[00:00:08]
COUNSEL, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, UH, AS YOU KNOW, CAN I GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION? THANK Y'ALL.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, UH, COUNSEL ALREADY KNOWS THAT EVERY SIX MONTHS WE ROTATE SEATS ON THE DIAS, UH, ONE CHANGE THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED.
AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO IT, UH, WE'LL IMPLEMENT.
IT WILL BE FOR THE MAYOR PRO TIM TO HAVE A PERMANENT SEAT TO THE LEFT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR AND WHEN THE MAYOR PRO TIM IS PRESIDING.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW IS THE CLERK IS GONNA WALK THE DIAS AND ASK YOU TO PULL A NUMBER CARD.
YOU'LL READ THE NUMBER OUT LOUD, UH, THE NUMBER THAT YOU SELECT, YOU'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD SO THAT THE INFORMATION'S CAPTURED.
THE NEW SEATING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AT THE FIRST MEETING AFTER THIS BUDGET BREAK.
SO IN JULY OF 2023, THEY'LL RUN UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2023 IN THE CHAMBERS AND IN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THE CHA IN THE CHAMBERS, THE SEATS NUMBER ONE IS ON THE WEST END OF THE DIAS, NEAR THE CLERK'S DESK, AND I'LL LET Y'ALL COUNT FROM THERE, UH, IN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM.
SEAT NUMBER ONE IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROOM, NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE ROOM.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER NUMBER FIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER NUMBER TWO.
HEY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES NUMBER EIGHT.
DID I? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, GO.
SEVEN SEVEN COUNCIL MAYOR PROTE.
I JUST PULLED ONE FOR NATASHA FOR NINE.
AND THEN THE MAYOR PROAM WILL SIT WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE CURRENTLY SITS.
THAT WILL ALL START, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR AND OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS IS SEAT FOUR.
NO, THEY WERE GONNA PUT THE WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
[Call to Order]
CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.IT IS 10:03 AM BUT LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THE ONLY REASON WE'RE NOT STARTING AT 10 IS BECAUSE WE JUST DID THAT.
I WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD.
UM, WE ARE MEETING AT, AT AUSTIN CITY HALL ON, UH, JUNE 8TH, 2023.
AUSTIN CITY HALL IS LOCATED, UH, 3 21 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, MEMBERS, HERE'S THE ORDER THAT I WAS THINKING WE WOULD GO IN.
UH, I WILL NEXT READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, INTO THE RECORD.
WE WILL THEN HAVE THE, UH, 10, WHAT NORMALLY IS CONSIDERED OUR 10:00 AM SPEAKERS.
THEY WILL BE ON CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT ITEMS AND PULLED ITEMS. UH, THE CONSENT WILL THEN HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA AND A VOTE.
UH, AS I INDICATED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY, WHAT I WILL DO IS THEN CALL THE AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING AND HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETINGS TO ORDER IN CASE THERE ARE SPEAKERS AND WE DON'T KEEP THEM WAITING.
WE WILL THEN GO TO POOLED ITEMS. WE WILL GO IN THE ORDER THAT, UH, OF SEVEN, ITEM 75.
THE REASON ITEM 75 IS, UM, IS PULLED, IS IT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON AFTER, UH, THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING.
UH, AND, AND THE HEARING THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED THEN ITEM 45, ITEM 40, ITEM 85, ITEM 84, ITEM 78.
I WILL THEN GO TO NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE ITEM 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, AND ITEM 88, WE'LL HAVE OUR 12:00 PM TIME CERTAIN ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND LIVE MUSIC.
AND THEN AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE WILL GO TO OUR ZONING ITEMS. MEMBERS.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH, 2023.ITEM 34 IS POSTPONED TO JULY 20TH, 2023.
[00:05:01]
ITEM NUMBER 39 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER 81.ITEM NUMBER 50 SHOULD READ, SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 25, I'M, I'M SORRY, CHAPTER 25 DASH FIVE INSTEAD OF 25 DASH TWO.
ITEM NUMBER 85 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON AS ONE OF THE SPONSORS.
ITEM NUMBER 89 SHOULD READ TO BE HEARD WITH THE 2:00 PM TIMES CERTAIN ZONING ITEMS. MEMBERS.
ALSO IN THE LATE BACKUP, YOU RECEIVED A BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS NOMINATIONS AND WAIVER SHEET.
IT INDICATES AT THE TOP THAT IT'S LAID BACK UP.
I NEED TO READ INTO THE RECORD THAT ONE NAME THAT WAS ON THERE IS NO LONGER ON THERE.
AND SINCE IT'S NO LONGER ON THERE, YOU WOULDN'T, PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT THAT CHANGE HAD BEEN MADE.
THE WAIVER OF THE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR MICHAEL LEVINE, PARENTHESIS OF 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, CLOSED PARENTHESIS WAS MOVED.
THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS. THOSE ARE ALL THE, UM, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
MAYOR, YES, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 42 AND ITEM 44, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEMS 42 AND 44.
NORMALLY WE DO THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, I'LL DO IT HOWEVER Y'ALL WANT, BUT I'M SORRY I DIDN'T, THAT THAT CHANGES THE CORRECTIONS THAT I'M REQUIRED TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
AND, AND IF WE CAN WAIT TILL THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THAT POINT, I WILL ASK, AS YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO BE ADDED ON ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA
[Public Comment]
MEMBERS? IT'S THE INTENT OF THE CHAIR TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AS ON, ON UNANIMOUS CONSENT.SO I, AFTER WE'VE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS, I WILL ASK IF ANYONE WANTS TO BE ADDED.
ANYONE WANTS TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL GO THROUGH RECUSALS AB ABSENCES, UH, AB ABSTENTIONS AND NO VOTES, BUT WE WILL START WITH COMMUNI COMMUNICATION ON THE CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THE FIRST, SORRY, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS FRANCIS AYA, SPEAKING ON 5 40 41, 45, 53, 78, AND 88.
UH, HI, UH, MY NAME IS FRANCIS AYA.
I'M A CLIENT RESILIENCE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY.
I'M A LONGTIME, UH, RESIDENT OF DUST SPRING, AND, UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND I WANNA SAY THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM FIVE, SETTING THE TAX EXCEPTIONS FOR RESIDENT HOMESTEAD OF THE INDIVIDUAL 65 AND OLDER, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE OF 124,000.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, UM, ISSUE.
AND, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ON THE TABLE, AND I DO HOPE THAT YOU PASS IT, UM, AGAINST ITEM 40 AND 41, THE DENSITY, BONUS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS HAVE NOT PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE WAY TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BECAUSE SO FAR THE BONUSES ARE FOR NEWCOMERS, FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE PD MF FIVE OF 60% OR HIGHER, OF WHICH NONE OF THESE ARE, ARE FOR LOW INCOME RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
CHANGING THE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WOULD WORK AGAINST WHAT IT'S INTENDED TO DO, WHICH IS TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT ACTIVITY CENTERS ALONG CORRIDORS, MEDIUM CORRIDORS, EH, THE VMU AND DENSITY BONUSES AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ARE NOT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
THEY ARE TO DUPLICATE WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN THE EAST AUSTIN, AND NOW IT, IT'S HAPPENING IN MONOPOLI.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ITEM 78 FROM NEUTRAL TO AGAINST, UH, RELATED DATELAND, UH, SUBMITTAL DATES FOR ZONING AND REZONING APPLICATIONS BECAUSE, UM, IT'S JUST A LITTLE SENTENCE AND IT HAS TOO MANY THINGS BEHIND IT.
[00:10:01]
UH, WE NEED TO TAKE TIME IN ORDER TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR EV EVERYONE, NOT JUST A ONE-SIDED DECISION.THANK YOU, SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BUSH HEATHMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 38.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID FZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 40 41 AND 45.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVID FOUTS AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND HAS THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH I JOINED TO HELP WITH OUR SELF-INFLICTED HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH BALLOONING PROPERTY TAXES THAT HAVE INCREASED SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH EACH YEAR.
WHEN WE FIRST BECAME HOMEOWNERS IN 2020, OUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT WAS MANAGEABLE AND ALLOWED MY WIFE TO NOT WORK SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A SECOND CHILD AND FOR ME TO PURSUE FURTHER EDUCATION.
NOW IN SPITE OF TWO ADDITIONAL STREAMS OF INCOME AND MY TUITION PAYMENTS COMPLETE, WE SHOULD BE DOING WELL AND BUILDING UP OUR SAVINGS.
INSTEAD, OUR RISING HOUSING COSTS ARE EATING UP A HUGE PORTION OF OUR ADDITIONAL INCOME AND LEAVING US LIVING ONE FINANCIAL DISASTER AWAY FROM CRISIS.
THE THING IS, MY FRIENDS WHO ARE RENTERS HAVE FAR WORSE OFF THAN WE DO, AND THIS IS WHY I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 45, 40 AND 41 COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS I WISH TO ADDRESS IN PARTICULAR, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE INHERENTLY REGRESSIVE.
THEY TREAT LOWER INCOME RENTERS AND BUILDINGS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AS HAZARDS THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT FROM MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE USING UP MORE SCARCE LAND.
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BACKWARDS AND INEQUITABLE WAY TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING AND CLIMATE CRISIS THAT EXPLICITLY PLACES THE PERSONAL PREFERENCES OF FEWER BUT MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE OVER THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF MORE NUMEROUS BUT LESS AFFLUENT FOLKS.
SO I BEG YOU BE BOLD IN HOW YOU LOWER COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS EVEN GOING SHORTER THAN 100 FEET.
UH, WHILE THE CONCEPT OF COMPATIBILITY IS ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE, I DO BELIEVE THAT 50 FEET IS A MORE THAN REASONABLE COMPROMISE AND IS VERY CONSISTENT WITH NORMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED COLLECTIVELY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA AGUIRE SPEAKING ON ITEM 45 AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AGUIRE, I'M A DISTRICT RESIDENT.
I'M THE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM AND THE PRESIDENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO ITEM 45, REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
HOW WILL THIS PROPOSED POLICY OR CHANGES IMPROVEMENT DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN PRESENT? HOW IS TRUE AFFORDABILITY GOING TO BE ADDRESSED TO ENSURE RESIDENTS ARE NOT DISPLACED? THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN EAST AUSTINSON ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE WE ARE NOT DISPLACED.
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE EXPERIENCING A LOWER OP OPPORTUNITY OR FEWER OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT COMPROMISED.
UH, WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT IS WORKED HARD FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT MIGHT BE, WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A LUXURY FOR SOME IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR.
I LIVE IN A SMALL PROP, UM, PROPERTY, AND THAT IS FOR ME, MY, MY CASTLE.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT HAVE WORKED HARD FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND NOT BE AT THE MERCY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OF RENTERS, WHICH I HAD TO WORK FOR SEVEN YEARS, UH, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME.
UM, AND I DO RECOGNIZE WE DO NEED AFFORDABLE RENTAL, UM, OPTIONS BECAUSE IT TOOK ME SEVEN YEARS TO, UH, REACH THAT OPPORTUNITY.
PLEASE PROTECT THE COMMUNITY OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID KING, SPEAKING ON ITEM 58.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS TODAY.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE SAFE FENCING CODE AMENDMENT UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER? YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, THAT'S BETTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS TODAY.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE SAFE FENCING CODE AMENDMENT UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT WILL HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURIES AND DEATHS TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS FROM ENTAILMENT AND ENTRAPMENT WITHOUT DECREASING SECURITY FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.
AND WITHOUT IMPOSING NEW PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS, THE AMENDMENT PROHI PROHIBITS NEW SPIKED FENCING THAT CREATES A RISK OF IMPAIRMENT AND ESTABLISHES MINIMUM SPACING DISTANCES BETWEEN PICKETS TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF ENTRAPMENT.
THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT ADD REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUSINESSES AND DOES NOT REQUIRE REMEDIATION OF EXISTING FENCES UNLESS MORE THAN 50% OF THE FENCE BEING REPLACED OTHER SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING V CAVES, SUNSET CITY, LAKEWAY, AND ROLLINGWOOD HAVE ENACTED SAFE FENCING REGULATIONS TO HELP PREVENT AND REDUCE INJURIES AND DEATHS FROM IMPOUNDMENT AND ENTRAPMENT.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT WILL HELP PREVENT AND REDUCE INJURIES AND DEATHS DUE TO DANGEROUS FENCING.
I DEDICATE MY COMMENTS, CONDOLENCES IN LOVE, SIR, WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING YOU.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN GET A BETTER CONNECTION WITH HIM.
OKAY, I'LL, I'LL CALL BACK IN.
AND FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US ALL YOUR COMMENTS TOO.
WE'D, WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM.
WELL, MAY, MAY I CALL BACK IN AND MAKE MY COMMENTS? I, I WOULD SAY YES, I WAS ABLE TO HEAR IT AND WE GOT YOU ON CLOSED CAPTIONING, BUT I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WEREN'T ABLE TO HEAR, SO I WOULD, I WOULD HATE TO MISS YOUR TESTIMONY.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO CLERK AND HAVE HIM CALL BACK IN? YES, HE CAN CALL BACK IN.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON BRAM SPEAKING ON ITEM 74.
OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS JASON BRAM AND I'M A 24 YEAR AUSTIN RESIDENT AND DISTRICT A I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 74.
I RECENTLY SERVED 15 YEARS ON THE CIRCLE C HOA BOARD OF OF DIRECTORS, AND HAVE BEEN AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CITY AND A P D FOR MANY YEARS.
