[00:00:04]
[Proclamation 1]
AUSTIN, TEXAS.MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON.
I'M THE PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
AND I GET THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR OF STANDING NEXT TO MY COLLEAGUE, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE THE CENSUS EFFORT THAT TOOK PLACE RECENTLY.
UM, IT WAS A GIGANTIC EFFORT AND WE HAD TO DO IT DURING COVID.
SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO PUT FORWARD, UH, SO MUCH EFFORT IN TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GOT COUNTED, UM, AND PUTTING OUT INFORMATION THAT MADE IT.
SO FOLKS REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE COUNTED.
I I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE GET TO DELIVER THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THEM THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS ALISON ALTER AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM AND TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL JOINED WITH MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, TO CELEBRATE THE FOLKS WHO HELPED US COUNT EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LAST NIGHT, WE GOT TOGETHER FOR AN EVENT TOGETHER.
WE COUNT WHERE WE CELEBRATED, UM, THE FOLKS WHO REALLY LED THE EFFORT, WHETHER IT WAS OUR ASIAN-AMERICAN COUNT GROUP, OUR LGBTQ COUNT GROUP, OUR LATINO, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND BRAWL, THE EVERY PERSON WHO CAME OUT AND HELPED DO THE HARD WORK OF REACHING INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE COUNTS AS YOU KNOW, THE CENSUS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT PROCESS.
AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS COUNTED.
IT IMPACTS HOW MUCH MONEY WE GET, THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE AND HELPS US AS POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN FOR OUR POLICY MAKING.
SO TODAY I WANT TO OFFER THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THE FOLKS WHO HELPED US MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE COUNTS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS TOGETHER WE COUNT DAY IS THE INAUGURAL CELEBRATION.
RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS LED BY THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE AND THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN TO EDUCATE, RAISE AWARENESS AND INSPIRE EVERY CENTRAL TEXAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2020 CENSUS AS PART OF THE DECENNIAL CENSUS COUNT.
AND WHEREAS THE VALUE OF AN ACCURATE CENSUS COUNT IS VITAL TO PRESERVE AND ADVANCE VOTING RIGHTS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR AREA SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS, AND WHEREAS INNOVATIVE AND NIMBLE ORGANIZING AND OUTREACH OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC RESULTED IN INCREASED RESPONSE RATE COMPARED TO 2010.
AND WHEREAS TOGETHER WE COUNT DAY IS A TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ACCURATE CENSUS COUNT AND TO RECOGNIZE THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF THE COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE.
AND NOW THEREFORE I, ALISON ALTER MAYOR PRO TEM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, STEVE ADLER DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 3RD, 2022 AS TOGETHER.
SO I KNOW I JUST HALFWAY THROUGH IT'S LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED.
WAS IT SHORTER? A LITTLE CLOSER TOGETHER? YOU DON'T FIND THANK YOU, KRISTA.
UM, ARE YOU GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN MAKING A FEW REMARKS? YEAH.
YOU MADE YOUR DEBUT, MR. DEMILLE.
[00:05:01]
RIGHT, FOLKS, I THINK WE'LL KEEP THIS PARTY GOING.[Proclamation 2]
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER, MADISON PROUD MINT, PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT ONE.UM, ON OCCASION WHEN WE DO THESE PROCLAMATIONS, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUBJECT MATTER.
UM, AS A CANCER SURVIVOR, I HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE PATIENTS THAT DOES INFECT, UH, PROGRESS INTO A DISEASE THAT'S CALLED LYMPHEDEMA.
UM, AND IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY DIFFERENTLY AND, AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT EVERY SINGLE CANCER SURVIVOR.
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT CANCER.
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER, BUT I THINK OFTENTIMES WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE LESSER KNOWN ILLNESSES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES.
UM, SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE CRESTA HERE THIS MORNING, UM, WHO IS ACTUALLY A THERAPIST OF MINE ALONG THE WAY, UH, HERE THIS MORNING TO REPRESENT THE LYMPHEDEMA COMMUNITY AND TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT, ABOUT THE ILLNESS AND BRING SOME AWARENESS TO IT.
SO I GET THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO DELIVER A PROCLAMATION.
OUR PROCLAMATION IS BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS LYMPHEDEMA IS AN INCURABLE CONDITION, AFFECTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, ALL OF ALL AGES WORLDWIDE WITH DISFIGUREMENT, DISABILITY, DISCOMFORT, PAIN, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCED BODY IMAGE.
AND WHEREAS LYMPHEDEMA CAN BE CAUSED BY GENETIC FACTORS AND ALSO BY BODILY TRAUMA RELATED TO CANCER TREATMENTS, RADIATION TREATMENTS, RADIATION THERAPY, MAJOR THERAPY, SEVERE BURNS, OR OTHER INJURIES.
AND WHEREAS THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF LYMPHEDEMA WITHIN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO ENSURE TIMELY AND PROPER DIAGNOSIS.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF THE SEVERE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS LYMPHEDEMA EFFECTS HAVE ON PATIENTS AND FAMILIES, IT IS TIME TO SUPPORT THE COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH THIS DISEASE, WITH THIS DEBILITATING DISEASE, AS WELL AS THEIR CAREGIVERS.
NOW, THEREFORE I NATASHA UPPER MADISON ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, STEVE ADLER, AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 3RD, 2022 AS LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND KRISTA.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND SOME BRINGING AWARENESS, UH, TO LYMPHEDEMA AND THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.
IT'S AN UNDERREPRESENTED THERE.
THE NEWS RESEARCH, UM, SHOWS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A STANDALONE, UH, SYSTEM, JUST LIKE THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND THERE'S NO ORGAN MAJOR BODY ORGAN THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND LYMPHEDEMA OR THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.
AND SO WHEN PATIENTS HAVE SYMPTOMS AND THEY EVEN SOMETIMES CAN EXPLAIN IT TO THEIR PHYSICIANS OR PROVIDERS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT.
THEY DON'T KNOW, UM, WHO TO SEND FOR TREATMENT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A IT'S UNDERREPRESENTED FOR THE CAREGIVERS.
THERE'S NOT VERY MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE DO HAVE LONG WAIT TIME SOMETIMES EVEN A MONTH, UH, TO GET EVEN INTO TREATMENT.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD AND INCREDIBLY HAPPY THAT MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON HAS, UH, DECLARED A DAY FOR AWARENESS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN RECOGNIZE AND GET THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.
IT WAS GREAT TO TAKE A FEW PHOTOS.
DO YOU WANT THEM TO HEAR CALEB OR IN FRONT OF THE FLAGS HERE? OH, WE CAN DO BOTH.
BOTH POPULATIONS LINED UP OUT THE DOOR.
I LIKE THAT TINY OH, THAT'S NICE.
