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[Additonal Item]
WE CONVENE THE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEETING, UH, MANAGER.LET ME RECOGNIZE YOU FOR SOME RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IF I COULD ACTUALLY ASK, UH, ACMP AND DACA AND THEN DIRECTOR SPILLER TO JOIN US AT THE FRONT OF CHAMBERS, UH, I'M ASKING OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL TO JOIN ME IN BIDDING, A BOND, A FOND FAREWELL TO OUR COLLEAGUE IN AUSTIN AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
ROBERT SPILLER, ROB JOINED THE CITY IN 2008 IS OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS BUILT AN INDEPENDENT MOBILITY FOCUSED ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS GROWING FROM A SINGLE EMPLOYEE TO 425 PROFESSIONALS.
HE SECURED $1.5 BILLION IN MOBILITY, A BILLION DOLLARS IN MOBILITY FUNDING ESTABLISH THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM WITH QUANTIFIABLE REDUCTIONS AND FATAL AND SERIOUS CRASHES LAUNCHED THE DATA.
RICH, SMART CITIES APPROACH TO SOLVING, PRESSING MOBILITY AND SOCIAL NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES ON MANY INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS TO POSITION AUSTIN.
AS A LEADER IN MOBILITY, I WANT TO THANK ROB FOR HIS DEDICATION AND MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO OUR COMMUNITY WHILE HE'LL BE MISSED.
WE WISH HIM ONLY THE BEST AS HE EMBARKS ON HIS NEXT LIFE CHAPTER.
I DO HAVE TWO, UH, UH, MOMENTOS, IF YOU WILL, A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD THAT I LIKE TO PRESENT FOR 14 YEARS OF TIRELESS SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND PROVIDING INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AS AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR TOWARDS A NEW DIRECTION IN MOBILITY MANAGEMENT.
ROBERT SPILLER IS THE OBSERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION, THEREFORE, ON THIS 19TH DAY OF MAY, 2022 AND SECOND, I HAVE A STREET SIGN, WHICH IS ROB'S PLACE FROM THE 2008 TO 2022.
AGAIN, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE HAS BEEN INVALUABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL FOR ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS I'D LIKE TO ASK ACMP AND DOCTORS TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS AS WELL.
IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SOMEONE WHO HAS DEDICATED SO MANY YEARS IN HIS CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
UM, AND TO SAY THOSE TWO WORDS THAT IN PUBLIC SERVICE, WE DON'T HEAR OFTEN ENOUGH.
AND THOSE WORDS ARE JUST, THANK YOU, ROB SPIELER IS SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY IS LEAVING HIS MARK AND HIS IMPACT ON OUR CITY.
AND YOU CAN JUST LOOK OUT ONTO OUR LANDSCAPE AND SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT, THAT HE'S LED AS OUR FIRST TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
BUT AS THE CITY'S ENGINEER, HE'S ALSO SHEPHERDED OUR DEPARTMENTS THROUGH THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE PHASE IN MOBILITY THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
AND THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE WITH A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT'S COMING HERE, REBUILDING OUR
ROB HAS BEEN OUR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AND OUR DIRECTOR THROUGH THOSE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS.
AND MORE SO AS WE CELEBRATE HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE KNOW THAT HE LEAVES A STRONG LEGACY IN A DEPARTMENT THAT IS WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE LEADING THE CITY.
UH, PERSONALLY, ROB HAS BEEN SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OF HIS STAFF IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, BUT ACROSS THE MOBILITY PORTFOLIO, HE WILL BE MISSED BY ME PERSONALLY AND BY OUR COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, THOSE, THOSE TWO WORDS THAT WE DON'T HEAR OFTEN ENOUGH, ROB.
JUST WANTED TO SEE IF I HAD THE MIRROR.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO SPEAK BEFORE WE GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SPEAK REP.
YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND KICK US OFF.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I TOUCHED BRIEFLY ON THIS THE OTHER DAY WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU STOOD UP JUST FOR FEAR THAT WE WOULDN'T GET BACK HERE AGAIN.
UH, BUT I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS.
I MEAN, THIS TRULY IS, AND HAS BEEN UNDER YOUR REIGN, THE GOLDEN AGE OF MOBILITY, UH, IN THIS CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN PEOPLE DID POLLING TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE'S HEADS WERE AT, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THIS CITY WAS MOBILITY AND THE DESIRE FOR US TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE CHOICES, A DESIRE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO INVEST, UH, YOU KNOW, EIGHT, NINE YEARS AGO, WE WERE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UH, FAILURE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, ASSOCIATED PERHAPS WITH, YOU KNOW, POLICIES THAT SOME FELT WERE WERE BORN OF.
LET'S NOT INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PEOPLE WON'T COME AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
BUT I REMEMBER, UH, UH, IN 2016 WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR FIRST MOBILITY BOND, UH, AND WHAT THE SIZE OF THAT BOND SHOULD BE, HOW
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AMBITIOUS SHOULD WE BE IN PROVIDING FOR, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE? WE WERE LOOKING AT THE NEED FOR REAL IMPORTANT PROJECTS ON, ON, ON LOOP 360 AT INTERSECTIONS, UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, THE NORTHWEST PART OF TOWN.BUT, UH, WE WERE LOOKING AT BRIDGE REPAIR.
WE WERE LOOKING AT CORRIDOR AT WORK, WHICH WAS THE BULK OF IT.
AND, AND WHEN IT WAS SUGGESTED, AND, AND SOME OF US WERE ADVOCATING FOR $720 MILLION BOND PROPOSITION, IT SEEMED HUGE AT THE TIME.
AND IT WAS GIVEN THE FACT THAT IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY CUMULATIVELY IN THE PROCEEDING 20 YEARS, WE HADN'T DONE, BUT $630 MILLION IN BONDING ON MOBILITY.
BUT THEN THAT $720 MILLION BOND, WHICH WAS PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY BY THE COMMUNITY WAS FOLLOWED UP TWO YEARS LATER IN 2018 WITH YET MORE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IN 2020, UH, AN ELECTION THAT HAD TWO PROPOSITIONS, BOTH MO MOBILITY.
SO WE WENT FROM AN ERA WHERE WE WEREN'T INVESTING TO A PLACE NOW WHERE WE ARE DOUBLING THE SIZE OF OUR AIRPORT IN A $4 BILLION PROJECT WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE ADDING CAPACITY ONTO
UH, BUT CAPPING IT AND BRINGING BACK A DIVIDED COMMUNITY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, AN $8 BILLION PROJECT AND PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, A $10 BILLION, UH, PROJECT.
UH, THAT'S GOING TO BRING MOBILITY TO PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT, THAT JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE OPTIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE, WE'VE GONE FROM HAVING THE ALL AGES, ALL ABILITY, UH, BICYCLE NETWORK, WHICH WE KNOW PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO USE IT UNTIL IT'S A REAL NETWORK.
AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY GO FROM A BEGINNING PLACE TO AN ENDING PLACE THAT WAS ON ITS OWN TRACK.
AND TO GET DONE IN THE EARLY 2030S WILL NOT BE COMPLETED BY 2025.
YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK DONE ON DIFFICULT ISSUES IN THIS CITY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, PERHAPS SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK WE HAVE DONE HAS BEEN IN MOBILITY.
UH, AND, AND WE'VE HAD A UNITED COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE, UH, BUT WE NEEDED BOLD LEADERSHIP THAT WAS WILLING TO ACTUALLY DO THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK.
AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE ADVOCATING FOR THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK, UM, UH, THE TOUGH CHANGES, MOVING BICYCLE LANES AND BUS LANES TO OUR STREETS, BUT JUST RUNNING THE GAMUT.
SO, UH, YOU ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOLDEN AGE OF MOBILITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY, MY THANKS AS WELL.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL LET, UH, PAGE COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS GO.
OUR TWO CHAIRS OF, OF MOBILITY.
YES, I, YOU KNOW, I SAID SOME OF THIS IN THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, BUT I WANT TO NOW SAY THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE PRESENT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT W I WAS VERY PLEASED TO, UM, AND, AND PRIVILEGED AND LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BE THE FIRST CHAIR OF THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR, UH, COUNCIL AND, AND YOU HELPED US, YOU HELPED MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE ON MOBILITY AS THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SAYING.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND YOU ALSO MADE IT A VERY FUN AND JOYFUL EXPERIENCE.
UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WHICH I WON'T MENTION THAT WERE NOT AS FUN AS YOU KNOW, BUT, UM, ANYWAY, UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS A PROBLEM SOLVER, UH, YOU'RE CREATIVE, AND YOU ALWAYS SAY, WHAT CAN I DO NOT, I CAN'T, AND THAT IS HUGE FOR A CITY.
AND YOU HAVE BUILT A STAFF THAT HAS THE SAME, WHAT I WOULD CALL JUST A VERY JOYFUL APPROACH TO WHAT THEY DO.
IT'S CREATIVE, IT'S PROBLEM SOLVING.
AND HERE'S HOW, AND, UM, AND IT'S JUST A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'VE DONE IT AND THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU'VE BUILT THAT WILL CONTINUE ON.
AND SO T TO YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND TO EVERYONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.
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MUCH, COUNCIL MARY ALICE, AND I'M FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TAKEN OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.SO I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS ABOUT MOBILITY IN AUSTIN, BUT, UM, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BUILT A GREAT DEPARTMENT WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE.
UM, WE'VE HAD SUCCESS WITH MANY BONDS AND, AND THE BUILD-OUT OF THOSE BONDS AND THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF HOW, HOW TO CREATE THOSE PROGRAMS MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO I KNOW THAT, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, THE WAY YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ABLE TO BE VERY FORWARD-THINKING, UM, HAS SET OUR CITY UP FOR MAJOR SUCCESSES THAT I KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SOMETIMES SOME GROWING PAINS AND SOME TUG OF WAR ABOUT HOW TO, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND HOW DO WE GET EVERYTHING WE WANT OUT OF THE PHYSICAL GRID THAT OUR CITY ENCOMPASSES, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ALWAYS HAVE, HAVE MADE THIS FUN.
I HAVE FUN CHAIRING THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY ELSE HAS FUN WITH IT, BUT I REALLY GET TO ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I KNOW MY TEAM FEELS THE SAME WAY, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU, MEMBER COUNCIL, MEMBER KELLY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A VICE-CHAIR OF MOBILITY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW YOU A LOT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO IN MY TENURE.
AND I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS DURING THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, BUT AS A NEW BABY COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING ME WHAT I NEED TO KNOW AND, AND THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A WAY THAT WILL REALLY HELP SEE THE FUTURE VISION OF THE CITY.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR HAD SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE, THE MINDSET OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IF WE DON'T BUILD IT, THEY WON'T COME.
I KNOW THAT I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.
AND SO IT'S A STRUGGLE TO GET PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS, BUT WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN OUR CITY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT TRULY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE.
AND YOU'VE REALLY MADE MOBILITY FUN, TRYING NEW SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILITY LIKE MICRO MOBILITY DOWNTOWN AND UTILIZING THOSE PROTECTED BIKE WAYS HAS REALLY CHANGED MY OVERALL IDEA ABOUT WHAT MOBILITY CAN BE AND THE VISION THAT WE HAVE SET FORWARD FOR THE CITY.
AND FOR THAT, I WILL BE FOREVER THANKFUL.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT'S YOUR LEGACY, MAKING MOBILITY FUN AND BETTER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, NEVER PRETEND.
AND, UM, I SHARED THIS AT THE MOBILITY, UH, COMMITTEE, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW AND SERVING ON CAMPO AND MOBILITY COMMITTEE THAT, THAT WHOLE TIME.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY ADMIRE ABOUT YOU IS YOUR ABILITY TO HIRE STELLAR STAFF.
UM, AND WHILE YOU ARE LEAVING, I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS BECAUSE, UM, YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED A STAFF THAT REALLY APPROACHES, UM, MOBILITY AND HOLISTIC WAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU STARTED.
UM, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, WHICH I THINK WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PLANNING PROCESS THAT TOOK EVERYONE'S POINT OF VIEW AND FIGURED OUT A WAY FORWARD, UM, THAT ALLOWED US TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON OUR MOBILITY ISSUES, UM, BUT ALLOWED US TO HAVE THE NUANCE WHERE WE NEEDED IT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE ALSO NEED A POLICY ON THIS, OR WE ALSO NEED A POLICY ON THAT, UM, AND EXPANDED HOW WE THINK ABOUT MOBILITY TO REALLY, UM, KEEP IN MIND, UM, THE CLIMATE AND NOW WITH THE NEW AMENDMENTS, THE, THE ROLE IN PREPAREDNESS AND EVACUATION, THE EQUITY COMPONENTS, ET CETERA.
UM, AND SO, SO I, I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PLANS IN PLACE AS YOU MOVE ON AND WISH YOU WELL, THANK YOU.
WELL, UM, GOING LAST OR NEAR LAST, UM, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, BUT I JUST WANT TO REFLECT BACK ON, ON WHAT A TREMENDOUS SEA CHANGE HAS HAPPENED WITH REGARD TO MOBILITY HERE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUST IN THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE EARLY PART OF THAT, UH, THERE WERE LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND ABOUT TAXI CABS AND FRANCHISES AND DRIVER SALARIES, BECAUSE SO MANY DRIVERS WERE OUT ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, 12 HOURS A DAY, LONG HOURS MAKING SUCH LITTLE MONEY AND TRYING TO GET THAT RIGHT BALANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF FRANCHISES AND A FAIR SYSTEM THAT, THAT SUPPORTED THOSE WHO LABORED IN IT.
UH, IT WAS SO MUCH PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND OF COURSE, THAT CONVERSATION SHIFTED SO DRAMATICALLY WITH THE ADVENT OF RIDESHARES.
AND I DID, I WENT AHEAD AND NAMED IT COUNTS, NUMBER KITCHEN, UM, ONTO SCOOTERS.
I MEAN, THE, JUST THE KINDS OF OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW THAT WERE UNAVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TIME HERE AT THE CITY IS, HAS, UM, IS, IS REALLY REMARKABLE.
AND YOU HAVE, HAVE WEATHERED, UM, ALL OF THOSE CHANGES AND EMBRACE THEM AND, UH, GUIDED US IN THE DIRECTIONS WITH SUCH GRACE AND PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE THROUGH ONE, UH, FAILED, REAL VOTE THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME TO THE TREMENDOUS
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SUCCESS, UM, PASSAGE OF PROJECT CONNECT AND THE AMAZING STRONG START AND, AND THE BRAUN PROJECTS, WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE.BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES OF DOING A BOND PACKAGE THAT LARGE IS HAVING THE STAFF AND THE CAPABILITY TO DELIVER ON THOSE PROJECTS IMMEDIATELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND WELL SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN IMMEDIATELY SEE THAT INVESTMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MADE IT LOOK EASY AND SO EASY THAT PROBABLY MOST, MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING ON THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE ENJOYING THOSE BIKE LANES OR APPRECIATING THOSE SAFER INTERSECTIONS ARE UNAWARE OF THE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS STAFF EFFORT THAT IT TAKES TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC IN SUCH A TIMELY WAY.
AND THAT TOO IS REALLY BEEN EXTRAORDINARY AND, AND HARD.
I MEAN, ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES I MENTIONED AND ALL OF THESE NEW DIRECTIONS, UM, HAVE HAPPENED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION.
YOU KNOW, THESE, AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME NOW, BUT THEY WERE NOT BEING DISCUSSED, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TIME HERE AT THE CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IN, IN SUMMARY, THANK YOU FOR AGAIN, FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE EXPERTISE THROUGH ALL OF THESE HUGE CHANGES IN MOBILITY HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, AND I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR IT FOR ALL OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU AND, UH, BEST BEST TO YOU IN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURES.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WERE TRYING TO GET MY ATTENTION TO THAT.
WELL, I WAS GONNA, I WAS GONNA WAIT AND GO LAST BUT HAPPY I WAS TAKING NOTES AND HERE'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD SEE CHANGE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID LEADING AND SEE CHANGE ASSEMBLING A FANTASTIC TEAM AROUND YOU.
YOU'RE SHEPHERDING BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS IN ALL PARTS OF OUR TOWN AND TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND, AND LEGACY.
AND I THINK THAT IS PERHAPS THE BIGGEST WORD YOU MADE IT ALL LOOK EASY.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT ISN'T AND CONGRATULATIONS ON CREATING A LEGACY.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US HOPE TO DO IN, IN OUR LIVES TO, TO HAVE A LONG LASTING, UM, TO HAVE SOMETHING OUTLIVE US.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE DONE THAT QUITE WELL HERE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL BEST WISHES TO YOU.
ROB, I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE LAST, NEARLY EIGHT YEARS WITH YOU.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
UH, UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MY WIFE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, DR.
LYNN SPILLER, AND SHE CAME DOWN TO SURPRISE ME.
YOU GUYS GAVE ME A HEADS UP THAT I, THAT SHE WAS SCOLDED GOING TO TAKE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO EMBARRASS ME.
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT I WAS, I, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE YOUR SPOUSE OUT OF PLACE, WHEN YOU DON'T EXPECT IT, YOU GET WORRIED, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE VERY KIND WORDS THAT THAT IS AMAZING.
UM, YOUR THOUGHTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT'S A PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT I'VE ACHIEVED WITHOUT COUNSEL AND WITHOUT SUPPORTIVE CITY MANAGERS.
AND AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, THE GREAT STAFF, MANY OF THEM ARE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE CAME, I CAME FORWARD WITH A BOND PROPOSAL OR A CRAZY FUNDING IDEA, I THOUGHT WAS OUTRAGEOUS.
YOU GUYS ALWAYS ASK CAN'T WE DO MORE.
UH, THAT'S PROBABLY THE UNTOLD STORY IS THAT YOU GUYS WERE REALLY AMAZINGLY COURAGEOUS.
UH, YOU ALL IN, IN YOUR PREDECESSORS, IF YOU'VE REPLACED SOMEONE IN, IN MY 14 YEARS, UM, I'VE NEVER RUN INTO PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MORE COURAGEOUS THAN YOURSELVES.
UH, IT REALLY HAS BEEN AMAZING.
UH, AND SO THANK YOU, UH, AND, AND IS YOUR LEGACY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD CLAIM, UM, THAT AUSTIN IS A BETTER PLACE TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT WHAT TO BUILD IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, AS OPPOSED TO NOT BUILDING IT OR BUILDING IT, OR WHAT POLICY TO PUT IN PLACE, AS OPPOSED TO A POLICY DON'T DON'T DO ANYTHING.
UM, I REALLY DO BELIEVE, UH, I THINK SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GROWTH THAT'S COMING TO AUSTIN, CAUSE WE'RE REALLY COOL PLACE TO BE, THEN CONTROL THE OUTCOME.
AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A BETTER CITY, A BETTER COMMUNITY, A MORE MOBILE COMMUNITY, WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, THE RELIGION YOU HAVE, THAT THE RACE YOU COME FROM DOES NOT PREDICT YOUR OUTCOME.
THAT THAT'S TRULY EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION HAS A ROLE IN THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT, BUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY.
AND, AND AS WE FOUND THINGS THAT NEEDED TO CHANGE, UM, I THINK LEADERS NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS TO CHANGE IT.
AND SO WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT AS WELL.
SO, UH, IT HAS BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO WORK WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, CERTAINLY THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, BUT
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EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE HAD A PLACE IN TERMS OF HELPING AUSTIN BECOME A MORE, UM, LITTLE D DEMOCRATIC MOBILITY, UM, COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN.SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
MA'AM ALL RIGHT WITH THAT SAID, LET'S
[Call to Order]
GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND CONVENE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, TODAY IS, UH, YES.UM, I THINK SOME OF US WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH ROB AND HIS STREET SIGN.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE WASN'T LEAVING.
SO ROB CAN ACTUALLY LEAVE IF HE WANTS TO LET'S COME ON DOWN HERE IN FRONT.
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ALL RIGHT, GUYS, I THINK THAT WE CAN, UH, TODAY IS THURSDAY, MAY 19TH, 2022.WE ARE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, EVERYONE HERE WITH US, UH, TODAY AND ON THE, UH, ON THE DAY S COLLEAGUES HAMMER, GO AHEAD AND READ IN, UH, THE CHANGES AND, AND CORRECTION FOR, UH, FOR PEOPLE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS GOING TO BE POSTPONED TO JUNE 16TH, 2022, ITEM NUMBER 12, UH, WHEN, BEFORE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON MAY 11, 20, 22, BUT THERE WAS NO, UH, RECOMMENDATION DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM VOTES, WHICH NEARLY IN COMMISSIONERS PAN, UH, I CALL AND TO RIETTA RECUSING COMMISSIONER MUST GROW, WAS ABSENT, AND THERE WAS ONE VACANCY ON MAY 13 ON ITEM 13, RATHER, ALSO ON MAY 11TH.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION SIX OH VOTE WITH CHAIR LEE AND COMMISSIONERS, PAT AND MICHAEL RECUSING, AND MUST GROW ABSENT ONE VACANCY ITEM, 16, SAME DAY, MAY 11 RECOMMENDED BY WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON THE NIGHT.
OH, VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER MUSGROVE ABSENT ONE VACANCY ITEM NUMBER 17, UH, HAS BEEN CORRECTED SO THAT THIS LEASE WITH THE ESCAPE GAME, UH, AUSTIN IS JUST FOR APPROXIMATELY 5,070 SQUARE FEET OF RE RETAIL SPACE AT 4 0 5 AND 2040 SQUARE FEET AT 4 0 7 RED RIVER STREET.
I HAVE NUMBER 36 COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER.
MADISON IS BEING ADDED AS A SPONSOR 37 COUNCIL MEMBERS, VALLA AND POOL TO BRING ADDED AND SPONSORS, UH, BE ADVISED THAT WHEN WE CAN TAKE UP ITEMS 54 AND 50, WHICH, UH, WE WILL DO, UM, UH, AFTER WE HAVE, UH, UH, PUBLIC TESTIMONY, 1554 AND 55, RATHER 54 AND 55.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 53 ON MAY 10TH, 2022 IS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON 13 OH VOTE ITEM.
NUMBER 69 IS REPLACED, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM AGENDA, ITEM 95, ITEM NUMBER 88, COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL AND VELA ARE BEING ADDED AS CO-SPONSORS ITEM NUMBER 89.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM ALTERS BEING ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
I HAD TO REMEMBER 90 COUNCIL MEMBERS, POOL AND ALTAR BEING ADDED AS SPONSORS AND ITEM NUMBER 94, UH, IS, UH, UM, APPROVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ON AN EIGHT THREE VOTE ON MAY 18TH, UH, 20, UH, 22.
UM, TODAY WE HAVE ITEMS BEING PULLED.
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 88 BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, YOU WANTED TO PULL HAVE NUMBER 18 AS WELL, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
IT WAS ACTUALLY NUMBER 85 THAT I PULLED NOT 88.
THERE'S A LAID BACK UP AND HFC ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
PLEASE REMIND ME TO SAY THAT WHEN WE CAN BE IN THAT MEETING AND IN OUR COUNCIL MEETING, THERE'S LAID BACK UP AND ITEMS 3, 5 19 32 48, 49, 54 55, 60 64 65 67, 70 75, 78, 79, 80 81 82, 83, 4 87 AND 90 AND A 94 COLLEAGUES ITEM NUMBER 12 ON OUR, UH, UH, DE S WAS THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, UH, AGREEMENT WHERE, UH, THE STAFF HAD MADE A RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO, UH, GO
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DOWN THROUGH, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 11.I'D LIKE TO READ, UH, AND, AND AN AMENDMENT TO THAT.
UH, AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, UH, WE'LL AMEND THAT AND KEEP THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, IT'S BEEN HANDED OUT, HAS BEEN POSTED.
IT'S ALSO IN, UH, UH, LATE BACKUP AT THIS POINT.
WHEREAS THE LIST OF FIRMS, THE CITY STAFF MADE NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH, OR FOUND TO INCLUDE OTHER QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS, MEANING THE FIRMS SUBMITTED RESPONSIVE STATEMENTS OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
THE CITY IN RESPONSE TO THIS WAS A STATION AT ISSUE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE DISCRETION TO ADD THESE OTHER QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE ENGINEERING SERVICES SOLICITED BECAUSE ADDING THESE FIRMS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FIRMS AVAILABLE IN THE ROTATION LIST, AS WELL AS ADD TO THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY AND AUSTIN WATER UNDER THE ROTATION LIST.
WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL DECISION, UH, TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL OR BASED ARE NEITHER BASED ON NOR INFLUENCED BY RATES PRICES OR FEES, UM, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, I WOULD, UH, MOVE THAT WE INCLUDE THE OTHER QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS TO THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION SOLICITATION NUMBER CLM P 3, 3, 3, UH, RANKED 12 AND 13 BY CITY STAFF PER THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT.
A EVERYBODY OBJECTION TO THAT.
HEARING NONE THAT AMENDMENT IS ADDED.
UH, THIS ITEM 12 WILL REMAIN ON OUR, UH, CONSENT, UH, AGENDA CASUAL MEMBER FOR THIS.
I JUST WANTED COLLEAGUES WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION AND I AM OFFERING TWO MOTION SHEETS.
ONE IS ON ITEM 88, WHICH IS, UH, THIS MOTION SHEET WOULD JUST AMEND THE SECOND BEAT RESOLVED TO READ AS FOLLOWS.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO DEVELOP A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DECISION ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DECISIONS IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EMPLOYMENT, GENERALLY, AND EMPLOYMENT BY CITY CONTRACTORS.
UM, THIS MOTION, SHE CAME WITH CONSULTATION FROM OUR OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND IT ADDS THE WORDS, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT BY CITY CONTRACTORS.
UH, THE SECOND MOTION SHEET IS FOR ITEM 89 AND IT'S REALLY JUST DIRECTION TO STAFF TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE RANGES RANGE OF SIZES FOR TAMPONS AND PADS AS PART OF THE, OUR EFFORTS, ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE AMENDMENTS BEING ADDED HAIRY, NONE OF THOSE ARE ADDED IN THOSE ITEMS THAT WILL REMAIN ON CONSENT.
I KNOW I SPOKE BRIEFLY ON TUESDAY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 90 AND I DON'T KNOW THE APPROPRIATE TIME, BUT I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO POSTPONE THAT JUST SO I HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL MY QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE A POSTPONEMENT ON CONSENT OR IF WE NEED TO PULL THAT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION LATER, BUT 90, THIS IS THE, UH, UH, RED VELVET CODE ENVIRONMENTAL.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I SUPPORT THAT, UH, UH, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS A VERSION TWO POSTED YESTERDAY, UM, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE RED LINES, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A RED LINE VERSION THAT COULD BE POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD JUST SO WE COULD SEE WHAT, UM, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE MAYOR BE GLAD TO DO THAT.
I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST INDICATE THAT THE CHANGES WERE, UM, I THINK THERE WERE JUST TWO OR THREE PLACES AND THEY WERE INCORPORATING LANGUAGE THAT THE STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED CHANGING ON TUESDAY.
I HAD INDICATED THAT, UH, WATERSHED STAFF AND OUR WATER UTILITY WERE REVIEWING IT AND HAD SOME ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS AND THE CHANGES, THE ONLY CHANGES ARE THOSE TO ACCOMMODATE THE STAFF'S REQUESTS.
SO I WILL CERTAINLY HAVE THAT CHANGE.
THOSE CHANGES, UM, POINTED OUT.
I CAN EITHER POINT THEM OUT HERE ON THE DINOSAUR.
UM, BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOT, UH, SUBSTANTIAL AND THEY WERE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO ITEM NUMBER 90 IS PULLED A COUNCIL MEMBER IN KOREA.
I WANT TO POSTPONE THE ITEM 19 FOR TWO WEEKS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING ITEM NUMBER 19 FOR TWO WEEKS HEARING NONE THAT WILL THE POSTPONEMENT.
WE HAVE A MEETING AND WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.
SO IT'D BE TILL, UM, ON, ON JUNE, ON JUNE 9TH, ON JUNE 9TH, POSTPONE TO JUNE 9TH.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE DID UNITE WILL BE WHAT IS CONSIDERED ON CONSENT.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE HEAR FROM SPEAKERS? YES.
I HAVE TWO ITEMS. ONE IS ITEM 36, WHICH IS THE BENGALI,
[00:35:01]
UM, FEE WAIVER FOR A FESTIVAL AND WE ARE SHY.AND CURRENTLY WITH, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
AND AN INCREASE FROM MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER.
AND SO IF Y'ALL WOULD HAVE A LOOK AT ITEM 36 AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION WE'D LIKE TO MAKE, AND THEN, UM, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK TO INCREASE THAT THE AMOUNT IS WAIVED.
AND THEN, AND I JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, HOW MUCH SURE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I'M IN ALREADY FOR 300 AND I'M LIKE MY TOTAL 500.
I CAN GO AHEAD AND CONTRIBUTE A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CLERK GETS SOLID, THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN IT CAN BE ADDED TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
AND THEN I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 40, WHICH IS THE NORTH BURNET GATEWAY CODE AMENDMENTS.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, ITEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SECOND DOWNTOWN, UM, UP AT THE DOMAIN AREA, THE NORTH VERNON GATEWAY AREA, THESE CODE AMENDMENTS ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ENTITLEMENTS OF THE CMU GATEWAY ZONE SUBDISTRICT.
THEY WILL ENHANCE THIS GROWING AREA BY SUPPORTING TRANSIT AND WALKABILITY WITHIN THE AREA THAT IS CONSIDERED AUSTIN.
WE'VE MADE AMENDMENTS TO THE NORTH BURNET GATEWAY REGULATING PLANS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, IT'S BEEN DONE IN PATCHWORK STYLE AS IT HAS BEEN NEEDED.
AND SO FAR THIS APPROACH HAS WORKED OUT, BUT I PREFER THAT WE DO A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE FOR THE REGULATING PLAN AS PROPER FORETHOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION OF THE GROWTH IN THIS AREA.
IT ALSO, UH, WILL NOT BE AS MUCH WORK FOR EVERYONE IF WE CAN MAKE THESE COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES.
SO I WILL BE BRINGING AN IFC TO ENSURE THAT WE GET A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE NORTH BURNETT GATEWAY REGULATING PLAN.
THAT'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWING AREA, AND I'M HOPING MAYOR TO BRING THAT IFC BY JUNE 16TH.
AND THAT'S JUST SOME COMMENTS FOR ITEM 40.
UM, AND I JUST HAD A BRIEF QUESTION ON AN AD.
I'M NOT SURE IF STUFF IS, IS, IS, UH, PRESENT FOR THEM, BUT ON KIND OF ITEM 11 AND 12, THE, THE, UH, ROTATING LIST IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT IS THAT THE ROTATING LIST IS FOR SMALLER FIRMS SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO, UH, GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR WITH REGARD TO, UH, CITY CONTRACTING.
UH, AND, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT IS THE CASE.
LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT IT'S NOT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY STAFF.
AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO, UH, CAUSE I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, ON AN ITEM NUMBER 11, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S HDR HAS COMPANY THAT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT HAS A 70 MILLION, $80 MILLION, UH, CONTRACT WITH REGARD TO THE MOBILITY PROGRAM.
UH, THEY'RE ALSO ON THE LIST FOR, YOU KNOW, ITEM 12 FOR THE ROTATING LIST FOR THE, AND SO I WAS JUST WONDERING KIND OF WHAT THE KIND OF STANDARDS AND GOALS ARE.
WE HAD, UH, ASKED VERY LATE, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, UH, TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THE Q AND A, UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF STUFF'S AVAILABLE AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
OKAY, LET'S COME BACK TO YOUR STATS HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION QUICKLY.
NO, I'M NOT, I DO NOT WANT TO PULL IT OUT.
I JUST, ONCE I WAS CLARIFICATION, I UNDERSTAND GOOD MORNING, ROLANDA FERNANDEZ WITH THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION, THERE'S TWO, UH, ITEMS, UH, THE LARGE AND THE SMALL PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD ONLY ONE CONTRACT THAT ENCOMPASSED 10 FIRMS FOR ALL THE SERVICES REQUIRED FOR AUSTIN WATER.
THE IDEA CAME ABOUT TO SEPARATE THEM INTO TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO INSTEAD OF 10 OR 11, IN THIS CASE, WE'RE ASKING FOR 22, NOW 24 WITH THE MOTION FOR MARIN COUNCIL, WE DON'T SET A REQUIREMENT THAT, UM, PROHIBITS OR LIMITS THE AWARDS TO SMALLER, LARGE CONTRACTORS OR FIRMS IN THIS CASE, THE WAY WE SEPARATE THE WORK IS BASED ON DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE ANTICIPATED DESIGN WORK THAT THE FIRM WILL PROVIDE FOR US.
AND SO WE HOPE THAT BY SEPARATING THE ONE INTO TWO AND HAVING DIFFERENT, UM, EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE, THEN THE LARGER FIRMS WILL PURSUE THE LARGE CONTRACT BECAUSE IT'S A LARGER AMOUNT AND WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE HIGHER LEVEL EXPERIENCE, BIGGER, COMPLEX, COMPLEX WORK.
AND THEN THE SMALLER CONTRACTORS CONSULTANTS IN THIS CASE, WE'LL PURSUE THE SMALLER ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE IT'S LOWER DOLLAR THRESHOLD, BUT MORE IN A LESS REQUIREMENTS OF EXPERIENCE, SIDES OF EXPERIENCE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T, WE DON'T LIMIT TO ONE OR THE OTHER.
[00:40:01]
IT'S HOPEFULLY BY THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS, UH, SETTING, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT ACCOMMODATE BOTH LARGE AND SMALL FIRMS AND THEN HAVING MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT AVENUE FOR SMALL FIRMS TO GET ON A CONTRACT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR STARTUP FIRMS OF FREQUENTLY, UH, MINORITY OWNED FIRMS, WOMEN OWNED FIRMS TO GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR AND COMPETE WITH SOME OF THE BIGGER FIRMS. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, ALSO, WHEN A FIRM IS ON THAT CONTRACTING LIST AND NUMBER 12 LISTS, THAT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A CONTRACT, IS THAT CORRECT? OUR EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL GET SOME, UH, CONTRACT, SIR.
AND SO THE WAY THAT ROTATION, THIS WORKS IS AS ASSIGNMENTS COME UP, NEED NEED FOR WORK COME UP AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL ISSUE AN ASSIGNMENT TO THE FIRMS AND WE BASE IT ON THE RANK.
SO IF YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE HIGHEST RANK FROM YOU'LL GET THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT AND THEN WE'LL WORK THROUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE LAST FIRM IN THIS CASE, NOW WE'RE ADDING, UM, 13.
SO THAT 13 WE'LL GET THE LAST ASSIGNMENT.
IF THERE'S AUTHORIZATION REMAINING, MEANING MONEY TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
THE SECOND PASS WILL BE BASED ON THE INITIAL ASSIGNMENT THAT THE FIRST FIRM RECEIVED.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS FIRST AND YOU WERE SECOND, UM, BUT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WAS A LOT SMALLER THAN MINE WAS IN THE SECOND PASS.
YOU'LL GO FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO SECOND.
SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOPEFULLY WHEN THE CONTRACT'S OVER THE FIRM'S, UH, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AN EQUAL AMOUNT OR CLOSE TO AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF, OF AUTHORIZATION OR IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, VALUE OF, UH, OF, UM, OF WORK, RIGHT IN TERMS OF DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR EMOTION, UH, ADDING THOSE TWO FIRMS TO, UH, TO THE ROTATION LIST, UH, I FULLY SUPPORT, AND THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, AND FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE ADDING THOSE FIRMS BASED ENTIRELY ON QUALIFICATIONS, DOES THAT ADD TO THE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES AND QUALIFICATIONS THAT THE STAFF HAS TO CHOOSE FROM? UH, BUT, UH, JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT PARENTS.
AND TO THAT POINT, I MEAN, THEY WERE VERY CLOSE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A HALF POINT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RANKINGS, THEY WERE VERY WELL RANKED FIRMS. THEY WERE JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER THE CURRENT.
LET'S GET TO SPEAKERS AS WE A POOL MAYOR.
I HAD INTENDED ALSO TO REQUEST, TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ITEM NUMBER 37.
THIS IS ALSO A FEE WAIVER I HAD OFFERED TO, UM, PUT SOME MONEY TOWARD THAT FEE WAIVER, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS FULLY FUNDED THAT ITEM.
ALRIGHT, CLERK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LS.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD $250 FROM MY OFFICE BUDGET TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS.
I HAD INDICATED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS NUMBER 17.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I BELIEVE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THOUGH, PERHAPS NOT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON NUMBER 88.
UH, AND WHEN I HAVE, UM, I JUST WANT TO NOTE TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT KATIE POWERS HAS DISTRIBUTED THE RED LINE VERSION OF NUMBER 90, AND MY STAFF IS ALSO POSTING THAT ONLINE, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE ANY OF THE CHANGES.
THERE IS ONE ADDITION BEYOND WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
I THINK I'D CHARACTERIZE THAT MOST OF THE CHANGES CAME FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE IS THE INSERTION OF ONE ADDITIONAL ONE ADDITIONAL CLAUSE.
AND I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW WHETHER IT'S A, BE IT RESOLVED OR A WAREHOUSE CLAUSE THAT CAME AS A REQUEST OF, UH, PODER, AND THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT THAT I'M GOING TO BE MAKING THAT RESTORES SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA HAD REQUESTED THAT WAS, UH, INADVERTENTLY REMOVED DURING LEGAL REVIEW.
I'LL PULL ITEMS. I'M SEEING AT THIS POINT ARE 17 AND 18 AND 85 AND 90.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 2)]
HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.I THINK WE HAVE 70 SOME ODD SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ONE THIS MORNING.
EACH WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE PRESENT.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE ONES THAT ARE REMOTE, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, JUST, UH, BY WAY OF NOTICE, WE HAVE A FULL COMPLIMENT OF 10 SPEAKERS SPEAKING TODAY ON, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS THAT IT'LL BE 30 MINUTES THERE.
UH, AND I THINK WE HAVE, UH, 20 SPEAKERS PLUS FOR, UH, ZONING THIS AFTERNOON, UH, WITH AN ANNOUNCED TIME OF TWO MINUTES EACH, UH, FOR THE SPEAKERS THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS TO CONSIDER IN A EXECUTIVE SESSION, 85, 92 AND 17.
SO LET'S DO THE SPEAKERS HERE.
LET'S SEE HOW FAR WE CAN, UH, FAR WE CAN GET.
REMEMBER WE ALSO HAVE MUSIC TODAY AFTER, UH, AFTER, UH, SPEAKERS.
[00:45:02]
UH, UM, SO CLARK, WE READY? WE'RE READY.UM, 10:00 AM IN PERSON FOR ITEMS 2, 3, 6, AND 10 YVONNE WELDON.
HI, I'M A FIRST TIME SPEAKER HERE.
UM, I DO HAVE A LOT TO CONVEY ON ANY ONE AGENDA ITEM, BUT I CANNOT REASONABLY AND RATIONALLY DO SO IN ONE WITHIN ONE MINUTE.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO USE THIS TIME TO CONVEY THAT MANY OF US IN MY DISTRICT HAVE NO VOICE, NOR ARE WE GETTING CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY LEADERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON APRIL 4TH OF THIS YEAR, I FINALLY GOT A NEWSLETTER FROM OUR CITY COUNCILMEN, UM, AFTER 14 MONTHS WHERE THE LAST ONE I RECEIVED BEFORE THAT WAS JANUARY 29TH, 2021.
I DO OFTEN GET REGULAR UPDATES FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER DISTRICTS.
BUT SO SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LEADERSHIP HAS DENIED ME A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MY CONCERNS ON THESE ISSUES THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I WILL FIND OTHER WAYS TO CONVEY MY CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE CITY'S MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR LEADERSHIP IS INCESSANTLY AND IRRESPONSIBLY SPENDING IN HANDLING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, INCLUDING, UH, WHERE NONPROFITS AND OTHER ENTITIES CAN ETHICALLY DO SO.
AND WHEN SEE THE CITY LEADERS CANNOT EVEN MANAGE THE CURRENT OPERATIONS THAT IS ACCESS FREIGHTING, AUSTIN'S CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS, OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION CRISIS, OUR HOMELESS CRISIS, OUR WATER MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS DURING THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.
UM, WHERE, UM, WHILE CONTINUING TO CHARGE US FOR FEES AND SERVICES, INCLUDING ONES YOU'VE HAD TO SUSPEND.
NEXT SPEAKER IS GUS BENYA SPEAKING ON ITEMS 3, 5 19 27, 28, 29, 37 41 44, 49, 57 59 AND 60 MAYER.
WAS THE LAST SPEAKER SPEAKING ON THE VMU AND COMPATIBILITY CONVERSATION, OR IS THAT LATER IN THE, NO.
SO TO BE CLEAR, ARE WE ALLOWING A FULL THREE MINUTE TESTIMONY FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO ADDRESS US ON THAT ISSUE? I WOULD, I WOULD ADVOCATE AND, AND IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, UM, MOVE THAT WE ALLOW THOSE SPEAKERS THREE MINUTES EACH.
UM, THIS IS, UH, I COULD SAY MORE ABOUT IT, BUT LET ME JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I THINK THAT THOSE, I THINK THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE COMING TO ADDRESS US ON THOSE POTENTIAL CODE CHANGES OUGHT TO BE AFFORDED THE FULL TIME.
EVERYBODY HAD AN OBJECTION TO THAT.
SO WE'LL DO THAT AS WE GO THROUGH.
GUS PENA ON DECK IS WALLACE LUNGREN WHAT'D YOU READ THE NUMBERS THAT, UH, MR. PENA AND SIGN UP FOR, FOR GUESTS, VIRGINIA, HE REGISTERED ON 3, 5, 19 27, 28, 29, 37, 41 44, 49, 57, 59 AND 60.
NEXT SPEAKER FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX, WALLACE LUNDGREN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A MURAL TO BE PAINTED AT SOME POINT FOR SOME SIZE, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, THIS IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH ARE YOU ALL SAYING? THERE'S NOT A LOT, BUT IT'S A, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A MURAL IN AUSTIN AFTER SOME RESEARCHES BETWEEN 15 AND $50.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THIS MURAL IS GOING TO BE.
I CALLED 12 PEOPLE YESTERDAY THAT PAINT MURALS, SEVEN OF THEM ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY, WANTING TO KNOW WHEN THEY CAN BE IT.
UH, SO THE MURAL BUSINESS, APPARENTLY IT'S KIND OF TIGHT RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO PAINT MORE.
UH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE USE OF, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY NEED FOR IT.
AND I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.
THANK YOU ON ITEM 18, ALEX STRANGER.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 18 AND THE NEED TO GIVE $41 MILLION FOR COVID SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE MUCH MORE PRESSING ISSUES TO ATTEND TO RIGHT NOW, VLADIMIR PUTIN SERVES AS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY IN THE HISTORY OF PLANET EARTH.
[00:50:01]
THIS MONEY TO THE UKRAINIANS.INSTEAD RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE IS ON PAR WITH NAZI GERMANY, AND VLADIMIR PUTIN IS LITERALLY HITLER.
OUR COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE DIVERSE THAN STANDING WITH UKRAINE.
AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE INCLUSIVE THAN SUPPORTING THOSE STUNNING AND BRAVE SOLDIERS IN THE ESAF BATTALION.
OUR BIGGEST BIGGEST ENEMIES ARE RACISM, WHITE SUPREMACY AND RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.
AND IF YOU REFUSE TO STAND WITH UKRAINE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SHRINE OF LATTIMER'S ALINSKY IN YOUR BEDROOM, AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME, THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU A WHITE SUPREMACIST, BUT YOU ARE A RUSSIAN ASSET AS WELL AS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST AND YOU BELONG IN GUANTANAMO BAY.
FURTHERMORE, VLADIMIR PUTIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFLATION BECAUSE HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY PRINTED 80% OF OUR COUNTRY'S MONEY SUPPLY THESE PAST TWO YEARS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER FOR HEARING ME ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT THIS MONEY TO A GOOD CAUSE, LIKE SENDING BABY FORMULA TO THE BORDER TO HELP THE UKRAINIANS.
REMEMBER IT'S NOT UKRAINE, IT'S WEAK RAID SLAVA.
NEXT SPEAKER'S JOE SANTIAGO SPEAKING ON 31 ITEM 38.
SCOTT CUB ON DECK IS MATTHEW WISE.
I'M HOPING THE WATER LIFE CARD AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
I'M IN FAVOR OF WAIVING THE FEE FOR $20.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE YOU ARE IGNORING THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO RAISE A LIVING WAGE TO $22 AN HOUR FOR LIFEGUARDS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE.
I EXPECT IT TO BE AROUND 300 SHORT.
YOU COULD STILL SAVE THE SUMMER FOR THIS PEOPLE WHO HAVE AUSTIN WHO WANT TO SWIM, OFFERING A $22 LIVING WAGE HOLIDAY PAY FULL BENEFITS.
AND THAT WAY YOU WOULD, UH, BE ABLE TO OPEN THE POLLS FULLY.
AS FAR AS THIS TRAINING FEE, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH 40 HOURS OF UNPAID TRAINING IN ORDER TO BE A LIFEGUARD FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON.
I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER JOB IN THE CITY, REALLY IN AUSTIN, WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO TO UNPAID TRAINING FOR 40 HOURS TO WORK WHEN TO WORK THIS JOB, WHERE THEY HIRE YOU IMMEDIATELY PAY.
YOU IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHERE YOU DONATE $300 OF YOUR TIME AND UNPAID TRAINING THE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS CAN CHOOSE.
I'M A FORMER OPEN WATER LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS, UH, INCLUDING FROM SOMETHING LIKE A DOZEN WATER RESCUES UNDER MY BELT.
I'VE ALSO, UH, HITCHED HEADED A COUPLE OF OTHER, UH, PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
UH, SO IT WAS A MATTER OF FACT, THE, UH, BONUSES FOR WORKING THIS SUMMER DID ENCOURAGE ME TO COME BACK AND APPLY, UH, UNTIL MY OTHER MAIN GIG RAMPS UP LATER THIS SUMMER.
SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN ONCE I WAS REGISTERED, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AQUATIC OFFICE CALLED ME AND SAID, UM, YOU WON'T BE CONTINUING WITH YOUR TRAINING.
UH, AND I THINK I'M STILL ON SOMEBODIES TENNIS, YOUR OLD NO-NO LIST, UM, WHICH I SPOKE WITH, UH, PART HR RECENTLY.
AND THEY SAY, WELL, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE.
UM, AND I THINK I'M THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
I KNOW OF DOZENS PERSONALLY, UH, LIFEGUARDS, WHO WOULD LOVE TO COME WORK, BUT DUE TO PERSONNEL ISSUES, UH, SOMEWHERE IN MANAGEMENT, UH, THEY'RE ON A NAUGHTY BLACKLIST.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE A HUNDRED PEOPLE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A 70% ATTRITION RATE BETWEEN HIRING OR APPLICATION AND GETTING HIRED.
UH, AND I THINK LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AT WHY OTHERWISE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE BEING TURNED AWAY, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
NEXT IS MIKE GORSE ON ITEM 48.
[00:55:01]
MINUTES.MAYOR, MAYOR PROTIME AND COUNCIL I'M.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM ENDS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL CONSENSUS WITH MOST OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE CURRENT RULES THAT WE HAVE AREN'T COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEEDS OF A LARGE AND GROWING CITY THAT HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS CHANGE ON ONE HAND, I'M GLAD THAT THERE IS A COMPROMISE BEING PROPOSED THAT PEOPLE CAN AGREE UPON.
AND IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT OVER NOT DOING ANYTHING AT THE SAME TIME.
I WAS READING SOME TWEETS THAT MIKE GORDINI POSTED YESTERDAY THAT POINTED OUT THAT EVEN WITH THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED BY THE COMPROMISE AUSTIN'S COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS WOULD STILL BE AMONG THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF WHEN COMPARED WITH PEER CITIES.
AND IT ALSO, THEY ALSO TRIGGER IN MORE CASES THAN IN OTHER CITIES, AND IT IS ALSO HARDER FOR THEM TO BE WAIVED THAN THEY ARE IN SOME OTHER CITIES.
IN SOME CASES, IN OTHER CITIES THAT CITY COUNCIL CAN WAIVE THE RESTRICTIONS AT THEIR DISCRETION.
WHEREAS AN AUSTIN WHERE IT'S REQUIRES THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS TO GRANT THE VARIANCE, WHICH, AND REQUIRING A SUPER MAJORITY, I THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN FOR ME.
IF I EVER NEED TO MOVE, I HAVE A CONDO THAT IS FINE FOR INSTANCE, EXCEPT THAT I CAN'T HAVE PETS.
SO THAT DEPENDING HOW MY LIFE GOES, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE AN ISSUE FOR ME.
AND I'M, I'M GLAD I'M FEELING FORTUNATE RIGHT NOW THAT I'M NOT NEEDING TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOUSING SITUATION IS.
I HEAR THAT IT'S EVEN AFFECTED PEOPLE ON COUNCIL WITH THEIR RENTS GOING UP, BUT THERE IS, I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THERE IS A NEED, AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA HAS CALLED FOR AN ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING CAPACITY.
THIS IS, THIS WOULD GENERATE AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT FURTHER ADJUST THE RESTRICTIONS.
AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE DATA THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE, AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING YOUR DELIBERATIONS.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHAT THESE, WITH MINIMUM PARKING RESTRICTIONS, ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A PROPERTY MORE EXPENSIVE, AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE NEAR TRANSIT.
SO, WHICH MIGHT MEAN PAYING A PREMIUM FOR PROPERTY IN SOME CASES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF I'M REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A PARKING SPACE, WHEN I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE A CAR, THEN THAT FURTHER AFFECTS AFFORDABILITY.
SO IT'S A MATTER OF EVERYTHING BEING RELATED TO EVERYTHING ELSE AND COUNCILS SHOULD CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO MOVE AND THE NEEDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU, EDGAR HANDLE FOR ITEM 48, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL CAPPLEMAN.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 15 YEARS.
I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD SON AND I WORRY DEEPLY ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS WILL HAVE ON HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS WORRIES.
IT IS MADDENING TO SEE SERIOUS THREATS TO MY SON'S FUTURE, TO ALL OF OUR FUTURES, GO UNADDRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL.
AND I CAN'T HELP, BUT ASK WHY WE KNOW DENSE HOUSING IS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MORE AFFORDABLE.
SO WHY WOULD THIS COUNCIL CHOOSE TO COMPROMISE OUR FUTURE? JUST BECAUSE OF VOCAL MINORITY MINORITY DOES NOT LIKE LIVING NEAR TALL BUILDINGS WHILE OUR COUNCIL REFUSES TO TAKE HOUSING REFORM.
SERIOUSLY, I'VE WATCHED FRIEND AFTER FRIEND MOVE FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY FRIENDS WHO CAN ATTEND THESE KINDS OF MEETINGS TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABILITY REALLY IS.
WE HAVE ACTUAL PRESSING CRISES TO DEAL WITH CRISES THAT HIT THE LEAST PRIVILEGED LEAST PRIVILEGED AMONG US.
WE MUST STOP PROTECTING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PARKING MINIMUMS THAT ADD TO THE CRISIS, AND FINALLY BEGIN TO TREAT THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE GRAVITY THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU, DANIEL CAPPLEMAN ON ITEM 48 ON DECK IS JOLENE KIELBASA,
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MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER COUNCIL MEMBERS.THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE THE CHOICE TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, BUT THE COMPATIBILITY PARKING AND VIEWING NEW ITEMS. UH, HOWEVER, THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF PARKING MANDATES AND COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WILL ALLOW THESE ITEMS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS AMONG EXPERTS THAT PARKING MANDATES ARE A FAILED PRACTICE THAT HARM RESIDENTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSE HOUSING COST INCREASES, UH, URBAN SPRAWL POLLUTION AND CAR CRASHES.
THERE'S AN ACCELERATING TREND AMONG CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO REMOVE COSTLY PARKING MANDATES AND TO SUPPORT AFFORDABILITY, CLIMATE AND EQUITY GOALS.
COMPATIBILITY HAS BEEN A TOOL USED TO SEPARATE DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOUSING AND KEEP THE SUPPLY OF HOMES AND AUSTIN WELL BELOW WHAT IS NEEDED PROJECTS ALONG THE CORRIDORS MUST BE ABLE TO BUILD TO THEIR FULL HEIGHT AND RIGHT-SIZE THEIR PARKING AND CONTRIBUTE TO AND NOT UNDERMINE THE CITY OF AUSTIN STATED GOALS ON AFFORDABILITY AND MOBILITY AND CLIMATE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO CHOOSE TO REACH THESE GOALS.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER CHOOSING POLICIES THAT WILL MOVE US TOWARD A MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION BRIEFLY? YES, GO AHEAD.
IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE MAY BE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WEREN'T AWARE OF THE CUTOFF TIME FOR ITEM NUMBER 48 AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO IT.
UM, CAN I GET A SMALL SHOW OF HANDS JUST TO GET TO GAUGE HOW MANY FOLKS MIGHT NOT BE SIGNED UP AT WANT TO SPEAK? HOW WOULD YOU ASK FOR THEM TO PROCEED THESE FOLKS, UM, GIVE THE CLERK THEIR NAME AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A RECURRENT ISSUE, UH, AND WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE FREQUENTLY, THAT, THAT ALSO COME IN AND SAY, THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE RULES.
WE EVEN FORCED THOSE RULES GENERALLY SPEAKING, JUST BECAUSE IT'S QUITE ENABLES THINGS TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT ON THESE ITEMS, 48 AND 49, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ACTION TAKEN TODAY.
SO THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON JUNE 9TH WHEN THESE ITEMS WOULD, WOULD IT BE COMING BACK TO US? SO CERTAINLY THE COUNCIL COULD TAKE DIFFERENT DIRECTION IF IT WANTED TO, BUT OTHERWISE AS CHAIR, I WOULD BE ENFORCING THIS RULE AS I HAVE IN THE PAST ON OTHER REQUESTS.
AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO OFFER FOLKS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME TO CITY HALL, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IF A DOES THAT ALL CASES, OR IS THAT JUST, I WOULD SAY GENERALLY, BUT, UM, THE ONE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION TODAY IS ITEM NUMBER 48, BUT JUST GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, DURING THE COURSE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND ACCESS TO CITY HALL, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW UP, WE SHOULD OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SO ON THE ACCESS QUESTION, BUT NOT KIND OF A GENERAL STATING OF THE RULE THAT FROM NOW ON, WE DON'T REQUIRE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP ON TIME.
I I'D SAY IT'S PROBABLY MORE NUANCE TO THAT.
I SAW TWO HANDS RAISED IN WHICH CASE I'D SAY THAT'S NOT A DISRUPTION TO THE PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO ALLOW THEM TO SEE.
BUT ANY OBJECTION, THOSE TWO SPEAKERS BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THAT GROUP AND WANT TO COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR COURTNEY, GO AHEAD AND CALL YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE HER MEDICINE.
AND AT ONE POINT THE RULE WAS THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE SIGNED UP PRIOR TO THE ITEM BEING CALLED AND, AND I'M NOT SURE, I THINK IN THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, SOME OF THESE RULES HAVE JUST SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT TODAY'S THE DAY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE KIND OF REVIEW SOME OF THOSE THINGS, MAYBE AT OUR WORKS AT OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.
I THINK MAYBE THE REASON THEIR CUTOFF IS APPLYING IS BECAUSE IT'S ON CONSENT, BUT, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
SO I THINK AS THINGS ARE GETTING ANYWAY, I THINK, I THINK OUR PROCESS HAS GOTTEN JUST A BIT JUMBLED ON A FEW FRONTS.
AND I REALLY THINK, I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWN TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, UM, THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO, THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND AS LONG AS THEY'VE SIGNED UP BEFORE WE, I MEAN, FRANKLY, I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SIGN UP AS LONG AS THEY'RE SIGNING UP BEFORE WE FINISHED TALKING ABOUT IT, I WOULD AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
BUT I THINK THE ACTUAL PROCESS RULE WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT THEY NEEDED TO SIGN UP BEFORE IT GOT CALLED.
AND WHEN WE WERE POST PANDEMIC, WHEN WE WERE FIGURING OUT WHAT RULES WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED ON, WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
UH, AND AT THAT POINT, THE, THE, THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CUTOFFS WAY WE HADN'T, WHICH I SUPPORTED JUST BECAUSE IT'S ENABLING US AS A BODY TO ACTUALLY GET OUR AGENDAS DONE.
AND WE'RE NOT HAVING PEOPLE SPEAKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP US AS A GROUP FROM REVISITING AT ANY POINT, UH, ANY OF THE RULES THAT, THAT WE HAVE.
BUT FOR TODAY, IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP ON, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 48 AND 49, IF YOU'RE LIKE YOU AND WERE UNABLE TO SIGN UP TODAY,
[01:05:01]
BECAUSE YOU WERE AFTER THE CUTOFF, COME DOWN TO THE CLERK AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU CAN'T SERVE A KITCHEN.I, I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU S YOU SAID IT, BUT I JUST, FOR CLARITY'S PURPOSE, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 48 AND 49, UH, 48 IS THE VMU ITEM THAT I BROUGHT, UH, 49 IS THE COMPATIBILITY PROPOSALS THAT OTHERS BROUGHT.
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO AND I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SEPARATING THEM.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT 48, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT 49, BUT I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT MAYOR, SO, OKAY.
OKAY, SO WE'LL CONTINUE X SPEAKER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON COMPATIBILITY AND VMU, I'M JOLENE KOBASA, I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE ZAP.
AND, UM, BUT I AM SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF AS A VERY SEASONED VETERAN OF THE 2008 VMU PROCESS.
BUT FIRST ABOUT YOUR COMPATIBILITY, ZAP HAD A SIMILAR PROPOSAL IN 2017 THAT SIMPLIFIED THE CODE.
AND I SEE THAT THIS FOLLOWS IT QUITE A BIT, BUT WE FELT LIKE YOU DO THAT.
THIS THERE'S NO NEED TO KEEP STANDARDS THAT EXTEND TO 540 FEET, BUT DIFFERENT FROM YOUR PROPOSITION RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE DOES DESERVE THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION.
AND ONE STANDARD IS THE SIMPLEST.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS AND THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE IT WOULDN'T MAKE UP THINGS TO HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS.
UM, AND SO YOUR PROPOSAL MAKES COMPATIBILITY A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED WITH FIVE CATEGORIES.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT IT MEANS DEFINING MAJOR IN MEDIUM, MAJOR AND MEDIUM CORRIDORS.
AND WHAT IF RE MORE ROW IS NEEDED? UM, THAT COULD CHANGE THE DEFINITION AND THE 216 MOBILITY PROJECTS ALSO DOES.
IT SEEMS TO SORT OF MESS IT UP, BUT STILL THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON IT.
AND THEN VMU IN 2008 WAS A BIG, UM, PROJECT THAT PRODUCED COMMUNITY BUY-IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE'RE PROVIDED MAPS.
AND I ASKED FOR ONE TO BE PUT ON THE DOCUMENT CAMERA AND FOR OPTING IN AND OPTING OUT PROPERTIES.
AND WE ALSO WERE FILLED IN SHEETS AND SOLVED THE OTHER PIECE THAT I, SO THIS IS WHAT WE WORKED WITH IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED TOO.
AND DURING OUR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION, WE DISCOVERED SOME OWNERS REALIZED THAT BMU WAS NOT COMPATIBLE OR CONFLICTED WITH THEIR EXISTING BUSINESSES.
AND THERE WAS ALSO THE NEED FOR RESIDENT, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY, DARK SKIES, LIGHTING, FOR EXAMPLE, CONFLICTS WITH, UM, OR IT MAKES IT ACTUALLY BEAMS, UM, LIGHT INTO PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
AND THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH NOISY AIR CONDITIONERS AND LOADING DOCKS AND NOISY TRASH.
AND SO THIS ROBUST DISCUSSION IS NOT HAPPENING AT THIS TIME.
AND IT DOES COME ACROSS AS A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED AND A TOP DOWN APPROACH.
AND SO I JUST SAY TAKE MORE TIME SO THAT YOU DO HAVE ZONING AND COMPATIBILITY THAT IS NOT TOO ONEROUS.
AND I WOULD SAY INCLUDE THE LAND.
USE AGENTS INCLUDE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON IT, BUT THERE IS SOME, THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED FROM SOME OF US WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST.
SPEAKING ON ITEM 48, ELEANOR MCKINNEY ON DECK IS CURTIS ROGERS, MR. MCKENNEY, OR MR. ROGERS.
WHO'S ON DECK AFTER MR. ROGERS.
SAY THAT AGAIN, BRANDON WITH STRUCK.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO TALK TODAY.
I LIKE TO START OFF BY READING A LIST OF CITIES, UH, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, PORTLAND, OREGON RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA ST.
PAUL, MINNESOTA, BUFFALO, NEW YORK BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI DUNWOODY, GEORGIA DOVER, NORTH DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, UH, ALBUM MARRIED, NORTH CAROLINA, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA BRANSON, MISSOURI CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK, HUDSON, NEW YORK, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST BASTROP, TEXAS.
THIS IS A LIST OF CITIES THAT HAVE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THIS IS NOT A TIME WHERE WE CAN EASILY SAY THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING
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OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.WE ARE ADDRESSING OUR CLIMATE CRISIS.
IF WE SIMPLY COMPROMISE AND SAY THAT WE NEED SOME PARKING REQUIREMENTS, I WILL SAY THAT REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS IS PROGRESS, BUT IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE IN THE SEVENTIES, WHEN AIRLINES GREATEST SMOKING SECTION ON THE AIRPLANE, WE ALL KNEW THAT WAS WRONG.
WE ALL KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING.
WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND WE CAN GET THERE TODAY.
WE CAN GET THERE FASTER IF WE ELIMINATE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
BRENT, BRENDAN WITH STRUCK ON DECK IS JOSHUA.
BRONSMAN FOUR ITEMS, 48 AND 49 MAYER.
DID YOU CALL, UM, I THINK HE CALLED SOMEONE THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING YET.
IS THAT RIGHT? WAS SHE IN PERSON OR WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO BE ON, SHE REGISTERED IN PERSON TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
SO WHEN SHE SHOWS UP, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AROUND HERE, RIGHT? OKAY.
THANK YOU, JAY CROSS, SLING SPEAKING ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK IS ROBERT CHOLA, 48 AND 49.
UM, MY NAME CHEVROLET'S ACROSS SAY I LIVE IN D FOR, UH, MY WIFE AND EIGHT YEAR OLD SON, AND I HOPE MY SON AND HIS PEERS GET TO LIVE IN AUSTIN IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER AND AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TODAY TO THE AFFORDABILITY CLIMATE INEQUITY CRISES, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE BY EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN ASKED YOU TO END THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, SUCH AS COSTLY PARKING MANDATES OR THE BIZARRE IDEA OF COMPATIBILITY LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO OUR CURRENT POPULATION.
PLUS 25% OF REGIONAL GROWTH HAS FAILED THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN RAPIDLY DRIVING UP HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
UM, PLEASE BEGIN TODAY TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJORITY OF THE REGION'S GROWTH TO OCCUR IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH ACCESS TO FREQUENT TRANSIT.
THE ONLY PLACES IN OUR METRO REGION WHERE AFFORDABLE LOW CARBON LIFESTYLES ARE POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE NO KNOWN PUBLIC BENEFITS TO COSTLY PARKING MANDATES, COMPATIBILITY OR HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, PARKING MANDATES INCREASE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED HOUSING COSTS AND INCREASED CAR CRASHES.
NARROW STREETS WITHOUT SIDEWALKS ARE SAFER FOR ALL USERS.
WHEN THERE ARE CARS PARKED ON THOSE STREETS, SCHOOLS ARE SAFER WHEN THERE IS NOT A BAN ON LIVING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF SCHOOLS WITHOUT INVESTING IN PARKING AS A PREREQUISITE.
THE HOUSING, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN AUSTIN IS NOT A MYSTERY WHERE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS CHOSEN TO IMPOSE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
HOUSING IS GROWING MORE EXPENSIVE CAUSING DISPLACEMENT AND SUFFERING.
THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY HAS BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AT KEEPING HOUSING AFFORDABLE IN WEST CAMPUS WHILE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS SAW MEDIAN MONTHLY HOUSING COSTS INCREASED BY 50 OR $60 EVERY YEAR PER MONTH.
UM, BETWEEN 2010 AND 2019, THE UNO NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY SAW A $2 TO $7 INCREASE IN MONTHLY RENT.
UM, WHILE ADDING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HOMES FOR MORE PEOPLE WITH MANY OF THOSE UNITS, NOT REQUIRING RESIDENTS INVEST IN CAR STORAGE.
I SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS AND OTHERS' DESIRES FOR PLANNING AND FOR, FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY TO BE ENGAGED IN HOW WE GROW.
HOWEVER, ANY SUCH PROCESSES SHOULD BE DONE WITH AN ASSUMPTION OF AT LEAST DOUBLING HOUSING CAPACITY IN THE CITY THIS YEAR, AND ALLOWING MANY MORE PEOPLE TO AFFORDABLY LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HIGH QUALITY TRANSIT.
AND FINALLY, I THINK I'M SPEAKING ON ALL THREE THINGS ON THEM IN CHOCOLATE ZONING PLACE, PLEASE ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
MAY I ADD SOMETHING FOR MR. CROSSLEY? RIGHT.
UM, HI, MR. CROSSLEY, I JUST SEE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXCLUSIONARY ZONING AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT BECAUSE THAT IS LIMITED BY STATE LAW BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT STATE GINA HEENA HOSA, UH, INTRODUCED A BILL TO ALLOW TO OVERTURN THE TODD BAXTER LAW, WHICH, UH, WAS FROM THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS THAT PRECLUDES AND PROHIBITS EXCLUSIONARY ZONING IN, IN MUNICIPALITIES.
SHE INTRODUCED THIS AT MY REQUEST, UH, IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2019, THE, UM, THE SESSION IN 2019.
AND, AND AGAIN, IN 2021, THE BILL MOVED NOT AT ALL, UH, THAT FIRST SESSION IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND DID HAVE A HEARING IN 2021, UH, THIS INITIATIVE WILL I, I TRUST AGAIN, BE BROUGHT BY REPRESENTATIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOSA IN 2023 AND GOING FORWARD UNTIL WE CAN, IN FACT, CORRECT STATE LAW TO ALLOW
[01:15:01]
FOR EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, WHICH SHE VERY CAREFULLY, UH, DISCUSSED, UM, IN YOUR COMMENTS.SO WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THOSE CHANGES MADE, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO HAPPEN, UM, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CROSS, IS IT OKAY TO CLARIFY THAT? I BELIEVE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND I WAS USING THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS ABOUT EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, WHICH IS THINGS LIKE HARKING MANDATES AND HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
SHE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AND WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THESE SORTS OF POLICIES TO BE ENACTED AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE EXI.
THANK YOU, ROBERT OCHOA, SPEAKING ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK IS BRITA WALLACE.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
I ALSO SERVE AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER ON THE AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BOARD.
UH, IN 2018, IN 2019, AUSTIN WAS RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE WERE NUMBER THREE IN 2020, WE'RE NUMBER FIVE IN 2021.
AND I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL AWARE THAT THE NEW RANKINGS JUST CAME OUT FOR THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE NOW RANKED NUMBER 13.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN FACT, AUSTIN'S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BECOME ITS REPUTATION ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
CEOS ARE IN FACT, THE TWEETING CALLS FOR ACTION MEMES OF MOBILE HOMES.
SELLING FOR EXORBITANT PRICES ARE SHARED ON NATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, A NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE BESTOWS AUSTIN WITH THE TITLE OF ONE OF THE LEAST AFFORDABLE CITIES IN AMERICA.
AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THIS CRISIS.
JUST SPEAK MORE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELPS PEOPLE BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SUBGROUP, US AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
WE HELP THE PARENT ORGANIZATION MOBILIZED YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO VOLUNTEER BY PROVIDING LABOR FUNDRAISING AND ADEQUACY ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE FOUND THAT MORE THAN HALF OF LOW INCOME LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE COST BURDEN PAYING AT LEAST 30% OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME FOR HOUSING AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP IS ONLY HELPS TO LEAVE, UH, ALLEVIATE THE COST BURDEN OF HOUSING AND ALSO RAISES THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF CHILDREN.
IT IMPROVES HEALTH AND ENCOURAGES GREATER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN GENERATE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THIS CITY AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS.
THE CITY'S COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS PREVENTING LARGE BUILDINGS FROM BEING BUILT NEAR SMALL ONES IN THE PARKING MANDATES REQUIRING EVERY NEW BUILDING TO COME WITH CAR STORAGE INHIBITS HOW MANY AFFORDABLE HOMES WE CAN BUILD.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO INCREASE HOUSING CAPACITY ON CORRIDORS AND EXPAND THE CONSTRUCTION OF VERTICAL MIXED USE BUILDINGS.
THANK YOU, BRITA WALLACE ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK IS DAVID WHITWORTH.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND FOR ALL Y'ALL'S HARD WORK ON THIS.
I AM AN INFILL DEVELOPER AND I'M ALSO THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION.
I'M ALSO SUCH A HOUSING NERD THAT MY ENTIRE TWITTER FEED HAS BEEN ABOUT COMPATIBILITY FOR THE LAST 48 HOURS.
LIKE I TRULY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.
UM, I BET IF YOU ASKED ALMOST ANY OF MY FELLOW HOUSING NERDS, WHAT THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO GETTING MORE HOUSING IS AN AUSTIN THEY'D SAY COMPATIBILITY.
UM, I'M ALSO SUCH A HOUSING NEAR THAT I WAS UP LATE LAST NIGHT, READING OTHER CITIES COMPATIBILITY RULES.
WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT EVEN THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AMENDED COMPATIBILITY RULES IN AUSTIN, KEEP BILL, KEEP BUILDINGS LOWER FOR LONGER THAN IN MANY OTHER CITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN DENVER, ONCE YOU'VE GONE 45 FEET AWAY FROM A TRIGGERING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, YOU CAN HIT YOUR MAX BY RIGHT BUILDING HEIGHT OF 75 FEET, EVEN IN LAS VEGAS, WHICH HAS STRICT COMPATIBILITY RULES.
THERE'S AN, THERE'S A WAY FOR PROP FOR MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES THAT ADVANCE AFFORDABILITY GOALS TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE COMPATIBILITY RULES.
I UNDERSTAND, UH, SORRY, UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSAL AND, UH, BUILDING AN AUSTIN COULDN'T HIT 75 FEET, EVEN ON A LARGE CORRIDOR AND TOLD US A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE TRIGGERING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
AND EVEN THEN THAT HIGH WOULD ONLY BE UNDER A BONUS PROGRAM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOAL IS CONSENSUS.
SO I ASKED YOU ALL TO CONSIDER WHETHER SCALING BACK OUR COMPATIBILITY RULES, TO WHERE THEY ARE STILL.
SOME OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE COUNTRY SHOWS A TRUE COMMITMENT TO EASING THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
AND I ASK THAT Y'ALL PLEASE OPEN A LINE OF
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COMMUNICATION WITH THE, WITH THE DEVELOPERS THAT DEAL WITH COMPATIBILITY RULES ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE END PROPOSAL IS SIMPLE AND ACTUALLY RESULTS IN MORE HOUSING FOR ALL KINDS OF AUSTINITES.THANK YOU, DAVID WOODWORTH ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK MARIO CANTU,
I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON, UH, DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THE REASON WHY I THINK THAT'S A GOOD FOCUS IS BECAUSE I CANNOT REALLY GET A LOT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THOSE TWO THINGS.
UH, IF WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND WANTS TO BUY THAT PROPERTY AND IT SOLD, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS JUST GET TOSSED OUT, LET'S JUST SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD, UH, ANY LIVABLE MEANS.
AND, AND IN FACT, IN THOSE APARTMENTS, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S AT 30 OR 40% MFI CURRENTLY, WHICH IS NOT A LOT OF THAT GOING ON.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS GET TOSSED DOWN TO BEN WHITE, THEN IT'S, THEN IT STATED THAT IF WE JUST BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, THERE'LL BE OKAY, BUT THEY'RE NOT OKAY.
SO HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THERE IS DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS? AND I THINK THE SOLUTION IS NOT NECESSARILY DOING THAT ALL THE TIME AND PROVIDING A BUNCH OF HOTELS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GO INTO IT'S WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND MAKING A, SOME TYPE OF A LATERAL MOVE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE REPLACED BACK INTO THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AND ESTABLISHED THEY'RE ON THE SAME PROPERTY, UH, FOR THEM TO LIVE AT, AT EITHER EQUAL OR GREATER THAN THE MFI THAT THEY WERE BEFORE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY TO LOOK AT.
UM, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO DISPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S ONGOING.
AND THE AFFORDABILITY THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IS 30, 40, 50% MFI.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHRUG THEIR ARMS ABOUT THAT, THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT, BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO REALLY BE REFOCUSING ON THOSE TYPE OF, UH, MFIS AFFORDABILITY AND DISCOURAGING DISPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS.
MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON 48, 49, 53, 90 AND 94 ON DECK IS CINDY REED.
I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE TIME MYSELF.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVIN GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN, AND THE DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR SPONSORING ITEMS, 88 90.
THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR ITEM 90 FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH EQUITABLE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT IT AND WORKING WITH THE CITY ON IMPLEMENTATION AND PROGRESS AS FOR ITEMS 48, 49, 53 AND 94, GABA IS OPPOSED.
AND SO AM I, AS A DISTRICT FOR RESIDENT, IS AUSTIN EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS? YES.
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ABSOLUTELY IS BLANKET UP ZONING.
THESE ARE CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO WORK AROUND THE MARCH, 2020 LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE COURT RULING WORK AROUND IT.
SO THE CITY CAN INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS, DENYING HOMEOWNERS, THE RIGHT TO FILE A VALID PETITION, A PROTEST ON DEVELOPMENT NEXT DOOR, NEAR THEIR HOMES AND GET AROUND THE COURT.
MANDATED SUPER MAJORITY VOTES DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERED THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE AREA, THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PATTERNS OF DISPLACEMENT AND THE IMPACTS OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOUSING TYPES.
EACH CASE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE EQUITABLE RESIDENT CENTERED RESIDENT INFORMED AND RESIDENT LED PLANNING.
THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH MUCH MORE THAN BLINKING CODE CHANGES.
AND SPEAKING OF DISPLACEMENT, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LOOKED AT THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
[01:25:01]
MAPS AND DASHBOARD AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT LIGHTS UP THE MAP WITH THE THREE LEVELS OF DISPLACEMENT.THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT FOUR IS EITHER VULNERABLE OR EXPERIENCING ACTIVE OR CHRONIC DISPLACEMENT.
EASTERN CRESCENT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BEAR THE IMPACT OF UNMANAGED GROWTH, RAPID GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
SO TELL ME, HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $40,000, LESS THAN 30,000? DESCRIBE IN DETAIL HOW THE VMU RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY IF COUNCIL MEMBER VELEZ AMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED, HOW WILL IT DECREASE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES FOR BIPAP HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, DOESN'T GO EVERYWHERE.
PEOPLE NEED TO GO HOLLER, REMOVING PARKING REQUIREMENTS, BENEFIT THE TRADES, MEN AND WOMEN WHO NEED A VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT TOOLS, PROMO TORRES, OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO CANNOT RELY ON OR DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES COMPARABLE TO AUSTIN, WHERE AND HOW REMOVING PARKING REQUIREMENTS INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, UNITS, AFFORDABLE TO RESIDENTS LIVING AT, OR BELOW 40% MFI 30% MFI, ALONG WITH OTHERS.
I KNOW THE CITY CAN NOT REQUIRE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CANNOT SET RENT LIMITS.
SO TELL US, EXPLAIN TO US HOW APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY IF IT INCLUDES THE AMENDMENTS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ACCESSIBLE TO EASTERN CRESCENT RESIDENTS LIVING AT OR BELOW 40% MFI WHEN IT COMES TO MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.
DESPITE WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK.
THE IDEA THAT A ONE BEDROOM ISN'T FAMILY-FRIENDLY IS ACTUALLY VERY TRUE WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO OWN A HOME AND HAVE SEPARATE BEDROOMS FOR EACH CHILD THAT IS NOT THE TREND FOR AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT, OR GABA, OR JUST COUNCIL TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
CINDY REED ON DECK IS TAYLOR TREVINO.
CINDY REED IS SPEAKING ON 48, 49, 53, 90 AND 94.
UM, I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE, BUT NOT ONCE.
SO AS NAIVE THAT KNOWS THAT WE CANNOT REMAIN THE SAME.
I'VE LIVED IN SPAIN, NEW YORK CITY, MINNEAPOLIS AND HOUSTON.
SO NOT ONLY HAVE I SEEN THESE CITIES OR VISITED THEM, BUT I'VE ACTUALLY LIVED IN THEM.
THEY ARE MY LIVED EXPERIENCE AND REMOVING PARKING COMPLETELY IS IMPRACTICAL.
IT IS NOT IN ROOTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS ACTUALLY PROMOTES, UM, YOU KNOW, WHITE PRIVILEGE.
IT'S ACTUALLY ROOTED IN WHITE PRIVILEGE.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW THIS IS NOT CAR STORAGE.
PEOPLE NEED THEIR CARS TO GET TO WORK.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HAD SMALL CHILDREN, THEY HAVE A LOT OF STUFF.
IT EVENTUALLY STARTS TO WIND DOWN AS THEY GET OLDER, BUT THEY HAVE TONS OF STUFF.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK BACK TO THAT TIME, WHEN YOU HAD SMALL CHILDREN, YOU HAD A STROLLER, YOU HAD A CAR SEAT, YOU HAD ALL THESE THINGS, LITTLE TOYS, DIAPERS FOR EVERY SITUATION.
AND I LIVED IN DC WITH A SMALL CHILD AND I MOVED BACK HERE BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THIS WAS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.
SO LET'S NOT DEMONIZE CARS AND CALL IT CAR STORAGE.
LET'S ALSO THINK ABOUT THE LABOR WHO NEEDS THEIR CAR.
THEY NEED IT FOR LANDSCAPING, FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THE TEACHER I USED TO BE ONE HAS TONS OF STUFF, AND WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE OUR TIME TO TALK WITH THESE PEOPLE.
LOOK AT WHO'S SPOKEN THE TWO PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE VISIBLY OF COLOR THAT HAVE SPOKEN SAID, LET'S TAKE OUR TIME WITH THIS.
ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WHITE, OKAY? AND KNOWLEDGE WORKERS CAN EASILY THROW THEIR BACKPACK, THROW THEIR LAPTOP IN THEIR BACKPACK AND BICYCLE TO WORK.
WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE WE WANT TO BUY A CAR AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A CAR, ESPECIALLY THE WAY WE'RE GOING ELECTRIC, WE'RE GOING HYBRID.
I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD MY NEXT CAR TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYBRID.
SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THOSE KNOWLEDGE WORKERS.
IF THEY'RE A LAWYER, A TECH WORKER, UM, AN ACCOUNTANT, THEY CAN THROW THEIR LAPTOP IN THEIR BACKPACK AND RIDE THEIR BICYCLE TO WORK.
HOWEVER, THE EVERYDAY LABOR, THE EVERYDAY FAMILY PERSON DOES NOT HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE.
AND AUSTIN IS CONTINUING TO FORGET FAMILIES.
THAT'S PART OF OUR LIFEGUARD STORE SHORTAGE.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN THAT USED TO BE A GREAT SUMMER JOB FOR A HIGH SCHOOLER.
WE'RE CUTTING THAT PIPELINE OFF OF TALENT BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FAMILIES OUT.
AND IN TERMS OF WHITE PRIVILEGE, I TALK ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE WORKER AND THOSE THAT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN THOSE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS, DEVELOPMENT DC.
[01:30:01]
I LIVED IN ANACOSTIA EAST OF THE RIVER.WE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE AMENITIES OF CAPITOL HILL.
AND IF I WANTED TO GO THERE TO PARK, I WAS SILOED.
I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A PRISON BECAUSE I HAD TO DRIVE ACROSS THE RIVER AND LOOK FOR PARKING.
SECONDLY, BLACK AND PROUD PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
RIDING A BIKE, LOOK AT THE EVENTS OF BUFFALO.
A LOT OF TIMES WE FEEL LIKE A TARGET.
WE MIGHT BIKE ON A OFF TRAIL, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THOSE LABORERS THAT I'M REPRESENTING, THEY'RE NOT HERE TO SPEAK.
SO WHEN WE, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE OUR TIME, INVOLVE THOSE PEOPLE IN THIS CONVERSATION.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES OFF OF FLATBUSH AVENUE IN NEW YORK CITY.
HER LIFE IS DOMINATED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO PARK.
SHE SAID, I HAVE TO BE BACK BY TWO BECAUSE ALL THE PARKS ARE GONE.
ALL THE PARKING SPOTS ARE GONE.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE REALLY JUST HAVING THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THE PARKING.
THE DEVELOPER SHOULD BE IN PLACING, EVEN IF IT'S ONE SPOT PER UNIT AND PEOPLE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY ALSO NEED APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATE HOUSING.
AND I'M HERE AND YOU'VE ADDED TWO PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SIGN UP TO SPEED.
WE NEED TUCKER IS TAYLOR TREVINO ON ITEM 49.
WE NEED, WE NEED TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
THANK YOU, TAYLOR TREVINO, SPEAKING ON ITEM 49 ON DECK IS WELL DAVIS SPEAKING ON 48 AND 49 MIRROR.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN STUDYING THIS FOR 16 YEARS.
THIS IS WHAT GOT US INTO THIS SITUATION THAT WE'RE AT, WHERE WE'RE A NUMBER 13 IN THE NATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STUDY.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME UNTIL MULTI MILLIONAIRE WILL DAVIS ITEM 48 AND 49 ON IS GREG ANDERSON, 48 49.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE ABILITY TO COME SPEAK.
EVEN THOUGH I WAS LATE, I PROMISE I WILL NOT BE LATE AGAIN FOR SIGNING UP FOR THIS.
IT'S ACTUALLY MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, AS I SAID, MY NAME IS WILL DAVIS I'M IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, AND YOU KNOW, 40% AS OF APRIL AUSTIN HOMES HAVE INCREASED 40% SHOCKING, BUT NOT SURPRISING.
OUR OUTDATED LAND USE POLICIES ARE STRANGLING OUR CITY, ENABLING THE HOLLOWING OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HOLD.
MY BROTHER FOR EXAMPLE, IS AN ARTIST AND FILMMAKER WHO HAS LIVED HERE SINCE HE WAS A STUDENT AT UT.
HE HAS ALREADY BEEN PRICED OUT OF MULTIPLE APARTMENTS OVER THE YEARS AND IS ABOUT TO BE PRICED OUT OF HIS CURRENT ONE, A MODEST GARAGE APARTMENT.
I WENT TO LIVE IN AN AUSTIN WHERE A TECH BRO AND AN ARTIST LIKE MY BROTHER CAN LIVE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS LIKELY.
I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS STARTED DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
BUT I ASK THAT Y'ALL WILL ALSO SUPPORT A STRONG BEAM U2 THAT HAS MINIMAL TO NO COMPATIBILITY OR REGULATIONS OR PARKING REQUIREMENTS ONLY THEN WILL VMU REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
WE'RE IN A FULL-ON CRISIS AT THIS POINT.
AND HONESTLY I PRAY THAT MOST DAYS, UH, WE WILL FIND RELIEF.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, UH, AND TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, GREG ANDERSON ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK IS KAI GRAY.
I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR COMING DOWN TO CITY HALL.
UM, IT CAN BE NERVE WRACKING TO STEP UP TO THAT PODIUM AND, AND PRESENT BEFORE THE BOARD.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR FIRST TIME TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL.
THIS IS IN FACT, THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING THE PEOPLE'S CHAMBERS, THE PEOPLE'S PODIUM, AND I REALLY, REALLY LOVE TO SEE FOLKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ENGAGE AND INTERACT WITH THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS TOBO AND HARPER MEDICINE FOR MAKING SURE HE GOT TO SPEAK.
UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM, THE MUTU IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD HOPE IN A LITTLE WHILE.
SO, UH, MY NAME'S GREG ANDERSON, I'M WITH AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT WE HAVE TEAMED UP WITH AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SELL 30 HOMES TO TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF SLIDES, IF YOU WOULD, AT THREE TIMES IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS, WE HAD 700 UNIQUE REPLIES, HIT IT TWO MORE TIMES, IF YOU WOULD.
AND THEN IN THE FIRST 96 HOURS, ONE MORE TIME, WE HAD OVER 1000 UNIQUE INQUIRIES FOR 30 HOMES FROM TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND ONE HAND THAT'S AMAZING,
[01:35:01]
RIGHT? THIS, THIS OUTPOURING OF LIKE, YES, WE WANT A HOME ON THE OTHER HAND.THAT'S SO JUST OVERWHELMING THAT THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING OF PEOPLE, MY GUESS IS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU REALLY WANT TO TRY TO HAVE REMAINED HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO WE TAKE, UH, PROTECTING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING VERY SERIOUSLY IN AUSTIN.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, WE'RE TALKING MINIMUM LOT SIZES, FAR REGS, PROHIBITIONS TO MULTI-FAMILY HEIGHT LIMITS, SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE, YOU KNOW, WE ALLOW FOR EXCLUSIONARY ZONING TO BLEED ONTO OUR CORRIDORS, WHICH IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE I'VE HEARD.
I THINK ALL OF YOU AGREE THAT, THAT WE WANT TO LEGALIZE HOUSING, THAT WE REALLY WANT TO ALLOW HOUSING TO BE EASY TO BUILD.
AND WE CAN REALLY DO AMAZING THINGS WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
IF WE GO TO 90 FEET, IF WE MAKE IT BY RIGHT AND PARKING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? LIKE WE SERVE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO DEFINITELY NEED PARKING.
WE ALSO SERVE FAMILIES WHO DON'T NEED PARKING.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
YOU GET PARKING, YOU GET PARKING.
WE'RE JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, OPEN PARKING OPTIONS, ALLOWING FOR FOLKS TO, TO NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE PARKING IF THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.
AND THEY DON'T, THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UH, IT'S TIME TO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND DELETE COMPATIBILITY.
THERE'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO LEGALIZE UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
AND I'M PULLING FOR YOU ON EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK KY GRAY AND ON DECK IS ETHAN SMITH REMEMBERS 48 AND 49.
HI, UH, THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY FOR A SECOND.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE 25 FOOT SETBACK YOU HAVE, OR YOU CAN DO NOTHING IN RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO WHAT'S KIND OF STRANGE.
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IS IF YOU HAVE A, LET'S SAY A DUPLEX, OUR HOUSE, IT HAS TO BE FIVE FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
UM, AND IT CAN GO UP TWO STORIES, BUT ON A MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY NEXT TO IT, IT HAS TO HAVE 25 FEET WORK AND DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
YOU CAN'T EVEN DO THE DETENTION PONDS THAT ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED FOR MULTIFAMILY.
SO THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 20 FEET, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS.
SO LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S A HUNDRED FEET DEEP.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE 20 FEET BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS ROLE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S 20% OF YOUR SITE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MORE THAN THAT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SETBACKS IN THE FRONT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME TREES THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL ROUTES ZONES AROUND.
YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVE.
SO NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE A LARGE PART OF YOUR SITE, YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT LOSING 50% OF YOUR SITE.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO 60 FEET UP.
I'M JUST SAYING WHY CAN'T A MOLD, WHY CAN'T A TRIPLEX, HAVE THE SAME LIMITS AS A HOUSE.
SO A HOUSE CAN BE TWO STORIES, FIVE FEET FROM YOUR PROPERTY LINES.
WHY CAN'T A TRIPLEX, BE FIVE FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
I'D UNDERSTAND LIKE WHY THE TRIPLEX HAS TO BE SO MUCH LESS ARE ANY KIND OF MULTIFAMILY PROJECT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT DOES SUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT.
AND I KNOW IN THE DISCUSSION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISING FIVE FEET, BUT THAT, THAT 20 FEET IS SUBSTANTIAL AND WILL STILL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON ALL PROJECTS ACROSS AUSTIN.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT ASKING FOR THAT MUCH.
IT'S LITERALLY JUST SAYING, WHY CAN'T WE DO, WHY CAN'T A TRIPLEX, DO WHAT A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE COULD DO AND GO UP TWO STORIES AND THE SAME WAY IT FEELS LIKE SOME PEOPLE THINK A FAMILY HAS A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE HAS TO BE PROTECTED FROM A TRIPLEX.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S LOGICAL.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE, UM, ZOOM DISCUSSION WERE SAYING, WHO LIVED IN TRIPLEXES? THEY'RE LIKE, WHY ARE PEOPLE SCARED OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN TRIPLEXES? WHY CAN'T THEY LIVE AS CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE? IT'S ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AGAIN.
ETHAN SMITH ON 48 AND 49 ON DECK IS CHRISTOPHER PAGE.
AND FOR THAT LAST SPEAKER, WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY THE, FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IS EXACTLY TAKING A LOOK AT THAT 25 FEET TO SEE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO RELAX SOME OF THOSE RULES MAYER.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE QUESTIONS LATER, RIGHT? CAUSE THAT, THAT PART WASN'T CLEAR TO ME IN THE PROPOSAL.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO PROBABLY PROVIDE SOME COUNTERPOINTS TO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
I VOTED FOR PROJECT CONNECT, $6 BILLION PROJECT CONNECT IS WHAT I VOTED FOR.
I THINK IF THERE ARE PEOPLE NATIONALLY WHO WANT TO INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE IN AUSTIN, BRING YOUR MONEY DOWN.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR AFFORDABILITY IS COMPATIBILITY OR PARKING.
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY MARKET CONSOLIDATION AND THAT WHEN WE TAKE ALL THIS MONEY
[01:40:01]
AND, UH, WHEN YOU INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF A BUILDING TO A HUNDRED OR 200 OR 300 FEET, IT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CAPITAL TO, TO INVEST IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.AND THE, THE BIG FISH EAT, THE SMALLER FISH.
SO LIKE IN WEST CAMPUS, AMERICAN CAMPUS ALREADY A $10 BILLION COMPANY IS GETTING BOUGHT OUT BY A $90 BILLION COMPANY.
AND THAT THESE TRENDS, THESE ARE TRENDS THAT ARE CONTINUING.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE MARKET CONSOLIDATION LIKE THAT, THE ACTORS, UH, YOU KNOW, MONOPOLIES DO NOT CREATE AFFORDABILITY, MONOPOLIES CREATE A BASE ON PRICE.
SO JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING DENSITY DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GETTING A PORTABILITY.
SO, BUT WE DO NEED DENSITY AND WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT A RAIL NETWORK.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST GO WHOLE HOG ON THIS IDEA THAT EVERY TIME WE ADD DENSITY, EVERY SINGLE THING WE DO THAT ADDS DENSITY IS GOING TO CREATE AFFORDABILITY.
AND THAT CERTAINLY HASN'T HAPPENED HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND ALSO, UM, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE AGAINST PARKING.
I WONDER IF ANY OF THEM REPRESENT PORTFOLIOS THAT HAVE EXISTING PARKING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU OWN PARKING IN, YOU OUTLAW THE BUILDING OF NEW PARKING, THAT'S AN ASSET THAT IS YOURS, THAT YOU'RE INCREASING THE VALUE OF OF, SO I'M A CAPITALIST.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD DO THAT, BUT IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING I'M AGAINST PARKING AND I'VE, I'VE WORKED FOR WAGES MY WHOLE LIFE.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LADY WAS SAYING EARLIER ABOUT.
SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY NEED PARKING.
UM, THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.
UH, AND, AND I'LL BE BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE CO-OPS LATER.
THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER PAGE ON ITEMS 48 AND 49.
I I'M, UH, CHRIS PAGE, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BUT, UH, I'VE USED HERE TODAY OR JUST MY OWN.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ENTITLEMENTS OR DEVELOP A DEVELOPABLE LAND.
THERE IS AN EXCESS OF SPECULATION THAT TAKES PLACE THERE, LOTS OF UNBUILT POTENTIAL HOUSING.
UH, THAT'S WHY IT BECOMES VERY CONFUSING WHEN YOU SEE, UH, ENTITLEMENT INCREASES ON THESE VACANT LOTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY DO VERY LITTLE, OTHER THAN SPIKING, THE VALUE FOR POTENTIAL, UH, LAND TRANSACTIONS GOING FORWARD.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS TO CROP IT.
WE'VE HAD POWER WATER FAILURES, AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A, A DISCONTINUOUS AND LACK OF, UH, DISCONTINUOUS SIDEWALK SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE LACK OF, UH, PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MUST PRECEDE, ALL DENSITY THAT HAPPENS IN EVERY OTHER CITY.
UM, SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE EATING INTO OUR EXISTING HOUSING INVENTORY AS WELL.
UM, AND IN TERMS OF CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT, WE WILL NOT SEE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON HIGHER DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IN FACT, WE'LL BE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF IMPERMEABLE COVER, REDUCING, UH, GROUNDWATER RECHARGE ZONES, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF RADIANT MATERIALS THAT ABSORB HEAT AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPIRATION WHEN AT WHICH ACTUALLY REDUCES THE OVERALL TEMPERATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT BY UP TO 10 DEGREES, AS PROVEN IN OTHER CITIES.
UM, THE POLICIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED ARE VERY LIKELY TO DISPLACEMENT AS HAS BEEN STATED BY SOME OTHER SPEAKERS TODAY, UM, BY CHANGE.
AND THIS IS MY LAST POINT BY CHANGING THESE ENTITLEMENTS OR IMPROVING THE FEASIBILITY OF MORE VALUABLE NEW CONSTRUCTION BY RIGHT, RATHER THAN THROUGH NEGOTIATION WITH COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE GUTTING NEIGHBORHOODS ABILITIES TO NEGOTIATE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THROUGH VARIANCES AND THROUGH REZONINGS.
AND THOSE IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WILL GET NO COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM DEVELOPERS AND ALL THE COSTS WILL BE BORN ON THE CITY, WHICH FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK COULD AFFORD THEM.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF, UM, SPEAKERS FOR 48 AND 49.
ARE WE DOING ONE MINUTE OR THREE, ONE MINUTE.
AND HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE LEFT IN PERSON 11 IN PERSON AND 25 REMOTE.
[01:45:01]
REMOTE.UM, IT BY COUNT IS A LITTLE ABOUT 10 ROUGHLY.
IS IT MORE THAT OUR THREE MINUTES SPEAKERS JUST ROUGH MAY OR WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER WHO WAS CALLED EARLIER, WHO IS HERE NOW.
WE HAVE EIGHT SPEAKERS APPROXIMATELY SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEMS 48 AND 49.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT 35, 40 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS REMOTE.
UH, AND WE HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER 10, 15 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS HERE.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THESE, BUT BE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANT TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE SINCE THIS MORNING AND HOLD THEM TO THIS AFTERNOON OR WHETHER WE WANT TO TRY TO GET THEM BEFORE WE GO TO EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT NOON, UH, BEFORE MUSIC.
BUT LET'S GO BY WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THAT.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE PERSON WHO YOU CALLED EARLIER.
CAUSE I THINK SHE IS ALSO A, UH, UH, 40 AND 49 SPEAKER.
I BELIEVE IT WAS ELEANOR MCKINNEY.
AND MS. MCKINNEY, WOULD YOU COME UP AS OUR DOUBLE, UH, STATE AGAIN, HOW MANY MINUTES ARE REPRESENTED BY THE SPEAKERS ONLINE? UM, IT LOOKS AS IF THERE'S A, ROUGHLY 35, 40 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS ONLINE ABOUT EIGHT AT ARE SPEAKING FOR THREE MINUTES AND ANOTHER 10 OR 12 SPEAKERS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S 12, 12 SPEAKERS.
THERE'S 12, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 24, 25 REMOTE SPEAKERS ABOUT 12 ON 48 AND 49, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THEM THREE MINUTES EACH, I GUESS THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN PROBABLY CLOSER TO 45, 50 MINUTES.
AND WE CONTINUE TO GET REGISTRANT'S FOR IN-PERSON FOR 48 AND 49.
SO YOU'RE CONTINUING TO TAKE PEOPLE.
GO AHEAD, MS. BIKINI YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
IS THAT RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? YEAH.
UH, MY NAME'S ELEANOR MCKINNEY DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M JUST, THERE'S A PACKET I'VE HANDED OUT IN FRONT OF YOU JUST SO YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON SOUTH LAMAR AND ON BURNETT ROAD AND THEY'RE PROBABLY OTHER PLACES IN CITY, BUT I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON SOUTH LAMAR WHERE COMMERCIAL INTRUDES INTO THE RESIDENTIAL ON THE SIDE.
IT'S NOT IN TERMS OF COMPATIBILITY AND THAT PARTICULAR DISCUSSION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, UH, ACTUALLY AT THE KENNY TRIANGLE, IT'S CALLED DOWN THERE AT ALTURA WE'LL ZOOM IN ON, AS YOU FLIPPED THROUGH YOUR PACKET.
ALSO BURNETT ROAD HAS SOME OF THE SIMILAR CONDITIONS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT'S NOT JUST ONE PART OF THE CITY IS IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE ANGLED STREETS COME IN TO A MAJOR CORRIDOR.
AND SO HOW, UH, AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH COMMERCIAL INTRUDING INTO RESIDENTIAL? THE THIRD, THE THIRD PAGE, COULD YOU FLIP THAT FOR THEM PLEASE? SO HERE'S BURNET ROAD.
I GOT THOSE FROM, UM, BARB MACARTHUR UP THERE AND, UH, UH, MAYOR POOLS.
THE THIRD ONE IS HEATHER IN SOUTH LAMAR AND THAT'S WHERE I AM.
I'M JUST SHOWING YOU MY PROPERTY AND HOW THE COMMERCIAL INTRUDES AND THE FOURTH ONE IS ALSO LIKE THAT TOO.
AND STARTING TO SHOW HOW MUCH THE COMMERCIAL IS ACTUALLY ON THE SIDE OF MY PROPERTY, NOT JUST AT THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY AND, UM, RIGHT THERE, WHERE IT COMES IN IS ACTUALLY MY BACK PORCH.
