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GOT IT.[Call to Order]
ON, UM, THURSDAY PER 21ST, 2022, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE MY ANNIVERSARY, BY THE WAY.UM, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 10 MINUTES AFTER 10.
UH, WE ARE, UH, BROADCASTING HERE FROM THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, CHAMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS ABSENT FROM THE DIOCESE THIS WEEK ON A TRIP THAT WAS THE LAID BY COVID.
UH, THE REST OF US ARE PRESENT AND IN PERSON, SO, UH, GOOD TO SEE CRITICAL MASS, UH, BACK HERE TODAY, THAT WAY, UM, COLLEAGUES,
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
UM, UH, OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 26 AND 55 THROUGH 59.UM, WE HAVE, UH, UH, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 46 SPEAKERS IN THE MORNING, BUT 16 OF THEM ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 33, UH, WHICH WE HAVE SAID IS BEING, UH, GOING TO BE POSTPONED.
AND THEREFORE THE ONLY TESTIMONY IS GOING TO BE ON THE QUESTION OF POSTPONEMENT.
UH, SO RATHER THAN GO TO A MINUTE FOR ALL SPEAKERS, WHAT WE, UH, TOLD PEOPLE WAS IT WOULD BE TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER THIS MORNING, EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE SPEAKING ON 33.
CAUSE SINCE IT'S JUST POSTPONEMENT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A MINUTE.
THAT WAY WE CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO, UM, THE BALANCE OF THE SPEAKERS.
SO WE'LL GET TO THE SPEAKERS AND, UH, AND IN JUST, UH, IN JUST A SECOND, UM, IT SET THE AGENDA.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR CLARITY.
UM, IN THE PAST, WE'VE OFTEN JUST HEARD WHEN IT'S A POSTPONEMENT, JUST HEARD SOMEONE ADVOCATING FOR POSTPONEMENT AND SOMEONE ADVOCATING AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT.
IS THAT YOUR INTENTION TODAY OR IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO HEAR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO US POSTPONEMENT? THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD REMINDER.
UM, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT UNDER THE STATE LAW WE'RE ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO DO ONE A BEACH.
IF IT'S AN ACTION OF POSTPONE, I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
SO FOR THAT REASON, BUT IT'S GOTTA TO BE ONE MINUTE ON THAT AND TWO MINUTES ON THE OTHER, AND THEN THIS AFTERNOON ZONING SPEAKERS, I THINK WE HAD LIKE 16 OR SOMETHING.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THREE MINUTES EACH BECAUSE OUR KITCHEN.
I THINK THAT, UM, FOR THE SPEAKERS WHO MAY BE HERE OR MAYBE LISTENING, UM, I THINK OUR TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSTPONING TO JUNE, JUNE 9TH.
SO, UH, PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK TODAY.
THEY CAN, UM, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE THEM FROM SPEAKING AT FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND THERE MAY BE MULTIPLE ONES.
UH, WE AGREED, UH, YESTERDAY WE WOULDN'T SET 33 FOR ACTION, UH, UNTIL JUNE 9TH, WE ALSO SAID IT WOULD BE SET PRETENSE ON THE WORK SESSION ON THE 17TH FOR DISCUSSION.
WE COULD ALSO IF TIME ALLOWED ON THAT MEETING ALSO LISTED FOR DISCUSSION ONLY NO ACTION THAT DAY AND INVITE THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK, BUT WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT AS WELL.
BUT YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT REMINDER.
WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN OUR WORK SESSION THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, DISCUSSION, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THAT ITEM.
THAT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR FOLKS THAT THERE'LL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE CONTENTS OF THE ITEM ITSELF.
SO, SO THE OTHER ITEM THAT, UH, WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA, THERE'S BEEN A, UH, A REQUEST TO POSTPONE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I SAW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, UH, KELLY ON ITEM NUMBER 16, JOINED BY SOME OTHERS ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU POINT OUT ACCURATELY.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT ON THAT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ABOUT, UH, 30 DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE CITY ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH CORRECTING THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO DO THAT AND LEGAL HAS STEPPED FORWARD AND, AND, UH, SUGGESTED THAT, UH, PERHAPS THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE SHOULD PUT INTO THAT, UH, RESOLUTION THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, UM, UH, I'M GOING TO THIS, IT'S BEEN PULLED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET'S LEAVE IT PULLED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS ANY ISSUES THERE.
UH, BUT AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, I'M
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GOING TO MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM, UH, FOR, FOR TWO WEEKS.UH, I'M, ONE-ON-ONE, I'LL SPEAK TO IT, UM, UH, BRIEFLY.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, UH, CATHERINE, BEFORE THIS WANTS TO AS WELL, UM, BUT SPEAKERS SHOULD ALSO KNOW TODAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE VOTING ON THE MERITS ON ITEM NUMBER 16 EITHER.
SO THE TESTIMONY ON ITEM NUMBER 16 SHOULD ALSO GO TO WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEMS SHOULD BE POSTPONED.
SO PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 16 WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING CALLED ON ITEM 33 WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK PEOPLE BEING CALLED ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE'LL SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES AS A SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION ON THOSE WILL HAPPEN, WILL HAPPEN LATER.
UH, COLLEAGUES, LET ME READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS IN HERE.
I HAVE NUMBER THREE ON APRIL 19TH, 2022.
THIS IS RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
I KNOW VOTE, UM, UH, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, CHAVARRIA, UH, ABSENT, UH, ITEMS 33 ITEMS THREE AND 14 ON APRIL 11TH, 2022.
AND THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON AN I KNOW VOTE, UH, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, UM, RDS AND, UH, UH, FUNKHOUSER ABSENT ON ITEMS 19 AND ITEMS 10 ON APRIL 13TH, 2022 WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A NINE OH VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER FISHER ABSENT AND ONE VACANCY ITEM.
NUMBER 13 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ITEM 57, I HAD A NUMBER 18 IS WITHDRAWN ITEM.
NUMBER 19 IS GOING TO BE POSTPONED NO LATER THAN MAY 19TH, 2022, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NOTED ON CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, IS THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 58, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAS, A MOTION ON 10, AN ISSUE SHOULD BE NOTED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA F WENT, THIS HAS BEEN EDITED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON ITEM NUMBER 59 SHOULD BE KNOWN AS
I SHOULD NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
IT SAYS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WENT, THIS IS ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
IT'S HER RESOLUTION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 58.
WE JUST NOTED A MOMENT AGO, ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 16, WHICH WILL ADDRESS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN WE WILL POSTPONE, UH, FOR TWO WEEKS, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UM, UH, 33, UM, UH, PEOPLE MAY ADDRESS THAT, BUT THAT WILL ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT GETS POSTPONED.
THE ITEM ITSELF WILL BE POSTPONED TO JUNE 9TH.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA SET IT ON THE 17TH AND OR 19TH FOR DISCUSSION ONLY, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 59 THAT HAS BEEN, UH, PULLED, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UM, THERE ON ITEM 59.
UM, I HAVE WHAT I CONSIDERED TO BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
WE CAN KEEP IT ON CONSENT IF THE AMENDMENT IS, UM, I GUESS, ACCEPTED BY THE AUTHOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS HANDED OUT TO EVERYBODY TO INCLUDE A MAP OF, THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PROGRAMS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING ADDED TO 59 AIRY? NONE THAT AMENDMENTS ADDED 59 IT'LL REMAIN ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE I'LL GO TO SPEAKERS, CASPER KITCHEN.
I'M NOT SURE IF I HEARD YOU OR NOT, BUT MY SHEET NOTES, THAT ITEM 23 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I UNDERSTAND THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED IN ORDER TO CONSIDER TO TALK ABOUT AN APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
LET'S KEEP ITEM NUMBER 23 AS TO ALL OF THE OTHER NOMINATIONS, OTHER THAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON CONSENT, BUT WE WILL, UH, DIVIDE THE QUESTION, UH, THE, THE VOTE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER.
WE'LL WE'LL HOLD AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO THE ITEMS I HAVE BEING PULLED OR ITEMS 16 AND A 23, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY TO HEAR SPEAKERS.
MA'AM I AM ALSO POSTING, UM, PULLING
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AN ITEM TO BE DETERMINED.UM, LET'S SEE, FIVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AND IT MAY BE ABLE TO BE LEFT ON CONSENT.
UM, BUT I DO NEED TO, I NEED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW CONCERNS THAT I THINK WE CAN ADJUST AFTER PASSAGE HERE TODAY, BUT I, BUT I DO NEED TO RAISE THEM, SO, OKAY.
WE'LL LET YOU COMMENT ON THAT.
THAT'S ALL IT IS TO IDENTIFY THINGS THAT WE SHOULD ADDRESS AFTER PASSAGE, THEN LET'S LEAVE IT ON.
THE KIDS SAID YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT.
AND WOULD YOU LEAN ON CONSENT? I MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE PART OF IT.
WELL THEN LET'S PULL IT AND WE'LL COME BACK.
YEAH, BUT MAYBE WE CAN DO THAT REALLY QUICKLY RIGHT AFTER WE DO CONSENT.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 3)]
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE THIS MORNING.UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, I'M GONNA ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE SPEAKERS.
UM, THEY HAVE ASKED TO DO THAT.
MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM IF THEY DO THE CALLING.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS INSIDE HERE THAT NEEDED AN INTERPRETER.
LIKE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER REMOTELY THAT NEEDS AN INTERPRETER.
UH, SO WE'LL CALL THOSE THREE FIRST, IF THAT WORKS AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE BALANCE OF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON.
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE THAT ARE REMOTE.
AGAIN, EVERYBODY HAS TWO MINUTES, EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE SPEAKING TO ITEM NUMBER 16 AND ITEM NUMBER 33, BECAUSE BOTH OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE POSTPONE.
THE SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WILL HAPPEN LATER.
THOSE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ONLY ONE MINUTE EACH.
HI, MISS AN ON-DECK IS CLAUDIA DOMINGEZ.
AND IF YOU HAVE, UH, IF YOU HAVE NUMBERS THAT THEY'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD TELL US THAT TOO.
YES, MAY OF COURSE, THIS IS FRIED 58.
'CAUSE IN THE APARTMENTS WHERE WE LEAVE RIGHT NOW.
THE APARTMENTS TO A NEW OWNER AND THIS NEW OWNER WANTS US TO EVICT US AND THE TRUTH IS THAT I UNDERSTAND HE IS THE OWNER PEDRO
IT IS EASIER TO FIND A PEARL, A C PEARL THAN AN APARTMENT C.
THERE ARE APARTMENTS OR THEY'RE TOO EXPENSIVE.
THEY ASK FOR TOO MANY REQUIREMENTS.
HE IS THE PUT A LITTLE UPON DAMIEN CORONA VIRUS IN DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
AND BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL, IN MY PERSONAL CASE, I GOT SICK AND I SPENT A YEAR SICK, SICK DUE TO THE CORONER BUREAU VIRUS.
PEDRO
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HELPED ME PAY FOR GRANT FOCUSED ON FAIRMONT BECAUSE I WAS SICK.
WE'RE NOT
AND THE REASON WHY IS THAT HE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A NOTICE TO MAKE A MEETING WITH US, EITHER SEE THE MOST AND TELL US, HEY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME AND MAYBE SOME HELP.
AND HE WOULD BE SAVING, UH, ALL OF THIS, BUT HE DID IT ON HIS WAY.
WELL, BUDDIES HE'S WRITING,
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AND WE WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP US.HOW DO YOU CALL RE RELOCATE WELL LOCATION AND, AND SOME WE'LL, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL GO DO THAT WITH SOME HELP.
SO IT GAVE ME CUSTOMER PERSONNEL, BECAUSE IN MY PERSONAL CASE, YOUR JOKE WITH ARMY, MY MA I TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER AND SHE'S ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD.
YOU KNOW, HE, I FEAR THE FACT TO THINK THAT MY GOD, I'M GONNA END UP LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE.
RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT REALLY WORKING.
REQUIRES LEFT SOMETHING IN THE HEART.
AND I'M ALWAYS STRESSED DUE TO THAT.
I HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
WITH AMBULANCE WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS.
MY NAME IS CLELIA DOMINGEZ I'VE BEEN IN TEXAS FOR 32 YEARS.
AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS 14 YEARS OLD AND WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS IS TO HELP US GET MORE TIME IN ORDER TO MOVE OUT, BUT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUR THINGS, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS GOING REALLY FAST.
AND MY DAUGHTER, I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE'S GETTING VERY STRESSED OUT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HER SCHOOL.
AND I WANT HER TO BE CALLED, UM,
MY NAME IS MARICELLA
AND I CAME HERE TO TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE OF HOW IT FELT TO LEAVE ALL THIS YEARS IN THE APARTMENT CENTER.
FAIR APARTMENT I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
AND I HAVE A SON WHO IS AUTISTIC UM, OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY, UH, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARRIVED AND BESIDE ON, UH
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ELP.SO IN OUT OF THE BLUE, THEY STARTED TEARING DOWN WALLS AND FLOORS.
I SEE IN THE
AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, MY SON COMPLAINED A LOT OF SUFFERING, A LOT OF HEADACHES HE WOULD COVER HIS EARS AND WOULD SAY, MOM, IT HURTS.
IS VERY SAD TO LEAVE THAT WAY.
MY SON WILL BE THE MOST EFFECTED, SO MANY CHANGES
AND THE, UH, SPECIALIST OF AUTISM THAT HE HAS TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE AFFECTED VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO WITH THIS CHANGES AND THIS COULD COMPLICATE EVEN MORE.
PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER THE NEW ORDINANCE OF REAL RELOCATION, PLEASE, PLEASE.
THE NEXT SPANISH SPEAKER IS REMOTE NOVIA CASTILLO ITEM 59.
WHEN ARE WE HERE?
MY NAME IS NUVIA CASTILLO I LIVE IN THE FOURTH FLOOR AND I APPROVED THE INTERPRETER HAS A HARD TIME LISTENING TO THE SPEAKER.
CAN SOMEBODY INCREASE THE VOLUME PLEASE? SO
INTERPRETER HAS A VERY HARD TIME.
I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE WORKS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK HER, PLEASE? TO SPEAK HIGHER?
I'M SO SHE SAID SHE'S WITH KAVA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN, OR SHE'S WITH GABA GO AUSTIN PROCEDURE FOR, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE MAY BE THAT THE SOUND IS RESONATING BACK THERE.
IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE CLEARER IF YOU WERE UP HERE.
SO WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND SIT HERE.
YOU CAN JOIN US ON THE COUNCIL.
WELL, WE'LL CALL SOME REALLY QUICK VOTES HERE.
I WILL SIT NEXT TO MICROPHONES ON AND JUST TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE OKAY.
THIS IS THE MICROPHONE AND WE'LL JUST TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
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TYPICALLY AROUND HONG KONG.MAY I
UM, THE LIVING AREA THAT THEY HAVE FOOD AND, UH, THEY ARE NOT, THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN RECEIVE FOOD INSECURITY.
IN MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS, DEPEND OF GROCERY STORES THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE CORNERS OR A $1 STORES.
IF WE HAD BALLS THAT WOULD GO AROUND THE COMMUNITIES BUSES THE USE OF THE STRONG PARTITION WILL HELP ALL THOSE RESIDENTS TO HAVE HEALTHY FOOD IN A CLOSER REACH, OUT EASIER WAY TO GET HEALTHY FOOD.
THIS COULD HELP MORE RESIDENTS IF THEY HAVE A POINT OF DISTRIBUTION CLOSER TO THEM, YOU GOT
IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET FOOD.
ALSO PREGNANT TOGGLES
AND THE LOCAL FORM FORMS LIKE ORBAN ROOTS.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER TO SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES LIKE MY OWN AND THE COMMUNITIES OF OTHER RESIDENTS.
BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES AND THEY DO NOT HAVE EASY ACCESS TO A HEALTHY FOOD.
I AM SUPPORTING THE 59 PER THE PROPOSAL, 59.
INTERPRETER, RETURNING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
THE NEXT SEVERAL ARE FOR ITEM 16.
SO SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT, WILLIAM WEBB UP NEXT, PAUL ROBBINS, EITHER SPEAKER HERE, PAUL, COME ON UP.
UH, MAYOR, BEFORE I START, I HAVE, I TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN I SPEAK ON ITEMS AND I HAVE ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A COUPLE SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND THE CITY HAS NOT ANSWERED IT.
UH, SIMPLY PUT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL INCOME QUALIFIED PEOPLE,
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OR IF IT'S AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OR IF IT'S A LOTTERY, HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE BEING SELECTED? OKAY.KIMBALL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT QUESTION IS ANSWERED BEFORE WE VOTE.
UM, SO BEFORE, ALL RIGHT, LET ME GIVE YOU MY ONE MINUTE.
I THINK, I THINK THE ANSWER IS THAT AT THIS POINT, THAT HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED BECAUSE THE CITY STAFF WAS ASKING FOR THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE VENDOR, UH, THE, THE, THE PROVIDER WHO HELPED WITH THE RISE PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT CAN'T BE EVERYBODY WHO, WHO MIGHT WANT IT.
UM, IN MY BRIEF MINUTE, PLEASE START THE TIMER.
EVERYONE ON THIS DAY IS KNOWS THAT I'VE BEEN CHALLENGING.
AUSTIN, ENERGY'S IRRESPONSIBLE AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT PROGRAM FOR UTILITY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE.
IN SOME CASES, THE UTILITY ENROLLS, WEALTHY PEOPLE INTO A PROGRAM MEANT TO HELP THE POOR ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS.
UH, IF THESE FAMILIES ARE INDEED BEING INCOME QUALIFIED IN THIS NEW PROGRAM, WILL YOU HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD? ON THE ONE HAND, YOU WILL HAVE AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM OF ABOUT $1 MILLION WITH TIGHT ENROLLMENT SCREENS ON THE OTHER.
YOU'LL HAVE A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM WITH A BUDGET OF $19 MILLION THAT IS SOMETIMES ENROLLING PEOPLE THAT OWN MANSIONS AND MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, UH, TO SUMMARIZE, UH, NO DOUBLE STANDARDS.
YOU NEED TO INCOME QUALIFY PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
DIDN'T QUITE ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD POSTPONE THE MATTER IF THAT'S THE QUESTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY HERE ON ITEM NUMBER 16, IT'S BEEN MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
UM, MR. STRINGER, I THINK YOU'RE THE NEXT SPEAKER.
AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE POSTPONED.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD AT SPENDING MONEY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
SO WHY NOT USE THAT MONEY TO GIVE, TO OPPRESS MINORITIES? AND, YOU KNOW, AS A JEW, I AM THE MOST DEPRESSED PERSON HERE.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THEY TALK ABOUT, OH, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THE ROADS.
WE'VE GOT TO CLEAN UP THE, THE POTHOLES.
WELL, YOU'RE A RACIST AND YOU MAY AS WELL HAVE BEEN STORMING THE CAPITOL WITH THOSE Q AND ONS ON JANUARY SIX.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK THIS WAY, BUT I DIGRESS.
AND IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR UBI, YOU NEED TO BE UP TO DATE ON ALL YOUR VACCINES AND YOU SHOULD ALSO NOT BE ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT IN ANY CAPACITY.
FURTHERMORE, YOUR UBI SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO A CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY SO THAT WE CAN REALLY ENSURE THAT YOU ARE COMPLIANT WITH THIS NEW WORLD ORDER THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE BECAUSE WE ARE A PROGRESSIVE CITY, NONE OF THIS BITCOIN STUFF, GUYS.
ANYWAY, LISTEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE NEED YOU BI PAY ME FOR THE POSTPARTUM ON 16, DON ZIMMERMAN UP NEXT FOR ITEM 59.
MR. ZIMMERMAN, ARE YOU HERE? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT NEXT SPEAKER? OKAY.
I MADE HE GARAY IS FOOD JUSTICE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON SUPPORTING ITEM 59.
WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, CONNECTING TRANSIT DEPENDENT RESIDENTS TO ROUTES, TAKING THEM TO GROCERY STORES, FOOD PANTRIES, FARMER'S MARKETS, COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND LOCAL FARMS LIKE URBAN ROOTS.
WE ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT HAS ALREADY DONE FOOD MAPPING WITH INCLUSION OF RESIDENT LEADERS WHO AREN'T DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY FOOD INSECURITY.
WE ARE AWARE OF THE CIRCULATOR PILOT IN GEORGIA AND ACRES.
THIS IN OTHER TRANSIT DESERT COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD CIRCULATORS, SUPPORTING RESIDENTS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS.
AUSTIN, EASTER CRESCENT COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY AND OFTEN HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS, WHICH LEADS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RELY ON CORNER AND DOLLAR STORES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AND CHEAP, FAST FOOD, FAST FOODS THAT CONTAIN LITTLE NUTRITIONAL VALUE.
PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH OF THESE COMMUNITIES AND BRINGING DOWN THE HISTORICAL SYSTEMIC RACISM.
FUELING FOOD INSECURITY IS LONG OVERDUE.
SPEAKING ON SEVERAL ITEMS FOLLOWING WILL BE ITEM 33 FOR CHRIS FINITO.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT GUEVARA
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GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN, AND A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE REPAIR SERVICES.
I REALLY THINK COUNCIL SHOULD EXPAND IT EVEN FURTHER.
AND I CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE IN DISTRICT FOUR, WE HAVE A LOT OF MOTELS ALONG THE INTERSTATE, AND ONE OF THEM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS PURCHASED TO BE REVAMPED INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
IT DID NOT TRIGGER FOR THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
LUCKILY I WAS AT A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING WHEN THE QUESTION CAME UP BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THE WORKFORCE GROUP THAT HELPED DEVELOP THAT POLICY.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVELOPER REP AND THE DEVELOPER MADE IT HAPPEN VOLUNTARILY.
SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER, INCLUDING THOSE KINDS OF TRIGGERS.
WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN MOTELS.
SO WHEN THEY ARE REDEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING ELSE, ANYTHING ELSE THEY ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK REGARDING ITEM 16.
WE'VE HEARD YOU ALL ACKNOWLEDGE.
SPEAKING ABOUT RISING COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN, WANTING TO ENSURE AUSTIN IS NOT A PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH.
THERE'S NO REASON TO DELAY THIS FOR LEGAL REASONS.
AS UP TOGETHER AS PLATFORM HAS A PROVEN RECORD OF COLLECTING QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA POINTS THAT DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, ALL OF WHICH CAN BE DEMONSTRATED AS BENEFICIAL TO PUBLIC INTEREST, HOUSING, EARLY CHILDCARE, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND PREVENTATIVE ACTIVITIES.
THEY ARE ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS IN WHICH YOU ARE IN AS COUNCIL INVEST IN THE GENERAL BUDGET.
WE HAVE THE DATA, WE HAVE A TRACK RECORD.
THE METRICS ARE NOT HARD TO SET AND CLARIFY.
NOW WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.
THE NEXT SEVERAL SPEAKERS WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 33.
THE FIRST IS CHRIS OFF JUANITO AND THEN DANIEL CABLE MEN.
EITHER OF THOSE FOLKS WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT QUESTION, NOT THE MERITS OF THE ISSUE, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE POSTPONED.
WHERE'S YOUR NAME CALLED? COME ON ONE UP BY THE WAY, UH, COLLEAGUES IN PUBLIC ITEM, NUMBER 30, WHICH WAS THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY STAFF.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION OR INFORMATION MATERIALS WE NEED.
SO ITEM NUMBER 30 IS BEING POSTPONE OR BEING RATHER IT'S BEING WITHDRAWN.
UM, SO THERE'S NO ACTION TAKEN ON THAT TODAY.
SO IT'D BE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 30.
MAYOR ADLER, UH,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AUSTIN IS IN THE MIDST OF A SEVERE HOUSING CRISIS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST A POSTPONEMENT OF THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE VMU TWO ORDINANCE AND ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ACT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ON HOUSING POLICY.
IF DONE, IF DONE RIGHT WITH BI-RITE DEVELOPMENT, NO PARKING AND NO COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
THE POSTPONEMENT TODAY IS A CHOICE TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE CITY SHOULD PRIORITIZE CLIMATE CHANGE AND COMPACT CITIES, UH, WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE CENSUS DATA IN BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020, ABOUT 480 PEOPLE A MONTH HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IF WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HALF OF THE REGIONAL GROWTH IN THE CITY, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO DELAY.
THERE'VE BEEN MANY YEARS OF MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INCUMBENT HOMEOWNERS.
I AM HERE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT IS NEEDED IS NOT MORE MEETINGS.
WHAT IS NEEDED IS NOT MORE DELAYS.
WHAT IS NEEDED IS URGENT ACTION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JAY CROSSLEY, AND THEN JUDAH RICE ALSO ON ITEMS POSTPONEMENT FOR 33, THE THREE, IF I WERE TO SPEAK TO THE POST VOMIT.
A FEW MORE AGAIN ON THE POSTPONE.
THE MORNING MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP HERE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM FRANKLY, AGAINST THE DECISION TO POSTPONE THE VMU, UH, ITEM 33.
AND THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S VERY EVIDENT THAT THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING IS GOING UP AND THE SUPPLY IS NOT MEETING THE, UH, THAT, UH, THAT DEMAND.
AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT, UM, AS THIS GAP IS GETTING LARGER, IT'S AFFECTING FIRST, THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT AREN'T ABLE TO AFFORD THE HIGH HIKING UP PRICES, UM, DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND AS WELL AS MANY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE TO WHETHER
[00:40:01]
WHO LIVE IN THE CITY AS IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, UM, OR TO MOVE OUT.BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE HERE RIGHT NOW AND WE WANT TO MAKE THESE BIG CHANGES TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE ABLE TO, UM, PREVENT THAT GAP FROM GETTING THE LARGER GREG ANDERSON, ZACHARY FAT-ASS ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK? OKAY, HANG ON.
UM, THE REASON WHY IS, UH, AN KITCHEN MAYOR ADLER, KATHY TOVO AND PO YOU'RE NOT Y'ALL ARE Y'ALL ARE EXPERIENCED IN THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU Y'ALL HAVE WORKED ON CODE NEXT.
I WAS AROUND WITH CODE NEXT, WHEN IT WAS A MILLION DOLLARS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I THINK A WHILE AGO, YOU JUST HEARD FROM SOMEONE THAT JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE FOR IT.
I HEARD THE WORD IFS, WHAT WE'RE AT THE FC AGAIN.
AND, UH, W WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY REALLY HAVE SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS, UH, SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, THAT WAS UP HERE.
IT'S THE SAME STORY THAT I HEAR OVER AND OVER.
AND THEN PAUL TALKED ABOUT ENERGY.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE ONGOING.
UM, THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS HERE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THAT HAD A, THERE WAS A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT AN APPLICANT NOT COMING INTO HER, HER AREA AND NOT BEING NOTIFIED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T RIGHT.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS HERE IN AUSTIN THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY, AND SO RESPECT US AS WELL.
SO WE JUST HEARD FROM A SPEAKER WHO SHARED THAT IS EASIER TO FIND A C PEARL THAN IT IS APARTMENT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE SEE THE NEWS MEDIA AND FAMILY OF FOUR PRICE, OR THEIR MFI IS UP 11.5% IN ONE YEAR PRICES OF THE AVERAGE MEDIAN FAMILY HOME OVER 600,000.
IT JUST DOESN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME.
VMU CURRENTLY IS PRODUCING A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COULD.
IF WE VALUED HOUSING OVER FEAR OF CHANGE.
HOUSING IS NEVER INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOUSING.
PLEASE TAKE THE HARD VOTES AND PLEASE LET'S NOT WATCH MORE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS GET PRICED OUT OF AUSTIN.
AFTER MR. ANDERSON, ZACHARY FAT-ASS AND THEN JONATHAN.
SO SPI STILL ON ITEM 33 FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
AND THE FINAL ONE FOR POSTPONEMENT ON 33 IS A RICK CREDO BACH.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 58, SANDRA BROWN AND THEN EDWIN ALVARADO.
I LIVE IN SANTA FE APARTMENTS.
I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE IN THESE APARTMENTS FOR A YEAR NOW.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING INSTRUCTED THAT WE HAVE TO BE EVICTED IN VACATE, SORRY.
THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TO INVOCATE ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
DUE TO TWO, WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES WHO WORK AND CHILDREN'S WHO ATTEND IN THIS AREA.
WE REQUESTED TO MEET WITH THE NEW OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY WITHOUT CSS BEING WITHOUT THESE NEEDING ON A DAILY BASIS, SUCH AS HOT WATER AIR CONDITIONERS HAS PUT A MAJOR DENT IN OUR POCKET.
AUSTIN CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS COME OUT AND HAD INSTRUCTED THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK WITHOUT PERMIT WORK PERMIT, WHICH HAS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
EVEN THOUGH THERE, THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO, THIS IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE TIME AND TO FIND A PLACEMENT FOR OUR FAMILIES.
EDWIN ALPHA RADO AND THEN SAS, SAS, COME OUT NOW.
ARE THEY HERE TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY?
[00:45:10]
OKAY.MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM? AND I AM SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 58.
I'M A TENANT OF CLAYTON LANE APARTMENTS AND JOINED THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF CLAYTON LANE IN SANTA FE.
UH, LET ME GET THIS SIGN IN THE CAMERA.
UM, ASSOCIATION ABOUT A MONTH AGO, A TENANTS ASSOCIATION ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN PATRICK DUKE BOUGHT OUR SISTER APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITH ABOUT 80 UNITS, COMMUNICATION WAS SPARSE AND UNCLEAR GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT THIS HAPPENED IN, INCLUDING THAT EVERY TENANT HAD ALREADY BEEN TRANSITIONED TO MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACTS.
WE COLLECTIVELY FEARED THE WORST, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF OUR APARTMENTS SO THEY COULD BE DEMOLISHED AS IT TURNS OUT WE WERE RIGHT.
AND INSTEAD OF MEETING WITH US TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS AND OFFER A REASONABLE RELOCATION PACKAGE, PATRICK DUKE HAS CONTINUED HIS STREAK OF BULLYING THOSE WITH LESS POWER AND SKIRTING AROUND THE LAW.
UH, PATRICK'S DO PATRICK DUKE'S COMPANY HAS LONG SINCE BEGUN DEMOLITION WORK ON ABOUT A DOZEN UNITS WITHOUT APPROVED PERMITS, TEARING UP FLOORS AND DRYWALL.
THE WASTE IS BEING TOSSED OVER BALCONIES AND TO OVERSIZE DUMPSTERS AND OUR PARKING LOTS ARE COM.
UH, OUR COMPLEX HAS TURNED INTO A DEBRIS FIELD FOR MY NEIGHBOR'S CHILDREN TO PLAY IN.
THIS HAS ALL BEEN COMPLIMENTED BY EXTENDED HOT WATER, SHUT OFFS AND INTERNET DISRUPTIONS.
WE ARE LIVING IN AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONE, RISKING OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH JUST TO BE ON THE PROPERTY A WHILE.
IT SEEMS THAT HE'S GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS BEFORE IT ENDS HERE.
TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR CLARIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF AUSTIN'S EXISTING RELOCATION ORDINANCE TO PROTECT TENANTS.
FROM WHAT I'VE DESCRIBED, WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO NEGOTIATE WITH PATRICK DUKE IN GOOD FAITH, BUT HE IS DISMISSED US AS QUOTE, THOSE PEOPLE, AVOIDING OUR REQUESTS TO MEET WITH HIM AND ILLEGALLY RETALIATED THROUGH HARASSMENT FROM MANAGEMENT AND NOTICES TO VACATE.