I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS DEFENDER POLICE SUPPLY THAT SPECIALIZES IN A L P R.
I AM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF A L P R FOR FINDING MISSING PERSONS STOLEN VEHICLES AND SOLVING CRIMES.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO COUNSEL ON A P D MANY TIMES SINCE THE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED TO TRY TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON THIS CONTRACT.
I HAVE BEEN IGNORED AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT AND AN AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESS.
MY OWN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS FULLY IGNORED MY CALLS AND EMAILS.
I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON THIS IF DATA IS AN ISSUE.
OUR SOLUTION OFFERS AN ON-PREMISES OPTION WHERE THE DATA NEVER LEAVES THE FOUR WALLS OF A P D OR WHEREVER THE SERVER RESIDES.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO GO TO A CLOUD SERVER FOR PROCESSING A BLOCK.
YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF WHEN TOCH THE DATA WHO MANUFACTURES THE CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE HAS BEEN IN THE, A BUSINESS SINCE THE 1980S.
IT A PROVEN SOLUTION THAT SAN ANTONIO PD AND THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS FUSION CENTER USES.
I'M ASKING FOR A MORE OPEN BIDDING PROCESS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MY CITY AND MY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CLERK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, MR. BRAM.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.
I KNOW AT LEAST ANOTHER COUNCIL OFFICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE, UM, BEEN ABLE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND APOLOGIZE IF YOU FEEL AT ALL THAT, UH, YOU'VE BEEN IGNORED, BUT WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN IN COMMUNICATION.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE MANAGER.
I'VE, I'VE ASKED THE, UH, THE PURCHASING OFFICER AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER THIS AREA TO, UH, TO, UH, CALL HIM AND VISIT WITH HIM ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS AND, UH, WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR PURCHASING PROCESS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON 22 29, 37 AND 84.
MAYOR, CAN YOU, BEFORE YOU START MY TIME AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE IF 57 SHOWS ME REGISTERING IN PERSON YESTERDAY? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND
[00:20:01]
THE QUESTION.WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE, UH, GO AHEAD AND, AND PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY AND I'LL, I'LL CHECK ON, UH, WHERE YOU, WHAT NUMBERS YOU WERE ACTUALLY REGISTERED FOR, BUT I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
MS. DENOIA, JOSEPH, YOU ARE REGISTERED FOR 57 AS WELL.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.
MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM 57.
THAT IS YOUR FY 2324 ACTION PLAN.
I HAVE FILED A TITLE SIX COMPLAINT JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED AGAINST YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL CO-MINGLING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE ANNUAL UPDATE TO HUD ACTUALLY DENIES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BOTH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALSO THE AGENDA ITEMS. I HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED TODD TO REJECT YOUR 2324 ACTION PLAN AND TO ALLOW AND TO COMPEL YOU TO ACTUALLY HOLD SEPARATE HEARINGS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 84.
THAT'S THE RYAN AL ALTER AMENDMENT, UH, FROM HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
I DID DO A RECON THERE YESTERDAY, 28, 24 REAL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REAL OR RAL STREET, WHICH IS BY THE MLK, UM, RAIL STATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A GOOD LOCATION, BUT MY OPPOSITION IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FOR THE OTHER ITEMS, UM, THAT ARE IN THE LETTER FROM THE COALITION, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE CANOPY, I AM FOR THAT AND JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT CANOPY IS THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY RESOURCE, BUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN, UH, DOCUMENTARIES THAT I'VE REQUESTED THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH CANOPY ARE ALSO NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY BECAUSE OF THEIR VENDORS THAT THEY'VE SELECTED.
SO I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO CONSIDER AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS FOR BLACK BOOKS OR MORE.
UM, AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY AS IT RELATES TO THE HOMELESSNESS, SALVATION ARMY AND THE ARCH, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND THOSE CONTRACTS, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WEST OF MOPAC, THERE ARE LOTS OF, UM, OPPORTUNITIES AND LAND.
AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE HUD ACTION PLAN, WHICH MENTIONS THE HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY YOUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING HAS YET TO CONSIDER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL WILLINGLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
FOR NOW, UM, WE TRY TO CALL MR. KING AND MR. HEATHMAN AND THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING.
BUT, UM, FOR NOW, WE'LL GO BACK TO, WE WILL GO TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MELISSA BROWN.
ONCE YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE, UM, STATE YOUR NAME.
HELLO, I'M MELISSA BROWN, AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 45, WHICH IS ON THE COMPATIBILITY.
UM, I WORK HERE FOR A DEVELOPER HERE IN AUSTIN, AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROJECTS WHERE WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE STUDIES.
UM, IF WE REDUCE THE COMPATIBILITY SETBACK REQUIREMENT, WE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE, UM, MANY HOMES, UH, THE AMOUNT OF HOMES ON THE MAJOR CORRIDORS, UM, IN AUSTIN.
AND ALSO WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE ARE CERTAIN PROJECTS WHERE YOU MAY INCREASE AS MANY AS 50 UNITS OR 50 HOMES ON A PROJECT, OR A HUNDRED.
AND WE'VE GONE AND DONE THESE STUDIES BASED ON WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED PRIOR TO THIS, UM, AMENDMENT, AND THEN ALSO TO LOOK AT HOW MANY HOMES AND HOW THIS COMPATIBILITY AND HOW WE CAN ADD THESE THINGS AFFECT MORE THAN JUST THE HOMES IN THE CITY.
IT AFFECTS THE WAY OUR CITY IS CONTINUING TO GROW.
WE RIGHT NOW ARE LOSING SO MANY GREAT TEACHERS BECAUSE TO OTHER AREAS IN OTHER, UM, UM, IN OTHER, UM, COUNTIES, SORRY, BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO LIVE HERE AND THE LACK OF HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE MANY MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND REDUCING THE SETBACK IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP INCREASE ON THE MAJOR CORRIDORS IN AUSTIN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS GU PENA SPEAKING ON 3 18, 29, 36, AND 37 ON DECK IS MONICA GUZMAN.
I AM FROM, UH, 2327 EAST FIFTH STREET, THEK, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE MY HOMETOWN IS AT RIGHT NOW, LIKE
ANYWAY, FOR YOU COPS OVER THERE, THEY'RE PROFILING ME.
I'M A FORMER IRS INVESTIGATOR, WENT THROUGH THE SHERIFF, THE, UH, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY OF GLENCO, GEORGIA.
[00:25:01]
THE PROFILING.DON'T DO THAT WITH ME BECAUSE YOU
ANYWAY, A NUMBER, UH, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE? 30 37.
AND, UM, LET ME SEE REAL QUICKLY.
UH, THIS, THIS IS VERY CRUCIAL FOR THE AUSTIN RESEARCH CENTER, FOR THE HOMELESS ARCH, AND, UH, THEY, UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE EVERY I I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN HOMELESS, I'VE BEEN THERE, BUT PLEASE ALSO CONTINUE TO HELP OUT THE, THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR, FOR, UH, INFORMATION OR FOR, UH, DIRECT SERVICES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON THIS ISSUE.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND, UM, UH, APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU AGAIN THIS MUCH, UH, OFFICERS, UH, DON'T PROFILE ME.
YOU'RE PROFILING THE WRONG PERSON, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY, GLEN COURT, GEORGIA IRS INVESTIGATOR.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING ON 5 40, 41, 43, 45, 47, 48, 50, 53, 78, AND 88 ON DECK IS JJ RAMIREZ.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
AUSTIN GAVA IS OPPOSED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LACKING ASSURANCES OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FAILING TO PROTECT VULNERABLE RESIDENTS FROM POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL DISPLACEMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, VE WAS CORRECT WHEN HE SAID LOW INCOME AND WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS RENT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HOMEOWNERS OR WANT TO BE HOMEOWNERS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO STAY IN RENTER STATUS ABOUT ITEM 40.
LINES 22 TO 24 ARE MISLEADING SINCE A MARKET DRIVEN APPROACH IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
LINE 30 STATING QUOTE, AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE LOWEST MEDIUM FAMILY INCOMES POSSIBLE IS VAGUE AT BEST.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD MANY SPEAKERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, ABOUT 60 AND 80% MFI BEING INADEQUATE, BEING TOO HIGH FROM MANY COMMUNITIES.
WE URGE YOU TO STATE AN ACTUAL INCOME CEILING AS WELL AS ENSURING PROCESSES FOR THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO THOSE TRULY IN NEED, NOT THOSE WHO APPEAR TO BE IN NEED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TOO AND SOLUTIONS FOR REDUCING BARRIERS TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES.
ABOUT ITEM 45, HOW CLOSE A DEVELOPMENT IS OR IS NOT TO A TRIGGERING PROPERTY IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF AFFORDABILITY.
HOW TALL IT IS OR ISN'T IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF AFFORDABILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT ON LACK OF AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
IN ITEM 45, COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ABSTAIN FROM CAUSING MORE HARM TO GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS, TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON RESIDENT LED L D C AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, MITIGATION OF DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITABLE PROSPERITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JJ DAM RAMIREZ, SPEAKING ON ITEMS 29 AND 83.
I'M ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS AT THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE, AND UH, I'M SPEAKING ON, UH, THE SALVATION ARMY LEASE AGREEMENT AND THE, THE URBAN ALCHEMY TAKEOVER OF THAT.
UM, WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNFORTUNATE, RIGHT, THAT EVERYBODY HAD TO BE KICKED OUT OF THE SALLY BEFORE ANYTHING WAS DONE.
UM, BUT OPENING UP, OPENING IT, REBACK UP OR TRYING TO LEASE IT IS A GOOD, IS A GOOD MOVE.
UM, ALSO WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALSO JUST FOR ONE YEAR.
SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY FOR TWO SHELTER SYSTEMS THAT ARE ONLY GONNA OPERATE FOR ONE YEAR, AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WITH THIS SHELTER SYSTEM, IT CAN'T JUST BE A LOW MAX WAREHOUSE WITH DORMITORY STYLE, UH, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY LIKE AT THE MARSHALING CENTER, THERE NEEDS TO BE SERVICES TIED TO THIS.
IS THERE A PLAN FOR HOUSING AFTER THIS? ARE THERE CASE MANAGERS GOING TO BE THERE? UM, AS THERE'RE GONNA BE HARM REDUCTION, UH, UH, SERVICES LED THERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING AS BASIC AS NARCAN, RIGHT? UM, SO IT'S GOOD THAT IT'S GETTING PASSED, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, UM, IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE OUT VERY MUCH.
SEEMS LIKE A TEMPORARY BANDAID TO LOOK GOOD.
LIKE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO OPEN UP THIS SHELTER SYSTEMS FOR ONE YEAR.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE PLANS THAT EXTEND LONGER THAN THE ONE YEAR, NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TEMPORARILY WITH NOTHING SO THEY CAN JUST GO RIGHT BACK OUT TO THE STREET.
LIKE I SAID, IT IS GOOD THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S BEING OPEN.
IT DOES SERVE, IT DOES HELP SERVE THE NEED THAT THAT WAS LOST WHEN THE SALVATION ARMY JUST, UM, EXITED THE SYSTEM WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY.
UM, ADDITIONALLY TO THE, UH, TO THE ANALYSIS, IT'S GONNA BE RAN IN THE CITY FOR THE SHELTER CAPACITY.
THE OTHER LINE ITEM, UM, REALLY HAPPY THAT IT'S HAPPENING, REALLY NEEDS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE.
[00:30:01]
NEEDS TO INCLUDE, UH, YOU KNOW, WOMEN, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, IDENTITIES, RACIAL IDENTITIES, GENDER IDENTITIES.THE SALVATION ARMY WAS THE LARGEST, UH, WOMEN RAN ONLY, OR NOT ONLY, BUT THE LARGEST WOMEN, UH, SEL SYSTEM IN THE CITY.
AND SO IF THESE COMP, THESE ANALYSIS AREN'T TAKEN INTO THOSE ACCOUNTS, UM, THEN WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ETHAN SMITH SPEAKING ON ITEM 40.
UM, IT'S KIND OF WONKY, SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TALK ABOUT.
UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ZOOM OUT, UM, FROM NEWSWEEK THIS WEEK DURING THE TWO THOUSANDS HOUSING CRASH, IT TOOK AUSTIN 43 MONTHS TO FALL, 8.5% PEAK TO TROUGH.
THIS TIME AROUND AUSTIN HAS FALLEN OVER 10% IN JUST NINE MONTHS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS, THE SO-CALLED HOUSING CRISIS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP TO BE PRECISE IN WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK WE CERTAINLY HAD A CRISIS THAT WAS THE FIRST END OF THE BUBBLE AS WE HAVE THIS MASS MIGRATION RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.
UM, ITEM 40 SEEMS TO BE, IT TALKS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE ABOUT DENSITY.
AND I REALLY WONDER IF YOU CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS THERE.
CAN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S ABOUT BOTH DENSITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR IS IT GONNA BE ONE OR THE OTHER? AND I THINK IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO ONE OR THE OTHER.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT DENSITY.
AND, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE ALREADY HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO KIND OF DO A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY DISTRICT UNO, WHICH HAS BEEN A DENSITY INCREASE, TOTAL EXPERIMENT, DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD WORK OR NOT.
CAN WE LOOK BACK AND SAY, THESE THINGS WORKED, THESE THINGS DIDN'T WORK SO WELL.
AND FIND OUT SOME ACTUAL, JUST START FROM, YOU KNOW, RAW EMPIRICISM.
