[Call to Order]
[00:00:04]
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, HERE THIS MORNING.
IT'S THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, 2022.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, POOL IS OFF THE, UH, DAIS.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HARPER, MADISON, AND CALI, UH, REMOTE.
UM, SO WE HAVE A QUO ON PRESENT.
WE'RE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, WE HAVE SOME CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 26TH, THIS POSTPONE TO OCTOBER 27TH, 2022 10.
ITEM NUMBER 40 BEING POSTPONED.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, THE, UH, FIVE I BEING ADDED AS A, UH, CO-SPONSOR.
UH, AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED ON THE AGENDA.
UM, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE SOME HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE HAVE LATE BACKUP AND ITEMS 27, 30, 37, 41, 42, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58, 61, 69, 70, 75.
UM, AS, UM, ITEMS WITH LATE BACKUP
[Consent Agenda]
COLLEAGUES, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WE NEED TO PULL, NOTING THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 44 AND 71 THROUGH 79 ITEMS TO BE PULLED.UM, I, I'M JUST WAITING FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION.
DEPENDING ON WHEN WE DO CONSENT, I CAN PUT IT BACK ON IT.
AND THAT'S 32 AND, AND AND 33.
I'M WORKING ON SOME DIRECTION, UH, RELATED TO 32 AND PART OF 33.
AND SO I'M, I'LL GET THAT DONE AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
SO FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA PULL 32 AND 33.
UH, MAYOR PRO 10, I LIKE TO PULL 74 PLEASE.
AND I MAY, I MAY HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON ITEM, UH, 12.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE, UH, PULLING IT, BUT, UH, I WOULD JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF, OKAY.
WE'LL LEAVE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IF THAT CHANGES.
UM, MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU LET US KNOW.
UM,
IS THAT BEING POSTPONED? UM, I THINK IT'S ITEM 27.
THIS IS THE RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE.
UM, ISN'T THAT BEING POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 3RD? UH, MAY, I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THAT IF I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED TO PULL IT TO POSTPONE IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME COMMENTS ON THE FIRST COMMENT.
DO WE NEED TO PULL IT, OR THERE IS IT ON THE CONSENT AS A POSTPONE ITEM TO NOVEMBER 3RD, BUT PEOPLE CAN STILL COMMENT ON, YOU CAN COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DOES THAT WORK? THEN I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER 27 TO POSTPONE TO NOVEMBER 3RD.
SO I HAVE 26 AND 27 BEING POSTPONED.
UM, AND THEN, UH, 77 AND 78 BEING SET FOR NOVEMBER 30TH, 77 AND 78.
UM, THAT'S JUST SETTING THE, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY HAS HER HAND UP IN CASE YOU CAN'T SEE.
UM, I TO SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT OF 27, UM, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO POSTPONE ITEM 48.
UM, WE GOT SOME MATERIAL FROM STAFF THIS MORNING THAT I HAVEN'T YET HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW, AND I KNOW PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ALSO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, SO I WAS WONDERING IF THAT MIGHT BE AMENABLE TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
5 48 IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, ORDINANCE, UM, INCLUDING THOSE ALBUMS. I'M SORRY, WHAT? IT'S NOT A CONSENT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT.
IT'S MY INTENT IF IT'S OKAY WITH COLLEAGUES TO CHECK PRETTY EARLY, MAYBE RIGHT AFTER WE VOTE ON CONSENT TO TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 48 SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW MUCH WORK TO BE DOING HERE THIS MORNING.
[00:05:01]
NOT TO CALL IT UP ON ITS MERITS RIGHT AWAY, BUT TO CALL IT UP ON THE, UH, QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD POSTPONE THAT ITEM.SO BE PREPARED FOR THAT VOTE ON POSTPONEMENT, UH, RIGHT AFTER WE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I SAY WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THE DIAS THAT I'M GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT AND WE BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION IN THE BACKUP AND MANAGER IF WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME WHETHER THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAVE ISSUED A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ITEM.
THEY MAY HAVE INDICATED THAT IN THE Q AND A ABOUT TO TAKE A LOOK.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE NUMBER? 39? I ALSO HEARD, I, I READ THE, THE Q AND A ON CONCRETE POURS, AND THE QUESTION THAT COUNCIL BAR TOPO ASKED WAS WHETHER THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BEFORE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE HEB SITE ON EXPOSITION IN LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD, UM, WHICH IS NOT THE, THE ANSWER THAT I SAW IN Q AND A.
UM, IF THEY DID, WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH COUNCIL, CUZ THAT'S IN MY DISTRICT AND I DON'T REMEMBER AUTHORIZING IT.
UM, I THINK ITEM 74 HAS BEEN PULLED BY MAYOR PORT, IS THAT CORRECT? UM, YES.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT, I MIGHT SUGGEST POSTPONING IT.
UM, WE CAN TALK, TALK ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO IT ALSO.
MIGHT CONCERN I'LL ALSO BE POSTING AND HANDING OUT A VERSION TWO.
THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE COUNCIL LETTING STAFF INITIATE ANY ORDINANCES.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAND OUT A VERSION TWO THAT, THAT REMOVES THAT COMPONENT OF IT.
SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
BUT WE'LL POST, WE'LL GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY ON THE DIRE MOMENTARILY AND WE'LL ALSO POST IT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
ON ITEM 39, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, THE ISSUE IS THAT I, UH, HEB WANTS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
AND, UH, BY DOING IT THE WAY THEY'RE, THEY WERE REQUESTED IT WOULD BE DONE THREE MONTHS EARLIER, SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY THAT DR.
TRAFFIC, THAT, UH, PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES THROUGH THAT TRA THAT AREA INTO A TRAFFIC JAM, WHICH THAT WOULD HAPPEN CUZ UH, O TURF IS JUST A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WITH NO MIDDLE, I MEAN ROAD WITHOUT A A, A DIVIDER, UH, NO LEFT HAND PROTECTED TURN.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT THEIR REQUEST WAS.
UH, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TRYING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T CREATE A BIG TRAFFIC JAM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE AND BE ABLE TO SAFELY, UH, EXIT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UH, IT, AND WITHOUT THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THREE MORE MONTHS UP, UP TO POOR.
SO THAT'S THE, THE WHOLE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S BEEN PULLED, WOULD HAVE A DEBATE DISCUSSION ON THAT.
UH, UH, LATER THAT IT'S BEEN PULLED MANAGER, I NOTICED THAT ON THE CONSENT WE'RE POSTPONING.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, UM, UH, POSTPONING THE, UM, UH, PROPERTY, UM, THE, THE IFC WITH RESPECT TO, TO PROPERTY SO THAT THERE'S MORE TIME TO PEOPLE TO, TO WORK ON IT.
I AM CONCERNED MANAGER THAT IN THE ANSWER TO THE Q AND A, UM, I ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT WERE STAFF'S REACTIONS TO THIS? AND THE ANSWER IS, IT'S BEEN POSTPONED.
SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS BEING POSTPONED.
THIS IS MY DAY AND TOMORROW TO, TO REALLY BE ABLE TO WORK ON THIS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICY ONCE SOMETHING GETS POSTED ONTO THE AGENDA, STAFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ASKING FOR, FOR COMMENTS, EVEN IF THE SPONSOR'S CONTINUING TO WORK ON IT, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT AND, AND IMPORTANT TO HAVE HAPPENING.
UH, AND MY HOPE IS, IS THAT IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER, BUT ALL THE REST OF US ON THE DIETS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOO.
AND I HAVE FELT BADLY THIS WEEK AS WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSER TO THIS BEFORE WE KNEW IT WAS GONNA GET POSTPONED AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO WAS ASKING FOR COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS.
AND I COULDN'T GIVE ANY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR, I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT STAFF WAS THINKING OR WHAT ITS CONCERNS WERE, BUT COULDN'T GET THAT INFORMATION.
SO I THINK THERE'S A, A POLICY ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT THE POLICY ANSWER SHOULD BE, IF IT'S POSTED, THEN STAFF HAS THE ABILITY TO BE
[00:10:01]
ABLE AND, AND NEEDS TO, IN RESPONSE TO A COUNCIL MEMBER'S QUESTIONS TO PROVIDE WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE AT THAT POINT, THEY CAN SAY, HEY, WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS.THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON IT CAN SAY, HEY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS, BUT THE REST OF US HAVE HAVE WORK TO DO AS WELL.
I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.
I DON'T WANNA WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK IF STAFF HAS THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS ON, ON WHAT'S EVER BEEN POSTED OR FURTHER THOUGHTS OR WHATEVER.
UM, THAT, BUT THAT THE VERY LEAST ON THE POSTED ONE THAT'S PUBLIC, I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE ANSWERS.
I DON'T WANNA WAIT CERTAINLY UNDER UNDERSTOOD MAYOR AND, AND APPRECIATE, UH, YOU RAISING THIS BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE RESPONSES AND IT WAS KIND OF A TIMING THING WHERE WE HAD THE RESPONSES READY TO GO AND THEN WE SAW A REVISED VERSION.
AND SO WE WERE JUST PUT IN THIS A CHALLENGING SITUATION WHERE WE DIDN'T WANT TO THEN HAVE THOSE BE OLD RESPONSES BASED ON A PREVIOUS DIRECTION.
BUT I, I, I HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I KNOW THAT, UH, ACM GONZALEZ HAS BEEN CLOSER TO THIS WORKING WITH STAFF AND IF YOU WANT TO ADD A FEW WORDS AS WELL, THANK YOU RODNEY GONZALEZ AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR CONCERNS.
AND STAFF HAD A VERY DETAILED RESPONSE, UH, THAT WE WERE GONNA POST.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S OFFICE AND THERE WERE CHANGES BEING MADE EVEN AS YESTERDAY.
AND SO WHAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO WAS ADD CONFUSION TO THE MATTER.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME RESPONSES TO THE INITIAL RESOLUTION KNOWING THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT WAS POSTED.
AND SO THAT WAS OUR JUDGMENT CALL.
UM, WHAT WE COULD DO, OF COURSE, IS POST SOME GENERAL OVERALL CONCERNS, UM, THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO ADDRESS RATHER THAN VERY SPECIFIC CONCERNS BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S OFFICE IS LOOKING AT THOSE SPECIFIC CONCERNS AND ADDRESSING THEM AS, AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU MADE A DIS A DISCRETION CALL, JUDGMENT CALL, AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP.
AND WITHOUT SEEING WHAT THE ORIGINAL CONCERNS WERE, THERE COULD EASILY BE A RESOLUTION OF IT.
AND I NEVER HEARD, I WILL NEVER LEARN WHAT THE CONCERN WAS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF, I ALSO THINK THAT WAS A GOOD RESOLUTION OF THAT CONCERN.
SO EVEN IF YOU'RE CONTINUED TO WORK ON OTHER DRAFTS, WE HAVE A POSTED DRAFT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STAFF'S COMMENTS TO THE POSTED DRAFT SO THAT I CAN DO MY WORK AND MY EVALUATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUING TO TO ITERATE AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES AND WHAT I SEE IS SOMETHING THAT'S POSTED AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE STAFF'S CONCERNS WERE, WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN RESOLVED OR NOT TO WHAT WAS POSTED.
AND YOU CAN PUT AT THE TOP UP, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A, IN FACT THERE IS NOW A RE RESERVE A, A POSTED VERSION TWO.
I STILL WANNA SEE WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE FOR VERSION ONE SO THAT, SO THAT I CAN LEARN WHAT THE ISSUES WERE SO I CAN DO A BETTER JOB ON THE, ON THE DAIS.
WE CAN DO THAT, BUT JUST LABEL IT REALLY WELL SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET CONFUSED.
MAYOR, YES, THIS IS MY RESOLUTION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
UM, AS I, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU RAISED A CONCERN ON TUESDAY ABOUT NEEDING MORE TIME.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'VE REQUESTED A POST-PAYMENT TODAY.
I POSTED A REVISED VERSION YESTERDAY THAT ACCOMMODATES MANY OF, OF THE STAFF'S CONCERNS AS ACM GONZALES SAID, WE MET YESTERDAY AND MADE SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES EVEN AS WE WERE MEETING.
SO I'M, I'M NOT SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE UTILITY OF THE STAFF POSTED WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE ABOUT THE DRAFT THAT POSTED IN THE AGENDA THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN THERE'S ALREADY A NEW DRAFT THAT DOESN'T SEEM AT ALL, UM, WORTHWHILE IN TERMS OF THE STAFF TIME.
AND FRANKLY, THIS IS, THIS IS THE ITERATIVE PROCESS THAT EVERY ONE OF US GOES THROUGH WHEN THEY'RE A SPONSOR ON, ON, UM, A RESOLUTION.
THEY HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY HEAR COMMENTS FROM STAFF WHEN, WHEN THEY POST IT AND THEY MAKE CHANGES AND THEY SOMETIMES BRING FORWARD AND EDITED AND REVISED VERSION.
AND I JUST DON'T RECALL ANY, ANY TIME BEFORE WHERE YOU'VE MADE A REQUEST THAT THE STAFF GO BACK TO THE POSTED VERSION AND LET US KNOW THE CONCERN SO THAT YOU CAN TRACE IT THROUGH THE, THE ITERATIONS.
I'M HAPPY IF YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER YOU'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR.
I MEAN, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE OF OUR COUNCIL TIME AND THE STAFF TIME IF WE FOCUS ON THE LATER DRAFT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO POST ANOTHER ONE.
IT IS OUR STAFF, IT IS OUR PLAN IN OUR OFFICE TO TRY TO FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE ON MONDAY.
AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO WORK THROUGH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF COMMENTS THAT WE GOT YESTERDAY AND ANY OTHERS THAT COME.
I THINK WE'RE SHOOTING FOR ANOTHER MEETING ON MONDAY AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FINALIZE
[00:15:01]
THE LANGUAGE AND I WILL POST THAT.AND THEN IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STAFF CONCERNS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME RATHER THAN ASKING STAFF TO POST INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE ON THE FIRST DRAFT.
AND I HEAR THAT AND I, AND I ONE AGAIN, WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I, I REALLY LIKE THE CONCEPT AND THE IDEA OF THIS, CUZ I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS AS COUNCIL AND I THINK WE CAN HELP SHARE, UM, AND, AND SET FUTURE COUNCILS UP TO, TO NOT HAVE TO, TO, TO, TO RELIVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN COUNCIL OFFICERS ARE WORKING WITH STAFF AND THEY'RE GETTING COMMENTS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE PUBLIC OR POSTED.
BUT WHEN THERE IS A VERSION THAT IS POSTED, ONCE THAT VERSION BECOMES POSTED, IT NO LONGER BELONGS TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT NOW BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE CITY AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THAT THAT STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MAY BE RESOLVING SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD NECESSARILY RESOLVE THOSE CONCERNS THE SAME WAY, BUT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE CONCERN WAS TO THE ORIGINAL POSTED ONE, I I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
AND SINCE IT WAS POSTED AND IT WAS PART OF THE PUBLIC, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT STAFF MAY HAVE ALREADY PREPARED RESPONSES OR A LIST OF CONCERNS.
SO I'M NOT SURE IT'S ADDITIONAL WORK.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
SO, SO I COULD SAY, SAY I RE RECOGNIZE YOU TWO HAVE GONE AHEAD AND RESOLVED IT THIS WAY, BUT, BUT I HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY TO RESOLVE IT THAT I THINK MIGHT BE BETTER.
BUT WITHOUT KNOWING THE CONCERN, I MIGHT NOT EVER, I MIGHT NOT EVER SEE IT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, THAT, AND I APPRECIATE COUNT MY TOGO YOUR WILLINGNESS TO POSTPONE IT.
AND I DID RAISE ON, ON TUESDAY THAT I WASN'T READY, BUT IF COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO DID NOT POSTPONE IT TODAY, I WOULD BE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THIS AND THERE BE NOT.
AND I, AND I, AND THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER VERSION THAT WAS, BUT NOT IN ANY SITUATION IN THE FUTURE.
I, I GOT TO WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS OF TODAY'S MEETING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO HEAR WHAT STAFF'S COMMENTS WERE ON SOMETHING THAT WAS POSTED.
SO AS A GENERAL POLICY, I WOULD THINK THAT ONCE SOMETHING, ONCE A COUNCIL MEMBER POSTS SOMETHING, WHICH THE COUNCIL MEMBER CONTROLS, THE COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T HAVE TO POST ANYTHING IF IT'S NOT READY YET TO, TO BE POSTED, BUT TO THE DEGREE IT'S POSTED AT THAT POINT, ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SUPPOSED TO START WORKING ON IT SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR WORK.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE SO THAT I CAN EVALUATE THE RESOLUTIONS OF THOSE CONCERNS.
I MEAN THAT, THAT
IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PART OF THE ITERATIVE PROCESS AND HEAR ARE THE CONCERNS AND, AND SUGGEST DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS TO THEM, THEN PLEASE SIGN ON.
AS A CO-SPONSOR, I'M SPONSORING THIS.
I HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO, TO THOSE CONCERNS.
AND WHEN IT HITS THE DIAS FOR CONSIDERATION AND DELIBERATION, THEN IT BELONGS TO EVERYBODY ON THE DIAS TO MAKE DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT UNTIL WE HAVE THE MEETING, I MEAN, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO WITHDRAW IT, HAVE THE ABILITY, I MEAN, YOU ARE MORE THAN HAPPY.
I MEAN, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO INCLUDE YOU IN THIS PROCESS.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION.
I CAN TELL YOU THEY RANGE FROM, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS TO REQUEST TO DIVINE THINGS LIKE THE PHRASE MEET WITH OR THE PHRASE DEVELOP, REDEVELOP AND DISPOSITION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, THEY ARE BOTH MICRO LEVEL.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S HELPFUL TO LOOK AT THE STAFF RESPONSES TO EARLIER DRAFTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, RANGE FROM REQUESTS TO DEFINE THE WORD MEET WITH.
I MEAN, I I, AND I DON'T, THIS IS A VERY NECESSARY, I THINK THIS IS A VERY NECESSARY PROCESS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM TO WORK ON IT, UM, THAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU.
AND I, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF'S TIME IN HELPING US GET A, WHAT I HOPE IS A PROCESS THAT WORKS WELL FOR THE CITY THAT EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH.
AND I WILL, AGAIN, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT I'M GOING TO POST THAT NEXT DRAFT JUST AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE.
I STILL WANNA SEE THE COMMENTS AND, AND TRY LAST WEEK TO GET THE COMMENTS.
AND AS I'VE SAID, I'M, I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE THIS TO CO-SPONSOR THIS.
I CAN'T COMMIT AT THIS POINT THAT I APPROVE OF ALL OF THE SECTIONS OR WOULDN'T MAKE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE IT'S STILL CHANGING AND BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD THE STAFF COMMENTS YET.
SO, SO WHAT I HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID IS THAT, UH, BEFORE I COULD COMMIT TO UPBRINGING AMENDMENTS OR NOT BRINGING CHANGES, I NEED
[00:20:01]
TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMENTS WERE.WE TRIED TO GET THE COMMENTS LAST WEEK AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THERE WAS A POLICY OR A PRACTICE THAT SAID THAT STAFF WAS GOING TO HOLD THOSE THINGS WHILE IT CONTINUED TO WORK, WHICH I UNDERSTAND AND, AND I'M, I THINK IT'S GREAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M ELEVATING IT BECAUSE I'M SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE A DIFFERENT POLICY OR OR PRACTICE FOR ANYBODY THAT WOULD ASK ONCE IT GETS POSTED.
MAYOR PROTE, UM, I THINK THIS COULD BE RESOLVED BY YOU MEETING WITH STAFF TOMORROW AND THEN GOING OVER ANY OUTSTANDING CONCERNS OR SHARING WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE A DRAFT OF COMMENTS THAT WERE SENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PUBLIC AT THIS STAGE.
IT, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE LIKE, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY FORWARD GIVEN WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT, UM, PROCESS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW.
I TRY TO HAVE A MEETING LAST WEEK AND I TRIED TO GET DON'T HAVE A, I DON HAVE A MEETING.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU COULD HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM.
I, I TRIED TO GET THIS INFORMATION LA LAST WEEK SO THAT I COULD BE WORKING ON IT TOO, AND COULDN'T AND I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT THE BETTER PRACTICE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION TO SO THEY CAN WORK ON IT AT THE SAME TIME.
MAYOR, I JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE ASIDE, I WOULD HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE STAFF SUDDENLY STARTING TO MEET WITH OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES ABOUT AN ITEM THAT'S COMING UP FROM ONE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY WE USUALLY DO PRACTICE.
AGAIN, I'M, WHEN I ASKED YOU TO CO-SPONSOR IT WASN'T WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WOULDN'T SUGGEST ANY AMENDMENTS.
THAT'S NEVER, THAT'S NEVER THE KIND OF CONVERSATION I HAVE WITH MY CO-SPONSORS.
IT'S NEVER THE WAY I BEHAVE WHEN I'M A CO-SPONSOR.
SO YOU'RE YOU'RE WELCOME TO, YOU KNOW, I, I, I APPRECIATE, UM, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SUBJECT AND, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON IT AND I WOULD HOPE SO TOO.
AND IF YOU'LL SHARE WITH ME THE COMMENTS THAT STAFF RAISED LAST WEEK SO I CAN SEE WHAT THEIR COMMENTS WERE.
IT IT'S FINE IF, IF YOU SHARE, JUST TRYING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT QUORUM RULES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE NATURE OF BEING A CO-SPONSOR AND AN ITEM IS THAT THEN YOU CAN TALK VERY FREELY ABOUT IT AND SHARE THE DOCUMENTS.
SO AS I TOLD YOU, I'M, I AM HAPPY TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF IT.
I WOULD AND, AND CUZ I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE, WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE ON STAFF, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE NOT READY TO, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING, BUT IF YOU'LL SHARE IT WITH ME, I'M HAPPY TO GET IT FROM YOU.
AND IF THE REST OF THE COLLEAGUES WON'T HAVE IT, THEY CAN, THEY CAN, THEY CAN FEND FOR THEMSELVES I GUESS.
I THINK THE BETTER POLICY WOULD BE TO STILL LET STAFF CO TO ANYONE ON COUNCIL WHEN SOMETHING GETS POSTED.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, UM, UH, I DON'T NEED STAFF TO GIVE IT TO ME IF YOU'LL GIVE IT TO ME AND I AM HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR CUZ CONCEPTUALLY I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THE CONCERNS WERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SUGGESTED CHANGES YET, BUT I WANNA START WORKING ON THAT RIGHT AWAY AND I'M OUTTA TOWN NEXT WEEK, SO I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO WORK ON IT THIS WEEKEND, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORK ON YET AND NEED THAT C STAS COMMENTS TO BE ABLE TO START.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS HER HAND UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I WAS JUST SO THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WRAP THIS UP.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SPEAKERS WAITING TO ADDRESS US PUBLICLY SINCE, UM, 10:00 AM SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
LET'S, YES, RODNEY, SO WHAT WE HEAR IS, UH, TO POST THE COMMENTS FROM THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION TO THE Q AND A.
UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOBY'S OFFICE ON THIS.
THEN I GUESS I'M GONNA HAVE TO INSIST THAT WE START MAKING PUBLIC EVERY PIECE OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM EVERY STAFF MEMBER ABOUT THE ITEMS, INCLUDING IN DRAFT FORM FROM HERE ON OUT ONCE SOMETHING GETS POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
I THOUGHT THAT WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE POSTED ON THE AGENDA AND STAFF GAVE ANSWERS, I THOUGHT THEY MADE THOSE PUBLIC.
UM, SO, SO THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF THE SAME THING THAT THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS HEARING.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WHEN I GET COMMENTS THAT LIKE IN THE Q AND A, BUT REGARDLESS, I CAN'T START WORKING ON THIS UNTIL I CAN SEE WHAT STAFF COMMENTS WERE AND I'M, AND IF NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO SEE IT, THEN IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POSTED.
OH, CAN I? YES, CAN TURN KITCHEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD, UM, LET'S, CAN WE SET THIS ASIDE FOR RIGHT NOW AND UM, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD? UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE REACTING TO MAYOR IS SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS YOU'RE NOT INTENDING,
[00:25:01]
WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT IF WE'RE WORKING ON A PARTICULAR IFFC THEN THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF DIRECTLY.IF WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, THEN YEAH.
AND IF WE ASK QUESTIONS AS PART OF THE Q AND A PROCESS, YEAH, EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT.
AND I THINK THAT MAY BE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, UM, AND IF A QUORUM IS JUST WORKING WITH STAFF AS A QUORUM, THEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE STUFF OR THINGS THAT ARE NOT POSTED TO EVERYBODY.
CUZ OTHERWISE WE'D BE VIOLATING QUORUM.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT.
SO I THINK MAYBE WE'RE TALKING MORE, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU GUYS ALWAYS DO, IF WE POST A QUESTION TO Q AND A, YOU'RE GONNA SHARE THAT WITH ALL OF US.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WAS FILED, I'VE ASKED IT ON THE Q AND A.
I THINK YOU CAN RESPOND TO MY QUESTION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED.
AND AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE HAD MADE A JUDGMENT CALL, THERE WERE SEVERAL ITERATIONS TO THIS ONE THAT WAS POSTED, THEN WE KNOW THAT ANOTHER ONE'S GONNA BE POSTED.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO ADD ANY CONFUSION, UNDERSTAND TO THE MATTER, AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY WAS, WAS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH HERE.
BUT IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CREATE ANYTHING NEW.
WE WILL, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT HAS TO BE DISCLOSED OR ANSWERS TO Q AND A QUESTIONS.
YES, MAYOR, ON ITEM 27, THE TENANT ORGANIZING ITEM, UM, OUR PRIMARY ATTORNEY WILL NOT BE HERE THAT DAY ON THE THIRD, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF, IF WE MOVE THAT TO THE FIRST OR ONE OF THE, UM, SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS? WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE 27TH, OCTOBER 27TH IS THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
OKAY, SO INSTEAD OF 11 THREE, WE'LL MOVE THAT TO 10 27.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE CALL SPEAKERS?
[Public Comment (Part 1 of 2)]
THANKS.LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL SPEAKERS.
HAVE, UH, HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THE SPEAKERS SHOULD KNOW.
I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP ON THE TENANT RIGHTS, UH, ISSUE THAT'S NOW BEEN POSTPONED OCTOBER 27TH.
UH, SO DIRECTLY THE, THE CONVERSATION IF YOU'RE TALKING SHOULD BE ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED OR NOT.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL SPEAKERS MAYOR, WE HAVE A SPANISH SPEAKER WHO REGISTERED, UM, IN PERSON TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
SO IF WE CAN TAKE THEM FIRST, THAT WOULD BE GREAT SO WE CAN RELEASE THE INTERPRETER.
JOSE BEES AND AS WE CALL UP MR. PETS HERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE THAT TRIED TO SIGN UP THIS MORNING SPEAKING, ONE OF THE MACHINES WAS UNPLUGGED TO ACCOMMODATE THE, UH, THE PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING.
SO THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
PEOPLE WERE HERE ABOUT THE NINE 15, SO I'M GONNA LET FOUR PEOPLE SPEAK WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO SIGN UP BUT GOT CONFUSED BECAUSE OF THE PROCLAMATION, BUT I REMIND EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, NINE 15 IS WHEN YOU NEED TO, TO, TO SIGN UP.
UH, AND IF, UH, STAFF COULD ENDEAVOR NOT TO UNPLUG ANY MACHINES THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE BEST TOO.
UH, MR. GARS WAS GONNA SPEAK ON ITEM 27 AND SINCE THAT'S POSTPONED, HE WON'T BE SPEAKING TO.
MY NAME IS LAUREN ORTEL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 25, WHICH PROPOSES TO SPEND $170,000 TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TO LAWYERS.
THE CITY IS HIRED TO FIGHT AGAINST PAYING THE FAMILY OF LAND AND NOBLES WHO WAS MURDERED BY AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS IN 2017.
I'M SICKENED BY HOW THE CITY CONTINUES TO FIGHT, PAYING THE NOBLES FAMILY, EXTENDING THEIR NOW FIVE PLUS YEAR AGONY THROUGH THE COURTS.
POLICE VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE RESTITUTION.
IF YOU WANT TO AVOID THESE SETTLEMENTS IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO CREATE AN OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT TRULY DETERS THE BEHAVIOR BY YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT CAUSES UNDUE HARM LIKE THIS.
AND WE NEED TO STOP RELYING ON PEOPLE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO CAUSE HARM AS OUR MAIN STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THIS CASE, LOCAL JURORS PROCLAIMED THAT IN AUSTIN BLACK LIVES MATTER AND WE NEED CITY COUNCIL TO SHOW THAT YOU BELIEVE THE SAME.
PLEASE STOP TORTURING THIS FAMILY THAT HAS ALREADY LOST SO MUCH.
[00:30:01]
I AM 44 AND 76 WILLIAM BUNCH.UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TIM COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR OUR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION QUICKLY ON ITEM 44 AND THEN 20 ON 44.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE MOVE TO NEX OUR WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS IS AN EXCELLENT MOVE AND VERY MUCH SUPPORT IT.
I DO WANNA MAKE A, A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE, UH, UTILITY SERVICES TO ANNEX AREAS AND TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT YOU'RE NOT, UH, MAKING A COMMITMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOME, UH, EXPENSIVE EXTENSION OF SERVICES AREAS THAT ARE JUST CONSERVATION EASEMENTS RATHER THAN CITY OWN.
PRESERVE LAND ON ITEM 20, I BELIEVE THAT IS VULCAN, UH, ROAD MATERIALS AND THE NEW WAY THE CITY IS DOING THE, UH, ROAD REHABILITATION IS REALLY TERRIBLE.
UM, IT PRODUCES A WHOLE BUNCH OF GRAVEL AND DUST.
THE GRAVEL IS ACTUALLY DANGEROUS FOR BICYCLES, UH, SKATEBOARDERS AND WALKERS.
UH, ALMOST CERTAINLY THE WATER POLLUTION, AIR POLLUTION FROM THIS NEW APPROACH IS, UH, MUCH MORE HARMFUL THAN THE WAY IT WAS DONE BEFORE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS CHEAPER, UH, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST AS LONG AS WHAT CITY'S SAYING.
UH, PLEASE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BEFORE YOU COMMIT THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY, UH, THIS ROAD BASED MATERIAL THAT'S, UH, REALLY CAUSING TROUBLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN PARTICULAR IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND LOTS OF NEIGHBORS HA ARE COMPLAINING.
I'M SURE YOUR STAFF IS AWARE OF THAT.
SO IF THIS IN FACT IS THAT MATERIAL, AND I BELIEVE IT IS, PLEASE HOLD OFF ON APPROVING THIS CONTRACT UNTIL YOU LOOK AT THIS ISSUE FURTHER.
UH, MAYOR, COULD I ASK THE SPEAKER A QUICK QUESTION? UM, MR. BUN, ARE YOU STILL ON? WE CAN CALL HIM BACK IF YOU'D LIKE.
MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST SAY IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE INTERESTED ON THAT QUESTION.
WE JUST SPENT AN HOUR WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THAT, UM, AND HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A NEW PROCESS, IT'S JUST THEY GO THROUGH, THEY GO THROUGH A CYCLE WITH THE ROADS AND THIS IS THE CYCLE WHERE A LOT OF ROADS ARE HAPPEN TO BE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPROVING THE PROCESS AND THE COMMUNICATION TO NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, WHEN THEY COME FORWARD TO DO THIS WORK SO THAT THAT GRAVEL, IF IT IS REMAINING, UM, CAN BE REMOVED MORE QUICKLY.
UM, AND, AND BEEN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS.
SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONNECT WITH MY STAFF ON THAT, UH, WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND AND WHICH ITEM WAS THAT? I'M SORRY.
I MEAN, THE ITEM HAS TO DO WITH THE, THE PAVEMENT.
I KNOW, BUT THE NUMBER, DO YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
CAUSE WE, THAT'S, WE HAD SET THIS UP BEFORE THE ITEM WAS WE'D BEEN HEARING COMPLAINTS AND SET IT UP EVEN BEFORE THE ITEM.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, I'LL HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
SO SPEAKING ON ITEMS 48 AND 75, LUKE METZKER.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LUKE METZKER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS.
JUST, UH, REAL QUICKLY ON THOSE TWO ITEMS, UM, I'M 48.
I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERING A POSTPONEMENT AND, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDED, UM, KIND OF, UH, PULLING OUT SOME OF THE ITEMS, UH, FOR A LONGER REVIEW.
UM, I WOULD JUST STRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY EAGER TO, TO GET THESE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND, UH, INCLUDING THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN PROGRAM, WHICH WE THINK WOULD JUST BE TRANSFORMATIVE AND HELPING REDUCE WATER POLLUTION, URBAN HEAT, AND INTRODUCING MORE, UH, NATURE AND WILDLIFE HABITATS AND, AND MORE BEAUTY INTO OUR CITY, AND PARTICULARLY WANNA SEE THAT ITEM, UM, ADOPTED AND PUT INTO CODE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN ON, UH, ITEM 75, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE, I CAN'T REMEMBER TOGA'S EFFORT ON THIS.
PLASTIC POLLUTION IS A HUGE PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, REAL THREAT TO, TO WILDLIFE, UM, AN EYESORE OF OUR WATERWAYS AND OUR PARKS.
AND WHILE THE, UNFORTUNATELY THE STATE LEGISLATURE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLY HAS, YOU KNOW, TAKEN AWAY THE RIGHTS AND CITIES TO, UH, REALLY PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THE PLASTIC POLLUTION CRISIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S RESOLUTION HERE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, UM, DOING WHAT WE CAN WITHIN THE, THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE LAW, BUT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY THAT WILL HELP, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE, UM, BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS, UH, TO HELP IDENTIFY WAYS TO PRODUCE OUR USE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS, THINGS
[00:35:01]
LIKE STYROFOAM AND OTHERS.UM, SO, UM, ARE STRONGLY IN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT MEASURE AS WELL.
MY NAME IS SAM AND I'M A LOCAL CIVIL ENGINEER.
UH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE RUSH NATURE OF ITEM 48, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE PROPOSED FUNCTIONAL GREEN CHANGES.
UM, THESE CHANGES DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DRAMATICALLY AFFECT DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN AND ALONG CRITICAL CITY CORRIDORS IF IT BECOMES OVERBURDENSOME.
UH, THE CRITERION THAT'S CURRENTLY, CURRENTLY WRITTEN DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CALIBRATED TO WORK WITH EXISTING REGULATIONS, INCLUDING GREAT STREETS DESIGN STANDARDS DOWNTOWN, NOR DO THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TESTED OR VETTED ON MORE TYPICAL DOWNTOWN OR URBAN SITES.
THEREFORE, I BELIEVE ADDITIONAL TIMES NEEDED TO STUDY THE SPECIFIC CRITERION AND SCORING SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS CAN BE PRACTICALLY APPLIED AS INTENDED.
THEREFORE, I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE TO POSTPONE THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN SECTION CODE CHANGE AND REQUIRED THAT STAFF UNDERGO A COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO IRON OUT SOME OF THESE DETAILS BEFORE THEY REALLY CAUSE ISSUES IN AREAS OF TOWN THAT MOST PROMOTE TAX BASE AND DENSITY.
GOOD, MORE GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AK AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 48.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN THE PRESIDE OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE SAN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
PLEASE NOTE, I'M NOT SPEAKING, I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF ON THIS ITEM.
THE PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I DO AGREE WITH THE URGENCY TO ADDRESS A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY CONCERN IS THAT IN INCLUDING THE SMALL PROJECTS, WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED FOR CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES IN PURPOSE, COVER LIMITS IN CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
THE RESULT WILL BE THAT ANY FUTURE SMALL PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE THAT MAY HAVE NOT EVER HAD ANY PRIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS WILL CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
AN EXAMPLE IS LOT TO LOCK FLOODING.
OUR CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.
PLEASE CONSIDER DELAYING THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO SMALL SCALE MISSING METAL HOUSING PROJECTS WITH THE DESIRE DEVELOPMENT ZONE, AND REQUIRE THE ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF TO WORK WITH THE AUSTIN'S EQUITY OFFICE TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES CREATED BY DIFFERENT RULES BY THE DESIRE DEVELOPMENT ZONE IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES.
ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT BE THE CURRENT PRACTICE, WE SHOULD STRIVE TO ENSURE ALL RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED FOR ALL ENVIRONMENTAL WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL MINIMIZE CONFUSION ABOUT CODE APPLICABILITY, INCONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT, AND POOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES LONG SUBJECTED UPON THE RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND EAST AUSTIN AND WITH THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE OF THE TRAVIS AUTO BOND SOCIETY, AND WE'RE COMMENTING TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE IMMEDIATE ADOPTION OF I 48, THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY BUILDING CODE.
THE NATIONAL ABAN SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN 1905 AND OUR CHAPTER WAS FOUNDED 70 YEARS AGO WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING BIRDS FROM DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER RISKS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
SINCE THE 1960S, TRAVIS ABAN HAS MAINTAINED AND MANAGED THE BANK, THE BUTLER SANCTUARY, TO PROVIDE A REFUGE PRIMARILY FOR THE GOLDEN SHE WAR BLUR.
YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS UNDER THE CENTRAL FLYWAY FOR MIGRATING BIRDS IN NORTH AMERICA.
HOWEVER, HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAS OVERTAKEN A BOMBS AND OTHER CONSERVATION GROUPS' ABILITY TO PROTECT HABITAT.
IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, TEXAS HAS EXPERIENCED A STUNNING DECLINE IN THE BIRD POPULATION.
THE FALL MIGRATION TWO YEARS AGO SAW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND POSSIBLY A MILLION BIRDS DIE AS THEY TRIED TO MIGRATE THROUGH COLORADO, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, AND WEST TEXAS.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS FOUND TO BE STARVATION, MOST LIKELY DUE TO A LACK OF INSECTS TO FEED ON.
[00:40:01]
THIS MASS DIE OFF EVENT DID NOT SEEM TO RESONATE MUCH IN AUSTIN, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE BIRDS FAILED TO MAKE IT TO CENTRAL TEXAS BEFORE DYING.WHILE THE DECLINE OF ALL NON-HUMAN SPECIES IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM, SOLUTIONS MUST BEGIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND THIS CODE AMENDMENT IS IMPORTANT TOWARDS SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
FOR THIS REASON, TRAVIS, TRAVIS ABAN COMES BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE IMMEDIATE ADOPTION OF THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR MANY YEARS AND WILL PROVIDE SUSTENANCE IN HABITAT FOR OUR ENDEMIC AND MIGRATORY SPECIES.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE A LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE PLAN SO THAT THE LANDSCAPING PROVIDES THE BENEFIT NEEDED.
THANK YOU, SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, THIS IS MICHAEL LENAHAN WITH MAN STRATEGIES INQUIRY DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING FIRM, AND WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN UPDATE ON ITEM 48.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT, UH, MODEL, UH, THAT NEED A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
UH, WE DID REVIEW SOME SITES AS A CASE STUDY AND FOUND, ESPECIALLY IN THE URBAN CORE THAT THE CURRENT MODEL WAS UNACHIEVABLE WITHOUT EXORBITANT COSTS AND WITH NO REAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE ARE IN FAVOR OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS IN ORDER TO GET THIS, THIS MODEL CORRECTED AND ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT ARE SET FORTH IN IT.
UM, THAT'S ALL THAT I, UH, I HAVE FOR THAT, BUT I, UH, ASK FOR YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER, UH, DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, DAVID KING, ITEM 74.
ITEM 74 INITIATES CODE AMENDMENTS AND A FRAMEWORK TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO OFFSET THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS THAT REDUCE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY OR INCREASE DEVELOPMENT COSTS.
VIRTUALLY EVERY SECTION OF CITY CODE IMPACTS DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY OR COSTS.
ITEM 74 EFFECTIVELY DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CITY CODES AND INITIATE THE MOST EXTENSIVE CODE AMENDMENTS SINCE CODE NEXT, THE RESULTING FRAMEWORK IS LIKELY TO BECOME A HUGE LOOPHOLE THAT DEVELOPERS LEVERAGE LUCRATIVE DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS AND OTHER CONSIDERATION FOR ANY AND ALL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
THE RESULTING CODE AMENDMENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE USED CED BY DEVELOPERS TO SHIFT THEIR COST FOR MARKET RATE AND LUXURY DEVELOPMENT TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE TIES TO DEVELOPMENT OR REAL ESTATE INTERESTS OR HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN DONATIONS FROM DEVELOPMENT OR REAL ESTATE INTEREST DURING THEIR CURRENT CAMPAIGN, CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN ELECTION SHOULD RECUSE THEMSELF FROM THIS ITEM.
PLEASE REMOVE INITIATION OF CODE AMENDMENTS FROM THE RESOLUTION AND POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENTS.
THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO IN PERSON SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN, ALEXANDER STRINGER.
I AM, UH, SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ITEM SEVEN AND OUR ADOPTION FOR OUR 2223 BUDGET BECAUSE WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO INVEST THOSE FUNDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND LIKE, THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO INVEST THOSE FUNDS THAN THROUGH DRUG REHABILITATION.
LOOK GUYS, I'M ADDICTED TO FENTANYL AND I, I SELL FENTANYL TO THE KIDS IN AIS D TO LIKE FUND MY ADDICTION.
AND YOU KNOW, FIRST OFF, YOU HAVE BIG SHOUT, JOSE GARZA.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ARRESTED LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIMES, LIKE HAVEN'T SPENT A NIGHT IN JAIL.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, JOSE GARZA, YOU'RE THE MAN.
UH, YOU ARE THE COOLEST, MOST CHILLEST DA IN THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY DRUG DEALER JAVIER OUT OF JAIL TOO, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.UM, ANYWAY, GUYS, UH, WE NEED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, UM, ME AND THE KIDS, I SELL THAT, UM, FENTANYL TOO CAN, UH, USE THAT FED RESPONSIBLY, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BUILD A, UH, FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION CENTER RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, ARE ABLE TO, UH, BECOME SUPERVISED BY NURSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHILE WE ARE USING, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CREATE A THRIVING ECONOMY FOR MY DRUG DEALER, JAVIER.
SO, UM, PLEASE CONSIDER BUILDING THIS IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
CHRIS DOYLE, ITEM 24 ON DECK, MARGARET ATKINS.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 24 IN ORDER TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AND FROM THE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL TO EDUCATE TENANTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS TENANTS.
SPEAKING AS SOMEONE, AS A CASE WORKER FOR THE HOMELESS, I SPEND EVERY DAY ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
I HELP PEOPLE GET INTO HOUSING AND THEN PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES TO ACHIEVE HOUSING STABILITY.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT THOUGH IS THROUGH EDUCATION, THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, THROUGH LIFE SKILLS, AND IT'S HARD TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHEN YOUR HABITAT IS NOT HABITABLE.
UM, I'VE SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, I SPEAK AS SOMEONE WHO'S HAD CLIENTS DEAL WITH ESTS, DEAL WITH FAULTY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I SPEAK AS SOMEONE WHO'S DEALT WITH THAT MYSELF.
AND BECAUSE OF HOW RAPID AND DYNAMIC AND HIGH UP THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW, UM, IT'S EASY FOR A LANDLORD TO SAY, WELL, I CAN GET SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN JUST LEAVE.
SO I SPEAK TODAY HOPING THAT THIS IS ADOPTED SO THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE FLUENT WITH THEIR, THEIR RIGHTS AS TENANTS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO JUST LEAVE EVEN THOUGH THAT MIGHT BE AN IMPRACTICAL OR IMPOSSIBLE OPTION IN THIS MARKET.
MARGARET ATKINS, ITEM 24, CHRIS HARRIS ON DECK.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AT AND JUSTICE COALITION AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I'M MERGING YOU TODAY TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 25.
UM, IN 2017, AUSTIN POLICE, UH, KILLED LANDON NOBLES.
UM, UH, IN THE RUN UP TO HIS TRIAL, THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT FAILED TO FILE A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, UH, SO CONFIDENT WHERE A, THAT, UH, THAT THIS CASE WILL GO NOWHERE.
THEY HAD NO CITY DISCIPLINE HAD BEEN RENDERED AGAINST THE OFFICERS FOR THIS ACT.
NO, NO CRIMINAL DISCIPLINE HAD BEEN RENDERED AGAINST THE OFFICERS FOR THIS ACT.
AND SO WE HAD A RARE CASE WHERE A JURY ACTUALLY SAW THE EVIDENCE IN ONE OF THESE POLICE CASES AND RENDERED A VERDICT.
AND THAT VERDICT WAS THE LARGEST EVER, UH, VERDICT IN, IN, IN A POLICE VIOLENCE CASE IN THIS NATION'S HISTORY, $67 MILLION FOR A REFERENCE.
GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY RECEIVED A $27 27,000,007 SETTLEMENT.
WE NOW HAVE A, A SITUATION WHERE THE JUDGE HAS KNOCKED THIS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EIGHT AND THE SAME CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT SO MISJUDGED THE ORIGINAL TRIAL IS ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS FAMILY, CONTINUE TO DENY HIM THE RESTITUTION THAT THEY DESERVE.
IF THIS GOES TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT MORE BAD CASE LAW, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE ISSUE OF QUALITY QUALIFIED IMMUNITY COULD BE CREATED.
UH, AND THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE BANKING ON THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, THE MOST CONSERVATIVE COURT IN THE LAND TO HELP IT AVOID SETTLEMENTS.
