[00:00:01]
EVERYBODY STAFF READY? YES, MA'AM.[Call to Order]
TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE.TODAY'S AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S A THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, 2021.
UH, WE HAVE OUR QUORUM PRESENT.
WE'RE MEETING HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT 10.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE TWO MINUTES.
WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS, THREE MINUTES.
EACH THE INTENT IS TO COME BACK AND DO THE, WE DON'T HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY.
INTENT IS TO DO THE HOMELESSNESS, UH, BRIEFING AT ONE, UH, WE'LL RUN AN HOUR ON THAT.
UH, WE NEED TO PICK THAT UP LATER.
WE CAN, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE ALLOTTED TIME INITIALLY AT TWO O'CLOCK WE'LL WE'LL DO THE CONSENT AGENDA ON, UH, ZONING.
UH, IT LOOKS AS IF THERE MAY BE ONLY ONE DISCUSSION CASE TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS.
SO WE'LL TAKE THOSE AT TWO O'CLOCK ABOUT EIGHT SPEAKERS.
SO AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH THE CON WITH THE ZODIAC AGENDA, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE CRAWL REPORT.
UM, UH, AND SEE IF WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, PLAN FOR KIND OF AN HOUR TO KIND OF TIMEFRAME, BUT LET'S SEE HOW THAT GOES.
UH, AND, UH, UH, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF 80 BUSINESS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF, UH, UP TO THAT POINT.
WE NEED TO TALK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CALENDARING.
I DO NOTE, AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK SESSION.
THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER IS ON ELECTION DAY.
UH, AND I THINK A LOT OF US ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, UH, AS OPPOSED TO BEING HERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE DO WITH, UH, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WORK SESSION, UH,
[Additional Item 1]
CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.UH, THERE'VE BEEN MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THIS.
I'M LOOKING AT WHAT I APPEARS TO ME TO BE VERSION THREE.
IT'S NOT IDENTIFIED THAT WAY, BUT JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'VE BEEN A COUPLE OTHERS OUT.
WE MODIFY IT AS WE GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
H F C ITEM NUMBER THREE IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH HFC ITEM.
NUMBER THREE IS WITHDRAWN OR REPLACED WITH THE DEN.
THE ITEM 42 ITEM EIGHT IS WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 27 HAS ADDED COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO THE SPONSOR LIST.
ITEM 44 HAS ADDED COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TO THE SPONSOR LIST.
ITEM NUMBER 50 IS POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 2ND, 2021.
WE HAVE SOME PULLED ITEMS, ITEM 18, UH, GAS MEMBER ALTERS PULLED FOUR ITEMS. SHE'S PULLED ITEM 18, ITEM 20 ITEM 44, AND ITEM 45.
I'LL BE PULLING ITEM 19 AND ALSO ITEM FOUR, JUST FOR A COMMENT ON ITEM FOUR.
WE HAVE SOME LAID BACK UP IN THE HFC IT'S ITEMS, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE, UH, ON, UH, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN REMEMBER TO MENTION THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE HFC MEETING, WE ALSO HAVE LAID BACK UP IN THE COUNCIL MEETING ON ITEMS 18 26, 32 33 35 38, 41 43, 46, 47, 51 52 AND 53.
THE CONSENT AGENDA COLLEAGUES TODAY IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 28 AND ALSO ITEMS 42 THROUGH 45, 1 THROUGH 28 AND 42 THROUGH 45 PULLED ITEMS AT THIS POINT ARE FOR 18, 19 20 44 AND, UH, 44 AND 45, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT ITEM 27, THE LIVING STREETS RESOLUTION WE'LL HAVE A VERSION TWO POSTED IN BACKUP SHORTLY.
THEY'RE NOT SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
THEY'RE JUST LANGUAGE TWEAKS, BUT I WANTED TO AT LEAST PUT THAT ON, ON EVERYONE'S RADAR.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ADDING QUINOA ARTEAGA TO THE LIST OF NOMINEES FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE LESBIAN GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
[00:05:01]
YOU.[Public Comments (Part 1 of 2)]
LET'S CALL, UH, UH, SPEAKERS.UH, WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN PERSON FIRST SO THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE IF THEY WISH TO.
AND THEN WE'LL DO THE, UH, UM, SPEAKERS ON THE PHONE IS, UH, UH, LISA, UH, OUGHTA FRED HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN AND YOU CAN SPEAK.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES ON DECK IS, UH, LEON, UH, AROUND AARON.
IS LEON HERE WITH US TODAY? NO.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, SEBASTIAN 20? YOU'LL BE OUR DECK.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR ITEM 19.
UM, I LIVE NEAR THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AND USE IT REGULARLY FOR EXERCISE, LEISURE AND COMMUTING AROUND AUSTIN.
UH, EVEN BEFORE I MADE AUSTIN MY HOME, I ALWAYS SPENT TIME ON THE TRAIL WHEN VISITING THE CITY.
IT'S AN ICONIC PART OF AUSTIN, AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE AS THE CITY GROWS AND CHANGES.
I VOLUNTEER OFTEN WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AND THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE GROWN TO TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THEY DO IN HELPING TO KEEP THE TRAIL CLEAN, MAINTAINED, AND RELEVANT TO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY AND DIVERSE PROGRAMMING, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ARTS, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND ENCOURAGING HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE RESTORATION EFFORTS AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE TRAIL AND SURROUNDING LAKE AND PARKLANDS.
I LOVE VOLUNTEERING WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION BECAUSE THEIR WORKDAYS ALLOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF THE TRAIL THAT THEY AND THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES LOVE AND USE ON A DAILY BASIS.
AGAIN, I CAME HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 19 BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE WORK THEY DO ACROSS THE CITY.
AND I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR HELP AND OPERATING, MAINTAINING, AND IMPROVING THE TRAIL IS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW AND USE OF THE TRAIL STEADILY INCREASES.
THERE EXISTS A GAP BETWEEN THE CURRENT NEEDS OF THE TRAIL AND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THERE'S A NONPROFIT, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION THAT'S WILLING AND ABLE TO STEP IN AND HELP IN THESE EFFORTS.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER HOW THAT IN FAVOR OF ITEM 19.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, TWO MINUTES.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN
MY BUSINESS IS IN OFFICES, LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE.
AND I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF COUNCIL, UH, ITEM, EXCUSE ME, AGENDA ITEM 19.
UM, LIKE SO MANY OF YOU, THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN MY LIFE AS FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN.
THE TRAIL IS WHERE I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO EXERCISE, HAVE FUN AND RELISH, COUNTLESS SOUL SEARCHING CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S THE PLACE I GO TO GET REPLENISHED.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE TRAIL FOUNDATION FOR ITS MISSION AND EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS TO PROTECT AND CONTINUE ENHANCING THE TRAIL FOR ALL OF US.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE TRAIL FOUNDATION TO HELP WITH ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS IN EAST AUSTIN.
