Feb 23, 2023 City Council Meetings

UM, I WANTED TO JUST ASK FOR ITEM 43, WHICH IS A STUDENT HOUSING.

UM, THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S ITEM.

AND THE CONVENTION HAS NORMALLY BEEN THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SPONSORS IS LISTED FIRST.

UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, IF WE CAN PUT HIM FIRST ON THAT LIST, HE'S ON THERE.

HE'S JUST NOT, IT'S JUST BEEN OUT OF ORDER.

IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST OUT OF, OUT OF THE NORM.

AND, AND I KNOW THAT HE WORKED ON THAT.

SO, UM, WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.

AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION AS TO, UM, HEARING.

OKAY, ON ONE SECOND, ON ITEM NUMBER 43 MEMBERS, UM, I READ THE WAY IT, IT SHOWS UP IS IT STARTS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA, IT WILL NOW HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AS THE FIRST NAME THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON AL ALTER.

AND, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS WHAT WAS ON THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ORIGINALLY.

UM, NOT A MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE WHEN SAYING IT FOR, UM, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT TIME WE WERE WHEN WE WERE DOING THAT.

THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD AT THE END AS I POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

UH, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE AT THE END OF THE, THE OTHER ITEMS WE TAKE UP AS PART OF THE MEETING.

OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

MAY I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION? YES, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE POLL ITEMS THAT YOU WANTED TO TAKE SPEAKERS AT THE TIME THAT WE ADDRESSED THOSE ITEMS. I HAD HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT THEY MIGHT WISH TO GO AT 10:00 AM AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WELL, AS, AS I SAID, THEY'RE, AS I SAID, MULTIPLE TIMES NOW, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, YOU CAN SPEAK IF YOU, I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS EASY FOR EVERYBODY.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WANNA SPEAK AT THE TIME.

WE'RE TAKING UP AN ITEM SO YOU CAN SPEAK AT THE TIME.

WE'RE TAKING UP AN ITEM, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO SOME LENGTH TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHEN THAT WILL BE.

BUT IF IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO SPEAK AT THE 10 O'CLOCK TIME, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO, EVERYBODY HAVE TO MOVE TO THAT.

SO IN ESSENCE, WHAT I'M HOPING TO BE DOING IS OFFERING PEOPLE TWO OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IN, IN FACT, I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO SAY, SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

UM, WE'RE GOING TO, TO, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP, I WANT LOOK AT THE CITY CLERK AND MAKE SURE I'M NOT DOING, SAYING SOMETHING TO CAUSE HER TO STAND UP AND RUN OUTTA THE ROOM.

UM, YOU'RE, THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT I JUST SAID.

IS THERE, THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

UM, WE DID SEND ALL THE SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND REMOTE FOR ITEMS 44 AND 61, LETTING THEM KNOW OF THE TIME CERTAIN THAT WAS POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

AND WE RECEIVED ONE REQUEST, UM, TO BE ADDED TO REMOTE INSTEAD OF IN PERSON.

SO I THINK EVERYTHING IS GOING OKAY.

GOOD.

GOING TO BEGIN THE PROCESS, UM, UH, HEARING FROM, UH, SPEAKERS, THE FIRST GROUP, THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE IMMEDIATE PAST, WHICH IS THE 10 O'CLOCK.

WELL, WELL, WELL, AGAIN, HANG ON TO THE PRAYERS FOLKS.

UM, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT THAT WAY, WAY, BUT I, I'M GLAD YOU BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

AND SO THOSE TWO TIMES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

SO WE'RE

[Public Comment]

LET LET PEOPLE, UH, HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS, UH, THEY CAN TESTIFY ON CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT ITEMS SO THAT WE, WE HEAR THEM.

AND, AND PLEASE, UH, WHEN YOU COME UP AND OR, OR YOU REMOTELY ARE CALLING IN, WE WILL ASK THAT YOU IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS YOU'RE SPEAKING ON.

UM, THE ZONING AGENDA ITEMS, WILL PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

AGAIN, YOU CAN SPEAK NOW OR YOU CAN SPEAK WHEN WE CALL UP THE ZONING ITEMS AT TWO O'CLOCK.

AND EACH SPEAKER TODAY WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

SO WITH THAT,

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UM, I WILL ASK THAT WE BEGIN HEARING FROM SPEAKERS.

FIRST SPEAKER IS SANDRA MULLER SPEAKING ON ITEM 32.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

THANKS FOR MAKING REMOTE SPEAKING EASY.

THIS IS SANDRA MUL FROM G ONE, AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 32 IS NEUTRAL.

APA HAS BEEN EXTENDING THIS AGREEMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS.

PRESENT WAS FOR A YEAR.

SO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND THE CAMPUS FOR AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY, THE LONGEST-STANDING NO-KILL NONPROFIT PET AND ADOPTION CENTER IN AUSTIN IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

WHY HASN'T APA EVER STARTED THEIR CAMPAIGN? AUSTIN HAS BEEN WAITING ON A REBUILD OF THE TALENT ANIMAL SHELTER CENTER FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

SO AAC IS CURRENTLY UNDER AUDIT.

ANY FINALIZATION TO THE AGREEMENT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL YOUR AUDITORS ASSESS AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, THEY MAY FIND THAT AAC CLOSED INTAKE.

AT THE SAME TIME, APA TOOK FEWER ANIMALS FROM AAC TO THIS CAUSE MORE LOOSE DOGS IN A DANGER TO THIS CITY.

THEY MAY FIND THAT AAC SHOULD TAKE BACK TOWN, THE ANIMAL CENTER FOR SATELLITE ADOPTION CENTER, THE CITY OF LEGAL REAL ESTATE.

THE AUDITORS AND COUNCIL NEED TO GIVE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WHAT IT NEEDS, NOT GIVE APA WHAT IT WANTS.

THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO THE TEMPORARY LICENSE AGREEMENT DOES NOT SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR BENEFIT TO THIS CITY.

AND ALSO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WHO ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE APA JUST DECLINE TO EXPAND BAY NEUTER.

SO I SUGGEST ANY REPLACEMENTS NOT BE AFFILIATED WITH APA AND SHOULD BE FROM MAYBE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY OR EMANCIPATE, OR HOPEFULLY SOME NEUTRAL PARTIES.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING ON 34 AND 42.

GOOD MORNING, LN COUNSEL.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO, AUSTIN, VA AUSTIN.

WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR POSTPONING ITEM 34 TO THE MARCH 9TH COUNCIL MEETING, ALLOWING TIME FOR THE MARCH 2ND SPECIAL CALL JOINT COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO URGE YOU, WE DO URGE YOU TO POSTPONE TO AT LEAST MARCH 23RD COUNCIL MEETING, ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TIME TO READ, REACH OUT TO YOU AND YOUR CITY STAFF AS WELL AS TIME FOR TRANSLATING OR INTERPRETING TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING TRANSIT DEPENDENT WRITERS.

MANY OF US WERE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING BACK IN NOVEMBER, URGING THEM TO POSTPONE GOING TO COUNCIL.

THE FOCUS GROUPS THAT HAPPENED WERE GREAT, BUT THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH.

THEY DIDN'T REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TRANSIT DEPENDENT, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING WRITERS.

I I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE A MULTICULTURAL MULTILINGUAL, UH, CONSTITUENCY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FOR YEARS NOW, RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURTING DUE TO CHANGES THAT WERE DONE TO ROUTE DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO ROUTES, REMOVAL OF BUS ROUTES, BUS STOPS, NEW ONES, UNSHELTERED, OTHER RELATED TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT HAVE YET TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SLOW DOWN, ALLOWED TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO HEAR AND BE HEARD.

THAT CONCLUDES THE, UM, REMOTE SPEAKERS.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE, UM, SPEAKER TRYING TO CALL IN.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO IN-PERSON AND ONCE WE CONNECT WITH THEM, WE CAN PROCEED.

SURE.

IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

UM, FIRST IS SYLVIA OROSCO SPEAKING ON ITEM 12.

GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS SYLVIA ROSCO.

I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MEXICO ART MUSEUM.

MEXICO ART MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEXICAN, LATINX, AND MEXICAN AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE TO THE PRESENTATION OF EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATION FOR ALL.

MEXICO WAS FOUNDED IN 1984, OVER 40 YEARS AGO.

MEXICO THROUGH THAT TIME, HAS MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AUSTIN, INCLUDING THE VIVA LA VIDA DE LOS MARTOS, UH, FESTIVAL THAT ATTRACTS OVER OVER THOUSAND, 20,000 PEOPLE IN TOURISTS EVERY YEAR TO DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

WE PIONEERED THE FITZ STREET CORRIDOR AND CURRENTLY ARE WORKING ON A CULTURAL HERITAGE

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DISTRICT.

AND CURRENTLY WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON OUR BUILDING TO RENOVATE IT.

TODAY I AM SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 12, THE THRIVE PROGRAM.

THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE CITY, AND THE CITY MUST DESIGN THIS PROGRAM SO THAT IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED USING THE ME THE MEASURES THAT ARE STATED IN THE RESOLUTION AND THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE TWO YEARS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY IN THE FUTURE YEARS.

THE THRIVE PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO HELP AND FOCUS, HAVE A FOCUS INVESTMENT TO SUSTAIN AND GROW ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DEEPLY ROOTED AND REFLECTIVE OF AUSTIN'S DIVERSE CULTURES.

THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO DIRECTLY CORRECT HISTORICALLY UNDERFUND DISPLACEMENT AND CULTURALLY ERASE OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN IN AUSTIN BY OFFERING SU UH, SU SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING IN THE CASE OF MEXICO.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INJUSTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PROCESS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE, THE, THE PANEL THAT JUDGED OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION, THERE WERE NO LATINOS, THERE WERE NO VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE WAS INELIGIBLE CRITERIA USED TO, TO, UH, JUDGE OUR ORGANIZATION, RADAR, OUR ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING THAT WE WEREN'T, WE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.

AND SO I ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS PROGRAM AND TO, TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED WITH, UH, WITH OUR, UH, RATING AND REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM SO THAT IT CAN HELP ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS IN THE FUTURE AND IN THE PRESENT.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING OUR WAY FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE REMOTE SPEAKER, ZNO JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEMS 9, 10, 11, AND 34.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.

UH, LET ME JUST PREFACE WITH A TECHNICAL COMMENT.

I APPRECIATE THE CLERK, UM, LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I WAS TRYING TO REACH YOU.

HOWEVER, THE PROCESS IS VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE CONSULTANT, THE CONTRACTOR STAYS ON THE LINE AND THEN OTHER TIMES WHEN THAT CONTRACTOR DROPS OFF.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO BE CONSISTENT AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE PAST, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE SPOKE ON.

SO TODAY, I JUST DIDN'T BOTHER SIGNING UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS BECAUSE USUALLY YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT ALL.

AT ANY RATE, AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 34, THAT'S THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

I AM IN OPPOSITION TO THAT ITEM LARGELY BECAUSE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER IS SPECIFIED.

AND AS YOU, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, IT TOOK OVER 30 YEARS JUST TO GET A SIDEWALK FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO NORTH LEMORE TRANSIT CENTER.

ON MARCH 9TH, 2020, PAGE 29 SPECIFICALLY, IT STATED THAT THERE HAD TO BE COORDINATION WITH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S BEEN NO TRANSPARENT DISCUSSION WITH TECH DOT.

I WOULD ALSO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT PLAZA SALTILLO IS EXCLUDED FROM THAT EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PILOT, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEM 54.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A ZONING ITEM.

I DID HAVE A COMMENT AS IT RELATED TO ITEM 10, WHICH IS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, 79 MILLION.

MY OPPOSITION IS SPECIFICALLY TO DEWITT, UH, PERT THE DIRECTOR, UH, AUGUST 8TH THROUGH OCTOBER 24TH, 2020.

HE SPENT AT LEAST TWO HOURS TRYING TO GET VOTES FOR PROJECT CONNECT ON K A Z I.

HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RETURNED TO DISCUSS THE CAPS AND STITCHES, AND SO THERE IS NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO TRANSPARENTLY DISCUSS HOW IT IS THAT TAX PAYERS WILL BENEFIT IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.

SPEAKER, YOUR TITLE EXPIRED, $9,000 79 MILLION.

IF YOU HAVE NEXT SPEAKER IN PERSON IS PAUL SALANI SPEAKING ON ITEM 12 ON DECK IS MARIO KTU SPEAKING ON ITEM 34.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.

MY NAME IS PAUL SALANI AND HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ME MUSEUM.

THE VERY FIRST AUSTIN TEXAS CENSUS WAS CONDUCTED IN 1875, AND THE VERY FIRST TWO NAMES ON THAT CENSUS WERE MY ANCESTORS, JOSE AND LIZZIE LOPEZ.

THEY, ALONG WITH OTH 200 OTHER 295 OTHER MEXICAN AMERICANS LIVED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, UH, NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE OLD SEA HOME POWER PLANT.

MY ANCESTORS WERE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE THAT EXEMPLIFIED STRENGTH, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, GRACE AND STRONGLY INFLUENCED THE BIRTH OF AUSTIN.

AND

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METTE HAS REMAINED COMMITTED TO ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE COLLECTION PRESERVATION INTERPRETATION OF MEXICAN, LATINO, AND LATIN AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE.

THE THRIVE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SERVING COMMUNITIES, SPACING, ERASURE, AND DISPLACEMENT.

HOWEVER, TO THE POINTS THAT SYLVIA COMMUNICATED, THERE WERE STRUCTURAL AND IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION IN EQUITIES DURING THE EVALUATION PROCESS.

IT REALLY PUT MET AT A DISADVANTAGE, A CULTURAL VALUE DISCONNECT BY NOT HAVING NOT ONE LATINO REPRESENTATION REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PANEL, NOT HAVING ONE VISUAL ARTS REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT PANEL.

IN SOME INSTANCES, WE WERE SCORED A ONE IN TWO CATEGORIES, QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT WE EVEN QUALIFIED TO, UH, SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE EVEN SERVING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING DISPLACED WITH THE CURRENT PROCESS.

THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT INEQUITY.

NO APPEAL OF PROCESS.

THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION BEFORE THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE YOU TODAY.

SO OUR SERVICES HAVE GROWN NOT IN PROPORTION TO THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE, BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

FUNDING HAS BEEN SCROUNGED UP FROM UNDER COUCH CUSHIONS TO ENSURE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

THAT WE HAVE A PLACE TO SEE OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES THAT WE RAISED IN OUR MEETINGS WITH YOU AND THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING TODAY.

AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT YOU IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SYLVIA COMMUNICATED TO YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIO KAHU SPEAKING ON ITEM 34 ON DECK IS RYAN N. RYAN NIL.

CLEO PETRO, I'M RYAN.

HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AND MAYOR WATSON.

I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, SO JUST GIVE IT A SECOND TO POP UP.

AND THERE IT IS.

UM, SO MY NAME IS RYAN L I'M A HOUSING COOPERATIVE EXPERT.

I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN CO-OP BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

UM, AND I'M ALSO THE HOUSING COACH FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S COACHING, UH, COOPERATIVE COACHING PROGRAM.

UM, AND SO I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 43 ABOUT STUDENT HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY AND IN PARTICULAR THE IMPACT CO-OPS HAVE.

CAN WE TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO THIS IS, UM, A CHART THAT I MADE WITH A C B A IN 2016 TO SHOW THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING COOPERATIVES COMPARED TO THE THEIR NEIGHBORS.

YOU'LL SEE THAT ACROSS THE CITY THEY REACH LEVELS 40 TO 60%, UM, COMPARABLE.

UH, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? THIS IS, UH, AN, A GRAPHIC FROM THE INTER-OPERATIVE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE, SPECIFICALLY ONE OF THE STUDENT HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, FOR THE LONG SEMESTER, IT COSTS HALF AS MUCH TO LIVE IN I C AUSTIN AS IT DOES TO LIVE IN THE DORMS OR A WEST CAMPUS APARTMENT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND SO WHY IS IT SO AFFORDABLE? THERE'S I THINK, TWO EASY THINGS TO POINT TO.

ONE IS THAT THESE PROPERTIES ARE OWNED BY THE STUDENTS AND THEY ALSO HAVE GROUP RESIDENCIES, SO THEY'RE NOT LIMITED BY OCCUPANCY LIMITS.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND SO IT'S NOT EASY TO BUILD A CO-OP.

AND SO I'VE LOOKED TO THE HISTORY TO SEE LIKE WHAT IT TOOK FOR THE BIG EXPANSION PERIODS IN THE THIRTIES.

THERE WAS CO-OP SYSTEMS BUILT IN AUSTIN IN COLLEGE STATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE UNIVERSITY SUPPORT IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.

WE HAD A HUD PROGRAM AND COLLAPSING REAL ESTATE VALUES IN WEST CAMPUS THAT LED TO THE MAJORITY OF CO-OPS YOU NOW SEE IN WEST CAMPUS.

AND MORE RECENTLY YOU'VE SEEN THE UNO TRUST FUND SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF TWO NEW HOUSING CO-OPS.

UM, SO THE FIRST ONE ON THE, THE PICTURE THERE IS THE CAMPUS GUILD.

THE FIRST BUILDING BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO BE A CO-OP.

AND THEN NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE TOP TWO IMAGES ARE CO-OPS FROM THE SEVENTIES ERA AND THE BOTTOM TWO ARE THE TWO NEW, UH, CO-OPS.

UM, I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE SLIDE WITH SOME INFO ON IT.

SO MY CONTACT AND A CREDIT FOR THE HISTORY.

SO YEAH, I'D LIKE TO, Y'ALL WANNA WORK ON HOUSING CO-OPS, I THINK.

SPEAK CARE OF YOUR TIME HAS HAS EXPIRED.

I ASK COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP TODAY, RYAN.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING BACK AND FORTH FOR A COUPLE YEARS TO TRY ABSOLUTELY.

TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

SO I JUST WONDER IF YOU CAN STATE FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT COUNCIL CAN HELP OVERCOME, UM, SPECIFICALLY THAT COUNCIL ACTION WOULD BE REQUIRED.

SO I THINK THERE'S TWO.

I THINK PRIMARILY ONE IS A ZONING ISSUE.

THE REASON ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CO-OPS ARE CONSTRICTED TO THE UNO NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT THEY HAVE

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HIGH OCCUPANCY HOUSING.

THEY ARE ABOVE THE OCCUPANCY LIMIT AND IT'S HARD TO FIND PROPERTIES SUITABLE FOR COOPERATIVES OUTSIDE OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE'VE HAD A REALLY BIG STRUGGLE.

AND THE OTHER POINT I THINK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A TYPE OF SOCIAL HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND SO IF WE CAN BRING THE RE IF THE COMMUNITY CAN BRING THE RESOURCES TO START THEM, THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY EXIST FOREVER WITHOUT FURTHER SUBSIDY.

BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO JUST GET THEM OFF THE GROUND WITHOUT SOME SORT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CLEO PETROC.

ON ITEM 36 ON DECK IS ETHAN SMITH.

ITEM 43 AND FOLLOWING IS HEATHER HUBS ON ITEM 43.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT IF YOU ARE, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

HELLO, I AM HEATHER HUBS AND I, I'M A UT STUDENT AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 43.

I'M CURRENTLY LIVING IN A DORM, WHICH IS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR A FRESHMAN STUDENT.

AND I AM PAYING $8,000 A SEMESTER TO STAY THERE.

AND THAT IS ON THE HIGHER SIDE, BUT THE LOWER SIDE IS NOT MUCH SLOWER.

UM, NEXT YEAR I WILL BE LIVING IN A WEST CAMPUS APARTMENT IN WHICH I HAVE FIVE OTHER ROOMMATES, BUT I AM STILL PAYING 12 OR $1,200 A MONTH.

AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING UTILITIES.

THERE IS NO OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTION FOR STUDENTS.

BUT THAT IS NOT CO-OPS.

THE ONLY OTHER WAY THAT A STUDENT CAN AFFORD TO LIVE, LIVE IS THROUGH BEING DISPLACED TO ANOTHER CITY LIKE SAN MARCOS AND COMMUTING OR THROUGH LIVING OUT OF THEIR CAR.

AND THAT IS THE SAD REALITY.

PLEASE APPROVE THIS ITEM AND ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR STUDENTS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THESE SPEAKERS.

35 THROUGH 39 TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM, UH, COUNSEL SO THAT WE CAN, UH, ADOPT IF WE'RE READY TO ADOPT THOSE, UH, PROPOSED SETTLEMENTS.

UM, I WANNA POINT OUT, BY THE WAY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER HAD POINTED OUT THAT THE CHANGE ON ITEM NUMBER 43 ON THE, UH, CHANGES CORRECTIONS SHEET, UH, ON THE ORIGINAL AGENDA, IT HAD IT THE RIGHT WAY AND IT ALSO INCLUDED MY NAME, BUT I'M NOT INCLUDED ON THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, UH, UNLESS SOMEBODY THREW ME OFF.

I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO ALSO SHOW MY NAME AS, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF AND I APPRECIATE THAT BEING POINTED OUT.

UH, MEMBERS AT THIS POINT BEFORE WE, I ASKED FOR ITEM, I'M SORRY, UH, ON HERE, ITEM 43, I JUST HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I THINK WILL BE REALLY QUICK.

OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.

WE'LL, CUZ I, WE'VE PULLED IT OFF, UM, AND THERE'S TWO AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL COME TO THAT.

WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS BEFORE WE GO TO PULLING ITEMS OFF AND DOING THOSE ADDITIONAL APP PULLING, UH, WE NEED ON ITEMS

[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]

AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND JUST SO YOU REMEMBER THAT THE THREE OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED A BRIEFING ON THEM AND THE LAST ONE WAS THROUGH A MEMO EARLIER THIS WEEK AND MEGAN RILEY WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL MEGAN RILEY ON BEHALF OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT.

UH, TO ADDRESS ITEM NUMBER 35 FIRST, UH, AS, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED, WE DISCUSSED THIS, THE SPECIFICS IN A FEBRUARY 7TH, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 3.3 MILLION TO RESOLVE THE IDA NOBLES CASE.

UH, THIS IS A LAWSUIT RELATED TO A MAY 7TH, 2017 OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF LANDON NOBLES IN EXCHANGE FOR THE CITY'S PAYMENT.

THE PLAINTIFFS WILL EXECUTE A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND WILL ALSO DISMISS THE LAWSUIT WITH SETTLEMENT WITH PREJUDICE, AND WE RECOMMEND THE SETTLEMENT ON THESE TERMS. UH, THE NEXT THREE ITEMS, ITEMS, UH, 36 THROUGH 38.

UH, WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON FEBRUARY 7TH.

THESE ARE ALL, UH, MAY, 2020 PROTEST CASES.

FIRST ITEM NUMBER 36, I RECOMMEND A PAYMENT OF $375,000 TO SETTLE THE JASON GALLAGHER LAWSUIT.

UH, THIS ARISES, UM, FROM INJURIES MR. GALLAGHER RECEIVED FROM HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE PROTEST.

AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, THE PLAINTIFF WILL RECEIVE ANY AND ALL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY AND OFFICERS ARISING OUT OF THAT MAY 30TH, 2020 INCIDENT.

AND THE PLAINTIFF WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE HIS LAWSUIT FILED IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS.

ITEM NUMBER 37, WE RECOMMEND YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $450,000 TO SETTLE

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THE STEVEN ARWIN CASE.

UH, MR. ARWIN IS SEEKING PAYMENT FOR IN HIS INJURIES STEMMING FROM ATTENDANCE AT THE PROTESTS.

AND AGAIN, IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY AND OFFICERS ARISING OUT OF THE MAY 30TH, 2020 INCIDENT AND WILL DISMISS HIS LAWSUIT WITH PREJUDICE.

ON ITEM NUMBER 38, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $675,000 TO SETTLE THE NICOLE UNDERWOOD CASE.

UH, THIS CASE STEMS FROM MS. UNDERWOOD'S INJURIES FROM HER ATTENDANCE AT THE MAY 30TH, 2020 PROTEST.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, SHE WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY AND OFFICERS AND WILL DISMISS HER LAWSUIT WITH PREJUDICE.

UH, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED, ITEM NUMBER 39 UM, INVOLVES A CAR WRECK CASE YOU RECEIVED, UH, A MEMO EARLIER, BUT WE'RE HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF 909 90 $9,900 TO SETTLE, UH, THE FORD LAWSUIT.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, THE CITY WILL OBTAIN A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENT FROM THE PLAINTIFF THAT RELEASES THE CITY AND EMPLOYEES FROM ANY CLAIMS THAT WERE OR COULD HAVE BEEN ASSERTED AS PART OF THE LAWSUIT.

AND WE RECOMMEND THAT, UH, YOU APPROVE THE PAYMENT BASED ON THESE SETTLEMENT TERMS. THANK YOU MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OF LEGAL TOWARD LEGAL COUNSEL? GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UH, MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU WISH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA OTHER THAN THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED? AND WHAT, WHAT I INTEND TO DO, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IS WE WILL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, INCLUDING THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT WERE LISTED, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM 43 BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE'LL TAKE IT UP QUICKLY, UM, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO A H F C.

IS THERE ANY, I I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 12, UH, BASED UPON WHAT WE HEARD HERE TODAY.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT IT BE POSTPONED UNTIL, UH, THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO QUESTIONS THAT, THAT WERE RAISED TODAY.

UM, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UH, I CERTAINLY JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY TODAY AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I SHARE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING EQUITY AND I WANNA JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS ALSO WORKING TO BRING FORWARD, UM, SOME FUTURE LANGUAGE TO HELP DIRECT YOUR THREE OF THIS PROGRAM.

SO I DO THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO WHAT I'LL DO ON ITEM NUMBER 12 IS WE WILL PULL ITEM NUMBER 12 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND WHEN WE, AFTER WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER, THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ITEM NUMBER 43, WE WILL TAKE UP A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 12 UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO ABSTAIN OR BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY VOTES OF NO.

THAT ANYONE? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON 36, 37, 38 AND 42 PLEASE.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

UH, BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND BY THE WAY, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS THE ANNOUNCED NO, UH, WITH THE ANNOUNCED NO VOTES.

AND ITEM NUMBER 12 BEING PULLED.

UM, THE, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE THAT UP ON UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS THAT MIGHT WANT TO MAKE BRIEF COMMENTS REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

IN THAT THE SHIFT FROM LEASE TO OWN SPACE ALSO SHIFTS COSTS FROM OUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET TO OUR DEBT FINANCE, CREATING IMPORTANT BREATHING ROOM IN OUR BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE, UM, THE RATE CAPS FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

UM, AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, I WANNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK TO SEVERAL ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT RELATE TO THE WORK OF OUR STRATEGIC FACILITIES GOVERNANCE TEAM.

UM, COLLEAGUES, WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HEAR A BRIEFING FROM THE TEAM AT LAST WEEK'S AUDIT AND FINANCE MEETING, WHICH WE, UM, POSTPONE DUE TO THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

THESE ITEMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE QUALITY OF WORK LIFE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CITY.

SO I DID NOT WANT THEM TO GO WITHOUT NOTICE.

UM, THE TEAM IS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AND WAS CREATED TO COORDINATE FACILITIES PLANNING AND USE IN MY ROLE IN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I STARTED WORKING WITH THEM IN 2017 WITH THE GOAL OF TRANSITIONING THE CITY OUT OF LEASE SPACE INTO OWN SPACE.

A 2019 STUDY SHOWED THE CITY COULD REALIZE A SAVINGS OF $380 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS BY MOVING OUT OF LEASE SPACED INTO OWNED OFFICE BUILDINGS.

THIS SAVINGS HAS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT

[00:35:01]

MORE RECENTLY, THIS TEAM IS WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH THINKING THROUGH HOW WE ADAPT OUR FACILITY NEEDS AND MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO ALLOW FOR MORE TELEWORKING AND HOTELING OFFICE HOTELING.

UM, AND THOSE EFFORTS SHOULD ALSO LEAD TO FURTHER SAVINGS AND BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

THE TEAM HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS OR P THREE PARTNERSHIPS THAT LED TO THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND THE NEW AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING, WHICH DEMONSTRATED INNOVATIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO BUILD CITY FACILITIES.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INTER DEPARTMENTAL TEAM UNDER ACM, VERONICA ZENO CONSISTING OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, UM, FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES.

KIMBERLY OLIVAS FROM BUILDING SERVICES.

DARYL ALEXANDER FROM FINANCIAL, FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES, I GUESS IS MICHAEL GATES.

REAL ESTATE'S UNDER THAT AS WELL.

UM, SUPPORTED BY ANDY MOORE, WALTER DRAIN, UM, MARK ICK AND SUSANNA CARBAJAL.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS. ITEMS SEVEN AND EIGHT RELATE TO THE FUTURE OF TOWN LAKE CENTER.

THESE ITEMS ALLOW FOR THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT OF AN ESTIMATED 20 MILLION TO RENOVATE TOWN LAKE CENTER.

THESE RENOVATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR STRATEGY TO MOVE OUT OF LEASE AND INTO OWNED OFFICE SPACE BECAUSE WE'LL BE MOVING DEPARTMENTS INTO THIS SPACE FROM LEASE SPACE.

THIS INVESTMENT WILL BE PAID BACK WITHIN FIVE YEARS DUE TO THE AVOIDED LEASE PAYMENTS.

OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY EQUIPPED TO ALLOW FOR TELEWORKING AND HOTELING.

AND THIS INVESTMENT WILL MAKE THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AVAILABLE FOR CULTURAL ARTS OR OTHER USES.

