[00:00:05]
SO I THINK THAT THAT MEANS WE'RE MISSING AT THIS POINT, WHO, UH, PO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
HERE'S A PILLS ON THE SCREEN, RIGHT? SO WE'RE MISSING A MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION HERE TODAY ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021.
UM, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT COLLEAGUES, UH, JUST TO JUST GENERALLY ADDRESS A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I THINK THAT IN CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ON THE DAY S AS WELL AS THE, THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF US, CAN WE DOUBLE CHECK THAT THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN HEAR, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HEAR NOW, BUT I GOT IT.
ALICE NPO, CAN YOU HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW THAT WE MET LIVE? WE CAN HEAR FINE.
YOU PO COULD YOU HEAR NO PROBLEM? OKAY, COOL.
I COLLEAGUES JUST TO LAY THE STAGE AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO
[1. Council Discussion on Housing Supply and Affordability.]
THE, TO THE FIRST PART OF THE WORK, UH, THIS, UH, THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING SUPPLY, OBVIOUSLY, UH, ON THE TOP OF EVERYBODY'S RADAR SCREEN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS STARTED POSTING IDEAS TO THE MESSAGE BOARD ON THINGS THEY, UH, INTENDED TO, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, ON, UH, AND, UH, UH, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WAS HAPPENING, A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTERED.I, UH, STARTED TRYING TO WORK ON, UH, KIND OF THE CONCEPT OF WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE ACHIEVABLE THAT WE COULD GET DONE.
NOW, UH, WE HAD, UH, THE, THE COURT CASE, IT WAS ARGUED A WEEK OR TWO AGO, WHO KNOWS, BUT THAT'LL GET RESOLVED WHO KNOWS WHAT THE RULES WILL BE GOING FORWARD, BUT OBVIOUSLY A CLEAR DESIRE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE OR THE DAY HAS STARTED TO WAIT, UH, THAT, UH, WITH THE CRISIS, UH, THAT WE'RE FACING IS PRETTY EXTREME AND THE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO NOW IS GREAT.
SO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, TOGETHER, UH, COLLECTIVELY ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
UH, IT SEE THAT, UH, WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO THAT WERE ACHIEVABLE.
AND WHAT HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HOUSING SUPPLY AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, UH, WITH THE COURT CASE THAT THAT'S WRITING, IT LOOKS, UH, THAT, THAT THE BEST WAY TO HIT THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE IS TO FIND THOSE IDEAS OR CONCEPTS OR, OR DIRECTIONS, UH, THAT, UH, NINE OR MORE OF US COULD, UH, SUPPORT ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS OR HELP DEVELOP IDEAS.
THIS IS A WORK SESSION, AND THERE'LL BE NO VOTES, TAKE IT.
WE JUST HAVE ALL EMBEDDED THAT WE'D EVER HAVE REAL OPPORTUNITIES JUST TO BE WITH EACH OTHER AND TALK TO EACH OTHER AND FIND OUT WHERE THERE KIND OF COMMON GROUND MIGHT RIGHT EXIST.
WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE TO FASCIA VITALS SOLUTIONS TODAY TO ANYTHING.
UH, BUT I THINK THE, THE GOAL AT THE END OF THE DAY IS FOR US TO EITHER HAVE DIRECTION FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BRING IFCS OR DIRECTION MANAGER TO YOU WITH THE STAFF TO SAY, HEY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SUPPORT FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS KIND OF IDEA.
WOULD YOU DEVELOP THIS KIND OF IDEA? I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO WHAT DEGREE COUNSELED TODAY, WE'LL GIVE SPECIFICS ON THAT.
IT COULD BE THAT WE SAY THIS IS AN AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT.
THERE'S NO COMMITMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE BD TODAY FOR ANYBODY TO VOTE A PARTICULAR WAY ON ANYTHING, AND IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE OR ACCEPTABLE FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, WELL, I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THAT SUBJECT.
IF SOMEBODY, WE GET B KIND OF DETAILS ON WHAT SPECIFICALLY THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, NOT READY TO COMMIT TO, TO VOTE FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT, BUT AM WILLING TO AT LEAST ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT NINE PEOPLE PLUS COULD, COULD SUPPORT THAT WOULD HAVE A, A SAY, GIVING IT A MATERIAL IMPACT ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, HOUSING SUPPLY.
SO MOSTLY JUST A CONVERSATION TODAY, THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO SET THIS OUT IS WE'RE GOING TO START GIVE EVERYBODY FIVE OR SO MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO, JUST TO KIND OF SAY WHERE THEY ARE, UH, MAYBE ROLL OUT SOME IDEAS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE GET DISCUSSED, BUT WE'LL GO ABOUT AN HOUR ON THAT IF ALL 10 OF US USE FIVE MINUTES, THAT TAKES US TO JUST PAST 1130.
[00:05:01]
UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS FROM, FROM, FROM STAFF.IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE, UH, JOHN HAKA NEWS.
TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE ECONOMICS ASSOCIATED WITH WHERE WE ARE, UM, UH, AND, UH, THE ECONOMICS ASSOCIATED WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE, UH, MEET THE CHALLENGE.
UH, SO HE'LL GO FOR PROBABLY 10 MINUTES OR SO.
UH, OUR STAFF WILL THEN COME IN AFTER THAT.
UH, THEY ALL HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, A HALF AN HOUR ISH TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO US.
WE CAN HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR, UH, AND THEN WE WILL LEAVE THE, THE, THE DEUS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN, AN OPPORTUNITY, A PRESS CONFERENCE AT SOME OF, UH, THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENDORSE THIS, UH, EFFORT.
IT IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PARTICULAR RESOLUTION OR ANY PARTICULAR, IT'S JUST, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, WANTING TO, UM, SUPPORT, UH, THE, THE, THE COUNCIL'S WORK AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE CONSENSUS ITEMS MIGHT BE THAT HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.
EVERYBODY ON THE DAY IS, IS INVITED TO MOVE OUT TO THE ATRIUM.
I'M NOT GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING.
UH, SO I COULD JUST MOVE OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO, I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION THAT MAKES THIS A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND, UH, HOUSING SUPPLY A WEEK HERE AS WE KIND OF ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
WE'LL COME BACK FROM LUNCH, UH, BREAK, UH, AND, UH, WE HAVE JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT FOUR 30, BUT THAT WHOLE AFTERNOON, OR HOWEVER MUCH, OR LITTLE OF THAT WE WANT TO TAKE IS FOR US JUST TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO, TO, TO SPEAK WITH, UH, SPEAK WITH EACH, EITHER SPEAK WITH ONE ANOTHER.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE, UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED? ALL RIGHT.
IT'S A PLAN WE'RE GOING TO USE GIVE EVERYBODY ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO FIRST AND YOU ASKED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
I, AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO PERHAPS MIGHT WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
I THOUGHT I THOUGHT I SAW HER HAND UP.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING CATHY'S SEPARATE FROM THE OPENING ROUND OF COMMENTS, MINOR OPENING ROUND.
YOU WANT TO START US OFF? UM, SURE.
I'D BE GLAD TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO, UH, REALLY WHAT, WHAT, UM, THE TASK WAS BEFORE US ALL ALONG, WHICH IS TO FIND THE POINTS OF CONSENSUS.
THERE WERE MANY, UM, IN OUR EARLIER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO FIND APPROPRIATE WAYS TO ADD HOUSING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO REALLY FOCUS ON CREATING MORE, AN EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, UH, MA I AM REALLY EAGER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT FOCUSES ON OUR POINTS OF AGREEMENT AND KEEPS A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND, AND LOOKS FOR THOSE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE AGREEMENT AMONG US ON THE DIOCESE, BUT ALSO AGREEMENT WITH LARGE SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE, AS WE, AS WE UNDERTAKE THIS IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC THINGS I'M INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I, AS I'VE MENTIONED, HAVE A RESOLUTION COMING FORWARD ON ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS THAT DOES A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE STAFF.
UM, AS A PRODUCT OF THE RESOLUTION I BROUGHT FORWARD STAFF CAME FORWARD WITH A VERY LONG MEMO THAT IDENTIFIES AN OUTLINE SOME DIFFERENT AREAS.
UM, SO THE ADU RESOLUTION THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS TODAY, AND SOME OF THE BULLET POINTS, UM, I MAY DISTRIBUTE HERE IN A BIT TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT RANGE FROM FUNDING OPTIONS TO ALSO, UH, UH, COLLAPSING DISTINCTIONS AMONG DIFFERENT KINDS OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.
I'M ALSO OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST.
I THINK THE, ANOTHER IDEA THAT ENJOYED GREAT SUPPORT THE LAST TIME WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LAND USE WAS ADDING RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES.
AND THAT'S, I THINK SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US HAVE CHIMED IN ON THE MESSAGE BOARD WERE SUPPORTIVE OF.
SO I HOPE WE SPEND TIME ON THAT.
I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN IDEAS ON THE DIOCESE ABOUT HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE COLLEGES AND INSTITUTE AND UNIVERSITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD HOUSING, WHICH WOULD, WHICH WOULD REALLY FREE UP, UH, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF, OF UNITS WITHIN OUR CITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY PRODUCTIVE LINE OF CONVERSATION.
SO AGAIN, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FOCUS ON HOW BEST TO, TO CREATE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO USE OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, TO USE OUR PUBLIC LAND, TO HELP PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND HOPE THAT THAT AS THE DAY PROGRESSES, WE CONTINUE TO, TO ALL, UM,
[00:10:01]
WORK FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND AND REALLY HAVE THE MOST IMPACT, UM, THE MOST IMPACTFUL IDEAS MOVE FORWARD.AND, AND THAT THAT'S WHERE WE SPEND OUR TIME AND ENERGY.
AND, UH, I AM ALSO, UM, INTERESTED IN GLAD TO BE IN THIS POSITION.
LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, MAYOR, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT.
UM, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWSUIT, I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED FROM IT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, IN A WAY THAT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND IS NOT DIVISIVE WHERE WE'RE REACHING CONSENSUS AND THIS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT THAT, THAT I THINK HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT TALKING ABOUT, I'M GOING TO MENTION JUST A FEW HERE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THE OTHERS.
SO, UM, THE FIRST THING IS THAT, UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I, UM, BROUGHT A RESOLUTION, UM, LAST TIME ON VMU AND OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITIES, UM, FOR VMU AND MORE, UM, IN A MORE LOCATION.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONTINUED DISCUSSION AS THAT ITEM COMES BACK TO US.
I ALSO AM, UH, AS, UM, OTHERS HAVE FED, UH, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SAID, AND I BELIEVE YOU DID ALSO MAYOR, UH, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR IS, UM, THE ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL I THINK IS, UM, IS, UM, CAN BE VERY IMPACTFUL.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT WE ALSO, I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT I MIGHT BE LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING WITH MF TO ALLOW FOR, UM, AND PROVIDE FOR, UH, IN MF CATEGORIES TO PROVIDE FOR SOME AFFORDABILITY.
SO I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW, HOW ALL OF THESE WORK TOGETHER, SO THAT WE THINK ABOUT OUR INCENTIVES, POLICIES AND OUR POLICIES FOR, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS SORT OF A HIERARCHY WITH OUR POTENTIALLY WITH OUR V ALONG THE CORRIDORS WHERE WE HAVE SAID THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN, WE THINK THE MOST DENSITY IS MOST APPROPRIATE.
ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS WITH SOME ASPECT OF, UM, OF AFFORDABILITY, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT MAY BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.
UH, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT POTENTIAL WHAT WE DO WITH MF.
ANYWAY, MY POINT BEING IS THAT WE WANT ALL THESE THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, WITH THE GOAL OF, OF GETTING THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE CAN, UM, AND IN ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN.
SECOND THING THAT I'M INTERESTED IN EXPLORING IS RELOCATION AND TENANT PROTECTIONS.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON NOT TODAY, CAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY OTHER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, BUT I'VE ASKED FOR THAT FOR NEXT WEEK.
SO, UH, ON NEXT TUESDAY, WE CAN, UM, START TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TO CATCH UP ON PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE, UH, THAT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND OTHER TENANT PROTECTIONS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AS WE, UM, AS WE DEVELOP MORE OF THE, UH, THE CITY AND LOOK AT REDEVELOPMENT, UH, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THE AFFORDABILITY THAT WE HAVE, UM, AS WELL AS DO WHAT WE CAN TO, UM, UH, TO INSENT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABILITY.
THIRD THING IS, UM, I THINK, AND I'LL DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ON THIS.
SHE'S REALLY BEEN LEADING ON THIS EFFORT, BUT THIS HAS TO DO WITH LOOKING AT PLANNING, CERTAIN AREAS AND POTENTIALLY, UM, RE-EXAMINING THE ZONING IN THOSE AREAS.
I KNOW SHE'S LED ON SOME THINGS IN HER DISTRICT.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE HAD INCLUDED IN THE POLICY DOCUMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED ON MAY 2ND AND BACK IN 2019 OF THERE ARE PARTS OF TOWN THAT REALLY WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US.
UM, FOR ME, IN, IN, IN, UH, IN DISTRICT FIVE, I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO WITH SOME OF THE LARGER, UM, SHOPPING CENTER AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT REALLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND ADDITIONAL HOUSING.
SO I'D WANT TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT PLANNING FOR THOSE AREAS.
I THINK ANOTHER AREA THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT NOT NECESSARILY TODAY, BUT OUR HOUSING BLUEPRINT AND, AND, UM, LOOKING AT OUR, LIKE, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH STAFF AT SOME POINT ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE ANALYZING AND REPORTING THOSE GOALS IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY.
SO WE CAN BOTH UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE GROUND AT A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, BUT ALSO HOW WE'RE TRENDING
[00:15:01]
AND WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE.I THINK WHAT WE MISS A LOT OF TIME IS WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT I'LL BE INTERESTED IN.
I APPRECIATE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
UM, I THINK I'D JUST REITERATE WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID IS THAT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MEET AND MOVE, UM, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO GET THE, UM, THE HIGHEST IMPACT THAT WE CAN.
UM, AND SO I ENVISIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, EACH OF US WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD DIFFERENT, UH, RESOLUTIONS AND WORKING IN CONCERT WITH EACH OTHER, UM, AND, UH, DOING WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH IS MAKING SOME CHANGES ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UM, AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN, THE SIMPLEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CAPACITY SHOULD BE OUR FIRST FOCUS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT WE DO ALSO THAT WILL HAVE LONGER-TERM IMPACTS.
UM, I APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, KIND OF FOCUS US ON WHERE WE HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE I'M LOOKING AT AT AND WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST CONSENSUS AND, AND MY COLLEAGUES THUS FAR HAVE, HAVE MENTIONED THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UM, DEBATING CONTROVERSIAL THINGS WHERE WE CAN HAVE VERY MINOR IMPACTS.
UM, BUT THAT INSTEAD WE FOCUS ON THOSE PLACES WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACTS.
UM, THE PROPOSAL THAT I'VE OFFERED WITH MAYOR ADLER TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL IN CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ZONES, I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE HAVE BROAD CONSENSUS AND ALSO DELIVERS A HIGH LEVEL OF CAPACITY.
UM, WE HAVE PREPARED, UM, A RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE ON THE DECEMBER 9TH AGENDA.
UH, APPRECIATE THE CO-SPONSORSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOVO POOL, UM, PIXAR AND KITCHEN.
AND, AND IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE SPREADSHEET THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM HYBRID MADISON MAY ALSO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE THAT IS REASONABLY UNCOMPLICATED AND CAN GET A BIG BANG FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, I ALSO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME THAT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE, UM, UT AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO BUILD HOUSING FOR STUDENTS.
UM, WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEM BUILDING HOUSING FOR STAFF AND FACULTY, UM, MANY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS OWN.
UM, AND I KNOW FOR UT IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE NOT INVESTED MUCH IN HOUSING.
AND WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF HOW MANY STUDENTS OR WHAT PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ARE HOUSED ON CAMPUS AT UT IT'S REALLY STARTLING.
UM, ONE FIGURE FROM US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS HAS IT AT 8%.
AND IF YOU HAVE 40,000 STUDENTS, UM, THERE'S A BIG CHUNK OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT WE COULD GET OUT OF THE GENERAL HOUSING POOL AND INTO TO CAMPUS HOUSING.
UM, IF WE CAN WORK WITH UT, UM, AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO GET THAT, AND THAT IS A, YOU KNOW, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT SUPPLY THAN SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IN THE PAST.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO BUILD ON THE WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL AND KITCHEN, AND THE AREA OF PLANNING.
I THINK THAT WE COULD BE IDENTIFYING SHOPPING CENTERS OR WAREHOUSES ON THE CORRIDORS AND REALLY DOING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FLIP THE INCENTIVES FOR THOSE TO BE DEVELOPED, TO CREATE MIXED USE CENTERS, UM, IN AREAS WHERE YOU WOULDN'T BE DISPLACED, DISPLACING ANYONE, UM, AND ALLOWING FOR THAT RETAIL TO BE THERE.
UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD BE DOING SOME TARGETING ZONING, PERMITTING REQUIREMENT, FLEXIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'VE DONE SOME OF THIS FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED AND SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO THERE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, THAT FLEXIBILITY WHEN DOING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT I'M MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAN JUST BLANKET, UH, PURCHASING THINGS.
UM, I ALSO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S WORK ON THE ADU NEWS.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE NEED TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF SKILLED TRADE WORKERS.
UM, WE CAN CREATE ALL THE ENTITLEMENTS WE WANT, BUT IF THERE'S NOBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD THEM, UM, THEY WON'T GET BUILT.
UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT AS A GOVERNMENT WE CAN CONTROL IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE IT ACHIEVES MULTIPLE GOALS, UM, IN TERMS OF UP-SKILLING WORKERS AND PROVIDING THEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELPS TO CLOSE THE INEQUALITY GAP, UM, AND ALLOWS US TO HAVE THE WORKERS THAT WE NEED IF WE WANT TO GROW.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
[00:20:01]
AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT, UM, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE IN THIS CONVERSATION, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL, UM, EVERYONE WANTS TO MOVE TO AUSTIN AND THAT'S GREAT.AND SOME OF THAT'S UNDER OUR CONTROL AND SOME OF IT'S NOT.
UM, BUT WE'VE MADE REALLY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN SUPPLY, UM, THROUGH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS, THROUGH OUR PLAN DEVELOPMENTS LIKE MILLER AND COLONY PARK, UM, AND OTHER STEPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN.
UM, WE HAVE DONE THAT MORE THAN MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE OVER THE WEEKEND, UM, TALKED ABOUT THE MSA AND HOW MUCH SUPPLY WAS BEING CREATED AND HOW MUCH WE WERE PUSHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT, UM, AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO I THINK AS WE ADDRESS WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S NOT GLOOM AND DOOM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ENVIABLE SITUATION AND WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS IT AND SET ASIDE THIS WORK SESSION.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN, ESPECIALLY DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS, RENTS, SPIKE, MORE PEOPLE GETTING PUSHED OUT OF THE CITY AND THEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, HOUSING PRICES AND THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE SKYROCKET, LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE GETTING TOGETHER WITH URGENCY TO DELIVER SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO JUST SPOKE BEFORE ME ABOUT OUR FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN GET DONE THAT WILL HAVE A HIGH IMPACT WHERE THERE'S BROAD CONSENSUS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE KIND OF IMMEDIATE POLICY CHANGE I THINK IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE SPIKE AT HOUSING PRICES.
WE'RE SEEING, BECAUSE IN MY VIEW THAT HOUSES THAT SPIKE IN HOUSING PRICES IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IF WE WANT TO KEEP FAMILIES IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WORKING FAMILIES IN PLACES LIKE EAST AUSTIN.
AND SO I DO WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSORS OF THE WORK TO ADD RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS AND TO REQUIRE A MIXED INCOME HOUSING AS A PART OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK ON ON 80 YEARS, I LOOK FORWARD TO COUNCIL HUMBERTO'S RESOLUTION, ALONG WITH WHAT THE MAYOR HAS LISTED, WHICH IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN HOUSING COMMITTEE, WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET RID OF SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON ADU CONSTRUCTION.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE A SECOND UNIT IS ALLOWED OR A THIRD UNIT IS ALLOWED, BUT WE CHECK ON PEOPLE'S AGE LIVING IN THAT UNIT, OR WE REQUIRE THAT THE PERSON LIVING IN THE UNIT WORK FOR THE PERSON IN THE FRONT HOUSE, MANY OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS WE COULD GET RID OF, I THINK THAT THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS FOR THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD PROVIDE THAT RANGE AND HOUSING SUPPLIES SO THAT WE HAVE MORE MIDDLE-CLASS OPTIONS FOR A RANT OR MORE MIDDLE-CLASS OPTIONS FOR PURCHASE THEIR BOY, THEREBY FREEING UP OTHER UNITS FOR WORKING CLASS OR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
SO I THINK THAT THOSE WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PARKING RULES AND I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND OTHERS HAVE POSTED AGAIN, WHILE I THINK WE COULD MAKE AND SHOULD MAKE MAYBE SOME BIGGER CHANGES TO OUR PARKING RULES AS WE'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS PROPOSALS.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN GET DONE SOON.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN US TAKING TOO LONG, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PERFECT ANSWER IS GIVEN.
AGAIN, THE MAJOR HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT WE'VE SEEN, IF WE CAN REPLACE SOME PARKING PLACES WITH PEOPLE, PLACES FOLKS CAN LIVE, LET'S DO THAT.
UM, AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST, YOU KNOW, WHAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WE COULD MAKE, AGAIN, ALONG THE PROJECT CONNECT LINES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAD IN THE PAST THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY.
SO IF WE COULD LOOK AT ALONG THOSE CORRIDORS OR WHERE WE HAVE PROJECT CONNECT, MAKING REALLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THERE, I THINK THAT'S, AGAIN, SOMEWHERE, SOME, A PLACE WHERE I THINK WE COULD BRING A LARGE AMOUNT, NOT JUST AT THE COUNCIL, BUT THE COMMUNITY ALONG.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE MENTION OF, OF HEIGHT AND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN BROUGHT FORWARD WITH VIEW TO, UM, AND WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION IS WORKING ON.
I THINK LOOKING AT HEIGHTS AND GETTING MORE UNITS THAT WAY TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING SUPPLY ISSUE, BUT ALSO A MIX OF PRICES IN THOSE UNITS MAKES REALLY GOOD SENSE.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THE RIGHT MODIFICATIONS TO COMPATIBILITY MIGHT BE, BECAUSE IF WE JUST SAY YOU'VE GOT THE HEIGHT, BUT THEN THE HEIGHT ISN'T ALLOWED UNDER COMPATIBILITY, MAYBE THERE IS AN ANSWER THERE.
AND I HOPE A CONSENSUS, A PLACE THAT HAS THE IMPACT THAT WE WANT, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT IT REALLY WOULD TAKE ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS TO BRING THAT SUPPLY, TO BRING THAT SUPPLY FORWARD.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE MENTION COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN OF, OF
[00:25:01]
TENANTS PROTECTIONS.AND IN MY VIEW, THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE ABOUT, IS IN PART ABOUT SLOWING GENTRIFICATION IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ADD ADEQUATE HOUSING SUPPLY IN ORDER TO SLOW THOSE GENTRIFICATION PRESSURES.
UH, BUT I THINK WE ALSO SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT IF WE'RE ADDING NEW MF CATEGORIES OR MF BONUSES, THAT WE DO THAT IN NEW PLACES, NOT ON TOP OF EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY THAT IF WE ARE MAKING CERTAIN, CERTAIN CHANGES TO SINGLE FAMILIES ZONES, THAT WE LOOK AT THE PRESERVATION BONUS AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT OUR DEVELOPMENT RULES ARE DRIVING SO OFTEN IS A MORE AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE BEING DEMOLISHED AND BEING REPLACED BY ONE REALLY EXPENSIVE HOUSE, AS OPPOSED TO US MAYBE GETTING THAT SECOND OR THIRD SMALLER UNIT THAT ADDS TO THE OVERALL HOUSING SUPPLY AND GETS US THE DIVERSITY THAT WE WANT IN THE CITY.
SAME THING WITH MULTIFAMILY, RATHER THAN JUST, MULTI-FAMILY GETTING BUILT ON TOP OF EXISTING.
MULTI-FAMILY BETTER FOR US TO PUT IT ON THOSE COMMERCIAL SITES, ADD OVERALL HOUSING SUPPLY AND GET THE INCOME DIVERSITY WE NEED.
THE REASON I LAY EACH OF THESE THINGS OUT IS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVEN THE URGENCY OF THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING IN HOUSING PRICES RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD GET DONE RIGHT NOW.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON MANY OF THESE PROPOSALS FORWARD THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING AND HOPE THAT WE CAN MAYBE EVEN BRING SOME MORE FORWARD.
AND IN JANUARY THAT WE FIND CONSENSUS FOR HERE, BUT, BUT COUNT ME IN AMONGST THOSE WHO ARE READY TO VOTE THINGS FORWARD THAT HAVE BROAD CONSENSUS TO HAVE THE IMPACT THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE NEVER ON THIS COUNCIL SEEN, UH, THE SPIKE THAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE SEEING IN HOUSING PRICES AND FEELING RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO LAY A MARKER HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO WORK ON IMPROVEMENTS TO SOME OF OUR ZONING CATEGORIES THAT ARE INTENDED TO HELP PROVIDE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TOPOLOGIES.
THE , THERE ARE SEVERAL ASPECTS TO THESE CATEGORIES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING WIDELY USED FOR INFILL.
AND MOST OF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WE COULD DO JUST AS WELL, UM, WITH THESE INFILL, UH, ZONING CATEGORIES IF THEY WERE USED, BUT DEVELOPERS ARE INSTEAD CHOOSING THE MORE INTENSE MFR OR CATEGORY.
SO I'D LIKE TO WORK ON TWEAKS TO THIS SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THESE LESS INTENSE CATEGORIES ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE AND ARE USED MORE WIDELY WHEN THEY WOULD PROVIDE BETTER HOUSING TYPES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT THAN THE MORE INTENSE MF ZONES.
I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN ADDITION TO THE COMMENTS THAT I POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD ABOUT RESIDENTIAL ABOVE COMMERCIAL AND MY SUPPORT FOR THAT, I SUPPORT FOCUSING CAPACITY ON SPECIFIC CORRIDORS AS I'VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
AND I AGREE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN TODAY AND PREVIOUSLY ABOUT REALLY SMART PLANNING WITH THE EMPHASIS ON THE PLANNING FOR OUR MOST ACTIVE TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
AND I DO THINK WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE NEED FOR THAT.
I ALSO SUPPORT EXPLORING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR THEIR ENROLLED STUDENTS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MOVEMENT IN THAT ARENA TO BENEFIT ALL THE UNDERGRADS AND THE GRAD STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE OUR CITY TO EXTEND THEIR EDUCATION.
AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES JUST MENTIONED, I'D LIKE TO REITERATE MY CALL FOR DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING AS A CRITICAL MEANS TO ENSURING WE GET THIS RIGHT, AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY BUY-IN FOR ANY MAJOR CHANGES.
AND I'LL EMPHASIZE COMMUNITY BUY-IN FOR ANY MAJOR CHANGES AS BEING AN IMPERATIVE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THE UPCOMING ETOD POLICY INITIATIVE, WHICH CALLS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING EFFORTS EARLY NEXT YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, AND I, AS SHE MENTIONED, HAVE LONG CHAMPIONED THE DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING EFFORT THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE, PARTICULARLY ALONG OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
AND IN OUR IMAGINE AUSTIN REGIONAL CENTERS, COUNCIL HAS REPEATEDLY SUPPORTED PLANNING AS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IN THE MAY 2ND, 2019 DOCUMENT.
AND MORE RECENTLY AS PART OF THE BUDGET RIDER THAT FUNDED THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN DISTRICT PLAN, THE BUDGET RIDER FROM THIS SUMMER.
UM, I CAN REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT IT CALLS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AREAS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND FUNDED AS PART OF A MID-YEAR
[00:30:01]
BUDGET AMENDMENT.WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN PLANNING EFFORT AND CONTINUING IT IN OTHER AREAS OF TOWN, SUCH AS DISTRICT TWO, UH, THAT WE HAVE YET TO BENEFIT, UH, TO SEE ANY BENEFIT OR ANY PLANNING IN THAT AREA.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE OUR LONG RANGE PLANNING STAFF ARE WORKING ON DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING AS PART OF REGULAR BUSINESS, NOT JUST IN A PIECEMEAL FASHION.
FOR INSTANCE, I'D LIKE TO SEE OUR STAFF WORKING AT THE SCALE OF SEVERAL DISTRICTS, SEVERAL DISTRICT PLANS PER YEAR IN THEIR NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS.
AND THEN I'LL JUST CLOSE BY REITERATING THAT FINDING COMMON GROUND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPERATIVE TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUING AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS CONVERSATION.
THANKS AS SOMEONE NEW TO THIS COUNCIL WHO WASN'T INVOLVED IN MANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WHEN THEY WERE LAST HAPPENING IN THIS ROOM NOR ENGAGED.
WHEN MANY OF THE MAJOR REVISIONS HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CURRENT STATUS QUO, WE'RE INTRODUCED, DEBATED AND PASSED.
I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND TO BE AN EXPERT ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES, BUT AS I MENTIONED A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WASN'T IN, I WASN'T EVEN BORN WHEN THE CURRENT CODE WAS ADOPTED.
UM, IT'S ACTUALLY TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME FUN FACT, BUT I HAVE GROWN UP AND WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE EFFECTS OF WHAT NOT BUILDING ENOUGH HOUSING HAS DONE TO OUR CITY AS WE'VE CONTINUED TO GROW.
AND WHILE I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE DATA OR THE COMPLETE PICTURE, I DO REALIZE THAT OUR STATUS QUO IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TALKING TO NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND COLLEAGUES.
I'VE BEGUN TO REALIZE JUST HOW OLD AND OUTDATED AND COMPLICATED THE PROCESS REALLY IS.
IT'S A COMPLICATED MESS IF YOU UNDERSTAND, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SLOW CONFUSING, AND SOMETIMES UNPREDICTABLE PROCESSES TO NAVIGATE FOR THOSE ATTEMPTING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.
AND WHILE IT WON'T FIX ALL OF OUR ISSUES, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T HAVE MORE PREDICTABLE, EASIER TO NAVIGATE MORE AFFORDABLE PLANNING, PERMIT AND REVIEW PROCESS.
ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WE CAN SAVE ANY FEES WE CAN REDUCE AND ANY PROCESSES WE CAN STREAMLINE OR ELIMINATE EQUALS COST SAVINGS FOR US HERE AT THE CITY.
AND THOSE ATTEMPTING TO BUILD THE HOMES THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.
IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO SEE A WAY FOR MY HUSBAND AND I TO AFFORD A HOME IN MY DISTRICT.
AND I DO WANT TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER HERE.
I WANT TO RAISE HER HERE, AND I DON'T WANT PRICES TO PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
JUST LIKE MANY AUSTINITES AROUND THE CITY.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS INCREASE THE HOUSING SUPPLY.
AND I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT HERE.
SO IN, IN TIME WE WILL REACH THESE GOALS.
AND WHEREVER WE START, I HOPE THAT EACH STEP WE TAKE EMBRACES A SHARED COMMON SENSE FRAMEWORK THAT EMPOWERS ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE FOR AUSTINITES.
WHENEVER ALICE AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RED, UREA, I THINK A LOT OF THESE ARE VERY GOOD SENTIMENTS.
I PUT UP A MESSAGE BOARD POST TODAY.
SO WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT I PUT UP EARLIER.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME CONSENSUS AROUND LOOKING AT HOW WE DO PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE.
I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY AS WE BUILD OUT PROJECT CONNECT AND THE PROPOSITION B MOBILITY BOND, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME LOCATIONS IN TOWN THAT ARE WILLING TO EXPERIMENT OR TO TEST WHAT ARE APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING AND WHAT WILL THE MARKET JUST BUILD BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE CLIENTELE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE SEEKING TO SERVE, UM, INCREASING ADU AVAILABILITY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S ONGOING WITH THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS THEY HAVE AND TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE OPTIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BUILD AN ADU IF THEY KNEW, KNEW HOW TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS AND HAD THE TIME AND ENERGY TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT AND TO BUILD THOSE ADDITIONAL UNITS, UM, RIGHT.
SIZING SOME OF THE SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE OFFERED INPUT ABOUT HOW I THINK IT'S THE NUMBER THREE UNITS RIGHT NOW.
UM, IF YOU GO OVER THAT YOU HAVE TO DO A FULL SITE PLAN, JUST LIKE IT WERE A LARGER DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE LOOK AT INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF EVEN SF FIVE AND SIX IS COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, JUST, JUST MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE, UM, AN ABILITY FOR THOSE, UM, INFILL AND MISSING MIDDLE TYPE DEVELOPMENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH OUR PROCESSES IN A MORE STREAMLINED WAY.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION BONUS.
I REMEMBER US HAVING THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE, AND I'M A LITTLE FOGGY ON THE DETAILS OF WHICH PARTS MIGHT'VE BEEN FAVORABLE.