WE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, NOT JUST TO COVER OUR CURRENT SITUATION, WHICH THE ORDINANCE SHOULD ALREADY APPLY TO, BUT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION TO PROTECT TENANTS ALL OVER AUSTIN.
AND THE LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER FOR ITEM 58 IS JASMANI WILLIAMS. YES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE TENANTS THAT CAME TO CITY CALL TODAY, BOTH FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND TO TESTIFY.
UH, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALL TAKING TIME FROM WORK AND FROM, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES, AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT.
MOVING TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE.
PATHWELL TREY IS SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN.
UM, MY NAME IS PAT BUS TODAY AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I AM SOON TO LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE DUE TO REDISTRICTING.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM TWO, UM, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON, UM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS, WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY THAT ITEM TWO IS RELATED TO A $65,000 GRANT FOR TESTING CATS FOR SARS COV TWO.
AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THE CITY ACCEPTING A $65,000 GRANT FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN WHAT THIS GRANT IS SUPPOSED TO TEST CATS FOR AND WHETHER THE WAY THE GRANT WAS WRITTEN AS THE BEST USE OF MONEY.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT THIS ITEM, UM, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, AND I LISTENED TO ALL THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT AN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING, DID NOT HAVE, UM, GIVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OR TO SPEAK ON IT.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT IN THE FUTURE, WHEN ITEMS COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE ON AN ANIMAL ISSUE, THAT, UM, THERE'LL BE A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER IT WAS DISCUSSED IN A PUBLIC FORUM, SUCH AS THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION OR ANOTHER PUBLIC FORUM.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASON WE HAVE AN ANIMAL ADVISORY COULD HAVE, UM, INPUT ON CITY FUNDING AND CITY POLICIES RELATED TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME THAT, UH, AN ISSUE IS COMING BEFORE COUNCIL WITH VERY LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT, VERY LITTLE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT'S EVEN ABOUT.
[00:50:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER VENICE FOR, UH, RECENTLY APPOINTING A VETERINARIAN TO SERVE ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.I AM HOPING THAT WITH, WITH HER ADDITION AND OTHERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THERE, UM, RECENTLY THAT WILL HAVE BEEN ADDED RECENTLY, WE WILL HAVE MORE BALANCED ON THE COMMISSION ABOUT VARIOUS EVOLUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARTICULAR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
CHRIS HARRIS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF 16 GOOD MORNING, CHRIS HARRIS DIRECTOR WOULD PROBABLY BE AT THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
UM, I'M CALLING INTO, UH, OPPOSE THE DELAY OF ITEM 16 AND ULTIMATELY SUPPORT ITEM 16.
UM, THE PROGRAM IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, UH, WHICH SERVED 125 FAMILIES, $500 A MONTH OR TWO YEARS, UM, WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
UH, 37% OF THE MONEY WENT TO FOOD.
22% WENT TO HOME GOODS CLOSED 10% WENT TO AUTO COSTS AND 11% WENT TO UTILITIES.
THIS IS SORELY NEEDED IN OUR RAPIDLY MORE EXPENSIVE CITY, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS, UH, IN THE PORTS COMMUNITIES.
THIS CANNOT DELAY ANY FURTHER.
AND, AND REALLY, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THOSE SUPPORTING THE BACK BAY REQUESTS WHERE A DELAY FROM THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF HIS BIAS, WHO IDEOLOGICALLY DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS.
AND YOU KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS THE THING THAT INEFFECTUAL LIBERALS DO OVER AND OVER TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN OUR UNJUST STATUS QUO, BUT TO PERPETUATE PLUS COLEMAN OF 16, MARY CHISM, IT'S JASON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE OR TWO TO SPEAK ON POST.
MY NAME IS MARY CHISHOLM AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I WAS CALLING IN SUPPORTIVE ITEM 16, BUT AS MR. HARRIS JUST SAID, IT'S BEEN POSTPONED.
UM, WE KNOW THAT GUARANTEED INCOME REDUCES POVERTY, WHICH REDUCES CRIME, WHICH IS, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WOULD WANT TO POSTPONE THIS, BUT AGAIN, I AM AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT AND, UM, I AM IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16.
AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER AND I, I'VE NOT BEEN ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YET THIS MORNING.
DID YOU SAY THAT SEVERAL COLLEAGUES HAVE REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT AND I'VE POSTED THAT WAY ON THE MESSAGE BOARD? YES.
UH, I THINK THERE WERE THREE COLLEAGUES THAT, UH, UH, CAME IN LIKE THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT OUR LAST COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, UM, TALKED ABOUT JUST ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES AGAIN ON 16 BEVERLY LOZAR HELLO, GO AHEAD.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE POSTPONED.
UM, I AM AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT AID AND THE GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM WOULD BE A SPRINGBOARD FOR FAMILIES TO REACH ECONOMIC STABILITY.
SIMILAR PROGRAMS ACROSS THE US HAVE SHOWN THAT AFTER 12 MONTHS OF EXTRA INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF STABILITY AND SAVINGS THAT ALLOW THEM TO MOVE OFF OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THESE.
UH, I THINK ALL OF THE FACTS ARE PRETTY CLEAR, THE NUMBERS, EVERYTHING I READ THROUGH.
AND SO I AM AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT.
THE POSTPONEMENT OF 16 RICHARD SMITH.
I LIVE IN D EIGHT, UH, ON, UH, TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF POSTPONE OF AGENDA ITEM 16.
AND FOR THEIR RECORD, I'M OPPOSING ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I BELIEVE THE ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT WILL ALLOW TIME FOR CONSIDERATION OF COUPLE OF MATTERS.
FIRST AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE READY AND WILLING TO HELP THOSE ENTIRE NEED.
SECOND, A CONSIDERATION OF THE FACT WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WHEN THE GUARANTEED INCOME POLICY
[00:55:01]
WAS BUDGETED DUE TO RISING COSTS RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES, COST OF GASOLINE AND PLACEMENT.WE'LL BE FACING A TIGHTER BUDGET AROUND THE CORNER.
UH, LASTLY, A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS ABSENT TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND SHE VOTED AGAINST FUNDING.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT POSTPONE IT IS APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW HER TO PARTICIPATE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY ON THIS ITEM, 16, IT'LL COME BACK TO US IN TWO WEEKS AND I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, UH, BECAUSE, SO WE CAN ANSWER A LOT OF, UH, QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT.
I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S AN INCREDIBLY BROAD COALITION THAT HAS REACHED OUT TO US, UH, INCLUDING THE URBAN LEAGUE AND THE JUSTICE COALITION, PETS ALIVE, DISTRICT FIVE FOR BLACK VOTERS, CRIME SURVIVORS, GABA, UH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS, APPLE SEATS, CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
THE FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT MEAN THAT HAVE ASKED US TO DO THIS.
THE WORKERS DEFENSE FOUND THE WORKERS DEFENSE ACTION.
THEY, AND I THINK THAT THEY REALLY NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES AS WELL.
UH, SO LET'S GIVE THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY, UH, TO ANSWER SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS.
WE'LL COME BACK OUT TO THE DIOCESE, UH, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GIVE QUICK THOUGHTS, BUT THEN IT WILL BE POSTPONED.
UH, BUT I URGE EVERYONE TO, TO STAY, UH, IN ENGAGED.
I KNOW THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE GOT TO HAVE A KITCHEN.
UH, YES, AND I, I JUST WANT THEM, UH, SPEAKERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF US ASKED FOR, UM, POSTPONEMENT AND MYSELF INCLUDED.
UM, UH, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AS A MEASURE OF HOW I, UM, FEEL ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.
UM, I THINK IT'S, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE PARAMETERS AROUND THE PROPOSAL AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROPOSAL, OR ARE APPROPRIATELY DONE, UH, THIS IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR MORE PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL AND REALLY THINK CLEARLY ABOUT HOW, HOW THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED.
SO I THINK THE ADDITIONAL TIME IS USEFUL FOR THANK YOU.
OH, I W I HAD MED SIGNUPS ON DYE WAS MID REJECTED FOAM.
THIS BARBARA, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TALK TO THE CLERK, CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
KENT LATIC, WHICH NUMBER I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF BOSTON SAID 75.
I MET THIS GATE AND SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
I AM OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSAL THAT THE PRESENT TIME, MY DAY BELIEVES THAT, UH, THERE IS SUBSTANCE TO IT.
HOWEVER, I AM OPPOSED MOSTLY TO WHAT I CONSIDER INDISCRIMINATE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO SO ABOUT.
I AM WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF AUDITING DONE ABOUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY AUDIT OF THAT PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT THAT'S GOING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO COVID.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AUDIT BEING DONE ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE START THROWING SOME MORE MONEY AT SOME OTHER PROGRAM BY YIELD TO THE DELAY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
UM, OUR LAST SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN HOMELESSNESS, AND I JUST WANTED TO INVITE HIM TO TUNE IN TO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MEETINGS.
WE HAVE A STANDING ITEM ON EVERY PUBLIC HEALTH MEETING TO TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
AND OFTEN THAT IS LOOKING AT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING THROUGH OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
AND THERE IS LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT OUR STAFF HAVE PULLED TOGETHER ON HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN BOTH OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, BUT ALSO OUR CITY FUNDING.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE AUDITOR, THE CITY AUDITOR DID DO A SERIES OF AUDITS ON HOMELESSNESS AS WELL.
SO THERE'S, THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS ON, ON HOW, UM, YOUR TAXPAYER INVESTMENTS ARE BEING, ARE BEING SPENT TO HELP, UM, PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF 33.
IF I HAD YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT.
MY NAME IS DAVID FOUND SOME, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM SPEAKING TO OPPOSE THE DELAYING OF
[01:00:01]
ITEM 33, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE AMENDMENTS TO DMU TO PUT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA WOULD REALLY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN UNLOCKING, UM, A LOT MORE HOUSING SUPPLY THAT WE DESPERATELY LACK.THE REASON I'M SPECIFICALLY OPPOSED TO THE DELAY IS THAT WE ARE ALREADY VERY FAR BEHIND AS A PREVIOUS SPEAKER MENTIONED ABOUT EVERY MONTH AROUND 480 PEOPLE ARE EITHER FORCED OUT OF AUSTIN OR UNABLE TO MOVE IN.
THIS MATTERS A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE LIKE TEACHING STAFF AT BLAZER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE MY SON IS ABOUT TO ATTEND KINDERGARTEN.
UM, I'VE RECENTLY SIGNED HIM UP AND SPOKE WITH, UH, SOME OF THE STAFF THERE.
AND THEY SAID THEY ARE SHORT OF STAFF BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD.
SO I URGE THE COUNCIL NOT TO DELAY, TO VOTE ON ITEM 33.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME FOR ITEM 58.
I'M A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE DIRECTLY IMPACTED MOTHER AND ACTIVIST.
AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY IN MY CITY.
I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE.
I HAVE LIVED IN MARGINALIZED AND DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES, MY WHOLE LIFE, ALL BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.
I IDENTIFY AS A BLACK WOMAN, BUT IN MY SON, I WAS I'M A HERO.
WHAT MAKES THE GRASS GROW BLACK AND BROWN BLOOD? ABSOLUTELY.
THE CITY OF OXFORD CAN DO WITH A, THIS PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST FAMILIES AND MORE TO COME.
I SEEN AUSTIN GO FROM KEEPING OFF THE WEIRD TO KEEP AN AUSTIN WHITE DO NO MORE DOUBLE STANDARDS, NO MORE WHITE SUPREMACY, NO MORE CHEAPER THAN AUSTIN FOR THE RICH AND THE WHITES.
THEY ARE TAKING OVER OUR RESOURCES.
IT IS TUBING THROUGH DATA THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WEST OFFICE LIVE 10 TO 15 YEARS LONGER THAN PEOPLE THAT LIVE ANYWHERE IN OFFICE IN OUR OWN CITY.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT FIRSTHAND DURING A SNOW STORM.
I MOVED FOR PIZZA IN THAT POPULATION ALONE BY SO THINK OF IT AS A LOVE, OFFERING THE DARK, THE COLOR, AND OFTEN REGARDLESS THE HISTORY, AND THIS WILL BE MANY OF YOUR FIRST STEPS IN DOING SO.
WE ARE HOLDING YOU ALL ACCOUNTABLE.
I SHAVE PETE SPEAKING ON MULTIPLE ITEMS. ZENOBIA JOSEPH THANK YOU.
I'M ZENOBIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEM 16, AS IT RELATES TO THE GUARANTEED INCOME, I JUST WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK AT THE MAY 7 20, 20 OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS THAT I HAD TO FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE.
AND SPECIFICALLY THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE AUDIT, I WOULD JUST SAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT IF YOU LOOK BACK, YOU'LL SEE THAT EVEN THE RISE FUND HAD FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT AT THE TIME THAT YOU GAVE THIS $2 MILLION TO THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE, THE IMMIGRANTS WERE PROHIBITED FROM GETTING THE $2,000.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CIRCUMVENT IT FEDERAL LAW, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTED THAT CASH TO INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE LAW HAS REALLY SIN NUMBER 17, UH, NUMB NUMBER 18, ACTUALLY, UM, THE SHERRY MATTHEWS CONTRACT.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT, UH, I'M ACTUALLY NEUTRAL ON THAT ITEM.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE STAFF IS GOING TO WITHDRAW IT.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
THAT'S THE $15 MILLION CONTRACT FOR COVID OUTREACH.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE $1.75 MILLION COULD BE BETTER
[01:05:01]
SPENT HELPING TRAVIS COUNTY WITH THE 4,876 APPLICATIONS THAT ARE NOW IN THE QUEUE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.AND SO, WHILE I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA WILL HAVE ITEM LATER ON THE AGENDA AS IT TO TENANTS.
AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT THAT MUSIC FUND EXTENDS TO THE REGION AND PART OF THE REGION SENT MONEY BACK TO THE TREASURY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO USE THAT MONEY.
THE 1.75 MILLION FOR THE TENANTS, AS IT RELATES TO THE CAPITAL METRO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I OPPOSED THE ASM P AUSTIN STATE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, ITEM 25.
THAT'S YOUR PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE IN YOUR JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT, 3.2 0.2, THE PRIORITY POPULATIONS ARE BIPAP, AND THERE'S NOT BEEN OUTREACH TO THAT COMMUNITY.
AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I GAVE YOU THE MAP BECAUSE OF ITEM 59, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY THE FOOD DESERTS, BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE FOR CONSENT.
ANYBODY ELSE THAT SHOWED UP? I THINK THAT THEY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER, WHICH I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK TO NONE.
I'M HERE VERSUS BEING POSTPONED.
THEY HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK ABOUT WHETHER YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED OR NOT.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF THIS, UH, SENDING 85 FEET, EIGHT PEOPLE A THOUSAND A MONTH FOR A YEAR AND PAYING SOMEBODY $150,000 TO SEE IF THEY'RE HAPPY, GIVING ME HOUSE THIS.
THE LONG-TERM RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS NEED TO BE STUDIED A LOT MORE THAN THEY'RE BEING STUDIED RIGHT NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THIS GOES THROUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUREAUCRACY AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE GETTING SO MUCH MONEY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RISE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THIS GAME RIGHT HERE, SHE'S WITH AUSTIN EQUITY OFFICE, SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO BE HERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT SHE'S PATTERNED THESE AFTER THE RISE FINE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS AND STUDY IT, THERE'S NO WAY IT'S GOING TO COME OUT.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT? UH, WE HAVEN'T CALLED THAT WAS JUST TO SPEAK.
ALL THE SPEAKERS COMING TO PARTICIPATE, COLLEAGUES.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, LAID BACK UP AND ITEMS 10 13, 18, 19 23 31 32 33 41 42 43, 44, 47, 52 53 54.
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
CONSENT AGENDA, UH, TODAY AGAIN IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 26 AND 55 THROUGH 59.THE PULLED ITEMS ARE ITEMS FIVE 16 AND 23.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE DAYS I PRO 10.
HAVE A COMMENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN TRY AND ADDRESS THE EXTRA NOISE WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND I APOLOGIZE.
I JUST WASN'T SURE IF YOU GUYS COULD HEAR IT OVER THERE, WE HEAR IT.
HEY, WHAT IS THE PHONE STILL IS THE PHONE.
UM, SINCE SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T HEAR EACH OTHER, UM, GOOD MORNING.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS RELATED TO AUSTIN WATERS EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO OUR RECENT WATER BOIL EVENTS.
UM, WELL WE CONTINUE TO AWAIT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDIT.
UM, ITEM FOUR, LAYS OUT SOME STEPS BY THE UTILITY TO INVEST IN MODERNIZING SOFTWARE, TO FACILITATE PLANT OPERATOR TRAINING, AND TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL PLANT, UM, SUPERVISORS AND PLAQUE TECHNICIANS ON, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US KNOW THAT THE UTILITY IS TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE SUCH AN EVENT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, UH, APPRECIATE OUR STAFF, UM, AND THE WORK OF THE AUSTIN WATER, UH, COMMITTEE AND ITS CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER HER ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD, UM, TO CONTINUE TO ACTION, TO ADDRESS PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE UTILITY.
[01:10:01]
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND WANTING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO ITEM 59, WHICH IS ABOUT FOOD ACCESS AND TRANSIT, AND WANT TO FIRST GIVE A STRONG THANK YOU TO ST.EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, THE CIVIC SLAB, AND PROFESSOR.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU REMEMBER.
UM, I THINK MAYBE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, OR MAYBE IT WAS LAST MONTH, TIME'S A LITTLE BLURRY NOW.
UM, THE STUDENTS CAME BEFORE US AND THEY PROPOSED A, THEY DREW ATTENTION TO THE FOOD DISPARITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THAT WE HAVE, UH, ZIP CODES IN AREAS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A NEARBY GROCERY STORE.
AND SO THEY DREW ATTENTION TO THAT NEED, BUT ALSO HAD A POLICY SOLUTION FOR US TO CONSIDER.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO SPOTLIGHT THAT OUR, OUR YOUNG LEADERS ARE HAVING A SAY IN PUBLIC POLICY THAT THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE AND IMPACT CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO ITEM 59 IS JUST THAT IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING FOOD ACCESS WITH TRANSPORTATION.
IT WOULD BE US AS A CITY COUNCIL, ENCOURAGING CAP METRO TO UPDATE THEIR MAPS AND APP WITH INFORMATION ON WHERE BUS RIDERS CAN, CAN GO AND STOP FOR, FOR HEALTHY FOOD AND ENSURING THAT FOLKS ARE PREPARED WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
AND SO TO ME, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN REDUCING BARRIERS TO FOOD ACCESS.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN DO AND SHOULD BE DOING, INCLUDING INCREASING FREQUENCY, UH, BUS, ROUTE FREQUENCIES TO, UH, TO GROCERY STORES.
UH, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT, IN THAT EFFORT.
AND SO AGAIN, JUST WANT TO THINK, UH, OUR CIVIC SLASH ST.
EDWARD'S STUDENTS FOR, FOR STEPPING UP FOR ADVOCATING AND FOR BEING PART OF THIS POLICY CHANGE.
UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE MEETING, I HAD A MOTION SHEET THAT WAS PASSED OUT AND POSTED IN REGARDS TO ITEM 59.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR OF THAT RESOLUTION COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR ACCEPTING THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR THE RECORD.
I'D LIKE TO READ MY MOTION SHEET THAT WAS ACCEPTED EARLIER.
IT SAYS I MOVED TO A MEDLINE 52, READ STRIKE THROUGH THE WORD AND ADD TO INCLUDE A MAP OF ALL AUSTIN AREA SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PROGRAMS. AND THEN IT JUST ADDS ON TO WHAT WAS THERE THAT ONE HAS HAD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
FOOD ACCESS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN HAVE BEEN LEAVING PARTS OF OUR CITY WITHOUT ACCESS TO FOOD ITEMS AND OPTIONS.
YOUR ITEM REALLY SPEAKS TO THESE FOOD DISPARITIES LIKE YOU MENTIONED, AND FOR THAT, I'M THANKFUL I BROUGHT FORWARD THAT AMENDMENT TO YOUR RESOLUTION FROM MY OWN PERSONAL LIVED EXPERIENCE, AS I AM WELL AWARE FROM LIVING, GROWING UP AS A STUDENT WHO UTILIZED FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH MEAL PROGRAMS, THE EFFECTS OF FOOD INSECURITY ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SPILL INTO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES, INCLUDING TIME SPENT AT SCHOOL WORK AND THEIR OVERALL HEALTH INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN FOOD DESERTS TEND TO HAVE LOWER LEVELS OF EDUCATION, EARN LOWER INCOMES AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED.
I READ A REPORT RECENTLY AND WITH SUMMER APPROACHING, THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 15 MILLION CHILDREN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, LIVING IN FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS WHO WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO DAILY LUNCHES THEY RECEIVE AT SCHOOL AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD WILL LOW WAGES.
UM, AS FOR ITEM 16, POSTPONEMENT, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR AGREEING TO POSTPONE THE ITEM.
AS I LAID OUT ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD, THERE ARE PARTS OF THE ITEM THAT HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN TO BE ANSWERED.
AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT ADEQUATE TIME TO SPEAK WITH CITY STAFF ABOUT THE METRICS, OUTCOMES AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO US WITH THIS ITEM.
WE DO OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROCESS BEFORE VOTING.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION YET THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR ONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, KENDRA POINT.
THIS MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON SECONDS.
IT SAYS AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 26, 55 THROUGH 59 WITH PULLED ITEMS, UH, BEING, UH, UH, FIVE 16 AND 23 TO TAKE A VOTE.
AND THEN JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING CAN CLARIFY THAT 33 IS NOT A CONSENT ITEM, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE NOT TAKING UP THAT VOTE AT THIS, NOT TAKING THAT UP.
MY HOPE IS WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE UP ALL THE OTHER NON ZONING CASES BEFORE NOON WE'RE ON PACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.
YEAH, I JUST HAD VERY QUICKLY WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR THE ITEM THAT HE'S BROUGHT FORWARD TO TO FURTHER CLARIFY
[01:15:01]
THE TENANT RELOCATION, AS YOU SAID EARLIER THIS MORNING, UM, I BELIEVE THE TENANT RELOCATION ORDINANCE COVERS EXACTLY THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ARTICULATED HERE TODAY OR IN THE RESOLUTION WE'RE ABOUT TO PASS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THAT CLARIFICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER INTO RIO, YOU REALLY SAID IT WELL IN TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE NEED.
WE NEED DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE TENANT RELOCATION ORDINANCE AND TO WORK WITH THEIR TENANTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE NOTICE THEY NEED AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SAFELY SITUATE THEMSELVES IN OTHER, IN OTHER HOUSING.
UM, DURING A TIME OF, OF REDEVELOPMENT, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO CALL MY COLLEAGUES' ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET, UM, QUESTION NUMBER 31 THAT I SUBMITTED AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH REMINDED THE STAFF THAT WE HAD FUNDED.
UM, WHAT FOR $165,000 A TENANT RELOCATION NEXUS STUDY, WE REALLY NEED TO DO THE TENANT RELOCATION NEXUS STUDY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT DEVELOPERS WHO, UM, NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE RELOCATION COSTS, UM, ARE HELD.
SO, AND WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T MAKE PROGRESS IN CERTAIN OF THESE AREAS UNTIL WE HAVE THAT NEXUS STUDY DONE BECAUSE WE NEED, UM, THAT IS THAT'S THE STUDY THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR US TO HAVE THAT POTENTIAL TENANT RELOCATION DEVELOPER FEE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE LET US KNOW THE RESPONSE AT THAT TIME IN JULY SAID THERE WAS NO TIMELINE TO BRING FORWARD AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ADD THE DEVELOPER FEE, UM, THAT SICK 165,000 REMAINS IN THE BUDGET, OR AT LEAST DID AS OF JULY.
UH, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO, WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT AND, AND GET THAT WORK MOVING.
SO PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED FURTHER, FURTHER ACTION FROM COUNCIL OR IF THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF, OF GETTING IT DONE, UM, AT THE STAFF LEVEL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN, OH, SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.
AND, UH, YOUR OFFICE, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, ASHLEY RICHARDSON FOR HELPING US WITH THE PROCEDURAL HURDLES INVOLVED IN GETTING AN ITEM ON CONSOLE.
I BELIEVE THIS IS MY FIRST ITEM AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME IT'S A, IT'S A STRUGGLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LEARNING A NEW, UH, PROCEDURES, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT EXACTLY THE DETAILS ARE, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICE.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 57 IS, UM, FIELD ENGINEERING ROTATION LIST APPROVALS FOR SOME OF THE BOND MEASURES FROM 20 16, 28 AND 18 AND 2020.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ROUTINELY BRINGING US THOSE NEXT PHASES OF CONTRACTS AND DILIGENTLY WORKING THROUGH THEIR PROJECT LISTS.
I'M ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF AUSTIN WATER, ADDING ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.
SOME OF US WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GO AND TOUR THE ORRICK TREATMENT PLANT A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR CHAIR FONTEZ OF THE WATER OVERSIGHT UTILITY COMMITTEE THAT WAS REALLY ENLIGHTENING AND ENGAGING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO SEE IT FIRSTHAND AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESSES THAT TAKE PLACE FOR WATER TREATMENT.
I'M ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF ITEM NUMBER 58, THE TENANT RELOCATION ITEM.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGELY IMPACTFUL TO SO MANY AUSTINITES AND ALSO FOR ITEM 59 ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY.
I KNOW WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LACK OF NOT ONLY ACCESS TO FOOD, BUT SOMETIMES HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POINT IS DOING ON THAT.
GREAT, THANK YOU GUYS, WHEREVER AT THE, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, ST EDWARD'S STUDENTS.
UH, WE, UH, WHEN WE REDID ALL THE LINES AND, UH, CAPITAL METRO ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, UH, WE MADE SURE THAT, UH, SOME OF OUR SENIORS THAT HAVE DIRECT ROUTES TO THE STORES, BASICALLY HEB AND FIESTA, AND OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE IS THAT WE NEVER DID ADVERTISE IT, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT NOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PUT EMPHASIS ON AND BECAUSE OF THE STUDENTS AND COMING TO US AND MAKING NOT ONLY A PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO A SOLUTION, UH, I I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THEM FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE COUNCIL.
AND WE HEARD YOU AND, UM, ME AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE MENTAL BOARD WHERE WE WILL PREACH THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE BECOMES A REALITY, INCLUDING DIFFERENT OTHER DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
SO THANK YOU JUST TO JUMP ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN, UM, THE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
ALMOST ALWAYS, IT ENDS UP WITH, WITH, WITH GOOD IDEAS COMING FORWARD.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE STUDENTS HERE WITH US TODAY
[01:20:01]
FROM THE LAB.DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM ALL BECAUSE DON'T HAVE THEIR T-SHIRTS, BUT I HAVE, I HAVE, I HAVE MINE ON, BUT IF THE STUDENTS WOULD STAND UP JUST FOR A SECOND, UH, REALLY GOOD WORK.
WE HAVE THE CONSENT ITEMS IN FRONT OF US HAD BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF.
WE HAVE A LITTLE UNDER A HALF AN HOUR, UH, TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THIS.
I THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE HER KITCHEN.
UH, I LIKE, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER THREE TO JUNE 9TH.
I'M GOING TO CALL THESE ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER.
I'M GOING TO, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'M GOING TO CALL ITEM 33 SO WE CAN POSTPONE THAT IN MY CAR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
SO YOU CAN ASK A QUICK QUESTION.
SO IF STAFF WOULD BE READY TO DO THAT, PLEASE WE'LL HIT THEN, UH, ITEM NUMBER 27, ITEM NUMBER 28.
THAT'LL GET US INTO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THEN THE ANNEXATION ITEM 32.
AND I THINK WE CAN HANDLE ALL THOSE THINGS BY NOON.
[33. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-2, Subchapter E, Section 4.3 relating to Vertical Mixed Use buildings. Strategic Outcome(s): Economic Opportunity and Affordability]
COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN MOVES TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 33 TO JUNE 9TH.IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON SECONDS THEN? UM, I THINK IT ALSO, AS WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, WE'RE POSTING THE ITEM FOR ACTION TO JUNE 9TH, BUT WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, A WORK SESSION IN COUNCIL, POTENTIALLY FOR THE 17TH AND 19TH FOR DISCUSSION ONLY NO ACTION, UH, SO THAT, UH, WE CAN AT THE WORK SESSION, TALK WITH EACH OTHER.
AND SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPTION OF INVITING THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK AS WELL.
UM, UH, ON THE 19TH, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, DISCUSSION ON THE QUESTION OF POSTPONEMENT AS THE KITCHEN YOU MADE THE MOTION.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH HER? WELL, WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY, SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T GO INTO GREAT DETAIL.
I DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY FOR THE, UM, UH, COMMITMENT TO, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE COMMITMENT TO, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT OUR QUARTERS ARE THE PLACE FOR ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM AND THE TIME TO, UH, TO GET IT RIGHT.
AND TO THE TIME EXPEDITIOUSLY, I SHOULD SAY, UH, WE WANT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO, UM, TO GET IT RIGHT.
AND TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH ALL THE VARIOUS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WHO ARE, UM, PART OF THIS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AT THIS POINT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE DISCUSSION THAT WOULD BE FOR THE PUBLIC ON THE 19TH, UM, BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A FULL DICE AGAIN ON THE 19TH, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S TO BE PUSHED THERE AND WE'LL HAVE AN SMP.
WE ARE GOING TO EVALUATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO SEPARATE THAT HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT WE CAN REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
BUT AT THIS POINT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT IS ON THAT AGENDA.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE MEETING.
IF THE 19TH MEETING BECOMES SUCH THAT WE DON'T THINK WE CAN REALLY, UM, SPEND THE TIME WE NEED TO, TO HEAR, TO HEAR THE, HEAR THE COMMUNITY, UM, AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
AND WE ARE GOING, CAN DO OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
IT WAS JUST, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE POSTPONED IT, WE SET AT LEAST ONE TIME.
UM, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A SMP AND WE KEEP POSTPONING THINGS TO THE 19TH.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S, I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S ON THAT.
UM, AT THAT POINT, I THINK, UH, CLARIFICATION.
SO THE, UH, ITEM 33 WILL BE ON THE WORK SESSION FOR THE 17TH, BUT NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 19TH.
IT COULD BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 19TH, BUT IF IT WAS, IT WOULD BE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY, NOT FOR ACTION.
SO AS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT IDEAS THAT HAVE SURFACED OR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ON THE SEVEN 15, AND IN ORDER TO, TO FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION.
UM, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO, UH, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD, PRE-FILE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WRITING THE ORDINANCE ON THE DIOCESE AND WE EITHER, THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WE GET TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER'S WORK.
AND, AND SO THERE'S SOME TRANSPARENCY AND, AND TO FACILITATE THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.
UH, AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE WHERE, KIND OF WHAT COUNCIL IS THEIR PRACTICE ON A, ON A LARGE ITEM LIKE THIS, THAT HAS KIND OF DIFFERENT PROVISIONS.