SO MY BACK PORCH IS RIGHT ON THE MAJOR, UH, UH, WHATEVER HEIGHT BUILDING WE END UP WITH.
SO, UM, THE, SO MY LAST SLIDE HERE, IF HE KIND OF FLIPPED THROUGH IT, IF YOU CAN.
THE LAST ONE SHOWS THE, UH, A MEDIUM QUARTER AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR A MEDIUM QUARTER ON SOUTH LAMAR.
AND THAT, THAT REALLY KIND OF MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF HOW IT ADDRESSES SF THREE WITH THE 90 BEING, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THAT MAJOR COMMERCIAL PIECE.
I FORGOT TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENT THAT, UH, THAT, UM, AVATAR, ALTAR, QUINTUS POOL AND ELLIS CAME UP WITH EXCELLENT DOCUMENT, LOTS OF DETAIL.
THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED TO START THE DISCUSSION FROM FROM, AND I JUST, I WAS SO THRILLED TO SEE THIS AS A, AS A WAY TO COME INTO THIS DISCUSSION.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT AND IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, PAGE FOUR, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE MEDIUM, QUARTER'S
[01:50:01]
AT THE BOTTOM 65 FOOT HEIGHT AT ONE 50 DISTANCE AND NOT EQUAL HEIGHT AT TWO 50 DISTANCE, THAT IS WHAT MY QUICK SKETCH SHOWING AND HOW THAT MIGHT WORK REALLY WELL WITH THE, UH, UM, ANGLED, ANGLED, UH, STREETS AND COMMERCIAL GOING INTO ON THE SIDE OF RESIDENTIAL.THAT'S MY BRIEF PRESENTATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S NOT JUST AT THE REAR PROPERTIES, THAT SOMETIMES THEY BACK UP TO SF THREE, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, BUT THERE ARE PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE IT'S ON, UH, ON THE SIDE AS WELL.
UH, MAYOR MS. MCKINNEY, WOULD YOU MIND SENDING US THOSE IMAGES? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR, WOULD YOU MIND SENDING US THOSE IMAGES ELECTRONICALLY? OH MY APOLOGIES.
I STEPPED OFF THE DYESS AND I MISSED THAT.
THE ENEMY PACKET, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ON THE SIDE ON MY PROPERTY IS ABOUT 150 FEET, ALMOST 150 FEET ON THE SIDE THAT A VERY TALL BUILDING COULD BE BEEN BUILT NEXT TO ME.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO, SO MAYOR ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UH, SO THANK YOU MS. MCKINNEY, UH, FOR PROVIDING THESE DRAWINGS.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE EMAILING THEM TO EVERYONE TOO, SO YOU'LL HAVE A HARD COPY AS WELL AS EMAILED.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU JUST SAY IS THAT THERE'S, THAT THERE'S STILL ENOUGH DISTANCE TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE IMPORTANT OF THE IMPORTANCE HERE IS THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE SIDE AND IN THE MEDIUM, UM, THAT THE PROPOSAL FOR MEDIUM CORRIDORS WORKS, UM, ON THE SIDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU ALL.
AND I'M SURE THE STAFF HELPS YOU TOO.
SO I THINK THAT Y'ALL GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MS. MCKINNEY FOR COMING IN AND BRINGING THESE DOCUMENTS WITH THE, UM, WITH THE SKETCHES AT THE END.
OUR, UH, MY GOAL WITH THE, UM, PROPOSAL OF COURSE, IS TO TRY TO FIND A WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING RELATING TO COMPATIBILITY AND RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THERE'S SO MANY UNIQUE SITUATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
THAT'LL BE IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING ALL THOSE TO THE TABLE, TO TRY TO PROBLEM SOLVE FOR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.
AND WE ARE REALLY FAMILIAR WITH OUR DISTRICTS, WHICH IS REALLY HELPFUL TO GET THE INPUT.
AND, UM, I AGREE, THIS IS DEFINITELY A GOOD WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION.
AND, UM, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE THERE IS, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND IT WILL NOT BE THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL, AND WE'LL NEVER DO ANYTHING MORE EVER AGAIN, THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL, BUT FOR THIS POINT IN TIME, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND WEIGHING IN AND GIVING US THE BENEFIT OF YOUR EXPERTISE.
THANK YOU, BRANDON ARMBRUSTER FOR ITEM 53 ON DECK IS JEFFREY BOWEN.
MY NAME IS BRANDON ARMBRUSTER.
I'M CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT ST.
ANDREW'S IS COMMITTED TO BEING A TRUE PARTNER TO FIND TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO WEST 31ST STREET.
UM, WE FEEL THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONALITY AND ALSO SAFETY.
AS WE WORK THROUGH THE ASM P AND SAFE PICKUP AND DROP OFF OF OUR K THROUGH EIGHT STUDENTS IS PARAMOUNT AND OUR PRIMARY CONCERN, AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PARKING IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OUR FACULTY, STAFF, AND PARENTS THAT USE IT EVERY DAY AND IS VITAL TO OUR OPERATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ATD AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER AND TOBO, UH, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, UH, TO HELP FIND A PLAN.
AND WE TRULY ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A PARTNER IN DOING SO.
AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR WEST 31ST STREET.
THANK YOU, JEFFREY BOWEN ON ITEM 53 ON DECK IS MATTHEW
UH, I GUESS WE'RE STILL AT MORNING TRYING TO GET THAT DOWN, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SMP AMENDMENTS.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH SMP GOES BACK TO THE 2018, 2019 PROCESS.
THIS AMENDMENT IS FAR WORSE IN ITS ENTIRE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY INPUT.
SO THE COUNCIL STARTED A RESOLUTION IN 2020 TO PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION, BASED UPON THE COMMENTS BY ONE OF THE ASAP MEMBERS AT THE PAST, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, HE CALLED THIS A LIVING DOCUMENT.
BASICALLY THIS AMENDMENT IS A MAP WITH ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT GOES IN, IT SERVES THE WHOLE, OR IT GO, AND IT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN.
[01:55:01]
UM, BUT IT IS, HE CONTINUALLY STATED THAT SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY OWNERS ARE NOT EFFECTED BY THIS MAP OR BY THIS PROCESS.WELL, IF IT DOESN'T AFFECT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, THEN WHY IS IT STILL ON THE MAP? WE WERE TOLD THAT ONLY SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES WOULD BE AFFECTED THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT.
I PROVIDED A, UH, TO THE CITY CLERK, A DOCUMENT FOR AN ORDINANCE, A PROPOSED ORDINANCE BY VERY SMART LADY THAT CAN DEAL WITH THIS.
AND I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, THAT PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDINANCE FOR THIS VERSUS JUST A PLAIN MAP.
UM, MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M THE SENIOR PASTOR AT UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE WEST CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UPC HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY FOCUSED AND DYNAMIC MINISTRY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ABOUT A CENTURY.
WE HOST THE MICAH SIX FOOD PANTRY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION VENUES FOR AT-RISK POPULATIONS AND THE REGION.
WE ALSO HOST ONE OF THE VERY FEW OPEN AND AFFIRMING AND INCLUSIVE CAMPUS MINISTRIES IN THE AREA.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY IN RECENT YEARS, BUT UPC REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADAPTING AND PIVOTING AND LEARNING ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY AROUND US.
WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH ASM P AND PROJECT CONNECT AND OTHER SIMILAR REIMAGININGS CAN HELP THE CAUSES OF EQUITY AND FLOURISHING IN WEST CAMPUS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR OWN SPACE.
THE PARKING LANE ON SAN ANTONIO HAS FOR A LONG TIME, BEEN THE WAY IN WHICH FOLKS WITH WHEELCHAIRS OR OTHER OTHER MEN LIMITED MOBILITY CAN FIND THEIR WAY INTO OUR SANCTUARY.
AND AS THE DENSITY OF THE AREA HAS INCREASED, IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR CORRIDOR.
LET'S NOT MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACCESSIBLE, UM, IN THE CAUSE OF MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
LAVINSKY ON 53 ON DECK IS JANICE RANKIN.
MY NAME IS BOBBY LEVINSKY AND I'M HERE.
I'M HELPING THE WEST 31ST STREET CREEKSIDE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION WITH THE WEST, UH, WEST 31ST STREET INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, ADDRESSING.
AND, UM, MR. ARMBRUSTER, UH, PRELUDE, UM, PRE-LOADED EARLIER, UM, IT IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH CITY STAFF, WHICH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD PROCESS.
UM, STAFF HAS BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO FEEDBACK, UM, AND WE WEREN'T, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THIS FOR YOU IN THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE ASM AND P BECAUSE THERE WILL BE DECISIONS DOWN THE ROAD FOR YOU WITH REGARD TO THE, THE PLAN ITSELF.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION FROM TIER TWO TO TIER ONE IS GRATEFULLY HELPFUL BECAUSE, UM, IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE ANY OF THE OPTIONS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS MAY COME TO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE WORRIED THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME WEIRD TECHNICALITY THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, SHIFTED TOWARD TOWARDS ONE OUTCOME THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE, UH, MEET ALL THE NEEDS OF THE, THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE STREETS WHERE, UM, IT'S BEING ASKED TO DO A LOT, AND IT IS A VERY NARROW, VERY SHORT STREETS.
SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT TO YOUR OFFICES TO HAVE MEETINGS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UM, AND YOU'LL HAVE A PACKET OF INFORMATION IN YOUR THANK YOU.
JANICE IS ON 53 ON DECK IS DAN RENNER.
GREETINGS MR. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM JANUS RANKIN RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'VE WORKED FOR A MUNICIPALITY FOR STATE AGENCIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND RECENTLY SERVED 12 YEARS WITH MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS HOUSE.
I SPEAK ON MY OWN BEHALF TODAY.
I DO BELIEVE THE COMMENTS THAT WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT THE VALID CONCERNS AND FRUSTRATIONS THAT MANY PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER SECTORS OF AUSTIN HAVE HAD ABOUT THE ASM P.
THIS PREDESIGNATED EXPANSION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY IS LIKE PULLING A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT.
IF THE PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THE CITY'S IDEA THAT THE EXPANDED RIGHT-AWAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A TAKING A PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IT CERTAINLY DOES LAY THAT FOUNDATION.
THIS ALLOWS THE CITY TO MARKETS TERRITORY ON AN INTERACTIVE INTERNET MAP.
THAT IS A PUZZLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO DECIPHER, AND AN AREA IS NOT RELATED TO CORRIDOR AND PROJECT CONNECT CHANGES.
[02:00:01]
PROPERLY NOTIFIED.SO MANY OF THEM ARE JUST UNAWARE.
I URGE YOU TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT CLARIFIES THE NATURE, THE NATURE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, UH, DESIGNATIONS.
AND TO CLARIFY THAT THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE BASIS FOR A TAKING UNDER ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLE CLAIM IN THE FUTURE.
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHMENTS THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK QUESTIONS, ANYONE, UH, MAY I MAY, OR I JUST WANT TO VERIFY, I BELIEVE YOU ALSO EMAILED, UH, EVERYONE ON COUNCIL WITH THAT INFORMATION.
WAS IT EARLIER THIS WEEK OR WAS IT LAST WEEK, BUT IT WAS YESTERDAY.
OH GOSH, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY TIME WORKS AROUND HERE, SUSAN, IT FELT LIKE I WAS READING THAT LAST MORNING OR YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE.
SO WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A COPY OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL IN OUR INBOX.
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING A GOOD STRONG LOOK AT THAT.
THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE.
THANK YOU, DAN RENNER ON ITEM 53 ON DECK IS JASON TOMPKINS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAN RENTER, MY WIFE, KIMBERLY AND I'M LIVING, UH, DISTRICT 10, UH, AT WEST 31ST STREET, JUST, UH, JUST WEST OF, UH, NORTH LAMAR.
UM, WE LIVE AND, AND WORK THERE.
UM, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT, UM, WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THE WEST 31ST STREET, UH, SHOAL CREEK, UH, CORRIDOR, UH, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT'S TAKING PLACE WITH THE ASM P TWO THINGS I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH TODAY.
FIRST, UH, WE'D URGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, ISM PAY IS ADOPTED CONTINUES TO CLASSIFY WAS 31ST STREET SHOW CREEK AS A LEVEL ONE STRAIGHT SECOND.
I WANT TO GIVE A, A SINCERE THANKS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALTAR AND TOVA, UH, AND YOUR STAFF ARE COMING OUT TO SEE THE CHALLENGES WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THE, UH, THE CURRENT PILOT PROJECT.
WE LOOKED FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UH, IN THE FUTURE ON IT.
JASON TOMPKINS FOR ITEM 53 ON DECK IS RICK LEVY ON 87 MAYOR ADLER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON, UH, ITEM 53, UH, REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE SMP.
I ALSO AM A RESIDENT OF WEST 31ST STREET, UM, AND IN ECHOING SOME OF WHAT, UM, MR. RENNER, MR. LEVINSKY, AND, UH, BRANDON ARMBRUSTER, WHO WAS WITH, UH, ST ANDREW'S SCHOOL HAVE SAID, UM, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UH, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES AND STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, WEST 31ST STREET TENDS TO BE A VERY UNIQUE STREET.
AND I KNOW THAT IN THE DRIVE TO CREATE SIMPLE UNIFIED COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, OFTENTIMES, UH, DIFFICULT OR UNIQUE CONDITIONS IN CERTAIN AREAS CAN SOMETIMES BE OVERLOOKED.
WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING WITH THAT ON OUR PARTICULAR STREET, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING ASKED OF THIS, UH, TEENY TINY LITTLE STREET, UH, IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.
UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH MANY OF YOU OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT, UH, COUPLE OF MONTHS.
RICK LEVY ON ITEM 57 ON DECK IS CHRIS ZIONS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS AFL CIO, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION OF 240,000 UNION MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WE SPEAK UP ON ISSUES OF CONCERN TO WORKERS.
I'M ALSO A DOUBLE CONSTITUENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO I LIVE AND WORK IN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
SO, UM, WE'RE JUST HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON FOR BRINGING, UM, THEY MEASURE FORWARD THAT WOULD, UH, ALLOW BUSINESSES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CAPITOL DOMINANCE OVER LATER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DOWNTOWN, UH, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
UM, WE WERE ENGAGED IN A VERY SIMILAR PROJECT IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE ABLE TO CONVERT, UM, HUNDREDS OF UNITS FOR SENIORS, RIGHT ON THE RIVERWALK AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND WE THINK THAT GIVEN WHERE THE BUILDING IS, WE'RE ON THE CORNER OF 11TH AND LAVACA THAT WE'RE WELL POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO TRANSIT, UM, ACCESS TO WORKPLACES, ET CETERA, TO DO A PROJECT DEAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORT.
[02:05:01]
HOW MANY MORE SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? THREE, FOUR MORE IN PERSON AND WE STILL NEED REMOTE I'M ON DECK IS HOLLY MCDANIEL, LUKE, METZKER ON 49 AND 90.THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND OPEN SPACES REPRESENTING ABOUT 7,500 MEMBERS, DUES PAYING MEMBERS.
AND MOST OF THEM ARE HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE GROW AS A CITY, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE FIND WAYS TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES INTO EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ALTERNATIVE AS A SPRAWL IS A DISASTER FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S REALLY A NO BRAINER THAT WE WOULD ADD HOUSING TO OUR CORRIDORS.
UM, AND WE SHOULD BE MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD BY CHANGING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE LOCALIZED IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING STORM WATER RUNOFF.
THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE FECAL BACTERIA IN OUR CREEKS, 36% OF WHICH, UM, ARE, HAVE UNSAFE LEVELS OF PEOPLE, BACTERIA.
UH, THE STORMWATER IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS THAT HAVE KILLED AT LEAST SEVEN DOGS IN OUR LAKES.
UM, AND WE KNOW THAT NATURE BASED INFRASTRUCTURE AS CALLED FOR IN COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S RESOLUTION IS A GREAT SOLUTION THAT CAN BOTH HELP REDUCE THAT RUNOFF POLLUTION WHILE REDUCING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT BY ADDING MORE GREEN GREENERY INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND HELPING BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT, BOTH OF, UH, ITEM 49 AND, UH, ITEM 90.
WE SEE THEM AS, UM, PERFECT COMPLIMENTS TO EACH OTHER, HELPING ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS WHILE HELPING MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING, UH, WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT AUSTIN ARE CLEAN WATERWAYS THAT ARE GREEN SPACES.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. METZKER FOR BEING HERE FOR ADVOCATING FOR THESE ISSUES.
I KNOW YOU'VE MET WITH MANY OF US ON COUNCIL ABOUT THESE ISSUES, UM, FOR AWHILE NOW, UH, AS YOU KNOW, OR AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION HERE TODAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO POSTPONE IT.
A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, AND I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
AND I WASN'T SURE IF YOU HAD WANTED TO WEIGH IN ON THAT ELEMENT.
UM, WELL, MANY OF THE ITEMS IN YOUR RESOLUTION AS YOU KNOW, WERE, UH, DEVELOPED, UH, OR PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO AND FULLY VETTED THROUGH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, REWRITE PROCESS THROUGH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THROUGH THE COUNCIL AND TWO DIFFERENT READINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE, UH, FRUSTRATEDLY COMMUNICATED TO MANY OF YOU, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, YOU KNOW, UH, WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS THE WATER POLLUTION CRISIS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE IDEALLY WE WOULD DO IT ALL COMPREHENSIVELY, UM, AND, AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY OUR PREFERENCE.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, UH, WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
IT'S JUST BEEN YEARS AND YEARS, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THE ACTION WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THESE WATERWAYS.
SO, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WHICH MEETING IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT, BUT, UH, DEFINITELY, UM, WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY TO, UM, GET THIS PROCESS IN PLACE BECAUSE IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE TIME FOR THE STAFF TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANY LONGER.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THOSE KIDS ARE IN KITCHEN.
I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT, UH, THAT DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT PARTS OF THIS RESOLUTION, THE COUNCIL'S ALREADY PASSED, IT'S GONE FULLY VETTED AND IT WAS PASSED AS PART OF THE, UH, THE LAST LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, UM, PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD INCORPORATE RAIN GARDENS, GREEN ROOFS, UH, UH, TREE ISLANDS IN PARKING LOTS, ET CETERA, INTO VERY DENSE PARTS OF THE CITY ALREADY KIND OF VETTED AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
AND COUNCIL'S DONE A LOT OF WORK ON FUNCTIONAL GREEN AND GSI ISSUES.
WE'VE HAD PREVIOUS COUNTS OF PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN AND OTHERS, OF COURSE.
AND, UM, AND TH THE STAFF HAS DONE QUITE A BIT OF WORK ON THAT.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF PROCESSES ALREADY, SO, OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS YOU WERE THINKING THAT, THAT WE NEED TO JUST GET THIS DONE AND MOVE FORWARD.
MR. METZKER WHILE YOU WERE UP THERE JUST REAL QUICK, YOU SAID IT'D BE BETTER TO DO IT COMPREHENSIVE.
AND WE TRIED TO DO THAT COMPREHENSIVE.
WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD WITH CODE.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S BETTER TO DO COMPREHENSIVELY? UH, BECAUSE, UH, WE WROTE A REPORT IN 2017 CALLED GROWING GREENER, WHERE WE EXAMINED THE KIND OF SCIENCE
[02:10:01]
ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT.AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT, UM, I THINK, WHICH IS KIND OF A NO BRAINER, SPRAWL IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ON BASICALLY EVERY METRIC, WHETHER IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE, PEOPLE HAVING TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, UH, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MEANS MORE CARBON EMISSIONS INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE, UM, IN A MORE FLOODING OR, UH, URBAN HEAT ISLAND.
AND EVERY METRIC SPRAWL IS WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, HIGHLY DENSE PROPERTIES, UM, CAN HAVE LOCALIZED IMPACTS OF WATER FLOODING AND THOSE HAVE TO BE MITIGATED.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS TO LIVE ON A SMALLER FOOTPRINT, YOU KNOW, TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN, UM, YOU KNOW, A REASONABLE GROUNDS, SO THAT, THAT ARE NOT SPRAWLING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO WATER POLLUTION, FLOODING, URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, ET CETERA.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY ON THE DAY IS HERE ON THIS DAY, UH, ARE OUR CHAMPIONS AND, AND, UH, OF THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
AND IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY, AS PART OF THE LARGER SCHEME, AS PART OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, A LOT OF THESE ITEMS WERE PASSED AND I SUPPORT EVERY ONE OF THEM.
UH, BUT EVERYBODY HERE IS ALSO A CHAMPION FOR AFFORDABILITY AND FOR THE KINDS OF LAND DEVELOPMENT GOALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH TOWARD.
UH, AND I BELIEVE TO MY CORE THAT THIS IS NOT A FORCED CHOICE WHERE WE HAVE TO BE FOR ONE AND NOT FOR THE OTHER, THAT THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THEM WORK TOGETHER.
UH, AND IT COULD BE, AS I KNOW, IN THE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT CODE WHERE WE PASS IT BEFORE, NOT ONLY WERE WE PASSING THESE KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, BUT THEY WERE IN ESSENCE BEING OFFSET BY, UH, GREATER ENTITLEMENTS OR, OR RELAXATION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, UH, SUCH THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE A FORCED CHOICE, THAT WE COULD STILL DEVELOP THE TRYST.
AND YOU WERE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE WERE, WE WERE NEGOTIATING THOSE THINGS, WEREN'T YOU? IT WAS ALL RIGHT.
SO, SO, SO MY REASON TO REQUEST THE, THE, THE DELAY AND I RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PRESS TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY, AND YOU AND I STOOD NEXT TO EACH OTHER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER PUBLICLY SAYING, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO, TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FINDING THOSE, THOSE TRADE-OFFS, UH, SUCH THAT IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THIS, WE'RE NOT ADOPTING IT IN A VACUUM AND BY ITSELF, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO ADOPTING SOME OF THE, THE MITIGATING MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND AFFORDABILITY, BUT, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY PROVIDING FOR THEM BOTH IN FINDING THE RIGHT WAIVERS OR RELAXATION OR ENTITLEMENTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THAT, THAT MY SUPPORT OF THE POSTPONEMENT HAS NOTHING, AND I'M REAL SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THESE THINGS AND FOLDED FOR THEM AS PART OF THE LAND DEVELOPER CODE, WANT TO VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN.
BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN THE SAME KIND OF CONTEXT, WHERE WE VOTED FOR THEM BEFORE A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
MAY OR WE, WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT WHAT'S APPROPRIATE IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE FOR POSTPONING.
UM, I THINK WHAT I WOULD REALLY FIND DIS YOU KNOW, DISTRESSING IS IF WE FELT WE HAD TO POSTPONE, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, ASPECTS OF THIS THAT YOU JUST, THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THAT WORK ALREADY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD WANT TO DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SOME TIME LIMITED, UM, YOU KNOW, THINKING AROUND POSTPONEMENT, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO POSTPONE THIS WHILE, WHILE WE'RE CONTINUING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OTHER THINGS FROM THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WE MIGHT WANT TO BRING, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALREADY VETTED A LOT OF THIS.
AND, UM, AND SO I, UH, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY, NOT THE HOLIDAY, WE DON'T GO TO HOLIDAY AFTER OUR BREAK.
UM, BECAUSE THEN WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE PUSHING THIS TO WHERE WE CAN'T GET IT DONE THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST TO INITIATE CHANGES STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE VETTING PROCESS, UM, WITH LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CONVERSATION, UH, BEFORE IT EVEN GETS BACK TO US.
SO I THINK THERE'S A BUILT-IN VETTING PROCESS.
UM, AND, UM, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT TAKES.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I'D LIKE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, LIKE FIRST TO GET THIS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEN OUR INSTRUCTION, WHILE THEY'RE CRAFTING THE ORDINANCE, WE COULD TELL THEM CRAFT AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE MITIGATING, UH, MEASURES THAT WOULD SPEAK TO ENTITLEMENTS OR RELAXING OTHER THINGS, SO THAT IT'S NOT A FORCED CHOICE BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT
[02:15:01]
NOW'S NOT THE TIME FOR US TO DEBATE THAT.WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN, OKAY.
CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I DISAGREE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A FORCED CHOICE, UH, CIRCUMSTANCE.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I'LL COME BACK JUST A QUICK QUESTION WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE.
OF COURSE, WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON ISSUES LIKE THIS IN OUR CITY.
UM, IS EVERYTHING IN THE VERSION, TWO RESOLUTION, SOMETHING THAT YOU SUGGESTED OR ARE THERE OTHER THINGS TOO, THAT MIGHT BE, UH, A COMBINATION OF WHAT ENVIRONMENT TEXAS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND THEN MAYBE SOME OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY THAT WEREN'T SUGGESTED BY YOU W THE ITEMS WE SUGGESTED WERE THE ONES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REWRITES.
SO THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, UH, PROVISIONS, THE, UH, TREE ISLANDS AND, UM, IN PARKING LOTS, I'D SET UP THOSE PROVISIONS.
THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT DIDN'T COME FROM US, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME RESPONSE TO THE SAMSUNG SPELLED IT, MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING GOOD MONITORING.
IF THERE ARE ILLEGAL INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES THAT ARE SO HARMFUL, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PROVISION.
UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY OTHER PROVISIONS THAT WE SUPPORT AS WELL, BUT WE DIDN'T, WE WEREN'T THE GENESIS OR, OR DIDN'T RECOMMEND THEM.
AND I, UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES, I DON'T THINK ANYONE SUGGESTED A LONG POSTPONEMENT, BUT JUST MAYBE LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH IT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED WOULD, WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
I, THIS CAME TO MY ATTENTION ON MONDAY AND THERE'S A VERSION TWO THAT WAS POSTED LATE YESTERDAY.
AND SO I JUST, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS SO I CAN MAKE AN DECISION.
IF I COULD ADD YET, IF THERE IS A POSTPONEMENTS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE NO LATER THAN THE NEXT JUNE 9TH MEETING.
IT SEEMS LIKE AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN FULLY VETTED ALREADY, THAT THE RESOLUTION DOES IN FACT HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE LAST PIECE OF IT DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND, AND COSTS.
AND SO THAT PROCESS IS ALREADY GOING TO BE, UH, INCLUDED IN THIS RESOLUTION.
HOPE WE WON'T DELAY ANY LONGER THAN JUNE 9TH AT THE LATEST.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT INCLUSION, CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THOSE PREVIOUSLY, BUT MY, MY INTENT JUST FOR THE DYESS WOULD ONLY BE TO DO NINTH.
COUNSEL, HANG ON JUST A SECOND.
REMEMBER HARPER, MADISON, BUT WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON AN ITEM THAT'S BEEN, OH, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
I MEAN, WE GOT SENTENCED IN COMMUNICATION.
THAT'S STILL LEFT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE, THIS COSTUME ISSUE HAS BEEN CALLED.
I THINK YOUR POINT'S WELL TAKEN.
I WOULD URGE PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR MIND ON RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN SPEAK IF THEY WANT TO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING AND I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE STICK HERE SO THAT THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE GET, WE TOLD THE MUSIC PERSON TO COME BACK LIKE AT ONE 30, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
UH, BUT IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS, WE GET THROUGH ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE THIS MORNING.
ANYTHING FURTHER AT THIS POINT, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HEARD THE STATISTIC CORRECTLY.
DID YOU SAY 36% OF OUR CREEKS AND WATERWAYS.
YEAH, I HAVE, I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SAY I'LL SAVE MOST OF THEM FOR LATER, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LS OF, UM, MR. METZKER.
I DO WANT TO JUST SUMMARIZE, AGAIN, MY RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION THAT WAS SIMILAR ON TUESDAY, WHICH IS WHERE THE ITEMS CAME FROM, THAT WERE PART OF THE RESOLUTION, BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT WAS DUE.
THANK YOU, ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS FOR FISHING.
THOSE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAD ADVANCED MANY OF THOSE, UM, FUNCTIONAL GREEN AND THOSE CODE AMENDMENTS AS PART OF HER WORK.
UM, WE ALSO WORKED WITH PODESTA.
THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED SOME IDEAS TO HERE.
AND AS I MENTIONED ON TUESDAY, UM, AVA PHILLIPS, MY SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR ON MY STAFF ALSO HAD INTRODUCED SOME VERY GOOD MEASURES THAT ARE ALL PART OF THIS.
SO IT'S, IT IS, UM, LIKE SO MANY GREAT POLICY DOCUMENTS THAT COME TO US HERE ON COUNCIL.
IT WAS THE WORK OF, OF MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS COMING FROM MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
AND I, I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY, BUT, UM, THOSE ARE THE SOURCES, UM, THAT I'M AWARE OF AND ARE TOP OF MIND.
AND AGAIN, APOLOGIES FOR REPEATING, REPEATING THE ANSWER THAT I PROVIDED ON TUESDAY COLLEAGUES.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE PHONE.
UH, I THINK WE'LL TRY TO TAKE THOSE.
I WOULD LIKE THE OTHER CLERK TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO THEM UNTIL AFTER ONE O'CLOCK COULD BE ONE 15, BUT SO IF THEY GET A BREAK AND GO, UM, ABOUT COME BACK AND ONE O'CLOCK, I'M GOING TO TELL THE PUBLIC, ASK THE CLERK TO LET THE PUBLIC, OR IF YOU'RE LISTENING PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE, IT'S NOT TO BE ANY EARLIER THAN, THAN, THAN ONE.
AND HOPEFULLY AS SOON THEREAFTER AS WE CAN, LET'S CONTINUE TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE IN PERSON ALICE WOODS FOR ITEM 48 49.
CONNIE, WE'VE CONTINUED TO LET PEOPLE SIGN UP, UH, AS THEY SHOW UP, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I DON'T USUALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER COMPATIBILITY BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY
[02:20:01]
ON LOCKED, WHICH IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT IS ALLOWING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN PARTS OF TOWN THAN IT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE.HOWEVER, I ALSO KNOW THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE BUILD CANNOT SOLVE AUSTIN'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ALONE.
WE NEED TO BE BUILDING EVERY KIND OF HOUSING.
AND SO, SO MUCH OF IT WITH THE EXISTING COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OR THE COMPROMISE THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, WE ARE TYING OUR HANDS WHILE WE TRY TO SOLVE THIS INCREDIBLY PRESSING PROBLEM, WE CANNOT KEEP BUILDING HOUSING AT THE LOW RATE, HIGH COST AND MINIMAL DENSITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN.
IT'S NOT WORKING FOR US AS A CITY COMPATIBILITY COSTS US TOO MUCH HOUSING, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD IT ANYMORE.
MATEO BARN STONE ON ITEM 48, 49 ON DECK IS MARRIED INGLE UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BARNSTORMS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISMS CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER.
UH, I WISH TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE VMU TWO ITEMS BEFORE YOU, OUR CITY IS FACING EXPLOSIVE GROWTH ALIGNING AND DIRECTING THAT GROWTH ONTO OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS IS GOOD FOR AFFORDABILITY.
GOOD FOR RESILIENCY AND GOOD FOR OUR BURGEONING TRANSIT INVESTMENTS.
UM, INCREASING HOUSING OPTIONS ON TRANSIT LINES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEIR DAILY NEEDS WANTS AND DESIRES IS GOOD PLANNING AND SMART POLICY.
AND WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON WITH THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THAT END, WE ALSO REMAIN IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSALS TO ELIMINATE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ON THE CORE TRANSIT QUARTERS, AS WELL AS THE ELIMINATION OF PARKING MINIMUMS. UH, FRANKLY, THE WAY WE PRACTICE COMPATIBILITY IN THE CITY IS NOT GOOD.
COMPATIBILITY CAN HAVE SOME UTILITY IF A GREATS ZONES OF MIDDLE DENSITY AND GRACEFUL TRANSITIONS BETWEEN HIGH DENSITY ON THE QUARTER AND LOWER INTENSITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT OUR CODE DOES NOT DO THIS AS IT IS TRIGGERING PROPERTIES CAN KILL SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF HOUSING ON THE QUARTERS THEMSELVES AND TRIGGERING PROPERTIES, A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY, UM, OR MORE PREVENT US FROM ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF ALIGNING OUR LAND USE AND OUR TRANSPORTATION GOALS.
UH, WE ARE ON RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE REMOVAL OF ANTIQUATED PARKING MINIMUMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, ALL PARKING MINIMUMS ARE AN INCENTIVE TO DRIVE OR AS NOTED EXPERT ON PARKING, UH, PROFESSOR DONALD SHOUP, BUT THAT PARKING MINIMUMS ARE FERTILITY DRUGS FOR CARS.
AND WHAT AREA OF THE CITY DO WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DRIVE A GREAT PLACE TO START WITH ELIMINATING THESE MANDATES IS ALONG THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, IN TRANSIT INVESTMENT.
UH, WE CERTAINLY HOPE YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL INFLECTION POINT, UH, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY AND EMBRACE THE BOLD VISION.
THE COMMUNITY HAS SET FOR HERSELF TO ALIGN OUR TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING PLANNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARY ANGLE ON 48 AND 49.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN DIAPER BANK.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NUMBER 89, THE MENSTRUAL EQUITY PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS, UM, HAVE IT BEFORE YOU, UM, THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS FOR THAT WITH THE PERIOD SUPPLIES WAS OUR BRIGHT SPOT PROGRAM.
SO WE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON TO GET THAT OFF THE GROUND.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED IN THAT PROGRAM IS THAT THERE IS A 72% NEED IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY TO HAVE ACCESS TO PERIOD SUPPLIES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE THAT HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO I'M THANKFUL I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THE COMMUNITY IS IN FAVOR OF THIS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE PERIOD'S SUPPLIES, PADS, AND TAMPONS AND LINERS AT ALL CITY BUILDINGS, UM, AND MAKING SURE THOSE ARE IN LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
SO ANYBODY WHO WALKS INTO A BATHROOM REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF THE MONTH, THEY HAVE THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED.
WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND WOMEN LEE SHERMAN FOR ITEM 60 ON DECK IS TOBY LEVY ON ITEM 60 AS WELL.
[02:25:01]
TO GO TO REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 49.WE'VE GOT SUSAN PENTEL SUSAN PENTEL, PLEASE UNMUTE HATTER PEOPLE ON MUTE ON THE PHONE.
THEY HAVE THEIR DEVICES ON YOU.
SO HOWEVER THEY NEED TO UNMUTE NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, SESSA ACOSTA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M A DISTRICT COURT RESIDENT.
I HAVE THE HONOR TO SERVE ON THE ZONING AND POTTING COMMISSION ON THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF AURA.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CHANGES TO THE DMU, TO, UH, ZONING SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CHANGE WITH THE AMENDMENTS FROM COUPLE NUMBER OF ELA, TO ELIMINATE HABITABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR HEIGHT, UH, AND THOSE, THE PARKING MINIMUMS. SO THESE AMENDMENTS DO A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY MOVE US CLOSER TOWARDS OUR COMPREHENSIVE GOAL GOAL.
UH, OUR CONFERENCE OF PLAN GOAL TO BE MORE COMPACT AND CONNECTED, UM, CITY.
IT HELPS US TO INTEGRATE NEW PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ALONG OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF OUR TRANSIT NETWORK THAT WE'RE INVESTING SO MUCH IN.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR BETTER AND MORE ABUNDANT HOUSING IN THE CITY, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED.
AND BEYOND JUST INCREASING THE ENTITLEMENTS FOR, UH, BEING U2 FRIENDS IN 90 REDUCING OR ELIMINATING COMPATIBILITY IS KEY IN THIS BECAUSE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, LESS THAN 50% OF THE, OF THE BUILDINGS THAT EXIST IN THE VMU TWO AREA WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BUILD 6% CAN DO SO BECAUSE OF COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTION, THIS IS THOUSANDS OF UNITS.
THOUSANDS OF UNITS MEAN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT COULD BE LIVING IN THE CITY.
AND TO A POINT EARLIER OF HOW THIS HELPS WITH DISPLACEMENT, THOSE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO EVEN AT THOSE WERE ALL THE MARKET RATE, EXPENSIVE UNITS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE GOING TO THOSE UNITS AND NOT COMPETING WITH MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, IT IS A WAY, AND ALSO IT IS A WAY TO GET MORE CARS OFF THE STREET.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE, UH, HOW DOES REDUCING PARKING, UM, HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK OR WHO RELY ON A VEHICLE TO GET AROUND.
THAT'S STILL MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAVING TO DRIVE THAT, UH, ARE NOT COMPETING WITH ROAD SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DO, WE ARE ONE ECOSYSTEM.
AND SO ONE THING AFFECTS EVERYONE AND WE SHOULD NOT IN THE HOUSING CRISIS, BEING A DISCUSSION WITH HOW TO MAYBE LIMIT OR MAYBE SMALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE CITY.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE, THAT WE TAKE BOLD ACTION.
UH, AND EVERY YEAR WE STOP EVERY MONTH, EVERY MONTH THAT WE PULLED THIS KIND OF DECISION OFF IS MORE TIME THAT, THAT, THAT THE VALUE OF THE HOUSING THAT CAN EXIST IN THE CITY GOES UP AND UP AND UP.
I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER IN JUNE.
AND I'M TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND I'M MORE SCARED ABOUT LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT I'LL NEED AS, AS EXTRA SPACE OR EXTRA OPTIONS, OR IF, IF MY SON WILL BE ABLE TO GROW UP IN THIS PLACE, I HOPE SO.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU CAN LOOK BEYOND JUST WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS EXISTED, AS FAR AS THE DESIRES TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE A CERTAIN VIEW OF OFTEN TO MOVE FORWARD TO WHAT CAN BE A VISION OF A BETTER AUSTIN FOR ALL OF US HERE.
I REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT.
I'M NOT SURE I WAS LISTENING, BUT I CAN'T, UH, FOR WHICHEVER COMPLIMENTED RECOMMENDED THAT WE ALL BE ABLE TO HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GET THIS ISSUE OUT THERE.
THANK YOU, UH, WITH ANY REMAINING TIME, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WORK A NINE TO FIVE JOB.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO WAIT THIS LONG OR TO EVEN NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO STEP AWAY, TO TAKE THIS CALL AND GIVE YOU AND GIVE YOU THIS RESPONSE.
PLEASE WEIGH THAT FOR FUTURE MEETINGS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THINGS LIKE THIS, BUT WE'RE OUT HERE.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT TO Y'ALL.
AND SO IF THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE ASIDE FROM THE TYPICAL, YOU KNOW, EMAIL YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'D APPRECIATE THOSE, THOSE WAYS TO GIVE YOU OUR FEEDBACK.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN PENTEL ON ITEM 49, SUSAN PENTEL SANDY AND I MADE US MCNALL ON ITEM 6, 18 85 AND 89.
I'M AGAINST TO CONTINUE TO RESPONSIBLE WASTEFUL SPENDING AND AGAINST
[02:30:01]
ITEMS 6 18 89 AND 85 6.WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR ART RATHER ALLOW TALENTED STUDENTS TO SHOW OFF THEIR WORK 18TH, NO MORE COVID-19 EXPENDITURES.
89 PEOPLE IN CITY FACILITIES CAN AFFORD FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN 85 AGAINST ANY MORE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.
OVER YEARS, COST 9.5, $5 MILLION FOR PROPERTY VALUED UNDER 3 MILLION PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE PSH.
THEN IN AUGUST, YOU ALL VOTED FOR A WOMEN'S SHELTER.
NOW WITH NO NOTICE AGAIN TO THE RESIDENT, HE CHANGED AGAIN TO A 55 YEAR OLD OR OLDER HOMELESS FACILITY WITH NO CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SPECS.
IT WILL POSE A MAJOR SAFETY THREAT TO NEARBY SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND BUSINESSES.
IT WASN'T, IT IS THE WRONG LOCATION HAS MADE NEIGHBORHOODS ON SAFE, PROVEN BY INCREASED CRIME AND PROPERTY TO FACE HOMELESS.
IF I HAD FLOW WALLS AND IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARD, THE PROBLEM HOMELESSNESS, NOT TRUE AND NOT THE ANSWER RATHER THAN RECOVERING THE HOSPITALS, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS.
YOU'RE INVITING MORE PEOPLE ARRIVED TO AUSTIN.
I HAVE 10 SECONDS, WHICH WILL BE DISASTROUS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK BY KELLY FOR LISTENING.
JEFF RYZEN ME FOR ITEMS 48 AND 49.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME ON, RIGHT? YES.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER AND A FIRST TIME CALLER INTO THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, I WANTED TO FIRST CLARIFY, I HAD SELECTED NEUTRAL ON THESE TOPICS.
UM, IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME FROM THE AGENDA WHAT FOR OR AGAINST MEANT, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY VERY STRONGLY AGAINST ANY NEW RESTRICTIONS OR REGULATIONS, UM, EVEN SORT OF AMENDED RESTRICTIONS REGULATIONS THAT MAKE, UM, BUILDING MID TO HIGH DENSITY HOUSING IN THE CITY, MORE DIFFICULT, UH, AND AGAINST ANY REGULATIONS THAT EMPHASIZE THE NEED OF CARS OVER THE NEEDS OF, UH, OVER THE HEALTH AND WELFARE, I SHOULD SAY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, UM, ACROSS THE CITY, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF A COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OR REGULATIONS.
UM, AND CERTAINLY THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF, UH, ANY PARKING MANDATES AUSTIN I FEEL IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT PRIORITIZES AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN A STATE THAT ALL TOO OFTEN, PRIORITIZES CORPORATE PROFITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION.
UM, THESE ULTIMATELY I DON'T FEEL ARE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.
WE KNOW THAT MORE HOUSING SUPPLY WILL MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.
WE KNOW THAT REDUCING CAR USE AND CITIES WILL PAY FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, UH, PEDESTRIAN AND BIKING, FOCUS DESIGNS HAVE PROFOUND BENEFITS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY.
AND IN TERMS OF MITIGATING THE CITY HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN ON THE ENVIRONMENT MORE BROADLY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME MEGAN, MEISENBACH ON 48, 49 AND 53.
HELLO, THIS IS MEGAN MADISON BACH AND DISTRICT NINE.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT THE COUNCIL SPENDING ON THE VMU AND COMPATIBILITY TODAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER FAMILIES THE IN FARM AND THE DISABLED WHEN CONSIDERING PARKING.
AND I AGREE WITH MS. GUZMAN, WHO SAID, LET US ABIDE BY JUDGE SWAFFORD DECISION ON THE CO UH, KONYA CASE.
UM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE EXTENSIVE, UH, TIME AND EFFORT IN ENGAGING THE PUBLIC ON VMU.
AND, UM, FOR ITEM 53, THE ASN P AMENDMENTS, UM, WE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS FROM THE PREDESIGNATED RIGHT OF WAY APPROACH.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE ASSET WHO FOLLOWS THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER ONE, THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE, AND, UM, I THINK LEGISLATION BY WEB MAP IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
GOODBYE ANA,
I SERVED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PRESIDENT OF BANK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, BUT IN SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT ON ITEMS 48, 49, 53 AND 91ST REGARDING ITEMS 90,
[02:35:01]
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK GOD FOR MEMBER SQUINT, THIS GLOBAL KITCHEN AND VIDEO CALL AND ALTAR FOR SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION THAT WILL ADDRESS INEQUITIES AND WORK TOWARDS PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS WITHIN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL A ZONE IN CENTRAL AND EAST BOSTON IS CURRENTLY AFFORDED WITHIN THE GREEK AND WATER PARTITION STILL IN WEST BOSTON REGARDING ITEM 48 AND 49.I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS PUT FORTH BY THE MAYOR FOR MEETING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS POINT IS TOBO KITCHEN VIDEO FOR RECENTLY MEETING WITH RESIDENTS IN OUR SOUTH AUSTIN AREA REGARDING THE PROPOSED VMU AND BEING YOU CHANGE TO CHANGES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED DIALOGUE WITH THE COUNCIL.
AS YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE UNIQUE IMPACT YOUR DECISIONS WILL HAVE ON INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AREAS, HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT, NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS.
PEACE ENSURE CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED AND AFFORDED DUE PROCESS.
DURING THIS TIME, I SAID JUST A FUTURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES, BE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND SUPPORT THOSE RESIDENTS WITH ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INTERNET, CONNECTIVITY, OR FAMILIARITY WITH THE USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NOT BE SUBJECTED TO BEING CHECKED DOWN BY THOSE WHO HAVE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES RESIDENTS WITH THESE CHALLENGES SHOULD NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAIN, NOR SHOULD THEY BE SUBJECTED, SUBJECTED TO DISMISSIVE BEHAVIOR.
SUCH BEHAVIORS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
MY EXPECTATION IS THAT THESE RESIDENTS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, OR ECONOMIC STATUS, THEIR VOICES AND CONCERNS MUST ALSO BE HEARD.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE REGARDING ITEM THIRD 53.
I APPRECIATE THE STAFF ATTENDING OUR COMMUNITY MEETING AND WORKING WITH US REGARDING OUR CONCERNS.
THIS PLAN, DEPENDING ON ITS APPLICATION WITHIN INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS CAN HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE IMPACT.
I HOPE THE STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE SAFE MOBILITY STRATEGIES ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR THOSE LIVING OR PASSING THROUGH.
AND THAT MEETS THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M JOYCE BETH YANNO, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE, THIS NUMBER 48, BECAUSE IT GETS SO FEW A PORTABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR A RATHER LARGE INCREASE OF THE BASE ZONING HEIGHT OF A VMU STRUCTURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 50% OF THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT UNITS AS AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE EARNINGS, LESS THAN THE 80% MFI WITH THE OPTION TO BUY, RATHER THAN JUST RENT HOME OWNERSHIP WOULD REALLY HELP THE EQUITY ISSUE IN AUSTIN.
I OPPOSED THE IN LIEU FOR VMU TWO PROJECTS, THE AFFORDABLE UNITS SHOULD BE ON SITE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE BEST LEFT OUT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THEY ARE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT REQUIRE MORE TIME FOR CAMP CAREFUL ANALYSIS ON ITEM NUMBER 49.
I WANT TO CHANGE MY POSITION FROM AGAINST A NEUTRAL.
NOW THAT I FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE PROPOSAL.
I APPRECIATE THE CARE THAT WENT INTO THE CREATION OF THIS PROPOSAL.
THERE WERE STILL SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD APPLY ACROSS THE CITY.
AND I STILL OPPOSED TO BE IN LIEU ON ITEM NUMBER 53, THE ASM P C A S M P IS NOT READY FOR APPROVAL.
THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES AND INFORMATION SCATTERED ACROSS THE STREET NETWORK STORY MAP, THE STREET NETWORKS, AMENDMENT TABLE, AND THE ASM P DOCUMENT ITSELF.
THERE WAS CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO ACCESS AND REVIEW THE MATERIALS.
AND NOW THERE IS CONFUSION AS TO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR APPROVAL.
THE PROPOSED RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITIONS ARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE ASM P CLAIMS TO SUPPORT EQUITY.
HOWEVER, CAP METRO REDUCED THE BUS SERVICE OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN EAST AUSTIN IN ORDER TO GIVE WHITE AFFLUENT WEST AUSTIN MORE FREQUENT BUS SERVICE, WHICH IT DIDN'T ASK FOR AND HARDLY USES.
THIS WOULD BE THE NUMBER 18 AND NUMBER 3 35 TRANSIT PRIORITY BUS ROUTES.
THIS INEQUITY IN BUS SERVICE MAKES CAP METRO NON-COMPLIANT WITH TITLE SIX OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND ACT THAT YOU WILL FIND QUOTED IN THE ASM P.
THIS IS A SERIOUS DISCONNECT AND POLICY.
PLEASE SEND THE ASM P BACK TO STAFF FOR CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATION.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, JUST, UM, MS. BASCIANO, I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THE VMU, UM, ITEM THAT I PROPOSED.
[02:40:01]
I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY SUBSTITUTE, UH, PROPOSES THAT WE NOT ALLOW A FEE IN LIEU.SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF THAT AND I'VE ON 48, 49 AND 53.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SUBMITTED MUTED IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE I SPEAK.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH WARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND CO SECRETARY OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
TODAY, I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND CONCERNED CITIZEN OF OUR GREAT CITY.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF THIS SEEMS DISJOINTED, I THOUGHT I WOULD ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR THREE IMPORTANT TOPICS.
SO I SEVERELY EDITED MY BURBAGE.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE MONICA GUZMAN OF GABA.
I'M GOING TO START WITH ITEM 53, ASM P I CREATED TWO INSTRUCTIONAL COLLAGES TO ASSIST MY NEIGHBORS.
ONE OF ONE, FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T REALIZE THEY HAD TO CLICK ON EVERY BLOCK OF THE STREET TO GET A FULL PICTURE OF THE PROPOSALS.
AND THEY COULDN'T FIND WHERE TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS, THE OTHER TO HELP THEM FIND THE HIDDEN ICON, THE ICON IN ROUND TWO, THESE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE SET PROCESSES, CREATED HARDSHIPS FOR NEIGHBORS TO PARTICIPATE, ESPECIALLY OUR ELDERS AND TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED.
DURING ROUND TWO, I ENTERED MY COMMENTS USING MY IPAD, MY EXPERIENCES IN THE VIDEO I SHARED WITH YOU.
I FILLED IN ALL THE COMMENT BOXES TURNED MY IPADS FROM HORIZONTAL TO VERTICAL AND ALL MY COMMENTS DISAPPEARED.