THESE WERE HOW THE RATES CHANGED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IS THAT IN ANY MEANINGFUL PERIOD, THE COST OF LIVING IN WEST CAMPUS, ALTHOUGH THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN HAS GONE UP EVERYWHERE IN AUSTIN, THE COST OF LIVING IN WEST CAMPUS HAS GONE UP THE MOST OF ANY GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN ALL OF AUSTIN.
I WOULD, I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, BUT I'D BE WILLING TO BET.
UM, AND, UM, SO YEAH, ARE THESE DENSITY BONUSES THAT KINDA HAVE THIS WINDOW DRESSING OF WE'RE GONNA, AND AND ALSO THEY ARE SUBSIDIZED UNITS.
THEY'RE NOT SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE, BUT THEY'RE SUBSIDIZED BY THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A FIVE-STORY BUILDING AND IT BECOMES A 10 STORY BUILDING, ALL THE PROFITS THE DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA MAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AS PART OF THAT IS GONNA PAY FOR THE SUBSIDIZED UNITS.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO REMOTE.
WE'VE GOT DAVID KING ON THE LINE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? UM, YOU'RE STILL CUTTING OUT, BUT GO AHEAD AND TRY.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M JUST GONNA SEND MY COMMENTS IN, BUT I WANTED TO JUST, IF I COULD JUST, I'LL TRY AGAIN.
UH, BUT, UH, YOU HEARD MY COMMENTS PREVIOUSLY.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE SAFE FENCING CODE AMENDMENT, AND I DEDICATE MY COMMENTS AND SEND MY CONDOLENCES AND LOVE TO JULIE, DAMIAN AND HER FAMILY WHOSE SON KAY DIED FROM ASPHYXIATION ON A SPIKED FENCE.
I URGE YOU TO PASS WHAT I CALL THE KAY DAMIAN SAFE FENCING ORDINANCE.
WE WERE ABLE TO REACH MR. HEATHMAN AND HE WISHES TO WITHDRAW HIS STATEMENT.
UM, SO BACK TO IN PERSON JESSICA LEHMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 40 ON DECK IS EDWIN BATISTA.
I'M JESSICA LEMON, SENIOR ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR A A R P TEXAS.
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE SEEN A MISMA MISMATCH BETWEEN THE AVAILABLE HOUSING STOCK AND WHAT THE MARKET WANTS AND NEEDS.
THE NATION, INCLUDING AUSTIN, IS MOSTLY MISSING AND NEEDS A SET OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING TYPES THAT EXIST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTINUUM BETWEEN DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES AND LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THE SO-CALLED MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE SOLUTION.
SUCH MID-SIZED, OFTEN MODERATELY PRICED HOMES ARE REFERRED TO AS MISSING BECAUSE VERY FEW HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE US SINCE THE 1940S.
THE SHORTAGE IS LARGELY DUE TO ZONING CONSTRAINTS, THE SHIFT TO CAR-CENTRIC PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE CHALLENGES OF FINANCING MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS.
AND WE FIND THAT TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BENEFITS OF THIS LARGELY MISSING HOUSING TYPES, BOUND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES PROVIDE SIZE AND AFFORDABILITY OPTIONS THAT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING OLDER ADULTS, VERY MUCH NEED, BUT OFTEN CAN'T FIND.
SINCE THE DWELLINGS ARE HOUSE SCALED, THE DESIGN AND SIZE OF
[00:35:01]
THE BUILDINGS FIT COMFORTABLY AMONG DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.AND THE HOUSING TYPES CAN ENABLE FAMILY MEMBERS TO LIVE WITH OR NEAR OTHERS WHILE HAVING THEIR OWN SPACE OR RESIDENTS MAKING FAMILY CAREGIVING EASIER.
WHETHER IT'S GRANDPARENTS HELPING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN OR GROWN ADULTS CARING FOR THEIR AGING PARENTS, HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND DECADES OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES SUCH AS REDLINING HAVE DENIED HOME OWNERSHIP TO MANY.
AND BECAUSE THE ENTRY LEVEL PURCHASE COST IS LESS THAN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES CAN PROVIDE PEOPLE OF VARIOUS INCOMES AND EXPERIENCES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND OWN QUALITY HOUSING AND BUILD EQUITY WHILE DOING SO.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION AND POTENTIAL FUTURE, FUTURE ORDINANCE THAT COULD RESULT FROM IT IS A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS INCREASING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING STOCK IN AUSTIN.
AND OF COURSE, WE HOPE THAT AS AN ORDINANCE IS DEVELOPED, SHOULD THIS PASS AN ORDINANCES DEVELOPED FROM IT THAT THEY'VE TAKEN ALL OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS EDWIN BALTISTA.
SPEAKING ON 40 AND 41 ON DECK IS CHRISTIAN CHOP SPEAKING ON 40 41 AND 45.
IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
NEXT SPEAKER IS EDGAR HANDEL CHRISTIAN SHAPEY.
UM, SO, UH, THERE ARE THREE REALLY EXCITING, UH, RESOLUTIONS BEING CONSIDERED TODAY.
UH, FIRST IS A LESS STRINGENT TIER FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, UH, THAT FILLS A GAP THAT EXISTING TIERS DO NOT.
SO I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT ONE.
UH, SECOND IS A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM TO PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP WITH WITHOUT REQUIRING SUBSIDY PROGRAMS THAT FILLS A GAP NEEDED TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AUSTINITES INSTEAD OF MCMANSIONS.
UM, THIRD ARE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES.
SO I, I LIVE, UH, ABOUT A MILE FROM CAMP MABE, UH, AND CAMP MABRY IS ZONED AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
AND SINCE CAMP MABRY, THIS, THIS ARMY CAMP IS ZONED AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
YOU CAN'T BUILD, UH, TO THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MOPAC.
AND, UH, THIS, UH, THIS COMPATIBILITY CHANGE WILL GO, UH, A LONG WAY TO ENSURE THAT A PROPERTY HAS TO BE BOTH ZONED AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND THEN ACTUALLY BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN ORDER FOR COMPATIBILITY RULES TO APPLY.
SO THIS ISN'T JUST ALL ABOUT SETBACKS, ALTHOUGH CHANGING THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT I, I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY WORTH STATING AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES.
THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.
EDWIN BATISTA ON DECK IS EDGAR HANDEL.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU REACH THE PODIUM.
UH, I LIVE WITH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'VE COME HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 40 41 AND 45.
THIS IS CITY DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE HOUSING IN THESE DENSITY PROGRAMS AND COMPATIBILITY REFORMS ARE A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WOULD NOTE THAT AUSTIN FAR HAS FAR AND AWAY SOME OF THE WORST COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THE NATION.
MOST OF OUR PEER CITIES HAVE RELATIVELY SMALL OR NO COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND STILL HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND THRIVING SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
COMPATIBILITY HAS DONE LITTLE TO NOTHING TO STOP EAST AUSTIN FROM BEING REDEVELOPED INTO MILLION DOLLAR HOMES OR TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF ITS RESIDENTS.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES IS PREVENT AUSTIN FROM PRO PREVENT AUSTIN FROM PROPERLY PLANNING FOR GROWTH, IT HAMPERS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, AND DEEPENS OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
I HOPE WE CAN PASS THESE RESOLUTIONS, LIMIT COMPATIBILITY TO 50 FEET OR LESS, AND IMPROVE OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE MORE HOUSING OF ALL TYPES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALENE VERANI SPEAKING ON ITEMS 40 41 45.
ON DECK IS JUDAH RICE AND LUIS LUGA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALAN BARRAN.
I'M GRATEFUL TO GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL.
UM, I LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL MUELLER, UM, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UH, I'M A RENTER AND I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS A RENTER, BUT I ALSO WANNA SPEAK IN FAVOR OF A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS FORCED TO LEAVE AUSTIN.
SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, BUT COULD NO LONGER AFFORD TO LEAVE HERE, SO SHE HAD TO LEAVE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY COMMON STORY THESE DAYS AND QUITE TRAGIC.
UM, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE
[00:40:01]
AUSTIN AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF 40, 41 AND 45.YOU KNOW, PART OF MY QUESTION HERE IS WHO IS INCOMPATIBLE, RIGHT? MY FRIEND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPATIBLE IN A LOT MORE PLACES AS A RENTER.
UM, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE AS TEACHERS OR FIREFIGHTERS OR ARTISTS SHOULD BE FOUND MORE COMPATIBLE IN MORE AREAS THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY.
LET'S TRY TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM LEAVING AUSTIN, AND WE CAN DO THAT BY SUPPORTING THESE GREAT AMENDMENTS.
ON DECK IS LUIS OSTA LUGO, AND FOLLOWING IS PETER BRITON.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 40 41 AND 45.
UM, AND I JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS CITY IS EXPERIENCING A PRETTY HISTORIC HOUSING SHORTAGE OF ALL TYPES FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS IN ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY.
UM, I'M A LIFELONG AUSTIN RESIDENT.
I'VE GROWN UP IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS JUST SOUTH OF THE RIVER, AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THAT HAS EXPERIENCING A PARTICULARLY STARK AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
UM, AND THAT'S, AND YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE COMPATIBILITY ARE WHAT HAMPER THE ABILITY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THERE'S A PROJECT JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM ME THAT WAS CREATED, UM, AS PART OF ONE OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS THAT COUNCIL RECENTLY PASSED THE VM U TWO ZONING THAT DID HAVE SOME COMPATIBILITY REFORMS PUT INTO IT.
AND THAT IS LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO BE BUILT ANYWHERE NEAR ME RECENTLY.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO PUT SOME SMALL COMPATIBILITY REFORMS INTO THAT PACKAGE.
UM, ALSO IT'S ON THE, IN ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT, UM, THESE REFORMS ARE CRUCIAL TO ENSURING PROPER IMPLEMENTA PROPER IMPLEMENTATION AND HIGH RIDERSHIP ON PROJECT CONNECT IN OUR PROJECT CONNECT CORRIDORS, ESPECIALLY ALONG CORRIDORS LIKE SOUTH CONGRESS AND GUADALUPE COMPATIBILITY THAT AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, WILL PREVENT ANY SORT OF TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT COUNCIL WANTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S, THE 550 PLUS FOOT RANGE FOR COMPATIBILITY IS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, LIMITING HEIGHTS ALONG RIGHT NEXT TO OUR TRANSIT STOPS.
SO I'M STRONGLY ENCOURAGING COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THESE ITEMS TODAY.
IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN CREATING AFFORDABILITY, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND I'M A, I'M A BIG FAN OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S PROPOSAL AS WELL, UM, AROUND EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNER HOME OWNERSHIP.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIS OSTA LUGO SPEAKING ON 40 41 AND 45.
I'M LUIS SOTA LUGO, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON 40, 41 AND 45.
UM, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE OTHER FOLKS HERE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE POLICY AND IT'S A GOOD POLICY.
PEOPLE FUNDAMENTALLY CANNOT BE INCOMPATIBLE.
AFFORDABILITY FOR HOMES AND RENTERS, BOTH ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, IS AFFORDABLE ABILITY A PROBLEM MUST BE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT CITY WITH DIFFERENT RENT PRIZES THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY NEVER SEEN ACTUALLY IN PERSON, RIGHT? COMPATIBILITY AT A HUNDRED FEET WOULD STILL PUT US MANY MULTIPLES FURTHER, MORE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION THAT HAS BEEN FACING THESE PROBLEMS. AFFORDABILITY, UH, COMPATIBILITY AT 50 FEET WOULD STILL PUT US WAY OUT OF LINE WITH IT, WITH ALL OF WHAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE DONE TO FIGHT AFFORDABILITY.
SO I FUNDAMENTALLY DON'T BELIEVE INCOMPATIBILITY AS A FUNDAMENTAL RULE BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF MY COMMUNITY.
I WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE WHEREVER THEY NEED TO LIVE AND WANT TO LIVE TO BE PART OF THEIR LIFE.
THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY SOMETHING THAT IS JUST A PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN, LIVE IN A CITY, LIVE IN A SOCIETY.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL EXCLUDED FROM WHERE WE ACTUALLY MAKE OUR LIVES TOGETHER AND BUILD OUR FAMILIES AND HAVE SCHOOLS AND GO TO, YOU KNOW, LIVE TOGETHER.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, I TRY TO KEEP A LOT OF MY COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL AND UH, PUBLIC POLICY RELATED, BUT IT REALLY INFURIATES ME, PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNITY WHEN THEY REALLY MEAN EXCLUSION AND PEOPLE BASICALLY TALK ABOUT NEW HOUSING, LIKE IT'S SOME SORT OF DISEASE THAT IS AFFECTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IF THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE THEIR PUB, THEIR PERSONAL WEALTH BY ARTIFICIALLY CHOKING OUT THE HOUSING SUPPLY, THEY CAN DO SO, BUT THEY'RE DOING SO OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE WAY THAT I WAS RAISED AND THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITIES
[00:45:01]
OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME WERE RAISED, IT'S ABOUT INCLUSION, IT'S ABOUT FAMILY, AND IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A PLACE THAT EVERYONE CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BELONG.UM, IT'S TRUE THAT AFFORDABILITY CANNOT BE FULLY SOLVED BY MARKET SOLUTIONS, BUT BECAUSE THIS CITY HAS CHOSEN TO DOUBLE DOWN IN CAR DEPENDENT ROLE, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND THE FUNDING AND THE STATE SUPPORT TO DO SOCIAL HOUSING.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER BRITON SPEAKING ON 40 41 AND 45 ON DECK IS SKAR NALU, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, MAYOR, I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A WONDERFUL MORNING ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.
