODY NEED ME TO GO THROUGH THAT LIST AGAIN? ALL RIGHT.

SO JUST THE POLES.

I CAN'T HEAR.

SO THE POLLS ARE 2, 3, 4 22

[00:30:01]

NOW LET'S YEAH, PLEASE.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THAT LIST AGAIN.

IT'S YES.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE, JUST, JUST THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE PULLING FROM CONSENT TO THREE MAY I PUT TIM, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE LIST? I HAVE SO I, YES, BUT I, SO FOR THE RECORD I HAVE TWO AND THREE AS POLLED, 22 AS CORRECTED.

YES, THOSE ARE ALL ONCE YOU CAN'T READ YOUR WRITING.

1 10, 4, AND ONE 18 NUMBER 3 83, 84 AND 96.

SO TO GO THROUGH THE ONES THAT I HAVE AGAIN, I HAVE 4, 1 18, 3 83, 84 AT 96, AND 1, 1 10 WAS PULLED OFF AND WANTED.

THANK YOU WAS TOO COLD OR NOT.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS PART OF THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, BUT NOT HOLDING.

EVERYBODY FEEL CONFIDENT MOVING FORWARD.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 11 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND 11 REMOTE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT, I THINK THERE WERE SOME MORE THAT HAD BEEN CALLED.

I THINK THAT, UH, HADN'T 1 58 AND 1 62.

THE POLL WAS WHAT? 62 POLLS.

I THINK IT WAS MAYOR.

I, I HAVE, UM, 3, 4, 4 83, 3, 4 83, 84 96, 1 58 OR I'M SORRY, 84, 1 10, 1 58, 1 62 AND 96 AND ONE 18.

I'M SORRY IF WE COULD DO THEM CONSECUTIVELY.

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP.

ONE 18 IS NOT ON CONSENT.

AND IS, OR IS NOT COLD? NOT COLD, NOT, I THINK IT'S 3, 4 83, 84 96, 1 TO HIM, 1 58.

AND ONCE THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING

[Public Comments (Part 1 of 3)]

TO TAKE UP OUR SPEAKERS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 11 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND 11 REMOTE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.

EVERYONE WILL GET TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.

WE'LL HEAR THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.

AND THEN I REAMER REMOTE SPEAKERS.

OUR FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS LEAH BOGGIO.

OH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

THEN WE HAVE LARRY GRAHAM.

PAUL ROBBINS.

YOU'LL BE UP NEXT.

I'M SORRY, WHAT? YEAH.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND WAYS WE CAN HELP THE CITY ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

MAYOR PRO TEM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LARRY GRAHAM I'M WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE.

I ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS WORKING GROUP, ONE OF FIVE WORKING GROUPS THAT HELPED PUT TOGETHER THE REVISED AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, TEXAS GAS SERVICE IS ONE OF THE MAIN NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY WHILE MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY, RELIABILITY, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT AUSTINITES ENJOY.

WE PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THE CITY'S CLIMATE EFFORTS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, WE WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLAN IN 2015, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS IN THE PROCESS.

THE RESULT TODAY IS THAT THE WORK REPRESENTS A SHARED VISION NET ZERO GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE COMMEND THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, ESPECIALLY ZACH AND LUCHEA AND ALL THAT WORK TO BRING THIS PLAN, UH, TOGETHER TO YOU TODAY, TEXAS GAS SERVICE SUPPORTS THE DRAFT CLIMATE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND TO SHARE

[00:35:01]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMMUTE, CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO INCLUDE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THESE INITIATIVES GOING FORWARD.

WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO BRINGING FORTH SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT REDUCE AND OFFSET EMISSIONS.

WE APPLAUD THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOR ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. GRAHAM.

I WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING INVOLVED AND I'M OVER HERE.

I WANNA, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING INVOLVED IN THE PLAN AND THE COMMITMENT OF TEXAS GAS TO HELPING US TO ACHIEVE OUR ACCELERATED GOALS.

UM, WE VERY MUCH NEED YOU AND BUSINESS AT THE TABLE.

AND, UM, THIS PLAN IS A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US, UM, TO HELP US TO MEET THESE GOALS SO THAT WE HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN THAT HAS, UM, AIR WE CAN BREATHE.

UM, I WANT TO JUST, UM, RECOMMIT MYSELF TO WORKING WITH YOU AND TEXAS GAS TO ACHIEVE THE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS, UM, THROUGH THE, THE LEAKAGE, UM, CONTROLS AND THE RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS AND ALL THE OTHER MECHANISMS THAT WERE THERE.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TODAY, CAUSE I INTEND TO TAKE YOU UP ON IT AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE STEPS THAT THAT WE'VE STARTED.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY, THANKS TO MR. GRAHAM, BOTH FOR HIS PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP AND AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, BUT ALSO PROFESSIONALLY.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE GAS SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT COLLABORATION SO THAT WE CAN GET A REALLY GOOD IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE THESE ISSUES ARE SO, SO VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL RECOGNIZE THAT I'M HAPPY TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH Y'ALL.

I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE, I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE RECORD ITEM.

NUMBER THREE ON CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS SHOULD SAY NO RECOMMENDATION, NOT, NOT, NOT RECOMMENDATION, NO RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, AS THE MOTION FAILED ON A 5 0 1 VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS AND GORY BRENNAMAN DAVIS AND SMITH, ABSENT COMMISSIONER STONE ABSTAINING, AND ONE VACANCY.

TO SAY $1 AND 32 CENTS A YEAR ON FUEL.

AND WITH THAT, MR. ROBBINS, I BELIEVE YOU WERE UP NEXT.

AND AFTER MR. ROBINS, WE HAVE KRISTA GAYLE HOUSING, UH, BEF BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT CITIZENS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BE NOTICED AS TO HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE.

I PREPARED A THREE MINUTE SPEECH AND I'M NOW HAVING TO ADJUST IT ON THE FLY.

CAN YOU START MY TIME PLEASE? COUNCIL, PART OF THE RIDDLE OF SOLVING AUSTIN'S CLIMATE EMISSIONS IS WHAT TO ABOUT, OR WHAT TO DO WITH AUSTIN'S NATURAL GAS UTILITIES, THE CARBON EMISSIONS OF TEXAS GAS SERVICE.

THE MAIN PROVIDER IN AUSTIN ARE EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 20% OF THE EMISSIONS OF AUSTIN ENERGY.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S MUNICIPAL UTILITY PLANS TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE ITS CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2035 AND HAS ALREADY MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS.

TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS NO SUCH PLAN.

UH, THERE'S ALSO A CONFRONTATION WITH EQUITY, AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER WILL SPEND ABOUT $28 MILLION ON DISCOUNTS TO THE POOR TEXAS GAS SERVICE ABOUT $100,000.

SO I'M PROPOSING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION, A PRAGMATIC WAY TO FUND RENEWABLE GAS RESEARCH AND EQUITY FOR THE POOR IN A TIME OF INCREASING GAS, UTILITY COSTS AND CLIMATE EMERGENCIES, REPURPOSE EXISTING MISSPENT MONEY, TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS A QUESTIONABLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

CURRENTLY AS MUCH AS $1.9 MILLION IS BEING WASTED ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT SAVE MUCH ENERGY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE GAS COMPANIES REBATES FOR GLASS GAS CLOTHES DRYERS WILL PAY AS MUCH AS $325

[00:40:01]

THE PAYBACK CAN BE AS LONG AS 246 YEARS, LET'S TAKE THE MONEY FROM THIS AND OTHER SIMILARLY WORTHLESS PROGRAMS AND SPEND IT ON RESEARCH FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR.

WE COULD CREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO AUSTIN.

ENERGY'S CUSTOMER BENEFIT, CHARGE THIS REPURPOSING STRETCH.

I'M GOING TO READ MY LAST SENTENCE COUNCIL.

THE CONSERVATION ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE WILL BE UP FOR YOUR REVIEW IN NOVEMBER, AND I URGE YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS ALTERNATIVE.

THANK YOU MR. ROBBINS.

I, I, I, UM, I HIRED YOU TO GIVE A COPY OF YOUR COMMENTARY TO THE CLERK SO SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE TO ALL OF US AND WE GET TO READ THE FULL THREE MINUTE CONTENT, UH, ALONG WITH THE 400 OTHER EMAILS YOU GET A DAY, I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE THAT ONE.

UH, I WILL, I WILL EMAIL IT TO HER AND SHE CAN GET IT TO ALL OF YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

I THINK THE NEXT SPEAKER WAS KRISTA GILHAUSEN AND THEN ON-DECK AFTER KRISTIN IS MARY CASTLE.

I'M SORRY, YOUR NAME IS NOT KRISTEN.

IT IS KRISTA.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS KRISTA GILHAUSEN AND I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT STUDYING PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMUNITY REGIONAL PLANNING AT UT I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

UM, A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MOST RECENT IPC REPORT.

WE ARE NOT ON TRACK TO LIMIT WARMING TO A 1.5 OR EVEN TWO DEGREES CELSIUS.

IF IN THIS CENTURY, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HUMAN MADE GHG EMISSIONS HAVE DRIVEN UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED WARMING.

SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, WARMING WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNLESS WE DRASTICALLY REDUCE THESE NET GHG EMISSIONS.

HOWEVER, EVEN WITH DRASTIC REDUCTIONS, WE WILL STILL ALL FEEL THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND AT LEAST THE COMING DECADES AND IN OUR REGION, SPECIFICALLY DROUGHT AND FIRE WEATHER ALREADY INCREASING AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING WITH CONTINUED WARMING.

WE WILL ALSO SEE INCREASED EXTREME PARTICIPATION IN RIVER FLOODING, WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR AUSTIN.

UM, THE STRENGTH OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN COMES IF IT'S DIVERSITY OF SOLUTIONS WHILE, UM, FRAUGHT WITH SOME POLITICAL CHALLENGES, UM, I WOULD URGE THE CITY OF BOSTON TO STILL MOVE TOWARDS REWRITING ITS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY FOR THE PROVISION OF DENSITY WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE CLIMATE.

YOU KNOW, HOUSING TYPES LIKE DUPLEXES, ACCESSORY, DWELLING, UNITS, AND TOWNHOMES CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL.

ADDITIONALLY, TRANSPORTATION POLICIES LIKE PROJECT CONNECT CAN IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND BIKEABILITY AND IMPROVE CLIMATE'S AUSTIN'S CLIMATE BURDEN.

UM, THESE POLICIES INCREASE AUSTIN'S IS OUR ABILITY AS A CITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LIVABILITY, TOURISM, AND OTHER AMENITIES.

AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, AUSTIN SHOULD MOVE BEYOND THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FOOD SYSTEM PLAN.

BUT THIS PLAN DOES GO IN A GOOD DIRECTION WITH SOME POLICIES LIKE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING, INCENTIVIZING PLANT-BASED FOODS AND POLICIES DEDICATED TO LOWERING FOOD WASTE.

UM, WHAT'S MOST WHAT'S MOST WORTH MENTIONING AND IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE PLANT'S EMPHASIS ON EQUITY WHILE IT'S A LOT OF BOULDER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT WENT INTO INFORMING THIS PLAY ON THE POLICIES THEMSELVES ARE WHAT WILL IMPACT UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

THE MOST MARGINALIZED GROUPS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MOST EFFECTED BY THE LACK OF ACTION ON CLIMATE.

AND THAT'S TRUE FOR PAST AS WELL AND DUE TO STRUCTURAL RACISM AND AUSTIN'S PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORS HAVE INJURED, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, FOOD DESERTS, AND A LACK OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ACCESSIBLE PROXIMITY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT, OH, LET ME FINISH MY LAST SENTENCE.

UM, TAKING ACTION ON AUSTIN'S EQUITY PLAN IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND MAKING IMMENSE.

YOU'RE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

NEXT STEP.

I BELIEVE IT WAS MARY CASTLE.

AND THEN AFTER MARY CASTLE, WE HAVE RICHARD SUBTLE.

I DON'T SEE MR. SUTTLES RAFTER, MS. CASTLE.

WE HAVE HEATHER SIN.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES MORNING MAYOR ADLER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, UM, HARPER, MADISON, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS MARY ELIZABETH CASTLE AND I'M THE SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT TEXAS VALUES.

I AM ALSO AN AUSTIN RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE RESOLUTION AND AGENDA ITEM ONE 11 EVERY TIME THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION, THE CITY COUNCIL TRIES TO KNOWINGLY GO AGAINST THAT NEWLY PASSED LAW.

AND THIS RESOLUTION, EVEN AT MIDST, BY TALKING ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS, WHEN THE 2011 BUDGET CUTS OCCURRED, THE ACTIONS YOU TOOK IN THE 84TH SESSION WHEN AFTER HB TWO WAS PASSED AND NOT TO MENTION THE INFAMOUS FUNDING FOR ABORTION SERVICES, YOU APPROVED AFTER SB 22 HAS PASSED.

AND THE 2019 LEGISLATURE, I ASKED THE BOARD TO NOT PASS THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

FIRST, IT WILL LEAD DOWN A PATH TO ONCE AGAIN, VIOLATE SB 22 FROM THE 2019 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH CREATING LEGAL FUNDS TO HELP ASSIST

[00:45:01]

THOSE FIGHTING SBA.

ONCE AGAIN, UH, THAT WILL ULTIMATELY TO THE PROCUREMENT OF ABORTION.

IT IS STILL NOT SETTLED, WHETHER OR NOT THE FUNDS THAT THIS COUNCIL GIVES TO JANE'S DUE PROCESS IS EVEN LEGAL.

IT IS CURRENTLY BEING LITIGATED.

THE POINT IS, IS THAT AUSTIN RESIDENTS DON'T WANT TO SEE THEIR TAX DOLLARS BEING USED FOR LAWSUITS AND MORE BUREAUCRATIC JOB CREATION THAT IS SO FAR REMOVED FROM THE ISSUES OF DAY-TO-DAY AUSTINITES.

UH, SECONDLY, THE CITY COUNCIL IS CHOOSING TO PLAY POLITICS WITH LIVES, UH, BY SUPPORTING OPPOSITION TO SB EIGHT THOUSANDS OF PRE-BORN LIVES ARE AT RISK.

UM, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT POLITICAL POSTURING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OPPOSING ANY PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION.

AND IT'S NOT ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN AUSTIN, SUCH AS HOMELESS WOMEN ON THE STREET, FINDING HOUSING, HELPING YOUNG WOMEN AND MOTHERS FIND A CALLING OR PROFESSION, OR EVEN KEEPING THE AUSTIN CITY STREETS SAFE ENOUGH FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN TO WALK DOWN ON THE DAILY BASIS.

AND YOU MAY THINK THAT SBA DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS CERTAIN PEOPLE, BUT THINK ABOUT THE LIVES YOU'RE AFFECTING AS WELL WITH THAT, I WILL SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF AGENDA ITEM ONE 11.

THANK YOU, MS. CASTLE, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR COMING TODAY AND SPEAKING SO BOLDLY ABOUT SOMETHING I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I'VE SEEN YOU SPEAK BEFORE AND I REALLY APPRECIATED YOU COMING TODAY.

I BELIEVE NEXT STEP WAS HEATHER SIN.

AND AFTER HEATHER, WE HAVE EMILY LEBLANC AND THEN GABINO FERNANDEZ.

HELLO COUNCIL AND MS. FROM MY EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, I DIDN'T HAVE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS.

I DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT STATISTICALLY, I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF YOU UP HERE HAS BEEN MOLESTED OR IN DECENTLY ASSAULTED OR RAPED.

UM, WITHOUT STATISTICS, I KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO HAS, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN MIND.

UH, WHEN I SAY MY NAME'S HEATHER SIN, I'M HERE TO GIVE A VOICE TO THOUSANDS OF DISABLED WOMEN.

WHO'VE BEEN VICTIMS AND SOME SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE HERE.

UH, WITH ALL RESPECT, I THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER WITH 1 58 WITH THIS APPOINTMENT.

I THINK WE DESERVE BETTER.

UM, WE, THIS VERY BROKEN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED AND EVEN HARMED SO MANY OF US.

WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW, TO CREATE SOMETHING GREAT TO EFFECT PROFOUND CHANGE.

BUT THE ONLY OPTION WE'RE BEING GIVEN IS A 20 YEAR PRODUCT OF THAT BROKENNESS AND A PROMISE THAT HE'S DIFFERENT AND HE'S BETTER.

WHAT WE ARE DROWNING IN PROMISES AND PROMISE OF EVIDENCE, PROTOCOL, SURVIVOR PROTOCOL, VICTIM SERVICES, HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE, EVEN A CALL BACK FROM A COP, NONE ARE MANIFEST.

SO WHAT IF HE ISN'T BETTER? THAT'S THE SCARY PART.

I DON'T HAVE ANY RECOURSE.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RECOURSE.

YOU CAN'T FIRE HIM.

SO I'M HERE AS ONE OF THOUSANDS TO SAY THAT I HOPE YOU CAN DISSENT OR AT LEAST DELAY THIS UNTIL YOU FIND SOMEONE BETTER FOR US UNTIL YOU FIND SOMEONE BETTER FOR ME, WHO CAN HELP ME BECAUSE IN SEVEN YEARS I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY HELP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SO I NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER CORRECTION FOR THE RECORD.

UM, SO ON CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ITEM NUMBER 22, IT SAYS THE WORD RENTERS HAS BEEN STRICKEN, BUT AS STATED FOR ITEM 22, THE WORD RENTERS IS DELETED AND THE NEW WORD IS TENANTS.

SO TENANTS HAS BEEN ADDED IN IT'S PLACE.

EMILY LEBLANC.

I'VE COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST DECADE TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT, ASK YOUR SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT THOUSANDS OF SURVIVORS I'VE WORKED WITH AS A COUNSELOR, AS AN ADVOCATE, NONE OF WHOM HAVE FOUND JUSTICE HAVE STOOD BESIDE SURVIVORS, AS THEY'VE TOLD YOU THEIR STORIES.

WHAT I HAVEN'T EVER TOLD YOU IS THAT I TOO AM A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS, JUST DOING THE MATH I'D SUSPECT.

SOME OF YOU ARE TOO.

AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN A SURVIVOR TELLS YOU HER STORY, SHE DOES, SHE OPENS A PAINFUL WOUND AT A PERSONAL COST TO HERSELF, OUT OF SELFLESS AND GENEROUS HOPE, NOT FOR HER OWN, BUT FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S FUTURE, HOW YOU RESPOND MATTERS, MAKING GOOD ON YOUR PROMISES MATTERS.

YOU'VE LISTENED AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU'VE, YOU'VE VOTED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS.

AND STILL WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT IS THAT THE UNIT DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT'S, WHAT IT NEEDS.

AND SURVIVORS ARE FINDING, NOT JUST

[00:50:01]

JUSTICE.

TURNOVER IS HIGH.

MORALE IS LOW AND TRAINING IS INADEQUATE.

IN FACT, SURVIVORS ARE BEING TOLD BY PATROL OFFICERS THAT THEY CANNOT INVESTIGATE THEIR ASSAULTS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DEFUNDED.

THE CULTURE HAS NOT CHANGED BECAUSE FRANKLY IT HASN'T HAD TO, THE STATUS QUO HAS BEEN REWARDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND THE DECISION BEFORE YOU TODAY IS REALLY WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT.

AND ULTIMATELY HOW MANY WOMEN WILL BE RAPED, BEATEN, OR DIE.

AS A RESULT, THE SHINING LIGHT IN A BROKEN SYSTEM HAS BEEN VICTIM SERVICES.

THEY'RE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE BEST THEY REPRESENT CRIME VICTIMS, NOT JUST OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT ALL CRIME VICTIMS. AND THEY'VE BEEN THE VOICE OF CHANGE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AT GREAT COST TO THEMSELVES.

EXECUTIVE, YOU VOTED TO ELEVATE THE VOICE OF EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AS THE COMMUNITY AND EXPERTS ASKED YOU TO DO.

AND YET APD LEADERSHIP CHOSE TO IGNORE THAT DIRECTIVE.

DO VICTIMS DESERVE A VOICE IN A SYSTEM MEANT TO SERVE AND PROTECT THEM IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE SYSTEM FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS? MY ONLY REMAINING ASK IS THAT WE'D BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

LET US MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO REPORT CRIMES, KNOWING WE WON'T HAVE A VOICE ON THE SYSTEM IF WE DO.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT POLICY MAY LOOK LIKE IN THE LIVES OF VICTIMS, HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF VICTIMS OF ALL CRIMES TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK UP AND SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO I THINK ARE DOING THEIR BEST, BUT MAY NOT HAVE THAT EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU FOR TIME.

I HAVE, UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK COUNCILMEMBER ELSA.

THANK YOU, MS. LEBLANC, UM, FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THAT IS DIFFICULT.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN, TO KEEP US, UM, ACCOUNTABLE.

UM, EVEN YESTERDAY'S NEW YORK TIMES ON THE OPINION PAGE, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT REALLY CALLED OUT THE NEED.

UM, ONCE AGAIN, FOR LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL CHANGES TO ADDRESS OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM, UM, AUSTIN WAS CALLED OUT AS ONE OF THE CITIES THAT HAS BEEN SUED BY SURVIVORS FOR NOT STANDING UP TO, TO OUR VALUES.

UM, THAT'S NOT OKAY.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

UM, AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE DECISION BEFORE US TODAY IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE AND WILL SET THE TONE, UM, FOR, UM, HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE STUFF THAT WE SET IN MOTION WITH RESPECT TO SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE.

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, IF YOU COULD GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF CHALLENGES, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SURVIVORS, AND ADVOCATES ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AND HOW THEY CAN BE REMEDIED.

SURE.

THE, THE EXAMPLES THAT I'VE HEARD RECENTLY ARE, UM, AS I STATED BEFORE, SURVIVORS BEING TOLD, UM, BY PATROL OFFICERS THAT THEIR CRIMES WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DEFUNDED THAT LEAVES VICTIMS WITH NO RECOURSE, NO PROTECTION.

UM, IT MEANS THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CANNOT PROSECUTE THOSE CRIMES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED.

UM, AND WHO ARE WE SUPPOSED TO CALL IF NOT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? UM, I'VE HEARD FROM SURVIVORS, UM, HAVING DIFFICULTY FEELING AS THOUGH THERE ARE ROADBLOCKS PUT IN THE PLACE, UM, TO KEEP THEM FROM PROCEEDING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S BECOME HARDER FOR VICTIM SERVICES TO DO THEIR JOB.

UM, NEW LEGISLATION PASSED TO ALLOW SAFE ADVOCATES TO BE PRESENT WHEN DETECTIVES INTERVIEW VICTIMS. UM, I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM SAFE, HOW THAT IS GOING, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING VICTIM SERVICES HAS BEEN CUT OUT OF THAT EXPLANATION TO VICTIMS. THE VICTIMS WILL HAVE TO A DETECTIVE THAT THEY WANT TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE AN ADVOCATE PRESENT WITH THEM.

UM, VICTIMS. AREN'T GOING TO DO THAT.

THERE'S TOO BIG OF A POWER DIFFERENTIAL WITH THE DETECTIVE, AND THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS TO REPORT AND TO PROCEED THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

UM, WE KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A POLICY TO REPORT ANY SURVIVOR OR PERPETRATOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO HAS CHILDREN TO CPS, AND THAT CAUSES SOME OF THE GREATEST DISPROPORTIONALITY, UM, FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAN WE SEE ANYWHERE ELSE IN TEXAS.

UM, THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY COMMUNITY EXPERTS BY JUDGES TO CHANGE THAT POLICY, UM, TO ONLY REPORT IF THERE HAS BEEN A SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

UM, AND THAT POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S SITTING WITH THE EXECUTIVE STAFF WHERE AGAIN, VICTIM SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE A VOICE TO SPEAK TO HOW THAT POLICY AFFECTS VICTIMS. SO, UM, THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF WHY IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SURVIVORS VOICE AT THE TABLE.

UM, AND WHERE IT'S NOT THERE CURRENTLY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU MEAN? LIKE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO HAVE A SURVIVOR'S VOICE AT THE TABLE? SURE.

I THINK IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THE, THE MANAGER OF VICTIM SERVICES REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF, JUST LIKE, UM, AND TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH OTHER IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS, LIKE THE HEAD OF FORENSICS, LIKE THE HEAD OF EMPLOYEE WELLNESS, UM, LIKE THE HEAD OF HR AND LIKE THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS SO THAT AS THEY CONSIDER POLICY CHANGES, TRAINING CHANGES, WHAT THE ACADEMY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, ANY PROCEDURE OR PROTOCOL THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.

THERE'S SOMEONE

[00:55:01]

THIS IS WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SO, AND HOW WOULD THEY BE AT THAT TABLE BEING ELEVATED? AND THE MANAGER NEEDS TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF AND SHE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT IN ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS.

AND, UM, DO YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER THE CURRENT SWORN LEADERSHIP OVER SEX CRIMES AND VICTIMS SERVICES HAVE EXPERIENCED INVESTIGATING AND DEALING WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT PRIOR TO COMING TO THAT UNIT? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NO ONE IN THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND HAS ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT.

UM, WHAT COMMITMENTS DOES A CHIEF NEED TO GIVE IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WILL ACTUALLY PRIORITIZE SEXUAL ASSAULT, SURVIVORS AND RESPONSE? UM, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENTS ARE TOUGH BECAUSE AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, WE'RE KIND OF DROWNING IN COMMITMENTS AND PROMISES RIGHT NOW.

BUT, BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS IMMEDIATELY VICTIM SERVICES ELEVATED TO REPORT TO THE CHIEF AND TO BE PRESENT IN THOSE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS.

AS YOU ALL DIRECTED LAST YEAR, I WOULD LOVE FOR THERE TO BE AN IMMEDIATE, VERY PUBLIC, UM, DIRECTION TO PATROL OFFICERS, TO STOP TELLING THAT THEY CAN INVESTIGATE THESE CRIMES.

UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR THERE TO BE A VERY PUBLIC REQUEST FOR VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT TO YOU ALL.

UM, IF THAT'S HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IT SO THAT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND CAN ADDRESS IT, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO ADDRESS IT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SWORN OFFICERS COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SAFE AND OTHER COMMUNITY ADVOCATES THROUGH MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION AND PARTICIPATION IN, UM, COMMITTEES LIKE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE AND RESOURCE TEAM.

UM, AND TO HAVE REALLY HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, EVEN WHEN IT'S REALLY HARD, UM, AND TO PARTICIPATE, NOT JUST TO SHOW UP.

AND IF I, IF I MIGHT INDULGE IN ONE LAST QUESTION, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO BE OFF SOON YOURSELF.

UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AT SART? I KNOW THAT APD PREVIOUSLY LEFT START AND THEY'RE BACK.

HOW IS THAT WORKING FROM MY EXPERIENCE? UM, I LOVE THAT THERE ARE SWORN OFFICERS BACK IN THE ROOM, BUT THEY DON'T PARTICIPATE.

UM, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM WHEN THERE'S DATA SHARING.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM IN COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION.

UM, THEY MOSTLY DON'T SPEAK.

UM, WE WERE EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE, UM, THE SAKI TEAM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GRANTS OF APD ABOUT THE VICTIM NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL.

AND AS SOON AS IT STARTED TO BE PRESENTED, IT GOT PULLED BACK ON.

THE SWORN OFFICER SAID IT WASN'T READY.

UM, THERE WAS ONE SWORN OFFICER WHO I BELIEVE WAS FROM CHILD ABUSE, WHO, UM, HAS LOTS OF EXPERIENCE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS.

HE DID SPEAK, UM, AT THE MEETINGS HE CAME TO IN FACT, WAS, WAS GOING TO BE ELECTED INTO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SART AND WAS PULLED FROM THE START WITH NO EXPLANATION.

UM, SO, SO FAR THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING.

I'M REALLY GLAD THEY'RE THERE.

I HOPE THAT WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY PARTICIPATE, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

AND THE ACRONYM MEANS SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE AND RESPONSE TEAM.

THANK YOU, MR. BLANCA.

APPRECIATE SURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

I, I DO WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING REAL QUICK, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING CITY MANAGER THAT YOU AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS WERE GIVEN A COPY OF A MEMO FROM THE SART TEAM ON SEPTEMBER 21ST.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEND THAT TO COUNCIL PLEASE, SO THAT WE HAVE COPIES.

UM, WE'LL DO THANK YOU ALSO.

UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR SPRAY THERE, TALKING WITH US.

I THINK YOU HIGHLIGHTED SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT EVEN I WASN'T AWARE OF WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT TEAM.

ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS FROM THAT MEMO THAT I JUST ASKED TO BE SENT TO COUNSEL MENTIONED THAT OF OUR CHIEF CANDIDATES TO DID NOT RESPOND TO THE TEAM AND GIVE ANSWERS, BUT THAT ONE DID.

AND THEY STRESS THAT IF CHOSEN, THEY WOULD TO ELEVATE VICTIM SERVICES LEADERSHIP TO THE APD EXECUTIVE TEAM AND CREATE ADDITIONAL DIRECT REPORT ROLES, INCLUDING CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, THAT TO GET AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF LOCAL RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM.

AND NON-SYSTEM IN ORDER TO CRAFT DELIBERATE VICTIM CENTERED PROTOCOLS BY WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH STAKEHOLDERS, THAT SOUNDS ACCURATE IN WHAT YOU JUST SAID AS WELL.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THAT'S THE PROPER WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING THINGS WITH VICTIM SERVICES IN MY OPINION, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

SPEAKING TO US.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND ADVOCACY IN THIS AREA.

AND I, I HEAR WHAT YOU WERE RAISING AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO SAY, AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTO WILL ALTER, WILL

[01:00:01]

AS WILL OTHERS.

I INTEND TO, TO, UM, ASK THE, UM, UH, CHIEF CHECON, WHO HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US, UH, FOR THE CHIEF POSITION, UH, QUESTIONS TODAY RELATED TO, UH, HIS COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT.

SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, MISS LAVONNE COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASA.

UH, AND I APPRECIATE BOTH OF THE LAST SPEAKERS SPEAKING I'VE POSTED, UH, THE QUESTIONS I INTEND TO ASK ON THE, ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD.

THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL OF THE ITEMS RAISED BY, UH, THE LAST SPEAKERS AND POTENTIALLY SOME RAISED BY, BY FUTURE SPEAKERS, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THEM THERE AND WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THIS GROUND COVERED TODAY.

NEXT SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE, UH, GAVINO FERNANDEZ AND THEN AFTER GABINO JAB PAOLO CONLEY.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SCAVINO FERNANDEZ AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EL CONCILIO, MEXICAN AMERICAN LANDOWNERS OR EAST AUSTIN, AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF LULAC DISTRICT 12, A LITTLE LIKE DISTRICT 12, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, TOOK A VOTE IN SUPPORTING THE SELECTION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER, CRUNK OF JOSEPH SHAQUAN BEING OUR NEXT, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE.

I FOLLOWED THE WHOLE PROCESS OF PUBLIC PROCESS THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

MANY OF OUR MEMBERS DID AS WELL.

AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY ASKED THAT WE COME PUBLICLY AND ILLUSTRATE AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR, UH, CHUCK ON IS OUR NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE.

ANOTHER REASON THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN, UH, IN, UH, IN A COMMUNITY WHERE A POPULATION OF LATINOS IS VERY, VERY HIGH, IS THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE AT THE HELM THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY OF NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING, BECAUSE THAT IS VERY CRITICAL IN THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE, AS LACQUERS HAVE ALWAYS MET WITH THE CHIEFS HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN DOOR.

I'VE SURVEYED THEM MANNY, UH, IN REGARDS TO ISSUES.

WHEN WE BRING ISSUES TO THEIR, TO, TO THEIR ATTENTION, THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND DISCUSS AND BRING US TO THE TABLE TO DISCUSS HOW TO MITIGATE THE SHORTCOMINGS.

IF ANY, IN WHATEVER PROGRAMS WE ARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE CONCERNS, UH, VIA THE BIAS IN THIS ELECTION TO ME IS THAT I'M A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE.

AND I THINK THAT THE SELECTION OF, OF CHECK ON WILSON, A HIGH MORALE ISSUE, UH, ENVIRONMENT WITHIN OUR, THE WORKFORCE, SO THAT ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING BOOTS ON THE GROUND HAVE HOPE AND EXPECTATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY WILL FORESEEABLY SEE IN THE FUTURE.

AND TO KNOW THAT THIS CITY MANAGER RECOGNIZES EXPERIENCE AND VALUE IN THIS EMPLOYEES IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE CONTINUE TO ASK CHIEF SHAQUAN, OBVIOUSLY TO LOOK INTO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUE, LET'S REDESIGN IT, LET'S MAKE IT MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

AND ALSO FOR HIM TO CONTINUE THE PAL PROGRAM, THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE PROGRAM, WHICH IS RUN OUT OF PAN-AM AND MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO ECHO AND AMPLIFY OUR SUPPORT FOR CHIEF SHAQUAN AND CONGRATULATE YOU CITY MANAGER AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

WE NEED SOME KIND OF ANSWER TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO HOLD THE CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE.

THANK YOU, MR. FERNANDEZ, GEL PAOLO CONLEY, AND THEN MARY ARNOLD.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN.

UM, I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS. ACTUALLY, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITEM 162, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 158.

UM, SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE SUPPORT.

1 62 IS AN EXCELLENT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO EXPEDITE THE SITE PLAN AND PERMIT PROCESS, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS IS A GREAT PIECE, AND I DON'T NEED TO REMIND ANYONE HERE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS AGREED ON A GOAL OF HOUSING, AT LEAST 3000 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

IT'S NOT REALISTIC.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.

IF WE DON'T RADICALLY CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS AROUND SITE PLAN, PERMITTING PROCESS, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.

SO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THAT.

NOW, AS FAR AS ITEM 1 58 GOES, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL SHOULD APPROVE CHECON WITHOUT A SOLID EXIT STRATEGY.

WE WERE ENTERING A RELATIONSHIP WITH NO EXIT STRATEGY.

UM, SO THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT APPROVE CHECON WITHOUT A CLEAR PLAN FROM THE MANAGER ON HOW TO HANDLE THE ISSUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO F HOT TO FIRE AN INTERNAL HIRE OR ELSE.

WE NEED A REAL COMMITMENT ON THAT.

IN THAT REGARD,

[01:05:01]

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON A BOARD AND YOUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CAN NEVER BE FIRED.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TERRIBLE ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIP.

WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE ORDEAL OF BEING STUCK WITH MANLY.

UM, JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

UM, AND CHECON STOOD BESIDE MANLEY THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT HE WORKED AGAINST YOUR DECISIONS.

IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, IT'S THAT WE MUST HAVE AN EXIT PLAN FOR THIS KIND OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIP.

SO THOSE ARE MY TWO POINTS FOR TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT AN INTERNAL HIRE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE AGREEING ON TODAY IS GOING TO IS GOING TO LAST OVER FOR FUTURE POLITICAL FOR FUTURE LEADERSHIP.

FUTURE COUNCILS WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE TODAY.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU CHOOSE SOMEONE WHO CAN KEEP, WHO WE CAN KEEP ACCOUNTABLE AND WHO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MR. CALMLY COLLEAGUES, NO QUESTIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER.

MARY ARNOLD.

I APOLOGIES.

MAYOR ADLER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNTY JUST TWO YEARS AGO IN SEPTEMBER.

UH, A GROUP OF, UM, STATE AND CITY REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE SAFE HISTORIC NUNI DISTRICT, AND ALREADY THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EXPIRED.

AND WE'RE ASKING YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY OF THE TWO THAT WE HAVE SUGGESTED AND RECOMMENDED, UH, TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE SAFE HISTORIC MUNI DISTRICT.

UM, ANDREA MCWILLIAMS, UM, IS A MEMBER OF OUR BOARD WHOSE TERM IS EXPIRING.

ANDREA HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO US IN RAISING FUNDS, UM, AND ALSO, UM, PERSUADING THE LEGISLATURE TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE DISTRICT, UH, CAN EXIST, UH, FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

AND OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS DAVID PARKS, WHO IS A FILMMAKER PHOTOGRAPHER, DIRECTOR, LECTURER, AUTHOR, AND HE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GOLF COURSE.

HE IS THE SON OF GORDON PARKS, UM, A RATHER FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER IN HIS OWN, RIGHT.

AND, UH, DAVID IS A GOLFER AT MUNI AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DRIVE HIS CAR.

HE CAN JUST WALK ACROSS THE STREET.

UM, WE FEEL THAT BOTH OF THESE MEMBERS WOULD ADD A GREAT DEAL TO OUR, UM, BOARD AND WE THANK THE CITY COUNCIL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THEIR HELP WITH THE DISTRICT.

AND, UM, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN SURVIVE AND, UH, GET A DEAL WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO SAVE THE GOLF COURSE.

THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU MS. ARNOLD FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS AND ON MANY, MANY CITY ISSUES.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, I UNDERSTAND THAT JULIANA FROM SAFEST YEAR ON WAS NOT ABLE TO REGISTER CLERK.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME SORT OF GLITCH WITH THE REGISTERING OF WHAT WAS ONLINE.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE JUST HEARING THIS FROM A COUPLE FOLKS, UM, JUST FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, BUT JULIANA FROM JUST MAKE SURE, UM, JULIA, IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GET WITH THE CLERK.

SO SHE HAD YOUR NAME.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

WELL, THANK YOU.

THAT'S A NICE SURPRISE.

I'M JULIANA GONZALEZ.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SAFE ALLIANCE.

UM, WE'RE A CENTRAL TEXAS NONPROFIT.

WE DEAL WITH SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CHILD ABUSE.

UM, AND WE INTERACT WITH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT QUITE A BIT IN THE COURSE OF THAT MISSION.

UM, IN PARTICULAR, IN MY, IN MY WORLD, WE INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ELOISE HOUSE, WHICH IS WHERE WE DO FORENSIC NURSING EXAMS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN EXAM.

AND AS OF SEPTEMBER ONE, UM, A NEW LAW PUT IN PLACE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE, UM, AN ADVOCATE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION INTERVIEWS AS WELL.

UM, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM FUNCTIONS WELL FOR OUR SURVIVORS, UM, APD IS REALLY CRITICAL

[01:10:01]

TO OUR MISSION.

UM, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST HERE TODAY TO ASK AND REMIND YOU TO KEEP SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING, UM, THE CONFIRMATION OF A NEW CHIEF, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE TOP OF MIND GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS OVER THE LAST DECADE PLUS, UM, THE DNA LAB CASE CLEARANCE ISSUES, CONCERNS AND NEEDS AROUND TRAUMA INFORMED INVESTIGATIONS AND TRAINING FOR OFFICERS, UM, BREAKDOWNS IN OUR COMMUNITY TASK FORCES.

UM, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE MOVING TOGETHER TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE.

I THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE HERE.

UM, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS ARE PRIORITIZED IN THAT, IN THIS MOMENT.

UM, AND WE ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THE, THE PLEA FOR, UM, VICTIM SERVICES TO BE ELEVATED, UM, TO REPORT TO THE CHIEF AND TO BE PART OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONVERSATIONS.

UM, TOP OF MIND, EXAMPLE FOR ME, BECAUSE WE JUST HAD A LAW GO INTO PLACE, UM, IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE THESE, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH SURVIVORS, UM, AND HAD VICTIM SERVICES PART OF COORDINATING AND PLANNING THE POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS FOR THIS.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOING SMOOTHER RIGHT NOW.

UM, JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SENSE FOR HOW VICTIMS, UM, FUNCTION IN THE FIVE DAYS AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THE WEEKS FOLLOWING WHEN THE INVESTIGATION OCCURS.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TITLE COMMITMENT, CA COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, MY COMMENT IS ON A DIFFERENT ITEM THAN WHAT MS. GONZALEZ IS TALKING ABOUT SWELL DIFFERENT.

REMEMBER ALTERING THE OTHER TWO HANDS.

AND THEN I'LL COME BACK.

UM, MS. GONZALEZ FOR, FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND FOR COMING DOWN TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

UM, SO YOU MENTIONED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEW CHANGED THAT RECENTLY WENT INTO EFFECT AND TOWARDS THE END OF YOUR REMARKS, YOU STARTED TO ELABORATE.

CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HOW THAT IS GOING? UM, AND, AND WHAT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A NEW CHIEF FOR THERE TO BE CHANGE.

UM, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE SPECIFIC SINCE THIS HAS BEEN SO HARD FOR APD TO MAKE THESE CHANGES ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

YES, WE, WE ARE AWARE THAT SURVIVORS ARE REPORTING THAT, UM, AND, UM, SURVIVORS ARE ALSO, UM, HEARING COMMUNITY MESSAGING FROM, FROM THE NEWS THAT, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE TO INVESTIGATE SOME CRIMES THAT ARE DETERMINED TO BE LESS, LESS IMPORTANT OR LESS VIOLENT, LESS CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY ARE, UM, THEY, THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING FUNDING, RIGHT.

UM, SO IN BRIEF, THE LAW SAYS THAT AN ADVOCATE LIKE A SAFE ADVOCATE, UM, SHOULD BE OFFERED TO A SURVIVOR AT A LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW, UM, AN INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEW.

UM, AND, UH, WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW W WE HAD SOME GOOD MEETINGS TO PUT THAT INTO PLACE.

I THINK ABD IS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR SUPPORT IN THAT MOMENT, BUT A COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION HAS JUST BEEN DISASTROUS TO BE HONEST.

UM, SO WE'VE HAD, UM, SURVIVORS CALLING THE HOTLINE TO SCHEDULE THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS BECAUSE THE, UM, THE OFFICER TOLD THEM THAT THAT'S HOW THEY, HOW THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE HAD, UM, DETECTIVE DETECTIVES ASK OUR STAFF TO SCHEDULE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS.

UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THAT'S PRODUCTIVE FOR INVESTIGATION.

I'M, I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER.

UM, WE'VE HAD VERY LITTLE COMMUNICATION FROM THE TOP ABOUT, UM, THE MOU THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PLACE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

UM, WE'VE HAD CALLS TO OUR ADVOCATES, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE 24 7 ON CALL, SO WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

UM, BUT WE'VE HAD CALLS FOR OUR ADVOCATES TO REPORT TO THE SCENE, UM, TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS, WHICH, UM, CERTAINLY VICTIM SERVICES IS MORE EQUIPPED TO DO THAN WE ARE, UM, AND WOULD PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING THE OFFICERS ON SCENE AS WELL.

UM, SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE JUST KIND OF ROLLED OUT, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AS OF YESTERDAY, WHEN I CHECKED, WE HAD DONE, UM, FIVE ACCOMPANIMENTS OF W WE'D DONE ADVOCACY FOR FIVE PEOPLE DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

UM, ORDINARY FOR US IS TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE ONE OR TWO.

UM, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A MOVE ON THE PART OF THE DEPARTMENT TO TRY AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

UM, BUT, UM, YEAH, I, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE TO HAVE THE VICTIM SERVICES PERSONNEL ON SCENE, UM, COORDINATE THAT INTERVIEW WITH US AND THE SURVIVOR RATHER THAN HAVING THE, UH, DETECTIVE BE THE ONE WHO, UM, OFFERS AN ADVOCATE TO THE SURVIVOR.

THE SURVIVORS MAY BE LESS INCLINED TO ACCEPT THE OFFER OF AN ADVOCATE, UM, FROM A DETECTIVE RATHER THAN A VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELOR.

UM, ARE YOU AWARE OF REPORTS THAT, UM, THE DA HAS EMAILED APD LEADERSHIP TO SUGGEST THAT, UM, WITH CASE NUMBERS, FAMILY VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD BY APD THAT THEY WILL NOT, UM, BE INVESTIGATING THEIR CASES?

[01:15:02]

AND THERE'S NO LESS INVESTIGATORS MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE SEX CRIMES UNIT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO, THERE'S, THERE'S NO, UM, REASON FOR THIS, EXCEPT PERHAPS THAT 99% OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS HAPPEN AGAINST WOMEN.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR RESOURCES AND OUR ENERGY, UM, NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE VICTIMS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING TO SPEAK, AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE WITH THE CHIEF IS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT APD HAS A BETTER VICTIM CENTERED APPROACH, UM, IN THEIR ACTIVITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, A VICTIM CENTERED APPROACH IS NECESSARY BECAUSE VICTIMS ARE CRITICAL WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

UM, AND AS MUCH AS WE'VE TRIED, WE ARE STILL NOT GETTING THIS RIGHT.