I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH POOR PROGRAMMING WHERE ALL MY ENTRIES VANISHED BY TURNING MY SCREEN.
LASTLY, I'D SAY, WHY ARE THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAYS NOT INCLUDED FOR LEVEL ONE STREETS, ESPECIALLY THOSE BEING UPGRADED TO DESERVED, TO BE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT WITHOUT OMISSION PATIENTS POSE REQUIRED RIGHT AWAY OF UNITS, THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE, BUT AT A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF MFI.
SO THEY AREN'T JUST A FLUENT AFFORDABLE ON ITEM 49.
I SUPPORT HONORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND MAINTAINING THE CURRENT COMPATIBILITIES, DESPITE A BUS ON MANSHACK.
IT IS NOT A LARGE CORRIDOR AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS SUCH.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE BLANKET FIVE, BUT INCREASES IN RESULTING 40 FOOT INCREASES.
I DO SUPPORT LOWERING, WIPED IT OUT.
PARKING MINIMUMS. THE OVERFLOW OF CARS WILL BLEED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AUSTIN HAS MOVED TO 13TH PLACE DUE TO AFFORDABILITY, NOT AFFORDABILITY, NOT PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT IS PROPERTY TAXES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FRANCIS AND THAT, UM, THE FRANCES AKUNA ON 48, 49, 53, 90 AND 94.
UM, MY NAME IS FRANCIS
I'M ALSO LIKE CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH GABA GO OUT AND BUY MORE OFTEN.
AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 90.
I OPPOSED ITEM 48, 49, 53 AND 94.
BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY THAT I AM FOR CONDUCTED SERIOUS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ALL THESE FOUR ITEMS. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WILL HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISIONS.
YOU CANNOT GET RID OF COMPATIBILITY OR PARKING RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE GET RID OF CULTURE AND COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE COMMUNITIES WE WORK IN ARE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AND THEY NEED PARKING FOR THEIR TRUCKS.
I NEED THE PARKING FOR MY VEHICLE TO CARRY AND BRING INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS FOR THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S PLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION IN OUR, IN A REST OF THE RESIDENCE IN THE SIP CODES WE WORK IN IS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY SHOCKING.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE THAT HAVE TWO OR THREE JOBS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR HOMES OR FOR BETTER LIVES.
AND BEING HERE AT CITY HALL, NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME AND NOT EVERYBODY'S.
[02:45:01]
I HOPE THAT YOU MAKE THE, YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.I, SECOND, MONICA WAS MON AND MATT AND MEGAN MASON BACK COMMENTS.
THIS PART IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, NOT MY WORK IN MY HOMETOWN, MY HOME TITLES PHASE, THAT I CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS HUGE CODE CHANGES WITHOUT HAVING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THAT IS, THAT IS JUST PLAYING AGAINST THE LAW.
CARMEN IS
SORRY, I JUST LOST CONNECTION TO MY SPEAKER CHAIR WHILE WE GET THAT, THAT SPEAKER BACK.
I WONDER IF, AND YOU MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR ONE OF US TO, TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
I'M I THINK I'M HERE IN OUR CALLERS AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO, UM, WHO SPOKE IN PERSON TODAY OPERATE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT REMOVING PARKING MINIMUMS, REMOVES PARKING.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I WONDER IF WE SHOULD CLARIFY THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE LEVEL SET AND EVERYBODY'S COMING FROM THE SAME PLACE.
I THINK, UH, I THINK FOLKS SHOULD KNOW THAT REMOVING PARKING MINIMUMS, UM, AFFECTS ULTIMATELY THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROJECT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY REMOVES PARKING.
UM, UM, THE MINIMUM, UM, IS JUST A, AS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THAT CAN SOMETIMES ACT AS AN OBSTACLE TO, TO BUILDING, BUT IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE PARKING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS OPERATING FROM THAT.
UH, FROM THAT REALITY, IT LETS A DEVELOPER BUILD THE PARKING THAT THE OWNERSHIP OR THE PARTICIPANTS OR THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
AND DOESN'T HAVE THE CITY DICTATE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF PARKING, EVEN IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
NEXT SPEAKER COMING ON IS BELIEVABLE.
ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T ACTUALLY HEAR MY NAME CALLED CARMEN AND MY, MY TURN.
UM, BEFORE I WENT TO THE SECOND MONEY OF THE CON, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT PROCESS, AND YOU'LL SAY ELIMINATING PARKING REQUIREMENTS, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY REDUCE COSTS UNLESS THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE PARKING.
IT'S NOT THE MINIMUM, UNLESS THE PARKING IS REALLY UNNECESSARY.
AND I THINK WE CAN AGREE ON SOME OF THOSE, BUT I THINK THE BIGGER QUESTION HERE IS ABOUT PUBLIC PROCESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO VERY QUICKLY SAY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME.
I HOPE THAT WE GET SOME ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY IN OUR CODE IS NOT TIED TO FILLING OUT LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES AND UP-ZONING, BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS STUFF YESTERDAY.
AND SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK ON THIS AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE IT GETS IMPLEMENTED INTO ORDINANCE.
AND SHE'LL JUST DO THE CRITERIA MANUALS AND NOT JUST MORE RESOLUTIONS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, 94, I WANT TO QUICKLY SEE THAT YOU WILL SEE SOME PLANNING, COMMISSIONERS MOVE TO RECONSIDER THIS, UM, AND ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST IT.
MYSELF INCLUDED IS BOTH ON, UH, RIGHT AWAY.
AND TAKINGS WAS TAKEN VERY LATE WITH SEVERAL AMENDMENTS.
I KNOW I MADE A MISTAKE OF THE COMMISSIONER VOTING AT THE WRONG TIME.
THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO DEBATE.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, UM, ON 94 REGION LINCOLN, A LETTER, AND JUST LOOK AT THE BISMAL ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE OFFICE MOBILITY PLAN, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO ITEM 53 IN GENERAL, YES, WE NEED BETTER PUBLIC HEARINGS.
LOOK AT THE CHANGES IN TERMINOLOGY.
THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SINCE BEFORE KODAK RETOLD TOLD VERDICT CONNECTIONS, MY 0.5 FROM 2015 TO LOOK BURIED IN THERE WHERE A NEW TRANSIT PRIORITY NETWORK TERMINOLOGY HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, UH, WERE ALL THESE TERMS WERE CHANGED.
EVERY TIME WE PUT LEGITIMATE LEGAL AND COMPLAINTS IN ABOUT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES, UH, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GOVERN.
YOU ALL ARE MUNICIPAL LEGISLATORS.
WE NEED YOU TO REGULATE AND DISRUPT OUR MARKET.
NOT THE REGULAR HOUSING MARKET.
HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF SPECULATION, MASSIVE DEMAND FROM AN INVESTMENT MARKET, YOU, THE LABOR COSTS, SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE THE REASON THAT YOU'RE UP ZONING AND BLANKET UP ZONING IS THIS PLACING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING RENTERS.
I CAN NAME YOU THREE CASES IN COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA'S DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, WHERE LOW-INCOME RENTERS ARE BEING DISPLACED BY UP ZONING.
THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE EVEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE FOR HELP AS THEY GET PUSHED OUT OF THE CITY AND BECOME THE BRAWLERS LOOP MUSTER IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IT AND RAISE THE ISSUE.
WHEN YOU BLANKET UP, DON'T GET RID OF COMPATIBILITY AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS,
[02:50:01]
YOU ELIMINATE OUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND ACTUALLY PROTECT THE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN THAT WE LOVE PROTECT THE PEOPLE, PROTECT THE TREES.I GET THAT A LOT OF THESE NEW YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO LEAVE LIVE IN AUSTIN.
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN BUSTING UP OUR COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A THING OR TWO TO TEACH YOU ALL TO COME TOGETHER AND LOOK AT SOLUTIONS AND COMMUNITY PLANNING LIKE WE DID WHEN VERTICAL MIXED USE WITH EVEN INTRODUCED.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WANT IT FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS AND YOUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.
AND I GET IT, BUT A BUILDING WITH NO PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS AND NEGOTIATION, IF IT'S GIVEAWAY TO LANDOWNERS, SOME OF US DON'T EVEN WANT IT.
AND IT FORCES YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, SUSAN, PENTEL ON ITEM 49.
WE NEED A LOT MORE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
AND THE CURRENT BMU TWO PROPOSAL IS NOT ENOUGH.
THE INITIAL VMU PROPOSAL ALLOWED NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO OPT OUT.
AND THAT CAUSED RESULTED IN LARGE AREAS OF THE CITY, NOT BEING PART OF THE BMU PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALMOST ALL OF OUR AUSTIN WEST OF MOPAC.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT AND IMPLEMENT THE BMU TWO PROGRAM, YOU SHOULD DO IT FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
WHEN, WHEN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS OPT OUT, THAT MEANS THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE TO BUILD MORE AND MORE HOUSING TO MAKE UP FOR THE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE OFTEN OUT.
THESE TYPES OF POLICIES SHOULD, SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS, NOT INTERIOR, UM, NOT INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I ALSO REALLY ALSO REALLY DISAGREE WITH THE LONG LIST OF STREETS CORRIDORS THAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO ELIMINATE FROM THIS BMU TUBE POLICY.
THOSE CORRIDORS SHOULD BE INCLUDED, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE CORRIDORS.
MANY OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM DMU TOO.
HAVING RETAIL ON THE GROUND FLOOR THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK TO OR RIDE A BIKE TO WOULD REALLY BENEFIT A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EXCLUDE SO MANY STREETS.
MANY OF THOSE STREETS HAVE VERY GOOD TRANSIT, FREQUENT TRANSIT THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM BMU TOO.
ALSO, YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY INCLUDE THE PROJECT CONNECT.
METRO RAPID FUTURE CORRIDORS IN THIS POLICY.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY IS TO GIVE DEVELOPERS OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPING ON MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS DEVELOPMENT COSTS ARE ONLY GOING UP OVER TIME.
SO IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO WAIT ON CORRIDORS THAT WE'VE ALREADY INDICATED THAT WE WANT TO HAVE MAJOR TRANSIT ON.
I ALSO SUPPORT ELIMINATING THE PARKING MINIMUM AND ELIMINATING THE HEIGHT COMPATIBILITY FOR THE MAJOR CORRIDORS.
THANK YOU, CHRIS HARRIS ON ITEM 53, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHIP HARRIS AND I LIVE IN THE CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN.
SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT ITEM 53 AMENDMENTS TO THE ASM P I REQUEST IS THAT MORROW STREET BE REDUCED TRAUMA LEVEL TWO TO A LEVEL ONE STREET.
AND AT SAINT JOSEPH, THE WESTERN PORTION OF MORROW.
THIS IS PROPOSED TO BE UPGRADED FROM LEVEL TWO TO LEVEL THREE, ALSO BE REDUCED TO THE LEVEL ONE STREET MORROW STREET IS A NARROW 30 FOOT WIDE STREET THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO ANDERSON LANE.
AND IT'S JUST TWO BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE LINE, BOTH SIDES WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, OCCUPIED BY YOUNG FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN THE PAST VEHICLE COUNTS ON MORROW EXCEEDED 9,000 TRIPS PER DAY UNTIL THE CITY TOOK STEPS TO REROUTE THE CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC TO ANDERSON LABELING MORROW AS THE LEVEL TWO STREETS, SINCE THE WRONG MESSAGE INVITING AND ENCOURAGING MOTORISTS TO UTILIZE IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE DAY ANDERSON LIGHT, PLEASE CLASSIFY MORROW AND ST.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A BUSINESS OWNER ON WEST 31ST STREET, JUST WEST OF NORTH LAMAR AND ALSO ST.
ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL PARENTS
[02:55:01]
AS SUCH.IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WEST 31ST STREET IS SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL FOR KIDS AT ST.
ANDREWS AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS BICYCLISTS AND VEHICLES THAT UTILIZE THE STREETS.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE ASM P WILL APPLY ACROSS THE CITY, BUT HOPE THAT ITS IMPLEMENTATION WILL NOT REFLECT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPLICATION, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO OUR UNIQUE STREET.
WEST 31ST STREET IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF A TEMPORARY PILOT PROJECT THAT EXTENDED THE EXISTING BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN LANES AND REMOVED PARKING ALONG SOME SECTIONS OF THE STREET, FRANKLY, IT HAS CREATED SOME DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ST.
ANDREWS AND THE URBAN TRAIL STAFF TO FOCUS ON A CREATIVE SOLUTION THAT WILL BETTER SERVE ALL PARTIES.
WILLIAM BUNCH ON 53, 86 AND 94.
THIS IS BILL BLONCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UM, ON A ITEM 53, THE SMP I WANT TO URGE YOU TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS AND TAKE FURTHER PUBLIC INPUT.
I'M ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT YOU REMOVE THE PROPOSED, UH, CONNECTION OF SOUTHWEST 40, LET'S SAY 45 SOUTHWEST FROM 1626 TO 35.
THIS STRETCH OF ROADWAY HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY CONTROVERSIAL FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM OUR CAMPO, UH, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
IT SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE AUSTIN PLAN.
I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT I UNANIMOUS TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT OPPOSES THIS ROADWAY BEING BUILT.
IF IT'S BUILT IT BASICALLY CONVERTS A MOPAC FROM A LOCAL COMMUTER HIGHWAY INTO AN ALTERNATIVE, UH,
UH, PLEASE DON'T GIVE ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BLANK CHECK TO UT, UH, FOR THOSE CONTRACTS, COME BACK TO THE CITY AND PLEASE OPPOSE 40 94 AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, SARAH WATKINS ON 56.
MY NAME IS SARAH WATKINS AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BASTA.
UM, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SUPPORTING THE ARBORS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AT ARBORS AT CREEKSIDE.
UM, SOME OF THEM YOU WILL HEAR FROM, UH, LATER IN THE SESSION, UM, RESIDENTS WHO'VE LIVED AT ARBOR SINCE IT OPENED, UM, 20 YEARS AGO HAVE TOLD ME STORIES ABOUT HOW OUR MUSIC CREEKSIDE USED TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND WELL-MAINTAINED PLACE THEY HAD EVER LIVED.
IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.
THE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL MAKE POSSIBLE.
LONG-TERM FIXES THAT THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR FIVE YEARS.
MANY FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE ARE THRILLED THAT THERE IS FINALLY A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS THAT ARBORS OTHERS HAVING LIVED WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY CONSEQUENCES OF NEARLY TWO DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND BROKEN PROMISES.
WON'T BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IT UNTIL THEY SEE IT.
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION CONTINUES AND THAT RESIDENT CONCERNS AROUND THIS PROCESS ARE BOTH LISTENED TO AND ADDRESSED.
I WANT TO THANK BOTH COUNCIL AND HST STAFF, ESPECIALLY PATRICK RUSSELL AND JAMIE MAE FOR THE ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH RESIDENTS AND FOR ALL OF YOUR TIMES TO MAKE RIGHT AT ARBOR VIC CREEKSIDE.
SURELY CROSSLAND ON 56, SHIRLEY CROSLAND JOYCE MCGEE ON 56, JOYCE MCGEE, JEAN JEAN LUTRELL ON 56.
THIS IS MY NAME IS JEANNIE LUTTRELL.
I LIVE AT ARVIS AT CREEKSIDE AND I AM PART OF THE ARBORS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION.
[03:00:01]
I SUPPORT THE APPLICATION TO REHABILITATE ARBORS AT CREEKSIDE BECAUSE HAVING LIVED HERE SINCE JANUARY OF 2014, I WITNESSED A SIDE OF THIS CONFLICT INTO DISREPAIR AND STILL DESPITE REPEATED CARPET CLEANINGS, WHICH I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THE BUILD FROM THE UNDER PADDING RETURNS UP INTO THE CARPET.WITHIN ONE WEEK OF CLEANING, I ANCHORED REFRIGERATOR AND HOT WATER HEATER ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING A LOT OF NOISE.
THE ELEVATORS KEEP GOING OFFLINE FOR WEEKS HERE IN BUILDING THREE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CARRY ME DOWN THREE, FIVE STAIRS, RAPID CLASSIC THERE'S OVER A HUNDRED DEGREES IN THAT STAIRWELL.
THE PUBLIC AREAS ARE FILTHY AND SMELL.
MOST APARTMENTS HAVE MOLD BEHIND THE WALLS, WHICH KEEPS MOST OF THE SICK.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S CAUSED MANY DEATHS.
THERE'S A MARKED LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM MANAGEMENT TO THE TENANTS.
SO NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE NEED THIS REHAB TO MAKE THIS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
JENNIFER POWELL ON 85, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M REGRETFULLY CALLING IN AGAINST ITEM 85.
I WATCHED THE PRESENTATION MONDAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CANDLEWOOD NOW PECAN GARDEN.
THE LANDSCAPING LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
I COULDN'T HELP IT FEEL IF YOU'D BEGUN THE PURCHASE OF CANDLEWOOD WITH A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS, THAT YOU MAY HAVE WON MANY NEIGHBORS OVER INSTEAD, YOU'VE BROKEN THEIR TRUST WITH CONSTANTLY CHANGING PLANS FOR THE SITE.
YOU MADE THE PURCHASE WITHOUT CONSULTING WILLIAMSON COUNTY, WHILE PRETENDING YOU WANT THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
AND YOU'VE ALLOWED A STRING OF TOTALLY PREVENTABLE BREAK-INS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO OCCUR IN THEIR BACKYARDS AND VERY CLOSE TO WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
NO ONE HAS ANY REASON TO TRUST YOU WITH MORE OF OUR MONEY WHEN YOU HAVEN'T PROTECTED THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE ALREADY MADE HERE.
THANK YOU, CRYSTAL ERIKSON COLLINS ON 85.
HI, I LIVE IN SOUTHWEST WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE TO SOLVING HOMELESSNESS.
I COMMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS, ANSWERING MANY QUESTIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE PECAN GARDENS PROJECT.
SPECIFICALLY, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS POWERFUL TOOL IN OUR COUNTY TO ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I BELIEVE FAMILY ELDER CARE IS A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE NEXT PAGE.
I'VE FOLLOWED AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO HOUSING FIRST FOR YEARS, AND THE PECAN GARDENS PROJECT FROM ITS PURCHASE AS THE CANDLEWOOD SUITES.
AND I'M HEARTENED BY YOUR PATIENCE AND DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE TO BRING ALONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS WHILE NOT WAVERING FROM THE GOAL OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
PLEASE CONTINUE THIS APPROACH AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH CANDY LOSS AND OTHER PSH DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY.
FINALLY, PLEASE ASSIST THOSE BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE REALIZED FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO THE CHANGE.
THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBORS TO THANK YOU, JOYCE JOYCE MCGEE ON 56, WHAT HAS IT BEEN ASSOCIATE? AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WELL, I, UH, OKAY.
UH, WE NEED, UH, MANY OF THE FUNDERS THAT ARE REALLY BAD TO RESTORE THE UNITS TO, UH, UPGRADE HELP, TO LIVE IN RESIDENTS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT HAPPENING SOON, I GUESS MY BOAT.
SO I DIDN'T 2056 TO BE PASSED FOR OUR RE UH, REHAB.
AND THEY ALL HAVE YOU HAVE THEY BLESSED THAT EMILY MARTIN ON 88 AND 89 THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY.
AMANDA W GESTURE OUT ABOUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEMS, 88 AND 89 ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR RICO POWER.
OFTEN COALITION ABOUT WORKING WITH BLUE FUND ON REPO POWER OFTEN, WHICH IS A PROJECT THAT ALLOWS US TO BUILD POWER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THROUGH ORGANIZING POLICYMAKING THAT SUPPORTS ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND MORE.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTAS
[03:05:01]
AND THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS FOR BEING SUCH IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS TO THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS.WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL SOON THAT WILL PROTECT AUSTINITES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DECISIONS AND MUCH NEEDED FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND CITY FACILITIES.
AFTER THE SUPREME COURT WEEK, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, CONFIRMED OUR FEARS.
WE EXPECT ABORTION ACCESS TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
THERE WAS ALREADY STIGMA AND FEAR ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTION ACCESS DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATORS RESTRICTING ACCESS AND WITH THE LOOMING SUPREME COURT DECISION, WHICH COULD CRIMINALIZE ABORTION CARE IN OUR STATE.
AND IT WILL BE INCREASED FEAR, INTIMIDATION AND CONFUSION, PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS, AND STOPPING ANY DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING IN ITS TRACKS.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS CONTINUED TO ATTACK ACCESS TO ABORTION FOR YEARS.
AND WE WORKED ALONGSIDE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT THOSE CHALLENGES, TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, ANDREA ELIZONDO ON 88 AND 89.
THANK YOU FOR FORWARDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY AS I AM RECOVERING FROM COVID.
I, UH, I AM HERE I PAPER I, WHICH IN NUMBER 8 88, NUMBER 89, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PERSONALLY HAD AN ABORTION, BUT ALSO DURING MY YOUTH HAS HAD EXPERIENCE HAVING INADEQUATE ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS.
I JUST HAVE THE RADICAL BELIEF THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
WHAT ARE THE ABORTION OR MISTER PRODUCTS? EVERYONE'S HAPPY INITIALLY, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CARE THAT THEY NEED AT ASSAULT.
ALSO, I WANTED TO ADD THAT I AM ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS AND LEAD ORGANIZERS.
HE TEXTS MR. EQUITY COALITION.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLINT, THIS SO BRINGING THESE TWO ITEMS FORWARD NEXT SPEAKER IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON ITEMS 5 27 AND 28 MAY OR MAY.
I ASKED TO SPEAK ON 48 AND 49.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MY COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO FIVE, UH, THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING POSTPONE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I BELIEVE YOU'RE SUPPLANTING AUSTIN, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUDGET WITH $1.4 MILLION PRE-K AND ALSO $520,000 FOR A PILOT 24 MONTH PILOT FOR RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE'S NOT MORE TRANSPARENCY THERE, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS AND THE CITY ALREADY PAYS FOR AISD PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE NEED COMMUNITY COORDINATORS IN THE SCHOOLS, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ITEM 27, THIS IS ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH IN CHURCHES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
I WOULD JUST ASK, AS I ASKED THE LAST TIME, UH, FOR THE YOUTH F UM, A MENTAL HEALTH ITEM FOR YOU TO HAVE, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
UH, THE DATA THAT I SEE IS THAT EACH YEAR TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT GETS THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORKS REPORT.
AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWS AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN ALL OF THE NEGATIVE CATEGORIES, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE VERTICAL MIXED USE ITEMS, 48, THE OFF STREET PARKING, I WOULD JUST ADD CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION CRESTVIEW STATION, WHERE THE, THERE IS NO PARKING AND THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS THERE DO NOT EVEN WANT THE BUSES TO KNEEL BECAUSE OF THE NOISE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH INTO CHECK WITH CAPITAL METRO.
POLITICALLY, WE CALL THAT THE SUNDOWN ROUTE BECAUSE AFTER SUNDOWN, THEY REALLY DON'T WANT SOME MINORITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE BUSES CAN'T ANSWER BEFORE 7:00 AM, AS IT RELEASED TO 49, THE HOUSING CAPACITY ON CORRIDORS, I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FROM THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
SHE SAID SHE NEEDED FEEDBACK AS IT RELATED TO THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IT HAD 15% RESERVED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOUSING FOR 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND THEN 12% AT 50% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT PERHAPS A SIDE BY SIDE WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT WITHOUT A SIDE-BY-SIDE, I WOULD JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS LEARN ABOUT $42,000 HISPANICS.
AREN'T ABOUT $50,000, AND THAT WOULD BE IN INLINE WITH
[03:10:01]
THE AMOUNTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MENTIONED, 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, HOWEVER, CONTINUES TO BE THE NORM ON THE CORRIDORS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.THAT'S, UH, MORE THAN AFRICAN-AMERICANS EARN $55,000, BUT I DO WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER INCREASED THE HOUSING ON THE CORRIDORS.
THERE'S A 4,425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT EAST VILLAGE ON PALM LANE.
AS YOU'RE AWARE BY SAMSUNG, THERE ARE OVER 2000 APARTMENT UNITS WITHIN ABOUT THREE MILES AND SEND THEM IN ADDITION TO THE FLOOD WALLS IN UNITS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR TIME HAS EXTENDED.
THERE IS NO TRANS COUNSEL ELIMINATED METRO RAPID.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EMILY GATLIN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT AS MENTIONED.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AUTOMATING NINE, THE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND VARIOUS CITY OWNED FACILITIES.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF FLOW CODE AND OFTEN NONPROFITS TRYING TO EDUCATE, BRING AWARENESS TO AN END, THE STIGMA MENSTRUATION AND FINDING PERIOD POVERTY.
SINCE 2017, THIS RESOLUTION IS AN EXCITING AND MUCH NEEDED STEP OVER TO END THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH PERIODS IN 2020, THE IRS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED PERIOD PRODUCTS AS MEDICAL NECESSITIES, RECOGNIZING THAT PERIOD PRODUCTS ARE AS NECESSARY TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND DIGNITY ABOUT TO MS. DRE AS TOILET PAPER AND KLEENEX ARE TO THE GENERAL POPULATION AS LONG OVERDUE.
I WHOLE HEARTEDLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION TO MAKE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FREE AND READILY AVAILABLE, AND AUSTIN'S LIBRARIES REC CENTERS AND OTHER CITY ON SITES.
THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE, BOTH THOSE THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT SITUATION.
EVERY MEN'S WRITER HAS EXPERIENCED STARTING YOUR PERIOD WITHOUT HAVING A PATTERN TAMPON HANDY TO THOSE EXPERIENCING PERIOD POVERTY WILL BE MONUMENTAL POVERTY BLACK.
UM, I ASKED YOU TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING 89.
UM, WE HAVE ONE IN-PERSON SPEAKER LEFT FOR ITEM 49, 48 AND 49.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, OUR HFC SPEAKERS.
SO I'M SORRY, OUR H A H S C SPEAKERS THAT ARE STILL REMOTE.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE FOR HFC? WE HAVE THREE, SEVEN, I BELIEVE, THREE ONLINE AND THREE IN PERSON COFFEE IN PERSON SPEAKER.
NOW THE IN-PERSON IS MAUREEN
THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
WHEREAS I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND LETTING ME COME AT THE LAST MINUTE TO FINISH OUT THIS, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UM, I'M HERE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I'M REALLY REGISTERED KIND OF NEUTRAL RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE AUSTIN CODE IS DEFINITELY BROKEN.
UH, I DON'T THINK ANYONE DENIES THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE TOTALLY FRUSTRATED WHEN IT TAKES MONTHS TO GET A PERMIT.
THEY HAVE TO ENDURE ARBITRARY INSPECTIONS, ADDING MONTHS OF DELAY IN COSTS, BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS ARE DIRED OF DEALING WITH THE BANDAID CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE YEARS TO DEAL WITH VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES AND VERY SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC PARTS OF TOWN AND APPLYING IT TO THE WHOLE CODE.
I GET THAT, BUT LET'S MAKE CLEAR.
AFFORDABILITY IS NOT THE FAULT OF ONE GROUP OF RESIDENTS IN THIS TOWN WHO HAVE ASKED FOR BALANCE IN CONSENSUS, IN DEVELOPING CODE FLEXIBILITIES, AS WE'VE MOVED FORWARD.
AS A CITY, AUSTIN IS EXPERIENCING HYPER GROWTH.
THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS SAID OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE A DAY ARE MOVING HERE.
THE NET DEMAND FOR HOUSING UNITS IN 2021 WAS OVER 20,000, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.
WE ARE AN OUTLIER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE TEXAS SENATE JUST HAD A HEARING ON THIS YESTERDAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE SEEN THE RISE OF PLATFORMS THAT MAKE SHORT TERM RENTALS, MUCH MORE PROLIFIC.
THEY TAKE MARKET READY PROPERTIES OFF THE MARKET IN FAVOR OF PUTTING THEM, UH, PROVIDING HOUSING TO TOURISTS.
PROPERTY TAXES INCREASES ARE CREATING MAJOR PRESSURES ON RENTS AND THEY'RE LEADING TO LESS AFFORDABLE RATES ON HOUSES AND APARTMENTS AND CONDOS.
ALTHOUGH WE MAY GET SOME RELIEF FROM THE 2019 PROPERTY TAX REFORMS THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID.
FINALLY, WE ARE SEEING A NEW, NEWER PHENOMENON, INVESTMENT GROUPS, PRIVATE EQUITY, AND OTHER ENTITIES FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND INDEED OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUYING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND CONDOS IN AUSTIN.
[03:15:01]
AUDREY MCGLINCHY AND PR IN FEBRUARY, HISTORICALLY 20% OF FAMILY, SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUYERS IN AUSTIN BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020 WERE INVESTORS LAST YEAR.THIS IS A HUGE CHANGE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WHEREBY FAMILIES ARE NOW COMPETING FOR HOUSING WITH CORPORATE ENTITIES.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN BASED HERE.
THESE ARE THE FACTORS THAT ARE DRIVING THE COST OF HOUSING, BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT, AUSTIN HAS DONE REMARKABLY WELL PROVIDING HOUSING IN THE LAST DECADE, 61% INCREASE IN HOUSING UNITS IN MULTIFAMILY, WHICH IS HUGE IN JANUARY THE 37,000 UNITS OF MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND THOSE ARE A LITTLE OUTDATED.
I'M SURE THE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED.
I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS WHEN FOLKS IN THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE COMMUNITY START BLAMING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS THAT ARE ENSHRINED IN CODE FOR THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT'S SO'S DIVISION AND MISTRUST.
IT CREATES A BARRIER TO BUILDING REAL CONSENSUS AND HAVING A SERIOUS CONVERSATION.
FAMILIES HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS MAKE NO MISTAKE.
COMPATIBILITY IS CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE CODE.
PEOPLE'S HOUSES ARE THEIR NEST EGGS, THEIR INVESTMENTS.
AND WHEN YOU MESS WITH THAT AND YOU START TAKING IT CORPORATE INTERESTS AND A ONE-SIDED DEBATE, IT LOSES.
COULD SHE JUST FINISH HER THOUGHT THERE? OR ARE YOU FINISHED? UM, I JUST WANT YOU, YOU ALL TO CONSIDER AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE CODE THAT MANY, MANY HOMEOWNERS OVER THE YEARS HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN THEIR HOMES AND IN THEIR PROPERTIES ALONG CORRIDORS AND, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS.
THOSE, THEY ARE THE NEST EGGS.
WHEN YOU PUT HOUSING WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS UP AGAINST THAT, AND DON'T ALLOW FOR CONSENSUS THAT IMPACTS THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY, THEIR RIGHTS.
AND I WOULD ARGUE MOST NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN NOW NEGOTIATE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
THE, THEY USE THE TOOLS IN THE, IN THE CODE TO BE ABLE TO REACH A WIN-WIN WITH DEVELOPERS.
WE DO THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW MANY NEIGHBORHOODS DO THIS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE BALANCE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE PICKING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER ANOTHER.
I GET THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BUY HOUSING HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE MOVING HERE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, UPS OWNING ACROSS THE CITY WITHOUT CONSIDERATIONS TO THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE ENVIRONMENT OR PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS IS NOT THE ANSWER.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO REALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT CONSENSUS, INVITE THOSE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ISN'T ROOM TO, TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THIS STUFF, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S BEEN TOO ONE SIDED.
[Consent Agenda]
THIS IS WHAT I SUGGEST.LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
LET'S SEE IF SOMEBODY HAS ANY CHANGES THEY WANT TO MAKE TO IT.
LET'S HOLD OFF, MAKING OUR STANDARD COMMENTS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS.
WE'LL TRY TO FREE UP SOME TIME TO DO THAT LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
AT THE END OF THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE CALL THE HFC SPEAKERS.
THEY'RE ONE MINUTE EACH AND THEN THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING.
SO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE ITEMS IT'S ONE THROUGH 47, IT'S 85 THROUGH 90.
AND I'M SHOWING IS THE PULLED ITEMS, 17, 18 85 AND 90 THOSE FOUR ITEMS BEING PULLED.
SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES OR NOTES THEY WANT TO MAKE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER WENT THIS, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
I GOT A NOTE FROM CITY LEGAL THAT I NEED TO, UM, OFFER A NEW MOTION SHEET TO ITEM 89 THAT HAS SOME LANGUAGE CHANGES.
AND SO FOR ITEM 89, WHICH IS MY MENSTRUAL EQUITY ITEM, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 89 TO ADD A THIRD, BE IT RESOLVED TO READ AS FOLLOWS.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE PROVIDING A RANGE OF SIZES FOR TAMPONS AND PETS.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BEING INCLUDED IN 89 HEARING NO OBJECTION THAT IS INCLUDED IN 89 AND REMAINS ON THE CONSENT, UH, UH, CALENDAR.
I THINK LEGAL HAS FOUR SETTLEMENTS TO READ INTO THE RECORD, THE HERE WITH US, IF YOU COULD JUST READ THE ITEM NUMBER AND TELL US WHAT THE AMOUNT IS, THAT'D BE HELPFUL.
MARIN COUNCIL, MEGAN RILEY, ON BEHALF OF, EXCUSE ME, I'VE RAN FROM THE BACK, UM, UH, FOR, UH, ITEM NUMBER 22 ON YOUR AGENDA.
THIS IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE A SETTLEMENT IN THE SJ LEWIS LITIGATION.
SO THIS IS, UM, THE CITY IS RECEIVING MONEY.
UH, THE AGREEMENT, UM, INVOLVES THE CITY BEING ABLE TO RETAIN, UH, JUST OVER A $1.5 MILLION
[03:20:01]
IN ITS RETAINAGE IN IT.UH, IN ADDITION, THE CITY WILL BE PAID $982,000 TO 958, UM, BY ST.
LOUIS IN EXCHANGE, THERE WILL BE A RELEASE AND THE CITY AGREES TO PULL ITS LETTER TERMINATING THE CONTRACT.
ANY OBJECTIONS THAT BE INCLUDED CONSENT AGENDA WILL REFLECT THAT NEXT ONE.
UH, THIS IS A REQUEST YOUR PREVIOUS SETTLEMENT IN CATESBY CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND YOU HEAR AN OBJECTION TO THAT BEING INCLUDED, HEARING NONE THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AHEAD.
THIS IS A REQUEST TO PAY A SETTLEMENT OF $85,000 TO SETTLE THE GOLF VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUITS.
ANY OBJECTIONS THAT BE INCLUDED IN CONCERN, VERY NONE THAT'S INCLUDED AND ITEM NUMBER 26.
I REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE PAYMENT OF $850,000 TO SETTLE THE WARDS ASSESSED SKI VS.
BEING INCLUDED, HEARING NOTHING THAT'S INCLUDED THAT REMAINS OUR CONSENT.
ANY OTHER CHANGES WE NEED TO MAKE BEFORE WE, UH, CONSIDER CONSENT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? YEAH.
UM, I WILL SHARE MY REMARKS ON MY FEE WAIVER ITEM, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO INVITE ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO POSSIBLY CO-SPONSOR WHO HAVEN'T ALREADY.
UM, I'D LIKE THE CLERK TO SHOW ME AS VOTING NO ON NUMBER SIX AND ON ITEM 88, I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF A POSTPONEMENT ON ITEM 30.
EXCUSE ME, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, THE MAYOR HAD INDICATED.
AND IF IT WASN'T NOTED BEFORE, I'D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S FEE WAIVER ITEM NUMBER 40.
AND WE'LL OPEN UP TIME THIS AFTERNOON FOR PEOPLE TO COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT NOW.
FURTHER CHANGES OR ADDITIONS, THINGS THAT NEED BE OF RECORD RIGHT NOW, AIR PRO TEM.
UM, I, UM, SPOKE WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, AND I WANTED TO OFFER SOME FRIENDLY DIRECTION.
UM, FOR ITEM 87, IT WAS DISTRIBUTED, UM, VIA THE CLERK.
I WOULD MOVE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION.
IF THE CITY MANAGER IDENTIFIES ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE SCOPE OR SPECIFICS OF THIS CODE AMENDMENT, THE MANAGER MAY BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD, INCLUDING AS A MENU OF OPTIONS WHEN THE CODE AMENDMENT RETURNS TO COUNCIL.
NOT THAT IT'S REQUIRED FOR THE ADOPTION OF THAT AMENDMENT, BUT ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT AMENDMENT MADISON? SHE, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING INCLUDED ON THAT ITEM? HEARING? NONE IT'S INCLUDED.
IT REMAINS ON CONSENT AND JUST FOR CLARITY, IT WAS DIRECTION, NOT AN AMENDMENT JUST TO ADD A DIRECTION.
BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN, UH, AS A CO-SPONSOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ITEM, ITEM 37 RELATING TO THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S OFFICER'S MEMORIAL, UH, PARADE.
AND THEN ALSO I'D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BENGALI FEE WAIVER ITEM.
AND IF THE CLERK CAN SHOW ME CONTRIBUTING $300 PER ITEM, 36.
UM, I'D LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT, REFLECT MY RECUSAL AT THE ADVICE OF LAW ON ITEM 87 AND I'D FILED THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK WITH THE CITY CLERK.
UM, I HAVE TWO PIECES OF VERY QUICK DIRECTION RELATED TO 29 AND ONE OTHER ITEMS. SHOOT.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER ITEM? UM, WITH REGARD TO 29, I WONDER I WOULD LIKE, I'D HOPE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH THE STAFF, BUT LET ME JUST LEAVE IT HERE.
I, I EXPRESSED THESE CONCERNS TO THE DIRECTOR OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES RECENTLY AS WELL.
WE HAVE A FABULOUS, FABULOUS SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED GET TO WORK ACROSS ACROSS THE CITY IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THE RATE OF PAY FOR THOSE FOR THOSE TEENS, UM, IS NOT, IS NOT, UM, IS NOT ALLOWING SOME OF THEM TO MAKE A GREAT CHOICE TO COME WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY COMPETING PLACES WHERE THEY COULD WORK THAT ARE OFFERING, YOU KNOW, MUCH MORE TO WORK AT TARGET AND OTHER PLACES.
SO I WOULD ASK MANAGER, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE WAGES FOR OUR SUMMER INTERNS AND SEE IF WE CAN OFFER, UM, SLIGHTLY BETTER WAGES, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
AND I THINK I HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF DIRECTION, BUT I'M, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO IT.
AND MANAGER YOU'LL MAKE THAT LOOK INVESTIGATION.
UH, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER PEPPER MADISON.
UM, I WANTED VERY MUCH TO ADD MY NAME.
I'M IN SUPPORTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ITEM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A FINANCIAL ASK.
WAS THERE A SHORTAGE THERE, THERE WAS NOT, MY OFFICE IS COVERING THE $755 FOR THAT.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE, IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT.
PLEASE INCLUDE ME ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER 37 AND PLEASE INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AS WELL.
PLEASE INCLUDE THE ENTIRE DIET ON ITEM NUMBER 37 AS SPONSORS.
[03:25:01]
OKAY.UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER WENT? THIS MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON SECONDS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DIRECTION OR COMMENTS? YES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO NEED TO STEP OUT TO BE AT A NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES MEETING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THIS AFTER THEN LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE OPPOSED CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE TOO, BUT, UH, I'M GOING TO TURN, ASK COUNCILOR HARPER, MADISON TO TAKE THE CHAIR.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT, UH, 1 36.
I AM GOING, I AM GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE ON MAY 19TH, 2022 OR AUSTIN CITY CHAMBERS.
WE HAVE ALL THE DIRECTORS PRESENT.
UM, UM, AND WE'RE THE TIME IS 1 36.
WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS AND THEN RECESS THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.
GO BACK INTO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS AND THEN BREAK OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA THAT COMES FROM OUR KITCHEN.
I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING YOU, BUT BEFORE WE REASSESSED AND CONVENED, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD POSTPONE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
UM, IF IT DIDN'T CAUSE CONCERN FOR STAFF, I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM STAFF, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT SAVE US A BIT OF TIME.
IT'S ITEM 17, THAT WAS ALSO SCHEDULED TO BE, HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO MENTION IT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE, BUT I DID WANT TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND AS SOON AS WE COME, I WAS JUST TRYING TO SAVE SOME OF OUR STAFF TIME HERE, BUT OKAY, LET'S GO TO, LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
UH, WELL, BUT WE'RE IN THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.PLEASE CALL THE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER ANY OF THE ITEMS UNLESS IT'S REAL FAST ON CONSENT, WHICH CASE YOU CAN DO THAT.
UH, BUT LET'S HEAR THE SPEAKERS.
FIRST SPEAKER IS SURELY CROSSLAND.
JUST, JUST A MOMENT, JARED, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MANDY TOMATOES AT THE PODIUM.
ARE WE GONNA HEAR FROM SPEAKERS OR FROM HI, I WOULD HERE.
I WOULD HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS FIRST, IF THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY DEBATE OR DISCUSSION AND THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM CAN BE HANDLED IN TWO MINUTES, THEN I WOULD HANDLE IT THEN AND PASS IT.
AND THEN YOU CAN END THE AUSTIN HOUSING.
IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION, THEN HOLD IT UNTIL AFTER LUNCH.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE WANTING TO DO IS TO GET OUT OF AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE TO GET BACK INTO OUR REGULAR ONES.
SO YOU CAN HEAR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND THEN TAKE A BREAK SPEAKERS, PLEASE ARE AN HFC.
I CARED ABOUT REPLACE AND REPAIR A LOT OF THINGS.
UM, AND THEY, UM, WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO, FOR INSTANCE, THE HOT WATER TANKS AND THE AIR CONDITIONERS, UM, AND THOSE, UM, WILL BE AN ONGOING, UM, UH, SAYING UNTIL, UM, UNTIL THE RENOVATION STARTS.
UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AGAIN AS SUPPORT THIS NEXT SPEAKER IS SANJAY SHAD, ARI SANJAY.
MY NAME IS MARIE CHADRI OWNER OF BOTH THE HAMPTON AND HOMEWOOD ADJACENT TO CANDLEWOOD.
FIRST CITY SPENT 9.5 MILLION TO BUY CANDLEWOOD.
AND NOW CITY WANTS TO GIVE 3.9 MILLION TO FAMILY ELDERCARE TO RENOVATE.
[03:30:01]
HAS THE CITY FORGOTTEN HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO REPAIR DAMAGE FROM VANDALS? PROBABLY A GOOD MILLION.ALL THE TECH, ALL THE TAXPAYER MONEY.
IS THERE A SHELTER UP YET? NO, THAT HE SAYS SHELTER WILL BE UP IN SIX MONTHS.
HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN IT'S BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR NINE MONTHS? WHAT SECURITY PROVIDED? NO.
ARE WOODEN FENCES WERE DAMAGED BY VANDALS.
WHEN WILL CITY REPAIR AND OR REPLACED? WE WANT THIS DONE IMMEDIATELY FOR OUR SAFETY.
JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS THE JUNIPER CREEK DEVELOPMENT.
I'M OPPOSED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT CONCENTRATES POVERTY NEAR BREAKER IN NORTH LAMAR, ABOUT 3 90, 2 OF A 45 MINUTE ROUNDS.
AND IT'S 30 MINUTES TO TRANSFER IT TO THE LEFT SIDE.
AS IT RELATES TO ITEM SEVEN, THAT'S A $3.9 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FOR CANDLEWOOD.
I OPPOSED THIS ITEM BECAUSE YOU'VE NOT TREATED THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS EQUITABLY 151 AS BARROW UNITS ON RUTLAND WITH NO BUS.
AND HERE YOU HAVE ONLY 78 UNITS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS PER INDIVIDUAL AT THIS COST.
I WOULD ALSO MENTION MAYOR SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS NEAR RUTLAND AND YOU HAVE ACTUALLY ENGAGED STAFF TO CREATE A NON-PROFIT TO OVERSEE, UH, THE CANDLEWOOD, UH, WITH FAMILY ELDER CARE.
AND YOU'VE NOT DONE THE SAME WITH S BARROW.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY MADE THIRD.
YOU SAID THERE WOULD ONLY BE 51 UNITS AT HIS BARREL, MAY 18TH.
RUTH WOULD SAY FOR LINE NUMBER WOULD BE APPLEWOOD, APPLE PIE, HOTELS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL LOVE ASKING NOTHING COMING.
SPEAKER IS SANJAY HSA DARI, DEAR MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M CALLING TO IRELAND EIGHT
I MANAGED BUSINESSES THAT THEY SENT TO CANDLEWOOD AND DISTRICT SIX.
WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY TO CANDLEWOOD IS UNACCEPTABLE.
HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY PREDICTABLE APART FROM THE THEM NOT GIVEN NOTICE OR DUE PROCESS OF THE PURCHASE OF CANDLEWOOD.
ONE OF OUR POINTS WAS BEING GIVEN VERBAL PROMISES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE KEPT.
THE PROMISE OF SECURITY DIDN'T HAPPEN.
DIANA GREY'S APOLOGY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I THINK THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND SHOW THE EMAIL OR REQUEST FOR SECURITY WHOSE FAULT WAS IT, OR WAS DIANA GRAY STATEMENT, JUST AN EMPTY APOLOGY.
FURTHERMORE, YOU'RE DISCUSSING THE RENOVATION AND MANAGEMENT BUDGET FOR THE CANDLEWOOD, BUT DOES IT INCLUDE THE REPAIRS TO FIX THE DAMAGE? I THINK COUNCIL SHOULD WAIT TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE POOL COSTS TO REPAIR AND RENOVATE FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN PHOTOS AND WITHOUT TAKING A TOUR, I THINK THE EXTRA COSTS WILL BE CLOSE TO AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS.
FURTHERMORE, I RELUCTANT OR RELUCTANTLY DON'T THINK SIX MONTHS UNTIL IT OPENS ANYMORE FOR THAT, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A REAL APOLOGY TO THE NEIGHBORS AND TAXPAYERS, LASTLY, ANYBODY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
SO, UH, IF THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF ALL OUR AGE FC SPEAKERS, UM, DIRECTOR, UM, ALMOST CALLED YOU DIRECTOR, TRUE LOVE MANDY TO MAY OF, WAS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEFORE WE ADJOURN THE HFC MEETING? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO BRIEFLY GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR HFC? YES, PLEASE.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY SIX ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
THERE'S LATE BACKUP FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WITHDRAWING THAT ITEM, AND IT IS CURRENTLY ON THE CITY, UH, AGENDA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TODAY.
UH, THE SIX ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY INCLUDE MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 21ST.
AND THEN WE HAVE FIVE LOANS THAT ARE, UM, WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE FIRST ONE IS 750,000 FOR ARBORS AT CREEKSIDE.
THAT'S 176 UNIT, UM, SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT IN OF COURSE, UH, DISTRICT ONE.
UH, UH, THE SECOND ONE IS A $1.09 MILLION LOAN FOR AN OWNERSHIP 23 UNIT OWNERSHIP HOUSING PROJECT AT 1,905 GILBAR LANE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, THE ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS 3.3 MILLION FOR A RENTAL
[03:35:01]
PROJECT BY FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.IT'S A FAMILY PROJECT, UH, CALLED JUNIPER CREEK.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A $3 MILLION LOAN FOR SAISON NORTH.
THAT IS IN DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.
UH, THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL LOAN TO 6.2 MILLION.
IT'S 116 UNIT FAMILY PROJECT ITEM.
NUMBER SIX IS A $1 MILLION LOAN FOR AN OWNERSHIP PROJECT CALLED THE IVORY AT THE CHICKEN THAT IS ALSO IN DISTRICT ONE.
UM, AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND I'LL NOTE THAT THE FIVE LOANS, UM, ARE ALL THE RESULT OF THE 2018 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS.
AND I OFFER ALL THOSE ITEMS ON CONSENT.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE HFC CONSENT AGENDA? UM, WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS ONE, RIGHT? OKAY.
IN WHICH CASE, UH, I'LL, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION.
THE MOTION IS PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
CAN WE GET A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HFC CONSENT AGENDA.
IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS DECISION WITH MAYOR ADLER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND, OH, THAT'S IT, UH, WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER OFF THE DICE.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE THE HFC MEETING AT 1:47 PM AND RESUME THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 1:47 PM.
AND WE WILL START WITH TAKING, UM, OUR, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS COUNCIL MEMBER.
I HAD AN ITEM TO PASS ALONG TO THE CLERK.
UH, JUST, UH, A BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE BENGALI NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS ITEM 36.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WAIVER, FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAYAS, BUT THERE'S STILL AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE.
AND I WANTED TO NOTE THAT I WILL PAY THE FINAL COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I'VE CONTRIBUTED YET.
I, I WROTE DOWN SOME, SOME NAMES I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE 200 INSTEAD OF 100.
AND THEN I EARLIER ACCIDENTALLY SAID IT WAS ITEM NUMBER 40, BUT IT'S A 36.
HOW MUCH DID YOU WANT TO GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS EACH? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU NEED, BUT I COULD GIVE 250.
AND, AND I THINK THAT HOLDS IT DOWN TO ABOUT EITHER 800 OR A THOUSAND ADDITIONAL, AND I WILL USE MY WAIVER TO, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THAT SO THAT WE CAN PAY THAT ENTIRE COST FOR THE BENGALI NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, WHICH IS THE SATURDAY AT FIESTA GARDENS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THAT IS IN FACT THE ENTIRETY OF THE BALANCE? SURE.