I WOULD SAY TX N READY FOR US.
[00:10:03]
YES.I THINK WE'LL WAIT TWO SECONDS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO GET BACK ON THE DYES.
YOU ALSO READ MISSING DIARRHEA POS HERE.
SO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, IF YOU ARE WAITING TO GET ON, IF YOU COULD COME SO WE CAN START, WE APPRECIATE IT.
[Call to Order]
I'M MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER.AND IT'S THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2022.
AS WE CONVENE THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN A HYBRID WAY WITH MANY HERE ON THE DAYAS AT AUSTIN CITY HALL.
I'M JOINED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, ONE TEST ELLIS, UM, MYSELF COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS AROUND THE CORNER.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON ON THE DIOCESE.
THE MAYOR WILL BE ABSENT TODAY, UM, TRAVELING ON CITY BUSINESS, ATTENDING THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS WINTER LEADERSHIP MEETING.
UM, SO I'LL BE CHAIRING THE MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE TO START TODAY WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UH, FOR ALL THE FAMILIES AND OTHER VICTIMS OF WAR IN UKRAINE.
UM, SO IF YOU CAN JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT THANK YOU.
UM, AS YOU'LL NOTICE, UM, MOST OF THE DIOCESE IS WEARING BLUE AND YELLOW TODAY, UM, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FAMILIES AND VICTIMS, UM, OF THE WAR AND UKRAINE.
WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND AND PROMOTE DEMOCRACY IN OUR GREAT CITY.
AND WE ARE HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND UKRAINE IN OTHER SOCIETIES.
AND IN OUR OWN, AUSTIN WILL ALWAYS BE A WELCOMING CITY FOR PEOPLE FLEEING WAR AND OPPRESSION.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN US TO OUR WORK AND OUR BUSINESS TODAY.
[Consent Agenda]
WITH, I'M GOING TO READ OUT CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT ANY PULLED ITEMS FOR CONSENT.AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO, UM, THE CITIZENS, THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON THESE ITEMS. SO CHANGES ON CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
THESE ARE OUR FOLLOWING CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THE NAME OF COMMISSIONER PENN WAS MISSPELLED.
THE SPELLING HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
ITEM SIX IS NOW NOTED AS BEING RELATED TO ITEM EIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER 16 IS BEING POSTPONED TO APRIL 7TH, 2022.
ITEM NUMBER 17 IS BEING POSTPONED TO MARCH 24TH, 2022.
AND WE HAVE LATE BACKUP FOR ITEMS NUMBER 18 23, 25, 43, 44, 45, 49, 50 54 57 AND 58.
UM, CLERK, DO I HAVE THAT ALL CORRECT? YES.
UM, SO BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WANTED TO CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS THAT FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO PULL.
I UNDERSTAND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEMS 23, 28 AND 61.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO PULL THIS MORNING? THAT'S MY WE'RE TOLD ABOUT AND MAYOR PRO TEM.
I JUST HAVE A VERY SMALL AMENDMENT, SO IT MAY BE ABLE TO STAY ON CONSENT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ON ITS WAY DOWN AND I'LL DISTRIBUTE IT HERE AS SOON AS I CAN.
AND 23 IS REALLY JUST A FOLLOWUP WITH OUR STAFF TO SEE.
WELL, ANYWAY, THAT ONE SHOULD BE PULLED, CAUSE THAT'LL BE A LITTLE LONGER.
UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I THINK I'LL JUST TAKE ANYTHING.
THAT'S GOT AN AMENDMENT RIGHT AFTER CONSENT AND WE CAN BE QUICK THROUGH, I THINK WE'VE GOT A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AGENDA TODAY AND WE SHOULD BE QUICK.
[00:15:02]
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE, AND I KNOW YOU'LL GIVE US A CHANCE, UM, BEFORE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON SOME ITEMS. ABSOLUTELY.I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT AFTER I RAN THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO OUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY INCLUDES ITEMS ONE THROUGH 33 AND THEN ITEMS, UM, 60 TO 61 WITH 23, 28 AND 61 POLLED.
AGAIN, THAT IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 33.
UM, AND THEN ITEMS 60 WILL BE ON THERE.
61 IS PULLED AND 23 AND 28 ARE POLLED ITEMS. NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS 34 THROUGH 40, WHICH ARE EMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP RIGHT AFTER WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THEN WE WILL THEN TAKE UP ITEM 62, WHICH IS A COMMITTEE REFERRAL FROM OUR AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIRS, THAT COMMITTEE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR HFC AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM 41.
AND THAT IS TIME STARTING FOR 10:30 AM.
AND AFTER THAT WE CAN GET TO OUR PULLED ITEMS. I THINK ALL OF THAT WILL GO, UM, VERY QUICKLY.
OUR ZONING AGENDA, WHICH IS TIME CERTAIN FOR 2:00 PM TODAY WILL INCLUDE ITEMS 42, 3 59 AND ITEM 63 FOR OUR SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, WE HAVE SIX SPEAKERS AND CHAMBERS AND FIVE INDIVIDUALS SPEAKING REMOTELY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
AND THEY WILL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES LATER TODAY.
WE HAVE SIX INDIVIDUALS SPEAKING DURING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND 19 INDIVIDUALS SPEAKING DURING OUR ZONING AGENDA, INCLUDING APPLICANTS, THEY WILL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE APPLICANT SPEAKING WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF THEY CHOOSE TO SPEAK.
SO, UM, WE WILL TAKE CONSENT COMMENTS WHEN WE TAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS ANYTHING TO RAISE BEFORE WE MOVE TO DISCUSSION? YUP.
SO IF THE CLERK WILL NOW CALL THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE SPEAKING ON ITEM 29, SETH BILLINGSLEY, YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
MY NAME IS SETH BILLINGSLEY AND I'M THE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATED FOR ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, THE STATEWIDE ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND OPEN SPACES.
AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE MIC IS THE MIC WORKING.
MY NAME IS SETH BILLINGSLEY AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT AN ITEM 29.
I AM THE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, A STATEWIDE ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND OPEN SPACES, NATIVE BEES AND HONEYBEES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE WEB OF LIFE THAT SUSTAINS US AND ALL OTHER SPECIES.
THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO POLLINATION IS VITAL FOR OUR FOOD SOURCES AND THEY PLAY, AS I SAID, A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT LIFE IS ABLE TO CONTINUE ENVIRONMENT.
TEXAS HAS WORKED FOR MANY YEARS TO SAVE THE BEES, INCLUDING WORK WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR IN 2018 TO BAN BEE, KILLING PESTICIDES ON CITY, PROPERTY, THIS AND OTHER STEPS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALREADY MAKE US A LEADER IN PROTECTING BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS.
