Aug 17, 2022 Environmental Commission

COMMISSIONER GARY COMMISSIONER NICHOLS, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

WELL, DO YOU GET CREDIT FOR THAT AS THAT? UH, AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

COMMISSIONER SHIRA HERE, SECRETARY BRISTOL HERE AND I SHARE BEDFORD.

AND I'M RAM BERG AND I'M HERE AS WELL.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

[1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on August 3, 2022]

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

WE'RE GOING TO THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.

UM, KAYLA DISTRIBUTED THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS? UM, BEFORE WE QUEST A MOTION TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THEM MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

THIS IS ROMBERG I'LL SECOND THAT, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING LAST MEETING'S MINUTES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

MAKES IT EASIEST FOR ME.

IT LOOKS TO BE UNANIMOUS.

SECOND ITEM IS TO AN UPDATE FROM THE ATX WALK, BIKE, ROLL TO UPDATE AUSTIN SIDEWALKS, URBAN TRAILS AND BICYCLE PLANS.

I WONDER THE SECOND PAGE.

UM, UH, THE

[2. Update on ATX Walk Bike Roll to update Austin’s sidewalk, urban trails, and bicycle plans. City Staff: Katie Wettick, Program Manager, Public Works]

UM, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION FROM CITY STAFF AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE BOTH REMOTE.

IS THAT CORRECT? KILLER.

UM, WE'RE READY WHEN YOU GUYS ARE.

UM, KATIE AND I THINK MAYBE JOHN AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M HOPING EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME SAY IS I BELIEVE SOME SORT OF A SLIDE DECK AND YOU EITHER SHARE IT OR GIVE ME PERMISSION TO SHARE KATIE.

WE'RE PULLING THAT UP NOW.

JUST ONE.

UM, WELL I WOULD GET STARTED WITH THE INTRODUCTION.

SO I'M KATIE, WEBTECH URBAN HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

UM, AND I AM JOINED HERE WITH JOHN EASTMAN AND I BELIEVE NATHAN WILKES WILL BE JOINING AS WELL.

AND JOHN IS WITH SIDEWALKS AND NATHAN PHYSICALLY AT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND STREET DESIGN.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS ATX WALK, BIKE ROLL, WHICH IS OUR INITIATIVE TO UPDATE THE URBAN TRAILS SIDEWALKS AND BIKEWAYS PLANS.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE TALKING TO THIS GROUP BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THIS CAN HAVE A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, RIGHT? WE'RE WORKING ON HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES AND LEAVING THEIR CARS AT HOME TO SAFELY GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, UM, WHETHER IT'S BY BIKE FOOT OR ANY OTHER HUMAN POWERED DEVICE.

UM, AND SO THIS SLIDE DECK IS A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY.

UM, WE'VE BEEN USING IT WITH A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A FULL AGENDA, SO I'LL BE GOING PRETTY QUICKLY, BUT I WANTED YOU TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE OR FOLLOW UP WITH ANY OF US WITH QUESTIONS.

SO THE GOALS OF ATX WALKED BY FLOOR, AS I MENTIONED IT TO UPDATE THESE MODAL PLANS.

UM, AND THEY ARE FROM 2014 OR 2016 SIDEWALKS OF THE 2016 PLAN.

SO AUSTIN HAS CHANGED A LOT AND WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR PLANS REALLY REFLECT CURRENT CONDITIONS.

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT SOCIAL AND RACIAL EQUITY IS FULLY EMBEDDED WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS AND THINK ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS UPDATE PROCESS NEXT.

AND WITH THIS PROCESS, WE ALSO REALIZE THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF, BUT HAVING AN URBAN CHILD OR A SIDEWALK CAN REALLY IMPACT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND SO WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THIS INTO ACCOUNT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS.

AND DETERMINE WHERE WE BUILD, HOW WE BUILD, UM, AND WHAT WE BASE THESE DECISIONS ON.

SO OUR TIMELINE, WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS IN WINTER 2021, AND WE'RE NOW IN PHASE TWO WHERE WE KIND OF DONE SOME INITIAL OUTREACH AND WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER DIFFERENT PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY PIECES, THINKING ABOUT OUR NETWORKS AND OUR BUILDUP PLANS AND FOR URBAN TRAILS.

AND BIKEWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN ABOUT A MONTH WITH A FEW DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, UM, TO GET INPUT ON ALL OF THIS

[00:05:01]

THEN WE'LL BE TAKING EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WINTER AND CREATING A DRAFT DOCUMENT, GOING BACK OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR INPUT AND AIMING FOR PLAN ADOPTION IN THE SPRING.

AND THIS IS THREE DIFFERENT PLANS.

SO ONE INITIATIVE, THREE PLANS, NEXT SLIDE.

SO A BIG FOCUS OF THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN ON EQUITY AND WE'VE BEEN USING THE OFFICE.

UM, THE EQUITY OFFICES DEFINITION THAT EQUITY IS ACHIEVED WHEN RACE NO LONGER PREDICTS A PERSON'S QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS WITH AN EQUITY SCAN.

SO THEN WE HAD CONSULTANTS LOOK AT HOW THE CITY HAS, OR HAS NOT ADDRESSED EQUITY IN THE PAST.

AND THEN THEY CREATED AN EQUITY TO REALLY GUIDE HOW WE THINK ABOUT EQUITY AT EACH STAGE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS NEXT.

AND A BIG PART OF THIS IS HOW CAN WE BE MORE EQUITABLE IN OUR OUTREACH? AND WE'VE REALLY BEEN AIMING TO CONNECT WITH AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE PAST SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT THEIR INPUT MEANINGFULLY SHAPES THE PROJECT.

AND ONE WAY WE'VE WORKED TO DO THIS IS THROUGH HIRING COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS.

SO WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH HAVING HIRED PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE TRUST IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHO CAN THEN GO AND HAVE THESE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MIGHT NOT TRUST TO THE STAFF.

TO, WITH MORE SHADE AND NATIVE PLANTING PROGRAMS, UM, AND REALLY EXPANDING THAT CONNECTION OF NOT ONLY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE, BUT BRINGING NATURE TO THEM.

AND SO WHAT WE ASKED IN THE FIRST PHASE OF, UM, OUTREACH WAS REALLY JUST TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S PREFERENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF WALKING, BIKING, AND A UNDERSTANDING WHAT TRIPS ARE BEING MADE WITHOUT A CAR, WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE THIS AND THEN WHAT BARRIERS OR NEEDS EXIST.

SO ALL OF THE RESULTS FROM THIS OUTREACH ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THIS EQUITY FOCUS, WE BROKE DOWN THE RESPONSES INTO TWO CATEGORIES.

SO IN THE TEAL, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED, WHAT THEIR RESPONSES WERE.

AND THEN IN THE ORANGE, YOU SEE OUR FOCUS POPULATION AND OUR FOCUS POPULATION, OUR RESPONDENTS WHO EITHER REPORTED AN ANNUAL INCOME BELOW 50,000 OR RACE AND ETHNICITY OTHER THAN NON HISPANIC WHITE.

AND SO WITH THIS SPECIFIC QUESTION, WE ASKED IF PEOPLE AGREED OR DISAGREED WITH THE STATEMENT THAT IN AUSTIN, PEOPLE OF ALL RACES SHARE EQUAL ACCESS TO SAFE AND COMFORTABLE PLACES TO WALK, BIKE OR ROLE.

AND IF YOU LOOK DOWN TO THE LAST, UM, RESPONSE WITH STRONGLY DISAGREE, YOU SEE THAT 50% OF OUR FOCUS POPULATION STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT X SIDE.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF WHY PEOPLE WANT SAFE, COMFORTABLE PLACES TO WALK BY GOOGLE, WE HAD THE SAME TOP FIVE, BUT IT WAS ALL RESPONSES ARE FOCUSED POPULATION.

UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER FIVE, 58% OF OUR FOCUS POPULATION NOTED THAT THEY ARE AIMING TO SPEND LESS MUCH NEXT.

AND SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE ALSO HAD OUR COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS WHO WERE ABLE TO HAVE MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS, NOT JUST LIMITED TO SURVEY QUESTIONS.

AND WHAT WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WERE CONCERNS AROUND HOUSING.

SO CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A BIKE LANE OR A TRAIL THAT'LL BE BUILT IN FIVE YEARS IF WE DON'T THINK WE CAN KEEP LIVING HERE IN FIVE YEARS.

UM, AND THEN ALSO A LOT OF WHAT WE HEARD IN THESE CONVERSATIONS TOO, THAT AREN'T IN THIS SLIDE DECK, BUT I WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO IS A REAL INTEREST FOR MORE CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE.

SO A REAL NEED FROM OUR, UM, FOCUS POPULATIONS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT INTO GREEN SPACE, UM, WHETHER IT'S A PARK OR ANY OF I AGREE WAY, BUT JUST REALLY FEELING THIS NEED TO CONNECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HAVING LIMITED OPTIONS NEXT.

UM, SO THEN HOW ARE WE USING THIS TO MOVE FORWARD? SO ALONG WITH LOOKING AT EACH OF OUR MODAL PLANS, WE'VE ALSO LEARNED THROUGH ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK THAT WE REALLY NEED MORE HOLISTIC POLICY SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT POLICIES COULD WE LOOK AT, UM, THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOMEONE'S LIFE.

SO MAKING IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT BUILDING HOUSING, BUT PERHAPS WE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY CHANGE WHAT SOMEBODY SPENDS ON TRANSPORTATION BY MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GET AROUND IN A LESS EXPENSIVE WAY.

UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THESE DIFFERENT POLICY PIECES, ALSO LOOKING A LOT ABOUT KIND OF BRINGING NATURE INTO THE CITY

[00:10:01]

AND SO WITH THAT, OF COURSE, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HER SPECIFIC MODAL PLANS TOO.

SO FOR URBAN TRIALS, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ARE ADDING MORE TRAILS ALONG SHARED USE OR DOORS FOR US WITH AUSTIN DEVELOPING THERE'S LIMITED SPACE TO BUILD TRAILS.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THESE LONG LINEAR UNDEVELOPED CORRIDORS, WHICH RIGHT NOW TEND TO BE ALONG CREEKS.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE EXPAND THAT? SO HAVING TRAILS ON TRANSIT OR TRAILS IN UTILITY EASEMENTS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE WELL THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY REPLICATE HERE ON THE FOXTON.

AND THEN AS WE HAVE THIS ROWING TRAIL NETWORK, WE ALSO WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S WELL-MANAGED AND MAINTAINED SO THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT USING THE TRAILS.

SO THIS IS ALL MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE, AND THAT WE'RE REALLY ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THE TRIALS ARE WELCOMING TO THEM.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NETWORK DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE MAP YOU SEE HERE IS THE, NOT FROM OUR 2014 URBAN TRAILS PLAN, AND WE'VE UPDATED THIS WITH GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT.

SO LOOKING AT WHERE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT MORE TRIALS, WE'VE ALSO DONE AN ON AN OUT AND WALKED SOME OF THESE TITLE ALIGNMENTS, BUT 2014 PLAN, SOME OF THESE LINES ARE DRAWN JUST LIKE DOWN THE CENTER OF A CREEK.

AND SO WE'VE GONE OUT AND THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE ACTUALLY BUILD HERE? IS THERE SPACE BECAUSE OF COURSE THE TRAIL IS NOT GOING DOWN THE CENTER LINE OF A CREEK.

UM, AND SO WITH THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF TAILOR SOME OF THE ALIGNMENTS.

SO WHEN WE DO GO TO BILL, IF IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER, UM, AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR DESIGN STANDARDS.

SO LOOKING AT HOW WIDE DOES A TRIAL NEED TO BE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT CONTEXT AND THE AMOUNT OF USERS EXPECTED, WHEN DO WE NEED TO START SEPARATING PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES, THE CLASS, AND THEN WHAT OTHER AMENITIES, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, RAIN GARDENS OR TREES OR LIGHTING SHOULD BE ADDED, NEXT SLIDE.

SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACK OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND WITH THIS PUBLIC OUTREACH, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THREE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

SO FOR URBAN TRAILS, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT PROJECTS DO WE PRIORITIZE? UM, SO THE THREE SCENARIOS WOULD BE, WHAT IF WE PRIORITIZE CONNECTING TO NATURE, THE SECOND WOULD BE CONNECTING TO NEIGHBORHOOD DESTINATIONS.

SO MAYBE SOME SHORTER TRAILS THAT GET YOU TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY OR GROCERY STORE OR THE THIRD BEING CITY-WIDE DESTINATION.

SO THOSE LONGER REGIONAL TRIALS AND OUR BIG CHALLENGE IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE BUILDING IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OR MITIGATING FOR NEGATIVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

AND SO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, WE REALLY NEED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND CROSS DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES.

SO THINKING ABOUT THIS HOLISTICALLY AS A CITY, HOW DO WE BUILD OUT THE NETWORK? UM, AND WITH THAT, IF NATHAN HAS MANAGED TO JOIN US, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIM.

I KNOW HE WAS HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, HE WAS GOING TO BE APPROACHABLE.

SO I THINK HE'D GOTTEN FROM HIS PART OF THE PRESENT.

AND WATCH KATIE, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I WAS WATCHING THE CHAT AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET IN.

SO I THINK YOU'RE OKAY.

I THINK I SEE HIM IN THERE NOW, KATIE, HIS NAME JUST POPPED UP.

NATHAN, ARE YOU THERE? YEAH, I THINK I'VE BEEN PERFECT RIGHT ON TIME.

I HAVE PERMISSION TO GET AWAY CHAIRMAN STUFF.

TRAILS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, KATIE AND I GET COACHED BY OUR PIO.

UM, NATHAN WILKES WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UH, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION STREET DESIGN DIVISION NOW FULL AND I WORKED ON THE 2014 BICYCLE PLAN AND, UH, LIKE URBAN TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS, UH, PLANS.

THIS IS AN UPDATE.

UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A SIMILAR POSITION WHERE WE'RE, UH, RESPONDING TO THE FEEDBACK.

UH, WE HAD A BUNCH OF MAP-BASED FEEDBACK AND, UH, REASSESSING KIND OF THE PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, SINCE WE LAST EXPANDED THE, UH, KIND OF CENTERPIECE OF THE BICYCLE PLAN, WHICH IS THE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES BICYCLE NETWORK, UM, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2014 AND EXPANDED WITH THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN IN 2019.

SO IT TAKES WALK, BIKE, ROLL, BE THE NEXT ITERATION OF EXPANDING THAT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PLANNING AROUND A LOT OF THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN AUSTIN, LIKE PROJECT CONNECT, A LOT OF HIGHWAY PROJECTS, TRAIL CONNECTIVITY, UM, AND, AND JUST, UH, CONTINUED BUILD OUT OF THE BICYCLE AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO, UH, BIKEWAYS AND URBAN

[00:15:01]

SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THINGS ALIGNED AND SIMPLE.

SO WE WILL BE USING THE SAME THREE SCENARIOS FOR PRIORITIZATION, THE SAME THEMES, AND, YOU KNOW, IN THIS UPCOMING PHASE POLLING AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHO AND WHAT COMMUNITIES RESONATE WITH THESE THREE THINGS THEMES.

AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S VIABILITY TO ALL OF THEM AND WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE LOCAL PREFERENCES.

SO, UH, WHAT KATIE SAID, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED ON A BIKE WAY SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO NATURE BY MAKING STREETS MORE NATURE, LIKE, UH, INCREASING THE QUALITY OF THE PLANTINGS, CONNECTING TO URBAN TRAIL AND PARK KIND OF LAND ASSETS AND ALIGNMENTS AND CREATE, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE EXCITING PARTS ABOUT THAT IS, UH, THE PARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE REQUESTED THE MOST WAS LINEAR PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, URBAN TRAILS WHILE OFTEN NOT IN PARK SPACE NECESSARILY, UH, CREATE THOSE LINEAR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THOSE OPEN SPACES.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.

UM, AND YEAH, IT'LL BE BUILT, UH, ON PRIVATIZATION FACTORS, JUST LIKE URBAN TRAILS.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, AND THEN THIS IS ONE WHERE I WANTED TO KIND OF DWELL FOR A SECOND AND THE BIKEWAYS PLAN IN 2014, KIND OF SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ON THIS.

AND I THINK WE'RE LOOKING TO GO A LOT FURTHER, AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ALL HERE, AS YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS, WE DID THIS ANALYSIS IN THE 2014 PLAN TO LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT WE WOULD MOTOR VEHICLE TRIPS, THAT WE WOULD PULL OFF THE MOTOR VEHICLE NETWORK.

IF WE CAPTURED A VERY MODEST AMOUNT OF SHORT TRIPS BY BICYCLE.

AND YOU KNOW, NOW IN 2020 TO 22, 20 22, WE HAVE TO SAY BICYCLE AND SCOOTER TRIPS.

CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S A REAL THING THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BACK THEN.

UM, BUT, UH, WE SAID THAT IF WE CAPTURED 15, ONLY 15% OF TRIPS UNDER THREE MILES, WHICH IS QUITE REASONABLE AND 7% OF TRIPS FROM THREE TO NINE MILES, THAT WE COULD BRING MORE PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN WITH LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, UH, WHETHER THAT'D BE THE, THE CARBON, THE AIR QUALITY, THE HUMAN HEALTH, UH, THAT GOT MORE TRIPS IN AND NEAR DOWNTOWN THAN THE ENTIRE MOPAC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

AND IN 2014, THAT WAS KIND OF THE BIG REGIONAL HIGHWAY INVESTMENT, THE 11, UH, MILE TOLL LANE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO KIND OF RELOOK AT, UH, THE MAGNITUDE OF A POSITIVE KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT GIVING THESE, UH, MOBILITY CHOICES CAN CREATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JOHN EASTMAN TO TALK ABOUT THE SIDEWALK PEDESTRIAN PLAN.

THANKS NATHAN.

UM, JOHNNY'S SPIN WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SIDEWALK AND SPECIAL PROJECTS DIVISION, AND I'M REALLY LUCKY TO, UM, I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO BE WORKING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WITH, YOU KNOW, SUCH A, A GREAT SET OF TEAMMATES AND PULLING THIS MULTIMODAL PLANNING TOGETHER.

UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS THAT WE, WE RECENTLY RAN, UM, AND IN SORT OF PROVIDING AN UPDATE FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN, WHICH HAS BEEN 10 YEARS, RIGHT? SO 10 YEARS AGO, UM, THE SIDEWALK NETWORK IN AUSTIN WAS ONLY ON APPROXIMATELY 43% OF THE CITY'S STREET FURNITURE.

SO WELL UNDER HALF THE CITY'S STREET FRONTAGE HAD SIDEWALKS.

UM, WE'RE NOW UP TO 58% AND, AND SO 43 TO 58% DOESN'T SOUND HUGE IF YOU FRAME IT AS YOU KNOW, WELL, UNDER HALF TO ALMOST TWO THIRDS, THE NUMBERS ARE, WE'VE GOT A THOUSAND MORE MILES OF SIDEWALKS IN AUSTIN THAN WE DID 10 YEARS AGO.

WE NOW HAVE A NETWORK OF 2,800 MILES OF SIDEWALKS WHERE WHEN, EVEN WHEN I STARTED 10 YEARS AGO, WE WERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, UH, YOU KNOW, 1800 MILES.

SO IT'S REALLY SPECTACULAR WHAT THIS CITY IS DOING IN TERMS OF TRANSFORMING IT IN SELF, INTO A PLACE WHERE IT IS COMFORTABLE, ATTRACTIVE TO, TO WALK BIKE, UM, AND ROLE.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE'RE AT THIS POINT UPDATE, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO BUILD ON THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

UM, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I, I, I LIKE TO BRING UP IS OUR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.

WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN, IN THE COUNTRY THAT REALLY DIDN'T EXIST FIVE YEARS AGO.

AND THEY DID IT HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

A LOT OF AMAZING WORK ON REALLY IDENTIFIED.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SIDEWALK, IT'S THE COMPLETE ROUTE.

AND ONE OF THE BIG PIECES IS CROSSING THE STREET.

UM, AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING WITH THIS PLAN UPDATE TO CREATE, UH, A PLAN FOR SAFE ROUTES TO THIS CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY CITYWIDE.

UM, THE PICTURE YOU SEE ON THE, ON THE SCREEN IS REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS JUST COMPLETED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

IT WAS, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, COMBINED PROJECT OF THE BIKEWAYS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AND SIDEWALK PROGRAMS. AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE IMPROVED THE CROSSINGS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND YET ENDED UP WITH LESS IMPERVIOUS COVER BECAUSE

[00:20:02]

WE'RE REMOVING THOSE KIND OF FREE RIGHT TURNS AND, AND FREEWAY STYLE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT JUST ARE REALLY INAPPROPRIATE, UM, ON THE BORDERS OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO, UM, REALLY COME UP WITH A CITYWIDE PLAN, UM, TO FOLLOW THIS TYPE OF A TEMPLATE.

NEXT SLIDE WAS SO THE FOCUS AREAS, UM, ONE OF THE MAJOR FOCUS AREAS.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A THOUSAND MILES OF SIDEWALK, WE STILL HAVE OVER 1500 MILES OF CITY STREET FRONTAGE IS THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE RECENT ESCALATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE REAL, THEY'RE HITTING EVERY PROGRAM.

OURS INCLUDED.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO SAY IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE WAS OVER 2000 MILES OF SIDEWALKS TO BUILD, IT WOULD COST OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

WELL GUESS WHAT, THE NUMBERS ARE NOW $2 BILLION TO, TO CONSTRUCT THE LAST 1500 MILES.

THAT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC.

THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN ALL THE OTHER NEEDS IN A CITY LIKE AUSTIN, THAT'S NOT REALISTIC.

AND SO ONE OF THE BIG FOCUS AREAS IS LOOKING AT SHARED STREETS.

IF THOSE AREAS, RESIDENTIAL SEARCH STREETS, WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, THEY'RE RELATIVELY LOW VOLUME, RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED.

CAN WE DO SOME THINGS TO MAKE IT FEEL A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE WALK THERE, UM, MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THAT WILL FUNCTION IN LIEU OF SIDEWALKS AND REALLY ACCELERATE THE DELIVERY OF, UM, A SAFE, COMFORTABLE WALKING EXPERIENCE.

ANOTHER FOCUS AREAS IS, AS I'VE MENTIONED, IS PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND MAKING SURE WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE NETWORK, UM, WE'VE DEVELOPED, WE'RE DEVELOPING OUR, A CONSULTANT IS DEVELOPING FOR US NEW TOOLS THAT ALLOW US TO LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE PLANNING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE COVERAGE AND THE ACCESS WITHIN AN AREA? SO WE CAN MAKE REALLY TARGETED INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE RETURN FOR, FOR THE CITIZENS.

UM, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS.

UM, I THINK OUR R'S REALLY FOCUSED FOR THE SIDEWALK PLAN ON THAT ALTERNATIVES IS SHARED STREETS, BUT THEY, THEY REALLY DO ECHO AND BUILD ON THE THEMES WITHIN THE BIKEWAY AND URBAN TRAILS PLANS BECAUSE THEY'RE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE STREETS HAVE MORE NATURAL AND COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE.

AND OF COURSE, AS PART OF ALL OF THIS, WE'LL BE UPDATING OUR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, TRANSITION, TRANSITION PLAN FOR SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS JUST A REQUIRED COMPONENT OF SIDEWALK PLAN.

EXCELLENT.

AND KATIE, I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE IT BACK OVER AND TAKE US THROUGH THE END OR, YEAH, I THINK THAT WE CAN REALLY JUST START TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

THIS IS JUST THE TIMELINE THAT I SHARED EARLIER.

KIND OF NOTING THAT WE'RE IN PHASE TWO NOW, AND AGAIN, AIMING FOR THAT ADOPT, ADOPT PLAN THIS WINTER AND ADOPTION THIS RIGHT OR NEXT SPRING.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, UH, REMOTE, UH, COMMISSIONERS.

UM, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF SO, YEAH.

COMMISSIONER, I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU ONE, YOU GET TO GO FIRST.

I HAD A QUICK QUESTION REGARDING THE OUTREACH TO THE FOCUS GROUPS, UM, IN REGARDS TO FEEDBACK THAT THEY RECEIVED, WAS IT RECEIVED VIRTUALLY, OR WAS IT IN PERSON? HOW WAS THAT ENGAGEMENT CONDUCTED? IT'S ALL BEEN A COMBINATION, UM, WITH THE AMBASSADORS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

WE REALLY LET THEM WITHIN PARAMETERS LEAD TO DO WHATEVER ENGAGEMENT THEY ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

SO IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT JUST COME ACROSS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, IT CAN BE THEM SETTING UP EVENTS VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON.

UM, SO IT HAS BEEN A COMBINATION.

IF I MAY FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, WAS THAT COMMUNICATION DONE IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, OR HOW WAS THAT COMMUNICATION DONE? I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

AND AFTER I CHAT WITH HER OUTREACH HOOKS, WE MIGHT HAVE AN INTERLOPER COMING IN THERE.

UH, PLEASE.

JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKING ABOUT URBAN TRAILS? I CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK FOR KIND OF STREET ASPECTS RELATED TO PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AND BIKE WAY, AND EVEN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND OUR, OUR PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN APPROACH.

UM, I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD COMMENT ON THE SAFE ASPECT, WHICH WAS ONE OF YOUR GOALS INITIALLY, UM, HOW SAFE ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE WHAT SORT OF SAFETY, UM, THINGS ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING IN THE DESIGN AND, UH, COMPLETION OF THE TRAILS,

[00:25:06]

BUT IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, UM, I GUESS OUR URBAN TRAILS, AS SOME OF OUR TRAILS ARE NOT THAT SAFE ANYMORE AND YOU'RE KIND OF ISOLATED ON THEM.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT ASPECT.

THANKS FOR CLARIFYING A KITTY.

HE'LL TAKE THE YES.

AND MY CONNECTION IS COMING IN AND OUT.

SO I APOLOGIZE, UM, WITH TRAILS, WHAT WE'RE REALLY THINKING ABOUT IS KIND OF GOING BACK TO THAT MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PIECE.

SO THINKING, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE GET MORE EYES ON THE STREET SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFER? UM, SO SOME OF IT'S THROUGH ADDING LIGHTING, SOME THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HEARTS HAVE, UM, DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY CALL IT, MAYBE LIKE A RANGER PROGRAM WITH OTHERS, PEOPLE NOT ENFORCEMENT, BUT SO MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OUT WALKING, LOOKING FOR MAINTENANCE ISSUES, BUT ALSO BEING A FRIENDLY FACE ON THE TRAIL.

UM, SO LOOKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON HOW WE CAN KIND OF GET MORE EYES ON THE TRIAL AND THINK THROUGH THE SAFETY PIECE, BUT IT'S CHALLENGING FOR SURE.

AND WE DID IT ANALYSIS AND LITERALLY 90% OF THE CITY'S AND SIDEWALK NETWORK WAS NOT ADA COMPLIANT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER REMOTE? YEAH.

THERE BUGS THAT ARE POLICE.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THIS PRESENTATION.

UM, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT OTHER CITIES DO YOU LOOK AT AS, UM, AS SORT OF THE, THE TOPICS EXAMPLES OF WHO'S WHO'S DOING THIS WORK? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO GET, GET THAT STARTED.

UM, AND I'LL WEAVE IN KIND OF THE, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THE SAFETY RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, VULNERABLE ROAD USERS AROUND, UH, AROUND, YOU KNOW, HEAVY, FAST MOVING OBJECTS.