I AM CURRENTLY A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND SOON TO BE OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M HERE IN SPORT OF THREE ITEMS, ITEM 40, THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, ITEM 41, THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED DENSITY PROGRAM, AND ITEM 45 ON COMPATIBILITY.
AS A RENTER, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THE LACK OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY OR AVAILABILITY HAS CREATED AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
I THINK EACH OF THESE ITEMS ARE GREAT STEPS FORWARD IN INCREASING OUR HOUSING SUPPLY, EVEN IF THEY MAY NOT SOLVE OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ENTIRELY.
ADDITIONALLY, MORE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE DONE FOR THE EASTERN CRESCENT IN TERMS OF HOUSING OPTIONS AND DEEP AFFORDABILITY.
SRI NALU ON 40 41 AND 45 ON DECK IS FELICITY MAXWELL.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE FOR EIGHT YEARS AS OF YESTERDAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE UP FOR DEBATE ON, UH, HOUSING, UH, SPECIFICALLY MORE DENSITY AND HOPEFULLY HELPING MORE AFFORDABILITY.
UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY, I BELIEVE PEOPLE BEFORE ME HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT I THINK LIKE THE CURRENT COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS, WHICH IT'S IN THE NAME RESTRICTIONS, UH, RESTRICT BUILDINGS, UH, AND WHEN WE SAY WE RESTRICT BUILDINGS, WHAT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT IS RESTRICTING MORE PEOPLE FROM LIVING HERE.
UH, AND I DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T LIVED IN AUSTIN AS LONG AS PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN HERE MAYBE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHARACTER OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT CHARACTER IS FORMED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, LIKE THE MUSICIANS.
AND THE MAJORITY OF MY FRIENDS WHO LIVED IN AUSTIN WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MOVE OUT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING COSTS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
I THINK WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE PEOPLE OVER RESTRICTING WHAT BUILDINGS LOOK LIKE.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, DO WHAT ALMOST EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY HAS DONE, UH, BECAUSE AS WAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, UH, WAY OVER EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THESE REFORMS AND, UH, I REALLY HOPE THEY SUCCEED.
FELICITY MAXWELL SPEAKING ON ITEMS 40 41 AND 45 ON DECK IS MEGAN MEISENBACH.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS FELICITY MAXWELL AND I'M A D FIVE RESIDENT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE DIAS, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN WILL BE IN BUDGET SEASON AS WE CONSIDER, UH, WHERE AND HOW TO SPEND OUR CITY FUNDS.
WE OFTEN HEAR THAT THE CITY BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
SO TOO IS OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
FROM THE BROAD STROKES OF HOW AND WHERE WE CAN BUILD THE SMALLEST DETAILS OF THE SIZE OF A PIPE OR THE HEIGHT OF A, WE KNOW THAT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AS IT EXISTS TODAY IN AUSTIN, HAS FAILED A GENERATION OF OUR CITY PERPETUATING INEQUITY AND LONG HELD DIVISIONS.
THE HOUSING REFORMS PROPOSED TODAY ARE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO BEGIN THE MUCH NEEDED REFORM OF THIS MORAL DOCUMENT.
WE KNOW THE HOU AUSTIN HAS A HOUSING CRISIS, AS IN DESPERATE NEED OF BOTH MORE AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE HOUSING.
THESE REFORMS WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RENTERS AND POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BEGIN THE PROCESS OF UNLOCKING KEY PARTS OF OUR CITY, GROWING CITY TO ADDITIONAL DENSITY CRITICAL CHANGE FOR OUR GLOWING CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
FINALLY, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ENSURE PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE AND COUNTY.
ANOTHER ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF EASING OUR OVERALL HOUSING CRISIS.
THE STATED VISION OF THE CITY IS TO MAKE AUSTIN THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
I'M SURE WE'LL ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVEN'T QUITE REACHED THAT GOAL.
HOWEVER, LOOKING CLOSELY AT OUR MORAL DOCUMENTS, LIKE OUR BUDGETS AND OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND BEGINNING TO REFORM THEM TO BE MORE ALIGNED WITH THE SHIFTING NEEDS OF OUR CITY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.
WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE HOUSING ITEMS. THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN MEISENBACH ON 40 41, 45, 53, 78, AND 88.
[00:50:01]
42 AND 46 AMBER MILLS COOT MOCK TORIN.PLEASE STATE YOUR MA YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
UM, I'M AMBER MILLS HERE TO TESTIFY ON ITEM 43.
I AM HERE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF MOVE TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 43, MOVE.
TEXAS IS A GRASSROOTS, NON-PARTISAN, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BUILDING POWER IN TEXAS YOUTH COMMUNITIES.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING YOUNG PEOPLE AND POTENTIALLY THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR GENERATION AND GENERATIONS TO COME.
EVERY ACTION COUNTS AND CAN DOMINO INTO MORE.
GROWING UP IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS, IT'S NO SECRET THAT OUR HEALTH IN OUR FUTURE HAVE LARGELY BEEN IN THE HANDS OF GREEDY FOSSIL FUEL EXECUTIVES CONTENT TO SCAR THE LAND AND HEAT THE PLANET AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS WHO WILL TAKE POLITICAL DONATIONS AND MORALLY LAUNDER THIS HARM.
WHILE BLACK AND BROWN YOUNG TEXANS ARE BATTLING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, CORPORATIONS ARE LINING THEIR POCKETS AND MAKING PLANS TO CONTINUE INVESTING INTO DYING NON-RENEWABLE, UM, POWER RESOURCES LIKE OUR VERY OWN FAYETTE POWER PLANT THAT HARM TEXANS AND COMMUNITIES GLOBALLY.
FOSSIL FUEL CORPORATIONS ARE SET TO PRODUCE 120% MORE EMISSIONS BY 2030.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WILL HAVE PERMANENT, UM, PERMANENT NEAR UNFATHOMABLE CONSEQUENCES THAT YOUNGER GENERATIONS WILL INHERIT AND BE FORCED TO CONTEND WITH WITHOUT STANCES EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE TO STOP THE FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE FO FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD WILL LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE NECESSARY, UM, GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET TO EQUITABLY REACH, UH, NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
A NON-PRO PROLIFERATION TREATY, SORRY, THAT'S NOT AN EASY WORD TO SAY, UM, IS A KEY FIRST STEP IN UNABASHEDLY COMMITTING TO A SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FU FUTURE WHERE FOSSIL FUELS ARE A RELIC OF THE PAST.
WE NEED TO TAKE BOLD STANCES AND RECOGNITION OF THE GRAVITY OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS PROBLEM.
AND AUSTIN HAS A CHANCE TO LEAD THE WAY.
AGAIN, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM AND WANNA THANK COUNCIL, UM, MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UM, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY AND URGENTLY AND WE WANT YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, SO THANK YOU.
UH, NEXT ONDECK IS KABA WHITE ON 43.
I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 43.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN FUENTES FOR SPONSORING THE ITEM.
UM, I'M ONE OF THE MANY ORGANIZERS BEHIND THE MANY LETTERS AND EMAILS THAT Y'ALL HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
OVER THIS PAST EFFORT, UM, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD'VE AUSTIN JOINED 75 PLUS CITIES AND GOVERNMENTS ENDORSING THE INTERNATIONAL FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY.
MAJOR CITIES THAT YOU WOULD BE JOINING WOULD INCLUDE LOS ANGELES, LONDON, LIMA, PARIS, BARCELONA, AMSTERDAM, UH, MONTREAL, AND TORONTO.
TEXAS IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE POLLUTION WITH THE PERMIAN BASIN AS THE LARGEST OIL PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY, ACCOUNTING FOR 40% OF OUR SUPPLY AND THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI LEADING IN FOSSIL FUEL EXPORTS.
FOSSIL FUEL EXECUTIVES GREED AFFECTS US AT THE PUMP ON OUR ELECTRIC BILLS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT THEY POLLUTE.
BURNING MORE FOSSIL FUELS MEANS THE CLIMATE KEEPS CHANGING, YET THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES.
WE DEPLOY GREEN TECHNOLOGIES WHILE LEADERS ABOVE APPROVE NEW DIRTY ENERGY PROJECTS.
WE NEED TO STOP NEW FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT IF WE'RE TO INVEST IN A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT DOESN'T, UH, ADDRESS FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION.
AUSTIN REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE PA'S CLIMATE AGREEMENT WHEN THE US WITHDREW UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
WE THINK AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CAN REPLICATE THIS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP BY SUPPORTING A FOSSIL FUEL TREATY.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CAN AMPLIFY ITS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND INSPIRE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT.
WE NEED Y'ALL TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND CONTINUE LEGISLATING INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER JUST TRANSITION.
THEREFORE, WE URGE YOU TO RECOMMEND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEGIN NEGOTIATING A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY.
WITH THIS RESOLUTION, THIS TREATY ENJOYS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE MANY LETTERS Y'ALL HAVE RECEIVED.
AND BY THE 7,334 PETITIONS THAT WE'VE COLLECTED WITH OUR ALLIES AT STAND ON EARTH, LET AUSTIN BE THE FIRST CITY IN THIS MAJOR FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCING STATE TO ENDORSE THE GLOBAL FOSSIL FUEL TREATY.
SPEAKING ON 43 ON DECK IS PAT VALS.
[00:55:01]
TO SPEAK.I'M ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
I AM SUPPORTING ITEM 43, THE FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, UH, SUPPORT RESOLUTION.
AND I AM, I'M HAPPY THAT Y'ALL ARE, UM, HOPEFULLY GOING TO A ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION.
I SEE THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF CO-SPONSORS.
IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE TIME TO PHASE OUT OUR USE OF FOSSIL FUELS IS WELL IN THE PAST AND WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN GLOBAL ACTION NOW.
AND THIS, UH, RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT GLOBAL ACTION AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY ESSENTIAL.
WE CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN.
UM, I DO JUST WANNA ALSO, UH, VOICE SUPPORT FOR INCREASING ACTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE DO HAVE AN AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOAL IN THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND A LARGE NUMBER OF STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO MEET THAT GOAL OF NET ZERO EMISSIONS.
AND THE PLAN RECOGNIZES THAT ACTUALLY WE NEED TO GO BEYOND NET ZERO EMISSIONS AND START FIXING THE PROBLEM OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND WE LOCALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ALREADY.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAYBE HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY ON THE EAST COAST RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT THESE, UH, IMPACTS COME IN MANY FORMS AND THAT THEY ARE GETTING MORE SEVERE.
UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY FROM THE BOREAL FOREST IN THAT ARE BURNING IN CANADA ARE STRUGGLING TO BREATHE RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE LATEST, UH, KIND OF MOST VISIBLE IMPACT RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AT THE MOMENT.
THIS IS A CONSTANT AND ONGOING PROBLEM.
SO I ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REALLY KIND OF UP THE ENGAGEMENT WITH STAFF ON IMPLEMENTING THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND REALLY, UH, MAKING THAT A FOCUS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET IN PUTTING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR STAFFING CONTRACTS AND OTHER NEEDS TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT PLAN A REALITY AND PHASE OUT OUR FOSSIL FUEL USE ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? YES, MY NAME IS KIBA WHITE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PAT VAL ON 42 AND 46 ON DECK IS SHAMAN PERKINS.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PAT VARES AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN SINCE 1985 UNTIL LAST YEAR I WAS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 42 TO FACILITATE, TO PROVIDE MINIMUM SA FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FACILITIES THAT HOUSE OR HOLD ANIMALS ON A 24 HOUR BASIS.
I AM ALSO HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 46 TO INITIATE AN AMENDMENT REGARDING PET OVER POP PET MICROCHIPPING.
I'M SO USED TO SAYING PET OVERPOPULATION WHENEVER I SAY PET, PET MICROCHIPPING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW THE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT CITYWIDE MICROCHIPPING.
I RECENTLY SERVED ON THE SPAIN NEUTER ADVISORY, UH, SPAIN NEUTER WORKING GROUP OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND WE RECOMMENDED TWO ITEMS THAT WERE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
I AM HERE TO ALSO REQUEST THAT IN ADDITION TO PASSING ITEM 42 AND 46 TODAY, YOU CONSIDER PLACING ANOTHER IMPORTANT ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA IN A, IN A NEAR FUTURE AGENDA TO TAKE UP, UH, SPAY NEUTER RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE SPAY NEUTER WORKING GROUP THAT WERE PASSED BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
UM, MICROCHIPPING AND SPAY NEUTER GO HAND IN HAND.
THEY SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT IN ADDRESSING THE, UH, CURRENT CAPACITY CRISIS AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
PLEASE PASS ITEM 42 TODAY AND ITEM 46, BUT PLEASE ALSO TAKE UP SPAY NEUTER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL, UM, HELP ADDRESS THE PET OVER POPULATION AND THE SHELTER CAPACITY CRISIS.
AND PLEASE DO THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAMAN PERKINS ON 44 ON DECK IS RYAN MILL SPEAKING ON 45.
HI, MY NAME IS SHAMAN PERKIN AND UH, I'M A LEADER AT THE T H R A ORGANIZING PROJECT ORGANIZING PROJECT.
[01:00:01]
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE DAK EXPANSION.
I'VE HEARD THAT, UH, PART OF THIS EXPANSIONS AND THE ADDITION OF CASE MANAGERS AT DAK AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE SOME YEARS AGO I WAS ACTUALLY HOMELESS AND, UH, I HAD A CASEWORKER.