CERTIFYING AUSTIN AS OBESITY IS THE NATURAL NEXT STEP AND WE'LL HELP COORDINATE AND AMPLIFY THE CITY'S OTHER EFFORTS, WHICH ARE ONGOING.
OUR CANVAS STAFF HAS TALKED TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES ON THEIR DOORSTEPS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR CITY LOVES THE BEES AND WANTS TO PROTECT THEM.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL, QUINTUS, AND TOPO, AS WELL AS MO MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR FOR SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION FROM ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS.
AND I THINK WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE ALL, UH, PLEASED TO BE OBESITY.
UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
MY NAME IS ERICA THOMPSON AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 29, DESIGNATING AUSTIN AS A B CITY.
I'M A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL BEEKEEPER, THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF TEXAS BEE WORKS.
AND I HAVE A LARGE AUDIENCE OF OVER 10 MILLION BEE LOVERS WHO FOLLOW ME ONLINE TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANT
[00:20:01]
WORK THAT BEES AND BEEKEEPERS DO EVERY DAY.WELL, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME HELPING BEES AND HELPING PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND BEES TODAY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I COULD DO WITH MY TIME AND EXPERIENCE WAS BE HERE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT DESIGNATING AUSTIN AS A BEE CITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS WE CAN DO FOR BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS IN AUSTIN.
I'M A PROUD NATIVE TEXAN AND I'VE CALLED AUSTIN HOME FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
OVER THAT TIME, I'VE WATCHED AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE TO AUSTIN AND OUR NATIVE LANDSCAPES AND WILDLIFE HABITATS BECOME LESSER AND SMALLER AND FEWER.
THIS LEAVES BOTH HONEY BEES AND NATIVE BEES STRUGGLING TO FIND FOOD AND HOMES BY DESIGNATING AUSTIN AS A BEAST CITY WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF BEES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL POLLINATORS BY PRESERVING THEIR HABITAT IN RAISING AWARENESS FOR ALL THE WAYS THAT BEES CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY IN COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU SUPPORT AUSTIN BEES, YOU'RE ALSO SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS AND OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, AS WELL AS MANY OF THE FLOWERS, BUSHES AND TREES THAT RELY ON BEES FOR SURVIVAL AND THAT MAKE AUSTIN SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE.
IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING AUSTIN BECOMING OBESITY TODAY, I'D ALSO LIKE TO PLEDGE MY PERSONAL SUPPORT AND THAT OF THE AUSTIN BEEKEEPING COMMUNITY TO HELP.
HOWEVER WE BEST CAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS A LONGTERM LONGTERM SUCCESS FOR THE PEOPLE IN BEES OF AUSTIN.
I THINK THAT IF WE WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT POLLINATORS THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY LIKE THIS, WE CAN MAKE EVERYDAY ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF SAVING THE BEES.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, GIVE MY THANK YOU TO MS. THOMPSON FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I THINK I'M NOT ALONE IN WATCHING HER TIK TOK VIDEOS AND VIDEOS ONLINE AND JUST WANT TO RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE TO GIVE HER A FOLLOW CAUSE.
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN SAVING THE BEES.
SO JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE.
COUNCILWOMAN SAYS, I APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
RACHEL'S SCOTT IS OKAY IF I TAKE OFF A MASK BOY.
UH, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, INITIATIVE ON THE PART OF A COUNCIL WOMAN, UH, UH, UH, VANESSA FUENTES, WHO WAS, UH, UH, MY, UH, UH, DISTRICT COUNCILMAN AND, UH, COUNCILMAN POOL AND, UH, UH, ALL OF YOU AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTERED.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK I'M, UH, A COMMISSIONER ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT, UM, I'M, UH, HERE, UM, UH, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF TODAY, UH, AS A KIND OF A SELF APPOINTED, UH, BEE AMBASSADOR, UM, UH, BECAUSE BEES ARE TO, TO THE ENVIRONMENT KIND OF LIKE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, UH WE'RE FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, UH, COAL MINERS.
THEY'D TAKE THE KEY AS Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW FROM HISTORY THAT TAKE THE, UH, UH, UH, CANARY DOWN WITH THEM.
AND IF THE CANARY KEELED OVER, THEY KNEW THAT THE AIR WASN'T THAT GREAT, AND THEY'D BETTER GET OUT OF THE COAL MINE.
WELL, NOW WE HAVE BEES THAT ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE AND ALL OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, UH, BUT JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS WE HAVE 800 SPECIES IDENTIFIED OF IN, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OF BEES, NOT JUST, JUST THE HONEYBEES THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT WERE IMPORTED FROM EUROPE, BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE 800 SEPARATE SPECIES OF BEES.
UM, AND 90% OF THOSE SURPRISINGLY ARE NOT COLONY BEES.
THEY'RE INDIVIDUAL BEES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE DESK IN THERE.
THEY'RE GREAT FOR CITY PARKS AND FOR, FOR BACKYARD LANDSCAPING, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROTECT.
THEY JUST HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE TINY NEST AND THEY, UH, SO THEY'RE, SO THEY'RE MUCH SAFER.
UH, UH, NOT THAT THE, THAT THE REGULAR HONEYBEES ARE GOING TO BOTHER YOU AS LONG AS YOU LEAVE THEM ALONE.
UM, BUT WHILE, UH, THERE BEEN A REAL BOON TO AGRICULTURE, UH, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, IN, IN, UH, WORK THAT THEY DO FOR FREE, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE COMPENSATED.
[00:25:01]
UM, THE THEY'RE IN THEY'RE IN BIG TROUBLE, AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UH, OR, OR THIS, UH, THIS WOULDN'T BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY.UH, AND SO, UM, UH, THE MAIN, THE MAIN REASON THAT THEY ARE IN TROUBLE IS, UH, UH, HABITAT LOSS, UH, WHICH IS, UM, PRETTY OBVIOUS YOU DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES EVERY DAY, UH, PESTICIDES.
AND, UM, SO I, UH, I URGE REZ, UH, I URGE THAT YOU, UH, UH, VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, UH, RESOLUTION.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU SAVE THE HONEYBEES, YOU SAVE, UM, YOU SAVE, UH, PEOPLE, UH, YOU SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, FOR ALL OF US, FOR THE FUTURE, UH, GOING FORWARD.
SO, UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM SHANNON HENRY, A FRESHMEN AT UT AND A MEMBER OF BEBO BEEKEEPING SOCIETY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO PROMOTE ITEM NUMBER 29 TO MAKE AUSTIN A CERTIFIED BEE CITY THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL POLLINATOR CRISIS EVERY YEAR, TEXAS LOSES 40% OF BEE COLONIES BECAUSE OF URBANIZATION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND PESTICIDE USAGE, A FEW MORE STATISTICS, UM, ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD'S FOOD PRODUCTION DEPENDS ON BEES, BASICALLY ONE IN THREE SPOONFULS.