YOU CAN DO THAT BY CREATING A SYSTEM OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO DETER THE HARMFUL BEHAVIOR THAT'S LEADING TO THESE SETTLEMENTS.
YOU CAN DO THAT BY WORKING TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEMS. AS THAT WE'RE MINIMIZING THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN YOUR EMPLOYEES WHOSE PRIMARY ROLE IS TO USE AND THREATEN TO USE VIOLENCE, WHOSE PRIMARY TRAINING IS IN THE USE OF WEAPONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE CAN, WE CAN BUILD ALTERNATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEMS, UH, TO HELP MINIMIZE THOSE INTERACTIONS.
WHAT WE CAN ALSO DO IS WE CAN WORK ON PREVENTION AND AS WE'VE DONE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND
[00:50:01]
OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES PREVENT ISSUES FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE.SO AGAIN, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO ONE ITEM 25 AND HELP THE NOBLES FAMILY.
TATTOO ITEM 25 WITH KATHY MITCHELL ON DECK.
THERE'S AN ADAGE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL, AND YET IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE DOING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UH, COMING HERE TO ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ALL OF YOU.
THE OFFICERS IN THE CASE OF LANDON NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
A JURY SAT, LISTENED AND DELIBERATED IN THE CASE, THEY HEARD THE FACTS AND THEY HANDED DOWN WHAT THEY FELT WAS A FAIR RULING.
THIS PLOY OF DRAGGING CASES THROUGH THE COURTS TO WEAR DOWN THE VICTIMS, YOU KNOW, AND THE GREAT TRADITION OF OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL NEEDS TO STOP.
I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S LOOKING AT ME
I DON'T KNOW IF IT MATTERS THAT I COME, I KNOW I'M A LITTLE, LITTLE PERSON, UM, BUT YOU'RE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I'D LIKE YOU TO NOT ENABLE THIS BEHAVIOR.
WE KNOW THAT IF IT GOES TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT, JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SERVED.
SO TODAY I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH A FAMILY OF LAND AND NOBLES.
I THINK 27 GOT POSTPONED, RIGHT? THE TENANT ALL, UM, YEAH, SO I, I'M, I'M HERE, UM, TODAY TO STAND IN, UM, SOLIDARITY WITH THE NOBLE'S FAMILY, UM, AND JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VOTE NO AGAINST ITEM 25.
UM, THIS CASE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2017.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I IT'S, IT'S SO MANY LAYERS TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY'S LIFE IS TAKEN, UM, ABRUPTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, ARE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE VIOLENCE, RIGHT? IT, THE ACTUAL TRAGEDY HAPPENS AND THE TRAUMA FROM THAT.
UM, AND THEN A LOT OF FAMILIES ATTEMPT TO SEEK SOME TYPE OF REST RESTITUTION, UM, JUSTICE THROUGH THE COURT CASE OR THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
UM, AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY, IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS.
UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, CHRIS SAID EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT, ABOUT ALL THAT.
BUT, UM, I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL DON'T, UM, PROLONG THIS FAMILY FROM JUST KIND OF BEING AT PEACE WITH THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE CAUGHT UP IN, IN SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
UM, AND TO KEEP IN MIND, WE STILL HAVE OPEN CASES WITH ALEX GONZALEZ, MIKE RAMOS.
SO I THINK, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU ALL TO, UM, DO DO WHAT YOU ALL BEEN DOING IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, 8, 5, 6 YEARS, UM, AND REALLY STAYING IN, IN, IN TOW IN LINE WITH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I THINK THIS IS ALL A PART OF THAT SAME CONVERSATION.
SO, UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I, I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME LEGAL REASONS WHY CITY LEGAL WANTS YOU ALL TO APPROVE THIS, BUT, UM, FROM A MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDPOINT, IT'S JUST, IT'S TIME TO BE DONE WITH THIS.
SO I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL VOTE AGAINST ITEM 25, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 27, BOB THOMPSON, DONNA GARZA, RODRIGUEZ, EMILY BLAIR, ERICA JOHNSON, JO PLO, CONNOLLY CONNOLLY, JOSE PEREZ, LINDSEY HAYNES, REBECCA TUCKER, SOHAN KREGER WITH STEVEN FRI MOTH ON DECK.
UH, MY NAME IS SHAHAN KRIEGER AND I'M PROJECT DIRECTOR OF BAA BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING TENANT ACTION.
BAA WORKS WITH TENANTS TO THROUGHOUT AUSTIN TO FORM TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS AND SUPPORT TENANTS IN MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM 27, RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.
UM, MEMBERS OF TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS WITH WHOM WE WORK, WE'RE EXCITED TO COME TODAY TO SPEAK OR EVEN TO JUST SHOW UP AND SUPPORT THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO WOULD BE
[00:55:01]
SPEAKING.MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO CITY HALL, HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THESE CHAMBERS BEFORE, AND THIS WOULD BE THEIR VERY FIRST TIME.
UM, SOME FOLKS EVEN TOOK OFF WORK, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
THE, THE COMMUNITIES WITH WHOM BAA HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH, UM, MANY FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN OR BEEN ENGAGED WITH, UH, CITY AFFAIRS.
AND IT'S THROUGH THEIR WORK AND THEIR TENANT ASSOCIATIONS AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED THERE THAT IS BRINGING THEM INTO THESE CHAMBERS.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS ITEM WILL RETURN PROMPTLY SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MEANINGFULLY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH Y'ALL AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THIS ORDINANCE RIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE VERSION THAT IS IN BACKUP DOES NOT ACHIEVE THE GOALS ARTICULATED IN THE RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS PASSED IN FEBRUARY AS WE SHARED.
AND THE TENANTS WE WORK WITH SHARED AT THE NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDER SESSIONS, WHICH HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST MONTHS.
UH, LANDLORDS ROUTINELY CALL THE POLICE TO DISRUPT TENANT MEETINGS AND TO KICK TENANT ORGANIZERS WHO ARE INVITED GUESTS OF TENANTS OFF OF PROPERTIES.
THEY PREVENT TENANTS FROM ENGAGING IN ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES LIKE COLLECTING REPAIR REQUESTS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS UNDER THE CURRENT PROPERTY CODE.
RETALIATION PROTECTIONS DO NOT PROTECT TENANTS FROM LANDLORD INTERFERENCE OF THOSE KINDS AND ALSO DON'T PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM KICKING OUT THIRD PARTY ORGANIZERS.
UM, A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS, UH, THESE PROTECTIONS IS NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT.
UM, WE JUST WANNA QUICKLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA'S OFFICE WHO HAS BEEN MEANINGFULLY ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, UM, BOTH ON THE TENANT SIDE AND THE LANDLORD SIDE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS TO INCORPORATE FEEDBACK, UH, WHICH WOULD BOTH PROTECT TENANTS AND ADDRESS, UH, LANDLORD CONCERNS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BEING BACK THERE BACK HERE WHERE HOPEFULLY WE'LL TAKE SOME ACTION.
QUA BREWSTER
UH, GOOD MORNING MARION COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN BAMO AUSTIN ON ITEM 48, GAVA PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK GROUP LISTENING SESSIONS, MAKING CLEAR WE ARE OPPOSING THE PROPOSED WAIVER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND PUBLIC PROCESS OF NOTIFICATIONS AND HEARINGS OPPOSING THE PROPOSED DELETION OF APPROVED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THOSE, UH, PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED POINTS AND PROPOSING NOTIFICATIONS BE SENT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND WITH AN EXTRA PAGE IN THE TOP FIVE TO SEVEN LANGUAGES STATING HOW TO REQUEST A NOTIFICATION IN THEIR LANGUAGE AS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE WITH CITY CORRESPONDENCE.
ITEM 74, THERE IS GREAT CONCERN AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OFFSET SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, CURRENT OR PROPOSED ZONING, CALLING FOR A BALANCE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY AND DEVELOPER ENTITLEMENTS.
THE USE OF BROAD LANGUAGE DESCRIBING ALL DEVELOPMENT, SUGGESTING GIVING AWAY ALL PROTECTIONS FOR NEEDED COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR THE SAKE OF ENTITLEMENTS.
PARKLAND, GREEN SPACE, WATER QUALITY, ALL THINGS FOR PE, ALL THINGS PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND THESE REGS ARE ABOUT IF YOU REALLY WANNA TACKLE DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABILITY, THERE ARE STILL UNTOUCHED PLANS IN THE PEOPLE'S PLAN WITHOUT INTRODUCING DEREGULATION.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT INCREASING ZONING CAPACITY OR DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY THROUGH ZONING INCREASES ACTUAL HOUSING AND NO EVIDENCE THAT IT MAKES HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE DUE TO MARKET AND SPECULATION, WE KNOW IT CAN INCREASE COST.
COUNCIL IS STILL BASING POLICY RESOLUTIONS ON TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMIC THEORY WHERE PEOPLE MAKING THE MOST PROFIT, THAT IT WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO CONSUMERS WITH REDUCED PRICES.
IT DIDN'T WORK IN REAGANOMICS, IT JUST MADE WEALTHY PEOPLE WEALTHIER.
IT TARGETS THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
WE SHOULDN'T BE TAKING WHAT WE CAN GET BECAUSE THAT IS SETTLING FOR LESS.
PASS A RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES HIGH AND INCREASING COST OF MATERIALS, DISINVESTMENT AND LABOR, WE KNOW YOU'RE UNDER PRESSURE EVERYDAY.
GAVA GAVA COALITION LOSES PEOPLE DUE TO DISPLACEMENT AND HIGH COST OF LIVING.
RESIDENTS WE WORK WITH, EVEN OUR STAFF HAVE HAD TO MOVE DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING.
WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE HIGH COST.
WE'RE DESPERATE FOR SOLUTIONS, BUT THIS ISN'T IT.
STRIPPING PROTECTIONS AND DUE TO DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AUSTIN WILL BECOME THE PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH HIGH END AND UPPER INCOME.
[01:00:01]
WITH RICHARD BREER ON DECK.RICHARD BREER, ITEM 48 WITH RICHARD SUBTLE ON DECK.
MAYOR, PORT TIM, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, DISTRICT 10 AND I AM ALSO ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 48, CITY CODE TITLE UPDATES.
I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS WITH THE GUARD TO THE PROPOSED UPDATES.
FIRST OF ALL, THE UPDATED CODE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AUSTIN.
SECOND, THE CHANGES DO NOT REFLECT THE RAPID INCREASE THE NEED FOR EV CHARGING STATIONS IN THE CITY WITH THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES PROPOSED TO BECOMING ON LINE BY YEAR 2030.
ALSO, IN INCREASINGLY ARID CLIMATE, THE CITY IS STILL REQUIRING, IS NOT REQUIRING DEVELOPMENTS TO USE ZERO, ESCAPING AND ELIMINATE THE USE OF CITY WATER FOR LANDSCAPING.
WITH THE INCREASED SEVERITY OF STORMS AND FLOODING THE CITY OF FLOODING THE CITY CODE CHANGES DO NOT INCREASE THE SETBACK FROM NAMED CREEKS, STREAMS, LAKES, AND CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
THE CITY IN CODE UPDATES MAKE INCREASED USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCES REQUIRING PUBLIC INPUT, REMOVING PUBLIC INPUT FROM OVERSIGHT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SECTION 28 DASH 8 42 SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE UPDATES.
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF AUSTIN'S POWER SYSTEM, THE CODE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE LARGE DEVELOPERS TO MOUNT SOLAR PANELS ON STRUCTURES WITH EXPANSIVE FLAT ROOFTOPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION SERVICE TO THE CITY.
RICHARD, SUBTLE ITEM 48 WITH PAUL ROBBINS ON DECK.
PAUL ROBBINS, ITEM 49, COUNCIL TWO MINUTES IS INSUFFICIENT TO GIVE TESTIMONY ABOUT SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND EXPENSIVE ITEM.
FIRST, AUSTIN ENERGY IS HIDING INFORMATION AND IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT.
AS EXAMPLE BACKUP MATERIAL THAT ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THIS HUGE FUEL COST INCREASE WAS ONLY POSTED TWO DAYS AGO.
THE INFORMATION IS PROFOUNDLY LACKING IN DETAIL.
THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION WAS TOTALLY BYPASSED ON THIS ISSUE.
COUNCIL ITSELF WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT.
THIS IS ALL THE MORE GALLING BECAUSE THE UTILITY HAS KNOWN THIS WAS COMING FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.
SECOND, AGAIN, DEBT FROM THE BIOMASS PLANT IS EMBEDDED IN THE FUEL COST.
IF YOU RESTRUCTURE THE DEBT FROM 10 TO 15 YEARS, YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND 12 TO 24 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN THE FUEL COSTS.
THIRD, I URGE YOU TO PURSUE INCREASED CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES IN THE RIGHT CASE.
THIS CAN REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A RATE HIKE AND MIGHT PARTIALLY OFFSET THIS FUEL COST INCREASE.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS MIGHT DO TO HOUSING COSTS THEN CARVE OUT A WAIVER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT ELECTRIC RATES ALSO SEVERELY AFFECT AFFORDABILITY, AND ALL OPTIONS NEED TO BE ON THE TABLE.
FOURTH AND FINALLY, WHILE I MIGHT SYMPATHIZE WITH THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT ASKS FOR CONSERVATION INDUCING TIERS FOR FUEL COSTS, UH, THIS IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHERE THE UTILITY IS HEADED WITH ITS RATES.
AUSTIN ENERGY IS TR AUSTIN ENERGY IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE PROGRESSIVE RATE STRUCTURE THAT IT HAS HAD IN SOME FORM FOR 41 YEARS.
CYRUS RE ON ITEM 49 WITH MADISON NER ON DECK.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, CYRUS RE, I WORK WITH THE SIERRA CLUB HERE
[01:05:01]
ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB TODAY.UH, TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 49, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING COST OF ELECTRICITY AND THE DOUBLE WHAMMY OF A PROPOSED, UH, PSA INCREASE ON TOP OF THE BASE RATE CASE.
UM, TODAY YOU'RE CONSIDERING APPROVING NEW TARIFFS RELATED TO THE PSA REGULATORY CHARGE AND CBC.
UM, I CAN CONFIRM THAT COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
UH, GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP 280% IN TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE HIGHER CONGESTION PRICES.
ER HUNT SPENT MORE MONEY ON INSULATOR SERVICES IN JULY OF 2022 THAN THEY DID IN THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2020.
UH, SO YOU DON'T HAVE GREAT OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OPTIONS TODAY, UM, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS YOU COULD DO GOING FORWARD.
YOU COULD ADOPT A PSA, UH, FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
NOW, AS YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT, THAT'S ONE OPTION.
BUT ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT I, THAT I DO AGREE WITHIN THE MAYOR'S MEMO IS HAVING MONTHLY REPORTING.
AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO ALSO SEND ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO THE EUC, AND I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EUC, BUT THEY ALREADY DO A FINANCIAL UPDATE TO US EVERY THREE MONTHS.
SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE THREE CHARGES EVERY THREE MONTHS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.
UH, AND THE TWO OTHER THINGS I'LL SAY ARE RELATED, ONE TO THE, THE RATE CASE.
I THINK AS PAUL ALREADY MENTIONED, I THINK A TIERED STRUCTURE IN THE PSA IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS IN THE BASE RATES, MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTIAL RATE DESIGN ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO USE LESS ENERGY.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WOULD MENTION IS WE, WE, YOU ALREADY TOLD US WHEN YOU ADOPTED THE RESOURCE PLAN IN 2020, WE MAY NEED TO DO AN UPDATE.
AND THE REASON WE NEED TO DO THAT IS, UH, ONE, WE HAVEN'T CLOSED THE COAL PLANT.
TWO, THERE'S A BUNCH OF FEDERAL MONEY WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
AND THREE, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS LOCALLY.
UM, BECAUSE AS GREAT AS WIND AND SOLAR ARE, ARE IN WEST TEXAS AND SOUTH TEXAS, WE HAVE MAJOR CONGESTION PROBLEMS. SO WE NEED TO DO THINGS HERE LOCALLY TO REDUCE, UH, PEAK DEMAND AND OVERALL ENERGY USE AND, AND GET LOCAL RESOURCES THAT ARE CARBON FREE AND DISPATCHABLE IN OUR LOAD ZONE.
AND, UH, HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S MY TWO MINUTES WRAP.
SARAHS, I WANNA BE SURE I UNDERSTOOD YOUR LAST POINT, AND THAT IS, UM, WERE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE COUNCIL INITIATE AN UPDATE TO THE GENERATION PLAN? WHAT I'M SUGGESTED IS WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU PASS THE GENERATION PLAN IN 2020, AND IT'S A GREAT PLAN.
UM, YOU TOLD, UH, YOU TOLD AUSTIN ENERGY ON THE EUC, IF SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN, THERE'S A NEED TO, TO LOOK AT IT AND POTENTIALLY UPDATE IT, UH, YOU SHOULD DO SO.
AND I'M SUGGESTING I THINK THERE IS, ER, ERCOT HAVE CHANGED THEIR RULES DRASTICALLY.
GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP, UH, AND THERE'S FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD, EVEN IF IT'S IN A MORE LIMITED WAY, REOPEN THE PLAN IN 2023 AND, AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE COST TO CONSUMERS.
I'M GONNA GIVE THAT SOME CONSIDERATION.
I THINK I INITIATED THE LAST UPDATE AND SO I WILL, I WILL TAKE YOUR CONSIDERATION IN MIND.
MADISON GESNER ON ITEM 75 WITH SKIER MILLER ON DECK.
I'M WITH THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D REALLY LIKE TO THANK, UH, MAYOR ADLER'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOBY'S OFFICE FOR SEEKING OUR INPUT AND, UM, ON THIS RESOLUTION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE BEING BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
WE KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL.
THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, WE WANNA BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT RESTAURANTS CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
IT'S A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION THAT INVOLVES OUR PACKAGING SUPPLIERS, OUR DELIVERY, THIRD PARTY DELIVERY SYSTEMS, AND EVEN OUR END CONSUMER, THE CUSTOMER.
SO WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL EFFORT WITH THE CITY, OUR CONSUMERS, AND OUR PARTNERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ARE, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR COLLABORATION AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SKIER MILLER ON 75.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
I'VE OWNED AND OPERATED THE COUNTY LINE RESTAURANTS FOR OVER 47 YEARS, AND I ALSO OWN FLY RIGHT CHICKEN.
I'VE BEEN A SIX TURN PRESIDENT AT AUSTIN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND ALSO AM THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UH, CITY'S OVERALL GOAL ON THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, I WORK FOR FIVE YEARS ON THE, UH, U R PLAN FOR THE RECYCLING ORDINANCE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT WE REALLY HAD A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS AND, AND IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THAN WE THOUGHT, BUT
[01:10:01]
I THINK WE CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT RESULTS.AND I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AND HER STAFF FOR REACHING OUT TO US FOR, FOR INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM.
AND MARCEL ADO WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HE REACHED OUT TO US TOO, AND, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS VERY HELPFUL AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM ALSO.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING AT THE TABLE.
ALL OF US DO, ALONG WITH, UH, OUR THIRD PARTY VENDORS AND OUR SUPPLIERS.
WHILE WE HAD THAT SPEAKER, UH, COUNCIL TOVA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO BE PART OF YOUR QUORUM ON THIS ONE AND, AND ENABLING US TO, TO, TO PARTICIPATE, UH, IN IT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LIST.
ANYBODY ELSE? SIGN UP THAT, UH, THINK THEY'RE HERE.
MR. PAN, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN WHILE HE COMES TO THE PODIUM.
AND SHE IS ALSO REGISTERED TO SPEAK FOR A CHFC.
I SWEAR TO MY WIFE, I WAS NOT GONNA COME BACK OVER HERE.
AND HERE I AM BACK, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS LAWSON, CAMBODIA.
WE WENT FROM VIETNAM INTO LAOS IN CAMBODIA.
I WON'T SHOW YOU THE GORY ONES.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA SAY IS I'M THIS, UH, AN ITEM NUMBER 30 32 SUNRISE COMMUNITY.
ALL I WANT SAY IS THIS, IS THAT THEY HAVE HELPED A LOT OF MY MILITARY, UH, UH, VETERANS THAT ARE HOMELESS.
THEY, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN KEEPS ON CLEANING, UH, THE AREA THAT IS THE WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER, ET CETERA.
BUT THEY COME BACK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY AND HOW THEY CANNOT RE-ENTER SOCIETY AGAIN.
EVEN THE YOUNGER VETERANS, THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND I'M OVER HERE DAILY FREE OF CHARGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, ADLER, I HARDLY EVER USE THE WORD PLEASE TO YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE, Y'ALL NEED TO PASS THIS QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND A LOT OF VETERANS THAT ARE HOMELESS.
SO DON'T EVER TELL THE COMMUNITY, OH, THERE'S NO, NO MORE, UH, VETERANS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS OR HOMELESS.
I SERVED IN THE FIRST, THIRD AND FOURTH MARINE DIVISION.
I ALSO SERVED WITH A FIRST AND FIRST AND MORE MARINE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.
SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT COMBAT.
LA SAN CAMBODIA WAS VERY SPOOKY.
PLEASE TRY TO RESOLVE THIS, UH, NUMBER 32 SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME HELP FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY FOR VETERANS, BUT ARE OUT THERE.
THEY'RE OUT THERE AGAIN, THEY CLEAN IT UP, THEY'RE OUT THERE AGAIN.
SO I'LL GO OUT THERE AND I'LL TELL 'EM I SPOKE TO Y'ALL AND HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOMETHING DONE FOR THEM CUZ IT SURE AS HELL AIN'T HAPPENING.
AND, UH, PLEASE HELP THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND, UH, PASS, UH, AN ITEM NUMBER 32 IF IT'S APPROPRIATE.
I AM A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PRESIDENT OF COLEMAN AND ASSOCIATES.
I PRACTICED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'M ALSO IN MY EIGHTH YEAR AS A DESIGN COMMISSION MEMBER.
AND THEREFORE I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY PROJECTS OVER 80% OF IMPERVIOUS COVER ALLOWABLE.
SO WE LOOK AT THOSE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
I AM FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL GREEN AND I DAILY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THESE PRINCIPLES, AS DO MANY OF OUR PEERS CURRENTLY WITHOUT FUNCTIONAL GREEN.
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING THIS BECAUSE THE EXISTING CODE ALLOWS US TO DO SO.
FUNCTIONAL GREEN AS WRITTEN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FURTHER COMPLICATE IT HAS SOME INHERENT CONFLICTS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT DUPLICATES A LOT OF THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CODES, WHICH I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN I THINK A HEALTHY, UH, THING TO REQUEST FROM STAFF IS TO ACTUALLY CREATE SOME SUBMITTAL PLANS THAT WOULD PASS APPROVAL NOT ONLY BY THE LANDSCAPE REVIEWERS, BUT ALSO ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING AUSTIN ENERGY AND, UH, WATER,
[01:15:01]
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT GROUP.UM, THERE IS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OWN ADMISSION REDUNDANCY IN THE NEW CODE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT INTO, AGAIN, OUR EXISTING LANDSCAPE CODES.