THIS CASEWORKER WAS, UH, VERY HELPFUL.
HE ALSO CONTINUED WITH HIS CARE AS FAR AS LIKE TAKING ME TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND WHATNOT.
UM, BASICALLY I HAD CANCER WHEN I WAS ON THE STREET, AND SO IT WAS A LIFESAVING EXPERIENCE, BUT THIS MAN REALLY, REALLY DID HELP ME OUT.
AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF CASE MANAGERS.
UH, I KNOW THAT I, I I HEARD THAT THERE'S ONLY TWO, UH, THAT THEY, THEY THEY HAVE, UH, UH, HAD AN ADDITION, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS ENOUGH.
UH, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE MORE CASE WORKERS ACROSS THE CITY, UH, GRANTS OR ANY FUNDING WE CAN BASICALLY WOULD HELP THE LISTS, UH, FOR CASE MANAGERS AT D OR TWO YEARS, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THIS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THING.
IT'S MUCH AS IMPORTANT TO THE 12 STEP PROGRAM.
THE SPONSOR IS THE CASE MANAGER IS TO THE HOMELESS PERSON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
BILL MCC, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME'S RYAN MILL.
I'M A RECENT DISTRICT FOR HOMEOWNER AND I LIVE WITHIN 500 FEET OF COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS TRIGGERING COMPATIBILITY.
UH, THE COM THE CONCEPT OF COMPATIBILITY EXISTS TO PROTECT HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE MADE UP OF LARGE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON LARGE LOTS THAT ARE SEGREGATED FROM ALL OTHER HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL LAND USES.
I THINK A GOOD METAPHOR, THE STYLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONE THAT'S AKIN TO MONOCULTURAL FARMING.
THIS STYLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS INITIALLY EFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH AND PROFITABLE IN THE SHORT TERM.
UM, BUT IN THE LONG RUN IT IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN AND RAPID AND OFTEN DESTRUCTIVE CHANGES CAUSED BY COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OR CHANGES IN CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT LIKE MONO MONOCULTURAL FARMING.
THIS STYLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS OUTDATED, UH, DAMAGING TO COMMUNITY AND DOESN'T EVEN REALLY EXIST IN AUSTIN ANYMORE.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT OUR HOME SO WE COULD BOTH WORK FROM HOME, UH, PARTICIPATING IN A SUDDEN RAPID CHANGE, WHICH REMOVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE HOUSING STOCK AND CONVERTED THESE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS INTO MIXED USE OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT IT ALSO MEANT THAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NO LONGER A MONOCULTURAL BEDROOM COMMUNITY, BUT ACTUALLY A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH COMMUNITY I SAW.
UM, AND WHEN PANDEMIC CONDITIONS LESSENED, ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE EVERY, ALL OF US WERE AROUND MORE OFTEN.
SO A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO MONOCULTURAL FARMING PRACTICES IS TO HAVE A DIVERSITY OF CROPS THAT GET ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND SO THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS TO ALLOW A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES AND USE OF BUILDING STOCK THAT CAN ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS RATHER THAN REQUIRING RESIDENTS TO ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR BUILDING STOCK.
UM, SINCE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COMPATIBILITY WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT NO LONGER HAVE THAT CHARACTER AND THAT CHARACTER CREATES AN EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NO LONGER A NEED TO PROTECT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER WITH OUR COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS.
I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF.
UH, MORE HOUSING SUPPLY WILL LOWER PRICES.
THAT'S ECONOMICS, NO SURPRISE.
I DO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DENSITY, UM, PARTICULARLY TO ITEM 45.
UH, MORE PEOPLE WITHIN A SHORT TRAVEL TIME OF EACH OTHER IS HOW ECONOMISTS MEASURE DENSITY.
IT LEADS TO MORE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND MORE POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS.
SO LARGER GROUPS CAN GET TOGETHER WITH A COMMON INTEREST.
SO YOU HAVE CLUBS THAT EXIST IN LARGE CITIES THAT DON'T EXIST IN SMALL CITIES.
FROM THE ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW, THERE ARE MORE CUSTOMERS.
TOOR SUPPORT A UNIQUE BUSINESS.
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH UNIQUE SKILLS
[01:05:01]
TO CREATE UNIQUE BUSINESSES, WHICH DRAW PEOPLE TO CITIES LIKE AUSTIN.EVERY BUSINESS HAS A LARGER POOL OF APPLICANTS AND CAN HIRE BETTER EMPLOYEES.
CUSTOMERS HAVE A WIDER SELECTION OF BUSINESSES TO BUY FROM AND BUY BETTER PRODUCTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MORE KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED FACE-TO-FACE.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN AN INFORMATION BUSINESS LIKE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S FAST CHANGING, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMY.
SO THAT FACE-TO-FACE KNOWLEDGE SHARING THAT HAPPENS IN A DENSER ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT.
THOSE ARE CALLED THE CONGLOMERATION EFFECTS.
IF YOU WANT TO SEARCH UP THE ECONOMIC PAPERS ON IT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT ALL BED LIKE A BED OF ROSES.
UH, HOMER SIMPSON'S MAJOR ENEMY IS NED FLANDERS, HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.
I THINK WE ALL WISH OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR LIVED SLIGHTLY FARTHER AWAY FROM US.
UM, THERE'S ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL AND, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT COME WITH MORE DENSITY.
UM, SO IT IS A TRADE OFF, BUT I THINK LIKE YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WITH MORE DENSITY, IT BECOMES HIGHER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BENEFITS TO THE CITY.
UM, IT ALSO LOWERS THE COST OF INTRA INFRASTRUCTURE PER UNIT TO THE CITY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT BY THE DEVELOPER INSIDE THE BUILDING RATHER THAN PIPES LAID BY THE CITY SEPARATELY IN THE STREET.
MORNING MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BILL MCCM.
WITH TRANSIT FORWARD IN MOST US CITIES, INCLUDING AUSTIN, FAR MORE JOBS EXIST NEAR FIXED USE TRANSIT STATIONS THAN HOMES FOR THE WORKERS.
IN THOSE JOBS, ONLY 5% OF RESIDENTS LIVE NEAR, UH, WITHIN A HALF MILE OF STATIONS, WHILE 48% OF ALL JOBS ARE WITHIN A HALF MILE OF THOSE STATIONS.
IMPROVING THIS BALANCE WITH MORE HOUSING TO REDUCE TRAFFIC WHILE IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR AUSTINITES, WE AT TRANSIT FORWARD HAVE A MISSION TO ADVANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND FULLY SUPPORT MORE HOUSING ALONG THESE CORRIDORS, AS IT WILL CONCRETELY INCREASE ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND THE USE OF THESE SYSTEMS, PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH HUGE BENEFITS, INCLUDING INCREASED JOB ACCESS, MORE AFFORDABILITY BY ALLOWING BETTER OPTIONS TO LIVE WITHOUT CARS, UH, SAFER STREETS, BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES, AND LESS CONGESTION.
A MAJOR LIMITING FACTOR OF HOUSING UNITS ALONG THESE CORRIDORS IS AUSTIN'S HEIGHT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
SOME OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE NATION AS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT POLICY SUGGESTING TRANSIT FRIENDLY RESIDENCES AND THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THOSE RESIDENCES ARE NOT COMPATI OR INCOMPATIBLE WITH OTHER TYPES OF HOUSING ARE NOT PRACTICAL NOR SUSTAINABLE.
UH, FOR OUR FUTURE AS A CITY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS ITEM NUMBER 45 AND MR. MAYOR MEMBERS THE, UH, COUNCIL.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE E OT POLICIES.
YOU'RE CONSIDERING A 57 AS WAYS OF POSSIBLY MOVING THEM UP SO THAT THEY CAN BE CONGRUENT WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIPS APPLICATION, UH, FOR FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
THOSE FOLKS ARE ASKING THAT THERE BE AT LEAST 20 HOUSING UNITS PER ACRE AND THE HALF MILE AROUND BUS TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND 35 UNITS PER ACRE IN THE HALF MILE AROUND TRAIN CORRIDORS.
AND WE THINK THAT PASSING NUMBER 45 IS A WAY TO GET THOSE GOALS.
MR. MAYOR MEMBER MR. COUNCIL, Y'ALL DOING A GREAT JOB.
HI, MY NAME IS KAI WITH THE AUSTIN IN INFO COALITION.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY AND SITE PLAN LIGHT.
SO WITH COMPATIBILITY, I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY, SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL COMPATIBILITY.
SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE A 50 FOOT WIDE LOT, UM, THAT'S ZONED FOR MISSING MIDDLE S F SIX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF YOU HAVE RESIDENTIAL ON BOTH SIDES ARE UM, IT'S ZONED RESIDENTIAL OR IT IS RESIDENTIAL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 15 FOOT SETBACK.
THAT MEANS YOUR 50 FOOT LOT BECOMES 20 FOOT WIDE, RIGHT? SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS PEOPLE ARE JUST GONNA BUILD SINGLE FAMILY AT THAT POINT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
THOSE HOUSES ARE GONNA BE MORE EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE LESS HOUSING AND MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
UM, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OF THE RESOLUTION AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL COMPATIBILITY IS ALL THAT IT'S SAYING IS WHAT THE RESIDENTS CAN DO, YOU CAN DO.
SO IF THEY CAN BUILD TWO STORIES, FIVE FEET, YOU CAN BUILD TWO STORIES FROM FIVE FEET.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OPPOSITION TO THAT BECAUSE IF SOMEONE BUILT SINGLE FAMILY, THEY COULD BUILD TWO STORIES FIVE FEET FROM THE LINE.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE JUST CONCERNED WITH IT BEING A TRIPLEX.
THEY'RE JUST SAYING A TRIPLEX NEEDS TO BE FARTHER AWAY BECAUSE TRIPLEXES ARE SCARY.
UM, SO THAT JUST DOESN'T, IT, IT JUST, IT'S JUST ALLOWING THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO DO WHAT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES CAN DO.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT SITE PLAN LIGHT, WHICH I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF.
UM, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, HAVING LESS REQUIREMENTS FOR FOUR UNITS AND LESS.
AND WHAT I'D ALSO SAY TO GO A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THAT IS I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW ON SINGLE FINLEY LOTS.
WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE CITY LIKE 10 YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT'S BREAKING MY BRAIN IS I GO IN, I HAVE THIS LOT, AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU CAN BUILD A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.
YOU CAN BUILD A 3000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE
[01:10:01]
AND A 1000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.AND I'M LIKE, WELL, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT.
I WANNA BUILD LIKE THREE OR FOUR SMALL HOUSES.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL THAT'S ILLEGAL.
AND I WAS LIKE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 4,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSES.
I WANNA BUILD SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSES.
WHY CAN'T I DO THAT? AND I WAS THINKING, THIS IS GONNA BE RESOLVED PROBABLY PRETTY QUICKLY AND HERE I AM 12 YEARS LATER, IT'S STILL ILLEGAL.
UM, SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
I'M NOT TALKING AN INCREASES IN FAR INCREASES IN PERVIOUS COVER.
I'M NOT GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THAT.
JUST SAY, IF YOU COULD BUILD A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE, YOU SHOULD BUILD TO BUILD THREE OR FOUR HOUSES AND USE THE SAME FLOWER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA GRAY, SPEAKING ON 45, 50 AND 53.
FOLLOWING IS DANIEL KAMAN AND JEFF ALBRECHT.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF 45 AND 50 AND I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS.
I'M NOT AS FUNNY AS HIM, BUT I AGREE ABOUT
UM, AND I AGREE THAT ALLOWING MORE SINGLE FAMILY UNITS, UH, TO BE BUILT WOULD MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE FOR ITEM 45.
CHANGING COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW TO ALLOW THE SAME AS ALLOWANCES AS SINGLE FAMILY IS ALLOWED RIGHT NOW IN THOSE SETBACKS, UM, WOULD MAKE UH, MANY LOTS IN AUSTIN BUILDABLE THAT IS NOT BUILDABLE RIGHT NOW.
UM, AUSTIN'S, YOU KNOW, PRETTY BUILT OUT AND SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LAND TO BUILD ON.
AND THE LAND THAT'S LEFT IS THERE'S REASONS WHY MOST OF MANY OF THEM ARE CUZ THEY'RE NARROW LOTS AND THERE'S COMPATIBILITY SETBACKS THAT DON'T ALLOW MULTIPLE UNITS, UM, TO BE BUILT.
CUZ IF YOU HAVE A 50 FOOT LOT AND YOU HAVE A 25 FOOT SETBACK, YOU REALLY HAVE NO LOT LEFT TO BUILD ON.
UM, ITEM 50, UH, WHICH IS REQUIRING, UH, WHICH IS HOPEFULLY GONNA REQUIRE, NOT REQUIRE A SITE PLAN FOR FOUR FEWER UNITS.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ADDRESSED FOR OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ALLOWING ONE TO TWO UNITS DENSITY BONUSES ON SF THREE OR WHATEVER ENDS UP GETTING DECIDED.
IF ANY OF THOSE PASS, THEN THIS NEEDS TO PASS TWO OR IT WILL NOT IN EFFECT HAPPEN BECAUSE BUILDING, UM, THREE UNITS AND HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS IS JUST NOT FEASIBLE FOR BUILDERS.
SO WE CAN HAVE THAT CODE ON THE RECORD THAT WE COULD ALLOW A THIRD UNIT ON SF THREE OR A FOURTH UNIT ON SF THREE, BUT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN REALITY BECAUSE OF THE, UM, SITE PLAN PROCESS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL KAMAN SPEAKING ON 45 AND 53.
