[00:00:08]
[Call to Order]
UM, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.IT IS JUNE 1ST, 2023, UH, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT THE AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE DO HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, JOINING US VIRTUALLY, AND THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UH, I WILL DO MY BEST TO LOOK UP AND MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZE YOU ALSO, UH, FEEL, FEEL FREE TO CRY OUT.
UH, THE ORDER THAT WE WILL GO IN TODAY IS THAT WE WILL HEAR I, I'LL READ MOMENTARILY THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN WE WILL HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE NON-CONSENT, UH, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
WE WILL THEN GO TO A CONSENT VOTE, ALLOWING FOR BRIEF COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE WILL THEN TAKE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, PUBLIC HEARINGS 54 THROUGH 57 OF 'EM, IT'S 57 ITEMS, 58 AND 59, WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT ANY AT THIS TIME THAT ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS WILL BE HEARD DURING THE CONSENT SPEAKER SINCE WE'RE GOING TO ROLL DIRECTLY INTO THOSE AT, AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
IF TIME ALLOWS, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING AND CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING AND THEN THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING.
WE WILL HEAR ANY SPEAKERS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AND WE WILL ACT AND WE WILL ADJOURN, UH, EACH MEETING SEPARATELY, WE WILL HEAR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, AND THEN AT 2:00 PM WE WILL TAKE UP ZONING SPEAKERS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 34, POSTPONED TO JUNE 8TH, 2023.
ITEM 36, POSTPONED TO JULY 20TH, 2023.
ITEM 40, POSTPONED TO JUNE 8TH, 2023.
ITEM 45, POSTPONED TO JUNE 8TH, 2023.
AND ITEM NUMBER 71 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AS A SPONSOR MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING
[Consent Agenda (1 of 2)]
TO GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT BEFORE WE, UH, GO TO THOSE ITEMS, ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 35.ITEM NUMBER 35 WILL REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT, WE WILL INVITE COUNSEL TO FROM, UH, FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO COME UP AND GIVE US A BRIEF PRESENTATION BEFORE WE THEN GO TO THE SPEAKERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M TOM FORTIER.
I'M OUTSIDE COUNSEL, UH, RETAINED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND A SETTLEMENT ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION.
AND THAT SETTLEMENT PERTAINS TO TWO LAWSUITS INVOLVING LONE STAR AIRPORT HOLDINGS, LLC AND THE AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THE BASIC TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL PAY LONE STAR $88 MILLION TO RESOLVE BOTH LAWSUITS.
THE CITY WILL ACQUIRE AND LONE STAR WILL RELEASE ALL RIGHTS IN THE, UH, SOUTH TERMINAL LEASE AGREEMENT LONE STAR WILL ASSIGN TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ALL OF ITS, UH, CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS UNDER CONTRACTS WITH, UH, ITS CONTRACTORS, SUBTENANTS, OTHER, UH, BUSINESSES THAT, UH, ARE UNDER SOME TYPE OF AG OF AN AGREEMENT CONDUCTING BUSINESS OUT AT THE SOUTH TERMINAL.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE TERMS, UH, THE PARTIES WILL DISMISS TWO PENDING LAWSUITS.
THOSE LAWSUITS ARE DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN VERSUS LONE STAR AIRPORT HOLDINGS, LLC, CAUSE NUMBER C ONE PB 22 0 1 4 62,
[00:05:03]
AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER TWO.THE SECOND CASE IS LONE STAR AIRPORT HOLDINGS LLC VERSUS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NUMBER 1 22 CV 0 0 7 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AUSTIN DIVISION.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THESE LAWSUITS AND RELEVANT LEGAL ISSUES WITH YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU AUTHORIZE THE SETTLEMENT UNDER THE TERMS I HAVE OUTLINED.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, SIR.
THAT ITEM WILL REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[ Public Comment]
OUR, UH, FIRST GROUP OF SPEAKERS.THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST, UH, TESTIFY ON CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. AND, UH, THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON ZONING ITEMS WILL BE CALLED UPON AT 2:00 PM UH, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL PLEASE BEGIN WITH THE REMOTE SPEAKERS, THEN WE'LL GO TO IN PERSON.
FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID KING SPEAKING ON ITEM 36, WHICH WOULD BE THE MERIT OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
IF AN ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED, LET ME JUST SAY IF THE I, AN ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED, THAT YOUR TESTIMONY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE COMMENTS, BUT IT WILL BE ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT AND, AND NOT ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ITEM, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND I AGREE WITH THE POSTPONEMENT.
I JUST WISH IT WOULD BE AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING ON ITEMS 36 47 AND 48.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GO AUSTIN, BOMB WITH AUSTIN.
FIRST, WE THANK STAFF FOR POSTPONING.
SECOND GALVAN IS OPPOSED TO ITEM 48, ELIMINATION OF OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
OCCUPANCY LIMITS CAN BE QUESTIONED, BUT WE AGREE WITH AND SUPPORT MARIO CANTU'S CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS SENT TO MAYOR COUNCIL FOR A STAKEHOLDER GROUP, BECAUSE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE, WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT ON TRUE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING EXCESS NOISE, PARKING, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND TRASH CRASH COLLECTION.
THE SAFETY CONCERNS WILL CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT RATHER THAN ELIMINATE OCCUPANCY LIMITS IN ONE BROAD VOTE, LEAVING SERIOUS QUESTIONS AND RISKS.
THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH STAKEHOLDERS WHO BRING PERSPECTIVES FROM THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AND IMPACTED BY OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND THEIR POTENTIAL ELIMINATION.
WE THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR HER PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNSEL AND STAFF AND CONNECTING YOU WITH VULNERABLE IMPACTED RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA BROWN SPEAKING ON ITEM 48.
MY NAME IS PAULA BROWN AND I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT MS. GUZMAN JUST SAID CONCERNING, UH, THE, UH, CURRENTLY WRITTEN PROPOSAL NUMBER 48, UH, WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES, THE OCCUPANCY ISSUES.
WHEN THIS WAS STUDIED BEFORE, IT WAS ALWAYS, UH, PUT FORTH AND STUDIED BY THE COUNCIL AND STAFF.
UH, I ALSO SUPPORT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S AMENDMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUZANNE PANTEL SPEAKING ON ITEM 72.
I SUPPORT OVERALL THE ATP PROPOSAL FOR PROJECT CONNECT, BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE DECISION ABOUT THE BRIDGE LOCATION, AND I DON'T THINK THAT DECISION WAS MADE WITH LEGITIMATE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.
THE STAFF ACTUALLY MADE THAT DECISION A WHILE AGO BECAUSE I RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM THEM FROM, FOR THAT EFFECT TO THAT EFFECT, AND THEY DID NOT RELEASE THE INFORMATION THAT THE, THE COMMUNITY NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DECISION.
