[00:00:01]
[Call to Order]
AND A HALF WORTH OF SPEAKERS.SO WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO SPEAKERS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THROUGH SPEAKERS AND THEN, UM, HANDLE THE, IDENTIFIED THE POLL ITEMS ON CONSENT AND VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE BREAK FOR LUNCH SO WE CAN LET STAFF, UM, WE CAN LET STAFF GO CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ON ITEMS. 2, 3, 4 20 30, 2 34 38 AND 40 ON JULY 20TH, 22.
THERE'S A RECOMMENDED BY WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A 7 0 3 ABSENCES IN ONE VACANCY ITEM.
NUMBER NINE IS IN DISTRICT NINE.
ITEMS 2 23 24 25, 26, 27, 28, 41 43 44 45 46 AND 47 ON JULY 18TH, 2022 RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON THE NINE OF NINE OH VOTE WITH ONE COMMISSIONER ABSENT, ONE VACANCY.
I HAD A NUMBER 30 JULY 18TH, 2022 RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON THE 7 0 1 VOTE, UH, WITH ONE COMMISSIONER SUSTAINING ONE COMMISSIONER OFF THE DYESS AND ONE PERMISSION OR ABSENT IN ONE VACANCY, JULY 31ST.
I MEAN ITEM NUMBER 31 ON JULY 20TH, 2022 RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON THE SIX O VOTE WITH CHEERLY RECUSING WITH THREE ABSENCES IN ONE VACANCY, BY THE WAY.
AND I DON'T THINK I SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING.
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY IS THURSDAY, JULY 28TH, 2022.
UH, IT IS, UH, 10 0 8 WHEN WE BEGAN AND, UH, WE'RE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE HAVE CORUM, UH, WITH US, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UM, UH, 35 ON JULY 20TH, 2022 RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION WITH DIRECTION TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION PRIOR TO EXECUTING THE EXTENSIONS ON THE SEVEN OH VOTE WITH THREE ABSENCES, ONE VACANCY ITEMS, 36 AND 37 ON JULY 20TH, 2022 RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION SIX OH, VOTE ONE COMMISSIONER REFUSING, THREE VACANCIES.
WHY THREE ABSENCES AND ONE VACANCY ITEM NUMBER 94.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS HAS, UH, JOINED AS A, UM, UH, SPONSOR.
AND I'M NOT SURE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS THAT COLLECTIVELY AS A DIOCESE, WE CONGRATULATED YOU ON GETTING MARRIED DURING THE BREAK.
WE RECOGNIZE BIRTHDAYS AND THE LIKE, UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT ITEM NINE AND 99 POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022 ITEM ONE 12 IS IN DISTRICT NINE AT 1 21 POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022.
I HAD A NUMBER 1 47 A IS IN THE WEST BOLDEN WATERSHED, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT THREE.
ITEM NUMBER 1 48 IS IN DISTRICT THREE.
UH, WE HAVE SOME PULLED ITEMS TODAY.
ITEM FOUR, PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLIS ITEMS, NINE, 10, AND 11 ARE PULLED SO THEY CAN BE HEARD AFTER ITEMS 1 11, 1 12, AND ONE 13 ITEM 61 IS POLLED.
SO IT CAN BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER WITH ONE 19 AND 1 33, 1 75 PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY I'VE PULLED ITEM NUMBER 92, 1 68 HAS BEEN PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MADISON.
I HAVE PULLED ITEMS 180 2 AND 180 9.
AND ONE 90 HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY AND MYSELF.
WE HAVE LATE BACKUP, UH, AND, UH, ITEM 10 61 65, 86, 89 92, 1 0 3, 1 14 1 16 1 17 1 18 1 19 1 21 24, 1 28, 1 31 31, 1 32, 1 33, 1 36, 1 37, 1 41, 1 42, 1 46, 1 47, 1 48, 1 51 53, 1 59, 1 63, 1 64 AND 1 67.
WE ALSO HAVE LAID BACK UP IN THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ITEM.
NUMBER TWO, IF YOU ALL COULD HELP ME REMEMBER THAT.
SO WHEN WE GET OVER TO THAT AGENDA, I CAN READ THAT INTO THAT
[00:05:01]
RECORD AT THAT TIME.UM, IT SAYS I HAVE PULLED, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE EXPEDIENT IF WE JUST POSTPONED IT TILL SEPTEMBER 1ST.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS STAFF IS OKAY WITH THIS POSTPONEMENT.
I JUST HAD LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS AND WANTED TO SORT THOSE.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, BEING POSTPONED TILL SEPTEMBER 1ST? UM, UH, AND MORGAN IS INDICATED STAFF'S OKAY WITH THAT HEARING NONE.
ANY OBJECTION TO IT BEING POSTPONED HEARING? NO OBJECTION.
I REMEMBER FOUR IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER, MARIA, GO AHEAD.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE ALSO BEEN OUT OF TOWN.
I WENT TO WASHINGTON DC TO LOBBY FOR MORE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL METRO.
AND I JUST GOT BACK LAST NIGHT FROM SOUTHFIELD WITH OUR SISTER CITY, AND I WANT TO PULL ITEM 70, HAD TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THIS ITEM AND I POSTPONED IT TO, I WANT TO POSTPONE IT TO THE NEXT WEEK TO OUR NEXT, TO, TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
I BELIEVE IT IN SEPTEMBER 1ST, SEPTEMBER 1ST? YES.
AND THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 70, CORRECT.
SO I REMEMBER SEVENTIES, YOU GOING TO GET PULLED WELL, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT OUR FAIRS.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WHOSE WOULD BE THE INTERESTED PARTY IN THAT COUNTING THE BROS, THAT THE ITEM THAT STARTED AS AN IFC THAT HAS COME BACK TO US, THIS IS THE RENAMING OF THE PAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING THAT THIS IS A SEPARATE PERSON? I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS CHANCE TO WORK ON IT HEARING.
THAT ITEM IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM NUMBER 94.
THAT'S THE ONE RELATED TO THE, UM, MUSIC VENUES AND THE PROPOSAL FOR INITIATING AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SO I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE REFLECT THAT IN THE MINUTES? ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE START ON SPEAKERS, COUNCILOR TOVO, UM, MAYOR I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE 91, AND I THINK THE RECORD ALREADY REFLECTS THAT I REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT OF 99 AS WELL.
BOTH OF THEM ARE MY ITEMS 91 AND 99.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST, AND I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH STAFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF ON ITEM 44 TO LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT POSTPONING THAT ITEM.
AND I APOLOGIZE WITH THIS WEEK'S AGENDA JUST HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIVE INTO IT.
UM, THE STAFF ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARD BRINGING THOSE CONTRACTS IN-HOUSE UM, BUT I REALLY NEED TO JUST HAVE A MINUTE TO TALK THROUGH WITH THEM, WHETHER THIS IS THE OUTCOME WE NEED AND, AND WHAT KIND OF TIMING IT IS.
UM, SO YOU'RE PULLING ITEMS NUMBER 91 AND 98.
AND THEN YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ON WHICH NUMBER, UM, MAYOR, I'M SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION, BUT NO 99 IS ALREADY POSTPONED.
IT'S ON THE POSTPONEMENT LIST AND I AM ALSO GOING TO POSTPONE MY IFC 91.
I'M POSTPONING 91 AND I AM, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE 44, BUT I'M INVITING STAFF TO JUST REACH OUT IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING ITEM NUMBER 91 AS WELL? HOPPER, MADISON? UM, I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.
CAN YOU REMIND ME REAL QUICK? WHICH ITEM IS NUMBER 91? I DO.
ONE IS THE, UH, HISTORIC ZONING, UH, DISTRICT FOR A E OR SIXTH STREET.
AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO POSTPONE THE ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS REQUESTING POSTPONEMENT OF THAT ITEM.
UM, IT STAFF OR THE PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE ITEM.
ARE THEY COMFORTABLE WITH THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST COUNCIL MEMBER? IT'S MY, IT'S MY, UM, IT'S THE RESOLUTION I BROUGHT FORWARD.
SO I'M SO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT TO CLARIFY THAT ANYBODY WHO WAS A STAKEHOLDER IN THE PROCESS HAD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
POSTPONING THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, HEARING NINE ITEM NUMBER 91 IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
NUMBER 99 IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AND THEN I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOBO YOU HAD QUESTIONS ON WHICH NUMBER
[00:10:01]
BRINGING CONTRACT INSIDE.UM, IF IT WAS JUST 44, BUT IF, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN IT COMES UP, IF MY, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN RESOLVE IT AND JUST POSTPONE IT SO THAT STAFF DON'T HAVE TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT ANSWER.
BUT IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS, WELL, I WILL REACH OUT TO STAFF, BUT JUST KNOW THAT I AM ASKING STAFF, UM, IF WE COULD PASS ON THAT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LEAVING IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO SPEAK UP OR LET US KNOW IF WE AT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, DID, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.
DID YOU ALSO MENTION ITEM 99 OR AM I, AM I HEARING I DID, BUT IT'S ALREADY ON CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS AS A POSTPONEMENT 99.
WE'LL BE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST ON THE CONSENT, UH, VOTE.
UH, WITH THOSE, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, UH, ASKED FOR A SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN HOUSE, UH, UH, ABLE TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY IS, UH, THE SOUTH, UH, IS THE, UH, STATESMAN POD, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION ON IT, UH, AVAILABLE TO, TO BE SPOKEN TO TODAY WOULD BE THE LICENSE PLATE READER, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE TAKING ANY, UH, ACTION ON THAT ABLE TO BE SPOKEN TO TODAY IS THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, UH, ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, BUT WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY ACTION ON THAT.
UH, EITHER, UH, COLLEAGUES THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTRACT, UM, UH, FU UH, REPLACEMENT FOR FRONT STEPS IN, UH, TO TWO LOCATIONS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY, UH, UH, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING BY THE STAKEHOLDERS AND DIRECTOR STIRRUP, UH, DIANA GRAY, UM, AND, UM, UM, UM, THE STAKEHOLDERS, UH, JP CONNELLY, UH, AND OTHERS, UH, I'LL BE BRINGING, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THOSE TWO THAT REFLECT THE AGREEMENT, UH, OF THAT GROUP ON, UH, SOME DIRECTION THAT WILL ENABLE THOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, ALL THEIR SUPPORT.
AND I JUST MENTIONED THAT TO THE, TO THE SPEAKERS AS WELL.
THAT'S OUR POOL WILL THAT AMENDMENT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE IDENTIFICATION AND THE UNIFORMS AND THE, UM, REEMPLOYMENT OF EXISTING, UH, UH, IT ADDRESSES THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE RAISED, WHICH INCLUDES THE REEMPLOYMENT ISSUE.
IT DOESN'T ADDRESS UNIFORMS. AND THAT WAS A PIECE THAT I BROUGHT ON TUESDAY AND OUR WORK SESSION THAT I THINK OUR STAFF HAD INDICATED COULD BE INCLUDED INTO THE CONTRACT THAT THE UNIFORMS GO TO IDENTIFICATION, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED HAVING EMPLOYEES NAMES LIKE A NAME BADGE SO THAT IT COULD BE EASILY IDENTIFIED.
SO BETWEEN NOW AND THAT COMING UP, LET US DOUBLE BACK AND SEE IF EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH US ADDING THAT IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON THAT, SHOOT IT OVER.
OTHERWISE WE'LL TRY TO FASHION SOME AND WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE.
AND I THINK DIRECTOR STIRRUP HAD, HAD FIGURED THAT OUT.
I DON'T, CAN I SEE ACM HAYDEN HOWARD HAS GIVEN US A THUMBS UP ON IT.
WE'LL TRY TO INCLUDE THAT IN THAT WE WILL INCLUDE THAT, UH, JANINE, IF YOU WOULD.
UM, FINALLY COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THIS IS, UH, JANINE CLARK'S, UH, LAST, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH US.
UH, HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SIDES ON THE, ON THE DAY IS REFLECTING THE WORK SHE DOES WITH OTHER OFFICES.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT NONE OF YOUR SIZE ARE AS LOUD OR AUDIBLE AS MINE IS, UH, TO, TO LOSE HER, UH, STARTED OUT AS A, AS A VISTA, UM, UM, JOINED THE STAFF AND HAS JUST BEEN INVALUABLE, REALLY RISEN THROUGH THE, KIND OF THE RANKS IN, UH, COUNCIL, UH, AND MAYOR OFFICE, UH, SUPPORT, UH, IS MOVING ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, UH, NOW, UM, UM, BUT JANINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR HELPING ME AND FOR HELPING EVERYBODY ON THIS DIET.
LET'S GO, UM, MAYOR JUST QUICKLY, UM, ON THE, UM, UH, THE DIRECTION OR AMENDMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHICH IT IS.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT OUT YET
[00:15:01]
FOR US TO LOOK SOMEWHERE YET.THE ONE YOU'RE WORKING ON IS IT JUST CAME OUT IN AN EMAIL.
AND MAYOR, WE WILL ADD TO THAT ONE, THE LAST POINT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO ITEM 100, THE STATEMENT REGARDING THE DOBBS, UH, AND THE, UH, OTHER RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AS A CO-SPONSOR.
IF THE CLERIC WOULD REFLECT THAT AS WELL, CO-SPONSORING ITEM NUMBER 100 S I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED ON THAT ITEM.
OKAY, CATHERINE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 4)]
LET'S GO TO SPEAKERS.PLEASE START WITH THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
UH, MEANING THE COMMUNITY WILL KNOW ME, HAS GUMBO, AND I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS.
I CALL YOU TODAY AS THE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND IT'S A PROUD MEMBER OF ASKED ME 16, 24, AND OFTEN DSA ASKED YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEMS, 54 AND 1 0 3.
I MOVED TO AUSTIN ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO FROM NEW ORLEANS, THE PROMISE OF A BETTER LIFE.
I DELIBERATELY CHOSE TO WORK FOR THIS GREAT CITY RATHER THAN WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT THE CITY IS ONLY AS GREAT AS HOW EXPENSIVE BUDGET AND PRIORITIZING OVER POLICING AND TECHNOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE, NOT GREATNESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, NEW ORLEANS HAS LONG BEEN THE PLAYGROUND FOR TESTING NEW SURVEILLANCE, POLICING TECHNOLOGIES, LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN 2018, I CAN VIEW INTO BACKYARDS AND EVEN PEOPLE'S HOUSES, AND IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATE OF ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPRISONED BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TWICE.
THIS IS WHAT AUSTIN WANTS TO EMULATE BECAUSE GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALREADY GETS 38% OF THE BUDGET.
IT'S HOW YOU START DOWN THIS STEEP AND SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS EXTREME SURVEILLANCE AND OVER BELIEFS.
SOMETHING THAT AUSTIN ALREADY STRUGGLES WITH.
I THINK THE HB 1900 THAT'S MONEY THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK BY OTHER PROGRAMS VOTE NO ON ITEMS, 54 AND 1 0 3.
LINDSEY IGNITE TILE SKI ON ITEMS. 54 62, 1 0 3 AND ONE 90.
HI, MY NAME IS LINDSAY IGNATOWSKI SHE? THEY PRONOUNS.
I LIVE IN TEMPLE DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M A MEMBER OF DSA.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M CALLING SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 1.4 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR THE BLUE SANTE, WHICH IS REALLY JUST, UM, A PROPAGANDA TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD ABOUT POLICE AND MAKE US FEEL LIKE THEY CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN WHEN AFTER YOU'VE ALL DAY, WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S ANYTHING.
BUT, UM, I THINK IF WE REALLY WANT TO HELP CHILDREN AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, THERE ARE MUCH BETTER AND LESS PROPAGANDIZING WAYS THAT WE COULD SPEND 1.4 MILLION TO ACTUALLY MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
UM, SO THE OTHER THING IS WITH THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS, UM, THIS IS A DANGEROUS TOOL OF RACISM.
THEATER SHOWS THAT THESE DO NOT ACTUALLY POSITIVELY AFFECT, UH, CRIME OUTCOMES OR SOLVING CRIMES.
IT'S A FORM OF TECHNOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SAY THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION AND NOT THE, LIKE THE REST OF TEXAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN SAY THAT WHEN THEN WE TURN AND WE TALK ABOUT SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY TO GIVE NEW SURVEILLANCE TOOLS TO THE POLICE, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY MODELING BIPOLAR, BUT WILL ALSO HURT PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION.
FRANK NASHER ON 54, 62, 75, 76 92, 1 0 3, 180 9 AND ONE 90.
I AM A MEMBER OF DISTRICT ONE LOUD AND PROUD, AND I, UH, YES, URGING YOU TO VOTE ON ALL THOSE ITEMS, ALL THOSE WAYS.
UH, YESTERDAY MY POWER WENT OUT TO THE THIRD TIME THIS MONTH, UH, AND WE'RE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THE POLICE AND THEIR PR PROGRAMS RATHER THAN PROVIDING STABLE HOUSING, STABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, STABLE POWER.
AND MY MOM HAD A PULMONARY ELMO EMBOLISM TWO DAYS AGO, AND SHE SLEPT IN THE HALL ROOM WITH THE ER, BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE ROOMS LEFT AT THE ER.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE EMT THAT CAN'T REACH PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AMBULANCES AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BMTS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM WELL ENOUGH.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT OUR BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT.
SO YES, PLEASE VOTE ALL THOSE WAYS ON ALL THOSE ITEMS. STOP PUTTING MONEY INTO APDS,
[00:20:01]
STOP RAISING THEIR BUDGET.GIVE US SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAT WAVE.
JORDAN MILTON MIDDLEBROOKS ON ITEM 54, 62, 75, 76 AND 1 0 3.
MY NAME IS JORDAN MIDDLEBROOKS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SUNRISE MOVEMENT OFTEN.
AND, UM, I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS.
I'M SPEAKING TO OPPOSE ITEMS, 54 AND ONE OF THREE.
UM, I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST INCREASING ANY POLICE BUDGET.
AND AS WE SEE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET ALLOCATION, HISTORICALLY APD HAS GOTTEN MORE THAN 50% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET, TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN CRIME.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND THAT'S BECAUSE ADDITIONAL POLICING AND POLICE BUDGETS DO NOT ACTUALLY PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY THAT IS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
UM, SO I VERY MUCH OPPOSE ANY, UM, AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.
I THINK THAT PERPETUATES HARM, ESPECIALLY AS WOMEN ARE NOW ON THE HUNT, UM, IF THEY TRY TO GET REPRODUCTIVE CARE IN TERMS OF ABORTION AND WHO KNOWS IN THE FUTURE FOR CONTRACEPTIVE CARE, UM, AND AS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE STATE, WE DO GET PENALIZED.
IF WE TRY TO ATD BUDGET, AIDEN BISSELL, CIDERS ITEM 62, 76, 77 AND 92 MAYOR ADLER AND ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AIDEN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM TWO BEFORE HOUSING VIOLENCE.
I ALSO WANTED TO SUPPORT INCREASING THE BOTTOM SIZE TO AT LEAST $340 MILLION IN 2018.
THIS COUNCIL ASKED AUSTIN VOTERS TO APPROVE A TWO $50 MILLION BOND FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT WAS HUGELY POPULAR SINCE THEN, RENTED AUSTIN HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE, BUT THIS BILL DOES NOT KEEP PACE.
ACCORDING TO ZILLOW, THE MEDIAN RENT IN JUNE, 2022 WAS 36% HIGHER THAN IN JUNE, 2018.
WE'RE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
IF THIS BOND HAD KEPT UP, IT WOULD BE $340 MILLION.
AND BASED ON WHERE RENTS ARE GOING, IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE MORE LIKE $380 MILLION.
UH, BREAKING THE BOND WILL NOT INCREASE ANY TAX OBLIGATIONS.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WAGES AREN'T KEEPING UP WITH RENT AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HIGHER RENTS HITS THE HARDEST FOR THE MOST IMPOVERISHED.
MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, MAKING HOUSING CHEAPER WILL FIGHT POVERTY AND SAVE LIVES.
WHEN AUSTIN HAS MORE THAN 1500 HOMELESS AND UNSHELTERED PEOPLE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR THE SAME REASON.
THAT'S WHY THE COURT HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU, TRAVIS WARD ON ITEM 54 92 AND 1 0 3.
HEY, ALL MY NAME IS TRAVIS WARD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE TO THREE.
UM, I DID NOT TRUST APD OR A TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AT LARGE TO NOT USE THIS PROGRAM AGAINST PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS OR PEOPLE EATING THOSE, TAKING ABORTIONS.
I THINK INCREASING SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES WHEN PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALIZED FOR BODILY, AUTONOMY IS INSANE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS DATA MAKE IT STRAIGHT ICE AND KEN PAXTON, IF THERE'S EVEN A SMALL CHANCE THAT THIS DATA COULD MAKE ITS WAY TO THEM, UM, IT SHOULD NOT BE COLLECTED.
I THINK $1.4 MILLION HAS FAR BETTER USE IN GOING TOWARDS COMMUNITY POLICING AND PROPAGANDA PROGRAMS. UM, THESE ONLY SERVE TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF POLICE WITHOUT INCREASING SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE 21 OFFICERS INDICTED FOR POLICE BRUTALITY AND I'VE SPENT OVER 10 MILLION AND POLICE BRUTALITY SETTLEMENTS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE REWARDING POLICE, UM, UNTIL THEY CAN LEARN TO TREAT THE COMMUNITY BETTER THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT.
AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 92, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN SKYROCKETED NOT KEPT UP.
UM, WE NEED THIS BOND AND WE NEED TO INCREASE IT TO 350 MILLION.
THANK YOU, ELENA BOUGHS ITEMS, 54, 60 TO 75, 76 AND 1 0 3.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER AND UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[00:25:01]
UH, SHE, THEY PRONOUNS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.UH, I SPOKE LAST WEEK, UH, ON THE OVAL WHELMING IMPORTANCE OF THE GRACE ACT AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS PROTECTING AUSTIN AND TEXAS RESIDENTS.
AS A WHOLE, WHOEVER I SEE THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF ALP ARE INTO THE CONVERSATION OF SAFETY IN OUR CITY AS A DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO THIS END, IF WE WANT TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO THOSE SEEKING, TO MAINTAIN THEIR BODILY AUTONOMY, PROVIDING POLICE WITH THE RESOURCES TO PLAY BIG BROTHER TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'VE COMMITTED ANY RECOGNIZABLE CRIME, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD FACE BEHAVIOR.
THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY USED TO VICTIMIZE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, AND HASN'T BEEN SHOWN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT CRIME.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, IN A STUDY PERFORMED BY TRANSPARENCY, CHICAGO IN DETECTIONS OF 4.4, I'M SORRY, 414 MILLION LIVES.
CALL ME ABOUT POINT 22% WERE ACTUALLY OF INTEREST TO ANYONE PHYLLIS SNODGRASS ITEM 92.