AND IF THERE WERE ANY SITUATIONS THAT WERE POTENTIALLY UNFAVORABLE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO IDENTIFY AND LOOK AT, UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT OUR EQUITY, EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED
[00:35:01]
DEVELOPMENT POLICIES, I KNOW THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD ON, ON THE DAYAS RECENTLY.AND SO I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE CITY AND CAP METRO WERE ABLE TO PRESENT BACK TO US AT A LATER DATE.
UM, THIS, THIS LIST IS BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE.
UM, BUT IT, I'M ALSO REALLY HEARTENED TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS THAT FOLKS ARE HAVING ON THE DAYAS ABOUT OTHER ANGLES OF THIS THAT WE CAN TACKLE.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY, AND ESPECIALLY AS WE, UM, AS WE WORK THROUGH PROJECT CONNECT AND THE PROPOSITION B MOBILITY BOND THAT LOOKING AT FAMILY BUDGETS AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF INCREASING HOUSING COSTS AND TRANSPORTATION TIME AND COST ON FAMILY BUDGETS IS A BIG INDICATOR OF WHETHER PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THE HOMES THAT THEY OWN, WHETHER THEY CAN BUILD A FAMILY IN THIS COMMUNITY OR WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT SELLING THEIR HOME AND MOVING FURTHER AWAY AND ADDING INTO THE COMMUTE AND CONGESTION ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE IN THE MAYOR'S MOST RECENT POSTS, I THINK IT WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT LATER IN THE DAY, THE NEXT STEPS, HOW DO WE DECIDE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE? BECAUSE I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, IN, YOU KNOW, IN AGREEMENT WITH WHICH STEPS MAKE SENSE FOR US TO BE TAKING RIGHT NOW, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE ASK STAFF TO COME BACK WITH INFORMATION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM IN A WAY THAT GETS THE INFORMATION BACK, UM, SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HAVING PEOPLE WORKING ON THINGS THAT ENDED UP NOT, NOT BEING ABLE TO COME TO FRUITION LATER ON AFTER EVERYBODY HAS PUT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY INTO IT.
SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION.
I LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING SO FAR, AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, HAS OVER 30 YEAR.
AND I AGREE A LOT WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I, I GOT ELECTED, UH, EIGHT, SEVEN YEARS AGO WITH THE PROMISE THAT I WAS GOING TO WORK ON THE HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION ACT, WHICH WE FINALLY GOT DONE THE FIRST YEAR THAT I WAS IN AN OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD, YOU KNOW, TO BUILD AS MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS OUT THERE AND, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR 13 YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND I GOT REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE CONCEPT OF THE MUELLER OR AUSTIN AIRPORT AT MUELLER AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE DID.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER 25% OF THE PEOPLE THERE ARE, ARE EITHER LOW INCOME OR WORK FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVED THERE AND, AND GET TO THE KIND OF CONCEPT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SEE ALL OVER AUSTIN, BECAUSE IT WORKED, YOU KNOW, I HAD, UH, UH, UH, CAPITAL METRO THERE HAD, UH, SAY THE CHAVEZ DEVELOPMENT THERE.
AND, UH, UH, WE HAVE, UH, 180 UNITS OF REPORTABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING BEING BUILT THERE OR ALREADY BUILT.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE ALSO TO DO THE REAL FRONT, I MEAN, THE CHALMERS COURT PROJECT, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO ALMOST TRIPLE IN SIZE AND BE ABLE TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DEEP, DEEP AFFORDABILITY.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPMENT AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION ACT.
AND IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO RETAIN OWNERS, NONPROFITS, AND THE CITY TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF LAND SO THAT WE WON'T LOSE IT.
THAT'S HOW WE LOST A LOT OF OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE PAST YEAR IS THAT WE BUILT BECAUSE WE COULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM IT.
AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE TO, WE NEED TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF ALL THE LAND THAT WE CAN GET.
AND IT'S STILL IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE LANDLOCK, WE CANNOT EXPAND ANYMORE.
AND WE'RE A LITTLE BIT UNDER 10% OF DEVELOPER LAND.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INFILL.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, IT START BUYING AS MUCH LAND AS WE CAN, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE MAJOR CORRIDOR AND THE TRANSIT RAILS THAT ARE COMING IN.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP PAYING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR LAND, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD AS MANY UNITS ON THESE PROPERTIES.
SO, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY START GOING OUT THERE AND IDENTIFYING PROPERTY THAT WE CAN BUY.
NOW, BEFORE THAT, I MEAN, THERE'S LOTS IN MY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD NOW WITH A HOUSE THAT'S GOING FOR OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER AND HARDER FOR US TO BUILD THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND TO KEEP PEOPLE THERE, ESPECIALLY HOMEOWNERS, BECAUSE THE PRICE OF LAND HAS JUST GONE CRAZY, ESPECIALLY THESE AUSTIN.
SO THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE THERE FOUR YEARS AGO, WHERE WE STARTED TO BUILD
[00:40:01]
AS MANY RENTAL APARTMENTS AND THE PRACTICE KIND OF STABILIZED, BUT, UH, UH, IT JUST WENT CRAZY AGAIN.NOW THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP AND WHAT I BASICALLY TELL PEOPLE THAT WANTS TO VISIT MY OFFICE THAT WANTS TO A TAXPAYER TO CURE AUSTIN TECHNO WAY.
I TELL YOU THE ONLY WAY THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A TAX BREAK, IF YOU'RE USED TO ALL THAT MONEY TO BUILD HOUSING FOR YOUR TEAM, FOR YOUR MEMBERS, FOR YOUR WORKERS.
SO FOR THEM TO HAVE A PLACE TO STAY HERE, IF NOT, THEN I'M SORRY.
UM, BEFORE WE TURN THIS OVER AND GET SOME, UH, SOME STAFF AND TO HEAR FROM, UH, JOHN HAKA, JOE'S NO, I, I REMEMBER WHEN I, WHEN I WAS RUNNING AND A LOT OF US WERE READY, UH, HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO, THE KEY ISSUE.
AND WHEN YOU WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLLING WAS TRANSPORTATION, THAT WAS WHAT PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, MORE IT, ANYTHING ELSE.
AND WE'VE DONE SOME PRETTY REMARKABLE THINGS AS A CITY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS ON TRANSPORTATION WITH THE BONDING OF THE 2016 AND THE 2018, GETTING A PROJECT DONE AND PRETTY, PRETTY INCREDIBLE WORK IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE MADE PRETTY INCREDIBLE STRIDES WITH RESPECT TO HOMELESSNESS, WHICH HAS BEEN THIS COUNCIL'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST, UH, TWO OR THREE YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK PUBLICLY, UH, THE MICHAEL AND SUSAN FOUNDATION TODAY FOR COMING FORWARD, UH, WITH, UH, THREE BENEFICIARIES, UH, OVER $36 MILLION, UH, TO BUILD CAPITAL, TO, TO BUILD HOUSING, UH, TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, UH, OFF THE, OFF THE STREET, UM, THE, THE FOLKS HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE, SUBMIT, A BID, DEALING WITH IT, WORKING WITH THE SUSAN DELL FOUNDATION SETS THE SUMMER.
UH, AND THIS WAS A CONTRIBUTION THEY GAVE THE WET OUTSIDE OF THEIR CORE, UM, UH, MISSION.
UH, SO IT WAS A PRETTY, UH, REMARKABLE OR ENCOURAGING MOVE TO, TO SEE THE FOUNDATION MAKE A, IT HELPS PUSH US FARTHER AND GREATER TOWARDS MEETING THAT 500 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR GOAL THAT WE HAVE TO, TO REALLY SET UP THAT, THAT SYSTEM.
IT'S WORKED AS HARD AND GOING RIGHT NOW.
AND, BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT, UH, AS WE ALL SHOULD.
UM, AND NOW, UH, AS WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED, WE'RE SEEING THE SPIKES AND THE ACTIVITY WE'RE SEEING ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY CLEARLY.
UH, THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS THE NEXT REAL SIGNIFICANT PUSH.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WE'VE ALREADY DIED WITH AFFORDABILITY AT OUR DEWEY, THAT, THAT, UH, IS REALLY GOOD WORK.
THE $250 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, THE TRANSFORMATIONAL MOBILITY PACKAGE THAT INCLUDE THAT $300 BILLION FOR ANTI DISPLACEMENT WORK TO BE LAID OUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, GETTING IT UP TO THE 20% THAT THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE MADE A PASTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ALL THE THINGS THAT WORK IN THAT DIRECTION, THEY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING THAT'S HAPPENED, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT HITTING OUR BENCHMARKS, BUT WITHIN CERTAIN AREAS.
UH, SO I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING HERE.
THE THINGS THAT I WOULD POINT OUT THAT I WOULD LIKE I'VE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT THEY, UH, THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS TO SEE, UH, I'M REAL HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL USES IN COMMERCIAL ZONES, THE ADU WE'RE GETTING COLLEGES TO, TO WORK WITH US.
UH, AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA TO REQUIRE US TO ALSO WORK WITH THEM.
BUT I THINK THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE SOME OF THE MOST EFFICIENT EFFORT AND EVEN RESOURCES IF WE WERE TO PUT IT AGAINST THAT, TO GET STUDENTS, UM, UH, INTO, UH, GOOD HOUSING FOR THEM THAT ALSO FREES UP HOUSING PRESERVATION BONUSES.
I THINK WE NEED TO START DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A BOND NEXT YEAR, UH, TO REPLENISH, UH, THE, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS THAT WE RAISED THAT HAVE NOW PRETTY MUCH BEEN, UH, EXHAUSTED, COMMITTED.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO, TO START, UH, INITIATING.
I'D ALSO BE CURIOUS AS WE GO THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS CONVERSATION TODAY IS ABOUT WHAT'S ACHIEVABLE.
SO IT'S NOT TO GET US EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY OR TO RE ARGUE POLICY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN'T GET AGREEMENT ON.
UH, IF EVERYBODY MENTIONS TRANSITION ZONES, UH, HERE, I THINK WE,
[00:45:01]
WE, WE VOTE THEM OFF THE ISLAND.UM, CAUSE WE'RE ALL JUST NOT GOING TO GO THERE.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR SEE IF WE CAN DEVELOP ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPATIBILITY THAT ENABLE THAT DENSITY, BONUSES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR OUR CORRIDORS TO, TO BE USED, UH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORK, UH, THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES A LOT OF THE BONUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ARE THINGS THAT IN THE MARKET CAN'T BE ACHIEVED, UH, WITH THE CURRENT, UH, COMPATIBILITY, UH, THE WAY THAT IT'S SET UP.
AND THE QUESTION IS IN EXCHANGE FOR AFFORDABILITY OR AN EXCHANGE FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS IN EXCHANGE FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS, UH, IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN.
ARE, ARE THERE ADJUSTMENTS NOT DOING AWAY WITH COMPATIBILITY, BUT ARE THERE ADJUSTMENTS WE COULD MAKE TO A CAP, A COMPATIBILITY THAT MIGHT ENABLE AN EXTRA FIVE FEET OF HEIGHT SOMEWHERE THAT, UH, ENABLE, UH, UH, AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR TO BE, UH, ACHIEVED AND ABILITY.
UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO, FOR US TO, TO EXPLORE THAT, UH, OPTION TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.
I ALSO HAVE SOME ECONOMIC QUESTIONS THAT I HOPE THE STAFF CAN GET ADDRESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER FEEL FOR WHAT INCENTIVES WORK WHEN WE DO INCENTIVES.
WE OBVIOUSLY WANT THE MOST WE CAN GET FOR THEM, BUT THE, BUT IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD TO ASK FOR, FOR INCENTIVES.
IF THE COST OF THEM IS GREATER THAN ANYBODY'S GOING TO ACTUALLY USE IT, WE, WE, WE CAN'T LEAVE VALUE AT BENEFIT ON THE TABLE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LINE IS.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO APPROACH THAT.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES INCENTIVES WORK.
I ALSO WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT 80 TO 120% MFI WORKFORCE HOUSING FOCUS IN OUR CONVERSATIONS IS THE HOUSING THAT WE BOTH DESPERATELY NEED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER HOUSING, 30, 40, 50% MFI, BUT FROM WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IN THE MARKETPLACE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BUY A HOME IN THE 80 TO 120% RANGE.
I CAN'T FIND THEM IN PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE.
SO WHAT THEY END UP DOING IS THEY ENDED UP GOING TO THAT HOME THAT COULD HAVE SOLD FOR 30% OF THE INCOME OF SOMEBODY MAKING 60% MFI COULD HAVE SOLD THERE.
BUT, BUT NOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BIDDING ON IT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO PAY 30% OF AN 80% TO 120%, UH, UH, INCOME.
AND THEY BID UP THAT PRICE AND THE PERSON WHO'S OUT THERE TRYING TO BUY IT AT 60% IS NOW COMPETING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE OFFERING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT THE LIST PRICE IS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE EVER CREATE A SUPPLY AND MARKET AT HOUSING AT 60%, 70% MFI, UNTIL WE STOP PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING 120% MFI GOING AFTER THOSE HOMES, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOMES IN THEIR CATEGORY.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKET FOR THE 70% MFI, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT WITH OUR CONCERTED EFFORT OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I'D LIKE THAT CONCEPT TO BE DISCUSSED, TO KNOW WHETHER THAT'S LEGITIMATE THING TO BE RAISING.
UH, I ALSO, UH, LIKE THE, THE, THE QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS AND PREDICTABILITY AND COST ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENTS.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT ACTUALLY IMPACTS PRICE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE MARKET RIGHT NOW AND THE DEMAND, BECAUSE THE SUPPLY IS SUCH AS THIS HAS GOT A BID, A HOUSING PRICE UP TO A CERTAIN PLACE, IF YOU CAN DELIVER THAT HOUSE FOR $50,000, LESS THAN COSTS, DOES THE PRICE ACTUALLY DROP $50,000? OR ARE WE JUST GIVING PEOPLE $50,000 MORE IN PROFIT? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU HAVE AMPLE SUPPLY THAT IF YOU CAN CUT COSTS BY $50,000, THE PRICE WILL GO DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIRS IS THE ONE THAT'S SOLD, BUT IN A SITUATION LIKE OURS, WHERE YOU HAVE A MONTH, W EVERYTHING IS SELLING IN A MONTH, WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPLY.
IT SEEMS TO BE THAT YOU COULD DROP THE COST, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE GO HIT PACT ON PRICE.
I NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHETHER OUR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON REDUCING COST OR WHETHER OUR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON INCREASING SUPPLY.
AND WHETHER THAT CHANGES OVER TIME AND WHETHER WE'RE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW, WHERE THAT EQUATION MIGHT BE DIFFERENTLY.
SO I HOPE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THEN ON PARKING AS WELL, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THIRD RAIL KINDS OF THINGS I DON'T WANT TO GET LOST IN, IN LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARKING AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A, A WILLINGNESS OR AN APPETITE TO DO, UH, ADJUSTMENTS, TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN SPECIFIC TARGETED PLACES LIKE
[00:50:01]
PROJECT CONNECT CORRIDORS THAT THE LIKE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN, UH, HAVE ANY MOVEMENT IN THAT KIND OF AN AREA.SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE HERE TO, TO IDENTIFY THINGS LIKE THE IMPORTANT THING.
AND I SEE YOU APRIL FAIRMONT COME TO YOUR NEXT, THE, THE, UM, UH, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS AFTERNOON, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION OR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS COME TO US, WHETHER THEY BE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL OR WHETHER WE'RE ASKING MANAGER YOU TO, TO, TO, TO COME BACK AS A STAFF WITH SUGGESTIONS, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO DO WALK AND TALK TO OFFICES THAT, THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AS A COUNCIL.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS TO, TO, TO MOVE MAYBE MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WE COULD.
OTHERWISE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT, OR WHAT KINDS OF IDEAS MIGHT BE WORTH DISCUSSING ON THIS DIOCESE WITH THE EMPHASIS, AGAIN, BEING ON ACHIEVABLE, WHICH MEANS CONSENSUS NINE PLUS VOTES AND, AND IMPACT LET'S, LET'S FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST MEASURE OF IMPACT.
BUT BEFORE WE GO TO STAFF, A MAYOR PRO TEM, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU.
I, UH, I PROBABLY MISSED A BUDGE.
I'M HAVING SOME TECH ISSUES THIS MORNING, SO THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE, GRACE AND PATIENCE.
UM, UH, I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN TO BE ABLE TO SAY ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY MEAN IN A CONVERSATION THAT'S AS IMPORTANT AS IT'S CONVERSATION.
SO, UH, THIS IS AN OLD STORY, AND MOST OF US ON THE DYES HAVE PROBABLY HEARD IT A MILLION TIMES, BUT I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING IN 1928.
THAT'S LESS THAN A CENTURY AGO.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT CALLED FOR EXPLICIT RACIAL SEGREGATION, CITY SANCTIONED SEGREGATION THAT CREATED THE SIX SQUARE MILES THAT WE KNOW AS THE HISTORIC BLACK AUSTIN EAST OF DOWNTOWN.
AND IT DID IT BY DICTATING THAT ALL SEGREGATED FACILITIES SERVICES BE BUILT AND PROVIDED IN THIS PART OF TOWN.
SO AUSTIN NEVER USED ZONING TO EXPLICITLY SAY WHERE BLACK PEOPLE COULD OR COULDN'T LIVE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT RULED AGAINST THAT RACE-BASED ZONING WAS ILLEGAL.
SO LIKE A LOT OF OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE, AND I SAY, WE, BECAUSE IT'S ALL OF US IN HERE TOGETHER.
WE FIGURED OUT WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL.
SO IN ADDITION TO PRIVATE WHITES ONLY RESTRICTED COVENANTS, BOSTON ENACTED EXCLUSIONARY, ZONING RULES, MINIMUM LOT SIZES, HEIGHT LIMITS PERMITTING.
THAT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE FORM OF HOUSING, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN OUR CITY.
SO CORNERING BLACK AUSTINITES AND ONE PART OF TOWN, THEN RED LINING THOSE AREAS.
SO THEY COULDN'T ACCESS HOME LOANS.
ALL OF THAT Y'ALL, THAT WAS DELIBERATE.
THAT WAS DELIBERATE POLICY THAT ROBBED COUNTLESS FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE SAME GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT WHITE PEOPLE ENJOY TODAY.
SO NOW WE'RE DECADES PAST THE POINT WHERE RACE-BASED RESTRICTIVE CITY SANCTIONED, SEGREGATION, COVENANTS LOST LEGAL STANDING, AND WHERE THE SUPREME COURT WIPED OUT SEGREGATION OF SCHOOLS AND POOLS AND TRANSIT AND ALL THE REST, RIGHT.
BUT AUSTIN IS CLEARLY, CLEARLY STILL SEGREGATED, BOTH RACIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.
THAT'S A DEFACTO SEGREGATION THAT EXISTS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THOSE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING RULES THAT KEEPS SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN, OUT OF THE REACH OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, PERIOD.
YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH ME ON THAT.
THE IRONY IS THAT NOW THESE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING RULES ARE NOT AS HURTING PRIMARILY BLACK AUSTINITES OR BROWN AUSTINITES OR POOR AUSTINITES.
NOW WE'RE SEEING WHERE IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RESTRICT SUPPLY IN THE FACE OF AN INCREDIBLY STRONG AND SUSTAINED DEMAND.
IT'S JUST PLACING THE WORKING THE MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO THE SUBURBS.
WE'RE PUSHING THE POOREST AMONGST US TO THE STREETS.
IT'S CREATING MORE SPRAWL, WHICH LEADS TO WORSE TRAFFIC, MORE CARBON EMISSIONS, LESS TIME THAT PEOPLE GET TO SPEND WITH THEIR
[00:55:01]
FAMILIES AND THEIR FRIENDS, AND IT STRAINS OUR CITY'S BUDGET.IT COST US TO PROVIDE STREET UTILITIES, OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES.
I MEAN, CITIES LIKE DETROIT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DEPLOY CITY SERVICES TO THE SUBURBS.
THEY'RE PAYING PEOPLE TO MOVE BACK TO THE CITY CENTER.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED SERVICES TO LOWER DENSITY AREAS ACROSS AUSTIN'S 275 SQUARE MILES.
SO SHORTLY BEFORE COUNCIL ADOPTED OUR CURRENT CODE AND 1984 FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, JOHN, A VIDEO REMARKED, LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT ELIMINATES MOST MINORITIES.
ARE WE BUILDING AN ELITIST COMMUNITY? YES, WE WANT TO ENJOY THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT NONE OF MY FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE IN AND LOOKING AROUND TODAY, I CAN'T HELP, BUT THINK HOW PROPHETIC HIS WORDS ARE.
A TRULY PROGRESSIVE CITY WOULD LOOK AT THIS MODEL OF SEGREGATED CAR DEPENDENT, SUBURBAN PLANNING, AND START SEARCHING FOR BETTER WAYS.
SO OUR EXISTING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IMAGINE AUSTIN ENVISIONED A MORE INTEGRATED, SUSTAINABLE, COMPACT, AND CONNECTED CITY.
WE TOOK A BIG STEP IN THAT DIRECTION WITH THE OVERWHELMING APPROVAL OF PROJECT CONNECT LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S A MUCH LONGER JOURNEY AHEAD.
WE LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD THIS CHEAP SHUFFLING AND MOVING AROUND ANY LONGER CHANGING OUR ZONING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT RULES.
ISN'T A SILVER BULLET SOLUTION, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT OUR EXCLUSIONARY STATUS QUO IS WORKING AS INTENDED TO DENY ACCESS.
THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE LARGER EFFORT TO REIMAGINE AUSTIN.
IF WE THINK THROUGH IT AS A CITY FOR TRUE EQUITY TO OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I'M EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD.
MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING PUT FORWARD ON THE TABLE TODAY, BUT I ALSO KNOW WE NEED A TRUE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AN OVERALL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR OUR CURRENT CODE.
AND I REALLY, I HOPE IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO MY FAMILY IN RECENT DAYS.
UM, Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH A TRAGEDY IN MY FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AROUND AND TALK THROUGH IT.
PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER TALKED ABOUT LAND USE OR ZONING HERE.
I'M LIKE, LISTEN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT EITHER, BUT I'VE LEARNED A LOT.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT HAPPENS FAST.
AND THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR MORE PEOPLE THAN IT'S CURRENTLY BENEFICIAL FOR.
AND I THINK, UM, CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU LAID IT OUT, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT US TO TRY TO COME TO CONSENSUS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT US TO ARGUE, RIGHT? CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO, SOME OF THESE THINGS WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT, LISTEN, LOOK, USE YOUR EYEBALLS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU TARA AND THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES, WE GET TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A SIMILAR GOAL HERE.
CAN WE HOUSE PEOPLE? AND THAT'S IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME.
I'M GOING TO TURN MY CAMERA OFF BECAUSE I THINK MY LITTLE, MY LITTLE PHONE THING IS NOT LIGHTING ME UP.
ANYBODY WHO HASN'T HAD CHANCE TO SPEAK YET? WHAT IS BIG, UH, BEFORE WE GO TO STAFF REAL FAST, CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE TIRED THIS AFTERNOON.
NO, I JUST WANT TO PRESERVE TIME AT END TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
AND I DO WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE THAT, UH, MOVING FORWARD SHOULD NOT SLOW US DOWN.
WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT RESOLUTIONS.
MANY OF US HAVE BROUGHT RESOLUTIONS.
I DON'T WANT US TO SET UP A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO SLOW THINGS DOWN BY, UM, YOU KNOW, BY SETTING A CERTAIN STRUCTURE.
SO I THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DETERMINE THEMSELVES HOW THEY WANT TO BRING THINGS FORWARD.
UM, UM, I KNOW WHAT I GOT FROM STAFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO LEAD WITH, UH, MR. HOCKER DOSE
[01:00:01]
MANAGER.DO YOU WANT TO SAY SEVEN AS WE TURN OVER? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPENING COMMENTS THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE MADE REGARDING THIS CRITICAL TOPIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, STAFF DOES HAVE TWO PARTS OF OUR PRESENTATION.
ONE IS FROM A CONSULTANT, UH, JOHN , WHO'S GOING TO PROVIDE KIND OF A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF THE S THE HOUSING CHALLENGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING.
UH, AND THEN STAFF WILL PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UH, GOING THROUGH OVER THE YEARS AND, AND BACKING THAT UP WITH SOME OF THE MOST RECENT DATA.
UH, SO WITH THAT ALTERNATE OVER AT JOHN HOPKINS, RIGHT? SOUNDS GOOD.
AND JUST BY WAY, WHERE THE STAFF COMES UP, THE OTHER THING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THEM TO ADDRESS ARE THINGS THAT THEY THINK WE COULD BE DOING THAT MIGHT BE CONSENSUS ADD AT ACHIEVE A FAX RESULTS TO HEAR FROM STAFF THAT GUIDE IS SUGGESTED THEIR DIRECTION WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MR. MAYOR, MR. CITY MANAGER, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
ONCE AGAIN, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN PERSON.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T MET ME, I'M JOHN , AND YOU CAN TELL BY MY AGING FACE, I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING, UH, AS A CONSULTANT TO THE CITY FOR IT'S ALMOST 20 YEARS GUYS AT THIS POINT.
AND I STARTED WORKING QUITE A BIT WITH THE CITY IN THE WAKE OF THE, UH, THE.COM NINE 11 CRISIS.
AND MY ROLE TYPICALLY IS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND KIND OF FRO FRAME ISSUES TALKING ABOUT USUALLY THINGS RELATED TO ECONOMICS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING, FRANKLY, TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE THIS MORNING, THERE IS NO PERSUASION.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE.
YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGE WE FACE.
IT'S CLEAR, YOU ALL ARE FOCUSED ON FINDING WORKABLE SOLUTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GREAT.
A LOT OF IT WILL REINFORCE WHAT I THINK YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DIRECTIONALLY.
SOME THINGS WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO TO DEAL WITH THIS ENORMOUS CRISIS WE ARE FACING.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY Q AND A IS WHERE MOST OF THE TIME WE FIND REAL SORT OF PROGRESS FORWARD.
SO WE'LL LEAVE SOME TIME FOR THAT.
SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
UM, IT IS I, I STOLE THE, UH, I STOLE THE HEADLINE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.
IT'S ONE OF THE, IT'S ONE OF THE LEAST AFFORDABLE, FRANKLY.
IT'S ONE OF THE LEAST AFFORDABLE METRO AREAS.
AND IT'S, IF YOU READ THAT NEW TIMES ARTICLE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR ENTIRE REGION, UH, WE ARE ONE OF THE LEAST AFFORDABLE AT THIS POINT.
PART OF THE REASON BEING IS IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY.
AND YES, OBVIOUSLY THE AMR CRON VARIANT IS TOO SOON TO TELL WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY, WE ARE NOW PERFORMING IN THE AGGREGATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN WE WERE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
WE ARE NOW AT THE PLACE WE HAVE GAINED ON A YEAR, OVER YEAR BASIS USING A FAIRLY STANDARD MEASURE OF THE EMPLOYMENT BASE CALLED THE CURRENT EMPLOYMENT SURVEY FOR THE METRO AREA.
WE'RE 7% AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE IN 2020 AND 40,000 JOBS AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE IN OCTOBER OF 2019.
SO OVERALL WE ARE ONE OF THE ECONOMIC STARS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE PANDEMIC HAS ONLY ENHANCED TRENDS THAT HAVE BEEN AN EVIDENCE HERE FOR SOME TIME, WHICH IS QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU MANAGE INFORMATION, YOU'RE IN GREAT SHAPE.
IF YOU HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES YOU TO FACE YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.
WE HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE VOLUME OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN WHO WORKED MANAGING INFORMATION, WHICH MEANS THEY DRAW SALARIES AND CAN WORK REMOTELY.
AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE COME THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MANY OTHER REGIONS.
AND THAT'S OF COURSE ONLY EXACERBATED BY 180 PEOPLE A DAY, MOVING HERE AND COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, LOOKING AT AUSTIN AS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO EXPAND OR EVEN RELOCATE.
SO AT THIS POINT, SUPPLY AND COST ISSUES ARE REALLY OUR MAIN ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING SUPPLY TODAY.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A PIECE OF IT.
LABOR SUPPLY, WHICH IS A, BY THE WAY, INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED TO HOUSING SUPPLY IS A HUGE ISSUE AS WELL.
IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS OUT THERE WHO WE'RE SERVING CONSUMERS, THEY'RE HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME FINDING WORKERS AND THEY'RE HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME FINDING WORKERS AND PAYING THEM WAGES THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
I HAVE BEEN USING A METAPHOR FOR A WHILE.
ARE WE WILLING TO PAY $25 FOR A CHEESEBURGER? WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, I WENT TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT YESTERDAY AND IT WAS 2350.
AND SO AGAIN, THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.
IT'S ALL ON THE SUPPLY SIDE AND THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED TOGETHER IN MIGRATION HAS HAPPENED AT AN EXTRAORDINARILY RAPID RATE.
IT DOES NOT HELP US WHEN WE ARE NAMED THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PLACE IN THE WORLD TO RELOCATE AS A RECENT BRITISH PUBLICATION DID, THERE IS NO SIGN THAT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN LONG ENOUGH THAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE DOOR REALLY HAVE NOT VERY WELL WORKED.
WHAT'S THE VERY BEST DAY IN AUSTIN.
OH, IT'S THE DAY YOU MOVED HERE.
I LIVE OVER IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD HERE.
I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE THERE FOR AWHILE.
I HAD A NEIGHBOR WHO, WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN, I SAID TO HER, WHEN SHE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN, I SAID, WHEN WAS THE BEST AGE THAT ALL HONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE WORLD
[01:05:01]
WAR II.IT WAS REALLY GREAT BEFORE WORLD WAR TWO.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS GENERATIONS GO FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE AND MORE OF THAT.
WHAT IT MEANS IS WE CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING.
WE TRIED AND IT HASN'T REALLY WORKED VERY WELL.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE EMBARKING ON TODAY AND NOT HEAL YOU.
THESE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE WORK WITH THAT? HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE IT? HOW DO WE GET THE BENEFITS OUT OF IT? HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T FLAT OVERWHELMNESS? BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT STORM ON THE REAL ESTATE SIDE OF THE EQUATION FOR RESIDENTIAL, ESPECIALLY SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED.
WHEN YOU HAVE HISTORICALLY LOW INTEREST RATES ON THE ORDER OF $7 TRILLION PUMPED IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND A $21 TRILLION ANNUAL ECONOMY, YES, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO INCREASE OUR SUPPLY, BUT DEMAND HAS EXCEEDED IT AT AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL.
SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT NEW JOBS BEING CREATED HERE.
SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT PEOPLE JUST CHOOSING TO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT CREATES A PERFECT STORM AND YOU GET THE EFFECTS WE ARE SEEING TODAY.
SO OVERALL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
IT'S NOT A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
IT'S A BETTER PROBLEM TO HAVE.
AND THE PROBLEM OF HOW THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO FIND THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO? THAT'S A TOUGHER PROBLEM.
MANAGING GROWTH IS BETTER THAN TRYING TO STIMULATE ACTIVITY.
NEVERTHELESS, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
SO SOME PICTURES JUST TO GIVE YOU A FRAME OF REFERENCE, THIS IS OCTOBER DATA, NON-AG WAGE AND SALARY.
THAT'S THE SURVEY WHERE THEY CALL EMPLOYERS AND SAY, HEY, HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE YOU GOT WORKING IN? WHAT INDUSTRY ARE YOU IN? THIS IS DONE AT THE MSA LEVEL, WHICH MEANS IT'S THE FIVE COUNTIES.
SO LOOK AT THAT OCTOBER OF 2021, WELL, ABOVE OCTOBER OF 2020, WELL ABOVE OCTOBER OF 20 19 3 PANDEMIC ALL THE WAY BACK.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT AUSTIN IS AUSTIN GOES THROUGH SHOCKS PERIODICALLY.
I'VE TAKEN A CHART THAT SHOWS YOU THE 12 MONTH CHANGE IN THAT SAME EMPLOYMENT, UH, SERIES.
WE JUST MENTIONED ARE TAKEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1981.
AND SO WE HAD THE SNL CRISIS, THE 1985.
I GOT HERE JUST IN TIME FOR THAT.
I CAME TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL AT UT IN THE FALL OF 1985.
SO I WAS LIKE, RIGHT IN TIME FOR THE SNL CRISIS, YOU MENTIONED NINE ELEVEN.COM CRISIS.
THEN WE HAD THE GREAT RECESSION DRIVEN BY OF COURSE THE REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING PROBLEMS. AND THEN COVID-19 FOR GREAT SHOCKS, ALL OF WHICH CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL JOB LOSS AND ALL OF WHICH WE REBOUNDED RELATIVELY QUICKLY FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OVER THIS PERIOD, WE'VE GROWN OUR EMPLOYMENT BASE AT ALMOST A 4% COMPOUND ANNUAL RATE THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY RAPID AND REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IS ABSOLUTELY BURGEONING.
SO THIS GIVES YOU THE HISTORICAL PICTURE.