UM, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, UM, THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS EVENING.

AND I WILL JUST INVITE YOU IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO BE KNOWING AND ASKING TO MAKE SURE ARE HAPPENING.

UM, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES LIKE MYSELF ARE COMMITTED, HAVE COMMITTED IN THE PAST, UM, TO ADDRESSING OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM AND BECOMING A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.

UM, BUT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

AND, AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICING, UM, VOICING THESE CONCERNS AND, AND HELPING US TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF WHAT'S BEFORE US WITH THIS DECISION.

ABOUT INCORRECT INFORMATION BEING SHARED.

OH, THANK YOU.

I JUST HAVE A BRIEF, VERY BRIEF QUESTION AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.

UM, AS A FORMER RAPE CRISIS COUNSELOR, UH, THROUGH WHAT WAS THE PREDECESSOR TO SAFE, UM, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO, UH, RESPONDING TO, TO VICTIMS. I HAVE A VERY QUICK QUESTION.

AND THEN THIS IS PROBABLY, I'M SURE IT'S A LONGER CONVERSATION, SO I DON'T WANT TO USE UP TOO MUCH TIME, BUT, BUT BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IT, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE IDEAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UM, BETWEEN THE FOLKS THAT, UH, PROVIDE, UH, SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE IN, IN COUNSELING AND SUPPORT THROUGH SAFE AND THE VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELORS AT APD? YEAH, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

WELL, YOU HAD MENTIONED, I GUESS I SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC.

UM, I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELORS ARE THE BEST ONES TO BE ON THE SCENE OR AFTER THE EVENT, OR RIGHT AFTER THE, AS OPPOSED TO THE, UH, SAFE COUNSELORS, BUT YEAH.

YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A, UM, IT, THE LINE OF DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE TWO ROLES IS THAT, UM, VICTIM SERVICES PERSONNEL WITHIN THE, WITHIN ABD ARE, UM, EXTREMELY WELL-EQUIPPED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, BEYOND SCENE THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE ACQUAINTED WITH, UH, DEPARTMENT PROTOCOLS.

THEY'RE, WELL-TRAINED, THEY, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING OFF PEACE OFFICERS IN A WAY THAT'S SAFE AND, UM, ADVOCATING FOR CLIENTS.

WELL SORT OF COMPLYING WITH THE PROTOCOLS AND LAWS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PART OF THEIR JOB.

UM, SAFE ADVOCATES ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES.

UM, SO WE ARE ADVOCATES, UM, ASIDE FROM, YOU KNOW, MANDATORY REPORTING OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

UM, WE'RE NOT UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO SHARE CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED INFORMATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANYONE ELSE.

UM, AND SO THAT PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE, UM, SURVIVORS SHARE MORE WITH US OFTEN THAT OFTEN THAT INFORMATION WILL BECOME BENEFICIAL TO, UM, THE INVESTIGATION.

RIGHT.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SHARE DURING A FORENSIC EXAM, UM, WILL BECOME PART OF THE ACCOUNT THAT WE HOPE ULTIMATELY GOES THROUGH INVESTIGATION AND, UM, PROSECUTION.

UM, BUT YEAH, THE SURVIVORS SURVIVORS FEEL SAFE WITH US BECAUSE WE HAVE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVILEGE.

AND SO WE'RE SORT OF UNIQUELY ABLE TO, UM, TO FIELD THOSE CONCERNS.

IT'S GONZALEZ, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OUT, AND THEN I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER POOH HAD SOMETHING PERTAINING ANOTHER ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING, MS. CAUSE HOLLIS, I THINK MY COLLEAGUES COVERED MOST OF IT, BUT IN THE LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT I POSTED, I DO EXPECT AND THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT ALSO FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS

[01:20:01]

UM, BECAUSE IN MULTIPLE OF THE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, I'VE HEARD FROM THE TOP LEADERSHIP AT APD, AS WELL AS THE TOP LEADERSHIP AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES THAT THEY CAN AND WILL INVESTIGATE THOSE CRIMES WHERE HARM HAS OCCURRED, BUT THAT INCORRECT INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS JUST IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HONEST INFORMATION AND THEN ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST AND DON'T HARM PUBLIC SAFETY WITH WHAT WE SHARE.

SO IF INDEED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE COUNTY CAN'T DO SOMETHING THAT IS FINE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE INSTANCES THAT YOU'VE SHARED AND OTHERS HAVE SHARED, WE HAVE NOT LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE OR HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR, FOR ACTS THAT THREATENED PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, SO THANK YOU AND TO EVERYBODY ELSE FOR RAISING THIS UP.

AND I DO INTEND FOR THAT TO BE A CONVERSATION WE HAVE HERE PUBLICLY WITH THE INTERIM CHIEF FRANKLIN.

IT IS NOT MY EXPERIENCE THAT, UM, APD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SUPPORT INVESTIGATIONS FOR OUR SURVIVORS.

IT IS MY EXPERIENCE THAT SURVIVORS HAVE BEEN TOLD OR HEARD THAT.

AND I SEE MAYOR ADLER THAT YOU POPPED UP.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. GONZALEZ AS WELL? I JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE AS COLLEAGUES HAVE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I GUESS I THINK THERE ARE, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT CIRCULATED THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND NOT DOING.

AND I HOPE THAT THE CHIEF IS PREPARED TO SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT, UH, OUR, OUR APD TAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE STEP TO ACTUALLY REASSURE THE PUBLIC AND VICTIMS, UH, THAT, UH, THE CAPACITY IS THERE TO PROVIDE THE INVESTIGATIONS.

UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE THAT BEFORE I THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

THANKS A LOT.

I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE COMMENTS THAT OUR FRIEND MARY ARNOLD MADE A LITTLE BIT AGO ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE AND THE ADVISORY GROUP THAT WAS CREATED AND, UH, TO TRY TO FIND A RESOLUTION ON THE MUNI ISSUE AND THE TWO NAMES THAT SHE RECOMMENDED, UM, BE APPOINTED FOR THE VACANCIES THAT WILL BE EITHER ARE PENDING OR WILL COME SOON.

AND I JUST WANTED TO CHECK WITH STAFF OR MAYBE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WHO'S BEEN LEADING ON THAT ISSUE, OR SOMEBODY DID TELL ME IF THAT IS AN ITEM OF ACTION THAT WE WILL HAVE COMING FORWARD, UM, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, OR MAYBE NEXT MONTH, IT'S ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, ITS AGENDA TODAY UNDER, UM, COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

THAT'S WHERE THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL BODY CONCERT IS NOT A SEPARATE ITEM.

IT'S JUST, UM, I THINK WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS REAPPOINTMENTS OR, OR, OR WAIVERS.

AND THEN WE HAVE INTERGOVERNMENT BOP, MENTAL BODY APPOINTMENTS.

I DON'T OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

KNOW WHAT NUMBER THAT IS, BUT IT'S THE NORMAL PLACE WHERE WE DO THAT.

AND IT'S ON THERE TODAY.

THAT IS GREAT.

THAT EXPLAINS WHY I WASN'T ABLE TO, TO CHASE IT DOWN, UM, SEPARATELY.

SO THANK YOU, MS. ARNOLD FOR COMING AND OFFERING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

AND IT'S PROBABLY ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

THANKS SO MUCH.

COLLEAGUES.

SO I BELIEVE WE'VE HEARD ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS CLERK.

CAN YOU CALL UP THE REMOTE SPEAKERS? SURE.

FIRST SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN.

IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW UP.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR FOR GOV GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS FOR THE HOUR SPENT ON CREATING THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

OUR POINTS AND QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME ARE ONE.

THERE WAS A GOAL TO ACHIEVE AT LEAST 50% CITY-WIDE TREE CANOPY COVER BY 2050, FOCUSING ON INCREASING CANOPY COVER EQUITABLY UNQUOTE.

WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE FULL OF ORNAMENTAL TREES, VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEIR CANOPIES NEED MAJOR ATTENTION TO BE VIABLE IN 10 TO 20 YEARS LIKE THE SPRINGS, WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS LACKING SUFFICIENT CANOPIES RESULTING IN THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, INCREASING THE NEED FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND COOLING SHELTERS AND PUTTING RESIDENTS AT RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES AND DEATHS LIKE THE RUNDBERG COMMUNITY TOO.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRESERVING AND BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE CORRIDORS.

PRESERVATION IS KEY AND STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS, WHICH 10,000 UNITS WE'LL GET THE STATE.

HOW WILL YOU DO IT? WILL THE CITY FINALLY BUY APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO KEEP THEM AFFORDABLE IN PERPETUITY? HOW WILL WE TAKE HOMES OFF THE MARKET POLICY IS REQUIRED AND ACTION STEPS MUST BE ASSIGNED.

NOW WE THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ULTRA FOR PROPOSING ITEM ONE 10.

AND THANKS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CO-SPONSORING PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTIONS AND A TIMELINE REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OTHER CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

WHEN ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES AND OTHER CLIMATE ISSUES AND FUNDING, WE URGE YOU TO REMEMBER AND MAKE USE OF THE EQUITY TOOLS.

EACH DEPARTMENT

[01:25:01]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD FROM GOALS INTO REALIZE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES AND, AND SOLELY AS A DISTRICT FOR RESIDENT, MANY THINGS TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WE'RE PROPOSING ITEM ONE 11, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CO-SPONSORING WATCHING THE POST-CONFERENCE YESTERDAY REMINDED ME OF JULY, 2013.

WHEN I WAS AT THE CAPITOL TESTIFYING AGAINST SENATE BILL ONE AND HOUSE BILL TWO, I FIND IT AMUSING AND ANNOYING WHEN COUNCIL IS ACCUSED OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH LIVES WHILE THE STATE LEGEND GOVERNOR HAS DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME.

THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE DECISIONS I AND OTHER WOMEN MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO MY BODY.

MY CHOICE.

STEVEN SCOTT SUPERIOR KING, JESSE OWENS, DANIEL ROADSHOW, MICHAEL CLARK.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR POST I'M CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS NELSON LINDER, PRESIDENT AUSTIN NAACP.

I WILL ADDRESS ITEM ONE TO FIVE IN DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE PANEL BY THE CITY MANAGER, I HAD A VERY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING.

WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT A LIST OF CANDIDATES THAT WERE VERY DIVERSE AND BETTER QUANTIFY AND MAKE ABOUT A DECISION AT THAT TIME.

THIS WAS CHICAGO WAS NOT EVEN IN THE RUNNING.

HE WAS STILL THE INTERIM CHIEF.

DO YOU WANT FROM MAYBE TO YES.

TO NOT AS NOT EVEN POLICE CHIEF, THAT THAT PROCESS IS NOT ONLY UNFAIR.

IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

WE TALKED TO A LOT OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AND WE DID CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU DOING THOSE ANALYSIS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH BETTER QUALIFIED TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK, BUT SOMEHOW THIS PROCESS, IT GOT CIRCUMVENTED.

AND SO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE MORE INVESTED MORE YOU THAN YOU.

YES, SIR.

CONVINCED THAT'S MY PRODUCT.

WELL, WE THOUGHT A NUMBERS AND FOLKS WHO WANT TO DO SPEECH COMMUNITY PANELS AND GAVE YOU THEIR, THEIR, THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

UH, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.

SO SOMEBODY CHANGED THE SCORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME AND THE EMPIRES THAT INVOLVED.

THAT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE CITY.

IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME PROCESS BECAUSE TIME IS SHORT.

I'M GOING TO TELL US ABOUT CALLING A ROLE THAT I'VE WORKED FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

CHEVON BROWN MAKES SENSE.

THERE'S JUNIOR DEVIN.

CONTRARES BYRON CARTER, JR.

I MEET BRADLEY ZARI, DEJECTION MARGIN, BLACKEN, LONDON, NOBLES, QUENCHES, GRIFFIN.

THOSE ARE MOSTLY BLACK PEOPLE.

SOME HISPANICS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS CITY, NOTHING.

IT, SOME COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

AS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT FOLKS WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE THESE PEOPLE WERE PRIMARILY WHITE PEOPLE, CITY COUNCIL, LET'S BE CLEAR.

YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION HERE, NOT REGARDS TO THE FOLKS WHO REALLY EXPERIENCE AND KNOW POLICE SO THAT IT SEEMS TO ME, IT'S VERY PROBLEMATICALLY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WHO KNOW THE CENTURY OF TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY RIGHT AND FAIR IN GELS.

SO YOUR DECISIONS ARE CERTAINLY BUILDING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO EXPRESS POLICING, WHO KNOW POLICING, WHO PART OF THE SOLUTION, I THINK IS A BAD ACTORS INTO RESPECT TO WHETHER THE PEOPLE AND NOT NOMINATE, NOT SELECT THE CON AT THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IS UNFAIR PROCESS AND WE'LL POST IT.

ONLY BY PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD, TAKING ACTION TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE.

BOB HENDRIX, MAYOR ADLER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I'M BOB HENDRICKS, CHAIR OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.

THE CURRENT CLIMATE EMERGENCY CONTINUES TO WORSEN WITH DISRUPTION OF THE POLAR VORTEX LEADING TO WINTER STORM URI INTENSE HURRICANES.

SINCE SHE HAS IDA UNPRECEDENTED HEAT WAVES IN THE NORTHWEST WILDFIRES OUT OF CONTROL, WIDESPREAD FLOODING, LARGE AREAS OF TROUT, AND SO MUCH MORE CLIMATE CHANGE CREATES WIDESPREAD SUFFERING, NOT ONLY IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS YEAR, A CLUB THAT STRONGLY URGES YOU TO VOTE FOR THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

WE COMMEND THE PROCESS WHICH PRIORITIZED FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR CONCERNS AND CRAFTING THE PLAN.

WE ARE PROUD THAT THE PLAN IS CENTERED IN EQUITY AND DESIGN FOR REAL ACTION TO ACHIEVE THE AMBITIOUS GOALS OF NET.

AND SHE WROTE DIRECT CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2040 FOR ALL OF AUSTIN.

THIS PLAN IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT KEEPS AUSTIN IN THE FOREFRONT OF CITIES WILLING TO DO THEIR PART, TO FIGHT OUR CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

I AM ANXIOUS TO SHARE THIS PLAN WITH OTHER ACTIVISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS A MODEL FOR BOTH CONTENT AND PROCESS IN CRAFTING A CLIMATE PLAN.

HOWEVER, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT PASSING THIS PLAN IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP I URGE YOU NOT ONLY TO PASS THIS PLAN TO ENSURE THAT CITY STAFF IMPLEMENTS IT, GIVING THEM THE PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES TO DO SO

[01:30:01]

CAN WE ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL HAVE A LIVABLE PLANET IN THE FUTURE? THANK YOU, JANICE BOOKOUT.

THE TIME, UM, IN, IN THAT IS LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES COLORS, WHICH ALREADY EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS AND ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

UH, FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND THANKS TO THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY THEY'RE OPERATIONALIZING OF THEIR ANTI-RACIST TRAINING AND IN PARTICULAR, THE LEADERSHIP OF PAULINE RENDEN.

SO THANK YOU THAT SAID I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS RELATED TO SPENDING ON PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS THAT ARE EXPERT AND EXPERTS IN THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS.

THEY'RE DEVELOPING A JOINT STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES AND A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THEM.

THE GROUP IS CALLED THE UNHOUSED NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO MEET WITH YOU AND BE, UM, AND WILL BE SUPPORTED AND COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TIME.

UH, THANK YOU, CRT, OUR SCENARIO, URBAN LEAGUE, TEXAS APPLESEED, AND AJC FOR YOUR SUPPORT SORT OF EFFORT.

UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, DON'T PRETEND TO REPRESENT ALL FOLKS IN THEIR SITUATION, BUT THEY CAN PROVIDE UNIQUE INSIGHTS.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY.

AND INSTEAD I'LL QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHITLEY, UM, DIGA GATTO WHO PREPARED SOMETHING FOR ME TO INCLUDE.

SHE ASKS THAT YOU TEMPORARY AND TEMPORARILY HALT ALL PROCEEDINGS THAT IMPACT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, OR PHYSICALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

AND SHE WRITES, AND I QUOTE UNTIL YOU'VE WALKED EVEN JUST ONE DAY IN MY SHOES, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DECIDE WHAT MY BEST INTERESTS COULD POSSIBLY BE AND MAKING DECISIONS ON FUNDING AND POLICY THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THE LIVES THAT QUALITY OF LIFE TO THOUSANDS IS FRANKLY, UNJUST AND INHUMANE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FROM ITS OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SHE CONTINUES.

WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORCED TO SUFFER TRAUMAS, LOSS, ADDITIONAL SUFFERING, AND MARGINALIZATION OF OUR PEOPLE AND INCREASES IN HATE CRIMES DUE TO DECISIONS MADE FOR, AND ONLY DIRECTING DIRECTLY IMPACTING US BY THE COUNCIL BY THIS COUNCIL.

I URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE MOVING FORWARD ON SUCH IMPACTFUL DECISIONS FROM MY COMMUNITY UNTIL WE CAN FIRST SPEAK ON OUR OWN BEHALF FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

YOU'VE ALREADY MADE MY COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS VISIBLE WITH THE DEATH TOLL, RISING AND NEARLY NO ONE COMING TO ACTUALLY HELP.

THIS IS NOW A CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I SINCERELY FEAR THE TRAJECTORY THE LONGER THIS TRAJECTORY, THE LONGER WE ARE UNHEARD.

AND THOSE ARE WORDS OF, UM, AGAIN, WHITLEY, UH, JADA, UM, WHO PREPARED THAT STATEMENT THAT I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL, UH, YOU CAN CONTACT ME AND WE'LL SET THAT UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUSANA.

THIS IS THE SINAI I'M MONICA, AND I'M SPEAKING ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO BE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS CLIMATE PLAN IS A VERY HISTORICAL, UH, CLIMATE PLAN BECAUSE IT'S CENTERED EQUITY AT THE VERY FOREFRONT.

AND I WANT TO, UH, THINK, UM, ZACH BRANDNER BECAUSE HE HAS SOME FANTASTIC STAFF, PEOPLE OF COLOR, CELINE AND DAWN AND BBDO METAL WHO LED, UM, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THIS A CLIMATE PLAN, HISTORIC BASED RESIZE, HAVING EQUITY AT THE FOREFRONT IS THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ACKNOWLEDGING AND RESPECTING THE HISTORY OF THE LAND AND JUST PEOPLE REINFORCING THIS KINSHIP RATHER THAN ERASING IT FOR THE CONIZATION.

IF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ALSO AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT INDIGENOUS HISTORY THAT ARE SO OFTEN FORGOTTEN IN SILENCE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD ALMOST A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR SITTING AT THE TABLE.

SO THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT THIS CLIMATE PLAN IS VERY A HISTORICAL ONE BECAUSE WE CANNOT STOP CLIMATE CHANGE WITHOUT ADDRESSING EQUITY AND CREEP.

AND WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT RACIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CENTERING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OUR RESPONSES.

AND SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT, UH, THE STEERING COMMITTEE CREATED THE EQUITY, THE EQUITY TOOLS, WHICH WE LOOK FORWARD FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENT USING AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT, INCENTIVES, TARGETING COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS, UH, ACTIVITIES AS A PORT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND FOCUSING ON JUST TRANSITION IN OUR ECONOMY, TRAINING AND JOBS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PRIOR TALKING HEALTH BENEFITS, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHO HAD BEEN IMPACTED, UH, BY

[01:35:01]

SO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE LESS ABLE AND OTHERS, OTHERS ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

UH, SO WE SAID I SUPPORT, BUT IT SUPPORTS THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

THANK YOU, DAVID FOSTER.

MAYOR.

PUT TIM HARPER, MADISON MAYOR, HEATHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DAVID POSTURE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CLEAN WATER ACTION IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 17 ON, ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY, UH, THIS ITEM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE AND IMPLEMENTING THE RECLAIMED AND DISTRIBUTED WATER FEATURES OF AUSTIN'S APPROVED 100 YEAR WATER SUPPLY PLAN KNOWN AS WATER FORWARD.

UH, ITEM ONE 17 WILL FREE THESE FEATURES FROM THE STALLED REWRITE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH REMAINS MIRED IN A LEGAL BATTLE WHOSE POINTS OF CONTENTION HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WATER FORWARD.

UH, THE RECLAIMED AND DISTRIBUTED WATER FEATURES ARE AMONG THE MOST VISIONARY AND FARSIGHTED FEATURES OF THE WATER PORT PLAN.

THEY WILL REQUIRE ALL LARGE NEW DEVELOPMENTS OF 250,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE TO BE DUAL PLUMBED SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE EITHER OF THE CITY'S RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM.

THAT IS WATER.

THAT'S A WASTEWATER THAT'S TREATED TO NON-POTABLE STANDARDS PIPE BACK OUT INTO THE CITY OR PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE PURPLE PIPES OR, UM, CAPTURE WATER THAT IS PRODUCED ONSITE, SUCH AS AC CONDENSATE, RAINWATER TREATED GRAY AND BLACK WATER, AND USE THESE WATER STREAMS INSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT TO MEET NON-POTABLE NEEDS LIKE TOILET FLUSHING IRRIGATION.

UH, THERE ISN'T UP THERE AS AN INCREASED UPFRONT COST, UH, AND, AND BY, BY HAVING TO BUILD TWO SYSTEMS, THE PIPELINE FOR POTABLE AND ONE FOR NON-POTABLE, BUT THIS COST, WELL, I BELIEVE, UH, BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF POTABLE WATER THE PEOPLE LIVING IN OR USING THESE BUILDINGS WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE.

I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND THIS WILL ACTUALLY HELP OUR AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES, NOT, NOT HURT THEM.

NOT ONLY WILL IT SAVE PEOPLE MONEY WHO ARE USING OUR LIVING INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT BECAUSE THIS WILL REDUCE THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF WATER THAT ARE, WHY DON'T YOU TELL THAT HE NEEDS TO PROCURE TREATS POTABLE STANDARDS AND DISTRIBUTE.

I SHOULD ADD A CAPTURING STORMWATER AND USING IT ONSITE 10 RAIN WATER HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF MITIGATING LOCALIZED FLOODING AND REDUCE IT, REDUCING POLLUTED WATERWAY, UH, RATHER RUNOFF.

WE JUST INCLUDED RUNOFF INTO OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS.

THE ONLY QUIBBLE I HAVE IS THAT, UH, THE RECLAIMED WATER PIECE, UH, THE, UH, WHAT WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL DECEMBER 20, 23, ALONG WITH THE REST OF IT, BUT AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AND AS POSTED REALLY NO MORE THAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THIS WOULD HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT DECEMBER, DECEMBER, 2021.

SO I, YOU TO SUPPORT PLAN.

MA'AM YES.

MA'AM COUNCIL MEMBER TEVA.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. FOSTER.

ARE YOU STILL ON THE LINE, MR. FOSTER? ARE WE ABLE TO GET THAT SPEAKER BACK? YES.

MR. FOSTER, UM, I THINK YOU WERE GETTING TO THIS JUST AS YOUR TIME EXPIRED.

UH, SO IT WAS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE PIECES HAVING BEEN SO VERY, VERY LONG IN PROCESS, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT SOON BECAUSE WE NEED THEM SOON.

AND SO, AS YOU WERE JUST WRAPPING UP YOUR COMMENTS, I BELIEVE YOU WERE SAYING THAT AS ORIGINALLY POSTED, THEY WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT IN 2021.

THE REVISED BACKUP HAS, OR NOT THE REVISED BACKUP, THE BACKUP FOR TODAY'S HAS SOME CONTEMPLATED TO TAKE EFFECT IN 2023.

AND I WONDERED IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE TIMEFRAME AND WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT'S NECESSARY TO DELAY THIS IMPLEMENTATION FOR TWO YEARS AND GENERALLY WHAT THE IMPACT IS OR WOULD BE OF ACTING ON THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY CONCEPTUALIZED.

WELL, NOT EVEN ORIGINALLY, I MEAN, IT'S, WE'RE ALREADY YEARS DELAYED.

UM, BUT IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE TIME, TIME ELEMENT, PLEASE.

OF, UH, ONE OF THE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE DUAL PUMP.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

UH, ORIGINALLY ACTUALLY THAT IS AUSTIN WATER UTILITY A FEW YEARS AGO WAS CONTEMPLATING NOT HAVING THESE GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE 23RD, BUT THANKS TO THE GOOD WORK BY MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE AND OTHERS, INCLUDING I THINK CLEAN WATER ACTION.

WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THAT UP.

UH, DECEMBER, 2023 WAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA THAT IS, UH, RECENTLY WHEN WATER FLOORED WAS APPROVED FOR THE, UM, ONSITE WATER PIECES.

AND, AND THAT'S OKAY, WE CAN, I CAN LIVE WITH THAT, BUT IT'S THE RECLAIM PORTION RIGHT NOW UNDER CODE A NEW DEVELOPMENT OF 250,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE, THAT IS BEEN 250 LINEAR FEET OF ONE OF THE CITY'S RECLAIMED WATER LINES TODAY NOW, UH, HAS TO BE TO UPLAND AND HOOK UP TO THAT LINE.

UH, THIS WOULD, UM, EXTEND THAT TO 500 LINEAR FEET.

SO MORE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN 500 LINEAR FEET OF,

[01:40:01]

SO THAT PART OF IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT THIS DECEMBER, DECEMBER, 2021, FOR REASONS I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, POSTPONES OUT TILL DECEMBER, 2023.

SO, UM, 2023 I THINK IS OKAY FOR THE ONSITE PIECES OF IT.

BUT IF THERE IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD RATHER DO THE RECLAIM PIECE THIS YEAR AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

AND SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

SO IT DOES.

BUT I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE DIOCESE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, YES.

AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO FOR THAT QUESTION AND THANK YOU.

UM, MR. FOSTER, SO IT'S, WELL, WE CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST ONE, ONE PORTION OF THE PROPOSED, UM, UM, ORDINANCE THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ITEM TWO, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, THAT RELATES TO, UM, THE RECLAIMED PORTION.

SO, UM, SO I THINK AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SAID, I THINK WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, WHEN THIS ITEM COMES UP, SO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GREAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU CHANGE THAT.

BEFORE WE LOSE THIS COLOR, WHERE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT I THINK I SAW AN EMAIL THAT MR. FOSTER, UH, MAY NOT BE IN THAT POSITION MUCH LONGER, AND I WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK AND APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND DIDN'T WANT TO LET THIS MOMENT GO BY WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

MY PLAN IS TO RETIRE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT WON'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE LAST OF ME.

YOU JUST DON'T HEAR FROM ME.

IT'S CLEAN WATER ACTION GUY.

GOOD.

I KNOW THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHERE PEOPLE EITHER RETIRE OR TRY TO RETIRE AND WE STILL SEE THEM AND WE LOVE IT.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES CLERK.

I THINK IT'S SAFE FOR US TO GO TO THE NEXT CALLER.

JOEL LEVINE.

HELLO? CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JOEL LEVINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE 16.

UH, I AM THE OWNER AND DEVELOPER OF 1514 WEST KANICK LANE.

AND, UH, CURRENTLY I OWN A LAW FIRM SERVING THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THAT OFTEN ACROSS THE STREET AT 1515 CANADA GLADE.

UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TO RESOLVE ALL CONCERNS REGARDING THIS PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT.

UH, THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS WILL NOT CHANGE THE FLOOD PLAIN, AND THERE'LL BE AN OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE'RE PLAYING TO ELEVATE THE BUILDING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, UH, THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE STARING AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO ADDRESS ALL CONCERNS.

UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

SO THANK YOU ALL SPEAKERS AND FOLKS WHO SHOWED UP IN PERSON FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING COLLEAGUES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THE CASSETTE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO

[Consent Agenda]

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THIS IS NOT IN THE ORDER I NEEDED TO BE.

UH, OH, AND BY THE WAY, COUNCIL MEMBER TEBOW YOUR AMENDMENT TO 1 0 8 HAS BEEN, UH, RECEIVED AN ISF IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

SO I BELIEVE WE CAN KEEP THAT ITEM ON CONSENT.

SO CURRENTLY I HAVE ON THE AGENDA ITEMS, ONE THROUGH ONE 11, EXCLUDING 3, 4 83, 84 96, AND ONE 10, WHICH HAS BEEN, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED.

AND THEN ITEM 1 56, 1 57 AND 1 59 THROUGH 61.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I HAVE A QUESTION AT KATZ BARBER KITCHEN, THE 1 56 THROUGH 1 52 OR STAYING ON CONSENT.

RIGHT.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? I JUST GAINED 1, 1 56 TO 1 62 ARE STAYING ON CONSENT, CORRECT? 1 56, 1 57, BUT THEN 1 58 WAS PULLED.

AND SO THEN 1 59 THROUGH 1 61 0 1 62.

MAYOR PRO TEM I COUNCIL MEMBER.

WE NEED TO JUST SPEND A MINUTE THERE.

UM, I HAD PULLED, I BELIEVE 1 58 AND 1 62 ARE BOTH PULLED OF THAT PIECE OF THE AGENDA.

[01:45:01]

AND DO I UNDERSTAND AMATEUR, UH, THAT'S RUBBER, TOVO YOUR AMENDMENT ON 1 62? UH, WAS THAT TO ADD SIGNIFICANT THE WORD SIGNIFICANT MAYOR? I, THAT IS ONE OF THE CHANGES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT, UM, NOT, NOT A LONG TIME.

THAT'S THE THRUST OF MY AMENDMENT, BUT I REALLY NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE FOR THIS BECAUSE SIGNIFICANT EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OF SIGNIFICANT, IT'S STILL VERY VAGUE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT, UM, WHAT THE INTENTION IS THERE IN TERMS OF, AND GOT PROBLEM.

I THINK WE'LL BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND I JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT, BUT TALKING ABOUT THE CONCERNS I THINK WE'LL BE HELD AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO RESOLVE IT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN HERE AND WHEN IT COMES UP.

IT'S NOT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ALIGNED.

I JUST, WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HAMMER OUT A SOLUTION THERE, I THINK.

SOUNDS GOOD.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THE, THE ONE ITEM THAT WAS INCORRECT WAS THAT ALSO ITEM NUMBER 1 62 WAS POOLED.

SO I'LL GO THROUGH ALL THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, IF IT'S HELPFUL.

UM, ONE THROUGH ONE 11, EXCLUDING 3, 4 83, 84 96, AND, UH, ONE 10 AND THEN ITEMS 1 56, 1 57, 1 59 THROUGH 1 61, BECAUSE 1 62 HAS BEEN PULLED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'M NOT SURE YOU GOT THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT? SORRY.

PRETEND I THINK, I THINK WHAT'S THROWING.

I THINK WHAT'S MAYBE GENERATING SOME CONFUSION IS THAT YOU ARE, YOU'RE SAYING VISA AROUND CONSENT EXCEPT FOR THE EXCLUSIONS.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE AGENDA, I THINK YOU'RE, I THINK YOU MAY BE JUST EXPRESSING IT DIFFERENTLY.

HOW CAN I ARTICULATE IT IN A WAY THAT'S EASIER FOR EVERYBODY TO FOLLOW TO WHERE IT'S EFFECTIVE AND THOROUGH? WE TAKE IT UP.

COULD WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA? I THINK, I THINK YOU WERE SAYING THAT EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA FROM 1 58 ON IS ON CONSENT, 1 56 ON IS ON CONSENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1 58 AND 1 62.

NOW, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

I THINK IT WAS CANCELED MEMBER ELLIS.

THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND COUNCIL.

COOL.

22 23, 25, 28, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 53 55 62 64 65 67 68 99, 101 0 6 1 0 8 AND ONE 11.

I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD CLERK PLEASE, TO REFLECT NO'S ON 23 DIFFERENT ITEMS HERE.

I WILL READ THEM AS SLOW AS I CAN.

THANK YOU, CLARK.

DID YOU GET ALL THAT? YES, BUT JUST ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION ITEM TOO.

I HAD ON MY LIST IS NO, BUT I DIDN'T GIVE YOU READ.

THAT IS CORRECT.

I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO OFFER SOME BRIEF REMARKS ABOUT ITEM NUMBER ONE, 11, WHICH IS THE ABORTION ACCESS RESOLUTION.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE SHOWN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO THIS EFFORT AND THANKS TO CO-SPONSORS MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PRO TEM, HARPER, MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COSAR ALTAR, TOVO FUENTES AND RENTERIA.

I SPONSORED THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES TAKE EVERY ONE OF US AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT THIS AGREGIOUS LAW PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, STATE REP, DONNA HOWARD, AND OTHER ADVOCATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN WASHINGTON, DC, URGING CONGRESS TO CODIFY ROE V.

WADE.

WE APPRECIATE TRAVIS COUNTY JOINING THE LEGAL BATTLE WITH AMICUS SUPPORT.

NOW IT'S OUR TURN.

I DID WANT TO POINT OUT.

WE ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL LETTER OF SUPPORT, UM, FROM THE LEADERS AT LILITH FUND AND A VOWS.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT PARTICIPATION AND THE OTHER FOLKS WHO WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, THERE IS ALSO AN EVENT ON SATURDAY AT THE CAPITOL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE-MINDED.

AND I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT THIS RESOLUTION ALSO CALLS FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO JOIN US IN OPPOSITION OF SBA.

AND WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU,

[01:50:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I JUST, I WANTED TO, UM, TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ITEM NUMBER 1 61 AND, UH, THANK MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, MY CO-SPONSORS AND THE WHOLE COUNCIL, REALLY FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.

UH, THIS SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL WILL HELP THEM CONTINUE THEIR WORK, UH, AND MAKING THE PROPERTY INTO A HOUSING SOLUTION ORIENTED, NON CONGREGATE SHELTER, UH, PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS WITH RESOURCES LIKE HEALTH CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA, SO TO STABILIZE SO THEY CAN MOVE INTO HOUSING.

SO REALLY THE PRIMARY POINTS IS THIS, THE SUPPORT, UH, WILL HELP THEM QUICKLY BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION AND TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF ESPERANZA RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE QUICKLY INTO THESE NON CONGREGATE SHELTER UNITS ON SITE TO GET THE RESIDENTS OUT OF THE ELEMENTS AND PROVIDE PRIVACY AND SECURITY THAT WILL HELP THESE FOLKS STABILIZE WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SO THAT THEY'RE BETTER PREPARED FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.

SO I WANT TO COMMEND THE, THE TWO, UM, UH, LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORK WITH TOOTH.

UH, THE OTHER ONE FOUNDATION AND THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING AT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THAT, UH, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THE MAYOR, PORT, TIM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, HAVE BEEN STRONG SUPPORTERS OF THE WORK THAT TOO IS DOING AT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE NEXT STEP WAS COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

AND THEN I THINK I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, TEBOW'S GREAT.

ALSO HAVE CONSISTENTLY AND CONTINUOUSLY OVER THE LAST REALLY LAST DECADE, UM, BEEN INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO PREVENTION INTO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND TO HOUSING SERVICES, INTO SHELTER SERVICES, AND ALL OF WHAT YOU SEE ON, I BELIEVE ALL OF THE CONTRACTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ARE PART OF OUR BASIC BUDGET.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE EBV INCENTIVES RESOLUTION THAT'S ITEM 1 0 6.

UM, IT'S, UH, BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE ADVOCATES TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

AND I LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING STAFF'S RESPONSE TO HOW WE CAN, UM, UH, MAKE THE ACQUISITION THROUGH SHORT-TERM LEASES ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES, REALLY EASY, ESPECIALLY FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HOW GREAT, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, ARE AND HOW THEY CAN, UM, SATISFY THE NEED FOR VEHICLES, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE REAL IMPORTANCE OF SHIFTING AWAY FROM, UH, FUEL-BASED, UH, CARS.

AND, UH, THIS IS OUR ENTRY POINT FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN MORE EASILY FOR, UM, OUR CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, EVANGELIZE THIS MOVE, UM, STATEWIDE AND, AND EVEN FURTHER.

AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO REGISTER MY ABSTENTION FROM ITEM ONE 11, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T, UH, FULLY AND ENTIRELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND MINDFULLY OPPOSED SENATE BILL EIGHT, BUT, UM, BECAUSE AS A LONG TIME FIGHTER IN, IN THE DEEP FIELDS OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, I, I JUST WANTED TO, TO STICK MY CLAIM THAT IT IS, IT IS A WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

AND, UM, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE THOSE LANGUAGE CHANGES IN THE RESOLUTIONS.

SO I'M ABSTAINING AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE WITH, UH, THE CONCEPTS, BUT THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR ME AS THE LAST STREET OUT TO, TO HOLD THE LINE ON.

UH, THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WOMEN CAN DO THAT MEN CAN'T.

AND I, I JUST HAVE TO DEFEND THAT TERRITORY, UM, SO THAT WE ARE SEEING IT AS, AS A WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THANKS SO MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I WENT TO JUST SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, FIRST, BEFORE WE GET TO THE CATEGORY OF HOMELESSNESS, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, OUR PARK STAFF IN PARTICULAR FOR BRINGING FORWARD SEVERAL ITEMS TODAY THAT THAT ARE WORTHY OF MENTIONING, UM, THE POOLS CONTRACTS FOR MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND NORTHWEST DISTRICT PARK.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AS OUR CLIMATE CONTINUES TO WARM, WE NEED THOSE PLACES WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO OFTEN FREE OF CHARGE AND COOL OFF, UM, THAT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

WE ALSO HAVE INVESTMENTS IN CHILDCARE IN TUTORING SERVICES AND MENTORING AT AREA SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, AND SCHOOLS, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, UH, COUNCIL OF AT-RISK YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS AFTER PROGRAMS THROUGH PRIMETIME LOTS AND LOTS OF REALLY WONDERFUL THINGS ON OUR AGENDA THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE BUDGET WORK THAT WE DID THIS SUMMER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES AT AUSTIN CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER.

FOR EXAMPLE, I WANT TO SPEND JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE GRANTS THAT WE HAVE FOR HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN AND AGAIN, OVER THIS LAST YEAR, WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION ON HOMELESSNESS.

AND WHILE IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT WE MADE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT THIS YEAR OF OUR AMERICAN RESOURCE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING, WE

[01:55:01]

THESE ARE NOT, UM, BEING SUPPLEMENTED YET BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, UM, PREVENTION, SHELTER, AND HOUSING AND SERVICES.

AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM AND WORKFORCE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR HOUSING ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN DEEP IN THE MIDST OF THIS WORK, UM, FOR MULTIPLE YEARS NOW.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED MORE RESOURCES? DO WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTNER IN HELPING US RAISE RESOURCES TO BRING THESE PROGRAMS TO SCALE? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF TODAY'S AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY IN PREVENTION, TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL SERVICES.

ALSO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CONTRACT TODAY FOR THE TENANTS COUNCIL IN SHELTER AND HOUSING.

THESE ARE JUST SNAPSHOTS.

THESE AREN'T COMPREHENSIVE.

IN FACT, I ALWAYS GOT A LITTLE WORRIED THE LAST TIME I DID KIND OF A LAUNDRY LIST OF INVESTMENTS.

I HAD A LOT OF MEDIA ASKING ME FOR IT AND IT WASN'T COMPREHENSIVE.

SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT, UM, IN SHELTER SERVICES WITH CASA MARIANELLA FOR CHILDREN THROUGH THE SAFE ALLIANCE, SALVATION ARMY ST LOUIS HOUSE, UH, MOST OF THESE EXTENSIONS AGAIN ARE OUR TECH CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE FOR YEARS, RAPID REHOUSING THROUGH FRONT STEPS, HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH THROUGH LIFEWORKS, FOR FAMILIES THROUGH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE AREA OF SERVICES.

WE'RE INCREASING FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH INTEGRAL CARE AND WITH CARITAS FOR SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICES, THROUGH COMMUNITIES FOR RECOVERY, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WITH INTEGRAL CARE AT OUR REALLY FABULOUS, UM, OAK SPRINGS COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE, SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH GOODWILL, THROUGH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, THROUGH FAMILY ELDER CARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE, WE CERTAINLY DEPEND ON YOU TO DO THIS GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR GETTING, GETTING THIS FUNDING OUT THE DOOR, UM, IN EXPEDIENT FASHION SO THAT THEY, IT CAN, IT CAN BE AT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE WAYS THAT WE NEEDED TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.

AND THEN MAYOR ADLER.

I WANTED TO ECHO COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SHARED ABOUT, UM, WHAT'S ON TODAY'S AGENDA, INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF IMPORTANT SOCIAL SERVICES, UH, EXTENSIONS ON THE CONTRACTS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.

I MEAN, JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE WORK, YOU KNOW, WITH CHILDCARE INC.

UM, AND OTHER TYPES OF YOUTH SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE, UH, WE NEED MORE YOUTH PROGRAMS AND MORE YOUTH SERVICES.

SO SEEING THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT AND COUNCIL CONTINUE ON THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT IS REALLY GREAT.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UH, THOSE CONTRACT EXTENSION AGREEMENTS COME THROUGH.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING FORWARD THE ZILKER EAKER ZILKER EAGLE PARK ITEM, UM, ROOTED IN EQUITY.

AND IT'S AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR US TO GET FUNDING OUT TO OTHER PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I THINK THAT'S, UM, A BRILLIANT STRATEGY.

AND SO I APPLAUD YOUR LEADERSHIP BOTH ON PARK EQUITY AND ALSO ON ABORTION ACCESS.

IT'S FROM THE U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

I KEPT SOME MEMBER FONTUS ALTER.

AND THEN THANK YOU.

UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND FONTUS FOR HIGHLIGHTING ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, I WANT TO FLAG TWO OF THOSE, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY NEW CONTRACTS.

UM, THE FIRST ONE THAT I WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT IS THE CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL IDEA, AND I SEE, UM, STEVE JACOBS IN THE ROOM HERE.

UM, THIS IS, UH, UH, THEIR CONTRACT ENDS, UM, IN SEPTEMBER OR ENDED IN SEPTEMBER, I GUESS, OR IS ENDING TODAY.

UM, AND THIS IS A NEW CONTRACT, UM, THAT WILL ENABLE ANOTHER 150 PEOPLE TO GRADUATE IN THE COMING YEAR, FINISHING THE TRAINING.

THEY STARTED IN THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTS WHO ARE NURSES, IT WORKERS AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

UM, AND ANOTHER, I THINK IT'S SEVEN 50 WILL CONTINUE THEIR WORK AND WILL GRADUATE IN THE COMING YEARS.

I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR WORKING WITH CLOSELY WITH CAPITAL IDEA, UM, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THESE ARE ALL PROFESSIONS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED, AND THIS WILL HELP FOLKS, UM, REALLY TRANSITION INTO THESE NEW CAREERS.

AND THEN I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 54, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED.

UM, IT'S A, IT'S A GRANT, UM, AND

[02:00:01]

AND IT REALLY, UM, ACCELERATES OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PLAN.

UM, SO THESE ARE EIGHT NEW POSITIONS AND FUNDING OVER THREE YEARS, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THAT AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, UM, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS AND THAT THESE HEALTH WORKERS ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON, UM, CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND AT LEAST IN THE SHORT RUN, UM, COVID RELATED ELEMENTS.

AND SO I WANT TO JUST, UM, THANK OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE MANAGER FOR, FOR SECURING THOSE FUNDS AND MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS.

UM, WE MADE A COMMITMENT IN OUR BUDGET, UM, FOR DOING THIS WORK.

AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE US BE ABLE TO ADD TO THAT OVER A MULTI-YEAR PERIOD AND SUCH A SUCH A LARGE WAY.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, BOTH OF THOSE.

UM, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LS FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE ABORTION ACCESS, UM, RESOLUTION.

UM, THE STORIES ARE REALLY HEARTBREAKING OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING, UM, FROM WOMEN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.