GOOD MORNING, UM, MAYOR ADLER CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SO LET'S NOT GRASS CEO OF AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO PRIORITIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUR COMMUNITY.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR A $350 MILLION BOND THAT WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ENABLE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES TO BE BUILT THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT CRITICAL HOME REPAIR FOR SENIORS, LOOKING TO AGE IN PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US ENSURE MORE HARDWORKING.
AUSTINITES HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING, PLEASE VOTE.
YES FOR THIS MUCH NEEDED $350 MILLION BOND.
WELL, I WOULDN'T HAVE STARTED NORTON.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND GRATEFULLY REPRESENTED SIX THREE ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
I'M REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM 96 CHANGES TO SECTION 3 47.
THIS IS DOG, WHICH I PROPOSED AND WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, A DOG BEING VICIOUS AS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, A DOG CAT OR OTHER DOMESTIC PET COLLAR LIVESTOCK WHILE RUNNING AT LARGE FROM 1908 TO 2002.
SO I'VE SEEN DISHES COULD REMAIN IN THE CITY WITH THEIR OWNERS IN 2002 ASSISTANCE.
A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE WAS MADE TO SECTION 3 47 THAT WAS NEVER RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION OR APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
THE CHANGEMENT ADOPTEE VICIOUS COULD NO LONGER RESIDE WITHIN AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES ALIGNED SECTION 3 47 WITH THE STATE DANGEROUS DOG STATUTE EIGHT TWO TO CORRECT THE, OR TO ALLOW THESE DOGS TO REMAIN WITH THEIR OWNERS AND KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY SAFER BY IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON THE DOGS, SUCH AS NOT GOING OUT IN PUBLIC WITHOUT BEING ON A LEASE OR SIMILAR YOUR RESTRAINT.
I BELIEVE THIS CHANGE WOULD BE MORE HUMANE TO DOGS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT INCREASED RISK TO THE PUBLIC.
I ASKED FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 96, THEN I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO REALLY QUICK THANK MS. NORTON FOR SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
SHE IS MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER ENTRY IS APPOINTEE TO THE ANIMAL SERVICES COMMISSION AND SHE BROUGHT THE CHANGES THAT WE WILL BE, UM, THAT ARE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS ITEM NUMBER 96.
SHE BROUGHT THESE CHANGES TO THE COMMISSION, UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HER SIGNING UP AND BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE THAT IS OF HIGH INTEREST AND CONCERN TO ALL OF US.
ANYBODY LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN, UH, LOOK AT THE MESSAGE BOARD POSTS THAT RELATES TO THIS ITEM, UH, WAS PUT UP.
UM, I THINK YESTERDAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HI, MY NAME IS SILVIO CRUZ AND THE VP OF CLIENT SERVICES FOR AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, YOU KNOW, BUT IT SHOULD BE APPROVED FOR A PRESIDENT TODAY, AUSTIN, THE CLIENT SERVICES AND AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
[00:30:01]
FAMILIES BECOME HOMEOWNERS.ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDED 11 HOMES AT THE PHILOMENA PROJECT AND ALSO 14 MORE HOUSES ARE IN THE WORKS TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES.
PROJECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, ACCORDING TO ABEL REPORT, MAY, 2022 HOUSING SHOWS THAT MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME OR HOUSE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD SALES PRICE IS $550,000.
HI, MY NAME IS KATHY TYLER, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF BOSTON WOMEN IN HOUSING.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM AS YOU CONSIDER PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS ON THE NEXT ELECTIONS FOR VOTERS TO CONSIDER, WE HOPE THE BOND FUNDING LEVEL WILL BE AT LEAST 350 MILLION.
WE'RE PROUD OF BOSTON SUCCESS WITH HAVING PROVIDED $122 MILLION IN HOUSING BONDS THAT HAVE LEVERAGED OVER $1 BILLION.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS ENSURED THESE BONDS CONTINUE TO BE A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE, BUT IF WE QUIT NOW, THE OPPORTUNITY'S LOSS WILL BE TRAGIC.
NOT ONLY WOULD WE INCREASE HOW NOT INCREASE HOUSING OPTIONS, WE WOULD FORFEIT THE LEVERAGED FUNDS.
WE FORFEIT THE BENEFIT AND THE HARDEST COSTS WOULD BE BORNE BY OUR RESIDENTS WHO NOW ARE WITHOUT HOMES OR WHO LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD, PLACES THAT ARE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEIR BUDGET.
THEY EXPEND EXPERIENCED HOUSING INSECURITY, WHICH THEN SPIRAL DOWNWARD AND TO EVERY OTHER LEVEL OF WELLBEING, PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL ON WOMEN IN HOUSING TO HELP THE BOND.
MATTHEW MOLLICA ON I ITEM 92, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M CALLING IN, UH, TO EXPRESS THE ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS, UH, SUPPORT FOR ITEM 92 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF AT LEAST $350 MILLION.
EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR INCOME LEVEL, BUT WILL DESERVE THE SAFE STABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN MUST CONTINUE ITS VITAL ROLE IN LEADERSHIP AND CREATING AND PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OFTEN INCLUDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS ON OUR STREETS, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY CONTINUE TO FIGHT GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT AND SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STABILITY.
UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN, SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF FIGHTING FOR HOUSING JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ECHO ENDORPHIN THE 300, A $350 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
UM, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR OFTEN PRIORITIZATION TOOL, UH, TO ENSURE THAT EQUITY REMAIN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE BOND.
I AM THE CHAIR OF ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ITEM 96, ADDRESSES OCCURRENCE LAW IN AUSTIN, VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE COMMISSIONER NORTON HAS EXCELLENTLY EXPLAINED THIS ISSUE AND I ASKED YOU TO VOTE FOR IT.
ITEM 98 CONCERNS, ONGOING STATUS OF OUR NO KILL SHELTER.
THE SUCCESSFUL NO KILL SHELTER IS A MOVING TARGET BECAUSE THIS IS AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF INNOVATION.
DON'T KILL THIS EVALUATED BY OUTCOME NUMBERS, BUT NO KILL IS NOT A NUMBER.
IT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE WILL NOT KILL ANIMALS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE RUN OUT OF SPACE.
WE MUST ALWAYS BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK, ENTERPRISE SEEKING AND RECEIVING HELP FROM AS LARGE A POOL OF PARTNERS AS POSSIBLE.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PASS THIS OUTSIDE AUDIT OF THE SHELTER TO HELP US KEEP OUR SHELTER THE MOST HUMANE AND FORWARD-LOOKING SHELTER IN THE NATION.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE BEVERLY LUNA ON ITEM 96 AND 98.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 96.
THE WAY THAT, UH, ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
IF MY DOG GETS LOOSE AND KILLS THE NEIGHBOR'S CHICKEN, MY DOG HAS TO BE REMOVED
[00:35:01]
FROM THE CITY OF ALLAH, THE ENTIRE LAKE.I THINK THE ERROR IS INCONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 19, NUMBER 98.
I SUPPORTED AUDIT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I INCLUDED AN EXHIBIT, WHICH SHOWS THAT THE NUMBERS OF, OF DOGS, THE INTAKE TO THE FACILITY HAS DRASTICALLY GONE DOWN AND THIS AND THIS ADMINISTRATION YET THE SHELTER IS OVERCROWDED AND CERTAINLY AN OUTSIDE AUDITOR WOULD HELP FIGURE OUT WHY THAT'S THE CASE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JULIE MARQUEE ON 98.
I'M A FORMER VOLUNTEER AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF DISTRICT FOUR.
IF THE CITY AUDITOR DOES IDENTIFY AN EXPERT, I X I URGE THAT EXPERT TO CLOSELY EXAMINE THE SHELTER NEUTER RETURN OR SNR PROGRAM AT THE CENTER AND ENSURE THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF CATS THROUGH SNR KITTENS.
AS YOUNG AS THREE MONTHS OLD CAN BE RETURNED TO THE STREETS.
CATS AND KITTENS IN QUESTIONABLE PHYSICAL CONDITION CAN BE RETURNED TO THE STREETS.
CATS AND KITTENS CAN BE RETURNED TO DANGEROUS LOCATIONS.
AND THESE CATS AND KITTENS ARE RETURNED TO THE STREETS WITHOUT KNOWN CARETAKERS.
I REQUESTED TO EXAMINE HOW MANY CATS AND KITTENS ARE ACTUALLY BEING SENT THROUGH SNR.
WHETHER ANYONE IS FOLLOWING UP TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AND WHETHER THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE MODIFIED SNR INCREASES THE CENTER'S LIED OUTCOME, RIGHT? BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO ENSURE THE CATS AND KITTENS ARE SURVIVING AFTER THE RETURN TO THE STREETS.
JUST BECAUSE SNR LEADS TO LIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE TENDER DOES NOT MEAN IT LEADS TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR THE CATS AND KITTENS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UH, HI, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM NEWLY REDISTRICT INTO D ONE.
I'M HERE REGARDING ITEM 98 AS NEUTRAL.
I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT IF YOU PASS THIS RESOLUTION THAT THIS CITY ONLY APPOINT AN EXPERT WITHOUT TIES TO AUSTIN, PETS ALIVE, NO ONE FROM AUSTIN PETS ALIVE OR ASSOCIATED WITH APA SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THIS TASK.
JUST A REMINDER THAT APA HAS TIED THE BEST FRIEND AND MADDIE'S FUND AND THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION HAS SEVEN MEMBERS ALIGNED WITH APA.
UM, EVEN SHELTERS CONNECTED TO APA ARE STRUGGLING FOR INSTANCE, FAITH, RIGHT OF AMERICAN PETS ALIVE.
NOW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS IN PALM VALLEY RECENTLY USED AN ICE FOR SPACE, MONICA ANGLER OF AUSTIN, PETS ALIVE.
NOW PIMA ANIMAL CARE IS IN A SPACE CRISIS AND THREATENING YOU.
SHE DID AN UNBIASED PERSON FROM ONE OF THE NORTHERN STATES, BUT TEXAS IS SHIPPING ANIMALS TOO.
SO LET'S FIND OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF CONTINUOUSLY SENDING OUR PROBLEMS TO THE MAGICAL.
THIS COUNCIL RETRACTED THERE TO BRING IN THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS PER YEAR.
THANK YOU, PAT BELL, 3S ITEM 98.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WANT TO SUPPORT WHAT MY, UM, FELLOW ANIMAL ADVOCATES, JULIE MARQUIS AND SANDRA MOHLER JUST SAID, I AGREE THAT AN AUDIT IS NEEDED.
I SUPPORT AN AUDIT, BUT I HAVE HUGE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXPERT THAT WILL BE CHOSEN AS SHANDRA MUELLER POINTED OUT.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO PURPORT TO BE EXPERTS FOR ACTUALLY AFFILIATED WITH BEST FRIENDS, MADDIE'S FUND AMERICAN PET TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, PETS ALIVE, AND ARE REALLY VERY MUCH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR A NO KILL NUMBER AT ALL COSTS.
EVEN AT THE COST OF CLOSING FORMERLY OPEN INTAKE, ANIMAL SHELTERS, MAKING THEM EITHER CLOSED INTAKE OR LIMITED INTAKE, AND THEN CLAIMING THAT NO KILL IS SUCCESSFUL.
LEAVING ANIMALS ON THE STREET IS NOT A SUCCESSFUL WAY TO NOT KILL ANIMALS.
THEY DIED BEING HIT BY CARS, BEING
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE ON THE DIVE TODAY, I'M KIND OF BROPHY.
I LIVE IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF DISTRICT SIX AND I'M AN OPPOSITION TO THE AUTOMATIC PLACEMENTS THAT USUALLY WENT OFTEN
[00:40:01]
ON THE ALP OURS.WE GIVE OFF PD THE DISCRETION TO TRACK AND SHARE THE WHEREABOUTS OF THOSE SEEKING ABORTIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTSIDE OF AUGUSTINE, COMPLETELY UNDERMINE AND GRACE'S PROJECTION.
UM, AUSTIN'S CRIME HAS BEEN IN LINE WITH NATIONAL LEVELS, UH, DESPITE THE ALP OURS BEING USED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
SO AS POLICE BUDGETS HAVE BALLOONED YEAR OVER YEAR, WE'VE NOT ONLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN CRIME VOLUME, BUT ALSO THE DECREASE IN CRIME CLEARANCES YEAR OVER YEAR.
UH, THE LAST TIME THE BUDGET WAS AS SMALL AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, IT WAS 2013 AND IN 2013, WE HAVE A 50% HIGHER CLEARANCE RATE.
SO DESPITE ANECDOTES OFFERED DURING CM, KELLY'S Q AND A LAST WEEK, THE ALP OURS HAVE NOT BEEN AS STATISTICALLY USEFUL TO ADDRESS IN CRIME.
ALSO, KELLY SPOKE ABOUT POTENTIAL PUNISHMENTS.
IF THE DEPARTMENT MISUSED ANY OF THE DATA COLLECTED WAS GOING TO RESULT IN A PENAL CODE IN PRODUCTION.
IF IT'S DONE THE INFORMATION WOULD USE INTENTIONALLY OR MALICIOUSLY.
SO UNTIL AUSTIN HAS A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD, APD WOULD HAVE NO OVERSIGHT AND COULD EASILY SWEEP ANY OF THESE FRACTIONS UNDER THE ROAD.
SO MEMBERS ON THE DUMBEST MASKING TO VOTE AGAINST ONE OF THE THREE, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HEALTHCARE OUTSIDE OF THE, WHAT HAS BEEN PROVEN AT THE INCLUDES, GRIMES IS NOT AN INVASIVE TOOL TO BE GIVEN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE APD IS SHORTCOMING, AND IT HAS A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF OVERSIGHT.
MIMI STILES ON 1 0 3, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
UM, I JUST KINDA JUST, I WANT, I WANTED TO SAY, I URGE YOU TO READ LAST YEAR, WASHINGTON POST REPORT, WHICH READ LICENSE PLATE SCANNERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BRING PEACE OF MIND, BUT INSTEAD THEY TOURED THE NEIGHBORHOOD APART.
MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I'VE, I'VE HAD SEVERAL YEARS OF ENGAGING CRITICALLY IN THE WORK OF BIG DATA AND POLICING.
AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED, UM, THIS FAR IS THAT IN MANY CASES, DATA FOR GOOD INTENTION PRODUCE MORE HARM AND TEAR NEIGHBORHOODS APART.
AND SO CURRENTLY THE DATA REFLECTING LPR IS IT'S JUST WAY TOO LIMITED, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TECHNOLOGY.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW THAT LICENSE PLATE READERS DO NOT REDUCE CRIME.
I MEAN, YEAH, THEY MAY HAVE HELPED APP STAT SOLVE A COUPLE OF CRIMES OR TWO, BUT THE TRULY AT WHAT EXPENSE.
AND SO I OPPOSE THE USE OF LICENSE PLATE READER, TECHNOLOGY AS A METHOD OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, AND INEVITABLE, UH, SURVEILLANCE OF THE DATA COLLECTED BY THESE DEVICES THAT ARE OFTEN INACCURATE.
THE ALGORITHMS ARE USUALLY BIASED.
AND SO AS A RESULT, THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED BY THIS TECHNOLOGY ARE OFTEN THE ONES WHO ARE MOST AT RISK.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT UNTIL THESE UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED, IT'S TECHNOLOGY TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I URGE POLICY ALL OF THE POLICY MAKERS TO CONSIDER THESE CONCERNS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE ITEM 1 0 3 WILL ENABLE MASTER VALENCE AND UNNECESSARY TRACKING OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THAT'S THREATENING PRIVACY AND INCREASED CRIMINALIZATION OF LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AT TFTP.
ONE OF THE MAIN USES OF ALP RS.
IT'S NOT THE MAIN USE IS FOR OFFICERS TO SIT IN PARKING LOT AND SCAN CARDS TO FIND HIT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TRAFFIC TICKETS AND THEN ARREST THEM ON THEIR WARRANTS THAT WERE ISSUED FOR THE UNPAID TICKETS.
LPRS ARE A TOOL OF MODERN DAY DEBTORS' PRISONS.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ITEM 1, 2, 3, AND ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS, BUT INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET.
INSTEAD, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FULLY SUPPORT AND FUND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES HIGHLY SUPPORTED AND NEEDED INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING FUNDING, A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAM AND HARM REDUCTION SERVICES.
ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO OPPOSE ITEM 1 0 3.
CHRISTIAN DURHAM, 1 0 3 CHRISTIAN, PLEASE.
KEVIN WELCH ITEM 1 0 3 MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS KEVIN WELCH AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EFF AUSTIN AT DIGITAL CELEBRITIES ADVOCACY GROUP.
WE'RE SPEAKING YOU TODAY, STRONGLY STRONGLY URGE YOU TO REFUSE TO REAUTHORIZE THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM.
[00:45:01]
TO STATEMENTS FROM PD ALP, OURS ONLY SOLVE FOR CRIMES OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SOLVED.OTHERWISE IT'S SHOCKINGLY LOW SUCCESS RATE FOR A TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE USED TO IDENTIFY THE MOVEMENTS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND SUBJECT THEM TO RISKS OF ARREST AND INCARCERATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PUBLICLY AND BASICALLY STATED THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE CRIMINAL JUST LAST WEEK, 10 OUT OF 11 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STRONGLY PASSED THE GRAY FACT, WHICH PROMISES TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS, OR WE THIS SPRING MAYOR ADLER, ALONG WITH KATHY TOVA AND ALISON ALTER PUBLIC EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, HAVING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AND 20 17 6 CURRENT MEMBERS OF COUNCILS EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR AUSTIN AS A SANCTUARY CITY, PROTECTING UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS FROM ICE DEPORTATION WITHOUT RAPID DATA ERASURE BARRIERS TO DATA SHARING IN PLACE AND ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE BARRIERS, WHICH INCLUDES THE IMMEDIATE ELIMINATION OF ALP RS, ESPECIALLY MOBILE AUSTIN PRINCIPALS SHARED THAT DATA WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR CRIMES RELATED REPRODUCTIVE CARE, IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO GIVE PETER COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE SIGNIFICANT SURVEILLANCE DATA ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF TEXAS ARE NOT ACCUSED OF A CRIME IS RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KAELYN GILDERSLEEVE 1 0 3 UH, GOOD MORNING.
UH, SHE HEARD FROM DISTRICT ONE OF A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA CALLING TO SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT ITEM 1 0 3 OF SPEAKERS HAVE ALREADY DRAWN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INCREASED SURVEILLANCE AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THOSE SEEKING ABORTION AS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE.
I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL FOR PASSING THE GRACE BACK LAST WEEK.
LET'S DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BACK THAT UP BY RIGID THING, THE ALP RS, UH, PROGRAM BEING RENEWED AND ALSO REGARDING ITEM 90 TWOS, HOUSING BOND.
YES, LET'S KEEP OUR NEIGHBORS IN HOUSING AND THIS HOSPITAL RENT ENVIRONMENT.
BYRON WILSON, ITEM ONE 90 MAYER ONE SECOND.
UM, EVERYTHING JUST DISCONNECTED ON MY COMPUTER.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER OF URBAN OPTIMI.
I AM SPEAKING ON, ON THE B UH, REGARDING THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WE'VE MADE, UH, AN F AND AUSTIN.
UM, CURRENTLY AT THIS POINT WE HAVE LITERALLY SPOKE TO OVER SERVING THREE ORGANIZATIONS, ONE PARTICULAR BLUE TREE.
UH, WE CAN OF COURSE, TO, UH, SUMMARIZE AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, PART OF OUR MODEL IS COLLABORATIVE, UM, AND COLLABORATING.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE LOVE TO DO THIS.
UM, I, I EMPHASIZE AND AUSTIN HAD BEEN EVERY SCENE HAD BEEN REALLY WELL.
UM, ONE THING I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT HOW WELL AUSTIN HAS BEEN RECEIVING, UM, IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK AND OF COURSE FROM US.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY DONE GAVE US SOME GREAT FEEDBACK.
AND IN TERMS OF TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, I AM, I, I'M A, I'M A BIG FAN OF BOSTON.
WE ARE BIG FANS OF AUSTIN IN TERMS OF ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU'VE MET WITH.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, WHICH IS THE GUESTS, THE HOMELESS POPULATION, HOMELESS POPULATION, UH, AS, AS THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION WE COME FROM AND I SAY, THANK YOU, JEFF COSTLY ONE 90.
I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR URBAN ALCHEMY.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND I'M ADDRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE IN RAPID GROWTH.
UH, URBAN ALCHEMY BECAME AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY IN 2018, BUT WE WERE INITIALLY PART OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED HUNTERS POINT FAMILY.
AND WHILE URBAN ALCHEMY IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD, OUR EXPERIENCE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, PREDATES OUR INCORPORATION BY DECADES.
WE UNDERSTAND FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE SURPRISING THAT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY ONE LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO WERE ONCE INCARCERATED CAN GO FROM ZERO TO 60 MILLION IN FOUR YEARS.
[00:50:01]
OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL AND WILL NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES AND SETBACKS THAT REFLECTS OUR SUCCESS.THE REASON WE'VE GROWN SO QUICKLY IS BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND VERY GOOD AT WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF TAKING ON CHALLENGING PROGRAMS, SUCH AS NEW SHELTERS, TINY HOME VILLAGES, SANCTIONED TO CAMP MINTS AND SAFE PARKING SITES.
AND DURING COVID, WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO OPEN UP A SHELTER IN PLACE, HOTELS IN THE STATE OR EXPANSION HAS HELPED DEEPEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
AND SAN FRANCISCO IS ONE OF THE ONLY MAJOR CITY ON THE WEST COAST TO SEE A REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING SOME OF OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, UH, TO AUSTIN, UH, VIA THE ARCH.
CHRISTIAN DURHAM, CHRISTIAN, PLEASE.
UM, WILL REPRESENTATIVES FROM URBAN ALCHEMY BEYOND THE LINE LATER IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
UH, ARE, DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM URBAN ALCHEMY WHEN JUST SPOKE? TWO OF THEM JUST SPOKE.
I JUST WANT TO, WILL THEY BE STAY ON THE LINE TO BE AVAILABLE WHEN THIS ITEM COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION OR BE PLACED BACK ON THE LINE, CAN YOU CHECK THEIR AVAILABILITY AND SEE IF WE CALL THEM, THERE'LL BE AVAILABLE, PLEASE ASK THEM NOT TO LEAVE YET BECAUSE WE'LL MIGHT ASK THEM QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE LATER, BETTER THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE LATER AND CAN BE HERE WHEN WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
IF YOU COULD CHECK WITH THEM, THANK YOU.
AND THEY MAY NOT NEED TO STAY ON THAT LINE, BUT JUST FOR THEIR AVAILABILITY FOR LATER, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE CHECKING TO SEE IF WE CAN CALL THEM AND GET THEM TO JOIN US LATER.
TYLER KIRKPATRICK, ONE 90 KIRKPATRICK TYLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR URBAN ALCHEMY.