AND A RECENT PUBLICATION OF FUNCTIONAL GREEN IS STATED.
THIS GIVES DEVELOPERS A PLANNING TOOL THAT IS FLEXIBLE AND PROVIDES ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS COMPARABLE TO THOSE ACHIEVED BY THE STANDARD LANDSCAPE CODE.
SO THEREFORE, THINGS LIKE RAIN GARDENS, THE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS REQUIRED CONDENSATE CAPTURE THAT IS NOW REQUIRED TODAY.
HEAT ISLAND MITIGATION, AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING LEAD REQUIREMENTS ON SOME PROJECTS COMPLIANCE WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, WHICH ARE BEING REWRITTEN TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF THESE PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL GREEN.
OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS, GREAT STREETS, HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE ARE ALL CODES FOR THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE OF PIECE OF PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT FUNCTIONAL GREEN WILL NOW BE ANOTHER LAYER OF COMPLIANCE.
THIS PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY VETTED, WHICH MY OTHER, UH, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE STATED.
SO IT'S TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE CLOSET BEFORE WE ADD ANOTHER TOOL.
SO PLEASE VO VOTE TO POSTPONE THIS AND ASK THAT STAFF UNDERGO A, AN ADDITIONAL COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO TRY TO, UH, GET RID OF SOME OF THESE REDUNDANCIES AND MAKE IT MORE SIMPLIFIED AND MAYBE EVEN AMEND SOME OUR EXISTING TOOLS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.
WE'VE GOT TO KNOW VIA JOSEPH HERE, SPEAKING ON THREE ITEMS. OKAY.
UH, 24 27 AND THEN THE A HFC ITEM THREE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.
MAYOR, MAY I ASK YOU A TECHNICAL QUESTION BEFORE YOU START MY TIME? GO AHEAD.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY ON A FUTURE AGENDA AND ALSO FOR NUMBER 27, CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHAT THE, OR 25 RATHER, CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS? WHY THE TAXPAYERS, I, THE BACKUP MATERIALS DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING? SO I WAS JUST ASKING WHY THE PUBLIC IS BEING ASKED TO FUND THE BUTLER SNOW ITEM.
IT INVOLVES A LAWSUIT THAT THE CITY IS A PARTY TO.
AND CAN YOU ANSWER MY FIRST QUESTION ABOUT THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY? I'M UNAWARE OF SOMEONE PUTTING THAT ON THE AGENDA YET.
NO, I'M ASKING IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT THAT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
TELL YOU WHAT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT OFF THE DI BUT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND WE'RE GONNA START YOUR CLOCK.
COUNCIL, I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO 24.
IS THAT POSTPONED? IF NOT, IT IS COUNCIL MEMBER TO SHAKE IS, IS NOT POSTPONED.
SO I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO YOU FUNDING THE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL AND JUST LET ME CONTEXTUALIZE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING THAT THE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT IF YOU FUNDED THE VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, AND I'LL JUST USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.
I'VE LOST MONEY, EARNEST MONEY ON A CONDO OFF OF 2222 BEFORE, AND I ALSO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE EVICTION APPEAL PROCESS.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT MY CASE WAS ACTUALLY NON-SUITED YESTERDAY.
SO MY ATTORNEY FROM BUTLER SNOW ACTUALLY CALLED ME ABOUT NOON, WHICH WAS TWO HOURS BEFORE A JUDGE WONG WAS TO HEAR MY CASE BY UH, UH, VIRTUALLY SO BY ZOOM.
AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT, UH, ONCE AN INDIVIDUAL IS ON APPEAL, THEY MAY HAVE ACCESS TO $6,000.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO USE THAT FUND, THE FUNDING FOR THE, I BELONG IN AUSTIN 10 STABILIZATION FUND.
YOU HAVE TO GET THAT FUNDING THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY LEGAL SERVICES OR A PARTNER THROUGH THE FISCAL AGENT.
IN MY CASE IT WAS EL BOYN SAMARI TUNNEL.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEED FOR THE FUNDING IS IN THE COURT.
I JUSTICE COURT BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS FACING THE EVICTION PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S RETALIATORY EVICTION, WHICH IS THE CASE THAT I HAVE, UM, SPECIFICALLY, THEY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO TWO MONTHS RENT IMMEDIATELY.
SO YOU HAVE TO PAY THE RENT INTO THE REGISTRY WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE JUSTICE COURT RULING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT AGAIN WHEN IT'S DUE ACCORDING TO THE LEASE.
AND SO I APPRECIATE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL, BUT THEY ARE LAY PEOPLE MAYOR AND THE MONEY NEEDS TO GO TO LAWYERS.
AND SO BUTLER SNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ETHAN.
GLENN, HE WAS AN AWESOME ATTORNEY.
[01:20:01]
WAS PRO BONO, AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE FUNDS, UH, NEED TO BE.AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR POSTPONING, UH, 27 AS WELL AND WHAT ASK YOU TO PUT THE RETALIATION LANGUAGE, UH, FROM PROPERTY CODE 92.331 INTO THE, UH, LOCAL ORDINANCE.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU OFF THE RECORD TOO.
YOU WANT ME TO STAY UP HERE FOR YOU? NO, I THINK, I THINK WE'RE SET NEXT SPEAKER FOR H OH, I'M SORRY FOR H OH, FOR HFC? YES.
UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, AND DO IT.
WE MAY JUST GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PAUSE FOR JUST A MOMENT AND RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 1137.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
UH, AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2022.WE'RE IN THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, CHAMBERS.
UM, THERE IS A, UH, QUORUM OF THE DIRECTORS PRESENT.
UH, LET'S CALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
MS. JOSEPH, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP AND SPEAK TO US.
HEY, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.
I SIGNED UP FOR ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE RYAN DRIVE PROJECT, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE BRIEF COMMENTS.
UH, IN GENERAL, I AM OPPOSED TO YOU REC, UH, TO THE DENSITY.
UH, SPECIFICALLY I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT NORTH OF US 180 3, YOU TEND TO PUT OVER A HUNDRED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS THERE, WHEREAS, UH, SOUTH OF US, 180 3, UH, THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 50.
AND SO I BELIEVE THE RYAN PROJECT IS A GOOD ONE.
UH, BUT I WOULD ASK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL TO RECOGNIZE SPECIFICALLY THAT, UH, ESP SPARROW RUTLAND, IF I CAN USE THAT AS A COMPARISON, HAS 171 UNITS AND 101 OF THOSE UNITS ARE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT'S ON ROUTE TWO 40, RUTLAND, WHICH WAS ELIMINATED.
SO WHERE YOU HAVE ROBUST TRANSIT, YOU HAVE FEWER, UH, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
AND SO THE RYAN PROJECT IS ONE THAT'S INDICATIVE OF THAT.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S DISCRIMINATORY.
IT VIOLATES TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN 1964.
AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT IT'S MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, AND IT'S TRUE THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME LOW INCOME RESIDENTS THERE, IT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF DENSITY THAT YOU HAVE NORTH OF US, 180 3.
AND SO I WOULD ASK DISTRICT FOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM AND TO LOOK ALSO, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE A HIGHLAND VILLAGE, AGAIN, THAT'S 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND SO, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR RYAN DRIVE, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT SOME LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE, BUT AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR, UH, DON'T AVERAGE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THEY AVERAGE ABOUT, UH, 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, LESS THAN $50,000.
AND THE HISPANICS ARE IN THAT CATEGORY TOO.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT YOU ARE CREATING CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND, UH, THAT IS WHY I'M OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
WHILE WE'RE IN THE HSE MEETING, CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA QUICKLY? YES, SIR.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.
I'M THE, UH, HOUSING AND HOUSING AND PLANNING, UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
UH, IN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, YOU HAVE FOUR ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST IS A, AN AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION AND BYLAWS FOR THE, UH, NONPROFIT CONTROLLING THE LABOR TODD DEVELOPMENT ON 900 GARDNER ROAD.
THE SECOND IS AN A, UH, THE CREATION OF THE A HFC RYAN DRIVE NONPROFIT CORPORATION, UH, TO CONTROL THE PROPERTY AT, UH, 69 9 RYAN DRIVE.
UH, AND THE FINAL TWO ITEMS ARE TO SET PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS.
UH, ONE FOR THE ARBS AT CREEKSIDE DEVELOPMENT AND THE SECOND FOR THE LIVE MAKE HOUSING PARTNERS DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT THESE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS BE SET FOR, UH, OCTOBER, I'M SORRY, YES.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, A QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE LIAD PROPERTY CAN INCREASE BY 61 UNITS.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHY THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT? THE, UH, UM, IS A SHIFT IN, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE CAN GET, UH, SOME MORE SPECIFIC, UH, DETAILS FOR YOU, UH, SHORTLY.
UM, HOWEVER, IT'S, UH, UH, AS THE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPED OUT AND WE WERE ABLE TO REQUIRE TO ACQUIRE MORE PROPERTY NEARBY, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD MORE UNITS.
SO IT WAS A QUESTION OF HA ADD A MORE PROPERTY.
[01:25:01]
IT WAS A, IT WAS AN ACQUISITION.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? UM, COUNCIL POOL MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EZ SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON CONSENT AGENDA? LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
YEAH, THAT'S, I WOULD RAISE MY HAND.
YEAH, THOSE OPPOSED, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.
AND I HAVE THE REST OF THE DIAS VOTING.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDAS PASSED.
WITH THAT, THAT TAKES CARE OF ALL OUR BUSINESS.
THE, UH, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING IS ADJOURNED, UH, HERE AT, UH, 1142.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 1142.
UH, WE ARE NOW BACK TODAY IS, UH, STILL OCTOBER 13TH, 2022.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA AFTER WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD TAKE, SEE IF WE COULD TAKE CARE OF BEFORE LUNCH.
THAT MIGHT HELP US FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
THE FIRST IS TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GONNA POSTPONE 48 OR NOT, SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO WORK ON OVER LUNCH.
AND THE SECOND, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE THE AUSTIN ENERGY MATTER OR IF THAT'S GONNA TAKE US MORE TIME, BUT IF WE COULD DO THAT, THEN WE COULD LET A LOT OF PEOPLE GO.
BUT LET'S BEGIN WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT'S ITEMS ONE THROUGH 44 AND ITEMS 71 THROUGH 79.
I'M SHOWING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BEING PULLED.
DO YOU NEED TO PULL 32 AND 33? YEAH, I DO.
UH, AGAIN, THOSE ITEMS ARE 32, 33, 39, AND 74.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ MAKES THE MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS I DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER OF EVAN.
WE DO HAVE A, A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, ONE OF THEM, THE TENANTS RIGHT TO ORGANIZE HAS BEEN POSTPONED, UM, I BELIEVE FOR A PRESENTATION ON THE 27TH.
AND FOR COUNCIL, HAVE A CONSIDERATION ON WHEN IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE TIME TO CONSIDER THAT.
UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PASS STRONG TENANT PROTECTIONS IN THAT WE DO MORE FOR RENTERS AT AUSTIN.
WE KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITE ARE RENTERS.
AND GIVEN THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN, IS INCUMBENT ON US, UH, TO TAKE ACTION.
SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE AS PART OF THIS CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE HAVE, UM, MUCH NEEDED IN CRITICAL FUNDING FOR THE TENANT'S RIGHTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL GO A LONG WAY IN EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT RIGHTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO RENTERS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING MEDIATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT, UH, FOR, FOR TENANTS.
AND OF COURSE, UH, WITH THE TENANTS RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE, IT'S, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT IS POSTPONED.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS, UH, TAKING PLACE.
THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE ORDINANCE COMES BACK, UM, IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE WITH.
AND, UM, AND, UM, AND SO FOR THAT, I, I, OF COURSE, SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT, UM, BUT KNOW THAT THAT TENANT'S RIGHT TO ORGANIZE WILL GO, ALSO GO A LONG WAY IN PROVIDING, UH, MUCH NEEDED PROTECTIONS AGAINST LANDLORD RETALIATION.
SO, WITH THE, WITH THAT, JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS.
UM, AND, AND THANK COUNCIL VELA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTING OUR RENTERS AND, AND FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR, FOR OF THEIR SUPPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, UH, UH, DIRECTOR MCNE, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON ITEM 12.
UH, DIRECTOR MELIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, YESTERDAY ALSO FOR MEETING, UH, WITH MY OFFICE AND, UH, SOME OF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS JUST FOR EVERYONE'S, ITEM 12 IS A CONSTRUCTION OF TWO PARKS, ONE AT THE HIGHLAND AND ONE IN THE BROWNIE.
AND, UM, THE ONE CONCERN THAT WAS OUTSTANDING WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHLAND, UH, PARK IS KIND OF THE ONLY PARK THERE FOR THE HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ST.
JOHN'S WEST OF I 35, UH, AREA.
AND, UH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO AT LEAST THE ALREADY BUILT A PLAYGROUND THAT IS IN PLACE THERE DURING CONSTRUCTION.
UH, WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBLE SIR? KIMBERLY MCNELEY SERVING AS A DIRECTOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, THE DEPARTMENT CAN WORK WITH THE, UH, WITH THE, UH, ENTITY THAT WILL BE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO ALLOW FOR MAXIMUM, UH, ACCESS TO THAT SPACE.
I JUST, I WANNA BE A HUNDRED PERCENT, UM, TRANSPARENT AND SAY I CAN'T, I CAN'T GUARANTEE AT ALL TIMES, BUT TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL POSSIBLE, THERE'S
[01:30:01]
A, THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR US TO WORK THAT OUT.AND I KNOW THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN, YOU KNOW, AN RFP AND IT WAS A LOW BID, UH, UH, PROCESS.
SO I KNOW WE CAN'T CHANGE THE, THE, THE, THE KIND OF TERMS OF THE CONTRACT AT THIS POINT, BUT IF, IF YOU COULD JUST TALK TO THEM IF A CHANGE ORDER IS POSSIBLE THAT WON'T, UH, UNNECESSARILY OR, OR, YOU KNOW, EXCESSIVELY DELAY THE PROJECT AND IT'S NOT GONNA COST A LOT OF MONEY, WE CAN MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THAT PLAYGROUND JUST SO THAT THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO AND, AND, AND RECREATE, UH, UH, THAT I WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
AND AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WORK.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARK.
NOTHING FURTHER, GUYS ARE PULL ON ITEMS. 71.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT, UH, ON CONSENT WE ARE APPROVING OPTION ONE, THE BRAS BANKRUPTCY.
I'M SORRY, WHICH, WHICH ITEM NUMBER? I'M SORRY.
UM, APPROVING, PROVING WHICH ONE? OPTION ONE.
IS TAKING THE MONEY NOW DISCUSSING EXECUTIVE AS DISCUSSION? YES.
THANK FORWARD WITH THAT DIRECTION.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR ITEM 26, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT TO THE ATP BOARD.
UH, WE ARE REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, AS LAID OUT IN THE ATP BYLAWS, THE RE REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE ATP CONSISTS OF MYSELF AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AS CHAIR OF THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, AND THE CHAIRS OF THE CORRESPONDING COMMITTEES FOR CAP METRO, WHICH CURRENTLY INCLUDE WADE COOPER AND ERIC STRATTON.
UM, THE REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING AND INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES.
WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A STRONG POOL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE CONCERNABLE TIME TO THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT CONNECT AND TO ATP.
AS WE NARROWED DOWN THE OPTIONS, UM, WE WANTED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS APPOINTMENT, AND WE ARE HOPING TO ANNOUNCE OUR NOMINEE SOMETIME LATE NEXT WEEK IN TIME FOR THE NEXT CAP METRO AND COUNCIL MEETINGS.
UM, SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT TO YOU NEXT WEEK.
AND I KNOW SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ON THE CAP METRO AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT IN TIME, UM, TO HAVE SOME TIME TO REVIEW THAT BEFORE CAP METRO.
AND THEN I JUST WANNA, UM, THROW OUT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS AT WORK SESSION OR MAYBE, UM, MARY, YOU AND I CAN TALK ABOUT.
UM, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE MAY NEED TO HAVE AN INTERIM MEMBER OF ATP FOR, UM, JANUARY AT LEAST, IF NOT, UM, DECEMBER AND JANUARY, DEPENDING ON THE MEETING TIMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE A LAPSE OF HAVING SOMEBODY ON THE BOARD BEFORE THE NEW COUNCIL APPOINTS.
UM, WHO'S GOING TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE? UM, ASSUMING YOU DON'T WANNA SHOW UP IN JANUARY,
UH, YES, I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT FOR THE FIRST, UM, APPOINTMENTS TO ATP AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTED, UH, WELL QUALIFIED, UM, APPLICANTS.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THE WORK OF THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I ALSO WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT, UM, I THINK THIS TIMEFRAME WORKS.
THE ATP OCTOBER BOARD WAS, UH, YEAH, ATP OCTOBER BOARD MEETING WAS, UM, UH, WAS CANCELED.
AND SO THE NEW APPOINTEE WILL NOT BE MISSING ANY ATP BOARD MEETING, UH, OR ANY, THE ADDITIONAL ATP BOARD MEETINGS BY TAKING THIS TIME.
AND I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES ON AND THE CAP METRO BOARD VOTES ON WHOEVER THAT APPOINTEE IS, UM, SOON.
SO I THINK THIS TIMEFRAME WORKS AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, THE REVIEW COMMITTEE WORKING WITH THAT TIMEFRAME.
UH, WITH REGARD TO, UM, WELL, WE CAN TALK OFFLINE.
I HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO BE PROPOSING, UH, TO THE ATP BYLAWS.
ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED AND THAT INVOLVES A, UM, ALLOWING FOR AN ALTERNATE, UH, ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CAP METRO TO EACH, UH, APPOINT AN ALTERNATE FOR THEIR APPOINTEE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT ADDRESS THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING MAY PRO TIM, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT FURTHER.
AND, AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROPOSAL THAT THE CAP METRO BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON MAKING THOSE CHANGES TO THE ATP, UM, BYLAWS, AND IT JUST HASN'T MADE ITS WAY TO US YET.
SO WE CAN BE TALK, WE CAN CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO WE SHOULD ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION, UM, UM,
[01:35:01]
CAMPO, UH, TO SEE IF WE SHOULD, UH, MOVE AHEAD ON HERE, SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, UH, MAKING, SEEING IF THE BODY WANTS TO, TO HAVE, UM, COUNCILMAN FUENTES MOVED THERE.AND THE QUESTION IS, I BELIEVE I WAS ADDED IN THE LAST COUNCIL.
SO WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THAT ALREADY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? YES, AND WE WERE GLAD TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ AT THE LAST MEETING GETTING, GETTING HER, UH, ADJUSTMENT MADE TO BEING ON THE CAMPO BOARD.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE, UH, AN ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 75, THE SINGLE USE PLASTICS ITEM, IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE, THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS.
UM, THIS IS PROBABLY A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN ONGOING, UM, BUT DEFINITELY SINCE THE CLEAN CREEK'S REPORT CAME OUT THAT, UM, WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESOURCE RECOVERY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN CREEKS, UM, AFTER STORMS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CONTINUING TO BE A LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE CO-SPONSORSHIP FOR THE HUNTER 5K FEE WAIVER.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, KELLY KITCHEN FUENTES AND MAYOR ADLER ARE ALSO CO-SPONSORS ON THIS, BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL 5K THAT HAPPENS AROUND HALLOWEEN IN MY DISTRICT WHERE EVERYBODY RUNS IN COSTUME.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THAT, UM, THAT 5K IS HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR.
SO THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF OUTSTANDING FEE WAIVERS, SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE MORE MONEY, I THINK THERE'S ACTUALLY STILL A FEW, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO I KNOW WE PROBABLY WON'T REACH THAT WHOLE AMOUNT, BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY ADDITIONAL FEW WAIVER DOLLARS THEY'D LIKE TO ADD, WE'D CERTAINLY BE OPEN ACCEPTING OF THOSE.
GUNS ARE POOL TO THE EXTENT I HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT IN MY, UH, WAIVERS ACCOUNT.
OH, WE HAVE OUR NEW WAIVERS ACCOUNT NOW.
I HAVE MONEY IN MY WAIVERS ACCOUNT.
LOOK AT THAT
I'LL ASK MY STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK, SEE AT HOW MUCH YOU NEED AND, UH, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND SEE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE MIGHT BE ADDING TO IT.
AND THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 38 FOR ANYONE INTERESTED.
UH, KEN TOBO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER LS, I'M THE LEAD SPONSOR ON THAT, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ADDED TO THE SINGLE USE PLASTIC ITEM.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS AN ITEM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR SPEAKERS FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND, UH, LUKE METSKER OF ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, WHO WROTE A REALLY POWERFUL EDITORIAL RECENTLY ABOUT SINGLE USE PLASTICS IN THE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND, AND WHY WE NEED TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO RE TO REDUCE THE USE OF THEM.
AND SO THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WILLINGNESS AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT COLLABORATING.
THIS REALLY HIT ME A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS, UM, IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING OUT SOME CABINETS AND REALIZED I HAD JUST SEVERAL BAGS OF PLASTIC UTENSILS THAT HAD ACCUMULATED DURING, DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, FROM TAKEOUT AND OTHER KINDS OF, OF MEALS.
MY DAUGHTERS AND I PROBABLY LIKE WAY TOO MANY MEALS ON THE RUN.
AND, AND THAT SHOWS IN OUR, OUR, UH, TOO MUCH USE OF PLASTIC, WHICH WE WASH AND THEN REUSE AGAIN, AND WE HAVE IT IN THE CAR AND WHATNOT.
BUT STILL AN ALL, UM, I HAD ACCUMULATED A LOT AND, AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO CREATIVE REUSE, BUT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF THE DEFAULT HERE IN AUSTIN WAS THAT RESTAURANTS AND TAKE OUT DELIVERY SERVICES DIDN'T PROVIDE YOU WITH SINGLE USE PLASTICS? BECAUSE SO MANY OF US PICK UP FOOD AND TAKE IT HOME WHERE WE HAVE REGULAR UTENSILS OR WE, YOU KNOW, DRIVE AROUND AS I DO WITH, WITH SOME OF THAT IN THE CAR TO BE, TO BE USING AGAIN.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS APPROACH THAT, THAT SEVERAL OF US TALKED ABOUT AND WORKED OUT OF, NOT NOT HAVING IT BE AN ORDINANCE AT THIS POINT, BUT JUST WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH, WITH OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO REALLY GET THE MESSAGE OUT AND TO SEE IF THOSE THIRD PARTY PLATFORMS CAN MAKE THE DEFAULT NO UTENSILS.