THEY HAD A PRIORITY TO BUILD STRONGER WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION'S HOLLY PROJECT PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PART STAFF ON IMPROVING A FOCUSED AREA BY THE BALL FIELDS IN SUPPORT OF THE HOLLY SHORES, EDWARD AND DUNN SENIOR PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH MASTER PLAN.
ALTHOUGH THE HOLLY PROJECT AREA WAS IMPORTANT TO THE BUTLER TRAIL REALIGNMENT ALONG THE WATERFRONT, IT'S LIKELY THAT THE CITY'S RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THIS SPACE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPETED WITH OTHER PRIORITIES.
THE SUCCESS OF THE FINAL PLAN WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, THE COMMUNITY AND THE TRAIL FOUNDATION'S TALENT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
SO, UM, I, UH, AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THEIR COMMUNITY, UH, AND SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE, UH, UH, INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE OVER THE YEARS, UM, IN THEIR COLLABORATION WITH, WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK THERE'S SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDRAISING, UH, SPEAKS, YOU KNOW, UH, TO SOME OF THE HOLISTIC APPROACHES THEY HAVE TO THEIR MISSION.
UH, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS THE RIGHT PARTNER FOR THE CITY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THEY OFFER A DISTINCTLY COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION TO HELP FILL THE GAPS IN RESOURCES THAT OTHERWISE RESTRICTING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR ITS PARKLAND.
[00:10:01]
UH, SO I ASKED FOR THE COUNCILS, UH, SUPPORTIVE ITEM 19 AS IT'S PRESENTED IN POWER OF THE PARKS DIRECTOR TO BOTH NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT.CITY MANAGER, CRONK KAMIR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO VOTE YES.
ON ITEM NUMBER 19 AS WRITTEN AUTHORIZING NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
AS YOU REMEMBER EARLIER THIS YEAR, THIS BODY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE A SIMILAR RESOLUTION FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY TO ASSUME A MASSIVE PERCENTAGE OF THE OPERATING COSTS FOR PEACE PARK, LEADING INTERN TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THIS TYPE OF AGREEMENT IS FULLY EMBRACED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGE OF ADEQUATELY FUNDING, OUR TREASURED AND BELOVED GREEN SPACES.
THESE AGREEMENTS ARE COMPLEX AND AT TIMES DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE, THEY REQUIRE A GREAT DEGREE OF TRUST AND DISCRETION ON BOTH SIDES THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS, LONG PROCESSES NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THEM.
CONSISTENCY MUST BE A CORE VALUE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHEN NEGOTIATING THESE AGREEMENTS AND THE PAR DIRECTOR MUST BE GIVEN THIS DISCRETION TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE PARTNERS.
THE DIRECTOR IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
I SAT AT A TABLE FOR MANY MONTHS ACROSS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY AND OTHERS.
WE WORKED HARD AND IN GOOD FAITH TO DEVELOP THE TERM SHEET THAT FORMS THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE PEACE PARK AGREEMENT, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AGREEMENT AND OTHERS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY FOLLOW TREATING ONE OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS BEFORE IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR.
AND IT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE VALIDITY OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS INTO WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ENTERED.
THESE AGREEMENTS, FOREIGN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT EMBODY THE CORE VALUES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ITSELF.
THEY'RE INNOVATIVE AND THEY MAKE OUR PARKS BETTER.
THEY WILL INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY AND DIVERSITY, AND THAT WILL MAKE OUR PARKS MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO FACILITATE THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
CERTAINLY WOMEN MUST BE PRUDENT IN THEIR EXECUTION, BUT PLEASE DO NOT CREATE UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES FOR THEIR CREATION.
PLEASE DEMONSTRATE THE LEADERSHIP OUR PARKS DESERVE AND APPROVE ITEM 19 AS WRITTEN.
WHAT ABOUT A LENA CARNAHAN AND ON DECK WOULD BE HAD COLEMAN.
AND I'M SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, ITS MEMBERS.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 20, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE ITEM, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS IN AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS OR INSERT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND HOME VALUES CONTINUE TO INCREASE MONTH OVER MONTH AND YEAR OVER YEAR, PARKLAND IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY IS AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT ITEM.
20 WILL ENSURE THAT WE STRIKE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE.
THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND ALREADY HAS ABOUT $40 MILLION IN ITS COFFERS.
AND EVEN WITH 20 20, 20 21 FEES REINSTATED, WE'LL STILL TAKE IN 15 MILLION MORE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THIS ITEM IS THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH-BASED WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN PARKLAND, DEDICATION AND AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY ITEM 20 FIXES A PREVIOUS LACK OF STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION WHILE ALSO ALLOWING FOR AN IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
MOVING FORWARD BETWEEN PARKS, ENTHUSIASTS, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ITEM 20 WILL NOT REDUCE PARKLAND NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
IT WILL STILL ALLOW FOR A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF FUNDS INTO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND.
THIS ITEM WILL IMPROVE THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, SOMETHING THAT THE CITY VALUES HIGHLY AND ENSURE THAT DRAMATIC FEE INCREASES DON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS FEE RIGHT BEFORE THE IMPACT TO RENTERS AND NEW HOMEOWNERS IS REALIZED THIS FEE WILL RAISE ROUNDS ON THOUSANDS OF UNITS BEING BUILT IN AUSTIN IMMEDIATELY, AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOUSANDS.
MORE POSTPONEMENT WILL ONLY EXTEND THE PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY FOR PROJECTS AND BY EXTENSION THE RENTERS IN OUR CITY WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.
AND OUR MEMBERS STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES.
ON ITEM 20 TODAY TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS WHILE BALANCING THE NEED FOR AFFORDABILITY DURING THIS HOUSING CRISIS.
[00:15:03]
UH, MAY I ASK THE SPEAKER QUICK QUESTIONS RELEVANT TO WHAT SHE WAS SPEAKING TO? UM, I WAS THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARK'S FEE WAS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO A, UM, BASED ON A FORMULA THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH STAKEHOLDER INPUT.AND, UH, AM I CORRECT? I, I THOUGHT THAT RICA WAS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THAT STAKEHOLDER PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING THAT FORMULA.
I JUST WANTED TO ESTABLISH THAT YOU WERE PART OF A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT SET THE FORMULA TWO THAT CAME UP WITH THESE FEATS.
AND COLEMAN IS NEXT IS MEGAN LASH HERE.
MAYOR COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER.
I AM PRESIDENT OF COLEMAN AND ASSOCIATES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, AND CELEBRATING MY 40TH YEAR PRACTICE IN AUSTIN.
OUR FIRM'S PROJECTS INCLUDE THE IN-LOVE SCULPTURE GARDEN 30 YEARS AGO, A CITY OF AUSTIN PARK, THE NEW AUSTIN LIBRARY ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE CAPITOL MALL MALL PROJECT CONVERTING FOUR CITY BLOCKS INTO A HUNDRED PERCENT PEDESTRIAN PARK.