AND ALSO I SPOKE TO, UH, AND MORGAN THE OTHER DAY, AND I WANT
[01:25:01]
LEGAL TO ALSO HAVE A TIME TO VET AND TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE US GUIDANCE AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHAT CHANGES WE NEED TO BE MADE IN.SO WE HAVE, UH, ON INSTANCES, UH, ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, UH, UH, UM, IN SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE SAID WE'LL CONSIDER FIRST THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRE-FILED THAT PEOPLE CAN, CAN, CAN SEE, UH, WE HAVE YET TO, TO RULE OUT ANYONE'S AMENDMENT.
THAT WAS NOT, UH PRE-FILE, UH, BUT NOT TO HAVE THE SAME, UH, PRIORITY AS I LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE SHAPING UP.
I THINK, UH, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO SURFACE AS EARLY AS WE CAN TO EVERYONE IN THAT SENSE IS I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS WE'RE WORKING ON.
UH, WE'LL COME BACK TOGETHER AS A GROUP ON THE 17TH.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE 17TH TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE COMING BACK WITH.
SO TO THE DEGREE THAT PEOPLE CAN START POSTING STUFF ON THE MESSAGE THE WEEK BEFORE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE FOR LEGAL, TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO SPEAK TO SO THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER ON TUESDAY, THE 17TH TO DISCUSS THIS, UH, UH, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SEEN.
SO I JOINED WITH YOU AND IN, IN, IN URGING THAT CERTAINLY THE COUNCIL COULD TAKE MORE FORMAL ACTION IT'S WITHIN OUR POWERS TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON EITHER 17TH OR THE 19TH, WHICH WOULD THEN HAVE LIKE ANOTHER TWO WEEK PERIOD OF TIME.
WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IF WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION ON THE DIED.
MAYBE ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD TALK ABOUT ON THE 17TH IS HOW WE BEST APPROACH THE ACTUAL DAY OF THE NIGHT ITSELF.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY FOR DISCUSSION THE EARLIER WE POST MAKES SENSE TO ME, TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING KIDS OVER AT THE AREA.
AND, UH, I, I SEE THE CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE ON OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
LIKE I S I SEE CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ON CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DISASTROUS STORMS AND SEVERE, YOU KNOW, UH, CHANGES IN OUR CLIMATE.
AND, UH, IT'S THE SAME THING AS HOUSING.
IF WE JUST KEEP ON DISCUSSING THIS OVER AND OVER, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS, WELL, GOING ON EIGHT YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
AND WE'RE SEEING NOW THAT, UH, OUR AVERAGE COST OF A HOUSE, IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS, IT'S GETTING TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, WE IT'S, IT'S JUST 600,000 TO $700,000.
AND WE'RE HAVING APARTMENTS THAT THE AVERAGE APARTMENT IS $1,900.
I MEAN, I HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT HERE ON IN AUSTIN.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE TEAMING UP AND GETTING A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT JUST SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN.
AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING VERY FOOD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT SITUATION WHERE ONLY MILLIONAIRES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE IN THIS TOWN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, WE RECEIVED SOME, UH, CLARIFICATION REQUESTS FROM STAFF.
AND, UM, I THINK FOR THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE, I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR LAID OUT WITH RESPECT TO, UM, THE 19TH OR A SPECIAL HEARING, IF THE 19TH IS TWO FULL ADDRESSES, THE FIRST QUESTION, UM, THE THIRD OBSERVATION HAD TO DO WITH NOTIFICATION IMPACTS.
UM, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE TO NOTIFY BY NEWSPAPER, UM, FOUR WEEKS OUT, UM, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT LIKELY ON JUNE 9TH, WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO TAKE UP ITEMS THAT HAD TO DO WITH, UM, VMU.
UM, AND THE CHAPTER THAT WE, I THINK IT'S 4.3.
UM, AND IF ANYTHING, SURFACES FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT GOES BEYOND THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, UM, WHICH DEPENDING ON THE TIMING AND HOW QUICKLY ANYTHING COULD GO TOGETHER, UM, MAY TAKE US BEYOND THAT FOR ITEMS THAT GO BEYOND, UM, BME.
THAT'S JUST THE INTERPRETATION THAT I'M HEARD FROM THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS, THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS EXPECTED IN TERMS OF STAFFING FROM STAFF TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO VARY FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TO COUNCIL MEMBER AS THEY, AS THEY GO THROUGH.
UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE JUST ASK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO BE JUDICIOUS IN WHAT THAT, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING AND THAT UNDERSTANDING
[01:30:01]
THAT TIME INTENSIVE THINGS LIKE FULLY MAPPING OUT THINGS BY THE 17TH MAY NOT HAPPEN EASILY, DEPENDING ON HOW DIFFICULT THEY ARE FOR STAFF TO DO.UM, BUT THAT WE WILL TRY TO MEET EVERYONE'S NEEDS.
AND THEN IF IT BECOMES BURDENSOME, THEN THAT WILL BE RAISED TO US.
AND WE WILL TRY TO ADDRESS HOW TO HANDLE TOO MANY, TOO MANY REQUESTS SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA ASK.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT IF IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, THAT STAFF RAISES IT, UM, WITH US, AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN TRY TO ADDRESS IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
UM, IF IT, IF IT BECOMES TOO MUCH, UM, I'M NOT ANTICIPATING, IT WILL BE TOO MUCH, BUT I, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT STAFF HAD A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS ITEM ON THE WORK SESSION FOR MAY 3RD.
SO IF STAFF IS FEELING THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES, THEY CAN RAISE THEM WITH US, OR IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DAYLIGHT SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK SHOULD ALREADY BE IN THE HOPPER AND THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AS WELL.
THE ONE, I THINK, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CLARIFICATION.
I UNDERSTAND FROM STAFF THAT IT MAY BE THAT THE ADU, UM, RESPONSE, UM, HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE INITIATION PROCESS.
IF THAT'S COMING BACK TO US, THEN THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON BRINGING IT BACK.
THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IS NOT GOING TO BE READY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THAT POINT.
SO YOU DON'T NEED TO NOTICE FOR THAT.
UM, THAT MIGHT BE THE SUBJECT OF AN IFC ON THAT DAY TO, TO APPEND TO THAT WORK, WHATEVER AGREEMENTS WE'VE MADE ON, LIKE THE
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST NOTICING ON THE BMU TWO AND POTENTIALLY THE ADU WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HOPPER, MADISON, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POINT, THIS COUNCIL MEMBER.
I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME TOO.
I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO, BECAUSE I ALSO AGREE WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
UM, SO I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO PUT A TIME CERTAIN ON WHEN WE'RE GOING TO VOTE, BECAUSE IT STILL FEELS AMBIGUOUS.
I WILL BE VOTING ON THE NIGHTS, DEFINITELY VOTING ON THE NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I, I DO THINK, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UM, STAFF SUPPORT IN REGARDING THE WAYS WE GAINED, ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT'S POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER CREATING EITHER MATERIALS OR SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS, OR BLURBS FOR US TO SEND IN OUR NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE MUS, WHAT THE DESIGNATION ENTAILS, WHAT OCCUR, HOW IT CURRENTLY STANDS, UH, TO HELP US FACILITATE THOSE ENGAGEMENTS WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I SEE A DIRECTOR, TULIP IS NODDING, SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
UM, AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND I ARE GOING TO BE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, FOR OUR SOUTH AUSTIN COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'LL BE SURE TO SHARE MORE DETAILS AS WE FINALIZE THE DATE AND TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR, UH, THE, UM, THE EFFORT THAT COUNCILMAN
I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS PLANS TO DO A TOWN HALL IN HER AREA, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE VARIOUS, UH, MANY OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.
SO JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, UH, WE, THE, MY MOTION WAS TO PUT THIS ON THE JUNE 9TH, UH, AGENDA FOR, FOR ACTIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON FOR ACTION ON JUNE 9TH THAT, UH, FOR DISCUSSED.
AND WHAT WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS DISCUSSION ON MAY 17TH AND POTENTIALLY MAY 19TH WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IS AS THE MAYOR PRO TIM MENTIONED, IS THAT WE NEED THAT WE NEED SPECIFIC TIME TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO IF MAY 19 IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR THAT, WE MAY HAVE TO DO A SPECIAL CALL OR SOMETHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SET UP A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT'S NOT ONE MINUTE EACH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LONGER SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK TO US, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AS WE PROCEED.
SO, AND THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL, POTENTIALLY.
AND I'VE ALSO ASKED FOR IT TO BE PUT ON THE WORK SESSION FOR THE, WHATEVER THAT DAY IS THE THIRD.
UH, SO IT'D BE ANOTHER STOPPING OFF POINT JUST FOR, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DAYLIGHT STUFF.
UH, AND THEN IN TERMS OF BREADTH OF THIS, I THINK THE CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT THAT WE'RE FOCUSED THIS EFFORT ON CORRIDORS, UH, AND, UH, UM, UH, THAT MIGHT BE SERVE AS KIND
[01:35:01]
OF A NARROWING DOWN TO FOCUS EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, UH, MAY PROTECH.YEAH, I WANTED TO JUST EMPHASIZE THAT POINT, IS THAT NEW FOR ME, THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A CONVERSATION ABOUT VMU, IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU DO ON THE CORRIDORS, BUT LIKE ACTUALLY ON THE CORRIDOR IS NOT FIVE BLOCKS IN NOT TWO BLOCKS IN, BUT ON THE CORRIDORS TO ADD DENSITY, THAT'S TIED TO AFFORDABILITY.
UM, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT THE MAYOR AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE AT THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A FULLER COUNCIL TO HAVE A MORE EXPANDED CONVERSATION.
AND, AND ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, I THINK, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE REALIZED AS I'VE TRIED TO, TO THINK ABOUT A WAY FORWARD, UM, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE ENGAGED ON THE VMU CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED IS THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY STRICTLY WHAT WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH ON THE CORRIDOR.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN, UM, DISTRACTED, UM, BY ATTEMPTS TO GO FURTHER IN FROM THE CORRIDORS, UM, AND THAT HAS MADE IT HARD FOR US TO, TO, UM, REALLY ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION ON, ON THE CORRIDORS.
UM, AND SO THAT IS WHY, YOU KNOW, VMU CAN BE VOTED ON AND DO NINTH, BUT NOTHING ELSE CAN REALLY BE VOTED ON UNTIL IT'S NOTICED.
AND WE GO THROUGH SORT OF A LONGER, A LONGER PROCESS, AND WE MAY NOT GET TO ANY SORT OF RESOLUTION.
WE STILL WAITING FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
UM, BUT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL WOULD BE POTENTIALLY HELPFUL ON THE CORRIDORS.
UM, AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT WERE WILDLY, UM, DIFFERENT, UM, IN SOME OF OUR EXPECTATIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY, SINCE WE'RE STARTING FROM DIFFERENT ZONING PLACES, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE, UM, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT'S HOW THAT, THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS.
AND I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT COUNCIL MENDER KITCHEN DID, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS PART OF THE GROUP ON THE VMU TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MODELS ONE WAY THAT YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT, THAT BROADER CONVERSATION, BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN THE ONE THAT WE'VE HAD.
AND I THINK IT'S A PLACE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF CONSENSUS AND AGREEMENT.
UM, AND I THINK IT WILL ALLOW US TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE CAN WORK, UM, AT THAT CONSENSUS POINT, BECAUSE I THINK WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE DENSITY ON THE CORRIDORS, BUT THAT WE WANT TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT CAPTURES, UM, THE AFFORDABILITY OPPORTUNITIES AND IS RESPECTFUL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES OFF THE CORRIDOR AS WELL.
AND I AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, OR HAVEN'T HAD REALLY YET FOCUSED THIS WAY, UH, UM, FOCUSED ON CORRIDORS MOSTLY, UH, ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM IS POTENTIALLY THAT INTERSECT.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT IT JUST TO AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS BECAUSE I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME CHANGES WE COULD MAKE, NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE THAT WE DO ASSOCIATE WITH AFFORDABILITY.
SO WE STILL PROVIDE THE INCENTIVE THAT HAD AGREEMENT, UH, AS I RECALL FROM, UH, THE, UH, THE WORKING GROUP AND, UH, UM, MR. DUNCAN'S WORK AND OTHERS THAT, THAT MIGHT RELATE TO THOSE OTHER SITUATIONS.
SO I ALLOW FOR THAT TO BE, UH, PRESENTED AS WELL WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER ON THE 17TH, THAT'S OVER.
CAN I ASK YOU TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST SAID? I'M NOT SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS WITHIN, ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT QUARTERS? ARE YOU TALKING AND THE ONLY CORRIDORS ONLY QUARTERS THAT'S THE, UH, FILTER, I THINK WE'VE AGREED TO DO.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT FOCUS ON CORRIDORS.
WHAT I SAID WAS NOT NECESSARILY JUST AFFORDABILITY ON CORRIDORS BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, SOME COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS RIGHT NOW THAT I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
UM, THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, I THINK A LIMIT HEIGHT ON CORRIDORS TO 30 FEET FROM LIKE 25 FEET TO 50 FEET AND 40 FEET FROM 50 FEET TO THE 75 FEET.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE, BUT I KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME CONSENSUS TO CONSIDER GOING FROM 30 TO 35 OR 40 TO 45 IN THOSE, I DON'T KNOW.
UH, BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TIED TO AFFORDABILITY, BUT SOMETHING I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHILE WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE WHAT I THINK, I HEAR YOU SAYING YOU ARE RAISING FOR CONSIDERATION, I'M GOING TO SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE AFFORDABILITY IS JUST SO OVERLY GENERAL AT THIS POINT.
UM, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS WITHIN THAT AS WELL AS COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COULD BE COMPATIBILITY.
I MEAN, THOSE WERE THE THINGS THAT I THINK WERE WERE GENERATED, BUT THE FOCUS IS ON JUST
[01:40:01]
IMPACTS OR CHANGES IN, IN, IN USE ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THE CORRIDOR.UM, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT WANT TO SEE IT MOVE MUCH QUICKER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, JUST SO THERE'S A SET EXPECTATION OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY.
BUT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT IN ABOUT 10 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH MORE ROBUST NETWORK OF LIGHT RAIL, METRO, RAPID BUSES, BIKE LANES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
OTHERWISE I WOULD HATE TO IMAGINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE SKYROCKETING COST OF HOUSING AND HOUSING AVAILABILITY ALL OVER THE CITY.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN PRETTY GOOD DEPTH ON TUESDAY, BUT WE DEFINITELY FEEL THE URGENCY OF TRYING TO TACKLE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR MIND ALSO ON THE LONG-TERM THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE NOW COULD TAKE YEARS TO BE FULLY REALIZED AS PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND REALLY GET THROUGH, UM, BUILDING THE HOUSING THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY ON OUR MIND THAT WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND WE NEED TO MAKE THEM, UM, IN A TIMELY FASHION.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE TRY TO RUN THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA COUNTS MEMBER KITCHEN, THE VOTE TO DO ON 33? UH, SO, UH, JUST ONE VERY QUICK THING.
WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON THE SUBSTANCE.
OUR VOTE IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW IS THE POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE NINE.
UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE SAID, LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, AND, UM, WE'LL NEED SOME CLARITY AROUND THAT BECAUSE I THERE'S A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND I WANT TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP THE CHANGES TO THE V PROGRAM.
I WANT TO GET THOSE THINGS RESOLVED AS WE ALSO TEE UP THE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DYE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF, LET'S CALL UP THE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE CAN DO WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICK YOUR QUESTIONS ARE REALLY FAST.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVO CALL UP PIPE NUMBER FIVE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO START BY MOVING APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND TO APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FIVE? I NEED A SECOND CAST.
IT ALSO IS KIND OF A PASS THROUGH FOR THE SECURITY AT BREAST SQUARE AT THE BREAST SQUARE MUSEUMS. WE HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF FUNDING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FOR OUR PUBLIC RESTROOM MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING, UM, EARLY, EARLY ON THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE WAS THROUGH THEIR PID.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT PAYING FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR, UM, OF OUR TEMPORARY RESTROOMS. SO IT'S TAKEN A WHILE AND I HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN TO THE BOTTOM OF WHY AND HOW THE FUNDING HAS SHIFTED THROUGHOUT THIS, BUT I AM, I AM JUST RAISING FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, NOTICE THAT I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BREAST SQUARE, EITHER THE BREAST SQUARE SECURITY AND ONE OF THE RESTROOMS OR BOTH WE HAVE PAID FOR THAT TYPICALLY OUT OF, OR AT LEAST IN PART OF THIS PERIOD OF TIME THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER BUDGET.
I BELIEVE WE'VE ALSO USED HISTORIC, UM, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES TO PAY FOR THE SECURITY AT THE BREAST SQUARE MUSEUM, SINCE THOSE ARE HISTORIC ASSETS AND THEY ARE PRIMARILY SERVING VISITORS.
I GUESS MY QUESTION TO STAFF IS FROM WHAT SOURCE OF FUNDING IS THIS COMING? I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT, I DON'T, I BELIEVE I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT COMING FROM EITHER ONE OF THOSE SOURCES ANYMORE.
WE DO HAVE STAFF FROM OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT THEY ARE VIRTUAL.
AND SO IF YOU CAN MOVE OVER DR.
HOLT GRAB AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, PART OF IT IS A LEGAL RESPONSE THAT, THAT WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HAVE HERE, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT SOURCE OF FUNDING ARE WE USING FOR THE BREAST SQUARE SECURITY AND FOR, UM, THE REST OF THE PUBLIC RESTROOM MAINTENANCE, PLEASE.
AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
AND THAT IS, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME, I'VE HEARD FROM BOARD MEMBERS OF THE BREAST SQUARE MUSEUMS AND OTHERS THAT THEY REALLY REQUIRE 24 7 SECURITY.
AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE 24 7 SECURITY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS SECURITY IS JUST WHAT
[01:45:01]
WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING, WHICH IS NOT 24 7 SECURITY.AND SO MY QUESTION IS WHETHER WE KNOW WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE IN TERMS OF SECURITY UM, THERE WE GO.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR EDD, KIMBERLY MCNEALY SERVING AS A DIRECTOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, UH, I CAN FOR YOU, UH, COUNSEL, I CAN DEFINITELY PULL A WEEK OUR SAFETY OR INCIDENT REPORTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU VERY SPECIFIC INFORMATION, BUT ANECDOTALLY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THAT PARTICULAR, UH, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THAT PARTICULAR SPACE, THAT THERE ARE SOME POOR CHOICES THAT ARE MADE BY INDIVIDUALS INCLUSIVE OF, UM, CHOOSING PUBLIC URINATION, PUBLIC DEPRECATION, UM, OTHER BEHAVIORS THAT COULD, COULD NO ARE NOT DESIRABLE OR COULD BE LOOKED AS UNFAVORABLE.
UH, THE, THE SECURITY THAT WE HAVE IN THE EVENING FOR THE SEVEN DAYS OF WEEK HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE AND HAS ALSO HELPED DETER SOME OF THOSE BEHAVIORS FROM HAPPENING.
SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES, WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, WHEN THE SUN IS STILL OUT, THAT COULD CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL, FROM ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
HOWEVER, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, I WOULDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
ALL I HAVE, IS IT ANECDOTALLY, I DIDN'T PULL THE ACTUAL INCIDENTS, BUT CERTAINLY I COULD PROVIDE THAT OR BETTER, UM, FOR BETTER ANALYSIS.
AND THIS FALLS WITHIN MY DISTRICT, I MET MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT THE ISSUE AND I, I BROKEN MY MICROPHONE, MY APOLOGIES.
UM, I ALSO DON'T HAVE RECENT INCIDENT REPORTS.
I HAVE INCIDENT REPORTS A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT I DO, I, MY, MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THIS PROBABLY IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY STILL.
AND SO, SO MANAGER, I THINK MY I'M NOT SURE IF PDD IS ON AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON ANYWAY, BUT LET ME SAY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW WE'RE FUNDING THIS ITEM, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE'RE FUNDING IT.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE, UM, SHIFTED TO BACK TO THE FUNDING SOURCES ORIGINALLY WAS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE MECHANISM IS FOR DOING THAT AFTER WE PASS IT HERE TODAY, WHICH I'M PREPARED TO DO.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH BREAST SQUARE MUSEUMS ABOUT THEIR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE HAD INITIALLY IDENTIFIED IS AN APPROPRIATE ONE.
SO, UM, WHAT I ASSUME THAT THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE THROUGH A BUDGET, THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UM, ON OUR, ON A SUBSEQUENT AGENDA, IS THAT THE MECHANISM, IF WE'RE ABLE TO SHIFT THE FUNDING SOURCE, SINCE ONE'S NOT, SINCE ONE'S NOT IDENTIFIED IN THE BACKUP, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT, OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN.
AND WE CAN JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AT WORK SESSION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MECHANISM IS WHEN THERE'S NOT A FUNDING SOURCE SPECIFIED IN THE BACKUP.
WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY APPROVING THAT FUNDING SOURCE SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET OUR STAFF ONLINE AND WE'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND DETERMINE WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS COULD BE REGARDING THE FUNDING SOURCE.
AND IF WE CAN GET IT STRAIGHTENED OUT, I'M HAPPY TO BRING BACK A IFC OR TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO BRING IT FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
TAKE A BOAT THAT KNOWS AND FAVOR ITEM FIVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED NONE OF US ON THE DICE COUNCIL EVER PULL OFF.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO THROUGH THESE OTHER ISSUES.
[27. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Section 2-1-206 relating to the Joint Sustainability Committee to increase membership and include consideration of the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Sponsors: Audit and Finance Committee]
ITEM NUMBER 27, AN ITEM FROM THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE CONCERNING JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP.IT'S TO BROADEN THAT A MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, I MOVE APPROVAL.
AND THEN WHEN I HAVE A SECOND, I CAN, IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POINT THIS SECONDS, GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER
SO FOLKS MAY RECALL THAT DURING OUR DISCUSSION OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, UM, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS, UM, TO BE CONSIDERED WAS TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AND TO, UM, GRANT IT THE ABILITY TO OVERSEE THE CLIMATE PLAN, UM, OR HAVE AS PART OF ITS, UM, UH, ITS REMIT TO LOOK AFTER THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UM, SO THE PROPOSED BYLAWS THAT THOUGHT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, UM, REVIEWED AND IS PASSING ON FOR THE FULL COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION ARE TWO CHANGES TO THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
THEY INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP, UM, IN EXPANDING ITS REPRESENTATION, UM, PER THAT RESOLUTION, WHICH I THINK WAS THE ADOPTION OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
THEN AFC RECOMMENDS THE ADOPTION OF THE BI-LO BYLAW AMENDMENTS AS POSTED AND THE APPROVAL AND ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE RELATED SECTION OF CITY CODE TO REFLECT THOSE UPDATES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID TALK ABOUT, UM, MAYOR THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, KIND OF MAKE A BROAD CHANGE, BUT PERHAPS
[01:50:01]
IN THE INTERIM, SINCE YOU WILL BE MAKING SEVERAL OF THESE APPOINTMENTS WAS A DESIRE FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE MORE NOTICE FROM YOU OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN, UM, HAVE SOME MORE TIME TO VET THEM, OR IF WE WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH AN APPOINTMENT TO PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE.UM, SO INFORMALLY I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD PLEASE CONSIDER TWO WEEKS NOTICE ON THESE APPOINTMENTS AND, AND POSTING THEM, UM, TO THE MESSAGE BOARD SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THEM AS WELL.
I BELIEVE THAT AS PART OF THANK YOU.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING OUT WITH THE CLERK IF WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A, A GENERAL, UH, PART OF OUR, UM, PROCEDURES IN SOME WAY.
UM, AND THEN I WILL JUST, UM, SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE POSITIONS IS TO BE FILLED BY THE HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
UM, SO THEY WILL BE POTENTIALLY INTERVIEWING FOLKS AND CAN ASSIST YOU, UM, AT, I THINK YOU'RE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
SO, UM, YOU MAY PROCEED HOW YOU LIKE ON THAT, BUT THEY ARE YOUR APPOINTMENTS TO NOMINATE.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL, UM, OBVIOUSLY HAS TO APPOINT THEM OFFICIALLY.
AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC POSTING THE NAMES IS THE SAME IN BOTH.
UM, LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ACCOUNTS FROM POOL OFF THE DIETS COLLEAGUES.
[28. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings for the Circuit 811 Transmission Electric Line Upgrade Project from Justin Lane Substation to McNeil Lane Substation for the public use of providing reliable, safe electricity service, which requires acquisition of real property rights consisting of a permanent electric transmission and distribution easement containing approximately 8,466 square feet of land, and a temporary construction easement containing approximately 26,835 square feet of land, being a part of Lot A, Lordstone, a subdivision recorded in a plat in Volume 85, Page 57D, in Travis County, Texas in the amount of $307,277. The owner of the property is CSW 10601 North Lamar, LP. The property is located at 10601 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78753. The general route of the project is along the east side of North Lamar from HWY 183 to the McNeil Substation. Strategic Outcome(s): Government That Works for All. District(s): District 4]
UH, IS THERE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER 28, WHICH IS A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM, UH, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL LOST AND AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS ITEM 28 FOR THIS CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES DESCRIBED THERE IN A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, UM, TOPO MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER VELA SECONDS THAT MOTION ANY DISCUSSION.IT WAS VERY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED ANANYMOUS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, OFF THE DIOCESE
[32. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance relating to the full-purpose annexation of approximately 24.2 acres located in Travis County near 13217 Old San Antonio Road, and ratify an agreement with the owner of the land for the provision of services. Case number: C7a-2022-0003. The property is currently in limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 5. Strategic Outcome(s): Government that Woks for A]
ITEM.NUMBER 32 IS THE ANNEXATION NEAR OLD SAN ANTONIO ROAD.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY THE, BY CASPER VALLA AND THE DISCUSSION CAN THROW A KITCHEN.
UM, I UNDERSTAND HIS PROPERTY RELATES TO, UM, THE WORK OF TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND I JUST WANT TO WELCOME THEM TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY GET TO THAT POINT, IT'LL BE A WELCOME ADDITION, UH, OF SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
THOSE OPPOSED GENETICISTS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF THE DIETS, I GUESS IS THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
THERE WERE TWO SPEAKERS THAT HAD SIGNED UP FOR THIS, AND WE SHOULD HAVE RECESS THE COUNSELOR MEETING CONVENED, AND THEN COME BACK AGAIN.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT, BUT I'M ON A CALL WITH UP THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION NOW, SO THAT THOSE TWO SPEAKERS HAVE A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO I'M GOING TO RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 1203.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AGENDA HERE ON, UH, ON, UH, APRIL 21ST, 2022, UH, TIME 1203.THE DIRECTORS ARE ALL HERE EXCEPT FOR DIRECTOR A POOL WHO IS A OFF THE DIETS THIS WEEK ON A TRIP THAT WAS DELAYED BY A COVID.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE ALL PRESENT.
UH, SO WE HAVE WELL OVER A QUORUM.
UH, YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE SPEAKERS.
CAN WE TURN ON THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? HELLO, YOUR HONOR.
I'M THE ACTING HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
THE FIRST IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST TWO HFC BOARD MEETINGS.
THE SECOND ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION GRANT OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE AMOUNT OF $41 MILLION.
THE THIRD ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 21, 20 22 SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF $41 MILLION.
THIS IS A, THESE ARE SISTER, UH, ITEMS TO THE ITEM NUMBER 20 ON THE CITY OF ACCOUNT CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND I OFFER ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS ON CONSENT.
NUMBER 20 WAS PASSED EARLIER TODAY IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS? YES, WE HAVE TO.
JOSHUA ALINGER THEY'RE IN PERSON OR THEY SHOULD BE IN PERSON.
THEY'VE SIGNED UP IN PERSON AS MR. ALINGER HERE TO SPEAK.
AND SYNOVIA, JOSEPH IS JOSEPH, AND THIS WAS MY FAULT TODAY, CAUSE I FAILED TO CALL FOR BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
[01:55:01]
TO CALL UP THOSE THOUSAND FINANCE CORPORATE SPEAKERS IN THE MORNING, MS. JOSEPH, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL I'M ZENOBIA JOSEPH.MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE $41 MILLION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $171.9 MILLION FOR AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AS IT RELATES TO THE $300 MILLION FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIFICALLY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER LSI, JUST WANT TO ASK RESPECTFULLY THAT YOU STOPPED BEING COMPLICIT IN THE DISCRIMINATION THAT'S OCCURRING IN AUSTIN.
SO MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN HISTORY MATTERS.
AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2019 COUNCIL ACTUALLY VOTED TO REZONE THE EAST RIVERSIDE BLUE LINE CORRIDOR.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2019, HEATHER WAY, UH, THE UT LAW PROFESSOR ACTUALLY SAID THAT YOU DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE ITEMS THAT THEY GAVE YOU THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE UPROOTED REPORT.
SO I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, THE ORANGE LINE SOUTH OF NORTH LAMAR, SPECIFICALLY HIGH PARK WAS EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE PEOPLE.
COLONEL MONROE'S SHIPE DEVELOPED THAT AREA IN 1890 TO 1924, OVER A 34 YEAR PERIOD.
AND SO THIS COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY CONTINUING THE WORK OF COLONEL MONROE.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GET TO THE GOLD LINE, THE RED LINE, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE HIGHLAND, HIGHLAND VILLAGES, THE ONLY AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT THERE IT'S 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME AFRICAN-AMERICANS EARNED APPROXIMATELY $42,000.
AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $55,000 FOR 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AS WELL THAT THE STREETS ARE NAMED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THE NEGRO ORPHANAGE.
THAT WAS ONCE THERE, I WAS THERE YESTERDAY, GOING TO THE, A NEW PERMIT BUILDING WILAMENA DEL CO JACOB FONTANE, AND MANY OTHERS ARE THERE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ONE BLACK PERSON.
WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THE CAMPUS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS REALLY A SMOKE SCREEN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL GLADLY ANSWER THE METHODIST TIME, BUT WE ARE WOKE MAYOR AND SEGREGATING.
THE CITY IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
ANYBODY ELSE TO SPEAK? THAT'S ALL WE HAD SIGNED UP HERE.
GREAT COLLEAGUES OR BACK, UH, DIRECTORS.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? ONE THROUGH THREE COUNCILMEMBER RENT? THE RHEA MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON SECONDS.
MARIA MAKES THE MOTION DIRECTOR, UPPER MADISON SECONDS.
AND THE DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS, UM, VICE PRESIDENT ALTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME YOU HAD SAID THAT ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA, WE WERE NOT TAKING UP ITEM 30, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, BUT IS OUR PUBLIC FINANCE CORPORATION THAT WE SET UP AT A PRIOR MEETING.
UM, I WANTED TO CHECK WHY THAT ONE WAS WITHDRAWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS WE JUST DID NOT GET ALL THE PAPERWORK NECESSARY FOR US TO ACTUALLY FORM THE CORPORATION.
SO STATUS ASKED FOR A DELAY SO THEY CAN GET THE FINAL PAPERWORK SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN ACTUALLY FORM THE ENTITY.
UH, THERE'S SOME MATERIAL FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE WE NEED FIRST.
AND SECOND, DID THE CONSENT AGENDA LIKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED ANONYMOUS ON THE DYES WITH DIRECTOR POOL ABSENT.
I THINK THAT IS ALL OF OUR ITEMS, COLLEAGUES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE ZONING CASES.
SO WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO TO, UM, UH, UH, PUBLIC, UM, COMMUNICATION.
