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YOU GUYS READY? STAFF READY? YES, MAYOR.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER TODAY'S WORK SESSION.
WE HAVE A QUORUM, UH, PRESENT, UH, UM, WE HAVE, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ON, UH, ON THE SCREEN.
UH, AND, UH, I GUESS THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER WE'RE MISSING ON THE DIAS RIGHT NOW IS COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA.
DO I KNOW IS AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items]
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE, UH, MORE PULLED ITEMS THAN WAS, UH, ON THE, UH, UH, LIST THAT WAS SENT OUT.UM, I'M SHOWING NOW NOT ONLY EIGHT AND 64, BUT I'M ALSO SHOWING THE TERS ITEM, WHICH IS 14 AND 69 BEING PULLED, UH, THE COST OF HOUSING.
I PULL IT BY THE WAY, THE TERMS ISSUES, THE COST OF HOUSING, UH, 62, UM, UH, THAT WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, THE ALCOHOL NEAR SCHOOLS, 58.
UH, I PULLED THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
UH, I PULLED THAT'S ITEM 60 MAYOR NOT TO BACKTRACK US, BUT I ALSO PULLED THE TOURERS AND ITEM 39.
AND REMEMBER, TOBO ALSO PULLED 14 AND 69.
UM, AND THAT I HAD THE CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK, 39 BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SO BOTTOM LINE, 8 64, 14 69, 62 58 60 AND A 39.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS, INCLUDING SOME THAT WERE ADDITIONALLY PULLED THAT I HAVE SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I HAVE MEETINGS WITH STAFF TOMORROW, SO I DIDN'T PULL THEM, BUT IF I DON'T GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED, I'LL WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM MORE ON THURSDAY, BUT I'M HOPING TO DO THAT.
BUT WITH THE BACK-TO-BACK COUNCIL MEETINGS AND BEING SICK LAST WEEK, I WASN'T ABLE TO.
SO TODAY, IF THERE'S TIME, IF, IF WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING, MAYBE YOU COULD JUST IDENTIFY WITH THOSE NUMBERS ARE AND WHAT YOUR ISSUES WERE, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY, POTENTIALLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'D BE HARD TO DO, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE THAT KIND OF NOTICE, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF POSSIBLE.
UH, I THOUGHT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD DO THE PULLED ITEMS AFTER PULLED ITEMS. WE WOULD GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WOULD COME BACK AND DO THE, UH, PRESENTATION, THE REPORT THAT WAY WE'RE PUTTING AS THE COUNCIL ONE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WERE TIMELY AND IMPACT THAT ACTION ON THURSDAY.
FIRST LUNCH BREAK TODAY IS FROM 12 TO ONE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LUNCH.
SO THAT'S A, PROBABLY A HARD STOP FROM 12 TO ONE, AND WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, AT THE END
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OF THE DAY.UH, SHOULD IT CONTINUE OVER? WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND PULL THE PULL ITEMS. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, SO LET'S SEE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THEM.
UH, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UH, PARENTHESIS.
AND BY THE WAY, ARE WE READY TO DO THE DRAWINGS? SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE DRAWINGS NOW FOR, UH, SEEDING.
UH, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, MOVE SEATS ON THE, UH, DATA.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DRAWING FOR NEW SEATING.
UH, SO WANT US TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE, UH, THE, THE LAST WEEK OF MEETINGS THAT I'M A MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER.
MADISON IS GOING TO BE SERVING AT A MEETING AS MAYOR PRO TEM.
I WANT US TO, TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR TO REMEMBER ALTAR WILL BE MOVING INTO THAT POSITION AND CONSISTENT WITH THE ACTION WE TOOK A YEAR AGO.
UM, AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'VE BEEN A REALLY BIG HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO ME, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE HOW YOU HAVE PERFORMED IN THIS FUNCTION, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE HONORING YOU FOR THAT SERVICE THIS WEEK.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PULL NUMBERS.
WE HAVE, AND THE FIRST ONE IS ME MOVING TO DIOCESE SIX.
WHERE IS ONE? ONE IS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
NO, I WILL BE MOVING TO SEAT THREE.
I'LL ALSO BE JOINING YOU BECAUSE I'M JUST MOVING TO SEAT.
NUMBER TWO, WE'RE JUST SWAPPING AND THIS IS PRETTY COOL.
DISTRICT SEVEN IS GOING TO SIT IN DAYA SEAT SEVEN, MOVE INTO 10 ALL THE WAY DOWN.
I'M MOVING TO EIGHT EIGHT, AND I'M MOVING TO ONE, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE.
SO BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS MOVING TO NUMBER FOUR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I RE I REALLY ENJOY DOING THIS.
I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD.
I, I ALSO, I MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT IN THE AT-LARGE COUNCIL, I'D SUGGESTED WE DO THIS AND IT NEVER CAUGHT ON AS AN IDEA.
AND IT, IT IS ONE OF THE FUN INNOVATIONS THAT OUR COUNCIL, OUR TEN ONE SYSTEM HAS DONE IT.
I THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
IT'S NICE TO SEE THE ROOM FOR NEW DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
I JUST THINK IT'S A HEALTHY, GOOD THING.
SO I'M GLAD WE'VE KEPT UP THAT TRADITION.
TOVO IS MOVING FROM ONE TO SIX.
SO STARTING DOWN AT THAT END WILL BE KITCHEN.
AND THEN, UM, UH AND THEN ELLIS, AND THEN A HARPER MADISON, THEN RENTER RHEA, AND THEN SKIPPING OVER TO MY LEFT AND TO THE LEFT OF A COUNCIL TOBO WILL BE IN SIX POOL ALTAR KELLY, UH, CASAR.
AND WHEN YOUR PLACES, UH, CHANGED, UH, THE PERSON COMING INTO YOUR SEAT COUNTS, NUMBER TWO, SORRY.
WE'LL JUST MOVE INTO THAT PLACE.
AND ANOTHER GREAT SERENDIPITY IS DISTRICT TWO.
VANESSA IS ALSO IN DIOCESE TO, THERE YOU GO.
IS CATHERINE POINT, THIS, YOU PULLED ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
UM, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS ABOUT THE C RENEWING OUR AGREEMENT WITH C LOCK,
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THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, UM, AND KEEPING, OR I'M BRINGING FORMULA ONE.UM, THERE, THEY APPLY FOR FUNDING WITH THE STATE.
AND SO THIS WOULD REAUTHORIZE THAT AGREEMENT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS DONE 10 YEARS AGO INITIALLY.
AND I WANTED FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE TWO LARGE-SCALE EVENTS RECENTLY HAPPENED AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS, UM, WHERE WE HAD SOME SAFETY CONCERNS AND WHERE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC ISSUES.
UM, AND MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS IN THAT PART OF THE DISTRICT REACHED OUT, UH, SHARING THEIR CONCERNS.
AND FOR ME, JUST FURTHER MAGNIFIED THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN OUR SYSTEMS INTO THE SOUTHEAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UH, SINCE THEN I'VE MET WITH A CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS, UH, REPRESENTATIVES WITH C LOCK WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THE MUCH NEEDED COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
SO I WANTED TO, UM, ASK STAFF A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UH, BEFORE WE DIVE IN.
AND, UH, ALSO COLLEAGUES, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RENEWAL.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT I WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD ON THURSDAY, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE COPIES IN FRONT OF YOU, AND I BELIEVE, UM, WE'LL ALSO BE SURE TO EMAIL THAT OUT AS WELL.
SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UH, AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT I WANTED STAFF TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT, UM, THE COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
AND SO STAFF COULD TALK US THROUGH, UH, THE SUCCESS AND COMPLYING WITH THESE STANDARDS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN EXHIBIT A GOOD MORNING, STILL NOVIA, HAUTE, RAB, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF THE REQUEST TO THE STATE, OUR STAFF GOES OUT AND, UH, REVIEWS THE ITEM AS ARTICULATED IN EXHIBIT A AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONCERNS, UM, WITH EXHIBIT A, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FULFILLED, BUT AGAIN, WE DO THE REVIEW PRIOR TO IT BEING SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HOLT, ROB.
AND THEN HOW CAN YOU PLEASE TALK US THROUGH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FORMULA ONE AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT'S BEEN MOST RECENTLY OR OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS? UM, THIS YEAR DEFINITELY, UH, IT WAS, UH, A MAJOR SUCCESS, BUT IN TERMS OF DETAILS ON THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS, I WILL NEED TO GET BACK WITH YOU.
I NEED TO PULL THE, UH, THE REPORTS TO ARTICULATE EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.
AND IF YOU COULD ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE, BUT IF YOU HAVE, UM, IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR INSIGHT AS TO THE IMPACT ON THE AUSTIN AIRPORT AND OUR HOTEL INDUSTRIES, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC IMPACT IS HAVING THIS LARGE SCALE FORMULA ONE EVENT HAVE ON THESE INDUSTRIES? WELL, DEFINITELY THIS YEAR, UM, SINCE, UH, COVID LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE THE RACE.
THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND, UH, AIRPORT, UH, HOTELS, ET CETERA, BUT I DON'T, I CAN PROVIDE THAT THROUGH A Q AND A PROCESS, UM, TO GET THOSE DETAILS TO YOU.
UM, ALSO I KNOW THAT MIAMI IS ALSO GOING TO HOST A FORMULA ONE EVENT.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT AS TO WHAT THAT AGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE WITH THAT MOU, UH, MIGHT HAVE AND, AND, OR ANY INSIGHT AS TO WHETHER THEY RECEIVE ANY LOCAL SUPPORT? AGAIN, I CAN, UH, PROVIDE THAT THROUGH THE Q AND A PROCESS.
UM, AT THIS TIME I DON'T HAVE THAT READILY AVAILABLE.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, UM, COLLEAGUES, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT I'M GOING TO BRING FORWARD ON THURSDAY AND WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES.
IT TALKS THROUGH, UM, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF A MORE COORDINATED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS IS IN A UNIQUE LOCATION OF SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY, WHILE CODA ITSELF HAS BEEN ANNEXED BY THE CITY.
IT'S ACTUALLY SURROUNDED BY STATE HIGHWAYS AND COUNTY ROADS.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED A MORE STREAMLINED AND COORDINATED APPROACH.
I WILL SAY THAT, UM, CODA REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND RECEPTIVE TO ADDRESSING THESE CHANGES.
I BELIEVE WE'RE ALSO GONNA SUBMIT AS BACKUP SOME OF THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE ON ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES OUTLINED IN THIS AMENDMENT.
I DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR THE EXPANSION OF HIGHWAY EIGHT, 12, UH, FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT CERTAIN INTERSECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UH, JUST LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE BETTER IMPROVE OUR SAFETY AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE, AND THEY HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON THESE ITEMS, AND WE'LL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE BACKUP.
UM, ALSO AS PART OF THIS AMENDMENT, WE'LL BE ASKING FOR A COORDINATION OF A POST F1
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MEETING WITH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER SAYS IN ME AND, UH, WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER HOSTING FORMULA ONE, I THINK THAT WOULD BRING TOGETHER REALLY GOOD INSIGHT AS TO WAYS THAT WE CAN ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE BOTH FOR VISITORS AND FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS.WE ALSO LOOK AT EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF A YOUTH FOCUSED STEM PROGRAM, UM, AND, UH, LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES, WAYS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE OUR DEL VALLEY YOUTH AND IN THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY PARTNER AND ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE HERE, UH, FROM A ONE HAS AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE, UM, THAT WE DO RIGHT BY OUR NEIGHBORS AND THAT WE DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUTSTANDING AND NECESSARY IN THAT AREA.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THESE, UM, FOR THIS AMENDMENT, I THINK THESE LOOK LIKE VERY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD.
AND, AND CERTAINLY IT RESPONDS TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE PRESENT EVEN BEFORE IT OPENED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND GETTING TO THE SITE AND WHATNOT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THE YOUTH FOCUSED STEM PROGRAM.
NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROMISES OF FORMULA ONE BEFORE IT, BEFORE IT STARTED, YOU KNOW, AND JUST DOING A QUICK, UM, A QUICK SCAN.
IT DOES LOOK AS IF THEY HAVE SOME STEM PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORMULA ONE, BUT AGAIN, HAVING LISTENED TO THOSE, I WASN'T ON THE DIOCESE AT THE TIME, MOST OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE, BUT THAT WAS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY TO HAVE, UH, TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH REGARD TO STEM FOR YOUTH.
AND SO, UM, MS. HOLT, RAB DIRECTOR, HOLT RABBIT, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT TO BE A QUESTION FOR THE Q AND A FOR THURSDAY, IF WE COULD GET AN ACCOUNTING OF WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS ALREADY EXIST.
I SEE, I SEE ONE NOTED FORMULA, ONE IN SCHOOLS, UM, WHICH INVOLVES AKINS AND SOME DEL VALLEY STUDENTS.
BUT IF WE COULD GET A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST FROM THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE WITH THIS WITH, UH, YOUTH, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T, YOU MAY IN BRINGING FORWARD THAT ARE YOU SENSING THAT THE PROGRAMS AREN'T AS EXTENSIVE AS WERE PROMISED, UM, ARE THEY, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT, UM, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? YEAH, HE'S AND, AND WHERE THE, WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
CERTAINLY WE'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE CURRENT YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON, BUT THE REASON WHY THIS IS INCLUDED IS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NEED IN THE AREA FOR INCREASED YOUTH PROGRAMS. UM, ALSO LOOKING AT THE FORMULA ONE AGREEMENT IN MIAMI THAT ALSO HAS A STRONG YOUTH COMPONENT.
AND SO I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR US TO REALLY STRENGTHEN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ROBUST SERVICES AVAILABLE.
SO I THINK THEN IT'S REALLY ABOUT EXPANDING THEM RATHER THAN STARTING THEM.
HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND THAT THEY, THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THEY HAD COMMITTED TO DOING, WHICH IS TO START THOSE PROGRAMS AND THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY EXIST, BUT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO EXPAND THEM THEN, IS THAT, IS THAT FAIR? THAT IS FAIR ASSESSMENT.
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE DETAIL AROUND THAT, AND I THINK THE IDEA OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS GREAT.
UM, IT TOO, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW WHETHER, WHETHER THERE ARE ANY EXISTING PROGRAMS OF THAT SORT RIGHT NOW, OR WHETHER, WHETHER THIS WOULD BE ASKING THEM TO CREATE THEM IN EITHER CASE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
BUT I, IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS ALREADY EXIST.
I WANTED TO JUST INDICATE MY AGREEMENT WITH, UM, THE AMENDMENT THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS BROUGHT, AND I SUPPORT IT.
I VISITED, UM, F1, I THINK IT WAS LAST MONTH, MAYBE ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO.
AND WHILE MY EXPERIENCE WAS REALLY PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AS FAR AS ACCESS INTO THE SITE AND GOING HOME.
UM, AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY WHY I WAS OUT THERE.
I WANTED TO SEE HOW THE PARKING LOT DRAINED AND WHAT THE APPROACH WAS, UH, BY CAR.
UM, AND I REALIZED THAT WHILE MY EXPERIENCE WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE NORM, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
SO I DO SUPPORT THIS WORK AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, AND EMPHASIZE THAT WE COORDINATE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND I WAS WONDERING TOO, UM, IF I COULD ASK MAYBE STAFF AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POINTED IS, SHOULD WE ALSO DETERMINE THE FINANCIALS ON WHAT, UM, AT SOME POINT WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADWAYS SHOULD BE?
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IS THAT PART OF THE, THE, UM, THE ITEM THAT'S COMING FROM STAFF, DOES THAT, DOES IT HAVE THE FINANCIAL, SORRY, THIS AMENDMENT DOES ASK FOR STAFF VERSUS WHEELOCK TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BY MARCH 4TH ON, ON WHAT WOULD BE THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF WHAT'S LAID OUT AND, AND THAT WOULD BE FISCAL IMPACTS FOR THEM SPECIFIC, UM, FOR THEM AND OR FOR ANY OF THE JURISDICTIONS FOR THE CITY, THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.SO WE'RE LOOKING TO THEM TO HELP WITH THE, UM, ACCUMULATION OF THAT INFORMATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COORDINATING WITH CODA ON RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THAT THE EVENT ORGANIZERS MAY HAVE AND COLLABORATE ALSO WITH CODA OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE BEST SOLUTIONS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE IN THAT DIRECTION, WHICH IS TERRIFIC.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE AMENDMENTS AND FOR THE ITEM FROM STAFF.
UM, I ACTUALLY WAS OUT AT CODA DURING THE ROLLING STONES CONCERT WITH MY DAUGHTER TO GO OUT THERE.
AND WE WERE ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME.
AND I HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS, WHICH I TALKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FONTEZ ABOUT, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS, UM, MOTION SHEET.
I THINK THAT THE BEST THING HERE IS TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AT THE TABLE WHO'S INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A REALLY GOOD, ROBUST PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE THE BENEFIT THEY COULD HAVE BRINGS TO OUR CITY IS SO WONDERFUL AND SO GREAT.
I WANT EVERYONE WHO VISITS TO HAVE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND NOT HAVE TO DITCH THEIR CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HAZARDS TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO THE EVENT BY WALKING INSTEAD OF SITTING IN TRAFFIC.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN, OR THANK YOU.
UM, MY QUESTION WAS MORE OF A LEGAL QUESTION.
I TOTALLY APPRECIATE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTUS BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALL, UH, I AGREE THAT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE DIRECTION.
UM, I THINK I MIGHT JUST WAIT FOR, UM, DEBRA TO GET BACK WITH CLARIFICATION.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, UM, SINCE THE AMENDMENT, THE AGREEMENTS ARE SORT OF THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN HERE IN AN ODD WAY THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN IN A RESOLUTION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT WE COULD AMEND THE EXHIBITS BECAUSE IT, IT JUST LEGALLY, IT SEEMS ODD.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF DEBORAH IS READY TO PROVIDE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
WELL, WE'LL PROBABLY PROVIDE AN ANSWER, BUT IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION OF WHETHER I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MOTION IS FRAMED, UM, APPROPRIATELY, SO THAT IT ACCOMPLISHES THE GOAL THAT I AGREE WITH.
I THINK YOU MAY BE, I THINK IT MAY BE FINE.
I HAD ORIGINALLY READ THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND WAS LIKE, OKAY, THESE AGREEMENTS ARE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T AMEND THEM.
UM, BUT IT DOES SAY THAT WE'RE AUTHORIZING AND NEGOTIATING OR NEGOTIATE AUTHORIZING NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OF AGREEMENTS.
SO IT'S JUST AN ODD, BUT NOT SEEING THAT FRAMING.
SO, UM, WE'LL GET CLARITY ON THAT.
AND I'LL ASK COUNSEL TO, TO SPEAK WITH YOU, IF, IF ANY MODIFICATIONS DO NEED TO HAPPEN TO MAKE IT WORK.
YES, MARY JUST WANT TO ALSO, UM, ON THE BACK OF THE AMENDMENT SHEET, I JUST WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION.
THERE ARE TWO PORTIONS THAT WE'RE DIRECTING OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF, AND THAT IS TO COORDINATE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL DISABILITY ACCESS TASK FORCE.
UM, THIS IS SPEAKING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO THE NEEDS THAT AROSE FROM THE ROLLING STONES CONCERT, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER COORDINATE AND ENHANCE ADA EVENT PROTOCOL, UH, AND ALSO LOOKING AT COORDINATION WITH CAP METRO TO INCREASE PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS, INCREASING REGIONAL MOBILITY.
YOU REALLY NEED TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF, UH, WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT OUT IN THE DEL VALLEY AREA.
UH, SO ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT TOP OF MIND.
AND MAYBE BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY, WE CAN JUST FURTHER UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPECTATIONS ON THE TASKFORCE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE TYPICALLY TASKFORCES ARE, UH, FROM COUNCIL.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE THINK THROUGH HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THAT DIRECTION IN PARTICULAR, UH, WE'RE MEETING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
AND YOU KNOW, AND THEY HAVE A BIG PLANTS OUT THERE AT COOK CODA.
UH, THEY, THERE, IT'S GOTTA BE A BIG REGIONAL, UH, AMUSEMENT CENTER WHERE THEY WERE BRINGING IN ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITY YOU'RE AROUND.
SO, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, THAT WE GET THE ROAD SITUATIONS CORRECT.
WE DO MASS TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL METRO HEALTH PROBLEM WITH BELL VALLEY IS THAT IT'S INCORPORATED AND NOT A PART OF THE
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METRO SERVING SERVICE THIS AREA.SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT TOO WITH THE COUNTY, HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE KIND OF ISSUES.
BUT I, WE, WE NEED TO REALLY DARK WHEN THEY BRING THEIR SITE PLANS OVER TO US BECAUSE IT'S COMING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC ISSUES AND THE SIDEWALK.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT MAY BE IN THE, IN THE, I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE INTO CARS AND, AND, UM, BILLS, BUT, UH, WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF GETTING THERE, INCLUDING TRAILS AND BIKE LANES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY ALMOST THERE TO THE AIRPORT.
SO IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH TO EXTEND THOSE TRAILS OUT TO THAT DAKOTA.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, BY THE WAY, METRO, I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THE POOL ITEMS, ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE A H F C AGENDA.
THIS IS THE TANNAHILL PROPERTY ITEM IN 68 ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATE.
OH, MAYOR, COULD I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT, UH, EIGHT? I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, UH, LET COUNCIL MEMBER OF WHEN TEZ KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE HER AMENDMENT AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT SOUNDS GOOD.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT POLL ITEM ITEM NUMBER 64.
UM, THIS WAS PULLED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THE NEXT ITEM.
NO, WE DIDN'T COME BACK TO THAT.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM PULLED, UH, THAT I HAD WAS A 14 AND 69.
THESE WERE THE, UH, THE SOUTH AUSTIN.
UM, TERS UM, I THINK THIS WAS PULLED BY BOTH ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, TOVO MY QUESTIONS WROTE GENERALLY, AND THEN WE'LL LET, UH, KATHY, UH, SAY WHAT HERS WERE.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF DOING THIS THE WAY WE DID THIS NOW WAS TO PRESERVE OPTIONS FOR US GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
UH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE READY TO HAVE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS YET ON WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE OR WHAT THE MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR OR LIMITED TO, OR EVEN THE AMOUNT OF THE, UH, UH, UM, PROJECT TO BE FUNDED, ALL THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT IS THAT WHATEVER WE PUT INTO IT THIS TIME TODAY, THIS WEEK, WE COULD CHANGE IN JANUARY IF WE WANTED TO, BUT IT WOULD STILL SERVE TO PRESERVE IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ATTACH VALUE THAT WE COULD INCREASE OR LOWER THE PERCENTAGE.
UM, UH, AND WE COULD DO THAT UP UNTIL WHATEVER POINT IT IS THAT WE ACTUALLY ENTER INTO FINANCING AGREEMENT.
I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT IF THAT'S CORRECT, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE SUBSTANTIVE STUFF WE REALLY HAVE TO GET INTO.
YOU GOT TO HAVE I'D IMAGINE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LONG CONVERSATION ON WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE ULTIMATELY IS OR WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE NOW, OR IF IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, WHAT WE PUT IN, CAUSE WE'VE PRESERVED WHAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE AND NOW IT CAN MOVE AND WE CAN CHANGE THOSE THINGS TO COMING UP COUNSEL AT KIMMEL LAVARUS, DEPUTY CFO, UM, YES, THE ACTION THAT YOU WOULD BE TAKING THIS WEEK WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS AND BE ABLE TO SET THAT BASELINE VALUE FROM WHICH WE WOULD THEN COLLECT THE CAPTURE VALUE IN THE YEARS, GOING FORWARD, WHEN YOU'RE ESTABLISHING THAT TERMS, YOU DO NEED TO PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN, WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE IN THE BACKUP, THE INFORMATION RELATED TO, UM, THE PERCENTAGE OF TAX REVENUE THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE ZONE.
UM, THE VARIOUS PROJECTS, UM, DEBT CAPACITY, THE ASSOCIATED, BONDED INDEBTEDNESS, UH, AND VARIOUS OTHER INFORMATION.
THE ONCE COUNCIL APPROVES THE CREATION OF THE ZONE, WE WOULD THEN COME BACK IN THE, UH, IN 2022 WITH THE FINAL PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
BUT WE DID AS PART OF THE STATE LAW FOR ESTABLISHING THE CHORES IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE DID NEED TO INCLUDE THOSE COMPONENTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE COULD CHANGE THEM ANY AT ANY POINT WE WANTED TO NEXT YEAR.
I MEAN, YOUR PLAN IS TO COME BACK WITH A FINAL, BUT WE COULD CHANGE IT MULTIPLE TIMES IF WE WANTED TO BY AMENDING A PLAN SO LONG AS WE DO IT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY, UH, ENCUMBERED DEBT, THAT'S RELYING ON WHATEVER THAT PLAN IS.
UM, YOU CAN AMEND THE PLAN ON THE D THE DEGREE OF STEPS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO
[00:30:01]
SO IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU MIGHT TRIGGER THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.SO WE WOULD, SO I'M HESITANT DISHES SAY FLATLY, THAT YES, YOU CAN AMEND THE PLAN.
IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME DETAILS.
IF YOU COULD LAY THAT OUT FOR US, I WANT TO KNOW THE FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE AGAIN, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW, HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO GO INTO THESE QUESTIONS NOW, OR WHETHER THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO TAKE ONE.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET THIS ON THIS AGENDA THIS NEXT YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN CATCH THAT, UH, VALUE INCREASE, UH, A LOT OF WORK THAT WAS DONE IN A REALLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT PRESERVATION HAPPEN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET INTO THE OTHER DETAILS OR WHETHER WE COULD ACTUALLY SET PERHAPS A FULL WORK SESSION ON THE QUESTION OF WHAT ARE THE VARIABLES AND THE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE COULD BE MOVING FOR.
I, IN MY VOTE, IF THAT'S THE CASE WOULD NOT BE AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE PLAN OTHER THAN WE HAD TO HAVE A PLAN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO LAYING THAT OUT WITH THOSE OPERATIONS ARE, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, WE KNOW WE HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIALLY MORE WITH NOTICE PROVISIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SNOOPY TRACK, WHICH IS NOT IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, UH, IN WHAT'S POSTED FOR OUR ACTION THIS WEEK.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
HEY, IF WE HAD POSTED THE LAND TO INCLUDE THE SNOOPY POD TRACK, COULD WE HAVE TAKEN IT OUT OF THE PLAN IN JANUARY OR AT SOME FUTURE TIME, IF WE HAD WANTED TO, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STARTED FINALIZING THE PLAN, I NEED TO, I NEED TO CONFER WITH LEGAL ON, ON THAT ONE.
UM, I, I JUST, I NEED TO CONFIRM WITH LEGAL ON THAT ONE.
AND IF YOU COULD CHECK AND LET US KNOW ON THAT, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS IS THAT WE COULD HAVE TAKEN IT OUT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE POSTING LANGUAGE, WE CAN'T PUT IT IN.
SO, SO BY VIRTUE OF NOT, UH, BY VIRTUE OF POSTING IT WITHOUT THE SNOOPY POD TRACK EFFECTIVELY, UH, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS, UM, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ADD THAT NOW, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MUCH NOTICE AND WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ADD THAT AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD WANT IT IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, BUT I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE MAKING ANY SUBSTANTIVE CALLS.
WE WERE JUST PRESERVING OPTIONS AS BEST WE COULD.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PIECE THAT MAY HAVE ESCAPED US, THE REASON FOR EXCLUDING IT IS RELATED TO THE, BUT FOR, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE HAVE, WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PART FOR ABOUT WHETHER THAT WOULD HAVE GONE IN, BUT FOR THE, THE, THE ANTICIPATION OF THE PLAN AND THE LIKE, DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION NOW.
UH, BUT THERE COULD BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS ON, ON THE BOT FOR, AND HOW TO APPLY THE, BUT FOR HIM, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THIS POINT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'VE PRESERVED AND WHAT WE HAVEN'T PRESERVED FOR CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN ORDER TO, TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARIES, UH, WE WOULD NEED TO RE THERE'S, YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING IN ADVANCE.
AND THAT'S ALSO ON THE THURSDAY'S AGENDA, UM, BEFORE ESTABLISHING THE TERSE IN ORDER TO HOLD THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE'S ALSO STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THAT WE NOTIFY THE PUBLIC AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE THROUGH THE, THE MAIN PAPER IN THE AREA.
SO WE DID INCLUDE THAT THIS LAST WEEK IN THE STATESMAN.
UM, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AGAIN, UM, IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARY AND, AND, UM, TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THAT INCLUDED.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE? I, COLLEAGUES IT'S ANTICIPATED, WE HAVE A JOINT SESSION NEXT TUESDAY WITH THE COUNTY ON THE COVID REPORT.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD BE ADDING BY SPECIAL CALLED NOTICE TO THAT, UH, MEETING ON TUESDAY, THE EXTENSION OF DR.
WACHS AUTHORITY TO, UH, KEEP THE ORDER SHE HAS WITH RESPECT TO SCHOOLS AND THE, LIKE APPARENTLY OUR AUTHORITY THAT SAYS THAT HER ORDERS HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THIS IS WHAT'S ALSO ON TUESDAY, IT'S ANTICIPATED.
IF WE HAVE ENOUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTICIPATING WITH US ON TUESDAY, UH, WE MAY EXTEND THAT AUTHORITY.
UH, WE COULD ALSO ON TUESDAY ADD THE SNOOPY POD PIECE BACK INTO THE DISTRICT, UH, OR NOT.
I MEAN, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WE COULD DO ON TUESDAY IF WE WANTED TO, UH, DO THAT TODAY, I DO NEED TO CONFER WITH LEGAL ON THAT.
UM, BUT IF ASSUMING THAT THERE'S THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,
[00:35:01]
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN TODAY'S STATESMAN, UM, AND BECAUSE OF THE WEEK NOTICE, BUT I JUST, I NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH LEGAL TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF THAT MAYOR.CAN I SPEAK TO THEM? LET ME ASK A QUESTION OR COME BACK TO YOU JUST A SECOND.
SO THE, UH, UH, UM, IF WE WANTED TO ADD THAT PIECE OF LAND BACK INTO THIS, WE COULD, WE COULD ADD IT NEXT YEAR, BUT IT WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT ACCRUAL DATE THAN THE REST OF THE PROPERTIES.
IS THAT CORRECT? IF YOU WERE THAT TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES AFTER THE TOUR'S HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ON A FINAL PLAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE GOING S ST AND GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF A PUBLIC HEARING AND, UM, THE ASSOCIATED MARKET ANALYSIS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UM, BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO THE SAME CRITERIA AS IS THE, THIS TOURISM IS RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIMITATIONS, IF ANY, WHAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN IF THE COUNCIL WISHED TO INCLUDE THAT PROPERTY IN IT AND WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF DOING IT NEXT YEAR, AS OPPOSED TO THIS YEAR, JUST TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO CAUSE SHE ALSO PULLED THIS ITEM AND THEN WE'LL, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
SO YOU HIT ON MY FIRST QUESTION, WHICH IS WHY THE SNOOPY POD WAS NOT INCLUDED.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN A FULL EXPLANATION OF THAT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES.
AND SO IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO VERY QUICKLY POST IT IN THE STATESMAN SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING NEXT WEEK TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARIES, THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME.
AND ALSO IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD ASK LEGAL TO LOOK AND SEE WHETHER A BOUNDARY, WHETHER THE INCLUSION OF THAT FITS WITHIN THE EXISTING POSTING LANGUAGE OR NOT, IF WE COULD JUST GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
SO, UH, AMONG OTHER QUESTIONS I HAVE, AND I'LL TRY TO SUBMIT THESE TODAY FOR THE Q AND A, BUT IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, AND I HAVE, I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE MY COLLEAGUES TO SORT OF BE ENGAGED IN.
SO I MAY, I MAY NEED TO DEFER AT SOME POINT AND COME BACK.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY, WHAT THE RATIONALE IS FOR CAPPING THE TOUR'S AT 46% AND THEN HOW THAT COMPARES TO SOME OF OUR OTHER TOURS? AT LEAST I THOUGHT AT LEAST ONE OF THEM WAS AT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO COULD YOU TALK THROUGH WHY 46%? AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER KIND OF HIGH LEVEL QUESTION.
SO IN HISTORICALLY IN OUR OTHER ATTORNEYS, AS WE HAVE BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT, THAT DOES CREATE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF, UH, THE GENERAL FUND ITS IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND, UM, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE, THE DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER ASPECTS.
UH, SO BY, UH, COMMITTING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF YOUR TAX COLLECTIONS IN THE AREA, YOU'RE ACTUALLY CAUSING THE GENERAL FUND TO ABSORB ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, WHICH JUST LIMITS YOUR ABILITY TO USE THE GENERAL FUND FOR OTHER, NOT OTHER NEEDS.
UM, SO WHEN WE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL LAST MONTH ABOUT THE PLAN FOR HOW WE WOULD APPROACH THIS HERS, WE HAD INDICATED THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ONLY THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GROWTH BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT MADE IN THAT, IN THE ZONE.