AND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE BEST LOCATION THE STAFF IS NOT DISCUSSING THAT THERE IS A GOLD LINE INCLUDED IN PROJECT CONNECT THAT WILL SERVE THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IF WE DON'T SERVE THE AUDITORIUM
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SHORES AREA OF DOWNTOWN WITH THE SOUTH FIRST STREET BRIDGE, THAT AREA OF TOWN WILL, WILL NEVER RECEIVE RAIL SERVICE.AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO SERVE AS MANY AREAS OF TOWN THAT WE CAN.
FURTHERMORE, I THINK FOR A $5 BILLION PROJECT FULLY AT BRAS, IT IS COMPLETELY REASONABLE THAT WE SHOULD REACH THE CRESTVIEW STATION IN THIS FIRST SEGMENT.
THE PRES VIEW STATION WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANT RIDERSHIP AND ALSO IMPROVE OUR RATING WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT AS A TRANSIT ADVOCATE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PROJECT CONNECT ADVOCACY SINCE 2007, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT TRANSIT ADVOCATES BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN A REAL WAY IN THESE DECISIONS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
UH, SWITCHING OVER TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
UH, FIRST SPEAKER IS GUS PENA SPEAKING ON ITEMS SEVEN AND 49, 8 AND 50 AND NINE AND 51, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS HARRIS, JULIA WOODS, AND DANIEL GIANNIS.
MR. PENA, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
UH, CHRIS HARRIS SPEAKING ON THE MERIT OF THE POSTPONEMENT TO ITEM 34, JULIA WOODS SPEAKING ON THE ITEMS, UH, THE MERIT OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 36, DANIEL YEZ.
ITEM 36, MARIO CON, UH, CANTU SPEAKING ON THE MERIT TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 36 AND ALSO ITEM 48, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN MICE AND BACK, UH, SPEAKING ON THE MERIT TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK, UH, BE BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, THE SOUTH DORMS, UH, THE AMENDMENT THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MACKENZIE KELLY IS, UH, PUTTING FORWARD ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, LITTLE OVER CLOSE TO 10 YEARS AGO, I WORKED ON THIS PROJECT, UH, WITH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
ONE OF OUR BIG CONCERNS WAS THE AMOUNTS OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GONNA BE, UH, BASICALLY COMPILED AND PUSHED INTO ONE DORM OR ONE AREA.
UM, THE INGRESS EGRESS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES COMING INTO THESE, UM, CONDOS, DORMS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UH, THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT.
OF COURSE, TRASH COMING IN, DISPOSAL, ET CETERA.
UH, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, OUR, OUR CITY IS WHAT, 10 TIMES BIGGER AND 10 TIMES MORE POPULATED.
SO I CALLED 9 1 1 THE OTHER DAY.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS GOOD THAT, UH, I DIDN'T NEED FIRE OR, UH, EMS, UH, IN THIS SITUATION, BUT IT TOOK OVER FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES FOR ME JUST TO GET ON THE LINE WITH A DISPATCHER.
OUR 9 1 1 SYSTEM IS STILL SOMEWHAT BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS AREA NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS ALL THESE ISSUES BEFORE WE START ADDING MORE AND MORE POPULATION, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF THE 9 1 1 SYSTEM.
AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE BEING INVOLVED IN, UH, HEAVILY, UM, RISKY SITUATIONS WHERE OFTENTIMES THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING COMPROMISED.
EITHER THEY'RE BEING STABBED, THEY'RE BEING PUNCHED, THEY'RE BEING HURT.
UH, SO THERE, THERE'S A WHOLE BOWL OF SOUP OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE THIS THING GETS OFF THE GROUND.
AND I ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS AREA TO, TO REALLY LOOK BACK AND GET THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, GET, GET THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE INVOLVED YEARS AGO INTO MAKING SURE THAT THIS THING, UH, IS SAFE AND THAT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE, UH, SOMETHING LIKE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT GET BURNED UP.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
[00:15:01]
NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS.I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
UM, I AM HERE TO SPEAK AROUND THE, UH, AL BASE AND LICENSE PLATE READER ISSUE, UH, AND ITEM.
UM, I WANNA FIRST THANK THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO, UM, UM, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS AROUND THE USE OF THESE TOOLS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA COUNCILMAN MCC CADRE, FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, THIS IS A MASS SURVEILLANCE TOOL, UH, WITH, UM, EXTRAORDINARY POWERS.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, IF THIS TYPE OF TOOL WILL BE USED, THAT ALL THE SAFEGUARDS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ITS ABUSE ARE IN PLACE.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE CAPTURING INFORMATION AROUND THE POTENTIAL VECTORS FOR ABUSE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES WHERE WE'VE SEEN OFFICERS USE THIS TOOL TO TRY TO TRACK PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR EX, EX-GIRLFRIENDS AND WIVES, WHERE WE'VE SEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT USE THEM TO ENFORCE LAWS THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T AGREE WITH AND, AND HAS DEPRIORITIZED, IF NOT OUTRIGHT DECRIMINALIZED.
UH, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE ACCIDENTAL MISUSE OF IT, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SWITCHED A LICENSE PLATES OUT AND NOW I'M PULLING OVER THE WRONG CAR AND HOLDING PEOPLE AT GUNPOINT WHO DON'T, WHO, WHO HAVE DONE ANYTHING WRONG, UM, THAT WE ARE ACCOMMODATING AND ENSURING THAT AS MUCH PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT THOSE ISSUES, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE'RE CAPTURING DATA SO THAT IF IT DOES HAPPEN AT THE END OF THIS PILOT PERIOD, YOU ALL CAN COME BACK, UH, WITH, WITH OPEN EYES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND.
THE LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY IS, UM, THERE'S A REAL ISSUE HERE.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION SAYS THAT YOU ALL SHOULD ONLY APPROVE THIS IF IT CONFORMS TO THE O P O POLICY AROUND THIS.
HAVE ANY OF Y'ALL SEEN THE O P O POLICY AROUND THIS? IT HAS NOT BEEN POSTED ON THIS CITY'S WEBSITE.
IT'S NOT BEEN POSTED IN ANY CITY BACKUP.
THE OPOS MEMOS ARE BEING ACTIVELY HIDDEN.
NEXT SPEAKER, MEGAN MICEN BACK FOLLOWED BY BRIAN PENA, FOLLOWED BY RYAN NELL.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AFTER MR NO WOULD BE HENRICK TUCKER.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING UP THIS ITEM.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS, WEST CAMPUS NEIGHBOR ASSOCIATION AND COUNTLESS STUDENTS.
