[Proclamations]
[00:00:17]
I MEAN, THIS IS BOTH A, UH, A DAY OF CELEBRATION, UH, GIVEN THE, THE, THE, THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND, AND SHARING THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU HAVE WITH, WITH, WITH ANOTHER CITY.
BUT IT IS A SAD DAY FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR US.
YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENT JEANETTE AT, UH, SOME OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARILY GREAT MOVEMENTS AND ADVANCES, UH, IN OUR CITY, IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND CERTAINLY IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN, IN YOUR TENURE, UNLIKE ANY OTHER TIME THAT I KNOW OF, UH, IN MY, MY 40 YEARS HERE IN THE, IN THE CITY, UM, IT'S HARD TO EVEN BELIEVE, UH, THAT, THAT YOU'RE LEAVING.
UH, AND IT'S HARD TO, TO IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
I JUST KNOW THAT FROM WHERE I SIT, UH, HAVING YOUR STEADY HAND IN, IN DOING THIS ALWAYS BROUGHT GREAT ASSURANCE AND PEACE TO ME.
UH, EVEN WHEN THINGS WERE GETTING INCREDIBLY FRAZZLED, YOU HAD A WAY OF BEING ABLE TO SAY, AND TO CONVEY THAT IT'S OKAY, WE'VE GOT THIS, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
AND SO BOTH FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE, THANK YOU FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE.
UM, SO, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU WERE NEVER PRESENTED WITH YEARS OF SERVICE PINS.
UH, SO THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM IN THE AIR, 5, 10, 15, 25, 10, 15, AND 20 YEAR PINS.
UH, AND THEN, UH, ALSO TODAY, UH, OUR RETIREMENT AND, UH, BUT TO PUT IT ALL INTO CONTEXT, A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, UH, ISSUED BY THE, BY THE CITY, UH, FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCAL AND STATE ENTITIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PUBLIC DURING HER 21 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JEANETTE GOODALL IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THE CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF.
THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR, 2021 FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HERE IS YOUR AWARD, YOUR PIN, YOUR BAG OF PEN.
YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, OKAY.
AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE CITY.
THE MUNICIPAL CLERK IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC SERVANT OFFICIALS EVER.
IT DATES BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMES.
UM, WE ARE THE HUB OF THE GOVERNMENT AND, UM, WE ARE NOT, ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE THINK WE ARE CLERICAL.
UM, AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MOVE ON.
UM, BUT I GUARANTEE, UM, THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW THAT I AM GONE AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
[00:05:04]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WITH IT.
MAYBE, MAYBE, OH, WELL, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? FIRE ME FOR NOTHING.
AND HERE ARE ONE OF THE APPLICATION LETTERS TO HELP.
ARE WE GOING TO STEPHEN? HOW ARE YOU DOING TO SEE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT WAY YOU GET TO BE IN THE PICTURE.
I'M EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TOO.
JUST QUICKLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN THE MARCHING BAND.
I'M A SENIOR IN THE MARCHING BAND AND I'M ALSO A BAND PRESIDENT.
SO MY NAME'S
AND I'M ALSO A SENIOR I'M RESEAL CASTRO.
I'M ALSO A SENIOR AND I'M PERCUSSION CAPTAIN.
WELL, IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU GUYS.
AND I AM JUST REAL EXCITED THAT YOU GET TO GO.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH THIS PARADE ON TELEVISION AND IT'S LIKE A HUGE EVENT.
I GREW UP A COUPLE OF TIMES ACTUALLY GETTING TO WATCH THE PARADE AS I GREW UP, UH, BACK FROM THE EAST COAST.
AND IT IS A BIG DEAL, UH, THIS PARADE AND, AND A BIG DEAL THAT YOU GUYS WERE WERE SELECTED TO, TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ALL OF US ON THE COUNCIL, JUST SO EXCITED, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU GUYS.
AND, AND IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING THIS YEAR, WATCHING IT, UH, WITH MY NOW GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, I GET TO DO THAT, KNOWING THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE PARADE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO YELL AND HOOT.
WE HAVE OUR LOCAL FOLKS THERE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, AND PLEASE CONVEY THAT TO EVERYBODY.
AND, UH, IN THE BAND, SO MANY FIRSTS.
YEAH, NO THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN PULLING FOR YOU.
I THINK PROBABLY, UH, UH, I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ALL DOING THE, ALL, DOING THE SAME THING.
SO I HAVE THE, UH, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CAN YOU CLOSE THE DOOR AND JUST HELP US WITH NOISE A LITTLE BIT.
AN IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION WE HAVE TODAY TO CELEBRATE SOME LOCAL AMBASSADORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ARRIVING ON THE NATIONAL STAGE TO, TO, TO REPRESENT OUR CITY, UH, IN SOME PRETTY, UH, SIGNIFICANT, UH, FIRSTS.
UH, WE WANT TO SEND, SEND THEM OFF WITH OUR, OUR BEST WISHES AND, AND JUST TO LET THEM KNOW HOW, HOW EXCITED EVERYBODY IS IN THIS CITY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, A PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WE'RE AS THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS OPENED IN 2007 WITH THE MISSION OF PREPARING YOUNG WOMEN FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, TO COMMIT TO A HEALTHY AND WELL BALANCED LIFESTYLE, TO LEAD WITH COURAGE AND COMPASSION AND TO SOLVE PROBLEMS CREATIVELY AND ETHICALLY IN SUPPORT OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE ANNE RICHARD MARCHING STARS IS THE ONLY OFF EMAIL, COMPETITIVE MARCHING BAND IN THE NATION.
[00:10:01]
AND WE'RE AS THE MARCHING STARS COMPETE IN THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE, MARCHING CONTESTS, BANDS OF AMERICA, REGIONAL COMPETITIONS, AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EVENTS IN AND AROUND AUSTIN.AND WE'RE AS THE ANN RICHARDS MARCHING STARS WERE SELECTED FROM AMONG THOUSANDS OF PERFORMERS NATIONWIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD, FAMOUS MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.
AND WE'RE AS THE MARCHING STARS, THE ONLY BAND FROM TEXAS PARTICIPATING IN THE 2021 MACY'S DAY PARADE IS THE FIRST ALL FEMALE MARCHING BAND EVER TO BE INVITED.
NOW, THEREFORE I, STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBERS TOVO AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 25TH OF THE YEAR, 2021, THANKSGIVING 2021 AS ALSO THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS, MARCHING STARS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING OR I WOULD PASS IT OVER TO MIKE? WELL, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCILMEN MEN AND WOMEN.
I AM MONICA MARTINEZ A SENIOR AT THE END RICHARD SCHOOL FOR A WOMAN LEADERS AS WELL AS BAND PRESIDENT OF THE ANN RICHARDS MERGING STARS.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
AS WE REPRESENT THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS, THE GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS, AS WE PERFORM AT THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE, THIS BAND HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PERFECT OUR SHOW, AND WE LOOK FORWARD FOR EVERYONE BEING, BEING ABLE TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE ANNE RICHARD SCHOOL, FREEING WOMAN LEADERS AND THE AMARANTH MARCHING STARS, FAMILY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.
CAN WE STEP UP HERE SO WE CAN GET AN UNOBSTRUCTED PICTURE OF EVERYBODY
THERE'S ONE MORE AFTER THAT, BUT YOU NEED TO GO UPSTAIRS.
SO THIS IS, UM, THIS IS A SAD MOMENT, BUT ALSO A HAPPY MOMENT.
YOU GET TO SPEND TONS MORE TIME WITH YOUR
[00:15:01]
FAMILY, UH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE.AND IN OUR OFFICE, PROBABLY OUR, OUR CORNERSTONE, THE KIND OF THE STEADY ROCK, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR PLACE, UH, YOU HAVE GIVEN SUCH A GIFT TO THE CITY IN ALMOST 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM, THREE COUNCIL OFFICES, I THINK WE'RE THE THIRD, UH, ALSO WORKING ON CITY STAFF IN OUR OFFICE.
YOU'RE KIND OF THE, ONE OF THE REAL CORES TO OUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE RUDDERS ON OUR SHIP.
AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN, IN, IN MANY WAYS, YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON A CITY THAT HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND, UH, HOPE YOU'RE PROUD OF THAT SERVICE.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE TODAY, A CITY OF AUSTIN, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, SERVING AS A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THREE MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL OVER HER TENURE, INCLUDING DURING THE PIVOTAL TRANSITION TO THE INAUGURAL TEN ONE COUNCIL, ASHLEY FISHER IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
AND THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF.
THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR, 2021 BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN SIGNED BY ME FOR THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
DID I MISS EVERYBODY? THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME FOR THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I'LL MISS EVERYONE.
WE'LL GET ONE WITH
YEAH, YOU CAN HAND THEM TO ME.
SO THEY KIND OF SENSE THAT I HOLD THEM.
LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? MAYBE I LIKE ME ENOUGH.
I CAN, I CAN HOLD THEM FOR YOU.
I'M WILLING TO, I DON'T MIND AT ALL.
I BROUGHT MY
EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE LIKE IN THE, IN THE SHOT.
I'M HAPPY TO, YEAH, THAT'D BE GOOD.
ARE WE READY? ALRIGHT, FANTASTIC.
I AM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAY JEALOUS.
I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT DATE, WHICH IS SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
I AM HERE TODAY WITH FELLOW ADVOCATES IN HONOR OF NATIONAL CHILD INJURY PREVENTION DAY.
WE HAVE A CITY PROCLAMATION, UM, AND I'M JOINED HERE BY AMAZING FOLKS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION LOCK ARMS FOR LIVE TEXAS GUN SENSE AND DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS INJURIES ARE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY TO US CHILDREN, ONE TO 18 YEARS OLD.
[00:20:01]
OF AUSTIN IN CON IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELLBEING.AND WHEREAS WHILE MANY OF THESE INJURIES AND DEATHS VARY ACROSS THE STATE, EVERY COUNTY IN TEXAS IS IMPACTED BY THESE EVENTS.
AND WHEREAS HOSPITALS, STATE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING INJURIES AND DEATHS BY PROMOTING SAFE PRACTICES.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY RAISES AWARENESS AND PROMOTES EFFORTS IN REDUCING INJURIES AMONG CHILDREN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMENDS, THE DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER, TEXAS GUN SENSE AND LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE AND AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ALL INVOLVED IN THIS WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM INJURY.
NOW, THEREFORE I PAY JEALOUS ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER.
THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 18TH AS THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL CHILD INJURY PREVENTION DAY.
AND NOW I WILL ALSO PASS A RESOLUTION TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF YOUNG PERSON WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT HERE.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO WORK WITH THESE GREAT GROUPS THAT ARE DOING SO MUCH TO PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE THIS.
WHEREAS THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY IS TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2021.
AND THIS OCCASION OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT AN ISSUE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.
AND WHEREAS BODILY INJURIES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY TO CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, BETWEEN THE AGES OF ONE AND 18 EACH DAY, 20 CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY DIE FROM PREVENTABLE INJURIES, MORE THAN FROM ALL DISEASES COMBINED AND INCREASED EDUCATION AND BETTER SAFETY PRACTICES AND PR AND EQUIPMENT CAN REDUCE THIS TRAGIC TOLL.
AND WHEREAS IN 2020, THE INJURY FREE COALITION FOR KIDS ESTABLISHED NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY TO FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE ISSUE AND THE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
THE COALITION WORKS WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS, STATE AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENCOURAGE SAFE PRACTICES AND RAISE AWARENESS.
AS PART OF THE INITIATIVE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL BE LIT IN GREEN IN ORDER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT INJURIES.
AND WHEREAS YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF THE LONE STAR STATE.
AND BY JOINING TOGETHER TO HELP REDUCE INJURIES, TEXANS CAN HELP SAFEGUARD THIS PRECIOUS ASSET.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE 2021 NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY BE RECOGNIZED AND THAT ALL OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THIS OBSERVANCE, THE EXTENDED SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR SIGNED BY ME, DONNA HOWARD STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 48 FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND NOW I WILL PASS IT ON TO DR.
WHO'S THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER JUST IN TIME.
I SERVE AS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER.
AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER AND ASCENSION TEXAS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER, COUNCIL MEMBER AL ELLIS AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING TODAY, NOVEMBER 18TH AS NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK LIKE TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD FOR THE STATE RECOGNITION OF THIS DAY OF AWARENESS ABOUT THE BURDEN OF INJURY VIOLENCE AND THE NEED FOR PREVENTION.
WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH US HERE TODAY, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION ALONG WITH LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE AND TEXAS GUN SENSE WHO ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
ESSENTIAL IN TEXAS HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 119 YEARS AS THE ONLY PEDIATRIC LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER IN OUR REGION.
IT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER TO HAVE COMMUNITY AND STATE RECOGNITION OF THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY INJURIES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY TO US, CHILDREN FROM THE AGES ONE TO 18 EVERY DAY, 20 CHILDREN DIE FROM PREVENTABLE INJURIES, RESULTING IN MORE DEATHS THAN ALL OF THE DISEASES COMBINED.
IN FACT, INJURY IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE THROUGH 44 YEARS OF AGE, WITH THE INVESTMENT OF $540 MILLION IN CHARITY CARE IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY AND THE PLANNED EXPANSION AND OPENING OF DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER NORTH, YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT CLINICAL AND COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR ALL, BUT ESPECIALLY THE VULNERABLE AND
[00:25:01]
THOSE EXPERIENCING POVERTY IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY.YOU ALSO HAVE A COMMITMENT ABOUT TIRELESSLY TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD INJURIES, DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER AND THE SAFE KIDS.
AUSTIN COALITION JOINED DOCTORS, NURSES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PERSONNEL AT TRAUMA CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR INJURY PREVENTION.
TONIGHT, DELL CHILDREN'S WILL LIGHT THE TOWER GREEN TO SHINE A LIGHT ON INJURY PREVENTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE DOING THE SAME.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I WILL JUST CLOSE THIS OUT BY SAYING THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THEM OR WANT TO TALK TO THEM FURTHER.
THIS IS THE STANDARD YOU'RE ALL IN ONE MILE.
[Additional Item]
WE, UH, CONVENE THE MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST A COUPLE MOMENTS HERE OF, OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.UH WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING SOME, SOME TITANS HERE FROM, FROM THE CITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE FOLKS.
ALISON, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST DOWN HERE THOUGH? UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO THE QUICK FIRST.
UM, SO MY OFFICE IS, UM, LOSING ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS FROM FOUR YEARS, UM, APRIL ROMERO BROWN.
UM, AND I WANT TO, UM, JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK APRIL FOR FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND FRIENDSHIP.
UM, APRIL HAS OFFERED SO MUCH TO THE CITY AND TO MY OFFICE AND OUR TEAM.
UM, IT TAKES A STEADY HAND TO WORK IN A COUNCIL OFFICE AND I'VE SEEN NO STUDY OR HAND.
UM, THEN APRIL'S, UM, SHE DEMONSTRATES A CALM UNDER PRESSURE, UM, COUPLED WITH A REAL COMMITMENT TO MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
UM, ALWAYS FINDING OUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED, UM, HELPING ME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND HELPING US TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
UM, CONSTRUCTIVELY FOR THE CITY, UM, APRIL HAS SUPPORTED ME ON COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH, UM, BUT ALSO HELPED, UM, LEAD OUR EFFORTS WITH RESPECT TO REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND, UM, THESE ARE AMONG THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AND INTRICATE ISSUES THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH, UM, AS A DIOCESE.
AND SHE HAS APPROACHED EACH OF THESE ISSUES AND HER WORK WITH THIS WITH A TOUGH FIERCENESS AND A COMMITMENT, UM, TO TRUTH AND A COMMITMENT TO DOING GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
UM, SO APRIL YOU WILL BE MISSED, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, AND, UM, YOU'VE REALLY CONTRIBUTED A LOT AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THIS IS, UH, JEANETTE GOODALL'S, UH, LAST MEETING, UH, WITH US.
UM, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HER WITH A SERVICE AWARD AND, UM, SHE, UH, I WATCHED HER TAKE HER FIVE-YEAR PIN, HER TENURE PEN, HER 15 YEAR PIN AND HER 20 YEAR PIN AS APPARENTLY SHE HADN'T GOTTEN THEM TIMELY.
SO SHE'S LEAVING WITH A BAG OF PINS.
[00:30:01]
BUT, UH, JEANETTE WAS CLERK IN THIS OFFICE WHEN THERE WERE JUST HUGE, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, BOTH IN OUR CITY AND IN THAT OFFICE.UH, AND, AND WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
UH, AND, AND CERTAINLY MOST RECENTLY, BUT NOT LEAST THE, THE WORK THAT YOUR WORK AND THE WORK OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND STAFF OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS OF, UH, THE PANDEMIC AND THE WINTER STORM AND MULTIPLE ELECTIONS AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS, AND, UH, HAS JUST BEEN ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY.
UH, WE WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU MOVE ON TO, UH, TO, TO, TO BRING YOU THIS LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION MODERNIZATION TO, TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ASHLEY FISHER.
I IN MY OFFICE, UH, COLLEAGUES, YOU OR YOUR STAFF PROBABLY KNOW HER REALLY WELL.
UH, SHE, UM, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, UH, GIFTING TO THE CITY, HER SERVICE FOR, UH, ALMOST 10 YEARS.
UH, I THINK THAT HER WORK IN, IN MY OFFICE IS HER THIRD HOUSEHOLD OFFICE.
I PO I THINK SHE WORKED WITH YOU AND YOURS AND DR.
UH, SHE ALSO HAD A, A STINT ON, ON CITY STAFF, UH, FUNCTION, UH, AND, AND, AND MY OFFICE, SHE IS KIND OF ONE OF THE RUDDERS ON OUR SHIP.
SHE IS ONE OF OUR, OUR SOURCES OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND IT'S JUST REAL COMFORTING TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS ALREADY SEEN EVERYTHING ONCE OR TWICE OR 10 TIMES BEFORE, UH, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO KEEP A STEADY PROGRESS, BUT ALSO YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON, ON SO MUCH OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MARY AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ASHLEY, WHEN SHE WAS IN MY OFFICE, I, I HAD GREAT JOY WHEN SHE WOULD BRING HER, HER TWO DAUGHTERS TO MY OFFICE.
AND, AND, UH, THERE WERE ONE LITTLE ONE THAT SHE HAD JUST FOSTERED.
SHE JUST HAD A BAD HABIT OF RUNNING, RUNNING INTO THE TABLE.
SHE WAS SHORT, BUT SHORTER NOW, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES WITH THAT.
[Call to Order]
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE TODAY.IT'S THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, UH, 2021.
WE HAVE A QUORUM, UH, PRESENT, UH, MAYOR PRO TAM.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU WITH US? UH, REMOTELY? YES.
UH, THAT MEANS WE'RE ALL HERE EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR, WHO WILL BE JOINING US, UH, SHORTLY.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND TAKE US THROUGH, UH, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ITEM.
NUMBER TWO, ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, IT'S GOING TO BE WITHDRAWN AND PLACED WITH ADENDA ITEM EIGHT.
UH, I WILL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE BREAK INTO THE, UH, AUSTIN FINANCE, ALSO THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AGENDAS.
IF I FORGET, PLEASE REMIND ME.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 2ND, 2021 ITEM NUMBER 11, UH, ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021 WAS RECOMMENDED BY WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON THE 700 VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL MUSGRAVE AND WILLIAMS ABSENT IN ONE VACANCY ITEM NUMBER 13 ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021 RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A SIX O VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER PENN, RECUSING AND COMMISSIONERS.
MICHAEL MUST GROVE WILLIAMS ABSENT IN ONE VACANCY ITEM.
NUMBER 15 IS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 16, ITEM 17, 19 AND 20 ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021 WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A VOTE OF EIGHT ZERO WITH CHAIR HOPKINS ABSENT IN TWO VACANCIES ITEM NUMBER 30 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH A DEN.
THE ITEM 96, ITEM NUMBER 33, UH, IS A WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADENTA ITEM 91.
ITEM NUMBER 71 IS RELATED TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 96.
[00:35:01]
NOT JUST ITEM 30.ITEM NUMBER 78 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH A DEN TO ITEM 98.
I DID AN 83 IS ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT SIX.
ITEM NUMBER 84 IS ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT SEVEN NUMBERS, 89 AND 90.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE VOTING NO WERE ALTERED TOBO AND KELLY.
NUMBER 90, A VALID PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN OPPOSITION TO THE, UH, ZONING CASE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN POLLED, UH, OFF THE CONSENT ITEM.
NUMBER NINE HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR ITEM NUMBER 35.
UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JANUARY 27TH, 2022.
THIS IS THE STAFF HAS SUGGESTED AS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING THIS BACK.
UH, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF THERE'S NOT AN OBJECTION, UH, WITH A POSTPONEMENT TO JANUARY 27TH, 2022, UM, KELLY, HANG ON KELLY.
I'M OKAY WITH A POSTPONEMENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO PULL TWO ITEMS TO BE HEARD TOGETHER ITEMS 22 AND 38 PLEASE.
CONTINUING ON WITH CHANGES IN CORRECTION AND WE'LL GET TO YOU HAVE CATS I'VE EVER.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE IF WE ARE POSTPONING AN ITEM, THEN ANY, ANY SPEAKERS WOULD ONLY BE SPEAKING ON WHETHER TO POSTPONE IT OR NOT TO POSTPONE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WE'RE ALL GONNA TRY TO, TO, TO, TO, TO ENSURE THAT MEASURE OF DISCIPLINE, UH, UH, AND IT'D BE GREAT BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE THEIR MORNING BACKS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO HANG ON THE LINE IF, IF THEY'RE HANGING ON THE LINE.
AND, AND THE SAME IN, IN CHAMBERS.
UH THAT'S UH, SO THE MARSHALL ISSUE, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT TODAY WOULD BE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO POSTPONE TO JANUARY 20, UH, SEVENTH? UH, YES.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T FLAG THIS EARLIER, BUT, UM, THE ITEM 52, THE VMU ONE, UM, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME, UM, EXTRA VERSIONS THAT CAME OUT THAT I WAS STILL SORTING THROUGH.
AND GIVEN THAT WE HAVE, UM, A SPECIAL, A SPECIAL CALLED WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING.
I WASN'T SURE IF IT MADE SENSE JUST TO POSTPONE IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ALTOGETHER, BUT I CAN JUST PULL THAT IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, I THINK BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT.
UH I'M OKAY WITH LETTING THIS ONE GO THROUGH, UH, TODAY.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WERE CIRCULATING.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE NEED MORE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN, IF ANYBODY WANTED TO DO IT FOR THAT REASON, I'D BE FINE WITH IT BEING PULLED.
PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME, BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE ON NOVEMBER 30TH, I THINK IS, IS REALLY THE DAY FOR US TO, TO DIG INTO THIS, UH, AREA.
UH, AND, UH, MY FIRST IMPULSE WAS, WAS, WAS AS YOURS IS, BUT THIS IS SUCH AN ISSUE THAT WE RUN INTO SO MANY TIMES.
I'D PROBABLY JUST LET THIS ONE GO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS' POSTPONEMENT, JUST BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE A POSTPONEMENT FOR THEIR OWN REASONS, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.
UH, SO, UH, UH, ALSO IN CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, UH, WE HAVE LAID BACK UP AND AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE REMIND ME WHEN WE GET TO THAT AGENDA TO DO THAT ITEMS. NUMBER 7, 10 37 47 51 70 71 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80 84, 86, 89, 90 AND 92 AND 98 ALL HAVE LAID BACK OUT, UH, COLLEAGUES, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS TODAY ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 54 AND ALSO 91.
AT THIS POINT, I'M SHOWING ITEM NUMBER NINE TO BE PULLED ITEM 22 TO BE PULLED.
[00:40:02]
ITEM NUMBER 35 IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE POSTPONED TO JANUARY 27.ITEM NUMBER 38, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, UH, PULLED, UH, AND ITEM NUMBER 52, UH, HAS BEEN PULLED.
UM, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, UH, TO, TO SPEAK, UH, COUNSEL, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 3)]
THE SPEAKERS.I'M GOING TO CALL THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST SO THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE.
AND THEN WE WILL DO THE PHONE SPEAKERS.
UH, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, UH, THREE HOURS OF TESTIMONY TODAY BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE AFTERNOON.
A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT AT TWO MINUTES EACH.
SO WE'RE GOING TO OVER THE LIMIT SPEAKERS TO TWO MINUTES, UH, EACH BOTH IN PERSON AND ON THE PHONE.
UH, AND, UH, I'M GOING TO CALL THESE IN GROUPS BY NUMBERS THAT FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ON, UH, UH, WHICHEVER ONE OR MORE ISSUES YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, UH, ANA UH, THE PHRASE, THE PHRASE, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN AND THEN
COUNCIL MEMBER, GREG CASAR, AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM SURVIVOR JUSTICE PROJECT.
WE'RE HERE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, GREG CASAR FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, WHEN WE SAW THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY AND PUBLICLY.
UM, WE BROUGHT ISSUES FIRST TO YOU.
I REMEMBER IN 2016, UM, THE PRESENTING ISSUE WAS ABOUT THE RAPE KIT BACKLOG.
OF COURSE, WE'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT THAT IS OF COURSE A SYMPTOM OF A MUCH LONG, LARGER PROJECT, BUT IN THAT MEETING, UM, I REMEMBER KRISTEN TELLING YOU THAT THERE WERE RAPE KITS ON THE SHELVES THAT WERE OLDER THAN YOU, AND, UM, YOU NEVER STOPPED LISTENING AND TAKING ACTION FROM THAT MOMENT ON, UM, YOU DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT YOU DOVE RIGHT IN AND BECAME A LEADER FOR US.
UM, IT WASN'T JUST THE BACKLOG THAT YOU WORKED ON.
YOU ALSO WORKED ON, UM, RESOURCING VICTIM SERVICES, COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELING INITIATIVES RELATED TO EMDR.
AND OF COURSE, UM, WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR EVALUATING THE SEX CRIMES UNIT WITHIN APD AS A CO-SPONSOR, WE THINK THAT YOU EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WISH WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN FARTHER AS A COMMUNITY ON THAT.
UM, BUT YOU'VE LEFT A LEGACY THAT HERE THAT IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.
YOU'VE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE FOR SURVIVORS AND HAVE CENTERED SURVIVORS ALONG THE WAY.
AND YOU'VE SET A NEW STANDARD FOR WHAT IT CAN LOOK LIKE TO SERVE IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN SPITE OF SO MANY, UM, DIFFICULT AND FRANKLY, VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST YOUR CHARACTER FOR WANTING TO MAKE THIS CITY MORE, UM, ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES WE SAY, WE HOLD, WE WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF PUBLICLY AS WELL, BECAUSE NONE OF IT COULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
NEXT SPEAKER ON ITEMS, 2238, SHARON BLI.
VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, MY HERE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WHEN I SAW THIS ITEM TWO, I WAS LIKE, I NEED TO COME HERE AND I NEED TO TELL YOU EXPLICITLY WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME AND FOR MY COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY CAME HERE IN 1993 FROM MEXICO.
WHEN WE SETTLED IN AREAS IN DISTRICT FOUR THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE.
AND AT THE TIME MY MOM STARTED MAKING $4 AN HOUR, RIGHT.
AND WE KNEW, AND I GREW UP IN A CITY THAT WAS DIVIDED.
THAT WAS NOT MEANT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
AND WHEN DISTRICT FOUR WAS CREATED AND YOU STARTED TO REPRESENT US FOR THE FIRST TIME, I FELT THAT WE HAD A VOICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO OFTEN PARTS NEGLECTED PARTS OF AUSTIN THAT NEVER GET ANY ATTENTION WITH THE LOWEST PARKS, LOWEST PUBLIC SAFETY, HIGHEST TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, ALL OF THESE ASPECTS OF THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN, BUT ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE FOR MANY OTHERS.
[00:45:01]
I FIRST GOT BACK TO AUSTIN AFTER STUDYING, YOU LISTENED TO MY FAMILY STORY OF MY FATHER'S DEPORTATION, AND YOU WORK WITH COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS WITH ME AND WITH OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT THIS CITY LIVES UP TO ITS VALUES OF PROTECTING EVERYONE, INCLUDING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE.SO I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO CAN HAVE THE SAME VISION THAT YOU HAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHO WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WITH FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND MAKE SURE THAT AREAS LIKE THE ROMBERG AREA RUTLAND, WHERE I GREW UP, WHERE MY FAMILY IS, WHERE MY COUSINS, MY FAMILY GO TO SCHOOL, WHERE WE GO SHOPPING.
THESE PARTS OF AUSTIN THAT ARE ALWAYS IGNORED, ARE NEVER IGNORED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER LIKE YOU DID, AND YOU REPRESENTED US.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M VERY EXCITED, VERY PROUD OF YOU, AND REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE YOU GO NEXT, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HOLDING THOSE COMMUNITY VALUES AND THAT THE HEART OF DISTRICT FOUR IS NEVER GOING TO WAIT, GO AWAY FROM YOU.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT.
ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM TWO, MARY, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL THIS SPEAKERS FROM SURVIVORS IS PROJECT AND, UH, AND TO SET IN A VERY, OR EXTREMELY KIND WORDS, I'M A BIT OF A LOSS FOR WORDS.
SO I JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING HERE AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT HAS REALLY, THE PEOPLE HAVE LED AND WE'VE JUST TRIED TO FOLLOW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
UH, THE OTHER SPEAKER ON ITEM TWO MAY MAZE.
UM, I NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, SO, UM, CAN THE DISTRICT HAVE NO COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING IT? UM, WE'LL POLLING PLACES TO BE LOCATED ONLY IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, OUR, THE, OUR DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS, THE ONLY ONES ALLOWED TO GO IN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION.
UH, WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO FILE FOR CANDICE CANDIDACY? WHY DID THE COUNCIL CHOOSE TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION INSTEAD OF HAVING AN IN-HOUSE VOTE? CAN THE DISTRICT BE WITHOUT A COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, IF, AND GET YOU SOME ANSWERS RIGHT AWAY FROM, FROM THE CLERK ON THAT TO CITY WIDE ELECTION, AS THERE IS FOR, FOR ALL OF THE, UH, COUNCIL? NO, I'M THINKING OF MY LUNCH.
SO HOW IS IT? HOW'S IT GOING TO BE ONE? THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE WITHOUT A REPRESENTATIVE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT HAPPENS.
THE DISTRICT VOTES ARE ALL THE POLLING LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
MOST WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POLLING LOCATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES.
UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE, I THINK, OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT SO THAT, UM, TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE LIST IN FRONT OF ME, BUT STILL IT'S JUST PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, ONLY A REGISTERED VOTERS IN COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, IN DISTRICT FOUR, UH, ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
RIGHT? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS? THOSE ARE THE CLERKS RIGHT THERE.
PERHAPS THE CITY CLERK COULD ANSWER SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, THAT THE SPEAKER ASKED ABOUT FILING DEADLINE AND JUST BRIEFLY REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT POSITION.
BUT, UM, ALSO IF YOU COULD PROVIDE, PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THIS SPEAKER OR OTHERS COULD GET, UH, COULD GET THAT MORE SPECIFIC, DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT POLLING PLACES AND ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS FOR RUNNING.
I THINK THAT MIGHT COVER THE SPEAKERS.
SO, UM, THERE IS AN ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA ORDERING THE ELECTION TODAY.
AND I THINK PART OF THE BACKUP, WE HAVE SOME, AT LEAST SOME OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS ATTACHED TO THAT ORDINANCE.
UM, AS SOON AS YOU ADOPT THAT ORDINANCE, THEN THE FILING PERIOD WILL START, UH, ONCE YOU ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
SO IT WILL START SOMETIME TODAY WHEN YOU TAKE ACTION AND IT WILL RUN THROUGH DECEMBER 16TH, THAT'S THE LAST DAY TO FILE.
THE ELECTION WILL BE ON JANUARY 25TH, EARLY VOTING STARTS A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THAT.
SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE DATE IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, BUT IT STARTS, I THINK THE 19TH OF JANUARY AND RUNS UP UNTIL FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND CANDIDATE PACKETS ARE, UM, READY.
AND AS SOON AS YOU PASS, THE ORDINANCE ARE AVAILABLE IN FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT PROVIDE ALL OF THE DETAILS
[00:50:01]
AND THE SCHEDULE, UM, FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.DO WE KNOW WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE FOR THE POSITION? UH, YOU HAVE TO BE 18, YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE FOR A YEAR.
YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT FOR SIX MONTHS.
UH, AND YOU HAVE TO BE A US CITIZEN AND NOT CONVICTED OF A FELONY UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN PARDONED AND ALL OF MEAT THAT ALL OF THOSE WHO CALL AND I THINK PACKET THE PACKET FOR THE ELECTION IS ALSO GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THE CLERKS THAT'D BE POSTED ON.
WE HAVE A WEBSITE FOR THE JANUARY 22 ELECTION, THE CANDIDATE PACKETS, AND ALL OF THE REQUIRED FORMS WILL BE ON THAT AS WELL AS, AND HARD COPIES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE.
AND WE WILL ALSO MAKE IT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ON A THUMB DRIVE NOW.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
UH, I THINK OF THE QUESTIONS, THE SPEAKER AS THE ONLY ONE LEFT WAS THE, UM, QUESTION ABOUT WHY A SPECIAL ELECTION I SAW THAT MS. WEBSTER IS ON, BUT ALSO THE CLERK I'M SURE COULD ANSWER IT, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE LAST, YEAH, I CAN ANSWER QUICKLY, GIVE YOU A SIMPLE ANSWER AND THEN CAROLINE CAN CORRECT ME IF I MAKE ANY MISTAKES.
UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION BECAUSE, UH, THE WAY WE ARE STRUCTURED, UH, WITH FOUR YEAR TERMS, ET CETERA, WE HAVE TO HELD ANY ELECTION WITHIN 120 DAYS, UM, OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, WHICH TRIGGERS THE COUNCIL MEMBER RESIGNING, UM, AND GOING INTO A HOLDOVER CAPACITY.
UM, AND SO THAT 120 DAYS, UH, DOES NOT ALLOW US TO WAIT UNTIL THE MAY UNIFORM ELECTION DATE.
IN FACT, THERE'S ANOTHER RULE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A UNIFORM DATE.
SO WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR ANNOUNCED, HE WAS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS THAT SERVES EFFECTIVELY AS A RESIGNATION, HE SERVES IN THAT ROLE THAT WE CAN BE REPLACED.