UM, AND IT'S OUR OBLIGATION AS A COUNCIL, UM, TO STEP UP AND SPEAK OUT, UM, AND DO THE STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE, UM, FOR AN ISSUE THAT'S OFTEN OUT OF OUR PURVIEW.

UM, BUT THAT REALLY MATTERS FOR THE HEALTHCARE AND INDUCTIVE NEEDS, UM, OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CAN BECOME PREGNANT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER.

AND, UH, I'VE ALREADY BROUGHT, UH, TO THEM, UH, THIS, UH, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, UH, AND, UH, ALREADY FOLKS WANTED TO KNOW THAT WE PASS IT.

UH, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I THINK THE POINT THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOA MADE AT THE BEGINNING AND OTHERS HAVE POINTED OUT THE, THE EXTENSIVE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THAT DEAL WITH, WITH HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND, AND TO, TO RERATE THAT THIS IS THE, THE BASELINE, UH, THE, THE SUMMIT WE'LL EVEN EXTEND THIS PAST THIS TO GET 3000 PEOPLE INCREMENTALLY HOUSED IN THREE YEARS, BUT THERE ARE 17 ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA, UH, THAT, THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH AND FURTHER THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ITEMS 19 48, 49, 57, 59, 60 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 72, 75, 77, 79, 80 AND 81 17 ITEMS. UH, AS WE RENEW THESE, I MAKE THE SAME REQUEST AND THE CITY MANAGER THAT I MADE ON THE OTHER RENEWALS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THAT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE CAN IN THESE EXTENSIONS, UH, WE SHOULD START, UH, BETTER IDENTIFYING THE INFORMATION AND DATA, UH, THAT WE WANT AND EXPECT TO BE PRODUCED AS PART OF THESE CONTRACTS.

UH, I REALLY THINK THAT THE CITY WORKING WITH OTHER FUNDERS, THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE FUNDERS, UH, NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STANDARDIZING THE, THE INFORMATION WE'RE REQUESTING.

SO TO THAT END, I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT SPECIFICALLY ITEM 73, UH, WITH SOCIAL FINANCE, THE CONTRACT WITH THEM, WHICH IS, THIS IS A CONTRACT WITH AN ORGANIZATION, THIRD PARTY TO HELP REVIEW OUR CONTRACTS MOVING FORWARD.

AND NEXT YEAR, ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS NOW WILL NO LONGER BE EXTENDED.

THERE'LL BE NEW CONTRACTS.

AND IT'S MY HOPE AND EXPECTATION THAT THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN, IN MORE PERFORMANCE-BASED SOLICITATIONS, UH, IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, UH, BUT FOR ALL PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM, UH, AND, AND ALL OF OUR, OUR CO-FUNDERS THE COUNTY AND THE PRIVATE FUNDERS AGAIN.

SO WE CAN STANDARDIZE, THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL REQUEST COLLEAGUES THAT CAME FROM THE POPPY REPORT, UH, AS WELL AS THE DIRECTION FROM OUR DAS, UH, TO MOVE TO A MORE PERFORMANCE-BASED CONTRACTING MODEL FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AGREEMENTS.

UH, AND THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO HELP STUFF AND STAFF IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CONTRACTING MODELS THAT SUPPORTS THE OUTCOME-BASED PERFORMANCE, UH, AND GET US THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO TOUCH REAL FAITH PATH QUICK ON ITEM NUMBER 28 IN OUR LOCAL WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ON CRIME REDUCTION.

UH, AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF, OF, OF JOINT WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, UH, THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A REAL PROUD TO BE PART OF ALL THE CLIMATE ENERGY PLAN, THE CLIMATE ACTIVITIES.

I HAVE THIS 99 AND ONE TAD ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR ALTAR FOR, FOR BRINGING ONE 10 AND PROUD TO, TO JOIN AS A CO-SPONSOR ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND 1 0 6.

SO ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE, UH, FACILITATION, UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, UH, COP 26 THAT IS COMING UP IN GLASGOW.

UH, IT JUST A FEW WEEKS, UH, AND I'M HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, AS ONE OF THE CITIES, UH, IN GETTING READY FOR THAT CONFERENCE.

UH,

[02:05:01]

AND I THINK IT'S GOT TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES AROUND THE, AROUND THE ROUND THE COUNTRY, AND FINALLY, UH, PROUD TO SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ON ITEM ONE 11.

UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS, UH, TWO FOR THE STATE TO TRY TO GET AROUND A CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTED PROTECTION, UH, BY EMPOWERING VIGILANTES AND OFFERING BOUNTIES JUST CANNOT BE, UH, THE, THE WAY TO GO.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT.

MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER GETS SAD.

WAS THAT A HAND COUNSELOR ROUTER, COUNSELOR REQUEST THAT, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER REALTOR.

I WANTED TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDEZ FOR PRESENTING THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, UH, PROCLAMATION EARLIER TODAY.

AND THANK COUNCIL RED HUNTED DIDIA FOR THE MATCHING TIE.

I WASN'T EXPECTING TO WEAR A TIE TODAY.

SO, UH, SO THANK YOU.

UH, I WANTED TO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR, FOR HER RESOLUTION.

I'M PROUD OF THE WORK HERE IN AUSTIN TO CONTINUE TO DEFEND, UH, THE RIGHTS OF OUR, OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN EAST AUSTIN, THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION WORK TO KEEP IT OPEN.

IN FACT, IT'S BEING REMODELED TO HELP EVEN MORE PATIENTS, AND WE'LL BE REOPENING TO SERVE MANY MORE PEOPLE HERE SOON.

UH, I'M PROUD OF OUR WORK INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WHO, WHO NEED HELP, UH, UH, DEALING WITH ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL AND APPRECIATE, UM, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE WORKED ON THAT THROUGH, UH, THROUGH THE BUDGET.

AND THEN I DO THINK THAT THIS, THIS RESOLUTION SHOWS OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE FACT THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE STILL GOING TO NEED ABORTION CARE THAT NEED, DOESN'T JUST GO AWAY WITH THIS LAW.

UM, AND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY SUFFERING, UM, UH, UNDER THIS LAW.

AND SO, SO I, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT.

I ALSO DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS OVERWHELMINGLY AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS WOMEN, UH, IN OUR STATE.

UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS, IS WELL KNOWN AND SOMETHING THAT WE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT, THAT SO MANY OF THESE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS ARE BASED ON, ON PATRIARCHY, UH, AND, AND, UH, TRAMPLING ON THE RIGHTS OF, OF WOMEN WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY THE PEOPLE THAT, UM, GOT PREGNANT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT APPRECIATE THAT THE DIOCESE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUSIVE ALSO OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY THAT IS ALSO IMPACTED BY THIS LAW.

AND SO WE HAVE FOR, FOR, FOR EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY, UH, FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS, JUST KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS STANDING, UM, STANDS WITH YOU.

UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW THAT WE, UM, HAVE SOME OF THE PARTS PULLED ON, ON ISSUES OF CLIMATE, BUT IT IS JUST SUCH AN URGENT ISSUE.

UH, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE STAFF IN CASE WE DON'T GET TO THANK THEM AGAIN, ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE CO-CHAIRS THAT PRESENTED TO US FOR SUCH HARD WORK, BRINGING THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN TO US, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

FIGHTING AND MITIGATING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND IN HOW WE WORK TO ACHIEVE THE CITY'S MANY OTHER PRIORITIES WE CAN GET TO NET ZERO WHILE SOLVING MULTIPLE CHALLENGES AT ONCE.

UM, I HAD HOPED THAT ONE TIME WOULD BE ON CONSENT AND WE JUST GOT SOME AMENDMENTS FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS.

UM, BUT I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH IS ON, UM, THE CONSENT THAT'S ITEM 99.

UM, I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU CELEBRATING, UM, THE ADOPTION OF THE 2021 AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

UM, THIS IS REALLY A MONUMENTAL STEP IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND IN OUR EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE EQUITY INTO ALL THAT WE DO.

UM, I BELIEVE THIS PLAN WILL BE LOOKED TO AS A MODEL, BUT IT WILL BE UPON US TO, UM, IMPLEMENT IT WELL, WHICH IS WHAT ONE 10 SPEAKS TO BACK IN 2019, I LED A RESOLUTION DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN AUSTIN, WHICH CALLED ON OUR CITY TO MEET THE CRISIS AT THE LEVEL OF ITS THREAT AND FOR AUSTIN TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN ITS TARGETS AND ACCELERATE OUR PATH TO NET ZERO COMMUNITY-WIDE EMISSIONS, THE 2021 CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN ACCELERATES OUR TARGET DATE BY A DECADE TO 2040 JOINING WITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE IN RENEWED COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING OUR PLANET FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WHAT THIS CLIMATE PLAN DOES IS RECOGNIZE IN A WAY WE HAVEN'T BEFORE THAT, HOW WE GET THERE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE STRATEGIES AND GOALS WE LAID OUT.

UM, AND IN THE IMPLEMENTATION RESOLUTION, UM, WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO, TO MAKE THIS PLAN SUCCESSFUL.

UM, WE MUST BUILD ON THE HARD, IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVANCING AUSTIN'S CLIMATE GOALS AND STRATEGIES ACROSS THE CITY.

WE MUST INVEST IN

[02:10:01]

THERE ARE CHANGES WE CAN IMPLEMENT HERE AND NOW THAT WILL PAY OFF DIVIDENDS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO AUSTIN, CONTINUING TO LEAD AN INNOVATION, BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY OF EQUITABLE GREEN JOBS, ADVANCING PROJECTS THAT ARE LOCALLY BORN AND HAVE LOCAL BENEFITS AND IDENTIFYING LEADER, LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN GET US TO NET ZERO FASTER LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND AUSTIN AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE THE MOST IMPACTED BY EXTREME WEATHER AND POLLUTION.

DESPITE HAVING CONTRIBUTED AT LEAST TO THE DRIVERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION.

AND THIS PLAN RECOGNIZES THAT WE MUST ACHIEVE ADJUST, TRANSITION THAT ADDRESSES THIS DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, JUST AS WE MEET OUR MISSION GOALS, EQUITY WAS BUILT INTO THIS PLAN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE CENTERED IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DISCUSSION ON ONE 10 LATER ON.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MOMO COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS.

AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR ALTRA FOR THAT DISTINCTION THAT WE ARE, WE DO HAVE THE PLAN FOR ADOPTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO ARE THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF THIS LAND THAT WE NOW CALL AUSTIN.

UM, AND I THINK THIS PLAN DOES A REALLY GREAT JOB OF CENTERING THAT AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORY AND THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE THAT WE KNOW IS ROOTED IN SEGREGATION AND, AND RACISM.

UM, I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WAS UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE PLAN.

I THINK IT'S A MODEL I SPOKE ABOUT IT ON TUESDAY.

THAT'S A NATIONAL MODEL, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT, UM, THAT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE.

AND I THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF PLAN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AS WE EMBARK ON THIS BOLD GOAL TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO BY 2040.

UM, CURRENTLY WE KNOW THAT RACE PREDICTS A QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND WHICH THAT MEANS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE IN ANY TYPE OF DISASTER.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CENTER RACIAL EQUITY AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS COMMUNITY PLAN.

UM, AND FOR ME IT REALLY IS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

AND SO I'M THRILLED TO SEE THAT THIS PLAN, UM, CENTERS THAT, AND TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE DIOCESE, YOUR PREVIOUS WORK AND COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING, UM, THAT LEVEL OF DEDICATION TO RACIAL EQUITY AND, AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHO'S JOINING US ON, ON EMBARKING IN IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS LATER TODAY AS WE TALK ABOUT THE RESOLUTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PORTION.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE, IF NOT, I HAVE A FEW WORDS I'D LIKE TO SHARE AS WELL.

UM, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THE OTHER DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I WAS DEFINITELY STANDING BY AND WATCHING PROUD.

UM, I'LL KEEP MY VERY BRIEF.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS PLAN LINKS, LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WE'VE SEEN STUDY AFTER STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT DENSER MORE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES HAVE SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINT THAN SPRAWLING CAR DEPENDENT CITIES LIKE AUSTIN IS.

UM, SO I JUST REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE PLAN AND WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER OH, YES.

UH, I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL PROJECTS THAT, UH, THAT THERE, WHERE YOU ARE AWARDING TO ALL THE GREAT NONPROFITS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND ALSO LOOKING OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT OUR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY IN HERE FOR, TO LOOK TO HELP OUR IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT WE'RE TAKING IN.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF AUSTIN AND FOR OPENING UP THEIR ARMS AND WELCOMED THEM.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT PUTTING RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT HOME.

AND IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER OF KITCHEN WHO MOTIONED THAT WE, UM, PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, EXCUSE ME.

WE HAVE TO DO IT.

MY APOLOGIES ON.

UM, IT APPEARS TO BE UNANIMOUS WITH MAYOR ADLER OFF THE DYES.

SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA,

[02:15:02]

NO, I'M SORRY.

MY APOLOGIES.

IT APPEARS TO BE UNANIMOUS, BUT MAYBE OTHER ON THE DICE.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TIME TO TAKE UP ANY OTHER ITEMS. IT'S ALREADY 1209.

I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD TO, UM, CITIZENS

[Public Comments (Part 2 of 3)]

COMMUNICATION.

WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WITH US.

EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS EMILY K. HILL.

COME ON DOWN AFTER EMILY WE'LL HAVE ETHAN SMITH.

AM I ALLOWED TO BRING MY MASS DOWN YOUR COMFORT LEVEL? UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

MY NAME'S EMILY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE NEW ABORTION LAW AND SPECIFICALLY HOW IT IMPACTS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

I KNOW THAT WE THINK THE LAW IS GOING TO PROTECT RAPE VICTIMS, BUT THE TRUTH IS IT DOESN'T.

UM, I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH IT.

THE FIRST TIME I WAS ASSAULTED, I WAS 12 YEARS OLD BY A FAMILY MEMBER BEING DISABLED AND BEING A CHILD.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO LOOK FOR FOR THE SCIENCE OF IF I HAD GOTTEN PREGNANT AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A FAMILY NETWORK, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ONE THERE TO PROTECT ME AND HELP ME LOOK FOR THE SIGNS OF BEING PREGNANT.

THE SECOND TIME I WAS ASSAULTED WAS IN COLLEGE AND MY OWN HOME BY A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE.

AND I WAS SO ASHAMED AND SO GONE MENTALLY, I WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN THE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR, FOR BEING PREGNANT.

I FILLED UP THIS LAW'S REALLY BLACK AND WHITE THAT WE SHOULDN'T HOLD RAPE VICTIMS TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS CONSENTING ADULTS.

THEY, MANY OF THEM ARE HANDICAPPED OR CHILDREN OR JUST WOMEN TRYING TO GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND FORCING THEM TO HAVE THEIR RAPIST BABIES SAYING THAT SIX WEEKS IS ENOUGH, IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

I, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EXCEPTION TO THIS LAW TO PROTECT RAPE VICTIMS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY HANDICAPPED, UM, AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO HAVE A CHILD AND MAY JUST WANT TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE BECAUSE THE LAW'S NOT GOING TO PROTECT THEM.

GENERALLY, THE LAW DOES NOT PROTECT RAPE VICTIMS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME FORWARD.

AND IT TOOK ME 10 YEARS TO HEAL FROM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND IN THAT TIME, SIX WEEKS WAS NOWHERE ENOUGH FOR ME TO MENTALLY UNDERSTAND RAPE.

UM, I KNOW THAT IN TEXAS, WE'RE A GOD-FEARING STATE AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD NOT WANT A 12 YEAR OLD TO HAVE THE RIPEST BABY, A HANDICAP PERSON OR A WOMAN TO, UM, BE FORCED TO ENDURE THAT.

SO I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EXCEPTION TO THIS LAW, UM, TO PROTECT RAPE VICTIMS AND NOT HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS CONSENTING ADULTS.

THANK YOU, MS. CARRIE, ETHAN SMITH, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL.

MARELLA.

I JUST WANTED TO VERY QUICKLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH EVERY WORD YOU SAID.

UM, AND WE JUST TOOK A VOTE TO MAKE SURE OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN PROVIDE AMICUS BRIEFING IN THE LAWSUIT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING BRAVE AND COMING TO SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

AGREED ETHAN SMITH.

AND THEN AFTER ETHAN, WE HAVE CAROLYN ROSE KENNEDY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, POWERFUL TESTIMONY.

UM, SO I CAME HERE TODAY TO, UH, TALK ABOUT TRACK 16 AND 18 OF THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD.

UM, THEY'RE KIND OF HEADED FOR AN RFP PROCESS AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATE PROCESS AND URBAN RENEWAL BOARD BYLAWS, UH, CALLED AN UNSOLICITED BID.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

MY MIC HERE, IT'S CALLED AN UNSOLICITED BID AND THIS HAS BEEN USED BY THE ARS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAUSE A MOMENT AND LET'S, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT SHOULD BE FIXED NOW CHECK, CHECK.

ON IT, FILING OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO GET THE STEPS OF THE PROCESS.

SO THERE IS AN ALTERNATE PROCESS TO RFP PROCESSES, UH, FOR THE DISPOSAL OF LANDS CALLED AN UNSOLICITED BID THROUGH URBAN RENEWAL BOARD BYLAWS.

AND BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY AROUND THESE TRACKS THAT THIS IS REALLY THE MORE APPROPRIATE WAY YOU COULD GET AN UP OR DOWN VOTE FOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, HAROLD MCMILLAN IS LEADING A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THERE'S A TON OF ENERGY BEHIND IT.

AND THAT IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR HIM TO GET AN UP OR DOWN VOTE AND THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MECHANISM AND DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH

[02:20:01]

BUT I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT, UM, AND ALSO FOR TRACK 16, I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE HOUSING FOR HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY.

AND I THINK IT SHOULD ALSO GO THROUGH THIS UNSOLICITED BID PROCESS.

UM, THERE'S A CITY STAFF LIKES TO BENCHMARK AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHEN WE SAY THAT IT ALWAYS TENDS TO MEAN A CERTAIN PERCENT OF THE HOUSING IS RESERVED FOR 60% MFI 50% IN THE FI.

AND TO ME, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH AND IT DOESN'T WORK.

AND IF I HAD MORE TIME, I'D TELL YOU WHY IT DOESN'T WORK.

UM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS YOU COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO DEVELOP, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ENTITY WITH A DECADES LONG TRACK RECORD OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS DETERMINED BY HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO LIVE HERE.

SO, UM, AND THE DECEMBER BEFORE CORONA HIT, I MET WITH WAYNE KNOX.

WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON TILLOTSON.

AND AT THAT TIME ROOM AND BOARD WITH A MEAL PLAN AND BILLS PAID AT HOUSTON, TILLOTSON WAS $470 A MONTH.

SO HE'S UNTIL IT'S IN, IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE BEST PROVIDER INSTITUTIONAL PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO YOU COULD COMPLETELY FAIRLY MAKE A PROCESS WHERE INSTEAD OF BENCHMARKING OFF MFI YOU'RE BENCHMARKING OFF IS THE PROVIDER OF HOUSING.

DO THEY HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD? AND THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY FAIR PROCESS.

AND I THINK WHAT IT WOULD YIELD IS A, IS AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING.

AND I ALSO LIKED THAT BECAUSE STUDENTS COME IN AND OUT, THEY CIRCULATE SO ONE BUILDING, IF IT HAS A HUNDRED BEDS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE IN 30 YEARS, IT'S SPREAD OUT MORE EQUITABLY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE FOR A FEW YEARS.

AND IT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY STUDENT HOUSING IS A GREAT INVESTMENT BECAUSE YOU DON'T DISINCENTIVIZE PEOPLE FROM UPWARD MOBILITY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT WITH THESE KINDS OF POLICIES.

UM, AND ONE REASON SINCE I HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME, UH, AND I'LL JUST SAY THE HEALTH SOUTH TRACT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE BRACKENRIDGE NEGOTIATIONS, UT WANTS IT.

SO WE'RE AT THE 150 MILLION, IT'S 150 MILLION.

JUST SIT IN THERE FOR YOU GUYS.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY, WE WANT TO GUIDE THIS TO YOU GUYS.

WOULD I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD NOW, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF THESE PROCESSES SHOULD BE MORE, MORE PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO COME HERE EVERY SIX WEEKS AND SAY SOMETHING, AND THIS IS ALL VERY PRIVATE AND NOBODY CAN TALK ABOUT WHY UT SCORE WAS A ZERO ON THE RFP PROCESS.

AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR UT NOT TO GET IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.

CAROLANNE ROSE KENNEDY AND THEN OUR FINAL IN-PERSON SPEAKER FOR CITIZENS.

COMMUNICATION IS DEBBIE.

DEBBIE WATMAN.

HOWDY NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING WHAT'S WRONG.

I DON'T GET OUT MUCH.

WHAT DO I DO? OKAY.

THANK YOU, JEANETTE.

OKAY, MS. KENNEDY, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YES MA'AM.

THE INTRANATIONAL ANTHEM.

I HAVE A SONG FOR Y'ALL.

IT ONLY HURTS FOR THREE MINUTES.

JOSE, CAN YOU SEE PAST THE BOARD OR RED NIGHT? WE'RE NOT TRYING TO KEEP Y'ALL ALIVE.

WE'RE JUST CONTAINING OR RIGHT.

JOSE.

WE LOVE YOU AND YOUR KIDS AND YOUR MOM, UH, IS HID IN A COUNTRY.

THAT'S FOUR.

AND JUST LOOK WHAT WE DID.

SO I'M LEARNING BUT IT'S TAKING A TOLL ON MY TEXTS, BILLS AND MORTGAGE, BUT I CAN STILL SAY LET'S ROLL AND THE TAM BIRTHDAY FLAIR, BUT YOUR DO

[02:25:01]

WING YOUR SHARE BECAUSE THERE'S PROOF, JAY AND I BET YOUR FLAG IS STILL HERE.

JOSE DID YOUR FREE TURN.

18 TO A IN THE LAB AND UP JABARI AND THE WHOLE ROOM ABOUT GRAY.

SAVE THE HEART OF TEXAS IS INSIDE ME.

OH, MY NIGHTS, SEN DAYS, THE LONE STAR TEXTS ASSISTS AROUND ME.

I WILL NOT MOVE AWAY.

DO NOT THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE ME.

I RISE UP SO EARLY IN THE MORN, THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON Y'ALL TILL KIDDIE TOOTS, HER OWN HORN LOVE.

Y'ALL ALWAYS, DON'T FORGET TO RIDE AND KITCHEN.

I'LL SEE YOU BACK AT THE RANCH.

THAT WAS OUR FINAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION SPEAKER AND OH, IT WAS NOT MY APOLOGIES.

WE HAD STARTED DEBBIE WHITEMAN.

DEBBIE, ARE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON? IT DOESN'T APPEAR.

SO IN WHICH CASE, MAYBE I WAS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

THAT'S OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION.

UM, SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ORDER AND ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT BEFORE YOU HEAD OVER TO YOUR OFFICE.

UM, SO I'M THINKING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, HOPEFULLY THAT'S SUFFICIENT.

1220, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP FOUR ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7.

IN WHICH CASE, SO AT

[Executive Session]

ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE NUMBER FOUR APPROVED SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

NUMBER 46 52 FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE TO A 34.4 ACRE TRACK LOCATED AT 1, 1, 2, 1 3, FM SIX 20 WITHIN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, PARTIALLY WITHIN THE CITY'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION PARTIALLY, BUT THEN THE CITY'S TWO MILE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND AUSTIN'S WATER SERVICE AREA.

UM, ITEM NUMBER ONE, 18, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FOR THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION AND APPROXIMATELY 25 ACRES LOCATED IN TRAVIS COUNTY AT 1 1, 2, 1 3, NORTH FM SIX 20, AND RATIFY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNER OF THE LAND FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES.

THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5174 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO 1 58, APPROVE A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF JOSEPH JACK GONE AS CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORD WITH SECTION 1 43 0.01, THREE OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

NUMBER 1 64, DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT DUTIES AND EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SEEING NONE? WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1:22 PM.

I RECOMMEND THAT WE PRIORITIZE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS, AND WE'LL BE BACK AT TWO TO TAKE UP ZONING ITEMS, AND THEN I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN 15 MINUTES AND EXECUTIVE SESSION DID YOU NEED, OKAY, SO WE ARE BACK OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION.

WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEMS NUMBER FOUR AND ONE 18, AND WE WILL RESUME THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 1 59 COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UH, YES.

UM,

[111. Approve a resolution renewing the City of Austin’s consistent support for the reproductive rights of individuals who are capable of becoming pregnant, encouraging the business community to join the City in opposing the implementation of SB 8, and directing the City Manager to provide legal resources to support the current lawsuits that challenge SB 8.]

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE RECONSIDERATION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, 11.

I THINK ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ADDRESS THAT AND POTENTIALLY, UM, ADDRESS HER VOTE.

SO I MOVED RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM NUMBER ONE 11.

UM, IT'S BEEN MOVED THAT WE RECONSIDER ITEM NUMBER ONE, 11, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN FRONT THIS, UM, WITH THE PERSON WHO'S CALLING FOR RECONSIDERATION LIKE TO SPEAK, OR SHOULD WE JUST GO AHEAD WITH THE VOTE? GO AHEAD WITH, OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING ITEM, NUMBER ONE, 11 IT'S UNANIMOUS.

THANKS SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DIASEND TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR, UM,

[02:30:01]

OFFERING UP THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN I ABSTAINED EARLIER TODAY, I REALLY MEANT TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN INCLUDING WOMEN'S SPECIFICALLY IN THE RESOLUTION, BUT I FEAR THAT IT CAME ACROSS AS ME BEING UNRECEPTIVE TO THE CONCERNS AND STRUGGLES OF THE TRANS AND INTERSEX COMMUNITIES.

AND THOSE FOLKS ALSO NEED ACCESS TO ABORTION RIGHTS.

AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT INTEND AT ALL TO EXCLUDE THEM.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS KNOWN THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAS MY FULL SUPPORT.

AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING THIS RECONSIDERATION AND I'M READY TO MOVE TO THE VOTE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING.

I I'M SORRY.

MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU GET A MOVE? DID YOU GET A MOTION AND SECOND ITEM? I'M SORRY.

I MISSED THAT PART.

WE DID THE, IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, FRONT DESK.

SORRY THAT WAS THE EMOTION OR EMOTION.

I THINK WE NEED A MOTION FOR THE ITEM ITSELF.

AND I SAW A HAND COUNSELOR.

BOB KELLY MAKES THE MOTION.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CAN'T REMEMBER ELLIS MAKES IT I'M SORRY.

I WAS JUST POINTING.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SET THAT.

BE HAPPY TO SECONDARY GOING TO SAY THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FRONT DESK.

ALL IN FAVOR UNANIMOUS TO YOUR HAND.

SO THAT IS 10 YESES AND ONE, NO, MY VOTE IS STAYING THE SAME.

I DIDN'T SEE AN ABSTENTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

COUNCIL MEMBER, TBA, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DISPENSE

[162. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to establish an expedited review and prioritization program for residential developments that will provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. (Part 1 of 2)]

WITH 1 62 SUPER QUICKLY.

IF YOU'RE INCLINED TO TAKE THAT UP, I'M COMFORTABLE DOING SO MAYOR, YOU HAD INDICATED THAT YOU WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE INSERTION OF THE WORD SIGNIFICANT ONLINE LET ME FIND THE LINE, UH, 38.

SO IT WOULD READ THAT WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

WE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE AFTER TODAY AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT FOR TODAY.

IN FACT, MY MOTION WOULD BE THEN TO APPROVE ITEM 1 62 WITH THE WORD SIGNIFICANT ADDED.

UH, THE INTENT IS NOT TO, TO HAVE SOMEONE PUT IN A NOMINAL AMOUNT OF HOUSING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, TO GET THIS TREATMENT.

SO I AGREE WITH THE INTENT AND APPRECIATE THE ADDITION.

CAN YOU REMOVE YOUR, UH, REPEAT YOUR MOTION? MAY ADLER.

I HAVE A PASSAGE OF ITEM 1 62, UH, WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE WORD SIGNIFICANT ONLINE 31 ON 38.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER? TOVO SECONDS.

ALL IN FAVOR, UNANIMOUS ON THE DYES.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST ONE WE CAN TAKE OUT BEFORE WE START WITH OUR ZONING CASES AND OUR ZONING SPEAKERS.

LET ME GET OVER TO I'M SO SORRY.

MAY I PRETEND THAT WAS JUST TO ADD THE WORD? CORRECT.

OKAY, GREAT.

OUR ZONING CASES THIS AFTERNOON.

HERE'S THIS THAT WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON

[Public Comments (3 of 3)]

WE HAVE JUSTIN SHAW.

ARE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON? KEITH BUCHANAN AND CHERYL THOMPSON.

MR. BUCHANAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME DOWN? OKAY.

SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG MIRA FOR 10.

WOULD YOU LIKE US TO CALL THE SPEAKERS? OH, I'M SORRY.

I FORGOT WE HAD REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

[02:35:01]

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT.

YES, PLEASE PROCEED.

HI, MY NAME IS REBECCA TAYLOR AND I LIVE AT THE BARTON PLACE CONDOMINIUMS I CHAIR FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, A COMMITTEE THAT WE CALL THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE THAT PAYS ATTENTION TO ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS, WHICH ARE HAPPENING WITH GREATER FREQUENCY LATELY.

UM, ALONG THE STRETCH OF, TO ME, BETWEEN LAMAR AND STERLING, WHICH IS THE ROAD THAT GOES BY TWO, HIS AND IS NEXT TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

UH, WE ARE MARTIN PLACE IS ON RECORD AND THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HOA BOARD, UH, IS ON RECORD AS BEING AN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED MF SIX ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS.

AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THAT.

UM, TO ME ITSELF IS MUCH MORE INTENSIVELY, A RESIDENTIAL AREA THAN MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO REALIZE, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE TO ME WITH ALL THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE ALONG BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR OR FIVE APARTMENT AND CONDOMINIUM BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALONG TO ME, THEY CONTAIN BETWEEN 1,015 HUNDRED RESIDENTS.

IN FACT, BARTON PLACE, WHICH HAS 270 CONDOMINIUM UNITS AND PROBABLY AROUND 500 RESIDENTS ITSELF.

THE AGGREGATE VALUE ON THAT PROPERTY IS OVER $150 MILLION.

SO THE AGGREGATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES REPRESENTED IN THE VERY SHORT THREE BLOCK AREA OF, TO ME IS ON THE ORDER OF THREE OR $400 MILLION.

SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PRESENCE, UM, IN A RESIDENTIAL, UH, UH, USE, UH, THAT IS ALREADY ON THE STREET EARLIER LAST YEAR, THE SCHLOCKY PUD AS IT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AT LAMAR AND TO ME WAS APPROVED FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE OFFICE USE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CITY AT THE TIME, ESTIMATED 5,000 EXTRA VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY WILL BE GENERATED BY THAT RATHER CHALLENGING, UH, TRAFFIC SITUATION COMING IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE THERE IN OUR VIEW AS RESIDENT, THE INTENSIVELY PEDESTRIAN USE OF TWO NEEDS TO GET TO AND FROM ZILKER PARK BUTLER CHAUFFEURS, I CAN BIKE TRAIL BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

AND SO MANY OF THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS THAT DEFINE THE BEATING HEART OF AUSTIN HERE, UM, MEANS THAT WE NEED TO CUT OFF ANY FURTHER INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO ANY FURTHER INCREASE IN TRAFFIC.

BECAUSE TO ME, SHE SIMPLY CANNOT SUPPORT IT.

THERE'S NO WAY TO WIDEN IT.

DID WE LOSE THE COLOR? SHE STILL, UH, FINISHED AND IN PLACE.

SO WE ARE AN OPPOSITION.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY NO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON.

AND OUR ZONING SPEAKERS IS JERRY YEAR.

WE CAN RUN US THROUGH THE ZONING AGENDA WILL DO.

[Zoning Consent Agenda]

IT'S CASEY 14, 2020 ONE HUNDRED, A HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PART-TIMING COUNCIL.

I'M JERRY ROSCOMMON WITH THE HOUSING AND PLAIN DEPARTMENT HERE TO DO YOUR, UH, ZONING CONSENTED THEM TODAY.

UM, FIRST WE'LL START WITH ITEM 1 43.

THIS IS A POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 21ST.

I'M NUMBER 1 23.

THIS KC 14,000 21 0 1 14.

THIS IS A POSTPONED REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DON'T 1 24.

THIS IS THE POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM NUMBER 1 25 IS KC 14, 2020 0 1 46.

THIS IS THE POST-FALL REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 1 26 IS NPA 2020 100 0 1 7 0.02.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T ONE 27TH, C 14, 2020 155.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T REMEMBER 1 28 KC 14, 2020 1 0 0 59.

THIS IS A POSTPONED REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO OCTOBER 21ST ITEM NUMBER 1 29 IS 50 14, 2020 1 0 0 1 7.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I HAVE NUMBER ONE THIRTIES, CASEY 14, 2020 0 1 44.

THIS IS A POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 1 31 IS K C 40 AND 2020 0 1 51.

THIS IS POSTPONE REQUESTS BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I AM 1 32 IS THE ITEM THAT THE SPEAKER TO SPOKE TO SEE 14, 2020 ONE ZERO ZERO ZERO NINE.

THIS IS THE POST-CALL REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 21ST ITEM NUMBER 1 33 IS CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 1 15.

THIS IS POSTPONE WERE REQUESTED BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH, ITEM 1 34 4 0 180 7 0.02 DOT

[02:40:01]

S H.

I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING I NEED TO READ INTO THE RECORD.

UM, FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH CAP METRO, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO UPDATE EXHIBIT C THE GENERAL LAND USE MAP AND REVISED EXHIBIT E THE ZONING AND LAND USE SUMMARY TABLE TO REFLECT THE ADDITION OF A TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL.

THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATIONAL TERMINAL SITE IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF SLAUGHTER LANE, UH, WEST OF VERTEX BOULEVARD.

WITH THAT ADDITION, WE CAN OFFER THAT ONE FOR CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD ITEM NUMBER 1 35 IS CASEY 14, 2020 193.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 1 36 IS CASE 14, 2020 1,994.

I CAN, UH, THIS IS A POSTCARD REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T WANT 37.

THIS CASEY 14, 2020 1 0 1 11.

THIS IS A POST-MEAL REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH AT A 1 38.

THIS CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 1 12.

THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 1 39 IS CASEY 14, 2020 101 13.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DID NUMBER ONE 40TH CASE, UM, C 14, 2020 1 0 1 19.

THIS IS POST REQUESTS BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM 1 41 IS K C 14, 2020 1 0 100.

THIS IS POSTPONED REQUESTS BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

UM, ITEM NUMBER 1 42 IS 14, 2020 1 0 1 17.

THIS IS A POSTCARD REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DON'T REMEMBER 1 43 IS CASEY 14, 2020 180.

ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS ITEM NUMBER 1 44 IS KC 14, 2020 1 0 0 90.

THIS IS POST POLL REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T 1 44.

SKC 40 IN 2020 1 0 1 0 1.

THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T WANT IT.

46.

THIS CASE NPA 2020 IS 0 21 0.01.

ON SECOND, THIRD READINGS, I HAVE NUMBER 1, 1 47 IS CASEY 14, 2020 0, 0 75.

ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, I DIDN'T REMEMBER 1, 1 48 IS CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 0 87.

I CAN OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND, THIRD, AND READINGS WITH THE, WITH THE READING OF ONE ADDITIONAL CONDITION.

AND THAT IS TO PROHIBIT DRIVE-THROUGH SERVICES AS AN ACCESSORY TO A RESTAURANT USE.

SO WITH THE ADDITION, 1 48 WOULD BE CONSENT APPROVAL.

ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, 1 49.

THIS COULD SEE 14 88, 0 1 37, RCT.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO A REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

ITEM ONE 50 IS CAUSE NPA 2020 0 0 0 2 0.01.

ON SECOND READING, ONLY 1 51 IS CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 0 61.

ON SECOND READING ONLY ITEM NUMBER 1 52 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM YOUR AGENDA.

AND THERE IS NO ACTION AS REQUIRED.

I DIDN'T HAVE NUMBER 1 53 IS CASEY 14, 2020 1 0 0 23 DOT S H.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

I DIDN'T NUMBER 1 54.

2020 1 0 1 1 6.

THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH AND FINALLY ITEM 1 65 IS HR 2020 1 0 8 5 7 3 1 AND HR, 2021 DASH 8 5 7 3 9.

I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR A POST-MEAL REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO OCTOBER 14TH.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE ZONING AGENDA MAYOR PER DUMMY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, JERRY.

ALL RIGHT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS. 1 34, 1 40 AND 1 46 THROUGH 1 48.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAYOR BUCK? I HAVE, UH, UH, I WANT TO ASK JERRY A QUESTION ON ITEM ONE 50 AND ONE 50 AT 1 51, AS SOON AS WE KNOCK OUT, AS SOON AS WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'M GOING TO BRING BACK CONSENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT ON CONSENT, RIGHT? I DON'T THINK IT'S ON GOOD SENSE.

IT LOOKS FROM MY NOTES.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.

DID HE SAY CONSENT? YEAH.

AGENDA, A MOTION BY A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, THERE WAS A POSTPONE REQUEST EARLIER THAT REQUESTS WAS WITHDRAWN, UH, THIS MORNING.

AND I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, AGREE WITH IT.

IF WE, UH, CAME BACK ON A THIRD READING INCENTIVE FOR NOVEMBER FORCE TO GIVE THAT GIVE THE, UH, CONTACT TEAM CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE.

WE CAN DO THAT CUSTOMER.

WE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR THIRD REEM BEFORE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IF YOU NEED A MOTION, I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEEDED.

I DO NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT

[02:45:01]

ALL IN FAVOR.

IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH MAYOR EITHER OFF THE DICE.

UM, WOULD NOT BE AN APPROPRIATE

TIME.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER MY VOTE ON 1 62.

I THOUGHT WE WERE APPROVING JUST THE WORD CHANGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA BROUGHT FORWARD.

NOT ACTUALLY VOTING IN FULL FOR THE ITEM.

OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO SEPARATE VOTES.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT MISTAKE.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FIRST TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MOTIONS THAT WE RECONSIDER? ITEM NUMBER 1 62.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, SECOND, THE MOTION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT? OKAY.

AND WHICH CASE? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

WE WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT YOU WERE VOTING? NO, CORRECT.

THAT'S A, NO 1, 1 62.

AND JUST FROM A PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY VOTE ON THE RECONSIDERATION AND THEN HAVE THE MAYOR MAKE THE MOTION AGAIN AND REBUILT IT.

SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD VOTE ON THE RECONSIDERATION ON THE RECONSIDERATION AND THEN I THINK THE MAYOR SHOULD MAKE HIS MOTION AGAIN.

AND WE SHOULD JUST TAKE UP THE ITEM AND VOTE ON IT AGAIN.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

I HEARD YOUR QUESTION EARLIER AND I'M SORRY THAT I THINK I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE ASKING.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CLARIFYING THAT'S.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR MAY OR THE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE YOUR MOTION AGAIN ON ITEM NUMBER 1 62? WOULD I MOVE TO A PASS OR 1 62 WITH THE LANGUAGE CHANGE AS DISCUSSED EARLIER TO HAVE THE WORD SUBSTANTIAL ALL IN FAVOR OR SIGNIFICANT ONLINE, THE 30TH SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT CAN I GET A SECOND TO THE MAYOR'S MOTION? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SECONDS THAT MOTION ALL IN FAVOR.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 10 YESES AND ONE.

NO, THANK YOU.

THAT'S BARBECUE.

AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE AT 2:17 PM.

SO WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO I WAS GOING TO MOVE US INTO KNOCKING OUT ITEMS, UM, NUMBER ONE 50 AND 1 51, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT THAT COVERED BECAUSE THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS WAS WITHDRAWN.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT OKAY.

AND WHICH CASE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO HFC.

SO WE WILL NOW RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 2:17 PM AND CONVENE THE

[Austin Housing Finance Corporation]

AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.

WHO DO WE HAVE REPRESENTING HFC? I SEE MANDY, MANDY AND I ARE ON VIDEO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RUN US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA DIRECTOR? TRUE LOVE.

GO AHEAD, MANDY TO MAIL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.

THE FIRST ITEM IS MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 11TH, AUGUST 26 AND SEPTEMBER 2ND.

THE SECOND ITEM IS APPROVING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORMATION OF A H F C NONPROFIT SUBSIDIARY CALLED H H S E KAREN POINT NONPROFIT CORPORATION.

UM, AND THAT NONPROFIT WILL ACT AS A GENERAL PARTNER IN A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP 130 UNITS, SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON SPRINGDALE ROAD.

UH, THE THIRD ITEM IS CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO A 25 MILLION, UM, MULTI-FAMILY REVENUE BOND, UM, UH, ISSUANCE FOR A 240 UNIT MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT 11 700 DEANDA LANE KNOWN AS COLORADO CREEK APARTMENTS.

AND THE FOURTH ITEM IS, UM, AUTHORIZING HFC TO ISSUE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, REVENUE, BONDS FOR THAT SAME DEVELOPMENT UP TO $25 MILLION IN PRIVATE EQUITY EQUITY PLANS THAT OFFER THOSE FOUR ITEMS ON CONSENT.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OH, THANK YOU.

SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS

[02:50:01]

ONE THROUGH FOUR.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDS.

THAT MOTION, UM, ALL IN FAVOR UNANIMOUS, UH, MAY RATHER YOU ARE ON THE DICE.

SO THAT ONE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AND MAY OF PROTON, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR OH, IT'S A MEMBER COSTAR'S OFFICE.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

THAT ONE IS UNANIMOUS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASSETTE AFTER DIES.

SO THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS ADJOURNED.

WE WILL NOW RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 2:20 PM.

AND WITH YOUR EVER PRESENT GRACE AND KINDNESS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE

[Additional Item 2]

AND JUST SAY, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, DRIVING THE SHIP FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER APPRECIATED MAYOR ADLER SO MUCH, BUT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN KIND AND THOUGHTFUL AND PATIENT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

NUMBER ONE 15 AND ONE 16.

OKAY, SO NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO, I BELIEVE ITEMS

[115. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 to consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as Davis White Northeast Neighborhood Park and Southern Walnut Creek Greenbelt, for Austin Water to construct, install, use, maintain, and repair approximately 840 linear feet (51,506 SF) of permanent, subterranean wastewater lines and approximately 6,925 square feet of temporary work area in order to provide wastewater service to the future East Parke Subdivision.]

DO WE HAVE PART STAFF PRESENT? I BELIEVE THEY NEEDED TO READ SOMETHING INTO THE RECORD FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE 15.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR.

SO, SO WE'LL SKIP TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 16.

I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THAT ITEM.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY.

UM, UH, JUST HAVING SOME ISSUES CONNECTING, UM, YOUR AFTERNOON ITEM, UH, EXCUSE ME, ITEM ONE 15 IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CHAPTER 26 STATE LAW TO AND WILDLIFE CODE.

MY NAME IS GREGORY.

I WANT THIS, BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE PURPOSE FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS DUE TO A PERMANENT CHANGE IN USE OF DEDICATED PARKLAND FOR A NON RECREATION USE.

THIS REQUEST COMES FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT TO BUILD THE WASTEWATER LINE WITH PORTION OF DEDICATED PARKLAND.

WHEN IS DAVIS WHITE, NORTH EAST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND SO THEN WE WANT TO CREATE GREENBELT LEGAL FACT-FINDING FOR THIS REQUEST IS THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE OR PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING A PARKLAND, WHICH INCLUDES OUR PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARK.

AS PART OF THIS PROJECT MITIGATION PLANS, TOTALING 42,108 PAGE READ THE KITCHEN IN THE US.

WE'RE HAVING A TOUGH TIME HEARING YOU.

I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT WANT TO MUTE YOUR VIDEO.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I'M ALMOST DONE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW BETTER? THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.

THE DATE FOR PUBLIC NOTIFICATION IN THE STATESMEN ARE SEPTEMBER 5TH, 12TH, AND 19TH OF THIS YEAR.

I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY COLLEAGUES? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL? YES.