THE THIRD ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS ITEM 13, WHICH INITIATES THE PROCESS TO CREATE A PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.

THIS PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION WILL ALLOW REPLICATION ON CITY OF AUSTIN OWNED PROPERTY OF THE P THREE DELIVERY PROCESS THAT WAS USED FOR THE PDC AND THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO, UM, ALLOW US TO BUILD FASTER IN MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

UM, THE PFC ADDS ANOTHER OPTION TO OUR CAPITAL DELIVERY, UH, SYSTEM AND WILL SERVE A COMPLIMENTARY FUNCTION TO THE A E D C, UM, CUZ IT'S GONNA FACILITATE OTHER CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS TO VACATE CURRENT SITES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE TWO SETS OF ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT AS WE SEEK TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE CITY.

AND I WANNA THANK THE STAFF WHO'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD, UM, AND THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING, UM, WITH THEM TO FACILITATE THESE STEPS.

COUNCIL MEMBER? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I JUST WANTED TO DO A QUICK RECOGNITION.

WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.

WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, ADAM BAAH, WHO IS A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DALLAS AND AUSTIN, ALSO MY CO-CHAIR FOR LOCAL PROGRESS, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER JESSE MORENO, UH, DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF LOCAL PROGRESS.

JUST WANNA WELCOME THEM TO, TO AUSTIN.

THEY'RE IN TOWN FOR DALLAS STATE AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL AND WE WELCOME THEM TO OUR CHAMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WELCOME.

ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR ABOUT TO PASS MY FIRST COUNCIL ITEM.

IT'S EXCITING FOR A NEWBIE LIKE US UP HERE.

UH, BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED THAT IT IS SOMETHING, UH, RELATED TO HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY AND, AND REALLY CALLS ATTENTION TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING A LOT OVER THE NEXT MANY MONTHS ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES AND AS WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT STUDENTS ARE UNIQUELY SITUATED WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES.

AND IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO, TO COME TO AUSTIN AND CHOOSE TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, UH, IT'S MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TUITION.

IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR CAMPUS OR EVEN IN THIS CITY, UH, WE STAND TO LOSE A LOT OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SPECIAL.

SO I JUST WANT TO, TO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING YOUR WORK.

YOU WERE SPEAKING WITH ITEM 43.

UM, ITEM 40 THREE'S BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO I HOPE YOU DIDN'T SPEAK TOO SOON.

OH, I TO FIX ALL THE CORRECTIONS.

UM, WE, WE'LL JUST, YEAH, WE'LL JUST SEE HOW THIS GOES FROM HERE ON OUT.

OH, GO, GO GOES TO SHOW.

CAN'T EVEN GET THE FIRST ONE, RIGHT? YEAH.

UM, APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS, BUT WE'LL JUST SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

THE APPOINTMENTS AND I DON'T SEE THEM ON THERE ON ITEM 42 AND SO I WAS JUST WANTED TO CHECK WITH THE CLERK TO SEE IF WE COULD PULL IT TO ADD THEM OR IF WE WOULD KICK IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.

UM, ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO BE HEARD, UH, ON THE CONSENT? YES.

CUSTOMER VELA.

HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

I HAD A COUPLE OF WAIVERS FOR, UH, FOLKS ON

[00:40:01]

WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST APPROACH? NO, THERE IS AN ORDINANCE ATTACHED IN BACKUP THAT LISTS ALL THE NAMES.

AND LET ME, CUZ MY STAFF IS TELLING ME THAT THERE ARE TWO NAMES MISSING, BUT LET ME DOUBLE CHECK THAT.

RIGHT.

COUNSEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER 42 LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

THERE IS A NOMINATIONS AND WAIVERS SHEET SAYS VERSION THREE, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ORDINANCE ATTACHED AND SO THE ORDINANCE IS WHERE THE NAMES ARE AND I DID JUST CHECK, I SEE THE NAMES.

OKAY, GREAT.

AND THERE WAS A MARTIN LUECKE AND JOSEPH BOWIE WERE THE TWO, BUT THEY ARE ATTACHED AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

CORRECT.

GOT IT.

I DON'T NEED A BULLET.

GOOD DEAL.

ANYTHING ELSE ON, UH, BRIEF COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.

AS INDICATED, UH, WE WILL TAKE THE CONSENT UP CONSENT AGENDA UP ON, UH, ON UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE NO VOTES BEING SHOWN BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON 36, 37, 38 AND 42? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

THAT WILL NOW TAKE US

[43. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to establish a City goal for delivering affordable and accessible student housing and to explore opportunities for increasing the supply of student housing near institutions of higher learning within the City.]

TO ITEM NUMBER 43.

UM, AND WE'RE ALL ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

UM, MEMBERS, THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ITEM NUMBER 43, BUT I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER WHO MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 43.

UH, IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THE ORDER I'LL TAKE UP THE AMENDMENTS AND WE'LL, IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT WILL BE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

AND THE SECOND WILL BE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND WHAT A GOOD WAY TO KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK ON YOUR FIRST SHOT.

UM, BUT AS SUCH, I MOVE TO AMEND LINE 60 TO R AS FOLLOWS, FOUR, REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION.

ADD FISCAL IMPACT AND TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.

THE MOTION IS TO, UM, AMEND ITEM NUMBER 43 TO ADD ON LINE 60, THE WORDS FISCAL IMPACT.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, UH, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE BY KELLY, UH, TO ITEM NUMBER 43 IS ADOPTED.

ITEM NUMBER 40, AMENDMENT ITEM NUMBER TWO FOR ITEM NUMBER 43 IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR A MOTION.

SOMEBODY GETS TWO STABS ADDED IN ONE MEETING.

THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION CAME FROM A MEMBER OF MY TEAM, ALICIA ARM RAMIREZ, WHO IS A, A GRADUATE STUDENT AT UT.

AND SO THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION OR THIS AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE FORWARD IS TO ADD NUMBER FOUR AFTER LINE 59 TO READ AND RE NUMBER IT AS FOLLOW, EXPLORE WAYS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLINE TOOL AND HOW TO APPLY FOR THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 43 AS READ.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.

THAT'LL TAKE, TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

AND THAT IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 43 AS AMENDED.

UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 43 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER? I MEAN, MAYOR I PRO TEM NO OBJECTION.

JUST BRIEF COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S EARLIER, UH, COMMENTS THAT HE MADE ABOUT THE ITEM.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY CREATIVE WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WHO ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR SO THE CLERKS CAN ADD ME TO THEIR LIST OF REARRANGING AND, UM, ADDING CO-SPONSORS.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AS SOME FOLKS KNOW, DISTRICT EIGHT, YOU KNOW, ROUTINELY SCORES LOW ON OUR, OUR SCORECARD AND OUR BLUEPRINT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND SO I SEE ESPECIALLY OUR ACC PINNACLE CAMPUS AS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY TO STEP UP AND PARTNER AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING THERE.

SO WE'VE ALREADY, UM, STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS QUITE A WHILE AGO, BUT HAVE TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEIR PUBLIC PROCESSES.

SO I WOULD LOVE IF YOU'D ACCEPT ME AS A CO-SPONSOR AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROTEM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 43 AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE.

ITEM 43 IS ADOPTED.

CONGRATULATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

IT'S RARE

[00:45:01]

UH, NO CONGRAT.

SERIOUSLY, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S WELL DONE WITH THAT.

UM, WE

[12. Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to award, negotiate, and execute Cultural Arts Fund grant agreements and allocations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in an amount not to exceed $3,935,000 for Thrive grants (Part 1 of 2)]

WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM 12.

I WILL MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 12 TO THE NEXT MEETING.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER WITNESS? I THINK THERE'S A WAY FOR US, CAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WAITING ON THESE DOLLARS, SO IF WE CAN JUST PULL IT FOR NOW, I THINK WE CAN WORK QUICKLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND, AND GET US, UH, SOME DIRECTION TO ADD TO THIS SO THAT WE DON'T, UM, DELAY.

YES, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.

UH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT DELAY, BUT, UH, THE COMMENTS TODAY ARE DISTURBING, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE'VE, WE'VE CROSSED EVERY T AND DOTTED EVERY I SO THANK YOU.

UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, ALTHOUGH WE WILL, MAY, IS THERE ANY, MAY I, I WANT TO JUST GET SOME CLARITY.

I THINK WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHO SAYING THAT'S NOT POSTPONE IT.

LET'S JUST PULL THE ITEM AND DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

DELIBERATED MORE.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE STILL SAYING POSTPONE.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR.

WHAT, WHAT ARE WE ABOUT TO VOTE ON? WELL, IT HAS TO BE POSTPONED.

I MEAN, THE, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN PULL AN ITEM AND DELIBERATE ON IT WOULD BE TO POSTPONE IT OR VOTE ON IT TODAY BECAUSE IT'S ON THE AGENDA.

I'LL LET YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY.

REMEMBER, CAN WE, UH, TAKE IT UP LATER THIS AFTERNOON? SURE.

UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MAKES A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO TABLE ITEM NUMBER 12 UNTIL A TIME CERTAIN OF FOUR 30 IN, IN THE AFTERNOON.

IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES NOW MOVES THAT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BE ADOPTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.

CAN I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT SO THAT WE DON'T, IF, IF OUR 2 45 DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG, THAT WE DON'T GET STUCK WAITING FOR THAT, THAT MAYBE WE MAKE IT THREE 30 AND IF WE'RE LATE, WE'RE LATE.

BUT I'M AFRAID WE'RE GONNA BE VERY EFFICIENT THIS AFTERNOON AND END UP WAITING.

UM, I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT ON THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER MOVES TO AMEND THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO SET THIS, TO TABLE THE MOTION UNTIL TABLE ITEM NUMBER 12 UNTIL A TIME OF TWO 30.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? I DON'T CARE WHAT TIME AS LONG AS WE CAN TAKE YOU CARED ENOUGH TO AMEND THE MOTION BEFORE? NO, I MEAN, I DON'T, I JUST DON'T WANNA HAVE A GAP OF AN HOUR.

THE END.

WELL, YOU BONUS I WAS SAYING THREE 30 OR AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT TWO 30 OR FOUR 30.

UM, BUT, BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER MOVES THAT WE, UH, POST, WE AMEND THE MOTION TO, UH, TABLE THIS MOTION AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION UNTIL TWO 30, UH, THIS AFTERNOON.

UH, IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION TO TABLE AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO MAKING THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THE MAIN MOTION? HEARING NONE.

IT IS THE MAIN MOTION.

THE, THE VOTE IS NOW ON THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WAS THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS TO TABLE ITEM NUMBER 12 UNTIL TWO 30 TODAY.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO POST, UH, TO TABLING THIS ITEM UNTIL TWO 30 TODAY? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED AND WE WILL COME BACK AT TWO 30 OR AS CLOSE TO TWO 30 AS WE CAN TO TAKE UP THIS ITEM.

CITY MANAGER.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I JUST, UH, OH, SORRY.

I, IS THERE, UH, ARE THERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER TO VISIT WITH YOU OR OTHERS TO TALK ABOUT THIS? I JUST NEED TO KNOW.

I THINK COUNCIL COUNCILOR VELAZQUEZ AND THE MAYOR.

YEAH, BUT, OKAY.

AND, UH, NOBODY FROM STAFF THEN, AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE WERE THE, THE TWO ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED ABOUT THE LACK OF LATINOS ON THE PANEL MM-HMM.

AND THE, AND THE, AND THERE WERE NO VISUAL ARTS ON THE EVALUATION PANEL.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU GONNA WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M ASKING? I I THINK IT'S MORE JUST DIRECTION GUIDING FOR YEAR THREE OF THE PROGRAM.

OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO RECESS, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT I CAN CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

AND WE DO HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THAT SHOULD BE.

SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S

[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]

UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO RECESSING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND HEARING NONE, WE ARE RECESSED.

I NOW CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

WE ARE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023 AT 10:50 AM AND WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER OF, UH, OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.

GOOD MORNING, MANDY TA MAYO.

I'M DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR, UH, THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF

[00:50:01]

OF AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

YOU HAVE THREE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH I OFFER ON CONSENT.

THE FIRST IS APPROVING, UH, LAST MONTH'S, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES.

THE SECOND TWO ARE RELATED TO OUR LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

UH, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO AUTHORIZE, UH, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF TWO HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT CONTRACTS FOR TWO DIFFERENT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH ARE IN PRE-DEVELOPMENT.

ONE IS KAREN POINT AT CAMERON.

UH, THAT WILL BE A HUNDRED LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS THAT WILL BE 150 UNIT, UH, PROJECT IN DISTRICT FOUR.

AND THAT IS A DEVELOPMENT BEING, UH, CO-DEVELOPED WITH SINO GROUP AND CARITAS OF AUSTIN.

UH, NUMBER THREE IS AUTHORIZING A LOCAL, UH, THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT CONTRACT FOR A PROJECT IN DISTRICT THREE.

AND THAT IS CALLED THE ROS PARKSIDE.

THAT IS, UH, GOING TO BE 60 LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS.

THAT WILL BE A HUNDRED TO 110 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UH, BEING DEVELOPED WITH, UH, SAGE BROOK, O S D A, AS WELL AS NEW HOPE HOUSING.

I OFFER THESE ON CONSENT.

I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, THE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD INTENDS TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ANY OF THE POOLED ITEMS, UH, RECUSALS OR ABSTENTIONS AND NO VOTES THAT WE WILL IDENTIFY MOMENTARILY ON, UH, UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR A H F C THAT ANYONE LIKE WOULD LIKE TO PULL CHAIR SEES? NONE.

IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY RECUSALS OR ABSTENTIONS ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD LIKE TO RECORD? THE, THE PRESIDENT SEES NONE.

ARE THERE ANY NO VOTES THAT ANYONE LIKE, WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS REGISTERING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? AGAIN, THE CHAIR SEES NONE.

UM, AS NOTED, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTING THE, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT AS PART OF THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION? OR IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF THOSE ITEMS? HEARING NONE.

THEY'RE ADOPTED ON UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

TAKE UP ITEMS 45 46 AND 47 RELATED TO IMMINENT DOMAIN WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 45, 46 AND 47, UH, BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH THE, AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED HERE IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? UH, UH, SO MOVED.

UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADJOURNING THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS? HEARING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MEMBERS.

WE WILL NOW

[Items 45 - 47]

A MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, SECONDED BY, I'M SORRY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITH RES TO THE MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS 45 46 AND 47 NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS? HEARING NONE ITEMS 45, 46 AND 47 ARE ADOPTED.

AND MAYOR? YES.

COUNCIL VELA, IF I MAY, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UH, A THIRD DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UH, IS NOW, UH, WITH US, THE, UH, DEPUTY, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR, UH, OMAR NAIS IS ALSO JOINING A COUNCIL MEMBER, JESSE MORANO AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM ABDU.

AND IF, IF, IF WE COULD SO INDULGE THEM TO STEP UP AND, UH, AND JUST, UH, SAY HELLO AND SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.

SURE.

SO, UM, YOU, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, .

WELL, GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, HONORABLE MAYOR, AND THE REST OF YOU ALL.

MY NAME IS OMAR ART VICE, AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION, AND ALSO YOUR SISTER CITY JUST TO THE NORTH ON I 35.

WE SHARE A WONDERFUL CORRIDOR AND, UH, NOTHING HAPPENS IN TEXAS OR IN DALLAS WITHOUT US VISITING AUSTIN OFTEN.

AND SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, UM, TOURING AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR TRANSPORTATION.

I HAPPEN TO ALSO BE CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION, SO I JUST WROTE A SCOOTER OVER HERE FROM, UM, A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH BY THE CAPITOL IN

[00:55:01]

ORDER TO CHECK OUT YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE WORKING.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, UH, I, I, I WENT, I LIVED HERE BACK IN THE EARLY TO MID NINETIES WHEN I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, HOOK THEM HORNS.

AND I'M REALLY, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO BE HERE IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON OR, YEAH, GOOD MORNING.

UM, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THANK Y'ALL, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK.

THAT WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, BUT I, UH, WILL SAY, UM, UH, I, UH, APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK.

I LOVE, LOVE THIS CITY.

I WENT TO COLLEGE HERE AS WELL.

UM, AND I, UH, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TACKLING A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES.

UM, I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT, UH, WHEN WE CAME HERE FOR DALLAS DAY, NOT ONLY TO TO SEE OUR LEGISLATORS, BUT ALSO TO SEE WHO I CONSIDER, UH, OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, THE, UH, LOCAL LEADERS THAT ARE DOING THE, THE IMPORTANT WORK, UM, OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SO, UM, I'M ALWAYS WATCHING Y'ALL , UH, AS Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY WATCHING CITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

UM, AND, UH, Y'ALL HAVE, UH, CONTINUED TO SET THE BAR, UM, ON MANY POLICY ISSUES IN OUR STATE.

UM, SO THANK Y'ALL FOR THE WORK Y'ALL DO FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.

GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JESSE MORANO FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, DISTRICT TWO.

UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, THIS MORNING.

THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THIS GREAT CITY.

UM, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, UH, MANY OF YOU AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND, UH, TO LEARN FROM ONE, ONE ANOTHER, WE HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.

AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THE ENGAGEMENT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

THANK ALL THREE OF YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU.

AND, AND I WILL SAY, UH, UH, UH, VANESSA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WENT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT WITH THEM LAST NIGHT, AND IT'S SO HELPFUL TO MEET WITH AND INTERACT WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM OTHER CITIES AND SEE HOW THEY DO THINGS AND WHAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE AND WHAT THEIR PROCESSES ARE.

UH, SO I REALLY ENJOYED THE INTERACTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, VISITING DALLAS, UH, SOON.

IT'S GREAT.

TIME, WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER 50.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MEMBERS AT THIS

[50. Conduct a public hearing related to an application by Cairn Point at Cameron, LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Cairn Point at Cameron, located at or near 7205 Cameron Road, Austin, Texas 78752, within the City. Related to Item #51.]

YOU, YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE, UH, OR AT LEAST IT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED, THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEM 49 AND 50.

ITEM NUMBER 49 WAS PULLED.

SO AT THIS TIME, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT ITEM FOUR 50 HAS, UM, ITEM 50 HAS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEM ON THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 51 THAT WE WILL TAKE UP, UH, AT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE CHAIR OPENS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 50.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 50? NO, SIR.

NURSE SPEAKERS.

I WONDER IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON THAT.

MEMBERS OF DALLAS COUNCIL, YOU WANNA COME DOWN AND TALK ON ITEM 50? UH, UH, THERE BEING NO ONE TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NUMBER 50, UH, THE CHAIR CLOSES THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 50.

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 51,

[51. Consider a resolution related to the allocation of housing tax credits and private activity bonds and the application by Cairn Point at Cameron, LP, or an affiliated entity, for a proposed development to be located at or near 7205 Cameron Road, Austin, Texas 78752, and financed through the private activity bond program. Related to Item #50.]

AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 51.

MOVE PASSAGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER AVELA MOVES A PASSAGE.

IS THERE AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JUST A BRIEF COMMENT.

YES, CUSTOMER.

UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE MEETING AFTER MEETING, JUST THE, THE SLOW ACCUMULATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, IT TOOK US 20, 25 YEARS TO GET INTO THE, THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE IN.

IT'S GONNA TAKE US TIME TO DIG OUT OF IT, BUT THIS STEADY MOVEMENT TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A WAY TO DO IT.

AND IT, UH, IT JUST, I I, I CONTINUE TO BE, UH, PLEASED TO SEE THESE ITEMS POPPING UP ON, ON OUR AGENDA.

RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE RECESS, UH, FOR, UH, 20 MINUTES AND WE WILL CONVENE IN THE, IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION TO PASS ITEM NUMBER 51? HEARING NONE.

ITEM NUMBER 51 IS, UH, ADOPTED, UH, MEMBERS, I, I REGRET TO SAY THAT WE'VE MOVED WITH ENOUGH SPEED THAT WE NOW HAVE SOME TIME.

SO WHAT I WOULD DO IS OPPOS, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT I INDICATED EARLIER IN THE MORNING, THAT WE WOULD WAIT TO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS GETTING OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE THEY ALSO THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE MEETING TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY.

SO MY, UH,

[Executive Session]

BUT WE WILL COME BACK OUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS COMPLETE OR NOT AT NOON, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR

[01:00:01]

THE SPEAKERS, UH, WITH OUR CITIZEN OF COMMUNICATION.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS UNTIL 11:20 AM WHEN WE WILL GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0.07, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 62, CITY OF AUSTIN VERSUS LONE STAR HOLDINGS, LLC, CAUSE NUMBER C ONE PB 22 0 0 1 40 62 IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AND LONE STAR HOLDINGS, LLC VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN CAUSE NUMBER 1 22 CV 0 0 7 70 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT.

FOR THE WESTERN DIVISION, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO RECESSING THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEN GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED? HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS UNTIL 1120 WHEN IT WILL RECONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE WILL BE OUT PROMPTLY AT 12 O'CLOCK FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

UH, NOW GOING TO TAKE UP PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE, UH, CITY CLERK TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING UP SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

HEY, ROSIE, BACK TO ORDER.

IT IS 12:02 PM UH, WE ARE,

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

OKAY, WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER WHO HAS NOT CONNECTED.

SO ALI WILL BEGIN WITH ADAM KAHN.

ABOUT THE, UH, ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS THERE AS WELL.

UM, MAYOR COUNSEL, UM, ADAM KAHN, DISTRICT NINE.

AND, UM, I'M GONNA START BY SAYING THAT I, WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR, TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL THREE WEEKS AGO, IT WAS IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE ICE STORM THAT LEFT, UH, CITY RES, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CITY WITHOUT POWER FOR A WEEK.

AND, UM, BUT THAT, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE DRAG RACING, WHATEVER WAS GOING ON, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED THE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT I FEEL OVER THIS TOPIC.

UM, BUT AS I GO AND AS I HAVE LOOKED OUT AT, UH, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CITY, LITERALLY JUST IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, I, I'M FRANKLY ASTONISHED AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN.

NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY GETS MONEY ACTUALLY GETS SPENT ON AROUND HERE.

UM, IT'S ABOUT 90 BETWEEN UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S ABOUT 93%.

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER STUFF IS ABOUT SEVEN.

AND I MEAN, IN, I I, WHEN I OBSERVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, PRIMARILY WITH THIS RECENT ICE STORM, I SEE THE DRAG RACING STUFF THIS PAST WEEKEND, BUT LET'S NOT, BUT WHILE SOME OF Y'ALL WEREN'T ON THE DIAS FOR ALL OF THIS, LET'S NOT OVERLOOK THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS.

LET'S NOT OVERLOOK THE FAILURE OF THE WATER UTILITY WITH THE TWO WEEK BOIL, BOIL WATER NOTICE IN 2018.

AND LET'S CERTAINLY NOT OVERLOOK THE THREE YEAR EXPERIMENT THAT WE RAN WHERE THAT BASICALLY TURNED THIS CITY INTO A GIGANTIC OPEN AIR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.

NOW, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, I, I WAS WATCHING THE MOVIE, I WAS WATCHING OFFICE SPACE LIKE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND THEY GOT TO THAT SCENE WITH THE BOBS WHERE THEY ASK, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU ACTUALLY DO AROUND HERE? AND THAT'S WHERE I'M AT WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL.

LIKE, I, I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, WHY YOU CAN'T DELIVER AND NOT EVEN DELIVER POWER, WHY YOU CAN'T RECOVER FROM A STORM WHEN EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY AROUND HERE HAD POWER RESTORED WITHIN TWO DAYS.

BUT IN AUSTIN, IT TOOK A WEEK, 2021.

I FREELY ADMIT, THE STATE POWER GRID DID A LOT WRONG THAT WEEK, THAT YEAR, BUT IT STILL TOOK AUSTIN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LONGER TO GET POWER RESTORED THAN IT DID TO THE REST OF THIS STATE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I, I KNOW WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT,

[01:05:01]

UM, YES.

NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL ROBBINS.

COUNSEL, ON TUESDAY, I SHOWED YOU THIS MAP.

IT DISPLAYS HOW AUSTIN ENERG, HOW THE AUSTIN ENERGY RATE INCREASE BEGINNING MARCH 1ST WILL AFFECT SPECIFIC COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

AGAIN, IT PUNISHES SPECIFIC ONES.

DISTRICT THREE SOUTH SOUTHEAST AUSTIN'S POOR ZONE WILL EXPERIENCE A RATE INCREASE OF 23%, 89% HIGHER THAN AUSTIN'S WEALTHIEST ZONE.

DISTRICT 10.

DISTRICT SEVEN, NORTH CENTRAL IS ALMOST AS SEVERELY AFFECTED, 83% HIGHER THAN DISTRICT 10.

THIS IS FOLLOWED BY DISTRICTS NINE IN CENTRAL DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS FOUR NORTHEAST AND DISTRICT FIVE SOUTH CENTRAL, HOWEVER, EVEN DISTRICTS THAT ARE WINNERS ARE LOSERS.

HERE'S ANOTHER MAP THAT SHOWS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AUSTIN ENERGY CUSTOMERS HAVE A RATE INCREASE HIGHER THAN 33%.

REMEMBER, THE AVERAGE CITY RATE INCREASE IS ABOUT 18%.

SO THIS IS ABOUT TWICE THE AVERAGE RATE INCREASE OVER TWO THIRDS OF THE CUSTOMERS IN DISTRICTS THREE, SEVEN, AND NINE ARE IN THIS CATEGORY.

DISTRICTS FIVE AND SIX DO NOT FARE MUCH BETTER.

HOWEVER, EVEN IN DISTRICT 10, AUSTIN'S WEALTHIEST DISTRICT, A SLIGHT MAJORITY OF 51% WILL RECEIVE A RATE INCREASE OF 33% OR HIGHER.

WHAT THIS MAP DOES NOT SHOW IS THAT 4% OF CUSTOMERS, MOST OF THEM LIVING, WOULD YOU FLIP THE SLIDE PLEASE? MOST OF THEM LIVING IN EXPENSIVE HOMES SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, WILL RECEIVE NO INCREASE AT ALL OR A SLIGHT RATE DECREASE.

AGAIN, WHERE IS THE EQUITY HERE? AUSTIN IS HIKING RATES OVER 33% FOR LOW CONSUMERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE POOR.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALLOWS HIGH CONSUMERS TO COMPLETELY ESCAPE THE RATE INCREASE.

THIS IS CONTRARY TO AUSTIN'S VALUES.

AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO AMEND THE RESIDENTIAL RATE STRUCTURE TO SOMETHING APPROACHING EQUITY.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO THIS WITHOUT TRIGGERING A NEW RATE CASE.

THE UNFAIR RATE INCREASE BEGINS NEXT MONTH.

BY SUMMER, THE FINANCIAL PAIN WILL BE IN FULL FORCE.

AND AFTER WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH RECENT, WITH A RECENT BLACKOUT, THE UTILITY DOES NOT HAVE, UH, DOES NOT NEED ANY MORE RESENTMENT FROM ITS CUSTOMERS.

ONE LAST THING ON ANOTHER SUBJECT, I'M ASKING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO MEET WITH ME.

UH, AF UH, BEFORE I LEAVE CHAMBERS, I NEED AN EXPLANATION OF WHY AN OPENS RECORDS REQUEST FROM AUSTIN.

ENERGY IS UNFULFILLED AFTER SEVEN MONTHS.

THANK YOU, MR. ROBIN.

NEXT SPEAKER IS BELINDA BOONE.

CYNTHIA ICARD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UH, MY NAME IS CINDY EICHERT AND I LIVE AT 44 0 3 TAMARACK TRAIL IN AUSTIN.

THAT WOULD BE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I REQUESTED TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT A TREE SIDEWALK PROBLEM AT MY PROPERTY THAT HAS REACHED A LEVEL OF BEING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL LIABILITY ISSUE FOR THE CITY.

I PROVIDED A LOT OF BACKGROUND MATERIAL EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, AND THERE'S A PICTURE UP ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THOUGH THAT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS I WAS CONTACTED BY MR. JAMES SNOW, WHO IS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND HE HAS OFFERED ME A RESOLUTION THAT I FIND ACCEPTABLE.

HE HAS TOLD ME THAT CITY STAFF WILL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF ACTION.

THEY WILL REMOVE THE TREE AND POUR A CONCRETE ADA COMPLIANCE SIDEWALK BEFORE THE TREE REMOVAL PERMIT EXPIRES ON MAY 6TH.

THIS WILL RESULT IN THE PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM.

UM, VERY GLAD THIS WILL BE DONE, AND I WANT TO THANK MR. SNOW FOR HIS HELP IN RESOLVING

[01:10:01]

THIS MATTER.

THEN THE NEXT ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE PULLED ITEM NUMBER 61.

MM-HMM.

, NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN CROW.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

UM, MEMBERS, WE HAD INDICATED THAT AT ONE O'CLOCK WE WOULD TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 44.

UH, I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE RELIED ON THAT FOR PURPOSES OF WANTING TO SPEAK TO US.

SO UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO WILL RECESS AND GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL BE BACK OUT HERE AT ONE O'CLOCK.

UH, IF THERE, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO RECESSING? HEARING NONE.

WE ARE RECESSED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I PROBABLY SHOULD.

UH, MAYOR, YES.

I'M SORRY.

UM, WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC IF WE CAN.

OH, WE DO HAVE LIVE MUSIC.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH, ARE THEY HERE? THEY'RE HERE.

WELL THEN I OBJECT TO US GOING TO RECESS.

, UH, UH, I'M SORRY.

MEMBERS.