UM, AGAIN, UH, I REALLY ALSO APPRECIATE OUR CREATIVE REUSE HERE IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS A GREAT REPOSITORY AND THRIFT STORE, MORE OR LESS OF, OF LOTS OF USED CRAFT ITEMS AND PLASTICS AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE THAT YOU CAN'T RECYCLE THROUGH OUR RECYCLING, YOU CAN BRING TO CREATIVE VIEWS AND THEY'LL FIND SOMEBODY WHO CAN USE IT AND, UM, SELL IT TO THEM.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER S MENTIONED THE TRAFFIC AND CREEKS, TRASH AND CREEKS REPORT.
DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE HAD FINISHED THIS, UH, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, OUR WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THE TRASH AND CREEKS REPORT.
AND THAT WAS SUPER, SUPER VALUABLE.
AND AS PART OF THAT, WE ADDED IN A REVISION TO INCLUDE, UH, THE WATER BOTTLE SITUATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
ONE OF THE REALLY STARTLING FACTORS THAT STARTLING PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT THAT REPORT SHOWED US IS THAT, UH, THE AVERAGE VISITOR CONSUMES, USES AN ESTIMATED 30 PLASTIC BOTTLES PER PERSON FOR A TWO WEEK TRIP.
I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE REALLY NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING OUT OF AUSTIN TO BRING A REUSABLE BOTTLE WITH YOU.
AND THIS MEASURE, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ALSO DIRECT THE MANAGER TO LOOK AT MEASURES THAT WE MIGHT IMPLEMENT HERE IN AUSTIN TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT PLASTIC HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[01:40:01]
AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S GIVING VISITORS TO AUSTIN AT THE AIRPORT, A REUSABLE BOTTLE THAT THEY CAN USE AND TAKE WITH THEM AS A SOUVENIR OF AUSTIN, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT JUST GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO A COST SAVINGS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE SPEND AS A MUNICIPALITY TO CLEAN OUR CREEKS AND OUR OTHER WATERWAYS ONCE THEY HAVE THAT PLASTIC IN IT.SO AGAIN, UM, THANKS, THANKS TO MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, EDITS THAT YOUR STAFF PROVIDED YESTERDAY AS PART OF BEING A CO-SPONSOR.
I THINK IT'S, UM, A SOLID PLAN.
I LOOK FORWARD MANAGER TO SEEING, SEEING THE PRODUCT OF YOUR WORK.
OKAY, THE CONSENT AGENDA AS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 44, 71 THROUGH 79, AGAIN, THE POLL ITEMS ARE ITEMS 32, 33, 39, AND 74.
IF I COULD JUST BE RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE.
UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOBY'S POINT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AND IN THE AUSTIN AIRPORT, THE WATER REFILL MACHINES ARE GREAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A RE USABLE CONTAINER.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS A CO-SPONSOR ON YOUR FEE WAIVER.
IF MY OFFICE CAN CONTRIBUTE MORE, IF YOUR OFFICE WOULD REACH OUT TO MINE, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
AND THEN FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU COULD PLEASE SHOW ME AS VOTING NO ON ITEM 22.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, DID YOU WANNA ADD ADDITIONAL FEE WAIVER AT THIS MOMENT? YES, PLEASE ADD $250.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, WE'LL CIRCLE UP WITH YOUR OFFICE AND IF WE NEED TO RECONSIDER LATER, WE'LL BRING THE ITEM BACK SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FEES INCLUDED.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR LOOKING INTO IT.
YEAH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD JUST SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ADDED TWO 50, YOU CAN ADD TWO 50 TO WHATEVER AMOUNT MY OFFICE ALREADY ADDED.
I THINK YOU WERE ALREADY AT TWO 50, SO WE'LL MAKE YOU 500 NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP.
SO ON THE CONSENT, UH, IS THERE, UH, THOSE A FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, THOSE OPPOSED, SO I'M SHOWING IT UNANIMOUS ON THE DAAS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS NOT PRESENT.
SO IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH THE NOTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, READ INTO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, THAT GETS US TO 1159.
SO I WAS SPEAKING AMBITIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO HERE, BUT LET'S DO TAKE A LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 48, UM, WHICH IS THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE CUZ IF IT, LET'S DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, UH, FOR, UH, UH, I GUESS FOR A COUPLE WEEKS TO LET PEOPLE GET A BETTER FEEL FOR IT, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHETHER THEY NEED TO BE WORKING ON THIS OVER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY MAKES THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA SECONDS THAT MOTION DISCUSSION ON THE POSTPONE THE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I HAVE A, A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
UM, I AM, UM, WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT STAFF'S, UM, THINKING IS WITH REGARD TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
I'M ALSO WANTING TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE, UM, IF THERE ARE PARTS OF THE ITEM, UH, THAT ARE, UH, THE STAFF WOULD CONSIDER APPROPRIATE FOR POSTPONEMENT WHILE NOT POSTPONING OTHER PARTS.
AND I'M, UH, I'M REACTING TO IN PART THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND WHY, WHY? GOOD MORNING MAYOR.
KATIE COIN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, WE DID JUST ISSUE A MEMO JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WAS VERY CLEAR.
THIS IS A, A LARGE ORDINANCE PACKAGE, UH, AND THERE IS A LOT OF EXCITING CONTENT THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE VERY IMPACTFUL.
PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT CAME THROUGH ON TUESDAY.
THAT WAS OUR FOURTH, UH, TIME BEING POSTED FOR, FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, SO WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH THEM AND ARE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE.
SO I'LL OUTLINE WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT.
THE FIRST WAS, UM, THE ITEM PERTAINING TO NOT DISINCENTIVIZING MISSING MIDDLE DEVELOPMENT UP TO 11 UNITS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF COORDINATION TO GET RIGHT WITH HOUSING AND PLANNING, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.
AND SO PUSHING THAT TO PHASE TWO, WHERE YOU'VE ALREADY ASKED US IN PHASE TWO TO BRING BACK GREENFIELD DETENTION AND STEEP SLOPES, PROTECTIONS WITH MITIGATING ENTITLEMENTS, THAT MAKES SENSE FOR, FOR US TO PUSH.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THAT RIGHT.
ANOTHER ITEM, UH, THAT PLANNING COMMISSION ASKED US TO PUSH IS FUNCTIONAL GREEN.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
[01:45:01]
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, HONESTLY, OF ANYTHING IN HERE I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT BEING SOMETHING FOR US TO BE PROUD OF AT THE CITY THAT IS REALLY GENUINELY INNOVATIVE.IT ISN'T JUST BRINGING US UP TO BEST PRACTICE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE A LEADER IN THAT THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE DONE WORK THAT IS SIMILAR TO FUNCTIONAL GREEN.
AGAIN, THOUGH, PART OF MY JOB THAT I'M RECOGNIZING NOW 10 MONTHS IN INTO THIS, IS BALANCING THE URGENCY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION WITH MAKING SURE WE'RE BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN WELL VETTED, BUT THAT WE COULD REVISIT.
UH, AND SO PLANNING COMMISSION GAVE US TANGIBLE ITEMS THAT THEY WANTED US TO WORK THROUGH.
I BELIEVE WE CAN BRING THIS FORWARD POTENTIALLY SOONER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS IN PHASE TWO, BUT WE ARE ALSO IN, IN SUPPORT, UH, IF Y'ALL SEE FIT TO, TO POSTPONE THAT AS WELL.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM THAT THEY ASKED US, UH, TO POSTPONE INCLUDES, UH, THE ITEM RELATED TO DELAYING, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RELATED TO MAJOR REHABILITATION OF UTILITY LINES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT INTERNALLY WE'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK, UH, WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING AUSTIN WATER ON ARE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
THAT SAID, UM, WHAT WAS THAT LAST ONE? I'M SORRY.
THAT WAS, UH, THE ITEM RELATED TO, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RELATED TO MAJOR REHABILITATION OF UTILITY LINES.
SO, SO THOSE ARE THE THREE WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF POSTPONING.
UH, THE PACKAGE STILL INCLUDES A LOT OF VERY IMPACTFUL ITEMS, INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT IN MOST SCENARIOS, GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT IS MANDATED AS, UH, WHAT TOOL NEEDS TO BE USED FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROLS.
UH, AS NEW SITES DEVELOP, THIS IS BEST PRACTICE.
I'M COMING, COMING TO Y'ALL FROM PRIVATE SECTOR.
UM, PRIVATE SECTOR DESIGN AND PLANNING.
GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR, FOR WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE, FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROLS IS BEST PRACTICE.
WE'VE SEEN A SHIFT, EVEN JUST THE MARKET HAS DRIVEN A SHIFT IN, UH, THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITHIN OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
AND THOSE TYPES OF CONTROLS HAVE BEGUN TO OUTPACE, UM, CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS IN, IN THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
UM, SO HAPPY TO TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER ITEMS. ONE MORE ITEM, UH, THAT IS VERY IMPACTFUL IS DOWNSTREAM OF LONGHORN DAM.
UH, THE ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR, UM, UH, ALL OF THE PROPERTIES, UH, ADJACENT TO THE COLORADO RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF LONGHORN DAM WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REQUESTED BY EAST SIDE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO BE ADDED TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S RESOLUTION INITIALLY.
UM, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING WITH THAT WE SEE AS VERY IMPACTFUL FOR PROTECTING RESIDENTS, UH, AND, AND, UH, LANDOWNERS ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, FROM VERY EROSIVE SOILS THAT ARE HARD TO PREDICT.
UH, AND WE'VE PROVIDED SOME RESPONSES AND BACKUP ON THAT ITEM.
UM, BOTH OF THOSE ARE STILL INCLUDED AS WELL AS A SUITE OF OTHER ITEMS, INCLUDING THE WAY WE SEE PARKING LOTS DRAIN.
UH, MAYOR, COULD I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM, I AM VERY INTERESTED IN PROCEEDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS. I CAN SEE POSTPONING SOME OF THEM, BUT I CANNOT SEE POSTPONING ALL OF THEM.
AND SO I WON'T BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
I AM INTERESTED THOUGH, IN, OR I HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT ITEM RELATED TO THE, UH, DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM.
AND, UM, SO I'M WILLING TO POSTPONE THAT AS LONG AS WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT POSTPONING IT FOR TWO WEEKS.
THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD ARE CONCERNS, I THINK IT'S TWO WEEKS WHENEVER OUR NEXT NEXT MEETING IS.
THE CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD RELATE TO, UM, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, DESIRE FOR, FOR CONVERSATION WITH SOME STAKEHOLDERS.
SO, UM, SO, SO MAYOR THAT WHERE I STAND IS I, I CANNOT SUPPORT, UH, POSTPONING THE ENTIRE ITEM.
I AM, UM, I'M OPEN TO POSTPONING THE IT THAT THE STAFF HAS AGREED TO.
AND ALSO I WOULD ADD TO THAT THE DOWNSTREAM, UH, DAMN ITEM.
BUT AGAIN, ONLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSTPONING TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AT SOME POINT.
FIRST, COUNCILWOMAN KELLY, THIS WAS YOUR MOTION TO POSTPONE.
DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT? I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO YOU FIRST.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, RAISING THAT POINT.
I STILL FEEL THAT THERE'S A LOT TO BE DISCUSSED WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
AND AGAIN, WE GOT A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THAT JUST THIS MORNING FROM STAFF THAT I'VE YET TO BE ABLE TO FULLY REVIEW.
AND SO I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE POSTPONING ANYTHING BUT ALL OF IT UNTIL I HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT INFORMATION COMPLETELY.
AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD APPRECIATE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO ALSO REVIEW IT, GIVEN THE TIMELINE OF WHEN WE RECEIVE THOSE ITEMS.
[01:50:01]
I JUST WANNA SAY I, THE CHANGES ARE VERY EXCITING.UH, I, THE, THE GREEN WATER STORM INFRASTRUCTURE IS, UH, COULD DO A LOT, UH, NOT JUST FOR TO CONTROL FLOODING, BUT JUST TO MAKE OUR OVERALL ENVIRONMENT, UH, UH, A MORE PLEASANT BATTER PLACE.
UH, SAME THING WITH A FUNCTIONAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
AGAIN, VERY EXCITING STUFF THAT NOT JUST WILL HELP CONTROL FLOODING, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY HELP, YOU KNOW, INSECTS, YOU KNOW, ARE KIND OF THE BASE KIND OF CORE, UH, UH, ENVIRONMENT.
UH, THAT SET MY CONCERN CONTINUES TO BE THE COST.
UH, THERE WERE THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF POINTS WHERE, UH, STAFF IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS ENOUGH TO, UH, UH, TO, UH, QUANTIFY SOME OF THIS COSTS.
AGAIN, I, I'M LOOKING AT, UH, PAGE TWO, UH, UH, ITEM THREE, UH, YOU KNOW, DUE TO TIME AND DATA CONSTRAINT, STAFF HAS NOT QUANTIFIED THESE COSTS.
IN ADDITION, I'M, I'M CONCERNED WITH MOVING THESE FORWARD.
AGAIN, WE ALL CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING THESE CHANGES.
THOSE COSTS CAN BE BALANCED WITH, UH, ENTITLEMENT CHANGES WITH, YOU KNOW, CHANGES TO, YOU KNOW, ZONING OR HEIGHT OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
I WANNA GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE NEUTRAL, WHERE THIS ITEM WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT AT ZERO COST TO AFFORDABILITY, UM, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
THIS DRAFT IS NOT THERE YET AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE PART AND THEN LEAVE THE OTHER PART FOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, SOME OF THE, THE ESTIMATES, UH, AGAIN FROM THE AFFORDABILITY REPORT, THE COST PER ACRE FOR THE, BOTH THE, THE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN IS BETWEEN 89,200 38,000 PER ACRE OF DEVELOPMENT.
THE BIG DEVELOPMENTS, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED UNIT, 200 UNITS, THEY CAN PRICE THAT IN AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE AS BIG OF AN IMPACT.
BUT THE MISSING MIDDLE IN PARTICULAR, I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S AT 10 UNITS, UH, PER ACRE ON A, ON A, A SMALLER, LIKE A MF ONE DENSITY WAS UP TO, UH, 17 UNITS PER ACRE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY 3000, 4,000, $5,000 PER UNIT AFFORDABILITY IMPACT GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH HOUSING AND WITH INCREASED HOUSING COSTS IN AUSTIN.
I, I CANNOT, UH, SUPPORT THAT UNLESS WE BALANCE OUT THOSE AFFORDABILITY FACTORS AND, AND WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT YET.
SO HOW
UH, THERE'S SOME REALLY SMALL LOTS AND THERE'S SOME WONDER THAT ARE WIDER.
AND I'M, I'M BEEN LOOKING AT THE MAP AND REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW FAR IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF C A CHILD HAS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF MY BIG QUESTIONS.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, HAVE THEY BEEN, HAVE THEY THE, UH, THE BUSINESS AND THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS, HAVE THEY BEEN CONTACTED WITH IT AND WHAT'S THEIR OPINION? AND I HAVEN'T HEARD, THE ONLY THING IS THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD IS THAT THEY DON'T NOT, THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING HERE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET THEIR INPUT ON THIS ITEM.
SO IT IS MY DISTRICT AND I I, I'VE KNOWN THAT THAT AREA, I, I, MY FUTURE VISION IS TO HAVE A TRAIL ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY FROM ONE TOPLESS.
SO I REALLY WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS IS REALLY GONNA AFFECT ALL THESE PRO PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A HOTEL GOING THERE, WE GOT A HUGE APARTMENT COMPLEX CUZ UH, SOME OF THAT IS A HIGHER OPPORTUNITY AREA.
SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT THAT AREA CUZ UH, WE'RE ARE GETTING SOME AFFORDABLE UNITS AND OUT OF THAT, THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT THE, UH, OLD BOARD AND MILK, UH, FACTORY THAT'S THERE.
SO I, I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PACKAGE.
COUNCIL ALICE, THANK YOU MAYOR.
I, I TOO LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HERE.
UM, OUT OF RESPECT FOR MY COLLEAGUES, UH, DESIRE TO HAVE A POSTPONEMENT TO UNDERSTAND THIS, I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND WILL SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT FOR TODAY.
I ALSO WILL SAY I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN THIS APP.
I KNOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TOOK SOME TIME WITH MAKING SURE THEY HAD A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT ON THEIR END AND I KNOW PLANNING COMMISSION JUST TOOK IT UP RECENTLY AND, YOU KNOW, DID A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THEIR ADVICE AS WELL.
BUT I KNOW CITY STAFF AND OUR OWN OFFICE
[01:55:01]
STAFFS WITHIN CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, UM, A LOT, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS.UM, SO I, I WILL SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT TODAY.
I WANTED TO FLAG THAT THIS CONVERSATION AROUND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, UM, SINCE WE HAD OUR WORK SESSION ABOUT HOUSING STOCK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M PLANNING ON BRINGING AN IFFC LATER THIS YEAR TO INITIATE THAT PROCESS SO WE CAN HOLISTICALLY LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
UM, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN DISINCENTIVIZED OR, UM, MADE OUTRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE WITH, WITH THE CODE THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE FUNCTIONING UNDER.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT AND LET FOLKS KNOW ON, ON THE DIAS IF THEY WANTED TO BE INVOLVED, INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT LATER THIS YEAR ABOUT, UH, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND, AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE EASIER TO ACHIEVE.
I HAD HOPED THAT WE COULD KIND OF SPLIT THE BABY WHERE WE COULD APPROVE THE ITEMS THAT THERE IS AGREEMENT ON AND THEN SEPARATE OUT, I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEM IN A PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO KIND OF A, UH, AN OFFERING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE CLOCK KIND OF RAN OUT ON US BEING ABLE TO SEPARATE THEM OUT IN TIME FOR THIS MEETING HERE.
SO I, I WILL RELUCTANTLY, UM, AGREE WITH POSTPONE AND I, AGAIN, I REALLY WISH WE COULD PASS TODAY THE THINGS THAT THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT ON.
UM, IS THERE A SENSE ON THE DIAS THAT WE COULD GET THOSE PULLED OUT AND, AND OKAY, SO IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GETTING SOME AFFIRMATIVE ENTHUSIASTIC NODS OVER THERE ON THE OTHER END OF THE DIAS.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, IS IT IS A PERENNIAL DEBATE ON THE DIAS ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS AND THE COST OF BUILDING HOUSING AND THAT THAT DEBATE'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE MORE DAMAGE WE DO TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HARDER IT IS TO CLEAN IT UP, THE WORSE THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE DOWNSTREAM AND, AND, AND DOWN THE ROAD.
SO I AM FIRMLY ON THE SIDE OF SUPPORTING THE CHANGES AND THE AMENDMENTS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE GROUNDBREAKING IDEAS THAT ARE COMING FROM OUR REALLY GREAT STAFF AND FROM THIS DI AND THE SUPPORT THAT'S WIDESPREAD IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO HEAR FROM A FEW VOICES RAISED TO SAY, NO, IT'S GONNA COST ME TOO MUCH TO BUILD.
I THINK THERE'S WAYS WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE GOTTA DO IT BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT ISN'T WAITING FOR US ANY LONGER AND WE KNOW THAT AND THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE DEMANDING IT AS WELL.
MAY I COUNSEL OFFER JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON WHAT'S POSTED OR, OR WHAT IS IN YOUR BACKUP AND THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE? OKAY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL WERE CLEAR THAT THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU HAS ALREADY EXCLUDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXCLUDE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, THE UTILITY LINE COMPONENT AND, UH, THE NOT TO IN DISINCENTIVIZE MISSING MIDDLE.
SO THE ONLY ADDITIONAL ITEM THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING POSTPONEMENT ON RIGHT NOW WOULD BE THE, UH, ITEM RELATED TO THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS.
JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE.
I THINK THERE'S PARTS OF THIS THAT, THAT VERY WELL MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, BUT I WONDER IF WE NEED TWO WEEKS TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN WHAT CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT CAN'T.
AND MY SENSE IS, IS THAT, THAT IF WE POSTPONE THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK, TO LET SOME THINGS PASS AND, AND SOME THINGS HOLD BACK.
AS I, AS I LOOK AT THIS AND AND MANAGER STAFF, I THINK THAT THERE'S A REAL PLACE FOR, FOR YOU IN THIS BOTH WITH HELPING US DECIDE IF WE WERE GONNA POSTPONE IT FOR TWO WEEKS, HELP US BETTER GET CLARITY ON WHAT COULD BE ENACTED THEN AND WHAT NEEDS FURTHER.
BECAUSE SOME THINGS CLEARLY NEED FURTHER REVIEW.
SOME THINGS I THINK THEY'RE JUST QUESTIONS ABOUT AND, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE YET WHETHER THEY CAN BE DONE NOW OR, OR IN TWO WEEKS OR NEED TO BE MOVED FORWARD.
THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN WORK, UM, UM, I THINK IS, IS IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDING THAT THAT BE POSTPONED.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE ULTIMATELY POSTPONED FOR IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE OFFSETS WITH RESPECT TO THAT SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND, AND AFFORDABILITY.
UH, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS NECESSARILY CLEAR IN THE WORDS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION USED.
SO AT SOME POINT AS WE PUT THAT OFF, I THINK THAT'S AN ELEMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM.
UM, BUT I ALSO, AND AND THE SAME THING WITH WITH MISSING MIDDLE AND I APPRECIATE
[02:00:01]
THAT THAT'S GONE OFF.THERE'S A LIST OF DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE LEAD ONE ON THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE DSD UH, ON THAT.
AND I'M NOT SURE THEY WERE, WERE LISTED AS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO, TO BE INCLUDED.
BUT I THINK THE INTER THE INTERDISCIPLINARY LOOK AT SOME OF THESE IS WHAT I'M FEEL LIKE I'M NOT GETTING, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE, UH, 400 FOOT, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE DOWN FROM THE DAM.
UH, I THINK I, I, I APPLAUD THE EFFORT IN THAT AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT WHAT'S MISSING FOR ME IS WHO IS IT THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS SO FAR FROM OUR STAFF THAT FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS, OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU ALLOW FOR TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT, UH, ENTITLEMENTS FROM THE AREA THAT HAS THE 400 FEET SO THAT THE BALANCE OF THE PROPERTY MIGHT, MIGHT HAVE THAT WHICH MIGHT ENABLE THE SAME KIND OF, OF YIELD AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUE TO HAPPEN.
AND IF THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT'S WORKING ON THIS IS, UM, OF WATERSHED, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT.
CUZ THAT'S NOT THEIR JOB OR, OR THEIR DEAL.
WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION.
THEY SAID, WELL, WE WANT TO COME UP WITH OFFSETS.
BUT THE ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO THEM WAS TO APPROVE THE WATERSHED ISSUES AS IT CAME FROM COUNCIL.