WE GET AN EXTERNAL SHOCK AND WE RECOVER NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG, THIS IS BIG INSIGHT BY THE WAY, DEMAND GROWTH IN HOUSING IS OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY.
I KNOW NOBODY IN THIS ROOM HAD THOUGHT OF THAT ALREADY, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST PUT SOME DATA UP TO SORT OF DEMONSTRATE THAT AND YOU SEE IT IN PARTICULAR HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY PUT MORE FOCUS ON AUSTIN.
WE HAD MORE, MORE PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE BAY AREA ANYMORE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN NEW YORK CITY ANYMORE.
HEY, I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANYMORE.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ADDED A DECENT AMOUNT OF HOUSING, SUPPLY DEMAND GROWTH IS GREATER.
AND PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT NEXT SLIDE PLEASE IS THAT IF YOU TAKE A LONGER-TERM PERSPECTIVE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE'VE ADDED ALMOST 32 AND A HALF 30, 2000 AND CHANGE MORE JOBS OCCUPIED BY AUSTIN RESIDENTS THAN WE'VE HAD PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY.
I MADE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS, THIS DISCONNECT.
I REMEMBER MAKING IT TO CITY COUNCIL IN 2015 AND SAYING HEADS UP, GUYS, WE'RE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH HOUSING SUPPLY AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS WHY WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT, BUT YOU SEE IT.
NOW YOU SEE THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY AND OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE OBVIOUSLY A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF, OF MAKING THE ECONOMY FUNCTION.
WELL, GUESS WHAT PRICES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF? THIS IS THE AVERAGE AND MEDIAN HOME PRICE.
A B O R IS THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS.
THIS IS DATA THAT'S REPORTED TO THE TEXAS A AND M REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER.
I PULLED THE AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE IN TRAVIS COUNTY FROM WHAT'S CALLED THE QC EEW SURVEY.
THAT'S A CENSUS OF QUARTERLY CENSUS OF EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES.
THE MOST RECENT DATA IS FROM THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, SAYS THE AVERAGE WAGE IS 80,000 BUCKS.
SO LET'S JUST ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE A TWO, TWO WORKER HOUSEHOLD THAT'S DOUBLE, THAT'S A HIGH, THAT'S AN AGGRESSIVE ASSUMPTION ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME HERE OF $160,000 A YEAR IS A LOT OF MONEY.
[01:10:01]
YOU KNOW, A STANDARD RATIO YOU MAY BE, YOU MIGHT, COULD AFFORD THREE TIMES SAT IN TERMS OF YOUR HOUSE, GIVE OR TAKE $70,000 SHORT OF THE MEDIAN HOTTER AND $88,000 SHORT OF THE AVERAGE.SO IT'S NOT JUST FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM.
IT'S FOLKS THAT ARE SOLIDLY MIDDLE-CLASS IN SOME WOULD ARGUE MAYBE EVEN SLIGHTLY ABOVE THAT ON THE INCOME SPECTRUM.
THEY'RE STILL CHA CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF AFFORDING OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING HERE.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS MONTHS OF AVAILABLE HOUSING INVENTORY, YOU WILL SEE IT'S VERY, VERY LOW.
THE MAYOR REFERENCED THIS EARLIER.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING SELLS WITHIN A MONTH.
AND THE SCALE ON THE LEFT IS DELIBERATE.
SIX MONTHS IS WHAT TEXAS A AND M TELLS US IS A BALANCED AMOUNT OF SUPPLY IN THE MARKET.
SO SIX MONTHS WORTH OF HOUSING SUPPLY.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN AT SIX MONTHS IN OVER 10 YEARS, JULY OF 2011 WAS THE LAST TIME WE WERE AT GREATER THAN SIX MONTHS WORTH OF HOUSING SUPPLY IN THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.
AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN JUST GOING BACK SIX YEARS, HOW THE RELATIVELY LOW IT HAS BEEN THAT'S DATA FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS OR SO AGAIN, JUST MAKING THE POINT, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SO FURTHER EMPHASIZING THIS ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT RENT WOULD GROW OVER TIME.
AVERAGE, MONTHLY RENT WOULD GROW OVER TIME AND IT DID RIGHT ALONG AT A PACE THAT REALLY WASN'T COMPLETELY OUT OF BOUNDS UNTIL LO AND BEHOLD, THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO WHEN THERE'S AN INFLECTION POINT, WHAT THIS TELLS US IS, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO WORK HARDER THAN WE HAVE WHEN WE'VE GOT TO BE DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU GUYS HAVE TEED UP TALKING ABOUT TO INCREASE SUPPLY.
THIS IS AS GOOD AN INDICATOR AS ANYONE.
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT GOES AT A RAPID INCREASE LIKE THAT.
IT MEANS THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY ACROSS THE EQUATION.
SO A COUPLE OF CONCLUDING SLIDES AND THEN I'LL STOP ONE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO THIS COULD BE THE ROARING TWENTIES.
I MEAN, THERE COULD BE REALLY A BOOM TIME IN AUSTIN.
IN FACT, IN MANY WAYS IT ALREADY IS, BUT SUPPLYING CAPACITY AS TO THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THE EQUATION.
ONE, IF WE CAN'T MEET OUR SUPPLY CAPACITY NEEDS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT POTENTIAL.
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLY, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY, IT PUTS A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN ON DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT'S SPEAKING IN TERMS OF INCOME TOO, OFTENTIMES DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, HIGHLY CORRELATE WITH DEMOGRAPHICS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE BEEN THINKING FOR A WHILE AS A COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW DO WE REACH TO THE PEOPLE WHO WE'RE LEAVING BEHIND THIS MARKET HAS IN MY VIEW, BROUGHT THAT INTO SUBSTANTIAL RELIEF AND THAT NOW THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE DOING WELL IN AUSTIN AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT DOING WELL IN AUSTIN IS WIDENING AND IT'S WIDENING DAMN NEAR ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO ALL OF THESE THINGS HERE, WE TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR STRAINS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RAPIDLY RISING COSTS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF CONGESTION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRAINS, FRANKLY, ON OUR COMMUNITIES, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES.
IT'S ALL BEGINNING TO TAKE A TOLL ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND AGAIN, WE TALKED DOWN THERE IN THE LITTLE BIT, SPECIFICALLY IN THE BOTTOM, ON THE HOUSING SIDE, WE SORT OF BEAT THE DEMAND, OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY HORSE TO DEATH.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO HAPPENING WE WERE SEEING HERE IS THIS HOUSING IS ASSET WHERE YOU HAVE INVESTORS COMING IN AND BIDDING UP PRICES.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US AS WELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL CAPACITY THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON SEEKING TO BUY A HOME DESIGN APP.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CHEAPER MONEY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THEN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I'LL, I'LL WRAP UP WITH THIS ONE.
SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TECHNICAL SENSE IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION.
AND WHEN I USE THAT TERM, I'M TALKING ABOUT HOUSING THAT HAS TO BE SUBSIDIZED, WHETHER IT'S OFTEN DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE'VE GOT TO GO BEYOND THAT.
THE MAYOR TEED THIS UP AND HE'S QUITE RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT TO GO BEYOND THAT AND MEET THE CHALLENGE OF BETTER ALIGNING DEMAND AND SUPPLY ACROSS THE ENDS FROM SPECTRUM.
NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY NOW BEGINNING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOFTENING AT THE HIGH END.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT MILLION DOLLAR PLUS HOMES, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE WORRYING ABOUT CREATING HOUSING THAT RESPONDS TO A RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS.
PART OF WHAT, FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT ARE ARTICULATED THERE IN THE SUB BULLETS, THE MAYOR TEED ONE OF THEM UP ACTUALLY VERY, VERY WELL.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE MARKET IS FUNGIBLE.
PEOPLE BLEED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN IT.
IF I CAN'T FIND MY INCOME PARAMETERS, I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE SCALE AND I'M GOING TO SQUEEZE OTHER PEOPLE OUT.
SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INSTITUTIONAL AND INVESTMENT CAPITAL LOOKING AT THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, I'VE JUST DONE.
[01:15:02]
THIS GUY FOUND ME, HE'S A BILLIONAIRE OUT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND ASKED ME FOR ALL KINDS OF STUFF.AND OF COURSE I FOUND OUT HIS BACKSTORY, HE INVENTED SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY MUNDANE, TWO GENERATIONS AGO.
HE HAS MORE MONEY THAN HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH.
AND HE'S INTERESTED IN SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY IN AUSTIN.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY HIS NAME, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HIS EVALUATION IS 100% ABOUT RATES OF RETURN BECAUSE HE'S GOT RULES THAT HE'S IMPOSED ON HIS OWN INVESTMENT PROCESS THAT SAYS, I NEED TO GENERATE THIS RATE OF RETURN ACROSS MY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO.
SO IF I CAN MAKE 12% IN AUSTIN, I'M GOING TO GO DO IT.
IF I CAN'T MAKE 12%, IF SOMEONE SAYS, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT YOU JUST TAKE FIVE OR 6%? CAUSE IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR I CAN MAKE 12.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SPECIFICALLY ON THE AFFORDABILITY SIDE, IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING TO FIND TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF CAPITAL WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE REDUCED RATES OF RETURN BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO INCREASE SUPPLY AT ALL LEVELS WITH AGAIN, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF HIGH-END ALL THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS REALLY HEARTENED BY THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TALKING TO UNIVERSITIES ABOUT STUDENT HOUSING.
THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.
WOULD I BE TALKING TO EVERY PUBLIC SECTOR IN INSTITUTION? I CAN SAY THAT EVERY PUBLIC SECTOR JURISDICTION IN THE AREA ABOUT ACCESSING PUBLICLY OWNED LAND FOR HOUSING, THAT'S NOT JUST THE CITY.
IT WOULD BE, THE UNIVERSITIES COULD BE, THE COUNTY COULD BE THE STATE COULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR CAMPUS-BASED EMPLOYERS TO ACTUALLY BUILD HOUSING ONSITE.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH, THE COUNTY ASKED ME TO HELP THEM DO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TESLA WHEN THEY CAME AND WON.
AND SO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE TESLA GUYS PRETTY WELL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING IS ON-SITE HOUSING.
THEY PROBABLY WON'T ULTIMATELY USE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ALL THEY COULD.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CAMPUS-BASED EMPLOYERS HERE IN TOWN.
WE COULD TALK TO ABOUT HOUSING AND HOUSING AND PER THE MAYOR'S QUESTION.
WE COULD TALK TO THEM SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ON THE INCENTIVE SIDE, WHAT MOVES THE NEEDLE? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I KNOW WE CAN DISCOVER IT.
IF WE GO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM, OBVIOUSLY STREAMLINING THE REGULATORY PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WILL TALK ABOUT.
I WOULDN'T PRETEND TO BE A, BUT IN, AS WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT EASIER.
I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE GET DENSER? AND AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING DENSER AND I, AGAIN, I'M ENCOURAGED TO HEAR YOU ALL SAY THIS.
WE GOTTA BE THINKING ABOUT IT AS IN THE CONTEXT OF THINGS LIKE PROJECT CONNECT, BECAUSE DENSITY IS AWESOME UNTIL YOU TOTALLY MESS UP TRAFFIC.
AND THEN WHEN YOU TOTALLY MESS UP TRAFFIC, IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
SO AS WE INTEGRATE OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WITH OUR LAND USE PLANNING, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAYBE INCREASE DENSITY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
THIS IN MY VIEW IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FACING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND WHEN I SAY THIS, I THINK ABOUT THE INEXTRICABLE CONNECTION OF HOUSING SUPPLY AND AVAILABLE WORKFORCE, BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE GOT A LOT OF COPS, WE GOT A LOT OF TEACHERS.
WE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO PROVIDE THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY SERVICES, WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN RIGHT NOW.
AND PRETTY SOON IT'S GOING TO BE JUST A WHOLE LOT EASIER IF YOU'RE A TEACHER RATHER THAN BEATEN YOUR WAY UP BY 35 COMING FROM KYLE, WHY DON'T I JUST GO TO WORK FOR THE KYLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT? AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEN WE REALLY DO HAVE PROBLEMS. AND SO I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME CONVERSATION.
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE DOING IT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, EXPAND ON ANY OF THIS.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE START OF MEANINGFUL PROGRESS.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. HOKAN, YOU GUYS, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE DATA THAT YOU'VE ASSEMBLED ON HOUSING STARTS.
UM, THAT'S LISTED FOR THE MSA AND FOCUS IT DOWN JUST ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS YOU CAN HAVE, WE HAVE ZERO IMPACTS BEYOND OUR BORDERS.
WE HAVE LIMITED IN OUR BORDERS AS WELL, BUT COULD YOU REDO, UH, THOSE SLIDES FOR IF I HAD THE DATA? I WOULD, YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HA I HAVE SOME OF THE DATA ON I, THERE IS SOME ON IT IS ACTUALLY CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND THAT COMES FROM A SITE CALLED APARTMENTS.COM ACTUALLY PUBLISHED THAT.
AND SO THAT I BELIEVE IS SLIDE SEVEN IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
AND THEN SOME OF THE DATA ON, FOR EXAMPLE, AVAILABLE INVENTORY AND ALL THAT COMES FROM THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS.
THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS COVERS AN AREA OF BROADER THAN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT THEY DON'T BREAK IT DOWN, ACTUALLY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT BROKEN DOWN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'LL CALL THEM AND ASK THEM AND SEE IF I CAN GET THAT BE IMMENSELY HELPFUL.
AND TO THE CITY MANAGER, IF WE COULD ALSO KIND OF HAVE THAT BE A LARGER CONVERSATION WITHIN OUR CITY STAFF,
[01:20:01]
WE REALLY SHOULD NOT EXPEND OUR ENERGIES BEYOND OUR BORDERS WITH REGARD TO THAT, AND MAYBE THIS TARGET THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SOME INFLUENCE MORE TIGHTLY AND SPECIFICALLY, THANK YOU.UM, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
I THINK THAT IS SUPER HELPFUL.
I MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO HAVE BOTH SETS OF DATA JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT DRIVE INTO AUSTIN TO WORK.
SO I THINK BOTH MIGHT BE HELPFUL JUST SO WE CAN SEE, OKAY.
MOST OF THE TIME IT'S A, IT'S A MATTER OF ASSEMBLING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES TO PAINT AN OVERALL PICTURE.
AND THE MESSAGE WE'RE TRYING TO SEND IS JUST, I THINK IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS INFORMATION.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK THERE'S GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED MORE HOUSING SUPPLY.
UH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR, IF YOU HAVE, IT IS A BREAKDOWN BY, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPROPRIATE, YOU KNOW, BREAKDOWN LEVELS ARE, BUT THIS HIGH LEVEL INFORMATION, UM, IS VERY HELPFUL, BUT I'D LIKE TO ALSO DRILL DOWN AND UNDERSTAND IT BY INCOME LEVELS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT, OR BY MA MAYBE IT'S BY PRICING OF THE HOUSING, I'M NOT, BUT IF YOU COULD BREAK IT DOWN BY PRICING OF THE HOUSING, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT YOU MADE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES.
WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT, I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AWARE OF THAT AND THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE MOST ISSUES.
I MEAN, LET ME JUST SAY SO THAT I'M NOT MISINTERPRETED THAT I DO AGREE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, WE NEED TO, UM, WE NEED TO, UH, ADDRESS HOUSING SUPPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT I THINK THAT I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO SOME THINGS AND THEN WALK AWAY AND SAY, WE FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT ON WHAT, UM, WHAT FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
YOU KNOW, I, I, I FEEL LIKE I'M FOCUSED ON FOLKS FOR, UH, WHERE WE NEED SUBSIDY IS ABSOLUTELY OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF THAT.
WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS, 80% MFI HUNTER, 120% MFI.
AND SO, BUT WE'RE, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE TARGETED DATA, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING, WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DRILL DOWN AND PROVIDE TO US? I CERTAINLY CAN DRY I'LL TALK TO, TO THE BOARD OF BOARD OF REALTORS.
FOLKS HAS ALL THEIR DATA AND THEY HAVE EVERY SINGLE TRANSACTION.
SO CERTAINLY ON THE, FOR SALE SIDE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY GET SOME MORE, SOME MORE TARGETED INFORMATION ACTUALLY ON THE, FOR RENTAL SIDE TOO.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU ASSUME SOME STANDARD RATIOS.
SO IF IT'S A, YOU KNOW, CALL IT A $300,000 HOUSE THAT ASSUME SOMEBODY'S GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ANNUAL INCOME.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF, UM, HOUSING SUPPLY? DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF THAT RIGHT OFF MY HORSEBACK.
UH, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT USED TO BE A $400,000 HOUSE IS NOW A $575,000 HOUSE.
AND THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE IN TOWN WHO COULD AFFORD $400,000 HOUSES WHO CAN'T AFFORD $575,000 HOUSES.
THE DAYS OF THE $250,000 HOUSE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE GONE, BUT WHAT'S BEEN BUILT.
ARE WE BUILDING 500,000 TO 600, $700,000, 800,000 HOMES.
WE ARE BUILDING THOSE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE WERE BUILDING THREE 50 TO FIVE 50.
I MEAN, WE, WE, WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE CAN DO THAT IMPACTS OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, BUT I, I HEAR WHAT COUNTS MEMBER POOL IS ASKING.
SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING MORE AT A, AT A MORE DETAILED LEVEL.
AND MAY, OR IF I COULD JUST FOLLOW UP ON, ON MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CITY STATS, I'M SIMPLY ASKING THAT WE GET THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THEM BEFORE.
AND I THINK THAT IT WILL ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION AND REALLY IMPORTANT WAYS.
WHEN I SAY, HEY, AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS, CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW THAT'S HELPFUL.
IT'S EASIER THAN JUST ME CALLING THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS THAT WERE REPORTED TO THAT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT SUBSIDY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE TRUE SENSE IS THAT HOUSING, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE BUILT UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY PUT A SUBSIDY TOOL.
THEN THE NEXT GROUP IS THAT AREA OF HOUSING THAT WE HAD, UH, UH, INCREASED SUPPLY BY PROVIDING, UH, UH, INCENTIVES I WOULD DO WITH THE, THE DENSITY BONUS IS SORT OF LIKE THAT ABOUT A DIRECT SUBSIDY, NOT REQUIRED A DIRECT SUBSIDY, BUT CATER TO INCREASE THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE MARKET RATE HOUSING, UH, ABOVE THAT, THAT WE WERE DUE TO, TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS THAT WE ENCOURAGE OR CREATE
[01:25:01]
THE RIGHT MARKET FOR THAT ON THE SECOND BILL LAST NIGHT, I'M FOCUSED AGAIN, JUST TO FOLLOW UP QUESTION, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT, UH, WITH RESPECT TO INCENTIVES AND HOW DO THEY WORK? WHAT ARE DEVELOPERS LOOKING FOR ON THE LAST PAGE, IN YOUR CONCLUSIONS, YOU TALKED ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL, UH, FOCUSED ON MAXIMIZING RATES OF RETURN.WHAT IS THAT? I MEAN, THAT MEANS THAT WHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL SAYS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE MONEY? THEY LOOK AT A BALLARD, TYPICALLY WILL WE'LL HAVE A PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS.
EACH OF ONE OF WHICH HAS A DIFFERENT EXPECTED RATE OF RETURN.
AND THEY HAVE AN OVERALL TARGETED RATE OF RETURN WITHIN THE PORTFOLIO.
SO PICK A NUMBER 12, 13, 14% IS SORT OF THE WORKING NUMBER RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY GO TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.
IF SOMEONE SAYS TO THEM, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I MEAN, GUYS, IF YOU JUST COME AND BUILD THIS IN AUSTIN, AND YEAH, THE RATE OF RETURN IS ONLY FIVE OR 6%, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY.
IF YOU DO THIS, THE ANSWER MAY VERY WELL BE NO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE PRESET INVESTMENT PARAMETERS THAT GUIDE WHERE THEY MAKE DECISIONS.
AND IF THEY HAVE TO THEN REDUCE THE RATE OF RETURN OVER HERE, THAT TAKES THE WHOLE PORTFOLIO, A LOT OF BALANCE.
AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE ARE COMPETING FOR INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL.
WE ARE PERCEIVED TO BE A VERY, VERY HOT MARKET IN WHICH TO BE INVESTING MONEY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER GOOD MARKETS TOO.
AND IF WE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GOING OVER AS WE WERE DOING THIS, SAY TO PEOPLE, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOWER RATE OF RETURN.
WE MAY VERY WELL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE INVESTMENTS MADE HERE THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD FIND DESIRABLE.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR OVER ALTAR.
AND GIVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN, UH, A COMMENT.
UM, DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT PORTION OF OUR HOUSING STOCK IS BEING USED FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS? I DON'T KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MY GUESS IS IT'S NOT VERY BIG AT THIS POINT, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA.
I I'VE GOT TO THINK IT'S WELL LESS THAN 5% AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN, DOES ANYBODY KNOW 5% OF OUR HOUSING CAPACITY WOULD BE WHAT, OH GOSH, TOTAL HOUSING UNITS.
I MEAN, IT'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN THAT MUCH.
I MEAN, WE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS IN TOWN.
UM, SO THE CITY MANAGER, I THINK IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT REVISIONS TO SOME OF THOSE RULES BECAUSE OF CHANGES AT THE STATE AND COURT RULINGS, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS WHO FEEL LIKE WE SEE PEOPLE BUYING INVESTMENT PROPERTIES AND USING THEM AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.
UM, AND CERTAINLY WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT, UM, SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE UNREGISTERED SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ET CETERA.
UM, AND IF WE ARE TAKING HOUSING STOCK OUT OF, UM, OPERATION, THAT DOES IMPACT THE OVERALL HOUSING, IF WE ARE MAKING IT EASIER WITH OUR NEW HOUSING, FOR IT TO BECOME A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THAT IS ALSO, UM, TAKING HOUSING OUT OF THE STOCK THAT THAT CURRENT RESIDENTS CAN USE.
UM, THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD WAS, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON FOREIGN OWNERSHIP, FOREIGN INVESTMENT? I WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GET THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I, I DON'T THINK THE BOARD OF REALTORS TRACKS I'LL ASK THEM, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THEY TRACK, YOU KNOW, THE, WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM.
AND EVEN THEN YOU MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY KNOW.
I MEAN, THEY MIGHT HAVE FOREIGN MONEY BEHIND SOMETHING THAT HAS A U S SHELL CORPORATION IN FRONT OF IT.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO PICK UP ON A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, OF THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
I THINK THAT, THAT, AND, UM, AND SOME OF OUR KITCHEN WAS GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, IT, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE SUPPLY, BUT THAT IS NOT A SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH APPROACH TO POLICY.
IF WE WANT TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE THAT IS BEFORE US.
UM, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR SUGGESTED, LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS, UM, BUT JUST TO SAY, WE NEED MORE SUPPLY DOES NOT GET US.
AND WE CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE IF WE CREATE THE WRONG SUPPLY, OR WE OVERVALUE THE LAND BECAUSE WE PROVIDE TOO MANY, UM, ENTITLEMENTS, UM, IN THE ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, IT WAS REFERENCED A KINDER INSTITUTE STUDY OUT OF RICE.
AND IT, IN THAT ARTICLE ON THAT REPORT, IT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN PUNCHED WAY ABOVE ITS WEIGHT ON HOUSING PRODUCTION, DESPITE HAVING ONLY A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN ITS METRO AREA COMPARED TO 7 MILLION IN HOUSTON AND DFW AND 19 MILLION IN NEW YORK, AUSTIN RANKED FIFTH IN OVERALL HOUSING PRODUCTION DURING THE PANDEMIC YEAR ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, THE NUMBER OF HOUSING PERMITS ISSUED DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL POPULATION AUSTIN'S HOUSING PRODUCTION WAS WAY AHEAD OF ANY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION.
THE ONLY CITY ON THE RENT.COM LIST THAT CAME REMOTELY CLOSE TO AUSTIN ON A PER CAPITA BASIS WAS NASHVILLE,
[01:30:01]
WHICH IS EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR BOOM IN POPULATION AND HOME PRICES.SO THAT WAS THE KINDER REPORT THAT WENT, UM, WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF SUPPLY.
NOW THAT'S AN MSA NUMBER, NOT A, THE CITY NUMBER.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE NUANCES THERE.
UM, BUT THEN THE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO TALKS ABOUT DEMAND.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM.
UM, YOU HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEMAND THAT'S COMING IN IS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE SOFTWARE JOBS, WHERE THEY'RE MAKING WELL OVER THE MEDIAN INCOME, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED, $150,000, UM, INCOME, AND THAT, THAT IS CREATING ISSUES AS WELL.
AND SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A WHOLE SET OF ISSUES THAT WHEN WE ONLY FOCUS ON THE HOUSING PART, WE MISS, WHICH IS THE INEQUALITY IN, IN OUR SIDE.
AND IF WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO NOT ONLY FIND THEM HOUSING, BUT ALSO TO, TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR INCOMES, WHICH IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE REASONS I REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PURSUING, UM, SOME OF THE ISSUES ABOUT, UM, LABOR SUPPLY IN THE SKILLED TRADES, FOR INSTANCE.
UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT IF YOU, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT MORE BROADLY AND THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER NUANCES OF THIS SUPPLY AND DEMAND EQUATION, WHEN YOU GO BEYOND WEEK ONE OF ECONOMICS, 1 0 1, YOU, YOU, YOU SEE A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT POLICY LEVERS THAT YOU COULD BE DOING THAT REALLY GET AT THE CHALLENGE THAT IS BEFORE US IN WAYS THAT JUST SIMPLY SAYING, WE WANT TO INCREASE SUPPLY EVERYWHERE.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
AS YOU, AS YOU SEE AT I HAD A WARDROBE CHANGE, I MOVED TO THE CAR.
SO THE THING IS JUST NOT WORKING FOR ME TODAY.
UM, SO I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS HERE.
UM, ONE OF THOSE THOUGHTS TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON, UM, WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WAS, UM, I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
SO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, ET CETERA, THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE EXPRESSING, UM, ARE JUST DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE BEING ENTIRELY HONEST, LET'S TALK ABOUT LIKE THE WEALTHIEST PART OF TOWN AND THE POOREST PART OF TOWN, RIGHT? AND SO MY CONSTITUENTS, THEIR CONCERNS ARE DIFFERENT.
UM, AND SO AS I'M TRYING TO LISTEN THROUGH THEIR CONCERNS AROUND HOUSING, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS I TEACH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT HAVING LAND USE, URBAN PLANNING, CIVIL ENGINEERING.
THIS IS NOT THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS A LOT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS HALF THE TIME.
SO BRINGING PEOPLE ALONG TO WHERE THEY ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THEM, RIGHT? THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT.
SO THE ABE BORES OF THE WORLD, THE, THE REAL ESTATE AGENCIES THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT LAND USE AND URBAN PLANNING, BUT NOT SUBSEQUENTLY ACTUALLY TEACHING THEM HOW THIS STUFF WORKS, HAVE THE VISIBLE, IF, IF THERE'S NOT THAT PART, THEN WE'RE LEAVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND THEN WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THEM.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT AS WE ENTER THIS CONVERSATION, MR. HAWKINS SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY PEAKED MY INTEREST.
YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.
I CAN'T ARTICULATE EXACTLY HOW YOU SAID IT.
IT WAS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE BUILDING HOUSING, BUT NOT BUILDING TRANSIT.
LIKE HAVING THINGS BE INCONGRUENT, RIGHT? YEAH.
YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE CANNOT AS A COMMUNITY MOVE FORWARD AND LET'S ME MAKE THINGS CAN GROW IT, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.
AND THEN BRING EVERYBODY ALONG.
NOBODY COULD GET LEFT OUT OF THIS COMPENSATION IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
SO I LITERALLY, AS WE'VE BEEN ON THIS CALL, YOU KNOW HOW YOU GET THE LITTLE, THE LITTLE BAR ACROSS YOUR PHONE AND SAID, POOP, CHAPPY JONES CHAMPION.
I CALLED YOU OUT CHAPPY FROM SAN JOSE.
JUST HIT ME UP AND SENT ME AN ARTICLE ABOUT EXTRAORDINARY HOUSING COST IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,
[01:35:02]
EXTRAORDINARY HOUSING COSTS.HOW AUSTIN BECAME THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE.
SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY REAL QUICK.
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION SO MUCH AS LIKE, I'M GONNA TELL YOU A STORY THAT ALSO WHERE I LIVE AND THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, THEY COST THE SAME AMOUNT.
IN TWO YEARS, TIME, THAT HOUSE DOUBLED, THERE'S A HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME THAT COSTS UP $1.5 MILLION.
THIS IS LIKE A 1100 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE THAT COST $1.5 MILLION ON THE EAST SIDE.
SO I WAS TELLING MY MOM THAT, AND SHE WAS LIKE, WHAT I USED TO KNOW.
I WAS LIKE, YEAH, MY IT'S A WHOLE NEW EAST SIDE.
RIGHT? SO NOT BRINGING THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE, THEY'RE NOT BRINGING PEOPLE ALONG TO WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND HOW THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, HOW THEY CAN EITHER AGE IN PLACE, REMAIN IN THEIR HOUSES, FIGURE OUT HOW TO MONETIZE THEIR YARD.
SO WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE, THERE'S A LOT OF HIGH LEVEL TECHNICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT LAND USE, ALL THE PEOPLE WE'RE LEAVING BEHIND.
THOSE ARE THE ONES I WORRY ABOUT.
SO MR. HAGIOS, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, GIVEN YOUR CIRCLE, WHAT CONVERSATIONS ARE YOU HAVING WITH POOR PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO AGE IN PLACE? PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE TO PAY SCHOOL TAXES ANYMORE.
PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR BUSTED FOUNDATION ON YOUR BROKEN ROOF DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T HAVE TO MOVE SPECULATORS.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
I JUST WANT TO GAUGE FROM YOU IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SHARING.
NO, I DON'T MIND SHARING THE INTERESTING, THE POOR PEOPLE I TALKED TO THE MOST ARE REALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES WHO ARE WORKING JOBS THAT MIGHT PAY 16, 17, $18 AN HOUR, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
NOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY PLENTY OF OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE LOWER DOWN ON THE INCOME SPECTRUM.
THEY DON'T TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE AS MUCH, BUT I HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF REALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.
I CAME TO AUSTIN PROBABLY FOR A LOT OF THE SAME REASON.
FOLKS HERE DID ALSO ALSO CAME.
I CAME FROM TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, I STAYED BECAUSE IT WAS A GREAT PLACE.
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, IT WAS CHEAP.
I HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
EVERYTHING WAS FIVE BUCKS AND RENT WAS 200 BUCKS A MONTH.
BUT, UM, THAT SITUATION, WHEN I TALKED TO THE VERSION OF ME, WHO'S IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES, DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
AND SO THESE ARE PEOPLE NOW, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ARE TRYING DESPERATELY HOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACCESS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE THEY PERCEIVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROVIDES.
AND YET WITH VERY, VERY LIMITED RESOURCES.
I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST LIKE, OH MY GOD, HOW CAN I SPEND THAT? PAY THAT MUCH IN RENT? YOU KNOW, OH MY GOD, I JUST RENTED THIS PLACE A YEAR LATER.
YOU KNOW, MY LANDLORD WANTS TO INCREASE MY RENT BY SOME GIANT FACTOR.
HOW DO I DEAL WITH THAT? AND I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO, YOU COULD CALL IT LUCK.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN RESTAURANTS FOR A WHILE.
OUR WORKERS ARE ALL ARE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION TOO.
SO IT IS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE THE KIND OF THE BIGGER PICTURE AND HOW ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS FIT TOGETHER.
WHAT THEY SEE IS THE TIP OF THE SPEAR AND THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IS MY WAGES.
DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO COVER THE COST OF LIVING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS I GET TO TALK TO PROBABLY THE MOST WHO ARE LOWER DOWN THE INCOME SPECTRUM, CHEROKEE BAY.
UM, SO MS. STOCKING IS, YOU SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
SO HOW DO WE TEACH THE GENERAL CITIZENRY? HOW DO WE DO THAT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT CONDESCENDING? RIGHT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SURE.
I MEAN, LIKE IF YOU DON'T HAVE 12 USE 12 YEARS WORTH OF LAND USE EXPERIENCE, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? RIGHT.
SO, SO NOW WHEN YOU SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, I APPRECIATE THAT.
CAUSE I, I ALSO DON'T HAVE IT.
AND HOW, HOW DO WE FIX IT? AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
YOU COULD EASILY JUST, YOU KNOW, WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU A SHORT ANSWER.
CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S A QUESTION I DON'T THINK I HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A GREAT ANSWER EXCEPT TO SAY THE MORE OF THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS AND SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT GREATER SUPPLY WILL ACTUALLY HELP BRING PRICES DOWN A LITTLE BIT, CONNECTING IT TO
[01:40:01]
TRANSPORTATION, UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THE BIG DECISIONS ARE THE SUM OF ALL THE SMALL DECISIONS AND THAT ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE ALL THESE HISTORIC CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO KIND OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.AND THEN CHARTING A COURSE ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT.