UH, YES, WE WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO STAY ON THE LINE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE, UH, THE, THE ARTICLE IN THE SUN.
UH, ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO IS TO RESPOND, UH, REALLY TO, UH, SUE AN UNTRUE MEASUREMENT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, THE, THE PACIFIC SUN ARTICLE IS AN ISOLATED ARTICLE THAT DOESN'T REFLECT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE COVERAGE THAT WE RECEIVED IN THE MEDIA.
UH, ALL OF THE CLAIMS HAVE TO THIS POINT BEEN UNSUBSTANTIATED.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT ABOVE REPROACH, WE'RE NOT ABOVE, UM, CRITICISM, BUT WHAT WE ASK IS THAT THE CRITICISM THAT WE'RE HELD TO AND THE CONTENT THAT WE'RE HEADED TO SELL TO ARE THINGS THAT ARE FOUND TO BE TRUE, UH, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS AND THE SALSALITO ENCAMPMENTS THEMSELVES, THE CITY OF SAUSALITO, UH, AND OUR OWN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, WE'VE SHOWN THAT NONE OF THOSE ISSUES, UH, WHERE WE'RE ACTUAL ISSUE THAT HAPPENED, AND THE ONE INSTANCE WHERE THERE WAS INAPPROPRIATE, UM, RELATIONSHIP THAT HAD BEEN LONGSTANDING BEFORE WE CAME TO FINISH YOUR ANSWER BEFORE WE CAME ON TO THAT ENCAMPMENT, UH, WA WAS IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED, UH, THAT STAFF PERSON LET GO, AND WE DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, ANY OTHER INCIDENTS BEYOND THAT.
AND SO AT MOST WE JUST ASKED TO BE, UH, TO BE MEASURED BY A FAIR MEASUREMENT AND NOT ONE ISOLATED ARTICLE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAY ON THE LINE.
MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AFTER LUNCH.
WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE IF WE CALLED YOU A AND THEY ASKED YOU TO GET ON THE PHONE THIS AFTERNOON, WHEN WE GET TO THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION ABSOLUTELY.
SO YOU DON'T NEED TO STAY ON THE LINE, WE'LL CALL YOU THIS AFTERNOON AND LET YOU KNOW IF WE NEED YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND STAFF.
YOU HAVE THE PHONE NUMBERS OF THESE FOLKS.
WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER MAYER? UM, ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
WE HAVE TWO ON THE LINE, THEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE IN-PERSON.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL THAT MEETING TO ORDER, HEAR THE SPEAKERS AND THEN RETURNED
[00:55:01]
TO BE CONSENT.LET'S GO AHEAD AND RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT TWO MINUTES AFTER 11.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE ON JULY 28TH, 2022.UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PRESENT.
WE HAVE, UH, A QUORUM, UH, WE'RE MEETING IN THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER OF WHAT THIS IS, UM, UH, UH, WITH US, UH, UH, REMOTELY.
UM, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THERE IS, UM, UH, UH, UH, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT WE WANT TO READ INTO THE, UH, RECORD SPECIFICALLY.
THERE'S LAID BACK UP IN ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, JADE, UH, THERE'S REALLY A BACKUP, AN ITEM.
NUMBER TWO IS OUR STAFF WITH US ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET'S CAUSE I THINK WE MAY BE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT THE MEETING RAPIDLY AS WELL, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND ASK FOR SPEAKERS.
LET'S GET THE REMOTE SPEAKERS AND THEN LET'S GET THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JORN GEORGE HINDMAN.
HI, MY NAME IS GEORGE HEINZEN AND I'D LIKE TO THANK FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE NHP PROPOSAL, THAT 4 35 11 MAINER.
I'M A RESIDENT AT JJC BROOK AND A FORMER DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CANDIDATE.
AND I LIVE CLOSE TO THIS LOT, AND THERE ARE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY ABILITY AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROPOSAL.
THE CITY SUMMARY CHART SHOWS NHP REQUIRING OVER $7 MILLION IN SUBSIDY AS WELL.
ANOTHER PROPOSAL, WHICH THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES PROPOSAL REQUIRES NO SUB ALMOST NO SUBSIDIES.
FURTHERMORE, THE NHP PROPOSAL SECTION D PAGE 57 IN THEIR PROPOSAL SHOWS THAT IT'S MORE LIKE $10 MILLION OVER 15 YEARS OF SUBSIDIES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
UH, AND BEYOND THAT, THERE'S ALSO ISSUES AS FAR AS THE VIABILITY OF OBTAINING HUD LOANS.
UH, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE NHP ITSELF HAS SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE IN THIS MANAGEMENT AT THEIR HOUSTON PROJECTS.
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE HAS HAD STORY WITHIN THE PAST WEEK ABOUT WHICH THE, UM, UH, UH, WHICH THE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN BIG ISSUES TO NHP PLEASE, UH, THOUGH BREATHER THE FC PROPOSAL FOR, FOR, UM, TABLING THIS UNTIL NHP CAN BE FURTHER VETTED.
THANK YOU, BEN HIGHSMITH, COUNCIL AND A MAYOR.
I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION, BUT I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY.
AND MY CAPACITY AS A NEIGHBOR ONLY I LIVE 300 FEET FROM THIS PROPERTY ON GREENWOOD AVENUE AND THE NEIGHBORS HERE HAVE WANTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR YEARS.
UH, THE HISTORY, HOWEVER, WITH THIS SITE HAS NOT BEEN VERY GOOD PUBLIC WORKS, AS YOU MAY RECALL, USED IT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL SITE UNTIL, UH, WITHOUT PERMITS UNTIL WE STOPPED THEM.
UH, THERE WAS A, UH, UNFORTUNATE PROPOSAL FOR A HOMELESS CAMP ON THE SITE, WHICH WE DID NOT SUPPORT.
AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THAT, THAT NOW NOT, NOT DIRECTED ANYMORE.
SO WE WORKED, WE THOUGHT WITH THE STAFF, UH, ONE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, UH, RESPONDENTS TO THE RFP, IT MET THE CRITERIA THAT WE SAID WERE MOST IMPORTANT THAT THERE'D BE RELATIONSHIP TO OUR HOMES ON GREENWOOD AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES.
BUT ANY PROPOSAL DOESN'T DO EITHER.
THERE'S A FIVE STORY WALL THAT IS GOING TO BE BUILT AT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL AGAINST OUR HOMES ON GREENWOOD WERE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND THERE WAS FIVE STORIES RIGHT UP AGAINST US.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO US.
AND THE PROPOSAL IS PRIMARILY SINGLE ROMANS.
SO THIS IS NOT ACCOMMODATING FAMILIES.
WE URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS RECOMMENDATION.
SO THE SPEAKERS FOR HSE ARE NOW IN PERSON.
WE'VE GOT CONNOR, KENNY IN Q IS ROGER
OOH, UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR SUPER SQUARE PROPOSAL.
UM, AND THERE ARE DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR INTRODUCING THEM.
I WANTED TO ASK IF CITY COUNCIL HAD DIRECTION ON OUR EXPANDED COMMERCIAL OPTION, WHICH WOULD PARTNER WITH AEDC TO CREATE MORE SPACE FOR NONPROFITS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE SITE.
I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH CITY STAFF AND NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS TO CRAFT A WONDERFUL NEW PART OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IF COUNCIL HAS DIRECTION ON TRYING TO INCLUDE MULTI BEDROOM UNITS.
UM, AND JUST TO CORRECT, MAYBE A MISPERCEPTION.
[01:00:01]
UH, WE ARE ALSO TAPERING DOWN TO THREE STORIES ON GREENWOOD, UH, ACROSS FROM THOSE, UH, UNITS.SO WE HAVE, UH, OTHER TEAM MEMBERS SPEAKING HERE, BUT NOT SPEAKING, UH, WITH US, UM, ON OUR GREAT TEAM, OUR PRINCIPALS, UH, NICOLE JOSLIN, AND YET CASSINI WITH CAPITAL, A URBAN DESIGNER, KEVIN HOWARD WITH CAPITAL A CIVIL ENGINEER, ALEJANDRA FLORES WITH CIVILITY, PUBLIC FINANCE CONSULTANT, KENDRICK GARRETT, WITH BETCO, UH, ARTIST AND TENANT RAISIN IN THE SUN.
BUT WE LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS TERM REFLECTS, UH, BOTH THE ART COMMUNITY AS A CITY AND THE COMMUNITY INTO WHICH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS COMING.
ROGER
MY NAME IS ROGER CANOLA, AND I AM, I AM WITH THE NHP FOUNDATION.
I'M THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND HP IS A NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER THAT IS OWNED AND OPERATES OVER 11,000 UNITS THROUGHOUT THE, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TEXAS SINCE 2003.
UM, AND AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
UH, OUR, MY COLLEAGUE LAUREN, UH, OLIVIA, SHE ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE CITY AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, WITH OUR PARTNERS CAPITAL A AND INTEGRAL CARE.
WE EXCITED AND BELIEVED THAT, UM, IT MAKES THIS RFP, UH, EXCUSE ME, COMMUNITY ON PRIORITIES.
THIS PROJECT IDENTIFIES THOSE ISSUES.
UH, THE ITEMS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, UM, WE'VE EVEN, UH, PROVIDING OFFICE SPACE FOR, UH, RAISING IN THE SUN AND, UM, ORIGIN STUDIOS HOUSE.
AND WE'VE ALSO PROVIDING LIVE WORK.
WE LOOK AT, WE REALLY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET YOUR SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR ADLER, I'M BRUCE
WE SEEK YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN HPC SEABROOK SQUARE PROPOSAL.
WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS ARE MOVING FROM HOMELESS TO HOUSE, THERE IS HIGH ACUITY OF NEED IN RURAL CARE HAS YEARS EXPERIENCE USING THE EVIDENCE BASED PRINCIPLES OF HOUSING.
FIRST, PROVIDING A SAFE HOME WITH CRITICAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND ONGOING SUPPORT WE DESIGNED TO BUILD AND OPERATE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL TEXAS MODELED AFTER OTHER SUCCESSFUL HOUSING.
FIRST PROGRAMS THAT COST ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SEABROOK SQUARE IS THE PROPOSAL THAT MOST CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH YOUR HOUSING PRIORITIES AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY'S GOAL TO EXPAND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THIS COLLABORATION LEVERAGES YOUR INVESTMENT WITH STATE AND OTHER FUNDING.
WE MOVE AHEAD QUICKLY TO MEET A DEADLINE, TO DRAW DOWN SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE FUNDING AS IT'S REQUIRED BY THE RFP AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, ALL RESIDENTS OF THE PSH PORTION OF SEABROOK SQUARE WILL BE REFERRED THROUGH ECHO'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ONGOING INVESTMENT AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS AND AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, DAVID VAUGHN ON DECK IS DANTE CLEMENS.
MAYOR DAVID VAUGHN, AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE.
WE'LL BE DOING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO BRING EAST AUSTINITES, UH, IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND AS WELL, WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER, UH, EXPANDED COMMERCIAL OPTION AND THE PROPOSAL OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SMALL BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT SEEK, UH, COACHING, MENTORSHIP AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, CREDIT READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU, DANTE CLEMENS ON DECK IS PAMELA OWENS.
MY NAME IS DANTE CLEMENS AND I'M A CEO OF ORIGIN STUDIO HOUSE, MRS. BRITNEY WILLIAMS, MY PARTNER OR JUST STUDIO HOUSE IS THRILLED TO BE THE CAFE AND GALLERY CONCEPT PARTNER AND THE SEABROOK SPRAYER PROJECT SEABROOK SQUARE EXCITES US BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY IS AT THE CORE OF THIS PROJECT.
AND IT IS ALIGNED WITH OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND INTENTIONAL ARTS.
WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS PROJECT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS PAMELA VINCENT OWENS.
I AM THE CEO OF SIX SQUARE AUSTIN'S BLACK CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT.
AND IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TRUE COLLABORATION LOOKS LIKE IT IS THIS PROJECT, ALL VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD AND THIS PROJECT, AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT ABSOLUTELY EXPANDS SPACE FOR NONPROFITS, ARTISTS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT HOW TO EXPAND AND USE SPACE, SIX SQUARES, UM, COMMITMENT TO THIS IS TO HELP PLACE THE ARTISTS
[01:05:01]
AND THE 10, UM, UNITS THAT WILL BE PART OF THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO RIGHT BY THE COMMUNITY AND TO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT, BUT BE ABOUT IT.
AND SO I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER IT STRONGLY.
AND BY DOING THAT, YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY BE ALIGNED WITH THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CREATE TRUE COLLABORATION, TRUE COMMUNITY, REAL, UM, ACCESS TO ASSESS A PROBLEM.
AND I HOPE THAT THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS SUPPORTED IN THESE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU, QUINCY DUNLAP ON DECK IS ANGELA GARZA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, I AM HERE REPRESENTING EAST MLK COMBINED CONTACT TEAM.
UH, WE JUST GOT SOME INFORMATION FROM LAUREN RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MADE, PROVIDED BY NFP.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT THAT THE DNA DID NOT HAPPEN.
IN FACT, SHE'S HERE, DNA IN AN AREA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST GRACIOUS AND NAYS TO TRY TO COME IN WITH MODELS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HOUSE FOLKS AND SO MANY AREAS AND SO MANY VAST DIFFERENCES.
AND THEY HAVE NOT REALLY HAD THE TIME WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY DROP WITH COMMUNICATING IT IN PAPERWORK.
WE'RE NOT IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE DNA.
UM, THE PAPERWORK WAS NON GROUNDED WHEN WE TRY TO BE PROACTIVE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN, UM, TECHNOLOGY AND PAPER THAT NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE TO THE TEAM, UH, OR COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN ALL FAIRNESS FOR THEM.
THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY SAYING THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA, BUT WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE COULD POSTPONE UNTIL SEPTEMBER ONE JUST NOW INSTEAD OF SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO THAT MISINFORMATION JOSHUA ELLINGER ON DECK IS ADELIA HINDERMAN DELEA HYNDMAN ON DECK IS PHILIP NI MAYER.
UM, W UH, OUR JJC, BROOKE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO, UH, SPEAK, UH, IN SOME MORE DETAILS, UM, IN A BIT, UM, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO OVERRIDE THIS CITY STAFF PICK AND AUTHORIZE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES FOR THIS PROJECT.
34% OF AUSTIN HOMELESS, UH, IS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
UH, THE 35 15 MAINER, UH, SPOT IS ON THE ASD BOUNDARY, UH, WITH, FOR THE AISD PROJECT HELPS SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN 2000 HOMELESS KIDS.
UH, SUPPOSEDLY WE ARE IN A CHILDCARE.
WE ARE NOT IN CHILDCARE DESERT, BUT WHEN WE CALLED, UM, IS THEY'RE ALL FULL AND THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE WAIT LIFTS SO EXTREME.
THEY DON'T AREN'T EVEN TAKING NAMES ANYMORE.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATION, UH, FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, WONDERFUL OPEN DOOR, A SCHOOL THERE, IT HAS A LIST OF OVER 200 KIDS AND THEY'RE NOT TAKING ANY MORE NAMES.
WE ARE HEMORRHAGING AFRICAN-AMERICAN INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILIES WHO BUILT THEIR HOMES IN 50 YEARS AGO, RAISED KIDS, GRANDKIDS IN THOSE SAME HOMES.
WE ARE NOW WORKING, UM, WORKING TO STAY IN JJC SEABROOK.
PLEASE HEAR US AND PLEASE, UM, VOTE, OVERRIDE AND VOTE FOR FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT THE EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP THEY WILL RE YOU WILL REAP DIVIDENDS, UM, WITH THAT SUPPORT WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, PHILLIP NIEMEYER ON DECK IS BETH NOTTINGHAM.
BETH NOTTINGHAM ON DECK IS LAUREN STANLEY CHASE RIGHT ON DECK IS ELIZABETH JOHNSON.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO THINK, UM, OUR CITY COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, NATASHA HOPPER MADISON'S OFFICE FOR HELPING US OUT, UH, WITH RESOURCES TO BRING AN EMS HOST TEAM OUT, UH, BRINGING RESOURCES TO MY COMMUNITY.
UM, MY NAME IS CHASE WRIGHT AND I'M THE PRESIDENT.
WE ARE ENGAGING WITH ECHO INTEGRAL CARE.
ANYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED WITH THE SOLUTION OF ENDED HOMELESS CRISIS HERE IN AUSTIN, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THEM.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE NHP, UH, WE WOULD LIKE ANYONE
[01:10:01]
WHO IS TRYING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR OUR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS TO GET OFF THE STREETS.UH, IF THEY ARE ALLOWING NON-PROFITS TO MOVE INTO SPACE, NONPROFITS IS NO SECRET.
UH, ARE THE ONES WHO ARE, LET'S SAY BOOTS ON THE GROUND, ACTUALLY OUT IN THE FIELD, HELPING THESE INDIVIDUALS.
I WORK WITH OVER 170 CLIENTS, UH, AND THEY ALL NEED HOUSING AT THIS POINT.
SO TO BE HERE, SPEAKING, IF WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE NHP OR NOT, IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UH, AT THIS POINT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE ARE NOT IN, WE DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS FOR, UH, THE CALIFORNIA.
WHAT IS IT ALCHEMY? BUT WE DO ASK THAT THEY GIVE THE ARCH EMPLOYEES OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AS WELL, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT DISPLACED FOR WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS WELL.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE ARCH PROBLEMS STARTED OUTSIDE.
LET'S GIVE THOSE EMPLOYEES A CHANCE.
WOULD YOU MIND, I'M GOING TO DO TWO THINGS.
I'M GOING TO, UM, I'M GOING TO VOLUNTEER, TELL YOU TO TELL THESE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT Y'ALL DO, BUT THEN I'M ALSO GONNA, I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU A LITTLE BIT OF SHINE.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THAT KIND OF BROTHER THAT REALLY DOES IT FOR THE SHINE, BUT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE.
WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION SORT OF BRIEFLY THIS MORNING.
UM, SO WE HAD, WE HAD A SHACK PROBLEM IN MY COMMUNITY.
UH, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS EVERY DISTRICT HAS A SHED.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE GAS STATION WHERE PEOPLE CONGREGATE.
IT'S THE ONE WHERE THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
UM, NOT RIGHT, NOT WRONG, JUST IS RIGHT OLD SCHOOL, AUSTIN EYES.
WHO'VE BEEN CONGREGATING THAT SPOTS FOR YEARS.
AND, UM, AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS AND CHANGES AROUND THEM AND PEOPLE SORT OF FLOCK TO WHAT'S FAMILIAR.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FLOCKING TO THE SHACK, UM, MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF NEW NEIGHBORS WHO SPENT A HALF, A MILLION DOLLARS ON THEIR, THEIR HOUSE AND WHAT THEY CONSIDERED AN UP AND COMING NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
SO THIS IS A STORY OF HOW A COMMUNITY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GONNA WORK TOGETHER AND THAT OLD NEIGHBORS, NEW NEIGHBORS WERE GOING TO JUST WORK TOWARDS MAKING THIS A COMPLETE COMMUNITY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT PERSONALLY.
SO CHASE AND ANOTHER NEIGHBOR THEY GET TOGETHER.
AND SO, INSTEAD OF SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO HELP TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY STARTED AN ORGANIZATION AND THEY STARTED TALKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE PROBLEM, RIGHT? OFTENTIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BLIGHT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CONDITIONS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMANS.
AND SO THE HUMANS WHO WERE TAKING ISSUE WITH THE HUMANS THAT WERE PROVIDING, UM, UNSIGHTLY CONDITIONS WERE ADDRESSED BY THESE TWO NEIGHBORS THAT GOT TOGETHER, YOU AND ANTHONY GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, HOW DO WE DO THIS? SO THEY FILLED THE SHED FULL OF TOOLS AND THEY DO A TOOL SHARE, GUESS WHAT? DOESN'T GET STOLEN ANYMORE.
SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE A COUPLE DOLLARS.
NOBODY'S SHED IS GETTING BROKEN INTO AND THEIR WEED WACKER GETTING STOLEN.
CAUSE THEY HAVE A TOOL SHARE OPERATION IN THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW THERE'S A RESOURCE SHARE FOR HEALTHCARE ACCESS.
THERE'S A RESOURCE SHARE FOR FOOD AND FOR WATER.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE TALK ABOUT RESILIENCE AS A COMMUNITY.
THESE PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER AND STARTED AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS TO UPLIFT PEOPLE.
WHO'VE BEEN LIVING IN THESE WOODS BEHIND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FIVE DECADES.
THEY DIDN'T JUST GET THERE BY WAY OF ANYTHING.
CITY COUNCIL DID, PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD BEEN LIVING OUTDOORS FOR DECADES.
SO THIS COMMUNITY GOT TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED TO START THIS ORGANIZATION Y'ALL KNOW HE TOOK OUT A SECOND MORTGAGE ON HIS HOUSE, HIS MONEY, 40,000 PLUS DOLLARS OUT OF HIS POCKET TO ADDRESS A NEED IN HIS COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE MADE THE COMMITMENT WAS THEN CHASE MADE THE COMMITMENT AND THEN THE NEIGHBORS, SOME OF THEM WERE NOT NICE TO ME ONLINE.
LET ME TELL YOU, THEY DIDN'T SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT ME ON NEXT DOOR.
BUT THEN THEY REALIZED HOW DIRECTLY CONNECTED I WAS TO THE CAUSE AND THE COMMITMENT.
AND THEN, AND THEN WE ALL START WORKING TOGETHER.
AND NOT ONLY DID THEY STOP SEEING YUCKY THINGS ABOUT ME ONLINE, WHICH BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, YOU GET ELECTED.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY AWFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU, YOU KNOW YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TRUE.
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THAT MUCH, BUT IT DOES HELP BRING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WHEN THE COMMUNITY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE A LEADER, WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP FOR YOU AND YOU DRAGGING THEM EVERY DAY IS NOT ESPECIALLY NICE.
AND SO THEY GOT TOGETHER AND DID THE WORK AND ARE DOING THE WORK.
I MEAN LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE MADDEST ARE AT THE TABLE NOW, AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROCESS, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, BUT I WANT YOU TO TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT, SO WHEN YOU SHOW UP AND YOU SAY, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES.
I THINK SAYING THAT YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SPRINGDALE ORGANIZATION, DIDN'T OFFER IT THE CLOUT AND THE LIKE THE REAL WORLD LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE WHEN YOU MAKE THE ASSESSMENT ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION.
[01:15:01]
COULD JUST REAL BRIEF TELL FOLKS WHAT IT IS THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU OUT.W WELL, THE, KEEP IT REAL SHORT.
UH, AS OF NOW WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WE, WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE INVOLVING OUR NEW NEIGHBORS AND ENGAGING THEM WITH OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
I ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM.
AND WE KIND OF EXPLAINED SOME OF OUR, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE, WHICH IS OUR, OUR SYSTEM THAT WE'RE SETTING UP.