EACH OF US EATS REQUIRES POLLINATORS IN 2016.
THE USDA REPORTED THAT HONEYBEES POLLINATE AN ESTIMATED $15 BILLION WORTH OF CROPS EACH YEAR, BY BECOMING OBESITY, WE WILL DIRECTLY BE RELIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS AGAINST BEES BY PLANTING MORE NATIVE PLANTS, PROVIDING THIS SITES, REDUCING PESTICIDE USAGE WITH INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLANS AND INCREASING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PRACTICES.
WE WOULD BE JOINING 150 OTHER B CITIES ACROSS THE US NINE OF WHICH ARE IN TEXAS, INCLUDING ARLINGTON, DENTON, AND BEAUMONT AS THE STATE CAPITAL.
I BELIEVE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW WE VALUE BEES AND VAL TO PROTECT THEM.
SO PLEASE LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
LET'S DO OUR PART TO MAKE AUSTIN A CERTIFIED BEE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS BILL.
DOES Z T N AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DESSIE TN I'M A CURRENT SENIOR AT UT THE PRESIDENT OF THE BEEBO BEEKEEPING SOCIETY ORGANIZATION, AND A MEMBER OF THE UT AUSTIN BEE CAMPUS USA COMMITTEE.
I'M COMING TO YOU TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 29, THE PROPOSAL TO CERTIFY AUSTIN, TEXAS AS A B CITY.
I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL AS A TRUE AUSTENITE.
I'M SO PROUD OF MY CITY FOR SHOWING CONTINUED INTEREST IN MAKING AUSTIN MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NEAR TO MY HEART AS MY ORGANIZATION.
THE VIVO BEEKEEPING SOCIETY RECENTLY WORKED TO OBTAIN BEE CAMPUS USA CERTIFICATION FOR UT AUSTIN IN JUNE, 2020.
WE JUST SUBMITTED OUR FIRST RENEWAL REPORT EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AN EXCITING MILESTONE FOR US AND THE HARDWORKING UT STAFF MEMBERS ON OUR COMMITTEE.
AS MY TIME AT UT COMES TO A CLOSE, IT FILLS ME WITH JOY TO REFLECT ON HOW FAR MY ORGANIZATION HAS COME SINCE MY FIRST BEBO MEETING AND THE FALL OF 2018.
I KNOW WHEN I COME BACK TO CAMPUS AS A UT ALUM AND SEE THE NATIVE PLANTS AND POLLINATORS, I WILL KNOW MY LEGACY AT BEBO MADE AN IMPACT.
I'M LEAVING A LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART WITH THIS ORGANIZATION AND WITH BEE CAMPUS USA, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF YOUR SERVICE AND THE LEGACY OF AUSTIN AND THE WIDER TEXAS COMMUNITY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO VOTE FOR A MORE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY FUTURE THAT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF NATIVE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL FUN TEST, AND TOVO AS WELL AS MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR, UM, FOR SPONSORING THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I HOPE THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL BLOSSOM INTO POLLINATOR FRIENDLY ACTION BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRETEND PERSON, SPEAKERS, COUNCILMEMBER TOVO.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS I DID WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR LAST SPEAKER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON CAMPUS AND ON YOUR WORK TOWARD THIS SAME, THIS INITIATIVE, MOVE POWDER.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS ITEM, 23, BILL GEORGE.
UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
I'M THE OWNER AND CEO OF WAMC WORLDWIDE.
[00:30:01]
AND THEY ALSO MARKETS.AND MANY OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
THE PRIOR COMPANY, GREATER AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION COMPANY THAT OPERATED YELLOW CAB WENT INTO A VOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY POSITION.
WE WERE ABLE TO COME IN AND PURCHASE THE ASSETS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT A SINGLE DAY WENT BY THAT THE SERVICE WASN'T ON THE STREET, ESPECIALLY IN THE WHEELCHAIR VAN SERVICE.
AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO THIS WITH THE FRANCHISE MODEL THAT'S IN PLACE.
UH, WE OPERATE IN 27 CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE OPERATING AUTHORITY IS THE, UH, GENERAL SYSTEM YOU FIND IN VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER CITY.
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS WHEN WE GO THROUGH THINGS LIKE A PANDEMIC, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE CHANGES MADE TO THE ORDINANCE RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH A THREE READING PROCESS.
AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE HISTORY, ONE CAB COMPANY WAS UNABLE TO GET OFF THE GROUND AND ANOTHER ONE'S SHUTTERED ITS STORES DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF THE ONEROUS RULES OVER TIED TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS.
AND WE FEEL WHAT THE OPERATING SORORITY, IT GIVES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO GROW WITH AUSTIN, TO ALSO BE PREPARED FOR FUTURE EVENTS THAT MAY REQUIRE A TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN SERVICE, BUT IT KEEPS THE COMPANIES HEALTHY AND ABLE FOR US TO DO WHAT WE DO, WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO ADD WHEELCHAIR OR FLEETS.
SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN TAKE TAXI CABS FOR THE SAME PRICE ON DEMAND, LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER WRITERS.
AND WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN THE CITY ONTO THIS NEW MODEL.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE IN THE CITY AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
IF WE JUST COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION.
AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME ITEM 29, SIDNEY KALE.
I AM A CAMPUS ORGANIZER WITH TUX PER CAMPUS ACTION.
WE ARE A STUDENT FUNDED AND STUDENT LED NONPROFIT THAT TRAINS AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BE LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 29.
I GOT INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT LAST FALL.
WHEN MY STUDENTS AT UT AUSTIN EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RUNNING A SAFE TO BEEF CAMPAIGN, UT AUSTIN IS ALREADY A B CAMPUS AND OUR STUDENTS REALLY WANTED TO SEE THEIR CITY JOIN THE CAUSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF MY STUDENTS AT UT WERE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW HOW PASSIONATE THEY ARE ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND HOW HARD THEY'VE WORKED, GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY TO PLANT POLLINATOR GARDENS AT THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
SO I GOT A FEW COMMENTS FROM THEM THIS WEEK THAT I LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
SOPHOMORE REAGAN SAYS BEES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR PLANET.
AND RIGHT NOW, THIS ESSENTIAL PLAYER IN OUR ECOSYSTEM IS BEING THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, HABITAT LOSS AND PESTICIDE USE.
THESE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US.
NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO DO THE SAME FOR THEM.
SENIOR ON HELICO SAYS AS SOMEONE WHO IS ALLERGIC TO ALL INSECTS, EVEN I APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEES IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.
JULIAN SAYS POLLINATORS PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE.
WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THESE FRESHMEN.