I'M HERE AS THE 2021 RICA CHAIR.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR ALL OF THE 30 YEARS OF RICA, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE SERVED WITH REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS WHO DESIGN BUILD AND UPHOLD THE CODES AND ORDINANCES GOVERNING REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT THAT ENSURE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE DONORS AND ARE SERVED AS BOARD MEMBERS OF THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AND THE PARKS AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION RICA IS PRO PARK.
AND AS ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES THIS PAST SATURDAY ABOUT A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP AND PLANTED OVER A THOUSAND PLANTS AND MUCH OTHER LANDSCAPE MATERIALS AT THE
AS PART OF OUR WEEK OF CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER GIVING BACK TO THE CITY, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS BROUGHT UP THIS HUGE INCREASE IN PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES DURING OUR MID SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING OF THE 30 OR SO BOARD MEMBERS IN THE ROOM THAT PRACTICE, UH, AND DEVELOP THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
NO ONE WAS AWARE OF THE INCREASE OUR BOARD AND OUR WEAKER STAFF HAD MET WITH PARD PRIOR TO THIS NEWS.
AND THIS INCREASE WAS NOT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, NO STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND NO NOTIFICATION TO THOSE WHO BEST PAY THESE FEES AND INCORPORATE THIS INCREASE INTO THEIR DEVELOPMENT COST TO THEN BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER.
THIS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF 120% WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON RENTAL RATES FOR THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
THIS FEE WILL GENERATE A RENTAL RATE INCREASE OF 30 TO $50 PER MONTH.
AND THAT'S JUST THIS YEAR THAT COULD ALSO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT YEAR.
RICA SUPPORTS ITEM 20 TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON AND NOT DELETE THE DOT, DELETE THE ISSUE AT ALL.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT PLEASE, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHO DIED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY MORNING, DIANE STEINBROOK WAS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO CONTRIBUTED FOR OVER 35 YEARS, VERY SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY, HER FIRM OF WINTER ROAD AND ASSOCIATES, AS WELL AS RECENTLY AS PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE ADA TRANSPORTATION.
EXCUSE ME, TRANSITION PLAN AT PARD.
MY FRIEND, YOU WILL BE MISSED.
MAY I LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION? EXCUSE ME.
MA'AM IT'S COMING FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING OUR ATTENTION, UM, THAT UNFORTUNATE, NOT UNFORTUNATE.
UM, SO I'M SORRY TO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A, WITH A QUESTION HERE.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE JUST ESTABLISH WHAT THE PRIOR SPEAKER THAT RICA WAS AWARE AND INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
UM, AND SO PRESUMABLY RICO WAS ALSO AWARE THAT THE FEES WERE DYNAMIC AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON LAND PRICES, CORRECT.
AND HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT LAND PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING? SO PRESUMABLY A FEE BASED ON LAND PRICES WOULD ALSO ARISE? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN WE'LL CALL A ALICIA ROTH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN TODAY.
UM, I AM WITH OSA INDUSTRIES, SAGE BROOK DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, PRIMARILY WHEN I'M HERE BEFORE YOU, I'M USUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SO, UM, VERY RARELY DO I COME DOWN AND SPEAK ON ANYTHING, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO ORDINANCES AND FEES LIKE THIS, BUT I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF HOW IT'S AFFECTING WHAT WE DO, EVEN AS SOMEBODY THAT DEVELOPS SMART HOUSING IN YOUR CITY.
[00:20:02]
UM, MOST OF OUR PROJECTS THAT WE BUILD, UM, INCLUDE PRIMARILY LYTEC DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE UNITS THAT HAVE FEES WAIVED.BUT WHAT WE STRIVE TO DO IS IN COORDINATE WITH A SMART HOUSING POLICY, PROVIDE MIXED INCOME HOUSING, AND THE MARKET RATE UNITS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ARE TYPICALLY, UM, NOT RENTED AT FULL MARKET RATE RENT.
THESE UNITS DO NOT QUALIFY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT RENTING THEM AT FULL MARKET RATE RENT, DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FEE WAIVERS.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE CITY.
AND MOST RECENTLY WE ARE AWARDED A PROJECT CALLED SAISON NORTH THAT WILL BE WEST OF MOPAC THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND IT'S ON AN OLD NORTH BY NORTHWEST BREWERY AND A VERY, UM, KIND OF SOUGHT AFTER PART OF TOWN WHERE THERE IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE HAVE 34 MARKET RATE UNITS OUT OF THE 116.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS AT 60% AND BELOW.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE 43 UNITS THAT ARE AT 50% AND BELOW THE CURRENT PARKLAND FEES ON THAT PROJECT FOR THOSE 34 UNITS IS $64,000.
AND THAT IS A LARGE FEE AS IT IS WITH THIS IMPLICATION OF THE POTENTIAL RAISED FEES.
IT WOULD GO UP 123% AND ADD A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COSTS TO THIS PROJECT, JUST FOR THOSE UNITS THAT WILL LIKELY BE RENTED AT 80% AMI.
UM, IF WE'RE WANTING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE HAVING A FEW MARKET RATE THROWN IN THERE.
OTHERWISE WE CAN'T GET THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS ON THE GROUND.
AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BALANCE.
SO HAVING A COST IMPACT LIKE THAT ON ONE OF OUR PROJECTS IS VERY PROHIBITIVE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BUILD IN MORE HIGHER, EXPENSIVE AREAS OF TOWN AND, AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
LET'S SAY ONE THING IN CLOSING, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, ORDINANCES AND GOALS, BUT INCREASING THE FEES IS GOING TO, TO UNWIND A LOT OF THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT WE ARE SEEING INCREASE.
SO I BEG YOU TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SWIMMING UP WATER WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO SET A FOR CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN INCREASING THE RED TAPE AND THE FEES THAT WERE BEING ASSESSED WHILE TRYING TO BUILD IT.
THANK YOU, MS. ROTH
MY NAME IS ALICIA ROTH WEIGEL.
I'M A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE TALKING AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ENOUGH OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE THE VOTES.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE AGREED TO SUPPORT ITEM 28 ON THE AGENDA AND FOR BEING PART IN MAKING HISTORY THAT STARTED HERE BACK IN 2019, WHEN Y'ALL FIRST OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED MY EXISTENCE AND HISTORY THAT WILL CONTINUE TODAY.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS ENSURING THAT INTERSEX PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN LIVE AND THRIVE AS WE DESERVE CONDEMNING THESE, UH, UNCONSENTED AND MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY SURGERIES ON INTERSEX, CHILDREN CAN REAFFIRMS THAT WHATEVER SLUDGE COMES OUT OF THAT BIG PINK BUILDING DOWN THE ROAD, UH, WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND WE SERVE AS A BEACON FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTH TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME.
SO HOPEFULLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY WILL HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT IN MANY CITIES.
AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND HOPEFULLY TODAY'S DECISION WILL MEAN FEWER PARENTS LIKE MINE WILL RECEIVE BAD ADVICE WHERE A 1% RISK OF CANCER AT SOME FUTURE DATE LED TO STERILIZING ME, FORCING MY BODY INTO CHILDHOOD MENOPAUSE AND REQUIRING ME TO TEXT, TAKE EXTERNAL HORMONES FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE ALL WHILE LIVING A LIFE IN HIDING STEEPED IN STIGMA AND SHAME UNTIL I CAME OUT WHEN I WAS 27 YEARS OLD IN FRONT OF THE TEXAS SENATE, TO TRY TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER LIKE WE'RE DOING TODAY.
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL LEAD TO FEWER PARENTS, MUTILATING LITTLE KID'S GENITALS AND CHOPPING THEM IN BODIES THAT THEY CAN'T RECOGNIZE LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE IN HOUSTON WHOSE DOCTOR THOUGHT IT WAS EASIER TO DIG A HOLE THAN BUILD A POLE, MEANING THAT IT WAS MORE CONVENIENT TO BUILD A VAGINA THAN A PENIS OUT OF SOMETHING THAT WASN'T BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND A CHILD WHO ENDED UP TRANSITIONING LATER IN LIFE INTO A GENDER THAT DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THE BODY PARTS THE DOCTORS HAD CREATED WITHOUT HIS CONSENT AND HAVE YOUR NEWS.
THE CAMPAIGN THAT LED TO THIS HISTORIC RESOLUTION WAS A COALITION EFFORT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGS LIKE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, LGBTQ PLUS ORG, LIKE EMBRACE AUSTIN, REPO ORGS, LIKE A VOW, TEXAS FOR ENDORSING THIS ALL THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS, SERVANT CHURCH CONGREGANTS, UM, HOMEGROWN HEROES LIKE SINGER GINA CHAVEZ.
IF YOU NOTICE ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE NAMES, I JUST SHARED SUPPORT FOR THIS AS VERY, VERY DIVERSE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE DIVERSITY IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO BE CELEBRATED AND NOT SURGICALLY
[00:25:01]
ERASED.WE'RE THE FIRST CITY IN THE SOUTH TO RECOGNIZE THIS THAT'S HUGE.
THE LANGUAGE ISN'T AS STRINGENT AS I WOULD, LIKE.
I SAW THE CITY MANAGER FLOOD WHEN I CAME UP HERE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO ASSURE SPENCER THAT I'LL BE KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY EXECUTE THIS X EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT WE'RE MANDATING HERE TODAY.
AND THOSE OF YOU KNOW ME KNOW THAT I KNOCK LOUD, LOUD AND HARD AND FREQUENTLY.
SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE GET THIS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO HAPPEN.
UM, I KNOW THAT I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME JUST PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO KEEP LIFTING OUR STORIES.
WE EXIST HERE IN AUSTIN AND EVERYWHERE, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME.
THE WORLD ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY, WHICH IS THAT INTERSEX PEOPLE MATTER.
OUR BODIES ARE FINE JUST THE WAY THEY ARE.
WE ARE NOT BROKEN AND DON'T FIX IT IF IT AIN'T BROKE.
I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, WHO'S VOTING YES.
UM, THANK YOU TO US TODAY, BUT OVER THE YEARS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP AND SPEAKING OUT AND MAKING FOLKS AWARE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR, UH, PERSISTENCE AND BRAVERY DO NOT GO UNNOTICED.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
I'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, OTHER POLICY WHERE I RECOGNIZE THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION, GOOD, ACCURATE, SOLID, MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY GET IT.
UM, AND SO THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME DEGREE OF EDUCATION THAT WENT ALONG WITH PASSING THE POLICY.
I JUST LIKE FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EDUCATION COMPONENT AND WHAT ARE THE GOALS, WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO ACHIEVE? YEAH.
SO I ACTUALLY PULLED THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FROM RECENT POLICY THAT PASSED IN NEW YORK CITY EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UM, THE REASON THAT THEY PASSED IT ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY, THEY HAVE WAY MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAN WE HAVE HERE.
I THINK IT WAS 43 OUT OF 45 VOTES, UM, WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PARENTS, UM, THAT HAVE AN INTERSEX CHILD THAT IS BORN AND THEY'RE RELYING ON WHATEVER THAT PARTICULAR DOCTOR IN LABOR AND DELIVERY TELLS THEM IS BEST FOR THAT CHILD.
AS WE KNOW, MEDICAL HISTORY IS STEEPED IN BIAS.
UM, THERE USED TO BE PSEUDOSCIENCE CALLED PHRENOLOGY THAT PROVED THAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE LESSER THAN BASED ON THE SHAPES OF THEIR HEADS.
AND THERE ARE STILL DOCTORS THAT TRY TO ELECTRICALLY SHOCK THE GAY OUT OF GAY KIDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO INTERSEX KIDS LIKE ME IS CONVERSION THERAPY, JUST USING SCALPELS INSTEAD OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS.
UM, IT'S NOW RECOGNIZED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, UH, THAT THIS QUALIFIES AS TORTURE, UH, THE UN DEFINES IT AS INTERSEX GENITAL MUTILATION, UM, ALL OF THE MAJOR MULTINATIONAL ORGS, ENTIRE COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY HAVE BANNED THESE SURGERIES ON CHILDREN.
IT'S JUST THAT HERE IN THE U S WE'RE BEHIND ON A LOT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.
AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH EDUCATION, NOT JUST FOR PARENTS, BUT FOR DOCTORS AS WELL.
MOST OF THE DOCTORS THAT I SPEAK WITH SAY THAT THEY GOT MAYBE LIKE A REFERENCE IN ONE OF THEIR MEDICAL SCHOOL CLASSES ABOUT INTERSEX BODIES.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE COMPRISE OF LIKE 2% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, WHICH TO PUT INTO CONTEXT, THAT'S LIKE 150 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, UH, DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY.
THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE BORN INTERSEX AS ARE BORN WITH RED HAIR OR GREEN EYES.
SO IF YOU'VE EVER MET A REDHEAD, YOU'VE MET AN INTERSEX PERSON.
YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT BECAUSE WE GET OPERATED INTO SILENCE WHEN WE'RE TOO YOUNG TO CONSENT AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR BODIES.
I APPRECIATE YOU ELABORATING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSISTENT ADVOCACY.
IT'S, UH, IT IT'S, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN AND I, UH, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU GET TO BE A PART OF ALL OF OUR EVOLUTION AND BEING MORE INFORMED ABOUT OUR FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THIS.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON SO MANY ISSUES.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT BE MOVING TO HIGHER OFFICE.
I'VE BEEN ON FREQUENT CALLS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND AOC TEAM TO MOVE STUFF FEDERALLY.
SO I'LL NEED YOU AS A CHAMPION, WHOEVER YOU ARE.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE RETIRING SOON AS WELL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SPEND ALL YOUR TIME RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS TO SUPPORT INTERSEX ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME WHILE I'M UP HERE? I THINK WE'RE ALL REAL FAMILIAR WITH HOW HARD YOU KNOCK.