UM, SO WHEN WE PULL OUT THE PROJECT CONNECT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS IN THE AREA, AND THEN ALSO CALCULATE HOW MUCH OF THE VALUATION WOULD BE ASSOCIATED, THE VALUATION GROWTH WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AS OUTLINED IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY RESULTS IN A 46% CONTRIBUTION RATE.
SO IS THE, IS THE RATIONALE IS THE, IS THE CALCULATION 46% BECAUSE YOU'RE ASSUMING 54% IS DUE TO PROJECT CONNECT? NO, UH, THEY, THE, LET ME PULL UP ALL THE NUMBERS, SO IT CAN BE EXACT ON THE NUMBERS HERE.
SO WE'RE ASSUMING THAT, UM, JUST UNDER 55% OF THE VALUATION GROWTH IN THE AREA IS JUST BASED ON THE MARKET ANALYSIS THAT WE RECEIVED IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
UM, WHEN THEN WE ALSO REDUCE THE, THE PROPERTY TAX CALCULATION, UH, FOR THE PRO PROJECT CONNECT PORTION OF THE TAX RATE, AND THEN APPLY THAT 55%.
SO THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY GETS YOU TO THE 46%.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE TAKEN WITH REGARD TO OUR OTHER CHOICES, WHICH ARE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT, AND THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO KIND OF CALCULATE HOW MUCH OF THAT GROWTH IN VALUATION WAS DUE TO OTHER FACTORS, MARKET FACTORS, OTHER KINDS OF FACTORS.
[00:40:01]
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS THAT WE'RE SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT AND HOW WE'RE IN, HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THIS TOURERS UM, AND I, I WANNA UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHY THAT SHIFT IS HAPPENING MAYBE OUTSIDE OF THIS CONVERSATION AND IN THE Q AND A INSTEAD.UM, ONE, ONE ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT, UM, IN LOOKING AT WHAT WOULD BE REGARDED AS THE TOP TIER, THE TIER ONE PROJECTS, I'M NOT SEEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS ONE OF THEM.
AND SO THAT, TO ME SUGGESTS, AND I WANT TO VERIFY THIS ASSUMPTION, THAT PROJECTS SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WE'VE DIRECTED STAFF TO DO AT ONE TEXAS CENTER AND THE, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS OPPOSED TO BE COMPRISED ABOUT 25% OF, OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
AND SO I DON'T, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY IT'S NOT IN THE TOP TIER IN THE TIER ONE IN THE TIER ONE LISTED AS A TIER ONE PROJECT.
AND THAT WOULD, THAT MEANS THEN IF WE WANT TO SEE THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH OTHER SOURCES OR AT A MUCH LATER PHASE.
AND I DON'T THINK EITHER IS SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT.
SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT WITHIN THE TIER ONE, IT'S THE, THE PROPERTY VALUE, UH, AND THE ASSOCIATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT CALCULATIONS SHOWED THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO MEET THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASPECTS OF IT.
HOWEVER, UM, THE EXACT COST RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS HARD TO CALCULATE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFER TO ROSIE, TRUE LOVE TO SPEAK TO IN TERMS OF JUST WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT AREA LOOKS LIKE.
UM, SO THE INTENT WOULD BE AS DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR.
UM, THOSE, THOSE PROJECTS WOULD INCORPORATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO THEIR PROJECTS AND THEN THE CITY, UH, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WE CAN MAKE WITHIN THE ZONE AS WELL.
I'M SORRY, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT MS. ALVAREZ.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CALCULUS THAT YOU DID AN ESTIMATION OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO PRODUCE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS IN OUR VISION PLAN AND DECIDED IT WAS MORE THAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GENERATE THROUGH THE TOURS.
THE, AND, AND THEN HOW DID THAT, AND SO KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE SHORT FUNDS ANYWAY, MAYBE I'M MISUNDERSTANDING, YOU WERE, WE'RE EXTREMELY LIMITED ON HOW MANY, HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WOULD BE CREATED WITHIN THE ZONE.
UM, SO LOOKING AT WHAT WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THAT, BUT FOUR CRITERIA IN THE VARIOUS OTHER ASPECTS OF CREATING HIS OWN, UM, WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT INVESTMENTS CAN, CAN SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THAT ZONE.
AND THEN, UM, I WANTED IT FOR, TO ROSIE TO SPEAK TO MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN HANDLE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MORE DETAIL IN THE AREA, BUT IS THIS, IS IT AS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED? AM I RIGHT IN ASSUMING THAT THE TOUR'S IS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT? THAT IS CORRECT.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG DIVERGENCE FROM WHAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, WHAT, UM, W WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, WHAT WE'VE PRIORITIZED ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY A CONCERN, AND I LIKELY WILL JUST MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO, TO MAKE IT SO ON THURSDAY.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATION, BUT I JUST HAVE TO FLAG THAT THAT'S A REAL DIVERGENCE OF, OF, UM, WHERE WE WERE GOING.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL ADVANTAGE, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.
I DID JUST WANT TO STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO RAISE SOME OF THESE ISSUES EARLY ON IN THE CONVERSATION THAT CREATION OF THE TERS DOESN'T SOLVE ALL THE FUNDING CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
THERE'S ROUGHLY $250 MILLION OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED.
I THINK ACTUALLY WITH INFLATION STAFF NOW, ESTIMATES THAT WILL BE ABOUT $270 MILLION.
UM, AND I'VE SEEN ESTIMATES AS HIGH AS $250 MILLION.
IF WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THE 20% AFFORDABILITY GOAL USING CITY FINANCING FOR IT.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR OTHER TOURS IS SUCH AS MUELLER AND SUCH AS EVEN THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AT COLONY PARK, THE 20% AFFORDABILITY IS, IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
AND THE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IN THOSE CASES IS TO PUT IN PUBLIC AND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS TO BUILD THE DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, AND COMMERCIAL.
AND IN THAT HOUSING WOULD BE 20% AFFORDABLE AS PART OF, AS PART OF THE, UH, UH, AGREEMENT IN THE NEGOTIATION.
SO THERE'S REALLY TWO AVENUES FOR HOW WE WOULD ACHIEVE THE 20% AFFORDABILITY CONSISTENT WITH OUR TIFF POLICY.
ONE WOULD BE TO ADD IT TO THE TERRORS, BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE ONLY ESTIMATING ABOUT $95 MILLION OF BONDING CAPACITY FROM THIS TOUR'S, UM, WHICH WOULDN'T BE SUFFICIENT EVEN ACHIEVE THE 20% AFFORDABILITY OR IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP THE AREA, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES HOUSING, THE POLICY WOULD REQUIRE FOR 20% OF THAT TO BE AFFORDABLE, IF THAT DEVELOPMENT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TERS.
SO I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THEIR ROLE HERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MAYOR FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO ME AFTER EVERYBODY'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT WE'RE SETTING IT AT WE'RE
[00:45:01]
WHAT'S BEFORE US IS SETTING IT AT 46%, NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, IT'S EXCLUDING A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GENERATING QUITE A BIT OF GROWTH.AND, AND THOSE ARE BOTH REVENUE GEN.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE IN THE TOURS TO HELP FUND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WAS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE PLAN.
WE'RE ALSO MAKING SOME REVENUE CHOICE, WE'RE MAKING SOME CHOICES ABOUT REVENUE, AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, SETTING IT HIGHER THAN 46, UM, PUTS ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THE GENERAL FUND.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CONNECTION REALLY CLOSELY.
I'M JUST, I'M ALSO SAYING I'M SEEING A REAL CHALLENGE HERE WITH HOW WE, HOW WE FULFILL OUR COMMITMENT TO GET THAT 25% AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, UH, AND DO IT AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, WHICH IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE PLACE WHERE WE COULD GET A LOT OF IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE QUESTION OF THE POSTING LANGUAGE AND WHATNOT, I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT, THE TWO DIFFERENT PATHS OF AMENDING THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES VERSUS JUST POSTPONING AND TAKING IT ALL UP WITH AMENDED POSTING LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE, UM, WHAT IS MOST EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET THAT OTHER PROPERTY IN THERE? SO AGAIN, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE ROLE THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED WITH, UM, CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOURISTS, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO COME BACK AROUND, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, LILA FIRESIDE IS IN THE MEETING AND SHE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, UM, SPEAK UP, SORRY.
UH, LILA FIRESIDE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, AND PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH ADDING THE SNOOPY PIPE AND IS THAT IF WE CAN'T MAKE THE BUTT FOR ANALYSIS, THEN WE CAN'T USE THAT TO SUPPORT THE BONDS.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WILL LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THE BONDS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN MEET THAT, BUT FOR TEST AND THE SNOOPY PUD IS ALREADY DEVELOPING.
AND SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THAT ANALYSIS.
SO THAT IS WHY THE ECONOMICS OF IT AND THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK RESULTED IN THAT EXCLUSION.
UH, WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THE NOTICE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED, FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S WHAT THE MOST EFFICIENT PATH IS TO CONSIDER ADDING IT.
BUT YOU DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ADDING IT IN WILL NOT NECESSARILY GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO AS FAR AS, UM, FUNDING FOR THE PUTT AND FUNDING FOR THE BONDS.
AND THEN MS. ALBERTOS IS CORRECT.
UM, ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE GEOGRAPHY, UH, ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN, UH, WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS OF REVIEW FOR ECONOMICS REVIEW FOR FEASIBILITY NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER, A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN, UH, ADOPTION BY COUNCIL.
UH, CERTAINLY THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF REGARDING HOW THEY CAN INTEGRATE INTO HELPING US OPERATE THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT.
SO, AND THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW CAN THEY BRING DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT, UM, MEET THE GOALS OF COUNCIL AS FAR AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND AS FAR AS BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL VALUE, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND IF THE TOURIST GENERATES MORE FUNDING THAN WE INITIALLY ANTICIPATE, IT'S TIERED RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO PHASE IN ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE IT CASPER TOVA THAT ISSUES THAT YOU'VE RAISED, THAT I SHARE THOSE SAME ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ADC.
I KNOW THAT THEY WERE HOPING TO GET SOME OF THEIR INITIAL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING FROM THIS.
IT TALKS ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING BEING A COMPONENT OF THIS, BUT IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE VC, BUT ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS, WHEN, WHEN I, WHEN I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT THE RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL WAS REALLY JUST TO PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE VALUE, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME TO ACTUALLY HAVE COUNSEL WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES AND THE POLICY QUESTIONS BY WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE.
IN FACT, I HAD SUGGESTED AT ONE POINT YOU JUST PUT IN 0% OR THAT WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY MAKING THE DECISION.
NOW YOU PUT IN 46%, I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S 40, PER 6% OR 80% OR 2% OTHER THAN DOING WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED TO DO TO HAVE A PLAN THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
[00:50:01]
AND CAPTURE THE VALUE.SO IF I LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, WELL, RECOGNIZING THAT IN ORDER TO CAPTURE THE VALUE YOU HAD TO PUT IN A PLAN, A PLAN BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAD COULD BE SUPPORTED AT 46% BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU, THAT YOU HAD.
AND THAT ENABLED US THEN TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I MAY HAVE ASSUMED WRONG, BUT I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEBATE THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE ON WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE IS.
AND WHETHER THAT SNOOPY POD DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, BUT FOR THE, THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAN OR NOT, I THINK THERE'S ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE THAT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED THAT WAY, BUT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAN AND ANTICIPATION OF THAT PLAN.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A PLACE TO, TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AN ENTIRE DAY WORK SESSION ON THE PLAN.
THE ONLY THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MOSTLY IS THE EXCLUSION OF THE SNOOPY POD LAND, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS REMOVED FROM THE COUNCIL, THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO THAT, THAT I, THAT, YOU KNOW, I COULD PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY TO ADD THE SNOOPY PUD LAND INTO THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, IF THAT WERE SOMETHING THAT WERE FEASIBLE TO DO, RECOGNIZING THAT THE ULTIMATE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ULTIMATELY INCLUDED OR NOT, I WOULD WANT TO HAVE TIME AND A WORK SESSION TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER BECAUSE IT MAY BE THAT IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE IN THERE, BUT RATHER THAN HAVING A TWO TIERED SYSTEM, IF WE DECIDED WE DID ULTIMATELY PUT IT IN, IF WE COULD TAKE AN ACTION ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY NEXT WEEK TO INCLUDE IT.
AND IF THERE WAS SUFFICIENT INTEREST IN PRESENCE OF THE COUNCIL, UH, I WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND WOULD SUPPORT THAT MEASURE BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THAT KEEPS OPEN THE FLEXIBILITY FOR US.
AND MAYOR, JUST, IF I COULD CLARIFY, I NEED TO CLARIFY WITH LEGAL, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS STILL, LIKE WHAT IS, WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE BOUNDARIES.
DOES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN AS YOU BETTER ARTICULATED, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO DO ONE STEP AND THEN AMEND IT NEXT WEEK? OR DOES IT MAKE BETTER SENSE JUST TO TAKE IT UP NEXT WEEK AND WEDNESDAY, IF WE COULD DO THIS WEDNESDAY, I HAVE FEWER CHALLENGES THAN I WOULD HAVE A LITTLE LATER IN THE WEEK.
HE'S GOT TO RESPOND TO, I THINK WE WOULD NEED AT LEAST 10 DAYS.
I BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT ON THE THREE DAYS NOTICE, UM, TO GET THE AD, THIS REQUIRED INTO THE PAPER, THEN WE NEED SEVEN DAYS, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PRIOR TO COUNCIL TAKING ACTION ON THE CREATION OF A TOURS.
SO THAT WOULD GET US TO FRIDAY, I BELIEVE.
WE NEED TO PULL OTHER OFFICES TO SEE AVAILABILITY.
LIKE, UM, YOU TOLD HIM ABOUT FRIDAY THE 17TH, RIGHT? YEAH.
THREE OF US HAVE A CAP METRO BOARD, MEANING THAT COULD GO RATHER LONG ON THAT DAY.
SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND JUST, I MEAN, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN.
I DON'T WANT TO STAND IN THE WAY IF THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AS YOU, AS YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA FIGURED THAT OUT, BUT JUST BE AWARE THAT, UM, THAT REALLY NEED TO PULL PEOPLE'S OFFICES BECAUSE WE HADN'T PLANNED AND I MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ALL NEXT WEEK.
SO BECAUSE WE HADN'T PLANNED ON IT WITH A SPECIAL CALL MEETING AND IF WE ARE, IF IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FINE, BUT I, I WOULD WANT US TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO PUT OTHER THINGS ON IT TOO.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY UNTIL NOW.
WE'LL BE OUT OF TOWN ON THE 17TH.
SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT AS HER ELLIS.
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY IF THAT'S AN OPTION THAT IS AN OPTION.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE IT COULD BE A, YOU KNOW, A FIVE MINUTE MEETING.
UH, IF ALL WE WERE DOING WAS INCREASING THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SUBJECT TO LIMITING IT NEXT YEAR.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE A LONG MEETING, BUT IF WE COULD CHECK TO SEE WHETHER THAT WAS FEASIBLE AND WHETHER THAT WOULD IN FACT AFFECT WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED OR NOT ANYTHING ELSE AT, UM, JUST IN CASE IT'S PERTINENT TO THE, YOUR DELIBERATIONS ON THE MATTER, UM, LELA LAID OUT THE LEGAL CONCERNS WITH INCLUDING THE, UM, RIVER SOUTH PROPERTY IN THE TOURISTS.
THERE'S ALSO A FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES AND BOTH OF THESE WERE DISCUSSED AT THE NOVEMBER 16 BRIEFING,
[00:55:01]
BUT, UM, PUTTING THAT PARCEL INTO THE TERS, UM, WOULD HAVE A GENERAL FUND IMPACT.THESE, YEAH, THIS IS F UH, UM, A BUILDING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED.
IT'S A BUILDING THERE'LL BE COMING ONTO THE TAX ROLL, UM, JANUARY 1ST, 2022, AND IT'S REVENUE THAT WILL EITHER GO INTO A DEDICATED TERSE FUND OR ITS REVENUE THAT WILL GO INTO A GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE CRITICAL ASPECTS, TWO CRITICAL ASPECTS TO THE, BUT FOR REQUIREMENT, IT'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT OF STATE LAW.
THE BONDS WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE AND THEN, UH, PRESERVING THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IN A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT REVENUE CAP IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER, UM, ENSURING THAT THAT, BUT FOR ARGUMENT EXISTS, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, THE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT VALUE WOULDN'T COME.
BUT IF THE DEVELOPMENT VALUE IS ALREADY THERE, THAT IS, UM, GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, UH, PLAN FOR AND FORECAST FOR IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET, BUT, BUT TO MAKE TWO CLEAR HEADS.
SO I MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE THE SNOOPY, UH, UH, POD TRACK INACTION, WE TOOK IN DECEMBER.
AND THEN IF WE WERE TO HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS ISSUE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, UH, WHERE WE WOULD ACTUALLY SIT THROUGH AND DISCUSS THE POLICY QUESTIONS, YOU JUST RAISED THE DEFINITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO RAISED.
WE COULD IN FACT TAKE IT OUT OF THE DISTRICT IN FEBRUARY, UH, WITH NO FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY.
IS THAT CORRECT? I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO LILA WITH WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO THEN.
AND I GUESS IT GOES TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ASKING, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IS THAT WE COULD THEN AMEND TO TAKE IT OUT.
WE COULD AMEND TO CHANGE THE PERCENTAGES IF THEY WERE TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW, WE COULD AMEND TO DO, TO ADD A DC.
I DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE PRESENTATION HAD LAST TIME, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, WE WERE JUST TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MANY OPTIONS AS WE CAN.
AND WHAT I'M REACTING TO TODAY IS IT LOOKS LIKE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, WE'RE NOT PRESERVING ALL THE OPTIONS, BUT LATER, LET ME ASK YOU THAT QUESTION.
IF WE WANT, IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE IT IN THE PUD GEOGRAPHIC AREA BY ACTION NEXT WEEK, COULD WE IN JANUARY WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN OR FEBRUARY TO GO THROUGH THE PROS AND CONS AND THE ISSUES AND DISCUSS IT IN ATLANTA, THE POLICY CONCERNS MR. VAN DE NIRO THAT YOU'VE RAISED, COULD WE TAKE IT OUT IN FEBRUARY? UM, I KNOW THAT AT THE HEARING, WHICH YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE, UH, IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE IT, YOU CAN EXCLUDE ANY PIECES OF PROPERTY.
UM, W WE HAVEN'T DONE AN ACTION WHERE WE'VE TAKEN OUT PIECES OF PROPERTY FROM A PUD, I MEAN, FROM A TOURIST, BUT I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, FOR THE FINAL PLAN, IF THE FINAL PLAN IS WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED AND ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY.
OR WE COULD HAVE, EVEN IF WE WEREN'T READY TO DO THE FINAL PLAN UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR, WE COULD HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION ON THESE ELEMENTS IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY WHERE I'M, I'M NOT NECESSARILY TYING THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
IN FACT, I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A WORK SESSION.
WELL, BEFORE YOU DEVELOP THE FINAL PLAN, I COME BACK TO COUNCIL SO THAT YOU COULD GET DIRECTION ON THOSE THINGS.
SO WE COULD HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POLICY ELEMENTS.
AND THEN BASED ON THAT, THEN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND DEVELOP A FINAL PLAN THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DIRECTION WAS.
SURE THAT THE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE THAT IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE STATUTE, UH, WE ARE LIMITED BY WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE NEWSPAPER, UH, AS FAR AS THE AREA, AND ALSO WHAT WE'VE NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC, AS FAR AS WHAT THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE.
SO WE CAN'T NECESSARILY AMANDA OFF THE CUFF AS FAR AS ADDING THINGS IN, OKAY, I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE RUN IT OFF THE CUFF THAT AT TURNING POINT NEXT YEAR, THAT WE ACTUALLY MADE CHANGES.
WE WOULD DULY NOTICE THEM AND DISCUSS THEM.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE, WE CURTAIL ANY OF THE PROCESSES, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE CAN DO ALL THE NECESSARY PROCESSES AND NEXT YEAR, AND HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS NEXT YEAR ABOUT SUBSEQUENTLY WHAT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
THE ONE THING THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISCUSS NEXT YEAR IS WHETHER OR NOT WE INCLUDE THIS, THE SNOOPY POTTER, NOT IF WE DON'T ADD IT NOW, THEN WE'RE PRECLUDED FOR THAT.
UNLESS WE WANT TO BUILD A TWO TIERED
[01:00:01]
SYSTEM WITH TIMING, WHICH, WHICH SEEMS TO BE UNDULY CUMBERSOME AND LIKE SO SURE.SO YES, YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE APPROPRIATE NOTICE AS YOU'VE DISCUSSED.
UM, NOW WE DO HAVE SOME TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES IN THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE EITHER LENGTHENED THE TIME OR ADDED IN PROPERTY.
SO IT'S, UM, SO IT CAN BE DONE AND IT DOESN'T RECAP IT WITH ANYTHING.
IF YOU CHOSE TO ADOPT THIS ON THURSDAY AND THEN ASK STAFF TO COME BACK, UH, IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WOULD BE A DIFFERENT TAX INCREMENT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE, I MEAN, A DIFFERENT TAX YEAR SETTING THE VALUE FOR THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
BUT OTHERWISE WE HAVE DONE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES WHERE WE HAVE CHANGED THE BOUNDARIES.
SO TO THAT POINT, UH, KATHY ON THURSDAY, THE ONLY THING THAT WE WOULD BE MISSING IF WE APPROVE ON THURSDAY WITH CAL, WITH STAFF HAS PROPOSED, WE CAN CHANGE ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE PLAN.
WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION ON IT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ADDING SNOOPY POD, WHICH WE COULD DO SUBSEQUENTLY, AND WE WOULD LOSE ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF VALUE, ADD THAT WE WOULD HAVE IN PLAY.
AND THAT'S THE QUESTION I THINK, I THINK THAT COULD BE A LOT THOUGH.
NO, I MEAN, I, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT YOU'RE MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S ACTIVELY REDEVELOPING.
SO TO ME, THAT'S, UM, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY COMPLICATED AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES MIGHT NEED TO BE REMOTE, INCLUDING MAYBE ME, UM, DEPENDING ON WHICH DAY WE DO IT THOUGH, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT I CAN DO TO BE HERE WHEN I NEEDED TO BE.
BUT I THINK STILL THAT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THAT STILL MAYBE THE BEST OPTION JUST TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET IT DONE, GET THAT PROPERTY ADDED IN FOR THIS TAX YEAR.
SO, SO I THINK THAT'S THE FLEXIBILITY WE'RE ASKING STAFF TO PROVIDERS.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE AS PASSING IT ON THURSDAY AND TENDING TO AMEND THE PLAN ON NEXT WEEK, FRIDAY, AND WHAT WOULD BE A FIVE MINUTE HEARING FOR PEOPLE AT THE REMOTELY COME BACK TO IF THEY NEEDED TO, UNLESS WE HAD SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE WHO WERE IN SEVEN PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE AND INCLINED TO VOTE ON IT.
UM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD NEED TO INITIATE NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY TO AT LEAST KEEP THAT POSSIBILITY ALIVE FOR US NEXT WEEK.
WE COULD ALWAYS EXERCISE IT OR NOT.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE MANAGER IF YOU WOULD, UH, DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY TODAY TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE MEETING ON FRIDAY TO, TO ADD THAT, UH, TRACK.
AND THEN ON THURSDAY WE COULD DECIDE, FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE'S SCHEDULES WERE TO SEE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY FEASIBLE.
I ALSO SUGGEST MONDAY THE 20TH AS ANOTHER OPTION TO LOOK AT, I HAVE, I HAVE ONE CHALLENGE WITH FRIDAY THAT I NEED TO SPEAK WITH OUR SPEAK WITH SOME OTHERS ABOUT, UM, BUT MONDAY IS, IS ANOTHER DAY WE MIGHT CONSIDER.
MAYBE I WOULD PREFER MONDAY ALSO IF POSSIBLE.
AND JUST, IF YOU END UP NOTICING FOR FRIDAY, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THREE OF US WHO ARE OUT ALL FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
SO FOR THE CAP METRO MEETING, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL LAST, BUT IT'S A LONG ONE AND IT COULD BE ALL AFTERNOON.
SO WE JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE AGAIN THAT WHEN WE DO THIS ON EITHER FRIDAY OR MONDAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
BUT WE CAN'T STEP OUT FOR FIVE MINUTES AND WE MIGHT WANT TO BE PART OF IT.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE FRIDAY MORNING? I AM.
BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS.
SO THEY JUST NEED TO CHECK ON, ON AVAILABILITY.
I'M NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT ON MONDAY.
I WOULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, UM, REMOTE IN, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD NEED TO BE HERE AT THE DEUS, UH, CONVENING THAT MEETING MANAGER.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CERTAINLY HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE, UH, ON THIS MATTER, BUT ON THURSDAY I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DIRECTION VOTED ON.
IF, IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPTION THAT COUNCIL WANTS STAFF TO PURSUE HERE, PLEASE TAKE WHATEVER ACTIONS NECESSARY TODAY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT OPTION FOR US ON THURSDAY.
DID YOU WANT SIX? WELL, I, I DO.
AND, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY, AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TIME TO CONSULT WITH LILA ON HOW BEST TO PROCEED.
BUT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THE PLAN ON THURSDAY AND THEN ANY AMENDMENT YOU, YES, YOU COULD AMEND THE PLAN LATER THIS MONTH OR ANY AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE.
BUT AN AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN REQUIRES ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE
[01:05:01]
LEADING UP TO THE PLAN WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.SO WE WOULD NEED TO DO AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS.
WE'D NEED TO HAVE A PROJECT AMENDMENT PLAN.
WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE A CASE THAT, BUT FOR THE, THE, THE, THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT, THE VALUE IN THIS AREA THAT WE'RE ADDING THE SNOOPY PUD, WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T BE THERE.
WE WOULDN'T GET THE VALUE FROM THE SNOOPY PUD, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT, WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE THAT CASE AND HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE CMR DO THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO MAKE THAT CASE.
THAT WOULD BE WHY WE'RE AMENDING THE PLAN IS WE WANT TO ADD THIS PARCEL BECAUSE, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT, WE WOULDN'T GET THE VALUE FROM THE PARCEL.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO DO SO IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAD, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF WE COULD HAVE SOME TIME TO CONSULT WITH LEILA AND MAY BE A BETTER COURSE OF ACTION TO NOT TAKE ACTION ON THURSDAY AND CALL A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AND JUST REDO THE PUBLIC NOTICE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AMENDING THE PLAN.
BUT, UM, I THINK IT STILL WILL BE A CHALLENGE BASED UPON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM LEILA AND WHAT I JUST SAID TO, TO MAKE THAT THE CHALLENGE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A LEGAL CHALLENGE.
THE CHALLENGE APPEARS TO BE A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE, THAT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ABILITY TO BE ABLE.
WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOU JUST SAY AT THEN THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THE STUPID POD IN THE 10 DAYS THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE, WHICH THEN PUTS US IN THE POSITION WHERE WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE CHANGES NEXT YEAR ON EVERYTHING, EXCEPT FOR CAPTURING THE SNOOPY PUD VALUE.
THIS YEAR, WE GET ADD SNOOPY POD NEXT YEAR, BUT WE WOULD THEN MISS ONE YEAR OF VALUE FOR THAT ONE TRACK.
AND IT COULD BE THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT.
NOT FOR LEGAL REASONS, BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS, BUT FOR THE PRACTICAL REASONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN PREPARE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT IN MY MIND, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER WE ADOPT THE WHOLE PLAN ON THURSDAY OR THE WHOLE PLAN NEXT WEEK OR AN AMENDMENT NEXT WEEK, IT'S ALL EFFECTIVELY THE SAME THING.
I DON'T KNOW, SEE WHAT CHANGES I HEARD.
AGAIN, I THINK THE, UM, THE KEY THAT THE CHALLENGE WITH THESE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES IS THAT THAT FACTUAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS IS PART OF THE STATUTE.
AND SO I THINK WHAT, WHAT ED IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE IS WE NEED TO DO ALL OF THAT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACTION THAT YOU TAKE FITS WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK.
AND THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD BY, BY, BY UNDERSTANDING FROM THAT IS IF WE DID AN M IF WE PASSED IT ON THURSDAY AND TRIED TO DO AN AMENDMENT NEXT WEEK OR A WEEK MONDAY, OR IF WE WANTED TO JUST ADOPT THE WHOLE PLAN NEXT FRIDAY OR A WEEK MONDAY, THE WORK THAT'S REQUIRED OF STAFF IS EXACT.
THE ADDITIONAL WORK IS EXACTLY THE SAME.
I MEAN, NOTHING CHANGES IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND WHAT I HEAR ED SAYING IS THAT THERE'S NOT SUFFICIENT TIME REALLY TO DO THAT WORK THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO EITHER DO THE AMENDMENT OR TO DOP A PLAN THAT'S BEEN CHANGED IN WHICH CASE WE JUST, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
AND WE CAN CHANGE ALL THE VARIABLES WITH PERCENTAGES AND CAPTURES AND AEDC AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO DO, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO NOT, NOT GET THE INCREMENTAL VALUE INCREASE IN THE FIRST YEAR FOR THAT TRACK, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE ED SAYING, NOT SURE THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE LEGWORK NECESSARY TO BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL, BECAUSE EXCEPT THAT SOME OF THIS WORK WAS DONE AND WAS JUST, I, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK BACK AT KIND OF THE HISTORY OF THIS, I THOUGHT THAT ANALYSIS HAD BEEN DONE AND WAS ON THE WHOLE SOUTH WATERFRONT, SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, AND THEN WAS JUST BEING REFRESHED.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, PART OF, PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WHEN YOU BROUGHT YOUR RESOLUTION, I BROUGHT MINE WAS THAT SOME OF THIS WORK WAS, I MEAN, IT HAD BEEN IN PROGRESS A LONG TIME.
SO I WONDER IF SOME OF THAT ANALYSIS EXISTS IN SOME FORM FOR THIS PROPERTY AND JUST NEEDS TO BE NEEDS TO EITHER BE REFRESHED OR SURFACED.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A QUESTION I KNOW THE ANSWER TO, BUT JUST GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND DOING THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS MARKET ANALYSIS, IT WOULD SURPRISE ME IF THERE'S NO NOTHING THERE TO WORK WITH.
SORRY, I, THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU AS A PRACTICAL
[01:10:01]
MATTER.IS THERE TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK, WHETHER IT'S ADOPTING A WHOLE PLAN WITH CHANGES NEXT WEEK, OR WHETHER IT'S ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO A PLAN WE APPROVED THIS WEEK? IT SEEMS WHAT I'M HEARING IS IT'S THE SAME WORK, ADDITIONAL WORK YOU WOULD NEED TO DO NEXT FOR NEXT WEEK.
BUT WHAT I HEAR, BUT THE QUESTION HAS ALREADY TOLD WAS ASKING YOU IS, CAN YOU REALLY DO IT, I GUESS, IS THE QUESTION GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN GATHERED? I THINK LAKE WORK-WISE, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE EXPEDIENT FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE.
IF WE, UM, IF COUNCIL WERE TO NOT TAKE ACTION ON THURSDAY, AND WE WERE TO SIMPLY COME BACK WITH AN INITIAL PLAN THAT SAYS, THESE ARE THE BOUNDARIES, AND THIS IS OUR VALUE CAPTURE PROPOSITION AND ESTIMATES THINK AMENDING THE PLAN WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE WORK BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO, WE'D HAVE TO BRING SOMEBODY BACK TO LOOK JUST AT THAT PARCEL, AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT THE WHOLE AREA, THE WHOLE AREA, LOOK AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SPOKE TO HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
UM, OUR, OUR CONCERN REMAINS, YOU KNOW, MAKING THE JUSTIFICATION THAT ABOUT FOR, FOR THAT PROPERTY THAT ALREADY WE CAN ALL SEE IT OUT THE WINDOW THAT, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT THAT WOULDN'T OCCUR, THAT'S OUR CONCERN, RIGHT? BUT THERE, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY THAT ARE BUILT BEFORE THE ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY'RE BEING BUILT FOR IS ACTUALLY COMPLETED.
VALUE GOES UP IN PROPERTY NEXT TO A NEWLY ANNOUNCED LOCATION FOR AN AIRPORT BEFORE THE AIRPORT.
IS THERE, THE VALUE WOULDN'T BE THERE, BUT FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT AN AIRPORT WOULD BE COMING IN, AND SOMETIMES THOSE, UH, ADJACENT TRACKS DEVELOP OUT EVEN BEFORE THE AIRPORT IS BUILT, BUT THE ARGUMENT COULD STILL BE MADE.
BUT FOR THE AIRPORT THAT TRACK WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ITS VALUE WHERE THAT USE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO DECIDE THAT QUESTION NOW.
UH, BUT THAT'S A QUESTION THAT WE COULD HAVE BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANY PLAN AND, AND, AND GO OUT FOR FUNDING OR FINANCING BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE MAKE.
AND I THINK THAT IS A LONGER CONVERSATION, AS WELL AS THE POLICY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE RAISED.
SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT I, THAT I ULTIMATELY BELIEVE THIS TRACK SHOULD BE IN IT FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE.