VALERIE SAYS THESE ARE INTEGRAL TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT'S IMPERATIVE TO SUPPORT THESE POLLINATORS NOW AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT NATURE.
AND SENIOR ON ELISA SAYS AUSTIN SHOULD BE OBESITY BECAUSE POLLINATORS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF LOCAL HABITAT AND OUR OWN SURVIVAL.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL PARKS IN THE MIDST OF AUSTIN'S GROWING TECH INDUSTRY, BECAUSE NATURE IS A CENTRAL PART OF AUSTIN'S IDENTITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS I MOVED HERE.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL FUENTES UNTIL VOLVO AND THEIR PRO TEMP ALTAR FOR SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ITEM 30.
ASAR MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AND I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HOWEVER, TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF ONLY, I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 30, THAT PROVIDES CONCEPT DIRECTION IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING.
I WANT TO TANK ON SOME OCCASION FOR LEADING ON THIS ITEM IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS ONCE THIS FOOL ON THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
THESE FUNDS ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT WE EXPAND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
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STRATEGIES AND SUPPORT OUR LOW-INCOME AND WORKING COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT MAY FEEL THE PRESSURES OF TRANSIT INDUCED DISPLACEMENT.I APPRECIATE COUNCIL DIRECTION AND COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING LAND ACQUISITION LAST YEAR, AND A FURTHER DIRECTION PROVIDED TO THIS RESOLUTION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THIS RESOLUTION THAT SETS OUT TO EXPAND THESE FUNDS AND PUT THEM OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS BY EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER ADDITIVES AND PROGRAMS. I ALSO WANT TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION FOR THE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON HOW TO GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT AND PLAN FOR THE UTILIZATION OF FUNDS.
NEXT YEAR, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE COMMUNITY.
IF OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE IMPROVE OUR TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE CONTINUING TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE AUSTINITES PROJECT CONNECT WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST MARGINALIZED IN HAVING GREATER ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
WHILE ALSO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO, TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, AN ITEM 62 FRANCIS OR FRANCIS AKUNA.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR? YES, PROCEED.
I'M A CLIMATE MESSINA'S COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH GABA GAUSTON FOREMOST, AUSTIN, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT, UH, ITEM 29 TO CERTIFY OFTEN THAT'S A BCT COMMUNITY FOR POLLINATOR CONSERVATION IN IMPROVE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY IT'S SUPPORTIVE ITEM 62 TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MITIGATION, ADVERSE WATER UTILITY BILL IMPACTS EXPERIENCED BY CUSTOMERS DUE TO FEBRUARY, UH, OF THESE YEAR AND BOILING WATER EVENT.
AND IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 34, THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO ALLOCATE PRIOR TO COLLECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT CAPACITY TRANSIT LINES, I ALREADY RAISED MY ANTENNAS.
AND BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AN AFFORDABILITY, IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO 30 AND 40% FAMILY INCOME, WHICH WILL BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE.
THIS IS SPEAKER VANISHED, BUT ALSO GIVE UPDATES OF WHAT IT'S BEEN.
I'M IN NEUTRAL SLASH APPROVAL OF ITEM 28 ON THE RESOLUTION INITIATING AMENDMENT TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT, TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC MOBILITY AND TRANSIT PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE ALL KNOW SPEAKER YOU'RE CUTTING IN AND OUT.
WE WILL RETURN YOUR CALL SO THAT YOU CAN FIX YOUR AUDIO.
MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL I'M SYNOVIA.
MY COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM 30 ANTI-DISPLACEMENT SPECIFICALLY I'M AGAINST THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE $300 MILLION FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INITIATIVES.
THAT'S ACTUALLY CONTINGENT ON 45% FEDERAL FUNDING.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2019 COUNCIL
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REZONE THE RIVERSIDE.AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, HEATHER WAY MUELLER AND WEGMANS, THE AUTHORS OF THE UPROOTED STUDY NOTED THAT YOU REZONE 1,308 AFFORDABLE APARTMENT UNITS, WHICH GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE LARGEST TENANT DISPLACEMENT PROJECT.
ALONG EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR.
YOU THEN HIRED THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT OFFICER NEFFER TD JACQUELINE.
AND IN HER REMARKS MARCH 1ST TO THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, SHE MISSTATED THAT THE MONIES WERE ALL ALLOCATED TO $300 MILLION AS IT RELATES TO EMINENT DOMAIN.
I AM AGAINST THE CITY ACTUALLY FOLLOWING SOME TYPE OF ACTION AS IT RELATES TO THE AREA NEAR SAMSUNG.
SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT JULY 27TH, 2020, WHEN PROJECT CONNECT MOVED FROM $10 BILLION TO $7 BILLION, YOU UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED THE $4.7 MILLION PALMER.
THIS EMINENT DOMAIN CASE IS TO ADDRESS CONGESTION IN THE SAMSUNG AREA, THE EXTENSION TO HARRIS BRANCH FROM EAST BREAKER LANE.
I WANT TO JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION TO 2014 PROJECT CONNECT STUDY, WHICH SPECIFIED ALMOST HALF OF THE POPULATION.
1.5 MILLION PEOPLE OF THE TWO MOST POPULATED COUNTIES IN THE REGION WILL RESIDE IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR BY 2035.
SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR EMINENT DOMAIN.
YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONGESTION THERE THERE'S EAST VILLAGE ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT WITH 2,200 APARTMENTS AND 450 HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE HOMES THAT WILL BE BUILT THERE.
AND LASTLY, ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF JOBS IN THE TWO MOST POPULATED COUNTIES WILL BE LOCATED IN THIS CORRIDOR BY 2035 AND WE'LL ACCOUNT FOR 58% OF ALL JOBS.
AND SO IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO ENGAGE IN EMINENT DOMAIN WHEN THE 2014 PROJECT CONNECT LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE STUDY NOTED THE CONGESTION IN THIS AREA.
AND I WILL LASTLY JUST SAY THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A SIDEWALK FROM DESA PALMER ALL THE WAY TO SAMSUNG BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WALKED THREE MILES TO SAMSUNG TO WORK IN THE IMMINENT DOMAIN.
IT GOES FROM DAWES AND BREAKER AND THE PIONEER CROSSING ELEMENTARY AREA WHERE THERE'S NO TRANSIT, BUT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL WALKING.
AND MRS. TITLE SITS WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OTHER ITEM WAS THAT THE, UH, THE COURT'S OFFICE SAID I SIGNED UP FOR, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH, UM, CLERK, WERE YOU ABLE TO GET ON YOUR BACK ON? WE HAVE FRANCIS AQUINNAH BACK ON THE LINE, MR. COONEY, IF YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR REMARKS.
I THINK WE HEARD THE FIRST HALF, BUT NOT THE SECOND HALF.