SO WHETHER IT'S PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS OF THE STREET OR JUST COMFORT OF A SIDEWALK AND SETTING IT BACK FROM THE ROADWAY OR, UM, SAYING THAT PAINTED BIKE LANES AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH AND THAT WE NEEDED PHYSICALLY PROTECTED BIKE LANES.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THAT, UM, SAFETY ASPECT AND, UM, YEAH, AS FAR AS CITIES THAT WE LOOK TO, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE LIKE NEW YORK AND SEATTLE HAVE DONE REALLY GOOD WORK, UH, BUT A LOT OF WHAT WE LOOK TO IN INTEGRATING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN, UM, KIND OF ALL MODES DESIGN, YOU KNOW, IS ALMOST INTERNATIONAL.

THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE, UH, THERE'S A SPANISH CITIES, UH, SEVERE, UH, THAT BUILT OUT THEIR NETWORK VERY QUICKLY THAT HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY, UH, BROUGHT THAT, UH, BUILD IT.

THEY WILL COME KIND OF NARRATIVE TO THE FOREFRONT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW IS LIKE FRAGMENTS OF WALKING NETWORKS AND FRAGMENTS OF SAFE BICYCLING NETWORKS, IF YOU REALLY TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR STORY IS THEY BUILT THE REAR VERY IMPRESSIVE NETWORK IN THREE YEARS' TIME AND WENT FROM NO MODE SHARE TO LIKE PORTLAND'S LEVEL OF MODE SHARE, WHICH TOOK THEM 20 YEARS TO DO.

UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING, UH, KIND OF ALL OVER FOR THE BEST STRATEGIES TO MEET OUR HIGHEST LEVEL POLICY GOALS, WHETHER IT'S IMAGINE AUSTIN OR THE US STREET, HUMAN MOBILITY PLAN, AND MANY OTHER PLANNING AND POLICY GOALS THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE WELL.

UM, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

AND THEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF YOU, YOU FELT COMFORTABLE LIKE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING LIKE OPENLY ABOUT THIS, BUT DOES IT, IN YOUR OPINION, LIKE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT FEELS AS LIKE SOME OF THE BIGGEST, UM, BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES TO MEETING YOUR GOALS? I WANT TO HUG THE FLOOR, SO I'LL GIVE, UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER, BUT KATIE OR JOHN, YOU KNOW, YEAH.

I'LL THROW OUT THERE IS A REALLY BIG PICTURE MARKABLE CITY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, RELATIVE TO OTHER AMERICAN CITIES IS JUST INVESTING TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THESE AREAS, BUT IT'S INERTIA, RIGHT? WE WENT THROUGH DECADES AND DECADES.

I USED THE, YOU KNOW, UM, THE TERM, YOU KNOW, DEFER DIVERT MAINTENANCE.

I MEAN, WE LITERALLY HAD NO FUNDS DEVOTED FOR SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE FOR SOMETHING LIKE 50 YEARS, YOU KNOW? SO, UM, WHEN WE DID THE LAST SIDEWALK PLAN, WE WERE LOOKING AT AT MAINTENANCE

[00:30:01]

80% WAS CONSIDERED FUNCTIONALLY, UM, DEFICIENT, CONVERSELY, OUR STREET NETWORK IS 80% FUNCTIONALLY ACCEPTABLE.

IT WAS JUST SORT OF A COINCIDENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE INVERSE IS TRUE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, OUR WORK IN PUBLIC WORKS AND WHERE WE MAINTAINED ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, BRIDGES, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, BIKEWAYS RIGHT.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE OUR SIDEWALKS AND BIKE WAYS, YOU KNOW, BETTER WHILE MAKING OUR STREETS NOW LESS GOOD.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A WINNING PROPOSITION BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA BREED RESENTMENT.

SO IT'S THE INERTIA BEHIND THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT WE WE'VE HAD IN PLACE.

UM, AND JUST OVERCOMING THAT.

AND AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT IN AUSTIN, THERE, THERE IS A RECOGNITION AND A DESIRE AMONG THE CITIZENS TO, TO CHANGE THAT.

AND, AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE VOTED WITH THEIR WALLETS.

I MEAN, THE, THE BOND ISSUES THAT HAVE PASSED HERE ARE FRANKLY, UM, THE ENVY OF MOST OTHER PROGRAMS THAT, THAT WE WORK WITH NATIONWIDE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

AND YEAH, CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE ONE, THE LEVEL OF SCALING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO IS ANOTHER, LIKE, THOSE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY'RE ALSO MAJOR CHALLENGES LIKE THAT'S DRIVING.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST HARD TO TRAIN SO MANY PEOPLE IN SCALE, BUT I THINK THE ONE THAT IS MOST ON MY MIND IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT LIKE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, UM, IS A HIGHLY INTERSECTIONAL ISSUE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS AT THE HEART OF IT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE WORK ACROSS SILOS ACROSS BOUNDARIES TO WORK FASTER, UH, BETTER CLEANER, MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO THE OUTCOMES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY, AS A PLANET NEED TO REALIZE, UM, TO, TO MEET THE VERY REAL DEMANDS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT'S, AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE INTERSECTIONAL, YOU KNOW, HUMAN HEALTH EQUITY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE HAVE REALLY COMPLEX INTERRELATIONSHIPS THAT IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DO OUR BEST WORK, IT'S GOING TO BE WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW DO WE PLANT MORE TREES, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, MAYBE THAT'S A ONE THAT'S CLOSE TO HOME.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, I KEEP RAGGING INTO THE OTHER PROGRAM SPONSORS HERE THAT WE ALL SAY WE WANT TREES, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PLANTED 20 WITH ALL OF OUR SIDEWALK AND BIKEWAY AND BIKE AND, UH, URBAN TRAIL PROJECTS.

UH, AND MAYBE IT'S MORE THAN 20 OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S HARD TO DO IN OUR CONTRACTORS, PROBABLY AREN'T THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO IT.

SO IT'S LIKE, HOW DO WE HAVE TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS? AND HOW DO WE SET THE SPACE UP TO PITCH, YOU KNOW, NATURAL STREET, UH, AND, AND OTHER KIND OF RUNOFF RAIN WATER SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, SURVIVE IN OUR CLIMATE AND BE RESILIENT.

SO REALLY JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE AT THE KIND OF LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY.

IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO DO THE BEST WORK, WE WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BEST THINKING ANY, ANYTHING Y'ALL HAVE FOR US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDIDNESS AND, UM, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON MY END.

ANYONE ELSE? REMOTE? YEAH.

UH, THIS RICK BRIMER, UM, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS HERE.

UM, I GUESS I'M GOING TO START WITH THIS.

UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, UH, MEASURES OF THE USAGE OF THE BIKE WAYS? I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS PART OF THE CONCEPT OF THE BIKE WAYS IS REDUCTION OF CARS AS FAR AS, UH, USE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR GETTING AROUND.

AND, UH, IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW IF THESE BIKE WAYS THAT WE'RE CONSTRUCTING ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THAT TYPE OF GOAL.

UH, AS ONE OF THE SLIDES MENTIONED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE BIKE WAYS COULD BE USED FOR, YOU KNOW, LOCAL COMMUTES OR FOR NATURE PURPOSES OR CITY-WIDE ACCESS.

AND SO MY QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT ARE WE KIND OF FOCUSING ON WITH THESE BIKEWAYS? ARE WE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK TO, UH, GROCERY SHOPPING, YOU KNOW, LIBRARIES, THAT TYPE OF THING.

ARE WE FOCUSING THESE ON, UM, YOU KNOW, NATURE TYPE OF, UH, ACTIVITIES? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.

YEAH, I'LL TAKE THAT.

AND WE DO HAVE COUNTING PROGRAMS, UH, THAT WE ASSESS WE HAVE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, KATIE, MAYBE 15

[00:35:01]

TO 20 CONTINUOUS COUNTERS THAT, UM, COLLECT DATA AROUND THE CLOCK.

UM, AND I THINK THOSE ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

AND, UH, I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, UH, MEDIA REQUEST RECENTLY ABOUT THE JUMP IN USE RELATED TO GAS PRICES, AND THOSE ARE SPOILER, HIGHLY CORRELATED, UH, IN A, IN A CITY LIKE AUSTIN.

UM, AS FAR AS THOSE THREE DIFFERENT NARRATIVES, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PANDEMIC, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IDEA THAT WE WERE DESIGNING A WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK WAS ALWAYS FLAWED AND NOT REALLY THE, AND I ADMIT THAT WE WERE PROBABLY OVER-FOCUSED ON THAT IN THE PAST WITH THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU WERE WORKING AT HOME OR WHETHER YOU STILL HAD TO DRIVE A SERVICE TRUCK TO GET TO WORK, LIKE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WHERE LIKE, JUST GETTING OUT OF YOUR FRONT DOOR AND GOING ON A BIKE RIDE WITH YOUR KIDS TO YOUR PARK OR YOUR SPLASH PAD, OR YOUR LIBRARY, OR TO THE GROCERY STORE, THERE'S SO MANY, OR, YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTIONS TO NATURE, LIKE SAY YOU HAVE AN URBAN TRAIL, THAT'S A MILE AWAY AND YOU GO GET SOME FRESH AIR, LIKE ALL THESE ARE VERY, UH, REASONABLE AND THINGS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR POLICIES AND PLANNING AND, YOU KNOW, UH, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND, UM, KIND OF WHAT WE WANT IT TO, UH, THE FLEXIBILITY WE WANT ALLOW AND PROVIDE FOR IN OUR CITIES.

SO, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT'S GETTING, UH, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT.

WELL, THE REASON I ASK IS TWOFOLD.

ONE IS THAT, UH, PARTLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, UH, UH, SCOPE OF INTEREST IS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF, UH, VEHICLES ON THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, POLLUTION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AIR POLLUTION, CETERA, AND, UH, ENCOURAGING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WALKING OR BIKING OR, YOU KNOW, CAR, YOU KNOW, RIDE SHARING, WHATEVER IT IS, CARPOOLING IS AN IMPORTANT METHOD OF DOING THIS TYPE OF THING.

AND, UH, SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE BICYCLES, THERE'S AN, OUR CURRENT METHOD OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AS, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, ENCOURAGING THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND IN THE PAST, THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UH, RATHER NEGATIVE PUBLICITY REGARDING A BRIDGE BUILT ACROSS A LADY BIRD LAKE THAT WAS RARELY USED BY BICYCLISTS, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ANYTHING, I MEAN, THERE, YOU KNOW, IT CAME ACROSS IN THE NEWS, UM, AS VERY USE, AND IT BECAME A MINOR SCANDAL AS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS SPENT VERSUS THE NUMBER OF BICYCLES THAT WERE CROSSED THERE.

AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE ARE, UM, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE BICYCLES AND USE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE BUILDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, UH, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CAR TRIPS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THIS MANNER.

I MEAN, I THINK, UH, AND MAYBE I THINK YOU'RE THINKING OF THE BARTON CREEK BRIDGE, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO MOPAC.

UH, YES.

IT'S NOT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCLIVITIES.

UM, CAUSE I WAS LIKE, WHICH BRIDGE OVER LADYBIRD LAKE IS NOT USED, UH, PROLIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT ONE IS QUITE FAR OUT, IT'S NOT VERY WELL CONNECTED TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO ANY KIND OF TRAVEL DEMAND.

IT WILL BE PART OF, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH I'M SURE YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THE MOPAC SOUTH POSSIBLE PROJECT.

THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, BEEN KIND OF STEPPING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PHASES.

AND WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW, A LIAISON FROM ATD, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LIKE THE COMMUTE FROM CIRCLE C BY BICYCLE OR SCOOTER OR EVEN MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR, UM, WOULD BE ABOUT 40 OR 50 MINUTES, WHICH WOULD BE TIME COMPETITIVE UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE TOLL LANES FROM CIRCLE C.

SO WHAT WE SEE INTERNATIONALLY IS THAT THE FASTEST EASIEST WAY IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF HOW PEOPLE CHOOSE.

IT'S NOT HOW THEY WANT TO SAVE MONEY.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY WANT TO EXERCISE.

THOSE ARE ALL NICE SIDE BENEFITS AND THEY ACCOUNT FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, CHANGING THE MARGINS, BUT IT'S REALLY WHAT IS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT.

UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TO MENTION THE OTHER BRIDGE, UH, OVER LADY BIRD LAKE CONGRESS AVENUE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE CHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL AND, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY, THE ATMOSPHERE, THE, UH, TYPES OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHANGE IN USE THE NUMBER OF BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS THAT ARE ON THAT BRIDGE AND DOING SO SAFELY BECAUSE WE MADE IT SAFE.

UH, I THINK IS A PRETTY CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS LIKE WHEN THEY'RE SAFE FROM NETWORKS AROUND WHERE WE MAKE A CHANGE.

UM,

[00:40:01]

UM, I WANT TO JUST JUMP IN AND ADD THOUGH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU WERE ASKING I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE FOCUSING ON CONNECTING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN OR TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY AND REALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT OUR NEXT PHASE OF OUTREACH IS ABOUT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE NEVER GOING TO GET ON A BIKE AND BIKE EIGHT MILES TO WORK, BUT THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO LEAVE THEIR CAR AT HOME IF THEY COULD SAFELY BIKE ONE MILE TO TRANSIT OR ONE MILE FOR THEIR, YOU KNOW, ERRANDS AFTER WORK, WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE LIBRARY.

SO REALLY TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE COMMUTER TRIPS, BUT THEN ALSO SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF SECONDARY TRIPS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL BECAUSE BICYCLES MANY TIMES ARE A SHORT COMMUTE TYPE OF VEHICLES.

THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RIDE THEIR BIKES 20 MILES TO WORK.

THERE'S LIKE FIVE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT, UH, AND THAT MOVES ON TO ANOTHER TYPE OF THING.

UM, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS THAT I REALIZED THE MATH THAT YOU PUT UP IS REFLECTIVE OF, UH, 2014 AND NOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MAJOR, YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS GOING THROUGH A MAJOR REBUILD OF A LOOP 360, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING GOING ON FOR, UH, PERHAPS A WIDENING IN, UH, OF INTERSTATE 35.

AND THESE TYPE OF, UH, EXPANSIONS ARE OFFER THE CITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE REALLY NEAT IF WE PUT IN BIKE LANES AS PART OF THIS TYPE OF THING.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT, UH, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE STATE PROJECTS AND THE CITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF LEEWAY TO, TO SPEAK UP IN THIS TYPE OF THING BECAUSE OF LAWS, REGULATIONS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT, UH, YOU FOLKS ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, LEANING ON THE STATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE DOING ENCOURAGE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE INSTALLATION OF BIKE LANES.

WHEN I CRAB A LOOP 360 THERE'S, MANY TIMES, MANY PEOPLE, UH, BIKING ALONG 360, MOSTLY I PERCEIVE FOR PLEASURE RATHER THAN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK OR GOING TO THE LIBRARY OR A RESTAURANT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, UH, THE INCLUSION OF BIKE LANES ALONG THESE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE BIKES AS METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION, TO, AND FROM WORK AND LIBRARIES AND RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

WELL, UH, YOU BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD COUPLE EXAMPLES.

UM, JOHN, DID YOU WANT TO JUMP IN? YEAH, I DID.

I, AND I KNOW THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT BIKES, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A REALLY VISCERAL EXAMPLE IN RELATES TO INERTIA AND TECH STARTS GETTING A LOT BETTER AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, UM, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE, THE CITY FROM THE STAFF LEVEL TO THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL IS DOING EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE FACILITIES.

BUT I WOULD, I WOULD ASK YOU JUST TO GO WALK CESAR CHAVEZ, AND CROSS-SITE 35, WHICH IS A NON ADA COMPLIANT ROUTE.

AND DESPITE YEARS OF, OF ADVOCATING TO FIX THAT, IT'S STILL DIVING.

SO JUST BASIC ACCESSIBLE WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T EXIST YET IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN.

AND IT REALLY, IT, WHEN I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SORT OF A VERY FIRSTHAND EXAMPLE OF HOW CAN THIS BE, HOW CAN WE HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ROADWAY HIGHWAY NETWORKS IN THE AUSTIN AREA? AND YOU LITERALLY STILL CAN'T GET A WHEELCHAIR.

CESAR CHAVEZ.

I WAS GOING TO PRESENT, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DIFFERENT VERSION.

I MEAN, THAT'S A VERY REAL AND VISCERAL AND KIND OF EXISTING CONDITION THAT WHOLE INTERSECTION WILL GET COMPLETELY REBUILT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD THE ENVIRONMENTAL BE APPROVED FOR THE CENTRAL PROJECT? UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH TXDOT ON EVERY SINGLE NCTR MAY ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS YEARS AGO, WE GOT THEM TO FIRMLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTED, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO SAY WIDE CURB LANES WERE GOOD FOR BICYCLES AND BEHIND CURVED SIDEWALKS WERE GOOD FOR PEOPLE WALKING.

YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT IT HAS TO BE A SHARED USE PATH.

IT SHOULD BE IF HUMANLY POSSIBLE SETBACK FROM THE ROADWAY, UH, THAT'S GETTING IMPLEMENTED ON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.

THAT'S GETTING IMPLEMENTED ON ALL SEVEN SEPARATE, UH, UH, LOOP 360 PROJECTS, UM, AS THEY KIND OF ROLL OUT AND MAKE IT THROUGH THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES.

UH, THE 360 1 IS,

[00:45:01]

IS KIND OF LIKE THE CIRCLE C EXAMPLE AND KIND OF GETTING AT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A REALLY WELL-DESIGNED TRAIL ALONG 360, IT WOULD NOT ONLY BE A WAY TO GET TO A RESTAURANT OR TO THE OVERLOOK AT THE LAKE, OR JUST GET SOME FRESH AIR? UH, IT WOULD BE A REGIONAL ATTRACTION.

SO LIKE WHEN WE START TO THINK ABOUT LIKE HOW, HOW OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT IS RIGHT NOW AND HOW IT WOULD CHANGE AS WE PUT QUALITY AND CONNECTIVITY, UH, THROUGHOUT IT, THAT REALLY MEETS US ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TEST FOR PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING, AND SCOOTERING.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'LL BE VERY SURPRISED AT THE RESULT.

THE LAST THING I WAS GOING TO SAY TO YOUR LAST QUESTION WAS, UH, JUST LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF PARKING THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE STATESMAN SITE RIGHT NOW.

UH, THE PUD THAT THAT'S, UH, GOING TO COUNCIL AND I'M, I'M BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONVINCED, LIKE WE CAN BUILD OUT OUR SAFE NETWORKS.

THERE'S SO MUCH, UH, EFFECT IN THE LAND PLANNING, UH, HOW MUCH PARKING, HOW MUCH BUILDING MASS WE PUT INTO PARKING.

LIKE THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY CONSEQUENTIAL CHOICES THAT WE'RE MAKING AND CONTINUE, UH, MAYBE IN THE SPIRIT OF INERTIA TO CONTINUE TO MAKE, UH, THAT AFFECT, UH, HOW WE GET AROUND AND WHAT, UH, WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES WE GET OUT OF IT.

WELL, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY COMMISSIONS AROUND THE CITY PLAY A ROLE IN EXACTLY THE POINT THAT YOU MAKE THERE.

UH, AND WE NEED TO WORK BETTER ON THAT TYPE OF THING.

UH, NOW WITH THE, TO LIGHTING, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN THE DAYS SHORTER, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU WORK LATER OR GO TO WORK EARLIER, LIGHTING BECOMES A PROBLEM.

CAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK AT NIGHT OR EARLY IN THE MORNING.

ARE YOU LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU DID MENTION LIGHTING HAS BEEN EDGY, BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO SERIOUSLY EXAMINE, UH, YOU KNOW, BICYCLES IS A REAL SICK FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO, AND FROM WORK OR OTHER TYPES OF THINGS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE LIGHTING IS GOING TO BE A, UH, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THIS, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY, UH, TRANSIT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, UM, MANUALLY TO NAVIGATE AROUND OBSTACLES THAT MIGHT BE IN THE ROADWAY OR THE BIKE PATHS, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST SAFETY IN A GENERAL SENSE TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE ILLEGAL THOUGHTS IN THEIR MINDS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

THIS TIES TO THAT PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT SAFETY AND TRAILS.

AND I'M JUMPING AHEAD OF YOU, KATIE CAUSE, UH, THIS I'M GOING TO ANONYMOUS QUOTE FROM TODAY, UH, FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, WE PROVIDE STREET LIGHTING, UH, FOR THE STREET, NOT FOR PEDESTRIAN.

SO LIKE WHEN WE START SCRATCHING INTO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ONE OF THE LENSES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLANNING, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, RACIAL EQUITY AND ANOTHER IS MODAL EQUITY.

AND WHEN WE START LOOKING AT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION WHERE WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIGHT OUR STREETS, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL TAKE LANGUAGE ISSUE WITH SAYING THE STREET LIGHTING IS FOR THE STREET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES ARE THE HUMANS THAT CAN SEE THE LIGHT THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE STREET.

UH, WHEN THE STREET INCLUDES THE ENTIRE STREET, UH, STARTS TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GET AT WHY, WHY DO WE NOT BY KIND OF FACT, LIGHT URBAN TRAILS? WHY IS THAT NOT JUST PART OF OUR MOBILITY AND SAFETY LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT STARTED WITH THE MOON TOWERS.

UM, SO YEAH, THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION REFERRING.

WELL, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT ON ME.

I COULD GO FOR HOURS, BUT I'M GOING TO LET IT GO WITH THAT AND LET OTHER PEOPLE, UH, DIG INTO THE THINGS.

THANK YOU FOR MUCH YOUR FOLKS.

GOOD COMMISSIONER SCOTT OR NICHOLS.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING? NOTHING FOR ME.

AS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CENTRAL AUSTIN HAS BECOME REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.

LET'S, LET'S GO HERE.

UH, CRUSHING YOU HAVE ANYTHING? HEY, Y'ALL UM, UH, JUST WANTING TO SAY, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, RISE MY BIKE A LOT, AND I'M ALSO FROM WINDSOR PARK, FROM RON ROGGIE MANNERS.

SO I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND, UM, HOW ADDING A BUNCH OF SIDEWALKS CAN DEFINITELY HELP WITH JUST GENERAL WALKABILITY AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, I MYSELF TAKE, UH, THE, I REMEMBER WHEN Y'ALL DID THE, UH, THE SHARED STREETS LIKE BELFAST KEMAL AVENUE F UM, THAT WAS SUPER COOL FOR SURE.

I THINK, UH, WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP WITH ONE OF MY FRIENDS, UH, IN A MUSIC THING, ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID, UH, WOULD BRING IT UP.

THE, UH, THE KOMAL STREET SHARED STREET.

THEY WERE JUST LIKE, AW, MAN, THEY JUST DID IT WHENEVER IT WAS GENTRIFIED.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T REALLY HELP THAT MANY BLACK PEOPLE.

SO I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN WE ADD, YOU KNOW, MORE TRAILS AND THESE SERVICES TO THINK OF PLACES OUTSIDE CENTRAL AUSTIN,

[00:50:01]

UM, SO I THINK FOCUSING ON LIKE, YOU KNOW, EAST OF 180 3, OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, FAR NORTHEAST OR FAR SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, EVEN FOR MYSELF, RIGHT.

TO BIKE OVER HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, TO CROSS TO 90 TO 90 EAST EASTBOUND ON 35 FROM 35, RIGHT.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY PAVED.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT BIKE RIDE.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK TEXTILE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS OUT OF THE CITY'S HAND.

UM, BUT I DEFINITELY SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY IS DOING AS FAR AS MAKING THIS PLACE MORE BIKEABLE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE SUSTAINABLE AS FAR AS LIKE CUTTING DOWN ON, YOU KNOW, UM, FOSSIL FUELS BEING CONSUMED AND ALL THAT, MY QUESTION IS, SO I NOTICED WHENEVER Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT CITIES THAT Y'ALL LOOK TO AS FAR AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, UM, PUBLIC TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS TO LOOK AT A LOT OF THOSE WERE PLACES OF LIKE FAIR CLIMATE, NOT HOT AS HELL FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, RIGHT.

UH, PLACES LIKE NEW YORK.

I MEAN, I KNOW SPAIN HAS THEIR HEAT WAVE GOING ON WITH SEVERE, BUT I THINK THEIR CLIMATE IS PROBABLY GENERALLY MORE MEDITERRANEAN.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, AGAIN, RE BUT LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE, HOT AS HELL.

UM, AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT POSES HIS CHALLENGE AS FAR AS LIKE GETTING WIDESPREAD ADOPTION DURING THE SUMMER OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WILLINGLY GIVING UP THEIR VEHICLE TO GO BIKE SOMEWHERE.

UM, ARE THERE ANY CITIES YOU CAN THINK OF THAT HAVE LIKE EXTREMELY ARID CLIMATES THAT, UH, THAT MAKE LIKE A GOOD USE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CUT DOWN ON A VEHICLE TRAFFIC? SO FOR URBAN TRAILS, AT LEAST SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES I WAS LOOKING AT KIND OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT SOME OF THE CITIES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MIGHT BE DOING GREAT THINGS, BUT SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS.

RIGHT? AND SO I WAS LOOKING AT NOT ONLY WHAT ARE WE DOING, WHAT ARE CITIES DOING GREAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WHAT ARE CITIES DOING GREAT IN TEXAS? AND SO I WAS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS AN INCREDIBLE TRAIL SYSTEM, UM, AND DALLAS, UM, AND I THINK THAT'LL MEAN A LOT OF IT IS CHALLENGING, BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING REALLY IS THAT NEED FOR SHADE, RIGHT? PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO GO BY IF THEY'RE JUST IN COMPLETE SUN.

UM, AND THEN WE'VE HEARD A LOT, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR AMBASSADORS ABOUT THE NEED FOR ACCESS TO WATER.

SO WHETHER THAT'S WATER FOUNTAINS, UM, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, OR WHETHER THAT'S SHOWERS, ONCE YOU GET TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE BIKING TO WORK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT AND ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT IT THIS SUMMER, THAT HEAT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN ON OUR RADAR AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS.

AND I'LL, I'LL GO A STEP FURTHER.

ONE OF THE POLICY ISSUES WE'RE, WE'RE FLOATING AND WE'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO WORD IS, UM, ACCESS TO BIKE SHARE AND, AND PROVIDING TRANSIT SERVICES COMMENSURATE WITH NEED.

AND FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE AND AS SOMEBODY WHO BIKES ALMOST EVERYWHERE AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, I ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY RIDE BY ELECTRIC BIKE.

AND THEN IN THE WINTER TIME, I LIKED THE EXERCISE AND I BIKE ON A, YOU KNOW, OLD SCHOOL MANUAL BIKE.

CAUSE I, I, IT JUST, IT, IT WORKS, IT WORKS EVEN AT A HUNDRED DEGREE HEAT WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD PROTECTED BIKE BICYCLE FACILITIES WHERE YOU CAN KEEP MOVING, YOU'RE NOT EXERCISING.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A FAIRLY RADICAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT, SHOULD WE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FREE PARKING CITY-WIDE, SHOULD WE PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO THOSE WHO PREFER THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE TO ELECTRIC BIKE SHARE AND, AND FLOATING THOSE KINDS OF IDEAS OUT AND ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC ON THOSE KINDS OF IDEAS.

SO I THINK, I THINK THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES, UH, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME IN TRANSPORTATION.

THERE'S THERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

UM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE, YOU KNOW, STATISTICS IS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER LIKE THEM OR NOT THE, THE, THE ABSOLUTE, YOU KNOW, STUPENDOUS, WE WENT FROM ZERO TO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ELECTRIC SCOOTER TRIPS PER MONTH.