IT SHOULD BE BASED OFF OF THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL POLL JUST GAVE.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE ANALYSIS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE TOTAL COST FOR THAT EVENT IS JUST SHY OF $7,000.
WHEN WE CAME INTO THE MEETING, WE HAD ABOUT 1850 ALREADY PONIED UP.
AND THEN DUE TO THE, THE, UM, ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, I RAISED IT UP, I THINK, UM, ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT WE WERE STILL SHY ABOUT 1800.
UM, AND THEN I THINK WE GOT ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH LOWERED IT, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY KEEP TRACK OF ALL THAT.
SO THERE WAS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN ON WHEN YOU COVER THE REMAINDER, I'M COVERING THE REMAINDER AND I'M NOT CLEAR IN MY OWN MIND HOW MUCH THAT IS, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, UM, I'M GOING TO PAY THAT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, UH, PARTICIPATING.
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 2)]
AND I DO BELIEVE WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR SPEAKERS.UM, OUR FIRST NOON COMMUNICATION SPEAKER IS DON DON JOHNSON, ALEXIA LECLAIR.
MY NAME'S ALEXIA AND I'M HERE WITH BAUDETTE TODAY AND I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON THE TANK FARM ISSUES.
UM, THIS MIGHT SEEM REALLY REPETITIVE AS I'M SURE Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE TANK FARM IN THE BOAT THAT HAPPENED A MONTH AGO.
HOWEVER, THE RESIDENTS ARE ALSO FEELING, YOU KNOW, BURDENED BY THE POLLUTION THAT IS NEXT TO THEIR HOMES.
AND SO WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE FIGHTING AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
AND THEREFORE I'M JUST BRINGING IT UP TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT IS STILL ONGOING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IN THE NINETIES, THERE WAS A GIANT TANK FARM FACILITY
[03:40:01]
IN EAST AUSTIN, WHICH CAUSED POLLUTION, GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION, AND SOIL CONTAMINATION.AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES IN THE RESIDENTS NEARBY, INCLUDING CANCERS AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IN 2022, THERE IS A NEW TANK FARM THAT IS BEING BUILT NEXT TO COMMUNITIES, UM, IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE RESOLUTION WAS NOT PASSED TO RELOCATE THOSE TANK FARMS. AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEY STAND FIRMLY BEHIND THEIR DEMAND TO RELOCATE THE TANK FARM.
UM, AND SO IN SUPPORT OF NSF WENT, THIS IS RESOLUTION AND WE ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS PASSED A CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH, YOU KNOW, PROMISES TO CENTER CLIMATE EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT HAPPEN AND PLAY OUT IN ACTION.
AND SO WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M ALSO HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF DEBTOR.
WE SENT A LETTER TO YOU ALL YESTERDAY VIA EMAIL WITH THE SUPPORT OF 14 OTHER LOCAL GROUPS LAYING OUT DEMANDS THAT I WILL REITERATE FOR YOU NOW REGARDING TESLA AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES.
BUT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU HERE.
AS OUR ELECTED LEADERS, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN TEXAS AND WHERE I'M FROM IN THE GREAT CITY OF DALLAS, IT'S JUST SORT OF EXPECTED THAT THE TOWN IS RUN BY BUSINESS INTERESTS.
THE SAME GOES FOR HOUSTON, BUT AUSTIN, WHAT I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THE SHINING BEACON OF PROGRESS IN OUR STATE IS BETTER THAN THAT, RIGHT? WE WELCOME A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT WE ULTIMATELY HOLD CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY'RE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, JUST LIKE WE ARE NOW, PART OF THE REASON THAT TESLA AND ITS OWNER ELON MUSK LEFT CALIFORNIA FOR TEXAS IS PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY WERE TIRED OF BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EXACTLY HAVE A STELLAR TRACK RECORD OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR GLOBAL OPERATIONS.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT BORN OUT IN AUSTIN AS WELL.
THEY HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT NEIGHBORLY THESE PAST TWO YEARS, THEY BUILT THEIR GIGAFACTORY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH LITTLE REGARD, FOR THE IMPACT ON NEARBY COMMUNITIES OR THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEY ARE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN, BUT THEY STILL NEED THINGS FROM YOU.
THEY NEED A PERMIT FOR A BATTERY, WHICH IS UNDER REVIEW BY CITY STAFF AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY NEED OUR WATER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALLONS, A YEAR OF PUBLIC CITY OF AUSTIN WATER THAT APPARENTLY OUR UTILITY AGREED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NO INPUT OR DISCUSSION FROM YOU ALL.
SO NOW, UNLESS YOU INTERVENE, TESLA WILL LIKELY RECEIVE THAT PERMIT TO BUILD A TOXIC BATTERY FACILITY RIGHT ON THE COLORADO RIVER EFFECTIVELY.
WE NEED TO KNOW AND TALK ABOUT WHERE ALL THE HAZARDOUS WASTE FROM THAT CHEMICAL INTENSIVE PROCESS WILL GO.
AND IF YOU DON'T ACT NOW, TESLA IS GOING TO BE SUPPLIED WITH CITY WATER WHILE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE AUSTIN'S COLONY ARE STUCK WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES, SELLING THEM UNRELIABLE WATER AT MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRICE ON THESE TWO MAJOR REQUESTS.
PEOPLE DESERVE SOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL.
AND IF YOUR LAWYERS SAY YOU CAN'T TOUCH THESE TWO ITEMS, THEN LET'S GET CREATIVE AND START ASKING A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROCESSES BECAUSE IT'S PAST TIME TO GET SOME TANGIBLE COMMITMENTS FROM TESLA IN WRITING TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND IF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMED BY THIS KIND OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST HISTORY, WHICH BY THE WAY, A COUNCIL MEMBER, TOBO RECOGNIZED IN HER EXCELLENT RESOLUTION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY, THAT Y'ALL ARE, WERE SLATED TO DISCUSS LATER TODAY.
SO I ASK YOU, WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO GIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO THE CORPORATE INTERESTS OF THE WORLD'S SINGLE WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUAL? AND IT'S WITH THAT QUESTION IN MIND THAT PULL THERE, THE TEXAS ANTIPOVERTY PROJECT, THE HORNSBY BEND ALLIANCE AND SUPPORTING GROUPS COLLECTIVELY DEMAND THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DELAY GRANTING ANY FURTHER PERMITS TO TESLA UNTIL THE COMPANY AGREES TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS REGARDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WATER ACCESS.
WE HOPE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU ON SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES WE'VE RAISED TODAY.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR HEARING ALL THOSE PEOPLE ON 48 AND 49.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, EVEN THOUGH IT TAKES A LONG TIME, THAT'S THE JOB, RIGHT? UM, SO I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CO-OPS ICC IN COLLEGE HOUSES.
CO-OPS IN WEST CAMPUS, OUR INSTITUTIONAL PROVIDERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE MORE SENSE.
I KIND OF TABLED THAT AND CAME BACK WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND DID KIND OF A PRESENTATION BECAUSE THEIR BOTTOM LINES HAD BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY, UH, BEYOND COVID AND, AND ALL THE REST.
[03:45:01]
THEY ARE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY CITY POLICY.THAT KIND OF DID THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, UH, IN TERMS OF HELPING THOSE INSTITUTIONS.
SO YOU GUYS DESERVE TO HEAR A FULL PRESENTATION ON THAT FROM THE ACTUAL STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT SOMETIME SOON, BUT I GUESS NOT TO BE A BROKEN RECORD.
THE THING THAT PROBABLY MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT IS THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT.
CAUSE IF YOU WANT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE WAY YOU WOULD THAT AS THROUGH THE BRACKENRIDGE TRACT, UM, AND THE GREATEST VALUE OF THAT TRACT IS IF YOU LEVERAGE IT AND THE ONLY WAY TO LEVERAGE IT IS TO PRESERVE THE GOLF COURSE.
SO YOU HAVE THIS FUNNY THING WHERE YOU HAVE TO PRESERVE THE GOLF COURSE TO GET THE GREATEST VALUE OUT OF THE TRACT, WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY.
UH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S REALLY FUNNY, BUT, UM, BUT YEAH, THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS TO GET THE GREATEST VALUE OUT OF THE TRACK.
YOU DON'T WANT THE VALUE OF THE PARKLAND FOR THE GOLF COURSE.
YOU WANT THE FULL DEVELOPMENT VALUE.
SO HOW DO YOU PRESERVE THE GOLF COURSE AND GET THE FULL DEVELOPMENT VALUE? UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT IT'S UT IT'S NOT CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ANSWER IS IN AN UPDATE TO THE BRECKENRIDGE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS, UH, THE RICHARD SUTTLE LETTER FROM LAST YEAR, THAT'S ABOUT 800 ACRES AND SEMA TECH AND, AND WE'LL GET TO SIX VOTES BY HAVING SOMETHING OVER HERE AND PICKLE.
AND, AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL DO IT.
IT'S KIND OF A SMOKESCREEN BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T NEED ZONING.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT ZONING.
THE FRAMEWORK FOR THIS SHOULD BE A BRECKINRIDGE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND IF YOU WANT TO BE CYNICAL, OR IF YOU WANT TO BE FUNNY AGAIN, YOU SAY, WELL, IF YOU DO THAT, UH, MR. SUTTLE CAN BILL THE MOST HOURS.
SO MAYBE THERE'S A FRAMEWORK THERE WHERE WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.
AND, UM, I'M GOING TO TAKE GREG.
ANDERSON'S GREAT IDEA OF, HEY, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THESE SPOTS THAT WERE SCHOOLS THAT CLOSED DOWN AND MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SAY, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THAT IDEA IF HE DOESN'T MIND, I'M SURE HE WILL, BUT WE NEED TO PUT THOSE, UH, ON THE TABLE IN THIS BRECKENRIDGE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, UT, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS OVER HERE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO PIECE TOGETHER ENOUGH VALUE TO EQUAL THE AMOUNT OF VALUE OF THE TRACT.
AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO GET MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT ON THE LAKE AUSTIN SIDE WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL REASON, BECAUSE THERE'S A IT'S BISECTED BY A RIVER.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE GOLF COURSE AS WELL.
SO, UH, YEAH, I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB PROBABLY FOR DEVELOPER, BUT I COULD WORK FOR ANY OF YOU GUYS, ANYTHING TO GET ME IN THAT ROOM ON THE BRECKINRIDGE TRACK DEVELOPMENT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN TODAY.
SO WHAT I DID NOT RECEIVE FROM THE MAYOR BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE WAS WHAT TIME WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AFTER RECESS.
SO IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND YOUR PHONE IS DOWN TO 14%, I SAY JUICE IT UP, UM, AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A TEXT FROM ME OR THE MAYOR AS TO WHAT TIME WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE, UH, FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, IN THE INTERIM, IT IS 1 58, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UM, AND GET PREPARED FOR MUSIC.
AND WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS OR WE DO, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER.
UM, EILEEN, MCGARIGGLE BEEN HERE A FEW HOURS, SO I'M A LITTLE DEFLATED AND ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE OVERWHELMING.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? NONE OF THEM MATTER, EXCEPT FOR THEY WON'T MATTER, UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
WHY IS SHE HERE? DOES SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANYTHING? LISTEN, I GET IT.
WE FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THE PROBLEM.
WE, UM, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS ON OUR MINDS, BUT I READ CATHERINE
AND SHE INSPIRED ME BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN DO.
AND THAT IS TO GET RID OF LEAF BLOWERS.
THESE MACHINES ARE HORRIBLE FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
THEY IMPACT OUR WATER, OUR AIR, AND OUR ULTIMATELY OUR PLANET COME TO MIND NEIGHBORHOOD ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, THEY ARE BLOWING CONTINUOUSLY.
TAKING A WALK IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
SITTING OUTSIDE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
YOU BREATHE, THE EXHAUST IT'S BEEN SHOWN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
HEART DISEASE, CANCER, ASTHMA LUNG ISSUES.
LOTS OF MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK FROM HOME FOR ZOOM.
YOU HAVE TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE INCREDIBLY LOUD.
UM, THE WORST PART ABOUT IT TO ME IS THEY'RE REALLY UNNECESSARY.
NON POLLUTING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND, AND, UM, FOR PURCHASE, UM, YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN 38TH STREET ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, AND PEOPLE ARE BLOWING LEAVES INTO THE STREET DOWN OUR STORM DRAINS THE CARS DRIVE BY.
THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO THE BLOWER.
I MEAN, IF IT WASN'T SO SAD, IT'D BE GREAT.
FALLEN LEAVES ARE INCREDIBLY CRITICAL.
THEY PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR BENEFICIAL
[03:50:01]
INSECTS AND CRITTERS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO OUR ECOSYSTEM.FALLING LEAVES HELP HOLD THE MOISTURE IN THE GROUND AND HELP TREES THRIVE.
IF ONE ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BLOW LEAVES, LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN GET ELECTRIC OR BATTERY OPERATED OVER A HUNDRED CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BANNED AND RESTRICTED THEIR USE ONLY ONE IN TEXAS, NOT A SURPRISE TO ME.
UM, AS OF 2024, CALIFORNIA'S BAN THEIR PURCHASE AND USE COMPLETELY MANY PROGRESSIVE CITIES HAVE DONE THE SAME.
WHAT DO I WANT THE CITY TO DO OR HELP YOU JUST CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
MAYBE START AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH THAT MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT HEALTH DANGERS THESE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH.
NOT ONLY TO THEM, BUT TO THE HOMEOWNERS AROUND THEM.
UM, STOP USING THEM AT CITY FACILITIES PLEASE, OR, UH, BLOWING LEAVES OR THE BUFFER ZONE BY THE WATER TREATMENT DAVIDSON PLANT Y UM, PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND REBATES FOR THE LANDSCAPE EMPLOYEES TO MAYBE TURN BACK IN THEIR OLD GAS GUZZLING POLLUTING DEVICE AND GIVE THEM A REBATE FOR SOMETHING NEW AND LESS POLLUTING.
ESTRADA
HI, MY NAME IS LOUIS AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNITED HERE AND, UH, SHE WORKED IN DELAWARE, NORTH AIRPORT FOR 17 YEARS, AND SHE WANTS TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT THE WORKERS ARE HAVING HERE.
UM, JUST TO, TO LEAVE HERE IN AUSTIN
UM, SO DISREGARD EVERYTHING I SAID BEFORE, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GONNA TAKE PROBABLY ABOUT A HALF HOUR BREAK TO GET SOME LUNCH.
AFTER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY MUSIC FROM OUR MUSICIAN, WHO'S BEEN VERY PATIENTLY WAITING TO PERFORM FOR US.
UM, IN WHICH CASE I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, OR I'M SORRY, NOT ADJOURN.
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 2:05 PM.
UH, ENJOY THE MUSIC, HAVE ABOUT A HALF HOUR FOR LUNCH.
UM, AND AGAIN, I THINK I WILL MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE SEND OUT A TEXT TO ALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TIME TO COME BACK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY YOUR SPANISH IS ON FIRE.
AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA RECESS TO A 5:00 PM.
SO THAT'LL GIVE US ABOUT A HALF HOUR, UM, WITH THE SETUP.
IS THE BREAKDOWN, IS THAT ENOUGH OR WILL IT BE THREE O'CLOCK BEFORE YOU COME BACK? UM, COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE BETWEEN 2 45
[03:55:01]
AND 3:00 PM? I'M GOOD WITH 2 45 AS WELL.IT LOOKS LIKE 2 45 IS THE CONSENSUS.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL RESUME HERE AT 2 45, HEAR SPEAKERS AND THEN, UM, RECESS AGAIN TO GO BACK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Live Music: The Moriah Sisters]
TESTING TESTING 1, 2, 3.WE ARE, WE ARE JACK JACK GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN FOR A LIVE MUSIC TREAT HERE AT CITY HALL.
WE ARE FEATURING THE MARIAH SISTERS.
UM, THE MARIAH SISTERS ORIGINATED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I'VE BEEN MINISTERING THROUGH SONG FOR OVER 27 YEARS.
IT'S MY HONOR, AS MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER TO WELCOME THEM TO CITY HALL, THEIR MUSIC IS A MIXTURE OF CONTEMPORARY AND QUARTET GOSPEL.
THE GROUP CONSISTS OF FOUR WOMEN OF GOD, WHICH ARE CYNTHIA RYE.
LYFORD JANICE LEE, LATRICE POOL, AND FELICIA RASHID.
THEIR MUSICAL INFLUENCES ARE THE LEGENDARY CLARK SISTERS, LISA NOEL SMITH, AND THE BROWN SISTERS, THE PACE SISTERS, AND MANY MORE THE MARIAH SISTERS HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON FOX SEVEN NEWS AUSTIN FOR THEIR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY SEGMENT, AS WELL AS THEIR CHRISTMAS SEGMENT CEO ROSE SMITH'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE, BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS GOSPEL, BRUNCH, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN JUNETEENTH PARADE.
THEY'VE ALSO MINISTERED IN SONG AND GOSPEL SEGMENT OF THE URBAN MUSIC FESTIVAL OF AUSTIN.
THE MARIAH SISTERS ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH AWESOME YOUNG, TALENTED MUSICIANS, WHICH ARE CALVIN SHEPHERD, THE DRUMMER JONATHAN DAVIS, KEYBOARDIST AND BJ HENRY BASS PRODUCERS.
SO WE ARE IN FOR A WONDERFUL TREAT THIS AFTERNOON.
AND THEN, UH, WE WILL COME BACK TOGETHER AS SOON AS WE HEAR THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
UH, AND THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
HOW MANY OF US HAVE THEM? WE CAN DO
[04:03:10]
WOW.IT IS SO GREAT TO BE BACK IN CITY HALL WITH MUSIC AND ITS LIKE THIS FROM THE RIAA SISTERS THAT MAKE US THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR, YOUR GIFT AND YOUR SPIRIT WITH US TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO INVITE YOU IF YOU WANT TO JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES REALLY QUICKLY AND UM, TELL US WHERE WE CAN FIND YOU ONLINE, UM, AND WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING NEXT IN AUSTIN.
UM
THIS IS CINDY UMBRELLA FOR CC LATRICE POOL AND WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO SING GOD'S GOSPEL FOR 27 YEARS.
I KNOW IT'S STRANGE BECAUSE I ONLY LOOK 25.
I KNOW THANK YOU, BUT WHATEVER, BUT WE ARE ELATED AND EXCITED THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY, WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR DOING SO YOU CAN CATCH THE MARIAH'S SISTERS ON FACEBOOK AT UM, THE MARIAH SISTERS OR ON OUR WEBPAGE@THEMARIAHSISTERS.COM.
UM, THERE, YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING OUR UPCOMING EVENTS, WHICH WILL BE SELLING, CELEBRATING 27 YEARS, UH, WITH A LIVE CONCERT HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND YOU CAN GO TO THAT PAGE WHERE YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS AT EVENT BRIGHT AND WE'RE BRINGING IN LISA KNOWS AND THE BROWN SINGERS, A COUPLE OF GROUPS OUT OF SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS.
SO YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S UM, ON JUNE 25TH AND THE NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, THE MARIAH SISTER'S 27TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW, YOU CAN FIND THEM ONLINE@THEMARIAHSISTERS.COM ON FACEBOOK AT THE MARIAH SISTERS
[04:05:01]
ATX I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE IN THE ROOM COUNCIL MEMBER VAILA AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON TO JOIN ME FOR A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION AND YOUR HONOR PROCLAMATION, LET ME MEET BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS COUNCIL RESOLUTION NUMBER TWENTY ZERO TEN FIVE OH THREE, ZERO TWENTY NINE, DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER.THIS IS NO SOMEONE GAVE ME THE WRONG PROCLAMATION AND ONE GAVE ME THE WRONG PROPER DONATION.
THIS IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GROVE GREEN PROGRAM GUYS.
WELL, I'M GOING TO, TO ADD LIVE THIS ONE AND WE WILL GET YOU THE ACTUAL PROCLAMATION CAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF DAY WE'RE HAVING.
UM, SO, UM, WHEREAS WE ARE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND WE ARE BLESSED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY THE MARIAH SISTERS AND THEIR BAND, UM, WHO SHARED THEIR LOVE OF MUSIC AND THEIR LOVE OF GOD WITH US TODAY.
UM, AND WHERE IN AUSTIN, WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE OUR MUSICIANS AND THE DIVERSITY OF MUSICAL GENRES THAT WE HAVE.
UH, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GIFT WITH US HERE AT CITY HALL.
I ALISON ALTER ON THIS DAY, MAY 19TH, 2022 DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MARIAH SISTERS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND WE WILL GET YOU AN ACTUAL APPROXIMATION.
UM, BUT WE WILL PRETEND THIS ONE, WE DON'T PRETEND THIS ONE IS IT.
AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH THIS ONE.
UM, AND THE CLERK CAN GET US THE ACTUAL WHEN, UM, BUT IF WE CAN GET AND YELL AT MY COLLEAGUES, UM, SHOW UP AS NO ONE, NO ONE CAN READING THE MAGAZINE.
I GOT THE RIGHT ONE
IT LOOKS LIKE KTX AND IT WAS READY.
IT IS MAY 19TH, 2022 IT'S 2:54 PM.
A MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER, GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
ARE GOING TO TAKE UP ZONING AND UM, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR PLANNING AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT ABOUT, UM, ANY POSTPONEMENTS.AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM ZONING CONSENT SPEAKERS AND I BELIEVE THE WILL CALL THAT WE'RE ALL IN THE GARDEN TOWN MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL I'M JOEY HORN WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT THE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS FIRST, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS AND, UM, THE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS ITEM NUMBER 63, WHICH IS 7,400 SELF CONGRESS.
THAT'S A STEP POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 16TH.
ITEM NUMBER 68 IS OLD LOCKHART ROAD.
THAT'S AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT ITEM.
THAT'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 9TH, ITEM 73 IS WEST VIRGINIA CANNON.
THAT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT JUNE NIGHT.
I AM STEADY FOREST BY SWITCH SPRINGS AND THAT'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 9TH, ITEM 77 IS ALL SAN ANTONIO ROAD.
[04:10:01]
TO JUNE 9TH AND 83 84, THE RELATED AND CCDS OR STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 9TH.AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS.
UM, THANK YOU, MS. HARDEN, UM, CLERK, IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN CALLING THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
AND I BELIEVE THIS MORNING, WE SAID TWO MINUTES.
IS THAT WHAT I REMEMBER? I CAN MAKE IT.
UM, THE FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM 60 IS TOBIN LEVY ON DECK IS LEE SHERMAN, PLEASE SHERMAN, EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND.
IF, IF FOLKS WERE HERE TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE POSTPONED, IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK, THEY SHOULD BE SPEAKING TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
OTHERWISE THEY SHOULD HOLD OFF ON THEIR, ON THEIR COMMENTS.
UM, MAYBE THAT'S SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE CALLING, UM, HAVE DECIDED NOT TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT'S BEING POSTPONED.
SO YOU DON'T WANT ME TO CALL THE SPEAKERS WHO REGISTERED YOU.
ALL THE SPEAKERS ARE REGISTERED.
I WAS JUST ASKED TO, TO, I WAS ASKED TO, UM, NOTE THAT IF THEY WERE TALKING ON A ITEM THAT WAS BEING POSTPONED, THAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE BEST MOMENT LAURA BURNS, HUGH CORRIGAN ITEMS THAT WE THOUGHT ITEM 75.
MY NAME IS HUGH KERRIGAN AND I'M THE OWNER OF 25 0 2 PARK VIEW DRIVE OBJECT IN THE STRONGEST TERMS TO THE ATTEMPTS TO REZONE THE PROPERTY AGAINST MY WISHES.
IN ADDITION, I BELIEVE THE TESTIMONIALS AND SIGNATURES OF MY FEDERAL NEIGHBORS AND THE VOTE TO OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION STATUS SHOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS FEEL THE SAME WAY, THE EFFORTS TO CREATE SUPPORT FOR THIS REZONING PUSHED BY THE SAME AND ONLY RESIDENT TO CAMPAIGN FOR NATIONAL PRESERVATION AND HAVE GONE ON USING MISLEADING AND FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT MYSELF, THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY AND MR. LEVESQUE OF 25 0 7 AND THE TIMES A BOARDED ON IMPUGNING REPUTATIONS.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL AND TAXING TO MY MENTAL HEALTH.
AND IT'S ONLY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OTHER RESIDENTS AND INCURRING SIGNIFICANT LEGAL COSTS THAT I'VE HAD THE ENERGY AND ABILITY TO FIGHT US.
THE SAME RESIDENT DOES NOT WANT THEIR HOME DESIGNATED AND CLAIMS THAT BECAUSE HIS HOME HAS CHANGED TOO MUCH, IT IS NOT WORTHY OF SUCH STATUS.
THIS COMBINED WITH PRESSING FIRST ARTICLE STATUS WITH ONLY TWO WALLS BEING PRESERVED IN MY HOME IS OBVIOUSLY HYPOCRITICAL.
I CURRENTLY LIVE AT THE SAME ON THE SAME STREET AT 25, 10 PARK DRIVE AND 25 0 2 HAS BEEN DILAPIDATED AND VACANT SINCE I MOVED IN, IN 2019, I HAD THE ORIGINAL, IT HASN'T HAD THE ORIGINAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR 15 YEARS PRIOR WHEN IT CAME UP, SAY ON 2021, I BOUGHT IT WITH THE INTENTION OF BUILDING A NICE MODERN HOME ON THE PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T JUST SIT THERE AS THE DECAYING RELIC CONTRARY TO IN OUR NARRATIVE, FROM THOSE PUSHING FOR PRESERVATION, THAT THE HOUSE IN GREAT CONDITION IS NOT SALVAGEABLE WITHOUT PROHIBITIVE COSTS.
THE FOUNDATION IS BADLY DAMAGED.
THE PROPERTY CONTAINS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS BEST US.
AND THE ONLY REASONABLE COURSE OF ACTION IS TO DEMOLISH IT AND REBUILD A NEW PROPERTY, WHICH THE ENGINEERING REPORT BACKS OFF THE SOCIAL MED MEDIA CAMPAIGN, UH, FOR PRESERVATION MISREPRESENTED, THE STATE STATE OF THE HOUSE, WHO I WAS AND THE WISHES OF THE OWNERS OF AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE HOMES, WHICH CAUSED GREAT DISTRESS AND DIVISION.
THEY'VE ALSO CONTINUALLY TRIED TO PUSH THE NARRATIVES THAT I KNEW OF AN EXISTING PRESERVATION ORDER ON THE HOUSE, WHICH DID NOT EXIST.
THIS WAS REPEATED BY A COUPLE OF MEMBERS ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, DESPITE NOT BEING TRUE.
THESE MEMBERS USE THIS TO TRY AND CONVINCE THE OTHER MEMBERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF DESIGNATION AND ARGUED THAT THEIR ONLY ROLE WAS TO RUBBER STAMP WHAT THE PREVIOUS HISTORIC ZONING COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED.
DESPITE DESPITE WHAT, IN MY OPINION WAS A VERY UNFAIR HEARING.
THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT VOTES TO RECOMMEND START DESIGNATION.
MANY OF MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS SUPPORT AN OWNER'S CHOICE TO DESIGNATE THEIR HOMES, BUT SPOT ZONING OF INDIVIDUAL HOMES AGAINST AN OWNER'S WISHES IS ON JUST AND HAVE SIGNED THE DOCUMENTS SAYING.
SO WE WORKED HARD TO PROVE TO DEFEAT THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, KNOWING THAT RESULTS LIKE THIS WOULD OCCUR.
I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR DESIGNATION AGAINST MY WISHES AND DO NOT SUBJECT ANY OTHER HOMEOWNERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO A SIMILAR, SIMILAR ORDEAL AGAINST THEIRS.
LAURA BURNS WAS PRESENT AND UM, THE SECOND PERSON SPOKE FIRST.
[04:15:01]
WHY DON'T YOU COME UP? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE DEVELOPER OF THE EDGEWOOD SUBDIVISION, WHICH WAS THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE.
MY FATHER WAS SO PROUD OF THIS PROJECT.
HE MANAGED TO GET HIS SUBDIVISION TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THIS CAME IN.
IT WAS IN ALL OF THE NEWSPAPERS.
MY MOTHER, WE WROTE WE'VE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, A BLOCK AWAY ON ADDISON.
AND MY MOTHER WROTE, I'M SORRY, A PICTURE OF IT HERE.
THIS WAS THE FIRST AIR COOLED AIR CONDITIONED HOUSE IN AUSTIN.
IT WAS SO ENJOYABLE TO BEING COOL.
DAD BECAME OBSESSED WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND WITH THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE.
MY DAD GAVE MY MOTHER A DIAMOND RING WITH SAPPHIRES AND WE STILL HAVE THIS, UM, THIS AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE.
I THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT ALL THE EXPERTS THINK THAT THIS HOUSE IS WORTHY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT THE ONE CRITERIA THAT THEY DIDN'T MENTION, BUT I THINK IT FALLS UNDER IS IT'S ATTACHED TO A PERSON OF IMPORTANCE.
MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT DEVELOPERS IN AUSTIN AND HE MADE THOUSANDS OF HOMES FOR MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES THAT GOT FHA LOANS ON THE GI BILL.
HE, UH, HE WANTED ALAN DALE TO BE, UM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? THIS, THIS GEM OF AN AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE WITH A FANTASTIC PARK.
HE SAW A PARK THERE BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS BUYING THE LAND FROM, UH, MR. WILSON WHO LIVED ON VINE, THERE WAS 33 ACRES RIGHT ALONG SHOAL CREEK.
AND HE SAID, WE CANNOT BUILD THERE.
NOW, THE GUY WANTED THAT TO BE A SUBDIVISION FOR BUILDING.
AND HE LOBBIED AND LOBBIED BEVERLY SHEFFIELD AT PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND SO WE'D GET TO PUT A PARK IN HERE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CORE OF ALLENDALE AND IT WAS, AND IT STILL IS.
IT PUT IN A OLYMPIC SIZED POOL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY FRED DAY, WHO HE CHOSE, WHO WAS ALSO ONLY 27, A FANTASTIC ARCHITECT WHO HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT IT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, YOU KNOW HIS BUILDINGS.
CAROLYN CREW ON ITEM 75 ON DECK IS JASON HASKINS.
I LIVE NEAR THE AIR TEMP AND BECAME AWARE OF IT IN A TOUR IN 2018 OF THE AUSTIN AC VILLAGE HOMES BY MID TEXT MON THIS HOUSE STOOD OUT AS STRIKINGLY MODERN WITHIN THE AC VILLAGE OF THE 14 TESTS HOMES REMAINING.
THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROPERTY HAS DEMOLITION PERMITS FOR TWO OTHERS.
SO AFTER THEIR DESTRUCTION, ONLY 12 HOMES WILL REMAIN.
BUT THIS HOME IS THE MOST DISTINCTIVE OF THE ORIGINAL 22 MOST INTACT OF THOSE THAT REMAIN.
AND IS THE ONE TO SAVE A BUILDING, MUST MEET AT LEAST TWO CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
IT'S UNCOMMON FOR A BUILDING TO MEET THREE.
THIS HOUSE WILL EXCEEDS IN THREE LANDMARK COMMISSION CHAIR.
TERRY MEYER SAID, NOT ONLY IS IT THE BEST EXAMPLE IN THE AC VILLAGE, BUT ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF MID CENTURY ARCHITECTURE WE'VE SEEN AT THE COMMISSION COMMISSIONER BLAKE, TALLAGHT CHARACTERIZE IT AS DRIPPING WITH HISTORY AND SAID THAT THIS KIND OF HOUSE COMES ALONG RARELY ONCE IN A FEW DECADES, HE STATED THAT THE AC VILLAGE WAS A LIVING EXPERIMENT, SHOWING GREAT INNOVATION AND FELT OUR CITY INVESTMENT TAKE FOR GRANTED THIS FOUNDATIONAL WORK, JOHN UMPHRESS BEFORE RETIRING FROM THE CITY AND TALKS TO BUILDERS IN THE PUBLIC, SHOWED THAT THE AC VILLAGE PIONEER TECHNIQUES BEING REVIVED TODAY IN GREEN BUILDING AUSTIN'S DISTINCTION AS AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN GREEN BUILDINGS IS A KEY REASON WHY AUSTIN SHOULD SAVE THIS HOME.
THE AC VILLAGE HOMES EXPERIMENTED WITH ENERGY SAVING FEATURES DECADES BEFORE THIS CITY CREATED ENERGY CONCENTRATION CODES IN THE 1980S, THE AUSTIN ENERGY STAR PROGRAM NAMED AFTER THE LONE STAR STATE WAS RENAMED THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM.
AEB AUSTIN ENERGY GAVE THE ENERGY STAR NAME TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR ENERGY STAR PROGRAM.
IN 1991, AEB CREATED THE FIRST GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM IN THE U S INFLUENCING THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN BUILDING STANDARD CALLED LEAD AND WAS RECOGNIZED WITH TWO AWARDS FROM THE UN THIS SMALL HOME WITH A BIG HISTORY.
WELL-DESERVED A PLACE AMONGST ALL AMONG AUSTIN'S HISTORIC MANSIONS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A HOUSE SUCH AS THIS APPEARS QUITE RARELY AND OUR CITY SHOULD NOT MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU, JASON HASKINS ON 75 ON DECK IS CHERYL KELLY GINSBURG, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[04:20:01]
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.I'M A LICENSED ARCHITECT AND A BOARD MEMBER OF MID TEXT MOD, THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF DOCOMO, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE.
I'M SORRY, THIS CASE HAS BECOME AS CON AS MUCH OF A CONFLICT AND EMOTIONAL.
UH, BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF PROFESSIONAL ITEMS AS AN ARCHITECT.
UM, FIRST ONE TO REITERATE THAT THIS HOUSE FAR EXCEEDS ALL RELEVANT CRITERIA FOR LOCAL DESIGNATION.
THIS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF HLC BY THE CITY STAFF AND MULTIPLE PRESERVATION PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERIENCE WITH THE ACTUAL DEFINITIONS, UH, OF THE CRITERIA AS STANDARDLY AND PROFESSIONALLY APPLIED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I RECOGNIZE THAT DESIGNATION OF HOUSES, ESPECIALLY AGAINST OWNER OPPOSITION, NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE CONSIDER A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN LONG-TERM RESIDENT FAMILIES THAT AT RISK OF BEING DISPLACED AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE BUYING SECOND AND MULTIPLE HOUSES FOR DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BOTH IN GENERAL, AND AN AUSTIN IS STRUGGLING TO BETTER RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE BEYOND THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND JUST BE BEING A MECHANISM FOR RUBBER-STAMPING TAX BREAKS FOR WEST AUSTIN.
THE CITY IS WORKING ON A NEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN, WHICH WILL PRIORITIZE MORE DIVERSE HERITAGE PRESERVING A HOUSE IN AC VILLAGE THAT WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY AS A TESTBED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WORKING-CLASS HOUSING FITS SQUARELY WITHIN THE PRIORITIES AND TELLS THAT HISTORY.
UH, MY ARCHITECTURE FIRM HAS COMPLETED NUMEROUS HISTORIC PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS, INCLUDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT RENOVATION OF THE FACADE, UH, OR THE ENTIRE HOUSE WITH AN ADDITION IN THE BACK IS FEASIBLE, INCLUDING THE, AS BEST AS MITIGATION WITH MERELY SOME CREATIVITY AND SOME COMPETENCE CONSIDER THAT IT IS COMMON AND STRAIGHTFORWARD TO GET AN ARCHITECT, CONTRACTOR, ENGINEER, DEVELOPER, OR REALTOR, TO SAY THAT RENOVATION IS INFEASIBLE.
WHETHER BECAUSE IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE OWNER'S WISHES BECAUSE THEY'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH IT, OR SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T STAND TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND EASIER MONEY FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.
CHERYL KELLY GINSBURG ON 75 ON DECK IS BARBARA LEVESQUE.
GINSBURG'S SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOME.
IT WAS BUILT BY MS. BURNS FATHER, WHO WE JUST HEARD.
MY PARENTS LIVED IN HIS HOME FOR 60 PLUS YEARS WITHOUT FLOODING, OR AS BEST AS RELATED ISSUES, ILLNESSES, THE SIXTH, AS BEST AS PANELS ON THE EXTERIOR FACADE OR EMBEDDED AND NOT FRYABLE DEALING WITH THEM WOULD FOLLOW STATE LAW.
THE 2020 ENGINEERS REPORT NOTED NO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH HIS HOME, SPUR HIS ATTEMPTS TO GATHER NEGATIVE OPINIONS OF THIS HOME HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED.
THIS WAS PROBABLY STRESSFUL FOR THOSE PROPORTING TO DO THE RESEARCH.
THEY FAILED TO COLLECT ANYTHING CLOSE TO SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC DATA, AGAIN, STRESSFUL AND EMBARRASSING.
IMPORTANTLY, THEY DID NOT APPROACH ALL PARKVIEW DRIVE RESIDENTS.
SEVEN OF THESE UNSTUDIED RESIDENTS APPROACHED ME TO BE HEARD AND THEY WERE ADAMANT.
THEY SAID, THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT DEFINES PARK.
THIS HOUSE MUST NOT BE DEMOLISHED.
THE AIR TAN PROBLEM IS AN ICONIC EXAMPLE OF MID CENTURY, MODERN ARCHITECTURE.
MY FATHER, PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN STIP SINUS SEAL COMPANY, AND MY MOTHER, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS KNEW THIS IMMEDIATELY AND BOUGHT IT FOR THEIR ANNIVERSARY.
THEY HAD RECOGNIZED THE LINES, PLANES, ANGLES, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPACES, AND MORE THAT FRED DAY USED TO CREATE HARMONY AND FLUIDITY OVER A PERIOD OF 60 YEARS, APPROXIMATELY 40 TOURS WERE GIVEN THE PASSERS BY WHO INTRIGUED BY THE HOME'S EXTERIOR, WANTED TO SEE THE INTERIOR.
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HOME AFFECTS PEOPLE POSITIVELY.
PERHAPS THEY RECOGNIZE THE BLENDING OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE.
CAN I FINISH? YOU CAN FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, UH, ART AND ARCHITECTURE, WHICH HAS CREATED A NEW TERM ART ARCHITECTURE.
BARBARA LEVESQUE ON 75 ON DECK IS DOMINIC LEVESQUE, UH, WITH SICK KIDS GREETINGS TO ALL.
[04:25:01]
DRIVE AT 25 0 7.UM, I WAS AWARDED A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR MY HOUSE.
UM, NOW ABOUT A YEAR AGO AT MY, I LIVE IN A HOUSE IN A HISTORIC AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE HOUSE.
UM, IT IS BEAUTIFUL FROM THE OUTSIDE.
IT IS TERRIBLY, UM, UH, IT'S FALLING APART ON THE INSIDE OF THE FOUNDATION IS CRACKING.
WE HAVE PLUMBING ISSUES AND, UM, WE KNEW THIS GOING INTO THE HOUSE.
SO, UM, HAVING SEEN MANY OF THE OTHER AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE HOUSES OVER THE YEARS BE DESTROYED.
AND, AND I PLAYED A PART IN, UM, SEEING, UM, SOME OF THESE HOUSES REBUILT.
I KNOW INTIMATELY WHAT THESE HOUSES HAVE GONE THROUGH OVER THE YEARS AS A DESIGN BUILD PROFESSIONAL.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN INSIDE THESE HOUSES AND WITNESSED MANY OF THEM IN THEIR STATE.
UM, SO I'M HERE TO TESTIFY MAINLY THAT, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE AT THIS POINT, THERE'S, UH, A REASON FOR DENYING MR. HUGH CORRIGAN, THE RIGHT TO, TO BUILD ON THIS PROPERTY.
AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S WRONG TO, UM, TO, TO ALLOW THIS, UH, TO GO ON ANY FURTHER.
IT'S BEEN VERY STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE.
I DON'T HAVE A SCRIPTED THING TO SAY HERE.
I'M JUST PRETTY MUCH OVERWHELMED BY THE WHOLE THING.
AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR MR. CORRIGAN AND THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE, UM, GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, 71% OF US VOTED, UM, YOU KNOW, TO TURN DOWN THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY ON, UH, ON, UH, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2021.
UM, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR US ALL TO CONSIDER THAT WHILE THESE HOUSES HAD A PLACE IN THE PAST, THERE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THEM ALONG AT THIS POINT, SINCE THEY'RE FAILING, UH, STRUCTURALLY AND, UH, BASICALLY THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA COST A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO COST PEOPLE MONEY TO RESTORE THEM.
JOSEPH REYNOLDS ON ITEM 75 ON DECK IS KELLY
WHAT IS YOUR NAME? JOE REYNOLDS.
THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE WAS A JOINT PROJECT OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSE BUILDERS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
IT HAD CLOSED FINANCIAL INDUSTRY OBSERVATION EXAMINED THE SUITABILITY OF AIR CONDITIONING AND ORDINARY HOMES, MEASURED COSTS, BUILDING MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATIONAL ENTITIES MEASURED, SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT RISKS TO MORTGAGES BENEFITS OF VARIOUS ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATIONS.
THIS CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOUSE IS LIKELY THE FIRST WITH A NEW VERSION OF AIR CONDITIONING AND EXPERIMENTAL DUPONT.
CHEMICAL REPLACED AMMONIA IS THE HEAT TRANSFER.
MEDIUM AMMONIA IS DANGEROUS TO HUMANS.
IF IT LEAKS THE NEW STUFF WAS BOTH SAFE AND MORE EFFICIENT.
IT DIDN'T REQUIRE A WATER CHILLING TOWER AND ABLED LOW POWER COMPRESSORS, AND THAT HAD MAJOR DESIGN IMPACTS.
OUR MODERN HOUSE CONFIGURATION WAS DEVELOPED IN THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE.
COOLER AIR IS SENT TO EACH ROOM AND INSULATED DUCKS, THERMOSTAT CONTROL FAN RECIRCULATES, THE HOUSE AIR FILTERING AND CHILLING AT EACH PASS.
1950 CONTEMPORARY HOUSES AT ONE PAST HEATING AND COOLING ARCHITECTS OF AC VILLAGE, IMPROVED EFFICIENCY.
THEY KEPT OUTSIDE AIR OUTSIDE, INSIDE AIR INSIDE SEAL THE HOUSE INSULATE THE WALLS, CEILINGS AND DUCKS SHADE.
THIS IS AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THERE'S NEW INSTALLATION, FIBERGLASS REPLACED ASBESTOS BECOMING OUR PINK STUFF.
AC VILLAGE PROVED NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MARKETS.
SO MANUFACTURERS DEVELOPED MORE USES MILLIONS OF WINDOW UNITS FOR COOLING AND EXISTING SPACES.
[04:30:01]
BOTH OF THOSE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF HAPPENED WITHOUT THE AC VILLAGE HOUSING FINANCE, HAVING MONITORED THE VILLAGE, THE FHA AND VA OFFERED THEIR MORTGAGE RATES ON AC HOMES FOR ORDINARY FOLKS.THIS PRICE FOR AIR TEMP HOUSE IS WHERE MODERN LIFE AND OUR HOT CLIMATE STARTED.
THE NEW AIR CONDITIONER ENABLED DEVELOPMENT OF OFFICES, MANUFACTURING, AND MORE POPULATION IN AREAS OF THE SOUTH AND DESERT WEST.
IT'S WHERE ALL OF THAT STARTED.
THERE'S MORE DETAIL IN YOUR HANDOUTS.
KELLY SAVADRA ON 75 ON DECK IS KEVIN SMITH.
HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KELLY SAAVEDRA AND I SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED TO PARK VIEW DRIVE MY FAMILY AND I LIVE DOWN THE STREET IN A HOUSE IT'S VERY SIMILAR LOCATED 27, 10 PARK VIEW.
THESE TWO HOUSES SHARE THE SAME FLOOR PLAN SQUARE FOOTAGE IN MID-CENTURY MODERN DESIGN, AND THEY ARE THE SAME AGE.
THEY DIFFER IN SOME DESIGN DETAILS AND MATERIALS.
BUT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE HOUSE AT 25 0 2 WAS BUILT AS PART OF THE STORK AUSTIN AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE, AND OURS WAS NOT WELL.
OURS HAS SOME OF THE SAME ARCHITECTURAL VALUE, 25 0 2 WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE.
SO IT HAS THE HISTORICAL AND COMMUNITY VALUE THAT OURS IS NOT.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2005 AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS HOUSE BECAUSE THE ARCHITECTURE HAD SUCH A UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL DESIGN.
THE HOUSE NEEDED A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE WERE WILLING TO PUT IN THE MONEY IN TIME TO KEEP THE BONES OF THE HOUSE INTACT.
WE MET SOME ARCHITECTS, SPECIALIZING IN BITS, CENTURY PRESERVATION AND DESIGN THAT TOLD US THAT THEY BELIEVED OUR HOUSE TO BE ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF A TRUE MID-CENTURY MODERN HOUSE IN AUSTIN.
THEY HELPED US UPDATE THE HOUSE WHILE KEEPING IT TRUE TO ITS MID-CENTURY DESIGN.
IT IS STILL THE SAME HOUSE, BUT WITH NEW WINDOWS SIDING AND AN HVAC SYSTEM, TO MAKE IT ENERGY EFFICIENT, NO ADDING ONTO OR KNOCKING DOWN WALLS, WE JUST LET THE BEAUTY OF THE HOUSE SHINE THROUGH.
I TELL YOU ALL THIS, BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE TRUE OF OUR HOUSE AND THEY CAN BE TRUE OF 25 0 2 PARK VIEW AS WELL.
WE BOUGHT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE LOVED HIS CHARACTER AND CHARM.
THIS HOUSE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS NEIGHBORHOOD STARTED.
WE'VE NEVER FOUND OUR HOUSE TO BE TOO SMALL FOR OUR NEEDS.
AS A FAMILY OF FOUR, THE HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION STATES THAT PROPERTIES MUST MEET TO CHECK CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THREE MAKES AN EVEN STRONGER CASE LIKE A STURDY THREE LEGGED STOOL.
WHILE MY HOME HAS THE ARCHITECTURAL MERIT, IT LACKS.
THE OTHER CRITERIA NEEDED TO BE DEEMED HISTORICAL.
ONLY ONE LEG TO STAND ON 25 0 2 HAS OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL HISTORICAL AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
A STURDY THREE LEGGED STOOL THAT YOU CAN REST YOUR REPUTATION ON.
PLEASE PRESERVE THIS MARVELOUS PIECE OF ALLENDALE HISTORY.
THERE AREN'T VERY MANY OF THESE GYMS LEFT TO SAVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
KEVIN SMITH ON 75 ON DECK IS JOHN TAPED.
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
MY NAME IS KEVIN SMITH AND I LIVE AT 2,500 PARKVIEW DRIVE.
I AGREE WITH A REALLY WIDE VARIETY OF COALITION OF GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFITS, ACADEMIC COALITION, THAT I HELPED PUT TOGETHER AS WELL AS 250.
MY FO ALLENDALE NEIGHBORS, 660 RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND OVER 1400 RESIDENTS NATIONWIDE THAT THIS HOUSE IS WORTH SAVING.
UM, TO ME, THE ARCHITECTURE OF THIS HOME IS A REALLY BRILLIANT EXAMPLE OF, FOR A DAY'S WORK.
YOU GUYS KNOW THE REST OF THE STORIES.
SO I'LL SKIP THROUGH ALL THAT.
UM, THIS HOPE IS THE BEST PRESERVED EXAMPLE OF FOSTER THEIR CONDITION VILLAGE.
ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF AC IS NOT NEW.
THE VILLAGE HAD THE, OUR VILLAGE HAD VERY SPECIFIC UNIQUE FACTORS ABOUT IT BY THE FACT IT WAS ACTUALLY EXPERIMENTAL, NOT ONLY WERE THE ACS UBIS THEMSELVES, DIFFERENT PRETRIAL, BUT ACTUALLY THE DUCT WORK.
AND SOME OF THAT DIDN'T WORK INSIDE OF THE HOMES WAS AS UNIQUE AS WELL.
SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAYERS IF YOU WITNESS THESE HOMES OUTSIDE OF THE EXTERIOR CITY UNITS, UM, IT JUST GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING DIDN'T MAKE THE NATIONAL REGISTRY DOES NOT MEAN IT'S NOT NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
UM, I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO HELP FULFILL ONE OF THE CHARGES OF THE IMAGINE AUSTIN CHARTER PLANE, WHICH IS THE HOPE RESERVE, THESE UNIQUE GYMS AND PLACES WITHIN OUR CITY.
LASTLY, YOU MIGHT'VE HEARD A SUPPORT OF OVER 250 OF OUR NEIGHBORS IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT AS A RESIDENCE IN TO AREA DO NOT SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE.
PART OF THIS REASON IS THAT THERE ARE NEIGHBORS THAT ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT IT, BUT THEY ARE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD.
THERE HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT THIS INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AND MR. LOPEZ HAS SUSTAINED AN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS TOWARDS MYSELF AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER NEIGHBOR, UM, HAS AGGRESSOR BEHAVIOR BEFORE FROM ME, UH, HAS A COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT.
HE'S ALSO RECENTLY VANDALIZED MY PERSONAL PROPERTY, HAVE A SWORN EYE WITNESS STATEMENT SAYING THAT THIS IS TRUE.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE REPEATED DOXING THAT'S UP.