DID YOU HEAR THAT? UM, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR MARKS AND THAT'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM 34, THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO ALLOCATE THE PROJECT CONNECT ONTO DISPLACEMENT FUNDING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT, UH, HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT LINES, I ALREADY RAISED MY INTENDANCE BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABILITY, IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.
I WANT THE CITY MANAGER TO ON THEIR LIFE, THE RISK, THE RISK OF DISPLACEMENT BY ZIP CODES, NOT BY 60% MFI, BUT TO LOOK AT THE 30 AND 40 FAMILY INCOME, WHICH WOULD BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
AND YES, I ASKED THAT YOU NOT ONLY INCLUDE COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD IMPACT THAT WILL BE IMPACTED, BUT ALSO TO GIVE UPDATES OF WHAT IS BEING RESOLVED.
I AM IN NEUTRAL SLASH APPROVAL OF ITEM 28 ON THE RESOLUTION INITIATING AMENDMENT TO THE NON-DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC MOBILITY AND TRANSIT PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC OR ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION AFFORDABILITY, BUT ESPECIALLY IT'S A SENSITIVE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO TRUSTING THAT THE EQUITABLE THING WILL BE DONE PLEASANT VALLEY AND FROM, FROM STAFF NEED TO WILLIAM CANNON ARE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DO NOT WANT THAT WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, THIS, UH, DISPLACEMENT, UH, TO HAPPEN.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU, SPEAKER YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.THAT CONCLUDES OUR MOAT SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENSUS AGENDA.
UM, BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM LAW ON ITEM NUMBER 60, WHICH RELATES TO A SETTLEMENT MORNING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL.
I WASN'T NOT OFFERED ANY BE ANTENNA UNTIL I WOULD LIKE AN EXTRA PAIR OF ONES LEFTOVER MY NAME.
UH, THE MICROPHONE IS WORKING AND IF YOU CAN ALSO STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE, I WANT ONE OF THE AND TENANTS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, MAYBE IF I RAISE IT UP, MY NAME IS DAN RICHARDS.
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE SETTLEMENT PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION, $950,000 TO RESOLVE THE CLAIMS OF BRAD LEVI OR YALA AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS CRIME IS RELATED TO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.
MR. AYALA RECEIVED DURING HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE MAY 30TH, 2020 PROTESTS NEAR THE NORTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD OF IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT MR. AYALA AND HIS ATTORNEY AD LITEM WILL EXECUTE A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE OF THE CITY RELATED TO ALL INJURIES HE RECEIVED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.
WE WILL NOTE THAT AMOUNT IN FOR THE ITEM NUMBER 60 COLLEAGUES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. RICHARDS? SEE NONE.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER , UH, MOVES APPROVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLIS SECONDS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS MORNING IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 33 WITH 23 AND 28 HOLD.
AND THEN ITEM 60 AGAIN, THAT'S ITEMS ONE THROUGH 33 WITH 23 AND 20 COLD, AND THEN ITEM 60.
UM, UH, COLLEAGUES ARE THEIR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK TO ITEM 29, WHICH IS THE CERTIFICATION FOR, UH, OBESITY FOR AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IT SUPPORTS OUR PARK STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CERTIFY AUSTIN AS A BEE CITY USA AFFILIATE.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING THE BIODIVERSITY THAT BEES REPRESENT AT A SWIFT PACE.
AND THAT IS EXCEEDINGLY CONCERNING RIGHT NOW ONLY ABOUT 13% OF THE UNITED STATES IS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND MANAGED PRIMARILY FOR BIODIVERSITY, WHICH IS ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO INCREASE THAT TO 30%.
IT'S PART OF A LARGER GLOBAL PUSH KNOWN AS 30 BY 30 TO SAFEGUARD AT LEAST 30% OF THE PLANET'S LAND AND WATERS BY 2030, THE HABITATS OF HUNDREDS OF IMPERILED SPECIES ARE NOT NOW IN PROTECTED AREAS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
OUR FORMAL PROTECTIONS INCLUDE THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER, OUR BLACK CAP VERIO THE JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER, AND OUR FOCUSED MUST ALSO INCLUDE BEES BUTTERFLIES LIKE OUR MONARCHS AND OUR FLOWERING PLANTS.
THIS WORK IS KEY TO ENSURING OUR PLANET SURVIVES AND ADAPTS TO THE PRESSURES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
ONE OF A NUMBER OF CLIMATE ORIENTED RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT OVER THE PAST 5, 6, 7, 8 YEARS, WE ARE FOCUSING IN AUSTIN AND WITH THIS COUNCIL ON SAVING OPEN SPACES.
AND IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE ELIMINATING THE USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES LOCALLY.
MY SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MANY FOLKS WHO CAME HERE TODAY, SUCH GREAT SUPPORTERS, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM AND THE BEE CITY CERTIFICATION EFFORT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.
AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WANTED TO CREATE A BIG BUZZ, BUT THE TRUE BUZZ IS BEING CREATED, CREATED BY OUR PARK STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS GATHERING SUPPORT FOR THE CERTIFICATION WORKING TO MEET THE VERY STRINGENT CRITERIA THE APPLICATION REQUIRES, AND FINALLY BRINGING IT TO US HERE TODAY FOR OUR SUPPORT, MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE GOES TO OUR WONDERFUL PARKS STAFF, TO OUR DEDICATED
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO IN THE POLLINATE AUSTIN COALITION, YOU ALL ARE DOING SUCH GOOD WORK.SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S A KICKOFF EVENT HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY AT THE AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE SENATOR CENTER.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE FEATURES AT THE CENTER IS THE INSTALLATION WHERE YOU CAN VIEW THE INSIDE OF HUGE BEEHIVE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT INSTALLATION WE'LL BE GETTING A MUCH NEEDED RENOVATION REALLY SOON.
AND, UH, WHICH IS PART OF THIS OVERALL SUPPORT FOR OUR BEE AND POLLINATOR POPULATION.
SO I'M SURE YOU DON'T NEED ME TO DRONE ON.
SO LET ME JUST STAND WITH A LITTLE BEAD JOKE WHO ARE THE SMARTEST POLLINATORS SPELLING BEES.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HOLLY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AFTER THAT, THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR A MOMENT ITEMS 20 AND 21 ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS WORKED HARD TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIMES, AND WE'VE MADE SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING TOWARDS MAKING THOSE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES POSSIBLE, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT WILL DO.
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD WILL ALLOW FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO FUND SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME VICTIM, COUNSELOR POSITIONS, AND WITH MINIMAL SUPPLY AND TRAINING COSTS.
APD COUNSELORS PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND PRACTICAL INTERVENTION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AS CLOSE TO THE TIME OF AN INCIDENT AS POSSIBLE.