WE NEED A LONGER CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PRESERVE OPTIONS.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION, THE THRESHOLD QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR TWO TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT CASPAR TOBA, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING, WOULD IT BE BETTER FOR US TO NOT TAKE THE ACTION ON THURSDAY, TAKE THE ACTION NEXT WEEK, BUT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN IN FACT TAKE ACTION NEXT WEEK OR A WEEK BY DAY, WHETHER WE HAVE SUFFICIENT COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND WHETHER YOU AND THE STAFF HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TEE THAT UP AGAIN.
AND THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION IS IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO, IT WOULD BE TO POSTPONE THE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY TO A FUTURE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AT LEAST 10 DAYS DOWN THE ROAD.
SO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO DO THE PUBLIC HEARING, NOTICING OF OUR AUTHOR.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO HAVE THE SNOOPY PUT IN THERE, BUT I'M REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT OF THE, BUT FOR, I MEAN, IT'S BUILT IT'S THERE.
UM, IT HAS NOT BEEN A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEAR THAT WE'D BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN.
WE COULD STILL INCLUDE THAT PROPERTY IN A PID.
WE COULD STILL INCLUDE THEM IN OTHER FINANCING MECHANISMS THAT WOULD GET THE FUNDING THERE.
I JUST, I, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WAY MORE INVOLVED IN IT.
I, I'M JUST, I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING, THAT WE CAN GET AROUND THE, BUT FOR, BECAUSE IT'S BUILT AND, AND IT MAY CALL INTO QUESTION THE WHOLE HERS AND PUT A LOT OF SCRUTINY ONTO THE TERMS THAT MAY CREATE OTHER HASSLES.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING THE WHOLE TOURERS AND PUTTING IT INTO THIS AND THAT THE WAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IS, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR PROJECT CONNECT AND THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR, UM, THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE VALUE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE REGARDLESS OF THIS ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WOULD BE SOME DEVELOPMENT, THERE WOULD NOT BE ON THE SCALE, UM, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT.
THAT SEEMS THAT IS IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TERMS AND I, AND I, AND I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT I, I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL QUESTION ABOUT THE, BUT FOR, FOR THAT PROPERTY SINCE IT'S BUILT.
AND THEN I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, NOT DOING A HUNDRED PERCENT, WHETHER WE WANT TO SET IT AT ZERO RIGHT NOW, OR AT 46%, I DON'T
[01:15:01]
REALLY CARE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SET IT AT A HUNDRED AND THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC FROM A PROJECT CONNECT PERSPECTIVE.UM, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VALUE THERE, UM, WITHOUT THIS INVESTMENT AS WELL.
AND I'M TRYING NOT TO HAVE US DECIDE THAT QUESTION NOW, BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS DECIDE IT LAST YEAR, BUT LEILA WOULD HAVE THIS QUESTION ON THE, BUT FOR IF THE SNOOPY, IF THE FACTS WERE, AND THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION THAT THE SNOOPY PROJECT WOULD NOT BE BUILT TO THAT HEIGHT OR WITH THAT DENSITY, UH, OR THAT PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT FOR THE ANTICIPATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE A AND THE, AND THE EXECUTION OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PROJECT, WOULD THAT SATISFY THAT, BUT FOUR CRITERIA, UM, I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO IT MORE AND TALK WITH BOND COUNSEL.
UM, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT IT WOULD NOT BECAUSE IT IS NOT, BUT FOR THE THOUGHT OF THE TOURS WHERE THE PLAN FOR THE TOURS COMING INTO PLAY EVENTUALLY, BUT IT IS LOOKING AT IF THE CITY PUTS IN THESE PARTICULAR IMPROVEMENTS WHILE THE DEVELOPMENT OCCUR.
AND IF WE DON'T PUT IN THE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT NOT OCCUR, BUT I AM HAPPY TO CONFER WITH BOND COUNSEL, IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THE PATH OF THAT, ED HAS RECOMMENDED TO PUT THIS ON PAUSE IF YOU WILL, FOR UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY OR NEXT MONDAY.
UM, AND LET US FOLLOW UP ON THESE QUESTIONS THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE.
AND SO THE GOOD QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR ASKED, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE IT, MAYOR, YOU WERE ASKING SOME QUESTIONS OR I'M NOT SURE, I THINK YOU WERE MAKING THIS POINT.
I MEAN, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL.
THE WORK TO DEVELOP THE TOURS HAS BEEN UNDERWAY NOW FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I THINK I, AS I SEE IT, UM, THE CITY MADE A VERY STRONG COMMITMENT TO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS.
AND SO THAT COUPLED WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT PIECE, I THINK ARE, ARE INDEED PROVIDING THAT, BUT FOR, AND, AND HAVE FOR, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE PROPERTIES IN THAT AREA.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO TALK ABOUT THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAN.
THERE'S JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN MORE THAN OTHER KINDS OF PLANNING EFFORTS.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERTED EFFORT THAT SHOWS A REAL COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE COMPONENTS.
AND TO ME THAT AS A PROPERTY OWNER, IF I WERE A PROPERTY OWNER IN THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE RELIED ON THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THERE WAS, THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH ENERGY AND COMMITMENT BEHIND IT.
NOT AS MUCH SPEED MAYBE AS, AS WE WANTED, AS ALL OF US WANTED TO SEE, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF COMMITMENT AND ENERGY BEHIND IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SOME OF OUR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THAT AREA HAVE BEEN RELYING ON IN THEIR REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO FOR ME, THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHIN THE, BUT FOR, AND I WOULD SUGGEST IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, GET ANY MORE INTO THE LEGAL PIECE, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE DO AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO REALLY TALK THROUGH WHAT THE RISKS ARE.
UM, AS A, AS A GROUP OUTSIDE OF THIS SETTING, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, BUT I THINK ON THURSDAY MANAGER, WE'RE GOING TO WANT A BETTER STAFF, BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE ON THURSDAY, WITH WHAT RESULTS AND PLEASE POST NOTICES OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO TODAY TO PRESERVE OPTIONS FOR US ON THURSDAY, WITH RESPECT TO A MEETING ON FRIDAY OR MONDAY, UNLESS YOU DO A HEAD COUNT AND CAN DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ENOUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION HAS OUR POLL.
UM, CAN I ASK, UM, STAFF TO RE, UM, ON THE NEXT TIME WE TALKED ON THURSDAY TO REMIND US, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE, BUT FOR IF YOU COULD JUST REVIEW THAT FOR US ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S CLEARLY THE, THE CRUX OF THIS CONVERSATION.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR IN MY MIND WHAT EXACTLY WE WERE, HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT AND THE ELEMENTS THAT WERE CONTAINED IN IT AND WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE DO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, UM, TO, TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THE MAYOR SAID TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON FRIDAY AT A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, CALL THE STATESMAN IMMEDIATELY AND GET A, UM, UM, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO THEM SO THAT THEY COULD POST IT THREE DAYS, HENCE BY FRIDAY.
AND, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THEN YOU COULD TAKE ACTION ON FRIDAY.
WE WOULD BE GIVING TO THE STATESMAN TODAY, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING WITH THEM TO, TO RUN THE ADVERTISEMENT.
UM, IF COUNCIL CHOSE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THURSDAY, I, I SUPPOSE THE AD COULD JUST RUN OR WE MAY STILL BE ABLE TO PULL IT DOWN IN TIME.
[01:20:01]
AMEND THE, UH, THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.WE WOULD, WE WOULD AMEND THOSE DOCUMENTS, UM, BECAUSE WE WOULD, WE WOULD NEED TO POST AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS NOTED AS WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THEM, THIS AMENDMENT, UH, THIS, UH, THIS AMENDED PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN, JUST QUITE GOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WOULD, THE ACTIONS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.
SORRY, I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
AND THE TWO DAYS WE WERE LOOKING AT WERE DECEMBER 17 AND DECEMBER 20, UM, YEAH, EITHER ONE OF THOSE DATES.
IF WE GET THE AD OUT TODAY, IF WE GET THE INFORMATION TO THE STATEMENT TODAY, EITHER THE 17TH OR THE 20TH WOULD WORK.
SO WHAT KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE NOTICED BUDGET HEARINGS ON DAYS THAT WE ULTIMATELY DIDN'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET HEARING, IF YOU COULD POST THAT NOTICE TO COVER AS BOTH ON THE FRIDAY AND THE MONDAY, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
AND, AND WE MAY HAVE NOT HOLD IT ON EITHER DAY, OR WE MAY HOLD IT ON ONE DAY OR THE OTHER, BUT PROVIDE THE NOTICE SO THAT WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY ON THURSDAY TO MAKE THAT DECISION WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT WITH LEGAL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING IN THAT APPROACH, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.
THE NEXT POLLED ITEM IS ITEM 62.
THAT'S REMEMBER KITCHEN PULLED THIS ITEM.
I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GATHER MY QUESTIONS.
CAN WE COME BACK TO THAT ONE? WE CAN, UH, THE NEXT ITEM, UH, THAT I CALLED WAS ITEM NUMBER 58.
I PULLED THAT, UH, AND I PULLED IT IN, IN PART, UM, CAUSE WE WERE ALL THIRD JUST BECAUSE OF THE QUORUM RULES.
UH, OTHERWISE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UH, UH, WHAT ONE, WHAT PROMPTED THIS.
UM, AND, UM, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE IN SITUATIONS LIKE WHERE A PRIVATE SCHOOL OPENED UP NEARBY A PREEXISTING, UH, PROPERTY THAT HAD A, UH, AN ALCOHOL USE.
UM, I GUESS AT THAT POINT IT WOULD BECOME A NON-COMPLIANT, UH, UH, LEGAL USE, BUT NONCOMPLIANT, WHICH MEANS THAT IF IN THE FUTURE THERE WAS A FIRE OR SOMEONE WANTED TO REMODEL OR, OR DO SOME ADDITIONAL WORK, IT WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM DOING THAT.
UM, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH THE, THE, HOW THIS WORKS.
AND I WONDER IF, UH, SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD FOLLOW THE, UH, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW PROCEDURALLY HOW THIS WORKS, WHETHER WHEN WE, UH, ARE WE INITIATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WE GO THROUGH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TO HOLD HEARINGS AND HAVE THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS, OR ARE WE SKIPPING THOSE STEPS AND ACTUALLY TRYING TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
NOW THE FORMER, AS OPPOSED TO A LADDER IS WHAT I WOULD PREFER SO THAT THERE COULD ACTUALLY BE A CONVERSATION WITH THE, THE, THE PERHAPS UNINTENDED OR OTHER CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THOSE QUESTIONS.
LET ME, DO YOU WANT ME TO TRY AND PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT? SO, FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE SEEN A VARIETY OF CASES COME BEFORE US OF THESE TYPES OF WAIVERS, AND AS WE'VE DUG INTO THEM, UM, WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHAT WE PERCEIVE AS A PATTERN OF INCONSISTENCIES IN OUR APPROACH.
UM, STATE LAW IS WHAT KIND OF GOVERNS THE BROADER PARAMETERS UNDER WHICH THIS CAN HAPPEN, AND IT ESTABLISHES THE LIMIT OF OUR AUTHORITY, BUT IT ALSO ESTABLISHES A PROTOCOL, UM, FOR HOW WE CAN APPROACH THESE CASES.
WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST IS THAT WITH A NUMBER OF CASES, QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN AS TO WHETHER A PROPERTY IS A DAYCARE, A SCHOOL HOUSE OF WORSHIP, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE, UM, BECAUSE UNDER STATE LAW, EACH OF THESE USES CAN HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTANCE AND MEASUREMENT.
IT CAN CREATE CONFUSION FOR BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND PROPERTY OWNERS IS WHAT TO EXPECT.
SO PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS, THIS CHART TO GET RID OF THAT CONFUSION.
UM, SO THE ITEM CLARIFIES AND ALIGNS OUR ORDINANCE WITH STATE LAW, WITH RESPECT TO COVERING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ENSURING THAT CHILDCARE CENTERS ARE TREATED AS WE TREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF HOW YOU MEASURE THINGS, UM, WHICH AGAIN IS WHAT STATE LAWS STABLISH IS AS THE APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL, BUT WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN FOLLOWING THE APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL.
IT ADDS PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO THE LIST OF USES THAT WOULD REQUIRE A WAIVER.
IT CLARIFIES THAT FOR DAYCARES, THAT DISTANCE MEASUREMENT SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROTOCOL THAT IS USED FOR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS IN FACT, A REQUIREMENT UNDER STATE LAW, BUT THAT PROTOCOL HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN FOLLOWED.
AND FINALLY IT CLARIFIES THAT IF A PROPERTY HAS MULTIPLE USES, FOR EXAMPLE, A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT HAS A DAYCARE OR HOUSE OF WORSHIP THAT HAS A DAYCARE
[01:25:01]
ANY, AND ALL OF THOSE USES TRIGGER THIS REQUIREMENT AND THE PROTOCOLS FOR BOTH MUST BE FOLLOWED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE USE IS A PRIMARY USE OR A SECONDARY USE.UM, THE LAST ITEM BECOMES IMPORTANT IN INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE A HOUSE OF WORSHIP THAT HAS A FULL-TIME CHILDCARE FACILITY, BECAUSE THE STATE LAW ESTABLISHES A PROTOCOL FOR MEASUREMENT, FOR HOUSES OF WORSHIP THAT IS MUCH MORE RELAXED THAN IT IS FOR DAYCARES.
AND IF THE DAYCARE USE IS IGNORED, IT HAS AS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST.
IT CAN LEAVE THE FACILITY ESSENTIALLY UNPROTECTED BY THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, IN THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU GAVE OF AN OLDER ESTABLISHMENT, IF A SCHOOL OPENS NEWLY, THE OLDER ESTABLISHMENT TAKES PRECEDENCE, UM, AND LAW CAN ANSWER THAT IN MORE SPECIFICS AND THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE, UM, OR IN THE STATE LAW.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEVIATE FROM STATE LAW, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN SHOW IT, WOULDN'T BE KIND OF LIKE A LEGALLY, LEGALLY NON-COMPLIANT USE UNDER OUR ORDINANCES IF IT WAS THEIR FIRST.
NO, IF THE, IF THE BAR WAS THERE FIRST, NO.
SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE LIMITATIONS TO BUILD BACK IF THERE WAS A FIRE OR TO REMODEL AND THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, I HAVE TO CHECK, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S COVERED IN LOW OR NO.
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT PROCEDURALLY? UM, IS THIS, DOES THIS GO TO HEARINGS IN FRONT OF BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS, OR ARE THE APPROPRIATE ONES, ARE WE TRYING TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE OUTSIDE OF THAT PROCESS? UM, THIS IS JUST GO, IT'S AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.
WE ARE ADDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THE DEFINITION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS, UM, SO THAT THEY ARE COVERED WITH THE SAME PROTECTIONS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW TO PROVIDE THEM.
AND THEN WE ARE CLARIFYING WHICH DEFINITION WE ARE USING TO MEASURE THE DISTANCES, WHICH HAS BEEN APPLIED BY STAFF IN VARYING WAYS, UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WHERE THERE WAS AMBIGUITY OVER WHICH, UM, DEFINITION TO USE.
SO FOR ME, I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU RAISE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS AND ARE THINGS THAT I SUPPORT.
ONE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ON THE EARLIER USE NON USE THAT IT'S NOT JUST A LEGALLY NONCOMPLIANT USE, UH, WHICH HAS LIMITATIONS.
AND THEN SECOND, I JUST NEED TO THINK THROUGH WHETHER WE SHOULD BE INITIATING THE CHANGE OR MAKING THE CHANGE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I, UH, I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, UM, I DO SUPPORT THIS AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK, UH, CREATING A CHANGE IN AN ORDINANCE IS APPROPRIATE.
IT'S, IT'S NOT, UH, IT'S NOT A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE, SO IT'S NOT THE KIND OF INITIATING OF ORDINANCE CHANGE WITH ALL THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE REQUIRED OF AN LDC CHANGE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN US MAKE CHANGES DIRECTLY TO ORDINANCES BEFORE.
SO THIS ONE SEEMS REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD TO ME.
AND SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH GOING FORWARD WITH IT.
AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR WAS SAYING, STAFF HAVE INTERPRETED THIS SECTION DIFFERENTLY IN THE PAST, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR DIFFERENT APPLICANTS.
AND SO ONE REASON WHY I SIGNED ONTO THIS BECAUSE THE ALCOHOL WAIVER, UH, DISTANCE FROM A SCHOOL OR A CHILDCARE IS REALLY IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO ME.
UM, THIS CLARIFIES SITUATIONS WHERE AMBIGUITY HAS EXISTED AND IT REMOVES THE AMBIGUITY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT HAPPENING SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT OR APPLICANTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY, DEPENDING ON WHO'S REVIEWING THEIR PERMIT APPLICATION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK STREAMLINING THE ORDINANCES IS, IS APPROPRIATE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY MATTER, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER.
UM, IF THERE WAS LIKE A SMALL MAYBE IN-HOME DAYCARE, UM, THAT WANTED TO OPEN WHERE AN ALCOHOL SALES BUSINESS ALREADY EXISTS DOES DOES THE ORDINANCE PRECLUDE THAT? DO YOU KNOW? SO I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, IF THE USE WAS ALREADY THERE, IT'S NOT IMPACTED BY ANOTHER USE COMING IN AFTER THE FACT THAT WOULD BE A SCHOOL OR DAYCARE OR WHATNOT.
UM, AND THERE MAY BE A LIMIT ON THE SIZE, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THAT OF THE DAYCARE WHERE IT TRIGGERS.
UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE CAUSE LIKE FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOL, THIS IS ONLY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ABOVE A CERTAIN SIZE.
UM, WITH THE PRIVATE SCHOOL IS K THROUGH 12 AS OPPOSED TO, TO A DAYCARE.
UM, IF I COULD ADD ONE OTHER THING THAT I
[01:30:01]
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY IS, UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DISCRETION TO DEVIATE FROM THE STATE LAW.WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN CODIFY WHAT EXISTS UNDER STATE LAW.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE DISCRETION FOR THE COMMISSIONS TO CREATE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.
THIS IS AN, ALSO THIS IS ADMINISTERED BY DSD, NOT PLANNING, IT'S NOT IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT COUNSELOR.
ARE YOU HERE TO SAY SOMETHING MAYER? THIS IS CHAD SHOT WITH A LOT DEPARTMENT.
I WAS, I WAS JUST HERE TO, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IF ANYONE HAD PUT A LOT DEPARTMENT, IS THIS JUST CODIFY EXISTING STATE LAW? IT DOES.
UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS CORRECT THAT THIS REFLECTS WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE.
SO DOES IT, DOES IT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN, THAN BRING IT TOP OF MIND TO US REALLY THESE ARE THESE, THE RULES AS THEY WOULD BE APPLIED, WHETHER THIS RESOLUTION PASSES OR NOT, WHETHER THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE HAPPENS OR NOT.
UM, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE ALLOWS THE GOVERNING BODY ADMIN OF A MUNICIPALITY TO ELECT, TO REGULATE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY ELECTED TO DO THAT.
SO THAT IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT IS NEW.
UM, BUT THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS, THE EXCEPTIONS THAT APPLY TO THOSE, UH, DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS, UM, THE DEFINITION OF PRIVATE SCHOOL, THOSE ALL ARE, UH, REFLECT WHAT IS IN STATE STATUTE.
HOWEVER, HOW THIS, CAN I GET CLARIFICATION ON, ON WHAT I ASKED, WHICH IS BASICALLY I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ALCOHOL SALES BUSINESS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN WHERE A SCHOOL EXISTS, BUT DOES THAT GO THE OTHER WAY, WHERE THERE MAY BE AN ALCOHOL SALES BUSINESS AND THEN A SMALL DAYCARE IN HOME DAYCARE WANTS TO OPEN AROUND THE CORNER.
WOULD THAT PRECLUDE THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO, TO HAVE THE DAYCARE SERVICE? UM, AND I WILL SAY THERE IS THE QUESTION OF, IS THE DAYCARE FACILITY.
YOU DESCRIBED ONE THAT IS LICENSED OR PERMITTED, UM, UNDER THE HUMAN RESOURCES CODE AND ONE THAT WOULD TRIGGER THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT THAT, BUT THAT'S A VERY DETAILED QUESTION.
THAT'D BE A CASE BY CASE THING, BUT NO, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD LIMIT, UM, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD LIMIT NEW CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
I SIMPLY THINK IT PROTECTS PREEXISTING, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE SELLING ALCOHOL FROM THE APPEARANCE OF A NEW OF A NEW CHILDCARE FACILITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING IF THERE'S ALREADY AN ALCOHOL SALES BUSINESS AND A SCHOOL OR DAYCARE WANTS TO OPEN IN AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION.
THIS WOULDN'T EXCLUDE THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE SCHOOL OR DAYCARE.
AND THEN MR. SHAW, SINCE YOU'RE HERE, DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE, TO THE QUESTION THIS WOULDN'T BE TREATED AS A LEGALLY NOT COMPLYING USE THE PRE-EXISTING ALCOHOL? UH, THAT IS, I MEAN, THE INTERESTING PART IS THAT IS OF COURSE THAT LAND DEVELOPMENT QUESTION AND A USE QUESTION.
THIS IS SIMPLY DEALING WITH REGULATION OF A SALE, NOT OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S STUFF THAT I COULD TALK TO STAFF ABOUT.
UM, CAUSE I WOULD HATE TO SHOOT FROM THE HIP ON THAT, SINCE THAT THAT'S A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF, UH, WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS LOOKING AT, BUT I CAN CONSULT WITH STAFF.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
IF YOU GET THAT ANSWER, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL THERE.
UM, I'LL ALSO POINT OUT AND THIS IS THE SECTION THAT, UM, LAW, HOW DOES INCLUDE, BUT THEY'RE THEY WITH RESPECT TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A FOOD AND BEVERAGE CERTIFICATE, YOU CAN STILL SELL ALCOHOL.
IT'S REALLY FOR BARS THAT ARE NEXT TO THEM.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY USE THAT HAS ALCOHOL IT'S IT'S SPECIFICS.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WE HAD TO GO ROUND AROUND ON THAT SECTION.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT SECTION, THAT IS AN EXCEPTION.
IF YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT TO RETRY.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM? WE READY TO GO TO THE NEXT ITEM? YES.
I JUST ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY QUICK QUESTION.
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHY THIS CAME ABOUT NOW.
I'M CURIOUS IF THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT BROUGHT THAT FORWARD.
UM, YES, THIS WAS RAISED BY CONSTITUENTS.
IT WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE WERE SEEING A PATTERN OF INCONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT RELATIVE TO THE STATE LAW AND THAT, UM, WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, UM, TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITIONS AND, AND WHATNOT.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT POLL ITEM.
IT'S ITEM NUMBER 60, THE PARENTAL LEAVE.
I PULLED THIS ONE, UM, CATHERINE KITCHEN.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I THINK THERE ARE
[01:35:01]
TWO ISSUES THAT I NEED BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON.UM, MY OFFICE WAS APPROACHED AS I'M SURE.
PROBABLY MOST OF THE OFFICES WERE APPROACHED BY, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WHO WAS POINTING OUT THAT, UM, RIGHT NOW, UH, UNDER OUR EXISTING BENEFITS AND LAWS AND ORDINANCES THAT A, UH, FIREFIGHTER, UH, THAT IS, UH, PREGNANT, UH, LATE TERM PREGNANCY OR IMMEDIATELY POST PREGNANCY, UM, IS NOT ABLE TO, UM, UH, PHYSICALLY CARRY OUT IN SOME SITUATIONS, NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY TO CARRY OUT THE, THE, THE, THE WORK OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER.
AND IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT, UM, UM, ONE BENEFIT THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER OFFERING TO, UH, FIREFIGHTERS WOMEN WOULD BE PAID, UH, LEAVE.
UH, I GUESS IN THE NATURE OF DISABILITY LEAVE WOULD BE PAID FOR IT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND I COULD BE WRONG THAT CURRENTLY THAT DISABILITY LEAVE EXISTS, BUT IT'S NOT PAID.
UH, AND THE QUESTION THAT WAS BROUGHT WAS SHOULD WE OFFER THAT BENEFIT? AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WAS, SHOULD WE DO THAT ON OUR OWN? OR SHOULD WE MAKE THAT AND ASK OUR STAFF TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE, UM, UH, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING THIS NEXT YEAR, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD GOES BEYOND THAT AND PROVIDES FOR, UH, UH, PARENTAL LEAVE.
UM, AND I MAY HAVE THAT WRONG.
UM, BUT, UH, SO THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST QUESTION IS, IS IT BROADER TO INCLUDE PARENTAL LEAVE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE BOTH, UH, IT WOULD INCLUDE ALL PARENTS.
SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S A, IT'S A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE BENEFIT.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE BE MAKING THAT PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE GO TO THE, TO THE FIREFIGHTERS OR TO OTHERS IN OUR CITY SAYING THAT WE THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POLICY, UH, AND WE WANT THIS TO BE INCLUDED AND THE BENEFIT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TO BE RECOGNIZED IN, UH, IN THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, OR IS YOUR RESOLUTION NOT DIRECTING THAT IT SHOULD, OR SHOULDN'T BE IN THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.
WE'RE NOT BY JUST ASKING STAFF TO COME BACK WITH INFORMATION SO THAT THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION CAN BE HAD.
SO, UH, THIS, THIS, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO, UH, EXTEND THE SAME KIND OF BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES.
UH, AND THIS IS, IT ENCOMPASSES AND ENCOMPASSES FIRE EMS AND APD.
IT RECOGNIZES THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES FOR EACH OF THEM.
SO IT DIRECTS, UM, THAT THESE SPECIFIC, UM, DETAILS OF THE LEAVE BE WORKED OUT WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, BUT IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT WE OFFER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TO ALL OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES AS A MATTER OF POLICY, UH, AND AS A MATTER OF A RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE AND THE VALUE TO OUR EMPLOYEES OF THAT KIND OF LEAVE.
AND SO THIS EXTENDS IT TO OUR, UM, TO OUR EMS, UH, FIRE AND, UM, APT APD DEPARTMENTS.
IT ALSO IS JUST BUILDS ON SOMETHING WE ALREADY PASSED.
UH, WE PASSED A BUDGET DIRECTION, UH, BACK IN AUGUST, I GUESS, WHENEVER WE DID.
AND WE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING US BACK THOSE OPTIONS BY DECEMBER 14TH.
SO THIS ALLOWS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL TIME IS 30 MORE DAYS, BUT THE INTENT IS THAT IT IS DIRECTION TO, TO, UM, TO BRING BACK TO US THE OPTIONS TO PROVIDE THIS KIND OF LEAVE, UH, IS NOT MY INTENT TO INCLUDE THIS KIND OF LEAD IS AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, LABOR, NO NEGOTIATIONS, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IS A NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT, UH, FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, JUST AS WE'VE RECOGNIZED, IT IS FOR OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES.
SO LET'S SEE, I THINK I'VE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
IT IS, IT'S NOT JUST DISABILITY.
IT DOES APPLY TO ALL THREE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, DIVISION.
SO THAT'S, UH, POLICE, EMS, AND FIRE.
AND THEN YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE INTENT IS THAT IT IS NOT PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DECIDED AS A MATTER OF POLICY, WHICH WE DO.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS, UH, THEY,
[01:40:01]
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, THEY DON'T NEGOTIATE EVERYTHING.THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN ORDINANCE THAT THEY, THAT THEY GET.
IT RECOGNIZES, UM, A BIRTH ADOPTION AND FOSTER FAMILIES.
SO IT EXTENDS TO OF THOSE THREE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF WANTS TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT, HOW THIS PLAYS WITH NEGOTIATIONS AND WHETHER STAFF HAS, UH, UH, ADVICE OR COUNSEL ON HOW THIS KIND OF THINGS SHOULD BE HANDLED.
UH, CERTAINLY, UH, WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT THIS, UH, OPTION WOULD ENTAIL.
AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT IF THIS RESOLUTION WERE TO PROCEED, BUT IT HAS BEEN OUR POSITION THAT THESE WOULD BE PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THESE ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, AND THAT HAS BEEN, UH, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
AND I KNOW THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS, UH, HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION OBVIOUSLY BEFORE MY TIME AND BEFORE MANY OF OUR TIMES.
UM, SO IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND WHAT DECISION COUNCIL MADE VIS-A-VIS THAT NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
BUT YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, SO OUR POSITION HAS BEEN TO KEEP THIS OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS, UH, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, UH, BEFORE PROCEEDING ANY FURTHER WITH ANY OF THESE OPTIONS TO KEEP THAT PART OF THE PATIENTS ARE NOT PART OF NEGOTIATOR, NOT PART OF, OKAY, I'M SORRY.
WE KEEP THEM PART OF NEGOTIATIONS.
UH, MAYOR, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S BEEN THE POSITION IN THE PAST AND I RESPECT THAT.
UM, AND I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE MIGHT DIFFER, UH, ABOUT THAT.
UM, IT IS SIMPLY MY POSITION THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS KIND OF LEAVE, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY SHOULD JUST DO.
I THINK IT'S A STATEMENT WE SHOULD MAKE.
AND OF COURSE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, UM, THAT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO KNOW.
UM, AND THIS OF COURSE REQUIRES AS YOU TO BRING IT BACK TO US.
SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT, IT SAYS, BRING IT BACK TO US AND WHAT THE PARAMETERS AND WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE.
AND WE WOULD MAKE A FINAL DECISION AT THAT POINT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE, UM, WELL I ALREADY SAID, I, I BELIEVE THE POLICY IS IMPORTANT.
SO, SO MY FIFTH OF IT IS I THINK IT'S A REAL IMPORTANT POLICY TOO.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO EVERYBODY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST, THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE SAID THAT WHEN THEY LOOK AT BENEFITS, THEY'D RATHER GET THE MONEY IN ADDITIONAL, UH, RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS OR AN ADDITIONAL PAY, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE GENERAL FORCE.
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH FIRE AS WE GO FORWARD, BECAUSE, UH, IF WE'RE UNABLE TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT, THEN THE QUESTION OF THE CONTRACT GOES NOW BY, BY LAW TO, UH, THAT, UM, UH, ARBITRATION PROCESS.
UH, AND, UH, SO ULTIMATELY THE CONTRACT AS DECIDED HOW MUCH COMPENSATION ULTIMATELY WE PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO I SUPPORT AND, AND WANT TO CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PAID MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE IS PAYING FIREFIGHTERS.
UM, BUT WHEN THAT ARBITRATOR SITS DOWN AND JUST TRYING TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET SHOULD GO TO A FIRE, THE QUESTION IS, DOES THAT PERSON TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN BENEFITS FOR PARENTAL LEAVE, OR DOES THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF THAT ARBITRATORS DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND SHOULD GO INTO COMPENSATION FOR FIRE? MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF WE HANDLE THIS OUTSIDE OF THAT, UH, THEN I JUST, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO THE OVERALL DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH GETS SPENT ON HOW MUCH OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, HOW MAKING THAT DECISION NOW VERSUS LATER WOULD IMPACT WHAT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE IN FRONT OF THE, UH, ARBOR ARBITRATOR FOR THAT PERSON TO, TO DECIDE.
AND PART OF IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THE KIND OF THE, THE, THE, THE COST IS.
I MEAN, I GENERALLY THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POLICY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE ON THAT POLICY.
WELL, I, I, I HEAR WHAT, YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING AND I'M SURE THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THAT.
WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IN LAW THAT WE PAY, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR DIFFERENT, UM, PERSONNEL, FOR APD, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M MOST FAMILIAR WITH.
AND SO THERE MUST BE SOME MECHANISM THAT THOSE WERE ACCOUNTED FOR.
I ALSO WOULD SAY, THIS IS, THIS IS A BENEFIT BENEFIT.
IT IS A, IT'S A NECESSARY BENEFIT PACKAGE.
I CONSIDER THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NECESSARY AND NOT NEGOTIABLE.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, IT, IT JUST GOES BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
UM, WE COULD, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, I
[01:45:01]
THINK PARENTAL LEAVE IS NECESSARY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING IT.SO, AND I THINK THAT THE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU'RE RAISING, I HEAR THEM, BUT I THINK WE CAN FIGURE THOSE OUT.
UM, CAUSE I'VE WENT THIS CUSTOMER POOL COUNCIL MEMBER ALL THANK YOU.
AND SIMILAR TO YOU, A CUSTOMER KITCHEN, I AGREE WITH YOU PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SHOULD NOT BE NEGOTIABLE.
IT SHOULD BE A BASIC PART OF OUR POLICY.
UH, SO I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD.
I THINK YOUR, UM, MAXED OUT ON CO-SPONSORS, BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF POLICY PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
IT REDUCES THE GENDER WAGE GAP AND IMPROVES MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.
UH, IT JUST HAS INCREDIBLE, UM, LIFE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES TIED TO IT.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I'M THINKING THAT WE WOULD NEED THIS INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE, UM, CREATED BY THIS RESOLUTION, NO MATTER, NO MATTER WHAT, WHETHER IT'S USED IN NEGOTIATIONS OR IF IT'S USED FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD OUTSIDE NEGOTIATIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO, SO JUST EVEN GIVEN THAT, BUT I THINK I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN WAS BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH WITH MR. NIX PREVIOUSLY.
