[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H F C ITEM NUMBER THREE IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH HFC ITEM.
NUMBER THREE IS WITHDRAWN OR REPLACED WITH THE DEN.
THE ITEM 42 ITEM EIGHT IS WITHDRAWN.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.
[00:55:01]
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
[01:00:01]
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 SHARE OUR SAFE AVENUE G STREET.
WHEN THIS PROGRAM BEGAN 18 MONTHS AGO, A NEIGHBOR EVOLVED FROM CONCERNED TO INVITING FOLKS TO JOIN IN THIS MORNING WHILE WE WERE TALKING WITH A CYCLIST, THE DOG WALKER JOINED THE CONVERSATION, AND THEN WE WERE ALL ENVIOUS OF A PASSING BY A YOUNG CHILD.
WHY DID ROLLERBLADES? SHE STRODE DOWN AVENUE G AND THE ACCOMPANY OF AN ADULT ROLLING ALONG ON A SURFBOARD AND AN OLDER CHILD ON A BIKE FUN FAMILIAL TIME TOGETHER.
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE.
YOU PROBABLY RECEIVED EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO CONTINUE AVENUE G AS A HEALTHY STREET.
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS HAS SAID THEY TOO WANT TO HEALTHY STREET.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S MAP WHERE PEOPLE SUGGEST NEW HEALTHY STREETS, YOU'LL SEE HUNDREDS OF SUGGESTIONS.
AND EVERY DISTRICT THERE APPEARS TO BE ENORMOUS SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTHY STREET.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE USE OF THEIR OWN MATERIALS TO SLOW MOVEMENT, A BOTTOM UP APPROACH AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
GIVE THE SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND AGENCY TO RESIDENTS.
HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE TO ADD, WE OWN AVENUE G ARE SO HAPPY EVERY MORNING TO SEE ORANGE BARRELS AND BARRICADES AS IT MEANS WE STILL HAVE A HEALTHY STREET.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
THE WORK YOU DO FOR US IS HARD, DEMANDING, COMPLICATED, AND VITALLY IMPORTANT.
I HOPE YOU WILL ALL SUPPORT AWESOME LIVING STREETS.
MY NAME IS DANIEL GALVEZ AND I'M A LONG BACK RESIDENT OF EAST AUSTIN FOR THREE.
AND I WAS PART OF A HEALTHY STREETS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, HOW ABOUT THAT? ENJOYED THAT.
AND I ENJOYED THE GROUP OF HIGHLY INCLUSIVE.
THEY WERE CAUSE WE SHOP IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
IN MY YOUNGER YEARS, I WAS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND I REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
I THINK THAT THE HEALTHY STREETS IS A VERY POSITIVE, UH, ALL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE OLDER THE YOUTH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF DIVISION BECAUSE OF THE GENTRIFICATION, BUT ALSO WENT TO ONE OF THE BLOCK PARTIES WHERE WE WOULD SHOP THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY USE YOUNG KIDS, SO WE GOT TO MEET EACH OTHER.
AND SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR US TO MEET EACH OTHER AND YOU, UH, UH,
I BOUGHT ME A SHOOTER AND I TO SCOOT UP IN THE HOUSE WAS REALLY GREAT.
AND BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH DISTRICT BLOCK PARTY OR THE BLOCK PARTIES THAT WE HAD, I WAS ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE AT ALL.
AND THEN COLLABORATE, TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOT VERY MUCH FOR HEALTHY STREETS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU PASS THAT MAY OR THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT SPEAKER.
THANKS FOLKS FOR PARTICIPATING
[Consent Agenda]
COLLEAGUES, UH, CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, ONE THROUGH 28 AND 42 THROUGH 45.I'M SHOWING THE PULLED ITEMS BEING 4 18, 19 20 44 AND 45 COUNCIL.
REMEMBER PULL YOU READ INTO THE RECORD.
DID YOU MATCH YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE LGBTQ COMMISSION? I DID.
AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE BACKUP AND IT LOOKED LIKE QUINOA'S NAME HAD ALREADY BEEN ADDED IN.
SO I THINK ON ITEM 26, WE ARE GOOD.
[01:05:01]
IT IS, IT WAS A LATE ADDITION.SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE ITEMS TO PULL OTHER THAN THOSE, UH, UH, SEX GUYS? OUR KITCHEN? I CAN, I CAN LEAVE, UM, ITEM, UM, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A THAT'S SHORT COMMENT.
WHAT ARE THE CONSENT AGENDA? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL? LET'S HAVE A MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA GUYS, WHERE A KITCHEN BASED THE BOSCH AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS COMMENTS.
NOW ON LINCOLN SAID THE JAB JAG GODS, HER KELLY.
I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT A NO VOTE FOR ME ON ITEMS 12 AND 28.
AND WHILE I DO REALIZE THAT 28 COVERS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN THE COMMUNITY, I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S A PROPER FUNCTION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN.
I FEEL THAT IT'S A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE MADE IN A FAMILY OR, UM, TOGETHER WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE KID SAID TO JED, THAT MAY PROTEST.
I KNOW I SPOKE TO THIS BRIEFLY EARLIER, BUT I WANTED TO, UH, EXTEND MY REMARKS.
UM, THERE'S NO I IN TEAM, BUT THERE IS AN I AND LGBTQ PLUS IT STANDS FOR INTERSECTS.
APPROXIMATELY 2% OF PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH VARIATIONS OF THEIR SEX CHARACTERISTICS THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MALE, FEMALE BINARY.
BELIEVE ME, I KNOW DEEP DOWN IN MY BONES, THAT FIERCE DESIRE THAT NEW PARENTS FEEL TO PROTECT THE WELLBEING OF THEIR CHILDREN.
I'M ALSO PROFOUNDLY FAMILIAR WITH THE MYRIAD OF UNCERTAINTIES AND ANXIETIES THAT NEW PARENTS FACE AND THE COUNTLESS TOUGH DECISIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.
A LOT OF THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE BASED ON TRUST IN SCIENCE AND THE EXPERTISE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
THE FACT IS THAT STIGMA HAS HISTORICALLY HELPED TO SHROUD THE SCIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AS AN INTERSEX PERSON.
SIMPLY BY HAVING THE CONVERSATION, WE ARE SHINING THE LIGHT OF DIGNITY ON THAT STIGMA AND CHASING THOSE SHADOWS AWAY AS THEY PROCEED, OR AS THEY RECEIVED NEW SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING IS EVOLVING AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT MISINFORMATION AND HELP PARENTS MAKE SOUND DECISIONS THAT HELP THEIR KIDS TO GROW UP HAPPY AND HEALTHY.
UM, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO SAID ONE TIME, MY SINGULAR GOAL WITH PARENTING MY CHILDREN IS TO RAISE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE TO RECOVER FROM THEIR CHILDHOOD.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT ADULTS DO AND DECIDE THAT PERPETUALLY AFFECTS ANOTHER PERSON'S EXISTENCE.
SO THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORTING THIS AND THANKS TO ALICIA WEIGEL, UM, EMBRACE AUSTIN AND ALL THE OTHER ADVOCATES WHO WORKED SO TIRELESSLY TO MAKE AUSTIN AS INCLUSIVE A COMMUNITY AS WE CAN POSSIBLY BE.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, TO SAY, UH, IT IS A, UH, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THIS MOVING FORWARD.
UH, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT RELATES TO THE, UM, THE, UH, BRIDGE THAT GOES INTO ZILKER PARK.
AND I WANT TO, UM, ASSURE AND PUT ON THE RECORD, UH, FOR ALL THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, UH, THAT THIS WILL BE A VERY OPEN AND PUBLIC PROCESS.
SO THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP AND SELECT THE BRIDGE TYPE AND STYLE, EITHER REHABILITATION OR NEW AND EXPLORE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREFERRED BRIDGE ALTERN ALTERNATIVE.
THIS WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL WITH, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UM, CITY MANAGER.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL IS BOTH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE OPTION, BUT ALSO, UH, SO COUNCIL CAN SEE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WERE CONSIDERED.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ASSURE FOLKS THAT WITHIN THE SCOPE IS EXPANDING THE REHAB REHABILITATED OR NEW BRIDGE TO INCLUDE BIKE PAD THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED AS WELL AS A SEPARATE BIKE PAD CROSSING THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED AS WELL.
[01:10:01]
UM, AND THAT'S BUILT INTO THE SCOPE HERE.AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS BRIDGE, WHICH GOES TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED FOR BIKE PED OR WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE BIKE PAD ALONG.
IT JUST WANTED TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT, UM, THE, UH, STATE AND LOCAL HISTORIC COMMISSION ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN THE HISTORIC IMPLICATION WILL BE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION ON THE OPTIONS.
I, UH, WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THE LIVING STREETS, IFC THAT'S ITEM 27.
AND FOR INVITING ME TO CO-SPONSOR, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING STRONG WORK ON RE-IMAGINING OUR STREETS AND OUR PARKING AREAS.
AND LIKE WITH THE SHOP, THE BLOCK INITIATIVE THAT HAD SUCH A SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT AND IS CONTINUING, I CONTINUE TO BE INSPIRED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
LIKE WE SEE WITH ITEM 27 LIVING STREETS TO USE MORE PUBLIC SPACE WHERE WE DON'T TRADITIONALLY IT, AND IT ALLOWS US TO BE JUST IN-PERSON AND, UH, TO GET TOGETHER AND, UH, TO CONGREGATE AGAIN AND ENJOY BEING OUTSIDE AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AGAIN.
UM, I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING WITH SOME, UH, VERY PASSIONATE AND TECHNICAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE AN INITIATIVE LIKE THIS WORK.
I APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER, MADISON COUNCIL MEMBERS, CASAR POOL TOBO AND RENT RENTERIA, AND MAYOR ADLER.
UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE INCLUDED A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE DONE GOOD WORK IN THIS, IN THIS REALM.
UM, SOME OF THESE CO-SPONSORS WERE A PART OF THE ORIGINAL HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, OTHERS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, DOING SHOP THE BLOCK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS ALSO HAD, UM, EXTENSIVE LEADERSHIP, EVEN JUST THE LAST MEETING, TRYING TO DO BIKE CONNECTIVITY NEAR SEA HOME, UM, AND ON CONGRESS AVENUE.
AND SO WE CERTAINLY ALL WANT TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION AND ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE LEADERSHIP OF ADAM GREENFIELD.
WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY FROM WALK AUSTIN AND FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS RILEY WITH BIKE AUSTIN, UM, THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO BE HUGE ADVOCATES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I CERTAINLY ALSO APPRECIATE THE FOLKS WHO CAME AND TESTIFIED AND SHARED THEIR STORIES WITH EITHER TRYING TO DO BLOCK PARTIES OR THEIR APPRECIATION OF HEALTHY STREETS.
UM, MR. PACE WITH THE HARRY POTTER HOUSE, OR WHICH IS SO EXCITING EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AND TO DO WORK LIKE THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT CLOSES OUT MY COMMENTS ON, ON THE LIVING STREETS.
UM, BUT I CERTAINLY ALSO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S COMMENTS ON THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE.
I KNOW THAT IS, IT IS A BORDER BETWEEN OUR DISTRICTS.
AND SO YOU HAVE PART HALF OF THE BRIDGE AND I HAVE THE OTHER HALF OF THE BRIDGE.
I THINK WE'RE BOTH COMMITTED AND WILLING TO WORK TOWARD A PROCESS THAT IS TRANSPARENT AND ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE SAFETY THAT, THAT HISTORIC BRIDGE ABSOLUTELY NEEDS.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY USES.
IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE NEARBY HAVE, HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR RESIDENCES AND THAT FOLKS WHO USE LOOKER PARK HAVE ACCESS TO THE PARK.
UM, I'VE HAD MY OWN BIKE ACCIDENT, UM, AVOIDING THAT BRIDGE.
AND SO I THINK IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT, BUT I KNOW IF WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS AND COMING UP WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION, THAT WE COULD FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO I GUESS WHERE THE RED THE AREA.
THANKS SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES INITIATIVES ON, ON VARIOUS FRONTS, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR YOUR RESOLUTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR THE RESOLUTION YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD ON WHICH I WAS A CO-SPONSOR.
I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT ONE OTHER ITEM ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON AND CONTINUES TO BE THAT, THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS STOP AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM, FROM THIS REAL TIME OF CHALLENGE.
AND ONE OF THEM IS WITH GOOD WORKS AUSTIN.
SO ON ITEM 12, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE RATIFYING AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH GOOD WORK.
AUSTIN WHO HELPED, WHO WAS A, A VENDOR DURING A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE WERE SUPPLYING INDIVIDUALS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH MEALS TO TRY TO, UM, RESPOND TO THE FACT THAT MANY OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE CONGREGATE MEALS WERE CLOSED AND THAT WE NEEDED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUED TO GET THAT BASIC NEED MET OF FOOD.
UM, DURING A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE REALLY WANTED PEOPLE TO EAT AND
[01:15:01]
BE, UM, IN NON GATHERING ENVIRONMENTS.THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE THOUGH, OF A CONTRACT OF A WAY IN WHICH WE USED OUR INVESTMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS OR LOCAL FUNDS TO NOT JUST MEET THOSE BASIC NEEDS, BUT ALSO TO, UH, DO WHAT WE COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES STAYED HEALTHY AND THRIVED AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THIS PANDEMIC.
AND SO GOOD WORK AUSTIN THAN THE MONEY THAT WE PUT TOWARD THE CAREGIVER MEALS AT AISD, WHICH THEY TURNED AROUND AND USE TO HIRE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THOSE MEALS IS JUST A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AGAIN, THE WAY THAT, UM, THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY, UM, WORKED TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE COMMUNITY THRIVED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE DURING REALLY CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES.
SO THANK YOU FOR OUR STAFF, FOR YOUR CREATIVITY AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER THESE ALTERNATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND MAKE SURE AGAIN, THAT WE WERE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM 27.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN DOING A HALLOWEEN BLACK PARTY FOR OVER THIS IS GOING TO BE UP 30 AT FEAR.
AND WE USED TO BARRICADE THE STREET AT ONE TIME WHEN WE FIRST STARTED AND IT WAS REALLY SAFE FOR OUR KIDS, BUT THEN IT GOT HARDER.
THE CITY SAID THAT, UH, WE COULDN'T BLOCK THE STREET.
SO WE HAD TO HIRE A VOLUNTEER.
WELL, WE GOT VOLUNTEERS TO ESCORT THE VEHICLES BECAUSE, UH, NORMALLY OUR STREET IS VERY QUIET, BUT DURING HALLOWEEN WE GET ALL THESE VISITORS THAT COME BY AND A LOT OF THEM DRIVE TO OUR SITE.
AND WE WERE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS WERE SAFE.
WE GET OVER 2000 KIDS THAT NIGHT THAT GO THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IT'S BEEN A TRADITION NOW, BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SO HARD THAT WE HAD TO MOVE ALL OF OUR GAMES THAT WE BUY TO THE KIDS INTO OUR YARDS, THAT WE COULD NOT USE, SET THEM UP ON THE STREET BECAUSE TRAFFIC ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THERE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT, IT BECAME VERY CONCERNING TO ME THAT WE COULDN'T DO IT.
AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT THEY WANTED A $5,000 TO BLOCK THE STREET OUT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY AND, AND, UH, OUR RESIDENTS COULDN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF MONEY.
UH, IT, THEY STILL CAME THROUGH THERE.
WE WOULD TRY, WE MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE WITH LIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THAT REC THAT, UM, NO ONE HAD GOTTEN HIT, BUT THIS IS A KIND OF PROGRAM THAT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY OUT.
LIKE H UH, MY COLLEAGUES SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE REALLY CHANGING QUICK HERE IN AUSTIN, WHERE WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE THAT GREW UP THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE MOVING OUT.
THEIR KIDS DON'T WANT TO CAN'T AFFORD IT, OR THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN HOUSES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, UH, THAT ARE CENTRAL AREA, BUT THEY DO COME BACK AND IN HALLOWEEN AND THEY DO HAVE FUN AND THEY RECONNECT.
WE STARTING TO SEE MULTI-GENERATIONS OF, OF KIDS THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEIR PARENTS GREW UP THERE AND THEY'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO COME BACK IN AND, UH, AND RECONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS A REALLY A GREAT THING FOR US.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE FOR BRINGING IT UP, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR ROSS ROAD OUT IN DEL VALLEY.
UM, ROSS ROAD IS A SUBSTANDARD STREET AND IT WAS, I WAS VERY GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNCIL AND FOR COUNCIL, FOR ELLIS, HIS LEADERSHIP AND GETTING IT, GETTING IT INCLUDED IN THE 2020 MOBILITY BOND.
UM, AND SO WE ARE SEEING THAT WORK MOVE FORWARD, AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT, UM, SO QUICKLY.
I MEAN, IT'S, I SAY QUICKLY, BUT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN 10 MONTHS OR SO.
UM, THIS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, MY OFFICE HAS HOSTED A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH OUR DEL VALLEY NEIGHBORS.
UH, WE ALSO ENGAGED, UH, CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT'S OFFICE IN SECURING FEDERAL FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON ROSS ROAD, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT FUNDING NOT COME THROUGH.
SO WE'RE STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, STILL WORKING DIFFERENT AVENUES BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE NEED THAT WE HAVE IN THIS AREA.
AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO THIS DIOCESE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON, ON THIS ITEM.
UM, I HAVE IN THE PAST, UM, RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE WAS PROVIDING US FUNDING TO HELP US WITH OUR COVID RELIEF.
UM, SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITEM 22 ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS A MEN'S THE FISCAL
[01:20:01]
YEAR BUDGET FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO ACCEPT AN APPROPRIATE, UM, $3.6 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, AND TO ADD TWO FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS.UM, THESE ARE, THIS IS WELCOME FUNDING, AND I APPRECIATE THIS, THAT THE STATE, UM, INVESTING IN OUR RESPONSE, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 20 POSITIONS, TWO OF WHICH WILL BE MADE PERMANENT.
UM, SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THIS.
THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT ARE BEING PASSED THROUGH TO US.
UM, AND I DID WANT TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER AND IN LIGHT OF THE FINISHING OF THE SESSION, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT ALREADY, BUT IF WE CAN GET A SENSE OF THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING WILL BE COMING FROM THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE HAD AT THEIR DISPOSAL.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT UPDATE FOR YOU.
UH, S COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION IN FRONT OF US ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, PULLED ITEMS, UH, CAUSE I JUST WENT THROUGH 28, 42 THROUGH 45.8 AND OBSERVED 18, 19 20, 44 AND 45.
UM, IT'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAT.
THAT WAS OPPOSED ANATOMISTS ON THE DIAS, THOSE ITEMS PASS.
MAY I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ITEM FOUR WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE WERE COMMENTS, IT WAS PUT BACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER KIT.
UH, LET'S SEE, UH, WHAT WE COULD DO HERE BEFORE NOON.
UM, SO LET'S SEE THE WORDS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THAT INVOLVED.
[18. Approve an ordinance setting the Council meeting schedule for calendar year 2022 and setting the budget and tax rate hearings for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.]
FIRST MONTH OF CALENDAR, COUNSELOR MEETING, SCHEDULE ITEM NUMBER 18 ELSEWHERE ALTER YOU PULLED THIS.UM, I PULLED THIS BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE WAY THAT WE ARE SETTING UP OUR BUDGET HEARINGS.
I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT, UM, THE BUDGET AND FOR IT NOT TO BE SLAMMED INTO A COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, IF I HAVE THE RIGHT VERSION AND SORRY, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ONLY HAVE ONE HEARING SET BEYOND THE, UM, ACTUAL BUDGET DATE WHEN WE NORMALLY DO THE BUDGET IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD TWO AND THAT IS THAT, UM, FOR A DAY THAT'S ALSO THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING AFTER OUR BREAK, WHICH TENDS TO BE VERY LARGE.
UM, AND IT TENDS TO BE REALLY PROBLEMATIC IF WE TRY TO HAVE SPEAKERS AND THAT COUNCIL MEETING TOGETHER.
ONE IS THAT WE SEEM TO ONLY HAVE ONE HEARING AND TWO, UM, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BE COMBINING THAT HEARING WITH THAT HEAVY COUNCIL MEETING? THANK YOU ALL TO REMEMBER, WE DO HAVE OUR BUDGET OFFICER, UM, TO SPEAK TO WAY IN WHICH WE OUTLINED FOR THIS SCHEDULE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CARRIE LANG INTERIM BUDGET OFFICER.
UM, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE FOR, UM, THE CALENDAR, ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT WAS THE NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT WERE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE, BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE APPROVED BUDGET.
AND SO THE FIRST COUNT CALENDAR, A COUNCIL MEETING, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AVAILABLE WAS THE 28TH.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT COMMUNITY INPUT.
SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SINCE THAT WAS THE ONLY COUNCIL MEETING BETWEEN THE TIME THAT WE PROPOSED THE BUDGET AND APPROVE THE BUDGET.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THERE ARE OTHER WORK SESSIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THE CALENDAR WHERE WE WILL HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT OPPORTUNITY DURING THOSE WORK SESSIONS.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT, WHERE OUR WORK SESSION, WE ALSO HAD INPUT.
SO I'M, I'M JUST, UM, I REMAIN CONFUSED AND I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT WE TRY TO COMBINE EVERY TIME WE'VE DONE THAT WITH A HEARING AND THAT FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, WE ENDED UP HAVING TO FIND ANOTHER DATE TO DO IT.
AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING ON FRIDAY, OR WE'RE GOING TO PLAN THAT FRIDAY'S GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER FROM THE GET-GO.
UM, BUT IN THE PAST WE'VE NEVER HAD OUR WORK SESSIONS BE THE PUBLIC HEARING DAY.
WE DO HAVE THE, THIS IS COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON THE 17TH, AUGUST 17TH, UM, WITH THE BUDGET READINGS.
I, I'M NOT, I, I, THIS IS A CHANGE.
I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE MEAN BY COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS ON OUR WORK SESSION TIMES FOR THE BUDGET.
THAT MAY BE A GREAT INNOVATION.
I JUST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT IT IS.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITIES.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN MORE WITH SPECIFIC DATES OF WHAT
[01:25:01]
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF I COULD MAYER TO ASK MS. LANG TO GIVE US THE DATES I'M LOOKING AT THIS, AND I SEE WHAT LOOKED LIKE TO BE THREE BUDGET AND TAX RATE, WORK SESSIONS AND COMMUNITY INPUT ADOPTION BEFORE WE GET TO THE THREE DAYS OF BUDGET ADOPTION.
SO I SEE HERE, THE GREEN SCORES ARE AUGUST 2ND, NINE AND 11.
SO AUGUST, AUGUST 2ND WOULD BE THE, UM, BUDGET WORK SESSION.
AND THE DATE THAT WE SET, THE MAX RATE, THEN AUGUST 9TH AND 11TH ARE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
AND THEN THE BUDGET ADOPTION AND READINGS ARE AUGUST 17TH, 18TH, AND 19TH AS NEEDED.
YOU ARE ANTICIPATING THE COMMUNITY INPUT PIECES, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR IS CONCERNED ABOUT ON ALL OF THOSE DAYS.
NO, WHAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING IS THAT, UM, WE WOULD SET THE COMMUNITY INPUT, UH, PIECE AT A LATER TIME ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
AND SO WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE ON ALL, ALL OF THOSE DAYS THAT ARE LISTED.
UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S CALENDAR WE ANTICIPATE, OR WE HAD THE COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE 22ND OF JULY FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, AND THEN WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY INPUT DURING THE WORK SESSION.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING IN DOING AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR.
SO I THINK THAT ADDRESSES MY CONCERN ABOUT THE SECOND DAY, IF THAT WERE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO VERY CLEAR WITH PEOPLE THIS, THIS, THIS DIAGRAM DOESN'T TELL ANYBODY REAL CLEARLY WHICH DAY THAT IS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT CLARIFIED.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE 28TH BEING USUALLY A VERY PACKED, UM, COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVING THE HEARING AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE JUST GOING TO END UP HAVING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN MEET ON FRIDAY OR POSTPONING A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT MIGHT BE BETTER OFF ADDRESS, WHICH THEN CAN'T BE ADDRESSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
THIS IS THE 28TH, ALSO A BUDGET DATE BECAUSE ON MY CALENDAR, IT'S JUST A BLUE SQUARE.
THAT MEANS IT'S A COUNCIL MEETING.
28TH IS A COUNCIL MEMBER DAY THAT WE ADDED THE, UM, COMMUNITY INPUT, THE BUDGET COMMUNITY INPUT ON THAT 28TH DAY.
SO THAT'S THE PART THAT'S NOT CLEAR ON, ON THE COLOR CHART HERE.
AND I, I CERTAINLY HEAR IT COMES TO MY REALTORS UP POINTS ABOUT, UH, HAVING A, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEETING AND A COMMUNITY INPUT, UH, TIME DURING THAT, UH, UH, EVENT.
UH, I THINK TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK UP THE MEETING INTO TWO DIFFERENT DAYS, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA AND HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE, UH, ENGAGED IN THAT, UH, DISCUSSION FOR PROVIDING INPUTS.
UH, WE CAN MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, UH, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT DATE.
UM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND I'LL ASK OUR BUDGET STAFF TO JUST TAKE THE CALENDAR THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, AND ENSURE THAT IT'S IN A MEMO FORMAT.
SO IT'S CLEAR TO BOTH COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT DAYS THEY CAN PROVIDE INPUT, WHAT DAYS ARE THE WORK SESSIONS? UH, SO IT'S A MUCH MORE ARTICULATE, UH, GOING FORWARD.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU PRESENTING THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY OUT LOUD, YOU FINAL ONE WAS FILED YESTERDAY.
MY OFFICE HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO VET IT ALL YET WITH A CALENDAR.
UH, SO MY REQUEST IS GOING TO BE OF THE BODY THAT WERE NOT APPROVED THIS TODAY AND THAT WE BRING THIS UP, UH, AT OUR NEXT MEETING WHEN, WHEN WE'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, MAYOR, IF I COULD RESPOND TO THIS RESPONSE, UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT IN OUR CALENDAR A SECOND MEETING THAT WEEK THAT WE CAN MOVE INTO SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO GET EXTRA TIME BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, WE WILL NEED IT.
UM, WE HAVE NEEDED IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THEN WE'RE SCRAMBLING AT THE LAST MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S TO SPLIT UP, DO CONSENT ON WEDNESDAY AND DO THE OTHER, UM, AND IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING FAIRLY DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY WHO COMES IN AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO SPEAK.
WE'RE TRYING TO, TO REVIEW THE BUDGET AND THE AGENDA, AND THERE'S NO CLARITY AS TO WHEN WE'RE DOING STUFF.
UM, IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO AT THE VERY LEAST HAVE TIME THAT SET, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ONE MEETING FROM JUNE 16TH TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY FAC MEETING ON JULY 28TH OF, FOR A COUNCIL MEETING.
I MEAN, THERE'S JUST, NO, YOU CAN MANAGE IT ALL YOU WANT, BUT IT WON'T, YOU WON'T HAVE TIME THEN FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS OF TESTIMONY, IF THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE IT, I'VE ASKED YOU TO, TO FIGURE OUT AN APPROPRIATE WAY, UM, TO ADDRESS THAT.
IT'S EASIER TO TAKE A DAY OFF AND PUT A DAY ON COUNSELOR.
SO MAY OR YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE POSTPONE THIS TODAY? YES.
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THAT MOTION AND JUST ADD, UH, IN FACT IF YOU WANT TO
[01:30:01]
MAKE IT I'LL SECOND IT, AND THEN I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE AND I'LL SECOND IT, AND THEN I HAD ONE, ONE OTHER REQUEST, IN ADDITION TO JUST UNDERSCORING, WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID ABOUT THE NEED TO BUILD IN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE MANAGER THAT ONE OF THE FEEDBACK, ONE OF THE PIECES OF FEEDBACK I GAVE YOU AND OUR FINANCIAL STAFF IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK SESSIONS IN THE WEEK BEFORE THE BUDGET APPROVAL TO REALLY, UM, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SHARE OUR AMENDMENTS WITH ONE ANOTHER BRAINSTORM, TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO WANT TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN OUTCOMES.
WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THAT BETTER IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAN WE DID THIS YEAR.
WE JUST RAN OUT OF TIME FOR THAT KIND OF WORK.
AND GENERALLY, I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO DO THAT MORE AND MORE BETWEEN OUR WORK SESSIONS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER CONVERSATIONS, JUST LEAVING OUT THE TIME THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER AND, AND TRY TO COME TO GOOD OUTCOMES AS A COUNCIL.
SO IF YOU COULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION TOO, FROM NOW, UNTIL WHEN WE TAKE THIS UP AGAIN, COWS ARE POPE.
UM, THAT ALL SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.
UM, AND I ALSO WOULD DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE MEETINGS ARE AT A TIME THAT'S, UH RACHANA.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION THAT WEEK AND THAT WE PUSH THE OCTOBER MEETINGS UP ONE WEEK.
SO THE 13TH IS ON THE SIXTH AND OF COURSE THE 11TH ON THE FOURTH, THE 25TH IS ON THE 18TH AND THE 27TH IS ON THE 20TH MOVE, BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS UP A WEEK SO THAT WE, UM, DON'T CROWD OUR MEETINGS THEN IN NOVEMBER, UH, WHICH IS ALSO A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BREATHING SPACE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.
IF YOU COULD, ON THE AMENDED CALENDAR, HAVE A LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE.
IF I COULD JUST COMMENT, THAT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE GO FROM SUNDOWN WHEN NOT, SO YOU COULD HAVE A WORK SESSION ON, CAUSE YOU'RE HITTING THEM BEFORE THEN IN THAT FIRST WEEK.
UM, SO YOU COULD HAVE A WORK SESSION THAT WAS SHORT ON THE TUESDAY, BUT THEN WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO ARE OBSERVING ARE OFF ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN YOU'RE PUTTING A COUNCIL MEETING ON THE SIXTH.
UM, AND FOR, I DON'T OBSERVE THE SECOND DAY OF YOM KIPPOR, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE STAFF WHO DO, UM, WHETHER THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENS WITH RACHANA ON THE 27TH.
THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND DAY, UM, FOR THE WORK SESSION.
BUT IT, I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFERENT TO HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THE SECOND DAY THAN IT IS TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING ON THE SECOND DAY OF YOUNG OR FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAD TO BE THERE.
SO I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO CONSULT WITH SOMEBODY WHO OBSERVES THAT SECOND DAY TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE.
BUT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY A SIMPLE, UM, UH, MOVE, AS, AS YOU'RE SUGGESTING, I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS OUT OF OCTOBER BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION AND WHATNOT.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, DON'T THINK IT'S AS SIMPLE.
AND WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER RACHANA HOLIDAY, I, I SAID THE 29TH, BUT I ALSO INTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 27TH, WHICH IS THE WORK SESSION DAY.
AND, AND SO, UM, YEAH, WHATEVER.
UM, IT'S JUST MORE PROBLEMATIC TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING THE WEEK OF THE
SO MY REQUEST MANAGER WOULD BE THAT YOU INCORPORATE ALL THESE THINGS, YOU'VE CHASED THOSE THINGS DOWN AND GIVE US OUT ANOTHER DRAFT THAT WE CAN CHECK WITH OUR CALENDARS.
UM, AND IF WE HAD ANY PARTICULAR CHANGES RELATIVE TO, TO, TO MIND, WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND GIVE THOSE TO YOU.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST COLLEAGUES DO THE SAME THING, BUT A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND SECONDARY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING THE CIDER.
I'D SAY, BRING IT UP AS SOON AS YOU CAN, AS SOON AS YOU BRING IT BACK.
SO IT'S POSTPONED SUBJECT TO THE MANAGER, PUTTING IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
THAT ITEM THEN IS, UH, IS, UH, POSTPONED.
UH, TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING WE COULD DO HERE.
IT JUST, UH, A BID OR TO, UM, THE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT TO I'D TAKE A LONGER TIME, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES TO GOT TO TAKE A LONGER TIME, THE SOUTH CENTRAL
[Items 44 & 45]
WATERFRONT GUIDE TO TAKE, UH, UH, I MIGHT, MAYBE WE START WHAT WE COULD, WE COULD PROBABLY ALSO DO THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT TWO CASES AND WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE, I MEAN, I WAS, I DIDN'T HEAR THE FIRST THING SAID, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN DO THE SOUTH CENTRAL.I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD SOME AMENDMENTS
[01:35:01]
THAT I, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY, I DON'T BELIEVE I HAD ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ONE SHE PROPOSED FOR MINE.AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO KNOCK THAT ONE OUT.
I'LL BET YOU, BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE ON THE, ON THE, UM, UH, THE GOVERNANCE ISSUE IS THE GOVERNANCE ISSUE NECESSARY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO THE, UH, TO, UH, TO INITIATE THE, THE, THE TIF, IS IT NECESSARY? SO I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE AT SOME BASIC GOVERNANCE AND I WOULD LEAVE THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER TO KIND OF FILL OUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT AS I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF THE TOURS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE STARTING AT ZERO IS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE, UM, OUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH FOLKS WHO WOULD BE IN THAT AREA TO BE PART OF A DISTRICT AS OPPOSED TO BE JUST AN INDIVIDUAL.
UM, AND SO IF YOU DO A, WITHOUT THE GOVERNANCE, THEN YOU'RE MISSING THE WHOLE BENEFIT OF THE TOURS, WHICH IS IN MY MIND TO BE ABLE TO PLAN, UM, DISTRICT-WIDE AND, AND TO TELL FOLKS YOU WANT TO DEVELOP THERE THAT IF THEY WANT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, THEY HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS TO BE, TO BE PART OF IT.
SO I'M GOING TO BE, I'LL BE OKAY WITH THE MEMBER WITH, WITH, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE THE FULL AND FINAL GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.
UM, BUT, BUT SOME GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IS WHAT IS GOING TO ALLOW US, UM, TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE TERSE, TO DO THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ALL AGREE WE WANT TO DO.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR RESOLUTION WHERE YOU'RE STARTING AT POTENTIALLY AT ZERO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOVERNANCE AND YOU'RE AT ZERO, THEN ALL YOU'RE GETTING IS THE BASE VALUE FROM THAT.
WHEREAS IF YOU HAVE THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, YOU CAN DO MORE FROM A NEGOTIATING PERSPECTIVE FOR THE CITY AS PART OF THE REAL ESTATE.
SO, AND SO I'M OKAY WITH THE, WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR GOVERNANCE WITH THE, WITH STAFF, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO INVENT WHAT THE FINAL GOVERNANCE MIGHT LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WE HAVE.
WE HAVE BASICALLY KIND OF A SUMMARY, THE REASON TO DO MY WAS JUST TO, TO ESTABLISH THE BENCHMARK SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN TWO YEARS, WE SHOULD, WE'D STARTED TO BENCHMARK EARLIER.
SO MY GOAL IS NOT, IS TO, IS TO NOT HAVE STAFF HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS IT'S TO BASICALLY CREATE IT.
UH, SO, SO WE DON'T LOOK BACK.
SO IF THERE'S A MINIMUM KIND OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL OR NECESSARY THAT, THAT I WOULD WANT THEM TO LOOK AT IT, WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO TRY AND TRY AND FINALIZE WHAT THE DEAL IS YET.
CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEALS ARE YET OR WHAT THE PLAN IS.
I MEAN, I THOUGHT PRELIMINARY, MODIFIED ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT I, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT GOVERNANCE CONVERSATION IS INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE TOURS.
AND SO THAT DOES NEED TO START HAPPENING AND, AND OUR ABILITY TO USE THE TOURIST TO, TO REGULATE AT THE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK DEPENDS ON THE SUCCESS OF THAT.
UM, BUT IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS, YOU KNOW, SOME PARTICULAR ROLE FOR A DECK TO PLAY WORKING WITH US, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL UNTIL MORE IS ESTABLISHED OR, OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND MY GOAL IS TO TRY NOT TO HAVE THEM HAVE TO HAVE THE LONG CONVERSATION OR WHETHER, HEY, THAT IS IN THERE OR NOT IN THERE, IF THAT'S A LONG CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT AND NOT A LOT OF MEETINGS LEFT.
AND I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO, TO ACT, WE CAN INITIATE THAT THIS YEAR, BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY CAN DO THOSE THINGS IN TIME, I'M OKAY TO THE DEGREE IT'S NECESSARY TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INITIATE IT.
BUT ULTIMATELY THEY SHOULDN'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO DECIDE THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE DECIDED OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO YEARS.
I, I THINK I WOULD LEAVE IT TO OUR REAL ESTATE EXPERTS WHO KNOW ABOUT THE ADA TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE TIMING RELATIVE TO THE DIFFERENT PIECES.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE NEED A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR THIS TO SUCCEED, AND WE NEED TO BEGIN FLESHING THAT OUT.
THIS IS WHAT THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IS, BUT, BUT THE, THE, THE PLAN DOESN'T HAVE ANY TEETH, IF THERE'S NOBODY THERE TO, TO, TO SHEPHERD IT.
AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PART OF THE WHOLE POINT OF SETTING UP A AND DOING ALL THAT WAS TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ON THAT.
UM, AND IF I COULD JUST EXPLAIN FOR LINE 75, UM, I THINK THE TERMS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF THE CHURCH IS NOT GOING TO BE A FULL THERESE, IF WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ANY ONGOING EXPENSES WITH GENERAL FUND, UM, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ADDITIONAL PUBLIC FINANCING STRATEGIES
[01:40:01]
THAT WOULD HELP US TO REALIZE, UM, THE VISION.UM, SO THAT'S WHY I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE'RE, THE CHAIRS IS ONE STEP AND IT'S THE BEGINNING STEP, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE FOR MAKING IT.
ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO NEED A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO RUN IT.
SO IT HAS T SO IT CAN FUNCTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BY DECEMBER 31ST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT SETTING UP THE TIF HAS TO HAPPEN BY DECEMBER 31ST, OR WE HAVE TO WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR AGAIN, TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE BENCHMARK.
AND I THINK IF, IF I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT SORT OF TIMELINE, UM, BUT IF IT HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, BY DECEMBER, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THE GOVERNANCE AND THE GOVERNANCE COMES BACK IN FEBRUARY, LIKE I'M FINE WITH, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO, I DON'T WANT TO STOP IT, BUT I, I WANNA MAKE REALLY CLEAR THAT THAT, THAT, THAT GOVERNANCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THE SUCCESS AND MEAN THERE ARE PLENTY OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THAT COULD BE STRUCTURED.
AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, TO BE TO THE DEGREE, ADVANCED IT AS MUCH AS IS APPROPRIATE, THE REST OF US WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
I'LL BRING A BRIGGS, WE'LL GO TO TOBO FIRST, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
BUT WHAT I HEARD HER SAY WAS, UH, THAT, UH, THAT THE GOVERNANCE IS IN HERE.
AND IF IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO BE DECIDED NOW, OR TO WHATEVER DEGREE IT IS, THAT CAN HAPPEN LATER.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SHE SAID, ASK HER, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF THERE'S A DEADLINE BY WHICH WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS YEAR AS THE BASE VALUE, THEN WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
HE'S STILL GOING TO NEED SOME KIND OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST THE COUNCIL IS IN CHARGE OF IT.
UM, AND THEN MOVING TOWARDS A FULLER GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO REALLY, UM, LEVERAGE THE WHOLE HAVING THE PLAN AND THE TERRORS WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE, BECAUSE I THINK THERE PROBABLY SOME READY MODELS THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUT THERE.
UM, BUT THAT, AGAIN, I'M PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF TO FIGURE THAT THAT OUT.
UM, BUT I AM FINE WITH IT IF IT, IF THERE'S A DEADLINE BY DECEMBER IN ORDER TO GET THE BASE VALUE, NOT HAVING ALL OF THAT, THAT FINALIZED BY THAT YOU HAD A FEW THINGS TO SAY, BUT I, BUT BEFORE WE GOT TOO FAR ALONG, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, I THINK WE'RE TYPICALLY, I THINK THE COUNCIL TYPICALLY IS THE BOARD OF THE, OF THE TOURERS RIGHT? SO THAT'S, I MEAN, WE HAVE A BUILT-IN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, I THINK AS SOON AS WE, AS SOON AS WE SET UP THE INCREMENT FINANCING ZONE AND ESTABLISH OURSELVES AS BOARD MEMBERS, BUT IT'S, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE MIGHT WANT TO DO IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WITH GIVEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND GIVEN THAT WE HAVE ALREADY, UM, TASKED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH THIS AS ONE OF THEIR MAJOR PROJECTS FOR INITIAL WORK, BUT IS, AM I MISSING SOMETHING IN THE GOVERNANCE CONVERSATION? AND THEN IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO ME, I THINK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MAY HAVE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOO, BUT I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT OUR, OUR RESOLUTIONS, BUT I WANT TO, I WANT TO JUST RESOLVE THIS PIECE FIRST.
UM, WOULDN'T THAT BE THE DEFAULT GOVERNANCE EASILY COULD BE, AND IF IT'S AS EASY AS THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE APPROPRIATE, THEN I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.
IT COULD BE, I JUST, WASN'T TRYING TO PRE DECIDE THAT ISSUE.
AND I DIDN'T WANT STAFF TO COME BACK AND SAY, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET IT DONE THIS YEAR.
I DON'T WANT TO, THERE'S AN URGENCY HERE THAT, THAT I THINK THAT I COMPLETELY RECOGNIZED, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR THAT THAT IS TYPICALLY THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WE UTILIZE AT BENZINO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THAT IS CERTAINLY THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WE HAVE FOR OUR OTHER TAX INVESTMENT RE-INVESTMENT, UH, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES, UM, IN, UH, ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A NEW TERRORS.
YOU WILL HAVE TO DESIGNATE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE.
UM, TYPICALLY IT'S BEEN THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CAN THAT EVOLVE, MR. BEN NINO, COULD WE ESTABLISH OURSELVES AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEN EVOLVE THAT OVER TIME? IF, IF THERE'S A MORE, A DIFFERENT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT'S UM, I BELIEVE IT'S THAT I WOULD WANT TO, I WOULD WANT IT TO CONFIRM THAT, BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD, WE, OUR PLANNING STAFF HAS ALREADY BEEN PLANNING PRIOR TO THESE RESOLUTIONS COMING FORWARD, A NOVEMBER 16TH BRIEFING TO COUNSEL, UM, BASED UPON YOUR PRIOR DIRECTION ABOUT, UH, UH, UH, PROSPECTIVE TERMS FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
SO, UM, WE ARE ANTICIPATING A STAFF BRIEFING TO COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 16TH THAT I THINK WE COULD, WE COULD, UM, ADDRESS.
THAT'S IT ON GOVERNANCE AND THEN HANG ON ONE SECOND.
HANG ON ONE SECOND, COUNSELOR ABOUT THE KELLER GET DIGITS.
DID YOU ASK ME YOU ALREADY GOVERNANCE? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT SINCE IT HADN'T BEEN PASSED OUT TO US, BUT I DO SEE IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD NOW.
SO, UM, MY QUESTION RELATES TO
[01:45:01]
THE SCOPE OF WHAT'S COMING BACK TO US.I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH RUTH, WITH REGARD TO GOVERNANCE.
AND, UM, AND I AGREE, AND I'M FINE WITH THIS AMENDMENT, UM, SUBJECT TO THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD.
SO, UM, BUT MY, SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ON A DIFFERENT MATTER, DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK THAT NOW, OR I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO KATHERINE PORTOLA, THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
THAT'S WHERE HER TOBO DIFFERENT.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE CLARITY ON WHY I WANTED TO JUST ADD ONE MORE THING ON THE GOVERNANCE IF I COULD.
SO THE GOVERNANCE PART RELATES ALSO TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE, WHICH IS SORT OF THE NEXT STEPS.
AND SO, I MEAN, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE CLARITY OVER WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ADA.
AND AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DECIDED BY DECEMBER, BUT THERE ARE STRUCTURES WE'VE HIRED PEOPLE TO DO THIS.
YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THIS WORKS AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE POINT OF ATEC IS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE BODY IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING OUR GOALS THROUGH OUR REAL ESTATE EFFORTS.
AND SO, UM, I JUST THINK THAT THE GOVERNANCE PART IS IN SOME SENSE MORE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PORTION AS WE KIND OF MOVE BEYOND THE CREATION AND SETTING THAT, THAT BASE LEVEL.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER OF WHAT IT IS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE EFFECTIVE IF IT'S JUST US GOVERNING IT.
AND WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT EXPERTISE AND, AND GOVERNANCE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS IN THIS CONTEXT.
UM, BUT I, BUT I THINK THAT'S A CON THAT'S A CONVERSATION I BELIEVE OUR STAFF NEED TO HAVE WITH IT, UH, AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE, BE MOST EFFECTIVE OVER THE LONG RUN, EVEN IF IT'S NOT RESOLVED BY DECEMBER.
AND I AGREE WITH THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT, THERE WAS JUST A TIMING ISSUE ON THE ONE.
I WOULD JUST TRY TO GET THAT PART DONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IF WE DECIDE TO USE A TIF, WE WOULD HAVE TO SET UP ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE THOSE ELEMENTS NOW, EXCEPT AS WHAT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FILE BY THE END OF THE YEAR COUNTS OVER TOVO.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE CLARITY ABOUT WHY WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS, UM, THAT ARE BASICALLY VERY, VERY SIMILAR ON THE AGENDA.
SO I THINK THE MAYOR AND I, WELL, I, I SHOULDN'T SPEAK FOR THE MAYOR, BUT I'LL, I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I WAS RESPONDING TO CONCERNS.
I HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ONE, THE LACK OF PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE GENERALLY, AND TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE COMING, WE'RE CLOSING IN, ON THE END OF A CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH IS KIND OF OUR DEADLINE FOR SETTING UP THAT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT.
AND THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION AROUND ABOUT, UM, THE FACT THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR A STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THAT AND THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION MAY BE TO DO NOT PROCEED WITH, UH, WITH, UH, TOURS.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, THAT THE MAYOR AND I WERE, WE'RE BOTH DOING THIS AND RESPONDING WITH SOME URGENCY, I, IN THE END, IT JUST FOR EXPEDIENCY MADE BETTER SENSE TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS AND JUST CO-SPONSOR EACH OTHER'S RATHER THAN TRY TO MERGE THEM, BUT I CERTAINLY, UM, SUPPORT, AND I'M A CO-SPONSOR ON THE MIRRORS AS HE HAS ON MINE.
AND THE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENCES, I THINK.
WELL, ONE, ONE MAJOR ONE IS THAT MINE INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE REGULATING PLAN.
AND I RAN OUT OF TIME BETWEEN LAST FRIDAY AND TODAY TO RECOUNT ALL OF THE HISTORY.
SOME OF THAT HISTORY IS RECOUNTED IN THE MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING AS AN UPDATE TO THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN.
SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT.
UM, BUT I KNOW IT HAS SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THIS, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE, UM, I KNOW THE MAYOR AND I HAVE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH STAFF OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH STAFF TRYING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THIS.
WE HAVE FUNDED, UM, CONSULTANTS TO WORK ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
WE HAD A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS NOW RETIRED, UH, BUT WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON THIS PROJECT.
AND WE, WE HAVE NOT MADE THE PROGRESS WE NEED TO, AND IT IS A MATTER OF URGENCY.
WE HAVE A VERY MAJOR TRACT, PROBABLY THE LARGEST TRACT IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT THAT IS IN THE PROCESS GOING THROUGH THE CITY PROCESS AND ABOUT TO REDEVELOP.
I WAS APPROACHED BY ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE THIS WEEK FOR ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
WE ARE GOING TO THROUGH OUR INACTION AS A CITY, GOING TO LOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS SPENT LITERALLY DECADES ENVISIONING FOR THIS AREA OF, UM, THE WATERFRONT OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND SO IT IS, UM, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT HAS TAKEN US THIS LONG AND THAT IT HAS TAKEN NOW MULTIPLE COUNCIL DIRECTIVES AND SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS AT LEAST.
UM, I KNOW I'VE BROUGHT AT LEAST ONE RESOLUTION AND SOME, PROBABLY SOME DIRECTION IN ADDITION TO TWO OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO OFF THE DIOCESE.
SO, UM, MANAGER, I LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT PRESENTATION ON THE 16TH.
THANK YOU, MR. VAN, YOU KNOW, FOR SIGNALING THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT UPDATE ON THE 16TH.
[01:50:01]
AND I THINK AT THAT TIME, WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE REGULATING PLAN.SO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, YOU HAD ASKED A QUESTION IN THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT MAY, THAT MAY BE AROUND THIS.
YOU WANTED TO MEET IT, PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S EXPECTED BY NOVEMBER 1ST AND WHAT MIGHT BE THE DOWNSIDES OF ALLOWING STAFF TO INSTEAD HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST I WOULD IN CALLING FOR, I THINK THAT APPLIES PRIMARILY TO THE REGULATORY PLAN VERSUS THE FINANCING.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD STRATEGY BETWEEN MY RESOLUTION AND THE MAYORS.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A STRATEGY FOR THE FINANCING PLAN THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH.
I WOULD WANT TO REVISIT THAT 0% IS JUST AS VERY SOON AS WE CAN, BECAUSE I THINK WE WANT TO CAPTURE THAT VALUE.
IF WE AGREE AS A COUNCIL, THAT THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE, UM, STRATEGY FINANCIAL STRATEGY, WE WOULD WANT TO REVISIT THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.
MY CALL IN ASKING FOR AN UPDATE, SOME OF THAT MAY BE COVERED IN THE MEMO ALREADY THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING IN TERMS OF AN UPDATE.
BUT WHAT I HEARD IN TERMS OF THE, THE RISK, THE MEMO IN MY SKIMMING HERE JUST A SECOND AGO, AND IT'S ONE OF 1919 DOCUMENTS OPEN HERE ON MY COUNSEL ON MY COMPUTER.
BUT WHAT I HEARD IN TERMS OF AN UPDATE ON THE REGULATORY PLAN HAD TO DO WITH HIRING STAFF.
UM, AND I, AT THIS POINT, I REALLY NEED AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE REGULATORY PLAN.
AGAIN, WE, WE FUNDED A CONSULTANT TO DO THIS WORK.
WE HAD SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD GO FORWARD IN ADVANCE OF THE LDC, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, OR IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT WAS PROCEEDING ON AND READY.
IT WAS READY TO GO BEFORE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THEN IT WAS HALTED TO GO ALONG WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THEN WHEN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE HALTED THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGULATORY PLANT, I MEAN, IT LIKE THE WATERLOO, WHAT LIKE THE WALLER CREEK, UM, REGULATING PLAN HAS BEEN STALLED.