AND THEN COUNCIL LEADING AND COMMUNICATING AND SAYING, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.
AND HERE'S HOW YOU CAN CHECK OUR PROGRESS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THESE ARE THE METRICS WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT.
THAT'S WHAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A CITIZEN, I DON'T ELECT YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
I LIKED YOU TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN A DIRECTION THAT I SUPPORT.
AND SO I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE FINE DETAILS OF LAND USE PLANNING.
I THINK THEY HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE LEADING THEM IN THE DIRECTION THAT WILL MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.
WE HAVE THE CITY, PRESENTATION'S GOING TO BE 30 CREDITS AT THE END OF THIS COUNSELOR.
I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, SUGGEST MAYBE AFTER WE CONCLUDE THIS PIECE, WE COULD CONSIDER TAKING LUNCH BEFORE WE DO THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
UM, MR. HERNANDEZ, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I SEE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT SOME OF WHICH ARE WELL UNDERWAY.
THE ACCESS TO PUBLICLY ON LAND IS SOMETHING I KNOW I'VE DONE AT LEAST THREE RESOLUTIONS ON.
WE NOW HAVE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD ON HEALTH SELF ON ST.
JOHN'S TRACT ON RYAN DRIVE, HOPEFULLY SOON ON ONE TEXAS CENTER.
I THINK THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE WE CAN DO ON THAT.
AND I HOPE WE WILL BOTH AS OUR COUNCIL AND IN, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES, I THINK THAT'S A REAL POWERFUL TOOL.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT TWO OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE, THAT YOU MENTIONED BOTH IN YOUR COMMENTS AND HERE, UM, PUBLIC, UH, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE CAMPUS-BASED EMPLOYERS TO BUILD ON SITE.
AND ALSO PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO ENCOURAGE, UH, CAMPUS COMMUNITIES, TO BUILD UNIVERSITIES, TO BUILD AND COLLEGES, TO BUILD HOUSING ONSITE.
AND ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ANY OTHER EXAMPLES IN OTHER PLACES THAT WE CAN LOOK TO THAT MIGHT PROVIDE MODELS FOR THOSE AND, UM, BEFORE, AND THEN WHEN YOU FINISH, I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT STRS.
SO THE ANSWER IS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'M NOT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I SHOULD GO LOOK INTO IT.
I'M DOING A BUNCH OF WORK RIGHT NOW FOR THE TEXAS A AND M SYSTEM.
BRYAN COLLEGE STATION HAS A HOUSING PRICES AS WELL.
AND SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND WORKING WITH A AND M THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BE BUILDING MORE HOUSING OF ALL KINDS.
THEIR HOUSING CRISIS IS ACTUALLY AFFECTING THEIR FACULTY RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND THEY HAVE OTHER ISSUES.
I ALSO, IF YOU ARE THE PARTNER OR SPOUSE OF A FACULTY MEMBER AT A AND M YOU HAVE CHALLENGES FINDING APPROPRIATE EMPLOYMENT.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT, BUT I WILL DO SOME LOOKING AROUND AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO FOR CASE STUDIES AND EXAMPLES, THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO US IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS.
UM, AND THEN I THINK SOME OF IT WILL JUST TAKE SOME TIME AND SOME ITERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITIES AND WITH THE CAMPUS BASED EMPLOYERS TO SEE, OKAY, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT WORK? YEAH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, AND I WOULD INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THESE ISSUES AND, AND THEY CAN ALSO HELP US WITH SOME OF THAT RESEARCH.
I KNOW, UM, I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO PROGRAMS ELSEWHERE AS WELL, BUT EXCEPT IN VERY LIMITED SECTORS, I KNOW WE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS AT THE JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE A FEW YEARS BACK ABOUT PROGRAMS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE TEACHER HOUSING ON SCHOOL LANDS.
UM, AND SOMETIMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL INTERESTING INITIATIVE.
I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT IN TERMS OF, UH, WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I'M LESS FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT IT.
I THINK WITH REGARD TO YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT AT SOME INCENTIVES FOR ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE, I CAN'T REMEMBER QUITE WHEN WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION HERE ON THE DIOCESE, BUT THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT I BELIEVE YOU LED IN TERMS OF, UM, TRYING TO MAKE SOME HOUSING AVAILABLE TO STAFF AT WESTMINSTER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT IT WAS WESTMINSTER.
I HAD FORGOTTEN EXACTLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ANYWAY, I JUST INVITE BOTH OF YOU, BUT OTHERS, UH, TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES ABOUT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WORKING, WORKING WELL ELSEWHERE.
UM, AND THEN CITY MANAGER, WE HAD A CONVERSATION, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER RAISES A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
THAT'S COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME.
IT CERTAINLY CAME UP IN EVERY CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY FINDING THAT SHORT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE COMPETING, ARE REALLY TAKING OVER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY, UM, AND PERHAPS
[01:45:01]
OUR BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON THAT.IF WE'RE TRYING TO QUANTIFY HOW, WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE LOOKS LIKE, WE MIGHT LOOK TO OUR CODE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS TRACKING AND FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, THE RANGE OF, OF ADVERTISING THAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARD TO THE, THE NON-PERMITTED ILLEGAL, ILLEGALLY OPERATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THEN I WOULD ASK YOU WHERE THE FIVE P WHAT ARE YOU BASING THAT 5% ON? NO MORE.
I LOOKED AT IN A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, I SAID LESS THAN 5% IS SO I LOOKED AT IT A LONG TIME AGO, AND IT WAS A FRACTIONAL AMOUNT, MY IMPRESSION, BUT NOT BASED IN AUSTIN, NO, I LOOKED, ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT IN AUSTIN A. LONG TIME AGO, AND IT WAS WELL LESS THAN 5% OF MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN MORE HOUSING GROWTH IN GENERAL THAN THERE HAS BEEN GROWTH IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
NOW, THE CHALLENGE, WHICH I THINK YOU REALLY CLEARLY ARTICULATED IS WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW MUCH HAS HIGH PARTYING OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT TRACKING, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY ONLY, I MEAN, WHAT WE PERMIT IS 3% PER CENSUS TRACT, OR I BELIEVE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE PERMIT IS A, IS INDEED LESS THAN 5% OF THE HOUSING STOCK.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, SIGNIFICANT, LET ME SAY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF ENFORCING SOME OF THOSE ROLES AND MANAGER YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION IT'S BEEN AWHILE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR CODE, OUR CODE DEPARTMENT REALLY NEEDS TO ATTEND TO AND NEEDS TO BRING US THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME THAT WOULD MAKE OUR ENFORCEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS FRANKLY, THOSE ILLEGALLY OPERATING SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE COMPETING WITH, WITH, UM, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR AUSTINITES.
BUT I DID WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHERE THOSE, WHERE YOUR, UM, ESTIMATES WERE COMING FROM, BUT I DO THINK WE MORE INFORMATION WITHIN OUR CITY, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT IT REALLY PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IN THAT ISSUE TOO, TO GET SOME MORE CLARITY ON THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE, UH, EXAMPLES OF, OF THOSE TWO AREAS THAT I THINK ARE, ARE PROMISING BOTH IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND ENCOURAGING COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES.
SO, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, MY, MY, UH, COMMENTS FED ON, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM, EVEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, TAX CRITICS TO BIG CORPORATIONS THAT WANT TO MOVE IN, YOU KNOW, A TAX BREAK.
IT'S NOT AN, I I'VE BEEN USING THE CONVERSATION THAT IF YOU USE THAT MONEY JUST TO BUILD HOUSING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, THEN I WILL CONSIDER IT.
BUT IF YOU DON'T AND DON'T EVEN COME TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
AND HE JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD CONVERSATION WITH, UH, OTHER CORPORATIONS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING HOUSING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHICH I REALLY PROMOTE.
IF THEY COULD JUST BUILD THE APARTMENT UNITS THERE NEXT TO THEIR CAMPUS, HOW WOULD YOU THINK THAT CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOING WITH, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, UH, OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MOVING DOWN HERE EARLY SLEEP, EARLY STAGE? IN MOST CASES IT'S NOT ON, IT'S NOT ON THE TOP OF MIND FOR COMPANIES LOOKING AT AUSTIN.
IT'S BEGINNING TO EMERGE WITH SOME OF OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS HERE IN TOWN, BUT IT'S EARLY STAGE AND THEY WILL WANT TO TALK TO THE CITY AND BY EXTENSION OTHER JURISDICTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE AND HOW THAT MIGHT WORK AND, AND THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY.
I DO THINK WE, WE COULD IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF, I CALL THEM CAMPUS BASED EMPLOYERS, FOLKS WHO HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF LAND, AND SOME OF IT, OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO RESERVE FOR THEIR OWN FUTURE OPERATIONS.
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT ALIGNS PRETTY WELL.
THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND THE COMPANY'S NEEDS ALIGN PRETTY WELL.
IT'S A LOT EASIER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD FOLKS IF THEY ACTUALLY CAN WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO GO TO WORK OR RIDE THEIR BIKE OR WHATEVER IT IS.
AND BY THE WAY, THAT GETS US MORE HOUSING STOCK TAKES SOME TRIPS OFF THE ROAD.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL SYNERGY THERE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM YET.
WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN TO DO IT, BUT IT'S A CONVERSATION WORTH IN MY OPINION, EXPLORING TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT THAT WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE AND MOVING THE NEEDLE IS BY DEFINITION, BUILDING MORE HOUSING.
SO IN, IN, IN THOSE, IN THOSE LOCALES, THANK YOU THERE LAYER.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY EXPLORE THIS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE PUT ON, UH, HAVING THESE BUSINESSES COMING IN HERE.
A LOT OF THEM DO BRING THEIR EMPLOYEES WITH THEM.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT WHERE THEY ALSO WOULD BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
[01:50:01]
RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURE I'M NOT US OF HAVING TO PROVIDE THE HOUSING THAT'S NEEDED.AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO DO IT THAT WAY, THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH PRESSURE ON OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING THAT WE HAVE WERE, OR ARE OFFERING THEM A HALF A MILLION PLUS NOW FOR, FOR A HOUSE THAT I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO TEAR DOWN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE INVESTING THAT KIND OF MONEY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, AS WORKING ON THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING, UM, DIRECTION.
UM, I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AND FIND WAYS TO, UM, GET FOLKS TO INVEST IN CAMPUS-BASED HOUSING LIKE THAT.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND LEGAL, AND YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THIS, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US, UM, TO GET AN UPDATED MEMO ON THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO IN TERMS OF TARGETED, UM, HOUSING INCENTIVES OR, OR ZONING.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE MIGHT IDEALLY WANT TO BE, UM, TARGETING IN CERTAIN WAYS.
I THINK THAT THOSE LAWS, UM, WOULD PRECLUDE CERTAIN OPTIONS AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO HAVE GREATER CLARITY ON, ON SOME OF THAT, THAT LEGAL PIECE THERE.
UM, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THE TAX CREDIT IDEA THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERS HAS WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING IT ON THEIR CAMPUS IS A GOOD ONE.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THOUGH THAT WE MIGHT, MIGHT DO, BUT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S PRECLUDED OR NOT.
SO IF WE COULD GET A MEMO ATTORNEY CLIENT OR NOT, WHATEVER YOU THINK IS FAST OR A RE OR A RE-CIRCULATION OF A PRIOR ONE, IF WE ALREADY HAVE ONE, BUT I THINK WE DO, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK RIGHT NOW.
UH, YES, UH, FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER RE RENTERIA.
UH, YOU KNOW, BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
I, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME BASIS FOR THAT AND THE WAY THAT WE, UH, RESTYLED OUR THREE 80 AGREEMENTS TO FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, WE COULD LOOK AT THOSE AND CONSIDER ADDING TO THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I THINK THAT, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I'LL HAVE TO ASK LAW, WE HAVE A, UH, SCHEDULE EXECUTIVE SESSION NEXT TUESDAY.
IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON FAIR HOUSING, BUT THE IMP THERE MIGHT, IT MIGHT RELATE.
I MEAN, NEXT NEXT TUESDAYS IS FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN ASPECTS OF RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, UM, AND SOME OF THAT BUMPS UP AGAINST THE, UM, LIMITATIONS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING.
SO IF IT MAKES SENSE WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.
IF NOT, WE CAN SH YOU KNOW, CONSIDER ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT SOUNDS.
WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY TO DECIDE HOW TO POST FOR NEXT WEEK SO WE CAN COVER MORE THAN JUST THE LINCOLN.
CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, THERE'S SOME RELATIONSHIP THERE BETWEEN THOSE LAWS.
SO, UM, SO THEN MY LAST QUICK QUESTION, JUST A QUICK QUESTION AS A FOLLOW-UP, UM, I AM INTRIGUED BY THE, UM, THE ISSUE AROUND INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL, BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, ANECDOTALLY I HAVE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT AS, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO PURCHASE BECAUSE THE FOLKS THAT CAN COME IN AND, AND BUY WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF MONEY THERE THAT I, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS THAT FOR AUSTIN AND HOW BIG A FACTOR IS IT, UH, FOR AUSTIN IN TERMS OF DRIVING PRICES UP? I JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE ENTITIES HAVE TO GET A CERTAIN RATE OF RETURN.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO THEIR RATE OF RETURN.
WELL, MY QUESTION IS, IS, ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING TO OUR HOUSING SUPPLY IN SUCH A WAY THAT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL HERE, YOU SEE WHAT I'M ASKING? SO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT, THAT WE NEED TO BE SURE AND NOT DO REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO COME HERE, BUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING WHEN THEY'RE HERE IS MY QUESTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, ARE THEY CONTROL? ARE THEY HELPING
[01:55:01]
US? ARE THEY HELPING US IN, IN OUR SUPPLY? IF THEY'RE NOT HELPING US, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT WE NEED TO BE AS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR RATE OF RETURN.SO THAT'S REALLY MY QUESTION, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.
SO ON THE ONE, WHEN I TALK ABOUT HOUSING IS ASSET THAT'S SOME PEOPLE, SOME GROUP OR WHATEVER IT SAYS, LET'S GO BUY 20 HOUSES IN AUSTIN AND TOURNAMENT OF RENTALS.
SO THEY'RE BUYING EXISTING PRODUCT.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT IT'S THE TAIL, NOT THE DOG.
IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM.
WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL, I'M TALKING ABOUT PENSION FUNDS AND OTHER RESORTED FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS TO DO MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
AND SO LARGELY THOSE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT THIS POINT HAVE FOCUSED ON THE UPPER END OF THE MARKET, WHETHER IT'S RENTAL HOUSING OR WHETHER IT'S IT'S TYPICALLY, THOSE ARE GUYS ARE BUILDING RENTAL HOUSING THEY MAY DO SOME OWNER OCCUPIED MULTI-FAMILY AND THEY'RE DOING THAT ONE BECAUSE IT'S FAIRLY EXPENSIVE TO DO A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AUSTIN.
THEY CAN SPREAD THE COST OVER A PROJECT.
THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM A SUBSTANTIAL RATE OF RETURN.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF MARKET AT THAT END OF THE HOUSING MARKET FOR THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SO THEY HELP US ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT THEY DON'T FORCE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY THEIR PRODUCT TO MOVE DOWN.
DOWN-MARKET SO THAT'S HELPFUL, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY BUILDING AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEW PRODUCT, THAT'S GOING TO DIRECTLY MEET THE NEEDS OF MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT I THINK WE'RE IMPLICITLY CONCERNED ABOUT HERE, WHICH IS OUR WORKFORCE.
AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT EQUATION THAT I WAS ASKING ABOUT WAS IN TERMS OF INCENTIVES TO MAKE IT INSTEAD OF WORK, WHAT DRIVES THAT, RIGHT? AND IF THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN RETURN IN ORDER TO GET SEVERAL, TO USE IT AND SAID IT.
THEN ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I NEED TO BE ASKING YOU, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU SAID TWO LEVELS IS WHAT RETURNED IS THAT ALLOW, RIGHT? WHICH I IMAGINED IS THE CALIBRATION PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH IN DETERMINING WHETHER SOMEONE WILL TAKE AN INCENTIVE OR NOT.
THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS WHO DO YOU WANT TO INCENT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT WE NEED TO.
UM, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CALIBRATION.
IT, NOT THAT IT'S NOT THAT WE WANT TO SET IT SO LOW THAT WE'RE IN SENDING EVERYBODY AND WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THOSE ARE, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE RAISING IS AN IMPORTANT, YEAH, YEAH, NO, I DON'T HAVE NOTICE DESIRE AT ALL.
DOING SENT THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, COMING INTO TOWN WITH HIGH PRICED HOMES.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO I GET PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY USE THE INCENTIVE, TO ACTUALLY DELIVER ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE INCENTIVE IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DO? AND I THINK THAT THAT PROBABLY VARIES, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON, OH, THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
SO LET, LET ME, LET ME GIVE YOU, LET ME GIVE YOU A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE THAT MIGHT SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS.
SAN ANTONIO HAD A PROGRAM WHERE THEY DID AN AS OF RIGHT INCENTIVE TO BUILD HOUSING DOWNTOWN.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CHECKED A FEW BOXES AND YOU GOT THE INCENTIVE.
THERE WAS NO JUDGMENT APPLIED.
IT WAS LITERALLY, AS OF RIGHT, WHAT WE SAW HAPPENING OVER TIME WAS THAT INCENTIVE GOT BAKED INTO THE PRICE OF THE LAND BECAUSE THE PEOPLE KNEW IT WAS COMING.
SO IF YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING, YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT INCENTIVE AND PUT IT INTO YOUR PROFORMA.
AND SO THEREFORE THE LANDOWNERS BEGAN TO RAISE THEIR LAND PRICES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT INCENTIVES IS YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO STUFF THAT'S AS OF RIGHT, THAT EVERYBODY GETS BY DEFINITION BECAUSE YOU RUN THE RISK, THEREFORE THEN IT BEING PRICED INTO THE OVERALL MARKET.
AND SO IN OUR CASE HERE, ARROWS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CREATING INCENTIVES.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE DEVELOP A PROCESS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT ALLOWS SOME VARIABILITY THAT ALLOWS SOME GIVE AND TAKE, SAY, IF YOU WILL DO MORE HERE, YOU WILL GET MORE.
IF YOU DO LESS OVER HERE, YOU WILL GET LESS, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE COULD BE A RANGE OF EVALUATION PARAMETERS SO THAT IT DOESN'T END UP BEING BAKED INTO SOMETHING LIKE LAND PRICES.
AND THE QUESTION THAT I WAS HAVING IN TERMS OF INCENTIVES, THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN CLEAR ON IT IS IF WE'RE SAYING TO SOMEBODY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA FLOOR, IF THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF YOUR HOUSE YOU PUT TO AFFORDABILITY, IS IT 10% OF THE UNITS I'VE ASKED YOU FOR, OR 20%, IT'D BE BETTER TO ASK FOR 20 THAN 10 BECAUSE I'D RATHER HAVE 20, OR AM I ASKING YOU TO GET TO 60% ABOUT FIVE OR 40%? 40% WOULD BE BETTER THAN 60, BUT BY ASKING FOR MULTI BEDROOMS, BECAUSE SOME POLICIES SAY WE WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE FAMILY FRIENDLY UNITS.
I, ALL OF THOSE THINGS IMPACT YIELD.
AND IF I BROUGHT WATCHING THE YIELD THAT I DO AT, INSTEAD OF WHERE I SEE YOU HAD AN EXTRA FLOOR, IF YOU DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT NOBODY EVER DOES THE EXTRA FLOOR BECAUSE NOBODY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT DRIVING THE YIELD THAT WE NEED.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT IN THE ANSWER.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS, I THINK THE ANSWER IS IT'S GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THAT THAT'S A MOVING TARGET.
[02:00:01]
BE THE RIGHT YIELD NUMBER TODAY MIGHT NOT VERY WELL BE THE RIGHT NUMBER SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S A DYNAMIC WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH, YOU'VE GOT A COUNCIL THAT'S OVER ALTAR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT LAST, UM, BIT OF INFORMATION.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, MR. YOU S YOU, YOU RAISING THE ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE KINDS OF ENTITLEMENTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED ON THE PROPERTY AFFECT THE LAND COST, WHICH THEN AFFECTS THE COST OF BUILDING, UM, THE HOUSING, ET CETERA, AND WHO GETS THAT, THE BENEFIT FROM THAT PART OF THE PIECE? UM, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE, AS WE GO THROUGH THINGS AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I, THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORTED AFFORDABILITY ON LOCKED BECAUSE IT REALLY TARGETED THE EXTRA, UM, THE BUILDING EXTRA BUILDING TO FOLKS WHO WERE REALLY PUTTING IN QUITE AN INVESTMENT INTO AFFORDABILITY.
UM, AS WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THESE CAMPUS BASED INCENTIVES, ET CETERA.
AND PART OF THE REASON I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FAIR HOUSING, UM, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN VERY FAR WITH THIS IDEA YET, BUT I, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAN DO AN ANALOG TO AFFORDABILITY ON LOCKED WITH RESPECT TO CAMPUS BASED HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M TRYING TO THINK THROUGH AND WELCOME CONVERSATIONS FROM FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, WHO ARE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH US TO THINK THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHAT SOMETHING LIKE MIGHT LOOK LIKE WHERE, WHERE IT, UM, PROVIDES WHAT WE NEED, AS OPPOSED TO JUST BLANKET EVERYTHING AND OR LUXURY HOUSING .
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING AND PRODUCTIVE LINE OF CONVERSATION BEGINNING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, HIS COMMENTS, AND THEN THE ONE SUBSEQUENT.
AND I WOULD SAY, AS WE, AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT AND TALK ABOUT FAIR HOUSING, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK OUR STAFF TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE.
UM, WE PASSED AT LEAST ONE, MAYBE TWO COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING A NEIGHBORHOOD IMPAIRMENT ZONE AND PROVIDING SOME, SOME WAIVER OF TAXES FOR MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES.
AND SO I, I THINK WE, UM, THAT WAS A RESOLUTION I HAD BROUGHT, AND WE GOT BACK SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF ABOUT HOW WE MAY DO THAT AND WHAT SOME OF THE, AND THEY OUTLINED SOME CONSIDERATIONS WITH REGARD TO THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S, ANYWAY, I THINK LET'S TRY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BROADLY ABOUT SOME OF THE PATHS THAT, THAT THE STAFF HAVE ALREADY CONSIDERED.
CAUSE I THINK THEY MAY OFFER US SOME OPPORTUNITY.
THEY MAY GET, WE MIGHT GET A JUMP ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION AND I CAN PROVIDE, I CAN PROVIDE THOSE TWO MEMOS TO ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IF YOU HAD POST THOSE.
I THINK THAT'D BE GREAT EITHER.
DO ONE OF THE, UH, BULLETIN BOARD STREAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SPEEDY IQ HEADING, ALL RIGHT.
HOW ABOUT IF WE COME BACK AT A, WHAT 30 HAD PICK IT BACK UP, WE'LL HAVE STAFF MAKE A PRESENTATION WHEREVER WE HAVE A FOUR 30 HARD STOP TODAY.
I THINK THE CONVERSATION STAFF HAS GOT TO BE KIND OF LIKE, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, UH, HID THIS, WHAT THESE DO WE PURSUE AND HOW DO WE PURSUE THAT? UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OFF THE DAY.
I SAID EVERYBODY HAD AWARDS TO GO OUT TO THE ATRIUM WAS WELCOMED TO, UH, TO JOIN.
AND WE'LL BE BACK ON THE DICE AT ONE 30, OUR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
UH SHE'S WE COULD CONTINUE THIS MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO, MAYBE IF I'M TALKING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES OR HERE THAT WERE, ARE ENGAGING IN AND COME ON DOWN, THERE.
ARE WE JUST LOST SOUND? CAN YOU SPEAK AGAIN? OKAY.
WE HAVE A HARD STOP TODAY AT FOUR 30.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE STOP WHEREVER WE ARE AT THREE 30 AND AS A COUNCIL STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
SO WE COULD HAVE THE STAFF, UH, GIVE US THEIR KIND OF ASSESSMENT.
WE COULD HAVE QUESTIONS, UH, BUT WE'LL ADD THE, THOSE CONVERSATIONS BY THREE 30 AT THE LATEST HARD-STOP THREE 30.
SO WE GET BACK TO TWO US TALKING FOR AN HOUR.
JUST GIVE EVERYBODY LIKE THREE MORE MINUTES SINCE WE'VE
[02:05:01]
ACTUALLY STARTED TALKING TO, TO COME DOWN.WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND START.
UM, CAN I GET OUR PRESENTATION PULLED UP PLEASE? IT'S YEAH, IT'S GOT A DARK, THE PAGES, A DARK BLUE OKAY.
SO WHILE MANDY GETS SOME ASSISTANCE TO OUR AB FRIENDS, UM, ROSIE, TRUE LOVE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT'S LIKE THE PRESENTATION IS COMING UP.
WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD PUT TOGETHER THAT I THINK WILL COMPLIMENT WHAT MR. HAWKINS HAS PUT TOGETHER AND PRESENTED TO US BEFORE THE BREAK.
CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, JUST TO REMIND FOLKS AND RESET FOR FOLKS THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THE HOUSING GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, MANDY DE MAYO, OUR INTERIM DEPUTY DIRECTOR WILL BE, UH, TALKING TO YOU GUYS ABOUT SOME OF OUR HOUSING INVESTMENTS AND THE PROGRESS AND THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THAT.
UH, OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UH, NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM CUPID ALEXANDER WILL BE, UH, PRESENTING ON SOME DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THERE.
AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AND I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME STUFF PRIORITIES BEFORE WE TURN IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
AND I WILL GO QUICKLY THROUGH OUR SLIDES BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS A LITTLE BIT REPETITIVE WITH WHAT MR. HAWKINS HAS PUT TOGETHER THIS MORNING.
SO CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO, AS, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE IN 2017, WE APPROVED YOU ALL APPROVED THE FIRST, UH, STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT HAD GOALS TO DISPERSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO CREATE HOUSING AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY, UH, TO COUNT AND TRACK ALL NEW EXISTING HOUSING TO DEVELOP ALONG.
IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS IN QUARTERS, IN NEW YORK HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS WITH A GOAL OF PRESERVATION OF 10,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND TO CREATE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CONTINUUM OF CARE HOUSING UNITS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? A LOT OF THIS DATA IS GOING TO BE COMPARABLE TO WHAT MR. HAKIMI HAS PUT TOGETHER, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS WE CONDUCT A HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS, AS PART OF OUR CONSOLIDATED PLANNING PROCESS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ANALYSIS TOO IS TO EXAMINE DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING MARKET TRENDS WITHIN THE CITY.
AND ONE OF THE TUFTS ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRENDS IN THE AUSTIN HOUSING, UH, THE AUSTIN RENTAL MARKET AS OF 2020S HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS INCLUDES AN OVERALL INCREASE IN MEDIAN RENT PRICES AND A DECLINED AND STOCK OF AFFORDABLE RENTALS.
THE RENTAL GAPS FOR UNITS RENTING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE RANGES FROM A SHORTAGE OF 36,400 TO 25,000 UNITS AFTER ADJUSTING FOR HELP FOR STUDENT HOUSEHOLDS, THE CITY'S INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS HELPED TO STABILIZE THE RENTAL MARKET BY ADDING UNITS TO ASSIST LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RENTERS.
AND BY ALLEVIATING HIGH LEVELS OF COST BURDEN FOR A RANGE OF LOW-INCOME RENTERS, THE CITY'S INVESTMENTS ARE ALSO PRODUCING AFFORDABLE UNITS WITHIN MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENTS AND ALL OF THE DETAILS, UH, RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS ARE ON OUR WEBPAGE.
SO SIMILARLY, UH, WITH, WITH OWNERSHIP, THE TRENDS, UM, APOLOGIES, UM, THE TRENDS IN THE MARKET FOR OWNERSHIP INDICATE AN INCREASE IN MEDIAN HOME VALUE, GROWTH, A DECLINE IN HOME OWNERSHIP AMONGST MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLD AND A SHORTAGE IN THE CITY'S INVENTORY OF, FOR SALE UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING $75,000 PER YEAR OR LESS PRESERVING RELATIVE AFFORDABILITY AND ADDING ATTACHED
[02:10:01]
HOMES TO THE FOR SALE MARKET WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AMONG MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.AGAIN, THE FULL HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING SINCE 2020, WHICH AGAIN, MR. HAWKIN, YOU S UH, ALLUDED TO THE, THE AUSTIN MSA, UM, MEDIAN SALES PRICE IS $455,000.
IF YOU SEE, IT'S KIND OF CUT OFF IN THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, THAT, BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S MEDIAN HOME PRICES 530, 6,000, UH, AND THIS REPRESENTS A 28% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.
CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE, THE MOST RECENT SCORECARD, UH, FOR 2020, WHICH WAS RELEASED THIS PAST SEPTEMBER SHOW SOME PROGRESS IN OUR BLUEPRINT GOALS, INCLUDING ALIGNING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT, WHICH WE ARE QUITE PROUD OF.
AND CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR THREE-YEAR BLUEPRINT PROGRESS, WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS IN MIDDLE AND UPPER INCOME UNITS, SIGNIFICANT WORK REMAINS IN DEEPLY AFFORDABLE 30% AND BELOW AND AFFORDABLE UNITS, 60% AND BELOW.
HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BLUEPRINT TRACKS UNITS THAT HAVE COME ONLINE, NOT UNITS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW TO MANDY DEMIO AND SHE WILL BE SHARING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT UNITS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.
IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I GET TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FUN STUFF, WHICH IS THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MADE OVER THE LAST REALLY 10 YEARS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING USING OUR FEDERAL AND OUR LOCAL FUNDING.
UM, SO JUST TO REFRESH EVERYBODY IN 2018, UH, VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE, OUR LARGEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, 250 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE THIRD TRAUNCH OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ALSO HAD SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS IN 2006, THAT WAS FOUR 55 MILLION, 2013 FOR 65 MILLION.
AND THEN AGAIN, 2018 FOR 250 MILLION.
UH, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR 250 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREAS.
ONE IS LAND ACQUISITION, THERE'S RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, OR RHODA, ODA OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON A FIVE-YEAR SPEND PLAN.
WE'RE IN YEAR FOUR OF OUR FIVE-YEAR SPEND PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN AND SPEND, SPEND PLAN ABOVE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF ORIENT FOLKS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH RESPECT TO THE SPEND PLAN FOR LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH WAS ALLOCATED FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, WE ARE NEARLY OUT OF FUNDS.
WE HAVE ALMOST COMPLETELY ENCUMBERED THAT, UM, $100 MILLION WITH THOSE FUNDS WE'VE PURCHASED VACANT LAND, APPROXIMATELY 60 ACRES OF VACANT LAND IN NEARLY EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
WE'VE ALSO ACQUIRED FOUR HOTELS THROUGH OUR HOTEL CONVERSION STRATEGY TO CONVERT, TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT INCLUDES BUNGALOWS COUNTRY IN, UM, CANDLEWOOD AND BALCONIES TERRORISTS, OUR NEWEST ACQUISITION.
SO AGAIN, LAND ACQUISITION, ALMOST VIRTUALLY ENCUMBERED RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER $36 MILLION REMAINING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS OWNERSHIP HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION REMAINING.
UM, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND HOME REPAIR, UH, CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S ALLOCATION AND THEN ALLOCATIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE WANT TO DO A 10 YEAR LOOKBACK TO REALLY, UM, CELEBRATE SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE.
UM, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AS A CITY AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $180 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH OUR RHODA RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND ODA OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND DOLLARS.
SO FROM 20 16, 20 13 AND 2018 REPRESENT A LITTLE MORE THAN 75% OF THAT INVESTMENT.
THE REST OF THE INVESTMENT COMES FROM SOME FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE USE, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BLOCK GRANT AND HOME FUNDING, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL FUNDING, UM, LIKE OUR, UM, HOUSING TRUST FUND, THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF INVESTMENT, UM, REPRESENT MORE THAN DOUBLE THE INVESTMENT OF THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS.
SO WE'VE REALLY RAMPED UP OUR INVESTMENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
CAN I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AS A REMINDER, HFC, UH, INVEST IN DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, WHERE WE REALLY, FROM A RENTAL PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE REALLY
[02:15:01]
PLAY OUR LARGEST ROLE IS 50% AND BELOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.IN FACT, WE HAVE INVESTED IN MORE THAN 3000 UNITS, UH, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, TO SERVE PEOPLE AT OR BELOW 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
THESE ARE LOWEST INCOME FOLKS WHO REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY.
WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, ONE THING WHEN ROSIE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, UH, THE BLUEPRINT, THE BLUEPRINT TELLS PART OF THE STORY, BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS OUR UNITS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND AND WE TRACK THOSE GOALS AND THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT OUR PIPELINE IS ALSO WHAT IS COMING IN FUTURE YEARS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND REALLY SHOWS THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR FROM OUR PREVIOUS YEARS INVESTMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TAKES TIME ON AVERAGE FOR OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECTS TAKES ABOUT 30 MONTHS FROM THE TIME THE HFC BOARD APPROVES ALONE TO THE TIME SOMEBODY MOVES INTO THAT UNIT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT 30 MONTHS WHERE THAT'S NOT SHOWING UP ON THE BLUEPRINT GOALS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT IN FUTURE YEARS.
