[00:00:03]
IN ONE, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING.
[Call to Order]
THE TIME IS 6:08 PM.THIS IS A JOINT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION WITH MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HERE TO GUEST SPEAK.
WE HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, VICE CHAIR, JOLENE KIELBASA.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION]
TO START WITH CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS WHO WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH EITHER OF THE BOARDS OR MARIO CANTU? IF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM HERE FACING OUT TOWARDS THE AUDIENCE.
I'M GOING TO BE USED BY THAT WAY.
MY NAME IS MARIO CANTU, NATIVE TEXTS IN HERE, BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS GREW UP ON SOUTH CONGRESS IN EAST PART OF TOWN.
UH, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME IMAGES TODAY OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, KINDNESS, AND VOTING.
IF YOU CAN JUST PAY ATTENTION TO A LOT OF THE, UH, WRITING THAT'S IN THE IMAGES AND THE PEOPLE AND OBSERVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
EXPRESSION OF FAITH, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
I REALLY LIKE A LOT, TEXAS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, MONUMENT SIXTH STREET BORDERED UP DURING THE PANDEMIC STATE POLICE TROOPERS.
AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE SCARED.
OUR HOMELESS CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY INDIVIDUALS GETTING TOGETHER ABOUT JUSTICE AND QUALITY AND DIVERSITY VOTING VOTING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
REMEMBER THAT DON'T MESS WITH TEXTS WHEN HE CAME TO KEEP IN OUR CITY OR STATE CLEAN CITY HALL, SIXTH STREET BORDERED UP FALLEN OFFICER RESPECTS GIVEN ON 9 35 FRONTLINE WORKERS.
FIRST RESPONDERS, NURSES, PARAMEDICS EMT IS DOCTORS.
EVERY PLACE YOU DEPEND ON, ON THE LEFT DURING THE COMPASSIONATE NINE MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS.
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT NINE MINUTES 29 6.
MOVING ON SOME QUICK HOUSEKEEPING FOR THOSE OF US IN THE CHAMBER TONIGHT, FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING ASKED QUESTIONS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM AT THE FRONT AND FACE OUT TO THE AUDIENCE, A MICROPHONE IS WORKING THERE FOR THOSE OF US ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:05:01]
WE HAVE A ROVING MICROPHONE THAT WE'LL BRING TO YOU.PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE BORDER COMMISSION THAT YOU'RE ON.
WE'LL GO THROUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY IT'S THE FIRST RUNNING.
THE MEANING WILL BE MYSELF FOR ZONING AND PLANNING WILL BE VICE-CHAIR CABASA AND REPRESENTING PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT NOT IN ITS OFFICIAL CAPACITY CHAIR, SHAW, SHAW.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY.
AND I HAVE A POWERPOINT MAYBE.
SHOULD I DO IT FROM HERE? I NEED A CLICKER OR, UM, I HAVE A POWERPOINT.
WHERE SHOULD I DO THE POWERPOINT?
IF YOU COULD JUST NOTE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
[A.1.Austin City Hall Revised Boards and Commissions Use Policy; Required Relocation of Meetings of the Land Use Boards and Commissions]
AND CITY HALL NOT PERMITTING, UM, AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE MEETING PLACE? CITY HALL.
AND I DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT CITY HALL IS DEFINITELY THE SYMBOL OF DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL DISCUSSION.
IT CONVEYS GRAVITAS DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AS WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE AND OTHER COMMISSIONS HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE CITY HALL OPENED, IT'S COMFORTABLE AND IT'S EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO SEE THE PUBLIC.
AND YOU CAN KEEP TAB OF THE MEETINGS FROM THE LOBBY PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
THE NAME SAYS IT ALL, WHERE DEVELOPERS GET PERMITS.
IT'S THE RESULT OF CITY'S GOAL OF ONE.
STOP PERMITTING, PUSH IT'S AN OFFICE BUILDING AND WE'LL BE MEETING IN A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM.
MOVING MEETINGS FURTHER AWAY FROM SOUTH AUSTIN MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS, APPLICANTS AND VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS.
THERE'S LESS BUS SERVICE FORCE.
AND FOR SOUTH AUSTIN NIGHTS TO TRAVEL THROUGH DOWNTOWN AT RUSH HOUR I 35 IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION AT 6:00 PM.
NOW NIGHTS MUST CONTEND WITH CROSSING ONE OF FIVE DOWNTOWN BRIDGES JUST TO REACH HERE.
SO TRAVELING NORTHWARD WOULD MAKE IT WORSE.
AND IT'S A QUESTION OF EQUITY, WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYWHERE MENTIONED UNTIL NOW.
CITY HALL IS AT THE CENTER OF TRANSIT.
HIGHLAND MALL IS NOT THE CENTER OF TRANSIT AND THAT PERSON STANDING THERE IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO GOT OUGHTA OFF THE BUS THAT NIGHT AT ABOUT EIGHT 15.
THE CLOSEST BUS STOP IS HALF A MILE AWAY FROM THE PDC.
NO PEDESTRIANS, FEW BUS WRITERS, POOR LIGHTING AND NO HUSTLE AND BUSTLE DOWNTOWN'S REPUBLIC SQUARE.
BUS SERVICE, CITY HALL AND THE CITY HALL REPUBLIC SQUARE, UH, SOUTHBOUND STOP AND NORTHBOUND 0.2 MILES AWAY COMPARED TO THE PDC BUS STOPS ON AIRPORT AND HIGHLAND MALL BOULEVARD ARE 0.6 MILES AND 0.5 MILES AWAY.
RED LINE IS ALSO 0.6 MILE WALK AND CITY HALL IS SERVED BY ALL THOSE BUSES PDC, THOSE BUSES, SEVEN HIGH-FREQUENCY BUS ROUTES SERVE CITY HALL.
AND I KNOW BECAUSE I USUALLY ACCEPT FOR TONIGHT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, PERSONAL REASONS.
I, I USUALLY TAKE THE BUS AND THERE'S ONLY TWO, SO SEVEN HIGH-FREQUENCY ROUTES HERE.
TWO HIGH FREQUENCY BUS ROUTES.
THEY'RE BUSIEST BUS STOPS IN THE CITY OR HERE AT CITY HALL PDC, NO ONE, UM, IN MY DRIVES THROUGH AT NIGHT, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
D TWO BUS RIDE, CITY HALL, 40 MINUTES, NO TRANSFER FROM, AND NOW I FORGOT A LITTLE TEXAS STATION PDC, 94 MINUTES, ONE TRANSFER.
AND THAT TRANSFER IS JUST NOT IS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO WALK FIVE MINUTES FROM ONE BUS.
STOP TO ANOTHER, INCLUDING CROSSING LAMAR.
PERSONAL SAFETY AT RISK IMMEDIATELY ACROSS FROM ONE ENTRANCE TO THE PDC, THE SIGN WITH THE ENTRANCE, WITH THE SIGNS.
AND THAT'S AT ABOUT EIGHT, 10 AT NIGHT.
NO LIGHTING, NO SIDEWALKS, NO CARS, NO PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THIS IS IMMEDIATELY ACROSS FROM ANOTHER ENTRANCE TO THE PDC, THE PARKING
[00:10:01]
LOT.THAT'S SORT OF A HAPHAZARD PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM THE PDC A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM.
IS IT LIT BY THE ADJACENT HOLIDAY INN? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AGAIN, BUS WRITERS MUST PASS THIS DIMLY LIT CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH NO SIDEWALKS AND NO PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE METAL DETECTORS AND SECURITY OUTSIDE OR CHAMBERS AT ALL TIMES.