I WANT TO THANK ALICIA JUST FOR YOUR ALL YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
UH, BECAUSE WHILE THIS IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US IN, FOR YOU AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, YOU'VE WORKED ON SO MANY ISSUES IN SOME SOLIDARITY ACROSS, UM, ISSUES AND YOUR BRAVERY SHARING YOUR STORY, BUT THEN ALSO UPLIFTING THE STORIES OF OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.
AND SPEAKING OF WHICH I FORGOT, I MET SOMEONE IN THE LOBBY WHO DIDN'T KNOW HE
[00:30:01]
HAD TO REGISTER THE DAY BEFORE.SO VICTOR REED FROM DISTRICT ONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS TESLA MOVES HERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF JOBS AVAILABLE FOR BLACK FOLKS IN AUSTIN.
IS, UH, IS A DOMINIQUE IF IDEA HERE? NO.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, CHRIS? UH, RENDAZO.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP ON DECK IS, UH, UH, ANGELA RICHTER IS ANGELA AIR.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.
I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORTIVE ITEM 20 REGARDING THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE PARKLAND FEES FROM 20 AND 21 PHYSICAL YEAR.
THE PARKLAND FEED, UH, DEDICATION FEE FOR 2122 HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO BE INCREASED BY OVER 120%, AS YOU'VE HEARD OUR YEAR OF YEAR WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC NOTICE OR PUBLIC PUBLIC INPUT THERE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, POINT BEFORE THERE IS A CALCULATION, BUT THAT CALCULATION DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
UM, ANY VALIDATION OF THAT, IT SAYS, HERE ARE THE NUMBERS, HERE'S THE OUTPUT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT A ONE PARCEL IN THAT PARCELS THAT WERE ACQUIRED IS THAT OVER $5 MILLION, AN ACRE, THAT FEE ALONE SKEWS THE AVERAGE BY OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND SO THAT IS THE ISSUE IS THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT NUMBERS WERE USED, WERE THEY THE RIGHT NUMBERS? AND, UH, SO I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PUBLIC PUBLIC INPUT AS TO WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, BECAUSE AN OUTLIER CAN THROW OFF THE WHOLE AVERAGE AND GREATLY IMPACT OUR AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL OF OUR NEW UNITS THAT ARE CREATED IN THIS MARKET.
THANK YOU, MR. RICHTER, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP ON DECK IS JANINE BERGEN, IS JANINE BERGEN HERE? NO.
WHAT ABOUT, UM, UH, ADAM GREENFIELD? YOU'RE ON DECK.
GO AHEAD AND STRUCTURE MARIN COUNCIL.
UM, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU, SO I APPRECIATE BEING IN THIS SPACE AGAIN.
UM, I'M ANGELA RICHTER, THE ADVOCACY MANAGER FOR AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, AS Y'ALL KNOW, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
UM, OUR SLOGAN IS PEOPLE PLUS PARKS.
WE ARE USING APS MONEY TO, TO UPGRADE PARKS ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND THEN WE ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCREASING OUR PARKLAND IN PROPORTION TO OUR GROWING POPULATION.
APF, UM, IS USING AN EQUITY LENS IN ALL OF OUR WORK.
WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
AND SO HAS THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE FUNDS.
WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU WITHDRAW ITEM NUMBER 20, THIS IS A POLICY MATTER.
UM, AND THERE WAS NO DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UM, WE ALSO, WE HEAR THAT THERE MAY BE, UM, INTEREST IN POSTPONING AND WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT Y'ALL IDENTIFY WHAT THE ISSUE IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE AND POST SOMETHING THAT POST A POLICY THAT REALLY, UM, IS RELEVANT TO THAT ISSUE.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SEARCHED, WE HAVE FOUND NO ERROR IN THE WAY THAT, UM, THE FORMULA WAS EXECUTED.
WE FOUND NO NOTIFICATION ERROR, EVERYTHING WAS DONE IN THE EXACT SAME WAY THAT IT'S BEEN DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE 2016.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE AFFORDABILITY AS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
UM, AND IF SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE PROVES THAT ONE OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS IS WRONG, UM, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR IF THAT FORMULA WAS IMPLEMENTED INCORRECTLY.
UM, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT CERTAINLY.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
UM, I RECOGNIZED THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS UP HERE EARLIER TALKING ABOUT HER UNIQUE SITUATION WITH THOSE 34, UM, MARKET RATE UNITS.
AND, UM, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET OUR ENTIRE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE AND ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR PARKS IN THE CITY.
UM, ANYWAY, WE ASK THAT YOU WITHDRAW AND IF NOT, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE.
UH, ADAM GREENFIELD, ONCE YOU COME ON UP, OUR DECK IS, UH, UH, RYAN CLINTON IS RYAN CLINTON HERE.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MARIN COUNCIL.
[00:35:01]
GREENFIELD.I'M WITH WALK-OFF SINAN BY COSTIN AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 27, THE LIVING STREETS, UH, PROGRAM, UH, THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE NOURISH OUR STREETS IS THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE CAN NOURISH OUR ENTIRE CITY AND OUR SOCIETY STREETS ARE THE BIGGEST PUBLIC ASSET WE HAVE.
AND SO THIS PROPOSED LIVING STREET PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY EXCITING BUILDING ON THE, UH, PROFOUND, UH, STEP FORWARD THAT HEALTHY STREETS WAS IN 2020, UH, THAT LIMITED PROGRAM, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LIMITED, WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE ENORMOUS ENTHUSIASM AMONG THE COMMUNITY.
UH, NEIGHBORS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UH, OLDER PEOPLE SAT ON THEIR PORCHES AND WAVE TO PEOPLE, GO BY YOUNG CHILDREN, LEARN TO RIDE BIKES IN THE STREET, UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL AND POSITIVE WAY TO COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC, UM, UH, THAN TO, TO EMBRACE STREETS IN THIS WAY.
UH, SO THERE'S BEEN ENORMOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LIVING STREETS.
WE'VE HAD OVER 850 PEOPLE SIGNED IN SUPPORT, UH, OVER A HUNDRED DIVERSE BUSINESSES AND MORE THAN 35 ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO RESPOND TO THE TOUGH TIMES WE'VE HAD RECENTLY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GREAT, GREAT GRATITUDE TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND HER WONDERFUL STAFF, AND ALSO TO MAKE MAYOR PRO TEM, HALF OF MADISON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COSAR PAUL AND TOVO FOR ENDORSING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.
UM, WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH YOU TO HELP TAKE OUR STREETS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
I ALSO WANT TO BE SHOWN AT THE SPONSOR ON 27 PHASE OUT.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. CITY MANAGER AND MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.
I AM THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, BUT I'M HERE SPEAKING MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 29, ITEM NUMBER 29, SIMPLY SEEKS THAT COUNSEL'S AUTHORITY TO, FOR THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE TO SUSTAIN AND ADVANCE THE NO-KILL AGENDA IN AUSTIN.