OR THE EASEMENT THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I MISSED.

SO YOU CUT OUT JUST ON THE PART THAT I'M MOST INTERESTED IN.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF THE MITIGATION, AND I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY WHAT YOU HAD RESPONDED TO ME IN EMAIL, WHICH IS, UM, THE AMOUNT OF THE MITIGATION IS 42,189.

IS THAT THE, WAS THAT THE AMOUNT ASSOCIATE? I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THE AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LICENSE AGREEMENT TO HAVE THE UNDERGROUND WORK.

WOULD YOU MIND CLARIFYING WHAT THE 42,000 IS FOR SURE.

UM, AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, AND ACTUALLY COUNT ON REALLY THE AMOUNT OF $42,189 WAS, UM, THE AMOUNT FOR THE, UH, TAKING PARKLAND.

THIS IS, UM, THIS WAS KINDA COORDINATED WITH THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY OR THE APPRAISER TO, TO EVALUATE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY BEING TAKEN FOR THE, UH, WASTEWATER THAT ARE PROPOSED UNDERGROUND.

SO IT IS ACTUALLY MITIGATION THAT IS COMING TO THE PARTS IN RELATION TO, OKAY, SO THAT'S NOT OKAY THAT, SO I THINK THAT I HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AGAIN, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT'S THE REAL ESTATE COST.

THAT'S THE REAL, THAT'S THE VALUE THAT REAL ESTATE THROUGH OUR THIRD PARTY APPRAISAL ASSIGNED TO THE VALUE OF THE LAND THAT'S BEING TAKEN, UM, THE 840 LINEAR FEET.

SO IT'S NOT COVERING ADDITIONAL MITIGATION FOR THE DISRUPTION TO THE PARK, JUST FOR THE VALUE OF THE REAL ESTATE.

JUST, IT ACTUALLY INCLUDES THE TAKING OR THE ACTUAL, UM, WHAT WE WOULD CALL CHANGE IN USE OR MAY USE,

[02:55:01]

BUT IT ALSO IS FOR ANY TEMPORARY SPACE THAT IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INSTALLATION OF THAT IMPROVEMENT.

SO IT'S INCLUSIVE OF BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY USE.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM REAL ESTATE WHO CAN BREAK DOWN WHAT COSTS, WHAT OF THE 42,000 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE VALUE OF THE LAND VERSUS THE, UM, MITIGATION FOR THE TEMPORARY DISRUPTION? I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW THOSE TWO THINGS BREAK DOWN.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM REAL ESTATE, SO MAYBE THEY CAN GET BACK TO US.

BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND TO WHAT EXTENT THE DEVELOPER IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NUMBER TWO, I BELIEVE THE MANAGER WAS, WAS ATTEMPTING TO RESPOND TO YOUR, YOUR REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS.

SORRY.

HI, MR. GATES.

UM, ONLY THE PULL THAT APPRAISAL.

SO I APOLOGIZE.

AND LET ME GET MY HANDS ON THAT APPRAISAL AND I WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOU AN ANSWER MOMENTARILY.

I ACTUALLY, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I, I DO, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY.

I DO HAVE, UH, ACCESS TO THE APPRAISAL.

UM, AND THERE IS A, UM, DID YOU WANT IT SPECIFICALLY A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THE VALUE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE APPRAISER? WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND THE RIBS AND THE PERMANENT, UH, YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SHALL I ASK MY OTHER QUESTIONS OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO AHEAD AND ASK MY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS ITEM AND AS THEY'RE GETTING, GETTING ANSWERS.

SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WORK IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF, UH, BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST IN PROVIDING WASTEWATER SERVICE TO THE FUTURE EAST PARK SUBDIVISION.

AND I GUESS I'M WONDERING TO WHAT EXTENT ARE ANY OF THOSE COSTS BEING BORNE BY THE DEVELOPER OF THAT SUBDIVISION? I DO, I BELIEVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT, UM, AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE FROM THAT DEPARTMENT COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT MORE ACCURATELY.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO, UM, MAYBE RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION.

I KNOW THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THIS LEADING, YOU KNOW, I THINK I DO SEE ACTUALLY IN LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION AGAIN, I THINK 40,722 IS FOR THE PERMANENT.

AND THEN THE TEMPORARY IS 1,467.

UM, HOW LONG WILL THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREA? HOW LONG WILL THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION, HOW LONG WILL CONSTRUCTION HAPPEN? CAUSE THAT THAT AMOUNT OF 1467 SEEMS PRETTY LOW.

MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION DURATION IS ROUGHLY ABOUT 11 MONTHS.

SO I GUESS THEN MY FOLLOWUP QUESTION WOULD BE HOW THAT COMPARES TO OTHER MITIGATION, UM, FEES IN PARKLAND.

AGAIN, THAT SEEMS JUST A LITTLE LOW FOR 18 FOR 11 MONTHS OF DISRUPTION ON THAT PART OF THE PARK.

AND SO SORRY, MR. MENDEZ.

NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO RESPOND THAT I, I KNOW THAT THE THIRD PARTY APPRAISER THAT WAS HIRED BY, UM, OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE, UM, CONDUCTED THIS ANALYSIS AND APPRAISAL.

SO THEY COULD PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MR. GATES COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF HOW THAT LAND VALUE COMPARES TO OTHER PROPERTIES ACROSS THE CITY THAT MAY IMPACT PARKLAND.

BUT, UM, IN THIS CASE, AN APPRAISER WAS HIRED, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT, BUT I KNOW MR. GATES IS HERE.

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESPOND.

YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE PERSONAL YET, BUT I WILL SAY THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, UM, THE, UH, PROBABLY ONLY TEMPORARY EASEMENTS IS ANYWHERE FROM NINE TO 11% FOR TURN ON THE LAND.

UM, SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY A GROUND LEASE AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHERE YOU SEE IT.

IT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED WHEN I GET THAT APPRAISAL, IF IT'S PROBABLY USUALLY THE AVERAGE IS 10% OF THE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT OF THE LAND.

AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE NEW PRESENCE WE DO.

AND IS THERE SOMEBODY, THANK YOU.

IS THERE SOMEBODY ON FROM AUSTIN WATER WHO CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE CITY IS WHETHER THE DEVELOPER IS BEARING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE UTILITY LINES FROM THE BACKUP? IT LOOKS LIKE THE MITIGATION MONIES, UH, A 42,000 AND CHANGES COMING FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN THE DEVELOPER.

[03:00:02]

THIS IS BUSINESS STRATEGY MANAGER WITH AUSTIN WATER.

I CAN PROVIDE THE CLARIFICATION FOR THE FIELD.

UM, AUSTIN, IT'S JUST A LEGAL PROCEDURE, UH, CONFORMED BY BOTH CITY LEGAL AND OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE THAT AUSTIN MOTTO PAYS.

THE ACTUAL COST IS BORN BY THE DEVELOPER.

UH, PART CAN CLARIFY ON, UH, THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF WHY PART CANNOT ACCEPT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS DIRECTLY FROM THE DEVELOPER.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY AUSTIN WATER IS SUPPORTING THIS PAYMENT.

SO THOSE THAT, UH, THE DOLLARS ARE ORIGINATING WITH THE DEVELOPER, JUST TO CLARIFY.

YES MA'AM.

UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AS WELL.

UM, I WOULD JUST ASK OUR MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BACKUP IN THE FUTURE REFLECTS THAT PARTICULAR, THAT PARTICULAR FACT, UM, ARE THESE, UH, UH, I BELIEVE I HEARD IN THE EARLIER DISCUSSION THAT THESE WILL STAY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WILL THEY STAY WITH THIS SAME AREA? I MEAN, WILL THEY BE DESIGNATED, WILL THOSE MITIGATION FUNDS BE DESIGNATED OR COULD WE FROM THE DIOCESE DESIGNATE THAT THEY STAY WITHIN THIS WITHIN THE DAVIS WHITE NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND SOUTH SOUTHERN WALNUT GREEN CREEK WALNUT CREEK GREENBELT? AND IF SO, I WOULD, I MEAN, I WOULD BE INTERESTED MAYOR PRO TEM, SINCE THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT, I BELIEVE IN YOUR OPINION ON THAT.

BUT I THINK SINCE THIS, SINCE THE MITIGATION FEES ARE ORIGINATING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TAKING OF LAND AT THIS PARTICULAR PARK, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MITIGATION, THE MITIGATION FEES BE INVESTED BACK IN THIS SAME PARK.

I THINK THAT FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY WITH MITIGATION FUNDS, COUNCIL MEMBER TO, UM, ASSIGN THOSE FUNDS TO ANY FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THOSE TWO PARTS SHOULD BE NOTED AND THAT ARE LISTED IN THE YEAR NOW ON THE AGENDA.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN DO AS A DEPARTMENT, BUT IF THIS COUNCIL WISHES TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND EMOTION, THAT INCLUDES THAT LANGUAGE, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO DO SO AS WELL.

JUST SO THAT IT'S ON THE RECORD.

IF YOU LIKE, THAT WOULD BE MY, I WOULD BE, UM, INTERESTED IN, IN DOING THAT.

IF, IF NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE A CONCERN JUST CLARIFYING OR PROVIDING THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT THOSE MITIGATION FEES TO BE INVESTED BACK IN THE PARK, UM, THE AREAS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY IT.

UM, SO NUMBER, THIS IS KIMBERLY MCNEALY DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

TYPICALLY MITIGATION FEES ARE, ARE USED WITHIN A PARTICULAR REGION THAT IS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE PARK, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL.

MICHAEL GATES AGAIN, UH, INTERIM OFFICER WILL SAY SERVICES.

I HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN OUT OF THE VALUE IF YOU'D LIKE THAT.

TOTAL COMPENSATION IS $42,189.

UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, CENTRALLY THREE WASTEWATER HAS BEEN, WE'VE GOT TWO TRACKS OF LAND.

UM, SO FOR THE FIRST WASTEWATER EASEMENT, THE VALUE WAS $27,609.

UM, FOR THE, UH, IT'S CALLED WASTEWATER EASEMENT TO THAT'S $6,000, $6,044 AND WASTEWATER EASTMAN THREE, $7,069.

AND THEN THERE'S A TEMPORARY WORKSPACES FOR BOTH, UH, FOR THE TRACT, A, THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE VALUE WAS $1,404.

AND FOR THE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE ON TRACK B, THAT WAS $63.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DETAIL.

UM, I THINK I HAD MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED, SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION UNLESS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS A CONCERN ABOUT IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MANNER.

UH, TELL ME ON THE COUNCIL OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, IT HAD BEEN, I GUESS, A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS, A FEW I CAN THINK OF WHERE THERE WAS MITIGATION FUNDS THAT WERE NOT PUT BACK IN THE SAME PART, BUT WERE PUT IN SOMETHING THAT WAS NEARBY FOR, UH, FOR A, FOR A PRIOR HEART, A HIGHER PRIORITY USE, UH, OR SOMETHING WHERE IT HAVE MORE IMPACT IN THE AREA.

UH, ALSO SERVING THAT IT ALSO SERVES THAT THAT PARK SERVES.

IS THERE A REASON WHY IN THIS INSTANCE YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT DISCRETION? I DON'T ACTUALLY REMEMBER MAYOR.

I COULD NOT.

YOU PROBABLY ARE CORRECT.

I DON'T REMEMBER.

I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING DONE THIS ANYTIME RECENTLY.

AND SO I COULDN'T

[03:05:01]

REMEMBER WHETHER THERE, I COULDN'T REMEMBER HOW WE WOULD HANDLE IT, HOW WE WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT.

I DO SEE NOTHING IN THE BACKUP THAT INDICATES OR CODIFIES THAT THE MITIGATION FEES HAVE TO BE SPENT EITHER AT, ON THIS PARKLAND OR IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

SO, I MEAN, IF THERE'S ANOTHER HIGH PRIORITY PROJECT IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT TOO.

I JUST DON'T SEE ANY, I APPRECIATE THAT THAT'S THE PRACTICE OR THAT AS MR. MONTEZ SAID THAT, THAT THERE'S, THAT STAFF HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DO THAT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT ACTUALLY EXPRESSES THAT INTENT IN WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY.

PERHAPS IT EXISTS SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CODE AND FOR THE, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS IN THE CODE OR WHETHER IT WAS PRACTICE.

IF IT'S PRACTICE, THEN I WILL JOIN YOU IN THAT LITTLE BIT BROADER STATEMENT, BUT SURE IS WRITTEN SOMEWHERE.

UH, I CAN RESPOND TO THAT MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN TURBO, UM, MITIGATION IS NOT, UH, WRITTEN AS PART OF THE CHAPTER 26 STATE LAW, WHICH IS IN THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE.

IT IS A PRACTICE OF THE CITY.

IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN ANYWHERE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER 12, I WOULD SUPPORT YOU AND GIVING THAT DIRECTION IF HE'D MAKE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT POTTER.

SO IT'S TO SERVE THAT AREA.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.

UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, I GUESS YOU NEED A MOTION FOR IT.

WE DO.

LET'S GO BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE JUMPED FROM ITEM ONE 15 TO ITEM ONE 16 AND THEN BACK TO ITEM ONE 15.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT I DIDN'T MISS SOMETHING.

I THINK WE'RE STILL ON ONE 15, EXCLUSIVELY COVERED 15.

CAUSE I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING THAT WE APPLIED TO 16.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I'VE SAID THE WRONG NUMBER, BUT WE'RE STILL JUST TO BE CLEAR.

I WAS, I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE READ IN THE RECORD FOR THAT ONE.

SO THAT, THAT HAPPENED ALREADY AS WELL.

IN WHICH CASE, YES, WE NEED A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TEVA, MOVE UP, MOVE APPROVAL OF, UM, THIS ITEM.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, APPROVAL OF ITEM, NUMBER ONE 15, MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

TOBO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ALL IN FAVOR.

I DO WANT TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL DIRECTION THAT THE MITIGATION FEES, UM, ARE, ARE INVESTED IN EITHER THIS PARKLAND OR IN HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, SO, SO THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM ONE 16 WITH THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION.

AND THEN WE ALSO NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE FLIP LIEN VARIANCES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICE BUILDING WEST CANAAN DID.

1 15, 1 15.

DID I SAY 15 OR 16? ONE 15.

THANK YOU SAID 16, 15, 15.

THANK GOD.

CONFUSING.

BECAUSE FOR AWHILE IT HAD ITEM ONE 16 ON, ON THE SCREEN.

THAT'S THAT WAS CONFUSING.

I THINK TOO MUCH OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.

UM, SO I HAD A NOTE TO FOLLOW UP NOTE TO MYSELF TO FOLLOW UP, UM, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD PUT THIS IN A POLICY OR A CODE ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN WE'RE HAVING MEDICATION BEING DONE AND USING OUR PARKS IN THIS WAY THAT IT SHOULD GO BACK TO BENEFIT THE PARKS.

I KNOW THAT WHEN I WORKED ON RAMSEY PARK, WE HAD A WATER REESE WATER PROJECT.

UM, THAT WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN US BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT.

UM, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THAT MONEY WOULD GO TO THAT PARK OR ANY OTHER OTHER PARK.

UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON.

I DIDN'T BRING IT UP TODAY CAUSE KURT HAS BEEN SICK.

SO I WASN'T PREPARED TO DO THAT TODAY.

UM, BUT, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN COLLABORATE ON, UM, MOVING FORWARD COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY ELSE, IN WHICH CASE I DO BELIEVE WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR.

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE ARE UNANIMOUS EVERYBODY'S IN THE DICE, RIGHT? SO THAT ONE IS UNANIMOUS.

IN WHICH CASE WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 16.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT ONE ALSO HAS A PRESENTATION.

AM I MISTAKEN ABOUT THE PRESENTATION FOR ITEM ONE 16 MAYOR PRO TEM? I WOULD EXPECT YOU'RE RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE, MAY PRETEND, WOULD IT BE, DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING FOR ONE 13 AND ONE 40? WE DO.

AND I HAVE A SEPARATE THING THAT, SO ITEM NUMBER ONE, 16

[03:10:01]

AND I DEFINITELY HAVE IN MY NOTES THAT SOMEBODY'S SUPPOSED TO OFFER US A PRESENTATION.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THEM MOVED OVER.

TO THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT.

THANK YOU, STEPHEN.

CAN YOU HEAR US AT CITY HALL? THEY'RE BOTH STEPHENS.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE US OVER TO ITEMS. NUMBER ONE 13

[Items 113 & 114]

AND ONE 14.

SO DO WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USE DESCRIBED THERE IN THAT MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

ALL IN FAVOR.

THIS ITEM IS UNANIMOUS.

ARE WE ALL SET FOR 1 16, 1 13 AND ONE 14? WE DID THANK YOU.

WE MAY BE HAVING A TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH STEVEN MADDIX.

IN WHICH CASE WE COULD MOVE ON TO ITEMS 1 17, 3, 4 80.

SO LET'S START WITH ITEM NUMBER

[3. Approve a resolution authorizing Austin Water to continue a pilot program and issue incentives during Fiscal Year 2021-2022 for alternative onsite water reuse systems for large new commercial and multi-family developments under the utility’s new regulatory framework, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000, and not to exceed $500,000 for each individual project.]

THREE.

YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.

I'M TOGGLING BETWEEN LIKE SEVEN DIFFERENT PAGES IN SCRIPTS, COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, BUT I THINK SOMEBODY PULLED IT.

SO, UM, THIS IS THE PILOT PROGRAM RELATED TO WATER FORWARD.

AND SO I WANTED TO MOVE, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

SO I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE SECOND.

AND SO, UH, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH PO UNP HAS SAID AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.

SO YOU BOTH SECOND TOO.

I'M SO MOVED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AND THEN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS? UH, YES, MA'AM BY THE TIME I HAD PULLED IT FOR DISCUSSION, I HAVE JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR OUR STAFF.

I SEE FROM THE BACKUP, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN ONE RECEIVED, AND THESE CAN BE UP TO $500,000, WHICH WOULD LEAVE JUST ONE POTENTIALLY ONLY ONE OTHER REMAINING.

UM, AND LET ME SAY, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.

I INTEND TO VOTE ON IT, VOTE FOR IT.

UM, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.

THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS, THERE IS AT LEAST ONE.

UM, I CAN SEE AT LEAST ONE PROJECT THAT I THINK IS RELATED TO OUR RESILIENCE HUB INITIATIVE AND POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER COMMUNITY GOALS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS FUNDING.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, DIRECTOR MS. SORROWS IS WHETHER, WHETHER OUR APPROVAL TODAY WOULD PRECLUDE US FROM LATER MAKING, UM, LATER OFFERING YOU THE DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INVEST THIS FUND, THE REST OF THE MONEY IN ONE PARTICULAR, IN A PARTICULAR PROJECT, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

AND IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY EVEN BE CAPPED AT A MILLION DOLLARS.

IF WE HAVE, WE HAVE OTHER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, WE SOMETIMES DON'T SPEND ALL OF OUR BUDGETS.

IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO PROJECTS.

I THINK THIS WOULDN'T PRECLUDE THAT IN ANY WAY IN 500,000, ISN'T A GUARANTEE IT'S REALLY INDEXED

[03:15:01]

SO IT COULD BE MUCH SMALLER THAN THAT ALSO.

YEAH, THAT'S MY ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I PULLED IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST, UH, I KNOW THAT AS I SAID, THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PROJECT THAT I THINK WOULD, COULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS FUNDING AND THIS PARTICULAR INCENTIVE.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CON TO TALK WITH AUSTIN WATER ABOUT THAT BEFORE, UM, BEFORE IT APPEARS ON OUR AGENDA IN AWARDING THE REST OF THE FUNDING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

YOU BET ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER.

WE NEED TO VOTE ON MY PRAYER TIME.

THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM, NUMBER THREE, IT'S UNANIMOUS AND I BELIEVE IT'S 10 YESES ONE.

NO, THANK YOU.

NO, I'M NOT A NO, NO, IT WAS, IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER COW AND WE TASTE NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

SORRY.

I DON'T RECALL WHO PULLED THIS ITEM.

ITEM FOUR WAS TO BE TAKEN UP AFTER I DISCUSSED IT IN AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SESSION.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO NUMBER FOUR AND OH, WHAT WE DID, WE DID EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO IN WHICH CASE, SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE NEED TO START WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE 18.

GOT IT.

READY FOR ONE

[118. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance for the full-purpose annexation of approximately 25.0 acres located in Travis County at 11213 North FM 620 Road; and ratify an agreement with the owner of the land for the provision of services. The property is adjacent to Austin Council District 6.]

AT TWO, WE ARE.

THANK YOU, JERRY.

UM, ITEM NUMBER ONE, 18 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THE ITEM IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 25 ACRES LOCATED IN TRAVIS COUNTY AT 1 1, 2 1 3 NORTH FM SIX 20 ROAD, AND TO RATIFY A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES, THE SERVICE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE CITY, AND A COPY IS INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP.

UM, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO EDIT OVER TO CITY MANAGER, KRONK, WHO I BELIEVE WILL, UM, WALK US THROUGH, UM, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES REGARDING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS CASE.

THANK YOU, JERRY AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING DISCUSSION AND STAFF HAS REALLY WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS AS MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE.

WE SENT OUT MEMOS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ON JUNE 8TH AND ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 27TH.

AND AGAIN, THIS MORNING, UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNCIL POLICIES THAT HAVE A BEARING ON COUNCIL'S FINAL DETERMINATION REGARDING THIS ITEM AND TAKING ALL OF THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE PERSPECTIVES BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THIS, UH, FROM THESE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS IN TOTALITY, I'M RECOMMENDING, UH, FROM MY OFFICE THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER APPROVING THIS FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, FOR THE REASONS SUMMARIZE IN A POWERPOINT THAT I'M GOING TO ASK A CTM TO BRING FORWARD.

NOW, ESSENTIALLY THE ANNEXATION ADDRESSES MANY ISSUES AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT'S ALSO CONSISTENT WITH A RESOLUTION.

UH, PREVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED IN 2020 TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ON THIS PROPERTY.

THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS AND ALSO REQUIRES OUR BUILDINGS TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMITS AND ADHERE TO TECHNICAL CODES.

IT ADDS A PROPERTIES TO OUR TAX BASE.

IT BRINGS THE ENTIRE, UH, 34 ACRES UNDER OUR STANDARD AND REVIEW JURISDICTION.

AND IF ANNEX, THE WHOLE SITE WOULD BE SERVED BY JUST ONE PUBLIC SAFETY PROVIDER INSTEAD OF A SPLIT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY AND ESD.

IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF THE STR NEXT SLIDE.

TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THIS TRACK IS ALREADY IN THE FULL PURPOSE CITY LIMITS, WHICH AUSTIN WATER IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SERVE.

IT'S SURROUNDED AND IMPACTED BY EXISTING UTILITY SERVICES AND EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

UH, IT'S ALREADY HAS ACCESS TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PROVISION OF WASTEWATER SERVICES THROUGH THE STR IS AN ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE TRACK.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, ALL AUSTIN WATER CRITERIA MANUALS WILL APPLY ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL APPLY, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CROSS ENVIRONMENTAL TO CROSS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE FEATURES.

DSD WILL CONTINUE TO INSPECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SEE THAT IT CONFIRMS WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.

ALTHOUGH WATER SURGE PROTECTION DID NOT, UH, SUPPORT THIS REQUEST THEY WOULD HAVE COMMITTED TO.

AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH AUSTIN WATER TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES AND MITIGATE ADDITIONAL RISKS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS AS THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FINAL DESIGN IS COMPLETED.

OUR ENTIRE STAFF IS HERE TO

[03:20:01]

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND WITH THAT ALTERNATE OVER BACK TO MACRO-PRO TEMP.

THANK YOU, MANAGER.

COLLEAGUES.

DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER KELLY.

I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.

I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS.

COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY.

WELL, WE SHOULD MAKE THE MOTION, GET THE SECOND THEN ASK THE QUESTIONS YOU RIGHT.

SO, UM, THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, SECONDED BY HAND.

IT'S PICKED SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS? UM, YEAH, I'M WANTING TO KNOW, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS? WE GOT OUR WATER DIRECTOR, GREG BIZARROS WHO CAN START TO ANSWER THAT, BUT WE ALSO MAY HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS I WANT TO CHIME IN AS WELL.

I'D ALSO ASK ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, KEVIN CHRITTON, DIDN'T BE MOVED OVER, UH, FOR OTHER POSSIBLE QUESTIONS, BUT, UH, BUT, UH, AS A, AS THE MANAGER, UH, I'M SORRY, WHO ASKED THE QUESTION? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER AS THE MANAGER, UM, GREG DIRECTOR OF BOSTON WATER, AS THE MANAGER INDICATED ARE ALL OF OUR DESIGN CRITERIA WILL APPLY TO THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.

SO WE HAVE VERY HIGH STANDARDS IN TERMS OF, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS, UH, BUILDING STANDARDS.

UH, WE HAVE A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS DESIGNED AND PERMITTED AND ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCTED UNDER INSPECTION OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WE WILL OWN OPERATE AND MAINTAIN ALL THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT, UH, INDEFINITELY, UH, AND, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD APPLY A ARE, ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY GOOD FOR QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO DOES THAT INCLUDE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE PIPING AND THE GREAT LEVEL OF THE PIPES THAT CAN, I DIDN'T HEAR AT ALL? CAN YOU, ON THE PIPING, IT DOES THE HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO, I KNOW IN THE MEMO OUTLINE CONCERNS AROUND LEAKY, PERHAPS THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKY PIPES.

CERTAINLY.

SO, UH, OUR, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS, UH, WE, WE, UH, ACTIVELY MANAGE THE RISK OF, OF WASTEWATER OVERFLOWS BY ANY STANDARD THAT YOU MEASURE A UTILITY.

WE HAVE VERY HIGH STANDARDS FOR MANAGING WASTEWATER OVERFLOWS, BOTH IN TERMS OF NUMBER VOLUME AND FREQUENCY.

WE'RE A CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE LEADER.

IN THAT REGARD, WE HOST ANNUALLY A CONFERENCE, A NATIONAL CONFERENCE HERE IN AUSTIN ON A, ON SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS.

WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY EPA NUMEROUS TIMES FOR MANAGING SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW RISK.

UH, OUR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT TO STANDARDS THAT ARE CERTAINLY MODERN STANDARDS, UH, LIFT STATIONS THAT WE OWN IN THIS CASE, THIS FLOWS WOULD GO THROUGH OUR VALENTI LIFT STATION.

IT WOULD HAVE BACKUP POWER.

IT WOULD HAVE A SCADA SYSTEMS. IT WOULD HAVE, UM, UH, UH, ACTIVE MONITORING ON A REGULAR BASIS BY AUSTIN WATER STAFF.

WE WOULD VISIT THAT SITE, UH, REGULARLY, UH, UH, PIPING SYSTEMS, A FORCE MAIN IN THIS AREA, UH, THAT TAKES FLOWS FROM THE PUMP STATION WOULD BE OF MODERN STANDARDS AND, UH, HIGHLY RESISTANT TO LEAKS AND BREAKS.

AND THEN A GRAVITY SEWER SYSTEM ALSO SHOWS STATED, SHOULD THE COUNCIL APPROVE THIS, UH, THIS, UH, UH, ANNEXATION WOULD ALSO BE BUILT TO MODERN STANDARDS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE QUESTIONS A BIT.

I'M SPEAKING ON WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, CAN YOU HELP TO HELP US OR HELP AND HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND? YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN RECENT CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT OUR RESOURCES AND ABILITY TO INSPECT, UH, THE WASTEWATER PIPES.

NOW, OF COURSE, THOSE ARE OLDER PIPES THAT CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT, BUT, UH, FOR, FOR FOLKS FROM IN THE PUBLIC WHO ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, HEARING THE POTENTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE IN THE FUTURE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THIS IS DIFFERENT AND NOT THE SAME AS THE KINDS OF CONCERNS THAT WE'VE SEEN ABOUT, UM, OLDER PIPES CORRODING IN CAUSING LEAKAGE IN OUR, UM, NOT BEING SET UP TO INSPECT THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERRING TO A RECENT NEWS PIECE ON STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND REALLY JORGE MIRALIS WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALL OF OUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS INSPECTED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE HAVE KNOWN CONDITION RATINGS ON ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE NO WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE CONDITION OF.

WE TARGET POOR CONDITIONING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

UH, THIS AREA IS OVER THE AQUIFER AND WE WOULD X THAT HAS A HIGHER STANDARD OF INSPECTION AND SERVICES THAT WE DO, UH, OVER THE AQUIFER.

SO, UH, WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT, UH, NOT ONLY THE EXISTING CONDITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT HOW WE WOULD MAINTAIN THAT GOING FORWARD.

IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND ABOUT WHAT THAT DISTINCTION IS.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED YOU TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION, BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE AS CLEAR

[03:25:01]

SO HOW OFTEN DO YOU INSPECT, UH, FOR, UH, GRAVITY WASTEWATER LINES THAT WE TRY TO MAINTAIN A SEVEN YEAR CYCLE OF TELEVISING RUNNING ON A TV CAMERA THROUGH A GRAVITY LINE OVER THE AQUIFER? I BELIEVE IT'S A FIVE-YEAR STANDARD THAT WE HAVE.

OUR LIFT STATIONS ARE MONITORED 24 7 THROUGH SCADA.

WE HAVE A CONTROL CENTER THAT IS CONSTANTLY MANNED, AND WE MONITOR LIFT STATIONS TO ENSURE THEY'RE OPERATING PROPERLY.

THE WET WELLS ARE FILLING AND DRAINING PROPERLY THAT THERE'S POWER TO THE STATION.

IF THE SCADA SYSTEM, MATTER OF FACT, IT'S A DUAL PURPOSE GATE ASSIST NURSE TO BACKUP SYSTEMS. IF THE SCALE INDICATES A PROBLEM, WE DISPATCH CREWS DIRECTLY.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRE DIVISION OF AUSTIN WATER THAT DOES NOTHING BUT MANAGE A LIFT STATIONS AND PUMP STATIONS.

AND TORSED MAINS.

UH, WE'RE VERY EXPERIENCED IN THIS ARENA.

WE HAVE A WELL OVER 160 PUMPING FACILITIES ACROSS OUR SYSTEM.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IT DOESN'T APPEAR SO SORRY, WHICH CASE LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERED.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ANNEXATION.

UM, THERE, THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS, UM, CHOICE BETWEEN THE ANNEXATION AND THE SCR, ET CETERA.

I'VE DONE MY BEST TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT PIECES.

AND I THINK REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE AND CHOOSE TO PRIORITIZE DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, FOR ME, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL POLLUTION OF THE HEADWATERS OF BULL CREEK.

UM, AND SO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST ANNEXATION.

UM, THERE WERE LOTS OF DIFFERENT NUANCES IN THIS, UM, PROPOSAL, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF TAKING THE TIME TO, TO LAY THOSE OUT.

UM, AGAIN, JUST THE RISKS TO THE HEADWATERS ARE JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME.

SO I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO APPROVE THIS KATHERINE MARYELLA'S.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY COMPLEX DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD.

I THINK EVERY TIME WE'VE PICKED IT UP, WE'VE ALL HAD TO SIT THERE AND KIND OF MAP IT OUT MENTALLY OF WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE AS A CITY.

UM, I CERTAINLY SHARE THE CONCERNS THAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR HAS, UM, AND APPRECIATE HER BRINGING THOSE UP.

I ALSO THINK THERE'S A BENEFIT IN, UM, CITY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT HERE.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE HAD CHANGES IN HOW WE'RE ABLE TO ANNEX PROPERTIES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

UM, BUT I DO THINK MAYBE THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE FLAGGED MAYBE FOR, UM, EITHER OTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR LIKE THE AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THIS INTERPLAY BETWEEN ANNEXATION AND SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS.

BECAUSE IF IT'S IN THE CITY LIMITS ALREADY, IT DOESN'T COME TO COUNCIL.

SO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REALLY TRICKY SUBJECT.

UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS TODAY.

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT IT.

UM, I HAVE A LOT OF, UM, THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASPECT AS WELL.

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS ANNEXATION TODAY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE 18, ALL OPPOSED, SORRY.

UM, MAYOR, COULD YOU DO YOUR VOTE AGAIN? THAT WAS IN, IN FAVOR.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE NINE YESES AND TWO NOS ON THE DYES.

I CAN'T TELL WHO'S TALKING TO ME.

GO AHEAD, MARY.

EITHER.

I WAS GOING TO SAY APPRECIATE IT.

THE MANAGER STEPPING FORWARD IN THE INSTANCE WHERE THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS GIVING US DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, BUT TO HAVE AN ENTERPRISE, UH, ANALYSIS WAS VERY HELPFUL.

IN WHICH CASE WE'LL WITHDRAW ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CITY MANAGER.

AND PERHAPS LEGAL CAN HELP ME OUT IF I'M MISSPEAKING, BUT I GET THE, I I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WITH ITEM ONE 18, PASSING, UM, WITH A NINE TO VOTE THAT ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ITS COMPANION ITEM IS WITHDRAWN.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR BECOMES MOOT.

CINDY CROSBY LAW DEPARTMENT, MAYOR PRO TEM.

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION FROM COUNSEL ITEM FOUR MAY BE WITHDRAWN AND NO ACTION TAKEN.

DO I SEE ANY OBJECTION

[03:30:02]

ARE WE READY TO RETURN TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 16? I WASN'T CERTAIN WHO WE WERE WAITING FOR.

WE KEPT THEM ON THE SCREEN.

SO KEVIN, SEAN FROM A LOT OF SHUTTERS HERE TO PRESENT THAT.

SO WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER ONE 16.

[116. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding floodplain variances for the construction of an office building and associated parking at 1514 W. Koenig Lane within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of the Hancock Branch Tributary of Shoal Creek.]

I AM HERE.

UM, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS KEVIN SHUCK.

I AM THE FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY AS PART OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

UH, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY RIGHT NOW IS A FLOODPLAIN BARON ADDRESS IS 1514 WEST KENNEWICK LANG AND IT IS IN THE SHOAL CREEK WATERSHED.

SO THE PICTURE THERE BEFORE YOU SHOWS, CAN NICK LANE RUNNING EAST WEST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UP THE PICTURE THAT'S BURNET ROAD RUNNING NORTH SOUTH ON THE LEFT SIDE.

AND JUST OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PICTURE IS LAMAR RUNNING NORTH, SOUTH AS WELL.

YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTED THERE.

IT IS THROTTLED BY THE FLOOD.

AND WE'LL SEE THAT ON THE ZOOM IN WHICH IS THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE THERE'S THE PROPERTY OUTLINED IN RED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY BOTH THE 25 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN, WHICH IS THE DARK BLUE AND THE 100 YEAR FLOOD POINT IN WHICH IS THE LIGHT BLUE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY IS A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING OF AN ABANDONED COMMERCIAL USE.

AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF WHAT THE PROPERTY LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

THE CURRENT BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY WAS BUILT IN 1952, UM, AND THE PROPERTY WAS NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE FLOOD POINT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE FLOODPLAIN MAPS AT THAT TIME.

SO AT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, UM, THE APPLICANT SUBMITTED IT TO THE CITY PRIOR TO OUR FLOODPLAIN REGULATION UPDATES IN, IN NOVEMBER, 2019.

THEREFORE, AS I GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION AND I TALK ABOUT 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAINS AND TWENTY-FIVE AND 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAINS, THE 100 DAY OF PIPELINE IS THE OLD 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.

AND SO I'LL TRY TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OLD 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN AND THE CURRENT 500 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW IS THE CURRENT 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN.

SO I KNOW THAT'S CONFUSING.

SO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS A THREE-STORY OFFICE BUILDING WITH FIRST FLOOR BEING PRIMARILY PARKING AND THEN FLOORS TWO AND THREE BEING OFFICE SPACE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE DEVELOPER IS SIGNIFICANTLY MINIMIZING FLOOD RISKS ON A PROPERTY, BUT DOING TWO THINGS.

THE BUILDING ITSELF IS A MINIMAL OF 2.4 FEET ABOVE THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN, THE OLD 100 YEAR, 2.1 FEET ABOVE THE NEW 100 YEAR OR 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAN.

THE PARKING AREA IS A AND I, I WAS, I GOT A CLARIFICATION ON THIS WITH THE, UH, DESIGN ENGINEER TO THIS MORNING.

UH, THE PARKING IS NOT TWO FEET ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, BUT IT IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAIN.

IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO BE MORE THAN THE TWO FEET, BUT SO THE PARKING IS DEFINITELY LOCATED.

LOCATED IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.

ELEVATION.

HOWEVER, FROM THE MAPS THAT WE LOOKED AT PREVIOUSLY, UH, SORRY, LET ME SKIP THAT.

UH, THE, THE PROJECT AS DESIGNED DOES NOT CAUSE ADVERSE FLOODING TO ANY OTHER PROPERTIES THAT SURROUND IT.

BUT AS THE, AS THE PICTURES THAT WE LOOKED AT PREVIOUSLY INDICATE THERE SINCE THE PROPERTY IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY A FLOOD PLAIN, THAT THE PROPER, THE PROJECT IS NOT, UH, DOES NOT SATISFY THE SAFE ACCESS REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS, UM, YOU HAVE TO BID A WALK FROM THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT OF WAY, ALL AT AN ELEVATION.

AND THAT'S A ONE FOOT ABOVE THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN.

IN THE THIRD, UH, VRX REQUEST IS TO, IS TO, UH, PROPOSE THE BUILDING BEING IN THE 25 AND 100 YEAR FLOOD POINT ITSELF.

SO THE PARENT'S REQUEST INCLUDES THREE THINGS.

THE FIRST SPIRIT'S QUEST IS A BARRIER TO THE SAFE ACCESS REGULATION.

THE SECOND FERROUS REQUEST IS THEY IS PROHIBITING EXPANDING, CHANGING ENLARGING, OR ALTERING THE USE OF A, OF A NON-CONFORMING PROPERTY, SUCH THAT IT INCREASES THE NON-CONFORMITY.

AND IN THIS CASE WHERE THEY ARE INCREASING THE BUILDING AREA ON THE SITE, WE CONSIDER THAT INCREASING THEIR NON-CONFORMITY.

IT SITS THE PROPERTY DOESN'T MEET THIS SAFE ACCESS RULE

[03:35:02]

SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE THE FINDINGS, THE FRONT OF THIS APPLICATION AND THIS REQUEST, UH, AS I STATED BEFORE, THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT CAUSE ADVERSE FLOODING ON ANY OTHER PROPERTIES.

HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MEET THE SAFE ACCESS REGULATION.

THE PROPOSED BUILDING IS MORE THAN TWO FEET ABOVE THE 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, AND THE PARKING AREA IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE OLD 100 YEAR FLOOD.

PLAIN.

THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL OCCUPANCY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN A OF PIPELINE THAT'S BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS LARGER THAN THE ONES THAT THAT'S THERE TODAY.

AND ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING CODE, A HARDSHIP ADDITION FOR THIS PROPERTY DOES EXIST SINCE THE PROPERTY IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE FLOOD PLAIN, AND THEY CANNOT MEET THE STATE FACTSET'S REGULATION.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS VARIOUS REQUEST.

AND I WANT TO POINT OUT TWO THINGS, TWO REASONS WHY WE ARE MAKING THAT REQUEST OR THAT THAT RECOMMENDATION.

THE FIRST IS THE FLOOD RISK ON THIS TO THIS PROPERTY IS RELATIVELY LOW IN CON IN RELATION TO OTHER PORTS THEY'LL OF SHOAL CREEK AND CERTAINLY OTHER PORTIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN DEPTH IS APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT WITHIN CANUCK LANE.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT'S KEY IS THAT THE VELOCITY OF THOSE IS RELATIVELY LOW, ALMOST ZERO.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL IN A BACKWATER AREA WHERE WATER JUST BACKS UP TO THIS LOW POINT.

IT IS NOT AN ACTIVELY FLOWING AREA OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THE SECOND REASON THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THIS RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE DEVELOPER IS MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS TO MINIMIZE FLOOD RISK ON THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY'RE ELEVATING THE ENTIRE PARKING AREA AND THEY'RE PUTTING 90% OF THE BUILDING AREA ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND THIRD FLOOR, WHICH IS MORE THAN 14 FEET ABOVE THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN.

SO THEY'RE DOING SOME SIGNIFICANT DESIGN ITEMS THAT REDUCE FLOOD RISK ON THEIR PROPERTY.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO THERE ARE TWO CONDITIONS IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET.

AND, UH, BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE SATISFIED BY THE APPLICANT PRIOR TO RECEIVING THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

AND THOSE TWO CONDITIONS ARE DEDICATING A DRAINAGE EASEMENT TO THE FORKS OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN AND PROVIDING AN ELEVATION CERTIFICATE, WHICH IS THE WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING WAS BUILT THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED.

NEXT SLIDE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT, I HOPE THEIR INFO CONNECTED AS WELL.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM, COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE 16, I'D BE HAPPY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

UM, BASED ON THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UM, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER ONE 16 WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

UM, DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE 16.

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH 11 VOTING FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE 16.

SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, 17, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

YES, MA'AM.

UH, WE HAVE, SO, UH, UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS INTERESTED IN THAT AS A, MY, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM, WHICH I THINK WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.

I'M NOT SURE I'VE GOT IT FROM LAW.

SO COULD WE HOLD OFF WHILE I CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE THAT FROM THE LAW? OKAY.

IN WHICH CASE WE CAN MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 17, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT IS NOT, NO, THAT WAS ONE 17.

I THINK THOUGH, MAYBE YOUR TIME.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME, I DON'T EVER WANT THE CONSENT.

IS THE NEXT ITEM I'D LIKE TO TAKE UP.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO I HAVE, SO I HAVE US DISCUSSING NEXT.

THAT WAS ONE SIX.

WE DID ONE 16.

THAT WAS ONE 17 THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON.

SO ITEM NUMBER 1 63

[163. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20210811-002 to set the Fiscal Year 2021-22 power supply adjustments, community benefit charges, and regulatory charges for Austin Energy customers.]

[03:40:11]

I KNOW WE DO HAVE AUSTIN ENERGY STAFF AVAILABLE, BUT THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE FOR THE POWER SUPPLY ADJUSTMENTS, COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGES, AND REGULATORY CHARGES FOR A CUSTOMERS.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYONE TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ON THE ITEMS. SO IN WHICH CASE FOR ITEM NUMBER 1 63 AND MAKING A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM TO APPROVE ITEM 1 63 COUNCIL MEMBER, PAUL MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 63, SECONDED BY, UM, MAYOR ADLER WAS THAT YOU SECONDING OR ASKING A QUESTION SEXUALLY? I GOT IT.

SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND APPROVED ALL IN FAVOR ITEM, NUMBER 1 63 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH NO ADDITIONAL DIRECTION, RIGHT? IN WHICH CASE DO WE STILL HAVE ITEM NUMBER

[83. Ratify a contract with Lincoln Property Company Commercial, Inc., for property management services at the City’s Planning and Development Center, in the amount of $1,949,040. Related to Item 84.]

83 THAT WE CAN DO NEXT? LET ME HAVE HER TIME.

I'VE PULLED THIS.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY STAFF.

THIS IS THE ITEM PROVIDING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT.

I'M SORRY, OUR PLANNING AND HOUSING, UH, BUILDING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER RATHER.

AND SO, AS I UNDERSTAND, THE ONE IS A RETROSPECTIVE CONTRACT COVERING THE COST OF THE TIME FROM WHAT FEBRUARY, 2020 ON.

AND THE SECOND ONE IS COVERING, COVERING THE SERVICES.

PROSPECTIVELY.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST IS HOW THIS FEE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT WORKS OUT TO ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR.

BY THE TIME YOU FACTOR IN THE NIGHT, THE 1,949,040, THAT DATES BACK TO THE FEBRUARY AND THEN ADD IN THE NEW CONTRACT.

IS THAT ABOUT, IS THAT ABOUT ACCURATE MR. SCARBOROUGH? ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR.

COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, UH, JAMES SCARBOROUGH PURCHASING OFFICE.