SECURE PARKING OUTDOOR LIGHTING BUS STOPS ARE THE BUSIEST IN THE CITY.
DOWNTOWN FULL OF PEDESTRIANS, MANY BUSINESSES OPEN LATE.
AND NEXT SLIDE PLEASE MOVING MEETINGS TO PDC SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE ABOUT WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE.
TRANSIT DEPENDENT CANNOT ATTEND A WILL HAVE A HARDER TIME REACHING THE MEETING POTENTIAL VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS WILL WHO RELY ON TRANSIT WILL BE LESS INCLINED RESIDENTS.
SOUTH OF THE RIVER MAY ALSO BE LESS INCLINED TO PARTICIPATE EITHER AS COMMISSIONERS OR AS PARTICIPANTS.
AND IT FORCES PEOPLE TO RELY ON CARS, VOTERS JUST APPROVED TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS.
YET THE CITY WANTS TO MOVE COMMISSION MEETINGS TO LESS TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE.
PDC SAYS AUSTIN IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY AND FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE.
FROM THE MEMO TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THE PDC, THE PDC BRINGS TOGETHER RESOURCES, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH STATES.
EXPLICITLY THAT PDC IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT CUSTOMER SEAMLESS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
THEN IT DID NOT MENTION THAT THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS WOULD MOVE TO THE PDC.
CITY RATIONALE FOR MOVING TO THE PDC, THE MEMO THAT WE GOT IN RESPONSE TO ZAP PUTTING THIS ON OUR AGENDA.
STAFF SAYS STAFF AT PDC, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT TRUE.
STAFFERS AT MEETINGS IS AT 11TH STREET AND ONE TEXAS CENTER LOCATIONS.
AND THERE'S AN IMPLICATION THAT VIEWS CITY VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS ARE LIKE PAID STAFF, MOVING THEM WITHOUT CONSULTATION OR DISCUSSION, BUT THE MEMO POINTS OUT THAT THERE'S LOTS OF PARKING DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC APPLICANTS AND COMMISSIONERS AND USE THE ZUCKER REPORT AS AN EXCUSE.
SO I HAD TO JUST, I, WHEN I SAW THE ZUCKER REPORT AS AN EXCUSE, UM, HAD TO MAKE THIS SLIDE BECAUSE IT WAS A SLIDE, IT WAS A REPORT THAT WAS WITHHELD FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
AND ONE IS THAT THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET LIKE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT OUR ZAP AND PC MEETINGS IS NOT THERE, BUT THE ZIPPER REPORT DOES ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSION MEETINGS AT CITY HALL WITH NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF MOVING THEM.
BUT CONTRARY TO THE CITY'S MEMO, THE ZD REPORT MENTIONS THAT COMMISSIONS WILL REMAIN AT CITY HALL IN AN INDIRECT WAY.
AND ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS PURCHASE IPADS OR LAPTOP COMPUTERS FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS, IF THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN HEARING CHAMBERS, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
PDC MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, NOT DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THERE IS NO DYESS, AWKWARD LAYOUT, MOVABLE CHAIRS AND TABLES, AND IT WAS USED AS A POLLING PLACE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE DOES THE CITY REALLY EXPECT THE PUBLIC STAFF APPLICANTS AND COMMISSIONERS TO SIT FOR HOURS ON THESE STACKABLE CHAIRS? I KNOW CAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THAT ROOM.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WANTED VICE-CHAIR CABASA TO SPEAK FIRST BECAUSE SHE HAS AN AMAZING PRESENTATION, WHICH ADDRESSES WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S DISCUSSED SOME OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE MOVE TO THE PDC.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I'M A LITTLE DISCONCERTED THAT WE'RE ALL HERE.
MOST OF US FROM ALL THREE MAJOR LAND USE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS ADDRESSING AN ISSUE, WHICH SORT OF EXEMPLIFIES THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY STAFF AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION FOR A WHILE, BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I FELT LIKE I WAS GIVEN NO NOTICE.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I FELT THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLIC INPUT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS, UH, GOOGLING EVERY WAY.
I KNOW HOW, SINCE WE FIRST GOT THE MEMO ABOUT THE PROPOSED PDC MOVE AND THE ONE THING THAT CONSISTENTLY KEEPS COMING UP IN MY RESEARCH, YES, I'M GOING TO INTERNET RESEARCH RIGHT NOW, BUT THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS CONSISTENTLY COMING UP BOTH THROUGH GOOGLE AND FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO WERE ORIGINALLY PART OF THE INPUT FOR CITY HALL BEFORE IT WAS BUILT IS THAT PUBLIC INPUT WAS INVESTED IN AND THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SHOULD BE PUT INTO ONE PLACE.
AND THAT WAS THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT CITY HALL.
[00:15:01]
IT WAS MOVED FROM ONE TEXAS CENTER FROM THE LCRA MEETING ROOM, UH, AND AUSTIN ENERGY AS WELL.IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, A BUNCH OF DISJOINTED PLACES THAT REQUIRED PEOPLE TO GO TO DIFFERENT AREAS.
THIS IS CITY HALL, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE HERE, ESPECIALLY SOVEREIGN BOARDS.
THERE'S A LEVEL OF SCRUTINY FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS.
AND THE BEST WAY TO HAVE THAT KIND OF SCRUTINY MAINTAINED IS TO PUT THEM UNDER A MICROSCOPE BEST PLACE TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL.
I'M HOPING WE CAN GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED TONIGHT, MAYBE AT LEAST ON THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT AND WHY CITY STAFF FEELS THAT THE PDC WOULD BE A BETTER MEETING PLACE THAN THE CURRENT LOCATION.
AND I THINK I WILL HAND IT OFF TO CHAIR SHOT TO SPEAK FOR JUST A MOMENT ON THE PLANNING.
UM, I'LL JUST SAY ONE THING FIRST OFF PLACE MATTERS.
UM, I'VE BEEN HERE DURING PROTEST, UH, VERY INTENSE PUBLIC DEBATES, AND THIS IS THE LOCATION WHERE THAT SHOULD OCCUR.
THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE DEBATES.
THIS IS WHERE IF THERE'S PROTEST, THEY SHOULD BE OUTSIDE.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR THE FOLKS, HEAR THEIR VOICES.
UH, SECONDLY, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.
I AGREE WITH, UH, UH, CHAIRS, VICE CHAIRS HERE, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE KIND OF PUBLIC DEBATE THAT WE NEED ON THIS, THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE NOT GIVEN ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO SPEAK.
I REALLY PERSONALLY, UM, I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE THEIR PERSONAL FEELINGS.
THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE CHANGE BEING MADE FEBRUARY OF 2022 IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT.
UH, PLANNING COMMISSION HAS ASKED, MADE SEVERAL MO UH, APPROVED SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS, ONE, UH, LIKE THE OTHER, UH, COMMISSIONS TO HAVE A, HAVE AN F AND F COMMITTEE, UH, APPROVED BYLAW CHANGES, WHICH MEMORIALIZED, UH, THE CITY HALL IS OUR MEETING PLACE.
UH, SECONDLY WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A CODE AMENDMENT, UH, UH, RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT INTO CODE, UH, FOR ALL LAND USE, UM, COMMISSIONS.
SO THAT WAY WE HOPE TO GET THE KIND OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO REALLY HEAR, HEAR OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS ARE BEFORE MAKING THIS PERMANENT CHANGE.
SO I ASK THAT WE LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK.