WE OFFER THESE INDIVIDUALS WORK.
WE OFFER THESE INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EAT EVERY DAY.
WE OFFER THESE INDIVIDUALS OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY RECEIVE CLOSE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BARRIERS OR ANY EXCUSES FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND SEEK GOOD OPPORTUNITY SO THAT THEY DON'T BE UNHOUSED.
MY ONLY PROBLEM NOW IS THAT WE DO HAVE NEW NEIGHBORS, UH, WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CULTURE IN THESE AREAS.
AND WE HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE AND THEY IMMEDIATELY BECOME THE OPPOSITION.
UH, I HAVE OVER 30 UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS.
UH, LET'S SAY OUT OF THOSE 30, NOW 15 OF THEM HAVE HOMES.
THEY WENT OUT TO HAVE COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE AND THEY RECEIVED HOUSING.
SO THESE, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU DON'T THINK CAN WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF HOMELESS ARE NOW LOWER INCOME EARNING CITIZENS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR TAXES.
SO AT THAT POINT, I SEE THAT AS A COMMUNICATION BARRIER, I SEE THAT WE NEED TO GET IN THE FIELD AND WE NEED TO ALL COMMUNICATE, UM, KIMBERLY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PARK.
SHE'S BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD, SHE'S BEEN SETTING OUT HOW WE CAN ENGAGE TO GET THESE INDIVIDUALS, NOT PUT IN JAIL, BUT TO PUT THEM IN HOMES.
UH, IT'S NO SECRET THAT THEY LIVE IN SOME OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECS LIKE GIVENS, UH, SPRINGDALE PARK, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS.
MY TOPLESS, THESE ARE PLACES THAT THEY CREATE.
ENCAMPMENTS, ENCAMPMENTS ARE NOT DANGEROUS.
AND CHEMISTS ARE PLACES THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY LIVING, UH, TO TRY TO SEARCH AUSTIN'S GROWTH.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE A GROWING CITY.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF HIGH RENT AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'LL GET THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THESE PLACES SO THAT YOU'RE NOT CONSIDERING THEM A NUISANCE.
I FEEL THAT WE ALL COMMUNICATE ON ALL LEVELS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
WE CAN CAUSE I MEAN, WE CAN PRETTY MUCH CURE THIS HOMELESS CRISIS.
UM, AND AT THAT POINT, I MEAN, I JUST ASKED ANYBODY THAT WANT TO ENGAGE WITH MY NONPROFIT, ANYONE THAT WANTED TO GO AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP LET'S FIX THIS.
THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA EVEN TRY.
UM, BUT I AM GOING, I DID SEND SLIDES IN IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT THOSE COULD COME UP FOR 35, 15 MAIN ROAD, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
ELIZABETH JOHNSON, LIZ JOHNSON.
MY NAME IS LIZ JOHNSON AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE JJC BURKE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE HOME OF THE 35 15 MAINER ROAD, UM, FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE TWO PROPERTIES FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON THE CORNER OF MAYNOR GREENWOOD AND IAN FRANKLIN.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CURRENTLY HAS TWO COMPLEXES.
THE HANDOUTS ARE ALL FOR JUST PUT IT AWAY.
GO BACK DOWN ON THE BOTTOM LEFT.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CURRENTLY HAS TWO DEEPLY AFFORDABLE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE FRANKLIN GARDENS AND KENSINGTON APARTMENTS.
AND THAT IS A TOTAL OF 160 PLACES.
THOSE ARE PRIMARILY UNITS THAT ARE EFFICIENCIES SINGLES AND ONE BEDROOMS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT NHP IS WILLING TO REVISE TO INCLUDE MORE, MORE LARGER MULTI BEDROOM UNITS.
UM, BUT I AM HERE, UM, BECAUSE THE FRANKLIN GARDENS AND, UM, KENSINGTON APARTMENTS ARE SINGLES IN OCTOBER.
UM, I WAS HOPING I COULD GET THREE MINUTES SINCE I'M THE MAIN SPEAKER, UM, JJC BRICK NEIGHBORHOOD COMPARED THE PROPOSALS FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES HAS A 97% SUCCESS RATE ONSITE SERVICES AND PRIORITIZATION OF DELIVERING.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, BUT I CAN'T GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.
WELL, IT'S ALL THERE IN THE HANDOUTS AND THE BACKUPS.
AND THE LETTER THAT I SENT IS THE UPDATED LETTER FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THANKS FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE RIGHT THERE.
CLINTON RARING THAT CONCLUDES THE HFC SPEAKERS.
IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION THAT I HAVEN'T, THAT DIDN'T GET CALLED.
THAT GETS US TO THE GENDER STAFF WOULD COME UP FOR US IN THE AGENDA.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE MINUTES, UH, FROM THE, UH,
[01:20:02]
UM, WHAT WAS IT? THE, UH, JUNE, UH, THE JUNE 16TH, MANDY DE MAYO, AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION, TWO THINGS ON YOUR DAY.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 16TH, 2022 COUNSEL, NUMBER THREE, IT MAKES THE MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER HARPER MEDICINE SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I CAN'T SEE A COUNCIL MEMBER OF
SO SHE'S NOT WITH US RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT? AND SO IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POINT PARENTHESIS OFF THE DEUS THAT GETS US TO THE SECOND ITEM.
MAYOR MANDY DEMAYO, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
THE SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH NHP FOUNDATION, UM, OR OTHER, UM, SELECTED PROPOSER TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE SITE.
I DO WANT TO, WE'VE HEARD FROM, UM, A VARIETY OF FOLKS EARLIER, INCLUDING THE TEAM, UM, THE NHP TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES CAPITAL HOUSING, UM, AAU L SIX SQUARE RAISIN IN THE SUN INTEGRAL CARE FOR THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ORIGIN STUDIO.
I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS SOLICITATION WAS, UM, AN EXCITING, UH, EVENT FOR AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, BECAUSE IT WAS A JOINT SOLICITATION BETWEEN AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR FRIENDS AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, UH, TO PUT OUT THE SOLICITATION WHICH WE DID ON MARCH 11TH.
UM, WE REVIEWED THE SOLICITATION INTERNALLY.
WE TOOK IT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MAY 31ST, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WEEKS.
UH, WE DID HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT CLOSED ON JUNE 19TH.
WE HAD 400 PLUS UNIQUE RESPONSES, UH, TO THE PUBLIC SURVEY REGARDING THE TOP PROPOSERS, UM, WHICH WERE THREE DIFFERENT PROPOSERS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, THE NHP FOUNDATION PROPOSAL.
I WILL NOTE THAT IT HAS THE MOST, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS PROPOSED 262 UNITS AND THE MOST PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS PROPOSED.
THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTEGRAL CARE WHO YOU HEARD FROM EARLIER.
I WILL NOTE THAT ALL 60 OF THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS ARE COMMITTED TO ACCEPT PEOPLE THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CARES COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, WHICH WE FELT WAS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME.
UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES 106 MULTI BEDROOM UNITS.
UH, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 42% OF THE UNITS.
AND OUT OF ALL OF THE INCOME, OUT OF ALL OF THE PROPOSALS, THAT INCLUDES THE MOST INCOME RESTRICTED, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH 158 UNITS AT 50% OR BELOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND 82 OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE FOR FOLKS AT, OR BELOW 30% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
YOU HEARD FROM THE PARTNERSHIP.
UH, WE, UH, ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE DIOCESE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE NHP IN THEIR PARTNERS HERE, UH, WHO CAN ADDRESS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AS YOU NOTED MERRITT, THERE WAS LATE BACKUP.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR SURE.
YOU ALREADY NOTED THAT IN THE RECORD.
UH, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE REMINDER.
UH, IS THERE, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RENT THE RHEA SECOND SET? UH, IS THERE DISCUSSION, OKAY, LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WAS OPPOSED.
I'M SEEING IT AS BEING UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POINT THIS OFF.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
THIS IS VERY MUCH NEEDED IN AUSTIN, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU KNOW, OUR BOND MONEY CAN DO.
DID INCREDIBLE WORK ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
I WAS TRYING TO NOT TALK TOO MUCH AND I'VE TAKEN UP SOME SPACE TODAY.
UM, JUST, I WANT TO, I GUESS, JUST EXPRESS YOU, YOU KIND OF ALREADY DID MANDY, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT GOT US TO WHAT REALLY IS A GREAT OUTCOME.
UH, SOMEBODY ASKED ME THIS MORNING, WHETHER OR NOT I FELT ANY OPTIMISM MOVING INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, BUDGET CYCLE AND MOVING INTO HAVING DISCUSSIONS AROUND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BATTLING.
AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS I ACTUALLY REALLY DO.
UM, I'M OPTIMISTIC, YOU KNOW, DR.
BURNETT CALLS, CALLS YOUNG FOLKS, THE GENIUS GENERATION, AND I'M CALLING THEM ON THE RISE UP GENERATION.
CAUSE THEY'RE OVER IT, THEY'RE ALL PARTIED OUT AND THEY'RE TIRED OF DOING THINGS BECAUSE
[01:25:01]
THEY HAVE TO IT'S BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT IF WE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE CAN HAVE IT.ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GO GET IT, YOU KNOW, AND LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND SAYING, DO YOU WANT IT? YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, HEY, FOLKS NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I NEED SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.
DO YOU WANT IT? AND I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THIS KIND OF PROJECT THAT REALLY YIELDS THE OUTCOMES THAT WE NEED AS A COMMUNITY.
I THINK, DECADES OF CAR DEPENDENCE, SPRAWL, UM, REALLY ROOTED AND EXCLUSIONARY LAND USE PRACTICES.
THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S THAT'S LED US TO THIS STATUS QUO WHERE WE'RE RENT IS.
I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN THE ROOM WHO CAN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT THEY KNOW WHO'S EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES BASED ON AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT'S HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, I, I, I TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY IN, UH, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE EVENT, I HOSTED A TOWN HALL WHERE A CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE, UH, CAME AND TALKED TO US ABOUT BEING HOMELESS.
HE'S A MAN IN HIS FIFTIES, WHO'S GAINFULLY EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
I MEAN, WE ALL REALLY SHOULD BE SITTING HERE IN ABSOLUTE DISMAY AND SHOCK, BUT WE'RE NOT SHOCKED CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT GUY, EVEN WITHOUT KNOWING HIM, WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S EXPERIENCING TRUE CHALLENGES AROUND THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING THAT THEY JUST CAN'T OVERCOME WITHOUT US DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND BETTER AND BOLDER AND BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ADHERING TO THE STATUS QUO.
SO I'M, I'M PUMPED ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MANY MORE LIKE IT, I THINK AS A BODY, WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND WE'RE REALLY WE'RE DOING IT.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK.
I THINK ADOPTING POLICIES THAT LEAD MORE HOUSING FOR MORE PEOPLE AND MORE PARTS OF TOWN, UH, PARTICULARLY THOSE TRANSIT FRIENDLY AND WALKABLE PARTS OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING FOR.
WE CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT MOBILITY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, WE CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT ACCESS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, IT'S ALL DIRECTLY CONNECTED.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT THE NEED IS GREATER THAN WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, BUT WE'RE PUSHING TOWARDS IT.
SO I THINK I, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS DICE, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M A TAXPAYER TOO.
UH, I'LL BE PAYING FOR THIS TOO.
AND I REALLY ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT IT'LL BE WELL WORTH EVERY DOLLAR I SPEND.
SO I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF, UH, CASTING A VOTE FOR YES.
I SAID, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, UH, AMONG MANY OTHERS ON THIS DAY AS WORKING ON THIS CHALLENGE.
UH, BUT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR THREE ACRES FOR, FOR SOME TIME NOW.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
THE DEALING WITH THE HOMELESSNESS CHALLENGE, UH, THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY WAS SET AS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, UH, FOR US TO ACT ON.
AND WHEN WE SET IT AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WHILE DAUNTING IS OF A SCALE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MEET THE CHALLENGE AND THEN HOMELESSNESS, IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.
AND IF WE DO THE WORK AND PUT THE RESOURCES TOWARD IT, WE HAVE A CHANCE OF BEING THE FIRST CITY, OUR SIZE TO DO THAT, TO, TO ACTUALLY END HOMELESSNESS.
UH, WE SET A GOAL AS A COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO HOUSE 3000 MORE PEOPLE THAN OUR SYSTEM WOULD OTHERWISE HOUSE.
UH, AND THAT REQUIRES US TO, TO BUILD MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THE CITY HAD 500 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
AND JUST COULDN'T SEEM TO, TO BUDGE FROM THAT NUMBER WHEN YOU TALLY UP THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE, UH, IN THE PIPELINE NOW WITH, WITH LAND IDENTIFIED, DEVELOPERS IDENTIFIED AND FINANCING IDENTIFIED.
SO THESE ARE REAL PROJECTS, MANY OF WHICH, IF NOT, MOST OF WHICH, IF NOT NEARLY ALL OF WHICH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PART OF THE EFFORT TO PUT ON THE GROUND.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1300, 1400 UNITS.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S A TREMENDOUS LEAP FROM A CITY THAT, UH, WAS HOLDING IT AT 500 FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE ABILITY WITH VOUCHERS, AS, AS HAKA STARTS DIRECTING MORE AND MORE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS, UH, WE ACTUALLY, UH, HAVE IT WITHIN OUR GRASP TO, TO HOUSE MORE THAN 3000 INCREMENTAL PEOPLE, ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY.
I, YOU KNOW, I HEAR THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD COME IN AND, AND IF, IF YOUR ONLY EXPERIENCE
[01:30:01]
AND YOUR ONLY DATA POINT ON WHAT A FACILITY LOOKS LIKE THAT IS PROVIDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS THE ARCH.THEN, THEN AN ANYBODY WHO'S GONNA LIVE PROXIMATE TO THAT IS GOING TO HAVE CONCERNS.
SO I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE LESSON FOR EACH OF US IS NUMBER ONE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROJECTS, THE ARCH WAS STARTED BACK IN 2000 OR THERE ABOUTS.
UH, BUT THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE STARTED RECENTLY, OR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU CAN'T DISCERN THAT THAT PROJECT IS JUST NOT ANOTHER APARTMENT BUILDING A APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAY.
AND I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE APPROVE THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS, IT'S JUST REALLY INCUMBENT ON US AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE, BECAUSE OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN MORE FACILITIES LIKE THIS, AND TO OPEN UP HOUSING, UM, IN, IN ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY, SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS HOUSING IS DEPENDENT ON OUR ABILITY TO HELP ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING LOOKS LIKE WHAT'S BEEN BUILT RECENTLY AND DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT SOME PEOPLE'S MEMORY IS OF, OF WHAT THE ARCH WAS FOR, FOR TOO LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE GOOD ON IT.
UH, BUT THIS PROJECT, UH, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE FOLKS, THE STAKEHOLDERS WORKING TOGETHER, UH, THIS WAS A BIG LIFT FOR OUR STAFF.
UH, IT JUST A WONDERFUL PROJECT, UH, IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, IN THE RIGHT WAY.
UH, AND I JUST REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS.
I WANTED TO THANK, UM, ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE DIALOGUE.
UM, IT SOUNDED TO ME AS IF ALL WHO'VE PARTICIPATED, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY RECOMMENDED, UM, EMBRACES THE IDEA OF HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I, AND I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS US, THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THESE ARE OUR, UM, FAMILY MEMBERS.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH, UM, AND INTERACT WITH ALL THE TIME.
AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM DISTRICT NINE, FROM MILLER MUELLER DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
AND, AND WE DO HAVE SOME LETTERS FROM, FROM THAT, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT AS WELL, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING SOME DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF, OF THE PROPOSAL.
UM, AND I REALLY WANTED TO THANK STAFF BECAUSE THIS IS, I REMEMBER IN MY FIRST TERM GETTING SOME OF THOSE CONSTITUENT EMAILS OF, OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS TRACT, AND IT IS SUCH A GREAT, A GREAT THING TO SEE THE VALUE THAT IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO THIS SITE.
NOT THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE USING CITY-OWNED LAND, UM, FOR CITY PURPOSES, OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC BENEFITS WHEN WE TAKE ARE ABLE TO TAKE A PUBLIC TRACK LIKE THIS ONE, THOUGH, AND, UM, ASSIGN IT TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO DO IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH IS TO CREATE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS FOR DECADES URGED US TO TAKE THOSE UNDER UTILIZED CITY-OWNED LAND AND USE IT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LONG BEFORE MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY REALIZED, UM, WE WERE GOING TO NEED IT.
WE HAD MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO WERE ADVOCATING FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CITY ON LAND, BECAUSE WE CAN GET SUCH VALUE FOR AUSTINITES.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT TRANSITION FOR TRANSFERRING THIS TRACK TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND THEN EMBARKING ON THIS PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT AMENITY AND A GREAT RESOURCE TO OUR CITY.
I THINK WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THE AGENDA.
UH, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO, UM, UM, ADJOURN, THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, UH, HERE AT 1141, WHICH SHOULD BE THE TIME WE NOTE FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE SPEAKERS.
UH, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE IN THE, UH, UH, ROOM NOW TAKING, UH, UH, SPEAKERS.
IF YOU COULD START TO CALL THEM A COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MEDICINE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE GOT BACK TO SPEAKERS? THANK YOU, MARY.
I JUST REALIZED AS WHEN YOU ASKED IF ANYBODY WANTED TO MAKE THE MOTION.
[01:35:01]
I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY ANYTHING.SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WITH THE CLERK THAT IT WAS CLEAR WHAT I WAS MOVING YOUR WAS.
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 4)]
WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON, UM, WHO CALLED IN.SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM JOSHUA LO ONE DOW SKI ON ITEM ONE 90.
I'M CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING HERE AT FOOTSTEPS.
UH, JUST WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST URBAN ALCHEMY, BEING THE NEW VENDOR FOR THE ARCH CONTRACT.
UM, THEY HAVE A POOR TRACK RECORD OF OPERATIONS, CLEAN ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THIS TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES, LABOR LAW, AND FEDERAL VIOLATIONS RESULTING IN CIVIL LAWSUITS, BEING LITIGATED AGAINST THEM.
THEY HAVE NEVER RAN A CON, NOT A CONGREGATE SHELTER AND HAVE VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF AUSTIN AND ITS COMPLEX ISSUES SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS.
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO RECONSIDER, EXTEND THE SOLICITATION PERIOD TO ALLOW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBMIT INTEREST.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
ALL THE FRONT STEPS, CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES ARE UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS, TAKING OVER THE ARCH.
NOW TWO IN-PERSON ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON ITEM 8 62, 73, 85 AND 1 24 ON DECK IS GUS BENYA.
GUS BENYA ON ITEM 7, 10 60 62 64 65, 70 92 AND 11 1 11 ON DECK IS DEBRA MILLER.
HELLO, I'M DEBORAH HARMAN MILLER.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY.
UM, I COME TO YOU TODAY ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER 73, TO ASK YOU TO INCREASE THE FUNDING BY $10 MILLION.
I COME TODAY TO ASK YOU FOR THAT BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE EVIDENCE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN WRITING A BOOK ABOUT THE ASKED MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY, ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE COME BACK FROM THAT AND HAVE SUSTAINED THAT 100%.
THE SOLUTION IS PARTIALLY ADDING THESE RESOURCES.
THE OTHER PART OF IT IS TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES TO FIND THESE RESOURCES SO THAT WHEN THEY GET AT RISK, AGAIN, THEY KNOW WHO TO CALL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY AGAIN FOR THOSE DEPOSITS TO PUT THEM IN ANOTHER PLACE.
WE HAVE TO HEAL OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES WILL FOLLOW THE STUDY IN A BOOK CALLED WE ARE THE SHACK, OPEN YOUR MIND TO SEE ALL PEOPLE.
MOST OF THE TIME, PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK AT US OR HEAR AS IF WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER.
I ALSO WROTE A COPY OF THE CHALLENGER TODAY.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS NEED, TALK TO THEM.
SAM KIRSCH ON DECK IS DEREK GUSTO.
SAM IS SPEAKING ON 54, 62 63, 73, 75, 76, 77 92, 1 0 3, 180 9 AND ONE 90.
MY NAME IS SAM
FIRSTLY, I'M APPALLED TO THE FACT THAT THERE'S BACK-TO-BACK COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THAT TODAY IS PACKED WITH SO MANY IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS. I OBVIOUSLY WON'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO ALL OF THOSE.
UM, BUT IT FEELS LIKE COUNCIL IS DELIBERATELY TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH ITEMS WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
I'M VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO ITEM 54.
I'M ALL FOR THE CITY, GIVING AWAY CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM.
BUT I'M DISGUSTED AT THE BLUE SANTA PROGRAM WHERE POLICE WHITEWASH THE REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE CHILDREN A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AROUND POLICE.
CLEARLY $1.4 MILLION CAN BE BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE.
I SUPPORT ITEM 92, UH, THE HOUSING BOND, BUT IT SHOULD BE RAISED TO $350 MILLION.
UM, IT SHOULD PRIMARILY CONSIST OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SOCIAL HOUSING WITH STRONG TENANT PROTECTIONS.
AND ON THAT NOTE ITEMS 60 TO 75 AND 76, UH, WITH TENANT PROTECTIONS AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SHOULD ALSO BE PASSED TODAY.
UM, THE HOUSING BOND IS NOT A GUARANTEE AND WE NEED THAT HOUSING.
NOW I'M ALSO STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ITEM ONE TO THREE, THE LPRS THAT THEY'RE DANGEROUS TOOLS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE.
UH, I COMMEND COUNCIL FOR PASSING THE GRACE ACT, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
GUSTIER SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 70 ON DECK IS OUR NEXT IS RITA
[01:40:01]
CUEVAS FOR ITEM 70 AUGUSTINE GAZA.ROY NIETO ON DECK IS STEWART HIRSCH ON ITEM 90 OR UP NEXT IS STUART HIRSCH ON ITEM 90 STUART HIRSCH THANKING YOU FOR ITEM NUMBER 90 FOR THE FEE WAIVERS AND REIMBURSEMENTS RELATED TO THE VERTICAL MIX.
USE INTERPRETATION AND APPEAL IN WINDSOR PARK.
I'M STU FROM DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M AS PROUD AS I COULD BE TO HELPING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS UP IN WINDSOR PARK.
MAKING SURE THAT WHAT, UH, THE COUNCILS PROMISE WAS WHEN VERTICAL MIXED USE WAS ADOPTED, ACTUALLY GETS ACHIEVED ON SITE.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN WINDSOR PARK.
OH, WHY'S AZHAR ON DECK IS NICOLE JOCELYN, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS
SO WE CAN HELP THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY MOST IN NEED.
WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 90, DO AND SUPPORT A $350 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND TO BE PLACED ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO WE CAN HAVE OUR COMMUNITY GO OUT AND SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE PAST, SUCH A BOND WILL HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PROVIDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
LOW-INCOME FOLKS HOUSING, PROVIDING HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS, AND ALSO PROVIDING OUR SENIORS AND VETERANS WITH THE ABILITY TO STAY WITHIN THEIR HOMES AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
I MUST TACK THE MAYOR AND ALL OF Y'ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND AND FOR YOUR WORK ON ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I MISSED SOME NAMES ON THE ITEM.
NUMBER 70 SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, UM,
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LISTENING TODAY ON A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, I'M GOING TO SHOW A CLIP BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE TO RENAME THE PAN-AM NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHERE YOU'RE SITTING THAT'S PROBABLY NEED TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL WHO WE GO ON THURSDAY TO LET HIM KNOW THAT THIS HE'LL BE OFF TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED A READING HERE, ALL OF YOU TO EITHER SIGN THE PETITION.
AND ALSO IF YOU CAN SHOW UP AT CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY AT JEN WEEK, WE HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCES MORNING, AND THESE INDIVIDUALS RIGHT HERE THAT ARE FITTING STANDING NEXT TO ME, HAD BEEN WITH US FOR THE VERY BEGINNING.
[01:45:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT ON DECK AS MEDEA LINA
I AM EAST AUSTIN NATIVE AND PRESIDENT OF EAST TOWN, LAKE CITIZENS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND LULAC DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT SEVEN FOR WOMEN.
WE ARE HERE IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM 70.
THE PROPOSED APPLICATION THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WAS BARELY THIS YEAR OF FEBRUARY, 2022.
THE RENAMING OF OUR HISTORICAL PAN-AM NEIGHBORHOOD PARK WAS FILED THAT RECENT TWO NAME, AUGUSTINE TONY CASTEEL PAN-AM PARK AND MARCH, 2022.
THE CITIZENS HAD NO TIME TO DISCUSS OR NOMINATE ANYONE ELSE.
IT WAS POSTED PUBLICLY ON A MEMO.
WE WERE JUST GIVEN MONTHS, THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN NO TO THIS RENAMING, A PAN-AM NEIGHBORHOOD PARK WITH 51% OF OUR DISTRICT THREE THAT HAS SAID NO.
WE ASKED THAT TO RESPECT OUR PETITIONS.
WE HAVE OVER 500 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE THAT HAVE SAID NO TO THIS PARK.
WE HAVE LETTERS OF OPPOSITION THAT IS IN YOUR BACKUP.
WE ASKED IT TO RESPECT THE COMMUNITY AND DO YOUR JOB.
WE THINK NO TO AUGUSTINE TONY PAN-AM PARK.
WE DO NOT WANT OUR NAME CHANGE.
THANK YOU, GAVINO FERNANDEZ ON DECK.
SO WHEN YOU COME UP AND SPEAK, KNOW THAT THIS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE POSTPONED, WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING THE MARRIAGE.
WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING YET WHETHER WE WANT TO DO IT, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE THAT'LL BE THE DEBATE THAT WE HAVE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
SO YOUR DEBATE RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE, SHOULD THIS BE POSTPONED OR NOT? SO, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING.
SO WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MY NAME IS SCAVINO FERNANDEZ AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING AND CONTINUE, WHICH IS A COALITION OF MEXICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORS, LANDOWNERS.
AND NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH YEAR AND WORKING TOGETHER AND ADDRESSING MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND NO, WHY SHOULD WE POST PHONE? WE'VE HAD 90 DAYS, WE'VE HAD TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD TWO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, UH, AND, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WAITED ALL THIS TIME.
AND, UH, THE BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ALREADY SENT YOU A RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UH, 30 DAYS FROM NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
UH, BUT I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AS GOVERNMENT.
AND THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO HAVE TO WAIT.
ANOTHER 30 DAYS WHEN WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WE'RE HERE, THE OTHER PARTY ALREADY LEFT.
SO THEY READ, I GUESS THEY'RE THEY'RE GOOD MIND, READERS JOB ALREADY VOTED TO, UH, POSTPONE DECIDED, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN VOTED YET, BUT THEY'RE GONE AND THAT'S POWERFUL AND THAT'S DANGEROUS AS A GOVERNMENT.
LENA MENDOSA RODRIGUEZ ON DECK IS MUCH THING, BUT NAVINA, BENAMI THIS I PREFER.
I ALL MY HONOR AND GLORY TO MY GOD.
I WANT TO, UM, I DON'T WANT THIS ITEM POSTPONE.
UH, MR. CUSTODY ALREADY HAS TWO PARKS NAMED IN HIS NAME IN EAST AUSTIN.
HE DOESN'T NEED IT IN ANOTHER ONE.
SO I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO GO, GO AHEAD AND, AND UH, VOTE ON IT TODAY.
AND I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY TALKING TO YOU DON'T BEFORE WE EVEN GOT HERE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING.
UH, I LOVE TONY AND ALL HIS FAMILY.
I LOVE ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECAUSE WE WERE ALL RAISED TOGETHER IN THOUGHTS
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE A DECISION.
I'M NOT USED TO COMING OVER HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE Y'ALL, BUT I GIVE YOU THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME AND FEEL YOU NEED TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN AT THE END OF THIS YEAR AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO A LOT OF FAITH, A LOT OF PEOPLES.
I'M A NATIVE EAST AUSTIN KNIGHT AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
[01:50:01]
WAS FILED, UH, POSSIBLY IN 2021.I'M NOT TOO SURE I COULD WOULD GET THAT INFORMATION, UH, APPLICATION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF AB UH, A SWAB TO AB CON TO RECREATION PARK PARKED DEPART DEPARTMENT ON JUNE THE 27TH VOTED TO NOT HAVE A NAME CHANGE AND VOTED NINE NOS AND ONE ABSTENTION PART RECOMMENDATION.
IT WAS TO REPLAY A PART RECOMMENDED THAT A PLAQUE WE PUT FOR TONY GARCIA, TONY CASTEEL AFTER PART TOOK A POS POSITION ON THIS ISSUE OF NO NAME CHANGE.
THE ISSUE WAS TO BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
HERE WE ARE TODAY, HAVING A POSTPONEMENT.
ANGELA GARZA ITEMS, 70 92 94 AND 98.
KEVIN, GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON US.
I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE CROWD ON THIS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH MOBILIZATION IN RECORD TIMING.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING DAYS AND NIGHTS TO MOBILIZE EVERYONE TO GET THEIR VOICES ON RECORD.
HOW MUCH JUST MEANS WE HAVE NOTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT THE OTHER GENTLEMEN, GREAT ACCOLADES, BUT THIS SAYING NO TO HIS POSTPONEMENT IS A BIG ONE.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MOBILIZE EVERYONE.
I WITNESSED IT ALSO, WE DO SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND WITH VANESSA POINT.
AND WE ALSO SUPPORT THE AUDIT, THE, THE ANIMAL SHUTTERS NUMBER 98 AS WELL.
UM, AND WE ALSO WANT TO GO HAVE, WE WANT TO HAVE TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT 1 66 AND 1 67.
THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE NAA, STILL WORK AGAIN, A GENEROUS IN, IN A REALLY MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN THAT AREA.
WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT A S UH, ASK ON THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU, CONNOR, KENNY SPEAKING ON ITEM 92.
I COUNSEL, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF AN, UH, UH, MAXIMUM POSSIBLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND.
ONE IS LEVERAGE, UH, THE PROJECT YOU JUST APPROVED TODAY LEVERAGES 6 MILLION IN CITY FUNDS AND TWO 60 MILLION AND OTHER FUNDING.
THE CITY FUNDS REALLY UNLOCK EXPONENTIALLY.
SECOND IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
PSH PROJECTS ARE REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MAKE A PENCIL.
UH, THE SERVICE COSTS ARE ENORMOUS.
SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE DEBT ON THEM, THE BETTER THOSE PROJECTS WORK.
UH, WE HAVE THREE PSH PROJECTS COMING TO YOU ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AS HFC FOR EXCUSE ME, HEAD OF RHD AWARDS.
THOSE PROJECTS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT BOND FUNDING, UH, PSH PROJECTS, BOND FUNDING, ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MAKING THEM WORK.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I CAPTURED WHAT YOU SAID.
THE TRACT OF LAND THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED AT 3, 5, 1 5 MAJOR CITY OWNED LAND, AN INVESTMENT OF $6 MILLION IN CITY BOND FUNDING.
YOU SAID ENABLED THE PROJECT TO, TO PULL DOWN AN ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION OF OTHER FUNDING.
IS THAT, DID I CAPTURE YOUR NOTES CORRECTLY? I'M ALMOST 60.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND A 93% OF THE UNITS ON THAT TRACT ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE.
IS THAT, IS THAT ACCURATE? UH, YES.
JOCELYN, SPEAKING ON ITEM 92 ON DECK IS WALTER MAURO.
UM, MY NAME IS NICOLE JOSLIN WITH CAPITAL A HOUSING.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND THE SUPPORT OF, UM, ALL OF YOUR CO-SPONSORS HERE IN 2018.
OUR COMMUNITY PASSED A HOUSING BOND AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THAT THAT BOND ENABLED OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO LEVERAGE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING, CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
AND OF COURSE BUILD THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL HOMES FOR FAMILIES IN AUSTIN.
WE NOW FACE AN EVEN GREATER CRISIS CRISIS.
THE COST OF OWNING AND RENTING A HOME IN OUR CITY IS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH HOUSING.
BONDS CONTINUE TO BE A CRITICAL RESOURCE IN THE BATTLE TO KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE.
AND I JOINED MY NEIGHBORS AND COLLEAGUES TODAY AND ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT A $350 MILLION BOND TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND CALL AUSTIN HOME.
[01:55:02]
WALTER MAURO, UM, WALTER MAROTTA, THE DIRECTOR AT FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ITEM 92 FOR THE HOUSING BONDS AT 350 MILLION.
AND THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE 2018 BONDS.
UH, WE OPENED OUR LAUREL CREEK APARTMENTS EARLY THIS YEAR.
LATER THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN ZILKER STUDIOS.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN, UM, THE LORETTA APARTMENTS IN NORTH AUSTIN AND OUR COUNTY'S TERRACE.
AND WE'LL WELCOME HOME A THOUSAND NEW RESIDENTS THIS YEAR, AND WE COULD NEVER BE GROWING AT THAT VOLUME WITHOUT THE BOND FUNDING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
AND WE, WE SERVE A WHOLE RANGE OF RESIDENTS FROM FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE SHELTER AND MANY, MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE JUST ON A TIGHT BUDGET, TRYING TO FIND RENT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THE BONDS IS NOT THE ONLY TOOL THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, BUT IT HELPS TO ADDRESS WHERE THE MARKET CAN'T.
UH, THE MARKET'S NEVER GOING TO REACH A RENTAL PRICE POINT OR A HOUSING PRICE POINT, UH, WITHOUT SUBSIDY SUPPORT.
SO IF WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE A COMMUNITY, I WANT AUSTIN TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT'S DIVERSE.
THAT'S INCLUSIVE THAT THAT DOESN'T PRICE PEOPLE OUT.
AND SO WE NEED THIS TOOL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU, YVONNE WELDON ON ITEM 92 ON DECK IS ALICE WOODS ON ITEM 92.
MY NAME IS ALICE WOODS, AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF SAGE BROOK DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE TWO INDUSTRIES AND SGI VENTURES, THREE WOMEN OWNED TEXAS-BASED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, WHICH ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD HUNDREDS OF UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE 2018 HOUSING BOND.
WE ARE QUICKLY COMING TO THE END OF THESE BOND DOLLARS, BUT WITH RISING INTEREST RATES AND STILL INCREASING CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THIS GOT FINANCING FROM THE CITY IS MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER.
AND IN MANY CASES, OUR DEALS ARE NOT FEASIBLE WITHOUT IT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR ADLER AND THIS COUNCIL IN SUPPORTING ANOTHER BOND TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOMETHING WE'RE ALL AWARE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN AUSTIN, PUTTING A BOND OF AT LEAST $350 MILLION ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT THOSE AUSTINITES MOST IN NEED WHILE BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE 2018 BOND.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR CONTINUING TO PRIORITIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON 92, 1 0 1, 1 0 3 AND 1 24 ON DECK IS ABBY PENNER.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON, ON ITEM 1 24, THE GABA COMMUNITY URGES, INCLUDING LANGUAGE REGARDING COMMUNITY, BUT BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY ONE USE OF COMMERCIAL PARKLAND FEES IN LIEU THAT PARK DEFICIENT COMMUNITIES AND AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT SUCH AS DISTRICT FOUR, BE PRIORITIZE WHEN USING FEES FOR LAND ACQUISITION FOR A PARK OR PARK AMENITIES TO REMOVAL OF TREES.
WHEN NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT RESULTS IN REMOVAL OF TREES, YOU REPLANTING OR PLANTING OF NUTRIENTS ON OR NEAR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON ITEM 1 0 3.
I AM SPEAKING AS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN AND STILL AM OPPOSED TO THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS.
I WAS TUNED INTO THE COUNCIL'S WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER OF WINTERS FOR ASKING APD ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
WELL, ICE MIGHT ONLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS VIGILANCE INFORMATION WITH A CONTRACT.
THEY MAY STILL GAIN ACCESS THROUGH ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY WITH WHICH APD SHARES INFORMATION SUCH AS TRAVIS, THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ERIC, THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
THE X'S ISSUE WAS RAISED IN AN AUSTIN CHRONICLE, MARCH, 2018.
ARTICLE I STRIKES DEAL WITH SURVEILLANCE FOR THANK YOU.
SPEAKING ON ITEM 92 AND ONE 14 ABBY PENNER ON DECK IS RYAN CLINTON.
I'M HERE TO ECHO THE SUPPORT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FOR ITEM 92 FOR THE HOUSING BOND.
AND I'M ALSO HERE FOR ITEM ONE 14, JUST FOR JUNE WEST APARTMENTS AND TWO 80 UNIT, A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE.
SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF OWNERSHIP WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE BOND.
AND I WILL BE HERE WHENEVER THE ITEM COMES BACK UP FOR ONE 14.
ON ITEMS 96 AND 98, RYAN CLINTON ON DECK AND DRAYA, TREMEN
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TOESY AND DRAYA TREMON TOESY ON DECK IS DAVID LLOYD NON ON ITEM 98.DANE CORREA ON ITEM 98, EMILY WELLS, AARON
HAROLD MCMILLAN ON ITEM ONE 18 GREG ANDERSON ITEM 1 68.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
IS THERE ANYBODY, LET ME MAKE THE LAST CALL TO ANYBODY SIGN UP THAT, UH, THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY GOT CALLED.
WOULD YOU COME ON DOWN TO THE CLERK? I MAY HAVE MISSED SOME, SORRY.
UM, YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
I DON'T 100 BARBARA BEN TANTE, MICHAEL LEWIS.
THESE ALL SAY NO THAT THEY WISH NOT TO SPEAK, SO, OKAY.
WHY DON'T YOU SEE THE LINE BEHIND YOU AND SEE YOU HAVE THOSE FOLKS.
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE YOUR NAMES TO THE CLERK SO SHE CAN SEE IF SHE CAN FIND YOU ON HER LIST.
MICHAEL LEWIS, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, SIR? UH, MY NAME'S MICHAEL LEWIS.
I AM THE CLEAN AIR AND WATER ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS.
UM, WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION, UH, FORWARD, UH, THE SUPREME COURT RULING WEST VIRGINIA VERSUS THE EPA MADE THE MONUMENTAL TASK OF CLEANING UP OUR AIR AND REDUCING, UH, CLIMATE WARMING POLLUTION MUCH, MUCH HARDER AS JUSTICE KAGAN WROTE IN HER DISSENT.
THE COURT STRIPS, THE EPA OF THE POWER CONGRESS GAVE IT TO RESPOND TO THE MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME.
NOW THAT THE COURT HAS PUT A STABLE CLIMATE EVEN FURTHER OUT OF REACH LAWMAKERS AT ALL LEVELS, UH, MUST SEEK OUT OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND TO SECURE A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER FUTURE THAT WOULD INCLUDE REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE FAYETTE COAL PLANT.
THAT CLOSURE IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE ANY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, STATED ZERO EMISSIONS GOALS THAT THEY HAD PLANT ACCOUNTS FOR 15% OF OUR TOTAL GENERATING CAPACITY AND 80% OF AUSTIN ENERGY'S EMISSIONS.
IT IS THE 15TH, MOST 50TH DIRTIEST PLANT IN THE NATION.
IT, WE JUST TALKS IT INTO OUR SOIL HARVEST HEALTH PARKS SENTENCES, AND IS ECONOMICALLY UNTENABLE.
METZKER ON ITEM 100 ON DECK IS COLE
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 100.
UM, JUST THIS, THIS CURRENT MONTH HERE IN JULY IS FIVE DEGREES HOTTER THAN THE HISTORIC AVERAGE AND A FULL DEGREE HOTTER THAN JULY OF 2011, WHICH REMEMBER HOW MISERABLE THAT, UH, LAKE TRAVIS IS ALMOST HALF EMPTY.
UH, WE'RE SEEING WILDFIRES RAGING, UH, IT'S NOT CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE CLEAR THAT BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS AND THE WARMING OF OUR ATMOSPHERE, OUR KEY DRIVERS TO THESE, UH, THESE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
AND IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE EMISSIONS QUICKLY, WE'RE GOING TO ONLY SEE WORSE AND WORSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
[02:05:01]
UM, TAKE ACTION HERE AT THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT, UH, SOME GREAT NEWS COMING OUT OF THE SENATE YESTERDAY, HOPEFULLY THAT, UH, THEY CAN GET THAT DONE, UH, WITH, UH, UH, BIG INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN ENERGY.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO DO OUR PART HERE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HIT THE GOAL OF 50% REDUCTIONS BY 2030 AND ZERO EMISSIONS BY BY 2050.
AND THANK YOU, COLE COON UP ON DECK IS RYAN POLLACK FOR ITEMS 1 0 3 KERRY ROBERTS ITEM 1 0 3.
HELLO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME.
UM, I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON, I DON'T WANT TO THREE, CAUSE I AM AGAINST IT.
LIKE I, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT.
THEY THERE'S, THERE'S A PAC MEETING TODAY.
SO, UH, I'M SINGING FOR JUST BASICALLY SAYING NO, BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A SURVEILLANCE AND IT MAKES, UH, IT DOESN'T, IT SEEMS TO BE DOING MORE HARM THAN THE, THAN, THAN HAVING IT.
THANK YOU, DANIEL TURTON ON 1 0 3 ON DECK IS HAROLD MCMILLAN ON ITEM ONE 18.
EMILY SCALES ON ITEM 180 8 ON DECK IS JOE PAUL CONLEY ON 180 8 AND 180 9.
I'M LOOKING AT JP UP THE WINDOW RIGHT THERE.
IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO'S HERE WITH JP, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LET HIM KNOW THAT THEY JUST CALLED HIM CLINTON.
RAREY ON ITEM ONE 90 ELIZABETH JOHNSON.
THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON OUR LIST FOR THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
SORRY ABOUT THAT LITTLE CONFUSED WITH THE SCHEDULE.
I WAS GOING TO COME HERE TODAY AND READ AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE ABOUT THE, UH, CON UH, FRONT STEPS CONTRACTS THAT ARE BEING AWARDED TODAY.
HOWEVER, UM, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS SINCE THAT LETTER WAS SENT, AND I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT AND REVIEW IT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN, IN, IN ADDRESSING OUR CONCERNS.
I ALSO ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH US TO COME UP WITH SOME DIRECTION THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF SITUATION HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND TO HAVE THE KIND OF PROACTIVE LONG-TERM THINKING THAT GETS US OUT OF THIS KIND OF, THAT DOESN'T BACK US INTO THESE KINDS OF CORNERS.
OUR CONGREGATE SHELTER NATIONALLY IS A DYING PARADIGM.
WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM CONGREGATE SHELTER.
HUD IS MOVING AWAY FROM CONGREGATE SHELTER.
AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR SHELTER SPACES AND THE ONGOING SHELTER NEEDS OF THE CITY, I HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A LONG-TERM PROACTIVE VISION AND PLAN THAT CAN GET US THERE.
AND I WASN'T ABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE $350 MILLION HOUSING BOND.
I'M EXCITED TO WORK ON THAT CAMPAIGN.
THAT'S YOU KINDLY, UH, WHEN WE WERE WORKING LAST NIGHT, UM, WE AGREED ON SUBSECTIONS THERE HAD IT, UH, ON THE DAY IS HERE AND I JUST WANT TO READ THEM TO YOU JUST SO THAT YOU SEE THEM TO GET ANY KIND OF REACTION YOU MIGHT HAVE TO THAT.
THE ONES THAT, UH, UH, YOU HAD, UH, UH, DISCUSSED AND,
[02:10:01]
AND, AND, AND WON IT IN OR AGREED TO HAVE IN THE FIRST ONE WAS, UH, THE DIRECTING THAT, UH, UH, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE CONTRACTS, UH, PRIORITIZE REHIRING OF THE FRONT STEP EMPLOYEES.UH, THE SECOND ONE, UH, DIRECTED, UH, UH, THE MANAGER TO REPORT QUARTERLY TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, UH, QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA ON PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONS AT THE TO SHELTER SHELTERS, UH, TO GIVE THE COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL GUIDANCE.
THE THIRD ONE, UH, DIRECTLY TO THE MANAGER TO REQUIRE THE NEW RECIPIENTS, UH, OF THESE CONTRACTS TO, UH, MEET QUARTERLY, TO ACTUALLY MEET QUARTERLY WITH THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S LIMITED TO QUARTERLY, BUT AT LEAST THAT, UH, WHICH THE NEW CONTRACT RECIPIENTS WOULD PROVIDE UPDATES AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THOSE ARE ALL WORDINGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN NO CHANGES IN THOSE, NO CHANGES IN THE FOURTH ONE, UH, TO, UH, UH, HELP ENSURE THE MANAGER DIRECTED, HELP ENSURE THE CONTRACT RECIPIENTS RECEIVE THE GUIDANCE MENTORSHIP AND OTHER SUPPORT NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT THE MANAGERS DIRECTED TO ENCOURAGE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE CONTRACTS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES AND WHERE APPROPRIATE THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE TO HELP ENSURE QUALITY OF SERVICES AND SYSTEM WIDE APPROACH LANGUAGE YOU HAVE SEEN AND APPROVED THE FIFTH ONE.
ALSO THE MANAGER DIRECTED DEVELOP A PLAN AND COLLABORATION WITH THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY OF IMPACTED STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSESS THE CURRENT CITYWIDE SHELTER PLAN.
YOUR LAST POINT THAT YOU SPOKE TO SET FORTH THE LONG-TERM VISION FOR THE DESIGN SCOPE AND FUNDING OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM, UH, PRIOR TO REBIDDING THESE CONTRACTS FOR COMPETITORS OF SOLICITATION DETERMINATION, ALL ONES YOU'VE SEEN, I JUST REPEATED IT INTO HERE.
SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T THINK OF ONLY THE LAST TWO, WHICH ARE THE TWO AREN'T INTERESTED IN, OKAY.
UH, NUMBER, UH, SIX, UH, THE MANAGERS DIRECTOR TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACTS, UH, WITH THE NEW CONTRACT RECIPIENTS REQUIRE PROMINENT POSTING OF CLIENT GRIEVANCE POLICIES AND SHELTER FACILITIES.
AND THAT VENDORS INCLUDE REPORTS ON THE FILING AND RESOLUTION, THE CLIENT GRIEVANCES TO THE CITY AS PART OF THE REGULAR, UH, UH, REPORTING.
AND THEN THE SIXTH ONE, THE SEVENTH ONE, UH, UH, IS THE ISSUE THAT COUNCIL OUR POOL RAISED ON TUESDAY, UH, THE MANAGERS DIRECTLY TO ENSURE THE NEW CONTRACT RECIPIENTS REQUIRE UNIFORMS AND NAMED BADGES FOR THEIR ONSITE STAFF, SO THAT THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE SHELTER UNIFORMS MAY BE DESIGNED TO PICK BY THE AGENCIES.
YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE LAST TWO.
AND ON THE LAST TWO, I CANNOT SPEAK IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIR OF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, SINCE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THOSE WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT IN MY CAPACITY AS AN INDIVIDUALS AND ADVOCATE, UM, I THINK THOSE ARE TWO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THEY'RE EXCELLENT ADDITIONS TO THE DIRECTION AND I DON'T SEE ANY, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM IN ADDING THOSE TO THE DIRECTION.
I THINK THAT THEY ENHANCE, UM, UH, THE INTENT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT, AND I KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS SPEND A LOT OF TIME LAST NIGHT WORKING ON THIS STUFF INTO THE WEED LATE HOURS.
COUNCIL MEMBER TO-GO THEN COUNSELOR MAYER.
UM, SINCE YOU ONLY BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH YOUR AMENDMENTS, I JUST WANT TO BE, I JUST WANT TO SHARE ALSO THAT I INTEND TO BRING FORWARD SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO, UM, IF SOMEBODY REMINDS ME WHAT NUMBER THIS IS, I CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE ONE 90.
UM, I INTEND TO OFFER AS AN AMENDMENT AS TWO AMENDMENTS, UM, THAT THE NEW RECIPIENTS OF THE CONTRACT SHALL ALSO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT COUNCIL COMMITTEES FOR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INCREASINGLY USED OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE AS KIND OF THE CHECK-IN FOR HOMELESSNESS ISSUES, INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS, AND FUNDING.
AND SO THIS THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THIS.
UM, AND LET ME JUST BACK UP AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ARCH IS IN DISTRICT NINE.
I MEAN, YOU SAID WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THESE THINGS.
THE ARCHES IN DISTRICT NINE, I HAVE, UM, TAKEN AN ACTIVE, ACTIVE ROLE, UM, IN ARCH OPERATIONS HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD MULTIPLE RESOLUTIONS AT THIS POINT, DIRECTED TO THE ARCH.
THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE, WHERE MY STAFF AND I WERE THERE WEEKLY ON FRIDAY, UM, PLANNING FOR AN INITIATIVE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY I WAS WILDLY TAKEN ABACK.
I HAD NO IDEA THERE WERE CHALLENGES WITH THE FRONT STEPS, UM, IN THE LAST MONTH AND WAS EXTREMELY SHOCKED AND SURPRISED WHEN I HEARD THAT STAFF WERE AT A POINT WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK WE ALL NEED THE COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE HEADS UP ON THIS KIND OF THING, AND WE NEED TO BE, WE
[02:15:01]
ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF, OF WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THIS, THROUGHOUT THE CONTINUUM SO THAT WE, WE CAN, UM, RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE TIMEFRAME.SO THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT COMMENT.
UM, MY OTHER, UH, AMENDMENT IS GOING TO JUST ENSURE, AND, UH, WE'VE CHECKED WITH APH AND THIS IS ALREADY IN THE PLAN, BUT IT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW VENDOR FOR THE ARCH, UM, SHALL PROVIDE THE SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED, SOME OF WHICH WERE FOR TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER THINGS.
UM, AND IN ALLIANCE WITH, UM, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION, INCLUDING THE RESOLUTIONS, UM, AND I WON'T NAME THE NUMBERS, BUT THE AMENDMENT WILL.
AND AGAIN, PART OF THOSE WERE FOR TRAUMA INFORMED CARE FOR TRAINING AND LIVING WAGES FOR THOSE WORKING ONSITE AND ANOTHER.
SO I THINK HOPEFULLY THOSE, OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP, BUT THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT A LITTLE LATER.
AND, AND, AND THANK YOU, UM, MR. KINDLY FOR WORKING WITH ALL OF US AND WITH THE MAYOR AND, UM, ON THIS EFFORT, I MEAN, IT'S, I, I COULDN'T SAY IT ANY, ANY BETTER THAN YOU JUST DID.
WE SHOULD NEVER GET BE IN THIS SITUATION AGAIN.
UH, SO I WANT TO CLARIFY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS LANGUAGE OR NOT, BUT ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS INTENDED TO GET US TOWARDS THE LONG RANGE PLAN FOR HOW WE OPERATE, UM, SHELTERS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE EXAMPLE YOU JUST GAVE, WHICH IS THE CONCERN ABOUT, UH, CONGREGATE SHELTER.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS HAS DONE INTENDED TO, TO HALT THE PROCESSES THAT OUR CITY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT WE JUST GOT BRIEFING ON YESTERDAY FOR ACQUISITION OF PSA OR SHELTER PROPERTIES.
NO, I TENDED TO STOP ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT THAT PROCESS HAS TO AT LEAST WORK ITS WAY THROUGH, UH, AS CONCERNS THESE TWO SHELTERS BEFORE, UH, UH, RENEWAL CONTRACTS ENTERED.
THAT'S WHAT MY HOPE IS THAT THEY'LL MOVE QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE IDENTIFIED A PROPERTY FOR SHELTER OR BRIDGE SHELTER, AND WE SAY, NO, WE CANNOT MOVE ON IT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE MORE PLANNING TO DO.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO DELAY.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT IN FAVOR OF DELAYING THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE SHELTER AND PSH, THAT IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THE INTENT OF THIS PLAN IS NOT TO DELAY THAT PROCESS, BUT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN 13 AND A HALF MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIGN A NEW CONTRACT.
AND ANYONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE ARCH KNOWS HOW BADLY THAT SPACE IS IN NEED OF, OF A NEW VISION AND A NEW PLAN.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE PROACTIVE WELL WHEN THAT TIME COMES, WHEN THOSE 13 MONTHS EXPIRE AND HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT IS, THAT IS INFORMED BY THE COMMUNITY'S SHARED VALUES AND GOALS.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU, MR. CONLEY FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN, ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT, THEN SITUATION, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT WITHOUT THAT HEAVY LIFT FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST US, TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD.
SO JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND, AND SINCE I ALREADY HAVE THE MIC, I'LL JUST SAY WE HAVE A OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US TO REALLY DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND REIMAGINE THIS SPACE THAT IS SO CENTRAL TO OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE A FIRST STEP TODAY AND MOVE TOWARDS A NEW VISION FOR OUR CAR AND GET SHELTER IN OUR DOWNTOWN SHELTERS.
UM, UH, WE'RE NOW BACK UP TO THE, THE S UH, I WANT TO READ INTO THE, AND WE DO HAVE GREG ANDERSON HERE TO SPEAK ON 1 68, AND THEN I THINK THAT IS HELLO.
YOU'RE HEARING ME THE LAST SPEAKER.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS KNOW THIS AREA PRETTY WELL, AND THERE'S THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOUSING HERE IN THIS AREA.
THAT FOR A LONG TIME WAS KIND OF THE ORPHAN AREA OF DOWNTOWN, AND THERE'S THE WATERLOO INVESTMENT.
AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH MAYOR PRO TEM, CHERYL COLE, TO WORK ON THE WATERLOO PART FOREVER.
AND THE IDEA OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES BEING BUILT IN THIS AREA.
IT JUST WASN'T AROUND THAT LONG AGO.
AND YOU GUYS PUT OUT A GREAT RFP THAT IS POSSIBLY RETURNING 921 HOMES, 116
[02:20:01]
OF THEM INCOME RESTRICTED, BUT NO SUBSIDY AND $21 MILLION.UM, MY BIG FEAR HERE IS THAT WE TRY AND RETRADE ON OUR RFPS AND MAKE OUR RFPS WORTH A LOT LESS BY SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS WAS OUR RFP, THIS IS WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED.
AND THANKS FOR ACHIEVING THIS, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE RULES AND PULL THE ROAD RIGHT DOWN UNDER YA.
AND DE-VALUE ALL OF OUR RFPS IN THE FUTURE.
LET'S PLEASE SUPPORT NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND EXTEND THE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOUSING HERE, BECAUSE WE ALSO NEED MARKET RATE HOUSING.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO THINKS THEY WERE, SHOULD BE SPEAKING? ALL RIGHT.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE.
I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE RECORD COLLEAGUES ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
WE HAD ONE LATE ADDITION TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS NOMINATION OF WAIVERS.
UH, THE MAYOR PRO TAM, UH, IS, UH, NOMINATING, UH, UH, HILARIO, UH, AMARO TO THE, UH, UH,
[Consent Agenda]
I'M SHOWING THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 1 0 2 AND ITEMS 1 68 THROUGH 1 92 WITH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BEING POLLED ITEMS 9, 10, 11, WHICH WE CAN ACT ON TILL WE HEAR 1 11, 1 12 AND ONE 13.SO NINE, 10, AND 11 ALSO ITEM 61, WHICH WE CAN'T HEAR UNTIL WE CONSIDER ONE 19 AND 1 33, UH, ALSO BEING PULLED AS 75 BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, KELLY, I ENDED UP NUMBER 92 PULLED BY ME 95.
UH, AND THEN, UH, ALSO ITEM, UH, 1 68 PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MADISON, 180 2 THAT I POLLED 180 9 AND ONE 90.
UH, I PULLED THEM BOTH COUNTS.
REMEMBER KELLY, UH, PULLED ONE 90.
SO I'LL READ THEM AGAIN, UH, WITHOUT THE, UH, DISCUSSING THAT AND MAKE IT EASIER.
I'M SHOWING THAT THE PULLED ITEMS ARE 9 10, 11 61 75 92, 1 68, 180 2, 180 9 AND ONE 90.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELVIS SECONDS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THOSE ARE A POOL.
UM, I WANTED TO SEE IF, IS DON BLAND IN THE HOUSE, UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO JUST ASK, UM, OUR ANIMALS, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER TO COME UP FOR A MOMENT IN LIGHT OF, UH, THE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY AUDIT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON ANIMAL SERVICES AND OUR CONCERN ABOUT OUR, UH, FURRY FAMILY FRIENDS.
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UH, I WANTED, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND TO TALK ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ARF THAT IS OUT IN OUR LOBBY TODAY.
AND THEN I, I HAD ONE MORE THING TO SAY AFTER THAT.
SO JUST BRIEFLY, SIR, THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'LL, UH, OUR MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IS PORTRAITS OF OUR LONG STAY RESIDENTS.
THESE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN IN THEIR CAGES AND BEEN OVERLOOKED AND THEY ARE DESERVING OF SOME ATTENTION.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER THIS, UH, DISPLAY, WHICH WE MADE A TRAVELING DISPLAY TO COME DOWN HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, THESE ANIMALS, UH, IF YOU ADOPT ONE OF THESE LONG STAY DOGS, YOU TAKE THE PORTRAIT HOME WITH YOU.
AND IT'S A WAY FOR US TO BRING ATTENTION TO SOME OF THESE LONG RESIDENTS THAT CONTINUE TO GET OVERLOOKED IN OUR KENNELS.
AND MAY I WANTED TO KNOW THAT SOME OF US WERE PRETTY EXCITED THINKING THAT MAYBE TODAY WE WOULD HAVE RETURNED TO OUR TRADITION OF FIRST DAY, WHICH IS WHEN, UM, OUR ANIMAL SERVICES FOLKS WOULD BRING SOME ADOPTABLE PUPPIES AND KITTENS FOR US TO, UM, SEE, AND MAYBE DECIDE TO TAKE HOME WITH US AND
[02:25:01]
ADOPT.AND I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT BUILDING SERVICES WAS SAYING THAT THEY JUST COULDN'T HAVE THE, THE ANIMALS COME IN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A PART OF OUR, OUR CITY FUNCTIONING.
AND SO I WANTED TO JUST ELEVATE THE FACT THAT WE ALL VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE, UM, ANIMAL SERVICES BRING IN A, UH, UH, PETS FOR ADOPTABLE PETS, KITTENS, AND PUPPIES TODAY.
AND THEN TO LOOK AT SEPTEMBER 1ST AS A FORMAL REINTRODUCTION OF, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN WE CAN DO THE CADENCE, BUT LET'S TRY TO GET THE, UH, ADOPTABLES IN FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AND BRING THE VAN LIKE WE HAD DONE PRE PANDEMIC SO WE CAN RETURN TO A REGULAR CADENCE OF FIRST DAY.
CAUSE I THINK IT REALLY LIFTS ALL OF OUR SPIRITS.
AND IF I COULD HAVE, UM, AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT KIT RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING.
I THINK ALL OF US, YOU MIGHT NOT WANT A KITTEN.
YOU MIGHT WANT A PUPPY, BUT IT MIGHT BE A NICE THING TO DO.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN, UH, IF WE CAN RETURN TO, UM, SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN WE CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, UH, MR. BLAND, UH, SPONSORING OUR FIRST DAY.
THANKS SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THAT LITTLE PIECE OF PRIVILEGE COLLEAGUES, THERE'S BEEN AN EMOTION IN THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UM, IF THE CLERK COULD JUST NOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, MY NO VOTES ON NUMBERS, 97 AND 100.
AND I'D LIKE TO SECOND YOUR MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR FIRST DAY, IF THAT'S AVAILABLE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, A MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUNCIL MEMBER WILL AND HER WORK, UM, WITH THE ANIMAL AUDIT AND MOST SERVICES AUDIT, WHICH I'M PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR UM, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A REALLY LONG AGENDA AND THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT WORK IN HERE AND A LOT OF SORT OF CONTRACTS THAT JUST NEED TO BE, BE, UM, AGREED TO TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITEM 60, WHICH RELATES TO OUR WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN AFD AND TEXAS PARKS AND WILDFIRE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOR HANDS-ON PRESCRIBED FIRE TRAINING.
UM, THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WILL HELP OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER.
UM, THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
AND, AND WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO HELP FIGHT WILDFIRES, UM, AROUND THE STATE AND, AND I WANT TO WISH THEM WELL AND, AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HEARING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND APPRECIATE HOW THAT EXPERIENCE WILL HELP US IN OUR EFFORTS, UM, TO PREVENT WILDFIRES AND TO BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF A WILDFIRE.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THREE ITEMS THAT RELATE TO THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
UM, ITEM 180 7 IS A GRANT THAT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS RECEIVED TO ADDRESS THE NEXUS OF GUN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH AN OVERARCHING GOAL OF ESTABLISHING A STANDARDIZED FIREARMS SURRENDER PROTOCOL IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, ACROSS JURISDICTIONS FOR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, THIS IS A GRANT THAT OBP WILL BE LEADING AND IS IN, IS COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND OTHERS ON, UM, TO REALLY IMPROVE THOSE SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF, OF PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UM, THE GRANT AWARD IS FOR $500,000 OVER 36 MONTHS, ITEM 77 IS A CONTRACT WITH JAILS TO JOBS WHICH WILL BE PROVIDING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING IN TWO IDENTIFIED CRIME HOTSPOTS LOCATIONS IN AUSTIN.
THEY WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGH RISK FOR ENGAGING IN GUN AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
AND THEN ITEM 78 SUSTAINS FUNDING FOR WORK DONE BY MEXICALI MUSEUM TO PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE ARTS IN A LARGER SWATH OF OUR CITY.
UM, I WANT TO APPLAUD MICHELLE MILES AND THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND APH FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK, UM, TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UH, YES, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, A NUMBER OF THINGS FIRST OFF.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF, OF, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, DONNA TIEMAN AND LOUISA BRYNN'S MADE IN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S OFFICE.
THE TWO OF THEM WORKED HAND IN HAND IN DEVELOPING THE, UH, IN PARTICULAR, THE ANIMAL SERVICE AUDIT ITEM
[02:30:01]
NUMBER 98, WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR STAFF, UM, AND WITH THE COMMUNITY IN DEVELOPING THOSE, UM, DEVELOPING THAT ITEM.SO I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO THEM, AS WELL AS THE MANY, UM, UM, ADVOCATES AND CONSTITUENTS WHO WORKED TOGETHER WITH STAFF ON DEVELOPING THAT ITEM.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS SPOKE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE EXTERNAL ANIMAL SHELTERING EXPERT TO ASSIST IN THIS PROCESS.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CITY AUDITOR WHO'S WELL-VERSED IN, UM, IN, UH, CARRYING OUT THESE KINDS OF AUDITS, I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE, UM, ALTHOUGH CHALLENGING WILL BE DONE IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ALL, UH, WE CAN ALL EXPECT TO PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, DO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH RELATES TO THE BARTON SPRINGS BATH HOUSE, WHERE YOU ABLE TO REALLY HAVE A LIMITATION ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, PROJECT, UH, WHERE CHOOSING, UM, AN ARTIST TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT AND, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT THE BARTON SPRINGS BATH HOUSE REHABILITATION, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, ITERATIONS.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS BEEN, UH, REALLY A CHAMPION OF THAT ALSO.
AND SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO EL BLIND, TAMARA TONNEAU.
UM, THEY ARE IN MY DISTRICT AND, UH, WE HAVE AN ITEM HERE, NUMBER 62, UH, UH, RELATED TO CONTRACTING WITH THEM ON THE WORK THAT THEY DO, UH, TO HELP HELP HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO EVICTIONS.
SO I WANTED TO, TO THANK THEM, UH, FOR THEIR EFFORTS, KELLY, THEN CUSTOMER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ITEM 75 BACK ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF IN ORDER TO GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
AND SO IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL, WE CAN PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT.
ONE LESS THING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
UM, AND THEN I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 95, WHICH I AUTHORED IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT AWARENESS TO THE UPCOMING POINT IN TIME COUNT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE CONDUCTED BY ECHO.
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO MAY BE HERE TODAY OR WATCHING AT HOME OR LISTENING TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ECHO, TO VOLUNTEER FOR THAT.
IT DOES OCCUR IN JANUARY OF 2023.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR GOAL OF HELPING SHELTER, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THE POINT-IN-TIME COUNT IS.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS, UH, PROPS TO WHEN SOMEBODY TUNNEL, THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, THE SANTA FE AND CLAYTON LANE APARTMENTS WHO WERE RECENTLY DISPLACED.
UH, THE, WE HAD A NUMBER OF ISSUES HERE BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THEY WERE THE ORGANIZATION THAT STEPPED UP AGAIN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY, UH, AND CITY PLANS, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THE RENTERS THERE WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
SO IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. THE FIRST OF WHICH ARE MOBILITY RELATED 83 AND 85, OUR INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH CAP METRO FOR TRANSIT STOP IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR 2016 CORRIDORS AND FOR THE CO-MANAGEMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE METRO BIKE SYSTEM WITH PROJECT CONNECT, WE SOMETIMES TAKE THESE INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS FOR GRANTED BECAUSE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CAP METRO OFTENTIMES WORK SO SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER.
UM, THESE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENTS WILL BRING MORE TRANSIT, STOP IMPROVEMENTS AND MORE METRO BIKE STATIONS TO LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY HELPING TO PROMOTE A WALKABLE BIKEABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITY IS KEY TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAKING OUR FAMILY BUDGET STRETCH JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
AND I THINK STAFF ARE CONSISTENTLY SEEKING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THESE COLLABORATIONS WORK ITEM 87 IS AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A FEDERAL GRANT FOR SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAM.
THESE WILL GO FOR SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATIONS IS WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE A LOCAL MATCH HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE 2020 MOBILITY BONDS THAT VOTERS APPROVED.
AND I WAS HAPPY TO SPONSOR IN 2020, AND THEY CAN SAY WE HAVE A LOCAL MATCH.
THEY APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL GRANT.
IT MAKES THEM MORE COMPETITIVE.
AND THEN WE GET TO TURN AROUND AND ACTUALLY KEEP THOSE DOLLARS HERE AND TO JUST EXPAND THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT GET TO BE FUNDED WITH THAT ITEM 87 IS THE BLOCK PARTIES ORDINANCE.
THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE LIVING STREETS RESOLUTION THAT IS INTENDED TO HELP WITH THE BLOCK PARTY PROGRAM AND CREATE PLAY STREETS AND RESIDENT LED HEALTHY STREETS.
SO THIS IS JUST THE, UM, ORDINANCE UPDATE FOR THE BLOCK PARTY APPLICATIONS, UM, WHICH PASSED WITH THE CO-SPONSORSHIP
[02:35:01]
OF MAYOR ADLER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HARPER, MADISON POOL, TOVO RENTA, RHEA, AND CASAR.AND I'M HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ORDINANCE WILL MAKE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THESE BLOCK PARTIES PREVIOUSLY, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD STREET THAT HAPPENED TO INCLUDE A CHURCH, A SCHOOL OR A CORNER STORE WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM APP FROM SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.
UM, BUT NOW THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WILL HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO CONSIDER THESE REQUESTS.
THIS ORDINANCE ALSO HAPPENS TO OPEN THE DOOR TO ALLOWING APARTMENT COMPLEXES, TO HOLD BLOCK PARTIES WITH STAFF APPROVAL.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD.
I HAD ALSO FLAGGED ITEM 180 7, THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ITEM, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY CREATIVE AND VERY MUCH NEEDED IN OUR CITY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, LETTING ME CO-SPONSOR THE INITIAL GUN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT WE CREATE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS WORK CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN THE LAST TWO ARE LOCAL TO DISTRICT DATE.
NUMBER 51 IS AN EASEMENT FOR THE NEW FIRE AND EMS STATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO SERVE TRAVIS COUNTRY.
UM, THE FIRE STATION WAS BUILT BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSE TIMES FOR TRAVIS COUNTRY WERE SO LONG THAT THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A NEW FIRE AND EMS STATION ON HIGHWAY TWO 90 THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WEAR.
AND IT IS A REALLY CREATIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS WHERE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BUILT IN EXTRA TRAINING CAPACITY SO THAT, UM, OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO DIFFERENT STATIONS.