THIS WAS A BOTTOM UP RESOLUTION THAT CAME, UH, FROM A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF EACH OF YOUR APPOINTEES TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AND THE NEED FOR THIS WAS ASSESSED BY THE COMMISSION AND DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION BECAUSE OVER THE 10 YEARS THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BECOME NO-KILL, IT'S BECOME OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY, UM, IN, UH, IN BEING ABLE TO, TO, TO, TO, UH, QUICKLY REACT TO NEEDS AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS OVER TIME.
THE, THE, WHAT WE DO NOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IS ESSENTIALLY WE CREATE WORKING GROUPS, UM, AND WORKING GROUPS ARE OUT THERE.
NON-PUBLIC THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC.
THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T INVOLVE THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC IS NOT ENGAGED IN THEM.
SO WE W WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A PUBLIC NO-KILL COMMITTEE THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HAVE NOTICED MEETINGS, UM, AND WE DO IT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC WITH THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT INSTEAD OF PRIVATELY.
UM, AND THAT CHAIR IS ALSO HERE.
UM, UH, CRAIG NASER, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY MARGARET TIME.
GREG VASER GAZER ON DECK IS A SAM HUGHES.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, ERIC? STANDRIDGE ERIC STANDRIDGE HERE.
GO AHEAD AND JUST DO AN EASY, HELLO.
UH, IT'S NICE TO BE BACK SPEAKING.
IT'S NICE TO BE BACK SPEAKING TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE AND I'D WANT IT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GOOD JOB YOU'VE DONE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
CAUSE IT'S REALLY BEEN DIFFICULT.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
I'M HERE AS A CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, AND I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT RYAN SAID, CAUSE IT'S ALL WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
WE REALLY THINK WE BELIEVE WE NEED THIS COMMITTEE TO GET CITIZEN AND PUT THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THE SHELTER.
WE'RE ABOUT COLLECTING DATA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY TO MAKE CHANGES.
AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MUCH EASIER FOR US TO GET THAT DATA PROCESS, THAT DATA AS
[00:40:01]
A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS, IF WE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAN RATHER DOING IT THROUGH A WORKING GROUP.SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ALLOW, MAKE, ALLOW US TO MAKE THIS AMENDMENT CHANGE TO OUR BYLAWS.
I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION ITEM 20, UH, LAST NIGHT, I'M ON THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE SIERRA CLUB AND WE VOTED TO, UM, OPPOSE ANY DECREASE OF THE PARK FEES TO SET ASIDE FOR PARKS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY THIS IS BEING CONFLATED WITH AFFORDABILITY.
IF HAVING MORE PARKS IS AN ISSUE WITH AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN YOU MAKE DENSITY WITHOUT NEARBY PARKLAND, I MEAN, I'VE LIVED ON MANHATTAN ISLAND.
YOU CREATE THE GHETTOS OF THE FUTURE.
NOW I UNDERSTAND AFFORDABILITY IS A PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A, I DON'T THINK OUR PARKLAND SHOULD BE RISKED.
UH, JUST BECAUSE THIS IDEA OF AFFORDABILITY, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO INCREASE AFFORDABILITY THAT MUCH.
ANYWAY, IF DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE MORE MONEY, I THINK IT'S A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.
ANYBODY ELSE IN PERSON THAT SIGNED UP, UH, AND THINK THAT THEY'RE AND HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED TO SPEAK.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL GO TO THE FOLKS ON THE PHONE.
I THINK WE HAVE SEVEN COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.
YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET US GOING? COULD BE NINE DOWN IN THE SPEAKER QUEUE.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS SHELLEY MITCHELL.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
UM, HI, I'M SHELLEY MITCHELL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND I WORK ON LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 20, UM, THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS CHANGE AND THE IMPACT ON AFFORDABILITY WAS NOT ADEQUATE.
IN MY OPINION, THERE WASN'T ANY MESSAGING FROM THE CITY TO THE STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE SEA CHANGE.
I PERSONALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SEA CHANGE IN AN EMAIL FROM A CLIENT ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE IT TOOK EFFECT.
THIS QUICK CHANGE DIRECTLY IMPACTS OVER 10 PROJECTS THAT MY FIRM IS WORKING ON PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLANNED, UM, FUNDED AND WE'RE IN PROCESS AND RETURNING TO THE 20 21, 20 20 TO 2021 FEES WILL ALLOW BUILDERS AND DESIGN TEAMS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO EVALUATE THEIR PROJECTS INSTEAD OF TAKING THE LEGS OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM.
UM, THE FEES ARE GOING UP ON SOME CURRENT PROJECTS BY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO THIS IS NOT A LITTLE INCREASE, WHICH IS SOME OF WHAT'S THE INSIDE.
UM, THIS CAUGHT, THIS COST CANNOT BE ABSORBED, UM, FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROCESS AND WILL END UP BEING PASSED ON TO RENTERS.
IN SOME CASES WE'RE SEEING 30 TO $50 PER MONTH.
UM, AND IN SOME CASES IT WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THESE PROJECTS.
AND, UM, IN THE WORST CASES, UM, POTENTIALLY KILLING SOME PROJECTS ALTOGETHER, UM, WHERE THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF ARE INCREASING, DUE TO COVID WITH CONSTRUCTION AND SUCH.
UM, ALSO THE EXAMPLE OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN IS ALSO NOT A ONE-OFF.
THIS IS, UM, PRETTY STANDARD FOR WHAT I'M SEEING FOR OUR PROJECTS, UM, AND HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS SHOULDN'T JUST BE ON LIKE, WHAT IS THE TAX CREDIT PROJECT? UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS ALSO STEMS FROM SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND THIS FEE LIKE I'VE POINTED OUT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE UNITS.
AND SO THEREFORE IT WILL DIRECTLY REDUCE THE SUPPLY.
YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED NEXT SPEAKER.
DAVID BOUTS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DAVID PHELPS AND I'M A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT HERE TO GET MY FULL SUPPORT FOR AGENDA ITEM 27 OR THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF AUSTIN STREETS ENCOURAGE FAST DRIVING,
[00:45:01]
UH, WITH THE RESULT THE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE EVERY YEAR ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN WORSE.I THINK IT HAS BEEN, ESPECIALLY THAT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN WITH A LOT OF LANGUAGE ALTERING DECISIONS AT A HISTORIC HIGH THIS YEAR, AND THESE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT LOWER INCOME PEOPLE IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS, LIKE NUMBER TWO, LIKE MINE, UM, AND YET PROVIDING ENOUGH TRADITIONAL SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE SPEED BUMPS TO REACH ALL NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WOULD TAKE DECADES AND BE AT SUBSTANTIAL COST.
UH, I CAN SPEAK FOR THE RESIDENTS OF MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE GOODNIGHT RANCH DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT ARE VERY DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT SPEEDS ON A PARTICULAR THOREAU'S ROAD.
UM, AND I WALK MY SON TO PRESCHOOL ALONG THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.
UM, OFTEN, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT'S QUITE DARK AND IT IS A LITTLE NERVE WRACKING EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT RESIDENTS FEEL REALLY POWERLESS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSS ALL THE TIME.