IN THE MEANTIME, I ASKED THAT THE CITY CLERK, PLEASE SCHEDULE OUR MEETINGS AS WE'VE REQUESTED, UH, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR, UH, WE'VE MADE THAT REQUEST TO YOU TO MAKE THAT OUR, THIS CITY HALL SCHEDULED THAT FOR 2022, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
WE WILL KNOW A LOT MORE, UH, I THINK MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH, UH, DECEMBER, SORRY, UH, ABOUT WHAT THE ANF COMMITTEE FEELS, AND THEN IT'LL GO ON TO COUNCIL.
UH, SO I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS SPACE OUT IF COUNCIL DOES DECIDE TO KEEP US HERE.
WE, UH, IF WE DON'T GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE IT, WE MAY HAVE NO CHOICE, BUT TO MOVE.
I WOULD HATE THAT TO BE THE RESULT OF INACTION.
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE OUR MEETINGS HERE AS REQUESTED, AND WE'LL LET THE COUNCIL HAVE THEIR, UM, BILL HEAR THIS AT SOME POINT, HOPEFULLY SOON INTO THE NEW YEAR.
SO I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE THE STUFF MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING TONIGHT.
WE HAVE ROSIE TRUELOVE, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND PLANNING, OR WHERE DOES GET, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF? YOU WANT TO START? OKAY.
HELLO, COMMISSIONER MEMBERS, RODNEY GONZALES.
I'M ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF STAFF HERE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
UM, AND SO FOR EXPEDIENCY SAKE, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL JUST REMAIN UP HERE, UH, GOING THROUGH THE QUESTIONS, BUT, UH, I'LL START OFF AND THEN HAND OVER TO ROSIE, DENISE, AND THEN ANDY.
UH, THANK YOU, RODNEY ROSIE, TRUE LOVE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
DENISE, LOOK AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND I RESTARTED THE PDC.
DO YOU THINK THE SHARES ANDY MOORE I'M WITH FINANCIAL SERVICES AND I'M THE P THREE PROGRAM MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE PDC.
[00:20:02]
THANK YOU ALL.WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SPEAKERS FIRST.
AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE Q AND A, OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD FOR OUR FIRST SPEAKER, MONICA GUZMAN.
YOU GET TO FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, BUT, UH, I'VE BEEN UP HERE PLENTY OF TIMES, NOT JUST NOT FACING THE AUDIENCE.
UM, CAN Y'ALL UNDERSTAND ME VERY WELL.
UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I AM MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.
SPEAKING ON ITEM AWAN, RELOCATION OF THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS MEETINGS FOR YEARS, MANY OF US HAVE ADDRESSED MARIN COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE STAFF, COMMISSIONERS, AND TASK FORCE MEMBERS REGARDING THE HISTORIC AND CONTINUED LACK OF TRUE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
I DIDN'T FIND IT ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
I DIDN'T GET IT IN ONE OF MY MINI CITY, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS.
I HEARD ABOUT IT BY WORD OF MOUTH BEFORE IT WAS EVEN POSTED.
IT'S NOT JUST, AND OTHERS HEARD ABOUT IT FROM ME THIS MORNING IN A MEETING.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO CITY BUSINESS, RIGHT? YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY ARE INFORMED DECISIONS BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE COMMISSIONS ARE IMPACTING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
EVERY DAY THROUGH GABA, WE WORK WITH RESIDENTS WHO RECENTLY WENT THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND ARE NOW BEFORE COUNCIL.
SOME OF THEM MAY BE ABLE TO GO TO A MEETING AT THE PDC, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT ABILITY, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO THEM GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT'S NOT A SAFE AREA.
THERE'S CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AROUND IT.
IF YOU HAVE TO COME ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS COMMISSIONER, AND KOBASA A GOOD, I GOT IT RIGHT.
AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THIS IS THE, YOU KNOW, THE CENTER OF TRANSIT HERE DOWNTOWN AND THE AVERAGE PERSON, WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT CITY BUSINESS, THE FIRST PLACE THEY'RE GOING TO THINK OF IS CITY HALL.
YOU KNOW, NOT SOME BUILDING BEHIND WHAT USED TO BE.
WHEN YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE MOBILITY IMPAIRED OR CHALLENGED, IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM.
I HAVE A CAR I CAN DRIVE THERE AND BACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW SAFE I'D FEEL KNOWING THERE'S NO SECURITY, NO CLEAR SIGNAGE.
IF I DIDN'T SEE SOMETHING IN THE PAPERWORK BACK UP ABOUT THE ENTRANCE BEING ON SOME OTHER STREET, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND THE BLOCK LOOKING FOR WILLING TO DELCO.
SO AS A D FOUR RESIDENT, UM, LIKE I SAID, OH, SORRY, MY NOTES ARE NOT COMPLETE HERE.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHICH HAT I WEAR, I'M OPPOSING RELOCATION OR THE LAND USE COMMISSION MEETINGS FROM CITY HALL.
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THE DECISION ABOUT RELOCATION SINCE SO FEW ARE AWARE OF THIS MEETING.
YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE TRUE PUBLIC PROCESS OF ENGAGEMENT, MAKING PEOPLE AWARE, ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, TO SPEAK PREFERABLY HYBRID, NOT NECESSARILY HAVING TO COME TO ANY BUILDING, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND NOT EVERYBODY IS VACCINATED.
PLEASE PUSH YOUR DECISION TO JANUARY.
THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN, NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARIO COME TO GOOD EVENING.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CONCUR WITH WHAT THE MONICA, JOLENE AND SHAW THAT THEY MENTIONED.
I THINK THE DATA THAT JOLENE HAD IS VERY DEAD ON, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE DATA.
I MEAN, THE CITY ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT DATA EVERY TIME AND MAJOR DECISIONS ARE ALWAYS MADE.
EVEN SOMETIMES SOME SIMPLE DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH NO DATA OR A LOT OF DATA.
WE HAVE DATA, SO WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS OF LOW INCOME, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY AND THEY HAVE A HARD TIME.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER ICE STORM, A LOT OF RAINS COMING IN ALL THE TIME.
[00:25:01]
AUSTIN, FORCING SOME OF THESE MEETINGS IS GOOD.IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
UH, JUST, I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
A LOT OF THEM CAN'T EVEN HAVE ICE CREAM TO GO HOME.
LIKE SOME OF US, WE PUT ICE CREAM HEB, WE CAN DRIVE AND EAT ICE CREAM WHEN WE GET THERE.
BUT THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WAIT FOR BUS ALL DAY, THEY NEVER GET ICE CREAM.
SO JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE LITTLE BITTY BITTY THINGS.
AND I THINK THE LITTLE BLUE BDB THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE SLIDES THAT I SHOWED YOU, I SAID IS COMMUNICATION.
A LOT OF Y'ALL PROBABLY DIDN'T SEE THESE IMAGES OR A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE IN OUR CITY, BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE THERE AGAIN, THEY WERE EXPRESSING DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, KINDNESS, AND PLACES TO VOTE, HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
LIKE THEY MENTIONED OVER HERE JUST A WHILE AGO.
THIS IS, THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT CITY HALL.
IT WAS BUILT MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT WAS BUILT FOR US FOR ALL OF US TO COME AND HAVE OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND EVERY MEETING THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY HERE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE INTENT TO BUILD THIS.
WE GOT NICE AIR CONDITIONED AND SEATS, EVERYTHING.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE COST FOR THIS ENDEAVOR OF MOVING THESE MEETINGS OVER THERE? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH, I MEAN, WE HAVE A FINANCIAL PERSON.