UM, AND THEN AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WE WILL, UH, UH, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN RECONVENE OUT HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK FOR, UH, FOR SPEAKERS.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE, THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THEN WE GET TO ENJOY, GET TO ENJOY SOME MUSIC.
LET'S SEE HOW MUCH TIME WE'RE MORE TIME IT IS WHEN WE GET THROUGH THESE, UH, ITEMS. BUT
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 3)]
WE'LL BEGIN NOW WITH, UH, UH, SPEAKERS.UH, DO YOU WANT TO CALL THE SPEAKERS? YES, MAYOR THE FIRST UP IS COREY SATTERWHITE MAYER.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, SINCE THE GANG'S ALL HERE, ARE WE MEETING IN THE EXECUTIVE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM OR WE'RE DOING THIS VIRTUALLY? UH, IT DEPENDS ON PEOPLE'S COMFORT LEVEL.
IF PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH US MEETING IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM, WE COULD GO DO THAT.
[02:00:01]
RETICENT TO DO THAT? WE'LL MEET IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN.I JUST WANT AN ACTUAL BREAK FOR LUNCH AT SOME POINT.
LET'S DO THE SPEAKERS THEN WE'LL DO THE TIME.
UH, AND MAYOR, UM, JUST TO ADD TO THAT, IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO EAT DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF WE COULD DO LUNCH QUICKLY AND FIRST AND THEN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET'S DO THE SPEAKERS THEN WE'LL DO GO HIT THE TIMING.
SO THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, YOU SPOKE ABOUT NOBODY IN THE CITY SHOULD FACE DISCRIMINATION ON THE SPOT ITSELF.
AND I SAY, OH, JOHN, I WAS GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THAT.
AND I CAME, WHEN I SPOKE ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE ACADEMY.
SOME WOULD BREAK DOWN THE SERIES OF EVENTS.
SO YOU SEE WHERE I'M COMING FROM? I WAS FIRED BEFORE I GOT HIRED IN THE ACADEMY.
SO I GOT THE JOB AND THEY ATE.
WE GOT STOPPED AT TIME REAL QUICK.
I DON'T TAKE OFFENSE TO IT, SIR.
CAUSE I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO DO SO THAT YOU'RE OFFICIALLY A RECORD HERE.
I AM ADJOURNING THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE AT, UH, 1211.
I AM CONVENING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IF I FAILED TO DO THAT, UH, HERE ON, UH, I STILL, UH, APRIL 21ST, 2022 TIME, 12, 11.
UH, EVERYONE IS HERE EXCEPT FOR, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, WHO IS, UH, OFF THE DAYAS, UH, ON A TRIP THAT WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER OF WENT THIS OFF THE DICE RIGHT NOW, SIR.
SO MY JOURNEY IN THE ACADEMY, I GOT THE JOB AND THEN WHEN THEY GOT DEFUNDED, WE HAD TO WAIT.
I'M WORKING MY OTHER JOB AND WAITING.
AND I GOT AN EMAIL SAYING I'VE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO I CALLED THEY DIDN'T PICK UP.
I SENT THE EMAIL, THEY REACHED BACK OUT TO ME AND THEY SAID, HEY, YOU'VE BEEN DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE YOU WERE ARRESTED.
YOU HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH A COP.
THIS DANIELLE, YOU SUPPOSED TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.
SO I'M PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED, BUT LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I NEVER BEEN ARRESTED IN MY LIFE.
HE HUNG UP THE PHONE FOR 15 MINUTES AND HE CALLED ME BACK.
HE SAID, THERE WAS A PERSON WITH YOUR EXACT SAME NAME, COREY SATTERWHITE.
THERE WAS THE PERSON WITH THE EXACT SAME NAME.
SO I WAS PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED, BUT A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR CAUSE SOMEBODY WITH MY EXACT SAME NAME, WHICH I KNOW IS A LIE WAS ARRESTED, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.
EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS, I WAS PULLED ASIDE BECAUSE MY LAST NAME, I GOT THE BIGGEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY IN THIS CITY.
SO EVERY TIME I ALWAYS GOT PULLED TO THE SIDE TO SAY, HEY, THEY'RE GOING TO TARGET YOU BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY BE COOL THAT I JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN.
AND WHEN I WAS IN A CLASSROOM, I WAS CONSTANTLY PULLED OUT OF CLASS, CONSTANTLY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, WHATEVER HAVE ME OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
THEY HAD ME TAKE MY SHOES OFF AND CHECK MY SHOES TO SEE IF THERE'S A PHONE IN IT.
NO OTHER CADET WAS PULLED OUT OF CLASS FOR THAT.
THEY SEARCHED ME LIKE I'M A CRIMINAL.
SO WHEN IT COMES TIME TO GET TASED, I KNOW ALL CADETS GOTTA GET TASED.
EVERYBODY GETTING TASED, THEY CRYING, WHATEVER.
I'M LOOKING AT THE INSTRUCTORS.
CAUSE I KNOW THEY DON'T LIKE ME.
THEY CONSTANTLY PULLING ME OUT OF CLASS.
IT'S TWO CADETS THAT HOLDS YOU ONE HERE, ONE HERE.
THEY LAY YOU DOWN AFTER AND THEY PULLED THE PRONGS OUT YOUR BACK.
I DON'T MAKE NO MOTION, NO NOTHING.
I AIN'T GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT SENSE OF THAT.
SO THEY PUT ME DOWN AND THE OFFICER SAID, WAIT, DON'T TAKE THE PRONGS OUT HIS BACK.
IN WHICH CASE I SAID, HEY, HOLD ON.
HE SAID, NAH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
AND THEN HE STARTED TO SPEAK TO THE CADETS AND THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
AND THEN HE PROCEEDED TO TASE ME AGAIN.
RIGHT? THE SECOND TIME HE TASED ME, NO OTHER CADET GOT TASED TWICE, BUT ME.
SO THE SECOND TIME THAT I GOT TASED THAT'S ASSAULT, BUT WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO CALL THE COPS? THE COPS, THE ONES THAT DID THAT.
I GOT TASED TWICE THAT HURT THAT AIN'T LIKE GETTING HIT WITH A WATER BALLOON.
RIGHT? SO AT THE END, ALL THAT I GET TERMINATED BECAUSE I DIDN'T PUT ON MY APPLICATION THAT I WAS ROBBED BY THE POLICE AT GUNPOINT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT THAT ON MY APPLICATION.
SO MY RECOLLECTION, YOU SAID YOU, YOU CAME TO US BEFORE, AS I RECALL MANAGER, I TURNED TO YOU THEN AND SAID, CAN SOMEBODY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? CAN, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THIS IS? THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL.
AND, AND I'VE ASKED NOW MY HR DIRECTOR TO FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONVERSATION HAPPENS.
SO WE'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU, SIR.
I KNOW NEXT UP IS GAVINO FERNANDEZ.
[02:05:03]
OKAY.NEXT SPEAKER, BENJAMIN ALFORD ALFORD.
ALL RIGHT, MISS YOU OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CALLING IN REMOTELY, FRANCISCA.
AKUNA JANINE, WOULD YOU PLEASE GO OUTSIDE? SEE IF THEY'RE THERE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME, SO WE MAY NEED TO COME BACK.
SO I THINK THAT ALL WE HAVE POTENTIALLY IS A BENJAMIN ALFORD AND MS. RIGHT? THAT'S OKAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER OF WINTERS.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY TO THANK THE COUNCIL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, WE WE'RE, WE'RE FROM THE CIVICS LAB AT ST.
WE'RE A PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
AND SO WE'RE JUST VERY EXCITED TO HAVE GOTTEN, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK.
WE WANTED TO THANK THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, UH, GABA.
WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY, UM, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY'VE DONE WITH US.
AND OF COURSE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE HELPED US THROUGH THIS, UM, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING ON SIMILAR PROJECTS IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS.
I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE HARD PART IN ALL OF THESE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION.
SO DON'T, DON'T DON'T THINK LIKE TODAY'S VOTE.
GOT YOU THERE STAY, STAY ON, STAY WITH US.
UH, ARE WE ABLE TO GET TO THE, UH, PROMOTED SPEAKERS? WE HAVE JUST ANOTHER SECOND MORE.
WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, COLLEAGUES LET'S TALK, UH, SCHEDULE, IS IT ONE OR TWO SPEAKERS THAT ARE REMOTE IT'S NOW TO TWO SPEAKERS THAT ARE REMOTE.
SO WE SHOULD BE DONE LIKE 1230, UM, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WANT TO, WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? IF WE, UM, 1230, UH, IN, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO, UH, TO DISCUSS WILL BE ITEM 34, UH, WHICH IS A REAL ESTATE, UH, ISSUE ITEM 35, WHICH IS AN OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUE AND ITEM 16, UH, AND, UH, WHICH IS THE, UH, UH, GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT AND ITEM 23, WHICH IS THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION ISSUE.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO DO IT IN PERSON AND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM, AND SOME OF OUR PRESENTERS WILL BE VIRTUAL THOUGH, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE.
UM, SO, UH, WE'LL PROBABLY BE OUT OF HERE ABOUT 1230.
UH, DO WE WANT TO COME BACK AT ONE OR ONE 30 TO SEE WEEK IS ONE TOO EARLY FOR US TO COME BACK HALF AN HOUR.
SO DO WE MEAN COME BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? UM, I WOULD LIKE 30 MINUTES AND I DON'T CARE WHEN THAT IS.
LET'S COME BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK OR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN DEAL WITH ALL THOSE ISSUES TO GET US THEN INTO, UH, INTO ZONING.
MAYOR THIS MAYOR IT'S THE CLERK.
UM, IF WE CAN TAKE THE TWO, UM, REMOTE SPEAKERS AFTER THE MUSICIAN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND DO THAT.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO COME THROUGH SESSION, SO WE'LL HAVE TO REVISIT LET'S PLAN ON COMING BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ONE 30.
UH, LET'S GO TO MUSIC AND ENJOY MUSIC.
THEN WE'LL HAVE THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS BE GOOD IF WE HAD, UH, UH, AT LEAST SIX OF US ON THE DAY IS FOR THAT.
AND WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND A ONE 30 WE'LL RECONVENE, UH, EXECUTIVE, UH, SESSION,
[02:10:09]
YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN FOR TODAY'S MUSICIAN, UH, AND WE'RE ALL GATHERED HERE TOGETHER.UM, I JUST WANT TO RECALL THAT LAST MEETING, WE HAD A PRETTY CELEBRATORY MOMENT WHERE MUSIC CAME BACK INTO THIS, UH, CHAMBER AND, UH, IN A REALLY SPECIAL, SPECIAL WAY.
UM, UM, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE CAME BACK FROM MUSIC SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND, UH, NANI WAS A, UH, A GREAT CHOICE TO REOPEN THIS CHAMBER WITH, UH, WITH MUSIC.
UM, SUBSEQUENTLY JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, THE, THE NEWS OF THE LEAD SINGER, UH, DANIEL SIDE'S DEATH, I THINK JUST REALLY SHOOK AND ROCKED US ALL.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO INCREDIBLY SAD NEWS, AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR, UM, UH, GO OUT TO, UH, DANIEL'S FAMILY AND TO THE BAND AND TO THE BANDS, UH, COMMUNITY, UM, THERE WAS, UH, AN INCREDIBLE GIFT HE GAVE TO US AND TO THIS PLACE AND TO THE CITY.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
[02:16:14]
UH, WITH US, UH, FROM THE, UH, HORROR CABARET AND GLAM ROCK OF HIS PAST TO HIS CURRENT DARK SYNTH POPS OUT AUSTIN PERFORMER, CALEB TO CASPER ALWAYS BRINGS AN ABSOLUTELY IN YOUR FACE.THE AT-RISK REALITY TO HIS MUSIC AND LIVE SHOWS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED PIANIST AND VOCALIST STALKS THE STAGE AND EVENING GOWNS BONDAGE WHERE VICTORIAN COLLARS AND THE EVER-PRESENT FISH NETS AND HEALS CONFIDENTLY DECLARING THAT MASCULINITY COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS IN AUSTIN TO CASPER FOUND THE SPACE TO FLOURISH AS A QUEER ARTIST THAT HE NEVER FOUND IN HIS HOMETOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA, WANTING TO EXPLORE NEW TERRITORY ON HIS FORTHCOMING DEBUT LP.
FEM BOY, THE ALBUM IS AN ECLECTIC JOURNEY, OFTEN DARK AND BROODING, BUT, BUT CONTRASTED BY HIGH ENERGY AND THEATRICALITY, THE ALBUM'S ROOTS LIE, NOT JUST ON THE DANCE FLOOR, BUT ALSO THE THEATER STAGE, AS WELL AS WITH THE GLAM AND THE K OF OLD HOLLYWOOD, PLEASE, UH, JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE STAGE AT CITY HALL, CAZ, CALEB, THE CASPER
[02:21:54]
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.TELL EVERYBODY GATHERED HERE AND PEOPLE THAT MIGHT LATER BE SEEN AS TELL US ABOUT THE LP AND THE, UH, AND THE A RECORD RELEASE.
I'M JUST IN TIME FOR SOUTH BY IT'S MY FIRST E IT'S CALLED STEM BOY UP AUTHENTIC SIMPLOT.
AND YOU CAN CELEBRATE IT TO RELEASE ON MAY 7TH AT POST-SALE ELEVATORS.
OH, TELL VEGAS AT EAST AUSTIN.
SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO, UH, TO, TO, TO FOLLOW YOU, UH, DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE? YEAH, FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE.
YOU CAN FIND ME ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S JUST MY NAME AND THE HANDLES AND A STREAMING ON SPOTIFY.
AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TO GET YOUR MUSIC, WHERE CAN I FIND IT ON MY BAND CAMP OR ON MY WEBSITE OR A CHICKEN RANCH RECORDS.COM.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WE'RE AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXTEND VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS AND OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE I, STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, APRIL 21ST OF THE YEAR, 2022 AS CALEB, THE CASPER DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[02:25:49]
SO I THINK WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS LEFT HERE IN PUBLIC.MATT, ARE YOU THERE? COMMUNICATION, MATT? ARE YOU THERE? I'M HERE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, BUT NOT QUITE WELL ENOUGH.
SO THEY'RE WORKING UP AT, STAY WITH US.
CAN YOU OKAY? WHERE'S THAT MAYOR? WE'RE DOWN TO ONE SPEAKER AND THAT'S FRANCISCA.
WE CAN ADD A GENTLEMEN STORIES A SECOND AGO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DOVE SPRINGS AND IN THE PAST, I MEAN IN THE 25 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN, I HAVE SEEN CHANGES AND THE INEQUITIES HAPPEN TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO CHECK HERE WHAT MY NEIGHBORS AND I GO THROUGH.
I JUST WANT TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND STEP INTO A FAMILY THAT LIVES IN A FLOOD ZONE AND GETS 30,000 A YEAR.
YOU ARE A FAMILY WITH FOUR CHILDREN AND YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR HOMESTEAD OR MANY OTHER PROGRAMS. YOU'RE YET KEEP YOUR YARD KEEPER A ROOFER, A CLEANER, OR SEND YOUR WIFE HELP TO YOU.
YOUR OR YOUR HUSBAND HELPS YOU WITH YOUR WORK.
YOUR FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED A TRIPLE INCREASE IN FLOOD INSURANCE TAX INCREASE.
LIVING WAGE IS STILL THE SAME.
AND THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP HIGHER.
CHRONIC ILLNESSES ARE STILL HIGH RENTAL STRUGGLES, NEGLECT AND INJUSTICE.
AND WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH FLOODING.
WHEN THE WATER GETS, IT STARTS TO RISE AT NIGHT, YOU FEEL HOPELESS AND THE CITY TELLS YOU, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH WITH THAT? AND HOW DO YOU FEEL, UH, NOW LET'S COME BACK DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
AND IF YOU KEEP UP ZONING OR ALLOWING FOR MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER WITHOUT UPDATING THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, FIRST OFTEN WE'LL BE IN A VERY BAD SHAPE.
I KNOW THE CITY IS TRYING, BUT THEY NEED TO TRY HARDER.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMBINATION OF STORM WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES, WITH HEAVY NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE HEAT FLOODING AND CHRONIC ILLNESSES.
I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE TO HEART YOUR POSITION AND THAT YOU AT BEST YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE NEXT CITY LAND SO THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD FEEL HONORED TO KEEP SUPPORTING YOU IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN YOU DECIDE TO RUN AGAIN, OR YOU DECIDE TO, UH, SET THE MATTER, UM, WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WOULD BE UP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEAK.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPORTING US, UM, IN OUR,
[02:30:01]
IN OUR ISSUES.UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
AND I ASKED THAT WE DO HEAVY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ORDER FOR US TO GET IT RIGHT.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT CONCLUDES ALL WE HAVE HERE? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT COLLEAGUES.
[Executive Session (Part 1 of 2)]
UH, 12, UH, 40, UM, AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP, UH, FOUR ITEMS WHO CONVENED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM AT ONE 30, UH, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5, 5, 1 AND 5 5 1 0 7 2.WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM 34.
UM, REAL PROPERTY QUESTION PURSUANT TO FI SECTION 5, 5, 1 0 7 1, THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 35, 16 AND 23.
IT IS THE GUARANTEED INCOME AND IT IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ISSUE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ONE 30.
UH, WE'LL TRY TO COME BACK OUT AS CLOSE TO TWO AS WE CAN FOR, UH, FOR SPEAKERS.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT MOVES IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO DATE LIKE THOSE FREAKS.
SO THE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS ARE 40 41 42 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 52 AND 52.
SO I MENTIONED THAT IN CASE WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK THAT ALMOST ALL OUR SPEAKERS, BUT TWO ARE PROBABLY ALL ON THE, UH, UM, 11TH STREET, UH, NCCD ISSUE.
[Public Comments (Part 3 of 3)]
UH, IF THE CLERK WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL FIRST, THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON AND THEN, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE, UH, REMOTE.AND AGAIN, WE APOLOGIZE FOR FOLKS WAITING, BUT WE'VE RECESSED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK OUT THERE LATER, BUT WE CUT THAT SHORT SO THAT WE CAN GET BACK OUT TO YOU.
WE DO HAVE ONE TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONE AT 40 41 NATANYA JAMISON AS MS. JAMESON HERE.
I'VE LIVED ON 13TH STREET AND SELENA FOR OVER SIX YEARS.
IN THIS TIME, WE'VE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH LOUD MUSIC AND PARTICULAR BARS ON 12TH STREET, AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING DONE BY IT.
I OPPOSE THE ZONING CHANGES, PROPOSE THAT ALLOW FOR MORE COCKTAIL, LOUNGES AND OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT ON OUR STREET.
WE LIVE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALREADY CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT AND IT'S NOT OKAY.
THERE ARE NORRIS ORDINANCES THAT ARE NOT OBEYED.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO 3 1, 1 HUNDREDS OF TIMES.
THE MUSIC GOES ON PAST 2:00 AM THE BAR WHERE THE MUSIC COMES FROM, DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A MUSIC OR SOUND PERMIT.
AND YET THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUIN QUALITY OF LIFE.
FOR ME AND MY NEIGHBORS, WE HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY MUSIC OFFICE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
THEY PUT UP METERS TO MONITOR THE NOISE DECIBEL LEVELS, BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OR FINES.
WE HAVE PUT A FENCE UP ALL AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR HOUSE TO HELP WITH THE NOISE INSULATION.
WE INSTALLED SOUNDPROOFING IN THE WINDOWS, IN OUR HOUSE, AND YET OUR WALLS STILL SHAKE.
I LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1885.
IT'S A STONE FORTRESS, AND I STILL FEEL IT AT NIGHT AND I CAN'T SLEEP.
THE OTHER VENUES LIKE STUBS DOWNTOWN, WHO DOES HAVE A MUSIC PERMIT, OBEYS THE NOISE ORDINANCES, AND THERE'S THIS CRAPPY BAR IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT A PERMIT, KEEPING US ALL UP AT NIGHT.
IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF YOU ALLOW MORE BARS UP AND DOWN 12TH STREET, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO BE TURNED INTO AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S TRASH IN OUR STREETS FROM THE BARS.
THEIR TRASH RECEPTACLES ARE OVERFLOWING EVERY WEEKEND.
I PICK UP BEER CANS, LIQUOR BOTTLES.
I PICKED UP NEEDLES AND DRUGS ON MY STREET.
THERE ARE DRUNK PEOPLE WHO WE'VE SEEN VANDALIZED CARS ON THE STREET.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE CITY IS LISTENING TO US.
DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS
[02:35:01]
AND SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PURPOSELY KEPT FROM US IN A VERY SNEAKY, DECEITFUL WAY.AND THAT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD EITHER.
I BEG YOU TO FINALLY LISTEN, PLEASE PULL AT LEAST ITEMS FROM DISCUSSION AS WELL AS LAST MINUTE, CHANGES LIKE THIS, AND PLEASE KEEP PUBLIC HEARINGS OPEN SO THAT OUR VOICES CAN BE HEARD.
YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO I WONDER IF THE STAFF CAN KIND OF HELP US, UM, PUT SOME FRAMEWORK AROUND IT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE SPEAKER, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR TESTIMONY CORRECTLY, YOU ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENTS.
TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW, UM, THE 35, THE 3,500 SQUARE FOOT COCKTAIL USE AS CONDITIONAL LONG 12TH.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON'S AMENDMENTS, STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WITH AMENDMENTS.
SO WE HAVE SORT OF THREE SETS OF, OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I JUST WANT TO ASK THE SPEAKERS, IF YOU COULD KIND OF MAKE IT CLEAR AS YOU COME UP, WHAT IF YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, WHICH OF WHERE YOU ALIGN WITH THOSE? THANK YOU, OUR SPEAKER.
AND THEN ALL THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS ARE SPEAKING ON THOSE JOINT ITEMS. 31 53 AND 54.
WE HAVE JOHN COLLIN SUTTLES FOLLOWED BY ERICA SETTLE.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A VERY SIMILAR STORY, BUT JUST KIND OF WANT TO SHARE MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, UH, IN OPPOSITION TO, I GUESS, NATASHA'S CHANGE TO HAVING MORE BARS ON 12TH STREET.
SO I'VE BEEN IN THE HOUSE SIX YEARS.
UM, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CALLED A DOZEN STREET.
I'LL CALL THEM OUT AND NOW OUTER HEAVEN, UM, JUST DOESN'T OBEY ANY SORT OF SOUND PERMITS AND KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT.
LIKE SHE SAID, WE SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON SOUNDPROOFING AND CALLING 3, 1, 1, I THINK I PULLED THE RECORDS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NOTHING'S HAPPENED.
WE GOT, UM, YEAH, SO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT, 3 1, 1 9 1, 1 WE'VE CALLED AND DEALT WITH ALL OF THEM.
SOUND METERING PROVED THAT LIKE THEY ARE JUST WAY OVER THE SOUND ORDINANCE STATING YOU HAVE SOUND PERMIT.
SO LIKE NET NET, TO ME, IT JUST SEEMS THAT THOSE SYSTEMS AREN'T WORKING, LIKE THEY FALL UNDER YOUR PURVIEW.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FAITH IN THOSE SYSTEMS. ALL FOUR OF THESE OFFICES THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LIKE LISTEN TO US.
SO IT SEEMED LIKE A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO COME AND CHAT WITH YOU GUYS AND HOPE THAT YOU HEAR SOME OF US, I THINK, TALKED TO TONS OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE A VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE NOISE, THERE'S LIKE I'VE BEEN VERBALLY ASSAULTED SOMEONE DRUNK PATRON FROM ONE OF THE BARS, CAME INTO MY FRONT YARD, THREATENING ME LIKE IT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.
LIKE I WAS UP BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC I WAS OUTSIDE, JUST KIND OF PISSED OFF.
SOMEBODY WALKED INTO MY YARD, STARTED THREATENING ME.
I'M GOING TO CALL 9 1, 1, LIKE GET OUTTA HERE, DUDE LEFT, LIKE PICKED UP A ROCK, HUMMED IT INTO A CAR, PICKED UP ANOTHER LIKE BRICK, THREW IT INTO A CAR.
AND LIKE, THIS IS KIND OF A FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T WANT MORE OF THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO AGAIN SAY THAT LIKE, I'M, WELL, I'M FULLY AGAINST IT AND I HOPE YOU, WHATEVER.
I DON'T KNOW THE TERMS. I NEVER BEEN TO CITY COUNCIL.
LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN OUR CITY SYSTEMS, BUT I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHICH SPECIFIC AMENDMENT IT IS, BUT THERE'S SOME PASSION HERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH MORE OF THE PROBLEM.
SO I HOPE THAT WHATEVER THE TERMS ARE FOR, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW, OPENING THIS UP TO MORE COMMENTS, HEARING MORE FROM US AND NOT HAVING MORE BARS AND LESS POSSIBLY THESE OTHER MECHANISMS FOR ENFORCING EXISTING ORDINANCES COULD BE FIXED.
ERIKA SETTLE FOLLOWED BY ERIC STANBRIDGE.
I LIVE IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE, THE NEW, THE AMENDMENTS TO THE 12TH STREET.
AND I AM AGAINST THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE 12TH STREET WITH, I DO NOT WANT MORE BARS AND THE ISSUES THAT THEY BRING AND, YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOME SLEEPLESS NIGHT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAY THIS NEXT THING, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT.
UM, I FEEL LIKE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE REACHED OUT.
WE'VE REACHED OUT BY EMAIL AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED ON 12TH STREET.
AND OUR REQUESTS WERE MET WITH AN, I DON'T KNOW,
[02:40:01]
OR THEY'VE MET, BEEN MET WITH A RADIO SILENCE.SO, UM, NONETHELESS IT'S, YOU KNOW, ON MONDAY THEY, WE DID FIND SOME INFORMATION AND CLEARLY SOME PLANS HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASONS WERE FOR THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT FEELS LIKE OUR CONCERNS, OUR INTERESTS, AND FRANKLY, OUR RIGHT TO KNOW WE'RE BEING DISREGARDED IN THIS LACK OF DISSEMINATION AND INFORMATION.
SO THAT'S ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ERIC STANBRIDGE AND THEN TOBIN LEVY.
UH, I HAVE LIVED ON JUNIPER STREET FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
I'VE WATCHED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BE TRANSFORMED FROM BOARDED UP BUILDINGS AND VACANT LOTS INTO AFFORDABLE HOMES AND THRIVING, SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE BARS, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DECADES, DECADES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT HOW TO TRY AND MAKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER, BETTER, MORE WALKABLE, MORE LIVABLE, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE EVER UNDERSTOOD TO BE NORMAL PROCESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN UNDERMINED BY THIS NCCD CASE.
THIS HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS AND IT ENDED UP BEING AN ONLINE POLL THAT CREATED SOME BAR GRAPHS THAT NOW SAYS THAT EVERY STREET IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE A BAR.
WE HAVE NEVER WANTED THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY TO BE JUST RAMPANT WITH NO RULES.
THE ONLY THING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS TRIED TO DO IS HELP EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT MORE LIVABLE.
WE HAVE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE PRESERVATION, BUT THIS AMENDMENT REPRESENTS RAINY STREET FOR 12TH STREET.
11TH STREET HAS ALL THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A REAL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S MEANINGFUL FOR THE CITY.
THERE IS NO REASON TO ACCEPT THIS MOTION.
PLEASE REJECT THIS MOTION TO THE NCCD CASE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TOBIN LEVY AND THEN AUSTIN BARRY.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS TOBIN LEVY.
UH, I'M AN AUSTIN NATIVE AND I'VE LIVED AND I'VE LIVED IN AND OWNED MY HOME ON NEW YORK AVENUE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
I'M ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF THE EAST 12TH QUARTER IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'M AN ARTIST, A WRITER AND AN EDITOR, AND I SPEND MUCH OF MY FREE TIME VOLUNTEERING FOR AND OR RAISING MONEY ON BEHALF OF LOCAL NONPROFITS.
OVER THE YEARS, THIS HAS INCLUDED CARROT TOSS, THE SAFE ALLIANCE WOMEN IN THEIR WORK, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, FORKLIFT DANCE WORKS HAM, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PRESS URBAN ROOTS AND THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL AMONG OTHERS.
IN ADDITION, I'M A MEMBER OF THE KEELING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AME DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR, AND WHEN NEEDED.
I WORKED THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.
IN SHORT, I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS CITY AND MY COMMUNITY IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I'M WRITING TWO BOOKS THAT I, THAT I LIKE TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ADDITION OF A CONDITIONAL USE OVERLAY THAT WOULD ALLOW BARS WHERE CURRENT ZONING PROHIBITS THEM ON EAST HALL STREET, URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT, AND THE NCCD AREA.
THE CURRENT LAND USE PROHIBITIONS AND SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS REFLECT NOT ONLY YEARS OF HARD WORK BY THE COMMUNITY, THE U R B AND N C C D, BUT ALSO CAN CONCESSIONS AND COMPROMISES ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNITY MADE IN GOOD FAITH TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINS SAFE, FAMILY FRIENDLY AND RESPECTFUL, A RICH CULTURAL AND MUSIC HISTORY.
THAT'S BEEN INTEGRAL TO AUSTIN'S ADVENT AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE COMMUNITY ACQUIESCED TO DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD DELIVER A MIX OF HOUSING, PROFESSIONAL OFFICES AND RETAIL COMMERCIAL SPACES.
WITH THE EXPLICIT UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE SPACES WOULD SERVE THE DAILY UNEQUIVOCAL NEEDS OF THE CITY'S GROWING POPULATION.
ALL PARTIES AGREED UPON, OR THEY AGREED THAT ADDITIONAL BARS, CLUBS, AND LOUD EVENT SPACES DO NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM
[02:45:01]
CONSTITUTE A NEED.DOWNTOWN AUSTIN LITERALLY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BARS PER CAPITA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS DO NOT NEED OR WANT MORE BARS, COCKTAIL, LOUNGES, OR LIVE MUSIC SPOTS.
THE FACT THAT, UH, GIVEN THIS FINDING AND THAT THE PROPOSED OVERLAY WOULD ALLOW FOR SUCH VENUES WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE IRB.
I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHY YOU WOULD CONSIDER A CHANGE THAT HAS SO LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT AND THAT IF APPROVED WILL IRREFUTABLY DAMAGE THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIKE ME LOVE AUSTIN CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND WORK HARD TO KEEP IT KIND, TO KEEP IT A KIND AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF SOMEONE DECIDED TO RECREATE RAINY STREET NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE, HOW COMFORTABLE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT THE SUBSEQUENT NOISE AND TRASH AND PATRONS AFTER A NIGHT OF DRINKING WHO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR AND DRIVE PAST YOUR HOME ON THEIR WAY TO THEIRS, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE WHAT YOU'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.
SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU CONCLUDE, OKAY, SORRY.
UH, LAST THING, WHAT WE NEED AND HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER IS IT TO LEAVE IN PLACE THE PROVISIONS TO KEEP HOMES PERMITTED ON EAST 12TH STREET LEAVE AND PLACED PERMISSIONS AS THEY ARE.
UM, AND NO MORE BARS, CLUBS, LOUD EVENTS SPACES, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD.
BARRY FOLLOWED BY PATRICK CALC.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR WAITING THROUGH THIS COMPLICATED ISSUE AND TAKING THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I GUESS SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO BE THE FIRST IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
UH, MY NAME IS AUSTIN BARRY AND I OWN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1308 ROSEWOOD 13, 10 ROSEWOOD AND 1153 ST.