SO YOU'LL SEE AGAIN, THIS IS A 10 YEAR PROJECTION, UH, ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TICKS, WHICH IS TENANT INCOME CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE VERIFY THAT THE FOLKS LIVING IN THE UNITS ARE ACTUALLY INCOME CERTIFIED AND INCOME ELIGIBLE.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE OVER THE COMING NEXT REALLY THREE YEARS, THE ORANGE REPRESENTS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT HAND SIDE IS OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS SHOWS OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE PIPELINE, WHICH OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF COUNCIL, CONTINUUM OF CARE, UH, CONSTITUTE HOUSING, FIRST UNIT.
SO LOW BARRIER UNITS, UM, THAT ARE, UH, PROVIDING REFERRALS FROM THE COORDINATED ASSESSMENT.
SO THESE ARE REALLY SERVING PEOPLE, EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, WHO ARE THE HARDEST TO SERVE.
THIS IS A SUBSET OF OUR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
SOMETIMES THESE UNITS ARE INCORPORATED INTO LARGER RENTAL PROJECTS, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE STANDALONE RENTAL PROJECTS.
WE ONLY LOOKED AT A FIVE-YEAR KIND OF A SNAPSHOT HERE, AND YOU'LL SEE, WE STARTED TRACKING THESE UNITS, UH, WHEN TERRORISTS HAD OAK SPRINGS, WHICH IS A 50 UNIT DEVELOPMENT BY, UM, DEVELOPED BY INTEGRAL CARE WHEN THAT FIRST CAME ONLINE, THAT IS OF COURSE FULLY OCCUPIED, UM, THAT IS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
AND IT HAS A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF LOW BARRIER, UM, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, WITH INTENSIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COC UNITS, UM, OVER THE COMING YEARS, WHICH IS SOMETHING REALLY TO S UH, TO CELEBRATE.
I WANTED TO SHOW A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT BOSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD HAS APPROVED.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, THIS IS IN FACT, UH, NEARLY 100% COMPLETE.
THIS IS A PROJECT CALLED V KALEENA.
IT IS LOCATED AT ULTRA ORPHAN PLEASANT VALLEY WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF A NEW PROJECT CONNECT LINE.
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS.
UM, OSDA SAGE WORK DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS, A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE.
IT INCLUDES FIVE COC UNITS, AND IT WILL BE OPEN.
UM, IT WILL BE OPEN, UH, IN JANUARY, 2022, AND I'VE BEEN TRACKING THEIR PRE-LEASING.
UM, THE UNITS, PARTICULARLY THE LOWER INCOME UNITS ARE ALREADY PRE-LEASED.
THIS IS A PROJECT YOU ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
THIS IS IN DISTRICT FOUR, A SPARROW AT RUTLAND, UM, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT CARE TEST OF AUSTIN AND THE CASINO GROUP.
IT'S A 4% TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT, 171 UNITS, A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE, UM, A HUNDRED.
AND ONE OF THOSE UNITS ARE DEDICATED TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SO VERY, UH, IT'S A VERY LOW BARRIER DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO VERTICAL, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.
UM, I THINK MANY OF YOU WERE AT THE GROUNDBREAK IN AUGUST.
WE ARE TRACKING IT CLOSELY AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT FALL OF 2022 IS WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY, UM, CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, UM, WHICH IS A MUCH SMALLER SCALE IMPACT, BUT A REALLY IMPORTANT IMPACT THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING AS STAFF.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, THE COST OF HOME OWNERSHIP IS OUT OF REACH FOR THE MEDIAN, UM, THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD, UH, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY OUT OF REACH FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FOLKS LIVING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, ONE, UM, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MECHANISM, LEGAL MODEL, UH, TO COMBAT THAT AS A COMMUNITY
[02:20:01]
LAND TRUST, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND ONE OF THEM IS OPERATED BY AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PORTFOLIO.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15, UM, OCCUPIED CLT HOMES.
UH, WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL, ALMOST 30 HOMES THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
WE JUST ABOUT DOUBLED OUR PORTFOLIO WITH AN ACQUISITION.
UM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF AUSTIN WAS GETTING READY TO PUT, UM, A PORTFOLIO OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON THE MARKET.
AND WE RAISED OUR HANDS AND SAID, WE'D LOVE TO PURCHASE THEM.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REHABBING ALL OF THEM OR TOWARD THEM.
RECENTLY, FIVE OF THE FIVE OF THEM ARE READY TO GO AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THEM, UM, OUT FOR, AS A PACKAGE, UH, THROUGH A LOTTERY, UH, UTILIZING OUR BRAND NEW PREFERENCE POLICY, UM, THIS SPRING AND THE PREFERENCE POLICY WILL PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WHO, UM, HAVE TIES, UM, TO CENSUS TRACKS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LOTTERY AND THE PREFERENCE POLICY LAUNCHED THIS SPRING.
AND AGAIN, UM, THAT SHOULD BE, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION, BUT THAT SHOULD BE, UH, 25 TO 30 HOMES THIS SPRING AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.
CAN I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? UH, WE'VE TALKED A BIT ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, UM, BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN HOUSING AND TRANSIT.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO MAKE AN ENORMOUS, UH, INVESTMENT IN HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT THROUGH PROJECT CONNECT.
WE HAVE BEEN EYEING THAT, UM, AND THE, UH, AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, UH, FOR YEARS, AND WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN ALL OF OUR, UH, INVESTMENTS, OUR HOUSING INVESTMENTS TO, UH, HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT.
SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MAP AND ONLINE TOOL THAT IS AVAILABLE, THAT SHOWS ALL EXISTING, UM, INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, THERE ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS THAT ALSO SHOW OUR CITY, UH, SUBSIDIZED AND INCENTIVIZED UNITS, WHICH IS A SUBSET OF THAT.
SO YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, WE HAVE, UH, ALMOST 27,000 INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
A SUBSET OF THAT IS CITY INCENTIVIZED OR SUBSIDIZED, WHICH IS ALMOST 12,000 UNITS.
UM, WE SHOW RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP.
UH, WE SHOW PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH AGAIN IS OUR PIPELINE.
AND THEN ONE THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING AS WELL, WHICH WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT FURTHER IS, UM, CITY AND OTHER PUBLICLY OWNED ASSETS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY THROUGH OUR, UH, 2018 HOUSING BOND, WE HAVE, UM, WE'VE PURCHASED NEARLY 60 ACRES IN NINE OF OUR 10 CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, VACANT LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO KEEP OUR PIPELINE GOING, UM, FOR THE COMING YEARS AS WE ACQUIRE PROPERTY AND THEN PUT IT OUT FOR SOLICITATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, WE'RE KEEPING OURSELVES VERY BUSY IN THE DEPARTMENT DOING SOME PRETTY GREAT WORK THAT WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE AND MAKE SURE YOU ALL WERE AWARE OF.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CUPID ALEXANDER, GOING TO TOE GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT THIS IS HIGHLY EMOTIONAL WORK, ESPECIALLY AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION EFFORTS AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I APPLAUD THE EFFORT, AND I KNOW THERE'S MORE TO GO, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE A QUICK OUTLINE OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
SO OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL STRATEGIES AND COMMUNITY FACING INTERVENTIONS THAT HELP FAMILIES RECEIVED THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO STABILIZE.
WE HAVE BEEN INTENTLY FOCUSED, ADDITIONALLY, ON INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SHARING WHAT WE KNOW WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THIS INFORMATION.
THE MOST, THIS INCLUDES CENSUS DATA OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED THROUGH HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND CREATED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCALLY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
SO WE ARE DELIVERING NOT ONLY PREVENTION PRODUCTS, BUT AN INTENTIONAL ACTION TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORK WE DO.
AND SPEAKING ABOUT OUR EFFORTS, WE'RE FOCUSING ON TWO PRIMARY AREAS, PROJECT CONNECT, AND OUR TENANT STABILIZATION PROGRAMMING THOUGH, TODAY, I'M FOCUSING ON THESE TWO.
I WANT TO BE SURE TO MENTION, WE HAVE MANY EFFORTS IN STABILIZING FAMILIES, INCLUDING AUSTIN IS MY HOME, WHICH HELPS EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY CONNECTING THEM TO GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING ADVISORS THAT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING MARKET, LEARN ABOUT PREDATORY PRACTICES AND INFORM THEM OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO NOT ONLY STAY IN AUSTIN, BUT TO HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR PROJECT CONNECT WORK HAS BEEN GUIDED BY THE EFFORTS LED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY CATALYSTS WHO ARE ASKED TO HELP
[02:25:01]
PROVIDE A GUIDING FRAMEWORK THAT EQUITABLY HELPS INFORM NOT ONLY THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR STABILIZATION EFFORTS IN THE PROJECT CONNECT INVESTMENT CORRIDOR, BUT PROVIDES KEY INSIGHTS TO CONNECT OUR FUNDING STRATEGY TO THE INTENDED RECIPIENTS.THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES COMMITTEE, WHICH SERVES AS A THOUGHT PARTNER AND FULFILLS THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY BASED LEADERSHIP TO HELP PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND PUSHBACK WHEN NECESSARY ON THE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES WE AIM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THE PROJECT CONNECT PARTNERSHIP.
ADDITIONALLY, WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE IS THE INVESTMENT CORRIDOR.
AS THIS AREA IS VERY SPECIFIC.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN IDENTIFYING THE TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND AREAS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT OF THE CITY.
AS THESE ARE THE AREAS WHERE THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUND CAN BE UTILIZED ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
YOU WILL SEE THE INVESTMENT CORRIDOR, BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THAT NEXT SLIDE, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
UM, OUR, I WANT TO MENTION OUR CITYWIDE EFFORTS.
WE SUPPORT RENTERS RIGHTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WHICH AIDS WITH LANDLORD ISSUES.
WE ALSO HAVE A HOST, WHICH IS AN ONLINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY TO HELP CONNECT FAMILIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AND THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CALLED THE RELIEF OF EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR TENANTS.
I WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE RENT PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT, THE HOST PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP NAVIGATE LOCATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON THE RIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MAP INDICATING THE AREAS THAT ARE VULNERABLE AT RISK OR HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS DISPLACEMENT AND THE PROJECT CONNECT CORRIDOR.
THIS MAP HELPS GUIDE OUR WORK AS WE ADDITIONALLY, CRAFT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL STRATEGY.
NOW THIS FINAL SLIDE SERVES AS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR RENT PROGRAM, WHICH FOR THE TIME BEING HAS HAD ALL OF THE MONEY DISPERSED OUR CURRENT STATISTICS INDICATE WE HAVE HELPED OVER 8,298 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES WITH AN AVERAGE OF $4,262 OF RENT PAID PER HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS AN AVERAGE OF JUST SHY OF FOUR MONTHS RENT.
IN FACT, IT'S 3.9 MONTHS RENT FOR AN AVERAGE RENT, A DISPERSAL OF 1060 $2.
THE RESULTING DISTRIBUTION OF RENT ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS GENERALLY REFLECTS POPULATION INFORMATION AMONG LOW INCOME RENTER HOUSEHOLDS.
WITH OVER 65% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ASSISTED EARNING BELOW 30% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
24% OF THE RENT FUNDS WERE PROVIDED TO BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOUSE, HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS, 37% TO LATINO AND TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT TO WHITE, THEIR REMAINING RECIPIENTS.
SELF-IDENTIFIED IN CATEGORIES SUCH AS MULTIRACIAL ASIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, OR THEY PREFER NOT TO DISCLOSE OVER 1,300 PEOPLE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DISABILITY.
AND OVER 280 WERE VETERANS, ALL CATEGORIES WERE IDENTIFIED BY RECIPIENTS SELF-REPORTING FROM THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD TO CLOSE THIS OUT.
AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW, WE WILL AFFIRMATIVE.
WE REACH OUT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH A KEEN FOCUS ON OUR BIPAP DISABILITY AND VETERAN COMMUNITIES WITH EARLY INTERVENTION AND DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AREAS, PRONE TO GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT, CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO SERVICES, TO HELP THEM AVOID HOUSING INSECURITY AND RECEIVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO ROSIE, NOT AS TALL.
UH, IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF THE, THE REALLY GOOD WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US A LITTLE INDULGENCE TO, TO SHOWCASE.
UM, CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO THE LAST THING I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT IS TO KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT WE SEE AS SOME OF OUR PRIORITY AND HORIZON ISSUES.
UH, THE FIRST IS, IS FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT COMES UP TODAY.
THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW AND, UH, TO, TO PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE COUNCIL AS WE WORK THROUGH WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE SOME FRUITFUL CHANGES.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO TEE UP, UH, A PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION.
THIS WOULD BE, UH, AN AFFILIATE OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
IT WOULD ALLOW US TO TAP INTO A SEPARATE SOURCE OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE THAT IS, UH, NOT WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY BE APPLYING FOR THROUGH OUR CURRENT PROCESSES.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL SEE ACTIVITY ON AN UPCOMING AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION AGENDAS.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE TEEING UP A CONVERSATION ABOUT PRIORITIES RELATED TO THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
[02:30:01]
FUNDING.WE HAVE HEARD VERY CLEARLY FROM OUR CATALYSTS ABOUT WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, AND WE WANT TO HEAR THAT, UH, THAT SAME INFORMATION FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO WE CAN SEE HOW THOSE PRIORITIES ALIGN AND REALLY GET SOME GOOD FIRM DIRECTION FOR COUNCIL, UH, FOR STAFF SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE DOLLARS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR, UH, HOUSING INVESTMENTS.
AS MANDY MENTIONED, WE ARE LARGELY OUT OF FUNDS FOR THE 2018 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
AND SO LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, IN AND SOURCES ON THAT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE PUBLIC LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS TIES WITH, WITH THE NEXT BULLET AND WITH, WITH WHAT MANY FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING WITH MR. HAWKINS, WHICH IS THE IDEA OF LEVERAGING PUBLIC LAND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES AND MAJOR EMPLOYERS.
WE'VE HAD SOME FRUITFUL CONVERSATIONS ALREADY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING ON THOSE AND TO SEEING WHAT, UH, WHAT WE CAN HAVE TO COME AND GROW FROM, FROM THAT.
UM, I THINK WITH NAT STAFF'S PRESENTATION HAS DONE, AND WE WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNSEL.
WE HAVE, UH, MANY PEOPLE HERE TO HELP AS YOU GUYS MAY, MAY, MAY NEED STAFF TO, TO CHIME IN ON THINGS.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT COMES NEXT.
AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD ACTIVITY HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, THE GAS WHERE WE'RE ALL THERE SAID THIS MORNING, AND AS WE'VE SEEN, WE'VE DONE A LOT, UH, ALL THE WAY TO TWO MORE HOUSING STARTS AT THE OTHER METROPOLITAN AREA OF THE COUNTRY.
UM, SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE BY EVEN MORE THAN, THAN WHAT WE ARE COLLEAGUES.
IT IS, UH, UH, BY WAY OF TODD CHECK, UH, ABOUT 2 25.
UH, WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT FOUR 30.
I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, BUT AT THREE 30, IF WE HAVE IT ALREADY TURNED THERE NO LATER THAN THREE 30, LET'S START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO NEXT.
AND THEN WHERE WE GO TO FROM, FROM HERE, UH, I'VE HANDED OUT TO EVERYBODY, OR THE DAY IS HERE POSTED ONTO THE MESSAGE BOARD, A, A SPREADSHEET, UH, THAT JALENE IN MY OFFICE.
DID SHE TRIED TO CAPTURE THE IDEAS THAT PEOPLE HAD POSTED OR PEOPLE HAD, UH, UH, SUPPORTED IF YOU TRIED TO CAPTURE COMMENTS MADE BY PEOPLE? UH, JANINE IS REALLY GOOD.
I'M SURE THERE'S IS NOT PERFECT.
UH, SO IF THERE ARE CHANGES OR ADDITIONS THAT SHOULD BE MADE TO IT OR THINGS THAT WE MISSED, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT WE KNOW, BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE CONVERSATION LATER ABOUT KIND OF WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? UH, I THINK THE INTENT HERE IS NOT TO STOP ANYBODY FROM BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY'S MOVING FORWARD ON.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF THE STAFF AT THE SAME TIME TOOK A LOOK AT THIS LIST.
IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL AND MANAGER, I'VE TALKED TO YOU, UH, HERE JUST A SECOND AGO ABOUT, UH, UH, ASKING STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT AND WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE CONSENSUS AND, AND, AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT WOULD BE REAL IMPORTANT TO PUT AGAIN, NOT TO STOP ANYBODY ON THE ASMR FROM DOING ANYTHING, ANYBODY ON THE DAY AS WANTED TO DO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS MADE THAT'S ABOUT BEFORE THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR HOUSING PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION.
I FOUND IT VERY THOROUGH AND INFORMATIVE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING.
UM, LOOKING, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TO TALK ABOUT OUR HOUSING SUPPLY AND HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
CERTAINLY I LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND WHAT MORE CAN WE BE DOING TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES REFLECT THAT VALUE IN THAT COMMITMENT? AND SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE PART OF A COUNCIL THAT HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT IN OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WORK.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UM, ON ONE OF THE SIDES YOU LISTED LOOKING AT EXPIRING AFFORDABILITY FOR INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.
AND IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY TOUCH ON WHAT THAT WORK LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT, OR DO WE HAVE, UM, LIKE, DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY UNITS ARE NEARING THEIR, THEIR EXPIRATION ON THE INCOME RESTRICTION? UH, WE DO SO THAT MANDY TO MAYO, UM, HOW'S IT COMPLAINING DEPARTMENT, UH, THE, UH, UH, MAP ONLINE TOOL THAT I POINTED YOU ALL TO, WHICH IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLUS PROJECT CONNECT MAP HAS A SPECIFIC LAYER FOR EXPIRING AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS.
UH, CITY COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN PRESERVATION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A MECHANISM TO IDENTIFY
[02:35:01]
OTHER THAN ANECDOTE, UM, TO IDENTIFY WHERE PROPERTIES WERE COMING UP FOR, UM, THE TAX CREDIT, UM, EITHER RENEWAL OR RE-INVESTMENT.UM, AND THIS TOOL HAS ENABLED US TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, UM, KIND OF INTO A SWEET SPOT OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE EXPIRING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY PROPERTIES TO POTENTIALLY INVEST IN AND RENEW, UH, THERE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS, UM, AND MOST LIKELY ALSO LAYER IN LEVERAGE SOME, UH, LOCAL FUNDS, MOST LIKELY, UM, IN ORDER TO RECAPITALIZE PROJECTS.
SO WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR YOU ALL AS AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD, UM, IS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO BRING A COUPLE OF PRESERVATION PROJECTS TO YOU IN THE COMING YEAR.
UM, IT IS A LARGE UNDERTAKING.
MOST OF THESE COMPLEXES ARE LARGE COMPLEXES, UH, THAT REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT.
UM, SO WE ARE CAREFULLY LOOKING, UM, AT THE PROPERTIES WHERE THERE IS POTENTIAL.
WE ARE ALSO CAREFULLY LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, WHO COULD HELP US BRING ADDITIONAL EQUITY TO PROJECTS.
UM, AND OUR GOAL IN 2022 IS TO BRING A COUPLE OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS TO YOU THAT IN FACT, ALIGN WITH PROJECT CONNECT AS WELL.
I MEAN, THE PRESERVATION IS SUCH A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WORK AND ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY.
AND I BELIEVE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH A SUPPORT LETTER I READ, BUT ONE OF THEM REFERENCED PRESERVATION BONUSES AND LOOKING AT THAT AS A POTENTIAL POLICY, UM, AREA.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN AREA THAT I'D BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING, UH, OR PERHAPS THAT CAME FROM A COLLEAGUE.
UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS AROUND THE EQUITY TOOL.
UM, DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHEN THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED? YES.
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE GETTING A DRAFT COPY OF FINALIZED DRAFT COPIES FOR YOUR FEEDBACK IN REGARDS TO EQUITY TOOL IN THE FRAMEWORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER HERE, THE OFFICE IS ASKING IF THE WORK SESSION FOR TOMORROW IS CANCELED, IS ANYBODY WHAT THAT HELL? ALL RIGHT.
SO I THINK I SAID IT'S CANCELED GABBY.
SO MAYOR I DID HAVE A ONE ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT ON.
I DON'T THINK IF THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A WORK SESSION ABOUT IT.
YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT THE ISSUE IS? SURE.
THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PERMANENT LOCATION.
WE HAVE HAD REQUESTS FROM, FROM IMMEDIATE RESIDENTS TO HAVE, UM, MORE CONVERSATION AROUND THAT.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING AND INVITE THOSE RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND TO LEARN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW WE INTEND TO USE THAT SPACE AND OPERATE IT.
AND SO I CLEARLY, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE THAT BEFORE THURSDAY.
AND SO I WOULD, I INTEND TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT AND HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO STAFF TO ASK THEM TO, TO CO-SPONSOR WITH MY OFFICE, UH, UH, CONVERSATION WITH WHOEVER WANTS TO ATTEND.
OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T DISCUSS THAT MERITS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SET TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT TODAY, BUT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS, UH, IN, IN, IN THAT POSTPONE.
UM, I HAD, I HAVE, UH, I THINK REQUESTED A MEETING WITH STAFF WITH RESPECT TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT, UM, JUST TO GET SOME CLARIFICATIONS, UM, WHICH I WAS HOPING TO GET TO HER.
THE REQUEST HAD A STAFF MEETING WITH STAFF ON THE MUNICIPAL COURT, THE DOWNTOWN COURT, THE DOWNTOWN COURT.
I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOLD US THAT SHE WAS JUST FLAGGING THAT, THAT IF, DEPENDING ON HOW THOSE QUESTIONS GO, IT'S MOSTLY FOR CLARITY, UM, ON THE NEXT STEPS.
AND THEN I'M HOPING THAT AT SOME POINT TODAY, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE UP, UM, MAYOR FROM ATTENDANCE ITEM.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY FOR THAT.
CAUSE I WOULD BE INCLINED TO ASK FOR IT THIS FEMININE.
SO GIVE IT JUST THOSE TWO THINGS AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE BRING UP THE BARE PRO TIM'S MOTION.
IT IS GERMANE FOR TODAY THAT I GUESS YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND CANCEL THE MEETING TOMORROW, CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION WITH STAFF ON A PRESENTATION THAT THEY BAKE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS, UM, VERY HELPFUL.
[02:40:01]
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.LET ME JUST ASK, AND THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL NEED TO BRING BACK, WHICH IS, WHICH IS FINE, BUT I WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF ON THE SCORE CARD.
I FORGET WHAT PAGE THAT'S ON, BUT I WANTED TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.
I WANT HIM TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE DOING ON REACHING OUR GOALS.
IF WE LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE AND I GUESS, LET ME, I'M MAKING AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT THE PIPELINE WHEN Y'ALL USE THE TERM PIPELINE PIPELINE.
SO LET ME DOUBLE CHECK THAT ASSUMPTION.
SO THOSE ARE NOT ZONING CASES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE PAST THAT.
AND IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE THERE FOR SURE.
ARE THERE ITEMS OR, OR DEVELOPMENTS THAT AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HAS AUTHORIZED LOANS FOR THEM? OKAY.
SO THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAPPEN AND YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE ABOUT MORE OR LESS WHEN THAT HAPPENED.
SO, UM, DO WE HAVE DATA OR MAYBE Y'ALL CAN GET IT TO ME AFTERWARDS.
UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING ON OUR GOALS.
IF YOU CONSIDER THE PLATFORM, WE WOULD HAVE TO, WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT TOGETHER AND WE CAN SEE, UH, WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST REQUEST IT IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE DO THE HOUSING BLUEPRINT THAT WE INCLUDE THAT DATA ON THE HOUSING BLUEPRINT, BECAUSE, BECAUSE IT JUST GIVES US A BETTER IDEA ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING TOWARDS REACHING OUR GOALS.
WE'RE, WE'RE OPEN TO MODIFYING HOW WE DO OUR, OUR PRESENTATION OF DATA THERE.
AND THAT'S A GREAT PERSPECTIVE TO, TO FACTOR IN.
WE WILL WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE WAY TO ARTICULATE IT CLEARLY.
ARE UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNITS ON THE GROUND.
AND YEAH, YOU GOTTA BE CLEAR ABOUT IT, BUT ALSO GET, LETS US KNOW THAT IT GIVES ME A BETTER IDEA OF ARE WE GOING TO HIT TARGETS OR NOT? YOU KNOW, SO, OKAY.
AND THEN, UM, MAYOR, I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE SOMEONE ELSE FIRST OR SHOULD I GO AHEAD? GO AHEAD.
SO THEN THE NEXT, UH, THEN I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, UH, FUNDING, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT AS ARE, AS ARE YOU, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITIES ON THIS.
SO, UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTION.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'LL GET THE, UM, THE TOOL, UM, UH, WELL YOU S YOU SAID SOON A COUPLE OF WEEKS, DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET IT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS OR DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER? WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE MAP ON THE, ON THE, UM, ON THE, UH, HANDOUT.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY MORE THOUGHTS IN TERMS ABOUT, UH, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE TOOL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO, TO START FIGURING OUT WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR FUNDING.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THE TOOL WILL GUIDE THAT IT'S A SCORING TOOL.
BUT MY, MY QUESTION REALLY IS, UM, WHERE IS IT GOING TO APPLY? IS IT BUILT INTO THE TOOL, UNDERSTAND WHICH PARTS OF TOWN AND WHICH PARTS OF THIS MAP WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT MY REASON FOR ASKING IT FOR MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT ALTHOUGH 300 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
IT IS NOT OVER PARTICULARLY OVER 10 YEARS OF WHATEVER IT IS.
AND SO I'M REALLY, UM, UH, FOCUSED ON DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO IMPACT GENTRIFICATION.
SO MY QUESTION IS REALLY MY THOUGHT HAD BEEN THAT THAT MEANS THAT YOU WOULD PICK CERTAIN AREAS BASED ON UPROOTED, UH, THAT ARE MOST AT RISK FOR MOST AT RISK FOR GENTRIFICATION, AND THEN, UM, TARGET YOUR FUNDING IN THOSE AREAS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE, IS THAT WHAT Y'ALL ARE THINKING OR ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO THINK THROUGH IT? YEAH, I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS NOT A SILVER BULLET.
IT DOES HAVE TO BE DIRECTED, BUT TAKING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, THE QUESTION THAT I'VE ASKED STAFF, AND WHAT WE'VE WORKED ON IS WHERE DO YOU START WITHIN THE BEST MEANT CORRIDOR? AND WHERE'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF NEED.
NOW THERE'S THE UPROOTED REPORT.
THERE'S THE HOUSING AUSTIN HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
AND THERE IS THE INFORMATION FROM THE CATALYSTS AND FROM THE CAC THAT HAS THAT PERSONAL FELT FEELING, BUT THAT WILL KIND OF ARTICULATE AND IDENTIFY WHERE WE START AND WHAT TOOLS THAT WE HAVE.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING IS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL THAT WE'RE BUILDING INTERNALLY.
UM, AND WE WERE GOING TO ALIGN IT WITH OUR KPIS, BUT IT'S IDENTIFYING NOT ONLY WHAT THE LEVELS OF DISPLACEMENT ARE.
SO WE KNOW WHERE TO FOCUS ON FIRST AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL, BUT ALSO WHAT TYPES OF TOOLS WOULD BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN PLACE.
NOW THERE'S AN OVERARCHING THING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION IS THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? AND DURING THAT TIME, PEOPLE MIGHT POSSIBLY BE DISPLACED.
SO IS THAT OUR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TO HELP STABILIZE
[02:45:01]
WHY WE IDENTIFY, WHO WOULD BUILD WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT? AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF OUR, UM, DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, LIKE WHERE DO YOU START AND WHAT DO YOU OFFER CONVERSATION? AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT.AND WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THE AUSTIN HOUSING BLUEPRINT, UM, AND, AND SOME OF THE DIRECTIONS FROM THE CAC AND FROM, AND FROM YOU ALL ALSO, SO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD AND PACKAGING THAT UP.
SO IT MAKES A LOGICAL SENSE AS TO LIKE, HERE'S WHERE YOU START, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO OFFER.
I HAVE, UH, I HAVE NO PREDETERMINED THING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BEST PLACE IS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING TO YOU GUYS FOR, BUT, UM, I'M WANTING IT TO BE TARGETED, WHICH IS WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING.
SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND APPROPRIATE PROCESS FOR THAT.
IF I CAN ADD, UM, AS WE LOOK AT, UM, YOU KEEP, IT'S MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING THE TOOL TO OUT, TO, TO COUNCIL, AND THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DEVELOP OUR INTERNAL STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT BASED ON THAT TOOL.
THAT'S GOING TO TEE UP THE CONVERSATION THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT WANTING TO GET SOME DIRECTION, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHERE WE ARE HEARING, WHERE WE'RE THINKING THAT THAT IS IN FACT IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS US TO GO.
AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP US TO DETERMINE THE BALANCE BETWEEN, UH, WHAT MIGHT BE SPENT, SAY ON PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS, WHAT MIGHT BE SPENT ON REAL ESTATE OR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND HOW WE, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT MIGHT VARY OVER TIME, MAYBE HEAVIER ON ONE SIDE, AS WE, AS WE START THE PROGRAM WHERE WE KNOW REAL ESTATE IS IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN RELATED TO THAT IS, UM, HOW ARE YOU ALL KIND OF KNOW, BUT I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE.
AND IT MAY BE NOT THE TIME FOR IT YET, BUT, UM, WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ABOUT ENGAGING PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE AREAS THAT WE MIGHT BE TARGETING? AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING INTERNALLY, HOW DO WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION? SO PART OF OUR SOCIALIZATION STRATEGY WITH THE TOOL IS EXPLAINING TO PEOPLE WHAT THE TOOL IS AND HOW IT CONNECTS ON A GROUND FLOOR OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
AND ESPECIALLY THE PROJECTION OF A CITY THAT HAS A HIGH DEMAND.
AND SO KIND OF SOCIALIZING THEM.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO SHARE THAT YET, BUT THAT IS A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
HAPPY TO BRING THAT, UM, AFTER WE'VE GOT THE FRAMEWORK OUT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, BUT JUST KNOW AT A VERY PRACTICAL LEVEL, WE'RE SAYING, IF I'M IN A COMMUNITY, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TOOL IS, HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE AS I SEE THE CHANGES HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION ABOUT THAT IS THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS JUST ASPIRATIONAL IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF, ONCE YOU ALL GET THIS PROGRAM SET AND RUNNING, THAT'D BE SOMETHING WE COULD ADD TO, UH, BECAUSE WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, AND MAYOR, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU RAISED EARLIER ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A BOND.
UM, BUT IT'D BE VERY INTERESTING TOO, TO HAVE BOND FUNDING FOR AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT A TARGETED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, UH, PROGRAM THAT'S ALIGNED WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS LIKE THIS ONE IS, AND IT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO JUST TAKE A GOOD, SOLID STRUCTURE THAT YOU ALL ARE PUTTING IN PLACE AND PERHAPS TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S ASPIRATIONAL, JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE AND PERHAPS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TOWARDS A POTENTIAL BOND.
SO ABSOLUTELY I'M GOING TO, UH, HAVE LOTS OF OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK I SHOULD LET COUNCIL MEMBER, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WANT TO SHARE.
IF YOU CAN BRING IT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU ALL ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL STRATEGY.
SO THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE USING TO KIND OF GUIDE HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS.
AND IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION NOT ONLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE INCOME HOMEOWNERS VERSUS RENTERS AMOUNT IN POVERTY, PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WE CAN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW WE'RE GOING TO ORGANIZE OUR DECISION-MAKING AS A SUGGESTION TO YOU ALL.
SO YOU HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE INVESTMENT COURT, AND THIS IS JUST THE INVESTMENT CORRIDOR.
SO THIS IS OUR INTERNAL PRODUCT THAT WE'RE USING AND THAT THE STAFF CREATED.
I REALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF BECAUSE THEY, THEY TURNED AROUND AND DID THIS RELATIVELY, BUT IT HELPS ORGANIZE WHY WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN A VERY LOGICAL WAY, SO YOU CAN MAKE SENSE OF IT.
AND SO I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE, SO WE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO THE COMMUNITY, I'M ALREADY BREAKING STUFF.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE SHARE TO YOU, AND WHEN THIS IS FINALIZED, WE'LL SHARE IT EVEN BETTER.
BUT IT'S OUR THINKING AROUND THE POPULATIONS, THE DISPLACEMENT RISK, AND WHO'S IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HOW THEY'RE BEING DISPLACED AND THEIR INCOME LEVEL.