UM, ITEM 48 WOULD MAKE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN GIVING STUDENTS ANOTHER OPTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, RIGHT NOW STUDENTS ARE FEELING THEIR RENT GO UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
YOU KNOW, I JUST SIGNED FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE THAN I SIGNED LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING, GETTING RID OF THIS, YOU KNOW, ITEM 48 WOULD REALLY HELP OUT STUDENTS CUZ IN THE END A LOT OF US ARE MAKING THE DECISION AT THE END OF OUR FOUR YEARS AT UT OR HOWEVER MUCH TIME WE KIND OF HAVE TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE GET TO STAY IN THE CITY THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MADE OUR HOME THAT WE HAVE JOBS IN, THAT WE HAVE LIVED IN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
OR ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE INCREDIBLY FAR AWAY JUST TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE? CUZ IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT AFFORDABLE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA, STUDENTS ARE JUST AS MUCH AUSTINITES AS ANYONE ELSE AND ALL WE ARE ASKING IS FOR MORE OPTIONS FOR HOUSING BEYOND THE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AREA OF WEST CAMPUS THAT IT JUST CONTINUES TO GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE EVERY YEAR.
SO I REALLY HOPE Y'ALL CONSIDER VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 48.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RYAN NLL, FOLLOWED BY HENRIK TUCKER, FOLLOWED BY BETSY GREENBERG.
I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
I SENT Y'ALL A LETTER LAST NIGHT WITH SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT OF ELIMINATING OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
UH, WE GOT ANOTHER SIGNATORY AFTER I SENT THAT EMAIL, SO I'M HAVING THE CLERK HAND THAT OUT TO Y'ALL.
UM, SO COOPERATIVE HOUSING HOUSES ABOUT 1200 PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
CO-OPS ARE ABOUT 50 TO 70% OF COMPARABLES WHEN IT COMES TO RENT AND ALSO, UM, ABOUT 80% OF THEM OPERATE ABOVE THE CURRENT OCCUPANCY LIMITS, UM, THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ELIMINATING.
SO I THINK A BIG PART OF THE ABILITY FOR CO-OPS TO ACHIEVE THESE, UH, LOW RATES IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOWER SHARED HOUSING ALLOWS FOR A LOWER COST PER SQUARE FOOT, YOU NEED LESS APPLIANCES, UM, AND YOU USE LOWER ENERGY BECAUSE YOU SHARE THE SPACE.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS DOESN'T GET RID OF OCCUPANCY
[00:20:01]
LIMITS BASED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.UM, AND, UH, ALSO THAT THIS IS FOR BASICALLY OCCUPANCY LIMITS BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUITABLE IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAD MUCH MORE TRADITIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILIES.
BUT THE NATURE OF OUR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE CHANGING.
YOU HAVE MORE SINGLE PEOPLE, UM, YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE LIVE TOGETHER BY ELIMINATING THIS.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CO-OPS IS THAT I'M MOVED INTO A CO-OP AS A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE AND AFTER A VERY LONELY FRESHMAN YEAR, I FELT THAT LIVING INTO THIS SHARED HOUSING EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL AND HELPED ME, YOU KNOW, FIND MY PLACE IN THE WORLD.
THEY REMIND ME A LOT OF VISITING MY EXTENDED FAMILY IN MEXICO.
UM, AND I STUCK AROUND FOR, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT DEAL, UM, IN ADDITION TO A GREAT SOCIAL EXPERIENCE.
SO I HOPE Y'ALL WILL VOTE TO ELIMINATE ITEM 48, UM, OCCUPANCY LIMITS BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS AND PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO AUSTIN IMMEDIATELY.
NEXT SPEAKERS, HENRIK TUCKER, FOLLOWED BY BETSY GREENBERG AND JOLENE KIELBASA.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 48 AND FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 48.
I HAVE TWO MAIN POINTS FOR IT, UH, IN LIGHT THAT IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH.
FAMILY OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN USED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBTQ I PLUS INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE MANY QUEER AND TRANS PEOPLE REJECT, UH, NUCLEAR FAMILY.
AND I PERSONALLY AM AWARE AND AFFECTED BY THE RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS I HAVE WITH PEOPLE I LIVE WITH AND BEING VERY LIMITED ON WHO I CAN LIVE WITH.
ADDITIONALLY, I AM A HOUSING CO-OP.
I'VE LIVED IN HOUSING CO-OP FOR 10 YEARS IN AUSTIN.
I WORK WITH THE A C B A, UM, AND MY ORGANIZATION, ROSEWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING, WHERE I LIVE IN A CO-OP IN EAST AUSTIN.
WE JUST EXPANDED TO A SECOND HOUSE AND THE PROCESS WAS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE LIMITED HOUSING STOCK REALLY LIMITED THE OPTIONS OF WHERE WE WERE ALLOWED TO LIVE.
THERE ALREADY IS SO MANY BARRIERS TO LANDLORDS WANTING TO RENT TO A HOUSING CO-OP AND ONLY BEING ABLE TO SELECT FROM DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE THE YEAR 2004 WAS BASICALLY THE ONLY HOUSING STOCK WE CAN GO FOR, DESPITE BEING JUST 10 INDIVIDUALS.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF HOUSES THAT HAVE ENOUGH ROOMS TO COMFORTABLY HOUSE MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE, BUT LEGALLY AREN'T MEANT TO BE OCCUPIED THAT WAY.
NEXT SPEAKERS, BETSY GREENBERG, FOLLOWED BY JOLENE KIELBASA, ALICE WOODS AND MICHAEL NAAS.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I'M OPPOSED TO ITEM 48.
THIS ITEM PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE DWELLING UNIT OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND RELY INSTEAD ON THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 4 0 4 OF THE CITY'S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE STANDARDS, WHICH QUOTE, HAVE ENFORCEABLE OCCUPANCY LIMITS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE PER PERSON, WHICH ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PREVENT OVERCROWDING END.
IN AUSTIN, EVEN THE SMALLEST SINGLE FAMILY LOCK CAN HAVE A HOUSE WITH AT LEAST 2300 SQUARE FEET OF LIVABLE SPACE.
THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT FOR SIX OR MORE PEOPLE, THE LIVING ROOM PLUS THE DINING ROOM BE AT LEAST 250 SQUARE FEET.
A KITCHEN ISN'T SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED, BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE, DIMENSIONS HAVE TO BE AT LEAST SEVEN BY SEVEN.
SO LET'S CALL THAT 50 SQUARE FEET THAT LEAVES 2000 SQUARE FEET IN THE HOUSE FOR BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS. THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE REQUIRES THAT BEDROOMS BE 70 SQUARE FEET FOR ONE PERSON, 120 FOR TWO AND 50 ADDITIONAL SQUARE FEET PER PERSONS.
EACH BEDROOM NEEDS ACCESS TO A WATER CLOSET AND LAVATORY.
BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT THE BATHROOMS ALSO HAVE TUBS AND SHOWERS.
UM, SO TO BE GENEROUS, IF I ALLOW A HUNDRED SQUARE FEET PER PERSON FOR BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS, THIS IS QUITE A BIT MORE THAN THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE REQUIRES AND WOULD STILL ALLOW 20 PEOPLE TO LIVE IN A 2300 SQUARE FOOT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE.
RELYING ON THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE MAKES POSSIBLE UNREGULATED AND LEGAL ABUSE OF PEOPLE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CROWDING LIVING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH.