THE ELECTION, THE STATE LAW PROVIDES FOR WHEN THE ELECTION CAN BE HELD NO LONGER THAN 120 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE, UH, RESIGNATION WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.
BUT IT CAN'T BE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE PRIMARY DATE.
SO IT COULDN'T BE YOU GOING AFTER THE MARCH DATE DOESN'T WORK CAUSE THERE'S MORE THAN 120 DAYS, WHICH MEANS IT HAS TO BE NO CLOSER THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO, AND THAT TUESDAY OR, OR ELECTION DAY TURNED OUT TO BE THE 25TH.
KELLY, I ASKED A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS IN THE COUNCIL Q AND A, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
SO IF THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S A GOOD RESOURCE.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE VACANCY GOES IN THE Q AND A, IT WAS STATED THAT ON THE DAY WE CANVASS THAT ELECTION, THE REPLACEMENT COULD BE SWORN IN.
SO THERE WILL NOT BE A VACANCY, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UM, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE WILL ARRANGE THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY TO OCCUR ON THE DAY OF THE CANVASSING.
UM, WHICH WOULD BE A FEW DAYS AFTER EITHER THE JANUARY 20 OR IF THE ELECTION GOES INTO A RUNOFF AFTER THE RUNOFF ELECTION, BUT FINGERS CROSSED.
UM, YOU'RE ABLE TO, UH, APPOINT, UH, HAVE A FILET, UH, PERMANENT MEMBER WHO WILL SERVE THE REMAINDER OF COUNCIL MEMBER KOSSAR'S TERM.
THIS IS THEY'RE NOT BEING ELECTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, BUT TO FILL HIS, UH, REMAINING PORTION OF HIS TERM.
WE READY TO MOVE ON? LET'S DO THAT NEXT SPEAKER.
SPEAKING ON ITEMS 22 OR 38, SHARON BLY IS MS. BLYTHE WITH US.
GOOD MORNING, ADAM GREENFIELD IS ON DECK SPEAKING ON ITEM 24.
OH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HISTORIC CEMETERY HERE WHO, WHICH SO FALLS UNDER A DIFFERENT CATEGORY OF CARE AND CONCERN.
UM, HOPE I CAN GET THIS POWERPOINT TO WORK, RIGHT? GO DOWN NEXT SLIDE.
UH, THE INTERMENT SERVICES CONTRACT HAS CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT WAS SIGNED IN 2013 WHERE THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PLACE AT LEAST THREE FOOT THREE, SIX FOOT TWO BY EIGHT WOOD STUD ACROSS OPEN GRAVE OPENING.
[00:55:03]
AND THEN HE MUST, YOU KNOW, USE GOOD.WHY WOULDN'T GOOD, GOOD CONDITION.
ALSO IN THE CHANGE IN ROPES SHOULD BE AROUND THOSE CONES THAT ARE ARGUING THAT SITE NEXT, NICK SASS LINE.
HERE'S A, A PICTURE OF THE CONES.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NO ROPES OR CHAINS AROUND THEM TO BE MORE CATE WHERE THEY ARE ACCORDING TO HIS CONTRACT.
THIS IS A PIECE OF PLYWOOD HE USES THE HEAD IS NOT IN MODERATE OR EVEN GOOD CONDITION IS DILAPIDATED.
THIS IS AGAINST HIS, HIS, HIS, UH, CONTRACT.
ALSO, HE SHOULD BE USED BETTER PLYWOOD.
YOU'RE NOT PICKING UP THE FLOWERS, SUBSIDE AND GRAVES HERE, UH, THAT THEY SHOULD BE FILLING IN AFTER AN INTERMENT.
NEXT SLIDE, UH, IN 2013, THE CITY PURCHASED OFFICE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER BIDDERS.
HERE'S A COMPANY THAT OFFERED TO PUT IN A BID.
THEY WERE NEVER CALLED BACK BY THE PURCHASING OFFICE.
SO THEY DID HAVE OTHER BETTER BETTERS THAT COULD DO THAT WORK IN 2013.
UH, NEXT SLIDE, UH, IMPACT INTERMENT SERVICES, NEVER EVEN BID ON THE CONTRACT IN 2013, THIS WAS ALL, UH, THEY, THEY PULLED THE BID AND THEY JUST STARTED NEGOTIATING WITH ON THE PRICES.
HERE'S A CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE THEY'RE PROPOSING, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, THE CURRENT FEE THAT THEY'RE CALLING IN ON THE PROPOSED FEE.
THERE'S HUGE INCREASES OF MOUSES THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL REALIZE THAT THAT FROM 2013 TO 2021, THERE'S, UH, A BIG INCREASES ON ALL THOSE CATEGORIES.
AND NEXT SLIDE, GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP.
AND I ONLY ASK THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONTRACTOR NEEDS TO BE, UM, MONITORED AND SUPERVISED AND NOT LET HIM DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO.
THANK YOU, SHARON, FOR COMING TO SPEAK BEFORE US TODAY, ITEMS 22 AND 38 HAVE BEEN POLLED, UH, ITEM NUMBER 24, ADAM GREENFIELD ON DECK IS CHRISTOPHER.
I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT AND I'M A SUPPORTER OF THE RETHINK 35 CAMPAIGN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 24.
UH, COUNCIL SHOULD APPROVE THIS CONTRACT SO WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CAPTAIN STITCH PROPOSAL FOR
HOWEVER, THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD IN PARALLEL STUDY.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR
TODAY'S I 35 FROM A DANGEROUS AND UNPOPULAR FACILITY TO A MORE URBAN ROADWAY APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITIES NEED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF EXPANDING
AND OF COURSE, A TECH STOCK RECENTLY ADMITTED TO COUNCIL THAT EXPANSION WON'T EVEN IMPROVE CONGESTION.
INDEED MANY AUSTINITES ARE ASKING WHY WE NEED AN INTERSTATE FACILITY THROUGH DOWNTOWN, WENT IN AT LEAST 15 OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS I 35 GOES AROUND THE CITY CENTER, NOT THROUGH IT.
DO WE REALLY NEED AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR LOCAL TRIPS LIKE BUYING GROCERIES OR TAKING KIDS TO SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY WHEN
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK AROUND I FIVE AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER ON DECK IS, UH, UH, JOHN PAULO CONWAY.
HI, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF WHAT ADAM WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I SUPPORT IT, WHAT A STORY.
SO LAST WEEKEND I DECIDED TO GO TO AN EVENT.
IT WAS ACTUALLY GREG KOSSAR'S CONGRESS LAUNCH EVENT ON EAST FOURTH STREET.
I LIVE ON WEST SIXTH STREET AND I DECIDED
[01:00:01]
TO TAKE A WALK TO THE EVENT AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY NICE WALK.I SAW DOWNTOWN BUSTLING PEOPLE GOING TO RESTAURANTS, CAFES, BARS, EVERYTHING I WANT TO SEE IN A CITY.
AND THIS COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A REASON WHY AUSTIN'S GETTING TO THAT POINT.
UM, BUT THAT ALL KIND OF ENDED WHEN I GOT TO
I GO THERE AND I'M LIKE, SHOULD I TURN AROUND? SHOULD I GET AN UBER? OR SHOULD I, I DON'T KNOW, COULD I FLY ACROSS? I DON'T KNOW.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I DID WHAT ANY OTHER PERSON WOULD DO IN AUSTIN.
I LOOKED AT MY RAFT, MY LEFT AND I RAN ACROSS AND I HOPE I DON'T GET HIT BY A CAR.
AND THEN I DID IT AGAIN ON THE OTHER FRONT OF THE ROAD, ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR DOWNTOWN AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IT REALLY, IT REALLY IS UNFORTUNATE.
THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIANS HAVE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER TO CROSS.
SO JUST LETTING ALL OF YOU KNOW, THAT I REALLY SUPPORT, UM, IF THERE IS A WAY TO REROUTE TRAFFIC AROUND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, IF THERE IS A WAY TO TURN 35 AND TO A SAFE BOULEVARD, I WOULD REALLY SUPPORT THAT AS A, AS A PERSON IN AUSTIN.
I, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A FOURTH STREET? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, AND IT HAS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR A LIGHT THERE ON BOTH SIDES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS TO GO THROUGH THERE.
BUT I JUST WANTED IT TO KNOW THAT YES, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS, OR THIS SECTION, THIS LITTLE AREA, WHEREVER THE BIKE LANE HAS HAD.
SO, UH, SO FAR THE ONLY SOLUTION THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE WE THOUGHT OF WITH PUTTING A LIGHT IN THERE, IT IS IN THE PROCESS.
UH, WHAT ABOUT CHRIS HARRIS? THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE ON 35, WHICH HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT TO THE 27TH, BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONE.
UM, HI, I'M SORRY ABOUT THE SUNGLASSES.
UH, SO NOW I'M JUST WEARING SUNGLASSES INDOORS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR POSTPONING ITEM 35.
DURING THE INTERVENING TIME I ASK THAT YOU DIRECT THE CITY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE RE-IMAGINED TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE MUNI COURT ISSUES AND DISCUSS A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO IMPROVE COURT FUNCTIONS FOR EVERYONE THAT STAFF COLLABORATE WITH THE RE-IMAGINED TASKFORCE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO COURT SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT WE ENSURE THAT ALL POLICE OFFICERS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE THE SAME TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND WE ENSURE, ESPECIALLY THAT OFFICERS WORKING IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT WITH AUSTIN'S POOREST PEOPLE, MOST GUILTY OF FAILURE TO PAY CLASS C FINES, CONDUCT THEIR WORK FROM DEESCALATION TRAINING GROUNDED IN ICAT, THE DECISION MODEL DEVELOPED BY PERF AND NOW THE STARTING POINT FOR FORCE TRAINING IN OUR POLICE ACADEMY.
I ONLY WANTED TO MAKE THOSE POINTS BECAUSE WHEN THIS CAME UP PREVIOUSLY AND YOU ALL SENT IT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, I BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF DOING SO WAS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE COMMUNITY INPUT INTO THIS PROPOSAL.
AND THAT BASICALLY WAS RUSHED THROUGH THE COMMISSION AND SENT STRAIGHT BACK TO YOU.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT AS WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BREAK AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIME WE'LL BE ON CHRISTMAS BREAK AND WE'LL BE ON THANKSGIVING BREAK.
UH, SO I HOPE THAT THIS ISN'T ANOTHER ROUND OF THAT.
AND THAT IN FACT, DURING THIS INTERVENING TIME, THERE IS ADEQUATE COLLABORATION AND ASSURANCES THAT WHEN THIS COMES BEFORE YOU AGAIN, IF IT COMES BEFORE YOU AGAIN, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED WILL BE ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT.
UM, MS. MITCHELL WITH THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ON THE DAY SAW ON WORK SESSION ABOUT, UH, ASKING THIS TO COME BACK TO US AGAIN AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
UH, LET'S GO ON THEN TO THE, TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[01:05:01]
ALSO IS SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM.WHAT ABOUT, UH, MARY ARNOLD ON ITEM 47 MAYOR? YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, UM, OUR AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION COULD PROVIDE US WITH, COULD PROVIDE A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THERESA AND MY OFFICE WITH AN UPDATE ON THAT, UH, PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON.
I THINK WE SHARED THE COST OF THAT AND I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR THE INSTALLATION AS WELL.
NOT, NOT IN THIS MEETING, BUT IF OUTSIDE THIS MEETING, IF WE COULD GET SOME UP FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR INSTALLING THAT PEDESTRIAN BEACON, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IT HAS BEEN AWHILE AS ARNOLD MAYOR ADLER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M HERE MAINLY TO JUST ASK QUESTIONS.
I'M PARDON ME, ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UH, WE WERE HERE IN SEPTEMBER AND YOU APPOINTED TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS, ONE, UH, WHO WAS CONTINUING AND A NEW BOARD MEMBER.
AND UNFORTUNATELY OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER WAS NOT ABLE TO FULFILL THE ROLE, UH, THAT WAS REQUIRED AND, UM, INFORMED US THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
SO THE SAVE HISTORIC MUNI DISTRICT, UM, LOOKED AGAIN AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT VOLUMA OVERTON, THE THIRD, UM, SUCCEED HIMSELF ON THE SAFE HISTORIC MUNI DISTRICT BOARD.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, AND I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE HIS APPOINTMENT.
THAT'S REMAINING ON CONSENT THUS FAR.
WE APPRECIATE HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE, UH, ON ITEM 52 IS A MR. ANDERSON HERE AT GREG ANDERSON.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, JACKIE BROOKS? OH, THERE'S ONE DOWN JACKIE BROOKS IS ON DECK.
WAS THIS ITEM PULLED FOR DISCUSSION OR IS IT STILL ON CONSENT? UH, ITEM NUMBER 52 IS, UH, PULLED OF COURSE DISCUSSION.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, HAD DINNER LAST NIGHT AND TALK TO A SERVER AND GREG ANDERSON HOUSING ADVOCATE, TALK TO A SERVER AND JUST ASKED HER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS HOUSING LIKE? RIGHT.
SHE WAS DOING, AND SHE BOWED HER HEAD AND SHE SAID PRAYER.
SHE SAID THAT IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR HER AND HER FRIENDS RIGHT NOW TO FIND HOUSING IN THE CITY THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THAT.
THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THESE TYPES OF CREATING THINGS.
THEY'RE MOVING TO OTHER CITIES.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.
AND SO THIS ITEM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET MORE HEIGHT.
60 FEET IS A VERY ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT NOBODY CAN GET BEHIND IS IT MAKES ZERO SENSE.
THERE'S NOT EVEN A CONSTRUCTION TYPE THAT REALLY MAKES SENSE TO END THERE.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO TALKING TO THE RETAIL DOWN THERE.
SO FOR A THOUSAND REASONS, IT MAKE SENSE TO GO TALLER.
BUT I TOOK THE TIME OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS TO REACH OUT TO 10 DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE BUILT VMU DEVELOPMENTS AROUND AUSTIN OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
AND I ASKED THEM WHAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST HINDRANCE THAT YOU'RE BUILDING MORE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, MORE UNITS, MORE BIG, A AFFORDABLE AT THEIR DIME AND EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ANSWERED COMPATIBILITY.
AND I WAS EXPECTING TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOME SIMILAR ANSWERS AND DIFFERENT ANSWERS.
ALL OF THEM SAID COMPATIBILITY TO NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO AND THREE, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER SIDE OF THINGS THAT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND WORK ON, BUT I WOULD REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT AS YOU GUYS TAKE UP THIS BIG CONVERSATION ON THE 30TH, THAT WE COULD LOOK AT COMPATIBILITY AS IT COSTS US MORE HOUSING UNITS THAN ANY OTHER RULE ON THE BOOKS.
AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OFF, TOUCH ARE OFF LIMITS, RIGHT? WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY THE TOP FIVE TO 10% OF INCOME EARNERS CAN LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THERE.
CAN WE AT LEAST OPEN UP THE CORRIDORS AND ALLOW THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF MORE UNITS ON TRANSIT RIGHT NEXT TO DOWNTOWN ON SO MANY OF THESE CORRIDORS THAT TODAY WE ARE PRESERVING PARKING LOTS AND LIQUOR STORES AND GAS STATIONS BECAUSE OF COMPATIBILITY.
JACKIE BROOKS, RICK CREW KODIAK IS ON DECK.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS JACKIE BROOKS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE WINDSOR PARK AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN.
I CURRENTLY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE WINDSOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WP AND A PRESIDENT MEMBER OF THE WP AND A REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE AND CURRENT MEMBER OF THE WINDSOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
[01:10:01]
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTENT BEHIND AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 52, TO ENHANCE THE BME PROGRAM AND THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY WHILE I AGREE WITH THIS INTENT AND THE VALUE OF THE BMU TOOL CAN OFFER.I WANT TO SHARE MY CONCERN, WHICH IS WHAT THE OUTCOME I'VE SEEN AS A RESULT OF THE CURRENT PROGRAM.
THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THIS TOOL THAT ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO BULLDOZE 90% OF A COMMUNITY SHOPPING CENTER, EVICT, THRIVING, MINORITY OWNED, AND SMALL BUSINESS TENANTS, AND REPLACED IT WITH GATED OFF SUBURBAN STYLE, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND CALL IT BMU.
PLEASE ADD A REVIEW OF THE DESIGN AND COMMERCIAL USE REQUIREMENTS UNDER BOTH THE EXISTING BMU AND ANY NEW VMU WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING DEVELOPERS FROM FINDING AND LEVERAGING LOOPHOLES TO CIRCUMVENT THE REQUIREMENTS, SUPPORTABILITY CONVERSATION, BECAUSE VMU IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND CONNECTIVITY IS KEY TO ITS SUCCESS.
THE ADDITION OF HOUSING IS WELCOME.
HOWEVER, IT CAN'T BE HOUSING AT ANY COSTS.
THE WINDSOR VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER IS PERFECTLY POSITIONED TO MOVE US TOWARD A COMPLETE COMMUNITY AS DEFINED IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN.
BUT INSTEAD WE'RE GETTING A GATED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, HOW THE WINTER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS ALONGSIDE THE CITY TO PRACTICE CITY, TO PROACTIVELY SET THIS LOCATION UP FOR SUCCESS.
BUT THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS A HUGE MISS.
WE ARE NOW AWARE THAT THE VMU TOOL IS BEING USED IN A WAY THAT STRAYS FAR FROM THE INTENT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT WINDSOR VILLAGE IS EXHIBIT A.
AND YOU CAN CHANGE THAT YOUR RESPONSE TO URGENT PLEA REGARDING THIS PROJECT IS NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE TRUST BUILT AS A COLLABORATIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS, BUT ALSO TO PAUSE, MEASURE IT AND RECALIBRATE TO GET IT RIGHT, ACKNOWLEDGING THE STAKEHOLDERS AND INTENT OF THE VISION AND TACTICALLY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOW-THROUGH AND PROCESS.
MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES TAUGHT, TAUGHT ME THAT SPACES AROUND US SHAPE US FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE.
ANYWAY, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE TOOLS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, MAYOR ADLER, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.
UM, I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING THAT JACKIE JUST DID.
UM, WE THOUGHT WE HAD THREE MINUTES, SO WE'RE GONNA KIND OF CUT THIS DOWN, BUT AGAIN, WINDSOR PARK WENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
WE DID ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS.
WE ADDED M TO THE PROVINCE PROPERTIES THAT WE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE.
UM, WE DIDN'T GET THE EMU WAS NOT AN OPTION AT THE TIME WE DID OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS, WE ADOPTED, WE DID NOT GIVE IMMU TO WINDSOR VILLAGE.
WE'D WANTED IT TO REMAIN THAT, BUT THE AMU GAVE US THE OPTION OF ALSO PUTTING SOME HOUSING ON THIS PROPERTY.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT TRANSWESTERN DEVELOPMENT, UM, BROUGHT WINDSOR VILLAGE A YEAR AGO, FIVE MONTHS AFTER SUBMITTING, UM, FASTTRACK PLANS FOR A 405 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UM, WHEN NEIGHBORS BECAME AWARE OF THE PROJECT, THE CONTACT TEAM OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BEGAN LOOKING INTO THE PROJECT SUBMISSIONS AND REVIEWS AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE ONLINE, THE FOUR ARCHITECTS IN THIS GROUP WERE BAFFLED.
THE TRANSWESTERN SUBMITTED A PROJECT, SO OBLIVIOUS TO VMU AND COMMERCIAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE LATER LEARNED THAT, UM, THE, UM, ORDINANCE REQUIRED PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE HAD APPARENTLY BEEN WAIVED.
SO THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, UM, THEY'RE POSSIBLY VIOLATING A PHASING REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, A NEXT PHASE OF 300 MORE APARTMENTS.
THEY ARE DEMOLISHING ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL SPACE.
THEY'RE LEAVING ONE 30, 3000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
THEY'RE ADDING A 27 LITTLE TWO SPACES THAT ADD UP TO 2,700 SQUARE FEET IN THE VMU BUILDING.
AND THEN THEY'RE BUILDING A, UH, 3,700 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
UM, THAT IS NOT A VMU, UH, SEPARATE PROPERTY.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER REVIEWING THE VME ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THE INCLUSION OF ADEQUATE ADEQUATE COMMERCIAL SPACE OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR BUSINESSES.
USE BUSINESS USES WHILE ADDING HUNDREDS OF NEW RESIDENTS WHO WILL NEED THOSE SERVICES AND JOBS, UM, IS NOT GOOD PLANNING.
THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE, BUT WHAT IF THEY TAKE YOUR VILLAGE? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, HECTOR MARTEL ANGELIC ABOUT THIS IS ON BACK, UH, MAYOR ADLER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SENIOR MANAGER.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, HEARING US TODAY.
I'M AN ARCHITECT IN UH, WINDSOR PARKS THAT ARE COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, ALSO HERE TO COMMENT ON THE VMU, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, DENSITY BONUSES, UM, BASED ON THE PUBLIC DATA FROM THE CITY'S OPEN DATA PORTAL, WINDSOR PARK RANKS, NUMBER TWO WITH 8% OF ALL VMU LAND AND DISTRICT FOUR ACCOUNTS FOR OVER A THIRD OF ALL OF THE AMBULANT IN THE CITY.
SO I URGE YOU CAREFULLY TO CONSIDER FEEDBACK FROM DISTRICT FOUR VMU ZONING AS INTENDED IS AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING ABOVE COMMERCIAL SERVICES, THE AFFORDABILITY BONUSES ARE CRITICAL TOOL AND THE OVERALL HOUSING MARKET, AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY, UH,
[01:15:01]
THERE ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF EMU NOW ALL ACROSS, UH, MUCH OF AUSTIN RESOLUTION, 54 52 WOULD CREATE MORE PATHWAYS TO MORE VMU BUILDINGS.BUT THE CURRENT VMU ORDINANCE IS FLOOD.
CURRENTLY, ACCORDING TO CITY STAFF, THERE'S NO STIPULATION TO HOW MUCH COMMERCIAL IS NEEDED TO SATISFY THE LETTER OF THE CODE.
SO WE'RE SPENDING TIME KIND OF IDENTIFYING THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABILITY THAT'S REQUIRED, BUT THERE IS NO EQUIVALENT PERCENTAGE OF COMMERCIAL REQUIRED IN THE CODE IN WINTER PARK.
OUR COMMERCIAL CENTER HAS BEEN SHUTTERED FOR MONTHS.
NOW, THE DEVELOPER'S PROPOSING TO REMOVE THOSE 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACES IN THIS FIRST PHASE AND REPLACE THAT WAS ONLY 2,700 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS A TRUE VMU DEVELOPMENT WITH GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE WHILE YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE ADDITIONAL BONUSES.
PLEASE CLARIFY THE ORDINANCE TO MORE CLEARLY ARTICULATE THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT, THE INTENT OF EMUS YOUTH CLARITY TO PROVIDE WALKABLE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS.
BUT IF WINDSOR VILLAGE IS AN EXAMPLE, IT WILL BE A GATED APARTMENT BUILDING IS BUILT AS PROPOSED.
PLEASE REVISE THIS RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE CITY STAFF, TO ALIGN THE INTERPRETATION OF EMU WITH THE INTENT OF EMU AND AMEND SECTION 4.3 0.3 STANDARDS.
SUBSECTION B MAKES OF USES TO READ THE PREDOMINANT USE ON THE GROUND FLOOR MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM THE PREDOMINANT USE ON AN UPPER FLOOR.
WINTER PARK WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE VMES ZONING WOULD CONVERT WINDSOR VILLAGE INTO A TRUE MIXED USE TOWN CENTER DEVELOPMENT.
WE WILL HAPPILY SUPPORT THE VME TWO IF WE CAN CORRECT THE COMMERCIAL COMPONENT.
UM, THESE ARE REALLY GOOD POINTS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BRINGING TO US, BUT I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD IF THERE'S AN EXISTING CASE AND WE MAKE A CHANGE TO AN ORDINANCE.
DOES THE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE AFFECT AN EXISTING CASE OR DOES IT CONTINUE UNDER THE ORDINANCES THAT WERE IN EFFECT WHEN THE CASE WAS FILED? COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER NORMALLY, UH, NORMALLY, UM, CASES DO CAN CONTINUE UNDER THE, UNDER THE REGULATIONS THAT THEY WERE UNDER WHEN THEY STARTED, BUT CAN YOU JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE CHANGES ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
SO BY THE TIME THE CASE YOU'RE DISCUSSING THE CASE, I WILL KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
COULD, COULD I SPEAK TO THAT? UM, THIS, THIS, UH, THE REQUEST THAT'S BEING MADE RELATES TO DESIGN STANDARDS, THAT'S NOT THE SCOPE OF THIS, UM, THIS FEE RESOLUTION.
IT KEEPS WITH THE EXISTING V AND IS JUST SPEAKING TO THE HEIGHT.
THERE IS ANOTHER, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE SPEAKERS ARE AWARE OF THIS, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PROPOSED, UM, UH, APPROACH TO LOOK AT V THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RIGHT NOW THAT ONE MAY BE BROADER, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT.
THIS ONE IS ONLY IS, IS NOT SPEAKING TO THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT THE FOLKS ARE ASKING ABOUT.
SO THIS ONE WOULD NOT IMPACT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IN FACT, IT WAS POSTED VERY NARROWLY AND I DON'T THINK WE COULD MAKE THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED WITHIN THE POSTING.
AND THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS ONE.
THERE'S OTHER AVENUES THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT NOW.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL AND KITCHEN, AND TO THE NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT.
AND I, AND ALSO THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHANGES THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IN THIS CASE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE AT HAND.
AND I THINK WHAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS ALLUDED TO MAY BE PART OF THE PATH THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND, AND AN ASSOCIATED ORDINANCE, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE SITE PLAN THAT'S BEEN FILED THAT MAY CREATE OPTIONS FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO PRESENT TO, UH, THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ANYTHING CAN SHIFT.
AND IF IT CAN'T THEN BE IN TIME FOR A SECOND PHASE TO, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, UM, UH, WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THE REGULATIONS.
THERE'S ONE THING MY SON SAYS, THE ANSWER IS NO AS COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND POOL LAID OUT, BUT IT COULD PROVIDE A TOOL FOR NEGOTIATION, UM, IN THE FUTURE OR, UM, WITH THE VMU ITEM, MOVING THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL COULD REVIEW.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOU THAT BRINGING THIS FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEN ALSO THE WAY THAT IT IMPACTS OTHER PLACES.
AND IT'LL JUST, UM, ADD MY VOICE OF SUPPORT TO THAT AS WELL.
I, I DON'T, I REPRESENT A SMALL SLIVER OF WINDSOR PARK AS WELL, AND, AND ALSO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES WHO REPRESENT MORE OF WINDSOR PARK, UM, IN THAT SUPPORT FOR THE, FOR THE NEIGHBORS AND THEIR REQUESTS.
SO I HOPE, I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT, UM, HOW TO LEVERAGE THIS CONVERSATION, EVEN IF IT'S JUST, UH, TO, TO PROVIDE THE NEIGHBORS WITH SOME SUPPORT IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS.
BUT ALSO I CONCUR WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID, THE POSTING LANGUAGE ON THE ITEM BEFORE US TODAY WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO,
[01:20:01]
TO, TO, TO A MANDATE IN THAT RESPECT, BUT THERE MAY BE SUBSEQUENT VEHICLES.UM, I THINK WE HAD, UH, HECTOR BARTELLE AND, UH, ANGELICA MONTEZ, OUR LAST SPEAKER ON 52 OH, HELLO.
SO MY NAME IS KYLA MANNA FACE.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ANGELICA MONTEZ.
I AM A FIRST YEAR STUDENT HERE AT UT AUSTIN, UH, AND I'M A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE UT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
AND IN THIS ORGANIZATION, WE REALLY ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHEN YOU FEEL THAT ITEM 52 IS A, IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION HAVE FOR THEIR KNEES.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO REALLY DO MORE, TO, UH, ALLOW FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING OPTIONS IN GENERAL IN AUSTIN.
UH, THE GAP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO OUR CITY, UM, SUCH AS FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND IN MIGRATION AND THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN THIS CITY, WE NEED TO BUILD FASTER IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE FOR, UM, MORE PEOPLE OR ELSE.
THE HOUSING PRICES ARE JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING UP.
UM, THROUGH HABITAT, WE'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO WORK SEVERAL JOBS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR HOUSING ON, UH, THAT WE BUILD FOR OUR CLIENTS AND ALSO OUR STUDENTS, AS, OR AS STUDENTS OURSELVES, WE HAVE A TROUBLE, OR WE HAVE TROUBLE FINDING HOUSING.
WE FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO HELP, UH, ESTABLISH MORE UNITS IN THE CITY.
IF YOU LIKE AT THIS POINT, THE ITEM CAN DO MORE AND, UH, ALLOWING FOR MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY AND, UH, ZONES WHERE VMU HOUSING WOULD ACTUALLY HELP BENEFIT THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON.
WE FEEL THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A BURDEN IN THE LONG RUN, IF YOU AREN'T ABLE TO ADDRESS IT NOW.
SO THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GMV ZONES ACROSS OUR CITY AND HELP ADVOCATE FOR MORE, UH, A FUTURE AND WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THESE, ALREADY IMPLEMENT THE HOUSING THAT'S ALREADY, UH, IN THE SAFE AND, UH, WALKABLE ENVIRONMENTS AND TRANSIT FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS TO OUR, UH, NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
YOU REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING DOWN.
UH, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS COMING DOWN, BUT OBVIOUSLY HOUSING IS A CRITICAL ISSUE.
THERE'S A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON NOVEMBER 30TH.
THAT HAS BIG FOCUS JUST ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
I HEARD YOU TO, TO, TO WATCH THAT AND GET INVOLVED IN THOSE IDEAS AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MAYOR.
THAT'S BEEN A POOL AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN, IN THESE REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.
BECAUSE AS THESE STUDENTS RIGHTLY POINT OUT, THEY'RE THERE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF UNIVERSITY PROVIDED HOUSING.
NUMBER 63, UH, MAX WHIPPLE, BY THE WAY, I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT OUR RULES.
DON'T ALLOW US TO SUBSTITUTE A SPEAKER FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP.
SO NEXT TIME, MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO'S SPEAKING IS THE PERSON WHO'S SIGNED UP.
I THINK WE HAD SIGNED UP HERE IN PERSON.
IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE IN PERSON? THINK THEY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE BOARDINGS.
UM, I AM A MEMBER OF ICE WATER.
THEY, AUSTIN WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
AND I AM ACTUALLY HERE TO SAY THAT ITEM 35 SHOULD NOT HAVE JUST BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE AGENDA.
IT SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN COME UP AT ALL.
UM, WHAT'D YOU GUYS PICK UP, THIS IS BEING POSTPONED TO JANUARY 27.
SO YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT, WHETHER YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED TO THE 27TH OR NOT, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.
UM, I, IT SHOULD BEEN JUST NOT DISCUSSED RE I WILL INVITE THE COUNCIL AND THE REST OF, UH, THE AUSTIN AT-LARGE COMMUNITY TO REVISIT, UH, THE
[01:25:01]
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, WHICH SAID NO MORE POOL, NO INCREASED WIND-UP POLISI, UH, THAT MEN IN PHYSICAL FORM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE COURTS.UH, SO I WOULD, AGAIN AT LARGE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE MAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE, UM, UPLIFT, UH, THE TRUE DESIRES OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY PRIORITIZE SAFETY, NOT INCREASING POLICING IN ANY FORM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE COURTS.
ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT WE HAVEN'T CALLED OUR MURDER, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK YOU TO CALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE CALLED IN.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS AMANDA WILLIAMS. GREAT, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS.
THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON ITEM TWO TODAY.
MY NAME IS AMANDA
AND MIGHT OF THE PROPOSED SPECIAL ELECTION FOR G4.
I'M CALLING THIS MORNING TO UPLIFT COUNCIL MEMBER.
GREG QATAR'S WORK ON ABORTION ACCESS IN AUSTIN, AND TO TAKE THE SHORT TIME TO RECOGNIZE HOW INCREDIBLE IT HAS BEEN TO HAVE HAD HIM AS A CHAMPION ON THIS ISSUE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
I KNOW THAT I DON'T NEED TO TELL THIS COUNCIL HOW DEVASTATING THE ATTACKS ON ABORTION ACCESS IN TEXAS HAS BEEN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IN RECENT YEARS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE LANDSCAPE HAS ONLY WORSENED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF SBA.
TEXAS'S SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS NOW THE MOST EXTREME ABORTION RESTRICTION IN THE NATION TO PUT IT PLAINLY OUR RIGHTS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE.
AND WE KNOW WE HAVE A LONG FIGHT AHEAD OF US, AND THIS IS A FIGHT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KASAR HAS NEVER BACKED DOWN FROM, FROM HIS EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR LOCAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINICS, TO CO-SPONSORING THE BUDGET INITIATIVES THAT MADE AUSTIN THE FIRST EVER US CITY TO FUND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION CARE.
THESE GROUNDBREAKING VICTORIES CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER CITIES IN THE SOUTH AND BEYOND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SHOW UP FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WIDESPREAD ATTACK ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION.
THIS WORK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT IS TODAY IN THE WAKE OF FDA.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HA HAVE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR FIGHT FOR US AND THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE IN AUSTIN.
I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA TO MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE.
AND WE WILL NOT FORGET THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE HERE FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND BEYOND AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF SARGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY.
HI, MY NAME IS KELSEY HUGHES AND I'M A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 24.
I'M HAPPY THAT THIS ALTERNATIVE STUDY IS BEING PROPOSED, AND I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER A PARALLEL STUDY TO ROUTE
THIRTY-FIVE PROVOKES A LOT OF EMOTIONS OUT OF ME.
ALTHOUGH I, 35 IS GENERALLY THE FASTEST ROUTE FOR ME TO MAKE INNER CITY TRIPS, INCLUDING DRIVING TO MY PLACE OF WORK ON EAST SIXTH.
I AVOID IT DUE TO THE ENORMOUS FLYOVERS.
THE HIGH SPEEDS, THE LARGE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS, WHICH WOULD CRUSH MY HONDA CIVIC IF I WAS IN, INTO CRASH ON EMERGING EXITING AND SHORT RANGES.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A CRASH ON I 35 AND SEVERELY INJURED THEIR BACK, EVEN IF I'M IN AN UBER OR LYFT, I WILL ASK THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT TAKE
MY FEELINGS ARE SHARED BY MY COWORKERS WHO DON'T ALLOW THEIR TEENAGE CHILDREN TO DRIVE ON
I WANT AUSTIN TO BE A CITY WHERE I FEEL SAFE DRIVING.