AND I MEAN, THE FACT IS I'M AFRAID TO WALK DOWN MY OWN STREET BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON OUR STREET.
[04:35:01]
HOME THAT'S ALL.JOHN TATE ON ITEM 75 ON DECK IS JAMES WATSON.
I SUPPORT PRESERVATION OF TWENTY-FIVE OH TWO PARK VIEW AVENUE.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE LONG ENJOYED SEEING THE HOUSE ON WALKS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE APPRECIATED THE TOUR OF THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE OFFERED BY A MID TECH SPOT A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S REWARDING TO KNOW THAT LOCAL ARCHITECT, FRED DAY IN A PROJECT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAD SUCH A WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE PROFESSIONAL EVALUATIONS BY CITY STAFF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN, MID TECHS, MOD, AND TRAVIS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, AND OTHER PRESERVATION ARCHITECTS ATTEST TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THIS HOUSE AND THE HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING.
THE AIR-CONDITIONED VILLAGE WAS A MID 1950S DEMONSTRATION OF THE PRACTICALITY OF AIR CONDITIONING ON HOUSES FOR ORDINARY AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES RATHER THAN BEING NAMED FOR THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS LIKE THE SCARBOROUGH HOUSE AND SIMILAR GRAND MANSIONS.
THESE HOUSES WERE NAMED FOR THEIR AIR CONDITIONERS 25 0 2 PARK VIEW AVENUE WAS CALLED THE CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOUSE.
JOHN UMPHRESS POINTS OUT THAT HOUSES IN THE AIR-CONDITIONED VILLAGE SHARED FEATURES COMMONLY USED TODAY IN GREEN BUILDING, SUCH AS BROAD ROOF OVERHANG, SHADING WINDOWS, RADIANT BARRIERS IN THE ROOFS BUFFERS AGAINST THE AFTERNOON SUN ON THE WEST EXPOSURES AND COOLING SYSTEM SIZE TO MATCH ACCURATELY CALCULATED COOLING LOADS.
SOME OF THESE FEATURES ARE INCORPORATED NOW IN AUSTIN'S RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ENERGY CODE THAT MR. UMPHRESS WORKED ON AT THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM, AND SOME CAN STILL BE SEEN IN THE CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOUSE.
UM, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THIS HOUSE.
JAMES WATSON ON 75 ON DECK IS RUBEN BROOKS HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JAMES WATSON, AND I'VE BEEN AN OWNER OR THE OWNER OF 25 0 8 PARK VIEW DRIVE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
I DO NOT SUPPORT A DECISION TO CHANGE THE CURRENT ZONING AT 25 0 2 PARK.
YOU DRIVE TO A PROTECTED HISTORICAL LANDMARK HOME.
I DO SUPPORT THE PERMIT TO DEMOLISH THE CURRENT HOME SO THAT NEW, LARGER, MODERN HOME CAN BE BUILT.
THE IDEA THAT ANY HOME ON OUR STREET IS SPECIAL IN SOME WAY OR NEEDS HISTORICAL PROTECTION IS IN MY OPINION, A COMPLETE WASTE OF YOUR TIME.
THE ONLY THING INTERESTING ABOUT THE HOMES AND AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE IS THAT THEY WERE BUILT WITH NEWER EXPERIMENTAL TYPES OF HPAC SYSTEMS IN EACH HOME, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED OVER THE DECADES.
THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE REMARKABLE ABOUT THESE HOMES.
CHEAPLY BUILT TRACK HOUSE IS DESIGNED AS STARTER HOMES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES.
NONE OF THEM ARE VERY LARGE OR EFFICIENTLY USE THE LARGE SIZE LOTS THAT THEY WERE BUILT ON.
BUILDERS USE THE MODERN MATERIALS OF THE TIME THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED TO LAST MORE THAN 50 TO 75 YEARS.
THE CONCERT CONCRETE SLAB TECHNOLOGIES OF THE TIME ARE NO LONGER STRUCTURALLY SOUND, NOT AS THICK AS MODERN SLABS.
AND IF SUNG TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE NOW BELOW GRADE, MOST HAVE ISSUES WITH DRAINAGE AND WATER PENETRATION DURING HEAVY RAINS.
MOST OF THE ORIGINAL DRAIN AND WATER LINES HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT.
WHENEVER THESE SYSTEMS NEED REPAIRS IN MY HOME, I HAVE ALL OF THESE ISSUES, AS WELL AS THE OLD FASHIONED CLOTH WIRING.
IN MANY LOCATIONS, THAT IS UNGROUNDED.
YOU REACH A POINT WITH THESE 1950S HOMES IN ALLENDALE.
WHEN THE COST TO RENOVATE OR INSTALL ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS NOT FAIR OR JUSTIFIABLE.
THESE ARE NOT CUSTOM DESIGNED OR BUILT HOMES, AND THERE'S NOTHING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP IN ANY OF THEM.
IN MY OPINION, THERE'S NO REASON TO PROTECT ANY HOME IN THE VILLAGE WITHIN A HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
I'M A REALTOR AND I PRIMARILY WORK IN CENTRAL AUSTIN WHEN I PURCHASED MY HOME IN 2002, I KNEW AT THE TIME THAT MY GOAL WAS TO SAVE MONEY, TO TEAR DOWN THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE AND BUILD A DREAM HOME.
I BELIEVE THAT ANY HOMEOWNER THAT HAS INVESTED IN PURCHASING A HOME IN AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADD ON TEAR DOWN OR BUILD NEW AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH THEIR PROPERTY.
YOU GUYS, BYE-BYE RUBEN BROOKS ON ITEM 76 ON DECK IS J CROSSLY GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, SEVERAL OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH ME BECAUSE I APPEAR OF A, FOR VARIOUS BODIES TO
[04:40:01]
SPEAK ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.I'M SPEAKING ON A ZONING ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS INTIMATELY TIED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
THE, UH, CASE IS A REQUEST FOR, UM, REZONING OF A PROPERTY.
THAT'S ON MY CHAKA ROAD AT 7,603.
IT'S JUST ACROSS KYLE BAR LANE FROM THE PROPERTY.
YOU APPROVED FUNDING, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING FOR EARLIER TODAY.
THE, UM, AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN CALLS FOR AS YOU'RE PROBABLY WELL AWARE, A MONSTROUS INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT.
IT ALSO MAKES STRONG NOTE OF THE FACT THAT DENSITY AND TRANSIT RIDERSHIP ARE INTIMATELY RELATED.
THE ONLY WAY WE WILL GET THE INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP IS BY AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE TRANSIT LINES.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE TRANSIT PRIORITY NETWORK AND MORE IMPORTANT.
IT APPEARS THAT SECTION AUGMAN CHAKA APPEARS ON THE PROJECT CONNECT MAP APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, UH, IN NOVEMBER, 2020.
AND THAT SECTION OF ROAD IS SCHEDULED FOR IMPROVEMENTS BY INCREASING THE, BY UPGRADING THE BUS SERVICE TO METRO RAPID SERVICE AS AN EXTENSION OF THE 8 0 3 LINE.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS SF THREE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW I'M THE THREE PIECES OF PROPERTY, A TOTAL OF NINE UNITS OF HOUSING.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPERTY BE REZONED AS THAT WOULD ALLOW 14 UNITS, CERTAINLY AN IMPROVEMENT OVERNIGHT.
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE ZONING REQUESTED BY THE DEVELOPER MF TWO ZONING WOULD ALLOW 20 UNITS MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ON A HIGH PERFORMANCE TRANSIT LINE.
THANK YOU, JAY CROSSLEY ON ITEM 76 ON DECK IS EUGENE SUTTON.
UM, HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO AFFORDABILITY AND CLIMATE ISSUES TODAY.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, ALLOWING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF OUR GROWING TRANSIT NETWORK, INCLUDING IN THIS CASE.
UM, OUR ORIGINAL PLAN IS TO GROW TO A REGION WITH 3 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN CAR DEPENDENT PLACES AND A MILLION LIVING IN WALKABLE, URBAN PLACES.
THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.
WE ARE, OUR REGIONAL PLAN IS TO DESTROY 35 SQUARE MILES OF RURAL OPEN SPACE AND LAND EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND, AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF OUR GROWING TRANSIT NETWORK IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLIMATE CHANGE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.
UM, AND, AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY.
SO PLEASE, UH, APPROVE THIS REQUEST TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE, UH, IN HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.
ON ITEM 76, SUTTON EUGENE ON DECK IS RUBEN BETTIS.
LEE SHERMAN ON THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 83 I'M A RUBEN PEREZ.
I WAS SPEAKING ON ITEM 76, UH, I'M AGAINST, UM, THE ZONING CHANGE, UH, WHERE THIS DENSITY, UM, I AGREE THAT WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT'S ON ACROSS THE STREET ON HIGH BLOG.
MY PROPERTIES ON KYLE BARLING DOWN AT THE END AT THE CUL-DE-SAC.
AND, UH, BUT WE HAVE, UM, A PROBLEM WITH HOW MUCH DENSITY THERE IS IN THAT ONE SPOT, THE HEIGHT OF THE PROJECT, THE, UH, AND THE AMOUNT OF, UH, TRAFFIC THAT'S GENERATED FROM ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE'VE ALREADY, UH, HAD REZONING IN OUR STREET TO MP3, WHICH, UH, UH, GENERATED, I GUESS, A HOME IN AN ADU ADU UNIT, UH, DOUBLING THE, THE, UH, THE DENSITY IN OUR STREET.
AND WE JUST NEED TO, UH, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN ON THIS STREET IS NOT, UH, UH,
[04:45:01]
TRAFFIC IS ALREADY BECOMING A PROBLEM WITH, UH, WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT THERE, UH, THERE'S LIMITED AND NO PARKING AVAILABLE ALONG HALLMARK.UM, AND THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS PROJECT SEEMS TO BE, UH, GENEROUSLY GIVING US MORE, UH, PARKING, BUT, UH, WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE HEIGHT AND THE APPROACH THIS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I RE I RECOMMEND, I SUGGEST IN A WISH THAT YOU KNEW DO NOT, UM, MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES THE IN-PERSON ALL MOVED TO REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 64 AND 65, HILLARY CARTER, HILARY CARTER, AN ITEM 75, ELAINE ROBBINS.
MY NAME IS ELAINE BELVIN AND I'M A NEIGHBOR TO 25 0 2 PARK VIEW.
I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS HOUSE IN 2016.
WHEN I WENT ON PRESERVATION, AUSTIN HOMES TOUR THAT FEATURED ALLENDALE THIRD CONDITIONED VILLAGE ON THAT AND OTHER HOMES TOWARDS THE I'VE SEEN WONDERFUL EXAMPLES OF HISTORIC HOMES WOULD HAVE BEEN RENOVATED TO MEET MODERN NEEDS.
AND AS A MEMBER OF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN, I KNOW THAT THAT ORGANIZATION IS HAPPY TO WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS TO ACHIEVE COMPROMISE SOLUTIONS.
WHEN IS THE PRESERVE AT HOMES HISTORIC MAIN FACADE, OTHER ENCOURAGE THE OWNER TO WORK WITH PRESERVATION, AUSTIN AND ITS NETWORK OF ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND PRESERVATION SPECIALISTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE IN MID-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE.
I THINK THE 2,502 PARK VIEW IS UNIQUE AND WORTH SAVING.
ONCE YOU DEMOLISH A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY LIKE THIS ONE, YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK THAT CONNECTION TO THE PAST.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU BRING VALUE TO OUR CITY AND ENHANCE THE APPEAL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNSELOR WITH PLANNING, HILLARY CARTER AND THE AGENT REPRESENTING LIVE, MAKE SHOPPING PARTNERS LP FOR THE NUMBER 64, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD FAN AMENDMENT AND ITEM NUMBERS, 85 FOR THE REZONING OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE OWNED BY THE
I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION, UM, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY HAVE ABOUT THESE ITEMS ON ITEM 75, DAVID HAIRPIN.
HELLO? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.
EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING A CALL IN OPTION.
I COULD NOT JOIN YOU IN PERSON.
ALSO, THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR REPRESENTATION.
UH, MY FAMILY AND I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE OWNERS OF 6,604 DOHERTY.
WE HAVE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.
UH, I'M AN OPPOSITION TO HISTORIC ZONING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS PROPERTY AT 25 0 2 PARK PARKVIEW.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF YOU CORGAN'S RIGHTS AS THE HOMEOWNER TO REBUILD A NEW HOME.
UH, WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN APPROACHING COLLEGE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND MY ELDERLY MOTHER IN LAW.
MY ELDERLY MOTHER NEEDS A VERY EXPENSIVE NURSING HOME WITH HIS AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO TAKE AWAY OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS, TO PRESERVE A DILAPIDATED HOUSE.
NEXT DOOR, KEVIN SMITH AND OTHERS HAVE ATTACKED OUR, OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE AND OUR LIVELIHOOD.
I'M SURE THIS WAS NOT HIS INTENTION TO HURT US AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS IS THE IMPACT OF HIS ACTIONS.
THIS IS HARD TO SAY, BUT WE FEEL THIS IS TRUE.
I HOPE YOU WILL HELP DEFEND OUR FAMILIES AND THE OTHER FAMILIES ABOUT WINDALE'S FUTURE FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE HOME.
IT WAS INDEED A SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS WITH PAST ESTIMATES.
THE VENDORS REVEAL THAT THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL ASBESTOS IN THE PROPERTY.
[04:50:02]
UM, THERE'S MANY OTHER REPAIRS NEEDED.THESE ISSUES MAKE SELLING, ARE MAKING FULL USE OF OUR PROPERTY.
VERY DIFFICULT WITH THE SEEMINGLY CONTINUOUS AND INDEFINITE THREAT OF HISTORIC ZONING.
AFTER LISTENING TO THE HISTORIANS, IT'S IMPRESSIVE.
IT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY CAN WALK AROUND OUR HOME AND FIND THINGS THAT WERE NEAT IN 1950, BUT I ASSURE YOU NONE OF THESE, NONE OF THE COOL FEATURES THAT THEY SHOW ON THE CHARTS ARE OPERATIONAL OR USEFUL NOW, BUT INSTEAD THEY'RE COSTLY.
SOME PEOPLE WALKING BY LOVE TO SEE YOU, THE OLD HOMES, BUT WE FEEL THE OPINION OF THE FAMILIES LIVING AND RAISING THEIR CHILDREN IN THE HOMES THAT THEY OWN SHOULD MATTER MORE.
ALSO, THE OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE ROTTING PROPERTIES SHOULD ALSO COUNT FOR THE SAKE OF PROGRESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE MUST ALLOW THE OWNERS LIKE YOU TO INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BRING THE STANDARD AND MODERN EFFICIENCIES OF LIVING UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
I'M SPEAKING AS A NEIGHBOR OF 25 95 TO TWO PARTS VIEW WITH THE PROPERTY THAT COMES WITHIN FIVE FEET OF TOUCHING UP PROPERTY ARE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
AND AS A MEMBER OF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN, LIVING IN AUSTIN SINCE 2005, I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS, MANY WITH A CLEAR CHARACTER OF THEIR OWN.
AND I DON'T LIKE SEEING SUCH CHARACTER GRADUALLY BEING NEGATED.
AND THIS HOUSE IS DETERMINING OF THE CHARACTER OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF IT GOES THIS PART OF TOWN LOSES PARTS OF ITS CHARACTER AS A MEMBER OF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN OPERATOR, MARK, THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ONE HOUSE, BUT THE WORK OF A LOCAL ARCHITECT, THE SEVERAL NOTABLE BUILDINGS TO HIS NAME AND THEREFORE PART OF LOCAL HISTORY AS PART OF THE CONDITION VILLAGE.
IT'S ALSO PART OF THE HISTORY OF THE MODERN WAY OF LIFE INTO SUNBELT.
WE SHOULD NOT BE RAISED SUCH CLEAR ILLUSTRATIONS OF LOCAL HISTORY.
IT'S NOT SOME ONE OFF SHOWCASE HOUSE, BUT A PIECE OF PEOPLE'S ARCHITECTURE DOCUMENTING THE DESIGN.
THAT IS PART OF THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE.
AND ALL I ARGUE FOR THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THIS HOUSE.
AN ITEM ITEMS 75, NATALIE FRENSLEY HELLO.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PART IN PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR CULTURAL ICONS PRINCIPLE 27 IN THE CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISMS CHARTER STATES THAT PRESERVATION AND RENEWAL OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, DISTRICTS, AND LANDSCAPES AFFIRMED THE CONTINUITY AND EVOLUTION OF URBAN SOCIETY ALIGNED WITH THAT.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TO PRESERVE THE CHRYSLER AIR CAMP HOUSE.
NOW MOST CULTURAL ICONS ARE SOCIAL OR POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT THIS HOUSE IS REALLY UNIQUE AND RARE BECAUSE IT'S AN OFTEN SCIENCE AND TECH CULTURAL ICON.
NOW THIS HOUSE IN ALLENDALE IS AS MUCH AN AUSTIN WIDE CULTURAL ICON AS LARGE FREDY OAK IS IN THE WEST LINE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN 1937.
THE CITY TOOK EFFORTS MUCH LIKE TODAY TO PRESERVE THAT LIVING ICON OF TEXAS HISTORY IN 1989, THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY RALLIED AROUND TREATY OAK.
WHEN A TROUBLED INDIVIDUAL TRIED TO DESTROY.
NOW, THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY IS RALLYING TO PRESERVE THE AIR TOWNHOUSE ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION EXPERTS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE IMMINENT VIABILITY OF PRESERVING THIS HOUSE.
SO THE REST OF MY TIME, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AIR CAMP HOUSE AS PART OF AUSTIN'S GLOBAL TECH BRAND.
THIS HOUSE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN'S EARLY CHECK INNOVATION.
AND IT IS THAT SAME INNOVATION THAT HAS MADE AUSTIN.
THE GLOBAL TECH HUB WE ARE TODAY OFTEN HAS CAREFULLY CULTIVATED TECH INNOVATION AS PART OF OUR GLOBAL BRAND.
LOSING THIS AUSTIN SCIENCE AND TECH ICON WOULD BE AN INSULT TO OUR HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL TECH HUB WE'VE BECOME.
IT WOULD IN A NUTSHELL, HURT AUSTIN'S BRAND VALUE.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF PRESERVING THE CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOUSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE ON ITEM 75, ISABEL HENDERSON.
UM, MY NAME'S ISABEL HENDERSON AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF SAVING 25 0 2 PARKVIEW.
[04:55:04]
UM, THE OTHER DAY I GOT A LITTLE BIT LOST.I RUN THROUGH ALLENDALE ALMOST EVERY MORNING.
UM, BUT THIS TIME I GOT TURNED AROUND, UM, THE HOUSES I NORMALLY USE AS LANDMARKS HAD CHANGED SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT, I ENDED UP FINDING MY WAY.
UM, BUT TO ME, IT WAS A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF HOW RAPIDLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY ALLENDALE IS CHANGING.
IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING TO WATCH THE HOUSES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BE DEMOLISHED ONE.
AFTER THE OTHER, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN UNIQUE HISTORIC HOME IN AUSTIN, OR YOU'LL REGRET DOING NOT DOING SO YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
IF WE DON'T DO THIS, ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS WILL LOSE THEIR HISTORY AND CHARM AND START TO LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER OVERDEVELOPED COOKIE CUTTER NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS AMERICA.
THE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE HOUSES WERE BUILT FOR MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE AND HAVE RELATIVELY MODEST PROPORTION.
AUSTIN IS EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IN PART BECAUSE HOUSES LIKE THESE SMALLER, OLDER ARE BEING DESTROYED AND REPLACED WITH HOUSES WHERE THE ONLY CONSIDERATION IS MAXIMIZING SQUARE FOOTAGE AND PROFIT.
IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THIS HOUSE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH SAY A AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT OR MANY APARTMENTS.
RATHER WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS RAISING THIS SMALLER HOUSE IN A PLACING IT EVEN BIGGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE HOME.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO YOU TO CLAIM THAT IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THIS HOME.
WHEN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS BUILDING A BRAND NEW SECOND HOME RAISING 25 0 2 PARKVIEW DRIVE WOULD BE A BLOW NOT ONLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO TO THE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL COMMUNITY AND ARCHIVES.
I CANNOT ENCOURAGE YOU ENOUGH TO DESIGNATE THIS HOUSE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK AND PREVENT ITS DESTRUCTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON ITEM 78.
UM, ZENOBIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON THE HOWARD LANE RESIDENCES TOO.
THAT'S 140 UNITS AT 1421 EAST HOWARD LANE.
I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION CHERRY.
SO ARTISTS IS SECOND AND THIRD READING SUMMARY SHEET, WHICH SPECIFIES THE BASIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
SHE MENTIONED THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, DESA PALMER, WHICH IS ON PAGE EIGHT DASH 30.
ONE OF THE IMAGINE, AUSTIN, I WANT TO MENTION AS WELL THAT SHE MENTIONED THE ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AND IMAGINE AUSTIN.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION.
I WENT THROUGH THE TRIP PLANNER AND THERE ARE NO TRIPS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE ONCE AGAIN, THAT ARE PALMER ON JULY 27TH, 2020, YOU ELIMINATED THREE METRO RAPIDS THAT WOULD HAVE SERVED THESE AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY SAMSUNG TO APPLE FM 9 69 AND DESA TO THE GOLD LINE SLASH RED LINE AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE HIGHLAND.
SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING DENSITY ON THE CORRIDORS WHEN YOU ELIMINATED THE METRO RAPID.
I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION MAYOR ADLER'S QUOTE FROM AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, OCTOBER 20TH, 21, HE SAID, IT'S POSSIBLE TO GO TO COURT ON PROPOSITION A RAIL BALLOT LANGUAGE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, HEY, WAIT A SECOND.
I ONLY SUPPORTED THIS, UH, VOTED FOR THIS BECAUSE OF THE REPRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE ME.
I WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION TO AUGUST 7TH, 2020 CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS WHERE YOU FALSELY STATED THAT PROJECT CONNECT AS A HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND GROCERY STORES IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, PROJECT CONNECT WILL IMPROVE COMMUTER ACCESS, NOT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED.
YOU CONFLATE IT RIDERSHIP IN COVERAGE.
I WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
2014 PROJECT CONNECT LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE NORTH COURT, OR STUDY 14 OF THE REGIONAL GROWTH CENTERS IDENTIFIED IN CAMPBELL'S LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNER IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR.
THE MOST IN ANY CORRIDORS STUDIED IN PROJECT CONNECT.
YET YOU ELIMINATE MITRAL WEAPONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF LILIANA TO THEM AT THIS TIME, MAYOR THAT CONCLUDES THE, UM, REMOTE SPEAKERS.
I MISSED AN IN-PERSON BOB LOWE, CRNA SPEAKING ON 95, KIND OF BEEN ON COUNCIL.
I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF 95 AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON REPRESENTING THE ARCHITECT ON THE PROJECT AND A SIDE NOTE, I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR FRED DAY,
[05:00:01]
UH, WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 91 AND HE WAS A GENIUS.THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT THINKS THEY SIGNED UP, THAT WE DIDN'T CALL MARCHING.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I AM THE ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT IS NOT ITEM 75 RACI.
YOU MIGHT GO UP AND SPEAK ON ITEM 75, RIGHT? WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP? I THINK THE APPLICANTS FOR LANDMARK COMMISSION, WE'RE GOING TO ASK HERE IN A SECOND, BUT G I'M GONNA LET HER SPEAK.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MIRROR.
I REPRESENT MR. HUGH CORGAN, THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND WE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF.
I'M HIS ATTORNEY RACY HAD AT, AT COATS ROSE LAW FIRM.
UM, AND I DID PREPARE AND DELIVER ALSO TO ANDREW AS, UH, POWERPOINT.
IS THAT AVAILABLE? RACI? HIDAD I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
I REPRESENT MR. CORRIGAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER.
HE'S THE PROPERTY OWNER AT 25 0 2 PARK VIEW DRIVE NEXT, PLEASE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION A FEW KEY POINTS HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS A VALID PETITION AGAINST THIS, UH, AND THIS WAS TAKEN BEFORE ZONING AND PLANNING AND IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SORT OF SOMETHING THAT MAY SORT OF RISE TO THE LEVEL OF THE SPOT ZONING.
UH, THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PROPERTY.
THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT WAS BUILT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME.
WHEN AIR CONDITIONING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAS BEING DESIGNED AND THESE HOMES WERE PUT UP VERY, VERY QUICKLY BY BUILDERS AND ALL OF THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO DEMOLITION PERMITS, AND I BELIEVE SIX OF THEM HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED ALREADY IN REBUILT NEXT, PLEASE.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE HOUSE, UM, LIKE MANY HOUSES IN THE ERA.
IT WAS, UH, SORT OF THE MODERN ARCHITECTURE, MID CENTURY, AND MANY OF THE HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE LIKE THAT.
AND ALL OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, THEY'RE THE SAME.
THERE'S NOTHING UNIQUE TO THAT DESIGN NEXT, PLEASE.
THESE WERE TYPICAL RESIDENCES.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF A SISTER HOUSE THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME TYPE OF HOME DOWN THE STREET.
AND THERE'S NOTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THAT EITHER.
AND SO THIS IS HOUSE, OUR HOUSE IN QUESTION IS NO DIFFERENT NEXT, PLEASE.
UH, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, MR. CORRIGAN HAS DECIDED TO BUY THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO REBUILD THE HOME REBUILDING THE HOME HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, BUT HE WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOMETHING VERY MID-CENTURY AND BEAUTIFUL.
HE LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN THE STREET, AND HE'S ALREADY DONE THE SAME ON HIS HOME NEXT, PLEASE.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINEERING REPORT TO TEAR DOWN THE, OR EXCUSE ME TO REBUILD AROUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WOULD BE EXTREMELY BURDENSOME ON THE HOMEOWNER, UM, CAUSING ASBESTOS REMOVAL FOUNDATION PROBLEMS, INABILITY TO KEEP WALLS IN PLACES BECAUSE OF CRACKING AND FOUNDATIONS, THE STRESS AND THE INABILITY OF A HOMEOWNER TO BUY HIS HOUSE AND DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS VERY, VERY ARBITRARY.
UH, IF YOU COULD KEEP GOING, PLEASE.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE PROPERTY MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR REZONING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THREE NEXT, PLEASE.
WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER TAKING THIS DOWN, UH, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WITH THE VALID PETITION AND THE VOTE OF ZAP, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A SITUATION HERE THAT WOULD WARRANT, UH, THIS SORT OF SPOT ZONING.
ANYBODY ELSE THINK THEY DECIDED TO SPEAK? WE HAVEN'T CALLED YET.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, HE GETS HIS BACK TO US.
JOY HARDEN AGAIN, JOY HARDEN WITH THE HOUSE AGAIN, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 63 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 9 3.
UM, THE STAFF IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM TO YOUR JUNE 16TH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM 64.
[05:05:03]
0.05 POINT S H.THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 65 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 7 2 POINT S H.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UM, ON ALL THREE READINGS, I DON'T NUMBER 66 IS NPA 20 21 0 0 1 5 0.02.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN GOLFER FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 67 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 3.
FOR THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE GRADINGS ITEM 68 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 22 0 0 0 7.
AND THERE'S AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTED OF THE SITE ON ITEM 69 IS REPLACED WITH ITEM 9 95 ON THE ADDENDUM ITEM.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I AM 71 TO SEE ONE FORWARD 20 22 0 0 1 3.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM TO YOUR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM 72 C WENT FORWARD 9 9 0 0 6 9 0.01.
AND THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING.
AND THIS IS FOR STAFF'S REVISED RECOMMENDATION.
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE, UM, FOLLOWING THE PC HEARING THE REQUEST TO REMOVE THE CURRENT VEHICLE OR ACCESS REQUIREMENT WAS RE-EVALUATED BY STAFF AND STAFF IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDING REMOVAL OF THIS REQUIREMENT.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M OFFERING THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON FOR READING ONLY, UM, ITEM 73 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 6 1.
AND THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM SEMI.
YOU WENT FORWARD 20 21 0 1 8 9.
THERE'S THE APPLICANT POSTPONE OR REQUESTING OR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.
I KNOW 75 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 21 0 1 6 4.
THIS'LL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM 76, A C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 5 0.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF
THERE'S A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL RATING ITEM 78 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 9 5.
THE SINUS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READING ITEM 79 IS SEE ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 1 5 5.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
IT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF GR M UCO AND REMOVING THE FOLLOWING THREE PROHIBITED USES FROM PART TWO A OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND THOSE USES ARE EXTERMINATING SERVICES, OFFSITE ASSESSORY PARKING AND PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN OFFER THIS ITEM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM 80 IS NPA 20 20 0 0 2 1 0.02.
THE SIGN WAS BEING GOLFER FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING ONLY THE APPLICANT'S REVISED REQUEST OF THE REDUCED AREAS.
SO WE CAN OFFER THIS WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
UM, THE RELATED REZONING IS C1 FOR 20 20 20 0 0 8.
AGAIN, I CAN OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON FIRST READING, ONLY STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF N O M U N P.
AGAIN, THE APPLICANT REDUCED THE AREA TO BE, UM, REZONED.
AND SO NOW STAFF SUPPORTS THE APPLICANT'S REVISED REQUESTS.
AND SO 80 AND 81 CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT FOR SURGERY.
UM, I DON'T 82 C1 FOR 20 22 0 0 2 TO THIS I WAS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 83 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 3 7.
THIS ITEM HAS BEING OFFERED FOR A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM 84 IS C1 FOR 20 21 0 0 3 3.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING AND THE ADDENDUM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 95 IS C1 FOR 20 22 0 0 2 5.
AND THIS I KNOW IT'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY HERE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM 63 THROUGH 84 PLUS 95, AND EVERYTHING IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 75.
MAYOR HARRY, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS A HARPER? MADISON MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ALEX, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT
[05:10:01]
AGENDA, MAYOR PRO TEM.SO I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ITEM 74, AND OF COURSE THE AGENT HAS LEFT.
UM, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE AGENT HAS ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT.
UM, AND I'M GONNA ALLOW THAT POSTPONEMENT TODAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING THE MUA ZONING DISTRICT TO THE EXISTING ELLO ZONING ON THE SITE, BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT UPZONING THE SF THREE ZONING IN THE BACK OF THE LOT.
UM, WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS SITE HAS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS.
SO ADDING ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS COVER ENTITLEMENTS HERE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN SUPPORT.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE BACK THAT IT REALLY STEEP SLOPES.
SO THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO CONSTRUCT WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, UM, IN THE MANNER OF THE PRESENTATIONS TO DATE.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, I'M COMFORTABLE UPSETTING THE EXISTING ELO, SO YOU CAN ALLOW RESIDENTIAL, UM, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT UP ZONING THE BACK OF THE PARCEL, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY.
UM, I'VE MADE THIS CLEAR TO THE APPLICANT AND I'VE SAID IT IN PRIOR MEETINGS AND I WILL HONOR THEIR SECOND POSTPONEMENT.
UM, BUT I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT MY CONCERNS, UM, AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT THIS TO MOVE FORWARD, THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY, UM, DO THE WORK TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND SHOW THAT THERE'S A VIABLE PROJECT, 74.
THIS IS THE, UH, THE, UH, PROJECT ON SPICEWOOD SPRINGS, ITEM 74.
SHE WAS SPEAKING TO KALI'S, UH, ITEM NUMBER 60, UH, WAS UP IN THE, UH, UH, NON-CONSENT, UH, THERE'S THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT GOES, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH 83 AND 84.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING POSTPONED.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, TO MIND, TO ADD ITEM NUMBER 60 TO THIS CONSENT AGENDA, SHOWING IT ALSO BEING POSTPONED TO THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9TH OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9TH, TOGETHER WITH 83 AND 80 FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNTS OVER KITCHEN, UM, UH, UM, SUPPORTING, UM, CONSENT, UH, IS CONSENT ON FIRST READING PER ITEM NUMBER, UM, 76, WHICH IS THE, UM, UM, PROPERTY ON CALABAR.
AND SO, UM, THIS, I JUST WANT TO LET, UM, UH, THE PERSON KNOW WHO CAME AND SPOKE, UH, THAT HAD CONCERNS THAT BECAUSE IT'S ON CONSENT ON FIRST READING, THIS WILL ALLOW SOME ADDITIONAL TIME, UH, FOR, UM, UH, FOR THE, UH, APPLICANT TO HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATION, UH, WITH THOSE, THOSE NEIGHBORS, BUT I AM SUPPORTING IT AND, UH, IT'S GOING FORWARD ON THE FIRST WEEK.
AND HIS COWS DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA, HE HAS OVER TOBA, UM, MAYOR, AS I HAVE IN THE PAST, I HAVE FILED A RECUSAL ON 80 AND 81, WHICH I THINK IS STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I AM LEAVING ON CONSENT FOR TODAY.
ITEM NUMBER 71, UM, AS DIRECTOR HARDEN MENTIONED, THE STAFF REVISED THE STAFF'S REVISED RECOMMENDATION, PROHIBITS ACCESS ON BARTON SPRINGS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STAFF INTEND TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DIFFERENT PARTIES WHO ARE INVOLVED HERE, INCLUDING THE PROPERTY OWNER TO SEE, TO TALK ABOUT ACCESS AND TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GOOD RESOLUTION, 72.
DID I SAY NUMBER 70, 71? I THINK I'LL BE DONE.
WE READY TO TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ALSO, INCLUDING ITEM NUMBER 60, BUT OTHERWISE IT IS ITEMS 63 THROUGH 84 PLUS 95 WITH 75 BEING POLLED.
DOES BEAR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I THINK THAT, UH, EVERYBODY WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER RENT THE AREA OFF THE, UH, OFF THE DESK.
LET'S TAKE CARE OF, UH, BEFORE WE GO, LET'S SEE IF WE QUICKLY TAKE CARE OF, LET'S SEE WHAT NON-CONSENT ITEMS WE CAN TAKE CARE OF WITHOUT DISCUSSION SO THAT, UH, STAFF CAN, CAN LEAVE ON THOSE.
ACTUALLY, WE CAN DO THAT ON THERE.
[75. C14H-2021-0164 - Chrysler Air Temp House - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 2502 Park View Drive. Applicant's Request: To rezone from single family residence standard lot (SF-2) district zoning to single family residence standard lot - historic landmark (SF-2-H) combining district zoning. Historic Landmark Commission Recommendation and Staff Recommendation: To grant single family residence standard lot - historic landmark (SF-2-H) combining district zoning. Zoning and Platting Commission Recommendation: Forwarded to Council without a recommendation due to lack of an affirmative vote. Applicant: Historic Landmark Commission. Owner: Hugh Corrigan. Owner’s agent: Coats|Rose (Racy L. Haddad). City Staff: Elizabeth Brummett, Historic Preservation Office, Housing and Planning Department, 512-974-1264. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request. ]
LET'S CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 75.I'VE JUST HAD A COUPLE QUICK REMARKS FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAYAS I, AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY, SPOKE TODAY AND CALLED IN TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ZONING CASE.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH WITH OUR CITY STAFF AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS CASE AND I HEAR VALID CONCERNS AND POINTS ON BOTH SIDES.
ULTIMATELY WITH THE VALID PETITION IN PLACE, NINE VOTES WILL BE NEEDED AND WE SUCH A HIGH THRESHOLD.
[05:15:01]
I'M NOT SURE THE SUPPORT IS THERE TO REZONE THIS PROPERTY AGAINST THE OWNER'S WISHES.I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL.
IN ADDITION, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ANYONE TO PROLONG THIS CASE.
IF IT'S CLEAR THAT IT WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL, THE OWNER OF THIS HOUSE IS OPPOSED TO HISTORIC DESIGNATION, BUT THERE ARE MANY CHRYSLER AIR TEMP VILLAGE HOUSES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND WHAT I THINK WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL WOULD BE FOR OWNERS OF OTHER CHRYSLER AIR TEMP HOMES TO COME FORWARD AND VOLUNTEER, TO HAVE HISTORIC DESIGNATION APPLIED TO THEIR HOMES.
AND SO WITH THOSE REMARKS MAYOR, UM, I DO NOT HAVE EMOTION TO MAKE IN THE CASE FOR ITEM SEVEN.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION THEY WANT TO MAKE ON ITEM NUMBER 75 COUNCIL MANITOBA? YEAH.
I MEAN, WE HAVE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY JUST REZONED, POSSIBLY THREE CASES OVER OWNER APPROVAL.
IT'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH THRESHOLD.
AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT, UH, WE'RE THERE TO BE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, I DO AGREE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE WEIGHED IN THAT THIS IS THAT THIS IS A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE.
I AGREE THAT IT IS THAT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA THAT ARE IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
AND IF WE HAVE A HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION ORDINANCE, WE OUGHT TO USE IT AND WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW IT.
AND SO I SUPPORT, UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ARGUED FOR THE REZONING TO HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED ON EVERY SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN REALLY LOTS AND LOTS OF EMAILS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT THIS STRUCTURE.
AND, AND THEY HAVE BEEN YES FROM SOME ADJACENT NEIGHBORS AND SOME NEARBY NEIGHBORS.
THEY'VE ALSO COME FROM ARCHITECTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
WE'VE GOTTEN, UH, UH, EMAIL AND SUPPORT FROM, UH, PROFESSOR EMERITUS FROM UT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, UH, DR.
RICHARD CLEARY, MID TEXT MUD, WHICH WAS HERE TODAY, REPRESENTED BY ONE OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS ADVOCATED, UH, FOR, FOR ITS PRESERVATION.
OF COURSE, THE LANDMARK COMMISSION HAS THE TRAVIS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS PRESERVATION PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN HAS JOHN UMPHRESS, AS YOU HEARD, UM, FORMERLY OF OUR GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ADVOCATED FOR ITS PRESERVATION AND MANY PRESERVATION AUSTIN MEMBERS.
AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, I THINK WE'VE HAD MORE FEEDBACK IN, IN, UM, ADVOCATING FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR THIS STRUCTURE THAN WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY OTHER STRUCTURES, UM, THAT I'VE, I'VE HEARD TESTIMONY ABOUT IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN ON THE DIOCESE.
SO I DO THINK THIS IS UNFORTUNATE.
IT SOUNDS AS IF THE OWNER IS, IS VERY SET, UM, AND DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEMOLITION.
I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE PRESERVATION AUSTIN IN THEIR LETTER EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER AS THEY HAVE WITH OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS TO HELP, HELP, UM, FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD TO, TO USE, USE THE STRUCTURE AND TO ADD ONTO IT AND ACCOMMODATE IT FOR MODERN PURPOSES AND TO ADDRESS THE OTHER CHALLENGES.
AND, AND WE SEE THAT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, ACROSS OUR CITY, BUT ALSO OF COURSE, ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING IN AREAS THAT HAVE STRONGER, UM, STRONGER CULTURES OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
SO THAT'S, UM, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ON THIS TODAY, AGAIN, THANKS TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONVERSATION, BOTH HERE TODAY AND IN THE WEEKS PRIOR, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS, UH, UH, ITEM 75? YES, HE HAS HER HARPER MADISON, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S NO MOTION, THEN IT JUST DIES.
THEN I'LL DECLINE TO MAKE A MOTION.
IN WHICH CASE THIS ITEM DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THAT'S ALL OF THE ZONING CASES WE HAVE WAS TURNED TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS IN FRONT OF US, UH, 48 AND 49.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP LATER IN THE DAY, WE
[Items 50 & 51]
HAVE TWO EMINENT DOMAIN CASES IN FRONT OF US, UH, WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS, 1551 BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES? DESCRIBE IN COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO MAKES THE MOTION.IS THERE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, SECOND SET, MOTION AND DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED IT IS UNANIMOUS COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER MARIA, OFF THE DIOCESE.
IT GETS US THEN TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 53.
[05:20:01]
TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 53, WHICH IS A UPDATES TO THE ASM P THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.MARY, I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE JUST POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT TODAY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE POSTED FOR ACTION UNTIL JUNE.
IN WHICH CASE I THINK WE'VE CALLED ALL THE SPEAKERS.
SO WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THIS ITEM ON 53.
DO YOU NEED TO CLOSE THE HEARING PERHAPS FOR THAT? NO, IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT'LL COME UP FOR ACTION AND IT'LL BE OPEN FOR HEARING THEN AS WELL UNDER STATE LAW, UH, WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE ITEMS NUMBER 54 AND 55 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE, UH, CONSIDERED, UH, TODAY.
UH, SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE
[Items 56 & 57]
THE HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR ITEMS 56 AND 57 COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UH, ALICE SECONDS, THAT MOTION.I NEED DISCUSSION, ASK HIM TO PROVIDE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTIES, UH, AND THEY'RE BADLY IN NEED OF RENOVATION.
EXCELLENT SOURCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LOTS OF GOOD SENIORS THAT LIVE THERE, BUT, UH, THEY DEFINITELY NEED SOME, UH, SOME TLC AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE SIDE OF MOVING FORWARD.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 56 AND 57, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER RENT A RHEA OFF THE DYESS ITEM.
[58. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Foxtrot Market, located at 4818 Burnet Road, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school. 58. Strategic Outcome(s): Safety, Government that Works for All.]
THE, UH, ALCOHOL WAIVER FOXTROT MARKET.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE WAIVER COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, PULL MESA MOTION, SECOND ACCOUNTS MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, THE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA OFF A DAS.
[59. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance that temporarily amends 2022 Local Standards of Care for the Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Programs (Ordinance No. 20220217-040)]
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I HAD NUMBER 59, A LOCAL STANDARDS OF CARE FOR PART YOUTH PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHERE METOVA MAKES A MOTION.IS THERE A SECOND?
I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN, UH, WORKING THIS SUMMER TO CONSIDER BEING A LIFEGUARDS OR CAMP COUNSELORS, WHICH IS WHAT'S MAKING US NEED TO DO THIS RESOLUTION.
ALRIGHTY, THEN THOSE IN FAVOR ITEM NUMBER 59, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT WAS OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTA RE OFF.
[91. Approve a resolution appointing of Anwar Sophy to the Sobering Center Local Government Corporation Board of Directors.]
UH, I THINK THAT GETS US THEN TO, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 91, WHICH IS REFERRED FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, UH, SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, UM, TOPO.DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS OUT? OKAY, SURE.
UH, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE THAT WE APPOINT ANWAR SOPHIE TO THE BOARD OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION OF THE SOBERING CENTER.
AND SO I WILL MOVE APPROVAL WITH MY WALKING MOTION.
AND WE'LL LET THAT HAPPEN COMING FROM THE COMMITTEE.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN SECONDED, UM, AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL AND I'M EXCITED THAT, UH, UH, HE'S WILLING TO SERVE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED THAT ITEM 90, UM, UH, ONE, UH, IS, UH, ZEBRA WAS 90.
ONE IS APPROVED COUNCIL MEMBER NUDE ATOMICITY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA OFF THE, UH, DANCE.
[94. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 relating to regulation of public mobility projects in the right-of-way; and establishing an optional payment related to water quality controls for public mobility projects in the right-of-way.]
AND I THINK THAT GETS US UP TO, UM, 94, SORRY.I HAVE ANOTHER, THERE WAS A, UM, REQUEST THAT 90 BE POSTPONED AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE POSTPONEMENT UNTIL OUR VERY NEXT MEETING ON MY IFC.
I THINK WE HAD SIX SPONSORS, SO WE PROBABLY HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT, BUT IN INTEREST OF, UM, ACCOMMODATING THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE MORE TIME TO READ IT, I'LL JUST SPIN IT FOR TODAY.
I APPRECIATE ANY OBJECTION TO ITEM NUMBER 90, BEING POSTPONED TO OUR FIRST MEETING IN JUNE HEARING NONE, THIS ITEM, UH, 90 WILL BE POSTPONED.
UM, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 94 COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT WHAT MAKES THAT MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, SECOND SANDY DISCUSSION.
UH, I THINK THE RECORD NEEDS TO BE CLEAR THAT IT'S VERSION TWO THAT'S IN THE BACKUP.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, IT'S ALREADY IN THE BACKUP.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD.
I'D ALSO POINT OUT THAT WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM, NUMBER 94, THAT OUR CITY'S GROWING QUICKLY.
UH, AND AS WE ADAPT AND EMBARK ON A NUMBER OF TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS, WE HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW THE CITY DOES THINGS.
[05:25:01]
50 50 MODE SHIFT, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO ACHIEVE AS WELL AS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUR CLIMATE GOALS, UH, TO MEET THEM.UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE VIABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS THAT PROVIDE CHOICE.
SO THE VOTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE ASPIRATIONS.
I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT PASSED THE 20 16, 20 18, 20 20 MOBILITY BONDS AS WELL AS PROJECT CONNECT.
SO TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISES MADE TO THEM IN A TIMELY MATTER, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CODE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR ALL OF THE VALUES THAT WE HOLD AS A CITY.
UM, THIS CODE WAS PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC VERTICAL DEVELOPERS, AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IN TODAY'S WORLD.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE BUILDS IN MORE THOROUGH CONSIDERATION OF THE, UH, UH, HORIZONTAL AND LINEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF A MOBILITY PROJECTS, OFTEN UNIQUE.
SO I ENCOURAGED THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT STAFF DID ON THIS.
AND, UH, PLEASE CONTINUE THAT EXCELLENT WORK.
UH, THE COLLABORATION, UH, UH, BUILDING IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT TO US TODAY AND THE FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UH, SUPPORT OUR VALUES AS A CITY AND LAY A PATH FOR THESE CRITICAL MOBILITY PROJECTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND BRING TO US ANYBODY ELSE AT 94 MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR.
I JUST WANT TO ASK STAFF IF THEY COULD CLARIFY WHAT THE CHANGES WERE, THE VERSION TWO.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SUSAN DANIELS WITH A QUARTER PROGRAM OFFICE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THOSE CHANGES.
UM, PRIMARILY THEY WERE CLARIFICATIONS AND WORDING, UH, LEGAL CLARIFICATION'S OF REDUCTION OF REDUNDANCY.
UM, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE ADDITION OF A DEFINITION OR PUBLIC MOBILITY PROJECT, UM, THAT IS LANGUAGE THAT IS USED THROUGHOUT.
UM, AND THAT WAS A REQUEST TO BE ADDED BY BOTH THE CODES AND ORDINANCES COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, STAFF ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AGREED WITH THAT AND HAS ADDED THAT IN TO OUR STAFF RECOMMENDED, UH, DRAFT ORDINANCE.
THE OTHER ITEM IS, UM, A RENAMING OF THE STRUCTURAL CONTROL FUND FOR PAYMENT AND LOU.
UM, IT WAS LISTED, UH, PREVIOUSLY AS A PUBLIC MOBILITY PROJECT, STRUCTURAL CONTROL FUND, AND HAS BEEN RENAMED TO ALIGN VERY SPECIFICALLY WITH THE WATERSHEDS THAT IT, UM, IS ASSOCIATED WITH.
AND SO IT IS NOW CALLED THE SUBURBAN AND WATER SUPPLY WATERSHEDS STRUCTURAL CONTROL FUND.
SO THAT FUN, THERE WAS A FUND IN THE PRIOR VERSION.
IT WAS JUST, WE JUST CHANGED THE NAME THAT WAS AS CHINA, CORRECT? YES.
THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ORDINANCE REMAINS THE SAME.
HAS OUR LS, I'LL JUST SAY A QUICK, THANK YOU.
I KNOW, I KNOW THIS WAS HIGHLY TECHNICAL, UM, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE AS WE TRY TO IMPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, VOTER APPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS, UM, FOR THESE BONDS AND THESE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THEM.
THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STAFF ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WHO WORKED ON THIS.
UM, LET'S TAKE YOUR VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
THOSE OPPOSED TO HAVING US ON THE DIOCESE.
I AM SHOWING, UH, THREE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO THREE TIMES, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THOSE THREE ITEMS, UH, I'M SHOWING AS, UH, 1785 AND 92 17 85 AND 92.
UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE PULLED ITEMS, UH, THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 18, WHICH WAS PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? YEAH, IT SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK.
UM, IS, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR POSTPONEMENT ON ITEM 18.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE A SECOND, I CAN EXPLAIN WHY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN WHY FIRST AND THEN WAS ASKING THEY HAVE AN OBJECTION.
UM, MY OFFICE HAD REQUESTED THE INVOICES ISSUED FOR ALL THE SERVICES LISTED IN THE AGENDA ITEM AND THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE AT THE TIME WAS NOT ABLE TO
[05:30:01]
PROVIDE THOSE TO US BEFORE THE DEADLINE.IN FACT, THERE WAS A TEAMS MESSAGE FROM PROCUREMENT TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF THAT EXPLAINED THAT PROCUREMENT OFFICE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THEM BEFORE THE DEADLINE FOR COUNCIL QA.
THE STAFF DID PROVIDE SOMEWHAT OF A RESPONSE OF REQUEST TODAY AT 9:42 AM, WHICH WAS A FOLLOWING.
THEY SAID IN COUNCIL, QA STAFF ARE WORKING TO COMPILE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION, BUT PLEASE BE ADVISED IT IS VOLUME MISSED AND WILL TAKE A SIGNIFICANT TIME TO GATHER IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
AND IN THE SHORT TERM, PLEASE FIND ATTACHED TO HIGH LEVEL BREAKDOWN OF THE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING THE AMOUNTS OF CONTRACTORS, STAFF.
WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS SOON AS THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
UM, PERSONALLY FOR ME, WHEN IT COMES TO AN ITEM THAT IS $41.9 MILLION, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW INFORMATION I REQUEST AHEAD OF THE COUNCIL VOTE.
AND SO I JUST LIKE A POSTPONEMENT UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT I CAN REVIEW THOSE THOROUGHLY.
RODNEY IS AS HAS HIS STAFF IS OKAY WITH THIS POSTPONEMENT.
DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THIS POSTPONEMENT HEARING? NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL POSTPONE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 18 TO THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, UH, AS WELL THAT LEAVES US, UM, UH, 17 AND 85 TO, UH, TO ACT ON ABOVE THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER BOTH THOSE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FIRST.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO CONSIDER, UH, 92 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO COLLEAGUES HOW'S THE MEMBER KITCHEN.
UH, WE HAD, UM, A GOOD TESTIMONY TODAY ON 48 AND 49.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, IF, IF YOU WERE THINKING IN TERMS OF SOME TIME TO DISCUSS THAT, OR I'LL CALL THAT UP AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHEN WE COME BACK OUT TO CONSIDER THINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBER LS, UH, WHEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD MENTIONED THAT THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE SUMMER JOBS FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, IT REMINDED ME, I HAD A FEW NOTES FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT I KNOW WE WERE KIND OF TOLD TO VOTE ON IT, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CIRCLE BACK ON MAKING OUR REMARKS.
SO THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT HAVE A FEW THINGS.
THEY JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ISN'T Q AND A, BUT JUST NOTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WE PASSED THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'LL CALL THAT, UH, TWO COLLEAGUES.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR WHEN WE COME BACK OUT OF CONSENT EXECUTIVE SESSION, MAYOR, COULD WE ASK, ASK, ANSWERING THAT QUESTION? COULD WE THINK THROUGH THE TIMING HERE A LITTLE BIT, WE'VE GOT PROCLAMATIONS IN JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AND WE HAVE THREE ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA COMMENTS.
I'M JUST WONDERING, I'M NOT SURE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING APPROPRIATELY HERE.
CAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROCLAMATION FOLKS WAITING FOR PROCLAMATIONS FOR A LONG TIME.
WE HAVE ITEMS 48 AND 49 TO SEE PEOPLE WANT TO ELEVATE, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE COME BACK OUT, WE NEED TO VOTE ON, UH, UH, 85 AND UH, UM, 17, 17.
SO A VOTE ON THOSE TWO AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS.
COULD WE PLEASE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KNOCKING OUT? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY WAITING FOR 17.
I TRIED TO POSTPONE IT EARLIER SO THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO WAIT FOR THE WHOLE DAY, BUT IF WE COULD PRIORITIZE THAT, UM, BUT AT A MINIMUM, IT SOUNDS AS IF, EVEN IF THEY GO FIRST AND EXECUTIVE SESSION, THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO WAIT UNTIL WE'RE CONCLUDED WITH EXECUTIVE SESSION, UNLESS WE POSTPONE IT.
SO AT A MINIMUM, COULD WE, COULD WE KNOCK OUT THOSE ITEMS BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT BMU AND COMPATIBILITY? OKAY.
LET'S GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET'S KNOCK OUT THESE ITEMS. WE'LL COME BACK OUT AND THEN WE CAN BETTER JUDGE TIME.
AND I THINK STAFF WOULD APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
[Executive Session]
UM, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE OUT THREE ITEMS PURSUANT TO 5, 5, 1 0 7.ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED ITEM 85, WHICH IS CANDLEWOOD SUITES ITEM 92, WHICH IS, UH, UH, CHEAT HIM.
HOW WE'RE ALSO PURSUANT TO 5, 5, 1 0 7 TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE, DISCUSS REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 17, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED.
I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THIS PHYSICALLY PRESENT BACK IN THE BOARD.
AND I MEAN, BACK IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM, I SUGGEST WE JUST LITERALLY WALKED STRAIGHT OVER THERE AND DO THAT.
SO HERE AT FOUR 20, I'LL SEE YOU IN A MINUTE, UH, BACK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE BACK OUT OF CLOSED SESSION HERE AT, UH, 5 43 IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEMS 85 AND 92 IN REAL ESTATE ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 17.
I RECOMMEND WE GO AND DO PROCLAMATIONS AT THIS POINT, UM, AND THEN
[05:35:01]
COME BACK FROM, UH, APPROXIMATIONS AND FINISH UP THE, UH, AGENDA AND OBJECTION TO THAT.SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS AT THIS POINT.
WHAT'S THE FIRST PROCLAMATION UP.
DO WE KNOW YOU'RE DOING RIGHT? THE LIST I HAVE.
HAS YOU DOING GROW GREEN, GO GREEN.
AND THEN IT'S EMS WEEK AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
AND THEN KATHLEEN WRITING'S DAY STEP READY TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
AND MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH WHEN WE WERE DOING MUSIC, BUT A MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR HAD TO READ ONE ON THE FLY, WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSIVE.
HOW ARE WE DOING WITH TV SIGNALS? YOU KNOW, THERE ARE JUST SOME
[Proclamation 1]
THINGS THAT WE DO IN THIS CITY THAT JUST FEEL MORE LIKE AUSTIN THAN OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO.AND THE, UH, THE GROW GREEN PROGRAM WE HAVE HAS GOTTA BE SOMETHING THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE AND, AND VISUALIZING AND MANIFESTING JUST CORE VALUES OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE THAT THIS IS AN, THAT WE, WE RECOGNIZE, UH, I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION.
IT'S GOT TO BE ACCEPTED BY, UH, UH, SARAH BOONE, UH, HARTLEY, WHO, UH, IN AN EARLIER ITERATION OF HER LIFE RAN MY OFFICE WHEN I WAS BRAND BRAND NEW ELECTED.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT BEFORE THE CITY STAFF TOOK HER BACK AGAIN, UH, WHICH I'VE NEVER FORGIVEN.
UM, AND KATIE DUFFY AND DENISE DELANEY OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, DAPHNE RICHARDS FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY AGRA LIFE MEMBERS OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS AND MEREDITH CHILDS FROM THE CARD PROCLAMATION.
BE IT KNOWN THAT, WHEREAS CURRENT RESOLUTION 2 0 0 1 0 5 0 3 DASH OH 29, DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR INCREASING THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND LANDSCAPING PRACTICES THROUGH A COMBINATION OF INCENTIVES, CERTIFICATION, AND INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS.
AND WHEREAS THAT RESOLUTION PLANTED THE SEEDS OF THE GROW GREEN PROGRAM, WHICH WAS INSTITUTED IN 2002 HAS A GARDENING EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PRONOTES PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES, ADDRESSES WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION RECYCLING, INTENTIONAL PLANTING AND LEASED IMPACT PEST CONTROL.
AND WHEREAS THIS PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT INTER-DEPARTMENT INNER DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION WITH FAR REACHING IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND BEYOND NOW, THEREFORE I, STEVE ADLER MAYOR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM,
[05:40:01]
MAY 19TH OF THE YEAR, 2022 AS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GROW GREEN PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.CONGRATULATIONS, GO GREEN THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AND AS A PRETEND, GARDENER MYSELF, UM, I HAVE USED SO MANY OF THE MATERIALS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, HAVE CREATED FOR US OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS COULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER 20 YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU GET A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS IN A PROGRAM THIS GREAT, BUT IT STARTED IF YOU'LL EXCUSE THE PUN.
UM, THE SEED WAS PLANTED BY DARYL SLASHER AND, UH, SOME FOLKS AT THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER BACK IN 2001, AND THEY PUT A COUNCIL RESOLUTION TOGETHER THAT THEN GREW INTO THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOW THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF THE, UM, TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE EXTENSION THROUGH THE TRAVIS COUNTY OFFICE AND WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THESE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME THAT ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE GROWN THIS PROGRAM INTO WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS BELOVED BY LANDSCAPERS AND MASTER GARDENERS.
UM, AND A LOT OF OUR FOLKS AROUND THE CITY THAT ARE JUST INCREDIBLY, UM, VERY FOCUSED ON WATER QUALITY, CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND SO I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF THOSE INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, DAPHNE WITH THE, UM, TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE EXTENSION TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, UM, AND CELEBRATING THIS WONDERFUL 20 YEARS OF ALL THIS GREAT HARD WORK WELL, THANK YOU, SARAH.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP.
I WORK FOR THE TRAVIS COUNTY OFFICE OF TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE EXTENSION.
AND WE'VE BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, SKIP RICHTER.
MY PREDECESSOR HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING, HELPING START.
THIS PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR VERY FAVORITE PARTNERSHIPS WITH TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE EXTENSION AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT WE GET TO PARTNER AND HELP PROTECT OUR WATER, NOT JUST CONSERVE IT.
AND AUSTIN IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE FOR THAT.
WE DO SUCH A GOOD JOB HERE, AND THIS PROGRAM JUST REALLY HELPS US GET THAT DONE AND HELP THE PUBLIC STATE EDUCATED IN HOW TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS NATIONAL REESE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
[Proclamation 2]
TO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EMS DOWN.PART OF MY BODY, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
MY NAME IS ALISON ALTER AND IT'S MY HONOR TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM AND TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 CENTRAL NORTHWEST AUSTIN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY OUR NEW EMS, CHIEF LUCK GRITS AND OTHER LEADERS, THE VMS CITY MANAGEMENT, AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO COMMEMORATE EMS WEEK 2022, WHICH CELEBRATES THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF EMS PROVIDERS IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE NATION.
[05:45:01]
HALL IS JUST ONE OF MANY GROUPS PAUSING THIS WEEK TO THANK OUR EMS PROFESSIONALS.AND THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE BECAUSE OUR EMS PROFESSIONALS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, THE 20 20, 20, 20 22.
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO 2020 NATIONAL THEME OF RISING TO THE CHALLENGE IS PARTICULARLY APT.
THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE PRESENTED AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE FOR OUR CITY AS A WHOLE, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, EMS WORKERS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SINCE IT BEGAN IN MARCH 22, 20 ON TOP OF THE LIFE SAVING WORK THAT THEY ENGAGE IN EVERY DAY.
AND WHETHER THAT'S ON AN AMBULANCE OR ELSEWHERE, THE BRAVERY, THE CARE, THE DEVOTION DEMONSTRATED BY OUR EMS PROFESSIONALS IS UNMATCHED.
I'M CERTAIN I MAY SPEAK FOR EVERY AUSTENITE IN EXTENDING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE.
WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON OUR EMS, WHETHER IT IS TO SAVE A LIFE OR INSPIRE ONE.
I DON'T WANT TO SHARE TWO REALLY BRIEF STORIES OF ENCOUNTERS WITH EMS. IN MY OWN DISTRICT, I WAS AT A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND SOMEONE CAME UP TO ME AND WANTED TO EXTEND THEIR GRATITUDE TO EMS. A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THAT, UM, HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN WALKING ON A STREET ON A SIDEWALK AND COLLAPSED OUT OF NOWHERE.
UM, SOME NEIGHBORS FOUND HIM QUICKLY, UH, CALLED 9 1 1, AND EMS ARRIVED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.
NOW, THOSE GOOD SAMARITANS WHO FOUND HIM, BUT ALSO EMS SAVED HIS LIFE.
AND HE WAS VERY GRATEFUL AND PLEASED AT THE RESPONSE.
THEY ALSO MENTIONED ANOTHER NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE, UM, A FEW MONTHS LATER AND WAS ALSO SAVED VERY PROMPTLY BY EMS. BUT EMS ALSO INSPIRES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAD A NEIGHBOR WHO WAS SELLING GIRL SCOUTS AND REARRANGED FOR HER TROOP TO, UM, SELL GIRL SCOUTS TO HONOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND THEY CHOSE EMS. UM, THEY CAME AND THEY BROUGHT, UM, SEVERAL TRIPS TOGETHER AND THEY SOLD OVER 300 BOXES OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES TO SHARE WITH OUR EMS. BUT OUR EMS DIDN'T JUST TAKE THE BOXES AND EAT THE COOKIES.
NO, UM, SELENA SHE, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF EMS, A HELPED US TO MAKE THAT A REAL EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE GIRLS IN THOSE TROOPS.
UM, SO THEY GOT TO LEARN WHAT EMS DOES.
I GOT TO SEE WHAT A MEDIC DOES GOT TO WALK AROUND THE AMBULANCE AND BE INSPIRED TO BE A MEDIC ONE DAY.
SO IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO OFFER A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF EMS WEEK PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE AND PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING CARE TO THOSE IN NEED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
AND WHEREAS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM CONSISTS OF PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, EMERGENCY NURSES, FIRST RESPONDERS, EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
AND WHEREAS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY BY DESIGNATING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
WE NOW, THEREFORE I, ALISON ALTER ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK WE'VE GOT ALMOST THE WHOLE COUNCIL HERE, UM, WHICH SAYS SOMETHING I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15TH TO MAY 21ST, 2022 AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE UP CHIEF LA CHRIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM SHELTER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY LEADERSHIP THAT HAVE JOINED US BEHIND HER AND EVERYONE ELSE.
I'M A MODERATE AND I'M HUMBLED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT ALL OF OUR EMT PARAMEDICS AND SUPPORT STAFF DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
IT'S BEEN A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FEW YEARS FOR US IN EMS. A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, UH, HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS THROUGH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC STRESS, NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AS WE TRY TO TRULY BE THIS, THE FOREFRONT OF HEALTHCARE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR PROVIDERS WERE OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY DURING THE PANDEMIC, PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AND RISKING THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH JUST HOW PROUD I AM OF ALL OF THEM FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
AND I THANK ALL OF THEM THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND HAVE JOINED US UP HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING, COMING WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH THE PROFESSION.
I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO THANK, UM, EVERYONE ELSE HAS JOINED US HERE TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE IT.
[05:50:07]
HANGING AROUND, BEING THE BAD KID IN THE CLASS AND THE BAD KID IN THE CLASS.
[Proclamation 3]
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC? SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARBOR MADISON.
I'M THE PROUD REPRESENTATIVE FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, THAT'S EASTERN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND TO THIS WEEK, I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, VERY PROUDLY CELEBRATE PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL TODAY THAT OUR CROSSING GUARDS ARE A PART OF OUR FAITHFUL, HARDWORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND SO THAT'S A, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
AND ON MY MIND THIS WEEK, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE WHO LITERALLY WILL THROW HER BODY IN FRONT OF CARS.
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT HER NAME.
I DON'T KNOW IT YET, BUT I'M GOING TO FIND IT OUT.
BUT WATCHING HER LITERALLY RISKED HER LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN, UM, EVERY OTHER DAY, BECAUSE PEOPLE GO TOO FAST IN SCHOOL ZONES.
UM, I REALLY WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, BUT, UM, I'M GIVING A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO HER.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, UM, IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION.
RECOGNIZING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT BUILD, MAINTAIN AND STEWARD PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE ROOTS OF AUSTIN'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REACH ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1874.
WHEN IT WAS THEN KNOWN AS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, THAT'S NEARLY 150 YEARS WORTH OF STREETS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, AND POTHOLE REPAIRS.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES TODAY.
THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A RANGE OF SERVICES AND AMENITIES THAT WE AUSTINITE SEE AND USE EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN HARDLY TURN YOUR HEAD WITHOUT SEEING A MEMBER OF PUBLIC WORKS STREET AND BRIDGE OPERATIONS, RESURFACING NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, REMOVING DEBRIS FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY AND MAINTAINING BRIDGES OR REPAIRING CURBS AND SIDEWALKS.
IT MIGHT NOT SOUND GLAMOROUS, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING THIS WORK IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, JUST SO THAT WE CAN GET AROUND SAFELY ENGINEERS, PROJECT MANAGERS, ARCHITECTS, INSPECTORS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY DIVISIONS DELIVER HUNDREDS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS EACH YEAR FROM WATERLINE RELOCATIONS TO BUILDING NEW REC CENTERS AND FIRE AND EMS STATIONS.
THE DEPARTMENT'S CAPITAL DELIVERY STAFF BRING AUSTIN'S PUBLIC ASSETS TO LIFE.
PUBLIC WORKS, STAFF ALSO BUILD AND MAINTAIN OUR URBAN TRAIL NETWORK AND PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE SMALL COMMUNITY CENTRIC PROJECTS.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO EMPLOYS HUNDREDS OF CROSSING GUARDS.
MIGHT'VE MADE MENTION OF THAT WHO HELP AUSTIN'S CHILDREN GET TO, AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY, THIS YEAR'S PUBLIC WORKS WEEK THEME IS READY AND RESILIENT.
THAT FEELS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY.
GIVEN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS ROLE IN TREATING KEY ROUTES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS DURING RECENT WINTER FREEZES AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS DURING RECENT BOIL WATER NOTICES.
UM, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO A PROUD MOMENT TO GET TO DELIVER THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE SUPPORT OF UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMED RESIDENTS
[05:55:01]
IS VITAL TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF PUBLIC WORK SYSTEM AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS WATER, SEWERS, STREETS, BRIDGES, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.AND WHEREAS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED PERSONNEL WHO STAFF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THEIR POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK THEY PERFORM.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH PUBLIC WORKS PERSONNEL MAKE EVERY DAY TO OUR HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
NOW THEY'RE FOR I COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, ALONG WITH STEVE ADLER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15 THROUGH MAY 21ST, 2022 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S GOING TO RIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE GUY.
THEY ALWAYS MAKE US SAY A FEW WORDS.
YOU WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ENJOINING.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS TODAY.
UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
UH, NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IS ACTUALLY CELEBRATED, UH, THIS WEEK ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND, UM, IT'S ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
PUBLIC WORKS AND MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ARE RECOGNIZING AND APPRECIATING OUR PUBLIC SERVICE HEROES WHO HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY STRONG BY PROVIDING AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF SERVICES IN STREETS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, TRANSPORTATION, WATER, WASTEWATER, STORM, WATER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND SPACING SPACES LIKE PARKS, RESOURCE RECOVERY FLEET, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
AND YES IN AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBER, EVEN CROSSING GUARDS, GO CROSSING GUARDS.
SO OUR THING FOR 2022 IS READY AND RESILIENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY PARTNER DEPARTMENTS WHO ALSO PROVIDE THESE VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WHO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT.
BUT MOSTLY I WANT TO THANK THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN STEWARDSHIP OF MAINTAINING THEIR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR HANDS, BY THESE CAPABLE PROFESSIONALS BEHIND ME.
HERE'S THE THING YOU CAN'T SEE ME.
I NEVER
[Proclamation 4]
GOOD EVENING.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER, KATHY TOVO AND I HAVE THE REAL PRIVILEGE OF HONORING, UM, ONE OF, ONE OF OUR, UM, AUSTIN HEROES, KATHLEEN RIDING.
SO I WOULD INVITE YOU TO KATHLEEN AND, AND THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE WITH YOU TO JOIN ME UP HERE, UM, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME UP FOR THE PROCLAMATION, YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN IN FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH IF YOU'D RATHER
[06:00:09]
SO TONIGHT I HAVE REALLY, UH, REALLY A PRIVILEGE OF HONORING KATHLEEN WRITINGS ON THE EVENT OF HER RETIREMENT AND KATHLEEN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, UM, OVER THE YEARS.AND I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS HAPPENED IN 2012.
OF COURSE, YOU HAD BEEN ACTIVE AND WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SERVING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND SO MANY OTHERS, UM, FOR DECADES AT THAT POINT.
BUT YOU CAME IN WITH SEVERAL OTHER, OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, UM, FROM THE TRINITY CENTER AND OTHERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF WOMEN WHO ARE UNSHELTERED LIVING ON SHELTERED ON OUR STREETS IN A YEAR WHERE WE HAD HAD SEVERAL TRAGEDIES, UM, FOR WOMEN WHO ARE SLEEPING OUTSIDE AND YOU AND SEVERAL OTHERS CAME IN AND SAID, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
IT IS UNSAFE OUT THERE FOR WOMEN.
WE HAVE HAD THESE, THESE SEVERAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
AND, AND THOUGH IT WAS, UM, A REALLY BIG LIFT WEEKS BEFORE WE WERE ABOUT TO FINALIZE THE BOND LANGUAGE.
UM, YOU AND THE OTHERS, YOU ADVOCATED ALONGSIDE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE THE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO ADD VERY, VERY QUICKLY, UM, COME UP WITH THE RESEARCH THAT WE NEEDED TO ADD MONEY INTO THAT BOND PACKAGE TO EXPAND THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN RUNS, UM, OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN OWNS AND RUNS WITH THE SALVATION ARMY.
AND, AND THAT IS JUST ONE OF SO MANY EXAMPLES WHERE YOUR WORK HAS JUST FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS ONE OF MULTIPLE EXAMPLES, UM, OF THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE HELPED OUR COMMUNITY.
SO ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, MANY OF WHOM ARE GATHERED BEHIND ME IN A VERY GRATEFUL COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS KATHLEEN RIDINGS HAS DEVOTED HER CAREER TO SERVING AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS THE SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN AUSTIN, OVER THE LAST 26 YEARS.
SHE AND HER STAFF HAVE SPEARHEADED SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM EXPANSIONS THAT HAVE BENEFITED THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS KATHLEEN WRITINGS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROCURING, DEVELOPING AND MANAGING LARGE GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, SINGLE WOMEN, AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION FOR FAMILIES AND VETERANS.
SHE WAS A LEADER IN RESPONSE TO DISASTERS, SUCH AS HURRICANE KATRINA, RITA, AND HARVEY TO WINTER STORM ERIE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AND WHEREAS KATHLEEN RIDINGS HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS SUCH AS THE BEST SINGLE SOURCE PLUS THE ENDING COMMUNITY, HOMELESSNESS COALITION, THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER BOARD OF TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND THE RELIGIOUS COALITION TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS.
AND WHEREAS KATHLEEN RIDINGS HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED LOCALLY AS A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN BY HELPING HAND HOME AND HAS RECEIVED THE SALVATION ARMY IS TEXAS DIVISION MISSION MOVER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL WORK.
NOW, THEREFORE I, KATHY TOVO ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 19TH, 2022 AS KATHLEEN RIDING'S DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOUR NEXT ADVENTURES TAKE YOU AND INVITE YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, MARY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PARTICULARLY COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE, UH, OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, UH, AS WE'VE WORKED TO OPEN MORE EMERGENCY SHELTER AND MORE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, UH, SHE HAS SUCH A HEART FOR CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY.
UM, I ESPECIALLY WANTED TO SHARE THIS RECOGNITION TODAY, UH, WITH STAFF OF THE SALVATION ARMY, THE SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF THAT, UM, REALLY DO THE HANDS-ON WORK OF THE ARMY ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, THESE FOLKS RUN THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS, UH, THAT THE ARMY OPERATES.
I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THEY RUN THREE SHIFTS A DAY, 160 HOURS A WEEK, 24, 7, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
UH, AND IT IS, IT IS A REALLY AN AMAZING RESPONSIBILITY
[06:05:01]
THAT, THAT THEY DO SO VERY WELL.AND THEY HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT RUN OF IT WITH THE COVID, UH, PANDEMIC IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAVE JUST DONE SUCH AMAZING WORK, UH, DURING THE WINTER STORM, THESE FOLKS, UH, SEVERAL OF THEM ACTUALLY MOVED INTO THE SHELTERS, UH, SO THAT OUR, UH, HOMELESS PEOPLE COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF DURING ALL OF THAT.
SO, UH, I'M GOING TO MISS THEM ALL IN ALL OF YOU.
AND, UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO DO THIS WORK AND TRULY A LABOR OF LOVE FOR ME.
AND SQUEEZE REALLY TIGHT, TIGHTER THAN YOU THINK YOU WANT TO SEE.
[06:13:14]
ALL RIGHT.COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE, WE HAD A QUORUM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, WE GOT A QUORUM.
SO WE'RE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED REAL ESTATE ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 17, A AND HERE WE ARE AT 6 22 BACK AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO A 92 AND 85.
DID WE DISCUSS ALL THREE OF THESE IN THE LAST SESSION? WE WERE JUST DOING ALL THREE OF THEM.
UM, SO, AND HERE AT 6 22, WE'RE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
[17. Authorize negotiation and execution of an amended and restated lease agreement for an initial term of 10 years with two 5-year renewal options with The Escape Game Austin, LLC, for approximately 7,110 square feet of retail space located at 405 and 407 Red River St., on the ground floor of the Austin Convention Center parking garage. ]
YES.I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD TAKE UP THE CONVENIENCE, THE ITEM QUICKLY, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF.
WHO'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG WHILE AND 17.
UM, AND, AND I'M READY WITH EMOTION WHEN, WHEN YOU ARE OKAY.
UM, WE'VE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION AND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN TODAY AND IN, AND IN THE MEMO, THE CONFIDENTIAL MEMO AND THE OTHER, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S STILL SOME ADDITIONAL DATA THAT, UM, THAT A NEED FOR WHICH, UH, WE ARTICULATED AND EXACT IN OUR REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO, UH, POSTPONE THIS TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WITH A REQUEST TO STAFF, TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE COMMERCIAL APPRAISAL, UM, FACTORING OUT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS
[06:15:01]
THAT WE DISCUSSED AND EXACT IN THE REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT I BELIEVE IS NOT A FACTOR.I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE AND TO WORK, TO GET US SOME CON SOME COMPARABLES FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT VERSUS COMPARABLES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
AND TO ALSO COME BACK TO US WITH PERHAPS SOME COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF A FEW OF THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT REVEAL SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN, IN OUR REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ONE, I WANT TO, I SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF AFTER OUR CONVERSATION LAST TIME.
AND MY RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE RENTAL RATES, THEY DID GO BACK AND RENEGOTIATE AND CAME BACK TO US WITH A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL.
I, I DO THINK THAT, UM, OUR DUE DILIGENCE SUGGEST THE NEED TO, TO AGAIN, TAKE A LOOK, TAKE A LOOK WITH, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL COMPARABLES.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
AND ONE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION AS WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST THE RATES, WHETHER THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO STICK WITH RETAIL, BUT, BUT TO LOOK AT OTHER KINDS OF RETAIL BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LOCATING IN THAT EMPTY IN THAT CURRENTLY RECENTLY VACATED SPACE, THAT WOULD ALSO FIT ALONGSIDE OUR PALM DISTRICT PLANNING TO GET MORE ACTIVE VITAL PEDESTRIAN USES DOWN THERE, NOT JUST DESTINATION BUSINESSES.
IT'S BEEN A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JUNE 9TH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER, MADISON SECONDS OF A DISCUSSION YOU'RE DISGUSTED COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD HEAR FROM STAFF ON WHAT SOME OF THE, UM, I GUESS ISSUES MIGHT ARISE WITH POSTPONING THIS ITEM AND, UM, IF IT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION OR NOT TO POSTPONE FOR A SECOND TIME, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I'LL ALSO DEFER TO OUR STAFF THAT THEY'RE COMING UP, BUT IT IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SPENT ENOUGH TIME ON THIS AND WOULD JUST PREFER AN UP AND DOWN VOTES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S REQUESTED AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE WITH THAT DIALOGUE, BUT, UH, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS, AND THIS IS THE SAME STAFF THAT IS ALSO TASKED WITH SOME OF THE HIGH PRIORITY INITIATIVES THAT, UH, COUNCIL HAS, UH, ASKED US TO, UH, PURSUE, INCLUDING OTHER WORK ON SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT COLONY PARK, UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER DISCUSSION.
AND SO, UH, THESE ARE CRITICAL PROGRAMS FOR OUR CITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME APPROPRIATELY.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT? YEAH.
MAYOR COUNCIL, MICHAEL GATES IN TERMINAL SET, OFFICER FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS, UM, BY THE NEXT COUNCIL DATE, JUNE 9TH, WE MOST CERTAINLY WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING REGARDING KIND OF, UM, OPTIONS AND SCENARIOS.
UM, AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CURRENT TENANT CONSIDERING THE SPACE, UM, MAY WISH TO RENEGOTIATE THE TERMS. UM, AND WE STILL KNOW THAT THOSE WILL, THOSE WOULD EVOLVE TO OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ESSENCE WE WILL, OR WON'T WE WOULDN'T, IT'S TOO QUICK COUNSEL FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM, FROM COLLEAGUES, JUNE 9TH IS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT, DELAYED TO TWO WEEKS.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO HAVE FURTHER ANSWERS.
UM, I DON'T SO MUCH OF THIS IS A JUDGMENT CALL, UH, AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A DEFINITIVE OBJECTIVE ANSWER.
I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WITH HOW HE SAID THAT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE MOST VALUE FOR OUR TIME AND OUR STAFF TO BE SPENDING TIME ON, UM, ADD EXTRA TIME.
I'D LIKE TO GET ANOTHER HOTEL TO BUY.
UM, SO I'M, I'M TORN ON THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE ARE GUIDED HERE BY AN, BY ANYTHING OTHER THAN OUR STAFF COMING IN AND SAYING, THEY'VE DONE A REVIEW IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL OPINION.
THIS IS WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UH, OUR BIGGER MISSIONS, UH, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT YOU'VE ARTICULATED MANAGER.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE MONEY TO DO THOSE THINGS WHEN WE'RE USING OUR ASSETS WELL.
AND SO I DON'T SEE THEM AS UNDERLINED IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE CAN EXTRACT FROM THIS REALLY VALUABLE LOCATION PIECE OF, UM, CITY OWNED REAL ESTATE.
I WANT US TO DO THAT FOR JUST THAT VERY REASON SO THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN THOSE
[06:20:01]
REALLY THOSE SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL AND ARE, ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS, INCLUDING, UM, SERVING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.AND I DO THINK GIVEN THAT THIS IS GOING TO LOCK US INTO, UM, A RENTAL RATE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, THAT IS THAT WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY, UM, DISAGREE ABOUT, BUT SEEMS TO BE, SEEMS TO BE AT THE VERY LOW END OF THE SPECTRUM AT, AT A, AT A MINIMUM AT THE VERY END LOW END OF THE SPECTRUM OF CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT COMMERCIAL RATES, I WOULD REALLY SUGGEST WE, WE TAKE THE ADDITIONAL TIME.
UM, IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME, BUT WE DO TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME BETTER COMPARABLES, GOT ANY OTHER HABITS.
SO EMOTION MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS UNTIL JUNE 9TH, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO DRIVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER TOHO COUNSELOR, PULL THOSE OPPOSED.
IT'S THE BALANCE OF THE DAY AS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENT A RE OFF THE MOST AND POSTPONE DOES NOT PASS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER BABYLON MAKES EMOTIONS OR A SECOND AS A MEMBER, ALICE SECONDS, ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST SAY BRIEFLY, AND I'M, I'M SORRY.
I MISSED THE UNVEILING OF THIS.
I WAS OFF THE DYES FOR A SECOND, BUT I KNOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS ONE IS TRICKY.
UM, BUT I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS BLOCK BY BLOCK IN THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
AND SO WHILE I KNOW THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, STREET LEVEL WALKABLE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BEST SUPPORTED IN THIS PARTICULAR INTERSECTION AND THIS PARTICULAR STREET NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER, UM, I, I TRUST THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE NEGOTIATING THESE THINGS REALLY CAREFULLY.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, VACANCIES ARE GONNA SET US BACK AS WELL.
IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND A GOOD TENANT, AND I KNOW THE PREVIOUS TENANT, UM, WASN'T ABLE TO, TO STAY IN THAT LOCATION.
SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM'S WORK ON THIS.
I'M, I'M WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE LINE OF QUESTIONING, WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE APPROPRIATELY EVALUATING OUR REAL ESTATE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, UM, BEING ABLE TO BALANCE OUR PRIORITIES AT THE SAME TIME.
I TAKE A VOTE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, AND THEN CANCER OCTOBER.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO A COUPLE OF MY BROWSES COMMENTS AND I DO APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN PORTOBELLOS, A DILIGENCE IN, IN LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITY COFFERS, BUT IT IS A QUIRKY LITTLE SPOT THERE ALONG RED RIVER AND FORTH.
AND WITH THE IMPENDING POTENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, I THINK THAT ALSO DOES AFFECT THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE, UH, UH, OF THE LEASE.
AND I WOULD SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, BELLA.
UM, THERE'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THERE.
I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THE QUESTIONS I RAISED LAST TIME RESULTED IN SOME, IN, IN SOME MEASURABLE CHANGES TO THIS LEASE.
SO I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THESE CAREFULLY.
I THINK WE'RE RENTING THIS, LEASING IT AND LOCKING US OURSELVES INTO, UM, A LEASE THAT AS WELL UNDER MARKET FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER LSI, SEE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS A USE COMPATIBLE WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT IT IS, IT IS ALSO AN AREA, THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN WHERE WE'VE SAID, WE DON'T WANT ALL OF THE USES TO BE JUST SUPPORTING THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THERE'S A REASON WE RENAMED IT FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER DISTRICT TO THE PALM DISTRICT BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE THE KIND OF, WE WANT THAT QUADRANT AND HAVE PUT TIME AND MONEY AND ENERGY INTO REINVISIONING THAT PART OF THE, OF DOWNTOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST FREQUENTED BY THOSE GOING TO CONVENTIONS AND GOING TO THE LARGE CONVENTION HOTELS.
AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR OWN CITY SPACE TO REALLY HAVE MORE VIBRANT RETAIL USES.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL REASON WHY WE SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BEFORE WE HAVE, HAVE WHAT IS REALLY A DESTINATION THAT IS CATERING PRIMARILY TO TOURISTS, UM, TAKE OVER ADDITIONAL SPACE DOWN THERE.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
I'M ALSO GOING TO DO SOME THINKING ABOUT, UM, HOW WE MIGHT, HOW WE MIGHT REVISION, UH, ENTERING INTO THESE LEASES.
AND ALSO SINCE IT HAS A CLEAR RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT IS PART OF WHY WE'RE, WHY WE'RE, UM, APPROACHING THIS WITH SOME DISCOUNTED, SOME DISCOUNTED RENT, UM, TO SUPPORT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I'M GOING TO THINK ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH THE CONVENTION CENTER MIGHT, MIGHT BECOME A PARTY HERE IN, IN HELPING MAKE UP SOME OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE LEASE THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WOULD BE A MARKET RATE, LEASE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SO YOUR VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR ASIDE, ITEM 17, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WAS OPPOSED.
UM, I'M SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA VOTING.
NO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING.
[06:25:01]
YES.SO THE VOTES I COUNCILMEMBER RENT THE REIA OFF THE DAYAS, UH, 8 21, I MEAN, YEAH, 8 21, I'M SORRY.
8, 10, 7, 8 TO 8 8201 OFF THE DICE AS RIGHT.
[85. Authorize negotiation and execution of a one-year contract with Family Eldercare to fund renovations at the Candlewood Suites located at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd, Austin, Texas 78750, known as the Pecan Gardens, a hotel conversion project to create new, permanent supportive housing in the City, for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,903,216.13. 85. Strategic Outcome(s): Economic Opportunity and Affordability.]
THEN TO ITEM NUMBER 85.UM, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
MAY I DO THAT BEFORE I LAY OUT THE MOTION? YES.
UM, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SECURITY MEASURES THAT WERE PART OF THE CONTRACT WITH FAMILY ELDER CARE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE DURING RENOVATIONS BECAUSE PART OF THEIR CONTRACT WITH FAMILY THAT PROPOSED CONTRACT, UM, SORRY, JAMES MAY, UH, HOUSING PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, THE CONTRACT WITH THE FAMILY ELDER CARE FOR THEIR REHABILITATION, UM, IS, UH, UNDER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW.
UH, AS PART OF THAT REHABILITATION, THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE SITE IS SAFE.
I'M NOT SURE OF ANY SPECIFIC CON UH, SPECIFIC ASPECTS THAT WOULD RELATE DIRECTLY TO SECURITY THOUGH.
UM, THE QUESTION WAS DURING RECONSTRUCTION, DURING RECONSTRUCTION, THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION IS SAFE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ASPECTS IN THE CONTRACT.
WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM BUILDING SERVICES ON THE LINE WHO CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AROUND, UH, SECURITY RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE COUNCIL AND FOR THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SECURITY LOOKS LIKE CURRENTLY, UM, BEFORE THOSE RENOVATIONS START AND BEFORE WE APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH FAMILY ELDER CARE.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM BUILDING SERVICES.
I BELIEVE HE'S ON THE CALL AND MR. ALEXANDER.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HAD.
UM, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, DARRYL ALEXANDER FROM, UH, BUILDING SERVICES FROM THE BUILDING SERVICES OFFICER, UH, SECURITY RIGHT NOW JUST STANDING CURRENTLY STANDS.
WE HAVE AN ONSITE SECURITY GUARD THERE RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE 24 HOUR, WE'LL HAVE 24 HOUR PATROL FROM OUR CONTRACTOR SECURITY.
UH, THAT'S A SECURITY THAT IS THERE NOW UNTIL ANY FURTHER CONTRACT CHANGES AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S ALSO AN AGREEMENT WITH APD TO A PEER OUT OF PATROL THAT AREA ALSO, UH, COMPLIMENTARY CAL.
AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE ALSO DOING DIRECTED PATROLS IN THAT AREA, UM, FOR ITEM 35 IT'S IF IT'S OKAY.
NOW COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO LAY OUT MY MOTION.
SO FOR ITEM 35, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION ONLY AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION RELATED TO THIS ITEM, WHICH THE CLERK SENT OUT VIA EMAIL AND IS AVAILABLE IN BACKUP ON OUR AGENDA ITEM.
AND THIS IS 85, EXCUSE ME, NOT 35.
UM, THE CONTRACT SHALL ESTABLISH TERMS FOR SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS RELATED TO THE RENOVATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE RENOVATION MAY NOT EXCEED 78 DWELLINGS AT THE PROPERTY.
AND DURING THE RENOVATION, THE CONTRACTOR MUST PROHIBIT CAMPING ON THE PROPERTY, PROHIBIT DROP-INS AT THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDE MEASURES THAT SECURE THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO 24 7, SIR, CAMERA SURVEILLANCE, ONSITE, PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AND ENTRYWAYS PROVIDE OTHER MEASURES NECESSARY FOR OPERATIONAL BEST RENOVATION PRACTICES PROVIDE CITY STAFF WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATES IN THE FORM OF A MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED PUBLICLY EVERY 60 DAYS DURING THE RENOVATION OUTLINING THE FOLLOWING ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS SUCCESSFUL BREAK-INS SECURITY BREACHES OF ANY KIND, ANY CHANGES TO SECURITY CONTRACTS, ANY AND ALL IMPORTANT SECURITY DATA REGARDING COUNCIL CONSIDERATION PROVIDE CITY STAFF WITH NOTICE OF 24 HOURS WHEN A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT OCCURS ONSITE RELATED TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDE CITY STAFF WITH CONCERNS THAT OCCUR ON NEARBY PROPERTIES OR TO USE THEIR BEST EFFORTS TO DO SO.
THE CITY MANAGER IS ALSO DIRECTED TO PROVIDE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THEIR BEST EFFORTS WITH NOTICE WITHIN 24 HOURS, WHEN A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT OCCURS ON SITE RELATED TO SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY.
AND FINALLY, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONDUCT A MINIMUM OF TWO OR MORE RECORDED LISTENING SESSIONS DURING PROJECT RENOVATIONS, HOSTED BY CITY STAFF AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
I'LL WAIT ON A SECOND UNTIL I MAKE MY COMMENTS.
YOU ADDED THE PHRASE BEST EFFORTS REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, SECOND TO LAST BULLET POINT.
AND DID YOU ADD THAT TO THE FIRST BULLET 0.2 OR WAS IT JUST SO IT'S BOTH RELATED TO THE CONTRACTOR
[06:30:01]
AND ALSO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, RIGHT? SO THOSE WORDS ARE NEW.THEY NEED TO BE ADDED TO YOUR BEST EFFORTS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY MOVES PASSAGE OF, UH, THIS ITEM 85 WITH THAT DIRECTION IS OUR SECOND TO THAT AS OUR KINDS OF OUR POST-SECONDARY SORRY.
KITCHEN CAN SECOND IT TO, SHE HELPED ME QUITE A BIT WITH THIS, SO I APPRECIATE HER SECONDING IT.
UM, LOOKING BACK TO SOME OF THE EARLIER DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD ON COUNCIL RELATED TO THAT PROPERTY, MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPRESSED CONCERNS RELATED TO SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY.
I ALSO HAVE HAD MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROPERTY WITH ONGOING MISCOMMUNICATIONS, NOT JUST WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO WITH OUR OWN CITY STAFF.
ONE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS SECURITY NOT BEING THERE AND THE LACK OF A SECURITY CONTRACT PRIOR TO THE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF THAT TOOK PLACE EARLIER THIS MONTH, DUE TO THESE CONCERNS, I CANNOT SEE A CLEAR PATHWAY FORWARD WITHOUT CLEAR AND CONCISE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL THAT RECTIFIES OUR CURRENT PROBLEM AND HELPS TO REBUILD THE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS TRY TO ACHIEVE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHILE THE CANDLEWOOD AND NOW PECAN GARDENS IS A RESOURCE THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE.
I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX, ANY ISSUES THAT OCCUR THERE ARE INHERENTLY MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE ELECTED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AREA.
AND AS SUCH, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DISTRICTS VOICE AND CONCERNS ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AS WELL AS ADDRESSED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER UPON PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY.
AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THERE HAVE BEEN MASSIVE FAILURES THAT HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS SECURITY CONCERNS.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH NEARBY NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE LOST MORE FAITH THAN BEFORE.
THIS DIRECTION CLEARLY OUTLINES AND ADDRESSES THOSE CONCERNS IN AN EFFORT TO HOLD THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF AND CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.
SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN AS A COUNCIL, WHEN WE PURCHASE ASSETS LIKE THIS HOTEL WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THOSE DOLLARS WHEN THERE'S A FAILURE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS DAY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY STAFF OR THAT FAILURE.
WE'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE PREVIOUS SITUATION HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
YES, BUT NOT WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
WE CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VACANT CITY-OWNED PROPERTY EVER AGAIN, AND STEPS SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO ENSURE IT NEVER HAPPENS.
MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER SPEAKING WITH CITY STAFF IS THAT THE DIRECTION PROVIDED TODAY WILL NOT CAUSE ANY DELAYS IN THE EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT, WHICH WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL ON JUNE 16TH.
AND THEY ARE ALSO OKAY WITH THE DIRECTION WE'RE PROVIDING TODAY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS DIRECTION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT STAFF AND LEGAL ARE OKAY WITH THIS DIRECTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
YES, I, I APPRECIATE, UM, I APPRECIATE THIS DIRECTION.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I THINK, I THINK IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
UM, AND IT ALSO CAN JUST BE, UH, UM, BECOME A STANDARD OF WHAT WE DO AND WE INCORPORATE WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE PURCHASE PROPERTY.
SO, AND I THINK IT'S NECESSARY AND, UM, IT'S NECESSARY IN, IN, IN A MINIMUM REALLY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO REBUILD SOME TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
THANKS FOR, UM, THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS AND THE, UM, THE REMINDERS ABOUT, UH, PROTECTING CITY ASSETS.
IT'S PRETTY DISTRESSING TO HEAR THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS PROPERTY.
UM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CONTENTIOUS MAJOR OF THE ACQUISITION OF HIS PROPERTY.
SO THIS JUST SORTA MAKES ALL OF THAT EVEN WORSE.
UM, I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO CONFIRM THAT OTHER PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY HAS PURCHASED FOR THESE PURPOSES ARE ALSO SPECIFICALLY, UM, CHECKED AND SECURE, UH, BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE GOING ON IN PARTICULAR DISTRICT SEVEN, UM, WAS TEED UP TO HAVE A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT THE SAME TIME AS, UH, THE DISTRICT SIX LOCATION.
AND I WANT TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING AT THE PROPERTY THAT IS IN, UH, UH, MY NEIGHBOR'S BACKYARDS.
THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR BEING ON TOP OF THIS REALLY SORRY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS EXTREMELY DISTRESSING AND THANK YOU CITY MANAGER FOR ENSURING THAT, UH, THE SITUATION IS CORRECT AND DOESN'T RECUR.
[06:35:01]
QUESTION ON THIS MOTION SHEET, IT SAYS THE RENOVATION MAY NOT EXCEED 78 DWELLINGS AT THE PROPERTY.CAN YOU PLEASE ELABORATE? UM, OR WHICH STAFF CAN SPEAK TO WHY, WHY THIS NUMBER, WHY WOULD WE CAPITAL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER QUANTIZE? IT SAYS IN THE CONTRACT 78, 12 THINGS CURRENTLY IN THE OTHER SPACES WOULD BE USED FOR OFFICE SPACE FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STAYING THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF HAS MORE TO ADD TO THAT, BUT THAT'S MY IMPRESSION OF WHAT THE CONTRACT IT'S IN THE BACK OF THAT WAY.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MOVE FORWARD IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT, A MANAGER AND STAFF.
GOOD TO SEE US MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.
UH, UH, I'VE SEEN, UH, SOME PHOTOS THAT, UH, SOME OF THE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAVE PUBLISHED INDICATING THAT, UM, THERE ARE PERHAPS EVEN MORE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
UH, WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THEY ARE THERE.
IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THEY'RE INCREASING GIVING THE INCREASE IN HOUSING PRICES THAT WE'RE FACING.
SO THE SOONER WE CAN GET MORE, UM, UH, UH, APARTMENT BUILDINGS, UH, THEY GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND OUT OF TENTS AND INTO HOMES, UH, THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE, UH, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU MOVING FORWARD, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY, BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF HELP THAT, THAT THIS AREA AND THE CITY GENERALLY NEED HAS IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION HAS MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS, CHEER, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
THERE WAS ONE THING THAT WAS SORT OF NAGGING AT ME AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO EXPRESS IT.
AND I RE I APPRECIATE HOW YOU FRAMED IT, SHARE THE WAY YOU SAID YOU MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT'S PRODUCTIVE.
UM, BUT I STILL GOT THIS THING THAT'S NAGGING AT ME BECAUSE I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE OPPOSITION THAT WE FACED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK WE ALL REALIZED THAT, UM, REMEMBER VIVIDLY HOW CONTENTIOUS, YOU KNOW, THE ITEMS SORT OF BECAME, UM, ONE THING I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF, YOU KNOW, DURING THE COURSE OF THAT CONVERSATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REVEALED WAS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME STATISTICS ABOUT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, WAS HESITANT TO HAVE THIS ASSET, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT OCCURRED THAT PEOPLE HAD FEARS OF DIDN'T HAPPEN BY WAY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RESIDING AT COMMUNITY.
FIRST, IT HAPPENED BY WAY OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO WERE COMING INTO COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE IRONY OF THE FACT THAT IT PROBABLY WAS NOT PEOPLE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE HOUSED AT, UM, THIS ASSET THAT VANDALIZED THE ASSET AND, UM, OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WHAT REALLY CAUSED SOME DELAY AND US BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP THE ASSET.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, DURING THE COURSE OF THESE COMPLICATED CONVERSATIONS, WE REALLY HAVE TO HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.
UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ALWAYS WILL BE NUANCED TO THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.
AND THAT WAS THE THING THAT WAS SORT OF NAGGING AT ME AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONVEY THAT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE SOME PROTOCOL TO LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK WE DO HAVE, I MEAN, JUST EVEN THINKING THROUGH WHAT DO YOU WANT HAS IN THE WAY OF CITY HELD ASSETS THAT AREN'T OCCUPIED OR ARE UNDERUTILIZED? YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK EXAMPLE.
I WENT THROUGH THE MILLENNIUM PARKING LOT.
ONE NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED AND IT WAS FROM A SPRINKLER HEAD THAT IT BUSTED.
AND WE HAD LIKE THREE FOOT OF WATER IN THIS PART OF THE PARKING LOT THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF HAD THIS RECESS.
I ONLY FOUND IT CAUSE I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS THE KIND OF THING THOSE TWO WERE AT THE TIME THE MILLENNIUM WAS CLOSED.
NOBODY WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT FOR DAYS.
WE WOULD'VE JUST DUMPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER.
CAUSE THERE WEREN'T PEOPLE CHECKING ON THE FACILITY REGULARLY.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DAYLIGHT IN THE FACT THAT WE DO JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF ALL OUR ASSETS AS A CITY.
I JUST, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMENTS TODAY AND THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS DIRECTION.
AND I DO WANT TO LET, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON KNOW THAT IT IS MY INTENTION TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT EVERYBODY HOUSED AND UNHOUSED.
UM, IT IS STILL AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION WITH APD AS TO WHAT HAPPENED.
AND SO THOSE DETAILS ARE, ARE NOT VERY CLEAR TO ME AS TO WHO OR WHEN THIS OCCURRED, BUT MOVING FORWARD, WE DO NEED TO PROTECT OUR ASSETS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE USE THEM FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S THAT INTENTION THERE.
[06:40:01]
TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM WITH THE DIRECTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.THAT WAS OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RENT, A RE UH, OFF, UH, COLLEAGUES THAT GETS
[Items 48 & 49 ]
US TO, UH, THE LAST TWO ITEMS, 48 AND 49 PLUS COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, LET'S FIRST CALL UP, UH, ITEMS, UH, 48 AND 49.