UM, THERE ALL ARE, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT WORK IN A, IN A HOT CLIMATE, IF THE FACILITIES ARE THERE AND PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.

I MEAN, I TOTALLY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, UM, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF E-BIKES, WHICH I THINK IS A GOAL OF CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, IS DEFINITELY A GOOD IDEA FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW? UM, I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY LIKE, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, I FORGOT WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, LIKE THE LITTLE CIRCULATOR BUSES THAT RUN ON, LIKE, ROUTES THAT YOU CAN USE A,

[00:55:01]

AN APP FOR.

I THINK SEEING FROM A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, WHICH IS CHEAPER, RIGHT.

A FLEET, A FLEET OF E-BIKES FOR, FOR AN AREA OR A NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE OF THOSE CIRCULATORS, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE DOES, UH, THE AREA, THE GREATER GOOD.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REALLY INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, AND YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK, IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WANTS TO COME OUT WITH ITS OWN, AS SIMILAR TO HOW, WHEN WE BANNED UBER AND LYFT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN SORT OF PUBLIC PRIVATE RIDE SHARE APPS.

IF WE CAME UP WITH OUR OWN PUBLIC PRIVATE SCOOTER APP BAND, EVERY OTHER SCOOTER APP, AND THEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOT TAX MONEY OFF OF IT, WHO WOULD COMPLAIN, YOU KNOW? YEAH.

I REALLY LIKED A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES YOU'RE RAISING.

UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, BACK TO THE INTERSECTIONAL THING, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS A SUCCESS STORY WITH CAP METRO, YOU KNOW, WHEN A FIXED ROUTE BUS IS SOMETHING LIKE FOUR OR $5 MILLION OF OPERATING COSTS A YEAR, IF YOU START TO THINK ABOUT LIKE HOW MUCH YOU CAN, THAT'S MORE THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN, SPENT ON THE BEAST CYCLE, LIKE BIKE SHARE SYSTEM EVER.

UH, IF YOU START THINKING ABOUT INVESTING THE COST OF A SINGLE FIXED ROUTE BUS, INTO EXPANDING AND DIVERSIFYING THAT SYSTEM, YOU CAN START TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE, UH, IF YOU'VE WRITTEN SCOOTERS, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.

YOU CAN GET AN $80 A YEAR B CYCLE PASS.

UM, AND, AND CAT METRO IS DOING THAT.

THEY'RE AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN INVESTING AND EXPANDING THAT SYSTEM.

UM, AND IT'S UNDER KIND OF, CO-MANAGEMENT NOW WITH CAP METRO.

UM, THE OTHER WAS JUST A LITTLE ANECDOTE OF A TEMPERATURE.

EVEN IN AUSTIN.

I DID A LINEAR TEMPERATURE TO, UH, ONE OF OUR COUNTERS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT COUNTS EVERY 15 MINUTES EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

AND, UH, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 30 DEGREES, IT WAS 10% OF THE RIDERSHIP AS THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES, WHICH IS A HIGH OF A HUNDRED PLUS.

SO WE'RE IN AUSTIN.

WE'RE MORE SCARED OF THE COLD AS A SOCIETY THEN THAN WE ARE OF THE A HUNDRED AND A HUNDRED PLUS ONE WHO RIDES MY BIKE.

I TOTALLY CONCUR.

BUT TO THE TREE THING, I ACTUALLY FIND WALKING IS JUST A, TO QUOTE YOU HOT AS HELL.

UH, THE, THE KIND OF NATURAL AIR CONDITIONING, WHETHER YOU'RE PEDALING YOUR OWN BIKE.

AND E-BIKES TOTALLY, UH, HELP WITH THAT.

UH, THE WALKING SHADE IS JUST GOING TO BE SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING, UH, LAST, LAST THAN INTERSECTIONAL THING, YOU KNOW, AND I KEEP, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BE AWARE OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS LIKE THE, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY.

WE HAVE AN AWESOME, YOU KNOW, UH, CITY MUNICIPAL OWNED POWER UTILITY THAT DOES A LOT FOR US AS Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE, BUT OUR REBATES, YOU CAN GET A BIGGER REBATE FOR AN ELECTRIC CAR THAT HAS ALL THE EMBEDDED CARBON, A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EMBEDDED CARBON.

UH, YOU GET BIGGER, BIGGER REBATE FOR AN ELECTRIC CAR THAN YOU DO AN E-BIKE AND A $2,000.

E-BIKE IS NOT AN EASY THING FOR SOMEBODY TO SPRING TOWARDS IF THEY'VE NEVER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT IN THE HABIT OF BICYCLING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE IF THAT WERE THE BARRIER TO ENTRY WAS $300.

LIKE WHY, WHY CAN'T WE GIVE SOMEBODY A $1,700 CHARGER, A CAR CHARGER, OR A $7,000 REBATE ON A NEW BIKE.

SO I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS THAT WE CAN GET CREATIVE.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL NO REAL FURTHER QUESTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PER SE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR NEXT STEPS WHEN WE ARE PRESENTED WITH THE PLAN, IF WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO REVIEW TO REVIEW IT, THAT'S ALL.

I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE A TIMELINE AND, AND KIND OF LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE'LL BE, UM, HAVING A DRAFT READY TO GO ONCE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG, AND KATIE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE THE, ALL THREE OF THE PLANS OUT FOR FULL PUBLIC COMMENT AND TRANSPARENT AND, UH, FEEDBACK MECHANISMS ATTACHED.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE WE SHOULD BEAR SOME SPECIAL THOUGHT TO, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CHANNEL Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK OR WHETHER IT'S A LETTER, UM, MEMO OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WOULD JUST SAY, IF Y'ALL CAN GET IT TO KAYLA, SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO US AND KAYLA CAN, CAN NOTICE, CAN NOTE IT AS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP IN FRONT OF US IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD HELP, UM, KIND OF GIVE US SOME TIME TO DIGEST IT AND MAKE COMMENTS, UM, IF WE WANT TO, AS A COMMISSION OR JUST, YOU KNOW, AS CITIZENS.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

HOTEL WE STAYED AT THE ENTIRE PARKING STRUCTURE WAS SOLAR PANELS, UM, THAT THEY HAD PUT UP AND EVEN HAD ONE SECTION THAT WALKED OUT ON THAT THAT WAS COVERED, THEN WENT OUT TO A LITTLE GREEN SPACE AND A PICNIC AREA THAT WAS OUT THERE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR A REALLY THOROUGH, UM, PRESENTATION.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UM, I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT, WELL, IT IS A QUESTION ACTUALLY.

UM, SO I WAS RECENTLY IN DENTON, UM, WHICH I DON'T OFTEN THINK OF AS REALLY A GREEN CITY.

UM, NO DISRESPECT TO ANYBODY HERE FOR THE MONEY FROM DENTON.

UM, BUT, UH, AT THE

[01:00:01]

AND I LOVE THAT CONCEPT.

UM, AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER CRUSHY SAID ABOUT PROVIDING SHADE AND HAVING SHADE OPTIONS.

IT WOULD BE EXCITING.

UH, AND IF, PERHAPS YOU ALREADY CONSIDERING THIS, UM, TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS, UM, AS SOME SORT OF SHADE STRUCTURE, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY IF IT'S PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, ENERGY TO, UM, THE LIGHTS OR GOING BACK TO THE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO THE GRID IN GENERAL.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT AND CONSIDERING? YEAH, SO I THINK WE AREN'T THAT FAR IN THE WEEDS YET, BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU BROUGHT THIS UP.

I ACTUALLY JUST SAW IT IN PHILADELPHIA.

THEY HAD ALONG ONE OF THEIR TRIALS KIND OF BENCHES THAT WERE SHADED.

I, IT WAS A PRETTY NICE STRUCTURE.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THERE WERE SOLAR PANELS.

SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, AND IT PROBABLY JUST COMES DOWN TO KIND OF THE COST AND MAINTENANCE PIECES, BUT FOR SURE, AN INTERESTING IDEA.

I CAN SPEAK FOR SIDEWALKS AND SAY, THAT'S WE TALKED ABOUT SHADE AND NOBODY, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT EXPLICITLY BROUGHT UP THAT IDEA, BUT IN SO FAR, WE, ONCE IN A WHILE, I'LL GET INTO, YOU KNOW, LONG SECTION OF SIDEWALK WHERE THERE'S JUST NOTHING RIGHT.

AND WALKING THROUGH IT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S JUST BRUTAL.

UM, AND IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME FOR A LOT OF TREES AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET TO A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF SHADE.

UM, GIVEN THAT THE CITY HAS VERY AMBITIOUS, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, GOAL WAS IN TERMS OF OUTAGE GENERATING ITS ELECTRICITY.

SHOULD WE NOT LOOK INTO PARTNERSHIPS WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LONG ARBOR THAT PROVIDES THE SHADE, THAT'S ALSO JUST DIRECTLY CONNECTED INTO OUR GENERATION NETWORK AND PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE BENEFITS.

UM, THANK YOU.

UM, REALLY AT LEAST THE WILL AT LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND I, AND I, AND I SEE THAT IS AS, AS MADE YOU GET INTO THE PLAN, FRANKLY, CAUSE IT'S GREAT IDEA.

SORRY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THERE IS A TRAIL IN COPENHAGEN WHERE THE, YOU RIDE ON THE SOLAR PANELS AND SOMEHOW THEY HAVE AFFECTED THE GLARE.

I THINK THERE'S ONE IN, UH, SEOUL, BECAUSE WE SAW THAT DURING THE OLYMPICS THAT HAD THE COVERING AND IT WAS SO AWARE AND IT ALSO CONNECTED TO THE TRAIN.

SO, UM, I GUESS, UM, IN DIFFERENT PLACES THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TRAILS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD GO TO CORPORATE SPONSORS AND SAY, BUILD US THIS AND SEE IF THEY WILL COME, YOU KNOW, NEAR YOUR BUSINESS OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE, UM, I THINK ELSEWHERE, THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THESE INNOVATIVE IDEAS.

OH, I JUST HAD A QUESTION I WAS WONDERING ABOUT, UM, WHEN IN THE PRESENTATION HAD MENTIONED 42% HAD STRONGLY DISAGREE THAT IT WAS EQUITABLE.

I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF THERE WAS LIKE A LEADING, UM, LIKE A LEADING COMMENTS OR MOST FREQUENTLY SAID COMMENT OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS SPECIFICALLY, UM, DISPARAGING IN THAT EQUITABILITY.

SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT PEOPLE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS? UM, YEAH, SO THAT WAS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS AN OPEN COMMENT KIND OF WITH THAT QUESTION, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SHARE THE LINK THAT HAS ALL OF OUR OUTREACH RESULTS.

UM, SO YOU CAN KIND OF DIVE IN DEEPER.

UH, IS, UH, JUST ONE SECOND.

AND I'VE, UH, I'VE ATTENDED MANY OF OUR KIND OF AMBASSADOR, UH, DEBRIEF MEETINGS.

AND I THINK THE SENTIMENT IS PRETTY EASILY FOLLOWED, UH, ONE THERE'S THIS ACTIVE, INTENSE PRESSURE FOR DISPLACEMENT.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING A LOT FURTHER OUT OF, UH, THE OLD CITY CENTERS, THE WALKABLE AREAS.

SO THEY KNOW THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DEFICIENT IN PARKS.

THEY KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD SIDEWALKS NECESSARILY OR BIKE LANES.

UM, SO IT, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, UH, ARE LIKES.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST A, UH, A TENSION WITH THIS RAPID AND MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING THAT IS KIND OF AT THE FOREFRONT.

UH, OKAY.

AND I JUST HAD ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION, UM,

[01:05:01]

I JUST, WHEN YOU ARE LIKE COMING UP WITH, UM, THE DIFFERENT IDEAS WITH HOW TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE HOW MUCH INPUT ARE THE, UH, SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS GIVING TO SAY LIKE, OKAY, WE, WE HAVE THIS DISADVANTAGE, BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MORE.

CAN YOU FOCUS MORE ON THIS VERSUS LIKE, OKAY, LET'S CORRECT.

ALL TYPES OF THESE TYPES OF TURNS AT THESE TYPES OF INTERSECTIONS ALL OVER AUSTIN.

LIKE, IS IT KIND OF LIKE, IS IT, ARE YOU, YOU KNOW, UNIFORMALLY CORRECTING STUFF LIKE THAT? ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIND OF LISTENING INTO WHAT EACH SPECIFIC COMMUNITY WANTS TO BE, UM, FIXED? SO I, I, I THINK MAYBE I CAN TAKE THE LEAD DOWN ANSWERING THAT CAUSE THAT'S A LOT TO DO WITH SIDEWALKS.

AND WE HAD A REALLY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE WHEN WE WENT OUT AND WE'RE IN THAT WE'RE ENGAGED, ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN A PILOT PROGRAM ON THE SHARED STREETS.

AND WE WENT AND HAD EVENTS WHERE WE SET UP ON THE PROPOSED SHARED STREET AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY ARE YOU HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS STREET? THIS STREET IS NOT A PROBLEM.

YOU NEED TO FIX THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT NOT, NOT AROUND THIS STREET, THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

AND IT WAS, AND ONCE WE EXPLAINED THAT, WELL, THE REASON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS STREET IS BECAUSE IT IS REALLY QUIET AND WE'RE, WE'RE PROPOSING ESSENTIALLY TO DO A FAIRLY MINIMALIST INTERVENTION TO MAKE IT FEEL MORE SAFE AND WALKABLE.

THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IF YOU KIND OF DO THAT, YOU NEED TO FIX THIS OTHER STUFF WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.

AND IT WAS A REALLY, UM, VISCERAL, UM, INSTRUCTION.

AND THAT HAPPENED THREE TIMES.

AND EACH TIME WE SET UP THOSE, IT WAS THE SAME.

AND THERE WAS, WE HAD MOVED FORWARD WITH THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS BE ENGAGING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF FOUR, WE PROPOSED A SHARED STREET CAUSE THEY HAD A VERY DIFFERENT CONCEPT.

IT'S NOT A, YOU CAN'T SEE IT ANYWHERE, YOU KNOW, AND IF THEY PREFERRED SIDEWALKS, WE DIDN'T STALL SIDEWALKS.

WE MIGHT NOT GET AS MANY AS DONE AS QUICKLY, BUT WE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE REALIZED WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER.

AND WE'RE BAKING INTO THE PLANNING EFFORT, ESSENTIALLY A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED PLANNING EFFORT BEFORE WE GO IN AND DO ANY INTERVENTIONS AND NOT JUST BEING ALWAYS STEP ONE.

UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS KNOW THE CORNER, THAT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM.

SO THE PLAN IS, IS DEFINITELY MOVING VERY MUCH IN THAT DIRECTION.

HAVING SAID THAT, AND WHEN IT COMES TO SAFE CROSSINGS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS JUST SYSTEM-WIDE WE'RE DOING.

AND WE'RE JUST AUTOMATICALLY IN SEWING.

CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHITE GUY SHOWED THAT PICTURE AND YOU KNOW, THE FREE RIGHT TURNS.

THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.

AND WE'RE INSTALLED ALL OVER THE CITY IN PLACES FROM A TRAFFIC FLOW PERSPECTIVE, THEY REALLY WEREN'T NEEDED.

WE ARE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PROACTIVELY UNDER A RECENTLY UPDATED TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA, MANUAL MAKING INTERVENTIONS AT INTERSECTIONS, UM, THAT ARE JUST BEST SAFETY PRACTICE.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH, BUT AS WE, AS WE ENGAGE ON HOW TO IMPROVE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, THERE'S A, THERE IS DEFINITELY, UH, AN UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU DO ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND WE'RE LIKE, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

AND JUST TO MAKE CLEAR, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THESE ARE THREE SEPARATE PLANS, THREE SEPARATE PROGRAMS, AND YOU KNOW, REALLY RUN THE GAMBIT OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A MISSING SIDEWALK AND THERE'S A DIRT TRACK AND WE NEED TO BUILD THAT SIDEWALK AND WE'LL TALK TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR LANDSCAPE.

LIKE THAT'S A LEVEL OF TYPE OF COORDINATION.

THAT'S NOT ENGAGEMENT.

UH, THERE'S A LOT.

JOHN WAS DESCRIBING KIND OF THE SHARED STREETS EXPERIENCE OF LATE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ENGAGEMENT WRAPPERS AROUND IT FOR, FOR BIKE WAYS.

UH, AND URBAN TRAILS.

I'LL LET KATIE SPEAK FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE PRETTY RICH ENGAGEMENT FOR A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS.

SOME, SOME OF OUR BIKEWAY PROJECTS THAT ARE, DO NOT, UH, CHANGE PARKING PATTERNS OR LANE CONFIGURATIONS IS JUST PUTTING FLEX POSTS IN A BUFFERED BIKE LANE.

WE DON'T TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE'LL LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE OUT THERE AND TRY TO NOT CATCH PEOPLE OFF GUARD, BUT WE'RE JUST MAKING A SAFER STREET.

SO IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMBIT AND UH, MAYBE BRING UP A SHARED EXAMPLE OF, UH, WITH KATIE AND URBAN TRAILS AND BIKE WAYS.

WE WORKED ON THE LONGHORN DAM, UH, WISHBONE BRIDGE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR ENGAGEMENT, LIKE THE FIRST STEP WE DID WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE FOUR ALIGNMENTS FOR A BRIDGE NEAR LONGHORN DAM FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN, UH, THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

THAT MAKES SENSE TO US, ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING? AND ABOUT EIGHT PEOPLE OUT OF 120 DREW IN THIS STAR SHAPE PATTERN.

AND WE WENT THROUGH THE PAPERS

[01:10:01]

WE THREW IT INTO THE MIX.

IT WAS THE FIFTH ALTERNATIVE WE STUDIED.

IT WAS THE TWICE AS POPULAR AS ALL THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

AND IT'S IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UH, HOW DID WE DO KIND OF LAST PHASE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE VISION FOR THE BRIDGE AND 96% SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE RIGHT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, UH, FEEL STRONGLY THAT HAS A LOT OF POSITIVE, UH, KIND OF OUTCOMES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE WITH THESE REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION.

I AGREE WITH THE IDEA OR WHEN THE SUGGESTION OF, UH, GETTING, UM, ADVANCED, UH, NOTICE IN THE COPY OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED, UH, UH, MORE, WITH MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT BECAUSE, UH, UH, WE, WE HAVE, UH, UH, UH, PART THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT AND, UM, AND THAT KIND OF WAS FOREMOST ON MY MIND THAT I, AS THIS DISCUSSION IS UNFOLDED, UM, I REALIZED THAT THERE'S A, QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT THAT I HAVE TO, THAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND THE DISCUSSION.

I LIVE IN A, UH, DISTRICT TUNE IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

AND I WAS JUST REFLECTING THAT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE, UM, BY GOING THROUGH A GOLF COURSE, UM, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE CITY.

UH, IF, IF A TRAIL WERE PUT THROUGH THERE, I COULD GET TO A, AN INCREASE, UM, ON MY BICYCLE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO, UH, UH, GO BY, UH, BY CAR.

AND IT WOULD BE, THE DISTANCE WOULD BE ABOUT A FIFTH IS AS LONG I COULD GET TO, UM, UM, THE, UM, IF THERE WERE, IT'S A WORD DECENT SIDEWALK OR, OR TRAIL ON STASSNEY, I COULD GET TO, UM, UM, THE, UM, THE STATE PARK THAT THAT'S, UM, MCKINNEY FALLS.

AND AGAIN, IT COULD TAKE PLACE AWAY FROM TRAFFIC.

WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE IN IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO COST AS MUCH BECAUSE I THINK IT COULD, UM, BYPASS, UM, UH, STREET TRAFFIC IN AND TAKE A MORE DIRECT ROUTE.

AND, UM, SO THOSE WOULD BE SOME THINGS, UM, THAT I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

UM, BUT THAT'S, BUT THOSE ARE, I'M USING THOSE KINDS OF AS EXAMPLES.

UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT, UH, SOUTH AUSTIN AND, AND IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UH, THAT I DO LIVE IN A, IN AN AREA WHERE, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, UM, ARE LOW-INCOME AND IN SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE, UM, LIKELY BEING FORCED OUT IF THEY'RE, UM, YOUNGER BECAUSE OF THE, UH, AS HIS, UM, HIS, UH, PROPERTIES, UH, BECOME MORE VALUABLE, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER AND HARDER FOR THEM TO STAY.

SO, UM, BUT I THINK THOSE OF US THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN LOWER INCOME BRACKETS, UM, UH, WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, UM, BOTH, UM, THE ABILITY TO, UM, TO HAVE, UM, UH, PLACES THAT WE CAN SHOP THAT WE CAN GET TO WITHOUT HAVING TO, TO, UH, TO DRIVE.

AND WE, AND SO WE BOTH NEED A DESTINATION AND WE NEED A WAY TO GET THERE.

SO IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE, WHICH ONE DO YOU DO FIRST? UM, UM, THE GET VARIOUS, BUT, UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT I'M FASCINATED BY THE IDEA OF PUTTING IN SOLAR PANELS OVER A PARKING LOT AND CAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, PARKING LOTS WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE SO HOT CAN BE JUST MISERABLE.

SAN ANTONIO IS JUST NATURALLY MUCH HOTTER AND THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND I CAN REMEMBER COMING OUT FROM A CLASS WHEN I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE, I COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH THE, UM, THE, UH, STEERING WHEEL OF MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KINDA GONNA BE WHAT AUSTIN'S LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

AND, UH, I THINK IF, IF WE, UH, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE HIGHER TEMPERATURES, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO, TO, UH, TO PUT IN MORE SHADE IS, IS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING.

UM, AND, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, AND, UH, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE, UH, UM, INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND

[01:15:01]

SO I I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE EVERYBODY THAT'S THERE.

ALL I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW.

AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DEFINITELY GOT A LOT OF TRAIL CONNECTION REQUEST JUST TO THE AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ESPECIALLY TO THE STATE PARK.

SO THOSE ARE ON OUR RADAR.

THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ONE REASON WHY, UH, YOU GOT THE BIG, NO ON EQUITY BECAUSE, UM, UH, AS I, AS I LISTENED TO THE DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING, WELL, THERE WAS A BIKE LANE PUT IN ON, UM, ON A CHERRY ROAD, WHICH IS NEAR ME AND I'M THINKING WHY THERE, I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO, I'M NOT, I DON'T WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE, UH, ON CHERRY LANE, WHICH TAKES ME TO THE FREEWAY.

WHY, WHY WOULD I DO THAT? SO, UM, I, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS AN EXPENDITURE WHEN I WOULD SO MUCH RATHER HAVE HAD THAT SAME MONEY SPENT TO GET SOMEPLACE I DID WANT TO GO, BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST ME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE'S, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOMEBODY DOES WANT TO GO DOWN TERRY LANE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY I, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL STILL A, A QUESTION MARK FOR REALLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? I HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE GET THIS QUESTION IN DIFFERENT FORMS, A LOT OF, LIKE, WHY DID YOU DO THAT GAP? OR WHY DID YOU DO THAT ONE, THAT ONE MILE WHEN THERE'S THIS OTHER ONE MILE, IT'S LIKE, WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT ALL AT ONCE.

AND WE HAVE TO DO IT ALL CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY.

AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL ALL PIECE TOGETHER.

SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOMEDAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BIKE DOWN AND TERRY LANE TO THE SHARED USE PATH ON 35 AND GET TO THE HEB.

I DUNNO IF THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR GROCERIES, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY LIKE TERRY LANE WILL CONNECT WITH SHARED USE PATHS AND BE ABLE TO CROSS TO STASSNEY AND THE WILLIAMSON THAT IS THAT WILLIAMSON CREEK GREENBELT THIS RIGHT THERE.

SO LIKE, UM, ANYWAY, LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONION CREEK, RIGHT.

AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS JUST FRAGMENTS OF CONNECTIVITY THAT WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE AND GIVE PEOPLE A LOT MORE OPTIONS.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL YOUR COMMENTS.

UM, AND ONE OF THE KIND OF BEAUTIES OF THE WAY THAT OUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE BOAT IS THAT, UH, URBAN TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS, AND BIKEWAYS, WE'RE NOT ASKED TO GO PUT A SIDEWALK ON X STREET OR ON X GREEN BELT OR A BIKE LANE ON X STREET.

UM, WHAT WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF CHARTERED TO DO IS HERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE WANT YOU TO SCALE UP YOUR EFFORTS.

WE WANT TO FOLLOW YOUR PLANNING AND PRIORITIZATION, UH, WHICH ALLOWS US FLEXIBILITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND THOSE LITTLE TRAIL CONNECTIONS, UH, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT THE CORE.

YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S NOT REALLY A ON-STREET BIKEWAY THING.

IT'S NOT REALLY A SIDEWALK THING.

IT'S NOT REALLY A LONG URBAN TRAIL, UM, THING, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.

AND, AND IT CAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, REDUCE THE DISTANCE TO A PARK BY FIVE TIMES, RIGHT? UM, SO WE'RE GIVEN THE LATITUDE AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, AND THROW IN OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE, UH, SAFE ROUTES TO THE SCHOOL.

THERE'S ALL THESE LIKE PRETTY LARGE SCALE FUNDING SOURCES THAT CAN TACKLE TRICKY PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING THING.

AND, AND WE HAVE A PROCESS IT'S CALLED THE ANNUAL MOBILITY PLAN, WHERE WE'RE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

AND WE TAKE FEEDBACK ON THAT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ARE ALWAYS ADDING EVERY, EVERY NEXT YEAR WE ADD TO THAT AND, UM, KIND OF ADDRESS FEEDBACK AND GOOD IDEAS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE CONNECTED.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, VERY MUCH.

OH YEAH, I AGREE.

THERE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE THERE FOR EVEN.

AND MY APOLOGIES, I HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME EARLIER, SO I CAN ASK A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS.

I AM GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN WHAT COMMISSIONER BEDFORD BROUGHT UP EARLIER IN REGARDS TO THAT DATA, THE LINK ON THAT INFORMATION.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO CAUTION PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF JOB THAT THEY HAVE, A BICYCLE IS NOT AN OPTION.

AND SO IF, WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIVE, UM, TO HAVE A CHOICE, PUTTING FORCED UPON THEM TO PUT BIKES, INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS, REDUCING CAR LANES TO INCREASE, UH, BIKE LANES.

WHEN NORMALLY YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A BIKE, YOU DON'T SEE A BIKE GOING THROUGH THERE.

UM, THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH AND

[01:20:01]

UM, SO WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU CREATE SOMEWHAT OF A PANIC SITUATION FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND IN THAT SITUATION, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN.

UM, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF, UM, THERE HAS EVER BEEN A MISTAKE WHERE A BIKE LANE WAS PUT IN AND THEN YOU WENT, OOPS, WE, SHOULD'VE NEVER DONE THAT.

AND GO BACK TO ACTUALLY LISTENING AND RESPONDING.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE HEARING WHAT PEOPLE OR THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAYING, BUT ARE YOU ACTUALLY RESPONDING WHEN THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, THIS IS ACTUALLY CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR, OR A POTENTIAL FOR ROAD RAGE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO BALANCE THAT.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SOME AREAS, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO HAVE A BIKE LANE, BUT SOME AREAS THAT ARE NOT READY FOR THAT, JUST BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THERE.