SO AS WE GIVE A SUGGESTION, IT GUIDES OUR RESOURCES IN A VERY SMART WAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
ON THE SCORECARD THAT YOU, THAT YOU HAVE, HOW AT WHAT, HOW ARE YOU MEASURING OR IDENTIFY WHAT HOMES GO GOING? WHAT CATEGORIES SPECIFICALLY WEB,
[02:50:01]
WHEN A UNIT IS ADDED TO THE LOW 60% MFI VERSUS A UNIT THAT IS IN THE BELOW OR AT, AT 80% MFI, IS IT THE PRICE THAT IT ULTIMATELY SELLS FOR THE MARKETPLACE THAT TELLS YOU WHICH GROUP IT'S HEAD? HOW DOES IT GET ASSIGNED THAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A REALITY CHECK HERE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT, AS THE UNIT COMES ONLINE, IT'S GOT RESTRICTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND WE USE THOSE RESTRICTIONS AS A WAY TO CATEGORIZE IT.SO IF IT'S A RENTAL UNIT AT 60% OR BELOW MFI, THEN IT WOULD GO, YOU KNOW, IN THE 60% AND BELOW, IF IT'S WHEN AT 40% AND BELOW IT WOULD GO INTO A 40%.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE RESTRICTED PROPERTIES, CORRECT.
SO OUR PROPERTY THAT, SO THAT IT'S ONLY RESTRICTED PROPERTY, SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MARKET, 80% MFI HOUSING.
WELL, AND KEEPING IN MIND ALSO THAT OUR FUNDING HAS ITS OWN LIMITATIONS, RIGHT? SO FEDERAL DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR 60% AND BELOW MFI RGO BONDS ARE 50% BELOW MFI FOR RENTAL OWNERSHIP AT 80%.
SO WE USE OUR FUNDING TO ALSO GUIDE.
UM, BUT I, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT ABOUT THE ABOVE THE SUBSIDIZED AMOUNT ABOVE 60, ABOVE 89 SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THE ACTUAL RENT THAT IS CHARGED IT'S MARKET DATA.
WE UTILIZE MARKET DATA TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED WITHIN THOSE COHORTS.
SO IF IT'S NOT INCOME RESTRICTED, WE UTILIZE BASICALLY PRIVATE MARKET DATA.
SO THE CONCERN I WOULD HAVE RELATIVE TO CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD EARLIER, WHERE WAS TO THE DEGREE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE MAKING 80% MFI OR A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI THAT ARE DIPPING DOWN AND, AND BIDDING UP THE PRICE OF HOUSING OR RENTAL PROPERTY THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE AT BELOW 80%, IT'S NOT SHOWING UP AS PROPERTIES THAT WERE BUILT OR WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AT THAT LEVEL.
IT'S SHOWING UP AT THE NEXT CATEGORY UP BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE MARKET IS ACTUALLY UTILIZING IT.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY.
AND I THINK YOUR ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT, AND THAT IS BORN OUT BY WHAT WE, WE FOUND IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING MARKET STUDY, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE RENTING DOWN, TAKING UP SOME OF THAT HOUSING STOCK THAT PRESUMABLY WOULD BE AFFORDABLE AT 60% OR 50% BECAUSE THE RENT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE MARKET RENT IS.
IT'S A CLASS B OR C APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UM, BUT BECAUSE THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OR BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED CHEAPER RENT, FAIR ENOUGH.
THEY'RE RENTING DOWN AND TAKING UP THAT STOCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE.
SO I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING.
I LOOKED AT THE SCORECARD AT FIRST, IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AT, UH, 80% MFI LEVEL.
UH, BUT THEN SOMEONE POINTED OUT TO ME, THAT'S NOT TRUE IF YOU WERE ACTUALLY DOING A GOOD JOB AT 80% MFI, SEVERAL OF THOSE UNITS THAT ARE IN THAT W MFI WOULD THAT BE COUNTED IN THE 60% MFI CATEGORY, BUT YOU LOST THAT THERE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN BID UP WHAT WE, THE DATA WE DO NOT HAVE AN, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE, UH, A REALITY IN WHICH WE COULD CAPTURE IT IS THE PERFECT MATCH BETWEEN INCOME LEVEL AND RENTAL UNIT.
WE KNOW AT AN AGGREGATE WHAT INCOME LEVELS ARE.
AND WE KNOW AT AN AGGREGATE WHAT RENTAL UNITS ARE COSTING.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS, IS UNIT 1 0 1, WHICH RUNS FOR THIS MUCH, IS IT PERFECTLY MATCHED WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS PAYING NO MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR ADJUSTED, GROSS INCOME FOR RENT? SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS AND THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU AND I BOTH HAVE AS THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN BORN OUT WITH OUR, OUR MARKET STUDY, UM, UH, DATA THAT WE DO EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND THAT'S CONSISTENT ANECDOTALLY WITH WHAT I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE AT 80% MFI AND ARE BIDDING UP PRICES, AD UNITS THAT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT LOOKING AT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 60% I, AND THE ANECDOTAL INFORMATION, PEOPLE WHO WERE OUT OF THE MARKET AT 60% OF, IF I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING AND ANYTHING, THEY FIND ENDS UP GETTING BID UP OUTSIDE OF THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO, THEY CAN'T, IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
I JUST WONDER HOW YOU WERE ACCOUNTING THAT STUFF.
BUT OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF PO I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, I KNEW THAT, UH, YEARS AGO WE S I ESTABLISHED A STRIKE PATTERN.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF, UH, DO THEY REPORT TO THE HOUSING UNITS? THEY HAVE SAVED AND, AND HOW MANY THEY OWN, AND THEY'RE RENTING.
IF THEY'RE IN A POSITION THAT PURCHASING MORE OF THE, UH, TAX CREDIT HOMES
[02:55:01]
THAT ARE HITTING THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.UH, SO WE WORK, I THINK THE REFERENCES TO AFFORDABLE CENTRAL TEXAS, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.
UM, AND YES, AS OF MY LAST CONVERSATION, I THINK THEY HAD ABOUT A THOUSAND UNITS IN THEIR PORTFOLIO.
UM, APPROXIMATE, I THINK THEIR AVERAGE, UM, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS ABOUT 70% MFI.
UH, THEY ARE ADDING TO THEIR PORTFOLIO.
I KNOW THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE OTHER PROPERTY UNDER CONSIDERATION AND YES, IF IT IS INCOME RESTRICTED, IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR, UH, DATABASE OF, UM, AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE EAST AUSTIN, THE CONSERVANCY THAT ARE HELPING SOME OF OUR SENIORS TO STAY IN PLACE BY HELPING THEM WITH THEIR PROPERTY CHECKS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OR ANY REPORTS FROM THEM ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE AT AND HOW MANY UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN? NOPE.
SO I DON'T, I THINK, UH, CUPID HAD PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THE AUSTIN IS MY HOME CAMPAIGN, WHICH DOES PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR, UM, FOLKS, RENTERS AND OWNERS ABOUT WAYS TO STAY IN YOUR HOME, INCLUDING, UM, EDUCATION ON PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE REFER PEOPLE TO THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY, UM, BUT WE DON'T GATHER DATA ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE EACH YEAR.
WE CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY AND GET THAT INFORMATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DIRECTED SOME OF THE FUNDS FROM, UH, FROM SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS TO, TO INVEST IN OUR, UH, UH, INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN CONSERVANCY SO THAT WE COULD HELP, UH, OUR SENIORS, UH, TO STAY IN PLACE.
SO, UH, I I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE AT, AND MAYBE, UH, IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD DIRECT SOME MORE FUNDING TOWARD THEM, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, WHERE THEY'RE AT.
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE THERE HELPING HIM AND HOW MUCH FOR THE, THEY NEED TO, TO HELP THE, THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
AND SHE'S OUR SENIORS IT'S TAKEN PLACE.
WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I WILL SAY, UH, ONE OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, COMMUNITY POWERED WORKSHOP DID SOME EXTENSIVE OUTREACH IN THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY HAD SOME ALARMING STATISTICS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOMEOWNERS WHO ACTUALLY WEREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
UM, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT REALLY, UH, PRECIPITATED US TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AUSTIN IS MY HOME CAMPAIGN THAT REALLY HELPS CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF PROPERTY TAXES, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, OR THE SENIOR EXEMPTION, UM, AND HOW TO PROPERLY APPLY FOR AN ACCESS THAT SO, UH, WE WILL REACH OUT TO EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY AND GET YOU THAT INFORMATION THOUGH.
UM, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU HAVE A WRITE-UP ON AUSTIN AS MY HOME THAT WE CAN SHARE, UM, IN OUR NEWSLETTERS.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED.
I FEEL LIKE IN DIRECTION ALSO WHEN WE DID THE HOMESTEAD INCREASE.
UM, SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE, YOU MAY HAVE SENT IT, BUT I MISSED IT, UM, WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STUFF THAT WE ARE DOING.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK IT IS, AS I SAID EARLIER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE RIGHT.
ONE IS, UM, DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT PORTION OF OUR SMART HOUSING UNITS ARE GOING TO, TO COLLEGE STUDENTS? I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO GET, EVEN IF WE DID A SPOT CHECK, UM, OF GETTING SOME DATA ON IT? UM, BECAUSE I, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT GRADUATE STUDENTS AT UT WHO ARE USING SMART HOUSING, AND I KNOW WE CAN'T, UM, WE CAN'T DISCRIMINATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON THAT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO KNOW THAT AS WE TRY TO APPROACH, UM, CHANGING THE PARADIGM FOR PROVIDING THAT HOUSING, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IF ONLY 8% OF UT STUDENTS ARE IN ON-CAMPUS OR CAMPUS AFFILIATED HOUSING, AND AGAIN, THAT NUMBERS FROM USBS AND WORLD REPORTING DON'T HAVE THAT VERIFIED ELSEWHERE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM TO, TO GROW.
UM, BUT I DO KEEP HEARING THAT ON THE SMART HOUSING.
SO, AND WE WILL GET THAT DATA, UH, WHATEVER DATA WE HAVE.
I WILL SAY THAT MY UNDERSTANDING THE ONLY SMART
[03:00:01]
CERTIFIED UNITS THAT, UM, ARE BEING RESERVED FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WOULD BE IN THE UNO, UH, UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY.WE HAVE ABOUT 1100, UM, UNITS, UH, IN UNO.
UH, BUT I OTHERWISE OUR SMART HOUSING CERTIFICATIONS GENERALLY ARE BEING LAYERED WITH OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
SO RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, UM, ARE TYPICALLY LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECTS IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE GENERALLY.
CAUSE I WASN'T AWARE THERE WAS THAT DISTINCTION.
SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET SOME INFORMATION ACROSS THAT.
WE, UM, IT'S ON OUR LIST TO POTENTIALLY DISCUSS AS PART OF THE, THE FAIR HOUSING UPDATE THAT COUNSEL HAD REQUESTED EARLIER.
UM, YEAH, CAUSE THAT WAS A NUANCE I WASN'T, AND THAT WOULD PERHAPS EXPLAIN WHAT WE KEEP HEARING AND MAKE IT MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE.
UM, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, PUT DOWN IN TERMS OF SPENDING DOWN THE 2018 BOND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE BY FISCAL YEAR 23, THAT WOULD BE SPENT DOWN.
UM, SO I THINK THIS IS, THIS MAY BE LIKE AN ACTION ITEM FOR THE NEXT SECTION, BUT I'LL, I'LL BRING IT UP HERE.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHEN IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO GO FORWARD WITH A BOND, UM, NOT JUST TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE HOUSING NEED, BUT ALSO THE BROADER, UM, BONDING PROCESS AND BONDING THE AGENCIES FOR OUR CREDIT RATING AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT, UM, RAISING TAXES, UM, WITH PROP B AND GOING UP TO FOUR 50, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH ROOM TO GO FORWARD WITH A BOND EARLY AND DO IT IN 22 AS OPPOSED TO 24 WHEN IT WAS DUE.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT AS A, AS A FOLLOW-UP NEXT STEP, IF WE CAN GET SOME ANALYSIS FROM STAFF ON WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE FOR AN APPROPRIATE, UM, TIMELINE FOR THE NEXT SET OF BONDS AND THE VALUE OF DOING THE BONDS TOGETHER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN VALUE OFF THE TRADE-OFFS, UM, ACROSS THE BONDS AS WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS.
AND OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY, UM, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND WE NEED TO DO THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A WIDER BOND PROCESS AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THE REQUEST WITH OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND, UM, WORK WITH THEM TO BRING THE RELEVANT INFORMATION BACK TO YOU.
I JUST WOULD LIKE US TO, TO BE, UM, VERY DILIGENT AND ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THE BOND AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION A LOT OF, LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO BONDING AS, AND NOT JUST THE NEED THAT WE'RE OBSERVING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES WERE KATHY? UH, YES.
SO I, I WONDER, UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR, TRUE LOVE FOR THAT INFORMATION, WHICH HAS GRIM INFORMATION ABOUT, ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOMEOWNERS WHO MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BUTTON, BUT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ACCESSING IT.
I WONDER IF YOU'VE EXPLORED PUTTING IT IN THAT INFORMATION AND UTILITY BILLS.
I KNOW WHEN WE LAUNCHED THE AUSTIN IS MY HOME CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS, UH, IN THE PAST YEAR, WE DID A LOT OF OUTREACH ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE DID UTILITY BILL INSERTS, I'LL CERTAINLY TALK TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.
AND IF WE HAVEN'T, THEN WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD SAY IT'S GREAT FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PAGE WHICH I'VE LOOKED AT AND, AND I THINK HAS SOME GREAT INFORMATION ON THERE, BUT ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, ZEROING IN, ON THAT ABILITY TO GET THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND REDUCE THEIR TAXES AND REALLY PLAYING UP THAT ELEMENT, I WOULD THINK WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO GET OUT.
AND, AND HOPEFULLY OUR PARTNERS OVER AT AUSTIN ENERGY WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THAT THAT HAPPENED.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TIME LAG, UM, FOR GETTING THOSE IN THERE.
SO THE SOONER THE BETTER, RIGHT IT'S A COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THAT, IS THAT YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING CITY MANAGER.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION RELATES TO THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
SO THIS IS REALLY VERY EXCITING AND I'M, SO I'M REALLY ESPECIALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE OPERATING UNDER THE PREFERENCE POLICY LONG AWAITED PREFERENCE POLICY.
YEAH, THAT IS REALLY EXCITING.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, UM, ONE, ARE THERE HAVE, HAS HOUSING IMPLEMENTED THE PREFERENCE POLICY WITH ANY RENTAL UNITS TO THIS POINT, OR THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ACTUAL LAUNCH OF IT.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST LAUNCH OF IT.
AND THEN WHAT WILL, SO 15 ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED, IS THAT RIGHT?
[03:05:01]
CAN YOU, CAN YOU GO OVER THE NUMBERS WITH ME AND REALLY LIKE, WHAT, WHAT, UM, WHAT ARE THE, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU GET TO THE REST OF THE 29 GETTING THE REST OF THE 29 UP AND RUNNING? BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE JUST AN INAPPROPRIATE, WHEN WE'RE ON TRACK, UH, FOR THE EXTRA 29 SAID 15 ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED.AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THE MODEL IS ESSENTIALLY THAT THE NONPROFIT OR THE LAND TRUST OWNS THE DIRT, ESSENTIALLY IT'S SEPARATED FROM THE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AND THUS, BECAUSE IN A HIGH COST AREA LIKE AUSTIN, WE HAVE, UM, SUCH HIGH PROPERTY TAXES THAT THE DIRT IS TAKEN OFF THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE HOMEOWNER'S ONLY TAXED ON THE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ALSO OPERATES A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
UM, UH, THE 15 HOMES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ARE ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD TO INCOME QUALIFIED.
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, THEY'RE ALL 80% OR BELOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
UM, THE 29 HOMES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PIPELINE, UH, A HANDFUL OF THEM ARE HOMES THAT WE BOUGHT BACK AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION USING SOME OF OUR PROCEEDS HAVE BOUGHT BACK, UM, FROM OUR LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO.
UM, AND WE'RE PUTTING THEM INTO OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
THE REMAINDER OF THEM ARE THE 20 HOMES, UH, THAT WERE PURCHASED FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE ARE ALMOST DONE REHABBING, AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE.
WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING A MIX OF LOCAL FUNDS AND FEDERAL FUNDS TO REHAB THOSE HOMES, UM, ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND PER HOME IN REHAB.
WE HAVE, I THINK, EIGHT IN DISTRICTS, SIX RIGHT NEAR THE BRAND NEW APPLE CAMPUS.
UM, WE HAVE SOME IN COLONY PARK, SO IN DISTRICT ONE, UM, AND WE HAVE SOME IN DISTRICT FIVE DOWN SOUTH, SO THEY'RE KIND OF, UH, IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE'LL GET CLOSE TO THAT 29.
UM, WHEN WE GO OUT FOR OUR LOTTERY AND MAJOR PUSH, WHICH WILL START IN JANUARY.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY, I MEAN, THOSE ARE HAPPENING REALLY SOON.
WE'VE ALREADY FUNDED THAT WE FUNDED THE REHAB, EITHER THE ACQUISITION OR THE REHAB, THEY'RE KIND OF SITTING IN OUR PORTFOLIO.
I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG, I KNOW IT'S ONLY 29 UNITS.
UH, AND SO IT IS GOING TO BE, UH, A BIG, UH, COMMUNICATIONS PUSH FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND YES IT IS WHILE IT IS ONLY 29, THAT'S 29 FAMILIES WHO WITH GENERATIONAL TIES TO AUSTIN WHO WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AND AFFORD THEIR OWN HOME.
THANKS FOR THAT, THAT, AND THE OTHER UPDATES I WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER TEBOW'S IDEAS ABOUT MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY EDUCATING FOLKS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE APPLYING AND GETTING THE RIGHT HOME SET EXEMPTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF DISTRICT EIGHT THAT ARE IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT ARE NOT ON US AND ENERGY.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER CORNERS TOO.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU COULD DO A COST ANALYSIS AND FIGURE OUT IF, IF THERE COULD BE MAILERS SENT OUT OR IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME OTHER STRATEGY TO TRY TO GET THE WORD INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SINCE SOME PEOPLE ARE ON DIFFERENT, UM, FORMS OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES THAN JUST AUSTIN ENERGY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED, FIGURE OUT A WAY I, I LIVE IN THAT AREA.
SO I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WE'LL CHAT WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WELL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING.
AND WE ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF PUTTING INFORMATION IN THE NEWSLETTER.
SO WE'LL TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT.
UM, YEAH, I JUST HAD WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE METHODOLOGY FOR THE PREFERENCE POLICY.
IS IT, WILL THEY HAVE TO SHOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS OR FOR THE TIE TO THE CENSUS TRACK THAT IS VULNERABLE OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO GENTRIFICATION? UM, WE WILL RESEARCH COLLATE THE MEMO 2019, THAT IT WAS PRE PANDEMIC.
WE HAD HOPED TO LAUNCH HONESTLY IN 2020, UH, WHERE WE LAY OUT THE METHODOLOGY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT GOES BACK TO 2020.
WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A CERTAIN DATE.
SO YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU HAD, UH, LIVED, UM, OR WERE, WERE RELATED TO SOMEBODY WHO LIVED, UM, IN A CENSUS TRACK THAT MET THAT GENTRIFICATION TYPE APOLOGY.
UM, IT'S ALL LAID OUT IN THE MEMO.
AND, AND THAT WILL BE THE BASIS FOR PRIORITIZING, UM, WHO HAS FIRST ACCESS TO, UM, THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HOMES.
THAT, THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT, EXTENT THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH US HOW YOU PLAN TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE BEEN DISPLACED, WHO NO LONGER RESIDE IN AUSTIN, BUT PERHAPS
[03:10:01]
YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO AUSTIN, UM, OR HAVE BEEN PUSHED IT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY.I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT STRATEGY TO ENGAGE.
SO WE HAVE, UM, A FANTASTIC PROGRAM MANAGER OVER OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM.
UM, SHE WAS HIRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND ONE OF SHE'S BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS, UH, TEAM ON DEVELOPING A, UH, UNIQUE AND TARGETED STRATEGY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT JUST GOING TO PUT A BILLBOARD ON A BUS.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO AUSTIN.
THEY MAY NOT LIVE IN AUSTIN NOW, BUT THEY MAY HAVE SOME SORT OF GENERATIONAL TIE.
THEY MAY BE IN PFLUGERVILLE OR BASS DROP.
UM, AND THIS COULD IN FACT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UM, WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT.
UM, WE'RE DOING KIND OF A, UH, WEBSITE, UH, UH, SOFT LAUNCH, UH, IN DECEMBER, WHICH STARTS TOMORROW.
I RECOGNIZE I, IT WON'T BE TOMORROW, BUT IN JANUARY IS WHEN WE'RE REALLY DOING A, A HARDER PUSH WITH THE IDEA THAT THE FULL LOTTERY WOULD BE IN MARCH.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT NON TRADITIONAL MARKETING AND OUTREACH FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THAT AS, AS MANDY WAS MENTIONING OUR, OUR NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACHES, UH, WE WILL TAKE A TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF GETTING, UH, SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE ARE PLANNING OUT TO YOU GUYS, AS SOON AS WE CAN GET IT ON PAPER.
AND WHEN THINGS DO GO LIVE, YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
DO YOU HAVE GRANULAR, DOES THE ORGANIZATION I'VE, I'VE FORGOTTEN WHICH ORGANIZATION YOU SAID PREPARED THE INFORMATION ABOUT AREAS, ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT QUALIFY, BUT ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
DO YOU HAVE THAT? IS IT PRETTY GRANULAR? COULD YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, TELL US THAT WAS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS COMMUNITY POWERED WORKSHOP, AND IT WAS A, UH, A TARGETED OUTREACH ACTIVITY THAT THEY DID.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION, BUT IT'S NOT A LARGER SNAPSHOT OF THE CITY OF ITS, UH, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT, THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
I WONDERED IF WE COULD SORT OF TARGET OUR EFFORTS BASED ON THAT DATA, BUT IF IT'S ONLY ABOUT THAT ONE AREA THAT WON'T, THAT WON'T HELP US GET THERE, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE PRIORITY LIST THAT YOU HAD, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE LEVERAGING PUBLIC LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING IT.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT THERE THAT YOU WANTED TO DO, OR IS IT CONTINUE JUST CONTINUING THE EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN, OR I THINK CONTINUING THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN, UH, LOOKING AT THE PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PORTFOLIO, OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR FELLOW CITY DEPARTMENTS AS THEY HAVE PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DISPOSE OF TO SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, BRING THAT INTO THE PORT, INTO OUR PORTFOLIO TO EVENTUALLY DEVELOP MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE, THE AUSTRIAN ENTITY TRACKED ALONG GROVE BOULEVARD AND SOUTH EAST AUSTIN.
UM, THAT, THAT WE, THAT WAS ON, I WANT TO SAY ABOUT A MONTH AGO ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO NATURALLY THOSE, BUT THEN ALSO SEEING HOW THAT CAN TIE INTO ANY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL BE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGH, UH, UH, WITH PROJECT CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO, TO SEE AS THEY MAY HAVE PROPERTY NEEDS, UH, FOR THINGS LIKE STAGING, IF THERE'S WAYS THAT IF THEY'RE REQUIRING PROPERTY FOR RIGHT AWAY, UM, IF THERE'S WAYS TO LEVERAGE AND COLLABORATE ON THOSE, AND THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING.
AND I COULD GO ON, BUT THOSE ARE, WELL, I GUESS I WAS ALSO THINKING, IS THERE, I MEAN, DO YOU, CAN WE BE HELPFUL IN OTHER WORDS, YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM US OR IS IT A, IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE PROCEEDING WITH NOW? THAT WAS THE KIND OF THING.
I MEAN, I WILL SAY THAT INDIVIDUALLY, WE'RE ALL REALLY GOOD AT WHEN YOU SEE THINGS COMING UP IN YOUR DISTRICT AND LETTING US KNOW EITHER PROPERTY THAT'S COMING UP FOR SALE, OR IF THERE'S STATE-OWNED PROPERTY THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK INTO, AND WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD, SOLID, OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES.
I THINK THAT CAN CONTINUE FOR SURE.
UM, AND IF WE HAVE OTHER IDEAS, UM, THEN WE'LL CERTAINLY BRING THOSE TO YOU.
ALEX WILL BE READY TO MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS LIST I HANDED OUT OR WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL TO JUST RUN THROUGH IT AND SEE IF PEOPLE WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT BOTS.
[03:15:01]
IT WAS VIABLE TO, FOR ANYBODY TO BE SPENDING ANY TIME AGAINST, UH, I ASKED, UH, UH, JANINE, SHE, SHE LISTED THEM IN WHAT SHE HEARD IS BEING THE EXPRESSED INTEREST THAT MAY OR MAY NOT TRACK.AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ON, ON, ON COUNCIL DID COMMENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT LET'S SEE IF WE COULD JUST RUN THROUGH THIS LIST AND IT, SEE THAT'S A PROCESS THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.
I THINK THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE HERE IS THE ADU, UH, AVAILABILITY.
UH, CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT, UM, COUNSEL EVER TOW.
I THINK YOU HAD SOME IDEAS ON, UH, ELEMENTS ON THAT WITH RESPECT TO FINANCING, BUT THERE, THERE SEEMED TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF IDEAS THAT ARE, ARE RELATED TO, UH, .
UH, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR SURE.
YEAH, I CAN RUN THROUGH, UM, SO WE'VE ALREADY DRAFTED THE RESOLUTION AND, AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING IT FORWARD NEXT WEEK.
AND SO I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, I ACTUALLY HAD INTENDED TO DISTRIBUTE THIS BULLET POINT AND THEN JUST GOT BUSY OVER LUNCHTIME.
BUT, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE RESOLUTION WE'VE DRAFTED INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING, UM, ELIMINATING THE DISTINCTIONS AMONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCESSORY STRUCTURES TO REDUCE ALL TO ONE INCLUSIVE DEFINITION FOR AN ACCESSORY DWELLING.
THIS DEALS WITH THE ISSUE THAT I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ACCESSORY UNITS WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF CRITERIA, AND THIS WOULD COLLAPSE THEM ALL INTO ONE, ONE DEFINITION FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, WHICH MAKES, UH, THOSE OTHER, WHICH GETS RID OF SOME OF THOSE OTHER REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR AT LEAST ONE RESIDENT TO BE OVER 60 YEARS OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED.
SO IT ELIMINATES ALL OF THOSE, UM, REMOVING THE PROHIBITION FROM THE ACCESSORY APARTMENT, INCLUDING A CONVERTED GARAGE SPACE.
THAT IS ONE PROVISION CURRENTLY IN OUR CODE.
UM, WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT HOW BEST TO CAPTURE THE PRESERVATION ELEMENT.
UM, SO ONE IDEA I WANTED TO THROW OUT FOR CONSIDERATION TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE'S, UM, DISPOSITION IS, IS TO INITIATE A CHANGE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A, TO USE IN HOW SCALE RESIDENTIAL ZONES WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL REALLY WELL-DEFINED SUBSTANTIAL PRESERVATION OF AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING, AS LONG AS IT REMAINS WITHIN THE ALLOWED WATERSHED IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
SO THIS WOULD EXTEND THE PROVISION OF HAVING AN ADU TO PLACES WHERE IT MAY NOT CURRENTLY BE ALLOWED IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE, AS LONG AS THE EXISTING DWELLING, THE EXISTING HOUSE ON THAT PROPERTY IS MAINTAINED.
THIS PREVENTS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS DURING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE PRESERVATION, THE PRESERVATION INCENTIVE THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS NOT IN MY OPINION, AIRTIGHT AND WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED WHAT I SEE AS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF JUST DEMOLISHING THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND, AND BUILDING NEW, NEW, UM, TWO NEW UNITS, WHICH I THINK DOES NOT HAVE, HAVE THE RESULTING IMPACT WE WANT TO HAVE IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OF THAT RESULTING HOUSING.
SO IN MY, UM, SO THAT'S, I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK THAT COVERS THAT, UM, IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THAT THE ADU NOT BE LARGER THAN THE PRIMARY DWELLING.
I, AND YEAH, AND AS I SAID, THE PRINCIPLE, THE PRESERVATION, THE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS WOULD NEED TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER THAN, THAN WHAT WAS IN OUR LDC.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD A LOT OF, I THINK IN FACT, I BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, SOME AMENDMENTS THAT FAILED THAT PRESERVATION AUSTIN HAD HELPED ADVISE AND GUIDE GUIDED US ON TO REALLY USE WHAT, UM, WHAT HAD WORKED IN OTHER PLACES TO HELP PRESERVE EXISTING DWELLING.
SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE STRUCTURE OF IT.
THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER SMALLER BULLET POINTS, BUT I THINK THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD.
AGAIN, ELIMINATING THE DISTINCTIONS, GETTING RID OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT I ADDRESSED ABOUT RESIDENTS BEING OF A CERTAIN AGE, UM, OR CERTAIN OCCUPATION AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, GETTING RID OF THE PROHIBITION AGAINST CONVERTED GARAGE SPACE, AND THEN EXTENDING IT TO OTHER RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A, TO USE ALLOWED WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING DWELLING, AS SUPPORT ALL THOSE THINGS.
I SUPPORT, UH, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUS.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT EVEN AS WE DO THAT, WE CAN MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE WE START TO LOSE THE CONSENSUS, UH, UNDERSTANDING, UH, JUST
[03:20:01]
MY APOLOGIES MAYOR HAD ONE MORE REALLY CRITICAL ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT I NEGLECTED TO, AND THAT IS, UM, STANDING UP SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING USING OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 TO HELP PROVIDE SOME OF THE CAPITAL AS WE SAW IN THE RESEARCH THAT WAS COMING FORWARD.A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE IMPEDIMENT TO BUILDING ADS IS REALLY LESS ABOUT ZONING AND MORE ABOUT ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
AND SO THE RESOLUTION DOES, DOES TAKE THE NEXT STEPS ON THAT PIECE TOO.
IT JUST, I'D FORGOTTEN TO MENTION IT.
UH, LEAVE THAT AS WIDE OPEN AS YOU CAN, WHILE YOU GIVE THE DIRECTION IN CASE THERE WERE OTHER FINANCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN ALSO THINK OF TOO, BUT OBVIOUSLY AT LEAST AT LEAST THAT ONE.
THE FOUR THINGS I SAW THAT WERE WITH RESPECT TO THE LIMITATIONS AND WHO COULD GET IT WITH THE 60 DAY 60 AGE YEAR, AN OLDER ONE, THE REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE SIGNAL ACCESSORY DWELLING, BUT IT HAD TO BE FOR A FABRY WITH AT LEAST WHAT BEBBER EMPLOYED ONSITE AND REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT A GUEST HOUSE MUST BE OCCUPIED BY OCCASIONAL BOB PAY GAS AND INSURER.
WHAT ARE BATTERY REQUIREMENTS? TRADITIONAL UNITS DON'T REQUIRE MORE OF THE BEATERS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR A MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY.
ARE THOSE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, INCLUDING? I THINK THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT WERE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO, I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE GOT FROM STAFF.
SOME OF, SOME OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE WRITTEN OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO ABOUT WATER METERS AND THINGS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ADDRESSED ALREADY AS A CITY.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE ARE ALREADY ADDRESSED, THAT I NEED TO GO FORWARD, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHETHER WE HAVE THE STAFF HERE TODAY TO DO IT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD GET AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT CHANGES THEY'VE MADE WITH REGARD TO METERING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD THOSE CONCERNS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND MADE CHANGES ABOUT MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR FOUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
BUT YES, IN TERMS OF THE OTHER THINGS, YOU TALKED ABOUT OCCUPATION, YADA YADA.
THAT'S ALL THAT IS ALL ENCOMPASSED IN THE RESOLUTIONS DIRECTIVE TO REDUCE TO ONE, ONE DEFINITION FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING THAT ELIMINATES THOSE DISTINCTIONS AND ELIMINATES THOSE CRITERIA.
THERE WERE ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS THAT WERE RAISED IN THE MATERIALS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US.
I THINK BY JAMES DUNKIN, HE GAVE US SOMETHING THAT SPOKE JUST TO, UH, AID USE, UH, JUST TO TAKE HER, TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, ONE WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATING FEES FOR SMALL AND INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT'S WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT AS ANOTHER WAY TO, TO PROMOTE AFFORDABILITY, ELIMINATED THE PROHIBITED PROHIBITION OF SUBLEASES, UM, MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT MAKES SENSE TO, TO, TO, TO DO AS WELL, UH, ATTACHED VERSUS DETACHED.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AT ALL? YEAH.
I AM OPEN TO CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK I SEE THAT AS ONE OF THE DISTINCTIONS THAT'S WORTH ELIMINATING, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? GREAT.
AND WE WENT OVER A LOT OF THIS IN COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD DISTINCTION TOO, TO ALSO ELIMINATE THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD BUILD A 700 SQUARE FOOT ATU, BUT IT HAS TO BE DETACHED, BUT IT TOUCHING THE HOUSES SUDDENLY NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE THEN IT'S NOW A DUPLEX JUST DOESN'T MAKE CLEAR SENSE TO ME.