I LIKE TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS SECURITY.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE INTO A BUILDING WITH NO SECURITY, EITHER EQUAL OR GREATER THAN WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOU HAVE NINE IN THE U S ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME BOOGEYMAN THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT, AND WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE THINGS.
SO I ASK AND I CONCUR WITH A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SPOKE BEFORE I DID THAT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A BIG LOOK AT THIS.
WE NOTIFY PEOPLE AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO STAY HERE, KEEP IT HERE, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT FOR US AND ACTUALLY WE PAY IT ALL PAID FOR IT.
AND, UH, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE IN A GREER, SAID THAT, RIGHT? GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE GOURD AND, UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I AM A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, AND I AM ALSO THE IMMEDIATE PASTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMPANY HEAD PLANNED CONTACT TEAM, BUT I AM NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE CONTACT TEAM.
I DO NEED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THIS CHANGE.
IT WAS TOO LATE FOR US TO PUT THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, BUT WE INTEND TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER THE 13TH.
I KNOW WE WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BEING IN FAR SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO GET ALL THE WAY NORTH IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR, BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THESE MEETINGS OCCUR.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE, IT IS EFFECTIVELY THIS ENGAGING AN ENTIRE SOUTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY, AND CLEARLY I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS.
JUST KNOW THAT I'M BABYSITTING MY GRANDKIDS.
I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A PUBLIC SETTING INDOORS.
THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE HERE.
THAT IS HOW UPSET I AM ABOUT THIS EQUAL ACCESS.
THIS WILL BE NOT AS EQUAL ACCESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CONSULTED WITH THE EQUITY CONTINENT WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE, PLEASE DO.
AND I KNOW PREVIOUSLY IT WAS MENTIONED COST TO MOVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO THOSE OF BUS THAT ARE DISENGAGED.
THIS IS EFFECTIVE, SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.
I NEED TO CALL IT AS I SEE IT, TRANSPORTATION IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.
ONE OF OUR MEETINGS ENDED UP LIKE TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KNOW IF I HAD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BACK HOME.
AT THAT TIME, ESPECIALLY TO SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, WE ALSO REPRESENT DEL VALLEY.
TELL ME ABOUT ANY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO DEL VALLEY.
OUR CONTACT TEAM ATTENDS TO BOTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND SONJA AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A DOUBLE WHAMMY EACH TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS AND FOR STAFF THAT ARE RECOMMENDING THIS, THIS IS FOR YOU.
I'M NOT RETIRED, BUT IF YOUR EMAIL INCLUDES NAME AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV, YOU WORK FOR THE PUBLIC.
YOU ARE OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THIS IS SO UNFAIR THAT THIS IS BEING PROPOSED.
I DID NOT SEE ANY TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS, IN THIS DECISION AT ALL.
I WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO MEET BE,
[00:30:01]
MAKE IT ANY FUTURE PRESENTATIONS ON THIS.I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR YOU TO PUT YOURSELF IN OUR SHOES AND I DON'T SEE THAT YOU HAVE AT THIS POINT TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION.
UM, YOU NEED TO WORK FOR US IN COMMISSIONERS, BOARD MEMBERS ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
I NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY REPRESENT US OTHERWISE.
WHY ARE WE EVEN PAYING FOR YOU? IT IS OUR MONEY THAT IS PAYING FOR YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE FRANCIS AKUNA GOOD EVENING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DUSK SPRINGS.
I'M ALSO A CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH GAVIN, AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE RELOCATION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, PLANNING COMMISSION IN SONIA AND IN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS FROM, UM, FROM CITY HALL TO NORTH AUSTIN.
I WAS READING THAT THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS ARE HERE TO ENABLE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN, IN AUSTIN'S GOVERNMENT PROCESS.
AND THEY ALSO HELP SHAPE AND INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY BECAUSE THEY, THEY LEND TO A MORE DIVERSE VIEWPOINT TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WITH, WITH ALL THAT I WANTED.
I WANT TO SAY THAT BY DOING THE RELOCATION, YOU ARE LIMITING ACCESS TO INCLUSION OF AND PARTICIPATION TO COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED AND ANY DECISIONS MADE, BUT THE CITY MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, PLANNING, COMMISSION, AND SONY AND IMPLANTING COMMISSIONS TO ENABLE PARTICIPATION AND INFLUENCE ANY PUBLIC POLICY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY, IN ANYTHING WE NEED TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING, CONSIDER POSTPONING THE HEARING UNTIL THE HOLIDAYS TO ALLOW TIME FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING IN OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT, UM, ABOUT ALL THIS, UH, RELOCATION.
WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY DECISION PROCESS, WE NEED TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED.
I DON'T SEE MUCH ENGAGEMENT BEING DONE.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE TIME RESIDENTS WOULD TAKE IN THE BUS TO GET TO THIS NEW LOCATION.
IF I GO TO THIS LOCATION TO SPEAK, I WOULD NEED TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AT 4:00 PM.
SO I COULD GET THERE IN ORDER FOR ME TO SPEAK AT 6:00 PM, COUNTING THAT I'M GOING TO WALK AND I'M GOING TO RIDE THE BUS AND TO BE BACK HOME, I WILL BE AT MY HOUSE AT 10:00 PM.
THAT'S BECAUSE I WOULD LEAVE AT EIGHT.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING THAT THERE'S NO BUS GOING BACK HOME.
THE LAST BUS THAT GOOGLE MAPS, UM, SHOWED WHAT'S AT SIX 10.
AND BY THAT TIME I DON'T, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN.
AND OF COURSE I LOVED YOUR PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT THE SAFETY, THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ISSUES CAN I FINISH.
UM, AND IF I GO TO, FROM MY HOUSE TO CITY HALL, IT'LL TAKE ME FROM FIVE O'CLOCK FOR ME TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT 6:00 PM.
UH, POINTING OUT THAT BY 8:00 PM, I WOULD LEAVE CITY HALL RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO GET OUT FROM WORK AND THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COME VOICE THEIR OPINIONS OR TO SUPPORT CAUSES LIKE THIS ONE, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEY LIVE PAYCHECK BY PAYCHECK.
LET'S KEEP MEETING HERE IN CITY HALL WHERE IT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT ALSO LET'S INCLUDE MORE RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN PRECEDENT.
[00:35:01]
YOU, MR. CORNEA.NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE FORMER ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, VICE CHAIR, JIM DUNCAN.
UM, MY COMMENTS ARE GOING TO BE REAL BRIEF, UH, AND SOMEWHAT REDUNDANT WITH SOME COMMENTS ALREADY MADE, BUT I WANT TO START OUT BY COMMENDING STEADY STAFF FOR MAKING AN EFFORT TO ALLEGEDLY ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS IN AUSTIN.
I THINK THAT THAT'S EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT.
I JUST THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT IS BOMBED DIRECTED WRONG-HEADED AND WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THREE QUICK ITEMS, CONVENIENCE, COMFORT, AND SECURITY.
DO I HAVE A CLICKER HERE? FIRST OF ALL, AS A GOOD PLANNER, I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK AT THE GEOGRAPHIC.
SO I JUST TOOK AN ARBITRARY AT 10 MILE RANGE FROM CITY HALL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO SEE.
AND THAT BASICALLY TODAY AND THE 10 MILE RANGE, YOU CAN SEE WHAT PART OF THIS CITY IS COVERED.
