[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
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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
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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.