BERNARD ALL LOCATED WITHIN THE 11TH STREET IN CCD AND CURRENTLY ZONED SUBDISTRICT ONE.
AND SUB-DISTRICT TO THE RECOMMENDATION BY PLANNING COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION TO CREATE A NEW SUBDISTRICT FOR WITHIN THE EAST 11TH STREET IN CCD FOR THESE PROPERTIES WILL RESULT INSIGNIFICANT, DOWNLOADING I'M AGAINST THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO FULLY STATE MY POSITION ON THAT.
I FULLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA, UH, HARBOR MADISON'S MOTION, C STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND URBAN RULE BOARDS, REVISED RECOMMENDATION TO NOT CREATE THAT NEW FORM SUBDISTRICT FOUR WITHIN THE 11TH STREET NCCD.
UM, I WAS INITIALLY A NEUTRAL, BUT SINCE I'M MAYOR PRO TEM AMENDMENT WAS POSTED LATE YESTERDAY, I'M IN OPPOSITION TO ADDITIONAL COCKTAIL COCKTAIL USE.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PATRICK, HOW COMING TO EAST 12TH STREET HOMEOWNER WITHIN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN IN EAST 12TH STREET NCCD AREA FOR ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS.
AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE KILLING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BACK IN THE FALL OF 2021 IN THE CENTRAL EAST CONTACT TEAM.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I TOUCHED BASE WITH YOU ABOUT A HANDFUL OF CHANGES OR POTENTIAL CHANGES THAT REPRESENTS A FAIRLY RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THE TASK OF REGULATORY ALIGNMENT OF THE URP AND NCCD.
THESE CHANGES DO NOT SUPPORT THE VISION FOR A STREET OF EXISTING AND NEW RESIDENTIAL OFFICE AND RETAIL USES ONE CHANGE IN PARTICULAR IMPACTS MY HOME AND MANY OTHERS, UH, SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEX, AND FIRST FLOOR TOWNHOMES USES ARE PROPOSED TO BE PROHIBITED ON A STREET WHERE RESIDENTIAL IS A LONGSTANDING, PERSISTENT AND COMMON USE.
ALL OF THEM ARE CONSISTENT WITH URBAN RURAL PLAN VISION.
ALL OF THEM CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY IN PLACE.
MEANING MAKING ESSENTIALLY SAW AUSTIN IN THIS PORTION OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE HERITAGE DISTRICT.
THEY'RE OCCUPIED BY LONG-TERM AS IN 60 YEARS, HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND NEW NEIGHBORS.
AND IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR USE SHOULD BE DISALLOWED OR JEOPARDIZED IN ANY WAY.
THE ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS URGE TO ENSURE THAT THE LOWER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USES CURRENTLY PERMITTED AND ESTABLISHED ON NEARLY HALF OF THESE 12TH STREET REMAINED FULLY PERMITTED SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEX IN TOWNHOME, THE URBAN RURAL BOARD CREATED A SAVE AND ACCEPT CARVE OUT AND ITS DRAFT DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY WHAT THEY THINK WILL BE CONFORMING STATUS FOR EXISTING USES.
BUT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR HOMES LIKE GOWDY AND YOUR ABILITY TO IMPROVE IT, ENSURE IT AND CONVEY IT TO OTHERS TO REST IN A LINE OR A LINE OR TWO, AND A PLAN THE REGULATORY DOCUMENTS NEED TO ADD SINGLE FAMILY AND OTHER RESIDENTIAL USES BACK INTO THE CHARTS, BOTH IN THE URP AND THE NCCD AS PART OF YOUR MOTION, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR MOTION INSTRUCT STAFF TO INCLUDE SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEX AND TOWNHOME BACK INTO ALL DOCUMENTS.
LAND USE CHARTS, FULLY PERMITTED.
THIS PROCESS BEGAN AS AN ASSIGNMENT FOR THE STAFF AND YOU WILL BE TO ALIGN THE URBAN NEWELL PLAN WITH EACH OF THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET NCCD.
WE HEARD OVER AND OVER THAT THE EAST 12TH STREET NCCD IS NOT CHANGING.
SOMEHOW RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT BY STAFF, TOOK US TO
[02:50:01]
A PLACE WHERE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS ARE POTENTIALLY FACING A HUGE CHANGE.ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WE MET LAST FALL, WE ASKED ABOUT THERE'D BE NO, NO SURPRISES FROM COUNCIL REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE NCCD.
AS I JUST STATED, WE HEARD EAST 12TH STREET, NCCD IS NOT CHANGING.
NOW MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE FACING A LAST MINUTE CHANGE THAT WAS POSTED LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO FOR A TWO YEAR PLUS PROCESS, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ALIGN REGULATORY DOCUMENTS, NOT CHANGE THEM.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE REQUIRES CS ONE ZONING AND IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED ON EAST 12TH STREET EXCEPT THAT 1808 TO 1812.
YET COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON PROPOSES TO PERMIT THIS USE ALONG THE ENTIRE STREET TO ENABLE BARS AND MUSIC VENUES WITH AN EASILY ATTAINABLE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO ALLOW ITS RIGHT AT SEVERAL ADDRESSES IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF EAST 12TH STREET IN CHICAGO, EVEN THOUGH NONE OF LOTS ARE ZONED.
SEE US ONE WHY, AND FOR WHOM WE ASKED FOR BARS NEXT TO OUR FAMILY'S HOMES, CERTAINLY NOT THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, JUST URGE YOU TO PULL THESE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
KEEP THE PUBLIC RECORD OPEN FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.
YOU CAN CLARIFY WHEN THE I'M ALMOST DONE, NCC DRAFTS IS GOING TO BE POSTED AND ITS ENTIRETY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW IT.
HOW'S THIS FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE CONSTITUENTS SHOULD BE ONE.
REMEMBER AT THE RIO, CAN I, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID 60 YEARS TO GO, DO YOU REALIZE 60 YEARS AGO IN THAT AREA, IT WAS A SEGREGATED PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, THERE WAS NO WHITE BUSINESS OWNERS ON THOSE STREET, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A SEGREGATED COMMUNITY WHERE ALL THE BLACKS SLIPPED.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY UNDER THE RULES THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, WHILE WE HAVE TO TECHNICALLY CLOSE THE HEARING, YOU CAN COME AND TALK TO US ANYTIME IT'S ON THE AGENDA BY THE RULES.
UM, SO WE CAN'T ACTUALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE CAN'T ACTUALLY CLOSE THE HEARING IN THE SAME WAY WE COULD BEFORE, AS IT PROCEEDED THROUGH THROUGH READINGS.
THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK EACH TIME.
THIS IS IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR A GUN.
SO
ANY TIME IT'S ON OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION.
THANK YOU, ERIC JANSEN FOLLOWED BY SUSAN OR RINGER.
I'M A LIVE AT 1511 EAST 13TH STREET.
UH, MY PROPERTY IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE, UM, TO THE PROPERTIES ZONED UNDER THE 12TH STREET NCCD.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU ASKED YOU TO SAY WHAT WE'RE FOR AND FOR WHAT WE'RE AGAINST.
UH, SO I'M AGAINST THE RECENT LAST-MINUTE AMENDMENTS, UM, TO PERMIT CONDITIONAL COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE, UH, ALL ON 12TH STREET.
UH, I'M GENERALLY FOR, UM, THE, UH, URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, UM, THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A WHILE, INCLUDING THE ALLOWING THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ALL ALONG, UH, 12TH STREET.
UM, FOR, I THINK THE COUNCIL KNOWS, UM, THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.
UM, BUT THE BRIEF REMINDER OF IT IS THE NCCD.
THE TULSA STREET ZONING WAS STRUCTURED AS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND THE DEVELOPERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON 12TH STREET.
THE CENTRAL IDEA OF THE NCCD, UM, WAS IT, THE HOMEOWNERS, UM, WOULD GIVE UP COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN PLACE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AGREE TO GREATER HEIGHTS AND REDUCE SETBACKS IN EXCHANGE FOR A SET OF COMPATIBLE USES FOR THE PROPERTIES ON 12TH STREET, SUCH AS NO COCKTAIL LOUNGES, NO LIQUOR SALES, NO DRIVE-THROUGHS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER RESTRICTIONS.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT, UM, ON MONDAY THREE DAYS AGO, UM, OR WE, WE HEARD ABOUT THEM THREE DAYS AGO, BUT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE FULL TEXT TILL LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO ARE NOT PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ERB, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE CITY STAFF, OR THE ORGANIZATION, ESSENTIALLY SAUCE AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
THERE'S BEEN A TWO YEAR PROCESS TO ALIGN THESE REGULATORY DOCUMENTS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE CAME FROM.
THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE THOSE VOICES BE HEARD, BUT WHERE WERE THEY PLEASE? DON'T PASS LAST MINUTE CHANGES LIKE THIS ON CONSENT.
THIS IS A C, THIS IS A, THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WANT A LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND YOU'VE HEARD THE NEIGHBORS HERE PASSIONATELY TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH TURNING A STREET WITH, WITH AUTHORIZING BARS AND WE'RE TURNING A STREET POTENTIALLY INTO AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
SO I THINK, UH, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR TIME, SUSAN OR RINGER
[02:55:01]
FOLLOWED BY LEE SHERMAN, I AM SEEKING AN OPPOSITION.SO MY NAME IS SUSAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DAVIS THOMPSON.
AND I LIVE ON EAST 13TH STREET AND MY FAMILY WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY AS THESE ZONING CHANGES.
I AM A MOTHER OF A SPECIAL NEEDS TEAM.
WE CHOSE TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A QUIET, CALM ENVIRONMENT FOR HIM AND PROXIMITY TO HIS THERAPY SERVICES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AS HE TRANSITIONS INTO ADULTHOOD, WE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD OF WORKING FAMILIES, SENIORS, LONGTIME RESIDENTS, AND FOR MEANING YEARS HAVE BEEN CRAVING DEVELOPMENT OF COMPATIBLE SERVICES FOR 12TH STREET, SUCH AS MARKETS.
YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE WALKABLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WANTING, NOT EMPTY LOTS.
UM, AND I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT BARS HAVE TO DO WITH PROVIDING MORE HOUSING.
BUT NOAH THAT I KNOW ON MY SHEET AS ASKING FOR MORE WIRES OR OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUES, IN FACT, WE ARE STRUGGLING NOW WITH THE ONES THAT ARE GRANDFATHERED IN.
THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORS BIGGEST COMPLAINT AND HUNDREDS OF CALLS TO 3, 1, 1 FROM LOUD MUSIC FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY UNTIL TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING, EVEN ON EASTER SUNDAY, THE BASE FROM THESE BARS AND OUTDOOR MUSIC EVENTS CANNOT BE ESCAPED.
EVEN IN DOORS WITH NEW WINDOWS, PUT IN AND SOUNDPROOFING, IT COMES INTO OUR HOUSE AND WAKES UP OUR CHILDREN.
THE CHANGES PROPOSED HAVE BEEN WITH ZERO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OTHER THAN A SURVEY THAT HARDLY ANY NEIGHBORS WERE AWARE OF.
THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY IS ONLY 18% OF PEOPLE WHO FELT IT OUT LISTED THAT BARS AND COCKTAIL, LOUNGES AND OUTDOOR MUSIC AS A PRIORITY.
OUR DISTRICT REP OFFICE DID NOT RELEASE ANY INTENTIONS UNTIL YESTERDAY.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR DETAILS FOR WEEKS.
NONE WERE GIVEN EVEN IN THE TUESDAY WORK SESSION, I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A WONDERFUL, DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.
THERE'S SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LINED UP DOWN 12TH STREET AND ADJOINING STREETS, AND IT'S JUST IS NOT.
PLEASE DO NOT TURN US INTO A RAINY STREET OR RED RIVER.
NONE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WANTING THIS THEY'RE DEVELOPERS AND BAR OWNERS, THEY DON'T LIVE HERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING, PLEASE VOTE.
NO, AND DON'T TURN US INTO RAINY STREET OR RED RIVER, AND PLEASE PULL THE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
DON'T PASS, KEEP OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND STILL STAFF RETURNS FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING AND THAT'S ALL WITHIN TIME.
AND THEN MICHAEL YOUNG COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LEE SHERMAN AND I AM A NATIVE AUSTINITE.
I'VE LIVED, UH, FOR 36 YEARS IN EAST AUSTIN AND 13 AT MY CURRENT ADDRESS ON NEW YORK AVENUE, NEW YORK CON, WHERE WE OWN A MODEST HOME.
UH, I'M A, UM, I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT WITH 14 YEARS AT THE CITY AS A WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER.
AND MY WIFE IS A REGISTERED NURSE AT SETON WHO HAS BEEN SERVING COVID VICTIMS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE TWO AMAZING DAUGHTERS, GEORGIA AND RUBY WHO ARE NINE AND ALMOST SIX IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
OUR HOME BACKS UP TO EAST 12TH STREET.
SO THESE PROPOSED CHANGES DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE IMPACTS.
WE HAVE FOLLOWED THESE CHANGES AND PARTICIPATED IN GOOD FAITH FOR YEARS THROUGH OUR REPS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, CONTACT TEAMS WHO NOBODY REPRESENTED US THROUGH COVID LOCKDOWNS.
THANK YOU, NATE, CLIFTON AND PATRICK, WITH OUR BUSY LIVES, IT'S CHALLENGING TO FOLLOW A TECHNICAL PROCESS DESCRIBED AS RECONCILING AND STREAMLINING URP AND NCCD.
IT GETS EVEN HARDER WHEN LAST MINUTE MAJOR CHANGES ARE PROPOSED THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING TO UNDERSTAND TODAY.
WE'VE BEEN REQUESTING TO SEE ANY CHANGES LIKE THIS WITH TIME TO REVIEW FOR MONTHS AND WERE PROMISED NO SURPRISES.
GIVEN THIS SURPRISE, WE ASKED FOR YOU ALL TO AT LEAST PULL THESE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OPEN FOR A SECOND.
THIRD READING AND CLARIFY WHEN THE NCCD DRAFT IS GOING TO BE POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR US TO REVIEW, WE WORKED HARD ON THIS ISSUE EVEN LAST DECEMBER AND WERE TOLD THE POSTPONEMENT WAS NEEDED TO OBTAIN GREATER COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THIS RESULTED IN A MARCH PUSH POLL AS DESCRIBED BY A STATISTICIAN WHO DEVELOPED SURVEYS WAS THAT POSTPONEMENT ABOUT REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY BETTER.
[03:00:01]
CONSISTENTLY AGAINST EXPANDING BAR AND ALCOHOL USES EVEN IN THE PUSH POLL.ONLY 18% WANTED EXPANDED NIGHTLIFE AND LIKELY VERY FEW OF THOSE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE NOISE.
SO WE BELIEVE WE CAN SUPPORT THE VISION OF A RICH AND VIBRANT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL AND HERITAGE DISTRICT WITHOUT TURNING 12TH STREET INTO A BAR DISTRICT.
AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW.
AND I DON'T REALLY LIKE DOING THIS SORT OF THING.
I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS, UH, MANY OF THEM CAN'T BE HERE DUE TO THEIR SCHEDULES OR HEALTH CONCERNS.
SO THIS IS FOR THEM TO, UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF MY POINTS.
WE DON'T WANT TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT TO MAINTAIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS WHY WE WANT TO KEEP ALL 27 PROHIBITED USES IN THE NCCD PROHIBITED.
WE WANT TO KEEP THE HOMES ON THE STREET FULLY PERMITTED.
WE WANT TO KEEP SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AS THEY ARE.
THEY WERE HIGHLY NEGOTIATED OVER THE YEARS TO BALANCE LATITUDE FOR DEVELOPMENT, WITH GUARD RAILS, TO ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SURROUNDING RESIDENTS, WITH THE PROPOSAL TO ADD BARS AND COCKTAIL LOUNGES AS A CONDITIONAL USE, WHERE ZONING CURRENTLY PROHIBITS, IT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AND READY FOR BATTLE AND PERPETUITY.
AND IF WE FAIL, THEN WE DEAL WITH LOUD MUSIC, LIGHT SHOWS, ALCOHOL DISTRIBUTIONS, DRUNK AND PARTY GOERS.
AND THEN SOMEONE'S QUALITY OF LIFE WOULD BE COMPROMISED.
LIKE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, WE HAVE A EUREKA OWNED PROPERTY DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR HOUSE, AND WE JUST CAN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF NOISE AND SHENANIGANS BACK THERE.
MY CHILDREN GET UP EARLY TO GO TO SCHOOL.
MY WIFE AND I BOTH NEED REST TO CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SENIOR NEIGHBORS WITH HEALTH ISSUES AND THEY NEED THEIR REST TOO.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING US.
I HOPE YOU'LL LISTEN TO OUR WORDS AND CONSIDER ALSO THE EQUITY SIDE OF THIS WITH THIS CHANGE IN PROCESS FLYING THE HYDE PARK IN CCD AND WARNING TO OUR NEIGHBORS ELSEWHERE THAT THIS COULD BE COMING TO YOU BECAUSE WE'RE TOLD CONDITIONAL USES CAN OVERRIDE BASE ZONING.
AND THEN PAM MADARE IS ON DECK.
AND SIR, JUST TO REPEAT ONE MORE TIME SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IF THIS PASSES ON FIRST READING TODAY, THERE WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT ANY FURTHER READINGS.
UM, MY NAME IS MICHAEL YOUNG AND MY WIFE IS ELIZABETH OFFERED AND WE HAVE OWNED A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON 12TH STREET RUNNING FROM NAVASOTA TO SAN BERNARD, WHICH IS IN THE NCCD ZONE.
AND DURING THAT TIME, THIS HAS BEEN OUR PLACE OF WORK.
AND WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF COMMITMENT TO THE REVITALIZATION OF 12TH STREET CORRIDOR.
OUR BUILDING, WE, WE, WE DESIGNED AND OVER THE YEARS HAVE BUILT A 25,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL BUILDING THAT IS FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICES.
AND WE HAVE MADE, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO BUILD A PROJECT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS.
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED PRAGUE PRAGUE, UH, PROJECT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BRING GOOD COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL BE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOOD DEVELOPMENT COULD BE EARLY ON.
UH, I GUESS AROUND 2003, 2004, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WERE ORGANIZED AND MEDIATED BY THE ARA, UH, GOSTIN REVITALIZATION, UH, AUTHORITY AND THESE WELL ATTENDED MEETINGS WITH AS MANY AS 150 STAKEHOLDERS, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE, UH, THEY, UM, WE WOULD HAVE THESE MEETINGS AND WE HAD SO MANY MEETINGS FOR YEARS, YEARS.
THIS HAS GONE ON ABOUT, AND THE FIRST ONES WERE REALLY ABOUT DISCUSSING WHAT WERE THE PROS AND CONS OF PROHIBITED USES AND PROPOSED, UM, USES THAT WERE NOT PROHIBITED.
AND THIS IS AN, AND THIS WAS, UM, IN THESE MEETINGS, ALL THE, ALL THESE NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE ARE WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER.
AND THESE, THESE THINGS, THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THESE WERE HARD.
THESE WERE DIFFICULT PEOPLE, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS THESE HARD THINGS DIFFICULT.
[03:05:01]
A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR LISTENING TO, UH, EACH OTHER'S SIDES OF THESE ISSUES.BUT ONE ISSUE THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED BY EVERYONE WAS NOT TO HAVE BARS ON 12TH STREET.
UM, WHAT EVERYONE FELT WAS A GREAT DEAL OF THE 12TH STREET CORRIDOR IS RESIDENTIAL MORE, A LOT MORE SO THAN COMMERCIAL AND THAT THIS WOULD JUST HAVE SUCH A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT REVITALIZATION OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN CONCLUDE, SIR, YOU CAN, I'M LETTING YOU FINISH YOUR THOUGHT.
I HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU GET THAT.
I, WHAT I PROPOSE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE INVOLVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT THESE ISSUES CAN BE, UH, DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON.
BUT I'M AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER, PAM MCGARRY, AND THEN CARRIE SLATER.
I WAS NOT REGISTERED TO SPEAK ONLY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE IRB AND HARPER MADISON'S MOTION.
REBECCA LEONARD AND GARBO WAS HERE EAT GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, HEARING US TODAY.
I'M FOUNDER OF LIONHEART AND EAST AUSTIN PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM.
WE WERE HIRED A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, TO WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS, UH, GEHL ASSOCIATES ON A FRAMEWORK PLAN FOR EUREKA'S PROPERTIES IN THE AREA.
WE TOOK GREAT PAINS TO DIGEST ALL OF THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS THAT PERTAINED TO THIS AREA, SUCH AS THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND, AND, AND POSITIONS.
THESE PLANS CONSISTENTLY SPEAK TO A DESIRE FOR USES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE AREA.
THEY SPEAK TO AFFORDABLE AND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES AND DESTINATIONS FOR CULTURAL EXPRESSION, LIKE DINING AND DANCING AND MUSIC.
OUR EVOLVING FRAMEWORK WAS BASED ON THOSE THAT URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.
WHEN WE BECAME AWARE THAT THIS PROCESS TO RENEW THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THE NCCD IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, WE WERE ORIGINALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT.
IT WAS EXPLAINED TO US AS COUNCILS EFFORT TO ALIGN THE NCCD WITH THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND GIVEN THE CONFUSING NATURE OF OVERLAYS AND THINGS OVER THERE.
THIS SEEMED LIKE A WONDERFUL STEP TOWARDS PROVIDING CLARITY FOR ALL LANDOWNERS IN THE AREA.
AS THE PROPOSAL CAME THROUGH THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT BEGAN TO DEVIATE FROM THAT COUNCIL DIRECTION AND THE DIRECTION SET FORTH IN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE CONCERNS WITH USES HEIGHT FAR AND BUILDABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE SPECIFICALLY.
AND AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE CS MIXED USE DISTRICT OVER 40% OF THE USES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PERMITTED, UH, OR PERMITTED WITH CONDITIONS WILL BECOME PROHIBITED UNDER THE PROPOSED, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.
ANOTHER 15 TO 20% OF USES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PERMITTED OR, UH, WOULD BE PERMITTED WITH CONDITIONS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, BY RIGHT ABILITY TO DO OVER HALF THE USES WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM LANDOWNERS.
UH, IF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS PASS THE USE IS BEING TAKEN, INCLUDE ESSENTIAL ONES TO DELIVER ON THE VISION OF THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, SUCH AS ALL RESIDENTIAL TYPES, EXCEPT FOR MULTI-FAMILY ALL THOSE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES.
CIVIC USES THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS DAYCARE USES THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE SIX SQUARE CULTURAL DISTRICT, SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, HOTEL, MOTELS, RETAIL, SALES, AND COCKTAIL LOUNGES USES THAT COULD PROVIDE REVENUE FOR HISTORIC HOMES IN THE AREA LIKE MEDICAL OFFICES OR FOOD PREPARATION, AND USES THAT WOULD CLOSE THE GAP ON ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS, SUCH AS COMMUNITY GARDENS AND URBAN FARMS.
[03:10:02]
FURTHERMORE, WE BELIEVE THAT AN AREA LOCATED ON A TRANSIT CORRIDOR SHOULD HAVE NO FURTHER REDUCTION OF HEIGHT FAR OR BUILDABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAN THAT, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THEIR URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.THESE STANDARDS ARE THE CONCLUSION OF DECADES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO CHANGE THEM WOULD WITH LITTLE DISCOURSE WOULD DISRESPECT THAT PROCESS.
WE DO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S MOTION AS DESCRIBED IN HER MESSAGE BOARD THIS WEEK.
COULD I ASK THE SPEAKER A QUESTION? YES, GO AHEAD.
UM, I, A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW IS RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY TO THE, UH, I GUESS IT'S COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE.
AND SO, UM, CAN YOU, DO, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THAT, THAT YOU CAN SHARE? WE, UH, SOME OF, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, CURRENT LEE ALLOWED COCKTAIL LOUNGE SITES ARE ONES THAT YOU RICA DOES OWN.
UM, SO, UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE USE TO HAVE A COCKTAIL LOUNGE ON SOME OF YOUR GUYS' PROPERTY.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE IDEA OF A CULTURAL DISTRICT, THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE PEOPLE WHO COME TO EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE OF THAT PLACE WITH FOOD AND BEVERAGES.
UM, SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO PUT PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE AND WHEN WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE.
BUT AS A USE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, A CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE USE TO ME.
AND IF I COULD ASK ONE LAST MINUTE AND IT, AND I, IF I'M, IF THIS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR YOUR ROLE, THEN FEEL JUST, JUST SAY THAT, AND I CAN ASK IT LATER, BUT, UM, IS THE, UM, IS THE PROPOSAL THAT'S IN FRONT OF US, ALLOWING GREATER USE OF COCKTAIL LOUNGES THAN IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED? I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S, UH, UH, MOTION, UH, WOULD INCLUDE MORE, UH, COCKTAIL LOUNGE THAN WHAT EXISTS TODAY IN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN.
I HAD A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU AS WELL, AND, AND IT, AND THIS TOO, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS, MAYBE BEYOND, UM, THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE, BUT I WONDERED IF YOU COULD REMIND US HOW MANY PROPERTIES ALONG 12TH STREET EUREKA OWNS.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT OFF HAND, UM, IN THIS AREA, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE IN THIS 12TH STREET, UH, NCCD AREA.
I KNOW IT'S, I KNOW THERE ARE PROPERTIES AND OTHER AREAS THAT EUREKA OWNS.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY THEY, THEY OWN ALONG 12TH STREET.
I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER FOR YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER GARBA, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY STACY WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ADLER AND HONORABLE COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I'M A LOCAL RESIDENT HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, AND A FORMER EAST AUSTIN RESIDENT.
UM, I WORK WITH SEVERAL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM MY COMMUNITY, UH, AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND SHARE THEIR VISION, UH, AND JUST WANT TO STATE, WE SUPPORT CITY STAFFS IN THE URP RECOMMENDATION, WE SUPPORT THE ORBEEZ RECOMMENDATION AND VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE VOTE TO APPROVE COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MADISON'S MOTION TO ADOPT THE ERB CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WITH HER PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS.
THANK YOU, STACY WILLIAMS AND THEN CARMELLA GREEN.
Y'ALL I'M STACY WILLIAMS. I WORK IN THE AREA.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS FIRST.
I WANT TO SAY, UM, THAT I I'M IN SUPPORT OF ALLOWING THE COCKTAIL LOUNGES AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR THE AREA.
I DON'T NEED TO GIVE A HISTORY LESSON HERE TO Y'ALL.
I WOULD HOPE, BUT WHAT I'M LISTENING TO IS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING IN.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS, EIGHT YEARS OR SO.
UM, I WANT US TO CONSIDER WHAT AUSTIN IS AS A CITY.
UM, WE ARE THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, ALL THE FANFARE, ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT MAKE AUSTIN SO COOL ARE DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
ONCE UPON A TIME BEFORE ALL THE THINGS HAPPEN THAT MAKE IT NOT THERE ANYMORE, THE WAY THAT THIS COULD WORK AND THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS THIS IS A MAKING, RIGHT.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND PRESERVE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THAT AREA, THEN WE HAVE TO LET IT BE WHAT IT WAS, WHICH IS A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY COULD COME AND GATHER AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC AND ENJOY THE LIBATIONS AND THE RABBLE ROUSING AND THE THINGS OF THE LIKE, WE WANT TO KEEP IT PEACEFUL.
THE THINGS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED HERE ARE NOT A RESULT OF THOSE COCKTAIL LOUNGES BEING THERE.
THOSE ARE INDICATIVE AND INDICATORS OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I HEAR WHEN PEOPLE SAY SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
[03:15:01]
THAT SOUNDS LIKE CODED LANGUAGE TO ME, IF I'M, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, BECAUSE THAT COMMUNITY IS BASED AND ROOTED IN BLACK AND BROWN ARTS AND CULTURE ARTS AND CULTURAL BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, MOM, AND POP SHOPS, THAT MANY OF THEM ARE NO LONGER THERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THAT COMMUNITY WAS BUILT AROUND.THAT'S WHAT AUSTIN WAS BUILT AROUND.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHETHER WE WANT TO ADMIT IT AS A CITY OR NOT.
OUR CITY WAS BUILT ON THE CULTURE THAT IS EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THAT DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.
THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO IS TRY TO RECREATE AND PRESERVE THAT HEART, THAT HERITAGE, THAT SOUL THAT MAKES AUSTIN WEIRD, THAT MAKES AUSTIN THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND TO BE QUITE FRANK, IT IS AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
IT WAS AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR IT'S FOR US TO GO AND LIVE AND BE FREE AND BE AT PEACE AND BE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US OVER THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS.
AND THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN IT AND SUSTAIN IT, JUST WHITE KNUCKLE HOLDING ONTO IT.
I ALSO HEARD SOME PEOPLE THAT CAME UP AND SPOKE TODAY AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOBODY TELLING THEM ANYTHING TO ME THAT AS AN INDICATOR, A GLARING INDICATOR OF THE SEGREGATION WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HAVING ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR YEARS, YOU LAST ANY OF THE BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE, THE BLACK AND BROWN ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THAT AREA.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT COCKTAIL LOUNGES AND REVIVING THAT FOR YEARS AS WELL.
SO MAYBE WE CROSS THE, MAYBE WE CROSS THE LANES AND TALK TO EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND WE WOULDN'T FEEL SO LEFT OUT OF THE LOOP.
BUT THAT CULTURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE INCLUDES COCKTAIL LOUNGES.
THAT'S THE ONLY SPACE IN AUSTIN WHERE EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO COME AND GATHER AND BE TOGETHER AND BE HUMAN.
AND WE MUST, MUST, MUST PRESERVE THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF WHAT NATASHA UPPER MADISON PUT UP.
WE NEED TO ALLOW THIS DISTRICT TO BEGIN AGAIN OF WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND THEN ABBY
MADISON'S MOTION TO ADOPT THE BARBIE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WITH HER PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CARMELA GREEN AND I'M A CURRENT EAST AUSTIN RESIDENT ON 13TH IN CHECON IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 10 YEARS.
THE EAST SIDE IS SPECIAL TO ME AND MANY OTHER BLACK PEOPLE, ARTISTS AND CREATIVES WHO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY.
WE ARE FIGHTING TO PRESERVE THE CULTURAL ARTS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE MUSIC, THE ART AND THE LOCATION THAT SO MANY TRANSPLANTS ENJOY IS BECAUSE OF US.
AND WE WILL NOT BE ERASED DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE NOT IN COMMUNITY WITH US, BUT CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SIDE OF TOWN.
SO MANY OF THEM CLAIM TO BE PROGRESSIVE AND BELIEVE IN EQUITY.
BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHY LIVE IN AN AREA THAT'S KNOWN FOR THE NIGHTLIFE AND ALSO HAS TIES TO THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT AS WELL AS FREEDOM COMMUNITIES.
I'VE SPENT MY TIME ON THE EAST SIDE, ATTENDING HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY AND WORKING WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
I ADORE, SPOKEN TO COUNTLESS COUNT, UH, COUNTLESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS LEADERS.
AND WE ALL HAVE, AND ALL WE HAVE LEFT IS OUR CULTURE.
AND FOR THESE REASONS WE SUPPORT CITY STAFFS AND U R B RECOMMENDATION.