IT'S NICE TO BE BACK.

UM, THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE, UH, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND SUPPLIES, UM, THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SINCE THE, UM, THE, THE FACILITY, UM, ASSUMED OCCUPANCY OF THE CITY STAFF.

UM, WE KNEW THAT THE, THE SERVICES NEEDED TO CONTINUE THROUGH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO ALLOW FOR TRANSITION COVID OCCURRED.

AND, UM, SO WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BROUGHT THE ITEM TO YOU EARLIER, BUT, UH, WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND BRING IT HERE AND THEN GET A PROSPECTIVE AUTHORIZATION TO GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO, UH, COMPLETE A SOLICITATION TRANSITION ONTO A LONGER-TERM CONTRACT.

MR. SCARBOROUGH, DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS BUDGET COMPARES TO THE COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED AT ONE TEXAS CENTER 2 MILLION A YEAR JUST SEEMS HIGHER THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED FOR A BRAND NEW BUILDING THAT I ASSUME WAS BUILT TO BE AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE ALSO PAYING FOR SOME OTHER CONTRACTING SERVICES, BUT IT'S STILL, THE COST DID TAKE MY BREATH AWAY.

SO HOW DOES THAT COMPARE BOTH TO ONE TEXAS CENTER? UM, WHAT IS IT MORE OR LESS, OR JUST ABOUT RIGHT IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS ESTIMATED AT THE TIME OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND, AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO SOME OF OUR OTHER FACILITIES OF THIS SIZE, UH, IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH, UH, OUR COLLEAGUES AT BILLING SERVICES, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A VARIETY OF, OR THERE THERE'S TWO MAIN APPROACHES THAT THE CITY USES WITH REGARD TO FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

ONE IS TO USE A CONTRACTOR.

ONE IS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES OURSELVES, I BELIEVE, UM, UH, DIRECTOR, UM, UH, DARRYL ALEXANDER IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.

YES, IT AFTERNOON, UH, DIRT ALEXANDER BUILDING SERVICE OFFICER FOR BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON MAY OR MAY ARE PRO TEMP, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, YOUR QUESTION AGAIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.

COMPARING THE NUMBERS ITSELF.

UM, MR. ALEXANDER, I WAS WONDERING, I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST IS HOW THIS 2 MILLION, WHAT WILL WORK OUT TO BE ABOUT 2 MILLION A YEAR COMPARES TO WHAT WAS BEING EXPENDED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT WHEN IT WAS IN ONE TEXAS CENTER.

UM, SO I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

EXACTLY.

I CAN GO FIND, I CAN FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU AND GET BACK WITH YOU AND

[03:45:01]

REMEMBER, LIKE, I CAN'T TELL YOU, THIS WAS PART OF THE, THE PDC WAS PART OF THE, THE MODEL, THE NEW MODEL THAT WE USE FOR NEW BUILDINGS.

AND SO WITH A TURNKEY OPERATION FOR, I UNDERSTAND ONE TEXAS CENTER WHEN WE PURCHASED ONE TEXAS CENTER HAD ALREADY HAD A MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH IT ALREADY.

SO I CAN REACH OUT TO MY TEAM RIGHT NOW AND JUST FIND OUT WHAT THAT COST IS ON A YEARLY BASIS.

UH, AND GET RIGHT BACK TO THE EMAIL, MR. ALEXANDER, I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO THAT, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BUILDING AND WHETHER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WISE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PLANS AND THE PARTICULAR MODEL OF CONSTRUCTION, I'M WONDERING IF AT THAT TIME WE WERE, WE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE OPERATIONS AND THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COST WOULD BE.

AND IF SO, HOW THIS ACTUAL CONTRACT COMPARES TO THAT ESTIMATE.

AND THEN MY THIRD QUESTION ALONG THOSE LINES WOULD BE HOW THIS CONTRACT, HOW THESE COSTS COMPARE TO OTHER CITY BUILDINGS OF THIS SIZE.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S THE PRICE, THE COST OF THIS REALLY APPEARED TO BE HIGHER THAN I WOULD'VE ANTICIPATED, BUT, BUT PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COSTS ARE OF OUR OTHER CITY BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THEY'RE HANDLED IN HOUSE RATHER THAN THROUGH A CONTRACT.

SO IT MAY BE JUST A MATTER OF, UM, YOU KNOW, MY LACK OF INFORMATION ON SOME OF THOSE OTHERS, BUT, BUT AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE IT IS, UH, IT IS JUST HIGHER THAN I ENVISIONED.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THERE NEEDING TO BE A, YOU KNOW, AN ONGOING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AT OUR BRAND NEW BUILDING THAT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE $2 MILLION RANGE.

I JUST NEED TO, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF HOW IT MOVES TO THIS OTHERS.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAD.

THANK YOU, MR. ALEXANDER, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REACH BACK AND GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, UH, THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON PDC IS BECAUSE WE ADDED IN SOME, SOME, SOME BUFFER FOR ADVERSE WEATHER AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN.

THERE'S JUST KIND OF THE COVER, LIKE A CONTINGENCY, BUT HOW THAT COMPARED TO ONE TEXAS CENTER ON THE OTHER, UH, CITY BUILDINGS, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK IN THAT AND A LITTLE BIT DEEPER FOR YOU AND GET BACK WITH YOU.

AND CERTAINLY I DON'T THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION.

AND I KNOW IT MAY TAKE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AFTER TODAY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CERTAINLY APPROVE, UM, THE CONTRACT FOR THE SERVICES ALREADY RENDERED.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF OUR NEXT CONTRACT.

UM, PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE YOU NEED SOMEBODY IN THERE IN PLACE RIGHT AWAY.

I THINK THOUGH, AS AN ONGOING MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, I REALLY QUESTION, WE REALLY NEED THAT INFORMATION TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT MODEL.

AND SO, UM, HAVING, YOU KNOW, AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT FOR WHAT THE NEXT 14 MONTHS GIVES ME SOME PAUSE WITHOUT HAVING THOSE COMPARISON.

IT COMES FROM MEMORY.

SO I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION, THE AUTHORIZED, WELL, THANK YOU, MR. ALEXANDRA.

SO AGAIN, I THINK 83, I WOULD SUGGEST WE GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND APPROVE, BUT I DO COLLEAGUES.

I DO WONDER ABOUT AUTHORIZING AN A 17 MONTH TERM FOR 84 WITHOUT, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF POINT OF COMPARISON OF, OF HOW MUCH WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SPEND ON THAT.

SO THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT ON THAT ONE.

I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION IS I SEE FROM THE BACKUP INFORMATION THAT IT'S COMING OUT OF THE BUILDING SERVICES BUDGET, AND I WONDER MANAGER, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

ARE THESE COSTS BEING ATTRIBUTED? ARE THESE COSTS BEING FACTORED INTO THE FEES, GIVEN THAT PLANNING IS NOW AN ENTERPRISE FUND, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND WE DO HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, US WHO WILL ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS COMING IN, IN EXCESS OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATED, UH, WE MAY BE IN THAT SITUATION, BUT WE CAN GUARANTEE YOU ABSOLUTELY.

CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RODNEY GONZALES, YESTERDAY'S FEES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

WE HAVE A FULL COST OF SERVICE MODEL.

AND SO WHEN WE APPROVE THIS YEAR'S FISCAL, WHEN WE APPROVED THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS WHERE THE FEES SET IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS, THIS, UM, COSTS.

SO THE DSD BUDGET, UH, SHOULD HAVE THE RENTAL, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDING, WHICH THEN FACTORS INTO THE FEES.

WE TAKE MANY THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING THE EXISTING FUND BALANCE.

AND SO I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THE BUDGET THAT IS APPROVED FOR DSD HAS ALL THIS INTO CONSIDERATION ANNUALLY AS PER COUNCIL DIRECTION.

WE LOOK AT THIS AND SO NEXT YEAR WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS WELL AS WELL.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH THIS YEAR, WE HAD PLENTY OF APPLICATIONS COMING IN MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED, WHICH GAVE US ENOUGH REVENUE TO WHERE WE DIDN'T NEED FEE INCREASES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR, SAME THING.

[03:50:01]

EVERY YEAR WE TOOK A LOOK AT COST OF SERVICE.

UM, IT, SAM GONZALEZ, YOU SAID THE RENTAL FEE IS FACTORED IN.

DO YOU MEAN THE RENTAL FEE? PLUS THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COSTS AND THE OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONTRACT, WHATEVER COSTS GO INTO THE RENTAL FEES.

WE LOOK AT THEM THAT OUR BUDGET AS A RENTAL FEE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY, OUR FAIR SHARE OF RENT.

SO WHATEVER FINANCE TELLS US IS THAT RENTAL FEE IS WHAT WE INCORPORATE.

I PRESUMED THAT THOSE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THERE.

I WONDER IF SOMEBODY COULD VERIFY WHAT THE RENT, WHETHER THE RENTAL, WE SEEM TO BE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT COSTS.

SO MANAGER IS THE, IS THE FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COSTS INCLUDED WITHIN THE YES.

I WILL CONFIRM THAT WITH A CFO OR, BUT YES.

NUMBER 84 COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO.

IS, AND SO IS THERE, UM, I GUESS I WOULD JUST ASK, AND I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE FISCAL NOTE OF THESE KINDS OF AN ITEM.

IF IT'S COMING RIGHT NOW, IT TALKS ABOUT COMING OUT OF THE BUILDING SERVICES BUDGET.

IF IT, IF IT COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT'S COVERED BY THE FEES FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES.

SO I'D CONSIDERED TAKING UP ITEMS 83 AND 84 TOGETHER SINCE THEY'RE RELATED, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER TOEFL, I'M HEARING SOME OBJECTION FROM YOU TO DO THAT IN WHICH CASE, I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD.

IN WHICH CASE, UM, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 83? UM, I BELIEVE YOU'RE MOVING THAT WE PASSED THE ITEM AS IS THE SECOND TO THAT MOTION.

THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UM, ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM.

IT APPEARS IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH MAYOR ADLER OFF THE DIET.

SO THAT'S 10 ZERO.

SO IT'S UNANIMOUS FOR EVERYBODY ON THE DICE.

THAT'S 11 YES.

VOTES.

SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM

[84. Authorize an amendment to an existing contract with Lincoln Property Company Commercial, Inc., for continued property management services at the City’s Planning and Development Center, to extend the term by 17 months and for an increase in the amount of $4,050,960, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $6,000,000. Related to Item 83.]

DID YOU ALSO PULL ASIDE? YEAH.

I WONDER, I'M SO SORRY, MR. SCARBOROUGH, NOW THAT YOU'VE WALKED BACK TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS HERE? IF WE POSTPONED THIS FOR ONE MEETING SO THAT WE COULD GET THE ANSWERS FROM MR. ALEXANDER, IS THAT, WOULD THAT THROW THINGS INTO CHAOS? IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THE MANAGER, I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD BRING THIS ITEM BACK.

WE'RE ALREADY OPERATING UNDER, UM, UH, A RATIFICATION CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE MIGHT NEED TO BRING BACK ANOTHER ITEM TO RATIFY VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO COVER THE, UH, INTERIM, BUT IT WOULD GIVE, UH, THE, UM, UH, GIVE THE DIRECTOR SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO COLLECT INFORMATION, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ALSO TO CONSULT WITH THE, UH, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPART.

THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.

I HATE TO MAKE YOU BRING FORWARD ANOTHER, ANOTHER ITEM ON COUNCIL TO COVER THE GAP, BUT, UM, IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE TO TAKE THIS UP NEXT, NEXT MEETING WITH THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SO I'LL, I'LL MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS FOR ONE MONTH.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA MOVES THAT WE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, NOT ONE MONTH ONE MEETING SO THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 84 TILL OUR 10 14 MEETING SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL OPPOSED IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE AND ITEM NUMBER 84 IS POSTPONED TO 10 14.

UM, SO NEXT STEP IS ITEM NUMBER 96, SMEAR FOR TIM ON THAT LAST ITEM, JUST FOR THE RECORD COUNSELOR SARS OFF THE DIOCESE.

NUMBER 96, I DON'T SHOW WHO THIS ITEM IMMEDIATELY.

AND IN FACT, FOR THE RECORD, I WILL SAY THAT WAS UNANIMOUS, UM, WITH 10 VOTES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR OFF THE DICE.

AND SO NEXT STEP ITEM

[96. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract with Found Design LLC d/b/a Merje, to provide planning and design services, for a term of two years in an amount not to exceed $250,000.]

SO FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN IF IT'S YOU MAYOR PRETEND THAT WAS ME.

UM, AND I REMEMBER I'VE HAD A SERIES OF, OF, UM, ADDITIONAL PIECES OF INFORMATION FROM DIRECTOR HOLT WRAP, BUT I, I APOLOGIZE THAT I STILL DO HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO THIS IS A WAYFINDING ITEM IN ITEM 96, AND I WONDER, UM, DIRECTOR HALT REP, IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UH, WHAT IS ON OUR AGENDA.

WELL, REALLY THE UPSHOT IS, IS THIS, UM, ALMOST NOW A YEAR AND A HALF, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

NOW WE, WE APPROVED

[03:55:01]

THE PALM DISTRICT PLANNING EFFORT, WHICH INCLUDED SIGNAGE FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT DOWNTOWN.

AND I AM SUPER EAGER TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD ALSO ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR THOSE SIGNS IN A PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS NEW PLANNING EFFORT THAT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS IF I'M READING IT RIGHT INTERACTS WITH, WITH THAT, UH, WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE QUARTER CORRIDOR SIGNAGE, WHICH I SEE AS REALLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, MELISSA ALVARADO, HERITAGE TOURISM MANAGER WITHIN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

UM, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU ITEM 96 IS A IT'S A 24 MONTHS, UH, PLANNING AND DESIGN CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERED WAYFINDING MULTIMODAL SIGN TYPES.

UM, WHILE IT DOES NOT INCLUDE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION, IT DOES INCLUDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE SIGN TYPES AND THE CONTENT AND THE VISION BEHIND THESE TYPES.

UM, THE CURRENT DOWNTOWN WAYFIND PANE SIGNAGE PLAN IS, UM, NOT INCLUSIVE OF ADDRESSING THE SIGNAGE NEEDS OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR SIGN TYPES THAT ARE, UM, NECESSARY TO SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN HERITAGE CULTURAL, HISTORIC SITES, DISTRICTS, OR CORRIDORS.

AND SO, UM, THIS WORK WILL BE THE FIRST STEP IN HELPING TO DEVELOP THIS DESIGN GUIDE.

UM, ONCE THIS DESIGN PLAN IS COMPLETE, THEN WE'LL BEGIN TO COMMENCE WORK ON, UH, RIGHT AWAY CONDITIONS, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AN ESTIMATED BUDGET AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION AND, UM, AND B THE WORK WILL ABSOLUTELY ADDRESS THE PREVIOUS ALLOCATIONS THAT WERE MADE TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT WE'RE DOOR.

UM, OUR PLAN AS A DEPARTMENT IS TO ALSO CONCURRENTLY DO ENGAGEMENT ALONG THE FIFTH STREET AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUR DOOR, UM, IN THAT AREA AS WELL TO NOT ONLY HELP INFORM THIS EFFORT, BUT ALSO TO HELP IDENTIFY WHO MAY SERVE AS THE LEAD IN APPLYING FOR, UH, A POTENTIAL CULTURAL DISTRICT, UH, WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

UH, I, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START WITH MY QUESTIONS ON THIS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS, THE DIRECTION WAS OFFERED NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, TO AN END, IT WAS OFFERED TWO YEARS AGO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD AS AN IMPERATIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY YEARS EARLIER.

AND SO I JUST, I'M VERY, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THE APPROACH YOU'RE TAKING AND THE INTEREST IN HAVING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO OUR WAY, FINDING ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR IN PARTICULAR, I THINK I'VE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS IN NEED OF SIGNAGE AND RECOGNITION ALMOST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE DIOCESE, WHICH IS NOW LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE DIOCESE.

AND SO I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT THESE PROJECTS CAN REALLY WAIT AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY EVEN ARE IMPLEMENTED.

WHAT I HEAR, WHAT I THINK I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT THE NEXT THAT THE CONTRACT WE'RE INITIATING TODAY WILL INVOLVE STAKEHOLDER CON CONVERSATIONS AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I, I JUST, I GUESS I'M NOT SURE, I'M NOT SURE WHY WE HAVEN'T, UM, WHY WE HAVEN'T MADE BETTER, BETTER PROGRESS ON THOSE TWO INITIATIVES.

AND I ALSO THINK SIX SQUARE, UM, THE SIX SQUARE AUSTIN'S BLACK CULTURAL DISTRICTS HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE WORKS, NOT AS, MAYBE NOT AS LONG AS THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE INVOLVED THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS CALLED OUT HERE, BUT HOW DO WE GET, UM, WHAT ARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW WE GET SIGNAGE AND RECOGNITION FOR THOSE AREAS MORE QUICKLY? CAN WE DO THIS LONGER PLAN? CAN WE DO THIS LONGER CONTRACT, BUT ALSO INITIATE THE ACTUAL WORK, UM, SOON IN KEEPING WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION, WHICH ASKED FOR IT TO BE DONE BY NOW? CERTAINLY BY NOW, UM, I WILL, UH, DEFER TO, UH, NICOLE PATHOLO ON, ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND, UM, UH, RED RIVER, BUT I CAN SAY THAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE COMMUNITY ALONG,

[04:00:01]

UM, BOTH RED RIVER AND SIX SQUARE AS, AS YOU, UM, HIGHLIGHTED.

AND, UM, AND WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED WAS THAT THE EXISTING WAY-FINDING PLAN DID NOT REALLY, UM, IT WAS NOT INCLUSIVE OF THE SIGNAGE NEEDS THAT, UH, WE'RE DESIRED ALONG THOSE DISTRICTS TO REALLY GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY IN AN, IN A UNIQUE MANNER.

UM, WHAT MAKES THOSE DISTRICTS SO SPECIAL? UM, AND SO, AND SO, HENCE THIS, THIS PRODUCT MOVING FORWARD TO HELP CREATE A MORE, UM, A LINK, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN THESE EXISTING CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY FUTURE DISTRICTS THAT MAY INVOLVE.

I THINK COLLEAGUES, I THINK, I MEAN, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MS. ALVARADO, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION, IF I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF INFORMATION AND I, AND WE'VE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR JUST NOT, UM, REACHING OUT AND SCHEDULING A MEETING TO REALLY GO OVER THIS.

I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU DID OFFER THAT.

WE JUST COULDN'T COULDN'T FIT IT IN.

SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL THIS WEEK, AND I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION YOU DID PROVIDE ME WITH, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE POSTPONE THIS BECAUSE AS I'M, AS I'M TRYING TO LINE UP THESE DIFFERENT PIECES OF INFORMATION, WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS THAT AT THE END OF THAT, IT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS TO DO THIS DESIGN AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

AND THEN, AND THEN THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A TIMELINE AND ESTIMATIONS ON BUDGET FOR DIFFERENT WAY FUNDING.

AND I, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER APPROACHES MY GUESS IS.

IF I GO BACK TO SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHILE THEY MAY HAVE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE DIRECTION THINGS WERE MOVING, THEY WILL LIKELY HAVE REALLY STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT, ABOUT THE TIMELINE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW, WHICH WOULD, WHICH WOULD PUT ACTUAL SIGNS IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, NO SOONER THAN TWO YEARS FROM MY ESTIMATION, UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING.

SO I WILL SAY THAT THE SELECTED VENDOR IS THE VENDOR THAT IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN WAY-FINDING PLAN.

SO THE TRANSITION AND COORDINATION WOULD BE SEAMLESS.

UM, WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK TO DEVELOP WHAT WILL BE OUR INTERNAL STEERING COMMITTEE.

UM, AND WE'RE HOPING TO KICK OFF CONVERSATIONS NEXT WEEK.

UM, AS YOU SAID, THOSE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS HAVE ALREADY STARTED HAPPENING.

AND, AND SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS ALREADY AN, UH, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR SO THAT WE CAN EXTEND THE GOOD WORK HAPPENING WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, OVER INTO OTHER DISTRICTS AS THEY ARE CREATED.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE VENDOR AND IN TERMS OF, UM, TIMELINES AND BUDGETS, UM, IF THIS ITEM IS APPROVED.

YEAH, I THINK AGAIN, I GUESS I'M JUST, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME FOLLOWING A LOT OF THIS FOR ONE THING, TWO OF THESE AREAS ARE DOWNTOWN AND, UM, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE PREVIOUS ALLOCATIONS FOR THE ACTUAL SIGNAGE AS I REMEMBER.

SO I JUST, I THINK THAT, UM, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO, IT SOUNDS CONTRADICTORY GIVEN THAT I'M ASKING AND, AND SUGGESTING URGENCY AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I WOULD WITH THE PROJECTS.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMELINE AND WHETHER THIS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT SIGNAGE ON THE GROUND.

SO I THINK, I THINK OUR BEST BET, I MEAN, MY, FOR ME, I THINK THE BEST THAT TODAY IS TO POSTPONE FOR ONE MEETING FOR TOBA.

WE ARE HAPPY TO POSTPONE THEM AND WE'LL SCHEDULE SOME TIME WITH YOUR, WITH YOU TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE ON THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEN, UM, MAYOR ADLER.

WE ARE IN A DISPLACEMENT CRISIS AS A GROWING COMMUNITY.

UM, THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR.

I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT I WAS GOING TO VOCALIZE MY SUPPORT FOR POSTPONEMENT.

YOU KNOW, THIS, THE WAYFINDING, HAVING THE SIGNAGE FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER HAS BEEN A LONG TIME NEED THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR.

YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING WE HAD A, WE PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE SIGNAGE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE RAINY STREET FUNDS AND WHAT THAT HAS DONE IN THE HARM THAT THAT HAS CAUSED.

AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE REVISIT, PAUSE, HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE TIMELINE.

I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVO THAT DOING ANOTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERIOD FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS IS UNNECESSARY.

UM, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT SHORTENING THAT TIMEFRAME AND WE SHOULD REALLY PRIORITIZE, UH, ENSURING THAT WE'RE EQUITABLE AND WE'RE BEING INCLUSIVE WITH OUR SIGNAGE AND PRIORITIZING, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES KNOWING THAT

[04:05:01]

UM, AND SO I, UH, SUPPORT, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM STAFF THAT THEY ARE ALSO AGREEABLE TO A POSTPONEMENT FOR THIS ITEM MAY ADD THE, YES, I RAISED MY HAND BEFORE A COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA HAD FINISHED IT BEFORE DIRECTOR PRESIDIO HAD SAID SHE WAS GOING TO AGREE TO IT.

AND BEFORE YOU JUST SPOKE, I ALSO JUST, I THINK THAT GIVEN ALL THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS DONE, WHICH HAS BEEN QUITE EXTENSIVE ARKANSAS ISSUE, I THINK WE CAN BE, CAN DRAMATICALLY BE TO YOUR TIMEFRAME AS WELL.

UH, SO COMING BACK NEXT WEEK WITH SOMETHING THAT GETS IT, UH, ON THE GROUND SOONER, RIGHT.

WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER REMARKS IN WHICH CASE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE VOTE IF STAFF CAN LEGAL, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT FOR ME? IF, IF STAFF IS WILLING TO POSTPONE THE ITEM, CAN THEY JUST MAKE, IF WE COULD HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND, AND PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE DATE THAT WE POSTPONE IT TO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

PART-TIME TIME.

I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS UNTIL 10 14 PLEASE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS, UM, EXCUSE ME, MADE THE MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 96 TO THE 10 14 MEETING.

AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTUS AS THE SECOND ON THE MOTION, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THAT, ARE WE ALL COMFORTABLE TAKING THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? IS COUNCIL MEMBER CASADA IS OFF THE DICE? CORRECT.

SO THAT'S UNANIMOUS WITH, THAT'S UNANIMOUS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASADA OFF THE DIET.

SO THAT'S 10 ZERO.

DID YOU RAISE, WERE YOU RAISING YOUR INFOR? OKAY.

TO TAKE UP BEFORE WE GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TAKE UP THE LAST TWO ITEMS, UM, ARE, IS NUMBER ONE 10, AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOTAL.

SO OUR LAST ITEM

[110. Approve a resolution regarding Climate Equity Plan implementation.]

I BELIEVE YOU PULLED THIS ONE ALSO, I THINK ON SOME OF OUR KITCHEN, BUT I WANTED TO JUST MOVE APPROVAL FIRST SO THAT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MOVE APPROVAL ON ONE 10 PLEASE.

UM, APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, 10 HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND OF, I CAN'T REMEMBER KITCHEN, UM, ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? UH, YES.

I, UH, HAD POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND, UH, PASSED OUT TO EVERYONE, SOME POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.

UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND, AND BRINGING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION.

I THINK IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT AT THE TIME THAT WE ADOPT PLANS.

WE ALSO THINK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, SO I SUPPORT IT AND I HAD SOME CLARIFYING LANGUAGE.

I AM GOING TO NOT PROCEED WITH THE FIRST PARAGRAPH THAT I HAD PROPOSED.

UH, BUT INSTEAD I WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO THAT.

AND THEN I DO HAVE, UM, SOME LANGUAGE TO PROPOSE FOR, UM, THIS, THIS SECOND AND THIRD PARAGRAPH I HAD, UM, PROPOSED FOR THE LAST BIT RESOLVED.

SO I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

SO THE FIRST, UM, ON THE YELLOW SHEET, I PASSED OUT THIS MORNING.

UM, UNDERSTANDING NOW THAT PERHAPS THAT'S NOT THE ROUTE THAT PEOPLE WOULD PREFER TO MOVE IN, UH, WHICH IS FINE.

MY THINKING WAS TO, UH, TO BE A BIT MORE SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF HOW WE AS A COUNCIL, UM, SPEAK TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS AROUND CLIMATE EQUITY AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO AS A COUNCIL, UH, RECEIVE, UH, FEEDBACK ON IMPLEMENTATION, DISCUSS IT AND PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE.

SO THOUGHT IS, UM, AND I'LL ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IF SHE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THIS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS INTENDED, UH, WITH THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN.

SO THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN HAS A SECTION ON PAGE SEVEN THAT TALKS ABOUT, UM, CITY IS DIRECTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST QUARTERLY UPDATES ON IMPLEMENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL DURING REGULAR WORK SESSIONS.

I WAS INITIALLY REACTING TO THAT WHEN I, UH, PROPOSED A WORK GROUP, BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THAT PERHAPS THAT WAS NOT, UM, DEFINITIVE ENOUGH.

I WAS THINKING THAT PERHAPS QUARTERLY MIGHT NOT BE OFTEN ENOUGH.

I WAS ALSO THINKING THAT A LOT OF

[04:10:01]

TIMES OUR WORK SESSIONS DON'T GIVE US, UH, THE TIME TO PAY FULL ATTENTION TO WHAT, UH, TO SPECIFIC ISSUES, UH, THAT WE CAN SOMETIMES DO THROUGH A WORK GROUP OR A COMMITTEE.

BUT I AM CERTAINLY OPEN AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND HEAR THE INTENTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND THE OTHER.

CO-SPONSORS, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO DOING IT THIS WAY, IF THE PREFERENCES TO PROCEED THAT WAY.

AND, UM, IT MAY BE THAT WE DON'T NEED A WORK GROUP, OR WE DON'T NEED A COMMITTEE AND THAT WE CAN HANDLE FEEDBACK.

I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO SET UP A MECHANISM THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.

SO I'M OKAY WITH PROCEEDING WITH THE LANGUAGE AS WRITTEN, UM, AS LONG AS WE KEEP OPEN THE, KEEP A NOTE, KEEP OPEN, KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT HOW THIS PROCEEDS, AND IF WE'RE FINDING IT'S NOT WORKING THROUGH UPDATES IN A WORK SESSION THAT WE ALLOW OURSELVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO CREATE A MORE STRUCTURED, UH, INPUT INPUT PROCESS THROUGH A WORK GROUP OR SOMETHING.

SO THAT'S, I'M SAYING A LOT HERE.

I REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WHAT SHE INTENDED.

CAUSE I'M GUESSING FROM HER LANGUAGE, WE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF QUORUM ISSUES.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

UM, I THINK WE WERE, WE, THIS IS THE PIECE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON MULTIPLE TIMES.

UM, SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THIS WOULD COME UP AND BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON.

UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE NINE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS, UM, AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND WE HAVE, UH, IDA, WE HAVE A ISSUE THAT WE NEED THE CITY MANAGER TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, AND WE NEED TO HAVE STAFF AND DEPARTMENTS FROM ALL OVER, UM, THE CITY, UH, PAYING ATTENTION AS WELL AS THE, AS THE COMMUNITY.

UM, SO WE WENT KIND OF ROUND AND ROUND AND, AND, AND TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT COMMITTEE STRUCTURES AND WHATEVER, AND WE KEPT COMING UP, WELL, IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, SO LET'S JUST PUT IT IN WORK SESSION.

UM, WE, WE, WE COULD MAKE IT A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND HAVE A CHAIR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDS HAS, HAS, HAS OFFERED, UM, THAT SHE WOULD STEP UP TO DO THAT.

WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD START WITH THE WORK SESSION SET UP AND WHOEVER KIND OF WANTED TO HELP STEER AT DIFFERENT POINTS FOR THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO STEP UP TO DO THE AGENDA.

THE FIRST PART OF IT REALLY REQUIRES, UM, STAFF TO DO THE WORK.

WE ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO DISTRACT STAFF BY HAVING TO STAFF A COMMITTEE AND DO EXTRA REPORTS AND THEN HAVE US HAVE TO ATTEND COMMITTEES AND THEN SHOW UP AT WORK SESSION AND HAVE TO HEAR IT AGAIN.

UM, WE DIDN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT WAS EFFICIENT FOR THE STAGE WE WERE AT, UM, FOR THE NEXT STEPS, NOTHING IN THIS PRECLUDES.

UM, SEVERAL OF US TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES TO WORK TOGETHER.

UM, IF WE CREATE A WORK GROUP, WE WILL END UP BACK AT THE SAME PLACE WHERE IT ENDS UP BEING A COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE HAVE SIX OF US AND IT'S A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, UM, I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHO COULD BE WHO I WAS GOING TO INVITE TO CO-SPONSOR.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S JUST SORT OF THAT ISSUE, UM, OF ELEVATION.

UM, SO NOTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY PRECLUDES US IN THE FUTURE FROM SAYING, HEY, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FROM STAFF IN THAT FORMAT.

UM, HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM COVID BRIEFINGS ALL THE TIME, WHICH SHOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BACK.

UM, BUT IF EVER THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEEDED THE FULL ATTENTION OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL, AND DO WE HAVE EVERY, EVERY HEAD KIND OF FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE CONNECT ALL THESE DOTS IS ON HOW WE ACHIEVE, UM, THE CLIMATE PLAN.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO WERE, WHO WERE CO-SPONSORS ON PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNEW WE WOULD WANT TO BE THERE AND WE FIGURED YOU'D WANT TO PAIGE AND MAYOR AND, AND THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ENDED UP CO-SPONSORING.

UM, SO WE JUST THOUGHT WE WOULD START THIS WAY.

UM, AND IF IT PROVES NOT TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEN WE CAN PIVOT.

AND THERE'S NOTHING TO PROVE THAT WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL COMMITTEES THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING ON PIECES OF IT.

SO WE HAVE THE AUSTIN WATER COMMITTEE, WHICH COUNCIL UMBRELLAS CHAIRS, AND LAWSON ENERGY, UM, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS TEARING AND THEN MOBILITY THAT, WELL, YOU'RE NOT, OH, SHE'S DOING, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE DOING WATER AND WATER ABILITY.

SO WE SLEPT BOTH OF THOSE COMMITTEES, BOTH OF THOSE COMMITTEES.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN I DO AUDIT I'M CHAIRING AUDIT AND FINANCE, AND WE HAVE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES THAT ARE DOING, AND SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY TAKING UP, UM, THESE ISSUES.

AND SO, UM, IT WAS VERY MUCH A SUBJECT OF CONVERSATION ON A NOTE WITH QUORUM.

YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BE PART OF

[04:15:01]

THAT.

UM, BUT THAT'S HOW WE LANDED WHERE WE ARE AS A PLACE TO START.

IF WE FIND THAT THE CITY MANAGER NOT COMING BACK WITH SUBSTANTIVE ENOUGH OR FOCUSED ENOUGH REPORTS, UM, WE CAN EITHER HAVE A GROUP OF US DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO STEP UP AND WORK WITH HIM, OR HE MIGHT ASK A GROUP OF US TO STEP UP AND WORK WITH HIM, UM, OR WE CAN DECIDE TO MAKE IT A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, OR CREATE A COMMITTEE, UM, AT A FUTURE DATE.

UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.

I THINK THAT WORKS.

AND I THINK FOR, FOR ALL OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS WHO WORK REALLY HARD ON THIS, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE WHOLE DIOCESE IS A COMMITMENT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR STAFF, UM, AND TO PROCEED ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS, UH, TO HEAR BACK WITH HOW IMPLEMENTATION IS GOING AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, UM, I, UM, I SUPPORT THIS AS WRITTEN AND, UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR FOR YOUR EXPLANATION OF THAT.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO, UM, SO I'D LIKE TO, SHALL I MOVE ON TO THE OTHER AMENDED SUGGESTED LANGUAGE? OKAY.

SO, UH, JUST THE MOMENT A COUNCIL MEMBER LS, SHE HAD YOUR HAND RAISED.

DID YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS PORTION OR THE NEXT PORTION OF THE AMENDED LANGUAGE? I THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO A VOTE AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO ASKED IF WE WOULD WAIT SO THAT SHE COULD PARTICIPATE, BUT LET'S KEEP TALKING.

SO, UM, I ALSO HAD SOME LANGUAGE THAT I'M SUGGESTING TO ADD TO THAT LAST BIT RESOLVED.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST AROUND JUST PUTTING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICITY, AND I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY THEY'RE ALIGNED WITH THE INTENT.

SO WHAT I DID IS I SUGGESTED ADDED SOME LANGUAGE TO THAT SECOND PARAGRAPH.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXISTING LANGUAGE SAYS THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PROVIDE REGULAR ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO TO, UM, EVALUATE, EXTENDING THE CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

SO I WANTED TO JUST, UH, GIVE US, GIVE US IN THE PUBLIC A LITTLE MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT, UM, WHEN WE MIGHT GET SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT.

SO WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING IS LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO RETURN BY NOVEMBER 1ST WITH A SCHEDULE AND APPROACH FOR THESE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND WITH PLANS RELATED TO EXTENDING THE CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AS PART OF IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES AS DIRECTED IN THE SECOND BIT, RESOLVED ABOVE, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, CITY MANAGERS ALREADY DIRECTED TO RETURN, I BELIEVE ON NOVEMBER 1ST.

UM, WITH INFORMATION TO US ABOUT, UM, CLEARLY DEFINING LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT WHAT HE'S RETURNING WITH IS, UM, INFORMATION RELATED TO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

SO, UM, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION DOES THAT WORK FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A, YOU KNOW, AN, UH, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? YEAH.

WE CAN WORK WITH THAT AS AN UPDATE BY THAT DAY.

THAT'S FINE.

DOES THAT MEET WITH YOU? WOULD YOU INTENDED TO KILL THEM? SO, UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO LOB OFF THE, AS DIRECTED AND THE SECOND BEAT RESOLVED ABOVE PART OF THE LANGUAGE, JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE NEATER.

UM, I'M FINE WITH THIS.

AND AGAIN, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND THEY ELABORATELY WENT THROUGH ALL OF THEIR INTENTIONS FOR THE CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

AND WE, AT THAT POINT, DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY.

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE FINE WITH THIS LANGUAGE.

AND SO, UM, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

IT'S BEEN A EXCELLENT PROGRAM THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY CAN BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.

SO, UM, I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LITTLE PHRASE AT THE END.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

SO THAT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, EXCEPT WE'RE JUST GOING TO DELETE THE LAST CLAUSE THAT SAYS AS DIRECTED IN THE SECOND BEAT RESOLVED ABOVE.

SO THE PERIOD WOULD STOP AFTER RESPONSIBILITIES.

PARDON? OKAY.

AND COMMITS TO APPOINTING NEW MEMBERS THAT WILL IMPROVE RACIAL DIVERSITY ON THE COMMITTEE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTOR RETURNED BY NOVEMBER 1ST, 2020 21 WITH A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE BYLAWS OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

UM, SO, SO MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN MY LAST, UH, SUGGESTED LANGUAGE AS AT THE END OF THAT LAST PARAGRAPH AND IT'S, UM, SAME KIND OF THING, UH, RELATED TO A LITTLE BIT, UH, MORE CLARITY AROUND THE LANGUAGE.

SO THIS LAST PARAGRAPH SPEAKS TO UPDATING THE BYLAWS FOR THE JOINT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE TO ADD ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.

SO THAT'S EXISTING LANGUAGE.

SO THE PROPOSED, UH, LANGUAGE THAT I'M SUGGESTING TO ADD IS SAYING, UM, WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT IT CURRENTLY SAYS.

THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES AND APPRECIATES THE ROLE OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AND ADVANCING THE CITY'S CLIMATE GOALS.

AND THEN I'M PROPOSING TO ADD AND RECOGNIZES THE BENEFIT OF A RACIAL DIVERSITY IN THIS WORK

[04:20:01]

THE, THE IDEA THERE WAS JUST TO RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY, UM, I I'M SURE THE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IN THE CO-SPONSORS ARE ALREADY INTENDING.

AND THAT WOULD BE THAT THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE THAT THE NEW MEMBERS, UH, HELP IMPROVE RACIAL DIVERSITY, BUT ALSO THAT IT'S DONE TIMELY.

AND THAT'S WHY I PUT IN THE NOVEMBER 1ST THERE.

SO I SEE THE CITY MANAGER STEPPED OFF.

SO MY QUESTION TO HIM IS WHETHER THIS, THIS WORKS, AND MY QUESTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS WHETHER THIS IS ALIGNED WITH Y'ALL'S THINKING.

SO, UM, YOU MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT COMMENT, BUT, UM, LET ME JUST, I'M ALL FOR IT.

IT BEING RACIALLY, THE GROUP TO BE RACIAL DIVERSE.

I THINK THAT SENTIMENT IS FINE.

I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENTION.

UM, WE WROTE IT THIS WAY BECAUSE NORMALLY IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING COMMISSION AND THEY'RE DOING BYLAW CHANGES, IT COMES FROM THE COMMISSION.

THEN IT GOES TO AUDIT AND FINANCE, AND THEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL UM, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WHAT THE TASK FORCE WANTED WAS FOR STAFF TO DETERMINE THAT MAKEUP AS MUCH AS THEY WANT.

THEY HAVE A VERY CLEAR IDEA OF, OF HOW THEY THINK, UM, THAT, UM, THOSE EXTRA, UM, MEMBERS WHERE THEY SHOULD COME FROM.

AND SINCE THAT IS ALREADY A JOINT BODY OF A LOT OF COMMISSIONS, I THINK THEM COMING FORWARD AND SAYING, THIS IS THE GROUP OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR GROUP TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ALLOW THEM TO DO AND FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES, UM, RATHER THAN IMPOSING ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, SOMETHING FROM STAFF, WHICH THEN COUNCIL WOULD EDIT BASED ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS, ET CETERA.

UM, SO, SO PERHAPS, UM, WE COULD ADD AND RECOGNIZES THE BENEFIT OF A RACIAL OF RACIAL DIVERSITY WITHOUT THE, A IN THERE, IN THIS WORK.

UM, AND IT COURAGES, UM, THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBERS THAT WILL IMPROVE RACIAL DIVERSITY ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY MAY COME BACK AND SAY, IT SHOULD BE SOME REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ORGANIZATION, OR IT MAY BE A PARTICULAR PERSON, OR IT MAY BE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY TEAM BEFORE.

UM, I JUST, THEY HAVE A, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THEY, WHAT THEIR GOAL WAS, BUT THEY HAD A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF, OF, OF THAT'S FINE.

THE MINE.

IT WAS NOT MY INTENT TO CIRCUMVENT THE NORMAL PROCESS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS THE LAST SENTENCE.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE WE COULD JUST STRIKE THE LAST SENTENCE, UM, AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE INTENT HERE IS THAT THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE WOULD GO THROUGH THEIR NORMAL PROCESS.

WOULD THAT WORK, OR I COULDN'T QUITE CATCH IF THERE WAS OTHER LANGUAGE YOU'D RATHER HAVE CITY MANAGER, DID YOU HAVE, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN REALTOR.

I ECHO YOUR FEEDBACK BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE COMING FROM THE COMMITTEE.

IT'S A COUNCIL OR THE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL.

AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT FOLLOWING THAT NORMAL PROCESS MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

SO DELETING THAT LAST SENTENCE CERTAINLY AS APPROPRIATE.

SO SHOULD WE JUST DO THAT? AND SO ALL IT WILL HAVE IS IT ENDS CURRENTLY IN ADVANCING THE CITY'S CLIMATE GOALS.

AND THEN WE WOULD JUST ADD AND RECOGNIZES THE BENEFIT OF A RACIAL DIVERSITY IN THIS WORK AND COMMITS TO APPOINTING NEW MEMBERS THAT WILL IMPROVE RACIAL DIVERSITY ON THE COMMITTEE PERIOD, AND JUST END IT THERE IS THAT, DOES THAT WORK QUITE CHILL? YEAH.

SO STRIKING THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO RETURN, UM, I THINK THAT ALIGNS WITH THE INTENTION THAT THEY HAD.

I WOULD TAKE OUT THE A, BEFORE A RE BEFORE RACIAL DIVERSITY.

OH, TYPO.

SO, AND RECOGNIZES THE BENEFIT OF RACIAL DIVERSITY IN THIS WORK AND COMMITS TO APPOINTING NEW MEMBERS THAT WILL IMPROVE RACIAL DIVERSITY ON THE COMMITTEE.

UM, THAT'D BE FINE WITH ME AS LONG AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS TO THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

YOU WANT TO ADD MORE MEMBERS, YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR BYLAWS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND WE WANT YOU TO COME UP WITH THE INITIAL PROPOSAL, UM, UM, FOR THAT.

AND THEN IF WE'RE THE ONES APPOINTING THEM, OR IF IT'S A DIFFERENT PROCESS THEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT APPROACHES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, UM, THAN NOT, THEN I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

PRESENT.

SO, SO THAT ONE'S CONSIDERED FRIENDLY AS WELL, CHANGES.

MAYOR ADLER AND BY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WE MADE NO ONE ON THE DYESS HAS ANY OBJECTIONS TO IT BECAUSE I DON'T, BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US NOT TO HAVE AN OBJECTION TO AN AMENDMENT FOR IT TO GO.

UM, UH,

[04:25:01]

I UNDERSTAND.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO STRIKE IN THAT LAST LINE, THE CITY MANAGER'S DIRECTED, UM, TO RETURN BY YADA YADA YADA SEEING NONE HEARING NONE.

UM, WE ARE CONSIDERING THAT ONE, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, AND I DIDN'T DO THE SAME FOR THE LAST ONE WHERE WE WERE STRIKING, WHERE WE STOPPED AT RESPONSIBILITIES, PERIOD, STRIKING AS DIRECTED IN THE SECOND, BE IT RESOLVED.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT HERE, NANCY? AND NONE, THE, BOTH OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED FRIENDLY AND THEN YOU STRUCK THE FIRST ONE, SO, RIGHT.

SO THE NEW MOTION WOULD BE SO, SO WE, NOW WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE IS JUST THE ORIGINAL MOTION WITH THESE TWO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.

GOTCHA.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT THE, THE SENTIMENT IN MY COMMUNITY IS NOT IF THE NEXT BIG FLOOD HAPPENS, BUT WHEN, UM, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE STANCE THAT WE'RE TAKING AS A COUNCIL, AS A COMMUNITY, AND KNOWING THAT THE TOUGH WORK-WISE AHEAD.

AND WHICH CASE IT HAS BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FOR IT TO THE, TO THE, UM, ITEM FOR, FOR ANOTHER MOMENT.

