Feb 23, 2023 City Council Meetings

[00:00:01]

GOOD

[Call to Order]

I'M GONNA CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023.

WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED ON SECOND STREET.

UM, REMEMBER FOLKS, I, I WANNA WALK YOU THROUGH KIND OF WHAT THE DAY'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UH, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A FEEL FOR IT, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WANT TO BE HEARD AND WANT TO SPEAK.

UH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF SCHEDULE YOUR DAY.

THE ORDER OF THE MEETING WILL BE AS FO FOLLOWS.

UH, WE'RE GONNA START OFF BY HEARING FROM CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.

WE WILL THEN GO TO A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH BRIEF COMMENT, COMMENTS, UH, COMING FROM MEMBERS.

WE WILL THEN TAKE UP ITEMS 45, 46 AND 47.

THOSE ARE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. UM, AT THIS TIME, RIGHT AFTER WE DO THAT, UH, IF TIME ALLOWS, AT THAT POINT, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.

AND, UH, MY GOAL AND HOPE AND PRAYER IS THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN CLOSE TO 10 30.

AND SPEAKING OF PRAYER, PRAY THAT WE GET TO DO IT CLOSE TO 10 30.

UM, WE WILL HEAR, UH, THE SPEAKERS ON A H F C AT THAT TIME.

WE WILL, UH, ACT AND WE WILL ADJOURN.

I'LL THEN CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 49.

UH, 49 AND 50, ALTHOUGH, LET ME JUST SAY ITEM NUMBER 49 HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

UH, SO IT'LL BE FOR ITEM 50 WITH E IMMEDIATE ACTION ON ITS, UM, CORRESPONDING ITEM, ITEM 51 THAT'S RELATED TO THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

AT NOON, WE WILL HEAR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE LIVE MUSIC.

AT ONE O'CLOCK, WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS FOR POOLED.

ITEM NUMBER 44, DISCUSSION AND ACTION.

AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE WILL TAKE UP ZONING SPEAKERS, HAVE DISCUSSION AND ACTION AT 2 45 OR IN THAT TIMEFRAME, WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS FOR POOLED.

ITEM 61, DISCUSSION AND ACTION.

I'M GONNA READ

[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]

THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS 44 AND 61.

ITEM 44 WILL BE, UH, AS, AS INDICATED AT A 1:00 PM TIME CERTAIN, AND ITEM 61 WILL BE AT A 2 45 TIME CERTAIN, AS I PREVIOUSLY INDICATED.

ALSO, MEMBERS, AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL ALSO HEAR FROM OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON ITEMS 35 THROUGH 39, BECAUSE THOSE ITEMS RELATE TO, UH, SETTLEMENTS.

AND WE, WE WILL HAVE A, HAVE THEM GIVE US A BRIEF DISCUSSION REGARDING, UH, THAT THOSE MATTERS.

BY THE WAY, I, I DON'T THINK I SAID FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE, UM, UH, ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE ON THE DIAS, EVERYONE IS PRESENT, CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER NINE 19 IS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER TO RETURN AFTER COMMISSION REVIEW.

ITEM NUMBER 30, FEBRUARY 8TH, 2023, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON A SEVEN OH VOTE WITH FOUR ABSENCES.

ITEM 31, POSTPONED TO MARCH 9TH, 2023.

ITEM 34, POSTPONED TO MARCH 9TH, 2023.

ITEM 43 SPONSORS.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO, COUNCIL MEMBER OF VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL.

ALTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZO CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE.

COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.

ITEM NUMBER 42.

THAT WILL BE A C IT'S NOT ON, MAY NOT BE ON YOUR CHANGES OF CORRECTIONS LIST COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

WE WILL REMOVE FROM THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE, UH, ON PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE A MISTAKE WAS MADE PROBABLY BY ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WAS LISTED ON THAT COMMITTEE, ALTHOUGH SHE HAD NOT WANTED TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

SO WE'RE REMOVING THAT.

UM, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY PROBLEM WE CREATED THERE.

ITEM NUMBER 49, POSTPONED TO MAY 18TH, 2023.

ITEM NUMBER 52 WITHDRAWN.

ITEM NUMBER 61, SPONSORS WILL BE LISTED AS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, MAYOR KIRK WATSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE.

ITEMS POOLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

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ITEM NUMBER 61, PULLED BY MAYOR WATSON.

THE REASON I PULLED THOSE MEMBERS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE AMENDMENTS THAT WE ALL KNOW, UH, NEED TO BE ADDED TO THOSE.

AND ITEM NUMBER 43, ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT ON MY LIST, ITEM NUMBER 43 HAS BEEN PULLED BECAUSE THIS MORNING, UM, I WAS PROVIDED A PROPOSED, UH, MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES.

SO IT'LL BE 43, 44 AND 61.

MAYOR? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

THANK YOU.

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.

YES.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON AL ALTER.

THANK YOU.

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.

OKAY.

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.

OKAY.

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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FIRST SPEAKER IS SANDRA MULLER SPEAKING ON ITEM 32.

HI.

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.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

[00:15:01]

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.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

[00:20:01]

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.

THANK YOU.

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.

THANK YOU.

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

[00:25:01]

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.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THESE SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU.

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.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

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

[00:30:01]

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.

IT'S RELATED TO A FEBRUARY, 2018 CAR ACCIDENT WHERE PLAINTIFF CLAUDIA FORD, UH, SOUGHT PAYMENT FOR INJURIES SHE SUSTAINED AS PART OF THE ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE.

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.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

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.

THANK YOU.

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.

THANK YOU.

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.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

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.

YES.

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.

THANK YOU.

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.

OKAY.

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.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DON'T NEED A BULLET.

GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU.

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.]

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.

THANK YOU.

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.

YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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)]

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.