AND SAFE IS THE HOUSE HEALTH AND SAFETY NIGHTMARES THAT WE MUST AVOID.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, SO THAT IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO OCCUPANCY RULES, THEY ARE DONE THOUGHTFULLY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOLENE KIELBASA SPEAKING ON ITEM 48, FOLLOWED BY ALICE WOODS, MICHAEL NAJA, AND JOHN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAK AND I WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE PROBLEM WITH OVER OCCUPANCY AND SINGLE FAMILY
[00:25:01]
STRUCTURES, FIRE SAFETY AND TRASH AND HEALTH AND, OH, HOW DO I CLICK THIS? OKAY, WE GOT THE CLICKER GOING.AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME SPEAK AND THIS IS ME SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
NEXT AND OCCUPANCY LIMITS IN 2014 AND 2016 WERE A CULMINATION OF A BUNCH OF ISSUES.
AND JUST QUICKLY, CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE MARTINEZ TOOK THIS ISSUE ON, UM, BECAUSE OF FIRE, FIRE, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES AND THE CITY MANAGER, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND THE HEADS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT THOUGHT OVER OCCUPANCY WAS ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM THAT IT WARRANTED A SIDE SITE VISIT.
UH, SLIDE PLEASE AND SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY, LESS FIRE PROTECTION.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE EXIT FOR 12 BEDROOMS ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS.
AND THERE ARE RULES ABOUT MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP.
AND FROM THE AF UH, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE INSPECTION GUIDE ABOUT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS COVERED TO, UM, PLACEMENT OF FIRE DETECTORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY, INCREASED FIRE PROTECTION.
SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY OVERFLOWING TRASH.
TWO TOO FEW TRASH BINS, PERHAPS USUALLY JUST ONE TOO MANY RESIDENTS.
IT'S A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE.
THIS IS CITY MANAGER ART MARK OT, LOOKING AT TRASH DURING HIS OCCUPANCY LIMITS TOUR.
THIS IS MF PROPERTY TRASH, INAPPROPRIATELY SIZED DUMPSTERS.
UM, HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS TO MAINTAIN CURRENT OXI OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
THEY HAVE PUT IN CHECK SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, SUCH AS TRASH AND FIRE STREETS ARE NO LONGER FULL OF OVERFLOWING TRASH CANS AND SPLIT OPEN HEFTY BAGS AND NO LONGER BUILDING 12, BUILD 12 BEDROOM SUPER DUPLEXES WITH THE ONLY ONE AT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICE WOODS, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL NAHAS.
I'M AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATE AND CONSULTANT.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 48.
THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, POLICY EXPERTS, ADVOCATES, ALL OF WHOM WORK TO LOWER THE BARRIERS TO HOUSING WITHIN AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE SUPPORT THE ELIMINATION OF AUSTIN'S POLICY OF REGULATING OCCUPANCY BY FAMILIAL STATUS AS THE EXISTING POLICY IS ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY AND CREATES A BARRIER TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ELIMINATING OCCUPANCY LIMITS BASED ON FAMILIAL STATUS WOULD ALLOW AUSTIN KNIGHT'S GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR HOUSING CHOICES IMMEDIATELY AND AT ZERO COST TO THE CITY GROUPS SUCH AS STUDENTS THAT DISABLED ELDERLY IMMIGRANTS AND LGBTQIA PLUS HOUSEHOLDS WHO OFTEN SEEK TO LIVE IN COOPERATIVE HOUSING OR TOGETHER WITH ROOMMATES, WOULD SPECIFICALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS POLICY CHANGE AND ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST UNDER THE CURRENT OCCUPANCY LIMITS POLICY WITH CURRENT HOUSING COSTS IN AUSTIN, THE ABILITY TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES OR IN COOPERATIVE HOUSING IS OFTEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AND BEING UNHOUSED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT OCCUPANCY LIMITS RELATED TO HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE ALREADY CODIFIED IN THE CITY'S BUILDING CODE.
NO MORE THAN THREE ADULTS MAY SHARE A BEDROOM AND SUFFICIENT SQUARE FOOTAGE PER PERSON FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED IF WE ELIMINATED THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS IN CITY CODE 25 DASH TWO DASH FIVE 11.
TAKING THIS ACTION WILL NOT LEAD TO CONDITIONS OF OVERCROWDING, AND CURRENTLY 20 RELATED PEOPLE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN A 2300 SQUARE FOOT SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, AND HOUSTON ALL LIMIT OCCUPANCY BASED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY RATHER THAN BY FAMILIAL STATUS.
OUR COALITION SUPPORTS AUSTIN TAKING THE SAME STEP TO ALLOW ITS RESIDENTS MORE FLEXIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND COMMUNITY MINDED HOUSING OPTIONS.
AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS THESE CODE AMENDMENTS MOVE FORWARD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL NAJA, FOLLOWED BY JOHN GOOD, SUSAN RODO AND DANIEL YTZ OR YATES, SORRY.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
I'M AN URBAN ECONOMIST AND I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY HOUSING EXPANSION OF AUSTIN, WHICH OPERATES TWO CO-OPS.
I GET TO LIVE IN A 17 BEDROOM MANSION IN THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD.
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THAT WAY.IT HAS EVERY AMENITY, A KITCHEN WITH EVERY APPLIANCE IN IT, A FIRE PIT BIKING DISTANCE FROM ZILKER, A WOOD SHOP.
UM, I GET TO LIVE IN THAT BECAUSE LIKE WE WERE TAUGHT IN KINDERGARTENS, I SHARE WE GET TO, I HAVE 20 HOUSEMATES AND WE'RE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.
UM, SO WHEN WE FOUNDED THAT HOUSE, WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING THE ONE WE'RE RUNNING INTO RIGHT NOW, WHICH REQUIRED A WHOLE BUNCH OF LIKE LAWYERS AND WHATNOT TO CHANGE THE ZONING TO GET US TO, UH, BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE PERMANENTLY.
UH, COMMUNITY HOUSING EXPANSION OF AUSTIN OPERATES TWO CO-OPS.
IT'S A FORMER APARTMENT COMPLEX.
IT, IT HAS RENTS UNDER $500 PER MONTH, MAKING IT SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
SO THESE KINDS OF LIMITS DO AFFECT WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AS AN ECONOMIST, I CAN SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE SIX LAWS IN AUSTIN THAT IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTING SUPPLY AND DRIVING UP RENTS.
FOLLOWED BY SUSAN RODO, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL YATES.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST, UH, ITEM 48.
I'M AN OWNER, RESIDENT AND, UH, CURRENT PRESIDENT OF A 1212 UNIT HOA IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE RESULTS OF REDUCING, UH, OCCUPANCY LIMITS ON PROPERTIES.
UM, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS, UH, SMALL FAMILY UNITS, NOT MANSIONS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET ARE FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS STEALTH DORMS. THESE PROPERTIES ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR HIGH OCCUPANCY.
THE OVERFLOW OF CARS, UH, TURN OUR STREET INTO UNSAFE SINGLE LANE THOROUGHFARES.