I'VE SAID A LOT AND INVITE MY COLLEAGUES AT FIVE 30, WHERE HAVE A CELEBRATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN OUT IN THE OUTSIDE.

AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT IT'S NOT RAINING AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT OUTSIDE TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS, UH, THE PASSAGE OF THE PLAN DOES MARK, UM, DECELERATION OF OUR GOALS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO ADJUST TRANSITION.

UM, THIS ITEM ITEM ONE 10 IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY A CALL TO ACTION TO, UM, OUR CITY, UM, TO THE COUNCIL, BUT ALSO TO, UM, CITY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP THAT WE AS A COUNCIL ARE PRIORITIZING ACHIEVING THIS GOAL IN THE FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT IN THE PLAN, UM, AND MORE BROADLY SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR OUR CLIMATE AND OUR SUSTAINABILITY, OUR RESILIENCE WORK TO BE ELEVATED, TO BE FUNDED, TO BE, UM, LED, UM, DELIBERATELY AND INTENTIONALLY, UM, THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, UH, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THESE GOALS UNLESS WE BRING, UM, DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T ALWAYS TALK TOGETHER ON THESE ISSUES.

UM, TOGETHER, THAT'S HOW WE CAN BE.

THAT'S HOW WE CAN INNOVATE.

THAT'S HOW WE CAN BE THE EXAMPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE FOR OUR BUSINESSES, UM, AND OUR NONPROFITS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT SORT OF DELEGATION AND THAT CALL TO ACTION.

UM, WE DIDN'T GET INTO LOTS OF WEEDS ABOUT ALL OF THE SPECIFICS, UM, THAT IS THE MANAGER'S, UM, ROLE.

UM, BUT, BUT THE POLICY DIRECTION I HOPE IS CLEAR.

UM, AND, AND THE GOALS, UM, ARE THERE AS LAID OUT IN THE PLAN THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER.

SO I, WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE AMBIGUOUS ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND WE WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS, UM, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH THE CITY TO ACHIEVE, UM, THE 20, 40 GOALS AND ALL OF THE EQUITY USING ALL OF THE EQUITY STRATEGIES AND THE EMISSION GOALS, STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED IN THE PLAN.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, THIS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.

AND, UH, WE, WE HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, BECAUSE I THINK HOPE DRIVES ACTION MORE THAN FEAR, UH, BUT, BUT THE, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY COULD REALLY BE EXPERIENCING MORE AND MORE IS JUST SO DRASTIC, UM, FROM ASTHMA TO WILDFIRES, TO BEING TRAPPED IN YOUR HOME, TO NOT HAVING POWER TO FLOODS, UH, IT, THE FUTURE LOOKS CAN BE LOOK REALLY, REALLY SCARY.

UM, BUT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN, THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND THE GROWTH HERE TO CHANNEL THAT, TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE BEING PART OF A, OF A COUNCIL AND A COMMUNITY.

THAT'S TRYING TO TAKE THOSE STEPS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE REALLY TRANSFORMATIONAL AND AVOID THOSE THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE COMING IN OUR FUTURE MEMBER FOR THIS JUST QUICKLY.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNSELOR ALTAR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM, THIS IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR MY DISTRICT.

UM, AS WE APPROACH HALLOWEEN, WE'LL BE APPROACHING, UM, A SAD, UM, MILESTONE MEMORY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE DEVASTATING FLOODS, THE DEVASTATING HALLOWEEN FLOODS THAT HAPPENED.

UM, AND, AND SO KNOWING THAT,

[04:30:01]

UM, AND SO I AM EXCITED AND, AND THRILLED TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MAYOR ADLER, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY REPEAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER ON THE OTHER ITEM, WHERE WE INTERRUPTED THE PLAN, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND OTHER CO-SPONSORS ON THIS ITEM WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS THAT INTERNATIONALLY WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A LOT IN HIS CITY, UH, BUT THERE ARE ARE MANY PARTS OF BOTH OUR COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD THAT, UH, DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PUT THEIR ARM AROUND WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

AND IN AUSTIN FOR 2030 YEARS, SO HAS REALLY LED, UH, THE, THE WORLD.

UH, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT ARE DOING EVEN BETTER THAN WE ARE.

WE'RE IN THAT, IN THAT GROUP OF CITIES THAT ARE REALLY SETTING THE STANDARD INTERNATIONALLY.

AND I THINK WE CAN ALL BE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

UH, AND THE EXTRA PUSH THAT'S COMING FROM THIS PLAN, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS AROUND THE WORLD.

SO I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF IT, THANKFUL ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM, NUMBER ONE, 10, IT'S UNANIMOUS FOR EVERYBODY.

WHY DO I KEEP SEEING YOUR HAND? I DON'T KNOW.

I'M A NO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

SO ITEM NUMBER ONE, 10 PASSES 10 TO ONE.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SAY FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT REAL QUICK, JUST TO OFFER SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF EXPECTATIONS.

I KNOW MY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR JUST LAID OUT.

UM, SEVERAL OF US WILL BE, UM, OUT FRONT AT FIVE 30.

AND SO WE NEED TO LEAVE A FEW MINUTES FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE TIME TO GET OUT FRONT.

AND SO I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO PROPOSE A TIME FOR OUR DINNER BREAK, DEPENDING UPON WHAT TIME WE, WE GET BACK IN FROM THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

UM, I JUST REALLY, I REALIZED THAT EARLIER WHEN I WAS NAMING OFF, CO-SPONSORS WHEN PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, I CAN'T SEE YOU WHEN, WHEN ANN IS HERE.

AND I, AND I FORGOT TO MENTION TO YOU AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

SO WITH THAT COLLEAGUES, LET ME GET MY LITTLE SCRIPT HERE.

GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7, 4 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW

[Executive Session]

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 1 58, APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF JOSEPH AS CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCORD WITH SESSION 1, 4, 3 DOT OH ONE, THREE OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND ITEM NUMBER 1 64, DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT DUTIES AND EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER.

IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I DON'T SEE ANY, UM, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, THE TIME IS 4 0 3, GANG'S ALL HERE, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

WE'RE BACK OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSE SESSION.

WE DISCUSSED PERSONNEL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEMS, NUMBER 1 58 AND 1 64.

ALL RIGHT,

[117. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) relating to establishing new requirements for water conservation in the implementation of the Water Forward Plan, including expansion of the reclaimed water connection requirement, water benchmarking, and mandatory onsite water reuse for certain new developments and requiring an affordability report.]

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO AGENDA ITEMS, REMAINING ITEMS, NUMBER ONE, 17, AND 1 58.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE, 17.

I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT WE HAVE MOTION SHEETS IN OUR EMAILS.

THEY WERE EMAILED TO EVERYBODY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE PASSAGE AND WITH MY EMOTION SHEET, CAN I DO IT THAT WAY? UM, I SHOULD KNOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE PASSAGE WITH, UH, OR ITEM NUMBER ONE 17 WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED ON THE MODE WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED ON THE MOTION SHEET AND Y'ALL'S BACKUP.

AND ONCE I GET A SECOND, I CAN SPEAK TO IT.

YOU HAVE A SECOND AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO OKAY.

UM, SO, UM, THIS IS, UH, EXCITING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM ON WATER FORWARD.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION A WHILE BACK, UH, TO, TO MOVE THESE ITEMS FORWARD.

AS A REMINDER, THESE WERE A WATERFORD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ALL HAD PASSED AS PART OF THE LDC.

AND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FINISH THE LDC, THESE WERE LEFT,

[04:35:01]

UH, NOT FINAL, NOT BEING FINALLY PUT IN ORDINANCE.

SO WE MADE THOSE CHANGES.

WE MADE THE, WE INITIATED THE RESOLUTION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO ASK THE STAFF TO BRING THE ORDINANCE BACK.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN FRONT OF US.

AND, UM, AND SO THE AMENDMENT MAKES IT CLEAR.

IT RESPONDS TO THE TESTIMONY WE HAD EARLIER TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE, UM, THAT THESE ITEMS ARE TAKING EFFECT DECEMBER 1ST, 2021.

UM, EXCEPT FOR PART FOUR, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UH, RECOMMENDED TO TAKE EFFECT ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2023, THE AMENDMENT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES A CONCERN THAT HAD BEEN RAISED TO US BY STAFF, UH, THAT, UM, THE, UH, LARGE DEVELOPMENT WITH A MULTI-FAMILY COMPONENT, UH, SHOULD WE PUSH PACK TO DECEMBER 1ST, 2023? SO THIS AMENDMENT DOES THAT.

IT SAYS FOR A LARGE DEVELOPMENT WITH A MULTIFAMILY COMPONENT THAT IS MORE THAN 250 FEET FROM, AND WITHIN 500 FEET OF A RECLAIM WATER LINE WOULD NOT HAVE TO CONNECT UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST, 2023.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT MOVES EVERYTHING FORWARD.

ACCORDING TO THE, UM, ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS IS ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONCERN THAT STAFF HAD RAISED, UH, RELATED TO AFFORDABILITY AS IT RELATES JUST TO THE MULTIFAMILY COMPONENT.

SO IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT AND PROVIDES FOR, UH, TWO YEARS ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THOSE LARGE DEVELOPMENT MULTI-FAMILY WITHIN TWO 50 AND 500 FEET.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

AND I THINK THIS IS ALIGNED, UM, WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF, AS WELL AS WHAT WE HEARD EARLIER FROM DAVID FOSTER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AND MOVING FORWARD WITH AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW, UM, ON THAT, UM, THE DUAL PIPING AND THE CONNECTING TO THE, UM, UH, TO THE, UM, ADDITIONAL PIPING.

SO, UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO HAD ASKED ABOUT THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER TEBOW.

I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE, BUT PROBABLY NOT AT THIS STAGE, EXCEPT THAT I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

I THINK IT'S, UM, REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE STRATEGIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS SOMEONE IN, IN THE EARLIER PRESS CONFERENCE SAID, I MEAN, WE HAVE, WE HAVE PLANS ON THE SHELF HERE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND NEED TO GET NEED TO PUT THOSE PLANS INTO ACTION.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE WATER FORWARD WORK STARTED YEARS AGO.

UM, THE FIRST BEGINNINGS OF, OF THE WATER, WHAT BECAME THE WATER FORWARD PLAN STARTED IN 2014.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS RIGHT AFTER OR RIGHT DURING, UM, ONE OF THE WORST DROUGHTS ON RECORD IN THE, IN CENTRAL TEXAS, BETWEEN 2008 AND 2016, OUR CENTRAL TEXAS EXPERIENCED A DROUGHT SO SEVERE THAT THE STORAGE LEVELS OF THE HIGHLAND LAKES, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY WATER SOURCE, OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER, WHEREAS LOW AS 37%.

AND SO IT'S JUST VERY CRITICAL THAT WE MOVE THESE STRATEGIES FORWARD.

THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD DIFFERENT CONCERNS THROUGH THE YEARS ABOUT THE COST OF THAT AT THE UPFRONT COSTS OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU AS SOMEONE WHO SAT ON THIS DYESS DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS TO BRING IN WATER FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES INTO THIS ONE, SO THAT WE COULD ASSURE OUR RESIDENTS, THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY, THAT THOSE, YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVES ARE EXTREMELY COSTLY TOO.

AND SO BY INVESTING IN BUYING REQUIRING SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES AND REQUIRING THAT UPFRONT INVESTMENT, WE CAN NOT ASSURE THAT THAT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THOSE, UM, OR THOSE WHO, WHO ARE, UM, USING THAT WATER WILL BENEFIT FROM LOWER RATES IN THE CASE OF, OF THE RECLAIMED WATER STRATEGIES, BUT ALSO THAT AS A, AS A RATE PAYER, UM, WE WILL BE WORKING TOWARD SOLUTIONS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT KEEP THOSE RATES AS SOON AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, TO GO TO THOSE MORE COSTLY WATER SOLUTIONS IF WE HIT ANOTHER PERIOD OF PROLONGED DROUGHT.

SO, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR RIGHT NOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE HAVE MECHANISMS OF NOTICE AND INFORMATION SO THAT THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT AND HAVE SOMEBODY TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE OPTION BEFORE THE VARIANCE IS GIVEN, WHICH I DON'T THINK HAS TO BE IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT MIGHT BE IN THE PROCEDURES FOR THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

UM, SO I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED US BEING ABLE TO MOVE THIS MORE, THIS PART FORWARD AS WELL.

UM, AND I'M WONDERING, IS THERE A NOTICE THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S WITHIN THAT NUMBER OF FEET KNOWS THAT THEY COULD, UM, CONNECT TO THE RECLAIMED, UM, WATERLINES, LIKE I'M

[04:40:01]

UM, CAN SOMEONE SPEAK TO THAT COUNCILMAN FOR ALTAR, KEVIN CRITTENDON, AUSTIN, WATER UTILITIES DIRECTOR.

UM, THE OTHER COMPONENT OF WHAT COUNCIL'S LOOKING AT IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM REQUIRES A WATER USE PINCHED MARKING IN THE LAND USE REVIEW PROCESS.

AND SO THERE WILL BE THAT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THAT MECHANISM TO LET, UH, DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS SIZE KNOW, UH, THE AVAILABILITY OF RECLAIMED WATER IN THEIR SITE DEVELOPMENT, THE SENATE.

SO THE, SO BUILT INTO THE PROCEDURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD, THEY WOULD BE INFORMED OF THAT AND HAVE SOMEONE TALKING THROUGH THE BENEFITS AND BE AWARE THAT THE LINE WAS WITHIN THAT NUMBER OF FEET FOR THEM.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

I DO REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE, THE DIRECTION THAT THIS IS HEADING.

I HAD TWO QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD ASKED OF STAFF.

I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN MR. CROW THAT ANSWERED THEM, BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE MR. CRITTENDON ON HERE TOO.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK THEM PUBLICLY SO I COULD MAKE SURE I HAVE THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING WITH REGARD TO THE WORDING.

THE DIRECTOR SHALL GRANT A VARIANCE.

I UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE, RIGHT? SO THIS WOULD BASICALLY BE THEY AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY OR THEY CAN FILL OUT A SIMPLE FORM AND IT JUST GETS BLESSED BY STAFF.

IS THAT THE, UH, YOUR INTERPRETATION COUNCIL MEMBER? YEAH, THIS IS ROSS AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND THERE'S NO DISCRETION FOR DIRECTOR.

IT WOULD JUST FILL OUT THE FORM AND GET THEIR VARIANTS AND WOULD MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

AND THE AUTHOR IS OKAY WITH THAT.

WAS THAT THE INTENT WHEN YOU WROTE IT? THEY WERE JUST FOR THE, YES.

THAT IS THE INTENT.

YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR BROUGHT UP.

I THINK THAT, UH, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM AND THEN THEY ARE GRANTED THE VARIANCE.

IF THEY CHOOSE TO CONNECT, THEY CAN STILL CHOOSE TO CONNECT.

SO BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S QUESTION WAS.

YES, TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD NEWS AND HELPFUL.

UM, AND JUST WITH THE LANGUAGE MULTI-FAMILY COMPONENT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS INCLUDED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

YES, IT DOES.

IT WOULD INCLUDE ANYTHING WITH A MULTIFAMILY COMPONENT.

OKAY, GOOD.

THOSE WERE MY TWO QUESTIONS.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WATER FORWARD BEING AN AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WATER DOES COST MONEY.

UM, BUT I LOVE THAT WE HAVE ELEVATED THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST AMOUNT OF HOUSING SUPPLY AS WE ACHIEVE OUR HOUSING GOALS AS A CITY AS WELL.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE BEEN HAVING OVER THE MONTHS ABOUT HOW TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SIMULTANEOUSLY ACHIEVE AFFORDABILITY ON THE FRONT END AND THE BACK END, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE RESILIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO HAVE A ROBUST AMOUNT OF HOUSING SUPPLY.

UM, AND ALSO BECAUSE THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT IS NOT QUITE READY FOR THIS YET.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TEST PERIOD TO GET THINGS GOING AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FOCUS ON, UM, THE MULTIFAMILY ASPECT OF IT.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER.

UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR SOUNDS, I THINK EVERYONE'S WANTS WATER FORWARD TO, TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.

UH, STAFF HAD, UH, RAISED A RESERVATION THAT WANTED MORE TIME, UH, WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

DOES THIS MAKE THIS NOW WORKABLE FOR THE, UH, FOR THE STAFF AGAIN, KEVIN CRITTENDON OLSON, WATER MERRICK.

SO NEXT STEP WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 1 58, UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER TEE UP.

THAT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE SEASONING AND CAN EASILY WORK IT INTO KIND OF OUR CURRENT PROCESSES AND WORKFLOW.

THAT'S GOOD.

I REMEMBER REALLY WELL AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVA POINTED OUT THAT DROUGHT WE WERE IN AND THAT THE, THE BILLION DOLLAR, UH, SOLUTIONS THAT WERE BEING SHOPPED TO US, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS, THE NEW TEN ONE COUNCIL DID WAS MAKE IT RAIN AND FILL THE RESERVOIRS.

I'M NOT SURE WE COULD COUNT ON DOING THAT, UH, EVERY TIME WE NEED TO.

SO I'M HAPPY THIS IS MOVING FORWARD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES WITH THAT IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED? UM, ACTUALLY I SHOULD PROBABLY SAY MOVED WITH THE MOTION SHEET AND THEN SECONDED.

UM, IN WHICH CASE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH

[04:45:01]

WE ARE 10.

YES, I'M A NO ONE.

NO, THANK YOU.

THE ITEM PASSES 10 TO ONE.

SO,

[158. Approve a resolution confirming the City Manager's appointment of Joseph Chacon as Chief of the Austin Police Department in accord with Section 143.013 of the Texas Local Government Code.]

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, AFTER A MONTH LONG PROCESS WITH EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION TO IDENTIFY THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB, I'M PROUD TO BRING FORWARD JOSEPH CHACONE AS MY APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, CHIEF CHACONE HAS SERVED WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, INCLUDING THE PAST SIX MONTHS SERVING AS INTERIM CHEAP PRIOR TO HIS INTERIM APPOINTMENT.

CHIEF MCKOWN SERVED AS ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS, OVERSEEING PATROL, SPECIAL OPERATIONS, SPECIALIZED PATROL, INVESTIGATIONS, INTELLIGENCE, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, AND TRAINING AND RECRUITING.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS AND HOW WE GOT HERE IN MARCH.

THE CITY RELEASED A SURVEY, ASKING THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY THE SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS, BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE AND TOP PRIORITIES.

THEY BELIEVE THAT WERE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE RESPONSES TO THE SURVEY HELPED ESTABLISH THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THIS POSITION.

IN APRIL, WE SOLICITED ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS, INCLUDING FIVE ONLINE COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS AND CONSTITUENT CALLS FROM THE CITY'S THREE 11 SERVICE.

THE PROCESS INCLUDED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS FEATURING PANELISTS DRAWN FROM CITY STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS FOLLOWED BY TWO PUBLIC FORUMS AND AUGUST OFFERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND QUESTIONS AND GIVE QUESTIONS TO THE FINAL CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.

OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS WAS DRIVEN BY FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I WANT TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED US REACH THIS IMPORTANT DECISION, NOT ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR OUR WORKFORCE AS WELL.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OFFER CHIEF CHACONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

BEFORE WE OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS, CHIEF, THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, KRONK, UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY JUST INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO BE STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, UH, AND TALKING ABOUT THIS TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION OF, UH, MEN AND WOMEN WHO CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AS I DO.

AND, UM, AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS THIS EVENING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH COLLEAGUES.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER WENT THIS, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY IN TERMS OF CHIEF COCOON.

UH, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS WE'VE WENT OVER PREVIOUSLY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

SO THE INTERNAL SURVEY COMPLETED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION RATED YOU FOR PREFERENCE AT 10.38% OF THE TOP STREET CANDIDATES.

GIVEN THAT ONE IN 10 PEOPLE WANTED YOU AS THE LEADER FOR THE DEPARTMENT, YOU WILL HAVE A CHALLENGING TASK AHEAD TO BOOST THE MORALE, GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING AS A TEAM, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO UNITE THE DEPARTMENT HOLISTICALLY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER? YEAH.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING, UH, THE MORALE ISSUES, UH, ARE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUITE A BIT, INCLUDING, UH, STAFFING, WHICH IS A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE PEOPLE BACK TO PATROL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR, UH, EMERGENCY AND URGENT RESPONSE TIMES, UH, AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

UM, MANY OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WE HAD TO MOVE BACK HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY GOOD POSITIONS THAT THEY HAD ENJOYED SOME OF THEM FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I KNOW AND BELIEVE ME, I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY, UH, THAT THOSE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE, BUT I FEEL THAT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TO DO THAT.

UH, AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I'VE BEEN URGENTLY WORKING TOWARDS, UH, REFILLING THE, THE RANKS OF, OF THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE RETIRED AND HAVE RESIGNED FROM OUR DEPARTMENT IN RECENT MONTHS.

UH, AND WE HAVE RESTARTED OUR ACADEMY AND HAVE TWO MORE ACADEMIES IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING, UH, URGENTLY IN THAT, IN THAT DIRECTION, AS WELL AS ME BEING EFFECTIVE IN MY COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT SWORN AND CIVILIAN, UH, TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO GREAT THINGS WITH THIS DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND, AND THAT IS WHAT MY MESSAGING IS GOING TO SEND HER AROUND.

SO YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE WORKING URGENTLY TO FILL THOSE VACANT PATROL POSITIONS.

[04:50:01]

I'D LIKE SOME MORE CLARITY ABOUT HOW YOU'RE DOING THAT WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE ACADEMY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE WAITING ON THOSE CADETS TO GRADUATE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE URGENCY REALLY IS AROUND, UH, THE RATE AT WHICH OUR ACADEMY CLASSES HAVE TO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

UH, THE, THE SOONER THAT WE CAN START THOSE CLASSES, THE SOONER THEY'LL GRADUATE AND THE SOONER WE GET THOSE, THOSE, UH, BRAND NEW OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET.

SO MY URGENCY REALLY IS RELATED TO HOW WELL THIS ACADEMY IS DOING.

UH, THIS ACADEMY IS ONE THAT, UH, WORKING IN A MODEL THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY BUILDING IT OUT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, THAT ARE OVERSEEING THE PROCESS.

AND WE'LL BE REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, KEEPING A DIVERSITY EQUITY, INCLUSION LENS, AS WELL AS THE ANTI-RACISM TRAINING, UH, THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS ARE BEING BUILT INTO OUR NEW CADET CLASS.

SO EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN OPINION ON POLICING TODAY, BUT VERY FEW HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THE JOB AND UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF IT, WHICH PUTS YOU IN A VERY UNIQUE POSITION.

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC HOW YOU INTEND TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL BODY AS A WHOLE? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL REALLY REPRESENTS, UH, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

YOU ARE THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE OFTEN SAID, AND CONTINUE TO SAY THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH REALLY HAS ME ENGAGING WITH YOU.

AND SO THAT, UH, OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

I HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH OUR COUNCIL OFFICES ON THE REQUESTS THAT COME ON, THE ISSUES THAT THEY RAISED THAT COME FROM CONSTITUENTS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT I'M RESPONSIVE AND TIMELY.

AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL FIND THAT IF CONFIRMED THAT THAT WILL BE WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MOVING FORWARD.

I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OFFICERS THAT YOU ALL ARE HAVING TROUBLE RECRUITING, QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE ROLE OF OFFICER AT APD.

IS THAT TRUE? AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO AND HOW MIGHT YOU ADDRESS IT? YOU KNOW, I THINK OVERALL, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE HAVING A HARDER TIME RIGHT NOW, RECRUITING INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION.

IT'S A REALLY TOUGH, TOUGH TIME TO BE A COP.

AND, UH, WE'RE NO DIFFERENT, HOWEVER, WE ARE PROBABLY DOING BETTER THAN MOST.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE, UH, IN THE FIRST WEEK WE OPENED UP OUR PORTAL, UM, TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS.

WE HAD A RUSH OF APPLICATIONS.

IT HAS SLOWED DOWN SOMEWHAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LOWER OUR STANDARDS.

THIS COMMUNITY, UH, EXPECTS AND DESERVES QUALITY POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE ACADEMY THAT ARE GOING TO GO OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING SAFETY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THOSE HIGH STANDARDS.

THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY IS A VERY VALUABLE ENGAGEMENT TOOL.

HAVING TAKEN THAT CLASS.

I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT IT HAS ON POLICING IN GENERAL, IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING MISSPELL SOME OF THE MYTHS ABOUT WHAT IT IS YOU ALL DO.

COULD YOU, UM, EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHY THE PROGRAM IS UNDER YOUR REVIEW, WHAT YOUR VISION IS FOR THE PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT THE TIMELINE IS ON STARTING THAT CLASS AGAIN, CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENT ABOUT THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.

IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO TRULY UNDERSTAND POLICE WORK.

UH, WE'VE RUN MANY CLASSES GOING BACK MANY YEARS, UH, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, OBVIOUSLY, UH, COVID, UH, PUT A STOP TO THAT, UM, EARLY LAST YEAR AND WE ARE EXAMINING THE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DELIVERING IT IN A CONSISTENT WAY, A SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR POLICE ACADEMY, UH, APPLYING THAT DIVERSITY EQUITY, INCLUSION LENS OVER THE TRAINING CURRICULUM, UH, THAT, THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY TRAINING TO OUR, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, ONCE THAT IS, THAT IS COMPLETE AND COVID HAS LIFTED TO THE POINT WHERE WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE BRINGING PEOPLE INTO A CLOSED ROOM SETTING.

UH, THEN THOSE CLASSES WILL RESUME.

THANK YOU AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CLASS HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IT'S TAKING AS LONG AS IT IS TO BE REVIEWED? YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, RIGHT NOW COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE, WE'RE BALANCING IT WITH, UH, MANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, AS A DEPARTMENT, IT OBVIOUSLY TAKES STAFF TO PUT THE CPA ON.

AND, UH, RIGHT NOW I HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY, UH, STAFFING NEEDS THAT I'M, THAT I'M PRIORITIZING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO, UH, I HAVE EVERY INTENTION AND CERTAINLY OF STARTING THE CPA BACK UP.

UH, WE JUST NEED TO DO IT WHEN IT, UH, WHEN IT'S TIMELY TO DO SO.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD SEGUE.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE ANNOUNCER KELLY, IF I MAY REAL QUICK.

[04:55:01]

I WANTED US TO, UM, ONE.

UM, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS MADE YESTERDAY IN REGARDS TO OPERATIONAL CHANGES ON 9 1, 1 CALLS IS ALARMING SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, HAVE THE LIST OF POLICE PRIORITY RESPONSES.

DO YOU ENVISION A DIFFERENT CRITERIA IN THE FUTURE? AND IF SO, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD CHANGE IN THE CRITERIA AND HOW YOU MIGHT MAKE THAT HAPPEN? THE CRITERIA THAT WE'VE, UH, CHANGED OUR RESPONSE PROTOCOLS IS REALLY AROUND DETERMINING WHICH CALLS ARE THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS THAT REQUIRE AN OFFICER TO ACTUALLY RESPOND AND WHICH ONES ARE SCENES THAT ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE AND REALLY IT'S, IT'S A REPORT TAKING FUNCTION.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING, UM, THE AVAILABILITY OF, UH, 3, 1, 1, OR ON, UH, YOU KNOW, REPORTING IT ON THE PHONE AND REPORTING IT ONLINE THROUGH OUR REPORT, AUSTIN.COM, UH, AVAILABLE TO OUR FOLKS AND LETTING THEM KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, UH, OF STAFFING ISSUES.

UM, I THINK THAT THIS ALSO FALLS IN LINE WITH, UH, THE DESIRES OF OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THEY'VE VOICED THROUGH THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORT AND, UH, HAVING, UH, EITHER, UH, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS NOT RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS THAT DON'T, THEY DON'T NEED TO RESPOND TO, OR IN SOME CASES, SUCH AS A BURGLARY CALL THAT MAY REQUIRE THE COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE.

WE'RE ABLE TO DISPATCH A CIVILIAN TECHNICIAN OUT THERE TO GO AHEAD AND PICK UP THAT EVIDENCE OR, OR TAKE FINGERPRINTS AND DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT RESPECTING OUR COMMUNITY'S TIME.

UH, IF WE CONTINUE TO STACK TYPE OF CALLS IN OUR, IN OUR QUEUE, UH, TO RESPOND TO MANY TIMES, OUR CITIZENS ARE WAITING HOURS, UH, FOR AN OFFICER TO RESPOND AND THAT'S NOT GOOD EITHER.

AND WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A BETTER OPTION.

AND THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION WE MAKE TODAY.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REITERATE, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT TO ONE, MAYBE TWO QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL KEEP GOING.

AND IF WE HAVE MORE TIME, THEN WE'LL GO AROUND AGAIN.

BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO, WHILE WE'RE ON THE DIOCESE TO GET TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMAN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WAS NEXT, AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND THEN MAYOR ADLER.

AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR KELLY FOR ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CALLS AND CHIEF COHEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, SINCE WE HAVE INFORMATION FROM OUR CHIEF, THAT WE'RE SHARING BACK THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN ANY INTERVIEWS THAT WE PARTICIPATED, THAT'S REALLY GOOD INFORMATION TO SHARE OUT AND WE'LL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE.

AND THE QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND THE HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS A TOP ISSUE.

ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HEARD TODAY FROM SEVERAL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS HISTORY OF MS HANDLING SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.

AND SO WHAT I, UH, MY QUESTION IS CENTERED AROUND, UH, WHAT MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE AND COMMIT TO AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.

AND IF YOU COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN ALSO IF YOU COULD TOUCH ON, UM, THE TRAINING THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE ACADEMY, UH, AND ANY IN-SERVICE TRAINING AS WELL, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY THE TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY RELATED TO SEX CRIMES.

REJOINED, UH, THE SART, UH, THAT WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I DID WHEN I TOOK OVER AS THE INTERIM CHIEF.

SO, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE, TO THE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE TIME, UM, THAT, THAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, UM, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT, UM, YEAR OVER YEAR, UH, GOING BACK TO 2018, WE ADDED FOUR DETECTIVES.

UH, WE'VE ADDED MORE DETECTIVES SINCE THEN TO TODAY.

OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT HAS 20 DETECTIVES IN IT, ALONG WITH THREE SUPERVISORS AND OUR VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS.

WE ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS ASSIGNED TO SEX CRIMES AS A SINGLE STANDALONE UNIT IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

IT IS, IT HAS MORE DETECTIVES THAN ANY OTHER UNIT DOES.

UM, WE HIGHLY PRIORITIZE THE, UM, THE INVESTIGATION OF, OF THE, OF THESE CRIMES.

IT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DETECTIVES ARE RECEIVING THE TRAINING THAT IS VICTIM CENTERED AND TRAUMA INFORMED.

UH, WE HAVE MOVED STRONGLY IN THAT AREA, UH, AND HAVE HAD, UM, OUR BRAND NEW DETECTIVES THAT ARE COMING IN.

THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE THAT TRAINING, UH, INCLUDING TRAUMA-INFORMED VICTIM INTERVIEWING, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THEM, UH, TO THE PROPER, UH, CONFERENCES SUCH AS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT CONFERENCE, UH, THAT PROVIDES MANY GOOD COURSES IN THE SAME AREA.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, REALLY PLACED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT VALUE ON THESE TYPE OF CASES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE

[05:00:01]

AND I JUST ISSUED A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TODAY TO ADOPT THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY START AS THE MULTI MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT WILL FULFILL OUR NEEDS, UH, RELATED TO STATE LAW.

UH, SO I HOPE THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT I'M PLACING ON PLACING THAT VALUE, UH, IN THAT, UM, AS FAR AS THE, UM, THE TRAINING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE ACADEMY WITH REGARD TO, UM, OUR, OUR BRAND NEW CADETS, YOU KNOW, HAVING, UH, COMING IN AND TEACHING A BLOCK RELATED TO SEX CRIMES IS ONE SMALL PART OF OUR ACADEMY.

THE BIGGER ISSUE REALLY IS LOOKING AT HOW WE INTERACT WITH VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ARE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND, AND, AND TEACHING OUR OFFICERS HOW TO, UH, BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW WITH A TRAUMA INFORMED AND VICTIM CENTERED, UM, STANCE AND HOW THEY, HOW THEY HAVE THOSE INTERACTIONS.

UM, THERE WAS A VERY GOOD COURSE THAT IS PUT ON, UH, THROUGH ICP THAT WE WERE TRAINING OUR, OUR DETECTIVES IN, UH, THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THAT THAT ARE GOING IN, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO WEAVE THAT THROUGH REALLY ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COURSES, UH, THAT WE HAVE, UH, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CURRICULUM REVIEW RIGHT NOW AT THE ACADEMY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AND THE MAYOR ADLER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS UH, GEEZ.

IT'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT.

UM, I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND ONE FOLLOW-UP AND THEN I'LL, UH, TURN IT OVER TO OTHERS.

SO THANK YOU, CHIEF.

TACAN.

I THINK YOU SPOKE TO THIS, UH, PARTIALLY EARLIER, UH, RELATED TO THE RE-IMAGINED TASK FORCE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, UM, DIRECTLY, UH, WILL YOU AGREE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF THE RE-IMAGINED TASK FORCE ON A LONG-TERM COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL FOR AUSTIN? THAT INCLUDES THE IMPORTANT WORK OF CIVILIANS WITHIN APD AND NON-POLICE SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS? YES.

AND A FOLLOWUP RELATED TO THAT IS THE AUSTIN CARES PROGRAM.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, AUSTIN CARES IS OUR, UM, INNOVATIVE, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE ADDED MENTAL HEALTH, UH, AND ASKING FOR A COUNSELOR AS AN OPTION WHEN PEOPLE CALL 9 1 1, AND WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE OR HAVE PUT IN PLACE PROTOCOLS WHERE, UM, SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE MIDST OF A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY CAN HAVE THE SERVICES OF A COUNSELOR, UH, TO WORK WITH THEM.

UM, AND SO I WANT TO ASK FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION, UH, THAT EFFORT, AND ALSO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, AROUND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE PAST.

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE MY STRONG COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE IN THIS AREA.

IT'S AN AREA THAT I FEEL, UH, PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY, VERY STRONGLY ABOUT HELPING TO FIND BETTER OUTCOMES THAT ARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING EITHER WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, DISABILITIES.

I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE, THE MEASURE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE, THE CRISIS CALL COUNSELING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE ON OUR NINE 11 CALL CENTER FLOOR IS, UH, AS YOU SAID, A NATIONAL MODEL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

UM, I HAVE AS BOTH AN ASSISTANT CHIEF, AND AS THE INTERIM CHIEF WORKED IN THIS AREA WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HERE IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, WORKING ON, UH, TRYING TO INTERCEPT, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING WITH MENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE POINT BEFORE WE HAVE TO GET LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED.

SO REALLY GETTING THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO HELP THEM, UH, AND, AND KEEP THEM FROM THAT CRISIS MOMENT, UH, WHEN THEY, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO CALL NINE 11, BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS, YOU KNOW, SOME SITUATION IS OUT OF CONTROL.

SO, UM, I, YOU HAVE MY STRONG COMMITMENT TO, TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE OTHER QUESTIONS PRIOR TO MINE AND, AND, UM, PARTICULARLY THE QUESTIONS RELATED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.

I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ANY MORE, CAUSE I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE.

SO, UM, IF THERE'S TIME AT THE END, I'LL ASK MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL, I'LL PASS THE BATON AT THE MOMENT.

I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

OH, MAYOR ADLER COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS

[05:05:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL CHIEF.

I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH.

UH, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN I'M INTERESTED IN THE QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL ASK AS WELL.

UH, YOU HAVE SAID THAT, UH, YOU, YOU SUPPORT A DATA DRIVEN APPROACH TO STAFFING LEVELS, UH, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU'VE SAID PUBLICLY THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT SETTINGS STATIC, UH, PLEASE STAFFING LEVELS LIKE TWO PER THOUSAND OR EVEN 2.3 OR 2.5 PER THOUSAND.

THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOW, WHY IS THAT? AND, AND IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT SETTING A STATIC LEVEL, WHAT IS IT YOU SUPPORT? AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT CERTAINLY THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE SETTING A, JUST A STATIC LEVEL, UH, MANY TIMES THEY'RE BASED UPON OLDER, UH, METHODOLOGIES, UH, THAT AT THE TIME WERE MADE SENSE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT I, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN MUCH BETTER, UH, IN THE AREA OF AN ANALYZING DATA, ANALYZING CALL LOADS, ANALYZING, UM, YOU KNOW, PERSONNEL DISTRIBUTION, UH, AND HAVE THE ABILITY REALLY TO, YOU KNOW, WE TOUT OURSELVES AS AN EVIDENCE-BASED AND DATA DRIVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE USING THAT DATA TO DETERMINE HOW WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE STAFFING LEVELS.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING FORWARD, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT, UM, WE DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE, UH, BE DELIVERED AND THEN USE, UH, THE, THE MODELS THAT WE DEVELOP, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW MANY OFFICERS IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO, TO OBTAIN THAT.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT'S A SMARTER WAY TO DO BUSINESS.

UH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE, UH, ACTIVELY DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT WORK.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU DON'T SUPPORT SETTING STATIC LEVELS FOR DETERMINING STAFFING LEVELS FOR POLICING.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE LEVEL THAT'S APPROPRIATE AS OPPOSED TO, UH, AN ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT MIGHT BE THROWN OUT THERE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT DOES.

THERE'S AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

UH, AND THEN ALSO, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, TO STAFFING, I HAVE A QUESTION, YOU, UH, YOU, YOU RECENTLY INSTITUTED THAT NEW POLICY WHERE WE WOULD NO LONGER EXPECT, UH, POLICE OFFICERS TO HANDLE ANIMAL SERVICES CALLS, UH, OR NONVIOLENT SITUATIONS, UH, UH, WHERE THERE'S REALLY ONLY A NEED FOR REPORT TAKING OR BEGINNING IN INVESTIGATIONS, ALL WORK THAT COULD BE HANDLED BY, UH, BY A CRIMINAL, UH, ON A TECHNOLOGIST FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

IS THAT A GOOD THING TO TRY, UH, WHETHER YOU'RE 300 OFFICERS, UH, OVERSTAFFED OR 300 OFFICERS UNDERSTAFFED? IS THAT STILL A GOOD THING TO TRY? YOU KNOW, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.

AND, AND MAYOR, I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE I THINK THERE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS.

PEOPLE SHOULD CALL NINE 11 AND THEY CAN EXPECT AN EMERGENCY POLICE RESPONSE.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS, IS THE CALLS THAT, UH, ARE NO LONGER IN PROGRESS.

THERE IS NO EMINENT DANGER TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.

UM, AND IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO, UH, TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MEASURES, UH, TO ALLOW FOR THOSE REPORTING, IF THAT'S ALL IT REALLY IS, IS JUST TAKING A REPORT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR OFFICERS, UH, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE ON THE STREETS FOR THOSE IN PROGRESS CALLS, UH, TO WHICH WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES SHORT LATELY.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S REALLY BEHIND, UH, THE, THE NEED FOR THE CHANGE.

I THINK IT, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

UH, AND, AND I DO THINK THAT AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE REIMAGINATION EFFORT, IT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THAT AS WELL.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH, I THINK WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR IS A POLICE CHIEF THAT, UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT WILL FULFILL THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF KEEPING A AT ALREADY SAFE COMMUNITY SAFE, UH, BUT ALSO JOINING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING TO CHAMPION, UH, TRYING ALWAYS TO INNOVATE AND FIND NEW AND BETTER WAYS FOR, FOR US TO, TO BE SAFE AND TO USE OUR RESOURCES AND TO REALLY LET OUR, OUR, OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO THE IMPORTANT FUNCTION ON FOCUSING ON THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT REALLY ONLY POLICE OFFICERS, A SWORN OFFICER WITH A BADGE AND A GUN CAN DO.

UH, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU'VE DONE THAT WITH THIS, UH, INITIATIVE.

UH, I THINK,

[05:10:01]

UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN ASKED, UH, THE DIVERSION OF CALLS NOW, UH, IN MORE FREQUENT SITUATIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERS.

I THINK AT ONE POINT WHEN WE STARTED OFF, ONLY 1% OF THE CASES WERE BEING, UH, UH, WERE ABLE TO BE REFERRED.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE UP TO 10%.

UH, NOW IF I, IS THAT THE NUMBER I THINK THAT YOU HAD SAID AT ONE POINT THE, THE MOST RECENT REPORT THAT I RECEIVED SHOWED THAT CLOSE TO 10% OF OUR CALLS NOW ARE BEING DIVERTED.

AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

SOME CITIES ARE UP OVER 50%.

SO I, SO I HOPE WE KEEP UP THAT WORK, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO THAT SITUATION, BUT AGAIN, UH, BECAUSE IT, IT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT USING OUR POLICE OFFICERS IS THE WAY WE INTERSECT WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR WITH POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND THAT ENABLES THEM TO BETTER FOCUS ON THE REAL IMPORTANT FUNCTION THAT WE NEED OUR POLICE TO DO.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UH, SUCH AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, AND OTHER SERIOUS OFFENSES, UH, THROUGH PREVENTIVE MEASURES? SO, YES, WE ARE.

DOING A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING TRACK OF ALL OF US.

UM, I WANTED TO ACT, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT VICTIM SERVICES.

THERE'S BEEN REQUESTS ABOUT YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH VICTIM SERVICES.

UM, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATION, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM VICTIM SERVICES, OR IS THAT NOT POSSIBLE AND WHY HASN'T THAT HAPPENED YET? YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND A COUNCIL MEMBER IN, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, UH, YOU KNOW, MYSELF PERSONALLY, AS WELL AS MY STAFF, WE'VE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT A VICTIM SERVICES.

UH, I AM AWARE OF THE, THE PREVIOUS, UH, UH, COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT WAS RELATED TO IT.

UH, AND, AND, UM, AND SO WHAT I STAND READY TO DO TODAY IS, IS TO COMMIT ON, ON SEVERAL LEVELS TO INCREASING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE VISIBILITY OF VICTIM SERVICES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, THEIR ACCESS TO EXECUTIVE STAFF AND TO OVERALL POLICY DECISIONS.

SO WHAT I WILL DO IS, UM, GO AHEAD AND, UH, INCLUDE OUR VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION MANAGER IN OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETINGS, UH, GIVE THAT PERSON DIRECT ACCESS TO ME AND TO EXECUTIVE STAFF, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARDS TO VICTIM SERVICES AND HOW THEY'RE SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, UH, AS WELL AS TO GIVE THEM A FORMALIZED, A PROCESS FOR INPUT INTO, UH, POLICY DECISIONS IN POLICYMAKING.

SO SITTING IN THE EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETINGS REALLY MEANS THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE, UH, THE SAME AS, UH, AS THE OTHER HIGH-LEVEL LEADERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

AND I COMMIT TO DO THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT COMMITMENT.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THE STATE OF TEXAS NOW HAS PERMITLESS CARRY.

UM, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY DOING TO HELP MINIMIZE GUN VIOLENCE? AND IS THAT OVERLAPPING WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION? AND WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW IF YOU WANT US TO TAKE ANY ACTION AT THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY STAY SAFE, YOU KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE.

UH, I'VE BEEN TALKING QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND REALLY WHAT I'VE BEEN OBSERVING, UH, EVEN LONGER THAN THAT IS A SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH AS A CITY, WE'VE MENTIONED THAT I'VE MENTIONED IT, UH, OVERALL, OUR CITY IS VERY SAFE WHEN YOU COMPARE TO SIMILAR CITIES IN THE, IN THE U S UH, WE ARE, ARE VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIME RATES ARE BOTH DOWN OVERALL.

UH, WHAT WE ARE SEEING A SURGEON AS OTHER CITIES ARE, IS GUN VIOLENCE.

IT'S DRIVING OUR HOMICIDE RATE, IT'S DRIVING OUR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT RATES.