AND SO LET'S GET IT, LET'S GET IT DONE.
LET'S TAKE THE TIME WE NEED ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BUT WHY WE'RE CONTINUING TO HOLD UP THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE GOING TO REALLY BE, UM, MOVED BY DEFAULT.
IF WE DON'T GET MOVING IS, IS BEYOND ME.
AND, AND LET ME SAY WALNUT CREEK IS ANOTHER ONE.
IF WE DON'T GET THAT REGULATORY PLAN IN PLACE SOON, WE'RE GOING TO MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN THAT WAY, OVER THAT AREA OF DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL TAXPAYER INVESTMENTS IN THOSE VISIONING PROCESSES IN THOSE PLANS AND THE CONSULTANTS TO DO THE WORK, LET'S GET A MOVE IN AND DONE.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD, BUT THERE ARE, AS YOU'VE ALREADY POINTED OUT MULTIPLE PRIORITIES.
AND SO WHAT WE WILL HOPE TO ALSO GET OUT OF THIS WORK SESSION ON, UH, THE 17TH IS TO TALK ABOUT THOSE OTHER PROJECTS THAT STAFF IS WORKING ON.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPEND TOWARDS THESE.
UH, I APPRECIATE, I ALSO NOTICED THAT YOU REFERENCED THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT UP THIS MORNING, UH, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COUNSEL APPROPRIATE CONTEXT AND AN UPDATE ON WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.
UH, WE DID ASK OUR EDD STAFF TO DELIVER THAT, AND I SEE SYLVIA RAV IS WITH US THIS MORNING.
AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST SPENDING A FEW MINUTES WALKING THROUGH THIS MEMO, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO REVIEW IT, UH, BEFORE THIS VOTE, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE IT AND LOOK AT THE CONTENT OF THAT MEMO BEFOREHAND.
I MET, SO THERE'LL BE A WHOLE RAP ACTING DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE DID DISTRIBUTE A MEMO THIS MORNING, UH, PROVIDING AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA IS CORRECT.
WE PROVIDED BACKGROUND, UH, UH, CONCERNS ON WHO WILL LEAD THE LEAD DEPARTMENT AND THE IMPLEMATION IMPLEMENTATION TEAM.
UH, THE ACTIVITIES CONCERNING, UM, REGULATORY PLAN ONE TEXAS CENTER, PUBLIC FINANCE, AN OPTION.
AND AS, UH, MR
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MUAS PASSAGE OF 45.
I SECOND, DID I MOVE PASSAGE OF 44 COUNTS OVER TOVO SECOND SAID EVERYBODY OBJECTION TO INCORPORATING THE AMENDMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR SAYING NONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE INCORPORATED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE TWO ADS MAYOR.
IF I COULD, UM, AGAIN AT DINO'S, UH, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER IN REGARDS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, TOBA IS RESOLUTION.
IT DOES CALL FOR A NOVEMBER 1ST DATE.
UM, I HAVE CONVEYED TO HER OFFICE THAT, UM, OUR FINANCIAL STAFF WHO'S WHO'S NEEDED TO FINISH OUR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS IS THEY'RE CURRENTLY ON VACATION AND THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED
[01:55:01]
THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE THAT WORK.AGAIN, WE'RE TARGETING A NOVEMBER 16TH BRIEFING TO COUNCIL THAT I THINK WILL PROVIDE ALL THE UPDATED INFORMATION.
YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION PERTAINING TO A TOURIST, BUT WE SIMPLY CAN'T ACHIEVE THAT BY NOVEMBER 1ST UNCOMFORTABLE MAYOR, BASED ON THAT, UH, SHIFTING IT TO NOVEMBER 16TH FOR THE, FOR THE FINANCIAL PIECE, THE REGULATORY PIECE REALLY SPEAKS TO THE WORK THAT ALAN HOLT AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
AND I KNOW, I MEAN, THIS PROJECT OUTLASTED, ALAN HOLT, HE HAS NOW RETIRED, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, GETTING AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE STAFF GOT TO WITH REGARD TO THE REGULATORY WORK, CAN I HOPE COULD BE DONE BY NOVEMBER 1ST OR SOMETIME BEFORE NOVEMBER 16TH, SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THAT TOO.
I'M NOT SURE IF I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I GOT MYSELF DISTRACTED BY TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN MORE GENERALLY, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT I EXPECT BY THAT PERIOD, WITH REGARD TO THE REGULATORY PLAN, I'D LIKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT, UM, WHAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE WITH REGARD TO THE REGULATORY PLAN AND EXACTLY WHAT WORK IS LEFT ALONG WITH A TIMELINE FOR GETTING THE WORK BEFORE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN, UM, MAKE SOME DELIBERATIONS AND DELIBERATE AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS, ANY OBJECTION TO PTG THAT DAY IN EMOTION FROM NOVEMBER 1ST TO NOVEMBER 16TH AS CONCERNS THE FINANCING WORK.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK MR. VAN NINO, IF HE KNEW IF THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN ATTAINABLE GOAL TO GET IT COMPLETED BY THEN KNOWING YOUR EMPLOYEE'S WORKLOAD.
UH, YES, MA'AM IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON AS I HAD MENTIONED.
SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH HERE.
WE HAVE, UM, UM, MOST OF THE COMPONENTS NEEDED JUST NEED TO FINISH RUNNING THE FINAL, UH, FINANCIAL CALCULATIONS.
THAT OBJECTION THAT THEY CHANGE IS MADE.
IT'S TAKE A VOTE ON THESE TWO ITEMS. THOSE ARE FAVORITE PAYS, RAISE YOUR HAIR, THOSE OPPOSED THOSE TWO ITEMS, PASSION, AND OBVIOUSLY COLLEAGUES
[Public Comments (Part 2 of )]
WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE IT TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.UM, WE HAVE, UH, FIVE, UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE RATHER THAN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, UH, LISTEN TO THE FIVE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE A BREAK FOR 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.
WE WILL GO IN HOUR ON A HOMELESSNESS BRIEFING.
WE'LL PROBABLY START THE SPEAKERS ON, UH, ON ZONING 15 MINUTES LATE OR WHATEVER THAT WOULD CORRESPOND TO.
SO IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND CALL THE FIVE SPEAKERS THAT WE, UH, HAVE, UM, WHICH BRIEFING IS FIRST IS THAT CRUELER HOMELESS.
HOMELESSNESS HAS GOT TO GO FIRST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS PRESENT AND IT IS HEATHER MCCORMICK.
UH, BEFORE WE STARTED THE TIMER, WE HAVE THE SLIDE PROJECTED GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ADLER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HEATHER MCCORMICK AND I AM HERE TO ADDRESS WITH YOU INTOLERABLE DANGEROUS ENCAMPMENTS IN THE CITY'S COUNTRY CLUB GREENBELT, JUST NORTH OF BEN WHITE IN DISTRICT THREE.
THIS GREEN BELT USED TO BE A JUUL OF OUR COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS WOULD HIKE AND JOG AND BIKE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
SADLY, WHEN CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO ALLOW HOMELESS, CAMPING, THE NUMBER OR SIZE OF AN INCISE OF INCUMBENTS IN THE GREENBELT, EXPLODED AND LAWLESSNESS BECAME THE NORM.
HERE'S WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS ENCAMPMENT, RIGHT NEXT TO MANY HOUSES, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STOLEN BICYCLES.
THIS CAMP RECENTLY STARTED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE GREENBELT.
COMPLETE WITH EXPLOSIONS FROM MATERIALS KEPT THERE FOR DRUG MANUFACTURER.
FIVE FIRETRUCKS HAD TO RESPOND AND ALL OF US NEAR THE GREENBELTS STOOD WATCHING THE FLAMES, HOPING THAT PEOPLE WERE SAFE AND
[02:00:01]
THAT OUR HOUSES WOULDN'T BURN.THIS IS BUT ONE OF MANY CAMPS IN THE COUNTRY CLUB GREENBELT DRUG DEALING IS RAMPANT AND COMPLETELY UNCHECKED BY POLICE.
AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO LEGAL ROADS, THE GREENBELT TWEAKERS AND DRUG DEALERS DRIVE IN AND OUT ALL NIGHT LONG, LITERALLY 15 FEET FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S BEDROOM WINDOW.
THE SAME NEIGHBOR HAS HAD CAMPERS ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO HIS HOME.
ALTHOUGH SOME CAMPERS ARE PEACEFUL, OTHERS ARE THREATENING AND VIOLENT.
THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF GUNSHOTS IN THE GREENBELT.
ACCORDING TO POLICE CAMPERS HAVE SENT BOOBY TRAPS TO CAUSE BODILY INJURY SUCH THAT THE POLICE WILL NO LONGER GO INTO THE GREEN BELT AT NIGHT.
PACKS OF VICIOUS DOGS FROM THE CAMP HAVE TWICE ATTACK NEIGHBORS, SHREDDING THEIR ARMS AND LEGS, SENDING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
EVEN THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION.
WON'T GO INTO THIS GREEN BELT ANYMORE.
DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, EVEN IN PEACEFUL CAMPS, THE SQUALID LIVING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ARE STUNNING.
COULD YOU PLEASE GO TO SLIDES AHEAD? SEE THE SLIDE OF ENCAMPMENTS ALL ALONG THE CREEK BED WITH TRASH AND WASTE.
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE CITY BLOCKS WORTH DESTROYING THE WATERSHED, DESPITE OUR COMMUNITIES REPEATED, PLEASE.
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF POP PROP B, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMOVE THESE ENCAMPMENTS OR TO ADDRESS THE ACCOMPANYING SERIOUS CRIME COUNCILMAN RENTERIA, PARTICULAR SHAME ON YOU FOR FAILING TO EVEN RESPOND TO YOUR DISTRICT.
THREE CONSTITUENTS, 30 SECONDS, PLEASE.
LOCAL POLICE SAY THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED.
YOU CAN FINISH THE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE, OKAY.
LOCAL POLICE SAY THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO ENFORCE PROP B IN THIS GREENBELT.
OBVIOUSLY THE CITY IS ENFORCING PROPERTY VERY MUCH.
IN OTHER AREAS, I'LL SUBMIT THE WRITTEN MATERIALS, PLEASE.
IF I COULD HAVE 30 SECONDS, I COULD FINISH.
OTHERWISE LET'S SUBMIT THE, I DO THAT FOR EVERYBODY OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY, IT ADDS UP AND, AND WE JUST LOSE CONTROL OF THE MEETING, BUT IF YOU WOULD GET THE MATERIALS OUT TO EVERYBODY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I WILL CIRCULATE TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBERS VIA THE CLERK.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE SEVERAL PEOPLE DO THAT'S WHERE EVERY KITCHEN THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IF YOUR HAND WAS RAISED, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE.
UH, MY STAFF HAS SOME, HAS SOME EXPERIENCE WITH SOME AREAS IN DISTRICT FIVE.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS.
I WANTED TO ASK THE SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, I JUST NEED TO EMPHASIZE SINCE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THAT NOTHING THE COUNCIL DID EVER, EVER ALLOWED, UH, CAMPING IN GREENBELTS OR ON PARKLAND.
AND SO IT CONCERNS WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING CONCERNS ME A GREAT DEAL FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS, INCLUDING THAT AS YOU'VE, AS YOU'VE, UM, PROVIDED INFORMATION, THERE ARE ACTS OF, UH, THERE ARE ACTUAL CRIMES TAKING PLACE THERE AND FIRES AND OTHER THINGS.
SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU, AND THEN I PROBABLY WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ONE FOR OUR MANAGER IS CLEARLY YOU'VE HAD 9 1, 1 INVOLVEMENT.
YOUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD NINE 11 INVOLVEMENT WITH A FIRE THERE AND, AND, UH, FIRE RESPONDING.
CAN YOU PROVIDE US, UM, ON THE COUNCIL WITH A RECORD OF THOSE 9 1, 1 OR 3, 1, 1 CALLS THAT YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE THEM? UM, I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF FOLLOW-UP, WHAT KIND OF REPORTING HAPPENED AND WHAT KIND OF FOLLOW-UP WE HAD IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUES YOU'VE RAISED.
UM, WELL, HAVE TO ASK AUSTIN PD FOR HELP WITH THAT FREQUENTLY, THEY GET REPORTED TO THE HOMES AND NOT THE ADDRESS OF THE GREENBELT AND SOMEONE WEREN'T PROPERLY AGGREGATED.
ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MAPD IS THAT EVEN AFTER THE PASSAGE OF PROBABLY LET ALONE BEFORE IT THERE, THEY WERE INSTRUCTED NOT TO ENFORCE PROPERTY IN THE GREEN BELT, BY THE CITY.
AND WE GOT NO HELP PRIOR TO PROPERTY, AND WE HAVE NO HELP NOW, BUT AGAIN, TO CLARIFY, PUBLIC CAMPING WAS NEVER ALLOWED ON PARKLAND.
APD SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING INFORMATION TO CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENFORCE BREAKING OF LAW.
UM, AND SO MANAGER, I GUESS I WOULD ASK YOU, UM, AND, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ENTRY AND OTHERS OF US ON THIS DIOCESE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.
I MEAN, WHEN I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, YOU'RE NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT WHEN I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM A CITY EMPLOYEE, THAT THEY CANNOT ENFORCE THAT THAT CITY EMPLOYEE CANNOT ENFORCE A CITY REGULATION.
I'VE ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE ME WITH
[02:05:01]
THE NAME AND, AND HAVE SENT IT ON.UM, WHEN IT, WHEN THAT INFORMATION IS FORTHCOMING.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY, IF THAT HAPPENS AGAIN, AND YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBORS HEAR FROM A CITY EMPLOYEE, THAT THEY ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO ENFORCE A CITY REGULATION, I HOPE YOU WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHOEVER'S APPROPRIATE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION GETS THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT ACCURATE INFORMATION.
I'M SORRY THAT I'M SORRY THAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS RECEIVED THAT RESPONSE MANAGER.
I WOULD JUST CALL ON YOU TO PLEASE, UM, CONFIRM WHAT I'M SAYING.
THAT ONE PARK CAMPING WAS NOT ALLOWED ON PARKLAND AND THAT YOUR, THE CITY STAFF WHO ARE UNDER YOUR MANAGEMENT OUGHT TO BE ENFORCING OUR REGULATIONS.
AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS THAT YOU HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO.
AND IF I HEAR ABOUT THESE, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE LOOKING INTO THIS CASE IN PARTICULAR, IF YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH CITY STAFF ALREADY, BUT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU AFTER THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE WHERE THIS MAY HAVE OCCURRED.
MULTIPLE POLICE TOLD US THAT THE CITY'S ATTORNEY OFFICE WASN'T TELLING THEM THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO ENFORCE THE BAN ON CAMPING, UNLESS THERE WAS A PLACE TO, TO SEND THE HOMELESS TO LIVE AND THAT THEY WERE SPECIFICALLY ENFORCED, NOT IT SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, NOT TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND SPEAKING TO US ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS CONCERNS TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ALL OF US HERE SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THEM.
I KNOW THAT IT MUST'VE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND TO NOT KNOW HOW TO COME TO COUNCIL OR ADDRESS US.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COURAGE IN COMING HERE TODAY.
AND THEN, UH, I'D ALSO LIKE DEBOW CARPOOL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA GO FIRST.
I HEARD SIMILAR, SIMILAR, UH, REPORTS FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE CALLED TO, UM, RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN MY DISTRICT.
AND THEY WERE ALSO SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY EITHER DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT OR THEY COULDN'T DO THIS OR THAT, OR THE NEXT THING.
AND THAT IS, UH, REALLY UNFORTUNATE.
IT WAS NOT A POLICY OR A DIRECTIVE FROM THIS COUNCIL.
IN FACT, WE WERE VERY, WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC WHEN WE MADE SOME CHANGES TO ORDINANCES THAT PARKS WERE IN FACT ALWAYS HAD BEEN AND NEVER WERE ALWAYS HAD BEEN, UM, UH, CAMPING WAS NEVER ALLOWED IN PARKS AND WE NEVER CHANGED THAT.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE OUT THERE SAYING THAT IT WAS OUR FAULT, THAT THEY COULDN'T GO AND, UM, ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT APD WAS VERY CLEAR ON THE CONCEPT THAT WE DID NOT.
WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE SAYING THAT, AND WE DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT IN FACT WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAD DIRECTED.
AND I IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT MISINFORMATION CONTINUES TO BE SPREAD IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE, UM, AND I CALL UPON ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE POLICY DIRECTIVES FROM THIS COUNCIL, THEY ARE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
AND, UH, THAT GOES FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE COPS ARE ALLIES AND HAVE VERY MUCH BEEN WANTING TO ENFORCE THIS ORDINANCE.
THEY'VE RECEIVED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM SOMEWHERE AT THE CITY, NOT TOO BAD.
SO I WANT TO, WHAT PRE APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP? THE PICTURES THAT YOU'VE SHOWN ARE, ARE, ARE OF LOCATIONS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY CONCERNING.
AND, AND THE FIRST TIME I WALKED THROUGH A CAMP, LIKE THE ONE IN YOUR PICTURE WAS PROBABLY LIKE SEVEN YEARS AGO.
UH, AND IT WAS IN PART BECAUSE I WAS WALKING THROUGH CAMPS THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT IN OUR CITY SEVEN YEARS AGO, UH, THAT, THAT IT BECAME INCREASING OVER TIME OR HIGHER AND HIGHER PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING, TO, TO, TO ALTER THAT BECAUSE THOSE CAMPS, PREEXIST, PROP B, THEY PREEXIST THAT ACTION.
THE COUNCIL TOOK TWO YEARS AGO.
UH, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, UH, THAT, UH, I WAS ENCOURAGED TO SEE AT A, AT A BRIEFING ON HOMELESSNESS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE STARTING HERE PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES SOMETIME WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS GOTTEN TOGETHER.
THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE CHAMBER, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE TO ACTUALLY PUT THE RESOURCES TO A, A, AN OPERATIONAL PLAN TO GET 3000 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE GET THEM INTO HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED TO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
[02:10:01]
THERE ARE 3000 HOMELESS IN THE CITY.ANYONE WHO WORKS WITH THE HOMELESS KNOWS THERE ARE 7,500 TO 10,000 IN THE CITY.
OUR COMMUNITY DID WORK AND HAD THIS PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL.
AND THEY BURGEON AFTER THE CA CAMPING ORDINANCE OR THE CAMPING WAS ALLOWED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR WHICH THIS BODY IS ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX.
THE, AND I HEAR YOU, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL CREATED ANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THEM, BUT THEY WERE HERE.
WE DID, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T CREATE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THEM OFF.
BUT IF YOU'RE HEARING FROM A POLICE OFFICER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DO THEIR DUTY AND ENFORCE OUR LAWS, CHIEF, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR BADGE NUMBER.
AND IF SOMEBODY IN THE LEGAL STAFF IS, IS IMPROPERLY TELLING THEM THAT, SO THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH BAD INFORMATION, THEN WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM SO THAT WE CAN FIX IT.
SO YOUR HELP AND FIXING THAT WOULD BE, WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
I DON'T HAVE A COMPOUND QUESTION FOR THEM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, UH, I GREW UP IN THIS CITY AND I'VE BEEN HERE AT 71 YEARS AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN HOMELESS IN THIS CITY.
THEY USED TO BE AT POPULATED RIGHT THERE ON THIS RIVER HERE, BEFORE WE BUILT A LAKE AND WE USED TO CALL IT A HOBO TOWN.
AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED IT ALL ALONG OUR CREEKS.
THEY WERE ALWAYS, HISTORICALLY, THERE WAS ALWAYS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHERE WE'RE DOING A CATCH-UP JOB RIGHT NOW.
BUT I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS ON MY CAMERA THAT I TOOK WHEN I WENT DOWN INTO THOSE SITES AND SAW THE TRASH THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATING IN OUR CREEKS AND OUR RIVERS BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN OUR WETLANDS, DERON MONTOPOLIS.
IT WAS, I MEAN, IT JUST IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE, WE, UH, WE TRIED ONE THING ABOUT GETTING HIM OUT IN THE OPEN SO WE COULD CLEAN UP THE TRASH.
SO IT WOULD BE JUST WASHING AWAY INTO OUR RIVERS AND IN OUR CREEKS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE COVID CAME AND WE COULDN'T ADDRESS ANY OF THIS ISSUES, YOU KNOW, AND WHERE A YEAR WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
IF PEOPLE DIDN'T NOT WANT TO GO INTO THOSE LOCATIONS AND THEY CLEANED IT UP.
NOW, IF THE APD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ENFORCEMENT LAW, THEY SHOULD JUST COME AND TELL US ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME, EVERY TIME THERE THERE'S, UH, AND, AND WE GET A FEEDBACK THAT THESE OFFICERS, BUT WE TRY TO FIND OUT WHO ARE, THESE OFFICERS ARE SAYING THAT TO, TO, TO THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY CALL THEM SO THAT WE CAN CORRECT THAT ISSUE.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS ON THIS FOREST THAT IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE A POLICE OFFICER.
IF THEY CAN'T NOT DO THEIR JOB, WE GOT THE HIGHEST PAID POLICE OFFICERS IN THE STATE, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND IF THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB AND THEY DON'T BELONG HERE.
SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US, UH, TODAY.
UH, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND IN CONVERSATIONS THAT I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALL HAD WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, UH, YOU KNOW, MY BELIEF IS, IS THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE IN FACT ENFORCING OUR LAWS AND ARE IN FACT DOING THEIR DUTY.
AND I DON'T WANT TO CREATE AN IMPRESSION OFF OF THIS, THAT, THAT, THAT EITHER I OR ANYONE ON HERE DOESN'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.
BUT IF THERE IS A ROGUE OFFICER OR A ROGUE CITY ATTORNEY OR SOMEBODY, WE JUST NEED TO FIND IT AND WE CAN END DEAL WITH IT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE THING, I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND TALKING WITH US.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU NEED TO HELP WITH.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HEARING YOU.
AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ARE, AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, RUBIN RIVERA, CLEMENTE, MAYOR ADLER.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT I REALLY HATE BEING HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE POLICE OVER A DECADE
[02:15:01]
AND A HALF, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP HIM FROM HARASSING ME LAST MONTH.PLEASE LOOK AT ME WHAT, I'M, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT YOU.
I WAS LOOKING AT IT FOR AN HOUR, BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE AN IMPRESSION OF THIS.
THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT THIS, BECAUSE IT AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD AN HOUR.
THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE I SAID, JUST IMAGINE WHAT THESE MEN WENT THROUGH DURING THOSE TIMES, HOW MUCH SUFFERING HE WENT THROUGH.
WELL, I'M GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH THE POLICE, FROM THE CRIME UNIT.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY CALLED COMMANDER JASON BROWN, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE OR NOT.
AND I HATE THE ONES THAT I CALL HERE.
WHETHER YOU GOT A MESSAGE ON YOUR PHONE THAT SAYS, IF YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME AND NUMBER, WE'LL GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
AND CITY MANAGER, I GAVE YOU SEVERAL CALLS BECAUSE OF THE HARASSMENT I RECEIVED FOR THIS LONG.
I'M ACTUALLY STARTED CALLING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, DIVISION, SPECIAL LITIGATION.
AND I, IT, I DIDN'T GET STARTED THAT I DID THAT YEARS AGO, BUT I'M STARTING AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO ENJOY LIFE WITH MY GRANDKIDS.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE A YOUNG MAN THREATENING ME.
AND I REFUSE TO LAY DOWN AND GET WALKED ON BY POLICE THIS MONDAY, I CONFRONTED THE POLICE AND I ASKED FOR HIS NAME, HIS BED.
YOU KNOW WHAT I GOT FOR HIM? A SMART, A SMILE.
THIS IS, THIS IS I'M TIRED, MAN.
YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT OVER THE POLICE, YOU STILL HERE.
I WAS THERE BOTH DAYS OF THE THREE FINAL CANDIDATES FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.
AND THE SECOND DAY, IF YOU WOULD'VE SAW IT, I GAVE CHIEF CHARCOAL A LETTER.
WELL, NOW THE CHIEF AND I TOLD HIM THIS LETTER THAT I WROTE, I'M WILLING TO SAY IT UNDER OATH.
WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP? WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP? I'M TIRED.
NOW, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT MY SON WENT THROUGH.
AND MY GRANDSON WAS SHOT IN JANUARY 24.
AND WE USED TO POLICE TOLD MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, WELL, WE HAVE SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT TO WEAR MY SON.
AND THEN PFLUGERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID A COURTESY REPORT.
THIS IS NOT POLICING, AND THERE'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
AND YOU GUYS NEED TO GET ON IT.
AND I JUST SET TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY CALLED CHUCK HOME, HIS NUMBER, JANET, HIS SECRETARY, AND I CONGRATULATE HIM FOR BEING A JOB.
BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN, I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I HOPE HE DOES SUCCEED IN TRYING TO GET THIS THING STRAIGHT.
THANK YOU, BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE TRUST IN THE POLICE.
THANK YOU, ANGELA AND VNS, GARZA, UH, MAYOR AND CITY LEADERS.
MISS ALL OF YOU, IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO YEARS SINCE SPEAKING UP HERE, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE MADE IT THROUGH WORLD WAR THREE IN OUR CITY LOSING SO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND WE WANT TO THINK SO MANY PEOPLE THAT REALLY STOOD AT NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, VANESSA, WHEN THE, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH US AND HELPING KEEP OUR HEADS UP ALL THROUGH ALL THIS PAIN THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
WE HAVE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT ARE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN WE SEND A MESSAGE AS A COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO DECLINE PETITIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'VE TAKEN A SAINT SPIRIT FROM VANESSA POINT DEZ TO LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITIES, THE SAME SPIRIT TO LISTEN TO DEVELOPERS.
WE HAD THE LISTENING SESSIONS WITH EACH SEPARATELY.
AND WHEN WE SEND THAT MESSAGE TO THEM, THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUR MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM OR CITY LEADERS BEHIND THERE, THEY COME IN WITH AN ARROGANCE ON UNFORTUNATELY TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT THEY CAN DO PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY WANT.
AND WE'RE ASKING THAT WE HAVE THAT SUPPORT GOING FORWARD, THAT YOU WILL TRUST OUR CONTACT TEAMS. YOU WOULD TRUST US TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE, NEW INFORMATION THAT WE'RE DOING SO MUCH WORK ON THE GROUND TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
OUR CONTACT TEAM OF FIVE NOW HAS BEEN DOING SO MUCH INCREDIBLE WORK FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, NOT TAKING A DAY OFF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET THESE CORRECT MESSAGES TO YOU.
THE OTHER THING IS NO ONE IS AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE NOT, IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
[02:20:02]
AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE'S TAPPING INTO A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THERE TO PROVIDE MORE REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT FOR A REASON TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON THAT.SO MY, MY OTHER THING ALSO, WE HAVE A FEW ASK AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY, THANK YOU.
A FEW ASKS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR US THAT WE HAVE A PRINTER IN EAST AUSTIN SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR CITY LEADERS.
AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN TO PRINT ITEMS. AND YOU CAN PUT A CODE IN TO, TO, TO BUDGET THAT AND MONITOR THAT AS WELL AS WE'RE USING IT.
ANOTHER ASK THAT WE ASK AGAIN IS TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEAM.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING COMING UP WITH MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOWARD, BEAUTIFYING EAST AUSTIN.
HOW WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT AS WELL.
AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE DON'T EXPECT YOU TO DO IT ALL.
WE HAVE THAT MEETING COMING UP AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW TO BUILD A MORE UNITED FRONT TOGETHER AS WELL AS WE ALL WORK ON THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON TO GET OUR HOMELESS OUT OF THE STREETS AS WELL.
ANOTHER THING WE'RE WORKING ON REMOVE THE HOST CELL SCIENCE HOMES FOR CASH.
WE DID A RESPECTABLE TOUR OF WEST AUSTIN.
NO SIGNS ARE NOT THERE ANYWHERE.
WE DON'T WANT THOSE IN OUR STREETS.
WE DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE BELIEVING THEY CAN BUY OUR AREA FOR CHEAP.
WE DON'T WANT OUR PEOPLE BEING HUNTED AS WELL.
SO WE'RE ASKING SCIENCE TO GO UP LEGENDS LIVE HERE IN STEAD.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET SOCIAL CONSCIOUS SIGNS AND SET.
YOU CAN FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, OKAY? SOCIAL CONSCIOUS SCIENCE INSTEAD, WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP IF YOU'RE HOMELESS OR YOU NEED HOUSING, OR YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AS WELL.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION REAL QUICK, THE PRINTER.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? I'M TRYING TO, SO WE FOUND OUT ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, TONYA NIXON WAS WITH US AND EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, WE'RE OUT THERE WITH HER COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.
AND ONE OF THE LADIES SAT THERE WITH US AND LET US KNOW IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO HAVE A PRINTER ON HIS SIDE.
SO LIKE WHEN Y'ALL NEED US TO HELP LIKE PROPOSITION A OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN PRINT THOSE THINGS AND GET THEM OUT, OR YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT.
LIKE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS SOMETHING TO GO OUT, OR WE NEED TO DELIVER SOMETHING TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY JUST WANT AN AREA TO BE ABLE TO GO, TO BE ABLE TO PRINT THAT STUFF.
SO THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR THAT TO PRINT ALL THAT OUT.
BECAUSE I WAS THINKING OUTSIDE OF LIBRARIES, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS, LIKE I TEND TO THINK OF WHAT RESOURCES IT IS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT NEED TO DELIVER ALL THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING COSTS FOR THEM OUT THERE AS WELL.
SO I THINK WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL SEND IT TO YOU, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE MULTIPLE WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS SEND OUT RESOURCES FOR THOSE KINDS OF ASKS, BUT IT, IT OCCURRED TO ME WHEN YOU SAID THAT, THAT WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS, UM, COMMISSION.
I WONDER IF THAT'S A QUESTION TO PUT BEFORE THEM TO SEE IF THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS, MANUFACTURERS, ET CETERA, IN OUR INNOVATIVE CITY THAT MIGHT WANT TO, YOU KNOW, OFFER SPONSORSHIP OF PRINTERS TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WOULD BE AWESOME.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA, NATASHA, AS A QUICK THOUGHT, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE IN TOUCH.
UH, RAFAEL SANCHEZ SANCHEZ HERE.
I THINK OUR LAST SPEAKER IS SALLY HOWARD, MAYBE ON THE PHONE.
IT'S OUR, ONE OF THE TOP PILLARS OF THEMES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT 50% OF THE TEAMS THAT DIED EACH YEAR, OUR PASSENGER ATTAINED DRIVERS LAST YEAR IN AUSTIN, ALMOST 1000 TEEN DRIVERS WERE INVOLVED IN AUTO COLLISION AND SADLY NINE WERE KILLED GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGERS, CITIZENS, AND WELCOME TO NATIONAL TEEN DRIVERS SAFETY WEEK.
MY NAME IS SALLY THAT WILL YELLOW HOWARD AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU FOR OVER 25 YEARS, WHICH TELLS YOU THAT I DO HAVE A PASSION FOR YOU.
I AM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND HAVE MOSTLY WORKED WITH HIGH RISK TEAMS AS A PUBLIC SERVANT BY WORK NEEDS WITH YOUTH AND INDIVIDUAL GROUP COUNSELING, FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA.
SO BELIEVE ME, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I HEARD THAT CAR CRASHES WERE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF TEENS AND THAT CAR CRASHES ARE 100% PREVENTABLE.
I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU SAID YOU AND MEMBERS OF OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WOULD JOIN ME AND OTHER SAFETY PARTNERS TO TAKE THE TIME THIS WEEK TO TALK TO OUR TEAMS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD.
DON'T DRIVE IMPAIRED, DROWSY, OR DISTRACTED, PUT AWAY ALL HANDHELD DEVICES, BOTH EVERY TRIP, EVERY TIME AND EVERYONE EYES ON THE ROAD, HANDS ON THE WHEEL, OBEY I'LL POST IT.
[02:25:01]
THESE LIMITS AND LIMITS PASSENGERS.PARENTS STUDY SHOWED THAT YOU HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TEAMS DRIVING.
SO MODEL TO DRIVING BEHAVIOR, THEY ARE WATCHING DEVELOP DRIVING CONTRACTS WITH YOUR INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE WITH THEM.
EVEN AFTER THEY EARNED A PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE ALONE BECAUSE STUDIES SHOW THAT MOST CAR CRASHES OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THEY EARNED THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
AND LET'S TEACH OUR TEAMS HOW TO SPEAK UP FOR SAFETY.
WHEN THEIR PASSENGERS ARE RECKLESS AND DISTRACTED DRIVERS OF ANY AGES.
I END MY COMMENTS BY CODING LOGAN MARKHAM.
SHE'S A 10TH GRADER HERE AT ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN YOUTH COUNCIL IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.
SHE SAYS CAR CRASHES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENS IN AMERICA, AS SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED DRIVING THE FACT THAT 11 TEENS DIE EVERY DAY DUE TO CAR CRASHES REALLY FREAKED ME OUT.
HOWEVER, CRASHES ARE PREVENTABLE.
CLARK HATCHES DON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT TEAMS ARE DOING BAD THINGS IN THE CAR.
IT HAPPENED WHEN THIS TEAM EVEN A GOOD DRIVER IN GENERAL, DOESN'T HAVE OTHER FOCUS ON THE ROAD FOR ME, MY FAMILY, AND ON THE NEW DRIVERS OUT THERE.
PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON THE ROAD.
KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THE ROAD AND BE MINDFUL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME COLLEAGUES.
UH, IT IS, UH, 10 MINUTES TILL ONE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG A LUNCH YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE TAKING IF WE WERE GOING TO TAKE AN HOUR FOR LUNCH.
AND I THINK THE SCHEDULE WOULD PERMIT THAT, UH, WE COULD COME BACK AT 10 MINUTES TO TWO.
AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION JUST BEFORE TWO O'CLOCK THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE TAKE THAT WE DO THE SPEAKERS AT THAT POINT ARE ZODY.
THERE ARE LIKE EIGHT OF THEM NOT DISCUSS ANY ZONING CASES, BUT LET'S HEAR THE SPEAKERS AT TWO O'CLOCK, RATHER THAN ASKING THEM TO WAIT FOR 45 MINUTES, THAT WE'LL DO HOMELESSNESS FOR AN HOUR.
WE'LL COME BACK AND DO THE ZONING, WHICH I THINK KIDS JUST ONE DISCUSSION I HAD WITH THAT, THAT WE'LL DO THE CRAWL BRIEFING.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE BALANCE OF OUR WORK THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
WE'LL COME BACK HERE AT 10 MINUTES TO, TO AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, SPEAKERS TO HOMELESSNESS BRIEFING.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE TODAY ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2021.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN, UH, BY RECESSING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND OPENING UP THE AUSTIN HOUSING
[Austin Housing Finance Corporation]
FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING TODAY IS OCTOBER 21ST, 2021.UH, WE ARE MEETING AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE AT CITY HALL.
WE HAVE A QUORUM, UH, PRESENT ON THE DAS.
UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU MANAGER.
WE HAVE A NOTE THAT THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MIGHT HAVE.
NUMBER THREE IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH, WITH ITEM SIX, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS REPLACED, UH, WITH, UH, UH, ADDENDUM ITEM 40 DON'T KNOW THIS THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THERE, BUT WE DO HAVE THREE, UH, LATE BACKUP ITEMS. UH, UM, ITEM THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE.
YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? JAMIE MAY IS GOING TO DO THAT FOR YOU THERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AMERICAN AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
I'M THE ACTING HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, YOU DO HAVE FIVE ITEMS BEFORE YOU ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
UH, TWO OF WHICH, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO AND SIX, UH, CONCERN ACCEPTANCE OF, UH, $23 MILLION FROM THE, UH, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION, UM, SORRY, UH, $23 MILLION FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, UH, THAT IS TO AMANDA, OUR BUDGET AND TO AMANDA, OUR, UH, OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, THE OTHER TWO, TWO OTHER ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA, UH, ARE BOTH FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, ONE IS AT 2200 GROVE BOULEVARD.
THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY AUSTIN.
ENERGY HAS APPROXIMATELY 18 AND A HALF ACRES.
UH, THE SECOND PROPERTY IS AT 4 0 0 3 CONVICT HILL ROAD.
UH, IT'S APPROXIMATELY TWO AND THREE QUARTER ACRES.
UH, AND THIS CONVICT HILL ROAD PARCELS WILL BE PART OF AN ASSEMBLAGE.
[02:30:01]
PROPERTIES WILL BE, UH, ISSUE.UH, WE WILL ISSUE A, UM, UH, RFPS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THESE PROPERTIES INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, WE OFFER ALL FIVE OF THESE ITEMS ON CONSENT AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO THE ITEMS AREN'T CONSENT BOTTOM LINE, OR WHICH NUMBERS? SORRY? UH, 1, 2, 1 THROUGH TWO, EXCUSE ME.
1, 3, 4, 5, AND 6 1 3 0 1, 2, 5 AND 6 1 2, 4, 5, AND SIX ON THE ADDENDUM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT WAS WHERE I PULLED, MAKES THE THERE A SECOND THAT'S OVER KELLY SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE KIDS HAD THE AGENDA.
THOSE OPPOSED EVERYONE ON THE DYES, EXCEPT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR.
THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS VOTING.
AND, UH, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ON THE SCREEN.
SHE'S STILL VERY MUCH WITH US.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE, ARE DOING WITH THAT.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, HERE AT, UH, 2 0 8 AND AT 2 0 8,
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2021 AUSTIN CITY HALL.WE HAVE A QUARTER AND PRESENT COLLEAGUES.
UH, I WANT TO GET TO THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE, BUT BEFORE WE DO SPEAKERS, I'M GOING TO HAVE JERRY GO THROUGH THE AGENDA FOR US BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT SPEAKERS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR IS BEING POSTPONED.
SO, UM, UH, I THINK IT COULD EASILY BE THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE SPEAKERS MIGHT CHOOSE NOT TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE POSTPONED.
UH, SO JERRY, YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE, UH, UH, CONSENT, UH, AGENDA? SURE.
MAYOR JERRY REST OVER WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRST ITEM I CAN OFFER FOR CONSENT IS ITEM NUMBER 32, UM, KC 14, 2020 1 0 1 26.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS.
I DIDN'T NUMBER 33 IS KC 14, 2020 1 0 0 81.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL.
ON FIRST READING ON THIS CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST READING MOTION INCLUDES THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDED THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WERE LISTED IN A LETTER THAT'S IN THE BACKUP BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBOR ASSOCIATION.
AND WE'LL BE INCORPORATING THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO INTO A, THE ORDINANCE.
WHEN WE COME BACK FOR A SECOND AND THIRD READING AND NUMBER 34 IS CASEY 14, 2020 100,108.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM, NUMBER 35, I COULD SEE 14, 2021 DOUBLE ZERO 40.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 36, THIS CASE MPA 2020 1 0 0 26 0.01.
THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO NOVEMBER.
I'M SORRY, BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO NOVEMBER 4TH, THE AFRICANS NOT OPPOSED RELATED CASES.
I DIDN'T 37 CASEY 14, 2020 1 0 0 39.
ALSO POSTPONED REQUESTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TWO TO NOVEMBER 4TH, ITEM NUMBER 38 IS CASEY 14, 2001 0 1 43.
THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO NOVEMBER 18TH.
ITEM NUMBER 39 IS K C 14, 2020 1 0 0 59.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, I'VE NUMBER 40 IT'S K C 14, 2020 1 0 0 0 9.
THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO NOVEMBER 4TH.
I DIDN'T NUMBER 41 IS CASEY 14 H 2020 1 0 0 57.
UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO NOVEMBER 4TH.
ITEM NUMBER 51 IS C 14, 2020 1 0 0 30.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MADISON WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO DECEMBER 2ND, UH, TO GO WITH THE ACTION Y'ALL TOOK EARLIER ON THE, UH, RELATED PUBLIC HEARING.
AND ANOTHER ITEM RELATED TO THAT SAME PUBLIC HEARING IS ITEM NUMBER 52, KC 14, 2020 1 0 0 37.
THIS IS ALSO A POSTPONE REQUEST BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER, MADISON TO DECEMBER 2ND.
AND FINALLY, ITEM NUMBER 53 CASE HDR, 2020 1 0 8 5 7 3 1 AND HR 2020 1 0 8 5 7 3 9.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE OR CONSENT APPROVAL THAT CONCLUDES THE, UH, ZONING AGENDA MAYOR.
[02:35:01]
ITEM 35 AS CURRENTLY ON CONSENT.HAVE WE, UM, RECEIVED THE RC YET FOR THIS ITEM, FOR WHICH, WHICH, WHICH WAS THE CROZIER LANES, ZONING ITEM, NUMBER 35 HAS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BEEN SUBMITTED? UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK REAL QUICK.
UM, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD ONLY APPROVE HAVE THIS ON CONSENT FOR FIRST READING ONLY.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT LET'S LET'S MAKE SURE WE DO NOT PASS IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET'S GIVE HIM THE AIDS SPEAKER SPEAKING TO SEE IF HE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
UM, SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS 32 THROUGH 53.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE CHECKING ON ITEM 35 HERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE, UH, SPEAKERS LET'S NOTE FOR THE SPEAKERS THAT THAT PRETTY MUCH THE CASE IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR, UH, HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, POSTPONE OR ON CONSENT ITEM 32 FOR EXAMPLES, CONSENT PASSAGE, UH, AND, UH, ITEM 51, UH, IS BEING POSTPONED.
BUT LET ME CALL THE SPEAKERS TO SEE IF PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE TO, I THINK THAT OUR IN PERSON, UH, MR. HUGHES, SAM HUGHES, ARE YOU HERE? NO, YOU WERE GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 32.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON CONSENT TO PASS ANYHOW.
AND YOU WERE FOR IT, ERIC STANDRIDGE ITEM NUMBER 51, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S POSTPONE THE CASE STANDRIDGE HERE.
ANYBODY ELSE PRESENT HERE THAT THINKS THEY SIGNED UP FOR A ZONING CASE, HEARING NON MURDER.
YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE FOLKS THAT HAVE CALLED IN? SURE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
NOT TOTALLY PREPARED, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON.
MARIN COUNCIL, I'M MONICA GUZMAN, NATIVE AUSTINITE DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT EASTERN CRESCENT, RIGHT TO STAY COALITION MEMBER AND HOUSING ADVOCATES SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 36 AND 37.
I HAVE TIES TO THE RUNDBERG COMMUNITY GOING BACK 30 YEARS, I GRADUATED FROM LINEAR HIGH SCHOOL.
I LIVED IN THE NORTH LAMAR NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE NINETIES, AS WELL AS DURING THEM.
NOT FAR FROM THE LOTS IN QUESTION, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WITHIN HALF A MILE OF THE BROWNIE GRADE INTERSECTION ARE VULNERABLE, LOW INCOME AND NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING HOMEOWNERS AND TENANTS.
I WANT TO SHARE TWO STATEMENTS.
I SENT THE COUNCIL OF THREE YEARS AGO ONLY BECAUSE SADLY IT IS STILL VERY MUCH APPLICABLE TODAY.
ONE AS MAYOR ADLER POSTED ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD QUOTE AUSTIN'S BIGGEST CHALLENGES SUCH AS INCREASED UNAFFORDABILITY, DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION.
SO LETTING IN TRAFFIC OR GETTING WORSE, UNQUOTE YOU'RE RIGHT.
THEY ARE COUNSELORS FOCUS SHOULD BE ON ADDRESSING THOSE CHALLENGES TOO.
ANOTHER QUOTE FROM THE MAYOR WE MUST DELIVER FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR CITY'S FUTURE UNFOLD.
BOTH OF THOSE STATEMENTS ORIGINALLY REFERENCED CODEX AND THE SOCCER STADIUM.
BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY ARE STILL APPLICABLE TODAY.
EVERY PARK ROAD RESIDENTS, ET CETERA, WHICH IS BUILT REHAB RENOVATED ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IN ACTION.
WE KNOW HOW THE DWAYNE DEVELOPMENT CODE HAS LED TO DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS, VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, GENTRIFYING WELL-ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.
I ASKED YOU TO DELIVER FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND OFTEN FUTURE BY DENYING THE DEVELOPERS REQUESTS OFTEN IS EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS, SPECIFICALLY A CRISIS REGARDING LACK OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
BUILDING CONDOS IN A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ANSWER.
YOUR GENTRIFICATION, YOUR APPROVAL.
WE'LL PULL THE GENTRIFICATION LEVEL.
UH, UH, JUST TO NOTE ITEMS, 36 AND 37 ARE BEING POSTPONED AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ERIC JANSSEN.
I LIVE AT 1511 EAST 13TH STREET.
UH, AND I WAS SPEAKING, I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 52 ON THE AGENDA, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN POSTPONED.
THAT'LL BE HERE AND YOU ARE HERE.
[02:40:01]
RIGHT FIRST I'M SORRY.I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD FOR THEIR WORK OR THE PAST FEW YEARS TO STREAMLINE AND ALIGN THE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, AS A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHOSE PROPERTY IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE NCCD, SUBSECTION TWO, I'D ASKED THE COUNCIL NOT TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHTS VIA A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER MEANS OR GRANT UNLIMITED FLOOR AREA RATIO.
UM, ON LOTS WHERE CURRENTLY THE FAR IS OTHERWISE SET BY BASE ZONING OR NCCD PROVISION, UM, SPEAK AS A RESIDENT.
MANY OF US IN THE AREA HAVE ALREADY GIVEN IN THE INTEREST OF INCREASED DENSITY TO AUSTIN.
WE BELIEVE INCREASED DENSITY AND THE NCCD REPRESENTED THE NEIGHBORHOODS, A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT INCREASED DENSITY IN THESE AREAS.
UM, SO FURTHER INCREASES TO THAT.
DENSITY WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DAMAGE THE RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
MANY OF US ARE ALREADY CONCERNED THAT THE EXISTING DENSITY PROHIBIT, UH, PERMITTED UNDER THE NCCD IS ALREADY GOING TO STRESS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY FURTHER.
THE CURRENT WORK, UM, OF GETTING TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF COMMUNITY NEGOTIATION AND CAUSE RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF, INNUMERABLE WORRIES AND HEADACHES OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD, WE ARE SOMEWHAT WEARY OF HAVING TO STAND UP AND WORK SO HARD TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF RNG GROUP.
UH, THANK YOU, CARMEN, YANNIS BELIEVABLE.
THANK YOU, UH, MIRROR MIRROR PRO TIME AND COUNSEL.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIRMATION THAT ITEM 36 AND 37 HAVE BEEN POSTPONED, UM, SINCE, UH, ALREADY STRUGGLED WITH THE LINE.
I'LL JUST, I'M HERE TO SAY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS KIND OF NOTING, WHICH I THINK WE'LL LOSE CARMEN, SHE'S ON THE LINE.
WE, I WILL DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT.
UM, SO I'LL JUST QUICKLY SAY, I THINK THIS IS A, A TYPE OF SPOT ZONING.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, UM, AN INEQUITABLE PROPOSAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE ISSUES THAT THESE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES ALONG THE NORTH LAMAR HAVE FACED FOR SO LONG.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE, UM, OPEN TO GIVING PLENTY ON THESE CORRIDORS AND MANAGING GROWTH IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
LIKE YOU'RE HEARING FROM LOTS OF CONCERNED NEIGHBORHOODS WHO DO PARTICIPATE, NEIGHBORS WHO PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, HOW TO MANAGE THAT GROWTH ON MARGINS AND NODES.
UM, BUT I DO THINK COMING INTO THIS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THIS LEVEL OF HOUSING, WHICH REALLY IS NOT ADDING TO THE STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA, UM, IS POTENTIALLY A MISTAKE.
SO APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL TIME BEING GIVEN.
THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE, UM, IN ORDER TO PROTECT, UH, AS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, PLANS THAT WERE, UM, ENGAGING PEOPLE FOR THOUSANDS OF HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
SO, UM, PLEASE CONSIDER EQUITY, UM, IN THIS DECISION WHEN IT DOES COME TO YOU.
UH, JERRY, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER YET ON ITEM 35? SURE.
MAYOR CUSTOMER APPRENTICE, OR IS THAT A PUBLIC COVENANT RESTRICTED COVENANT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CASE? UM, WE DO HAVE A RATHER LENGTHY CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, THE PROHIBITS, UH, MANY USES AND ALSO ESTABLISHES THE COMPATIBILITY APPLIES ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE ADJACENT TO THE MOBILE HOMES, BUT THERE IS NOT A PUBLIC RESTRICTED COVENANT.
YOU MAY BE THINKING OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
UM, NO, THERE WAS, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION OF AN RS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
SO IF IT'S OKAY, COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO JUST KEEP THIS ON, ON CONSENT JUST FOR FIRST READING.
DID ANYBODY HAVE AN OBJECTION TO MOVING THIS TO FIRST READING, HEARING NONE 35 OB FIRST READING AND STAY ON CONSENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA I ASKED FOR THIS YET? I DON'T THINK SO.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR A CONSENT AND COUNCIL OVER KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER KELLY SECONDS AND HE'S DISCUSSION.
THOSE ARE, IF EVERYBODY'S RAISED YOUR HAND, AS OPPOSED TO NONE OF US ON THE DICE WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS ARE OFF THE DEUS.
[02:45:01]
ALL RIGHT.LET'S DO THE HOMELESSNESS BRIEFING.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL, UH, UH, RECONNOITER ON WHAT IT IS THAT HAPPENS.
I'M SHOWING THAT IN FACT, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS, JUST WHILE WE HAVE JURY HERE, ITEM NUMBER 50
[50. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting the twelfth modification to the Urban Renewal Plan for the East 11th and 12th Streets Urban Renewal Area to align with proposed amendments to the East 11th and 12th Stteet Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts. Related to Items 51 and 52.]
WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.WE NOTED CHANGES AND CORRECTION THAT BEING POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 2ND.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO A PROPOSAL TO POSTPONING THAT HEARING NONE ITEM NUMBER 50 IS POSTPONED.
ALL RIGHT, WHEN WE WERE THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEFT, WHEN WE, WE, AFTER THIS BRIEFING COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE, UH, ITEM 20 AND 19, WHICH ARE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION AND THE, UH, PARK OPERATIONS, UH, ISSUE.
WE HAVE THE AUSTIN, UH, AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE BRINGING US THE BYLAWS TO THE ANIMAL, UH, COMMISSION.
WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SOBRIETY CENTER AND CENTRAL HEALTH APPOINTMENT.
NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR EITHER OF THOSE TWO THINGS, THAT'S ITEMS 48 AND 49.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE CROLL, UH, UH, BRIEFING.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE LEFT ON OUR SCHEDULE BECAUSE OUR TBA MIRO IS GOING TO SUGGEST I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I THINK 48 AND 49 FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE ARE, ARE RELATIVELY EASY ONES, UNLESS THERE'S MUCH DISCUSSION.
AND I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE DONE.
AND THEN ALSO I WANTED TO MAKE THE REQUEST THAT AFTER THE, AFTER THE HOMELESSNESS BRIEFING AND BEFORE WE GET TO THE CROLL BRIEFING, IF WE COULD TAKE UP THE PARKLAND 19 OR 20, IS THAT OKAY WITH THE MANAGER? YEP.
BUT IF, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I
[Items 48 & 49]
WOULD, UM, I'D BE PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR 48 AND 49.I SAID PUBLIC HEARING AND I WAS WRONG.
THOSE ARE JUST COMMITTEE REPORTS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MOVES PASSAGE OF ITEMS, 48 AND 49 REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE.
THAT'S A SOBRIETY CENTER APPOINTMENT AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH APPOINTMENT IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? COUNCILMAN WENT, THE SECOND SET AND THE DISCUSSION WAS IN FAVOR OF ITEMS, 40 AND 4,000.
SHE MANIFESTS ON THE DESK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES CARE OF 48 AND 49,
[29. Approve amendments to the bylaws of the Animal Advisory Commission. (Part 1 of 2)]
AS WELL AS TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMAL COMMISSION RATHER THAN NUMBER 29 COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER EGGS.THE EMOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 29.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, SECOND SIDE.
YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND I WAS WONDERING IF I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE NOW? YES.
DO WE HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE FOR ITEM 29? I'M SORRY, I HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE.
LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR 29, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
NO, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
I JUST HAD THE WRONG NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
DO THE HOMELESSNESS, UH, BRIEFING AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
DIDN'T MEAN TO LOSE YOU DIANA.
[47. Homelessness Briefing]
MAYOR AND COUNCIL.UH, AS YOU NOTED, WE, BECAUSE OF THE CANCEL THE WORK SESSION, WE HAVE TWO BRIEFINGS FOR YOU TODAY, UH, DURING OUR COUNCIL MEETING AND THE FIRST WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, A HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM INVESTMENTS, AND THAT WILL BE DONE BY OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY.
A WELCOME TO ANA THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I DID WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMENT ON THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION THAT YOU HEARD, UH, JUST AN HOUR OR SO AGO REGARDING COUNTRY CLUB CREEK, UH, ABOUT THE VERY CONCERNING CONDITIONS THERE.
SO, UH, STAFF IS AWARE OF IT LAST WEEK.
UM, HOMELESS STRATEGY DIVISION, ACM, HAYDEN HOWARD PAR DIRECTOR MCNEELY, AND THE APD REPS MET ABOUT THE SITE AND DISCUSSED IT.
WE KNOW THAT APD AND PART HAVE WALKED THE SITE, UH, WITH, UH, I BELIEVE WITH THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBOR, BUT WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS POTENTIALLY AS WELL, AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ADDRESS IT.
UH, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH A DOZEN OR SO DEPARTMENTS THAT TOUCH THE MANY ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS OUR CITY AND ARE, HAVE, UH, ASKED OPM THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT TO COME IN AND HELP US DEVELOP A WORKFLOW AND A PROTOCOL FOR REALLY, UH, IDENTIFYING THESE SITES, UH, BEFORE THEY GET TO THIS POINT AND THIS LEVEL OF CONCERN, UH, AT THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE SERVICES, UH, IDEALLY, UH, IN A MORE ORDERLY AND TIMELY FASHION TODAY.
HOWEVER, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UH, UH, THE, THE SPENDING PLAN FOR
[02:50:01]
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AROUND HOMELESSNESS WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED THE ARPA SPENDING FRAMEWORK IN JUNE, UH, AND SET ASIDE A TOTAL OF $106.7 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.THEY ASKED FOR A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL POINTS OF INFORMATION AND REPORT BACK BEFORE WE PASSED A CERTAIN THRESHOLD OF, OF SPENDING.
AND SO TODAY WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE, UM, SEVERAL OF THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION TO YOU, INCLUDING A DETAILED INVESTMENT PLAN RELATED TO THE OVERALL SUMMIT EFFORT.
UH, AND, UM, AN UPDATE YOU ASKED ALSO FOR AN UPDATE ON FUNDRAISING AND GOVERNANCE FROM THE LEADERS OF THE SUMMIT TO ADDRESS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HAS BEEN DECEASED, UH, RECEIVED, UH, TODAY, UH, BY ACM HAYDEN HOWARD.
AND WE WILL BE FORWARDING THAT TO COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES, UH, IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO WE WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU HAVE ASKED US TO DO AROUND THE EXPENDITURE AND INVESTMENT OF THESE FUNDS, AND THEN GIVING A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR BREAKDOWN OF HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES WITHIN OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AT A HIGH LEVEL.
I THINK THE TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT IN JUNE, WE WERE AT ABOUT $222 MILLION COMMITTED OF AN OVERALL SUMMIT FUNDRAISING GOAL OR AN INVESTMENT NEEDED OF A 515.
AND TODAY WITH YOUR COMMITMENT, WE STAND AT APPROXIMATELY $400 MILLION, UH, AND THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING OUR SPENDING ACROSS A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES THAT WERE, WILL CATALYZE NEW SERVICES AND INCREASE IN SERVICES, UH, ACROSS THE CONTINUUM, BUT THAT STILL LEAVES ROOM FOR OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS, TO BRING US ALL THE WAY TO SCALE.
SO, AS A REMINDER, THE SUMMIT IS A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY WIDE PLAN, A PLANNING PROCESS THAT OCCURRED IN MARCH AND APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
THE CITY IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL PARTNERS, BUT WE ARE JUST ONE OF THE PARTNERS AT THE TABLE THERE, UH, AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OR WILL THIS DO IT ME? THANK YOU.
UH, THE, THE SUMMIT IS INTENDED TO REHOUSE PEOPLE OR STABILIZE THEM IN HOUSING.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT REHOUSING 3000 PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE THREE YEAR WINDOW OF THE SUMMIT AND STABILIZING AN ADDITIONAL 2300 HOUSEHOLDS.
AND THROUGH THINGS LIKE PREVENTION OR LIGHT TOUCH ASSISTANCE THAT CAN HELP THEM, UH, EXIT HOMELESSNESS VERY QUICKLY AFTER THEY HAVE ENTERED IT, WE'RE ADDING TO OUR HOUSING CAPACITY.
UH, SO WE PROJECTED 1300 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS EXPLICITLY SET ASIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXITING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THEN WE WANT TO INVEST IN THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS BEING DONE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION, UH, UH, DEDICATED IN THE SUMMIT, UH, INVESTMENT PLAN TOWARD THAT SYSTEMIC INVESTMENT.
AND I SHOULD SAY FOR HOUSING CAPACITY ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, THAT IS THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE SUMMIT, UH, INVESTMENT PLAN AT 266 MILLION.
THAT IS OF COURSE, $266 MILLION THAT WILL SERVE THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT 30 TO 40 YEARS, LIFE OF THE UNITS THAT WE CREATE, UH, AND THAT THE DIRECT SERVICE PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS 218 MILLION.
SO THE GRAPH BEFORE YOU REPRESENTS BOTH THE ANTICIPATED INVESTMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE THREE YEARS OF THE SUMMIT AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE REHOUSED, UH, WHILE THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL SPENDING ACROSS ALL THREE YEARS, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE BLUE COLUMN, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL IS HEAVIEST IN YEARS IN ONE AND TWO, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT FROM THE TIME WE INVEST IN THOSE, UH, BRICKS AND MORTAR UNITS, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THEM TO HIT THE GROUND.
SO THAT INVESTMENT IS HAPPENING IN THE EARLY TWO YEARS, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE UNITS BECOME OPERATIONAL IN YEARS TWO AND THREE.
UH, ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOUSED IN A PARTICULAR YEAR PEAKS IN YEAR TWO AND THEN DECREASES.
WE ARE STILL IN A RAMP UP PERIOD.
UH, THE CITY HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT.
THE COUNTY HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT, BUT WE ARE STILL IN THAT PROCESS OF GETTING NEW DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR.
SO WE WILL SEE, UM, A GRADUAL INCREASE IN YEAR ONE.
AND THEN REALLY THE, THE BULK OF FOLKS HOUSED, UH, OR STABILIZE WILL BE SERVED IN YEARS TWO OR THREE.
SO THIS TABLE, UH, REPRESENTS SORT OF DISTILLS THE SUMMIT INVESTMENT PLAN OVERALL.
UH, IT SHOWS BOTH, UH, THE YEARS IN WHICH WE WOULD ANTICIPATE INVESTING DOLLARS ACROSS THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES,
[02:55:01]
UH, FIVE MAJOR CATEGORIES BEING CRISIS SERVICES, THAT'S SHELTER, DIVERSION STREET, OUTREACH, CORE HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHICH, UH, LARGELY CONSISTS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID REHOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND BENEFITS ENROLLMENT, UH, IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, AS WE JUST DISCUSSED.AND IN SYSTEM CAPACITY BUILDING IT ALSO LAYS OUT CORRESPONDINGLY.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED IN THOSE CORE HOUSING PROGRAMS, IN SOME CASES, IN TERMS OF THE OTHER SERVICES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DETAIL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
IT DEPENDS A LOT ON THE INTENSITY OF SERVICES THAT WE ELECT TO INVEST IN WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD ASKED US TO PROVIDE A DETAIL OF REALLY WHAT ARE THE MAIN INTERVENTIONS THAT WE INTEND TO INVEST IN THROUGH THIS EFFORT.
AND THIS SLIDE GIVES A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THOSE SERVICES.
UH, AND PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF THE, THE SERVICES THAT ARE IN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM SHOWS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UH, ONE IS THAT THE INTENSITY OF THE SERVICES AND THEREFORE THEIR COST VARIES QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, AND, AND THEREFORE, UH, THE COST PER PERSON CAN VARY SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, PEOPLE MAY RECEIVE SERVICES OVER THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE YEARS THROUGH THE EFFORT AND, AND PASSED THE TIMELINE OF THE EFFORT AND THEY MAY RECEIVE MULTIPLE SERVICES.
SO, AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU COULD HAVE SOMEONE WHO RECEIVED SERVICES, UH, IN HOUSING, OR EXCUSE ME, IN SHELTER, UH, AND, AND HAD OUTREACH SERVICES DELIVERED TO THEM.
BUT THEN EVENTUALLY WE WOULD INTEND FOR THEM TO MOVE INTO A PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM, UH, THAT WOULD BE SHOWN IN THIS CA CORE HOUSING PROGRAM CATEGORY.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK TO THIS, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDES, BUT IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO SPEAK, UH, SPEAK TO THOSE DIRECTLY AGAIN, OF THE $515 MILLION.
UM, THAT MAKES UP THE TOTAL INVESTMENT PLAN FOR THE SUMMIT IN JUNE, WE HAD ABOUT $222 MILLION THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT WAS EITHER ALREADY COMMITTED OR THAT WE WERE CO COULD CONFIDENTLY ANTICIPATE SECURING THROUGH ONGOING REVENUE, REVENUE STREAMS, UM, AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL.
UH, AS OF TODAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT 400 MILLION OR 78% OF THE TOTAL GOAL, UM, SECURED OR ANTICIPATED.
UM, AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A, I BELIEVE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, SUMMIT LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCING THAT MILESTONE AND REALLY LAUNCHING INTO, UM, IN, IN A ROBUST WAY, THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING EFFORT THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO SECURE THE BALANCE OF THE INVESTMENT NEEDED TO, TO FULLY FUND THE PLAN OF THE, UM, UH, THE INCREASE.
IT CONSISTS CERTAINLY OF THE CITY ARPA DOLLARS AND A PORTION OF TRAVIS COUNTY IS $110 MILLION OF OUR FUNDS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE COMMITTED, UH, FOR THIS PURPOSE AS WELL AS INCREASES IN A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, FROM ANOTHER, UH, NUMBER, EXCUSE ME, OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT OVERALL, THE COMMITTED ANTICIPATED FUNDS FOR THE SUMMIT AT THIS POINT OF THE 400 MILLION CITY RESOURCES ACCOUNT FOR JUST OVER HALF OF THAT, UH, THE STATE ACTUALLY, THERE ARE RESOURCES AT THE STATE THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT WILL PROVIDE ABOUT ANOTHER QUARTER OF THOSE FUNDS, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY AT AROUND 15%.
AND THEN THE BALANCE FROM OUR HOUSING AUTHORITIES, FROM PRIVATE FUNDERS AND HERE, WHERE IT SAYS SERVICE PROVIDER THAT ACTUALLY REFERS TO ECHO AND THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, THE HUD FUNDS THAT FLOW THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE OF THE CITY'S PROJECTED INVESTMENT AT PRESENT WITH ARPA FUNDS AND PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED FUNDS WE'RE AT AROUND 210 MILLION OVER HALF OF THAT IS FEDERAL.
THE BALANCE IS MADE UP OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF HOUSING TRUST FUND COMMITMENTS.
AND THEN, UM, A SMALLER PORTION OF GENERAL FUNDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL ASKED US TO DO BEFORE WE GOT TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD IN TERMS OF COMMITTING
[03:00:01]
FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS TO ENGAGE IN A COMMUNITY, UH, TO CARRY OUT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, IF YOU WILL.AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF THAT, WE LAUNCHED A SURVEY ON SPEAK UP AUSTIN ON OCTOBER 11TH, AND THAT WILL BE, UM, OPEN, I BELIEVE THROUGH APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER 6, 26.
UH, SO WE WILL BE COMPLETE, UH, BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE, AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE HAD ABOUT 200, UH, OVER 200 RESPONDENTS TO THAT SURVEY.
SO WE'RE GETTING GOOD RESPONSE.
AND WE THINK THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, TO, UH, DRAW FEEDBACK THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD TWO VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO, AND HAVE HOSTED OVER A HUNDRED, UH, CITIZENS, UH, TO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK ON THE PRELIMINARY SPENDING PLAN AND THAT INCLUDED ADVOCATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERTISE.
UH, FINALLY WE APPROACHED THE AUSTIN HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY, WHICH IS A COUNCIL MADE UP OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERT EXPERTISE IN HOMELESSNESS AND CARRIED OUT A SURVEY WITH THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE PROCESS OF SYNTHESIZING ALL OF THIS INPUT, UH, BUT DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW THEMES THAT HAVE EMERGED.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING, UM, AN INTEREST IN A BALANCED APPROACH, UH, BETWEEN, UH, SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING AND AN INTEREST, BUT IN PARTICULAR, IN ADDITIONAL SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
SO MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS, AS WELL AS IN CRISIS SERVICES AND OUTREACH.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS RE RESPONDS IN PART BASED ON WHAT WE'RE HEARING ON CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, ENFORCEMENT OF THE, UH, CAMPING, UH, ORDINANCES AS THEY HAVE NOW BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND THE LACK OF, OF ALTERNATIVES OF PLACE, PLACES FOR FOLKS TO GO, SHOULD THEY FACE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT ORDINANCE? SO I'LL TURN NOW TO SPECIFICALLY HOW WE ARE PROPOSING, UM, TO, UH, TO ALLOCATE THE HRPA FUNDS FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AND, UM, BEFORE I DIVE INTO THE NUMBERS, I WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF PRINCIPLES THAT WE UTILIZE TO COME TO, UH, THIS, THIS SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO USE THE ARP TO AID DOLLARS FLEXIBLY.
UM, WE, UH, AT THE CITY LEVEL AND, UH, AT THE LEVEL OF OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT HAVE, UH, THAT ARE LIMITED TO PARTICULAR USES.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ANTICIPATE SUBSTANTIAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THIS EFFORT.
AND SO IF WE HAVE PRIVATE INVESTORS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR AREA, EXCUSE ME, UH, WE WOULD HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST OUR SPENDING LEVELS OVER TIME TO ACCOMMODATE THE AREAS OF INTEREST OF OUR PRIVATE FUNDERS.
WE ALSO DO WANT TO CAPITALIZE ACTIVITIES IN MOST OF THE CATEGORIES ENVISIONED IN THE SUMMIT PLAN.
SO WE WANT TO GET STARTED BUILDING OUT AND EXPANDING THOSE SERVICES, BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE AS THE CITY BEING THE SOLE FUNDER IN ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES, WE THINK THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FUNDING LEVELS THAT, UM, THAT SEED THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT GET US MOVING.
AND THEN, UH, THAT REALLY OPENED THE DOOR FOR OTHER FUNDERS TO COME IN AND HELP BRING THOSE SERVICES TO SCALE.
THE THIRD PIECE IS THAT WE HAVE ENDEAVORED TO NOT USE A RPA DOLLARS, UH, WHICH ARE ONE-TIME DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE ONGOING FUNDING IN PARTICULAR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHERE THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS NOT TIME LIMITED.
AND SO WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNIT AND WE ARE FUNDING SERVICES, WE KNOW THAT WE OR ANOTHER FUNDER NEEDS TO SUSTAIN THAT FUNDING OVER TIME.
AND SO, UH, AS WE LOOK AT THE BREAK GROUND, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE NO DOLLARS WITHIN THE HRPA, UH, UH, SPENDING FRAMEWORK FOR HOMELESSNESS DEDICATED TO PSH, DESPITE THAT BEING A BIG PART OF THE SUMMIT INVESTMENT PLAN AND OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FUNDING OVERALL, IN TERMS OF PROCESS, UH, WE DO ANTICIPATE BEGINNING TO, UH, ISSUE SOLICITATIONS IN SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES, BUT WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WITH THE ONGOING FUNDRAISING PROCESS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WILL ALSO BE MAINTAINING SOME FLEXIBILITY.
WE WOULD ANTICIPATE COMING BACK, UM, TO COUNCIL QUARTERLY OR MORE OFTEN, IF NECESSARY TO UPDATE YOU ON THE SPENDING PLAN, SUCH THAT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, A NEW FUNDING SOURCE EMERGED FOR RAPID REHOUSING AND THE CITY'S DOLLARS WERE NO LONGER REQUIRED IN THE SAME AMOUNT, WE WOULD LOOK AT READJUSTING, UH, THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK, UM, TO, TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE FACTS ON THE GROUND.
[03:05:03]
SO THERE ARE FIVE MAIN AREAS, UM, IN THE, THE SUMMIT FRAMEWORK AND THEREFORE IN OUR, UH, OUR PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR ALLOCATING THE RPA DOLLARS FOR HOMELESSNESS, UH, THREE OF THOSE ARE PROGRAM EXPENDITURES.SO CRISIS SERVICES, UH, OUTREACH, DIVERSION, SHELTER, THINGS THAT WE DELIVER TO PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE STILL HOMELESS, UH, TO EITHER PROVIDE SHELTER OR TO BE CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES OUR CORE HOUSING PROGRAM, EXCUSE ME, CORE HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHICH AS I'VE SAID IS LARGELY, UM, UH, PSH AND RAPID REHOUSING OTHER SERVICES, WHICH IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, AND, UH, BENEFITS ENROLLMENT.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHER MAIN CATEGORIES WHICH ARE NOT DIRECT SERVICE.
SO BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF OUR SYSTEM IN A NORMAL, UH, A VARIETY OF WAYS SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE FUNCTIONING EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, WE'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE AS WELL AS WE CAN, AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN.
UH, WE ARE, UM, UH, PROPOSING ALONG WITH THE SUMMIT, A VARIETY OF TYPES OF FUNDING IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN FINALLY, OF COURSE, CAPITAL INVESTMENT, THE INVESTMENT IN THE BRICKS AND MORTAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE SO NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WILL, UH, UH, IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, GIVE A QUICK RECAP OF THOSE FIVE MAIN CATEGORIES AND THEN BE READY TO TAKE WHAT I CAN IMAGINE WILL BE, UM, NUMEROUS QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO IN THE CRISIS AREA, UH, WE ARE, UH, PROPOSING THAT THE CITY DOLLARS BE UTILIZED FOR SHELTER.
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASE OF THE $4.2 MILLION THAT COUNCIL HAD ALREADY DIRECTED STAFF, UH, TO INVEST BACK IN JUNE, UH, IN SHELTER OR IN RESPONSE TO PROP B.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT $5 MILLION HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THAT WAS ALREADY 4.2 MILLION, UH, $2 MILLION AND OUTREACH SERVICES.
AND THEN WE ARE LEAVING A FLEXIBLE CATEGORY HERE OF 3 MILLION.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE KNOW THAT WITH ENFORCEMENT OF THE CAMPING ORDINANCE HAPPENING, WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN BE AGILE AND FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE THOSE WHO ARE MOST MEDICALLY OR OTHERWISE FRAGILE, UM, SOMEPLACE TO GO, OR THAT WE CAN QUICKLY CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.
WE KNOW WE CANNOT DO THAT FOR EVERYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS TODAY, BUT WE WANT TO LEAVE A BIT OF FLEXIBILITY HERE.
IT COULD END UP BEING SHELTER, BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER, UH, OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN APPROACH THIS CHALLENGE, UH, THAT WE WANT TO, UH, ALLOW FOR SOME CREATIVITY ON THE PART OF, UH, OUR PARTNERS, THE SECOND CATEGORY, AND REALLY THE LARGEST SINGLE LINE ITEM, UH, OF THIS BUDGET IS FOR OUR CORE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND IN PARTICULAR, RAPID REHOUSING.
SO THIS RAPID REHOUSING IS CASE MANAGEMENT AND RENTAL SUPPORTS THAT LASTS ANYWHERE FROM THREE MONTHS TO TWO YEARS, WE ARE MODELING THIS ON AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT A YEAR OF SUPPORT FOR FOLKS SO THAT THEY CAN GET STABILIZED IN HOUSING AND THIS 45 MILLION, UM, DOES, AND ALL OF THE LINE ITEMS DO INCLUDE ANY DIRECTION.
COUNCIL HAS ALREADY GIVEN US ON THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.
SO JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO SET ASIDE AT LEAST $6 MILLION OF THE ARPA FUNDS FOR THE HEAL INITIATIVE.
AND THAT IS PART OF THIS FORTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLAR LINE ITEM, UH, TARGETED PREVENTION, UH, IS, IS PREVENTION DOLLARS THAT ARE SET ASIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.
SO WE KNOW THEY ARE REALLY AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF REENTERING THAT SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE OTHER LINE ITEM HERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT SUPPORT THE REHOUSING PROCESS, UH, HOUSING NAVIGATION, LANDLORD OUTREACH, AND INCENTIVES, UH, FURNITURE FURNISHINGS.
WHEN PEOPLE MOVE INTO UNITS, ET CETERA, THE THIRD CATEGORY IS WHAT WE GENERALLY CALL OTHER SERVICES.
AND SO THESE ARE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL, BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY PART OF THOSE CORE, UH, REHOUSING PROGRAMS, $3 MILLION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, $3 MILLION FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND THE MILLION SET ASIDE TO HELP, UH, THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY, ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ACCESSING THE BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED FOR SYSTEM CAPACITY BUILDING.
UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES HERE, AND WE THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SCALING OUR SYSTEM VERY SUBSTANTIALLY, UH, IN ORDER TO
[03:10:01]
DO THAT, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE DEPENDING ON TO A GREAT DEAL, UH, BOTH THE EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE BRINGING NEW PROVIDERS TO THE TABLE.
AND SO WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL, INTENTIONAL, EXCUSE ME, ABOUT PROVIDER CAPACITY BUILDING THAT MAY BE TRAINING.
IT MAY BE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
IT MAY ALSO BE WORKING CAPITAL TO BEGIN TO SCALE UP.
UH, THE OTHER PIECE HERE THAT WE KNOW IS THAT LIKE ALL SECTORS, OUR SOCIAL SERVICE SECTOR IS REALLY STRUGGLING WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
AND SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE RESOURCES, UM, HAVING AN IMPACT, WE WANT THEM TO ON THE STREET, WE INTEND TO, UM, TO INVESTING PROVIDER CAPACITY, BUILDING SYSTEM OVERSIGHT AND PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS REALLY ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE STAFFING, UM, AROUND WATCHING, WHAT ARE OUR METRICS, TELL US, WATCHING THE HMI SYSTEM, SOME STAFFING, UM, WITHIN THE CITY TO MOVE THE CONTRACTS THROUGH, UH, BUT REALLY A SPECIAL FOCUS ON OUR HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, UH, MO A MODEST INVESTMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS, UH, AND THEN EXPLICIT INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY AND INNOVATION WILL TELL YOU THAT WE BELIEVE THERE'S PROBABLY SOME CROSSOVER BETWEEN EQUITY AND PROVIDER CAPACITY BUILDING, BECAUSE ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN ADVANCE EQUITY WITHIN THIS SYSTEM IS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A PROVIDER NETWORK THAT IS FULLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, LIVING, UH, HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO WE REALLY DO WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BRINGING SOME NEW PROVIDERS INTO THE SPACE OR PROVIDERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE FORMAL SYSTEM OR THE FUNDED SYSTEM.
AND THEN FINALLY THE INNOVATION LINE ITEM, UH, INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, UH, THAT WILL HELP US DO OUR JOB MORE EFFECTIVELY.
UM, THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD ALSO PILOT, UH, DO SOME PILOT PROJECTS WITH THIS KIND OF FUNDING, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL IDEAS OUT THERE ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE WORK, UM, MORE EFFECTIVE AND, AND, UH, AND EFFICIENT.
FINALLY, THE FIFTH CATEGORY IS CAPITAL.
AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST, UM, SET ASIDE WITHIN THE ARPA DOLLARS, UH, AT 25.5 MILLION, I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THIS INCLUDES THE $11.4 MILLION OF HOME FORMULA, UH, ARPA DOLLARS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO HOUSING AND PLANNING FOR THIS POPULATION IN ANY CASE.
UH, AND SO IT, THAT WE HAD ALREADY INTENDED TO UTILIZE FOR CAPITAL, AND THEN THIS ADDS, SAY ANOTHER 13 MILLION OR SO TO THE TOTAL, UH, REMINDING THAT, OF COURSE THE CITY HAS SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN CAPITAL OUTSIDE OF THE HRPA MONIES IN THE FORM OF OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT OUR HOUSING TRUST FUND WITH THAT I WILL PAUSE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING, THIS IS, I THINK JUST, JUST GREAT WORK.
UM, I TRUST THAT, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND, AND GOING BACK EVEN BEFORE THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO HAS BEEN ON THE DESK, THIS IS THE WORK PLANS AND THE OPERATION PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING TO US PERIODICALLY AS WE'VE SET THEM OUT, UH, THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, BUT NEVER SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO DO IT WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE TRADITIONAL NUMBERS.
I CAN REMEMBER COMING FROM ONE OF THE, THE REPORTS THAT WE HAD, THAT WE ADOPTED ALMOST ASPIRATIONALLY AND LOOKING AT WHAT IT COSTS PER YEAR.
I CAN REMEMBER EVERYBODY'S EYES KIND OF LIKE ROLLING BACK IN THEIR HEAD.
LIKE, BOY, THIS WOULD BE GREAT.
THIS IS WHAT IT REALLY TAKES, BUT HAD YOU EVER GET, HOW DO YOU EVER ACTUALLY DO THIS? WE'VE TRIED FOR YEARS TO TRY TO DO IT AND KIND OF A, UH, A SCALED DOWN VERSION.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD SUCCESSES WITH VETERANS, WITH CHILDREN.
UH, WE HOUSE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WORKS, BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO, TO SCALE IT.
AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE MOMENT IN TIME, I THINK I, UH, I HAD TO THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER.
I KNOW THAT THIS WASN'T JUST YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THIS WAS YOU WORKING WITH ECHO WORKING WITH, WITH, UH, HOMES, NOT HANDCUFFS WORK WITH THE JUSTICE COALITION, WORKING WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE HAVE EVERYBODY ACTUALLY PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OF THEIR OTHERS PRIORITIES, UH, AND IN DOING SO ARE GETTING
[03:15:01]
THEIR PRIORITIES PRIORITIZED.UH, WE'VE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR, FOR STEPPING IN AS SIGNIFICANTLY AS THE COUNTY HAS, BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THAT.
UH, UH, I WANT TO THANK HAKA, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MIKE GERBER, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO REALLY STEP FORWARD AND MAKE A REAL CHANGE IN POLICY AND COMMITMENT AS OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY MOVED TO SAY, OKAY, WE'LL PUT OUR WEIGHT BEHIND SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS CITY.
WE JUST HAVE NEVER HAD THE ALIGNMENT THAT, THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE NEVER HAD THE DETAIL, THE SPEND BY YEAR BY CATEGORY THAT YOU HAVE LAID OUT.
THEY'RE STILL A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO GO, TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM THAT WILL LAST, BUT I TELL YOU, I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED TODAY THAT, THAT THE CEO OF ST DAVID'S FOUNDATION, UH, WAS, WAS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE COMMUNITY, HAD THIS MORNING SAYING THAT HE WAS FULLY BEHIND THIS SUMMIT PLAN AND WAS PUTTING IN SOME OF THE FIRST DOLLARS FROM OUT FRONT FROM FOUNDATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO DATA COMPREHENSIVELY AND COLLECTIVELY THE, THE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP IN THE PAST, BUT, BUT I NEEDED THE PUSH TO, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THEM GET TO EVERYBODY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY'S WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING IN THE DATA SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE AT THE CUSP OF BEING ABLE TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THIS CITY.
UH, AND, AND IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THIS AS PLANNED, IF WE CAN RAISE THE LAST 25% AND I THOROUGHLY EXPECT US TO, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, AMONG THE FIRST CITIES, OUR SIZE TO BE ABLE TO, TO END HOMELESSNESS.
THE PICTURES THAT WE SAW AT PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS TODAY ARE HEARTBREAKING, HEARTBREAKING PICTURES.
UH, THOSE PICTURES WERE TAKEN RECENTLY, WHICH IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS YOU POINT OUT THE CITY AND FOLKS ARE, ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THAT NOW, BUT THOSE PICTURES ARE NOT NEW IN THIS CITY.
THOSE, THOSE PICTURES COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN EIGHT YEARS AGO AND 10 YEARS AGO IN OUR CITY.
MOST PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T SEE IT.
UM, IF WE DON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHILE IT'S THE, IN OUR WOODS AND ON OUR STREAMS, IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE TO EVERYWHERE AS IT HAS AN LA AND SAN FRANCISCO AND PORTLAND.
AND, AND WHEN IT GETS TO THAT SCALE AND TO THAT CHALLENGE, IT IS TOO BIG TO, TO REASONABLY EXPECT, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO IN THOSE CITIES.
AND I, AND I WISHED THEM THE BEST DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE FACING, BUT SHAME ON US IF WE LET OURSELVES FALL THERE.
UM, I LIKE THAT YOU'RE BUILDING OFF OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNCIL'S ALREADY STARTED.
I LIKED THAT THIS EXPANDS THE HEAL EFFORT, UH, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, BROUGHT TO US, UH, AND THAT WE'VE ADOPTED THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF TENTS AND CAMPSITES AND INTO TRACKS TO, TO BE, TO BE HOUSED.
THIS IS, UM, THIS IS JUST A PROUD MOMENT BECAUSE THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU'RE PRESENTING IT TO US, AND YOU'RE LETTING US KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S PIECE OF THIS IS, BUT THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE RESOURCES AGAINST IT TO FIX IT.
AND DIANA, IT DOES NOT GO ON NOTICE THAT WITHIN THAT GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VOICES OF EXPERTISE, UH, AND, AND EXPERIENCE AND TALENT IN THIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING WITH, UH, EVERYONE ELSE TO, TO, TO, TO, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND ONE LAST PLUG, WE STILL HAVE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO, TO RAISE, AND EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO BE PART OF THIS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ANY QUESTIONS, KATHY? YEAH.
THIS IS REALLY JUST EXACTLY WHAT I HOPED WE WOULD HAVE COME BACK TO US.
AND I KNOW IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF, OF INFORMATION TO PULL TOGETHER.
UM, AND I THINK THE MAYOR SAID IT REALLY WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL PASSED AN ACTION PLAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND SO WE KNOW WE NEED TO INVEST ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, BUT I THINK THIS, YOUR SPENDING PLAN REALLY LAYS OUT VERY CLEARLY WHERE THOSE INVESTMENTS NEED TO GO, UM, TO REALLY ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF, OF HOUSING AND ADDITIONAL 3000
[03:20:01]
PEOPLE A YEAR.AND SO THANK YOU FOR LAYING IT OUT.
SO CLEARLY WHAT I WANTED TO JUST VERIFY A COUPLE UNDERSTANDINGS AS I LOOK AT THE PLAN WAS I LOOK AT YOUR INFORMATION AND I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU'VE SHARED SOME ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF DETAIL IN OUR INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AS WELL.
THIS CLEARLY TELLS US WHAT THE GOAL IS THAT CAME OUT OF THE SUMMIT, WHERE OUR FUNDING HAS BEEN COMMITTED ALREADY FROM EITHER CITY OR, UM, THE, THE HISTORIC INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE, UM, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER FUNDING.
AND THEN IT SHOWS WHERE THE GAP IS BETWEEN THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALREADY COMMITTED AND WHAT WE NEED TO REALLY ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
AND SO I THINK THAT, AGAIN, I JUST, UH, THAT TO ME REALLY LAYS IT OUT CLEARLY THAT IF WE WANT TO SEE THE TRUE POTENTIAL OF OUR PREVENTION SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDRAISING COME FORWARD FROM OUR PRIVATE SECTOR, SAME IN, IN ALMOST EVERY CATEGORY, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND OTHER RESOURCES.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES? THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CATEGORIES THAT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THAT I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU TO PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF, FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER CRISIS SERVICES, THERE'S A, UH, TO BE DETERMINED, I'M SORRY.
IS THAT WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE COMING FORWARD AS CONTRACTS TO COUNCIL? WOULD THAT BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR, FOR THE HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM? WOULD IT BE FOR OTHER KINDS OF OUTREACH? UM, THAT'S ONE WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE A DETAIL AND JUST SOME EXAMPLES FROM YOU.
AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER CATEGORIES LIKE THAT JUST TO HELP, REALLY, TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY VISUALIZE WHERE WE'RE INVESTING THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS THEY CAN EXPECT TO SEE INCREASED INVESTMENT.
AND MOST OF THOSE HAVE CORE CORRESPONDING, UM, WISHES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND SO JUST TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME OF THOSE PRIVATE DOLLARS TO GO.
UM, YOU MENTIONED OUTREACH SERVICES, UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S PRIMARY TOOL FOR OUTREACH SERVICES HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE HOMELESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM, WHICH IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, INCLUDING APD OFFICERS, MEMBERS OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, SOCIAL WORKERS, INTEGRAL CARE, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS.
AND THEY'RE A FANTASTIC TEAM, BUT THEIR, UH, GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE IS LIMITED AND THEIR BANDWIDTH IS LIMITED.
UH, AND WE ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN ENCAMPMENTS, UM, MEETING BASIC NEEDS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE NOT REALLY HAD A VERY INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF OUTREACH.
AND SO ECHO HAS BEEN WORKING IN PARTICULAR WITH THOSE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE, UM, HOW THEY CAN FORMALIZE THAT WORK AND STRENGTHEN IT.
WE THINK THAT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT GROWS THROUGH THIS EFFORT.
UH, SO I WOULD ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE THAT THE CITY'S MONEY COULD DO BOTH THINGS.
WE MIGHT LOOK AT EXPANDING HOST, UH, AND, AND POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT THEIR COVERAGE AREA BECAUSE WE, THEY GET A LOT OF DEMANDS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THEIR FORMAL, UM, UH, BOUNDARIES.
AND WE CATALYZE THIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS CARRIED OUT BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT ONLY GOING OUT AND MEETING BASIC NEEDS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO, UM, OFTEN THE GROUPS THAT WILL DO COORDINATED ASSESSMENT FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM.
THAT HAS BEEN A REAL GAP RECENTLY, THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD, UM, AS WE HAVE SEEN MORE ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S BEEN CONCERN ON THE PART OF SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING AROUND AND THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO SERVICES.
UH, WHEN THEY MOVE, WE MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRACK THEM, WHETHER THAT'S WITH, UH, GIVING FOLKS PHONES, ET CETERA, THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, KNOW WHERE THEY ARE WHEN THEY DO COME UP ON THE HOUSING LIST.
UH, AND REALLY THE PROCESS OF HELPING THEM GET INTO HOUSING ONCE THEY'RE PRIORITIZED, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM GET ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS TOGETHER, ET CETERA, MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO, UH, AS ANOTHER CATEGORY, I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER CATEGORIES THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU.
AND THEN, AND THEN I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS, AND THEN I HAVE SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ABOUT A DIFFERENT AREA.
COULD YOU ADDRESS SOME EXAMPLES OF TARGETED PREVENTION, UM, AND OTHER WITHIN CORA WITHIN CORE HOUSING AND THEN ALSO CAPITAL INVESTMENT? YES, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT POPPED OUT AT ME EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE, I MEAN, RAPID RE-HOUSING IS OUR LARGEST EXPENDITURE PROPOSED UNDER OUR FEDERAL, UNDER OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS.
AND TO ME, THAT, THAT IS PRETTY, WE TALK
[03:25:01]
ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.SO I HAVE A REALLY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IS, BUT THE, THE ONES THAT I THINK MIGHT NEED SOME EXAMPLES TARGETED PREVENTION AND OTHER UNDER CORE HOUSING AND THEN CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
SO TARGETED PREVENTION, UM, IS A SUBSET OF, OF PREVENTION AS WE MIGHT GENERALLY THINK OF IT FOR RENTAL RENTAL EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO WE HAVE THE RENT PROGRAM THAT OF COURSE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS, UM, DUE TO THE CHANGES IN THEIR INCOME OR THEIR SITUATION RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC WITHIN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
UM, HOWEVER, WE ACTUALLY WANT TO GET REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE KNOW HAVE BEEN IN THE HOMELESS SYSTEM BEFORE, BECAUSE IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT IN GENERAL, UH, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO MOVE IN WITH FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WHO IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE A CRISIS, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHO WILL END UP ON THE STREETS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN SERVED BEFORE, WE KNOW THAT THAT LIKELIHOOD INCREASES VERY SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAD A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, WITH SOME OF THE CARES ACT DOLLARS LAST YEAR, WHERE FAMILY ELDER CARE, UH, WENT AND DID OUTREACH WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD SAVED, BEEN SERVED IN A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM IN THE PREVIOUS COUPLE OF YEARS, AND REACHED OUT TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS TO CHECK IN ON THEM, UM, BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS, THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE LIVES OF THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS PREVIOUSLY, THEY TEND TO BE LESS LIKELY TO PROACTIVELY APPLY, SAY TO THE RENT PROGRAM, UM, OF THE, THE BARRIERS ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN TERMS OF, OF PAPERWORK ACCESS TO INTERNET, ET CETERA.
AND SO FAMILY ELDER CARE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY QUITE A FEW HOUSEHOLDS, UM, WHO IN FACT WERE EXPERIENCING SERIOUS HOUSING AND STABILITY, AND WE'RE ABLE TO THEN PROVIDE SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO STABILIZE THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM COMING BACK INTO THE SYSTEM.
THE OTHER CATEGORY, UM, INCLUDES HOUSING, NAVIGATION, LANDLORD OUTREACH, AND INCENTIVES, AND MOVE IN SUPPLIES.
LET ME MAYBE SPEAK TO LANDLORD OUTREACH AND INCENTIVES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, AS YOU WELL KNOW, HAVE A VERY TIGHT RENTAL MARKET AND, UH, IN THAT KIND OF A MARKET, IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO FIND LANDLORDS WHO ARE WILLING TO RENT TO TENANTS WHOSE APPLICANT PROFILE IS UNCONVENTIONAL AND WHO MIGHT NOT NORMALLY BE ACCEPTED AS A, AS A TENANT, BECAUSE IF YOU'VE BEEN HOMELESS, IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT YOUR CREDIT SCORE, IF IT EXISTS IS POOR.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN, UM, SERIOUS CHALLENGES IN YOUR RENTAL HISTORY, ET CETERA.
AND SO THERE IS A PERCEIVED RISK ON THE PART SOMETIMES OF LANDLORDS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE IS CREATING RISK MITIGATION OF SOME SORT FOR THOSE LANDLORDS.
IT MIGHT BE AN ACTUAL RISK MITIGATION FUND, SUCH THAT IF THERE WERE LOSSES OR DAMAGES ABOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, UH, THE LANDLORD COULD BE MADE WHOLE, IT MIGHT ALLOW US TO HOLD UNITS IN THE MARKET WHILE WE GET FOLKS INTO THEM.
UH, AND THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING 1300 UNITS THROUGH THIS EFFORT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REHOUSING 3000 PEOPLE.
SO WE REALLY, REALLY NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE PRIVATE, UH, THE PRIVATE MARKET, UH, AND UNITS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THIS IS PART OF WHAT THAT INVESTMENT WOULD GO FOR.
AS I SAID, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
CAUSE I KNOW OUR TIME IS LIMITED.
I WOULD ASK THAT AS, AS THESE CONTRACTS COME FORWARD, THAT WE TALK ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM ON THE AGENDA, SO THAT WHEN, SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THEY FIT WITHIN, WITHIN THIS SPENDING PLAN.
I JUST THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE FOR NOT JUST THOSE OF US ON THE DAYAS, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN SEE EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT RESPONDS TO PREVENTION SERVICES, UM, WITHIN OUR HOMELESS, WHATEVER, I ENDED UP CALLING IT, FINDING HOME ATX OR WHATEVER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF TRACK THAT THROUGH FOR SOME OTHERS CANCER KITCHEN.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS I'LL ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOHO HAVE SAID SO FAR OF, THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT I WANTED TO SEE COMING BACK TO US.
IT'S VERY SUCCINCT AND UNDERSTANDABLE AND REALLY SHOWS US THE PATH TO, UM, TO ADDRESS TRULY ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS WORK ON, UH, PULLING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, UH, TO, TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN
[03:30:01]
SEE A BROAD PROGRAM LIKE THIS.SO, UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT, OR JUST ASK YOU ABOUT, UH, THERE ARE TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR THAT I THINK ARE REALLY CRITICAL FOR WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN FRONT OF US NOW THAT ARE, THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND NEW FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.
AND ONE OF THEM IS THE EMPHASIS.
AND I MEAN, WE'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, BUT THIS MODEL EMPHASIZES AND MAKES PUBLIC THE CAPACITY BUILDING THAT WE NEED.
THERE'S A TRUE, UM, UH, EFFORT AND ANALYSIS AND LOOK AT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO, TO BUILD A COMPANY, TO BUILD A SYSTEM, UH, THAT TRULY, UM, ALLOWS US, OR ENABLES US TO GET TOWARDS A FUNCTIONAL ZERO HOMELESSNESS.
SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO THEM FOR A MOMENT JUST TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN, FOR THE, FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR ALL OF US, THE COMPONENTS OF THAT CAPACITY BUILDING, WHAT IS IT THAT WE THINK WE MUST DO IN ORDER TO, UM, IMPROVE UPON THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW? ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO WITHIN THE LARGER CAPACITY BUILDING, UM, CATEGORY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LINE ITEMS AND ONE OF THOSE IS PROVIDER CAPACITY BUILDING.
AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING TO.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHAT THE CITY INVESTS IN AND THE WORK THAT GETS DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY GETS DONE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE DO NOT HAVE A VAST SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
WE DEPEND ON THOSE NONPROFITS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, PROVIDING FANTASTIC SERVICES AND GETTING GREAT RESULTS.
UH, HOWEVER, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO SCALE UP VERY SIGNIFICANTLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, AND SO WE KNOW THAT CAN BE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO NOT HAVE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WORKING CAPITAL, AND THAT, THAT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR, UH, NONPROFITS WHO, UH, MAY BE, UH, MORE GRASSROOTS, MORE ROOTED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UH, YOU KNOW, MORE WORKING MORE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO HELP THEM GET THERE.
UH, AND THAT PART OF THAT, PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW, GIVEN, UH, THE, WHAT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE, THE LABOR MARKET LOOKS LIKE, WE'LL PROBABLY BE, UH, WITH SOME FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF BECAUSE THEY LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO KEEP STAFFED UP.
UH, AND THEN AS WE BRING STAFF ON BOARD THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THERE FOR THE TRAINING, UH, AND, UH, OF THOSE, THOSE FRONTLINE STAFF IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IN CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION IN ALL OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT WE KNOW ARE SO IMPORTANT, UH, IN TERMS OF DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICES.
YES, WE, WE TALK A LOT AND WE PERHAPS THINK MORE ABOUT THE BRICKS AND MORTAR OF HOUSING.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE NEED PEOPLE, UH, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH, UM, THE FOLKS LIVING ON THE STREETS AND HELP THEM GET TO A STABILITY IN A, IN A PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DATA ANALYTICS.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT SOME VERY EXCITING WORK GOING ON WITH ECHO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR COALITION, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO I'VE SEEN SOME VERY GOOD WORK IN THEIR DASHBOARD.
UM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AND THEY COULD USE SOME ASSISTANCE.
AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE RESULTS.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY PRODUCING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
SO, UM, SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT FOR A MOMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO IN OUR SYSTEM NOW AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE DOLLARS TO ASSIST THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED, UM, STAFF AS INFRASTRUCTURE, IN SOME CASES, UH, YOU KNOW, IT BROUGHT TO MIND FOR ME, PARTICULARLY FOR SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAY HAVE NOT CONTRACTED WITH THE CITY AND CERTAINLY NOT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS BEFORE THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE ADDITIONAL REPORTING, UM, AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT COMES WITH THAT IN TERMS OF OUR DATA ANALYTICS, OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF DATA ABOUT PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A DATABASE THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY ECHO.
AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING, I THINK, EVER, UM, MORE NUANCED SORT OF DASHBOARDS AND, AND, UH, THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
BUT ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS ARE ADEQUATELY RESOURCED TO INPUT THE DATA INTO THAT SYSTEM
[03:35:01]
BECAUSE IT IS NOT WITHOUT TIME OR COST.AND SO REALLY LOOKING MORE COMPREHENSIVELY ACROSS THE SYSTEM ARE WE EQUIPPING OUR PROVIDERS TO GET THAT INFORMATION INTO THE DATA SYSTEM.
AND HAVE WE INVESTED IN THE SYSTEM ADEQUATELY TO GET THE REPORTING, UH, OUT AND NOT JUST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO THAT IT'S A REAL MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR OUR SYSTEM AND WE CAN PINPOINT STRENGTHS OR WEAKNESSES AS THEY'RE HAPPENING.
AND FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE LISTENING TO THIS PRESENTATION, I RECOMMEND GOING TO THE ECHO WEBSITE AND TAKING A LOOK AT THEIR DASHBOARD.
IT PROVIDES SOME VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING TO DATE.
AND ALSO YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL AREAS FOR US TO WORK ON.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT HAS BEEN, UM, VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S THERE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CHALLENGE FOR US AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE DATA GETS INTO THAT SYSTEM.
SO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THE LAST THING I WOULD JUST SAY IS WHAT YOU, UM, WHAT YOU MENTIONED BEFORE WAS THAT, UM, THAT THERE ARE DOLLARS IN THIS PROGRAM TO DO PHASE TWO APPEAL AND, UM, UM, I'M EXCITED AND, AND HOPEFUL THAT HE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE SEEN TO DATE, UH, IN TERMS OF CONNECTING GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN AN UNSAFE AREAS, UM, TO HOUSING AND TO HELP THEM BE ON THE PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO, UM, SO I THINK YOU SAID THIS ALREADY, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, SO WE'VE GOT ALL THE DOLLARS WE NEED IN THIS BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT PHASE TWO OF HEAL.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND, UM, YOUR STAFF ON GREATER DETAIL EARLIER THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK, WHENEVER IT WAS, I DON'T REMEMBER THESE DAYS.
UM, SO THIS IS REALLY, UM, EXCITING.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY HAS STEPPED UP AND OFFERED THIS COMMITMENT TO FUNDING ON THE COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH SOME, SOME BUSINESS FOLKS ON THE CHAMBER TRIP THIS WEEKEND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU'RE WATCHING, YOU WANTED A PLAN.
UH, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US IN THIS SOLUTION.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND IF THEY'RE A LITTLE TOO NITPICKY, JUST TELL ME, AND WE CAN DO THIS OFFLINE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT WE HEAR AS A, AS A RESERVATION AND WAS NOTED IN YOUR ARPA, UM, SORT OF ASSUMPTIONS OR CONDITIONS THAT YOU PUT THERE WAS THAT SOME OF THESE ARE ONGOING EXPENSES AND SOME ARE ONE TIME.
UM, THEY WANTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, PARTICULARLY FOR CATEGORY TWO, UM, WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING ONGOING AND WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING ONE TIME, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT YOU SAID WE WEREN'T GONNA PUT ARPA INTO ONGOING EXPENSES, BUT MOST OF THOSE AS PROGRAMMATIC EXPENSES, I WAS ASSUMING THEY WOULD BE ONGOING.
AND SO AT THE SAME TIME, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SYSTEM WE'RE CREATING, AND THERE'S A BACKLOG OF FOLKS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS EARLIER ON.
AND SO THOSE EXPENSES MIGHT BE LARGER EARLIER ON AS WE SET UP A SYSTEM TO MOVE THEM THROUGH.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO ME.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS OTHER PEOPLE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE PLAN AND WHERE THESE EXPENSES ARE GOING.
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME FURTHER EXPLANATION OF WHY THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE, UM, THE 90 SOME MILLION OF ONGOING, RIGHT? YES.
SO, UH, IT ABSOLUTELY IS A LONGER CONVERSATION.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK WITH THE COUNCIL, UM, AND THE, AND, AND THE BUDGET OFFICE OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PIECE THAT WE WANT TO BE SUPER CAREFUL ABOUT IS THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THAT BECAUSE AS I SAID, PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THAT HOUSING.
LONG-TERM REMEMBER THAT THE CITY IS NOT THE ONLY FUNDER OF THAT.
UH, FOR THE MOST PART, THE CITY MIGHT BE FUNDING SOME PORTION OF THE SERVICES, UH, FOR THOSE UNITS, BUT TO A LARGE DEGREE, THE RENTAL SUPPORTS WOULD COME FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE.
WE DO THINK THAT DURING THESE THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE ESSENTIALLY A SURGE IN SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW WHO DIDN'T ALL JUST BECOME HOMELESS THIS YEAR, RIGHT? THIS IS AN ACCUMULATION OF UNMET NEED, UM, AND, AND DEEP NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THESE RESOURCES.