THEY'RE TRASH AND RECYCLING BINS LACKING A PROPERLY DESIGNED SPACE SIT ON OUR SIDEWALKS, MAKING THEM UNSAFE TO WALK ON THESE DWELLINGS WITH ONE EXCEPTION ARE BUSINESSES PURE AND SIMPLE THAT ARE NOT, THAT ARE REMOTELY AND OFF, OFTEN THOUGHTLESSLY MANAGED, AND THEY ARE NOT EASILY AFFORDABLE, UH, WHICH RE RESULTS IN A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THOSE UNITS.
UH, STEALTH DORMS HAVE BEEN ON OCCASION, TURNED INTO STEALTH AND NIGHTCLUBS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BRINGING A FLOOD OF GUESTS SOMETIMES WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THESE STRUCTURES, UH, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY.
IT'S KIND OF RUN AMUCK THIS FROM A RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIOD THAT ALLOWED ONLY SIX UNRELATED ADULTS AND THE WAVE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS WISELY STOPPED BACK IN 2014.
NOW THE COUNCIL APPEARS TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN WITH NO LIMITS.
A POLICY THAT IS DEMONSTRATED TO COMMODITIZE NEIGHBORHOODS MUST BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT IT IS AND NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE KELLY AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THESE AREAS.
NEXT SPEAKER, SUSAN RODO, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL YATES, FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR MADE TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
UH, FRANKLY, AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, THIS ORDINANCE IS A VIOLATION OF PRIVACY AND DISCRIMINATORY TO STUDENTS.
IT IS ALSO AN UNNECESSARY BARRIER TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S NO WORLD IN WHICH THE RELATION OF INDIVIDUALS SHOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR ABILITY TO RENT PROPERTY.
HOW CAN WE ALL CALL OURSELVES AN EMPATHETIC OR PROGRESSIVE CITY WHEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ORDINANCES LIKE THIS, WHICH MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE? AS A RECENT GRADUATE, I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS FACE WHEN IT COMES TO RENTING.
EVEN SMALL STEPS LIKE THIS CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS ON THE MARGINS OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR THEIR SCHOOL.
IN REGARDS TO SOME OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS' COMMENTS, I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN ABOUT EMERGENCY AND CITY SERVICES.
HOWEVER, TO SUGGEST THAT A FEW STUDENTS NOW LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CITY EMERGENCY SERVICES TO OPERATE IS UNFOUNDED AND OVERBLOWN.
IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARKING ISSUES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SHOULD INSTEAD HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND HOW WE BUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REPEAL THE STEALTH DORM ORDINANCE AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR AFFORDABILITY
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IN AUSTIN.NEXT SPEAKERS, MIKE GORS, FOLLOWED BY LUIS OTA LUGO, FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA SAB.
MIC IS RIGHT HERE TO YOUR LEFT.
THANK YOU MAYOR MAY, MAYOR OF HER TIME AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MIKE GORSE AND I WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 48.
I, FIRST, I'LL SAY THAT I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF AURA, AND AS A MEMBER OF THAT ORGANIZATION, I'LL MENTION THAT WE HAVE ENDORSED THE LETTER THAT RYAN NIL HAS HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WAS CIRCULATING AMONG DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THIS.
ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, I START, I HELPED START ONE OF THE CO-OPS THAT MICHAEL NEHA MENTIONED, AND IT'S NOT A STUDENT CO-OP.
THERE ARE, IT'S MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T STUDENTS WHO LIVE THERE, ALTHOUGH MAYBE NOT EXCLUSIVELY.
BEFORE THAT, I WAS LIVING IN A HOUSE THAT THE OWNER LIVED AT AND HE HAD A FEW OTHER BEDROOMS THAT HE WAS RENTING OUT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND THAT WAS GOOD FOR ME AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS HELPING TO START THE CO-OP AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN WE WERE GOING TO FIND A PROPERTY FOR THE CO-OP.
SO I WASN'T SURE EXACTLY HOW LONG I'D NEED.
I DIDN'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO HAVE TO SIGN A LONG-TERM LEASE.
AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ME TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE SITUATION THAT I COULD GET OUT OF WHEN I NEEDED TO.
AND IT WAS ALSO INEXPENSIVE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME AFFORDING TO LIVE HERE, OR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T ALREADY OWN A HOUSE.
AND PEOPLE NEED DIFFERENT THINGS IN ALL STAGES OF LIFE RIGHT NOW.
I MIGHT NOT BE LIVING IN A HOUSE LIKE THAT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL WANT TO LIVE IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT SINCE IT'S ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE CLOSER IN THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO.
SOMEONE EARLIER MENTIONS ISSUES WITH 9 1 1 DISPATCHERS NOT ANSWERING PROMPTLY.
AND ONE PROBLEM THE CITY HAS FUNDAMENTALLY IS THAT WITH BOTH THAT AND WITH THE EMTS IS THAT IT'S HARD TO PAY THE SALARIES THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE HOUSING.
AND AFFORDABILITY IS AN ISSUE THERE.
IF PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT, THEN IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE DIFFICULT, BOTH FOR THE CITY AND FOR BUSINESSES TO FIND EMPLOYEES WHO THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY.
NEXT SPEAKERS, LUIS OTA LUGO, FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA SABIC, FOLLOWED BY ETHAN SMITH.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AS BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
I'M A DINA N RESIDENT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS FAMILY OCCUPANCY LIMIT THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE PROMISED WILL BRING FIRE AND DANGER AND RUIN TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BUT YET SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, HOUSTON, YET STAND BEFORE US.
YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL CITIES LIVE IN WHERE MANY OF MY FAMILY AND RELATIVES LIVE IN.
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY LIKE US, HAVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODES TO MAKE SURE THAT OCCUPANCY WITHIN THESE HOMES ARE SAFE.
SAFETY AND HEALTH IS NOT THE ACTUAL PURPOSE THAT THIS CURRENT FAMILY OCCUPANCY SERVES, BUT INSTEAD SEEMS TO SERVE TO ME AS PURE DISCRIMINATION AS A WAY OF KEEPING THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY COULD OTHERWISE MAKE THE CITY WORK FOR, FOR THEM.
I THINK THAT THE STEPS OF THIS COUNCIL IS TAKEN TOWARDS SOLVING THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, LIKE THE PARKING MANDATES.
REMOVAL IS WONDERFUL, BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORK FOR THEM.
AND THESE KINDS OF LIKE ARBITRARY RULES AND LIMITS ARE THAT ALLOW PEOPLE, THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY FIGURING OUT A WAY OF MAKING IT THROUGH THIS MONTH AND THE NEXT MONTH, OR GOING TO DRIVE THEM TO MORE HOMELESS LIVES, PEOPLE LEAVING THE CITY, THE COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY MAKE AUSTIN SPECIAL, JUST LEAVING, MAKING IT WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE GREAT FOR THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE THAT LONG WITHOUT HAD ACTUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I HOPE YOU GUYS PASS, UH, AMENDMENT 48, UH, NO AMENDMENT.