NOW WE'RE NOT AN EXACTLY CIRCULAR CITY.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME EXTENSIONS NORTH AND SOUTH, BUT WE DO INCLUDE ALL OF SOUTH AUSTIN AND MOST OF NORTH AUSTIN, EXCEPT FOR THE FAR RANGES, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, I THINK THEY LIVE IN ROUND ROCK.
THIS IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE CHANGE, THE 10 MILE RADIUS.
NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PFLUGERVILLE ROUND ROCK AND MAIN, OR TURN THE MEETINGS, BUT ACTUALLY ENSURE YOU THAT THAT'S NOT IN THEIR STRONGEST INTEREST.
BUT WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST IS ALMOST EVERYBODY LIVING SOUTH OF BEN WHITE SOUTH OF 71 IS NOW OUTSIDE OF THAT 10 MILE RANGE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST AN ARBITRARY 10 MILE RANGE BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET TO DOWNTOWN, THE NICE THING NOW IS THAT ANYBODY GOING TO A MEETING IN THE CITY HALL IS GENERALLY GOING ENCOUNTER COUNTED.
THE TRAFFIC TRAFFIC MOVES OUTWARD INSTEAD OF INWARD.
WHAT YOU'VE BASICALLY DONE IS YOU'VE REQUIRED ANYBODY THAT COMES UP BY 35 TO GET INTO THE MOST HEAVILY TRAFFICKED SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES FOR ABOUT A FOUR MILE RADIUS ARE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN THE NEWEST ONE, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT 20 YEARS AGO IN BUILDING YOUR STUDY HALL.
UH, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT'S VERTICAL TONIGHT.
WE WERE ABLE TO PARK AND FOR EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN USING THIS BUILDING FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, IT'S SO CONVENIENT.
IT'S I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE OF THE NEW BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE BRAND NEW IS IT'S NOT A VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S TWO SINGLE USE BUILDINGS, ONE FOR PARKING AND ONE FOR OFFICES.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS ARE A DETERRENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE CLICK.
SO I GIVE A THUMBS UP ON THE CITY HALL ON THAT ONE.
AND AS FAR AS FACILITIES HERE, YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT IS.
THIS ROOM IS DESIGNED FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ROOMS, SUCH AS INDICATED IN THE NEW BUILDING OR NOT CLICK ONE MORE TIME.
I WANT TO GET TO THE LAST ONE FOR LEAD AND THE FACILITIES HERE.
WE HAVE NICE, COMFORTABLE ERGONOMIC CHAIRS.
I ACTUALLY SHOWED A PATTY ON MY FOLDING CHAIRS.
WE TO THE LAST ONE, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES.
THIS IS JUST A LOCATION IN THIS YEAR.
SO NOVEMBER OF HOMICIDES AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE CLUSTERED.
ALL RIGHT, CLICK IT ONE MORE TIME, RIGHT WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOCATING IT.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE UNSAFE, BUT THERE'S A PERCEIVED UNSAFE UP THERE.
IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE A DISTRICT FOUR, WHICH HAS ONE THIRD OF ALL THINGS.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S IN THE BACKSIDE OF POD AND MALL.
IT IS A HALF A MILE FROM THE TRANSIT STATION AND MOST OF THE BUS STOPS ALL ALONG AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
SO THANK YOU MUCH FOR TAKING THAT.
THANK YOU, BARBARA VICE CHAIR.
I FELT GOOD AND REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[00:40:06]
OKAY.SO NOW I'D LIKE TO MOVE US INTO THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PORTION OF THE MEETING.
UM, SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE BRAVE AND DECIDE WHO HAS THE FIRST QUESTION? OH, HANG ON.
WE'VE GOT A MADAM CHAIR ON I'M ON THE, SO ARE YOU TAKING COMMENTS FROM ANY OF THE BOARDING COMMISSION? SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO START WITH IN-PERSON, UH, QUESTION AND ANSWERS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO VIRTUAL AND THEN WE'LL DO FREE FOR ALL, IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT.
WHAT WAS THAT? NO, WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR THE COMMISSION MEMBERS.
SO YOU'RE FACING THIS WAY OR THAT WAY.
I'M CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
I'VE ALSO SERVED ON SEVERAL OTHER BOARDS WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'VE ALSO DO SOME WORK WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I WANT TO KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH EQUITY OFFICER AND GOTTEN HER REVIEW OF THIS PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY TALKED WITH THE EQUITY OFFICER ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE BUILDING, BUT, UM, THE LOCATION OF THE BUILDING HAS BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION FOR MANY YEARS SINCE OF COURSE, BUT SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE MANY YEARS.
SHE'S HAS NOT BEEN HERE THAT LONG.
I'M TALKING ABOUT BRIAN OAKS ARE OUR EQUITY OFFICER.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? UM, THE WOMAN THAT'S HEADING UP THE EQUITY OFFICE.
SO, UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR EQUITY OFFICE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT PART OF THIS SPECIFIC DISCUSSION OF THE BUILDING THEY ARE BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
AND THAT'S JUST MY FIRST QUESTION.
SO OBVIOUSLY HAVING, SO THE SECOND ONE IS YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE MOVING THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE STAFF IS.
WE HAVE LEGAL IS ONE OF OUR MAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE AT OUR MEETINGS, EVERY MEETING, BECAUSE WE'RE QUASI JUDICIAL, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW LEGAL IS HERE.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE A STAFF PERSON STAFF LIAISON, BUT, BUT I THINK SHE'S WORKING REMOTELY.
SO THAT FOR ME IS AN ISSUE TOO.
SO WHEN YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT MAYBE APPLICABLE IN SOME SITUATIONS, BUT NOT ALL.
UM, I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE AND I THINK WE JUST, AS EVERYBODY SAID, THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON THIS.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVEN'T ASKED PEOPLE, HOW WERE YOU GOING TO GET TYLENOL? ANOTHER THING FOR ME, THIS IS ME PERSONALLY, AS A COMMISSION MEMBER, WE PISS PEOPLE OFF.
I WANT A METAL DETECTOR AND I WANT A SECURED GARAGE WITH GATE.
WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THAT THERE.
AND THAT'S VERY SCARY FOR ME NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER PARTS OF THE LACK OF SECURITY IN THAT AREA.
I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE HERE COULD TELL YOU THEY'VE BEEN THREATENED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MANAGE THAT? SO THOSE ARE KIND OF MY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD, WE COULD, IF YOU'D LIKE, UH, GO THROUGH AROUND IT MORE COMMENTS FROM THE VARIOUS COMMISSION MEMBERS, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND THEN GET TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR, OR, CAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS, BUT THEN MAYBE A QUESTION AT THE END.
SO I, I'M NOT SURE UH, JUST A QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
OUR BOARD LIAISON IS ACTUALLY AT THE PDC.
SHE WAS MOVED THERE A FEW MONTHS AGO.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UP, UH, LIAISON IS NOT THAT'S CORRECT.
IF I MAY SPEAK, THIS IS ELAINE RAMIDA IS THE LIAISON FOR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
I'VE BEEN IN THE BUILDING AT PDC SINCE JUNE OF 2021.
DID YOU HAVE ANY ANSWER ABOUT THE EQUITY QUESTION? OKAY.
I HAVE MORE OF A STATEMENT THAN I DO QUESTIONS, MY QUESTIONS TO COME AT THE END.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS.
[00:45:01]
I WROTE THIS DOWN SO I DON'T GRAB ALONG.I MAY TAKE, I MAY TAKE A LIBERTIES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BEING A SITTING BOARD MEMBER.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR CHAIRS.