WE DO THINK THAT CERTAINLY THE STEADY STATE PROBABLY
[03:40:01]
NEEDS TO BE HIGHER THAN IT WAS AT BASELINE, BUT I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME INITIAL ANALYSIS AS WE MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND WHICH PIECES OF THIS WOULD BE HALF WOULD HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED, UM, OR AT WHAT LEVEL THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED TO SUSTAIN THAT PROGRESS RIGHT.AND SO, UM, THAT REALLY WILL, UH, BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL DEPEND, UH, WILL VARY BY LINE ITEM BY THE TYPE OF INTERVENTION BASED ON THE NEED THAT WE SEE OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM, UH, NEW, BUT, UH, I THINK IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF ONGOING REPORTING TO COUNCIL.
SO IN TERMS OF THAT CORE HOUSING PROGRAMS, THEN WE HAVE, I KNOW FOR INSTANCE, IN THE LAST BUDGET AND NOT THE ONE THIS YEAR EVER THE YEAR BEFORE WE PUT 6.7 MILLION INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
SO THAT IS, IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING.
IT'S NOT ON THE SLIDE WITH THE, WITH THE ARPA MONEY, BUT THEN UNDER ARPA, WE HAVE, UM, THE RAPID REHOUSING.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'D BE, BE DEALING SORT OF WITH THIS BULGE AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE ONGOING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES.
SO WE MIGHT EXPECT THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT AND ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION IN OUR SYSTEM AND OUR FLOW OVER TIME.
UM, BUT NOT REQUIRE THE SAME LEVEL.
THERE MAY BE SOME, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME NEED FOR RAPID REHOUSING, BUT NOT THE SAME LEVEL THAT'S ACCURATE THERE.
SO, AND THEN THERE WAS, UM, THE SHELTER WE'RE ALSO SAYING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HEEL, IS, IS IT THE HEEL PART UNDER THE ONE, THE HEEL PART WAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THERE.
SO THERE ARE DOLLARS IN OUR ONGOING GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE SOUTHBRIDGE SHELTER.
NORTHBRIDGE SHELTER IS TIME LIMITED, BOTH BECAUSE WE ARE USING ARPA FUNDS FOR IT.
AND BECAUSE THAT IS A FACILITY THAT WE PURCHASE WITH GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDS AND INTEND TO, AND ARE REQUIRED TO UTILIZE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LONG-TERM OKAY.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S THIS MIX ACROSS OUR ARPA FUNDS AND OUR OTHER FUNDS, AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS THAT HELPS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE ONGOING EXPENSES.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MAY RECALL, UH, APH IS SCHEDULED TO RECOMPETE OR WE SOLICIT OUR SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR HOMELESSNESS, FOR OUR SORT OF BASELINE SERVICES, UH, THIS YEAR FOR THE 2020 FISCAL YEAR 2023.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING WITH BASELINE, HOW MUCH WE CAN COVER, UH, AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE STEADY STATE WILL NEED TO LOOK LIKE PAST THESE THREE, RIGHT? AND THOSE CONTRACTS WILL BE LET WITH THE PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE HIRED SOMEBODY TO HELP US TO FORMULATE.
UM, THE, I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
UM, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD PROVIDE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANALOG TO THIS IS SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHICH PIECES THE CITY ACROSS OUR DIFFERENT FUNDING IS COVERING AS PART OF THE CITY.
SO NOT JUST THE ARPA ALLOCATION TO THESE LINE ITEMS, BUT THE OTHER CITY FUNDING.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THOSE TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAD A FULLER PICTURE OF THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH AT THIS POINT ARE, YOU KNOW, OVER HALF OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING MADE TOWARDS THOSE, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLE AND WHY WE NEED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CLOSE THE GAP.
THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OUR SOCIAL SERVICE TYPE CONTRACTS ARE COMING UP FOR ARE COMING UP A NEW, UH, NEXT YEAR.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BEST POSITION US TO BE, MAKE SURE WE'RE STRATEGIC AND FOCUSED.
THAT'S OVER ALTAR HAS OVER COSAR.
I HAD TO STEP OFF AND GET A LITTLE CAFFEINE OFF THE DIET.
SO STOP ME IF IT'S ALREADY GONE ASKED, BUT, UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PLAN AND THE IMPLEMENTATION, AND IT SEEMS RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE ASKED FOR WHEN WE PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, AND WE'VE SEEN THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENTS AS WELL.
AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN QUESTIONS FROM FOLKS ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE ABLE TO JUST START SPENDING THESE DOLLARS AND HELPING PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY, NOW THAT ALL OF THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE WAITING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S FUNDS.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THIS PLAN NOW IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.
NOTHING IS HOLDING US BACK FROM GOING AND, AND PROVIDING FOLKS THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AS QUICK AS WE CAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN.
UH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T OBVIOUSLY SEE THE NEED STILL EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE GET MOVED
[03:45:01]
AROUND, UM, WE'VE BEEN PROBABLY EACH HEARING IN OUR OWN DISTRICTS THAT SOME FOLKS GET MOVED FROM ONE PLACE AND WIND UP IN OTHER PLACES, FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING, HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM? AND THIS, THIS LOOKS LIKE THE PLAN TO DO SO.SO THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING AND, AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN MAKING IT HAPPEN.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT LAST POINT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR BROUGHT UP AS WELL.
UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ENDEAVORED TO COMMUNICATE AND, AND WANT YOU TO VERIFY HERE ON THE DIOCESE IN A PUBLIC SETTING.
SO IN THE INITIALLY WHEN WE MADE THE ALLOCATION BACK IN JULY AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WILL ALLOCATE, I FORGOTTEN NOW EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBER WAS.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT BETWEEN 10 AND 20 MILLION FOR IMMEDIATE USE TO PUT, TO PUT, TO WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN COME BACK TO US WITH A SPLINT SPENDING PLAN FOR HOW THE REST OF THOSE ARPA DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR OFFICE, THAT, THAT YOU, YOU DID NOT REACH A POINT THAT ANY PROJECTS THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF THAT REQUIRED FUNDING WERE FUNDED, THAT THERE ARE NOT, THERE IS NOT A LIST OF PENDING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD UP, UM, WAITING FOR US TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CONTINGENCY REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
IS THAT ACCURATE, IT'S ACCURATE COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE WERE, WE WERE NOT CONSTRAINED, ALTHOUGH WE NOW HAVE PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON.
SO WE ARE TIMELY, UH, TO, TO, UH, PRESENT THIS UPDATE TO YOU AND ARE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM.
BUT THERE WERE NO, AGAIN, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, THERE WERE NO, THERE WERE NO PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN STALLED THAT'S ACCURATE.
AND HOW MUCH, UM, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO INVEST THE OTHER DOLLARS OR THOSE ARE IN PROCESS.
WHERE ARE WE, I GUESS IN TERMS OF THE SPENDING THAT WE AUTHORIZED BACK IN JULY, THE PRIMARY SPENDING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO DATE HAS BEEN $5 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED AS A PORTION OF HOTEL ACQUISITION.
UM, THE, WHILE WE WERE AUTHORIZED TO SPEND A LARGER AMOUNT, IT INCLUDED, UH, THE $11.4 MILLION IN HOME ARPA, WHICH WERE NOT ACTUALLY RECEIVED AT THAT TIME.
SO WE HAVE JUST NOW I THINK GOTTEN THOSE DOLLARS IN AND, UM, AND, UH, HPD HAS A PROJECT MOVING, UH, UTILIZING THOSE FUNDS.
UH, AND THEN I, I BELIEVE THOSE, WE HAVE A COUPLE AREAS IN EMPLOYMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING, WHICH WE WILL PROBABLY WRAP INTO A LARGER SOLICITATION, SO THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT YET, BUT WE HAD SPENT THE MAXIMUM OF THE SORT OF GENERAL HOMELESSNESS DOLLARS, UH, BUT, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT WAS WAITING IN THE WINGS, UH, UNTIL WE GOT TO THIS POINT.
AND THANKS FOR CONTINUING, I KNOW WE'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW, MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DIDN'T NEED ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION, UM, TO HOLD BECAUSE PROJECTS WERE WAITING.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AGAIN, JUST TO, TO EMPHASIZE, I THINK THIS REALLY IS, UM, A GREAT PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
IT HELPS US ALL REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND IN, AND WAS VERY MUCH NEEDED, I THINK, AS WE MAKE THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT.
SO I THINK THAT THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR HAS REQUESTED IS SUPER USEFUL.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT AT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, WE HAVE A STANDING ITEM REGARDING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO, TO START TO TALK ABOUT, UM, HOW THOSE OTHER, THE OTHER CITY INVESTMENTS FACTOR INTO THESE EQUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SPENDING PLAN.
AND THEN ALSO HOW WE MAYBE BRAINSTORM HOW WE WANT TO SEE THIS REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN AS A DIOCESE AND, AND AS A PUBLIC, CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE CONTRACTS AS THEY COME FORWARD AND REALLY CLEARLY IDENTIFY, OH, THIS IS PART OF PREVENTION AND WHATNOT.
SO NOBODY CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I DO WANT TO, UM, RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, AS YOU SAID, MANY FOLKS HAVE WORKED ON THIS FOLKS WITHIN THE SUMMIT LEADERSHIP TEAM, HENRY CAR'S A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WHO DID A GREAT DEAL OF WORK, DEVELOPING THE MODEL WITH THE SUMMIT PARTNERS.
AND THEN MANY OF YOU HAVE MET OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, A NEW STAFF MEMBER WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY DIVISION TEAM NEAR OF SHAW, WHO, UM, WITHOUT WHOM I WOULD BE A MUCH SADDER AND LESS SMART PERSON.
AND THANK YOU DIANA, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
IT WAS GREAT TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM EARLIER THIS WEEK TO HAVE AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.
SO I JUST HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION.
UM, I KNOW THAT, AND I KNOW AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE HOSTED TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS REGARDING OUR ARPA FUNDING FOR REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.
CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS HAVE GONE AND ANY INSIGHT THAT IS COMING IN FROM THE COMMUNITY? YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, I, TH THEY'RE TOUGH AS THESE MEETINGS OFTEN ARE, UM, WHEN WE HAVE, UH, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND IN THE, THE MEETINGS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WOULD SAY THE SENTIMENT THAT PREVAILED WAS REALLY
[03:50:01]
FROM FOLKS WHO DO WORK IN THE FIELD, UH, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND REALLY DISTRESS AT THE DISPLACEMENT THAT IS HAPPENING FROM ENCAMPMENTS WITHOUT, UH, ANYWHERE FOR FOLKS TO GO.AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT THAT HAS INFORMED THE, BOTH THE SUMMIT INVESTMENT PLAN OVERALL, WHICH INCREASED CRISIS RESOURCES BY ABOUT $15 MILLION, AS WELL AS THE DIRECTION OF OUR CITY ARPA FUNDING, UH, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH, UM, SOME MONEY FOR SHELTER.
AND THEN SOME OF THOSE FLEXIBLE DOLLARS THAT WHICH WILL DETERMINE, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE BEST UTILIZED FOR SHELTER OR SOME OTHER, UH, CRISIS INTERVENTION, WHICH WILL NOT SOLVE, UH, THE UNSHELTERED ISSUE.
WE WON'T SHELTER EVERYONE, BUT THAT WILL HELP US IN PARTICULAR, WHEN WE ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO ARE MEDICALLY FRAGILE OR OTHERWISE, UH, WHEN ENFORCEMENT HAPPENS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS LISTENING AND THAT THEIR INPUT AND FEEDBACK IS HELPING INFORM OUR STRATEGY.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT.
AND, UH, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HOMELESS ISSUES NOW FOR OVER, AND THIS IS PERSONALLY ME OVER 35 YEARS.
AND BACK THEN THERE WAS SAYING, GIVING THEM A ONE-WAY TICKET OUT OF TOWN, PUTTING THEM IN JAIL, WHICH WASN'T SOLVING ANY PROBLEM.
AND WE STARTED TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS PROGRAM, AND WE EVEN HAD A MASCOT HOMER, THE HOMELESS SCHOOLS THAT WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO BRING US MORE RESOURCES THAT WE NEEDED HERE.
AND IT WAS, IT, IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS CONSOLE IN THE CITY TO ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, IS THIS REALLY A HISTORIC MOMENT THAT WE'RE REALLY ARE TRULY DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, CATHERINE ELLIS.
I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME AND MY TEAM YESTERDAY AND MR. SHAW FOR BEING A PART OF THAT AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.
IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION COMPILED IN ONE SPOT, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS MANY TIMES OVER, YOU KNOW, MANY MONTHS, UM, IN MANY DIFFERENT VENUES.
AND SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I THINK THAT LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN PICK UP HERE.
[29. Approve amendments to the bylaws of the Animal Advisory Commission. (Part 2 of 2)]
NUMBER 29.DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? UH, THAT'S WHERE KELLY, YOU GOT ANSWERED.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON IT.
UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND OF THIS ITEM.
I THINK I WAS REMEMBER ALTAR MADE THE MOTION.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SECONDED THIS ITEM.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR 29, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED 29 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[19. Authorize negotiation and execution of a park operations and maintenance agreement with The Trail Foundation for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park.]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 19.MAYOR PRO TEM WAS NOT VISIBLE, BUT NATASHA YOU WITH ASKED ME YOUR PRO TIME RECORD.
THAT VOTE IS 10 0 1 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE OFF THE, UH, OF THE DESK ITEM NUMBER, UH, 19.
UM, MAY I PULL THAT? I DON'T OKAY.
DO YOU LIKE ME TO GO FORWARD? WHY DON'T YOU GO FORWARD? I WANT TO TALK TO YOU AS WE DO THIS.
CAUSE THERE'S, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO COMBINE LIKE THE FIRST AND SECOND PARAGRAPHS ON THIS ABOVE.
I'LL LET YOU LET ME LAY IT OUT AND THEN WE CAN.
SO, UM, SO ITEM NUMBER 19 IS THE, UM, ITEM RELATED TO THE CONTRACT WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
AND LET ME JUST SAY AT THE OUTSIDE THAT I OUTSET, EXCUSE ME, THAT THIS IS, UM, I I'M, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UM, ITEM.
UM, MY AMENDMENTS ARE RELATED TO SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO IT, BUT THE GENERAL CONCEPT I THINK IS GREAT.
AND I, UM, AS A USER OF THE TRAIL, WHICH I'M SURE ALL OF US ARE, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION HAS DONE, UM, OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUES TO DO.
THEY'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL STEWARD OF ONE OF OUR, ONE OF OUR MOST AMAZING ASSETS, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, WITH THAT SAID THE AMENDMENTS THAT I AM PUTTING FORWARD, UH, GO TO TWO ASPECTS OF WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
THE FIRST IS THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO, UM, NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE, UH, AN AGREEMENT
[03:55:01]
WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, UH, TO, TO MANAGE THE TRAIL ON BEHALF OF THE, THE CITY.AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT'S AN AWESOME FUNCTION AND A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT TO READ AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO THAT CAUSES ME A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN.
I APPRECIATE WHAT IS IN THE BACKUP, UH, RELATED TO THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.
I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UM, THE CONTRACT WILL BE BUILT OFF OF THAT.
SO WE CAN SEE THAT AT THE MOMENT, BUT I'M STILL BEING ASKED TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH AND SAY, YES, GO AHEAD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SOMETHING THAT IS HUGELY, HUGELY, HUGELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW.
AND SO I'M PROPOSING AN APPROACH TO THAT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR IS SUGGESTING SOME AMENDMENTS TO, WHICH I THINK ARE WORKABLE.
UM, AND SO I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, BUT I, THE BOTTOM LINE IS I CAN'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO, TO APPROVE, UH, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION TODAY WITHOUT THE, WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE AGREEMENT BEFORE IT'S SIGNED AND WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE AGREEMENT BEFORE IT IS SIGNED.
MY SECOND CONCERN IS THAT THE LANGUAGE, UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD DIRECTION THAT, TO INCLUDE IN THE FINAL AGREEMENT THAT, UM, UH, TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THE FINAL AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR ANNUAL COUNCIL REVIEW AND APPROVAL, IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE PLAN AND AGREEMENT, ADDITIONS OF MORE CONCESSIONS OR PLAN SPECIAL EVENTS, I THINK IT IS.
I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY CRITICAL THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE NOT SAY THAT THAT WE NOT ADVOCATE THE COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW, UM, AND APPROVE FUNCTIONS THAT MAY CHANGE, UH, ACTIVITIES THAT MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
THERE'S, THERE'S JUST A, THERE'S A NATURAL TENSION.
AND SOME OF IT IS IMPACTS POLICY DECISIONS ABOUT THE USE OF OUR TRAILS AND WHEN, AND, AND I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS WHEN THAT COMES UP.
SO I THINK THAT IF, YOU KNOW, IF THE TRAIL FOUNDATION NEEDS TO USE OR HAS PROPOSALS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN FRONT OF US TODAY IN THE FUTURE, WHICH THEY COULD EASILY COULD, UM, IF THEY NEED TO SUGGEST, UM, MORE CONCESSIONS OR MORE PLANS, SPECIAL EVENTS OR DIFFERENT PLANS, SPECIAL EVENTS, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.
AND SO I HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE, I HAVE TO SAY I'VE GOT SOME, HAVE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, UM, THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL WITH THE USE OF ZILKHA PARK SET IN SET IN MOTION, ACL, UH, AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY IN THE FUTURE.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONS TO ACL, INCLUDING ADDING THE, ADDING A, UM, SECOND WEEKEND.
THE LOCATION OF ACL HAS EXPANDED INTO SURROUNDING AREAS ALL WITH ALL JUST THE DECISION OF STAFF WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT AND WITHOUT, UM, WITHOUT COUNCIL INPUT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE CHANGE THAT.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ACL TODAY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN WITH THE TRAIL.
I THINK THE USE OF THE TRAIL IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THE COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO WEIGH IN.
AND THERE MAY BE TIMES IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE TO, TO WEIGH IN, ON DECISIONS ABOUT THE USE OF THE TRAIL.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY SECOND AMENDMENT IS ABOUT AND THAT, UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S LIMITED TO CHANGES, BUT, UH, IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE PLAN AND AGREEMENT IN THE FUTURE WITH THE ADDITIONS OF MORE CONCESSIONS OR PLAN CERTAIN SPECIAL EVENTS, I THINK IT SHOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT THAT, THAT HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THOSE ARE THE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT I AM INTERESTED IN.
THAT'S WHERE OUR KITCHEN THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, DISCUSSING THESE WITH ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PUSH PULL HERE.
UM, UM, YOU HAD INDICATED THAT, UH, UH, YOU WERE GOING TO PUT IN THE END EXECUTION
[04:00:01]
LANGUAGE, UH, AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HEARD SOME SPEAKERS SPEAK TO THAT THIS MORNING.UH, WE ALSO HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE COME TO US TO POINT OUT THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT IN THE REPUBLIC SQUARE AGREEMENT OR THE PEACE PARK AGREEMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT WE, UH, HAVE HAD.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TAKING THESE ASSETS AND, AND, AND HAVING A TRUSTEE HELP US WITH THEM, UH, THAT, THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO MOVE ON OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL FOR US ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO, TO, TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR PARK, UH, AND, AND, AND OTHER AMENITIES SPACES.
UH, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS DOING REPOSTS, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, UH, BUT THEY'RE ALSO MONETIZING PART OF IT WAYS WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T, BUT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ABLE TO DO WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.
AND, UH, UH, SO, UH, I JUST WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THE KIND OF THE MID PLACE OR THE COMPROMISE PLACE THAT, THAT GAVE A NOD TO BOTH.
AND, AND I KEPT HEARING COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN SAY THAT SHE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE COULD SEE THINGS BEFORE THEY WERE FINALIZED.
UH, SO EVEN THOUGH THIS GOES BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OTHER PLACES, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT I'VE HANDED OUT A MOTION SHEET, I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO IT.
SO IF YOU COULD HAVE THE MOTION SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU, AS I TALK THE LANGUAGE ON THE MOTION SHEET, WHERE IT SAYS AN EXECUTION THAT'S IN RED AND UNDERLINED, I'M TRYING, THAT'S THE LANGUAGE I WANT TO STRIKE, BUT I WANT TO PUT SOME LANGUAGE, UH, SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO, UH, UM, UM, WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, NO, I'M SORRY.
SO, SO WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO BOTH NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AS IT'S SHOWN WITH THE RED.
UH, I WOULD PUT A PERIOD AT THE END OF LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK.
SO IT'S A COMPLETE SENTENCE, AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION FOR THE ANDROID BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AT TOWN LAKE MEMORIAL, METROPOLITAN PARK PERIOD.
AND THEN I WOULD STRIKE THE, UM, UM, UH, BALANCE OF THE LANGUAGE IN THAT PARAGRAPH, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH THAT SPEAKS TO IT COMING TO, TO US.
UH, BUT I WOULD ADD TO THAT, UH, THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
SO IT WOULD SAY THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEES INSTRUCTED TO BRIEF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
SO THAT'S AN ADD, I'M TAKING THAT OUT OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, MOVING IT DOWN, SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED ON THE TERMS OF THE PARK OPERATION MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BEFORE EXECUTING THE FINAL AGREEMENT AND ALLOW AT LEAST ONE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND TIME NECESSARY TO POST ITS AGENDA TO OCCUR BEFORE THE BRIEFING AND EXECUTION OF THE, OF THE, UH, UH, UH, FINAL, UH, UH, AGREEMENT.
UM, AND THEN I WOULD ADD TO THAT, UH, LANGUAGE THAT, THAT HAS COME TO ME, COUNSELOR KITCHEN, THAT I THINK YOU HAD ALSO SEEN THAT WANTED IN THERE THAT SAID THAT THE FINAL UNSIGN AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY IN TIME FOR SUCH BRIEFINGS, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE FINISHED IT AT THAT POINT WHEN YOU DO THE BRIEFINGS, THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO LET PEOPLE SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE BEING BRIEFED ON.
SO ON BALANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST SECTION, UH, IT ADDS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH AFTER PARK PUTS PERIOD, UH, TAKES OUT THE REMAINING WORDS ON THE SECOND PARAGRAPH.
IT ADDS PARKS AND REC BOARD AFTER AFTER COUNCIL.
AND IT ADDS THAT LAST SENTENCE.
SO THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF, THE UNSIGNED DOCUMENT ITSELF IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
CAN YOU READ THE LAST SENTENCE AGAIN, PLEASE? YES.
THE FINAL ON-SITE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR SUCH BRIEFINGS SPINAL UNSIGN AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR SUCH BRIEFINGS THE WAY IT'S OUT FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THEN, AND THEN ON THE FURTHER DIRECTION SECTION, UH, I WOULD TAKE OUT REVIEW AND APPROVAL AGAIN.
I MEAN, IF THERE ARE CHANGES WITH EVENTS OR THINGS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY SIDE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE MAKING CHANGES TO THEIR, TO THEIR PROGRAM OR THE LIKE, AS ARE BEING DONE BY OTHER PEOPLE, PROGRAMMING PARKS, THAT THEY'RE BEING NOTIFICATION TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THE COUNCIL CAN SEE THAT IN CASE THE COUNCIL WOULD CHOOSE TO TAKE ACTION, BUT IT MAKES THE DEFAULT, UH, THAT THERE'S SOMEONE TO COUNCILS STEPPING UP TO, TO, TO, TO INTERRUPT, WHICH I WOULD IMAGINE WE COULD ALSO DO WITH PEAS AND REPUBLIC.
ANYHOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT STATED ANYWHERE, BUT ANYHOW, SO THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO CHANGES THAT THOSE WOULD BE THE AMENDMENTS I WOULD OFFER.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THOSE AMENDMENTS? THE MAYOR? I DON'T, CAN I SPEAK OKAY.
[04:05:01]
ACCEPT ALL OF YOUR AMENDMENTS.BUT I THINK MY AMENDMENT WAS, MY MOTION WAS ALREADY ON THERE.
MINE'S AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR AMENDMENT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER RENT THE SECONDS, THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.
I RECOGNIZE, WELL, FIRST PO CAUSE HE SECONDED THAT I'LL COME TO YOU.
AND I, I RUN MAKE SURE THAT, UH, UH, THAT IT'S ALL IN ALSO INCLUDES THE, UH, NEW, UH, MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAVE FOR FIESTA GARDEN AND A TRAIL THAT WE BUILDING ACROSS LONGHORN DAM, BECAUSE THAT'S A FUTURE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING THERE EVEN, UH, THE, UH, THE NEW TRAIL ACROSS THE LONGHORNS AND IT'S A $14 MILLION INVESTMENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALSO GETS INCLUDED INTO IT.
WITH REGARD TO THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, ONE QUESTION.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST STRIKE SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED.
SO IT SAYS IT'S INSTRUCTED TO BRIEF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THE PARKS AND REC BOARD ON THE TERMS. UH, AND THEN THE REST OF WHAT YOU SAID IS FINE.
I THINK SEEKING TO, TO BE BRIEFED IS UNNECESSARY HERE BECAUSE I THINK THIS SHOULD COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.
AND, UM, AND DEFINITELY TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE PARKS AND REC BOARD TO HAVE TO S UH, DESIGNATE SOMEHOW THAT THEY'RE SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE MANAGER WILL JUST SIT DOWN WITH EVERYBODY AND SAY, THESE ARE THE CHANGES.
UM, LEGAL ASKED FOR THAT IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEONE SAID, I DON'T NEED TO BE BRIEFED THAT'S OKAY.
AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE SOMEONE OPTED NOT TO BE BRIEFED, BUT THERE WAS AN OBLIGATION TO BRIEF THEM.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
UM, HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD? I WOULD IMAGINE STAFF WOULD NEED TO BRIEF HIM TOO.
I MEAN, THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS JUST TO BRIEF EVERYBODY ALL AT ONCE, BUT IF SOMEBODY WASN'T THERE, THEN I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO FIND THEM AND OFFER THEM A, A BRIEFING.
WELL, I THINK, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK OF SOME OTHER LANGUAGE THEN, BECAUSE, UH, THE WAY THAT I READ THAT IT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD, UM, I THINK IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND REC BOARD WOULD HAVE TO FORMAL OR EACH AFFIRMATIVELY SAY THAT THEY WERE SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED.
UM, SO PERHAPS IT NEEDS TO BE TWO SENTENCES.
IT'S NOT AS MUCH BIG A DEAL WITH THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ASK FOR IT FOR A BRIEFING TO ALL OF US.
SO YOU CAN JUST KNOW THAT NOW, BUT, UM, SO I WOULD JUST STRIKE SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED AS IT RELATES TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
I W I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST THAT WE KEEP IT KIND OF VERY CLEAR AND VERY SIMPLE, UM, TO PR SOMETHING LIKE PROVIDE, UH, PROVIDE THE AGREEMENT TO THE PARKS BOARD AND TO THE COUNCIL MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE FULL PARKS BOARD AND COUNCIL, WELL IN ADVANCE OF FINAL EXECUTION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT A MINIMUM NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
BUT THE BASIC POINT IS THAT WE WANT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY, EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL GETS THAT AGREEMENT WELL IN ADVANCE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PARKS BOARD GETS IT WELL IN ADVANCE.
AND WE WANT TO SCHEDULE A BRIEFING AT THE PARKS BOARD AND AT A CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION IN ENOUGH TIME FOR COUNSELING.
SO IF WE TAKE OUT SEEKING TO BE BRIEF SO THAT WE DON'T, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'RE READING THAT THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT.
SO IF WE JUST TAKE OUT THOSE WORDS, DOESN'T THAT COVER THAT THEN COUNCILOR TOVO CITY TO YOUR MANAGER DESIGNEES.
AND MANY TIMES, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS AT THIS POINT.
IT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE PAPER, EXCEPT THAT IT, IT TAKES OUT SEEKING TO BE BRIEFED BECAUSE AS THAT CONTAINS ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU SAID, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LINE ADDED AT THE END OF IT.
THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE FINAL AND SIGN AGREEMENT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR SUCH BRIEFINGS IN ADVANCE, IN ADVANCE BEFORE THE BRIEFINGS AND THE BRIEFINGS HAVE TO BE IN ADVANCE OF WITH SUFFICIENT TIME NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO POST ON THE AGENDA.
SO I THINK IT HITS ALL THE ELEMENTS EVER AUTHOR.
SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE'RE TAKING THIS UP, THAT WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING TO DO AND WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND HOW THIS CAN POTENTIALLY HELP OUR,
[04:10:01]
OUR PARK SYSTEM.UM, I WANT TO JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP, UM, BECAUSE I THINK I, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE AMENDING THIS AGREEMENT ON THE DIOCESE.
THERE ARE LAWYERS ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE ENGAGED.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AS A PARTNER, UM, NEEDS OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE QUESTIONS ARE COMING FROM AND, AND, AND THE CONCERNS ARE COMING FROM, BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT FIT WITH THEIR MODEL.
AND THE, THE TROUBLESOME PART IS THIS NOTION THAT IT COULD BE AMENDED ON THE DYESS WITHOUT THEM REALLY BEING ABLE TO BE PARTY AND TO HAVE THEIR LAWYERS PRESENT AND FOR IT TO BE, UM, UH, LEGALLY SOUND.
SO, CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WITH THIS PROCESS, WHAT HAPPENS IF, UH, AN ISSUE IS RAISED, THAT'S NOT RESOLVED IN THE AGREEMENT, LIKE WHO DETERMINES IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE FIXED, AND IF IT DOES, HOW DOES THAT, LIKE, I MEAN, THIS IS A FINE PROCESS, BUT I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE THE NEXT STEPS I CAN TELL YOU, WHAT COULD I SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE? CAN I SPEAK TO MY INTENT? I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO YOUR INTENT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IN, IN, IN MY BRIEFINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN TIME FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING, I WASN'T IN EVER ENVISIONING, WE WOULD BE IN NEGOTIATING LANGUAGE ON THE DAY.
WHAT THAT WOULD BE IS IF IN THE BRIEFING, SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING THAT SOMEONE THOUGHT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
SOMEONE WOULD BRING AN ACTION OR BRING A SET OF BRIEFING OR SET A DISCUSSION IF THEY NEEDED TO, OR WHATEVER IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AND SAY, RAISE THE ISSUE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD NEGOTIATE ON THE DIET, BUT IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE ON THE COUNCIL TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, OR I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT WAY TO DO THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS THAT WE WOULD BE, AND IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE, I THINK FOR US TO ACTUALLY WRITE A CHANGE ON THE DAYS, BUT IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAD COUNSEL RAISES THEIR HAND AND SAYS, THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
OR I WANT US TO DISCUSS A DIFFERENT POLICY APPROACH AS OUR KIDS.
UH, YES, I'M THIS, THIS LANGUAGE, THIS LANGUAGE DOES NOT SAY NOR IS IT CONTEMPLATED, OR IS IT THE INTENT TO, TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING ON THE DYES WITH AMENDMENTS TO A CONTRACT ON THE DYES? WE, WE DON'T DO THAT.
UH, THIS IS THE ROLE FOR THE LAWYERS FOR BOTH SIDES TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.
AND, AND OF COURSE IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT WHAT WOULD COME BACK TO US WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR THE TRIAL TRAIL FOUNDATION.
AND IF THERE WERE CONCERNS RAISED, WE'D GO BACK TO THE LAWYERS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND SEE WHAT COULD BE WORKED OUT.
UM, THAT'S ALL THIS IS, IS JUST RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO READ WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS, AS I SAID, WHEN I FIRST STARTED SPEAKING, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S A WONDERFUL ASSET AND WE ARE LUCKY, AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO STEP UP TO THE TABLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS A HUGE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY INTO THE FUTURE TO, TO THINK ABOUT.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVES OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON THIS IS WE HAVE A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT'S WILLING TO STEP UP AND TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP IN OUR SHARED SPACES AS A COMMUNITY, AND TO OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SHINE AS, AS AUSTINITES.
UM, I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SAYING THE INTENT IS NOT TO COME UP HERE AND AMEND THINGS, BUT SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN WHEN, UM, WHEN WE DON'T LET OUR PARTNERS AND OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE OUR TRUST IN FINDING A CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE AND EFFECTIVE DOCUMENT.
AND SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH KEEPING THINGS WITH NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE.
UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT ANY OF OUR FOUNDATIONAL PARTNERS AND CONSERVANCIES TO KNOW THAT IF THEY WANT TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF SOME OF OUR SHARED PARK SPACE, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.
THEY CAN PLAN THEIR BUSINESSES AROUND IT.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUYING EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID OFF OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, WE CAN'T KEEP COMING BACK EVERY YEAR AND CHANGING THE TERMS AND CHANGING THE FINANCIAL COMPONENTS OF IT, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST TO ME, NOT A GOOD WAY TO EITHER RUN A BUSINESS OR TO CREATE GOOD TRUSTING, UM,
[04:15:01]
PREDICTABLE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.AND SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING WELL TOWARD THIS LANGUAGE.
UM, I ALSO BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY AND WANT, MAKE SURE WE KNOW HOW THIS PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE AND MAY DECIDE TO AMEND THINGS FROM THE DIOCESE AND IT'S ALL WITH GOOD INTENT, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING UNEXPECTED HAPPEN AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN WE KNOW THAT OUR PARTNERS AND OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON, ON A CONTRACT, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF THE TERMS AND AGREEMENTS.
IF YOU'VE OPENED THIS DOCUMENT AND LEAFED THROUGH IT, ALL, IT IS EXTREMELY DETAILED ALREADY.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE OUR PARTNERS AND OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE COURTESY OF BEING ABLE TO REACH THESE DISCUSSIONS TOGETHER.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE PARKS OR, I MEAN, FROM A TRIAL FOUNDATION, WHICH YOU COME UP FOR, SAY, MAYOR, I THINK YOU HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS THAT WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING AND I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO, BUT THEY'D BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT QUESTION NOW, ARE YOU CAUSE, CAUSE I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THESE AMENDMENTS OR IF THESE AMENDMENTS PRESENT PROBLEM TO YOU.
UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, CITY MANAGER CRUNK.
I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, AS OUR PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, WE HAVE SPENT YEARS, LITERALLY YEARS WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH CITY STAFF, UH, FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP TERMS COLLECTIVELY, NOT JUST WITH, FOR TTF, BUT THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, UM, UH, ADHERE TO ANY PARK PARTNER FROM PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY, WATERLOO REPUBLIC, SQUARE HILL, COUNTRY CONSERVANCY, AND OTHERS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ALSO DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON BEST PRACTICES OF HOW THESE PARTNERSHIPS SHOULD GO, HOW, HOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE KEY PIECE THAT, UM, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MENTIONING IS CONSISTENCY HERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL THE PARTNERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE TREATED EQUALLY AND CONSISTENTLY SO THAT WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THAT CONSISTENCY BREAKS DOWN.
IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT TO ALL OF US AND STARTS TO AFFECT THE ABILITY FOR US TO RAISE MONEY TO PLAN, UH, AND JUST TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN GENERAL.
SO WE FEEL LIKE CITY STAFF IS BEST SUITED BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE YEARS OF RESEARCH, WE'VE DONE TOGETHER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE.
WE HAVE GONE TO THE PARKS BOARD AND GOT UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
WE WENT THROUGH THE ONM PLAN WITH THEM AND THE PROGRAMMING PLAN.
AT THAT TIME, WE DID THE SAME THING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND CONTRACTS AND CONCESSION AND HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH ALL OF THOSE GROUPS.
I THINK OUR CONCERN, UM, IS THAT, UH, IF WE CONTINUE TO GO BACK WITH, UH, THE DETAILS OF THE DOCUMENT, WHICH REALLY ARE ALREADY IN PLACE WITH THE BACKUP, THE HOUMA IS JUST THE FRAMEWORK ITSELF, THAT THE INTRICACIES OF THIS COMPLEX PARTNERSHIP THAT THE CITY STAFF KNOWS SO WELL WOULD START TO GET DOWN AND THEN DIFFERENT PARTNERS WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT RULES APPLIED TO THEM OR TERMS APPLIED TO THEM, WHICH MAKES IT JUST HARD FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTNERS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO YOU'D RATHER NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
YOU'D RATHER NOT HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS.
AND THANKS TO, UM, HEIDI AND LEAH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO, JUST TO, UH, REMEMBER THAT THE FACT THAT WE ARE STANDING HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS BECAUSE, UM, OF MEETINGS THAT HAPPENED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT KICKED OFF THE E THE VERY CONCEPT OF HAVING THESE, UH, CONTRACTS, BOILER PLATES WITH THE TIER ONE TIER A ET CETERA, UM, THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
IT WAS AN IDEA THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THE POINT WAS TO MAKE THE PROCESSING OF THESE AGREEMENTS BECAUSE WE RELY ON OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO COMPLETELY IN ORDER TO GET THAT ADDITIONAL SCALE THAT THE CITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO CARE FOR OUR CIVIC ASSETS, WE CAN'T DO IT ALL ON OUR OWN AS A CITY, AS IN MANY, MANY ISSUES.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT THE, THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS STRUCK HERE TODAY, OR THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PASS HERE TODAY WAS ONE WHOSE FRAMEWORK WAS DEVISED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM OUR CITY STAFF AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK.
AND, UH, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THEIR APPLICATION THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO BE THE NATURAL OUTCOME OF A, A PROMISE THAT WE HAD PUT OUT THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY,
[04:20:01]
TO HAVE SOME OF THIS, TO BE STREAMLINED.SO EVERYBODY KNEW UP IN ADVANCE WHAT WAS GOING TO BE REQUIRED AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY AND STANDARDIZATION ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE.
I APPRECIATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SAID ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND CONSISTENCY ACROSS, UM, ALL OF, UH, THE CONSERVANCIES, THE LIST, UH, PEACE PARK, VIOLET CROWN TRAIL, UM, UH, OUR DOWNTOWN FOLKS WITH REPUBLIC SQUARE AND OTHERS HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM A SENSE OF CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE BOARD.
I, UH, HAVE GIVEN THIS A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT THE EXECUTE PIECE.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE DIOCESE HAS IN THE PAST GONE AHEAD AND NEGOTIATE ACT AND EXECUTE IN MANY, MANY, MANY INSTANCES.
AND SOME OF THOSE INSTANCES HAVE BEEN ON AGREEMENTS THAT ARE FAR MORE COMPLEX AND A MUCH HIGHER DOLLAR LEVEL THAN WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE.
UM, WITH THE END, THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS A SIGNIFICANT CIVIC ASSET FOR THE CITY, BUT IT IS AT A SMALLER SCALE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE NOT HELD UP BEFORE THE EXECUTE IN THE PAST, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN ON THE SIDE FROM TIME TO TIME SAYING, I WANT THEM SEPARATED AND LOST ON THOSE VOTES.
SO, UM, I, IN THAT CONTEXT SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT WHERE I STAND ON THIS ONE.
AND IN THE END, I, I HAVE MOVED COMPLETELY ONTO THE SIDE OF NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE AGREEMENT THE WAY IT WAS OFFERED.
UM, MAYOR, I, I APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE PIECE THAT YOU ARE OFFERING HERE.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, IT IS NOT OUT OF THE FRAME FOR US AS OFFICIALS TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS ON, ON THE CONTRACT AS IT IS FINALIZED.
UM, BUT, UH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY THAT OUR STAFF AND THE TRAIL FOUNDATION HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THE VARIOUS, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND OTHER GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE VERY COMPREHENSIVELY CHECKED THE BOXES FOR OVERSIGHT AND COMPLETION OF THIS, OF THIS AGREEMENT.
AND SO, UM, I, AND SO I ALSO, UH, JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE LAST NOTE ABOUT BRINGING THE CONTRACT TO THE DIOCESE STRIKES ME AS, AS A LITTLE BIT, UM, OUT OF THE NORM AS SIGNIFICANTLY OUT OF THE NORM FOR HOW WE HAVE HANDLED THESE IN THE PAST.
SO I DO SUPPORT THE, UM, THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
UM, THERE MAY BE, UH, AND YOUR GUIDANCE, UM, MAYOR.
I HAVE, UM, A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT I FEEL I NEED TO SAY.
AND I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR STAFF ABOUT THE CONCESSION PIECE.
WE'VE GOTTEN DIFFERENT ANSWERS ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS WITHIN, WITHIN THE GUIDING DOCUMENT.
AND I NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO I'LL START, I'LL START WITH THE COMMENT WITH THE CONVERSATION WHERE WE'RE IN AT THE MOMENT.
UM, BUT I'M GOING TO START BY SAYING, I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS EARLY ON ABOUT THIS KIND OF PARTNERSHIP.
I AM A SOLID SUPPORTER OF THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
I'M DELIGHTED AND AGREE THIS, THIS LONG AWAITED RELATIONSHIP MOVE FORWARD, UM, AND, AND, AND TEND TO SUPPORT, UM, AND INTEND TO SUPPORT THIS NEW, NEW PHASE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I HAVE TO SAY, AS THIS CONVERSATION HAS EVOLVED, I'M GROWING INCREASINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE AT, AT, AT, UM, THE WAY IT'S BEING DISCUSSED AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE VERY FREQUENTLY WE HAVE CONTRACTS IN OUR BACKUP THAT WE REVIEW BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE OFTEN, UM, SEPARATED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION, AND THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE EXAMPLE BEFORE ANY OF US SET UP.
ANY OF US SAT ON THE DIOCESE OF, UM, A PARTNERSHIP THAT HAD TO BE UNWELCOMED BECAUSE FOR THAT VERY REASON, IT WAS VOTED ON.
AND THEN IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING, UM, SOME CONCERNS GOT, GOT RAISED AND IT HAD TO BE UNWOUND, UM, BEFORE TOO MUCH TIME HAD ELAPSED.
SO I HOPE IT WASN'T AN ASSERTION.
I HOPE THE MESSAGING HERE IS NOT THAT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THE COUNCIL WITH THE DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT'S TOO COMPLEX FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.
AND WE MIGHT MONKEY WITH IT IN WAYS THAT ARE, UM, PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WE VERY FREQUENTLY, AS I SAID, HAVE THOSE KINDS OF THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.
AND WE HAVE REVIEWED IN SOME DETAIL, SOME OF THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING THE PROGRAMMING, THE PROGRAMMING DOCUMENT FOR REPUBLIC SQUARE AS WE ENTERED INTO THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO I GUESS I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERN IS WITH PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL PRIOR TO EXECUTION.
[04:25:02]
UM, SO I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT THERE FOR THE MOMENT.UM, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR PARK STAFF ABOUT THE CONCESSION PIECE.
COULD YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU, THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED US WITH IN DRAFT FORM ARE, ARE TALKING ABOUT CONCESSIONS, WHAT THE LIMITATIONS ARE IN THE DOCUMENT, WHAT LIMITATIONS YOU INTEND TO HAVE IN THE CONTRACT? I THINK OF, OF ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HEARD.
I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, FROM THOSE WHO ARE WRITING TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR THIS.
I HAVE RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONCESSIONS PIECE.
SO IF YOU COULD WALK ME THROUGH THAT PIECE OF IT, PLEASE.
UM, YEAH, AND I CAN DO VOCA I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH REGARD TO THE CONCESSIONS, THE AGREEMENT WILL REQUIRE THE CHAIR FOUNDATION TO FOLLOW, UM, ALL THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE CODE AND, UH, DICTATE, UH, THE OPERATIONS, UH, ESPECIALLY AT, UH, LADYBIRD, LIKE, UM, ALSO OUR REVENUE SHARE SHARING CONCESSIONS WILL BE COMING TO CONSOLE US FOR APPROVAL.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE PIECE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW YOU PROVIDED MY STAFF WITH THAT INFORMATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRAILS FOUNDATION IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S NOT THAT SECOND PIECE WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME.
SO ARE YOU, UH, DID YOU SAY YOU TRAILED OFF A BIT AT THE END? UM, DID YOU SAY THAT THOSE INDIVIDUAL CONCESSIONS, AS THE TRAILS FOUNDATION PROPOSES ENTERING INTO THEM, WOULD ALL COME INDIVIDUALLY TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT RENEWAL OF THIS CONTRACTS WILL STILL COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL RENEWAL OF EXISTING CONCESSION CONTRACTS.
HOW ABOUT CONTACTS? DID YOU SAY NEW CONTRACTS AS WELL? YES.
SO ANY NEW CONTRACTS WILL COME TO COUNCIL AND THAT'S A CERTAINTY.
YOU SAID IT WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING, BUT IS THAT A, IS THAT A CERTAINTY? AND I GUESS I WOULD INVITE, UM, AND THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE CONTRACTS TEAM IN OUR GROUP TODAY.
SO IF WE, OKAY, SO THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OVER KIND OF LOOKING HOLISTICALLY ALONGSIDE THE TRAILS FOUNDATION AND DETERMINING IF CONCESSIONS ARE APPROPRIATE ARE TOO NUMEROUS ARE PERFECT.
UM, THOSE ARE THOSE DECISIONS WILL ALL BE MADE JOINTLY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
AND THERE IS, THERE ARE CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCESSIONS, UH, AT LADYBIRD, LIKE THIS ALSO WILL BE IN EXISTENCE AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM LEGAL THAT MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE, UM, CLARITY MAYBE.
AND I THINK I'M, I'M INTERESTED MORE IN KIND OF WHAT IS THE GOVERNING LIMITATIONS FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST KIND OF CODE REQUIREMENTS ABOUT WHETHER SOMETHING CAN BE AT THE LAKE OR NOT, BUT, UM, SOME OVERSIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MAXIMUM NUMBER.
I MEAN, WE, WE, AND I KNOW THE TRAILS FOUNDATION HAS HELPED US CREATE THIS AMAZING ASSET THAT IS, YOU KNOW, VERY NATURAL AND HAS CONCESSIONS, BUT IS APPROPRIATELY BALANCED.
AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT, UM, ABILITY AS A, AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONCESSIONS, ANY NEW CONCESSIONS CONTINUE THAT TO CONTINUE TO FALL WITHIN THAT BALANCE.
SO I SEE THE LAW DEPARTMENT HERE, UM, AS, UH, LEANNA SAID, THE CONVERSATION AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, UM, WILL REQUIRE THE TRAIL FOUNDATION TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO NEW OR, UM, UH, EXISTING CONCESSIONS.
SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE CITY WOULD PROCESS AN APPLICATION FOR A NEW CONCESSION OR A RENEWAL OF A CONCESSION, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WOULD HAVE TO ADHERE TO THOSE SAME RULES.
SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS THEN, IS IT THEN, WILL THOSE ALL COME TO COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL OR WILL THOSE JUST BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE TRAILS FOUNDATION, ANY NEW CONTRACTS WHO IS THE DETERMINING AUTHORITY ONCE THIS IS EXECUTED, WHO IS THE DETERMINING AUTHORITY OF THOSE NEW CONTRACTS? WELL, THE, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GRANT A PERMIT FOR A NEW CONCESSION THAT THAT WOULD REMAIN A CITY RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE CITY WOULD GRANT ANY NEW PERMIT, IT WOULD FOLLOW THAT SAME PROCESS.
[04:30:02]
OKAY.AND IN TERMS OF, UM, CODE REQUIREMENTS, ARE THERE ANY CODE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO AMPLIFIED SOUND TH THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GET THE ANSWER FOR YOU.
BUT YOU'VE ANSWERED THAT OTHER QUESTION.
I HAVE A FOLLOWUP IN THAT SAME QUESTION, KATHY.
UH, AND SO, UM, FOR LAW AND THEN OVER PERIOD RACISM, THANK YOU, MARY.
AND, UH, I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE HEARING ALL THAT.
THEN YOU CONFESSIONS NEGOTIATION, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT EVERY OTHER GROUP GOES THROUGH, DAN, I AM SATISFIED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THE PARK FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY GREAT PARTNER, ESPECIALLY IN MY AREA.
I'VE SEEN HIM DO THE WORK THEY WERE DOING, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING THAT WORK.
AND, UH, SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY, I SUPPORT PAUL'S RECOMMENDATION ON DAD AND, UH, I'M SURE THAT THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM COMING BACK AND GIVING US A BRIEFING.
BUT I THINK THAT, THAT, UH, WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, EXECUTE.
SO FROM A PROCESS DISCUSSION PLACE, WE HAVE A BASE MOTION THAT SAYS GO FORTH AS NEGOTIATED AND EXECUTE.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN THAT WE'VE SEEN HER PAGE.
I MADE AN AMENDMENT TO HER AMENDMENTS SEEKING TO FIND MIDDLE GROUND.
MY SENSE IS, IS THAT, THAT MY MIDDLE GROUND DOESN'T SATISFY EITHER SIDE ON EITHER SIDE OF ME.
AND, AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT IF IT WAS SEPARATE, THEN PEOPLE WANTED TO DO, AND THEN WE COULD JUST HAVE A STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN VOTE ON A KITCHEN AMENDMENT.
BUT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW IS MY AMENDMENT TO KITCHENS AMENDMENT.
IF THAT DOES IT PASS, OR IT DOES PASS, WE WOULD THEN VOTE ON THE KITCHEN AMENDMENT AS AMENDED OR AS NOT A MAN MAY.
I ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THE FIRST PART, UH, THE FURTHER DIRECTION, BUT I STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THE FIRST PART, EXCEPT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT.
AND THEN THE, SO I CAN'T, SO I CAN'T WITHDRAW IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT MINE TO WITHDRAW.
AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL VOTE ON, ON THE AMENDMENT.
MY AMENDMENT TO, I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH.
UM, THE, UM, IT'S A, FOLLOW-UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER.
TEBOW'S QUESTION FOR LAW AND IT RELATES TO THE, UM, THE PART OF MY DIRECTION, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK IT BECAUSE IT'S A FOLLOWUP TO WHAT WAS ASKED BEFORE.
SO, UM, DID, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO WAS SPEAKING? OKAY.
UH, CAN YOU TELL ME THEN IF THERE WAS A NEW CONCESSION AND BY THAT, I MEAN, UH, A NEW USE OF THE TRAIL, WOULD THAT COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE, WHAT I AM NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH IS WHETHER IF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SELECT ANY CONCESSION ABOUT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL, IF, IF THE PARTS DEPARTMENT SELECTED A NEW CONCESSION AND THAT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL, THEN THE ANSWER IS YES.
ANY NEW CONCESSION, UM, SELECTED BY SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WOULD COME TO COUNCIL.
IF THE PARTS DEPARTMENT COULD SELECT A NEW CONCESSIONAIRE WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT RULES, THEN THAT WOULD NOT COME BEFORE COUNCIL.
WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS? SAME ANSWER.