HOWEVER, THROUGH THE RESIDENT LED HEALTHY STREET PERMIT, UM, THE PROPOSED LIVING STREET PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW RESIDENTS TO QUICKLY BRING INEXPENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING TO THEIR STREETS.
IN ONE TEST EXAMPLE IN EAST AUSTIN, NEIGHBORS USED PLANTS, BARRELS AND BENCHES AT A MERE COST OF $300 TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC BY 25%.
AND THAT'S COMPARED TO $2,000 THAT IT TYPICALLY TAKES TO PUT UP SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A SPEED BUMP.
AND BY USING THE SUCH CREATIVE MATERIALS, RESIDENTS WILL ALSO BEAUTIFIED THEIR STREET AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING THIS REALLY A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE OUR STREETS BECOME SAFER, UH, BUT ALSO BE PLACES WHERE AUSTINITES OF ALL AGES CAN COME TOGETHER AND EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY AND THEIR SHARED LIVING STREETS WOULD BE SUCH A, AN, A GREAT FIT FOR AUSTIN.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE THIS PROGRAM TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRITNEY PLATT.
UH, MY NAME IS BRITTANY PLATTS AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR 17 YEARS, SEVEN OF WHICH HAVE OCCUPIED DISTRICT EIGHT IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING TO STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEMS, 20 THE AUSTIN LIVING STREETS PROGRAM.
UH, I AM A MOTHER TO TWO YOUNG BOYS, EIGHT AND FOUR, WHO ARE LIVELY MEMBERS OF OUR STREET COMMUNITY AND CAN BE FOUND RIDING THEIR BIKES, WALKING OUR TWO AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS OR HAVING THE OCCASIONAL FRONT YARD NERVE FOR AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
MY FAMILY AND I WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO A LONG VIEW PARK, BUT EVEN THE FARM ROAD, IT TURNED TO TRAFFIC SHORTCUT BEGAN TO PRESENT CHALLENGES FOR US TO CROSS SAFELY AS PEDESTRIANS OR YOUNG LEARNING CYCLISTS.
DURING THE 2020 HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM.
I WAS A BLOCK CAPTAIN FOR THE VERY SHORT-LIVED WHISPERING OAKS SEGMENTS.
MY BOYS AND I WOULD DRIVE THERE, THEN ENJOY THE PERSONAL FREEDOM OF RIDING SAFELY WITH LESS VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
I OFTEN WITNESSED AND SPOKE TO NEIGHBORS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THE CONCEPT OF HEALTHY STREETS AND VOICED THEIR DESIRE TO SEE MORE IN SOUTH AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE NEARBY PARKLAND.
AS A SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, I LEARNED THAT LIVING STREETS ENCOURAGE MOBILITY FOR PERSONS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES BUILD COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ENHANCED TRUST AMONG NEIGHBORS, THEREFORE RETAINED A POTENTIAL TO POSITIVELY TRANSFORM NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE LIVING STREET INITIATIVE MAY HAVE BEEN BORN OUT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, BUT ITS ADOPTION CAN DELIVER REALLY INSPIRING SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.
AND I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, DAVID KING.
THE PROPOSAL TO DELAY BADLY NEEDED PARKLAND DEDICATION BE INCREASES.
THE 2016 PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE WAS BEDDED THROUGH A PROCESS THAT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON INPUT FROM DEVELOPERS THAT THE INCREASES ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPERS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE FOR PARKLAND AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES UTILIZED BY THEIR RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS.
DEVELOPERS HAVE HAD FIVE YEARS TO PREPARE FOR THE B INCREASES DELAYING THESE BADLY NEEDED B INCREASES WILL PROLONG CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
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SET THE STAGE FOR BACKDOOR DEALS WITH CORPORATIONS TO FILL IN THE PARKS FUNDING GAPS.THEY SHIPPED THE COST FOR DEVELOPMENT TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME TAXPAYERS IN AUSTIN.
THEY ALSO FACILITATE THE OUTSOURCING OF MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PARKS TO THIRD PARTY NON-PROFIT ENTITIES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY LAWS.
AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES INDICATED THAT AUSTIN HAS THE NUMBER ONE DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT.
IT DISPLAYS GREATER LOS ANGELES AS THE MOST PREFERRED MARKET FOR 2021 BECAUSE OF THE RESILIENCE AND ITS LABOR MARKET AND AN OUTLOOK FOR STEADY GROWTH.
NEW PROJECTS IN AUSTIN ARE ADDING SKYSCRAPERS DOWNTOWN AND CREATING RETAIL AND RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY.
ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT HELD BACK DEVELOPMENT, IT HAS INFLUENCED DESIGN CHANGES.
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS HAVE INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCESSIBLE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.
THESE FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS NEED AND HAD A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO BOTH.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO DELAY OR REDUCE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF PARKLAND, DEDICATION FEES, MOST IF NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL CAMPAIGN ON A PROMISE TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT PAY FOR ITSELF.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY PROMISE AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, EVERYONE MAYOR COUNCIL PERSONS, UM, MY NAME'S JOEL PACE, UH, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT IN CIRCLE C IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
I LIVED HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 27, UH, THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE, AND IN PARTICULAR, UH, IT'S PROVISIONS THAT REVISE THE RULES REGARDING BLOCK PARTIES AND STREET CLOSURES.
UH, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MY FAMILY HAS BUILT AND PRESENTED A HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS DISPLAY HERE AT OUR HOUSE.
WE CALL THE PROJECT DIAGON ALLEY ATEX, BUT EVERYONE JUST KIND OF REFERS IT TO AS THE AUSTIN HARRY POTTER HOUSE, WE BUILD PROPS, UH, TO CREATE VARIOUS SCENES AND BUILDINGS FROM THE HARRY POTTER WORLD.
THESE HAVE INCLUDED DIAGON ALLEY, UH, THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS, UH, THE TRIPLE DECKER BUS AND PRESENTLY A VERY LARGE VERSION OF THE HOGWARTS CASTLE.
WE DO ALL THIS, UH, TO RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES, INCLUDING FOSTER ANGELS OF CENTRAL TEXAS VARIETY, THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF TEXAS.
AND, UH, THIS ACT THEATER TO DATE, WE'VE RAISED OVER $30,000 FOR THESE CHARITIES.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, WE HAD NO IDEA HOW BIG IT WOULD BECOME.
UH, HOWEVER, EACH HALLOWEEN WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VISIT OUR PROJECT AND OUR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THIS HAS REALLY RESULTED IN AND REALLY BUILDING A LOT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPING NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS.
WE HAVE MET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF BECOME A PROJECT THAT'S, UH, BEEN ADOPTED BY OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
UH, SOMETIMES THE LINES TO SEE OUR DISPLAYS CAN BE A QUARTER MILE LONG AND TAKE TWO OR THREE HOURS TO CYCLE THROUGH THIS LEADS TO A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN, A PEDESTRIAN STANDING ON THE ROAD.