AND CO-CHAIR KOBASA FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M MICHAEL VON OLIN, AND I'VE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR 12 PLUS YEARS.
PRIOR TO THAT, I'VE SERVED ON SEVERAL ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SINCE 1992 LONG BEFORE.
SOME OF YOU HAVE EVEN BEEN HERE IN THAT TIME, I'VE STOOD UP AND SUPPORTED CITY STAFF REGULARLY.
I'VE HAD A FEW, IF ANY ISSUES WITH THEM, AS IT RELATES TO THE BOARD ACTIVITIES, OUR STAFF BOA LI LIAISON HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
AND I MUST SAY SADLY THOUGH, THERE'S BEEN A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DSD STAFF AND THE BOARDS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO POINT OUT THAT I WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, NOT BY CITY MANAGER OR BY CITY STAFF.
I SERVE AT THE WILL AND PLEASURE OF MY, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT AT THE WILL AND PLEASURE OF THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF.
AND I AM NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE NOW THAT THAT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR.
AND ON THE RECORD, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT HAND AND WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
LET ME START BY STATING IF THE PROCESS HAD BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH AND APPROACHED IN A MUTUALLY PROFESSIONAL RESPECTFUL WAY.
I DON'T THINK WE'D BE HERE TONIGHT.
THAT BEING SAID, I RESEARCHED MY BOARD INFO AND I DID NOT RECEIVE THE JUNE, 1920 DID THE JUNE 29TH, 2021 MEMO REFERENCED IN THE OCTOBER 19TH MEMO MEMO.
EVEN IF I DID, I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED TO BELIEVE IT WOULD PERTAIN TO THESE THREE BODIES HERE TONIGHT IS STATES AND I QUOTE THE NEW FACILITIES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SEAMLESS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ALL IN ONE PLACE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITTING ALL PERTINENT DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE CO-LOCATED TO THE PDC.
THE BOS APP AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES.
WE CANNOT REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT.
WE CANNOT ACT IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY EXCEPT THROUGH THE ACTION OF THE BOARD.
THAT'S CLEARLY STATED IN OUR ARTICLES, DO WE PARAGRAPH D OF THE BYLAWS, THE OCTOBER 19TH MEMO THEN GOES ON TO GLOSS OVER THE POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES OF THE PDC FOR THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS.
THE FINAL PARAGRAPH ATTEMPTS TO SHORE UP THE REASONS FOR THE REQUIRED CHANGE.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW REQUIRED BY HOME AND REQUIRED FOR WHAT REASONS OTHER THAN TO HELP JUSTIFY THE COST OF A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.
LET ME POINT OUT THAT AS A QUALITY GOVERNMENTAL SOVEREIGN BOARD THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND DERIVES ITS AUTHORITY FROM STATE LAWS, AS WELL AS CITY CODE TWO DASH 1, 1 11 AND CHAPTER 25 DASH TWO.
THIS BOARD PLANNING AND ZAP ARE NOT YOUR NORMAL ADVISORY BOARDS OR ADVISORY COMMISSIONS THAT THE DECISIONS MADE BY THESE THREE BODIES CAN CHANGE CODE.
AND IN SOME WAYS CHANGE LAWS IN THE CITY, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH INTERPRETATIONS OR OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN BY OUR MEETINGS, HELL EVEN THE CITY COUNCIL COULD LET, LET ALONE CITY STAFF CANNOT OVERRULE THE DECISIONS MADE BY BOA.
IT HAS TO GO TO DISTRICT COURT, BUT I DIGRESS WHEN WE SIT ON THE DICE, IT'S IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE THE LIVING REPRESENTATION OF THEIR AUTHORITY IN CITY HALL.
AND THIS ROOM IS THE REPRESENTATION OF THAT AUTHORITY AS WELL.
THE OCTOBER 19TH MEMO GOES ON TO SAY THE MOVE QUOTE REINFORCES THE CONCEPT OF THE PDC SERVING AS THE CITY'S ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL PERMITTING AND RELATED NEEDS, WHICH IS RECOMMENDATION IN THE 2015 DOCKER ANALYSIS.
THE ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS IT NOW FOR THE REQUIRED MOVE IS NOT THERE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT EMPLOYEES.
WE DO NOT INTERACT WITH CITIZENS EXCEPT AS A BODY FROM THE DIYERS.
THE ZUCKER ANALYSIS WAS TO ANALYZE THE DEPARTMENT, NOT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I WAS INVOLVED AND I WAS AROUND WHEN THE ZUCKER REPORT WAS COMMISSIONED.
I WAS ON THE BOARD FOR THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS, AMERICA AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WAS CHAOS.
COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, GET ANYTHING DONE? IT WAS TO ANALYZE PERMITTING PROCESS IN THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW ME WHERE IN, IN THE ZUCKER REPORT, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT MOVING THESE THREE SOVEREIGN BOARDS IN THE REPORT AT ALL.
BUT I DID NOTICE THAT, UH, CO-CHAIR, CABASA DID POINT OUT A BEAR, GOOD FACT, THAT HE SAYS THAT THESE, THESE BODIES CAN REMAIN HERE, HERE IN CITY HALL.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IN THE YEARS I'VE SERVED ON LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAD, I HAVE HAD TO PERSONALLY ESCORT MEMBERS TO THEIR VEHICLES.
WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE APD STANDBY AND EVEN REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THIS CHAMBER.
IN THE PAST, BEFORE WE WENT TO THE SECURITY PEOPLE WE HAVE.
NOW, THE DECISIONS THAT THESE THREE BODIES MAKE ARE SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL.
AND AT TIMES CONTENTIOUS, I MYSELF HAVE REVEALED PAST IN THE PAST RECEIVED VEILED THREATS.
AND SO HEALTH AND SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.
PDC DOES NOT PROVIDE THE ADEQUATE SECURITY AND IT CANNOT
[00:50:01]
BY DESIGN.PICKINGS GREYHOUND ACROSS THE STREET IS A WELL-KNOWN HOTSPOT FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND I THINK THAT WAS JUST SHOWING ON A PAST SLIDE A MINUTE AGO.
SECONDLY, CITY HALL IS CENTRALLY LOCATED WITH ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY.
THE PDC IS NOT, IT IS DISCRIMINATORY BY NATURE AND DESIGN.
SINCE OUR DECISIONS ARE LEGAL AND HAVE FAR REACHING LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS, OUR LEGAL TEAM LOCATED UPSTAIRS CAN ALSO EASILY BE ACCESS LEGAL INFO IN MINUTES.
WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THEM DO THAT IN THE PAST, LEAVE A MEETING, GO UPSTAIRS, GATHER INFO ON, ON THE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US, AS BROOKE HAD STATED.
IF THE REASON IS TO HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE, THAT'S LUDICROUS.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET STAFF TO RESPOND.
NOW IT TOOK THREE YEARS TO GET STAFF CLARIFICATION ON THE UT SIGN TO OR ORDINANCE.
IT WENT THROUGH THE TURNOVER OF TWO CHAIRMAN BEFORE JERRY CAME AFTER NUMEROUS REQUESTS.
NOT TO MENTION OUR MEETINGS ARE IN THE EVENING AFTER STAFF LEAVES FOR THE DAY.
SO THE REASON FOR THE ACCESS TO STAFF DOESN'T HOLD WATER EITHER.
IF THE TRUE INTENT IS TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON CITY HALL, COUNCIL, CHAMBERS, AND COMMITTEE ROOMS AND MOVE ALL THE ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO THE PDC.