UM, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO ONE PLACE FAR AWAY TO PERFECT THEIR TRAINING OVER THE YEARS, BUT THEY CAN DO IT IN-HOUSE AND PRACTICE ON THESE WHILE, WHILE THEY'RE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, THE DRIVEWAY, AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW HAS SPEED BUMPS ON IT.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS COLLABORATION TO MODERNIZE THE TYPE OF SPEED BUMP THAT'S BEING USED.
SO THE FIRE AND EMS TRUCKS CAN GET THROUGH QUICKER TO TRAVIS COUNTRY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE REGULAR TRAFFIC THAT MIGHT GO THROUGH THERE, UM, WON'T BE SPEEDING, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE DISTRICT.
AND THEN ITEM 56 IS MAPLE RUN PARKLAND ACQUISITION.
IT'S FOUR ACRES OF LAND IN THE MAPLE RUN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS ACQUISITION WILL FUNCTION AS A POCKET PARK, A TRAIL HEAD, AND A TRAIL CONNECTION, AS WELL AS CLOSING A GAP IN THE LATTER BRANCH CREEK GREENBELT SYSTEM.
THE RECOMMENDATION SPECIFICALLY CAME FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, COUNCIL ADOPTED LONG RANGE PLAN, OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS PARKLAND ACQUISITION MOVING FORWARD.
MARIN, UM, I TO SPEAK ON ITEM 70, UH, RENAMING THE, UH, UH, PAN-AM PARK, YOU KNOW, ANYONE CAN GO IN AND INITIATE A RENAMING.
IF THEY FEEL THAT A PERSON IS WORTH LEAH RENAMING A PARK, WE DON'T DO IT.
THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THE BOARD DECIDES THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE IN AUSTIN.
I HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, DOING MY JOB OUT, GOING TO WASHINGTON DC, TO LOBBY FOR METRO FUNDING, THEN GOING WITH OUR SISTER CITY DELEGATION, WHICH WE HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING, INCLUDING WORKING WITH EXCHANGING STUDENTS AND A T AND FUTURES EXCHANGE OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK AND FORTH FROM AUSTIN TO SOUTH TO YARN.
SO I HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO OVERVIEW, OH, LOOK OVER THIS NAME CHANGED THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PARK.
THERE'S THIS US SUMMER BREAK, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO COME UP TO A REALLY POSITIVE SOLUTION.
AND I'VE SEEN THIS, SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT I RECEIVED JUST HERE ON THE DYES COULD BE A REALLY POSITIVE OUTCOME IF WE CAN WORK TO IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DOING THROUGH THIS, UH, CHILDREN THERE IN AUGUST TO OUR NEXT WEEK.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WE ARE POSTPONING ITEM FOUR TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR PULLING THAT FROM OUR DISCUSSION.
AND THEN, UM, WHERE DID WE LAND ON 44? IT'S STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, AND I HADN'T ASKED FOR A CHANCE TO SPEAK YET, BUT I DO HAVE SEVERAL THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
AND I WOULD PREFER TO, I MEAN, ABOUT THE AGENDA, THE CONSENT AGENDA GENERALLY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL IT FOR POSTPONEMENT.
I KNOW STAFF DID REACH OUT AND SAID THEY BELIEVE THEY REGARD IT AS TIME SENSITIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CONTRACT IS NOT UP UNTIL OCTOBER.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING.
IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING MANAGER? THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU CAN, WE CAN POSTPONE IT TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, IF YOU ALL LIKE
[02:40:01]
THAT WOULD BE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING ITEMS, 44 AND 45.ANY OBJECTION, MOOT POSTPONING 44 TO SEPTEMBER 1ST HEARING NONE.
UH, 44 IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST AND THAT WAS OKAY WITH STUFF AND IT'S OKAY WITH STUFF.
UH, I WOULD JUST NOTE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, 75, 76, 77, 78.
THAT'S OUR PRE-FUNDING, UH, IN FURTHER INS OF THE, UM, UH, HOUSING 3000 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, UH, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, UH, INCREASING CAPACITY.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE US, UH, UH, GOING TO SCALE, UH, ON THESE EFFORTS BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE REQUIRES US TO ACT THAT WAY.
UH, I'M PLEASED TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR US TO, UH, SOMETIMES TO GET BOND MONEY OUT ON THE STREETS, BUT A HAPPY TO SEE, UH, UH, ON 83 AND 85, THE 2016 BOND THAT THE COMMUNITY, UH, PAST, UH, BEING PUT TO WORK, UH, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF TRANSPORTATION BONDS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS, UH, APPROVED.
AND WHAT I REALLY THINK IS KIND OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF MOBILITY, UH, IN THE, UH, IN THE CITY.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE CHANGE THAT YOU MADE COUNTS.
REMEMBER ELLIS TO 1 92, THE, THE BOATING DOCKS, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IS THAT THAT THEY WANT TO DO SOME WORK.
SO THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING, UH, SOME MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE RFP STAFF HAD SOME RESERVATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE STRATEGIC PLANS THAT ARE COMING OUT THAT COULD IMPACT THE NUMBER OF BOATS ON THE RIVER AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.
AND THEY JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT BY APPROVING THIS, UH, THEY, THEY, WEREN'T GOING TO ULTIMATELY HEAR AN ARGUMENT THAT SAID, HEY, BECAUSE YOU GAVE US A OR LONGER TERM STAY.
WE MADE CHANGES THAT ARE NOW IN CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU, YOU CAN ADOPT THAT ELEMENT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THAT PURPOSE, BUT YOU ADDED A CLAUSE THAT SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ARGUMENT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
ANYTHING YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO DO KIND OF SUBJECT TO, UH, WHAT THOSE STRATEGIC PLANS WILL BE.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THAT CHANGE SO THAT THAT CAN, CAN MOVE FORWARD.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE VOTE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE, TOBO SUPER QUICKLY.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF, UM, FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS INVESTED IN OUR OPERA FUNDING.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT INVESTMENTS, AS, AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, WITH THE ACTION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE HERE IS ONE 10 ON THE CONSENT OR NO, THEN I'LL, I'LL SAVE IT.
UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.
I THINK THE CENTER AUDIT IS REALLY MUCH NEEDED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND YOUR CO-SPONSORS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR REALLY AMPLIFYING THE WORK OF THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
AND I THINK WE, WE ON COUNCIL HAVE A GREAT ROLE TO PLAY IN REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT IT.
I KNOW WHENEVER I TALK TO GROUPS, UM, WHO ASKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND, UM, OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TO REALLY SEE THE, SEE THE GREAT NEED AND UNDERSTAND HOW EACH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US CAN BE A PART OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, ONE 70 IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE ACTIONS THAT RESPONDS TO SOME LONG AGO, RESOLUTIONS, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THIS WORK CONTINUES TO ENHANCE OUR RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW AND CHANGE, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENHANCING THOSE AREAS OF AUSTIN THAT ARE SPECIAL AND THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UM, IMPORTANT SITES.
THIS IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD.
AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH FOR A LONG WHILE, WHICH IS IN PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT, UM, ABLE TO COMPLY WITH GREAT STREETS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE, TO GET A FAMILY AND APPLY IT TO OTHER OTHER AREAS WHERE WE KNOW THOSE RESOURCES AND 97.
I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT FORWARD THIS ACTION.
AND IN FACT, YOU KNOW, JUST REAFFIRMS A PREVIOUS POSITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE, WE, UH, MADE SOME CHANGES TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, THAT THAT CALLED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND OR OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS TO ENSURE THAT MONEY IS NOT CONSIDERED SPEECH.
UM, THIS ACTION, AGAIN, JUST REAFFIRMS THAT
[02:45:01]
PREVIOUS POSITION, BUT IT ALSO WILL IF PASSED, UM, LET AUSTIN JOIN THE VERY, THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE MOVE TO A MEN CAMPAIGN CALLING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE U S CONSTITUTION TO ABOLISH CORPORATE PERSONHOOD AND THE DOCTRINE OF MONEY AS SPEECH.SO THANKS AGAIN TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER GOOD STUFF ON THE AGENDA, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THOSE ACTIONS.
I REALIZED THAT, UM, I NEEDED TO DO SOME THANK YOUS AS WELL TO OUR STAFF WHO WORKED PRETTY HARD ON A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS THAT I BROUGHT.
SO I'LL DO THIS QUICKLY BRIEF REMARKS ON ITEM 98, WHICH IS THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AUDIT DIRECTION.
I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, WHICH WAS COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN QUINTAS, ALTER, AND MAYOR ADLER.
I WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS, THANKS TO OUR STAFFS FOR THE GOOD WORK, GETTING THIS DONE AND REALLY WORKING PRETTY HARD WITH DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
MY THANKS TO SEE AUDITOR COREY STOKES, AND TWO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, AND TWO DIRECTOR DON BLAND FOR THEIR COLLABORATION WITH MY STAFF AND ME, AND WITHOUT WHICH THIS COLLABORATION, THIS ITEM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE OUR ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS.
THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE AND WHO LIKE OUR ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF ARE PASSIONATELY DEVOTED TO GOOD OUTCOMES FOR ANIMALS IN OUR CITY.
AND JUST TO NOTE, ON THE FIRST DAY TRADITION, I RECALL THAT IT WAS MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S IDEA, UH, TO BRING THE PETS HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO ENCOURAGE ADOPTION FROM OUR SHELTER.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO HELP WITH GETTING THAT CONCEPT STARTED UP ONCE AGAIN.
I FORGOT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
AND I THINK ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS CAME UP WITH THE NAME FOR HIS DAY, ACTUALLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
I REALLY, I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANIMAL CENTER IS AMAZING AND THE STAFF WHO COME ARE, ARE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC AND ONE DAY I BELIEVE THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND FAMILIES FOR ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS IN THE VAN, WHICH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
UM, I NEGLECTED TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS, ONE, UM, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING FORWARD THE BOND ACTION AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO CO-SPONSORED, THAT, THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS, AS ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS SAID, THE BONDS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND HOME REPAIR AND OTHER PROJECTS, UM, WITH OUR BOND WORK, IS THIS BOLD OR IS THIS ON THOSE? OKAY, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT IN ANY, OR, WELL, LET ME JUST FINISH IT AND THEN I WON'T NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF, UM, HAVE JUST BEEN TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS BEFORE THEY'VE ENABLED, UM, ENABLED DEVELOPERS TO REALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, TO LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS, TO BRING IN TENS AND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MUCH, MUCH NEEDED HOUSING.
SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
AND 54, I JUST WANT TO GIVE, GIVE THE STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES A HEADS UP.
THIS IS A LEASE THAT WE HEARD SOME TESTIMONY ABOUT, UM, THAT OUR COMMUNITY LIAISONS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR BLUE SANTE PROGRAM IS, UM, BRINGING FORWARD AND, UM, UM, SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS LEASE.
I WANT TO ASK OUR CITY MANAGER TO PLEASE WORK TOWARD IDENTIFYING SOME SPACE THAT IS OWNERSHIP.
IT SEEMS TO ME THEY'VE BEEN THERE AND THAT WAREHOUSE FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE CONTINUE TO, TO PAYING FOR THAT LEASE.
AND THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH, WITH OUR, OUR S OFF STATED INTEREST IN MOVING INTO OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT REALLY JUST ALWAYS, UM, WE'RE NOT LEASING, WE'RE NOT LEASING PROPERTIES YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO I DID SEE AN, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOCATE A SPACE, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S REALLY A PLAN FOR DOING SO.
SO IF, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BRING SOME BUDGET DIRECTION, ASKING FOR SOME, FOR SOME WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT CONCRETE PLAN TO IDENTIFY THAT.
AND ALSO SINCE I'M TALKING ABOUT IT, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT THE COMMUNITY LIAISON, UM, SPONSORS ARE THE ROLE MODEL DAYS.
AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF US HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THOSE.
UM, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES IF YOU'RE NOT ON, ON MARJORIE AND BEEMAN'S LIST OF FOLKS THAT SHE INVITES TO THOSE TO, TO ASK TO BE ADDED BECAUSE, UM, THOSE HAVE BEEN SOME, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE YEARS, I'VE TRIED TO GO TO AS MANY AS I CAN.
UH, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS IN, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT SHE ALWAYS WELCOMES YOU TO PARTICIPATE ANYWAY.
AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING THING TO BE OUT THERE AND, AND TALK TO TALK TO SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE REALLY HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER, OR THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU MAKE AND WHERE YOU WORK AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER, OTHER THINGS AND, AND WHAT WE DO.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL THANKS.
UM, COLLEAGUES I'VE PASSED ON AN AMENDMENT ON KROLL, IT'S ON
[02:50:01]
ITEM NUMBER 180 2, A THAT STAFF HAS NOW INDICATED THAT THEY CAN AGREE TO, UM, THE CROLL CONTRACT IS GOING INTO THE NEXT PHASE.IT'S ASKING FOR A DIRECTION, UH, THAT SAYS WHILE YOU'RE TALKING TO A CRAWL, UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UM, UH, COME BACK TO COUNTS, GET A TALK TO THEM ABOUT, UH, STAYING WITH US AT IF, IF, UH, THE COUNT, IF THE MANAGER'S GOING TO BE COMING IN ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL AG, UH, ACADEMY CLASSES, UH, THAT HE ALSO COME BACK WITH A, UH, UH, PROPOSAL OR WHAT IT WOULD COST TO KEEP CRAWLING ENGAGED AT THAT POINT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT ITEM? I DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTION NECESSARILY, BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU ABOUT IT, WHICH MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF DISCUSSION.
AND SO IF YOU COULD KEEP IT PULLED SO THAT WE COULD JUST REVIEW IT SO THAT I HAVE CLARITY, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT'S FINE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND KEEP THAT PULLED.
WE'LL KEEP THE CONSENT I HAD AGENDA THE WAY THAT IT IS.
LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, IF THE RECORD JUST REFLECT THAT I HAVE RECUSED MYSELF ON ITEMS NINE AND 1 12, 1 12, THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN, UM, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AT THIS 0.9 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WE'LL BE CONSIDERING THE OTHERS LATER.
SO DON'T FORGET TO DO IT LATER.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE A FAIR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED IS A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS, STILL NOT WITH US.
THEN THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT UNANIMOUS VOTE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POINT THIS OFF THE DYES COLLEAGUES.
WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
THERE ARE 10 SPEAKERS, THREE MINUTES EACH WILL GET US TO ONE 30, AND THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO MIDNIGHT SNACK WHO HAS BEEN, UH, COOLING THEIR HEELS WAITING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF MUSIC.
UH, AND WE WANT TO TRY TO START WITH ZONING SPEAKERS AT TWO O'CLOCK SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THEM WHILE THEY'RE WAITING ON, UH, ON THE PHONE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA HERE, UH, AND SEE WHAT THINGS WE THINK WE CAN KNOCK OUT, UH, REAL QUICKLY.
SO AFTER WE DO THE CONSENT ON ZONING, UH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEE IF THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN RIFLE THROUGH REAL FAST, UH, THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IN, IN LITERALLY A MINUTE OR TWO.
UM, WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH ONLY ONE ITEM TO COVER, AND THAT'S HOW SOUTH, UH, MAYOR I DON'T, I DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UNLESS COUNCIL MEMBER, REGGIE, MARIA, WHO WAS ABSENT ON THURSDAY REQUESTED.
UM, SO, UH, IF ANYBODY WANTS, THE DEFAULT IS GOING TO BE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON HEALTH SOUTH, BUT WE ANNOUNCED WE WOULD.
SO IF ANYBODY WANTS THAT, THEY JUST NEED TO FIND ME AND, UH, AND LET ME KNOW.
UM, BUT THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
TWO O'CLOCK, UH, UH, BACK COUNCILMEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR LOVELY AND WONDERFUL MS. KAY, WHO I LOVE MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.
I HAD A HANKERING FOR FRIED CHICKEN TODAY.
SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO JOIN US FOR OUR FRIED CHICKEN LUNCH ORDER, JUST HIT UP MY TEAM.
[Public Comments (Part 3 of 4)]
HERE AT, UH, ONE O'CLOCK, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO, UH, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE LIST AND PLEASE TELL A MIDNIGHT SNACK THAT WILL BE WITH THAT MOMENTARILY.
OKAY, MAYOR, UM, THERE IS A CHANGE FOR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAD A VERY LAST MINUTE REQUEST THIS MORNING FOR, UH, INTERPRETATION SERVICE.
SO I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK THE INTERPRETER, JACQUELINE
UM, SINCE WE TYPICALLY REQUIRE 48 HOURS TO SECURE SERVICE.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL BEGIN WITH
TEGA MY NAME IS MARIA MORELLA AND I LIVE IN ZIP CODE 7, 8, 7 4 4.
[02:55:06]
IN ANI'M HERE TO KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE NEXT AND MY GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THEM IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
NO,
BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH THE TAXES ARE GOING UP ANNUALLY FOR HOUSING THAT YOU THINK MAY YOUR FACILITY.
I SAID,
THEY AFFECT US IN A LARGE WAY.
THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY BACK.
I'LL START TO MOVE TO THIS PLUS.
I MEAN, SO THEY FAMILIAS GET THE NAME OF PLENTY OF IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF DISPLACEMENT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT PLAN TO LIVE THERE.
WE HAVE THE WORRY THAT HOW ARE WE GOING TO LIVE THERE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE OUR JOBS ANY LONGER? WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WELL, WE HAVE THE SAME BENEFITS MEDIC THE SAME MEDICAL BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING OURSELVES LATELY.
WHEN WE HEAR THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN PLACE.
SO WHEN A PHYSIO SOCCER LAST PERSONAS
I ASKED YOU NOT TO PUT US IN IT AND PEOPLE PUT US IN JEOPARDY THAT PEOPLE THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS
AND WE'RE HERE TO BE COMING TO DECISIONS THAT YOU TAKE.
AS RESIDENT, THE
AND WITH THIS INFLATION THAT THAT'S AFFECTING US ALL, NOT ONLY ME, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, THE RENT IS UP IN THE SKY AND IT'S VERY HIGH
[03:00:01]
ME A LOT.BECAUSE IT'S GOING UP IT'S THREE AND $400 MORE IN RENT AND WE'RE NOT LEAVING IN SOME RESIDENTIAL SUITE TO BE PAYING THOSE HIGH PRICES AND THEY DON'T EVEN, THEY DON'T TOUCH, THEY DON'T LOOK INTO THEIR HEARTS OR TOUCH THEIR HEARTS TO THINK OF HOW MUCH THEY'RE RAISING OUR RENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE RENT AND
WE HAVE MEANT THIS ALMOST PERSONAS, OBVIOUSLY WHERE PEOPLE WOULD KNOW DOCUMENT.
HE GENERALLY STAN, UH
AS SOON AS, AND THAT'S NOT JUST, THAT'S NOT JUSTICE.
THE VISITORS THAT ARE COMING WITH JUST THE VISA.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO RENT AN APARTMENT.
AND THE NAME OF ALL MY COMMUNITY.
I'D HOPE THAT YOU GUYS TAKE CONSCIOUS OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.
AND THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US HISPANICS.
UM, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REMOTE IS A REMOTE SPEAKER.
I'M TRYING TO, OKAY, THERE WE GO.
I'M HERE VIRTUALLY TO SPEAK ON A COUPLE OF MATTERS VERY QUICKLY, UM, THAT ARE STILL FACING BLACK CREATIVES, UH, ARTS, CULTURAL PROGRAMS, AND SMALL CREATIVE, SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, AND SPECIFICALLY IN, UM, EAST AUSTIN SLASH DISTRICT ONE.
UM, SO, AND THEN ALSO MY COMMENTS MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUOTES IN HERE THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS TO AVOID CRITICISM, SAY NOTHING, DO NOTHING AND BE NOTHING.
SO THE FIRST QUICK UPDATE, IF ON THE BOX WITH OUR PROJECT, THAT CONTINUES TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, UM, BY THE CITY.
UM, THE LAST TIME I SPOKE HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, UH, ABOUT THIS WAS EITHER THIS PAST DECEMBER OR JANUARY.
AND ONE OF YOU SUGGESTED, UM, ONE OF YOU ON THE DIET SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT THE MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WHICH I DID.
AND THERE WERE, UM, A FEW MEETINGS CONVERSATIONS, UH, VIRTUALLY, UM, VIDEO WISE, WHOM SO ON AND, UH, EMAILS, UH, PHONE CALLS, UM, WITH MYSELF AND ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECT PARTICIPANTS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND FROM THAT, UH, DECISION IN THE FORM OF A MEMORANDUM, UM, THAT CAME FROM HOUSING AND PLANNING, WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS THE PROJECT CITY DEPARTMENT, UM, MANAGING, UH, THE PROJECT, UM, WAS EMAILED TO US LAST MONTH.
AND, UM, AND I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY REJECT THAT DECISION AND THE REASONS LISTED FOR IT.
[03:05:02]
THEY AND US, AND ESPECIALLY MYSELF, THEY WERE VERY DISMISSIVE, UH, UNACCEPTABLE AND QUITE INSULTING TO THE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE GROSSLY DISADVANTAGED IN HARM BY THE CITY'S DECISION TO SUDDENLY CANCEL THE PROJECT AFTER TWO PLUS YEARS.UM, AND THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DECISION, I GUESS WHAT THE THUMBS UP FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO IGNORE INTENTIONALLY, NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO HONOR THE PROMISES MADE TO THE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS.
UM, IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, YOU IN ADVANCE THAT ANY EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE CORRECTION, CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BY THE CITY WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN OUR FAVOR AND ONLY SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL THEY'LL BE MONTHS WITH OUR TIME AND CITY RESOURCES TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF PRETENDING TO CORRECT BROKEN PROMISES, UH, TO THE PROJECT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T COOL BY THE WAY WE'RE IN SPECIALLY IN THE END, WERE ALL WOMEN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND WOMEN OF COLOR.
UM, SO AGAIN, NOTHING IS BEING DONE SO REPAIRED.
AND SO THAT LATEST YEAR ON THIS MATTER, UM, I NEXT SPEAKER IS ETHAN SMITH.
UM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 92, THE HOUSING BOND, I'M ACTUALLY NEUTRAL ON THIS.
UM, AND I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBVIOUSLY, UM, BECAUSE A HOUSING BOND, I UNDERSTAND THINKING OF IT AS A TOOL AND A TOOL BELT, BUT YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT BY INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES.
AND SO MY BIG QUESTION IS HOW IS THAT, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO BE PASSED ON TO RENTERS? BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR, RIGHT? WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING A CITY THAT TEACHERS AND MUSICIANS AND FIREFIGHTERS, ET CETERA, CAN LIVE IN THE CITY, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR DOWN PAYMENT YEAR, YOU'RE FINE.
IT'S REALLY THE RENTAL MARKET THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT, UH, MAINTAINING AFFORDABILITY.
SO, UM, IF YOU RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE A BOND WHICH I THINK WOULD PASS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY IS GONNA INCREASE THE COST OF RENTS.