UH, AND IT IS CONCERNING EARLY ON IN MY, UH, TERM AS THE INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE.

I STARTED THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, UH, WITH THE, UH, PURPOSE OF GETTING, UM, ILLEGALLY OWNED GUNS OFF THE STREET OF TARGETING OFFENDERS THAT WERE SERIAL OR CHRONIC OFFENDERS, UH, FOR GUN VIOLENCE, UH, AND BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE PROSECUTIONS, UH, WHETHER THAT WAS AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH OUR US ATTORNEY, WE PARTNERED ALL OF THAT TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM THE PROGRAM'S BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS NOW, UH, WE ARE GETTING TO THE EVALUATION STAGE TO DETERMINE HOW DO WE NEED TO CHANGE IT? AND IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE? I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S CONTINUING, UH, BUT YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADAPT BASED ON THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN.

I'VE ALSO SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE ARE OVERLAPPING WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO BE REACTIVE, UH, BUT TO ACTUALLY BE PROACTIVE AND TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE IN SOCIETY THAT ARE DRIVING, UH, SOME OF OUR YOUTH, UH, AND SOME OF OUR OTHER, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, TOWARDS GUN VIOLENCE.

AND HOW CAN WE STEM THAT? HOW CAN WE FIND SOME MEASURES TO DRIVE DOWN THINGS,

[05:15:01]

WE ARE WORKING KIND OF ON BOTH FRONTS.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE BURGLARY AND THEFT CONVERSATION OVERLAPS THIS, UM, I THINK MANY OF US HAVE HEARD STORIES OF VEHICLES BEING STOLEN.

UM, YEAH, THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, I WOULD SAY.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT FIREARMS ARE LIKELY TO GET STOLEN OUT OF VEHICLES TOO.

SO I KNOW A LOT OF US ON THIS DIOCESE HAVE DONE WORK ABOUT SAFE STORAGE AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.

AND I LOOK FORWARD.

UM, IF YOU AREN'T CONFIRMED TONIGHT TO BEING ABLE TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN SOME OF THOSE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, GOOD EVENING, CHIEF TO CONE, UM, THIS MORNING, UM, DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO, UM, WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL SEC SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS REMINDING US THAT WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD TRACK RECORD, AND THAT APD DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF HELPING OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. UM, OUR SURVIVORS, UM, WE HEARD ABOUT PROBLEMS AT THE START.

WE HEARD ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH, UM, OFFICERS NOT ANSWERING OR SAYING THAT THEY COULDN'T INVESTIGATE CASES.

UM, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT INSTANCES WHERE, UM, DETECTIVES IN OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT ARE NOT TRAINED PROPERLY OR THOROUGHLY.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE NATIONAL NEWS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CASES THAT HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY CLEARED.

WE HAVE HAD TO, UM, WE'VE BEEN SUED, UH, BY MULTIPLE SURVIVORS.

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW APD HAS HANDLED SEXUAL ASSAULT TO DATE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY MOVING FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T TELL ME YOU ADDED FOUR DETECTIVES, ET CETERA.

YOU ADDED TO VICTIM SERVICES BECAUSE THAT WAS PUSHED BY OUR BUDGET.

AND THEY WERE NOT ASKED FOR IN THE BUDGET BY APD.

I KNOW YOU WERE NOT CHIEF AT THAT TIME.

UM, BUT THIS DIOCESE IS ASKING FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE.

FOR ME, IT IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN A CHIEF.

AND I STILL NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU YOUR COMMITMENT AND ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.

AH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M GOING TO START WITH PART OF YOUR QUESTION WHERE YOU ASKED WHAT MY THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT HOW WE'VE HANDLED CASES IN THE PAST.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE FALLEN SHORT.

UM, WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS DONE OUR BEST WORK IN THIS AREA.

WE LET, UH, VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS DOWN, UH, BY ALLOWING A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT, BACKLOG TO BE CREATED AND TO GROW OVER TIME.

AND, UH, AND WE'VE HAD OTHER ISSUES, UH, WHICH WE HAVE RESOLVED SUCH AS, AS THE DNA ISSUES, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR, OUR SURVIVORS AND OTHER THINGS, WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO, TO COME ALONG IN THOSE AREAS.

WE, WE JOINED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE PROGRAM, UH, AND, UH, WE HAVE BEEN ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW, BACKLOG FREE.

UH, THE STATE LAW ACTUALLY SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT.

WITHIN 90 DAYS.

WE'VE BEEN MEETING A 60 DAY TIMELINE ON AVERAGE.

UH, WE ARE ALSO MEETING THE TIMELINES FOR CODIS UPLOAD.

WE'VE CREATED A COLD CASE UNIT, UH, AND A VICTIM NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL, UH, FOR NOTIFYING VICTIMS OF OLD SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT MIGHT'VE HAPPENED, UM, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

AND HAVE NOW COME TO LIGHT.

WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU HERE ON THE DIAS IS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, MY STRONG COMMITMENT TO, UM, CONTINUING TO HAVE QUALITY, UH, SEX CRIME CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THE RIGHT, NOT JUST TRAINING, BUT THE RIGHT TRAINING THAT IS TRAUMA INFORMED AND VICTIM CENTERED INTO PLACE.

UH, I COMMUNICATED WITH THE SART THAT ASKED ME TO COME AND, UH, TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD, UH, PENDING THE, UH, PENDING THE, THE OUTCOME OF, OF, UH, THIS CONFIRMATION.

AND I, AND I STAND BY THAT COMMITMENT.

AND I ALSO, UH, WILL COMMIT TO MEETING WITH THE START ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THAT WE HAVE IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN, UH, APD AND THE SART.

SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT, UH, THAT YOU CAN FEEL HOW STRONGLY THAT I FEEL ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

AND I'M NOT PROUD THAT WE HAVE FALLEN SHORT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE ARE GOING TO DO BETTER.

UM, IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL SEE IMPROVED TRAINING IN THE SEX CRIME UNIT THAT YOU WILL, AS YOU HAVE PROMISED TONIGHT AND THIS SETTING AND IN OTHERS THAT YOU WILL MEET WITH THE SART AND YOU WILL SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND YOU WILL TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE APDS RESPONSE, HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIPS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, UM, COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE EXPRESSED.

[05:20:01]

IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE APD REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM TO GO AND SHOW UP AND HAVE THEIR CAMERA OFF AND TO REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY.

UM, IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU TO NOT SHARE THE DATA.

UM, THOSE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN.

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM AND IT SHOULD BE APDS DESIRE TO TREAT OUR SURVIVORS, UM, WITH RESPECT AND TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE JUSTICE.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT, YOU KNOW, SEXUAL ASSAULT, YOU KNOW, 97% IS WOMEN AS THE VICTIMS. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEA CHANGE IN, IN HOW WE RESPOND AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE TO OUR SURVIVORS AND ALL OF THE SURVIVORS WHO DON'T EVER SHOW UP AT APD BECAUSE THEY'RE FRUSTRATED AND THEY HEAR THAT THEY SHOULDN'T, UM, THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK.

UM, YOU HAVE A DIOCESE THAT HAS COMMITTED.

YOU HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY FEMALE DYESS, AND WE EXPECT CHANGE, AND WE ARE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THAT.

AND IT CAN'T JUST BE IN WORDS LIKE VICTIM CENTERED AND TRAUMA INFORMED.

THOSE ARE JUST WORDS.

IF THERE'S NOTHING BEHIND THEM, I'LL PASS IT ON COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

UM, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, A MAJOR CHANGE THAT I MADE WAS WITH THE RELEASE OF OUR CRITICAL INCIDENT, UH, VIDEOS WHEN OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED, SAY IN AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING OR THEIR CRITICAL INCIDENT PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD A 60 DAY TIMELINE TO RELEASE THOSE.

TACAN AMONG THE INITIATIVES BEGAN UNDER YOUR TENURE AS YOUR INTERIM TENURE ARE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THIS, I THINK IN ONE OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTIONS, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, UH, TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE, AND ALSO SETTING PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR THE CIVILIAN UNIT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS POISED TO HANDLE CERTAIN NON-EMERGENCY, UH, CASES.

WOULD YOU SPEAK TO BOTH OF THESE, A BIT TO THESE INITIATIVES AND DO YOU INTEND TO CONTINUE THEM JUST THE LAST PART OF YOUR QUESTION NOW, WOULD YOU SPEAK A BIT TO INITIATIVES LIKE THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE THAT YOU, UM, HAVE PIONEERED AND ALSO THE PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR THE CIVILIAN UNIT THAT HANDLES CERTAIN NON-EMERGENCY CASES? COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT INITIATIVES THAT YOU HAVE BEGUN AS THE INTERIM CHIEF, AND DO YOU INTEND TO CONTINUE THEM? SHOULD YOU BE CONFIRMED TONIGHT AS CHIEF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, WE CANNOT, IN MY OPINION, IN 21ST CENTURY POLICING, CONTINUE TO THINK THAT DOING THE SAME THING THE SAME WAY.

UH, AND, AND IN MANY CASES WE'VE SEEN THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN REALLY GOOD RESULTS IS GONNA, IS GONNA RESULT IN DIFFERENT RESULTS.

SO, UH, WE HAVE GOT TO GET SMARTER ABOUT DOING POLICING, UM, WHILE THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH I TALKED ABOUT IS, UH, IN MY OPINION, A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY MY FOLKS, UM, AND MY DIRECTION TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE.

UM, IT REALLY IS, IS A SMALL PART OF THE OVERALL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, IS SYSTEMS BASED IS REALLY BASED IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK MORE BROADLY.

I THINK THAT MEANS ENGAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, HERE IN THE CITY, THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE CAN SUCH AS THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO LOOK AT MORE, UH, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. UM, I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INNOVATION TO LOOK AT THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING OUR TRAINING, WE'VE COMPLETELY RETOOLED OUR TRAINING AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY, MOVED FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT PARAMILITARY STYLE, UH, TRAINING MODEL TO ONE THAT IS AN ADULT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK THAT, THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL SEE, UH, AT, AT THE MID POINT A REPORT THAT'S COMING OUT, THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UH, LARGELY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT.

AND WE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRAINING IS MOVING FORWARD AT A VERY GOOD PACE, BUT ALSO THAT WE HAVE CADETS THAT ARE FULLY BOUGHT IN THAT HAVE, UM, THAT HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING THAT NO OTHER KID HAS HAVE EVER RECEIVED BEFORE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, JUST FROM THAT TRUST, I, YOU KNOW, THAT TRUST PIECE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BETWEEN

[05:25:01]

AND WE ONLY EVER MET THAT TIMELINE ONCE I CHANGED IT SO THAT WE WERE GOING TO RELEASE VIDEO WITHIN 10 DAYS.

AND WE HAVE HAD ONE INCIDENT SINCE, AND WE RELEASED IT ON DAY NINE.

SO WE MET, WE MET OUR TIMELINE.

UH, I, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, TO LOOK AT, I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND THE TRUST BUILDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE ACTION, THAT WE DO THAT IN A TIMELY WAY, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO KEEP ON DOING THOSE KINDS OF THOSE AND OTHER TYPES OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AT RENTERIA.

AND W BEFORE YOU GO, UM, I HAVE IT NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T GONE YET, OR COUNCIL MEMBER, CASA COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND THEN MYSELF AFTER COUNCILMAN .

OH, YES.

G UM, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY POLICING.

UH, WE IMPLEMENT THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, 20 YEARS AGO AND, AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE SAFEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST AUSTIN, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT GOT ME ALL EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW CADET TRAINING CLASS? WHAT'S THAT THE COMMITMENT THAT IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONSULTANT DID SAID ABOUT, THEY WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY POLICING AND TEACH THEIR CADETS ABOUT GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY'RE GONNA PATROL AND GET TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THERE.

SO HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE DO IMPLEMENT THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS? YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE COMMUTE, UH, THE, UH, THE PROGRAM YOU TALKING ABOUT, WE, WE REFER TO IT AS COMMUNITY CONNECT.

UM, SO THE WAY THAT THE, THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE THAT PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN OUR, UM, CADET CENTER, THE ACADEMY, THE ACADEMY REALLY IS DESIGNED TO SHOW THEM HOW TO DO THE JOB, YOU KNOW, WHAT TOOLS AND WHAT, WHAT TRAINING, UH, THERE IS, UH, AND, AND MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF HOW THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PIECE FOR ME WAS REALLY ABOUT WHY, WHY ARE YOU STEPPING INTO THIS LINE OF WORK? AND THEY, UM, THEY HAVE A TWO WEEK, UH, IMMERSION PROGRAM INTO OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY WITH DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, UH, AND, AND SOMETIMES EVEN OUR MARGINALIZED AND DISENFRANCHISED PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, UH, THE HUMAN BEINGS, UH, AND, AND WHY THEY'RE GETTING INTO THIS LINE OF WORK.

UM, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. SO THAT RIGHT FROM THE GROUND FLOOR, AS WE'RE BUILDING A BRAND NEW POLICE OFFICER, THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY POLICING.

AND I ALSO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MY, MY COMMUNITY, NOT ALL, ALL DISTRICTS ARE THE SAME.

I HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS IN MY COMMUNITY AND, UH, NOT ONLY JUST, UH, UH, LATINOS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, ASIANS AND ALL DIFFERENT IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO, AND THEY DO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING, ESPECIALLY THE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR LANGUAGE AND THEY MIGHT BE AFRAID AND FEAR, I HOPE THAT YOU, THAT YOU REALLY TRAIN YOUR OFFICERS TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A MULTI NATION COMMUNITY NOW.

AND, AND IT'S IT'S, UH, AND, AND I THINK, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UH, HAVING, UH, UM, DISABILITY, MENTALLY DISABILITY.

SO I MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'RE THE OFFICERS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRAINING AND SENDING OUT THERE REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, AND THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T, DON'T GO AROUND SHOOTING SOMEONE.

TO ME ON SEXUAL ASSAULT, VICTIM SERVICES, AND OTHER TOPICS I HAVE ABOUT EIGHT AREAS WORTH OF QUESTIONS.

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING A DIVERSE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF OFFICERS, UH, FROM, FROM ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF ASPECTS.

SO, UH, I VERY MUCH HEAR THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THE WHOLE CONTINUE FOR THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T GONE YET.

I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO YOU AGAIN, IT WAS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, CASA COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, AND THEN ME GO FREE TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER CASA, MADAM CHAIR.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT OTHERS HAVE ASKED THE, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE IMPORTANT

[05:30:01]

UM, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT I HANDLE FOUR IN THIS ROUND AND FOUR IN THE NEXT W HOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THIS RUN? I WANT TO, SO JUST AS A TIME CHECK, IT'S 900 TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A BOAT TO GO PAST 10.

I AM, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, KELLY HAS A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERNATIVES.

SO MAYBE JUST START WITH TWO, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOUR AND FOUR.

COULD YOU DO, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.

LET'S DO TWO.

I'LL DO TWO FOR NOW, PLEASE.

UH, YOU'VE SPOKEN SOME TO THE, TO THE ISSUE OF, OF SWORN VACANCIES AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE, UH, CIVILIAN VACANCIES AT THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER THAT I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF, UH, SEVERAL DOZEN THAT ARE FUNDED, BUT NOT FAILED.

AND SOME FOLKS HAVE POINTED TO, UH, TO PAY ISSUES, FOLKS MAKING AS LITTLE AS $37,000 BEING PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING THAT, UH, JUST TO KEEP IT QUICK BECAUSE OF THE TIME WE HAVE HERE, I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO LAY OUT THE WHOLE PLAN, BUT CAN YOU COMMIT TO US THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THE ENERGY THAT YOU CAN IN TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY FILLING THOSE SWORN VACANCIES, BUT THAT WE ARE FILLING THOSE OPENINGS, THAT THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER THAT WE HAVE FUNDED.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VERY QUICKLY.

WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I'M AWARE OF THE ISSUE.

UM, WE HAD, UH, AN INITIAL MARKET STUDY THAT WAS DONE, UH, REGARDING PAY.

AND I THINK PAY IS THE BIG DRIVER.

THAT IS, THAT IS, UM, KEEPING US FROM, UH, FILLING ALL OF THE POSITIONS AT THE CALL CENTER.

UH, AND, UH, THERE IS A, ANOTHER MARKET STUDY THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH DIRECTOR HAYES ABOUT IT, AND, UH, SHE INFORMED ME THAT THEY EXPECT IT TO BE DONE IN NOVEMBER.

AND, UH, AND I'M HOPING I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO RAISE PAY, AND ALSO GET INNOVATIVE AS A DEPARTMENT IN, IN FINDING WAYS TO, TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING OUT.

THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, UH, AND WORKING HARD FOR US.

UM, ON THE QUESTION OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY DIRECTED THAT INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS THAT IS INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE NOT CRIMINAL, BUT ARE WITHIN DEPARTMENT BE CONDUCTED BY EITHER CIVILIANS OR COMBINATION OF POLICE AND CIVILIANS.

AND THIS SHIFT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE OBJECTIVITY AND INVESTIGATIONS, OR AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION OF MORE OBJECTIVITY, BUT IT WOULD ALSO FREE UP OFFICERS AT APD.

WE, THE QUESTION WAS EARLIER, HOW COULD WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE STAFFING ISSUES? IT TAKES TIME TO TRAIN CADETS, BUT IN FACT, IF WE FREE UP SOME OF OUR EXISTING OFFICERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAIN SOMEONE NEW.

WE KNOW THAT OFFICERS WITHIN IAA ARE NOT USUALLY PATROL OFFICERS, BUT SERGEANTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE DOING THAT KIND OF WORK COULD DO OTHER CRITICAL, COULD DO OTHER CRITICAL WORK WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO IF I, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS IF IT'S FUNDED AND DIRECTED BY COUNCIL, WOULD YOU MOVE QUALIFIED CIVILIANS TO ASSIST WITH INTERNAL AFFAIRS? AND HOW COULD YOU IMPLEMENT THIS APPROACH IN A WAY THAT ADDRESSES STAFFING ISSUES AT APD SUPPORTS OFFICERS SUPPORTS REFORM? UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I'M OPEN TO THE IDEA.

UH, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF VALUE TO BRINGING IN, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE THAT ARE CIVILIANS, UH, THAT HAVE GOOD BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING DONE THE JOB AND UNDERSTAND WHEN OFFICERS TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS AND, UH, THAT THAT CIVILIANS MAY OR MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS STILL A PART OF THE COMPONENT, UH, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO HAVING THE DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT, ABOUT MOVING THAT FORWARD AND, AND POTENTIALLY MOVING IT FORWARD.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW ULTIMATELY DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS STILL HAVE TO BE LEFT WITH THE CHIEF.

WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS LEGAL UNDER STATE LAW AND UNDER THE POLICE CONTRACT.

AND WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN A SYSTEM THAT WORKS, BUT IF WE FIND A WAY THAT MEETS THOSE METRICS AND COUNCIL FUNDS AND DIRECT SIDE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO? YEAH.

UH, I, I, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT A DISCIPLINED DECISIONS REMAIN WITH THE CHIEF, UH, AS WELL AS WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK THROUGH ANY CHAPTER 1 43 ISSUES, UM, RELATED TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND THE RESTRICTIONS AROUND CIVIL SERVICE.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT, UH, THOSE ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY FORWARD ON IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.

SENT AND I'M I'M READING, BUT I'M ALSO EXCERPTING A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWERS THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US IN THIS FORUM, AS WELL AS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IN THE, IN THE WEEKS, OR AT LEAST THE LAST WEEK LEADING UNTIL NOW.

UM, THIS MORNING WE HEARD FROM MR. LINDER OF THE NAACP, AND HE ALSO HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH OUR OFFICE THROUGH EMAIL, AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, UM, SOMETHING THAT HE COMMUNICATED IN ONE OF THE EMAILS HE

[05:35:01]

THE POLICE CHALLENGES IN THE CITY AND NATION ARE CLEARLY RELATED TO CULTURE AND ADDRESSING THE TRAUMA THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE FACING.

AND HE GOES ON TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORING CONFIDENCE, UM, ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE TRUST AND POLICING.

AND SO I WONDER IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE, WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT, DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR COMMITMENT IS AND WHAT POSSIBLE STRATEGIES YOU MIGHT DEPLOY TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE AND POLICING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I'VE BEEN EXECUTING A CULTURE CHANGE AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE BROUGHT IN SOME GROUND BREAKING TYPES OF TRAININGS, UH, BOTH WITHIN OUR CADET CLASS AND WITHIN WITH OUR COM INCUMBENTS, THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE OUT THERE SERVING NOW.

AND, UH, AND, AND THAT IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE.

I THINK THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, UM, AT TIMES, UH, BY ACTIONS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I THINK THAT I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK HERE THAT HAVE A HEART FOR SERVICE, AND THAT CERTAINLY HIT THE STREETS EVERY DAY, UM, WITH AN INTENT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

UM, WE HAVE GOT TO, TO BE, UH, SMARTER AS A, AS A COMMUNITY OVERALL, UH, AND, AND BRINGING ALL OF OUR CITY RESOURCES TO BEAR, UH, TO FIND WAYS TO, TO KIND OF, UH, GET UPSTREAM OF SOME OF THESE, OF THE, OF THESE BAD INCIDENTS TO SEE IF WE CAN INTERSECT THEM AT BAY, YOU KNOW, AT EARLIER IN THE PROCESS, UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN MAKE A, CERTAINLY MAKE A COMMITMENT AS A POLICE CHIEF, UH, TO HAVING THOSE DIALOGUES, UM, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH MR. LINDER, AS WELL AS OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ON HOW, HOW WE CAN BRING THAT TO BEAR.

AND I'VE, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM BEFORE, UH, REGARDING, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN, HOW CAN THE POLICE PLAY A BETTER ROLE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY? HOW CAN WE BUILD THE TRUST? UH, AND HE CERTAINLY HAS IDEAS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AND THEN I PLAN ON COLLABORATING WITH HIM WITH SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YES, TO YOUR QUESTION, I WILL, I WILL MAKE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THAT.

UM, SO RECENTLY THE OFFICE OF, OF THE POLICE MONITOR ALONG WITH, I'M SORRY, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT ALONG WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, TALKED ABOUT POLICE HAD A TOWN HALL REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THEY CAME BACK, WE JUST RECEIVED A MEMO FROM OPO WITH SOME FINDINGS ABOUT THAT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT ADDRESS SOME OF, SOME OF THE ISSUES, WHAT YOUR COMMITMENT IS TO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED IN THAT PUBLIC MEETING, UM, AND WHAT STRATEGIES, IF ANY, THAT YOU WOULD TAKE TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE AND TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT FORWARD? UH, CERTAINLY THANK YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, POINTS THAT I SAW THAT THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THAT MEETING IS REALLY AROUND COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY ON BOTH SIDES FOR THE OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, UH, AND, AND, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE.

AND THEN ALSO HAVING, UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, POLICE INTERACTIONS AND, AND SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE BETTER.

WE HAVE SEEN TRAGIC OUTCOMES FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, LOCALLY IN THE STATE NATIONALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT HAVE DISABILITIES OR LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND OTHER, OTHER ISSUES IN THEIR LIFE.

AND, UM, I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION.

IT'S ABOUT OUTREACH.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE, UM, MORE RESOURCES, UH, SO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY HEAD OFF THAT MOMENT OF CRISIS, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.

UH, AND THEN, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE, AGAIN, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS SHOWING UP, UH, YOU KNOW, AT A REALLY CRITICAL POINT IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT RESPONSE.

SO I WILL ASK MY QUESTION AND THEN JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS A HEADS UP, I'M GOING TO, UM, PASS THE CHAIR TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR MOMENTARILY, UM, TO GO FOR THE SECOND ROUND.

AND SO MY QUESTION, EXCUSE ME.

FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS THIS EVENING, THE FBI HAS IDENTIFIED RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM AS ONE OF THE GREATEST DOMESTIC TERROR THREATS.

SO THE FBI HAS IDENTIFIED, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU CHIEF

[05:40:01]

OUR COUNTRY FACES YET LAST SUMMER APDS RESPONSE TO REOPEN TEXAS PROTESTS.

COULDN'T HAVE CONTRAST MORE WITH ITS RESPONSE TO BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATIONS.

THE LADDER WAS CERTAINLY DEALT WITH MORE HARSHLY THAN THE FORMER.

YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND WITH THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER, WHICH EXCUSE ME, WHICH WE KNOW HAS SPENT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME FOCUSING ON PERCEIVED LEFT-WING ACTIVITY, INCLUDING A JUNETEENTH EVENT THAT I SPOKE AT LAST YEAR GIVENS OR SOMETHING, SORRY, GIVEN THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6TH, I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW PERSPECTIVE YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ON HOW OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD APPROACH THE THREAT OF POLITICAL EXTREMISM.

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, YOU'RE CORRECT.

I HAVE, UH, UH, QUITE A BIT OF A HISTORY WITH THE AUSTRIAN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER SERVING AS ITS DIRECTOR FOR A FEW YEARS.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF WHEN WE STOOD THE CENTER UP WAS ITS PRIVACY POLICY AND THE WAY THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT DATA, UH, THE WAY THAT WE WERE SHARING THAT INFORMATION BACK WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE DATA AND WHAT WE COULDN'T DO WITH THE DATA, UH, AND THAT WE, UH, VERY MUCH, WE PUT THE, THE RESPECT FOR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, UH, AT THE FOREFRONT.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED ACTIVITY, UH, WAS NOT TO BE, TO BE STORED.

AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY WASN'T TO BE USED AGAINST PEOPLE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE THE, THE, THE WAY THAT THE AUSTRIAN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE OPERATES.

UH, AND WE NEED TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP, UH, IN CHARGE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR OWN POLICIES.

I FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT.

UM, THE, UH, THE, THE CENTER PROVIDES, UH, VALUABLE INFORMATION, NOT JUST IN THE AREA OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE, IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL, UH, INVESTIGATION SUPPORT FOR, UH, NOT JUST THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT MANY POLICE AGENCIES IN THIS AREA THAT DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES THAT WE DO.

UH, THEY WROTE, THEY RELY PRETTY HEAVILY ON THE CENTER.

SO, UM, UH, THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY MY LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED ACTIVITIES, UH, AND REALLY CONCENTRATE ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

CERTAINLY YOU COULD TELL THAT I WAS ALLUDING TO THE FACT THAT SOME GROUPS ARE PERMITTED TO DO THINGS THAT OTHER GROUPS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DO.

I'M TALKING ABOUT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF FOCUS ON A CERTAIN TYPE OF GROUP.

UM, AND TYPICALLY THAT CERTAIN TYPE OF GROUP LOOKS LIKE ME.

UH, AND SO MY QUESTION IS HOW WELL, IF, IF WE ARE RECOGNIZING AS A COUNTRY THAT EXTREMISM ON EITHER SIDE OF ANY EXTREME IS A PROBLEM, HOW DO WE MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY, POLICE ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT POLICE ACTIVITY TOWARDS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS THAT DOESN'T GET APPLIED TO RIGHT WING, RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS THAT ARE ANGLO.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT GOES IN LINE WITH OUR OVERALL MISSION TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE, UH, REGARDLESS OF RACE, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, REGARDLESS OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROTECTED CLASSES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

UM, THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MY, WHEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MY VISION FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE, THAT WE ARE TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING WELL WITH PEOPLE AND GIVING THEM VOICE AND ENCOUNTERS THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER POSSIBLE HAVING THAT LIGHTEST TOUCH, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO EXECUTING PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, TO, TO NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES, UM, AND, UH, AND THEN BEING TRANSPARENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.

SO THE ISSUES THAT I'VE MOVED TOWARDS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, UH, ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, I WILL, UH, IF I SEE DISPARATE TREATMENT THAT IS BEING DONE BY OFFICERS, UH, AT ANY POINT, UH, THAT WILL BE DEALT WITH, UH, AS FAR AS WHETHER, YOU KNOW, UH, INTERNAL AFFAIRS CASE, UH, IS, IS APPROPRIATE AND POTENTIAL DISCIPLINE.

UM, AND IMPORTANTLY THAT WE LEAD THE RIGHT WAY THAT WE MAKE OUR EXPECTATIONS AS LEADERSHIP CLEAR THAT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

UM, THAT IS THE WAY THAT, THAT I PLAN TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT AND TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME, UH, THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS A P IS A PART OF IT, BUT THERE'S ALSO, THERE'S, THERE'S TRAINING, THERE'S MODELING, UH, AND THERE IS A STRONG MESSAGE TO ALL OF OUR OFFICERS

[05:45:01]

OF WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS IF YOU WERE TO BE CONFIRMED, WILL YOU SPEND TIME IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE? YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT OF FIFTH FLOOR COMPLAINTS FROM RANK AND FILE WHEN I TALKED TO FOLKS, UM, ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES ONCE FOLKS ASCEND TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, THEY FALL OUT OF TOUCH.

SO HOW MUCH TIME, YOU KNOW, DO YOU INTEND TO COMMIT TO SPENDING ON, UM, ON PATROL OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER KIND OF BEAT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T LOSE THAT TOUCH? YEAH.

I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

A GREAT DEAL, ACTUALLY.

UM, AND WAS JUST HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WITH MY STAFF THIS MORNING.

THAT'S, UH, IF CONFIRMED, UH, THAT I WAS, I WAS GOING TO BE OUT OF THE OFFICE A LOT.

UM, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME, THE LEADER OF THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO BE OUT IN FRONT NEEDS TO BE HIGHLY VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER I'M DOING, UH, MEDIA AVAILABILITIES OR I'M AT COMMUNITY FORUMS, OR I'M RIDING ON PATROL WITH THE OFFICERS.

UH, ONE OF THE VERY, VERY STRONG THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE RANK AND FILE IS THEY NEED TO SEE THE CHIEF IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

I AM LISTENING.

I AM GOING TO BE MEETING WITH MY OFFICERS, WHETHER THEY'RE OUT IN PATROL, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, WHEREVER THEY ARE, UM, THEY CAN COUNT ON ME TO SHOW UP AND BE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF THAT CAN HELP ME RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I BECOME THE FACE OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR BOTH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I'LL LEAVE IT BY SAYING, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF YOUR POSITION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERMAN TO STEP AWAY FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES.

SURE.

UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS MENTIONED SHE HAS MORE QUESTIONS.

I KNOW KHAN MAYOR, ADLER AND CASAR, AND ANYONE ELSE I HAVE QUESTIONS DO, UM, THIS IMPORTANT DECISION.

SO I THINK WE'LL BE HERE AS LONG AS WE NEED, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER.

KAREN, THANK YOU, CHIEF.

CAN YOU HELP ME REMEMBER EARLIER IN TONIGHT'S LINE OF QUESTIONING, YOU TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT ALL OF THE DETECTIVES IN YOUR SEX CRIMES UNIT HAD FORMAL TRAINING.

IS THAT ACCURATE? UM, NO, MA'AM WHAT I SAID WAS THAT ALL OF THE TRAINING WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT THE NEXT MONTH TO SIX WEEKS.

UM, AND, AND WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT.

SO WHILE SITTING HERE THIS EVENING, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BRING THIS UP, LISTENING TO YOU, SPEAK HERE.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ONE OF YOUR DETECTIVES ON THE SEX CRIME UNIT HAS LESS THAN A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE IN NO FORMAL TRAINING.

UM, WHAT THEY HAD MENTIONED, THE TRAINING THAT THEY DID HAVE WAS ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, BUT IT WAS JUST A WEBSITE.

THEY'VE NOT ATTENDED ANY CONFERENCES.

THEY'VE NOT DONE ANY DNA TRAINING OR NO INTERROGATION TRAINING, UM, WHICH I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR HERE.

THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT THESE DETECTIVES HAVE.

WERE YOU AWARE THAT THAT WAS THE CASE? SO I KNOW THAT I HAVE SOME REALLY NEW DETECTIVES IN THAT UNIT.

I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WITH REGARD, HOW, HOW ATTRITION IS PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT COURSE, UH, TO, TO PROMOTE TO THE NEXT RANK, UH, UH, TO SERGEANT THAT OUR DETECTIVE AND CORPORALS ARE THE ONES THAT PROMOTE FROM, TO THAT RANK.

UH, NORMALLY EVERY ONE OF OUR PROMOTIONAL LISTS LAST TWO YEARS, I'M ABOUT TO EXIST, UH, EXHAUST MY SERGEANT'S LIST, UM, AT A YEAR, UH, ALL OF MY SERGEANTS WILL HAVE PROMOTED, WHICH MEANS THAT I'VE HAD A LOT OF DETECTIVES AND CORPORALS THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTING.

SOME OF THOSE HAVE COME OUT OF THAT UNIT.

AND SO I, AS I HAVE REPLACED THEM, THEY'VE BEEN WITH NEWER, UH, DETECTIVES AND CORPORALS WHO HAVE ALSO PROMOTED AND ARE BRAND NEW IN THE UNIT AND DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING YET.

UM, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH OUR, UH, GRANT COORDINATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE APPLYING THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN GRANTS TOWARDS THAT TRAINING.

AND EARLIER I WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, THAT WE ARE SEEKING, UH, BESIDES THE ONES THAT I TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE INTERVIEWING COURSE AND, AND THE, UH, AND THE OTHER CONFERENCE, UH, BRINGING TRAINERS, QUALIFIED TRAINERS FROM A VALLEY AND OTHERS TO, UH, TO GO AHEAD AND TRAIN OUR FOLKS, UH, PROPERLY.

UH, SO, UH, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, UH, WITH VIRTUAL TRAININGS, UH, BEGINNING AS EARLY AS DECEMBER AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT TO US.

I, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE IS A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT CRITICAL NEED IF YOU ARE CONFIRMED, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCONSISTENCIES WITH WHAT THE OFFICERS ARE SAYING VERSUS WHAT YOU ARE TELLING US.

AND I FULLY EXPECT A COMMITMENT FROM YOU THAT YOU WILL WORK ON THAT WITH YOUR OFFICERS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, CHIEF, UH, YOU KNOW, POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS A, IS A HUGE ISSUE IN AUSTIN.

I THINK I SAID MAYOR ADLER AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER, BECAUSE

[05:50:01]

IN FACT, IT'S A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, UH, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

IT MAKES THIS MOMENT WHEN WE'RE CONFIRMING A POLICE CHIEF, JUST SO INCREDIBLY, UH, SUPERCHARGED, AND IN MANY WAYS IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE.

PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CITY GOVERNMENT, UH, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING, BUT IT BECOMES REALLY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION THAT, UH, EXISTS, UH, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I STILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT AUSTIN IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.

I'VE HEARD YOU ON MANY PUBLIC MEETINGS CONFIRMED THAT AUSTIN IS A SAFE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU HAVE SAID TONIGHT, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE REPORTS THAT THE NEW FBI FIGURES HAVE JUST COME OUT.

AND IT SHOWS AGAIN, UH, THAT EVEN IN THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS, LOOKING AT VIOLENT CRIME, THAT AUSTIN IS IN THE TOP FOUR SAFEST, BIG CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT AND SUGGESTIONS THAT AUSTIN DEFUNDED POLICE OR TOOK $150 MILLION OUT OF POLICE FUNCTIONS OR TOOK A THIRD OF THE BUDGET OUT OF POLICING.

NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE, BUT THEY KEEP GETTING REPEATED.

UH, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS THE POLICE CHIEF IS AS SOMEONE WHO IS RESPECTED AND AN AUTHORITY IS TO BE ABLE TO RISE ABOVE, UH, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS THE ACCURATE INFORMATION, THE GOOD AND THE BAD, BECAUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN AUSTIN, ONE OF THE SAFEST IN THE COUNTRY THAT, THAT, THAT INFORMATION WILL BE OVERWHELMINGLY GOOD.

WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH, UH, INCREASED, UH, HOMICIDES, BUT YET THE HOMICIDE RATE AND AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT INCREASES.

WE'RE WATCHING THE SAME INCREASES HAPPEN IN VIRTUALLY EVERY CITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE WORK TO DO, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH GOING RIGHT.

AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR HAVING THE INTEGRITY WHEN YOU WENT BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO SPEAK THAT TRUTH TO POWER.

UH, BUT I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET OUT EVEN MORE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS GET THE, GET THE REAL FACTS AND THE REAL INFORMATION.

I THINK YOU'RE DOING THAT.

I THINK YOU DID THAT TODAY.

I THINK YOU DID THAT IN THE, UH, DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU HAD DURING THE INTERVIEWS THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH A RE-IMAGINING OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE A SAFE CITY, EVEN SAFER.

UH, AND, AND WE NEED A CHAMPION.

WE NEED SOMEONE AS A CHIEF, UH, THAT WILL DO THINGS LIKE RECOGNIZING THAT WE DON'T NEED OUR POLICE OFFICERS, SWORN OFFICERS WITH A BADGE AND A GUN TO DO ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES, UH, OR TO BE TAKING REPORTS ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR OUR OFFICERS TO DO, AND WE NEED THEM TO DO IT IN MY SEVEN YEARS IN THIS OFFICE, I WOULD SAY ALMOST TO A MAN AND A WOMAN, THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW ARE, ARE EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEES AND, AND EXEMPLARY OFFICERS, EXACTLY THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE.

AND THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS THEM.

AND I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT IN THAT, THAT YOU TAKE OUT ONLY MESSAGES TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU TAKE THIS MESSAGE BACK TO THE FORCE AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR CONFIRMATION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO CHIEF, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, IN THE LEAD UP TO THE, TO THE SELECTION OF A PERMANENT CHIEF, UH, TODAY AS WELL RAISED CONCERNS WITH INTERNAL CANDIDATE HIRING BECAUSE STATE LAW PROVIDES THAT POLICE CHIEFS HIRED INTERNALLY CANNOT BE TERMINATED IN THE SAME WAY AS EXTERNAL CANDIDATES.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE MENTIONED THIS IN AND, AND MEETINGS BEFORE.

IT'S NOT NEWS TO FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED THIS TO ME AND MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I THINK IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT IF THE CITY MANAGER WERE TO ASK YOU TO RETIRE RESIGN, WOULD YOU EVOKE THIS PROVISION OF STATE LAW, OR WOULD YOU RETIRE OR RESIGN? I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTION.

OF COURSE, WE ALL EXPECT SUCCESS FOR YOU, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATE.

SO WOULD

[05:55:01]

YOU INVOKE THAT STATE LAW PROVISION OR RETIREMENT? YEAH.

UH, I REALLY WANT TO SUCCEED.

YEAH, JUST TO BE CLEAR.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, IF THE CITY MANAGER INDICATED THAT, UH, THAT, THAT MY EMPLOYMENT WERE NO LONGER NEEDED OR WANT IT, UH, I WOULD NOT, UH, TRY TO FALL BACK TO A PRIOR RANK, UH, IN THE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD, UM, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND, AND RESIGN RETIRE.

THANKS, JEFF.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR ALSO, AS IT RELATES TO, UM, UH, WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE ON THE DAYAS JUST EVEN RECENTLY, UH, MY VIEW IS THAT IF WE ALREADY PLACE WHERE THERE'S A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE, MY VIEW JEFF COURT HAD YOU NOT EXPECT, AND I EXPECT FOR YOU TO SUCCEED IN, AND THAT IS WHY, UH, THAT IS WHY YOU ARE HERE.

UM, BUT IN MY VIEW, IF THERE WERE THAT KIND OF A VOTE, MY VIEW IS THAT THE RIGHT THING FOR A POLICE CHIEF TO DO AT THAT POINT IS, IS TO RESIGN OR RETIRE OR FOR THE MANAGER TO ASK FOR THEM TO DO, OR THE COUNCIL COULD CHANGE THE MANAGER AT THAT POINT.

MY, MY SECOND QUESTION HERE IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, WELL, NOT JUST, I UNDERSTAND WE ALL READ IT AND SAW IT.

AND IT WAS IN THE NEWS, THE DISTRICT AND ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY, AND COUNTY ATTORNEY SENDS AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL OF US TALKING ABOUT OFFICERS DECLINING TO INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND BLAMED PROSECUTORS IN THAT PROCESS.

ALTHOUGH THOSE PROSECUTORS SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE UP THOSE CASES WHERE THERE WAS A DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HEARD TODAY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TESTIFIED, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES THAT SAFE, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE TRUE INFORMATION WAS NOT CONVEYED BY THOSE OFFICERS WHERE IT WAS POINTED TO BUDGETS OR TO POLICY CHANGES, WHICH WEREN'T TRUE.

AND THAT IN FACT, THAT IN FACT, THE POLICE OFFICERS COULD AND SHOULD INVESTIGATE THOSE THINGS AND THE PROSECUTORS ARE READY TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

SO CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT HOW, WHAT STEPS YOU TOOK TO RESPOND TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S LETTERS AND WHAT YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO ADDRESS THAT? YEAH.

UM, I AM AWARE OF THE, THE LETTERS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED IF I HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE EXPRESSING PERSONAL OPINIONS, UH, ANY TYPE OF BIAS IN THEIR INTERACTIONS, UH, WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, I HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL, UH, PRIOR TO RECEIVING THOSE LETTERS AS I WAS STARTING TO GET THOSE TYPES OF REPORTS COMING IN, UH, WITH OUR OFFICERS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

UM, AND SO AS THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THOSE LETTERS CAME IN AND PROVIDED A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF WHAT, OF WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, EVERY TIME THAT I RECEIVE A REPORT, WHETHER IT IS FROM IT'S COME TO A COUNCIL OFFICE, OR IT COMES, UH, INTO THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AS A COMPLAINT, OR HOWEVER IT IS, WE INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE ONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, OUR OFFICERS HAVE THE BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND IN-CAR CAMERAS, AND WE CAN REVIEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANY FURTHER.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE EXCUSE FOR OUR OFFICERS.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

UH, I THINK THAT THAT, UM, PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING IT IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT AROUND THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE AROUND POLICING.

AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO BE A POLICE OFFICER RIGHT NOW AROUND STAFFING ISSUES, UH, JUST AROUND, UH, THE GENERAL, UH, THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE PROFESSION RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT ARE LEADING TO FRUSTRATION.

UH, AND, AND WE SEE THAT FRUSTRATION MANIFEST ITSELF WITH THESE TYPE OF THINGS HAPPENING, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND SO I WILL CONTINUE, UH, TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE.

I, UH, TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

UM, I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, UH, ABOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY INSTANCES AS THEY ARE.

AND, AND QUITE HONESTLY, THEY, THEY, THEY ARE STILL SENDING THEM TO ME AS THEY FIND THEM.

AND I AM RESPONDING DIRECTLY BACK TO THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER TO LET THEM KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND, AND THIS IS HOW IT WAS HANDLED.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND SO WE DO HAVE, WE HAVE, THERE IS NO POLICY OR OTHER ISSUE KEEPING US FROM INVESTIGATING, HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TO YOU THERE, JUST TO BE CLEAR FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THERE IS NO POLICY OR OBSTACLE TO OUR OFFICERS HANDLING THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, ONE LAST QUESTION, AND THEN I'LL PASS ALONG THE MICROPHONE.

IT IS TO THIS ISSUE OF STAFFING THAT YOU JUST RAISED.

IT'S PARTLY A COMMITMENT ON MY PART AS WELL.

I BELIEVE AS YOU'VE LAID OUT, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN ARBITRARY,

[06:00:01]

OR IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT AN ARBITRARY METRIC TO WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS IS, IT STILL LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHERE SHOULD WE LAND.

AND I WANT TO COMMIT TO HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH YOU LEADING THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD ALSO BE A CROSS ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL CONVERSATION BECAUSE FUNDING AND ONE DEPARTMENT, THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT HAVING THAT BROAD COMMUNITY CONVERSATION TO FIGURE OUT, AS YOU STATED, HOW DO WE GET THE RIGHT SERVICES INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RIGHT STAFFING LEVELS? AND SO I WANT TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO YOU BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMITMENT TO, FOR, UP, FOR ME NOT TO PICK A NUMBER YOU'RE NOT TO PICK FOR NOBODY TO GO OUT AND PICK THEIR WAY OF DOING IT UNTIL WE MAYBE HAVE THAT MORE OPEN CONVERSATION WHERE I WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT I DISAGREE WITH OR PEOPLE I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM BEFORE, AND REALLY HOST THAT CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AROUND HOW IT IS WITHIN A RE-IMAGINED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DO THIS RIGHT.