I I WAS, I WAS JUMPING AHEAD.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH, SO WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WE MAY, UH, HAVE THE LIVE MUSIC.

WE WILL SET THAT UP AND WE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THAT MOMENTARILY.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE RECESSED.

WELCOME EVERYBODY.

[Live Music: Como Las Movies]

FUN PART OF THE DAY.

UH, I AM PLEASED TO GET TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR LIVE MUSIC FOR THE DAY.

AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, LISTENING TO CULO LAS MOVIES, KUMO LAS MOVIES, NELSON VALENTE AGUILAR AND AUSTINITE BY WAY OF MACALLAN, TEXAS IS CHIEF COMPOSER FOR THE HIS INDIE KUMBAYA POP PROJECT.

AS I INDICATED, THEIR NAME IS COMO LAS MOVIES.

HE COMBINES HIS PAN LATIN AND CONTEMPORARY INFLUENCES INTO A DUALITY THAT NPR DESCRIBED AS A COLORFUL CULTURAL SOUNDSCAPE FROM A UNIQUE BLEND OF INSTRUMENTS.

WHILE K C R W OBSERVED THAT THEIR MUSIC OCCUPIES A SPACE WHERE TRADITIONAL TEJANO KUMBIA AND SO RACHO MUSIC MEETS FACE-TO-FACE WITH SYNTH HEAVY, HEAVY NEW WAVE INSPIRATION.

IT'S NOT A DENSE SPACE WITH MANY INHABITANTS.

IN FACT, MAY BE THERE ALL BY THEMSELVES.

COMO LAS MOVIES RECENTLY PLAYED C3 S INAUGURAL FORMAT FESTIVAL AND ALSO MADE ITS DEBUT AT THIS YEAR'S 2022 A C L FESTIVAL.

THEY WERE CHOSEN AS AUSTIN'S K U T X ARTIST OF THE MONTH IN OCTOBER, DEDICATING A MONTH LONG FEATURE ON THIS ARTIST.

THEY'LL BE PERFORMING AT THIS YEAR'S AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS ON FEBRUARY 26TH, AND IT'S SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 23 IN MARCH.

SO IT'S MY REAL HONOR TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXTEND TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.

AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023 AS COMO LOST MOVIES DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMO LOST MOVIES

[01:18:16]

TO THE CITY.

IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TELL, TELL US, TELL US REAL QUICKLY WHERE WE CAN FIND YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLEASE, UH, FOLLOW US SUPPORTED BY MUSIC FOR ALL THESE WONDERFUL MUSICIANS AND, UH, UH, EVERYONE WHO IN MUSIC INDUSTRY.

WHERE CAN WE SEE YOU NEXT? UH, WE ARE PLAYING A DO AWARDS THIS SUNDAY.

WE GOING AT 7:13 PM SEVEN 13 AT, UH, MOHAWK, UH, THIS SUNDAY, UH, THIRD 26 AT MOHAWK AWARDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, FUN.

COMO LAST MOVIES PICTURE THREE.

WE ARE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND HAVE ENDED THE CLOSED SESSION.

IN CLOSED SESSION, WE DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 62 MEMBERS.

UH, AS A REMINDER FOR THE AFTERNOON, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 44.

WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS FOR POOLED ITEM NUMBER 44, HAVE DISCUSSION AND ACTION.

UH, THE NEXT ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE THE ZONING SPEAKERS.

WE WILL DETERMINE AT THAT TIME WHETHER WE WILL GO WITH DISCUSSION AND ACTION.

AND

[01:20:01]

SO I'LL, UH, CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 44

[44. Approve a resolution regarding the I-35 Capital Express Projects, including official comments from the City Council to the Texas Department of Transportation on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the I-35 Capital Express Central Project. ]

AND ASK THE CITY CLERK IF SHE WILL HELP US WITH THE SPEAKERS.

SUSAN PENTEL SPEAKING ON 44.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE WITH TECHO ABOUT THE I 35 PROJECT.

HOWEVER, THE RESOLUTION AS DRAFTED IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OPPOSE A HUGE EXPANSION.

THAT.IS PLANNING OF 20 OR MORE LANES THROUGH DOWNTOWN, AND THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN IN THE RESOLUTION.

AND YOU SHOULD REQUIRE MORE ACTION OF TEXT.

DOT, TEXT DOT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EVALUATE THE INDUCED DEMAND OF THEIR PROJECT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

THEY ALSO SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE AN OPTION OTHER THAN NO ACTION THAT REFLECTS THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

TO NOT HAVE THIS HUGE EXPANSION, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP TO TEXT DOT TEXTILE IS STRONG, POWERFUL, FRANKLY, THEY'RE A BULLY.

THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT.

I READ THEIR RESPONSES TO YOUR DRAFT RE RESOLUTION AND THEY'RE JUST SAYING WHY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

THAT'S THE WAY TEXT.IS.

YOU NEED TO BE STRONG AND STAND UP AGAINST THEM, OTHERWISE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY KIND OF RESPONSE FROM THEM.

I WORK BRIEFLY FOR TAX DOT.

I WORK WITH FIX TWO 90 IN OAK HILL, TRYING TO GET THEM TO REDUCE THAT INTERCHANGE THERE.

THEY DO NOT RESPOND.

THEY DO TINY CHANGES TO THEIR, TO THEIR PROJECT.

THE, THE IDEA OF ADDING MORE CROSSING IS FINE, BUT THAT'S VERY MINIMAL.

THE COMMUNITY WANTS A SMALLER FOOTPRINT.

WE DO NOT WANT A HUGE EXPANSION OF THIS ROAD THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

THE THE BERRY AND COVER OPTION NEEDS A LOT MORE COMMUNITY INPUT TO IT.

BURYING THE HIGHWAY WILL NOT REMOVE AIR POLLUTION IMPACTS.

THERE'S STILL AIR POLLUTION, THERE'S STILL CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS AS LONG AS YOU'RE EXPANDING THE HIGHWAY.

ALL THANK YOU MA'AM.

THOSE THINGS WILL INCREASE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS YOGOS ECONOMIST.

HELLO, I'M YORGOS D NINE RESIDENCE.

CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN THIS RESOLUTION BY OPPOSING I 35 HIGHWAY EXPANSION, ESIGN ONE 30 AS 35, AND TO BRING FURTHER BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS FOR THE FULL SCOPE OF THE CENTRAL PROJECT.

THE CORE PROJECT FROM KLAIN ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO BEN WHITE BOULEVARD, THE FAILURES OF I 35 AND THE PRO, UH, PROPOSED DESIGNS BY TEXT IMMENSE.

THEY'RE PROPOSING, UH, PROPOSING TO PHYSICALLY WIDEN THE SPACE AND TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN CORE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE FULL DURATION, UH, FROM BEN WHITE TO KALA, BASICALLY REPLACING THE WALL THAT EXISTS TODAY WITH A MOAT THAT WILL EXIST TOMORROW.

THE SPY PROPOSED ON RIVERSIDE IS HAZARDOUS TO PEDESTRIANS AND INCONGRUOUS WITH THE IDEA OF A BUS LANE CONNECTED FUTURE BLUE LINE CORRIDOR.

TECHOS DESIGNS ARE MAKING ALL MODES OF TRAVEL MORE CIRCUITOUS AND LESS CONVENIENT.

GREAT EXAMPLE IS NEAR ME BY WOODLAND AVENUE, REMOVING A CITY GRID CONNECTION AND REPLACING IT WITH A CIRCUITOUS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT WILL TRIPLE THE DISTANCE TO CROSS AND INCREASED TRAVEL TIMES.

MEANWHILE, THE HARMS OF HIGHWAYS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH ARE WELL DOCUMENTED.

YOU COULD CHECK OUT THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION'S FINDINGS ON THIS LINKED TO COGNITIVE ISSUES.

DEMENTIA, C O P D, HEART ISSUES FROM NOISE POLLUTION, CHILDHOOD ASTHMA.

UH, THERE ARE SCHOOLS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO IT, INCLUDING TRAVIS HIGH, UH, HIGH SCHOOL.

SO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS ON THOSE KIDS AND THE CHILDCARE CENTERS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.

INDUCED DEMAND IS A REAL PROM.

UH, JUST LOOK DOWN AT HOUSTON'S CLOGGED KATY FREEWAY OR THE THE CHOKED HIGHWAYS OF DALLAS TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS ROAD WILL LITERALLY LEAD US.

THERE IS NO REASON FOR AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO GO TO THE CORE OF A CITY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN HOMES, START BUSINESSES, ENJOY PARKS, VISIT FARMER'S MARKETS, GO TO CONCERTS LIVE, YOU NAME IT.

UM, IT'S JUST NOT CONSISTENT.

TO HAVE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE

[01:25:01]

OF THE CITY, WE MUST REROUTE THE INTERSTATE AROUND AUSTIN'S CORE USING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND UH, WE MUST THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSANNA CARRANZA.

HI, UM, DR.

SUSANNA CARRANZA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I ACTUALLY LIVE ON I 35.

UH, I SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO AT LEAST MAKE A COMMENT BY THE, THE F ITEM 44, BUT I SECOND OTHER SPEAKERS WHERE IT SAYS LIKE WE NEED A STRONGER ACTION THAN THAT.

WE REALLY SHOULD NOT BE EXPENDING I 35.

WE ARE ALREADY A CITY THAT'S SEGREGATED BETWEEN EAST AND WEST.

UH, JUST ADDING CONNECTING POINTS IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE REALLY NEED TO STOP THIS EXPANSION.

MOVED FROM A MORE CAR-CENTRIC TO A MORE ALTERNATE PUBLIC TRANSIT.

WE KNOW THAT EXPANSION REALLY DOESN'T HELP IN THE LONG RUN.

WE'VE SEEN MANY METROPOLITAN AREAS.

SO WHY ARE WE RE REPEATING THAT MISTAKE HERE? WE SHOULD JUST NOT EXPAND AND LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS.

WERE FABRICATED TO ELIMINATE THE CONCEPT OF ONE CAP.

HAYDEN WALKER, HAYDEN BLACK WALKER.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR RECONNECT AUSTIN.

UH, FOREVER A DECADE NOW.

IT'S BEEN REMINDING THAT, THAT THIS IS OUR ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO GET I 35.

RIGHT WHEN WE STARTED WORKING TO GROUP I 35 IN 2012, TECHO WANTED TO BUILD ELEVATED LANES THROUGH AUSTIN.

MODIFIED ALL THREE IS BETTER, BUT WE HAVE TO DECIDE IF AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH TECHOPS CURRENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEXT 70 YEARS.

WE REALLY NEED BETTER AND MORE FREQUENT EAST PLUS CONNECTIVITY.

WE CANNOT REACH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE OR MOST GOALS WITHOUT BETTER CONNECTIVITY.

EVEN TECHO ADMITS THAT TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT IS THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY SOLVE CONGESTION, AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THAT.

WE NEED TO MOVE THE LARGE TRUCKS.

SH ONE 30 TECHO RAN TWO PILOTS WHERE THEY REDUCED TRUCK POLE AND THE TRUCKS MOVED OVER.

THERE'S NO REASON THAT THERE'S A FINANCIAL, IT SHOULD BE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE LONG HAUL TRUCKS TO BE GOING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF AUSTIN.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE SAFETY.

74% OF HOSPITALITIES HAPPEN ON TRUCKS STOP CONTROLLED RIGHTWAY.

AND 25% OF THE I 35 CORRIDOR DESIGN SPEED ON THE MAIN LANES HO V LANES AND F ROADS ARE STILL TOO HIGH.

A REAL STUDY OF HOW WE MAXIMIZE ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

RECONNECT.

LOOKED AT THIS IN 2013 AND FOUND THAT WE COULD BUILD OVER 3 BILLION IN TAX BASED PREMIUM IN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE.

LAND VALUES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ACQUIRED SINCE THEN.

THAT WAS A DECADE AGO.

PETCO INSTEAD PROPOSED TO WIDEN THE RIGHT OF WAY, BULLDOZING AND DISPLACING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEEDS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS HERE.

RECONNECT.

AUSTIN SUPPORTS ITEM 44 WITHIN OFFICE AND IS GRATEFUL TO SPONSOR TAKING ON I 35 CAPITAL CENTRAL.

I SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN WITH THE INCLUSION OF STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN AL ALTER.

I ALSO SUPPORTED RE RESOLUTION THAT RECOMMENDS MOVING THE TRUCKS TO ONE 30.

THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE TRUCKS CALLED THE DESIGNATION SWITCH WAS RECOMMENDED BY A SELECT GROUP OF TUX DODGE ENGINEERS.

IN A MULTI-DAY MEETING.

CLEARLY TRUCKS NEED TO BE MOVED OVER TO SH ONE 30 FOR A 10 YEAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

A FURTHER SUPPORT THE CREATION OF TAX INCOME AND FINANCING ZONE OVERLAYING THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR BETWEEN AND TWO 90 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BOTH OF THESE MAJOR POLICY ACTIONS WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE.

ON BEHALF OF THE DAA, WE STILL NEED THE OPINION OF THE CITY RETAINED WORLD CLASS CONSULTANTS REGARDING THE CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES OF A REIMAGINED CORRIDOR.

WHY ASSIGN A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR REALLY GOOD ADVICE AND INSIDE BIND POLICY? CITIZENS OF ALL WANT TO THANK YOU AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER AS A COMMUNITY, WE HOPE YOU WILL TAKE POLICY POSITIONS WITH RESOLUTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF TEXTILE CARRIERS, SUCH AS NOT ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, IGNORING NOISE COLLISION, SIDE STEPPING AIR POLLUTION, DEMONSTRATING NO UNDERSTANDING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NO DEMONSTRATING, NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM BARRIER ARE THE REALITY OF THE BARRIER.

ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF EXPENSES USELESS STITCHES, STITCHES

[01:30:01]

IN SHORT, IT'S UP TO YOU TO TRANSFORM ONE OF BOSTON'S GREATEST LIABILITIES INTO ONE OF ITS GREATEST ASSETS.

ADDIE WALKER.

I'M SORRY.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THANK YOU TO HIM TOO.

SO SORRY.

HI, MY NAME IS ADDIE WALKER AND I ALSO REPRESENT RECONNECT AUSTIN.

I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND EACH OF THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.

I ESPECIALLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ REGARDING TREATMENT OF WATER RUNOFF.

THIS PROJECT WILL BE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO AIR AND WATER POLLUTION IN THE REGION.

AND TEXT BOTS ANALYSIS OF ITS IMPACT IS SEVERELY LACKING.

FOR EXAMPLE, TEXDOT IS PROPOSING TO DUMP WATER INTO LADY BIRD WATER RUNOFF INTO LADY BIRD LAKE AND AT ROY GUERRA PARK.

REGARDLESS OF THE IMPACT IT WILL CAUSE TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND WILDLIFE.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ'S ACTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND URGE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT, CALLING FOR TREATMENT OF WATER RUNOFF.

I AM 24 YEARS OLD AND ONCE CONSTRUCTED, THIS PROJECT WILL STAND FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL THAT IT BE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY AND HELPS MITIGATE THE HARMS THAT WE KNOW HIGHWAYS CAUSE WE CANNOT ALLOW TECH.TO BULLDOZE MORE OF OUR CITY AND FURTHER SEPARATE DOWNTOWN FROM EAST AUSTIN.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, EAST OF I 35, AND I DON'T WANNA BE SEPARATED FROM MY FAMILY ON THE WEST SIDE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I WANNA BE ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THIS CORRIDOR AND SEE MY FAMILY WITHOUT RISKING MY LIFE.

I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION LANGUAGE TO ADD MORE CROSSINGS.

THIS TEXT OPS PROPOSAL DOESN'T ADD ANY NEW ONE AND NOT PRECLUDE FUTURE CAPPING NORTH OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

AND I ESPECIALLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S AMENDMENT TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THIS CORRIDOR IF WE BUILT A FULL CAP AS AMEND COUNSEL FOR TAKING THIS ON AND URGE YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION WITH ALL AMENDMENT IN TIME TO SUBMIT TO TEXT BEFORE MARCH 7TH.

PASSING THIS RESOLUTION WITH THE AMENDMENTS ADOPTED WILL REFLECT THAT COUNCIL IS LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING ACTION FOR OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR TAKING ON THIS IMPORTANT ROBERT BOWLER.

INCLUDING, UH, ONE, WHICH IS REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE THAT HAS A LOT OF, LOT OF STAKE IN THIS PROJECT.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME, COUNSEL.

UM, AS NUMEROUS PAST HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS HAVE SHOWN AND MULTIPLE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE FORMALLY RECOGNIZED WINDSOR PARK CHERRYWOOD OTHERS WIDENING HIGHWAYS ACTUALLY MAKES TRAFFIC WORSE ALONG WITH POLLUTION AND EQUITY.

WASTED REAL ESTATE WASTED LOCAL TAX OPPORTUNITIES.

IT IS NOT A SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC.

THE MORE CARS THE WORSE WE CAN LOOK ACROSS TO HOUSTON FOR THE KATY FREEWAY AS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, UM, TECHS UP WILLINGNESS TO DUMP OILY RUNOFF WATERS INTO LADY BIRD LAKE ALONE SHOWS THEIR LACK OF CARE FOR AUSTIN AS A CITY.

SO I I DON'T SEE A LOT OF REASON TO TRUST, UH, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM COMMUNITY INPUT.

UM, PRIOR TO THIS, UH, FOR A PROJECT, I ACTUALLY TRIED TO PHOTOGRAPH BUSINESSES AND HOMES AROUND 35.

BUT IF YOU TAKE A STROLL ALONG 35 NEAR DOWNTOWN, IT BECOMES APPARENT WHAT HIGHWAYS DUE TO CITIES THEY KILLED THEM.

IT'S ALL PARKING LOTS, GAS STATIONS, ABANDONED BUILDINGS, A SEX SHOP.

LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE BY A HIGHWAY.

AND THOSE WHO DO ARE SUCKING IN POLLUTION THAT'S GONNA CAUSE ASTHMA AND OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS.

I GET THAT BUDGETS ARE HARD, Y'ALL, I GET THAT.

CHANGING MINDS AT TECH STOP OR CAMPO IS HARD.

I GET THAT 5 35 IS THEIR RIGHT OF WAY AND COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE DIRECT WAY OVER IT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T PUSH BACK.

Y'ALL ARE IN THE PRIME POSITION TO PUSH BACK AND I STRONGLY URGE COUNSEL TO REJECT THE I 35 EXPANSION AND DEMAND THE CAMPO AND TEXT SOLVE CONGESTION WITH A THIRD PARTY STUDY INTO ALTERNATIVE, LIKE MAKING INTO A BUSINESS HIGHWAY, A BOULEVARD TUNNELING, REROUTING TRAFFIC ON I 34 OR, UH, ONE 30 OR TONS OF OTHER EXAMPLES.

UM, BUT, UH, IT'S PRETTY UNANIMOUS SO FAR, SO PLEASE HEAR US.

THANKS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

UM, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TOM WALD.

ON DECK IS BRIAN BE AND ADAM GREENFIELD.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN AND SHARED, UM, ATTENTION ON THIS PROJECT.

UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND I COME HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.

MY NAME IS TOM WALD.

I LIVE IN CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALSO BEEN INVOLVED WITH A NUMBER OF NONPROFITS

[01:35:01]

UM, I THINK THERE'S THIS PRETTY COMMON UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BAD IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT, AND THAT'S EVEN FROM THE PROPONENTS.

UM, IT WILL TAKE DOWN A GOOD DEAL OF OUR CITY.

IT'S GONNA INCREASE TRAFFIC ALL OVER OUR CITY.

UM, IT AND, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE LESS ACKNOWLEDGED IS THAT WE'RE BASICALLY CREATING A PLACE THAT WILL MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO COMMUTE EVEN LONGER AND LONGER.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE INTENTION, IS THAT PEOPLE CAN COMMUTE FROM FARTHER OUT, BUT WE'RE LOCKING THAT IN.

PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE DOING THAT FOR DECADES AND DECADES AND IT'S JUST NOT CLEAR WHO, WHO'S GONNA BE BENEFITING FROM THIS.

AND AS, AS ANOTHER SPEAKER MENTIONED, THIS IS GONNA HURT THE YOUNG THE MOST.

THEY'RE GONNA BE SPENDING THE MORE DECADES ON THIS PLANET WITH THE POLLUTION FROM THE PROJECT, WITH THE INCREASED TRAFFIC, UM, AND ALL OTHER NEGA NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES.

UM, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN EFFORT, UM, THAT WAS ENDORSED BY THE, BY TEXTILE TO, TO HAVE A SCOPING WORKING GROUP.

THE, OUR FUTURE 35 SCOPING WORKING GROUP CAME OUT WITH A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, INCLUDING CO-CREATING THE PROJECT WITH THE, WITH THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY EAST AUSTIN LEADERS.

AND IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH IGNORED.

IT WAS, THERE WAS NO, NO ATTENTION GIVEN TO IT BY TECHSTAR, UH, OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO, TO DO IT THAT WAY.

AND SO WE'RE LEFT WITH A PROJECT THAT IS GONNA HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF HARMFUL IMPACTS FOR THE CITY.

SO WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE VISION SUCH AS RECONNECT AUSTIN AND, AND I THINK WHAT THE, UM, THE COUNCIL ITEM IS ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS IS MITIGATION.

UM, AND I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH MITIGATION INCLUDED WITH THE PROJECT.

SO FAR.

EVERY HARMFUL PROJECT, SUCH AS THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION NEEDS TO INCLUDE MITIGATION.

WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THERE.

LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WITH FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WITH RECONNECT AUSTIN, UM, AND, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND WE'RE WORKING HARD.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE WE CAN DO.

AND SO I ENCOURAGE US TO, TO DO THAT WITH THIS, WITH TECHO.

NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN.

ON DECK IS ADAM GREENFIELD AND JAY CROSSLEY.

HELLO COUNSEL.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.

MY NAME IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UM, I WAS SENT HERE TO THROW OUR SUPPORT BEHIND THE RESOLUTION.

YOU HAVE A LETTER IN YOUR BACKUP THAT IS FROM US, AND I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF TODAY FOR A MATTER OF TIME.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE HIGHWAY PROJECT THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED ARE OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO US BECAUSE IT IS THERE THAT THE EXTREME LACK OF CONNECTIVITY, UH, IS VERY EVIDENT.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT IS ADAM GREENFIELD.

ON DECK IS J CROSSLEY AND BRENDAN WHIR.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAREN COUNCIL.

ADAM GREENFIELD, READING 35, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RAISING YOUR VOICE ON I 35.

UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, BEING SPECIFIC IN PROPOSING THAT CROSSINGS THROUGH CENTRAL AUSTIN SHOULD BE EVERY QUARTER A MILE.

IN FACT, CROSSING SHOULD BE WHEREVER THERE IS A STREET, BUT QUARTER MILE IS THE VERY LEAST THAT WE SHOULD, UM, EXPECT.

THANK YOU ALSO FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UH, CONCERNING THE DEEP PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THIS PROJECT AND WATER QUALITY.

UM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS A, TO APPROVE A FURTHER AMENDMENT TO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF I 35.

THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION AT ALL FOR EXPANDING THIS HIGHWAY.

IT WILL WORSEN MOBILITY, IT WILL WORSEN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH EQUITY, AND MUCH MORE.

UH, THE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT TO OPPOSE EXPANSION AND TO SERIOUSLY PURSUE TRANSFORMATIONAL ALTERNATIVES IS GROWING QUICKLY.

LAST WEEK THERE WERE RALLIES BY YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST EXPANSION AT FIVE UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS AUSTIN.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THE RETHINK 35 PETITION.

UM, INCREASINGLY NEIGHBORED ASSOCIATIONS ARE OPPOSING THIS PROJECT.

THE MEDIA HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY HOSTILE TO THIS PROJECT.

UM, ALL THAT IS TO SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY IS READY TO BACK YOU IN PUBLICLY OPPOSING THIS EXPANSION AND CALLING FOR, UH, TRANSFORMATIONAL ALTERNATIVES.

UM, INSTEAD, UH, PUTTING A HIGHWAY THROUGH AUSTIN WAS A MISTAKE.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO HARM THIS COMMUNITY ABOVE OR BELOW GROUND.

UH, WHEN HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO TOOK AN OPPOSITIONAL STANCE AGAINST I 45 EXPANSION THAT EMBOLDENED THE COUNTY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED, YOU HAVE REAL POWER OVER I 35.

YOU CAN STOP THIS EXPANSION WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH YOU.

YOU CAN PUSH FOR SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER.

SO TRANSFORMATIONAL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE'RE GONNA BACK YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO CHANGE THE FACE OF AUSTIN.

JAY CROSSLEY IS NEXT ON DECK R BRENDAN WHIR AND LUIS OSTA.

UM, HELLO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.

MY NAME'S JAY BLA CROSSLEY.

I LIVE IN D

[01:40:01]

FOUR.

I'M AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 5 0 1 NONPROFIT FARM AND CITY.

AND I'M RAISING MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON EXACTLY ONE MILE FROM I 35.

UM, FARM CITY HAS WORKED ON IMPROVING THIS PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH TECH DOT STAFF, COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT GROUPS, CONDUCTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPING MAPS AND DATA, AND WORKING WITH THE CITY, COUNTY AND THE MPO.

UH, MY COMMENTS FOR THE DS RESPONSE ARE CURRENTLY AT NINE PAGES AND I'M JUST ON THE SAFETY PART.

UM, SO I'LL, I I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, BUT I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME KEY POINTS.

UM, FIRST POINT TECH DOT STAFF HAVE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THIS PROJECT AND HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED IT LIKE THEY HAVEN'T EVER DONE ON ANY OTHER FREEWAY PROJECT.

IT'S STILL NOT A GOOD PROJECT, BUT WE NEED TO WORK WITH TECH DOT AND THE PEOPLE AT TECH DOT ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THE STATE POLICIES THAT THEY ARE ASKED TO IMPLEMENT ARE TERRIBLE POLICIES, UM, AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK WITH THEM.

BRUCE BUG TODAY AT THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SUGGESTED DEFUNDING I 45 IN HOUSTON BECAUSE OF TECH DOT'S FAILURE TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO I HOPE WE DON'T FAIL HERE TO WORK TOGETHER.

UM, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ADOPTED MINUTE OR 1 15 5 4 8 1 DIRECTING THE AUSTIN DISTRICT TO WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF ENDING TRAFFIC DESK BY HALF BY 2035 INTO ZERO BY 2050.

THE DRAFT D I S INCLUDES ZERO ATTEMPT TO MEET THIS TO FIGURE OUT AND ANALYZE IF THIS MIGHT MEET THIS GOAL.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT, UH, NO ALTERNATIVE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT REASONABLE, UM, ASSURANCE THAT THE, THE GOAL OF REDUCING DEATHS IN HALF BY 2035 IS POSSIBLE.

THE 20 17 20 22 TEXAS STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN, INCLUDING ACTION, PLAN, TEXT, THOUGHT, AND T T I WOULD COLLABORATE WITH CITIES TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE SPACING OF PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AS OF LAST FALL WHEN IT WAS DUE, I BELIEVE THAT TEXDOT FAILED TO DO THAT PROJECT GIVEN THAT TEXDOT HAS NO STANDARDS, WE SHOULD USE THE CITY STANDARDS.

MAY I ASK, UH, JAY A, A QUESTION RIGHT QUICK? SURE.

VELA J I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP.

I KNOW WE, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS, BUT SO THERE CURRENTLY ARE NO STATEWIDE STANDARDS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF HIGHWAY CROSSINGS.

UH, IS, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW AND AND TECH DURING THIS PROCESS, SOME OF THE GOOD TECHO STAFF ASKED ME, SO WHAT SHOULD IT BE? MM-HMM.

, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE BASE THAT ON? AND THERE IS CITY POLICY AND STANDARD IS THERE, IS THERE, UH, UH, AND I, AGAIN, I KNOW YOU FOCUS ON ON ON TEXAS, BUT ARE THERE ANY NATIONAL STANDARDS? ARE THERE ANY STANDARDS THAT WE CAN LOOK TO THAT WOULD GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW OFTEN THERE SHOULD BE? UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I I DON'T WANNA JUST FOCUS ON PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, BUT VEHICULAR CROSSINGS AS WELL, RIGHT? UM, THERE, THERE, THERE ISN'T A NUMBER THAT'S LIKE THE RIGHT NUMBER.

THERE ARE VARIOUS NATIONAL GUIDELINES, UM, ON HOW TO APPROACH THIS AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT, AND THERE, THERE ARE, ARE LOTS OF NATIONAL STUDIES THAT IF IT'S OVER A CERTAIN DISTANCE, PEOPLE ARE GONNA TRY TO RUN ACROSS THE THING OR THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRIP.

AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE SEEN THAT IN DISTRICT FOUR.

NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENDAN WHIR.

ON DECK IS LUIS OSTA AND MIRIAM SCOFIELD.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS BRENDAN WHIR.

I AM THE CHAIR OF THE NORTH CENTRAL I 35 NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION.

UH, WE ARE COALITION OF, UH, 13 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SPANNING SEVEN SQUARE MILES, UH, NORTH AUSTIN.

UH, I DO NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANY SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN THAT ROLE.

UH, HOWEVER, NSYNC HAS, UH, THE MAJORITY OF NSYNC HAS BROADLY SIGNALED SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

AND I DO WANT TO CONVEY THAT TO YOU.

UH, TODAY WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING OUR RESPONSE STATEMENT TO TEXT DOT, BUT INSYNC SUMMARY CAN BROADLY, UM, BE SUMMARIZED TO SAY THAT WE FIND THE CURRENT PROJECT, UM, LACKING IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS AND WE EXPECT MORE OUT OF IT.