THE VMU DISCUSSION, THE CORRIDOR DISCUSSION.
UH, LET'S SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING THEY WANT TO, UH, TO, TO ELEVATE THEIR, SAY THE KITCHEN.
UH, I JUST THOUGHT I'D USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A FEW CLARIFYING, CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
UM, I'VE BEEN, UM, TALKING WITH, UM, FOLKS FROM DISTRICT FIVE AND, UM, AND SO THEY RAISED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UH, THAT I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO, BUT I WANT JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
SO, UH, IN LOOKING AT THE, UM, AT THE DRAFT PROPOSAL, THE, UH, ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING YOU RAISED EARLIER, MAYOR THAT, UM, I THINK IS, UM, HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S THERE'S LANGUAGE IN HERE ABOUT THE, THE TWENTY-FIVE FOOT SETBACK, COMPATIBILITY SETBACK, UH, EXPLORE, ALLOWING MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR WHAT CAN BE IN THE SETBACK.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL THERE AND, UM, I'M THINKING OF THINGS LIKE, UH, LANDSCAPING, UM, GSI, YOU KNOW, UM, ENHANCED BUFFERS, YOU KNOW, TREES, VARIOUS, VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT, WHAT YOU ALL MEANT.
UM, AND, UM, SO I MIGHT PROPOSE, UM, SOME LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE THERE, OR I MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING FOR YOU ALL TO BRING FORWARD SOME, SOME LANGUAGE THERE WHEN YOU, WHEN FOR THE PROPOSAL, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL THERE.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT FOR A MOMENT OR SURE.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD COMMENT AND THAT ONE WAS ALMOST A PLACEHOLDER, I MEAN THE REALLY HIGH LEVEL, BROAD APPROACH, BUT THE INTENT IS TO HAVE AN, UH, IFC COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THEM UP ON THE BOARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
SO EVERYBODY HAS A LONG TIME TO LOOK AT IT AND MAKE EDITS AND CHANGES AND ADDITIONS.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS IN THE MEANTIME, THAT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THAT, PLEASE POST THEM, YOU KNOW, GET THEM OUT.
I MEAN, WE WERE THINKING IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD DO THERE, THAT WOULD STILL BE MEETING KIND OF A CONSENSUS FEEL, UH, BUT MIGHT ENABLE THE PROPERTY BEYOND THE 20 FEET TO ACTUALLY BE USED FOR, FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT IT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE.
UH, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DETAIL THERE YET, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO ADD THINGS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT YOU ALL, UM, CAN INCORPORATE, UM, INTO THE RESOLUTION IN THAT WAY.
IT CAN BE MORE OF A RESOLUTION FROM ALL OF US, IN FACT, ABSOLUTELY.
AND ON EVERYTHING FROM ALL OF US.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE THINGS WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT.
SO, SO THERE'S NO REAL OWNERSHIP BY ANYBODY ON ANYTHING HERE, BUT YES, LET'S POST, I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I CAN DEFER.
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE, FIRST, YOU GO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN WE'RE COME BACK.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, WE WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER LIKE, WHEN WE GO TO A RESOLUTION, IT'S NOT A VERY SIMPLE RESOLUTION THAT SAYS LIKE, COME BACK AND DRAFT ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT DO WHAT'S IN THE EXHIBIT, WHICH WOULD BE SOME MODIFICATION TAKING PEOPLE'S IDEAS OF WHAT WHO'S EVER PUTTING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD WANTED, OR IF IT WOULD BE WRITTEN IN RESOLUTION FORUM, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVE NOT DECIDED OKAY.
THAT IT MAY BE CLEARER TO, TO PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE AND AN AS AN EXHIBIT RATHER THAN WE'RE SMITHING IT, UM, IN AN ORDINANCE.
SO IT WOULD BUILD OFF OF WHERE WE STARTED ADDING, ADDING WHERE WE AGREE ON US AS A COUNCIL OR WHAT WE'VE HEARD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER FORM IS, AND REALLY I'M NOT, NOT SUGGESTING A PARTICULAR FORMAT.
I AM SUGGESTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO BE A PART OF IT.
I JUST WANTED TO NOT, I JUST DIDN'T WANT, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SURPRISE ANYONE IF WE DECIDED TO SAY DO IT AS AN EXHIBIT A OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT WASN'T ALL BOARD RESOLUTION LANGUAGE SOUNDS GOOD.
ONE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND, I SAW AN, AND I'M WORKING FROM MEMORY HERE, BUT THE PARKING, UH, REQUIREMENTS ON THE PROPOSALS WAS I THINK, ON THE LARGE CORRIDORS
[06:45:01]
AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.IT WAS LIKE 20 TO 50% OF THE, AND THEN ON THE SMALLER QUARTERS, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER WAS.
UH, BUT I GUESS THERE'S, I THINK WE NEED INPUT FROM BUILDERS TO BASICALLY SAY KIND OF WHAT IS A PRACTICAL IN THE SENSE OF LIKE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD PARKING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO ABSOLUTELY BUILD, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER OF SPOTS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SET THAT AT A RANGE THAT WORKS AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, NOT THAT WE'RE JUST OUT THERE KIND OF PICKING AN ARBITRARY, UH, NUMBER.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BUILD PARKING, THEY WOULD NEVER BUILD LESS THAN X NUMBER OF, OF, OF PARKING SPOTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO SET OUR MINIMUMS ABOVE, UH, LET'S SAY LIKE A MARKET MINIMUM OR A PRACTICAL KIND OF LIMITATION.
I DON'T FEEL I'M WORDING THAT AS STRONGLY AS, AS I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT I WOULD, I GUESS MORE THAN ANYTHING, I JUST WANT TO GET FEEDBACK FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, VMU BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS AT WHAT IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PARK A PROJECT, WHAT IS KIND OF A BARE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE? SO WE CAN WORK THAT INTO OUR, UH, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR GUIDELINES, CANCER AND POOL.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT I'M HOPING OUR LANGUAGE INCLUDES DIRECTION FOR STAFF TO, UM, TAKE A MEASURE ANNUALLY OF HOW THE CHANGES THAT WE, UM, PROPOSE AND THEN HOPEFULLY PASS TO TAKE A MEASURE ANNUALLY OF HOW THOSE CHANGES ARE WORKING.
IT COULD BE MAYBE PART OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT REPORT THAT WE GET FROM STAFF.
AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, IT WOULD BE A GOOD ANNUAL REPORT FOR US TO GET SOME FEEDBACK IN THE EARLY, IN THE EARLY FUTURE.
WE PROBABLY NEED IT MORE OFTEN THAN ANNUALLY, SO THAT IF WE FIND THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS, UM, THAT WE CAN UNWIND THEM AT THE FEEDBACK PIECE FOR THE CITY MANAGER, I'M HOPING WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN, IN THE DOCUMENT TO GET REGULAR REPORTS FROM THE STAFF ON HOW THESE CHANGES ARE ROLLING OUT AND THE IMPACTS THEY HAVE ON OUR HOUSING SUPPLY.
SO WE CAN HELP TO MEASURE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, UH, THAT THOUGHT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT AND JUST HOW THE COST OF MATERIALS IS INCREASING, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, UM, TO, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT ASSESSMENT QUITE, QUITE OFTEN, JUST SO WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SURE, ARE WE ON THE MARK? ARE WE OFF THE MARK? AND WHAT STRATEGIES DO WE HAVE AS A CITY COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO STEP UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH HOUSING, UM, THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET PRICED OUT OR, OR FALL INTO NOT HAVING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
UM, COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED TO GET KIND OF A, I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE SUB CORN WITH, OF THE, ONE OF OUR PROPOSAL, UM, FOR, JUST FOR SOME GENERAL THOUGHTS OF THE, THE DISTANCE AND HEIGHT LIMITS THAT WE SET OUT WITH THE LARGE MEDIUM CORRIDORS, UM, AS PROPOSED, JUST WANT TO GET A SENSE IF, HOW CLOSE WE ARE.
I MEAN, THIS WAS CERTAINLY PROPOSED AS A STARTING POINT.
UM, AND SO JUST TRYING TO SEE YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WILLING AND COMFORTABLE TO SPEAK TO IT, UM, THOUGHTS ON WHAT IS BEFORE US.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, I POSTED THIS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT I WOULD REITERATE THAT OUR, OUR COMPATIBILITY LIMITS ARE SO STRICT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CUT IT DOWN FROM, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, 250 FEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT MAY NOT HAVE ANY PRACTICAL IMPACTS GIVEN, ESPECIALLY I THINK ON SOME OF THE SMALLER CORRIDORS WHERE THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY.
SO I THINK AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS, WE REALLY NEED TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE ADJUST COMPATIBILITY ON THE CORRIDORS, IT HAS AN ACTUAL IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO DEVELOP PROJECTS, HOUSING ALONG THOSE SAME CORRIDORS.
AND I, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IS JUST SOME KIND OF ARBITRARY NEGOTIATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, 200, 1 50, 1 75, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING WHAT THE, THE ACTUAL IMPACTS ARE ON, UH, THOSE, UH, AND THE OTHER CONCERN, UH, OR ONE OF A THOUGHT ON THE PROPOSAL IS THE, UH, SELECTION OF, OF, OF STREETS.
[06:50:01]
UH, ONE IMPORTANT CONCERN IS THAT IT BE EQUITABLE, UH, IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT WEST AUSTIN STREETS ALSO TO BE INCLUDED.AND AGAIN, I'M, I'M, I'M WORKING FROM MEMORY, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE CORE TRANSIT CORRIDORS MAP, UH, SEEMS TO ME TO BE A MUCH BROADER SELECTION OF, UH, STREETS AROUND THE CITY THAT BOTH THE QUARTER AND THE QUARTERS IN THE FUTURE COURT TRAFFIC QUARTERS SEEMS TO BE A MUCH MORE KIND OF COMPREHENSIVE AND BETTER DISTRIBUTED, UH, UH, MAP OF POTENTIAL KIND OF VIEW STREETS THAN THE, THE ONES THAT WERE, WERE LISTED.
UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A FAR WEST BOULEVARD, UH, LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD, WHICH ARE MAJOR CORRIDORS, WHICH HAVE ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT LOCATIONS FOR, UH, FOR HOUSING THAT THOSE ARE INCLUDED WITHIN, UH, OUR, UH, OUR, OUR FOCUS, UH, CUTS.
REMEMBER TOVO YEAH, I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION THAT YOU POSE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES THAT I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING IT THERE JUST SIMPLY HASN'T I HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME TO EVEN SIFT THROUGH THE VOLUMINOUS AND MALICE I'M GETTING ABOUT IT.
UM, AND CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT ARE, ARE REALLY JUST TRYING TO SORT THROUGH IT AT THIS POINT.
UM, AS AM I, I WOULD ASK, UM, JUST AS, AS YOU COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELLA ASKED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OR THE IMPACT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BUILDERS ON SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES, I WOULD ASK THAT WE, THAT WE DIRECT OUR STAFF TO DO SOME KIND OF RENDERINGS THAT WOULD HELP US ALSO SEE, UM, AND MODELED FOR WHAT, WHAT SOME OF THESE CHANGES WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THOSE LIVING ADJACENT TO IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MECHANISM IS FOR THAT, BUT I DO THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO SEE SOME OF THIS ILLUSTRATED MORE THAN JUST KIND OF A MAP WITH DISTANCE CHANGES.
UM, IT'S REALLY HARD TO, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SCAR COUNCILMEMBER HARPER MEDICINE.
I APPRECIATE BEING RECOGNIZED.
I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS HERE, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, HAVING THE CONVERSATION CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.
I AM, I'VE BEEN HAVING, I'VE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AT DISTRICT ONE.
UM, ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS WEEK, THERE WERE MULTIPLE ARTICLES THAT WERE PUBLISHED.
ONE OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, ONE FROM MLK.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE THIRD THAT REALLY TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UM, ABOUT DENSITY AS A WHOLE AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF SPRAWL, ET CETERA.
UM, AND SO JUST THINKING IT HAD ME THINKING THROUGH LIKE, AS A BASELINE, UM, WHAT ARE THERE'S SOMEBODY'S MIC THAT'S ON AND IT IS, MY EDD IS REALLY DISTRACTED BY IT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN A WIND TUNNEL.
IS IT ME? IS IT MY FAN? HA MY MOM CALLS IT YOUR OWN PERSONAL SUMMER.
SO I'LL JUST TURN OFF MY LITTLE FAN.
UM, SO, UH, BUT LIKE JUST THINKING THROUGH SOME OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE, THE GROUND FLOOR ACTIVE USES, UM, NO COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, NO SETBACKS, NO FAR, AND REALLY REDUCES THAT BASE PARKING REQUIREMENT BY AT LEAST 40% WITH SOME ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS FOR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THAT, THAT WE HAVE A WORKING MODEL, UM, THAT'S ALREADY VETTED AND IN MY MIND'S EYE, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT MODEL AS WE MOVE INTO, UM, NEW PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT MODEL AS THE GOLD STANDARD.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US APPEAR ARE PROS IN THE FIELD.
SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, THE MORE YOU DIG INTO IT, YOU REALIZE JUST HOW RELATIVELY OBSCURE IT IS WHEN YOU REALLY SORT OF DIG THROUGH IT.
BUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS AS WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, SOME THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD PEOPLE AGREE UPON ARE, UM, ALL THE CLIMATE SCIENCE IS REAL, UM, THAT THEY'VE CONCLUDED THAT HOUSING BUILT IN URBAN AREAS, NEAR TRANSIT JOBS AND SERVICES, UM, REDUCE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS MORE THAN ANY OTHER OPTION, INCLUDING ELECTRIC CARS, UM, WHICH BY THE WAY, I LOVE MY HYBRID.
UM, OUR STATUS QUO IS, YOU KNOW, A SPRAWL CODE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD, WE HEARD SOME SPEAKERS TALK ABOUT IT TODAY.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AS ARTICLES THAT HAVE MADE REFERENCE TO, YOU KNOW, THE INTERNET WAS ON FIRE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF SPRAWL.
IT'S BAD FOR AFFORDABILITY, IT'S BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR OUR INFAMOUS TRAFFIC.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT DETROIT, NOT THAT LONG AGO.
AND I SAT IN ON THIS CONVERSATION
[06:55:01]
THAT WAS SUPER INTERESTING.AND IT WAS BASICALLY, THEY WERE SAYING THEY COULDN'T DEPLOY EMERGENCY SERVICES TO THE SUBURBS.
THEY JUST COULDN'T AFFORD TO DO IT.
SO IT WAS A CITY THAT WAS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MOVE BACK TO CITY CENTER, UM, WHICH I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING AND JUST, I KEEP THINKING THROUGH, HOW DO WE MAKE, HOW DO WE APPLY THOSE SAME SORT OF PRINCIPLES HERE IN AUSTIN? IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY, BUT JUST THINKING THROUGH WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING THAT WE COULD DEPLOY HERE? UM, RECOGNIZING THAT AUSTIN IS FACING THIS TRIPLE THREAT AFFORDABILITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND FRANKLY, CLIMATE CATASTROPHE THAT EVERY YEAR GROWS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF OUTSIDERS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THIS IDEA THAT GROWTH WON'T HAPPEN.
I THINK SOME OF OUR, OUR SPEAKERS SPOKE TO THAT EARLIER REALLY, YOU KNOW, TOUCH ME CAUSE IT'S, IT'S THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
UM, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, OUR RESTRICTIVE ZONING THAT PRIORITIZES SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAS ONLY CREATED A SELLERS MARKET WHERE OUR LIMITED SUPPLY HOUSING, UM, GOES TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT PROSPECTORS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND WHO ARE ABLE TO BID THE HIGHEST.
UM, IT, IT FORCES YOUNG FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, AND WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS, UH, THE CREATIVE CLASSES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO THE SUBURBS, BUT THAT'S ALL ABOUT STOCK IN MY MIND'S EYE.
UM, AND I HAVEN'T TO DATE HEARD AN ARGUMENT THAT, THAT CONVINCES ME OTHERWISE.
I THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUSTAINABLY ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, ALL OVER THE CITY, UH, WITH THE RIGHT POLICY CHANGES, WE CAN EASE THE PRESSURE, UM, AS WE ALLOW MORE HOUSING AND ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY AND NEAR WHERE PEOPLE WORK.
AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT KEEPS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT ONE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, FAIR WAGES AND ACCESS TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUSLY COMES UP, YOU KNOW, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSING AND TRANSIT.
YOU KNOW, I'M FINDING THAT, THAT THIRD, I THINK SOMEBODY MADE REFERENCE TO A STOOL WITH THREE LEGS.
THAT THIRD LEG FOR US KEEPS COMING BACK TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WORKING IN, WHAT ARE THE WAGES THAT THEY'RE EARNING AND IT, EVERY TIME THAT WORK NEEDS TO BE NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH FOLKS CHERISH IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT LOVING YOUR CITY AND LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS, BUT TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN HAS TO DECIDE WHO'S INCLUDED AND WHO'S LEFT OUT.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN WE MAKE REFERENCE TO OUR BUDGET AS OUR MORAL DOCUMENT.
I THINK EVERYTHING WE DO AS A BODY, UM, IS TO SOME DEGREE, A TESTAMENT TO OUR, TO OUR MORALS AND TO OUR COMMITMENTS, TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, POLICY CHANGES THAT ALLOW MORE HOMES, UM, AND OPENS MORE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, TO CONVENIENCE, TO QUALITY OF LIFE, TO SCHOOLS AND JOBS AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS LIKE TRANSIT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO OUR SHARED COMMITMENTS AS A BODY AND AS A COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONSENSUS AS OF LATE REALLY HAD ME THINKING A LOT ABOUT HOW DO WE GET CLOSER TO, I WAS AT AN EVENT YESTERDAY THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN BUFFALO AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY SPEAKER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, THE GROUNDING ROOT WAS WE'RE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT.
AND I THINK VERY MUCH THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOUSING DON'T HAVE TO BE AS CONTENTIOUS AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE REACHED THAT TIPPING POINT WHERE THINGS ARE JUST TOO UGLY EVERYWHERE, AND YOU KNOW, THIS MUCH UGLINESS JUST CAN'T EXIST IN EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION BECAUSE YOU'RE SWINGING FOR THE FENCES EVERY TIME.
SO I THINK IF WE DO DIAL INTO WHERE WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME SHARED, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BOTTOM LINE, NON-NEGOTIABLE SPRAWL IS NOT GOOD, WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON.
AND SO, UM, I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE GET THERE AS A GROUP AND HOW WE GET THERE WITH LESS UGLINESS.
I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH OF THAT GOING AROUND TO LAST US A LIFETIME.
I WOULD SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, AND THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE KIND OF CONVERSATION.
UM, UM, I THINK, I THINK WE'RE HAVING AND THAT WE, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WADE THROUGH.
I, I AM POSITIVE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND WHAT WE WANT.
AND, UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS IN A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT VILIFYING EACH OTHER ON, I DON'T MEAN US.
I MEAN, AS A, AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE NOT ASSUMING ILL MOTIVES OR, OR, UH, DISCOUNTING PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
SO, UM, I'M PLEASED AT THE, THE KIND OF CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING SO FAR.
I EXPECT THAT THAT WILL, UH, CONTINUE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CAN DO.
[07:00:01]
AND SO, UM, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON, UM, THE QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POINTLESS ASK, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, THAT, UM, THAT I AM, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL TALKING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH MEMBERS IN MIKE, UH, COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY'RE IMPACTED, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A, IS A VERY GOOD PROPOSAL.YOU ALL HEARD EARLIER FROM ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, WHICH IS ELLIE MCKINNEY, AND SHE HELD THIS UP AND SHE SAID, THANK YOU.
AND SO THAT IS THE KIND OF COMMENTS I'M HEARING.
UH, WE DO NEED TO, I DO NEED TO DO MORE ANALYSIS OF COURSE, UH, TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S PARTICULAR THINGS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED, LIKE, LIKE, UH, LA MCKINNEY BROUGHT FORWARD.
AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE, THE ANGLE STREETS AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT ON THE WHOLE, I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS GOOD.
I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS SAID WITH REGARD TO, UM, UH, SOME REGULAR APPROACH TO, UM, TO ANALYZING WHAT, WHAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING AND ALSO APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA SAID IN TERMS OF WANTING TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION, SOME DATA, SOME WHAT, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND SO PART OF WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR FROM OUR STAFF IS AS WE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, AS THEY'RE RESPONDING TO US, WHATEVER DIRECTION WE GIVE THEM THAT THEY COME BACK AND LET US KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS THEIR CAPACITY FOR DOING THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS FOR US, WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLAN OUR CITY, WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING.
AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND WHAT DATA WHEN WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WHEN WE'RE NOT, BECAUSE WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS WE'RE ALL TALKING WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR BEST, YOU KNOW, THE BEST THAT WE CAN, BUT IT'S NOT BASED ON DATA A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN RIGHT NOW, UH, AND MOVING THAT DIRECTION.
SO I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION THEN ON WHAT WAS PROPOSED, THAT LOOKS, I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M READING IT RIGHT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE INCONSISTENT TO ME.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M READING IT RIGHT.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE, THE VISUAL ON PAGE FIVE, ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY ON QUARTER'S PROPOSAL, I SEE THE 25 FEET AS THE, I THINK THAT'S VISUAL AS INDICATING THAT 25 FOOT BUFFER.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE VARIOUS, UH STAIR-STEPPING AFTER THAT.
BUT THEN WHEN I LOOK ON PAGE FOUR, IT THERE'S A REFERENCE TO A 15 FEET.
SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE IT SAYS AT A 15 FOOT OR A 25 FOOT DISTANCE.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE, OR IS REFERENCING AND I'M NOT SURE.
AND THEN IT SAYS INCREASED THE 30 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT TO A 35 FOOT.
BUT THEN WHEN I LOOK AT THE, UM, THE CHART, IT HAS THE 35 FOOT STARTING AT 25 FEET, NOT AT 15.
SO IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT PRO TEM, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST.
AND THEN WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, I HAVE SOME OTHER COMMENTS AND OTHER STUFF.
SO, SO, AND THE, UM, THE CHART AT THE TOP OF PAGE THREE IS OUR CURRENT COMPATIBILITY, UM, WHICH HAS A PROVISO IF AT THE SITE IS LESS THAN 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
NO, I WAS TALKING TO THE CHART ON PAGE FIVE.
SAYING THAT THE, THE ORIGINAL, THE CHART ON PAGE THREE IS OUR CURRENT COMPATIBILITY, WHICH HAS THE, UM, 15 FOOT SETBACK, IF IT'S A SMALL LOT.
WE DID NOT MODEL THAT IN OUR LARGER, MEDIUM CORRIDOR EXAMPLES IN OUR DIAGRAM, BUT IT IS, IT IS RECEIVING THE, THE FIVE FOOT HEIGHT BUMP, DEPENDING ON, IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE.
SO WE'RE JUST SAYING, GIVEN EXISTING COMPATIBILITY, YOU GET FIVE FEET MORE.
AND IF IT WAS A SMALL LOT THAT IT HAD A 15 FOOT BACK THEN WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU KEPT MOVING, IT WOULD BE AT THOSE EXTRA FIVE FEET STEPS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE KEEPING THE CURRENT, UM, THE CURRENT YOU'RE KEEPING THE CURRENT SETBACK AND IN THE CASE OF SMALL LOTS, THAT'S CURRENTLY 15, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UM, THERE APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM,
[07:05:02]
REVIEWING THIS SET OF IDEAS AND GIVING FEEDBACK AND LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS.UM, I WANT TO MAKE SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN RAISED TO JUST MY OPINION ON WHY WE LANDED, WHERE WE DID, UM, IN OUR IDEAS.
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A DIOCESE AND FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROPOSAL OR THESE SET OF IDEAS IS NOT MEANT TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT WE DO TO INCREASE HOUSING IN OUR CITY, OR TO ALLOW FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IT WAS A, A SET OF QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED ABOUT HOW DO YOU INCREASE DENSITY ON THE CORRIDOR? AND WE DECIDED TO LOOK AT TWO PARTICULAR TOOLS.
UM, THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE WORKS TO ADD HOUSING, ADD OPPORTUNITIES FOR DENSITY AROUND OUR CITY.
WE PASSED AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE TODAY, WHICH WAS ADDING HEIGHT IN THE NORTH BURNETT GATEWAY AREA, WHICH IS UNDER A REGULATING PLAN.
AND IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL IT'S IN WEST AUSTIN.
AND THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING REZONING FOR FOUR DIFFERENT OR FIVE DIFFERENT UT PROPERTIES FOR THE FIVE OF WHICH ARE IN WEST AUSTIN.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOOLS WE HAVE IN THE WORKS, ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL IN COMMERCIAL WITH AN ONSITE AFFORDABILITY THAT WILL ALSO HAVE BIG POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO ADD HOUSING IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN WORKS.
LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WILL ADD HOUSING AROUND TOWN.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CORRIDORS, THE CORRIDORS ARE WHERE THE CORRIDORS ARE AT SOME LEVEL, UM, AND OTHER TOOLS MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF HAVING HOUSING.
IN OTHER PLACES, THEY MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEVER GOT AROUND TO, AND WHICH I WOULD THINK WOULD BE ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO LOOK AT, IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS, WHICH FAR WEST IS, IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTER, AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ENCOURAGED DENSITY IN A MATCH AUSTIN CENTER, BUT IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED AND IT TAKES A LOT MORE TIME, AND THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES TO THESE, UM, IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS.
SO IT BECOMES A MUCH MORE INVOLVED, UM, QUESTION AND NOT ONE THAT YOU CAN RESOLVE IN A QUICK WAY THAT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US WHO WAS IN OUR GROUP OF FIVE IS, UM, EXPECTING THAT THIS PROPOSAL ON ITS OWN IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE DOING.
UM, SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL CONCEPT MEMBER KITCHEN HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK, ENCOURAGING US TO DO SMALL AREA PLANNING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AREAS THAT ARE NOT ON THE CORRIDORS THAT ARE A BUNCH OF WAREHOUSES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, BUT ONE COULD IMAGINE TRYING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, AREAS THAT HAVE WAREHOUSES AND SAY, WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO TO SWITCH THAT OVER? NOW WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE SHORTAGE.
SO THAT MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AN IDEA AS IT WAS AT ONE POINT, BUT, BUT THERE, THERE ARE OPTIONS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT AT A LOT OF UNITS IN PLACES WHERE WE, WHERE WE WANT THEM.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA AND COUNCIL MEMBER FELLA MENTIONING THE RENDERINGS AND THE NEED FOR ILLUSTRATIONS.
WE WOULD HOPE TOTALLY SUPPORT THAT.
WE DID NOT WANT TO ASK STAFF TO START DOING RENDERINGS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A SENSE THAT THIS WAS A VALUABLE, UM, WAY FORWARD, UM, FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THINGS, UM, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE PARKING AND SUGGESTED WE NEED FEEDBACK.
I THINK THE REASON THAT WE HAVE A RANGE IS THAT WE FELT LIKE THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE BATTING AROUND WERE KIND OF ARBITRARY.
AND SO WE SORT OF PUT DOWN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE RANGE WE THINK IS IN THE RIGHT BALLPARK.
UM, BUT WE COULDN'T SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE 25% ON THE LARGER CORRIDORS AND YOU'D BE LIKE, WELL, HOW'D YOU GET THAT NUMBER? AND IT WAS HARD TO, WAS HARD TO PIN DOWN WHY OR WHAT, WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN 25 AND 50 ON THE, ON THE LARGER OR 50 AND 75 AND THE OTHER DIRECTION FOR THE MEDIUM.
AND SO WE PUT A RANGE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE, WHERE TO, WHERE TO PUT IT.
UM, BUT THE BROADER IDEA OF WE CAN HAVE MUCH LARGER PARKING REDUCTION REDUCTIONS ON A LARGER CORRIDOR THAN WE CAN ON A MEDIUM WAS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALL AGREE ON.
UM, AND IT WASN'T THAT WE EVEN ALL DISAGREED SO MUCH ON WHERE THE REDUCTIONS WERE.
WE JUST COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A CLEAR RATIONALE FOR A NUMBER.
SO WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T PUT A CLEAR NUMBER THERE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I JUST REALLY WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING A COMPREHENSIVE REWRITE WITH THIS, AND IF WE WERE, IT WOULD TAKE US YEARS TO DO.
[07:10:01]
IS TO DO THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE SIMPLY AND GET DONE QUICKLY.UM, AND THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, YOU KNOW, UM, IN A WAY THAT HAS MARGINAL DIFFERENCE.
I MEAN, I'M HEARING FEEDBACK FROM DEVELOPERS THAT THE SIMPLE CHANGE OF DOING FROM, YOU KNOW, ZONING TO USE FROM USE TO JUST ZONING IS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY BIG IMPACT ON A LOT OF CORRIDORS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY SENT ME A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHERE, WHERE THAT WILL HAPPEN.
UM, SO SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY SEEM SIMPLE.
THEY MAY SEEM LIKE NOTHING, BUT IN PARTICULAR CASES, THEY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE, BUT, UM, I DO WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A, UM, A RESOLUTION, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, TO BRING FORWARD RELATED TO THE, THE PLANNING CONCEPT, UH, THE DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING CONCEPT.
I INTEND TO BRING IT ON THE NINTH.
UM, IF PEOPLE NEED MORE TIME FROM THEM, WE CAN START THE CONVERSATION THEN AND HAVE MORE CONCRETE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE ON THE NINTH.
UH, BASICALLY THE POINT OF IT IS, IS THAT AS, AS MAYOR PRO TIM MENTIONED, THERE ARE AREAS IN OUR CITY THAT WE'VE ALREADY DESIGNATED, UM, AS NEEDING SOME PLANNING, THESE ARE TOWN CENTERS, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED ON OUR IMAGINE AUSTIN, UM, PLAN.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A PATH TO COMPREHENSIVELY LOOK AT THOSE, THERE'VE BEEN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT EFFORTS, BUT NOT A, NOT A PATH.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT PATH.
UM, AND, AND, UM, AND START DOWN THAT ROAD.
SO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, I'LL BE BRINGING THAT, AND IF OTHERS ARE INTERESTED, I'LL POST IT ON A MESSAGE BOARD.
IF OTHERS ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND I, ON THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LET US KNOW.
UM, AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE DOING, IF YOU COULD PUBLISH SOMETHING BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, THAT WOULD STILL BE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE NINTH.
SO IF YOU COULD GET SOMETHING OUT NEXT WEEK SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT IT, ASK QUESTIONS, MAYBE WE CAN GET FROM, FROM, FROM HERE TO THERE.
SO I'D URGE YOU TO TRY AND GET SOMETHING UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CAN SEE IT.
BUT THAT'S I, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU THAT KIND OF SMALL AREA PLANNING IS SOMETHING ALSO THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COLLECTIVELY AS, AS A GOOD THING FOR US TO BE DOING.
IT'LL BE OUT BY THAT TIME WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
THAT'S WHY THAT, AND I ALSO EARLIER TODAY DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT OR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WERE KIND OF PUSHING ON, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT KIND OF THE STATUS QUO BASICALLY KIND OF SAYING LIKE, NO, WE DON'T NEED TO DO, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THOSE THINGS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS IF WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, LIFT SOME OF THE, THE STRICT KIND OF RULES THAT WE HAVE REGARDING HOUSING IN AUSTIN, UH, OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE LIMITED.
I MEAN, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE KIND OF UNLIMITED FUNDS TO TAP IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR BOND CAPACITY IS LIMITED.
OUR BUDGET IS LIMITED BY THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAPS.
UH, WE CAN NOT DO INCLUSIONARY ZONING AGAIN, THE STATE, YOU KNOW, CAUSE OUR HANDS ON THAT, UH, WE CAN'T DO RENT CONTROL.
YOU KNOW, THE STATE TIES OUR HANDS ON THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX, UH, FROM AUSTIN'S PERSPECTIVE.
AGAIN, I FULLY SUPPORT KIND OF PASSING AS MANY, YOU KNOW, $300 MILLION HOUSING BOND EVERY TWO YEARS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
I THINK WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO THAT, BUT THAT ALONE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OF THE STRICTEST COMPATIBILITY RULES IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, WE HAVE A VERY HIGH, UH, MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND WE HAVE A VERY, YOU KNOW, COMPLEX ZONING AND PERMITTING PROCESS.
UH, AND, AND SO I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TO HOW MANY LEVERS DO WE HAVE TO KIND OF TWIST AND TURN.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF AT THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON THAT KIND OF COMPATIBILITY KIND OF LOT SIZE KIND OF PERMITTING THE SITE PLANS, LIKE THOSE KINDS OF, UH, LEVERS.
I JUST, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, I GUESS THE QUESTION I WOULD POSE IS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THEN ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS AND HOW DO WE BRING DOWN RENTS GIVEN THE LIMITED TOOLS, THE CITY HOUSE? YEAH, I THINK COLLECTIVE CUSTOMER ELLIS.
OH, I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND BEFORE WE GOT TOO FAR OFF THE PARKING DISCUSSION.
I DO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA'S COMMENTS ON THAT.
UM, AND THE WAY THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD, HAD BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN OUR SUB CORE AND WE HADN'T SPENT A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TRYING TO NARROW DOWN EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I JUST CAN'T HELP.
BUT THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE LIGHT RAIL RUNNING
[07:15:01]
THROUGH THE CITY TO DIFFERENT LINES OF LIGHT RAIL, UM, THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT ARE WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.HOW DO I PENCIL OUT THAT PROJECT? HOW DO I BUILD SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND TOWN WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD TO THE CONGESTION THAT WE CURRENTLY SEE RIGHT NOW? UM, AND I HAVE TO GIVE A VERY SHAMELESS PLUG THAT TOMORROW IS BIKE TO WORK DAY.
SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT USING YOUR VEHICLES, I DIDN'T WANT THE EVENING TO GET AWAY FROM US WITHOUT SHOWING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE DOING THESE IMPROVEMENTS BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND, AND BUILDING THE BONDS, UM, AND THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, RIGHT-SIZING WHERE THAT HOUSING CAPACITY IS AVAILABLE AND WHERE IT'S BUILT.
UM, BECAUSE WE WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THIS CITY AND NOT NEED TO USE A CAR FOR EVERY SINGLE TRIP THAT THEY EVER USE.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS EXERCISE IS HOPEFULLY AIMED AT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, KIND OF THE TENDER NATURE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE TO DIFFERENT PLACES PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAN WHERE WE WERE THREE YEARS AGO.
UM, I THINK WE'RE, EVERYBODY'S TRYING NOT TO REPLAY WHERE WERE BEFORE SO THAT WE KEEP CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD AND ADVANCE, BUT WE ALL SEE NOW, I MEAN, EVERY DAY WE'RE LOSING PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED AS THEY NEED TO DEVELOP UNDER OUR CURRENT RULES.
AND AS THEY DEVELOP, WELL, THEY WON'T COME BACK AND WE'RE LOSING THOSE.
BUT I ALSO THINK, AND I REALLY LIKE THE MAYOR PRO TIM'S COMMENT THAT THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION WE NEED TO BE DOING AS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AS WE CAN.
UM, BUT TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON BMU TO ON JUNE 9TH WHEN THAT COMES BACK TO US AND THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US IN ORDINANCE FORM AND, AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
UH, I HOPE THAT THERE ARE SOME, UH, IFCS FOR US TO CONSIDER ON JUNE 9TH THAT WILL DIRECT THE STAFF TO COME BACK TO US IN SEPTEMBER, UH, WITH, UM, UM, UM, ORDINANCES THAT WE CAN THEN CONSIDER, UH, AT THAT POINT THAT, UH, COME BACK, UH, TO COUNCIL AND THAT TIMING IS CONCERNS, COMPATIBILITY, AND PARKING, UM, MINIMUM RELAXATIONS FOR THOSE LARGER AND MEDIUM, UH, CORRIDORS.
HOWEVER IT IS, WE, WE ULTIMATELY, UH, DEFINE THEM, UM, UH, TRACKS THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AFFORDABILITY BENEFITS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING BASED IN, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, THAT WE HAVE A POTENTIAL OF BEING ABLE TO, TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT TIMING, LET IT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS SUMMER AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT GET BACK TO US IN, IN SEPTEMBER SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IF THERE'S A WAY FOR SMALL AREA PLANNING TO FIT WITHIN THAT.
THAT THAT'D BE GREAT TOO, IF THERE'S, IF THAT FITS.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE, WE KIND OF OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE WE'RE ALL STILL GATHERED TOGETHER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WE HAVE HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS FOR VARYING NUMBERS OF YEARS, DEPENDING ON WHO WE ARE.
UM, BUT I THINK, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THINGS THAT THAT WILL BE, UH, UH, INCREMENTAL BENEFIT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT TO TALK, DISCUSS ON THIS TOPIC? YES.
AN COUNSELOR, JUST THE LAST QUICK COMMENT.
WITH BMU TWO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ON JUNE 9TH TO, TO VOTE FOR THAT IT'S READY.
UM, AND, UM, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE WITH THAT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU POST THE MOST UP-TO-DATE VERSION FOR VMU TO FROM STAFF AND FROM WHAT YOUR PROGRAM IT'S IN, IT'S IN THE BACK-UP IT'S POSTED TO ITEM 48.
I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT UP BACK ON.
I CAN LOOK AT 40 AND IT IT'S, IT'S POSTED WITHOUT HIM 48.
THEN LET'S MOVE AWAY FROM THIS ITEM.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE LEFT TO COVER OR COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO MAKE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND, AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THOSE COMMENTS, THEN WE'RE DONE FOR THE, UH, EVENING.
UH, SO I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COMMENT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT IN.
CAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 38 THAT WE PASSED EARLIER TODAY, UH, THIS ITEM IS THE FINAL IN THE SERIES OF LIFEGUARD RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
UM, AFTER WE PASSED A RESOLUTION IN MARCH, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RAISED HOURLY PAID A $16 AN HOUR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATE IN THE REGION.
[07:20:01]
TO A $1,250 IN BONUSES AND FREE BUS PASSES.THEY'VE WAIVED UNIFORM FEES, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH YOUNGER LIFEGUARDS TO PLACE THEM AT POOLS NEAR THEIR HOMES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR KIDS TO AND FROM WORK TODAY'S ITEM WAVES, THE WAVE, THE TRAINING FEES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN REQUIRED DURING THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AS OF LAST WEEK, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAD REPORTED RECEIVING MORE THAN 600 LIFEGUARD APPLICATIONS, BUT ONLY ABOUT 30 OF THOSE ARE TRAINED AND READY TO GO TO WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED 750 LIFEGUARDS TOTAL TO BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL OF OUR POOLS TO FULL CAPACITY THIS SUMMER.
I KNOW SOME OF OUR LIFEGUARDS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR $22 AN HOUR, AND I KNOW WE WOULD ALL REALLY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT WE ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
AND SO I KNOW THE CONVERSATION AROUND SALARIES AND PAY, UM, AND POSITIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY HERE.
UM, HOWEVER, WITH THE BONUSES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED WITH THE ONE-TIME FUNDING, THIS IS EFFECTIVELY GOING TO GET A LOT OF THE LIFEGUARDS INTO THAT RANGE INTO THE TWENTIES OR SO BY THE TIME YOU ADD IN THE MID-YEAR BONUS OF 500 AND THE END OF YEAR COMPLETION BONUS OF 500, AND THEN IF YOU GET OPEN WATER CERTIFIED, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $250 TO BE GIVEN THERE.
I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET OUR POOLS OPEN, INCLUDING DICK NICHOLS POOL, WHICH IS THE ONLY PUBLIC POOL THAT'S FULLY INSIDE DISTRICT DATE.
AND IT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
MY ASK OF MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE WATCHING IS TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD, THINK OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, OR RETIREES ANYONE WITH EXTRA TIME OVER THE SUMMER TO HELP GET TRAINED UP.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET INTO A PUBLIC SAFETY FIELD AND ESSENTIALLY BECOME A FIRST RESPONDER THROUGH THE TRAINING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THE PERIOD PRODUCTS ITEMS 88 AND 89.
COUNCIL MEMBER FONTEZ FOR BRINGING THESE FORWARD.
I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR AND WITH THE EXTREMISM OF THE STATE, THE STATE OF TEXAS RIGHT NOW IN THE SUPREME COURT, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER LOCALLY TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CHOICES AND PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT FULLY SUPPORTS ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE AND FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS AS FOR ITEM NUMBER 94 THAT HAD THE CODE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY PROJECTS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY MENTION, UM, THAT THERE ARE STILL DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING ABOUT CODES AND ORDINANCES SPECIFICALLY AROUND PROJECT CONNECT.
SO WHILE THESE WERE MORE MOBILITY FOCUSED FOR VOTER APPROVED BONDS, I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF LANGUAGE THAT WAS ABLE TO BE INCLUDED FOR THINGS LIKE RAIL.
UM, BUT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SUITE OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND CODE AND ORDINANCE CHANGES SPECIFICALLY AROUND THAT.
SO I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THAT, UM, IS STILL COMING.
AND THEN ON ITEM NUMBER 31, WE APPROVED, UM, THE ABILITY TO DO SELF REMOVABLE REMOVABLE CAR BOOTS.
UM, THIS IS A NEW INCENTIVE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH MOBILITY COMMITTEE, AND IT'S A REALLY CREATIVE WAY THAT IF A CAR HAS TO BE BOOTED, THERE IS A WAY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO PAY THE FINE AND GET THE BOOT OFF THEIR CAR IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT AROUND FOR A TECHNICIAN TO COME AND DO IT FOR THEM.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ON THE BACKEND WITH TRANSPORTATION STAFF AND WITH THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, AND SO SIMILAR TO THE WAY THAT WE HAD DONE SOME, UH, CHANGES TO THE WAY THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION AND WATERSHED SPECIFICALLY IS ABLE TO RECONNECT SCOOTERS THAT END UP IN PLACES THEY SHOULDN'T BE BACK WITH THE OWNERS AND THE COMPANIES, UM, THAT THOSE SCOOTERS BELONG TO.
UM, I'M STILL JUST GOING TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THESE SELF REMOVABLE BOOTS, WHICH I THINK ARE A GREAT WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, SUPPORTED THE ITEM FULLY.
UM, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF, IF THE COMPANY IS MISSING THEIR PRODUCT, THAT WE HAVE SOME COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ENDING UP WITH THOSE ENDING UP IN THE WATERWAYS AS WELL.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, UH, TECHNOLOGY ROLLING OUT AND, AND WISH THE COMPANY LUCK IN, IN PROVIDING THAT SERVICE A LOT OF GOOD WORK TODAY AS R KELLY, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 37 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY THAT WE ALL APPROVED.
IT WAS A FEE WAIVER THAT REIMBURSES FEES FOR THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL PARADE THAT WAS HELD ON MAY 1ST, 20, 22.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY, WHO ALL UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO CO-SPONSOR ALONG WITH ME.
UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR, FOR ME TO SEE IT WARMS MY HEART, BUT I KNOW IT ALSO MAKES OUR POLICE OFFICERS FEEL VERY SUPPORTED.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW EVERY YEAR, THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S PARADE, MEMORIAL CEREMONY AND TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL ARE HELD ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS AT THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL WALL.
THE MORE MORAL MARCH FOR WHICH THESE FEES DIRECTLY PAY FOR THE ASSOCIATED COSTS INCLUDES HONOR GUARD TEAMS, PIPE, AND DRUM CORPS, MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS, AND BICYCLE OFFICERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE WHO MARCHED THE CAPITOL IN REMEMBRANCE
[07:25:01]
OF OFFICERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SELFLESSLY OVER THE PAST YEAR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL'S MISSION IS TO HONOR ALL PEACE OFFICERS WHO'VE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND GIVE FELLOW OFFICERS THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONIES HELD IN HONOR OF THE FALLEN.I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THIS BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY TO PAY MY RESPECTS.
MY OFFICE HAS DONATED THE FULL FUNDS FOR THIS FEE WAIVER IN THE AMOUNT OF $755.
I BELIEVE IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE SHOW SUPPORT.
AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT.
UM, AS THEIR FAMILIES GO THROUGH THE WORST IMAGINABLE SITUATION POSSIBLE ONE LAST NOTE, UM, THIS JUST CAME UP.
SO I WANTED TO JUST REITERATE THIS POINT.
I'VE BECOME AWARE OF SIM SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS FROM A TRUSTED REPORTER REPORTER IN OUR CITY ABOUT ITEM 85 RELATED TO THE RENOVATIONS AT PECAN GARDENS.
AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WATCHING THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE ITEM WITH MY DIRECTION DID NOT INCLUDE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT AS IT WAS BEING REPORTED.
THAT PIECE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN JUNE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR APPROVING MY ADDED DIRECTION AND AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE CLEAR THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ALREADY OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY RELATED TO THE PROPERTY.
I'M JUST WANTING TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE COLLEAGUES FOR PASSING THE HOUR, FIGHT BACK FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AGENDA.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT SENDING A STRONG, CLEAR MESSAGE HERE LOCALLY IN AUSTIN, THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO REPRODUCT, TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DECISIONS.
UM, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT NO ONE SHOULD FACE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON YOUR REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES IN YOUR HOUSING OR AN EMPLOYMENT.
I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEE THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF OUR MENSTRUAL EQUITY ITEM BY PROVIDING FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN SELECT CITY SITES.
THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY IN ENSURING THAT WE DE-STIGMATIZE, UM, MENSTRUATING AND, AND, UM, HALF THE POPULATION DOES IT, AND CERTAINLY WE WANT TO REDUCE BARRIERS.
AND SO I'M VERY, I'M EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PASS THAT.
UM, WE KNOW THAT OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY RIGHT NOW.
UM, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
AND SO COMING FORWARD AND ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION AND BRINGING FORWARD POLICY OF SUBSTANCE IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
SO I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR THE SENIOR TELEGRAM AND THANK MAYOR ADLER FOR RUNNING LATE SO THAT IT WAS AN ATRIUM AND NOT IN CHAMBERS.
ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, UH, ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, EITHER THERE WERE JUST SO MANY GOOD THINGS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PILOT, I WAS EXCITED TO SEE, UH, THE INITIAL WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THAT WAS DONE BY DR.
PRINCE IN MY OFFICE GOING BACK, UH, EIGHT YEARS AGO.
UH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS WORK ON THAT AT THE TIME TO, TO, TO, TO KIND OF SET THAT IN MOTION AND HELP ORGANIZED WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS ALREADY ORGANICALLY HAPPENING AND, AND MOVE IT OVER.
HOW'D YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND HIS EFFORTS FOR THAT, UH, THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
UH, I LOVE THE DIRECTION TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT IS EVEN MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR FOLKS, BUT WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
SO IF EMPLOYERS ARE LISTENING, LISTENING CAN CREATE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS OR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. UH, WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF THAT FOR OUR STUDENTS, UH, IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, THANK YOU, THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, I THINK ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ITEMS, 35, 88 AND 89, DEALING WITH, UH, UM, UH, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND, AND, AND, AND ACCESS, UH, FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
94, THE PUBLIC MOBILITY PROJECT CODE AMENDMENTS, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE REAL SIGNIFICANT.
AND IN, IN, IN FINDING THOSE APPROPRIATE BALANCES FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR VALUES ARE MOVING FORWARD AND IN A WAY THAT ENABLES US TO MOVE FORWARD ON REALLY BIG, UM, UH, UH, HORIZONTAL, UM, UH, PROJECTS.
AND WE NEED TO FIND EVEN MORE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE LIFEGUARD SITUATION, BUT I'M HAPPY WE DID SOMETHING, UH, THAT I, I PRO TIME.
UM, CHECKSTAND AND INVITATION TO THE DIOCESE TO COME TO AN EXHIBIT OPENING TOMORROW AT CITY HALL.
UM, THE OPENING IS FROM FOUR TO SEVEN.
THE REMARKS WILL BE ABOUT FIVE IT'S FOR THE OFFENSIVE BILLION CONSERVATION CORPS, UH, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT WE LAUNCHED IN 2020 AS A PANDEMIC RESPONSE PROGRAM THAT HAS TRANSITIONED TO BE, UH, A PROGRAM TO HELP WITH EQUITABLE PATHWAYS FOR GREEN JOBS.
UM, AND SO WE WILL BE TALKING, UM, YOU GET TO HEAR FROM CORE
[07:30:01]
MEMBERS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE MORE ABOUT THE THINKING PROCESS THAT'S GOING ON FOR THESE EQUITABLE GREEN JOBS, UM, WHICH WAS A CORE TENANT OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN THAT WE PASSED.UM, THE EXHIBIT ITSELF WILL BE UP ALL WEEK.
UM, BUT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO COME, UM, SOMETIME BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN, WITH THE REMARKS ABOUT FIVE, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW.
AND IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT I DON'T REMEMBER FIVE ACTUALLY WAS POSTPONED.
WE DIDN'T PASS IT TODAY, CAUSE IT ISN'T QUITE READY.
SO I'LL REPEAT THAT AGAIN ON JUNE 9TH.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, UH, EXHAUSTED OUR DAY.
UH, WE'VE HANDLED EVERYTHING A LOT OF HARD WORK TODAY.
UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UH, CONSTRUCTIVE PARTICIPATION HERE.
UH, AND WITH THAT AT, UH, SEVEN 40, UH, THIS COUNCIL MEETING IS ADJOURNED.