WE SUPPORT THE
THANK YOU, ABBY GIF, ALUM, MAYOR.
THAT'S ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WE HAVE.
SO I'M GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
OH, DO YOU WANT AN ADDITIONAL PERSON HERE THAT THINKS THEY SIGNED UP? WOULD YOU COME ON DOWN TO THE CLERK? MATTHEW I'LL CHILL.
HI, MY NAME IS MATT ALTSCHOOL AND A HOMEOWNER OFF OF RIDGEWAY AND 12TH STREET.
I APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND INCORPORATING THEIR FEET.
THE FEEDBACK FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DID A GOOD JOB, BALANCING ALL THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES.
I ENJOY BEING ABLE TO WALK TO A HANDFUL OF NEW DRINKING SPOTS AND RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE POPPED UP AND THEY'LL PASS TO YOU ON THE 12TH STREET DISTRICT, ME AND ALL MY NEIGHBORS REJOICED.
WHEN BIRDIES OPENED UP IN THAT, WE FINALLY HAD A PLACE WE COULD WALK TO AND SHARE A COCKTAIL AND SOME FOOD.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULDN'T SHUT THE DOOR ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW MORE COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS OR THOSE THAT HAVE A VARIETY OF CAFES, RESTAURANTS, AND BARS THAT APPEAL TO A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES.
IT IS MUCH BETTER TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD, A BAR OR LOUNGE, THEN TO HAVE TO GET IN A CAR AND DRIVE TO THEM DOWNTOWN, MORE PEOPLE WALKING OR BIKING BENEFITS SURROUNDING THAT BUSINESSES
[03:20:01]
DISCOURAGES CRIME AND SUPPORTS OFFERS MOBILITY, CLIMATE AND SAFETY GOALS.COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MADISON'S AMENDMENT ALLOW FOR A DIVERSE MIX OF HOUSING, WHICH IS KEY TO ENCOURAGING AND SUSTAINING A VIBRANT WALKABLE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES UP TO THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THIS CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT CORNER OF TOWN.
I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S MOTIONS FOR ITEMS 31 53 AND 54.
WITH HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
I'M A 22 YEAR RESIDENT OF RETAIL AND CENTRAL EAST AND SERVE AS THE SECRETARY FOR THE CENTRAL EAST NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
SINCE 2019, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE URBN WORK TO ALIGN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN WITH EACH OF THE NCCD AND STREAMLINE THEM FOR GREATER EASE OF USE.
THE IRB SIGNED OFF ON THREE DRAFTS LEFT SPRING AND SENT THEM TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND IT HAS BEEN ABOUT NINE MONTHS OF POSTPONEMENTS TO MAKE IT HERE TODAY.
GIVEN THE DISTRICT ONE MOTION SHEET THAT WAS POSTED LAST NIGHT, OR DUE TO PLEASE PULL ALL THREE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OPEN THE COMPLETE NCCD TEXTS THAT THE URP SIGNED OFF ON HAVE NOT BEEN POSTED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND HOW STAFF EXECUTES, WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU GIVE TODAY OUGHT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ AND COMMENT ON IN A PUBLIC HEARING TO YOU BEFORE YOU VOTE ON SUBSEQUENT AND FINAL READINGS, OCEAN WOULD APPRECIATE PUBLIC, UH, CONFIRMATION THAT MOTION.
A ONE MEANS THAT ALL USE IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED BY AN EAST 12TH STREET.
PROPERTY ZONING SHOULD BE PERMITTED MINUS THE 27 USES PROHIBITED IN THE EAST 12TH STREET NCCD.
THAT IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM THE D ONE OFFICE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE I HAVE THAT RIGHT.
HOWEVER, MOTION EIGHT TWO SAYS THAT A COCKTAIL LOUNGE HAS TO BE PERMITTED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE EAST 12TH STREET NCCD, IRRESPECTIVE OF ZONING.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO ADDRESSES WITH THAT ZONING AND THE NCCD AREA, DOZENS OF HOMES, APARTMENTS, CONDOS, AND A LOT OF VACANT SPACE AND BUILDINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE CS.
ONE, A CUP IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ALLOWING A BAR MUSIC VENUE TO BE ESTABLISHED VIA A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ON LAND WHERE THE BASE ZONING DOESN'T ALLOW COCKTAIL LOUNGE.
YOUTH IS A BIG DEPARTURE WITH BIG IMPACT ON SURROUNDING PROPERTY AND PEOPLE.
WE EXPRESSIVELY PROHIBITED COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE AS A TRAIT FOR RELAXING HEIGHT LIMITS AND SETBACKS ON SHELL.
THIS COMPROMISE TAILORING USES AN EXCHANGE FOR REDUCE WAVE COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS WAS TO BETTER SERVE THE GOALS OF REVITALIZATION ON A CORRIDOR OVER ZONE WITH CSI ZONING.
THAT WAS A HUGE PIECE OF CONSENSUS BUILDING BECAUSE WE COULD ALL IMAGINE A DAY WHEN ACTORS COME ALONG TO DISREGARD THE VISION FOR MIXED USE CORRIDOR WITH ALL TYPES OF HOUSING OFFICES AND DAILY COMMERCIAL SERVICES TO IMPOSE EAST SIXTH STREET MOTION, A TWO WILL UNDO NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY'S WORK, BUT ALSO THAT OF THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD COMMISSIONERS, UM, WHO DON'T, UH, SUPPORT EXPANSION OF ALCOHOL USE PERMISSION.
THEY ENDEAVORED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO EXECUTE YOUR ASSIGNMENT TO SIMPLY ALIGN AND STREAMLINE THE DOCUMENTS, NOT RADICALLY TRANSFORM THEM.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AND ITS IMPACT.
ALCOHOL USES LIKE BARS AND VENUES ARE MORE LUCRATIVE THAN OTHER COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING.
THEY ARE PLACES PEOPLE GO TO BLOW OFF STEAM AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, EXPANDING THAT ACTIVITY WITHOUT HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS.
ONE HAS DURING INDIVIDUAL ZONING CASES WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS STREET IS SQUANDERED AND DOES MORE TO DESTABILIZE AND STABILIZE THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S FAIRLY CANNOT BE THE POINT AND TO A COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOGO'S QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY PROPERTIES DOES EUREKA OWN WITH AN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AREA.
YOU CAN LOOK AT A STATEMENT ARTICLE CALLED BUYING UP THE BLOCK FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND SINCE THEN THEY'VE PROBABLY BOUGHT AT LEAST FIVE MORE AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU AN UPDATED LIST IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE, THANK YOU, MITCH OR RINGER.
HI, MY NAME IS MITCH ORANGE, OR I'M A READ THEIR INTERVIEWS 13TH STREET.
THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHAMPION DISTRICT, SO NO MORE LOUD.
BACKSPACES WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN HEAR OURSELVES.
THINK LET'S MAKE THIS BACK INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE SHOULD BE.
I'M NATE JONES, PRESIDENT OF OCEAN AND THE ORGANIZATION, ESSENTIALLY EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT AN ALIGNMENT PACKAGE
[03:25:01]
FOR THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN IN EAST 11TH AND EAST 12TH STREET, TENNESSEE CPS, WITH THE EFFECT OF PRESERVING CURRENT DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS.THESE REGULATORY DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF COMMUNITY NEGOTIATION AND COMPROMISE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND OR RELAXED SETBACKS THAT ENABLE CORRIDOR PROPERTIES TO MORE EASILY DELIVER A MIX OF RETAIL, HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT COMPLEMENTS THE EXISTING CONTEXT OF HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND CIVIC INSTITUTIONS, RESIDENTS ALONG AND NEARBY EACH STREET GAVE UP STANDARD COMPATIBILITY PROTECTIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR A MORE TAILORED SET OF PERMITTED USES THAT PROMOTE THE SHARED VISION FOR A PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED PLACE TO LIVE AND ACCESS ONE'S DAILY NEEDS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
AND AS TASKED, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO STREAMLINE THESE DOCUMENTS FOR EASE OF USE AND TO ALIGN THEM TO ELIMINATE CONTRADICTIONS.
THEIR DRAFTS ARE CLEAR, MUCH MORE CONCISE AND LARGELY REFLECT THE BOARD'S STATED INTENT TO CARRY FORWARD THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
HOWEVER, THEY DO PROPOSE A FEW SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES AND WE ANTICIPATE OTHERS MAY COME FROM THE DYES AS THEY HAVE.
WE ASK YOU TO ENSURE THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PART OF THE DOCUMENTS YOU ULTIMATELY ADOPTED AS THEY UNDO THE FUNDAMENTAL AGREEMENTS AROUND WHICH THIS COMMUNITY COALESCED.
NUMBER ONE PROHIBITION OF SINGLE FAMILY USE AND RESTRICTION OF CONDOMINIUM, RESIDENTIAL AND TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN THE EAST 12TH STREET MCCD AND ALONG THE SIDE STREETS OF EAST OF THE EAST 11TH STREET NCCD TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHTS VIA DENSITY.
BUT WHEN THIS PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER MEANS THREE EXPANSION OF ALCOHOL-RELATED USE PERMISSIONS, WHERE CURRENTLY THEY ARE PROHIBITED FOR EXPANSION OF USE PERMISSIONS FOR ANY OTHER USES CURRENTLY PROHIBITED OR LIMITED BY THE MCC DS AND FIVE HAVE LIMITED FAR ON LOTS WHERE CURRENTLY FAR IS OTHERWISE SET BY BASE ZONING OR NCCD PROVISION.
THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR TIME AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF OUR REQUESTS.
THEY COME FROM A PLACE OF RESPECT FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE US AND AMONG US WHO MADE SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS TO BALANCE INTERESTS AND PROMOTE A SHARED VISION FOR REVITALIZATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT ARE IN PERSON FIRST, HAROLD MACMILLAN, AND THEN ZENOBIA JOSEPH AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, BOB MARLEY WOULD SAY, I GOT SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY RIGHT NOW AND I WON'T HAVE TIME TO SAY THEM ALL.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO DRILL DOWN ON COUPLE OF THINGS.
UH, FIRST WHAT'S THOSE FOLKS WHO SPOKE.
THEY LIVE A FEW BLOCKS FROM ME.
I RUN A BUSINESS ON CITY PROPERTY ON 11TH STREET.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE ROBERTSON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'VE BEEN DOING ART AND CULTURE WORK IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN FOR THE PAST 30 PLUS YEARS.
UM, I THINK LONGEVITY SHOULD HAVE SOME, UM, BENEFIT.
UM, MY HOLLY MENTIONED THAT THESE FOLKS ARE SPEAKING IN TERMS OF SIX OR EIGHT OR 10 YEARS OF WHATEVER SIX OR EIGHT TO 10 YEARS IS SIGNIFICANT.
UM, BUT PART OF THE SUBTEXT OF A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR, UM, IS ACTUALLY USING THE WORD, PRESERVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IN A REMEDIAL WAY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NOT PRESERVED.
OTHERWISE, A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY WOULDN'T EVEN BE POSSIBLE.
THERE WAS A IMPLICATION THAT THERE WAS SOME SHADINESS, OUR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, UM, POLITICS IS OR PLAY OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO, UH, THESE FOLKS WHO ARE CRITICIZING COUNCILWOMAN HARPER, MADISON ABOUT THE SPEED AT WHICH SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A DOCUMENT TOGETHER.
UM, MY ORGANIZATION, MY NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, ROBERTSON HILL IS SUPPOSEDLY PART OF THE OCEAN AND THAT PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE REPRESENTING OCEAN, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE DIDN'T GET THAT MEMO IN ROBERTSON HILL.
[03:30:03]
ROBINSON HILL IS NOT REPRESENTED IN THAT STATEMENT EXCEPT FOR ONE MEMBER WHO LIVES DOWN THE STREET FROM ME THAT I KNOW, BUT OUR ORGANIZATION DID NOT GET THE HEADS UP THAT GOT FOLKS TO COME UP WITH TESTIMONY THAT WAS SCRIPTED BECAUSE THEY GOT TOGETHER AND PLAN THIS.THEY DID NOT TALK TO OUR ORGANISM.
THIS STUFF REALLY IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO ME.
AND THERE WAS NOT TRANSPARENCY ON THAT.
SO ON SECOND READING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MORE PEOPLE IN HERE.
UM, 12TH STREET IS A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN ROBINSON HILL AND SWEET HILL.
MOSTLY YOU'RE HEARING FROM SWEET HILL, UM, IN CLOSING YEARS AGO AND INTO THIS URBAN RENEWAL PLAN IN THE NCCD, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AT SOME LEVEL AND ALMOST ALL OF IT.
THOSE ARE GREAT PLANNING DOCUMENTS.
SOME OF US HAVE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO ESTABLISH AND ACTUALLY HAVE THE CITY TAKE SERIOUSLY THAT IN TERMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE, THAT'S THE CRADLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE CITY WAS COMPLICIT IN HELPING TO ERASE IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO REESTABLISH THAT WE NEED VENUES THAT HAVE AMENITIES THAT TRACK PEOPLE TO ART CULTURE AND TO DISTRICTS.
THAT DIDN'T MEAN EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET DRUNK AND SHOOT PEOPLE.
WHERE DID THESE PEOPLE GO OUT TO GET A DRINK WITH THEIR DINNER? WHERE DID THEY GO? LISTEN TO MUSIC.
THANK YOU, JOSEPH THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE EAST 11TH AND 12TH AMENDMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UH, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE'S MOTION SHEET.
I ACTUALLY JUST HAVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE IS SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT CIVIC, I'M JUST REQUESTING THAT YOU INCLUDE CULTURAL SERVICES AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO HISTORIC, IT'S LISTED UNDER COMMERCIAL.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ACTUALLY, LET ME JUST READ THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD, UH, INFORMATION, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING, UH, THE URBAN RENEWAL CRAFTED AND RECOMMENDED THE FOLLOWING VISION STATEMENT FOR THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN CHAMPIONS, SUSTAINABLE REVITALIZATION.
IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, ACHIEVING EQUITY AND PRESERVING EAST AUSTIN'S CULTURAL HISTORY.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THAT'S ON THE MOTION SHEET AND IT DOES NOT INCLUDE CULTURE AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE HISTORY, BUT IT DOES HAVE TRANSPORTATION TERMINALS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO TRANSPORTATION, I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION HUBS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WHEN SHE SAYS THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ROUTE SIX ACTUALLY TRAVELS ON 12TH STREET STREET, BUT IT INTERLINES WITH 2 37, WHICH GOES TO COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE AND 3, 3 9 TUSCANY WHERE IT SERVES CRAIG WOOD.
AND SO WHILE THERE MAY BE ROBUST TRANSPORTATION COMING, IT'S NOT ALL IN DISTRICT ONE.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE TWO BUSES RUN ONCE AN HOUR, 60 MINUTES.
THAT'S ABOUT 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL AUSTIN.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING THE HISTORY, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RECOGNITION BEYOND THE MARCH 4TH APOLOGY THAT YOU GAVE US.
UH, I WANT THE, THE CITY MANAGER TO RECOGNIZE THAT I TESTIFIED ON JULY 29TH, 2021.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY YOU HAD BRIAN OAKS SUBMIT A LETTER INTO THE BACKUP TO SAY HE WANTED AN EXTENSION UNTIL JANUARY, 2022.
IF YOU REALLY MEAN ANYTHING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BESIDES EQUITY AD NAUSEUM.
AND I HAVE COINED THE TERM EQUITY ITIS INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH FROM SAYING EQUITY TOO MUCH, THEN YOU CAN PUT IN THIS RESOLUTION IN THE AMENDMENTS SPECIFIC SPACE FOR THE BLACK EMBASSY, IT'S DOABLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT EXCESSIVE HEIGHT IN SUBDISTRICT THREE, WHICH IS
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT MAXIMUM HEIGHT THERE.
[03:35:01]
FOR THE BLACK PEOPLE WHO WERE MOVED THERE IN 1928 THROUGH THE CITY PLAN, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, DESERVE SOME RETRO, SOME TYPE OF RESTORATION, YOU CAN DO IT.AND THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT FOR THE SPIRIT OF ETHOS.
AND WHEN YOU SAID GOODBYE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, AND YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW TOO THAT YOU HAVE INVESTED AT $0 IN THE EAST SIDE FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU HAVE AN AVERSION OF BLACK PEOPLE, BUT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A GOOD HEART AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY INCLUDING THE BLACK EMBASSY ON THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET AMENDMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
MAY I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
IT GETS US BACK UP TO THE, UH, TO THE, OKAY, GO ON TIME.
WOULD YOU CHECK IN WITH THE CLERK HERE, MISSED HIS CALL.
UH, HELLO, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THINK THIS THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE FOR TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY TO INVOLVE US IN A FUTURE CITY PLANNING.
UH, I'M NOT USUALLY SOMEBODY WITH THE FIRST OR LOUDEST VOICE IN THE ROOM.
SO A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY, LIKE THE ONE THEY PROVIDED WAS A GREAT WAY TO START CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I, IN THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR, UH, 18TH AND SELENA.
SO LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO SPOKE, I AM A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE THE WAY THE SURVEY WAS, WAS ABLE TO TAKE IN AND BOUNCE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES AND INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, ONE OF THE GREATEST PARTS OF LIVING IN THE EAST SIDE THAT I FOUND OVER THE YEARS IS THE ABILITY TO WALK TO NEARBY BARS AND RESTAURANTS, TO HANGING OUT WITH OLD FRIENDS OR MEET NEW ONES.
THE EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN OUR AREA IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING.
AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO WANT THAT TO GO AWAY.
UH, WHETHER THAT'S GRABBING DINNER AT NIXA, GETTING A GLASS OF WINE OF BIRDIES OR SINGING KARAOKE AT OUTER HEAVEN, THE TIMES I'VE SPENT AT THE NEW, UH, BARS AND RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE JUST OPENED UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN SOME OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS OF LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO STOP THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW BARS AND RESTAURANTS FROM OPENING UP.
UH, I THINK, UH, THESE PLACES MAKE UP THE DIVERSE SET OF BUSINESSES THAT MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD GREAT AND BEING ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO AND FROM BAR WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO ME IS A MAJOR DRAW OF LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOT ONLY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS, BUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER NEARBY BUSINESSES GETTING MORE FOOT TRAFFIC.
UM, I STAND WITH A NATASHA'S AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR POSITIVE NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH IN A WAY THAT WILL SUSTAIN ITS HISTORIC CHARACTER WHILE ALSO THE REF REFLECTING THE DESIRES OF ITS CURRENT RESIDENTS.
ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ANYWHERE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT, UH, AGENDA.JOY HARDEN WITH THE HOUSE AND IMPLANTING DEPARTMENT, YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 40 IN PA 20 20 0 0 0 5 0.01.
THIS I KNOW IS, UM, OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WENT OVER YET TO YOUR MAY 5TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 41 C ONE FOR 20 20 0 0 2 9.
AND AGAIN, POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS TO YOUR MAY 5TH MEETING BY COUNCIL MEMBER IN THIRD OR YET I KNOW 42, A C 1 4 9 9 0 0 6 9 0.01.
THERE'S THE APPLICANT FESTIVAL, MY REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING AND I'M 43
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
OF COURSE, THAT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
I KNOW 44 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 6 1.
THERE'S THE APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING.
I HAD, UM, NUMBER 45 NPA 20 20 0 0 2 1 0.02.
THERE'S A JOINT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT APPLICANT TO YOUR MAY 5TH COUNCIL MEETING THE RELATER REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 46 C WENT FORWARD 20 20 0 0 8 1 AGAIN, NEIGHBORHOOD AND APPLICANT JOINT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MAY 5TH COUNCIL MEETING.
I KNOW 47 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 21 0 8 9.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AND YOUR MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING AND I'M NUMBER 48 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 21 0 1 64.
THERE'S A POSTMODERN REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLL TO YOUR MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING.
I DON'T WANT A NUMBER 49 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 22 0 0 1 3.
THE SIGN WAS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
I KNOW 50 MPA, 28 18 0 0 0 5 0.0 2.8.
[03:40:02]
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 51 C 8 1 4 97 0 0 0 2 0.01.
AGAIN, THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I KNOW 52 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 5 0.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING.
I DON'T 53 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 3 3 EAST 11TH STREET, CCD.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM 54 IS C1 FOR 20 21 0 0 3 7 EAST 12TH STREET, NCCD.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE RELATED PUBLIC HEARING OF ITEM 31.
AND THIS CONCLUDES YOUR READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA MAYOR.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, IN, UH, ZONING, UH, ITEMS, UM, UM, 40 THROUGH 54 WITH ITEMS 53 AND 54 BEING PULLED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? A COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RENT THE REYES SECONDS THAT DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER WENT THIS, YES, I ACTUALLY WANTED TO CHANGE ITEM 49 FROM CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS TO CONSENT ON FIRST READING IS THAT HAPPENED WITH THE, IS THAT OKAY WITH THE, UH, THE APPLICANT AND LIKE, OR DO WE NEED TO PULL THIS ITEM THAT'S UP HERE? YEAH.
IT'LL STAY ON CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, OR THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE DA MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT, UH, THE REASON I'M REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT FOR THE, UH, ITEM 40 AND 41 ON MONTOPOLIS IS I SEEN WHAT THEY OFFERED IT JUST, BUT I ONLY GOT TO SEE IT MARCH 28 AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THE PROPOSAL, UH, TO ME RIGHT NOW, PRESENTLY IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY EXCELLENT PROPOSAL, UH, REC AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT OUT OF THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD, BUT I STILL NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO REALLY, UH, REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SINCE IT DOES HAVE A VALID PETITION TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT'S BEING OFFERED.
AND I, I HAVE A FEELING THAT ONCE THEY SEE THE OFFER, THAT THEY MIGHT REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND SUPPORT IT.
SO, UH, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING FOR OUR MATH POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 5TH FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS OUR TOBO THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEMP.
I'D LIKE TO RECORD, TO REFLECT MY RECUSAL ON ITEM 46.
UM, AND I HAD FILED AN AFFIDAVIT WITH THE CLERK LAST, AT OUR LAST MEETING.
RECORD ALSO NODE VERY PRO TIME.
UM, I WANT TO JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ITEM 47, WHICH IS THE SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD CASE.
UM, IT IS BEING POSTPONED AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, THEY DID MEET WITH MY OFFICE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE MY COLLEAGUES AWARE THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THEIR PROPOSAL PASSES THE TEST, UH, FOR AN UPSETTING IN THE VARIOUS PERMUTATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS THEY'VE MADE TO MY OFFICE, ITS CONSENT CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR WATERSHED LIMITATIONS, THE LIMITATIONS WE HAVE FOR CONSTRUCTION ON STEEP SLOPES OR THE LIMITS WE HAVE ON IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR SITES, THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
UM, SO I CONTINUE TO BE WILLING TO ADD M U, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR RESIDENTIAL IN THEIR CURRENT, THEIR EXISTING COMMERCIAL AREA.
UM, BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO UPS ON THE BACK OF THEIR LOT, WHICH HAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS CASH ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WAS TAKING A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF, UH, COLLEAGUES, UM, UH, WITH THAT, UH, THE ITEMS THAT REMAIN FOR US TO DECIDE ARE THE, UH, NCCD ITEM AS WELL AS ITEMS, UM, UH, 16 AND, UH, AND 23, I'M GOING TO PULL US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE CAN HEAR THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON 1623 COME OUT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE THE NCDB ITEM.
UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS DONE, MAYBE
[03:45:01]
HOPEFULLY BEFORE, UH, BEFORE DINNER, IF WE CAN.UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO 5, 5, 1 0 7 1, THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 16 AND 23 GUARANTEED INCOME IN 23 BEING THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION ITEM.
[Executive Session (Part 2 of 2)]
WE'RE GOING TO GO THAT AND THEN COME BACK IN THE TIME IS FOUR 14.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, NOTE AS WE, AS WE LEAVE THE DAY THAT PASTOR GV CLARK DIED, UM, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, LET'S GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, UH, WE'RE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 16 AND 23.
UH, IF THE DIOCESE WILL INDULGE ME HERE FOR ONE SECOND, I JUST WANT TO FINISH THE THOUGHT I HAD AS WE WERE CLOSING LAST TIME.
AND I DIDN'T, UH, UM, UH, REVEREND, UH, GB CAR, UH, PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING, PEACEFULLY AT HOME.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE PASTOR, UH, HE STARTS IN SPOUTS CYAN BAPTIST CHURCH FOR DECADES AND THE MODERATOR OF THE, OF, UH, OF ST.
UH, I, UH, HE WAS A TEACHER AND A MENTOR AND A LEADER TO SO MUCH OF THIS ENTIRE CITY, UH, INCLUDING, UH, INCLUDING ME, UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH HIM IN HIS CHURCH, DOZENS OF TIMES, AND TO, UH, BE WITH HIM FOR MEALS, DOZENS OF TIMES, AND TO THE DEGREE THAT, UH, UH, SOMEONE FROM, UH, FROM, UH, FROM A DIFFERENT FAITH CAN, CAN SAY IT AND MEAN IT, UH, HE WAS MY PASTOR, UH, IN, IN, IN SO MANY WAYS, BUT JUST A FOUNDATIONAL MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO REALLY MAKE, UH, RACIAL, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY REAL, UH, AS A STATE EMPLOYEE, HE WAS THE FIRST CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER, UH, IN ONE OF THE LARGE DEPARTMENTS, ONE OF THE FIRST TO HOLD THAT POSITION.
AND HIS JOB, UH, WAS TO GO AROUND THE STATE IN TEXAS TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO A STANDARD THAT QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE ELSE SUPPORTED OTHER THAN THE DIRECTOR OF THAT STATE AGENCY AT THE TIME.
UH, AND HE WENT INTO SITUATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENING TO ME AND, UH, IT JUST, UH, ONE MEASURE OF THE MAN.
UM, SO I THINK, UH, IF WE COULD TAKE JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UH, TO, TO, TO RECOGNIZE HIM, UH, REVEREND DR.
HI COLLEAGUES BACK ON THE DIET.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH, UH, ITEMS, UH, 16 AND 23, AND THEN MAYBE BREAK FOR PROCLAMATION AND THEN DO THE, UH, UH, NCCD, UH, MATTER,
[16. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract with FII-National d/b/a UpTogether to administer a guaranteed income pilot program, for a term of one year in an amount not to exceed $1,180,000. (Note: This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program. For the services required for this procurement, there were no subcontracting opportunities therefore, no subcontracting goals were established). Strategic Outcome(s): Economic Opportunity and Affordability, Government that Works for All.]
UH, ITEM NUMBER 16.UM, THIS IS THE, UH, UH, GUARANTEED INCOME, UH, PILOT.
UM, I WOULD, UH, MOVE THAT WE, UH, POSTPONE THIS TO, UM, UM, THE, UH, MAY MEETING RECOGNIZING THAT WE WILL POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, HAS THAT PROGRESS IS, AND IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE SHOULD POSTPONE IT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS BASED ON HOW THAT SHAKES OUT AND PEOPLE'S SENTIMENT AS WE GET MORE DETAIL, WE CAN ALWAYS PUT IT OFF FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS IF WE NEED TO.
UH, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS TO THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR YET.
UM, MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON SECONDS, UH, THAT MOTION.
UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO MY MOTION, UH, FIRST, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, UH,
[03:50:02]
UH, AND THE, THE SUPPORT THAT, AND THE BROAD SUPPORT THAT THIS HAS IN THE, UH, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.UH, BUT I'M WILLING TO POSTPONE THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UH, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE GREATER DETAIL AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MENTION THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND SHOWS THE, THE BREADTH OF SUPPORT, UH, FOR THIS CONCEPT.
IT WAS ACCESS TO ACTIVISM, THE ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE, THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LAW CENTER, AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AVOW CRIMES OF IRIS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE DISTRICT FIVE FOR BLACK LIVES, EQUITY ACTION FUND, TEXAS CHOICE, UH, GO AUSTIN VERBOSE, AUSTIN GALA, UM, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP IN DIVISIBLE, AUSTIN JANE'S DUE PROCESS, JUST LIBERTY, THE LILITH FUND MEASURE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, TEXAS APPLESEED, TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, TEXAS CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY, TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT, TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE ON DOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN WORKERS, DEFENSE ACTION FUND, AND THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT.
NOW THEY'VE ASKED US TO DO A PILOT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DOLLARS THAN, UH, IS BEING PROPOSED HERE NOW.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT THE, UH, AMOUNT THAT WE, UH, APPROVED AS A BODY, AS PART OF THE BUDGET, UH, LAST, UH, AUGUST REMAINS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT FOR US TO, UH, PROCEED ON NOW, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH DOLLARS IN, IN, IN SOCIAL SERVICE TO, TO DEAL WITH, UH, UH, HOUSING, UH, INSECURITIES IN OUR CITY.
AND WE ALL SEE IT GETTING JUST SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGHER ALL THE TIME FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND REMAIN HERE.
UH, WE'RE SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS AS A COMMUNITY-WIDE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO, TO, TO HELP WITH, UH, PEOPLE THAT FIND THEMSELVES ON THE STREETS.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY, UH, VOTED IN ITS BUDGET TO, UH, JOIN WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM ENDING UP ON OUR STREETS, NOT ONLY TO, TO, TO PAY, TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE OFF ONCE THEY GET THERE.
I THINK THAT OUR, UM, UH, HOMELESSNESS, UM, UM, OFFICER HAD TOLD US AS A GROUP AT ONE POINT THAT IT WAS, UH, THE COST WAS I THINK, LIKE $39,000, UH, OR 29,000.
IT WAS NO LESS THAN $29,000 A PERSON, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, UH, THAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY AS WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE OFF THE STREETS TO, TO, UM, UH, BE ABLE TO GET OFF WHEN THEY'RE ON THE STREETS TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE STREETS.
UH, I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO INVEST IN IDEAS OR CONCEPTS THAT CAN DIVERT PEOPLE FROM BEING THERE AS WE COLLECTIVELY DID, UH, AS A GROUP, UH, THE RESOLUTION TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WAS PAST TEMPER ONE LAST SUMMER.
AND WHEN WE GOT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE HAD THE MANAGER PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AS PART OF THE MANAGER'S BUDGET.
AND, AND WE DECIDED AS A GROUP TO AUGMENT THAT AMOUNT, WHICH IS THE DOLLARS THAT WERE IN OUR BUDGET TO, TO, TO, TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
UM, WHAT I'VE SAID TO MY COLLEAGUES IS LET'S SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, REALLY FLESHING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS, UH, AND MAKE THOSE, UH, PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND IT'S MY INTENT, UM, UH, TO BRING IN AN IFC WITH THIS ITEM WHEN IT COMES BACK SO THAT, UH, WE CAN MAKE SOME FINDINGS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO DO.
AND, AND, UH, UH, THE STAFF, UH, HAS A VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO GET, UH, IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, WHAT ITS INTENTIONS ARE, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT WE'RE MEASURING IN, WHAT RESULTS DO WE WANT, AND EVEN TO SPEAK TO HOW HOUSEHOLDS ARE, UH, SELECTED, UH, HOW THIS RELATES TO OTHER SUPPORT THAT, UH, IS BEING GIVEN, UM, AND, AND SPEAK TO, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS MIGHT HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENDING UP ON THE STREETS AND WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION WE WANT AND HOW WE MIGHT USE THAT INFORMATION.