SO THERE'S, THERE WAS NO, THERE'S NO, NO OPPORTUNITY FOR, I MEAN, WHO IS IT ON OUR STAFF THAT'S LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE AND SAYING, HOW DO WE PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY? HOW DO WE PRESERVE THE, THE YIELD? HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THINGS LIKE DEVELOPMENT TRANSFERS? BUT I THINK HAVING TWO WEEKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THINGS CAN BE HANDLED NOW, AND BY NOW, I MEAN NOW OR IN TWO WEEKS, AND WHAT THINGS NEED TO BE PUT OFF THE FIRST, THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS MIGHT ENABLE EVERYONE TO GET A BETTER FEELING TO FINE TUNE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, UH, SOME OF OUR UTILITY, UH, DEPARTMENTS HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID, WAIT A SECOND, WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THIS.
YOU NEED TO, TO DOUBLE BACK AND GIVE US MORE TIME ON THE UTILITY SECTION TO POSTPONE IT SO THAT THEY CAN BE INVOLVED.
BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO TRUE OF PERHAPS AT LEAST DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON, ON THE, ON THE BALANCE OF IT AS, AS, AS WELL.
UM, SO I, I'M PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
I WOULD VOTE TO POSTPONE THE WHOLE THING FOR TWO WEEKS, AND THEN IN TWO WEEKS WE WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED THE LONGER TERM AND WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF NOW.
UH, I CAN'T EVEN TELL LOOKING AT THE MAPS, SOME OF THE PROPERTIES ON THE 400 FEET, IT LOOKS AS IF IT EXTENDS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF CESAR CHAVEZ, BUT IN THAT AREA, THAT'S WHERE THE CESAR CHAVEZ STREET NAME IS PUT, SO YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT.
LET ME, LET ME GET SOME PEOPLE A CHANCE TO TALK.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK YET.
JUST REALLY QUICK THAT THE 400 FOOT PIECE THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING WERE PROPERTY OWNERS PROPERLY NOTIFIED.
I, I LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, SO WE ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A POSTPONEMENT ON THAT BASIS, ON THIS ITEM.
WELL, CAN WE GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION PLEASE? I THINK, AND THEN THAT WILL HELP US, I THINK, WITH THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IF THE NOTIFICATION WAS NOT PROPERLY GIVEN, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO POSTPONE ANYWAY TO MAKE THAT PRO, TO MAKE THAT NOTIFICATION.
AND I JUST LEARNED THAT THIS MORNING.
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THE NOTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 400 FEET? IT MAY HAVE HEARD A LOT AS WELL ABOUT THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR THAT ITEM IN PARTICULAR, UM, BEYOND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS AND, AND OUR, UH, TIME WITH Y'ALL, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION AS A PART OF THAT, UM, EXCEPT FOR OBVIOUSLY PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE.
DO YOU WANNA ADD? I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THAT TO THAT CHAD SHAW LAW DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE, ALTHOUGH I, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS WERE NOTIFIED AS WE WOULD FOR ANY 25 7 OR 25 8 AMENDMENT.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT IS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S INDIVIDUAL NOTICE FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A ZONING THAT WOULD BE A, A ZONING RELATED NOTIFICATION.
AND SO THIS WOULD NOT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF A ZONING RELATED, THE PROVISIONS THAT I THINK WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, WHICH ARE THE EXPANSIONS OF THE EROSION HAZARD ZONES AND THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES ARE NOT, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING TO 20 CHAPTER 25 2, OUR ZONING CODE.
IN WHICH CHAPTER ARE THEY AMENDING? THEY'RE AMENDING, IS IT 30, UH, CHAPTER 25 7 DRAINAGE.
SO THE CONCERN ABOUT NOTIFICATION OF PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN
[02:05:02]
THE 200 FOOT, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD ONLY BE ATTACHED TO A, A ZONING OKAY.NO NOTICE, BUT NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO GIVE NOTICE.
I APPRECIATE OUR STAFF'S WORK.
I KNOW IT WAS SPEEDY, UH, AND YOU WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET US TO THIS POINT OF, OF BEING ABLE TO WORK ON IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I KNOW THE DISCUSSIONS THERE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY THOROUGH AND THEY'VE GIVEN US SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, THOUGH, I DID WANNA ASK HIM A QUESTION.
UM, I, I'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL HE COMES BACK TO THE DIAS.
I THINK SEVERAL OF THE THINGS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE BEING AN AFFORDABILITY IMPACT ON, WERE ACTUALLY PART OF THE, WERE WERE PRIMARILY FUNCTIONAL GREEN, WHICH YOU'RE SUGGESTING POSTPONING.
SO I, I DON'T SEE ANY AFFORDABILITY IMPACT CONCERNS ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT ARE, THAT YOU HAD BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? IN, IN OUR MIND THERE ARE MODERATE, IF, IF ANY, UM, SORRY, LET ME START OVER.
THE ITEMS THAT ARE LEFT ON THE LIST, ONCE WE REMOVE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, WERE NOT OF CHIEF CONCERN, UH, ACCORDING TO, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
SO MY PREFERENCE FOR TODAY WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEMS AROUND THAT WERE NOT CAUSING, UH, LOTS OF CONCERNS.
I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WE NEED MORE TIME ON, ON THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE RECOMMENDED IN ADDITION TO THE ONE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MENTIONED WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, UM, ENHANCED PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER DOWNSTREAM.
SO IF YOU MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, UM, I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE, UH, DIRECTOR COIN YOU MENTIONING THAT THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN IS REALLY THE, A VERY IMPACTFUL PIECE OF IT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN, I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THE, AS THE SPONSOR OF THESE MEASURES.
I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND I WANNA APPRECIATE HER AND HER STAFF ON THIS AS WELL.
I HOPE WE CAN MOVE THOSE FORWARD.
I'M NOT SURE IT'LL HAPPEN WITHIN OUR TIME ON THE DIAS, BUT, UM, I CERTAINLY THINK IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR WHAT KATO JUST ASKED, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED, AND YOU'RE JOINING IN POSTPONING FUNCTIONAL GREEN, THE MISSING MIDDLE, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE EAST OF THE DAM AND THE UTILITY SECTION.
UH, THE FIRST TWO AND THE LAST ONE, THE, OKAY, SO YOU, COLORADO PROTECTIONS, THEY ASKED Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THE IMPACTS.
THEY DIDN'T FORMALLY REQUEST THAT EXCLUSION.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED CLEAR GUIDANCE FROM Y'ALL ON TO REMOVE, UM, IF YOU, SO THE THREE THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING POSTPONEMENT ON WOULD BE THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, THE MISSING MILL, AND THE UTILITY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN TALKED ABOUT THE 400 FOOT ADDING THAT.
UH, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON THE GREEN STORM ORDER INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAID, DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD SEEK TO OFFSET THE IMPACT AND DEVELOP THE COST SHARING PROGRAM? IS THAT PART OF, OF WHAT'S BEFORE US? DID YOU DO THAT? THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT, UH, I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS IN RESPONSE TO THOSE ITEMS AS I SEE THOSE LESS AS POLICY RELATED AND MORE PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSES, OR POTENTIALLY PART OF WHAT WE CAN ROLL INTO MITIGATING FACTORS IN PHASE TWO.
AND SO FOR ANY MARGINAL INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, FROM GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, IF PASS, WE'LL ROLL THAT INTO THE WAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MITIGATION HOLISTICALLY IN PHASE TWO.
IN TERMS OF A COST SHARING PROGRAM.
UH, I'M, IT, THIS IS NOT, UH, ANYTHING THAT I'M READY TO BRING FORWARD YET, BUT I WILL SAY I HAVE THREE OVERARCHING GOALS IN MY SSPR MY ANNUAL REVIEW WITH MY BOSS.
ONE OF THEM IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET, UH, THE COST OF AFFORDABLE PROJECTS USING, USING CITY FUNDING FOR WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE AND DRAINAGE.
UH, AND SO IF THAT IS POSSIBLE, I WILL BRING IT TO YOU AS SOON AS I CAN.
SO, AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE THREE THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE DIAS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL FOURTH ONE MM-HMM.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAID DEVELOP, UH, OFFSETS AND DEVELOP A COST SHARING PROGRAM.
MAYOR PROTE, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION OKAY.
UM, AND I WILL STATE MY MOTION AND THEN SPEAK, SPEAK TO IT.
UM, I MOVE TO, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND THE VERSION BEFORE US, HAS THE THREE THINGS DELAYED THAT ARE IN THE MEMO.
I MOVE TO POSTPONE THAT VERSION THAT'S BEFORE US TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, DELAYING THOSE THREE AS PROPOSED AND ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE US TWO OPTIONS, UM, AT THE NEXT MEETING.
ONE THAT HAS THE, THE 400 FEET AND ONE THAT DOESN'T, SO THAT WE CAN CHOOSE AT THAT POINT, UM, WHICH WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN IF I HAVE A SECOND, I'LL SPEAK TO THE MOTION.
[02:10:01]
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER? TOPO SECONDS.UM, SO MY PREFERENCE WOULD'VE BEEN TO VOTE ON THOSE TODAY, BUT I, UH, RESPECT THE NEED OF MY COLLEAGUES AND GIVEN ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN THE VARIOUS THINGS, I THINK IT, IT, I'M WILLING TO WAIT THE TWO WEEKS TO, TO ADAPT THE PARTS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT ALLOWS US TO ALLOW THE DELAY PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD.
OTHERWISE, WE JUST HAVE A POSTPONEMENT THAT'S KIND OF A VAGUE POSTPONEMENT THAT COULD, COULD LAST QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, AND WE WILL NEVER GET BACK THE BENEFITS OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES THAT, UM, DO NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ACCORDING TO THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT I JUST NEVER MISUNDERSTOOD THE AMENDMENT.
SO I'M, I'M WITHDRAWING MY SECOND.
I THINK IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
YOU CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO HER AMENDMENT.
UH, WHY CAN I DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? BECAUSE IT, IT'S SO MUCH PROCEDURE.
REALLY MORE COMPLICATED HANDLED SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH REQUIRES US TO VOTE ON BOTH MOTIONS.
WHICH, WHICHEVER IS, BUT WE CAN GET THEM WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO GET DONE, WE CAN GET IT DONE MORE QUICKLY.
YOU'RE THE EXPERT HERE, SO, OKAY.
I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DO AN, UH, SO WHAT DID YOU SAY AN AMENDMENT TO TO HER? UH, I AMEND IT AND, UH, I, UH, AMEND IT TO SAY THAT, UM, THE POSTPONEMENT IS LIMITED TO NO.
RECOGNIZING THAT THE, WELL, FIRST OF OFF, LET ME TAKE THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS LIMITED TO POSTPONING THE ITEM RELATED TO, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT ITEM IS, BUT POSTPONING THE ITEM THAT I ORIGINALLY PROPOSED POSTPONING RELATED TO THE, TO THE, UH, CW QZ DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM.
AND I'M MAKING THAT, SO MY RATIONALE IS I'M MAKING THAT AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION SO THAT WE WOULD, UH, BE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US AND ONLY POSTPONE THAT ONE ITEM, UH, WHICH WOULD KEEP US ALIGNED WITH POSTPONING THE ITEMS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED POSTPONING AS, UH, WHICH ARE THE SAME ITEMS THAT, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICERS JUST TOLD US THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THIS, OUT OF THIS DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF US.
UM, I, I RESPECT PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN SPENDING MORE TIME, BUT I TRUST OUR STAFF IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE ITEMS THAT NEED MORE CONSIDERATION.
AND SO THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL, UM, HANG ON A SECOND BEFORE YOU DEBATE IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS SUGGESTING OR MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO DO THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ADD THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE EAST OF LONGHORN DAM TO THE OTHER THREE.
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE MAYOR PROTE HAT THAT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TIMS MEANT.
THE MAYOR PRO TIMS, UH, MOTION IS TO MOVE, IS TO POSTPONE THIS ENTIRE ITEM.
AND I AM NOT POSTPONING THE ENTIRE ITEM.
I AM ONLY POSTPONING THE ONE SEGMENT OF THE ITEM THAT RELATES TO THE, UM, SEE, YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL ME HOW TO SAY IT.
SO YOU WOULD BE SAYING, LET'S JUST POSTPONE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, MISSING MIDDLE FUNCTIONAL GREEN IS NOT BEFORE US AT THE MOMENT.
THE ITEM THAT'S IN FRONT OF US DOESN'T HAVE FUNCTIONAL GREEN IN IT.
IT'S BEEN COMMITTED AND MISSING.
MIDDLE HAS BEEN TAKING OUT YES.
AND UTILITY'S BEEN TAKING OUT.
SO YOU WOULD BE POSTPONING JUST THE YEAH.
I'M GONNA TAKE OUT ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM BECAUSE THE OTHER ONES ARE ALREADY NOT INCLUDED.
SO THEY'RE ALREADY BEING POSTPONED.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN FRONT OF US.
UM, SO MY RATIONALE IS, UM, I TRUST THE CITY STAFF, UM, IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER IN THEIR WORK, IN THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY THOSE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, IN THE WAY THAT THEY'VE RECOMMENDED WITH THE ADDITION OF THAT ONE ITEM.
UM, AND, UM, AND THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS IS WE'RE GETTING PRETTY LATE IN THE YEAR.
AND, UM, THIS IS, THESE ARE, THESE ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE THAT WE HAVE FLAGGED AS ONES WE CAN GET, WE CAN MOVE IMMEDIATELY FORWARD WITH INSTEAD OF WAITING TWO WEEKS ON THOSE.
I'M JUST WORRIED WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BY NOT POSTPONING THE ENTIRE ITEM SO THAT WE CAN ALL REVIEW HOW IT WORKS TOGETHER AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE AREA.
YOU KNOW, MARY, THIS, THIS AREA HAS BEEN NEGLECTED OVER THE YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO, BEEN NO IMPROVEMENTS
[02:15:01]
IN THAT AREA, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES ALL OF SUDDEN TAKING A GREAT INTEREST IN THIS, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, I STILL NEED TIME TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT CUZ IT'S GONNA AFFECT MY DISTRICT AND IT'S GONNA AFFECT MY CONSTITUENTS.AND I WANT TO, WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING SO FAR, THEY DON'T, THEY REALLY ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
AND I, WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR TWO WEEKS AND I JUST CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO PUSH IT.
IT IS GONNA TAKE MONEY TO FIX ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
I MEAN, THERE HAD NEVER BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT THERE.
IF YOU GO DOWN THERE AND LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, YOU AND YOU'VE TALK TO SOME OF THE PEOP OWNERS THERE, THEY'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND THAT 400 FEET IS ANOTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO THE CHILD IS NOW, AND SOME OF THE FEW PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE BY TILLERY AND IT'S GONNA AFFECT THEM.
AND SO, UH, I REALLY NEED TO TAKE A, A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND, AND I MIGHT COME BACK AND SAY, I'M BEHIND IT 100% AND EVERYBODY IN MY DISTRICT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT BEHIND IT.
BUT BEFORE I, I'VE BEEN VOTE FOR ANYTHING, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, CASPER ELLIS.
I, I'M JUST AT THIS POINT CONCERNED IT'S A LITTLE MESSY AND CHAOTIC ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IN FRONT OF US AND EXACTLY WHICH PARTS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON.
AND, UM, IF, IF SOME OF US ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S IN AND WHAT'S OUT, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ALSO COMPLETELY IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE TAKING PLACE.
SO I, I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE SHOULD JUST KEEP IT CLEAN, POSTPONE, AND START WORKING ON LIKE WHICH VERSIONS AND WHICH AMENDMENTS NEED TO BE WORKED IN SO THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT AND CALCULATED WITH WHAT IS A COMPLEX CONVERSATION.
VELA, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE DIETS RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WHEN SPLITTING IT UP, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT'S MOVING AND WHAT'S NOT.
I, I THINK THAT GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY CLOSE.
I I HAVE STILL HAVE SOME, UH, QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, COSTS, UH, AND MAINTENANCE COST, ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS.
AND AGAIN, HOW WE CAN BALANCE THAT, UH, OUT.
WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO AGAIN, IS GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PASSING THE GREEN, UH, STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PORTION.
BUT THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA MITIGATE, WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS, OR WE'RE NOT GONNA DO, TAKE WHATEVER MEASURES WE NEED TO TAKE, UH, TO MITIGATE THE COST OF THAT FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS, OR, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE US TO, TO GET TO THAT, UH, UH, TO THE AFFORDABILITY PORTION OF IT.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, I THINK GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY CLOSE.
I THINK WE CAN GET IT FINALIZED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS PAST THE PORTIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE GOOD TO GO AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE REST OF IT.
DO WE WANT TO HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE TAKE A OATH? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS PROPOSING THAT THE ONLY ONE WE POSTPONE IN ADDITION TO, UH, THE THREE THAT ARE NO LONGER IN THE MEASURE IS THE 400 FEET THE STAGE.
WE TAKE A VOTE ON THAT COUNCIL, REMEMBER? YES.
I CAN'T TELL HAW WITH A LAW DEPARTMENT AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE IF THIS MOTION WERE TO PASS, WE WOULD BE THEN, UH, TRYING TO SEPARATE PARTS OUT OF THE, UH, THE, THE CODE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IS PROPOSING IS TO TAKE, UH, THE, UH, PORTIONS RELATED TO BOTH EROSION HAZARD ZONES AND CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES, ALL OF THAT THAT RELATES TO THE AREA OF THE COLORADO RIVER DOWNSTREAM FROM LONGHORN DAM.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD.
SO, UH, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF WE GOT A SECOND FOR MY MOTION.
NO, COULD YOU SECOND? NO, THERE'S YES, THERE WAS A SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
I GOT THE SECOND BEFORE I CAME BACK TO YOU OKAY.
FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT.
UM, LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, KITCHEN AND TOBO.
THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, AND IT'S THE BALANCE OF THE, UH, THE DAIS.
I ABSTAIN, UM, AND COUNCIL AND MAYOR PROTE ABSTAINED.
NOW, WHAT WAS YOUR UNDERLYING AMENDMENT? SO, UM, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IS HAVE US, THERE WAS NO DATE FOR THE POSTPONEMENT IN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S, UM, MOTION.
AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF DELAYING, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE MONTHS OF DELAY.
AND SO WHAT I WAS HOPING WAS THAT WE COULD WAIT THE TWO WEEKS TO TAKE UP THE PIECES THAT THERE WAS AGREEMENT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, AND THAT WE WERE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS IN THE VERSION THAT'S BEFORE US, WHICH ALSO THOUGH INCLUDES THE 400 FEET.
[02:20:01]
WAS TO, UM, POSTPONE THE VERSION BEFORE US AND ASK THEM TO COME BACK WITH TWO OPTIONS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THOSE ALREADY WORKED OUT.SO WE WEREN'T DOING IT ON THE FLY ONE THAT WAS JUST THE VERSION BEFORE US.
THE OTHER BEING A VERSION THAT EXCLUDES THE PART OF CONCERN FOR THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND THE EROSION, THE VERSION THAT'S BEFORE US ALREADY DELAYS THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN LANDSCAPE.
UM, DELAYS THE PART OF MISSING MIDDLE AND DELAYS THE UTILITY LINE PIECE.
AND BY DELAY, I ASSUME THAT MEANS LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS.
UM, IT DOESN'T GIVE US SPECIFIC DATE BACK BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE.
SO MY AMENDMENT WOULD SPECIFY, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN CONTRADICTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S, BUT IT SPECIFIES WHAT THE PROCESS IS, UM, FOR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE UP THE PARTS THAT WE AGREED ABOUT AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY PREPARED BY STAFF THE OPTION TO EXCLUDE, UM, THE PARTS THAT REMAIN CONTROVERSIAL POTENTIALLY SO THAT MRR COULD HAVE MORE TIME IF HE NEEDS IT.
WE COULD VOTE ON THAT NEXT WEEK, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE THAT, UM, RIGHT AWAY TONIGHT HOW MUCH MORE TIME WE NEED FOR THAT.
AND SO, CAN I SEE IF I UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US IS PRESENTED BY STAFF, UH, HAS US POSTPONING FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME BY NOT INCLUDING THE ELEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL GREEN, MISSING MIDDLE AND UTILITIES.
RIGHT? SO THOSE THINGS ARE GONNA GO OFF FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY.
IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE THINGS GO OFF FOR ADDITIONAL SETTING AND THEY WOULD INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF SET OFFS OR THAT KIND OF THING? OR DO YOU NEED SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO ALSO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS AND TO INVOLVE DEVELOPMENT STAFF AS PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS? UH, PER THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HAD PLANNED TO ROLL THOSE INTO PHASE TWO WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT ENTITLEMENTS AND, AND OTHER, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PART OF THAT.
SO THAT IS CERTAINLY PART OF THAT.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS LET THIS MEASURE COME BACK TO US IN TWO WEEKS THAT WOULD HAVE, UH, US TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE, IN ESSENCE, THE BALANCE OF IT.
AND YOU'RE ASKING WITH TWO OPTIONS.
ONE THAT, UH, WOULD, WOULD ALSO SIMILARLY POSTPONE OR DISSIMILARLY POSTPONE, BUT SOMEHOW IN OTHER POSTPONED THE ELEMENTS THAT AFFECT, UH, THE, THE LAKE AND THE PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO THE LAKE.
AND ONE THAT WOULD HAVE US ACTING ON THAT.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR, FOR YOU ON, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA HAS ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, GREEN STORM ORDER INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH ALSO HAD A RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING COMMISSION THAT, UM, UH, OFFSETS BE ADDRESSED AND A POSSIBLE COST SHARING PROGRAM ADDRESSED.
COULD YOUR MOTION ALSO SAY, FOR STAFF TO COME BACK WITH OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEXT WEEK, THAT GAVE US OPTIONS RESPONSIVE TO WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RAISED THERE? I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE THE MOTION DO WHATEVER.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE UP HOWEVER MUCH OF THIS AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL STEPS IN TWO WEEKS, WHICH GIVES EVERYONE ON COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO FOCUS IN SO WE'RE NOT DISTRACTED BY THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DELAYING AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WHAT I HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WAS THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE IN ORDER FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE IN TWO WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF, I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF CAN PREPARE OPTIONS.
UH, I DON'T OBJECT TO THEM PREPARING THOSE OPTIONS, BUT, BUT I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH OF THE NUANCE OF WHAT MR. VELA IS TRYING TO, TO ACCOMPLISH TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THOSE AMENDMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT NEED TO BE OR HOW MUCH OF THE ORDINANCE PERTAINS TO THAT AND WOULD NEED TO BE.
SO LET ME ADJUSTED, BUT THERE WOULD BE NOTHING TO STOP MR. VELA FROM COMING FORWARD WITH AMENDMENTS THAT HE WORKED ON WITH STAFF OR FROM STAFF, FROM GIVING US OPTIONS IN MY MOTION OR, OR FOR THE, THE GIST OF WHAT YOU HAD DONE EITHER ON, ON THE 400 FOOT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT NEXT WEEK WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION PERHAPS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD THAN WE ARE TODAY.