THIS INTERVENTION MAY INCLUDE CRISIS COUNSELING AND STABILIZATION JUSTICE SUPPORT, PERSONAL ADVOCACY, EMERGENCY PLACEMENT IN A SHELTER, SAFETY PLANNING, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO OTHER HELPFUL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
APD ANTICIPATES THAT THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR AN ESTIMATED 600 VICTIMS OF CRIME OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT PERIOD.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE REMARKS ON IS ITEM 33.
IT REALLY WARMS MY HEART TO SEE THIS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
DISTRICT SIX HAS MANY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UM, AND ONE OF THEM IS HAVING THE ABILITY FOR A CLOSE IN PROXIMITY, FIRE POLICE AND EMS STATION ITEM 33 PROPOSES THE VOLUNTARY FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF A CITY OWNED 16 ACRE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO DISTRICT SIX IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS NEAR 98 0 4 NORTH FM SIX 20 ROAD, AND IS PLANNED FOR A CO-LOCATED POLICE FIRE AND EMS STATION.
THIS EMS STATION AND FIRE STATION IS AMONG HIGH.
ONE OF THE HIGH PRIORITY STATIONS PLANNED FOR DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY, AND WE REALLY NEED ONE OUT THERE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT 26 VERY QUICKLY.
IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO I WASN'T AWARE THAT THAT ITEM WAS AN ISSUE AND I'M GLAD THAT HER AND HER CO-SPONSORS WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A COMMUNICATION MECHANISM ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE MIGHT BE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DUE TO FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT A LOT.
AND FINALLY, CLERK'S OFFICE, PLEASE SHOW ME AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 60 TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO COMMENT TODAY ON ITEM NUMBER 30, WHICH RELATES TO THE, UM, THE FUNDING FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT.
I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL OF ELLA AND , UM, AS WELL AS THE, THE WHOLE COUNCIL, THIS, THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS OF THIS COUNCIL, UM, IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROJECT CONNECT.
SO I THINK, UM, I THINK MY THANK YOU AND RECOGNITION EXTENDS BEYOND, UM, MY CO-SPONSORS.
SO A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS ABOUT THIS, UM, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT SPEAKS TO THE, UM, IT SPEAKS TO THE, UM, AND REITERATE THE IMMEDIATE, UH, EXPENDITURE OF THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US NOW FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IT REITERATED THE, UM, THE DOLLARS THAT WE COMMITTED LAST YEAR, UH, TWO, WHICH ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF BEING, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, SELECTION AND, AND, UH, DISTRIBUTION.
AND THAT'S FOR 21 MILLION WAS LAST YEAR FOR, UM, NO 23 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, LAST YEAR FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT CARRIES FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OUR STAFF TO DESIGNATE 21 MILLION, UH, OUT OF THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
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21 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH OUR, UM, OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND 20 MILLION FOR INITIATIVES BASED ON A NOTICE FOR FUNDING, WHICH IS IN THE PROCESS OF, OF GOING OUT THAT RELATES TO OUR CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS STRATEGIES, UH, THE EQUITY TOOL AND THE DATA INFORMED MAPS WITH REGARD TO LOCATIONS IN OUR CITY, UH, ALONG THE, UH, PROJECT CONNECT LINES THAT ARE AT RISK FOR GENTRIFICATION.I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE LAST PART OF THE RESOLUTION, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS, UM, LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND, UM, CONTINUES TO CARRY OUT THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OUR STAFF IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT IS THE, UH, PRIORITIZING AND IDENTIFYING THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES IN THE LOCATIONS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR GENTRIFICATION.
SO THE, THE LAST CLAUSE, UM, HAS A FOUR STEP PROCESS, WHICH SPEAKS IN TERMS OF ANALYZING THE LOCATIONS THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AT RISK FOR DISPLACEMENT IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES FOR THOSE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE, UH, TO MITIGATE, UH, DISPLACEMENT IN THOSE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
UM, AND THEN ALIGNING STRATEGIES WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITIES, WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THOSE LOCATIONS, UM, AND WITH THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THEN COMING OUT IN THE FUTURE YEARS NEXT YEAR FOR THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, AND TARGETING A SOLICITATION PROCESS, THAT'S TARGETED TO THE SPECIFIC AREAS AND THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE AREAS, ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THAT'S IN ADDITION, OF COURSE, TO OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO WORK TOWARDS, UM, LAND ACQUISITION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, THROUGH THESE DOLLARS.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THAT, UM, THIS IS A RECOGNITION AND A THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND AS EFFECTIVELY, AND IN, AS, AS FOCUSED AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, CAN, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE COMMUNITY LED, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S, WHAT'S GONNA GET US THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESPONSE, UM, UH, WHEN TRYING TO MITIGATE AND ADDRESS, UH, DISPLACEMENT.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT, BUT I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE REMAIN FOCUSED, UM, AND COMMITTED TO OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE DISPLACEMENT FUNDING.
I THINK IT'S, UH, SOMETHING I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO PUT FORWARD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDUS.
UM, FIRST I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 29 AND SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT'S ITEM MOVE FORWARD IN OUR EFFORTS TO DESIGNATE AUSTIN AS A BEE FRIENDLY CITY, UM, AS WAS SHARED EARLIER BY OUR COMMUNITY, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR STEPPING UP AND ORGANIZING AND HELPING INITIATE THIS PROCESS.
UM, WE KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT PO POLLINATORS AND THEIR HABITATS, AND IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE, UH, THIS WILL HELP US HAVE A MORE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEM.
SO KNOWING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING AND WORSENING, IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THESE STEPS SO THAT, UM, WE CAN BETTER PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR HABITAT.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT AND WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE FOR HER STRONG LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD, UM, AND FOR STAFF AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON WORKING ON THIS ITEM.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE, HOPEFULLY ON SATURDAY AT THE AUSTIN NATURE CENTER, THAT'LL BE A NICE AND FUN EVENT.
ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON, UH, PROJECT CONNECT AND MOBILITY.
AND ESPECIALLY ON THESE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS AS YOU JUST LAID OUT, IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND SO KNOWING THAT THE VOTERS HAVE, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT CONNECT AND AS PART OF IT OVER 300 MILLION TOWARDS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IS IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO QUICKLY MOVE OUT THESE DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND, AND PRESERVATION.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO AND ENJOY YOU IN WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, KNOWING, UM, THE, THE TOUGH MARKET THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND SO, UH, LASTLY, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANTED TO GIVE MY, UM, A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY CHEAPEST STAFF, JESSICA , WHO,
[01:00:01]
UM, WILL BE LEAVING OUR DISTRICT TO TEAM, UM, BUT NOT GOING TOO FAR BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UH, TO JOIN THEIR TEAM, WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL OFFICES.AND JESSICA HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW.