NEXT IS JEFF ALBRECHT AND KEVIN WELCH.
I WORK FOR THE NONPROFIT FARM AND CITY AND I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, ITEM 45, WHICH WILL FINALLY CHANGE AUSTIN'S ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS TO BE CLOSER TO THOSE OF OUR PURE CITIES.
THE FACT THAT AUSTIN'S COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS ALLOW A SINGLE HOME TO SHAVE OFF UNITS FROM A BUILDING THAT IS AS MANY AS 540 FEET AWAY IS VERY BAD.
COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS DO NOT PROVIDE ANY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE OWNERS OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ARE ENTITLED TO MAKE BUILDING HOUSING FOR OTHERS MORE DIFFICULT.
IT ISN'T RIGHT, AND I BELIEVE ON THIS ITEM, WE SHOULD COMPLETELY REMOVE COMPATIBILITY WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF TRANSIT ON ITEM 53 REGARDING THE PRIORITIZATION OF CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY INITIATED.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE SAW THAT MEMO FROM CITY STAFF, WE ALL SAW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TIMELINE.
I RESPECT THE HARD WORK OF CITY STAFF ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, BUT I THINK THAT'S IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A FULL REWRITE OF OUR CODE, ANY CHANGES, EVEN MINOR OR UNCOMPLICATED CAN TAKE YEARS OR MONTHS BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND ULTIMATELY IT IS NOT CITY STAFF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO AMELIORATE THIS ISSUE.
UM, I BELIEVE IN WORK SESSION, AUL COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSED ITS DESIRE TO MOVE THINGS MORE QUICKLY AND THIS IS GONNA INVOLVE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO FIX.
IF IT REQUIRES MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF, THEN LET'S GIVE THEM THAT.
IF THEY NEED BETTER PAY TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES, THEN LET'S GO FOR THAT.
IF THESE ARE BEING HELD UP BY OVERLY LONG ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT TRUNCATING THEM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY OF YOU WERE ELECTED SPECIFICALLY TO FIX THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER WAS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE THAT SHOWED THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHANGE THE CODE.
AND AN ADDITIONAL, UH, THING FROM THAT IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE MEMO, E T O D AMENDMENTS WILL NOT COME BACK UNTIL NEXT SUMMER.
BY WHICH POINT IT WILL LIKELY BE TOO LATE TO INCLUDE THEM IN PROJECT CONNECT'S APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
IT IS CRITICAL TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE'D LIKE TO.
NEXT IS JEFF ALBRECHT SPEAKING ON 58 ON DECK
[01:15:01]
R KEVIN WELCH AND ADAM MIN CHAKA.I'M HERE TO, UM, TALK ABOUT HOW FENCE FINIALS ARE OUR FRIENDS WHEN IT COMES TO FENCE SAFETY.
UM, THESE FLORIDA LEE AND SPEAR SHAPED FENCE TOPPERS PREVENT CHILDREN FROM SUCCESSFULLY CLIMBING FENCES.
THEY DETERRED CHILDREN FROM EVEN ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB FENCES AND HAVE PROVEN TO BE SAFE FROM ENTANGLING CHILDREN DURING CENTURIES OF WORLDWIDE USE.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
CLIMBING IS PART OF A CHILD'S EVERYDAY PLAY ACTIVITY.
THEY'RE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE ALL MANNER OF CLIMBING STRUCTURES AT HOME PARK, CLIMBING GYMS, AND EVEN MCDONALD'S.
A WIDELY CITED FENCE SAFETY STUDY FROM REICH IN 1994 SHOWS THAT 30% OF FOUR YEAR OLDS CAN QUICKLY SURMOUNT A FOUR FOOT FLAT TOPPED IRON FENCE.
A QUICK GOOGLE VIDEO SEARCH FOR TODDLERS CLIMBING POOL FENCES SHOWS A BUNCH OF ADULTS SURPRISED BY THEIR TOTTER TODDLERS SUCCESSFULLY CLIMBING FLAT TOP FENCES THAT ARE FOUR OR FIVE AND SIX FEET TALL.
SOME GOOD NEWS FOR FENCE SAFETY, HOWEVER, WAS FOUND IN THAT SAME STUDY FROM 1994 THAT SHOWED THAT ADDING A CLIMB DETERRENT TO THE THE FENCE TOP PREVENTED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF FOUR YEAR OLDS IN THEIR STUDY FROM SURMOUNTING AN IRON FENCE.
FINIALS ARE AN EFFECTIVE CLIMB BARRIER FOR SURE, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THEY SERVE AS A, A DETERRENT TO CLIMBING PHS COMMUNICATE.
DON'T SIT OR HANG ON THIS FENCE, DON'T DO PARKOUR HERE.
PREVENTING THE NUMBER OF FENCE CLIMBING ATTEMPTS SEEMS A VALUABLE METHOD FOR, UH, FENCE SAFETY STRATEGY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RISK OF ENTANGLEMENT? IN MY SEARCH OF LITERATURE AND PRESS, I FOUND ZERO EXAMPLES WERE PROPER FENCE TOP FINIALS SUCH AS AFL LEE, UH, WERE INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF A CHILD FROM ENTANGLEMENT.
THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED IN GEORGETOWN THAT PRECIPITATED THIS IMPORTANT CODE REVIEW DID NOT INVOLVE FINIALS.
AND I AGREE THAT TYPE OF FENCE SHOULD BE BANNED WITH A PROTRUDED PROTRUDING IRON, UM, UH, PICKETS WITHOUT FINIALS.
BUT LUMPING FINIAL TOPPED FENCES WITH THAT OTHER DESIGN IS A POORLY CONSIDERED WAY TO MAKE POLICY AND WOULD RISK RISK THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
AND THIS LEADS ME TO MANY QUESTIONS.
I'M SORRY, I'M SUBMITTING THE, THE DOCUMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KEVIN WELCH, SPEAKING ON 74 ON DECK IS ADDIE MIN CHAKA.
FOLLOWING IS JOO POWELL CONLEY, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND APPROACH.
DID SHE CALL YOUR NAME? I DIDN'T TALK.
YEAH, WELL I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY NEXT.
MY NAME IS ADAM MIN CHAKA AND, UH, I AM A LEADER OF THE T H R A ORGANIZING PROJECT.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR, UH, WORKING CLOSE, UM, WITH US ON THIS.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79.
I'M HERE TO SAY WE CANNOT DELAY IN GETTING THIS FUNDING FOR OR TO THE COMMUNITY.
I AM ALSO HERE TO SAY THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN HOW THE MONEY IS USED.
WE ARE READY TO DO THE WORK AND TO SAVE LIVES.
YES, WE ARE READY TO WIN THE WAR THAT NOBODY WANTED TO FIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I MAKE IT A POINT TO CARRY MULTIPLE DOSES OF NARCAN WITH ME AND I ALWAYS HAVE IT ON ME TWO WEEKS AGO AND LATELY EVERY WEEK I SAVED TWO OF MY GOOD FRIENDS LIVES BECAUSE OF THE NARCAN.
AND, UM, YESTERDAY, ANOTHER, THIS IS SAD.
THIS IS ONE PERSON TELLING YOU THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE LOST CANADA.
THE LIVES NARCAN HAS HELPED ME SAVE, SEE MY FRIENDS, WHERE EVEN A STRANGER OVERDOSING IS SO TERRIFYING AND I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN USED TO IT.
THE NUMBERS HAVE DOUBLED AND THESE ARE REAL NUMBERS, PEOPLE FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.
PUBLIC INFORMATION I USED FOR 10 LONG, AGONIZING YEARS AND I LOST EVERY SINGLE THING I HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR IN LIFE.
YOU KNOW, I DECIDED TO GET SOBER AND I HAD BURIED 50 OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS BY THAT TIME CAME.
HERE WE ARE IN 2023 AND I AM, I AM, UM, APOPLECTIC OF THE NUMBERS OF FENTANYL RELATED OVER TO OVERDOSE.
[01:20:01]
YOU, SPEAKER.I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON, BUT STILL.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
JEAN PAUL CONNOLLY, ORGANIZING DIRECTOR AT AJC AND CO-CHAIR OF THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 29 37 AND 84.
IF WE WANT AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEM, A SYSTEM THAT IS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AT HOUSING, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM HOUSED AND NOT SLEEPING OUTSIDE, THEN WE NEED A COORDINATED, WELL ORGANIZED HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT CAN BE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND A CLEAR LONG-TERM VISION AND PRIORITIES, LEADERSHIP COORDINATION PRIORITIES, THE FACT THAT THREE TRANSFORMATIVE PS H PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR OVER 18 MONTHS NOW SHOULD RECEIVE ANYTHING LESS THAN RESOUNDING SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL AND CITY SHOULD ALREADY RAISE MAJOR RED FLAGS ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADED IN.
I'M GLAD THAT STAFF FINALLY CAME OUT WITH A MEMO IN SUPPORT OF THE THREE PSSH PROJECTS.
UM, BUT THAT PSSH PROJECTS IN OUR CITY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS KIND OF UPHILL CLIMB IN AND OF ITSELF.
SHOULD ALREADY SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
YOU HAVE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA CONTRACTS THAT WILL AWARD THE SALVATION ARMY 1.2 MILLION FOR A BILLION THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED TO DISREPAIR AN URBAN ALCHEMY OVER 4.5 MILLION TO OPERATE A TEMPORARY SHELTER CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR.
AND IN JULY, YOU'LL BE ASKED TO APPROVE ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR OVER 9.3 MILLION TO WAREHOUSE ANOTHER GROUP OF 300 PEOPLE FOR ONE YEAR.
ALLOW ME TO REPEAT OVER 15 MILLION FOR ONE YEAR OF TEMPORARY SHELTER WITH NO CLEAR PATH OR PLAN FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.
NO CLEAR HOUSING RESOURCES CONNECTED TO THESE CONTRACTS.
NO ANSWERS TO THE MANY QUESTIONS RAISED BY OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO GRANT WHAT AMOUNTS TO HALF OF THE CAPITAL STACK OF A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO CONTRACTS THAT WILL BRING US TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR ONE YEAR.
I DON'T BELIEVE OUR SYSTEM WILL EVER WANT TO HEAR ANYONE EXPRESS SKEPTICISM ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO FUND HOUSING WHEN WE DON'T EVEN FLINCH AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SPENDING ALMOST 6 MILLION TO PUT PEOPLE IN A LEAKY FACILITY FOR ONE YEAR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER FOR THE A H F C AND A H P F C.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
SORRY, UM, MEMBERS, ANOTHER, UH, CORRECTION OR CHANGE IN THE BACKUP.
THERE WAS A MISTAKE ON ITEM NUMBER 81 AND I WANNA READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM 81 RELATES TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION'S RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT INCLUDES FOR THE AUSTIN ROSEWOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THE TERM WILL EXPIRE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024 AS OPPOSED TO 25, 20 20.
IT SHOULD SAY 2024 INSTEAD OF 2025.
UH, AT, AT THIS POINT, LET ME ASK IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE ADDED.
LET ME READ THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED, ITEM 45 HAS BEEN PULLED.
ITEM 40, ITEM 85, ITEM 84, ITEM 78, AND I BELIEVE NOW ITEM 83 HAS BEEN PULLED.
ARE THERE, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR TO ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEMS 42 AND 44.
TIM, I THOUGHT YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
UH, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO ITEM NUMBER 44.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO ITEM 43, PLEASE.
ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO BE ADDED TO AN ITEM THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO PULL ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[01:25:02]
ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.THANK YOU MAYOR 41 AND 43, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 41 AND 43, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS AS INDICATED.
YEAH, I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, ED, THAT WE PULL ITEM 74 TO GO AFTER ITEM 85, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER IS PULLING ITEM 74.
ALL RIGHT, CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO SPEAK, UH, BRIEFLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO START TODAY BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR BRINGING FORWARD AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION ITEM NUMBER 42, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR ANIMALS SAFE.
I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT BY BEING ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, AS A PROUD OWNER OF MY BELOVED PET PETS FRANK, MY DOG AND MY MISCHIEVOUS BLACK CAT SPUTNIK.
I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL BOND WE SHARE WITH OUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO HELP KEEP OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS SAFE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 44, WHICH WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, I'M THANKFUL TO SUPPORT THIS MUCH NEEDED EFFORT BY BEING ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND PLAN TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION TO ENSURE THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS GET EVERY PIECE OF SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE LIFTED OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
LASTLY, AND ON A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO GREATLY THANK CASEY ROBERTS IN OUR AGENDA OFFICE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK SHE'S DONE THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.
AND FOR ALL OF OUR CITY STAFF COLLECTIVELY, INCLUDING OUR CLERK'S OFFICE FOR KEEPING US ORGANIZED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE CHALLENGING DECISIONS BEFORE US TODAY.
AND AT EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF STAFF SUPPORT TO GET THESE MEETINGS TO HAPPEN AND TO MAKE THEM POSSIBLE, AND IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED BY MYSELF OR MY TEAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT ITEM 11 AND 12 RELATED TO THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
UH, I'M JUST, I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADD EXISTING FUNDING SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO FULLY DEVELOP THIS CENTER I KNOW IS POTENTIALLY VALUE ENGINEERED DOWN BASED ON BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, COME BACK AND, AND ADD THESE, UH, THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE IT REALLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT AND THANKS STAFF FOR, FOR FINDING A WAY TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT ITEM 43, WHICH ESTABLISHES AUSTIN SUPPORT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY AND CALLS ON OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO JOIN.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE RAMPANT WILDFIRES RIGHT NOW TAKING PLACE IN CANADA, AND KNOWING, UH, THE EXTENT OF AIR POLLUTION THAT WE'RE SEEING IN NEW YORK, WE ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.