UM, AND WE, UH, HAVE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN TRICK-OR-TREATING AROUND HALLOWEEN.
UM, AND WALKING ON THE ROADS WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL OF THESE, UH, THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING TO SEE DISPLAYING THOSE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IT LEADS TO A CONFLICT OF PEDESTRIANS, KIDS, AND DRIVERS AND OTHER SMALL, UM, UM, TRAFFIC JAMS. WE HANDLE IT THE BEST WE CAN.
UH, HOWEVER IT WOULD BE, UH, IT WOULD GREATLY INCREASE THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR DISPLAY AND THIS EVENT, UH, IN OUR, AND FRANKLY, AND HELP OUR ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITIES, IF WE COULD EASILY AND QUICKLY CLOSE CERTAIN STREETS OR CONTROL VEHICLE TRAFFIC TO REDUCE THE PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE INTERACTION.
UM, SO CURRENTLY I'M ALSO REQUIREMENTS.
IS HE STILL ON THE LINE? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, MR. PACE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE SUPPORT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 27.
IT WOULD HELP US AND HELP OUR, OUR, OUR DISPLAY AND OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO CREATE COMMUNITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY HOLDING THESE KINDS OF EVENTS.
AND WE'D ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT OUT IN NUMBER 27.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SAME, OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE AND THE, UH, ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, UH, AND SPEAKING TO ITEM NUMBER 19.
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NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION TO MANAGE THE LADY BIRD LAKE HIKING BIKE TRAIL, BUT WE OPPOSE GIVING STAFF AND, UH, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT.AND WE ASKED THAT ANY, UH, FINAL NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT BE BROUGHT BACK AND REVIEWED BY THE PARKS BOARD, PUBLIC INPUT AND FINAL APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL IN A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, EVERYONE, I THINK AGREES THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION HAS DONE A LOT OF EXCELLENT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE TRIAL ASSIST WITH, UH, MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
AND, UH, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION FOR THAT.
UH, HOWEVER, UH, COUNCIL ITSELF SHOULD APPROVE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT GIVING MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY OVER 259 ACRES OR MORE OF PUBLIC LIKE FRONT ARC PLAN TO A PRIVATE ENTITY AND DO SO ONLY WITH PUBLIC INPUT.
WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS CITY WITH THESE KINDS OF AGREEMENTS WHERE THEY ONLY GET BETTER WITH PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND INPUT ALONG THE WAY, OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, PARKED SURVEYS, FIVE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT AUSTIN RESIDENTS ONE, OUR PARKS TO BE MORE NATURAL, LESS DEVELOPED, QUIET ESCAPES FROM THE HUB OF BIG CITY LOT.
UM, AND THESE GOALS NECESSARILY COME INTO CONFLICT AND REQUIRE SOME BALANCING WITH THE PRESSURE TO, UH, INCREASE, UH, COMMERCIALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE TRAIL.
UH, THE AGREEMENT YOU'RE THERE CONTEMPLATING IN THE BACKUP MAKES CLEAR THAT PART OF THE PLAN IS TO INCREASE EARNED INCOME FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION THROUGH CONCESSIONS AND ON TRAIL EVENT.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT DETAILS AMONG MANY OTHERS LIKE ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION, UH, COMPLIANCE WITH NOISE, ORDINANCES, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND ISSUES, UM, ET CETERA, UH, SUCH THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD RE RETAIN SOME INPUT AT THE END, NOBODY'S ASKING TO BE INSIDE THE NEGOTIATING ROOM, BUT ONCE THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT CAN BE CARMEN IS
I GOT TO UNMUTE MYSELF, HANG ON YOU.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AS ALWAYS.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN, AND THANKS FOR THE REMINDER OF THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.
I'M GLAD WE'RE ALL HERE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
UM, WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20, UM, AND A LOT OF GOOD POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS.
UH, I WANT TO POINT OUT TO YOU ALL THAT, YES, WE MAY HAVE GENERATED 40 MILLION IN PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, BUT YOU HAVE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND 80% OF THE LAND, THE PARKLAND AND ACQUISITION WE'VE DONE WITH THESE FEES AND BOND MONEY HAS BEEN IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT BECAUSE THESE AREAS HAVE BEEN SO UNDER INVESTED IN BY THE CITY FOR SO LONG, AND WE'RE JUST BARELY GETTING TO EQUITY.
UM, SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR FOR REMINDING US THAT RICA DID HAVE A LARGE SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN THE CITY WAS ESTABLISHED, THERE'S AN INCREASE IT'S BASED ON A FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE COST OF THE PARKLAND AND THE EFFECTED AREA.
AND THERE'S NO SECRET THAT LAND COSTS ARE INCREASING.
UH, CURRENT PROJECTS SHOULD BE GRANDFATHERED UNDER THE FEES THAT THEY AGREED TO.
AND IF THEY AGREED TO THIS FORMULATION BASED ON LAND VALUES, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR PROJECT, THAT LAND VALUE WAS GOING TO INCREASE.
THAT SHOULD BE A PROJECTED COST FROM THE BEGINNING, JUST LIKE POTENTIAL INCREASES IN LUMBER COSTS, LABOR COSTS, RESIDUAL LAND VALUE AS PART OF WHERE ALL THOSE PLANS BEGIN.
AND AS FAR AS AFFORDABILITY, WE HAVE GOT TO CUT THROUGH THIS ARGUMENT THAT PARKLAND FEES ARE HURTING AFFORDABILITY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SAGE BROOKE AND WHAT WE JUST HEARD.
I HELPED THEM COLLECT DOZENS OF SIGNATURES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY COULD GET THEIR DEED INSURANCE AND PUT IN AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I LIVE ON 35, JUST EAST 2 35 AND THOSE 34 MARKET RATE UNITS IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, I HEARD THAT THE PARKLAND FEES WERE CURRENTLY 64,000 AND THEY SAID TO GO, I WASN'T CLEAR IF IT WAS UP 120% UP A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WHICH WAS THE, THEY DOUBLED CLOSE TO 130,034 MARKET RATE UNITS IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND SAY, THEY'RE ALL ONE BEDROOMS AT ABOUT 1600 OR $1,700 CONSERVATIVELY IN A MONTH, THAT'S ALMOST 60,000
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IN REVENUE FOR RENTAL FOR THOSE 34 UNITS IN THREE MONTHS, IT'S $172,000.ALL OF YOUR PARKLANDS MEDICATION FEES.
PLUS TELL ME HOW THAT RATE REVENUE IS GOING TO SET THEM BACK.
BEDNAR GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BEDNAR A DISTRICT NON-RESIDENT TODAY.
I'M THINKING ABOUT KEEPING EXISTING, HEALTHY STREETS IN PLACE AND ITS SUPPORT OF A HEALTHY STREETS PERMIT ALONG WITH THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM AGENDA ITEM 27 AS A RESIDENT ON THE AVENUE G HEALTHY STREET AND DISTRICTS.
I HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH THE STREET CONTRIBUTES TO ALL OF AUSTIN WITH WHO WE