ANY, ANY PROCESS THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS TO FOLLOW THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW WELL FOR CLARITY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS IS UNDERSTOOD.
SO MAYBE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN TELL US MAY OR MAY I ASK A FOLLOW UP, WHICH CONCESSIONS CURRENTLY DON'T COME TO COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY ACCOUNTS, ARE THERE ANY CONCESSIONS THAT DO NOT COME TO COUNCIL? FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW WE WERE GETTING LOTS OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, SERVING ALCOHOL AT ZILKER PARK IS THAT THE KIND OF CONCESSION THAT WOULD NEED TO COME TO COUNCIL.
AND I WOULD HAVE TO EITHER GET BACK TO THE ANSWER ON THAT OR DEFER TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN WHAT COMES TO COUNCIL AND WHAT DOES NOT COME TO COUNCIL
[04:35:01]
FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.I WOULD PREFER THAT WE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION, UM, SUBMITTED THROUGH I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T QUITE HEAR YOU.
I WOULD PREFER THAT WE GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT AND WITH A COMPLETE ANSWER.
UH, MAYOR THEN I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD SET THIS ASIDE BECAUSE ONE OF OUR MAJOR QUESTIONS WE CAN'T ANSWER RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT IN A MINUTE, IF YOU'D PREFER.
CAUSE THAT PREFERS, THAT REFERS TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAT I MADE, NOT THE FIRST ONE.
AND WE CAN SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THAT'S RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL COUNCIL EVER ALTER.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LILIANA OR, OR MR. CREAGAN.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTS IN OUR BACKUP AND THEN THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE AGREEMENT, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GIVING A WHOLE LOT MORE WEIGHT THAN MAYBE IT, AS I RECALL, A LOT OF IT IS CODIFICATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP CONFIGURATION AND THEN FILLING IN THE BLANKS, BUT MOST OF WHICH ARE IN THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN, BUT THEN THERE'S LEGAL, THERE'S A LEGAL FRAMEWORK AROUND THAT.
THAT DOESN'T LOOK AS PRETTY AS THE PARTNERSHIP CONFIGURATION IS THAT I WENT THROUGH THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE HAD THIS BEFORE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REMEMBERING RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, CAN YOU MAYBE CLARIFY WHAT IS IN THE AGREEMENT BROADLY SPEAKING, AS OPPOSED TO THESE DOCUMENTS? SURE.
THE, THE, UM, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT DICTATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY.
SO THE CITY WILL, UM, TAKE ON CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF GENERALLY HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THINGS.
AND THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WILL TAKE ON OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, GENERALLY HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, MAINTENANCE AND EVENTS AND HOW THEY, HOW THEY HANDLE CERTAIN THINGS.
AND THEN THERE ARE, UM, SCENARIOS THAT ARE CONTEMPLATED, UH, WITH RESPECT TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR, YOU KNOW, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT IN GENERAL, IT JUST COVERS WHAT EACH PARTY IS OBLIGATED TO DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.
I GUESS I'M ASKING WHAT SEPARATES THE AGREEMENT FROM THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN OUR BACKUP BECAUSE DON'T THOSE DOCUMENTS EFFECTIVELY MAKE UP THE AGREEMENT.
AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN YOUR BACKUP, UM, ARE SPECIFICALLY, UM, DIRECTED TOWARDS OBLIGATIONS.
SO WHAT, WHAT THE, WHAT SERVICES THE TRAIL FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE FOR ANY PARTICULAR YEAR, UH, MAINTENANCE AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE, THAT THE AUTHORIZATION IS ON THE TABLE FOR WE'LL REFERENCE THOSE, BUT THEY'RE ONLY A PIECE OF WHAT WE'RE AGREEING TO.
WE'LL SAY THAT, UM, YOU HAVE A TRAIL FOUNDATION WILL HAVE A YEARLY OR AN ANNUAL PLAN, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AND THAT WILL BE PART OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS, BUT THE, BUT THE OVERALL OBLIGATIONS WILL BE LARGER THAN THAT.
WHAT, AGAIN, WHAT INSURANCE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE AND WHAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO IN A CERTAIN SCENARIO.
AND ALMOST ALL OF THOSE ARE OUTLINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP CONFIGURATION.
I MEAN, THE INSURANCE IS THE OTHER STUFF, CORRECT.
I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE MYSTERY.
THAT'S NOT IN WHAT WE'RE SEEING OF WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE WE'RE GOING.
THAT THAT'S WHAT I 'CAUSE, I, I BELIEVE IT'S A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT REFERENCES THE DRAFT PLAN AND IS CODIFYING THE STUFF THAT'S BETWEEN THE DRAFT PLAN.
AND WHAT'S IN THE CONFIGURATION, WHICH IS THE BROADER REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'VE ASSIGNED TO ALL OF OUR CONSERVANCIES.
UM, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THOSE TEMPLATES FOR A COUPLE OF OTHER UNITS.
UM, SO, SO AGAIN, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT THE THERE'S NO CONTRACT IN THE, IN THE BACKUP.
I UNDERSTAND IT IT'S, BUT THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT ARE IN THE BACKUP IS SO, SO THE TERMS ARE WHAT'S IN THE PARTNERSHIP CONFIGURATION, A COMBINED WITH THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN, UM, AND THE PROGRAMMING PLAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THINGS THAT CHANGE OVER TIME THAT ARE ALLOWED BY THE AGREEMENT, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UM, AND, AND MAYBE IF SOMEONE CAN CHRISTINE TO CANOLA WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND YES, THE, UH, SO EVERY SITE IS DIFFERENT.
[04:40:01]
IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, SOME PARKS MAY HAVE, UH, A WATER FEATURE, SOME PARKS MAY HAVE A TRAIL.SO THE PLANS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE VERY SITE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT THE SITE, THE TERMS, THE PARTNERSHIP, A ARE THE KIND OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, THAT IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT AMONGST ALL THE PARTNERSHIPS.
SO KIND OF THE, AGAIN, THE BASE TERMS, THE LEGAL CONFIGURATION OF THE DOCUMENT.
BUT AGAIN, THOSE, THOSE ACTIVITIES OF THE, THE NONPROFIT PARTNER ARE BASED ON THE SITE AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THOSE PLANS.
SO THERE'S NOT A MYSTERIOUS THING THAT'S MISSING.
THERE'S JUST SORT OF THE LEGAL EASE THAT PUTS THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.
I WAS ASKED ON A DICE IF SUPPORT WOULD SOMEONE DO IF THEY WANTED TO STRIKE THE LAST SENTENCE THAT WAS ADDED, UH, THAT WAS HANDED TO ME BY SOMEONE, UH, TO THAT PARAGRAPH, WHICH WAS THE SENTENCE THAT SAID, THE CONTRACT COMES OUT, YOU CAN'T DO AN AMENDMENT TO IT, A BED, BUT TO AN AMENDMENT.
SO WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT THAT I OFFERED TO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION, IT'LL EITHER GO UP OR IT WON'T GO UP.
AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD STILL BE AN ORDER TO AMEND THE KITCHEN AMENDMENT AS AMENDED.
SO IF THIS PASSES AS THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, THEN SOMEONE COULD BE RECOGNIZED TO AMEND IT, TO STRIKE THAT SENTENCE IF THEY WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THAT.
AND THEN WHEN THERE WERE NO OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDMENT THAT WE WOULD VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, CATHERINE, THAT I'LL COME BACK TO.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT I THINK WE'LL HAVE, DEFINITELY HAVE TO READ THROUGH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR LEGAL.
UM, I, DON'T NOT SURE IS LEGAL ON, OKAY.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
SO, UM, IS THERE A DRAFT AGREEMENT WRITTEN YET? YEAH, THERE IS A DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL TERMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AGREED UPON, BUT THERE IS A FRAMEWORK THAT WE ARE USING TO START THE DISCUSSIONS.
AND DOES THE DRAFT AGREEMENT INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT IS MORE THAN JUST ATTACHING THE DRAFT ANNUAL PROGRAMMING PLAN AND THE DRAFT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN? YES.
SO THERE IS A DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN.
IT'S NOT IN OUR BACKUP THAT COVERS MORE TERMS THAN THE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN OUR BACKUP, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THERE ARE THREE DOCUMENTS IN OUR BACKUP JUST, WELL THEN THE PARTNERSHIP CONFIGURATION IS IN THERE, WHICH IS AS I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WELL THEN LET ME ASK, LET ME ASK MY QUESTION AGAIN.
SO THERE IS A, UM, DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON.
THAT INCLUDES TERMS THAT ARE MORE THAN THE THREE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN OUR BACKUP RIGHT NOW.
I W I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT HAS LANGUAGE THAT HAS NOT BEEN AGREED UPON, BUT IT IS MORE EXPANSIVE THAN THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE.
IN FRONT OF US IS THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IT'S, AS IT APPEARS ON THE PAGE, EXCEPT THAT IT STRIKES ALL THE WORDS AFTER LAKEWOOD PRO METROPOLITAN PARK.
THERE'S A PERIOD THERE, AND IT ADDS BRIEF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND PARKS AND BOARD, AND IT ADDS THAT LAST SENTENCE ABOUT, UH, MAKING THE UNSIGNED CONTRACT AVAILABLE FOR THE BRIEFINGS.
I MEAN, THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE DISTRIBUTED WITH THE, THESE ARE JUST TO BE CLEAR.
THESE ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE DISTRIBUTED WITH THE, UM, ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU'VE JUST OFFERED.
IT'S, IT'S A PAGE THAT I DID BEFORE JUST DOING THE MOTION PART, NOT THE DIRECTION PART, WE'RE JUST DOING THE FIRST PART OF THAT.
IT'S A CHANGES THAT AS HEADED OUT WITH THE CHANGES, I JUST READ, SAY ABOUT THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, TO THE AMENDMENT.
UH, MAYOR, I THINK IT IS THAT HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE IT WHEN I ACCEPTED IT AS AN, A FRIENDLY, ISN'T IT JUST AN AMENDMENT TO ACCEPT.
SO, W THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I, SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD, THE AMENDMENT AMENDMENT STOPPED.
HE DID ANONYMOUSLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KASAR OFF THE DICE.
REMEMBER AUTHOR'S ABSTAINING HAS EVER COSAR.
SO 10 0 1, THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT PASSES.
IS THIS NOW WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO WHAT WE JUST ADOPTED?
[04:45:01]
YES.SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, UM, I WOULD MOVE TO DELETE THE FINAL SENTENCE THAT WAS ADDED AT THE BOTTOM ABOUT THE CONTRACT ON THE DYESS.
RIGHT NOW THE AMENDMENT HAS THE LANGUAGE, UH, ABOUT, UH, DISTRIBUTING THE, THE UNEXECUTED AGREEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MOVES TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THAT SENTENCE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER READ TO SECONDS THEN AS A MEMBER POOL DISCUSSION, THAT'S THE PIECE THAT REALLY GIVES ME, UM, CONCERN PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A DISCUSSION OF A CONTRACT ON THE DIASEND.
THAT'S NOT USUALLY, THAT'S NOT OUR STANDARD APPROACH, THE AGREEMENT AND THE NEGOTIATION, UH, PRIOR TO EXECUTION BASED ON GUIDANCE AND THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO JUST NOW ASSURE ME THAT WE WILL HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION AND THAT IF THERE ARE CONCERNS, THEY COULD BE RAISED AT THAT POINT.
BUT I, UH, RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT DO A REVIEW OF A CONTRACT ON THE DIOCESE AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.
SO, SO THE STAFF ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE PARKS BOARD ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, BUT NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH THE AGREEMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD WANT TO PROHIBIT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD REMOVE A LINE THAT SAYS PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING.
BASICALLY, IF I CAN ANSWER, I DIDN'T REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS INTENDED BY THAT LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT ANY, AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WOULD BE OTHERWISE AVAILABLE TO US.
AND I WASN'T ABLE TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THAT ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT CAME FROM OR WHAT ITS PURPOSE WAS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT.
SO WITHOUT HAVING IT EXPLAINED, I WANTED TO TAKE IT OFF BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE NEED IT ACTUALLY.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WOULD IN FACT, BE PARSING A CONTRACT ON THE DYESS, WE WOULD BE EITHER, BUT I TH AND SO THAT'S WHY BEFORE, WHEN I ASKED THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, COULD WE ADJUST THE LANGUAGE? I THINK WHAT'S WHAT MIGHT BE THROWING THINGS OFF A LITTLE BIT IS THAT IT'S A LITTLE BACKWARDS, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION THEN ABOUT THE MATERIAL THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED.
I MEAN, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T, I DON'T, I CAN'T SUPPORT A REMEDY OF REMOVING THE INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED.
I JUST, I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, AND THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT THEY WOULD BE PRESENTING AND DISCUSSING.
CAN WE POSSIBLY GET A BETTER EXPLANATION FOR WHAT THAT PARTICULAR LAST AMENDMENT WAS INTENDED? UH, I THINK THAT THAT LANGUAGE WAS, WAS JUST SAYING WHEN THE STAFF IS DOING THE BRIEFING OVER WHAT IT IS THAT THE FINAL GRIEVANCE IS GOING TO BE, THEY WOULD PRESENT THE AGREEMENT CLEARLY NOT FOR THE COUNCIL TO PARSE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DESCRIBING IT QUALITATIVELY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A PRODUCIBLE DOCUMENT ANYHOW.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S A PREJUDICE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND I HAD TURNED TO THE MANAGER AND SAID, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE BRIEFINGS, DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LETTING PEOPLE SEE THE DOCUMENT? HE HAD? NONE.
I JUST, I MEAN, THE BRIEFING SHOULD COVER WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE DOCUMENT.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE AND WHY EITHER WAY LANGUAGE WAS OFFERED.
AND, AND I TOOK IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE IT AS BEING A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TO THE REQUIREMENT, TO DO A BRIEFING.
IT STILL REQUIRES A COUNCIL MEMBER TO STEP IN TO, TO, TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
BUT BRIEFINGS LIKE THIS, LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE TRIAL FOUNDATION COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD ASK FOR IT, ANYTIME COUNCIL MEMBER, ALICE, THE WAY THAT I INTERPRETED IT WAS, THERE'S KIND OF A PROCEDURAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING A BRIEFING ON WHAT'S IN A DOCUMENT AND BEING PRESENTED AN ACTUAL DOCUMENT, WHICH TO ME, IF I'M PRESENTED A DOCUMENT, I, I MAY THINK, OKAY, LET'S STRIKE THIS, LET'S CHANGE THIS.
THIS IS HOW I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT GETTING A BRIEFING ON THE CONTENT IS, IS QUITE DIFFERENT TO ME.
SO IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME THAT IT WAS IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT I COMPLETELY SEE WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS COMING FROM ON THIS.
UM, AND I THINK UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IN IT, UM, IT IS VERY HELPFUL AND VERY NECESSARY ULTIMATELY, BUT THERE WOULD BE THAT URGE FOR, YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME WE GET A BRIEFING AND A PARKS BOARD GETS A BRIEFING, YOU'VE NOW GOT 20 PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT THOUGHTS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT THIS WAY.
IN FRONT OF US IS THE POOL AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THAT LAST SENTENCE, ANY PRO DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE COUNCIL, BARBER, KITCHEN, OR COUNCIL EVER ALTER.
UM, I, UM, I THINK THE LAST SENTENCE IS JUST TRANSPARENCY AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE AGREEMENT.
[04:50:01]
I THINK I TRUST THIS COUNCIL THAT THIS TRUMP COUNCIL IS NOT GOING TO PICK APART AN AGREEMENT JUST BECAUSE THEY GOT A BRIEFING ON IT.AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A HUGE ISSUE OF PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY ON A MAJOR ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY BECAUSE WHEREVER ALTAR, UM, TWO-PART QUESTION ONE, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE READ WHAT THE MOTION IS? THAT'S ON THE, LIKE, BEFORE WE CUT THE LAST SENTENCE, WHAT WE ACTUALLY, I ABSTAINED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO CONFUSING.
SO I IMAGINED THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CHAMBER WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO EXECUTE THIS, MAYBE CONFUSED.
SO IF SOMEONE COULD READ, I READ, I READ THE KITCHEN AMENDMENT, AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A PARK'S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION FOR THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AT TOWN LAKE METROPOLITAN PARK.
NEXT PARAGRAPH, THE CITY MANAGER DESIGNATE IS INSTRUCTED TO BRIEF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THE PARKS AND REC BOARD ON THE TERMS OF THE PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BEFORE EXECUTING THE FINAL AGREEMENT AND ALLOW AT LEAST ONE REGULAR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE TIME NECESSARY TO POST TO ITS AGENDA TO OCCUR BEFORE THE BRIEFING AND THE EXECUTION OF THE FINAL AGREEMENT.
AND THEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL SENTENCE HAD SAYS THE FINAL UNSIGNED AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR SUCH BRIEFINGS.
THE POOL AMENDMENT STRIKES THAT LAST SENTENCE.
UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION, I WOULD THINK WE PROBABLY NEED THE TRANSPARENCY OF SEEING THE AGREEMENT, BUT I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY THAT WE ARE STILL UNDER THIS.
IT WOULD BE STAFF TO THE TRAIL FOUNDATION THAT WOULD BE NEGOTIATING ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CHANGED IN THE CONTRACT.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE AT THE BRIEFING AND COUNCIL GETS TO CHANGE MANY WORDS.
THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THIS CONCERNS US, GO FIX IT.
AND THEN THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH AGREEMENT OR NOT.
AND THEN IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BEING REDUCED IN WRITING, PUT INTO THE MINUTES SO THAT IT'S OF RECORD FOR DIRECTION FOR THE STAFF MISSED ANY OBJECTION TO REDUCING THOSE WORDS INTO THE VISITS SO THAT IT STANDS AS DIRECTION? OR I'M SORRY I WAS LISTENING, BUT I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH IT.
UM, SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL SOMEWHAT FOR US TO HAVE THE CONTRACT COMING BACK, THAT WE ARE, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE WOULD, UM, BE BRIEFED.
AND THEN IF WE HAD ISSUES, WE COULD RAISE IT.
AND THEN WE COULD DECIDE IF SOMETHING ROSE TO A LEVEL THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION TO STOP.
WE WOULDN'T BE NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT OR WHATEVER WE WOULD BE SAYING TO STOP THIS PIECE, CONCERNS US, GO TALK TO THE TRIAL FOUNDATION ABOUT THIS ARM UP WITH A SOLUTION.
I DIDN'T HEAR SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, IF YOU PLEAD THAT OBJECTION AND THERE ARE NONE, PLEASE PUT THOSE WORDS INTO THE MINUTES SO THAT WE HAVE A RECORD OF THAT DIRECTION TO STAFF.
AND BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, I WANTED TO SEE IF MS. ANDERSON OR SOMEONE FROM THE TRAIL FOUNDATION HAD ANY THOUGHTS ON, ON THAT, THAT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UM, I THINK THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, UH, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, AS LONG AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THE STAFF IS EMPOWERED TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND DEBRIEFINGS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO, UH, AGREE TO NOTIFY COUNCIL IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES YEAR TO YEAR TO, UH, OUR PROGRAMMING PLAN, OUR O AND M PLAN OR THE AGREEMENT ITSELF.
WE HAVE THE POOL THAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF US CATEGORICAL AND BASED ON THIS DISCUSSION AND THE INPUT FROM MS. ANDERSON, THAT I CAN PULL DOWN MY, UM, AMENDMENT AND LEAVE IT WITH THE DIRECTION THAT HAS BEEN EXPLICATED BETWEEN YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON NOT YEARS TO PULL DOWN, BUT WE WILL ASK, IS THERE AN OBJECTION TO PULLING DOWN THAT AMENDMENT, HEARING NONE, THAT AMENDMENT IS PULLED DOWN.
NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE FURTHER DIRECTION I HAD CHANGED, SUGGESTED CHANGING REVIEW AND APPROVAL TO NOTIFICATION CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE AT.
WE'RE HAVING A, THAT WAS PART OF THE AMENDMENT.
[04:55:01]
SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, BUT THAT CHANGES NOW IN FRONT OF US THAT'S OF EVERY KITCHEN.WELL, THE REASON THAT I PUT REVIEW AND APPROVAL IS BECAUSE, UM, I WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BACK UP FOR A MINUTE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE USE OF OUR TRAILS COULD IMPACT, UM, COULD IMPACT SOME POLICY CONCERNS.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO BE SURE AND PRESERVE THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO WEIGH IN.
SHOULD THERE BE A USE PROPOSED? I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTAINTY FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.
THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, PLAN.
THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR DOLLARS ARE COMING FROM.
UH, SO THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
IT'S SIMPLY THAT I DO NOT WANT TO BIND ALL FUTURE COUNCILS AND PROHIBIT THEM FROM HAVING ANY ACCESS TO MAKE DECISIONS AROUND PROPOSED EVENTS ON OUR TRAIL, OUR PROPOSED CONCESSIONS ON OUR TRAIL THAT REALLY COULD HAVE THE PUBLIC UP IN ARMS. I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT IS THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE.
I MEAN, THERE'S THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT.
SO THE WAY I W THE WAY I'M READING WHAT'S IN THE BACKUP IS THAT THE INFORMATION JUST DOESN'T COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO NOTIFICATION WORKS ONLY IF IT'S NOTIFICATION BEFORE THE CONCESSION OR THE SPECIAL EVENT WAS APPROVED.
IF IT'S NOTIFICATION AFTERWARDS, THEN YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH WHAT WERE, WHAT I'D BE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR INTENT WAS, MAYOR.
UM, BUT THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON AN AGREEMENT THAT SHOULD LAST FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANYBODY THAT'S IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS ABOUT SETTING THE STRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR THE FUTURE.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE COUNCIL HAS AN AVENUE TO ACT IF THEY NEED TO, IN THE RARE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT SOMETHING MAY OCCUR.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING THOUGH, IS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE ACT, UH, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AS A COUNCIL BUYING FUTURE COUNCILS.
SO EACH COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ACT.
BUT AGAIN, I MADE THIS AMENDMENT SAME WAY AS THE OTHER ONE IS I WANTED THE DEFAULT TO BE THAT THE FOUNDATION IS GIVEN A CHARGE.
IT'S EXPECTED TO EXECUTE THE CHARGE AND, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL TO EXECUTE THE CHARGE.
SO, SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST ADD TO THIS DIRECTION THAT THE INTENT IS THAT NOTIFICATION OCCURS TO COUNCIL BEF BEFORE, UM, BEFORE IT'S A DONE DEAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A NOTE IF THERE'S A NEW CONCESSION OR NEW SPECIAL EVENT THAT THERE'S NOTIFICATION TO COUNCIL BEFORE IT'S FINALIZED, SO THAT IF ANYONE ON COUNCIL, SO COUNCIL WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND IF THERE'S ANY CONCERN, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE IT.
IS THAT, COULD WE DO THAT AS DIRECT I'M, I'M NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE DOING IT CAUSE I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO, TO ACT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP.
I MEAN, ANY ACT THEY DO WITH ANYBODY IS SUBJECT TO CITY LAWS AND RULES AND THE POWER OF THE COUNCIL.
SO I AM COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING THEM THE CHARGE TO GO EXECUTE.
AND IF THEY DO SOMETHING WE DON'T LIKE THAT, HAVING THE COUNCIL STEP IN AND SAY, WE WANT TO STOP THAT.
BUT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, AND AGAIN, THIS IS, WE'RE ONLY AT THE DIRECTIONS STAGE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO THE AGREEMENT.
BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT A MAJOR NEW CONCESSION COULD BE DECIDED UPON BY STAFF AND THE CONTRACT SIGNED FOR IT.
THE COUNCIL CANNOT UNDO THAT THAT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO COUNCIL.
AND WE COULD, THE COUNCIL COULD END UP IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY THE PUBLIC, I'M SORRY.
WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAD NO AUTHORITY BECAUSE IT HAPPENED BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID INTO THE FUTURE.
I'M HAPPY WITH NOTIFICATION, AS LONG AS IT'S, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTOOD.
SO CITY MANAGER, I WOULD JUST WANT THAT DIRECTION TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS YOU NEGOTIATE.
AND I GOT NOTIFICATION, YOU DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S TIMELY SO THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO WEIGH IN.
IF THEY, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS NOTIFICATION TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN, MAYOR, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN
[05:00:01]
IF THEY WANTED TO CAUSE OUR POLL.I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S THAT'S BOTHERING ME ABOUT OUR, OUR DISCUSSION IS IT SEEMS LIKE THESE SPECIFICS ARE DIRECTED AT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, RIGHT? CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WHEN IT WAS PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY OR ANY OF THE OTHER GROUPS.
SO IF WE MOVE THIS DIRECTION, I THINK THEN THAT STAFF NEEDS TO TAKE THESE CHANGES AND CODIFY THEM, ADD THEM TO THE BOILER PLATE TEMPLATE AGREEMENTS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN CRAFTED BY STAFF SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME DISCUSSIONS NEXT TIME.
AND SO THAT SOMEBODY OR SO THAT THE NEXT GROUP THAT COMES IN AND DOES ONE OF THESE AGREEMENTS MAYBE IS NOT SUBJECTED TO THIS, THIS LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY.
SO IF WE'RE DOING THIS HERE NOW FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION THAN GOING FORWARD HERE TO AFTER FOREVER, ENDEVOR, THIS NEEDS TO BE THE WAY EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TREATED.
THE WHOLE POINT, FRANKLY, OF THE, OF THE TEMPLATES WAS THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME.
AND SINCE WE ARE DEPARTING FROM THAT HERE FOR GOOD PURPOSES, EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE PROPER MOTIVATIONS.
AND THERE'S NOTHING TRYING TO BE HIDDEN HERE.
NOBODY'S TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH SOMETHING OR SCAM OUR SYSTEM.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD WATCHDOGS.
WE WOULDN'T LET THAT HAPPEN TO ANY WAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN'T ONLY AN EXPERIENCE THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION IS, UM, UH, UNDERGOING.
THIS REALLY DOES HAVE TO BE PART OF OUR PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
MAYOR, IF I MAY COMMENT ON THAT, I CERTAINLY AGREE.
LET'S GIVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE TO TALK TO A COUNSELOR OVER ELLIS.
I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
UM, I SEE IT AND I KIND OF SEE IT LIKE REVERSE WHERE I SAY IT'S BEEN FINE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
WHY ARE WE CHANGING IT NOW? YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.
AND I JUST KEEP COMING BACK TO CONSISTENCY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE, THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE TO, TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS AND OUR TRAILS AND GET NEW EQUIPMENT AND, AND DO ALL THESE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OUR, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT WANTS TO DO.
AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE PARTNERSHIPS TO DO IT.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY DOING THIS.
AND IF IT'S A PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT MORE COMPREHENSIVELY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT HASN'T, HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE UNTIL NOW.
SO I'M, I'M A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS LONG, A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR LEGAL STAFF NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND PREDICTABLE MANNER.
AND SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, REPUBLIC SQUARE PARK, WE ACTUALLY SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING PIECE OF IT.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I NEED TO VERIFY IT BECAUSE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE DIRECTION NOW HAS ME A LITTLE CONFUSED, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND THE ANSWERS WE GOT EARLIER, CONCESSIONS DO COME TO COUNCIL.
SO NEW CONCESSIONS WOULD COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UH, CALLA VOCA DID SEND ME, DID SEND MY STAFF WHO SENT IT TO ME SOME INFORMATION THAT IT, IT LOOKS AS IF THE CONTRACTS THAT WOULD NEED TO COME TO COUNTY COUNCIL ARE THOSE THAT EXCEED THE MANAGER'S AUTHORITY.
SO ANY NEW CONCESSIONS THAT EXCEED THE MANAGER'S AUTHORITY COME TO COUNCIL REVENUE, NEUTRAL CONTRACTS DO NOT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW REVENUE NEUTRAL CONTRACT CONTRACTS ARE DEFINED IN THIS CONTEXT.
UM, THAT ONE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME IN THE CONTEXT OF AN AGREEMENT OF THIS SORT, BUT IN ANY CASE, UM, THE ADDITIONS OF MORE CONCESSIONS, IF THEY ARE OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL.
AND IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE RESPONSE I GOT LAST AT OUR LAST MEETING, THAT THE PROGRAMMING PLAN WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
UM, SO LOOKING BACK AT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR BECAUSE NOW WE'RE, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WE WORKED OUT THROUGH THE REPUBLIC SQUARE ARRANGEMENT THAT DURING THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, UM, THE PROGRAMMING PLAN DOES COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
IT'S ONLY AFTER TWO YEARS THAT IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED BY THE PARKS DIRECTOR.
I ASSUME THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE PROCESS FOLLOWED HERE.
I KNOW THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE CASE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE? YES, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS STILL HERE.
CAUSE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AS IF, AS IF THAT'S NOT STILL A COUNCIL ROLE.
[05:05:01]
YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER.WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND THAT, MAKING SURE THE BALANCE WAS RIGHT OVER FREE EVENTS AND CLOSED EVENTS AND PARTIALLY CLOSED EVENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS, THE COUNCIL WAS VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN, IN MONITORING, UM, THE USE OF THAT PUBLIC SPACE AND HELPING ME ENSURE THAT CORRECT BALANCE YES.
PER YOUR DIRECTION COUNCIL DIRECTION.
THAT DOES COME BACK FOR TWO YEARS.
SO THE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW ON THE SECOND VOTE IS THE FURTHER DIRECTION AS IT APPEARS ON THE PAGE.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THAT? OR ARE WE OKAY WITH THE, WELL, JUST IN LIGHT OF MY COMMENTS THOUGH, I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE END UP PASSING HERE TODAY, DOESN'T, DOESN'T UNDO WHAT IS ALREADY IN OUR AGREEMENT ABOUT IT COMING BACK WITHIN TWO YEARS ABOUT CONCESSIONS COMING BACK, UM, AND DOES NOT HAVE THAT HAS OUR KITCHEN.
WHAT I'M SUGGESTING DOESN'T CHANGE THAT.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO NOT HAVE A TWO YEAR LIMIT ON THE CONCESSIONS PART, NOT THE PLAN.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE PLAN TO COME BACK AFTER TWO YEARS.
SO MAYOR, I'M FINE WITH YOUR LANGUAGE, UH, FOR ANNUAL COUNCIL NOTIFICATION, UH, PRIOR TO ACTION BEING TAKEN, IF THERE ARE CHANGES.
SO YOU WERE WANTING TO ADD PRIOR TO PRIOR TO ACTION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH ADDING THE WORDS PRIOR TO ACTION BOARD OR IS IT TRIAL FOUNDATION ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? YES.
OUR FOUNDATION IS ANY OBJECTION TO ADDING THOSE WORDS.
THOSE WORDS ARE ADDED VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, THE DIRECTION AS WRITTEN WITH THE ADDITION AND THE STRIKE.
BUT ADDING PRIOR TO ACTION AFTER THE WORD NOTIFICATION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED TO EVERYBODY ON THE DIOCESE AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA.
NOW WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE KITCHEN AMENDMENT AS AMENDED THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND THOSE OPPOSED.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.
THIS IS NOW THE KITCHEN MANAGER.
THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT WE ALL THE CHANGES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR, SOME TOGETHER.
NOW WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.
NO READ THE RHEA VOTING THOUGH.
CASAR OFF THE DIOCE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT PASSES.
NOW LET'S VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 19 AS AMENDED THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 19 AS AMENDED.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DYESS WITH COSAR OFF.
WE HAVE TWO THINGS TO DO THE CRAWL REPORT AND THE, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER
[20. Consider an ordinance amending Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 20210811-002 (City of Austin Fee and Fine Schedule) to reinstate the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Parkland Dedication fees; authorizing the City Manager to conduct a benchmark study of the parkland dedication fees charged by peer Texas cities, a review of other cities’ processes related to parkland dedication fees, and an affordability impact study of the City’s parkland dedication fees; further authorizing the City Manager to provide opportunities for internal and external stakeholder engagement and feedback; and further authorizing the City Manager to provide a report to Council regarding the results of the studies and the engagement process and recommendations regarding the Parkland Dedication fees and ordinance for Council consideration by the end of April 2022.]
20, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM WANTED TO BE HERE FOR BOTH OF THESE.SHE HAD TO LEAVE AT FOUR 30 FOR A FEW MINUTES.
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT AT THIS POINT WE TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND WE COME BACK AT FIVE.
O'CLOCK SEE IF WE CAN KNOCK OUT, UH, UH, ITEM 20 TO THE CRO REPORT.
I'D STILL RECOMMEND WE TAKE A BREAK.
UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, DOES THAT MEAN THEN WE'RE JUST, IS THIS AN ESSENCE, OUR DINNER BREAK OR ARE WE STILL INTENDING TO TAKE A DINNER BREAK? COULD WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE TIMING WITH REGARD TO THAT? YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG 20 IS GOING TO TAKE CAUSE THE, THE ITEM FOR TWENTIES EITHER TO VOTE NO, OR TO POSTPONE.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PARSING LANGUAGE.
DO YOU WANT TO POSTPONE IT OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO VOTE? NO, BECAUSE AS I CAN TELL FROM LOOKING AT THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT GETS US THEN THE COURT REPORT, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY GET BOTH.
I THINK WE COULD, I THINK WE CAN GET BOTH OF THESE TWO THINGS DONE BY FIVE 30 WHEN WE USUALLY TAKE A DINNER BREAK, BUT PROBABLY BY SIX BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CRO REPORT.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO, I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME SUBSTANTIAL CONVERSATION AROUND IT, FOR SURE.
ANYWAY, I'M FINE WITH TAKING A BREAK.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE KIND OF A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE OUR TIME FROM THERE.
SO IF WE'RE NOT TAKING A DINNER BREAK, SAY TILL SEVEN, PROBABLY SOME OF US ARE GOING TO NEED TO GRAB A SNACK.
I JUST WANT TO USE OUR TIME REALLY EFFICIENTLY FOR TRYING TO GET DONE BY LET'S.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DONE BY SEVEN.
LET'S SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BY SIX OR SIX 30 CHROME REPORTS IS GOING TO TAKE UP TO AN HOUR.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THE OTHER ASPECT IS GOING TO TAKE.
MAYOR PRO TEM IS WITH US, UH, VIRTUALLY, UH, WE HAVE, UH, EVERYBODY ELSE ON DYESS COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHO ELSE WE MISSING? NUMBER POOL.
I NEED TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT
[05:10:01]
FIVE 13.UH, TODAY IS THE 21ST OF OCTOBER, 2021.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS LEFT TO DEAL WITH ITEM NUMBER 20 AND THE CROLL REPORT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE HEARING WITH ITEM NUMBER 20 AND THEN WE'LL DO THE CRAWL A DEAL OR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UM, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
IF THE PARK STAFF CAN BE ON FIRST, JUST ONE ADULT, LET THEM KNOW THAT WHILE I MAKE SOME REMARKS.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M HEARD.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE THIS OFF BECAUSE THIS IS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, I'M READY TO DENY THIS REQUEST TO, UH, FREEZE OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, UM, AND TO OPEN THE PANDORA'S BOX OF, UM, HOW WE CALCULATE THESE.
UM, WE PASS THE SPEED INCREASE UNANIMOUSLY IN THE BUDGET IN AUGUST.
IT WAS POSTED AND NOTICED JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM SETS UP A FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN PARKS AND AFFORDABILITY.
THAT COUNCIL DID NOT ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO PUT BEFORE US.
WE PASS THE INCREASED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE BUDGET AND NO POLICY CHANGE LED TO THE INCREASES IN THE FEES.
RATHER IT WAS A FORMULA THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE COST OF LAND THAT IS USED IN THE FORMULA INCREASES THAT RESULTED FROM A DRAWN OUT DIFFICULT STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A FORMULA THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION FOR ONCE THAT THE COST OF LAND IN AUSTIN IS RISING.
UM, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IRONED OUT IN 2016 AND 2015 WITH A VERY INVOLVED STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WITH MANY OF THE PLAYERS WHO ARE, UM, COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT FEE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT AUSTIN LOVES OUR PARKS.
EVERY DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY IS ASSESSED A MYRIAD OF FEES TO COVER THE COST OF ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, UTILITIES, INSPECTIONS, PERMITTING STAFF, AND AS THE COST OF SERVICES RISE, THOSE FEES ALSO RISE TO SINGLE OUT PARKLAND.
IN MY VIEW, AS A UNIQUE COST DRIVER IS MISGUIDED.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT THINK JUST ABOUT SHORT-TERM, BUT ALSO LONG-TERM.
AND AS WE KNOW, FROM OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES, WE WISH WE HAD LAND BANK A LONG TIME AGO.
AND WHAT THE PARKLAND DEDICATION PROCESS ALLOWS US TO DO IS LAND BANKING FOR PARKS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRIEF AND THAT THERE WILL BE FOLKS TOO, WHO AGREE WITH ME.
UM, I DO WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, TO GET US STARTED, AND THEN I WILL PASS THE MIC TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE LEANNA IS ON THERE.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME ROUGHLY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR PARKLAND ACQUISITION ACREAGE HAS BEEN AN EASTERN CRESCENT SINCE 1998? THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
AND, UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND AS PART OF THE LONG RANGE PLAN, THE DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED PARKLAND DEPOSITIONS.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WE ACTUALLY, UM, SUBMITTED A MEMO TO CONSOLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020, UM, IN RESPONSE TO A SIMILAR QUESTION.
AND, UM, THE LAST PAGE OF THAT MEMO INCLUDES A MAP WITH, UH, LAND ACQUISITIONS, UH, SINCE 98 AND 98 WAS ACTUALLY A YEAR WHERE BASICALLY A WORK BOND WAS PASSED AND WE, UM, IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR LANDA POSITIONS.
AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT RANDY SCOTT, WHO IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PARKLAND THAT, UH, DEDICATION FOR, UM, IT DEPARTMENT IS WITH US.
AND, UH, HE PROBABLY CAN PROVIDE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING, UH, THIS QUESTION.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, RANDY SCOTT WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, SINCE 1998, THE PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, IN THE PARKLAND THAT WE HAVE ACQUIRED SINCE 1998, UH, IS 80% OF THE LAND
[05:15:01]
HAS BEEN ACQUIRED IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.UM, AND I WILL LET YOU TWO DECIDE WHO SHOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME IN WHAT WAY, IF ANY, THIS PROPOSED ITEM 20 IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND HOW THIS WOULD BENEFIT OUR PARKS? UM, SO EXTRA MCNEELY, UM, WHEN THE CONCERNS CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT, SHE FELT THAT THE COMMUNICATION, UM, LEVEL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY WAS, UM, NOT UP TO OUR USUAL EXPECTATIONS.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, SHE, UM, SUGGEST AN EXTENSION OF THE FEES FOR, UM, A FEW MONTHS FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS.
UH, WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AS WE, UH, COORDINATE FOR, UM, PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE RELATED TO, UH, THIS PROJECT.
AND WE STRIVE TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
SO, SO CAN YOU, I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS ITEM 20 IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARKS FREEZING THE FEES REOPENING THIS PANDORA'S BOX.
IS THIS IN THE, HOW IS THIS IN THE INTEREST OF PARKS AT ALL? IT IS NOT.
UM, WOULD THIS ACTION MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ACQUIRE PARKLAND? YES, IT WOULD, UM, CHANGES THAT DECOUPLE THE, UH, PARKLAND ACQUISITION VALUES FROM THE FISCAL SCHEDULE.
THEY, UH, REDUCE THE FUNDING TO ACQUIRE PARKLAND IN HIGH GROWTH AREAS, WHICH IS, UH, WHERE THE FEES ARE BEING COLLECTED.
WHAT WOULD THE DEPARTMENT SAY IS THE BENEFIT OF PARKS AND PARKLAND EX ACQUISITION? AND WHY IS THIS A SERVICE WE PROVIDE AS A CITY WHERE THE BENEFITS OF THE PARKS ARE MANY AND IN MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS, I ALWAYS GO BACK TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC AND WE TEND TO FOCUS ACTUALLY AS A DEPARTMENT, WE FOCUS ON ALL THREE OF THEM, UH, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WITH, UH, FOR WELLNESS, WHERE ACTIVITY FOR THE KIDS, EVERYTHING ELSE ARE ALWAYS HIGH ON OUR MIND.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED GOALS FOR THE DIFFERENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT, UM, PRESIDENTS HAVE TO, UH, SHOULD BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK AND THAT THE CITY SHOULD MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT AMOUNT OF PARKLAND PER CAPITA.
AND, UM, THIS GOALS, UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE.
AND, UH, UM, AND, UH, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, UH, SERVES AS THE BEST TOOL, BUT, UH, TO CREATE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE A STRATEGIC DIRECTION PRIORITY OF ACCESS TO PARKS AND TRAILS, UM, FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF PARKS AND, AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHOICES BEFORE US.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE GROUPS WERE INVOLVED IN WRITING THE FORMULA IN 2015 AND 2016, AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET PROPOSAL WAS NOTICED AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AND THE CHANGES IN FEES WERE MARKED IN RED, UM, AND WHATNOT.
UM, WE'VE HEARD THAT MANY PROJECTS CLAIM THAT THEY WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE, AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO PAY THOSE FEES.
UM, CAN YOU DETAIL FOR US THE WORK THAT PART HAS DONE TO HELP ACCOMMODATE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE AND WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THAT? AND THAT MAY BE A QUESTION FROM ANDY WE CAN'T HEAR YOU IF YOU'RE SPEAKING OR DISNEY.
YEAH, WE CAN, UM, THAT THE, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONSISTENTLY INFORMS DEVELOPERS, UH, DURING THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS, THAT FEES WOULD BE CHANGING IN OCTOBER 1ST, THEY'VE CHANGED EVERY YEAR, SINCE 2016, UH, BREW THE SAME PROCESS, UH, WAS NOT AS SURPRISED.
IT WAS A LARGER JUMP THIS YEAR THAN IN YEARS PAST.
UH, BUT THAT INFORMATION WAS RELAYED.
AND SINCE IT WAS A LARGER JUMP FROM YEARS PAST, WE, UM, IF THE SITE PLANS WERE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1ST IN 2021, UM, WE ARE
[05:20:01]
ADMINISTRATING THOSE SITE PLANS, UH, WITH THE 2021 V SCHEDULE RATHER THAN THE 2022 P SCHEDULE.UM, THERE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED AND PROCESS CURRENTLY.
UM, I WILL LET SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO TALK, LOOKS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER TO OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK PO UH, YES, THERE WAS, UH, UH, UH, OH, RESPOND THIS MORNING ABOUT, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY, HOW HOUSING, HOW, HOW WOULD THIS BEAT INCREASE AFFECT TAX CREDIT? HOW DOES THAT, THAT ARE BEING BUILT WHERE THERE'S, UH, A MAJORITY OF THE, UH, OF THE ROW OF THE APARTMENTS ARE 60% AND UNDER, AND THEN THEY HAVE A FEW MARKET RAISED SO THAT THEY CAN USE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.
UH, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT THAT FEED INCREASE? UH, MAYOR? I COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
REGGIE, TRUE LOVE WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO EXPLORE WITH THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT, UH, ANALYSIS.
UH, AS YOU HEARD FROM MEGAN LASH EARLIER TODAY, THE FEES, UH, FOR THE NON AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT COME FORWARD WITH, UH, TAX CREDIT TYPE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, DO HAVE TO PAY PARKLAND DEDICATION.
AND FOR HER PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, SHE TALKED ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO ABSORB.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE BIT OF EVIDENCE FROM, UH, FROM A DEVELOPER AND THAT'S PART OF THE ANALYSIS THAT WE WOULD DO, UH, TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF.
SO COUNCIL COULD UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, AND HAVE THAT DATA IN FRONT OF THEM WITH, UH, AN AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
AND THAT'S, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO POSTPONE THIS BECAUSE I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE GREATER GREAT NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A LOT OF THESE TAX CREDITS AND NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING IT, GOING THAT ROUTE, WHERE THEY ARE BUILDING THEM FOR MARKET RATE, ARE YOU THE NET MONEY? AND THEY NEED THAT MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.
AS WE SEEN IN THE, IN THE PAST THAT SOME OF THESE APARTMENT COMPLEX, ESPECIALLY TAX CREDIT, UH, GET INTO TROUBLE AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MAINTENANCE MONEY TO FIX IT UP.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENANTS THAT ARE VERY UPSET.
SO, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCREASE, ESPECIALLY ON OUR TAX CREDIT, UH, UH, DEVELOPERS.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS HERE.
UM, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA FOR BRINGING UP ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PART.
I'M WONDERING IF, UM, ONE OF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT AND ANALYSIS IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AND IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROCESS.
I ALSO KIND OF AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT WASN'T AFFORDABILITY IMPACT ANALYSIS DONE WHEN THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN IN 2016, UM, WE DID DO A, AN AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT ANALYSIS WHEN THIS, UH, THE NEW METHODOLOGY WAS CREATED.
AND WE DID INDICATE THAT THERE WILL BE A NEGATIVE IMPACT TO AFFORDABILITY.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, REFRESH THAT ANALYSIS IN LIGHT OF THIS MOST RECENT INCREASE, UH, GIVEN CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THIS, UH, WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED BACK IN 2016.
SO TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TODAY THAT WE WOULD BE VOTING ON IS TO HELP WITH THE IMPACT ON AFFORDABILITY THAT WOULD BE HAD.
SO THIS ITEM, UH, SHOULD IT PASS, WOULD ALLOW STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH A REVISED AFFORDABILITY IMPACT ANALYSIS, UM, TO, TO LOOK AT HOW THIS AFFECTS PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW, UM, SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER SET OF DATA TO USE AS PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR COUNCIL.
AND THEN, UH, MY NEXT QUESTION IS I UNDERSTAND THE INCREASED FEES WERE IN THE DRAFT FEE SCHEDULE IN JULY, BUT DID THE CITY COMMUNICATE TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT THE FEES WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE WAY THE CITY REGULARLY AND AS STANDARD PRACTICE COMMUNICATES TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN FEES OR COSTS? I KNOW WE MAY HAVE TOUCHED ON THAT BRIEFLY EARLIER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS IS RODNEY GONZALES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR MCNEELY IS NOT HERE, BUT WE DID CONFIRM WITH HER THAT THAT COMMUNICATION WAS NOT,
[05:25:01]
SO THAT COMMUNICATION WAS NOT DONE IN THIS CASE.UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW WOULD YOU ESTIMATE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU ESTIMATE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE IN FROM PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR IF THE ORDINANCE WERE TO PASS I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD ANSWER THAT, SORRY.
THAT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED AND PROCESSED DURING THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS STILL A, IT CAN'T, UH, VARIABLE, UM, THAT IF WE JUDGE FROM, UH, THE PREVIOUS YEAR, UM, THE ESTIMATE IS FLOWS TO ABOUT 15 MILLION.
AND THEN I'M REALLY COMING FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF SEEKING A FAIR PROCESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, INCLUDING OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND STAFF IS ADMITTING THE PROCESS WAS SOMEWHAT UNFAIR TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD RECTIFY A LACK OF SHAREHOLDER PROCESS AND ENSURE CLARITY AND FUTURE CALCULATIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THERE.
ONE IS, UM, WHETHER AN EXTENSION CAN BE GRANTED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE, UM, THE COMMUNICATION THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE GROWN OUT PROACTIVELY TO ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, HOWEVER, THE, THE NEXT PART REGARDING THE REGULATIONS, UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WOULD BE, UM, WE WOULD BE GETTING DEDUCTIONS FROM PENCIL.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BACK DOWN.
JUST TWO MORE UP QUESTIONS DURING THE SIX-MONTH PROCESS OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, IS YOUR FOCUS ON REWORKING THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE, OR JUST CLARIFYING OR IMPROVING THE WAY YOU CALCULATE THE FEET PER UNIT EVERY YEAR, WE ARE WAITING FOR, UM, A DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
IF I COULD COUNCIL MEMBER AND I'M READING FROM THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, UH, THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO OPEN THE ORDINANCE.
UH, YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY PART TWO SAYS THAT A BENCHMARK STUDY OF FEES WOULD BE LOOKED AT BY OTHER, UH, OTHER CITIES, A REVIEW OF OTHER CITIES PROCESSES RELATED TO PARKLAND, DEDICATION FEES WOULD BE DONE.
AND AS ROSIE HAS MENTIONED IN THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STUDY WOULD BE DONE, UM, WITHIN THE PARKLAND ORDINANCE ITSELF, THERE WERE SOME ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES THAT ARE RELEGATED TO THE DIRECTOR AND THESE, THERE ARE THERE'S PROCESSES, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A FIVE-YEAR LOOK BACK.
UM, THAT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURE RELEGATED TO THE DIRECTOR.
WE ANTICIPATE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS WOULD BE LED BY PART.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT A DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND HER TEAM WOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW THEY ADMINISTER THIS AND GET FEEDBACK BOTH INTERNALLY FROM OUR FOLKS AT HOUSING AND PLANNING EXTERNALLY FROM OUR PART PARKS, RECREATION FOLKS FROM OUR, FROM OUR PARKS ADVOCATES, FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, AND LOOK THROUGH THAT LENS OF, OF MULTIPLE AREAS, IF YOU WILL, BUT IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE OPEN UP THE ORDINANCE.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS, UM, IS THAT THE FEED THAT WAS IN PLACE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, WHAT CONTINUED TO BE ASSESSED.
SO THIS DOES NOT STOP THE COLLECTION OF THE PARKLAND DEDICATION.
SO WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE FEAR OF OPENING UP THIS ORDINANCE TO FURTHER INTERPRETATION IS NOT WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS? ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE MORE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES THAT ARE UNDER THE DIRECTORS PER THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN I'LL PASS IT ALONG.
IS THERE A, ANY SORT OF LIMIT TO HOW WE SPEND THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, LIKE ANY TIME LIMIT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? AND IF SO, WHAT IS THE PARKLAND DEDICATION MONEY SPECIFICALLY USED FOR? JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS.
I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT IN MY OFFICE.
I'LL DEFER TO A ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, LEON, UH, PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE IN LIEU OF FUNDING ISSUES FOR, TO ACQUIRE NEW PARKLAND AND TO DEVELOP NEW PARKS OR NEW PARK AMENITIES IN EXISTING PARKS.
[05:30:01]
ANY TIME LIMIT ON HOW WE SPEND THAT MONEY OR HOW MANY YEARS WE CAN HAVE UNTIL WE CAN SPEND IT? YES, THERE IS A TIMEFRAME, UH, WHERE THE DEVELOPER CAN ASK FOR A REFUND OF FIVE YEARS OF PARKLAND DEDICATION, BEES NEED TO BE.AND DO WE GENERALLY HAVE TO RETURN ANY OF THAT MONEY CURRENTLY? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE NINE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.