UH, RESOLUTION 48 AND REJECT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S UH, AMENDMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSHUA SABI, FOLLOWED BY ETHAN SMITH, FOLLOWED BY JOE POWELL CONNOLLY, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL KAMAN.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
UM, I SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF 48.
I'D LIKE TO SWITCH THAT TO NEUTRAL.
UM, I JUST MAINLY WANTED TO TALK BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A HISTORICAL ELEMENT HERE TO SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THOSE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS, UH, SPOKE TODAY.
I WAS THINKING OF IT IN TERMS OF WEST CAMPUS
[00:40:01]
AND THE UNO DISTRICT IN TERMS OF GET ALL THE STEALTH DORMS OUT AND WE'RE GONNA CONCENTRATE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA.AND I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF POINT THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT AS Y'ALL ARE REVIEWING, UH, UNO FROM, UM, THE RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MR. AL ALTER, THAT IT'S HOLISTIC IN ITS REVIEW, THAT IT LOOKS AT SOME OF THESE OTHER POLICIES THAT WERE RELATED AND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR Y'ALL TO KIND OF CREATE THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE, UM, WHICH WILL AFFECT POLICIES MOVING FORWARD.
UM, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME GOAL IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY AND LIVABILITY.
AND OF COURSE, UM, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS GREAT ECONOMIC ENGINE OF AUSTIN GOING, BUT IF, UM, THAT IS AT THE EXPENSE OF LIVABILITY AT SOME POINT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE THIS KIND OF SATURATION OF WHERE WE ARE AS A SOCIETY COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO LIVE AND WORK.
SO, UM, I, I WAS, I WAS FOR THIS BECAUSE I FELT LIKE, UM, IT WAS JUST, UM, MIGHT TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN TERMS OF WHERE STUDENTS COULD LIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WORRY ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL PARKING AND IN, IN TRAFFIC IN THAT SENSE AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE KIND OF BUILDING SKY RISES WITH NO PARKING AT ALL, UH, OR EVEN HANDICAPPED PARKING.
SO, UM, JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS J PAO CONNOLLY, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL KAMAN, FOLLOWED BY BILL MC KALEY AND MATT GKI.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 48.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE WAY OUR CURRENT OCCUPANCY LIMITS ARE WRITTEN IN THE CODE, IT IS UNENFORCEABLE.
UM, ANY ATTEMPTS TO ENFORCE IT RELY ON STEREOTYPES AND ASSUMPTIONS.
THE VERY, UH, ENLIGHTENING PHOTOS OF PEOPLE'S TRASH CANS DO NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THOSE HOMES.
I KNOW SINGLE FAMILIES THAT HAVE REQUESTED THE CITY TO BRING THEM MULTIPLE TRASH CANS BECAUSE THEIR VOLUME OF TRASH IS SO LARGE.
UM, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, ANY ATTEMPTS TO CREATE OR ENFORCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD ONLY HARM AUSTIN'S LOWEST INCOME RESIDENTS.
AND AUSTIN, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE ON THE RISE.
EVICTIONS CONTINUE TO SPIKE, AND EVEN AS WE HAVE, UH, WE ARE APPROACHING OVER 5,000 PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED ON OUR STREETS, THERE ARE WELL OVER 10,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY RIGHT NOW IN THIS CITY.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE BRINK, AND THESE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SITUATIONS LIKE COUCH SURFING AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, LIVING WITH FAMILY, OR LIVING WITH FRIENDS.
UM, AND SO ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THIS JUST PUSHES THOSE PEOPLE OVER THE EDGE.
AND IT'S FUNNY THAT MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WILL COME HERE AND WILL OPPOSE, YOU KNOW, ALTERNATIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS THAT ALLOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO SHARE A ROOF, ALSO OPPOSE THE CREATION OF NEW HOUSING THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE UNITS AND ALSO, OF COURSE, ARE IN FAVOR OF CRIMINALIZING THE UNHOUSED POPULATIONS THAT NOW LIVE IN THE CREEKS BEHIND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY WANT TO SQUEEZE EVERY POOR PERSON OUT OF THIS CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ON THAT NOTE, I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT SO MANY OF OUR MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS AND PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS CITY WEIRD, THAT MAKE THIS CITY WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT SHOULD BE, CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE LIVING IN SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH FRIENDS, SOME KIND OF BEDROOM ARRANGEMENT DEAL.
SO ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THIS MAKES AUSTIN LESS.
AUSTIN MAKES AUSTIN A PLACE WITH MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND A CITY WHERE IT'S HARDER TO SURVIVE AT A TIME WHEN THIS COUNCIL HAS ON ITS AGENDA AN ITEM TO APPROVE A BUNCH OF FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY WEATHER SHELTER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL KAMAN, FOLLOWED BY BILL MCAL LEY AND MATT GSKI.
I WORK FOR THE NONPROFIT FOREMAN CITY.
I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 48, WHICH WILL STRIKE OCCUPANCY LIMITS FROM THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UH, THIS IS A GOOD MOVE, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW GREATER HO UH, HOUSING OPTIONS FOR MANY PEOPLE.
THEY STAND IN THE WAY CURRENTLY OF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS.
UH, MY BOSS, JAY CROSSLEY, HE ALWAYS CALLS THIS THE ANTI-AGE BAND BILL BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LIVE WITH THEIR BAND MATES AND STUFF, AND THAT IS VIOLATES AND MANY TIMES THE CODE.
AND THIS IS A RULE THAT IS IMPACTING THE CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS AND
[00:45:01]
MUSICIANS THAT AS, UH, JP JUST SAID, MAKE AUSTIN WEIRD, AND THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF TO MAKE IT UNIQUE, BUT WE'RE REGULATING AGAINST THEM.I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL, LIKE ME WHO DESIRE TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES, AND I PREFER TO LIVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
IT'S A PREFERENCE NOT, AND IT ALLOWS ME TO LIVE AN EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE LIFE CLOSER TO WHERE I WORK, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I DO NOT OWN A CAR.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I WOULD, UH, I WAS JUST IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AND THEY HAVE A FORM-BASED CODE.
AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DARE GO UP TO THE SOONER LAND AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON DEVELOPMENT-WISE AROUND CAMPUS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE, UH, MIMIC THE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY HAVE LIKE SEVEN BEDROOMS IN THEM, AND IT'S AN AFFORDABLE OPTION THAT'S REALLY NICE AND THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD AND THEY'RE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF CAMPUS.
AND THAT COULD BE AN OPTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANNA LIVE IN THE TOWERS OR JUST WANT TO HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE AND GIVE STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE OPTIONS.
UH, IT'S JUST GENERALLY IMPORTANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE IN PLACES CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK AND STUDY.
AND IF WE'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT ALL THESE NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES FROM THIS, THEN REGULATE THOSE DIRECTLY.