UM, SHE WAS WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE BEFORE SHE JOINED A DISTRICT TWO AND WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR OFFICE OPERATIONS AND ENSURING THAT WE HAD A STRONG START, UM, IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, IF YOU KNOW, JESSICA, YOU KNOW, HOW HARD SHE WORKS, HOW INCREDIBLY SMART AND TALENTED THAT SHE IS HIGHLY SKILLED.
AND SO I AM JUST SO APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HER, TO HAVE HER LEADERSHIP IN MY OFFICE AND WISH HER THE BEST AND, UH, AND AT THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, JESSICA.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOGA.
I HAVE, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WORK TODAY ON THE, ON THE AGENDA AND, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO, UM, I GO TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS, BUT I JUST APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES LEADERSHIP ON SO MANY OF THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I HAD INDICATED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD WHEN YOU'D POSTED ABOUT THE DISPLACED, THE ALLOCATION OF THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN BEING A CO-SPONSOR, BUT YOU HAD FIVE ALREADY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH MY ADDING MYSELF IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO YOU DID.
AND WE INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ON THE, UM, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO CAN WE MAKE A NOTE OF THAT, UH, TODAY, SO NOTED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UM, SO AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE NOTED, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS ON THE AGENDA I WANT TO, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT ITEM 33 FOR THE POTENTIAL ANNEXATION FOR, UM, THE POLICE FIRE STATION IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AT A FUTURE DATE, WE'LL BE TAKING UP THAT VOTE, WHICH I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, SUPPORTING FOR IT'S VERY NECESSARY.
UM, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, OTHER CO-SPONSORS COUNCIL MEMBER QUENTUS, AND TOVO, I'M PLEASED TO JOIN YOU IN THE RESOLUTION FOR THE, FOR THE B CITY, UM, FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENUMERATED, UM, FOR VICTIM SERVICES ITEMS 20 AND 21.
UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR, UM, RAISING THOSE ISSUES.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, STEP UP WITH ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, UM, FOR THIS, UH, VOCA PROGRAM, WHICH IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO FUND FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH OUR WORLD-CLASS VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION TO SERVE THEM BETTER WITH THE AID OF THESE RESOURCES.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UM, WHICH INVOLVES, UM, ADVANCEMENT OF THE DAVIS AND HANCOCK'S WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, POLYMER TREATMENT PROCESS.
UM, THESE WILL ADVANCE FLOOD RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AT THESE PLANTS.
UM, THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT TO MAKE AFTER THE 2018 WATER TURBIDITY ISSUES.
UM, THESE WERE IMPLEMENTED ALREADY AT ULRICH, I BELIEVE, UM, AND APPROVAL OF THIS WILL HARDEN OUR FACILITIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND PREVENT FUTURE WATER QUALITY ISSUES.
UM, I DO WANT TO NOTE BEFORE WE GO ON THAT THERE ARE TWO FEE WAIVERS ON THE AGENDA THAT DO, UM, POTENTIALLY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL, UH, FEE WAIVERS.
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, UM, ITEM NUMBER 27 IS, UH, DUAL LANGUAGE, UH, FOR SEAL OF BI-LITERACY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOLD, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THEY NEED? I THINK THAT WAS YOUR ITEM WAS ANOTHER I'LL NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
LET ME, LET ME JUST PULL THAT UP QUICKLY.
AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM, SO YOU GUYS CAN, CAN CHIME IN FOR BOTH IS, UM, THE SUNSHINE RUN.
UM, SEVERAL OF US ARE ALREADY PUTTING FORWARD, UM, $500, BUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT LEFT ON THAT FOR A FEW WAIVERS.
UM, SO THOSE ARE ITEM 27 IS THE BI-LITERACY AND THE SUNSHINE FUNDING IS 31 COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, IF I COULD CONTRIBUTE A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO EACH, I'D BE HAPPY TO.
GREAT, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FUNDUS.
I AM ON THE DUAL LANGUAGE ITEM ALREADY, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE AND SUNSHINE CAMPS AS WELL.
IF YOU CAN PUT ME DOWN FOR 200.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THE DUAL LANGUAGE MIGHT'VE BEEN, UM, 200 THAT WAS NEEDED AND I WILL PUT THE BALANCE OF THAT, WHICH I THINK IS A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED DOLLARS,
[01:05:01]
SO THAT ONE WILL BE COMPLETE.UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUNGIS FOR STEPPING UP ON THOSE.
UM, I JUST HEARD FROM MY STAFF THAT WE HAVE, WE MAY HAVE COVERED THE BILINGUAL OKAY.
SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST MAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL FEE WAIVERS CONTINGENT ON NEED.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE BACKUP HAD AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT WAS NECESSARY.
UM, CLERK, DO YOU HAVE CLARITY ON THAT FOR MOVING FORWARD ENOUGH? I DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION POOLED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL MAKE IT CONTINGENT UPON.
SO THE CHALLENGES, I JUST GOT SOME MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE $200 IS A DEPOSIT AND IT CAN HAVE I'LL BE WAIVED.
WELL THEN I WILL PUT MY HUNDRED DOLLARS TOWARDS THE SUNSHINE CAMP THAT I WAS DOING FOR THAT ONE.
UM, WE ARE NOW READY FOR A VOTE, WHICH WILL BE ON THE CONSENT, WHICH IS ITEMS 1, 3 33 WITH 23 AND 28 POLLED AND ITEMS 60 WITH 61 POLLED, UM, WITH EVERYTHING AS NOTED WITH THE CHANGES DURING OUR COMMENTS.
UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
I AM NOT BEING GOOD ABOUT LOOKING UP THERE.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE WE VOTE? I DID NOT.
UH, YOU, YOU SAW ME HOBBLING EARLIER TRYING TO ELEVATE, UM, SITTING UPRIGHT WAS NOT WORKING.
SO IN LARGE PART OF MY CAMERA WILL BE OFF.
SO I'M I'M FLAT, BUT I DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM.
I DIDN'T, I BELIEVE IT'S NUMBER 23, BUT THAT'S NOT UNCONSENTED.
UM, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO THAT IS, UM, UNANIMOUS 10 ZERO WITH ONE ABSENCE AND THE NOTATIONS THAT WE MADE EARLIER.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR EMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, WHICH WERE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA QUICKLY, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THEN TAKE UP, UM, THE POLLED ITEMS. UM, SO WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS, 34, 3 40 BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS, IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES DESCRIBED THERE IN, DO I HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SECONDS THAT MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
THAT IS 10 ZERO WITH THE MAYOR OFF THE DIAS.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
NOW GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HERE AT THAT TIME.IT IS AT 1101 AND ON MARCH 3RD AND I'LL CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 1101, UH, MARCH 3RD, 2020.
IS STAFF HERE TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? I THINK MR. MAYA IS ON THE SCREEN.