UM, I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S LAST QUESTION.
CAUSE I THINK THE TIME LIMIT IS FIVE YEARS AND IT'S ONLY BEEN IN PLACE FOR FIVE YEARS, MAYBE.
SO I WONDER, UM, HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.
I YEARS HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1985.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, SO I HAVE PUT UP A POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UM, ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT, WHICH I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA.
ALSO, ALSO THINKING ALONG THOSE SAME LINES.
UM, AND I WANT TO DAYLIGHT MY THINKING A LITTLE BETTER.
UM, IN MY POST I ASKED FOR A TWO WEEK POSTPONEMENT.
I DID SEE THE MAYOR HAD RESPONDED WITH, UM, MAYBE IT WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL FOR US TO TAKE THIS UP AT THE WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 30TH IN PREPARATION FOR THE DECEMBER 2ND MEETING.
BUT A LOT OF MY LINE OF THINKING COMES FROM THIS PARTICULAR, UM, PROCESS FOR ASSESSING PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES.
AND SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO UNPACK THAT IN TWO WEEKS TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS.
AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, I, AND A LOT OF MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES ARE BIG SUPPORTERS OF OUR PARK SYSTEM.
ALSO CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IT COSTS TO BUILD HOUSING.
SO THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO UNPACK ALL THE ANGLES FROM.
I ALSO, UH, APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S LINE OF THINKING AND THAT IT, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A FALSE DICHOTOMY HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEES THAT GO INTO THE COST OF BUILDING HOUSING.
AND I, FOR ONE WOULD JUST LIKE MORE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THIS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS THIS TOO.
UM, SO I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD DUE PROCESS FOR US TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND LOOK AT THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY AND TO TRY TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ANGLES.
UM, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO DETRACT FROM PARKLAND ACQUISITION OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD FURTHER INHIBIT OUR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE GREEN SPACES FOR THE PUBLIC.
BUT I ALSO CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT NOT MAKING BUILDING HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT NEEDS TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY WITH A HOUSING CRISIS.
AND I KNOW MY VOTING RECORD IS VERY STRONG ON BOTH OF THOSE.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO DAYLIGHT TODAY, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO DAYLIGHT FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THAT POSTPONEMENT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
I HAD SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS, UM, ABOUT A VARIETY OF THINGS.
LET ME START WITH, UM, SOME OF, UH, SOME OF THE INFORMATION RANDY SCOTT THAT YOU PROVIDED.
SO I WANT TO BE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY THAT SINCE THE ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2016, THE FEES HAVE BEEN UPDATED ANNUALLY, UM, THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IS THAT, WAS THAT CORRECT? WAS THAT ACCURATE BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WHEN COUNCIL PASSED THE ORDINANCE, IT SET IN PLACE A PROCESS WE'VE USED EXACTLY THAT FORMULA YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT'S RESULTED IN AN INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN ALL THIS YEAR.
AND AT ANY POINT DURING ANY OF THOSE YEARS, DID YOU PROACTIVELY REACH OUT AND LET, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHO YOU WOULD LET KNOW, UM, THAT THESE FEES WERE INCREASING? WELL, WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, UH, WHERE WE DO INFORM THEM, UH, THE FEE PROCESS, UM, AND YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS IN THE, THE FEE SCHEDULE, UH, AT COUNCIL ADOPTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO WAS ANYTHING, DID YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR THAN YOU HAD DONE IN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR? UH, NO.
WAIT, WE DID NOTHING DIFFERENT.
THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE'VE RUN THROUGH EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST, SINCE 2016.
I THINK THAT'S ONE, ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE I'M STRUGGLING, WE HAVE A FORMULA.
IT WAS, I WAS ON THE DIASPORA WHEN IT PASSED.
IT WAS, UM, THE PRODUCT OF LOTS OF SIGNIFICANT STAKEHOLDER WORK AND COMPROMISES.
AND FRANKLY, IT, IT, IT, IT, UM, GOT WALKED BACK A BIT FROM WHERE IT WAS WHEN IT WAS ON ITS WAY TO US.
AND PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT WE WERE HEARING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IT'S BEEN IN PLACE.
THE FORMULA HAS, JEN HAS MEANT THAT THE FEES HAVE INTO CR HAVE HAD TO INCREASE HAVE
[05:35:01]
INCREASED YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR SAID, THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO FREEZE THOSE RATES.AND THE POINT IS THAT WE WANT, WE WANT THOSE FEES TO KEEP PACE WITH THE MARKET VALUE OF LAND, BECAUSE THE WHOLE INTENTION FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO BE USED TO BUY LAND FOR PARKLAND, TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH THAT OUR CITY IS EXPERIENCING AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO PARKLAND AND NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF HOUSING YOU LIVE IN, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO PARKLAND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S A BENEFIT FOR HEALTH REASONS, FOR ALL KINDS OF OTHER REASONS, TO HAVE THAT ACCESS TO PARKLAND.
SO THE SAME PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED THIS YEAR.
AS IN ANY OTHER YEAR, THIS WAS A PROPOSAL.
THE MANAGER BROUGHT US, WE APPROVED IT.
SO I, I DON'T, I REALLY WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH WE TALK ABOUT THIS.
UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ASSERTIONS THAT MAYBE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO, OR DIDN'T, UM, HANDLED IT DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, BECAUSE NONE OF THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE YOU HANDLED IT APPROPRIATELY, YOU HANDLED IT JUST THE WAY WE ALWAYS DO, FRANKLY.
UM, THE BUDGET HAS VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH OUR FEES CHANGE AND, UM, AND WE HANDLE ALL OF THAT WITH A NOTIFICATION PROCESS THAT GOES OUT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME.
AND TO, TO SUGGEST THAT PARTICULAR GROUPS NEED TO GET PARTICULAR KINDS OF NOTIFICATION IS, UH, IS A TERRIBLE, UM, WOULD BE A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT.
IN MY OPINION, HAVING SAID THAT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND MR. SCOTT FROM WHAT YOU SAID THAT, AND, AND LET ME JUST ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A YEAR WHERE WE DECIDED AND SET A POLICY, A NEW POLICY THAT OUT OF CITY RESIDENTS WERE GOING TO PAY DIFFERENT RATES FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS, FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR SUMMER CAMPS.
WE DID NOT NOTIFY EVERY PARTICIPANT, EVERY FAMILY WHO HAD EVER PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROGRAM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE A SHIFT.
I MEAN, AGAIN, LIKE IF WE STARTED TO NOTIFY EVERY POTENTIALLY IMPACTED INDIVIDUAL ABOUT CHANGES THAT WERE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET, WE WOULD SPEND ALL OF, WE WOULD SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, MORE, UM, SENDING OUT NOTIFICATIONS THAN WE DO CURRENTLY.
AND I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY UNFEASIBLE TO EXPECT THAT.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S A PARTICULARLY CONCERNING TO ME THAT THERE ARE ASSERTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HANDLED THIS DIFFERENTLY OR INAPPROPRIATELY.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND MR. SCOTT, THAT YOU, THAT THE PARK STAFF HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH DEVELOPERS AND THAT DID I HEAR YOU SAY A HUNDRED PROJECTS ARE BEING FILED THEIR SITE PLANS BEFORE OCTOBER 20TH? AND SO THOSE WILL BE PROCEEDING THIS NEXT YEAR USING LAST YEAR'S PARKLAND FEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEADING UP TO, UH, THE, THE, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE USUAL DEADLINE OF THE 2021 FEES.
UH, WE PROCESS SOMEWHERE AROUND 50 APPLICATIONS, UH, TO ALLOW THEM TO BE UNDER, YOU KNOW, THE 2001 OR 2, 2 21 FEE IN LIEU OF, UH, WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED THAT ARE ALSO STILL IN THE PROCESS THAT WERE SUBMITTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1ST, 2020, AND, UH, OCTOBER 1ST, 2021, THAT WILL BE ALSO ADMINISTERED, UH, THE 2021, THE IN LIEU OF THAT HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED YET.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF PAYING FOR PARKLAND.
ONE WOULD BE TO, TO USE THE ACQUISITION, THE PARKLAND FEE DEDICATION FUND, WHICH HAS HELPED US SUCCESSFULLY ACQUIRE LOTS OF ACREAGE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
HAS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DONE ANY KIND OF ANALYSIS OF, OF HOW THOSE TWO INTERPLAY AND HAVE INTERPLAYED IN RECENT YEARS IN TERMS OF, UM, POWER OF BOND DOLLARS WHEN WE CAN LEVERAGE THEM AGAINST PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES? YES, YOU DON'T SMELL.
WE HAVE, UM, AND WE DO IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND THERE'S TWO MAIN WAYS THAT WE, WE ACQUIRE PARKLAND.
WE ACQUIRE A PARKLAND THROUGH BOND FUNDING OR REQUIRE, UH, PARKLAND THROUGH PARKLAND DEDICATION AND, UM, THE FEES IN LIEU OF, UH, OF PARKLAND DEDICATION.
WE UTILIZE TO BUY PARKLAND AND WE TRY TO MARRY THOSE WITH BOND DOLLARS TO EXTEND THE BOND LINE, THE BOND DOLLARS, WHAT WE WOULD CALL ARE PAID FOR BY, UH, EXISTING RESIDENTS.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTIN AND YOU VOTED FOR THE 2018 BOND, YOU APPROVED $45 MILLION FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION, AND THAT'S BEING PAID FOR BY THE EXISTING RESIDENTS.
AND THE PLD DOLLARS ARE DOLLARS THAT COME FROM PEOPLE MOVING HERE THAT ARE IMPACTING
[05:40:01]
OUR SYSTEM IN THE REASON THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO GROW.SO, UH, FISCAL YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, FISCAL YEAR 2020, FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF BOND THAT WE SPENT, WE'VE MATCHED THAT WITH 24 CENTS IN PLD DOLLARS.
SO BASICALLY THAT BOILS IT DOWN TO 76% OF THE GROWTH IS PAID FOR BY EXISTING RESIDENTS.
AND THE OTHER REMAINING PERCENT IS PAID FOR BY THE RESIDENTS MOVING HERE AND FYI 2021 FOR EVERY DOLLAR BOND THAT WE SPENT, THE EXISTING RESIDENCE.
UH, WE MASHED IT WITH 34 CENTS PLD.
SO ATTRACT DOWNWARD, UH, WE INCREASED OUR PLD EXPENDITURE IN 2021 ENABLED US TO, UH, RELY ONLY 66% OF THE, OF THE EXISTING RESIDENTS FOR THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE.
I HAD HEARD THAT, BUT DIDN'T, COULDN'T HAVE ARTICULATED IT.
I MEAN, BECAUSE TO ME THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE KEY, THE KEY REASONS THAT WE PASSED A PARKLAND DEDICATION POLICY, SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT AS WE'RE WELCOMING NEW, THAT WE ARE ALSO, UM, NOT, NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH BURDEN ON OUR EXISTING, OUR EXISTING RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR THOSE NEW SERVICES AND AMENITIES THAT ARE SERVING THOSE, THOSE RESIDENTS.
I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THERE PRIMARILY FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
SO I WILL, UM, HELP THIS FOR THE MOMENT, BUT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SCOTT.
I MEAN, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHO THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPERS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH DEVELOPERS HAVE INFLUENCE OVER HOW WE OPERATE AND DO CITY BUSINESS.
IT IS EXTREMELY TROUBLING TO ME TO LEARN THAT WE HAD AN OPEN AND PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT HAD DEVELOPERS AT THE TABLE.
THEY WERE PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN COMING UP WITH THE FORMULA THEY, AND WE HAVE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, BEEN GROWING OUR PARTS SYSTEM.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'VE DECIDED THAT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS FORMULA.
THEY HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE FEES AND THEY WANT TO FREEZE THE FEES.
AND TO ME, IT SHOWS TO THE EXTENT OF WHICH THEY'RE INFLUENCING HOW WE DO POLICY.
AND I FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOT ELECTED FOR DEVELOPERS.
I WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT CITY STAFF JUST SHARE THAT 80% OF THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION FEES, PARKLAND, DEDICATION FEES HAVE GONE TOWARDS PARKS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE.
AND DISTRICT TWO HAVE BENEFITED FROM PARKLAND DEDICATION.
WE HAVE, THESE ARE MY DISTRICT TO COMMUNITY IS A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUFFERED AND BEEN AFFECTED BY DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT.
SO IT'S POLICIES LIKE THIS ONE, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE THAT HELP US ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE IN THE WAY THAT WE DO PARKS AND THE WAY THAT WE DO GREEN SPACE AND THE WAY THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR COMMITMENT TO TAKE ON CLIMATE CRISIS.
THAT WE'RE IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE ADOPTED THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAD TO ENSURE THAT AS WE STRENGTHEN OUR RESILIENCE AS A COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS EQUITABLE TO EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN AUSTIN IS PART OF THAT.
SO WE HAVE A CHOICE OF EITHER, DO WE, YOU KNOW, GO OUT LIKE HOW WE HAVE A CHOICE? DO WE GO OUT FOR MORE BONDS AND PUT THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS AND THE EXISTING AUSTINITES OR DO WE LET NEW DEVELOPMENT PAY FOR ITSELF? AND SO IT'S EXTREMELY TROUBLING FOR ME TO BE HERE AND LISTENING TO THIS CONVERSATION TO KNOW THAT THE PROCESS IN WHICH THIS CAME ABOUT IS JUST, IT IS JUST BEYOND, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THE NOTIFICATIONS FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS DIDN'T GO OUT, BUT THIS PROCESS, WHICH WAS DONE IN AN OPEN WAY, WE HAVE A BUDGET PROCESS THAT IS POSTED AND AVAILABLE TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY BY AVAILABLE FOR THE DEVELOPERS TO KEEP TRACK OF AND TO PARTICIPATE IN.
AND SOMEHOW THEY MISSED THE FEE INCREASE.
AND SO NOW HERE WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THIS POLICY CHANGE OR CONSIDERATION WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, BUT IT WASN'T, IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY DEVELOPERS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING IN TO THIS FALSE NARRATIVE OF HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PARKS, INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES DESERVE JUST AS MUCH ACCESS TO OUR PARKS AS ANYONE ELSE.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE LENS THAT I'M VIEWING THIS, THIS POLICY PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE US.
AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AT THIS
[05:45:01]
TIME THAT'S OF EVERY KITCHEN.UM, I CANNOT, UH, SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD DENY IT.
I THINK THAT, UM, I SHARE THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, EXPRESSED AND, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT FEELS LIKE AN END RUN AROUND THE PROCESS OF VARIOUS ESTABLISHED, UM, STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT WENT THROUGH A LOT OF ANALYSIS AND A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO COME UP WITH A FORMULA THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BASED ON LAND VALUES AND IS DESIGNED TO GIVE US FUNDS THAT WE NEED IN A FAIR WAY, UH, BASED ON LAND PRICES.
AND AS THEY'RE GOING UP, THE FEES ARE GONNA GO UP AND THEY NEED TO GO UP IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR PARKS.
SO BRINGING THIS TO COUNCIL WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A PROCESS IS AN END RUN AROUND THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED PREVIOUSLY TO ACTUALLY TALK THROUGH AND GRAPPLE WITH THESE ISSUES.
UM, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE'RE WHAT A MONTH OR TWO OUT OF AFTER PASSING THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
SO NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO REVISIT WHAT WE ALREADY PASSED IN THE BUDGET, AND WE'RE BEING ASKED TO REVISIT A FORMULA AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, RODNEY, I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS DOESN'T IMPACT THE ORDINANCE.
I MEAN, TH THAT'S WHERE THE FORMULA IS THAT CAME UP WITH THESE FEES.
SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UM, AND, AND SO, UM, I, THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE MYRIAD OF POLICY ISSUES THAT RELATE TO THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THIS.
I FEEL LIKE ONCE AGAIN, UH, BRINGING UP THE ARGUMENT THAT WE'RE PITTING PARKS, UH, AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A FALSE CHOICE.
IT'S NOT WORTHY OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION BEFORE WE'VE COME UP WITH A BALANCE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE EXISTING.
THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WAS A WELL THOUGHT OUT STAKEHOLDER APPROVED, DISCUSSED, UH, OVER SEVERAL YEARS BALANCE.
AND TO SUGGEST NOW THAT STAKEHOLDERS DIDN'T KNOW, THIS MAKES NO SENSE, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE PROCESS THAT THESE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD LIKE US TO FOLLOW IS AN END RUN AROUND PROCESS BY JUST BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO US WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT, PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR A BRIEFING.
SO I JUST, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AND I, I HOPE WE GET THE CHANCE TO DENY IT.
IF I CAN PO CAUSE YOU A CHANCE TO GO, I, AND GO, I'M NOT GONNA COME TO YOU.
I, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A REALLY HARD ITEM, THE WAY IT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US AND RODNEY, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT, THAT I, I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN STAFF THAT IT WOULD TEE UP THIS ITEM IN THIS WAY ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THIS AGENDA WANTS TO MAKE A FORCED CHOICE BETWEEN PARKS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN TEED UP AND SET UP IT'S IN ESCAPABLE, THAT THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT WE'RE MAKING, WHETHER WE VOTE YES, OR WHETHER WE VOTE, NO, CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF HOW IT WILL BE PERCEIVED AND DISCUSSED IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I, AND I, I JUST THINK THAT IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T PREPARED WELL, IT WASN'T DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL.
WELL, IT WASN'T TARGETED AND IT'S, IT'S BROAD.
AND, AND IT PUTS US IN A REALLY AWKWARD AND DIFFICULT PLACE ON THE DAS, WHICH IS WHY I'M ON A SUPPORT COUNSELOR.
REMEMBER ALICE IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS.
SO AS TO GIVE TIME TO STAFF AND TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND TO TEE UP A, A QUESTION THAT, THAT WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND AS I READ THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN FRONT OF US, YOU READ FROM SECTION TWO, WHICH CERTAINLY SPEAKS ABOUT FEES.
SECTION THREE, THOUGHTS TALKS ABOUT A, AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
WE KNOW HOW TO LIMIT THAT ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, JUST TO WHAT ON FEES AS WE SHOWED.
WE KNEW HOW TO DO THAT IN NUMBER TWO, BUT WE DIDN'T DO IT IN NUMBER THREE.
NUMBER THREE, JUST SPEAKS TO AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION ON WHAT
[05:50:01]
I LOOK AT.SECTION FOUR, SECTION FOUR IS THE PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS STAFF COMING BACK.
AND IT SAYS FEES AND THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S NO LIMITATION IN THIS REV IN THIS RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE, WHICHEVER IT IS.
THERE'S NO LIMITATION TO JUST FEES.
IF WE PASS THIS, MY FEAR IS THAT WE'LL DO EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER AUTHOR WAS TALKING ABOUT IS WE'LL BE OPENING UP PANDORA'S BOX.
THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THAN, HEY, LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT, AT, UH, PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE.
SO IT PRESENTS WHAT I BELIEVE IS A FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY VERSUS PARKS, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT'S BEEN TEED UP.
AND, AND, AND WOULD ARGUABLY OPEN UP PANDORA'S BOX.
WE NEED PARKS IN THIS CITY, AND WE HAVE A HUGE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IN THIS CITY, FRANKLY.
I THINK THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IS EXISTENTIAL.
I THINK WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY BECAUSE AFFORDABILITY PARKS IS KEY AND CENTRAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE LOSING ANY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF PARKS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE KIND OF QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DRIVE AFFORDABILITY JUST BY LOOKING AT THE PARKS BOARD MINUTES.
I MEAN, THERE ARE A HUNDRED ORDINANCES.
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE COSTS THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PAY THAT AN OWNER HAS TO PAY THAT ANYONE HAS TO PAY TO DEVELOP PROPERTY IN THIS CITY SEEMS TO ME TO BE OUT OF KILTER WITH EVERY OTHER CITY THAT WE LOOK AT.
I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO DEVELOP PROPERTY IN THIS CITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE AT ALIVE, AND IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT THE CITY'S BEEN HAVING FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I KNOW FOR AT LEAST THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS DESK AND WE DON'T SEEM, WE, WE MADE SOME PROGRESS AND YOU'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN THAT DEPARTMENT, BUT RELATIVE TO WHERE IT IS THAT WE NEED TO GET TO, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING AN IFC OR SOMETHING COMING FROM STAFF THAT SAYS, THAT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY HAVE HOMES THAT COST $200,000 AND $250,000 ABLE TO BE BUILT IN THIS CITY SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE SUPPLY.
THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE A REALLY HELPFUL, USEFUL THING.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WOULD TOUCH ON THE PARK ORDINANCE OR NOT.
MAYBE IT WOULD, MAYBE IT WOULD TOUCH ON A HUNDRED DIFFERENT ORDINANCES.
MAYBE IT WOULD TOUCH ON HOW WE DO THINGS.
YOU KNOW, I, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE HOUSING UNITS IN THIS CITY FOR $375,000 AND BELOW, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE ABSENCE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING MEANS THAT ANY LESS EXPENSIVE HOUSING WE MIGHT OTHERWISE HAD IS GETTING BID UP TO A PRICE WHERE PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE LET'S LET THIRD PARTIES, INDEPENDENT PARTIES CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH CODE RATHER THAN HAVING CODE PEOPLE DO IT.
I MEAN, THERE ARE CITIES THAT DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
DEVELOPERS CAN GO OUT AND I CAN HIRE THIRD-PARTY ENGINEERS THAT ARE PUTTING THEIR CREDENTIALS ON THE LINE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS IN THAT WAY.
MAYBE THAT WOULD BE MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE COST THAT DEVELOPERS PAY MAYBE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THE COST OF PRODUCT.
MAYBE MORE SIGNIFICANT ON THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PARKS, WHERE THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE PUT AGAINST EACH OTHER.
BUT GIVE ME A THIRD CHOICE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DO YOU WANT MORE PARKLAND OR ARE YOU WILLING TO DEAL WITH THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING THIRD-PARTY INDEPENDENT PEOPLE DO INSPECTIONS FOR FEAR THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GAME THE SYSTEM OR DO SOMETHING WRONG.
I MEAN, IF THOSE ARE MY CHOICES, I PICK AFFORDABILITY AND PARKS AND I WILL DEAL WITH THE RISK.
AND I SAY THAT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE RISK REALLY IS, BUT WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT, BUT YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION THAT COMES BEFORE US AS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TARGETED.
AND IT PITS THOSE TWO THINGS, UH, AGAINST EACH OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW THE ISSUE ON OUR BAD INFORMATION OR MISINFORMATION.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CONTRADICTION BETWEEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND WHAT THE, THE, THE, THE PARKS EMPLOYEE SAID, YOU KNOW, ABOUT
[05:55:01]
WHAT HAPPENED OR DIDN'T HAPPEN.I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS LISTED IN THE FEE SCHEDULE ON PAGE 7 94.
I MEAN, YOU CAN FIND WHAT IT IS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND SEE THAT IT'S AN INCREASE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT YEAR, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CALL THOSE OUT.
I WOULD SUGGEST MANAGER THAT GOING IN THE FUTURE, LEARNING FROM THIS INCIDENT, WE PUBLISH A TABLE OF EVERY FEE IN THE CITY, DURING BUDGET SEASON, IT'S GOING UP MORE THAN 10% AND WE JUST LIST THEM ALL SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO FEES IN THE CITY.
AND WE'RE REALLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THOSE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE WAS THIS.
I KNOW THAT BACK WHEN WE DID THIS DEAL IN 2015, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT FEES DON'T GET INCREASED.
IF HE DOESN'T GET INCREASED ON ITS OWN REQUIRES COUNCIL ACTION, UH, IT COULD COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION, HAS TO BE POSTED IN PUBLIC.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER MEETINGS OR THE CONTRADICTION, BUT I, BUT REGARDLESS IN MY ROLE ON, ON THIS DAY, AS I CAN'T BE CONCERNED REALLY ABOUT THAT, IT'S REALLY WHAT IS THE RIGHT POLICY FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE CITY.
I AM TROUBLED AT THE PROSPECT OF JUST OPENING UP THE ENTIRE PARKS ORDINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO ACTUALLY SIT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE REALLY, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT FEES, THEN I WANT TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT IS THAT WE THINK THE FEE PROBLEM IS.
I MEAN, DO WE THINK THAT THE FORMULA IS A BAD FORMULA, OR DO WE THINK THAT THE DATA GOING INTO THE FORMULA IS BAD DATA OR THAT IS BEING MISAPPLIED? I MEAN, THOSE ARE QUESTIONS.
AND SO, SO THAT, THAT HAD ME THEN LOOKING AT THE, AT THE FORMULA.
NOW, THE INTENT OF THE FORMULA, WE'VE ALL AGREED IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY MORE FOR PARKLAND OR THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE VALUE OF PARKLAND IS GOING UP AND WE'RE IN A MARKET THAT'S GOING UP.
AND AS LAND GOES UP, THE PRICE OF LAND GOES UP.
WHAT WE PAY FOR PARKLAND SHOULD GO UP CORRESPONDING TO THAT.
THE POLICY THAT WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE DRIVEN ON THIS DAY IS, IS THAT WE WANT THERE TO BE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE AND ITS INCREASE IN WHAT WE PAY FOR PARTS.
THE ONLY THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS FORMULA DOES.
WHAT THIS FORMULA IS, IS IT DOESN'T STATE.
IT LOOKS AT THE VALUE OF WHAT PARDES HAS PAID FOR PARKLAND.
AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.
WHY DO WE PAY FOR PARKLAND SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY THE VALUE, INCREASE IN WHAT THE LAND PRICES HAVE INCREASED, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND OR, OR NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST BECOMES SELF-REINFORCING.
IF WE'RE PAYING MORE FOR PARKLAND, WE SHOULD PAY MORE FOR PARKLAND BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING MORE FOR PARKLAND, BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES THIS CHART.
AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, MULTIPLE COLLEAGUES.
THEY ASK HIM FOR THIS CHART, THERE'S EXCEL SPREADSHEETS IN THE Q AND A.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE CHART SHOWS AND THE CHART SHOWS.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT TAKES A LOOK AT ALL OF THE PURCHASES THAT WE MADE PURCHASES, REALLY NOT SALES THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE MARKETPLACE, OUR PURCHASES OF THINGS THAT WE PURCHASED AND, AND IT, AND IT, AND IT TAKES IT.
AND IT TELLS US WHAT THE AVERAGE WAS IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT IT FOR FIVE YEARS TO COME UP WITH A FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SMOOTH THAT OUT.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THIS, THIS FORMULA, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE THINGS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH THIS FORMULA TO DRIVE THE POLICY GOAL THAT WE SET AS MEMBERS OF HIS DAS.
THE FIRST ONE IS IT, IT DOESN'T MEASURE THE INCREASES IN MARCH INCREASES IN MARKET VALUE.
IT ONLY LOOKS AT WHAT THE INCREASES THAT PART IS PAYING FOR LAND.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THOSE THINGS ARE RELATED TO EACH OTHER OR NOT, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS CHART THAT TALKS ABOUT THE MARKET VALUE FOR LAND.
I POINTED OUT TO YOU THAT LAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE WITH A WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE PER ACRE ON THIS CHART FOR THE EIGHT SALES IN 2020 WAS $235,822 AN ACRE.
AND THE YEAR BEFORE, IT WAS $50,165.
NOW PRICES OF DIRT HAVE GONE UP IN THIS CITY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GONE UP BY THAT RATIO.
THEY HAVEN'T, IT'S GONE UP A LOT, BUT IT HAS NOT GONE UP BY THAT RATIO, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A YEAR TO YEAR INCREASE OF ALMOST 400% IS ALMOST FIVE TIMES HIGHER IN A YEAR.
AGAIN, OUR PRICES ARE GOING UP, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING UP LIKE THAT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A FORMULA THAT CAN CATCH THAT.
[06:00:01]
PROBLEM WITH THIS FORMULA THAT WE HAVE IS THAT TO INDICATE VALUE WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO LOOK AT VALUE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CONCLUSION, YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE THAN JUST A FEW DATA POINTS, YOU WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH DATA POINTS SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE TRENDS.YOU MEAN, IF YOU ONLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, 10 DATA POINTS OR TWO DATA POINTS, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT OUTLIERS.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW, CAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FEW DATA POINTS IN OUR LAST FIVE YEARS, LOOKING AT THIS, LOOKING AT ALL OF THE SALES THAT WE USE, AGAIN, NOT MARKET VALUE, SALES PARK SALE, THAT SALES ONE YEAR, THERE WERE NO SALES.
ONE YEAR THERE WAS ONLY ONE SALE.
AND IN TWO OF THE YEARS, THERE WERE ONLY TWO SALES.
I WOULD SUGGEST THERE'S INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DRAW A CONCLUSION ABOUT WHAT THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE IS OR HOW THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE IS CHANGING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
I'LL GIVE YOU A THIRD PROBLEM WITH THE FORMULA.
AND I, AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET THE LOOK AT THE FORMULA THOUGH, JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO LIMIT MYSELF JUST TO THREE PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORMULA.
BUT THE THIRD PROBLEM WITH THIS FORMULA IS THAT IT USES THE PRICE OF AN APPLE AND THE PRICE OF AN ORANGE TO SUGGEST THE VALUE OF A BANANA.
AND BY THAT, I MEAN THAT IF YOU HAVE THE SALE PRICE OF A REALLY SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY, QUARTER, AN ACRE 10TH OF AN ACRE THAT SALES PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY TRANSLATES INTO A HUGE PER ACRE PRICE IS GENERALLY SPEAKING, GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THE VALUE OF A TWENTY-FIVE ACRE TRACK.
SO IN THE WORLD OF, OF, OF REAL ESTATE VALUATION, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO THINGS, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T USE A, A TINY TRACK, THE VALUE OF BIG TRACK BY THE, YET IN OUR FORMULA, WE THROW IN BIG EIGHT, BIG SALES AND LITTLE SALES.
AND WE, AND WE, WE THROW THEM IN AS A WEIGHTED AVERAGE.
WE, WE JUST, WE, WE MIX THEM UP.
I POINT OUT THAT LAST YEAR'S GROUP OF SALES, WHICH HAD THE AVERAGE VALUE OF $235,822.
HALF OF THE FEW SALES WE HAD WERE OVER AN ACRE AND HALF OF THEM WERE UNDER AN ACRE.
THE VALUE OF THE SALES OVER AN ACRE WAS $159,000 AN ACRE.
THE VALUE OF THE ONES UNDER ONE ACRE WAS 1,000,360 $4,000.
AND OUR FORMULA KIND OF MUSHES THEM ALL TOGETHER AND THEN COMES UP WITH A NUMBER WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MARKET VALUE OF LAND, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAID AS A POLICY.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE.
WE HAVE A RANDOM AND ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT IS ACTING LIKE A RANDOM AND ARBITRARY NUMBER.
SO I LOOK AT THAT AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE POLICY THAT WE INTENDED TO DO.
THIS FORMULA DOES NOT DO THAT POLICY, BUT THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT IS NOT THE RESOLUTION TO FIX OR LOOK AT THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ONE THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT, I THINK FOR FEAR IS GOING TO PUT US BACK TO, TO RE TRADING OR RE DEALING WITH WHAT WAS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION FIVE YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, I JUST, I, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING THIS BACK TO EVERY COUNCIL, EVERY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO, TO REDO THE PARKLAND DEDICATION DISCUSSION.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE NO ON THIS.
NO, BECAUSE THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE.
ON THIS BECAUSE YES, DOESN'T DO WHAT I WANT EITHER.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY, WHEN YOU MOVE TO POSSIBLE THIS FOR 30 DAYS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO TO, TO NOT RETRADE THE POLICY, BUT TO ACTUALLY BE TRUE TO THE POLICY THAT WE INTENDED TO HAVE 30 DAYS, I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THEN COME BACK TO US AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS A BETTER WAY FOR US TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE THAT'S PRESENTED AT THIS POINT.
LET'S KEEP THE FEE THAT WE APPROVED IN PLACE OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
LET'S JUST POSTPONE THIS THING.
I, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL WAIT FOR 30 DAYS TO SEE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT THIS FORMULA DOES NOT DOESN'T WORK.
AND THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT WORK.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER AT 30 YEAR, I THINK YOU'RE MARRIED.
YOU KNOW, WE, WHEN THIS, THIS CAME BEFORE WE LOBBIED THE STATE
[06:05:01]
TO GIVE US PERMISSION, WE ACTUALLY WENT DOWN THERE WITH THE INTENTION OF BUILDING USING THAT MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.AND THAT'S WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THE STATE SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU FOR HER PARK DEDICATION.
CAUSE THEY DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE SAYING THAT THIS IS A DEVELOPER, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT DEVELOPERS DO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LABELED ON THERE.
WE HAD GREG ANDERSON THAT GOT KICKED OFF THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR HABITAT AND HE WAS A DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT THAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR ME BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN WHAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO BUILD OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND WE NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE STAGE SAID, NO, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE US THIS MONEY SO THAT WE CAN BUILD AND BUY PARKLAND AND WELL TOO BAD ABOUT THE POOR PEOPLE.
THEY JUST GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF BOSTON.
THEY CAN COME OVER HERE AND VISIT US IN OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKLAND, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER
AND I AGREE WITH YOUR SENTIMENTS ABOUT WANTING TO TAKE A BROADER LOOK, UM, ESPECIALLY AT THE POLICY AND, UM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY CREATING POLICY THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM AND I'M WITH YOU ON THAT.
AND I DO THINK THAT DESERVES A CONVERSATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF COULD WORK ON WITHIN 30 DAYS.
I THINK THAT THAT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL NEED MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
AND I JUST, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY IS THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY THIS ITEM.
I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT ANY MORE THAN I CAN LET COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MAKE HER MOTION AFTER SHE SPOKE EITHER AS YOU CAN'T MAKE A WALKING MOTION AND SAID, SHE TALKED FIRST IN DEBATE, CAN'T DO THAT AT THIS POINT.
UH, WE CAN COME BACK TO DO THAT AND WE WILL CONSIDER WHAT ARE THE, THE, THE VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO NOT MAKE A, NOT MAKE A DECISION TODAY, BUT BY WAY OF CLARIFICATION, I DIDN'T WANT STAFF TO COME BACK IN 30 DAYS WITH EITHER THE EXACT MOTION OR THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK NOR DO I WANT THEM TO COME BACK WITH AN ANSWER, BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT SAYS, OKAY, THIS IS HOW WE THINK WE SHOULD APPROACH THIS CHALLENGE.
AND I'D LIKE HIM TO COME BACK AND DO THAT SO THAT WE'RE JUST NOT LEAVING IT OPEN.
BUT I, BUT TO YOUR POINT FOR EXACTLY ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU SAID THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM INDEFINITELY MOTION TO POSTPONE IT DEFINITELY.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER OF WEIPA, SECOND TO DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEX.
MAY I SPEAK TO MY EMOTIONAL? OKAY, SO MAYOR, YOU SAID A LOT IN THERE, BUT I THINK WHAT IT REVEALED IS THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT THE VEHICLE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO SOLVE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT COMING TO US AFTER WE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON THE ITEM, OPENING UP THE PANDORA'S BOX WITH NO STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM, NO STATEMENT OF THE HISTORY, ET CETERA, REALLY ADDRESSES THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT A BETTER PROCEDURAL PROCESS WOULD BE FOR SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME FORWARD WITH AN IFC THAT PROVIDES THE DIRECTION.
IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT IN MY MIND FOR YOU TO SAY TO RODNEY, COME BACK IN 30 DAYS WITH A SOLUTION TO AFFORDABILITY AND FEES ON A AND A PATH FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BY TRADITION, WE USUALLY PROVIDE SOME POLICY GUIDANCE.
NOW WE'LL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION NEXT WEEK, TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE WANT TO BALANCE CERTAIN PIECES AND ELEMENTS OF OUR PRIORITIES OF WHICH ACCESS TO PARKLAND AND ACCESS TO HOUSING ARE BOTH HIGH IN OUR PRIORITIES FOR ST 23.
SO I THINK THAT POSTPONING INDEFINITELY IS MORE APPROPRIATE.
I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HOW THIS CAME TO US, HOW A REAL ESTATE GROUP WAS ABLE TO GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THAT NO COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED THEM FOR WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF GETTING COUNCIL TO BRING IT FORWARD.
AND IF THERE WERE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR FIVE THAT WANT TO BRING SOMETHING TOGETHER AND WORK ON SOME SOLUTIONS THAT PROVIDE REAL DIRECTION, THAT'S FINE.
UM, I DO ALSO WANT TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID, UM, THE COST OF LAND IN AUSTIN, THE MARKET VALUE IS WAY HIGHER THAN THE COST OF PARKLAND.
THE THING ABOUT PARKLAND IS WE HAVE OFTEN HAD TWO SATISFIES WITH FLOOD PLAINS
[06:10:01]
AND THINGS.AND SO YOU OFTEN SEE SOME OF THESE LOWER LEVEL, UM, PARKS AND PART OF IT IN TERMS OF VALUE.
AND SO A 255,000 IS WAY LOWER THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING PER ACRE FOR OUR HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSER TO 900,000 AN ACRE.
AND I KNOW CAUSE I HAVE THIS CALCULATION SOMEWHERE IN DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO YES, WE COULD BE FOCUSING THIS ON THE MARKET VALUE OF LAND, BUT IT WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER THAN PARKLAND.
AND THE REASON THAT WE USE THE PRICE PER ACRE OF PARKLAND THAT WE'VE PURCHASED IS PRECISELY TO MAKE IT.
SO IT'S NOT AS HIGH AS THE LAND BECAUSE THAT WAS A COMPROMISE THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
UM, IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING WE ALSO HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO ASSESS AN IMPACT FEE, IT HAS TO BE RELATED TO THE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FUND.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BY LAW.
IF WE WANT TO ASSESS A PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE TO TIE IT TO LAND IN GENERAL, IT HAS TO BE RELATED TO THE COST, WHAT IT COSTS US TO PURCHASE PARKLAND.
SO THERE, THERE ARE ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS.
ALSO IT IS COMPLICATED, WHICH IS WHY I SAID IT'S A PANDORA'S BOX.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THIS PROCESS GETS IMPROVED OR THAT IF WE FIND THAT SUDDENLY THE FORMULA IS JUST NOT WORKING, THAT WE CAN'T RELOOK AT IT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THIS VEHICLE THOUGH IS NOT THE WAY TO DO THAT.
HAVING ONLY THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR AT THE TABLE, WHEN A CHOICE MOVING FORWARD, DOESN'T GET US TO THE CONSENSUS.
DOESN'T HELP US TO FIGURE OUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT FALSE CHOICE, WHICH I THINK WE ALL SHARE A GOAL OF NOT WANTING TO HAVE TO MAKE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT IF WE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY, THAT LEAVES OPEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO WORK ON THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR, THEIR THINKING CAPS ON.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE SINGLING OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STREET IMPACT FEES.
YOU CAN LOOK, AND I THINK IT'S IN THE BACKUP THEY PUT, UM, THERE WHAT THEY DID FOR THE STREET IMPACT FEES.
I MEAN, YOU CAN DO THIS ANALYSIS THAT'S CALLED IN HERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES IN TEXAS.
BUT I'M NOT REALLY COMPARING MYSELF TO THE OTHER TEXAS CITIES ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND THAT IT AFFECTS AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE BY DEFINITION, IF YOU INCREASE THE FEE ON A DEVELOPMENT, YOU'RE DECREASING AFFORDABILITY BY THEIR DEFINITION OF WAY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT.
SO LIKE, THERE'S JUST, THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THIS IS SET UP.
AND WE PERHAPS THROUGH THIS PROCESS ARE IDENTIFYING SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO, AND THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH WAYS THAT THERE ARE WIN-WINS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS WE NEED TO FIND A WAY SO THAT WE HAVE, UM, COMMERCIAL PROJECTS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION, EVEN IF IT'S JUST THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE US A TRAIL EASEMENT WHEN WE NEED IT.
UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S POSITIVE.
THIS IS STRUCTURED AS A LOSE FOR PARKS WITH NO POSSIBILITY IN THE WAY THAT IT IS FRAMED THAT WE CAN WIN.
AND THAT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET US TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT OUR IS GOING TO TRUST.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, I DON'T THINK HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK YET.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND RAISED? I DID.
I'M JUST HAVING SOME TROUBLE FINDING THAT MUTE BUTTON.
I'M REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATING THIS CONVERSATION.
IT'S GOT ME THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND I, UH, I WANT IT TO MAKE SURE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE SO MUCH OF WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES AND YOU HAVE SAID SO FAR, ESPECIALLY THAT BIT THAT YOU SAID ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
AND IT GOT ME THINKING AS WE WERE UP, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE DELIBERATING AND EVERYBODY'S TALKING AND IT GOT ME THINKING THAT IN A MAJORITY RENTER CITY, UM, I MEAN THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE RENTERS.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN YOU INCREASE COST TO BUILD RENTAL HOUSING IN AUSTIN, THAT THOSE COSTS THEY GET PASSED ON TO RENTERS.
SO THAT'S ONE POINT I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE BEING VERY CLEAR AND EXPLICIT ABOUT EXPRESSING, UM, THE FEE INCREASES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WHERE DUE TO THE ACQUISITION OF HIGH VALUE LAND, UM, FOR PARKS AND DOWNTOWN LAST YEAR, I FRANKLY DON'T SEE HOW IT'S EQUITABLE TO HAVE A FORMULA THAT LEADS TO INCREASED RIBS IN DISTRICT ONE BASED ON PURCHASE A PROPERTY FOR POCKET PARKS IN DOWNTOWN.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT OF THESE FEES WILL
[06:15:01]
BE.SO I THINK THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH OTHER FEES THAT WE CHARGE MUCH LIKE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR WAS POINTING OUT WITH STREET IMPACT FEES AND DENSITY BONUS FEES, DRAINAGE FEES, UM, AS WITH ANY OTHER PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WORK ON IN THE CITY.
IT ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE THAT WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES WE MAKE AND NOT DOING SO WITH NEGATIVELY IMPACT THOSE WHO NEED THE HOUSING THE MOST.
BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE REMISS TO NOT POINT OUT THAT DEVELOPERS ARE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAREFUL.
YEAH, WORDS, INTONATION, CONTEXT, TONE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS MEAN SOMETHING.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO POINT OUT THAT DEVELOPERS ARE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN REAL ESTATE WHO WORK IN DEVELOPMENT.
UM, YOU COULD VERY EASILY REPLACE THE WORD DEVELOPER WITH HOME BUILDER AND INSTANTLY THE CONNOTATION CHANGES.
I THINK WE HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS HOUSED AT AN APARTMENT, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, WHETHER THEY ARE RICHARD, WHERE THEY OWN THEIR HOME, UM, IF YOU LIVE SOMEPLACE THAT SOMEBODY BUILT, SOMEBODY HAD TO BUILD THAT EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS, MEDIUM BUSINESS, LARGE BUSINESSES, EVERY SCHOOL I SPITTLE CHURCH, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE POINT.
SOMEBODY HAS TO BUILD THINGS AND WE CANNOT LOVE EVERYONE INTO THAT MONACO SPORT IN MONOPOLY, MAN, TWISTING HIS MUSTACHE CATEGORY.
THAT'S I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS FOR US TO DO THAT.
I THINK CRITICAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS LIKE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL HOUSING THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED IN THIS TOWN WHERE WE'RE PREDICTABLY SHORT ON HOUSING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RHEA FOR REALLY MAKING THAT POINT, BECAUSE I JUST KEPT THINKING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION, I'M ALL TOO HAPPY TO SUPPORT POSTPONEMENT.
I THINK SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE HERE ABOUT THIS NOT BEING THE VEHICLE, UM, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO DEPLOY THAT ARE BETTER, THAT, YOU KNOW, MORE THOUGHT NEEDS TO GO INTO IT.
THE PROCESS NEEDED TO BE REVISITED.
I AGREE AND SUPPORT ALL OF THAT.
I JUST ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE DON'T, THAT WE DON'T OTHER, THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD THE THINGS THAT WE LIVE IN, SLEEPING WORSHIP IN, GET OUR EDUCATION IN.
I MEAN, WE, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO BUILD THINGS.
UM, SO WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CAREFUL ABOUT NOT MISCATEGORIZING ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE INDUSTRIES, WHERE THEY BUILD THINGS THAT WE NEED.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR HEARING MY POINTS AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKING VERY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTARY AND POINTS BECAUSE IT, IT DOES HAVE ME THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE A RODNEY HERE FOR SOME CLARIFICATION'S IS I'M LISTENING TO PEOPLE ON THE DAYAS.
IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY TO POSTPONE THIS BY SOME VEHICLE.
MY SUGGESTION IS GOING TO BE, WE TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WE CAN GET INTO THE, TO THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE AT THE END AROUND THE SECOND WEEK.
I'M NOT STOPPING ANYBODY FROM BEING ABLE TO TALK.
RODNEY, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US A, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO ADD SOME CLARIFICATION.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATION THIS EVENING, UM, AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING JUST TO BRING FORWARD SOME CLARIFICATION, UH, THE FEE INCREASE WHETHER OR NOT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE KNEW IT OR NOT.
AND DIDN'T SEE THAT PARTICULAR PAGE IN THE BUDGET IS ONE THING INTERNALLY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW INTERNALLY, OUR STAFF DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS LARGE FEE INCREASE IN PARTICULAR, OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF, UM, TO ADD CONTEXT TO THE FEE INCREASES IN THE PAST, WE HAD THREE YEARS OF FEE INCREASES THAT RANGED FROM 10 TO 13%, UH, THE YEAR BEFORE THIS BUDGET WAS 1%.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND THAT HISTORICAL CONTEXT, YOU THINK, OKAY, MAYBE IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER 10%, ALBEIT WE KNOW THAT PRICES CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SKYROCKET AND AUSTIN.
THIS YEAR WAS 124% AS WE PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE EXPECTS ALL OF US TO BE TRANSPARENT.
AND FOR ALL OF US TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST IMPACTFUL TO EVERYONE, THIS WAS NOT HIGHLIGHTED.
THIS WAS ON A SINGLE PAGE WITH
[06:20:01]
FEES THAT WERE CROSSED OUT AND NEW FEES INCREASE.I DON'T THINK THAT YOU EXPECT US AS STAFF TO NOT BE THAT TRANSPARENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THIS PARTICULAR FEE OR OTHER ITEMS, I BELIEVE THAT YOU EXPECT US TO BE HONORABLE.
I THINK THAT YOU EXPECT US TO BE TRUSTWORTHY.
AND I THINK YOU EXPECT US TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT CERTAINTY, BECAUSE I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE ABOUT THIS FEE INCREASE.
THERE WERE AMPLE TIMES TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE WERE MEETINGS, POST THE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY WEREN'T HAD.
AND THAT GIVES ME PAUSE ABOUT HOW YOU EXPECT US AS STAFF TO OPERATE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALL TRUST AGENTS.
THE COMMUNITY HAS TO TRUST US.
THESE ARE THEIR DOLLARS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
AND YES, THESE ARE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES, AND THEY'RE SO VALUABLE.
AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT, UM, RETHINKING THE FORMER.
WE DID NOT PUT THE FORMULA SPECIFICALLY IN THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GIVING COUNSEL THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD IN THE BUDGET PROCESS TO TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION AT OUR MOST CRITICAL TIME OF AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
EVERY DAY WE READ ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN, THE LACK OF IT EVERY DAY, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONTACTED ABOUT RENTERS BEING PRICED OUT EVERY DAY, WE'RE TALKING, WE WERE SEEING THESE HOME PRICES INCREASE.
AND WHAT WE WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL WAS THIS PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT WE THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS A CONCERN IN AUSTIN AFFORDABILITY.
WE DON'T INTEND TO TEE UP AFFORDABILITY VERSUS PARKS.
THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT SAY STOP THE FEET COLLECTION.
IT'S SIMPLY CONTINUE THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT WAS IN EFFECT SEPTEMBER 30TH, WHICH BROUGHT $15 MILLION LAST YEAR IN THREE COLLECTIONS, WHICH IS GREAT.
CONTINUE THAT FEE SCHEDULE AND ALLOW US WITH PARKS HAS THE LEAD WORKING WITH HOUSING AND PLANNING, WORKING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS, NOT JUST THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO BRING FORWARD INFORMATION.
SO THAT WAY WE COULD CONSIDER ALL OF THIS IN CONTEXT, WE WANTED TO BRING LIGHT OF DAY TO THIS.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THIS WAS NOT LED BY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
IF ANYTHING, THEY FLAGGED IT FOR US, THAT THIS WAS THERE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN THAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE I, BECAUSE IN WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND I WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL FOR 15 YEARS VACATED EARLY ON, WHEN I HAD QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO EVERYBODY.
I DON'T THINK THESE ARE CLARIFICATION'S WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I WANT TO GIVE THE STAFF A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AND THAT CLARIFICATION TO THIS PIECE OF IT MIRROR.
COUNCIL MEMBER, POOL, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY TWO THINGS THAT IF THE FEE, UM, WAS, UH, NOT HIGHLIGHTED, THEN WHY DID STAFF NOT HIGHLIGHT IT DURING THE BUDGET? AND I WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT RENTS AND PURCHASE PRICES ON SALES ARE WHAT THE MARKET CAN BEAR.
THEY RISE AND THEY FALL BASED ON WHAT THE MARKET IS.
NOT ALWAYS WHAT, UM, PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE IS.
AND PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE IS MINUSCULE IN COMPARISON TO THE COSTS.
AND WE KNOW THIS WHEN WE LOOK AT PROFORMAS WITH THE ACTUAL COST OF DEVELOPMENT, THEY'RE MINOR, BUT THE IMPACT OF HAVING A PARK NEAR YOUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHERE YOU CAN WALK TO WITH YOUR KIDDOS, THAT'S MAJOR AND, UH, MAYOR, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE PITTING AFFORDABILITY AGAINST PARKLAND.
IT'S A TOUGH CHALLENGE, BUT AUSTIN CAN RISE TO TOUGH CHALLENGES AND WE JUST NEED TO TAKE IT ON.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF CAUSE UH, WE ARE WAY PAST DINNERTIME AND WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US,
[06:25:01]
BUT I COULD BE OKAY WITH AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO UNFOLD TOGETHER AND WHAT DIRECTION WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAD TOGETHER.WHAT I WOULD LIKE IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE DIRECTION, IS THAT AT OUR WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 30TH, THAT WE AT LEAST START UNVEILING, WHAT ARE THE BIG QUESTIONS WE WANT TO ADDRESS? I'VE SEEN THE CITY MANAGER TACKLE THIS IN A VERY STREAMLINED WAY BEFORE TO SAY, WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT IF ANYTHING, AND SOME OF THAT SHOULD I THINK INCLUDE STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HASN'T HAD TO DO OUTREACH LIKE THIS BEFORE.
THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT IS BETTER SUITED FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHO ALREADY HAS A PROGRAM BUILT TO SURE THAT AS THESE FEES CHANGE, THEY KNOW WHO TO REACH OUT TO AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION.
AND I ALSO JUST NEED TO SAY, I, I, I WORRY THAT WE ARE PUTTING SO MANY THINGS ON OUR PARKS DIRECTOR THAT ARE NOT JUST MANAGING THE PARK SPACE.
WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND GROUNDS, MAINTENANCE, FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE, RECREATION CENTERS, PROGRAMMING, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ENJOYABLE TO EVERYBODY WHO LOVES THEM.
AND NOW WE'RE ASKING HER TO DO FI OUTREACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND OUR HOME BUILDERS.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO WORK ON OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE JUST NOT BEST, UM, TACKLED BY, BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND I, I JUST REALLY WORRY THAT WE'RE PUTTING SO MANY THINGS ON THE DEPARTMENT THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN THEIR WHEELHOUSE WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FUND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A GUARDRAIL ON COMING BACK TO US WITH WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT ANY GROUP SHOULDN'T BE WORKING ON AN IFC.
I JUST KNOW HOW HARD IT IS THAT WE WOULD ALL PROBABLY WRITE THE IFC DIFFERENTLY.
AND IT MAY BE HARD TO GET PARTWAY DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE AMENDMENTS AND WE NEED THIS TO BE AS STREAMLINED AS POSSIBLE.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO HAVE A GUARDRAIL OF WHAT IS THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
AND WHAT, IF ANY CHANGES WOULD WE LIKE TO SEE IN THE ORDINANCE, THE FEES AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE ADOPT THOSE FEES.
UM, I WOULD SUPPORT A POSTPONE IT, BUT I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THERE WAS A TIMELINE ON THAT.
UM, HAVING AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT THE MATTER AT HAND HERE TODAY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, TO HAVE IT TIED DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE I CAN SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT A POSTPONE INDEFINITELY.
THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE POSTPONE INDEFINITE PLEA IS A MOTION THAT A BODY ADOPTS WHEN IT DOESN'T WANT TO VOTE ON WHAT IS PRESENTED IN FRONT OF THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THIS PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US.
UH, SO I HAVE COMFORTABLE WITH A MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY.
I WILL JOIN WITH YOU AT HOWEVER OTHER MANY OTHER COLLEAGUES WE HAVE TO ASK THE MANAGER TO PUT ON OUR WORK SESSION ON THE 30TH OF DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE.
THE BUT, BUT I WANTED TO, TO, TO, TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA, I'M NOT TRYING TO OPEN UP EVERYTHING, BUT THERE'S AN ISSUE HERE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT THIS FEE IS MEASURING IN TERMS OF THE POLICY THAT WE SPENT.
BUT, BUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW IT IS, WE DEAL ACTIVELY AS A CITY WITH AFFORDABILITY.
WHAT IS OUR GAME PLAN TO DEAL WITH AFFORDABILITY WITH MORE TOOLS THAN JUST THE PARKLAND OR TO NOT TO HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT TO LAY OUT FOR US.
THAT IS OUR NEXT EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE.
I MEAN, WE, AS A BODY, WE DUG DEEP AND WE REALLY HIT TRANSPORTATION OVER THE YEARS, WE DUG DEEP AND WE HIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUBSIDIZED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO, BUT EDDIE TWO ABOUT US CAN ASK FOR THAT.
SO WE CAN JUST ASK THE MANAGER TO COME BACK.
AND I KNOW THERE'S MORE THAN TWO OF US.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WENT, THEY SAID THE SAME THING.
SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY.
I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO COME BACK ON THE 30TH AND TRY TO PRESENT US WITH SOME KIND OF ROADMAP TO CONSIDER TO GO FORWARD.
AND THAT IS NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER BRINGING ANYTHING.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO BRING GOD'S FOREVER.
TOVO I HATE TO TAKE US BACKWARDS, BUT I HAD SOME QUESTIONS I REALLY NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND.
UM, AND AS I SIGNALED EARLIER, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND? I, I SEE IN THE Q AND A, UM, AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THESE FEES, UM, THAT YOU, THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO WERE MET WITH WERE RICA, UM, AND THESE WERE MEETINGS AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ATTENDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AS I REFLECTED BACK, UM, OVER THIS LAST WEEK OR SO REFLECTED BACK OVER PAST POLICY DECISIONS, I COULD NOT REMEMBER AN INSTANCE WHERE THE CITY MANAGER CAME FORWARD WITH WHAT IS REALLY A POLICY MATTER AND PUT IT ON THE COUNCIL
[06:30:01]
AGENDA.UM, I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL STRIKING EXAMPLES OF POLICY DECISIONS, UM, THAT SOME OF US HAVE SPOKEN UP ABOUT IN RECENT, IN RECENT WEEKS, INCLUDING OR RECENT MONTHS, UM, INCLUDING THE DECISION TO ALLOW CAMPING ON, UM, ALONGS, DESSERT ALONG CESAR CHAVEZ AND AREAS OF PARKLAND, UH, INCLUDING THE DECISION, YOUR DECISION TO ALLOW CAMPING AT CITY HALL IN, IN SPITE OF A BUILDING POLICY THAT PROHIBITED OVERNIGHT STAYS, YOU KNOW, SO YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MADE POLICY DECISIONS, ABSENT COUNCIL ACTION IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE I COULD THINK OF WHERE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL ITEM ON OUR COUNCIL AGENDA THAT IS REALLY REVERSING A POLICY DECISION OF THE COUNCIL.
AND SO I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY KIND OF PRECEDENT IN MIND.
YOU KNOW, I, ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WAS CLOSE WAS ARIZONA.
WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, WE, ONCE, UH, THE COUNCIL HAD PASSED A BAN ON TRAVEL TO ARIZONA AND WE HAD A COUNCIL CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AT WORK SESSION AND PROVIDED YOU WITH A DIRECTION WITH INFORMATION AND DATA THAT THAT COULD BE LIFTED.
BUT I JUST COULD NOT THINK OF AN EXAMPLE WHERE ABSENT COUNCIL DIRECTION, THE MANAGER HAD PUT AN ITEM ON OUR COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO COULD YOU ADDRESS, THERE MAY BE EXAMPLES I'M NOT THINKING OF, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING WHAT THOSE ARE.
AND CERTAINLY THESE ARE CRITICAL POLICY ITEMS FOR THE BODY TO CONSIDER.
AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I LOOK BACK TO EVEN THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND, UH, WE FRAMED THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY AT THAT POINT IN TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD APPROPRIATE, UH, DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL IN THAT REGARD.
UH, THIS IS ONLY TEEING UP THE DISCUSSION FOR YOU TO HAVE TO SAY, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT, UH, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, AND BECAUSE OF THE FEES HAVE EXPRESSED SO DRAMATICALLY, UH, THAT THIS IS A CREDIT TALK FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BOTH THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT, UH, REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
UH, SO IT'S JUST ALLOWING THE TIME FOR THAT DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN.
UH, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
I WOULD DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LDC, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT HAPPENED IN A WORK SESSION INVOLVING THE COUNCIL, WE PROVIDED YOU WITH DIRECTION AND THEN THE STAFF WENT FORWARD, DID THEIR WORK BEFORE SOMETHING APPEARED ON OUR AGENDA TO SCHEDULE FOR THE MANAGER.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY EXAMPLE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS WITHOUT PRECEDENT, AT LEAST RECENT PRECEDENT FOR AN ITEM TO APPEAR ON OUR AGENDA, THAT REVERSES COURSE ON A POLICY ISSUE WITHOUT COUNCIL DIRECTION.
AND I JUST, I CANNOT WRAP MY RENT, MY HEAD AROUND, UM, WHERE IN THE CITY CHARTER, UM, YOU DERIVE THAT AUTHORITY.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE.
I'M SUPER CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT TRANSPIRED HERE TODAY, AROUND INTERNAL STAFF, NOT BEING AWARE OF WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY YOU, UM, TO THIS COUNCIL DYESS FOR ACTION.
YOU KNOW, IT IS ALL OF OUR JOB TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET, ALL OF US WHO WERE INVOLVED IN IT.
AND IT IS A BUDGET THAT IS APPROVED.
IT IS THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET.
AND SO, UM, I MEAN, I, I HEARD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ACM GONZALEZ, BUT IT CONCERNS ME WHEN YOU SAY INTERNAL STAFF WERE NOT AWARE OF AN ELEMENT THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, UH, THANK YOU.
I'M READY TO, I'M READY TO VOTE.
THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE A DEFINITELY IN FRONT OF US.
LET'S KEEP THE DEBATE ON THAT ISSUE.
UM, I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR INTERJECTING BEFORE I SHARE COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S CONCERN, AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THAT.
UM, THE NOTION THAT WE, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY, BUT I, BUT I FIND IT VERY, VERY CONCERNING THAT OUR STAFF WERE NOT AWARE OF, OF AN INCREASE OF A FEE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN THE BUDGET.
UM, IT WAS IN RED, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
SO, SO I DO NEED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERJECTING EARLIER, BUT THAT WAS WHY, UM, SO I MADE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY AND I APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR MORE CONVERSATION.
AND I DO THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE BEST SERVED IN PART BY A BROADER CONVERSATION AMONGST US.
UM, CITY MANAGER HAS PUT ON OUR AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S NEXT WEEK, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT
[06:35:01]
POINT FOR US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL, UM, THE END OF NOVEMBER TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE VALUING SOME OF THESE THINGS AND HOW WE WANT TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE READY WITH A PARTICULAR PLAN.
I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER IF WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PLAN, BUT THAT WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT I WANT TO INCLUDE THERE, HOW DO WE INCREASE FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS AND HOW DO WE INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR PARKS? UM, AND I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE PARKLAND, UM, DEDICATION ORDINANCE AND THAT, AND THAT FEAT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE KINDS OF BROAD PARAMETERS FOR THE DISCUSSION, I THINK IT WOULD BE HEALTHY.
THAT WOULD BE HEALTHY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TIME WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT JOINTLY WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND HOW DO WE PROBLEM SOLVE AND WHAT DIFFERENT, UM, PIECES OF, OF THE EQUATION WE CAN EACH BRING TO THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PERSPECTIVE, UM, TO HELP US TO TACKLE, UM, THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US.
UM, SO I CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME THE GENERAL SUGGESTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THAT MOTION MARSHA BEFORE IT'S JUST TO POSTPONE IT, DEFINITELY CATCH UP WITH KELLY YEAH.
AFTER THE FURTHER CLARITY FROM THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WE HAD, I CAN NOW SUPPORT THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
THOSE ARE FAVORITE POSTPONE ARE DEFINITELY PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAIR.
I THINK IT SHOULD OPPOSE THE COUNCIL MEMBER RED TO RITA VOTES.
NO, THE OTHERS VOTING I COUNCIL MEMBER CAUSE ARE OFF THE DIOCESE MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONE.
SO THE VOTE THEN IS 9 1, 1 DISPATCHERS POSTPONED ARE DEFINITELY ONE THING WE HAVE LEFT IS THE BRIEFING.
DO WE WANT, UH, TO BE READY TO, TO MOVE INTO THE BRIEFING? YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK? WHAT'S THE PLEASURE.
UM, I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR ACM ARIANO I THINK HE'S IN THE BACK ROOM.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT SWAP ALL RIGHT.
[46. Briefing from Kroll & Associates regarding their Preliminary Analysis: Assessment of the Austin Police Department Pilot Training Academy.]
NIGHT, UM, LET'S HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE CRO REPORT JUST TO SAY, MANAGE YOU AND KICK US OFF WHERE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE CHIEF.UM, LET ME SEE, MAKE SURE MY MIC HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SAT HERE, SIR.
SO THIS EVENING WE'RE PLEASED TO PRESENT A, UH, AN UPDATE THAT IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT, UH, CROLE CONSULTANTS HAVE BEEN DOING HERE AT, WITH THE POLICE ACADEMY, UH, THE PILOT ACADEMY THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TURN IT OVER TO OUR, UH, DIRECTOR FOR THE OPPOSITE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT OR MUSCADET WHO WILL THEN INTRODUCE THE TOPIC AND HANDED OVER TO OUR CONSULTANTS.
UH, AFTER THAT PRESENTATION, UH, CHIEF JOE
GOOD EVENING, PEAR COUNCIL, FAIR MUST GET INDIRECTION OF THE OFFICER'S POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR CONSULTANTS FROM COLON ASSOCIATES THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE WITH YOU MARK EHLERS, DAN LINSKEY, AND RICK BROWN.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE ABOUT THE SUMMER WHEN THE ACADEMY OR THE PILOT ACADEMY MAY PRELIMINARY FINDINGS.
WE ARE FINISHING ABOUT THE PEAK OF THIS PILOT.
UM, AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING THEIR FINDINGS UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR CONSULTANTS, MARK.
UM, AS THE CONSULTANTS BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE NOW FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND, AND, AND APOLOGIZE.
AND THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF THE CROWELL TEAM, UM, RICK, DAN, AND I, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR THE TRUST YOU'VE PLACED IN US TO HELP WITH THE CITY'S RE-IMAGINING POLICING EFFORTS.
UM, SO FOR THE NEXT, UH, 15 OR 20 MINUTES OR SO, WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE KIND OF A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE, UM, APD TRAINING ACADEMY THROUGH THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS.
AND WE'LL HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE BELIEVE THE ACADEMY IS DOING WELL, AND A FEW AREAS THAT, UH, REMAIN A WORK IN PROGRESS AND MAY NEED SOME, UH, SOME AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT.
[06:40:01]
FOR, FOR ME TO SHARE THE SCREEN, UM, IF THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ME, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, UM, OKAY, LET ME JUST PULL UP.I HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION YOU'RE OUT THERE, WHETHER PULLING IT UP.
UM, DO YOU MIND IF I MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT? YES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW I'M GOING TO BE CAMERA OFF, UM, MOVING FORWARD, BUT MY STAFF AND I ARE LISTENING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESENTATION.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE, UH, THE SLIDES.
SO, UM, JUST AS A, AS A REMINDER AND BACKDROP, UM, PEARL'S ROLE AS INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR IS TO VERIFY THE DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD MADE BACK IN OUR ASSESSMENT REPORT BACK IN APRIL.
AND, UH, AS PART OF THE EVALUATOR, OUR JOB IS TO ASSESS WHETHER THE PARKING IS DEVELOPING A TRANSFORMATIONAL POLICE ACADEMY THAT ADDRESSES ISSUES OF RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY EMPHASIZES DEESCALATION INCORPORATES DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPS RESILIENT OFFICERS THROUGH EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE ADULT YEARNING.
UH, AND IT IS ALL DONE WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A BEST IN CLASS, UH, POLICE ACADEMY, THIS A 34 WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM BEGAN BACK ON JUNE 7TH WITH THE PILOT TWO WEEK COMMUNITY CONNECT OPPORTUNITY ORIENTATION PROGRAM.
AND IT'S THEN FOLLOWED BY 32 WEEKS OF TRAINING.
CURRENTLY, THE ACADEMY IS IN, UM, WEEK 20, IF WE CONSIDER ALL 34 WEEKS THEY'RE IN WEEK 20 ARE IN WEEK 18 OF THAT 32 WEEK TRAINING SEGMENT, UM, JUST A, A NUMBER OF POSITIVE ADDITIONS TO THE ACADEMY.
UM, ALL OF WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY FIRST FOR THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS.
AND FOR WHICH WE BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT.
AND THIS INCLUDES, UH, ADDING 30 HOURS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING, UH, SUCCESSFULLY CREATED AN IMPLEMENTING THE TWO WEEK COMMUNITY ORIENTATION PROGRAM CALLED COMMUNITY CONNECT, UM, INCORPORATING ANTI-RACISM TRAINING FOR BOTH STAFF AND CADETS.
THEY'VE ALSO ADDED AN EIGHT HOUR COURSE ON THE HISTORY OF POLICE AND RACE, WHICH ADDRESSES THE HISTORICAL FORCES IN AUSTIN AND ELSEWHERE THAT IMPACT MODERN PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WHITE PEOPLE DEVELOP DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED, UH, PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING IN THIS ACADEMY CLASS.
AND THEY'VE CREATED A FORMALIZED PROCESS OF COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC CIVILIAN INPUT, UH, INTO TRAINING CONTENT AND SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY VIDEO REVIEW PANEL, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE COMMUNITY INPUT TO ENSURE THAT ISSUES OF RACIAL EQUITY AND PROCEDURAL JUSTICE ARE CONSIDERED IN ALL ASPECTS OF CADET TRAINING.
ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT FROM THE START OF THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS, UH, CHIEF PECAN AND HIS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM HAVE APPROPRIATELY EMPHASIZED THAT THE MISSION OF THE ACADEMY, UH, IS TO TRAIN FUTURE OFFICERS, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TREAT EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT WHILE EMPHASIZING SENSITIVITY TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS, CULTURAL COMPETENCY, THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND ADULT LEARNING.
AND ACCORDING TO A RECENTLY ADMINISTERED ANONYMOUS, UH, COULD THAT SURVEY, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF CADETS HAVE, IN FACT, THE FIRM THAT STAFF HAS POSITIVELY EMPHASIZED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING THROUGHOUT TRAINING.
SO AS INDICATED, UH, THE DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE PILOT TWO WEEK COMMUNITY CONNECT PROGRAM, UH, WHICH PROVIDED CADETS WITH VALUABLE, UM, PERSPECTIVES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, UH, PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AS A KEY ELEMENT OF ACADEMY TRAINING AND ENCOURAGE CADETS TO EMBRACE THEIR ROLE AS GUARDIANS, BY ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, UM, INCREASED MEANING ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING HAS, HAS ALSO BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS, UH, ACADEMY IS THE TRAINING SCHEDULE INCLUDES MORE THAN A DOZEN SESSIONS DEVOTED TO, UH, COMMUNITY FOCUSED CONTENT LED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS FROM A, A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF LISTS, UH, LISTED ON THIS, UH, SCREEN, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM AND IT TO REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPATHY WHEN INTERACTING WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT THE CADETS A SWORN OFFICERS WILL BE CALLED UPON TO SERVE.
I WOULD ALSO JUST ADD HERE, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THERE'S INCREASED COMMUNITY INPUT THROUGH THE TWO COMMITTEES.
I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THE CURRICULUM
[06:45:01]
REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE VIDEO REVIEW PANEL, UH, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE INCREASED TRANSPARENCY INTO ACADEMY TRAINING AND ALLOW MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC PARTICIPANTS IN THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CADET TRAINING.UM, WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS OVER THE VIDEO REVIEW PROCESS, ALTHOUGH THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED, BUT OVERALL WE'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE POSITIVE DIALOGUE THAT HAS, HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH COMMITTEES AND ALL OF WHICH ARE MEANT TO ENHANCE THE ACADEMY'S EMPHASIS ON PROCEDURAL JUSTICE, UH, EMPATHY, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RACIAL TRAUMA, DEESCALATION, AND SENSITIVITY TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
AND AS INDICATED, THIS WAS THE FIRST, UH, CADET CLASS TO INCLUDE ANTI-RACISM TRAINING OF STAFF.
AND CADETS HAS BEEN IN THE FORM OF A TWO DAYS GROUND GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS, UH, IN RE WORKSHOP LED BY JOYCE JAMES CONSULTING.
AND AS REPORTED BY MR. JAMES, HIS TEAM, THE WORKTOP CESAREANS HAVE INCLUDED A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS AND EXERCISES FOR CADETS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IMPORTANT ISSUES REGARDING RACIAL EQUITY, UM, BASED ON THE CADET AND THE STAFF FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED.
UH, WE FOUND THAT THE WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN IMPACTFUL.
THEY'VE ALLOWED CADETS AND STAFF TO PONDER TOUGH AND SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS, UH, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING FOR HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO RICK FOR THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL SLIDES HERE.
UH, INCREASED CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND DEI TRAINING 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS INCLUDES INCREASE ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING.
IN ADDITION TO THE HISTORY OF POLICE AND RACE IN AMERICA, UH, ACADEMY TRAINING HAS ALSO INCLUDED VALUABLE INSTRUCTION ON MULTICULTURALISM, UH, POLICING ISSUES RELATED TO THE TRANSGENDER AND LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES, PROCEDURAL JUSTICE, INTERACTING WITH SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATIONS AMONG OTHER IMPORTANT COURSES.
THERE IS ALSO A FOCUS ON ISSUES ADDRESSING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS AND RELATED TOPICS.
OF COURSE, EVALUATIONS TO DATE ALL HAS OBSERVED EITHER IN-PERSON OR THROUGH A REMOTE CAMERA SYSTEM, APPROXIMATELY 220 HOURS OF ACADEMY TRAINING, INCLUDING ALL COURSE CONTENT RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCY, TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND ETHICAL POLICING, AND OTHER COURSES THAT IMPACT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND TRUST-BUILDING IS SUMMARY OF CURLS COURSE ASSESSMENTS THAT RELATE TO THESE AREAS ARE INCLUDED IN SECTIONS SIX, EIGHT, AND NINE OF OUR REPORT, UH, USE OF EXTERNAL CONTENT EXPERTS WHILE SOME COURSES, INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF PLACE AND RACE, INTERACTING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, UH, AND VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE, OR WILL BE TAUGHT OR CO-TAUGHT BY OUTSIDE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
WE BELIEVE MORE CLASSES SHOULD BE CO-TAUGHT BY EXTERNAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, PARTICULARLY THE DEI RELATED AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY COURSES, UM, MULTICULTURALISM AND HUMOR RELATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND RACIAL PROFILING.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE WORK WITH RESEARCHERS ACADEMICS THAT WORK WITH POLICE AND HAVE THAT, UH, THAT THAT CAN GIVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ANALYZING DATA AND HOW IT CAN IMPACT POLICY AND DECISION MAKING BY THE LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS AREA REMAINS AN AREA OF NEEDED FOR IMPROVING ADULT LEARNING METHODS.
INSTRUCTORS ARE MAKING GOOD, A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO UTILIZE A VARIETY OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING LECTURES, VISUAL AIDS, AND HANDOUTS, A CLASS DISCUSSION CASE STUDIES AND ROLE PLAYS.
CLASSROOM CULTURE IS DISCIPLINED AND ORDERLY, BUT MOST INSTRUCTORS ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS AND CLASS PARTICIPATION.
ALTHOUGH SOME PROBATING VERBATIM READING OF APD POLICIES PER LEGAL CODE STILL OCCURS.
THERE IS LESS RELIANCE ON VERBATIM READING OF MATERIALS THAN IN YEARS PAST.
UH, THE LACK OF VIDEOS HAS AS IMPACTED SOME OF THESE METHODS NEXT LANDMARK ACADEMY CULTURE, THE ACADEMY'S MAKING POSITIVE STRIDES AND SHIFTING TO A MORE BALANCED RESILIENCE BASED TRAINING MODEL.
OVERALL, HOWEVER, A MILITARY STYLE CULTURE STILL PREVAILS AT THE ACADEMY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AND COLLECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCEPTANCE BY APD INSTRUCTORS HAVE IMPLEMENTED REFORMS OR PERIOD TO BE MIXED.
AND THE CADET SURVEY, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE THAN HALF OF CADETS, 54.2% REPORTED THAT INSTRUCTORS HAVE OCCASIONALLY RIDICULE THE CONTEMPT OF A RE-IMAGINED POLICE ACADEMY.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY ENCOUNTERED BY THE FACT THAT MOST CADETS 91.4% BELIEVE THE STAFF PLACES A POSITIVE EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING, WHILE WE CANNOT REALISTICALLY EXPECT COMPLETE CULTURE CHANGE.
IN THE FIRST 15 WEEKS OF THE ACADEMY, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICERS WHO TRAIN FUTURE OFFICERS ACCEPT AND BUY INTO THE CHANGES, EVERY FORMS THAT ARE NEEDED
[06:50:01]
CRO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS.IN THE SECOND HALF OF OUR ACADEMY TRAINING ASSESSMENT, THE ESCALATION TRAINING ACADEMY INSTRUCTION INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS ON DEESCALATION TRAINING AND TACTICS, INCLUDING ICAC, WHICH MEANS INTEGRATING COMMUNICATIONS, ASSESSMENT, AND TACTICS, AND EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICE DESIGNED BY THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM, OR ALSO KNOWN AS PERF AND VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS.
AS A DEESCALATION TACK INSTRUCTORS HAVE DEMONSTRATED A SOLID GRASP OF THE MATERIAL AND EXHIBITED A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SUBJECT MAP PRO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, MONITOR OTHER RELATED TRAINING, INCLUDING HOW THE ACADEMY TEACHES FORCE OPTIONS, WHICH IS SCHEDULED IN MID-OCTOBER.
AND I HAVE ATTENDED THE, UH, PERSONALLY ATTENDED THE ICAT TRAINING AND A PORTION OF BEFORE SAATCHI TRAINING, UH, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE DEPARTMENT, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN OVER TO THAT, UH, DEFENSIVE TACTICS AND, UM, TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISES.
UH, WE'VE SEEN A CHANGE FROM THE INITIAL DAYS OF KIND OF BOOTCAMP, UH, GREETINGS OF THE CADETS, UH, WHERE THEY'RE PLACED UNDER STRESS AND THIS STRESS REACTION DRILLS, UH, THAT WILL PUT FORWARD AND CHANGED INTO TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES, WHICH, UM, OR WELL-PLANNED WELL-EXECUTED, UH, THEY PUT THE CADETS IN PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS THROUGHOUT THE EXERCISES.
UH, THEY HAD TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
UH, THEY HAD TO DEVELOP LEADERS AMONGST THEM, UH, AND, AND GET THROUGH THE PROBLEMS. AND IT WAS, UH, WELL DONE IN A POSITIVE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
IN FACT, UH, IN INTERVIEWS WE DID WITH CADETS, THEY WERE ASKING FOR MORE OF THAT IF POSSIBLE, UH, SIMILARLY TO SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING, WHICH USED TO BE FIGHT DAY AND WILL TO WIN, UH, WAS PUSHED BACK WHERE THE LEARNED SKILLS UNIT GAVE THE CADETS, THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES BEFORE THEY WENT KIND OF HANDS-ON UH, WHEN THEY HAD TO GO INTO A RING WITH AN INSTRUCTOR AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE KIND OF WILLING TO ENGAGE IN AND STRESSFUL SITUATION, UH, THESE, UH, THEY WERE WELL DONE AND SAFELY DONE.
UH, THE CADETS WERE PLACED IN STRESS AND THE ACADEMY STAFF IS HAVING THAT, UH, LESS OF A US VERSUS THEM CONVERSATION THAT YOU STILL CURRENT BEFORE I BELIEVE.
AND NOW IT IS IT'S YOU VERSUS STRESS AND THE ABILITY OF CADETS TO MASTER STRESS AND GO TO THE TRAINING WHEN THEY'RE IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE CRITICAL, WHERE FORCE COULD BE UTILIZED AND DEPLOYED.
AND THEN, UH, AS WE START ON THE ROLE-PLAYS LAST WEEK, NOT ONLY TO BE ABLE TO MEET A HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS WITH FORCE, BUT THEN TO DEESCALATE IT QUICKLY, AN EXAMPLE WAS, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, WITH A KNIFE CAME TOWARD THE OFFICE.
THEY HAD THEM DROP THE DROP, THE KNIFE, AND THEN THE, UH, THE OFFICERS REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM WHAT WAS A LETHAL SITUATION INTO A NON-LETHAL SITUATION AND USE THEIR OTHER TOOLS.
UH, AND THE INSTRUCTORS WERE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF GETTING THEM TO THAT PROCESS AND GET GREAT INFORMATION TO, UH, WHERE YOU FIND THE PROGRAM IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS, UH, UH, PROGRESSING.
UH, THEY ARE DOING DOUBLE THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING.
UM, SOME OF THE CADETS SAID IT'S THE BEST SHAPE THEY'VE BEEN IN THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
UH, AND THERE'S, I THINK THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR EVEN MORE IMPROVEMENT THERE.
UH, AND WE'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO BETTER DO THAT, UH, WITH MAYBE SOME TIMING SCHEDULING AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL FITNESS, THERE IS A HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPONENT AND A MINDFULNESS COMPONENT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CADETS, WHICH IS INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING THEM, UH, KIND OF GROUNDED AS THEY GO THROUGH A VERY STRESSFUL TRAINING EXPERIENCE AT THE ACADEMY AND EVEN MORE SO GIVING THEM SKILLS TO DEAL WITH THE STRESSES AND ISSUES THEY WILL FACE, UH, WHEN THEY GRADUATE AND ARE WORKING THE STREETS OF AUSTIN AND ENGAGING THE CITIZENS.
UH, AS MANY OF US KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES IS BY THEIR OWN HAND.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PROVIDING TOOLS TO OFFICERS, UH, TO IDENTIFY STRESS AND HAVE PROGRAMS TO, UH, TO BE MINDFUL.
AND, AND, UH, WELL-ROUNDED UM, IN YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, UM, ALONG WITH PHYSICAL TRAINING, THERE ARE PHYSICAL TRAINING ASSESSMENT STANDARDS, UH, IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, UH, TWO CADETS DROPPED OUT, UH, BECAUSE THEY FAILED THE PHYSICAL TRAINING ASSESSMENT.
ONE OF THEM WAS ACTUALLY A VERY PROFICIENT RUNNER.
HOWEVER, THEIR ABILITY TO ROW, UH, WAS NOT WHAT IT NEEDED TO BE WHEN THE TWO SCHOOLS WERE COMBINED AND THEY HAD TO LEAVE AND, UM, STAFF FELT, UH, AND WE AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT'VE LOST OUT ON A GOOD CONNECT WHO IN THE COURSE OF TRAINING COULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE THAT PHYSICAL FITNESS.
AND THEY WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE REQUIREMENTS.
[06:55:01]
UH, WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE REQUIREMENTS THAT CURRENTLY USING FOR SWAT AND DETERMINED THAT THE RUNTIME FOR SWAT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE, UM, LEVEL.AND, UH, AS A RESULT IN SOME RECENT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, I BELIEVE THEY WOULD QUALIFY FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD HAVE NOT MET THE STANDARDS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY IN PLACE WHEN COLE FOREST SAW THEM.
SO, UH, THEY'RE DEFINITELY WORKING ON THAT AND LOOKING FOR SETTING IT UP FOR WHAT'S FAIR AND RELEVANT.
UM, NEXT SLIDE, UM, MARK, THE DIVISION MANAGER, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, VERY SUCCESSFUL IN WORKING WITH STAFF AT THE ACADEMY, UH, WITH COMMUNITY, WITH LEADERSHIP OF APD, WITH CROW, UH, IN ALIGN WITH THE ACADEMY COMMANDER TO WORK TOWARDS ALL OF THE THINGS WE ASKED, UH, THAT THEY CONSIDER TO IMPLEMENT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM, UH, AND HAS BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB, GETTING THAT DONE.
UH, AND, AND, UH, THE ROLE FOR THAT, UH, POSITION HAS EXPANDED INTO, UH, LOTS OF PLACES, UM, AS SUCH THERE'S LITTLE NEED FOR MORE CLARITY AND CONTINUED REINFORCEMENT CONCERNING THE EXACT ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIVISION MANAGER.
UM, AND WE, WE ADDRESSED THAT IN OUR REPORT AND IT GIVES SOME OPTIONS FOR WHAT THE PD MIGHT WANT TO DO.
UH, FORTUNATELY APD HAS BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN, UM, PHIL ACTUAL ROD TO ASSIST DR.
CHRISTIAN HE'S A TRAINING SUPERVISOR, UM, FORMER ARMY VETERAN, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN DEVELOPING CURRICULUM BASED BEEN WORKING, DOING THE NUTS AND BOLTS WITH THE ACADEMY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ADULT LEARNING MODEL IS IN PLACE AND CURRICULUM IS, IS, UH, UPDATED AND MAKING BEST PRACTICES GOING FORWARD.
UM, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO MARK, UH, AND, UH, HE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE.
SO, UH, JUST WANT TO SHIFT THE FOCUS A LITTLE BIT TO, UM, CAUSE THAT SEPARATIONS, UM, UH, AS OF OCTOBER 8TH, UH, THERE WERE 19 CADETS THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS DUE TO SUCH THINGS AS INJURIES, ACADEMIC FAILURES, UH COVID-19 AND A COUPLE OF CASES AND OTHER REASONS.
UM, UH, HOWEVER, UH, AS OF TODAY AND IN THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL SEPARATIONS.
SO ACTUALLY THESE NUMBERS WOULD BE ADJUSTED IF I WERE DOING THIS SLIDE TODAY, THERE ARE NOW A TOTAL OF 24 CADET SEPARATIONS.
SO THAT'S PUSHED THE ATTRITION RATE UP TO 24%.
UM, PROBABLY IF IT STAYS THERE, UH, OR RIGHT ABOUT THERE, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT AVERAGE COMPARED TO MANY PASS OF THIS SIZE.
HOWEVER, IF THERE'S, UH, UH, MORE SEPARATIONS, IT'LL BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
UM, NOW AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 11 OF OUR REPORT AND THE CADET SEPARATIONS, AS OF, AS OF OCTOBER EIGHT, PEDS, SLIGHTLY DECREASE THE OVERALL DIVERSITY OF THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS.
UM, HOWEVER WE INCLUDE THE MOST RECENT SEPARATIONS.
IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, STARK OF A DIFFERENCE.
UM, BLACK CADET REPRESENTATION HAS DECLINED FROM 17% AT THE START OF THE CONDUCT CLASS TO 15.5% OF THAT CLASS AS OF NOW.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE CADETS CADETS THAT HAS DECLINED FROM 18% AT THE START OF THE CADET CLASS TO 14.5% OF TODAY'S CADET CLASS.
UM, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, EXITS OCCUR FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS MOST OFTEN THEN THE RESULT OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES OR FAILURE TO MEET ACADEMIC TESTING STANDARDS.
UM, THIS CHAR'S CHAR CHART DISPLAYS THE FREQUENCY OF THESE REASONS AS OF OCTOBER 1ST.
UM, IF I WERE TO UPDATE THIS CHART TODAY, THE, THE RED TRIANGLE WOULD PROBABLY GO UP FROM THREE TO A, I BELIEVE SEVEN OR EIGHT.
THERE'S BEEN A, SEVERAL CADETS RECENTLY THAT HAVE, UH, LEFT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, UM, KIND OF PERSONAL LIFESTYLE CHOICES.
UM, UH, THERE'S BEEN ONE ADDITIONAL INJURY THAT RESULTED IN A RESIGNATION.
UM, THE OTHER NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY SAYING THE COVID NUMBER SHOULD, SHOULD GO, WOULD GO FROM TWO TO THREE.
UM, DURING THE FIRST 15 WEEKS OF THE ACADEMY, THERE WERE 57 CADETS THAT HAD SUFFERED ON DUTY INJURIES.
UH, OF THOSE 15 WERE CATEGORIZED AS MAJOR INJURIES REQUIRING, UH, IN A FEW CASES, HOSPITALIZATION OR TEMPORARY LIGHT DUTY, OR IN SOME CASES, RESIGNATION FROM THE ACADEMY, THE REST OF THE INJURIES HAVE BEEN CATEGORIZED AS MINOR.
UM, AND AS NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN, I BELIEVE, SIX INJURIES TO DATE I'D HAVE LED, UH, TOOK IT THAT EXITS.
UM, AND SO ON THE MINOR, UH, INJURIES TYPICALLY INCLUDE DIZZINESS, UH, VOMITING, EXHAUSTION, SWOLLEN, BRUISED BRAIN, BODY PARTS.
UM, THESE INJURIES ALONG WITH THE MAJOR INJURIES TYPICALLY OCCUR DURING THE PHYSICAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRAINING, SUCH AS DEFENSIVE TACTICS, UH, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY,
[07:00:01]
OR BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION SESSIONS, UM, BOTH THE MAJOR AND MINOR INJURIES WERE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR, UH, OR MOST FREQUENT DURING THE PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY SESSIONS.ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAD BEEN RAISED RECENTLY BY CADETS WAS THE ACADEMIES, UH, APPARENT OR PERCEIVED LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CADETS WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
UM, IN RESPONSE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON WAYS TO RETAIN CADETS WHO ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE DUE TO INJURY OR ILLNESS.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL CLOSELY MONITOR CADET SEPARATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINER REMAINDER OF THIS CADET CLASS, UM, CONCERNING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, UH, CADETS ARE GIVEN WEEKLY TESTS FOR WHICH THEY MUST NOT FAIL MORE THAN THREE.
UH, AND THEY'RE TESTED ON A PASSING SCORE OF 70% FOR THOSE, UH, TO DATE FOUR CADETS HAVE HAD TO EXIT AS A RESULT OF, OF THIS, UH, REQUIREMENT.
UM, IN ADDITION, A CADET CAN ONLY QUALIFY TO QUALIFY TO TAKE FINAL EXAM IF THEIR CUMULATIVE AVERAGE ON THE WEEKLY EXAMS IS AT LEAST 80%.
UM, THIS WHILE THE NUMBER OF CADETS THAT HAVE, UH, WHOSE CUMULATIVE AVERAGES HAVE FALLEN BELOW 80% HAS FLUCTUATED, UH, DURING THE FIRST 13 WEEKS, THERE HAS BEEN A GENERAL IN THAT NUMBER WITH CURRENTLY 12 CADETS, UM, UNDER THAT 80% MARK.
HOWEVER, I WOULD KNOW THAT EIGHT OF THOSE 12 CADETS CURRENTLY HAVE CUMULATIVE AVERAGES OF 79% OR BETTER.
AND NONE OF THE CADETS HAVE A BELOW 76% AVERAGE.
AND IN DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REASONABLY COMPETENT THAT, UM, THEY EXPECT ALL OF THOSE TWO THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET OVER THAT 80% THRESHOLD BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS SESSION IS OVER.
AND, UH, SECTION THREE OF OUR INTERIM REPORT, UM, HAS A FAIRLY DETAILED SECTION ON THE PROGRESS AND STATUS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH OF CURLS SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED IN OUR REPORT OF, UH, IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
YOU CAN VERIFY THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS, THE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO REQUIRE SOME, UH, CLARIFICATION OR ADJUSTMENTS, OR ARE STILL IN PROGRESS.
UM, AND WE ARE, WE ARE HOPEFUL AND CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE IN A POSITION TO VERIFY HOPEFULLY FLOW FULL AND BLUE IMITATION OF THESE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS BY OUR FINAL REPORT, UM, IN EARLY 2022.
AND LIKEWISE, THE, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT REMAIN A WORK IN PROGRESS.
UM, WHAT WORK IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS AS PART OF OUR OVERALL OR OUR ROLE AS INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR.
AGAIN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR PROGRESS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND INCLUDE AN UPDATE IN OUR FINAL REPORT.
UM, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE CARPET'S PROGRESS ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE Q AND A SESSION.
AND LET ME JUST TURN OVER THE FINAL SLIDE TO DAN WHO WILL DISCUSS, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE INCLUDED ON OUR INTERIM REPORT.
UH, THE WORK OF THE VIDEO REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN IDENTIFYING ISSUES, CONCERNS WITH THE VIDEOS BEING SHOWN, SHOWN TO RECRUIT.
UM, NOW THAT THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THE, THE FLAWS IN THE VIDEO PROCESS HAVE IDENTIFIED, UH, IT'S, IT'S THE BELIEF AND HOPE THAT THE ACADEMY WILL GET THE APPROPRIATE VIDEOS FOR THEIR VIDEO LIBRARY, THAT BALANCE, UH, THE, THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE, INCLUDING IF YOU HAVE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, A USE OF FORCE BY AN OFFICER, CAN WE BALANCE THAT WITH A DEESCALATION VIDEO THAT OCCURS WHERE, UH, ANOTHER PROCESS? SO, UM, IT IS IMPORTANT THOUGH, FOR VIDEOS TO BE PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS, UH, ALMOST EVERY CADET IN THEIR SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS WE DID WITH THEM, UH, SAID THAT, UH, MANY OF WHOM WERE SITE ORIENTED LEARNERS, SO THAT THE LACK OF VIDEOS HAD MADE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO COMPREHEND SOME OF THE MATERIAL.
SO WE THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO BOTH TO, TO GET VIDEOS THAT ARE, UH, REFLECTIVE OF THE, BY RACE, BY THE THREE-YEAR REVIEW COMMANDO, UH, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, UH, IT'S NECESSARY TO BUILD A TEAM AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IN SOME CASES IT SEEMS LIKE DIFFERENT MINOR, UM, AREAS IN LAPSE OF JUDGMENT, OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY MORE INTENSE AND NECESSARY UPFRONT AND HOPEFULLY WINNING AND GOING AWAY DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT, UH, SOMETIMES BASED ON TIMING, UH, IF IT'S GIVEN THE INAPPROPRIATE TIME, IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM VALUABLE CLASS TIME WHERE INSTRUCTORS ARE HAVING TO FLIP THROUGH SLIDES AND NOT GIVE THE CADETS THE TIME THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THE MATERIAL ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR HOPE WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD BE GIVEN
[07:05:01]
DURING DEFENSIVE TACTICS OR PHYSICAL TRAINING TIME, UH, IF NECESSARY, WHEN CADETS ARE LIMBERED PRE WARMED UP IN PROPER EQUIPMENT, HOPEFULLY IN THE GYM OR PROPER AREA WHERE THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE INJURED, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INJURIES DURING THESE EVENTS.AND SOME OF THAT MIGHT BE FROM GOING FROM, YOU KNOW, SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM TO ENGAGING IN STRESSFUL EXERCISE FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
UH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY, UM, HUMILIATION OR, UH, ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED.
IT'S ALL KIND OF GEARED TOWARDS TEAM BUILDING, UM, SCHEDULING, AND, AND MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE ACADEMY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MIGHT MAKE THAT LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURIES, UH, ADJUSTMENTS AND COMMUNITY CONNECT.
UH, EVERYONE FELT THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND, UH, GOT A GREAT DEAL OUT OF COMMUNITY CONNECT.
SOME OF THE TENSION THAT CAME FROM IT FOR RECRUITS AND STAFF IS THAT THE CADETS STARTED OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THEN CAME BACK AFTER TWO WEEKS AND WERE QUITE READY FOR THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE OF, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP, UH, NOT, NOT KIND OF BEING, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, LAX, UH, IN, IN YOUR, IN YOUR DISCIPLINE, IN AND ON THE HALLWAYS AND, AND HOW YOU REPORT IT.
SO, UH, BOTH CADETS AND STAFF THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO START INITIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, AT THE ACADEMY WITH THE RULES WITH THE REGULATIONS ARE THEN GO AND MEET SOME OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND DO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CONNECT WORK, AND MAYBE EVEN REPEAT SOME OF THAT THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMY TO DO THE OUTREACH, BUT HAVING BUILT A BASIC KIND OF SET OF RULES THAT EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE WHEN YOU WERE AT THE ACADEMY FOR TRAINING.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM, UM, STAFF FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS AND, UH, CADETS THE, YOU KNOW, THERE USED TO BE A PROGRAM CALLED RIDEOUTS WHERE SOME PORTION TO THE ACADEMY, CAUSE THAT'S WHEN RIGHT OUT WITH OFFICER'S FTOS AND ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE STREETS OF AUSTIN WERE LIKE ON A, NOT, UM, MANY FOUND THAT FROM THEIR PREVIOUS, UH, ACADEMY STAFF ACADEMY OFFICE, WE SPOKE TO THAT.
IT HELPED TAKE THE POWERPOINT OFF THE, UH, THE WALL, THE TRAINING OFF THE INSTRUCTORS, UH, HANDOUTS AND MADE THINGS COME TOGETHER, UH, AND FOUND THAT WE AGREED THAT THAT WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE FOR CADETS TO GO OUT AND SEE WHAT COMMUNITY POLICING IN AUSTIN IS EXACTLY, UH, CHIEF DAKOTA AND OTHERS ACTUALLY CONVERSATIONS THAT WHEN THEY WERE CADETS, UH, IN FOLKS THAT RIDE OUT, SOME PEOPLE MADE A DECISION, YOU KNOW, HALFWAY THROUGH THE ACADEMY BEFORE, UH, THEY'VE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES IN THE CITY HAD THAT THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, THIS CAREER PROBABLY WASN'T FOR THEM AND THEY HAD SECOND THOUGHTS.
UM, AND WE, WE THINK THERE'S SOME BENEFIT TO THAT, UH, FOR THE OFFICERS TO SEE COMMUNITY POLICING FROM INSIDE THE POLICE CAR, AS WELL AS NOTICE A CLARITY FOR THE ROLE OF THE DIVISION MANAGER.
UH, AND WE'VE SET SOME OPTIONS FORWARD FOR SECTION 5.4.
IT'S THE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE THERE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S, YOU'RE GOING TO CAN FOCUS ON THE TRAINING, THE CURRICULUM AND THE, UH, TRANSITION TO THE CULTURE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, COORDINATION BETWEEN THE LEARN SKILLS YOU LOOK AT TRAINING UNIT.
I THINK SOME OF THIS IS OUR FAULT, UH, BOTH CHRO AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, UM, FOLKS AT THE CITY TRYING TO GET AN A, ONCE WE GET TO CLASS TOGETHER, WE KIND OF SAID TO THE ACADEMY STAFF, YOU NEED TO GET A SCHEDULE TOGETHER.
WE ASKED FOR MORE TIME, WHICH HAD THEM SCRAMBLING TO PUT A SCHEDULE TOGETHER AND AS SUCH THE USUAL COORDINATION BETWEEN THE UNITS DIDN'T OCCUR.
SO WE WOULD TEACHING IN SOME CASES, ADVANCED FIRST AID, UM, BEFORE WE HAD TAUGHT BASIC FOR A STATE, UH, AND YOU KNOW, DOING, UH, TRAINING THAT, THAT CAME OUT OF SEQUENCE.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACADEMY GETS TOGETHER, SCHEDULES THE BUILDING BLOCKS APPROPRIATELY, SO THEY CAN ASK AND LEARN FROM THE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AND TRAININGS THAT THEY'VE HAD.
THE LEARNING SKILLS UNIT IS THE TEAM THAT TEACHES, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL TRAINING WITH CADETS.
THEY ALSO TEACH THE FIREARMS, UH, WORK AS WELL.
UM, VERY PROFESSIONAL WELL-TRAINED STAFF, EVERYTHING THEY DO IS, UH, KIND OF BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CADETS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO STAFFED, UH, CHALLENGED WITH DOING THE SERVICE TRAINING FOR YOUR OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THE STREETS AND YOUR FTO OFFICES.
AND, UM, I, MY BELIEF AND I THINK THE BELIEF OF MANY IS THAT THE MORE OFFICERS ARE TRAINING AND COMFORTABLE IN HOW TO USE THEIR EMPTY HAND CONTROL TACTICS.
UM, THEIR, THE LOWER LEVELS OF FORCE, THE LESS LIKELY IT IS THAT WE USE TASERS AND MEN BATONS, AND AS SUCH, THEY HAVE, UH, OUTSIDE STAFFING NEEDS ALONG WITH CADET CLASSES THAT SOMETIMES LEAVE THEM, UM, STRETCHED IN.
SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING AT SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL STAFF THERE.
UH, THEY DO SUPPLEMENT, UH, WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF ADJUNCT INSTRUCTORS WHEN THEY CAN, UH, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME ABILITY TO DO MORE THERE.
UH, THE ACADEMY FACILITY IS A GREAT FACILITY.
IT'S SHARED BY THREE, UH, GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.
SO POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS ARE ALL COMPETING FOR THE ONE GYMNASIUM.
[07:10:01]
TRACK OUTSIDE HAS GOT SOME ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND, UM, ALL OF THE, BETWEEN IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND ACADEMY TRAINING, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO GET SPACE THAT'S SAFER FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS, WITH PADS AND WALLS AND THE ABILITY TO FALL AND NOT BE HURT.I, UM, I, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, UH, IT'S MY PERSONAL BELIEF THAT, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL TRAINING SHOULD OCCUR.
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN THE HEAT OF THE TEXAS SUN ISN'T OUT THERE, WHEN CADETS CAN COME IN STRETCH, GET A, GET AN, A GOOD PHYSICIAN, HAVE A WORKOUT PROGRAM.
IF WE NEED TO PUT THEM UNDER STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS BECAUSE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATIONS, THAT'S THE TIME TO DO IT.
AND THEN LET THEM SHOWER CLEAN UP, GO INTO CLASS AND, AND FOCUS ON THEIR EDUCATION FOR THE DECK, UM, THAT WOULDN'T CALL FOR SOME, EITHER CHANGING IN SCHEDULES.
UH, AND I WAS AN OPERATIONS OR AN ANTHEM FOR THE FACILITY.
UM, I LIKE TO THINK I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.
I DIDN'T SPEAK TILL THE AGE OF THREE, MY MUM HAD TO BE TESTED.
UH, AND NOW SHE SAYS THEY CAN'T SHUT ME UP.
SO I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING AND WE'RE DONE, AND WE'RE OPEN UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT TONIGHT MAYER, IF, UH, IF I HAD WITH YOUR PERMISSION, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND HAVE PEOPLE CHECK ON TO COME UP AND MAKE HIS, A BRIEF PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE OF THE DEPARTMENT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
CHIEF, CAN WE TURN THIS ON? YOU'RE ON.
UM, THERE'S A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, A SHORT ONE.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, UH, ACM ARIANO JOSEPH CHUCK ON CHIEF OF POLICE.
I WANTED TO, UM, ADD SOME COMMENTS TO, UH, THOSE ARE THE CROWELL TEAM TO HOPEFULLY PROVIDE A GREATER CLARITY AROUND THE WORK BEING DONE AT THE ACADEMY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CROWELL TEAM.
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED, UH, IN THIS EFFORT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH STAFF AT THE ACADEMY, UH, AND WITH ME AND MY STAFF, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS EFFORT, THEY'VE BEEN EXCELLENT IN THEIR COMMUNICATION AS WE PROGRESSED.
UM, THE CROLL TEAM HAS PROVIDED AN EXTREMELY THOROUGH REPORT, WHICH DETAILS THE COMPLEXITY OF A CAMP ACADEMY TRAINING.
AND I'M ALSO EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR INSTRUCTORS AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE ACADEMY WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVALUATION PROCESS.