IF WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT TRASH, NOISE, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND PARKING, THEN WE SHOULD REGULATE THOSE AND NOT HOPE FOR A DOWNSTREAM EFFECT THROUGH EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL MCKINLEY, FOLLOWED BY MATT GEK SH MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
MY NAME IS BILL MCKINLEY, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE'RE IN AUSTIN 5 0 1
I'M HERE TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 72.
EACH OF YOU GOT IN YOUR EMAIL THIS MORNING A LETTER BACKED BY 26 ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS COALITION REALLY BELIEVES STRONGLY IN THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THAT THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP DID AN EXCEEDINGLY GOOD JOB IN ITS RECENT ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, TALKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE FIRST PHASE OF LIGHT RAIL NUMBER TWO, THAT WE ASK YOU ALL TO VOTE ON THIS PROPOSAL, UH, IN A UNIFIED MANNER, BOTH YOURSELVES AND CAT METRO.
AND NUMBER THREE, THAT WE DO THIS QUICKLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP TODAY.
AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, BEST TIME FOR PUTTING IN LIGHT RAIL WAS PROBABLY 2002ND.
WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL VOTING ON THIS.
UH, LET'S GET THIS SETTLED ON THIS HORSE AND START GETTING IT OUTTA STABLE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT GEK SPEAKING ON ITEM 72.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
UM, ECHOING, UH, MR. MCKINLEY'S COMMENTS, WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION IN FAVOR OF ITEM 72.
UM, WE'VE LONG BEEN SUPPORTERS OF PROJECT CONNECT, UH, AND AS THE, UH, THE PIT MANAGER, UH, DOWNTOWN, WE, UH, ENGAGE VERY HEAVILY ON THIS ISSUE.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF OF ALL THREE ORGANIZATIONS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CAPITAL, METRO AND ATP.
WE HAD, UH, FIVE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, DOWNTOWN ENTHUSIASTS, UM, UH, TO REALLY LOOK AT, UH, THE MAPS, THE ALIGNMENTS, THE DATA, THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE DIDN'T COME TO THIS DECISION LIGHTLY WHEN WE SUPPORTED, UM, THE TRINITY CROSSING ALIGNMENT.
UM, WE LOOKED AT BOTH THE SOUTH FIRST AND TRINITY CROSSING.
UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS WE SUPPORT IN THIS ALIGNMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST FOCUS QUICKLY ON THE TRINITY CROSSING.
UM, THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL HO HOTEL AND OFFICE SPACE DEVELOPMENT, UH, PLANNED, EITHER COMPLETED OR PLANNED, UH, IN THE, UH, TRINITY ALIGNMENT CROSSING, UH, WOULD DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF HOTEL OFFICE AND RESIDENCY SPACES.
UM, IT, AND WE'VE ALSO, UM, WANT TO FOCUS ON JOBS AND CONNECTIONS TO, UH, FOR WORKERS AND RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THE TRINITY CROSSING GETS US THERE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE WE CLOSE SIGN UP, UM, OR CALLING ON SPEAKERS IF MS. JOSEPH IS HERE.
UH, MS. JOSEPH IS REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 21 AND ITEM 72.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH, MY COMMENTS WERE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ITEM 45.
SO I CAME IN PERSON TO REGISTER
[00:50:01]
AND I UNDERSTAND AS BEING POSTPONED.I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE ON THE SCREEN THE REDACTED INFORMATION AND FOR YOU TO INCLUDE THE BACKUP MATERIALS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WHEN THIS ITEM COMES BACK AGAIN, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR THE URBAN LEAGUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY THE PROJECT ADDRESS.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO 27, THE PEDESTRIAN TRANSIT ITEM, I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION NORTH LAMAR.
AND I WOULD ASK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL TO, UH, CLOSE THAT MID-BLOCK STOP AND ALSO TO, UH, VELA TO ACTUALLY MOVE 8 0 1 CHINATOWN SOUTHBOUND.
HE'S HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE CAPITOL METRO MANY TIMES, AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A STUDY IN 2009 FOR THE NORTH LAMAR CORRIDOR SPECIFICALLY, AND MID-BLOCK STOPS ARE WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS ARE KILLED THE MOST.
IT WAS AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, IT WAS CAPITAL METRO, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THE FINDINGS THAT ARE IN THAT REPORT.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 72, AS YOU'RE AWARE, I'M AGAINST THAT ITEM.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THIS SERVES NORTH, IT WAS BACK IN THE HAREN BUGGY DAYS IN 1891 WHEN COLONEL MONROE, SHE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED HYDE PARK EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE PEOPLE.
SO IT DOES NOT SERVE NORTHEAST AND SOUTH, AS YOU WILL HEAR LINDSEY WOOD CONTINUE TO SAY IN HER PROPAGANDA.
I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND AS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ON MAY 20TH, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL DID SPECIFY THAT THE RESOLUTION, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE WERE MISSTATEMENTS TO THE AUSTIN VOTERS.
SO PLEASE BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST.
AND LASTLY, UM, IF YOU'LL GO BACK ONE SLIDE.
I JUST WANT, UH, ONE MORE, UH, JUST WANT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL, UH, ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO RIGHT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION AND THE, THAT INFORMATION IS ON THE SLIDE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR A H F C.
[Consent Agenda (2 of 2)]
UM, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS THOSE, UH, ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED AND ANY THAT OR, OR TO BE PULLED AND ANY RECUSALS, ABSTENTIONS OR NO VOTES, UH, ONCE THEY'RE IDENTIFIED.UM, LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED AT THIS TIME? FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? THE ITEMS THAT I'M GOING TO INDICATE ARE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE 72, 71, 48, AND 45, 72, 71, 48, AND 45.
WE WILL HAVE SOME NON NON-CONSENT ITEMS, UH, WHICH ARE 54 THROUGH, UH, 57.
ANYTHING ELSE TO BE REMOVED? OKAY.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM ONE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN ON ITEM NUMBER 10, PLEASE.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
PLEASE SHOW ME AS VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, MA'AM.
I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON ITEM 22, WHICH FUNDS THE PURCHASE OF AN IMPORTANT RIGHT OF WAY LAND FOR THE BERKS FROM SPUR.
IT'S GONNA ALLOW US TO CREATE A MUCH NEEDED URBAN TRAIL THERE.
AS ORIGINALLY STRUCTURED, THIS URBAN TRAIL PURCHASE WAS LARGELY COMING FROM PARKS AND RECREATION DEV DEPARTMENT FUNDS RATHER THAN MOBILITY BONDS.
THAT SETUP WAS USED TO ENSURE WE COULD SECURE THE RIGHT OF WAY ON THE OWNER'S TIMETABLE.
I WANNA THANK A SAM GOODE, WHO TOGETHER WITH DIRECTOR MENDOZA, HAS IDENTIFIED A WAY FORWARD TO ALLOW THE PURCHASE TO HAPPEN IN A TIMELY MANNER AND TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON PART'S ABILITY TO PURCHASE PARKLAND ELSEWHERE.