AND, UM, YEAH, SO PEOPLE THAT WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, THOSE THAT WORK IN, UH, IN, UM, A LOT OF PHYSICAL LABOR, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE WANTING TO RIDE A BIKE ON THE WAY HOME.

UM, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AND SO FORTH.

THEY'RE JUST PHYSICALLY WORN OUT, UM, SOME THAT HAVE TO CARRY THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF CAREER THAT THEY HAVE.

UM, SO I JUST WANT, AND I, I REALLY AM GOING TO BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT DATA SAYS AND WHY, UM, THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY HIGH, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

UM, AND THEN ON, AND THEN ALSO, I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING AREAS OF FUNDING FOR THIS, WITH, WITH, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING OR FOR CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING.

W AND, UH, YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WELL UNDERSTOOD.

AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT KIND OF WOUND UP IN THAT I SPOKE A BIT EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO WORK WAS NEVER, NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE GOAL, NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FOREFRONT GOAL.

WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE GETTING TO WORK IS ONLY ABOUT 20% OF ALL TRIPS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S GETTING TO SCHOOL, THERE'S GETTING AROUND AND HELP, UH, THAT KIND OF OVERARCHING KIND OF POLICY, UM, UH, KIND OF GOAL THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THESE THREE MODAL PLANS IS IN GIVING PEOPLE CHOICES.

AND THAT'S NOT LIKE A PARTICULAR PERSON, A PARTICULAR PERSON THAT'S TIRED AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK AND HAS TO DRIVE THEIR SERVICE TRUCK.

UH, BUT GIVING EVERYBODY CHOICES ALLOWS PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FOR WHATEVER TRIP THEY'RE MAKING THE RIGHT WAY TO GET AROUND THE MOST ENJOYABLE WAY TO GET AROUND THE WAY THEY GET SOME CONNECTED TO NATURE.

AND, UM, YEAH, CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN HAVE DIFFERENT PROXIMITIES, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONNECTIVITY.

UM, BUT DID WANT TO SAY AS FAR AS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, UH, WE ARE VERY DISCIPLINED IN OUR PUBLIC PROCESS, PARTICULARLY AROUND ANYTHING THAT IS, UH, ANY CHANGES IN, IN TRAFFIC LANES, MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC LANES.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE GET FEEDBACK AND WE MODIFY PROJECTS ALL THE TIME.

UH, WE'RE VERY SERIOUS WHEN WE SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREET KNOW THE STREET THE BEST, BUT WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ACTUALLY THE SIGNALS THAT CREATE THE DELAY.

THAT'S WHERE ALL THE BACKUPS HAPPEN.

AND A LANE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ACTUALLY HANDLES A THIRD OF THE TRAFFIC THAT ELAINE NOT AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, UH, CAN HANDLE.

SO THERE'S WAYS AND TRICKS THAT WE CAN MOVE EXACTLY THE SAME NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND BRING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE STREET, THE MOBILITY CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY THE SAFETY OF THE STREET, I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE, SAY WE CHANGED THE NUMBER OF LANES, NOT AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC IS BEING CREATED, BUT IN BETWEEN WHERE THE SPEEDS ARE HIGH.

NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A PROTECTED BIKE LANE.

PEOPLE CAN BIKE SCOOTER, THEY CAN USE A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR AND THE SIDEWALK THAT WAS NARROW AND RIGHT BEHIND THE CURB IS NOW EIGHT FEET AWAY FROM TRAFFIC.

AND IF YOU'RE WALKING WITH A YOUNG CHILD, YOU'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, DEATH GRIP ON THEIR HAND, YOU KNOW, HOLDING THEM ON, ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE, AWAY FROM, UH, WHERE THE VEHICLE IS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR ALL THAT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

UM, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE IT, UH, COMES TO RESONATE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID, YEAH.

TO, TO GET US, UM, INSIGHT WHEN, WHEN PLANS GO PUBLIC AND WHEN WE CAN START TO DIGEST THEM WOULD BE GREAT.

AND JUST FUNNELING THAT THROUGH KAYLA.

UM, AND, AND I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, UH, NO QUESTIONS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO FIELD, SO I THINK Y'ALL MIGHT BE DONE.

UM, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND, AS IT SOUNDS, YOU GUYS ARE TO KIND OF TRY TO STAY ON TOP OF THE CHANGING TECHNOLOGY OF, OF MOBILITY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT OF THE MOPAC TOLL LANE, BEING THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE WHEN THE PLAN WAS LAST MADE, UM, I'M SURE THINGS WILL CHANGE EVEN MORE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

UM, BUT JUST TO KIND OF TRY TO BAKE THAT IN, UH, AND,

[01:25:01]

SO JUST TO KEEP YOUR EAR OUT FOR THOSE AS WELL, UM, AS THEY DEVELOP, UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UH, THANKS FOR COMING AND THANKS FOR Y'ALL'S TIME.

THANKS FOR YOU ALL HARD WORK.

WELL, THANK Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE THE AWARD OF THE MOST ACTIVE AND ENGAGED COMMISSION THUS FAR ON OUR CIRCUITS.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.

AND BRISTOL'S IDEA CAME FROM THE WHOLE COMMISSION.

IT WASN'T JUST HER LIKE WITH, UH, WITH THE WHOLE SOLAR ARBOR THING.

THAT WAS ALL OF US.

[3. Name: 1609 Nueces St, Case No. 2022-018844 TP]

SO LET'S, LET'S MOVE ON TO A NUMBER THREE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, 4 16 0 9 NEW WEST STREET, UM, CASE NUMBER 2022 DASH 0 1 8 8 4 4.

TP.

THE APPLICANT IS RONALD.

UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET A STAFF PRESENTATION AND, UH, IT'S UH, REGARDING A HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE, UM, LDC 25 8 6 4 3, UH, LAND COMMISSION VARIANCE REQUEST, LEAVING CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, KEITH MAURICE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT, AND WE'LL PASS ALONG TO THE CITY ARBORIST NAMED ROACH MELLOW TO GO THROUGH THE STAFF PRESENTATION.

THE REASON WHY I'M GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT THAN NORMAL FOR THIS CASE IS THIS IS, UH, AN APPEAL OF THE CITY ARBORIST DETERMINATION, UH, TO, WELL, I'M GONNA TO SAY TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I CAN SAY FACTUALLY THAT THIS IS THE FIRST APPEAL THAT THE COMMISSION HAS SEEN SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE HARRIS TREE ORDINANCE IN 2010.

SO I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS, SO THAT YOU'RE GROUNDED IN WHAT THE CODE SAYS ON THIS MATTER.

SO IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 8 DASH, I'M SORRY, 25, 8 DASH 6 44, THERE'S AN APPEAL SECTION IN CODE.

THE APPLICANT MAY APPEAL THE DENIAL OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE AND TO MAKE THAT APPEAL TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

THE NEXT SECTION IN CODE SAYS THAT THE APPEAL REQUIRES REVIEW BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

WHAT YOU ARE HEARING TONIGHT IS AN APPEAL TO THE CDR RISK, DETERMINATION THAT THE REMOVAL REQUEST REMOVAL REQUEST DOES NOT MEET CODE.

SPECIFICALLY.

THERE ARE THREE CRITERIA THAT ARE TYPICALLY DO NOT COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

THE CITY ARBORIST CAN GRANT THE REMOVAL OF A HERITAGE TREE OF ANY SIZE, IF IT IS A DEAD DISEASED OR AN IMMINENT HAZARD, TYPICALLY THIS COMMISSION, AND THEN THE LAND USE COMMISSION HEARS CASES ABOUT REASONABLE USE AND REASONABLE ACCESS, USUALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

SO TONIGHT YOU ARE HEARING TO BE CLEAR, THE COMMISSIONER'S HEARING AND APPEAL OF THE CITY ARBORIST DETERMINATION THAT THE TREE MEETS ONE OF THOSE THREE HEALTH RELATED CRITERIA.

UH, AND THE APPEAL IS, UH, IS IN CODE OF WHAT THAT PROCEDURE IS.

AGAIN, IT GOES TO THIS COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION, BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY.

IT WOULD GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

AS I READ THE CODE THERE, THE CODE DOES NOT GIVE YOU SPECIFICS ON WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE.

YOU'VE HEARD OF THE CASE BEFORE WE ARE.

WE WENT THROUGH VERY SPECIFIC OF YOU CAN SUSTAIN A MODIFY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

IT JUST SIMPLY SAYS THAT, UH, IT PROVIDES A RIGHT OF APPEAL AND THAT IT REQUIRES REVIEW BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

AND THEN THAT RECOMMENDATION HAS PASSED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT PROCEDURAL ISSUES, AND WE'LL PASS IT ALONG TO THE CITY ARBORIST TO GIVE STAFF PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, KEITH.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOUR MIKE MIGHT NOT BE ON YET.

NAOMI, THANKS.

NAOMI ROTOR MILL CITY ARBORIST.

THIS IS AN APPEAL OF A HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL, AS KEITH HAS SAID.

UM, S THIS IS IN DISTRICT NINE.

UM, THIS IS REGARDING THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE LDC 25 8 6 4 3.

THAT REQUIRES OUR LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE.

THE APP IT KIT IS THEY'RE APPEALING.

THE CITY ARBORIST DETERMINATION OF AN APPLICATION.

THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THE REMOVAL OF A HERITAGE TREE WITH A SINGLE STEM 30 INCHES DIAMETER OR LARGER.

AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE REQUEST IS NOT MEET THE CITY ARBORIST OR APPROVAL CRITERIA IN LDC 25, 8 6 2 4 A ONE TWO AND THREE.

AND THE VARIANCE IS NOT REQUESTED AS KEITH MARS HAS NOTED.

UM, THE

[01:30:01]

CRITERIA IS DEAD DISEASE OR IMMINENT HAZARD.

I WILL GIVE YOU THE CASE DESCRIPTION, THE CASE TIMELINE STAFF FINDINGS, THE CONDITION OF THE HERITAGE STREET, STAFF MEASUREMENTS, VARIANCE REQUESTS, AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THE REMOVAL OF THE HERITAGE PECAN.

THIS CASE IS AN APPEAL OF THE CITY ARBORIST DETERMINATION TO DENY AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE FOR THE REMOVAL OF A HERITAGE TREE AT 1609 UNC STREET.

THE SITE IS ZONE GEO GENERAL OFFICE AND IS IN DISTRICT NINE.

ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL.

ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2022, A TREE ORDINANCE REVIEW APPLICATION TORAH WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

THE TRUNK DIAMETER WAS LISTED AS 24 INCHES ON THE APPLICATION.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE BELOW THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW FROM FEBRUARY 22ND.

NEXT SLIDE, UM, CASE LAW TIMELINE CONTINUED ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2022, THE APPLET CATION PAST COMPLETENESS CHECK ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2022 APPLICATION WAS DENIED ON THE 10TH WORKING DAY, EXCLUDING PRESIDENT'S DAY CITY ARBOR STAFF FOUND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO QUALIFY THIS HERITAGE TREE FOR REMOVAL UNDER DEAD DISEASE.

AND I'M GOING TO HAZARD THAT'S AN LDC 25 8 6 2 4 CITY ARBORIST STAFF NOTIFIED THE APPLICANT THAT THE APPLICATION WAS DENIED.

AND IF THE APPLICATE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE APPLICATION, A COMPREHENSIVE NARRATIVE REPORT FROM A QUALIFIED ARBORISTS WAS NEEDED ON JUNE 13TH, 2022 APPLICANT CONTACT STAFF REGARDING REVIEW TIMELINES ON JUNE 13TH, 2022 STAFF RESPONSE THAT THE APPLICANT, UM, TO THE APPLICANT, THE REVIEW DEADLINES ARE CONSISTENT WITH HOW THE CITY REVIEW DAYS AND IN CODE AND THE LDC.

ONCE THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, UM, THERE ARE 10 WORKING DAYS TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION.

AND JUNE 24TH, 2022 STAFF RECEIVES THE SURFACE ESTIMATE CLIENT SERVICE FORM DATED 6 22 22 FROM AN ARBORIST COMPANY.

THE SERVICE ESTIMATES ESTIMATE LIST.

THE TREE DIAMETER IS 29 INCHES.

THE CLIENT SERVICE FORM, WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE, DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO DETERMINE THE HEALTH OF THE TREE OR RISK.

STAFF FINDINGS ON AUGUST 9TH AND 10, 2022, THE CITY ARBORIST MYSELF AND ANOTHER STAFF BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST VISITED THE SITE TO CONFIRM THE CONDITION OF THE TREE AND THE MEASUREMENT.

THE TREE IS DETERMINED TO BE IN BETTER CONDITION.

WE DO HAVE A GUIDE TO MEASURING TREES.

IT'S LOCATED IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL, AND ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, STAFF FINDINGS, STAFF DETERMINED THAT THE TREE IS 30 TO 30.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER WITH THE INCH OF BARK REMOVED.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE FIRST PICTURE THAT IS RIGHT AROUND, WE CALL DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT.

THAT'S AN OLD FORESTRY TERM.

THAT'S 4.5 FEET OFF THE GROUND FROM GRADE.

WE MEASURED IT UP.

UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PICTURES WHERE THE BARK WAS REMOVED.

THESE ARE STAFF FINDINGS FROM OUR BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST.

UM, WE MEASURED AT 4.5.

THAT'S A STANDARD DEVIATION ABOVE GRADE CAME OUT TO BE 30.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

WE MEASURED ALL ALONG WHERE THE BARK WAS REMOVED AT 3.6 ABOVE GRADE, IT WAS 29.5.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT STANDARD IN OUR CRITERIA MEASURE WHERE YOU MEASURE A TREE, BUT WE WANTED TO MEASURE EVERY PART OF WHERE THE BARK WAS REMOVED.

OUR MEASUREMENT THREE WAS THREE FEET ABOVE GRADE AT 30.3 INCHES.

WE MEASURED THE BARK REMOVAL, DEPTH, UM, CAME TO ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF.

MODIFICATION, OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FROM ANOTHER CITY CODE.

AND THEN THIS IS THE VARIANCE REQUEST.

THE APPLICATION APPLICANT IS APPEALING THE CITY ARBORIST DENIAL OF AN APPLICATION AS ALLOWED UNDER LDC 25 8 6 4 4.

THE APPLICANT REQUESTS REMOVAL OF A CON WITH THE STEM 30 INCHES OR GREATER IN DIAMETER AS ALLOWED UNDER 25 8 6 4 3.

AND HERE IS THE LINK TO THE VARIANCE FOR THE LAND USE COMMISSION AND THE APPEAL.

AND THEN NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE CITY AT CITY ARBORIST DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE REMOVAL.

THE REQUEST IS NOT ME.

THE CODE CRITERIA AS DEAD DISEASED OR EMINENT HAZARD, AND THE APPLICANT HAS NOT APPLIED FOR, OR, AND BEEN DENIED A WAIVER VARIANCE, EXCEPTION

[01:35:01]

AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT DEVELOPMENT RELATED.

IT'S WE HAVE A STANDALONE TREE PERMIT THAT THE APPLICATION WAS APPLIED FOR IN THAT WAY.

UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS.

THANKS FOR PUTTING THEM BACK UP.

LET'S, LET'S GO AROUND REMOTE.

UM, SORRY.

WE WERE AT PUBLIC COMP.

YES, WE DO HAVE, UH, UH, WE HAVE THE APPLICANT, I THINK, WANTS TO PRESENT HIM.

HE'LL HAVE 10 MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

UH, MR. RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES PLEASE.

MR. RODRIGUEZ.

I'M SORRY AT THE CAMERAS.

CAN'T SEE YOU FROM THAT ANGLE.

SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND USING THE PODIUM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

BEFORE I GET STARTED THOUGH.

UM, SARAH, I'M SORRY, NOT FROM THAT SEAT FROM THE PODIUM UP FRONT.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, MY NAME IS RON RODRIGUEZ.

UM, I WAS ASKING BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT, UH, DOCUMENTATION, UH, 10 DAYS BEFORE TODAY, UH, WHICH I DID I COMPLIED WITH.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS, UH, CIRCULATED, UH, TO THE COMMISSION.

DID WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION, KALE TO WHOM DID YOU SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTATION MR. TO, TO, UH, MR. MARS AND, UH, THE CITY ARBORIST? THEY, THERE WERE VERY STRICT ON THE REQUIREMENTS THAT I HAD TO SUBMIT IT BY DAY 10, WHICH I COMPLIED WITH.

UM, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN TODAY'S PACKET.

AND, UH, I THINK OUT OF FAIRNESS, THEY SHOULD HAVE CIRCULATED THE, THE MATERIALS THAT I SUBMITTED, UH, ALONG WITH THEIR MATERIALS THAT THEY CIRCULATED TO YOU.

DO YOU HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION? I DO.

I WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO YOU.

MAY I HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY BY ANY CHANCE? UH, NO, I KNOW, BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE IT BECAUSE I SUBMITTED TO THEM ELECTRONICALLY.

IT WAS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY, SIR.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

UM, PLEASE PROVIDE IT WHATEVER, HOWEVER YOU GOT IT.

UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE WEBSITE HAS GONE DOWN AND SO I AM NOT ABLE TO ACCESS ANY OF MY BACKUP JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT HERE IN PERSON, WE ARE RECEIVING SOME, SOME DOCUMENTATION.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU CAN'T, UM, SEE THIS.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE HOLD, PLEASE.

YEAH, JUST START WHEN YOU'RE READY.

WE'LL WE'LL GET ROLLING.

AND THEN, UH, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES TO PRESENT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR BOTH THE STAFF AND THE APPLICANT, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY UP THERE, RETURN TO YOUR AREA, BUT IF YOU DO SPEAK, WE NEED YOU TO BE ON CAMERA, JUST KIND OF FOR THE, FOR THE PROCESS OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN SEE, AND IT CAN GET DOCUMENTED.

UNDERSTOOD.

AND I'M READING FROM 25 DASH EIGHT, THAT'S 6, 2 5.

MAY I PROCEED PLEASE? UH, GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS RON RODRIGUEZ.

UH, I AM A BOARD CERTIFIED PERSONAL INJURY TRIAL LAWYER, AND ACTUALLY BOARD CERTIFIED IN CIVIL APPELLATE LAW.

UH, WHY DID I MENTION THAT, UH, THIS TREE POSES AN ENORMOUS, DANGEROUS RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND HARM.

I PURCHASED THIS BUILDING, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY, AS IT GOES INTO THE BUILDING, THERE IS A BIG TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVING WAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UH, OF THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY BUILDING.

UH, IT IMPOSES AN UNREASONABLE RISK AND DANGER TO BOTH PERSONAL INJURY AND PEOPLE GETTING HURT AND THE PROPERTY, UH, BUT THE EASIEST, UH, ANSWER FOR THIS, UH, HONORABLE COMMISSION IS THIS APPLICATION WAS ALREADY GRANTED AS A MATTER OF LAW.

UH, THE RULE OF LAW ALREADY REQUIRES.

UH, AND, AND BY THE WAY, THE, I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR THE CITY, NOT TO MENTION THE LAW, UH, TO YOU ALL, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DISCUSS THIS, HERE'S WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES AND IT ISN'T NEW STATUTE.

UM, AND MAYBE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE LAW WAS AND THAT'S WHY THEY HADN'T HAD ANY APPEALS, BUT THE LAW IS AS FOLLOWS.

[01:40:01]

AND THAT IS IN THE MATERIALS THAT I PROVIDED TO YOU.

AND THE LAW SAYS THAT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DEPARTMENT SHALL TAKE ACTION ON AN APPLICATION TO REMOVE A PROTECTED TREE.

NUMBER ONE, NOT LATER THAN THE 10TH WORKING DAY AFTER THE COMPLETE APPLICATION IS FILED.

AND THEN IT GOES ON TO STATE THAT AN APPLICATION TO REMOVE A TREE THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A PENDING SUBDIVISION SITE PLAN OR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE CITY, WHICH THIS ONE IS, IS AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.

I'LL READ THAT AGAIN IS AUTOMATICALLY, GRANTED IS A PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DEVELOPMENT, UH, DOES NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE APPLICATION BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE DEADLINE AND SUBSECTION A, THIS APPLICATION WAS FILED COMPLETE WITH, UH, THE CITY ON FEBRUARY 10TH.

THAT IS THE DATE THAT THE COMPLETE APPLICATION WAS FILED.

UH, THE 10TH WORKING DAY WAS FEBRUARY 25TH.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE CITY ARBORIST NONE ACTION WASN'T TAKEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 28TH, MORE THAN 10 DAYS AFTERWARDS.

SO THE RULE OF LAW, AND AGAIN, WE'RE ALL, UM, WE ALL RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW.

UM, YOU ALL ARE CREATURES OF THE RULE OF LAW BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE HERE AND YOU ALL ARE APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS VERY SAME ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT THE APPLICATION HAS TO BE AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.

THAT'S WHAT THE LAW IS.

UH, SO I FOLLOW THE LAW.

IN FACT, I FOLLOWED THE LAW, REQUIRING ME TO SUBMIT THE MATERIALS 10 DAYS BEFORE TODAY'S HEARING, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE AN, IT DIDN'T FOR SOME REASON, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

UH, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, IN THE MERE FACT THAT I'M A LAWYER SHOULD NOT MEAN ANYTHING BECAUSE I'M HERE AS JUST A NORMAL CITIZEN WITH AN APPLICATION WITH, I'M JUST A GUY THAT HAS A TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR PARKING LOT, UH, THAT CREATES A HUGE DANGER TO PEOPLE.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN GET SERIOUSLY HARMED AND INJURED.

UH, I LIKE A TREE ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON, UH, BUT THIS TREE IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, UH, TO THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THE PROPERTY.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET HURT.

UH, I FORESEE SOMEBODY GETTING HURT WITH THIS TREE, UH, BUT THE COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THAT FAR, BUT MARY ISSUES, WHETHER, WHETHER IT MEETS THE CRITERIA OR WHETHER, UH, IT'S DANGEROUS, THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT COULD BE DEBATED AND FOUGHT FOR BACK OR FORTH.

BUT WHAT CAN'T BE DEBATED IS THE RULE OF LAW AND THE RULE OF LAW IS CLEAR AND VERY, VERY SIMPLE IN THIS CASE.

NOW THEY'RE THERE.

WHEN I, WHEN I, I, I BELIEVE I SPOKE WITH MR. MARS, HIS SAID HIS DEFENSE WAS, WELL, IT WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY 10TH, BUT IT WASN'T REVIEWED, UH, BY THE CITY UNTIL FEBRUARY 11TH.

WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

THE LAW IS CLEAR.

THE LAW SAYS AFTER THE COMPLETE APPLICATION IS FILED AND THE COMPLETE APPLICATION WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY 10TH.

THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T REVIEW IT UNTIL FEBRUARY 11TH, THAT'S IRRELEVANT TO WHAT THE STATUTE IS.

SO WHAT AM I ASKING THIS HONORABLE COMMISSION TO DO? I'M ASKING THIS HONORABLE COMMISSION TO FOLLOW THE LAW, FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW.

THE, THE APPLICATION WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH, FEBRUARY 10 DAYS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT'S DAY.

WE EXCLUDED THAT IF YOU, IF YOU GET ON A CALENDAR AND WE CAN DO IT HERE, IF YOU WANT TO, BUT IF YOU COUNT 10 DAYS, IT'S FEBRUARY 25TH, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS AND EXCLUDING PRESIDENT'S DAY.

SO THEY DIDN'T TAKE ACTION ON FEBRUARY 25TH.

IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED, PERIOD, THAT'S IT GAME OVER.

AND SO, BUT THE MERE FACT THAT IT'S ALSO MERITORIOUS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

I MEAN, THIS STORY IS NOT LIKE THIS.

THE APPLICATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED ON THE MERITS BECAUSE IT'S A DANGEROUS TREE, BY THE WAY, THE, THE HOUSE, THE BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO MINE, UH, BURNED BECAUSE IT WAS VAGRANTS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE STARTING A FIRE BEHIND IT.

UH, THAT TREE GETS IN THE WAY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

UH, LOOKING INTO THE PROPERTY, UH, BIG LIMBS HAVE FALLEN, UH, ON THE PROPERTY.

LUCKILY, NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT IF SOMEBODY HAD BEEN STANDING THERE OR A CAR HAD BEEN UNDERNEATH THAT CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN SMASHED.

WE ALL KNOW THAT EVEN OUR GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY FALLING TREES.

AND SO THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR TREES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS ISN'T ONE OF THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT IS NOT ONE OF THEM, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO REACH THAT DECISION.

THE, THE EASY, THE EASY DECISION FOR THIS COMMISSION IS WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? AND ARE WE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE LAW? AND I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THE ANSWER IS YOU ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

LIKE WE ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

[01:45:01]

AND THE LAW SAYS ON FEBRUARY 10TH, THE APPLICATION WAS FILED.

IT WAS NOT, UH, ACTED UPON BY FEBRUARY 25TH.

IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.

AND BY FEBRUARY 28TH, WHEN THEY TOOK DECISION, IT WAS OVER.

SO THIS APPLICATION WAS ALREADY AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T EVEN ADDRESS THAT.

THAT IS MY MAIN ARGUMENT THAT I MADE TO YOU.

UH, THEY SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED IT IN THEIR OPENING, IN THEIR OPENING TO YOU, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

I ACTUALLY ADDRESSED THEIR DEFENSES TO MY ARGUMENT, THEIR DEFENSES, WHILE WE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT IT UNTIL FEBRUARY 11TH OR THEY DIDN'T DO SOME INTERNAL PROCESSING ON THAT.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS.

I DIDN'T MAKE UP THE STATUTE.

YOU ALL DIDN'T MAKE UP THE STATUTE.

EIGHT, DIDN'T MAKE UP THE STATUTE.

THE CITY COUNCIL IN THEIR WISDOM WROTE THE STATUTE THE WAY THEY WROTE IT.

AND WE ALL, AND WE ALL NEED TO FOLLOW IT THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN.

SO RESPECTFULLY I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU ALL FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW, GRANT THE APPLICATION TO REMOVE THIS MOST DANGEROUS TREE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HER.

I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UH, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE LAW REGARDING THE TREE, UM, REGARDING ANYTHING ELSE.

PERFECT.

I THINK THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE BACKUP.

UM, I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY GO AROUND, UM, WITH THE REMOTE COMMISSIONERS FIRST.

AND IF WE, IF ANYONE HAS COMMISSION QUESTIONS FOR, FOR OTHER STAFF OR THE APPLICANT, UM, I, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF STAFF HAVE ANY RESPONSE TO THE TIMING COMMENTS OF THE, THE 10TH DAY 11TH DAY DISCUSSION.

IN, UH, NAOMI ROACH, MILL CITY ARBORIST.

ONCE AN APPLICATION IS GONE THROUGH OUR COMPLETENESS AND DEEMED COMPLETE, IT'S TYPICAL NORMAL WITH ALL CITY TIMELINES.

THEN THAT'S WHEN THE REVIEW STARTS.

MANY TIMES WE DO NOT GET COMPLETE APPLICATIONS, BUT THIS IS ONCE THE REVIEW IS DETERMINED COMPLETE, THEN THE TIMELINE STARTS.

REMOTE, UH, COMMISSIONERS.

UH, I SAW, YES, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

IF IT'S A, A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR STAFF FOR APPLICANT, PLEASE ADDRESS IT AS SUCH.

SO THE NECESSARY PARTY KNOWS WHO TO RESPOND.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ARBORIST IF THE DAMAGE TO THE TREE WAS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TRUNK WHEN YOU WENT TO INSPECT IT AND IS THAT GOING TO HARM THE HEALTH OF THE TREE? AND I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT AS AN ASIDE THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO VIEW THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE WEBSITE IS DOWN.