BUT THE THREE SOVEREIGN BOARDS THEY REPRESENT THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND AUSTIN NEED TO STAY AT CITY HALL ARE CLOSE AGAIN WITH POINTING OUT.
WE ARE NOT PAID EMPLOYEES OR EVEN CONSIDERED CITY STAFF.
WE REPRESENT THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR AND SIT IN HERE TO HAVE THE MEETINGS OF THESE THREE BODIES IN THE SEAT OF AUTHORITY, WHICH THIS ROOM REPRESENTS.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS IN 28 YEARS OF HAVING BUSINESS IN THE CITY WAS MY SECOND LARGEST CLIENT.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THESE DOG AND PONY SHOWS, YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITIZENS, THE VOLUNTEER APPOINTEES AND THE TAX PAYING CITIZENS OF AUSTIN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT PROCESS.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH MEMO FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IT GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF THIS BEING A DONE DEAL.
AND IF WE'RE JUST DOING A DOG AND PONY SHOW AND GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE THAT DON'T WASTE MY TIME.
LET'S CALL IT AS IT IS CITY COUNCIL AT THE ANDREW'S GOING TO HAVE THE LAST SAY.
SO BEFORE WE GO MOVING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE REQUEST TO CITY CLERK TO GO AHEAD AND SET UP NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR FOR US HERE FOR THE THREE BODIES HERE IN CASE THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES A DECISION.
I SPOKE TO MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TONIGHT.
I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO.
SO BEFORE WE START PULLING TRIGGERS AND JUMPING A GUN, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE WITH THE INTENT OF THESE, THE THREE BODIES STILL MEETING HERE IN THIS ROOM HERE.
I SORT OF WENT OFF TRACK THERE, BOARD MEMBER FUNNEL, AND I HEARD A COUPLE QUESTIONS IN THERE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS REQUIRED BY.
AND ALSO WHY, WHAT THE THREES THREE SOVEREIGN BOARDS WERE NOT CONSULTED PRIOR TO STAFF MAKING THIS DECISION.
WHY WAS THERE NOT A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL? SAME THINGS.
YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A GOOD MEMORY.
I CAN TELL
SO, UM, WITH REGARD TO CONSULTING THERE WEREN'T BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WERE CONSULTED.
THIS WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION GOING BACK APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS WHEN THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED, UM, WITH THE INTENTION INTENTION OF, OF COURSE CREATING WHAT WE CALL A ONE-STOP SHOP.
UM, AND THAT INTENTION OF COURSE, WAS TO ALSO CREATE THIS, UH, BOARD AND COMMISSIONS ROOM WITH PLENTY OF SEATING, ET CETERA, TO HOST THE LAND USE COMMISSION MEETINGS.
AND SO THAT DECISION WAS MADE MANY YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, OH, THE ZACHARY REPORT.
IT DOESN'T SAY, UH, TO MOVE LAND AND LAND USE COMMISSIONS.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT REEMPHASIZES THE ONE-STOP SHOP CONCEPT.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, IF YOU CAN SPEAK IN A MICROPHONE, PLEASE, IF WE COULD PLEASE HOLD UNTIL YOU HAVE A MICROPHONE CHAIR, YOU COULD BELIEVE COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU.
AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET FOR YEARS, ALL OF THAT TO BECOME A ONE-STOP SHOP.
SO WE WERE INVOLVED WITH IT IS OUTSIDE BODIES.
SO, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT WAS LONG BEFORE YOU GOT HERE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT WAS NEVER INTENDED.
IT WAS ONLY FOR THE PERMITTING PROCESS BECAUSE IT WAS SO CHAOS.
HE HAD TO GO TO THREE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS.
YOU HAD TO GO TO THE TAJ MAHAL, BUT WE USED TO CALL IT THE TOP OF MY HALL.
YOU HAD TO GO TO 5 0 5, YOU HAD TO COME OVER HERE.
THERE WAS SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU HAD TO GO IN ORDER TO GET PERMITS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND GET THINGS TAKEN CARE OF.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE ONE-STOP SHOP IS.
ONE STOP SHOP HAS NOTHING TO DO.
[00:55:01]
THEY DON'T SHOP US.I MEAN, NOBODY SHOPS US AND IF THEY DO, WE CAN'T TALK TO THEM ANYHOW, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO RECUSE OURSELVES.
WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC.
SO THAT ONE STOP SHOP CONCEPT YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL IS ONLY FOR CITY STAFF FOR THE CITY DEPARTMENT, NOT FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN, CANNOT AGREE WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF IT WAS INTENDED FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO BE MOVED BECAUSE DURING THE ZUCKER REPORT WHERE WE WORKED ON IT AND WE WORK WITH CITY STAFF AND THERE WAS THREE OR FOUR MAYORS AGO, OKAY.
THEN IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP, BUT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE INVOLVED IN ONE STOP SHOPPING BECAUSE NOBODY COMES TO THE SHOPS TO US, UH, BOARD MEMBER BY NOLAN.
I'M GOING TO CALL AN AUDIBLE REALLY QUICK, EVERYONE SO THAT WE CAN SET A PATTERN FOR THE MICROPHONE.
AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE EASIEST IF WE JUST START GOING DOWN THE ROWS BACK AND FORTH AND SIP HER UP AND WE HIT TO THE BACK, MOVED TO THE BACK, PASS IT FORWARD, AND THAT WAY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COVER EVERYBODY.
SO IF I, IF I, IF I COULD, ONE MORE COMMENT WITH REGARD TO, WE HAVE ONE MORE RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.
AND REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND CLARIFY TOO WELL.
UM, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, UNLIKE JEANETTE GODEL, OUR PREVIOUS, OUR FORMER CITY CLERK, SHE IS NO LONGER OUR CLERK.
SHE'S A CLERK FOR, UH, FORT WORTH.
UM, SHE EMAILED A FEW OF YOU, I BELIEVE HER LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO, STATING THAT, UM, WE ARE ACCEPTING ALL OF YOUR SCHEDULES.
THE ONLY THING WE ARE NOT DOING IS SCHEDULING THE MEETINGS.
AND THAT IS NOT ONLY FOR THE LAND USE COMMISSION MEETINGS.
I MEAN, COMMISSIONS, THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE.
WE, YOUR RECOMMENDATION CURRENTLY STATES THAT, UM, WE DENIED THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE DENIED YOUR CALENDAR.
WE HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF YOUR CALENDARS AND THEY WILL BE POSTED TO YOUR WEBPAGE AS THEY ARE AND HAVE BEEN FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS.
UM, WHAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT IS, UM, HOLDING OFF ON SCHEDULING ALL OF THESE MEETINGS UNTIL THESE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND THAT IS NOT JUST AGAIN FOR THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS.
THIS IS ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS ACROSS THE BOARD.
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OVER 70 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE NEED TO SCHEDULE.
UM, SO THAT IS ONE CLARIFICATION POINT.
THE OTHER I'M, I'M SORRY, SIR.
I DON'T, I'M NOT AWARE OF A MEMORANDUM FROM JANETTE GOING OUT REGARDING, ON NOVEMBER 10TH.
UH, YOU MAY BE CONFUSING THAT WITH A DIFFERENT MEMO MEMO FROM A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT IT ENTAILS, WHAT DOES THAT MEMO STATE, SO THAT IS POSSIBLY THE MEMO THAT STATES WHERE WE ARE SEEKING, YOU KNOW, THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES, UM, TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE PERMANENT HYBRID MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT SHE SENT.