IF I CAN GET THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, I'VE IDENTIFIED A FEW THEMES IN THE REPORT THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IN GREATER DETAIL BEFORE ADDRESSING THE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM KROLL.
THE THEMES INCLUDE THE ACADEMY, A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THROUGHOUT THE REPORT, UH, CROLL IDENTIFIES TIMES THAT WE ADDRESSED CONCERNS IMMEDIATELY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED FOR FROM KROLL AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH, AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT FOR US TO LET US KNOW SO THAT WE COULD ADDRESS IT IMMEDIATELY.
AND THAT, THAT COULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REPORTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THROUGHOUT AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, WHEN WE HEARD CONCERNING REMARKS, MIGHT'VE BEEN MADE BY SOME OF OUR STAFF ABOUT THE RE-IMAGINED ACADEMY AND THE REIMAGINATION PROCESS, WE IMMEDIATELY ISSUED A SURVEY WITH KROLL, UH, TO THE CADETS, UH, TO, UM, TO, TO LOOK INTO THOSE AS WELL AS DURING OUR EXIT INTERVIEWS, WHEN WE HAD CADETS, THERE WERE EXITING OUT.
ADDITIONALLY MANY OF THEM EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH OUR PROTOCOLS, UH, AROUND COVID AND A CONCERN THAT THEY MIGHT WASH OUT BECAUSE THEY WOULD, MIGHT CATCH COVID.
AND, UM, I IMMEDIATELY SENT, UM, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT WE HAD, WHICH IS THE CAN 95 MASS TO THE ACADEMY SO THAT THEY HAD THOSE INSTEAD OF OTHER MASS THAT THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN USING SUCH AS SURGICALS OR, UM, OR GATORS.
SO I'M TALKING FIRST ABOUT ACADEMY CULTURE.
THIS THEME IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE ACADEMY CHANGE AND ONE THAT HAS HAD SUCCESSES AND ALSO AREAS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE AREAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS AREA, AS WELL AS WE TEXT, AS WE TAKE STEPS TOWARDS ACADEMY CHANGE.
UM, OUR SUCCESSES THAT WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE ADULT LEARNING WE'VE STARTED INCORPORATING VARIOUS ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING ACTIVE LEARNING OR WORKING ON FUTURE ACADEMY SCHEDULES
[07:15:01]
THAT WILL FACILITATE MORE ACTIVE LEARNING AND ENSURE THAT THE CONTENT IS APPROPRIATELY SCAFFOLDED TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RETENTION WITH REGARD TO THE PERCEPTION OF OUR INSTRUCTORS.THIS HAS BEEN POSITIVE THROUGHOUT THE REPORT.
CHRO WATCHED THE INSTRUCTORS AND FOUND THEM TO BE PROFESSIONAL, UH, IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE CADETS AND THAT THE TENOR WAS ONE OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
AND THEN THE LE LEARN SKILLS UNIT.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN PAST REPORTS, CERTAINLY TO COUNCIL AND OTHERS THAT WERE CRITICAL OF THIS TEAM.
HOWEVER, KROLL DID NOT WITNESS A SINGLE INTERACTION THAT WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE TEACHING IN THIS AREA IS A SPECIALIZED SKILL SET WITH CONSTANT ACTIVE LEARNING.
AND THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT THE INSTRUCTORS ARE HIGHLY COMPETENT IN THEIR SKILLS AND EFFECTIVE IN RELAYING THE MATERIAL, GIVEN THE SCRUTINY ON USE OF FORCE, WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE POSITIVE EVALUATION.
WE WANT OUR OFFICERS TO BE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SKILLSET AND ABLE TO CONTROL AND DEFEND THEMSELVES IF NECESSARY.
UH, LAST WEEK WE JUST FINISHED RE THE RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE ROLE-PLAYS OR INSTRUCTORS EVALUATED THE CADETS ABILITY TO ARTICULATE THEIR RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE, AS WELL AS THEIR ABILITY TO TRANSITION TO A LOWER USE OF FORCE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD.
UH, THE CROWELL TEAM TALKING ABOUT.
WE TAKE THIS TRAINING EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CADETS CAN IDENTIFY SITUATIONS ACCURATELY, ACT ACCORDINGLY AND ARTICULATE THEIR RESPONSE.
THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE, AND THAT WILL FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, OR GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF OUR ACADEMY.
WE WILL BE REFINING OUR PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE BUILD IN TIME FOR STUDY SESSIONS OR GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY DURING THE FIRST 14 WEEKS IN THE CURRENT CLASS, WE'RE MOVING FROM, UH, THE, THE GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY PHASE AND GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE LIMITED.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE WANT OUR CADETS TO THINK ABOUT POLICING FIRST.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER'S ACTIONS, BUT WE ULTIMATELY MUST HAVE INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY HELPING TO CLARIFY, UH, THE CONCEPT OF REIMAGINATION.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I WAS CONCERNED WHEN I FIRST HEARD REPORTS THAT INSTRUCTORS WERE MOCKING THE RE-IMAGINED ACADEMY.
HOWEVER, MY TEAM IS MAKING, UM, IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL GO OUT FOR THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOR MAKING PROGRESS.
SO THAT ALL TRAINING STAFF IS AWARE OF WHAT THE TERM REPRESENTS IN REAL, UH, KIND OF MEASURABLE WAY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT CLARITY WILL LEAD TO FULL BUY-IN BY ALL STAFF.
UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IN THE AREA OF DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION, UH, THE GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS COURSE THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT, UH, JOYCE JAMES TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF STARTING THE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CADETS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THESE CADETS WILL UTILIZE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THAT LENS IN THEIR POLICING.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RACE AND POLICING, UH, IN AMERICAN, IN OUR AUSTIN.
THAT WAS A CLASS THAT WE BEGAN TEACHING THIS ACADEMY, CRAWLS REPORT, HIGHLIGHTED THE EXPERTISE AND SKILLS OF DR.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT HE AGREED TO TEACH THIS COURSE TO THE CADETS AND VICTIM SERVICES.
THEY HAVE ALREADY TAUGHT ONE CLASS TO THEIR, TO OUR CADETS, AND THEY WILL BE TEACHING ANOTHER ONE SPECIFIC TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.
UH, LISA, WHO IS OUR VICTIM SERVICES STAFF MEMBER, UH, ASSIGNED TO THE ACADEMY WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF DURING BASIC ROLE-PLAYS, UH, WHICH ARE ONGOING AND INTERMEDIATE ROLE-PLAYS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN EARLY NOVEMBER.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CADETS REVIEW ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE MODULES FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THEIR OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, TO UNDERSTAND ANY CURRENT TRAINING GAPS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CADETS HAVE ACCESS TO THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND ARE PROACTIVELY SEEKING THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
IN TOTAL, WE HAVE OVER 250 CADET REVIEWS ON THE MODEL ON THE MODULES AND ARE EVALUATING THAT FEEDBACK.
WE'RE SHARING THE FEEDBACK ON CRIME SPECIFIC MODULES, FOR INSTANCE, ELDERLY ABUSE, UH, WITH BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR OF THE COURSE AND WITH VICTIM SERVICES.
SO THE RELEVANT MATERIAL CAN BE INCORPORATED IN THIS, UH, SECTION, THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
UM, WE ARE REFLECTING ON THE FEEDBACK AND MAKING CHANGES.
SOME OF THESE COURSES WERE SUCCESSFUL WHILE OTHERS STILL NEED MORE WORK.
[07:20:01]
SO SIMILAR, UH, TO THE SECTION ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE WORKING WITH OUR INSTRUCTORS TO SUPPLEMENT THE TQL CONTENT.WE WILL, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MORE PROGRESS IN THIS AREA.
AND I WILL DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THIS NEXT SECTION.
SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UH, WITH REGARD TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, YOU HEARD ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECT, UH, KROLL HAS HIGHLIGHTED, UH, THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROGRAM WILL BE BOLT BUILDING ON THAT PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT AND FUTURE ACADEMY CLASSES.
UH, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PARTICIPATED, UH, IN THIS EFFORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WE, UM, BUILD THE PROGRAM OUT, UH, WE WILL BE PUTTING IN NEW COURSES, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE INCORPORATION OF MINDFULNESS AND RESILIENCY.
UH, YOU HEARD KROLL TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS, UH, MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HOURS.
UM, AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, ACADEMY CURRICULUM, UH, COMMITTEE, WE FIND THAT TO BE A SUCCESS OVERALL, THE CRO REPORT REINFORCED THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THAT COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ANXIOUS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL AND OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT IN A, YOU KNOW, AN EFFICIENT AND KIND OF QUICK WAY.
IN RESPONSE, WE HAVE MOVED TOWARDS MORE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLASSES, UH, THAT THAT ARE BEING REVIEWED.
SO THE NUMBER OF COURSES AND EXACT, UM, AND THE EXACT COURSES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE COURSES, WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED, UH, THE COMMITTEE AND REVIEWING VARIOUS DOCUMENTS THAT ARE, UM, THAT WE ARE UTILIZING TO IMPROVE OUR CURRICULUM PROCESS, INCLUDING THE NEW PROCESS OF CURRICULUM REVIEW THAT WILL INCLUDE PEER REVIEW BY INSTRUCTORS, CORPORAL LEVEL REVIEW, SERGEANT LEVEL, REVIEW, LIEUTENANT, UH, LEVEL REVIEW, AND THEN OUR CIVILIAN TEAM, WHICH IS THEIR TRAINING AND EDUCATION TEAM, UH, THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL.
EACH PART OF THAT REVIEW PROCESS, UH, DETAILS THE EXACT AREAS OF REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT NO IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE CURRICULUM ARE MISSED IN THAT REVIEW.
WE'VE DEVELOPED AN INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION FORM, WHICH IS, WHICH IS, UH, NEW AND WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE TRAINING TEAM AND SUPERVISORS TO HELP INSTRUCTORS IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, AS WELL AS AN IMPROVED LESSON PLAN FORMAT TO DISTINGUISH THE ACTIVE LEARNING COMPONENTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE FINDING THE PROCESS WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, UH, TO BALANCE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL AND THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION THAT THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO SPEND TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE MATERIAL, GIVE FEEDBACK, AND GET FEEDBACK FROM APD ON THE COURSE, ONCE IT WAS TAUGHT.
AND FINALLY, WHILE THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE IS ADVISORY, WE WANT THE COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE ON ALL ACADEMY CURRICULUM, INCLUDING COURSES TAUGHT TO OUR CURRENT OFFICERS.
EVERY ASPECT OF OUR TRAINING NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND A COMMUNITY LENS.
AND WE ARE GLAD THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS WORKING WITH US TOWARDS THIS GOAL.
THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON INCLUDE, UH, BRINGING IN MORE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION KROLL POINTS THAT POINTS OUT REPEATEDLY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SMES IN MANY CLASSES.
UH, WE HAVE HIRED A PART-TIME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST TO ASSIST US IN OUR OUTREACH TO UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
UH, THE RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME.
WE WANT TO INVEST IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE ABOUT THAT PROGRESS, UH, IN OUR FUTURE MEETINGS.
AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE VIDEO REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, OR PANEL, UH, I THINK THAT YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, UH, FROM KROLL AS WELL.
UH, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT PART OF, UH, GETTING OUR ACADEMY, UM, GOING AGAIN AND IN ACADEMY REFORM.
I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE STAYED ON THIS COMMITTEE FROM THE START.
IT HAS BEEN A SLOWER PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FROM THAT INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC STAGE, WHERE THE COMMITTEE PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF OUR NEEDS TO THE CURRENT STAGE, WHERE APD LIEUTENANTS ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON HELPING IMPROVE OUR PROCESS FOR REVIEWING VIDEO, UH, SIMILAR TO KROLL'S POSITION.
WE ALSO VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF VIDEO AS A TRAINING TOOL, AND THEREFORE THE COMMITTEE IS WORKING TOWARDS, UH, SEVERAL GOALS, INCLUDING ASSISTING AND DEVELOPING A VIDEO REVIEW WORKSHEET AND CLASS, A VIDEO OVERVIEW FORM TO DOCUMENT VIDEO REVIEWS AND AGGREGATE AGGREGATE VIDEO DATA FOR EACH CLASS WITH CLEAR LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR EACH VIDEO THAT WE USE.
THEY'RE ALSO ASSISTING IN DEVELOPING THE INTERNAL SUPERVISOR, RE A VIDEO REVIEW PROCESS, AUDITING THE REVIEW PROCESS BY REVIEWING VARIOUS COURSE VIDEOS WITH ACADEMY
[07:25:01]
INSTRUCTORS AND PROVIDING THOSE INSTRUCTORS WITH CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK, ADJUSTING AND REFINING THE VIDEO REVIEW PROCESS, BASED ON THOSE AUDITS, HELPING TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF VIDEO WITH CONTENT THAT'S GOING TO BE SUITABLE, UM, AND HELPING CREATE A PRESENTATION FOR TRAINING INSTRUCTORS ON INCORPORATING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES INTO SELECTING VIDEOS.UM, FOR OUR TRAINING CLASSES, I'M VERY PROUD OF BOTH COMMITTEES.
UH, THEY DEMONSTRATE THEY, THEY ARE DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO INVOLVE COMMUNITY VOICES IN OUR TRAINING ACADEMY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS BOTH THE SUCCESSES AND THE CHALLENGES, UH, THAT BOTH OF OUR COMMUNITY COMMITTEES HAVE FACED AS NOTED BY THE TWO WEEK PAUSE THAT WE TOOK ON THE COMMITTEES IN EARLY AUGUST.
WE WANT TO REFINE THESE PROCESSES AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT CROLL IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND IF I CAN GET THE NEXT SLIDE, I'M JUST VERY, UH, GOING TO GO OVER VERY QUICKLY, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, OUR RESPONSE AND WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THE TIMELINE TO BE, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, APD AGREES WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND, UH, THE VIDEO REVIEW PANEL IS WORKING AS I DISCUSSED ON HELPING ACADEMY STAFF REFINE THAT PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN SELECT AND USE VIDEOS, UH, USING A COMMUNITY LENS WITH REGARD TO PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE AGREE WITH THE CURL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'LL BE MOVING.
UM, AS I SAID TO AN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY PHASE, AS WELL AS APPROPRIATELY SCHEDULING TIME IN FUTURE CLASSES, UH, FOR PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS TO COMMUNITY CONNECT.
WE AGREE WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, UH, FUTURE CLASSES, WE'LL START WITH AN INITIAL WEEK OF AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ACADEMY IN WHICH THEY WILL COME AND BE IN THE ACADEMY FOR THAT WEEK, AND THEN TRANSITIONED TO COMMUNITY CONNECT FOR TWO WEEKS.
THAT WILL HELP US TO SET THE FRAMEWORK, UH, FOR THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE ACADEMY, WITH REGARD TO ADDING THE RIDE OUTS, UM, THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE.
AND I THINK THAT YOU HEARD, UH, DAN TALKING ABOUT IT THAT, UH, THERE'S VALUE IN THE CADET, RIDEOUTS, IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US, HOWEVER, UH, DUE TO, UM, THE, THE NEED TO GET THESE ACADEMIES DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION AND OUR STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO PUSH OUT TO FUTURE ACADEMIES AND NOT NECESSARILY TO THE ONES THAT WILL BE STARTING, UH, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WITH REGARD TO CLEARLY CLARIFYING THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIVISION MANAGER.
WE AGREE WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND WE'LL DEFINE THAT ROLE IN THE ACADEMY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SCHEDULING COORDINATION, A RECOMMENDATION.
WE ALSO AGREE WITH, UH, WE ARE CONDUCTING A WEEKLY TEAM MEETINGS, UH, AS WE ARE PREPARING CURRICULUM FOR THE NEXT ACADEMY CLASS.
AND, UM, AS WE BRING OUR LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ONLINE, THAT WILL TREMENDOUSLY HELP US TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AND TO COORDINATE IT IN A BETTER FASHION, THE LEARN SKILLS UNIT STAFFING NEEDS.
UH, WE AGREE WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
UM, WE WILL BE INCREASING STAFFING FOR THE ONE 45TH AND 1 46.
ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS FOR OUR LSU INSTRUCTORS IS, UM, REALLY THE TOLL THAT IT TAKES ON THEIR BODY, UH, THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OR, OR THE PHYSICAL NEEDS FOR THE DEFENSIVE TACTICS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING IS WITH INSTRUCTORS.
AND AS YOU GO THROUGH A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN A CLASS, UH, THEY'RE PRETTY BEAT UP AND BRUISED AND LIMPING AROUND AND WE NEED, AND THEY NEED THE HELP.
SO WE WILL BE BRINGING HELP ONLINE FOR THEM.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITH REGARD TO THE NEEDED, UH, IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FACILITIES, WE AGREE WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, UM, THE FUNDING FOR A SCENARIO BASED TRAINING FACILITY THAT CAN INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE, ADDITIONAL GYMNASIUM SPACE, AS WELL AS, UH, THE ABILITY TO HAVE A SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING IN IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.
AND, UH, W THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WILL BE, UH, ADVANCED, UH, WHEN APPROPRIATE FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL, IF I CAN GET, UH, I THINK THE LAST SLIDE.
SO IN CONCLUSION, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE KROLL RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR ACADEMY, CONTINUE TO INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, THE PROCESS OF BEING UNDER EVALUATION HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE CHALLENGING, BUT WE'RE PROUD OF THE REPORT AS
[07:30:01]
IT DEMONSTRATES THE PROFESSIONAL NATURE OF OUR ACADEMY, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S WILLINGNESS TO MOVE TO A NEW TRAINING PARADIGM.WE'LL BE COMING UP WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN, AS I DISCUSSED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND MOVING TOWARDS ACHIEVABLE AND IMPORTANT GOALS.
AND THE PLAN WILL ALLOW US TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ON OUR TRAINING GOALS AND BUILD ON THE LESSONS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THUS FAR.
ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO TRAIN CADETS AND OFFICERS THAT CONTINUE TO MEET THE HIGHER EXPECTATIONS OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS EXCEED COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND ATTENTION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
I APPRECIATE I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT BEFORE I DO FAIR, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE REPORT.
UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, I THINK THE REPORT IS COMPREHENSIVE COUNSEL KNOWS, IS CAUSE BEEN THE PROJECT MANAGER.
UM, I'VE BEEN PRETTY INVOLVED IN THE WORK THAT NICOLE HAS BEEN DOING AND IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE, WITH CHIEF TACOME, UM, AND HIS STAFF, UM, I AGREE 100% WITH THE SENTIMENT THAT BOTH HAVE SHARED TODAY IN THAT THERE HAS BEEN IMPROVEMENT.
UM, BUT THERE ARE AREAS THAT, UM, WE STILL NEED TO WORK ON TO ENSURE THAT WE REALLY ACCOMPLISH THAT RE-IMAGINED ACADEMY AND THAT IS ALSO SUSTAINABLE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A ONE-TIME SITUATION WITH AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR MONITORING.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE FREAKNESS IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT'S OPENNESS TO, TO WORK ON THAT MAKE THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, UM, IN REAL TIME.
THANK YOU, UH, CHIEF, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM MY OBSERVATION, UH, IN READING THE REPORT AND HARRY THE REPORT, UH, A LOT OF PROGRESS AT A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED AS REAL CONCERNS, STILL CHALLENGES IN, IN MANY OF THOSE, UH, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW HAS AMONG ITS CHALLENGES TOO.
AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CADET CLASSES THAT ARE CHANGING THE CULTURE IN A WAY THAT FURTHERS THE COMMUNITY'S GOALS AND, AND, UH, AT THE SAME TIME KEEPS THE COMMUNITY, UH, STILL, WHAT ARE THE SAFEST IN THE COUNTRY.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEED FOR MORE POLICE OFFICERS, UH, OUT ON, OUT ON PATROL.
UM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, VACANT SPOTS THAT ARE FUNDED THAT WE NEED TO FILL.
AND I DON'T THINK OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON ONE OR THE OTHER OF THOSE TWO CHALLENGES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO BOTH OF THOSE AT THE SAME TIME, IN A WAY THAT DOES HONOR TO, TO, TO BOTH THOSE NEEDS.
MY SPECIFIC QUESTION TO YOU IS, ARE THE CONCEPTUAL CLARITY OF REIMAGINE.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT IF WE HAVE 57% OF THE CADETS SAYING THAT THEY'VE RUN INTO RESISTANCE, UH, THAT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE IF WE'RE RUNNING INTO RESISTANCE, THEN A LOT OF THE OTHER STUFF, RIGHT.
NOT EVER TAKE SEAT OR EVER TAKE HOLD.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO, TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME AND I'M CONCERNED.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELPING THE TRAINING FOLKS UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT.
UH, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GET THAT OUT TO THE ENTIRE FORCE, UH, BECAUSE I TOO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY HEARD WHAT IT WAS IN REALITY, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY JUST HEAR, UH, THAT THEY TO, UH, UH, THE ONES THAT DON'T KNOW, UH, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD SUPPORT THE, THE EFFORT OF THE PROGRAM TOO.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO, TO ADDRESS THAT MORE BROADLY, WE HAD A SPEAKER SPEAK TO US TODAY AT THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PORTION AT NOON, WHERE PEOPLE COULD SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD, UH, WAS A, A WOMAN, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, UH, HOMELESSNESS, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, UH, ENCAMPMENTS, UH, THERE, WHERE SHE LIVED.
UH, AND ED, SHE WAS PRETTY ADAMANT THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING OUT THERE HAVE BEEN TELLING HER THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO ENFORCE OUR LAWS.
UH, SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING BEEN TOLD BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THEY CAN'T ENFORCE OUR LAWS AND WE, AS A GROUP SAID, UH, TRUE.
UH, AND, AND, AND, AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IT IS THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE SAYING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.
[07:35:01]
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE SPENT 10 MINUTES ON THAT TOPIC WITH HER THIS AFTERNOON.I DID SEE THAT MAYOR, UM, AND HEARD THE CONVERSATION.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC FOR SOME TIME.
UM, MY MESSAGING TO THE OFFICER, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, HAS BEEN CONSISTENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR JOBS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UM, ENFORCE THE LAW IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE, UH, MANNER.
UM, THE BACKGROUND, UH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WOULD BE, AND WHEN, WHEN THOSE COMMENTS OCCURRED, WHERE WERE THEY DURING TIMES WHEN WE WERE NOT RELOCATING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF COVID, UM, OR, UH, WAS IT DURING ONE OF THE EARLIER PHASES OF, UM, THE, OUR, UH, RE UH, RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT, UH, PROGRAM THAT WE WERE, WE OUTLAYED, UM, TOWARDS THE EFFORT AND WERE SOME OF THOSE, UH, COMMENTS THAT OFFICERS MADE HER DIFFERENTLY THAN THE WAY THAT THEY WERE MEANT.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY IF WE HAVE THE NAMES AND WE, AND WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK BECAUSE THOSE OFFICERS HAVE BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE VIDEO AND SO FORTH, UM, THEN WE CAN DO THAT.
MY TEAM IS WORKING DIRECTLY ON THAT SPACE HAS BEEN, UM, AND WE, UH, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO ADDRESS IT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, CATS OVER AN ALTAR.
UM, BEFORE I ASK QUESTIONS, I WANT TO APPLAUD OUR CADETS IN THE 140 FOURTH CLASS, UM, FOR THEIR PURSUIT OF SERVICE AND WHAT APPEARS FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ AND HEARD, UM, TO BE, UH, A REALLY STRONG AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO, UM, WHAT IT IS TO MEAN.
IT MEANS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR ACADEMY STAFF AND OUR CHIEF FOR EMBRACING THE POSSIBILITIES OF CHANGE AND, AND, AND LEARNING.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, THAT I FOUND, UM, MOST IMPORTANT IN THE CRO REPORT, AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, I THINK, UH, BY MISS MUSKET IN, AND CERTAINLY IN THE WAY THAT YOU FRAME YOUR REMARKS IS THE WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE, UM, TO ITERATE IT'S NORMAL, TO ITERATE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
UM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE WHERE WE, WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE EXPERIENCE BETTER, BOTH FOR OUR CADETS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THEIR, OF THEIR TRAINING.
UM, I ALSO APPRECIATED THE HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT WAS EVIDENT IN CERTAIN SECTIONS.
UM, SO FOR INSTANCE, WITH RESPECT TO PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE DIVISION MANAGERS AUTHORITY, UM, SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS, I HAVE, UH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I'LL TRY TO BE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, UM, FROM WHAT I READ AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UM, A LOT OF THE SUCCESS AND THE PROGRESS THAT THE ACADEMY HAS COME FROM DR.
CHRISTIAN'S, UM, ABILITY TO GET THE WORK DONE, TO WORK LONG HOURS, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT WE'RE LEARNING THAT SWORN STAFF IGNORES HER REQUESTS OR POLICY DIRECTION.
AND ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT IS TO FURTHER DEFINE THE DIVISION MANAGERS ROLE, UM, CURL ESSENTIALLY GIVES TWO OPTIONS.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU INTEND TO FURTHER DEFINE THE DIVISION MANAGERS ROLE.
AND IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT IN THE ACADEMY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THOSE ARE EASILY AND OFTEN CHANGED.
UM, AND THAT THERE IS, THERE ARE WAYS TO CODIFY CIVILIAN ROLES AND AUTHORITIES, UM, IN THE GENERAL ORDERS.
SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU WILL CONSIDER, COMMIT TO CODIFYING CIVILIAN MANAGER ROLES IN THE GENERAL ORDERS.
UM, WE DO RELY A LOT ON CIVILIAN WORK AND EXPERTISE IN APD, AND THAT'S GREAT.
UM, BUT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM, BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF THIS ENDEAVOR'S GOING TO NEED TO BE THERE FOR HER.
SHE'S GOING TO NEED THAT SUPPORT.
UM, AND THEN FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT LEADERS OF THE ACADEMY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE WITH YOU, WE NEED TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON EXACTLY WHAT HER ROLE IS.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HER AUTHORITY IS, UH, ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO CHAPTER 1 43 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SWORN FOLKS AND CIVILIAN FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE WORKING, AND THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED, UH, WITH REGARD TO WHETHER, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE A SWORN INDIVIDUAL, UH, AN ORDER OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT CLEARLY WHEN I GET OUT THERE AND I LOOK AT THE, THE CULTURE
[07:40:01]
THAT WE'RE BUILDING AT THE ACADEMY, THIS IS NOT REALLY AN ISSUE.UH, SHE IS NOT ATTEMPTING TO, TO GIVE AN ORDER TO ANYONE.
UM, SHE'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'VE ASKED OF HER, UH, IN, IN THESE VERY TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES TO DO IT VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND NEEDS TIMELY RESPONSES.
I THINK THAT PART OF, AS I'VE GOTTEN INTO THE ISSUE, THE PROBLEM IS, IS, UH, HAS, HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT I HAVE AT THE ACADEMY AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THEM.
AND LIKE MANY OF US, UH, WHEN ASKED, UM, MULTIPLE THINGS, UH, SOMETHING WILL FALL OFF, FALL OFF AND, AND IS NOT HANDLED, UM, AS QUICKLY AS IT NEEDS TO BE AND HAS LEFT HER IN MANY TIMES FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SHE FEELS LIKE IT WAS IGNORED.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO, YOU KNOW, KROLL'S POINT TO BE ABLE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY WHAT HER ROLE IS THERE IN THAT ACADEMY STRUCTURE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THE SOP, BECAUSE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACADEMY.
I CERTAINLY HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THOUGH.
AND AS WE LOOK AT HER ROLE AS, UH, THE, THE LEVEL THAT SHE IS, IS THERE GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THAT ROLE, UM, AS FOR THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, UH, AT WHICH POINT IT MAY BE, UM, AND IT MAY BE SOONER THAN LATER, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT TERMINATION ABOUT WHETHER IT'S THE MOST APPROPRIATE TO PUT IT INTO THE GENERAL ORDERS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY COVERS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, OR NOT.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M STILL HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, UH, AND, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND THE TIMING FOR EACH.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IT SO THAT IT'S MORE LASTING AGAIN, THERE, WE HAVE SOMEONE OBSERVING RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND SO I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT'S LASTING, UM, LET ME JUMP TO ANOTHER QUESTION AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE FOR CROWELL.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S WHOEVER'S APPROPRIATE, CAN RESPOND.
SO MANY OF THE FIELD TRAINING OFFICER RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS WERE STILL OUTSTANDING.
UM, THE FTO IS, ARE SUCH A CRUCIAL PIECE OF THE ACADEMY SUCCESS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ON BOARD AND UP TO DATE ON TRAINING TO MAKE SURE CADETS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE NEW TRAINING REINFORCED.
UM, THIS HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE THIS CLASS GRADUATES.
WHAT'S THE EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WHEN I WAS, UH, UH, VISITING AUSTIN, THE ICAT TRAINING BACK IN SEPTEMBER, UH, I ACTUALLY MET WITH THE SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE OF THE FTO PROGRAM.
YOU HAD A CHANCES, THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING ON THE GROUND.
THERE, I'VE ACTUALLY HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS, UH, THE, THE CONTINUAL ASSESSMENT AND THE DEPROGRAMMING OF, UH, ACTIVE MILITARY PEOPLE THAT, THAT COME INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE MILITARY, OR HAVE NATIONAL GUARD DUTIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS KIND OF THING.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, FTO POLICY HAS JUST BEEN UPDATED.
MATTER OF FACT, THE, THE LIEUTENANT AND THE SERGEANT.
I WAS, I WAS OUT THERE A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO FOR FORCE OPTIONS.
AND, UH, THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE WORKING ON THE DRAFT FOR ME TO LOOK AT.
AND JUST YESTERDAY, UH, I RECEIVED THAT.
I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DIVE INTO IT YET, BUT I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THEY HAVE, UH, I'M VERY HOPEFUL BECAUSE THE LIEUTENANT AND SERGEANT THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH ME ON THIS ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT, THE DEPARTMENTS MAKING IN THE FTO PROGRAM.
UH, SO I THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULD, UH, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WERE PUT FORTH BY THE, OUR TEAM, UH, BEFORE THIS HUNDRED AND 45TH CLASS.
UM, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, THEN I'LL ASK ANOTHER QUESTION OF CURL.
UM, THE REPORT INDICATES AND SOMETHING TO THAT COUNCIL, UM, MUCH LIKE THE MAYOR.
I WAS, YOU KNOW, TRAINING CADETS IS ONE THING AND RECRUITS AND SHADING MINDS AND CHANGING OFFICERS IN THE STREETS IS ANOTHER, UH, I WAS WITH RICK LAST WEEK WATCHING THE ROLE-PLAYS AND ABOUT 40 OR 50 OF THE FTO OFFICES WHERE WERE PLAYING THE ROLES AT THE ACADEMY.
AND I ENGAGE THEM IN CONVERSATION.
AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE JOHN IS BASED ON MY LIFE EXPERIENCE AS POLICE OFFICERS.
WHO'VE BEEN ON THE JOB A WHILE HAVING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND THOUGHTS GET US.
AND WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THE TRAINING AND THE CHANGES AND THE IMPROVEMENTS, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT THEY AGREED WITH A LOT OF IT FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS GREAT.
THEY, THEY THOUGHT MORE PHYSICAL FITNESS, MORE SKILLS TRAINING, UH, DEESCALATION TRAINING, AND THEY WERE QUITE POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROCESS.
AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, THEY'VE COME BACK AND GONE THROUGH WHAT THE RECRUITS ARE LEARNING.
[07:45:01]
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YOU KNOW, THAT WAS HELPFUL TO ME BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE ACADEMY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I SEE A RECRUIT DOING SOMETHING.AND, UM, I DON'T WANT TO JUDGE THEM ON THINGS THAT I DID FOUR YEARS AGO.
SO I WAS, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A PROCESS STARTED WITH THE FTOS THAT THAT CAN BE BUILT ON.
AND, UH, THOSE 40, UH, SO FOLKS WERE THERE, SOME OF THEM, I THINK ON THEIR OWN TIME TO DO ROLE-PLAYS WERE, WERE, WERE A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, SO THE LAST QUESTION, I KNOW WE'RE ALL HUNGRY AND TIRED.
UM, I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I LIMIT MYSELF.
UM, THE REPORT INDICATES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT STARTING THE HUNDRED AND 45TH IN CLASS IN FEBRUARY, UM, FOR THE CURL TEAM.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S FEASIBLE FOR APD TO IMPLEMENT ALL YOUR INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS BY FEBRUARY 14TH, AND IF IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, WHAT IS A MORE APPROPRIATE TIMELINE OR START DATE? AND I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO FURTHER OUTLINE WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE.
IF WE START TOO EARLY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THIS.
UM, I THINK OUR, OUR PRIMARY CONCERNS WERE WHEN WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS, UH, PLANS POTENTIALLY TO START THE 140 FIFTH AND FEBRUARY.
UM, CAUSE AT THAT TIME I THINK OUR, OUR, THE TIMELINE FOR OUR FINAL REPORT HAD BEEN SET AT SOMETHING LIKE MARCH 7TH, THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH.
UM, AND SO JUST ONE THOUGHT WAS, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU START THE CLASS IN FEBRUARY THAT'S, BEFORE WE'VE EVEN ISSUED A FINAL REPORT, MADE ANY FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, MADE ANY FINAL ASSESSMENTS OF WHERE THE ACADEMY IS ON IMPLEMENTING, UH, NOT JUST THE SHORT TERM, BUT THE, WHAT THE LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH AGAIN, THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE THEM ALL IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THE HUNDRED 45TH.
SO THAT CREATED A KIND OF AN AUTOMATIC, UH, ISSUE THAT WE FELT NEEDED TO BE, UM, AT LEAST, UH, HIGHLIGHTED.
UM, NOW I'VE SINCE, UH, WE'VE SINCE HAD SOME TENTATIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY MOVING OUR FINAL REPORT DATE UP, UH, INTO, UH, INTO EARLIER, SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY, PROBABLY YOU SECOND WEEK OR SO OF FEBRUARY.
AND I THINK WE CAN, UH, SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF THAT'S, UH, IF THAT'S DECIDED, UM, THAT AT LEAST WILL HELP GET, UH, OUR FINAL ASSESSMENT OUT, UM, PRIOR TO TIME.
BUT HOWEVER, I DO THINK, AND I THINK WE'VE ALL AGREED THAT A FEBRUARY START DATE IS STILL GONNA BE PROBLEMATIC AND UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ASSURE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED THE ACTUAL TIME THAT THAT'S NEEDED, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, UH, A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS, YOU KNOW, I WE'RE AS PRO WE'RE A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO KIND OF INTERJECT THAT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S REALLY A DECISION FOR THE CITY TO MAKE IN CONSULTATION WITH, YOU KNOW, CHIEF COCOON AND THE CITY MANAGER AND, AND OPO.
UM, BUT I THINK IF YOU WERE ASKING OUR, OUR, UH, JUDGMENT WOULD BE, UM, PROBABLY, UH, HAVING SOME TIME IN, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, MARCH OR APRIL WOULD BE A MORE REALISTIC START DATE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THAT A SUFFICIENT PROGRESS HAS MADE ON THE, UH, ON THE LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE TWO PEOPLE WHO STOPPED GOING TO THE ACADEMY BECAUSE OF COVID INFECTIONS.
UM, I SEE IN THE REPORT THAT THEY HAD TO QUARANTINE AND SO THEY MISSED ENOUGH OF THE CLASS, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CONTINUE.
UM, AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO MONITOR THAT IN THE FUTURE, UM, AND WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS COULD BE MADE IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE.
UM, AND THEN I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH MY SECOND QUESTION IF, IF IT'S HELPFUL TO DO THEM TOGETHER, BUT DO YOU HAVE A PROCESS FOR TESTING OR, UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WEEKLY TESTING OR VACCINATION EXEMPTION? ARE YOU DOING THINGS LIKE THAT WITH THE CADET ACADEMY CLASS? YES.
SO, UM, THE, UH, MOST OF THE CLASS IS VACCINATED.
UM, AND WE ARE TESTING ONCE A WEEK AT THE ACADEMY.
UM, THE ISSUE THAT IT MAKES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN, THAN SAY FIRE EMS OR OTHER, UH, TRAINING ACADEMIES IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND, AND THAT THEY HAVE TO BE HANDS-ON.
FOR INSTANCE, WE JUST WENT THROUGH FOUR WEEKS OF SKILLS WEEKS, UM, DOING EVERYTHING FROM DRIVING TO SHOOTING TO, UH, DEFENSIVE TACTICS.
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, UH, REALLY MEAN VERY CLOSE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CADETS THEMSELVES AND THE CADETS AND THE INSTRUCTORS.
AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING, IF WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID, THAT WE TAKE THEM OUT OF THAT ENVIRONMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE WORKER'S
[07:50:01]
CONSTABLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO EVEN, UH, BE REMOTE IF THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WITH HUMAN RESOURCES.
UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEM, UH, BE REMOTE AND CAN THEY VIRTUALLY COME INTO THE CLASSROOM? BELIEVE ME, I NEED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND I WANT THEM THERE.
SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO DO THAT WITH THE REGARDS TO THE ONES THAT WE DID LOSE DUE TO COVID.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED, UH, OUT WITH, THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN THEM AS EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND OTHER PLACES FOR THEM IN THE DEPARTMENT UNTIL WE START THE ONE 45TH AND THEN THEY'LL, THEY'LL HAVE TO RESTART, BUT, AND RECYCLE INTO THAT NEXT ACADEMY, BUT AT LEAST THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
AND WE'LL STILL HAVE A JOB BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.
THAT'S R KELLY, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THAT UP ABOUT THE CADETS THAT CAUGHT COVID.
THAT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE AS WELL.
AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S ADDRESSED, ESPECIALLY FOR FUTURE CADETS, SO THAT THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO RETAIN THEIR JOBS.
THANKS FOR THIS REALLY THOROUGH REPORT FOR THE THOROUGH PRESENTATION TODAY AND THE THOROUGH RESPONSE.
THIS IS ALL REALLY INTERESTING.
I HAVE, I HAVE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL TRY TO LIMIT THEM AS WELL.
SO GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE REPORT AND THE PRESENTATION AND THE RE AND THE RESPONSE FROM APD, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND CHIEF TERCON IS WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY AN APPROPRIATE AND APPROPRIATELY SCHEDULED TIME FOR THE ADMINISTERING PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY? I'M ASSUMING GIVEN THE TIE BETWEEN SOME INJURIES THAT WERE NOTED IN THE QUARREL REPORT AND THOSE SESSIONS THAT BY APPROPRIATE SCHEDULING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO, UM, NOT HAVING CADETS, UH, GO RIGHT FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THOSE, OR, UM, AN A IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE SAFER, MORE WARMED UP.
I'VE TRIED IT, I'VE GOT SUPPORT FOR IT, BUT YEAH.
CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM THAT THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT COUNCIL MEMBERS? SO WHAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE DOING IS PULLING THEM DIRECTLY OUT OF CLASS, UM, OR ASKING THEM TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO STOP CLASS OR TAKE AWAY FROM CLASS TIME IN ORDER TO DO PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THOSE NEED TO, THERE'S TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THE CADETS NEED TO BE WARMED UP.
AND, UM, WHILE I THINK THAT SOME OF THE INJURIES THAT OCCURRED, UH, DURING PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, I'M NOT SURE COULD BE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T WARM THEM UP.
UM, THAT IS A CONCERN FOR ME, CERTAINLY.
AND SO I'M NOT, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE.
SO HAVING THAT DONE, AND THE OTHER PART IS, UM, MOVING IT, WE, THE IDEAL SITUATION IS TO DO IT DURING, UM, THE PHYSICAL TRAINING PART OF THE ACADEMY, SO THAT WE JUST BUILD THAT IN AND, AND ADD THAT TIME ON IF THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
UM, THE, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE PT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND SO, AND SO, UH, MOVING THAT TO A SEPARATE DAY SOMETIMES HAS BEEN, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE STAFF HAS SAID HAS NOT BEEN AS EFFECTIVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD SOME TIME INTO THE ACADEMY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM TIME, UH, OR PUSHING THAT, UH, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION TO THE NEXT DAY.
WHATEVER'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T, THAT, THAT OUR CADETS ARE, UM, THAT THEY ARE STAYING WARMED UP, THAT THEY'RE DOING IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING INTO CLASSROOM.
AND THAT WE'RE STILL MAINTAINING THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE, UM, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AND KIND OF EMBODY THAT.
THERE WERE SOME ALSO SOME REC I DON'T MEAN TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS ISSUE, BUT JUST VERY QUICKLY, THERE WERE ALSO SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE KINDS OF INFRACTIONS THAT SHOULD LEAD TO THAT RESPONSE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALSO INTEND TO, UM, RE I I'M WORKING, I'M WORKING WITH STAFF THROUGH THAT.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF THIS GOES BACK TO THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE THINGS AT THE ACADEMY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A DISCIPLINED ENVIRONMENT THAT, THAT, THAT WE HAVE CADETS THAT, THAT REALLY RESPECT THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND, UM, AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO, UH, EVEN THOUGH, EVEN AS IT MAY SEEM TO BE A MINOR INFRACTION, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS, BUT THEY NEED TO BE POINTED OUT AND THEY NEED TO BE APPROPRIATELY HANDLED.
UM, MAYBE NOT IN EVERY INSTANCE WITH A PERFORMANCE, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION, BUT RATHER BY, UM, HAVING A STERN, TALKING TO HAVING THEM WRITE A MEMO OR,
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UH, HAVING A MEETING WITH THEIR INSTRUCTOR, COUNSELOR, IT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE.UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT AS A STAFF, THE TRAINING STAFF IS WORKING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
UM, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU ENDED BY TALKING ABOUT RESPECT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, AND WHEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I, BECAUSE OF THE LATE HOUR AND BECAUSE OF THE TIME I'M TRYING TO RUSH, BUT, BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT THE COLE REPORT CURL REPORT IS, UH, THE EXTENSIVE QUOTING THEY DID OF YOUR INTRO SPEECH.
AND I THOUGHT THAT REALLY GAVE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T THERE.
AND SO THAT REALLY GAVE ME A VERY CLEAR, A VERY CLEAR SENSE OF THE TONE YOU SET AND THE, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO CREATE, RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET OF, UM, UH, AN IMPORTANT CULTURE FOR THE NEW CADETS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU CRUEL FOR, FOR INCLUDING THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, NOT JUST THERE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE REPORT TO REALLY HELP US GET A VERY CLEAR SENSE OF THE TONE THAT WAS BEING SAID.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK THOUGH ABOUT, I WANTED TO, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, MAYBE BECAUSE QUESTIONING AND CREATING SPACES WHERE QUESTIONING IS A VALUED THING IS ON MY MIND TODAY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE EARLIER CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD HERE.
UM, ONE OF THE COMMENTS JUMPED OUT AT ME ON PAGE 34, AND THAT WAS A COMMENT FROM ONE OF THE CADETS I'VE YET TO ASK A QUESTION IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING BECAUSE OF THE STRICT RULES SURROUNDING ADDRESSING INSTRUCTORS.
I CAN UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR INSTRUCTORS.
AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
HOWEVER, IN THE CLASSROOM, IT IS COMPLETELY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
THERE WASN'T ANY CONTEXT PROVIDED FOR THAT COMMENT.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO, BUT I, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AND FEEL, UM, WELCOME TO INVITE, TO ASK QUESTIONS AS THEY OCCUR TO THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS.
OBVIOUSLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? MAYBE THIS IS A BETTER QUESTION FOR CURL.
WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT ABOUT, UM, THE RULES RELATED TO INSTRUCT THE, HOW ONE ADDRESSES INSTRUCTORS? I TAKE THEM OUT OF COUNSELORS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION AS A CADET IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE POSITION OF ATTENTION, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS RECRUIT OFF OR CADET OFFICER LYNSKEY.
UH, SIR, MA'AM, UH, HERE'S MY QUESTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT I GREW UP IN THAT WORLD, UM, THAT HAPPENS IN ACADEMY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
I ALSO WAS AN ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR.
AND THE FIRST THING I SAID, WHEN I WAS TEACHING LAW SAYS, STAY IN YOUR SEATS.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITH ME OUTSIDE PT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN THIS CLASSROOM.
I'M HERE TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH YOU.
I WANT YOU TO RELAX AND BE COMFORTABLE HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH ME.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S A MIXED, UH, CREW AT THE ACADEMY.
SOME FOLKS KEEP THE FORMAL PROCESS AND INSTRUCTORS KEEP THE FOLLOWING PROCESS AND THE CADETS GO THROUGH IT.
AND SOME INSTRUCTORS SAY GATHER AROUND, UH, WHAT DO YOU GOT? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS, ANY THOUGHTS, ANY IDEAS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CADET CAME FROM, UH, THAT THEY FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'D RATHER JUST WAIT UNTIL AFTER TO, AND YOU DO SEE A LOT OF IT, UH, WHERE THEY WON'T ASK A QUESTION IN FRONT OF THEIR FELLOW CLASSMATES, AND THEN THERE'LL BE A BREAK AND THEY'LL GO UP TO THE INSTRUCTOR AND SAY, YOU KNOW, SIR, MA'AM, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHAT ABOUT THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER THING, AND THEY HAVE THOSE INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST BALANCING THE WAY THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BALANCING THE, LEARN THE ADULT LEARNING MODEL GOING FORWARD.
SO TO TWO SITUATIONS I WANTED TO, UM, TALK ABOUT THERE WAS I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THOUGHT, UH, I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF EVIDENCE THROUGHOUT THAT REALLY ILLUSTRATES ENORMOUS PROGRESS.
AND, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE HOUR, I'M NOT NECESSARILY HIGHLIGHTING THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
I REALLY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A VERY STRONG REPORT, SHOWS A LOT OF RESPONSIVENESS.
I KNOW SEVERAL OF US WERE IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND TOLD US A REALLY HAD ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE AND THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TALKING ABOUT, UM, HE HAD MADE THE OFFER, UH, TO THE CADET CLASS, IF YOU EVER WANT TO COME AND SEEK ME OUT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M HERE AND AVAILABLE TO TALK.
AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE CADETS DID THAT SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE AND, AND, AND CONTINUED THAT CONVERSATION.
SO TO ME, THAT COUPLED WITH THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH YOUR CADETS, UM, AT THAT EVENT WERE WHERE THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, AS AN INTRODUCTION, UM, SUGGESTS THAT THAT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PIECE IS REALLY VALUABLE.
AND SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE WAY CURL HAS SUGGESTED WAYS TO KIND OF INTEGRATE THAT THROUGHOUT.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK I SEE A LOT OF A REAL REASON TO BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON.
A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WANT TO KNOW, CHIEF, HOW YOU INTEND TO
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RESPOND TO IN A COUPLE OF THE CLASSES, UH, RACIAL PROFILING, AND THEN SEXUAL HARASSMENT.I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO CLASSES THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME AS BEING, HAVING SOME REAL, UH, AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT IN, AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATION SOUNDED A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS IS THE WAY WE SHOULD DO IT.
AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT CROLE SAID WITH REGARD TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
UM, THERE WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON BE CAREFUL TO DO IT THIS WAY, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET INTO TROUBLE INTO TROUBLE AND, AND NEEDED TO BE MORE EMPHASIS ON ALL FORMS OF HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED BECAUSE THIS SORT OF CONDUCT IS WRONG AND CAN'T BE TOLERATED TO ME THE SAME, THAT SAME ASSERTION COULD BE MADE ABOUT THE COMMENTS IN THE RACIAL PROFILING CLASS.
SO HOW DO YOU INTEND TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES? AND THIS IS LEADING UP TO MY FINAL QUESTION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE ONE ABOUT TIMING WITH REGARD TO THE ACADEMY NEXT ACADEMY.
UM, SO THIS IS, WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET IT EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND HAVING CROLE, UH, SIT IN ON, ESPECIALLY THE REALLY CRITICAL ONES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS THE ONES THAT YOU MENTIONED OR SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT I THINK THAT THERE'S, THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IS TO BE ABLE TO USE, UH, FOLKS THAT WE BROUGHT ONLINE, UM, DR.
UM, AND THEN CONTINUE AGAIN TO, UM, JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE CLASSES, AS THE CADET CLASSES, UH, MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, HOW CAN WE CAN CONTINUE TO, TO, UH, TO IMPROVE THOSE? UM, THE, ALSO THE WORK THAT THE, UM, CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE IS DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT IT'S, THAT THE CURRICULUM IS OUTLAID THE RIGHT WAY AND THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE RIGHT FOCUS ON THOSE.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS WHERE WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND, UM, AND WE PUT THE FOCUS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
UM, AND THEN WITH REGARD TO, I THINK YOUR LAST QUESTION YOU SAID WAS THE TIMING OF THE NEXT CLASS, RIGHT.
SO, SO, UM, I'LL TELL YOU, UH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UH, I THINK IT'S, IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY THAT, THAT WE, WE PUT THESE CLASSES THROUGH AS ON THE, ON THE FASTEST TIMELINE THAT WE CAN, UH, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE EVER SACRIFICE, UH, QUALITY OR THAT WE, UM, WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED OF US, UH, EITHER THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR, UH, THE SCRUTINY THAT'S BEEN PLACED ON THE, ON, ON GETTING THIS RIGHT.
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO GET IT DONE AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE AND TO MOVE THOSE UP I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF STARTING A FEBRUARY CLASS, UH, ASKING KROLL TO IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO, TO PRODUCE THAT REPORT SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER IT AND GET THAT CLASS STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE AS SOONER I STARTED THE SOONER I GRADUATE THEM, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
I CONCUR THAT WE NEED THOSE CLASSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I, AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE IT'S KIND OF AN UNUSUAL THING TO ITERATE WHILE A PROGRAM IS GOING ON.
AND, AND FRANKLY, WE DON'T OFTEN ITERATE US AS, AS WE NEED TO, UM, IN AN INSTITUTION LIKE THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT APPROACH AND BEING WILLING TO TRY, UM, THAT PROCESS EVEN AS IT WAS GOING ON.
AND I HOPE THAT, UM, DO YOU FEEL THAT IT'S, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU CAN RESPOND TO THE CHANGES THAT, THAT WERE RECOMMENDED IN THE TIMEFRAME I DO.
THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYONE FOR, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS COLLEAGUES.
ANYTHING ELSE, CHIEF? THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
UH, FOR BIG, WITH THIS BRAVE EXTENSIVE WORK, UH, PLEASE STAY ENGAGED.
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND THE QUALITY OF IT.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ACTUALLY UP AND ABOUT, UH, ANYTHING ELSE MANAGER WE SET.
THEN THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8 0 8.