SO I CAN'T ACCESS MY BACKUP TO, UM, SORT OF FRAME MY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO PULL UP THOSE SLIDES SO YOU CAN VIEW IT JUST, JUST ONE MORE.

OH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

KAYLA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PRUNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN ALSO DO THE TRAIN.

I WAS REAL CONCERNED WITH THAT.

AND THEN, UM, THE, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DIAMETER AND THE TRUNK WAS VERY BAFFLING TO ME, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, I CAN RESPOND.

UM, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BARK REMOVAL.

UM, SEVERAL STAFF HAVE RAISED THAT CONCERNS, UH, ALONG WITH OUR INSPECTION STAFF, UM, UNDER 25, 8, 6 0 2 DEFINITIONS FOR REMOVAL MEANS A KNACK THAT CAUSED OR MAY BE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO CAUSE THE TREE TO DIE, INCLUDING UPROOTING SEVERING, THE MAIN TRUCK TRUNK DAMAGING THE ROOT SYSTEM OR EXCESS PRUNINGS IN OUR CRITERIA MANUAL FOR CONSTRUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA, MANUAL 3.6 0.1.

WE REQUIRE DURING CONSTRUCTION THAT TRUNK TO BE WRAPPED WITH TWO BY FOURS.

AND, UM, WHEN ANYBODY IS WORKING CLOSE TO PROTECTED TREES.

SO YES, WE ARE AN ENFORCEMENT STAFF IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TREE.

UM, IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN REMEDY IT? I MEAN, CAN THE TREE BE WRAPPED OR, OR WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCEDURE PAINTED? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO HELP IT AT THIS POINT.

I DO NOT KNOW COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

UM, THIS IS KIND OF SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, NOWADAYS AND ESPECIALLY, UM, WITH THE DIAMETER.

UM, SO WE ARE CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, OUR NEXT FREEZE, OUR NEXT EXTREME HEAT WAVE, UM, COULD VERY MUCH OF DAMAGE THE TREE BEYOND RE REHABILITATION.

UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN REMEDIAL, UM, ASPECTS IN OUR CRITERIA MANUAL THAT WE CAN DO A SOIL INVIGORATION WRAP THE TREE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT FREEZE OR SOME SUCH.

UM, THERE IS SOME, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE

[01:50:01]

NOT THAT IT WOULD REMEDY THE BARK AND THE TRUNK DAMAGE, BUT, UM, YEAH, THERE WAS, THERE'S A FEW REMEDIAL THINGS THAT ARBORS CAN DO.

UM, SO, UM, I THINK THERE IS A METHOD FOR WHAT THE VALUE OF A TREE IS.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS DAMAGE CAME.

I MEAN, I'M, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS DAMAGE CAME ABOUT THAT IF IT WAS SORT OF MALICIOUS MISCHIEF IN TRYING TO MAKE THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, UM, LESS DIAMETER.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT POPPED INTO MY MIND.

AND THEN THAT JUST SEEMS VERY, UM, BAD.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE, UM, A METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHAT THE PRICE OF A TREE IS.

I THINK WE'VE LOOKED AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, BUT THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION HERE.

UM, COMMISSIONER, I CAN'T SPEAK TO NAOMI RICH MILL CITY ARBORIST.

I CAN NOT SPEAK TO, UM, THE INTENT ON THAT.

UM, WE CAN DRAW OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS, UH, AND, UM, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF BARK REMOVED, UM, WHEN WE RECEIVED THE APPLICATION AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN, UM, AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

UM, AND LATER ON, WHEN WE RECEIVED THE TREE REPORT AND THROUGH THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW FROM FEBRUARY 20TH, 2022, WE DID NOT SEE ANY BARK REMOVAL.

UM, SO WE CAN IMPLY IT HAPPENED SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST 9TH.

UM, SO BASED ON STREET VIEW AND BASED ON EVEN THE ARBORIST, UM, SERVICE PLAN THAT WAS, UH, PROVIDED TO US, IT STILL SHOWED THE BARK ON THE TREE.

UM, SO I CANNOT SPEAK TO ANY INTENT OR ANYTHING.

THIS IS JUST WHAT WE MEASURE.

ARE THERE ANY CAMERAS AROUND THERE THAT WOULD SHOW THAT TREE? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.

UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, DO YOU WANT ME TO MAIL AGAIN? UH, I DO NOT KNOW.

UM, I SUSPECT WE CAN CONTACT OUR ENFORCEMENT STAFF, UH, TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CAMERAS I WOULD APPRECIATE.

COMMISSIONER COMMISSION, REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.

UM, WE CAN NO LONGER SEE YOU GUYS, WHICH IS, WHICH IS FINE, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UM, JUST, OH, THANK YOU.

UM, UH, ANY OTHER, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, OR, YEAH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

ISSUE HERE THAT I THINK THERE'S A, A FORUM FOR THAT TO BE EXAMINED.

I, I CAN'T TELL, UM, I'M S I'M STILL CONFUSED AS TO WHAT IT, WHAT THE, ACTUALLY THE, THE RULE IS AND WHAT THE LAW IS, BECAUSE, UM, IF, UH, IF THE APPLICANT IS CORRECT ABOUT THE LAW, THEN, THEN, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD ADDRESS FIRST.

AND IF IT'S, IF HE'S NOT CORRECT, UM, UM, THEN, UM, THAT CHANGES THINGS AND, AND I'M NOT, I, I DON'T FEEL CLEAR.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE COMMISSIONER.

SCOTT NOW MAY RECTOR MILL, UH, CITY ARBORIST.

UH, ONCE THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETE, THE REVIEW PROCESS STARTS.

UM, THIS IS ALSO THE SAME CASE IN OUR SUBDIVISION REVIEW.

ONCE THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETE, THEN THE SHOT CLOCK, UH, PROCEEDS.

SO IT, THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT AN APPLICATION IS COMPLETE AND ENCODE, IT SAYS A COMPLETE APPLICATION.

UM, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO RE THE REVIEW TIMELINE, THIS IS BEEN THE SAME CASE FOR THE LAST 39 YEARS OF THE TREE ORDINANCE.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER BRIAN.

I HAVE A STATEMENT HERE ABOUT THE QUESTION OF LAW.

UH, I WOULD ARGUE THAT, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION IS NOT A POSITION TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ON THE QUESTION OF LAW.

UH, IT'S THE JOB OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO, UH, EXAMINE THIS CASE IN THE CONTEXT OF, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT, AS WELL AS BY THE, UH, CITY ARBORIST, IF THERE'S A MATTER OF LAW TO BE DECIDED, THEN THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MAKING THAT JUDGMENT.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THE APPLICANT LEAVES THAT THERE IS A LEGAL

[01:55:01]

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, HIS CASE WAS ASIDE FROM THE LEGAL ONE, WAS THAT IT WAS A GAME-CHANGER RUSS TREE.

NOW, AT NO POINT, DID HE SUBMIT INFORMATION THAT THE TREE WAS DISEASED, UH, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE ARBORIST SAID WAS A CASE FOR REMOVING IT, BUT HE DID MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS, BUT AT NO POINT, DID HE MAKE A DEMONSTRATE, PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE THAT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS IN ANY OBVIOUS SENSE? THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, HE MADE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT IN A PARTICULAR CASE THAT IT MAY HAVE PROVIDED SOME ISSUES ABOUT A FIRE THAT HAPPENED AT SOME INDETERMINATE TIME IN THE PAST, BUT THERE WAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE TREE PAUSE THIS WAS PROVIDED A, IT WAS A DANGER AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

NO ART, DID HE PROVIDE ANY CLEAR CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A IMMINENT DANGER OF THAT TREE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME? SO TO ME, IF HE'S UNABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECT ROUTE OF IMMEDIATE DANGER OF THAT TREE, TO HIS PROPERTY, THAT OF A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY TO PEOPLE ENTERING THE PROPERTY, TWO PEOPLE PASSING BY THE STREET, TWO PEOPLE IN THE STREET DRIVING BY THE CAR.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CASE FOR REMOVING THE TREE AS THE ARBORIST, AS THE CASE THAT THEY LOOKED FOR.

AGAIN, IF HE BELIEVES THAT THERE'S A LEGAL ISSUE INVOLVED, THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS THAT ARE BETTER SUITED FOR MAKING THAT CASE.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO EXPLORE THOSE FORUMS FOR THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT OF HIS APPEAL, BUT UNLESS HE'S GOT DOCUMENTATION THAT HE CAN PUT UP, RIGHT, THIS MINUTE, THAT SENTENCE, THERE'S AN IMMINENT DANGER, THEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE THE, I DON'T SEE THE CASE THAT HE'S GOT COMMISSIONER BRIMER, THIS IS, THIS IS RAMBERT AGAIN.

UH, TH TH THE FIRST PART OF THAT COMMENT, I AGREE.

UM, I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE CITY LEGAL.

THAT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD, WOULD COUNT DAYS.

UM, AND THAT, YEAH, THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S JOB IS NOT SO MUCH TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS REQUEST BASED ON DAYS, BUT ON OUR LANE, WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING THAT BEING SAID, IF THE APPLICANT DOES, I KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS REPORT THAT YOU PROVIDED US IN PERSON, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO, UH, COMMISSIONER BREMMER'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE TREE, I'VE KIND OF READ THROUGH THIS STUFF THROUGH THIS NOW, BUT IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.

THERE'S A S A SERVICE ESTIMATE WAS PROVIDED, UM, COMMISSIONER PRIMER.

I, I, I THINK THE, UH, THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT, UH, AND THE MAIN ARGUMENT IS ONE OF LAW.

UM, AND I, I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE APPEALS PROCESS.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE LAW IS.

AND SO, UM, WITH, UH, THE COMMISSIONER, UM, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND SO YOU CAN'T GO STRAIGHT TO DISTRICT COURT BECAUSE THERE'S A PROCESS CALL EXHAUSTED YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT I'M DOING HERE.

UH, TO ME, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE ARGUMENT.

UM, THE, THE, UH, AND I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT YOU ALL, UM, CAN FOLLOW THE LAW AND SHOULD NOT LOOK AT THE LAW AND LOOK AT THE ORDINANCES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL DO.

YOU ALL LOOK AT THE ORDINANCES THAT, THAT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO.

UH, IN FACT, SHE CITED SOME ORDINANCES THERE, AND YOU ALL DECIDE WHETHER A CERTAIN SET OF FACTS MEET THE ORDINANCES.

THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO.

AND WHEN I SAY IT'S AN ISSUE OF LAW, I DON'T MEAN YOU GET, YOU NEED TO INTERPRET THE LAW.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.

I MEAN THAT THE FACTS ARE SO CLEAR.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE DOCUMENT WAS FILED.

[02:00:01]

IT DOESN'T SAY REVIEWED.

AND, AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS COMPLETE WHEN IT WAS FILED, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T REQUIRE ANYTHING.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, NOTHING WAS REQUIRED.

I DIDN'T SUBMIT ANY OTHER, OTHER DOCUMENTS.

THEY JUST QUOTE, DEEMED IT, WHATEVER THEY DEEMED IT.

BUT SO WHEN I SAY IT'S AN ISSUE OF LAW FOR Y'ALL TO DECIDE, I'M NOT SAYING YOU ALL NEED TO INTERPRET THE LAW AND BE A JUDGE ON THIS.

I'M SAYING, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT THE LAW IS.

IT'S, IT'S AN ORDINANCE LIKE ANY OTHER ORDINANCES.

AND THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, IF I WAS YOU ALL IS, DID HE FILED IT ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE.

IF IT WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH, THEN IT'S A MECHANICAL CALCULATION OF 10 DAYS.

AND I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO YOU, IF YOU MAKE THAT MECHANICAL CALCULATION OF 10 DAYS, DOESN'T REQUIRE LEGAL TRAINING, DOES IT REQUIRE ANYTHING ONCE IT'S FILED DOING MECHANICAL CALCULATION, YOU WILL COUNT DATE 10 IS FEBRUARY 25TH.

THEN I WOULD ASK, DID YOU MAKE A DECISION BY FEBRUARY 25TH? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS GOING TO BE NO, THE DECISION WASN'T MADE UNTIL FEBRUARY 28TH.

SO BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE UNCONTROVERTED FACTS.

THERE'S NO DISCRETION.

THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING REALLY THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.

YOU JUST NEED TO READ THE STATUTE THAT'S AS FILED, ASK WHETHER IT WAS FILED ON THE 10TH COUNT, TAKE OUT A CALENDAR COUNT 10 DAYS, EXCLUDE PRESIDENT'S DAY, EXCLUDE THE, UH, UH, THE WEEKEND.

YOU WILL FIND THAT THE 10TH DAY IS FEBRUARY 25TH.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS, IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.

AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE IF YOU HAVE HAVE, IF YOU, IF YOU ALL ARE NOT GOING TO GO ON THAT ARGUMENT, WHICH IS VERY, VERY SIMPLE, UH, EVEN A SECOND GRADER CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT ARGUMENT, UH, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I SAY AFTERWARDS ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

SO, UH, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD.

UM, AND I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I'M SORRY, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THIS WAS COMMISSIONER BRIMER AGAIN.

IF THE TREE PRESENTS AN IMMINENT DANGER TO YOUR, YOUR PROPERTY, THE NEIGHBORS OR SOMETHING ELSE, AND SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, NOT THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK TO THEM, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION ON THE MERIT OF THAT BASIS.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, CITY STAFF HAS MADE THEIR CASE.

THAT STANDARD PROCEDURE IS WHAT THEY'VE SAID IT WAS.

AND THEIR ARGUMENT IS THEY'RE FOLLOWING STANDARD PROCEDURE.

YOUR ARGUMENT IS NO.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING US TO SPLIT HAIRS ON A LEGAL ARGUMENT.

AND MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, JUST SPLIT AFFAIRS ON A LEGAL MATTER.

YOUR ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE'S AN IMMINENT DANGER POSED BY TREE IN SOME MANNER.

THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER YOUR ARGUMENT ON THE BASIS OF THAT, THAT AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IF WE'RE SPLITTING HAIRS ON THE WAY THAT THE CITY STAFF ENUMERATES DATES IN THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.

AND THE WAY YOU COUNT THE DATE, THEN THAT'S, YOU'RE ASKING US TO MAKE A RULING BASED UPON AN INTERPRETATION OF A LAW, WHICH IN MY OPINION, AGAIN, NOT THE REST OF THE COMMISSION, I DON'T BELIEVE WHERE IS THE MAKE.

THERE'S ANOTHER FORUM FOR THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MUST EXHAUST ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES IN ORDER TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT TYPE OF APPROACH, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO YOU ON THE BASIS OF THE TREE POSING AN IMMINENT DANGER BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE OF SOME ISSUE WITH THEM.

AREN'T YOU DON'T HAVE, I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE TO THAT.

IF THEY, IF YOUR PROCESS WAS PRESENTED, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSED ON TIME AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS ARGUMENT, AND WE WERE SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU, WE'D HAVE BE LISTENING.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD NEED TO TELL US WHY THIS TREE WAS PRESENTED A EMINENT DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT.

AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU PRESENT THAT CASE, BUT

[02:05:01]

UM, IF I CAN ASK PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A ONLINE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE MUTE YOUR CAMERAS, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF A FEEDBACK AND EXTRA NOISE.

UM, I APOLOGIZE.

UH, WE ACTUALLY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO KEEP CAMERAS ON, OH, MICROPHONE, GOT IT.

MUTE, MUTE, MUTE YOURSELF.

UM, BUT, BUT WE STILL WANT TO SEE YOU.

IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T CARE.

UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND I'LL ADDRESS THEM THIS WAY.

UH, YOU WIN YOUR CASE ON THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT.

THAT THAT'S THE WAY YOU WIN YOUR CASE.

AND THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT HERE IS THE MOST SIMPLE ONE.

AND I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THE, WITH THE COMMISSIONER.

YOU CANNOT CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S THE WAY THE, THE, THE CITY ARBORISTS HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT.

SO IT HAS TO BE RIGHT.

THAT IS THE, NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S WHY YOU ALL ARE HERE.

YOU ALL ARE ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO LOOK AT THEIR ACTIONS, NOT TO RUBBER STAMP THEM.

YOU CAN'T JUST RUBBER STAMP THEM AND SAY, WELL, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOREVER.

WELL, MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT WRONG.

MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE IT TAKES A CITIZEN TO STAND UP AND SAY, MAYBE WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE.

AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS READ THE LAW.

IT'S NOT, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO IT, TO INTERPRET IT OTHER THAN HOW YOU INTERPRET ALL THE OTHER, UH, MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES THAT YOU DO, YOU READ IT, YOU APPLY ITS ORDINARY MEANING AND YOU APPLY IT.

THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.

AND SO THE ORDINARY MEANING SAYS WHEN THE COMPLETE APPLICATION IS FILED, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT A COMPLETE APPLICATION IS.

ONE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANYTHING FURTHER.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHEN IT'S FILED, WHEN WE GET ONLINE AND WE PRESS THAT BUTTON IT'S SUBMITTED AND IT'S STAMPED WHILE ALL OF THAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 10TH.

AND WE ALL KNOW HOW TO COUNT DAYS.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A LAWYER TO DO THAT.

EVEN SECOND GRADERS CAN COUNT DAYS.

IT WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH.

YOU COUNT 10 DAYS, YOU EXCLUDE HOLIDAYS AND YOU EXCLUDE WEEKENDS.

AND THE 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 25TH, VERY SIMPLE, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE LEGAL INTERPRETATION AND IT'S AUTOMATIC.

THAT'S WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS.

SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST APPLY THE ORDINANCE LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

SO I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT THE APPLICATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED.

UH, THE OTHER THING, THE OTHER POINT THAT THE COMMISSIONER, UH, SAID IS SHOW ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS.

WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I SHOW YOU WHETHER IT IS DANGEROUS, SOMEBODY GETS HURT.

THAT'S HOW YOU SHOW PEOPLE THAT IS DANGEROUS.

YOU CAN'T SHOW PEOPLE.

IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT IS THE COMMISSIONER WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW TO HAVE SOMEBODY CRIPPLED BY A FALLING BRANCH? AND THEN I COME BACK INTO YOU AND SAY, WELL, HERE IT IS.

I TOLD YOU, SO THAT'S HOW YOU SHOW.

AND BY THE WAY, I'M A BOARD CERTIFIED PERSONAL INJURY TRIAL LAWYER.

THIS IS WHAT I DO.

AND I'M TELLING YOU RESPECTFULLY THAT, THAT TREE, YOU CAN PULL IT UP.

IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY GOING UP IS DANGEROUS.

UH, YES.

ANYWAY, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, ONE, ONE QUICK COMMENT AND I SEE YOU COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND I'LL, UH, I'LL I'LL NOTE, YOU'LL BE NEXT.

UM, IN THE BACKUP THAT THE STAFF PROVIDED US, UM, THERE'S INFORMATION THAT THE TRUNK DIAMETER WAS LISTED AS 24 INCHES ON THE APPLICATION ON FEBRUARY 10TH, THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

IS THAT ACCURATE? I DUNNO.

I HAD AN ARBORIST, UH, HELPED ME WITH THAT.

THAT THE INTERNET IS DOWN FOR, FOR, UM, THE WEBSITE.

WELL, IF YOU COULD, THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AS TO WHETHER THAT PACKET WAS COMPLETE WHEN IT WAS SUBMITTED.

WELL, IF, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, AT THE, AT THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE CITY SUBMITTED, IT SAYS THAT IT WAS COMPLETE ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE DOCUMENTS THEY SAID.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY TESTIFIED UNDER OATH.

SO IT WAS COMPLETE BY FEBRUARY 11TH, THEY REQUESTED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LATER, BUT THE, THE STATUTE SAYS WHEN IT IS COMPLETE.

SO IT WAS COMPLETE ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND COMMISSIONERS.

I MEAN, I, I CAN SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL IF Y'ALL ARE NOT GOING TO GRANT IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GRANT IT.

I PRESENTED MY ARGUMENT IN THE EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE.

UM, SO I'M GOING TO JUST SIT DOWN AND LET Y'ALL DO WHATEVER Y'ALL DO.

ALRIGHT.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED OF YOU.

IF YOU'D LIKE COMMISSIONER SCOTT, I THINK YOU TAKE IT.

MY POINT WAS I WAS INTERRUPTED AND, UM, UH, UH, AND, UM, I WANTED TO FINISH, UM, WHAT I WAS SAYING AND W WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT RIGHT NOW I'M UNABLE TO ACCESS THE, UH, UM, THE, THE WORRYING, BECAUSE I CAN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHY, BUT I, IT DOES SEEM

[02:10:01]

UM, MY PHONE IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, SO I CAN'T, I CAN'T LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION.

I CAN'T DETERMINE EVEN WHAT THE LANGUAGE SAYS.

UM, IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT FOR US TO DO, UM, AND, AND WE ARE IN CONFUSION ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK THAT, THAT, UH, WE NEED TO, UM, A TABLE.

SO I, UM, AND, UH, BE ABLE TO, UH, UM, MAKE MORE SENSE RATHER THAN ACTING, UH, IN HASTE.

I SEE THAT THIS IS A, A MATTER FOR, UH, UH, ACTING IN HASTE, BUT I, AND I ALSO AGREE WITH, UM, THAT, UH, MR. RODRIGUEZ HAS, UH, HE HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THIS, UH, UH, TREE IS AS, UH, IS A HAZARD, BUT HE HAS NOT EXPLAINED WHY AND THE EXPLANATION THAT THE TREE IS HAZARDOUS.

UM, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT WHEN IT, WHEN IT HURTS, SOMEBODY IS, UM, IS, IS NOT AN ARGUMENT.

I, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN, IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A REASONABLE ARGUMENT.

UH, THERE HAS TO BE SOME EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HE COMES TO THAT CONCLUSION IN ORDER FOR THAT TO MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

UM, SO I, I DON'T KNOW.

UM, UM, I GUESS, I GUESS AS A RESULT OF THAT, I'M, WELL, I GUESS MY INCLINATION WOULD BE PERHAPS TO, TO A TABLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS TREE.

IT'S A VERY OLD TREE.

UM, HOW, I GUESS IT WOULD BE PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO RELOCATE IT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY COULD SPEAK TO THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPLIN, WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, SO OUR, THE CITY ARBORIST PRESENTATION AND MEMO, OR POSTED IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING AND WE'RE AVAILABLE ONLINE UNTIL THE INTERNET APPARENTLY WENT DOWN.

ADAMS WENT DOWN ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, UH, WITHIN THE LAST HOUR OR SO.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO PULL UP THOSE MATERIALS HERE DURING THE MEETING.

UH, YOU'RE ALSO WELCOME TO CONSIDER A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WOULD LEAVE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING WHEN HE WOULD CONTINUE CONSIDERING THIS MATTER, IF THAT MOTION FAILS, THEN, UH, YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO PROCEED THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, UH, CHAIRMAN, REMEMBER, UM, I, I'M NOT, I, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT THE BEST WAY SHE PROCEEDED.

UH, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF, I MEAN, I MEAN, IF THE, IF THE LAW IS IN QUESTION, UM, EITHER, EITHER WE SHOULD ACT ON THAT OR, OR, UM, OR, OR BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT IT, UM, BEFORE WE MAKE IT BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION, IT SEEMS TO BE, UM, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN BE MORE CLEAR ON IT BY HAVING A GRADUAL THAT'S, THAT'S FINE WITH ME, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, UH, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO, TO LOOK, TO FIND OUT WHATEVER THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO, IF SOMEONE FEELS THAT THEY WANT TO POSTPONE, THEY, THEY, THEY MOVE AS SUCH.

AND IF THERE'S A SECOND, WE WILL, WE'LL VOTE THAT UP AND DOWN.

AND IF THAT PASSES WE'LL POSTPONE, UM, AND, AND, UH, AND IF IT DOESN'T THEN WE'LL PROCEED.

WELL, I, I THINK THAT WE WASTE A LOT OF TIME, UM, BY GOING INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS ONE, UH, IT COULD BE A TIME COULD BE BETTER SPENT ONCE WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.

SO I, I DO MOVE TO A POSTPONE.

COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER BARRETT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS AGENDA ITEM TO A FUTURE MEETING.

SEE WHICH AGENDA ITEM WE ARE ON HERE.

UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND FINISH THIS UP THE VOTE REAL QUICK BEFORE, BEFORE YOU JUMP IN WITH YOUR QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMMISSIONER, UH, SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF A MOTION TO POSTPONE.

YES, SCOTT, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A MOTION, BUT I CAN BE, IT CAN BE DISCUSSED.

IS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO THE MOTION OF POSTPONEMENT? I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF ALL TOGETHER, BUT I GUESS I WAS WONDERING IF IT'S POSTPONED, THEN THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS UNTIL THE POSTPONEMENT DATE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, KAYLA CHAMBLIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.

WE WOULD THEN END THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING WHEN THIS MATTER IS TAKEN UP DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I, I GUESS LIKE, SO, UH, I'M JUST GONNA, UM, LET YOU PROCEED WITH THE, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.

AND I LOST AUDIO FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT

[02:15:02]

I DO.

I HAVE A COMMENT.

SO, UM, UH, POSTPONING, THIS, UM, IS FINE AND I, I RESPECT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, SCOTT'S, UH, MOTION ON THIS, UM, CONSIDERING THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME TO HAVE THIS KIND OF REQUEST.

UM, I WANT TO INFORM THE APPLICANT THAT, UM, IT, IT'S GONNA TAKE US A MINUTE TO PROCESS HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU CAN RESPECT OUR WANTING TO POSTPONE THIS.

AND, UM, AS WE GATHER OUR FACTS AND LOOK AT THIS MORE CAREFULLY, HOW WE PROCESS AND MOVE FORWARD TO THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE ONE BEFORE.

SO, UM, IN THAT REGARD, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY WOULD HESITATE ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WE, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED BEFORE WE CAN REALLY MAKE ANY KIND OF DECISION.

UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.

I THINK THAT'S, UH, IS WHERE, AS I WAS SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT THIS, MAYBE IT IS A WISE DECISION TO POSTPONE IT, AND MAYBE I CAN HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THEM, UM, IN THE INTERIM AND, AND MAYBE UP WITH A SOLUTION, UM, THAT MAY MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER.

SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON MAYBE THAT WE CAN, WE CAN POSTPONE THAT BECAUSE HE, HE WILL HOPEFULLY UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND, AND, AND SOME OF THE INTERPRETATION, SOME OF THE OTHER NUANCES AND MAYBE, UM, BE COMFORTABLE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.

SO THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH MEANT FOR THAT, FOR THAT COMMENT AND THE EXPLANATION.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL'S TIME.

THOSE AGAINST POSTPONEMENT THREE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THIS VOTE.

UM, SO ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS TO A FUTURE MEETING, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'VE GOT FOUR, FOUR HERE AND FOUR AWAY.

SO THAT'S EIGHT AT ALL.

THE MOTION PASSES, UH, IT IS POSTPONED TO A FUTURE MEETING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING STAYS OPEN.

IS THAT CORRECT? KAYLA.

THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ.

UH, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

YES, PLEASE.

UH, MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR, SETON MEDICAL CENTER, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, CASE NUMBER C 8 1 4 DASH NINE TWO DASH 0 0 0 6 0.02.

[4. Name: Seton Medical Center Planned Unit Development Amendment No. 2, Case No. C814-92- 0006.02]

UM, THE APPLICANT IS MICHELLE LYNCH.