AND, AND I WAS ONE OF THE FOLKS WHO ASKED HIM TO KIND OF HOLD OFF FROM BRINGING IT LAST SUMMER, UH, WHICH WAS WHEN IT FIRST ROSE, UH, CAME UP AND ASKED HIM TO DELAY AND GET IT CLOSER TO NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE I SAW THE VALUE IN HAVING THIS AS A BENEFIT, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE FOR FIRE.
I WAS RATHER SURPRISED TO SEE JUST BECAUSE WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A DETAIL THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY CLEAR ON, BUT EMS AND APD WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS ACCORDING TO THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I THINK, I THINK THAT'S A WISE POLICY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD AS THE ENGENDERING OF THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE NECESSARY.
AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT AND WE'LL SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE TIME LINE OF EVERYTHING.
AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO IMPLEMENT SOONER OR LATER AT THAT POINT.
BUT AS IT STANDS NOW, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THIS APPROACH.
UM, REALLY, I JUST WANT TO ECHO, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUND HAS SAID.
I THINK YOU'RE ALSO AT YOUR, SHE SAID YOU'RE AT YOUR CAP.
UM, BUT I INTEND TO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT POLICY FOR ALL THE REASONS MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER HAVE SAID, I THINK WE NEED TO NEED TO HAVE THESE AS A REGULAR PART OF OUR BENEFIT PACKAGE FOR OUR CITY STAFF AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
THESE ARE OUR POLICIES THAT DON'T JUST BENEFIT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, BUT, BUT STRONGLY BENEFIT THEIR, THEIR FAMILIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ACTUALLY, I GUESS WE CAN, AND I VERY RARELY DO THIS, BUT IF I CAN BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR IN THE COURSE OF THIS MEETING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I THINK YOU CAN BE LISTED.
WE DON'T LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR RECORDS.
I JUST, JUST SEEMS IT ALWAYS, I JUST DON'T DO IT VERY OFTEN BECAUSE WE SHOW SUPPORT BY VOTING FOR THINGS RATHER THAN JOINING ON AS A SPONSOR.
SO I DON'T DO IT VERY OFTEN, BUT IN THIS CASE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN TO ADD ME OKAY.
AND THE CLERK HAD JUST HAD YOU TO, AND CAD COUNCILMEMBER APPRENTICE AS WELL AS WHEREVER ALTERED.
UM, SO I AGREE THAT THESE ARE BENEFITS THAT WE ASPIRE TO AND THAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
UM, WE DID HAVE A BUDGET WRITER AND I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE BUDGET WRITER AND THIS PROPOSAL.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE OUGHT TO BE DUE BACK TO GET THAT BUDGET RIDER INFORMATION.
SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE BRINGING OF THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE WE GET THAT INFORMATION AND, AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCES? UM, WELL, FIRST OFF I HAVE NO INDICATION THAT THE, WE WERE GOING TO GET A RESPONSE TO THE BUDGET RIDER BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S DUE NEXT WEEK.
UM, SO THERE'S THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF A RESPONSE IS IN THE WORKS, THEN IT'LL JUST MAKE THE RESPONSE TO THIS RESOLUTION FASTER.
BUT I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO, TO ADD SOME WEIGHT TO IT AS A RESOLUTION, UH, BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS PASSED AS A, AS A BUDGET RIDER, I HAVE A SENSE OF THE STATUS OF THE BUDGET WRITER.
I KNOW WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON IT.
AND WHEN THIS, AND WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, I DID INQUIRE, BUT I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON JUST EXACTLY WHEN WE, WHEN WE WERE PLANNING TO GET BACK, UH, TO RESPOND TO THAT BUDGET WRITER.
BECAUSE AS PART OF THAT BUDGET RIDER, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT ASKED US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTRACTS,
[01:50:01]
WHICH IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WEIGH IN ON THIS WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ONE THING TO ASSERT IT, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE ANALYSIS, UM, OR THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, UM, FROM THEM ABOUT THAT.UM, YOU KNOW, AND SO, SO I'M, I'M, I'M TORN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I HAD ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH AT THE SAME TIME JUST SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THING AS THE BUDGET RIDER.
SO I VOTED FOR IT FOR IT THEN, BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN STILL GET THIS INFORMATION BACK AND STILL DECIDE THAT IT BELONGS IN A DIFFERENT PROCESS OR THAT PIECES OF IT BELONG IN ANOTHER PROCESS.
BUT, UM, WELL, LET, LET ME CLARIFY THEN AS TO, TO GIVE A MORE COMPLETE ANSWER TO WHAT YOU WERE ASKING.
SO THE OTHER PART OF WHAT YOU WERE ASKING WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, AND THAT IS A DIFFERENCE.
UM, IT IS MY INTENT WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT THIS, THAT PARENTAL LEAVE BE, UM, BE OFFERED, UH, AS WE'VE JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UM, AS A, A MATTER OF A BENEFIT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT IT NOT BE INCLUDED IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY THAN THAT.
AND THAT IS THAT WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE BUDGET RIDER IS THAT WAS ADDED AS AMENDMENT.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT WAS ADDED AS AMENDMENT.
IT WAS NOT PART OF MY ORIGINAL BUDGET RESOLUTE, A BUDGET RESOLUTION.
AND IT IS NOT PART OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IT IS NOT PART OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT THIS COME BACK TO US AS PART OF THE LABOR NEGOTIATION.
THE WRITER WAS NOT THAT I COME BACK AS PART OF THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, BUT RATHER THAT WE GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT NOT BEING PART OF THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE TWO PARTS, YOU KNOW, ON, ON PAGE TWO.
UM, THE FIRST PART I WOULD BE PREPARED TO, YOU KNOW, GO FORWARD WITH MEDIALLY, WHICH IS PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE PERIOD OF PAID LEAVE FOR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, RECOVERING FROM CHILDBIRTH, UM, TO PHYSICALLY RECOVER AND RETURN TO THE FITNESS.
THE OTHER ONE THOUGH ESTABLISHES, UM, PARENTAL LEAVE.
AND THAT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT FISCAL IMPLICATION THAN FOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN I TALKED TO BOB NEXT, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, TWO WOMEN A YEAR WHO ARE GETTING PREGNANT, WHO YOU'RE PROVIDING THIS BENEFIT TO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR EMS OR, OR APD.
UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST, UH, THE, THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF GOING TO PARENTAL LEAVE.
IF THAT IS NOT WHAT THOSE MEAN.
THEY HAVE A CONTRACTING PROCESS FOR A REASON, AND I PERSONALLY WOULD PUT WEIGHT ON PARENTAL LEAVE, BUT, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT THEY WANT.
AND, UM, WE DO HAVE A BUDGET AND WE DO HAVE HAVE FINANCES.
SO, I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING IN HERE THAT PRECLUDES STAFF FROM COMING BACK AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THIS FIRST PART IN THIS WAY, AND THIS WOULD BE THIS FINANCIAL IMPLICATION, BUT IF WE DO THE FULL PARENTAL LEAVE, THEN IT'S X, Y, AND Z.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT IDEALLY WHAT WE DO, BUT WE ARE STILL WITHIN, UM, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THE PROBLEM THAT WAS RAISED TO ME WAS NOT PARENTAL LEAVE.
WHAT IS THAT? WE HAVE WOMEN WHO ARE BEING REQUIRED TO COME BACK TO WORK WHO PHYSICALLY CANNOT DO THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO WITH THEIR JOB.
AND WE HAVE NO MECHANISM TO ALLOW THEM TO RECOVER.
AND FROM A RETENTION AND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR EMPLOYERS.
AND THAT IS A AND AGAIN, I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT MEN SHOULD NOT BE THERE AND BE THE OTHER, BUT FROM A FISCAL IMPLICATION AND FROM A CONTRACTING PERSPECTIVE, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF THE IMPLICATIONS, UM, FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AND IDEALLY AT THE END IN DECEMBER, WE'D HAVE ALL OF THEM, BUT, BUT IT'S, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.
SO THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE MANAGER ON THAT IS THERE WAS JUST ONE SECOND.
THERE WAS THE BUTTER BUDGET WRITER QUESTION.
WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION, CAN YOU ALSO COME BACK WITH THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET RIDER, BUT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, I THINK, MID DECEMBER COMING BACK, ANYHOW.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS ASK YOU FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION.
THERE WERE CERTAIN INFORMATION WAS ASKED FOR THE BUDGET WRITER.
CAN YOU BRING US BACK BOTH IF THIS PASSES? ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK THAT WE MIGHT BE READY TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION ON A BUDGET WRITER VERY SHORTLY.
I THINK THERE'S A DRAFT MEMO BEING CIRCULATED.
AND SO WE'D HAVE TO GET THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO, SO COULD I SPEAK TO YOU? SO, UM, SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS TO THIS.
THE SECOND PART I SEE AS IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN ALSO AS WELL AS FOR MEN, BECAUSE IT IS TALKING ABOUT ADOPTION ADOPTION PLACEMENT OR FOSTER PLACEMENT.
SO IT'S, IT IS BROAD ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT HOW ANYONE MIGHT BECOME A MOTHER OR FATHER FOR THAT MATTER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT JUST BE, UM,
[01:55:01]
LIMITING THIS TO WOMEN WHO MAY HAVE, HAVE A CHILD THROUGH CHILDBIRTH BIRTH, UH, BECAUSE, UM, ADOPTION AND FOSTER PLACE PLACEMENT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY.THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES AND THEY CAN HAVE THE SAME KIND OF IMPACT, UM, AS SOMEONE DELIVERING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES PERHAPS, BUT, UM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER IMPACTS.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AND GETTING THE INFORMATION BACK WE'LL WE'LL, UM, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT CAN THINK THROUGH THAT.
UM, I JUST, UM, WELL, I I'LL JUST SAY IT ONE MORE TIME FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS NOT A BENEFIT TO NEGOTIATE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS AND WE'LL HAVE TO HEAR WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT FROM MY PURSE, FOR ME, THE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS DO NOT DETERMINE, DO NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS GOES INTO LABOR NEGOTIATION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS BENEFIT IS FUNDAMENTAL.
AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I HEAR THE DIFFERENCES, I RESPECT THE DIFFERENCES AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING BACK TO US SO PEOPLE CAN, CAN, UH, VOTE ACCORDING TO HOW, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FROM FOLKS THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO BE COMING FROM.
AND FOR ME, I, I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO, SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT, I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTAL OR THE NECESSARY POLICY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IS AS WELL.
UM, I THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW IT IS THAT YOU GET THERE THE WAY, IF IT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE LABOR CONTRACTS, I THINK WE'RE AGREEING TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET, UH, AND TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET IS A PART OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND.
UH, AND I, AND I'M NOT READY TO MAKE THE DECISION TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET AT THIS POINT, UH, OR TO ENTER INTO A PROCESS THAT I THINK WOULD RESULT IN THAT WITHOUT HAVING HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.
SO, SO IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF HOW WE GET TO A POLICY THAT I THINK WE ALL AGREE IS A, IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US TO BE, IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW DO WE GET THERE, NOT WHETHER IT'S IMPORTANT OR RIGHT, OR FUNDAMENTAL, OR JUST, OR NECESSARY, OR NON-NEGOTIABLE OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
IT'S IT'S WHAT IS THE RIGHT PATH AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING IT ONE WAY VERSUS THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING IT THE OTHER WAY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ASKING FOR INFORMATION AND THAT FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OR NOT.
WE CAN HAVE THEN WHEN THAT INFORMATION COMES BACK AND THE INFORMATION FROM THE BUDGET RIDER COMES BACK.
SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GIVING US INFORMATION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT LARGER CONVERSATION.
SO LET ME MAYOR, YOU SPOKE TO, LET ME SPEAK TO, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I, I GET THAT.
SO I GUESS MAYBE TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT I MEAN, UM, IT, TO ME, AND IT MAY JUST BE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I HAVE THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
BUT WHEN I SAY I DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO BE PART OF NEGOTIATION TO MEAN TO ME, THAT MEANS I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON, UH, OTHER FACTORS AND OTHER AGREEMENT.
AND, AND WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AS IF IT IS KEPT IN THE NEGOTIATION, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT A, OUR EMPLOYEES MAY NOT GET.
AND B IT IT'S USED TO TRADE FOR OTHER THINGS, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
BUT, BUT I, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE INFORMATION AS OUR POOL.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR AND MAYBE OUR HR DIRECTOR, MS. HAYES CAN JUMP IN HERE, BUT, UM, ON FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, DOES THAT APPLY TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS? FMLA? ARE THEY SUBJECT TO FMLA? HI, JOY HAYES, HUMAN RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR, A FMLA DOES APPLY TO ALL EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE OUR SWORN STAFF.
AND SO THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS NOT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE LEAVE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THE LEAVE.
IT'S WHETHER WE ARE, THEY ARE COMPENSATED WITHOUT USING THEIR SAVED UP PERSONAL OR, OR SICK LEAVE.
IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, IT DEPENDS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE ITEM BULLET 0.1, IT GOES BEYOND THE CURRENT PARENTAL LEAVE, AND IT CREATES A SPACE FOR CREATING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RECOVERING, UM, WOMEN WHO ARE COMING FROM CHILDBIRTH.
THAT IS NOT A PART OF THE PARENTAL LEAVE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR PARENTAL LEAVE.
AND SO IF THERE'S ANY MEDICAL ISSUES RESULTING IN YOU NEEDING TO TAKE TIME OFF, YOU CAN THROUGH PARENTAL LEAVE, RECEIVE UP TO SIX WEEKS OF TIME.
UM, BUT WHAT PARENTAL LEAVE IS DESIGNED FOR IS BIRTH AND PLACEMENT FOSTER ADOPTION, UM, AND PLACEMENT.
SO WOMEN CAN USE THE PARENTAL SIX WEEKS FOR ADJUSTING TO MEDICAL ISSUES.
UH, BUT ANYONE WHO HAS A BIRTH,
[02:00:01]
A FOSTER OR AN ADOPTION CAN USE THESE SIX WEEKS FOR, UM, FOR THE CONNECTIVITY TO CHILDREN AND FOR THE PLACEMENT.AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU COULD USE IT, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT BULLET 0.1 WOULD BE AN ANALYSIS THAT TAKES US BEYOND THE CURRENT PARENTAL LEAVE OBJECTIVES AND MOVES US INTO A SPACE WHERE WE WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME PROCEDURE BY WHICH WE CREATE SPECIAL SPACE FOR THOSE WHO ARE RECOVERING FROM CHILDBIRTH, THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PHYSICALLY COME BACK TO THE CIVIL SERVICE SPACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER EIGHT, 12 WEEK FMLA.
AND SO WHAT THAT DOES, THE PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE.
WELL, IT, IT IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PROGRAM.
AND THAT PROGRAM HAS EXTENDED SO FAR ONLY TO NON-SWORN EMPLOYEES.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE OFFERING, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE IS WHETHER FIRST RESPONDERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PARENTAL LEAVE, BE THEY MEN OR WOMEN, AND WHETHER IT'S THE BIRTH OF A CHILD ADOPTION OF A CHILD, IF IT'S BEFORE OR AFTER THE BIRTH, DEPENDING ON, UH, HAVING USED UP THEIR FEMLA, UH, OPPORTUNITY.
CAN I GET THAT, THAT, THAT REPRESENTS BULLET 0.2 OF THE ITEM THAT'S CURRENTLY BEFORE YOU? GREAT.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT TO, UM, TO DETAIL, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS BEGINNING TO SOUND LIKE A FEMLA THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS DIDN'T EVEN GET ACCESS TO FEMLA AND THAT'S OF COURSE NOT THE CASE AND THAT THE PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM IS A SEPARATE CITY OF AUSTIN PROGRAM THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE TO GET A FISCAL NOTE ON, TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR IT TO BE EXPANDED TO ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND I, I GATHER THAT THAT THAT NUMBER REALLY CAN'T BE NAILED DOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE PREGNANT OR HAVE A BABY OR ANY COMPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE WOULD BE USING, UH, PROBABLY SOME, UH, NUMBERS FROM THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, I WOULD GUESS.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, I THINK I NEEDED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT CAME JUST HAPPENED IN THE CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR HAYES AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, DIRECTOR HAYES.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE PROVISIONS IN THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ACTUALLY BE, WOULD GO BEYOND WHAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES? YES.
THE BULLET 0.1 IS A PIECE THAT WOULD ASK US TO GO OUT AND CREATE A SPECIALIZED SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR OPPORTUNITY IF AN EMPLOYEE GOES BEYOND THEIR 12 WEEKS PERIOD, AS I READ IT AND I CAN BE CORRECTED AND THAT'S NOT THE INTERPRETATION, BUT AS I READ BULLET 0.1, IT SAYS THAT IF A PARENT WHO HAS HAD CHILDBIRTH CAN NOT MEDICALLY RETURN BACK TO WORK WITHIN THE 12 WEEK PERIOD PROVIDED UNDER FMLA, THAT THE CITY WOULD CREATE SOME PLAN TO ALLOW SOME MODIFIED RETURN TO WORK SCHEDULE FOR THOSE IN THOSE CASES, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THE PARENTAL LEAVE PLAN, THE 12 PLUS SIX.
SO THE SIX, THE SIX WEEKS IS A PARENTAL LEAVE IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 12 WEEKS OF FEMINISTS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR PARENTAL LEAVE, YOU MUST HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED TO BE UNDER FEMLA.
UM, AND SO THE FAMILY GIVES YOU 12 WEEKS OF PROTECTED TIME AND WITHIN THAT PROTECTED TIME, THE PARENTAL LEAVE GIVES YOU SIX WEEKS.
AND I GUESS IF COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN COULD CLARIFY.
SO, SO DO I, I, UH, DIRECT HAYES.
I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THE, THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T SAY THAT, UM, IT MIGHT PROVIDE FOR THAT.
IF YOU ALL THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, IT SAYS PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE PERIOD OF PAID LEAVE FOR UNIFORM PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, TO PHYSICALLY RECOVER WHETHER THAT TAKES 12 WEEKS OR SOMETHING MORE.
AND THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT PRESUPPOSE THAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT SAY YOU HAVE TO COME BACK WITH MORE THAN 12 WEEKS.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THOUGH.
I DO THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO EXAMINE, BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE FOR TALKING WITH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE FOR THOSE JOBS.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE COUNCIL TO THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS SAYING IT HAS TO BE 12 PLUS SOME MORE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS TALK ABOUT IT AND CONSIDER IT WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND COME BACK WITH, UM, WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.
WELL, SO LET ME JUST, IF I COULDN'T CLARIFY COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE, UM, WHEN I READ THE SECOND PORTION OF BULLET ONE, WHEN YOU SAY PHYSICALLY RECOVER FROM CHILDBIRTH AND RETURN TO THE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED TO PERFORM THEIR PHYSICAL RESPECTIVE, UH, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS.
AS I READ THAT, I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY, FMLA ALREADY PROVIDES 12 WEEKS OF PROTECTION AS A FUNDAMENTAL FEDERAL.
SO AS I READ THAT PIECE, IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE COULD NOT RETURN TO THE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED
[02:05:01]
TO PERFORM BEYOND THAT 12 WEEKS, THIS WOULD BE ASKING THE CITY TO LOOK AT A PLAN THAT WOULD CREATE SOME SPACE TO GIVE THAT EMPLOYEE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.SO THAT IS NOT THE INTENT WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY CLARIFY THAT AS WE DO THE ANALYSIS.
WHAT I MEANT WAS THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE US OPTIONS.
SO THIS WILL REQUIRE SOME ANALYSIS.
I DON'T KNOW, FOR, FOR, FOR THESE PARTICULAR JOBS, 12 WEEKS COULD BE ENOUGH.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT THAT'S A, A POINT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS IN, OKAY.
KELLY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT SHORT-TERM DISABILITY.
WHAT DOES THE PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPPLANT OR EXPAND, TAKE THE PLACE OF, OR AMPLIFY A SHORT LEAVE DISABILITY.
IF SOMEONE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE JOB THAT SHE OR HE HAD AFTER THE PREGNANCY, AFTER THE BIRTH, HOW DOES THE SHORT TERM DISABILITY PIECE FIT IN THERE AND HOW WOULD A PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM FIT IN WITH THAT? SO THE PARENTAL LEAVE IS THE INITIAL PROGRAM THAT IS PROVIDED TO EMPLOYEES AS A BENEFIT.
IF FOR ANY MEDICAL REASON, AN EMPLOYEE CANNOT RETURN TO WORK.
ISN'T AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THAT ALL EMPLOYEES CAN RECEIVE AS COVERED BY THE CITY.
UM, AND THEY CAN GET FAT AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE PARENTAL LEAVE, OR WE CAN, WE ALSO HAVE TO SHARE IT LEAD PROGRAM.
SO WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE THAT ANY, ANY EMPLOYEE WITH A MEDICAL ISSUES HAS THE ABILITY ONE TO TAKE TIME OFF, INTO TO ADDRESS THOSE MEDICAL ISSUES BEYOND THE TIME APPROVED.
AND WE ALSO HAVE CASES WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN COME BACK BEYOND THEIR FEMLA 12 WEEK AND REQUEST FROM THE CITY TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR MEDICAL ISSUES FOR WHICH WE HAVE A PROCEDURE TO ALLOW AS WELL.
AND THE SHORT-TERM DISABILITY PROGRAM IS A PAY IS COMPENSATED OR IS NOT COMPENSATED.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR PUTTING IN THE PIECE ABOUT ADOPTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S FAMILY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
AND WHEN I RAISED THAT, I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE, BUT AS, AS A PARENT MYSELF, I KNOW THAT THAT THE SLEEP GOT DISRUPTED IN MY HOUSEHOLD WITH THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHILD.
AND THAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR FAMILIES WHO ADOPT OR EVEN FOSTER CHILDREN.
AND IT'S QUITE THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD.
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T EAT THE SAME SCHEDULE AS YOU NORMALLY DO, BECAUSE YOU'RE FOCUSED ON JUST HAVING THAT CHILD THERE.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING PUBLIC SERVICE TO GET BACK TO A REGULAR, THEIR NEW NORMAL, I GUESS, SO TO SPEAK.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT IN THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THANK YOU FOR SUGGESTING IT.
I THINK THAT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING WE HAD ORIGINALLY ORIGINALLY REALIZED AN INTEREST SUGGESTION.
WE UNDERS UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
AND I MIGHT JUST ADD, I THINK WE'RE ALL AWARE AS A COUNCIL, WE SEE IN THE NEWS, THE, THE CRISIS THAT OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IS IN, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BE, TO DO OUR PART, TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO WILL TAKE FOSTER KIDS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S TRULY A CRISIS IN OUR STATE.
KEPLER TOVA YOU PULLED THIS ONE DID THANK YOU.
AND MAY, OR I MAY, SINCE IT INVOLVED SOME OF THE SAME STAFF FROM EDD, I MAY EMBED A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, UM, INTO IT, BECAUSE I HAD MENTIONED, I'D MENTIONED, I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS ROLE IN THE TOURS, AND THEN WE GOT SO INVOLVED IN THE OTHER, I FORGOT TO DO, I FORGOT TO ASK, UH, TO HAVE THE, THE FLOOR AGAIN, TO ASK THOSE, BUT ANYWAY, LET ME START WITH, WITH 69.
SO AS I SEE THIS I, WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND, I, MY QUESTION TO STAFF, MY QUESTIONS TO STAFF BEGIN WITH WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN THIS WORK AND THE THRIVING IN PLACE WORK.
YOU KNOW, AS I RECALL THE WORK THAT WE DID, WE HIRED THE CITY OF AUSTIN HIRED, UH, MATTHEW CONTINENCE TO, TO DO, TO PREPARE THAT REPORT.
IT FOCUSES ON CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND THE CREATION OF CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
IT, IT VERY MUCH SEEMS TO BE DESCRIBING A KIND OF COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL AREAS AND HAVING THEM, HAVING THEM CRAFT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE IDENTITY, HAVING THEM REALLY ARTICULATE THE IDENTITY OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT AND THEN WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP SUPPORT SUPPORT, AND BRING THAT INTO FRUITION.
AND SO THIS IS ONE I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OVERLAP IS WITH THAT PREVIOUS WORK AND WHY, AND WHY STAFF ARE BRINGING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HIRE A CONSULTANT TO ENGAGE IN THIS WORK AGAIN.
[02:10:02]
TO WHAT EXTENT IT WILL SEE INTO FRUITION, THE WORK OF THRIVING IN PLACE, WHICH I THINK WAS REALLY SOLID WORK.AND, AND MUCH OF IT IS STILL, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT INTO, INTO FOCUS.
UH, AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO DESIGN A CITY-WIDE POLICY FOR CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
WHEN THE, WHEN THE INTENT IS REALLY TO HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACHES TO THOSE, TO THOSE AREAS IN TERMS OF PLACEMAKING AND FORMATION OF IDENTITY.
GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET STAFF MOVED OVER, UM, TO ASSIST WITH THE RESPONSE, BUT IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THRIVING IN PLACE AND IT'S TO HELP IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE PART OF THE STUDY.
SO IF YOU COULD GIVE US A TOUR, YOU KNOW, AND I MAY, I ASKED, UM, THAT THIS BE PULLED THIS MORNING.
AND SO IF STAFF WOULD PREFER TO TAKE MORE TIME AND, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON THURSDAY, AND I CAN JUST LAY OUT THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
UM, BUT I DO NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK AND IT, WHICH SEEMED TO ME AGAIN, TREADING, TREADING SOME OF THE SAME GROUND.
GO AHEAD AND LAY OUT THE QUESTIONS AND LET'S SEE IF THEY'RE READY TO GIVE SOME QUICK ANSWERS OR NOT PICK IT UP ON THURSDAY.
THE QUESTIONS MAYOR, WHEN, WHEN SHE FINISHES.
YEAH, I'LL, I'LL ARTICULATE THEM AGAIN SINCE WE HAD SOME NEW STAFF JOIN.
UM, TO WHAT EXTENT THIS WORK OVERLAPS WITH THRIVING IN PLACE, WHY WE ARE ENGAGING A NEW CONSULTANT TO DO THIS WORK, INSTEAD OF CONTINUING, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO BRING THRIVING INTO PLACE INTO FRUITION, WHY WE WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SAME CONSULTANT, WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A CULTURAL, A CITY-WIDE CULTURAL DISTRICT POLICY.
WHEN, WHEN REALLY THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THRIVING IN PLACE HAS BEEN A LONG WHILE SINCE I'VE READ IT.
BUT AS I RECALL, IT, IT WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM ARTICULATE WHAT THEIR SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS VALUABLE WITHIN THAT DISTRICT AND HELP THEM ENHANCE AND GROW, GROW THAT, UM, REALLY THE MESSAGING AND THE FOCUS AND THE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD HELP DEVELOP, DEVELOP, UM, A MORE WELL ARTICULATED CULTURAL DISTRICT RATHER THAN KIND OF HAVING A CITY, A CITY WIDE POLICY THAT APPLIES TO ALL OF THEM.
AND THEN AS PART OF THAT, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE INCLUSION OF THE PALM DISTRICT WITHIN THIS.
UM, THE PALM DISTRICT WORK SEEMS TO BE GOING, YOU KNOW, GOING ON A DIFFERENT PATH.
AND THEN I THINK LASTLY, AND THIS IS WHERE IT KIND OF CONNECTS BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD THIS MORNING AND THE QUESTIONS I DIDN'T ASK, I'M REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THE ROLE IS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS, BOTH 14 AND THIS ONE, UM, THE TERS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A VERY SPECIFIC IT'S CALLED OUT IN THE ILA WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS A SPECIFIC PROJECT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND THE RESEARCH I'VE, UM, THAT MY STAFF HAS DONE THAT THERE WAS MUCH INTERACTION WITH THE AEDC STAFF PRIOR TO, PRIOR TO, UM, CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOURS.
LIKEWISE, CULTURAL DISTRICTS SEEM TO BE REALLY AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR OUR ECONOMIC AND A REALLY APT FIT FOR, OR I SHOULD SAY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SEEMS TO BE A REALLY APT VEHICLE FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
AND SO, UM, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE NOT FUNDAMENTALLY ENGAGED IN THIS WORK, UM, OR, OR ARE THEY INTO WHAT, AND IF YOU COULD ARTICULATE THAT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO REFLECT BACK ON SOME OF THE WORK, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES THAT SHANNON HOLLY ON MY STAFF ACCOMPANIED SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS TO NEW YORK CITY TO LOOK AT HOW THEY HAD USED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN NEW YORK CITY TO REALLY DRIVE, UM, ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO THE CREATION OF CULTURAL DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE, ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL DISTRICTS HAS REALLY, REALLY SERVED AS IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVERS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST TO REFLECT BACK, THAT IS ONE OF, ONE OF THE REAL BENEFITS OF NOW HAVING OUR OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION YET THEY DON'T, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING FROM THE BACKUP AND THIS CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WHERE THEIR ROLE IS WITHIN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
SO I'M SORRY, THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE ONES I HAVE AT THE MOMENT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS CONSULTANT WILL PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR ALL DISTRICTS INVOLVED,
[02:15:01]
ALL THE ECONOMIC DISTRICTS, INCLUDING CULTURAL HERITAGE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUSINESS.AND SO THIS WILL INCLUDE ALL THE DISTRICTS THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY SUPPORTS AND PROVIDES A GENERAL, UH, FRAMEWORK AND GROUNDWORK FOR THE PROCESS FOR HOW TO, UH, PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
WE ARE ALSO POSTPONING THIS ITEM TO JANUARY 27TH.
UH, SO THAT WOULD GIVE US SOME TIME TO MEET WITH YOU ONE-ON-ONE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE SCOPE OF WORK UNDER THIS CONSULTANT.
I THINK I'LL STILL HAVE, I THINK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I WOULD SAY MY QUESTIONS ARE STILL GOING TO BE ABOUT THAT FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THRIVING IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE USING THAT WORK INSTEAD OF ENGAGING AND OVERLAPPING WITH IT.
AND AGAIN, WHAT ROLE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS AND WHETHER IT'S WHETHER THE NEXT RIGHT STEP GIVEN THAT WE HAVE SUCH LIMITED RESOURCES IS THE NEXT RIGHT STEP TO ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE THAT GUIDANCE, OR SHOULD WE, SHOULD WE USE THE BODY OF WORK WE HAVE AND, AND SEE IF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CAN KIND OF TAKE THAT THRIVING IN PLACE WHERE, AND SEE IT, UH, SEE IT INTO FRUITION, ESPECIALLY SINCE AT LEAST ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, ALREADY BEING PLANNED THE PALM DISTRICT WORK.
SO THOSE ARE THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE EXTRA TIME AND COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID SHE HAD QUESTIONS TOO.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS ITEM 39.
IT'S GOING TO BE POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY.
UM, I HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS, AND I JUST HAD TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL.
SO I APPRECIATE THE POSTPONEMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO ARRANGE TO, UM, TO MEET WITH STAFF AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE BETTER.
SO, UH, MY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO RAISED REALLY GETS BACK TO MY PRIMARY ONE IS, UH, HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO THE ONGOING WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STARTED? UM, UH, SPECIFICALLY, AND ONE REASON MY QUESTIONS BEING RAISED IS THERE'S A REFERENCE TO THE BARTON SPRINGS CULTURAL PARK DISTRICT THAT IS REALLY PART AND PARCEL PARCEL OF THE RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDED THE CULTURAL AND CLIMATE INNOVATION DISTRICT IN THAT AREA.
AND SO THAT WORK, UM, SHOULD BE BEGINNING ALREADY OR SHOULD HAVE BEGUN ALREADY.
AND I'M JUST WANTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS RELATES TO THAT.
UM, AND WONDERING IF AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SAID, WHETHER THIS WORK, WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS WORK TO BE DONE THROUGH THE EDC, UM, AND OR WHETHER IT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS WORK TO HELP COMPLETE THESE DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY, UH, AS OPPOSED TO STEPPING BACK AND DOING A FRAMEWORK.
AND THEN, UM, FINALLY, UH, WANTING, WANTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS RELATES TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THESE DISTRICTS, THE, UM, THE CULTURAL AND CLIMATE INNOVATION DISTRICT THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED.
UH, ACTUALLY IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN AWHILE NOW SINCE WE PASSED THAT, BUT THAT IS, UH, INTEGRAL TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT'S A, UM, CLIMATE DISTRICT ALSO.
AND SO IT IS NOT REALLY LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH AN ECONOMIC LENS.
AND SO I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THERE'S A CULTURAL LENS THERE, AND THERE'S ALSO, UH, A CLIMATE LENS AND I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW, UH, HOW ALL OF THIS RELATES.
UM, AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH, UH, WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS.
AND TO ADD SOME THOUGHTS TO THE DISCUSSION, UM, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THESE CULTURAL DISTRICTS, WHAT THE DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO MY SUPPORT FOR ENSURING THAT THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY IN PROGRESS, IF THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE FRAMEWORK FOR THESE DISTRICTS, THAT WE ALSO HAVE AN EYE TOWARDS THE AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY NEED THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN SOUTHEAST, YOU KNOW, WITH, UM, DISPLACEMENT ON THE RISE AND GENTRIFICATION, I'M LOOKING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE BEST PRESERVE DO, HOW CAN WE BEST PRESERVE THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO DO SOME MORE PLACEMAKING AND INJECT SOME CULTURAL AND ARTS INTO THE AREA.
SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS CONVERSATION AS TO LOOKING MORE BROADLY, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN URBAN CORE, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS, UM, OR REHAB, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT WE LOOK AT, UM, WHAT THAT PLACE-MAKING AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION LOOKS LIKE.
[02:20:01]
TO PUT THRIVING IN PLACE INTO THE BACKUP, UM, FOR TODAY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING.AND BECAUSE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FRONT, THAT REALLY WAS THE MESSAGE FROM THE THRIVING IN PLACE ABOUT LOOKING AT AREAS THAT ARE RAPIDLY CHANGING AND IDENTIFYING THEM AND PRIORITIZING THEM FOR, FOR THIS KIND OF WORK.
AND SO, AND I THINK AS I SAID, IT HAPPENED A WHILE AGO, AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO REREADING IT AGAIN AS WELL.
UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UH, JUST NOTE THAT THERE IS A MEMO THAT WAS SENT TO COUNCIL ON FRIDAY IN BACKUP AS WELL.
AND THAT MEMO INCLUDES THE LINK TO THRIVE IN PLACE AS WELL, SO.
UH, I HAD PULLED ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, HFC, UH, ON, ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 68 AND OUR DEAL.
I UNDERSTAND STAFF'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT HERE TODAY.
SO LET ME JUST ASK MY QUESTIONS SO THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT THOSE ON THURSDAY.
UH, I WAS LOOKING AT THE, UM, UH, PROPOSALS THAT WERE MADE, AND I NOTE THAT THE STAFF'S RANKING HAD A, HAD A DIFFERENT ONE HIGHEST RANKED THAN THE ONE THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED.
IT'S A HARD ONE TO, TO DO HERE BECAUSE I'M SUCH A FAN OF, OF, UH, OF, UH, UH, THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED, UM, THAT, THAT ARE, UH, RATED HERE.
A BIG FAN OF THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OBVIOUSLY FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS WHAT'S RECOMMENDED, UH, BUT ON THE LEGACY THAT ALSO HAS AUSTIN AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
BUT WHAT HERE? HERE'S MY CONCERN.
UH, THE, THE HIGHEST RANKING ONE HAD 294 TOTAL AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT THE ONE THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED ONLY HAS 168.
UH, THE HIGHEST RANKING ONE HAD 106 UNITS BELOW 50% MFI, BUT THE ONE THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED ONLY HAD 30, THE HIGHEST RANKING ONE HAD 44 UNITS AT, UH, UNDER, UH, UH, 80% MFI.
BUT THE ONE RECOMMENDED ONLY HAS 26.
UM, THE TOTAL AFFORDABLE MULTI BEDROOM UNITS, THE HIGHEST RANKING ONE HAD 240 MULTI BEDROOM AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THE ONE THAT'S RECOMMENDED ONLY HAS 111 AND THE HIGHEST RANKING ONE WAS BEING DONE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF A SUBSIDY FROM THE CITY.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS THAT THE ONE BEING RECOMMENDED IS THE ONE THAT RANKS LOWER.
ALSO, THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS, IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, UH, FURTHER THE, THE PRIORITY THAT WE HAD WITH, UM, UH, UH, HOMELESSNESS AND GETTING SOME PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF THE WOODS AND THE STREAMS AS WE CLEAR, UH, UH, ENCAMPMENT.
SO, UH, DOES THIS INCLUDE HOMELESSNESS OR PSH OR COC UNITS WAS DIANA GRAY INVOLVED IN THIS? IT SEEMS AS SO LONG AS THAT'S OUR PRIORITY.
WE'RE PUTTING MONEY AGAINST THIS AND, AND THAT STAFF GROUP HAS THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO HOMES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE WOODS AND STREAMS. WE WOULD BE DOING THAT AND FINDING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, UH, IS REQUIRING THE REPORTING, THE STANDARDIZED REPORTING, UH, THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ALL OUR PARTNERS AND VENDORS TO PARTICIPATE IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, UH, SYSTEM, UH, IS BEING PROPERLY WATCHED.
SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS ON THAT.
IF YOU CAN GET ANSWERS TO US, UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THAT'S WHERE OUR KITCHEN, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE ANSWERS.
THEY'LL APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THAT.
AND I ADDED ANOTHER QUESTION TO THAT LIST, AND THAT IS HOW CHILDCARE, UM, WAS PRIORITIZED.
I HAD BROUGHT A RESOLUTION THAT OUR COUNCIL PASSED RELATIVELY RECENTLY, PRIORITIZE IT, ASKING, REQUIRING THAT ALL RFPS INCLUDE CHILDCARE AS PART OF THEM.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENED.
I SEE FROM, FROM, UM, FROM, UH, IT APPEARS THAT ONLY ONE OF THE PROPOSALS HAS A CHILDCARE PROPOSED FOR AGE NEWBORN.
UM, ON, UH, THERE ARE, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE PROPOSALS HAS A LEARNING CENTER, WHICH IS FABULOUS, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANYTHING FOR, FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, WHICH AGAIN WAS PART OF THAT RFP.
SO IT, IT, IF IT, UM, I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER
[02:25:01]
THAT WAS INCLUDED AND IF IT WAS NOT WHY, AND IF, AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE A PARTICULAR COUNCIL ACTION TO EXTEND IT TO HFC, UM, THEN LET US KNOW AND WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION.IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SPECIFY THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES OF THE CITY SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME, SAME PROCEDURE, APPRECIATE, UH, CONSULT, LINING THESE QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THEM ON THURSDAY.
ALSO NOTE THAT THERE WAS A MEMO, UH, JUST DESCRIBING THEIR RATIONALE BEHIND THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
UH, IT'S IN BACKUP AND IT WAS SENT ON DECEMBER 3RD, BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY GOES BEYOND WHAT WAS IN THE MEMO, BUT WE'LL BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THOSE ON THURSDAY.
AND IF THERE ARE QUICK ANSWERS THAT YOU CAN JOT DOWN A MEMO FORM AND GET TO US ARE TREATED AS A Q AND A ON THE AGENDA QUESTION AND GET THE INFORMATION OUT SOONER THAN THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
FOR OLDER, I JUST, YOU ASKED ME EARLIER TO FLAG THINGS THAT I WAS LOOKING AT THAT, UM, SO A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN, BEEN RAISED, UM, JUST WANT TO FLAG, UM, ITEM AND I'VE PUT IN QUESTIONS TO Q AND A.
AND SO I MAY JUST GET ANSWERS BACK AND THERE MAY BE NO ISSUE.
UM, ITEM 20 HAS TO DO WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, UM, AND UPDATES TO THE OUTAGE MAP, WHICH WAS SO FUN DURING THE STORM.
UM, SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THAT.
UM, ITEM 29 IS THE LONG AWAITED CONTRACT FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH WILDFIRE.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT COVERS.
AND THEN, UM, 35 IS THE REAL ESTATE MEAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS ACTUALLY DOING.
I'M HOPING THAT ALL OF MY QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN Q AND A OR THROUGH DISCUSSIONS, BUT I'M JUST FINDING THOSE FOR GREAT, THANK YOU.
THERE WERE TWO ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND COVER THAT WE MOVED PAST BEFORE THE FIRST WAS ITEM NUMBER 64.
OH, THIS WAS PULLED BY THE, UH, AIR PROTON.
SO CTM IS, IS REMOTELY ON MY COMPUTER, BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO STILL GET IN HAND.
WELL, WE COULD MOVE OVER TO 62 IF WE WANTED IT TO, IT'S ALSO GOING TO INVOLVE JURORS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UH, YES, I HAVE A FEW, UM, QUESTIONS.
SO I MAY HAVE EXPECT, I MAY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THURSDAY, BUT I CAN, UH, START TODAY.
SO, UH, ITEM NUMBER, LET'S SAY I'M LOOKING FOR THEM HERE.
AND, UM, UH, MY OVERARCHING QUESTIONS REALLY RELATE TO WHAT I'M REACTING TO IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
UM, AND, UH, SOME QUESTIONS I HAVE RELATED TO THE DATA THAT'S BEING REQUESTED, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THIS, WHICH MIGHT APPEAR TO ME, UH, MAYBE HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED.
SOME OF THIS ANALYSIS MAY ALSO MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED.
SO I WANT TO, SOME LIKE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS RELATE TO THAT.
UH, OTHERS OF MY QUESTIONS RELATE TO THE TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, IF THIS RELATES TO HOUSING, UM, WHICH I'M THINKING IS THE INTENT, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WANTING TO MOVE QUICKLY.
I'M GOING, THIS IS A STUDY THAT TAKES TILL THE END OF IT TAKES TILL DECEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HALFWAY MARK IN SIX MONTHS, THAT'S STILL A LOT OF TIME.
SO, SO THAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE OF MY, MY QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO DRILL DOWN ON JUST TWO QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN, UM, I MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL ONES.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF DOING THE STUDY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT THIS IS SUGGESTING? BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A VERY BROAD SCOPE.
SO THIS IS A QUESTION FOR STAFF OR CITY MANAGER.
DO YOU, UM, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THE COST IS AND HOW IT WOULD BE DONE? I'M NOT SURE THAT OUR STAFF COULD DO THIS.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RUNNING AGAINST ALICEVILLE, SPEAK TO THEM.
CITY MANAGER, RODNEY GONZALES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
IT IS SUBSTANTIAL, UH, FOR, TO ACCOMPLISHED.
WE DO ENVISION HIRING A CONSULTANT.
WE HAVEN'T SCOPED THAT OUT YET AT THIS TIME.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT UNLIKE ANY OTHER TYPE OF WORK THAT WE WOULD DO THAT WE WOULD EMPLOY THE WORK OF A CONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH GATHERING INFORMATION.
SO WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED COST FROM WHAT YOU'VE LOOKED
[02:30:01]
AT SO FAR FOR A CONSULTANT? I COULDN'T TELL YOU BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE THAT FAR.OUR INTENT IS TO OF COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT COUNCIL, UH, ADOPTS, AND THEN OF COURSE LOOK AT, UH, WHAT CONSULTING FIELD MIGHT, UH, UH, DO THIS TYPE OF WORK AND THEN TO DO AN RFQ IF YOU WILL, FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK.
WELL THAT, THAT CAUSES ME SOME MORE CONCERN BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESOLUTION OF A SCOPE THAT WE CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO.
SO, UM, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND JUST AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE? I CAN'T TELL IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A MILLION, I JUST, IT SEEMS VERY BROAD TO ME, BUT I, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW.
SO WHAT HAVE YOU ALL ANALYZED? SO WE HAVEN'T ANALYZED IT AT ALL OTHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, IT IS SUBSTANTIAL.
UM, IT GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE AND SKILLS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO IN THAT REGARD, THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL WHERE WE WILL HIRE A CONSULTANT TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK, BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR YOU AT THIS TIME.
UM, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET AN ESTIMATE? UM, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO OF COURSE IS, UH, WORK WITH PURCHASING, TO LOOK AT THE SCOPE AND THEN TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF CONSULTANTS THAT WOULD BEST DO THIS WORK.
AND, UH, WE CAN WORK WITH PURCHASING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF, UH, MAYBE BALLPARK FIGURE OF THAT TYPE OF SCOPE OF WORK AND WHAT THOSE CONSULTANT CONTRACTS HAVE EASILY COME IN AT.
UM, OR WE COULD DO SOME FORM OF RFI OR RFQ PROCESS TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
AND THEN DO WE HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR, FOR THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS? YES, WE DO.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE SCREEN TO, TO UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
I COULDN'T HEAR, SO WHAT MONEY DO WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET AND WHAT POT IS IT COMING OUT OF? SO, BECAUSE SOME OF THE WORK RELATES TO PERMITTING AND THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WE WOULD USE THE DSD BUDGET.
AND HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE DSD BUDGET FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I HAVE TO DEFER TO A DIRECTOR, DENISE LUCAS ON THAT QUESTION.
I MEAN, YOU CAN GET IT TO ME LATER IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT WITH THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD WANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT IS IT, WHAT ARE WE DECIDING BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR SOME PURPOSE.
SO WHAT IS IT BEING PEGGED FOR NOW? ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEN DO YOU, SO I'M GOING TO ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION AND THEN I STILL MIGHT HAVE THIS.
THIS IS HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.
SO I MAY HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS ON THURSDAY OR IN BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY.
UM, AND AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO, TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE'S A MORE NARROW FOCUSED SCOPE THAT MIGHT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED HERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR THE SPONSOR OR PERHAPS FOR DSD.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DETERMINE HERE? I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE SPONSOR AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.
I THINK HAVING A SCOPE THAT'S COMPREHENSIVE REALLY ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE, UM, THE COSTS THAT ARE IMPOSED BY THE CITY ACROSS OUR, UH, 13 DIFFERENT REVIEWING DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER THROUGH FEES OR TIME.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING ALL THAT DATA LAID OUT FOR US, UM, IT'LL BE HELPFUL FOR MAKING HOUSING RELATED POLICY DECISIONS.
I THINK IT'LL ALSO HELP TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY COULD REALLY REDUCE THE TOTAL HOUSING COST FOR VARIOUS HOUSING TYPES WITHIN VARIOUS HOUSING SUB MARKETS.
SO RELATED TO THAT, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, MAYBE I'M NOT READING IT RIGHT, BUT THE SCOPE SEEMS BEYOND THE CITY'S COST.
IT SEEMS TO GO, IF I READ IT CORRECTLY, IT SEEMS TO GO TO ALL COSTS, TO PRODUCING VARIOUS KIND OF HOUSING MENTIONS LAND AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE NOT CITY SCOPE.
SO WHAT'S YOUR THINKING THERE? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? I CERTAINLY WASN'T ATTEMPTING TO INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT WAS BEYOND THE CITY SCOPE.
SO IF THAT'S HOW YOU'RE INTERPRETING IT, MAYBE YOU COULD HIGHLIGHT THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
SO YOUR INTENT IS JUST THE CITY'S COST.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTIONS, WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO THINK THROUGH THEM, BUT, UM, I HAVE THIS VAGUE THINKING THAT MAYBE SOME OF THIS ANALYSIS WE'VE DONE BEFORE.
SO LET ME, I MAY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE QUESTIONS AND TRY TO THINK WHICH REPORTS I'M THINKING OF, BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO POINT OUT THAT MY OFFICE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH STAFF ON THIS.
WE CERTAINLY WEREN'T MAKING IT UP.
WE WERE ASKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND ABOUT THE SCOPE AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STAFF TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION
[02:35:01]
AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY DID HAVE THE CAPACITY.AND AT NO POINT WERE WE GIVEN THE INDICATION THAT THEY DIDN'T.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, SO MAYBE MY QUESTIONS ARE REALLY MORE FOR S FOR STAFF, SO I'LL TRY TO FOCUS IN ON THEM BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE I'M THINKING THAT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY DONE AND YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY ANALYZED, BUT LET ME GIVE SOME MORE THOUGHT TO THAT, BUT THIS IS HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR FOCUS IS ON WHAT, WHAT WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE CITY'S, WHAT'S THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE COST THAT SOMEONE HAS TO.
AND I THINK THE ONE OTHER THING I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER AS THERE WAS ACTION THAT I TOOK, OR A DIRECTION THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD AROUND STREET IMPACT FEES.
AND SO, UM, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE FEE REVIEW, UH, FOR WORK CURRENTLY BEING DONE BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO SOME OF THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE POINTS OF CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
SO AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THAT, YOU MIGHT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT DIRECTION.
LET ME ASK ABOUT THAT THEN TOO, TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
UM, YEAH, I DID NOTICE THE STREET IMPACT FEES WERE IN HERE, BUT, BUT THAT'S ANALYSIS HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND, AND PAST THAT SOMETHING WE ALREADY DID.
SO WHAT, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WITH REGARD TO THAT? I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO INCLUDE IT AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTION TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK, QUICK, I HAVE, I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS TOO, BUT I'LL JUST ASK A COUPLE OF QUICK ONES HERE TODAY.
I HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION FOR YOU IS SAM GONZALEZ AND A COUPLE OF CLARIFICATION'S FROM YOU.
SO I WANT TO BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE FIRST VIET RESOLVED TALKS ABOUT DIRECTING THE MANAGER TO PERFORM AN ANALYSIS OF THE COST OF PRODUCING HOUSING.
AND THEN LATER IT TALKS ABOUT LAND, LAND COSTS, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, INCLUDING LABOR AND MATERIALS, FINANCING COSTS, THOSE SAME OUTSIDE OF CITY COSTS.
AND THEN THE NEXT BULLET TALKS ABOUT CITY COSTS.
SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATION YOU JUST HAD WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, ABOUT WHAT COSTS YOU'RE TRYING TO CAPTURE IN THIS ANALYSIS? AND IF, AND IF OUR STAFF ARE COMING BACK WITH LAND COSTS, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION FINANCING, HOW ARE THEY, THE QUESTION IS TO YOU AND I GUESS, TO ACM GONZALES, AND I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, I ASSUME GONZALEZ, BUT HOW ARE THEY, HOW ARE THEY COMING UP WITH THOSE COSTS THAT WOULD, THAT ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON INFORMATION THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS? ARE YOU, I'M SORRY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE ASKING.
IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, BECAUSE FROM WHAT, FROM THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE JUST CITY COSTS, BUT THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE ONE OF MULTIPLE BULLETS IN THE COST THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU, WHAT COSTS YOU INTEND TO BE CAPTURED.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, IS GONZALES HOW THEY WOULD GO ABOUT GETTING THOSE COSTS THAT ARE, ARE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND SO, UM, THE INTENT THERE IS TO REALLY CONSIDER ALL THE VARIABLES THAT DETERMINE THE FINAL COST FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IN ADDITION TO THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, EXCLUSIVELY UNDER THE CITY'S PURVIEW IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE MAKE UP THE NUMBER NECESSARILY.
I THINK WHAT WE, I THINK THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE AND WE USE IT IN COMPARISON WITH OUR DATA.
SO IN ADDITION TO RATHER, SO THEN WE ARE, SO YOU ARE ASKING OUR STAFF THEN TO COME UP WITH INFORMATION THAT IS BOTH ABOUT CITY COSTS, AS WELL AS NON CITY COSTS.
I'M ASKING OUR STAFF TO CONSIDER THOSE ADDITIONAL VARIABLES WHEN THEY CONSIDER WHAT ARE THE FINAL COST FOR HOMEOWNERS.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKING THOSE NUMBERS INTO CONSIDERATION IN MY MIND'S EYES AND ASKING THEM TO COME UP WITH THE NUMBERS THEY EXIST.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? UM, OKAY.
BUT THE W THE WORK THAT THE STAFF IS DOING, WE'LL HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE BEYOND JUST CITY COSTS.
THEY WILL HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE LAND COSTS ARE, WHAT THOSE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE, WHAT THOSE DESIGN COSTS.
SO IT IS, SO IT IS, SO THE RESOLUTION IS ASKING FOR THOSE COSTS TO BE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE BOTH CITY COSTS AND NON CITY COSTS.
BECAUSE IN MY MIND'S EYE, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T DETERMINE, I MEAN, WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS COME UP WITH THE DATA THAT DETERMINES WHAT'S THE TOTAL COST.
THOSE ARE VARIABLES WE CAN EXCLUDE, BUT I DIDN'T, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T ASSUME THAT THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL LABOR FOR STAFF AND MY MIND'S EYE AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED PREVIOUS THAT'S DATA THAT THEY HAVE.
SO IT'S TAKING DATA THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AND USING IT IN ADDITION TO THE DATA THEY PRODUCE.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME.
AND I MEAN, ASKING IN MULTIPLE ITERATIONS, THE SAME QUESTION AS TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, ASKING OUR STAFF TO DO ANY ADDITIONAL
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WORK, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION THAT STAFF CAN OFFER YOU THAT ON TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DO HAVE DATA, WE WILL CERTAINLY USE THAT DATA BECAUSE IT MINIMIZES THE ONE TIME PERIOD.BUT IF, UH, UPON, YOU KNOW, USING A CONSULTANT WOULD MINIMIZE THAT COST AS WELL.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE DATA THAT WE CAN USE FOR RESPONDING TO THE COUNCIL REQUESTS, WE WILL CERTAINLY USE THAT IMMEDIATELY.
SO DO WE HAVE DATA THAT IS RECENT ABOUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, LAND COSTS, LABOR, AND MATERIAL COSTS, AND IF NOT, HOW WILL YOU SECURE THAT? I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL OF US, BUT I THINK SEVERAL OF US ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO PRODUCE THIS INFORMATION.
WELL, WE COULD DO IS WE COULD PUT THAT IN THE Q AND A AND STAFF COULD RESPOND TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DATA THEY KNOW EXISTS IN THOSE, IF YOU WANT TO REFINE THAT QUESTION AS TO WHAT SPECIFIC DATA WE MAY KNOW ABOUT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, THAT WOULD HELP.
AND THEN, UH, MARICOPA, TIM, WE'D WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WELL TO IDENTIFY, UH, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHAT DATA IS OUT THERE.
AND SO I'M IZZY, I'M GONZALEZ.
HOW DO YOU READ? AND, OR MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE SPONSOR, MAYBE BOTH.
SO WHAT, WHAT IS THE VERY NEXT STEP? IS THERE A, WOULD THE NEXT STEP BE THE RFP, OR WOULD YOU COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH AN ESTIMATION OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO THIS ANALYSIS? SURE.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, MY RESPONSE IS BASED OFF OF COUNSEL'S PREVIOUS ACTIONS TO DO THIS TYPE OF DIRECTION, IF YOU WILL, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT SAYS, GO FORTH AND BRING BACK THIS INFORMATION BY THIS DATE.
UM, THERE'S ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO, OF COURSE, LOOK AT IT FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, AND THEN ALSO TO IDENTIFY, UH, WHAT TYPE OF CONSULTANT WE WOULD NEED AND HOW WE WOULD PLUG THAT CONSULTANT INTO THE WORK.
AND THEN TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO COUNCIL, I BELIEVE THERE'S A PRELIMINARY DATE OF MAY 1ST, AND THEN A FINAL DATE OF DECEMBER 20, 20, 22.
SO THAT'S SUFFICIENT TIME FOR US TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK.
I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COUNCIL DIRECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, GO FORTH, DO THE SCOPE, COME BACK WITH AN ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS, AND THEN COME BACK TO US, ET CETERA.
UH, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION ASKED US TO GO FORTH AND DO THE WORK.
SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A CHECK BACK IN ONCE YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IT COSTS, NOT NECESSARILY.
NO, THE ONLY CHECK-IN WOULD BE, IF WE DID HIRE A CONSULTANT IN THAT COST EXCEEDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF STAFF, THEN WE WOULD BRING THAT COUNT THAT CONTRACT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
AND THEN I WANTED TO CLARIFY, UM, WHAT THE, I KNOW YOU SAID, UM, THE DSD HAS MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET THAT COULD, COULD, UM, GO TOWARD THIS DEPENDING ON THE SCALE AND THE AMOUNT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS? AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THAT, IS THAT FUNDING THAT NEEDS THAT FOR WHICH FEES CAN BE COLLECTED OR IS IT, DOES THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF GENERAL? DOES THAT HAVE TO BE SOURCED FROM THE GENERAL FUND? UM, I BELIEVE A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN WAS OKAY WITH THAT COUNT, THAT QUESTION BEING RESPONDED TO IN THE Q AND A TO GIVE US TIME TO ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THAT, THAT INFORMATION, IF YOU WILL.
THEN IF YOU COULD JUST ADD MY PIECE TO IT, IS THAT, IS THAT BUDGET LINE SOMETHING THAT IS DERIVED FROM FEES THAT ARE PAID OR IS IT, UM, IS IT, UH, IS IT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS? YES.
WELL, RELATED TO THE, HANG ON ONE SECOND, CAUSE I'M UNDER THE, TO TAKE IT TO TAKE OFF.
UH, I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION.
UH, I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THE PRIORITIES THAT THE HAS HAD IN TERMS OF FOCUSING ON THEM TRANSPORTATION.
UH, WE'VE HAD HOMELESSNESS, WE'VE HIT IN REALLY BIG WAYS, BUT THE EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS HOUSING COSTS, UH, RENTAL COSTS AND HOME PRICE, WHICH ARE JUST NOW IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, JUST GOING THROUGH THE, THE ROOF, UH, AT, UH, IN THE, JUST GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO TRYING TO FIND AS MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AS WE CAN GET AT THIS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT AS I SUPPORT.
CAUSE IT'S, IT'S THE ISSUE, UH, RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY.
I REALLY ALSO APPRECIATE THE SECTION THAT YOU HAVE ON PAGE FOUR OF SEVEN, WHERE YOU RELATE THE COSTS TO THE RENT, THAT TO BE PAID BY A RENTER OR THE PRICE TO BE PAID BY A HOME BUYER.
AND I THINK THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT.
AND, AND, AND RODNEY AND MANAGERS, JUST TO FOCUS ON THAT, THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE YOU TO, TO TALK TO AN ECONOMIST OR SOMEBODY TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW HOUSING COSTS RELATE TO HOUSING PRICE AND RENTAL PAYMENTS.
UH, THE GOAL HERE IS NOT JUST TO LOWER THE COSTS.
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THAT'S GOING TO ADJUST MEAN THAT THE PROFIT MARGIN GETS BETTER, HOW DO WE IN FACT WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT TO, TO THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COST OF PRODUCTION, TO THE PRICE OF THE MARKET PRICE OR PRODUCTION? MY SENSE IS THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE AN ANALYSIS OF US TO INCREASE SUPPLY, UH, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT SUPPLY, IF YOU LOWER COSTS, BUT THERE'S NOT REDUCTION IN EITHER THE INCREASE IN SUPPLY, THEN YOU STILL HAVE A MARKET THAT'S GOING TO HAVE MARKET PRICES SET WITHOUT REGARD TO COST.IT'S GOTTA BE SETTLING ON DEMAND.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT THE ANALYSIS THAT YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ON PAGE FOUR, SEVEN IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT KIND OF INVESTIGATION, OR TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COST AND PRICE? AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.
A MAYOR PRO TEM TO HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESOLUTION, I SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION.
WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY AND GET A HANDLE ON THIS QUESTION, COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO NEED TO TAKE OFF.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO TAKE THE, UH, I, AS THERE ARE, UH, A SCRIPT TO GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE'S ONE MORE ADDITIONAL ITEM THAT WAS PULLED THAT WE HAVEN'T COVERED, UH, THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET BACK TO.
UH, AND THEN, UH, DEPENDING ON THE DICE, WE'LL HAVE THE DIAS YOU COULD, UH, UH, UH, GO BACK INTO OR CALL OUT THAT WE GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION 1, 1 15, 1 30, WHATEVER PEOPLE WANTED TO DO WITH THE SCRIPT.
BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT ITEM, YOU WILL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF PULLED ITEMS. AND THEN THERE'S ONE MORE PRESENTATION THAT WE DO AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, ON THE, UM, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, THAT'S THE BRIEFING.
SO I TURN THE CHAIR OVER TO YOU.
SHE'S GOING TO ASK, CAN I USE YOUR SCRIPT? NOBODY PROVIDED ONE.
UM, IT SEEMED AS ALICE HAD WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON ONE QUESTION BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY.
SO, SO YOU WOULD GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF SELECTING THE CONSULTANT.
UM, BUT WOULDN'T THAT CONTRACT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
WOULDN'T IT COME BACK TO COUNCIL? CAUSE WE ALWAYS VOTE ON ALL CONTRACTS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'D MENTIONED TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT CONTRACT MIGHT EXCEED OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT'S YOUR LEVEL OF ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY? UM, NEVER MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH THAT ONE 66,000.
SO IF YOU WERE GOING TO CONSULTANT THAT COSTS MORE THAN 66, 6,000, THEN IT'S A CONTRACT THAT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
WELL THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD DO THIS FOR 66,000.
SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY NEED TO, TO SEE, UM, WHAT Y'ALL ARE THINKING SO THAT I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE.
I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD COVER ALL THIS FOR 66,000 AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO OF COURSE, BASED ON COUNCIL'S APPROVAL IS GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCOPE, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY AND THEN SEE WHAT INFORMATION EXISTS OUT THERE.
AND THEN TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD LOOK TO SCOPE IT OUT FOR CONSULTANTS.
SO YOU'RE THINKING SOME OF IT YOU MAY DO INTERNALLY.
THERE'S SOME, THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERNAL.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE WOULD BE INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT EXISTS.
UH, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THAT LIKE MAYOR HAD POINTED OUT, UH, THAT IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY AND WE WOULD HIRE A CONSULTANT FOR, I REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT TO BE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
SO, UM, SO I JUST, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SIGNAL IT'S.
I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, MY CONCERN COMES FROM THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO, UM, SO I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SCOPE AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS TODAY, AND THEN I'LL HAVE SOME MORE, AND I THINK I MAY HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS ON THURSDAY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A FISCAL NOTE FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, UH, IN SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS FOR IT.
UM, I TALKED LAST WEEK WHEN MR. WAS HERE ABOUT, UM, THE SMSA VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN AND OUR AUTHORITIES IN THE TWO DIFFERENT AREAS AND HOW WE, UM, WHEN WE DID THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, WE LOOKED AT THE SMSA FOR SOME NUMBERS AND THEN WE LOAD NUMBERS AND WE MIXED AND MATCHED.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS, HAS SET US UP FOR BEING IN A SITUATION WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITY IS NOT IN FACT PROVIDING AS MUCH HOUSING AS PROPORTIONALLY AS, UH, WE REALLY ARE BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING IT INTO THE UNIVERSE OF THE STATISTICAL, THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.
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TO REVISIT THAT AND BE REALLY CLEAR ON THE AREAS OF OUR INFLUENCE, UM, THE AREAS WITHIN COUNCIL AUTHORITY, WITH REGARD TO BUILDING HOUSING.I, I WANT STAFF TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON THAT.
UM, THERE IS SOMETIMES A PERCEPTION, I THINK, IN THE CITY THAT AUSTIN BUILDS HOMES, THE CITY LIKE YOU AND ME BUILD HOMES.
WHAT WE DO IS WE PERMIT IT TO HAPPEN.
WE PUT GUARD RAILS ON IT, BUT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR, AND THEIR, UM, AND HOMEOWNERS COME TO US, LOOKING FOR PERMITTING TO MAKE CHANGES ON THEIR LAND, OR TO BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE, UH, TO DO A DEVELOPMENT.
WE ALLOW THAT PROCESS TO HAPPEN.
UM, BUT FREQUENTLY THE RHETORIC SOUNDS LIKE IT'S THE CITY KEEPING PEOPLE FROM BUILDING WHEN IN FACT WHAT COMES TO US HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED THROUGH, UM, BY DEVELOPERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THEIR CLIENTS, TELLING THEM WE WANT THIS PROPERTY AND WE PLAN TO DO THIS ON IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED VIEW AND WHAT THEIR PERFORMANCE LOOK LIKE.
SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS THEM TO BUILD.
ALL WE KNOW IS THAT WE HEAR REGULARLY THAT OUR COSTS ARE TOO HIGH AND, AND PEOPLE WANT OUR COSTS TO BE LOWER.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE ARE LIMITED IN HOW MUCH WE CAN CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS VERY CLEARLY SAID WE CAN ONLY CHARGE FOR OUR FEES, WHAT IT COSTS US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE MAKING A PROFIT FROM THINGS.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CENTER THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING AROUND WHAT IS ACTUALLY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN POLICYMAKERS AND STAFFS AUTHORITIES.
I ALSO WANT TO KNOW, UM, WHETHER WE ARE ANALYZING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY RELATING TO AIR QUALITY, THE INCREASED HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS DUE TO LACK OF TREE CANOPY, WHERE DO WE HAVE TREE CAMPY? WHERE DO WE, WHERE DO WE NOT? UM, I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING IN OUR CITY, WE HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF HOW WE ARE AFFECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND I HAVE SPENT SIGNIFICANT YEARS OF MY LIFE SUPPORTING, KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE FRANKLY, THE REASON WHY THIS IS SUCH A LIVABLE CITY IS BECAUSE YOU LOOK OUT THESE DOORS AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE GOT GREEN SPACE, WE'VE GOT TREES AND WE CARE ABOUT THEM, BUT REMOVING A TREE CANOPY HAS EXTREME DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS THROUGHOUT, UM, BIRD MIGRATION, UM, HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE MENTAL STATE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND THIS WILL BE AN AMENDMENT THAT I WILL BE BRINGING THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON HOUSING, THAT WE BALANCE IT OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING AT LEAST HEALTH DISPARITY ANALYSIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING ALL OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER BITS THAT I WILL BRING ON THURSDAY, BUT THAT IS, UM, JUST KIND OF A HIGHLIGHT.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR A FISCAL NOTE.