SO I'M SEEING IF WE CAN ALSO PUT INTO THAT AREA THAT WE'RE ASKING STAFF TO BE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
THE, THE, THE GREEN STORM ORDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESPONSE TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER REVA SAID AS WELL.
VAL, DO YOU WANNA, MY SENSE, AND, AND I I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE, LIKE THE COST SHARING THE IDEA FOR, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL COST SHARING, ESPECIALLY ON, UH, AFFORDABLE PROJECTS.
MY SENSE IS THAT'S NOT GONNA BE READY IN TWO WEEKS.
SO, UH, THOUGH THAT'S, WE NEED A FUNDING SOURCE AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
[02:25:01]
HYPOTHETICALLY RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE, FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE, THE, UM, THE GSI, UM, ARE THEY ALLOWED, AGAIN, IN TERMS OF BALANCING THE INTEREST, CAN YOU PUT THE, UM, THE BIOFILTRATION IN THE SETBACK AREAS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT? LIKE THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT ARE ZERO COST.THAT WOULD, WHICH I, I I STILL DON'T HAVE, LET ME SEE ME SEE, I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US IF SECOND DID HERE IN A SECOND WOULD SAY POSTPONE FOR TWO WEEKS THIS MATTER, THREE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW ARE GONNA BE POSTPONED FOR LONGER TIME CUZ THEY'RE NO LONGER INCLUDED.
BUT IN TWO WEEKS THE COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE THINGS THAT CONCERN LIKE AUSTIN, THE COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD OR HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE GREEN STORM ORDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT REMAINS IN THIS.
BUT WE WOULDN'T MAKE IN TWO WEEKS WE WOULD BE CONSIDERING ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK THAT'S THE AMENDMENT THAT I, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
BUT I ALSO VERY SPECIFICALLY ASKED THEM TO GIVE US AN OPTION ALREADY PREPARED THAT INCLUDES THE, THE LAKE FRONT STUFF SEPARATED OUT FROM THE MOTION.
I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH OF MR. VILLA'S CONCERNS TO, TO BE ABLE TO, TO STATE WHETHER WE'RE READY OR NOT TO GO FORWARD.
UM, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS IF MR. VELA THINKS THAT WE'RE NOT READY, HE CAN WORK WITH STAFF TO HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT LEAVES THOSE OUT NEXT TIME AND THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE SIMPLEST WAY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON WITH OUR DAY TODAY.
AND LEAVE MY MOTION AS IT IS AND THEN, OKAY, IS THERE A SECOND? WE, WE UNDERSTAND NOW THAT WE HAVE THOSE, THOSE THREE BUCKETS OF DECISIONS NEXT WEEK, BUT WE ARE NOT TAKING UP, UM, THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN, THE MISSING MIDDLE OR UM, THE UTILITY LINE PIECES FOR SURE, BUT WE ARE GONNA LIMIT OURSELVES TO THAT CONVERSATION SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS MUCH OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK AS WE CAN.
MR. VELA WILL WORK ON THAT OTHER PIECE AND IF HE NEEDS A MOTION THAT'S DIFFERENT, HE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD WORKING WITH STAFF TO TO, TO WRITE THAT.
AND VELA SECOND, I'LL SECOND HER.
IT'S BEEN SECONDED DISCUSSION.
I'M GONNA SAY I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS CUZ I THINK THAT GETS US WHERE WE ARE.
BUT I WILL TELL STAFF THAT IF MR. BELLA DOES NOT REQUEST OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN THAT TRIES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PLANNING COMMISSION INTER WILL BE ASKING FOR THAT.
AND IT COULD BE THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT, WHICH IS AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME MM-HMM.
SO IS TO GIVE STAFF TIME TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT NOW.
WE CAN CONSIDER THAT IN TWO WEEKS IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.
SECONDED MARY, IT ALSO REQUEST THAT THEY REACH OUT TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS THERE.
UH, I'VE BEEN GETTING, UH, UH, MESSAGES FROM SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THERE THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS.
AND CAN YOU, UH, ALSO CAN YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN PASS IT OUT TO THE, TO THE BUSINESS OWNER OF HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT THEM AND THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE? OKAY.
UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FROM STAFF.
UM, THE ITEMS THAT WILL TAKE LONGER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE AND FIGURE OUT, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATION OF WHEN WE MIGHT GET THAT, GET THAT INFORMATION BACK ON THOSE OTHER ITEMS? I DO AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON A MEMO TO GIVE YOU A CLEAR TIMELINE, UH, ON THAT.
I WANTED TO SEE WHAT WE GOT THROUGH TODAY.
UM, SO FUNCTIONAL GREEN, I'D REALLY LIKE TO BRING BACK ON A SHORTER TIMELINE.
THERE'S SOME KEY TANGIBLES THAT PLANNING COMMISSION AND DESIGN COMMISSION ASKED FOR.
UH, THAT I THINK WILL CLEAR UP SOME OF THE DISCUSSION ON THAT.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT BACK WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, UH, IF NOT SOONER.
UM, THE OTHER ITEMS THAT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIVE COORDINATION AMONGST OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE MISSING MIDDLE PIECE, UM, INCLUDING, UM, INCLUDING THE UTILITY LINE PIECE AS WELL AS GREENFIELD DETENTION AND STEEP SLOPES PROTECTIONS, WHICH YOU HAD ALREADY ASKED US TO PROVIDE MITIGATING ENTITLEMENTS OR OTHER OFFSETS FOR I BELIEVE ARE LIKELY TO BE A A 12 MONTH MINIMUM TIMELINE, UH, TO BRING ALL OF THOSE BACK IN THE WAY THAT I THINK WILL ACTUALLY OFFSET.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT IF STAFF RECOGNIZES ANY SORT OF CONFLICTS WITH ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH THEM, THAT YOU IDENTIFY THOSE AND YOU LET COUNCIL BE AWARE OF THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ALL RIGHT, MAYOR PRO TIMS AMENDMENT IS IN FRONT OF US AND TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF IT.
THOSE OPPOSED? I'M SEEING EVERYONE VOTING.
WE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER MADISON ALSO VOTING.
SO WHILE WE'RE ALL TOGETHER, LET'S VOTE
[02:30:01]
ON THE MEN THE MOTION TO POSTPONE AS IT HAS BEEN AMENDED.THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED AND THE UNANIMOUS ON THE DIES, THAT'S POSTPONED AS AMENDED.
LET'S, UH, GO TO OUR SPEAKERS AND UH, WE'LL START WITH, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY.
LET'S SEE, UM, LET'S DO OUR SPEAKERS.
WE'LL COME BACK AN HOUR AFTER SPEAKERS, UH, AND WE'LL DO AUSTIN ENERGY AND AS CLOSE TO TWO O'CLOCK AS WE CAN WE'LL CALL AFTERNOON SPEAKERS THERE.
CAN ASK ONE CLARIFICATION ON AUSTIN ENERGY THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WAS POTENTIALLY GONNA BE AN EXHIBIT PREPARED BY STAFF, UM, WITH RESPECT TO SOME SORT OF 5% REQUIREMENT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S 5% ON THE PSA OR ON THE BILL, UM, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET.
UM, DO WE KNOW IF AND WHEN WE'RE GETTING THAT THERE SHOULD AIR SOMETHING IN THE BACK AND IT'S RED LINE? THERE IS A RED LINE WITH THE TARIFFS AND THERE'S AN ANNEX ATTACHED WITH THE FIVE ABOVE AND FIVE BELOW.
UM, THAT'S WITHIN THE TARIFF DOCUMENT THAT WE RECEIVED AND IT IS NOW AN EXHIBIT ATTACHED TO IT.
AND WE'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL VERSIONS OF THIS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF SOMEONE CAN MAYBE JUST RESEND US THE VERSION WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT CUZ WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF, A LOT OF THEM AND I DON'T WANT TO INADVERTENTLY LOOK AT THE WRONG VERSION.
AND SO THIS IS AN ANNEX AT THE END OF THAT.
AND WHILE WE'RE HERE, GENERAL MANAGER SERGEANT CAN JUST CLARIFY WHAT IS IN BACKUP AND WHAT WE WOULD BE ASKING COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WHILE WE'RE DELIBERATING, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO THEN WE CAN TAKE THAT HOUR TO REVIEW THAT.
GREAT COUNSEL, I'M JACKIE, SERGEANT AUSTIN, ENERGY GENERAL MANAGER.
UM, WE PUT TOGETHER TARIFF REVISION LANGUAGE AND THOSE ARE POSTED, UM, AS OPTIONS ONE A AND TWO A ONE A BEING, UH, WITH THE RATE NUMBERS FOR, UM, IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGE ALL IN ONE YEAR VERSUS OPTION TWO, WHICH IS IMPLEMENTING, UM, THE CHANGE IN OVER THREE YEARS.
AND IN THOSE DOCUMENTS, THE LANGUAGE WITH REGARD TO THE 5% IS, UH, YOU CAN, CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 20.
AND THOSE WERE THE DOCUMENTS WE RECEIVED AT 10 37 AND 10 51 THIS MORNING.
AND THE ONE, AND NOW THE VERSION TWO A IS THE ONE THAT RE CORRESPONDS TO THE GRADUAL OPTION AND ONE A IS THE CORRESPONDS TO THE ORIGINAL STAFF PROPOSAL? THAT'S CORRECT.
IF YOU COULD ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, UH, WE'VE TAKEN THE DIRECTION WE HAD YESTERDAY.
WE'VE SPLIT IT INTO TWO SECTIONS.
ONE THAT DEALS WITH KIND OF DEVELOPING TRIGGERS, UH, SO THAT YOU, WE HAVE MORE TELLS IN THE FUTURE OR RESERVE POLICIES IN THE, LIKE, IF YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND, AND LET US KNOW IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL, RIGHT? I WILL.
[Public Comment (Part 2 of 2)]
GO THEN TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE COMMUNITY, BEEN WAITING FOR THAT WHILE WE TOOK CARE OF THIS BUSINESS.
UH, IS UM, UH, ROBERT
WE HAVE REMOTE SPEAKERS AS WELL.
SO IF WE CAN YOU WANT TO CALL THOSE FIRST? SURE.
FRANCIS AK CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO AHEAD.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DUB SPRING AND TODAY I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EFFORT, AND PASSION FOR ALL THE CITY COUNCIL ROLE.
I KNOW IT MUST BE HARD TO FEEL AGAINST THE WALK WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GO AGAINST SOME OF THE AREAS OF TOWN AGAINST WHAT, UH, SOME OF THE AREAS OF TOWN ARE ASKING.
I ALSO THINK AT NIGHT YOU HAVE A HARD TIME SLEEPING WHEN YOU LOSE A VOTE THAT YOU SO PASSIONATELY THOUGHT FOR.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE REPRESENTATION FOR EACH DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I ALSO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WELLBEING, SAFETY, STABILITY, AND HEALTH OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
[02:35:01]
MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE SUFFERED TRAUMA THROUGH DISASTERS, HAVE SEEN THEIR NEIGHBORS DIE.I FIGHT FROM PAST LIFE TRAUMA AND EVENTS LIKE COVID THAT HAVE AFFECTED MENTAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
WE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE SUFFERED NEGLECT FROM LACK OF REPRESENTATION.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN WE COME TO REP TO PRESENT OUR VULNERABILITY, SHARING OUR NEEDS AND CONCERNS, ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE VERY MINIMUM BASIC NEEDS, WE GET HIT BY THE LACK OF RESPECT THAT SHOWS THROUGH YOUR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND POSTURE.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TRAUMA SHOWS UP EACH TIME IT RAINS, EACH TIME WE FEEL NEGLECT FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE, OUR REPRESENTATIVE BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US.
DON'T LOOK AT US AS IF WE ARE THE WRONG, BUT LOOK AT US AS THE RESULT OF WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN POLICY AND IN SOCIETY.
YOU HAVE TO SHIFT AND THINK OF THE WAY YOU ENGAGE AND APPROACH YOUR CONSTITUENT.
YOU HAVE ACKNOW, YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PEOPLE IN THE SPACE OF VULNERABILITY BECAUSE WHEN THIS EXPERIENCE SHOW UP, IT'S DRAMATIZING AND IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
I ASK THAT YOU HOLD PEOPLE'S STORIES WITH EMPATHY, RESPECT, AND CONCERN TO ALLOW SPACE FOR TRUST AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU HOLD A GREAT DEAL OF RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND AS SUCH, I HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE WHEN YOU, WHEN A RESIDENT SHOWS UP, SHOWS THEIR REP.
WHEN A RESIDENT SHOWS THEIR VULNERABILITY, MAKE IT LOOK AT LEAST THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
BECAUSE IF THEY SHOW UP, JUST SPEAK.
IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWS MORE RESPECT THAN THE OTHERS, BUT THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY NEED, THEY HAVE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEED IS GREAT.
AND I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY CLARIFICATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, KATHERINE LINLEY.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, SOUTH AUSTIN TO BE SPECIFIC.
AND I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, THE BACHI BALL COURT THAT I BELIEVE ARE CURRENTLY AT THE TRIANGLE PART AND TO SEE THEM, UM, BE ROLLED OUT TO SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS IN TOWN, INCLUDING MY AREA, UM, IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
UM, BACHI BALL IS A GREAT SPORT THAT UM, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO BE THAT FIT TO PLAY AND IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR ALL AGES.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUTSIDE, FRESH AIR, SUNSHINE, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR MENTAL WELLBEING AND OUR HEALTH.
UM, AS THE LAST LADY MENTIONED, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRAUMA AND UPHEAVAL SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO, UM, KIND OF RECOVER AND GET BACK OUT WITH PEOPLE, UM, THAN IN A OPEN AIR ENVIRONMENT THAT THE BACHI BALL COURTS, UM, PROVIDE.
I HAVE PLAYED OUT IN MAYNOR ACTUALLY WITH MY FRIEND ROBERT BATTLE.
HAD ME OUT THERE FOR A TOURNAMENT AND ACTUALLY GOT THIRD PLACE WITH MY SON AND HIS GOOD FRIEND WHO ARE YOUNG ADULTS AND I'M GETTING TO BE AN OLD LADY.
SO IT WAS A NICE ALL GENERATIONAL EVENT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT YOU SEE THE BENEFIT TO AUSTIN COMMUNITY, UH, AT LARGE IN PROVIDING BACHI BALL COURTS THAT, UM, UH, CITIZENS CAN USE TO STAY HEALTHY AND TO, UM, INTERACT WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND SO ON.
APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU ARE DOING FOR AUSTIN.
I'VE BEEN A NURSE SINCE I WAS 20, UH, AND I THINK THAT AUSTIN HAS A LOT OF CARE FOR ITS CONSTITUENTS AND I'M HOPING THAT, UM, THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT HELP US TO GET MORE ACTIVE.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
IF I HAVE ANY OTHER TIME LEFT, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT TO ROBERT BATTLE, WHO I BELIEVE THERE IN PERSON TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[02:40:06]
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, AUSTIN COUNCIL.MY NAME IS MARIA TERESA JOHNSON AND I JUST WANTED TO ALSO CHIME IN AND SAY HOW MUCH FUN THE SPORT OF BACHI IS.
UM, I HAVE LONG TIME, UM, BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AND I TOO HAD TO COME OUT TO MAYNOR TO TRY SOME OF THESE BACHI GAMES.
AND IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
IT HAS TRANSFORMED MY LIFE AND MY HUSBAND'S LIFE AMONGST MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS GAME TO.
AND I REALLY FEEL THAT AUSTIN COULD TOTALLY BENEFIT FROM INCLUDING MORE BOCHY COURTS IN THE AREA.
BACHI BALL IS THE SECOND MOST PLAYED SPORT IN THE WORLD AND IT IS VERY EASY TO LEARN AND YOU GET TO BE AMONGST GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHERE WE ALL FEEL EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IN TODAY'S TIME, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL FEEL THAT EQUALITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY THAT IN SPANISH.
AW, WELL, AUSTIN, THE PERSONAS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS SPORT BACHI, UM, HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE AN OPEN AVENUE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO BECOME A MEMBER FOR THE LIONS CLUB AS THERE WAS OTHER LIONS THAT WERE PARTICIPATING THERE.
AND ALTHOUGH GROWING UP IN AUSTIN, I HAVE HEARD OF THE LIONS CLUB, I NEVER GOT A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME SO ENGAGED AS THEY DID, WHICH NOW LED FOR MY HUSBAND AND I TO BOTH BE NOW LION CLUB MEMBERS.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING KIDS TO COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND PLAY THIS AWESOME SPORTS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PANDEMIC OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH AS WELL AS ADULTS.
AND THIS HAS REALLY BEEN AN EYE OPENING.
UM, FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY ADVOCATES FOR HAVING NATURE AND BEING OUTDOORS AS A BIG PART OF GREAT HEALTH.
IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE THAT HAVING THE KIDS BE PART, UM, OF AN OUTSIDE ACTIVITY SUCH AS BOCHY WAS A GAME CHANGER.
AND I JUST SAW THE GOODNESS THAT THIS CAN HELP SUPPORT AND NOT ONLY CHILDREN, BUT ALSO ADULTS INTO BETTERING THEIR HEALTH.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL, UM, GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT.
WE PERSONALLY INVITE YOU OUT TO PLAY AT ONE OF THESE MAIN OR BOCHY CHORDS CUZ THEY ARE EXCELLENT.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW GOOD THIS COULD BE IF WE COULD HAVE MORE CHORDS AVAILABLE IN AUSTIN.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE TRANSFORMATION THAT AUSTIN IS DOING AND STILL KEEPING THE ORIGINAL ROOTS THAT OFTEN ONCE WAS.
YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED AND HAVE HER THIS TIME.
MAYOR, IF, IF I MAY JUST A QUICK COMMENT, THE, THERE'S A BOAL COURT IN MUELLER ALSO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO TO LET FOLKS KNOW, TO LET FOLKS KNOW.
THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO IN PERSON ROBERT BAT
IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG SINCE I SAW YOU.
MY NAME'S ROBERT BATTY, ALSO KNOWN AS ROBERT BATTLE.
UM, I COME FROM THE PLANET MAINER.
UH, WE HAVE THE BEST COURTS IN PROBABLY 10 STATES HERE.
GUESS WHAT? AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE ONE SINGLE GOOD BOCHY COURT AT ALL.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FIVE YEARS WITH THE AUSTIN BOCHY LEAGUE.
LET ME APOLOGIZE TO YOU P FOR NOT HELPING YOU WITH PAR K COLEMAR.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN TEXANS WERE INCAPABLE OF TURNING RIGHT ON A RED LIGHT.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY COULDN'T PUMP THEIR OWN GAS AT A SELF-SERVICE STATION.
NOW WE CAN EVEN DO CHECKOUT AT WALMART BY OURSELVES, ALL BY OURSELVES.
SO I THINK AUSTIN'S READY TO PLAY SOME BOCHE BALL.
WE GOT 16% APPROVAL, SO TO SPEAK IN THE 10 YEAR LONG RANGE PARK SURVEY THAT EQUATES TO LIKE 150,000 PEOPLE, BUT THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE WHERE WE CAN REACH THEM.
SO THIS, THE NORMAL PARKS AND REC IDEA WHERE THINGS BUBBLE UP FROM THE GROUND IS NOT GONNA WORK HERE.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SOMETHING WE DID IN THE EIGHTIES OVER AND OVER, WHICH IS CALLED A PILOT PROGRAM.
CAN WE GO BACK TO THE TWO COURT, UH, GRAPHIC PLEASE.
THIS IS WHERE I WANNA PUT THAT PAINTING.
I'M SHOWING YOU GUYS THAT PAINTING.
I WANNA PUT THAT AT THIS MUSEUM
[02:45:01]
AT THIS, UH, 16 QUARTS.UM, I THOUGHT I HAD THE TRIANGLE PARK, TWO QUARTS THERE.
TRIANGLE PARK IS A REALLY GREAT SPOT, BUT THEY HAVE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WHERE ONE COURT IS AT STREET LEVEL AND THE OTHER COURT IS DOWN AT THE LEVEL OF THE OPENING TO THE APARTMENTS THERE.
IT WILL NEVER WORK FOR A BOCHE LEAGUE.
AND THE UH, OWNER IS READY TO PUT SOME MONEY INTO FIX IN THE, UH, SURFACE OF THE COURTS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO RAISE THE EAST COURT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL AND DO THE OPENINGS ON THE INSIDE SO PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND INTERACT.
ONCE WE DO THAT, WE WILL HAVE A BACHI SCENE THAT WILL BLOW THE PEOPLE'S MIND AND BECOME THAT PILOT PROGRAM.
I'VE ALREADY OFFERED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF OUR, UH, PATENT PENDING DOUBLE TEAM SCOREBOARDS THERE, UH, FOR TRIANGLE COURT.
SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR, YOU KNOW, 15 TO $25,000 AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
SO ESPECIALLY FOR MS. TOVO AND MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR SWAN SONG BABY.
AND TO ALL THE PARKS AND REC FOLKS, UM, THAT HAVE HELPED.
NO, I MEAN THIS IS SOMETHING GREAT WE SHOULD DO AND, UH, PLEASE.
HUNDRED 50 YEAR OLD OCCUPATED.
I WANT GIVE IT TO THE AUSTIN DON WILLIAMSON MAYOR COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS DON WILLIAMSON, LIFELONG RESIDENT RETIRED AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER.
I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPENED ON UM, JULY 8TH THIS YEAR.
UM, IT WAS A VISION OF MINE TO HAVE A CELEBRATION AT STACY POOLE, KATHY TOK AND HER FRIEND LAURA COUM SAGEVILLE, UH, ON FROM THE PARKS BOARD HELPED OUT IN THROWING A PARTY AT BIG STACY POOL.
CELEBRATED ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE HAD HEB FOR TACOS AND UH, WE HAD SINGER JASON MOLIN MADE IT A WONDERFUL DAY AND EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME.
AND LATER TODAY WE'LL MARK THE DATE IN A PROCLAMATION BUILT OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD IN THE CIVILIAN.
UH, FROM 1935 TO 1937, BIG STACY POOL WAS BUILT BY THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS UNDER THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, THE, IT WAS NAMED AFTER GENERAL STACY AND STACY HAS BEEN A FOCAL POINT IN MY LIFE FOR 58 YEARS.
WHEN IN 1964 WHEN I STARTED SWIMMING THERE AFTER TAKING MY SWIMMING LESSONS, GETTING MY TURTLE, DUCK AND FISH, THEY SAID I COULD SWIM.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CONTINUED TO BE ABLE TO STAY AT STACY BECAUSE THERE'S BIG IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAME ON LATER IN THE, UH, THE WANING YEARS.
UM, LIKE EXAMPLE SWIMMING IN THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN STACY WENT TO A, A FULL-TIME POOL, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAD A WATER SOURCE OF ARTESIAN WATER THAT ACTUALLY FLOWS UNDER THE, UH, EDWARDS FER.