UM, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION BY STAFF FIRST.

UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LESLIE LILLY.

I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.

AND TONIGHT I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THE SETON MEDICAL CENTER, PUD AMENDMENT.

UM, THIS IS THE SECOND POD AMENDMENT FOR, UH, THIS ORDINANCE.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS AN OLDER PUD ORDINANCE.

IT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 1993, UH, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SETON MEDICAL CENTER AND THE ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS TO, UM, TO SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL.

THE APPLICANT IS CURRENTLY REQUESTING A PUD AMENDMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A WOMAN'S HEALTH TOWER, UM, AND EXPANDING UPON THE CARDIOVASCULAR WING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES.

AND ALONG WITH THAT, THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT, UM, EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL FACILITY TO PROCEED.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, SO THIS IS WHERE THE SITE IS LOCATED ON 38TH STREET.

IT IS IN THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION, AND IT IS NOT IN THE RECHARGE OR CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THERE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.

150 FEET OF THE SITE, PROPERTY BOUNDARIES.

AND THE SITE IS 12.21 ACRES.

UM, IT IS IN THE SHOAL CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS AN URBAN WATERSHED.

UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF CLOSE TO SHOAL CREEK, AND IT'S ALSO CLOSE TO WALLER CREEK IN THE EAST, WHICH IS ANOTHER URBAN WATERSHED.

UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE SITES, THERE ARE NO CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WITHIN OR WITHIN

[02:20:01]

THERE IS NO CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE ON THE SITE, AND THERE'S NO FLOOD PLAN ON THE SITE.

UH, CURRENTLY THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS 79.16%.

SO FOR COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES WITH AN URBAN, UH, WATERSHEDS, THE, UH, WHAT IS ALLOWABLE AND URBAN WATERSHEDS IS ACTUALLY 95%.

SO WHAT IS WITHIN THE PUD? UM, WHAT IS ALLOWABLE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IS ALSO BEING PROPOSED IS WELL BELOW THE LIMIT THAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWABLE IN URBAN WATERSHEDS FOR, UH, COMMERCIAL, UM, COMMERCIAL SITES OR COMMERCIAL ZONED SITES.

UM, SO THERE'S ALSO NO WATER QUALITY CONTROLS CURRENTLY ON THE SITE.

AND THIS IS THE, ORIGINALLY THIS IS THE ORIGINAL LAND USE PLAN FOR THE POD.

SO AS A REMINDER, THE LAND USE PLAN FOR PUDS, UM, DICTATE THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT ARE IMPOSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PUD ZONED PROPERTY.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE, UH, CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT OF THE HOSPITAL AS IT EXISTS TODAY, AND THE PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH IT TO SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL.

UM, SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE WESTERN OR THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE LAND USE PLAN, WHERE THERE'S CURRENTLY A LARGE EXISTING PARKING GARAGE, AND THEN ALONG THE EASTERN BORDER, WHERE THERE SURFACE PARKING, THESE THINGS ARE THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THIS IS THE AMENDED LAND USE PLAN, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PUTT AMENDMENT.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THERE WAS, UM, THE LARGE, UH, PARKING GARAGE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY IS NOW BEING PROPOSED TO BE REPLACED BY WOMEN'S HEALTH TOWER FACILITY.

AND THEN, UM, SOME PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS AND OPEN SPACE IN THE NORTHWESTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

ADDITIONALLY, THE SURFACE PARKING THAT'S ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY IS, UM, GOING TO BE THE LOCATION WHERE THAT CARDIOVASCULAR WING WILL EXPAND INTO A NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO THE, UM, THE PROPOSED, UH, EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES, THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A COUPLE OF, UM, MODIFICATIONS TO THE SITE DEVELOPMENT, UH, REGULATIONS.

AND ONE IS INCREASING IN PERVIOUS COVER FROM A 79.16% TO 79.62%.

AND THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF IMPERVIOUS COVER INCREASE.

UH, ALSO, UM, THIS, AS OF TODAY, THERE WAS AN UPDATE IN THE CALCULATION OF OPEN SPACE THAT WOULD BE, UM, ASKED FOR IN THE CHANGE OF THE LAND USE PLAN TO ACCOMMODATE THESE EXPANDED FACILITIES AND WHERE THERE WAS ORIGINALLY, UM, A REQUEST TO DECREASE THE OPEN SPACE FROM 11.9% TO 4%.

THAT REQUEST HAS BEEN STRICKEN FROM THE PROPOSAL AND HAS, UH, REMAINING AT 11.9%.

AND THAT WAS REVIEWED WITH A PARTNER REVIEWER TODAY, UM, TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS, UM, THAT THE POD IS THE AMENDMENT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT 11.9% OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE MODIFICATION, THE PROPOSAL IS GOING TO ADD THE REQUIREMENT OF WATER QUALITY CONTROL TO TREAT, UM, RUNOFF FROM IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, THIS AMENDMENT ARE A NUMBER OF, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY ITEMS. UM, THE TWO TIER ONE SUPERIORITY ITEMS ARE ONE AND TWO AND THREE THROUGH SIX ARE TIER TWO SUPERIORITY ITEMS. SO ONE IS THAT THE NEW BUILDING WILL ACHIEVE A LEAD SILVER RATING.

NOW LEAD SILVER IS COMPARABLE TO A TWO STAR GREEN BUILDING RATING, UM, AND, UH, ADDITIONALLY, THE REDEVELOPMENT KEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TIER TWO, A SUPERIORITY ITEMS TWO THROUGH SIX, UM, ALL TREES IN THE REDEVELOPMENT WILL BE SOURCED FROM CENTRAL TEXAS NATIVE SEED STOCK.

UH, THE NEW BUILDING WILL COMPLY WITH ENHANCE, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DARK SKY REGULATIONS BY REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION.

UH, THE BUILDING WILL BE DESIGNED TO REDUCE BIRD BUILDING COLLISION BY UTILIZING GLASS WITH A REFLECTIVITY OF LESS THAN 15% OR 15% OR LESS.

AND THEN ADDITIONALLY IT INSIGHT PLAN.

THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM P UH, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL SUPPORT THE, UM, THE LANDSCAPE, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT.

THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY SPECIFIC, UH, TO SUPERIORITY ITEMS AS THEY'RE LISTED IN, IN, UH, CODING CRITERIA.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS

[02:25:01]

AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEM THAT WILL COLLECT CONDENSATE AND RAINWATER COLLECTION TO OFFSET THE COOLING TOWER, POTABLE WATER DEMAND, AND IRRIGATION.

THIS WAS AN ITEM REQUESTED NEGOTIATION WITH AUSTIN WATER AND, UM, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE WATER CONSERVATION AND REDUCE THE DEMAND ON POTABLE WATER FOR THE PROJECT.

UH, THE ITEMS TWO THROUGH SIX ARE, UM, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAD, UH, CERTIFICATION.

WHILE THE APPLICANT IS COMMITTING TO A LEAD SILVER CERTIFICATION, THEY ARE, UH, POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, GEARING UP TO DO LIKE A LEAD SILVER PLUS TOWARDS LEAD GOLD.

AND THESE ITEMS TWO THROUGH SIX ARE PART OF THAT ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT A MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

AND POTENTIALLY ONCE THE ACTUAL SITE PLAN COMES IN, MAY BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE LEED GOALS.

UM, SO THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO COMMIT TO AT THIS TIME, WHICH INCLUDE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING PORTS AVAILABLE TO THE WOMEN'S TOWER OCCUPANTS.

UM, THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT WILL BE MITIGATED BY USING, UH, PARKING UNDERCOVER, LIKE 75% OF THE PARKING WILL BE UNDERCOVER AND ALSO USING LIGHT COLORED, UH, HARDSCAPING WHERE CONCRETE, UH, IS MUCH LIGHTER THAN ASPHALT AND ADDITIONALLY USING SHADING THROUGHOUT, UM, THE OPEN-SPACE AREAS, UH, TO REDUCE, UH, THE IMPACT OF THE HOT SUN.

SO HAVING LOTS OF SHADING AND TREES AND THE DEVELOPMENT IS, WILL REDUCE THE TIDE HE ISLAND IN FACT, TREES ARE GREAT.

UM, SO OVER LIKE OVER 50% OF THE PORTABLE OUTDOOR WATER WILL BE SAVED USING NATIVE DROUGHT, TOLERANT PLANTS AND, UH, EFFICIENT IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT.

AND ADDITIONALLY, SOME INTERIOR WATER, UH, USE EFFICIENT, UH, ITEMS ARE USING EFFICIENT PLUMBING FIXTURES TO REDUCE 35% OF THE INDOOR POTABLE WATER USE AND USING EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES THAT COMPLY WITH LEAD WATER USE REQUIREMENTS.

SO WITH ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS THAT ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROJECT, STAFF RECOMMEND, UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE POD AMENDMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS THAT THE PROJECT COMPLIES WITH THE TIER ONE AND TIER TWO SUPERIORITY ITEMS AS NOTED ON THE PUTT EXHIBITS.

SO THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT I MENTIONED THAT WERE FROM MY SLIDE ABOUT SUPERIORITY.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE PROJECT COMMITS TO COLLECT AND BENEFICIALLY REUSE, BOTH RAINWATER AND CONDENSATE FOR COOLING WATER, DEMAND, AND IRRIGATION.

UM, AND I WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, BUT THE APPLICANT ALSO HAS A PRESENTATION.

SO AS SOON AS THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MS. LYNCH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, AND DO WE HAVE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION OR SLIDES TO GO THROUGH? YES, SIR.

PERFECT.

IF YOU GUYS COULD PULL THAT UP FOR EVERYONE REMOTELY AS WELL, THAT'D BE GREAT.

UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE LYNCH AND THAT CALF WOLF, STUART AND WILLIAMS. NOT SURE I'M GOING TO BE AS INTERESTING AS ITEM THREE.

UM, BUT I KNOW HOPEFULLY BRIEF, AND I GUESS I'LL JUST KEEP TALKING.

SO WE, UM, WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR, UM, ASCENSION TEAM HERE TONIGHT, VARIOUS CONSULTANTS AND MEMBERS OF ASCENSION.

UH, THERE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL AS WE GO ALONG.

GREAT.

UM, S STAFF DID A GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS AT PUTTING TOGETHER A PRESENTATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

UM, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS TAKE KIND OF A BROADER STEP BACK AND EXPLAIN THE LARGER PROJECT TO YOU AND HOW IT RELATES TO ANOTHER PARCEL THAT'S ADJACENT.

BUT FIRST, THE REASON FOR THE EXPANSION, UM, THAT IS ESSENTIALLY HAS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN MODERNIZATION IN THIS PARTICULAR CAMPUS, INSTEAD OF BUILDING AT ANOTHER CAMPUS, PERHAPS IN A MORE SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT, THEY HAVE FOCUSED ON THIS CAMPUS AND IT IS OUTDATED.

PERHAPS SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, PERHAPS, MAYBE SOME PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN BIRTH THERE.

UM, AND THE GOAL IS TO REALLY MODERNIZE THESE FACILITIES AND ESPECIALLY THE ROOMS. UM, SO WE'RE EXPANDING THOSE SERVICES AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THE PATIENT CENTER DESIGN IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERIES, ANTEPARTUM, AND GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERIES.

UM, AND ALSO AS STEVE POINTED OUT, WE'LL BE DOING ADDITIONAL PARKING PROVIDED, COMBINING THAT WITH THE ADJACENT MEDICAL OFFICE PARK TOWER SITE.

SO THINK, SEE HERE, THE YELLOW BORDER PROPERTY IS THE PUD.

THAT IS THE SUBJECT

[02:30:01]

OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

WE CALL IT THE EAST TRACT AND THE WEST TRACK AS WE CALL IT.

AND PERHAPS YOU'VE BEEN THERE AS WELL.

IT'S THE MEDICAL OFFICE PART TOWER.

I ALWAYS NOTICE IT BY A LOT OF SURFACE PARKING AND THAT IS THE TRACK THAT WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE, UH, RELOCATING THE GARAGE.

YOU'LL SEE SOME EXHIBITS IN A MINUTE.

I JUST, AGAIN, TO ORIENT YOU WITH THE ZONING, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PUD TRACT, THE TRACK NEXT TO IT IS ZONED GOV.

NP DOES NOT NEED ANY MODIFICATIONS.

SO OVERALL IN THE EAST CAMPUS, WE ARE, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A DEMO OF THE EXISTING GARAGE, ALONG WITH THE TOWER, EXPANDING FOR THE WOMEN'S SERVICES AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR WING ON THE WEST TRACT.

WE'LL BE DOING TWO PARKING GARAGES.

ONE ON 38TH STREET WILL BE UNDERGROUND.

UM, AND THEN IN THE BACK, WE'LL BE ON 34TH STREET, WE'LL BE THE ABOVE GROUND GARAGE.

SO AGAIN, STAFF MENTIONED DEMOLISHING THAT GARAGE.

WE'RE MOVING IT OVER TO ANOTHER TRACK TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE TOWER.

WE HAVE SEVERAL APPLICATIONS ON FILE.

SOME THAT I'M NOT EVEN LISTING HERE, UH, BUT PUD ZONING AMENDMENT FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THERE IS A SITE PLAN AND REVIEW, AND THEN ON THE MEDICAL PARK TOWER, WE HAVE A SITE PLAN AND REVIEW THERE AS WELL FOR THE GARAGES.

SO, UH, THIS AGAIN, JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU A BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT IS THERE TODAY.

UM, YOU CAN THE SOUTH GARAGE, UM, ON 34TH STREET AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AS WE PHASE THE DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, SOME RELATED TO THE HELLA PAD THERE IN THE MIDDLE, UM, BEING RELOCATED, UH, SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ALONG 34 STREET BEING DEMOLISHED.

HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE, WHAT WERE CALLED THE ORANGE GARAGE ON 38TH STREET, WHICH WILL BE UNDERGROUND.

AND THE BLUE GARAGE IN THE BACK ON 34TH STREET, WHICH WILL BE THE NEW GARAGE THAT WILL SERVICE BOTH THE MEDICAL OFFICE PART TOWER AS WELL AS THE SETON HOSPITAL.

UM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE WOMEN'S TOWER IN THE BACK THERE, UM, AND MAKING ROOM FOR THAT WITH SOME ENTRANCES OFF OF 34TH.

AND THEN, UH, LAST PHASE BEING THE HEART AND VASCULAR EXPANSION ON 38TH STREET THERE AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN.

UM, SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS WE'RE MODIFYING IN THE POD AS WELL, THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE.

WE ARE INCREASING THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO SLIGHTLY.

WE ARE, OF COURSE, INCREASING THE BUILDING COVERAGE SLIGHTLY.

WE ARE INCREASING THE BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE, UM, SLIGHTLY I'LL NOTE THAT, UH, 786,600 WAS ALLOWED IN THE PUTTER ORIGINALLY, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW MUCH IS ON THE SITE TODAY.

IT'S ACTUALLY LESS THAN THAT.

UM, AND THEN AS STAFF MENTIONED, I KEEP CALLING IT A FRACTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT WE'RE, UM, UH, EXPANDING.

SO ABOUT 2,400 SQUARE FEET.

NEXT SLIDE, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE BEEN GOING OVER THIS THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OPEN SPACE WITH COMMISSIONERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, PEOPLE AND OUR OWN SELVES.

AND I KEEP SAYING, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE LOSING SO MUCH OPEN SPACE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT WHEN I LOOK AT THE EXHIBITS.

SO WE TOOK A FINE TOOTH COMB AND WENT BACK TO THAT AND WENT OVER ALL THE VARIOUS SITE PLANS IN THEIR CORRECTIONS AND REVISIONS OVER TIME, YOU CAN IMAGINE IT'S KIND OF A MASS FROM THE NINETIES AND DELIGHTFULLY FOUND THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO REDUCE OPEN SPACE.

AND SO WE HAVE THAT VERIFIED WITH STAFF, UM, TODAY OR YESTERDAY.

AND SO WE'RE REMOVING THAT REQUEST FROM OUR, OUR, UM, PUTT.

UH, WE ARE, UM, ADDING, UH, WE HAVE TWO DETENTION PONDS ON SITE TODAY.

ONE MEDICAL PARK TOWER, I'M SORRY, MEDICAL PARKWAY POND WILL BE RECONFIGURED.

UM, AND THEN AS STAFF MENTIONED, THERE IS NO WATER QUALITY.

SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE PROJECT.

NEXT SLIDE TREES.

I KNOW TREES ARE IMPORTANT.

UM, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF TREES ON THE SITE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME HERITAGE TREES THAT ARE VERY NICE ON THE SITE.

WE DID HAVE ONE HERITAGE TREE THAT WAS IN POOR HEALTH AND WAS DEEMED BY STAFF TO BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED.

UM, THREE OF THE OTHER ONES THOUGH WILL BE RELOCATED ON SITE.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THAT LARGE CANOPY SYSTEM FROM A TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE.

UM, WE HAD, UH, AN OLD TRAFFIC, UM, STUDY FROM THE NINETIES AND WE WERE REQUIRED BY STAFF TO UPDATE THOSE TRAFFIC COUNTS AND DO A COMPLIANCE MEMO, NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THIS, BUT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CONFIGURE IN WHAT YOU'RE ADDING VERSUS WHAT EXISTED AND HOW MANY TRIPS THERE WERE, THE RESULTS ENDED UP BEING THAT WE, UM, DON'T ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY INTERSECTIONS.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT REALLY ADDING A LOT OF STUFF OR MODERNIZING KIND OF STRETCHING OUR WINGS.

SO THANKFULLY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OTHER, UM, TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL.

DID THAT ALREADY, BUT THAT IS WHY THESE CAME INTO PLAY.

SO FROM ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS THAT WERE, UM, MENTIONED EARLIER IN SUPERIORITY, I JUST WANT TO JUST POINT OUT, AND MAYBE THIS IS NOT A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TO EVERYONE, BUT IN PUT AMENDMENTS, YOU'RE ACTUALLY NOT REQUIRED TO MEET ALL OF THE TIER ONE AND TWO SUPERIORITY ITEMS IN THE CODE BECAUSE YOU'RE KIND OF DEALING WITH THE LANDSCAPE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

SO WE FREQUENTLY WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH STAFF KIND OF A GIVE AND TAKE OF, OKAY, WELL, CAN YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THESE THINGS, WILL IT FIT IN WITH YOUR AMENDMENT? AND SO WE DID THAT, UM, WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF AND WITH THE WATER UTILITY AND CAME TO AGREEMENT.

I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THESE BECAUSE STAFF

[02:35:01]

THESE WERE THINGS THAT WERE NOT ALREADY CONTEMPLATED IN OUR PROJECT, BUT WERE THINGS THAT WE COULD ADD IN.

UM, AND SO WE DID NEXT SLIDE.

SO ENDING WITH THAT, UM, WOULD BE THE LEAD SILVER OR STRIVING FOR GOLD.

AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY IN OUR BUDGET AND SOMETHING THAT WE HIRED A GAIL VITTORI AN EXPERT IN THE COMMUNITY TO WORK ON WITH US.

AND SO SHE IS REALLY STRIVING FOR GOLD.

UM, AND SO WE HOPE TO GET THERE, BUT, UM, IT IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT STAFF MENTIONED AND EVEN MORE, WE'VE GOT AN ENTIRE PAPER ON IT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO READ IT, OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE PROJECT, THE ENVIRONMENT.

UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, DRANAMO RODRIGUEZ FROM ASCENSION WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO, UH, THE BROADER GOALS THAT ASCENSION HAS FOR THEMSELVES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PUD AMENDMENT OR THE, OR, OR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ARTICULATE FOR YOU.

I THINK YOU MENTIONED JARANA MOTOR THAT ESI SERVE AS THE CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR ASCENSION, TEXAS.

AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, BETTY DUNKERLEY HERE JUST OUT OF FULL DISCLOSURE.

WHO'S OUR REGISTERED CITY LOBBYISTS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, YOU KNOW, ASCENSION TEXAS IS NOW CELEBRATING ITS 120 YEARS IN, UM, IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA.

AND PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE.

WE'RE CALLED TO BE ADVOCATES OF A COMPASSIONATE AND JUST SOCIETY WITH OUR WORDS INTERACTIONS.

AND ONE OF THEM IS THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMISSION, UM, KNEW ABOUT US IS THAT WE HAVE A GOAL AT ASCENSION TO ACHIEVE NET, BUT WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS RACE TO ZERO, UM, UH, GOAL OF CREATING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050.

AND SO IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING SCIENCE-BASED INTERIM TARGETS THAT INCLUDE 50% REDUCTION OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT EMISSIONS BY 2030.

SO IF YOU HEARD THERE 2030, 2040, 2050, I THINK WE'RE STRIVING TO GET THERE AS SOON AS WE, AS SOON AS WE CAN.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO, UM, PLEDGED OR SIGNED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH SECTOR PLEDGE, WHICH IS ANOTHER, UH, PLACE TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS AND BUILD MORE CLIMATE RESISTANT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND SHARE WITH THE COMMISSION THAT TIE IN TO OUR MISSION, TO OUR ACCENTS, TO OUR PLEDGE, UM, AND THAT THIS, UH, AMENDMENT IS A PART OF ALL OF THAT AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

UH, LAST SLIDE PLEASE.

SO I USE THE WORD MINOR AMENDMENT BECAUSE I DO A LOT OF PUDS.

I DO NEW PUDS.

I DO PUT AMENDMENTS AND IN THIS ONE, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, BUT ON THE SCOPE OF THINGS, WE'RE NOT REALLY ASKING FOR VERY MUCH.

UM, AND SO I CALL IT A MINOR AMENDMENT.

WE HAVE NO MAJOR TRAFFIC IMPACT.

WE ARE ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT, UM, AND WE ARE, UH, LOOKING FOR LEAD SILVER SHOPPING FOR GOLD FROM A SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVE.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, OKAY.

COMMISSIONERS, UM, WE'VE GOT STAFF IN THE APPLICANT, UM, HERE, UH, REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.

WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T WE GO AROUND Y'ALL UM, YES.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON PLEASE.

UM, THE WEBSITE AT THIS POINT.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I'M REALLY GLAD ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE AND THE TREE THAT'S GOING TO BE MOVED.

UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE, UH, PARKING LOT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORICALLY THERE HAS BEEN FLOODING IN THAT AREA.

UM, ALONG SHELL CREEK, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT FLOODS QUITE OFTEN.

SO IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUILDING THERE INSTEAD OF A PARKING LOT, UM, I'M WONDERING WHAT EFFECT THAT WILL HAVE.

UM, THE PARKING GARAGE SITE PLAN IS SEPARATED FROM THE PUD ASK.

AND SO IT IS IN REVIEW AT THE CITY AT THIS TIME.

SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE HOW, UH, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY WILL COMPLY WITH, UM, ALL OF THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN THE TIME COMES.

BUT I'M WONDERING IF WE AUTHORIZE PUDS STATUS, IF WE'LL BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT, OR IF WITH STAFF WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY AT THE SITE PLAN, BECAUSE IT WILL BE SORT OF LIKE A FORCED MARCH WHERE, UM, THE CART KIND OF GOT IN FRONT OF THE HORSE.

I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEIR PLANS WITH THE DRAINAGE WOULD BE.

AND, UM, I'M, I'M GONNA JUST THROW THIS IN THERE.

I, I READ DOWN A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I CAN'T SEE,

[02:40:01]

SO I'M WONDERING ABOUT ATLAS 14 AND, UH, THE RAINFALL DATA.

AND, UM, THEY MUST DEMONSTRATE NO ADVERSE FLOODING IMPACT, BUT WE WILL NOT SEE THAT ON THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT GOES WITH THE SITE PLAN.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AND I WILL NOT KNOW.

I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IN THE TRIANGLE, UM, THERE WAS FLOODING AND IT WAS BECAUSE, I MEAN, A LOT OF STUDIES WERE DONE AND STAFF CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, BIG PICTURE.

IT WAS THE VELOCITY OF THE RAIN THAT FELL FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING WITH MORE PRESSURE AND CAUSE THE FLOODING OF THE WATER TO GO IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO IMPERVIOUS COVER IS ONE THING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ON THE PARKING LOT OF THE GARAGE AND THE HEIGHT THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THERE ON THE, I THINK THE PARKING GARAGE AS ON THE WEST SIDE, WHICH IS THE PART THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH, I'M ALSO, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT, UM, MEDICAL PARKWAY IS GOING AWAY OR HAS GONE AWAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE, THE WOMEN'S TOWERS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE EAST SIDE.

SO, UM, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES I'M NOT GONE IF I'D GONE THERE, I'VE GONE IN THE PARKING GARAGE.

AND I TURNED INTO MEDICAL PARKWAY SLOWED DOWN AND GONE INTO THE PARKING GARAGE.

SO WITH MEDICAL PARKWAY GOES WAY AS A DRIVING, UH, AREA.

I KNOW THE PARKING GARAGE WILL NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T ACCESS IT.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PULL OFF OF ONE OF THE MAIN STREETS AND I KNOW 34TH IS REALLY BUSY THERE.

SO, UM, I'M, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

I, I HOPE THAT TRANSPORTATION DID TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT THAT THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A RED THERE WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE MAIN STREETS IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE HOSPITAL.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS AND, UM, I GUESS DRAINAGE, I REMEMBER ON ONE OF THE, UH, DIAGRAMS THERE WAS, UM, UNDERNEATH WHERE THEY WANT TO, EXCUSE ME, PUT THE PARKING GARAGE ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE IS A STORM DRAIN.

SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT, UH, IF THE ELEVATION OF THAT HAS CHANGED, UM, IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE UNDERGROUND PARKING.

AND THAT IS LIKE, UH, WHERE SOME OF THE FLOODWATERS, WHEN SHOW CREEK FLOODS AS IT REGULARLY DOES, IF THAT WILL AFFECT IT OR I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND ALSO I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEEN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE GOT TO NIGHT.

UM, SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TONIGHT IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

UM, SEVERAL TIMES IT SAID, SEE, ATTACHMENT B, ACCORDING TO, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT B AND AUSTIN WATER UTILITIES AS PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT B AND I NEVER GOT ATTACHMENT B.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT IS ATTACHMENT B AND HOW COULD I SEE IT? SO ANYWAY, AND THIS WAS, THIS WAS ON, UH, THE PRESENTATION, NOT FROM STAFF, BUT FROM THE, FROM THE APPLICANT.

CORRECT.

SO, OKAY.

I'LL LEAVE MY QUESTIONS THERE.

AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE REST OF YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT AND THANK YOU.

YEAH, SURE.

UM, THANKS COMMISSIONER THOMPSON FOR, UH, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTIONS.

SO WITH REGARD, WITH REGARD TO THE SITE PLAN FOR THE WEST TRACT, SINCE IT'S CURRENTLY IN REVIEW AND THERE'S NO MODIFICATIONS BEING REQUESTED TO ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CODE OR CRITERIA, IT IS BEING IT'S SUBJECT TO ALL CURRENT REGULATIONS RELATED TO ANY FLOOD PLAIN OR IMPACT TO THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

UM, IT IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN THE BACKUP FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING THROUGH REGULAR DEVELOPMENT RE REVIEW PROCESS.

UM, AND THERE'S NO MODIFICATION TO ANY KIND OF SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, UM, THAT ARE ALREADY ALLOWABLE FOR THAT SITE.