I WANT, UM, UH, A RECALCULATION THAT REMOVES THE SMSA FROM OUR, UM, ANALYSIS OR, OR ADS IN THE C CITY OF AUSTIN SPECIFIC PIECE, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THE SMSA KEYS.
WE NEED TO ADD IN A COLUMN THAT IS JUST CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS ACTUALLY WITHIN COUNCIL AND STAFF AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUILDING OF HOMES.
AND THEN, UM, ONE LAST THING I WANT TO KNOW ON AVERAGE, HOW QUICK IS IT FROM FILING A CASE TO ACTUALLY OPENING THE DOORS? I WENT TO, UM, A HOUSING OPENING UP AT LAMPPOST FOR THE VERY FIRST AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED THAT, UM, WAS DONE IN ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS A YEAR PLUS FROM THE TIME IT WAS APPROVED IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.
WHEN I, I WENT AND VIEWED, MOST MANY OF THE UNITS WERE ALREADY COMPLETE AND THEY HAD ALREADY THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER HAD ALREADY CHOSEN, WHICH FAMILIES WERE GOING TO BE MOVING IN.
AND I MET SOME OF THOSE FOLKS AND IT WAS REALLY PRETTY EXCITING.
UM, BUT THE, THE DEVELOPERS THEMSELVES SAID THAT THIS WAS SO FAST TRACKED AND THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY BY HOW QUICKLY IT HAPPENED.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE TO MOVE THINGS FAST.
BUT, UM, AND SO WE KNOW THAT AS AN OUTLIER, WHICH COULD BE LIKE OUR, OUR, UH, GOLD STANDARD, I'M ASKING ON AVERAGE, HOW LONG, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FROM START TO FINISH, UM, ON, ON JUST A RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.
AND I GUESS THERE WOULD BE DIFFERENT NUMBERS DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF CENTER THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY PIECES
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THAT WE ALL KNOW ARE OUT THERE AND WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A BIG EMBRACE AND BRING THEM ALL INTO THE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION THAT I THINK IS, IS BEING ASKED FOR.I, I CONCUR AND I COULDN'T BE MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOU WITH REGARD TO DISTINGUISHING THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPER VERSUS THE EMSA.
WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CONFUSION THAT IT'S OUT THERE WITH REGARD TO WHAT IS UNDER THE CITY'S CONTROL VERSUS WHAT APPLIES TO THE MSA.
AND WITH REGARD TO THE TIMING, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IT'S NOT AN OUTLIER.
AND DIRECTOR DENISE LUCAS IS PREPARED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH INFORMATION LIKE THAT.
AS FAR AS PERMITTING TIMES ARE CONCERNED AND WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES.
AND WE HEAR THAT ACROSS THE BOARD FROM, UH, VARIOUS, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT COME THROUGH THE DOOR.
UM, AND WITH REGARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE A GREAT, UM, ARBORIST TEAM AT DSD WHO WOULD BE MORE THAN GLAD TO TALK ABOUT THE TREE CANOPY AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO PRESERVE THE CITY'S TREE CANOPY.
OF COURSE IT FOLLOWS COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION TO PRESERVE THE TREE CANOPY.
SO WE WELCOME THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.
UM, WITH REGARD TO THE FISCAL NOTE, I'LL HAVE TO TALK WITH DEBORAH THOMAS, BECAUSE THIS IS AN IFC FROM COUNCIL FROM STAFF.
TYPICALLY STAFF BRINGS FORWARD AN ITEM.
UM, SO I'D HAVE TO TALK WITH DEBRA ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER RENTERIA, AND THEN ME, IF NOBODY ELSE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
UM, MAYBE PART PART-TIME I WANTED TO JUST, I'VE BEEN GOING ROUND AND ROUND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A PIECE OF THIS.
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE OPERA ROPPER WAS AT FIRST, EXPLAIN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS WOULD BE PUT INTO EFFECT.
SO ON PAGE FIVE, THERE ARE TWO BULLETS THAT REFER TO REZONING FOR HOUSING MODEL TYPES, FOR WHICH ZONING ENTITLEMENTS ARE NOT PREVALENT WITHIN THE HOUSING SUB MARKET MODEL SUBDIVISION FOR HOUSING MODEL TYPES OR WHICH SUBDIVISION IS LIKELY REQUIRED WITHIN THE HOUSING SUB-MARKET MODEL.
I DID NOT UNDERSTAND EITHER OF THOSE AND WHAT I, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M COMING TO IS THAT I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR DEFINITION OF THE HOUSING SUB-MARKET MODEL AND HOW IT'S BEING OPERATIONALIZED.
UM, SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE HOUSING MODEL TYPES ARE THE SINGLE FAMILY, DETACHED DUPLEX, TOWNHOME, SMALL MULTI-FACETS AND MID MID RISE MULTIFAMILY.
AND WHILE THERE IS A WHEREAS CLAUSE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT HOUSING SUB MARKETS IN AUSTIN, THAT FEATURE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I WOULD AGREE THAT THERE WERE SUB MARKETS, NOT, THIS IS NOT A FORMULA STATION THAT I'VE SEEN BEFORE.
AND SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU MEAN BY A HOUSING SUB-MARKET MODEL, WHERE THEN YOU WOULD LOOK AT HOW THE MODEL TYPES ARE THE COSTS, ET CETERA, ARE PLAYING OUT DIFFERENTLY.
SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT THAT WOULD HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
I DON'T ENTIRELY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, CAUSE I THINK YOU SAID YOU'RE ASKING, I DON'T ENTIRELY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS SAYING THERE IS THAT THERE ARE FEES THAT ARE LEVIED AGAINST VARIOUS HOUSING TYPES AND SUB-MARKETS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE FEES ARE DIFFERENT FOR THE URBAN CORE.
THE FEES ARE DIFFERENT FOR, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY BETTER.
I I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY HOUSING SUB MARKET MODEL OR WHAT STAFF WOULD INTERPRET AS HOUSING SUB MARKET MODEL.
IT'S JUST NOT A TERM THAT I'VE HEARD USED BEFORE WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE'RE THINKING OF, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT MARKETS WITHIN HOUSING.
UM, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS AND HAVE A MATRIX WITH THE FIVE MODEL TYPES, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A SUB MARKET MODEL MEANS.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T, OTHER THAN THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN THE, WHEREAS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND SO FOR THEM TO OPERATIONALIZE IT, THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT TOO.
AND FOR ME TO AUTHORIZE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M AUTHORIZED.
AND I CAN OFFER A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF RATIONALE, BUT I'D LIKE FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION, IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEN I'LL BE CONSIDERABLY MORE CLEAR BECAUSE IF IT'S THE WORD MODEL THAT'S MAKING IT.
SO THAT I'M NOT ARTICULATING AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY FIGURE OUT ANOTHER EXPRESSION.
ULTIMATELY, SUB MARKETS IS THE, THE, THE POINT, BUT, UH, I'LL LET STAFF SPEAK AND THEN I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP.
FOR 10 MINUTE, I'M GOING TO ASK ROSIE FOR HER, UM, UH, INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THE MARKETS.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UH, BASED ON COUNCILS, UH, CONCURRENCE AND APPROVE OF THIS, IF THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE CERTAINLY WOULD COME BACK TO THE CO SPONSORS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE THOUGHT WAS, BUT I'LL DEFER TO ROSIE AS TO HER INITIAL THOUGHT ON SUB MARKETS.
IN COUNCIL VERSUS TREE LEFT, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT,
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UM, BASED ON MY READING OF THE RESOLUTION, UM, I, I THINK WE WOULD WORK WITH THE CONSULTANT TO SUBDIVIDE AUSTIN INTO, TO VARIOUS SUB-MARKETS.I DON'T THINK THAT'S A DEFINED TERM OR, OR CLEARLY ARTICULATED WHAT THOSE DIFFERENT SUB MARKETS ARE WITHIN THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DEVELOP AS PART OF THIS ACTION, UM, SHOULD IT BE APPROVED IN ITS CURRENT STATE? OKAY.
I JUST, I JUST, THERE'S SO MANY COMPLICATIONS WITH THAT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE OUR STREET IMPACT FEES HAVE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ZONES AND THE COST OF THOSE VARY OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES VARY BY DIFFERENT ZONES.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT RULES IF YOU, I MEAN, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU OPERATIONALIZE IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT RULES BY DIFFERENT AREAS AND THAT THOSE ALL ADD UP TO MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, BUT I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT'S A FIVE MARKET.
I MEAN, LIKE THIS IS MAKING IT SOUND LIKE THERE'S OR AT LEAST I UNDERSTOOD IT TO MEAN THAT THERE WERE FIVE SUB-MARKETS, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE MORE, I JUST, AS YOU GET INTO MORE DETAILS LIKE THAT, IT BECOMES THAT MUCH MORE MASSIVE OF A PROJECT AND I'M EAGER TO HAVE THE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION.
AND, AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BALANCE HERE OVER THINGS AND, AND I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE AUTHORIZING.
I DON'T WANT IT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE IT INCORPORATE TYPICAL COST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH HOUSING MODEL TYPE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO COSTS AND ASSOCIATED TIME FOR REZONING, FOR HOUSING MODEL TYPES, FOR WHICH ZONING ENTITLEMENTS ARE NOT PREVALENT WITHIN THE HOUSING SUBMARKET MODEL OR SUBDIVISION FOR THE HOUSING MODEL TYPES OR WHICH SUBDIVISION IS LIKELY REQUIRED WITHIN THE HOUSING SUB MARKET MODEL.
LIKE, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE MEAN, AND THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO.
AND IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT A CONSULTANT'S NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, I JUST DON'T, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I'M AUTHORIZED, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I SORT OF WISH THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAD POSTED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS TO THE MESSAGE BOARD SO THAT I COULD CLARIFY THERE.
CAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE SUPER LONG ANSWERS, BUT THAT I'D SAY TO REALLY JUST MAKE IT AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECALIBRATE FEES AND MAKE THEM MORE UNIFORM.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING INTO AND THEN MOVING FORWARD OUT OF THAT, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW THE HOUSING COSTS ARE BEING PASSED DOWN TO.
SO LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE YOUR, AND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MOST OF THE BUILDERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE NOT MAJOR CONGLOMERATES.
IT'S LIKE A BUILDER WHO HAS FOUR PROPERTIES, BUT THEY'RE PAYING THE SAME FEES THAT THE BIG BUILDERS WOULD.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS, OR EVEN MY NEIGHBOR, THEY OWN ONE HOME.
THEY WANT TO REBUILD ONE MORE HOME AND THEY, AND THEY'RE FACING THE SAME FEES AS, AND I THINK THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO LEVY SOME OF THE BIGGER CORPORATIONS AND HAVE THOSE FEES, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THEY WOULDN'T BE EQUAL, BUT HAVE THEM BE APPROPRIATE BASED ON THE SIZE AND THE SCALE OF THE BUILDER.
I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU FIGURE OUT MY RATIONALE.
UM, I'M JUST NOT SURE THIS GETS US TO THAT ANALYSIS.
THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU JUST SAID.
ONE OF WHICH I WOULD AGREE WITH HIM, THE OTHER, THAT I'D HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR STREET IMPACT FEES, WE CAN'T GO CHANGING THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE HAD TO DO A VERY ELABORATE ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THOSE STREET IMPACT FEES BASED ON WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO DO.
AND WE CAN'T GO WILLY NILLY BACK AND OPEN IT UP.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO DO THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UM, PARKLAND DEDICATION IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE URBAN CORE AND THE OTHER AND I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN, IN, IN GOING THROUGH AND REOPENING THAT WHOLE DEBATE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE CREATE SITUATIONS WHERE THE MOM AND POP CAN ACTUALLY DO THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, AN INCENTIVIZE THE ABILITY OF THE MOM AND POP FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DEVELOPMENT VERSUS THE BIG CORPORATIONS, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANALYSIS AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNPACK THIS AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD BACK-TO-BACK COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS 90 SOME ITEMS AND, AND GETTING IT POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT THE WORK SESSIONS FOR.
SO, SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE GOTTEN THEM UP THERE FOR YOU, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE, BUT, BUT I DON'T.
SO, SO AGAIN, I DON'T WITHOUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD SHARE ABOUT WHAT THE END GOAL IS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSTRUCTING, UM, WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE CONSULTANT AND STAFF TO DO SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT.
FOR INSTANCE, FOR ME, WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO BE GETTING AT IS PERMITTING.
I KNOW RODNEY HAS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE IMPROVED TIMES, ET CETERA.
THAT'S GREAT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE DEVELOPERS WHEN WE HAVE
[03:05:01]
CONVERSATIONS WITH DEVELOPERS AND THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT PERMITTING IS STILL TAKING A REALLY LONG TIME.AND THEY'RE SAYING IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.
AND I DON'T, I'M NOT TOTALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS GETS THERE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY THE COST OF PERMITTING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, IT DOES SAY SOMEWHERE TIME IN HERE, BUT LIKE I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO, TO UNDERSTAND THAT TIMING.
YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST TOLD A STORY THE OTHER DAY THAT JUST TO GET A CODE FOR A LAND USE THING, IT TOOK THEM A MONTH TO GET THE CODE TO GO THROUGH AND DO THEIR PLANS NOT SEEMS LIKE THAT OUGHT TO BE FAIRLY AUTOMATED TO BE ABLE TO DO.
AND I'M TRYING TO GET MORE OF THESE EXAMPLES.
SO, SO HAVING A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, I THINK WE COULD STRUCTURE THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
THE EASIEST WAY TO RESPOND TO YOUR INQUIRY IS THAT THIS IS A SIMPLE INFORMATION REQUEST.
I'M JUST REQUESTING INFORMATION TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW THESE FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME, HOW THOSE HELD THOSE COSTS ROLL OVER TO HOMEOWNERS AND TO RENTERS.
AND I'M JUST SIMPLY REQUESTING INFORMATION, RIGHT? BUT ALL THOSE FEES ARE THERE FOR A REASON.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE WE RANDOMLY PICKED THE FEES CAUSE WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO COVER OUR COSTS OR WE HAVE ANALYSIS THAT SAYS WE NEED PARKLAND OR WE NEED TO COVER TRANSPORTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE FEES THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, FOR DSD ARE COVERING THEY'RE COVERING THE PEOPLE TO DO THE JOBS SO THAT IT GOES FASTER.
NOW, THE TIME IT TAKES AND GETTING THAT MANAGEMENT TO WORK IS A, IS A DIFFERENT THING.
AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SENSE OF THAT AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE THAT, BUT, BUT I, I THINK WE'RE WRONG IF WE GO INTO THIS, ASSUMING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS REDUCE ALL THESE COSTS IN THE CITY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE TIME DOWN.
I MEAN, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
AND JUST FOR ONE OF MY CARS, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD THEIR HAND UP.
I'M JUST WANTING TO RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUE.
SO THE INFORMATION REQUEST IS SIMPLE INFORMATION, HOW WE CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THAT INFORMATION, MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S UP TO US AS A COUNCIL.
THIS, THIS RESOLUTION IS SIMPLY ASKING FOR INFORMATION AND THEN NEXT IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER JUST RESPOND THOUGH.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S JUST ASKING FOR INFORMATION, BUT HOW YOU STRUCTURE THE INFORMATION YOU GET HELPS YOU TO KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS YOU CAN ANSWER.
AND IF IT'S NOT SET UP TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WHERE WE THINK WE ARE MOST LIKELY TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, IT IS NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY BE THE RIGHT INVESTMENT OF, OF SCARCE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS MOVING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT.
AND, AND SO I JUST, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND, AND I'M NOT THERE YET.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOU KNOW, AND FOR ME, I JUST WANTED TO, I WANT TO FIND OUT THIS INFORMATION, THIS COUGH.
SO THE PUBLIC COULD REALLY KNOW WHAT REALLY THE TRUE COST BEHIND THIS BUILDING HOUSING, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
AND WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE PASS THE SAME MISINFORMATION OUT THERE UNLESS WE GET ALL THAT INFORMATION UPFRONT SO THAT WE CAN BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S ALL I SEE THAT'S HAPPENING.
UH, AT RODNEY SAID, WE COULD ONLY GO UP SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A CONTRACT.
AND IF WE KEEP TACKING MORE AND MORE ON IT, THEN YES, IT'S GOING TO END UP COSTING SO MUCH THAT WE'LL JUST KILL THIS WHOLE, UH, RESOLUTION HERE.
AND WE'LL NEVER GET INFORMATION.
AND THE PUBLIC ARE STILL GOING TO BE SAYING THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'RE NOT BUILDING HOUSING HERE.
OF COURSE WE DON'T BUILD HOUSES.
WE GIVE CONTRACTS OUT TO EITHER NONPROFIT.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CONSTRUCTION SCREWS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, I LIKE TO GO AND HAVE IT OUT IN THE PUBLIC, ALL THIS INFORMATION OF ALL THE BEEF COSTS THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING ANY KIND OF HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WE CAN GET IT UP TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL THEY CAN ALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO THEY, THEY, WHEN THEY GO IN THERE AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BUILDING SOMETHING, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE FACING.
IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I KNOW I RAISED MY HAND, BUT I KNOW IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERYBODY UP HERE.
UM, I CERTAINLY THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR US TO BE TRYING TO LOOK AT IN A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, JUST SO WE CAN ALL MAKE SURE AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ON HOUSING, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RECENTLY THAT WE HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.
MY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE SUBMARKET CONVERSATION IS ABOUT IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PLACES WHERE MAYBE YOU HAVE AN AGING DUPLEX VERSUS
[03:10:01]
A NEW AB UNIT.SO THERE MAY BE CERTAIN TYPES OF HOUSING THAT LOOK THE SAME AND RELATIVELY ACT THE SAME, BUT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME IMPACTS TO, TO RENTS AND TO HOME OWNERSHIPS.
AND SO I ALSO THINK THERE'S SOME SITUATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IN MY DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, TIGHTER IMPERVIOUS COVER REGULATIONS THAT MAY PLAY OUT DIFFERENTLY IN SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILDING THAN A PLACE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATION.
SO I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GET INTO AND ANY SORT OF TREE CANOPIES.
I THINK WE ALL WANT TO PROTECT THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROPERLY MITIGATING FOR THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
CAUSE I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT BEFORE IT EVEN GETS STARTED.
SO THAT, THAT WAS MY INTERPRETATION OF SUB-MARKETS.
BUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE NEED TO LIKE RECLASSIFY THE WORDING, I THINK THAT'S FINE.
I THINK THE REST OF THE INTENT HOLDS UP PRETTY, PRETTY WELL.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, WITH SOME EXAMPLES AND THANK YOU MAY HAVE HEARD TIM, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTRA ABOUT SOME EXAMPLES OF, OF, UM, SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS.
CAUSE I, I CONCUR, UH, WITH THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU RAISED MAYOR PRO TEM ABOUT, UM, THE, THE COST OF SMALLER BUILDERS, FOR EXAMPLE, VERSUS LARGER BUILDERS, AND REALLY WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET AT THAT.
UH, I ALSO SHARE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR IS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF PERMITTING AND CAUSE WE KNOW TIME EQUALS MONEY.
AND, UM, THERE I'D REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE THOSE PROCESSES BETTER.
UM, AND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES, UH, THAT OTHERS WERE THINKING OF.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO, TO GET AT.
UM, I, UH, AM GOING TO THINK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION IN, AND MAYBE BRINGING SOME AMENDMENTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ANSWERS TO THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS.
UM, AND I HEAR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON FROM PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE TALKING IN TERMS OF JUST GETTING THE DATA, UH, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT, I DON'T MEAN JUST, BUT I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING INFORMATION.
UM, I'M MORE FOCUSED ON GETTING SPECIFIC ANSWERS THAT WE CAN USE SPECIFICALLY TO ANSWER THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.
AND I DON'T THINK, I DON'T SEE HOW GETTING THIS INFORMATION WILL DO THAT FOR US.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ACM GONZALEZ, UH, AND IT MAY BE JUST A MATTER OF, UH, ADDING, ADDING SOME THINGS TO THE RESOLUTION TO GET SOME FOCUS.
BUT SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE QUESTION RELATED TO, UM, UH, RELATING TO THE DIFFERENCES IN COSTS AND, UH, PERMITTING ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M JUST WANTING TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT SCOPE OF INFORMATION THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IS REALLY DRILLING DOWN AND WHAT, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? WHAT ARE OUR PARAMETERS? HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE THINK ABOUT CHARGING SMALLER BUILDERS, LESS THAN LARGER BUILDERS? HAVE YOU EXAMINED THAT BEFORE? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THERE SOME ANALYSIS THAT YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK IT'S ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARZA.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE FOMO FAMILY HOMESTEAD INITIATIVE THAT ASKED US TO LOOK INTO MATTERS LIKE THESE.
AND WE'D PROVIDED EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE ON OUR OWN, UM, ADMINISTRATIVELY HAVE PARSED OUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERMITS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, RESIDENCES IN THE PERMITS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THAT WAY THE WORK THAT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TIME TO REVIEW, ISN'T ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PERMITTING, UH, TYPE OF LIKE MUCH LARGER WORK IF YOU WILL.
AND SO WE PRESENTED THAT'S RESULTED IN SOME SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS.
UM, ALSO THE OTHER THING TOO, IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO, I'M SORRY, COULD I FOLLOW UP ON THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
I'D BE GLAD TO RESEND THAT REPORT TO MARIN COUNCIL.
DO YOU THINK WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH REGARD TO THAT ISSUE? I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE ALWAYS EYES WIDE OPEN TO ANYTHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
SO WE'LL WILL NEVER SAY THAT WE'VE DONE ALL THAT WE CAN.
WE'RE ALWAYS EYES WIDE OPEN, WHETHER THAT'S FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT THIS OR FROM OUR CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE, ASKING US TO LOOK AT THINGS.
UH, ONE THING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A ROBUST LIST OF EXEMPTIONS TO PERMITTING FOR HOMEOWNERS MORE ROBUST THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS.
AND WHAT THAT ALLOWS OUR HOMEOWNERS TO DO IS TO DO THE WORK ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT SEEKING A PERMIT.
SO THAT WAY THEY CAN GET IT DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY, THAT HELPS IMMEDIATELY FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS AND ALSO FOR OUR REALTORS AS WELL.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS CONSTANTLY TO LOOK AT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES IN A WAY TO REDUCE THE COSTS, UM, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU'D RESEND THAT, I KNOW WE STILL HAVE ISSUES THOUGH.
SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I KNOW
[03:15:01]
THAT WE'VE DONE SOME WORK IN THE PAST ON HERE WITH THEM MAYOR, PORT, TIM IS SAYING, AND I'M HEARING ALSO THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE ISSUES.SO IF YOU COULD FORWARD THAT TO ME, THAT'S THE KIND OF DRILL DOWN THAT I WANT TO DO.
I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE, SO JUST DOING AN ANALYSIS IS NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE TO DRILL DOWN AND SAY, WELL, WHAT IS THE REMAINING ISSUE GIVEN THE WORK WE'VE ALREADY DONE? SO, SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.
SURE THING, COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDUS.
WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PROCESS OF THE ACM GONZALEZ THAT YOU REFERENCED? WAS IT THE FAMILY? YES, IT WAS, I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD INITIATIVE.
AND SO I CAN SEND THAT REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND SAYING THAT I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE IN DOING A DEEP DIVE ON OUR PERMITTING CLASSES TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO STREAMLINE AND BE MORE EFFICIENT.
AND IF THEY'RE ON ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD IT'S OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE TO ME TOO.
AND I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE IS DOING A BIG STUDY ON HOUSING AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND OUT BY THURSDAY WHEN THEY ANTICIPATE BEING DONE WITH THAT STUDY, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IF THEY'VE ALREADY CONDUCTED THE STUDY.
SO I'LL JUST SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT THERE.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, IT LOOKS LIKE OUR FINAL ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 64.
UM, SO I'LL SPEAK TO IT FIRST.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
WHEN I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE EARLY DAYS OF, YOU KNOW, REALLY GETTING INTO ADVOCACY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO TELL PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOUSING WAYS THAT THEY COULD REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.
AND SO THE RESEARCH THAT I WAS DOING 80 USE POPPED UP FOR ME.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS CALLED THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A SPECIFIC, UM, AMENITY, RIGHT? THAT IS THE 80 USE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT I WERE SORT OF MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS, THEY'RE GOING TO WIN THE MOST HERE, BUT I ALSO THINK THIS MAKES IT SO THAT IT MAKES HOUSING ATTAINABLE ACROSS THE CITY FOR OUR LOWER INCOME EARNERS.
UM, SO MY QUESTIONS ARE ACTUALLY, I HAVE JUST TWO LITTLE QUESTIONS.
UM, I WANTED TO, UM, WELL, I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT HAVING PEOPLE BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES REALLY HELPS TO PREVENT THE RAISING COST OF ADJACENT HOMES.
UM, I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT REALITY AS WELL.
UM, SO MY QUESTIONS ARE, WELL NOW NOT A QUESTION, SO MUCH STATEMENT.
I WANT IT TO DAYLIGHT THAT I WILL BE POSTING TO THE MESSAGE BOARD.
UM, SOME ADDITIONAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 80 YEARS THAT MIGHT BE WORTH CONSIDERING.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER, UM, WHEN CONSIDERING SCALING THE UNIT SIZE, UM, TO LOT SIZE FOR 80 YEARS.
I WONDER IF THAT MIGHT HAVE THE, UM, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF REALLY LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COST SHARING THROUGH PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO HAVE ROOMMATES AND, UH, AND ARE LIVING IN THE, EXCUSE ME, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF THE AFFORDABLE MOST AFFORDABLE, I SHOULD SAY MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPES THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AND, AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, RESPONSES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE SECOND.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE SECOND, WHEN AGAIN, IS THIS WITH REGARD TO THE BULLET? I ASSUME THIS IS ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE UNDER THE THIRD BIT RESOLVED ABOUT, UM, ASKING THE STAFF TO COME BACK TO US WITH OPTIONS FOR SCALING THE SIZE OF ATU BASED ON LOT SIZE AND REVIEWING THOSE EXAMPLES IN SPECIFIC CITIES.
CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING? MY, MY CONCERN AND CONSIDERATION THERE IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BEING OF LIMITING, UM, ACCESS TO PEOPLE.
AND SO WHAT I DON'T WANT US TO DO IS, UH, LIMIT THE SIZE AND THE SCALE AND HAVE PEOPLE NOT BE ABLE TO SPLIT THE COST OF RENT WITH A ROOMMATE OR LIMIT THE SIZE AND THE SCALE AND NOT HAVING FAMILIES BE ABLE TO RESIDE.
AND SO I'M JUST, IF NOTHING ELSE I'M, I'M ASKING FOR CLARITY.
SO, UH, SO IT, AS IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT THE OPTIONS FOR SCALING THE SIZE BASED ON LOT SIZE MIGHT COME BACK RECOMMENDING UNITS THAT ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE PURPOSES YOU'VE JUST SUGGESTED.
[03:20:01]
ALL RIGHT.ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL UMBRELLAS? I HAD JUST A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF FRIENDLY QUESTIONS SINCE I'M NOT IN THE SUB QUORUM.
UM, THE REFERENCES TO CASE STUDIES IN CHICAGO, AND THEN SOME OF THE EXAMPLES FROM HAWAII TO SEATTLE IN SANTA BARBARA, ARE THERE ANY LIKE SPECIFIC ARTICLES THAT WE COULD ATTACH OR POST? UM, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER WHAT THE, UM, WHAT THOSE ARE, CAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR.
SO IN CHICAGO, THESE ARE, UH, I MEAN MY STAFF HAVE HAD ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHICAGO, UM, ABOUT THEIR PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW THOSE ARE.
SO I CAN ASK, I CAN SEE WHETHER WE HAVE ANY ARTICLES TO POINT POINT YOU TO, BUT MY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SOME OF THAT WILL HAVE COME FROM CONVERSATIONS RATHER THAN SPECIFIC ART ARTICLES.
I THINK POSSIBLY JIM DUNCAN'S WORK THAT HE FORWARDED TO ALL OF US SITES.
SOME OF THOSE STUDIES IN HAWAII, SEATTLE AND SANTA BARBARA THOUGH, I WOULD NEED TO GO BACK IN AND DETERMINE THAT.
AND ACTUALLY, I THINK SANTA BARBARA CAME FROM ONE OF MY CO-SPONSORS.
SO I'LL CHECK WITH THAT OFFICE AND SEE IF THEY'VE GOT ANY INFORMATION.
I THINK, I THINK THAT COULD BE HELPFUL JUST SO JUST SO I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BETTER.
UM, BUT I DO THINK LOOKING AT OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, PEER CITIES IS A GOOD, A GOOD PROCESS FOR US TO BE LOOKING AT.
AND IF I COULD, I KNOW I GOT A QUESTION FROM ONE CO-SPONSOR ABOUT WHETHER WE WERE SUGGESTING USING THOSE MODELS.
AND SO THE LANGUAGE AT THIS POINT IS, IS REALLY PRETTY GENERIC.
I MEAN, IT'S SAYING REVIEWING EXAMPLES, YOU KNOW, WE VERY OFTEN ASK OUR STAFF TO LOOK AT PEER CITIES AND COME BACK WITH BEST PRACTICES.
AND I'M TRYING TO REALLY JUMPSTART A FOCUSED LOOK AT HOW SOME OTHER CITIES HAVE CRAFTED THESE PROVISIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE OPTION THAT, THAT WE CONSIDERED WAS COMING FORWARD, AND I MAY, THERE MAY BE A PLACE FOR THIS AT SOME POINT COMING FORWARD WITH THE ACTUAL PROVISIONS THAT WE WANTED STAFF TO IMPLEMENT INTO THE ORDINANCE.
WE'VE KIND OF STEPPED BACK FROM THAT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THESE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES AND COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT WITH REGARD TO THE PRESERVATION OF REQUIREMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE IMPOSED, BUT IN THE, WE TOOK AN ALTERNATIVE PATH OF ASKING STAFF TO, TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THEM, BUT, BUT I WANTED IT TO BE MORE GENERAL THAN JUST DO A SURVEY BECAUSE WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO REALLY GET TO SOME SOLUTIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE, ARE IN PLACE IN OTHER PLACES, IN OTHER CITIES OR STATES IN THE CASE OF HAWAII.
AND THEN, UM, I DID HAVE A THOUGHT ABOUT, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED RECENTLY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY ON ADS.
AND SO I WASN'T SURE I APPRECIATED, UM, LET ME PULL UP YOUR EXACT WORDING IF I CAN FIND IT.
UM, BUT, UH, PROPOSED REGULATIONS DESIGNATED TO RESTRICT USE OF ADFS AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK IS IMPORTANT IN THIS CONVERSATION.
I KNOW WE'VE ALSO SOMETIMES HEARD THAT IT'S, UM, EITHER HARD TO ENFORCE OR NOT BEING ENFORCED.
AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY, UM, ANY ABILITY FOR US TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF CODE ENFORCEMENT TO DO THAT.
CAUSE I THINK, UM, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING OF AND IT KIND OF TRIGGERED WHEN I SAW THAT BULLET POINT AND I SAID, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS? AND SO I MAY BE THINKING, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY LANGUAGE TO ADD OR JUST A DIRECTION TO STAFF TO KIND OF LOOK AT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL, UM, AS A COUNCIL.
AND THEN, UM, I ALSO HAD A THOUGHT ABOUT THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD, UM, THOUGHTS OR IF STAFF HAD AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT POTENTIAL TIMELINE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
IS THAT A SPONSOR QUESTION? SURE, SURE.
UM, I DIDN'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU.
SO LET ME BACK UP, LET ME GO BACK TO STRS.
AFTER I ASKED THE, AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER ISSUE, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD BE INITIATING OR YES, THERE WAS, UM, I THINK IT WAS JUST ABOUT ENGAGING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS OR NCDS.
AND SO IT WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS A EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR THAT.
UM, LET ME GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT AND SEE IF WE CAN SET SOME EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT TIMELINE.
THANKS FOR RAISING THAT QUESTION.
AND THAT IS THAT THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING ALONG 93 TO 96.
AND THEN I'M NOT SURE IF, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT MIGHT BUILD ADS WOULD BE ENGAGED PRIOR TO MARCH 1ST, BUT I THINK MARCH VERSUS A PRETTY QUICK TURNAROUND.
SO I THINK EVEN IF THEY'D GET THE INFORMATION WHEN WE DO, I JUST HAVE TO, I THINK THAT PROBABLY WORKS.
AND I THINK THERE IS A SPECIFIED TIME FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAMS TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS, UM, WHICH IS COMING UP.
[03:25:01]
MEMBER POOL? DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW NEVER HAD PLANS? WELL, ANYWAY, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT AND, AND, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.I'LL TRY TO ADDRESS THAT WITH REGARD TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
UM, AND THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA FOR RAISING THIS LAST WEEK.
SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION WHERE, WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST WE HAVE WITH, UM, LAW AND EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE IT'LL HAVE TO, WELL, YEAH, I THINK SOME OF IT WE'VE, WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH, UM, INCLUDING SURROUNDING THE LANGUAGE.
AND SO I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME WITH OUR, WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND I THINK MANAGER, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUGGEST WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE YEARS TO TALK ABOUT CODE AND WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN.