IT'S AN, AN EMAIL FORMAT, UM, FOR ALL OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THE ONLY WAY POSSIBLE TO EXPAND AT THE LOCATIONS THAT, UM, CAN EFFICIENTLY HOST THE HYBRID MEETINGS, UM, IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HOST THEM ALL HERE AT CITY HALL.
SO WE HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AND THE CODE HAS BEEN CHANGED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THAT EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28TH, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THIS OR, OR THESE, UM, UM, OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO CONDUCT HYBRID MEETINGS.
BUT THERE, WE HAVE NO SAY IN, IN, IN THIS, UM, UM, THE MOVE OR WHATNOT, WE SUPPORT USING THE PDC.
WE NEED THE SPACE, UM, HOW IT IS DETERMINED, WHO GOES OR NOT.
WE DO NOT HAVE A SAY IN THAT, LIKE, UM, ACM GONZALEZ MENTIONED IT'S ALL ADMINISTRATIVE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION POINT, THIS RUBBER, WE PULL UP THAT MEMO.
UM, IF WE CAN PROCEED TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, I THINK I'LL HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
SO I WANT TO ASK, LIKE, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY, SORRY ME REAL QUICK.
ANOTHER AUDIBLE, UH, COMMISSIONER RAY, IF I COULD JUST ASK THE ROOM REAL QUICKLY, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IF YOU KNEW ANY OF THAT INFORMATION, ANY OF IT,
[01:00:01]
DID ANYONE KNOW THAT OUR SCHEDULES WERE BEING ACCEPTED LIAISONS? THIS IS A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM AND A BAD ONE.UM, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY BRIANNE WITH THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, I WANTED TO ASK, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WE ARE AT CITY HALL, UH, SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE.
WE DON'T HAVE CONFLICTS WITH OTHER MEETINGS AT SEA.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I KNOW THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO CURRENTLY WORK.
SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT IS TRYING TO BE ADDRESSED HERE? LIKE, IS SOMETHING CHANGING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO MOVE US THIS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME CONFLICT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I HAVE TO DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHO, I'M NOT SURE SPECIFICALLY THIS ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
SORRY, YOUR, YOUR QUESTION WAS WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT'S SPRING.
SO, SO WHY, WHY IS IT THAT WE CAN MEET HERE NOW? IT'S BEEN WORKING HERE FOR YEARS, BUT SUDDENLY WE NEED TO CHANGE, LIKE, WHAT IS, WHAT IS DRIVING? WHAT IS THE NEED FOR CHANGE HERE THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED? LIKE, WHY CAN'T IT, WHY CAN'T WE KEEP MEETING? YOU HEAR ME, YOU CERTAINLY CAN MEET HERE.
AND AS, UH, UH, MS. RIOS WAS SAYING WHAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED RECENTLY, NOT JUST RECENTLY, BUT FOR A WHILE NOW ARE SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.
UM, AND THIS BUILDING PARTICULAR.
AND SO WE VIEW THE PDC AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THOSE SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.
UH, IT'S BRAND NEW BUILDING, UH, ROOM FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO MEET, WHICH WILL HELP TO RELIEVE THAT OVERFLOW HERE AT CITY HALL.
SO THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC PROBLEM PER SE, BUT RATHER JUST A GENERALIZED CONCERN FOR BEING ABLE TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THE VARIOUS MEETINGS THAT OCCUR HERE, INCLUDING SPECIAL CALLED COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO HAVE THERE BEEN EXAMPLES IN SAY THE LAST YEAR OF US HAVING A MEETING THAT INTERFERED WITH WHAT, LIKE, CAN YOU GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF WHERE THAT MIGHT'VE HAPPENED? SURE.
THE LAST YEAR I THINK IS GOING TO BE AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE OF COURSE, MOST OF THOSE WERE VIRTUAL, BUT IT'S MS. RIOS JUST RECENTLY POINTED OUT.
WE'VE NOW GOT A CONCERN WITH, UH, CONDUCTING HYBRID MEETINGS, UH, WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DONE FOR EVERY BOARD AND COMMISSION 70 PLUS OF THEM.
AND SO AS SHE HAD POINTED OUT, IT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE A CONCERN GOING FORWARD, BUT WITHIN THE YEAR, ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE MEETING VIRTUALLY.
SO IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE, WELL, I GUESS I'M ASKING, LIKE WHAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE HYBRID THING MAKES A CRUMBLE.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HAVING TO CREATE MORE SPACES THAT PEOPLE CAN MEET VIRTUALLY, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEE.
HOW DOES THAT CREATE A CONFLICT FOR US TO MEET HERE? LIKE HOW DOES, HOW DOES THAT SPECIFICALLY? SURE.
IT'S NOT THE VIRTUAL COMPONENT.
SO WHAT, WHAT ABOUT THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR US TO STILL MEET HERE? I'D HAVE TO RELY ON STEPHANIE OR MYRNA TO TALK ABOUT THE HYBRID COMPONENT AND STEPHANIE HALL WAS WALKING UP SHE'S WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
HI, Y'ALL THIS IS STEPHANIE HALL WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
SO THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH HYBRID MEETINGS COMES DOWN TO THE EQUIPMENT AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO CURRENTLY THE ONLY ROOMS THAT CAN DO THAT ARE THIS ROOM AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO INTERACT WITH ATX.
THEN WE NEED TO INTERACT WITH THE SCREENS WE HAVE TO INTERACT WITH WEBEX, AND THEN PDC IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY STARTING MARCH.
SO IT'S STILL REALLY LIMITS US STARTING MARCH OF 2022.
SO THAT'S WHY THE DATE OF THOSE CODE CHANGES IS FEBRUARY 28TH, 2022, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WOULDN'T HAVE PDC READY UNTIL THEN.
SO WE STILL GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE'LL ONLY HAVE THIS ROOM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, AND THEN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS AT THE PDC THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT CAN HOST HYBRID MEETINGS FOR ANYONE.
SO, BECAUSE WE'RE OPENING THIS UP NOW BECAUSE THE COACH AGENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND THEY'RE COMING NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS OPEN FOR EVERY SINGLE BOARD AND COMMISSION.
WE STILL HAVE LIMITED SPACES TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE OF THE EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE OF STAFFING AND SPACE.
SO, SO YEAH, I'M, I'M WONDERING LIKE WHAT, UH, SO I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE TRYING TO OPEN THIS SPACE UP.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO OPEN IT UP FOR? LIKE SPECIFICALLY, IT SEEMS JUST KIND OF GENERAL, LIKE WE NEED MORE SPACE.
ARE THERE, IS THERE ANOTHER COMMISSION THAT MEETS ON TUESDAY NIGHT THAT NEEDS THE SPACE? UM, YEAH, SIR, SIR, IF I COULD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANY SPECIFIC COMMISSION OR BOARD THAT IS GOING TO COME IN AND THEN TAKE THE PLACE OF THE MEETINGS THAT OCCUR HERE.
THIS IS SIMPLY TO CREATE THE SPACE AT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE LAND USE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS.
BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, WHICH IS WHAT IS THE GROUP THAT IS GOING TO, I THINK BACKFILL WAS THE WORD THAT WAS USED, UH, THE MEET, THE, UH, OPEN MEETING SPACE, ET CETERA.
AND, AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR
[01:05:01]
SIMPLY CREATING THE SPACE FOR THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS TO MEET AT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.UM, I MEAN, I GUESS MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALL THESE CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH I STRONGLY AGREE WITH AND ABOUT IT'S A LOT HARDER FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET TO IT.