AND THE WATER THAT FEEDS STACY THAT HEATS THE POOL IS ACTUALLY COMES FROM MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES AWAY.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE WITNESSED MANY CHANGES TO STACY.
IT BE BEGAN AS A DRILL, UH, FILL AND DRAW POOL WHERE THEY JUST FILLED IT EVERY DAY AND DRAINED IT.
IT WAS ONLY OPEN IN THE SUMMER CUZ IT JUST USED CITY WATER.
THE GUARDS BACK THEN WOULD JUST THROW CHLORINE AND THEN IT CHANGED TO ANOTHER POOL, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, CHEMICAL SYSTEM WHERE THEY USED CHLORINE GAS.
THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO MAKE MANY CALLS THERE, SO THEY GOT RID OF THAT.
AND NOW IT HAS A STATE OF THE ART, UH, SYSTEM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY REALLY ENJOYS THE POOL.
KEEPS A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES.
BUT ON DECEMBER 26TH, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED IN MY LIFE THAT CHANGED ME, UH, FROM, UH, BEING A STACY SWIMMER TO SOMETHING ELSE.
I STARTED LIFEGUARD TRADING AND GUESS WHERE I TRAINED AT STACY POOL.
UH, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I'VE BUILT A LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS AS BEING A LIFEGUARD.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO, UH, NOT ONLY MENTIONING STACY AS ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE LIFEGUARDS I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN, UM, A LOT OF FUN.
BUT IT'S TIME TO HOLD, GET, UH, YOU KNOW, THROW AWAY THE WHISTLE AND, UH, I'M NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
SO Y'ALL WILL STILL SEE ME AT DEEP PETTY, WHICH MAYOR SEE ME THERE BEFORE AND THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO DO IS MENTION A FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE AQUATIC STAFF THAT I REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME WITH.
GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHT.
OKAY, THAT WOULD BE BG SIX, ADAM DEANDRE,
[02:50:01]
HANNAH MIL, MATT MARK, THE, THE PAUL PEDRO EDWARD THOMAS BALLPOINT, AND DALE JULIAN.ALLEN JAYDEN FOR THE ART AND CALLAHAN FOR HER REVISION.
AND SANDY C FOR BEING MY FRIENDLY MUSE TO PASS.
I GOT MY PAYCHECK YESTERDAY AND IT'S A DEFINITELY IMPROVEMENT.
THE MORALE OF LIFEGUARDS HAS INCREASED A HUNDRED PERCENT.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR GETTING US, UM, FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
AND I HOPE, UH, TO SEE ALL AT THE PUBLIC POOLS.
I, I REMEMBER I LOVE STACY POOL TOO.
UH, I KNOW THEY REMODELED IT A WHILE BACK AND, AND I KNOW IT LOOKS GREAT, BUT I MISS THAT WARM WATER PIPE THAT YOU COULD HANG OFF OF AND JUST KIND OF BATHE IN THAT, THAT HOT WATER WAY BACK.
UH, UH, UH, OH, I MISS THAT SO MUCH.
IT WAS A BACK MASSAGE,
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING DOWN HERE, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CREATING THAT PARTY.
IT WAS A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE, UM, ONE OF OUR REALLY UNIQUE HISTORIC ASSETS.
SO THANKS, THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
DEBBIE ROMERO SHOULD APPROACH.
HELLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MR. ATLER.
I COME HERE TODAY, UH, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE TIMES I'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE.
I COME HERE WITH MY COMMUNITY.
IT IS MY COMMUNITY HERE AT 48 11 SOUTH CONGRESS.
UH, WE'RE HERE TO ASK, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
WE WANNA APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR HELPING US DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE.
UH, WE CAME TO SEE IF Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO BUY THE PROPERTY AT GOGO MOBILE HOME PARK.
UH, WE HAD PUT IT ON, ON THE DOCKET THE LAST TIME TO SPEAK WITH Y'ALL.
I HAD TOOK, I GET, I GAVE EVERYBODY A PACKET TWO WEEKS AGO BEFORE MY SESSION HERE IN Y'ALL'S BOXES TO SEE IF Y'ALL WERE ABLE.
I GAVE Y A BUNCH OF DATA AND DISCOVERY TO SEE IF Y'ALL COULD FIND THE OWNERS TO BUY THE PROPERTY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT.
ME BRIEF YOU UP TO NOVEMBER 1ST TO MOVE OUT.
UM, WE ONLY HAVE LIKE MAYBE TWO WEEKS LEFT.
UM, AT THAT PROPERTY, MS. VANESSA FUENTES DID REACH OUT TO US.
WE THANK YOU MS. FUENTES FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR DUTY.
UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY, UH, WE HAVEN'T EVEN MET.
UH, P RENTER HASN'T REACHED OUT TO US DIRECTLY.
I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO HIM.
THEY'RE SAYING HE'S MY DISTRICT.
UM, I, WE DID SPEAK TO SOMEBODY AND HIS STAFF, BUT IT WAS UN IT WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED OF.
THERE WAS NO ACCOMPLISHMENT IN WHAT WE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
UM, OUR NEEDS IS THAT WE NEED HELP.
WE NEED, UH, FUNDING, WE NEED HELP.
UH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF OF US HERE.
WE WE'RE GONNA BE HOMELESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO STOP, UH, FROM BEING HOMELESS HERE.
WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO SEE IF Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO BUY THE PROPERTY.
WE STILL HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM Y'ALL STAFF.
I KNOW MR. LER YOU ASKED MS. VANESSA FUENTES AND PO TO HELP THEM TO WORK TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER GOT TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP US, BUT WE NEED A RESPONSE.
WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR, WITH US AND OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU GUYS TURN TO YEAH, I, I DID LOOK INTO IT.
UH, IT'S, IT'S GOING JUST TO PASS THE RES.
WE'RE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.
UH, WHERE GONNA HAVE TO DO AN APPRAISAL, THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THEN SUBMIT.
THERE'S A POLICY THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT BECAME VIOLATE.
WE CAN ONLY PAY UP TO WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO, WHAT'S THE PAID VALUE IS.
NOW, IF THE OWNER WANTS MORE, WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK IT OUT TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, JUST TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED.
AT LEAST SIX WEEKS TO EIGHT WEEKS, PROBABLY EIGHT WEEKS NOW.
SO THAT'S TWO MONTHS FROM NOW JUST TO PASS A RESOLUTION THROUGH HERE.
THEN WE HAVE TO GET REAL, REAL ESTATE TO GO OUT THERE AND DO AN APPRAISAL ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THEN OFFER THEM, UH, THE, UH, THE VALUE SO THEY CAN SELL IT TO US.
NOW THAT'S GONNA BE A PROCESS.
SO, UH, IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE.
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE IN CITY HALL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY QUICKLY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG Y'ALL GONNA BE ABLE TO LAST THERE, BUT WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN BUYING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY CUZ IT'S GONNA BE ON OUR GO LINE, ONE OF OUR TRAFFIC STOPS AREA.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE A PROCESS AND I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GONNA BE DONE BEFORE NOVEMBER.
WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE TABLE SINCE MAY 31ST.
WE'VE REACHED OUT IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS.
[02:55:01]
FOR HIS, FOR MR. UH, RENTER'S PO RENTER'S RESPONSE.AND THEN NOW WE BROUGHT IT TO THE TABLE AGAIN.
WE, IN THE MEANTIME, I'VE CAME ONE TIME EVERY MONTH HERE TO CITY HALL TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE TRAILER PARK.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN THREE MONTHS THAT BEEN JUST THROWN TO THE SIDE.
THEY'RE SAYING IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.
WE HAD FIVE MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING AND I EVEN VOLUNTEERED MY SERVICES HERE AS A COMU IN THE COMMUNITY.
I BROUGHT RESEARCH FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE TO PROCEED THE, UH, PROCESS IN GETTING THIS DONE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW FAST.
UM, I BROKE MY COLLARBONE JUST GOING OUT, JUST WALKING OUT OF THE HOUSE TO GRAB MY SUIT TO COME SPEAK IN CITY HALL.
I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THESE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, NOPE, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP FOR THEM.
AND I, I THANK YOU MR. RENDER FOR FINDING, GIVING ME YOUR ANSWER.
BUT IT'S ALREADY, I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE WEEKS TO MOVE OUT OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, I'M GONNA ASK FOR MORE TIME AT THE PROPERTY.
THESE PEOPLE HERE AT CITY HALL AND COLORADO, THEY BOUGHT CITY HALL, BOUGHT ALL THE TRAILER PARKS IN COLORADO.
SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY CAN SAY IT CANNOT BE DONE IN COLORADO.
THEY BOUGHT EVERY TRAILER PARK.
THERE WAS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE GONNA BE THROWN INTO THE STREETS.
BUT THE, THE MAYOR AT IN COLORADO STATE DID NOT WANT HIS COMMUNITY.
HIS, HIS PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR HIM.
AND THESE PEOPLE, IF YOU CAN SEE THEIR FACES, THEY BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY.
AND WE'RE HERE ASKING FOR HELP.
I MEAN, WE, WE DON'T WANT OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO BE HOMELESS, OUR, OUR FAMILIES TO BE HOMELESS.
I WANT YOU TO LEAVE A LEGACY, MR. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'RE LEAVING SOON AND I'M STANDING HERE BESIDE YOU.
IF YOU WANNA STAY OUTTA THE TERM, WE'RE HERE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH YOU.
EVEN IF Y'ALL, IF WE'LL WAIT FOR THE PROCESS OUT, I'LL ASK FOR AN EXTENSION, UH, TO STAY THERE ON THE PROPERTY, TO FIGHT ANOTHER FIGHT.
CUZ I'M HERE TO FIGHT FOR THESE PEOPLE.
I'M ONE VOICE, BUT LIKE, YOU SEE THE COMMUNITY'S BEHIND ME, I FIGHT FOR THEM.
SO MY SENSE IS PROBABLY YOU NEED TO TO, TO WORK THE COUNCILS TO TRY TO GET IT ADDED TO THE BUDGET OR TO GET IT ADDED TO A BOND PROGRAM THAT I KNOW IS COMING UP.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO BASA.
UH, ON THE, ON THE SHORT TERM.
THEY, THEY WEREN'T, THEY WEREN'T, UM, IT WASN'T NOTHING THAT THEY WERE DOING FOR US.
UM, THEY DIDN'T WANT, THEY WANTED TO TAKE, UH, MY SISTER THAT WAS IN A LIVER TRANSPLANT CENTER, SHE WAS BASICALLY DYING.
SHE WAS IN THE SAN ANTONIO LIVER CENTER.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK.
YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET HELP WITH YOU IN THE SHORT TERM.
IF THE, IF THE LANDLORD EXTENDS IT SO THAT YOU CAN WORK THE, THE POLITICAL PROCESS, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT IN CASE YOU CAN'T, PROBABLY SHOULD REACH OUT TO BAA FOR THE MORE SHORT TERM IF WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL TO, UH, GET TO GET THEM TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD GET MORE CD FUNDING THE, WE DID APPLY FOR CITY FUNDING JUST TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND.
I MEAN, IT WAS SOME, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET US OUT OF THERE.
WE'RE LEAVING OUR TRAILER HOMES THAT WE, WE REMODELED.
A LOT OF US HAVE RECEIPTS THAT WE REMODELED THE HOMES.
UH, THAT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE THAT WE BUILT.
CAN, CAN SOMEONE IN HOUSING STAFF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER REACH OUT TO THESE FOLKS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT FUNDING'S AVAILABLE, NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING PROJECTS OR TALK TO THEM ON, ON, ON HOW THE CITY DISPERSES AND DECIDES IT'S PROJECTS.
WE, WE COULD DO THAT BOTTLE UP.
ALRIGHT, SO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION OF REACHING OUT AGAIN TO, TO BOSTON IS A REALLY GOOD ONE BECAUSE ALL OF THE PROCESSES THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED ARE, ARE LONG, LONGER.
THEY'RE JUST GONNA TAKE TOO LONG.
SO I, YES, WE WORK WITH THEM FOR THREE WEEKS AT THE BEGINNING.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND WE, WE GOT THIS FAR.
I UNDERSTAND THIS A TERRIBLE SITUATION.
I HOPE, UM, I HOPE THAT BOSS IS ABLE TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR, IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH, UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER AND, OKAY.
UM, FOR OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY ON OUR LAND ACQUISITION OF THOSE PROJECT CONNECT ANTIS DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS.
THERE HAVE NOW BEEN TWO MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED ALONG SOUTH CONGRESS.
WE KNOW WHAT'S ACTIVELY HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ME ALSO, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY BAA DIDN'T WANT NOT WANT TO WORK WITH YOU? WELL, THEY DID, THEY DID WORK WITH US.
BUT THE THING IS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE, UM, I, THAT THERE WERE MY SIBLINGS AND TWO OF THEM I CARE FOR.
I HAD TO RESIGN FOR MY, MY POSITION AT MY JOB FOR 25 YEARS TO TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER.
HOW COME? THEY, THEY, THEY COULDN'T, THEY WANTED HER, HER TO SPEAK.
SHE'S ON A DYING BED AND SHE WASN UNABLE TO SPEAK HERE.
WHY DID THEY WANT HER TO SPEAK? I DON'T KNOW.
I ASKED HER THAT SHE COULD NOT SPEAK.
THEY SAID THAT SHE, WHY WOULDN'T THEY ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK? SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO SPEAK.
SHE WANTED ME TO RESIGN FROM MY POSITION AND HELPING THESE PEOPLE.
[03:00:01]
NEED TO HELP YOU LIVE THERE.DO YOU LIVE THERE ON THE PLANET? I DID LIVE THERE FOR 53 YEARS, SIR.
BUT YOU STILL, YOU DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE? I, I TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THREE TIMES A WEEK THERE.
I TAKE CARE OF MY MOM THAT'S 81 YEARS OLD.
I TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER THAT HAD A STROKE, THAT SHE'S BRAIN DEAD.
I TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER WITH A LIVER TRANSPLANT THAT LIVES WITH MY MOM AND MY MOTHER.
VOLUNTEER THERE? I VOLUNTEER THERE.
SO AGAINST MARIA, I THINK THE BUS HAS INDICATED THAT THEY, THEY WOULD TRY TO HELP.
SO I WOULD GO BACK TO BAA AND THEY HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH MOBILE HOME BUYOUT.
SO I'D SUGGEST YOU THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
PROBABLY YOU SHOULD PROBABLY REACH BACK OUT TO THEM.
SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO SPEAK FOR THEM.
SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE THE ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
UM, SOME OF THEM DON'T KNOW ENGLISH.
THEY'RE GROUP THAT WE FIND TO HELP OUT, HELP HELP PEOPLE IN, IN THIS KIND OF, BUT THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
GO ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS ETHAN OSBORNE, PLANT K.
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE LISTENING TO OUR ANNUAL TEXAS FIREWORK SHOW AND CELEBRATION OF DILLO LOS MUERTOS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 31ST AT 9:30 PM BEHIND CRAIG FIELD, UH, LOCATED ON PLEASANT VALLEY IN EAST AUSTIN.
THIS FREE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE FOG FOUNDATION FOR THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS PLANET CASE FREE HALLOWEEN FIREWORKS.
BEGIN OUR MONTH OF GIVING THAT BENEFITS LOCAL AUSTIN CHARITIES, INCLUDING AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, MEALS ON WHEELS, CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK HOUSE, THE HOMELESS, AND THE AUSTIN HARM REDUCTION CO COALITION.
WE HOPE ALL AUSTIN NIGHTS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE FIREWORKS AND COME OUT MONDAY, OCTOBER 31ST AT 9:30 PM BEHIND CRAIG FIELD.
ALSO, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING TO YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL CHARITY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ON THE HALLOWEEN FIREWORKS AND ACCEPTING DONATIONS, PLEASE VISIT TEXAS, UH, PLANET K TEXAS.COM OR COME INTO ANY OF OUR 11 AUSTIN LOCATIONS.
HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
I'M NOT A LOBBYIST FOR BIG BOCHE.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY A CANDIDATE FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 48.
UH, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT, UH, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND, UH, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THE AUSTIN PD SHOULD CARRY THEIR OWN LIABILITY INSURANCE INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN TO BAIL THEM OUT EVERY TIME.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT, UH, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TOPICAL FOR THIS WEEK.
UH, AUSTIN ENERGY IS PROPOSING A POWER SUPPLY ADJUSTMENT OF 4.92 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.
ACCORDING TO THE AUSTIN MONITOR ARTICLE FROM YESTERDAY.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 71% ABOVE THE, THE CURRENT CHARGE.
UH, THIS IS DUE TO BUDGET SHORTFALLS AT AUSTIN ENERGY, WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING A DEFICIT, UH, MOST MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
AS ADLER HIMSELF NOTED, UH, IN THIS ARTICLE, THE UTILITY DOES NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE ABOUT PAYING THOSE BILLS.
AUSTIN RESIDENTS ALSO DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
UNLIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES LIKE DALLAS, FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, AND EL PASO, AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE FORCED INTO THIS MONOPOLY.
IN FACT, THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL IS WEIGHING MEASURES TO FIGHT A 4.5% INCREASE BY ENCORE OR PRIVATE UTILITY THAT PROVIDES MUCH OF THE CITY.
THAT'S HALF A PENNY PER KILOWATT.
CONTRAST THAT, UH, WITH THE DYES HERE, CONSIDERING A 71% INCREASE, ALMOST 5 CENTS PER KILOWATT, UH, AUSTIN NEEDS DEREGULATION AND BADLY.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER IT.
UH, REGARDLESS, I WILL INTRODUCE A MEASURE AT THE STATE LEVEL, SHOULD I BE ELECTED ON NOVEMBER 8TH TO GIVE MY CONSTITUENTS HERE IN AUSTIN AND ALL TEXANS A CHOICE FOR POWER SUPPLIER, AND ALSO MOVE TO DEREGULATE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS GAMBLING, DRUGS, PROSTITUTION,
UH, REP DAN.COM, R E P D A N.COM IS MY SITE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR NOON SPEAKERS.
[Items 46 & 47]
BEFORE WE, UH, TAKE OFF, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. WE CAN JUST TAKE QUICK VOTES ON ITEM 46 AND 47.46 IS PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND 47 IS THE DOWNTOWN D BONUS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PRIVATE ACTIVITY? BOND COUNCIL POOL MAKES A MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE, SECOND THAT IN DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[03:05:02]
THOSE OPPOSED, I'M SHOWING EVERYBODY BEING IN FAVOR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, OFF THE, UH, OFF THE DAY AS THAT PASSES.ITEM NUMBER 47 IS THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS.
UM, IS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM.
COUNCIL, REMEMBER, TOBO MAKES THAT MOTION.
UM, COUNCIL PULLED SECONDS THAT ITEM IN A DISCUSSION JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPER REALLY WORKING TO, TO FIND A, A GOOD LANDING PLACE FOR THIS HISTORIC STRUCTURE.
UM, TYPICALLY MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR IT TO REMAIN ON SITE AS IT IS THE PREFERENCE OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, BUT THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OF THIS MOVE.
UM, AND THERE'S SOME, SOME EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IT, THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THAT SITE INITIALLY.
AND I ALSO THINK THE USE AT, UH, GUADALUPE CDC OR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, YEAH, GUADALUPE G NDC, UM, GOT A LUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS A REALLY GREAT OUTCOME FOR, FOR THE FAMILIES THAT WILL OCCUPY THAT HOUSE.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE SECOND PLACE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED, I'M SHOWING YOU UNANIM ON DI COUNCIL.
UH, I'M GONNA SUGGEST THAT WE COME BACK AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK AND WE'LL BEGIN SPEAKERS, UH, AT THAT POINT IN TIME IN ZONING, WE'LL HANDLE THE ZONING CONSENT AND THEN WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, I'M SHOWING THAT, UM, ADDITION TO THE POLL ITEMS, WE HAVE THE STATESMAN PUT TO, UH, DEAL WITH ITEM NUMBER 74, WHICH IS THE BALANCING REQUIREMENTS WITH ENTITLEMENTS, UM, UH, ISSUE.
UH, AND I'M SHOWING THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE PULLED ITEMS 32 AND 33 CONCERNING, UH, UH, HOMELESSNESS, SUNRISE, RISE AND STREET, UH, OUTREACH.
UM, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 39, WHICH IS A CONCRETE POOR, UH, ISSUE.
SO WE HAVE LESS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
I THINK THERE MAY BE JUST THE, THE PUT ON ZONING THAT IS NOT CONSENT, BUT WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET THERE.
AND, UH, I RESPONSE TO ALL THE, TO, UH, QUESTIONS UPON HEB.
I POSTED THEM ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
YOU DID WHAT? ALL THE ANSWERS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS HERE AT 1 24 IN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE'RE BACK AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK HERE FOR SPEAKERS.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, UM, FIRST I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR REBECCA.
[Live Music: Flora & Fawna]
UM, BUT SINCE YOU WERE HERE, YOU PROBABLY GOT A CHANCE TO SEE WHY IT IS THAT I SO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL BRINGS IN MUSIC INTO THIS CHAMBER.UH, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GET THROUGH THE DAY WITHOUT THE, THE MUSIC THAT COMES INTO THIS PLACE, BUT IT'S REALLY FITTING THAT IT DOES.
CUZ THAT'S WHO WE ARE IN THIS CITY.
WE ARE, WE ARE THIS CULTURE WHERE THE, WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS, IS, IS MUSIC.
I PASS THROUGH THE CITY IN THE LATE SEVENTIES, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WHO COME HERE TO GO TO SCHOOL, NO INTENTION OF STAYING.
AND I STAYED AND ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WAS THE, THE, THE MUSIC.
UH, AND IT IS, UM, IT, IT CONTINUES TODAY.
SO TODAY WITH US, UH, IN AUSTIN'S CITY COUNCIL'S EQUIVALENT OF CARNEGIE HALL, WE HAVE BROUGHT, UM, UH, FLOM AND FAUNA WITH US.
SO WE KEEP TAKING TWISTING AND NASTY.
MY WELL, WE, YOU'RE SO COOL AND CALCULATED.
[03:10:15]
MOTHERS, THOUGH, WE WON'T ADMIT IT.WE'RE GONNA PRESS THAT SOUND INTO THE WALLS AND I'LL BE PULL, UH, YOU KNOW, 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT, I'LL BE PULLING IT BACK OUT AGAIN.
SO, SO, UM, PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WATCH THIS LATER WHEN IT, WHEN IT, WHEN IT PLAYS OR WATCHING IT NOW IF THEY WANT TO, TO, TO COME AND HEAR YOU.
WHERE WOULD YOUR NEXT GIG BE IN THE CITY? WELL, OUR NEXT GIG IS AT ACL THIS SUNDAY.
OH, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO PLAY OUR CITY'S BIGGEST FESTIVAL.
WE'RE PLAYING SUNDAY AT THE MILLER LIGHT STAGE AT 1145.