UM, I HAD JUST WANTED TO HOP IN BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A BIT, DEPENDING ON THE WORDING OF WHAT YOU BRING FORWARD MAYOR OR WHAT YOU BRING FORWARD COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T DOWN ZONING, UH, ANY PROPERTIES INADVERTENTLY, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE FOUND IN HOUSING COMMITTEE IS THAT IN SOME CASES YOU ARE ALLOWED, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ADU AND A UNIT FOR SOMEBODY OVER 65.
IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HOUSE, I WOULDN'T WANT TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE INTO THE SAME THING SO THAT YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE LUN IF CURRENTLY YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE BOTH.
SO FOR ME, I THOUGHT THAT THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO JUST ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENTS ON AGE OR THE REQUIREMENTS AND OCCUPATION.
BUT IF SOMEBODY WHO IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED TO DO BOTH TO NOT SAY NOW, YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO DO ONE OF THOSE TWO, IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO BOTH CATHERINE LS PAGE, I SEE YOUR WHEELS TURNING CATHY.
UM, BUT I, I REALLY LIKE A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED.
UM, I JUST HAD ONE THING I WANTED TO DAYLIGHT WHILE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, THE DISCUSSION AROUND NOT BEING LARGER THAN THE EXISTING HOME, I THINK SOUNDS GOOD TO ME IN PRINCIPLE WHERE YOU HAVE A LARGER SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND YOU DO REALLY WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S MORE MULTI-GENERATIONAL OR WHATNOT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY EXAMPLES OUT THERE WHERE MAYBE THE ORIGINAL SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS NOT VERY BIG IN WHICH CASE MAYBE SOMEONE MIGHT MOVE, YOU KNOW, AN AGING PARENT INTO THAT HOME AND THEN BUILD, UM, A BIGGER HOME FOR THEIR GROWING FAMILY BEHIND IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OUT THERE LIKE IT, IF SOMEONE KNOWS YOU'RE WELCOME TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION, BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT I THINK WORKS REALLY WELL FOR PROPERTIES WHERE YOU WOULD BUILD AN ADU WITH ALREADY AN EXISTING, LARGER SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BUT WHERE
[03:25:01]
THAT SINGLE FAMILY EXISTING HOME IS SMALLER.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CLOSING OUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED ARE, ARE, ARE REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND GREG HAD POINTED OUT AS WELL, GREG, AND SOMETHING ELSE I WASN'T ABLE TO HOP IN ON.
I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE PRESERVATION, UM, BONUS IDEA, THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD DO ONE MORE UNIT, AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THE, UH, THE EXISTING HOUSE OR THAT YOU'RE ONLY REMODELING THE EXISTING HOUSE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER IS, IS BROUGHT FORWARD THERE AGAIN, SINCE WE'RE TALKING, TALKING ABOUT ADDING HOUSING SUPPLY IN A WAY THAT REALLY DOES CREATE THE ABILITY FOR SOMEBODY TO TRULY ADD IT ON A UNIT RATHER THAN, UM, YOU KNOW, TO RATHER THAN KEEPING THE STATUS QUO OR REDUCING SOMEBODY'S ENTITLEMENTS.
WE WANT TO ESSENTIALLY BE ABLE TO ADD MORE HOUSING TO DISINCENTIVIZE WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS EVERYBODY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THOSE ENTITLEMENTS WITH ONE BIG HOUSE, AS OPPOSED TO THE MULTI, YOU KNOW, THE SMALLER MULTIUNIT SENATE.
THOSE THINGS MAKE SENSE TO BE, UH, KATHY, YOU WEREN'T THERE TO SPEAK OF ADS.
SO WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON, ON 80 YEARS FROM, UH, UH, A BOAR, UH, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, UH, SITE LOCATION, LIMITATIONS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ALL THOSE MAKE SENSE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, TO SEE WHETHER THERE'S ANYTHING THERE THAT MAKES IT MORE ACHIEVABLE OR ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE.
UH, AND THEN, UH, I GUESS THE OTHER WORDS THAT WE'VE ALREADY, UH, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, I ALSO LIKED THE PRESERVATION, UH, ELEMENT AS, AS, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL KICKER TO ALLOW SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAPPEN.
ANYTHING ELSE ON 80 YEARS BEFORE WE MOVE ON GREG? UM, A LOT ON IDEAS, BUT NOT, NOT ON EASEMENT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO CAUSE I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.
CAUSE YOU MENTIONED, UM, WATER QUALITY.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING THE REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT? YES.
KEEPING MAINTAINING THE EXISTING WATERSHED AND PREVIOUS COVER LIMITS.
THE NEXT THING WE HAD ON THE LIST THAT CAT'S OVER ALTAR NPO HAS HIS HEAD RAISED TOO.
I'M PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR THIS WITH YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING IT FORWARD.
UM, I WANTED TO RAISE A RELATED ISSUE THAT IS IMPACTING OUR ADS FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP, UM, IN THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION, UM, REQUESTS.
UM, SO SPECIFICALLY THERE WAS A RULE, UM, CHANGE WITH RESPECT TO POWER LINE SETBACKS THAT OFTEN ENERGY, UH, PUT FORWARD.
AND THAT WAS, UM, ADOPTED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, THERE WAS A PROTEST TO THAT RULE AND IT WAS NOT OVERRULED.
UM, SO IT IS STILL IN EFFECT AND FROM EVERYTHING WE CAN TELL, IT WAS POTENTIALLY GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON ADA USE.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW TO TRY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN AUSTIN ENERGY AND OUR OFFICE AND SOME OF THE HOME BUILDERS.
UM, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY HOW OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IT TO, UM, ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERN, UM, THAT AUSTIN ENERGY IS TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT I, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO JUSTICE BECAUSE IT GETS VERY COMPLICATED AND REGULATORY VERY QUICKLY.
UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT WITH RESPECT TO 80 USE IT, IT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE SIZE AND THE LOCATION OF WHERE YOU CAN PUT THOSE, UM, IN A FAIRLY DRAMATIC WAY.
UM, AND, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO ADDRESS.
AND IF OTHER OFFICES WANT TO JOIN US, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE YOUR STAFF REACH OUT TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, KIRK CADENA MITCHELL YEAH, MAN.
I WOULD, UM, UH, ON THE 80 YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, WE GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE WE ALSO, AND I GUESS BASICALLY, UH, ON SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE VERY DESIRABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS PART OF ALL THE CENTRAL HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE THE, THE INCENTIVE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE
[03:30:01]
REALLY GOING TO BE USING IT, TO KEEP IT, KEEP GOING SUPPORTABLE AND NOT, YOU KNOW, UM, TURN THEM INTO SR YOU KNOW, SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOUSE STRS, YOU KNOW, CAUSE, UH, WHERE I LIVE AT NOW, I I'M SURROUNDED BY EIGHT OF THEM AND THEY'RE BASICALLY, UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAD BECOME LIKE PART OF THE PARTY TOWN, WHEREAS IT'S A PARTY HOTELS AND I HAVE A LOT OF HAVE TURNED THEM ALL IN AND THE CITY SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF WHERE THEY'RE AT, UH, THAT GETTING AROUND WITH, OUT OF THAT SHORT TERM RENTAL TUBE, BY HAVING ONE OF THEIR KIDS OR A YOUNG MAN OR YOUNG LADY LIVING THERE DURING THE DAY, HE'S THE WEEKDAYS.AND THEN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THEY RUN IT OUT ON THE WEEKENDS, THEY JUST GO BACK TO WHERE EITHER THE HOME OR THEY EITHER IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN STAY.
SO BECAUSE THEY CAN GET A LOT MORE OUT OF BEACH.
SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DO GO ABOUT OFFERING ANY KIND OF INCENTIVE, THAT WE DON'T GET STUCK WITH THESE TYPE OF, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS WHERE THEY'RE OFFICIALLY QUALIFY AS ONE A, BUT ARE USING IT AS, AS A TWO, BUT WE CANNOT MOVE IT OTHERWISE.
SO, UH, YOU'RE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THAT.
I GOES BACK TO THE ISSUES KATHY WAS RAISING EARLIER, KATHY.
THAT'S UM, I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MAKING REVISIONS TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND THOUGHT WE HAD CLOSED THAT LOOPHOLE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT EXAMPLE.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY A QUESTION PROBABLY FOR OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND OUR CODE DEPARTMENT, HOW TO, HOW TO CRAFT THIS IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ELIMINATE THAT ISSUE BECAUSE, UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S HOLY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WORD, I GUESS IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT IN ANY CASE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY, EXACTLY WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO CARVE OUT MORE ROOM FOR.
WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE HOUSING FOR AUSTINITES.
AND, UM, I WOULD WELCOME WHOEVER ON CITY STAFF CAN HELP US SORT, SORT OUT HOW TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, BUT IT ALSO GETS BACK TO THE QUESTIONS, AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, THAT I RAISED EARLIER ABOUT HOW WE MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENFORCING OUR CODE EFFECTIVELY, WHICH AT THE MOMENT WE'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES DOING OKAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE ADU STUFF.
WE HAD ALSO PREPARED A RESOLUTION, AS WE INDICATED ON OUR MESSAGE BOARD POSTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGES AND WE GET TO THE, WHERE THE CONSENSUS IS ON, UH, ON THE DAS.
THE, UH, UH, NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAD WAS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SAY YOU BETTER, WHAT, UH, ADDRESS THIS.
AND I THINK YOU SAID YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
ALISON, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FIRST? SURE.
UM, SO THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT, UM, THE MAYOR AND I, UM, INTRODUCED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD TO ALLOW FOR RESIDENTIAL, UM, OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN ZONING, CERTAIN ZONING CATEGORIES THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY ALLOW IT, UM, WITH AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
AND, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT THERE'S BROAD CONSENSUS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE IDENTIFIED, UM, AS WE WERE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT HAD CONSENSUS, BUT THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE A BIG IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE CODE WOULD HAVE HAD A 40,000 UNIT CAPACITY IMPACT, WHICH IS A LARGE, IT'S VERY, FAIRLY SIMPLE TO INTRODUCE.
UM, AND THEN NOT BE DISPLACING PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER.
SO I SUPPORT THAT TOO, UH, ADD, UM, YES, I SUPPORT THIS.
UM, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
IT OPENS UP MORE PROPERTIES, UH, FOR AFFORDABILITY.
AND I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT THE RESOLUTION IS STYLE NOW LOOKS GOOD.
I'LL GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND SEE IF I WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING.
BUT, UM, I WANTED TO TALK REALLY JUST BRIEFLY MORE ABOUT WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING TO, TO THINK ABOUT OUR PEACE, OUR, OUR, UH, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AS A, UM, AS A TOOLBOX.
UM, AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE MAY HAVE LIKE GRADUATED LEVELS PERHAPS OF INCENTIVES DEPENDING ON, UH, THE PARTICULAR CHARACTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS,
[03:35:01]
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE THINKING IN TERMS OF A HIERARCHY OF, OF, UM, IN HIERARCHY, IN THE SENSE OF THE DEGREE OF THE INCENTIVE, THE, THE DEGREE OF AFFORDABILITY THAT'S REQUIRED.SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR VMU ONE AND VM U2, WHICH ARE LOCATED ALONG CORRIDORS, THAT'S THE NATURE OF THOSE PROGRAMS COULD BE THE ONES THAT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT IS REQUIRED.
WHEREAS THE, UM, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IS SPREAD OUT MORE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, THOSE, THOSE PROPERTIES ARE IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.
SO IN ORDER TO GET FOLKS IN, IN ORDER TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL INCENTIVE THAT PEOPLE WILL USE, UH, FOR THOSE PROPERTIES, WE MIGHT HAVE, WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY REQUIRED FOR THOSE.
UM, THOSE MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE KIND OF THING YOU'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT, UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A FIVE, SEVEN, 8% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
UM, WE, I DO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO SET OUR LEVEL OF, OF AFFORDABILITY AND INCENTIVE AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT WILL STILL BE USED.
SO, SO ANYWAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEVEL IS.
I'M JUST THINKING THAT WE WILL NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL THESE PROGRAMS IN PLACE, UH, AND HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE OF COURSE, WHICH I MENTIONED, WHICH IS FURTHER DOWN ON THE LIST IS THE MF CATEGORY AND HOW WE USE THE, UM, HOW WE MIGHT END UP USING THE MF CATEGORY AS ANOTHER TOOL ALSO FOR INCENTIVES.
AND SO I'M STILL THINKING THROUGH THAT AND I'M BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, WITH, UM, SOME OF THE ADVOCATES ON THAT ON HOUSING WORKS TO, TO BRING SOMETHING BACK RELATED TO MF, UM, THAT MIGHT INVOLVE, UH, THAT MIGHT INVOLVE SOME INCENTIVES, UM, RELATED TO SOME OF THE MF CATEGORIES.
IT MIGHT INVOLVE, UM, LOOKING OR COUPLING THAT WITH, UM, TENANT PROTECTIONS.
I THINK THAT THE, THE STEP THAT WE'RE TAKING TOMORROW WITH REGARD TO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IS, IS THE NEXT IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SUPPORTING THAT TOMORROW, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE EXACT DETAILS OF HOW IT WORKS AND HOW IT WORKS WITH THESE OTHER PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET TO WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US.
SO YEAH, IF I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT, UH, ALL, ALL OF THOSE, UH, DIFFERENT KINDS OF BENEFITS TO ACHIEVE THE RENTAL PROTECTIONS, THEY'RE LIKELY THOSE ARE ALSO, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND, AND, UH, PRESERVATION ISSUES.
SO I SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE TWO.
I WOULD NOTE THAT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT'S GOING TOMORROW, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY COMPATIBILITY CHANGES.
THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE FILED SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CHANGES OF COMPATIBILITY.
I SUPPORT, UH, THAT ED WILL VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION WITH THAT INCLUSION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE NEXT STEP.
ARE THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, IT SAYS, IT SAYS, NO RESOLUTION, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
I'VE NOW MOVED US TO THE SECOND TOPIC HERE.
THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT SAYS THAT.
AND I SUPPORT IT WITH THAT INCLUSION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE STEP TO TAKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY KIDS.
I, MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT IS THAT, UM, AND IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS BY CONSENSUS IS THAT A LOT OF THE, UH, BONUS THE BONUS IS FOR AFFORDABILITY, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL HEIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SOME INSTANCES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE FULL EXTENT FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE BONUSES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE ACHIEVED.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS SOME, UH, LIMITED WAY TO ADDRESS COMPATIBILITY IN SOME OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
SO I JUST NOTE THAT, UH, BUT I'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS ALISON AND I HAVE HAVE PROPOSED THAT, UH, WITH THIS, UH, UH, ACTION BEING ONE THAT WE TAKE WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CHANGES IN COMPATIBILITY.
PAIGE, A QUICK CLARIFICATION ASSIST FOR THE NINTH.
I THINK THIS ONE, THE, THE RESUME, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN POSTED THAT ITEM, THAT RESOLUTION HAS BEEN POSTED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS KEEPING MY AGENDA STRAIGHT.
I WILL JUST CLARIFY THAT WE ARE PUTTING IT ON THE DECEMBER 9TH AGENDA TOMORROW, BUT WE POSTED IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND IT'S LARGELY IN THE SAME, UM, SHAPE.
[03:40:01]
OKAY.ARE THERE DISCUSSIONS ON THAT ONE? LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM THEN STUDENT HOUSING MAYOR BEFORE WE, YES.
MOVE ALONG BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO STEP OFF THE DICE HERE IN A MOMENT.
UM, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, BECAUSE IT DOES BRING FORTH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CAPACITY.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THAT ON THE NINTH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING WHAT IT IS WE DO ON 80 USE ON THE NINTH.
I DO WANT TO FLAG FOR FOLKS THAT I WAS PLANNING ON THE FIRST OR SECOND COUNCIL MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR TO BRING FORWARD SOME WORK ON, ON RENTER PROTECTIONS FOR WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE NOW FEELING THE BRUNT OF THIS, UH, POTENTIALLY ALSO INCLUDING, UM, KICKING OFF, LOOKING AT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING ELECTION IN THE NEAR TERM, GIVEN THE FUNDING ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, POTENTIALLY ALSO AT THAT FIRST OR SECOND MEETING.
UM, AND THEN TO REITERATE FOR EVERYONE THAT, YOU KNOW, ACROSS ALL OF IT FOR AN ITEMS HERE, YOU KNOW, PLEASE DO COUNT ME INTO, UH, TO BE SUPPORTIVE, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO, OBVIOUSLY THESE TWO CONSENSUS ITEMS MOVING FORWARD NEXT WEEK, AND THE ITEM ON VMS U2 THAT WE PASSED BEFORE THE BREAK OR IMPORTANT FOR STEPS TO GET US MOVING, UH, GIVEN WHAT WE SAW IN THE PRESENTATION WITH SUCH AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF JOBS, BUT NOT, BUT HOUSING NOT KEEPING UP, UH, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO MORE THAN 40,000 MORE IN CAPACITY WHERE WE'RE BEHIND.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THESE, THESE INITIAL STEPS AND WE'LL SUPPORT THEM.
PURDUE, SIGN ME UP FOR THIS TO HELP ON THE OTHER ITEMS. RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, STUDENT HOUSE.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, MAY I MAKE SOME THOUGHTS? OKAY, THANKS.
UM, I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON CHANGING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW FOR RESIDENTIAL USES IN COMMERCIAL ZONES.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE STAFF BECAUSE IT GIVES US A SORT OF TIMELINE SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHEN THAT MIGHT HAPPEN OR HOW IT MIGHT WORK.
UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT MAYBE DOING A CALIBRATION TO MARKET CONDITIONS TO, TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR WHAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.
AND THEN I WONDER IF IT MIGHT BE AGREEABLE TO BRING UP COMPATIBILITY FOR BONUS ITEMS. THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS.
AND COMPATIBILITY IS AUGUST LIST.
IT'S LOWER DOWN ON THE LIST CAUSE FEWER PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE GET TO IN A SECOND, LIKE CALIBRATION, I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
JUST LIKE WE DID WITH VIEW TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HIT THE RIGHT BARKS SO THAT WE GET ALL OF THE COMPETITIVE, ALL OF THE AFFORDABILITY WE CAN GET.
AND EVERY INCIDENCE I THINK IS IMPORTANT ON THE STUDENT HOUSING, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME INTEREST IN CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OFFICIALS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT ARE THAT WHAT IS JUST HAVING, UH, PUBLIC PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, AS WE PARTNER WITH THEM, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND TRY TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND SUBSIDIES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UH, THE OTHER THING I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WITH STUDENT HOUSING IS THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED FROM, UH, UNO.
SO THE, THE DENSITY BONUS IS THE, THE DIS-AGGREGATED PARKING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THE MARKET ALSO DRIVES MORE OF, UH, OF THE STUDENT, UH, HOUSING.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ARE BOTH IDEAS.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY STUDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN OFF CAMPUS AND NOT IN DORMITORY OR STUDENT HOUSING, IF WE COULD FREE UP THAT HOUSING STOCK, I'D ONLY GET THEM GOOD PLACES TO BE, BUT ALSO FREE UP HOUSING STOCK OF A CITY.
I THINK THAT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT AND VERY MATERIAL NUMBER SEEMED LIKE IT HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
AND I, I WONDER, UM, I MEAN, JUST TO GET BACK TO THE QUESTION THAT I RAISED WITH MR. HOKAN USE, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS, LIKE WHAT, WHAT ARE SOME FEASIBLE OPTIONS FOR, IN ADDITION TO THOSE YOU'VE MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS, HAS ANY IDEAS, YOU KNOW, HOW WE, HOW WE BOTH HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE MECHANISM? WHAT IS THE LEVERAGE WE USE TO ENCOURAGE THAT? I THINK IN PART, I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE CAN SPEAK TO IT TOO.
IN PART, I THINK THAT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO MUTUAL NEED.
SO WE'D NOW HAVE SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE RECOGNIZING THAT THEY'RE LOSING STUDENTS BECAUSE STUDENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THE SAME WAY.
THEY'VE LIVED MORE DISTANT AND THEY'RE LOSING JUNIOR FACULTY FOR THE, FOR THE SAME REASON.
[03:45:01]
UH, SO I, I KNOW THAT AT LEAST THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LEVEL, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT A BIG ENOUGH INTEREST THAT THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED.IT, IT IS INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO WORK ON AS JUDO IS AS WELL.
SO I THINK PART OF IT IS I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, BUT SITTING DOWN WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE, I THINK WOULD BE A REALLY IMPORTANT THING I'VE, I'VE ASKED BEFORE IN THESE CONTEXTS, WHETHER OR NOT ACTUALLY PROVIDING A SUBSIDY TO A UNIVERSITY SO THAT THEY DO SOMETHING THAT TURNS UP, UH, AN AFFORDABLE UNIT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A REALLY EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO SPEND SOME OF OUR DOLLARS.
UH, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ANALYSIS OF THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE OR NOT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A WILLING PARTNER THAT IS ALSO TRYING TO PUT THEIR HEADS TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS, UH, UH, UH, ISSUE.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD ROSIE TO LIVE, UM, HOUSING AND PLANNING, I THINK WE DO HAVE A WILLING PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY.
UM, PRESIDENT HARTSEL HAS ASKED, UM, ALAN COLE TO SPEARHEAD, UM, SOME, SOME THINKING AND ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
THERE WAS A CONVENING AROUND, UM, AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO, UH, THAT WAS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE WERE THERE, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT MEAN THAT THE DIALOGUE WAS VERY MUCH AROUND EXACTLY WHAT THE MAYOR WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THEIR STAFF, THEIR FACULTY, AND THEIR STUDENTS, AND THEY, THEY VERY MUCH WANT TO PARTNER AND TO THINK ABOUT CREATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS IT AS WELL AS HOUSING IN GENERAL FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON.
SO, GIVEN THAT I, I, I ENJOY IT.
I MEAN, I I'D PUT MORE RESOURCES AGAINST THAT.
I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MANAGER IN TERMS OF WHERE THE PLACE WE SHOULD PUT OUR RESOURCES THAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL IMPACT, I'D HAVE CONSENSUS.
THIS MAY VERY WELL BE ONE THAT, THAT GETS MOVED UP AND KIND OF A PRIORITY POSITION.
THE NEXT THING WAS WORKFORCE HOUSING SUPPLY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO NOTE THAT, UM, MS. TRUELOVE IS NOW LEADING THE NEGOTIATIONS, UM, WITH UT WITH RESPECT TO THE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT WE ARE INITIATED REZONING OF LAST DECEMBER.
UM, AND THAT IS A PROCESS, UM, THROUGH WHICH CREATES SPACE FOR SOME REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS, UM, ABOUT HOW THAT LAND WILL BE USED, UM, AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UM, THESE ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S STUDENT, FACULTY, OR STAFF OR WORKFORCE FOR UT IN PARTICULAR.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO BE LEANING INTO MOVING THOSE FORWARD.
UM, SO THAT THAT PROCESS CAN BE BROUGHT TO COMPLETION.
I TALKED JUST TO UT, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT A LOT OF OTHER UNIVERSITIES IN OUR CITY, UH, THAT ARE FACING THE SAME AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALSO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY FOR HOUSING FOR, FOR THAT AS WELL.
THE NEXT THING WAS, UH, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING SUPPLY, HARD QUESTION.
UM, I THINK YOU HAD RAISED THIS TOO ON SOME OF YOUR POSTS, EGGS, UH, KATHY, I HAD, UH, AS WELL.
UM, I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLIER LOOKING AT, UH, UH, WELL, I'D WANT TO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DRESS IT FIRST, YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT OR OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT IT AT FIRST? I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT, WHICH BULLET POINT THIS IS.
IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OPERATES OUTSIDE OF THE BELOW 80%, 70, 80%, 80 TO 120%.
WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF THAT HOUSING AT OUR CITY.
I MADE ONE POINT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WERE LIKE 45,000 UNITS ON TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS THAT, THAT AT WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT DID NOT REPRESENT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE LAB.
SO IT WAS JUST A QUESTION OF TIME GO.
THEY ALL MOVED OFF, BUT FIGURING OUT HOW TO CO-INVEST, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO HELP THE, UH, UH, AFFORDABLE CENTRAL TEXAS, WHICH WAS THE STRIKE FIVE, UH, IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, IF THERE ARE CHAPTER THREE 80 OR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT THE, UH, UH, ECONOMIC, UH, UH,
[03:50:03]
YES, ADC COULD, COULD, COULD, COULD PARTICIPATE IN.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING KIND OF OUTSIDE OF OUR EFFORTS HAS SAVED A THOUSAND UNITS.
UH, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAS A MODEL THAT'S BRINGING IN, UH, CAPITAL THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS OTHERWISE.
SO THINGS WE COULD DO TO HELP EMPOWER THEM OR HELP FACILITATE THEM.
UH, THAT'S A LOT OF UNITS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE THREE YEARS, I GUESS THEY BET TWO OR THREE YEARS, THEY BET OUT DOING THAT, INCLUDING THE GRANT FABRIC.
I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, THAT THE MORE THAT I LEARNED THAT WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH PROVIDING HOUSING AT 60% IS THAT IT ALL GETS TAKEN UP BY PEOPLE IN THE 80 TO 120%, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PROVIDING IT UP FOR THEM IN THE CITY, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.
IF THAT'S TRUE TO AGREE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING MARKET NOT REQUIRED, BUT MARKET 60, 70% MFI, WHERE ALL WE'RE DOING IS CREATING HOUSING IN THE ONE IN THE 80 TO ONE 20 MARKET.
AND I DON'T WANT US TO BE DOING IT THAT THAT WAY.
AND I'D RATHER THOSE PEOPLE BE BUYING PRODUCT THAT THEY COULD BUY WITHOUT PUSHING UP THE PRICE ON PRODUCT THAT OUGHT TO BE LEFT AVAILABLE AT, UH, AT THE OTHER LEVELS.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO ME THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HELPER? UM, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I JUST WANTED TO, TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID EARLIER IS I THINK WHEN WE GET SOME GREATER CLARITY IN THE FAIR HOUSING, I LIKE US TO EXPLORE WHETHER WE CAN DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO AFFORDABILITY ON LOCKED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PERMUTATIONS THAT THAT COULD TAKE.
UM, BUT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER A MODEL OF LIKE ALONG THOSE LINES MIGHT GET US A STOCK OF HOUSING THAT WE WANT, UM, RATHER THAN A SORT OF A BLANKET EFFORT AND I'D SUPPORT THAT TOO.
AND THAT SEEMS TO DIRECT A LOT OF MARKET ACTIVITY, IF IT CAN WORK ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ONE.
UH, AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG, I RECENTLY MET WITH OUR CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER TO TALK ABOUT THE FAIR HOUSING ACT.
SO I KNOW THIS IS ALSO ON OUR RADAR AND MIGHT BE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL TO ENGAGE ON THE ISSUE.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'VE ENGAGED THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON WORKFORCE HOUSING STAFF HAS ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.
I JUST AM CURIOUS ON EFFORTS TO ENGAGE.
UH, I KNOW TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW EXAMPLES, UM, WITH THE TESLA FACTORY, UH, BUT CURIOUS HOW OTHER EFFORTS ARE GOING OR HOW CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO THAT END.
UH, MANDY DE MAYO, I DID WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CONVERSATION AROUND EMPLOYER ASSISTED HOUSING OR CAMPUSES FOR EMPLOYERS, UM, THAT WE MET WITH HOUSING WORKS RECENTLY, AND THEY DO HAVE AN INITIATIVE ON EMPLOYER ASSISTED HOUSING AND ON THEIR WEBSITE.
AND WE'LL SEND THIS TO YOU ALL, BUT ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY'VE DONE A TOOLKIT FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY MET WITH, UM, UH, A VARIETY OF LARGE EMPLOYERS, UM, TO TALK THROUGH THE BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT TYPOLOGIES OF EMPLOYER ASSISTED HOUSING.
ONE OF WHICH IS BUILDING HOUSING.
UM, OTHERS ARE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE A PRESENTATION, A TOOL KIT, UH, CASE STUDIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, ALL OF WHAT YOU ALL MAY FIND INTERESTING, BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION, WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS.
ROSIE MENTIONED, UM, OUR MOST RECENT, THE CONVENING WITH UT THERE WERE ABOUT 30 OF US THERE.
UM, THERE WILL BE A LARGER CONVENING IN THE SPRING.
UH, UT IS TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HOUSTON TILLOTSON.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, OVER THE YEARS, MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS, UH, STRUGGLING WITH, UM, NOT ONLY, UH, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, UH, BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, BUT ALSO RETENTION OF TEACHERS AND STAFF, UH, RELATED TO AFFORDABILITY.
UM, SO, UH, YES, IT'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT, UM, MAJOR EMPLOYERS, PERHAPS THROUGH THIS HOUSING WORKS INITIATIVE, UM, PERHAPS THROUGH OTHER INITIATIVES, YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED THE CHAPTER
[03:55:01]
THREE 80, UM, UH, WILL RESULT IN A TARGETED AND CONCERTED EFFORT TO, UM, RETAIN, UM, MODERATE INCOME HOUSING FOR WORKERS IN AUSTIN.SO PART OF THE ISSUE MANAGER, I THINK WE HAVE HERE WITH NEXT STEPS TO, TO WHAT MANDY WAS SAYING IS WE HAVE STAFF HERE FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DOING A LOT OF THE WORK.
AND A LOT OF IT IS SUBSIDIZED KIND OF HOUSING AVAILABLE ULORIC.
THERE WAS ALSO OTHER STAFF GROUPS THAT I HOPE ARE WATCHING THIS AND WE EVALUATING THIS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MOST RESPONSIVE, PERHAPS ON THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE, THE LARGER EMPLOYERS HAVE USED THE CHAPTER THREE OF THE AGREEMENT OR THE ABC THAT'D BE ABLE TO, TO HELP IN THAT AREA.
YOU HAVE THE STAFF GROUPS THAT WERE WORKING ON THE, UH, UH, CODE, UH, ELEMENTS.
THAT PROBABLY ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT TAKE POINT ON THINGS LIKE, UH, THE VMU TWO AND THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA.
UM, SO DIFFERENT STAFF GROUPS ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
WE MOVE PAST SOMETHING LIKE THE STUDENT HOUSING.
MY SENSE IS, IS THAT ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPEN IS THE NEXT STEP ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
IF IT MOVES FORWARD, ONE IS THAT EITHER IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COME BACK FROM YOU SAYING WE RECOGNIZE OUR CRISIS THAT WE HAVE, THESE ARE THE THING IS WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD ON AS BEING THE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT, BUT ARE ACHIEVABLE.
SO I 10, 11 VOTES SO THAT WE'RE NOT INTRODUCING OR GETTING HIRED IN A CONVERSATION OTHERWISE, UH, OR IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU BRING FORWARD OR PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR YOU TO BRING THAT LIST BACK, A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD ADVANCE.
I CONCEPT ON THAT WITH AN ITEM FROM COUNCIL AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND SAY, WE WANT THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND IN THIS WAY, KATHY, YEAH, I'M SORRY.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST FOCUS ON THE PROCESS, I, I'M GOING TO TAKE US BACK A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UM, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS IDEA OF HOW WE ENCOURAGE COMPANIES WHO ARE MOVING HERE WITH LARGE WORKFORCES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING HOUSING.
WHAT OF THOSE KINDS OF SOLUTIONS I MIGHT SUPPORT AND IN PART, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE, WHAT THE RANGE OF WHAT THE RANGE OF OPTIONS ARE, BUT I'M BECOMING KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF USING OUR SUPER SCARCE DOLLARS TO HELP LOWER THE COSTS FOR OUR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE AIMED AT, UM, PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT IN THAT SECTOR.
SO LET ME JUST NOTE THAT AS A CONCERN.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ONE THING.
IF WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HELP PUT SOME OF OUR DOLLARS TOWARD WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR TEACHERS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT HELP OUR, BECAUSE THAT HELPS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS STAY VIABLE, UM, FROM A VARIETY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM A VARIETY OF ELEMENTS.
BUT I AM, I AM REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER OUR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT GOES TOWARD PRIVATE COMPANIES, UM, TO HELP THEM PROVIDE HOUSING.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER POINTS OF LEVERAGE WE WOULD HAVE IF NOT DOLLARS.
UM, BUT I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN A RANGE I'M INTERESTED IN REALLY LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT SUBJECT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT MY, WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
I MAY NOT BE OPPOSED TO IT, BUT I'M SUPER WARY AT THE MOMENT, INTERESTED IN THE IDEA, NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT, UM, SOLUTIONS I MIGHT SUPPORT.
AND IN CASE THAT WAS PRECIPITATED BY WHAT I SAID, I WASN'T PROPOSING PAT.