SO I WANT TO HEAR, HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW YOU SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD.

AND IF WE CAN HAVE THAT COMMITMENT FROM YOU, THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT BROAD CONVERSATION BRING FOLKS IN HERE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND FIND THE RIGHT PATH.

UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY, UH, OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, AND AS A CITY GOVERNMENT OF WHICH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE DEPARTMENT, UH, TO, TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DELIVER EFFECTIVE POLICE SERVICES, UM, YOU KNOW, OVERALL, HOW DO WE AFFECT OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY AND KEEP THAT, THAT DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WITH COUNCIL ON THOSE ISSUES AS WE, UH, AT THE DEPARTMENT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD, WHAT WE THINK IS THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING LEVELS.

SO YES, I WILL DO THAT.

SO I HAD THAT, I HAD A QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UM, AFTER I SPEAK TO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT BACK.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, SO, UM, SHE, I WANT TO JUST COMMENT GOING BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY'S COMMENT ABOUT THE UNTRAINED DETECTIVE WORKING IN SEXUAL ASSAULT.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF ATTRITION, BUT, UH, BUDGETS, AS WE SAY, ARE REFLECTIONS OF VALUE AND THE APD HAS A BUDGET OF 400, SOME MILLION AND TRAINING DOESN'T REALLY COST THAT MUCH MONEY IF IT'S A PRIORITY.

UM, AND, AND SO, UM, UM, I'M SURPRISED BY THAT, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED BY THAT, AND I HOPE THAT ONE OF YOUR NEXT STEPS, AS YOU HAVE PROMISED US TO ADDRESS THE AREA OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WILL BE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR DETECTIVES WHO ARE BRAVE AND STRONG ENOUGH TO, TO WORK IN THE SEX CRIME UNIT, BECAUSE IT IS AN EMOTIONAL POSITION.

UM, YOU COMING IN CONTACT WITH A LOT, UM, THERE THAT, THAT THEY RECEIVED THE TRAINING, THEY NEED TO SUCCEED, UM, BOTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE VICTIMS. UM, SO I, SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL COMMIT TO DOING THAT ASAP.

I WILL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME, UM, SOME, SOME VERY NEW DETECTIVES ACTUALLY IN THAT UNIT, LIKE THE, THE TENURE IN THAT UNIT, UH, IS PRETTY VARIED BECAUSE WE HAVE 20 DETECTIVES.

UH, BUT I DO HAVE SOME NEW DETECTIVES IN THERE THAT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ALL OF THE TRAINING THAT IS REQUIRED.

UH, WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE ARE PUTTING THEM THROUGH SOME OF WHAT WE FEEL ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAININGS VERY QUICKLY.

AND WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THE DETECTIVES TRAINED, LIKE I SAID, WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.

UH, BUT THAT IS THE TRAINING.

DOESN'T STOP WITH ONE TRAINING.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT INNOVATION AND CONTINUED, UM, YOU KNOW, WAYS TO, TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATIONS AND HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES FOR SURVIVORS.

AND THAT REALLY MEANS THAT OUR DETECTIVES HAVE TO BE WELL-TRAINED.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN DIFFERENT AREAS, UH, VERY DILIGENTLY.

UH, I MENTIONED OUR, OUR SAKI GRANT, WHICH DOES PROVIDE FOR TRAINING AND LOCATING, PROCURING THAT TRAINING AND BRING IT IN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AND REFORM IT, POSSIBLY HAVING TO PUSH AND MAYBE LOSE SOME RELATIONSHIPS ALONG THE WAY AS YOU DO.

AND, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT NEW DETECTIVES IN THIS DEPARTMENT CAN BE GREAT IF THEY'RE WELL-TRAINED, BUT WE NEED TO SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM.

UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD BE AN INTERNAL HIRE IF CONFIRMED AS CHIEF.

UM, SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW I WOULD ARTICULATE AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.

HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN APD BRING A FRESH AND NEW PERSPECTIVE

[06:05:01]

SO, UH, THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, UM, I CAN CERTAINLY POINT TO THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE WAY THAT CHIEF MANLEY, UH, OPERATED, I CHA HAVE CHANGED MANY OF HIS POLICIES AND SOME OF HIS, UH, BIGGER POLICIES, UH, THAT I FELT THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED IN THAT WAY.

I THINK, UH, JUST BECAUSE I'VE COME UP IN THE ORGANIZATION DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T HA I DON'T BRING FRESH IDEAS TO THE TABLE.

I, I TRULY, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE, UH, BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY IN THE AREA OF REIMAGINATION, UH, AND INCLUDING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AT THE ACADEMY AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I CAN ASSURE YOU IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE, CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIVE.

UH, AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY FEEL THIS WAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE COMMUNICATION HAS COME, UH, TO ME, THAT I HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE AND THAT, THAT WILL CONTINUE, UM, COMING UP IN THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT MEAN, UH, THAT YOU CANNOT DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, UH, AND THAT YOU CAN'T FIND BETTER WAYS TO DO THINGS.

UM, I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE, UH, GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OFFICERS, UH, BUT I WON'T SACRIFICE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR IT.

UH, SO I MEAN, I CAN JUST PROVIDE YOU MY STRONGEST ASSURANCES FOR THAT.

UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEWS ON BLACK LIVES MATTER? I BEG YOUR PARDON, AND WHAT CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEWS ON BLACK LIVES MATTER BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT? SO, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY HAVE I THINK AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOVEMENT.

UM, I THINK THAT MY EYES WERE OPENED A LITTLE BIT MORE WHEN I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH OUR GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS COURSE THAT WE PUTTING OUR OFFICERS THROUGH AROUND A SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.

UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN, WHEN I THOUGHT GOING INTO THAT CLASS, THAT I HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE BLACK LIFE EXPERIENCE AND THEN, AND THEN FIGURED OUT THAT I DIDN'T.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, THAT HAS CERTAINLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE MOVEMENT AND TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, REGARDLESS OF RACE, REGARDLESS OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REGARDING, UH, PROTECTED CLASSES AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE TREAT EVERYONE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE, WITH THAT SAME DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT WE WOULD WANT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WE WANT OURSELVES, UH, TREATED WITH.

UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OUR PROFESSION, UH, AND THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS IN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, AND WE CAN'T SHY AWAY FROM THAT.

WE NEED TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT.

UH, AND SO THAT IS THE COMMITMENT THAT I CONTINUE TO MAKE, UH, IN THE TRAININGS THAT WOULD, THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD, UH, SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN, UH, KIND OF AHA MOMENTS LIKE I'VE DESCRIBED AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT COURSE ABOUT WHAT SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM REALLY MEANS.

COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, ALL THE ANSWERS YOU'VE GIVEN AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

MANY OF THEM WERE THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.

SO I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT, YOU YOU'VE ANSWERED IT TO SOME EXTENT SO FAR, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO ASK IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT POLICING IS CHANGING.

AND I'D LIKE TO, UM, ASK YOU TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE ROLE OF A CHIEF.

AND IN THIS, IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, AS POLICE IS CHANGING, POLICING IS CHANGE.

I AGREE.

POLICING HAS CHANGED AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M A CAREER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

UH, I'VE DONE ALMOST 30 YEARS TOTAL.

UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM THE TIME THAT I STARTED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY VIEWS THE POLICE, UH, AND THE WAY REALLY THAT WE OPERATE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S ONLY REALLY JUST STARTED TO CHANGE.

I THINK THAT WE NEED CHANGE AGENTS.

YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT AND THEN ARE GOING TO BE COURAGEOUS TO STEP OUT, UH, AND B BE READY TO MOVE IN DIFFERENT

[06:10:01]

DIRECTIONS.

UH, EVEN IF THERE IS RESISTANCE.

UM, I THINK THAT I HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE, UH, TO, TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN INCREASE TRUST AND LEGITIMACY WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES, UH, THAT THAT FACTOR IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE RIGHT NOW THAT THAT PIECE NEEDS WORK.

AND SO I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ME, THAT'S MY, THAT IS MY JOB.

THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, UH, WITH ALL THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING IT RIGHT.

UM, WE NEED TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP NOT TO HURT, UM, AND THAT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, TO ENGAGE AND HAVE GOOD DIALOGUE.

I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE OUT FRONT DOING THAT EVERY DAY.

UH, THANK YOU.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND THAT'S THE, THE POLICY CHANGE YOU MADE AROUND RELEASING, UH, BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE RECENTLY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR, ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, ALL YOUR ANSWERS, TO THE MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE, UM, THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING YOU TODAY, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND AS YOU RECOGNIZE, AND, UM, AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM SUPPORTING YOU.

I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE ANSWERS YOU'VE GIVEN.

I CONSIDER YOU TO BE GENUINE, GENUINE, AND REAL, UH, IN YOUR APPROACH, AND, UM, APPRECIATE THE CANDOR WITH WHICH YOU'RE SPEAKING TO US.

AND I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

THANKS SO MUCH.

UM, SO MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU TONIGHT, UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PROVIDE A REGULAR REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON ALL OF THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMITMENTS THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, THAT YOU'RE OFFERING, I'M THINKING QUARTERLY WOULD BE A GOOD START, BUT WE CAN DETERMINE THAT TIMING WITH INPUT FROM YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE KIND OF A CONTINUED DIALOGUE ON THESE TOPICS THAT ARE OF REAL INTEREST AND CONCERN TO OUR COMMUNITY.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD PLAN? OKAY, THANKS.

WELL, THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND FULL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BEING ASKED TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE SELECTION PROCESS, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO STATE MY SUPPORT FOR, UH, FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT AND THAT I DO INTEND TO VOTE YES.

TO APPROVE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER .

UH, YES.

UH, SO YOU PROBABLY WHEN, UH, THE SEARCH STARTED AND, UH, AND, UH, AND WHEN THE MANAGER REDUCED IT DOWN TO THREE PEOPLE, THREE, THREE PERSONS, I RECEIVED A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT YOU, THAT HAVE WORKED WITH YOU IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT SHE HAD A LOT OF HISPANIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE LEADERS IN MY NEIGHBOR, IN MY AREA.

AND, UH, THEY SPOKE JUST, NO, THEY, THEY SAID THAT YOU'RE THE TYPE OF OFFICER THAT WENT TO THE MEETINGS.

YOU RESPONDED TO ALL THEIR REQUESTS AND THAT YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I EVEN HAD ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, I GUESS WOULDN'T THROUGH YOUR OLD CADET CLASS.

IT SAID THAT YOU, WEREN'T ONE OF THE GOOD OLD BOYS THAT YOU, YOU DID NOT HANG OUT WITH.

UH, THE ONES THAT, UH, COST A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I, I, UH, I TOOK ALL OF THAT IN, YOU KNOW, AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY POLICING, I, I THINK THAT THE MORE YOU GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, THE MORE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REAL STRONG, SAFE COMMUNITY, AND JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM ALSO GOING TO SUPPORT YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER CASA.

IN A TIMELY FASHION AND VERY THOROUGHLY.

ANYBODY WHO HASN'T GONE YET? UM, MY NOTES SHOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ELLIS WENT, THIS AND MYSELF HAVE NOT GOTTEN YET COUNCILOR BARELLA'S.

I DON'T MIND ASKING ANOTHER QUESTION.

UM, AS FAR AS THE CRIME TECHNICIAN RESPONSE WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER, UM, I HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT INVESTIGATIONS ARE HANDLED

[06:15:01]

ARE YOU FULLY COMMITTED TO DOING THAT? KNOWING IT MAY NOT BE AN ARMED OFFICER SHOWING UP IF THE PERPETRATOR IS NO LONGER ON SITE, BUT THAT PEOPLE STILL DESERVE, UM, AN AUTHENTIC INVESTIGATION AND TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEIR CASE IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO THEM.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, THOSE THOSE CASES, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN OFFICER'S ON SCENE WRITING IT OR IT'S TAKEN IN ANOTHER FASHION ARE STILL ROUTED TO OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNITS FOR FOLLOW-UP.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SO MUCH TIME TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR US, UM, AND ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH YOU OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, UM, YOU'VE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH ME AND VERY RESPONSIVE.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE EVEN HELPED ME WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS WHEN I JUST HAD QUESTIONS, YOU AT LEAST CALLED ME BACK.

I THINK THE SAME DAY TO TELL ME WHAT YOU COULD TELL ME, EVEN THOUGH YOU COULDN'T TELL ME EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION.

UM, BUT I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING YOU TONIGHT, AND I WISH YOU LUCK IN THIS POSITION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS.

UM, YES, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

UM, THE CHEECH, A CALL, COULD YOU TELL US WHAT DOES ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MEAN AND LOOK LIKE TO YOU IN REGARDS TO SEX CRIMES AT APD WITH REGARDS TO WHAT I'M SORRY, SEX CRIMES.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE TRANSPARENCY PIECE IS GOING TO BE A QUARTERLY REPORT THAT I'M GOING TO RE GIVING TO, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT HOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.

I THINK THAT, UH, THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE IS GOING TO BE, UH, ME FULFILLING THE OBLIGATIONS THAT I HAVE SAID THAT I AM GOING TO DO, INCLUDING AROUND OUR VICTIM SERVICES PIECE, INCLUDING THE TRAINING THAT I WANT ALL OF OUR DETECTIVES TO GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN PLACE.

UM, AND THAT WE ARE REALLY, UM, VALUING THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

UH, AND THAT IS WHAT I PLAN TO SHOW.

AND I WOULD ADD, I'M ALSO SHARING THE DATA OF THE REPORTING OF SEX CRIMES.

THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED FROM THE COMMUNITY OF HAVING CONSISTENT REPORTING ON THE LEVEL OF SEX CRIMES THAT WERE BEING COMMITTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, IN ADVANCE OF TODAY'S VOTE.

I MET WITH INTERIM CHIEF CHUCK ON, UM, I SHARED WITH HIM AS I HAVE IN THE PAST ABOUT THE REFORM THAT I WANT TO SEE.

ONE THAT IS CENTERED ON HOLISTIC DEESCALATION TRAINING AND PRACTICES FOR BOTH CADETS AND IN-SERVICE OFFICERS, AS IT RELATES TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF OFFICER INVOLVED INCIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT TWO, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

UM, IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY POLICING WITH, AND FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, IT REMAINS A PRIORITY NOW MORE THAN EVER THAT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT NOT ONLY EMBRACES THE RE-IMAGINED CULTURE OF POLICING, BUT THEY ALSO USE THE REFORMED APPROACH TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

I ALSO SHARED MY CONCERNS WITH YOU, CHUCK, ON ABOUT SEEKING A BETTER VICTIM CENTERED APPROACH TO HOW OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES ARE PRIORITIZED, INCLUDING APDS RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND THEIR CASES, UH, ACADEMY, CURRICULUM REFORM, AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE WAY SEXUAL CRIMES ARE REPORTED AND HANDLED.

I SUPPORT CHIEF CHICANO'S APPOINTMENT TODAY, AND I PLAN TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FOLLOW THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY, EXPECTS AND DESERVES.

UH, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE CHIEF SHAQUAN.

YOU SHARING YOUR VISION FOR SETTING A FOUNDATION OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE.

I THINK THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY.

UH, RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY DOES NOT FALL ON ANY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, BUT RATHER AN ENTIRE SYSTEM.

YOU MUST DO ALL.

WE MUST ALL DO OUR PART TO ENSURE EVERY AUSTINITE FEEL SAFE IN OUR CITY.

I BELIEVE TEACHER CON IS WILLING AND ABLE TO DO HIS PART IN THIS EFFORT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO.

DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I DO NOT.

AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE THEY OPERATE UNDER, UNDER THE STATE RULES AROUND, UM, PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS AND, AND, UH, THE STATE ACTUALLY GIVES MOST DEPARTMENTS WIDE LATITUDE ON, UH, HOW MUCH TIME THEY NEED.

IN WHICH CASE, I'M THE LAST ONE WHO HASN'T GONE YET, AND I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

UM, ONE ACTUALLY COUNCILMEMBER POINT, THIS TEED THIS UP FOR ME, VISIBILITY IS GREAT, BUT SO IS TRANSPARENCY.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO MAKE YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE MEDIA AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE RETOOLING OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING JUST, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO, UH, BE VERY RESPONSIVE, UH, TO OUR, OUR MEDIA PARTNERS.

UM, I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, THERE PROBABLY DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT, THAT IF YOU REALLY JUST WE'LL TALK

[06:20:01]

AND YOU CAN TAKE UP TO 10 DAYS OR LONGER TO PROVIDE RESPONSES.

WE TRY TO GET RESPONSES THAT SAME DAY WITHIN, UH, WITHIN A DAY BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

UM, I THINK ALSO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, FOR ME TO, TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT WHEN, WITH A LOT OF THE MESSAGING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING AND, UM, AND CERTAINLY ENGAGE WITH THOSE, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR MEDIA PARTNERS ON GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT IN A TIMELY WAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK IT'S OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO YOU WOULD TALKING ABOUT THAT TRUST PIECE EARLIER AND, YOU KNOW, THE RELEVANCE OF IT.

UM, AND THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS, BUT THERE IS MORE THAN ONE POLICE UNION.

AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LESSER KNOWN UNIONS THAT I'VE TALKED TO TOLD ME ABOUT MISOGYNY AND DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, JUST LIKE THIS COUNCIL.

WE WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT MIRRORS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO NOT ONLY RECRUIT A DIVERSE DEPARTMENT, BUT TO ENSURE THAT MINORITY OFFICERS FEEL EMPOWERED TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY? YEAH.

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ATTRITION AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, IT WAS A GROUP OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I CAN SAY ON THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WITH REGARDS TO OUR RECRUITING DIVISION, WE HAVE BUILT THE MOST DIVERSE UNIT IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS IN OUR RECRUITING DIVISION.

WE HAVE MORE, UH, OFFICERS OF COLOR.

WE HAVE MANY WOMEN, UH, WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS REPRESENTING LGBTQ, UH, THAT ARE IN THAT UNIT SO THAT AS THEY GO OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BOTH LOCALLY AND FURTHER TO DO THE RECRUITING THAT PEOPLE SEE OFFICERS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO THEM.

AND SO THEY'RE ABLE, UH, TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN THOSE RECRUITING, THOSE RECRUITING EFFORTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR, UH, FOR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU STARTED TO, TO MENTION WHETHER IT'S MISOGYNY OR, UH, OR ANY TYPE OF RACIST BEHAVIOR.

I WILL HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE HAS TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION THAT HAPPENS WHEN I OPEN UP, UH, EITHER A CADET CLASS OR WE HAVE NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATIONS ONCE A MONTH WITH OUR BRAND NEW A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

UH, ONE OF THE FIRST STATEMENTS THAT I MAKE OUT OF THE BOX IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION ARE NOT TOLERATED AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I SAY THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND SO I, I, I TELL THEM THAT IF THEY ARE A VICTIM OF IT, THEY'RE TO REPORT IT.

IF THEY SEE IT, THEY SHOULD CALL IT OUT WHEN THEY SEE IT.

UH, AND OF COURSE THEY SHOULD NEVER, THEY SHOULD NEVER PARTICIPATED IN IT, IN IT THEMSELVES.

SO WE'RE BUILDING A CULTURE OF, OF, OF RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT I WAS THINKING, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM IT.

AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER TELL A SOUL.

I ALSO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK, AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT POLICING EARLIER AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE A PART OF THE PROFESSION CURRENTLY, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE.

UM, AND WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING FOLKS LOOK AT YOUR, YOUR ROLE AND NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEGREE OF, OF SACRIFICE AND DANGER, FRANKLY, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB.

SOMEBODY TOLD ME ONE TIME, YOU PRACTICALLY HAVE TO BE SUPERHUMAN TO BE A GOOD COP.

CAUSE YOU GET ABUSED AND TATTERED AND BATTERED AND YOU STILL HAVE TO SHOW UP AND BE A PROFESSIONAL CONSUMMATE, MATURE, EMOTIONALLY MATURE PROFESSIONAL.

AND THAT SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO JUST DON'T CUT THE MUSTARD AND THEY SHOULD BE COPS ANYWAY, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I THINK THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL PARADIGM SHIFT IN WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISCOMFORT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, THIS GROWTH PERIOD, THIS SHIFT PERIOD, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE, THE SHIFT FROM THE ROTARY PHONE TO THE, TO THE CELLULAR PHONE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME DISCOMFORT IN THAT SPACE IN BETWEEN, BUT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU SEE THE COUNCIL AS AN ALLY, AS COLLEAGUES, AS PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HAVING THESE REGULAR CHECK-INS AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH, UM, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THAT TRICKY PART, THAT GROWING PAINS PART THAT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT THAT THERE AREN'T ANY GAPS.

THOSE, THOSE ARE SOME OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS, IS THE GAPS, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

UM, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY RECENTLY

[06:25:01]

AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION, ONE COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL THE EXTRA WORK.

WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS HAVING TO DO, UM, TRAINING ON BIAS, IMPLICIT BIAS, UM, AND HAVING TO LEARN THINGS THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH POLICE WORK.

WHEN IN FACT THEY ACTUALLY DO HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH POLICE WORK, INCLUDING YOU KNOW, HOW TO DEAL WITH TRANS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND NOT MIS-GENDER THEM.

UM, AND THOSE ARE, IT SEEMS SMALL, BUT IT'S CRITICAL TO SOME PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND THAT RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THAT SAID, THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT THEY'D PROBABLY JUST LEAVE THE PROFESSION.

AND I LIKE IT THINK WAS GOOD.

WE DON'T WANT COPS LIKE YOU ANYWAY.

AND SO I JUST, I HOPE THAT I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO SAY THAT, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE THE HONOR TO WEAR THE BADGE ANYWAY.

AND SO WE CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL.

AND I'M JUST FINE WITH THAT.

I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD SUPPORT YOU THIS EVENING.

I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T THINK WE WERE READY YET.

I THOUGHT WE NEEDED MORE TIME RECOGNIZING JUST HOW MANY QUESTIONS MY COLLEAGUES STILL HAD RECOGNIZING HOW MANY QUESTIONS WERE STILL COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY INHERENT DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE THERE BEFORE WE MADE A DECISION, BUT I'M GAUGING FROM MY COLLEAGUES' RESPONSES.

AND I'VE APPRECIATED YOUR RESPONSES.

I THINK IN LARGE PART, THE POLICE CHIEF IS A PERSON WHO'S GOING TO NEED TO BE UNFLAPPABLE AND BE COOL UNDER PRESSURE AND HAVE CAMERAS IN YOUR FACE AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITIES.

AND YOU PERSONALLY SAT IN THAT ROOM AND HOOVERS AND THAT ROOM WAS HOT, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T MEAN THE HEAT AND I DON'T MEAN THE FOOD EITHER.

AND SO THAT SAID, I, UH, I THINK YOU KEEP YOUR COOL WHEN YOU NEED TO.

AND THAT'S CRITICAL.

I THINK IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO I THINK AS WE WALK AWAY FROM THIS EVENING, YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE MY SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, PRETEND I BELIEVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER COSTAR AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

ARE SENT TO BE THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO THOSE PROBLEMS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT THE BEST EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THOSE ISSUES.

UH, AND TO THAT LAST POINT, REMEMBER A TIME I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT HAVING THAT LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY HELPS US KEEP THE FOLKS THAT WE REALLY DO WANT TO KEEP.

UM, UH, THERE WAS A STORY IN THE CHRONICLE TODAY ABOUT AN OFFICER WHO SPOKE UP ABOUT AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT HE SAW, HEARD AS ANTISEMITIC TROPES.

PEOPLE SAYING THAT COVID WAS, UH, UH, WAS AN INVENTION OF POLITICIANS.

UH, THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT DON'T MAKE FOR A GOOD POLICING, UH, OR, OR GOOD CRITICAL THINKING.

AND, UH, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THERE WAS, THERE'S ULTIMATELY NO DISCIPLINE IN THAT CASE, WE CAN SEE THE PUBLIC IS NEVER FULLY KNOW WHAT IT IS BEHIND.

ALL OF THAT.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THAT ONE CASE, BUT REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE OFFICERS THAT, THAT WANT, UH, THE RIGHT THING TO BE DONE AND WANT A GOOD ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP, UH, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEM.

SO, UH, MY LAST, UH, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IS ONE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT, UH, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, UH, NOW LOWER, UH, CRIME RATES, UH, THAT THE CRIME RATES ARE STARTING TO GO DOWN, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE THAT CONCERNING RISE IN GUN CRIME.

AND IN HOMICIDES, IN PARTICULAR, IN YOUR, UH, VIEW ILLEGAL GUNS SEEMS TO BE KIND OF THE PRIMARY DRIVER, UM, ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL TRENDS ON GUN CRIME.

IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK THAT IS, I THINK THAT IS A DRIVING ONE OF THE DRIVING FACTORS RIGHT NOW FOR OUR HOMICIDE AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS YESTERDAY.

SOME FOLKS HAVE POINTED TO THE, TO THE, TO THE QUESTION OF PR BONDS WITH THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE NOW.

I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED TO ME THAT ABOUT ONE OF THE 60 PLUS CASES RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT SOMEBODY CURRENTLY BEING AN INFORMATION MORE THAN THAT ONE AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO PRESENT ON THAT RIGHT NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR, UH, VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATORS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH PR BONDS.

UH, I THINK IT'S AN AREA THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT, UH, AND WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU, YOU KNOW, UH, BETTER FIGURES IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

BUT AT CURRENT, AT THE CURRENT MOMENT, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT ONE HOMICIDE THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE LINKED TO THAT.

AND YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MORE THAN THAT.

I'VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT ONE, UH, I'D HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE MORE.

UM, MY LAST QUESTION HERE IS, UM, SORT OF ABOUT WHERE REIMAGINING GOES FROM HERE AND REAL SOLUTIONS TO 9 1, 1 CALLS.

NOW THERE ARE THESE PERSISTENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS SOLUTIONS.

AND SO OFTEN AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, POLICE

[06:30:01]

AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS, UH, LOTS OF FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT WATCHING THAT I DON'T SEE THAT AS THE FAULT OF THE DEPARTMENT OR OF OFFICERS, BUT A FAULT IN OUR OVERALL SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW WE HAVE TO EVOLVE.

AND I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY COULD REALLY USE YOU AS OUR POLICE CHIEF TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHALLENGE, BECAUSE YOU'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THE FORCE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THEN GENUINELY WORK WITH US ON HOW TO, HOW TO FIX IT IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TAKE WORK OFF OF OFFICER'S PLATES THAT THEY'RE NOT BEST SET UP TO DO SOME REALLY CLEAR EXAMPLES FOR ME IN MY TIME IN OFFICE HAVE BEEN AROUND ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH AND CERTAIN ADDRESSES AND HOUSES THAT ARE JUST GETTING THE CALL AFTER CALL AFTER CALL JUST SO MANY, NINE 11 CALLS AND POLICE RESPONSES.

AND USUALLY I FIND THAT NEIGHBORS DON'T ACTUALLY GET THE SOLUTION THAT THEY WANT BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS, AREN'T GOING TO MAGICALLY BE ABLE TO FIX ADDICTION OR A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT THEY ARE MEANT TO DO.

UM, SO NEIGHBORS WANT THE SOLUTION.

IT'S SUCH A DRAIN ON OUR, ON OUR POLICING RESOURCES AND WE STILL HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN TO THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE, UM, A REAL CONVERSATION AMONGST MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE, AMONGST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OTHER AGENCIES TO SAY, HEY, I MIGHT ACTUALLY NEED A FEW BE ABLE TO SEND MY GUYS TO GO DO THIS OTHER WORK GUYS AND GIRLS, MEN, AND WOMEN, MEN, AND WOMEN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS OTHER WORK.

UM, BUT WE NEED, UH, WE NEED SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO, TO DO, TO COVER THIS.

AND IF I COULD ONLY HAVE THIS EXTRA SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM OR THESE EXTRA MENTAL HEALTH FOLKS, THIS IS HOW MANY FEWER NINE 11 CALLS POLICE OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO.

AND SO WHAT WOULD BE REALLY WHAT I WOULD REALLY WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO LEAN ON YOUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP US FIND THOSE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK.

AND CAN WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS PROCESS LESS CONTENTIOUS IN A WAY THAT BUILDS A PATH FORWARD WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS DATA-DRIVEN AND SAYS, THERE ARE SOME OF THESE CALLS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE OFF OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT YOU COULD COME FORWARD TO US BRINGING THOSE SOLUTIONS FORWARD YOURSELF.

SO TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS THERE, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SOME REALLY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS LOW-HANGING FRUIT OF PLACES WHERE WE ARE JUST SPENDING A LOT OF POLICE RESOURCES, WHERE WE COULD BE DOING SOMETHING BETTER.

I HAVE TO REMEMBER CASSADA AND TEACH AT GONE.

IF YOU GUYS WILL OFFER ME JUST A MOMENT, WE NEED TO VOTE TO GO PAST 10 O'CLOCK.

IT'S ONLY A FEW MINUTES PAST, BUT IT'S 10 0 4 COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MADE THE MOTION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

TOVO ALL IN FAVOR.

I, I CAN'T, I WAS SECONDING THE MOTION, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY MORE ROUNDS OF QUESTIONS WE HAVE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT, I THINK IF ANYTHING, WE'RE CLOSING UP, I WAS JUST GOING TO SUGGEST THAT IF, IF THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS TO COME, THAT WE JUST AFFORD A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, IF THE CHIEF OR ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ONE, I THINK WE VERY RARELY HAVE SORT OF ONE, ONE PERSON, UM, GOING FOR SO LONG.

AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, I UNDERSTAND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

I DON'T HAVE TO GAMBLE OR ANYTHING, BUT MY THOUGHT WAS THIS WAS OUR LAST PASS.

VERY GOOD.

UM, SO ALL IN FAVOR OF, OF US GOING PAST 10 O'CLOCK THIS EVENING, I SEE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 HANDS.

AM I MISSING 10? SO I'M UH, NO, I DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO 10 TO ONE TO GO PAST 10:00 PM.

COUNCIL MEMBER, OR, UM, SORRY, CHIEF JACK ON IT.

THE MIC IS BACK ON YOU, CHIEF CHACAN, WOULD YOU LIKE SOME MORE WATER? UH, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

IT WOULD BE GLAD THAT YOU SAID, I THINK WE HAVE SOME DONE.

DO YOU NEED A BREAK BECAUSE WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

WOULD YOU LIKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK CHIEF TACOMA? I'M FINE.

IF I CAN JUST GET SOME WATER, I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

HOWEVER, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE NOT STOPPING THERE AND WE CONTINUE, UH, WE'RE WORKING, UH, UH, THROUGH THE, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE WITH MEADOWS, UH, ON OTHER, UH, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE SIMILAR, UH, ESSENTIALLY TO WHAT HOST DOES OUR HOMELESSNESS TEAM.

UM, I WANT, I WANT TO ANSWER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION WITH REGARD TO HOW WE CAN BE INNOVATIVE, UH, AROUND CERTAIN TYPES OF CALLS, IF THERE IS AN ABILITY, UH, TO FIND AND THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY, UH, TO FIND A WAY, AND THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU GAVE IS IT'S THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MY MIND, WHICH IS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THAT AREA FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND TRYING TO FIND GOOD, EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON, ON RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

UM, WE'VE, I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT AND OUR NINE 11 CALL CENTER AND TRYING TO DIVERT AT THAT EARLIEST INTERCEPT.

[06:35:01]

UM, BUT THEY, UH, ARE, ARE DIRECTLY GEARED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

SO IT'S A, IT'S A SIMILAR TYPE OF MAKE-UP.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE WORKS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO, WE WERE WORKING WITH EMS AND, UM, EMS SPECIFICALLY, UH, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDIC, UH, AND WITH INTEGRAL CARE BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE, UH, THAT CLINICIAN THAT WE NEED.

SO TRYING TO FIND SOME ALTERNATE, UH, WAYS TO, UH, INSTEAD OF AN EMERGENCY POLICE RESPONSE, UH, THAT, THAT JUST MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE.

SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE MEASURES.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, UH, W WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE RAISED, UH, TONIGHT AND THAT WE RAISED WHEN YOU WERE APPOINTED INTERIM CHIEF.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE, TO GET TO CONSENSUS ON USE OF FORCE POLICIES, AS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE LAST APPOINTMENTS, UH, RACIAL DISPARITIES, THAT ARRESTS IN TRAFFIC STOPS.

UM, I THINK THAT, UH, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE DIOCESE, ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND I THINK THAT THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE, UH, TOGETHER, UM, UH, CAN HELP US SETTLE THAT THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT FORWARD BY SURVIVORS.

UH, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT FROM US ABOUT ADDRESSING, ADDRESSING GUN CRIME AND REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK, I WANT YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT TO SUCCEED THAT WILL HELP US ALL SUCCEED.

AND I PLAN ON VOTING YESTERDAY, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND KELLY NEXT, BUT IT, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE SOME WELL TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

I SEE A VERY HARD HEAD SHAKE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU NEED A BREAK, PLEASE, SO I CAN GET SOME INDICATION.

TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU, UM, TO FIGHT APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND YOUR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

UM, IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU BRING MANY NEEDED QUALITIES FOR THIS POSITION AND YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE CITY, THE DEPARTMENT AND YOUR OFFICERS.

UM, AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND RESPECTFUL OF THE COUNCIL, UM, AND WORKING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WHERE WE ARE AT.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL BRING THE NEEDED CULTURAL CHANGE TO THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER THOUGH OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT I LIKE TO DO MY HOMEWORK.

WE ARE BEING ASKED TO MAKE IT THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT WE MAKE WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER A WEEK'S TIME.

AND I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU AND TALK TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, DOVE, PARTICULARLY INTO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUE AND INTO THE ACADEMY, UM, WITH MIXED RESULTS.

SO, UM, THE ACADEMY, UM, I BELIEVE THAT YOUR HEART IS IN IT.

I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRYING, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY STEEP TASK THAT HAS BEEN PUT BEFORE YOU, UM, AND THAT YOU ARE TAKING STEPS TO MEET THOSE GOALS.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE.

THERE, THERE ARE STILL BUMPS AND THERE ARE STILL A LOOMING DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY THAT I AM NOT CONVINCED YET THAT WE HAVE MARSHALED OUR RESOURCES TO MAKE, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER WILL GET THERE.

UM, I STILL HAVE REALLY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOW THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED ON YOUR WATCH AS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF BEFORE THAT, AND AS INTERIM, UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR ME, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTS WOMEN AND THE LACK OF PRIORITIZATION THAT PREDATES YOU, BUT OF WHAT I'M SEEING GIVES ME A LOT OF PAUSE.

UM, FROM WHAT I HEARD, YOU HAVE DECLINED TO ELEVATE THE VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER TO YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.

I APPRECIATE THE MOVEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, INDICATED.

UM, TO ME, THIS IS AN EASY ASK AND DECLINING IT, UM, TO MAKE THIS CHANGE REALLY INDICATES HOW YOU, HOW YOU THINK ABOUT VICTIM SERVICES AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND, AND, AND, AND CHALLENGING FOR ME.

UM, THERE WAS A FIRST INTERIM REPORT FROM THE PERF THAT CAME OUT, UM, AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU HAVEN'T READ IT.

AND, UM, THAT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING GIVEN THE STORIES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR SURVIVORS, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS DYESS ABOUT OUR INTENTION, TO BE MORE VICTIM-CENTERED AND

[06:40:01]

AND THAT DOESN'T ONLY FALL ON, ON APD.

APD IS NOT THE ONES PERPETRATING THE CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UM, THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES.

I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD THAT YOU ARE GOING TO WORK AT IT.

AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ARE WORKING HARD TO ALSO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

UM, I WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU TO TRANSFORM THIS AREA AND TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY, EACH OF US IN OUR JOBS HAS TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE GIVEN THAT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.

THAT'S NOT THE WILL OF THE DIOCESE TO TAKE MORE TIME.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UM, YOUR CONFIRMATION TODAY, BUT THAT BEING SAID, ONCE YOU ARE CONFIRMED AS CHIEF, I WILL WORK WITH YOU AS IS OUR ROLES TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE, UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND WANT YOU TO SUCCEED.

UM, BUT I, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH MY VOTE, WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE AVAILABLE TO ME TODAY.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PROVE ME WRONG.

UM, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO END UP TONIGHT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE THE WILL OF THE DYES, KATHERINE RIVER KELLY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

LEVEL, UH, EXECUTIVES, UH, IN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, CITY LEGAL IS IN THOSE.

AND THANK YOU, CHIEF CHICONE FOR THE LINE OF QUESTIONING THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED THUS FAR.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BRING THIS LAST ITEM UP.

UM, MANY OF US HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS, UM, CLAIMS OF RETALIATION AGAINST A DETECTIVE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT RECENTLY.

WELL, I KNOW THAT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU WILL CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT WHERE RETALIATION DOESN'T OCCUR.

COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? I THINK THAT THE, UM, RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION ARE GOING TO BE PUBLIC SOON.

UH, THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, UH, AND SO I'M GOING TO LET THE INVESTIGATION CERTAINLY SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

UH, I'VE, I'VE VOICED VERY STRONGLY TONIGHT, MY, UH, FEELINGS REGARDING, UH, RETALIATION AND DISCRIMINATION AND, UH, ANY TYPE OF, UH, BEHAVIOR LIKE THAT IS NOT TOLERATED AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, UH, TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AT MY REQUEST THAT THE INVESTIGATION INITIATE AND, UH, AND, AND I'M SURE THAT THE RESULTS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.

UM, I APPRECIATE HOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR SO ELOQUENTLY PUT HOW SHE WOULD VOTE THIS EVENING.

AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AS WELL THAT WHILE MY VOTE IS, NO, I WILL STILL HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO BE WORKING WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GETS TO BE BACK TO BEING THE SHINING LIGHT OF AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A DEPARTMENT, THE BEST DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES CAN BE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

IT IS, I CAN'T REMEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, YES.

AND, AND CHIEF, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MORE COMPLETE, UM, ANSWER WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, THE, UH, THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER.

UM, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF DECISION-MAKING THAT YOU INTEND TO, UM, PROVIDE THAT PERSON.

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO, UH, AS I COMMITTED EARLIER, I WILL BRING THAT PERSON, UM, NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO ME AND TO EXECUTIVE STAFF.

UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK THAT, THAT, UH, THE, THE VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER, KATRINA CLARK HAS LARGELY ENJOYED THAT.

UH, AND DURING MY TIME AS BOTH AN ASSISTANT AND AS AN INTERIM CHIEF, UH, BUT SHE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, DIRECTLY REACH OUT TO ME WITH ANY ISSUES THAT SHE IS SEEING WITH HOW HER COUNSELORS ARE NOT ONLY INTERACTING WITH VICTIMS WITH SEX CRIMES, BUT REALLY WITH ANY OF THE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS THAT THEY SUPPORT.

UM, I'M GOING TO FORMALIZE A PROCESS SO THAT SHE HAS, UH, EYES, HER AND HER STAFF HAVE EYES ON ANY POLICY DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN, IN PROTECTING VICTIMS. I AM.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M GOING TO BRING HER INTO THE STAFF MEETINGS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHE HAS TO SIT THERE AND NOT SAY ANYTHING.

THAT MEANS THAT SHE HAS THE SAME VOICE, UH, THAT THE OTHERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT STAFF MEETING, WHETHER IT IS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, WHETHER IT IS, UH, ONE OF OUR APPOINTED, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGH

[06:45:01]

SO, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THEM IN AND, AND LETTING HER HAVE THAT SAME VOICE, UH, WILL HAVE A VERY STRONG EFFECT ON, UM, ON THE ISSUES THAT I THINK WERE IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO TONIGHT.

AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, OR THE ROLE IN REVIEWING POLICIES, THE SAME LEVEL, UH, AND SAME ROLE, UM, AS OTHERS ON YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, UH, WITH REGARD TO HER INFLUENCE ON POLICY, THAT'S CORRECT, UH, THE WAY THAT POLICY WORKS RIGHT NOW, IT GOES THROUGH EACH ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT CHIEFS TO LAY EYES ON FOR THEM TO PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK.

AND WE'RE SIMPLY ADDING, UH, THAT, THAT DIVISION MANAGER ON THERE TO PROVIDE THAT SAME FEEDBACK.

MAYOR ADLER YOU'RE MUTED, YOU'RE ON MUTE.

I MOVED CONFIRMATION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF, UH, UH, JOSEPH TRICHOMONAS, A POLICE CHIEF.

SO IT MAY, OR OTHER HAS MOVED THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE COHN.

IS THERE A SECOND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER? TOVO GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT.

I GOTTA BUY MY STUFF READY, ANY DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVA JUST BRIEFLY, I REALLY WANT TO, UM, ECHO MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR REALLY, FOR YOUR CANDID AND SINCERE ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE QUESTIONS AND, UH, AND ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.

AND I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOU AS OUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU DO THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'VE COMMITTED TO AND HAVE BEEN DOING.

AND ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW REMARKS OF MY OWN.

UM, SO PUBLIC SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO ALL OF US ON THE DICE.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS JUST ONE PART OF THE LARGER PUBLIC SAFETY PICTURE, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG PART, AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN A FULLY SUCCESSFUL PART.

I THINK YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS EVENING, I DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER ALL THE VIVID REASONS THAT WE EMBARKED ON OUR EFFORT LAST YEAR TO RE-IMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ROLES AND STRUCTURES OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE STATE IS CLOSED OFF A LOT OF PATHS THAT WE COULD HAVE TAKEN ON THAT JOURNEY, BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE NEED A CHIEF WHO WILL BE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER IN THAT JOURNEY DURING HIS TENURE, CHIEF CHUCK COHN, UM, DURING YOUR TENURE HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE THAT COLLABORATIVE PARTNER.

I APPRECIATE THE NEW BODY CAM REVIEW POLICY THAT YOU'VE INSTITUTED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR FORTHRIGHTNESS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR OPINION ABOUT POLICE STAFFING.

UM, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU STOOD THERE AND HAD THE HARDEST JOB INTERVIEW I'VE EVER WATCHED IN MY LIFE AND YOU DIDN'T FLAP ONCE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT I BELIEVE THAT IS.

UM, I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE CRITICISM IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF IT.

UM, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU CAN TAKE IT, AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOU DON'T JUST TAKE IT, BUT THAT YOU DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

UM, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER.

I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY DO THE JOB.

I THINK THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL, WE GET TO VOTE YES.

OR VOTE NO DURING THIS PROCESS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER WHO OUR POLICE CHIEF IS.

UM, WE DO, HOWEVER, HAVE A BIT MORE SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERSON WHO CHOOSES THE CHIEF, UM, THAT'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY BACKSTOP, UM, AND IT'S ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

UM, IT SHOULD RIGHTFULLY HOLD US TO, SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR PROMOTION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

SO I SUPPOSE IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT VOTE OR COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD A FEW THINGS TO, I SUPPORT THE CITY MANAGER'S CHOICE OF JOE CHACAN FOR CHIEF OF PLACE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF TACONY IS WELL-POSITIONED AS A LONG TIME LEADER AT APD, AND I'M CONFIDENT HE IS THE BEST CHOICE TO LEAD OUR POLICE FORCE TO BE A CHANGE AGENT HERE, AND TO KEEP AUSTIN A SAFE CITY.

I LOOK TO OUR SWORN OFFICERS AND IN PARTICULAR, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND ITS LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR THIS CHOICE IN A WAY THAT WILL UNIFY OUR COMMUNITY AND MOVE US ALL FORWARD.

[06:50:01]

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS READY TO TAKE A VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? I COUNT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

ALL OPPOSED.

LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT A NEW JOB NINE TO TWO.

I JUST WANT TO SAY VERY QUICKLY.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT, THAT I KNOW THIS COUNCIL CARES VERY DEEPLY FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME, UH, TO, TO DO THIS JOB.

UH, AND I PROMISE THAT I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.