UH, SO A FLOODPLAIN REVIEWER, WATER QUALITY, REVIEWER, UM, WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF AND ALL OF THE REVIEW DISCIPLINES THAT WOULD LOOK FOR

[02:45:01]

THE, UM, COMPLIANCE WITH FLOOD PLAIN MODIFICATIONS IMPACT ANY ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, ELEMENTS ARE, UH, ARE ASSIGNED TO THAT CASE RIGHT NOW.

UM, BUT IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND IT HASN'T, UH, ALL OF THE COMMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN RESOLVED YET.

SO THAT'S WHERE THIS, THE STATUS OF THAT SITE PLAN, UH, IS RIGHT NOW, JUST TO SPEAK TO, TO THAT ELEMENT OF YOUR COMMENT.

UM, I I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ISSUES WITH IT.

UM, AND WE HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT IT'S OKAY FOR ALL OF THIS CONSTRUCTION.

IT GOES THROUGH WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS AT THAT POINT, IF IT'S, IF THE POD IS ALLOWED OR IF WE RECOMMEND THE PUD, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS THEN IF THERE WERE ISSUES, UM, ISSUES WITH, WITH THE SITE PLAN, UM, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES, UM, THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWABLE, ACCORDING TO CODE FOR FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION, THE REGULATORY FLOOD PLAIN ALIGNS WITH ATLAS 14.

AND, UM, WHILE I DON'T HAVE THE FLOODPLAIN REVIEW COMMENTS THAT MIGHT APPLY TO THAT SITE PLAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THOSE TO YOU.

UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE IN THE BACKUP THIS TIME SETS IT WASN'T THE PURVIEW OF THIS REVIEW, UM, FOR THE PUTT AMENDMENT, BECAUSE IT'S, UH, A DIFFERENT TRACT OF LAND BEING DEVELOPED.

I THINK THE, THE HEART OF THAT QUESTION COMMISSIONER THOMPSON IS, DOES THE PUD APPROVAL PROCESS THAT APPROVING THIS AMENDMENT, DOES THAT PREDETERMINED THAT SITE PLAN? AND THAT WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING FROM STAFF IS IT DOES NOT, UM, THAT THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE.

CURRENT CODE WOULD APPLY TO THAT SITE PLAN REVIEW.

AND IF THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTS, THEN IT WOULD JUST GO THROUGH THE TYPICAL PROCEDURE.

IS THAT RIGHT? UH, THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE ARE NO, UM, VARIOUS REQUESTS THAT I'M AWARE OF AT THIS TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THE SITE PLAN, UM, FOR, UH, THE WEST TRACK.

MR. THOMPSON, MICHELLE LYNCH AGAIN.

UM, YES, JUST TO BUILD ON THAT QUESTION, HAD WE NOT EVEN BEEN INCREASING IN COVER BY SOME MIRACLE, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING HERE TODAY.

WE WOULD JUST BE IN THE PROCESS WITH A SITE PLAN REVIEW AND THE WATER VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT.

UM, AND THIS WOULD GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL, UM, FROM A TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE.

YES, WE DID STUDY THAT WITH THE STAFF, UH, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THEY ARE AWARE OF, UM, THE MEDICAL PARK, I'M SORRY, MEDICAL LEGACY PARK, MEDICAL, UH, PARKWAY DRIVING REMOVED.

UM, AND OUR, UH, INTERNAL ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT TODAY IN THE DISTRIBUTION, 70% OF THE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM THE NORTH, UM, TO, TO THAT DRIVEWAY.

SO I KNOW THAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE ABOUT 34TH STREET.

UM, BUT THE STAFF AND LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL AS OUR INFORMATION INTERNALLY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT WAS GOING TO BE AS IMPACTED AS GREATLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC IS STILL COMING FROM 38.

I THINK THOSE WERE YOUR ONLY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I COULD ANSWER.

UM, I, I JUST LIKE TO SAY ALSO THAT THE ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, LIKE STRETCHING FOR THE GOLD, THE TWO THROUGH SIX ITEMS, UM, YOU, NUMBER THREE WAS THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

THE PARKING WOULD BE UNDERCOVER.

SO I, I JUST, I DIDN'T REALLY FEEL THAT GREAT ABOUT YOU, INCLUDING THAT IN THE REQUESTS FOR PEDS STATUS AND ACHIEVING GOLD AND NOT, UH, PUTTING IT AS PART OF YOUR PUD EXPANSION.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE IF IT'S NOT PART OF IT AND WE DON'T GET TO REVIEW IT, THEN WHY IS IT PART OF YOUR GOLD LEAD STATUS? I MEAN, THAT IS JUST BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW IT IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCLUDE IT AS ONE OF THE ASPECTS, THE MICHELLE LYNCH, AGAIN, THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE WILL BE MEETING LEAD STANDARDS.

SO THAT, THAT IS WHY IT IS IN THERE TODAY.

NOT, NOT, NOT, UH, NOT TO PLANT A SEED, UH, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT GROW.

WELCOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM REMOTE COMMISSIONERS? YES.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

YOU'RE ON DECK.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UM, YOUR, UM, UH, PLAN TO USE, UM, CENTRAL CITY SEED STOCK, UH, FOR NUTRIENTS.

UM, I'VE NEVER BOUGHT SEEDS TO MYSELF TO, UH, WHEN I, WHEN I AM PLANTING TREES, BECAUSE, UM, SEEMS TO BE LIKE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR A SEED TO GO INTO A SIGNIFICANT TREE.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE TO, UM, TO, UM, TO BUY, UM, A 10, 15 YEAR OLD.

SHE IS THE LEAST

[02:50:01]

UM, AND I WONDER IF YOU CAN CLARIFY ON THAT.

UM, AND I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT.

UM, DOES THAT MEAN, UM, DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE, UH, HERBICIDES OR PESTICIDES OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I MEAN, IT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS REALLY, UM, OR WHETHER IT HAS A LEGAL DEFINITION.

UM, IF YOU'RE A VENTED, UH, DEMOLISHED, UH, UH, THIS EXISTING GARAGE, UM, ONE THING THAT WOULD REALLY HELP, UM, ENVIRONMENTALLY IS TO, UM, UH, IS IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO RECYCLE THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, MATERIALS THAT PARTICULARLY THE CONCRETE IT'S, UH, UH, DEMO BECAUSE, UM, UH, THERE ARE NEW FORMULATIONS FOR CONCRETE, UM, WHICH, UM, WHICH, UH, USE ALREADY USED CONCRETE IN THEIR FORMULATION.

AND, UM, THE POINT OF THAT IS THAT IT REDUCES, UH, CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS.

UH, I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT, THAT, UM, UM, POURING CONCRETE, UM, PRODUCES, UH, CARBON DIOXIDE DIVISIONS, BUT THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, UH, USE AN, UH, AGGREGATE, UM, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, ALREADY, UH, FORMED AND PROCESSED, UH, CONCRETE IN ITS MIXTURE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO THAT.

UM, AND THAT'S, I GOT A FEW OTHER THINGS, BUT I, I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE ONES THAT I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY, UH, LESLIE LILLEY WATERSHED PROTECTION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

UM, REGARDING THE, UM, THE NATIVE SEED STOCK FOR THE TREES IS, UH, THAT SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO CONTAINERIZED TREES THAT HAVE BEEN GROWN FROM SEED STOCK.

UM, THAT IS A SOURCE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

UH, SO THE TREES ARE ALREADY GROWN.

THEY'RE NOT BEING PLANTED AS SEEDS.

UM, ALTHOUGH I DO LOVE PLANTING TREES THAT ARE FROM C2, BUT THESE PARTICULAR TREES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT WILL BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE A CONTAINER LIKE LARGER TREES, BUT THEIR SEEDS CAME FROM CENTRAL TEXAS.

AND THEN REGARDING THE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, THERE IS A LARGE, UH, STANDARD, UH, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT INCORPORATES ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH, UH, WE CAN SUSTAINABLY ADDRESS PAST WHETHER INVASIVE, UM, INSECT, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT AFFECT, UH, THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY AT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN.

WE'LL PULL FROM THOSE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO PROVIDE A PLAN THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THE LANDSCAPE, UM, TO REDUCE AN, UH, ELIMINATE THE USE OF HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES.

IS LOOKING FOR MORE, UH, CONCRETE, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN USE IT IN, IN, UM, IN ANOTHER PROJECT.

AND, AND THE, UH, CONCRETE RECYCLING.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER MICHELLE LYNCH? UH, COMMISSIONER? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE GARAGE WILL BE A PRE, UH, CAST CONCRETE.

UM, SO IT IS NOT PART OF AN ARTICLE, JUST LOOK JEBEL CHECKED IN OUR SUSTAINABILITY CHART.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

UM, WE WILL BE DOING ONE, BUT THE RUSTLING, THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING GARAGE CAN THAT, UH, BEING RECYCLED.

UH, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.

WE HAVE A, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER PERSON TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT I DON'T, I CAN'T EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I APOLOGIZE.

WELL THEN WHY, WHY WOULD THE ANSWER BE NO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, UM, IT'S JUST NOT IN OUR SUSTAINMENT.

IT'S NOT LISTED IN ART.

I WOULD THINK IT'D BE IN OUR LEAD SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION AND I JUST LOOKED IN, IT'S NOT THERE.

UM, AND I DON'T HAVE A PERSON HERE TONIGHT THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT THAT COULD ANSWER THAT MORE DISTINCTLY.

WELL, I JUST, UM, UM, THE, UH, UH, BEST PRACTICE, UH, IN, IN DEVOLUTION OF MATERIALS, UM, WOULD BE TO, TO RECYCLE AND REUSE THOSE TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY AND THAT, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYBODY, EVEN IF, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT, UH, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING PANELS IN YOUR NEW CONSTRUCTION, UM, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SELL THE, UH, UH, NOT RECYCLED MATERIALS TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO, UH, IS, UH,

[02:55:01]

UM, SO, UM, BASICALLY WHAT I'M ASKING THIS, UM, IS WHETHER YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER, UM, DOING THAT AS A, UM, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ALL OF US THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, TO, TO, UH, UH, DO A LOT MORE, UH, QUICKLY, UH, IN, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND NOT 20 30, 20 40, UH, IF, IF WE'RE GONNA, IF WE'RE GONNA SURVIVE THIS, UM, UH, RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT'S REASONABLE TO, UH, TO THE, UM, TO BE CONSIDERED.

UM, SO I'LL, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

HI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS I WAS WONDERING IF, UM, THE SEAT AND FACILITIES IS ALREADY UTILIZING COMBINED HEAT AND POWER ALSO KNOWN AS COGENERATION ONSITE.

UM, AND IF NOT, IF YOU ALL HAD CONSIDERED, UM, USING COMBINED HEAT AND POWER AS ONE OF THE WAYS TO HELP MEET THE, UM, THE COMMITMENT TO NET ZERO, UM, BECAUSE HOSPITALS ARE TYPICALLY GOOD CANDIDATES FOR THAT TYPE OF FUEL SOURCE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

SO THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THIS OUT THERE.

THERE'S UM, I HAD WORKED WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED PRACTICE GREENHEALTH, UM, UM, IN MY PREVIOUS, UH, WORK WITH, UM, THE, THE US ARMY AND, UM, THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY FACILITIES THAT ARE ACHIEVING, TRYING TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WERE AWARE OF PRACTICE GREENHEALTH, BUT THEY HELP, UM, PROVIDE RESOURCES ON METRICS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTING TO MEET DIFFERENT GOALS.

SO, BUT I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION, MY, I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION REALLY IS ABOUT THE COMBINED HEAT AND POWER.

SO THANK YOU.

MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT SAYS THAT IS NOT BEING UTILIZED TODAY AND WAS NOT PLANNED, UM, IN THE NEW TOWER.

AND WE DO HAVE A LEAD CONSULTANT ON BOARD.

I WAS KIND OF CONFUSED ABOUT YOUR SECOND POINT, WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE RECOMMENDING? UM, MY SECOND POINT WAS JUST A SEPARATE COMMENT THAT THERE THAT'S A GOOD RESOURCE.

I DID MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

ANY OTHER REMOTE COMMISSIONERS? YEAH, NICHOLAS PLEASE.

AND THEN A YEAR OF YOUR NEXT.

SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PER SE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND THE APPLICANTS ON THEIR, A REALLY DETAILED PRESENTATION, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR DOING THEIR WORK TO BRING, UH, INCREASED HEALTHCARE CAPACITY IN A GROWING CITY AND DOING SO WHILE KEEPING, UH, THE VERY, VERY SMALL FRACTIONAL INCREASE, UH, TO A PERVIOUS COVERAGE, A MINIMUM.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UM, I WOULDN'T REPEAT, I CONCUR WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER NICHOLS ON THAT.

UM, I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION REGARDING, UM, THERE WERE TWO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT WERE, UM, I GUESS PART OF THIS PROCESS IN ONE, THEY HAD, THE APPLICANT HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH, UM, WHEN WE GOT THE BACKUP INFORMATION.

SO THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO MEET ON AUGUST THE 16TH.

SO, CAUSE MY QUESTION IS, WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS RAISED SPECIFIC TO ENVIRONMENTAL, INCLUDING FLOODING BY ANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS? UH, MICHELLE LYNCH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, WE DID IN FACT MEET WITH THE BREAKER WOODS, UH, BOARD LAST NIGHT.

UM, WE MET WITH THE BROKER WITH PRESIDENT, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WITH THE ROSEDALE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD AND SOME MEMBERS.

UM, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, NO, MA'AM, UM, THERE WERE NO MAJOR CONCERNS LODGED WITH REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT.

OKAY, GREAT.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS ON Y'ALL ARE MAKING REGARDING THE RELOCATION OF THE TREES.

UM, SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND, UM, REALLY COMMEND Y'ALL ON EXPANDING ON THE RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY TO WOMEN IN, UM, IN THIS AREA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, WITH THE BACKUP HAS, UH, HAVE SOLAR PANELS BEEN INCLUDING THIS PART OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLAN FOR BOOSTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE NEW STRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, GENERATING GREEN, ELECTRICITY, ALL THAT SORT OF FUN STUFF.

BRIMER I THINK, I THINK HE WAS THE LAST ONE, THE LAST ONE STANDING THERE, UH, SYDNEY

[03:00:01]

IN ANY WAY.

UM, YEAH, WITH REGARD TO, I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT MAYBE FOCUSED THE APP, AND THEN I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT MAY BE FOCUSED BETTER AT, UH, STAFF.

UH, ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH, UH, THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND, UH, I GUESS WITH THE, WHAT APPEARS TO BE ACCORDING TO THE NEWS RAPID, UH, MANUFACTURER OF WHAT VEHICLES, UH, I UNDERSTAND IN THE PRESENTATION THERE MENTION OF, UH, PUTTING CHARGING STATIONS, BUT, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVING TO EVS, UH, NOT EXCLUSIVELY, BUT YOU KNOW, A GREAT DEAL BY 2030.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, TO SEE A HARD NUMBER IN THERE FOR, UH, EVIE CHARGERS IN THE PARKING LOT, WHETHER IT'S IN A PARKING GARAGE OR IN THE, UH, SURFACE PARKING AREA.

UH, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT MANY PARKING, OUR ED VEHICLES RIDING AROUND THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY, UH, I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT IF THIS IS 2022 AND COMPANIES LIKE FORD GM VOLKSWAGEN, LET ALONE TESSA, TESLA, RAY, RADIANT, ET CETERA, ARE GOING TO BE GRINDING AT THIS.

THEN I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF CHARGING STATIONS AT PLACES LIKE THIS.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES, SPORT THAT EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

UH, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A FAR TARGET IN THERE, NOT A SOFT TARGET, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY WE WANT BV CHARGING STATIONS.

UH, SO I WOULD LIKE EIGHT FOR NUMBER IN THERE.

SECONDLY, UH, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER THOMPSON WITH REGARD TO, UH, CONCERNS AROUND FLOODING IN SHOAL CREEK IN 1981, THERE WAS A MASSIVE FLOOD IN SHOAL CREEK THAT KILLED 13 PEOPLE AND THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AT THE TIME OF $36 MILLION.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN, IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO MITIGATE THAT.

AND I GUESS THAT MOVES ON TO, UH, MY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH, UH, UH, CITY STAFF.

THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT ARE COMING UP, UH, SOON LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PARKING LOTS.

AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE WAY WATER IS HANDLED THAT GOES INTO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, TREES AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL, UH, SECTIONS OF THE PARKING LOT.

AND WITH THE IDEA THAT, UH, PARKING LOT WATER RATHER THAN BEING, UH, DIRECTED OUT TO, UH, OTHER PLACES FLOATED INTO THAT.

AND, AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS LIKE STORM WATER CONTROLS, UH, YOU KNOW, GREEN STORM WATER CONTROLS, UH, FUNCTIONAL GREEN ENVIRONMENTS ARE, ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MOVED, UH, IN ANYTHING THAT HAS MORE THAN 80% IMPERVIOUS COVER.

NOW, WHILE THIS PROJECT DOESN'T HAVE 80% IMPERVIOUS COVER IS PUSHING RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE.

IT'S 79.6%.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR A STORM WATER CAPTURE FOR IRRIGATION, UH, AND YOU KNOW, NEW AND REDEVELOPED GREENFIELD CONDITIONS SUPPOSED TO BE USED, UH, FOR CALCULATION GRANGE REQUIREMENTS.

AND I'M CURIOUS IF, UH, ANY OF THESE NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS PART OF THIS POD, UM, LESLIE LILLEY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE STORM WATER CONTROLS, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED, AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS A REQUEST TO HAVE, UM, RAINWATER HARVESTING THAT IS CAPTURING WATER AND BEING REUSED FOR IRRIGATION AND, UH, WATER QUALITY CONTROLS, UM, THAT, UM, HAVE, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE MODIFICATIONS FOR THE POD.

UM, I CAN NOT NECESSARILY SPEAK TO ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SITE PLAN AND, UH, THE, UM, THE PARKING GARAGE AT THIS TIME.

UM, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITE PLAN.

UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT, UH, TONIGHT,

[03:05:01]

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SOLAR PANELS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE LEAD CERTIFICATION, UM, UH, ELEMENTS, UH, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE LYNCH, AGAIN, UM, FROM THE, I JUST WANNA TAKE A STEP BACK FOR THE, UH, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.

UM, AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE ON THE WEST TRACT IN THE GARAGE TECHNICALLY.

UM, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I BELIEVE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS NINE SPACES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE WELL ABOVE THAT.

UM, BUT, BUT OUR COMMITMENT IS IF YOU NEED A HARD COMMITMENT TODAY, I WILL SAY NINE SPACES SINCE I HAVEN'T FINISHED THE DESIGN OF THAT YET.

UM, I THINK, I THINK THE UPPER END OF IT IS LIKE 30.

SO, UM, THAT TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER THERE, UM, AND THEN YOU ASKED ABOUT, UM, SOLAR, I THINK THE GARAGE AGAIN, COULD BE OUTFITTED STRUCTURALLY FOR THAT, BUT THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR LEAD CERTIFICATION ITEM EITHER.

SO HOW MANY SURFACE PARKING SPOTS ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE IN THE EXISTING PAIRING? UH DON'T UM, LET ME SEE, I'M LOOKING FOR AN EXHIBIT.

HANG ON.

I MEAN, BASICALLY WE'RE ERADICATING MOST OF THE SURFACE PARKING, IF ANY, ON THE PUD.

AND THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO USE, YOU KNOW, THAT URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND CONTEXT TO MOVE THE GARAGE TO A DIFFERENT TRACT AND LET THEM SHARE PARKING SO THAT WE COULD USE THE EAST TRACK FOR THE MAIN FACILITY.

SO WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF PARKING AROUND THAT.

WE WANT YOU TO GO TO THE GARAGE AND PARK IN GARAGE OR THE GARAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE UNDERGROUND IN THE FRONT ON 38TH STREET.

SO I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO REMOVE SURFACE PARKING TO THE DEGREE THAT WE CAN.

YES, SIR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER BRUMMER? NO, THAT'LL DO IT.

ALRIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND AND THEN COME BACK AROUND THE HORN.

SO JOT A NOTE IF, IF YOU'RE REMOTE, UH, UH, STAY TUNED.

UM, LET'S, LET'S GO AROUND HERE.

UH CRUSHY DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? HEY Y'ALL YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ON THE PRESENTATION, BOTH CITY STAFF AND FOR THE APPLICANT.

UM, I WAS CURIOUS, UH, LOOKING AT THE MAP, I SAW THAT, UH, PART OF, SORT OF SHORT, SHORT, YEAH, SHOAL CREEK TRAIL IS SORT OF BORDERING ON LIKE THE WEST END OF THE TRACK.

AND GIVEN THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE DOING, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BUILDING ON BOTH THE WEST AND EAST END, UH, WESTERN EAST TRACKS.

UH, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALL HAD ANY PLANS TO SORT OF CONNECT WITH LIKE, UH, A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY OR MULTI USE MULTIMODAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUZZWORD IS OR WHATEVER, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF CONNECTION POSSIBLY FROM, UH, I COULD THINK IT WOULD BE LIKE FROM MEDICAL TO, UM, THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL AND MAYBE NORTH SOUTH TO YEAH.

THAT, I HAVE A POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, ACCORDING TO YOUR QUESTION, IS THAT OKAY? GO FOR IT.

COMMISSIONER.

THERE WAS A LOT OF BUZZWORDS EARLIER THIS EVENING, MULTI LOTS OF MODALS.

UM, I DO BELIEVE ON THE WEST TRACK SITE PLAN THAT IS ADJACENT TO THAT CREEK, THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION FIELDED FROM A REVIEWER ABOUT SOME SORT OF CONNECTIVITY AND TRAIL AND HAZMAT THERE.

SO THAT WILL BE, THAT IS BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NOW.

SOUNDS GOOD.

ALSO, HOW MANY DAYS DID THE CITY TAKE TO GET BACK TO YOU? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

WELL, WHEN WAS I ACCEPTED FOR A COMPLETENESS NOW, STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

SHIRA.

DO YOU HAVE ANY APPROPRIATE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? RIGHT? I HOPE SO.

UM, I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON THE, ON THE SOLAR POWER REQUEST AGAIN, AND THE ELECTRIC CHARGING, UM, THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND WANTED TO, UM, SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING AGREED TO EXACTLY, UM, TO PUT WITHIN EMOTION TODAY.

AGAIN, THOSE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER, DOES THAT MEAN, ARE YOU THOSE ITEMS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COMMIT TO FROM THE CHARGING STATIONS AS WELL AS STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS FOR SOLAR ARE ON THE WEST TRACK? THEY'RE NOT THE SUBJECT OF TONIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY, SO I'M NOT NEAR LEGAL STAFF, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN TIE THAT TO ANOTHER PARCEL, UNFORTUNATELY.

UM, BUT THAT IS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT, UM, THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED BASED ON YOUR INPUT AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS.

WELL, I GUESS, SORRY, IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO ANSWER

[03:10:01]

UM, I FIND A LOT OF THEIR THINGS THAT THEY SAY, UM, GIVE THEM PUDS STATUS ARE LOCATED ON ANOTHER PARCEL.

AND SO THEY'RE VIEWING THE ENTIRE, UM, AREA OR THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION AS PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE GRANTED POST STATUS.

AND I'M FEELING, UM, A LITTLE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT.

JUST WANTING TO THROW THAT OUT THERE, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE UNHAPPY.

UM, WE ALREADY HAVE PUT STATUS.

WE HAVE IT TODAY.

WE'VE HAD IT SINCE THE NINETIES.

UM, ALL WE ARE DOING IS AMENDING THAT OLD PUD TO MAKE IT BETTER, BETTER FROM A COMMUNITY CARE PERSPECTIVE, BETTER FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.

SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING AWAY WITH ANYTHING BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, WE'VE DONE A LOT FOR ADDING A TOWER AND ADDING 2,400 SQUARE FEET OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO WE LOOK AT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE FOR BOTH TRACKS.

UM, TONIGHT, AS STEPH HAS MENTIONED, YOUR PURVIEW IS JUST FOR THE PUD.

UM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING THE ENTIRE PROJECT SUSTAINABLE.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, CAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN REVIEW, BUT AGAIN, OUR COMMITMENT IS FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND WE ALREADY DO HAVE PUTT STATUS.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR YOUR EXPANSION OF THE PUD STATUS, CLEAR, UH, REQUEST THE AMENDMENT FOR A YES.

SO YOU WERE ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION OF PUD STATUS AND WE ARE TASKED TO FIND REASONS TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF US, REWARDING YOU WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE PUD SO YOU HAVE HUD STATUS NOW, BUT IN ORDER TO, UM, DO THESE CHANGES AND THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU HAVE TO MEET THE CRITERIA AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE HELPING YOU GET TO THE GOAL OF MEETING THE CRITERIA BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU PROMISE THAT ARE NOT PART OF YOUR PUD EXPANSION.

AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SUPERIORITY IN A PUT AMENDMENT.

SO THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED OF US, UM, ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ADDING ON TO THE AMENDMENT TO MAKE IT BETTER AND MORE ENHANCED.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE WORD THAT WAS USED AND THE STAFF PRESENTATION.

SO THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED THERE, UM, ALL OF THE STUFF ABOUT THE NATIVE SOIL, UH, THE IPM, ALL OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE TREES, ALL OF THAT IS ADDED TO THE PUD TO MAKE IT, UM, ENHANCED TO JUSTIFY THIS AMENDMENT.

SO IF WE REQUIRE YOU TO DO THOSE THINGS ARE, IF WE SUGGEST IN OUR RESOLUTION THAT WE APPROVE YOUR PUD STATUS BY, UH, ASKING YOU TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE POD, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THERE FOR US, THAT YOU ARE PROMISING SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT A PART OF? WE HAVE NOTHING TO SAY THAT IS GOING THROUGH A DIFFERENT STATUS.

SO THAT IS SORT OF THE PROBLEM THAT THE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS TO THE PUB THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, UM, AND SUGGESTING THAT WE GIVE YOU AN ENHANCED PUDS STATUS ARE NOT PART OF THE ENHANCED PEDS STATUS SOME ARE AND SOME AREN'T.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE BASIS FOR WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS IS ON THE ITEMS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THE PUD AMENDMENT.

AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK FOR A MINUTE.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF A DEVELOPMENT CLIENT, LARGE SHOPPING CENTERS AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF A NONPROFIT TONIGHT.

AND SO THEY HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE.

UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM FROM A HEALTH AND WELLNESS PERSPECTIVE.

SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THIS ALL IN.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.

I DON'T WANT TO BE MISLEADING BIKES BY TELLING YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT TONIGHT THE PET AMENDMENT IS BASED UPON THE THINGS THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDED THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THE POST AMENDMENT.

I APOLOGIZE IF I'VE GONE BROADER AND MADE IT MORE CONFUSING.

UM, BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT THE WHOLE PROJECT AND WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

REGARDING I CAN'T HEAR OR SEE CITY HALL, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS ACCESS THE WEBSITE, EITHER COMMISSIONERS.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS

[03:15:01]

CAN YOU DO IT? I'M TELLING YOU, I, I REALLY DEPENDED ON, UH, BEING A BACKUP, BUT CAN YOU SHARE A HOUSE AND CAN YOU HEAR US? AND THEN THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION CHANGE.

SO I WAS KIND OF LIKE, OH MY GOSH.

YEAH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DO THAT.

UM, I'M BOTHERED THAT THAT'S, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ME GIVE, GIVE, OR TAKE YEARS AND SORT OF LIKE, UH, TAKE, UH, TAKE IT OR STUFF THAT HE, UM, IF WE'RE NOT IN A PUBLIC FORUM, WE MIGHT BE IMPROPER FOR US TO BE DISCUSSING THE CASE BECAUSE TECHNICALLY WE NEED A QUORUM.

