[Call to Order]
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IT IS 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT AUSTIN CITY HALL.
TWO MEMBERS ARE OFF THE DIAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND I, I'LL ASK THE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE JOINED US REMOTELY, IS THAT CORRECT? SO, UM, WE, BUT WE HAVE A QUORUM, UH, MEMBERS I'LL LAY OUT AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S PAYING ATTENTION, I'LL LAY OUT THE, UH, WHAT I PROPOSE TO BE THE ORDER OF THE MEETING FOR TODAY.
FIRST, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, UH, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM, WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS, UH, WILL BE SPEAKING IN THE, IN, IN THE, UM, WAY IT'S BEEN DONE HISTORICALLY, AT LEAST HERE RECENTLY.
WE'LL THEN GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH BRIEF COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS.
WE WILL THEN GO TO THE POOLED ITEMS, ITEMS 16 25, 27, AND, UH, 26, AND I'LL, I'LL READ ALL THAT INTO THE RECORD IN JUST A MOMENT.
BY THE WAY, MEMBERS, UH, AND PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS JOINED US REMOTELY.
AFTER THAT, WE'LL TAKE UP NON-CONSENT ITEMS, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 34, AND I'LL, WE'LL OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'LL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF TIME ALLOWS.
AT THAT POINT, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CALL THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING TO ORDER.
WE'LL HEAR FROM ITS SPEAKERS, IF ANY.
WE WILL ACT AND ADJOURN THAT MEETING AT NOON.
WE WILL HAVE THE NOON PUBLIC COMMENT AND LIVE MUSIC, AND THEN AT 2:00 PM WE WILL TAKE UP ZONING SPEAKERS, DISCUSSION AND ACTION RELATED TO THAT.
LET ME NOW FOR THE RECORD, READ INTO THE RECORD CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 11 SHOULD READ MARCH 8TH, 2023, RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A NINE ZERO VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE AND ONE VACANCY.
IT SHOULD HAVE READ ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SPONSORS AND ADD COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE.
ITEM NUMBER 27 WILL READ THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LISTED AS SPONSORS.
AND THEN ADD COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PORT TIM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON 27.
UH, SHOW MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS IS ALSO A SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 27, ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER 16, PULLED BY MAYOR WATSON.
ITEM NUMBER 25, PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
ITEM NUMBER 27, PULLED BY MAYOR WATSON.
AND ITEM NUMBER 26, WHICH IS NOT ON YOUR PRINTED CHANGES OF CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 26, BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU WISH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE.
LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY, AND I'LL COME BACK TO THIS, BUT ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT A MEMBER WISHES TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I PREFER TO WAIT TO HEAR FROM THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UM, THEN WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ANY MEMBER WISHES TO ABSTAIN FROM OR BE SHOWN AS RECUSING THEMSELF FROM YES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.
UM, I ALSO WOULD PREFER TO MAKE THOSE STATEMENTS AFTER WE FIRST ABSTENTION OR EVEN ABSTENTIONS OR RECUSALS.
UM, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT UP.
MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST ADD, UH, I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT I THINK THAT THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY IS VERY VALUABLE IN MAKING OUR DECISIONS FAIR ENOUGH.
I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, I, I WORRY THAT IF I DIDN'T DO THAT, SOMEBODY WOULD SAY I WANNA BE SHOWN NOT EVEN AT THIS POINT.
[Public Comments ( Part 1 of 2 )]
BEFORE WE TAKE UP SPEAKERS FOR TODAY'S, UH, MEETING, UH, BEFORE WE TAKE, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR SPEAKERS, LET ME SAY IT THAT WAY, IS WE'RE GONNA DO IT AS IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST.BECAUSE THE WAY WE WILL TAKE THESE ITEMS UP ON THE CONSENT ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED WILL BE IMMEDIATELY
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AFTER WE HEAR FROM, UH, WE PASS A CONSENT AGENDA.SO WE WILL HEAR FROM ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, UM, AND THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON BOTH CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, AND THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON ZONING AGENDA ITEMS, THEY'LL BE CALLED UPON AT TWO O'CLOCK, AND EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SO LET'S GO TO THE SPEAKERS AND, UH, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE BEGIN WITH THE REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO IN PERSON.
FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM 16 IS BRENDA MALIK.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE MEGAN, MS. MEISENBACH, CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? OH MY GOSH.
WE'RE HAVING A TECHNICAL ISSUE, SO LET'S MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
UM, FOR ITEMS 3 11, 17, 18, AND 26, GUS PENA ON DECK IS BILL MCKINLEY FOR ITEM 16.
MY NAME IS GUSTAVO GUST PENA, BORN IN EAST AUSTIN, EAST FIFTH STREET.
UH, HERE'S MY ID AS A FORMER IRS SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE IRS.
OKAY, AND THIS IS FROM THE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CON, UH, CONSIDERATION, UH, MARY KIRK WATSON
UH, NUMBER ONE, UH, IS THE NU NUMBER THREE IS, UH, HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE, THE STAR PROGRAM, AND WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND IMPROVE IT.
AND NUMBER, LET ME SEE, NUMBER NUMBER 11 IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, ALLOCATING 2 MILLION, UH, $355,000 FOR THAT.
THAT IS VERY THIS FOR YOUTHWORKS, SO IT'S VERY GOOD.
AND, UH, NUMBER 17 IS APPROVE OF RESOLUTION, EXTENDING CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE IRS APPROVE OF RESOLUTION, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECT, CORRECT, UH, CURRENT, EXCUSE ME, FAST, UH, CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC, UH, VEHICLES EQUITABLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND MY LAST ONE WILL BE THIS, NUMBER 33.
THE IS HOUSING, UH, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS REDUNDANT, BUT WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS JUST MAKE IT A BETTER SITUATION, UH, HOUSE WISE, UH, HEALTH-WISE AND OTHERWISE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, UH, MAYOR, IT'S, UH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK OVER HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY PUNTED YOU OVER HERE INSTEAD OF BACK OVER THERE.
JESUS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS, UH, UH, HAD RESPECT FOR YOU AND, UM, I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL, ALL OF Y'ALL THAT ARE DOING FOR WORK, UH, FOR THE INN AND FOR THE BEST OF INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND MISS, UH, MACKENZIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALSO.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TRY, UM, REMOTE AGAIN.
YES, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM NUMBER 16.
THANK YOU FOR PULLING IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, IT TOOK ME, UH, AT LEAST A WEEK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EAD MEANT.
SO I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU GUYS REFRAIN FROM USING ACRONYMS SO MUCH SO THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THIS FAR-REACHING EAD CHANGE NEEDS TO BE WORKED THROUGH IN PUBLIC.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON HOLY CROSS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR WHICH I AM PRESIDENT, UH, IS A
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HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THISSO THE OUTREACH PLAN THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, UH, FELL A LITTLE SHORT.
AND, UH, SO WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS, AND I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LET THE PUBLIC GIVE YOU COMMENT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE, WE NEED MORE ANSWERS.
UM, SO DON'T EX DON'T ACCEPT ANY ZONING CHANGES UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM, UH, FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN MEISENBACH ON 16.
HI, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING ME TODAY.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, AND, UM, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT ITEM WAS PULLED.
I HOPE YOU'LL PAY ATTENTION TO DR.
JAKE WEGMAN WHEN HE SAYS, FOCUS ON LIKE RAIL, DO LESS AND DO IT WELL.
UM, SECURE YOUR SOURCES OF FUND FUNDS AND VALUE CAPTURE ON THE PROPERTY THAT, UH, UH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED EADS COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, WE LOOK REALLY OUT OF PLACE.
MOST CITIES HAVE A LESS THAN 10, AND WE'RE PROPOSING 120, OR AT LEAST A MORE THAN A HUNDRED.
UM, A LOT, A MODEST NUMBER OF LIGHT RAIL EADS THAT WILL SUPPORT FIXED TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT, AND WE KNOW THE FUNDS ARE LIMITED, AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO FOCUS.
UM, THE STAFF HAS DECIDED THAT THE METRIC OF SU SUCCESS IS TO REMOVE OR REDEVELOP PEOPLE'S HOMES AND REPLACE THEM WITH MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE, THE RIGHT, UM, FRAME OF MIND TO APPROACH THIS.
SO WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM IS BEING, UM, PROMOTED.
AND I THINK YOU ALSO LOOK AT PLA PLEASE LOOK AT PLAZA.
SO, WHICH IT CHANGED AFTER WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS PROMISED.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING ME, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE COUNCIL.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE SPRINGS, AND I CLIMB RESILIENCE COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH DAVA.
I'M, I'M CALLING AGAINST ITEM 16, AND I ASK YOU TO, AND I THANK YOU FOR HOLDING OFF ON, UH, PULLING THE ITEM OUT UNTIL, UM, COMMU REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGE STAFF AND THE
AND I KNOW THAT ANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT DONE IN AUSTIN WILL NEVER COMPARED TO ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT RESIDENTS ARE PAYING RIGHT NOW.
THE WAY THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING EAD WILL DISPLACE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE COST OF LIVING AND THE RAPID GROWTH, THE EFFECTIVE OT LEADERS BY USING ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE, NOT ONLY TO HELP RENT INCREASE, BUT ALSO TO BUILD SUS SUSTAINABILITY, UH, AMONG THE RESIDENTS YOU REPRESENT BY PUTTING YOUR NAME IN RESOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, OR TRAININGS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HOMELAND, HOME BASED CHILDCARE OR HOME BASE ELDER CARE.
THESE TRAININGS COULD HELP WITH SAFETY SKILLS AND THE RIGHTS AND TEACHING THEM THE RIGHTS OF, OF WORKERS.
YOU CAN CREATE THE INDEPENDENCY BY SU FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
I'M SORRY, YOU CAN CREATE INDEPENDENCY FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
BY DOING SO, YOU COULD, YOU COULD BE ABLE TO KEEP MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.
JUSTICE IS INDISPENSABLE IN OUR CITY.
AS LEADERS, YOU ARE PLACING A POSITION TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
YOU SAY YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, PROVE IT, BE INCLUSIVE, DON'T MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT A PLAN, AND LET US BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
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GOOD MORNING.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNSEL.
I LIVE IN THE BIKER WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 10.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU LIMIT THE, THE TO THE EADS TWO RAIL LINE AREAS.
UM, PLEASE AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SERVE THE RESIDENCE, UH, AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
UM, NOT CLEAR THEM OUT TO MAKE A WAY FOR, FOR PEOPLE, UM, JUST MOVING INTO THE CITY, DON'T DISPLACE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, ALSO I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CLIMATE GOALS IN TERMS OF WARMING.
UM, THIS DENSITY WILL NOT COME WITHOUT CUTTING DOWN TREES, REMOVING GREEN SPACES, AND CHANGING THE FABRIC AND THE LOOK OF OUR CITY.
UM, MOST OF US DID NOT MOVE HERE HOPING TO LIVE AMONG TOWERS AND SHADOWS.
WE, WE CAME HERE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THIS ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
PLEASE RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND RESPECT YOUR CURRENT RESIDENCE AND, AND, UM, AND GIVE US TIME TO DISCUSS THIS PLAN WITH YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING ON ITEM 1625 AND 29.
I'M MONICA GUSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN BAOS AUSTIN.
REGARDING ITEM 25, PETITIONER REQUIREMENTS REPRESENT OUR ONLY PUBLIC PROCESS TO BE ENGAGED IN CRITICAL LAND USE AND VALID DECISIONS THAT IMPACT US.
REGARDING ITEM 44, THIS CHANGE TO THE CODE SEEMS TO BE A GIVEAWAY TO DEVELOPERS, A MECHANISM TO ALLOW INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER WITHOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, NAMELY AFFORDABILITY OF A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT OR LARGE PROJECTS, BUILDING MORE LUXURY UNITS AT MARKET RATES DOES NOTHING TO SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
DESPITE TESTIMONY YOU HEARD LAST WEEK, MANY ARE STILL UNAWARE.
WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR VOTE, ALLOWING TIME TO FURTHER INFORM THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME TRANSIT DEPENDENT RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED OR NO ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
WEGMAN'S TOUGH LOVE AS HE TOLD THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS LAST WEEK, AND I QUOTE, TRULY SUCCESSFUL TODS HAS BEEN MUCH MORE COMMON IN CANADA OR MEXICO OR OVERSEAS THAN HAS BEEN HERE IN THE US.
AND OF COURSE, TRUE ECON HAS BEEN EVEN RARER THAN SUCCESSFUL.
TODD, HOW ARE WE PROCESSING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON TRANSIT CORRIDORS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN PLANS CAN, IT CAN BE IT PLAYING OUT IN SOUTH AUSTIN AT SOUTH PERSON EVERHART TWO 90 IN BERKMAN ROAD WHERE WE ARE LOSING AFFORDABLE UNITS TO DENSE LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS WITH INADEQUATE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL NOT ATTRACT TRANSIT DEPENDENT PEOPLE AND THEY ACTIVELY DISPLACED WORKFORCE AND TRANSIT DEPENDENT RESIDENTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MISSY OSTERMAN SPEAKING ON 26TH.
UH, MY NAME IS MISSY OSTERMAN AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE DECISION TO BRING BACK THE AUSTIN CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY.
BEFORE JOINING THE A CPA FOR ITS 89TH CLASS, I HAD VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS OPERATED.
WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING IS RUN, IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO SUPPORT IT.
BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STRUCTURED, TRAINED, AND PROCEDURES THEY FOLLOW IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
I AM GRATEFUL THAT AUSTIN, LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HAS HAD THIS PROGRAM AVAILABLE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO BRING BACK THE AUSTIN CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY PROGRAM TO GET THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FIRSTHAND HOW THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS AND TO BUILD STRONGER POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
NEXT SPEAKER ZNO JOSEPH SPEAKING ON 16 AND 34.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH STATING MY OPPOSITION
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TO ITEM 16 EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION NUMBER SEVEN, PAGE SEVEN, WHICH HAS THE GREEN LINE STATION AREA VISION PLANNING, AND REMIND YOU THAT NATASHA HARPER MADISON ASKED ABOUT THE GREEN LINE ON APRIL 15TH, 2021 AT THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
AND BASICALLY, I WANT YOU TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NO SECRET THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RIDERSHIP ON THAT LINE.
THAT INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT JUNE 20TH, 2017.
BASICALLY, THE GREEN LINE WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE LOCALLY FUNDED AS WELL.
IT DOESN'T MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR DENSITY, SO I AM OPPOSED TO HAVING THE GREEN LINE AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE EAD ITEM BEFORE YOU ON APRIL 3RD, 2018.
WITH REGARD TO THE GREEN LINE, THE ANTICIPATED RIDER SHIP ON THIS LINE IS ACTUALLY LOW AND THAT NEEDS TO BE NO SECRET.
TODD HEMMINGTON TOLD THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS WELL.
MAYOR, YOU ACTUALLY, UH, TESTIFIED WITH CAPITAL METRO DECEMBER 17TH, 2018 WHEN THE ADOPTED DIVISION PLAN FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE PLAN ACTUALLY CALLED THROUGH THE, THE LIGHT RAIL TO BE SOUTH OF NORTHMORE TRANSIT CENTER AND THERE IS A NEED FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY COORDINATE WITH TECH DOC BECAUSE THAT IS LUKE 2 75 AND THE CITY DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT WAS NEVER IN THE DISCUSSION DURING THE MEETING.
YOU HAD, UH, THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY OR DURING THE JOINT MEETING WITH HOUSING AND MOBILITY.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM IF YOU PLAN TO VOTE ON IT, UM, AND ACTUALLY TO CONSIDER INCLUDING TECH DOC SO THAT IT'S ACCURATE.
THIS IS A RUSH TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING AND I WILL LASTLY JUST SAY MY UH, COMMENTS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, THE 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
IT'S 24 TO 30 YEARS FOR THE LIGHT RAIL NORTH OF US, 180 3 IN THE AREA THAT YOU USED TO REPRESENT WHEN YOU WERE A SENATOR.
UM, 37, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A ZONING ITEM, BUT IT'S 3.3 MILES, UM, FROM THE BURLESON VILLAGE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLAD ANSWER THEM NOW.
PETERSON SPEAKING ON 26TH, THIS CAROL PETERSON REGARDING THE AUSTIN CITY.
UH, I AM DEFINITELY IN FORD FOR THE POLICE OF THEMATIC AGAIN BECAUSE THEY BRIDGE THE GAP FOR OUR LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S, UM, OFFERINGS AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE SUCH A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE AND WE HAVE A LACK OF RESPECT, UH, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THEY'RE GOING ON OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO IF WE CAN PAY THIS CLASS, IT'LL CERTAINLY HELP OTHERS TO HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU JENNIFER, ALL SPEAKING ON ITEM 26.
HI, MY NAME IS, UH, JENNIFER ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 26.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 23 YEARS.
I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE 84TH CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY CLASS AND GRADUATED WITH A CLASS IN DECEMBER, 2015.
IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE SELECTED TO ATTEND, UM, THE VERY EDUCATIONAL 14 WEEK PROGRAM.
AS I WASN'T REALLY SURE AT THE TIME WHAT TO EXPECT IS ALL I KNEW ABOUT THE POLICE WAS VERY DIFFERENT BEFORE THIS CLASS.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THESE 14 WEEKS WERE PACKED WITH SO MUCH INFORMATION AND GAVE ME A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A P D DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO TOUR THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, FORENSIC JAIL, UH, FORENSIC LABS, JAILS, AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES.
AND I WAS PRIVILEGED TO DO A RIDEOUT IN THE EDWARDS SECTOR ON A FRIDAY NIGHT WHERE I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT OUR OFFICERS GO THROUGH OUT ON THEIR SHIFTS.
AND IT WAS A REAL EYEOPENER TO ME.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS CLASS HAS NOW HELPED ME TO BECOME MORE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT APD DOES AND WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO.
IN MY CLASS ALONE, WE HAD MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, YOUNG AND OLD, AND SEVERAL OF US FROM MY CLASS ARE STILL FRIENDS.
IT WAS A GREAT, IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR ALL THE PRESENTATIONS AND HEAR ALL THE PRESENTATIONS AND GET ALL THE ANSWERS.
AND I FEEL THAT THIS CLASS WAS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT THE POLICE ARE HERE FOR AND WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
I FEEL THAT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ALL THAT GOES ON BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE SEES WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BACKGROUND.
MANY OF US ARE, UM, ALUMNI AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT A P D WHEN NEEDED.
SO PLEASE BRING THIS PROGRAM BACK AS IT IS DEFINITELY WORK WORTH IT FOR OUR CITY
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AND FOR OUR CITIZENS.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE'LL GO TO IN-PERSON.
UM, BILL LEY ON DECK ARE CHRISTIAN CHOP AND DANIEL KAMAN.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT.
IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR WATSON.
UH, FIRST OFF, A SINCERE THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE EAD POLICY PLAN TODAY.
MY HUSBAND AND MY FRIENDS ARE SO EXCITED FOR IT.
THIS EAD PLAN MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN AUSTIN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY PROMOTING GROWTH AND HOUSING NEAR FUTURE AND EXISTING MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AUSTIN WILL BECOME A MORE WALKABLE CITY IN A MORE AFFORDABLE CITY.
THERE ARE SO MANY GEMS OF POLICY TOOLS OUTLINED IN THE POLICY PLAN.
ONE HIGHLIGHT IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS TRADING HEIGHT FOR MORE LOW INCOME UNITS.
THIS WILL PROMOTE EQUITY AND AFFORDABILITY TO AUSTIN'S LOWEST INCOME RESIDENTS, UH, WHICH IS MUCH NEEDED STEP TOWARDS CREATING A PLACE WHERE EVEN THE POOREST AMONG US CAN LIVE HERE AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
IN ADDITION, EAD VISION AREA PLANNING WILL GIVE A CHANCE FOR CITY PLANNERS TO RETHINK AREAS IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES THE EXISTING HISTORY AND COMMUNITY OF AREAS WHILE THINKING AHEAD FOR FUTURE NEEDS.
I APPLAUD THIS BECAUSE IT WILL BUILD GREAT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND HOUSING AND IT WILL ADD TO THE EXISTING CULTURE OF THESE VISION AREAS, NOT DETRACT FROM THEM LIKE PLAZA, SALTILLO OR CRESTVIEW STATION.
IT WILL BRING A PLACE WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE CAN ENJOY BOTH LOCAL TO THE AREA AND CITYWIDE.
IN CONCLUSION, EAD WILL BUILD A BETTER AUSTIN.
I HOPE YOU PASS BOTH THE EAD POLICY PLAN AND THE EAD OVERLAY TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTIAN CHOP.
OKAY,
EDGAR HANDEL ON DECK IS JAY CROSSLEY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
THIS EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ITEM HAS A POTENTIAL TO BE A CONSEQUENTIAL POLICY AND COULD ALLOW FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO LIVE CENTRALLY NEAR TRANSIT AND AMENITIES.
THANK YOU COUNSEL, AND ESPECIALLY TO STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND LONG ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ON THIS ITEM, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE ADJUST OUR LAND USE AROUND THE NEW PROJECT CONNECT STATIONS, NOT ONLY TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE PROJECT, BUT BECAUSE IT COULD FINALLY BREAK THE HOLD THAT CAR CENTRIC PLANNING HAS ON THIS CITY.
THIS POLICY WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABILITY IMPACTS AND CLIMATE IMPACTS BY ALLOWING FOR MUCH GREATER HOUSING CAPACITY BY TRANSIT, THE CITY CAN REDUCE VEHICLE MILES, TRAVEL PER CAPITA OVERALL ENERGY CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA AND PROTECT UNDEVELOPED LAND AT THE FRINGES OF THE CITY AND IN THE SUBURBS.
I WANT TO URGE YOU TO ALL MOVE QUICKLY TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH A CLEAR TIMELINE THAT WOULD LEAD TO TO DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR ALONG WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LIGHT RAIL LINES AND RAPID BUS ROUTES.
ALSO, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING BUS ROUTES IN THIS PLAN, WHICH WILL LIKELY CARRY THE MAJORITY OF TRANSIT UNITERS IN THIS CITY.
TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE NEED FOR SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION NEAR MY HOME ON THE FUTURE ORANGE LINE, THERE ARE BRAND NEW GAS STATIONS BEING BUILT.
THIS SORT OF CAR-BASED USE NEEDS TO BE PROHIBITED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, ALONG WITH THE MASSIVE PARKING GARAGES ATTACHED TO APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WILL LIKELY HOUSE PEOPLE WHO USE CARS MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY THAN OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
THANK YOU FOR DEVELOPING THIS PLAN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT DURING ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
JAY CROSSLEY ON DECK, FELICITY MAXWELL AND MICHAEL NAS.
MY NAME'S JAY BLAZE AT CROSSLEY.
I'M WITH THE NONPROFIT CALLED FARM AND CITY AND I LIVE IN D FOUR.
UM, AND UH, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS WORK AND FOR TRYING TO BUILD AN AUSTIN FOR EVERYONE.
UM, WE HAVE PUBLISHED TWO REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF ANALYSIS, UM, AND UM, I'VE SORT OF BEEN BUSY WORKING ON A FREEWAY PROJECT, SO I DIDN'T BRING YOU ALL THOSE THINGS AND I'M SORT OF TIRED OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S CLEAR IT, IT IS CLEAR WHAT'S WRONG HERE AND IT'S CLEAR WHAT AN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE CITY WOULD BE.
UM, WE 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE GONNA MOVE INTO OUR REGION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
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OF THEM PEOPLE OF COLOR, THEY'RE NOT CALIFORNIANS.UH, A VERY TINY AMOUNT ARE CALIFORNIANS.
AND EVERY AMOUNT OF NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WE DO HERE IN THIS ROOM IS THE REASON THAT OUR CITY IS EXPENSIVE AND IS THE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED.
IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF DEVELOPERS OR ANY OTHER BOOGEYMAN.
UM, AND SO EXCLUSIONARY ZONING IS THE PROBLEM AND, AND AN E T O D STRATEGY SHOULD, SHOULD REMOVE THAT PROBLEM, THAT 1920S ERROR.
UM, UH, ONE EXAMPLE IS THE EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WHERE THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN STILL EXISTS.
ZERO AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED.
MANY HOUSES HAVE BEEN REBUILT USING THE CURRENT CODES, BUT ZERO ADDITIONAL UNITS ARE ALLOWED.
THERE ARE LESS PEOPLE LIVE IN THE EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY THAN IN 2010.
AND AND IN 2010 THERE ARE ABOUT A THOUSAND PE LOW INCOME PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
TODAY THERE ARE ZERO, WHEREAS THE PLAZA CELL TO T O D DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NEXT DOOR, WHICH WAS LIKE TRAIN TRACKS, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE LIVE THERE NOW.
AND SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THIS REPORT IS THERE'S SOME ERRORS
IT STATES THAT T O D CAUSES DISPLACEMENT, WHICH IS FALSE.
UM, AND SO WE NEED TO DO THESE THINGS TOGETHER.
UM, A KEY POINT IS JUST ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE WILL DOUBLE PROJECT NECK RIDERSHIP.
NEXT SPEAKER IS EDGAR HANDEL ON DECK, OUR FELICITY MAXWELL AND MICHAEL NAZ.
I LIVE A QUARTER MILE, AN EIGHT MINUTE WALK FROM THE A ACC EAST VIEW BUS STOP ON THE PLAN PLEASANT VALLEY METRO RAPID LINE.
I CAME HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16 IN EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
JUST THIS WEEK, MY THREE-YEAR-OLD AND I WERE ON A CALL WITH MY BROTHER WHO LIVES IN HOUSTON.
HE BRAGGED TO MY TRAIN OBSESSED SON THAT HE LIVES A FEW MINUTES FROM THE LIGHT RAIL AND I TAKEN IT STRAIGHT TO THE RODEO.
MY BROTHER LIKES CARS AND HE WORKS ON CARS FOR A LIVING.
HE TOOK THE TRAIN BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT AND IT'S CLOSE TO WHERE HE LIVES.
IF AUSTIN WANTS TRANSIT AND RECENT ELECTIONS AND POLLS HAVE SHOWN, WE DEFINITELY DO, THEN WE NEED A LOT OF HOMES AND DESTINATIONS NEAR TRANSIT.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THAT MEANS ZONING FOR DENTS, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, AND ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUMS ALONG ALL PLANNED TRANSIT LINES AND DOING IT SOON WITHOUT WAITING FOR TRANSIT TO BE BUILT FIRST.
I WOULD LOVE TO ONE DAY SEE LIGHT RAIL IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT THE REASON EAST AUSTIN GETS BUS LINES WHILE CENTRAL AUSTIN GETS LIGHT RAIL IS BECAUSE CENTRAL AUSTIN HAS DENSER CORRIDORS WITH GOOD RIDERSHIP.
IF WE WANT EX EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TRANSIT ACROSS ALL OF AUSTIN, WE NEED TO BUILD THE TYPES OF PLACES THAT JUSTIFY MORE TRANSIT INVESTMENT.
LET'S STOP WAITING FOR DENSITY AND TRANSIT TO ARRIVE PERFECTLY IN SYNC.
LET'S AVOID A FUTURE WHERE A LOW DENSITY ZONING HAS CREATED GREAT ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THE NEARBY MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOMES, WE SHOULD NOT ONLY APPROVE THE EAD PLAN, BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT THE RESULTING IMPLEMENTATION ACTUALLY DELIVERS ABUNDANT HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS FELICITY MAXWELL.
ON DECK ARE MICHAEL NAS AND HANS MAGNUSON.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A LONGTIME ZILKER D FIVE RESIDENT AND A CURRENT AURA BOARD MEMBER.
YOUR CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 16 REGARDING EAD.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN PROJECT CONNECT WAS PASSED WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, EAD WAS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE OVERALL PLAN FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO SEE THE FIRST WAVE OF EAD IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORK THAT IT'S ALREADY DOING, AND WE SEE THIS STEP AS THE NEXT CRUCIAL STEP IN THE EAD PROMISES WE MADE IN 2020.
EAD UNLOCKS A WIDE KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR FOR OUR CITY, MOST IMPORTANTLY HOUSING.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO IMMENSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS LIKE BELOVED SMALL BUSINESSES, GROCERIES, MEDICAL DAY, MEDICAL SERVICES, DAYCARES AND MORE, ALL OF WHICH BECOME POSSIBLE NEAR AND AROUND OUR TRANSIT IF WE DO EAD PROPERLY.
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, IT'S BLUE BONDED SEASON HERE IN AUSTIN AND THAT FEELS LIKE AN APT METAPHOR FOR THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING ON EAD, JUST LIKE LADY BIRD ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
THERE IS A VISION OF BEAUTIFICATION AND GROWTH IN OUR CITY THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH EAD.
YOU
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 16, AND PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS IS BROADLY SUPPORTED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE MANY BENEFITS THAT WILL BRING BEYOND HOUSING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL NAZ, ONDECK R HANS MAGNUSON AND JANICE RANKIN.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
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I'M AN ECONOMIST.I'M THE DISTRICT FOR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION.
UH, IF I HAD TO SUMMARIZE URBAN ECONOMICS IN ONE SENTENCE, IT'S MAKE LAND VALUABLE AND MAKE RENT CHEAP.
BUILDING A TRAIN LINE OR A BUS LINE IN THE DESERT IS NOT MA DOES NOT MAKE VALUABLE LAND BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PEOPLE THERE TO RIDE IT AND THERE'S NO BUSINESSES, NO PLACE TO GO ON IT.
SO LIKE THE BEST THING IS TO LIKE FOSTER AS MUCH DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEAR THIS TRAIN LINE.
UM, LAND USE MINIMUMS ARE GOOD FOR THAT REASON.
I LIKE THAT THE FUND IS THERE TO KEEP BUSINESSES THERE DURING CONSTRUCTION.
SECOND AVENUE, SUBWAY IN NEW YORK HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES FAILED DURING CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THERE'S A FUND TO RELOCATE BUSINESSES THAT IS OBVIOUSLY BAD.
WE WANNA KEEP THE BUSINESSES NEAR THESE SPOTS.
WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO MOVE AWAY OR WE'LL LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THIS.
REGARDING SOME OF THE EQUITY THINGS.
LAND TRUSTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE BENEFITS THEY GIVE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE COST FOR THE LAND AND THE THE LACK OF TAX INCOME, THE FREE LEGAL COUNSEL TO RENTERS IS EXCELLENT.
UM, IT COSTS VERY LITTLE AND THE FEW CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT HAVE A LARGE EFFECT ON ALL THE OTHER LANDLORDS WHO FEAR BEING OPPOSED AT THE COURTS.
UM, THE BIG THING IS SOFT DENSITY IS TOO WEAK.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE BIGGEST THING IS IN THE MARKET FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU NEED LOTS OF RENTERS TO BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER TO OUTBID A SINGLE RICH OWNER WHO WANTS TO BUILD ONE UNIT.
UM, SO YOU NEED TO ALLOW DENSITY THERE, LIKE ALLOW MORE UNITS IN ORDER FOR AFFORDABILITY TO EXIST.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JANICE RANKIN.
ON DECK ARE LUIS OSTA AND ZACH FAS.
JUST READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
I REQUEST THAT YOU PULL ITEM 16 FROM THE AGENDA.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ILL CONCEIVED, UH, PLAN AND NEEDS WORK AND I THANK, UH, WITH SOME THOUGHTFUL, UM, WORK WE CAN FIX THE PLAN.
THE CURRENT, UM, STATED GOAL OF PROVIDING, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, I, I THINK IS, IS FLAWED.
UM, UNTIL YOU REMOVE THE FEE AND LIEU OPTION AND YOU ADD THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR ANY T O D OF DEVELOPMENT, THE OUTCOME WILL BE THAT YOU WILL HAVE EXPENSIVE LUXURY APARTMENTS AND CONDOS AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL NOT TAKE THE BUS.
I SUPPORT THIS DATA GOAL, BUT UM, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REVISED.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL, UH, FOR INVERSE CONDEMNATION TO FORCE PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES BECAUSE PUTTING ETO OVERLAY ON BUS STOPS ON THE EXISTING LAND USE CODE PROHIBITS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND BUSINESSES FROM UH, EXISTING.
WHY HAS THIS POSITIVE BEEN RUSHED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? IT'S A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORT, A LARGE SWATH OF RESIDENTS AND MERITS A MORE TRANSPARENT REVIEW.
UM, I THINK THE EAD POLICY THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM PROJECT CONNECT AND QUITE POSSIBLY RISK IT TO FAIL, WHICH WILL BE A SHAME YOU WILL IF ADOPTING THIS ETAL POLICY.
DISENFRANCHISED A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TIME AND RESOURCES WILL SPENT IN DISTRICT AND FEDERAL COURTS.
PUBLIC SUPPORT WILL DIMINISH FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC, UH, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JANICE RANKIN.
ONDECK ARE LUIS OSTA AND ZACH FATS.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? 10 MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JANICE RANKIN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN, REPRESENTED BY LESLIE POOLE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU TO POSTPONE ACTING ON THE POLICY PLAN AND RESOLUTION TODAY BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF THE EAD POLICY PLAN IS OVERLY BROAD AS PRESENTED.
IT IS A MAJOR POLICY DIRECTION AND A PARADIGM SHIFT FOR LAND USE IN AUSTIN.
IT NEEDS TRANSPARENCY AND IT NEEDS TO BE ALIGNED WITH A REVISED FUNDING STRATEGY FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
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UH, THE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 1 0 6 1 0 0 9 3RD OF JUNE 10TH 21.THAT RESOLUTION STATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SHALL INCLUDE A SUFFICIENT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO ENSURE IMPACTED PEOPLE AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS ARE INCLUDED.
AS STATED IN EXHIBIT A, YOUR EAD POLICY PLAN DRAFT, THE VOICES OF MANY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WERE OVERLOOKED IN THE INTEREST OF TURNING DOWN THE VOLUME.
THE EAD WEBSITE SHOWS THAT 944 RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED IN THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONDUCTED BY STAFF.
AND IN A CITY OF MORE THAN 660,000 REGISTERED VOTERS, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CREATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WILL OF ALL AUSTIN STAKEHOLDERS.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MISSING IN THIS.
WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT STAFF HAS BEEN DOING, BUT WERE THERE ANY TOWN HALL MEETINGS HELD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS? WHERE AND WHEN HAS THE PUBLIC COMMENT REQUIREMENT BEEN MET FROM THAT ORDINANCE? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
LET'S GET THIS DONE RIGHT AND NOT RUSHED TO ADOPT EAD BEFORE FINALIZING THE REVISED PROJECT CONNECT BUILDOUT PROPOSAL WITHIN ITS AVAILABLE FUNDING AUTHORITY.
IT CANNOT BE DIVORCED FROM EAD DENSITY PLANNING, OTHERWISE WE'LL HAVE DENSITY WITHOUT THE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT.
SO IF YOU HAVE DENSE LAND USE FOR A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS AND NO TRANSIT TO SUPPORT IT, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? THANK YOU.
AND I ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM.
ON DECK ARE ZACH FAS AND MARY FARROW.
I'M, UH, UH, DINA AND RESIDENT AND I CAME HERE TO SUPPORT OF ITEM 16 AND EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
OVERALL, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR FINANCES, DISPLACEMENT, THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CARE ABOUT A LOT AS SOMEBODY SORT OF GREW UP AND CAME FROM COMMUNITIES THAT ALWAYS GOT BULLDOZED OVER IN THE NAME OF, UH, SOMEBODY CLAIMING TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT THE ACTUAL PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND THE LOCAL BUSINESSES OF AUSTIN ALREADY GETTING DISPLACED AND WHERE THEY ONE STOOD STANDS, MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES AND GENTRIFIED COOKIE CUTTER SHOPS THAT COME FROM, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA AND NEW AND WHATEVER THE TIME FOR BUILDING SLOW AND DELIBERATE DENSE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR PROJECT CONNECT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
NOW WE LIVE WITH DIFFICULTIES THAT WERE CREATED BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WE WON'T GO FAR ENOUGH WITH ET OS, BUT THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT WE WON'T GO, WE'LL GO TOO FAR, BUT THAT WE WON'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
UM, SPECIFICALLY AS WE ONLY ARE EVALUATING THEM IN LIGHT RAILS.
WE SHOULD GO FURTHER BY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING THE KIND OF MIXED USED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN.
NOT JUST IN THESE LIGHT RAILS, BUT ACROSS OUR METRO RAPID TRANSIT ROUTES.
I UNDERSTAND, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY AROUND THIS, BUT THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT PEOPLE CLAIM TO DEFEND HERE, ARE ALREADY GETTING PUSHED ACROSS THE CLIFF, RIGHT? PROJECT CONNECT OF WHICH EAUS ARE A KEY CRITICAL PORTION OF IS THE ONLY LIFELINE THEY'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE, TO LIVE AND GROW UP AND RAISE THEIR KIDS IN AUSTIN AS PART OF A COHESIVE, TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.
SO I HOPE WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU UNDERSTAND THE SORT OF SEVERITY SITUATION AND YOU GO FORWARD WITH ITEM 16.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ZACH FADS ON DECK ARM MARY FARROW AND J P CONLEY.
I AM A CAR-FREE AUSTINITE AND PRESIDENT OF AURA.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY EXCITEMENT FOR THE E T O D POLICY PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU ITEM 16, AND TO ASK THAT YOU BRING FORWARD AMENDMENTS TO MAKE MORE EXPLICIT.
THE LAND USE CHANGES, INCREASE NUMBER OF HOMES YOU WILL ALLOW TO BE BUILT AROUND OUR FUTURE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS.
WHEN VOTERS APPROVED PROJECT CONNECT, THEY ALSO APPROVE THE ETOD PROCESS AND THE DENSITY NECESSARY SUPPORT ANY MASS TRANSIT PROJECT.
THE EASIEST WAY FOR PROJECT CONNECT TO FAILS, WE BUILD A TECHNICALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY GREAT SYSTEM, BUT FAIL TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE NEAR IT AND RIDE THE DAMN THING.
THIS IS CURRENTLY THE CASE TODAY AROUND MANY OF OUR PROPOSED STATIONS.
OUR LAND USE LAWS MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO BUILD THEIR HOMES AND HOUSE THE FAMILIES THAT WILL USE AND JUSTIFY THE EXISTENCE OF OUR SOON-TO-BE BORN LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MUST GO TOGETHER.
PROJECT CONNECT IS TO SUCCEED FOR MOST AMERICAN.
THE TWO BIGGEST COSTS OF LIVING IS HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN AUSTIN, WHERE WE DEMAND THAT FOLKS FIRST SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF THEIR INCOME ON SHELTER BECAUSE OF OUR SEVERE HOUSING, SHORT OF, AND THEN ALSO REQUIRE THAT THEY MUST OWN A CAR SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON GAS, ON TIME, ON IN TRAFFIC THERE TO HAVE ANY SENSE OF FREEDOM AND MOBILITY.
PROJECT CONNECT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS.
IT GIVES AUSTINITES THE OPTION TO LIVE A LOW CARBON WALKABLE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE LIFESTYLE THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE
[00:45:01]
AND FREES THEM FROM CAR DEPENDENCE.I ASK THAT YOU GIVE THIS OPTION TO AS MANY AUSTINITES AS POSSIBLE.
NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP THE MANY THOUSANDS WHO DO TAKE IT, IT WILL ALSO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THE HOUSING MARKETS AND THE STREETS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT.
OUR CLIMATE, TRANSPORTATION AND AFFORDABILITY GOALS ARE DEPENDENT ON DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY AROUND EAD.
I ENVISION A RADICALLY INCLUSIVE AUSTIN, WHICH PEOPLE VASTLY DIFFERENT MEANS AND CIRCUMSTANCES CAN LIVE ON THE SAME STREETS, WALK TO THE SAME STORES, AND TAKE THE SAME TRAIN.
THE AUSTIN, WE, THAT IS NOT THE AUSTIN THAT WE LIVE IN STATE, BUT I BEG YOU TO HELP MAKE IT THE AUSTIN OF OUR FUTURE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY FARROW ON DECK A POUND CONLEY AND RYAN N. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
UM, I'M MARY FARROW FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, THE TERM OF THIS COUNCIL BEGAN WITH GREAT CONGRATULATIONS AND A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THINGS DONE.
UM, AS YOU PREPARE TO VOTE ON THIS E TODD PLAN TODAY, I'M SURE IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE THE VOTES TO DO SOMETHING BIG.
THE ONLY THING I CAN IMAGINE THAT WOULD FEEL BETTER IS IF YOU HAD THE FULL SUPPORT OF AUSTINITES WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THIS ACTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD OF EAD AND MANY OTHERS HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY NOT, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE EXPANSE, EXPANDED SCOPE OF THE BUS ROUTES.
THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION STATES THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, CITY STAFF AND CONSULTANTS HAVE ENGAGED IN, UH, EFFORTS TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND CURRENT CHALLENGES.
UM, BUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION STATED THAT CRITICAL TO THE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WAS TURNING DOWN THE VOLUME ON VOICES THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE DOMINATED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FORUMS. SO VOICES WERE INTENTIONALLY SILENCED IN THIS PROCESS, AND I FIND THAT VERY TROUBLING.
THOSE OF US IN THE CROSSHAIRS ARE LEGITIMATELY WORRIED ABOUT IRREVERSIBLE, IRREVERSIBLE EFFECTS ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, UM, IN RESPONSE TO THOSE CONCERNS, A NEW POINT, TALKING POINT AROSE THAT NO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE WILL HAPPEN TODAY.
BUT OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT IT PUTS IN PLACE, UH, EFFORTS TO, UM, BEGIN THAT PROCESS IMMEDIATELY.
UM, I I AM VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEED FOR, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GOOD TRANSIT.
THERE WAS A TIME THAT I EITHER RODE A BUS OR TOOK A BIKE FROM THE AREA BEHIND CAPITOL PLAZA TO THE CAPITOL WHERE I WORKED.
AND, UM, I AM VERY SYMPATHETIC ALSO TO THE NEED FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE PLACES TO LIVE.
UM, PLEASE, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO PROVIDING GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, INCLUSION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SPEAKER ISIA, PAUL CONLEY ON DECK R RYAN NILL AND BRIAN TROIAN.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I I WANNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ON TWO ITEMS. ONE IS ITEM 16 E T O D AND ALSO, UH, ON ITEM 25, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT TOGETHER A COMMISSION TO REEVALUATE, UM, ASPECTS OF OUR CHARTER AROUND, UM, AROUND, UH, PETITIONS AND HOW WE GET THINGS ON THE BALLOT.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, THANK AND COMMEND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE CO-SPONSORING THAT ITEM.
I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR FUTURE.
I, I DO WANNA SAY SPEAKING ABOUT ITEMS ON THE BALLOT, WHEN WE PUT PROJECT CONNECT IN FRONT OF VOTERS, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN OVERWHELMINGLY SPOKE AND THEY MADE LOUD AND CLEAR WHERE THEY STAND AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT AUSTIN'S FUTURE.
THEY WANT THAT FUTURE TO BE A FUTURE WITH LIGHT RAIL AND THEY WANT THAT FUTURE TO BE A FUTURE WITH SUCCESSFUL LIGHT RAIL BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE GET OUT OF THE GRIP OF CAR DEPENDENCY.
IF WE WANT TO BE TRUE TO THE LOFTY GOALS THAT WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WE DON'T GET THERE IF WE DON'T COMMIT TO A SOLID VISION AROUND E T O D, THAT MEANS PLANNING FOR GROWTH IN AUSTIN'S URBAN CORES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WILL BE TRANSIT DEPENDENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE FOCUSED AROUND TRANSIT.
EVERY TIME WE FAIL TO ACCOMMODATE REAL GROWTH IN AUSTIN'S URBAN CORES, WE PUSH DISPLACEMENT OUTWARDS.
WE DRIVE POVERTY SPRAWL, WE PUSH LOW IN INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT OF THE CITY.
AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO? WE COME BACK AND SAY, WELL NOW WE NEED MORE HIGHWAYS FOR THESE PEOPLE.
SO, SO THAT'S THE PATTERN THAT WE HAVE TO BREAK HERE.
OUR, OUR OUR, YOU KNOW, LIGHT RAIL WILL BE MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE IF WE HAD BUILT IT 20 YEARS AGO.
SO LET'S NOT WASTE ANY MORE TIME.
THE ONLY COMMENT I WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, I, I, I'M, I'M, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICY PLAN FOR E T O D THAT'S MOVING FORWARD TODAY, BUT THAT IS A LOFTY DOCUMENT WITH A LOT
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OF GREAT PROMISES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL, WILL HOLD STAFF ACCOUNTABLE TO ACTUALLY FULFILLING THE VISION ARTICULATED IN THAT PLAN.AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE REAL TANGIBLE GOALS AND METRICS SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AND HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THERE.
MAY JUST EVERYBODY, UH, AND MR. CONLEY, I I JUST WANTED TO, UH, EMPHASIZE YOUR POINT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE DISCUSS HERE ON THE DIAS ARE INTERNALLY GENERATED.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STAFF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE PROPOSING AN IDEA.
THE LIGHT RAIL PLAN WAS VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC IN A NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHICH IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WAS THE HIGHEST TURNOUT IN 2020 THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.
SO, AND IT WAS A VERY HIGH PROFILE ELECTION, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE YES AND NO SIDE.
AND WE HAD 58% OF AUSTINITES COME OUT AND SAY, LET'S DO THIS.
SO I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I I WE NEED INPUT, BUT WE GOT SO MUCH INPUT IN THAT VOTE AND I JUST THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR RAISING IT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RYAN NILL SPEAKING ON 16 AND 24 ON DECK ARE BRIAN BEDROSIAN AND WILL WILLIAM BUNCH.
NO, I'M REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SUPPORT FOR THE EAD PLAN.
UH, SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE RETAIL SPACES IN EAD ZONES AND ALONG THE NEW RAIL RAIL LINES, THEY INCLUDE BLACKSTAR CO-OP WHEATSVILLE, TREASURE CITY THRIFT, UM, FOR THEM, INTERRUPTION AND BUSINESS DUE TO CONSTRUCTION IS A VERY HUGE CONCERN.
AND SO WE'RE EXTREMELY INTERESTED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION INTERRUPTION FUND POLICY IN THE ETOP PLAN.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA AND HARPER MADISON FOR THEIR SUPPORT LAST FALL FOR SUPPORTING HOUSING COOPERATIVES, UH, BEING ADDED OR AT LEAST AMENDED AND EXPOUNDED UPON IN THE PLAN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOUSING CO-OPS ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM AND DEEP AFFORDABILITY WITH ZERO TO LITTLE ONGOING SUBSIDY, BUT THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO START.
SO WE NEED COMMUNITY SUPPORT, UM, AND PARTNERS TO EXPAND COOPERATIVE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
UM, ONE SUGGESTION I WANNA MAKE IS, UH, SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM ONE OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT THE HOUSING WORKS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, AND THAT WAS JENNY SCHUTZ, THE, UH, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE FELLOW AND AUTHOR OF FIXER UPPER.
AND OVERALL, SHE SUGGESTED THAT IT'S MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL IF WE FOCUS ON CITYWIDE POLICIES RATHER THAN AREA POLICIES.
SO I THINK TO LIKE MAXIMIZE THE EFFORT, UM, AND OUTCOME BY CITY STAFF AND THE COUNCIL, THAT YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THE SYSTEM-WIDE ASPECTS OF THIS PLAN RATHER THAN THE STATION SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE PLAN.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE E UTAH PLAN MOVE FORWARD.
UM, ALSO, I DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE SMALL KNOT AMNESTY AND I HAD A PRESENTATION REPAIRED, BUT I'M SURE THE BUZZER'S ABOUT TO GO OFF ON ME, SO I'LL SEND MY NOTES, UH, VIA EMAIL.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN ON ITEM 24 ON DECK WILLIAM BUNCH AND RICHARD SMITH.
UH, COUNCIL MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH FLU NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE RECENTLY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT A NEIGHBOR WHOSE BID, UH, BEFORE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS TO DISAGGREGATE THEIR LOT, UM, WAS APPROVED.
UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS AT, UH, DESEGREGATION AS A WAY OF UNLOCKING ANOTHER HOUSING TYPE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO FIND A MORE AFFORDABLE OPTION.
UH, THE COST OF PROPERTY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IS ONE OF THE MOST BIGGEST HURDLES, UH, FOR FOLKS TO STAY, UH, IN THE NEIGHBOR IN THE CITY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IS ORIGINALLY PLATTED WAS PLATTED AS 25 FOOT LOTS, WHICH WERE THEN PURCHASED, UM, AND AGGREGATED INTO 50 AND 75 FOOT LOTS WHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A SUBURB OF THE CITY.
UM, CURRENTLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UH, SUPPORTS THE DISAGGREGATION AND THE USE OF THESE NARROW LOT HOMES AS A BUFFER BETWEEN OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE A NEW HOUSING TYPE IN THE MIX THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WITH THE, UH, UH, ADU, UH, EXCEPTION AS WELL.
UH, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROVISION.
AND AGAIN, MAY I REAL, I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. BEDROSIAN FOR EXPLAINING MY ITEM PROBABLY AS GOOD AS, UH, OR BETTER THAN I DID, UH, AND, AND THANK THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DEBATE AND, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS REALLY KIND OF COME DOWN SQUARELY ON THE SIDE OF, OF THE SMALL ODD AMNESTY,
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SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM BUNCH, SPEAKING ON 24 25 AND 43 ON DECK ARE RICHARD SMITH AND BRAD BOOKER.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WELCOME TO, UH,
MY FIRST TIME HERE, I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
BUT I AM SPEAKING TODAY JUST FOR MYSELF ON, UH, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
I WANT TO URGE YOU TO NOT PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND URGE THEM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR A PETITIONED ORDINANCE.
UM, I THINK, UH, THIS COUNCIL'S ALREADY DONE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO VOTERS AND TO THE PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR OUR FUTURE.
AND I THINK THIS WOULD GO EXACTLY OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND BE ROUGHLY A POKE IN THE EYE TO VOTERS.
UH, GETTING 20,000 SIGNATURES THAT ARE VALID IS NOT AN EASY TASK, UH, BY ANY MEANS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CAMPAIGN AND TRY TO TRY TO WIN YOUR ISSUE.
UH, IT IT'S AN IMPORTANT CHECK ON THE POWER OF THIS BODY WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
WE NEED THAT CHECK AND BALANCE.
AND AS SMALL D DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SEE IT THAT WAY.
ALSO, SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES ONLY 20,000 SIGNATURES FOR CHARTER AMENDMENT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO, UH, UM, UH, ADOPT AN A PETITIONED ORDINANCE THAN IT IS TO MEND THE CHARTER.
SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA SEE? YOU'RE GONNA SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO MEND THE CHARTER WITH THINGS THAT REALLY DON'T BELONG IN THE CHARTER BECAUSE THAT'S FEASIBLE.
SO PLEASE DON'T PUT YOUR THUMB ON THAT.
LET'S ALSO LOOK AT INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM ON 43.
I MIGHT EVEN SUPPORT IT IF WENT THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS.
IT HASN'T GONE TO THE PARKS BOARD, IT HASN'T GONE TO THE, UH, PARKS CONCESSIONS AND CONTRACTS BOARD.
IT SHOWS UP LAST MINUTE AS AN ADDENDUM ITEM.
THERE'S NO MONEY FIGURE ATTACHED TO IT, BUT IT'S A 10 YEAR FEE WAIVER.
UH, AND ALSO WE HAVE A PARKS PLAN GOING RIGHT NOW WHERE OTHER CONCESSIONS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.
THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS UNTIL THE ZOO ZER PARK PLAN IS COMPLETED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD SMITH SPEAKING ON 25 ON DECK, OUR BRAD BOOKER AND ALEX STRANGER.
I'M A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND I'VE BEEN A LICENSED ATTORNEY FOR 40 YEARS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE PETITION PROCESS PER ITEM 25.
FIRST WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT, IF ANYTHING WE DO ABOUT CITIZEN PETITIONS THAT ADVANCE UNENFORCEABLE PROVISIONS LIKE CURRENT PROPOSITION A ELECTIONS ARE EXPENSIVE FOR TAXPAYERS AND IS UNFAIR TO ASK THEM TO FUND A BALLOT PROPOSITION LIKE PROPOSITION A THAT CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED AS WRITTEN UNDER STATE LAW IN ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE PROPOSITION A WILL GENERATE EXPENSIVE LITIGATION THAT TAXPAYERS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO FUND AT A MINIMUM.
VOTERS SHOULD BE CLEARLY NOTIFIED WHEN PROVISIONS IN A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ARE UNENFORCEABLE AND THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THOSE PROVISIONS WILL RESULT IN LITIGATION THAT THE TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE TO FUND.
THIS CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE FOR PROPOSITION A SECOND.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR PERSONAL OPINION ON A CITIZEN POSITION AND ARE FREE TO EXPRESS THAT PERSONAL OPINION.
BUT YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING YOUR POSITION, CITY RESOURCES OR OFFICIAL EMAILS TO PROMOTE YOUR PREFERRED OUTCOME OF A CITIZEN PETITION.
DOING SO PUTS YOUR THUMB ON THE SCALE OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAIR VOTE OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS USING YOUR POSITION TO EFFECTIVELY TELL VOTERS HOW TO VOTE IS A MOCKERY OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
SINCE MANY VOTERS WILL FOLLOW WHAT YOU SAY WITHOUT DOING ANY INDEPENDENT CONSIDERATION OF AN ISSUE.
FOR EXAMPLE, A CITY EMAIL WAS RECENTLY SENT STATING THAT PROPOSITION B EFFECTIVELY GUTS PROPOSITION A.
I'VE STUDIED AND COMPARED BOTH PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND HAVE FOUND THAT PROPOSITION B IS ACTUALLY AN IMPROVEMENT OVER PROPOSITION A BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES THE UNENFORCEABLE PROVISIONS OF PROPOSITION.
A THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS AND ACTUALLY BROADENS PROPOSITION.
A NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD BOOKER SPEAKING ON ITEM 26.
ON DECK IS ALEX STRANGER AND BONNIE ALGER.
[01:00:03]
ALEX STRANGER.GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 26 BECAUSE OUR POLICE, THEY ARE LITERAL INSTRUMENTS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TELL YOU GUYS A STORY.
UM, ON JUNE 15TH, 2020, I WAS ASSAULTED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THROWING A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL THROUGH A SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE THE OWNER CALLED ME BY THE WRONG GENDER PRONOUN.
AND LISTEN, THAT'S A MICROAGGRESSION, OKAY? AND MICROAGGRESSIONS, THEY ARE LITERAL ACT OF VIOLENCE.
AND I DID NOTHING WRONG, BUT THE POLICE, THEY STILL ASSAULTED ME BY TAKING ME AND MY COMRADES IN ANTIFA TO JAIL, THEY HANDCUFFED US AND TOOK US, UM, IN THE BACK OF THE POLICE CAR WITHOUT OUR CONSENT.
UM, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THE POLICE ARE REALLY, UM, IT'S NOT LIKE OUR POLICE REALLY CARE ABOUT PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY.
ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A LEAD CONTENT MODERATOR FOR TWITTER, I CALLED THE COPS AND MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR FOR GOING TO THE PARK BY HIMSELF DURING COVID BECAUSE HE'S A MURDERER AND HE'S WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE WITHOUT A MASK ON.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THE POLICE, THEY NEVER CAME, OKAY? THE POLICE NEVER CAME.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE AIDING AND ABETTING IN MURDER AND IN WHITE SUPREMACY.
AND IF YOU WANT MY HONEST OPINION, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE POLICE AT ALL, OKAY? AND WE NEED TO REPLACE OUR RACIST POLICE FORCE WITH NON-BINARY, ANTI-RACIST AND GENDER NEUTRAL SECURITY CAMERAS ON EVERY SINGLE STREET QUARTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE NEW WORLD ORDER THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO ME SPEAK ON THIS.
SPEAKING ON 26 ON DECK IS DESI SCALLY AND ELLIS GLASGOW.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WOULD, UM, LIKE VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO CONSIDER BRINGING BACK OUR AUSTIN CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
IT TAUGHT ME SO MUCH AND BROUGHT TO LIGHT MANY THINGS ABOUT THE CITIZENS POLICE AND WHAT THE POLICE FOR OUR CITY DOES FOR US BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T SEE AND HOW MUCH WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY DOES SO MUCH MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE.
WE ACTUALLY, UM, SUPPORT THEIR ACADEMY ITSELF BY DOING THE, UM, DRUNK DRIVING PROGRAM WITH THEM, UM, HELPING THEM PREPARE FOR WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO ON