UM, I WOULD OFFER A DIRECTION TO FOLLOW THE PLAN AS OUTLINED IN THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IN Q AND A ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THOSE GRADUATING THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK, INCLUDING MY SON ZACHARY'S GRADUATION IS THIS AFTERNOON, SO I WILL NEED TO LEAVE THE DIAS BY NOON TODAY TO CELEBRATE WITH HIM AND THE LOSS OF CLASS OF 2023.
[00:55:01]
SO, THANK YOU.ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT ITEM 46, THE RELATED TO THE MUSIC CENSUS.
UM, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THESE VALUABLE DATA WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO CONDUCTED THIS CENSUS AND REALLY HELPED US, UH, LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE MUSIC COMMUNITY IS FEELING AND NEEDING AND GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, UH, TO HELP THE, THE MUSIC COMMUNITY, WHICH IS SUCH A, A CRITICAL FABRIC OF AUSTIN.
SO, UH, THANK YOU TO TO THE STAFF FOR, FOR FIGURING OUT A WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I KNOW IT WASN'T A A STRAIGHT LINE GETTING THERE, BUT WE, WE MADE IT HAPPEN.
AND I'M EXCITED THAT IN THE FUTURE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CENSUS, UH, DONE AGAIN AND, AND THESE DATA PROVIDED SO THAT FUTURE COUNCILS CAN CONTINUE TO HELP ENRICH, UH, OUR MUSIC COMMUNITY AND, AND THE COMMUNITY RE AT LARGE, THOUGH.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A VARIANCE WAIVER, UH, A, A FEE WAIVER PROGRAM FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT, UH, THE BOARD REALLY TOOK NOTE OF.
AND I WANT TO GIVE, UH, CREDIT TO THE, UH, CHAIR, UH, UH, JESSICA COHAN ALSO FOR REALLY ADVOCATING FOR IT.
IT JUST ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING, UH, A VARIANCE TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO ASK FOR A WAIVER OF THE OFTEN SUBSTANTIAL FEES THAT THEY CHARGE.
UH, IT'S, UH, A GOOD STEP FORWARD, MAKES THE PROCESS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, UH, NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN, YOU KNOW, PUT DOWN A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR SO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT AND, UH, THANK EVERYBODY WHO BROUGHT THAT FORWARD.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISHING TO BE HEARD? UH, BRIEFLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS, UM, WHEN I READ THE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, IT, IT WAS, UH, THE, WHAT I THOUGHT WERE THE LATEST CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, AND THERE WAS A, I I READ THAT ITEM NUMBER 45 WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE EIGHTH.
HOWEVER, THERE HAD BEEN A REQUEST THAT IT BE PULLED AND NOT POSTPONED, SO THERE COULD BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SO IT WILL BE ONE OF THE PULLED ITEMS. SO WHEN WE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, IT WILL NOT HAVE ITEM NUMBER 45 ON IT, THAT IS A PULLED ITEM.
MEMBERS, UH, YOU HEARD THAT THE CHAIR INDICATED THAT WE WOULD VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTING? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 10 AND VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND ONE ABSENCE MEMBERS.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS TAKE US TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UH, AS I PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, UH, THERE WERE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 54 THROUGH 57 WOULD BE CONDUCTED DURING THE COURSE OF THE, THE TESTIMONY WE JUST HEARD.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING HEARINGS ON ITEMS 54 THROUGH 57? HEARING NONE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
[58. Consider a resolution related to an application by ECG Daffan, LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Daffan Flats, located at or near 7400 Daffan Lane, Austin, Texas 78724. This item is related to item #55.]
US TO ITEMS 58 AND 59.DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 58? I'LL, UH, I'LL MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 58 SINCE, YEAH, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS THAT MOTION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 58? ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[59. Consider a resolution related to an application by Seabrook Housing LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Seabrook Square, located at or near 3511 and 3515 Manor Road, 59. Austin, Texas 78723. This item is related to item #56.]
59.IS THERE A MOTION MAYOR PROTEM MOVES TO ADOPT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 59? HEARING NONE.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 59? HEARING NONE.
THE ITEM NUMBER 59 IS ADOPTED.
WHAT ARE YOU TELLING ME? MEMBERS? WE'VE CONDUCTED PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS NUMBER 54 AND 57.
UH, THOSE ALSO REQUIRE ACTION.
[54. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting a site-specific amendment to City Code Section 25-8-514 of the Save Our Springs Initiative, granting variances to City Code Sections 25-8-364 and 25-8-641, and waiving requirements of City Code Sections 25-8-41 and 25-8-643 to allow construction of the Slaughter Lane Improvement Project from Loop 1 (MoPac) to 650 feet east of Brodie Lane, located at 5015 ½ West Slaughter Lane (SP-2022-0336D). This project is located within the Barton Springs Zone.]
ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 54 MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER[01:00:01]
54? HEARING NONE.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 54? HEARING NO OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 54 IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[57. Conduct a public hearing to consider an ordinance relating to the voluntary, full purpose annexation of approximately 11.9 acres located in Travis County at 10701 Dessau Road and to approve execution of an agreement with the owner of the land for the provision of services. Case number: C7a-2022-0012. The property is in Austin limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 1.]
57.WE CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING AND NOW, UH, THAT REQUIRES ACTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 57? UH, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO, TIM MOVES TO ADOPT IT.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 57? HEARING NONE.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO SHE DOES THIS EVERY WEEK.
ITEM 57 IS A OWNER INITIATED ANNEXATION AND THAT ANNEXATION WILL BE COMING BACK FOR THIRD READING NEXT WEEK.
SO I'M ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JUNE 8TH COUNCIL MEETING ON ITEM 57, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY AMENDMENT SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO THE MOTION? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES TO AMEND THE MOTION, UH, TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 57 UNTIL JUNE 8TH.
IT IS SECONDED BY, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO PASSAGE OF THE AMENDMENT OR DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.
THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH NOW IS TO POSTPONE THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 57 TO JUNE 8TH.
IS, UH, THERE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING ITEM NUMBER 57 UNTIL JUNE 8TH? HEARING NONE.
ITEM NUMBER 57 IS POSTPONED WITHOUT OBJECTION MEMBERS.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US BACK TO THE PULLED ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ITEM
[72. Approve a resolution adopting modifications to light rail and implementation plans related to Project Connect and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Austin Transit Partnership to incorporate the Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan and to negotiate other terms of the JPA related to financing and implementation of Project Connect.]
THAT HAS BEEN PULLED IS ITEM NUMBER 72.UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 72? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES TO APPROVE IT.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, UH, MEMBERS, IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 72? UH, AND I, I, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL, I'D LIKE TO START, UM, BECAUSE I'M, I'M REAL PLEASED WITH WHERE WE ARE ON THIS.
UH, I, I DON'T, THE AUSTIN LIGHT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT'S GONNA BE ADOPTED TODAY IS, AS I POINTED OUT ON TUESDAY,