I DON'T WANT ME OR MY LOVED ONES TO HAVE TO DRIVE ON A MASSIVE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO GO TO WORK SCHOOL DOCTOR'S VISITS, GROCERIES, ET CETERA.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT A CAPTAIN STITCH SOLUTION SOLVES THE SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH.
WE KNOW THAT BUILDING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN WITH MISTAKE MOTIVATED BY RACIAL SEGREGATION.
WE WOULDN'T PUT IT THERE TODAY.
IF WE WERE STARTING OVER, I URGE YOU TO IMAGINE A BETTER OPTION FOR ME AND OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND STUDY REROUTING
WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT AS IT COULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SEAN HANEY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEMS 24.
I LIVE RIGHT BESIDE I 35, AND I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CAPITOL
[01:30:01]
EXPRESS PROJECT VERY CLOSELY.AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE FEASIBILITY STUDIES FINALLY TAKING SHAPE.
HOWEVER, BEFORE THIS PROCESS GOES ANY FURTHER, I'D REALLY LIKE IT.
IF WE COULD EXPAND THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY TO STUDY THE NECESSITY OF HAVING AN INTERSTATE CUT RIGHT THROUGH THE CITY CENTER, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL OF REDOES EXISTING EX-URBAN HIGHWAYS, SUCH AS 180 3, 360 OR MOST PREFERABLY ONE 30 DESIGNATING ONE OF THOSE EXISTING HIGHWAYS AS
THIS WOULD ROUTE THE MAIN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CORE WHILE LET THE EXISTING
THE CAPITAL EXPRESS PROPOSAL THAT I'VE SEEN ON THE OTHER HAND SEEMS TO BE MORE OF AN UNLIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY.
THERE'S A WHOLE MESS OF EXIT MANAGED LANE MERGES, FLY OVERS AND THE SPAGHETTI JUNCTION OF RAMPS.
THIS IS A MASSIVE ONCE IN A LIFETIME PROJECT FOR AUSTIN.
AND I ASKED THAT ANY DISCUSSION OF REDESIGNING THIS ROADWAY SHOULDN'T GO FORWARD, UNLESS IT DESIGNATION SWAP IS STUDIED AND CONSIDERED.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE PLAYING TONING ITEM 35, WHICH IS GREAT.
MY NAME TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH DISTRICT FIVE FOR BLACK LIVES, UM, AND A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND Y'ALL LIKE, I THINK AN EARLIER SPEAKER IN PERSON SAID THAT REFLECT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE NEXT HEARING ABOUT THIS, UM, THAT THE PROPOSAL FOR A MARSHALL PROGRAMS DOES NOT REPRESENT REMINDING THEM PUBLICLY.
AND IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE RE-IMAGINING FORCE DID WHEN THEY RE-IMAGINED THE CITY BUDGET THAT WOULD DIVEST FROM POLICING AND THE CARCERAL SYSTEM, WHICH, WHICH HAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION SERVED AS A MEANS OF INSTITUTIONALIZING AND REINFORCING WHITE SUPREMACY VIOLENCE IS A CYCLE SERVICE AND CARE OR CYCLE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SERVED THE CITY RESIDENTS IN HONORING YOUR REQUESTS, INVESTING HOURS AND DAYS TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.
SO IF WE IGNORE THEIR REQUESTS, WE'RE CHOOSING VIOLENCE, UM, PLEASE TAKE IN CONSIDERATION AGAIN, ALL THAT THEY RECOMMENDED LET'S STEP AWAY FROM SERVICES.
UM, AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE GIVING TICKETS AND CRIMINALIZING POVERTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE, UM, ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.
THANK YOU, CRYSTAL ERICKSON COLLINS.
HI, THIS IS CHRIS DEL ERICKSON COLLINS.
I, UM, WAS INTENDING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 35 AND NOW THAT IT'S BEEN POSTPONED, I'D LIKE TO JUST UPLIFT THE COMMENTS THAT MS. MITCHELL MADE THAT THIS NOT KIND OF GET, UH, DELAYED OR, UM, AVOIDED THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOUNDINGLY.
UH, NEGATED IS IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA ROBERTSON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I'M WITH UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN, AND I'M ALSO, UM, HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT ITEM 35 IS BEING POSTPONED.
THAT IS CONFUSING TO ME AS I THINK THE POSTPONEMENT SUGGEST SOME
[01:35:01]
CONFUSION, UM, ON THE, ON THE PARTS OF, UM, OF RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING, UM, REJECTION OF THE IDEA THAT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ARE NEEDED IN THE, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.UM, AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
UM, THEM HAVING BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS, WHICH IS SOMETHING, UH, WE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED.
SO, UM, ONE REALLY OTHER, I HOPE THAT THIS, UH, THIS IS VOTED DOWN AND, UM, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 89 AND 90 REGARDING THE BROWNIE GRADY REDISTRICTING OR STARTED REZONING.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON THAT, THAT, UM, I WANT TO BE A PROPONENT OF, UH, OF MORE HOUSING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, THINGS TO BE HOUSING, TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR, TO PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOCATE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR 10, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE TO OWN THEIR HOMES AS OPPOSED TO BE RENTERS.
UM, BUT THE, I I'M WORRIED THAT THE BURDEN OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DENSITY IS TOO HIGH IN DISTRICT FOUR AND SPECIFICALLY THE AREA, UM, NOTED, WHICH IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN, UM, OVERLOOKED THE BROWN GRADY AREAS AND OVERLOOKED HISTORICALLY.
AND IT SEEMS VERY DISINGENUOUS THAT THESE KINDS OF, UM, HELPFUL INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PROMISED THE ONE WITH THE, UM, WITH THE REZONING AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, UM, UH, COME, YOU KNOW, COME PART AND PARCEL WITH, UH, WITH, WITH COMMERCIAL SPACE AND WITH, UM, WITH DENSITY.
AND REMEMBER THAT, UH, WE CALL THE ZONING SPEAKERS THIS AFTERNOON, UM, FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK ON ZONING CASES, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP, WE CAN DO THAT AT TWO O'CLOCK NEXT SPEAKER ON THIS MORNING'S ITEMS, EMILIA GASES.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SIX AND THE POLICY ANALYST FOR THE CHECKS TO START A FENCE PROJECT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR FUNDING.
THE CREATION OF A CITY MARSHALS PROGRAM.
THERE ARE JUST STILL SO MANY, UH, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NEED AND FUNCTION OF THE CITY CITY'S MARSHALL'S PROGRAM.
SO I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT WE SINCERELY SPEND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HAVING REAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND EXPLORE WHAT TRULY MAKES OUR CITY AND COURT SAFER FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STOP.
IT IS ALSO CRITICAL THAT JUST MOVING FORWARD, ANY FALLING ITEMS POISED AS REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY ARE TO BE VETTED BY THE RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
LASTLY, NOW THAT THE ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THAT THE FUNDS EARMARKED FOR ITEM 35 CAN IMMEDIATELY BE SPENT ON ACTUAL REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY BEFORE THEY EVER HAVE TO ENTER A COURT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE POST-MOMENT AND YOUR TIME DAVID DAVID KING.
MY NAME IS DAVID KING AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 52 VERTICAL MIXED USE.
THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN FOR SPONSORING AND COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL ALTER AND HOBO FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS.
ANNUAL MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE SET AT OR BELOW 50% FOR RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP TO FACILITATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING, AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR IN AUSTIN.
A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDY SHOWS THAT THE ANNUAL MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FOR BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES IN AUSTIN IS ROUGHLY HALF OF THAT, BUT WHITE FAMILIES IN AUSTIN.
ANOTHER RECENT STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SHOWS THAT THE MARKET IS ADEQUATELY SERVING FAMILIES EARNING BETWEEN 80 AND 120% OF THE AREA, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, A MINIMUM OF 15% OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR RENTAL FOR 40 YEARS, OR A MINIMUM OF 15% OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR OWNERSHIP FOR 99 YEARS SHOULD BE REQUIRED.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCOME RESTRICTION REQUIREMENTS SHOULD APPLY TO THE ENTIRE PROJECT, NOT JUST THE BONUS AREA.
INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS SHOULD BE ONSITE.
AND NOTE BEING LOOSE SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
THEN YOU WANT, AND BNB TWO ZONING SHOULD COMPLIMENT EXISTING BMU ZONING AND EXISTING BMU REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD.
ANY EXPANSION TO THE BMU OVERLAYS SHOULD FOLLOW AND COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC REZONING PROCESS THAT REQUIRES PUBLIC NOTICE TO AFFECTED RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS BY LAND USE COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCIL.
[01:40:01]
THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS SHOULD BE EQUITABLE AND TRANSPARENT AND COMPLY WITH STATE OPEN MEETINGS, LAWS, NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES, RESIDENTS, AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES SITUATED ON OR ADJACENT TO EXISTING OR PROPOSED BMU CORRIDORS SHOULD BE SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS.THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT OF 7 8 7 4 4.
AND I'M HERE IN REGARD TO ITEM 52 TO POINT OUT THAT THE CONTINUED AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE SEEM TO BE GEARED TO TOWARDS TOOTH PLACEMENT, DISPLACING LOW INCOME RESIDENCY, THAT EASTERN CRESCENT, ZIP CODES ONLY ALLOWING 10% OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE IN THE BETTER COMMITTEE, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OR ANY DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH, UH, LIMITING THE 10% OF UNITS TO 60 TO 80% MEDIUM, UM, FAMILIAL INCOME.
IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE RESIDENCY NEED OF A PORTABLE HOUSING.
MOST OF OUR CONSTITUENTS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT CITY CODES EARN BETWEEN 25 TO 40% MFI RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR THEIR HOUSING IN THE 60 TO 80% MFI AND MEETING THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
THEN WE WONDER WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES IN 2018 OR 2019? I DON'T REMEMBER.
I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THAT.
I ASK A SPEAKER, UH, THAT THE CD BROUGHT FROM ANOTHER STATE IN WHAT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS PLACEMENT.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PEOPLE MUST BE DISPLACED.
THIS NEW DEVELOP, THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, MAKE ME FEEL LIKE RESIDENTS WHO FALL BELOW THE 60%.
AND IF I ARE THOSE WHO IT'S OKAY TO DISPLACED, I URGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE INCOME BASED ON ZIP CODES, NOT BASED ON THE WHOLE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JESSICA JOHNSON.
AND COMPLEMENTORS, I'M JESSICA JOHNSON.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, AND THEN W DIRECTOR OF TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.
UH, WHILE I SUPPORT POSTPONING AGENDA, ITEM 35, I DO SHARE THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UP BY ELISIA TORRES AT THE TASKFORCE, PUT FORTH A COLLECTION OF STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS.
YET, FOR SOME REASON, WE SEE NON BEDDED SUGGESTIONS THAT DO NOT ORIGINATE WITH THE COMMUNITY BEING PUT FORTH INSTEAD OF ANY COMMUNITY INPUT.
UM, I WANT TO ECHO CATHY MITCHELL SENTIMENTS EMPHASIZING THAT WHEN THIS ITEM IS TAKEN UP AT THE VERY LEAST, THERE NEEDS TO BE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT SECURITY AT THE COURTHOUSE SIMPLY CANNOT BE HAD WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE SAFETY OF BOTH COURT STAFF AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
WE SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTING THE SAME SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES AT THE COURTHOUSE ISSUES, WHICH I'M HOPING WILL BE MORE THOROUGHLY AND THOUGHTFULLY IDENTIFIED BEFORE THIS COMES UP AGAIN.
FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITY COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY LIKE THOSE LAID OUT IN THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION, SOLICITING COMMUNITY INPUT AFTER A PROPOSAL HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLIDIFIED IS NOT ENOUGH.
RATHER IT SHOWS THAT ATTEMPTS TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY ARE NEARLY PERFORMATIVE RATHER THAN A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO GARNER BURNER, MEANINGFUL INPUT.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER IN BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT TRULY REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA GO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON EITHER 52, LIKE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I TOO HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO THOROUGHLY REVIEWED GRAPHS TWO AND THREE, THE VM, THESE TWO CONCEPTS DOWN PROMISING, BUT IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE FAIR HOUSING ACT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR VARYING MFI BASED ON COMMUNITIES WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED OR PLANNED DEEPENING RENTAL
[01:45:01]
UNIT AFFORDABILITY AND DRAFT THREE IS NICE TO SEE, ALTHOUGH THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, PEOPLE QUALIFYING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE NOT ALWAYS THOSE TRULY IN NEED AND RETAIL AND NOT NECESSARILY COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY RETAIL THINKING BOUTIQUE VERSUS MOM AND POP WITH REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC PROCESS.SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHEN SEEKING INPUT AND ARE CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS, THEY NEED TO BE PLAYING SPEAK VERSUS TECHNICAL JARGON AS WELL AS BEING LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE AND DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE.
AS MAYOR PRO TEM POINT OUT AT THE NOVEMBER FOUR COUNCIL MEETING, THE AVERAGE PERSON IS HAVING TO LEARN WHILE NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM.
WE URGE YOU TO ENSURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETS THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS ITEM, UH, FOR SPARKING SOME CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BETTER VALUE CAPTURE AND AFFORDABILITY AND GETTING SOME BENEFIT IN RETURN FOR THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INCREASED REVENUE FOR DEVELOPERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS THAT IS PROVIDED WHEN THIS COUNCIL FOR AN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL WITH EACH ZONING CHANGE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMPLIMENT KITCHENS OFFICE FOR PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL ANSWERS TO GABA QUESTIONS.
ON THIS MATTER, IT'S BECOME PRACTICE IN THE BUSINESS MODEL OF MANY OF OUR DEVELOPERS IN TOWN TO SPOT ZONE.
THEY BUY AT SF PRICES AND GO FOR ZONING CHANGES THAT CAN QUADRUPLE OR QUINTUPLE THE VALUE OF THEIR LAND AND THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE THAT CAN BE GENERATED.
WE GRANT ADDITIONAL LAND, BASICALLY, UM, DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL FOR PEOPLE, UM, FOR THE PRICE OF SOME ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLE.
AND WE OFTEN GET VERY LITTLE OR NOTHING IN RETURN.
THEREFORE, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, POTENTIALLY A GREAT IDEA TO ADD THIS BMU TO DESIGNATION.
AND I AM CONCERNED PRIMARILY ABOUT TWO ELEMENTS.
ONE IS THE LANGUAGE IN A DRAFT RIP SOLUTION THAT I'VE SEEN, UM, THING THAT TRACKS WITH EXISTING VISA AND DESIGNATION SHE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO BMI TO PROBABLY TO, UH, DENSITY BONUS OPTION, UH, ADMINISTRATIVELY AT THE REQUIRED, UH, PERCENTAGE OUTLINED.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M READING THIS RIGHT, BUT DOES THIS PROPOSE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS BY WHICH A PROPERTY OWNER CAN OBTAIN THE ZONING CHANGE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND RELATED PETITION? RIGHT? BECAUSE THE DRAFT RESOLUTION DOES CALL FOR A PUBLIC PROCESS INVOLVING PLANNING, COMMISSION AND COUNCIL.
BUT IF THIS IS, UH, ADMINISTRATIVELY, UM, ACCESSIBLE TO THAT TRACT WITH THE V DESIGNATION, NOW I'M NOT, UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT PLAYS WITH THE NOTIFICATION OF PROTEST RIGHTS.
MY OTHER CONCERN IS THAT BMU TOO, JUST LIKE ANY DENSITY BONUS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL HARM TO SOME COMMUNITIES.
EXACTLY WHAT MS.
MOST SINGLE FAMILY, HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT IN THE TOP FIVE TO 10% INCOME BRACKET.
UM, THEREFORE I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, MAY I ASK MS. YANNIS COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MS. DEANNA'S, WOULD YOU MIND FINISHING MS. SIANNA'S UP WHERE YOU DO? WOULD YOU PLEASE FINISH YOUR STATEMENT? SURE.
I JUST A MOMENT, JUST A COUPLE SECONDS MORE, UM, THE BUYERS AND INVESTORS WAITING WITH CASH ON HAND TO COME INTO AUSTIN, BUT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING ON ZILLOW OR WHEN WE'RE GETTING TEXTS FROM RANDOM REAL ESTATE INVESTORS, THAT'S, WHO'S IN THE TOP 10, FIVE TO 10 INCOME BRACKET, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON YOUR ACTUAL CONSTITUENTS FAMILIES, SERVICE INDUSTRY, EDUCATORS, AND CARETAKERS.
MOST OF US ARE JUST HANGING ON AND I PROMISE YOU THE HOMEOWNERS AND HOME RENTERS, REMEMBER THAT'S 20 TO 30% OF THOSE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
AND MOST OF GAVIN'S NEIGHBORHOODS ARE RENTER OCCUPIED.
NONE OF THOSE FOLKS ARE IN THE TOP 10%.
SO WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT VIOLATING FAIR HOUSING RULES, UH, WITH RESPECT TO LIMITING MFI TO A ZIP CODE SPECIFIC AREA, I'M URGING YOU TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL HARM THAT COULD BE CREATED IF THIS IS NOT STRATEGICALLY APPLIED ONLY IN VERY HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS WITH HIGHER LAND VALUES, MEANING THE WAY YOU APPLY THIS NEW DESIGNATION IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WOULD YOU MIND, UM, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU HAD SEVERAL REAL SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, WE'LL REACH OUT OR IF YOU DON'T MIND KIND OF SENDING THOSE ON THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU, MIRA COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY OR HAVE A TECHNICAL REQUEST IN BEFORE YOU START MY TIME.
[01:50:01]
NINE, DIDN'T HAVE ANY BACKUP MATERIAL WHEN I SIGNED UP.SO CAN YOU ASK THE CLERK TO CHANGE MY POSITION TO NEUTRAL? I HAD IT AGAINST, BUT I WAS ONLY AGAINST IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO READ.
THE CLERK IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WILL BE CHANGED.
UH, MY COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT WAS CULTURAL ARTS GRANTS, $5.3 MILLION FOR ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM SEVEN, WE KNOW POSTPONE THAT'S THE DIVERSITY AND ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE, UH, ITEM.
UH, I SPECIFICALLY HAVE A REQUEST.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE STAFF TO ACTUALLY INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE FROM TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, AS IT RELATES TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
AND SPECIFICALLY IT SAYS ON FIVE, 5.00 5 5, 2 0.03 IN THE DEFINITIONS THAT THE PARTS SECTION OR PORTION OF AN ORGANIZATION CORPORATION COMMISSION COMMITTEE, INSTITUTION, OR AGENCY THAT BEEN, OR THAT IS SUPPORTED IN WHOLE OR IN PARTS BY PUBLIC FUNDS ACTUALLY IS A GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
UH, I BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE, UH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING ISSUE WITH THE GREATER AUSTIN BLACK CHAMBER.
UH, SINCE 2016, I REMEMBER PUTTING IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO ASK ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND TAM HAWKINS DIDN'T REPLY WITHIN THE 30 DAYS.
AND SO I JUST WANT ALL OF THE CHAMBERS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THEY TAKE PUBLIC FUNDS, THAT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO, UM, OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER THAT KOHL'S TODAY, AS IT RELATES TO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THE CHAMBERS TO WEIGH IN.
AND WHEN THEY COME BACK TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE, UH, SOME OF THE OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, ONE IS THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DIVERSITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
UM, WELL, THAT'S, THERE'S ACTUALLY, UM, SO I'M LOOKING AT, UM, ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES CLOSES TODAY, AND THEY CAN SUBMIT FORMAL COMMENTS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE DATA METRICS AND ANALYTIC METHODS FOR ASSESSING EAT EQUITY IMPACTS ON THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.
I BRING THAT ONE TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT'S WHO JACKSON IS SLATED TO BE CHAIR.
I HAVE OPPOSITION TO THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH PROJECT CONNECT, UM, BUT OTHERS MAY HAVE OTHER COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.
AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION OUR
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK SPECIFICALLY WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THOSE CAPS AND STITCHES.
UM, IT'S ESTIMATED, UH, $260 MILLION FOR 11 ACRES OF CALVES THROUGH THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE.
IF SHE COULD DAISY LUDWIG, HELLO.
I LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 35 AND JOINED THE CHORUS OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR REASONS, BUT MORE REFLECTION, UM, FOR STAYING COMMITTED TO THE RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY MISSION.
UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INVOLVING AND LISTENING TO YOUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS OR THE COMMUNITY FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS IN THERE.
[Consent Agenda]
COLLEAGUES THAT GETS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, COUNSELOR, WHAT IS THE NUMBER TO FILL IN ON A BLANK ON ITEM NUMBER 34? WE ARE THAT $75,000.
SO THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD REFLECT THAT $75,000.
UM, ALSO COLLEAGUES, UH, THERE'S A VERSION THREE IN BACKUP ON ITEM 51, WHICH IS SETTING THE SALARY FOR THE INTERIM CLERK AT A 12% INCREASE.
AND THAT'S THE VERSION THAT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 54 AND ITEM NUMBER 91, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OR ITEMS 9 22 38 AND 52, UH, ANY, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT'S WHERE A POOL MAKES A MOTION COUNCILOR OVER ALICE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION OR POINTS TO BE MADE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA
THAT'S WHERE KELLY, I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME BRIEF
[01:55:01]
COMMENTS ON ITEM 51 AND SAY THAT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF APPOINTING MYDNA RIOS.AS THE INTERIM CITY CLERK MADE NOW HAS SPENT OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN NINE OF WHICH HAS BEEN SPENT AS THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK NEURONET OVERSEES THE OPERATIONS OF THE MOST VITAL COMPONENTS OF OUR CITY'S DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES, INCLUDING 70 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS MADE ALL OF THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR COUNCIL TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO I JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO MYRNA AND JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AS I, YOU ARE, WILL BE THE FIRST, UH, LATINA CITY CLERK OR ONE OF TEXAS LARGEST CITY.
SO JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS.
I WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG THAT GRATITUDE THAT THEN OUR COUNCIL MEMBER FRONT HAS EXPRESSED.
WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
UM, ON ITEM 91, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S TOUGH TO RUN TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING.
I'VE REVIEWED THE CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ITEM.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME WHO MAY BE WATCHING THAT DON'T KNOW TAXPAYER FUNDED, LOBBYING, DIVERTS FUNDING FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL NEEDS AND RESULTS IN MONEY BEING USED TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST TAXPAYERS INTERESTS WITH THE USE OF THEIR OWN TAX DOLLARS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PAYING LOBBYISTS SHOULD BE PART OF THE LOCAL TAXPAYER'S BURDEN.
PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
I'LL BE VOTING NO ON ITEMS NUMBER 40 42 AND 91.
YEAH, THE COMMENTS, A COUPLE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA, I THINK ARE WORTH NOTING.
I THINK THAT THE, UM, UH, I REMEMBER 24, THE
UH, IN OUR CITY, WE BROUGHT A COMMUNITY LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO GETTING THAT, UH, CAPTAIN, UH, HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT SPACE AND WE CONTINUE TO URGE, UH, TEXTILE TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE, UH, PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR, UH,
UH, THE, WE CONTINUE ON TODAY'S AGENDA WITH, UH, BACK VACCINATION OUTREACH, UH, WITH ITEM NUMBER 43, UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, UH, IN OUR CITY WHILE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE LOW, THE, THE, THE TRANSMISSION NUMBERS OF THE VIRUS, UH, UH, WENT UP YESTERDAY RELATIVE TO THE DAY BEFORE AND HAS GOTTEN US INTO AN AREA THAT THE CDC CONSIDERS OUR TRANSMISSION TO BE, UH, SUBSTANTIAL.
UH, WE'VE GONE FROM A MODERATE PLACE OVER THE LAST A WEEK OR SO TO SUBSTANTIAL.
SO, UH, WE CAN'T REST ON THE, UH, KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE LOW.
THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLY INDICATORS LOOKING AT, UH, TRANSMISSION LEVELS.
UH, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR GREATEST SUSCEPTIBILITY WITH TRANSMISSION LEVELS ARE VACCINATION LEVELS.
UH, SO AGAIN, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, WE URGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT CHILDREN OVER FIVE NOW'S THE TIME TO GO AHEAD AND GET VACCINATED.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT IT APPEARS AS IF, CERTAINLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE OLDER, ARE SUSCEPTIBLE THAT THE VACCINATIONS, A WANE IN THEIR, UH, UH, ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE.
SO IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER, HAVE NOT GOTTEN YOUR BOOSTER, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR BOOSTER.
UM, AND, AND I, AND I ALSO POINT OUT THAT, THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GOTTEN VACCINATED, WHICH PROBABLY IS GOING TO PROTECT YOU FROM ENDING UP IN A SERIOUS CONDITION OR IN THE HOSPITAL OR DYING A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS INVOLVING PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN VACCINATED BECAUSE YOU VACCINATED, YOU CAN STILL GET A VIRUS AND YOU CAN STILL PASS IT ON.
IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT, UH, 25% OF THE INFECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING PASSED ON BY PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND PROTECTED THEMSELVES.
BUT, UH, UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT THEN FINDS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACTIVATED AND THEN CREATES, UM, SERIOUS ISSUES.
SO, UH, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL.
WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE, UH, UH, PANDEMIC, UH, YET GOOD, UH, HAVING AN AGENDA ITEMS 44 AND 45, WHICH ARE, UH, FUNDING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UH KERATITIS THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP FAMILY ELDER CARE.
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO A RAPID REHOUSING, UH, EFFORTS, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR CITY, WHICH I THINK ARE REAL IMPORTANT.
AND OUR NUMBER 91, UH, I UNDERSTAND, UH, UH, CASTLEBAR
[02:00:01]
KELLY.UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, AND, AND HAVING BEEN UP AT THE LEGISLATURE, UM, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THE PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY GET TOGETHER, WHICH IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS, IT'S THE PEOPLE, UH, THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HEARD.
AND IT'S A REAL IMPORTANT IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE EQUAL FOOTING WITH CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES, ALL OF WHOM ARE ALLOWED TO HIRE LOBBYISTS TO PRESENT THINGS THAT MIGHT BE CONTRARY TO THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.
UH, AND, AND WHILE WE, WE HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAS ALSO HAS THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS, UH, AT, AT HEART, UH, WOULD ACT IN, IN WAYS SOMETIMES, UH, THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO, TO HEAR OUR PERSPECTIVE, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR PEOPLE'S, UH, VIEWS ON THINGS.
AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO, TO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE ASSISTANCE IN DOING THAT, WE CAN'T COVER, UH, THAT, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, CAN NOT BE THAT VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE AND DURATION OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, AND, AND WE'RE CLOSE BECAUSE WE'RE IN TOWN.
UH, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES AND COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
AND IF THEY, IF THEY, IF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE SAME ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THAT WAY, THEY'RE AT A REAL DISADVANTAGE.
SO ON THIS ISSUE, CATHERINE, AND CAN WE AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS ONE? WE, UH, AND I'M, AND I'M HAPPY THAT OUR CITY, UH, UH, THAT OUR, THAT OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE NOW IT'S OVER TOVO.
I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS AS WELL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE A RAPID FIRE QUESTION ON NUMBER 30.
UM, SO IF WE COULD JUST PULL IT FROM CONSENT AND IF I COULD TAKE IT UP RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES, IT REALLY SHOULD JUST BE ABOUT 60 SECONDS.
IS THAT BEEN WITHDRAWN REPLACED BY ITEM NUMBER 96? YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE PULLED IT'LL COME UP LATER.
NUMBER 30 IS THE ORDINANCE TO ANNEX.
IT'S THE ONE THAT RELATES TO THAT HAS AN S UM, A COMMENT WITHIN THE BACKUP THAT TALKS ABOUT FEE WAIVERS.
YEAH, I THINK IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON CONSENT, AND THAT'S WHY IT GOT COLD, BUT IT'S ITEMS NUMBER 71 AND 96, 71 IS THE ZONING CASE.
AND THEN 96 IS THE, UH, ASSOCIATED ACTION.
THEN I WILL ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, UM, AT THE, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
AND THEN I DID WANT TO JUST ALSO ADD, UH, MY, THANKS TO THE STAFF, TO OUR, ESPECIALLY TO OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER AND TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CARITAS AND FAMILY ELDER CARE FOR THE ITEMS REFLECTED IN 44 AND 45.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS INVESTED IN RAPID REHOUSING IN THE PAST, AND CERTAINLY HAS HAD, HAS SEEN SUCCESS, UM, WITH THOSE PROGRAMS, WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO ARE ABLE TO BE HOUSED AND TO BE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES THAT HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT HOUSING IN THE PAST.
BUT WITH, WITH OUR HISTORIC INVESTMENT, FROM OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS, WE'RE ABLE TO DO MORE.
AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THOSE PARTNERS, BUT ALSO TO OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, FOR MAKING SURE THAT THESE FUNDS CAN BE INVESTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE KNOW SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN, ARE IN NEED TODAY.
AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THOSE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS ITEM 18 FIRST, WHICH IS A WILDFIRE RELATED ITEM.
UM, SO I WANT TO, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'S GOING TO AID IN MITIGATING THE THREATS AND EFFECTS OF POTENTIAL WILDFIRE EVENTS AROUND THE CITY.
UM, THESE ARE NEW CONTRACTS WITH NEW FUNDING FROM BOSTON WATER AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT ARE GOING TO PROVIDE VEGETATION TREATMENT SERVICES, CREATE SHADED FUEL BREAKS ON VARIOUS AUSTIN WATER, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DIVISION PROPERTIES.
SO PCP WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO URBAN IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, I SHADED FUEL BREAK FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW IS AN AREA WHERE A CLOSED WOODLAND CANOPY IS RETAINED OR PROMOTED WHILE LOWER GROWING VEGETATION AND DEAD MATERIAL ARE SELECTIVELY REMOVED TO AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF VEGETATION THAT COULD BURN DURING A WILDFIRE.
A WELL-PREPARED SHADED FUEL BREAK WILL DISCOURAGE GRASS GROWTH, DISCOURAGE WILDFIRE, TRANSITION TO THE CANOPY OF THE WOODLAND AND PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.
THIS WORK WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING REDUCED WILDFIRE RISK TO COMMUNITIES
[02:05:01]
AND RESIDENTS AS WELL.ALSO PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE WILDFIRE MITIGATION THROUGH ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT OWN OR MANAGE PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, EACH IMPROVEMENT MAKES US SAFER AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, ITEM 53.
I'M DELIGHTED TO SPONSOR THIS ITEM, WHICH AUTHORIZES FEW WAIVERS FOR THE AUSTIN DISASTER RELIEF NETWORK TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE TO A NEW AND IMPROVED LOCATION.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE AUSTIN DISASTER RELIEF NETWORK PROVIDED VITAL SUPPORT TO AUSTINITES DURING WINTER STORM URI AND UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED LIVES.
THEIR CRUCIAL SUPPORT WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CITY CAN PARTNER WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND FAITH COMMUNITY TO STEP INTO THE GAP DURING TIMES OF NEED.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO WILL NO DOUBT SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO N'S CONTINUED WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, THINK THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SO KIND TO HAVE TESTIFIED ON ITEM TWO, UM, I'LL SAVE LONGER COMMENTS OR REFLECTIONS FOR MY, UH, LAST COUNCIL MEETING, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT WAS, UH, BROUGHT UP, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THANK MY COLLEAGUES PRESENT AND PAST, AND OF COURSE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THIS, UH, ON THIS JOURNEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ON TOGETHER, UH, AND SOMETHING THAT I WAS JUST REFLECTING ON LAST NIGHT AS THIS ITEM CAME UP, UM, IS JUST WHAT I HEARD FROM SO MANY DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS.
THE FIRST TIME THAT I RAN FOR OFFICE, WHICH IS JUST THIS FEELING THAT NOTHING EVER CHANGES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO THINGS CHANGING, UM, IS PEOPLE FEELING POWERLESS OR LIKE THINGS WILL NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN PROOFED BECAUSE OF OUR WORK TOGETHER AS A DIOCESE AND AS A COMMUNITY THAT THINGS CAN AND DO CHANGE.
AND WHEN I LOOK BACK TO SEVEN YEARS AGO, WHEN WE HAD CITY EMPLOYEES MAKING AS LITTLE AS 7 25 WITHOUT HEALTHCARE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT, OR AS THE FOLKS FROM SURVIVOR JUSTICE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTED SURVIVORS TOLD US ABOUT THIS DECADES, LONG RAPE KIT BACKLOG, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAR THE INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WERE ALWAYS SO IMPORTANT, BUT SO SCARCE.
AND NOW WE'VE PUT OVER $500 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING, AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PRIORITY ON THAT, THAT HAS ALL CHANGED AND IT HAD, AND I'VE JUST BEEN SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN ONE PART OF THAT, BUT TO BE ONE PART OF ALONGSIDE YOU ALL AND ALONGSIDE A COMMUNITY THAT'S DEMANDING MORE.
AND THAT IS THE KIND OF MOMENTUM THAT I THINK WILL BE SO IMPORTANT FOR, UM, WHOEVER FILLS THIS SEAT TO CARRY FORWARD, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ON ISSUES OF SURVIVOR JUSTICE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
AND, UH, LAWSUITS SETTLE ON ISSUES OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S NEVER BEEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO AFFORD THE CITY.
UM, BUT I TRUST ON SO MUCH THAT THINGS CAN CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND THAT, THAT MISCONCEPTION THAT NOTHING EVER CHANGES WE CAN DISPROVE THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I JUST HAVE BEEN SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE A PART OF THIS I'M STICKING AROUND FOR A WHILE LONGER.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN CENTRAL TO A LOT OF THAT CHANGE.
I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF COMMENTING, UH, UNTIL YOU'RE ACTUALLY LEAVING.
UM, IT'S LIKE ONE OF THOSE AWKWARD BUYS WHERE YOU'RE BOTH WALKING TO YOUR CAR IN THE PARKING LOT.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE AT LEAST SEVERAL MORE MEETINGS WITH YOU.
SO THE, UH, UH, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MOVED AT SECRETARY COULD SAID TO GENDER WITH THE COMMENTS AND ADAM'S POETS TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ARE YOU WITH US IN VOTING ON THIS? YES OR NO? MAYOR I'M HERE.
TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE DAY IT'S ON THE CONTENT, BUT THE REST OF THE DAYS SOUNDS GOOD UNANIMOUS.
UH, THE, THE, UH, ITEM PASSES LET'S TAKE
[Items 57 - 61]
CARE OF A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE REAL FAST ON ITEMS, 57, 58, 59, 60 AND 61 IN A SECOND.I'M GOING TO DO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD GET READY, BUT WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS, 57, 58, 59, 60 AND 61, THESE ARE NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE FACT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAWS AND AUTHORIZES THE USER POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THERE IN COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY MAKES THAT MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MAYOR PRO TEM, ARE YOU VOTING? YES.
[02:10:01]
THE DEUS.[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting ]
A RECESS.THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 1159.
UH, AND I AM GOING TO CONVENE THE, UH, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, 2021.
WE HAVE, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALL PRESENT.
SO I THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR AGENDA.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? ABSOLUTELY.
APP, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE LATE BACKUP AS MENTIONED EARLIER.
THAT'S FOR ITEM TWO, THERE'S A WITHDRAWAL, UM, MEMO.
WE ARE WITHDRAWING ITEM TWO AND REPLACING EFFORT.
NUMBER EIGHT, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, AGENDA NIGHT ITEM.
NUMBER ONE IS WITH THE FORMATION OF A NEW, UH, SUBSIDIARY NONPROFIT CORPORATION, HFC MAINER NONPROFIT CORPORATION ITEM.
NUMBER TWO, AS NOTED HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
FOR 2.13, $3 MILLION LOAN FOR A SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS LAVISTA.
THEY LOPEZ ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AUTHORIZING US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LOAN AGREEMENT WITH GMDC FOR A $2.4 MILLION LOAN FOR 51 HOME-OWNERSHIP UNITS, ONE TO FOUR BEDROOM UNITS, ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OR $4.67 MILLION LOAN FOR 126 IN THAT SUBDIVISION CONSISTING OF TWO AND THREE BEDROOM HOMES.
UM, AND THAT IS TO BE KNOWN AS
NUMBER SIX IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH SUMMER TREE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS FOR A 74 UNIT HOMEOWNERSHIP, UM, UH, DEVELOPMENT WITH 28 UNITS BELOW 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME ITEM.
NUMBER SEVEN IS A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH WEST GATE WEST GATE MOE MARK.
AND THIS IS 4 58 FROM OWNERSHIP UNITS BELOW 80% NEW FAMILY INCOME AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, WHICH IS LATE.
UM, IT'S AN A ON THE ADDENDUM IS A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH RG GTP, UH, REAL ESTATE.
AND THIS IS FOR $2.85 MILLION.
THIS IS 4 34 UNITS ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION OF A PROJECT THAT WILL BE A HUNDRED PERCENT CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I OFFER ALL OF THESE ITEMS ON CONSENT AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE HIM PLACES.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT ITEM.
NUMBER TWO HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IN BACKUP.
THERE'S A MEMO THAT SPEAKS TO THAT.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA DIRECTOR? RENTER RHEA MAKES THE MOTION, UH, DIRECTOR ALICE SECONDS, THAT MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR.
I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SEVERE SINCERE THANKS TO THE LOPEZ FAMILY.
UH, THIS HOUSE WHEN, UH, UH, WAS, UM, WHEN MRS. LOPEZ SENIOR SENIOR, THE OLDEST THEY'VE PASSED AWAY, HE LEFT IT TO THE KIDS.
UH, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO DONATE THAT TO AND KEEP IT AS AN AFFORDABLE UNIT.
AND THEY DONATED IT TO WILD LOOP CORPORATION, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNHEARD OF IN A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, LAND BACK THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY TO A NONPROFIT.
AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW IN YOUR HEART YOU WANT, IF MANY OF THE, OF THE, UH, RESIDENTS THAT GREW UP IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR WORKING ON REDFIELD 34, WHICH IS ON OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
IT IS A 34 MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS IN DISTRICT FOUR, UM, AND, AND COMBINED WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO AT THE COUNTRY AND IN SUITES AND WITH CARITAS ON RUTLAND.
UM, IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BRING SO MUCH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I THINK IT HAS JUST CLEARLY MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE.
UM, OVER, OVER TIME, I DID, WE HAD A PRESS EVENT EARLIER, UM, OVER AT INTEGRAL CARE SITE WHERE WE HAD SOME NUMBERS AND I THOUGHT IT'D BE USEFUL TO SHOW THEM HERE TODAY.
[02:15:01]
THEM, BUT IN OUR, UH, IN OUR FIRST TWO YEARS ON COUNCIL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL CAN PULL THOSE UP ON OUR FIRST TWO YEARS AS A TEN ONE COUNCIL, WE WERE ABLE TO APPROVE 35 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.UM, AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF SO MANY HERE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND WITH REDFIELD 34 TODAY, WE CROSS 800 IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE REAL DEDICATED WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND OF OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS OF OUR CITY STAFF AND BRINGING IN, UH, DIANA GRAY AS HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER.
AND OF COURSE OF THIS COUNCIL HAVING SET THIS AS A TOP PRIORITY.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IT IS, UH, UH, HARD EVERY DAY TO SEE FOLKS SLEEPING ON THE STREET.
NOBODY SHOULD BE SLEEPING UNDER A BRIDGE, BUT THIS SHIFT, UM, GOES TO SHOW THAT WE, I THINK AS AN ENTIRE COUNCIL AND AS ENTIRE DIETS ARE DOING SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENTLY, YOU KNOW, 35 UNITS IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND OVER 800 VOTED ON AND IMPROVED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, I THINK IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THIS WORK.
AND IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME FOR THESE TO GET ON THE GROUND.
THIS ONE WILL ACTUALLY BE SERVING PEOPLE EXTREMELY SOON BECAUSE IT'S A REMODEL, BUT THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY AS THIS KIND OF SHIFT THAT WE'VE MADE AS IT DIES.
SORRY, WOULD YOU POST THAT CHART TO THE MESSAGE BOARD PLEASE, SO THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC ASSETS WE'LL DO.
AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO ALSO THANK THE LOPEZ FAMILY AND, UH, GMDC AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE WORK ON FOR AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED ALSO REALLY ALLOWS THIS SENIOR HOUSING TO BE ABLE TO EXIST AT THIS LOCATION.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED ON SUCH A GREAT PROJECT.
YEAH, I THINK I HOPE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT CHART AT SOME POINT, BECAUSE IT, IT DOES IT, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT DOES NOT REALLY REFLECT THE FULL RANGE OF HOUSING INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE THROUGH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND SO WHILE I'M SUPER EXCITED AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, HELPED, UH, LEAD AND SUPPORT THE DRIVE TO, TO INCREASED INVESTMENTS, I ALSO WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE VERY CLEARLY REFLECTING, UM, THE WAY IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESCALATE OUR INVESTMENTS.
UM, BUT THAT, BUT THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INVESTING IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING, INVESTING OUR BOND DOLLARS HAS BEEN PART OF PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR A LONG WHILE.
AND I, I REALLY FEEL THAT THAT CHART IS THAT CHART WITHOUT MORE CONTEXT AND WITHOUT THE FULLER RANGE OF HOUSING INVESTMENTS ALONGSIDE IT, UM, SORT OF SUGGESTS THAT WE WERE, IT IS, IT IS A, A VERY SMALL SECTION OF THE, OF THE FULL PICTURE.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IT REALLY FULLY IS.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT REALLY HELPS ENHANCE THE DIALOGUE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASARA FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE, THE CHART, BECAUSE I OFTEN FIND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THE AVERAGE AUSTIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DOING TO ACTIVELY ADDRESS.
AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE HAVE ADDED 800 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.
AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF STORIES WE NEED TO BE SHARING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO SAY, UM, THIS IS WHERE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARD, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE ACTIVELY ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY.
SO HAVING THIS EXAMPLE TODAY, UM, IS SUPER BENEFICIAL.
AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
AND I, OF COURSE IT DOES NOT TELL THE FULL STORY IN THE WAY THAT A FULL PAPER WOULD, UM, BUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT IS HOUSING WITH SERVICES BEING VOTED FOR AND BEING PUT ON THE GROUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO HARD TO DO.
UM, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LIST YEARS WHEN I WASN'T ON COUNCIL OUR FIRST FEW YEARS, IT TAKE, IT TOOK PLANNING AND INVESTMENT AND WORK THROUGHOUT ALL THOSE YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WILL ONLY GROW BECAUSE OF THE, UH, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INVESTMENTS, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THAT 800.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS A LARGER STORY ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THE STATUS STRAIGHT FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO SHOW THAT THE VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
DID THE CONSENT AGENDA ON AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU VOTING YES.
THIS WITH THE REST OF THE DAY.
IT'S GOT IT, UH, UNANIMOUS BY THE DIRECTORS.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM PASSES WITH THAT.
I ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
[Items 55 & 56]
QUICKLY, UH, UH, AUDIT AND FINANCE, UH, TWO ITEMS, UH, APPOINTMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERED.YOU WANT TO MOVE PASSAGE OF 55 AND 56.
[02:20:01]
OF ITEMS, 55 AND 56.THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS, UM, TO SERVE ON VARIOUS PENSION BOARDS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, ONE, UM, NOMINATES MICHAEL GRANT OFF TO THE AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE OTHER NOMINATES DICK LEVINE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLACE FOR, UM, WE HAD A WONDERFUL GROUP OF, UH, APPLICANTS, A REALLY, REALLY QUALIFIED GROUP.
UM, AND THE BOTH OF THESE NOMINEES ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND RESPECTED IN THEIR FIELDS AND WILL SERVE AS WELL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BOARD ROLES.
AND I'M EXCITED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO SERVE AND WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO APPLIED.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS, COUNCILLOR POOL, SECOND, DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR OF THESE TWO ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED, UH, MAYOR PRO TAM, YOU VOTING AYE WITH THE REST OF THE DIOCESE ON THESE TWO ITEMS. GOT IT.
WE APPROVED THOSE TWO ITEMS JUST BEFORE WE GO TO, UM, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Items 63 - 66]
HAVE, UH, FOUR, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING.WE HAVE CALLED ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I THINK THAT HAVE SHOWED UP OR SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE, THAT CORRECT MURDER.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO MOVE PASSAGE OF ITEMS? 63 64 65 AND 66 COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MAKES THE MOTION TO PASS THOSE FOUR ITEMS. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, SECOND SET.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THOSE FOUR ITEMS, STAKE, A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO UNANIMOUSLY THOSE FOUR ITEMS PASS.
UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TURN NOW TO, UH, UH, PUBLIC, UH, COMMENTS.
I THINK WE HAVE, UH, THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO DO THAT.
AFTER WE COME BACK FROM LUNCH COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE, UM, UH, SOME PULLED ITEMS, UH, TO, UH, TO ADDRESS 9 22 38, UH, AND UH, 50, UH, 52.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO A ZONING, UH, SPEAKERS AT, TO ZONING CASES.
WE HAVE, I THINK, UM, FIVE THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED AS POSSIBLE DISCUSSION ITEMS, EIGHT THAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS SPEAKING ON.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET DONE THIS AFTERNOON, IF NOT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUIRED BREAK BETWEEN SIX AND SEVEN.
UH, SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET DONE BEFORE THEN.
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 3)]
WANTS YOU TO GO AHEAD AND CALL PAPA PUBLIC COMMENTS.THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CLINTON RAREY AND YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
UH, I KNOW I HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME, SO I'LL BE BRIEF.
UH, I MEAN, YOU'VE ALL DONE GREAT THINGS OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF IN A MESS WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH COVID.
UM, ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY IS WHENEVER A GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS AT HEART, YOU NEED TO THINK AGAIN, IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MANKIND, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A POLITICAL ELITE, SINCERELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF REGULAR PEOPLE.
WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT THIS, THAT IT IS DIFFERENT.
NOW, IF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT HAS BROUGHT FORTH ANYTHING, THIS CERTAINTY, THIS NEVER TAKE ANYTHING GOVERNMENT TELLS YOU AT FACE VALUE, ALWAYS QUESTION EVERYTHING ANY GOVERNMENT DOES OR DOES NOT DO ALWAYS LOOK AT FOR THE ULTERIOR MOTIVE AND ALWAYS ASK WHO WE BONO, WHO BENEFITS WHENEVER A POLITICAL ELITE PUSHES AGENDA, THIS HEART AND RESOURCE TO LOCKDOWNS AND MANDATES TO GET THEIR WAY YOU CAN MOST ALWAYS BE SURE YOUR BENEFIT IS NOT WHAT THEY HAD AT HEART.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I WILL NOT BE VACCINATED WITH ANYTHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY VETTED AND TESTED AND HAS SHOWN NO SOUND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT THE BENEFIT OUTWEIGHS THE DISEASE ITSELF AND THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS, WHICH TO THIS DAY, WE DO NOT KNOW.
I WILL NOT REDUCE TO, I WILL NOT BE REDUCED TO A MERE GUINEA PIG TO BE, UH, GETTING VACCINATED WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL DRUG.
AND I SURELY NOT GET VACCINATED BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT TELLS ME TO AND PROMISE ME IN RETURN.
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS ONE THING, NO ONE GRANTS ME FREEDOM FOR I'M A FREE PERSON.
NOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING ANTI-VAXXER PROVAX.
I'M HEAVILY VACCINATED, AND I BELIEVE VACCINE VACCINES, BUT TRANSPARENCY IS KEY.
[02:25:01]
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN BLACK OR WHITE GAY OR STRAIGHT TRANSGENDER ASSISTS GENDER.THIS IS ABOUT AMERICAN POPULATION BEING LIED TO AND BEING TRICKED INTO TAKING A DRUG.
IT'S A DRUG BECAUSE VACCINES DON'T NEED BOOSTERS DOES NOT WORK.
SO DECEMBER 21ST, THE ARTICLE SAID THAT WE HAD 516 DEATHS OF COVID DECILITER IN AUSTIN, THE TRAVIS COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER DISAGREES.
HE SAID ONLY 48 CASES FROM COVID PEOPLE DIED.
SO WHERE ARE THIS INFLATED NUMBERS COMING FROM? WHY ARE WE INFLATING THE NUMBERS HERE'S FROM THIS MONDAY, THE FDA IS REQUESTING TO SEAL ALL DOCUMENTS FROM PFIZER.
SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THE EFFICACY AND THE HEALTH SAFETY IS OF THESE VACCINES ARE THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR GOT CAUGHT IN AN EMAIL CORRELATING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND HIS STATE STATING WE NEED TO HAVE CREATIVE THINKING ON TO JUSTIFY THESE LOCKDOWNS.
ARE WE GOING TO FORGET ALL OF THE LIES WITH THE HISTORY OF BIG PHARMA POISONING, US OF FOUNDERS THAT DO BLOOD TESTS ARE FINDING THAT THIS SPIKE PROTEIN IS CAUSING INFLAMMATION.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH SIDE EFFECTS AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LAWSUITS GOING ON IN THE SUPREME GOOD DISTRICT, SIX DOCTORS IN CALIFORNIA, SENDING LETTERS TO THE CDC AND THE FDA STATING THAT 50% OF VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING WITH US TODAY.
SO MY FREE SPEECH IS GETTING SILENCED.
EVERYBODY HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND YOU GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT EVERYBODY AT THE TIME WAS THAT THREE MINUTES, THREE MINUTES HAS BEEN OUR TRADITION HERE FOR, FOR YEARS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
UH, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SHOW OF UNITY IN THE FACE OF THE SYNAGOGUE, ARSON.
UH, MY PARENTS WERE MARRIED IN THAT SYNAGOGUE.
UM, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY IS UT STILL ONLY 5% BLACK? UH, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE LAST TIME I SPOKE HERE, WE PASSED TWO JOINT RESOLUTIONS AT UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
ONE WAS TO ENCOURAGE UT TO BUILD MORE HOUSING ON CAMPUS.
AND THE OTHER WAS ABOUT, UH, ENSURING THAT THERE WOULD BE AFFORDABILITY IN THOSE UNITS BECAUSE IF UT BUILDS MORE ON CAMPUS, BUT THEY'RE UNAFFORDABLE UNITS THAT DOESN'T REALLY HELP.
ALLEN COLE, UH, WHO IS, UH, PRESIDENT HARTSEL IS AUSTIN CZAR.
SO MAYBE HE'S BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF Y'ALL.
AND HE SAID, HE'S GONNA DEAL ME IN TO THE GROUP THAT IS, UH, IS WORKING ON STUFF.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH STUDENT LEADERS.
I IMAGINE I'LL BE AT A P SAC MEETING, WHICH IS PRESIDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
RATHER SOON, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION HERE AT CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT HAS THE SAME EXACT TEXT AS THE UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT TEXTS TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
WHY IS UT ONLY 5% BLACK WHEN OUR STATE'S ABOUT 13% BLACK? THE FIRST WAY I ANSWERED THIS QUESTION IS TO SAY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS 5% BLACK.
AND YET FLORIDA, 16% BLACK UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA IS 8% BLACK.
SO WHAT I'M BASICALLY IMPLYING HERE IS THAT WE'VE NEVER REALLY FULLY DESEGREGATED THESE PUBLIC HIGHER ED FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITIES.
AND WE CAN INVEST IN HPC USE, BUT ISN'T THAT KIND OF LIKE A SEPARATE BUT EQUAL FRAMEWORK.
DON'T WE HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT? THESE ARE INTENSE CONCENTRATIONS OF CAPITAL AND BRAIN POWER, THESE INSTITUTIONS.
SO I TALKED WITH THE DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS, CAROLINE GORY ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK AT THESE STUDENTS THAT ARE ACCEPTED, BUT DO NOT ENROLL.
AND THEY ASK WHY AREN'T THESE STUDENTS ENROLLING? WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET MORE OF THESE STUDENTS ENROLLING? SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TOP THING IS AFFORDABILITY? SO BOARD OF REGENTS, YOU KNOW, WE DID THE TEXAS ADVANCED COMMITMENT.
IF YOUR, IF YOUR FAMILY MAKES LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR, TUITION IS GOING TO BE FREE, BUT THESE STUDENTS STILL DON'T COME HERE.
WELL, WHAT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE COST IS GOING TO BE, IF TUITION IS PAID FOR,
[02:30:01]
LET'S SEE SOME NIGHTS IT'S HOUSING, RIGHT? IT'S HOUSING.AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN WEST CAMPUS DOESN'T WORK.
WE SHOULDN'T CALL IT THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT.
WE SHOULD CALL IT THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT OR ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE'RE DISPLACING, UH, COMPLEXES THAT SERVE STUDENTS AND BUILDING 300 FOOT BUILDINGS AND SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND WHY IS IT MEDIAN, FAMILY INCOME? WHY IS IT NOT MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME? WHY IS IT THAT'S FAMILY OF FOUR? WHAT RELEVANCE DOES THAT HAVE TO A STUDENT FROM ACROSS THE STATE? THANK YOU.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE.
I WANT TO REGALE YOU WITH A BIT OF HISTORY.
IN THE LATE 1980S, AUSTIN WENT INTO AN ECONOMIC DEPRESSION DUE TO A MASSIVE DEFAULT ON REAL ESTATE DEBT AND LOW OIL PRICES.
THE CRIPPLED, THE TEXAS OIL INDUSTRY, THERE WERE A LOT OF ANGRY VOTERS AND THEY ELECTED SEVERAL FISCAL CONSERVATIVES OUT TO PUNISH CITY GOVERNMENT.
FOR MOST OF THESE WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, ROBERT BARNES STONE.
HE CRUSADED AGAINST VARIOUS CITY PROGRAMS, BUT HIS BIGGEST TARGET WAS AUSTIN'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS CREATED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NUCLEAR AND COAL PLANTS WERE MEANT TO SAVE ENERGY AT LESS COST.
WELL, HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING LOCAL JOBS.
AND HE RAILED INCESSANTLY ABOUT QUOTE, SOCIALIZED AIR CONDITIONING, UNQUOTE FOR THREE YEARS, BARNES STONE THEN RAN FOR MAYOR IN LOST BY ONLY A SMALL MARGIN.
HAD HE WON CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRIPPLED AND DEMORALIZED.
ONE REASON HE LOST IS BECAUSE OUR SIDE PROVED TO BOATERS THAT WE WERE SAVING THEM MONEY.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT HARROWING PERIOD, WHICH IS ONE REASON.
I AM TRYING SO HARD TO STOP THE WASTE OF AS MUCH AS $1.8 MILLION A YEAR IN TEXAS GAS SERVICE GREENWASHED CONSERVATION FUNDS.
THE GAS COMPANY WILL GIVE AWAY AS MUCH AS $325 OF RATE PAYER MONEY TO REPLACE ANY EXISTING GAS CLOTHES DRYER WITH ANOTHER GAS CLOTHES DRYER THAT WILL SAVE $1 AND 31 CENTS A YEAR.
ALL OF YOU TO SOME DEGREE HAVE EXPRESSED ENVIRONMENTAL SENTIMENTS.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU THIS STARK WARNING.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE A MESS, AND IF ENVIRONMENTALS DON'T CLEAN THEM UP, THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL CHANCE THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL ALONG WITH A LOT OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
IF SOME NEW FISCAL CONSERVATIVE BEGAN RAILING AGAINST A PROGRAM WITH A 248 YEAR PAYBACK, I CAN'T OFFER DEFENSE BECAUSE THERE IS NONE.
THE WORST PART OF THIS MESS IS THAT THE CITY REGULATORY STAFF DO NOT CARE.
I HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO DOCUMENT EVIDENCE, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER IF AUSTIN ENERGY'S LEGITIMATE, AWARD-WINNING CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS GET ATTACKED, WHICH HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE LOWEST RESIDENTIAL BILLS IN AIR CAUGHT.
REGULATORY STAFF STILL GETS THEIR SALARIES STILL GETS THEIR PENSIONS.
I AM APPEALING DIRECTLY TO YOU.
COUNCIL PICKS THIS MESS BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES.
BASMA IS NOT XONGILE THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
ANYONE ELSE HERE? THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
LET'S TAKE A LUNCH BREAK TILL ONE 30 AT ONE 30.
WE'LL COME BACK HERE AND SEE IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME STUFF.
BEFORE WE CALL SPEAKERS AT TWO O'CLOCK FOR ZONING CONSENT.
SO LOOKING TO ME LIKE THE POOL OF ITEMS THAT WE STILL HAVE THE REST OF OUR DAY IS ITEMS 9 22 38 AND 52.
THOSE ARE THE PULLED ITEMS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE ZONING, UH, AND ASSOCIATED WITH NINE ASSOCIATED WITH 71 ON ZONING WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 96.
[02:35:02]
UH, UH, MAYOR PER JAM HARPER MADISON HERE, UM, THAT Y'ALL PROBABLY NOTICED, UM, A HORIZONTAL, UM, I'M I'M HERE.SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
THE FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP WHEN WE COME BACK ON ZONING, WHEN WE GET THE ZONING IS THE POSTPONEMENT DISCUSSION QUESTION.
WE'LL TAKE ONE SPEAKER ON EACH SIDE ON THAT POSTPONEMENT DISCUSSION QUESTION.
WE'LL TAKE THAT UP FIRST SO WE CAN SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT GETS POSTPONED.
IF IT GETS POSTPONED, THEN WE DON'T HAVE, THEN WE WON'T HEAR FROM OTHER SPEAKERS ON THAT ONE ISSUE.
UH, AND WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE OTHERS.
THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, DISCUSSION IS, UH, ITEM 73 AND 74.
WITH THAT THEN AT, UH, 1225, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN RECESS TILL ONE 30.
I THINK WE HAVE A CORE OF A PRESIDENT, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, 2021.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH, UH, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, POLLED.
UH, THERE'S AN, UH, A DIRECTION, UH, THAT I'VE HANDED OUT ON ITEM NUMBER 52 THAT I UNDERSTAND IS OKAY WITH, UH, AUTHOR AND ALSO, OKAY.
I THINK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THAT WAS ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT EARLIER.
UH, SO I WANT EVERYONE TO READ THAT, THAT WITHOUT ADDITION TO THAT DIRECTION, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN QUICKLY.
UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY BACK.
LET'S DO, UH, ITEMS 38 AND, UH, THAT WAS PULLED A 22 AND 38.
[22. Authorize an amendment to an existing contract with Interment Services, Inc. for continued interment and burial services at city cemeteries, to increase the amount by S2,222,000 and to extend the term by two years, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $8,946,000. Related to Item #38.]
MEMBER KELLY, YOU PULLED ITEM NUMBER 22.UM, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE SIMILAR TO ONE ANOTHER.
THEY BOTH HAVE TO DO WITH THE CONTRACT WITH THE, UM, INTERNMENT.
AND WE HEARD FROM A SPEAKER EARLIER TODAY WHO HAD PHOTOS OF SOME PRETTY INTERESTING, POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
AND SO I WANTED TO ASK STAFF A FEW UP QUESTIONS IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE HERE.
SO, UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHO PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF THOSE CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE? SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS KIMBERLY MCNEALY FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THAT OUR CEMETERY MANAGEMENT, UH, TEAM, UH, PROVIDES THAT OVERSIGHT SPECIFICALLY OUR CEMETERY PROGRAM MANAGER, WHOSE NAME IS TANJA WELLS DAVIS.
AND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CHECK SHEET THAT IT WITH EACH INTERMENT WE'RE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND TO MARK OFF A PARTICULAR PART OF, UM, TO REVIEW THE ACTUAL WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN PARTICULAR CHECK OFF EACH, UM, EACH ITEM THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT, FOR THAT PARTICULAR ENTITY TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
IF YOU, IF COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THAT CHECK SHEET, WE CERTAINLY COULD SEND THAT OVER.
I WOULD APPRECIATE SEEING A COPY.
AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW ANY VIOLATIONS MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE REPORTED IN CASE THE OVERSIGHT'S NOT PRESENT, OR THE CHECK SHEETS NOT COMPLETED.
IS THERE A WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO REACH OUT ABOUT THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
THE PUBLIC CAN ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMAIL OUR CEMETERY TEAM.
THEY CAN EMAIL ME, WHICH, UM, SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN THAT UPON THEMSELVES TO YOU.
AND OF COURSE IN EVERY CONTRACT, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO CURE, UH, THE, THE VIOLATION AND THEN, AND THEN FOR US TO WORK THROUGH HOW TO MAKE SURE THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE NOT CONTINUED AND THAT WE HAVE, WE ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES AS THEY ARE, AS THEY ARE OUTLINED IN THE CONTRACT.
HAVE THERE EVER BEEN ANY VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED THAT THE CITY HAS HAD TO ACT ON? I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT OUR RECOURSES AS A CITY FOR POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS AND HOW THAT MIGHT WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE CONTRACT.
I'M GOING TO ASK A TANJA WALLS DAVIS, WHO IS OUR CEMETERY MANAGER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE SHE'S MORE INTIMATELY
[02:40:01]
INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.HELLO, I'M TYING TO WALLS DAVIS CEMETERY MANAGER, AND YES WE DO.
ONCE WE FILL OUT THAT SHEET, IF THERE'S ANY VIOLATIONS WE'RE IN DIRECT CONTRACT CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACT MANAGER, WHICH IS MR. BAGWELL, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPORTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO, UM, MOVE UP TO PAR CONTRACT, BUT WE DO AN EVALUATION EVERY QUARTER ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT.
SO WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR VIOLATIONS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF OUR DIVISION.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION THEN TO, UH, UH, APPROVE, UH, THIS ITEM 22? THAT'S HER POOL MAKES THE MOTION SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLIS SECONDS DISCUSSION.
THOSE OPPOSED IT IS UNANIMOUS ON THE DIOCESE WITH, UH, WHO WE MISSING.
COUNCIL MEMBER
[38. Approve an ordinance amending Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 20210811-002 (City of Austin Fee and Fine Schedule) to increase the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 fees charged by the Parks and Recreation Department for interment and burial services at Oakwood. Oakwood Annex, Evergreen, Austin Memorial, and Plummers Cemeteries. Related to Item #22.]
UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 38, UH, PART FEES YOU PULLED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HEAVILY? UH, JUST THE SAME LINE OF QUESTIONING.WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO, OKAY.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 38? THAT'S MY POOL MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNSELOR LS DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER, MAY PER 10.
ARE YOU VOTING? ALL RIGHT, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I THINK IT'S EVERYBODY ON THE DYES AGAIN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WENT OFF OF HIS VOTING.
[9. Authorize the City Manager to award, negotiate. and execute cultural arts grants in the amount of S5,300,373.]
NEXT POLL ITEM I THINK HERE, UH, COULD BE, UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE FOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.UM, SO I HAVE, UM, JUST CIRCULATED A DIRECTION TO GO WITH ITEM NINE.
I, UM, HOLD ITEM NINE, NOT BECAUSE I HAD ANY PARTICULAR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'LL BE MAKING, UM, IN OUR CORE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, UM, CONTRACTORS, UM, THROUGH A MECHANISM THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION HAS PUT FORWARD, WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION OTHER FUNDING THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECEIVED.
UM, BUT BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A PATH FORWARD TO ACHIEVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION HAD HAD SUGGESTED WOULD BE THE BEST STEPS THAT WE COULD TAKE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE SHORT RUN, DURING COVID, UM, AND IN LOOKING AT THE RCA AND UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT PIECES, LOOKING BACK AT THE ARTS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THERE'S A GAP OF $500,000, UM, BEYOND THIS ARPA FUNDING.
AND SO I HAVE, UM, DIRECTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO TAKE A VOTE IN DECEMBER THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FULFILL, UM, WHAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED, UM, BY THE ARTS COMMISSION TO MEET THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I'M GONNA READ THE DIRECTION IT'S BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THERE'S ONE, TWO, THAT'S MISSING THAT I'M GOING TO READ INTO MY VERSION OF IT, WHICH WILL BE THE VERSION THAT GETS POSTED.
UM, SO ON AUGUST 19TH, 2021, THE ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THE USE OF A ONE-TIME $500,000 INFUSION FROM RESERVES TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE AUSTIN ARTS AND CULTURE NON-PROFIT RELIEF GRANT IN ORDER TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 25 GRANT APPLICANTS.
WHEREAS THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVES HAVE BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND IN FISCAL YEAR 22, THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO PREPARE AN ITEM IN THE DECEMBER ON THE DECEMBER 9TH AGENDA TO AMEND THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND TO APPROPRIATE $500,000 FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE NON-PROFIT RELIEF GRANT TO SERVE 25 ADDITIONAL APPLICANTS.
THESE FUNDS SHOULD COME FROM THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVES FUNDED PORTION OF THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.
THE CITY MANAGERS FURTHER DIRECTED TO PREPARE A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REIMBURSE THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND WITH $500,000 FROM THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE FUND BY MARCH 31ST, 2022, THE CITY MANAGER'S DIRECTED TO ACT WITH EXPEDIENCY TO ENSURE ARTS AND CULTURAL NON-PROFIT RELIEF GRANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVE FUNDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IDEALLY BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2021, THERE'S A MOTION TO, I THINK IT'S DIRECTION BECAUSE THINK IT'S DIRECTION, UM, BECAUSE OF THE POSTING LANGUAGE.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK AS AN ITEM TO US IN DECEMBER AND WE'LL VOTE ON IT.
THERE'S A MOTION TO ADD THIS DIRECTION TO THIS ITEM, SIR.
SECOND TO THIS MOTION AS BAR POOL MAKES IT, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND IT BETTER? I'M CONFUSED.
NOW I'M TRYING TO GO BACK TO MY RECOLLECTION WAS IS THAT,
[02:45:01]
UM, AND YOU CORRECT ME CAUSE I'M TRYING TO RECREATE MY HEAD HERE.WE HAD A CERTAIN LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT THIS YEAR.
AND THE QUESTION WAS, DID WE KIND OF LIKE ADVANCE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE GAPS.
AND WE DECIDED DURING THE BUDGET SESSION THAT WE WOULD KIND OF DO HALFWAY, WE WOULD LIKE GO HALFWAY TO FILL THE GAP, BUT NOT THE FULL WAY UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE HOT FUNDING TO SEE IF WE COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE YEAR, BRINGING EVERYBODY BACK UP TO WHERE THEY WERE OR WHETHER THERE WAS LESS THAT PEOPLE WOULD GET, BUT STILL MORE THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY OFFERED.
DOES THIS IMPACT ANY OF THAT OR HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO THAT? SO, UM, THE ITEM ITSELF IS DEALING WITH ARPA-E MONEY AND IT IS GOING TO THE CONTRACTORS WHO TRADITIONALLY GET MONEY FROM THAT.
AND IT'S SAYING, WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS BEST BY THOSE CONTRACTORS AS WE CAN, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHO GOT MONEY AND WHO DIDN'T GET MONEY CAUSE SOME AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY GOT AND HOW BIG THE ORGANIZATION IS.
UM, AND THAT WAS WHAT THE ARTS COMMISSION PUT FORWARD AND SAID WAS THE BEST USE OF OUR FUNDS FROM THE ARPA.
SO THAT'S COMING FROM THE $6 MILLION THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR THE ARTS.
UM, IN ARPA, THERE IS ANOTHER POT OF MONEY, WHICH IS OUR HOT MONEY.
THAT'S ALSO IN THE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING, UM, IN THE BUDGET.
UM, THE CITY MANAGER PUT IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS $4.8 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE FUND TO GO ALONG WITH THE ANTICIPATED HOT MONEY.
THAT WOULD THEN BY SOME PROCESS, GET OUT TO FOLKS.
THAT PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN FULLY DETERMINED.
UM, SO THAT MONEY IS STILL THERE.
UM, WHAT, WHAT I'M ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO DO IS TAKE $500,000 FROM RESERVES AND PUT IT IN TO PAY FOR THE NONPROFIT ARTS RELIEF GRANTS TO GET EVERY ORGANIZATION FUNDED.
UM, GIVEN THAT THEY ARE ALSO TAKING 420,000 OF ARPA AND ADDING IT TO THAT, WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY COMING TO US IN DECEMBER OR ALREADY CAME TO US.
UM, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICY, WHICH DOESN'T LET US, UM, TAP INTO THE RESERVES WILLY NILLY.
IT WANTS US TO DO IT AT PARTICULAR TIMES OF THE YEAR, BUT WE STILL WANT TO GET THE MONEY OUT BY THE END OF DECEMBER, THIS IS A WAY TO ADVANCE THE MONEY WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT GIVING OUT, OR IS THIS IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $500,000, BUT IT IS MONEY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING BUDGET THAT WE SAID GO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.
WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY $500,000 THAT WE WERE COMFORTABLE SPENDING ON ARTS, BUT WE SAID GO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND GET THEIR RECOMMENDATION OF HOW THEY WOULD SPEND IT, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THAT MANY.
SO THAT MONEY JUST WAS PUT INTO RESERVES.
WAS IT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT IS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, DID WE ALREADY EARMARK THIS $500,000 TO GO TO THIS PURPOSE OR ARE WE TAKING AN ESSENCE MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND NOW THAT HAD YET TO BE ALLOCATED AND SAYING, THIS IS THE PRIORITY USE FOR THAT ADDITION? UM, I WOULD SAY THE ANSWER IS BOTH BECAUSE WE TALKED VERY CLEARLY AT BUDGET THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY ANOTHER $500,000, UM, THAT WE COULD USE, UM, FROM THE AMOUNT THAT WE PUT ASIDE, BECAUSE WE FOUND THE OTHER 400, $4 MILLION THAT WE PUT INTO RESERVES.
AND WE SAID, WHY DON'T WE DO THAT IN ARTS? AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO AGREE TO IT, BUT THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN FOR IT.
SO WE SAID GO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.
HE WAS NOT REGISTERED AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT, SO IT DIDN'T GET, DIDN'T GET MOVED OVER TO THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.
BUT I THINK AT THE TIME IT SEEMED TO BE THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE WANTED TO USE THAT FOR ARTS.
WE JUST WANTED TO GET THE ADVICE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION ON HOW TO SPEND IT.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT I'M, IT'S LIKE.
IT IS NOT THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTION, BUT I AM TRYING TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF OUR, OUR BUDGET OFFICE DESIRE TO FOLLOW A CERTAIN PRACTICES WITH RESPECT TO OUR RESERVE FUNDS, WHICH IS CHAIR OF AUDIT AND FINANCE, I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THIS WAS A MECHANISM THAT WE FIGURED OUT THAT WE COULD DO.
UM, THE DECISION ON HOW TO USE THE HOT FUNDS WILL STILL HAVE TO BE MADE AND HOW TO USE THAT POT OF MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THAT.
UM, BUT THAT IS A SEPARATE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO JUMPSTART, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, WITH THE NONPROFIT ARTS GRANT RELIEF STUFF THAT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO FUND EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ELIGIBLE AND QUALIFIED TO GET THEIR $20,000 THROUGH THAT, UM, BETWEEN
[02:50:01]
THIS $500,000 AND THE $420,000 THAT'S COMING FROM ARPA.PLUS THE PORTION FROM ARPA THAT COVERS THE FEES FOR THAT GETS THE BALANCE.
WE ALSO HAD PUT IN A MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE PASSED THAT WAS ADDITIONAL BEYOND THE ARPA.
UM, SO THAT GETS EVERY ONE OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLIED THAT WAS QUALIFIED, GETS THEM THAT MANY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS PERIOD, WHICH HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR THEM.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
AND ALL OF THESE ITEMS HAVE TO COME BACK FOR OTHER OTHER VOTES.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE HOT FUNDING AND HOW, UM, THE FUNDING, I GUESS IT STAFF COULD SHARE WITH US HOW OUR HOT FUNDING HAS BEEN LOOKING LIKE THESE LAST FEW MONTHS.
CAUSE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD DURING THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, UM, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT US MOVING, UH, MONEY FROM THE RESERVES, UH, TO HELP FILL OUR CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING GIVEN THAT WE WERE STILL IN UNCERTAIN TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HOT FUNDING.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS IF, IF STAFF COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW, WHAT THE OUTLOOK IS LIKE RIGHT NOW, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
SO NOVIA, HAUTE, REV, ACTING DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF, UH, HOSTING OUR RECEIPTS THROUGH OCTOBER, BUT PRELIMINARY.
THEY ARE LOOKING GOOD, BUT I CANNOT ARTICULATE THE SPECIFIC NUMBER UNTIL ALL THE CASH RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN POSTED.
SO, UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR, ROB WITH THIS DIRECTION ITEM DIRECTION.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS ON, ON WHAT COUNCILMAN ROGER IS BRINGING FORWARD AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT? I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO BE IN ALIGNMENT TO WHAT THE ARTS COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDING.
IT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE WILL OF THE ARTS COMMISSION AND AS ARTICULATED BEFORE THIS WILL COMPLETELY FUND 218 NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR OUR, TO OUR CURRENT CULTURAL CONTRACTORS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RCA.
THERE'S CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT IF YOU'VE RECEIVED FUNDING, YOU MAY NOT GET AS MUCH, BUT THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AS YOU KNOW, TOOK A BIG HIT AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY A NEED.
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO EXPEDITE A PAYMENT TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE PAYMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS A DIRECTOR THAT STAFF IS OKAY WITH THIS.
I MEAN, OTHER THAN THE IRREGULARITY OF DOING A BUDGET AMENDMENT OUT OF TIME OR THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH, WITH WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL STRATEGY WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS? YES.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH INTERIM BUDGET, OFFICER CARRIE LANG, AND WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS PROCESS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES A PASSAGE OF THIS, UH, ITEM TOGETHER WITH THE DIRECTION.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? I GOT TO A POINT THE SECOND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ALREADY SECOND IT BEFORE, BUT THEY OKAY.
UM, LAST COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT? THIS HAS SECOND THING YET.
UH, LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
I CAN MAKE THE POINT AFTER WE DON'T RAISE YOUR HAND FAVOR.
UH, IT IS THE UNANIMOUS, UH, UH, DICE.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER NEEDS IN THE, THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, CONVERSATION AND INVESTMENT AND TALKING ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FUND AS VIGOROUSLY AS WE NEED TO.
THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED.
UM, ANOTHER ONE THOUGH, IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOWARD FOOD ACCESS AND RESILIENCY.
AND SO, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT THE NEED TO REALLY BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE NEXT DISASTER.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE MONEY THAT WE INCLUDED WITHIN THE ARPA FUNDING FOR RESILIENCE HUBS IS, IS A GREAT START.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET OUT THOSE KINDS OF PREPAREDNESS MATERIALS TO A WIDER RANGE OF JUST, UM, MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF, OF RESILIENCE HUBS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
SO AS MANAGER, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE OR IN OTHER OTHER POCKETS, UM, I THINK THAT
[02:55:01]
IS, UH, A VERY, I WOULD REGARD THAT ONE OF OUR VERY HIGHEST OKAY.[52. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Chapter 25-2, Subchapter E: (Design Standards and Mixed Use), Article 4: Mixed Use, 4.3.3 Standards, to add an option for a VMU2 which allows for additional height in exchange for affordable housing.]
US THEN I THINK TO ITEM NUMBER 52, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, KITCHEN.UM, AND THEN, UH, WHY DON'T YOU GO FIRST AND THEN I'LL INTRODUCE THIS.
COLLEAGUES, UM, ITEM NUMBER 52 IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR AFFORDABILITY BUILDING OFF OF A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOW, OUR VMU PROGRAM.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED, UM, AND IT'S FOCUSED ON ALLOWING AN OPTION TO, UM, ALLOWING AN OPTION FOR 90 FEET ON A V UH, FOR, UH, AN EXCHANGE FOR AFFORDABILITY.
UH, IT DOES NOT SET THAT AFFORDABILITY LEVEL.
THE INTENT IS THAT IT, THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 10% AND, UH, EXPECTATION IS THAT WILL BE HIGHER THAN 10%, BUT WE'RE ASKING STAFF TO COME BACK WITH WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE WOULD BE, BUT THE INTENT IS THAT IT WOULD BE HIGHER THAN 10%.
SO V ONE WOULD BE MAINTAINED AT 10% AND
I MEAN, IT REALLY IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN RESPONSE TO, UM, CASES I'VE HAD IN MY DISTRICT, IN OTHER CASES WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE LIMITATION ON THE ABILITY TO ATTACH V TO 90 FEET ALONG MAJOR TRANSIT QUARTERS.
AND SO IT GIVES US THE OPTION OF DOING THAT.
IT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ALL ISSUES AROUND AFFORDABILITY AND IT'S NOT INTENDED TO, UM, IT'S INTENDED TO BE ONE PIECE OF THE, UM, RANGE OF OPTIONS THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT AND I'VE ALREADY BEGUN TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT, UM, THE REASON FOR GOING AHEAD, ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND MOVING FORWARD IS THAT, THAT SO THAT THIS ITEM CAN CATCH UP WITH AN ITEM THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION INITIATED A PROCESS OF LOOKING AT V1, THE EXISTING BMU, UM, THAT WILL BE COMING TO PLANNING COMMISSION IN DECEMBER.
SO PASSING THIS NOW WE'LL LET THIS OPTION OF AN ADDITIONAL HEIGHT FOR A VMU TO ALSO BE CONSIDERED BY PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE SAME TIME.
SO IT WILL CATCH UP THIS IDEA WITH THE IDEAS THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING SO THAT THEY CAN ALL COME BACK TO US.
UM, IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR AND MAYOR, I NEED TO NOTE THAT THERE'S A MISTAKE IN OUR VERSION WHERE WE HAD THIS COMING BACK ON JANUARY 1ST, THE INTENT WAS JANUARY 31ST BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO COME BACK TO US ON JANUARY 1ST.
SO THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE IT CATCH UP WITH THAT, AN ITEM WITH A PC IN DECEMBER, AND THEN COME BACK TO US JANUARY 1ST TO JANUARY 31ST HEARING SEEING NONE THAT CHANGES MADE, UH, CATHERINE ALICE, YOU HAD, UH, EARLIER, UH, INDICATED A DESIRE FOR POSTPONE.
WOULD YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT FIRST OR DO YOU WANT ME TO ADDRESS THE DIRECTION FIRST? I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT IT.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S THE SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSORS, I'VE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY OF TRYING TO DO A VM U2.
I DID WANT A LITTLE MORE TIME JUST BECAUSE WE ARE IN TWO WEEKS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOME HOUSING CONVERSATIONS AMONG US.
AND SO I FELT LIKE MAYBE IT WAS MORE, UH, EFFECTIVE TO DO THEM TOGETHER, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THAT WAS THE WILL OF THE DIAS AT THE POINT.
SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'VE PASSED OUT, UM, AS WELL, BECAUSE CALIBRATION WAS SOMETHING I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
UM, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS.
IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEEM LIKE THERE WAS TOO MUCH, UH, SUPPORT FOR POSTPONEMENT, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THESE EDITS.
I SORT OF SPEAK TO THAT REAL QUICKLY.
I JUST WANT TO REASSURE A COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS THAT THIS'LL ALL BE COMING BACK TO US FOR FURTHER CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY INITIATING THE PROCESS.
SO THERE'S CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND CONVERSATION WITH US.
AGAIN, IT HAS TO COME BACK TO US BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ADOPT ANY CHANGE.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UH, UM, UM, WORK ON THIS.
I'M GOING TO, TO, TO MOVE PASSAGE OF THE DIRECTION THAT'S BEEN HANDED OUT ON THE DYES.
IF THERE'S A SECOND TO THAT, THEN I'LL ADDRESS IT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT DIRECTION AS ARRIVA SECONDS? AND I APPRECIATE IT GUYS FROM YOUR KITCHEN, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THIS
[03:00:01]
DIRECTION, UH, DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING IN YOUR RESOLUTION.YOUR RESOLUTION STILL MOVES FORWARD.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE, THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABILITY THAT WE CAN GET.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGES IS GOING TO BE IN.
WE CERTAINLY HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE HIGHER.
AND THEN, AND HOW HIGH OR WHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE IS PART OF THE ANALYSIS.
AND I WAS WITH YOU ALL THE WAY ON THAT.
WHEN YOU MADE THE FURTHER AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE VM, YOU ONE TO CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE TO GO 10% MADE ME A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, CAUSE I'D RATHER IT BE 15% OR 20%, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE BASIS FOR THE 10% OR 15%.
WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE BRINGING US PROJECTS NOW AT THE 10%, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IF WE ASKED FOR 15, BUT THAT WE WOULD STILL GET THOSE SAME PROJECTS AND ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PROJECTS WE'RE NOT GETTING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MEET 10%.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH MANAGER OR CALIBRATION PROCESS ON THE VMU TOO, REGARDLESS.
I'M JUST SAYING ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VMU ONE, WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT CALIBRATING, LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT OATH.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD ASK FOR IN Q AND A REGARDLESS, IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
IT JUST ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL DATA FOR US.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER TTO.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT IS, AND CITY MANAGER I'M UNDERSTANDING THE INTENT OF IS, IS NOT TO SLOW DOWN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THIS PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO CATCH UP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN DECEMBER.
AND SO WE'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE FOLKS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE UNDERSTANDING I SEE YOU SAYING YES.
UM, I NEED TO ASK FOR SOME CLARIFICATION FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT, UM, ABOUT ONE OF YOUR LAST POINTS, BUT I, I WOULD SUGGEST AN EDIT TO THIS THAT I THINK IS MORE IN KEEPING WITH THE INTENT OF, OF WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AND THE CONVERSATION.
UH, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AFTER BMU ONE, WE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE TO SAY, TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT NO LESS THAN 10%.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE, I WOULD, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ACTUALLY DEFINING WHAT WE MEAN BY AFFORDABILITY HERE.
AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACHIEVING, WHAT I BELIEVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ACHIEVING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND I WOULD NOT WANT US TO SEE US.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE STARTING A PROCESS THAT RESULTS IN LESS THAN 10% SINCE THAT'S WHAT THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY HAS.
SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTED EDIT TO YOURS, TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
UH, THE CONCERN I HAVE WITH DOING THAT IS WHATEVER PERCENTAGE WE SAT, IF IT MEANS THAT WE'RE ONLY GETTING 10% OR 15% OR 20% OF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WE COULD GET IN THE CITY, IF WE SET THE PERCENTAGE AT A DIFFERENT PLACE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WE GET IN THE CITY.
UH, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS.
AND PROBABLY EACH TIME THERE'S A CALIBRATION EFFORT THAT GOES, IT'S GOING TO TELL US WE HAD TALKED AT ONE POINT AND I HOPE WE GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE CALIBRATING.
I KNOW ON A YEARLY BASIS OR SOME REGULAR BASIS, AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING JUST ABSOLUTELY THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS WE CAN POSSIBLY GET.
I KNOW THAT WHEN I LOOK AT RAINEY STREET, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I WISH WE HAD MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS THERE, AND I'M NOT SURE WE CALIBRATED THAT QUITE RIGHT.
UH, AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO.
SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR DATA AT THIS POINT.
AND IF DURING THE CALIBRATION PROCESS, THE STAFF COMES BACK AND SAYS, IN THIS PART OF TOWN, YOU SHOULD RUN IT AT 25%.
AND UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I WOULD WANT THAT DATA AND INFORMATION, BUT IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T CHANGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION AT ALL.
THE DATA THOUGH THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING IS ABOUT ACHIEVING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.
CAN WE AGREE ON THAT LANGUAGE? YES.
AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION IS THEN WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS ANALYSIS OF IT SOUNDS TO ME, THEN IT SOUNDS TO ME THEN, LIKE YOU WERE INTERESTED IN INFORMATION AND THAT'S ONE THING, BUT, BUT ARE YOU ALSO SUGGESTING THAT IN LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM IN YOUR MIND, IT MIGHT
[03:05:01]
MEAN LOOKING AT A LOWER PERCENTAGE THAN 10% FOR VERTICAL MIXED USE? BECAUSE THAT, THAT TO ME WOULD MEANT THAT TO ME WOULD BE A STEP BACKWARD, NOT A STEP FORWARD.AND I THINK THE UNITS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEW RIGHT NOW IS, IS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL, MAYBE THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, OUR ONLY SUCCESSFUL DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY BUILDING THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS ON SITE.
SO I, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US WALKING BACK OUR PERCENTAGE ON THOSE.
AND, AND AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING US EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM, NOT, UM, NOT WALK THEM BACK.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE WANT THIS TO, TO REACH GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
THE REASON I HAD LEVEL AS OPPOSED TO NUMBER WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VARIABLES THERE THERE'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS, IS IT 5%, 10%, 15%, 40% OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE DEPTH OF AFFORDABILITY.
IS IT UNDER 80%, UNDER 60%, UNDER 40%? AND THOSE ARE TRADE-OFFS.
I MEAN, IF I WANT TO SET IT AT UNDER 40%, I'M NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS THAN IF THE REQUIREMENT IS AT 80%, I'LL GET MORE UNITS, BUT I WON'T GET THE DEPTH OF AFFORDABILITY THAT I WOULD GET.
IF I SAID, LET'S MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF 40% UNITS.
SO THIS DATA I'M ASKING FOR, DOESN'T SET A PARAMETER.
IT JUST SAYS, COME BACK TO US WITH THE ANALYSIS ABOUT, UH, ABOUT LEVELS.
AND, AND, AND I AGREE VMU IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE THINGS THAT WE DO.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MAXIMIZING THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT WE, THAT WE CAN GET.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD, IF WE'D GET FIVE TIMES AS MUCH AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE CITY, IF WE WENT TO 9%, AS OPPOSED TO 10%, BUT IF WE COULD GET FIVE OR 10 TIMES AS MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS, IF WE DID THAT, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT, BUT WE CAN'T DISCUSS ANY OF THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION, THAT DATA.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR HERE.
UH, CATHERINE KELLY, I THINK WAS NEXT.
SO ARE WE STRICTLY TALKING ABOUT YOUR DIRECTION NOW? OKAY.
AFTER THAT, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO A POSSIBLE EMOTION SHEET THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD.
I, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
CAUSE I, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT STAFF KNOWS IT'S CLEAR THAT WE OBVIOUSLY WANT THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WILL POSSIBLY WORK FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WHEN WE GO THROUGH ZONING CASES AND, UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY NOT BUILD AS MUCH OR ANY AFFORDABLE UNITS IF WE DON'T GET THE CALIBRATION.
SO I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHERE I THINK COUNCIL'S INTENT IS, IS PRETTY CLEAR, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HAVE THE DATA COME BACK VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT POLICY DECISION TOGETHER AT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
I THINK WE ALL WANT IT TO BE AS HIGH AS IT CAN BE WITHOUT PEOPLE NOT BUILDING THE HOUSING THAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE POOL, YEAH, I'M LOOKING AT, UM, IS VERSION THREE.
THE ONE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE THREE OF FOUR, UM, AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, IT HAS THE 10% OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS, UM, FOR OCCUPANCY BY HOUSEHOLDS AT NO MORE THAN 80% OF THE MFI.
AND THEN I THINK DON'T YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, HAVE ANOTHER, YES.
DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN UNDER B ONE.
IT ALSO SAYS 10% FOR MFI AT 60%.
SO I THINK MAYOR TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY, WE DO HAVE THAT BAKED IN HERE ALREADY.
AND, BUT WE ARE SAYING THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE AT LEAST 10% IN BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AND MAYBE THE, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION CAN AND, AND, UH, ITEM CAN SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY TO THAT.
SHE HAS HER HAND UP, WELL, WE'LL GO THERE.
IT'S JUST, I'M NOT CHANGING ANYTHING.
I THINK WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ALREADY IN THE TEXT OF THE, UM, OF THE ITEM.
BUT THE DIRECTION OR THE, THE CONCERN WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE LEVELS OF MFI IN THE TEXT OF THE ITEM RESOLUTION AND THE PERCENTAGE IS TIED TO IT, RIGHT.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT PART OF THE CALIBRATION NEEDS TO BE, WELL, WHAT SHOULD IT BE IN SITTING THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE OF
WE JUST DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE ANYTHING.
APART FROM THAT, I JUST WANT A CALIBRATION
[03:10:01]
STUDY TO BE DONE ON THESE ISSUES SO THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND DATA.I MEAN, IF WE CAN GET 10 TIMES AS MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS AFTER 60%, IF WE DID 9%, AS OPPOSED TO 10%, BUT IT WILL RESULT IN OUR CITY GETTING 10 TIMES AS MANY UNITS.
OR IF WE CAN'T TELL THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT, UM, ALL I'M DOING IS JUST ASKING FOR INFORMATION, WHICH I WOULD DO REGARDLESS OF THIS DIRECTION.
BUT I THINK THE DIRECTION JUST MAKES ANNOUNCES TO THE PUBLIC THAT, THAT THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WILL BE SOUGHT.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, I HEAR THAT THIS KIND OF WORK WOULD BE DONE BY OUR STAFF ANYWAY.
SO IT COULD BE THAT YOUR DIRECTION IS SIMPLY RESTATING WHAT ANALYSIS WOULD TAKE PLACE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS, THAT YOUR DIRECTION IS NOT INITIATING A, AN ORDINANCE CHANGE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND IT IS NOT CHANGING WHAT WE ARE INITIATING.
I MEAN, CAUSE YOU'RE SPEAKING TO VMU ONE, NOT VMU TWO, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UM, AND YOU'RE NOT INITIATING A, AN ORDINANCE CHANGE TO VM WANT BMU ONE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
NOR AM I ASKING FOR A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE AND VIEW ONE CHANGE THAT YOU ARE IN.
SO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU SAY AS PART OF, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF DOESN'T READ THIS AS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THIS ANALYSIS AND BRING YOU BACK TO THE DATA BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THIS INITIATION OF THE ORDINANCE CHANGE.
I HAD ASSUMED THAT WHEN THEY CALCULATE THE PERCENTAGE TO BE DETERMINED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF CALIBRATION PROCESS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING BROADENS THE SCOPE SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD TAKE THEM LONGER.
UH, STAFF, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.
ROSIE TREE LIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, I THINK IF WE DID HAVE TO RUN THE CALIBRATION AS THE MAYOR'S REQUESTING, IT WOULD PROBABLY EXTEND OUR TIMELINE.
SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD, WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE MAYBE IS THAT WE MAINTAIN THE, THE PATH THAT, UH, HAS BEEN LAID OUT IN THE RESOLUTION WITH THE REVISED, UM, RESPOND BACK BY DATE AND, AND LOOK AT, UM, A LONGER TIMELINE TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE MAYOR IS ASKING FOR MAYOR THAT WOULD WORK FOR ME.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT THAT BECAUSE THEN I MAY WANT TO SPLIT THEN THE VMU TO CHANGE THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PLUS THIS OTHER CHANGE.
SO LET ME, LET ME SEE WHETHER, AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE OTHER CHANGE TO VMU ONE ON NOVEMBER 30TH, BUT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHANGE TO CMU AS YOU HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
CAN WE DO THAT? THAT MIGHT GIVE US MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.
YEAH, I THINK HE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A CODE CHANGE INITIATED THAT'S AT PC RIGHT NOW, UM, ON BMU ONE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO US IN JANUARY ALSO.
SO THERE ARE, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS AND PC THE PLANNING COMMISSION INITIATED THAT CODE AMENDMENT.
SO I WAS JUST ALIGNING WITH THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN HERE.
I MEAN, WE CAN REVERT TO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IF THAT'S A CONCERN FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'LL JUST DEAL WITH VMU ONE.
WHEN THAT COMES TO US FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, OR WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AGAIN WITH THE ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS, TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, IT COULD EASILY BE ON NOVEMBER 30TH AND IT MAKES SENSE TO EVERYBODY TO MOVE FORWARD.
I DO NOT WANT TO POSTPONE THIS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO NO, NO.
I'M SAYING MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR ORIGINAL SOCIAL, WITH RESPECT TO VMU TOO.
LET'S NOT MAKE THE CHANGES WITH RESPECT TO VMU ONE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE ON NOVEMBER 30TH.
CAUSE WE COULD DECIDE AS A GROUP, HEY, LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I WAS ALL SET I'M WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THE VMU TOO.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CALENDAR.
WELL, I ALSO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT IT IS I DON'T WANT TO, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON, ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH VMU ONE.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD INTERCEDE UNTIL THEY BRING US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING US ON.
SO I THINK YOU COULD ASK FOR DATA NOW, LIKE YOU'RE ASKING FOR, AND THEN THAT DATA WITH THE TIMELINE THAT ROSIE'S TALKING TO US THAT MIGHT COME TO US LATER IN JANUARY.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE IT TO REVIEW IF YOU WANTED TO, AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE REVIEWING WHAT? THE PLANNING COMMISSION SPRING.
AND THAT WOULD WORK WITH ME TOO.
SO IF WE COULD JUST DO THEN YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION WITHOUT THE VMU ONE CHANGES, LET'S NOT SLOW DOWN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S WORK, BUT STAFF, AS YOU'RE DOING THE CALIBRATION, CAN YOU HAVE THAT DATA BACK? UH, AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO GET THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THOSE WILL BE THE SAME QUESTIONS I'LL BE ASKING THEN.
SO IF WE COULD BE GETTING THAT DATA IN THE MEANTIME SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ACT THE VERY
[03:15:01]
FIRST TIME WE GET THIS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT'LL BE, THAT'LL BE HELPFUL.IS THAT WORK? MIRA, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE VMU ONE PIECES BECAUSE WE'RE CREATING VMU TWO AND VMU ONE IS THERE IS LIKE, DON'T GO LOWER THAN VMU ONE.
I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CHANGED ON BMU ONE.
UNLESS I GET SOMETHING IN THE, YEAH.
YOU WANT ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS? LET ME, LET ME, SO YOU GO FROM 10 TO FIVE AND 80 TO 60 WITH RESPECT TO VMU ONE IN THIS.
NO, THE EIGHTIES, THE SIXTIES ALREADY THERE.
AND I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE FOR THE CONFUSION ON IT.
IF YOU LOOK AT VERSION THREE PAGE.
IF YOU LOOK AT VERSION THREE, PAGE THREE, WHERE THERE'S A CROSS OUT OF 5% TO 10, WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE WERE PICKING UP WHAT'S COMING TO US FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BUT WHAT IT SAYS IN CODE RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO
AND THEN YOU SEE RIGHT UNDER IT, THE CROSS STOUT PARK, IN ADDITION, 5% FOR THE 99 YEARS, THAT'S AN EXISTING CODE.
SO IF YOU JUST, IF WE JUST CHANGE THAT 10 BACK TO FIVE AT THE TOP OF PAGE THREE, THEN WE'LL BE, THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO CHANGE IN THIS VERSION THREE, TO TAKE IT BACK TO EXISTING CODE FOR VMU ONE, WE WOULD HAVE TO ALSO PUT IN THE I SECTION, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT IN IT'S AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT TAKING IT OUT, IT'S IN, IN THE EXISTING.
IT LOOKS LIKE, YEAH, NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'D HAVE TO, JUST WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CROSS OUT OUT OF THAT.
I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AT LEAST THIS AND MORE AS IT COMES BACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I JUST WANT US TO HAVE DATA WHEN WE MAKE THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES.
SO, SO WHAT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS, IS, IS OKAY WITH, AT THIS POINT IS LET'S MAKE THE CHANGES IN THIS THAT RELATE TO VMU TO LET'S KEEP THE LANGUAGES TO VMU ONE, THE SAME AS EXISTING CODE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS ON NOVEMBER 30TH STAFF, IF YOU MANAGER, IF YOU COULD DO THAT MATH ANALYSIS.
SO ROSIE, WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN JANUARY, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HAVE DATA FOR US TO LOOK AT COWS.
IS IT ARE PEOPLE OKAY WITH MAKING THAT CHANGE? HOW'S OUR AUTHOR.
SO THIS IS JUST, JUST CHANGING IT WITH RESPECT TO THE OWNERSHIP PIECE, RIGHT? IT'S ONLY OWNERSHIP AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING 60% IS ALREADY THE EXISTING CODE LANGUAGE.
RIGHT? SO WHAT WE SEE DOWN IN THE BLUE, UM, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS, WHAT IS EXISTING CODE WITH RESPECT TO THIS? WHAT'S IN BLUE ON ONE.
OH, YOU MEAN WITH RESPECT TO RENTAL? YES.
I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS, BUT THE V NOW IS SET AT 60 FOR RENTAL.
SO WHAT IS THE 80% THAT'S CROSSED OUT? OKAY.
SO WHEN, WHEN V WAS ESTABLISHED, THE NEIGHBORHOODS COULD CHOOSE TO SET IT AT 60 OR 80 AND THEY SET IT AT 60.
SO THAT'S WHY WE JUST CAPTURED WHAT'S ON V TRACKS RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS 60.
THAT'S WHAT CODE SAYS RIGHT NOW CODE SAYS 60.
SO, SO, SO WHAT I WAS PROPOSING WAS WITHOUT HAVING TO, CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF, I SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGES WITH RESPECT TO VMU TO THE ADD PERCENTAGE, TO BE DETERMINED TO VMU U2, BUT AS CONCERNED, VMU ONE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EXISTING LANGUAGE AS IT APPEARS IN THE CODE NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH PIECES NEED TO MOVE TO DO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTIMA, WHATEVER IT IS THAT MAINTAINS VMU ONE, THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SUBJECT TO US.
HAVING A DISCUSSION IS ON NOVEMBER 30TH, SUBJECT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BRINGING US SOMETHING BACK.
I REMEMBER ALTER ALL OF THAT, BUT IF, IF WHEN THEY DO THE ANALYSIS FOR BMU TOO, IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU COULD DO BETTER ON VMU ONE.
I'M ASSUMING THEY WOULD, HE WOULD SURFACE.
I WOULD WANT THEM TO DO THAT CAUSE WE KNOW IT'S COMING ANYHOW AND WE WANT TO BE MAXIMIZING AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY.
I JUST, MY SENSE IS WE'RE IN AGREEMENT ON THE BIAS ON THIS THING, UH, CASTLE OVER TOVO I THINK WHERE I'M GETTING CONFUSED IS THAT RENTAL CURRENTLY WITHIN THE EXISTING BMI VMU RENTAL IS CURRENTLY AT 10%.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP PART OF IT AT THE TOP WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT OWNERSHIP.
[03:20:01]
IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW IT SAYS FIVE AT 80 AND FIVE AT A HUNDRED.AND SO WE'RE REVERTING BACK TO THE, TO THE LANGUAGE AS IT IS NOW, WHICH IS FIVE AT 80 AND FIVE AT A HUNDRED.
I'M JUST LOOKING GUN AT B, BUT WE ARE GOING TO RETAIN THE CHANGES TWO 60 IN B ONE, CORRECT? BECAUSE THE EXISTING CODE, WELL, THE EXISTING CODE ALREADY DOES ALLOW FOR IT TO BE SICK.
UH, IF, IF THE EXISTING CODE SAYS 60%, WE'LL USE THAT.
IF THE EXISTING CODE SAYS 80%, WE USE THAT.
IF THE EXISTING CODES IS 60 TO 80%, WE'LL USE THAT.
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO EXISTING CODE, WHATEVER IT IS THAT EXISTING CODE IS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT HERE WITH THIS, EXCEPT AS THE VMU TWO, AND THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DON'T, I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
I THINK MAYOR, I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR RATIONALE FOR, FOR WANTING TO KEEP IT AT EXISTING CODE.
I WOULD SAY WITH REGARD TO THE 60 OR 80 WITH RENTAL, THE EXISTING CODE ALREADY ALLOWS AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID THE EXISTING CODE ALREADY ALLOWED FOR GROUPS TO GO DOWN TO 60%.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE CALIBRATION TO SUGGEST THAT THAT'S, THAT IS VIABLE.
RIGHT? AND SO SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AT 60, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS OPTED IN AT 80, BUT THE EXISTING CODE ALLOWED FOR EITHER ONE AND THE RATIONALE AND THE BASIS FOR SETTING THOSE PERCENTAGES ALLOWED FOR IT TO GO TO 60.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT IN THAT CASE WITH REGARD TO THE 60, I THINK, BUT DOESN'T, IT ALSO ALLOW IT TO GO FOR 80 AND IN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS THEY'VE ELECTED TO GO TO HAITI.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS IT'S NOT, I THINK YOU WERE SAYING WE NEEDED TO HAVE A FULLER CONVERSATION ABOUT CALIBRATION BEFORE MAKING CHANGES TO BMU.
MY POINT IS THAT KIND OF WORK AND THOUGHT HAPPENED BEFORE 60 AND 80 WERE SET, BUT I THOUGHT YOU SAID SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE CHOSEN TO GO TO 80.
IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO PRECLUDE, I DON'T WANT TO PRECLUDE BY THE CHANGE HERE.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO ACT AS IT CURRENTLY ALLOWED UNDER OUR, OUR ORDINANCES.
I'M SAYING THAT I'M SAYING THAT SINCE THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL QUESTION POSED TO NEIGHBORHOODS WAS 60 OR 80 AND THERE WAS A VIABLE BASIS FOR THAT LOWER NUMBER AND MANY NEIGHBORHOODS OPTED INTO THAT LOWER NUMBER.
AND SOME THAT OPTED INTO A HIGHER NUMBER HAVE ACTUALLY SAID, THEY WISHED THEY HAD OPTED INTO A LOWER NUMBER, BUT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T SET.
I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT I FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE MAKING THAT POLICY CHANGE.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE NEED ADDITIONAL OR THAT POLICY DIRECT THAT DIRECTION TO MAKE THAT POLICY CHANGE AND COME BACK TO US WITH THAT OPTION AT 60 OR NOT THAT OPTION THAT REQUIREMENT AT 60, NOT ANY LONGER AT 80.
UM, AND I, AND THE WORK THAT'S, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE STUDY ON THAT POINT BECAUSE THE STUDY ALREADY HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE BME PROCESS.
SO I JUST, I THINK THERE'S A REAL RATIONAL BASIS FOR JUST SAYING AT THIS POINT, LET'S, LET'S USE THE PCS CONVERSATION.
LET'S USE THE SUBSTANTIAL HISTORY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WITH BMU IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THE FACT THAT MANY NEIGHBORHOODS PICKED 60 AND IT'S, AND IT'S GONE WELL AT 60, LET'S JUST MAKE IT 60 FOR EVERYBODY.
AND I HEAR THAT I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
THERE WAS NO NOTICE FOR THAT, WHAT WE WERE NOTICED ON WHAT WAS POSTED WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT, OR IT WAS THE CHANGES TO VMU TOO.
SO I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AND ALLOWING US TO HOLD OFF ON ANY CHANGES TO THE CODE RELATED WITH THE BMW.
SO THAT MEANS THAT LANGUAGE WOULD GO, WE'D SAY 60 TO 80 IS WHAT IT WOULD SAY TO REFLECT THE CURRENT CODE.
BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY HAS, ARE A TOPO THAT I NOT FOUND A SUPPORT GOING TO 60%.
I JUST WANT US TO HAVE SOME TIME MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT THE EVENT THAT, AND ULTIMATELY THE TAKE THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE BASE MOTION TO BE THE CHANGES TO VMU TO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR AMENDMENTS.
I HOPE THIS IS NOT INCREDIBLY CONFUSING, BUT WE'RE JUST, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT TIP PAGE THREE HERE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORTH A MOTION SHEET WITH TWO POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO THE, UM, THE RESOLUTION.
UM, AND THE TOP PART HERE, THE FIRST MOTION, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO CLARIFY WHERE THE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS COULD BE BUILT, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE TO, AND DEVELOPERS MORE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPROACH FUTURE PROJECTS.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF A MAP SO THAT WE CAN VISUALLY SEE WHERE THESE, UM, DEVELOPMENTS MIGHT GO WITH THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE CITY.
AND I WANT TO HELP CREATE CLARIFICATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VIEW ONE AND VIEW TWO FOR BOTH STAFF AND THOSE BUILDING IN AUSTIN AND IN
[03:25:01]
THE FUTURE.AND THEN THE BOTTOM PART WHERE I HAVE THE CHANGE OF THE DATE TO MARCH 1ST, 2022 INSTEAD OF JANUARY IS BECAUSE I KNOW DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, OUR COMMISSIONS DON'T MEET AS OFTEN OR PEOPLE MAY HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS.
AND THIS WOULD JUST ALLOW TIME FOR ADDITIONAL INPUT.
WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO READ IT TO THE RECORD OR IS THIS, COULD I HAVE IT, UH, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND READ IT ONCE, JUST BECAUSE THERE PROBABLY BEEN NOT AS, HAVE YOU GIVEN US TO THE CLERK, HAS THIS BEEN POSTED YET? IT HAS BEEN SENT TO CASEY IN THE AGENDA OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN EMAILED OUT YET THOUGH.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND READ IT.
SO AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 52, FIRST MOTION, I MOVED AT LIONS 83 THROUGH 88 ON PAGE FOUR, BE AMENDED TO READ THE CITY MANAGER SHALL CALIBRATE AN AFFORDABLE UNIT PERCENTAGE LEVEL FOR VMU TWO FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE CODE AMENDMENT PROCESS, THIS CALIBER OR THE CALIBRATION SHALL INCLUDE CONSIDERATIONS OF COST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VMU ONE BMU TWO AND TO M F SIX COST CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE THE COST TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS DIFFERENCES IN BUILDING COSTS AND THE EFFECTIVE COST OF COMPATIBILITY AND OTHER CODE REQUIREMENTS.
STAFF SHALL ADD A MAP OF LOCATIONS WHERE VMU TWO CAN BE CONSIDERED BASED ON ASM P CORRIDOR LEVELS, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE, AS WELL AS THE TRANSIT PRIORITY STREET NETWORK, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THEN I MOVED AT LINES 1 0 1 AND 1 0 2 ON PAGE FOUR, BE AMENDED TO READ THE CITY MANAGERS SHALL BRING THESE CODE AMENDMENTS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION BY MARCH 1ST, 2022.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER, ALICE THAT GETS IT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR COUNSELOR KELLY, THE FIRST CHANCE TO ARGUE FOR HER AMENDMENT.
I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS WOULD HELP US CLARIFY WHERE THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD BE BUILT.
UM, THE RESOLUTION THIS MORNING WAS, UH, AMENDED AND BROUGHT BACK FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK IT ALLOWED REALLY FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS HAPPENED AROUND IT.
AND I'VE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHO FEEL THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO ADD IN OR GIVE BACK FEEDBACK ON HOW THIS COULD FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO BY BRINGING FORWARD THIS MOTION SHEET, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE COULD INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
UM, I CAN SPEAK TO THESE TWO SEPARATELY.
I CANNOT ACCEPT EITHER ONE OF THEM.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN, UH, EXPLAIN WHY THE SECOND ONE DOESN'T MATCH THE TIMELINE, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, UH, BRINGING THIS CODE BACK BY MARCH OF 2020 TO BRING IN VMU TO BACK AT THAT TIME MISSES THE WINDOW OF CATCHING UP THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BMU ONE THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING AT PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO SEPARATE THEM THAT WAY.
AND SO ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS, IS ADDING THE OPTION FOR HEIGHT TO 90 FEET.
AND IT HAS TO COME BACK TO US.
IT WILL GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION PROCESS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO I REALLY, I JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THE CHANGE TO MARCH THAT'S TOO LATE.
WE NEED TO GET WORKING ON THIS.
THE SECOND ONE, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY FIRST OFF.
I W I, I'M NOT QUITE SURE TO ME, THAT SOUNDS MORE LIKE YOU'RE ASKING FOR INFORMATION, WHICH IS MORE ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE MAYOR'S DOING IS ASKING FOR, ASKING FOR INFORMATION.
I WOULD NOT PUT THIS INTO IT'S REALLY GOING BEYOND THE SCOPE.
I THINK I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING A LOT OF PARAMETERS ON CALIBRATING ON SETTING 10% VERSUS SOME HIGHER PERCENTAGE.
I THINK THAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO SOME KIND OF DIRECTION, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
UM, IN THE, UM, IN THE DOCUMENT, IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT, I MEAN, STAFF WILL, STAFF WILL GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND CONSIDER WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THEM AND THE PROCESS IN THE PROCESS.
I DON'T WANT TO ADD THIS OTHER, UM, THESE OTHER DETAILS, AND I'D RATHER YOU BE THINKING IN TERMS OF DIRECTION FOR DATA ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT THE MAYOR DID.
I CAN'T SUPPORT, UM, WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UM, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE A REALLY MASSIVE ASSIGNMENT TO STAFF ACTUALLY THAT WOULD TAKE, UM, CONSIDERABLE EFFORT.
AND I GUESS IF STAFF WERE ALREADY WORKING ON A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, THEY MIGHT HAVE THE TIME AND THE RESOURCES TO PUT TOWARD THIS, BUT I, I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS FORWARDS, UH, THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE WITH AFFORDABILITY.
IN FACT, IT STRIKES ME THAT, THAT IN FACT, THIS MAY
[03:30:01]
BE INTENDED TO SLOW DOWN OUR OFFERING OF, UH, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.SO I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AT ALL, NOT EVEN AS DIRECTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE.
I THINK THE POINTS IN THIS AMENDMENT ARE WELL-TAKEN.
UM, I SEE BOTH THE BENEFIT OF TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE VM TWO PROCESS WITH PLANNING COMMISSION, WITH THE VMU ONE THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IF THE VMU ONE CONVERSATION'S ALREADY HAD A HEADSTART, HOW, HOW THERE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH VMU TO, IN, IN A MUCH QUICKER MANNER BEFORE WE GET BACK FROM, UM, FROM OUR DECEMBER BREAK.
BUT I, I THINK THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL MAPPING, I THINK COULD BE HUGELY IMPACTFUL FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TYPES OF IMPLICATIONS, UM, MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME FROM THIS.
SO I, AND I THINK THE CALIBRATION, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT IT WAS THAT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
AND SO I JUST, I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE'S CONFLICT ON IT FOR THIS PARTICULAR STATEMENT, BUT I THINK THESE POINTS ARE ALL WELL-TAKEN UM, I'M ALL FOR MAPS.
WE HAVE THEM ALL OVER THE OFFICE AND THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL, BUT I THINK THAT GIVEN THAT THIS WOULD BE A ZONING IN PROCESS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIFIC TO REALLY SPECIFIC TRACKS.
IF SOMEBODY JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST BUILT A VMU BUILDING, THEN I THINK HIGHLIGHTING IT ON A MAP THAT IT COULD BE VM U2.
DOESN'T TO ME, IT MAY NOT TELL THE FULL STORY BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO GO AND ASK FOR VMU TO WHERE SOMEONE JUST BUILT A VMU BUILDING AND THEN LOOKING AT THE CORRIDOR LEVELS.
I THINK THAT'S GENERALLY WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT IT.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE CASES WHERE IT'S NOT A DOESN'T MAP, RIGHT ON FOR EXAMPLE, THE WINDSOR PARK VILLAGE FOLKS THAT JUST CAME FORWARD TO US, IT HAPPENS TO BE ON A LEVEL TWO STREET.
UM, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKED ON AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR VMU, BUT IT WOULDN'T ACTUALLY FALL WITHIN ONE OF THESE STREET LEVELS.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THE BUSINESS, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND TALK ABOUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT I'M WORRIED THAT THIS KIND OF A MAP MAY ACTUALLY NOT TEACH US WHAT WE NEED, WHAT I THINK FOLKS MAY WANT TO LEARN FROM IT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTAIR, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UM, SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AS AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES US FROM DOING FURTHER CALIBRATION OF BONUS PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE, UM, CITYWIDE IN SOME MANNER ON MY CO-SPONSOR ON THIS ITEM.
AND WHERE WE LANDED WAS TO TRY TO MAKE THIS TO BE USABLE, UM, WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RIGOR MORALE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED SO THAT IT COULD BE PUT IN MOTION SOONER.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS COMING IN FOR MF SIX ZONING, UM, OFFERING TO DO CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, WHICH IS COMPLICATED UNDER THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE FOR APPROACHING ZONING.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE PROVIDING A MECHANISM THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED EVEN WITHOUT POTENTIALLY, UM, A WHOLE ZONING PROCESS, WHICH MAKES IT EASIER TO GET IT UP ON THE GROUND.
IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN THE CODE.
IT IS A PIECE OF IT THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE GENERAL AGREEMENT WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY COMPLICATED SET OF CONVERSATIONS IF OUR GOAL IS TO DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, UM, AND DO EVERY PIECE, UM, TRYING TO MAXIMIZE EVERY LITTLE BIT, UM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND I WOULD RATHER SEE US, UM, TAKE OFF THOSE BITE SIZED PIECES THAT WE CAN GET AND GET SOMETHING DONE INSTEAD OF NOT MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHERE KELLY LOOKED LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAD SOMETHING SHE WANTED TO SAY, IS IT OKAY IF SHE GOES FIRST? IF YOU WANT TO PASS OUT, I CAN COME BACK TO YOU.
UM, AND I, MY SENSE IS THAT THERE ARE REAL GOOD THINGS IN HERE FOR US TO CONSIDER.
I THINK THAT BY GOING BACK TO WHERE WE HAD GONE BACK TO, IT'S VERY SIMPLE, AND IT'S JUST SAYING, HEY, WITH RESPECT TO VM TOO, LET'S CREATE THAT BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY MISSING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND FIX THINGS LATER, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE PRESENTLY MISSING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO FOR THE SAME REASON, I PULLED DOWN MY DIRECTION WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN ALLOWED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE BECAUSE I THINK THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN DURING THE CALIBRATION PROCESS ANYHOW, BUT I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION FOR US TO TALK ABOUT ON THE 30TH, HOW WE CALIBRATE AND THAT KIND OF THING.
[03:35:01]
I THINK THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HERE WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DISCUSS AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION ON THE 30TH.BUT NOW THAT IT'S BEEN NOW THAT WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED DOWN ON WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN IS BRINGING I'M OKAY.
MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT, JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS.
IT JUST SAYS, LET'S DO THIS TOOL BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE LOSE MORE THAN WE KNOW WE'VE LOST BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN HERE WITH THE SF SIX, UNABLE TO ACTUALLY REALLY TO GIVE US THE AFFORDABILITY IN A WAY THAT WE COULD ENFORCE WITHOUT DOING THIRD-PARTY AGREEMENTS, WHICH CREATE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS FOR US.
BUT I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THESE THOUGHTS AT OUR DISCUSSION ON NOVEMBER 30TH.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS AND MY STATEMENTS.
I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THE CODE'S COMPLICATED.
IT'S TWO YEARS OLDER THAN I AM.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE US BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN A FORUM WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND CREATE SOLUTIONS.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH JUST BRINGING THIS BACK THEN ON THE 30TH? ARE YOU, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? ARE YOU OKAY WITH US INSTALLING THIS TO 30? OKAY.
SO LET'S JUST DOWN TO THE BASE MOTION.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO YEAH, I, I HAD, UM, I HAD SOME COMMENTS ON IT, ON THE MOTION.
THAT'S NOW THE AMENDMENT THAT'S NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN, BUT I JUST WANT TO, BUT I'M GOING TO TURN THEM INTO A MORE GENERAL COMMENT.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH, WITH THE CODE AMENDMENTS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE THAT WE HAVE BROAD CONSENSUS ON ACROSS THE DIOCESE.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE MOVING.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THEM AND I'M EXCITED.
UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT RECOGNIZED AS BOTH AN IMMEDIATE NEED AND, AND ONE AGAIN, AROUND THERE'S AROUND WHICH THERE'S BROAD CONSENSUS.
I THINK THERE'S BROAD CONSENSUS AROUND SOME OF THE CHANGES WITH REGARD TO ADU, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH, UM, THE ITEM THAT WAS PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
AND, AND YOU MAY, OR ABOUT THAT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LOTS OF TIMES ABOUT ADDING RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.
I WOULD SAY I HOPE THAT WE WILL BEGIN WITH THOSE PLACES OF AGREEMENT.
WHAT CONCERNS ME, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN YOURS IS THAT IT'S TYING IT'S AGAIN, TYING SOME, SOME WHAT WILL BE REGARDED AS SOME PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THAT, TO, UH, SOME ITEMS IN THE LAND DEVELOP WHERE THAT MIRED US, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE START TYING THINGS TO TRANSIT PRIORITY CORRIDORS AND, AND DESIGNATIONS THAT WERE MADE OUTSIDE OF ZONING CHANGES, I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO END UP IN THAT SAME CYCLE WHERE, UM, WE ARE AT LOGGERHEADS WITH MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD BE CHANGED BY THESE.
SO I WOULD JUST REALLY CAUTION US.
LET'S LET'S SEE HOW MUCH WORK WE CAN GET DONE AROUND THOSE POINTS OF CONSENSUS.
AND, AND, UM, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE BACK TO THAT WITH REGARD TO THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION GOT SMARTHOME.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, I THINK, AS INTENDED BY ALL OF US.
AND I THINK MOST OF US NOW HAVE WEIGHED IN, ON THE, ON THE MESSAGE BOARD OR WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO FIND ON THE 30TH OR THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN GET, UH, UH, AGREEMENT TO.
UH, AND, UH, WE'LL TRY TO COME UP WITH A GOOD PROCESS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR, THE BULK OF OUR TIME ON WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION AS AMENDED IS IN FRONT OF US NOW BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED MAYOR PRO TEM, ARE YOU WITH US VOTING AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT ON THIS ONE THAT, UH, IT PASSES, UH, 10 ZERO WITH A MAYOR PRO TEM OFF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ENTRY HAS GONE AS WELL.
THOSE ARE ALL OUR ITEMS EXCEPT FOR ZONING AND THE ONE PUBLIC HEARING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
SO, UH, WE WANT TO GET TO, UH, SPEAKERS, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO SPEAKERS, WE'RE
[Items 73 & 74]
GOING TO FIRST HANDLE THE POSTPONEMENT DISCUSSION ON ITEM 73 AND 74.IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM UH, JERRY RESTAURANT WITH THE HOUSING PLAN DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE DO HAVE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST ON ITEMS 73 AND 74.
THOSE ARE MPA 20 1922 0.01, AS WELL AS SEE, 20, 20 0 1 47 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 200 ACADEMY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT TO JANUARY 27TH.
THE APPLICANT DISAGREES WITH THAT AND IS AGREEABLE TO A POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 2ND INSTEAD.
AS IS OUR PRACTICE WITH RESPECT TO POSTPONEMENTS ON ZONING CASES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE PERSON SPEAK IN FAVOR OF IT.
IN WORDS, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM TWO PEOPLE.
UH, I THINK WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOMEONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
[03:40:01]
TO SPEAK AND THEN THE APPLICANT TO, UH, TO SPEAK.UH, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO POSTPONE IF IT'S POSTPONED, THEN WE, THOSE SPEAKERS THAT ARE LINED UP DON'T NEED TO BE WITH US.
UH, IF IT'S NOT POSTPONED, THEN, THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE, ARE GIVEN A CHANCE TO, TO SPEAK.
UM, WHO DO WE CALL FIRST? THE, UH, I GUESS THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAY INITIATED THE, UH, THE REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER? WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN? IT SOUNDS AS IF THERE'S AN AGREEMENT AT THIS POINT TO DO A POSTPONEMENT.
SO IT SOUNDS AS IF THE REAL ISSUE IS, IS IT IN DECEMBER OR IS IT IN JANUARY? YEAH, UH, YEAH, WE, WE WANT, UH, WE, WE WOULD LIKE MORE TIME TO INFORM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I'M BRIAN BD AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE SINCE 1979.
AND I'VE PLAYED IN ANY NUMBER OF LEGENDARY AUSTIN MUSIC CLUBS THAT, UH, NO LONGER EXIST.
I'M A RECORD PRODUCER, A SINGER SONGWRITER, AND I DO SIDEMAN WORK, UH, PRODUCED A NUMBER OF RECORDS AT ARLAND STUDIOS, THE RECORDING STUDIO AT 200 ACADEMY.
AND I PLAYED AT THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE IN ITS LAST ITERATION.
SO I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AUSTIN MUSIC, AUSTIN HISTORY, AND AUSTIN MUSIC HISTORY, BUT I OPPOSED BRINGING THE OPERA HOUSE BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UH, I'M, UH, REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 73 AND 74 AT 200 ACADEMY DRIVE IS ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT FOR THE JANUARY 27TH MEETING.
IT'S OUR FIRST, UH, REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT IN THESE CASES.
UH, WE THINK, UH, THE CASES AND PROPOSED USES ARE PROBLEMATIC AND THREATENED TO CREATE COMPLETE CHAOS IN THIS SMALL COMPACT AREA OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH VERY UNIQUE TYPOGRAPHY.
UM, I LIVED DIRECTLY ACROSS ACADEMY DRIVE FROM THE ONLY EXIT AND ENTRANCE TO THE PROPOSED VENUE.
UH, THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE AREA OR AN HOUR OR AN HOUR OUT OF SCALE WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE IS SUITABLE FOR THE UNUSUAL LOCATION OF THE TRACT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF INGRESS AND EGRESS AND ANY MAIN THOROUGHFARES AND THE CONSTANT MINI FESTIVAL SIZE CROWDS AT A CLUB LIKE THE OPERA HOUSE MAY DRAW.
UH, SO THERE ARE LOTS OF IMPACTED PROPERTY OWNERS, AND WE WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THE TIA PROPERLY ADDRESSED THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC TO BE EXPECTED WITH THE VENUE OF THIS SIZE AND TO SOLICIT INPUT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL SO WE CAN BRING FORWARD ANY CONCERNS AND RETURN TO THE APPLICANT AND COUNSEL WITH A SOLUTIONS AND COUNTER PROPOSALS THAT CAN MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT WORKABLE AT THE SITE.
AND, UH, JUST THE HOLIDAY SEASON RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT'S, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT WORK BEFORE THE SECOND.
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO, UH, THE, UH, THE 27TH IS REALLY WHAT WE'D PREFER.
I JUST WANT TO ZERO IN ON THE REASONS AS THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S AGREEMENT, IS THAT ACCURATE THERE'S AGREEMENT ON A POSTPONEMENT, JUST A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME COULD YOU TRY TO JUST ZERO IN ON THE REASONS WHY YOU NEED THAT ADDITIONAL TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THE SECOND IS CERTAINLY WOULD ONLY GIVE YOU A REALLY A COUPLE OF DAYS BY THE TIME YOU FACTOR OUT THANKSGIVING, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE MEETING IN DECEMBER.
SO YOU COULD TALK, CAN YOU, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND BETTER, UM, THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO DO IF IT'S POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY? A LOT OF IT IS JUST THE PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING, UH, W WE DON'T THINK THE TIA PROPERLY ADDRESSED THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT BETTER OURSELVES AND ALSO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE KNOW OF A NOW A SURPRISING NUMBER OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CONTACT SOME PEOPLE.
AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO, UH, JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT YET.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE COULD, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD DO IT ON THE NINTH, BUT THAT WOULD BE THAT STILL WOULD BE JUST THE TAIL END OF THE, UH, HOLIDAY THING.
AND, UH, WE WERE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, YOU KNOW, MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF IT, BUT, UH, WE STILL FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF RUSHED AT THIS POINT, CONSIDERING HOW MANY QUESTIONS THERE ARE, UH, TO US AND MR. BDI, I ASSUME.
UM, AND I SAY SOME OF YOUR OTHER NEIGHBORS HERE TODAY, TOO.
I ASSUME THAT IF YOU'RE GRANTED THIS POSTPONEMENT, THAT YOU ALL WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT AND TRYING TO FIND LET'S CONTINUE, YES, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES AND, UH, UH, IT
[03:45:01]
HASN'T, I MEAN, WHAT WE'VE DONE OUR OBJECTION, OUR ONLY OBJECTION IS TO THE VENUE, UH, AND THE APPLICANT, EH, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF COMPROMISES THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO MAKE WITH THE NUMBER OF, UH, RESIDENTIAL, BUT, UH, THAT WOULD GO THERE.WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PLENTY MORE RESIDENTIAL, WE THINK, BUT THE, UH, APPLICANT HAS NEVER MADE ANY MOVE ON.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE OBJECT TO, WHICH IS THE VENUE ITSELF AND THE SIZE OF THE VENUE.
AND SO WE CAN JUST, UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE MERITS OF THE CASE, BUT YOU ARE COMMITTED YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING DURING THAT TIME WITH THE PARDON.
WE WANT TO KEEP CONTINUE WORKING FOR SUPER THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
I, UH, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED CAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THIS REQUEST UNTIL YESTERDAY AT 11:30 AM, BUT I'M RICHARD WEISS AND I HAVE BEEN A MUSICIAN AND ARCHITECT IN AUSTIN, SPECIALIZING IN THEATERS, MUSIC, VENUES, HOUSING AND PRESERVATION FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
LAST TIME I CAME BEFORE YOU WAS FOR A ZONING CASE IN THE HYDE PARK NCCD FOR THE BAKER SCHOOL.
THIS TIME IS TO BRING BACK THE HISTORIC AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE WITH A RESIDENTIAL BUFFER TO THE FAIRVIEW PARK NCCD.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON WHY WE DID NOT WANT TO DELAY THIS CASE AN ADDITIONAL 10 WEEKS PER THE NEIGHBORHOOD REQUEST.
WE DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS REQUEST, EXCEPT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY GET ONE.
WHEN WE FIRST MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP IN APRIL OF 2019, I WAS 48 AND HAD SHORT HAIR.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP SAYS THEY NEED MORE TIME.
WE ASKED THEM TO MEET WITH THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY KEPT DIRECTING US TO ONE SMALL GROUP.
OUR REQUEST IS REMAINED THE SAME AND IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD, NO CHANGE TO INITIAL BASE ZONING, JUST THE REMOVAL OF AN NCCD OVERLAY THAT RESTRICTS ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT AND THE ADDITION OF A MIXED USE OVERLAY TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING WHERE IT IS NEEDED THE MOST IN AUSTIN, WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NEXT 10 WEEKS, THAT WAS NOT FEASIBLE IN THE PREVIOUS HUNDRED AND 36 WEEKS SINCE WE FIRST MET.
ADDITIONALLY, EVERY CONCERN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS RAISED HERE TODAY, TRAFFIC VENUE SIZE, NOISE AND SCALE ARE ALL REQUIRED TO BE ADDRESSED AT SITE PLAN WITH A NEW TIA PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UPDATED SOUND ORDINANCE, CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY.
ZONING IS NOT THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MANY COUNCIL OFFICES TO DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF REMOVING 200 ACADEMY FROM THE NCCD.
AND I HOPE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET AND REACH CONSENSUS THAT THE BASE ZONING THAT EXISTS ON THIS SITE OFFERS THE ENTITLEMENTS AND THE PROTECTIONS THAT WILL BE A WIN FOR TRAVIS HEIGHTS, LIVE MUSIC, HOUSING WITH ZERO DISPLACEMENT AND THE CITY AT LARGE, WE FORMALLY REQUEST THAT THIS CASE BE HEARD AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 2ND, RIGHT ON TIME.
ALRIGHT, COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE.
YOUR TIMING SHOWS YOU TRULY ARE A MUSICIAN.
I, AND I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORS COMING AND SPEAKING WITH US TODAY.
I THINK IN DISCUSSION OF WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A TWO WEEK POSTPONEMENT OR A 10 WEEK POSTPONEMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S HARM IN BRINGING IT BACK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, WE CAN ALWAYS, AT THAT POINT, DECIDE HOW THE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING AND PROGRESSING AND DECIDE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TIME.
WE CAN ALLOW FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH DOING A DECEMBER 2ND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO LIKE TO REMEMBER KITCHEN.
WELL, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR MY COLLEAGUES FIRST AND THEN I'LL, AND THEN I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION, REMEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I RESPECT THE, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE RATIONALE OR THE REASONING THAT THE, THAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE BRINGING FORWARD.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
AND I, ALTHOUGH I RESPECT THE CONCERNS OF THE DEVELOPER, I THINK IN THIS CASE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THAT ADDITIONAL TIME.
SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT, UM, THE NEIGHBORS REQUEST FOR, UM, POSTPONEMENT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS TILL JANUARY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE DESK MIRROR IF I MAY.
THIS IS A CASE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I UNDERSTAND, UH, BOTH THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBOR CONCERNS AND FRANKLY, SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS AND I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO REALLY ALLOW, ALLOW FOR SOME MORE FOCUSED CONVERSATION.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT DECEMBER 2ND IS A REASONABLE IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION.
SO MY MOTION IS THAT WE, THAT WE POSTPONE UNTIL JANUARY 27TH, I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE WANTED IT TO COME BACK SOONER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY JANUARY MEETINGS THAT ARE SOONER.
[03:50:01]
WE TO POSTPONE UNTIL JUNE UNTIL DECEMBER 2ND? IT REALLY GIVES THEM, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE SIX BUSINESS DAYS TO TALK OVER THE, WHAT IS A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S FEASIBLE.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SETTING OURSELVES UP, BOTH SETTING OUR MEETINGS UP FOR MORE EFFICIENCY AND SETTING UP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR MORE SUCCESS IN, IN THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, I REALLY THINK THAT I REALLY THINK DECEMBER IS TOO SOON.
UM, AND THAT ALL OF US WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY HAVING IT HAPPEN IN DECEMBER 27TH, HAVING SPOKEN WITH, WITH, UM, NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN OUR, THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THERE'S A REAL WILLINGNESS TO, TO LOOK AT, UH, WHERE THE POINTS OF AGREEMENT ARE AND WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE STILL TO RESOLVE.
AND SO THAT ALLOWS THEM AND AFFORDS THEM THE TIME TO DO SO.
THE EMOTION IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION POSTPONE TILL THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY, UH, SECONDS THAT NOW THE DIFFICULTY HERE IS THAT DECEMBER 2ND IS TOO SHORT, A POSTPONEMENT TO BE USABLE.
AND JANUARY 27TH IS LONGER THAN WE NORMALLY GIVE, UH, IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION.
DOES THE NINTH WORK, DOES DECEMBER 9TH WORK? I THINK IT'S A BETTER OPTION THAN THE SECOND.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A SIMILAR POSITION ON THE NINTH.
HAVING A SIMILAR CONVERSATION IS MY, MY GREAT ASSUMPTION.
I THINK IF THERE'S NOT SUPPORT FOR THE 27TH, WE CAN KNOW THAT AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE MY NEXT PREFERENCE, BUT I, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPEAT OF THE SAME CONVERSATION.
THERE'S JUST NOT QUITE ENOUGH TIME.
IT'S NOT DECEMBER 27TH IS, I MEAN, JANUARY 27TH IS PROBABLY MORE TIME, BUT THE OTHER ONE IS, IS JUST SIMPLY TOO SHORT DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES.
AND AGAIN, IF, IF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL ONGOING, WE CAN DECIDE AT THAT POINT WHAT THE BEST MOVE IS.
I WOULD SUPPORT THE NINTH AS WELL.
I THINK THE SECOND, IF WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE SOMETHING, IT'S JUST SO FEW BUSINESS DAYS, BUT OVER TWO MONTHS, I THINK, UM, MAY ALSO LEND ITSELF TO US BEING IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE IT GETS DRAGGED OUT TOO LONG.
I BELIEVE THE SAME WAY WITH MY CAR, UH, GREG AND, AND, AND ELLISON.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR, OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND IF WE KEEP THAT LADY AND THEN, UH, UH, I REALLY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TURNING OUR BACK ON OUR MUSICIAN.
SO, UH, I, I, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WAITING THAT LONG, 10 WEEKS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, I THINK YOU HAD YOUR HAND RAISED.
YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I, I HEAR THE DILEMMA, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, I, I I'D LIKE TO, UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, THIS IS IN HER DISTRICT AND SHE HAS A GOOD READ ON WHAT IS REALLY NECESSARY TO WORK THROUGH THIS CASE.
UM, AND THE TIME THAT'S NEEDED FOR IT.
SO, UM, IF SHE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER ORIGINAL MOTION, I WILL LIVE FOR THAT BECAUSE OUR POOL, YEAH, I'M IN, I'M IN THE SAME PLACE, BECAUSE I THINK IF WE GET TO THE NINTH, UM, IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TIME AND WE WILL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION DISCUSSION AGAIN, AND THEN WE WILL DELAY IT TILL JANUARY 27TH.
AND I THINK WE MAY AS WELL JUST SAY JANUARY 27 AND ALL PARTIES MAKE SURE TO COMPLETE YOUR CONVERSATIONS AND YOUR, UM, NEGOTIATIONS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO A DECISION ON THE CASE, HOPEFULLY EVEN ON ALL THREE READINGS AT THAT POINT, BUT WE'LL SEE.
YES, I'M, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION HAS MADE.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ARE BEST AS I CAN TELL WE CAN OVER PRETTY EVENLY DIVIDED.
UH, DOES THE, THE APPLICANT OR THE, UH, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ONE RESPOND ONE LAST TIME ON THIS? I GIVE BOTH A CHANCE TO RESPOND AND WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THE TWO DAYS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME A MOMENT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, WELL, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO HERE TODAY IS TO, IS KIND OF TO REVIEW THE PROCESS AND NOT TALK SO MUCH ABOUT THE MERITS ABOUT, UH, THE CASE IN WHETHER YOU'RE IN FAVOR OR NOT.
BUT JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE, UM, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE KIND OF THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE TAKEN.
SO, AS RICHARD SAID, YOU KNOW, WE FIRST PRESENTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
[03:55:01]
CONTACT AND, AND, UH, PRESENTING AND COMPROMISING AND CHANGERS.UM, YOU KNOW, WE MET WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IN 2019, UM, SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF COMPLETING OUR TIA, UM, THAT WAS COMPLETED OVER SIX MONTHS AGO.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE LAST PART THAT WE NEEDED BEFORE WE WENT BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY, UM, GAVE A COPY OF OUR TIA TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REVIEW.
UM, THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, HEY, COULD WE HAVE, UH, A COUPLE MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, SESSIONS TO, UH, TO POSTPONE.
UM, AND SO WE ACTUALLY GRANTED IT ON AND CONSENTED AND SAID, OKAY, WELL, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
UM, AND PART OF THAT UNDERSTANDING WAS, IS THAT ONCE WE STARTED FORWARD, WE WOULD, WE WOULD CONTINUE FORWARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, QUITE A FEW TIMES.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND THE, AND THE ISSUE IS, IS SINCE WE FINISHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT CONTACTED US, UH, ONE TIME.
UM, AND SO THAT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH AND, AND THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT WE HAVE COME AND, UH, WE'VE COMPROMISED AND ON BOTH SIDES.
CAUSE ORIGINALLY AT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOLD US NO, UM, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN ANY DEVELOPMENT, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE ACTUALLY, UH, DOWN TO, HEY, LET'S, LET'S DISCUSS THE VENUE SIZE AND LET'S, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES TO TRAFFIC.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE, WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP AT THIS POINT TO TRY TO MAKE, UM, FURTHER PROGRESS.
AND WHETHER WE'VE GOT TWO WEEKS OR THREE MONTHS OR FOUR MONTHS, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT'S EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT NO ONE'S CONTACTED US.
SO NEIGHBORHOOD WANT TO GIVE US A LAST THOUGHT? WELL, UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT OUR MAIN PROBLEM THAT OUR ISSUE HAS BEEN GETTING ONE, EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE FROM THE BEGINNING, OUR ISSUE HAS BEEN THE FACT THERE'S GOING TO BE A VENUE THERE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THIS, BUT IT'S BEEN THERE AGAIN.
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, UH, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN THERE THREE TIMES HISTORICALLY IN 74, 77, AND THROUGH THE EIGHTIES, EIGHTIES, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONCE AGAIN, WE HATE DIPPING INTO THE MERITS OF THE CASE, BUT WE, UH, AS FAR AS US BEING IN CONTACT WITH THEM FOR YEARS, UH, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING ABOUT THAT WE'VE OBJECTED TO, THAT HAS EVER BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL BY THE, UH, BY THE APPLICANT.
SO, UH, OUR OBJECTION HAS BEEN THAT IT'S A CLUB AND THAT IT'S TOO LARGE AND THERE'S NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
SO WE, UH, ARE IN CONTACT WITH THEM, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLY THE VENUE BEING SMALLER, WHICH THEY'VE NEVER GIVEN AN INCH ON.
AND WE FOUND THAT WE'VE, UH, BEEN WHAT WE FEEL LIKE IS A GIVING TOWARDS WHAT THIS WOULD GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING.
BUT, UH, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE LISTENING TO THE FACT THAT WE FEEL THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ENDANGERED BY PUTTING A GIANT CLUB AND IT'S HAPPENED ANY NUMBER OF TIMES.
SO IT'S, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE EVER GOTTEN ANY, ANY THING RESEMBLING A COMPROMISE FROM THE, UH, DEVELOPER.
SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S WHY, UH, WE WANT MORE TIME TO TALK AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO, AND WE'VE MET BEFORE, BUT EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO, UH, GET THEM TO SHRINK THIS PROPOSED SIZE DOWN.
AND THAT'S, WHAT'S ALWAYS BEEN, UM, THE THING THAT WAS DANGEROUS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CLUB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT, UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.