UH, SPECIFICALLY WE WISH TO SEE MORE CROSSING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE CENTRAL SEGMENT, MORE POTENTIAL FUTURE COVERING AND CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES BETTER, MORE INNOVATIVE USE BY TECH.TO LIMIT WORKING, UH, WITHIN THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY AND NOT EXPANDING, UH, INTO THE CHERRYWOOD AND HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AND PROVIDING SAFER STREETS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

UH, TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS, IN MY OPINION, UH, A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP FOR COUNCIL TO TAKE.

UH, IT'S NOT, I HOPE THE ONLY STEP WE ARE GOING TO TAKE.

UH, ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THAT YOUR ACTION TODAY IN APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP DIRECT CITY STAFF TO MORE POINTEDLY ENGAGE WITH THIS PROJECT, UH, AND TEXT DOT, UH, TO FRAME THEIR COMMENTS, UH, AROUND YOUR ASPIRATIONAL GOALS.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN ASPIRATIONAL VISION COMING FROM COUNCIL TO HELP SUPPORT STAFF IN THAT WORK.

UH, I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING, UM, THIS IS A ONCE IN A

[01:45:01]

I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM OTHER SPEAKERS.

UH, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE AS MUCH TIME AND PROVIDE AS MUCH EFFORT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THIS RIGHT.

AND MAYOR? YES, CUSTOMER BAILEY.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BRENDAN WHO FOR HONESTLY, SINCE THE FIRST MINUTE I WAS IN OFFICE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND HE'S AN ENGINEER.

I'M NOT, HE HAS GUIDED ME THROUGH A LOT OF THESE DOCUMENTS AND HE'S ALL DOING THIS AS ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE HELP AND SUPPORT WE WOULD NEVER BE, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HERE WITHOUT, UH, ENGAGED AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, LIKE HIMSELF AND THE ENTIRE NSYNC, UH, BODY.

REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIS OSTA.

ON DECK IS MIRIAM SCOFIELD AND ROBERT CRUMP.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE SPIRIT OF YOUR RESOLUTION AND THE SPIRIT OF YOU ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT TAXO UNFORTUNATELY HASN'T.

UM, I AM UNFORTUNATE TO SAY THAT I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN I ORIGINALLY READ IT AS IT IS, UM, FROM SOMEBODY WHO WAS RAISED IN KATY AND GREW UP TO SEE THE CITY EVOLVE AND EXPAND FROM, YOU KNOW, A SMALL KIND OF SWAMPY AREA TO, UM, A INCREASINGLY LARGE AND LARGE TOWN CONNECTED TO HOUSTON.

IT WAS A LITTLE SAD TO SEE THE CITY OF AUSTIN MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE LEADERS IN KATY MADE AS THE CITY GREW, WHICH IS TO BE TOO FRIENDLY TO DEME, TO, TO LET TEXT DOT AND TO LET THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE GROWING OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR CITIES.

BECAUSE AS TRAFFIC GOT WORSE, TECH DECIDED THAT WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS EXPAND THE KATY FREEWAY.

AND AS THEY GOT WORSE, ONCE AGAIN, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED TO EXPAND THE KATY FREEWAY AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, DESTROYING COMMUNITIES, TOWNS, HOUSES, JUST WASTING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE, MORE AFFORDABLE TO MAKE IT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT WE CAN SHARE TOGETHER INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT'S JUST PAVED OVER CEMENT.

SO I REALLY HOPE THAT, AS I THINK ADAM SAID BEFORE, THAT YOU TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACT WITH MORE VIGOR LEADERSHIP AGAINST TECH TEXTILE, WHICH I KNOW YOU MAY NECESSARILY DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE OFFICIAL RIGHT TO DO SO, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO, WE WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN IN THE CITY THAT WE CAN ALL, UM, LIVE IN HAPPILY BECAUSE LIKE AS IT EXISTS FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I 35 PRIMARILY EXISTS AS A GREAT WOUND TO THE CITY, UM, WHEN IT REALLY SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE.

YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND, UH, CONNECTION IN THE CITY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM SCOFIELD.

ON DECK ARE ROBERT CRUMP AND BRIAN ANDERSON.

HELLO, MIRIAM SCHOFIELD, DISTRICT NINE RETHINK 35.

I'M VERY PLEASED THAT COUNCIL IS TAKING A STAND ON THE I 35 ISSUE AND I THINK THE RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE STRONGER.

AT A MINIMUM, IT SHOULD SAY THAT I 35 MUST BE NO WIDER AND NO HIGHER THAN IT CURRENTLY IS.

I TEACH AT UT AND I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO LOTS OF STUDENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK, THEY ARE OUTRAGED STUDENTS LAST WEEK RALLIED AT UT AT ST.

ED'S AT A NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THE THING I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT THIS PROJECT IS LARGELY FOR THAT GENERATION.

IT WILL BE IN EXISTENCE FOR APPROXIMATELY THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THIS GENERATION WILL BE ALIVE.

AND HERE IS THE THING , A RECENT ARTICLE ON THE ECONOMIST SAYS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T WANNA BE DRIVING.

THEY DON'T WANT A BIGGER FREEWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.

THE BANNER THAT UT STUDENTS PRODUCED SAID, OUR FUTURE IS NOT FREEWAYS.

SO THIS UPCOMING GENERATION DESERVES SOMETHING BETTER AND THEY DESERVE A VOICE IN THIS CONVERSATION.

WE ALL DESERVE A VOICE.

YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SPEAKING LOUD AND CLEAR ON THIS ISSUE.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IF AS A CITY WE CANNOT EVEN SAY IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY WHAT WE ALL KNOW TO BE TRUE, NAMELY I 35 SHOULD NOT BE EXPANDED, THEN WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR ANY OF US? AND WHAT MESSAGE DOES IT SEND TO THE NEXT GENERATION IF WE CAN'T EVEN SAY IT? I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING, AND I URGE YOU TO GO, UM, STRONGER IN THIS RESOLUTION AND PROMISE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE BEHIND YOU.

CONTINUED SUBSIDY OF FOSSIL FUEL AND ADJACENT INDUSTRIES IS AN ABROGATION OF THE PUBLIC TRUST AND A DIRECT THREAT TO THE HABITABILITY OF THIS PLANET TO SAY NOTHING OF THE SCHEDULED CRUCIFIXION OF OUR CITY ON A CROSS OF POURED CONCRETE, ALL THE BLOODLESS BUREAUCRACY AND PROCEDURAL DENSITY, ALL THE RENDERINGS AND STUDIES MERELY PAPER OVER THE REAL HUMAN SUFFERING THAT THIS ROADWAY IS ALREADY CAUSED.

NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, ROBERT CRUMP.

ON DECK ARE BRIAN ANDERSON AND MATEO BARN STONE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT CRUMP.

I AM A FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITE.

THE

[01:50:01]

HOW MANY MORE COMMUNITIES MUST WE ANNIHILATE FOR THE SAKE OF MOTOR'S? CONVENIENCE.

HOW MANY MORE BODIES MUST BE MANGLED AND LIVES LOST FOR THE SAKE OF VEHICLE THROUGHPUT, VOLUME? AND THE ONLY SOLUTION WE'RE TOLD, THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION IS TO DO MORE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE FAILED POLICIES OF OLD WORLD THINKING AND RIP OPEN THE SCAR.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HEAL FOR A GENERATION WE MUST DO BETTER.

I 35 IN AUSTIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ATROCITY AND I HOPE SOMEDAY TO LIVE BEYOND ITS TERRIBLE LEGACY AS CITI CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ORGANIZE TO TEAR THEIR INNER CITY HIGHWAYS OUT.

WE SHOULD JOIN THE RANKS.

BRIAN ANDERSON ON DECK ARE MATEO BARN STONE AND TAYLOR TREVINO.

HI COUNSEL.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOME OF YOU WHO I KNOW FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

UM, I AM VERY PLEASED TO SAY, RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU'VE PUT FORWARD.

I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

UM, REGARDING I 35 EXPANSION, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THE SAME JUSTIFICATIONS FOR WHY WE NEED TO MOVE I 35 TO ONE 30 OR NOT EXPAND IT IN SOME FORMER CAPACITY.

SO I'M GONNA PROVIDE SOME DIRECT ASK THAT BE INCLUDED IN THIS STATEMENT TO TECH DOT.

SO FIRST IS TO HAVE THE PURPOSE OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS STATED.

SO IF YOU LOOK UP WHAT PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SAID IN 1955 IN THE STATE OF THE UNION AD ADDRESSED, HE SAID A MODERN EFFICIENT HIGHWAY SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING POPULATION, OUR EXPANDING ECONOMY, AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE NO LONGER LIVE IN 1955.

INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS MEET VERY FEW OF THOSE NEEDS IN A WAY THAT A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM DOES.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FRAMING THIS OF LIKE, WHY IS THE INSTITUTION OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, WHAT IS THEIR GOAL AND IS IT NOW FEASIBLE TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS AND OR ITS ENDS? I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S NOT HELPING US ANYMORE IN OUR URBAN CENTERS.

UH, THE NEXT THING IS I'D ASK TECH.TO DO A PEER ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL CITIES.

IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK, PARIS, LONDON, ROME, WASHINGTON DC NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING THROUGH ITS URBAN CENTER.

IT STOPS WITH A BELTWAY OUTSIDE OF ITS URBAN CORE, EVEN WASHINGTON DC IT'S ONE HIGHWAY SYSTEM THAT GOES THROUGH DC GOES UNDERGROUND.

WHILE I DO SUPPORT PUSHING THIS HIGHWAY UNDERGROUND, I REMIND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER TO TAKE A WALK ON LET'S SAY SOUTH OF MAR OR SOUTH CONGRESS, SOUTH OF THE RIVER, AND ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS PLEASANT FOR ME TO WALK ACROSS? AND IF IT IS NOT, WHY WOULD WE EXPECT ANY AUSTINITES TO CROSS ANY OF THESE BRIDGES THAT ARE MAYBE A QUARTER OF MILE LONG IN A HUNDRED PERCENT DEGREE HEAT? UM, WOULD I, COULD I HAVE LIKE ANOTHER MINUTE? I, OKAY.

I'LL SUBMIT SOME MORE VIA EMAIL.

UH, RAISED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS ARE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE, SUBSTITUTE FOR A SAFE, COMFORTABLE AT GRADE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE FREEWAY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT MATEO BARN STONE.

UP ON DECK IS TAYLOR TREVINO AND CRAIG NAOR.

UH, AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE.

COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS MATT MATEO BARNSO.

I'M A RESIDENT OF D NINE AND DIRECTOR OF C U CENTRAL TEXAS.

UH, OUR THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND THE CO-SPONSORS ON THIS ITEM.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY TAKES A STRONG STAND.

WE CAN GET A BETTER DEAL WITH TEXT DOT.

WE ARE ALL UNITED IN OUR, UH, DISLIKE OF I 35, THE THING THAT DIVIDES OUR CITY PHYSICALLY.

THE PROBLEM IS TECHO SOLUTION IS MORE I 35 DOUBLING DOWN ON A BET THAT CAN NEVER PAY OFF THAT HIGHWAY WIDENINGS, FIXED CON CONGESTION.

AFTER ENDURING SIX YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, COMMUTERS WILL ENJOY TEMPORARY RELIEF FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE THEIR FREEWAY FILLS AGAIN.

AS THEY ALWAYS DO, CITIES ARE SHAPED BY THEIR TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS.

THIS HIGHWAY WIDENING AND PROJECT CONNECT TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WILL BE THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT WAYS THAT WE, UH, IMPACT HOW OUR CITY WILL GROW OVER THE NEXT CENTURY.

AND I ASK YOU WHICH ONE IS MORE IN KEEPING WITH CITY OF AUSTIN'S STATED DESIRE TO GROW AS A COMPACT AND CONNECTED CITY.

WE AGREE WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT WE NEED MORE AND HIGHER QUALITY CROSSINGS.

[01:55:01]

SO-CALLED MODIFIED ALTERNATIVE THREE IS DEPRESSED THROUGHOUT THE URBAN CORE AND THERE'S SIMPLY NO REASON, UH, UH, NO REASON, UH, ANY PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION ACROSS NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED.

THE REASON OF COURSE, THE TEXTILE ONCE ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS IS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO ALLOW PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE FRONTAGE ROADS.

AND THIS BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND POINT, THAT ALL SURFACE FEATURE FEATURES FRONTAGE ROAD BRIDGES AND SUCH SHOULD BE DESIGNED AS NORMAL CITY STREETS FOLLOWING NATTO AND OR CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA.

MANUAL DESIGN STANDARDS DESIGN SPEEDS SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR.

INCLUDE FEATURES SUCH AS STREET TREES, NON-ST STREET PARKING.

THERE SHOULD BE NO CLEAR ZONE ON ANY CITY STREET.

A CLEAR ZONE IS A CONCEPT IMPORTED FROM HIGHWAY DESIGN AND CRITICAL FOR, UH, DANGEROUS THOROUGHFARES FOR CARS TRAVELING AT SPEED.

NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR TREVINO.

ON DECK ARE CRAIG NAZER AND JEFF THOMPSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

UH, MY NAME IS TAYLOR TREVINO.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE EXPERTISE THAT A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, HERE HAVE, BUT I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN.

I GREW UP OFF OF ROMBERG AGAIN, LAMAR CHEETO'S DISTRICT.

UM, BUT I WENT TO A SCHOOL, UH, AT KEELING MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, IN THE HEART OF THE EAST SIDE.

AND, UM, MAYOR WATSON, I THINK YOUR SON WAS ACTUALLY IN MY CLASS.

SO .

UM, BUT THE RICHNESS, DEEP HISTORY AND UNIQUENESS OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ALWAYS STOOD OUT TO ME.

BUT IT WASN'T TILL MY TIME THERE THAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT A LOT OF THAT WAS FORCED.

UM, I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE SEGREGATIONIST HISTORY OF I 35 AND FEELING A SENSE OF BOTH SHOCK AND UNDERSTANDING.

SURPRISED THAT POLICIES THAT SEEMED SO DISTANT HAD SUCH LASTING, UM, YOU KNOW, CREATED SUCH A LASTING DISPARITIES BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL IN AND THOSE JUST ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT MADE EVERYTHING MAKE SENSE.

SO WHILE I LOVE AUSTIN, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE CITY THE SAME WAY SINCE THEN.

SO IN ADDITION TO BRIDGING THE GAPS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AUSTIN, WE NEED A SOLUTION THAT IF NOTHING ELSE DOESN'T ORN THE CURRENT TRAFFIC SITUATION.

I LIVE JUST ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY FROM 35, TAKE IT TO GET JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

SO, UM, WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THE TRAFFIC SUCKS, WE ALSO KNOW THAT MORE LANES BRING MORE TRAFFIC AND THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT WE NEED.

SO ALONG WITH THOSE TWO THINGS, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO CALLS, LET ANY CHANGES TO 35 ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND AMENITIES FOR RESIDENTS BY BEARING AS MUCH OF 35 AS POSSIBLE AND REROUTING 18 WHEELERS FROM 35 TO MINIMIZE FATALITIES AND CONGESTION.

SO THANKS TO ALL OF Y'ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND DEDICATION TO THIS ISSUE.

YES, NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG NAZER.

ONDECK ARE JEFF THOMPSON AND KELSEY HUGHES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NAZER.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS.

WE HAVE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO OPPOSE TECH DOTS I 35 EXPANSION PLANS.

I'M ALSO THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE LONE STAR CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

THE SIERRA CLUB ALSO OPPOSES TECH STOCKS I 35 EXPANSION PLANS.

THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS EXPANSION ARE TOO MANY AND TOO EGREGIOUS TO DETAIL AND TWO MINUTES, AND I THINK YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF MOST OF THEM.

WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE CITY WOULD OPPOSE TECH SCOTT'S PLANS AS WELL.

HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF GOOD OPTIONS HERE.

IF THIS IS TRUE AND SUCH A BAD DEAL WILL BE FORCED UPON THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS AND OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION TO ANY TEXT DOT PROPOSAL, THEN WE FIND COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS RESOLUTION WITH THE AMENDMENTS TO BE AN UNFORTUNATE NECESSITY TO PROTECT FURTHER DAMAGE TO AUSTIN.

THAT THIS DISTASTEFUL SITUATION BRINGS TO MIND WHAT MY MA WISE MISSISSIPPI GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY.

SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL FIG TREE IN THE BACKYARD.

AND SH AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE WINTER SHE'D SAY, WELL, DRIED FIGS ARE BETTER THAN NO FIGS AT ALL.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFF THOMPSON.

ON DECK ARE KELSEY HUGHES AND CELIA ISRAEL.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR TAKING UP THIS ITEM.

UM, I SIGNED UP AS NEUTRAL ON THE ITEM BECAUSE I GUESS A COVERED CAR SEWER IS BETTER THAN AN OPEN CAR SEWER.

UH, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT A BIGGER I 35 IS JUST GOING TO PUT OUT MORE POLLUTION, YOU KNOW, AND ASTHMA INDUCING FUMES NEAR, YOU KNOW, MY NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, SANCHEZ AND, AND TRAVIS HEIGHTS ARE BOTH OR TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL ARE BOTH WITHIN, YOU KNOW, UH, A STONES THROW OF I 35.

UM, AND WHAT I'M REALLY PUSHING FOR RIGHT

[02:00:01]

NOW IS JUST TO SLOW DOWN AND TO POSTPONE THIS ISSUE.

I I I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD TEAR UP I 35 FOR WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE A DECADE WITHOUT OFFERING COMMUTERS ANOTHER SOLUTION INTO DOWNTOWN.

AND IF WE COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE ORANGE LINE AND THE BLUE LINE WE'RE COMPLETED AND THEN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER OPTION INSTEAD.

THE ONLY OTHER OPTION FOR MANY COMMUTERS WILL BE MOPAC AND WE'LL INCREASE THE TRAFFIC TEMPORARILY ON MOPAC WHILE THIS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND THEN I GUESS THAT WILL JUSTIFY, YOU KNOW, NEW FLYOVERS OVER, UH, ZUCKER PARK, UH, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

SO IF WE COULD JUST DELAY UNTIL PROJECT CONNECT WAS COMPLETED, UH, AND GIVE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS KELSEY HUGHES ON DECK, ALIA ISRAEL AND DESI SALI.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME'S KELSEY HUGHES.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR PUSHING BACK AGAINST TEXT DOT.

WHEN I READ THIS ITEM, I WAS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AGAINST THE EXPANSION.

MY GUESS IS THAT FIGHTING THE I 35 EXPANSION SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREME OR A RADICAL POSITION.

HOWEVER, MANY OF US HAVE LOOKED AT THE OTHER HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS IN THE US AND HAVE SEEN THAT SPENDING BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS WILL ONLY INCREASE TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION, ASTHMA, NOISE EMISSIONS INJURIES AND TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND DISPLACEMENT, WHICH TO ME, ME, IS AN EXTREME POSITION.

WHATEVER WE, WHATEVER PLAN WE ACCEPT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I ALREADY HATE DRIVING ON WALKING AND BIKING UNDERNEATH I 35 AND I'M IN THE PRIME YEARS OF MY LIFE AT 32 YEARS OLD.

I CANNOT IMAGINE GROWING OLDER IN THIS CITY AND HAVING TO NAVIGATE AN EVEN BIGGER VERSION OF I 35.

WE COULD INSTEAD BUILD SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.

WE COULD BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAFE BIKING AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND CONCERT VENUES, SAFER AND SLOWER STREETS, MAYBE EVEN A TRAIN.

WOW.

PLEASE OPPOSE THIS EXTREME EXPANSION SUPPORT ROUTING INTERSTATE TRAFFIC ONTO THE MOST RELIABLE ROUTE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, WHICH IS S H ONE 30.

CHECK THEIR WEBSITE, GIVE I 35 BACK TO THE CITY FOR HOUSING AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION.

PLEASE TAKE VISION ZERO IN THE CLIMATE GOALS.

SERIOUSLY, OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

CELIA.

IS ISRAEL ON DECK, DESI SALI AND ROY WHALEY? THANK YOU.

DESI SALI OR ROY WHALEY ON DECK ARE ALSO HAYNES MENDEL AND GREG ANDERSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DESS CALLIS.

I'M A JUNIOR AT ST.

EDWARDS UNIVERSITY.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I'M STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE.

I'M ALSO AN INTERN AT ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, WHICH IS NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP THAT AIMS TO MAKE OUR WORLD A GREENER AND SAFER SPACE.

AND I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW.

UM, I THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE CUTTING MY SPEECH, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SAY THIS AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE.

UM, IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE EXPANSION OF I 35 IS A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR ONE, THE PROJECTION.

UM, FOR ONE, IT IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE CARBON EQUIVALENT EMISSIONS FROM ANYWHERE TO 1.2 TO 2.6 MILLION METRIC TONS BY THE YEAR 2050.

IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH TO SWAY YOU, IF NOT AMENDED, THIS PLAN WILL ALSO CAUSE THE DISPLACEMENT OF UP TO 108 HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

THOSE ARE AUSTINITES IF YOU ARE STILL ON THE FENCE ABOUT IF IT WOULD REALLY BE THAT BAD.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU IT WOULDN'T EVEN TRICK FIX TRAFFIC? I WAS GONNA GO INTO INDUCED DEMAND AND INDUCED TRAFFIC, BUT I THINK WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT PRETTY WELL.

UM, IT'S BEEN PROVEN MANY TIMES, KATIE FREEWAY FOR ONE OF THEM THAT ADDING MORE LANES DOES NOT FIX TRAFFIC.

IT MAKES MORE TRAFFIC.

SO JUST TO KIND OF OVERVIEW WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE EXPANSION OF I 35 WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING.

IT WOULD WILDLY ACCELERATE OUR RATES OF CARBON EMISSIONS.

IN OTHER WORDS, KILL THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT WOULD DISPLACE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES OUR COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT AND IT WOULD MAKE TRAFFIC WORSE.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ADDING SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS ONTO THIS ITEM AND REALLY, REALLY DO YOUR BEST WITH TECH DOT AND STAND UP FOR US BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE VOTED FOR

[02:05:01]

YOU.

NEXT IS ROY.

ROY WHALEY ON DECK R HAYES MANDEL AND GREG ANDERSON.

HOW Y'ALL, MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF SIERRA CLUB.

AND I WANT TO START OUT BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT COSIGNED.

AND I HOPE THE REST OF YOU WILL JOIN IN ON THIS.

UM, I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN THERE WASN'T AN I 35 IN AUSTIN.

WELL, IT RAN PARTWAY, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY GO EVERYWHERE.

I MEAN, , IT WAS A LONG TRIP TO DALLAS.

UM, THIS, I I I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, UH, THIS, UH, RESOLUTION HERE.

I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD.

I AM, UH, VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT ADVISES THAT WE PUSHED THE TRUCK TRAFFIC, THE SEMI TRUCK TRAFFIC OVER TO ONE 30 AT THE COST OF THIS PROJECT.

WE CAN PAY FOR TRUCKERS TO USE I 30 FOR A LONG TIME IF WE CHOOSE TO PAY THEIR FEES.

AND JUST TO REMIND MYSELF, INSTEAD OF RIDING MY BICYCLE DOWN HERE, LIKE USUAL, I DROVE DOWN HERE AND I DROVE ON I 35 AND I AM NOT A FAN.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT, IT SCARES THE WILLIE OUTTA ME ACTUALLY.

UM, AND, AND MOST OF THE CONGESTION DOES SEEM TO BE FROM SEMI-TRUCK.

SO SIMPLY GETTING THE SEMIS OFF WOULD BE A LONG STEP IN SAVING US A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND A LOT OF BUSINESS BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS AND WE NEED TO STAY AWARE OF THAT.

AND DEFINITELY THE ENVIRONMENT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE JUST ALL SORTS OF NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND I THINK Y'ALL ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THEM.

MY SON LIVES IN DALLAS AND MY SON HAS A A NINE YEAR OLD SON, MY GRANDSON.

AND SO I GO TO SEE HIM.

AND CLYDE WARREN PARK IS JUST A REALLY GREAT LOCATION.

IT FEEDS EVERYTHING ELSE DOWNTOWN.

THANK YOU MR. WHALEY.

IT IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

WE NEED TO SAY NO THANK YOU TO THIS EXPANSION.

THANKS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS HAYNES MANDEL ON DECK IS GREG ANDERSON.

HI Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS HANS MAN, MY WIFE, OUR TWO KIDS AND I LIVE IN HANCOCK.

ALTHOUGH HANCOCK IS ONLY A A STONES THROW AWAY FROM FRENCH PLACE CHERRYWOOD, DELWOOD AND WILSHIRE WOOD.

AND WHAT SHOULD BE A SHORT BIKE RIDE FROM BLACKLAND, CHESTNUT, ROSEWOOD OR MILLER WITH KIDS.

THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LITERALLY INACCESSIBLE TO US WITHOUT A CAR.

THREE POINTS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ASSOCIATIONS RESPONSE TO D E I S 0.1 TEXT WARRANT SAID WITHOUT THE EXPANSION AFTERNOON PEAK, OUR TRAVEL TIMES WOULD REACH OVER THREE AND A HALF HOURS BY 2045.

THAT'S NONSENSE.

NO ONE WOULD COMMUTE THEN.

RATHER PEOPLE WOULD EITHER WORK CLOSER TO HOME OR LIVE CLOSER TO WORK.

THEY WOULD WALK, BIKE, TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT OR TELECOMMUTE, ALL OF WHICH ARE MUCH BETTER SOLUTIONS THAN AN EXPANDED HIGHWAY.

TEXTILE NEEDS TO STOP FRAMING ITS EXPANSION AS THE ONLY ANTIDOTE TO AN, TO A HORROR SCENARIO THAT WOULD NEVER MATERIALIZE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE EXPANSION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

POINT TWO TEXTILE HAS ARGUED THAT INDUCED DEMAND WAS NEGLIGIBLE IN THIS PROJECT, PROBABLY LESS THAN 1%, AND THAT THEY WERE, UH, MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON LATENT DEMAND.

IT IS NOT CLEAR, HOWEVER, HOW TECHSTAR MEASURES EITHER OR HOW IT DETERMINES HOW, HOW IT DETERMINES THAT THE LATENT DEMAND FOR DRIVING IS MORE THAN FOR EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSIT.

AND THE D E I S IN INDUCED DEMAND IS MENTIONED ONLY THREE TIMES EACH TIME IN REFERENCE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND NOT ONCE ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXPLANATION OF WHY TEXT DOT THINGS.

IT DOES NOT APPLY TO I 35.

LATENT DEMAND IS MENTIONED ZERO TIMES 0.3 IN ASSESSING, UH, FUTURE HIGHWAY SCENARIOS.

TEXT DOT RELIED ON AN OUTDATED STATIC TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT MODEL THAT IS MORE THAN 40 YEARS OLD AND WAS ADOPTED WHEN COMPUTERS WERE LESS POWERFUL THAN TODAY'S SMARTPHONES.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS ARE KNOWN TO RESULT IN OVERESTIMATES OF EXPANDED HIGHWAY PERFORMANCE.

EXPERTS ARE TELLING US THAT TECHO NEEDS TO EMPLOY STATE-OF-THE-ART DYNAMIC TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT MODELING.

INSTEAD TO CONCLUDE WHETHER CONGESTED BY GAS POWERED OR ELECTRIC CARS.

A 20 LANE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR CITY WILL NEVER BE LIVABLE.

WE RESPECTFULLY DEMAND THAT I 35 BE REBUILT AS NARROW, NOT AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE AND BE KEPT BY A DECK.

TO GET IT RIGHT? WHAT DO WE WANT OUR FUTURE TO BE? AND WE HAVE A BIG ROLE TO PLAY HERE AND WE CAN WORK WITH TECHO, I HOPE, UNLESS THAT DOG'S JUST GONE AND WE'RE JUST GONNA GIVE UP ON IT.

NEXT IS GREG ANDERSON ON DECK ARE HEATHER HUBS AND DANIEL KAMAN.

HI MAYOR.

MAYOR TIM.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO ARE, IS AUSTIN GONNA BE THE LAST CITY OR ONE OF THE VERY LAST CITIES TO GET IT WRONG OR ARE WE GONNA BE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES

[02:10:01]

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE HERE.

WE KNOW THE TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT GET US THIS AND WE KNOW WHAT LEADS US TO AUTOCENTRIC SPRAWL AUSTIN IS SO AMAZING.

YOU KNOW, WE, YOU HAVE ALL THESE OTHER BIG CITIES IN TEXAS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY ENCAPSULATED THEMSELVES WITH GIGANTIC HIGHWAYS, AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

ARE WE GONNA FURTHER GUT OURSELVES? WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE, I GREW UP IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA WHERE YEAR AFTER YEAR TECH OR GEORGIA DOT WAS PROMISING, YOU KNOW, CONGESTION RELIEF WITH MORE LANES.

JUST MORE LANES, JUST MORE LANES.

THIS TIME IT'LL DO IT, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THE RESULT WAS THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES GOING UP, REPLACING FARMS AND FORESTS WITH AUTOCENTRIC SPRAWL.

IMAGINE AUSTIN CALLS FOR A COMPACT AND CONNECTED CITY.

WE STILL HAVE YET TO DO THAT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BUT ARE WE GONNA FURTHER HINDER OURSELVES IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS HIGHWAY? OUR CARBON FOOTPRINTS SKYROCKET AS WE LIVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTER.

THIS IS A BERKELEY COOL CLIMATE CALCULATOR, AND IF YOU WANNA WATCH CARBON TONS INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, JUST BUILD FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT.