DEFINITELY.

WELL, HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS? I'M ACTUALLY DOING WELL.

WELL, THOSE INJURIES WITH THE UTS PUT THEM AT A REAL RISK OF NOT DOING WELL THIS YEAR.

THAT'S TYPICALLY OKAY.

THEY SAID THAT THEY LOST US AND THEY'RE TAKING A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

I'VE GOT, KAYLA'S A CELL PHONE NUMBER.

SO SHE, UM, SHE AND I TEXTED EACH OTHER.

OKAY, GREAT.

I'M GOING TO GO GET THEM IN SOMETHING SOUNDS EXCITING.

SO I GUESS 9 27, WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND WERE DISCUSSING ITEM FOUR, FOUR.

UM, BELIEVE WE WERE IN QUESTIONS FROM THE REMOTE AND I BELIEVE IT WAS SCOTT, IF I'M CORRECT, BUT I'M KIND OF GUESSING PAM, IF IT WAS YOU, THEN GO FOR IT.

I THINK IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE.

I, I JUST, I JUST REMEMBERED THAT NOBODY ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS ABOUT DRAINAGE ON THE, THERE'S SOME SORT OF, UM, STORM SEWER DRAINAGE UNDERNEATH THE PARKING LOT.

AND I HAVE WALKED THAT TRAIL BEFORE, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF STUFF LEAKS.

SO I CAN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THIS PUD, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, OKAY, UNDERSTOOD THIS.

THIS IS RAM AGAIN.

UM, I THINK, UH, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTER WOVEN ELEMENT, BUT, UH, FROM WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, I'VE GOT GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT STAFF WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THE WEST SIDE TRACKED, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAY EXCEED THE 1990S PUD.

UM, AND IF THEY REQUEST VARIANCES, THEN THEY'LL COME BEFORE THE NECESSARY COMMISSIONS.

ADDITIONAL TOWER RATHER THEY DON'T CURRENTLY ALLOWED FOR, UM, THE INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER OR, UM, SOME OTHER ELEMENTS THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.

WELL THEN MY CONCERN HERE IS IF THEY GET EXPANDED, UH, STATUS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE INTERTWINED IN A SEPARATE SITE, UM, OKAY.

SAY THEY GET IT, AND THEN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PARKING LOT FACILITY.

AND WE HAVE SAID, YOU HAVE PUDS STATUS, THEN WHAT IS, WHAT IS THIS, WHAT IS THE OPTION THEN, OR THE PARKING LOT? UM, IF THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NO ISSUES, THEN EVERYTHING'S JUST HUMPHREY, BUT IF THERE ARE ISSUES AND WE HAVE ALREADY ENCOURAGED, UM, MORE, UH, MORE PEOPLE AND A LARGER SITE, THEN THAT IS AN ISSUE.

I'M JUST, I'M JUST SAYING SOME OF MY CONCERNS.

THAT'S ALL.

SO LESLIE LILLEY WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PUD ZONING ARE NOT EXPANDING.

UM, THE WESTERN TRACK IS NOT GOING TO BE ZONE POD, AND THAT IS PART OF THE CURRENT PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

UM, THE PARKING GARAGE IS ALLOWABLE, UM, ACCORDING TO CURRENT CODE AND CRITERIA TO BE DEVELOPED IN THAT WESTERN TRACK AND IS BEING REVIEWED, UM, ACCORDING TO CURRENT CODE AND CRITERIA, UM, THE USES ON THE PUD ZONE, UM, DO NOT RESTRICT, UH, THE BUILDING OF, UM, AN

[03:20:01]

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THERE'S NOT AN EXPANSION OF THE PUD ZONING.

THE PEDS ZONING IS STAYING IN THE EXACT FOOTPRINT THAT IT CURRENTLY IS, AND WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY, UM, UH, UM, ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE POD, BUT RATHER JUST, UM, THAT APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR AN INCREASE, UM, IN IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THE RELATED, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY ITEMS THAT, UM, MORE A PART OF MY PRESENTATION ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED ONLY TO THE PUTT TRACT AND, UM, WHILE THEY CAN ALSO APPLY TO THE WESTERN TRACK ARE FOR THE PUTT TRACT SPECIFICALLY, AND ARE THE COMMENSURATE SUPERIORITY ITEMS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED, UM, TO OFFSET THE INCREASE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I'LL JUST, UH, I'LL MAKE ONE CONCISE STATEMENT AND IT IS IF IT'S GOING TO BE BY GROUND AND IT'S THAT NEAR SHELL CREEK, UM, THERE WERE CONCERNS WITH SOME BUILDINGS THAT WE HAD TO APPROVE ON THE COLORADO RIVER AND, UM, DOHERTY ARTS.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT AND THE DISTANCE, UM, AWAY FROM THE WATER, UH, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO, UH, THE NUMBER OF STORIES AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I JUST HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS, JUST, SORRY.

YOU'RE FINE.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN NOTED AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROCESS IS FOR IN PART.

CAN I PIGGYBACK? YES, PLEASE.

HI, AUDREY CONVINCE ROGER BARRETT BIXLER AGAIN.

UM, SO I WENT INTO PR I GUESS PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AROUND MY ORIGINAL QUESTION, UM, ABOUT COMBINED HEAT AND POWER.

UM, AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT IS IF I'M CURIOUS IF THE, UM, UH, FACILITIES HERE, UM, THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING LOST POWER DURING THE WINTER STORM, OR IF YOU'RE AWARE OF HOW MANY TIMES THE HOSPITAL LOSES POWER DUE TO, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT FLOODING EVENTS OR OTHER TYPES OF NATURAL DISASTERS.

AND IT'S TIED INTO I'M ASKING BECAUSE DURING THIS RENOVATION PROCESS, IT COULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCY OF THE HOSPITAL.

UM, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I'M LOOKING AT MY PEANUT GALLERY.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE EXISTING FACILITY HAS A GENERATOR, SO THEY DID NOT SUFFER ANY LOSS OF POWER DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

CAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WHILE I GUESS THAT THE GENERATOR COULD MEET THE WHOLE SUPPLY, THE WHOLE DEMAND, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LOAD AND THE DEMAND REQUIREMENTS.

UM, UM, I'M NOT ME EITHER, BUT I REMEMBER DURING THE STORM THAT PEOPLE WERE GLAD WHEN THEY WERE NEAR THOSE KINDS OF FACILITIES, BECAUSE THEIR POWER ALSO DIDN'T GO OUT.

YEAH, YEAH.

UM, AND SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS JUST, THAT WAS KIND OF, I WAS TRYING TO, I DIDN'T FRAME THAT EARLIER WHEN I ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT COMBINING HEAT AND POWER, BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT I WAS KIND OF GETTING AT WHEN I SUGGESTED IT BE CONSIDERED AS A, UM, ON-SITE GENERATION RESOURCE.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S IT, THIS IS COMMISSIONER BRIMER.

I'D LIKE TO SECOND CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER THOMPSON HAS, UH, PERHAPS IT IS IN THE WAY THE, UH, APPLICATION HAS BEEN PRESENTED.

UH, IF THE OTHER SESSION AT NOT BEEN PART OF THE APPLICATION NOT BEEN MENTIONED, THEN IT BEEN EASIER TO EVALUATE THE HUD CHANGES ON ITS MERITS ALONE, BUT BY LINKING THEM TOGETHER IN THE PRESENTATION, IT GIVES THE APPEARANCE THAT, UH, UN COMBINED APPLICATION, WHEN IN REALITY THEY'RE NOT, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUD CHANGE IS SMALL IN SCOPE, BUT NEVERTHELESS,

[03:25:01]

THERE ARE, THEY ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, THE APP IS MAKING, UH, YOU KNOW, A REASONABLE REQUEST AND STAFF IS, UH, GOING AHEAD WITH THAT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL BASED UPON SOME, YOU KNOW, GOOD CHANGES, YOU KNOW, THE LEAD, UH, FUNCTIONS AND SO FORTH.

ARE THERE, I THINK WHAT SOME OF US ON THE COMMISSIONER ARE SAYING IS THOSE ARE GOOD CHANGES WE CAN DO BETTER.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THAT IN THE SCOPE OF THE PUD THAT WE'RE ASKING THAT THE APPLICANT DO BETTER A LITTLE BIT PAST THE SCOPE OF WHAT STAFF IS ASKING THAT.

SO I SHARE A CONVENTIONEER THOMSON'S CONCERNS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

BRIMER UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BRISTOL? I DO.

SO, UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, UM, UM, FOR STAFF.

SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF, UM, COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS REGARDING, UM, SOLAR AND, UM, AND POWER STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

AND WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS BECAUSE THOSE WOULD BE NOT NECESSARILY INSIDE OF THIS PUD, CAN WE INCLUDE THOSE IN THIS RECOMMENDATION, OR SHOULD WE NOT INCLUDE THEM IN THIS RECOMMENDATION? UH, LESLIE LILLEY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TIED TO A SITE PLAN.

AND SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUD, UM, CAN NOT, UM, CANNOT BE TIED TO A CYCLIN THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THAT ZONING DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION THEN.

AND THEN I DO HAVE QUESTIONS.

UM, SO, UM, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, SO THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, FACILITY FOR, FOR WOMEN AS WELL AS CHILDREN.

UM, I HAVE VISITED MANY TIMES THE DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, UH, AND HAVE, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, WAS EARLY ON AN ADVISORY TEAM, UM, FOR THEM IN REGARDS TO, UM, HEALING GARDENS, AS WELL AS, UM, ALWAYS HAVING ACCESS TO NATURAL LIGHT AND HOW THAT INCREASED, UM, HEALING AND THE HEALING PROCESS.

UM, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY, I THINK DID AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT JOB WITH.

AND SO I KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU HAVE VISITED THEIR WONDERFUL FACILITY, UM, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN, UH, THAT WAS REALLY, UM, A KEY COMPONENT TO THEIR CHILD'S HEALING AND TO WOMEN'S HEALING.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, UM, AS A, AS A, THERE'S NO QUESTION, AND NOW THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATION IN THAT, BUT JUST AS A COMMENT, UM, THAT I REALLY, REALLY LIKED THE, THE EFFORTS THAT THEY WENT TO INCLUDE THAT NATURAL ELEMENT.

UM, AND I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT SETON WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HEALING FROM DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND, UM, SOMETIMES THOSE LITTLE SLIVER WINDOWS ARE ONLY A VERY NARROW WINDOW OF SEEING THE SKY OR MAYBE A TREE IF YOU'RE LUCKY.

SO HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN BE INCREASED.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION, UM, SINCE THE OPEN SPACE HASN'T BEEN, HAS THE MOTION TO, TO THE RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, REDUCE IT HAS BEEN REMOVED.

UM, I WAS JUST KIND OF CURIOUS IF YOU COULD ELABORATE WITH WHAT TYPES OF OPEN SPACE CURRENTLY EXIST AND IF YOU ALL ARE PLANNING ON, UM, IMPROVING IT FOR LIKE, UM, USAGE WITH LIKE, I'LL KNOW, KIND OF LIKE HOW COMMISSIONER, UH, SECRETARY BRISTOL MENTIONED LIKE, UH, NATURAL HEALING OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UH, THE, THE OPEN SPACE THAT EXISTS TODAY, UH, MAINLY THE RINGS THE SITE.

SO I THINK YOU'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING DOWN 38TH STREET.

YOU SEE GIANT TREES, UM, IN THAT AREA.

AND ALSO IF YOU GO DOWN MEDICAL PARKWAY, UM, THOSE WILL LARGELY BE REMAINING AND THEN WE'RE CREATING OTHER ONES IN THE BACK NEAR THE TOWER WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY RELOCATING SOME HERITAGE TREES.

SO, UM, WHILE I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A SPECIFIC PROGRAM THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN THOSE OPEN SPACES.

I KNOW THAT OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT IS WORKING REALLY HARD WITH STAFF ON, UH, BEEFING UP THOSE, THOSE ITEMS. WE JUST, I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO ENHANCE LANDSCAPING.

AND THEN WE ARE MOVING HERE TO TREES BACK IN THAT AREA.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S

[03:30:01]

PROGRAMMED PER SE.

UM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU TODAY.

IT IS NOT VERY WELL PROGRAMMED.

IT'S MOSTLY OPEN SPACE WITH, UM, LARGE TREES AND LANDSCAPING.

THANK YOU STAFF.

THANK YOU, APPLICANT.

SO ALL YOU GUYS FOR STICKING AROUND, UM, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO, UH, APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME, UM, WITH, YEAH, WE GOT, WE GO.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AROUND ONE MORE BITE OF THE APPLE.

UM, UM, CAUSE WE'RE PUSHING UP ON TIME HERE.

SO, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, I SAW YOUR HAND UP.

MY QUESTION IS THE OPEN SPACE IS PART OF THE PEDS SITE AND NOT TIED TO, UH, BECAUSE SHE MENTIONED THE TOWER.

THE TOWER IS PART OF THE PUDS SITE.

THAT IS WHERE THE TREES WERE GOING.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPEN SPACE WAS NOT PART OF THE PARKING GARAGE, THAT IT IS PART OF THE ENHANCED PUB AREA THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

UH, LESLIE LILLEY WATERSHED PRODUCTION.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THE OPEN SPACE THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS ONLY RELATED TO, UM, THE AREA, UH, ZONE POD DISTRICT.

COMBINING THIS ZONES AS SHOWN IN THE, UH, PROPOSED ZONING SUBMITTAL.

THANK YOU, JOSE.

WE HAVE A MOTION NOW.

I THOUGHT I MIGHT SEND THIS ONE OUT.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

MOVE TO MOVE, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND PUT THE GUN IN MOTION.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

RAISE YOUR HAND COMMISSIONER SCOTT, YOU, YOU, TO, YOU, YOU MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR HAND IF YOU, IF YOU ARE.

OH, NO, I, UM, I'M, I'M JUST, I'M JUST FEELING, UM, APPREHENSIVE AND UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS, UH, I'D GO FORWARD.

I'M JUST, UH, I JUST, UH, UM, IT'S JUST A PERSONAL FEELING THAT I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH THE, UM, THE APPLICANT IS, UH, IS, IS WORKING WITH US AT ALL.

IT'S A, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, UH, I JUST FEEL, I, UM, I JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT KIND OF BEING TOLD.

THIS IS A, THIS IS, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING, UM, GIVEN ANSWERS OF THIS.

IS IT, UM, CAN YOU DO THIS? NO.

CAN YOU DO THAT? NO.

UM, I, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE, UM, COOPERATIVE SPIRIT, CAUSE I, I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT, THAT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE CAN, UH, IMPROVE THE, UM, THE USAGE OF SPACE AND, UM, IN, UH, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKING A, UH, GARAGE AND DEMOLISHING IT AND NOT RECYCLING, IT IS, THAT'S A, THAT'S A HECK OF A LOT OF, UM, UH, CONCRETE.

IT'S A LOT, A LOT MORE THAN, THAN I WOULD RECYCLED PROBABLY IN MY, UH, REMAINING LIFETIME.

I JUST, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSIDERATION OF SOME OF THE, SOME OF OUR SUGGESTIONS.

UM, SO I'M JUST, UH, ABSTAINING, I GUESS.

I HEAR YOU.

I UNDERSTAND.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT 10 AND ONE ABSTENTION.

WE ARE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD? WE DO AUGUST 17TH, 2022, SUBJECT C 8 1 4 DASH NINE TWO DASH 0 0 0 6 0.02, THE SETON MEDICAL CENTER DISTRICT.

AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT 10 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, SETON MEDICAL CENTER.

UM, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UM, PUD DASH NP, COMBINING DISTRICTS ZONING AS SHOWN IN THE PROPOSED ZONING SUBMITTAL.

THE REQUESTED MODIFICATIONS WILL INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 400, FROM WHAT WE'LL SAY IN THE NUMBERS, 4 21, UH, 0 7 4 SQUARE FEET, 2 4, 2 3 4 5, 3 SQUARE FEET.

TRY SAYING THAT FAST, UM, AND ADD WATER QUALITY CONTROLS WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXIST.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZED THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PUD NP,

[03:35:01]

THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE WOULD THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND THE STAFF CONDITIONS ARE NUMBER ONE.

THIS PROJECT COMPLIES WITH THE FOLLOWING TIER ONE SUPERIORITY ITEMS AND PROVIDE A LEAD SILVER RATING EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE AS NOTED IN THE PUD EXHIBITS, THE PROJECT.

NUMBER TWO, THE PROJECT COMPLIES WITH THE FOLLOWING TIER TWO SUPERIORITY ITEMS. UM, A ADDITION OF WATER QUALITY CONTROLS, B PLANTING TREES, PLANTING, UH, USE TREE PLANTING, SORRY, USE CENTRAL TEXAS NATIVE SEED STOCK AND ARE INSTALLED WITH ADEQUATE ADEQUATE SOIL VOLUME.

AND I ADDED US CLARIFIED IN THE MEETING.

UM, THIS MEANS THAT CONTAINER SIZED TREES WILL BE PLANTED.

AND SINCE WE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, I WANTED TO ADD THAT IN THERE.

SEE ENHANCED CITY AUSTIN, DARK SKIES REGULATION, AS NOTED ON, UM, THE PUT EXHIBIT D REQUIRED BUILDING DESIGN THAT WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL OF BIRD AND BUILDING COLLECT COLLISIONS AS NOTED ON PUD EXHIBIT AND E.

UM, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND THEN NUMBER THREE, THE PROJECT COMBINES THE COLLECTED AND BENEFICIAL USE, UH, BOTH RAINWATER AND CONDENSED FOR COOLING WATER DEMANDS.

SECRETARY BRISTOL, A QUICK CLARIFICATION ON YOU'RE THERE FOR IT.

I'M SORRY.

THIS IS KAYLA CHAPLAIN WATERSHED PROTECTION ON YOUR, THEREFORE YOU MENTIONED RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE REQUEST.

I WOULD RECOMMEND CHANGING VARIANCE REQUEST TO PUT AMENDMENT.

HMM.

STILL GETTING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, UH, PROBABLY, UH, REQUIRES SOME INTERMEDIARY.

THANKS SECOND.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION FOR THE MOTION? THAT'S ON THE TABLE.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

YES, PLEASE.

UM, I HAVE A REMAINING KIND OF, UM, FEELING, UM, CONSERVE BECAUSE I, I FEEL LIKE, UM, EVERYONE'S GOAL IS, IS, UH, TO ACHIEVE, UM, NET ZERO, UH, CARBON EMISSIONS.

AND GIVEN THAT CONCRETE IS, UH, UH, CO BUILDING WITH CONCRETE DOES, UH, UH, CAUSE AS TRADITIONALLY DONE DOES, UM, UH, UH, CREATE, UH, MORE, UH, CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, UM, UH, ONE WAY TO, UM, EVEN THEN THE NEW BUILDING IS NOT WITHIN THE PUNT, BUT THE, UM, BUT THE, UH, THE OLD GARAGE, WHICH HAS TO BE DEMOLISHED IS WITHIN THE PUD AND ANY REASON, UH, NOT TO, UH, RECYCLE THE, THE, UH, DEMOLITION MATERIALS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT IN, IN, UM, IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES AND, AND IT WAS BEING ENCOURAGED.

AND, UM, I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A DOWNSIDE TO THAT OR, OR WHY, UM, WHY I'M NOT GETTING A BETTER RESPONSE TO IT.

AND, UM, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY, IS ANYBODY, UM, DOES THAT, DOES IT ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THAT HAVE CHEMISTRY, SCOTT, THIS IS A COMMISSIONER BRISTOL, AND I'M GONNA, UM, UH, RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENT AND I DEFINITELY HEAR YOU.

UM, I THINK THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO, UM, UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, AS A COMMISSION, UM, ABOUT, UH, THE PROCESS OF RECYCLING CONCRETE, UH, ONCE IT'S TAKEN OUT OF A, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS BEING, UH, DEMOLISHED AND IS THERE SOMEWHERE, UM, THAT IS, UH, WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH A THING.

AND SO MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND, UH, IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.

UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER, UM, UM, THAT THERE ARE OTHER, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTION SITES, UH, WITHIN, UH, AUSTIN THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UH, UTILIZING, UH, UM, USE CONCRETE, UM, BUT

[03:40:01]

SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A GOOD, UH, A GOOD POINT, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, I JUST, UM, I, I, I GUESS I THINK THAT WOULD HELP, I, I DON'T SEE A DOWNSIDE TO ADDING SOLAR, UM, WHICH HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, UM, I JUST HAVE A SMALL HOUSE, BUT I'VE ADDED SOLAR AND, UM, IT'S, UM, UH, IT MEETS ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF MY NEEDS.

UH, ADDING SOLAR TO A HOSPITAL ROOF COULD, COULD, UH, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY, UH, UH, IMPROVE YOUR, UH, UH, YOUR, YOUR NET ZERO GOAL.

AND, UM, I, AGAIN, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THE, I GUESS I, I FEEL LIKE, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUST BE, UM, I THINK ON OTHER PUTTS, WE, THAT WE'VE WORKED OUT AND WE'VE ALWAYS FOUND, UH, APPLICANTS ARE MORE WILLING TO, UH, ENGAGE WITH US AND, UM, AND TO, UH, ENHANCE, UH, THEIR, THEIR PROJECTS, UH, WHEN, UH, REASONABLE SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN, UH, PROPOSED.

UM, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE HIS SADNESS UP REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, THIS IS COMMISSIONER BRISTOL AGAIN.

AND, UM, I'M GOING TO ASK LILLY, UH, TO EXPLAIN AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, UM, PUDS THAT EXIST, AND THEN HOW, UM, WHY WE REMOVE THAT SOLAR PIECE OFF OF THIS AMENDMENT.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, ELECTRIC, UH, POWERING STATIONS FOR CARS, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRISTOL, LESLIE LILLEY WITH WATERSHED PRODUCTION.

UM, FIRST I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO COMMISSIONER SCOTT'S, UM, QUESTION ABOUT CONCRETE RECYCLING.

UM, IT IS NOT A TYPICAL REQUEST THAT WE HAVE HAD, UM, OR REQUESTED FOR APPLICANTS AND, UM, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, UH, INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF, OF THAT PARTICULAR REQUEST AND WHAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY MEAN TO ASK THAT AS, UM, UH, SOME, FOR SOMEBODY TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR PROJECT AT THIS TIME, I CANNOT SPEAK TO ITS FEASIBILITY, UH, BUT DO APPRECIATE THE INTEREST IN IT AS A, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET US AS A COMMUNITY TOWARDS NET ZERO, UH, IN TERMS OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS.

UH, I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE WHOLE PROJECT, UM, PROVIDES A KIND OF LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY BECAUSE THERE IS A SITE PLAN AND A POD, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A PROJECT THAT IS GETTING, UM, LEAD CERTIFIED.

AND SO THE LEAD CERTIFICATION, UM, AND THE ELEMENTS THAT PUSH THE PROJECT BEYOND LEAD SILVER AND INTO THE, GETTING INTO THE LEAD GOLD, UM, CATEGORY ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, THOSE ARE INCLUDED ON A DIFFERENT PART OF THE PROJECT, UM, AND THE SOLAR, UM, IS NOT A PART OF THE LEAD, UH, CERTIFICATION, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY BE INCLUDED.

UM, AS APPLICANT SAID ON THE OTHER PROJECT THAT THEY CAN'T COMMIT TO THAT TIME SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR REVIEW.

SO THERE ARE OTHER ELEMENTS TO THE, TO THE PROJECT OVERALL THAT ARE BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF THIS PROJECT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF IT AND, AND, UM, CAN, CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAVING A LONG CONVERSATION CONVERSATION ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN A SIMPLE PUD ZONING.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.

LET'S LET'S LET'S OKAY.

UM, THOMPSON BAR, WE'RE GETTING UP TO TIME.

I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE.

UM, BUT, BUT I WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE MADE SOME EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT BEING INCORPORATED.

AND I THINK WHAT THEY DID INCORPORATE WAS CONFUSING.

SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND COMMISSIONER BRICKS ARE, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, HAVE SOLAR.

WE SHOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT HEAT SYSTEM.

WE SHOULD HAVE ALL SORTS OF BACKUP THINGS BESIDES GENERATORS, WHICH USE, UM, MORE ENERGY.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE OFFERED, UM, ENOUGH OF THE BENEFITS TO IMPROVE THE PUTT.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS PRESENTED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

YOU GOT 5, 6, 7, ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

SO 4 7, 4 MOTION MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, STAFF AND APPLICANT, UH, AND SUPPORT.

[03:45:01]

UM, SMALL POINT OF POINT OF PRIVILEGE HERE.

UM, AS WE'RE TRANSITIONING INTO, UM, THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'VE GOT A RETREAT COMING UP, UH, AS COMMISSIONER SCOTT WAS SAYING, THERE WERE MAYBE LOOKING AT SOME MORE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT, SOME MORE, UM, SUSTAINABLE CARBON SEQUESTRATION, LOWER CARBON USE ELEMENTS OF WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LOOKS AT.

UM, IT IS OUR JOB TO COME UP WITH IDEAS, UM, AND, AND CHALLENGE STAFF TO, TO EDUCATE US AND THE CITY, UM, IN THAT REGARD.

SO, UH, PLEASE DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK ON, ON, ON, ON OTHER IDEAS YOU MIGHT HAVE AS IT RELATES TO NEW PUDS THAT COME BEFORE US, UM, OR PUT AMENDMENTS OR, OR, OR THINGS THAT WE WANT THE CITY TO START LOOKING AT FOR, FOR CITY PROJECTS AS WELL.

UM, UH, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE CONVERSATION WITH THIS PET AMENDMENT, UM, WHAT WAS PRODUCTIVE, BUT, BUT NOT LINEAR AS IT RELATES TO THE POD AS MUCH.

UM, BUT, BUT THIS IS STILL VERY HELPFUL FOR WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

AND THIS GIVES STAFF ENOUGH INFORMATION ON WHAT, UM, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING TO THE APPLICANTS ABOUT THESE PUDS FOR THE MONTHS BEFORE, BEFORE IT COMES TO US.

SO, UM, I, I, I THINK THE TONE MAYBE FROM THE REMOTE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN WE WERE HERE ON SITE.

UM, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING AND, UH, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME MORE IDEAS AND WE CAN GIVE STAFF SOME MORE HOMEWORK IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

UM, SO THANK YOU, UH, WITH THAT, WE'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, UM,

[COMMITTEE REPORTS]

COMMITTEE REPORTS, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT AND 30 SECONDS OR LESS? MY, UM, REPORT IS THAT I WILL GIVE THE REPORT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

YOU'LL TURN 25 SECONDS.

NO ONE ELSE, UH, REAL QUICKLY THE, UH, CENTRAL SOUTH SOUTH SAY FOR WHAT OUR FRIEND GROUP WE HAD THIS PAST MONDAY, WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE SECOND READING ON IT'S GOING TO BE FOR CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER, THE FIRST ON THE STATESMAN SPED.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UM, ANYONE ELSE? NOPE.

UH, TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WE HAVE THE RETREAT, THE SAME BAT CHANNEL.

UM, PLEASE COME IF YOU CAN, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, UM, AND HEALTHY, UH, AND IF NOT, PLEASE LOG IN.

UH, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING ON THIS ONE.

THIS WAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF US HERE ON STAFF HERE, SO I DO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS YOU GUYS.

AND WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 9 58.