AND THERE WAS EVEN MORE ACCESS AT THAT POINT TO, UM, UH, MAIN THOROUGHFARE.
SO, UH, OUR ISSUE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'VE TALKED, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DO WANT TO TALK MORE AND WE, WE, BUT WE WISH WE WOULD GET SOME SENSE OF COMPROMISE FOR THEM BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SO FAR.
PROBABLY JUST MY SENSE OF THIS IS THERE'S A HARD DECISION BASED ON SIZE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO, TO, TO MAKE.
UM, I THINK THE SECOND IS TOO SHORT, A PERIOD OF TIME.
GIVEN THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, SOMEONE WANTS TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO MAKE IT DECEMBER 9TH.
WE COULD VOTE IN THE ABSENCE OF GETTING SIX VOTES FOR THAT WILL THEN VOTE ON THE JANUARY 27TH, UM, UH, ISSUE WHERE WE COULD VOTE ON THE JANUARY 27TH AND SEE IF THERE'S ENOUGH.
WELL, IT DOES HAVE A VALID PETITION.
SO AGAIN, I THINK GIVING, GIVING THESE PARTIES THE ABILITY TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER IS IMPORTANT.
I WOULDN'T BE OUR MOST TIME EFFICIENT STRATEGY.
[04:00:01]
I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL REMEMBER ELLIS JERRY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN OVERLAY REMOVAL, NOT A REASON.WELL, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE TO BE DISCUSSING, BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED A PETITION YESTERDAY.
AND THAT, THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH A LOT DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO MAKE IT JANUARY 27TH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT MOTION? UH, I WOULD BE AN ORDER NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR THE NINTH.
NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, JUST A MOTION TO AMEND IT TO BE THE NINTH.
UM, SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT, LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO GO TO THE NINTH.
IT IS, UH, UH, ELLIS COSAR MAY, UH, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER, MARIA.
UH, I CAN SEE A MAYOR PRO TEM DOES NOT HAVE SIX VOTES WILL NOT PASS THE, A, IT GETS US BACK TO THE ORIGINAL EMOTION, WHICH IS TO POSTPONE UNTIL JANUARY 27TH.
I THINK, UH, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED COUNCIL MEMBER ALLIE'S VOTING.
NO, THE OTHER'S VOTING, UH, AYE.
THAT MOTION PASSES WERE POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY 27TH.
[Items 70, 72, 81, 84 & 88]
YOU TO DO IS TO LET THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE KNOW THE OTHER CASES THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE POSTPONED SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THOSE CASES ARE GOING TO BE POSTPONED.WE'LL DO MAYOR, UM, ITEM 70 HAS A NON CONTESTED POSTPONEMENT.
THIS IS 1 21, 1 21 NORTH RIGHT.
35 ITEMS. 72 HAS AN UNCONTESTED POSTPONEMENT.
THIS IS THE CASE AT 34 27 JEFFERSON STREET.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 81, WHICH IS THE CHRYSLER ART TAP HOUSE HAS UNCONTESTED POSTPONEMENT AS DOES ITEM NUMBER 84, WHICH IS THE RET AS AN UNCONTESTED POSTPONEMENT AND ITEM 88, WHICH IS 1725.
TO ME ALSO HAS AN UNCONTESTED POSTPONE IT.
AND WOULD YOU READ FOR ME TO ITEM NUMBERS THAT ARE SURE ITEMS NUMBER 70 72, 81 84 AND 88.
SO IN CASE YOU'RE ON THE PHONE SPEAKING TO SEVENTY, SEVENTY TWO, EIGHTY ONE, EIGHTY FOUR, EIGHTY EIGHT OR A 73 74, UH, THOSE ITEMS ARE ALL POSTPONED.
SO YOU NEED TO COME BACK WHEN, UH, THOSE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE MERITS.
[Public Comments (Part 3 of 3)]
AND CALL, UH, SPEAKERS.I HAVE FOLKS, UH, FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 70, BUT THAT ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
I HAVE, UH, PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 73 AND 74.
ITEM NUMBER 75 IS, UH, MARIA BOWEN HERE.
MY NAME'S MARIA BOWEN, AND I'VE LIVED ON ROGERS LANE FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
AND I OPPOSED THE ZONING CODE CHANGE.
THERE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS STEMMING FROM THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS OF OUR ROADS AND THE EXISTING MOBILITY PROBLEMS ON FM 9 69.
ROGERS LANE CANNOT SUPPORT DENSE HOUSING WITHOUT PUTTING ITS CURRENT RESIDENTS AT RISK OF SERIOUS HARM.
WE ARE A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD THAT'S BEEN FORGOTTEN.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN DECADES.
NO, WE WILL NOT SETTLE FOR GETTING IT LATER.
THE DEVELOPER PROMISES THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL COME EVENTUALLY IN THE MEANTIME, PIECEMEAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL COME AT THE COST OF OUR SAFETY.
THAT WOULD BE A VERY HIGH PRICE TO PAY.
THERE ARE STRETCHES OF OUR ROADS THAT ARE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS, NOT A SINGLE STREET LIGHT, NOT EVEN ONE FIRE HYDRANTS.
SO FEW AND FAR APART THAT MY NEIGHBOR LOST A STRUCTURE TO A FIRE TWO YEARS AGO.
THERE ARE NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE MAJOR ROAD WITH 9 69, WHERE MY NEIGHBOR BROKE FOUR OF HER RIBS AND TOTALED HER CAR IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE TRAFFIC IS RIDICULOUS.
[04:05:01]
DURING MORNING COMMUTE, DENSER HOUSING WILL BRING MORE MOTORISTS THAT WILL PUT OUR CHILDREN AT RISK WHEN THEY HAVE TO STAND IN THE FORK OF THE ROAD AT THE VERY TOP OF A STEEP AND BLIND HILL WITH POOR LIGHTING, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY SPOT THE SCHOOL BUS CAN MANEUVER A STOCK.SINCE WE DON'T HAVE CURBS WITH MARK NUMBERS FOR EACH HOME, EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL HAVE A HARDER TIME FINDING HOMES IN A DENSER NEIGHBORHOOD, DELAYING SAVING SERVICES, ESPECIALLY WHEN ADDRESSES FOR EXISTING HOMES ARE NOT IN NUMERICAL ORDER.
THE ROADS ARE SO NARROW AND DETERIORATED THAT THEY WILL SURELY RESULT IN COLLISIONS AND NEAR MISSES, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A SINGLE SPEED LIMIT SIGN AND AN INCREASE OF NUMBER OF MOTORISTS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
PEOPLE DRIVE ON FM 9 69, LIKE IT'S A HIGHWAY UNLESS IT'S MORNING OR EVENING COMMUTE.
WHEN IT BECOMES A PARKING LOT WITH A SEA OF CARS, AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE, SADLY FM 9 69 IS THE ONLY MAIN ROAD TO ACCESS SERVICES AND GOODS FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS EAST OF 180 3, PLEASE KEEP SF TWO.
AND ON THE AFFORDABILITY, THEY'RE GOING TO GO FOR $400,000.
I CAN'T AFFORD A $400,000 HOME.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR HELP.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
UH, IS, UM, UH, PARKER HIGH IN HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN? THESE TWO SPEAKERS ARE ON 75.
UH, MY FAMILY AND I LIVE ON ROGERS AND WE'RE OPPOSED TO THE REZONING.
UH, WHILE 54, 17 IS A SINGLE ONE ACRE PROPERTY.
WE BELIEVE IT'S TYPICAL OF MOST OF THE LAND TOUCHING ROGER'S LANE.
AND I WORRY THAT THE REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR ESSENTIALLY ALL FUTURE PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS ON OUR STREET.
AND JUST AS SOMEONE MIGHT PAY A PREMIUM FOR A HOUSE ON A CUL-DE-SAC OR A GOLF COURSE OR SOME OTHER PLACE, WE DELIBERATELY PURCHASED AN OLDER HOME THAT NEEDED SOME WORK BECAUSE WE LIKED THE SPACIOUS AGRARIAN ATMOSPHERE, MODEST HOMES, AND QUIET DEAD END STREET.
IF EVERY TIME A HOUSE SELLS ON ROGERS, IT GETS TORN DOWN AND REZONED, SF SIX AND REPLACED WITH AS MANY HOUSES CONCEIVABLY POSSIBLE.
IT WILL DETRACT FROM THE CORE REASONS WE PURCHASED HERE AND WHY WE LOVE IT SO MUCH.
THE DIVERSE RESIDENTS OF ROGERS HILL ALL CHOSE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY VALUE THE QUIET OPEN ATMOSPHERE AND CENTRAL TO THAT IS THE, A QUIET, DEAD END ROAD THAT WE ALL LIVE ON.
THE LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD IS WHERE WE ALL RIDE OUR BIKES, GO ON WALKS AND VISIT WITH NEIGHBORS.
IT'S RARE TO GO FOR A WALK WITHOUT A NEIGHBOR, PULLING OVER, TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO OR ASK YOU HOW YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN IS GROWING.
AND IF YOU TRIED OUT THOSE SPECIAL OKRA SEEDS, THEY GAVE YOU, WE HAVE NO SIDEWALKS, BUT SINCE THE ROAD IS AN ARROW AND DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ANY THROUGH TRAFFIC, EVERYONE DRIVES SLOW.
THE PRESIDENT OF S OF SIX SET NOW FOR THIS PROPERTY WOULD MEAN ALMOST ANY OTHER PROPERTY ON THE STREET WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR FUTURE REZONING.
AND THE 30 PLUS ACRES CURRENTLY HELD BY OTHER DEVELOPERS WOULD, COULD FOLLOW SUIT AND BRING OVER 10 TIMES THE CURRENT NUMBER OF HOUSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND FOR OUR NARROW COUNTRY LANE, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC.
I HAVE NO ISSUE BUILDING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER HIS CURRENT ZONING, BUT FEEL LIKE SF SIX IS NEEDLESSLY EXTREME.
IT SETS AN UNSUSTAINABLE PRECEDENT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT OUR FOREST STREET THAT WILL ROW THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND PRESENTS VERY PRACTICAL TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE AREAS NOT NEAR ANY BUS STOPS OR NOTABLE WALKABLE DESTINATIONS.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO PRIORITIZE DENSE DEVELOPMENT HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S IMPRACTICAL AND RUINS.
THE ATMOSPHERE THAT DREW US HERE TO BEGIN WITH.
THERE IS NO LACK OF MIDDLE COME IN MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING IN THE AREA, AND I WOULD NOT CONSIDER THE PRICE TAG ON THE DEVELOPERS.
THE MIDDLE-INCOME ROGERS LANE ITSELF SERVES AS OUR COMMUNITIES, HIKING, BIKE TRAIL, COMMUNITY PARK, AND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE.
AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE BALANCE THE VALUES OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS WITH THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, UM, IS A DIANA DEAN HAIR.
WE'RE ON ITEM 85 AND 86 IS MELANIE HAS STICKS IN HERE.
YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN AND SPEAK ON DECK IS A NADIA BAR BOT.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT WE HAD WAS, UH, DIANA DEAN, COME ON DOWN.
I WAS, I WAS CALLING OUT THE NAME OF THE NEXT SPEAKER AFTER YOU SO THEY CAN GET READY.
MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PRO TIM MADISON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[04:10:01]
HOUSE DIXON AND I COACH HERE THE E M L K CONTACT TEAM.AND I CHAIR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 85, THE REGIME ROAD DEVELOPMENT, AS I AM EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE REGIME ROAD DEVELOPMENT HAS MUCH CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPER THEMSELVES.
THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CONTACT TEAM AS ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPER AGENT IN OUR CONVERSATION, THE COMMUNITY PRESENTED OPTIONS THAT WOULD YIELD GREATER BENEFITS FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND THOSE PERSONS EXPECTED TO LIVE HERE.
AND I WONDERFUL CITY OF AUSTIN, THE BENEFIT PACKAGE INCLUDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH SHOULD WE ASK FOR TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF THOSE PERSONS.
I E S WOULD INCLUDE OUR EDUCATORS THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR CREATIVES.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THOSE, THAT, UM, ARE OUR MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY NOT MEET THAT QUALIFICATION OF THAT, THAT 60 TO 80 MFI, THOSE PERSONS SUCH AS THAT EDUCATORS SUCH AS OUR CREATIVES, OUR SERVICE WORKERS AND OUR BUSINESS OWNED AND OPERATED, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE OUR BLACK AND BROWN BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS DEVELOPER WILL YOU MILLIONS OF REVENUE AND PROFITS AND THE BENEFITS BY THE DEVELOPER FOR THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT COMPENSATE OR, OR IS EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT IT WILL CREATE.
IT IS, IT IS MINOR IN COMPARISON TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT.
SO AS I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU, I AM TORN BETWEEN THE SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
HOWEVER, I DO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT IN GOOD FAITH THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL COME THROUGH WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.
CAN I JUST ASK THE SPEAKER? COULD YOU, UM, COULD YOU SUM UP A COUPLE OF THE BENEFITS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, OR THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED? WE HAVE ASKED THE DEVELOPER TO PROVIDE US WITH CREATIVE SPACE, UM, AS FROM WHAT WE LAST SPOKE, WE HAD THOSE LIKE A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF, OF SPACING FOR THIS, FOR THIS MACK TO THIS HUGE PROJECT.
AND WE WERE GIVEN SUGGESTED 200, PERHAPS LESS OF SQUARE FEET FOR COMMUNITY SPACE, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE.
FEEL FREE TO, I THINK IT'S ONLY SCHEDULED TODAY FOR FIRST READING.
MAYBE IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH MY EMAIL AND MAKE SURE I DIDN'T OVERLOOK SOMETHING, IF YOU COULD KIND OF JUST SUMMARIZE THAT FOR US.
AND WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THOSE WE WERE ASKING FOR COMMUNITY SPACE FOR CREATIVES.
WE WERE ASKING FOR, UM, DAYCARE CENTERS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ALSO ASKING FOR, UM, TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD YIELD GREATER THAN THE 60%.
UM, WE WERE ALSO ASKING FOR, UM, UH, THE SAFETY FOR MANY OF OUR WORKERS FOR THIS, WHICH WAS AGREED UPON, WHICH WAS A PLUS.
UM, AS WELL AS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF, UM, SPACE AND TIME FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.
THANKS FOR SUMMARIZING THIS FIRST.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE ME, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO, YES.
UM, I, I, BECAUSE IT SAYS A DISTRICT ONE ITEM, UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED THAT THE, THE SUMMARIZATION COMES ACROSS TO THE D ONE OFFICE.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UM, UH, MS. DIXON, UM, AS THE, UH, THE QUESTION COMING OUT OF THE V1 OFFICE THAT ULTIMATELY IS, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW VERY MUCH WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY'S QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, HOW CAN WE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE ROOM TO GO HERE, UM, ULTIMATELY HOW CAN WE ALL GET THE BEST BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY?
[04:15:01]
SO, UM, JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AS WELL.UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS NADIA ROBOT ON DECK IS JANICE BOOKOUT.
HELLO, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS NADIA BARBEAU, I'M A EAST SMALL K CO-CHAIR AND A, UM, OFFICER IN PSS AND A PECAN SPRINGS, SPRINGDALE HILLS NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M PIGGYBACKING ON MUCH OF WHAT, UM, MELANIE JUST SAID IN THE EXCHANGE.
UM, OUR AREA IS GETTING INCREDIBLY SWAMPED WITH, UM, ZONING CASES AND CHANGES AS I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, THIS CAME UP EXTREMELY FAST FROM PLANNING COMMISSION TO HERE TODAY.
UM, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE, UM, IN THE FUTURE TRY TO GET A MINIMUM OF THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.
CAUSE I THINK WE'VE HAD ABOUT 10 DAYS TO PREPARE FOR THIS.
UM, AND THAT'S AMONGST OUR OTHER CASES IS WE'RE NOT DOING JUST THIS ONE CASE.
UM, AND IT'S, UH, OR CAUSE WE'RE ACTIVELY ADVISING NEIGHBORS ON THOSE OTHER CASES THAT ARE COMING UP FOR PLANNING COMMISSION SOON AS WELL.
UM, AND THIS IS MOVING EXTRAORDINARILY FAST, UM, WHICH IS WHY I THINK THERE WAS SOME GAP IN COMMUNICATION TO ALL OF YOU, DEFINITELY ON MY PART.
UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE AGREED TO FIRST READING TODAY IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE AGENT AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE BETTER BUILDER AGREEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY SPACE OF APPROXIMATELY 250 SQUARE FEET FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 YEARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO USE.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU WHAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD IF I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE PLANNING HOW THE COMMUNICATION WORKS BETWEEN YOUR PLANNING, COMMISSIONERS AND YOURSELVES.
UM, BUT, UH, THERE WERE SEVEN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS THAT CAME HERE LAST TUESDAY AND ECHOED A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, UM, THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UM, IN, WHEN WE GIVE, UM, HUGE UPS OWNINGS, UM, THAT THESE DEVELOPERS GET TONS OF TONS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME AND THE COMMUNITY, UM, DOESN'T ALWAYS GET AN EQUAL AMOUNT THERE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR SOME PROGRESS ON THIS CASE.
UM, UH, BUT WE ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS.
I KNOW THERE'S OTHERS HERE TO HEAR THAT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE MORE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING OFF OF THE EXACT PROPERTY SITE.
UM, AND WE ENCOURAGE STAFF AND COUNCIL TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AS WELL.
IS JUDGE JANICE BOOK OUT HERE? WHAT'S YOUR COME ON DOWN AND, UH, ANGELA GARCIA IS ANGELA CARS OUT HERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, AND MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MADISON.
I DID JUST EMAIL YOU THE FULL LIST OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVIEW THAT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING, I THINK IT'S EASY TO THINK OF LAND AS A COMMODITY.
I THINK THAT'S THE WAY, THE WAY THAT IT'S TREATED HERE IN AUSTIN, THAT CERTAINLY I BELIEVE THE WAY THAT DEVELOPERS THINK OF IT.
HOWEVER, IT IS ACTUALLY A COMMON PROPERTY AS WE KNOW, BECAUSE IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES AND DECADES TO COME THE WAY THAT IT'S UTILIZED.
SO I REQUEST THAT WE THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, AND RATHER THAN AS A COMMODITY FOR THIS CONVERSATION, AS YOU APPROACH ALL THE ZONING CASES AND ESPECIALLY THOSE IN DISTRICT ONE ROGERS LANE, JACK COLE, SPRINGDALE, AND, AND ESPECIALLY FOR GENE, UM, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN CALLED, ASKED TO SPEAK HERE ON.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER, WHY ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKING YOU TO USE EVERY TOOL IN YOUR TOOLBOX TOOLBOX TO SLOW THINGS DOWN? I HEARD, UH, A DEVELOPER FRUSTRATED EARLIER THAT THINGS WEREN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH, WHY WE'RE ASKING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY HASN'T BEEN HEARD.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE DEVELOPERS OWN THIS TOWN.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SO MANY TOOLS AND WE HAVE SO FEW TO FIGHT THEM.
NOW, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN? WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE THE 60,000 UNITS SINCE THE 1990S THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.
ONLY 3,500 ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY FROM THE LENS OF THE ACTUAL, UH, ZIP CODE LEVEL.
SO WHAT I MEAN IS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF ADMF, IF IT'S OUR MFI IS 99,080 MFI IS TRANSLATES TO $40 AN HOUR, 60 MFI IS $30 AN HOUR.
50 MFI IS $25 AN HOUR, WHICH IS MIT.
WHAT THAT'S, WHAT MIT SAYS THE LIVING WAGE IN AUSTIN IS IN 78 7 2 1, WHICH IS WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED.
THE MFI IS 47,000, WHICH MAKES THIS DEVELOPMENT A DRIVER FOR GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS THE
[04:20:01]
RIGHT TO ASK FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS TO OFFSET THAT HARM.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, GO AHEAD AND SCARS, MAYOR, MAYOR PRETEND CITY LEADERS.
IT WAS A DOG FIGHT JUST TO GET THE BETTER BUILDERS ON HIS PROJECT.
I MEAN, I THINK IT TOOK US A FIDO A MONTH.
I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR
IT WAS A DOG FIGHT TO GET IT ON HERE, BUT WE FINALLY GOT IT.
AND AGAIN, GOOD NEWS IS DEBT OVERALL.
THE PROJECT, THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS A GOOD CONCEPT.
YOU HAVE 10,000 SQUARE FEET, A COMMERCIAL WE'VE NEVER SEEN AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL.
THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT WE DIDN'T SEE IT GO DEEP ENOUGH.
AND YOU, WHEN YOU CALCULATE THE NUMBERS IN THAT AREA, IT'S LIKE 45% IS WHAT IS HITTING THAT EMMETT FLY TO ACTUALLY MEET IT.
AND THE MAYOR SAID IT EARLIER THAT HE WANTS TO SEE THAT HE'S ACTUALLY GETTING MAXIMUM BENEFIT OUT OF THE PROJECT AND IT HITS THE NUMBERS OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THAT AREA.
WE WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH ACTUAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS, EVEN PLANNING COMMISSION WAS LIKE, THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
AND, AND WE LET YOU KNOW, WE CAME IN A CONSENSUS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR SO BAD.
I MEAN, I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THE NIGHTS TODAY'S THE WEEKENDS, THE CALLS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE DOING HERE.
AND TO TRY TO COME UP WITH MIDDLE GROUND, YOU SHOULD HAVE A SHEET OF BENEFITS THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WAS PUT INTO THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER END, IT WAS LIKE WE KEPT HITTING A WALL WITH A DEVELOPER AND WE FINALLY COME UP WITH SOME MIDDLE GROUND OF A BABY STEP PROGRESS AS WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT.
AND WE GOT ONE THING OUT OF THAT DOES TWO SHEETS, WHICH IS THE SPACE, WHICH IS ONLY 250 SQUARE FEET AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THEN WE TRY TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER CONSENSUS.
CAN WE DO A LETTER OF INTENTION OR IN A FUTURE AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES AND MAKES MONEY? WE WERE, WE, WE TRIED EVERY ANGLE TO WORK ON, HOW CAN WE GET THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OUT OF THIS PROJECT? IT WASN'T LIKE WE WERE GOING AGAINST IN A SENSE.
IT'S LIKE OUR TEAM REALLY, REALLY LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE ANGLE.
SO WE NEED YOUR HELP HERE, HERE ON HOW TO BALANCE ALL THAT THINKING.
ANYBODY ELSE IN PERSON SIGN UP ON A CASE YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON? DO WE HAVE PINNACLE ON THE PHONE? YES.
WE'VE GOT LYNN GALBREATH WELL, ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON 89.
89 IS A GOOD CASE AND I WILL GO BACK TO THE ROOM TO GET JESSICA ROBERTSON, WHO I SKIPPED OVER WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE SPEAKER ON THE PHONE.
UM, MY NAME IS LYNN
ADEQUATE ROADWAY, CURVES, GUTTERS, STRANGE SIDEWALKS, ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT, GROCERY STORES AND OTHER COMMUNITY NECESSITIES.
THE SITE UNDER THIS PROPOSAL LACKS ALL OF THAT IN SOME CONDITIONS DO EXIST ALONG ALL OF OUR MIXED USE CORRIDORS.
IT'S MORE LAMAR AND ANDERSON LANE.
THE APPLICANT COULD BUY AND READILY BUILD TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS THERE THAT HE WANTS TO.
INSTEAD HE'S MADE SPECULATIVE PURCHASES, CHEAPER LAND THAT IS ZONED FOR OTHER PURPOSES AND WAITED A FEW YEARS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BECOME MORE DESPERATE FOR NEW HOUSING.
I THINK SUPPORTING THIS APPLICATION WAS SIMPLY INCREASE HIS PROFIT MARGIN SUBSTANTIALLY.
WHETHER WE SELL THE LAND NEXT MONTH OR BOTH HADN'T BUILT THE EXPENSIVE CONDOS.
THERE'S NO DOWNSIDE TO THIS FOR THE APPLICANT OR FOR CITY STAFF OF THE FACIALS, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY A PRICE THAT PRICE WILL BE PAID BY THE CURRENTLY EXISTING COMMUNITY OF LOWER INCOME, MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE REDUCTION OF THEIR SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
IF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR IT'S BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT, I REQUEST IT TODAY.
YOU WILL IMPLEMENT THE VALUES OF RESPONSIBLE LAND USE PLANNING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CLAIMS TO HOLD
[04:25:01]
BY DENYING THE SPECULATORS REQUEST FOR THIS CHANGE TO OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP.SO LET'S I SKIP SOMEONE HERE, JESSICA ROBERTSON IS JESSICA ROBERTSON HERE.
WE'RE BACK TO THE PHONES, JESSICA ROBERTSON.
IT JUST YOUR OPPOSITION AGAINST ON G4.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST NUMBER 89 AND 90.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FACTS THAT OUR OVERSIGHT GEAR, UM, IN POLICY AND POLITICS, EASY TO GET HYPER-FOCUSED ON THE IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM FACTORS.
UM, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT WE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ABSORBED BY THE COMMUNITY WHILE AUSTIN HAS PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND INITIATIVES TO UNRAVEL, IT CONTINUES TO AGGREGATION, DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION SPOT REZONING APPROVALS LIKE THIS ONE POSE A GREAT THREAT TO UNDERMINE THE BIG PICTURE EFFORT THAT HAND, YES, THERE'S A HOUSING CRISIS, BUT IT'S AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS AND IT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IN THIS AREA.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE ONLY AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS REMAINING IN AUSTIN.
THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD, LOW INCOME AS CULTURALLY RICH NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF LONG TIME OFF NIGHTS.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE VERY AFFORDABLE, WHICH WILL RESULT IN MORE PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED THEN, UH, THAN BY THE DEVELOPMENT THAN THOSE BEING HOUSED.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE BROKEN UP THAT TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS ARE A HUGE ISSUE.
GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THE TRACKS OF LAND.
UM, AS A REMINDER, THERE WAS A FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE CORNER OF BROWNIE AND GRADY JUST LAST SUMMER.
UM, AS THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS OR SAFE WALKING PATHS ON BROWNIE, GRADY OR MIDDLE, OH, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REALLY CONSIDER THE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA, UH, OVER THE MONETARY GAIN OF THE DEVELOPERS, UM, AND VOTE TO DENY THIS REZONING.
BEFORE YOU START THE CLOCK ON ME, HOW MANY MINUTES DO WE HAVE TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA GO OFF AND BUMBLES OFTEN SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION ON ITEMS 89 AND 90 I'LL START BY READING DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT PRESTON KING STATEMENT QUOTE IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE AND BROWNIE AND GRAVY DRIVE.
I LIVE ON GRADY DRIVE AND HAVE FOR 20 YEARS IN THAT TIME, I HAVE WITNESSED THE TRAFFIC ISSUES ON GRADY.
MY MAILBOX HAS BEEN SMASHED AS HAS THE ONE NEXT DOOR, BOTH MY NEIGHBORS AND THOSE ACROSS THE STREETS HAVE THEIR PARKED CARS HIT.
OUR STREET CANNOT HANDLE MORE TRAFFIC THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY A MULTI-LEVEL CONDO BUILDING WITH RETAIL ON THE BOTTOM, THE STREETS WHO IS AREA DON'T EVEN HAVE DRAINAGE.
AND EXCEPT FOR GRADY ARE ONE LANE.
THE OTHER STREET, THIS BUILDING WOULD EXIT ON IS THE VERY NORTHERN TIP OF THE MIDDLE FISKVILLE, WHICH IS THE SAME SIZE IT WAS WHEN I RAN OVER IT IN THE FIFTIES, IT IS A SMALL NARROW STREET WITH NO DRAINAGE.
IT CANNOT HANDLE ANY MORE TRAFFIC IN THE MORNINGS.
GRADY BACKS UP WITH CARS WAITING TO TURN ONTO MIDDLE FISKVILLE.
AND OF COURSE, IF SOUTHBOUND 35 IS BACKED UP, SO IT WAS MIDDLE OF THIS SPILL.
IT CANNOT HANDLE 60 TO 140 NEW CARS AT THAT INTERSECTION.
ANY MULTIUNIT STRUCTURAL WILL FLOOD OUT STREETS WITH MORE TRAFFIC AND FOOT GABA SUPPORTS THE RESIDENT OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
PLUS THE CITY'S PLANNING STAFF DOES NOT SUPPORT THE REQUESTED ZONING FOR THE COMMERCIAL SIDE YEARS AGO.
RESIDENTS PUT IN MANY HOURS ACROSS MANY MONTHS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN APPROVED IN 2010.
GENTRIFICATION BEGAN ENCROACHING ON THE RUNDBERG COMMUNITY AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS AGO.
YET NORTH LAMAR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES AS MAYOR PRO TEM STATED ON NOVEMBER 4TH.
THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES NOT ROUTINELY GET INVITED TO LAND USE CONVERSATION.
INSTEAD THEY RECEIVE A NOTICE LEAVING THEM RACING AGAINST THE PLOT WHILE TRYING TO NAVIGATE A COMPLEX SYSTEM LEARNING ALONG THE WAY WHILE HEARING AND READING TECHNICAL TERMS. INSTEAD OF WORDS, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
ADDITIONALLY INFORMATION IS USUALLY IN ENGLISH.
ONE WAY TO BUILDING RESOURCES FOR THE RESIDENTS IS TO HOLD DEVELOPERS AND STUDIO CITY STAFF ACCOUNTABLE, ENSURE DOCUMENTS ARE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE AND MEETINGS ARE DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE.
MY FINAL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING WITH US TODAY.
[04:30:01]
JADE.I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES THAT HAVE PROVIDED CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION SUPPORT AND FURTHER EDUCATION ON HOW THINGS WORK MUCH.
GRATITUDE IS ALSO GIVEN TO THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT STOOD UP AND VOTED NO LAST MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM STATE IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
SHE RECOGNIZED THE TIME AND SACRIFICES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS AND OTHER RESIDENTS WITH SIMILAR CASES IN HAVING TO LEARN AND NAVIGATE THIS COMPLEX WORLD OF ZONING AND LAND USE IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND HAVE A VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT WAS DISHEARTENING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CATHAR HAS ONLY DEDICATED 20 MINUTES OF HIS TIME TO MEET WITH US ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THAT WAS JUST THREE DAYS AGO.
AND AT THIS TIME OF THIS MEETING COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS HART EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE APPLICANT'S POSITION AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN OPINION OR DIRECTION ON THE CASE.
IT APPEARS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ONLY SPENT THREE DAYS ON THIS AND HAS SHOWN CLEAR DESIRE TO ACCOMMODATE AND CONSIDER THE APPLICANT'S DESIRE, BUT HAS NOT GIVEN GENUINE CONSIDERATION TO US, THE CONSTITUENTS OF HIS DISTRICT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST YESTERDAY.
THE DISTRICT FOUR OFFICE WAS DISCUSSING WITH THE APPLICANT, HOW TO STILL GRANT THE ESTONIAN ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, MORE THAN STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
WHY ARE WE BEING SILENCED AND DISMISSED AFTER ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE EFFORTS DURING THIS PROCESS? I HAVE SEEN SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION OF THE NORMAL CITIZENS FOR VOICE AMONGST OTHER POLICIES BYPASS REGULARLY, ALL OF WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH THOUGHTFUL REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT IN CITY OPERATIONS.
HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS PROCESS IS CALLED BARON JUST, BUT IN ACTION IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
HOW IS OUR DISTRICT REP STANCE ABLE TO BE A GUIDING LIGHT AND SWAY OTHERS FOLKS? WHEN THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE IS LEFT OUT, PERHAPS THIS IS THE REALITY OF POLITICS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT EACH PERSON HAS OFFICE MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY INDIVIDUALLY AND STAY TRUE TO THEIR OATH AND WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE RIGHT OR WRONG.
WE ALSO HAVE A VALID PETITION ON THIS.
ACCORDING TO CITY POLICY, VALID PETITIONS ARE STILL VERY MUCH VALID.
ALTHOUGH I NOW UNDERSTAND AND EMPATHIZE WITH THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ACROSS THE DISREGARD FOR AT MINIMUM WE ASK FOR NEXT SPEAKER, MONA.
UM, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR OUR VOICES.
WE FEEL AT A DISADVANTAGE BEING UP AGAINST THE EXPERIENCED AND WELL-CONNECTED DEVELOPERS OF THRILLED DESIGN.
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, MYSELF INCLUDED, SPENT YEARS WORKING WITH THE CITY TO COME UP WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THIS PLAN WAS OUR VISION OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK LIKE IN 20 YEARS, WE ARE BARELY AT THE 10 YEAR MARK, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CANNOT SUPPORT A DENSE PROJECT LIKE THE OWNER IS REQUESTING.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES SINCE WE WERE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.
AND THE STEPHANIES, THE ZONING THAT IS BEING ASKED FOR IS NO WAY IN LINE WITH OUR VISION.
I SEE NO NEED FOR CHANGES TO THE ZONING OR TO THE LAND USAGE.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, MR.
SO I CRY JUSTLY, ASK YOU TO VOTE NO FOR THIS APPLICANTS TO AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND REZONING IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UM, I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION AT 3 0 4 BELMONT CIRCLE.
UM, IT'S A PROPERTY THAT WELL REPRESENTS, UM, THE REUBEN NET FAMILY, ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT JEWISH FAMILY IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE HOUSE IS ALSO DESIGNED BY THE PROMINENT ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, LUNGREN AND MAUER.
UM, AND IT WAS A GREAT MID CENTURY MODERN EXAMPLE.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT PRESERVATION AND LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF COURTHOUSE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP HERE AND TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.MAYOR JERRY WESTOVER AGAIN WITH HOUSING PLANNING OR YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY FOR ZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 70, WHICH IS CASEY 14, 20 20 0 1 43.
THIS IS A POSTPONE REQUEST BY MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MADISON TO DECEMBER 9TH.
UM, I THINK IF IT'S OKAY, MAYOR WE'LL TABLE THAT FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE WE
[04:35:01]
NEED TO DO THE ANNEXATION ITEM THAT'S RELATED WITH IT.SO IF I GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT ONE ASIDE FOR A MOMENT.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 72 IS K C 14, UM, 20 21 0 1 37.
THIS IS POSTPARTUM REQUESTS BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DECEMBER 9TH.
UM, YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN A VOTE TO POSTPONE ITEM 73 AND 74.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 75 IS K C 14 20 21 0 1 27.
UH, THIS IS THE ROGERS LANE'S CASE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE ON THIS CASE, THIS WOULD BE FOR FIRST READING ONLY, AND THAT THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THEIR REQUEST TO SF FIVE AND IT DOES HAVE A VALID PETITION.
UM, BUT FOR FIRST READING IT WOULD NEED JUST SIX VOTES ITEM NUMBER 76.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 77 IS KC 14, 2020 1 0 0 40.
OH, THIS IS THE CLOSURE LANE ZONING CASE.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE I'M IN THIS CASE, I CAN OFFER IT FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
UM, BUT THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO SUBMITTED A LETTER OF INTENT TO MAINTAIN THE CREEK BEHIND THE PROPERTY ITEM.
NUMBER 78 IS CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 0 81.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN IS REPLACED WITH A 98, WHICH I'LL GET TO IN A MOMENT ITEM 79 IS CASE NPA 2020 100 0 23.
OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL.
ON FIRST READING ITEM, NUMBER 80 A C 14, 2020 1 0 1 33.
ALSO OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT TO PROVE ON FIRST READING, UM, ITEM NUMBER 81 IS KC 14 H 2020 1 0 1 64.
THIS IS POSTPONE REQUESTS BY THE STAFF TO JANUARY 27TH, 2022, NUMBER EIGHT
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 83 IS CASEY 14, 2020 1 0 1 43.
NOW, FOR THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 84 IS K C 14, 2020 1 0 0 91.
THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO DECEMBER 2ND, 2021 ITEM NUMBER 86 AND 80, I'M SORRY, 85 AND 86 ARE THE REGINA CASES I'D LIKE TO, IF IT'S OKAY.
MAY I HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE ITEMS? SO THOSE WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 87 IS, COULD SEE 14 20, 20 0 1 44.
UM, THIS CASE IS READY FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, UH, MAYOR, I HAVE SOME JUST VERBAL DIRECTION ON THIS ONE.
DO YOU, SHALL I WAIT TIL JERRY GETS THROUGH IT? DID YOU DO THAT? OKAY.
SO OUR NEXT PHASE WOULD, THAT WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 88 IS C 14, 2020 1 0 0 0 9.
THIS IS POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DECEMBER 2ND.
ITEM NUMBER 89 IS GUYS NPA 2020 ONE HUNDRED A HUNDRED TWENTY SIX 0.01.
UH, I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND READING, UM, THE RELATED CASES, ITEM NUMBER 90 C 14, 2020 1 0 0 3 9.
THESE OTHER GRADIENT BROWNIE CASES.
UM, THEY ARE READY FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON, ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE A VALID PETITION OR THE ZONING CASE AND AT FIRST READING AND DID NOT RECEIVE NINE VOTES.
SO, UM, UNLESS THE VOTES CHANGED, MAYOR WOULD I, I THINK THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO OFFER THOSE CASES FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND READING ONLY.
97 FROM THE ADDENDUM IS K C C 14 H 2020 1 0 1 44.
I CAN OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS AND ITEM NUMBER 98 IS C 14, 2020 181 AND ALSO OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL IN SECOND AND THIRD READING.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES IS BEING ZONED IN CASES 70 THROUGH 90 AND ALSO 90 AND 98.
THE ITEMS I'M SHOWING AS BEING PULLED ARE 71, SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THAT WITH 96.
I'M ALSO SHOWING POLLED BEING 85 AND 86.
UH, THE OTHERS MOVING FORWARD.
IS THAT CORRECT? JURY 85 AND 86, UH, EXCEPT FOR 71.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MAKES A MOTION.
SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RENTER REIA SECONDS.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILOR MEMBER KITCHEN.
I HAVE A DIRECTION ON ITEM 87 AND THIS IS THE SOUTH LAMAR.
THERE'S AN EXISTING CEO ON ONE OF THE TRACKS OF LAND.
AND SO WE'RE NOT CONTINUING THAT CEO.
UH, SO INSTEAD I'VE TALKED WITH THE APPLICANT ABOUT SOME DIRECTION TO OUR STAFF AND ALSO JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE.
THIS ONE'S IMPACTED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
SO THE SITE PLAN HAS TO COME BACK TO THE, UM, COUNCIL AT SOME POINT.
SO HERE'S, HERE'S THE DIRECTION.
[04:40:02]
UH, CITY MANAGER WILL DIRECT APPROPRIATE STAFF TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER DURING THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE GOAL OF STUDYING THE NEED FOR INGRESS OR EGRESS ON SKYWAY CIRCLE, WHICH IS A SMALL DEAD END STREET TO AVOID ACCESS IN FAVOR OF INGRESS EGRESS ON SOUTH LAMAR AND DICKSON CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL PROCESS UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.THE OPTIONS FOR AVOIDING TRAFFIC IMPACTS ON SKYWAY CIRCLE, EXCEPT FOR PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE AND EMERGENCY INGRESS EGRESS.
THE PURPOSE CITY MANAGER OF THIS DIRECTION IS JUST TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS THERE MIGHT BE.
UM, IN WORKING IN TALKING WITH A DEVELOPER AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF SOUTH LAMAR AND THE CORRIDOR PLAN.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OPTIONS MIGHT BE.
AND SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF, UM, THE SITE PLAN PROCESS.
AND SINCE THAT HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL ANYWAY, AS PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT ART ORDINANCE, THIS SEEMED THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT POSSIBILITIES THERE MIGHT BE NOT TO IMPACT THAT SMALL DEAD END STREET THAT RUNS BEHIND, UM, THAT HAS SOME, HAS SOME, UH, MULTI-FAMILY, UM, UM, HOUSING ON IT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO NOT IMPACT THAT.
SO I'LL SEND YOU THIS LANGUAGE.
STAFF IS OKAY WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
ANY OBJECTION TO ADDING THAT DIRECTION TO THAT ITEM HEARING NONE THAT IS ADDED AND THIS ITEM REMAINS ON CONSENT.
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE DO THANK YOU, CUSTOMER 30TH.
I'M GOING TO GO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO WHO I THINK MIGHT'VE HAD A QUESTION THERE.
UM, APPARENTLY LEGAL IS REQUIRING THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT MY UGLY FACE TODAY, SO SORRY, BUT HERE YOU GO.
UM, SO FOR ITEMS, 85, 86 RAYJEAN ROAD, I HAVE A MOTION THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT.
SO IS THIS NOT QUITE YET? THOSE HAVE BEEN PULLED.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILOR TOPO? UM, YES.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME THOUGH.
I GUESS YOU WERE READING MY MIND MAY HAVE TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, ITEMS 89 AND 98.
ARE THESE ON, OR DID YOU, WHEN YOU READ THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. RESTHAVEN, DID YOU SAY PC RECOMMENDATION? UM, YES.
THAT WOULD BE FOR THE, UM, PC WOULD BE FOR THE FIRST READING MOTION AND THAT SECOND READING ONLY.
I THINK THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION THE MINUTE.
THE ONLY ITEMS PULLED ARE 71 85 AND 86 COUNTS WHEN WE'RE ALTERING.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR 75, WHICH READING IS THAT?
AND THEN FOR 89 90, YOU SAID THAT WAS SECOND READING.
UM, SO I WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY THAT FOR AN 86 WAS FULL.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I'M COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THEM ON THIS READING TODAY.
UM, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M STILL REVIEWING THESE TWO CASES AND I'M NOT COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THESE PARTICULAR PERMUTATIONS ON FINAL READING.
UM, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING MORE CAREFULLY AT THESE CASES, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE IN COUNSELOR.
SO YOU MENTIONED 75 WAS, UM, FIRST READING.
AND THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE REQUEST SFI.
THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR SF SIX.
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO, I THINK THE ZONING IMPLANT PLANNING COMMISSION HAD, IS THERE ANY PLAGUE MR. RECOMMENDED SF SIX WITH A CAP OF THREE UNITS.
UM, AND SO THIS WOULD BE S FIVE, WHICH BY CODE WOULD MAX OUT AT 10 UNITS.
UM, MY GUESS IS THAT, UH, FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPLICANT, IT'S PROBABLY WOULD BE AROUND AN EIGHT, EIGHT UNIT PROJECT, UM, UNDER SFF.
OH, WELL, I'VE I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS RAISED, UH, BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING WITH THAT CEO.
SO, UM, SINCE IT'S ONLY ON FIRST, I'M WILLING TO LET IT MOVE FORWARD, BUT I'M GOING TO NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
WE WOULD TAKE A VOTE IN THE CONSENT.
THAT WAS A FAIRLY CONSENT AGENDA.
AND IT WAS OPPOSED MAYOR PRO TEM IS VOTING.
SO IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE, THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT GETS US THEN TO THREE ITEMS. LET'S UP ITEM 71 AND ITEM 96 TOGETHER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 71 AND 97? IF I COULD JUST DOTE FOR BOTH OF THESE CASES? UH, OUR REQUEST IS TO PROVE THEM ON FIRST READING ONLY.
[04:45:01]
OKAY.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE TWO ITEMS ON FIRST READING ONLY ACCOUNTS? REMEMBER WE WENT, THIS MAKES THE MOTIONS ARE SECOND TO THAT.
AND REMEMBER ELLIS SECOND SIDE OF YOUR DISCUSSION.
REMEMBER TOBO UM, AND I'LL ALSO SAY ON SEVERAL OF THOSE CASES THAT WE JUST PASSED, I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT AT THAT POINT, BUT ON 85, 86 AND 89 AND 90, I HAVE SOME OF THE SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES RAISED.
AND SO, UM, I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THEM ON TODAY'S READING AND DID OBVIOUSLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I, I ALSO WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT EVENTUAL, UH, CASE LOOKS LIKE COMING BACK TO US, MR.
THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD LANGUAGE, BUT IT SAYS, UH, THAT THE ORDINANCE MAY INCLUDE THE EXEMPTION FROM OR WAIVER OF FEES, ALTERNATIVE FUNDING METHODS, ET CETERA.
AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ONCE HAD A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS COUNCIL PASSED, UM, SOME PET AMENDMENTS WITH REGARD TO PILOT KNOB WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENT OF THE FEE WAIVERS.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR WHETHER THERE ARE ANY FEE WAIVERS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS.
AND IF SO, IN WHAT AMOUNT, UM, NO COUNCIL MEMBER THERE THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS INCLUDED BECAUSE OF THAT LAWSUIT THAT YOU, YOU SPOKE OF.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THAT IN WITH EVERY PILOT KNOB CASE.
UM, BUT THERE IS NOT, THIS IS A REQUEST TO ADD SOME MORE AREA TO THE PILOT, NOT MUD, BUT THERE IS NO REQUEST AT ALL FOR, FOR FEE WAIVERS AS A PART OF THIS, UH, ANNEXATION AND ZONING CASE.
THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND, AND OR WHEN YOU STARTED SPEAKING, YOU SAID YOU MADE REFERENCE TO 85 AND 86 AND THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED, SO THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND SHE WAS COMMENTING AFTERWARDS.
[Items 71 & Addendum Item 96]
US TO 71 TO 96.SO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ENTASIS NOVEMBER.
FLINT HAS MADE THE MOTION ON BOTH.
THAT WAS A FAVOR OF THOSE TWO ITEMS. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED IT'S UNANIMOUS OF ALL OF US.
SO 71 96 ARE TAKEN CARE OF THAT GETS US
[Items 85 & 86]
TO OUR LAST TWO ITEMS, WHICH ARE 85 AND 86.MAYOR, THESE WILL BE A VERY BRIEF, UH, STEPH PRESENTATION.
UM, NUMBER 85, AS I, AS CASE NUMBER NPA 2020 0 0 1 5 0.03.
AND ITEM NUMBER 86 IS ZONING CASE NUMBER C 14, 2020 0 1 50.
BOTH ARE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 60 OF 67 0 5 AND 65 0 1 RAJEEN ROAD.
UM, THE STAFF HAD TWO ISSUES WITH THIS GOING INTO, UH, TODAY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE RESOLVED ONE OF THEM.
UM, THE APPLICANT AND THE STAFF ARE NOW IN AGREEMENT TO PROHIBIT LIGHT MANUFACTURING AS A USE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT WE WOULD STILL ALLOW THE BREWERY USE.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT AS, AS, AS A, AN AMENDMENT.
AND THEN, UM, SECONDLY, UH, THE THING THAT WE ARE NOT AGREEING ON IS THE HEIGHT.
UM, THE APPLICANT, THE, THE EXISTING ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY IS LIE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL FOR THE MOST PART, WHICH ALLOWS 60 FEET OF HEIGHT.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 275 FEET OF HEIGHT.
UM, THIS FOR, UM, FOR, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PORTION OF THE SITE, BUT FOR A PORTION OF THE SITE AND 120 FEET FOR THE REMAINDER, UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE 120 FEET OF HEIGHT, UM, AT THIS LOCATION.
UH, THE REASON THAT WE'RE WILLING TO GO TO ONE 20 IS BECAUSE THE PRODUCT OF THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY TO NORTH OF THIS IS THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS ZEN GARDEN, WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL JUST SOLD LAST YEAR.
THAT'S THE FORMER MOTOROLA AT BLUESTONE CAMPUS.
AND WE DID ALLOW FOR UP TO 400 FEET OF HEIGHT AND PORTIONS OF THAT PROPERTY TRANSITIONING DOWN TO ONE 20.
UM, THE HOPE WITH THAT CASE WAS THAT THE, UH, THE REASON THE STAFF SUPPORTED THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT WAS THAT THE, UH, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A CORPORATE CAMPUS TYPE SITE.
AND SO WE WANTED TO TRY TO, UM, TO ALLOW HEIGHT FOR, UH, FOR THAT TYPE OF USE, UM, ON THIS PROPERTY, WE ARE WILLING TO GO TO, LIKE I SAID, UM, MORE THAN WHAT'S NORMALLY ALLOWED IN LA, WHICH WOULD BE A 60, WOULD BE WILLING TO GO TO ONE 20.
BUT, UM, THE APPLICANT IS, UM, WE'D STILL LIKE TO SEE 275, THE PORTION OF THE SITE.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, UM, THERE'S THEN AN AGREEMENT NOW, STAFF AND APPLICANT WITH RESPECT TO THE USE, WHICH IS BREWERY MAIMED EXCLUSION.
SO IT'S NOT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, EXCEPT FOR BREWERY USE THAT WE WERE PROHIBIT.
WE PROHIBIT ONLY MANUFACTURING, SO LIBRARY, RIGHT.
AND THEN THE SETBACK WAS, UH, AT ISSUE.
UH, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE, WE DON'T EVEN ON 50, IT WAS JUST WHAT THE APPLICANT WAS SEEKING.
SO THE ONLY THING IN CONTENTION DISAGREEMENT APPEARS TO BE THE 2 75 VERSUS THE 120 THAT'S.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME UP, GIVE THE APPLICANT OPPORTUNITY OF FIVE MINUTES.
[04:50:01]
MARY PROTON, BEFORE I GO THERE, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ON THIS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT YOU'RE MUTED, YOU'RE MUTED, MAYOR PRO TEM.I DON'T THINK THE, I DON'T SEE THEM IN.
I SAID, I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO HAVE TO LOOK AT ME ANY LONGER THAN YOU HAVE TO.
SO YES, I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE ON THE ITEM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THE APPLICANT FIRST AND THEN, UM, MAKE MY MOTION.
IT'S UP TO YOU WHEREVER YOU THINK IT'S MOST APPROPRIATE TO AFRICA.
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR THE MOTION FIRST OR DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? UM, I'M HAPPY TO DO IT HOWEVER YOU LIKE.
I CAN JUST DO A QUICK PRESENTATION.
MAYBE I CAN GO FAST FIVE MINUTES.
UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER.
I'M LEAH BODO HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT ON THIS STUNNING CASE AND FUTURE LAND USE AMENDMENT, UH, JUST TO ORIENT YOU TO THE SITE.
UM, IT IS EAST OF DOWNTOWN, UH, JASON 2, 180 3.
IT'S ENTIRELY VACANT, UH, AND IT'S ADJACENT TO THE FUTURE GREEN LINE CORRIDOR AND ALSO VERY NEAR TO THE WALNUT CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM.
UM, WE ARE IN CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CAP METRO ABOUT A FUTURE STATION LOCATION, AND ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, CONNECTIONS TO THE, TO THE TRAIL NETWORK OVER THERE.
UM, THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO BE A MIXED USE HUB DEDICATED TO AUSTIN'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND GOALS.
SORRY, I'M NOT SURE WHY I'M HAVING TROUBLE.
UM, SO THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU, AS, AS JERRY SAID, IS TO CHANGE THE FLUNG FROM INDUSTRY TO MAJOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM A MIX OF SF TO AND ALLY TO, UM, LIP, DA NP.
AND HERE'S THIS, YOU CAN SEE THE ZONING MAPPING TO, THERE IS A SMALL PORTION OF SF TWO OVER THERE ADJACENT TO 180 3.
THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE IS ALREADY IS LIMITED INDUSTRIAL.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ENTIRE, SORRY ABOUT THIS FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS INDUSTRY.
UM, AND IN THIS CASE, THE MAJOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, CATEGORY ACTUALLY VERY WELL, THERE WE GO AND DESCRIBES, UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH IS A MULTI ACRE TRACT WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF LAND USES, UM, INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL AND CLEAN INDUSTRIAL.
UM, HERE IS A AERIAL OF THE SITE.
I THINK MAYBE THIS IS PROMOTING NEW BATTERIES.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A MAJOR TRANSMIT, UH, AC TRANSMISSION LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE SITE THERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS HEAVILY TRADE, MOSTLY WITH INVASIVE SPECIES, BUT WITH A FEW, UM, HERITAGE TREES, WHICH WE'LL BE DESIGNING AROUND.
UM, THE CHANGE IS TO CURRENTLY ON THE INDUSTRIAL PORTION OF THE SITE, THERE'S SOME PRETTY HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES THAT ARE PERMITTED.
WE ARE ELIMINATING THOSE USES AND THE, AND WE'RE ADDING THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT AS WELL AS THE, THE BREWERY USE THAT JERRY DISCUSSED EARLIER, WHICH WE'RE IN AGREEMENT ON.
WE'RE ALSO INCREASINGLY FAR REDUCING THE PARKING AND INCREASING THE HEIGHT TO 275 FEET.
UH, WHAT THIS IS WHAT'S CURRENTLY ALLOWED ON THE SITE, WHICH WOULD BE SOME SINGLE FAMILY USES AND, UH, UH, QUITE A BIT OF, UM, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USE WE'RE PROPOSING.
LIKE I SAID, A MIX OF APARTMENTS.
WE HAVE VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO 10% AT 60 ON THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UM, WE HAVE A MIX OF OFFICE CLEAN INDUSTRIAL CREATIVE SPACES, UM, RETAIL AND BREWERY WITH ABOUT WITH 10,000 SQUARE FEET COMMITTED TO BE AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACE.
UM, WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE CONNECTIONS TO THE WALNUT CREEK TRAIL AND CAPITAL METRO TO CREATE THAT HUB THAT I DESCRIBED.
UM, WE ARE, AS JERRY SAID, IN AGREEMENT ON EVERYTHING AT THIS POINT, EXCEPT FOR THE HEIGHT.
UM, THE REASON THAT THE HEIGHT IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE, UM, THE, THAT CON THAT COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT'S GOING TO PRIMARILY MAKE UP THE HEIGHT IS REALLY SORT OF THE, UM, THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OR THE BASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S, WHAT'S ALLOWED ALLOWING THE MIX OF USES AND PARTICULARLY TO CREATIVE AND MAKER SPACES, WHICH ARE SORT OF FUNDED BY THAT COMMERCIAL, UH, COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UM, AND THIS IS, UM, LESS HEIGHT THAN WAS APPROVED ON THE SITE TO THE NORTH.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE AGREED TO THE ONE 20 KIND OF ON THE EASTERN PORTION WHERE IT MEETS WITH ZEN GARDEN.
UM, BUT THEN, UM, ON THE REMAINDER OF THE SITE, UM, AND PARTICULARLY ON THE 180 3 FRONTAGE, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE THAT ADDITIONAL HEIGHT TO MAKE THE PROJECT WORK.
UM, THESE ARE THOSE COMMITMENTS.
I TALKED ABOUT, UM, 10% AT 60.
UH, WE ALSO AGREED TO TENANT PROTECTIONS IN THE LEASES AT THE FRONT OF THE, OF THE PROJECT INSTEAD OF, UM, LATER ON, UM, WE'VE AGREED TO THE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL AND WE HAVE SIGNED A BETTER BUILDER PLEDGE WITH THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT.
UM, I DO WANT TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS, UM, VISION AND, AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE WORKED ON CENTRAL AUSTIN MANAGEMENT IS A LOCAL DEVELOPER WHO CREATES PLACES FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES, AND THEN HOLDS ON TO THEM AND CONTINUES TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN THEM.
UM, TWO WELL-KNOWN PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE WORKED ON THAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH MANY OF YOU ARE SPRINGDALE GENERAL AND CANOPY, WHICH ARE HIGHLY RESPECTED DEVELOPMENTS DEDICATED TO AUSTIN'S CREATIVES.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING
[04:55:01]
HERE IN AUSTIN FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT HOW TO CREATE SPACE FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE AND MAKERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, AND THIS PROJECT IS HOW YOU DO THAT.
THIS IS, THAT IS TOTALLY IN LINE WITH OUR PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND OUR STATED GOALS AS A CITY FOR CREATIVES.
UM, IT'S A VACANT LOT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL WITH AN AFFORDABLE COMPONENT CREATIVE SPACE WITH, UH, WITH AN AFFORDABLE COMPONENT.
UM, AND THEN ALSO A VIBRANT MIX OF OTHER USES AND TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS.
UM, WITH THE, WITH JUST THAT, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROJECT.
AND THEN WITH THESE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE WHEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK IT'S REALLY AN EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU, UM, APPROVE ON FIRST READING THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, WHICH AT THIS POINT WOULD INCLUDE THE 2 75 AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WERE AGREEABLE WITH STEFAN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? I DID.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPLICANT'S REQUESTS WITH THE STAFF'S LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, UM, AMENDMENT.
AND THEN I SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE SOME COMMENTARY.
SO TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE PART FOR COMMENTARY OR THE BETTER PART FOR MY, LET ME GET ME GET A SECONDARY EMOTION.
THIS IS WHAT'S FIRST READING ONLY IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? ALRIGHT, FIRST READING, ONLY THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, UH, WITH THE, UH, LIMITATION EXCLUSION OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AS THE STAFF EXPLAINED SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, YOU CAN NOW DISCUSS IT.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS WHAT WE HAVE HEATERS IN THAT HERE IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.
I WANT TO GIVE A HARDCORE SHOUT OUT TO THE EAST M MLK CONTACT TEAM.
UM, THEY REALLY PUT A TON OF WORK, A TON OF WORK, UH, ALONGSIDE THE DEVELOPER TO HELP PUT TOGETHER.
WHAT I THINK IS TRULY A GREAT PROJECT.
UM, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WILL DELIVER IT, UH, A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CONTACT TEAMS, TIRELESS EFFORTS.
SO THANKS TO THEM AND THANKS TO THE APPLICANT FOR BEING A WILLING PARTNER, AND ALSO THANKS TO THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT, UM, FOR THEM BEING AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AS WELL AND THEIR ASSISTANCE, UM, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF THIS COMPENSATION PROJECT, ET CETERA.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE APPLICANT'S REQUESTS ON FIRST READING.
WE'VE HEARD THE MOTION, AFRICANS QUEST, FIRST READING WITH THE LIMITATION, EXCLUSION TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND IN FURTHER DISCUSSION.
AND LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM.
THOSE OPPOSED PASSES UNANIMOUSLY ON THE DYESS.
[Items 92 - 94]
SHOULD REFLECT THAT THE ITEM ITEMS 92 93 AND 94 WERE NOT COVERED TODAY AND ARE WITHDRAWN BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPLETED AT OUR WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.I THINK THAT'S ALL THE THINGS ON OUR AGENDA.
SO I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, UM, NEXT WEEK.
AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK TOGETHER.
REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE THREE MEETINGS IN A ROW.
THERE'S THE MEETING ON THE 30TH.
THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVOTED TOWARD HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND, UH, SUPPLY, UH, IT'S A WORK SESSION AND YOU HAVE THE REGULAR WORK SESSION FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY.
I WILL NOT BE WITH YOU FOR THAT WORK SESSION.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY, AND I'LL BE BACK FOR THAT MANDATE.
MAYBE I'LL JUST NOTE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANNED, UH, PRESENTATIONS ON THAT WORK SESSION.
AND SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL NOT NEED IT AND WE CAN USE THE WHOLE DAY ON TUESDAY JUST FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CONVERSATION AND THEN PULL THE ITEMS, OBVIOUSLY, IF, IF REQUESTED.
SO, SO THE TUESDAY, THERE IS NO WORK SESSION OTHER THAN AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY, WE HAVE TO CALL IT PORTRAYING THE COVID JOINT BRIEFING, THE COVERAGE WHEN BRIEFING, WE HAVE THE COVID JOINT BRIEFING IN THE MORNING AND THE REST OF THE DAY IS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY.
ARE YOU SAYING YOU MIGHT NOT NEED THE WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY? CORRECT.
SO PEOPLE WANT TO PULL ITEMS ON WEDNESDAY, BUT THE CLERK'S OFFICE, NO, OTHERWISE YOU'D GET WEDNESDAY BACK.
THE, THE ONLY ISSUE ON WEDNESDAY WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A CLERK, WHICH IF WE DIDN'T MEET OUR WEDNESDAY, WE COULD DO ON THURSDAY COUNCIL, OUR POOL.
DO YOU HAVE A, AND I GUESS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT, UH, HOW LONG OF A CONVERSATION DO YOU ANTICIPATE FOR THE HOUSING? IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE IT, IT COULD BE LIKE NINE HOURS LONG.
[05:00:01]
CHECK AND SEE, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A HARD STOP AT FIVE O'CLOCK, REGARDLESS AS WE'RE STARTING TUESDAY, STARTING WITH COVID.AND THEN WE HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY FOR THAT.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOME FOLKS WILL GO ON A MESSAGE BOARD POST AND BRING OTHER IDEAS IN, IN DAYLIGHT THEM SO THAT WE CAN SEE, BUT A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO JUST TOUCH BASE.
AND WE'LL TRY AS, I THINK MANY OF US WERE TO COME WITH KIND OF A SERIES OF IDEAS AND THROW THEM OUT AND SAY, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK WE COULD WORK TOWARD OR NOT? WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THOSE AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER AUTHOR, UH, DESCRIBED IN THE, IN THE POST.
AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO DESCRIBED HERE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THOSE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE CAN GET CONSENSUS ON.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A VOTING SESSION, SO IT'S ALL CONVERSATION.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, OUR WORK SESSIONS HAVE, OF COURSE UNDER COVID CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE JOINT MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING, BUT HAVING WORK SESSIONS GO AS LONG AS, AND SOMETIMES LONGER THAN COUNCIL MEETINGS IS NOT, UM, HAS NOT BEEN THE NORM UNTIL RECENTLY.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO URGE THAT WE ALL CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DO, AND WE'RE NOT ON THE DIOCESE TOO.
SO IF WE COULD, IN FACT, KEEP OUR MAYBE BETTER SCOPE TILL THREE IN THE AFTERNOON, INSTEAD OF A HARD STOP AT FIVE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCES THAT WE WOULD BE OFF THE DIVEST BY FIVE, UM, MIGHT BE A BETTER APPROACH, UH, FOR, UH, A GOOD USE OF OUR WORK SESSION DAYS.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET BACK TO HAVING THEM BE MORE EFFICIENT AND SHORTER AND MORE FOCUSED ON ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND THEN MOVING FORWARD TO THE VOTING SESSION, WHICH THEN IS NORMALLY ON THURSDAYS.
AND IF YOU COULD THINK OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU THINK WE COULD DO TO HELP ENSURE THAT, UM, UH, RATHER THAN HAVING LONG PRESENTATIONS FOR STAFF, IF WE COULD GET MORE, UH, PRESENTATIONS EARLIER SO THAT PEOPLE COULD JUST ASK QUESTIONS, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE OR MEMOS, THAT MIGHT BE ONE WAY TO DO IT.
SO IF YOU COULD THINK OF WAYS TO ACTUALLY I THINK EVERYBODY'S WITH YOU AND IN THE GOAL.
WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS IS WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS WITH STAFF BEFORE WE GET ONTO THE DIET SO THAT WE ACTUALLY ASK THE QUESTIONS, TEE THEM UP AND THEY ARE ANSWERED.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL LINGERING QUESTIONS, WE CAN BRING THEM TOO, BUT WE REALLY HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE REALLY FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF.
UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE DO THE ONE-ON-ONES IN THE SMALL GROUP, I THINK THAT'S GOOD COUNSEL TO A COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I HAD ONE LOGISTIC QUESTION AND ONE SORT OF MORE PROCESS QUESTION.
SO ON TUESDAY WITH THE COVID BRIEFING, ARE THEY STILL WANTING US TO BE ONLINE VIRTUAL FOR THAT, OR, UH, COVID BRIEFING.
I THINK YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO BE ON LIVE, WHATEVER WORKS.
AND THEN DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW, OF THE STRUCTURE ON THE 30TH SO THAT WE CAN BE MOST PREPARED? CAUSE IT SEEMS A LITTLE AMORPHOUS TO BE LIKE, GO BRING YOUR IDEAS.
AND AFFORDABILITY IS KIND OF BROAD.
AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE EMPHASIZE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF AFFORDABILITY AND OTHER PEOPLE EMPHASIZE OTHER ASPECTS.
AND I JUST, I THINK IT WILL BE MORE PRODUCTIVE IF WE'RE PREPARED, BUT, UM, I'M STILL NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE AND WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING.
UM, IF THERE ARE PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF OR IF IT'S ALL JUST AS TALKING AND I DON'T, I'M NOT WED TO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I JUST WANT TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF, OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
IT WILL POST SOMETHING TO THE BOARD.
WE THINK THE STAFF DOES WANT TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT SURE WE WOULD LEAD WITH THE STAFF PRESENTATION THAT WE MIGHT LEAD WITH JUST A, A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS POST OR WANTED TO BRING ABOUT THAT WAY.
WHEN STAFF SPOKE, THEY MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT COUNCIL BROUGHT.
UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME SUGGESTION THAT, UH, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, UM, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE IT OPPORTUNITY TO LIKE HOUSING WORKS OR SOME OTHER PLACES TO GET 10 OR 15 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS US.
BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STAFF ON THAT.
WE'LL POST SOMETHING AND GIVE FOLKS A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO, TO REACT TO IT THAT WILL GIVE SOME MEASURE OF OUTLINE BEFORE WE GET THERE.
AND THEN FOR THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING THE PROCESSES, IT ONLY POSTS ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO CALL FOLKS ATTENTION TO, UM, THE MESSAGE BOARD POSTS THAT THE MAYOR AND I MADE, UM, YESTERDAY WITH RESPECT TO ADDING RESIDENTIAL INTO COMMERCIAL AREAS, UM, WE'VE ALREADY HAD, I THINK, FOUR OTHER PEOPLE, UM, CHIME IN THAT THEY WANTED TO CO-SPONSOR, WHICH IS GREAT, AND OTHERS ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT.
UM, I THINK OUR INTENTION WILL
[05:05:01]
BE TO PUT THAT ON THE NINTH AGENDA AND I GUESS WE'LL JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO ALL THE EXTRA CO-SPONSORING WITH THE AGENDA OFFICE.WE CAN STILL HAVE CERTAINLY CONVERSATIONS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ONE WEEK I WANTED TO KIND OF FLAG THAT FOR PEOPLE.
AND THEN, UM, I'LL BE POSTING THAT AND YOU MAY GET SOME CONFIRMATION REQUESTS, BUT IT'S STILL THE INTENTION THAT WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ON THAT DAY.
BUT GIVEN THE TIMING WITH THE AGENDAS, IF WE DO WANT TO TAKE IT UP ON THE NINTH, WE WILL HAVE TO GET THAT IN.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THAT PROCESS TO PRECLUDE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE TEED UP.
UM, AND THAT'S, AS WE DISCUSSED, UH, CATERPILLAR, ALICE, THANKS.
SO I GUESS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE, THE TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WE SHOULD STILL PULL OUR ITEMS. ACCORDING TO THE NORMAL DEADLINE, WE WOULD PULL OUR ITEMS BY, UM, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST REQUEST WHEN WE HAVE A ONE WEEK POST AND A MEETING THAT FOLLOWING WEEK, IT'S EXTREMELY HARD FOR US TO GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING AND TUESDAY MORNING.
AND SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO EITHER POST EARLIER OR DAYLIGHT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT COME TO US, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE AGENDA OFFICE, BUT IT IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO AT LEAST GET, UM, A LITTLE MORE TIME TO ANSWER THE BIGGER QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE ABOUT THE ITEMS. YEAH.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO POST IT EARLIER, BUT I'LL, I'LL SEE IF WE CAN DAYLIGHT SOME OF THE MORE DISCUSSION RELATED TOPICS AND WE CAN ERASE THAT TO COUNSEL AHEAD OF, OR AS MUCH AHEAD OF TIME AS POSSIBLE, JUST SO YOU HAVE SOME AWARENESS.
CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THESE, THE LAST MEETING OF OUR SESSIONS USUALLY ENDS UP WITH A LOT OF ITEMS. WE'VE EITHER POSTPONED OR THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND SO I JUST LIKE TO BE AWARE THAT SOMETIMES THOSE AGENDAS MAY END UP PRETTY BIG, PRETTY QUICKLY.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS YOU COULD DO THAT.
ABSENT ACTUALLY POSTING HAS OUR KITCHEN.
UM, JUST A QUICK SUGGESTION, AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, STRUCTURING THE 30TH, UH, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THE STAFF TO PROVIDE TO US OR AT LEAST GIVE US THE LINK, UH, TO THE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING RELATED, UM, PROVISIONS THAT WE PASSED ON SECOND READING OF THE LDC.
I MEAN, I, I'M GOING TO LOOK THOSE UP MYSELF, BUT OTHERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED TOO.
SO IF STAFF COULD JUST HELP US FIND THOSE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A LINK TO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GET THAT OUT TO US IF THERE'S A QUICK WAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? SO WITH THAT, THEN HERE AT A FOUR 13 MEETING AS A JARON, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO SEE THE GOOD RAINBOW FOLLOWING