UM, SO YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE RENT ACROSS THE BOARD TO HELP SOME PEOPLE TO MAKE SOME UNITS.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANOTHER METHODOLOGY WHERE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND MONEY OR FUNDING THAT WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA RAISE THE COST OF RENTS AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EFFICACY WILL BE, WHAT YOUR RETURN WILL BE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE OF THE HOUSING MARKET.
UM, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY DO IT, BUT, UH, IF YOU COULD HAVE PREDICTED WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN TO AUSTIN'S HOUSING MARKET IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BUYING PROPERTY TO SELL.
UM, YOU'D BE RICH, UM, BUT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES.
ONE THING THAT I THINK IS PREDICTABLE IS I DON'T THINK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PRICES GO UP THE WAY THEY HAVE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE FLATTER.
IT MIGHT STILL GO UP A LITTLE BIT IN AUSTIN.
I MEAN, AND NATIONALLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PREDICTING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE MARKETS WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN.
SO THEN IF YOU GO FURTHER IN THE FUTURE, YOUR ABILITY TO PREDICT BECOMES LESS.
BUT IN THE, THE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN BECOME GREATER.
BUT IF RENTS AND OTHER PLACE, IF HOUSING MARKETS AND OTHER PLACES GO DOWN, IF THERE'S A BUBBLE AND AUSTIN STAYS KIND OF FLAT, MAYBE FIVE, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, YOU WILL HAVE A SITUATION WHERE, UH, YOU'RE BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY IS YOUR FOLKS THAT HAVE INVESTED IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE IN AUSTIN ARE LOOKING TO REBALANCE THEIR PORTFOLIOS AND TO SAY, HEY, THE CHANCE OF MAKING A PROFIT IS GOING TO BE IN THESE OTHER MARKETS.
SO, UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND, YOU MIGHT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE, UH, MONEY FROM THESE, THIS CORPORATE EQUITY IS, IS LEAVING AUSTIN TO SOME EXTENT, UM, AND THAT YOU'D HAVE MORE UNITS COME ON THE MARKET, BUT THESE KINDS OF HOUSING BOND PROJECTS IS GOING TO BE BAKED IN.
YOU HAVE A SITUATION WITH MFI.
IF YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE TO FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE 20% LIMITED MFI YOU HAVE BECAUSE OF THE CRAZINESS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO YOU HAVE DISTRICTS IN AUSTIN WHERE MFI OF THE CITY OF, UH, FAMILY OF FOUR IS ABOVE THE MFI OF THAT DISTRICT.
[03:10:01]
A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN A GIVEN DISTRICT, AREN'T EVEN GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT HOUSING.SO IS IT REALLY AFFORDABLE? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
A STORY OF A WOMAN WHO HAD A TOUGH UPBRINGING, HER CHILDHOOD NEEDS WERE NOT MET TERRIBLY ABUSED.
GROWING UP, FELL IN LOVE AND LOVE WITH THE WRONG GUY IN LOVE WITH HER CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.
BUT THIS TIME IT WAS MUCH WORSE.
ONE DAY, THIS WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD, THROWN INTO DITCHED MURDERED.
THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED ON HER BEHALF.
HER FAMILY WAS TOLD BY AUTHORITIES AND I QUOTE, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? SHE LIKED BAD BOYS.
THIS IS A STORY OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEXAN WOMAN SHARED, SHARED BY HER SURVIVING SISTER.
I HESITATED MANY TIMES TO CONTACT THE POLICE FEBRUARY 22ND IN THE CLOSET, SHIVERING IN FEAR, SCREAMING, YELLING, CRYING, TERRIFIED HOURS PASSED BY FINALLY, I GRABBED MY PHONE HELP.
THEY SAID THEY ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS.
THEY LET ME KNOW I WAS ASSAULTED.
AND IT'S A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LAW, REALLY? OR AM I JUST ANOTHER WOMAN WHO LIKE THE BAD BOY FIRST ATTEMPT TO PROSECUTOR CALLED? WE ARE READY TO GRANT YOU A PROTECTIVE ORDER, BUT YOU HAVE TO TELL US WHERE HE IS.
YOU EXPECT ME TO TELL YOU WHERE HE IS WHILE I'M BARRICADING MYSELF BEHIND MY HOME IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE.
SECOND ATTEMPT, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE READY TO APPLY FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER? YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU HAVE TO GO SHARE YOUR STORY IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
WHAT I WENT THROUGH NOW, I GET TO BE SHAMED AND HUMILIATED PUBLICLY THIRD ATTEMPT.
FINALLY, I ACTUALLY FILE AN APPLICATION FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER.
YOU GUESSED IT DENIED JUST ANOTHER WOMAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH A BAD BOY.
SADLY, THIS IS VERY COMMON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO MY SURPRISE, THE WOMAN I SPOKE TO TO HELP ME.
SHE WAS EVEN MORE STRESSED THAN I WAS I, A VICTIM OF A CRIME SEEKING HELP.
AND THE PEOPLE I'M TALKING TO, THEY'RE SO STRESSED OUT.
I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO SUGGEST ONE STEP ONE STEP, JUST THE TINIEST SOLUTION.
THERE'S A PROGRAM IT'S ONE HOUR, IT'S FREE BY HEARTMATH INSTITUTE.
IT'S GEARED TO HELP THOSE IN CRISIS RESPONDERS.
I BELIEVE THAT ANYONE IN GOVERNMENT WHO'S RESPONDING TO THINGS, SITUATIONS LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE THIS TRAINING.
THIS TRAINING IS TO HELP THEM.
IT'S NOT TO HELP THE VICTIMS. IT'S NOT TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT DIED IT TO HELPS IT'S TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO PICK UP THE PHONE WHO INTERVIEWED THE VICTIMS. SO THEY'RE NOT STRESSED ANY LONGER.
SO WITH YOUR HELP, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, MOVE YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE.
A CITY RESOLUTION TO MANDATE THIS FREE PROGRAM, I BELIEVE WOULD SAVE LIVES.
UM, THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO GO ABOUT THIS ONE IN DECISION AND ONE IN CIRCUMSTANCE.
YOU MAKE A DECISION TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M HYPER, I'M VOLUNTEERING MY TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT AND DRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION WITH YOUR HELP.
MAYBE WE CAN SAVE A LIFE, BUT MAYBE IN THIS PROCESS, WE CAN KEEP THE INTEGRITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR CITY.
WE'RE PRETTY EASY TO FIND, BUT NATASHA DOT MADISON AT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV IS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO, TO SEND US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I ALSO CHAIRED THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS MISS, UM, UH, UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING WHAT YOU JUST DID, WHICH IS REALLY BRAVE BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US TODAY.
BUT WHEN YOU COME AND SHARE, UH, WITH US AS A BODY LIKE THIS, OR BEFORE A COMMITTEE WHERE MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN IT INSPIRES A POLICY THAT COMES OUT OF IT.
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING UP.
THANKS CYNTHIA VASQUEZ, JEANETTE MATTHEWS.
I'M SORRY THAT SHE'S REMOTE ANA
MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
BUT I'M SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS PUT FORTH BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CONTINUED TO MEET WITH NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES AND CURRENT RESIDENTS.
I'M HERE TO WHAT'S THE CONCERN REGARDING THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN THE PROCESSES BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL
[03:15:01]
AND THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.A PORTABILITY SHOULD NOT, AND CANNOT BE A TUNNEL VISION APPROACH.
YOU TAKE LOOK FROM 10,000 FEET UP AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, A MOVE HERE AS A SINGLE PARENT WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN, I COULD ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AND WE WERE BARELY MAKING IT.
BUT THEN BACK THEN IN-DEPTH SPRINGS.
WE DID NOT HAVE A RECREATION CENTER, A SPOTTER SOCCER FIELDS, A LIBRARY, OR EVEN A PARK HAVING ACCESS AND KEEPING MY KIDS BUSY.
AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ONE OF 11 ZIP CODES IN THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST JUVENILE CRIME RATE.
THIS WAS BECAUSE OF POOR PLANNING, BUT WE DID SOMETHING BAD.
WE NOW HAVE THE GEORGE MEDALLIA STUFFED SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER WITH ADJACENT BASEBALL AND SOCCER APPEALS AND PARKS.
WE HAVE EACH OF THE 2013 AND 2015 CATASTROPHIC FLOODS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LIBRARY.
AND SOON WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY.
WE GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT PLANNING.
I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN AND POINT.
THIS ADVOCACY FOR DISTRICT PLANNING.
WE HAVE SOME PLANNED AREAS, BUT A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE STILL NOT PLANNED, EVERY PART OF THE CITY SHOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN.
WHEN THE MFI OF THE CENSUS TRACK IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE COMMONLY USED CITY.
WHAT MFI NUMBERS RESIDENTS ARE NOT BEING HELPED IN A PORTABILITY IS CONSIDERED TO BE 80 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI.
THIS IS DISPLACING US AS DEMONSTRATED WHEN REDEVELOPMENT OCCURS AND THERE IS NO REALISTIC OR ADEQUATE BACKUP PLAN FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS THAT ARE RENTING, NOT EVEN AI AI, AS THE TEACHERS MAKE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
THIS CITY HAS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES BY YOUR SYSTEM WITH HOME, HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IT IS REPORTED THAT HE DOES NOT FULLY STEP WOULD THAT HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE.
THEY VALUE THE VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE BEING DISPLACED.
WHEN ALLOWING PEAS IN LIEU, WE HAVE BEES IN LIEU FOR AFFORDABILITY, PARTS, TREES, DRAINAGE, PARKING, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
WE NEED A HEALTHY TREE CANOPY.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO SEE THE EXTREME PETE WORN IS BE APPLIED MORE CONSISTENTLY TO THE EAT AREAS IN EAST AUSTIN, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PARKS, SIDEWALKS, ADEQUATE PARKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DOES NOT COMPROMISE THE PUBLIC SAFETY BY CREATING ADDITIONAL CREEK OR LOCAL AS STUDY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PROPOSED ON FLOODPLAINS THAT COULD POSE A RISK ON CURRENT RESIDENTS AND EVEN BUSINESSES DOWNSTREAM.
THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THEIR ENGINEERS.
AND SO DOES THE CITY, BUT WHERE ARE THE ENGINEERS FOR THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ENGINEER? WE ALL KNOW THAT THE 2018 BOND ADDRESSING FLOODING GAINED MORE SUPPORT THAN THE HOUSING BOND.
NO ONE SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL INJUSTICES.
WHEN RESIDENTS ARE NOT, ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND ON SITE, THE EQUITY OFFICE IS NOT BEING CONSULTED IN AS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING AND EQUITY ISSUES.
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO BE COMPROMISED AND WE'RE STILL BEING PUSHED OUT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISPLAY, ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WHAT YOU SAY NEEDS TO MATCH WHAT YOU DO.
PLEASE PLAN ALL OF OUR CITY ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ASHLEY HAMILTON, CAROLYN ROSE KENNEDY.
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT ARE MISSING, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OH, OH, GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE TEXT SICKENS, ROME, WHERE THE, WHERE THE MOMS AND THE BABIES DON'T CRY.
WELL WORD, UH, THEN AS SPIN YOU'LL VERB AND THE GODS ONLY KNOW HOW I'VE TRIED HOME, LESS ON DIRECT.
HOME LESS SUN DERANGED, WHERE THE BACK BURNERS BROKE AND, UH, GAIN,
[03:20:01]
BUT I DON'T HAVE TO COOK BECAUSE MY BEST TOOL YOU TOOK.SO LET'S GO OUT AND PRETEND WE'RE IN SAYING, OH, GIVE ME GIVE BACK MY HOUSE WITH MY FINE LITTLE WHITE SPOUSE WITH THE WHITE BIG IT INSTALL AROUND ALL WERE ROSES AND PEARLS TILL THE END OF THO WORLD, YOU CAN TELL THE GOOD NEIGHBORS I'VE DROWNED.
OH, GET, OH, GIVE ME A CELL WITH YOUR DRUGS.
WHEN THE GODS ONLY KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE, WE'LL ALL CRY.
AND I'LL SING WITH MY TWO ROPE AND WINGS.
YOU MADE ME CRAWL WHEN I WANTED TO RUN.
OH, GIVE ME A ROOM WITH SOME NURSING HOME GLOOM WHERE I ROCK OR GET ROLLED DOWN THE HALL.
IT IS IN THE REPORT, BUT THEY'LL SEAL THAT AND MAIL IT TO Y'ALL.
OH, GIVE ME A HUT WHERE RP MY MOUTH SHUT, WHERE THEY CALL ME BY POLL OR BY NAME WE'LL ALL FLY AND ALL CRASH.
UM, MY LILY WHITE AS THAT, JEANETTE ARE STUCK TRYING TO TAME, OH, GIVE ME A GRAVE WHERE THE BAD BOYS BE HAVEN, WHERE THE COYOTES CALL OUT.
MY NAME NOW WAS SOAR THROUGH THE CLOUDS WHILE I'M CRY IN OUT LOUD THAT I'M NO LONGER PLAY IN YOUR GAMES.
OH, LESS ON DERANGED WHERE THE, UM, LESS SONG DERANGED WHERE THE BACK BURNERS BROKE AND, UH, GAIN.
BUT I DON'T HAVE TO COOK CAUSE MY BEST TOOL YOU TOOK.
SO LET'S GO OUT AND PRETEND WE'RE IN SAFETY, PLAY BALLS.
WHEN YOU COME, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, IT'S ONE 30.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK A MIDNIGHT SNACK.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY AND LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC, I WILL BE BACK DOWN HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK, UH, TO LISTEN TO, UH, ZONING, UH, SPEAKERS.
UH, THE TIME IS ONE 30 AND WE'RE IN RECESS UNTIL TWO SUBJECT TO A MIDNIGHT SNACK AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
[Live Music: Midnight Snack]
TAKE A BREAK AND WE BRING LIVE MUSIC INTO THIS PLACE.AND THAT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO BECAUSE OF THE STATEMENT THAT IT MAKES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVE MUSIC IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN GOING SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE ALMOST 200 ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AND WHEN WE COME BACK AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE START IN WITH ANOTHER TWO HOURS OF LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, COMING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT ZONING CASES BECAUSE WE LOVE DEMOCRACY IN THIS CITY.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GOOD STUFF, BUT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK AND LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC JUST REALLY HELPS YOU GET THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE TAKE THE MUSIC AND WE PRESS IT INTO THE WALLS.
AND WHEN THINGS GET REALLY ROUGH IN HERE, I CAN KIND OF SPACE OUT FOR JUST A SECOND AND PULL BACK THE SOUND OF, OF, OF, OF MUSIC IN THIS SPACE.
NOW IT'S NOT EXACTLY ASKING OUR MUSICIANS TO PLAY AT CARNEGIE HALL, BUT IT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE AS, AS WE CAN GET TO THAT.
UM, SO IN OUR CITIES, UH, CARNEGIE HALL TODAY, WE GET TO, TO, TO BRING IN MIDNIGHT SNACK, UH, WHICH IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO, TO US AND THE CITY.
UH, THEY RECORDED, IT'LL BE PLAYED, IT'S AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, UH, AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT GETS SHARED
[03:25:01]
AND CHRONICLE THEN A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN SOME HISTORIAN IS DOING A PIECE ABOUT MUSIC A HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN AUSTIN, THIS IS PROBABLY WHERE THEY BEGAN.THERE'S NO MORE, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO VENUE IN THIS CITY THAT HAS AS A ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF REALLY GOOD MUSIC AS CITY HALL, UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO COME IN AND PLAY A PIECE IN THIS PLACE, UH, AND IT'S SPECIAL.
AND WE TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
UH, SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE WITH US HERE, A MIDNIGHT SNACK, IT'S A, IT'S A POP RNB TRIO CONSISTING OF TY AUSTIN AND MAKING MILLA.
AND, UH, ZACH MORGAN FORMED IN 2020 IS MICKEY AND TY AND ADOPTING THEIR NEW NAME IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.
THEIR SOUND FEELS FAMILIAR LIKE SOMETHING YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD, UH, YOUR WHOLE LIFE, BUT WITH A SPRINKLE OF SOMETHING NEW AND UNIQUE, THAT LEAVES YOU JUST WARNING MORE.
UH, THEY PLAY AS A TRIO PRIMARILY, UH, BUT THEY ALSO COLLABORATE WITH SOME OF AUSTIN'S FINEST MUSICIANS FOR A FULL BAND SOUND, UM, WITH, WITH, WITH HIGHLIGHTS, INCLUDING, UH, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST SHOWCASE AND 2021 PLAYING SOME OF AUSTIN'S FAVORITE VENUES LIKE SAXON PUB AT THREE 10, UH, SCOOT IN HALF-STEP AND ALSO HAVE A MONTHLY, UH, PURGING RESIDENCY.
UH, THEY HAVE QUICKLY GROWN TO BECOME A REAL STAPLE OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THESE GUYS HERE IN JUST A SECOND, BUT PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MIDNIGHT SNACK TO AUSTIN'S CARNEGIE HALL AT CITY HALL.
ALL OF THAT IS FOR THE LIVING
SO, SO IF SOMEBODY WATCHING THIS, I'M NOT A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, BUT TODAY OR TONIGHT OR NEXT WEEK,
[03:30:01]
UM, WANTS TO COME HERE, YOU PLAY LIE.HOW WOULD THEY DO THAT? UM, WE POST THINGS ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE, UH, WHICH IS AT HAVE A MIDNIGHT SNACK.
UM, WE HAVE A, UH, RESIDENCY AT THE PERSHING.
UM, THIS IS OUR LOVELY SOCIAL MEDIA GURU.
SO, I MEAN, HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO POST SOME GREAT CONTENT ABOUT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING NEXT AUGUST 10TH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY GIGS SAID AT THIS POINT? PARDON? DO YOU HAVE ANY NEXT GIGS SET AT THIS POINT? OH YEAH.
SO WE PLAY EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE US, THAT'S OUR FIRST OFFICIAL MIDNIGHT SNACK GIG.
DOES IT GO ON UNTIL MIDNIGHT? I MEAN, WE CAN HAVE A SNACK.
WHAT TIME ARE YOU THERE? WE START AT 10.
AND THEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU GIVE IT US WHERE YOU ARE ON INSTAGRAM.
UH, WHAT ABOUT A WEBSITE? DO YOU HAVE A WEBPAGE? YEAH, BUT GENERALLY WE REALLY USE INSTAGRAM HEAVILY.
IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH A LOT OF OUR FANS AND FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS THE EASIEST PUSH FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN INSTAGRAM.
UH, UM, I THINK THAT'S REALLY COOL.
AND YOU GUYS OBVIOUSLY JUST SOUND GREAT AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO READ ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXTEND THE VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS, LIKE, AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE I, STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, JULY 28TH OF THE YEAR, 2022 ON BEHALF OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES OF THE CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, WHO IS ALSO WITH US TODAY, I DECLARE JULY 28TH, 2022 HAS BID NIGHTS BACK DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
CONGRATULATIONS DID IT MA SMALL TOWN MAYOR PRO TEM.
IT IS THURSDAY, JULY 28TH AT TWO 11 AND I'LL RECONVENE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE, GETS STARTED, UM, WITH ZONING ON IF, UM, MR. ROSS TOBIN WOULD LIKE TO START US OFF AND THEN WE'LL HEAR OUR SPEAKERS.
DO YOU REMEMBER DUMB JURY RESTAURANT WITH A HOUSING PLAN DEPARTMENT? UM, WHAT I'LL DO FIRST, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU IS READING TO THE RECORD.
THE ITEMS THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE POSTPONED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE DO SPEAKERS SO THAT THE LEARNING SPEAKERS ARE AWARE THAT THOSE ITEMS ARE PROJECTED TO BE POSTPONED.
SO WE'LL JUST HELD THAT FIRST, UH, THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'LL BE OFFERING FOR CONSENT LATER FOR POSTPONEMENTS.
I REMEMBER 1 28 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO SEPTEMBER 15TH.
I HAVE NUMBER 1 31 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SEPTEMBER 1ST ITEM 1 32.
WE'D BE POSTPARTUM REQUESTS BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD DECEMBER 1ST.
THOSE ARE BOTH THE STATESMAN ITEMS. UM, ITEM NUMBER 1 36
[03:35:01]
IS A POSTPONED REQUEST, UH, BY YOU MAY REPORT TO THE SHELTER.UM, ITEM NUMBER 1 38 IS SUPPOSED TO PULL REQUEST BY THE STAFF.
THIS NUMBER FIRST ITEM 1 39 HAS POSTPONED REQUESTS BY THE STAFF TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
I DIDN'T WANT FOR YOU TO BE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO SEPTEMBER 15TH.
IT'D BE POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO SEPTEMBER 1ST 1 46 WILL BE A POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT, KIMBER 15TH.
AND THEN 1 51 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF ALSO TO SEPTEMBER 15TH.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER ONE 60 WOULD BE A POSTPONED REQUEST BY THE STAFF NUMBER.
FIRST 1 61 POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS BY STAFF TO SEPTEMBER 1ST AND FINALLY ITEM 1 65 WOULD BE A POSTPONED REQUEST BY STAFF TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
SO THOSE ARE THE ITEMS I BELIEVE WILL BE POSTPONING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND FOR THE ITEM THAT I'M POSTPONING, JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION, UM, THE NEW DISTRICTS HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UM, HOW WE ARE OPERATING.
AND SO I HAVE A ZONING CASE THAT'S NEW TO MY DISTRICT THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
AND IT USED TO BE IN DISTRICT SIX.
AND NOW THAT IT'S IN DISTRICT 10, I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE POSTPONEMENT PROCESS.
I GOT DONE HERE A LITTLE LATE.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT 1 42 IS POSTPONED.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, WE'LL BE READING THE POSTPONEMENT LATER, BUT I'M PROJECTING WILL BE LESS PRONE TO SEPTEMBER 15TH BY THE APPLICANT CAN'T REMEMBER TO VOTE.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I DO.
UM, CAN I ASK MR
UM, WE DID RECEIVE EIGHT QUESTIONS I BELIEVE FROM YOUR OFFICE.
UM, AND, UM, WE, UH, INCLUDED IN THE RESPONSE TO THE Q AND A TODAY OR YESTERDAY THAT THE, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT DADDY WAS BEING POSTPONED TODAY.
SO WE DID NOT ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER IS AS WE GET THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND UPLOAD THEM TO THE, UH, Q AND A SYSTEM.
SO THAT THERE'LL BE, UM, ON TODAY'S AGENDA Q AND A, AS WE GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND UPLOAD THEM AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE POSTING ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM FOR THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING, UM, WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'VE APPROACHED THE STATESMAN PUD IN TERMS OF HOW WE WERE SAYING PEOPLE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT IT TODAY UNDER OUR TRADITIONAL RULES, FOLKS WOULD BE ONLY SPEAKING TO THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT I THINK WE HAD SAID THAT WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE SUBSTANTIVELY TOO.
SO IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE OKAY WHEN