MAYBE IF YOU'RE THE MAYOR OF GEORGETOWN, THIS MAKES SENSE.

MAYBE IF YOU OWN A TON OF LAND 30 MILES AWAY, THIS IS GREAT, BUT IF YOU'RE IN AUSTIN AND YOU CARE, IT'S REALLY, REALLY BAD.

WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE PEOPLE AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SINGLE OCCUPANT VEHICLES, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF I 35.

GOD, THIS IS BAD.

AND ALSO, WHERE ARE THE RENDERINGS? I'VE SEEN MORE RENDERINGS FOR A $20 MILLION BUILDING THAN I HAVE FOR THIS $8 BILLION PROJECT.

IS THIS OUR FUTURE? WHEN DOES IT END? WE'RE NOT SURE YET.

I LOVE THIS, RIGHT? YES.

FINALLY, SENDING IN MORE TRAFFIC INDUCED DEMAND IS REAL.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF WHO ARE, WHO ARE CALLING OUT ALL THE NONSENSE HERE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER, THERE ARE WAYS TO MOVE PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT THROUGH A GIGANTIC INTERSTATE.

WE WATCH THEM GUT CITIES YEAR AFTER YEAR, BACK IN THE DAY.

ARE WE GONNA CONTINUE DOING IT? WE'LL SEE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER HUBS.

ON DECK IS DANIEL KAMAN AND RICHARD HAMAN.

HI, HAPPY TO SEE Y'ALL AGAIN AT THE PODIUM.

I'M TAKING A NEUTRAL STANCE ON THE RESOLUTION.

DUE TO THE FACT I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN EXPANSION AT ALL.

HOWEVER, IF THERE MUST BE AN EXPANSION, THE RESOLUTION TO THE ITEM IS APPRECIATED.

HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD BE NO EXPANSION AT ALL BECAUSE BY THE TIME THIS PROJECT IS DONE, I WILL BE AN ADULT.

I WILL HAVE FULLY SEEN THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE ON ME AND THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

IT WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AUSTIN.

IT WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN, AND IT WILL NEGATIVELY IN AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

MOST OF ALL.

WHEN REVIEWING THIS ITEM, TAKE THE OZONE LAYER INTO CONSIDERATION.

TAKE CARBON EMISSIONS INTO CONSIDERATION.

TAKE AIR QUALITY INTO CONSIDERATION.

TAKE ASMATIC INVI INDIVIDUALS INTO CONSIDERATION AND TAKE INDIVIDUALS WITH LUNG DISEASES INTO CONSIDERATION.

TAKE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE IMPACTS ON HEALTH, CHILDREN'S HEALTH OVERALL HAPPINESS AND URBAN DENSITY WILL BE IMPACTED.

Y'ALL KNOW HOW OLD I AM SINCE I'M 16 AND 49 YEARS.

WHEN I'M 65 THEIR RETIREMENT AGE.

I WILL HAVE FULLY SEEN THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS THAT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY.

MY HEALTH WILL BE IMPACTED, MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH WILL BE IMPACTED, AND EVERYTHING THAT INVOLVES ME WILL BE IMPACTED.

AND TALKING TO OTHER UT STUDENTS, NOBODY WANTS THIS.

NONE OF MY FRIENDS LIKE DRIVING MY FRIENDS WHO DO HAVE CARS, BARELY USE THEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WALK EVERYWHERE.

THE FUTURE IS WALKING.

WHEN YOU SEE LIKE AI GENERATED IMAGES OF THE FUTURE, IT'S NOT MULTI-LANE HIGHWAYS LIKE CUTTING THROUGH CITIES.

IT'S WALKABILITY.

PROVE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND RETHINK I 35.

MILE AN HOUR FAGE ROAD, AND THAT THESE SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH NATO STANDARDS AND MATCH THE SURFACE STREETS OF THE REST OF DOWNTOWN THAT ARE SO FAR KEEPING US A LOT SAFER THAN ANY OTHER, UH, TEXT OP FACILITIES THAT'S RUNNING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

NEXT IS DANIEL KAMAN.

KAMAN ON DECK ARE RICHARD HAMAN AND JOHN PAUL CONLEY.

UM, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTIME ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR, UM, ALL THE RESEARCH AND THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN AND FOR THE AMENDMENTS THAT I THINK ARE SETTING THIS IN A REALLY GOOD DIRECTION.

UM, I APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY HAS DECIDED TO FORMALIZE, UM, ITS STATEMENT ON I 35 SO THAT YOU GUYS WILL, UM, HAVE A, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN MAKE A FORMAL STATEMENT TO TEXT DOT AND PUT THAT INTO THE RECORD SO THAT WE CAN GET THE BEST PROJECT POSSIBLE.

UM, THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE EASTWEST CONNECTIVITY AND THERE IS A NEED FOR THESE PROJECTS TO PRIORITIZE SAFETY IN THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE.

AND IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF THAT, UH, THESE FRONTAGE ROADS WERE DESIGNED IN A WAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING EVEN MORE ON THIS ROAD THAN ARE TODAY.

THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THAT PEOPLE MAKE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION AT ALL.

AND MAYBE THAT DOESN'T MEAN A 70 MILE AN HOUR HIGHWAY OR A 45

[02:15:01]

I THINK THAT WE NEED TRUE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT, UH, SHARED USE PATHS THAT ARE SEPARATED BY JUST A LINE OF PAINT ANYWHERE AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

WE NEED TO RECONSIDER THE USE OF SPIES AT AIRPORT AND AT RIVERSIDE AND SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO SCURRY ACROSS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF LANES OF HIGH SPEED VEHICLES OR HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, VERTICALLY MOVE TO GO THROUGH A TUNNEL OR THROUGH A RAISED CROSSING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.

MORE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING LESS AND WE'RE DENSIFYING THE CITY AND THE HIGHWAY HIGHWAY'S GONNA BE LESS RELEVANT AS WE GET OLDER, AS MORE PEOPLE SWITCH TO OTHER MODES.

AND BY 2039, THE AS AND P SETS OUT A MODE SHIFT TO A 50% ARE USING THINGS OTHER THAN SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THIS WORK A LOT.

REAL URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ABILITY TO BUILD MEANINGFUL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL SERVE THE CITY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD HAMAN WITH JEAN POW CONLEY ON DECK.

UH, HELLO COUNSEL.

THANKS FOR, UH, HEARING FROM US TODAY.

MY NAME IS RICHARD HAMAN.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, UH, IN CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST FOUR BLOCKS FROM I 35.

I ALSO HAVE A PHD IN URBAN GEOGRAPHY AND IN AM IN MY 17TH YEAR OF TEACHING AT UT.

I'VE TAUGHT URBAN GEOGRAPHY PLANNING AND URBAN STUDIES OVER THOSE YEARS, BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF.

ALMOST EVERYONE AGREES THAT I 35 NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED EITHER IN THE NUMBER OF LANES OR IN ITS CURRENT FOOTPRINT.

A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR MODERNIZATION OF I 35 SHOULD CREATE NEW BENEFITS FOR AUSTIN, NOT JUST TAKE DOWN THE UPPER DECKS OR MINIMIZE ITS INTRUSIVENESS.

I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE MADE TO MAKE THIS PROJECT BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I URGE YOU TO PUSH TEXT.TO RETHINK ITS PROJECT MORE FUNDAMENTALLY.

UM, I HAVE A CHART HERE THAT'S, UH, UP ON YOUR SCREENS.

THE TRAFFIC DATA, UM, PROVIDED IN THE D E I S AND TEXT DOT'S, OWN DATA DOES NOT JUSTIFY AN INCREASE FOR THE HIGHWAY.

THE HISTORICAL NUMBERS ARE THE ORANGE LINE AT THE BOTTOM.

FOR SOME REASON, THEY USE THE BLUE LINE AS THEIR PROJECTION FOR THE NUMBERS.

THEY JUST KIND OF CAME UP WITH IT OUT OF NOWHERE.

THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDING SO MANY LANES TO OUR CITY.

AND FURTHERMORE, THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON, UH, OF THIS PROJECT, MOST OF THEM ARE, UM, UH, COME FROM RISE OUT OF THE EXPANSION, ESPECIALLY THE INCREASED RIGHT OF WAY AND THE EXTRA RAMPING ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGED LANES.

FURTHERMORE, TECH DOTS, UH, CLIMATE AND GREENHOUSE GAS MODELS, UM, ARE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC.

THEY CLAIM ABSURDLY QUOTE, THE PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE TRANSPORTATION RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

IT'S RIDICULOUS IF THEY'RE PROJECTING A 50% INCREASE IN TRAFFIC AND YET THEY SAY, THIS WILL GREAT, THIS WILL BE GREAT.

THIS WILL REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.

THEY HAVE NOT MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO REALLY CONCEIVE OF THIS PROJECT IN A MODERN WAY, AND YOU NEED TO PUSH THEM TO DO SO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN.

POW CONLEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

I'M JUST HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND IN SUPPORT FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER, VELAS ITEM.

UM, AND, AND, AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH ABOUT THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION THAT IS DEEPLY FRUSTRATING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

CITIES ARE WAKING UP TO THE FACT THAT HIGHWAYS ARE TOXIC AND DESTRUCTIVE AND ARE THINKING OF BETTER WAYS TO PLAN AND USE URBAN SPACE.

AND YET HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING DRAGGED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AGAINST OUR WILL, AGAINST THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY BY TEXTILE, WHICH SHOWS JUST TREMENDOUS INDIFFERENCE TO US AS A CITY.

AND THIS IS JUST SUCH A, LIKE WORKING WITH TEXTILE ON THIS.

TALKING TO TEXTILE ATTENDING MEETINGS HAS BEEN A DEEPLY DISEMPOWERING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS UNITED, HAS BEEN UNITED IN SAYING NO HIGHER, NO WIDER, AND YET HERE WE ARE STILL SORT OF FORCED TO SWALLOW THIS NASTY PILL THAT'S BEING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS.

WE HAVE TO INSIST ON DOING BETTER.

YOU KNOW, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER TEXTILE, BUT Y'ALL DO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CITY'S, YOU, YOU LEAD THE CITY'S POSITION ON THIS.

AND THE CITY SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR BETTER PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE CITY SHOULD NOT ACCEPT A RIDICULOUS UNDERGROUND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL ACROSS AIRPORT.

THERE, THERE ARE THINGS THE CITY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PUT ITS FEET DOWN AND FIGHT FOR, AND IT SHOULD FIGHT FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST THE DRIVERS SPEEDING DOWN THROUGH THE HIGHWAY.

WE CAN AND WE MUST INSIST THAT WE GET THE BEST POSSIBLE PROJECT.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE CAPS, WE CAN'T JUST HAVE THE CITY'S MOST EXPENSIVE GRASS LAWNS.

WE NEED TO ACTUALLY HAVE CAPS THAT WILL SERVE OUR CITY AND THAT WILL PROVIDE, UM,

[02:20:01]

WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST CREATE THE CITY'S MOST EXPENSIVE PARK.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE CAPS, LET'S FIGHT FOR CAPS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO SOMETHING VERY MEANINGFUL WITH THEM THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY, UM, PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE AND THAT WILL HELP GENERATE WEALTH AND, AND STRENGTH IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 44.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.

UM, MEMBERS, THAT TAKES US TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 44.

THE WAY I WILL SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 44 IS I WILL, UH, SEEK A MOTION FROM THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM, GET THE ITEM ON THE TABLE AND THEN, UH, THE AMENDMENTS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER AVELA.

I'LL TAKE THOSE TWO UP AS AMENDMENT ONE AND AMENDMENT TWO, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ HAS AN AMENDMENT.

THEN THERE ARE THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

I'LL TAKE THOSE UP IN IN ORDER.

THERE'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS.

AND THEN THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

SO, UH, THE ORDER WE WILL GO IN IS VELA AMENDED AMENDMENT ONE, VELA AMENDMENT TWO, VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT CADRE AMENDMENT ONE, CADRE AMENDMENT TWO, CADRE AMENDMENT THREE, ELLIS AMENDMENT R RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT ONE, AND RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT TWO.

WITH THAT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA FOR A MOTION.

I, UH, MOVE TO PASS.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 44, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? ALL RIGHT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER REVELLA ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

UH, MAYOR, THE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS, UH, JUST A CLEAN UP A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION OF THE LANGUAGE.

NOT, UH, A SUBSTANTIVE, UH, UH, CHANGE JUST, UH, I THINK CLARIFIES THAT, UH, THAT THE CENTRAL PROJECT IS IN A DIFFERENT STATUS THAN THE NORTH AND SOUTH, UH, UH, PROJECTS.

AND I WOULD MOVE, UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE, THE MOTION? SECONDED AGAIN BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE.

AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE BY VELA IS ADOPTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS JUST AGAIN FOR CLARITY, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THIS ITEM AS THE CITY'S OFFICIAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO TEXT DOT BEFORE THEIR, UH, MARCH, UH, UH, SEVENTH DEADLINE.

AND IN FACT, IT DIRECTS IT TO SUBMIT THE ITEM NO LATER THAN MARCH 3RD.

HOWEVER, I JUST, THERE'S, UH, WE NOTICED A SMALL CLERICAL ERROR IN THE AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT SAY IT'S STATES DIRECTED TO SUBMIT THE COMMENT BY FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2022.

AND, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN 2023.

SO WITH THAT SMALL CHANGE, I WOULD, UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT TECHNICAL ERROR IS, IS COMPLETED.

THE IS IS ERROR IS FIXED.

UM, CUSTOMER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? HEARING NONE.

AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS ADOPTED.

THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ ON AN AMENDMENT.

UH, MR. MAYOR, I'M OFFERING THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING WATER CONTROLS TO TREAT AND FILTER RUNOFF FROM THE PROPOSED HIGHWAY EXPANSION AND THE INCREASED POLLUTION IT WOULD GENERATE.

I MOVE FOR ADOPTION COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ MOVES, UH, APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT AS DESCRIBED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF VELAZQUEZ'S AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE.

THE VELOS AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I, I GET STARTED ON THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN REVELLA AGAIN, UH, FOR HER SPONSORSHIP ON THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, ALSO MY FELLOW CO-SPONSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HUES VELAZQUEZ AND, AND RYAN TER, UM, AND, AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL STAFF.

UH, I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT, UH, TO A STAFFER IN THE D NINE OFFICE.

MELISSA BEEHLER.

UH, THIS, THIS ISSUE IS A, IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR HER AND I, I APPRECIATE HER AND ALL THE WORK SHE'S DONE ON THIS, ON THIS ISSUE, BOTH IN HER PRIVATE LIFE.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE, HERE IN CITY HALL, UH, MY OFFICE IS PUTTING FORTH, UH, THREE AMENDMENTS.

UH, I WILL START OFF WITH AMENDMENT ONE, UH, WHICH CENTERS AROUND CLIMATE EQUITY.

UH, I OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPACT, UH, TRANSPORTATION HAS ON OUR AIR AND OUR CLIMATE, UH, PARTICULARLY ON COMMUNITIES

[02:25:01]

OF COLOR.

UH, AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE I 35 EXPANSION WILL HINDER US FROM REACHING OUR CLIMATE GOAL AS A CITY.

UH, AND I I COULD READ THE, UH, THE AMENDMENT ONE.

WE WILL, WE'VE ALL HAD THE AMENDMENT.

GREAT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF A AMEND OF CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE RELATED TO CLIMATE EQUITY.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO, TO ADOPTION OF THE ITEM? HEARING NONE.

CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS MAYOR, RIGHT? I OBJECT TO ADDING THAT.

I'M SORRY, I JUST DIDN'T CATCH IT AND I APOLOGIZE.

APOLOGIZE.

THAT'S OKAY.

UM, ON CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, THE VOTE IS NINE TO ONE TO ONE.

UH, THE NO VOTE IS WHOOP, IT'S THE VOTE IS A ADMIT CADRE.

AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS 10 TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE YOU RECOGNIZE ON YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT.

UH, AMENDMENT TWO HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY.

SO I OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO ADD LANGUAGE THERE.

CITY, UH, HAS PRIORITIZED HUMAN LIFE OVER ALL ELSE IN OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND THAT THE I 35 QUARTER IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR, UH, TO TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN OUR CITY.

UH, THE AMENDMENT EMPHASIZED THAT SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS, UH, BE PRIORITIZED.

IN THE I 35 PROJECT COUNCIL MEMBER MCC CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF WHAT IS WILL REFER TO AS CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, AS HE JUST DESCRIBED IT, IT'S SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO PASSES ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE MAYOR.

SORRY, I RAISED MY HAND.

WELL, I THOUGHT YOU WERE VOTING.

NO.

YEAH, I AM VOTING NOW.

CRY OUT.

YOU GOT IT? YEAH, I'LL BE VOCAL.

SO THE RAISING YOUR HAND WAS THE VOTE.

NO? YES.

SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO TALK THEN.

UM, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE VOTE IS, WOULD BE SHOWN A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE ON CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.

UH, LAST AMENDMENT, UH, FROM OUR OFFICE ON DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.

UH, THIS AMENDMENT ADDS A DISPLACEMENT FACTS, UH, FOR TEXT DOT'S PREFERRED DESIGN ALTERNATIVE FORM FROM THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, NOTING 90 OUT OF THE 107 DISPLACEMENT ARE LOCATED IN LOWER INCOME MINORITY AREAS.

UH, IT ALSO PROVIDES MORE SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO TECH.TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO HELP, UH, DISPLACE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, UH, REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IF THEY CHOOSE WITH A STARTING POINT OF ONE MILE DISTANCE.

UH, UH, IT'S BEEN, UH, KNOWN THAT IT IS UNLIKELY ANYONE DISPLACED BY THIS PROJECT WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.

SO TECH SH SO TECH DOT SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT, UH, THAT THEY ARE CREATING.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE RELATED TO DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION AS IT WAS JUST DESCRIBED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE? MAYOR, I OBJECT.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

IS THE CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE IS ADOPTED ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING? NO.

CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS FOR AN AMENDMENT.

I MOVE ADOPTION OF ELLIS AMENDMENT ONE VERSION TWO, AND I CAN READ IT IF ANYONE DOESN'T HAVE IT HANDY.

IF THERE'S A SECOND.

IS ANYONE WISHING THAT SHE READ THAT? IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.

THE MOTION IS MADE BY AMER PRO TIM AND IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER TO ADOPT ELLI AMENDMENT VERSION NUMBER TWO THAT YOU, YOU WERE GIVEN.

IS THERE ANY, UH, ANYONE WANTED TO HAVE DISCUSSION? I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS? PLEASE, PLEASE.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL OF THE ZONING MATTERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, WOULD IT LIMIT SPEEDS ON FRONTAGE ROADS DOWN TO SAY, 20 MILES PER HOUR OR 35 MILES PER HOUR? IF THE ADJACENT ROADWAY IS THAT SPEED, IT JUST SAYS IT SHOULD BE AS MUCH IN LINE WITH THE DESIGN SPEEDS OF THE ADJACENT ROAD.

SO IF, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS ON MOPAC, THE ACCESS ROAD IS THREE LANES WIDE AND THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MILES AN HOUR.

BUT A RIGHT HAND TURN GOES DIRECTLY INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THERE SHOULD BE BEST EFFORTS MADE TO MATCH THOSE SPEEDS SO PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE CORNER TOO WIDE AND ENDANGER THE FOLKS AROUND.

I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, LETTING ME KNOW YOUR ANSWER TO THAT.

I THINK THE CLERK HAS A PDF THAT MY STAFF SENT OVER WITH IMAGES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT ONE OF MY STAFFERS ACTUALLY LIVES DOWNTOWN AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT RIGHT NEXT TO 35 WHERE HOLLY STREET IS, UM, THERE'S A 20 MILE PER HOUR SCHOOL ZONE.

AND SO IT WOULD CONCERN ME, UM, THINKING THAT PEOPLE ARE EXITING OFF 35 AND THEY MIGHT GO RIGHT DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR.

SO IF THAT IS WHAT THE INTENTION IS BEHIND YOUR AMENDMENT, I'M NOT SURE I CAN SUPPORT IT, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND YOUR FAITH IN ENGINEERS TO, TO MATCH IT.

EXACTLY.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO THEIR BEST TO, TO ACCOMMODATE IF THEY CAN.

ANY FURTHER

[02:30:01]

DISCUSSION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS'S AMENDMENT VERSION NUMBER TWO? MAYOR I OBJECT.

VERY GOOD.

UH, THERE ON A, UH, WITH THAT OBJECTION, UH, ELLIS AMENDMENT VERSION TWO PASSES ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN AMENDMENT I MOVE ADOPTION OF RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOUR, UH, AMENDMENT RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION AND SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER REVELLA? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE? HEARING NONE.

IT PASSES.

UH, WITH THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, YOU'RE NOW RECOGNIZED ON RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

I MOVE ADOPTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALT RYAN AL ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF RYAN AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

IT'S SECONDED BY RYAN ALTAR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE, MY SINGULAR OBJECTION IS THAT THIS FONT IS SO SMALL, I CAN'T SEE IT.

WE'LL, WE'LL GET A BIGGER NEXT TIME.

AND THAT IS, BY THE WAY, A WORTHY OBJECTION, ON THAT ONE.

UM, UM, WE'RE GOOD.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE ENJOYING IT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MOVES THAT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA THAT WE ADOPT RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE, THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

UM, MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE BASE MOTION AS AMENDED WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE JUST RUN THROUGH.

LET ME ASK, IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD? YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE BASE MOTION AS AMENDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCIL VELA, I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH I CAN ADD AFTER THAT PARADE OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAD, UH, MANY OF WHOM ARE MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I AM ON THE TECHNICAL ISSUES AND WHO HAVE, WHO I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM.

I APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE, THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M CONSCIOUS OF THE POWER DYNAMICS, LET'S SAY BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE STATE AND THE CITY.

UH, IT'S GOING TO BE A BALANCE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH TEXT DOT ON RIGHT OF WAY FOR PROJECT CONNECT AND NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES.

TEXTILE CONTROLS, MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL STREETS.

UH, BUT THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.

WE'VE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED, JUST LOOKING AROUND AND I GOTTA GIVE CREDIT TO RECONNECT AUSTIN AND SINCLAIR BLACK AND, UH, UH, HAYDEN WALKER BLACK BECAUSE THEIR WEBSITE AND THE INFORMATION THERE AND SEEING WHAT CITIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THEIR URBAN FREEWAYS, WHAT THEIR, THE MOVES THAT THEY HAVE MAKE REALLY IS WHAT, UH, WHAT WHAT GAVE ME THE, THE, THE PUSH TO GET THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

AND, UM, AND, AND, AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, I JUST THANK SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FIGHT FOR MUCH LONGER THAN I HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MAIN MOTION FOR, FOR THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO.

THE MOTION PASSES ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE WITH THE MAYOR BEING, BEING SHOWN VOTING NO MEMBERS.

THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO THE ZONING SPEAKERS DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ON THOSE.

WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS, MAYOR.

WELL THEN LET ME DO THIS.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, MEMBERS,

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

WE WILL, WILL HAVE A, UH, IN FACT, INSTEAD WHAT I'LL DO IS WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND TAKE OUR VOTE.

SURE, MAYOR.

UM, I'M JOY HARDEN, UM, WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 53 C 14 20 22, 113, AND THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 54 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 2, 3 0.03.

AND THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MARCH 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.

I'M SORRY, I, I HATE TO INTERRUPT IF YOU'RE EXITING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE, BUT COULD YOU TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE? VERY GOOD POINT,

[02:35:01]

FOLKS.

UH, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE AS THE MAYOR PRO TIM SAID WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE YOU TALKING OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU'RE AT THE MICROPHONE AND THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON THERE, SO GO.

ALL RIGHT, .

OKAY, I'LL START.

UM, ITEM 53 C 1 14 20 22 0 1 1 3.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 54 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 2, 3 0.03, AND THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MARCH 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAR MARCH 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 56 IS C 1 14 20 20 0 1 43 AND THERE'S THE APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 13TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 57 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 0 49, AND THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 13TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 58 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 1, 41.

AND THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

ITEM 59 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 1, 6 0.03.

AND THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 60 C 1 4 20 22 0 1, 0 3.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD TO AMEND PART FOUR H TO READ THE MINIMUM SETBACKS ARE, AND FOR THE REAR SETBACK, THAT SHOULD READ 15 FEET FOUR REAR YARD.

AND WITH THAT, I CAN OFFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.

AND MOVING ON TO YOUR ADDENDUM IS ITEM NUMBER 63, WHICH IS C 1 14 20 22 0 0 76.

AND THERE IS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MARCH 23RD COUNCIL MEETING.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA MEMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL, MCC CONDRE, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK JOY FOR HER SERVICE AND HER CONTINUING WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION FROM DISTRICT NINE.

SO, OH, THERE YOU GO.

UM, I WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON IT, 53 THROUGH 60 AND ITEM NUMBER 63.

ADAM CLERK? YES.

THERE ARE NO, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.

IS THAT CORRECT? WE HAVE ONE NOW.

OH, OKAY.

WELL, GOOD.

ZEN NOVIA, JOSEPH, THAT IS TO POSTPONED ITEM.

I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT QUICK.

WHICH ITEM IS IT ON? SO I, UH, I THOUGHT SHE WAS SPEAKING TO ITEM 50, THE BERKMAN RESIDENTIAL.

54 55.

AND THOSE ITEMS ARE BEING POSTPONED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MARCH 9TH.

VERY GOOD.

I WOULD NEED THAT CONFIRMED THOUGH.

YEP.

MS. JOHNSON, WHEN YOU, AS YOU START SPEAKING, PLEASE CONFIRM WHICH ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING ON, AND IF YOU'RE SP I'M SORRY, MS. JOSEPH.

AND IF YOU'RE SPEAKING, UH, ON AN ITEM THAT THE MOTION IS TO PO WILL BE TO POSTPONE, SPEAK ONLY TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, YOU'RE NOW RECOGNIZED.

THAT'S SPECIFICALLY 63 0 5 BERKMAN DRIVE.

COUNSEL, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 54 LIT 9 55.

THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT.

MY, UM, REQUEST IS SIMPLY THAT WHEN THE ITEM COMES BACK TO YOU ON MARCH 9TH, 2023, THAT THERE'S AN AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL IMPACT STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT DISCLOSES THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

AND LASTLY THAT THEY SPEAK TO IT BEING IN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT OF 2017.

NONE OF THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, AND IT WASN'T DISCUSSED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON JANUARY 23RD, 2023.

SO IF THEY COULD, STAFF COULD SEND THAT INFORMATION TO YOU OR PROVIDED WHEN IT COMES AGAIN, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I, AT THIS TIME, THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

UM, IS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 53 THROUGH 60? AND ITEM NUMBER 63, HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE CLOSED.

UH, MEMBERS I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAFF WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 53 THROUGH 60.

AND ITEM NUMBER 63 IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND

[02:40:01]

BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON AL ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, BEING OFF THE DIETS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ITEM NUMBER 12 WAS LAID ON THE TABLE UNTIL TWO 30.

UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 61, WHICH WE INDICATED WE WOULDN'T TAKE UP UNTIL 2 45.

UM, ITEM 12, I'M GOING TO ASK, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE REMOVAL OF ITEM 12 FROM THE TABLE AND TAKING IT UP AT 2 26 AS OPPOSED TO TWO 30? NOW, THERE NO

OBJECTION.

WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 12.

YOU'LL REMEMBER WE, UH, THE MOTION WAS TO TABLE ITEM 12 UNTIL THIS TIME, CERTAIN, SO THAT WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO, UH, LOOK INTO AND DISCUSS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME UP DURING THE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS TODAY.

UH, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR, UH, A MOTION.

MR. MAYOR, I, UH, I MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD AND, UH, VOTE ON ITEM 12 TODAY, AS IS.

UH, AND IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM, PLEASE.

UM, I THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS ITEM.

ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS WHO SHOWED UP TODAY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.

GRANT FUNDING SUCH AS THRIVE FUNDING IS CRUCIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF AUSTIN'S THRIVING ARTS CULTURE.

AND I'M PROUD TO KNOW THAT OUR CITY WORKS HARD TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A MISSION TO BRING CULTURAL ENRICHMENT TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

HOWEVER, THE, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TODAY ARE CONCERNING.

AND I, ALONG WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, MR. MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES PLAN TO BRING THIS ITEM TO THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION WHERE WE WILL BE INVITING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND ALL RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT YEAR THREE WILL HAVE THOROUGH BEDDING FOR AN EQUITABLE PROCESS, UH, THAT WILL NOT SERVE UP, THAT WILL NOT SERVE, THAT WILL NOT ONLY SERVE UP AND UP AND COMING ORGANIZATIONS, BUT ALSO SERVE AND HELP SUSTAIN THE DEEPLY ROOTED ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTIN.

UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT WITH Y'ALL.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

IT'S SECONDED.

THE MOTION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA.

UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THIS THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, UH, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

I JUST REALLY WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SOME VERY DESERVING RECIPIENTS OUT OF DISTRICT ONE JUMP ON IT.

LANA WEST AFRICAN DRUM AND DANCE ENSEMBLE, TERADATA, THE VORTEX, AND THE WOMEN IN JAZZ ASSOCIATION.

I'M VERY, VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER SOME SUPPORTS AS A MUNICIPALITY.

SO THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR.

GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

THERE ARE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, THIS PROGRAM IS THE CULMINATION OR, OR THE NEXT STEP FOR A MANY YEAR PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH LOOKING AT OUR CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING TO SEE HOW WE CAN BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE ARTS COMMUNITY.