I BELIEVE LONG-TERM TO, TO MAKE GOVERNMENT SPENDING LESS AND MORE EFFICIENT, UH, IF WE CAN, UH, ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS, UH, UH, EARLIER.
UM, BUT I'LL BRING THAT IFC I'LL POST THAT, UH, NEXT WEEK.
UH, SO THAT THERE'S A, A LONG TIME FOR COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO REACT TO IT'S, TO HAVE SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH US ON THAT, SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING PUBLISHED FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO SEE.
UH, AND MY HOPE IS THAT ONCE WE DO
[03:55:01]
THAT, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, UH, THE COUNCIL IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT ON THE, UH, AT THE FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER.UH, CAUSE I THINK, I MEAN IN MAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO IF WE CAN, IF IT TURNS OUT WHEN WE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T CONSIDER IT AT THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY.
UM, THEN, THEN, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS PUT IT OFF, UH, TWO WEEKS.
UH, BUT IT COULD BE THAT, UH, ONCE WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UH, THERE, THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO VOTING ON IT THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE US THAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, TO FIND OUT THE OTHER REASONS THAT, THAT I HOPE THIS MOVES FORWARD AND EXPECT IT TO WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US AND HOPE THAT IT WILL.
UM, UM, IN ADDITION TO, UM, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THE DECISION THAT WE MADE IS THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BY COUNCIL.
IF WE WERE TO DO THIS CHANGE, NOW IT'S A MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUDGET CORRECTION, AND I'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT ON THE DAY AS PUSHING BACK AGAINST MID-YEAR BUDGET DIRECTIONS IN ALL KINDS OF CONTEXTS.
THIS ONE TOO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDED WE WOULD SPEND FUNDS ON THIS.
YOU RECALL ON THE LAST DAY OF THE BUDGET, UH, WE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD AS A GROUP AND AS A GROUP, WE COMPROMISED ON THOSE PRIORITIES AND I VOTED FOR SOME OTHER PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES ITEMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD IN THEIR LIST IS WE FOUGHT TO TRY TO RECONCILE ALL THOSE.
AND, UH, THIS WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, I BROUGHT FORWARD WITH, UH, UH, SEVERAL OTHER SPONSORS APPRECIATE SEEING YOU HERE ON THE DIOCESE HERE TODAY.
BUT WE WENT THROUGH A COMPROMISE PROCESS WHEN WE CREATED THAT, UH, THAT, THAT BUDGET.
UH, AND I HOPE THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE TO, TO ABIDE BY THE DECISION WE MADE EARLIER.
I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE LOTS OF NEEDS IN THE CITY, UH, AND, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET NEEDS.
AND FOR OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT ARE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT EVEN IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, IF IT WAS OUR GOAL TO FIND A MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET, I WOULDN'T PICK COMING UP WITH AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM HOMELESSNESS, UH, AS THE PLACE WHERE I WOULD DO THE CUT.
SO, SO IF, AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP, WE WANT TO FIND A MILLION DOLLARS SOMEWHERE IN BUDGET, AND THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
UH, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD START ON A, ON A PROJECT THAT IS, HAS SUCH WIDE AND BROAD SUPPORT, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, OR SOMETHING THAT IS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO, UH, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW ARE, ARE DEALING WITH THE MOST HARD AND DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, UH, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS PRESENTING TO ANYBODY, UH, IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW THAT'S DEALING WITH, UH, HOUSING, UH, UH, INSECURITY.
UM, SO, UM, UH, I'M HAPPY TO POSTPONE THIS.
I'LL POST THE DRAFT IFC WITH, UH, UH, CO-SPONSORS, UH, NEXT WEEK.
AND, AND, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, WE CAN GET THIS TO A POSITION WHERE WE CAN CONSIDER IT THE FIRST WEEKEND, UH, IN MAY COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WAS NEXT.
SHE HAD A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD TRUMP THE ORDER.
SHE COULD HAVE MADE THAT, BUT I'M NOW GOING TO CALL ON THE PERSON WHO SECONDED THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UH, CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR THAT RESOLUTION WITH YOU THAT YOU BRING FORWARD IN A FEW WEEKS, AND I WILL BE HONEST THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE POSTPONING, UM, THIS, THIS ITEM, UM, THIS COUNCIL MADE THAT COMMITMENT DURING THE BUDGET TIME LAST YEAR.
UH, IT'S ALREADY BEEN NINE MONTHS.
AND SO I DO THINK IF THIS ITEM WAS NOT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULD SET A PRECEDENT ON HOW BUDGET ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE Q AND A HAS A LOT OF ANSWERS ABOUT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THIS GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM.
OUR STAFF HAS SHARED THAT THEY CAN, UM, UTILIZE THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO COME UP WITH, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED OF IT SPECIFICALLY AROUND DETAILING CRITERIA OF THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WOULD BE, THAT COULD BE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM.
BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE Q AND A THERE'S ANSWERS, TALKING ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS USED IN, IN, IN DEVELOPING THE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM, UH, THERE IS AN EVALUATOR PROCESS.
THE CITY STAFF HAS COMMITTED TO A PROGRESS REPORT THAT WILL BE THAT WE'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL LATER THIS FALL, THERE ARE METRICS ESTABLISHED, BUT WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH THOSE METRICS BECAUSE THOSE METRICS WILL BE, UH, CUSTOMIZED TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.
THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO MEET BASIC
[04:00:01]
NECESSITIES, AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING AUSTINITES IN THEIR HOME.THIS PROGRAM IS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES.
WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH EXTREME HARDSHIPS, WE'RE AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH.
AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM, AND, UH, WE'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TODAY, BUT KNOW THAT THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
I WANTED TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM 16 UNTIL MAY 19TH.
WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THAT AS AN AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MOVES TO AMEND THE MOTION TO POSTPONE, NOT THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY, BUT TO MAY 19TH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS, THAT CHAIR AMENDMENT, YOU CAN DISCUSS IT FIRST.
I JUST THINK THAT WITH A PROGRAM THAT IS OF SUCH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO OUR CITY AND SUCH A GREAT NEED THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY DIG INTO IT.
AND ALSO THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
WHO'S NOT PRESENT TODAY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE DISCUSSION WITH US.
UM, I, I D WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WE ALL KNOW THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM, THE DOLLARS FROM THESE PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED TO HELP FAMILIES.
NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO DELAY A FULL MONTH, ESPECIALLY IF OUR STAFF HAS COMMITTED TO BRINGING BACK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN TWO WEEKS.
ALSO, I QUESTION ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT IT SETS BY WAITING FOR, FOR A COLLEAGUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT FORWARD A JET FUEL RESOLUTION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A FULL DAY IS PRESENT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT TO ME MAKES ME QUESTION, OKAY, THEN WHAT, HOW DO WE SET THOSE, UH, THOSE INSTANCES? HOW DO WE SET THE CRITERIA? AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR EMOTION CUSTOMER KELLY, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT A POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 19TH KAISER KITCHEN.
I JUST WANT US TO KIND OF REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING FOR, OR AGAINST THIS GREAT PROGRAM.
UM, I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED HELPING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO I THINK ASKING A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW EXACTLY IT'S CONFIGURED AS APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S EFFECTIVE.
AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I THINK WE'RE ALL, I MEAN, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT AND IT HAVE IN THE PAST INITIATED PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY HELPING PEOPLE, UM, NOT GOING INTO HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, AND TO, TO THOSE AT RISK FOR LOSING THEIR HOMES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SO I RESPECT THE, THE, I EXPECT THE, I REALLY RESPECT THE URGENCY.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM DESIGNED YET.
SO I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SLOWING DOWN THE STAFF.
WE HAVEN'T SAID TO THE STAFF NOT TO WORK ON THIS.
IN FACT, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS, AND I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION, YOU KNOW, OF GETTING IT NINE MONTHS LATER.
BUT, UM, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE SLOWING ANYTHING DOWN AND WE'RE, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT SIGNALING TO THE STAFF THAT THEY SHOULD STOP WITH THEIR PREPARATIONS.
SO, UM, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT, UM, THE AMENDMENT.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OTHER, UH, EXTRA QUESTIONS ADDRESSED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
HOWEVER, NOTHING PRECLUDES US FROM MOVING IT AGAIN.
IF WE WORK ON IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND WE COME UP WITH THAT, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS.
WE NEED TO FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR VOTE.
WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUSH IT BACK UNTIL THE NEXT MAY MEETING.
SO I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE, I'M OKAY WITH IT MOVING FORWARD FOR A TWO WEEK POSTPONEMENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, UM, IF WE'RE NOT READY YET IN TWO WEEKS THAT WE CAN'T PUSH IT BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
THAT'S WHERE I ALWAYS, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID.
UH, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY, WE'VE TALKED TO STAFF AND STAFF THINKS THAT THEY CAN GET THIS INFORMATION TO US, UH, IN TIME.
AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE UNANIMOUSLY READY TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, ON THIS, UH, ITEM THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD FIND OUT EMOTION IN FRONT OF US AS THE POST IS DUE AMEND.
SO WE GO FROM THE FIRST MEETING YOU MADE TO THE SECOND MEETING IN MAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO YEAH, I'M SORT OF UNDECIDED.
I PROBABLY WILL SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL MOTION INSTEAD OF THE AMENDMENT, BUT I WANT TO SAY OF COUNCIL MEMBER POOL REQUESTS THAT WE WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS BACK.
I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE DO BETTER WHEN WE HAVE A FULL DYESS AND HAVE EVERYBODY WITH THE
[04:05:01]
ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL MEMBER FRONT IS I'M VERY AWARE THAT, THAT YOUR RESOLUTION FAILED WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE, UH, A FULL DYESS AND CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED YOUR, YOUR, UM, REQUEST ON THAT DAY AND WOULD SUPPORT YOUR, BRINGING IT BACK.IF YOU THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME AS SOMEBODY ON THAT, ON THE, ON THE SIDE OF, UM, WANTING TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.
SO I THINK THAT'S JUST A COURTESY THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS OFFER ONE ANOTHER, IF THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH AS MANY OF US ON THE DIOCESE AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WILL, AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR AMENDMENT TODAY, BUT ESPECIALLY IF COUNCIL MEMBER POOL WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION, I'LL SUPPORT POSTPONING IT.
UM, WHEN IT DOES COME BACK TO US AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING IT TO THE SECOND MEETING IN MAY, AS OPPOSED TO THE FIRST, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, I SEE, UH, THREE VOTES, THOSE, UH, OPPOSED TO A COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IT'S THE BALANCE OF THE DAY IS, UH, IT IS A DEFEATED, UH, THREE TO SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OF THE DAS MOTION TO POSTPONE IS IN FRONT OF US, UH, TO THE FIRST MEETING AND MAY TAKE A BOAT.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED
UH, YOU ARE EARLIER TODAY ON CONSENT.
WE PASSED ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS, UH, PRESENTED TO US IN BOARDS COMMISSION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, ITEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VILLA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, NOMINATE GREG ANDERSON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT FOR THE, UH, THE CITY CHARTER STATES THAT ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD BE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONNECTED TO REAL ESTATE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THIS CHARTER PROVISION, THE CITY CLERK PROVIDES A QUESTIONNAIRE THAT ALLOWS A POTENTIAL APPOINTEE TO EXPLAIN THEIR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE.
MR. ANDERSON IS A DIRECTOR OF COMMITTEE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO, TO THE MOTION? UH, UH, COUNCILMEMBER HARPER, MADISON SECONDS.
NOW, MR. ANDERSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE WELL-KNOWN NONPROFIT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
UH, HIS COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE IS AVAILABLE IN THE CONSOLE BACKUP FOR THIS ITEM, HIS RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE REFLECT THE FACT THAT HE IS EMPLOYED BY A NON-PROFIT.
AND IN THAT ROLE IS SOMETIMES CALLED UPON TO GIVE FEEDBACK RELATED TO HABITAT PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, HIS RESPONSES REFLECT THAT HE DOES NOT CURRENTLY PRACTICE IN A FIELD RELATED TO REAL ESTATE OR LAND DEVELOPMENT, NOR DOES HE HOLD PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS BECAUSE MR. ANDERSON WORKS FOR A NONPROFIT.
HE IS A LAY MEMBER WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE CHARTER, MR. ANDERSON'S APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MAINTAIN THE CHARTER REQUIRED BALANCE BETWEEN LAY PERSONS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONNECTED TO REAL ESTATE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT.
AND JUST TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF HIS, UH, HIS NOMINATION FOR A MOMENT, HE IS A FORMER STAFFER TO, UH, THEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHERYL COLE.
NOW IN THE STATE HOUSE, HE'S ALSO A FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND, UH, AND, AND EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN HOUSING ISSUES, UH, BEING A STRONG PRO-HOUSING VOICE.
AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HIM TO HAVE HIM SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE.
FOR ME, AS I, AS I, AS I LOOK AT THIS NOMINATION, UH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
UM, I THINK THAT, UH, UH, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD THAT FOR ME, UH, THIS, UH, UH, INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT, UH, UH, RELATE TO THOSE THAT ARE LIMITED.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT IN THIS POSITION, UH, THAT HE HAS, HE HAS THE, UH, UH, NECESSARY RELATIONSHIP TO THE REAL ESTATE, UH, THAT WOULD PRESENT THE KIND OF, UH, CONFLICT, UH, THAT, UH, I BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE WAS INTENDING TO GET AT.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER BEING THE GIST OF THE DEBATE AND DISCUSSION THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS ADOPTED.
AND MAYOR, IF I MAY ADD JUST ONE MORE THING, I, UH, I DON'T WANT THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BE BULLIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, UH, INTO DECIDING, YOU KNOW, WHO WE CAN OR CAN'T APPOINT.
UH, I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD STAND UP FOR THE INDEPENDENCE, UH, AND JUDGMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AND NOT BE FORCED, NOT HAVE OUR HAND FORCED BY, UH, THE, UH, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
[04:10:03]
UM, WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I, I CERTAINLY RESPECT BRINGING THIS FORWARD, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT.UM, I TH I CAN'T, THE STATEMENT THAT WAS READ IS NOT ONE THAT I CAN SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE, UM, MY VIEW OF THE CHARTER PROVISION THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO FOLLOW IS NOT AS IT WAS READ AND UNDERSTOOD, UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL MEMBER VELOZ IS JUST THAT OTHERS MAY AGREE WITH HIM, AND I RESPECT HIS APPROACH, BUT IT'S NOT ONE THAT I CAN AGREE WITH.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT BEFORE AND, UM, THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL WAS NAMED IN THAT LAWSUIT.
AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S TOO MUCH OF A RISK, AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
AND, UM, CAN'T, CAN'T, UH, AGREE WITH THE, UM, THE STATEMENT, UH, THAT WAS MADE AND THE REASONS BEHIND GOING FORWARD, UH, WITH THIS APPOINTMENT.
FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL, UH, APRIL 10TH, I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT I I'M IN THE SAME PLACE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS.
LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE COUNCIL.
MY IS MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MOTIVALA AGAINST MY RENT, THE RIO HARPER, MADISON ELLIS, UM, UH, ME AND FLINT, THIS, UH, THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, THE REMAINING FOUR ON THE DAYAS, UH, IT PASSES SIX TO FOUR.
I THINK NOW WE HAVE JUST THE NCCD ITEMS TO DO, BUT LET'S TAKE A BREAK AND DO A PROCLAMATIONS, UH, COLLEAGUES.
DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO OUR MEETING RIGHT AFTER PROCLAMATIONS? OR DO YOU WANT A BREAK? OKAY.
WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK AFTER, UH, PROCLAMATIONS.
UH, SO HERE AT, UH, 5 56, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PROCLAMATIONS AND THEN WE WILL RETURN BACK TO THE, TO THE DAYS WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
[Proclamation 1]
ALTER, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 CENTRAL NORTHWEST AUSTIN ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.TODAY, I OFFER A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK, WHICH BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH, AND RUNS THROUGH SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH FOR ONE WEEK, EACH YEAR, SINCE 1981 COMMUNITIES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO REFLECT ON AND REMOVE LIMITATIONS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.
THIS YEAR, VICTIM ADVOCATES, NONPROFITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS, AND STATE AGENCIES WILL HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING TRAUMA INFORMED YOGA SESSIONS, A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, A DOCUMENTARY SCREENING, AND AN AWARD CEREMONY.
MANY OF THESE EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THE 2022 THEME FOR NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEKS IS RIGHTS, ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR ALL VICTIMS. THIS THEME UNDERSCORES THAT CRIME SURVIVORS CAN ONLY FIND JUSTICE IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.
AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR THOSE SERVICES TO ENSURE EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SAFETY FOR ANYONE SEEKING HELP.
AS I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THROUGH MY WORK REFORMING AUSTIN SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM, WE MUST CENTER AND LISTEN TO SURVIVORS.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SEE THE EXPANSION OF TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES HERE IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING ADVANCING OUR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IS RELEVANT THROUGHOUT THE JUSTICE PROCESS.
AS SOON AS A VICTIM REPORTS A CRIME.
WE DO THIS IN AUSTIN ALREADY BY BRINGING ON TRANSLATORS, MORE COMFORTABLE INTERVIEW ROOMS AND MORE EFFICIENT REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION PRACTICES.
WE CAN MINIMIZE THE SECOND HAND TRAUMA, MANY VICTIMS EXPERIENCE BY TELLING THEIR STORIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM SEEKING JUSTICE NEXT WEEK IS ALSO A TIME TO PAUSE AND THANK THOSE WHO LISTENED TO SURVIVORS AND WORK WITH THEM TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE AS VICTIM SERVICES, MANAGERS, MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COUNSELORS, AND ADVOCATES, AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAFE AUSTIN.
AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO DO THIS REALLY DIFFICULT WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT ARE HERE WITH ME FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, WE HONOR THE VICTIMS OF CRIME TO THE SURVIVORS.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP SO THAT OTHERS DO NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THE SAME TRAUMAS.
WE SEE YOU, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS
[04:15:01]
THE VICTIMS RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS RESULTED IN THE PASSAGE OF LAWS AT THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS THAT ESTABLISHED ESSENTIAL RIGHTS FOR VICTIMS. AND WHEREAS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE VICTIMS RIGHTS MOVEMENT ACHIEVED THROUGH COMPASSION AND COLLABORATION AND BUILT ON THE COURAGEOUS ADVOCACY OF INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY INSPIRE IN US HOPE FOR FUTURE PROGRESS AND GREATER HEALING.AND WHEREAS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMIT, TO ENSURING THAT ACCESSIBLE, APPROPRIATE AND TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS HERE BY DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS IN THE AFTERMATH OF CRIME, BUILDING RESILIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND BRINGING HOPE AND HEALING TO ALL VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
AND NOW THEREFORE I MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, APRIL 24TH THROUGH APRIL 30TH, 2022 AS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN AUSTIN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED NOW BY STEPHANIE BURGESS.
THIS IS SO STRANGE TO BE IN PERSON.
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE MAKING SURE I'M NOT MUTED SPECIAL.
THANKS TO MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR SUPPORTING THIS OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY AND DECLARING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.
I'M A VICTIM SERVICES SUPERVISOR WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO LEAD PLANNING FOR CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK THIS YEAR ASIDE, MANY OTHER AGENCIES SERVING SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS ON THIS COMMITTEE SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN INCLUDE APD VICTIM SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
I'M JOINED BY SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS, UM, LARAMIE FROM TASSA GILDA, FROM ADULT PROBATION, UH, CODY FROM APD VICTIM SERVICES AND LOE SPEDA SINCE 1981 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK HAS CHALLENGED THE NATION TO CONFRONT AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME.
WE CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE VICTIMS RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND REFLECT ON HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
AND AS MAYOR PRO TEM SHARED, THE THEME IS RIGHTS, ACTS, RIGHTS, ACCESS, AND EQUITY FOR ALL VICTIMS. THE THEME UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING CRIME SURVIVORS FIND JUSTICE BY ENFORCING VICTIM'S RIGHTS, EXPANDING ACCESS TO SERVICES AND ENSURING EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL.
UH, ALSO AGAINST REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING INCLUDE FREE YOGA, THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT THE FILM SCREENING AND THE AWARDS CEREMONY.
UM, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THOSE, PLEASE FIND US ON OUR FACEBOOK.
IT'S THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA, NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.
[Proclamation 2]
SO IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, YOU CAN COME ON DOWN AND JOIN US.UM, DO WE HAVE A TRANSLATOR FOR THIS ONE FOR THE WHOLE THING, OR I HAVE THE PROCLAMATION, I'M GOING TO READ IT IN SPANISH ACTUALLY, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE FIRST PART WAS BEING TRANSLATED.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, BUT I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO CHECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, I'M MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER.
AND IT'S MY HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M ALSO A WORKING MOTHER OF TWO, ALTHOUGH MY CHILDREN ARE NOT SO LITTLE ANYMORE.
I, I REMEMBER THOSE, I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.
UM, BUT I DO REMEMBER, UM, HOW CRUCIAL CHILDCARE IS FOR FAMILIES.
[04:20:02]
CUIDADO INFANT.YOU
I'M JOINED TODAY BY DONNA SAID STRUM, UM, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, CATHY MCMORRIS FROM UNITED WAY FOR A GREATER AUSTIN AND THE SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION, MICHELLE MAHIA OF GO AUSTIN BY MOST AUSTIN AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN THIS WEEK IS THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, A TIME TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT MEET THOSE NEEDS.
WE HAVE SEEN HOW COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOLS, OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND EACH OF OUR FAMILIES.
MANY EARLY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC WITH THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE AND HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.
AS OFTEN AS AN OFTEN UNRECOGNIZED PART OF OUR SAFETY NET.
I HOPE THAT OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WILL FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL ROLE OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR CHILDCARE WORKFORCE TO OUR LIVES AND OUR ECONOMY.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATORS, I, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE AS A COMMUNITY TO FAIL TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN WOULD BE A SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMIC WOULD BE SHORTSIGHTED ECONOMICALLY AND MORALLY.
IN 2020, I CHAMPIONED A COUNCIL INITIATIVE TO BRING FORWARD A MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO KEEP QUALIFIED CHILDCARE CENTERS IN AUSTIN, OPEN AND VIABLE.
IN 2021, I LED THE COUNCIL IN ALLOCATING OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS TO FUND TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR EARLY CHILD CARE ECOSYSTEM WITH AN $11 MILLION COMMITMENT.
AND I SEE SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WHO ALSO SUPPORTED THAT HERE IN THE ROOM AS WELL.
WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE CHANGES ALONE ARE SUFFICIENT TO CREATE THE STRONG FRAMEWORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES THAT WE NEED HERE IN AUSTIN.
I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO LISTEN TO EARLY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AS MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN OF THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND SAID, THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD TO INVEST IN EVERY CHILD.
IT IS WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD NOT TO.
I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION IN ENGLISH AND THEN IN SPANISH, UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT, AND THIS IS A LONG ONE.
SO BEAR WITH ME, CAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE FIRST YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE OR THE PERIOD OF THE MOST RAPID BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL FUTURE LEARNING AND THAT HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CAN HELP IMPROVE THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY DETECT AND REMEDIATE DELAYS, IDENTIFY AND HELP PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT, SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, MAKE WORKING FAMILIES MORE ECONOMICALLY SECURE AND PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, EARN HIGHER WAGES AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.
WHEREAS THERE ARE OVER 90,000 CHILDREN UNDER AGE SIX IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, 37% OF WHOM LIVE IN FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOME AND A LACK OF ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS FAMILIES OF COLOR.
WHEREAS YOUNG CHILDREN NEED SKILLED, EDUCATED, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKING FAMILIES NEED SUFFICIENT HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BEGINNING AT BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS NEED THE ABILITY TO EARN A FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS THEY BRING TO THE COMPLEX AND ESSENTIAL WORK THEY DO.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, STRATEGIC DIRECTION, 2023 INCLUDES A STRATEGY TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND A PRIORITY INDICATOR.
MEASURING HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AND THAT AUSTIN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A CITY SUPPORTING A STRONG PRENATAL TO AGE THREE AGENDA BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
AND WHEREAS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES DURING THE PANDEMIC DEMONSTRATING HOW IMPORTANT THEIR WORK IS NOW.
THEREFORE I MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2ND TO EIGHTH, 2022 AS THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IN AUSTIN.
I GO SO BAD CAB CONSIDERED ANDO
[04:25:01]
THE TRAVIS
YOU AS A
VINTAGE TRACE
UM, BUT DON'T ASK ME TO TRANSLATE IT ON THE FLY HERE CONSIDERED RHONDA
ALISON ALTERA STEVE ADDER ACCOUNT.
THEY DID SEE THAT THE AUSTIN, TEXAS PROCLAIMER DOES AL
UH, THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 BABIES, FOUR IN EACH DAY IN AUSTIN AND EACH OF THOSE 40 VULNERABLE LITTLE HUMAN BEINGS ARE BORN INTO WIDELY DIVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SOME ARE HEALTHY, SOME ARE NOT SOME HAVE HUGE EXTENDED FAMILIES FULL OF EXPERIENCED CAREGIVERS.
SOME ARE BORN INTO SITUATIONS THAT INCLUDE SECURE INCOME AND ABUNDANT RESOURCES AND SOME ARE NOT, BUT REGARDLESS OF THEIR SITUATIONS, EACH OF THESE BABIES IS EQUALLY DESERVING OF LOVING CARE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THESE BABIES LIVES, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THOSE WHO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN, WHICH INCLUDES THEIR FAMILIES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.
RESEARCH HAS ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE INEQUALITY FOR CHILDREN WHO GREW UP LIVING IN POVERTY.
THE FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF FAMILIES AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, DEPRIVES US OF THEIR POTENTIAL AND ERODES ARIA, IDEAL OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS PROVIDED TIMELY AND CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SECTOR THROUGH GENEROUS AND TARGETED COVID RELIEF FUNDING.
AND THE CITY IDENTIFIED THE CHILDCARE SECTOR AS AN INDUSTRY.
THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND SUCCESS RECOGNIZING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE, WE'LL SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM
[04:30:01]
HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING A MORE EQUITABLE RECOVERY.THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR AND ALL OF OUR CITY LEADERS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, WHICH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY HAVE RECOGNIZED.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY COUNTY AND COMMUNITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF FAMILIES AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CAREGIVERS, CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ESSENTIAL AND CHALLENGING WORK AND STRIVING FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THE RESPECT AND COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE IN WHATEVER SETTING THEY PROVIDE CARE.
I'M JUST GOING TO READ, UH, IN SPANISH AND
[Proclamation 3]
[04:35:51]
GOOD EVENING.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER, KATHY TOVO.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING DISTRICT NINE AND TODAY WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL AWARDS FOR SOME VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONS AT UT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR PATIENTS IN, UH, IN WATCHING, UM, THE EARLIER PROCLAMATIONS.
SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING SOME PROCLAMATIONS FOR, UM, AN ORGANIZATION FOR THE HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
AND IT STARTED TO RECOGNIZE OREGON STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR POSITIVE EFFORTS IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
AND IT'S ESPECIALLY FUN TO DO IT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE LAST TWO YEARS, LIKE SO MUCH ELSE HAS BEEN ONLINE AND WE HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME CHALLENGES DOING THIS DIGITALLY TO SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING DOWN SINCE THE PROGRAM'S COMMENCEMENT IN 2015, THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED MANY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ENCOURAGING A HEALTHY, THRIVING AND ENGAGED STUDENT GROUP.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REALLY BEEN MODELS TO THE REST OF UT CAMPUS FOR MAKING HEALTHY CHANGES, FOCUSED ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON MINDFUL EATING ON SOCIAL SUPPORT ON IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
AND THIS YEAR THEY INSPIRED THEIR OWN MEMBERS TO INCORPORATE HEALTHY HABITS AND SELF-CARE AND PLANNED FUND CONNECTIONS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DONE REALLY AMAZING ACTIVITIES AND PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS.
SOME OF THESE HAVE INCLUDED PARTICIPATING IN INTERMURAL SPORTS TUTORING, LOOK AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION, HOSTING WORKSHOPS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PROVIDING HEALTHY FOOD FOR VARIOUS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS AT MEETINGS AND ORGANIZING LOTS AND LOTS OF SERVICE EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING PROJECTS, BENEFITING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AUSTIN, CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ST.
SO THANK YOU ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WHO YOU ARE REPRESENTING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT'S REALLY MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE YOUR ORGANIZATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AND IMPROVING THE LONGHORN COLLEGE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR MEMBERS.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, FIRST I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACHIEVE BRONZE STATUS AND THEN SILVER, AND THEN LASTLY GOLD.
SO IN THE BRONZE CATEGORY, AND YOU MIGHT JUST GIVE A LITTLE WAVE IF YOU ARE HERE REPRESENTING THIS GROUP IN THE BRONZE CATEGORY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ACHIEVED SILVER STATUS.
THESE ARE THE TEXAS LASSES, TEXAS TAEKWONDO, AND THE UT DANCE TEAM.
AND THEN IN THE GOLD CATEGORY, WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS STATUS, AN UNJADED ALPHA DEPTHS F ALPHA EPSILON DELTA, THE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER ENGINEERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD, GLOBAL MEDICAL TRAINING.
THE INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS IS MY ISLE MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, THE STUDENT ENGINEERING COUNCIL, TEXAS BALLROOM, TEXAS DARLIN'S, TEXAS PRE DENTAL SOCIETY, TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH, TEXAS TRANSFER STUDENTS, THETA TAU, SUCHI, COLLEGIATE ASSOCIATION, UT AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION, AND WOMEN IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
AND THIS YEAR, THE VERY HIGHEST EARNING NEW STUDENT ORGANIZATION IS WOMEN IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND THE HIGHEST EARNING STUDENT ORGANIZATION IS ALPHA EPSILON DELTA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THEY WILL ALL BE RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE OF RECOMMENDATION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR HARD WORK AND RECOGNIZES THEM, UM, AND INDICATES THAT ARE DESERVING OF PUBLIC CLAIM AND RECOGNITION AND NOTES.
[04:40:01]
THIS STATE AND ASSIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE STATE CITY COUNCIL.AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP AND INTRODUCE SARAH FREY, WHO IS THE HEALTH PROMOTION COORDINATOR AT THE LONGHORN WELLNESS CENTER, WHICH IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES AND THE COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT UC AUSTIN.
SHE OVERSEES LOTS OF PREVENTION BASED PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AIMED AT CREATING A CULTURE OF WELLBEING AND WELLNESS.
UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER HER PORTFOLIO.
SO SARAH, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST SAY A FEW WORDS, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
UH, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE OUR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR DEDICATING ALL THIS TIME TO INTEGRATING HEALTHIER GROUP PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE 2122 ACADEMIC YEAR.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE ON THIS PLATFORM AND PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM MANAGER, JILLIAN SCHAEFER.
UM, SHE'S GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH ONE OF THESE GROUPS AND HAS TAILORED OUR PROGRAMS TO REALLY FIT THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND IT IS THIS AND THE ADAPTATIONS THAT SHE'S MADE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT HAS ALLOWED OUR PROGRAM TO THRIVE IN A CHANGING AND CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT.
AND FINALLY, A HUGE THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR UT AUSTIN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.