AND I THINK IT'S TIME, YOU KNOW, ONE OF, ONE OF THE TWO DUES ON MY LIST IS TO INITIATE ANOTHER COUNCIL CONVERSATION AROUND THAT BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED CONTINUE TO, TO NOT REALLY BE, UM, ENFORCED AT A LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO.
AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CODE WAS COMING FORWARD WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS, INCLUDING WITH REGARD TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, INCLUDING WITH REGARD TO REPEAT OFFENDER PROGRAM AND SUBSTANDARD HOUSING.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE SEEN ANY OF THOSE.
AND I THINK AS A COUNCIL, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST, I KNOW A LOT OF US UP AND DOWN THE DIAS CARE ABOUT THAT AND HAVE WORKED ON RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER THINGS REGARDING SUBSTANDARD HOUSING AND HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL AUSTINITES ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY IN THEIR HOUSES OR ARE IN SAFE AND HEALTHY HOUSING.
AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT THAT THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, I THINK WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES AND REALLY HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE HAVE LOTS OF CHALLENGES THAT ALL OF US HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND SOME OF US HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S CONSTITUENTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTAL ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO THAT IS, THAT IS JUST AN ONGOING FRUSTRATION FOR LOTS IN OUR CITY.
AND AS WE LOOK AT QUESTIONS ABOUT IX, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, I THINK MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CLOSING DOWN OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO GO LOCAL ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL SHOULD, SHOULD BE ON THAT LIST.
I MEAN, THEY ARE, THEY ARE TAKING UP, UM, HOUSING STOCK AND SOME OF OUR MOST CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN SOME CASES QUITE A LOT OF IT.
AND WE JUST, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE POLICIES ON THE BOOKS, I BELIEVE TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE AGAINST IT.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE POLICIES ON THE BOOKS, THEN I WOULD ASK YOU TO LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE POLICIES ARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO HAVE A COUNCIL, UM, WORK, SESSION IT AND LOOKING AT THIS, BUT LET'S DO, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK, UM, AND MAYBE I THINK WE NEED TO SPONSORS MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER LSU, AND I COULD SPONSOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS.
AND WE CAN COUPLE THAT WITH A WORK SESSION CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT OUR CODE FOLKS WOULD LIKE WOULD RECOMMEND TO US IN TERMS OF STRENGTHENING THOSE COUPLE OF PROGRAMS. I MENTIONED I'M HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR THAT AS WELL.
CAUSE I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION, AS YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER WENT TO RIO, HAD BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK.
AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND THEN I JUST, I'M GOING TO ADD JUST ONE MORE LAST QUESTION THAN ANYTHING ELSE I'LL PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE INCLUSION OF THE LANGUAGE AROUND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AID USE.
AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT ATTACHED ADS.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EITHER IS DIFFICULT TO INCLUDE IN THIS PROCESS OR SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL ISN'T INTERESTED IN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT.
UM, I JUST KNOW SOME OF THOSE MAY BE EASIER TO DO BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY ADDING ONTO A STRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY BUILT INSTEAD OF STARTING A BRAND NEW ONE.
AND THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THINGS LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND COOLING AND HEATING BILLS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
CAUSE I KNOW WHEN YOU GET MORE UNITS CLOSER TOGETHER, UM, THEY'RE ABLE TO RETAIN HEAT BETTER IN THE WINTER.
UM, AND SO I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED OR IF IT WAS EXCLUDED FOR ANY REASON, BUT I JUST HAD A THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING HELPFUL HERE.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF SF ONE AND SF TWO IN THE LANGUAGE.
AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY REASON NOT TO INCLUDE SF THREE OR IF, UM, THERE'S JUST MORE TO THAT THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF, BUT THOSE WERE MY, THOSE ARE MY LAST TWO QUESTIONS.
AND I THINK WE, UM, SO LET ME ADDRESS THE LAST COUPLE THAT I HAVEN'T YET.
SO IN THE PASSAGE, BEGINNING 85 THROUGH 91, I'M ASKING, ASKING OUR STAFF TO COME UP WITH STREAMLINED DEFINITIONS OF ACCESSORY DWELLINGS, UM, THAT STREAMLINE I'VE ARTICULATED SOME OF WHAT THAT WOULD DO.
IT WOULD REMOVE REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT THE STREAMLINE DEFINITION WAS INTENDED TO, TO PROPOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
THAT WOULD ALSO COLLAPSE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
[03:30:01]
WHAT WAS THE OTHER THING YOU SAID I'M SUDDENLY FORGETTING, UM, SECONDARY VERSUS YOU USED SOME OTHER LANGUAGE, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS TO CONTEMPLATE WHAT OUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS ARE FOR ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WHERE WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT KINDS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF, UM, RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF THE PRIMARY HOUSEHOLD PRIMARY HOUSE STRUCTURE.I KNOW THE INTENT OF THIS IS TO TRY TO STREAMLINE IT AND, AND KIND OF ELIMINATE SOME OF THE, UM, INTERESTING COMPONENTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT INTO IT OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO I CERTAINLY, UH, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD MOVE FORWARD FOR US TO BE DOING.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, OPENING UP THIS HOUSING, UM, STYLE.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON IT.
UM, YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT SF THREE, SO SF THREE ALREADY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT CITED IN THAT PASSAGE.
UM, IT IS WHAT WE DO IN 85 THROUGH 91, WHAT THE STAFF OPTIONS ARE, WILL IMPACT SF THREE.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE ASKED THEM TO LAY OUT IN SOME MORE SPECIFICS, UM, HOW THOSE, HOW THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THEY BRING BACK TO US WOULD IMPACT SF THREE.
BECAUSE I, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IF, IF WE'RE IN COLLAPSING, IF, IF IN, UM, APPROVING A STREAMLINED DEFINITION, IF IT RESULTS IN THE ABILITY TO DO THREE UNITS NOW ON SF THREE, THAT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN THE ONE WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
AND SO IF, IF FOR EXAMPLE, GUEST HOUSE, YOU KNOW, ON AN SF THREE TRACT, IF IT'S 15,000 SQUARE FEET, RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN HAVE A GUEST HOUSE AND AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, YOU CAN HAVE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS HERE.
I HATE DOING THIS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, CAUSE I MAY HAVE DONE IT WRONG, BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF WE APPROACH THE STREAMLINED DEFINITION IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT MAKES ALL OF THOSE, UM, ABLE TO BE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND RENT IT OUT, THEN WE HAVE CREATED, UH, AN ENTITLEMENT FOR THREE RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON AS A THREE TRACKS.
AND I JUST THINK, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MORE CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE DONE THIS.
I SUGGESTED WE DO THIS IN KIND OF A, TWO-STEP LIKE, COME BACK, COME BACK TO US WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DEFINING AND LET US KNOW HOW THAT IMPACTS DIFFERENT, HOW DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WOULD IMPACT SF THREE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF STRUCTURES, WHICH CAN BE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE IS AN INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL.
UM, BUT, BUT GENERALLY SF THREE IS NOT A TO USE OR NOT BEING EXTENDED TO TWO SF THREE.
CAUSE THAT CAUSE THAT ALREADY HAPPENED.
SO THEY THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBER FRONT.
I JUST HAD A COMMENT ON THE TOPIC OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IF WE DO HAVE A WORK SESSION ON IT, AND I DO AGREE, IT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL TO HAVE A DEEP DIVE ON THE TOPIC, UM, THAT AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THE STANDARDS AROUND, UM, REGISTRATION LOCALLY WITH THE HOTEL TAXES, UM, OR THE RATE IN WHICH LOCAL HOTEL TAXES ARE CAPTURED FROM THE STRS.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM STRS WHO ARE NOT REMITTING TAXES LOCALLY.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THOSE HOT TAXES GO TO FUND PRESERVATION, OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND LIFE MUSIC.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND THE REGULATIONS OF HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE STRS THAT ARE OPERATING ARE PAYING THEIR HOTEL TAXES.
UM, AND IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY THE GAP BECAUSE YOU CAN, WHAT IS PAID TO THE STATE VERSUS WHAT WE GARNER HERE LOCALLY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SORT OF LEVEL SET AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
WE STILL GOT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE OBVIOUSLY MISSED OUR NOON LUNCH BREAK.
UM, SO I'M WONDERING IF 30 MINUTES IS ENOUGH TIME FOR FOLKS TO GET SOME FOOD AND THEN WE MEET BACK UP FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ONE 15.
IN THAT CASE, THE CITY COUNCIL
[E. Executive Session]
WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP FOUR ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7, 4 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO IWAN, DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS OF A CITY CLERK.
DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE JUDGE.
EXCUSE ME, BENEFITS JUDGES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2022, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5, 5, 1 0 7 1 AND 5 5 1 0 7, 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BE USED FOR A STORK PRESERVATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
[03:35:01]
PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7.ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS AND IMPACTS OF REDEVELOPMENT ON TENANTS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SEEING NONE HEARING NONE THAT, OH, I CAN'T SEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY SEEING THEM HEARING, THEN THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
RIGHT? I THINK WE'RE, UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, STILL, UH, JANUARY, I MEAN DECEMBER 7TH, UH, 2021, SORRY.
UH, THE TIME IS 4 0 8 AND CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEMS E ONE AND E FOUR REAL ESTATE MATTERS AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 82.
WE HAVE ONE THING LEFT ON OUR, UM, UH, AGENDA.
REMEMBER COSTAR MAYOR BEFORE WE TAKE UP THAT ITEM, JUST BECAUSE THE, UH, UH, BECAUSE REMEMBER TOGO'S ADU ITEM WAS TAKEN UP WHEN, UH, SEVERAL OF US HAD A LUNCH, UH, JUST TO NOTE, I'LL PUT SOMETHING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.
UM, MY HOPE IS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL IS NOT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS ALLOWED AT ANY GIVEN PROPERTY, BUT RATHER TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ADD EITHER THE NUMBER OF UNITS YOU'RE ALLOWED MAKE THAT EASIER OR POTENTIAL PROCESSES FOR A LOT MORE.
UM, BUT NOT TO, TO DOWN'S ZONE, UM, ANYBODY'S HOUSE, CAUSE WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'D BE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I WOULDN'T IMAGINE WHY, BECAUSE I DISCUSSED THAT WITH PEOPLE AND THE INTENT IN THIS ONE WAS NOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT EITHER INCREASED OR DECREASED UNITS, BUT TO MAINTAIN THAT STATUS QUO, BUT TO MAKE A, TO USE SIMPLER.
UM, THERE WAS ONE ELEMENT OF IT THAT ASKED FOR A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF MAYBE DOING THAT MAKING INCREASED MORE OR LESS.
UH, AND I CERTAINLY INVITE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT NOT PART OF THE ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING.
SO MY IS NOT EVEN ON THE DIASPORA.
AND I DID MENTION THAT TO HER WHEN SHE WAS JUST, CAN WE JUST WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS HER SO WE CAN HEAR THE CONVERSATION? SURE, SURE, SURE THING.
IT WAS, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE FOR HER TO BE HERE.
I WAS JUST INDICATING BECAUSE I HAD STEPPED OFF SOMETHING, I WAS GOING TO POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
SO I DON'T AND, AND HAD MENTIONED THE SAME TO HER AS SHE STEPPED OFF.
SO AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT HER HERE, RATHER.
I'M TRYING TO LET EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW BESIDES HER THAT I'M PLANNING ON POSTING SOMETHING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THAT'S GOOD NOTICE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE PRESENTATION MAY PER TIME.
I MAY HAVE MISHEARD YOU, BUT I THINK YOU, WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED THIS BACK IN, I THINK YOU MIGHT'VE SAID IT'S JANUARY.
[D1. Discussion and Presentation of the Austin Police Department Victim Services Unit and handling of sexual assault cases]
NOTHING LEFT ON OUR AGENDA.MAYOR, UH, CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, JOSEPH , CHIEF OF POLICE.
UM, I WAS ASKED TO, UH, KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED A LITTLE BIT ON WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS IN OVERALL OUR VICTIM SERVICES UNIT, THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND JUST WANTING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A RECAP AND, UH, AND, UH, ANY NEW UPDATES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS, UH, IN THIS AREA.
SO WHAT I'LL DO IS GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, UH, BRIEFLY, AND THEN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IF I CAN GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO I WANT TO START WITH A STATEMENT, UH, THAT, THAT SAYS, UH, WHAT WE FEEL AS A DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULARLY IN THE SEX CRIMES UNIT THAT WE STRONGLY, UH, FEEL ABOUT THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC TYPES OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, UH, WHERE OUR VICTIMS, UH, FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DISCUSS THAT, UH, THE ASSAULT, UM, THAT IT, THEY ARE INTENSELY TRAUMATIZED, UH, NOT ONLY BY THE HUMILIATION OF THE PHYSICAL VIOLATION, BUT BY THE FEAR, UH, OF BEING EITHER SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED DURING THE INCIDENT.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS AND HAVE DEDICATED THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, UH, TO ENSURE A PROCEDURAL JUSTICE FOR THE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, AS WELL AS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, UH, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT.
AND IT'S, AND OF COURSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ANY PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL 9 1 1.
UH, WE KNOW THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-REPORTED
[03:40:01]
CRIMES.AND, UM, AND SO WE ARE TRYING THROUGH ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE VERY BEST INFORMATION AND ADVICE THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE REPORTS ARE MADE IN A TIMELY WAY.
SO AT FIRST I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT, AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A RECAP, BUT ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE STAND TODAY, UH, WITH REGARD TO PERSONNEL, I'LL START WITH THE SWORN.
AND, UM, AND, AND JUST AS A, FOR A REFERENCE KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT, UM, IN, IN JUNE OF 2017, UH, WE ADDED FOUR ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES, AND THEN IN OCTOBER, 2019, WE ADDED TWO MORE DETECTIVES.
AND THEN FINALLY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE ADDED, UH, ANOTHER DETECTIVE.
SO WE NOW HAVE A TOTAL OF 20 DETECTIVES, UH, THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE SEX CRIMES UNIT.
ADDITIONALLY, IN MARCH OF 2019, UH, WE ADDED ANOTHER SERGEANT TO THE TWO THAT WERE ALREADY THERE.
SO WE NOW HAVE THREE SERGEANTS THAT ARE ASSIGNED AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ASSIGNED FULL-TIME TO SEX CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS.
THERE'S ALSO A LIEUTENANT, UH, AS WELL AS A COMMANDER OVER THE UNIT.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THOSE SWORN PERSONNEL, WE DO BRING BACK RETIRED APD PERSONNEL, UH, ON A CONTRACT BASIS, UH, TO DO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY, INCLUDING, UH, VICAP ENTRY, UH, AND DOING, UH, THE SEX ASSAULT KIT ENTRIES, UH, INTO THE STATE DATABASE, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING TIMELY AND IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE ARE, UH, COMPORTING WITH STATE LAW IN THE, IN WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT MUST BE ENTERED WITHIN THE CERTAIN TIMEFRAME AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A, ANOTHER SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOG THAT WE'RE TO DEVELOP.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, THAT, UM, TODAY THERE IS NO BACKLOG, UH, STATE LOSSES THAT WE HAVE TO ENTER, UH, THOSE, UH, INTO, INTO CODAS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS, IS SUBMITTED, UH, WITHIN 90 DAYS.
AND WE HAVE BEEN MEETING ABOUT A 60 DAY TIMELINE.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING BETTER THAN WHAT STATE LAW MANDATES TALKING ABOUT VICTIM SERVICES A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THE SEX CRIMES UNIT HAS FIVE, UH, FULL-TIME VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS THAT ARE ASSIGNED.
I BRING UP THAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT HAS EIGHT FULL TIME VICTIM SERVICE, BECAUSE IN MANY CASES THERE'S CROSSOVER BETWEEN THESE TWO UNITS.
UM, AND SO BOTH SETS OF COUNSELORS ON A REGULAR BASIS SUPPORT THE OTHER UNIT.
UM, AND, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT ARE ASSIGNED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS TO THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE 17 FULL TIME VICTIM, UH, VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE CRISIS TEAM.
SO I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROTOCOL AND JUST A MOMENT AND HOW THEY PLAY INTO IT.
BUT, UH, UH, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST VICTIM SERVICES, UH, COMPONENT.
UM, RECENTLY I, UH, ADDED THE VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER, UH, TO AN, AND MADE A CHANGE IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO WHERE, UH, THAT VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER REPORTS DIRECTLY TO ME.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I SPEAK WITH, UH, MS. MS. CLARK, KATRINA CLARK, OUR MANAGER, PROBABLY TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK, UH, FOR OVER VARIOUS ISSUES.
UH, AND I, AND SHE HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO ME.
SHE ATTENDS OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETINGS, UH, EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
UH, AND, AND LIKE I SAID, DOES NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR A MEETING TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
UH, SHE REGULARLY DOES SO EITHER BY PHONE OR BY TEXT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO TALKING ABOUT OUR PROTOCOLS, UH, IN JUNE OF 2019, WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PROTOCOL TO JUST GET INTO LINE WITH BEST STANDARDS IN WHICH WE HAVE VICTIM SERVICE, A CRISIS RESPONSE THAT IS RESPONDING ALONGSIDE OUR OFFICERS WHEN WE RECEIVE A REPORT OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT.
UM, WHAT HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUS TO THAT WAS THAT, UH, GENERALLY, UH, THE SURVIVOR WOULD BE ASKED, DO YOU WANT A CRISIS COUNSELOR? AND THEN MIGHT'VE SAID YES OR NO.
UH, AND THEN, AND THEN WE HA WE WOULD DISPATCH AT THAT POINT, OR IF THE OFFICER SAW THAT ONE WAS CLEARLY NEEDED, THEN THEY COULD DISPATCH THEMSELVES.
BUT THAT WAS CREATING THAT DELAY IN, UM, IN THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED.
SO, UH, THE, THE PROTOCOL AS OF A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO NOW IS TO, UM, IS TO DISPATCH THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS GIVES, UH, ENHANCED SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS, UM, LESSENING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THEY HAVE TO TELL THE STORY,
[03:45:01]
UH, AND A MORE COORDINATED RESPONSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR, UH, THE COUNSELING SERVICES.UM, ADDITIONALLY VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATED THE TRAINING OF MANY, UH, COMMUNITY THERAPISTS IN THE TRAUMA FOCUSED THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUE, KNOWN AS EMDR, WHICH IS THE EYE MOVEMENT, THE SENSITIVITIES DESENSITIZATION, AND REPROCESSING.
UH, IT IS A PRETTY GROUNDBREAKING, UH, TOOL THAT WE USE FOR THIS AND OTHER TYPES OF TRAUMA.
UM, AND IN RETURN, UM, THE THERAPISTS ARE PROVIDING PRO BONO COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR OUR, UH, SURVIVORS OF CRIME.
SO IT WAS, UH, IT WAS A GOOD, UH, EXCHANGE THERE TO, UM, TO, TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE VICTIM SERVICE COMPONENT.
AND THEN THE LAST PART I HAVE ON THERE AS OUR SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL, WE, WE HAD BEEN, UH, DEVELOPING THAT PROTOCOL FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AS PART OF THE SAKI PROGRAM, UM, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE, AND, UM, AND THAT, UH, SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL HAS BEEN FINALIZED AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, AND, AND REALLY WHAT THIS IS, IS FOR THE COLD CASE PART OF OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT.
AND THE CODE IS HITS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FROM CASES THAT MIGHT BE SEVERAL YEARS TO EVEN A DECADE OR MORE OLD, HOW WE GO ABOUT NOTIFYING THOSE SURVIVORS.
UH, WHEN MANY TIMES THEY HAVE MOVED ON, UH, WE WANT IT TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL, UH, AND BE, UM, YOU KNOW, A VICTIM CENTERED, UH, IN, IN THAT PROCESS AND HOW WE DID THAT.
AND SO, UM, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT PROTOCOL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
AND, UH, AND LIKE I SAID, IS IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION IF I CAN GET THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO JUST TALKING ABOUT SOME RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES OUT OF THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION HOUSE, BILL 1172, UH, WE HAVE PUT INTO PLACE, UM, THE, THE, UM, THE COMPONENTS OF THIS BILL TO, TO EITHER WE HAD IT IN POLICY ALREADY AND ARE REVIEWING AND STRENGTHENING THAT POLICY, UH, OR LIKE, UH, IT WAS JUST THERE ALREADY, BUT THESE ARE BEST PRACTICES.
SO, UM, WHAT IT DOES IS IT SAYS THAT PRIOR TO INTERVIEWING A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, IT REQUIRES OUR INVESTIGATORS, UH, TO OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADVOCATE, A CONFIDENTIAL ADVOCATE TO BE IN THE ROOM DURING THE INTERVIEW.
UM, GENERALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IS AS OPPOSED TO THE INVESTIGATOR, OUR, UH, VICTIM SERVICES PERSONNEL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY MAKING THAT OFFER.
UH, MANY TIMES THEY'VE DEVELOPED A RAPPORT WITH OUR VICTIM AND, UH, AND, AND REALLY THE VICTIM HAS GIVEN THE OPTION.
THEY CAN EITHER HAVE THE COUNSELOR GO WITH THEM THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH, OR THEY CAN, UH, UH, ASK FOR AN ADVOCATE AND SAFE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN ASSISTING WITH THAT ADVOCACY.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, THERE, THERE IS A SECOND ONE THAT IS MANDATES THAT A SURVIVOR, UH, WHO PROVIDES A STATEMENT.
UM, I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING, THINKING OF THE NEXT PART.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT PART OF HOUSE BILL 1172, IF I CAN GET THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO GOING INTO THE TRAINING A LITTLE BIT, UM, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP, UH, PARTICULARLY DURING, UH, YOU KNOW, MY CONFIRMATION AND HAS BEEN A, UH, A POINT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY INTEREST FOR, FOR COUNCIL, FOR THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, UH, NOT ONLY THE TRAINING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THE DETECTIVES, BUT WHAT ARE WE PROVIDING FOR THE OFFICERS THERE ON THE STREETS, THE CADETS IN THE ACADEMY, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THE, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PART OF IT IS THE TENURE OF OUR DETECTIVES IN THE UNIT AND HOW ARE WE WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT, TO KEEP THEM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN THE UNIT LONGER SO THAT THEY, THEY DEVELOP THE EXPERIENCE.
UM, AS OF THE LAST TIME THAT I SPOKE TO, UH, TO COUNSEL, UH, ALL OF OUR DETECTIVES HAVE BEEN THROUGH, UM, TWO OF THE, UH, REALLY, UH, MORE IMPORTANT TRAINING, UM, THINGS THAT ARE ON HERE.
THE FIRST IS, UH, THE TASSA, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING CONFERENCE, UH, AND THE OTHER ONE BEING THE TRAUMA INFORMED INTERVIEW TRAINING.
UM, ALL OF OUR DETECTIVES, UH, HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER.
AND, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON THE OTHER COMPONENTS HERE, UH, BECAUSE MOST OF THESE DO NOT OCCUR HERE IN AUSTIN, WHETHER IT'S THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
[03:50:01]
WOMEN CONFERENCE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING ON THE DIGITAL EVIDENCE, ONLINE TRAINING, THE ALCOHOL FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING, UH, ALL OF THOSE TRAININGS, WE WERE WORKING TO GET OUR DETECTIVES THROUGH, BUT, UM, THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION OBVIOUSLY WITH THEM STILL BEING ABLE TO WORK THEIR CASES.UH, I DID ADD A PIECE ON HERE TOO, TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, WHICH IS OUR TRAINING ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW.
AND, UM, AND SO THAT IS REALLY LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE ACADEMY BOAT TO PRE-SERVICE, WHICH ARE OUR CADETS IN SERVICE, OUR INCUMBENTS AND LOOKING, UM, AND IT'S BEING LOOKED AT BY THE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AS PART OF OUR NEW ACADEMY, UH, PROTOCOLS.
UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THE DEI LENS, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IT THROUGH, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE'RE BEING, VICTIM-CENTERED NOT ONLY IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS, BUT OTHER TYPES OF CRIMES THAT INVOLVE VICTIMIZATION.
UH, AND WE DO HAVE A COUNSELOR THAT IS ASSIGNED AT THE ACADEMY, UH, THAT REVIEWS THE CURRICULUM AND PROVIDES THAT FEEDBACK TO TWO ACADEMY STAFF AND DR.
CREAGAN, UH, AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS UPDATE AS WELL.
SO, UH, THE THINGS THAT ARE STILL IN PROGRESS, UM, GOING THROUGH, UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, PERF IS STILL CONDUCTING ITS AUDIT OF THE SEX CRIMES UNIT AND THE CASES, UH, IT, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER LIFT, I THINK, THAN THEY ANTICIPATED AND THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED IT.
THEY ARE ANTICIPATING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A REPORT BACK, UH, IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO WE ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT RESTING AND WAITING ON THAT, ON THAT AUDIT TO COME BACK, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AND FULFILLING THOSE THAT COULD IMMEDIATELY BE FULFILLED AND WORKING ON THOSE, UM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, BUT PART OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR DETECTIVES HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED INCREASING LONGEVITY AND TENURE IN THE UNIT, UH, TO CREATE THAT EXPERIENCE AND, AND THE BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR SURVIVORS.
SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS.
UM, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COMPOSITION OF THE UNIT, OUR COLD CASE UNIT, UH, IS FAIRLY NEW.
IT'S A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD NOW.
UH, BUT THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT WAS THAT NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO BE MOVING THOSE CASES FORWARD.
SO WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN FINALLY THE START, UM, I MADE A COMMITMENT WHEN, UH, I CAME ON AS THE INTERIM CHIEF THAT WE WOULD REJOIN THE SART AND WE DID, UH, WE HAVE SWORN AND CIVILIAN PRESENCE NOW IN THE SART.
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AS OF TODAY, ACTUALLY I HAD A MEETING WITH THE SART, UH, EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE FUTURE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN APD AND THE SARDI WAS A VERY, VERY POSITIVE MEETING, UH, THAT I THINK THAT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE SART.
UM, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE AREAS NOT ONLY ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE CASE REVIEW WITHIN THE SART, BUT HOW WE CAN BRING TO BEAR THE KNOWLEDGE, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SART MEMBERS TO HELP TRAIN, UH, OUR APD PERSONNEL, UH, ALL OF THE TRAINING THAT YOU SAW, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME, UH, INVOLVES, INVOLVES AN EXPENSE.
AND SOMETIMES IT INVOLVES SENDING PEOPLE AWAY WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THE VERY BEST, UM, YOU KNOW, MOST EXPERIENCED, UH, KIND OF EXPERTS RIGHT HERE IN TOWN THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE TO, UH, TO HAVE THAT KIND OF TRAINING.
AND SO I PLAN ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SO IT WAS A VERY, VERY, UH, PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE MEETING.
SO THAT KIND OF, UH, RYAN'S OUT THE, UH, THE PREPARED, UH, COMMENTS THAT I HAVE FOR THIS, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UM, IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS SINCE I STARTED TO DEEPLY ENGAGE WITH THIS SUBJECT.
UM, AND SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THAT, THAT THE ADVOCATES WERE SPEAKING AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, AND THE PRIOR COUNCIL TOOK UP THE DNA ISSUES, SO THAT THE CHALLENGES IN OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE RUN VERY DEEP.
UM, I WANT TO START THOUGH BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROGRESS THAT YOU HAVE MADE, UM, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I'M
[03:55:01]
PLEASED TO SEE THE PROGRESS.UM, WE, YOU ARE SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS.
YOU ARE RECTI RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR VICTIMS. YOU BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE PROCESSES, YOU'RE EMPHASIZING, UM, TRAINING AND COLLABORATION, AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE SART AND RECOGNIZING THE VALUE THAT OUR VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER, PLACES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, OUR PROGRESS, UM, IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE YOU'VE BEEN LEADING.
UM, BUT THERE'S A VERY DEEP PROBLEMS. SO I DO HAVE SEVERAL AREAS AND QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I, THAT I BELIEVE YOU ARE PRIORITIZING THIS IN A WAY THAT IT HASN'T BEFORE.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND TAKING, TAKING THE STEPS.
UM, AND I'LL ASK A COUPLE OF MY QUESTIONS AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT.
SO ONE OF THE AREAS OF REALLY DEEP CONCERN TO ME AND IN TALKING WITH THE ADVOCATES IS THE TRAINING.
UM, AND YOU MENTIONED SORT OF SOME SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE TRAINING.
UM, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE MISSING AND PERHAPS YOU'RE MISSING AS A FULLER PICTURE IS HOW MUCH TRAINING ARE THEY ACTUALLY GETTING FOR THIS VERY DELICATE ROLE? UM, IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ROLE.
IT IS, THERE'S A LOT OF ASPECTS OF, OF THIS.
UM, AND MY SENSE IS THAT THE DETECTIVES WANT MORE TRAINING THAN THEY'RE GETTING, THEY WOULD WELCOME IT SO THAT THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
UM, WE NEED TO HAVE FOLKS IN THERE WHO CAN NOT JUST BE INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING, BUT DISTORT THEM THAT HAVE, HAVE EXPERIENCE.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR PLAN TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING? NOT JUST POINTING TO SPECIFIC TRAININGS, BUT HOW DO WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TRAINING AND WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO SORT OF UPGRADE IT? I MEAN, THE TRAINING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEEMS TO BE LIKE THE MOST BASIC TRAINING THEY COULD HAVE AS OPPOSED TO THE KIND OF TRAINING THEY WOULD IDEALLY HAVE.
SO YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOUR PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE TRAINING? CERTAINLY.
SO PART OF THE TRAINING, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE MORE FORMALIZED AND REALLY IT'S ABOUT, UM, GOING TO CONFERENCES WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, TRAINING IS PROVIDED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE, UH, THIS REALLY GLOBAL LOOK, UH, ACROSS, UH, THE NETWORK OF SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATORS ON WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES, HOW WE CAN, UH, BECOME, YOU KNOW, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF TRAUMA, HOW WE CAN, UH, BE MORE VICTIM-CENTERED AND HAVE MORE SUCCESSFUL INVESTIGATIONS.
AND SO AT, UH, FOR INSTANCE, THE VOWEL CONFERENCE, UH, WE WE'VE REMAINED COMMITTED TO SENDING INDIVIDUALS TO THAT BRINGING BACK INFORMATION.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THAT WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE, WITH THE LIST OF TRAININGS THAT I HAD UP THERE, WHAT I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SART AND WE HAVE, UH, SOME NOTED, UM, YOU KNOW, SPEAKERS AND TRAINERS THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS ART THAT ARE VERY, ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN HERE IN AUSTIN AND, UH, AND WOULD MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE WE START TO DEVELOP THAT TRAINING REGIMEN, UM, TO, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY ADVOCATES THAT CERTAINLY HAVE, UM, THE BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
I FEEL LIKE THAT WE HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE TRAINING THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE, UH, IMPOSSIBLY, BRING IT HERE AT A MUCH LOWER COST.
SO AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US WITH A WRITTEN PLAN FOR THE TRAINING FOR THE SEX CRIMES DETECTIVES NOW AND MOVING FORWARD, UM, AND INCLUDE IN THAT, UM, THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND THE TIMEFRAME FOR TRAINING A NEW DETECTIVE IN THE UNIT, UM, AND THE FORMAT AND THE LENGTH OF EACH TRAINING.
UM, THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT SOME OF THESE TRAININGS ARE, YOU KNOW, TWO HOUR WEBINAR TYPE THINGS, AND THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO CUT IT FOR THIS AREA.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS AND WHAT ARE THEY, AND YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN GO, JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY OUTLINING FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE SEX CRIMES UNIT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE DETECTIVES WANT THE TRAINING AND THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ON IT THEMSELVES AND, AND YOUR PLANS IN THE SHORT AND THE LONGER RUN FOR IMPROVING SORT OF THAT, THAT TRAINING PIECE.
SO IT'D BE GREAT IF YOU COULD GET US THAT SOMETIME IN, IN JANUARY OR TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS THAT YOU NEED FOR THAT.
BUT, UM, I REALLY THINK IT'D BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THAT BACK IN WRITING.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN PROVIDE,
[04:00:01]
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN PROVIDE.I'M GOING TO I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON EXACTLY THE TIMEFRAME, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE TAKEN OVER AS THE CHIEF, THAT IT'S A, IT'S KIND OF A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THAT, UH, TO SEE, UM, WHICH TRAINING IS GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE, UH, FOR THE UNIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, BOTH FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, AS WELL AS FROM WHAT DID IT, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE COULD GET IT TO YOU BY, BY LATE JANUARY OR MAYBE EARLY FEBRUARY.
I THINK THAT WAS, THAT'D BE GREAT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE SET IN STONE.
THIS IS THE TRAINING FOR NOW AND FOREVER, BUT THE INITIAL PLAN OF WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD ON TO ITERATE AND IMPROVE OVER TIME, AS WE TRY TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING AND THE LONGEVITY WITHIN THAT, WITHIN THAT UNIT, HOPEFULLY JUST AS WE'RE ITERATING WITH THE TRAINING ACADEMY, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN, LEARN STUFF WITH THAT.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK RIGHT NOW WAS WITH THE MOLD WITH THE DNA LAB WE FOUND OUT OF THOUGH ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE SWORN STAFF SHARED THAT, UM, WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD, UM, THEY'RE NOT REALLY GOOD MECHANISMS RIGHT NOW WITHIN APD FOR SOMEBODY TO COMFORTABLY, UM, SHARE WHEN THEY SEE A PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM OF THAT KIND OF MAGNITUDE.