I WANNA THANK THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE FOLKS WHO WORKED ON THIS FROM ED D.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE.

UM, THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM.

UM, I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THE LIST OF WHO RECEIVED, UM, THE GRANTS IN, IN, UM, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

UH, WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING, SO THERE WERE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE LEFT OFF AND GREAT ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAYBE WANTED MORE MONEY.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFICULT HERE, TRYING TO DO IT, UM, DIFFERENTLY.

UM, AND A LOT OF THOUGHT AND CARE HAS GONE INTO IT.

AND I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED, UM, WILL BE LEARNING FROM THAT PROCESS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO WANNA WORK ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DEEPLY INVOLVE THE ARTS COMMISSION, UM, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

UM, THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY HARD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS, UM, AND, AND I THINK THEY BRING A LOT OF EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE, UM, TO BEAR ON, ON HOW WE SHOULD ITERATE, UM, FOR THE NEXT STEPS.

TAKING UP, UH, ITEM NUMBER 61.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL AVELA, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION MEMBERS? YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH THAT, UH, MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION.

I'M GOING TO RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNTIL 2:45 PM

[02:45:01]

HERE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE? WE ARE RECESSED.

GO BACK TO ORDER.

IT IS 2:45 PM ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023.

AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.

MEMBERS, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL BE

[61. Approve an ordinance related to the Office of Police Oversight and establishing pay and benefits for officers of the Austin Police Department upon expiration of the current meet and confer agreement. ]

WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS FOR POOLED ITEM NUMBER 61.

THEN WE'LL HAVE WHATEVER DISCUSSION AND, UH, POTENTIAL ACTION MADAM CLERK, I'LL CALL ON YOU TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING SPEAKERS.

FIRST SPEAKER IS RICHARD SMITH.

YOU'RE HERE.

MR. SMITH, PLEASE UNMUTE.

WE WILL REACH OUT TO HIM.

SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO IN, IN PERSON.

UM, FIRST SPEAKER IS CLEO PETRI.

ON DECK IS MATT MCC.

LET'S PLAY THIS OUT.

YOU ALL WILL PASS THIS ILLEGAL ORDINANCE.

THE OFFICERS WILL NOT RELINQUISH THEIR RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY CHAPTER 1 43 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, MAYOR, YOUR LEGACY WILL BEGIN BY LOSING OVER A HUNDRED OFFICERS IN SHORT ORDER WITH AN ALREADY CRIPPLED POLICE DEPARTMENT, DETECTIVES AND COMMAND STAFF HAVE BEGAN NOTIFYING THEIR LEADERSHIP OF THEIR RESIGNATIONS.

THIS WILL ROCK THE FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT OF OUR DEPARTMENT, RYAN ALTERS ORDINANCE AND THE PROP OVERSIGHT WILL BE STUCK IN COURT FOR YEARS SINCE THE CURRENT CONTRACT WILL EXPIRE.

AGREED OVERSIGHT WILL BE NON-EXISTENT.

HARD TO MAKE SENSE THAT YOUR RALLYING CHRIST FOR MORE OVERSIGHT WAS YOUR AGENDA AND NOT DEMORALIZING OFFICERS BY REJECTING A CITY AND APA MUTUALLY AGREED FOR YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE MOST PROGRESSIVE OVERSIGHT IN THE STATE AS STATED BY YOUR OWN LEGAL TEAM, THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

THERE WILL BE MORE SERIOUS CRITICAL INCIDENTS WHERE OFFICERS WILL NEED IMMEDIATE BACKUP.

AND AGAIN, THERE WILL NOT BE TIMELY BACKUP FOR THEM AS A DEMOCRAT.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT, AGAIN, THE CHANCE THAT OUR GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO INTERVENE WITH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DUE TO THE CITY PROVING YOU ARE IRRESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS COUNCIL WOULD RATHER BOW TO AOU, POLICE ABOLITIONISTS THAN DO THE HARD WORK OF SOLVING THE POLICING MESS IT CREATED.

YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A NO DEAL, NO OVERSIGHT REGIME THAN DO YOUR JOBS AND EXPLAIN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHAT THE REAL CHOICES ARE.

WHY SWEAT WHEN ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IS APPEAR TO HATE COPS? RIGHT? BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY HATE COPS? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE QUIT, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE HEADED? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE THE NONSENSE NONSENSICAL, WOKE PREENING WITHOUT ULTIMATELY HAVING TO OWN BAD OUTCOME OUTCOMES? I SINCERELY HOPE NOT.

COURSEWORK THAT THEY DO, THE FIELD WORK THAT THEY DO, AND THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT ALAK.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, HERE ON BEHALF OF SAVE AUSTIN.

NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, IN MEDICINE THE MOTTO OF DO NO HARM GUIDES THAT INDUSTRY AND IT SHOULD GUIDE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

UM, THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN WITH THE STAFFING CRISIS WAS NOT CREATED BY THE CURRENT MAYOR AND THE CURRENT COUNCIL AS IT'S CURRENTLY CONSTITUTED.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WE ARE IN A CRISIS.

WE ARE 350 OFFICERS SHORT OF WHERE WE WERE WHEN THE COUNCIL VOTED 11 TO ZERO, TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

IN 2020, WE HAVE AT LEAST 230 ACTIVE POLICE VACANCIES.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT HALF THE COMMAND STAFF PLAN TO RETIRE IF THE CONTRACT GOES OUT BY MARCH 31ST.

THOSE OFFICERS ARE BACKFILLING DAILY PATROL SHIFTS.

UM, YOU DON'T MAKE A STAFFING CRISIS WORSE.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO BENEFIT? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE TRADE OFF YOU TRIED LAST WEEK TO DO A ONE YEAR EXTENSION? THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

IN FACT, IT TAKES MORE THAN A YEAR TO RECRUIT AND SEE CADETS THROUGH THE

[02:50:01]

WE NEED A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

WE ARE IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO TO INCREASE PAY AND AND PROTECT BENEFITS.

BUT THIS ORDINANCE IS GONNA GET TIED UP IN COURT.

AND SO IT, IN THE SHORT TERM, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS FEWER POLICE OFFICERS.

AND YES, SATURDAY NIGHT WE HAD AN, UH, WE HAD AN INADEQUATE, UH, STAFFING LEVEL TO HANDLE THE CRITICAL INCIDENTS THAT WE SAW AT FOUR SEPARATE INCIDENTS ACROSS OUR CITY.

SO I RECOGNIZE THAT THE MISTAKES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW, WERE NOT MADE SINCE JANUARY 1ST, BUT YOU DO NOT TAKE A BAD SITUATION AND ALLOW IT TO GET WORSE.

WE NEED A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

WE NEED STABILITY AND CERTAINTY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND YES, WE DO NEED MORE POLICE OVERSIGHT.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GET IT, FOLKS, THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WAS MUTUALLY NEGOTIATED, THAT HAS 20 PAGES OF OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS, TAKE YES FOR AN ANSWER.

DON'T MAKE THE STAFFING CRISIS WORSE, AND LET'S START TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MAYOR, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.

WE HAD A LITTLE GLITCH, BUT WE'RE ON NOW.

RICHARD SMITH.

HI, THIS IS RICHARD SMITH.

UH, I'M AN ATTORNEY, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.

AGENDA ITEM 61 REFLECTS A CONTINUED ABDICATION OF CITY COUNCIL'S DUTY TO AUSTIN RESIDENCE.

WE OPERATE UNDER A REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN HIRE YOU BY ELECTIONS AND PAY YOU TO OVERSEE A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IN THE CASE OF COMPLEX LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, RESIDENTS EXPECT YOU TO RELY ON EXPERTS SUCH AS LABOR ATTORNEYS TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST CONTRACT.

AND YOUR DUTY IS TO GIVE A GOOD SAFE CONSIDERATION TO THOSE CONTRACTS.

IN THIS CASE, CITY LABOR ATTORNEYS HAVE SAID THAT AUSTIN HAS THE BEST POLICE OVERSIGHT OF ANY CITY IN TEXAS, SUBJECT TO SEC SECTION 1 43 OF STATE LAW.

THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT THE MAY PETITION BY EQUITY ACTION CANNOT AND WILL NOT CHANGE THE OVER OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO STATE LAW.

NEVERTHELESS, THE CITY ATTORNEYS HAVE INCORPORATED AS MUCH OF THE PETITIONS PROVISIONS AS POSSIBLE INTO THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

HERE YOU HAVE A FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED OVER THE PAST YEAR UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION, BUT YOU'VE NEVER PUT THAT CONTRACT UP FOR A VOTE.

INSTEAD, YOU HAVE SIMPLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT DISREGARDING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S GUIDANCE ATTEMPTED TO RULE BY UNILATERAL RESOLUTION.

EDICTS AND INCORRECTLY CLAIM THAT WHATEVER THE PEOPLE WANT IN POLICE OVERSIGHT THEY CAN HAVE BY SIMPLY PASSING A BALLOT PROPOSITION.

SIMPLY PUT, IT APPEARS THAT YOU ARE RUNNING DOWN RABBIT HOLES THAT WILL LEAD TO LAWSUITS, INCREASED COSTS TO TAXPAYERS AND FEWER POLICE OFFICERS.

AND SIX MONTHS, OR A YEAR FROM NOW, OR WHENEVER, YOU'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE CONTRACT THAT IS BEFORE YOU.

THANK YOU RUPAUL.

SHARI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M RU CHARE.

WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING BUSINESS IN AUSTIN CITY FOR PAST 16 YEARS, AND IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO RUN BUSINESS CAUSE OF ALL THE TIME THAT IS HAPPENING AT A BUSINESS AND AROUND AUSTIN WITH DECREASED POLICE OFFICERS.

THE CRIMINALS HAVE JUST GOTTEN EMBOLDENED.

JUST LAST WEEK, UH, WE HAD CARS BREAK IN, AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

BY THE WAY, COUPLE WEEKS BACK, BROAD DAYLIGHT, A TRUCK PULLED UP AND STOLE, UH, PATIO FURNITURE.

THIS IS NO TIME TO PLAY POLITICS.

I URGE MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S TIME TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT IS TIME TO SHOW GOOD FAITH TO NOT ONLY POLICE ASSOCIATION AND OFFICER, BUT ALL OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND CITIZENS OF AUSTIN TO AVOID WHAT WE ALL JUST SAW LAST WEEKEND.

IT IS TIME FOR THIS COUNCIL TO SHOW SOME RESPECT TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS, TAXPAYERS, VOTERS, AND FAMILIES.

ALSO, THIS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT NEED ACCESS THE MOST TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE MAKING THE LIVES OF OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES CHARTER.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY.

THANK YOU, CARMEN MATTHEWS.

I HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT RISING CRIME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WISH I WOULD JUST JUST PASS THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

UM, I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN GROWING UP ON AND OFF, AND I MOVED BACK HERE LIKE 10 YEARS AGO.

AND AS SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK HERE, UM, I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE,

[02:55:01]

AND, UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S PREVALENT TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN REPORTING IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT AUSTIN IS THIS PROGRESSIVE CITY WHERE ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO, YET THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY MOVE HERE.

THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, BUSINESSES ARE BEING BROKEN INTO RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.

MY MOM WITNESSED A CRIME TODAY WITH PEOPLE SHOPLIFTING FROM A STORE AND RUNNING OUT WITH THE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT GONNA RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.

IT'S JUST AN EMBOLDENED, UH, CRIMINAL ELEMENT, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD HAVE THAT IN A CITY THAT WE HAVE NOW.

WE NEED TO APPROVE THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT FOR A P AT THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE VERY PEOPLE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT US.

IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE PATH, IT WILL BE THE DEMISE OF OFFICE.

THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO DO AN ABOUT FAITH FROM WHAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAS DONE WITH THEIR POLICIES, WE WILL LOSE OFFICERS WITH ALREADY A SHORT STAFFED AGENCY.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTRACT QUALITY POLICE OFFICERS RESULTING IN LOWERED STANDARDS IN HIRING UNQUALIFIED GOMA, THE BARREL OFFICERS, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A POSITIVE RESULT FROM DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

CITIES ACROSS THE NATION MAKE TO CRUMBLE FROM THESE BAD POLICIES.

CRIME HAS RIDDLED OUR DUE TO THESE DESTRUCTIVE POLICIES.

AND THE TAXING LAW ABIDING CITIZENS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE HAD TO PAY THE PRICE.

THESE POLICIES HAVE GIVEN MORE RIGHTS AND PROTECTION TO CRIMINALS AND THE CRIMINALS KNOW IT.

CASE IN POINT, OUR DAUGHTER WAS RECENTLY REAR-ENDED AND THE DRIVER FLED ON FOOT, AND WE WERE TOLD WE HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE WE CANNOT PROVE WHO WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AN A P D DOES NOT HAVE HAND POWER TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE IT.

THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE THE CRIMINALS KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE ARE GETTING OUR DAUGHTER'S SENIOR PICTURES DONE BY THE LIBRARY DOWNTOWN.

WE WATCHED A HOMELESS MAN DOING DRUGS IN BROAD SITES, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM.

IF YOU DO NOT APPROVE THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS NOT HAVE A AP D DO THE SECURITY FOR THE MAYOR, OR DO EVENTS SUCH AS AC ON SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MONITOR CALLS AND SO FORTH.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WANT TO DESTROY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THAT'S ALL I, BARBARA SILLY, UM, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

HE, HE, I'VE, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I APOLOGIZE.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY DOESN'T LIKE THE POLICING THAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND ANOTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT FEELS LIKE, UH, THE COUNCIL HAS REALLY NEGLECTED POLICING STAFFING ISSUE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT, UH, MAYOR WATSON ADVOCATED IN HIS CAMPAIGN WAS THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ABOUT ALL OF THIS, WHICH I THINK WE DESPERATELY NEED, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM FOR IT.

AND THIS VOTE COUNCIL VOTE OUT IS REALLY SUPPORTING WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT IN MAY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO PASS OR NOT.

SO I REALLY DO THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT PASSING THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, HAVING THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE WHERE WE SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHAT KIND OF POLICING MODELS WE WANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS THEY'RE INVESTED IN IT AND THEY'RE GETTING THE COMMUNITY POLICE THAT THIS COMMUNITY SERVE.

THANKS, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, MS. SILLY.

CATHERINE SHAMBLEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS KATHERINE SHAMBLEY.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M A DEMOCRAT.

UH, I HAD CALLED IN LAST WEEK TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF COUNSEL PURSUING THE FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT THAT WAS ALREADY NEGOTIATED BY MR. CRONK.

I'M CALLING AGAIN TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND IN FAVOR, AGAIN OF THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WAS ALREADY NEGOTIATED

[03:00:01]

BY MR. K.

SINCE LAST WEEK, I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE MAY BALLOT PROPOSITION THAT COUNSEL IS SUPPOSEDLY WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON IS NOT LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE.

MEANING EVEN IF AUSTINITES WERE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT ORDINANCE, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE LEGALLY ENFORCE INTO THE POLICE CONTRACT.

ALL OF THE COUNCIL, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WAS ALREADY INFORMED THAT BY CITY ATTORNEYS LEADING ME TO ASK WHY IS THE MAYOR THAT I PERSONALLY VOTED FOR AS SOMEONE SPEAKING TO REPAIR PUBLIC SAFETY, SAVING, FAVORING A CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN ORDER TO WAIT ON A VOTE THAT WILL NOT BE LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE.

THIS IS LUNACY.

IN THE MEANTIME, THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD STREET DRAG RACING, FIREWORKS BEING THROWN AT POLICE CARS.

LAST WEEK I SPOKE OF A, MY PERSONAL NURSERY AND MY LOCALLY OWNED NURSERY HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED THREE TIMES.

WELL, IT WAS BURGLARIZED AGAIN THIS PAST MONDAY, WHICH IS ALMOST JUST RIDICULOUS.

AND SO, UM, I'LL ADD THAT I ACTUALLY WORK IN AN OFFICE DOWNTOWN.

SO WE'RE CONVERTED HOME AND WE PARK OUR CARS OUTSIDE VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER WEEK.

THERE WILL BE SOMEONE WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR LOT CHECKING ALL THE DOORS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

AND ALL THAT HAPPENS NOW IS A GIRL DOWNSTAIRS WILL YELL AT, HEY, EVERYONE GOT THEIR DOORS LOCKED.

IT WILL GO ABOUT BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL HERE AT THIS POINT.

UH, AT THI YOU KNOW, I GUESS IN SOME, WE NEED POLICE ON OUR STREETS PATROLLING, UH, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE NEED A CONTRACT IN PLACE THAT THEY CAN RELY UPON.

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

THERE ARE TWO PETITIONS, ONE BY A BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE, AGAIN, TRYING TO SUBVERT THAT SYSTEM, BUT THEY STILL UTILIZED THAT SYSTEM IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET WHAT THEY WANTED YOUR LADDER.

UM, WITH THE INDU, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

WITH THE INDULGE.

I WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

UH, WE'RE NOT VOTING TODAY ON A ONE YEAR OR A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS AN ORDINANCE THAT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AT A TIME WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT.

UH, MY OLD FRIEND, UH, MS. SILLY, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, SHE KEPT REFERRING TO THE NEED FOR A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.

UH, UNDER OUR CITY CHARTER, THERE'S A SPECIFIC PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.

AND THAT IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE PUT TOGETHER A PETITION AND THEY BRING THAT PETITION, UH, TO THE CITY CLERK, AND THE CITY CLERK VERIFIES THE SIGNATURES ON THAT PETITION, AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL PUTS THAT PETITION ON THE BALLOT.

THE CHARTER SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.

AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, WE OUGHT TO HAVE ONE.

AND THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

AS A MAYOR, AND I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR PROBABLY ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I'LL, I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW FOR A FEW, WHEN THE COMMUNITY COMES TO YOU WITH A PETITION LIKE THAT, THERE IS AT LEAST SOME OBLIGATION TO ALLOW FOR THAT COMMUNITY DIALOGUE TO GO FORWARD.

IN FACT, SOME OF THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION SO THAT A FOUR YEAR CON AND, AND LEMME BE CLEAR, IF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WERE PUT INTO PLACE, IT WOULD BLOCK ASPECTS OF THAT PETITION EVEN IF THE VOTERS WERE TO VOTE A CERTAIN WAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT PART OF THE CONCERN IS.

WE HAVE A PRINCIPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS STATE, IN THIS CITY, THAT WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THAT PRINCIPLE IS INTERTWINED IN THIS CASE WITH SOME PEOPLE'S VIEW OF HOW BEST TO GET, UH, POLICING.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT PRINCIPLE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT IT.

AND IN FACT, SOME OF THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW SAYING TAKE ACTION, THAT WOULD PREEMPT THAT VOTE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE USED THE PETITION SYSTEM IN THE PAST AND OUR ORDINANCE WITH LEGAL IT.

MA'AM, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

YOU'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

AND IF YOU WANT, IT STRIKES ME THAT IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO ACT WITH THE ORDER YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE, YOU SHOULD MODEL THAT BEHAVIOR.

WELL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ME AND THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD.

HOW DO YOU KNOW I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU, YOU SAID TO SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE.

I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE, MA'AM, BOTH.

YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

YOU'RE UP THERE LYING US.

I, I'M NOT.

AND, AND LET ME JUST, LET ME FINISH THE POINT BEING, EVEN ON THIS BALLOT,

[03:05:01]

YES, THAT IS.

SO THAT'S STEP NUMBER ONE.

STEP NUMBER TWO, THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NOT A CONTRACT.

THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WE WANT TO PUT INTO PLACE.

SOME OF US WANNA PUT INTO PLACE, I DON'T KNOW WHO, HOW THE VOTE WILL COME OUT, BUT IT WILL PUT INTO PLACE TO ASSURE THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR PAY EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A CONTRACT.

SO IF APA MAKES THE DECISION NOT TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND THERE'S NOT A CONTRACT IN PLACE, THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE, I BELIEVE TODAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS OF THIS CITY ARE LIFTED UP AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR PAY.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART TO THAT.

THERE WILL BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WAS DISCUSSED JUST LAST WEEK, UH, HERE ON THIS DIAS OR THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT ALSO DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE FORWARD ON A PAY INCREASE FOR THE POLICE AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE POLICE TO STAY ON THE JOB OR TO COME TO WORK FOR US.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THERE'S AN INTERTWINING OF DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE POLICE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE, I, I WANT TO CALL THIS OUT JUST BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THIS ISN'T TODAY ABOUT A FOUR YEAR OR A ONE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY OUR POLICE AND IN FACT GIVE OUR POLICE PAY INCREASES AND, UH, OTHER INCENTIVE BONUS POSSIBILITIES.

SO I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT'S HAPPENING, UH, BECAUSE I THINK SOME MAY HAVE NOT READ THIS SPECIFIC ORDINANCE.

SO THANK YOU MADAM, UM, CLERK LISA GONZALEZ.

THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE SPEAKERS.

UM, IN LIGHT OF YOU SHARING THAT INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, STATE THAT I AM FOR WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, UM, AS A CITY, Y'ALL BEING OUR, OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE IN WANTING TO STAY, TO SUPPORT THEM IN WANTING TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, FURTHER RECRUITED THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE RECRUITMENT OF THEM.

UM, AND, UM, REALLY, YOU KNOW, I STRUGGLE BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN, AND I HAVE SEEN THE CITY CHANGE TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE CRIME INCREASING AND WITH THE LACK, IN MY OPINION OF CARE THAT Y'ALL, UM, NOT NECESSARILY Y'ALL, BUT THE CITY COUNCILS IN THE PAST HAVE, UM, DEMONSTRATED, UM, TO PROTECT US AS, UM, AS YOU KNOW, CITIZENS, UH, PARTICULARLY THE MARGINALIZED, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR CITY COUNCIL TALKS OFTEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT I DON'T SEE ACTION TO SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFEST OR SAFE BECAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, ARE PRETTY MUCH TARGETED WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASED CRIME.

SO I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND IF WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, STAFF THEM FURTHER, I'M ALL FOR THAT CS GORDON.

HEY, THANKS FOR THE, UH, CLARIFICATION.

UH, MAYOR, I'LL JUST, UH, ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS CALLER AND, UH, INSTEAD OF A 3% PAY RAISE FOR THE POLICE, I, I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE MORE LIKE A SEVEN OR 8%.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK.

UH, CONSIDERING SOME OF THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED THEMSELVES A, UH, 40% RAISE WITHIN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.

SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO, UH, SUPPORT THE POLICE, UH, THROUGH PAY AND RETENTION, UH, WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

WE REALLY NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE AS EVIDENCED BY, UH, WHAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

THANKS A LOT.

NICHOLAS CANTOR.

HELLO EVERYONE.

UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU MAYOR FOR CLARIFYING THAT I WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF ON MY INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING, BUT, UM, WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

UM, I THINK WE CAN UNILATERALLY AGREE THAT, UH, DEFUNDING THE POLICE WAS, UM, IT HAD THE RIGHT INTENTIONS, BUT

[03:10:01]

IT WAS THE WRONG MOVE.

UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS YOU CAN TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM AND SOLVE.

UM, AND THIS NEW DECISION TO, UM, CONTINUE THE CONTRACT OR NOT, OR IN THIS CASE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TO CONTINUE TO PAY THE POLICE, UM, IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, BY NOT CONTINUING THEIR EMPLOYMENT, YOU'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON A BAD DECISION.

UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE STOCK MARKET, DOUBLING DOWN WORKS.

YOU KNOW, A STOCK GOES DOWN THAT YOU PUT MONEY INTO, YOU PUT SOME MORE INTO IT, IT GOES UP AND YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY BACK.

BUT THIS IS AN A CURRENCY.

UM, THIS IS, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE BETTING WITH.

AND, UH, MY BROTHER'S LIFE WAS TAKEN, UM, BACK IN, UH, IN JUNE OF 21 BECAUSE OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER'S LIFE IS NOT A CURRENCY THAT I FEEL THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE GAMBLED WITH.

AND UN UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I, I HOPE THAT BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THAT ME, MY MOTHER AND MY FAMILY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT DECISION THAT YOU GUYS MADE TO DEFUND THE POLICE EVERY DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE I, I UNDERSTAND THAT POLICE BRUTALITY IS AN ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY, EVERY NOW AND THEN, ONE BAD COP MAKES A BAD DECISION.

BUT, UM, YOU SHOULDN'T PUNISH ENTIRE CITIES FULL OF POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE ONCE IN A WHILE SOMEBODY DOES THE WRONG THING.

YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE BAD DECISIONS TOO WHEN YOU DON'T SEE PEOPLE RIOTING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE STREET.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT TAKING UP ALL THE REST OF THE TIME, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU GUYS NEED TO FOCUS ON HAVING A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH LAUREN.

THANK YOU, SPEAKER.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

I'LL GO BACK TO IN-PERSON ON.

UM, NEXT IS NATALIE.

CIA ON DECK ARE TRACY GRAFF AND CHRISTINA REK.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

I'M NATALIE KUSHA, DISTRICT FOR RESIDENT, 26 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN UT GRAD.

UH, I SIGNED UP NEUTRAL ON THIS ITEM BY THE, I OPPOSE IT BECAUSE IT'S AN INSUFFICIENT STOP GAP MEASURE AND POSSIBLY ILLEGAL AND IT JUST SACRIFICES THE GOOD FOR THE, UH, AND THE QUEST FOR THE ELUSIVE PERFECT.

I SOUGHT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE AT YOUTUBE THIS WEEK.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU OR DO YOU NOT SUPPORT UNIONS? DO YOU SUPPORT A YEAR LONG GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO NEGOTIATE A UNION CONTRACTOR? DO YOU ONLY SUPPORT UNIONS WHEN THEY CONFORM TO YOUR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.

I FELT AN, I FELT I NEEDED TO BE HERE AGAIN TODAY AS A VOICE FOR MY DISTRICT AND OTHER HIGHER CRIME AREAS IN THE CITY, LIKE EAST AUSTIN AND SOUTH, UH, EAST AUSTIN, AND INCREASINGLY UT CAMPUS IN DOWNTOWN.

UH, I WANNA REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE VIEWS I'M SHARING WITH YOU ARE SHARED BY THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THESE DISTRICTS AND HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, MANY OF THEM OWNED BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I VOLUNTEERED TO WORK ON TWO CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGNS AND A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND THE FEEDBACK I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC ON PUBLIC SAFETY IS CONSISTENT.

IT'S DETERIORATING IN THE CITY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE NEED MORE COPS ON THE STREETS.

NOBODY WHO LIVES IN THESE AREAS.

BROWN, BLACK, OR WHITE, WANTS LESS COPS IN HIGHER CRIME AREAS.

THESE AREAS HAVE DISPARATE IMPACT IN BOTH CRIME AND TRAFFIC ISSUES.

IF A P D CANNOT RECONSTITUTE SPECIALIZED UNITS, THE ESCALATING TRAFFIC DEATHS AND CRIME WILL INCREASE.

YOU CANNOT RECONSTITUTE SPECIALIZED UNITS IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO COVER PATROL.

WHEN I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1997, I LIVED IN LAMAR, BARTON SPRINGS AREA.

I AND MANY OTHER FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES ARE SO DISHEARTENED AND SAD, UH, TO SEE THE DANGEROUS LAWLESSNESS AND BLATANT TAUNTING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DID ISSUE STATEMENTS ON THESE INCIDENTS.

AND I WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DID, WHY THEY'VE BEEN SILENT, MY TIME IS UP.

PLEASE SUPPORT A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY AND HIGH CRIME AREAS IN THE CITY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY GRAFF.

ON DECK, OUR CHRISTINA RAY AND CLINTON RE I, LET ME, IF I COULD JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, UH, BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER.

UH, I KNOW I'VE ONLY, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR, FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHEN, UH, I CAME ON BOARD, THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY WAS AND FOR US TO, UH, DOUBLE DOWN OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE HIT THE RESOURCES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY SO THAT THIS CITY CAN BE SECURE.

UH, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR A BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THE POLICE BUDGET'S ABOUT 450 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE COULD BE MORE RES, THERE SHOULDN'T BE MORE RESOURCES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT GETS EVALUATED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

BUT IT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO

[03:15:01]

US AT THE HIGHEST, UH, A VERY HIGH PRIORITY.

I HAVE ALREADY MET WITH CHIEF CHACON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, JUST IN MY SHORT TIME HERE, SAYS WE WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DONE SO THAT WE CAN, ONE, SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO, TO DO THE WORK, TO KEEP THIS SAFETY, UH, THIS CITY SECURE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AS MANAGEMENT AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE INTEND TO EXECUTE ON IN THE COMING BUDGET YEAR.

OR PERHAPS EVEN IF NECESSARY, WE'LL DO IT THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND I JUST WANTED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO HAVE THAT BIT OF INFORMATION.

TRACY GRAFF ON DECK ARE CHRISTINA RAY AND CLINTON RE, JOSEPH SMITH, YVONNE WELDON ONDECK.

CHRISTIANA KEELER AND PAT HARRING CLERK YOU CALLED, UH, THE RES, CORRECT.

I THINK SHE BYPASSED Y'ALL.

BUT WE'VE NOT ONLY MADE NATIONAL NEWS, WE MADE INTERNATIONAL NEWS ABOUT HOW BIG OF A JOKE PUBLIC SAFETY IS IN OUR CITY.

EVEN MEDIA OUTLETS, THE CITY PAYS TO CARRY WEIGHT FOR YOU, FOR YOUR GASLIGHTING ARE BEING BEGINNING TO QUESTION THE COUNCIL'S CRIPPLING AND POLICE LEVELS.

53% OF THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITE WANT MORE POLICE.

SOMEONE TRY TO BREAK THIS DOWN BY SAYING IT'S ONLY CONSERVATIVES.

AND YES, THE COMMON CONCERNS CREW DOES WANT MORE POLICE WITH 66% OF INDEPENDENCE AND 30% ARE DEMOCRATS.

53% OF AUSTINITES ARE STILL THE MAJORITY.

PROP A WILL PROBABLY BE PASSED.

AUSTIN VOTERS NOT BEING VERY INFORMED.

SCREENING CHANCE YES ON PROP A, NO ON PROP B IS LEMMINGS RUNNING OFF A CLIFF? IT'LL NEVER BE ENACTED THOUGH WITH ALL ITS ILLEGALITIES.

CITY LAW CANNOT SUPERSEDE STATE LAW.

AND AS USUAL, TEXAS WILL STEP IN AND MUST PLAY ANY STATE TO INFANTILE AUSTIN.

THIS IS A FOOL'S GAME IN CHILD'S TANTRUM TO HOLD UP THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT HAS 20 PAGES OF OVERSIGHT GIVING OPO AND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

FOR THOSE OF YOU SAYING IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, IF I WASN'T, SO I'D ASK YOU WHERE YOU GOT YOUR DRUGS FROM.

THIS CONTRACT WAS CAREFULLY NEGOTIATED OVER YEAR WITH COUNTLESS MEETINGS THAT WERE STREAMED, RECORDED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AFTER YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL SENT CROSTON NEGOTIATED A FOUR YEAR DEAL.

SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE AROUND FOR THAT.

FOR THE REST OF YOU, QUIT P*****G OUR BOOTS AND TELLING US IT'S RAINING.

WE ALL WANT OVERSIGHT.

NO ONE WANTS BAD COPS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEGOTIATED CHANGES WILL GO AWAY.

THE CITY HAS NO LABOR CONTRACT WITH OUR POLICE BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY MODIFY RESTRICTIVE STATE LAW PROVISIONS THROUGH APPROVED LABOR CONTRACTS.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAYOR DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SIMPLY PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT CONTRADICTS STRAIGHT LAW WITH NO CONTRACT THAT THE CITY ENDS UP WITH A MUCH WEAKER AND MORE, LESS TRANSPARENT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT PROGRAM THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

WHICH OF COURSE WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH YOUR GOALS, RIGHT? IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH EVERYONE'S GOALS.

WE ARE AT 20% VA VACA VACANCIES.

LOOKS LIKE HALF APDS COMMANDING STAFF IS GOING TO RETIRE THIS AND NEXT MONTH SETTING A HUGE CHAIN REACTION OF PROMOTIONS THAT WILL PULL EVEN MORE PEOPLE OFF PATROL.

I HEAR THAT IF WE REACH 25%, WE HAVE TO CALL IT OTHER AGENCIES, WHICH AGAIN, WE HAVE NO OVERSIGHT ON.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OVERSIGHT, YOU SURE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE IT SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THIS IS THE ATMOSPHERE YOU'VE CREATED IN ATX LAWLESSNESS.

IT'S IF SATURDAY NIGHT IS AN IS THE VIBE YOU WANT TO HAVE DURING ACL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND GRAND PRIX, YOU GUYS ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.

THE PUBLIC IS ONLY BEGINNING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF REIMAGINED POLICING AND THE CHAOS THAT'S LEFT IN ITS WAKE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CLINTON RAY ON DECK IS JOSEPH SMITH.

SO WE EAT A LOT OF THE LIP SERVICE SAYING THAT YOU GUYS SUPPORT THE POLICE, BUT THE ACTIONS SAY OTHERWISE.

IN 2021, WE PUT A PETITION IN TO INCREASE POLICE STAFFING.

AND YOU SAY, LET'S HEAR THE VOTE, HEAR THE PEOPLE VOTE.

WELL, YOU GUYS STOOD AROUND AND YOU STOOD WITH EQUITY ACTION IN THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION SAYING NO WAY ON PROP A ALTER VANESSA FUENTEZ PAGE.

YOU WENT AROUND SPEAKING TOURS WITH THEM.

I MEAN, THERE'S PICTURES OF YOU GUYS ALL OVER TWITTER DOING THIS.

YOU RAN, OH, CHEETO'S NOT HERE, BUT HE RAN THIS CAMPAIGN ON NO WAY PROPPE TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL .

SO I, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

WE DON'T SUPPORT THE, OR THAT YOU GUYS SUPPORT THE POLICE AND THEN YOU GUYS DEFUND THEM AS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THAT'S TWO TIMES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE STOOD AGAINST THE POLICE.

SO DON'T TELL US THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE WANT A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, NOT THIS ONE YEAR CONTRACT, BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER A ONE YEAR CONTRACT THAT CAME OUTTA NOWHERE.

THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE TABLE.

THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT WAS NEVER ON THE TABLE.

IT WAS NEVER AROUND.

IT WAS NEVER CREATED, IT WAS NEVER NEGOTIATED.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WANTED TO DO TO CREATE THIS STALL, MATE, SO THEY WOULDN'T COME BACK TO THE TABLE.

CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE A BAD FAITH DEAL.

CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

YOU GUYS HAVE BAD FAITH DEALS BY REGURGITATING.

THIS STUFF ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU, BUT YOU DON'T.

SO PLEASE SUPPORT A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A 10 TO ONE VOTE FOR ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

JOSEPH SMITH, IT'S NEXT ON DECK IS YVONNE WELDON.

FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND OPPOSED THE ONE I DID GLANCE, UM, AT THE, UH, THE PROPOSED, UH, ORDINANCE.

I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT, UH, SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO BE ABLE TO SAY TODAY, CUZ THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT OF WAS THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WHERE I SUPPORTED THE

[03:20:01]

AND FROM WHAT I SAW WAS THE OVERSIGHT WAS STILL A CONCERN AND, AND IT'S CONFUSING.

UH, SOMETIMES I'LL DO RIDES SHARE AS A SIDE GIG AND A COMMON CONVERSATION I'LL HAVE WITH THE RIDES SHARE IS I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN TRIED TO REGULATE UBER AND LEFT AND HOW YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANGUAGE WAS SO CONFUSING ON THE BALLOT.

IT PASSED IN PAPER OF THE CITY AND FOR MONTHS IT WAS MAYHEM IN, IN AUSTIN UNTIL GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAD TO COME IN AND FIX IT.

AND LIKE SO MANY OTHER ORDINANCES, THE HOMELESS ORDINANCE WHERE, UH, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAD TO COME IN AND PASS, UM, HOUSE BILL 1925, I BELIEVE, UH, TO MAKE IT A STATE LAW BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CITY CREATED.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER BILL IN, UM, THE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE THAT IS WANTING TO REMOVE THE, THE, UH, THE, THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTIN AND MAKE AUSTIN A DISTRICT.

WE ARE A LAUGHING STOCK AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND NOT HAVE THE STATE, YOU KNOW, EITHER THE, UH, GOVERNOR, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE SUPREME COURT COME IN AND HAVE TO FIX YOUR MESSES.

SO I STILL SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

I HOPE Y'ALL WILL, UH, MAKE, UM, PROVISIONS TOWARDS THAT.

NEXT IS CHRISTIANA KEELER ON DECK IS PAT HERRING AND SUSAN SPEARO.

HI, MY NAME'S CHRISTIANA KEELER, RESIDENT AND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT.

LAST WEEK I WAS HERE.

I'M NOT IN IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION ONE.

I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE DECISION ON THE TABLE TODAY, BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHO IS GONNA HOLD THIS COMMITTEE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RAM RAMIFICATIONS OF THESE DECISIONS YOU'RE MAKING SO FAR? NO ONE'S BEEN ACCOUNTABLE AT ALL.

ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASING CRIME AS A RESULT OF YOUR DECISION UNDER THE GUISE OF MAKING POLICING SAFER? YOU HAVE JUST MADE AUSTIN LESS SAFE.

CAN YOU SEE THAT YOUR NEW RULE DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF A SAFER POLICING AT ALL? IN FACT, IT EXPOSES LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, TAXPAYING CITIZENS TO INCREASE CRIME BECAUSE WE HAVE DILUTED THE POLICE FORCE, THE VERY LAW ABIDING, TAX PAYING CITIZENS THAT PAY YOUR SALARY.

OUR, OUR SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED.

SO IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT WHAT IS THE CRIME RATE FROM BEFORE 2020 AND ON THROUGH TIME AND THEN FROM HERE FORWARD, ARE YOU GONNA LOOK AT THAT? THAT'S MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY.

SO I'M ADVOCATING EVEN THOUGH MAYOR WATSON HAS SOMETHING ELSE ON THE TABLE, THE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT, I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO THAT AND AGREE TO THAT.

BECAUSE OF THESE CITY POLICIES, THERE'S NO WAIT LIST TO GET INTO THE ACADEMY ANYMORE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS PAT HARING.

ON DECK IS SUSAN SPATARO AND BRAD PARSONS.

I WANNA START BY REMINDING EVERYONE THAT AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING, ONE OF THE PAID ACTIVISTS SAID THAT PEOPLE COMMIT CRIME BECAUSE THEY'RE HUNGRY.

SO WE SHOULD GET RID OF POLICE AND GIVE THAT MONEY TO THE PEOPLE AND THERE'LL BE NO MORE CRIME.

WE ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO AUSTIN LAST SATURDAY NIGHT.

DID THOSE RIOTERS LOOK HUNGRY TO YOU? I DON'T THINK SO.

NO.

THE WORD IS OUT THAT CRIMINALS WILL HAVE FREE REIGN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THEY KNOW THAT THE CHANCES THAT THEY WILL GET ARRESTED ARE EXTREMELY LOW.

WHY ARE YOU BOWING TO THE LOUD VOICES OF ACTIVISTS RATHER THAN DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE SAFETY OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS? THIS NEW ONE YEAR DEAL IS ALL ABOUT SPIN IS NOT ACTUALLY ABOUT OVERSIGHT.

YOU'RE CALLING IT OVERSIGHT.

BUT THE UNDERLYING GOAL IS TO REMOVE ALL DUE PROCESS FROM OFFICERS.

THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT HAS AN EXTREMELY ROBUST O OVERSIGHT PLAN.

A P D IS ALL FOR OVERSIGHT.

YOUR CITY ATTORNEYS HAVE TOLD YOU PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY THAT THE THINGS IN THE OVERSIGHT PLAN THAT THE ACTIVISTS WANT IS AGAINST STATE LAW.

YOU SPEND THE ONE YEAR DEAL TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S GOOD FOR THE OFFICERS.

IT ISN'T SUGGESTING THAT A 3% RAISE WILL MAKE IT ALL GOOD IS LAUGHABLE.

YOU GAVE YOURSELVES A 40% RAISE.

3% ISN'T EVEN KEEPING UP WITH INFA INFLATION.

IT'S ALL SPIN.

AND FOR MR. WATSON TO SPIN IT TO LOOK LIKE IT'S THE APA THAT IS WALKING AWAY FROM NE NEGOTIATIONS IS ABSURD.

I WAS AT THE DECEMBER APA CITY NEGOTIATIONS MEETING AND THE CITY ATTORNEYS WALKED IN FROM A BREAK AND DECLARED THEY WERE CUTTING OFF NEGOTIATIONS AND CANCELING FUTURE MEETINGS INDEFINITELY.

THEN THEY ALL STARTED BACK UP IN JANUARY AND ALL CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

THEN THIS CITY COUNCIL SWOOPED IN AND BLEW IT UP.

APA IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

CHIEF CHACON SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FIVE ACADEMY CLASSES RATHER THAN TWO.

NEWSFLASH, THERE'S,

[03:25:01]

THEY USED TO HAVE OVER A THOUSAND APPLICATIONS FOR A CLASS.

NOW THANKS TO THE CITY POLITICS, THEY CAN'T EVEN FILL CURRENT CLASSES.

DO THE HONORABLE THING AND DO A FULL NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN'S PATARO.

ON DECK IS BRAD CARSON'S AND TRU BAD DEREK SUSAN PATARO, DISTRICT EIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK AT, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY, IS THAT IF IN FACT YOU DON'T DO A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, AND I BY THE WAY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATION IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, AND IF OUR PEOPLE GO OFF CONTRACT OR YOU DO THIS ONE YEAR CONTRACT, WHICH IS LESS OVERSIGHT THAN, UH, WHAT THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS AND THE BALLOT MEASURE PASSES, EVEN THOUGH YOUR LAWYERS HAVE TOLD YOU THAT SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS ARE ILLEGAL, AND I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT YOU DO, CUZ YOU AGREED TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT IF YOU KNEW SOME OF THOSE WERE ILLEGAL.

SO IT'S A QUESTION I DON'T KNOW.

THEN YOU HAVE A MASSIVE RESIGNATION OF THE POLICE.

ASK YOURSELF THIS, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE HARD THING.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT ARE EASILY SOLVED.

WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT.

WE'VE GOT MANAGEMENT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, AND IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, A COMMUNITY PANEL BOARD.

THAT'S A LOT OF OVERSIGHT.

THE O POLICE OVERSIGHT BUDGET THIS YEAR INCREASED 260% IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

260% DURING THAT SAME THREE YEAR PERIOD.

JUST AS A MATTER OF COMPARISON, THE CITY AUDITOR'S BUDGET INCREASED ONLY 3.3%.

SO YOU COULD SEE WHERE THE EMPHASIS WAS THERE.

ANOTHER THING JUST IN, IN TERMS OF, OF GETTING A COMPARISON, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT BUDGET THIS YEAR IS 82.6% THE SIZE OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S BUDGET.

WE HAVE OVERSIGHT, HUGE OVERSIGHT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

IT'S SO, IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT REASONABLE OVERSIGHT.

IT IS PART OF AN ONGOING STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE POLICE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

IT STARTED WITH ABOLISHING 150 SWORN POSITIONS IN 2020, THEN THE RIOTING AGAINST OUR POLICE IN MAY, 2020 THEN FAILED.

REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO, TO SOLVE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD PARSONS.

ON DECK IS TRUVA DEREK AND SHARON BLYTHE.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

MICHAEL SAYER.

RUTH HOWARD IS ON DECK.

MY NAME IS RUTH HOWARD.

I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.

I WAS BORN HERE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

I'M A RETIRED TEACHER.

THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION OF, UH, ITEM 61.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPOSITION WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

I THINK IT WILL, JUST AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, WILL ONLY MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.

YOU NEED TO BRING UP THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND VOTE ON THAT.

THAT WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND STOP THE BLEED OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY WILL WALK.

THE POLICE HAVE OPTIONS AND THEY'RE IN HIGH DEMAND, NOT JUST HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

FLORIDA, IF THEY'VE CHOSE TO GO TO FLORIDA, IS OFFERING A SIGN SIGNING BONUS OF $5,000, A STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM, A HOME LOAN PROGRAM, AND MUCH MORE.

BUT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO FLORIDA.

YOU CAN GO DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO FORT WORTH.

THEY HAVE AN ENTICING HIRING PACKAGE AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BE ELECTED AND RUN FOR OFFICE IS NOT AN EASY TASK.

IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, BUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO BRING UP THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND VOTE

[03:30:01]

ON IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TO ME TRUVA.

DEREK ONDECK IS MICHAEL SAYER AND TOM DOWNING.

HELLO, I'M TRUVA DEREK.

I WANT TO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

UM, I FEEL LIKE THE, UH, PROS FOR THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT HAVE BEEN ELOQUENTLY SPOKEN ABOUT PRIOR TO MY COMING UP HERE.

AND I AM OPPOSED TO YOUR OP UH, PROPOSAL BECAUSE I THINK IT JUST EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM.

BUT I, SOMEONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CRIME IN THE MARGINALIZED PORTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

CRIME HAS COME EVERYWHERE.

I HAVE A GERIATRIC DOG THAT HAS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING AN ACUPUNCTURIST.

HE WAS AT ANOTHER HOME THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS AT MY HOME, AND HE CAME OUTSIDE AND HIS TRUCK WAS GONE.

IT WAS STOLEN.

IT TOOK OVER A WEEK TO GET A POLICEMAN TO COME AND FILE A REPORT SO HE COULD COLLECT HIS INSURANCE.

HE HAS KEPT THE TRUCK ON HIS, UH, TOW ROAD BILL, AND THE TRUCK IS STILL DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE TOW ROAD.

THIS HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH.

HIS NEW TRUCK THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR IS COMING IN, BUT THAT INSURANCE COMPANY DIDN'T PAY FOR IT.

ALL OF YOU DID.

I DID ALL THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AS THE CRIME INCREASES IN AUSTIN, IT'S GONNA COME TO EVERYBODY, EVEN YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S HERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

WHO IS GONNA TAKE A JOB WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'LL BE IN 12 MONTHS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

MICHAEL SAYER, TOM DOWNING AND ON DECK IS AMANDA RIOS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M TOM DOWNING, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AND CO-CHAIR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE OF UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 61.

A LOT OF MISINFORMATION IS CIRCULATED SURROUNDING THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE A P A CONTRACT.

I'VE HEARD SOME FOLKS SAY THAT ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS STRONG POLICE OVERSIGHT MUST HATE THE POLICE AND WANT TO DEFUND THEM.

THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

MY GROUP COLLECTED SIGNATURES FOR THE PETITION TO PUT EQUITY ACTION STRONG OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE ON THE BALLOT.

WE ALSO SPOKE OUT AGAINST PROFO APPROVING A FOUR-YEAR POLICE CONTRACT BEFORE CITIZENS HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS MEASURE.

HOWEVER, WE GREATLY RESPECT AND ADMIRE THE MAJORITY OF OFFICERS IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A SMALL NUMBER OF BULLIES AND RACISTS TO ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT MOST OF OUR OFFICERS SE SERVE BRAVELY AND TRULY SEEK TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY IN SPITE OF THE DANGER OF LIVING IN A STATE FILLED DAILY WITH MORE AND MORE GUNS.

WE THEREFORE ASK THAT THESE COURAGEOUS PUBLIC SERVANTS BE PAID ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE THEY SERVE, HAVE ENOUGH FELLOW OFFICERS SUPPORTING THEM TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND BE ABLE TO TAKE TIME OFF TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

BUT WE ASK ONE MORE THING.

SET A FIRM DATE FOR THE EXPIRATION OF THIS MEASURE.

A P D OFFICERS SHOULD NOT, AGAIN, BE PUNISHED FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR UNION, BUT THEIR UNION SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED FOR REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE.

WE MUST HAVE A MUTUALLY AGREED ON POLICE CONTRACT FOR COMMUNITY TRUST AND SAFETY TO BE RESTORED.

THAT SAID, PLEASE SUPPORT ITEM 61 AMANDA RIOS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS MAYOR.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

WE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 61.

UM, AS YOU'LL RECALL, UH, THERE WAS A MOTION THAT THERE WAS A A, AN ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, AND ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, I PLACED A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

AND I'M GONNA CALL ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER WHO HAD THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND THEN, UH, AND ASK HIM TO SPEAK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

THE OTHER SIDE THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS ON THIS.

I REALLY WANNA START TODAY WITH JUST A RECOGNITION OF WHERE WE ARE.

AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS ITEM IS NOT ABOUT THE FOUR YEAR DEAL.

IT'S ALSO NOT ABOUT THE ONE YEAR DEAL.

THIS ITEM IS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE NO DEAL.

WE ARE READY TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN A ONE YEAR DEAL, BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY

[03:35:01]

AND LET'S BE CLEAR, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO NOT SHOW UP TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

BUT LET'S ALSO BE CLEAR THAT SUCH A DECISION HURTS EVERYONE.

I KNOW MANY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT WEEKS, MONTHS, AND YEARS LOOK LIKE, AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE.

THIS PROCESS HAS LEFT MANY OF OUR OFFICERS WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? WILL THEY KEEP THEIR WILL, THEIR PAY KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COSTS, UH, AROUND THE CITY? WOULD RETIRING BE THE BEST FINANCIAL CHOICE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY, EVEN THOUGH THEY WANT TO CONTINUE SERVING THIS COMMUNITY? AND THIS UNCERTAINTY IS UNDERSTANDABLY INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING.

BUT FROM OUR SIDE OF THE EQUATION, I KNOW I LEFT LAST WEEK'S MEETING FEELING VERY DISCOURAGED, AND I FELT THAT WAY BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE WERE WATCHING THE STATE OF THE UNION ALL DAY.

ONE SIDE WOULD COME UP, EVERYONE WOULD APPLAUD, OR THEIR SIDE WOULD APPLAUD.

ANOTHER SIDE WOULD COME UP, THE OTHER HALF OF THE AUDIENCE WOULD APPLAUD.

AND WE'RE BACK AT IT TODAY.

AND IT IS INCREDIBLY HEALTHY FOR US TO HAVE DISAGREEMENT.

BUT WHAT IS NOT HEALTHY IS FOR US TO JUST TALK PAST ONCE ANOTHER, ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD OF LISTENING AND ACTUALLY WORKING WITH EACH OTHER TO FIND COMMON SOLUTIONS.

IF WE, WE ONLY LOOK BACKWARD AT WHO WRONGED, WHO WE WILL NEVER MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING POLICE FORCE THAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSIBLY.

MANY OF YOU HERE HAVE INDICATED THAT WE ARE IN CRISIS.

AND, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, A CRISIS IS DEFINED AS A TIME WHEN A DIFFICULT OR IMPORTANT DECISION MUST BE MADE.

WE MUST DECIDE.

DO WE TWO WALK AWAY? DO WE RETREAT TO OUR CORNERS AND SIMPLY THROW STONES AT EACH OTHER? OR DO WE COME TOGETHER AND UTILIZE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO SHOW OFFICERS THE VALUE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY? I BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO THE LATTER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

WE ARE CREATING AS MUCH STABILITY AS POSSIBLE IN THE FACE OF SERIOUS UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR POLICE FORCE.

AND WE ARE EXERCISING OUR AUTHORITY UNDER STATE LAW TO CREATE ROBUST OVERSIGHT.

BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A CONTRACT.

BOTH THE CITY AND POLICE OFFICERS STAND TO GAIN FROM COMING TOGETHER AND REACHING A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONTRACT.

BUT WE ALSO, I THINK, ALL RECOGNIZE THAT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S UNLIKELY TO OCCUR VALUE.

OUR VALUING OUR POLICE AND MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE IDEAS.

THIS ORDINANCE DOES BOTH THOSE THINGS.

FIRST, IT SUPPORTS OUR RANK AND FILE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE A VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY.

IT ALL, IT PRESERVES THEIR CURRENT PAY AND BENEFITS FROM THE CURRENT CONTRACT TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW.

AN OFFICER'S VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T DIMINISH FROM MARCH 31ST TO APRIL 1ST, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE FALL OUT A CONTRACT.

WE DO NOT WANNA CREATE A FISCAL CLIFF FOR OFFICERS THAT INCENTIVIZES THEM TO RETIRE, TO BE PAID THEIR SICK AND SICK LEAVE AND VACATION ACCRUALS.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD WITHHOLD THESE BENEFITS TO EXACT AS MUCH PAIN AS POSSIBLE AND TRY TO DRIVE APA TO THE TABLE.

OUR OFFICERS ARE A VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE SHOULD TREAT THEM THAT WAY, PERIOD.

THAT BEING SAID, WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT LOSE THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT OUR CURRENT CONTRACT PROVIDES.

WHILE SOME ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH APA, WE DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EMPOWER THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AS AN INVESTIGATOR UNDER STATE LAW.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES.

OPO WOULD NOT REPLACE INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

INSTEAD, WE WOULD EMPOWER THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT AN OVERSIGHT REGIME THAT ENSURES WE DO NOT GO BACKWARD WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSIGHT.

WE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAGIC LOSS AT THE HANDS OF POLICE IN IMPLEMENTING THIS OVERSIGHT REGIME, WE WILL PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF COMPLAINANTS TO HAVE THEIR COMPLAINTS FULLY INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF OFFICERS DURING SUCH AN INVESTIGATION.

AS I SAID BEFORE, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME SAY

[03:40:01]

IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF IF WE REACH A DEAL UNDER A CONTRACT, LONG-TERM OR SHORT, BUT THAT IF THAT IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO CREATE AS MUCH STABILITY IN OUR POLICE FORCE AS POSSIBLE, WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE MEANINGFUL PRESENCE OF OVERSIGHT.

THIS ORDINANCE DOES THAT, AND IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT WE PASS IT AND IT NEVER TAKES EFFECT BECAUSE A DEAL IS REACHED PRIOR TO MARCH 31ST.

BUT IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE, THIS ORDINANCE TELLS EVERY POLICE OFFICER TWO THINGS.

FIRST, YOU ARE A VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT VALUE BY PRESERVING YOUR CURRENT PAY AND BENEFITS.

SECOND, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TURBULENT TIME, BUT WE WANNA CREATE AS MUCH STABILITY AS POSSIBLE.

AND RATHER THAN PUSHING YOU OUT THE DOOR, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

AND I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND AMENDMENTS ON THIS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

AND WITH THAT, I MOVE TO, UH, ADOPT ITEM 61.

THE MOTION I WANNA MAKE, DO I MOVE TO ADOPT OR MOVE TO THE SUBSTITUTE? WELL, NO, I WANT TO, I WANNA MAKE SURE I KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE MOVING TO ADOPT.

ARE YOU MOVING TO ADOPT THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF YOURS OR THE, THE SUBSTITUTE THAT WAS PLACED ON THE MESSAGE MINE SO THAT YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE? WELL, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER, UM, MEMBERS, I MOVE THAT WE A, UH, ADOPT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND IT'S THE ITEM THAT IS LABELED ITEM NUMBER 61 FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023.

AGENDA WATSON SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING, WHAT THIS SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD DO, COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER BRIAN AL ALTER HAS TALKED AND EXPLAINED ABOUT THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND CURRENT SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS IT WOULD ADD A PART THREE AND IT WOULD, WHAT IT WOULD DO IN PART THREE IS THE COUNCIL WOULD BE DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT BY NO LATER THAN MARCH 31ST, 2023, A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT AND PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS WITH AN A P D THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMPENSATION ELEMENTS.

A, A BASE WAGE RATE INCREASE FOR ALL A P D OFFICERS BELOW THE RANK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF.

B A ONE-TIME LUMP SUM PAYMENT TO NEW CADETS WHO JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY.

C A FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO INCENTIVIZE CURRENT A P D OFFICERS TO REMAIN WITH A P D AND D, A FINANCIAL COMPONENT FOR A P D OFFICERS THAT INCENTIVIZES THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION TO RESUME IMMEDIATELY GOOD FAITH BARGAINING FOR A NEW MEET AND CONFER LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO, UH, RATIFY, UH, THEN THE, THE MANAGER WOULD BRING IT BACK.

THE POINT BEING THAT LAST WEEK WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS MOTION, UH, WAS ADOPTED AND HE PUT IN THAT RESOLUTION AND WAS SUPPORTED BY THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR IT, HE PUT IN THAT RESOLUTION.

UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE VERY IMPORTANT.

ONE BEING THAT THE HARDWORKING OFFICERS OF A P D DESERVE CERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THEIR PAY BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION.

AND HE ALSO HAD IN THE RE PART OF THE RESOLUTION, MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING EXISTING TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR A P D OFFICERS.

UH, THE I WITH THE EXPRESS GOAL, BY THE WAY OF INNING OFFICERS, OFFICERS TO STAY WITH A P D AND TO, UH, INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO JOIN A P D.

WHEN HE DID THAT AS PART OF THE EFFORT TO GET TO A CONTRACT, UH, HE MINUTE IT.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT SAYS EVEN IF A CONTRACT DOESN'T COME HAPPEN, WE WOULD STILL GO FORWARD WITH MAKING SURE THOSE THINGS TAKE PLACE BY DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.

UH, I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UM, MEMBERS, THE WAY I WILL PROCEED IS FIRST I WILL ASK FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION.

UH, AND, AND, AND AS I DO THIS, I WANNA ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNT.

I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE PUBLICLY, BUT I WANNA DO IT AGAIN.

UH, I'VE

[03:45:01]

BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT ASSURES THOSE SALARIES FOR SOME TIME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER FOR US.

IT, WE, YOU, YOU, YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M GOING TO ASK FOR AMENDMENTS ON THE MAIN, ON THAT MAIN MOTION TO PERFECT.

THE MAIN MOTION THAT I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK FOR AMENDMENTS ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

AND THEN I WILL ASK FOR, FOR A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO, TO MAKE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THE MAIN MOTION.

IF YOU'RE FOR THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT, DON'T AMEND THE MAIN, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE NOT TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION.

AND I'M GONNA TRY TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS HERE.

AND I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE CONFUSION.

THE AMENDMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO CALL UP, UH, AFTER THAT, I'M GONNA CALL UP.

IT WILL BE IN THIS ORDER.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

SO I'LL CALL UP KELLY AMENDMENT ONE, KELLY AMENDMENT TWO.

AND KELLY AMENDMENT THREE.

MAYOR.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A FOURTH AMENDMENT AS WELL.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THEN I'LL, I'LL CALL THOSE UP IN ORDER.

THEN I WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

THEN I WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION CHAIR HEARS NONE.

NOW I'LL CALL FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND I'LL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.

UM, AS MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ON AMENDMENT ONE.

AYE, I, I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 61 TO INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.

I'LL JUST READ THIS OUT LOUD.

PART ONE B, STRIKE THE WORD.

DESPITE BEST EFFORTS OF THE CITY AND APA AND ADD, ALTHOUGH NEGOTIATORS FOR THE CITY AND THE APA HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT FOR FOUR YEAR CONTRACT SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CITY COUNCIL AND APA MEMBERS.

AND THEN IT GOES ON TO CONTINUE THE LANGUAGE IN PART D, I STRIKE WHILE THE CITY AND APA CONTINUE TO SEEK A SUCCESSOR TO THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.

IN PART E, I ADD AFTER THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AS ESTABLISHED IN THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, I COMPLETELY STRIKE PART F I ADD IN PART THREE, ACCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PART THREE OF THIS ORDINANCE.

AND UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW, VO O P O PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 16 OF THE CURRENT AGREEMENT SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT UNTIL EITHER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A SUCCESSOR MEET AND FOR AGREEMENT OR OTHER COUNSEL ACTION INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

UM, PART THREE BECOMES PART FOUR, AND IT SAYS PART TWO ADDS AND PART THREE, PART FOUR IS COMPLETELY STRICKEN AND PART FIVE IS COMPLETELY STRICKEN.

IS THERE, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? THE AMENDMENT FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

UM, AND PART THREE, I ADD PART E, A RESIDENCY INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS LIVING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT SHOULD CONSIDER BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO TOLL EXEMPTIONS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, LEASE OF RENTAL UNIT ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, RESIDENCY STIPEND, AND HOME PURCHASED ASSISTANCE.

AS I'VE INDICATED ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD, UM, I MOVE TO AMEND 61 WATSON SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE WITH THE INSERTION OF THAT.

UM, IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT WITH PRIOR COUNSEL ACTION.

IN FACT, AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY REMEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO PASSED A BUDGET WRITER RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND OF THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IT'S MOTION TO IT'S AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO BY KELLY? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

KELLY, DO YOU KNOW, OR I GUESS IS STAFF AVAILABLE TO RESPOND, UH, THE PERCENTAGE OF APD OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE CITY THAT THEY SERVE? I'M NOT SURE THAT INFORMATION'S AVAILABLE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE SPOKE WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OVER PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY AND THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE BUDGET, UM, WRITER FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S ACTION LAST YEAR.

BUT THEY HAVE PRIORITIZED IT.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT INFORMATION, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND IT WOULD WORK IN CONCERT WITH THIS ADDITION.

DO WE HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO HOW MANY OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE LIVING WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN? MAYOR COUNCIL, VERONICA PRES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER? WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA WITH US, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO PULL THAT INFORMATION AND AND, AND GIVE IT TO YOU.

YOU WOULD HAVE PROVIDING THE DATA THAT WE WOULD GET BACK ON THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS? I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

AND SO I GUESS COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH, I GUESS, ANY ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE THAT

[03:50:01]

I WOULD HOPE THAT, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE IN CONCERT WITH TOGO'S BUDGET WRITER FROM LAST YEAR.

I DO KNOW THAT IN SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCENTIVIZING OFFICERS TO, UM, CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH A AFFORDABILITY CRISIS SUCH AS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IF THEY SO WISH.

BECAUSE PE OFFICERS, IN MY OPINION, WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, ARE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

IF, IF I MIGHT JUST SAY THIS IS DIRECT, THE AM AMENDMENT WOULD IMPACT DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT THIS SORT OF THING AND, AND, UM, DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT ACTUALLY WOULD WORK IN A PACKAGE.

AND ACTUALLY I WAS JUST, IT JUST CAME TO MY ATTENTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT IF SHE RECALLS CORRECTLY, THE PERCENTAGE OF OFFICERS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY IS IN THE BUDGET Q AND A FROM LAST YEAR.

SO PERHAPS WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AFTER THIS.

OH.

OR IF STAFF CAN PULL UP THAT Q AND A AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT HERE SHORTLY.

AND HI, COUNCIL MEMBER, THEM , COUNCILMAN MORALES AL ALTER.

I WANTED TO ASK IF STAFF COULD, UM, SPEAK TO THAT BUDGET WRITER STATUS.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY SHARING WHAT, WHAT SHE LEARNED, BUT IF STAFF COULD SPEAK TO US, THAT WAS PASSED IN AUGUST.

UM, I THINK I WAS A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT.

UM, I IMAGINE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WAS AS WELL.

UM, AND OTHERS, UM, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE TIMELINE ON THAT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE'RE ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER IF THAT CAN'T BE RESOLVED BY THE END OF MARCH, THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND COME BACK FOR IT.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF SENSE OF THE STATUS.

WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, LET ME, LET ME, UH, ANSWER.

I, I KNOW THAT, UH, WELL, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WRITER THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THAT IN AUGUST, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL HUDDLE RIGHT AFTER, I MEAN, WE WILL HUDDLE AFTER THIS MEETING AND WE'LL TRY TO, UH, DRILL DOWN IN TERMS OF WHAT EXACTLY WAS BEING ASKED OF US TO DO.

AND I, I'LL COMMIT TO THE COUNCIL THAT IF THIS IS A, AN ISSUE THAT WILL BE INSURMOUNTABLE BETWEEN NOW AND THE TWEN AND THE, UH, 31ST OF, OF, OF MARCH, WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND VISIT WITH THE COUNCIL ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS TO JUST DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE.

UH, AS YOU DEVELOP AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR RETENTION, THESE COULD BE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS YOU'D USE, BUT I DON'T, BUT AT SOME POINT, UNTIL WE GET DOWN INTO AND DRILL INTO THE DETAILS, UH, I, I WOULD NOT WANT THE STAFF TO GIVE A SAY, HEY, WE'LL GET IT DONE BY A CERTAIN TIME AND THEN MISS THAT DEADLINE AS WELL.

SO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUDDLE, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT'LL TAKE, WHAT IT'LL TAKE TO GET BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WHEN WE COULD DELIVER ON.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION THAT IS ABOVE THAT LETTER E THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IS CONCERNING TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL THAT I THINK WE SHARE THAT GIVES YOU THAT FLEXIBILITY.

YEAH.

AND, AND THAT, AND, AND AS THE MAKER OF THE, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, AND WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO IS PRECISELY WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WE ARE DIRECTING.

THIS IS THE WAY THIS IS ALL SUPPOSED TO WORK, BY THE WAY, UM, WHERE THE POLICYMAKING BODY SAYS, THIS IS OUR POLICY AND THEN DIRECTS MANAGEMENT, UH, TO DO THIS.

UH, AND, AND SO I ACTUALLY THINK THE FACT THAT WE'RE AT THIS POINT JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER WHAT WAS, UH, A VERY, UH, INTERESTING NIGHT.

BUT, AND THEN ONE WEEK AFTER, UH, BEING IN A POSITION WHERE WE, WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER IN PLACE, WE'RE GIVING DIRECTION AND THINGS LIKE THIS WOULD BE PART OF, OR COULD BE PART, NOT WOULD BE, BUT COULD BE PART OF AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE.

AND ALL THIS AMENDMENT DOES, UH, BY, BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS SAYS, PLEASE LOOK AT THESE THINGS AS PART OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT OF AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE.

AND I WOULD JUST ADD ALSO TO FLAGG FOR THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

I DID PUT A LINK TO THAT BUDGET WRITER THAT PASSED ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD WHEN I POSTED THE AMENDMENT FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

VERY GOOD.

I APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCILMAN POOL, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? I DID, BUT I DON'T NEED TO ASK A QUESTION.

HOW TO BRING THIS BACK AS A RESOLUTION IN AND OF ITSELF WITH US BEING ABLE TO COLLECT ALL THAT DATA.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS BOARD.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I THINK SOME COMPONENTS HERE ARE GONNA BE, ARE THESE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS? ARE THESE SINGLE RESIDENCES? ARE WE GONNA TAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND DEDICATED, I MEAN, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE WAYS THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD IN NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABILITY FOR FOLKS.

UM, I I HIT A LOT OF SPEED BUMPS AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I WONDER IF YOU'D BE OPEN TO, AS OPPOSED TO INTRODUCING THIS AS AN AMENDMENT, I WONDER IF YOU'D BE OPEN TO US FIGURING OUT

[03:55:01]

WE'RE WORKING WITH AN MIS TEAM OUTTA U AT, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ALSO WORKING WITH, THEY HAVE A MASTER'S BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP US COLLECT THIS DATA FOR FREE.

AS OPPOSED TO US ASKING STAFF TO BRING ALL THIS DATA.

I THINK WE COULD USE OUR OUTSIDE RESOURCES TO COLLECT ALL THE DATA THAT I THINK WOULD BE CRITICAL TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE KINDS OF INCENTIVES.

SO I WONDER IF YOU'D BE OPEN TO THIS BEING A RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF AN AMENDMENT.

I THINK IT'S TOO IMPORTANT TO GET VOTED DOWN.

WELL, WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT YOU PUT INTO REALLY LAYING THAT OUT, I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON, ON COUNCIL SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, AND I DON'T WANNA MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG IT INTO THE RESOLUTION WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING INCENTIVES FOR OFFICERS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO WORK FURTHER ON THAT WITH ME, I'D BE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH YOUR OFFICE AND MAKE IT ITS OWN STANDALONE ITEM.

I'D BE HAPPY TO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON OUTTA MY OFFICE IS THE RESOLUTION GRAVEYARD.

THERE'S LOTS OF RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE SITTING ON A SHELF THAT NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO.

I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH IS WHY I THINK PLUGGING IT IN TODAY IS A GOOD, GOOD AD FOR VALUE.

COUNCIL VELA.

UH, THE PROBLEM OF, AND IT'S NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S FIREFIGHTERS, IT'S PARAMEDICS, IT'S EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC WORKS.

UH, IT, IT'S, I MEAN, IT, IT'S SURPRISING TO FIND HOW MANY OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS ACROSS ALL, UH, DEPARTMENTS.

A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

UH, ONE THAT ULTIMATELY, UH, I I I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS WITH HOUSING POLICY AND INCREASED WAGES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

UH, I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE OF THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE SAYING, YOU KNOW, HERE, POLICE COME INTO THE CITY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAT INCLUDES ALL, UH, EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT IS ALSO, I THINK, GONNA GET VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, UH, IN, IN, IN A, IN A MORE KIND OF PROCESS ORIENTED, THOUGHTFUL WAY.

SO I'LL BE ABSTAINING CUSTOMER POOL.

YEAH.

I I WILL BE ABSTAINING FOR THOSE.

SAME, FOR THOSE SAME REASONS AND ALSO, UM, THE SENSE THAT, UM, YEAH, I'LL BE UNDERSTANDING.

THE, THE MOTION IS ON, UH, KELLY AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.

THEY'RE BEING ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO.

NO, THEY'RE BEING BECAUSE OF THE REASONS SIX AYES.

WELL LET, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.

YEAH.

UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'VE COUNTED EVERYBODY.

IF YOU'RE VOTING YES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE BEING SIX AYES.

IF YOU'RE RAISING, IF YOU'RE VOTING NO, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

AND I'VE GOT TWO ABSTENTIONS AND THEN TWO THAT HAVEN'T.

ARE YOU ALL ABSTAINING? OKAY.

SO THAT EXPLAINED WHY I COULDN'T COUNT TWO 11.

UM, SO THERE BEING SIX AYES, ONE NO.

AND FOUR ABSTENTIONS AND THE ABSTENTION, THE NO IS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON, THE ABSTENTIONS ARE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

COUNCIL MEMBER FOOL.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES THE, UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND PASSES THAT WILL TAKE US TO AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

I WILL BE WITHDRAWING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE BECAUSE OF COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, HARPER MADISON'S NEWEST AMENDMENT THAT CAME THROUGH.

AND I ACTUALLY HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO HER AMENDMENT, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP AFTER SHE BRINGS THAT PERSON.

SOLUTION, I'M OFFERING THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT, UH, THAT INCLUDES A SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

I, THAT, THAT WORKS OUT WELL.

I WAS GOING TO, I WAS GOING TO HAVE HER GO AHEAD AND BRING IT UP AS A SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT TO YOURS.

UM, BUT WE WILL PULL DOWN, UH, THE CHAIR PULLS DOWN AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE BY KELLY.

THAT TAKES US TO AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR BY KELLY.

SO, UM, AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR IS WHAT I AM ABOUT TO PASS OUT AND HAS BEEN JUST NOW CIRCULATED.

IT IS THE AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON'S AMENDMENT.

IT'S JUST WRITTEN DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE SHE AMENDED HERS EARLIER AND I WANTED TO CATCH UP.

SO I WILL PASS THAT OUT RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, WELL THEN I'M NOT GONNA BRING THAT UP UNTIL WE GET TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S AMENDMENT.

UH, MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S AMENDMENT.

AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, SO ORIGINALLY THIS, THIS, UH, AMENDMENT WAS MEANT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS.

NOW IT IS MEANT FOR YOUR SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE, UH, BUT COLLEAGUES, IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE BOTH THE CITY AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, UH, CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS A PERMANENT

[04:00:01]

UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THAT DATE SHOULD STATE FOR THE RECORD, UH, MARCH 31ST, 2024.

SO 3 34, UH, 3 31 20 24.

UH, AND I'M GONNA ALSO READ IT JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CHANGES.

PLEASE DO IN, IN NUMBERS.

UM, I MOVED TO AMEND PART ONE C TO READ AS FOLLOWS, C AND RE, RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 2 29 15,091.

UH, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A CITY POLICY TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT PAY AND BENEFITS, UH, FOR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, A P D, UH, OFFICERS FOR A LIMITED TIME, INCLUDING PAYOUT OF SICK LEAVE HOURS UPON SEPARATION IN THE EVENT THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES WITHOUT AN APPROVED SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT IN PLACE.

UH, AND THEN I MOVE TO AMEND PART FOUR AS FOLLOWS, PART FOUR, PART, UH, PART TWO OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IF AND ONLY IF THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES WITHOUT AN APPROVED SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT AND SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL EITHER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSOR, UH, MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT OR MARCH 31ST, 2024, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

MEMBERS, UH, YOU HAVE THE MOTION IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES AND FOR SOME, FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE WA WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, THAT THE SECOND PART I WANNA MAKE CLEAR, WHILE IT IS AN AMENDMENT TO PART THREE MM-HMM.

, IT AMENDS PART TWO.

AND SO IT IN, IN AMENDS PART TWO BY SAYING PART TWO SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IF AND ONLY IF, AND GOES THROUGH THAT.

SO JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO ACCEPT HIS AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ARE YOU SECOND? I'M SECONDED.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CADRE AMENDMENT? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CADRE AMENDMENT? MAY I OBJECT? OKAY.

UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTION TO THE CADRE AMENDMENT? THE CADRE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE WILL BRING UP IS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT I DID WAS TAKE THE LANGUAGE THAT ORIGINALLY SAID, AND I'M SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE THAT READILY AVAILABLE.

I DON'T THE WATSON AMENDMENT, IT, IT SAYS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF I'VE GOT, YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? WELL, I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR CONTEXT BECAUSE, OKAY.

SO YOU HAVE THE BASE WAGE RATE INCREASE FOR ALL APD OFFICERS BELOW THE RANK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF AND THEN MY PART B REALLY SORT OF LUMP IN YOUR BC AND D.

LET ME, UM, FOR, FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, I APPRECIATE.

CAN I COME BACK TO YOU? YES.

UM, SO MEMBERS WE'RE LOOKING AT PART THREE.

PART THREE.

UH, PART THREE DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENT BY NO LATER THAN MARCH 31ST OR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT AND PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS WITH AP D.

THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMPENSATION ELEMENTS, A, A BE WEIGHT, WAGE RATE INCREASE FOR ALL A P D OFFICERS BELOW THE RANK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF THAT THERE'S NO CHANGE MADE THERE.

THE CURRENT SUBSTITUTE MOTION SAYS IN B A ONE TIME LUMP SUM PAYMENT TO NEW CADETS WHO JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY.

THIS WOULD AMEND THAT TO SAY A SET OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PAID WHEN NEW CADETS ONE JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY TWO COMPLETE AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY THREE, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE A P D PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

THAT IS, MAY I SPEAK TO MY MOTION, MS? YES, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO ESSENTIALLY THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I WAS THINKING ABOUT IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE, IF YOU GET INCENTIVE PAID, IT COMES IN INSTALLMENTS.

AND SO THE FIRST INSTALLMENT WOULD BE TO JOIN THE SECOND INSTALLMENT, WOULD BE AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE ACADEMY.

AND THEN ONCE YOU COMPLETE, UM, ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A SWORN OFFICER.

SO I WAS THINKING WE DO AN INSTALLMENT AS OPPOSED TO A LUMP SUM AT THE BEGINNING OR AT THE END.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IT DOESN'T INCENTIVIZE AT THE END.

AND I THINK WE REALLY REGRET GIVING A LUMP SUM AT THE BEGINNING.

UH, I'LL GET THE AMENDMENT ON THE, THE TABLE.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I WAS GOING TO, I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT, SO

[04:05:01]

THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

MAYOR.

I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 61 AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON'S AMENDMENT TO THE MAYOR WATSON SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE.

RITA FOLLOWS PART THREE AND IT ADDS UNDERNEATH, UM, TWO TO SAY COMPLETE APD FIELD TRAINING, AND THEN IT TAKES THREE TO FOUR.

AND I, I JUST WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY WORK ON THIS AND GET IT TO A POINT WHERE, WHERE IT DOES THE RIGHT THING FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, IT AMENDS PART THREE, SUBSECTION B TO ADD AT ITEM THREE, COMPLETE A P D FIELD TRAINING.

AND THEN THE CURRENT THREE IN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT BECOMES ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE A P D PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT? IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, VELAZQUEZ, UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE CHIEF.

I THINK I SAW HIM EARLIER.

I KNOW I SAW ASSISTANT CHIEF HENDERSON.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FIELD TRAINING.

I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE, UM, PROFESSION AS WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? LIKE, SO IF WE'RE THINKING STAGES, YOU HAVE THIS LONG ACADEMY, THIS LONG, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT IT LIKE A DOCTOR, RIGHT? YOU FINISHED MEDICAL SCHOOL AND YOU HAVE YOUR RESIDENCY.

CAN YOU REALLY JUST KIND OF LAY THAT OUT FOR ME? CERTAINLY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE BEGINNING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

JOSEPH CHUCK ON CHIEF OF POLICE.

UM, SO THE, THE PROGRAM FOR OUR CADETS SET UP IN PHASES.

THERE IS THE PHASE WHERE THEY ARE HIRED AND THEY BEGIN THE POLICE ACADEMY.

OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS OF ACADEMY TRAINING TIME.

THEY GRADUATE THE ACADEMY, THEN THEY GO INTO A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THAT PROBATIONARY PERIOD ARE CONSIDERED FIELD, UH, FIELD TRAINING PERIOD WHERE THEY'RE WITH A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN FTO, THAT THAT CONTINUES FOR THREE MONTHS.

UM, AS LONG AS THEY SUCCESSFULLY, UH, COMPLETE, UH, THEIR FIELD TRAINING PERIOD, THEY'RE ABLE THEN TO GO SOLO AND THEY CONTINUE IN THAT MODE THEN FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS.

SO THE ENTIRE PROBATIONARY PERIOD IS 15 MONTHS, THE FIRST THREE MONTHS BEING FIELD TRAINING, AND THEN THE, THE FINAL 12 MONTHS BEING THE PROBATION, THE REMAINDER OF THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IF THIS WERE TO PASS LIKE IT IS, JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY.

THEN EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, UM, THEY COMPLETE THE ACADEMY.

THEN THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT THEY COMPLETE THE FIELD TRAINING.

UM, SO ARE THE FIELD TRAINING AND THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A P D PROBATIONARY PERIOD THE SAME, OR IS THAT 12 MONTHS? THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD? UH, THE ENTIRE PROBATIONARY PERIOD IS 15 MONTHS.

UM, BUT THE FIRST THREE MONTHS ARE FIELD TRAINING.

AND SO THE LAST 12 MONTHS ARE JUST THE REMAINDER OF THAT PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

IN WHICH CASE, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS LINES UP, LIKE FROM A TIMELINE, YOU KNOW, SO IT WOULD BE, YOU GET A PAYMENT ON THE FRONT END, YOU GET ANOTHER PAYMENT EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, THEN ANOTHER PAYMENT IN THREE MONTHS, THEN ANOTHER PAYMENT AT THE END OF 15 MONTHS.

UH, I THINK THAT QUESTION PROBABLY SHOULD GO BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK, THANK YOU.

UM, MY INTENT HERE IS TO, TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL STEP BECAUSE IT'S PART OF IC FIELD TRAINING AS PART OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE OF GETTING AN OFFICER OUT ONTO THE STREET, ONTO PATROL.

UM, AND COMPLETING THAT PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'VE HEARD STORIES, WHICH I SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF EARLIER TODAY.

I THINK IT'S OKAY TO SAY THIS OUT LOUD.

UM, OFTENTIMES BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UH, MAYBE NOT OFTENTIMES, BUT THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE AN OFFICER OR A NEW OFFICER WILL FINISH CADET TRAINING.

THEY WILL GET THEIR TCO CERTIFICATION FROM THE TEXAS COMMISSIONER ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE PAID THEM THAT ENTIRE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT TRAINING AND THEY UP AND LEAVE US.

AND SO I JUST WANTED ONE ADDITIONAL STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY INVESTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THEIR ROLE AS POLICE OFFICERS.

SO CONFUSED ABOUT THE TIME COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER, AND THEN I'LL COME OVER TO THE MEMBER .

MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER, THEN RYAN AL ALTER, AND THEN THE MAYOR PRO.

YOU KNOW, JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CONTRACT OR THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.

SO I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING REALLY INTO THE WEEDS WITH THIS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING AND AUTHORIZING OUR CITY MANAGER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AGAIN, THE IDEAL SCENARIO IS THAT THE POLICE ASSOCIATION COMES BACK TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATES THESE TERMS, BUT ABSENT THAT, THIS COUNCIL IS COMMITTING TO STEPPING UP TO PRESERVING THE PAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, INCREASING PAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND ENSURING THAT STABILITY.

SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.

COUNCIL

[04:10:01]

TIM, THANK YOU.

I, I HEAR, UM, A LOT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING HERE AND, AND AGREE WITH MOST OF IT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE NOTION OF THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO SPLIT UP INSTALLMENTS.

UM, BUT I'M ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THAT AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER.

UM, I THINK YOU, YOU'VE LAID OUT SOME OF THE STEPS AND, AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S, AND, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD, UM, ACCOMPLISH BOTH, BOTH IF WE EITHER SAID A SET OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PAID WHEN NEW CADETS, WHEN, WHEN NEW CADETS, UH, DO THE FOLLOW, WHICH, WHICH APPLIES WHEN THEY DO THE FOLLOWING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR WE COULD JUST PUT AN AND, OR BEFORE AFTER THE THIRD ONE IF WE INCLUDED COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND ALLOW OUR CITY MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO THAT.

UM, IF WE'RE PLAYING AT ALL OF THESE STEPS, IT CAN ALSO GET VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THAT MAY NOT BE WHERE THE CITY MANAGER DETERMINES TO INVEST THE POT OF MONEY TO HAVE THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE, WHAT THE, THE TAX CHANGE IS.

BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, FLEXIBILITY TO STAFF, UM, AS THEY GO FORWARD.

RECOGNIZING THOUGH THAT EACH OF THOSE STEPS THAT YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE CRITICAL STEPS, AND I THINK WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION BEFORE ABOUT HOW WE WERE CONCERNED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE MECHANISMS THAT KEPT OUR CADETS, UM, WITHIN OUR SYSTEM AFTERWARDS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE, THE, THE IDEA THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COME UP WITH THE BEST PROGRAM.

UH, AND I, I RELATE TO WHAT, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS JUST SAYING ABOUT THE, IT'S GOOD TO GIVE SUGGESTIONS IN THAT REGARD.

I, UH, HAVE PUSHED BACK WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO AMEND ON THE DIAS WHERE WE A ACTUALLY ADD LANGUAGE BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD.

UH, BUT TO, TO KNOW WHAT IT IS NOW WE'RE VOTING ON AND WHEN WE DO THAT.

HOWEVER, HAVING SAID THAT, IF YOU DID ADD AN AND OR AFTER THREE, UH, ON COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S AMENDMENT SO THAT IT WOULD REJOIN A SET OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PAID WITH NEW CADETS, JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY, COMPLETE AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY, COMPLETE A P D FIELD TRAINING AND OR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE A P D PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

WHAT YOU WILL HAVE DONE IS HAD THE CITY MANAGER HA, HAVE DIRECTION FROM US TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT, BUT LET HIM FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN AL ALTER, AND THEN I WANNA MAKE SURE I'VE GOT EVERYBODY AND THEN WE'LL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'LL DO TWO THINGS.

ONE IS RIGHT ON THAT NOTION, BUT TO THE, THE, YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

I'M, I'M ON PART C I THINK WE NEED AND OR THERE AS WELL, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT READS THAT IT MUST INCLUDE A, B, C, D.

I'LL, LET'S COME BACK TO THAT.

BUT ON THIS, ON THIS AMENDMENT, I DID HAVE A QUESTION.

AND THAT IS, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR THE CHIEF OR WHOEVER, WHEN IS OUR NEXT ACADEMY SCHEDULED TO BE? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, TWO ACADEMIES GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL BEGIN AT THE END OF MAY.

BACK SOMETHING TO US THAT DOES FALL OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEN IT WILL REQUIRE US, I BELIEVE, AT THE TIME OF BUDGETING TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AT THAT TIME.

AND THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS GONNA EXPIRE IN ONE YEAR, AND IF THE TIME PERIOD FOR AN ACADEMY AND ALL THESE PROVISIONS IS OVER 15 MONTHS, WE ARE ACTUALLY NOT AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS UNDER THIS ORDINANCE OUTSIDE OF 12 MONTHS THAT WE'RE MAKING, CREATING THE CHARGE.

CAN I JUST BRING UP ONE, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, WHICH IS THE 15 MONTH PERIOD IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE A CONTRACT WHEN WE FALL OUT OF CONTRACT, WE GO BACK TO STRAIGHT CIVIL SERVICE LAW, WHICH IS A 12 MONTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD FROM DATE OF HIRE, WHICH DATE OF HIRE IS WHEN THEY BEGIN THE ACADEMY.

SO, UM, THAT IS THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

UM, I THINK JUST TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT ON HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT THE TIMELINES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

YES, THAT IS SO, BUT UNLESS THE ACADEMY STARTS ON APRIL 1ST, WE WON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT FINAL PAYMENT BECAUSE THIS ORDINANCE CEASES TO EXIST NOW UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S, UH, AMENDMENT AS OF MARCH 31ST, 2024.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS CONVERSATION, BUT I WANT TO FLAG IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CONVERSATION IN THE SENSE THAT, UH, WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT WILL NEED TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY A DR IF WE, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE CITY MANAGER BRINGS BACK TO US.

IF THE CITY MANAGER BRINGS

[04:15:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

BUT WE DON'T YET KNOW WHETHER IT WILL FALL OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THAT CONTRACT.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

MAYOR PRO TIM, ON THE SAME TOPIC, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT, INCLUDING THE AND OR LANGUAGE AND LEAVING THAT DISCRETION UP TO THE MANAGER.

UM, I WILL JUST FLAG A CONVERSATION WE HAD HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO ABOUT RETENTION SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES.

AND ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GETTING TRAINED, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, AND THEN THEY END UP LEAVING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THEY'VE GOTTEN SOME SORT OF INCENTIVES.

AND SO IF THAT NEEDS TO BE ESCALATED, IF YOU WAIT AND GET YOUR FINAL PAYOUT AFTER ALL FOUR ARE ACCOMPLISHED, YOU GET A HIGHER BONUS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

I THINK IT COULD BE HELPFUL TO REALLY ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF TRAINING OFFICERS AND HAVING 'EM STAY HERE WORKING FOR A P D AFTER, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH TIME AND ATTENTION HAS BEEN PUT INTO THEIR TRAINING AND THAT'S WHY THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO, UH, HIM TO COME UP WITH A, A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE THE COM, THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO INCENTIVIZE THAT SORT OF ACTIVITY.

IT'S THE REASON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, I WOULDN'T AGREE TO AND, AND OR IN THIS BECAUSE WE WANT HIM LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE DISTINCT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY GOES INTO A, A TRAINING ACADEMY.

UH, SO THE WAY WE WILL DO THIS IS THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE AND SECONDED WILL READ PART THREE, CAPITAL B, A SET OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PAID WHEN NEW CADETS ONE JOIN AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY TWO, COMPLETE AN A P D CADET TRAINING ACADEMY.

THREE, COMPLETE AB A P D FIELD TRAINING AND OR FOUR, EXCUSE ME, AND OR FOUR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE A P D PROBATIONARY PERIOD THAT I, I'LL CONSIDER THAT MOTION TO HAVE BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

THAT IS A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT IN THAT CASE? UH, IT PASSES NOW THE MOTION TO AMEND THE SUBSTITUTE.

THE WATSON SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE WILL READ EXACTLY AS I JUST READ IT, CHANGING SUBPART B OF PART LARGE CAPITAL B OF NUMBER THREE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE, UH, THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

THANK YOU BOTH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WATSON SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE? IS THERE A MOTION TO A ADOPT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS THE MAIN MOTION MOTION IS MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

UH, SO NOW MEMBERS, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AMENDED IS THE MAIN MOTION.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? YEAH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION BETWEEN THE COMPENSATION INCENTIVES AND THE OVERSIGHT PORTIONS OF THE MEASURE BEFORE US.

IS THERE ANY SECOND TO THAT MOTION? ANY SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? THE MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.