IT'S A PROUD MOMENT TO HAVE OUR STUDENT EFFORTS RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE ANTICIPATE AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.
WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO TWO LINES OR WHAT WOULD BE BEST WOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD.
OTHERWISE YOU GUYS WISHED TOGETHER.
SO YOU'RE SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE GETTING
YOU KIND OF LEFT ALL KINDS OF STUFF ALL OVER.
[Proclamation 4]
[04:45:14]
GOOD AFTERNOON.COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN OPIOD IN THREE.
I REPRESENT DISTRICT THREE AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THIS PROCLAMATION TO DR.
I MEAN, THE THING THAT WITH SAYING THAT, DO YOU NEVER SAY NOW, WHEREAS UNIVERSITY CIVIC, CIVIC LAB, YOU, THIS, UH, THESE YOUNG STUDENTS CAME TO US AND, UH, MADE A PRESENTATION ABOUT A STUDY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND THEY IDENTIFIED THAT NEARLY 15% OF THE AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE FACING FOOD AND SECURITY, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THEY ALSO CAME WITH A PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THESE PEOPLE FIND HEALTHY FOOD IN AUSTIN.
AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ALSO INCLUDE CAPITAL METRO, WHICH I'M ALSO A TRUSTEE AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH, UH, CAPITAL METRO TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THEIR BUSES THERE BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS, NOT ONLY IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, BUT OTHER LANGUAGES.
SO, UH, I'M HERE TO PRONOUNCE THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS NEARLY 15% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY IN 2021.
THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF COLOR AND WHEREAS FOOD INSECURITY AND A LACK OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTION IS CORRELATED WITH HIGHER RATES OF ADVERSE HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUCH AS HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND CANCER.
AND WHEREAS THE LACK OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR GROCERY STORE WAS HEALTHY.
FOOD OPTIONS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OFTEN SERVE AS A BARRIER BETWEEN FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS AND HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS.
AND WHEREAS RAISING AWARENESS OF THE EQUITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CHALLENGE FACED BY INSECURE RESIDENTS WILL HELP BETTER INFORM SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN.
NOW THERE ARE FOUR I SABINO
A CLASS AND A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RENT-FREE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTERIA STAFF.
WE WANT TO THANK MAYOR ADLER, ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER FONTEZ, AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE, UM, AUSTIN, UH, PUBLIC STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
UH, THE, THE WORK ON THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR, UH, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIVICS LAB AT ST.
AND, UH, THIS IS AN EFFORT BY OVER 75 STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF ALMOST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
UM, AND SO THE CIVICS LAB AT ST EDWARD'S IS A STUDENT LED ADVOCACY GROUP, AND IT'S ORGANIZED AROUND THE INITIATIVE OF HIGHLIGHTING THE GROWING PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THIS WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND FACING FOOD AND JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, UM, THAT ARE ADDRESSING THIS.
A FEW OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE, UM, GABA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN, UM, WHO IS ALSO HERE TODAY AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UM, KEEP AUSTIN FED THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, UM, SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTERS AND MANY OTHERS, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ARE VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN, UM, ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE WORK, THEIR WORK IS THE WORK THAT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
UM, AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SERVING AUSTIN RIGHT NOW INCLUDES OVER 33 LOW INCOME, UH, UH, AREAS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED BY THE USDA AS HAVING UNDERSERVED AREAS OF FOOD INSECURITY.
UM, OUR RESEARCH HAS UNCOVERED AN ALARMING PATTERN, WHICH IF YOU'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN LONG ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE PATTERN, THE I 35 CORRIDOR IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF INEQUALITY.
UM, OUR CITY IS ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED ALONG THAT BORDER AND THAT BOUNDARY AND, UH, FOOD INSECURITY IS ONE OF THE MANY CHALLENGES ALONG THAT BORDER.
[04:50:03]
WE, UM, WE'RE STRONGER WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER A UNITED CITY WITH CITY OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND HIGHER EDUCATION LIKE ST.EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF RAISING AWARENESS IN THE FIGHT TO ELIMINATE HUNGER AND IN OUR INCREDIBLE CITY, UH, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE WORKING TO PUT EQUALITY FIRST AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, PREVENTING MANY TO ACCESS THE CHOICES OF THE LIFE THEY WOULD LIKE TO LIVE.
AND WHEN WE HAVE FOOD INSECURITY AT A CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO LIVING THE LIFE WE CHOOSE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO CERTAINLY NOT THE SOLUTION TO FOOD INJUSTICE.
THE SOLUTION WILL COME FROM ALL OF US IN AUSTIN, SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK EVERYDAY TO ADDRESS THIS FOOD AND JUSTICE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
SO AGAIN, WE THANK MARY ADLER, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIC SIDE AT ST EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY, WE PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND CREATE RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CITY AND THE MANY POLICY CHALLENGES WE HAVE.
I HAVE HERE WITH US, JUST A FEW OF THE CITY OF THE CIVICS LAB, UH, MICHAEL BAUMGARDNER, GEORGE JAMBER AND JAY MOTHER ALL AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF GAVI WHO ARE HERE, UM, AS WELL.
SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS.
AND NOW ALSO I LEFT OUT AND, UH, THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUE VANESSA WENT THERE, SO IT WAS ACTUALLY, I WAS PROUD TO, CO-SPONSOR A RESOLUTION SHE PASSED ON IN SUPPORT OF THE CIVIC CLASS AND THE STUDY THEY'D DONE AND DID COME UP WITH SOME VERY GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, I SAY, THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, IS IT THE OPPORTUNITY? OKAY.
[04:56:18]
STILL APRIL 21ST, 2022.WE HAVE TAKEN OUR BREAK FOR PROCLAMATIONS.
WE HAVE THREE THINGS THAT ARE LEFT IN FRONT OF US.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WANNA UP
[Items 31, 53, & 54]
WHOEVER IT IS, STAFF POINT ON THIS.SO WE HAVE TWO ZONING ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE A RESOLUTION, UH, IN, IN FRONT OF US.
UH, YOU WANT TO LAY IT OFF FOR US, AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO, UH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON FOR EMOTION.
SO LARA KEATING, HOUSING AND PLANNING.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A QUICK BACKGROUND ON ITEMS. 31 53 AND 54 ITEM 31 IS THE 12TH MODIFICATION TO THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN ITEMS, 53 AND 54 AMENDMENTS TO THE EAST 11TH STREET AND 12TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICTS.
THE GENERAL BOUNDARIES ARE ALONG EAST 11TH STREET IN ROSEWOOD AVENUE FROM
THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD RECOMMENDED THESE AMENDMENTS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING TWO GOALS.
THE FOLLOWING GOALS FROM TWO COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UPDATE THE 11TH STREET NCCD TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THE URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY OWNED PROPERTY.
WHILE CONTINUING TO PROMOTE THE VISION SET BY THE COMMUNITY, UPDATE THE DOCUMENTS TO CLARIFY REGULATIONS AND ALIGN THE PLAN WITH THE NCDS.
CURRENTLY THE ZONING STANDARDS WITHIN THE 11TH STREET NCCD AND THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN ARE NOT THE SAME OR CONSISTENT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION ON ALL THREE ITEMS. UM, PLANNING COMMISSION HAS MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO ALL THREE ITEMS AS WELL.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO PUT IN FRONT OF US? NO, THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ON ITEMS NUMBER 31 53 AND 54, UH, WITH THE CHANGES OUTLINED IN THE DISTRICT DISTRIBUTED MOTION SHEET THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN.
UM, BUT FOR FIRST READING ONLY, OKAY, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER? UM, UH, READ 30 SECONDS DISCUSSION YOUR EMOTION.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY BIG DAY FOR DISTRICT ONE.
THESE ITEMS I'LL REPRESENT THE CULMINATION.
YOU GUYS HEARD HOW LONG EVERYBODY MADE NOTE OF HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
IT'S THE CULMINATION OF A VERY LONG PROCESS, UH, THAT HAS INCLUDED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
AND OUR URBAN RENEWAL BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AT THEIR PUBLIC MEETING.
FOR YEARS DURING THAT TIME RESIDENTS IN STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION, AUTHORITY AND OCEAN HAVE PLAYED ROLE A KEY ROLE AND HELPING TO SHAPE WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY MY TEAM CONDUCTED A VERY ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH A PUBLIC SURVEY THAT GATHERED INPUT FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, RENTERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE TWO IMPORTANT CORRIDORS.
WE PUT THAT OUT THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASSING.
WE DID TARGETING ONLINE OUTREACH AND WE EVEN MAILED HUNDREDS OF HARD COPIES TO ADDRESSES SURROUNDING 11TH
[05:00:01]
AND 12TH STREETS.THAT EFFORT, UH, ALONE GARNERED OVER 500 UNIQUE RESPONSES.
WE ASKED PEOPLE WHAT WAS THEIR VISION FOR THIS PART OF THE CITY? AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO SEE WAS A WALKABLE COMPLETE COMMUNITY THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE VISION OF MAKING AUSTIN A MORE COMPACT CONNECTED CITY, WHICH AT ONE TIME IT WAS MANY OF US KNOW, AND IT ALWAYS BEARS REPEATING US SINCE 1928 PLAN ALL BUT FORCED BLACK AUSTINITES TO LIVE IN THE SIX SQUARE MILES.
WE NOW CALL THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT OVER TIME, 11TH AND 12TH STREETS BECAME THE THRIVING VITAL ARTERIES OF BLACK AUSTIN, BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, THEATERS, RESTAURANTS, CLUBS, AND MUCH MORE LINED THESE TWO STREETS THAT ALL CHANGED.
THANKS TO DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND SO-CALLED BENIGN NEGLECT AND DISPLACEMENT JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, URBAN RENEWAL.
DOES IT HAVE THE BEST TRACK RECORD IN AUSTIN AS A MUNICIPALITY, WE BULLDOZE AN ENTIRE WORKING CLASS, A LARGELY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND EASTERN DOWNTOWN AND REPLACED IT WITH PARKING GARAGES, WATERLOO PARK AND BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL.
WE NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT TOP-DOWN DECISIONS LIKE THAT HAVE HAD REAL AND LASTING CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TAKING THE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS THAT GOVERN GROWTH ON THESE CORRIDORS, AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ALIGN WITH, WITH EACH OTHER AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY DESIRES AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THE REGULATIONS ARE MORE STREAMLINED, LESS PRESCRIPTIVE, AND WILL ENCOURAGE THE KIND OF DIVERSE, ACTIVE AND WALKABLE CORRIDORS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
THAT MEANS ALLOWING A VARIETY OF USES AND SERVICES THAT WILL KEEP THE STREETSCAPE ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER WALKED DOWN 12TH STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON.
UM, YOU MIGHT'VE CAUGHT A TUMBLEWEED OR TWO CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING.
UM, UH, 12TH STREET WAS ALL BUT IGNORED DURING THE, DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, 11TH AND 12TH STREET, BOTH RUN THROUGH CHA THROUGH CHANGING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HOME TO A BROAD RANGE OF RESIDENTS WITH DIVERSE PREFERENCES.
AS I SAID, HISTORICALLY, THESE WERE BUSTLING CORRIDORS, BUT LOTS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND SERVICES UP AND DOWN THEM THAT INCLUDES BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS.
THEY WERE JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AS KING TIERS, MORTUARY, OR SAM'S BARBECUE TODAY.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATERING HOLES LIKE NICKEL CITY OR THE COLLECTION OF BARS AT 12TH.
AND SHE COMB PROVIDE WALKABLE BIKEABLE DESTINATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO SOCIALIZE AND RELAX.
AND PER OUR SURVEY, 85% OF THE COMMUNITY THINKS NEIGHBORHOOD PUBS AND INDOOR LIVE MUSIC SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON 11TH AND 12TH STREET.
SO TO BALANCE ALL THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES THAT WE RECEIVED THE MOTION BEFORE US WITH GRANT OWNERS, THAT ABILITY TO REQUEST A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO POTENTIALLY ALLOW FOR A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PUB OR SMALL JAZZ CLUB.
THIS DOES NOT ALLOW BARS BY RIGHT EVERYWHERE.
IT WOULD REQUIRE ANOTHER PUBLIC PROCESS TO VET THE CONTEXT SENSITIVITY OF ANY, EXCUSE ME, OF ANY GIVEN PROPOSED BAR LOUNGE OR MUSIC VENUE.
AS WE SAW WITH THE RECENT DENIAL OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO SELL ALCOHOL AT A BARTON SPRINGS CAFE.
UM, THIS PROCESS IS NO SLAM DUNK OR RUBBER STAMP FOR, TO BE BAR OWNERS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY TARGETED AND BALANCED WAY TO APPROACH THE POLICY QUESTION OF WHERE IS, OR ISN'T APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW A NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, UM, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
I BELIEVE THAT, UM, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS ARE THE MOST CONTEXT SENSITIVE TOOL THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY.
THEY REQUIRE A PUBLIC PROCESS, UM, UH, THROUGH WHICH THE COMMUNITY CAN EVALUATE PROPOSALS AND INDIVIDUALLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, IF AN OWNER WANTS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIRST SUBMIT A SITE PLAN TO STAFF THAT SAYS WHAT THEY PROPOSE TO DO.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE THAT SITE PLAN TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH CAN ADD ANY NUMBER OF CONDITIONS OR THEY CAN EVEN OUTRIGHT REJECT IT.
AND THEN IN THE EVENT THAT PARTIES DON'T AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION, THEY CAN APPEAL TO THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S A FULL PUBLIC PROCESS WITH MULTIPLE CHECKPOINTS.
AND I BELIEVE IT STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM POTENTIAL NUANCE NUISANCES, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THE FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE THE KIND OF WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU SEE IN CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH AMENITIES BUILT FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
IF WE WANT THIS DISTRICT TO BE A THRIVING PLACE FOR ARTISTS AND MUSIC AND CULTURE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN RECONCILE THAT WITH SAYING, BUT ALSO NO NEIGHBORHOOD BARS OR MUSIC VENUES, PERIOD, UM, THAT'S AN ALL OR NOTHING APPROACH.
[05:05:01]
NUANCE AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU YES, BUT WE'RE NOT SLAMMING THE DOOR IN YOUR FACE ENTIRELY EITHER.LET'S HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND REALLY THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING A PUBLIC PROCESS VERSUS HAVING NO PROCESS AT ALL ARE REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD'S PROPOSAL, ALONG WITH MY AMENDMENTS, UM, REPRESENTS A CAREFUL AND INTENTIONAL BALANCE OF VARIOUS FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED.
AND IT WILL START US TOWARDS THE COLLECTIVE GOAL OF REINVIGORATING HISTORIC CORRIDORS WHILE PAYING HONOR AND RESPECT TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT STILL IS SO THICK IN THE AIR AND CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN.
FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER ENTITY.
AND, UH, I STILL REMEMBER GOING UP THERE ON, ON 11TH STREET.
I, I GREW UP ON THAT 1205 EAST 10TH STREET WILLIS WAS A STREET THAT FROM THERE I COULD SEE CHARLIE'S PLAYHOUSE.
IT WAS A NIGHTCLUB THERE THAT ALL, IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT THERE IN THE WEEK, THE BLACK MUSICIANS AND COULD PLAY AT THE AUSTIN WAS SEGREGATED.
AND I REMEMBER EVERY SECOND, ALL THE UT STUDENTS SHOWING UP THERE, INCLUDING ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, THEY PUT HERE ON THE CONSOLE WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO UT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT YOU COULD SEE CHUBBY CHECKERS, THE TEMPTATION, ALL THE GREAT ARTISTS THAT WAS DURING THE SEVENTIES, SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES AND THE CITY DURING THE SEVENTIES, WHEN URBAN RENEWAL CAME TO AUSTIN, THEY DECIDED THAT THAT WAS A BLIGHTED AREA.
THEY CALL THE BARS, SHAMROCK, HILLSIDE PHARMACIES, HOWARD BARBECUE, ALL THESE PLACES THAT WERE VERY ACTIVE BUSINESS PLACES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT OWNED THESE BUSINESSES.
AND THEY JUST CAME IN THERE AND MOVED THEM ALL OUT AND NEVER DID ANYTHING WITH IT.
THIS HAS BEEN THAT DISCUSSION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE SEVENTIES WHERE THEY DESTROYED THAT WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING 12TH STREET, 12TH STREET WAS A VERY ACTIVE AT AS A PLACE WHERE THERE WEREN'T THE DA OR THERE THAT I USED TO ATTEND AS A YOUNG, A YOUNG, A YOUNG YOUNGSTER.
WE HAD ROLLING SKATE, RINGS THEIR BARBECUE JOINTS, CATFISH PARLORS.
WE HAD A RETAIL STORE ON WALLER 11TH STREET, AND, AND I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY DID.
AND I LOST ALL MY BLACK FRIENDS WHEN THAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE THEY ALL HAD TO MOVE OUT AND WE DIDN'T PROVIDE ANYTHING BACK IN RETURN.
AND THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS BACK THEN.
AND THE WAY THEY TREATED MINORITIES IN THAT AREA, THE BROWNS ARE BLACK.
WE USED TO GO THERE ALL THE WEEKEND TO VISIT HER, WHICH WAS JUST A HALF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
SO I, I I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE LOOK AT THE, THE BLACK POPULATION IN AUSTIN, IT, DWAYNE GOES SO FAR SO BADLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HAVE ANYTHING HERE.
THEY'RE MOVING TO HOUSTON HERE JUST RECENTLY.
I MOVED INTO MAINER BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HERE FOR THEM.
THEY LOST THEIR BARBERSHOPS AND SALONS REFER YOU.
WE FINALLY GOT A SALON IN THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S, IT'S A SAD PART OF THE HISTORY THAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH ALL THE DISCRIMINATION.
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING HERE TODAY TO START A SLOW PROCESS OF CHANGE AND BRING IT BACK THE CULTURE OF THE EVENT THAT I MISS SO MUCH IT'S OUT DEARLY, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THAT WAS PART OF MY LIFE GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I D I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE, WELL, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE DONE DECEMBER.
I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK, UM, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND I CAN SEE THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO, AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE WAY YOU'RE DESCRIBING THE, UM, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH HOW IT WORKS, BUT THE WAY YOU'RE DESCRIBING THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ALLOWS FOR, UM, SOME REAL CONSIDERATION OF WHAT WHAT'S NEEDED LOCALLY.
IS THAT, IS THAT THE THING, THE THINKING THERE OR, OKAY.
AND DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THAT'S A PROCESS? I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DO, BUT
[05:10:01]
YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THAT'S A PROCESS THAT REALLY PROVIDES, UH, A TRUE OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR INPUT OR I ABSOLUTELY DO.AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME MISCHARACTERIZATIONS EARLIER FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS ABOUT A LACK OF OUTREACH.
I MEAN, MY TEAM AND, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WERE BLOCK WALKING, WE WERE SENDING OUT SURVEYS AND WE WERE TALKING, WE'VE GOT WITH IT ALMOST 560 SURVEYS COMPLETED.
THAT'S ASTRONOMICAL WHEN YOU'RE, UH, DISTRIBUTING SURVEYS, UH, AT, AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, IN THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A CONCENTRATED AREA, WE DID OUTREACH AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS A COMMUNITY THAT EVERYBODY FEELS COMFORTABLE IN.
SO I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO ALIENATE ANYBODY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS CONSCIENTIOUS ALONG THE WAY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS WHY I APPRECIATE THIS PROCESS.
THERE'S MULTIPLE STOP GAPS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MULTIPLE CHECKPOINTS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE OVERSIGHT THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS PROCESS IS IT MAKES IT FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC.
THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS, AND I, WELL, ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT A QUESTION, MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT.
I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD TO, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
AT LEAST SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.
TO ME, THAT'S, UH, ENFORCEMENT OF NOISE.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S, TO ME, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY AND IT'S ALWAYS A DIFFICULT ONE.
I THINK, I THINK THAT PROCESS IS SEPARATE.
AND APART FROM WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING A PROCESS FOR OFFERING THE OPTION.
SO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A FLOOD OF BARS ON 12TH STREET.
IT WON'T BE A RAINY, IT WON'T BE A SIXTH STREET.
THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SETS OF CONSIDERATIONS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS, IT, THE TESTIMONY WE HEARD EARLIER GIVES ME PAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I WASN'T HEARING THESE COMPLAINTS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.
YOU KNOW, THEY LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT SO MANY OF THEM WERE HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS. SO MY STAFF AND I IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TEXTING BACK AND FORTH TO ONE ANOTHER, JUST RECOGNIZING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DIG INTO.
UM, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY SEPARATE FROM WHAT THE MOTION THAT I PUT BEFORE YOU TODAY IS OKAY.
WELL, UH, I, UH, AND THIS IS ON FIRST READING, RIGHT? SO, UM, I FEEL, UH, THAT I CAN SUPPORT THIS, UM, ON FIRST READING AND I CAN SUPPORT THIS.
AND, UM, IF I CAN BE HELPFUL TO YOUR OFFICE IN HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS ADDRESS THE KIND OF NOISE CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, UM, LET ME KNOW.
UM, CAUSE I KNOW THAT ALL OVER THE CITY, PEOPLE IN SOME AREAS HAVE TROUBLE WITH, WITH NOISE AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP.
AND SO WE NEED TO FIND SOME WAY TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.
BECAUSE HARPER, MADISON, I TOO, AM GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR EMOTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, I, I FOUND HOW NICK COHEN'S TESTIMONY PRETTY COMPELLING.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HARD IN THIS CITY AS YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT, UH, KINDS OF ISSUES.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING CULTURE, PEOPLE ARE, IT'S, IT'S HARD CAUSE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE FIRST, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PRESERVE? UH, AND, AND THIS AREA IN 11 TROTH HAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT HISTORY TO THIS CITY AND WE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THOSE MARKERS, UH, THAT GO BACK TO WHAT I REMEMBER SEEING IN THE SEVENTIES DISAPPEAR AS I WAS ARRIVING INTO THIS CITY.
UH, I THINK THAT THE, UH, MAKING, UH, BARS THAT CONDITIONAL USE, UH, SO THAT IT'S NOT, UH, UH, BUY RIGHT.
UM, BUT UH, REQUIRES A SHOWING AND CAN SEE IF WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL IS THE RIGHT COMPROMISE ON THAT ISSUE.
UH, IF IT'S IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE WANT TO, UH, UH, PROPOSE IT, THEN IT COULD GET HIS WAY RIGHT BACK HERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE, THE, THE PROPER COMPROMISE, BUT I WILL SAY, UH, THAT I AM REAL DISTURBED BY WHAT WE HEARD WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, UH, UH, NUISANCE, UH, THAT THESE NEIGHBORS ARE DEALING WITH.
UH, NOT ONLY THE WA THE BARS THAT ARE THERE PROPERLY, BUT, UH, THE SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE BARS THAT ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE THAT ARE, THAT ARE THERE.
AND RODNEY, I THINK, UM, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND TALKING TO US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
IT SOUNDS AS IF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO EVERYBODY ON STAFF AND CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.
UH, BUT I THINK WE SHOULDN'T LEAVE THIS JUST TO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S OFFICE TO FIX, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
I THINK WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE INTEREST IN THIS.
WE'VE DONE THE SAME KIND OF THING IN OTHER KINDS OF SITUATIONS.
SO IF YOU COULD LOCATE THAT AND FIND OUT WHAT, WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THAT CODE HAS HAD ISSUES.
[05:15:01]
AND IN A LOT OF WAYS, CODE IS DOING SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE WHEN, WHEN, UH, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL BACK SEVEN YEARS AGO, THAT SAID, IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND TAKE TAKING YOU TO A CHARACTER AS WE RUN INTO THE NEXT BUDGET, THAT'S FINE THAT OUT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK TO ALL OF US AND GIVING US SOME MEASURE OF MEMO OR SOMETHING ON THAT.SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S INTEREST IN ALSO HELPING, BUT THAT CERTAINLY IS OUR ROLE TO LOOK AT THE ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO, YES, WE CERTAINLY WILL DIG INTO THIS ISSUE AND ASSIGN THE RESOURCES SHOULD TO THE MAYOR'S POINT.
UM, IT'S A DUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF AUSTIN CODE, AND THEN OUR SOUND ENFORCEMENT, WHICH NOW LIES IN OUR SOUND PERMITTING OFFICE.
AND SO WE'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO HELP OUT WITH THAT ASSISTANCE BECAUSE, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN'S POINT, UM, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TO SLEEP AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC SOUND ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS FOR FOLKS TO ABIDE BY.
AND THAT'S OUR ROLE IS TO ENFORCE THOSE ORDINANCES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS, MY COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT MOST OF THE MOTION TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE, UM, I WOULD LIKE THE CLERK TO REFLECT MY, NO VOTE ON THE CONDITIONAL, THE CONDITIONAL USE, THE AMENDMENT, CREATING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 12TH STREET FOR COCKTAIL LOUNGES.
I'VE GOT TO GIVE THAT SOME MORE THOUGHT COUNCIL NUMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
AND I THINK THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HAD TODAY ON BEHALF OF THAT, I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME MORE THOUGHT TO HAVING, YOU KNOW, AS THE, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS SEVERAL OF THOSE AREAS, WHERE WE HAVE, UM, AN OVERABUNDANCE OF ONE KIND OF USE, INCLUDING ON SIXTH STREET, I HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE BEST PLANNING TOOLS FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A MIX.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, OFFERING THAT CHECK.
AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, BUT I'M NOT PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT TODAY TO SUPPORT THAT PIECE OF IT TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, I DO WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AREAS YOU'RE MAKING REFERENCE TO, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD BUYERS BUY, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE IN HISTORIC AUSTIN, IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO BUILD THINGS THERE AND THEY HAVE IT BY, RIGHT.
AND SO THAT'S THE DISTINCT DIFFERENCE.
UM, COUNCILMAN PREPPER, MADISON THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAD PUT PUT INTO THIS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND, UM, YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE AREA WELL, AND, AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, I STILL HAVE I'M, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THIS ON FIRST READING.
I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO UNDERSTAND ON THE, ON THE, UM, COCKTAIL LOUNGE PORTION.
UM, BUT LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION TONIGHT.
CAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE THAT ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER FOR ME IS AS I UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION, YOU'RE MAKING COCKTAIL LOUNGES, UM, THAT ARE 3,500 SQUARE FEET OR LESS A CONDITIONAL USE ON 12TH STREET.
AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED LARGER ON 12TH STREET.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE THING FOR 12TH STREET, BUT NOT ON 11TH STREET? UM, WHAT WAS THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT WE WANT IT TO, UM, WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT ANY POTENTIAL PROJECTS SEEKING TO, UM, GET THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR COCKTAIL LOUNGES, UH, REALLY STARTS ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND MATCHES THE SCALE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE NEIGHBOR'S POINT.
WE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO BUILD ANY LARGER.
SO WE LIMITED THE ALLOWABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THIS WAS ON PAR WITH EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS.
AND SO WE BASICALLY TRIED TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, SOME BOOTS THAT MAKE THEM IDENTICAL TO WHAT EXISTS CURRENTLY.
AND SO THE ONES THAT EXIST ON 11TH STREET ARE LARGER THAN THE I'M TRYING TO THINK OF OF, I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S DEFINITELY LARGER, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S CONSIDERED A BAR CAUSE THEY SERVE FOOD NICKEL CITY, I DON'T THINK IS LARGER.
I THINK IT'S REALLY THE ONLY BAR ON 11TH.
I JUST, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE SAME SIZE ISSUE ON, ON 11TH STREET.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME SIZE ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S ALREADY 3,500 SQUARE FOOT ON 11.
UM, COULD STAFF CLARIFY THAT PERHAPS? SO IT MIGHT'VE BEEN IN THE BASE THAT WAY.
I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT COULD YOU CLARIFY FOR ME? YEAH.
UH, LAURIE KEATING, HOUSING AND PLANNING, UH, THERE IS NO SIZE LIMIT, UM, ON 11TH STREET BARS, 11TH STREET IS GENERALLY, UM, HAS LARGER BUILDINGS THAN 12TH STREET.
OKAY, WELL MAYBE I'M COUNCILMEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
CAUSE IT SEEMED STRANGE TO ME TO HAVE THE DIFFERENCE, UH, MAYBE BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND READING, YOU CAN, UM, WITH YOUR EXTRA KNOWLEDGE, YOU CAN CONSIDER WHETHER THAT MIGHT BE A STEP WE COULD TAKE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR 11TH.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION? SO,
[05:20:01]
UM, WE HAVE TWO AREAS, 11TH AND 12TH STREET, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT ON 12TH STREET, YOU MADE COCKTAIL LOUNGES, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, BUT IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE IF THEY'RE 3,500 SQUARE FEET OR LESS.UM, AND SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T PUT A SIMILAR SIZE RESTRICTION, WHETHER IT'S 3,500 OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON 12TH STREET, IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE SIZE RESTRICTION, I'M STILL CONFUSED.
UM, SO, SO ON 12TH STREET YOU HAVE A SIZE RESTRICTION ON 11TH STREET.
AND I I'M GUESS I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE USEFUL OR APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A SIZE RESTRICTION ON 11TH STREET AS WELL.
I'LL CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT.
I THINK MOSTLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE 11TH STREET, UM, IN CCD IS WHAT WE'RE MODELING THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE 12TH STREET NCCD AFTER WE USE THE SKYLARK LAR UH, SKYLIGHT SKY LARK LOUNGE AS OUR MODEL.
AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WE WANT THE ESTABLISHMENT TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD A LIMITED CAPACITY AND A SMALL STAGE.
AND SO THAT'S MORE OR LESS WHAT WE WERE MODELING.
AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WILL WOULDN'T THAT BE THE SAME GOAL ON 11TH STREET? I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT, UM, I'M NOT ASKED FOR SOME CLARITY, BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 11TH STREET HAD A 3,500 SQUARE FOOT CAP AS WELL.
FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT AT THAT, THAT WAS THE CASE ALREADY, CURRENTLY.
IT DOES NOT, BUT I CAN DOUBLE CHECK.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THAT TODAY, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
THE CHANGES ARE JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE VICTORY GRILL? UH, I JUST, IT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL I'VE BEEN TO IT.
I'VE SEEN CHOSEN IT, BUT THERE WERE RARE, YOU KNOW, ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, THEY'LL HAVE A SHOW AT THE VICTORY GRILL AND IT JUST DISAPPOINTS ME TO SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC VENUE, JUST SITTING THERE EMPTY, BEEN IN IT RECENTLY.
IT'S A FULL-BLOWN AT CAPACITY RESTAURANT.
I HAVE NOT, YOU SHOULD GO VISIT.
IT SAY IT'S A WONDERFUL A PLACE AND A GYM.
AND, UH, I HOPE THEY, UH, THE NCCD REALLY BOOSTS, UH IT'S UH, IT'S IT'S PROSPECTS BUSINESS.
UH, AS MADE BY COUNCILLOR HARPER, MADISON IS TO PROVE ON FIRST READING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE, UH, UH, THE BOARD, THE STAFF, UH, WITH THE ADDITIONAL, A BED GRIDS THAT WERE POSTED BY THE, UH, CASPER HARPER, MADISON, AND SUBJECT TO THE STATEMENT OF RECORD, UH, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT YOU'VE WANTED TO INCLUDE IT.
LET'S TAKE THE BOAT, THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DIETS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL THE STUFF WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT AT SEVEN 17, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.