UM, SO WHAT MECHANISMS ARE YOU DEVELOPING AS A DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW YOUR STAFF SWORN OR OTHERWISE TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND THE WELLBEING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEPARTMENT? SURE.
I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER AND SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH MY STAFF ABOUT SINCE I TOOK OVER AS THE INTERIM CHIEF, AND REALLY IT'S A, IT'S A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE THAN JUST THE SEX CRIMES UNIT OR SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT ANYTHING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, SEE OR EXPERIENCE THAT THEY THINK IS COUNT COUNTER TO THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT, UM, OR TO THEIR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WHAT I'VE BEEN, UH, AND VERY CLEARLY LAYING OUT IN MY EXPECTATIONS WITH EXECUTIVE COMMAND STAFF AND FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT IS CREATING SAFE PLACES, SAFE SPACES IN OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO VOICE, UH, THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE WITHOUT FEAR OF ANY TYPE OF RE RETALIATION, UH, DISCRIMINATION, OR SOME KIND OF REPERCUSSION FOR SPEAKING UP.
UH, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT, THAT, UH, THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I'VE EVEN BEEN INVOLVED IN MEETINGS WITH, UM, WITH LINE LEVEL EMPLOYEES, UH, WHO HAD BROUGHT UP.
AND THEN I TAKE MY STAFF ALONG, WE TAKE COPIOUS NOTES, AND THEN WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES IF, UH, AS WE SEE THEM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT PARTICULAR AREA FALLS UNDER DR.
WITH OUR FORENSIC SCIENCES, UH, DIVISION.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT SHE HAS PUT A NUMBER OF THINGS INTO PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF THING HAPPEN AGAIN, SHE'S KEENLY FOCUSED IN ON, AND, UM, I THINK IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OVER THERE.
I'M MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A REPEAT OF WHAT WE SAW BEFORE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE MECHANISMS THAT YOU SET UP AND HOW YOU'RE COMMUNICATING THEM TO, TO, UM, YOUR EMPLOYEES.
LAST THING THAT I'LL ASK RIGHT NOW IS, UM, CONSIDER EMPLOYEES THAT ARE UNDER, UNDER YOU SWORN OR OTHERWISE SPEAK DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHOUT PERMISSION OR COMPANY MEANT FROM THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND WITHOUT REPERCUSSION.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR THE LAST PART.
I WANT TO CLARIFY WHETHER CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION, UM, SWORN OR OTHERWISE, IF THEY CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHOUT PERMISSION OR A COMPANY MINT FROM THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND WITHOUT REPERCUSSION.
SO, UH, THE WAY THAT OUR GENERAL ORDERS IS SET UP IS IF A, UH, A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO REACH OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL, THAT THEY ARE TO NOTIFY THE CONSTITUENT LIAISON, UH, OF THAT COMMUNICATION AND TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IT'S MAINLY FOR AWARENESS, UH, WE, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES TO, TO HAVE A VOICE, UH, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP.
AND SO THE WAY THAT, THAT THE, UH, THE RULES ARE, ARE WRITTEN OUT IN THE GENERAL ORDERS IS THAT THEY MUST NOTIFY THE CONSTITUENT LIAISON, UH, PRIOR TO THE COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEN THAT SOMEBODY IS SHOWING UP
[04:05:01]
AT OUR MEETING, INSISTING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE IN OUR MEETING.ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IN, IN TO SHOW UP AS, AS PART OF THEIR, THEY WANT TO KNOW? YEAH.
BEFORE CHIEF GAY LEFT, FOR INSTANCE, HE WAS INSISTING THAT HE SHOW UP AT MEETINGS THAT I MIGHT HAVE WITH FOLKS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OH, SO YOU'RE TALKING TO ACTUALLY WITHIN A COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES AND HAVING OFFLINE CONVERSATIONS.
SO, UM, NO, UH, AND GENERALLY I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I KNOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE, THAT ARE AT HAND AND, AND REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT TO UNDERSTAND THEM, AND I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THAT.
UH, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
AND I SHARE, UM, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTARS SENTIMENT THERE ABOUT HOW IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT SINCE YOU WERE APPOINTED INTERIM, WE HAD THESE QUESTIONS AND, AND THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS, LIKE GOING BACK TO THE START AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT, THAT BOTH YOU AND SHE LISTED.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU'VE ADDED TO THE, I BROUGHT IN THE PRESENTATION AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND YOU'VE, UH, AS YOU'VE PROGRESSED, ADDED MORE TO THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, MY FIRST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM, THE CASE REVIEW PROCESS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS, UM, NEAR ITS FINAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
SOMETHING THAT HAD COME UP IN THE PAST WAS JUST HOW CASES WERE CLEARED WHEN CASES WERE DECLINED.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHETHER IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SURVIVOR'S CHOICE OR IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES CHOICE OR SOMETHING ON THE CITIES.
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS GOING TO BE THESE, UH, CASE REVIEW MEETINGS, UH, WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER A CASE IS DECLINED OR CLOSED, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED THERE, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE, UH, PROSECUTORS THERE, SOMEBODY THERE REPRESENTING EITHER SURVIVORS OR THE, OR THE VICTIM, OR I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION IS.
SO PLEASE GIVE ME THE FACTS THERE, AND THEN SOME, SOME FOLKS ON THE SWORN SIDE AS WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HAVE HEARD, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND HAVE YOU SORT OF LAY THAT OUT FOR US? SO GENERALLY THE PROCESS, UM, ONCE IT, A CASE HAS BEEN PRESENTED, UH, TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR PROSECUTION, IF THEY ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE, IT IS TO MEET WITH THE SURVIVOR AND, UH, TO HAVE THAT MEETING.
SO, UH, TO UNDERSTAND SO THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE PROSECUTOR'S THERE, YOU HAVE A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS THERE THE INVESTIGATOR, UM, AND THAT DISCUSSION IS HAD AS PART OF, UH, THE SART.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE CASE REVIEW, UH, AND SENATE BILL 4 76 ACTUALLY LAID OUT A LOT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THAT, THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR MY, IN MY OPINION.
AND, AND CERTAINLY I THINK IN LEGAL'S OPINION, A GREATER LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND CASE REVIEW, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE MANDATE IS THAT, IS THAT WE SIT DOWN IN GOOD FAITH AND HAVE SOME REALLY TOUGH DISCUSSIONS SOMETIMES ABOUT HOW CASES WERE HANDLED AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER.
UM, AND, AND, AND MANY TIMES IT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME FOR EVERY SINGLE SURVIVOR.
UM, AND, AND, AND THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE THEY DON'T WANT IT TO SEE THE INSIDE OF A COURTROOM.
AND SO SHARING THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION BACK, WHICH I KNOW THAT THE SART UNDERSTANDS AND, AND, UM, IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH BEING VICTIM-CENTERED THAT, THAT, THAT INFORMATION IS REALLY, IS REALLY SHARED IT AT A GREATER KIND OF DEEPER LEVEL.
UH, BUT THAT, JUST THAT THAT PROCESS IS JUST STARTING.
SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UH, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL UNDERSTOOD.
SO THE FIRST MEETING IS ABOUT DECLINATIONS WITH THE PROSECUTORS AND THERE, THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE VICTIM OR SURVIVOR, UM, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND THEN OUR SWORN INVESTIGATIVE STAFF WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEW AND IS, AND IS COMING.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT, THAT HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO THAT, THAT, ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAS CHANGED.
THAT IS NOZZLEY THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, AND THEN THE MEETINGS WITH THE SART OR THE CASE REVIEWS, AND THAT, THAT IS WHAT IS NEW IN THAT PROCESS IS WHAT IS LAID OUT IN STATE LAW THAT, THAT PART'S BEING LAID OUT THE NEW PART UNDER STATE LAW AND THE PROCESS THAT NEED FOR THE CASE REVIEW PROCESS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED IN THERE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION THAT, UM, THAT WE COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, THAT THERE IS BASICALLY A NONDISCLOSURE, UH, COMING OUT OF THAT, BUT THAT, UM, UM, THAT, THAT INFORMATION IS SHARED AT A, YOU KNOW, A GREATER EXTENT.
AND THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALSO THE START HAS DEVELOPED
[04:10:01]
SORT OF A DATA SHARING ASK.I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED TO THESE SORTS OF MEETINGS OR JUST IN GENERAL, AND THAT YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
CAN YOU DAYLIGHT FOR US WHAT REMAINING ISSUES THERE ARE IN SORT OF GETTING TO AGREEMENT AROUND WHICH INFORMATION WE CAN AND CAN'T SHARE.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE SORT OF BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE YOUR CONFIRMATION.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET WITH THE SAR TO, TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE DATA SHARING ASK IS THAT HASN'T BEEN SHARED BACK INTO.
I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH MY STAFF, BUT THAT, THAT PART OF IT HAS NOT BEEN SURE.
HAS IT GOTTEN TO YOUR LEVEL? GOT IT.
UM, AND THEN, SO FOR THE FIRST PIECE OF THE, THOSE DECLARATION MEETINGS, UM, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING, IF I REMEMBER IT, RIGHT, THEY WERE, ESPECIALLY AS IT ALSO, AS IT RELATED TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS RESOLUTION, AND SOME OF THE PERF REVIEW WAS THAT IT WAS SOMETIMES CHALLENGING FOR EVERYBODY TO BE IN THE ROOM IF I REMEMBER THIS CORRECTLY AND FOR US TO GET A SENSE OF WHY IT WAS THAT A CASE WAS CLOSED OR WHY IT WAS THAT A CASE WAS DECLINED.
AND I KNOW WE WERE WORKING ON TRANSPARENCY AROUND THAT ISSUE.
UM, AND I, I JUST MAY NOT BE GETTING ALL THE TERMS RIGHT.
OR KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SPECIFIC MEETING IT WAS.
BUT I REMEMBER THAT ISSUE, THAT IT WAS HARD TO TELL AND HAVE REAL TRANSPARENCY, EVEN ON OUR END OR EVEN WE'D HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE MEETINGS, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION AROUND W WHY CERTAIN CASES WERE BEING CLEARED OR CLOSED OR DECLINED.
SO CAN YOU TELL, CAN YOU SPEAK SORT OF TO THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE IF I, I THINK I WAS MISREMEMBERING THAT THOSE MEETINGS WEREN'T HAPPENING, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE, BUT THERE WAS JUST THIS LACK OF CLARITY, RIGHT? SO THE MEETINGS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE WHERE CASES ARE ACTUALLY, UH, PRESENTED FOR PROSECUTION TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THERE ARE CASES THAT, UH, AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EITHER NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE OR THE CASE, FACTS ARE SUCH THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT FOR A PROSECUTION.
AND, UM, AND, AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION BACK WITH THE SURVIVOR TOO.
AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE HAPPEN IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS, UH, WHETHER THAT'S IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE, OR, UH, WITH THEM THEMSELVES, OR A SOMEBODY WHO IS THERE FOR THEM, UM, TO, TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAPPENS.
WE GET VICTIM SERVICES INVOLVED IN THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE ARE TOUGH THINGS TO HEAR.
UH, WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SURVIVOR THAT REALLY WANTED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD, AND IT'S NOT ABLE TO.
UM, AND, AND GENERALLY, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A PROSECUTOR THAT'S PRESENT FOR THAT PART OF IT.
UM, IT, IT IS, IT IS ONLY ONCE A CASE HAS BEEN PRESENTED OVER OR PERHAPS AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE, THE CHARGE HAS BEEN FILED.
AND THEN THAT CHARGE MUST SUBSEQUENTLY BE, BE DISMISSED THAT WE GET THE, THE DA'S OFFICE.
AND ONE OF THE ADA'S INTO THE ROOM TO KIND OF HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.
AND SO, BUT THE NEW PLACE FOR TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY WHAT'S BEEN LAID UNDER THAT SENATE BILL FOR THOSE REGULAR CASE REVIEWS.
UM, THEN SORT OF, THIS IS LESS A QUESTION AND MORE, JUST SOMETHING FOR US TO, TO AIR HERE AND FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS TOUCHY WHEN WE, UM, TOUCH TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PENDING LITIGATION.
AND SO I WON'T GET TOO DEEP INTO THAT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS THAT ADVOCATES OF CONSENT SORT OF CONSISTENTLY RAISED AS THE QUESTION OF, OF, OF CULTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I DO THINK THAT YOUR BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION WAS, WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO LAY OUT SORT OF WHAT OUR VALUES ARE AND WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS.
THERE'S ALSO KNOW BEING CONSISTENT QUESTION AROUND WHETHER WE THINK THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN HAS BEEN WRONG, OR IF WE, IF THERE SHOULD BE SOME APOLOGY FOR THE WAY THAT THINGS HAVE DAN OR FOR PARTICULAR CASES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKELY ENDORSE OR SUPPORT, BUT I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT FOR US TO SORT OF SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN FOR US TO VOTE AND SAY, WE APOLOGIZE AS OPPOSED TO IT COMING SORT OF DIRECTLY FROM, FROM THE DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD THINK IS IMPORTANT.
SO SOMETHING LESS FOR ME TO ASK YOU, BUT JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU TO, TO CONSIDER, I THINK, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE I DO THINK YOU ARE CONTINUING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, EARN MORE EARN TRUST AND, AND, AND DO THIS WORK TO IMPROVE THIS PROCESS IS FOR US TO THINK ABOUT IF THERE WERE, UM, A WAY FOR US TO, TO ACKNOWLEDGE WRONGS FOR US TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
UM, I JUST LEAVE TO YOU AS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE ALWAYS MORE OR GENUINE.
UM, IF THEY'RE SORT OF COMING DIRECTLY FROM ADMINISTRATORS AND LEADERS IN DEPARTMENTS, UM, AS OPPOSED TO SORT OF BEING, YOU KNOW, UM, INSTEAD OF US SAYING, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL IS VOTING ON OR DECIDING, I THINK, UH, THERE'S A REAL, A REAL DESIRE OUT THERE FOR SORT OF THE DEPARTMENT TO STEP UP ON THAT FRONT.
SO I'LL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH, WITH THAT AS WELL.
THANKS YOU, THAT'S OUR KITCHEN.
YEAH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION HERE.
[04:15:02]
UH, AND, UH, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.AND THANK YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERN AND COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR FOR THEIR QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND ON THE TRAINING JUST TO ASK AS PART OF A RETURNING THE INFORMATION TO US, UH, ON THE, UH, TRAINING PLAN.
AND THANKS FOR ASKING FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, COULD YOU ALSO ADDRESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT'S HELPFUL TO DO TRAIN THE TRAINER TYPES OF PROGRAMS IN THIS AREA, AND ALSO THE AVAILABILITY OR AVAILABILITY TO ACTUALLY REALLY IT'S PART OF YOUR ASSESSMENT ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ACTUAL CERTIFICATION? I MEAN, I KNOW WHEN YOU SPOKE TO IT'S POSSIBLE FOR, FOR THERAPISTS AND COUNSELORS TO BE CERTIFIED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND EMDR AND VARIOUS OTHER EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.
SO, BUT I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THERE IS APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATION FOR AT LEAST SOME OF YOUR, UH, DETECTIVE STAFF AND THAT, UH, IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF, UM, OF TRAINING.
UH, IF IT, UH, IF YOU ACTUALLY GOT TO A CERTIFICATION STAGE AND WERE ABLE TO OFFER THAT TO DETECTIVES, AGAIN, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT EXACTLY IS COMPARABLE IN A CERTIFICATION, UM, SETTING FOR YOUR DETECTIVES.
BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THAT, THAT LEVEL OF TRAINING WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT.
UM, AND THEN RE RELATED, I ASSUME THAT THE VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELORS HAVE CERTIFICATION IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IF THEY HAVE TRAINING IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.
AND ARE THEY CERTIFIED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE? DID IT ACCESSED? GO AHEAD.
UH, THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LICENSES, UH, THAT THEY, THAT THEY CARRY.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE INFORMED AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.
UM, W YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR LICENSURE LOOKS LIKE RELATED TO THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC I WOULD HAVE TO ASK, WELL, I JUST WANT TO, I THINK IT'S ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE, THE RANGE AND THE LEVEL OF, OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE TRAINING THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION.
UM, IF THEY, UM, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, IT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF, OF, OF TRAINING, UM, THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THEY MAY, SOME OF THEM MAY ALREADY BE CERTIFIED, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND.
ALSO, I CAN GET YOU THAT INFO.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEX CRIMES, COLD CASE UNIT.
IS THIS JUST A CHANGE IN, UM, I SAW IT SAID PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES, SO I JUST WANT TO OUR PROTOCOL AND GUIDELINES JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING DONE NOW.
AND WHAT, UM, WHAT IS THE PLAN ROLLING FORWARD? SO WE, UM, OF THE 24 DETECTIVES ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR COLD CASE UNIT, AND, UM, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE CODE OF CENTURIES, UM, REVIEWING THE COLD CASES, SOME OF THOSE COLD CASES THAT, UH, WERE, WERE QUITE OLD, UH, AND, AND THEN AS THOSE CODAS HITS ARE BACK, UM, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH OUR VICTIM SERVICES UNIT TO MAKE THE NOTIFICATIONS, AND THEN TO FOLLOW THOSE CASES UP, AS OPPOSED TO THE, THE REST OF THE UNIT, WHICH IS WORKING CURRENT CASES THAT ARE COMING IN RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW THAT MOST SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE COMMITTED BY A KNOWN INDIVIDUAL.
AND, UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES.
THAT'S WHY THE MAJORITY THAT THE DETECTIVES ARE WORKING THOSE TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, CASES THAT, UM, THE, THE, OUR, OUR SURVIVOR KNOWS WHO ATTACKED THEM, UH, VERSUS, YOU KNOW, EITHER A STRANGER ASSAULT, UH, OR ALCOHOL OR DRUG RELATED, UH, ASSAULTS THAT HAPPEN WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT AWARENESS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE IMMEDIATE, UH, INFORMATION.
AND SO THOSE DO SOMETIMES BECOME OLDER.
UM, AND, AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS GOING THROUGH, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE BACKLOG HAS ALL BEEN SUBMITTED, UH, AND WE ARE NOW RECEIVING THE HITS.
AND, UH, AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE DETECTIVES ARE WORKING ON IS THOSE OLDER CASES.
THAT'S HELPFUL FOR ME TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF IT'S KIND OF DUE TO THE CLEARING OF THE BACKLOG AND THE MATCHING OF, UM, SOME OF THE, UH, INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE COMING OUT OF THOSE.
COULD YOU ALSO TELL ME BRIEFLY ABOUT UPDATES IN THE SURPRISE, THE SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL, SIMILARLY, WHAT, UM, WHAT WAS PRACTICE AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO UPDATE WITH THAT? SO, UH, THE PROTOCOL ITSELF WAS, UM, WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE GRANT.
AND SO WE, WE ACTUALLY, UM, CONTRACTED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, WITH SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, ADVOCACY, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE, SAFE ALLIANCE AND OTHERS, UH, TO HELP DEVELOP THIS PROTOCOL.
[04:20:01]
AND, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT WALKS, UM, THE, UH, THE INVESTIGATOR THROUGH, YOU KNOW, GETTING STARTED AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE, UM, W W YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY SHOULD ALREADY BE THINKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT ARE THE POINTS OF NOTIFICATION, UH, WHEN THEY RECEIVE A DNA PROFILE BACK, UH, AND, AND THERE W YOU KNOW, WAITING, UM, WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE, UH, THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, UH, UPLOAD, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THOSE? AND THEN IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT INITIAL CONTACT? UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS, AND REALLY WAS THE BIG STICKING POINT OVER THE WHOLE ISSUE WAS THAT INITIAL POINT OF CONTACT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT RETRAUMATIZING VICTIMS IN THAT CONTACT.UM, AND SO AGAIN, THERE, THERE THERE'S A WHOLE DECISION TREE AND, AND ALL THOSE PROTOCOLS WERE KIND OF LINED OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BEING CONSISTENT.
UH, AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THOSE TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE, UM, THIS PRESENTATION AND THE QUESTIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES PREVIOUSLY.
AND I THINK YOUTUBE CHECK ON FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IT WAS GREAT TO VISIT WITH YOU RECENTLY.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND OUR CADET ACADEMY AND TO WITNESS THE, UM, THE INSTRUCTION THAT TH THAT THE CADETS WERE RECEIVING AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOW TO INTERACT WITH VICTIMS. UM, AND SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.
UM, SIMILARLY TO THE COMMENTS THAT CONCERT FOR ALTAR SHARED ABOUT WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DETECTIVES THAT YOU HIRED? DID THEY HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH SEX CRIMES AND, OR ANY, UM, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU HAVE WITH EXPANDING TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR, FOR YOUR TEAM? SO TYPICALLY DETECTIVES WHO COME INTO THE UNIT HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE UNIT BEFORE.
SO WHAT THEY'VE RECEIVED IS THE TRAINING ON SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS.
THEY GET IN THE ACADEMY, UH, ANY THAT THEY MIGHT'VE RECEIVED AS PART OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING, UH, BUT DON'T RECEIVE THAT HIGHER LEVEL UNTIL THEY GET TO THE UNIT.
SO THAT'S WHY HAVING FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT UNIT FOR A LONGER TENURE IS SO IMPORTANT.
THEY DEVELOP THE EXPERIENCE, UM, AND REALLY DEVELOP A RAPPORT, A WAY OF RAPPORT WITH, WITH OUR SURVIVORS THAT IS IMPORTANT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE TRAINING, THAT'S WHAT I'M KIND OF MAKING THE COMMITMENT THAT I'M GOING TO, UH, PUT TOGETHER A WRITTEN PLAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS REQUEST, UH, THAT I'LL SHARE BACK WITH COUNCIL ON, UM, ON THAT FULL, I, I BELIEVE TO SOME DEGREE THAT THAT'S ALREADY OUTLINED, UM, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, AS, AS I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE INCORPORATE THOSE AND THAT I GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF, UH, THE TRAINING GOING FORWARD.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND THE SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL, YOU MENTIONED, UM, ABOUT ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU WENT ABOUT CREATING THE PROTOCOL AND WHAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THE COMMUNITY HAD IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT WAS A AS A, AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS, UM, IT, THE PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UH, FELL UNDER OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE GRANT.
AND SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF, WE HAVE A GRANT MANAGER AND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE, THAT WERE HIRED, UH, UNDER THE GRANT TO WORK THROUGH THESE PROCESSES.
UM, AT THAT TIME, WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPED, WE STARTED DEVELOPING, I WAS ACTUALLY ASSISTANT CHIEF THAT WAS OVER IN INVESTIGATIONS.
AND SO I HAD A NUMBER OF, UM, MEETINGS WITH THE GRANT MANAGER ON THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE WERE HAVING.
WE HAD WE'D ENGAGE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
UM, WE HAD ENGAGED, UH, I BELIEVE A SAFE ALLIANCE AND, UH, SOME OF OUR OTHER ADVOCACY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THOSE FOLKS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROVIDING THESE BENEFITS FOR THESE TYPE OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES, UH, TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION TO GIVE THE FEEDBACK AND AS THAT, AS THAT PROCESS, UM, MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I KIND OF HANDED THAT OFF TO THE NEXT CHIEF WHO TOOK THAT OVER.
UM, BUT, UM, WHAT I'M PLEASED TO SAY IS THAT WE NOW HAVE THAT REALLY BROAD PLAN FOR SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED AND, UH, AND IS NOW BEING PUT INTO IMPLEMENTATION AS WE'RE GETTING THESE COLD CASE, UH, HITS BACK.
AND WE NEED TO NOTIFY SURVIVORS.
THAT'S INFORMATION IS REALLY HELPFUL.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE ALREADY AND SHOWING GREAT PROGRESS AND, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON YOUR COMMITMENT AND PRIORITIZING SEXUAL ASSAULT CRIMES.
[04:25:02]
THANK YOU.UM, I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE MOVEMENT OF A COMMANDER AND SERGEANT BACK INTO THE UNIT WHO HAVE SEX CRIME EXPERIENCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S BEEN A VERY WELCOME ADDITION, UM, AND A CHANGE THAT YOU MADE.
UM, I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE PERF PRELIMINARY REPORT AND ASK YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT THE STATUS OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOUR PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THOSE THAT MAKE SENSE.
UM, SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE AS PART OF THAT.
AND, UM, AND I CAN CERTAINLY GO THROUGH THE LIST IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO, TO JUST TALK ABOUT THOSE, UM, THE, UH, THE FACT THAT THE DETECTIVES UPON JOINING THE UNIT, THEIR TRAINING SHOULD BE FORMALIZED.
UH, THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO THAT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF THE TRAINING PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN OUTLINED IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S READY TO GO BEFORE I SHARE IT BACK WITH COUNCIL, UM, THAT, UM, IT INCLUDES A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF HOW TO CLEAR AND CLASSIFY CASES THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE PAST.
AND REALLY, I THINK IS, IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT BROUGHT THIS WHOLE, UH, THE WHOLE ISSUE TO LIGHT WAS, UH, THE MISCLASSIFICATION OF, OF CASES.
AND SO THAT'S A PERF RECOMMENDATION AND IS BEING CONDUCTED BY, UH, THE SUPERVISORS OF THE UNIT AND, AND THE DETECTIVES WITH THE PROPER TRAINING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, CLASSIFICATION OF THE CASES, UM, THAT THEY RESPOND TO, TO SCENES.
UH, WE'VE HAD A CALLBACK PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR, UH, FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, UH, TO CALL OUT, UH, SEX CRIMES DETECTIVES.
AND EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T RESPOND, UH, TO PROVIDE THE GOOD GUIDANCE TO OUR OFFICERS ON THE STREET, UM, THAT THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY IN TIME AND LOCATION FOR INTERVIEWS, UH, THAT HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PRACTICE.
AND, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, UH, FOR SURVIVORS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN, UH, OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL, YOU KNOW, WORKING HOURS, UM, THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT VICTIMS. SO IN, IN SOME OF OUR CASES, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, UH, AND I'M TALKING NOT ABOUT SEX CRIMES, BUT IN OTHER PARTICULARLY LOWER-LEVEL CRIMES, UH, DETECTIVE MAY REACH OUT, UH, ONCE TO A VICTIM OF SAY, LOW LEVEL THEFT OR CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.
AND IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE, UH, THEY'LL SEND A NOTIFICATION THROUGH THE MAIL AND IF THEY STILL RECEIVE NO RESPONSE, THEN THE CASE, THE CASE IS SUSPENDED.
UH, WE DON'T DO THAT IN SEX CRIMES.
THESE ARE THE CASES THAT WE WILL MAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, UH, TO, TO NOTIFY, UM, AND, AND, AND HELP, UM, FOR THOSE EVEN THAT AREN'T, AREN'T QUITE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA THAT WAS INVOLVED, UH, SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS AND THAT WE'RE, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE TRAINING AND POLICY, UH, UH, THE VICTIMS AND FOR THE VICTIM SERVICES PERSONNEL, UH, WE HIRE THE VERY HIGHEST LEVEL, UH, THAT I'M AWARE OF, OF, OF CRISIS COUNSELORS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR CRISIS TEAM, AS WELL AS TO ON A FULL-TIME BASIS TO THE VICTIM, TO THE SEX CRIMES UNIT.
UM, EVERY SINGLE COUNSELOR HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE.
MANY OF THEM HAVE THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN WAS, WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT A MOMENT AGO, UH, IN SPECIALIZATIONS AND, UH, AND OUR LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELORS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE AUSTIN, I'VE, I REALLY FEEL THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WHEN IT HAS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO VICTIM SERVICES, THEY, THAT OUR VICTIMS ARE RECEIVING A MUCH HIGHER, UH, LEVEL OF SERVICE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE IN, IN OTHER CITIES, UM, THAT IT, IT, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT DETECTIVES AND PATROL OFFICERS RECEIVE TRAINING ON PROPER REPORT WRITING AND DOCUMENTATION.
SO, UH, THAT IS AN ONGOING QUALITY CONTROL THAT OCCURS THE ADDITION OF THE, THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER SERGEANT INTO THE UNIT, UH, GAVE SMALLER, UH, SPANS OF CONTROL TO EACH INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISOR SO THAT, UH, THEY DO HAVE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EVERY SINGLE CASE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DOCUMENTED PROPERLY, THAT IT'S CLOSED PROPERLY, AND THAT ALL LEADS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, UM, THAT THE SUPERVISORS ARE RESPONSIBLE.
AND THIS IS WHAT I JUST SAID FOR REVIEWING THE CONTENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN, UH, THAT IS OCCURRING.
AS I SAID, UH, TO A GREATER EXTENT NOW WITH THE ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR, UM, LIEUTENANTS RECEIVING A SAMPLE OF CASES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, UH, AND CURRENTLY THE LIEUTENANT IN THE SEX CRIMES CRIMES ACTUALLY DOES MONTHLY
[04:30:01]
AUDITS.UH, SO WE GO A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THE RECOMMENDATION, UM, MONTHLY AUDITS OF THE DETECTIVE Q AND A, AND, UH, AND THE DETECTIVES CUES AND THEIR REPORTS.
UM, THE DETECTIVES, UH, ARE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALL POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIVE STEPS BEFORE PRESENTING THE CASE TO THE DA.
UH, AND W WE STAFF CASES WITH THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASSIGNED TO OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT ON A, ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND SO, UH, THAT DA WILL WORK WITH EACH INVESTIGATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL, UM, ALL, ALL, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THAT CASE HAS BEEN DONE, UH, AND MAY ASSIGN THEM FURTHER THINGS TO DO BEFORE BRINGING THAT CASE, UH, PRESENTING IT FOR PROSECUTION.
UH, THERE'S ONLY TWO MORE HERE WHEN CASES ARE PRESENTED TO THE DA'S OFFICE.
UH, THOSE, UH, ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME BACK ARE FULLY DOCUMENTED.
UH, AND, UM, AND WITH REGARD TO THAT, WHEN THE DA'S OFFICE, UH, ASKED THAT WE, UM, THAT WE WORK WITH THEM ON THAT DOCUMENTATION.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE STILL KIND OF FINE TUNING, UH, TO SEE HOW WE CAN COMPLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATION AND STILL COMPLY WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND THEN FINALLY THE LAST ONE WAS, UM, THAT ALL OF THE DETECTIVES BE PROVIDED WITH LAPTOPS SO THAT THEY HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN THE OFFICE.
THE LAPTOPS HAVE BEEN ON ORDER FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK SOME OF THEM MIGHT EVEN BE IN NOW, BUT IT TOOK, THERE WAS A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE THAT, THAT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT WE DID ORDER THOSE RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND KNOWING THAT YOU'VE READ THEM AND ARE FAMILIAR AND ARE TAKING STEPS ON THEM.
UM, CITY MANAGER, I THINK IT MIGHT BE, I'M NOT SURE THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY, SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WHAT TO DO, BUT, UM, GIVEN THAT YOU ARE MOVING ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SOME THINGS IN PLACE, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH PERF TO PROVIDE US INSIGHTS AND BEST PRACTICES.
UM, IF WE CAN FIND A MECHANISM FOR APD TO SHARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH PERF SO THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE TAILORED TO FURTHER IMPROVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT'S NOW SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME IT'S TAKING TO DO THIS WITH COVID, ET CETERA.
UM, I THINK WE WOULD GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK WITH RESPECT TO, UM, THE OUTCOMES, IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO SAY, GO PUT IT IN WRITING.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT IS, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS WHERE THEY MIGHT SAY, YES, THIS IS A GOOD PRACTICE.
THIS IS NOT THE BEST PRACTICE, ET CETERA, BUT THAT EXCHANGE, I THINK, NEEDS TO BE BUILT INTO THAT PROCESS OR WORK ON FIGURING OUT HOW THAT EXCHANGE CAN HAPPEN.
I WOULD JUST WITH, UH, UH, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION TODAY, A LOT OF INFORMATION, TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT, UH, AS A COMMUNITY, WE FELL SHORT, GOING BACK TO THE RAPE CRISIS, RAPE KIT TEST KITS, AND, UH, THE ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO REPORTING AND THE LIKE, UH, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF STUDY.
UH, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING UP ON THESE THINGS.
I APPRECIATE THE MOVEMENT THAT'S HAPPENED FROM WHERE WE WERE TO WHERE WE'RE GOING.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S STILL OPEN QUESTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES, UH, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT'S HAPPENED AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU LAYING OUT BOTH FOR US WITH THAT COLLEAGUES.
THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS REALLY APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHIEF'S LEADERSHIP, AND YOU'VE MADE THIS A PRIORITY.
YOU CLEARLY TAKE AN ACTION SINCE YOU'VE BEEN CHIEF.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WITH THAT THEN HERE AT, UH, FIVE, UH, OH, UH, EIGHT, UH, THIS MEETING IS, UH, ADJOURNED.
A COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY.