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[Call to Order]
MORNING EVERYBODY.I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE, THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT IS THURSDAY, MAY 18TH, 2023, AND IT IS 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN THE AUSTIN CITY HALL MEMBERS.
LET ME WALK THROUGH WHAT THE ORDER OF THE MEETING WILL BE FOR TODAY SO THAT YOU AND THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW.
IN A MOMENT, WE'LL HEAR THE CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
WE WILL THEN GO TO THE CONSENT VOTE WITH BRIEF COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS.
WE WILL THEN TAKE NON-CONSENT PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. UH, THOSE ITEMS WILL, UM, I'LL CALL THEM UP IN, IN THE ORDER THAT THEY'RE IN THE AGENDA PACKET.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE'LL HA TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY AT THIS TIME FOR ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING AND WANTS TO SPEAK, ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM REFERRED FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
IMMINENT DOMAIN AND OR PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HEARD DURING THE CONSENT SPEAKERS AND NOT WHEN THE IT ACTUAL ITEM IS HEARD, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TAKE THEM BACK TO BACK AND THAT THAT WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
IF TIME ALLOWS, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING AND CALL THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING TO ORDER.
WE'LL ACT AND ADJOURN THE CORPORATION MEETING.
UH, AT THAT POINT, DEPENDING UPON WHERE WE ARE, WE WILL HEAR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL HAVE OUR LIVE MUSIC AND THEN WE WILL GO TO ZONING AT 2:00 PM LET ME READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 18TH, 2023, A H F C ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SHOULD READ, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING RE REMOVE A SECOND SO IT READS REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUNDING LOAN AGREEMENT, A H F C ITEM NUMBER SIX, APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORING AGAIN, DELETE A SECOND SO IT READS, AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUNDING LOAN AGREEMENT.
SHOULD READ MAY 8TH, 2023 RE RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A SEVEN TO OH VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS BLACKBURN BOWEN AND HOPKINS ABSENT.
AND ONE VACANCY ITEMS NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE, NUMBER SEVEN, NUMBER 10, NUMBER 19, MAY SHOULD READ MAY 10TH, 2023 RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A SIX TO ZERO VOTE WITH ZERO ABSENT, AND FIVE VACANCIES.
ITEM NUMBER 15, AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR VEHICLE RENTAL SERVICES WITH ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.
D B A A E A N SERVICES L L C FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, DELETE THE NUMBER THAT'S THERE AND REPLACE IT WITH $2,610,000.
ITEM NUMBER 22 SHOULD READ MAY 15TH, 2023 RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION ON A SEVEN TO ZERO VOTE WITH ONE ABSENT, ONE ABSTENTION AND TWO VACANCIES.
ITEM 25, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM.
ITEM 27, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM 89.
ITEM 41, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER 43, ADD MAYOR PRO 10, PAGE ELLIS AS AN AUTHOR.
ITEM NUMBER 46, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE AS AN AUTH AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER 54, POSTPONED TO JULY 20TH, 2023.
ITEM 59 SHOULD READ MAY 9TH, 2023.
PLANNING COMMISSIONER APPROVED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ON COMMISSIONER CONLEY'S.
MOTION, COMMISSIONER WOOD'S SECOND, AND A VOTE OF 12 TO ZERO WITH ONE VACANCY
[Consent Calendar (Part 1 of 2)]
MEMBERS ITEMS PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.AGENDA, I'LL JUST READ THIS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
ITEM NUMBER 26, PULLED BY MAYOR PRO, TIM ELLIS.
AND ITEM NUMBER 20, WHICH IS PU PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CONSENT SPEAKERS, ALTHOUGH I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTRA FOR A SECOND BEFORE WE DO THAT.
I WANNA EXERCISE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND INVITE A SPECIAL GUEST FOR WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH TO JUST JOIN US DOWN IN THE, WELL.
SMOKEY, COULD YOU COME ON DOWN PLEASE?
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BEAR, AND IT IS NOT SMOKEY THE BEAR, IT'S SMOKEY BEAR.WE'VE LEARNED, UM, CAN'T SPEAK.
SO I'M GONNA JUST SAY A COUPLE WORDS HERE ON HIS BEHALF.
IT IS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH AND HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, WE ARE AT HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRE AND, UM, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO'S IN THIS ROOM UNDERSTANDS THEIR ROLE IN OUR WILDFIRE FIGHT.
IT'S NOT JUST AD'S ROLE, IT'S NOT JUST SMOKEY'S ROLE AND SMOKEY.
IF YOU WANNA POINT TO EVERYONE, WHO IS IT? IT'S YOU.
UM, SO COLLEAGUES, I HAVE PASSED OUT THE WILDFIRE ACTION GUIDE.
WE HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LEAVING THE CHAMBERS AS WELL.
UM, I WOULD ASK EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UM, SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, A KEY PART OF OUR WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION EFFORTS IS, UM, PREPAREDNESS AND FOLKS BEING READY.
UM, SO AS SMOKEY ADVISES US, UM, PLEASE DO YOUR PART.
AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR WATSON FOR INDULGING US TO HAVE SMOKEY THERE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET A PICTURE WITH ALL OF US WITH SMOKEY, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I HOPE HE WENT THROUGH SECURITY MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG, UM, APPENDIX A FOR THE ITEM THAT I PULLED, NUMBER 26 HAS BEEN HANDED OUT.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT BE BACK ON CONSENT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO FLAG THE DATES THAT HAVE CHANGED OUR, THE MEETING BEING AUGUST 31ST, CHANGING THIS SEPTEMBER MEETING TO THE 14TH, AND THEN THEY HAVE ADDED A WORK SESSION, UM, ON JULY 19TH AT 9:00 AM THAT IS PART OF THAT LINE ITEM AROUND THE, THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT IT'S BEEN HANDED OUT AND I CAN PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT.
WE'LL MAKE, WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING OUT TO OUR ATTENTION.
[Public Comment]
UM, WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR FIRST GROUP OF SPEAKERS, UH, THAT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON BOTH THE CON CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UM, AND THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON THE ZONING AGENDA ITEMS, THEY'LL BE CALLED UPON AT TWO O'CLOCK.EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, AND LET ME JUST, UH, LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WE HAD, UH, FOUR, FOUR WHO SIGNED UP OR REGISTERED TO SPEAK REMOTELY WITH OBVIOUSLY FALSE NAMES MEANT TO BE CRUDE AND CREATE EMBARRASSMENT AND, AND FRANKLY DEMEAN THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PROCESS, AND THEREFORE THEY VIOLATE THE RULES OF DECORUM AND THE CHAIR HAS RULED THEM OUT OF ORDER, SO THEY WILL NOT BE CALLED WITH THAT, UM, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE BILL BUNCH ON ITEMS 2, 3 44 AND 52.
YES, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, ON THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST 2 0 3, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, EX SERVICE EXTENSION, EXAS, UH, EXACERBATING AND INCREASING DEVELOPMENT THAT'S STILL CLAIMING GRANDFATHERING.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE COUNCIL CANNOT, UM, CONDITION EXTENSIONS BASED ON COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT REGS, BUT NEVERTHELESS, YOU CAN ASK THE APPLICANTS TO, TO, UM, PLEDGE TO THAT AND BE CLEAR AND HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD, AND WE ASK THAT YOU DO THAT.
UM, ON THE TRAIL, UH, ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THAT'S JUST TOO BROAD AND SWEEPING.
UH, WE OF COURSE, SUPPORT, UH, EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN AND, AND IMPROVE THE TOWN LAKE TRAIL.
UH, BUT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A BLANKET, UH, EXEMPTION GRANTED, UH, WITHOUT ANY SORT OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS, THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND SHOULD BE TAILORED TO ADDRESS ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT WOULD FACILITATE THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE TRAIL.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S THE, ALL THAT I HAVE AT, OH, ON SLAUGHTER LANE, ITEM 52.
UM, THE TRANSPORTATION FOLKS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUY MITIGATION LAND, UM, AND SET A STRONG PRECEDENT, UH, ESPECIALLY AS CTR A IS NOW LOOKING TO, UH, RESURRECT ITS SOUTH MOPAC PLAN.
WE WANT OTHER ROAD BUILDERS TO BUY, UH, MITIGATION AND, AND KEEP THEIR IMPERVIOUS COVER LEVELS LOW, UH, DOWN TO SOS IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS, OR AT LEAST APPROACHING IT.
AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY TO SET THAT EXAMPLE AND, UH, HAVE OUR ROADS,
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UH, COMPLY, UH, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WITH MITIGATION LAND, UH, AS WE ADD IMPERVIOUS COVER TO SLAUGHTER LANE OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES.THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION BOBBY LAVINSKY ON ITEMS 44 AND 58.
UH, MARION COUNSEL, UM, I DON'T WANNA REPEAT, UM, THIS PROBABLY IN
I DON'T WANNA REPEAT, UM, ANY POINTS THAT BILL MADE, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE ITEMS THAT HE RAISED.
HOWEVER, UM, ITEM 44, I WANT TO THANK, UM, MAYOR PER TIM ELLIS FOR REACHING OUT TO US, UM, AND OFFERING US AN, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE ITEM AND FOR THE TRAIL FOUNDATION TO, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL THAT COULD HELP, UH, MITIGATE THE ONGOING EROSION PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVING.
UM, THAT SAID, UM, WE DO, UH, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONVERSATION'S NOT JUST FOCUSED ON CODE AMENDMENTS THAT PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS.
UH, OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO REVIEW ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
UM, AND I THINK THE BROADER CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS, UM, IF WE REMOVE THEIR ABILITY TO, UM, REVIEW THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD HAPPEN ALONG THE TRAIL, UM, WE MIGHT MISS, UM, SOME CONCERNS FOR, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD GO AWAY WITH JUST AN EXEMPTION.
SO, UM, WE HOPE THAT THE, UH, PROCESS CONSIDERS THINGS OTHER THAN JUST, UH, CODE AMENDMENTS.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT STAFF COULD, UH, RECOMMEND THAT COULD, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAIL FOUNDATION HAS THE FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO, UM, IMPROVE THE TRAIL AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY WHILE STILL RESPECTING, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST DEPENDING ON THE SOLUTION THAT'S OFFERED.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SECONDARILY TO THAT, UH, ON THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE PROCESS CONSIDERS THAT THE APPLICANT, UM, MAY CHANGE THE PROJECT.
UM, THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS NOT TIED TO ANY PARTICULAR, UM, PROJECT.
UM, SO IF THE APPLICANT COMES AND CHANGES A PROJECT THAT THEY'VE DONE TWO TIMES BEFORE, UM, THAT ALWAYS RAISES A CONCERN.
SO GETTING THE APPLICANT TO, UM, STATE ON RECORD WHAT THEY'RE DOING, UM, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO, UM, UH, DENY THIS REQUEST UNTIL THE APPLICANT, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE SOME ASSURANCE TO THE CITY THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAT THEY'RE SAYING, THANK YOU, SPEAKER, THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME.
TRACY WHIT ON ITEM 58, MAYOR COUNSEL, ITEM 58 STRETCHED.
THE ENTIRE SECTION OF CODE WILL ALLOW THE COMBINATION OF COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY ZONING WITH THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AREA TOOL, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE SITE, HOW HIGH THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, HOW HAS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OR HOW INTENSE THE IMPACT OF THE LO TO THE LOCAL CONTEXT OF HUMANS STRUCTURES, ROADWAYS, AND TREES.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE APPLICANTS AN OPTION, OPTION OTHER THAN LIMITED INDUSTRIAL PDA FOR DOING ALL THAT BECAUSE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONING IS A BAD LOOK IN 2023 OR ANY OTHER YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN EAST AUSTIN WHERE A SLEW OF CASES ARE RACKING UP HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FOR JOINT S NEXT TO NOTHING FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE TRANSFORMING.
SO, WILL THIS MOVE ALLY IS A BAD LOOK.
SO IS PDA, WHICH UNLIKE THE P D TOOL, HAS ZERO REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND ZERO MECHANISMS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROMISES THAT APPLICANTS MAKE TO INDUCE REZONING APPROVAL.
YOU CAN'T USE VMU WITH PDA AND CH HAS A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 120 FEET VERSUS ALLY WITH 60 FEET.
SO THE PROMISES ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT NO ONE CAN ENFORCE ANYWAY WILL BE PREDICATED ON MOVING FROM ONE 20 TO X FEET INSTEAD OF 60 TO X FEET.
THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THIS CODE CHANGE RECOGNIZES THESE LIMITATIONS AND SUGGESTS YOU CONSIDER SUPERIORITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PDA THAT WOULD TAKE SOME THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.
UNLIKE THE PASS SET FOR THIS CODE AMENDMENT MAY BE WORSE OF ALL.
ITEM 58 EXPANDS THE A CARTE MENU FOR SITES AND COMMUNITIES ALONG I 35, 180 3 TO 90 AND 71, BUT NOT ALONG 6 23 60 YEAR MOPAC SOUTH OF 180 3 BECAUSE CH IS ONLY ALLOWED ON CERTAIN HIGHWAYS AND NOT ALONG THOSE LOVELY PLACES.
FOR THE EXPECTATION IS P D ZONING FOR TOWERS.
HOW MANY SMALL SMITES SMALL SITES ALONG ALL THE EASTERN HIGHWAYS WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR CH PDA A THIS CODE IN THAT MAY BE WELL-INTENTIONED, BUT ITS IMPACT WILL BE INEQUITABLE.
PLEASE PRESS PAUSE ON ALL THE PDA CASES AND PLEASE ENSURE THAT UTILIZATION OF QUALITY PLANNING TOOLS AND OUTCOMES ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FROM APPLICANTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.
WE'LL MOVE INTO IN PERSON THANK YOU.
FIRST WE HAVE KEVIN WELCH ON ITEM 22 WITH WALLACE LUNDGREN ON DECK.
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YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO THE PODIUM.OH, IS IT THAT ONE? YEAH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AT EF F AUSTIN LOCAL DIGITAL CELEBRITIES ORGANIZATION.
SOME OF YOU KNOW MY FACE, I USUALLY POP UP WHEN YOU'RE VOTING ON A L P R ISSUES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO, UM, BASICALLY ENCOURAGE A POSTPONEMENT ON ITEM 22.
I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE LANGUAGE AND THE DRAFT POLICY RESOLUTION IS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS APPROVED IN RESOLUTION 56 BY THE COUNCIL LAST FALL.
FOR ONE THING, RESOLUTION 56 MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR.
ALPR MAY ONLY BE USED TO PROSECUTE A VERY SPECIFIC LIST OF CRIMES, WHILE AS THE CURRENT DRAFT POLICY BASICALLY SAYS IT CAN'T BE USED FOR CERTAIN CRIMES, BUT IT, THEN YOU COULD USE IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
RESOLUTION 56 IS FAR STRONGER.
IT ALSO EXPLICITLY SAYS THAT, UM, COUNSEL IS NOT JUST TO BE NOTIFIED OF DATA SHARING OCCURS, COUNSEL IS TO GIVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE IF DATA SHARING OCCURS.
ALSO, DATA SHARING IS DEFINED AS ONLY A COPY OF THE DATA WILL BE PROVIDED.
NO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WILL BE GIVEN DIRECT ACCESS TO THE DATABASE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO POSTPONE SO WE CAN GET THE LANGUAGE IN ALIGNMENT.
IT WILL BE A WASTE OF ALL OF OUR TIMES IF POTENTIALLY A LAWSUIT COMES LATER FROM A CASE BECAUSE THE POLICY WAS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL EXPLICITLY VOTED ON.
SO I URGE YOU TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET THE LANGUAGE AS IT NEEDS TO BE.
WALLACE LUNDGREN ON ITEM 24, GUS PENON DECK.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO, UH, CONGRATULATE MR. QUADRI ON HIS PASSAGE OF THE OVERSIGHT PROPOSITION.
UH, HOPE HE HAS THE SAME SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OUR PROPOSITION ON THE CAMPING BAN.
UH, SECONDLY, ITEM 24 PASSAGE IS NOT NECESSARY AT THIS TIME, $265,000 FOR A MARKETING PROGRAM.
IT'S PREMATURE, AND AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED IT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO EL PASO TO GET IT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF ADVERTISING AGENCIES HERE IN TOWN.
GUS PENA ON ITEMS 24 35 AND 49 WITH HEIDI ANDERSON ON DECK.
HEIDI ANDERSON ON ITEM 44 WITH ANDY AUSTIN ON DECK.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HEIDI ANDERSON, CEO OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND 5 MILLION TRAIL USERS ANNUALLY.
OUR THANKS FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 44 TODAY.
THE CODE AMENDMENT IS AN ABSOLUTELY VITAL STEP FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ANNE ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THIS BELOVED SPACE WAS BEGUN BACK IN 1971 BY LADY BIRD JOHNSON AND THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE FOR TOWN LAKE, ONE OF WHICH STILL WITH US TODAY, I KNOW EMAILED YOU Y'ALL YESTERDAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
WHEN THE CODE WAS CHANGED IN 2017, IT AUTOMATICALLY MADE 85% OF THE BUTLER TRAIL NON-COMPLIANT.
THIS CREATED A PERHAPS UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCE TO INCENTIVIZE US IN PART, TO NOT DO ANY OF THE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL PATH ITSELF.
AS THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD TRIGGER THIS CODE AND CREATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRAIL TO BE MOVED 50 AWAY, 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE.
AS A NONPROFIT INVESTING OVER $6 MILLION ANNUALLY INTO THIS SPACE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE THE SURETY NEEDED FROM THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THESE FUNDS AND IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY PROJECTS ON THE TRAIL THAT WILL NOT ONLY SUSTAIN THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT KEEP OUR 5 MILLION TRAIL USERS SAFE.
THIS ITEM HELPS ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
ANDY AUSTIN ON ITEM 44 WITH GRIFFIN DAVIS ON DECK.
GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR WATSON, UH, MAYOR PROTON ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE, THE BOARD CHAIR THIS YEAR OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
UH, BUT I'M REALLY HERE MORE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, 41 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND FOR ALMOST ALL OF THOSE 41 YEARS, A DAILY USER OF THE TRAIL.
UM, UH, THIS ITEM, UH, I THINK IS IS STRAIGHTFORWARD AND WE APPRECIATE IT BEING BROUGHT FORWARD.
UM, AND I THINK THE OPPOSITION TO IT, UH, OR AT LEAST CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED ARE, UH, PERHAPS NOT KEEPING IN MIND THE DON'T OVERTHINK IT, UH, ADAGE THAT IS VERY APPLICABLE HERE.
UH, THE CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE FOCUSED OF THIS, UH, UH, ITEM WERE ADOPTED, UM, IN 2017 WITHOUT TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND A LOT OF DEEP STUDY OF WHAT IMPACT THIS WAS GOING TO HAVE.
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IS, IS THE UNINTENDED CON CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED.UH, SPECIFICALLY THE CONCERN IS THAT SOMEHOW THE, THE TRAIL NEEDS TO BE 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE LAKE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF BOTH THE LAKE AND THE TRAIL.
UM, TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO HAVE DONE WHAT I'VE DONE, WHICH IS USE THE TRAIL EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 41 YEARS, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE.
AND THE TRAIL IS MUCH HEALTHIER TODAY THAN IT WAS 41 YEARS AGO, OR 50 YEARS AGO WHEN THAT TRAIL WAS FIRST CREATED.
UH, THE TRAIL HAS NOT DEGRADED THE BIOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE LAKE, NOR HAS IT HURT THE, THE PARK AROUND THE TRAIL.
UM, IF ANYTHING, THE TRAILS PROXIMITY TO THE LAKE HAS ENHANCED THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, IT'S, IT HAS BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY CLOSE TO THE LAKE.
EVERY DAY, 5 MILLION PEOPLE GET TO SEE THE LAKE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
THAT'S 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN UP TRASH, UH, FROM THE LAKE.
THAT'S 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, PASSIONATE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE TRAIL.
UH, AND THAT'S 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO GIVE MONEY TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND OTHER 5 0 1
SO, UH, WE, WE URGE THE, THE ADOPTION OF ITEM 44.
AND PLEASE, ONE THING I WANNA MAKE CLEAR, DON'T GET US WRONG, WE ARE VERY MUCH STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT.
GRIFFIN DAVIS ON ITEM 44 WITH MICHAEL MAY HOUSE ON DECK.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S VERY UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO FOLLOW IT, ARTICULATE EX-ED JUDGE, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST HERE.
UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND I WANT TO, I I WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AROUND, AROUND THE TRAIL.
UH, THIS RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED BACK IN 2017, I MEAN, THE, UH, ORDINANCE BACK IN 2017 WASN'T DONE WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS OR FROM THE PUBLIC.
LIKE, IF WE HAD HAD THAT CHANCE, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY.
IF THIS, UH, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE STANDS, THERE'S ABOUT 85% OF THE TRAIL WHERE WE CAN'T DO THE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT IN LIKE THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY AND OUR URBAN FORESTRY GUIDELINES THAT WE WORKED ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY.
I THINK IT HA WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE TRAIL AND THE, FOR THIS ASSET THAT EVERY CITIZEN IN AUSTIN GETS TO ENJOY.
I'D URGE YOU TO PASS THIS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND CONSIDERING IT.
MICHAEL MAY HOUSE ON ITEM 44 WITH MUNNA, MICHELLE ONDECK.
UM, MY NAME'S MICHAEL, MY HOUSE.
I'M A PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HERE IN AUSTIN, THE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY SINCE 2015 TO MAKE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BUTLER HIKING AND BIKE TRAIL AROUND THE LAKE.
UM, UH, I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ITEM 44 FORWARD TODAY.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE VOTE TO APPROVE THE CODE AMENDMENT.
UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CODE AMENDMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS ABLE TO REMAIN IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND THE ICONIC FEATURE THAT IT IS IN OUR CITY.
UM, CURRENTLY I SERVE ON THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION COMMITTEE FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, UH, ALONGSIDE CITY REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND URBAN FORESTRY.
WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO IMPLEMENT TRAIL CONSERVANCIES, URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES AND OTHER ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS AROUND THE TRAIL.
UM, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE TRAIL IS ITS PROXIMITY TO THE LAKE, UH, TO EXPERIENCE THE DEEP SHADE.
IT PROVIDES THE COOL BREEZES OFF THE WATER VIEWS OF THE CITY AND OUR BEAUTIFUL NATURAL AREAS DOWNTOWN.
UH, THE ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2017 TO MOVE THE TRAIL OUTSIDE OF THE 50 FOOT CRITICAL WATER ZONE.
B UH, BUFFER HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE TRAIL AND PARK IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ACTUALLY IN IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION AND WATER QUALITY ALONG THE LAKE, UM, ADJACENT TO THE TRAIL.
UM, SOME OF THESE MEASURES INCLUDE, UH, RAIN GARDENS AND GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED TO HELP DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT.
UM, AND, UH, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE ITEM 44 AND ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO REMAIN IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION, UH, AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE WITH ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS ON THE TRAIL.
THANK YOU MUNNA MICHELLE ON ITEM 44 WITH CHARLOTTE TAZO ON DECK.
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ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.I'M ALSO THE CHAIR FOR THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE ON THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
I'VE BEEN USING THE TRAIL AVIDLY FOR OVER TWO DECADES NOW.
I'VE ALSO BEEN A CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FOR LONGER THAN THAT FOR OVER 27 YEARS NOW.
UM, SEVEN OF THOSE YEARS WERE WORKING FOR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY, WHERE PART OF MY JOB AS THE OWNER'S ENGINEER WAS ENFORCEMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE HIGHLAND LAKES WATERSHED ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS DELIBERATELY TO PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND PREVENT EROSION, UH, WHICH IS PART OF THE CONCERN FOR THIS 50 FOOT SETBACK RULE.
I ENCOURAGED YOU TO PASS ITEM 44 TO RELEASE US FROM HAVING TO ABIDE BY A RATHER ARBITRARY SOLUTION TO A VERY REAL PROBLEM INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT A 50 OR 50 FOOT SETBACK FOR THE TRAIL, WHICH WOULD HAVE, UH, MANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
AS ANDY REFERRED TO EARLIER, IT PREVENTS US FROM ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT ARE ACTIVE ON THE TRAIL RIGHT NOW IN WAYS THAT PROVIDE, UH, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS BETTER, UH, SOLUTIONS.
PUSHING THE TRAIL AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF THE RIVER NOT ONLY PREVENTS USERS FROM EXPERIENCING THE ACCESS TO THE WATER, BUT ALSO HAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE EFFECT OF ENCOURAGING, UM, UH, IMPROVEMENTS IN AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT IMPROVED AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP WILD, AND ALSO PREVENTS US FROM USING OTHER MORE CREATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT EROSION.
ON THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE, WE ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE, UH, PROJECT THAT COMES TO THE TRAIL.
AND, UH, A BIG PART OF WHAT WE LOOK AT IS THE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING USED.
I UNDERSTAND THE DECOMPOSED GRANITE WASHING INTO THE RIVER IS A, IS A BIG CONCERN.
IT'S ALSO A CONCERN FOR THE TRAIL NOW THAT WE HAVE MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAIL AS WELL AS PROJECTS ON THE TRAIL.
WE'RE ALS WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
CHARLOTTE TANZA ON ITEM 44 WITH ALEXANDER STRINGER ON DECK.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE PROJECTS DIRECTOR WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 44.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTIAL AND EMPLOYMENT DENSITY AND THE VICINITY OF THE TRAIL HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, AND IT'S PROJECTED TO DOUBLE AGAIN BY 2040, UH, BY REGIONAL GROWTH MODELS.
AND SO THIS HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLACE DEMAND ON THE TRAIL USE PARTICULARLY ON ALL, ALL PARTS OF THE TRAIL.
SO A KEY CHARGE OF THE SAFETY MOBILITY STUDY, WHICH I LED FOR THE TRAIL OF CONSERVANCY, IS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR ALL TRAIL USERS AND PRESERVE THE RESTORATIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE TRAIL, WHICH IS THE REASON EVERYBODY GOES DOWN TO THERE.
INVITE NEW USERS AND BALANCE EQUITABLE INVESTMENTS ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE BUTLER TRAIL IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF A DEVELOPING NETWORK OF MULTI-USE URBAN TRAILS, SERVING AS A HUB FOR TRAIL OF CONNECTIONS THAT EXTEND ACROSS AUSTIN.
THROUGHOUT THE STUDY, WE DID A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE TRAIL AND KEY CONNECTIONS COMBINED WITH COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND SURVEYS AND THE IDENTIFIED TR TOP ISSUE, UH, THE NUMBER CON NUMBER ONE CONCERN WAS TRAIL WIDTH AND, UM, THE TRAIL DESIGN.
WE USE THAT TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR TRAIL WIDTHS WOULD BE FOR THE SURVEY.
AND THOSE WERE COMBINED WITH STUDY ALSO FROM THE TRAIL DESIGN BEST PRACTICES OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, ASTO, YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT BETTER, UM, AS A STANDARD REFERENCE FOR TRAIL WITH GUIDANCE.
SO WITHOUT, UM, THE SUPPORT OF THESE CAPACITY BUILDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL WHERE IT EXISTS NOW, THE TRAIL COULD BECOME LESS SAFE, LESS COMFORTABLE, AND HIGHER STRESS, ESPECIALLY AS THE AREA AROUND THE DOWNTOWN TRAIL WILL TO CON CONTINUE TO GROW OVER TIME.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 44.
ALEXANDER STRINGER ON ITEM 46 WITH MEGAN MEISENBACH ON DECK.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 46 AND THE NEED TO CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY BECAUSE I AM A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ Q COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS ALEXANDER STRINGER AND I AM A MEMBER OF QAN AON.
NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT I BELIEVE IN.
SO YOU CAN SEE FIRSTHAND THAT I AM A MEMBER OF THE L G B T QAN COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE COVID VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT DONALD TRUMP
[00:30:01]
BECAME PRESIDENT IN 2016 IS BECAUSE RUSSIA HACKED THE ELECTION.I BELIEVE THAT THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR COUNTRY IS WHITE SUPREMACY, AND THAT THERE IS NO GREATER EMBODIMENT OF WHITE SUPREMACY THAN VLADIMIR PUTIN.
I BELIEVE THAT ALLOWING FIVE YEAR OLD KIDS TO HAVE BOTTOM SURGERY AND MASTECTOMIES IS THE GREATEST PRESSING ISSUE OF OUR GENERATION.
I BELIEVE THAT JANUARY 6TH WAS THE WORST ACT OF TERROR THAT OCCURRED NOT ONLY IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT ON THIS PLANET.
AND YES, THIS MEANS NINE 11 AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE HOLOCAUST.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO THREAT, GREATER THREAT TO PLANET EARTH THAN CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND IF WE DON'T GET TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2030, THEN WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS THE SAFEST AND MOST SECURE ELECTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM CLEARLY A MEMBER OF QAN ON, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING ME THE SAFE SPACE THAT I DESERVE TO FULLY EXPRESS MYSELF.
SO THANK YOU MEGAN MEISENBACH ON ITEM 58 WITH GREG ANDERSON ON DECK.
GREG ANDERSON DAY, DAVID KING ON ITEM 58.
WE DID HAVE SOMEONE CALL IN TO THE REMOTE, AND SO I'LL CALL THEM AT THIS TIME.
MONICA GUZMAN ON ITEMS 26 29 AND 58.
I'M MONICA BUSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GOOF BA GAVA OPPOSES ITEM 58.
YOUR APPROVAL IS A CART BLANCHE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ELIMINATING RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO NEGOTIATE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
WE REMIND YOU, YOU ANSWER TO THE COMMUNITY, YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO EXPECT YOU TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO PROTECT THEM AND TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
GABA URGES YOUR APPROVAL OF ITEM 29.
APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WILL FUND TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS, INCLUDING TEXAS RISING STAR LICENSED HOME-BASED PROGRAM PROGRAMS. MANY OF OUR CITIES, YOUNG CHILDREN FROM WORKING FAMILIES IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT, ARE CARED FOR IN HOMES.
REGISTERED, LICENSED HOME-BASED PROVIDERS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE PROVIDED CARE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, HAVE OFTEN BEEN LEFT OUT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES MAKING THIS ONE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT SINCE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HOPE TO SEE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND, TO INCLUDE FRIEND, FAMILY, NEIGHBOR, HOME-BASED PROVIDERS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE, THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.
INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT MEANS BETTER FUTURES FOR CHILDREN AND MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKING ADULTS.
CHILDCARE MAKES ALL WORK POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER FOR YOUR SUPPORTIVE RESPONSE TO GA'S EMAIL STATEMENT.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL 10:00 AM SPEAKERS.
[Consent Calendar (Part 2 of 2)]
VERY MUCH.MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, AS, AS TYPICAL THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT, CONSENT AGENDA SUBJECT TO THE POOLED ITEMS AND RECUSALS ABSTENTIONS AND NO VOTES.
UH, BASED UPON UNANIMOUS CONSENT, LET ME, UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT ITEM NUMBER 26, UH, HAS BEEN PUT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION TO THAT, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 22 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE.
ITEM NUMBER 22 HAS BEEN POED MOVED, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYONE WANTS TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY RECUSALS THAT SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN FROM 41, PLEASE.
ARE THERE ANY NO VOTES THAT WISH YOU WISH TO? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER I'D LIKE TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 24, PLEASE, MAYOR.
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WELL, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE GETTING READY.UM, WITH THAT I WILL, UH, CALL ON MEMBERS THAT WISH TO MAKE BRIEF REMARKS BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 46.
UM, WE BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, EVERY PERSON IN AUSTIN IS DESERVING OF A COMMUNITY THAT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND RESPECTED FOR EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE.
UNFORTUNATELY, TEXAS, AS IT IS DEMONSTRATED AT THE CAPITOL, THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, HAS GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY FEEL UNSAFE AND PUT A TARGET ON THEIR BACK TO THEM.
I SAY I UNAPOLOGETICALLY STAND IN THE GAP.
THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS DEMONSTRATE A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO RESTRICT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS BY INFRINGING, INFRINGING ON BODILY AUTONOMY, HINDERING SELF-EXPRESSION, AND EMBOLDEN HATREDS TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY.
OUR AUSTIN IS BETTER THAN THAT.
IN THE PAST, THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES TOWARDS BECOMING A CITY THAT WILL ALWAYS COMMIT TO CONDEMNING AND PROSECUTING HATE CRIMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT THESE HATE CRIMES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO NOT FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT, LET ALONE REPORT THEM.
WITH THIS ITEM, I WANT TO PUSH THE NEEDLE FURTHER TO ADDRESS THE CLEAR NEED TO CONTINUE EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY BY BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON IMPORTANT SENSITIVE TOPICS AND ENCOURAGE SAFE REPORTING TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONDEMNING AND PERSECUTING AND PROSECUTING HATE.
I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR ALL THIS WORK ON THEIR ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VA VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER ZO CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE WHO, UH, A GENTLEMAN WHO IS IN THE BACK, CHRISTIAN MENDOZA SAFE PLACE INITIATIVE COORDINATOR FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK.
AUSTIN IS A SAFER COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR CITY FOR A FEW REASONS.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON ITEM 42, WHICH IS A FEE WAIVER FOR THE TEXAS OFF PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL PROCESSION.
I ATTEND THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HONORS OUR FALLEN PEACE OFFICERS.
I POSTED A MESSAGE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD REGARDING THIS ITEM AND INVITED OTHER MEMBERS TO CO-SPONSOR.
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, FOR INDICATING TO ME THAT YOU PLAN ON CO-SPONSORING THIS ITEM AS WELL.
SECOND DISTRICT SIX IS GETTING SOME MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES ON THIS AGENDA WITH ITEM 38, WHICH IS THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM LIGHTING PROJECTS.
SPECIFICALLY, THESE ARE ON MCNEIL DRIVE FROM US 180 3 TO PARMER LANE.
THESE WILL INCREASE SAFETY DURING DARK PARTS OF THE DAY AND WHEN THERE'S EXTREME WEATHER.
AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ FOR BRINGING ITEM 46 TO US TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION AS ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO TAKE THE SAFE PLACE TRAINING IN MY OFFICE AND DISPLAY THE SAFE PLACE STICKERS ON MY OFFICE STORES.
THIS TRAINING HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY STAFF.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAS ALSO GOTTEN A LOT OUT OF THIS PROGRAM.
I WANNA THANK CHRISTIAN MENDOZA, WHO'S IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM ALSO TODAY FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION AND JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT EXPANDED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER FOR ALL THE WORK SHE'S DONE TO COMBAT HATE CRIMES ACROSS THE CITY.
AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PLACE FOR HATE CRIMES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND WE DESERVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO SEE THEIR LIVES AS A AC FIT.
SO I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT ITEM.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING IN THE ORDER OF PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME THEY WANTED TO SPEAK BEFORE THE MEETING, AND I'LL COME TO YOU AFTER WE DO THAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 44, I REALLY WANNA APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS, LESLIE POOL, RYAN AL ALTER, ZO CADRE, AND JOSE VELAZQUEZ.
THIS ITEM INITIATES CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION.
AND WHILE THIS ITEM IS FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON CODE AMENDMENTS, IT DOES NOT EXCLUDE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF THE TRAIL.
AND I WELCOME THAT DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE.
I BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE THERE WERE CONFLICTS OCCURRING WHEN ONE OF OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS TRIED TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE PARTS OF THE TRAIL TO ENSURE THAT TRAIL GOERS WERE SAFE AND THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE MOBILITY AND ACCESS ON ALL PARTS OF THE TRAIL.
I ALSO KNOW THAT OUR CITY STAFF WORKS DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY TO ACHIEVE THESE SAME GOALS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING ABLE TO SEE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS LATER THIS YEAR AND CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION.
[00:40:01]
ITEM 19 IS SOUTHWEST PARKWAY TRANSMISSION MAIN AND ELEVATED RESERVOIR.UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE WITH US IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, SOUTHWEST AUSTIN RESIDENTS WERE THE FIRST TO LOSE WATER AND THE LAST TO GET IT BACK ON.
AND THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SOUTHWEST AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR UTILITIES.
ITEM 20, OH, WE PULLED THAT ONE.
I WILL SKIP MY COMMENTS ON THAT COMMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 39 IS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE CITY SEEKING 20 MILLION IN TEXT DOT FUNDING AND ALSO GLAD THAT OUR ATX WALK BIKE ROLL PROGRAM WILL INFORM THE PROJECT SELECTION.
I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT CAN BE FUNDED ALL OVER TOWN.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING ABLE TO DELIVER PROJECTS NO MATTER WHICH DISTRICT PEOPLE LIVE IN.
AND WE HAVE NUMEROUS TEXT DOT HIGHWAYS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I KNOW I'VE HAD, UH, FOLKS DOWN IN THE MERIDIAN NEIGHBORHOOD REACHING OUT FOR PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR OR MORE, UM, TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR A SHARED USE PATH IN THEIR PART SO THAT THEY CAN CONNECT TO THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL AND OTHER SHARED USE PATHS, UM, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND SOUTHWEST AUSTIN SAFELY.
AND ITEM NUMBER 59 IS THE AIS S D IN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO APPROVE THIS TELECOM TOWER AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH A I S D.
AND I KNOW THERE'S ALSO CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AROUND, UM, NEW NEGOTIATIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
A I S D RECENTLY PASSED A 2.4 BILLION BOND PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 UNDER MODERN LAND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
AND THE EXISTING I L A IS BASED ON OUR OUTDATED CODE AND NEEDS TO BE FULLY REFRESHED TO REFLECT MODERN THINKING AROUND THE ISSUES THAT WE CARE ABOUT, SUCH AS PARKING.
WE CERTAINLY WANNA BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH A I S D AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT VOTERS HAVE APPROVED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEW INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND HAPPY TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH A I S D.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.
UM, FIRST LET ME SAY THAT I AM EXCITED THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, UM, PROCESS TO UPDATE AND ENHANCE OUR ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK THOUGH MORE DETAIL TO ITEMS 1113 AND 29 THAT ARE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
UM, COLLEAGUES, EACH OF YOU RECEIVED A MEMO FROM ED D DETAILING HOW THESE INVESTMENTS ALIGN WITH THE BUDGET WRITER THAT I AUTHORED LAST YEAR, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE WHO IS ON THE COUNCIL WHO, WHO STAYED, UM, SUPPORTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE USED TO SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS ALONG WITH RELATED CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS.
ITEM 11 GROWS OUR CAPACITY TO TRAIN AUSTINITES FOR HIGH DEMAND LIVING WAGE JOBS IN LOCAL HE HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SLOTS IN CAPITAL IDEAS NURSING PROGRAM, WHICH TRAINS AUSTINITES TURN A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING DEGREE.
PART OF IT'S PART OF A PILOT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IS GONNA ALLOW STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR BSN AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 10.
ITEM 13 ALLOCATES AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATION EMPLOYEES WITH WAGE STIPENDS TO IMPROVE RETENTION CARE QUALITY AND STABILIZED CLASSROOMS. THESE STIPENDS WILL BE FOCUSED ON CHILDCARE WORKERS WHO WORK IN PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN RECEIVING CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS.
ITEM 29 IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S CHILDCARE WORKERS BY PROVIDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CHILDCARE WORKERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF ESSENTIAL AND FRONTLINE WORKERS IN AUSTIN ARE ALSO WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM REQUIRE CHILDCARE TO DO THEIR JOBS.
THERE IS NO FUNCTIONING OR PRODUCTIVE ECONOMY IN AUSTIN WITHOUT OUR CHILDCARE STAFF.
I'M EXCITED BY THIS INVESTMENT AND THAT WE ARE POIS POISED, UM, WE'RE POISING CHILDCARE WORKERS FOR SUCCESS, AND IN TURN THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF THIS CRITICAL WORKFORCE, WHICH KEEPS OUR CHILDCARE FACILITIES OPEN TO MEET OUR FAMILIES' NEEDS.
LAST MONDAY, MANY OF YOU MAY RECALL, TEXAN ADVOCATES, PROVIDERS, AND CHILDCARE WORKERS RECENTLY ORGANIZED AND OBSERVED THE NATIONWIDE DAY WITHOUT CHILDCARE RALLY AT THE CAPITOL TO DEMAND THAT THE STATE STEP UP AND INVEST IN CHILDCARE BUSINESSES AND CHILDCARE WORKERS TO SOLVE OUR CHILDCARE CRISIS.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO.
IN 2022, THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTIMATED THAT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN TEXAS COST TEXAN EMPLOYERS UP TO 7.59 BILLION PER YEAR.
AS WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE STATE WILL DO, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD OUT AND FUND OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD ECOSYSTEM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL EVEN FURTHER.
UM, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
YOU HAD INDICATED YOU WANTED TO BE HEARD ON ITEM
[00:45:01]
22, BUT SINCE THAT'S BEEN PULLED, UM, CAN WE WAIT? AND I RECOGNIZE YOU THEN, UH, THAT THAT'S FINE.UH, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN I THINK COUNCIL FUENTES IS RAISING YOUR HAND.
REMEMBER? YOU CAN LET ME KNOW BEFORE WE START.
YEAH, JUST WANTED TO, WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS SEEN.
UM, WELL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AGAIN ON, ON ITEM 42.
AND SHE HAS ALREADY ALLUDED TO I, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO AS A SPONSOR FOR THE TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL PROCESSION.
AND THEN RELATING TO ITEM 46, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ AGAIN, UH, HIS STAFF'S WORK.
AND JUST TO KIND OF ECHO THE WORDS, UH, THAT, THAT HE'S ALREADY ALREADY OUTLINED.
THERE'S A LOT OF BAD STUFF HAPPENING, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS STATE.
UH, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR AUSTIN TO PROTECT AUSTIN TONIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING OUR OFFICE TO, UH, TO CO-SPONSOR THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
YOUR, YOUR, YOUR MICROPHONE IS OFF OR YOU'RE ON MUTE.
YOU'RE
I RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR Y'ALL TO SEE AND HEAR ME, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SOME BRIEF REMARKS ON ITEM NUMBER 45, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ RESOLUTION.
ESTABLISHING A MENTAL HEALTH AS FIRST AID PROGRAM, MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY INFLUENCES OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHOLE BODY HEALTH.
PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTES EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE SEEN HOW NEGLECTED MENTAL HEALTH CAN HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.
THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WELLBEING EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE, SELF-COMPASSION, AND DESTIGMATIZES.
AND I CAN PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON THE DE-STIGMATIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE SEEKING PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
I AM PROUD OF THIS WORK THAT OUR BODY HAS TAKEN TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AND TO SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE CONTINUED WORK THAT WE ARE TAKING TO RESOLUTIONS LIKE ITEM NUMBER 45.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS, UH, CO-SPONSOR FOR, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ITEM, IF THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT SHE WILL ALLOW ME CO COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, FOR, FOR THE RECORD, I INTENDED EARLIER TO, UH, SAY OUT LOUD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAD ASKED OF THE CO-SPONSORS OF THAT ITEM.
AND THAT'S ALSO A, UH, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER OF FUENTES PLEASE THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR YOUR REMARKS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INITIATIVE AND ALSO WANNA SHARE MY APPRECIATION, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MARVELLA AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP ON THIS ITEM.
UH, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS EXPERIENCE POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THIS CRISIS HAS WORSENED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
IN FACT, ESPECIALLY AMONGST OUR YOUTH HERE IN AUSTIN, WE KNOW THAT ONE IN SIX EXPERIENCE POOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO WE, UH, HAVE TAKEN ACTION AS A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND THIS INITIATIVE AS WELL AS IT'S BEING BROUGHT FORTH WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE BOARD THAT HAS MANY ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, AND OUR UNIVERSITIES.
AND WE'VE LAUNCHED THIS GOAL TO TRAIN 1000 AUSTINITES ON MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WAY FOR US TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO PROVIDE NEW TOOLS AND SKILLS TO AUSTINITE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN, UH, RESPOND AND HAVE SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIORS TO OUR NEIGHBORS, TO OUR FRIENDS, TO OUR LOVED ONES.
UM, SO IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND, UH, I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT SINCE WE'VE, UH, LAUNCHED THIS INITIATIVE AND BECAUSE OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH SUPPORT AND CITY MANAGER, YOUR SUPPORT, WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 200 AUSTIN NIGHTS REGISTERED, UH, TO, TO GET TRAINED UP.
SO WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY, UH, TO, TO REACH THAT, THAT CHALLENGE OF TRAINING 1000.
I INVITE EVERYONE ELSE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
UM, THIS RESOLUTION SETS OUT A, A PATHWAY FOR ALL CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INTERESTED
[00:50:01]
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING AND TO GET CERTIFIED IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRSTS AID.UH, SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS COUNCIL SUPPORT AND THAT EFFORT.
AND THEN LASTLY, I DID WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CHILDCARE ITEMS. WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN THIS CITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL YET AGAIN, IS SHOWING OUR SUPPORT AND DOING ALL THAT WE CAN IN, IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY.
AND I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED THAT WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR INVESTMENTS IN PRE-K THREE.
UH, SO THE FIRST TIME WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DEL VALLEY AND, AND LEANDER IN PROVIDING PRE-K THREE CLASSROOMS AND HELPING SUPPLEMENT, UM, THEIR, THEIR EFFORTS.
AND SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TONIGHT AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCILMAN MORALES AND ALTAR DOES ACTUALLY HELP THE MEETING GO SMOOTHER.
UM, I GOT MY QUESTION ANSWERED FOR ITEM 20, SO IF WE CAN INCLUDE THAT ON CONSENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF REMARK ON THAT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO PUTTING ITEM 20 BACK ON CONSENT? IT HAD BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER ANY OBJECTION, HONOR, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU ON NOT 20.
AND, UM, THE REASON I HAD HAD, UM, PULLED IT ORIGINALLY WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVES, UM, WERE STRUCTURED IN THE CONTRACT SO THAT IF WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES, THEY WOULD GO TO THE CITY AND NOT THE CONTRACTOR.
UM, THERE'S SOME UNCERTAINTY AT THIS POINT AS TO WHERE THOSE, UM, INCENTIVES ARE AVAILABLE, AND THAT WILL DEPEND ON WHERE THE CHARGING LOCATIONS ARE.
UM, SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE ITEM 20 ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO OUR GOAL TO ELECTRIFY AND DECARBONIZE THE CITY'S FLEET.
TRANSPORTATION IS CURRENTLY THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS ITEM IS GONNA PERMIT THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY'S ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT VARIOUS MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP IN OUR BROADER GOALS AS WE TAKE THIS IMPORTANT ACTION TODAY.
I DO WANT TO AMPLIFY ANOTHER IMPORTANT STRATEGIC STEP, WHICH IS TO ADVANCE EV READY BUILDING CODES IN AN UPCOMING BUILDING CODE UPDATE.
THIS WAS A COMPONENT OF MY 2019 RESOLUTION ABOUT THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION, AND IT IS A STATED STRATEGY IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
I WANNA ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT WORK SO WE CAN CONSTRUCT OUR COMMUNITY'S BUILDINGS FOR THE FUTURE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE NEED TO ENHANCE OUR SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE AS A COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEN IN PROCESS OF REVIEWING ITEM 20, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT HOW WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, DEDICATED PEOPLE WHOSE, WHOSE LIKE ONLY JOB IS TO HELP THEM BRING DOWN, UM, THIS GRANT MONEY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT, A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MARSHALING OUR RESOURCES SO THAT, UM, WE CAN REALLY, UM, LEVERAGE THAT.
AND THERE ARE SOME GROUPS IN TOWN WHO HAVE A LOT OF THAT BACKGROUND, A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION WHO WOULD LOVE TO HELP US, UM, TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY.
SO I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND THANK YOU TO MS. WALLACE AND MR. GOOD FOR HELPING TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE MAYOR PRO 10.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR.
I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON ITEM 20 AND I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S GONNA BE BACK ON CONSENT.
UM, WE HAD ASKED SOME QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT WHETHER THE, UH, FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE INSTALLED WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ONLY CITY FLEET OR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC VEHICLES VERSUS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THIS ONE IS GENERALLY FOCUSED ON CITY FLEET SERVICES, BUT JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT, UM, AND SHARE THAT I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO WORK TOWARD MORE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
WE HAD ASKED ABOUT SOME LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT DATE, LIKE THE HAMPTON BRANCH LIBRARY OR DICK NICHOLS PARK.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO FURTHER THAT CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD AND GLAD THAT THIS ITEM, UH, WILL GET APPROVED TODAY.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ WITH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 20.
GOING BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL RIGHT, AS INDICATED, UH, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE UP THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA SUBJECT TO, UH, PULLED ITEMS, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER, UH, 22 AND ABSTENTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON 41.
AND THE NO VOTE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON ITEM NUMBER 24.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS INDICATED? HEARING NONE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WE MAY TAKE UP THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING SOMEONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, HEARING? NO OBJECTION.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING IS RECESSED.
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD[00:55:01]
OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.IT IS MAY 18TH, 2023 AT 10 55 IN THE MORNING.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN AUSTIN CITY HALL AND WE HAVE EVERYONE PRESENT, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT MADAM VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
MY NAME IS JAMIE MAY, I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, BEFORE YOU ON YOUR AGENDA, YOU HAVE SIX ITEMS I CAN OFFER FIVE ON CONSENT.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE NON-CONSENT ITEM FIRST, PLEASE.
UH, THIS IS TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS OPENED AT THE LAST A H F C BOARD MEETING.
IF YOU WILL RECALL THAT, UH, PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED AND NOT CLOSED DUE TO AN ADVERTISING, UH, ERROR.
UH, IF WE CAN CONTINUE THAT PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, UH, THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE ITEMS. IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO GO OVER THE REST OF THE ITEMS FIRST, UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT I IT'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
MEMBERS, IT'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE THAT WILL NOT BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I'LL ASK THE SAME, UH, QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO PULL ANY OF THE ITEMS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THIS, OF THIS BOARD DIRECTOR'S MEETING? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM ANY OF THE ITEMS? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER, DIRECTOR KELLY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON A H F C THREE, FOUR AND SIX SINCE FIVE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE, I MEAN, DIRECTOR KELLY WILL BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON ITEMS THREE, FOUR, AND SIX.
IT'S THE INTENTION OF THE CHAIR TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
IS THERE ANYONE OBJECTING TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ WITH THE NO VOTES OF THREE, FOUR, AND SIX BY DIRECTOR KELLY? MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY PLEASE.
ITEM NUMBER SIX CANNOT BE VOTED ON UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CONCLUDED HERE.
I'LL WITHHOLD MY VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, I SHOULDN'T HAVE CALLED IT UP.
SO, SO DO WE NOT NEED TO POST THAT AS A PUBLIC HEARING? UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS POSTED AND SET FOR LAST MEETING.
UH, AT THE LAST MEETING WE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, DID NOT CLOSE IT AND CONTINUED IT FOR THIS HEARING SO THAT WE COULD ADVERTISE APPROPRIATELY FOR THAT.
TERA UH, SINCE IT HAS BEEN ADVERTISED, WE CAN CONTINUE.
SO, SO FIVE, WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.
MEMBERS, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE, UM, ITEM 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.
UM, SO I, I MIS I MISREAD THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO, UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING, UH, NO ON ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, HEARING NONE.
YES, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT WE DO HAVE A CALLER ON THE LINE AND OF COURSE THAT'S WHY I WENT TO THIS AND THEN I FORGOT.
WE HAVE ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON A H F C THREE.
COUNSEL? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YEAH, I JUST, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD US.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
ITEM THREE, THAT IS THE ITEM SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE $780,000 LOAN AGREEMENT FOR A FOURPLEX AT 33 0 6 VINTAGE HILLS COVE.
AND IT WILL BE FUNDED WITH PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, I AM LOOKING AT SECTION 3 9 4 0.002.
THE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PREVENTING URBAN, UH, BLIGHT AND ALSO IT TALKS ABOUT MASS TRANSPORTATION.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SPECIFIES FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS NO DISPLACEMENT GOING ON IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN HERE WHERE THERE IS NO PROJECT CONNECT CORRIDOR