SO I HAD TO HAVE THE SAME RESERVATIONS YOU WOULD HAVE ABOUT UNDERWRITING OF HER PRIVATE DEVELOPER HOUSING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU CLARIFIED THAT, BUT THE, BUT THE, THE, THE AUSTIN CENTRAL TEXAS, THE HOUSING CONSERVANCY, UM, IS SAVING CLASS C APARTMENT BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW FOR BEING DEMOLISHED AND MAINTAINING THEM, UH, AT, AT RED SAID, GO UP WITH, UH, UH, INCOME LEVELS OF THE CITY, AS OPPOSED TO GOING UP WITH THE MARKET, UH, IN THE CITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE LIVING THERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE THINGS, THEY TAKE IT A THOUSAND UNITS THAT WOULD VERY WELL OTHERWISE BE LOST AT THIS POINT AND FOREVER PRESERVING THOSE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
ARE THERE THINGS, ARE THERE TOOLS WE HAVE, THAT'S A NON PROFIT, SO THAT'S NOT A BUSINESS.
UH, IF THERE ARE TOOLS WE HAVE TO HELP THEM SAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE OF THOSE APARTMENTS OR 10,000 OR THOSE APARTMENTS, I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT
[04:00:01]
THAT LOOKED LIKE.AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT MODEL AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IS SUPER EXCITING.
I GUESS I WONDER IF THEIR BEST PARTNERS ARE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON THE KINDS OF JOBS THAT ARE BEING CREATED BY THE PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT, RIGHT? IF THEY'RE HIGH WAGE JOBS, THEN I WOULD RATHER SEE, NOT THAT NOT THAT I GET TO CONTROL THIS, BUT I WOULD RATHER SEE THAT STRIKE FUND GOING TOWARD REALLY PARTNERING WITH SOME LOWER WAGE WORKERS, SOME PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR LOWER WAGE WORKERS, RATHER THAN SOME OF OUR HIGHER WAGE JOBS.
YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER SEE THEM PARTNER WITH SOME OF OUR, UM, LIVING FACILITIES AND SOME OTHERS WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE LOW WAGE WORKERS WHO ARE OTHERWISE GOING TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO COMPETE IN THIS MARKET.
UM, BUT, BUT I MEAN, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH THAT TOO.
I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE SAME AS TARGET TRUE LABS THAT THERE, THEIR AVERAGE PERSON, HE IS ABOUT A 70% MFI THE HOUSING CONSERVANCY.
SO THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON, ON THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT, RIGHT.
SO I GUESS IT'S JUST AN INFORMATIONAL QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER SOME OF THE NEW EMPLOYERS WITH LOTS OF JOBS FIT THAT, OR WHETHER THEY'RE REALLY THEIR INCOME IS AN EXCESS OF THAT 70%.
AND THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS THAT I'M NOT SUPPORTING.
WE USE OUR SCARCE DOLLARS TO UNDERWRITE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE ABILITY TO CLARIFY, I THINK, UH, HAKAN WAS RECOMMENDING THE USE OF CHAPTER THREE, EIGHT AGREEMENTS FOR LARGE EMPLOYERS.
UM, I THINK HIS SUGGESTION WAS IN A CONVERSATION WITH A, WITH A SAMSUNG OR A TESLA WHEN SOMEBODY KEPT BIGOTED ASKING FOR INCENTIVES.
SHOULD WE BE THEN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION BY SAY, HOW MANY ARE YOU GOING TO HOUSE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU? YOU KNOW, I THINK TO PO STATEMENT EARLIER, UH, THE DEAL, YOU KNOW, THAT IF SAMSUNG WANTS A BETTER INCENTIVE AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM, WE COULD, AND WE OBVIOUSLY THAT WENT TO THE REGION.
UH, BUT YEAH, SIMILAR KIND OF THING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE OUGHT TO BE ENGAGING IN, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT I SUPPORT THAT, UH, TO THE DEGREE THAT WHEREVER CONSIDERING THAT KIND OF THING WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXTRACT OR GET FROM THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S IT'S HOUSING AND MAYOR YOU RAISING THAT MAKES ME WONDER IF THAT OUGHT NOT TO BE EMBEDDED WITHIN OUR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE POLICY, WHICH CURRENTLY IS NOT IDENTIFIED AS A, AS A, AS A BENEFIT AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
THAT'S RECOGNIZED AS PART OF THAT.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD, JUST A GOOD, UM, NOTE THAT IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT, UM, IT MIGHT BE TIME TO JUST TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND, AND MAKE THAT REVISION.
WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER A HALF AN HOUR LEFT TO SEE IF, WHAT KINDS OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO, TO, TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THAT ARE LEFT ON THIS, UH, LIFTS, UH, PRESERVATION BONUS.
IF THERE WERE THINGS TO DO, I GO BACK TO THE SAME PLACE KATHY WAS, I THINK THERE WAS SUPPORT TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK WE'D NEVER QUITE FIGURED OUT EXACTLY HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT WAS TRUE TO THE INTENT TO MAKE PRESERVATION THE ULTIMATE, UH, UH, BENEFIT ACHIEVED, BUT WILLING TO, UH, UH, RELAXED SOME REQUIREMENTS, OTHERWISE LIKE AN AFFORDABILITY HAD LOCKED, UH, RECOGNIZING THE PRESERVATION WAS ALSO A BENEFIT AS IS AFFORDABILITY AND OFTENTIMES PRESERVATION OR AFFORDABILITY WORK TOGETHER.
SO I THINK THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE CONSENSUS ON THAT IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT, THAT, THAT HONORED THE GOAL.
UM, AND I GUESS AS DOWN TO THE, TO THE SMALLER THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, UM, DISTRICT LEVEL AND SMALL AREA PLANNING, I WOULD SUPPORT TO THERE WASN'T ANY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL RAISE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET FROM HERE TO THERE ON THAT, BUT THAT KIND OF THING, I THINK MIGHT BE A WAY FOR IT TO GO AIR PRO TAB.
I WAS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION EARLIER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT I'VE EXPRESSED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD OR OTHERWISE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M RECOGNIZING AS I THINK, UM, UH, SURE.
I THINK WE'RE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REENTRY HOUSING AT ALL.
UM, AND I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME DISTRICTS WHERE THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE, BUT IN DISTRICT ONE, IT IS.
AND SO I JUST, I REALLY WANT TO, MAYBE AT SOME POINT REALLY START TO TALK COMPREHENSIVELY ABOUT HOW WE OFFER PEOPLE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REENTER.
UM, SO IF WE COULD JUST ADD THAT TO THE LIST OF THINGS, UH, POINTS OF CONSIDERATION REENTRY HOUSING.
[04:05:03]
UH, ALSO ON THE LIST, UH, WE HAD THE, UH, UM, BETTER DISCLOSURE MATERIAL FEE CHANGES.PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS IS RUN THROUGH REAL FAST.
AND I THINK THE STAFF WAS GOING TO COME BACK WITH THAT THEMSELVES, HAVING RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR THAT I CAME OUT OF WITH THE FEE CHANGE THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE NOTICE ON WHAT WAS STAFF COMING BACK WITH THEM.
SORRY, HOW WE HAD THE FEE INCREASES AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND I THINK THE MANAGER WAS GOING TO TAKE HER BACK WITH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD JUST SELL LIST OF ALL THE FEES THAT GO UP BY MORE THAN 10% OR SOME WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE TERMS OF TIF FINANCIAL POLICIES, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PASSED BY COUNCIL.
THAT'S HAVING STAFF COMING BACK, UM, GIVING US ADVICE ON THAT.
UM, THE PUBLIC ACTIVITY BOND, UH, FOCUS ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CARE UNITS WITH SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
UH, AND I THINK STAFF WAS TAKING A LOOK AT AND TAKING A LOOK AT WHETHER THERE'LL BE A CONVERSATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ABOUT HAVING A REGIONAL APPROACH.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE APPROVE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, DO WE, DO WE TRY TO STEER THAT TOWARD THE HOUSING THAT IS HARDEST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE, UM, BY ALL SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE THESE PROGRAMS UNLESS IT ACTUALLY IS HELPING WITH, UH, THE DEEPEST DISCOUNTED, UH, MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I THINK HOUSING WAS STAFF WAS SPEAKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT, BUT THAT'S AN IDEA THAT I WOULD SUPPORT, UH, AS WELL, UH, ASKING, UH, STAFF TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT I COULD SEE BRINGING SOMETHING ON THAT MAYBE WITH A COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, IF THERE'S AN AGREEMENT TO DO THAT KIND OF THING, REGIONALLY COMPATIBILITIES HERE.
UH, AND I THINK THE, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE WITH RESPECT TO COMPATIBILITY IS DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF ADJUSTMENT AND COMPATIBILITY THAT MAKES SENSE TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE OR CLAIM SOME OF THE, TO THE BONUS OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST TIED TO AFFORDABILITY ON CORRIDORS? AND, UH, WELL, I THINK THAT THIS ONE WOULD TAKE A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT LEVEL PLANS OR AREA PLANS THAT WERE COMPATIBILITY IS DISCUSSED AND DECIDED UPON AS PART OF AN OVERALL PICTURE OF WHAT IS PLANNED FOR AN AREA.
SO I'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN THAT WORK.
UM, I THINK THIS IS AN AREA THAT REQUIRES A WHOLE LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT CAUSES A LOT OF CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.
AND SO, UH, AND WHAT CAUSED THE MOST CONCERN FOR PEOPLE IS IF IT'S NOT TALKED ABOUT IN A CONTEXT, IN A WAY THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CONTEXT OR IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, TO HAVE A, A ROLE IN WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S THAT MUCH OF A PROBLEM.
SO I, BEFORE WE TAKE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'D REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? AND THEN THERE WAS WHAT IS THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE AND WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE ISSUE? SO I I'D AGREE WITH THAT.
UM, WE SHOULD PICK THAT ACTUALLY HAS A REAL MATERIAL IMPACT.
YEAH, I'M NOT SURE, CERTAINLY IT DOES REALLY.
I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO LOOK INTO DATA, BUT, UM, UH, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT BMU STUFF, FOR EXAMPLE, AND GOING TO, UM, TO VMU TO, WITH 90 FEET, YOU KNOW, NOT SEEING THAT AS A REAL PROBLEM, OF COURSE, YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOME LOTS THAT ARE MORE SHALLOW THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE.
UM, BUT SOMETIMES THOSE ARE BEST HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS LIST LISTED THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO RAISE? YES.
ALICE JUST QUICKLY, UM, I THINK WORKFORCE HOUSING SUPPLY ENDED UP ON THERE TWICE.
AND SO WE MAY HAVE MISSED THE PERMITTING FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS, UNLESS I MISSED IT FOR SOME REASON.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE SINCE WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO FOUR 30, THAT WE JUST, UM, DIDN'T FORGET TO FIGURE OUT IF WE HAVE NEXT STEPS ON THOSE TO IDENTIFY TODAY.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S THE TIME TO DO THAT NOW.
[04:10:01]
AGAIN, MAYBE I DUNNO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.I CAN JUST BRIEFLY, CAUSE I KNOW THAT I MENTIONED IT, UM, IN MY MESSAGE BOARD POST, AND I KNOW OTHERS, OTHERS HAVE COMMENTED AS WELL ON THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES.
UM, BUT I KNOW THAT IN OUR CURRENT CODE WE HAVE A SITE PLAN EXEMPTION IF IT'S SINGLE OR DUPLEX.
UM, BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO SOME OF THE MORE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, YOU END UP IN THE BIG CATEGORY, JUST LIKE YOU WERE BUILDING A BIG MULTI-FAMILY, I NEEDED A FULL SITE PLAN.
I THINK THE COST MAY BE THE SAME AND THE TIMELINE MAY BE THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ONLY BUILDING FOUR UNITS INSTEAD OF A HUNDRED.
AND SO I JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.
BUT I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE INFORMATION, UM, FROM A BAR AND HOUSING WORKS THAT SOME OF THOSE NEEDS WERE IDENTIFIED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THAT MISSING MIDDLE ZONE, WE HAD, UM, SOMETHING THAT WAS RIGHT-SIZED FOR THE PERMITTING, UM, COST AND TIMELINE TO MAKE THOSE UNITS A LITTLE EASIER TO GET THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS.
IT'LL GO TO THE END HERE JUST A SECOND.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE, WE KEEP COMING BACK TO A LOT OF THE PERMITTING QUESTIONS.
UH, ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN BE DOING TO SPEED UP PERMITTING? CAN WE TARGET PERMITTING ENHANCEMENTS, WHETHER THAT BE EXPEDITED PERMITTING OR, OR, OR STANDARDIZED FORM PERMITTING IN CERTAIN INSTANCES WHERE CERTAIN SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PRE-CLEARED I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, BUT WE DO HEAR THAT A LOT OF THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO DO IN PART, BECAUSE OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE.
AND IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN THAT ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING THAT WAS TARGETED TO THE PARTICULAR KIND OF, OF PRODUCT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE MARKET TO, TO GIVE UP.
AND I BELIEVE EVEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, DIDN'T YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION ABOUT, UM, HOW THIS WORKS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PARTICULAR, AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO, UM, GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE PROCESS QUICKER.
I THINK YOU JUST HAD ONE OF THOSE RECENTLY, WAS THAT YOUR RESOLUTION? I HA I SUPPORTED THAT.
I DON'T THINK I BROUGHT THAT ONE, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THAT'S A SUBJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.
SO, AND, AND I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT.
I THINK THAT THE, UH, I THINK THE, TO THE EXTENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, I, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME, SOME CONCRETE SOLUTIONS THAT WE COULD PUT IN PLACE TO, TO EXPEDITE THOSE PROCESSES.
SO TARGETED PERMITTING FOR, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S NEEDED, BUT WHEREVER IT'S NEEDED.
AND WE CAN EITHER HAVE ANOTHER SESSION ON THIS.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY GETTING SOME UPDATES FROM STAFF AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE, UH, TOOLS THAT WE COULD USE TO GET AT WHERE YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE DIRECTING RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD SOME DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO PERMITTING AND THE PROCESS AND I, BUT I, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR STAFF HERE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
BUT ONE, ONE THING THAT I HAD HEARD THAT I'D LIKE TO KIND OF TRUTH TEST WITH OUR STAFF IS WHETHER, YOU KNOW, SO SMART HOUSING, IN ADDITION TO FEE WAIVERS, THEY ALSO ARE SUPPOSED TO GET EXPEDITED PERMIT.
AND I HAD HEARD THAT SOME SMART HOUSING PROJECTS AND POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, WHICH SHOULD BE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS QUICKLY BASED ON PREVIOUS PROCESS AND POLICIES.
UM, MAYBE I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHERE THEY, HOW QUICKLY THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME WE DID THAT, I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ABLE TO, TO ACCESS EXPEDITED PERMITTING.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE KIND OF HOW THAT ALL SHAKES OUT AND WHETHER, WHETHER OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS ARE MOVING, ARE MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS, AS THEY MIGHT BE, OR WHETHER THEY ARE KIND OF FALLING BEHIND SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS THAT NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS EXPEDITED PERMITTING TO I'M SORRY.
THAT WAS REALLY A LONG WAY OF SAYING, I THINK WE JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE ARE HEARING DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT HOW, HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHERS WHO CAN NOW EXPEDITE THEIR PROJECTS, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE OTHER PROCESS CHANGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED FROM THE BUILDING INDUSTRIES.
THIS TOPIC AREA IS ONE THAT I AM PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING AND WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UM, I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW AUSTIN FARES WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS WITH OUR PERMITTING PROCESS.
SO DOING SOME TYPE OF PEER CITY ANALYSIS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND ALSO JUST HAVING AN UPDATE.
I KNOW DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE AUTHORIZED 41 NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW, WHAT THE STATUS
[04:15:01]
IS WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES AND HAVE THEY, HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE AT THIS POINT? UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE, UM, THE ITEM REFERENCED CONTENT FOR ELLIS WAS PART OF OUR BUDGET CONVERSATION.PERHAPS IT WAS A BUDGET WRITER THAT CAME FORWARD THAT SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A EXPEDITED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, SO IT WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON, ON THAT PIECE AS WELL.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, UH, IS IT VIABLE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, UM, LOOKING AT PARKING REQUIREMENTS, UH, IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF PROJECT CONNECT CORRIDORS AND, UM, I DO, I WOULD SUPPORT A CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION FOLKS ON THAT.
I DO THINK THAT THERE, THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO, UM, TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
AND I THINK THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT THOSE IN THE CONTEXT OF, YOU KNOW, ONE THING WOULD BE PROJECT CONNECT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY THING.
IT MIGHT ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS PART OF SOME OF OUR, UM, VMU OR OUR OTHER, UM, BONUS PROGRAMS. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, UM, HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING I'D LIKE TO TALK TO OUR TRANSPORTATION FOLKS ABOUT WHAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO US BEFORE AND WHAT THEY MIGHT RECOMMEND AT THIS POINT AS A WAY TO TAKE SOME STEPS TOWARDS A MORE FLEXIBILITY IN PARKING.
ALSO THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE PART OF A CONVERSATION AROUND OUR, OUR .
UM, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME PROPOSED PROVISIONS IN THE TRANSPORTATION CODE, UM, THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE PAST THAT RELATED TO THE, THE TRAFFIC IMPACT, UH, PROCESSES AND ALSO ABOUT TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT, WHICH ALL RELATES TO PARKING.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S AN AREA I'D BE INTERESTED IN BRINGING SOMETHING FORWARD ON RELATED TO THE TIAS AND TDM IN PARTICULAR.
SO I'LL PROBABLY BE DOING A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THAT, AND WE'LL PUT SOMETHING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD ABOUT IT, AND JUST HAPPY TO WORK WITH WHOEVER WANTS TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD RELATED TO PARKING.
OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO DISCUSS.
I LIKE PO I, AND I AGREE WITH ANNE, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU AND BE A CO-SPONSOR, UH, ON THAT, UH, ON REDUCING THE PARKING REQUIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, I HA I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CHALMERS CORE FOR THE LAST SECTION TO PUT THEM INTO THE TODD DISTRICT THERE AT DEAL SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, UH, BUILD AS MUCH, UH, UH, PARKING BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE.
AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, LIKE CHALMERS CORRIDOR IS AT 30%, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, UH, DO NOT DRIVE AND THEY USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE USED, ESPECIALLY AROUND OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS, UM, ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND NOT REQUIRE AS MUCH PARKING.
I AGREE WITH THAT TOO, AND SUPPORT THAT AND, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PUT WORK ON THAT TOGETHER.
A COUNSELOR OF OUR ALTAR HAD RAISED GO AHEAD BECAUSE OF HER, YOUR HEAD WAS UP.
UM, I WANTED, UH, I GOT SKIPPED A LITTLE BIT BACK, SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TARGETED PERMITTING.
UM, SO I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE INTO PLANNING TO THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND TO STAFFING FOR DSD, HOW THAT'S WORKING OUT.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE REALLY CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE NOW HAVE THE ONE-STOP SHOP, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT WE OUGHT TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
OTHERWISE THERE'S SOME OTHER BROADER ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING FURTHER BECAUSE THE RESOURCES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
NOW, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE AMOUNT OF PERMITS HAVE GONE UP CONSIDERABLY AS WELL.
SO WE'RE HAVE TO CALIBRATE THAT.
UM, BUT, BUT WE, WE DO, WE DO, AT SOME POINT YOU NEED TO SEE SOME RETURN ON THOSE INVESTMENTS, UM, AND, UH, OR AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ARE THE REMAINING SORT OF OBSTACLES THAT ARE THERE.
[04:20:01]
TO, UM, TARGETED PERMITTING, I WOULD SUPPORT, UM, SOME TARGETED PERMITTING OR ZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.UM, WE HAVE, UM, SOME THINGS IN PLACE FOR DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT WE COULD, WE COULD CONSIDER FURTHER THINGS, UM, WITH RESPECT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, WHILE I THINK WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A SHORT OR QUICK CONVERSATION.
UM, SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A MEDIUM OR LONG-TERM PLACE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO AND TARGET, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE, UM, SUPER QUICK.
UM, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS ON THE LIST WHEN YOU'RE READY, UM, TO MOVE DOWN IT THAT I WANTED TO BE SURE TO DISCUSS.
NOW, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO PULL OUT, I, I WANTED TO PULL OUT THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY THAT I RAISED FOR, UM, SUPPORTING SKILL TRADE TRAINING.
UM, WE HAVE SET OUR SIDE CONSIDERABLE DOLLARS AS PART OF ARPA-E FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING.
UM, SO THERE'S SOME MONEY THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
THERE ARE MODELS OF TRAINING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE BEGUN TO DO STUFF WITH APPRENTICES AND SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN AN INCREASE IN SUPPLY WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN SUPPLY OF LABOR.
UM, AND WE COULD PLAY A ROLE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD CHANGE SOME OF THAT DYNAMICS QUICKLY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE, UM, THREE YEARS, AT LEAST FOR ALL OF THE TRADES, UM, TO GET SOMEBODY IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN BE HELPFUL ON A JOB SCENE.
UM, BUT THEY DO REQUIRE THE TRAINING.
AND THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE OFFERING, UM, TO CITIZENS, TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN AUSTIN NOW, UM, TO HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, BE BETTER ABLE TO AFFORD AND TO UP-SKILL THEMSELVES.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESSES IS ON THAT MONEY.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT THAN HOUSING AND PLANNING WOULD BE, UM, EDD THAT'S GOVERNING THAT.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO THERE THAT WOULD BE TARGETED TOWARDS, UM, THE SKILLED TRADES.
SO I AGREE WITH THIS TOO, AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF WE BRING IN, UH, UH, TAMRA WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO REPORT TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S HOW WE, THE CITY FIVES, THE COUNTY FIVES EDITED BECOMES THEN KIND OF OUR, OUR REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AND THAT PLAN FOCUSING ON THREE, UH, PRIMARILY THREE KIND OF TRADING OPPORTUNITIES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A FOUR YEAR DEGREE REQUIRE A TWO-YEAR DEGREE, OR EVEN IN MANY INSTANCES AS COUNCILMEMBER MEMBER, AUTHOR SAYS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THAT.
UH, BUT THE THREE AREAS ARE HEALTHCARE FOR NURSES, CAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY CRITICAL NEED FOR THAT.
AND THE CITY, THE SECOND IS TECH JOBS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A FOUR YEAR DEGREE BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS THERE AT OUR CITY RIGHT NOW FOR PEOPLE THAT WILL GO GET A TECH CERTIFICATE IN CERTAIN AREAS.
THAT'S THE JOB PROGRAM THAT TESLA'S RUNNING RIGHT NOW WITH ACC, UH, IN THE START A PROGRAM.
BUT THE THIRD AREA THAT THEY HAVE IS SKILLED TRADES, UH, AND ONE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO, UH, TO, TO LADDER UP, UH, THEMSELVES AND, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
I KNOW THAT THE, THAT, UH, EDD WAS TALKING TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ABOUT THEY BECOME WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BECOMES KIND OF A FUNDING ALLOCATOR FOR ENTITIES LIKE, UH, CAPITAL I IDEA, AND SKILL PUT ALLIANCE AND THE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
AND THEY OPERATE AS KIND OF A CLEARING HOUSE TO, TO MATCH THOSE WITH ACC AND OTHER COLLEGES.
BUT I THINK IT'S A CRITICAL DEED.
I SHARE THAT PRIORITY AND THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELPFUL.
MAYBE IF TAMRA EITHER HAD WRITTEN A FORM OR OTHERWISE GAVE A REPORT TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T, WE'RE DOING THINGS HERE THAT ARE NOT BEING DONE.
SHE'S DOING GREAT WORK WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS, UM, I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE ON THIS PAGE THAT, THAT LOOKED TO BE, TO BE INFILL ITEMS. I INCLUDED THAT THE MF ITEMS THAT, THAT COUNTS FOR EVERY KITCHEN RAISED, BUT ALSO THE SF FIVE NSF SIX ITEMS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL RAISED AGAIN, IF THAT WOULD BE RESOLVED IN SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL MARKET OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DRIVE ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF HOUSING.
I THINK THAT IF THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THAT, THAT'S ACHIEVABLE ON THE, ON THE DAY IS THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT
[04:25:02]
MANAGER MIGHT BECOME A PRIORITY THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OR COUNCIL MEMBERS MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, WITH, UH, UH, IFCS TOPO, AND IT COUNTS.CAN WE, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T RUN AT A TIME FOR TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND REALLY CLARIFYING WHAT THE PROCESS FROM HERE LOOKS LIKE.
SO IF NOW'S THE TIME TO DO IT, I'LL JUST JUMP INTO IT.
I'M NOT MAYOR, I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD SOME OF YOUR DIRECTION TO THE MANAGER, BUT I WOULD JUST SUGGEST ON THESE ITEMS WHERE, WHERE THERE MAY BE CONSENSUS AROUND CERTAIN CHANGES THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS BRING THOSE FORWARD AS IFCS.
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY, UM, A LEVEL OF SUPPORT PRIOR TO IT HITTING THE DIOCESE.
AND, AND THAT IS AN I, I WOULD PREFER A PROCESS AT THIS POINT THAT REALLY ALLOWS THE COUNCIL TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THOSE POLICY MEASURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD AND DISCUSS.
SO AT THIS POINT, THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE'VE ASKED THE MANAGER FOR MORE RESEARCH TO COME BACK TO US, UM, WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IDEAS OR PROGRAMS OR POLICIES ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF ISSUES, BUT WITH REGARD TO ACTUAL POLICY CHANGES, I THINK THOSE SHOULD COME FORWARD FROM THE COUNCIL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EVERYBODY'S INTENT.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I SUPPORT AS A PROCESS.
AND I DIDN'T INTEND TO IN ANY WAY TO LIMIT PEOPLE FROM BRINGING POLICY ITEMS BACK.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE STAFF HAS EXPERTISE.
I DON'T HAVE, SO I MEAN, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, I COULD JUST ASK INDIVIDUALLY OF STAFF I'D HAVE THEM COME BACK SO THAT I COULD SEE WHETHER OR NOT I WANTED TO DO AN ITEM IFC, IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS BEING PICKED UP BY OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE STAFF AS A RESOURCE TO HELP DO THAT.
CAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER SHE HAD AND IT COULD BE THE STAFF COMES AND SAYS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE THAT WOULD DEVELOP A LOT OF, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THEY PUT SOMETHING ON THE GENDER FOR US TO ENACT.
IF THAT WAS THE QUESTION, IF THAT, I MEAN, COMING BACK TO US WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OR UP OR WHATNOT, BUT, BUT AS LONG AS WE'RE CLEAR ON THEM, NOT ADDING ITEMS TO THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL ACTION, WITH REGARD TO THIS, THEN WE'RE IN AN AGREEMENT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT AGREEMENT, COWS, OUR KITCHEN.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
IF IT COUNTS MEMBER WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND BRING IN IFC, THEY COULD DO THAT NOW ON ANYTHING THEY WANT TO DO MANAGER.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE THE STAFF'S EXPERTISE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS THAT YOU THINK MEET THE CRITERIA WE'VE SAID TODAY, GREATEST IMPACT ACHIEVABLE OR THE DYES, AND THEN REPORT BACK TO US SO THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PICK THAT UP.
WHAT ELSE ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT I'M MISSING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT? I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WANTS TO DO THIS OR NOT, BUT EARLIER I REMEMBER SHE HAD RAISED SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TOMORROW, NUMBER 48.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE STILL WANTS TO, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HER, BUT DID YOU WANT TO STILL, DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT NOW? YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT.
WELL, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE 10 MINUTES.
I CAN GIVE A HEADS UP ON THE THAT.
SO, UM, I, I, THIS IS THE HOUSING EITHER.
THE HOUSING, IT'S A HOUSING, SORRY.
IT'S A HOUSING ITEM IS IT'S NUMBER 48 IS HOUSING ITEM A.
SO THIS IS SORT OF A HEADS UP THAT I, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M READY FOR IT TOMORROW.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON IT, UH, TOMORROW AND, AND PROVIDE, UH, SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S READY AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT, UM, UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE A HEADS UP.
I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF QUESTIONS.
I, THE CONCEPT'S FINE, YOU KNOW, BUT I, BUT I THINK THAT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S VERY, VERY BROAD AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT'LL TAKE.
AND SO I'M WONDERING MY QUESTIONS RELATE TO, COULD WE BE A BIT MORE TARGETED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT? SO THAT'S, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THE KIND OF CONVERSATION THAT I WANT TO HAVE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
AND I ALSO AM GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE POSTPONE IT.
SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH TOMORROW, BUT THE CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THURSDAY ON IT, CAUSE THERE'S NOT SKIPPING A DAY AND 48.
THE ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHETHER IT'S BEING AUTHORED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
SHE'S NOT, UM, PRESENT, BUT YEAH, HER STAFF IS SAYING THIS AND SHE MAY BE SAYING IT TOO, BUT THAT'S HELPFUL.
FOR, FOR YOU TO TODAY LIKE THAT.
SO MAYOR PRO TEM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP AND
[04:30:01]
I CAN PUT IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD TOO, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND AM INTERESTED IN SOMETHING MORE TARGETED TO AND QUICKER.I'M NOT GONNA PROMISE I'LL GET THEM ON TOMORROW, BUT, UM, UH, BUT UM, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN POSTPONE IT FROM THURSDAY BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS ON IT.
AND, AND AGAIN, THE CONCEPT OF ASKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT COST IS NOT A PROBLEM.
I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, ARRIVE AT AND WANT TO EXPLORE WHETHER WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT FASTER THAN A YEAR AND SOME VARIOUS OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I JUST WANT IT TO RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUE.
I'D BE, UH, WILLING TO PERFECTLY HAPPY TO POSTPONE TO DECEMBER 9TH AND EVEN TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS SOUNDS GOOD.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, AT LEAST IN THE VERSION THAT I'M LOOKING AT, IT SAYS MAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, WE, UM, ARE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, I GUESS AS DECEMBER 1ST, 2022 WITH AN INTERIM PRESENTATION IN MAY, SO, OKAY.
UH, SO IT LOOKS LIKE 48 WILL BE POSTPONED.
I CONSIDERED ON THURSDAY COUNCIL MEMBER 30.
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF OUR MEETING? ARE WE HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW? NO MEETING TOMORROW HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
SO WE JUST HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY.
AND THEN WE HAVE A WORK SESSION NEXT TUESDAY AND A COUNCIL MEETING NEXT THURSDAY.
AND THAT AGENDA WILL BE POSTED ON FRIDAY, HAS YET TO BE POSTED TO OUR KITCHEN.
UM, JUST ONE OTHER THING, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES VERY QUICKLY.
UM, THE, THE, I DID RAISE THE QUESTION OF, UM, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND TENANT PROTECTIONS.
THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, I WANT TO EXPLORE NEXT WEEK, BUT I'M JUST GIVING YOU ALL A HEADS UP ON THAT.
UM, TH TH THE PROBLEM THAT I'M TRYING TO SOLVE FOR IS TWO THINGS.
FIRST, AS WE HAVE THE GROWTH GOING ON THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE, UH, MORE, WE HAVE UNITS NOW THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND THEY MAY BE, UM, MARKET RATE, UH, TARGETED FOR FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF MFI OR 80% OF EVEN A FIRE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEIR GIFTS GETTING TORN DOWN AND BUILT INTO, INTO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
SO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD PASSED A THAT, UH, SET FORTH A PATH FOR SOME TYPE OF RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
AND SO THAT'S THE SUBJECT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION NEXT WEEK IS WHAT DID, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE BARRIER TO FOLLOWING THROUGH AND WHAT MIGHT BE OTHER PATHS? AND I JUST THINK FROM A GENERAL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO EXPLORE AGAIN RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE CAN DO, BECAUSE, UM, THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER OUR CITY RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED BECAUSE THE PLACES THAT THEY'RE LIVING ARE BEING TORN DOWN AND REBUILT INTO MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING, AND THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
AND SO, SO WE NEED TO EXPLORE WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO.
AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED DOWN THAT ROAD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND SO IT'S, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN, UM, TAKING THAT BACK UP AGAIN AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
ANYTHING ELSE? JUST MARY, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THIS A REALLY ENGAGING CONVERSATION TODAY.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE WE SHOULD BE AS A COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR THEIR VERY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DIALOGUE AND MAKING THESE IMPORTANT POLICY CHOICES FOR YOU AND SUPPORTING YOU GOING FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH MANAGER.
AND I THINK THE NEXT STEP FOR YOUR OFFICE WITH RESPECT TO THIS IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT THIS CONVERSATION TO COME BACK TO US WITH WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE BASED ON THOSE CRITERIA.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE SIGN OFF FOR THE DAY? ALL RIGHT.
THIS, THIS TIME, THIS WORK LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON THE IDEAS THAT WE CAN BEAR PRO TOWN.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, UM, I I'D LIKE VERY MUCH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE TOOL THAT IS THE MESSAGE BOARD.
SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS I'D LIKE VERY MUCH FOR FOLKS
[04:35:01]
TO BE ABLE TO POST THOSE, TO THE MESSAGE BOARD.AND THEN THAT WAY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION IS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE, A REASONABLE REQUEST.
AND THE GALS THEN AT 4 26, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
AND THE KITCHEN WITH A HALF FULL CUP SATURDAY BEING THE FIRST ONE, THAT'S A KIND OF HIGH, AND YOU CAN'T PUT A PRIZE WATCHING A BALL GAME, PUTTING PAR THE BACK YARD STAR SIGN A PEACE OF MIND WITHOUT GOING JUNE.