AND SO THIS RESOLUTION IS IN AN EFFORT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY THAT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES ARE FACING, NOT ONLY IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT AC ACROSS THE GLOBE.
SO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS BEING IMPACTED BY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOSSIL FUEL EXPANSION.
BUT THE RISK IS ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR THOSE WHO FACE SOCIOECONOMIC AND HEALTH INEQUITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AUSTIN HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE BY EVIDENCE OF US DECLARING AN, UH, AN EMERGENCY CLIMATE DECLARATION IN 2019 AND ADOPTING THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FEW PLANS THAT CENTERS EQUITY AS PART OF OUR EFFORT AND FOR US, DECLARING A BOLD GOAL OF EQUITABLY REACHING NET ZERO COMMUNITY-WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2040.
SO ALIGNED WITH OUR LOCAL GOALS, THIS TREATY SEEKS TO DO THREE MAIN THINGS INTERNATIONALLY.
IT SEES, IT LOOKS TO CEASE NEW EXPLORATION AND EXPANSION OF FOSSIL FUELS.
IT EQUITABLY PHASES OUT EXISTING PRODUCTION AND IT INCREASES
[01:30:01]
ACCESS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.ESTABLISHING A JUST TRANSITION FOR ALL.
WITH TODAY'S APPROVAL, AUSTIN IS NOW THE SECOND MAJOR CITY IN THIS COUNTRY TO JOIN A GROWING ROSTER OF 75 CITIES WORLDWIDE.
AND THIS COMMITMENT FROM LOS ANGELES TO LONDON, UH, WE'VE ALL ENDORSED THIS TREATY AND I SEE THIS AS OUR MOMENT TO COME TOGETHER ACROSS THE GLOBE AND ADDRESS CLIMATE POLLUTION HEAD ON.
I WANNA THANK THE TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR ADVOCACY.
UH, IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO RECEIVE, AT LEAST I GOT LIKE 30 LETTERS, UM, FROM D TWO RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND I SAW THE BOX EARLIER.
SO I IMAGINE WE ALL HAVE, UH, CONSTITUENT LETTERS INCLUDED.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELA VELAZQUEZ, CADRE POOL, AND RYAN AL ALTER FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION, UM, COLLEAGUES.
SO BEFORE WE PASS THIS CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE PARTICULAR ITEM THAT WE ARE PASSING TODAY THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.
ITEM NUMBER 44 WILL EXPAND THE CURRENT BOUNDARIES OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT TO BE CITYWIDE.
FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WILL ENSURE THAT A CRITICAL PIECE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ECOSYSTEM ARE PROPERLY FUNDED.
I WANNA THANK THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ITS CHAIR FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND IDENTIFYING THIS CREATIVE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AT THE DECK.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OTHER CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSION CITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS WHO NAVIGATE OUR OFTEN COMPLEX CITY SERVICES TO TAKE NOTE.
WE CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT YOU.
WE CAN REDUCE THE BARRIERS THAT AUSTINITES FACE AS THEY TRY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES, AND WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU ON HOW TO DO IT.
SO WITH THAT, THE SERVICES THE DAK PROVIDES, UM, WE CAN HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS IN PROFOUND, LONG-LASTING, EFFECTIVE WAYS.
WITH THIS EXPANSION, WE WILL ENSURE THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, DOWNTOWN, PLEASANT VALLEY, SPRINGDALE, ROMBERG, OR WESTGATE, YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE SAME TRANSFORMATIONAL AID THAT THE DAK HAS BEEN PROVIDING FOR YEARS IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
SO I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE GETTING THIS DONE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY MENTION A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM 42, BOTH RELATED TO, UH, ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE.
UH, ITEM 42 WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REQUIRING, UH, FIRE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, UM, SPRINKLERS, ALARMS FOR, UH, LOCATIONS THAT BOARD ANIMALS, UH, OVERNIGHT.
THERE WAS A HORRIBLE FIRE IN, UH, GEORGETOWN, UH, THAT KILLED, UH, MANY ANIMALS.
AND, UH, UH, THE, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
GEORGETOWN HAS PASSED THOSE, UH, UH, TYPES OF, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UH, LIBERTY HILL ROUND ROCK, AND NOW AUSTIN IS STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, UH, FURRY FRIENDS ARE SAFE FROM FIRE WHEN WE HAVE TO ABOR THEM, UH, OVERNIGHT.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM, UH, ITEM 46 IS A, UH, UH, A MICROCHIPPING RESOLUTION FOR ANIMALS.
IT WOULD REQUIRE, UH, ANIMALS TO BE, UH, MICRO CHIPPED IN AUSTIN.
BUT THE IDEA IS TO, TO STRONGLY INCENTIVIZE, UH, MICROCHIPPING, UH, OF, UH, OUR, UH, FURRY FRIENDS.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RETURN A LOST ANIMAL TO THEIR OWNER UNLESS THEIR MICROCHIP.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO OUR, UH, UH, DON BLAND, OUR, OUR ANIMAL SERVICE DIRECTOR, AND HE WAS SAYING THAT OUR RETURN RATE, UH, FOR, UH, UH, PETS THAT, THAT GET TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS IN VERY LOW.
UH, AND WITH THE MICROCHIPPING, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF ANIMALS TO THEIR OWNERS.
MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE THIS.
IT HAS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE, THE PRESSURE ON, UH, OUR, UH, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
UH, AND, UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO STARTING THIS AND, AND, AND GUIDING IT THROUGH THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN BE A CITY WHERE OUR, UH, OUR, UH, KITTIES AND PUPPIES ARE, ARE WELL PROTECTED AND TAKEN CARE OF.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR 43 ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF FOSSIL FUELS TREATIES.
AND, AND, UM, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT WILDFIRE, THAT THAT SMOKE THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IN THE NORTHEAST CAN HAPPEN RIGHT HERE IF ON THE OUT GUARDS
[01:35:01]
OF OUR CITY, UM, WE HAVE A WILDFIRE OF WHETHER WE GET IT UNDER CONTROL OR NOT.UM, THE SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES MATTER.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE WORKING TO BE BETTER PREPARED, UM, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE, THE MAC, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE ALLOWING US TO GO FORWARD WITH ELEMENTS OF THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
AND I'M PLEASED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE ITEMS. I ALSO DIDN'T WANNA LET THIS, UH, AGENDA GO BY WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND THANKING THE, THE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE MOVED FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MADE DURING BUDGET TO INCREASE, UM, THE SENIOR AND DISABILITY, UM, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BY $11,000 TO 124,000.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE HELPFUL FOR FOLKS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND AGE IN PLACE.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AS WE REQUEST IT.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? LET ME JUST SAY THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 29, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SALVATION ARMY FOR BEING FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE, THAT ARE LIVING HOMELESS.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UH, YOU, YOU HAVE, UH, BEEN WILLING TO, TO WORK WITH US ON, ON THAT SPECIFICALLY, UH, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT ARE LIVING HOMELESS INCLUDES PROVIDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND WE NEED MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
BUT WITHOUT CONNECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT, WE CAN'T REALLY APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND THIS COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT, UH, WE, WE CAN'T APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS THE INHUMANE CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREET, LIVING UNDER OVERPASSES, UH, LIVING IN PARKS, UH, THAT, THAT, AND THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW, AND WE CAN DO MORE.
UH, THIS COUNCIL'S A AGENDA TODAY REFLECTS THAT COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THIS EMERGENCY, NOT WITH AN ALL OR NOTHING APPROACH, BUT THROUGH COMPREHENSIVELY IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASING, UH, OUR SHELTER CAPACITY, ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORTING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND WORKING ON A CONTINUUM OF MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND INTO HOUSING OVER THE LONG TERM, BUT ADDRESSING THEIR DIRE NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'LL SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE SALVATION ARMY FOR, UM, PLAYING THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR BEING FLEXIBLE ENOUGH, UH, FOR US TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL, WILL HELP THOSE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW WITH THAT,
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 41 AND 43 MEMBERS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION.WELCOME, GOOD MORNING, MANDY DE MAYO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT HERE REPRESENTING AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH 12 MONTH CONTRACTS WITH THREE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ADMINISTER OUR MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
UH, THE THREE NONPROFITS ARE THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, MEALS ON WHEELS AND MORE, AND REBUILDING TOGETHER.
UH, THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $3 MILLION, UH, AND THE FUNDING WILL BE OUR FEDERAL C D B G DOLLARS.
THE SECOND ITEM IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT AND RELATED DOCUMENTS FOR THE SEABROOK SQUARE, UH, PROJECT AT 35 15 MAINER ROAD.
THAT IS AN A H F C PARTNERSHIP.
THE FIRST PHASE INCLUDES 164 UNITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH N H P FOUNDATION AND CAPITAL A HOUSING.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HERE.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN AMOUNT IS A LITTLE OVER 13.5 MILLION.
I SHOULD ALSO NOTE, BECAUSE MARY, YOU JUST MENTIONED, UH, HOMELESSNESS AND OUR WORK ON HOMELESSNESS, PHASE TWO OF THIS PROJECTS INCLUDES, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH INTEGRAL CARE AND WILL BE 60 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UM, FOR FOLKS COMING THROUGH THE COORDINATED ENTRY
[01:40:01]
SYSTEM.WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, UM, AND I OFFER THOSE TWO ITEMS ON CONSENT AND WILL ALSO NOTE THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SPEAKER.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BY ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THAT CASE? WE WILL, UM, GO TO OUR SPEAKERS, UH, AND I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP ON THIS IT, ON THESE ITEMS. SYNOVIA JOSEPH IS SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH, MY COMMENTS ARE ON ITEM TWO, BUT MANDY, THE MAYO JUST MENTIONED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR ITEM ONE.
AND I JUST WANNA CONTEXTUALIZE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING THE FY 2324 ACTION PLAN, THAT FUNDING COMES FROM HUD AND JUST FOR CONTENT, CANDACE VALENZUELA, THE HUD REGION SIX DIRECTOR, UM, IS WHO I ACTUALLY CONTACTED COMPLAINTS OFFICE ZERO SIX HUD.GOV AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM TWO, THAT'S THE SEABROOK SQUARE ITEM 35 11 TO 35 15 MAIN ROAD, 13.5 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, AS I'VE ASKED IN THE PAST THAT WHEN THESE ITEMS COME BEFORE YOU, THAT COUNCIL, UM, RECEIVED A MAP OVERLAY WITH THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
IT APPEARS THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE LOW INCOME WITHOUT ANY MIXED INCOME.
AND SO I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOUR SMART HOUSING PROGRAM IS MENTIONED ON PAGES 1 38 AND 1 39 OF THE ACTION PLAN AND THAT SAFE MIXED INCOME, ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE, AND TRANSIT ORIENTED.
AND WHILE I CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT IS ON ROUTE 20 AND THAT EXPO METRO RAPID WILL SERVE THIS AREA, HISTORY MATTERS.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE EXPO METRO RAPID IS REALLY JUST FITZ ROUTE 37 RESTORED.
IT WAS ELIMINATED JUNE 3RD, 2018, OR MAYBE NOT ELIMINATED, BUT REDUCED.
UM, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL THAT, UM, THE RESERVE AT SPRINGDALE IS ABOUT 2.4 MILES FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S A LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED THE ROCKY LANE BUS, UM, THAT WAS ROUTED 300, AND THEY'VE REFUSED TO SERVE THAT AREA.
AND PICKUP SERVICE ACTUALLY REQUIRES PEOPLE TO WAIT ON HOLD FIVE MINUTES TO 60 MINUTES.
SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOLISTICALLY THE GOOD IN PROJECTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLAD LAND AT THIS TIME.
UM, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD INTENDS TO TAKE UP, UH, THESE TWO CONSENT ITEMS BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WISHES TO PULL ONE OF THE CONSENT ITEMS. IS THERE ANYONE OR BOTH OF 'EM? IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO ABSTAIN? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
MAYOR, PLEASE, UM, SHOW ME AS VOTING NO ON A H F C ITEM NUMBER TWO, AS NOTED, UH, I INTEND TO TAKE THESE UP BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
IS THERE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MOVES TO ADOPTED.
IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I ADJOURN THE AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Public Facility Corporation Meeting]
TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING JUNE 8TH, 2023 AT 1144.MANDY DE MAYO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT HERE ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND THAT IS TO AUTHORIZE, UH, STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ISSUANCE OF MULTI-FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 20 MILLION FOR A PROJECT THAT IS ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP, UM, CALLED KAREN POINT.
THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL RESULT IN 150, UH, UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
IT IS LOCATED AT CAMERON ROAD AND EAST ST.
JOHN'S AVENUE, AND IT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SINO GROUP AND CARITAS OF AUSTIN.
UH, IT IS, I SHOULD ALSO NOTE IT IS RELATED TO ITEM 75 ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WILL BE TAKEN UP, UM, AFTER THIS PROJECT, UH, AFTER THIS, UH, AGENDA.
YES, UH, IN FACT WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 75 WHEN IMMEDIATELY UPON RECONVENING, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU CALL ON ANY SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE? SPEAKER Z JOSEPH.
[01:45:01]
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.MY COMMENTS AS THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PAST IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE KAREN POINT AT CAMERON ROAD PROJECT.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A HIGH CRASH ZONE AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, YOU MENTIONED ST.
IT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE IF YOU ACTUALLY TALKED TO MIKE GERBER FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HE'S THE OFFICE, THE, UM, PATHWAYS DIRECTOR FOR THE NONPROFIT THAT DOES THE BOARD PACKETS.
UM, AUSTIN PATHWAYS, HE ACTUALLY SAID FOR THE 526 UNITS, THAT'S, UM, ON ST.
JOHN'S AND I 35, THAT THEY CANNOT HANDLE THE DENSITY.
SO JOHNS PUTTING INDIVIDUALS IN THESE AREAS, HIGH CRAFT ZONES, UM, IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
AND YOU MIGHT WANNA ASK SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY PUT THESE ITEMS BEFORE THAT BOARD AS IT RELATES TO THET GROUP AND CARITAS, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM AS IT RELATES TO THESE VOUCHERS.
THE BOARD PACKET FOR NOVEMBER 2ND, THEIR APPLICATION SAID 50 LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS AND NOW IT'S 100.
THEY DID THE SAME DATE AND SWITCH FOR THE 1934 SPARROW RUTLAND, WHERE THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 50 VOUCHERS.
SO MY OPPOSITION HAS BEEN TO THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND, UH, THIS DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIRE HOUSING.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT I SENT, MY TITLE SIX COMPLAINT TO THIS MORNING WAS REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FORT WORTH AQD.GOV, AND THAT IS CANDACE VALENZUELA.
SHE WAS THERE, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN IN APRIL WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FAIR HOUSING SUMMIT.
SO I JUST REMINDED HER OF WHO I WAS WHEN I SENT THE INFORMATION.
AND FOR CONTEXT, I ALSO INCLUDED PROJECT CONNECT AND HOW YOU'VE ELIMINATED ACCESS, UM, TO THE RAIL ON CAMERON SLASH DECILE ROAD, WHICH IS THE SAME ROADWAY.
UM, AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, UM, ADVANTAGEOUS TO LOW INCOME WRITERS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
CAN I ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE, SINCE MS. JOSEPH DID MENTION MIKE GERBER WITH, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE, UH, MIKE GERBER IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US, SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MS. UH JOSEPH DID REFERENCE? GREAT.
JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION IS FOR EDIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY, WHEN WE SAY MORTGAGE REVENUE NOTE, IS THAT A, A LOAN OR IS THAT IT IS A NON-RECOURSE LOAN, UH, WHICH IS, THESE ARE MULTI-FAMILY REVENUE BONDS, UH, THAT ARE, UH, ISSUED BY A HFC OR IN THIS CASE A H P F C.
UM, AND THEY ARE NON-RECOURSE.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY PAID BACK FROM THE REVENUE RECEIVED FROM THE RENTS AT THE, UH, UH, COMPLEX THAT WILL BE BUILT.
AND SHOULD YOU HAVE MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS, WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE TO HAVE MARK MALVO OR OUTSIDE BOND COUNCIL IN THE AUDIENCE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A H P FFC ITEM NUMBER ONE? IT'S MADE BY, UH, DIRECTOR NATA, UH, HARPER MADISON, IT'S SECONDED BY DIRECTOR VELA.
UH, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER ONE? HEARING NONE, I OBJECT.
WELL, I SHOULD HAVE, THANK YOU.
UH, ANYONE WE HAVE, IT'S THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTS IT WITH ONE NO VOTE BY DIRECTOR KELLY.
AND I'LL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT DIRECTOR POOLE IS OFF THE DIAS, UH, PERFORMING IMPORTANT, UH, CITY BUSINESS.
THERE'S NO BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE H P F C, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL ADJOURN THAT MEETING.
I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S 1149.
[75. Approve a resolution which approves the issuance by the Austin Housing Public Facility Corporation of multi-family housing revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount up to $20,000,000 to Cairn Point at Cameron, LP, or an affiliated entity, and approves the execution by the Austin Housing Public Facility Corporation of related documents, in substantially the form attached to the resolution, to provide financing for the development of Cairn Point at Cameron, located at or near 7205 Cameron Road, Austin, Texas 78752.]
THE FIRST ITEM WE'LL TAKE UP, AS HAS BEEN NOTED IS ITEM NUMBER 75 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 75 IS AN ITEM THAT IS RELATED TO ACTION TAKEN BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY COMMISSION.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 75, MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 75? YES, MAYOR, I OBJECT.
UM, THERE BEING, UH, ONE OBJECTION.
THE ITEM PASSES WITH ONE OBJECTION.
THAT BEING COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND AGAIN, I'LL STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS OFF THE DIAS PERFORMING, UH, CITY BUSINESS.
UH, SO ITEM NUMBER 75 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[01:50:01]
IT'S 1150 AND I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OUTTA ORDER WHAT I HAD READ TO YOU EARLIER IN HOPES THAT WE CAN GET ONE MORE ITEM IN BEFORE OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.SO I WILL CALL UP NOW ITEM NUMBER 85,
[85. Approve a resolution amending Resolution No. 20220915-056 to revise policy for data retention related to automated license plate readers and extend the timeline of the pilot program.]
ITEM NUMBER 85.AND I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
THIS IS TAKE TWO ON AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER.
THE RETENTION POLICY, I WON'T, UH, BELABOR THE POINT.
WE HAD THE DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.
THIS WOULD MOVE THE RETENTION POLICY FROM 30 DAYS TO SEVEN DAYS.
AND THERE WE, WE WILL RECEIVE, UH, AFTER THE END OF THIS ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM DATA ON HOW THIS IS WORKING SO THAT WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 85.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 85.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
UM, I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 85 WITH KELLY AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU OR HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
KELLY AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 85.
UH, THE AMENDMENT IS TO EXTEND THE HAVE THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL, WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE END OF A A 12 MONTH PERIOD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND DELETING THE WORDS FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO 2024.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM, UH, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, AMENDMENT ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 85.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE, THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
THE MAIN MOTION IS TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 85 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UM, THAT IF YOU WERE TO HAVE EVIDENCE BEFORE WE GOT TO THE END OF THE ONE YEAR PILOT, THAT WE HAD LANDED ON THE WRONG NUMBER OF DAYS, THAT YOU WOULD BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO OUR ATTENTION EARLIER THAN THE ONE YEAR.
UM, SHOULD IT BE OBVIOUS THAT IT'S NOT? YES, WE WILL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 85 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
THAT TAKES US, IT'S 1153 MEMBERS AND, AND I, I BELIEVE THE NEXT ITEMS, WELL, LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER 52.
[74. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for license plate reader camera systems and services with Insight Public Sector, Inc., for up to five years for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,090,000. [Note: This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C (Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this procurement, there were no certified M/WBEs; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established].]
OH, WE DO NEED TO DO 74 70.I'LL PULL UP ITEM NUMBER 74 AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
THIS IS NOW PART TWO OF, PART TWO ARE THE ACTUAL PURCHASE OF THE LICENSE PLATE READERS, UH, SUBJECT TO THE POLICY THAT WE JUST PASSED.
AND SO I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 74.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 74.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 74? WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 74 IS ADOPTED.
I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 74.
UM, THEN ITEM NUMBER 74 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 74.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, MAY I JUST SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MEMBERS AND COUNCIL HERE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DILIGENT EFFORT WE PUT IN TO WORKING ON THE LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM SINCE BEFORE THE INITIAL RESOLUTION PASSED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE AND I VOWED SEEING THIS THROUGH TOO TODAY.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CONVERSATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES REGARDING THIS POLICY.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT A P D AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON COUNCIL FOR BEING PART OF THAT CONVERSATION THAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDED TO HAVE TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE LED TO A VERY ROBUST AND STRONG A L P R POLICY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND MEMBERS EVERY WEEK.
WE HAVE CHALLENGING DECISIONS TO MAKE ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS IN THIS CITY AND IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO ASSIST OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UM, HELP SOLVE CRIMES IN OUR CITY.
AND FOR THAT, I'M THANK YOU, OR I'M THANKFUL.
MR. KELLY MEMBERS, UH, I'M GONNA CALL UP ITEM
[52. Approve the Policy to Determine Funding Goals and Guidelines for the Austin Police Retirement System.]
NUMBER 52, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, I'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU.[01:55:01]
YOU.I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM 52, WHICH IS, UM, AN ITEM RELATED TO A FINANCE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO OUR PENSIONS THAT WE MANAGE.
AND, AND WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, YOUR COMMITTEE, RIGHT? YES, IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR COMMITTEE.
SECOND, UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 52.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 52? I JUST WANNA, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER R AND AL ALTER.
UM, SO THIS FINANCIAL POLICY REALLY CODIFIES WORK THAT WE DID LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE, UM, AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT FUND, I THINK IT'S AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR US TO BE APPROACHING OUR PENSION AND TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT IS FISCALLY SOUND AND ALLOWS THE RISK TO BE SHARED IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.
UM, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR US TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, OPERATING IN A FISCALLY SOUND WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UM, THE RETIREMENTS TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS PROMISED.
UM, AND DOING SO IN A WAY THAT BALANCES ALL OF THE RISKS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I WANNA THANK OUR FINANCE STAFF AND OUR LOBBY STAFF AND, AND FOLKS INVOLVED WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WHO, WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS OVER THE MANY YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 52 WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 52 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[57. Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on the City’s draft Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Action Plan as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 57, WHICH IS THE CONDUCT OF A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ACTION.I'LL, WE WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 57 AND RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK FOR ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WITHOUT A, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 50.
IS IT OKAY TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION? WE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 57.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE, UM, TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD EARLIER REGARDING OUR PUBLIC HEARING, FOR OUR, UM, OUR HUD PLAN UPDATE, OUR ACTION PLAN UPDATE, CAN STAFF SPEAK TO ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON, ON THIS PLAN, THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN? MANDY DE MAYO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY ARRANGED TO REACH OUT TO MS. JOSEPH WHO DID MAKE SOME COMMENTS, WHICH HONESTLY, I, I COULDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HER COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE CONNECTED WITH HER PREVIOUSLY.
UM, AND WE WILL FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HER CONCERNS ARE.
UM, I SHOULD SAY WE HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT, UM, INCLUDING, UH, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN THE, UH, ACTION PLAN.
THIS IS ON THE DRAFT ACTION PLAN.
THE FINAL ACTION PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL PRIOR TO IT BEING SUBMITTED TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN AUGUST.
SO WE, WE DID BEGIN OUR OUTREACH, UH, PROBABLY IN JANUARY, UM, AND HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
AND, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN GO ONLINE AND SUBMIT FEEDBACK AT ANY MOMENT.
ABSOLUTELY, THROUGH PUBLIC INPUT IS THE, UH, PLATFORM, UM, IN WHICH WE'RE, UH, UH, RECEIVING, UH, ELECTRONIC, UM, INPUT.
AND WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED WRITTEN RESPONSES.
WE'VE BEEN TO A VARIETY OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL.
UM, AND WE FOLLOW UP WITH ALL OF THAT INPUT AND IT ALL GETS INCLUDED.
EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF FEEDBACK CONCERN, UH, GETS INCLUDED WITH THE FULL ACTION PLAN THAT IS SUBMITTED TO HUD.
AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ACTION PLAN.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ACTION PLAN THAT INFORMS HOW WE SPEND OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DOLLARS.
SO THINK ABOUT HOUSING, FOOD, ACCESS, CHILDCARE.
THESE ARE ALL USES IN WAYS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THE, UH, THE FEDERAL FUNDS, THE FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT HOW WE USE THESE FUNDS ARE GUIDED BY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SEES AS PRIORITIES.
AND CERTAINLY JUST WANT TO DAYLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION NEXT WEEK.
BUT ALSO, UH, COMMENTS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 57? AS I INDICATED 57 WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.
[02:00:01]
PUBLIC HEARING AND NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
NOW NOON, SO WE ARE AT OUR TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.SO WE WILL NOW, UH, BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS.
OKAY, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ADRIAN MAIA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE WITH POD YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE.
RIGHT BEHIND ME HOUSING IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF AMERICANS RACIAL CAPITALISM FROM REDLY TO BLOCK BUSING TO EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
HOUSING POLICIES AND LENDING PRACTICES HAVE CREATED AND MAINTAINED RACIALIZED HIERARCHIES WHERE THE CITY OF, WHERE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CONTINUE TO TREAT HOUSING LIKE A SPECULATIVE C.
THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEGA DEVELOPMENT AT MARKET RATE WILL FURTHER IMPACT LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITY OF, OF COLOR WITH GENTRIFICATION.
THE IMPACTS OF GENTRIFICATION INCLUDE THE DISPLACEMENT OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ERASURE OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL NETWORKS, AS WELL AS THE LAWS OF HOUSING AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES LIKE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.
YOU MUST STILL WORK TO SUSTAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH OF COLOR IN AUSTIN.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN EAST AUSTIN OR ANYWHERE IN AUSTIN.
AT THE CURRENT STANDARD RATE OF YOUR SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE UNITS, AT 60% MEDIUM INCOME, A SINGLE PERSON MUST BE EARNING AT LEAST $46,380 YEARLY, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WOULD'VE TO BE AT LEAST EARNING $22 AN HOUR TO RENT AN APARTMENT DOWN.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE EARNING $61,800 YEARLY AT THE 80 MEDIUM INCOME, OR APPROXIMATELY $29 AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR.
TO QUALIFY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, YOU NEED TO WORK TO ACHIEVE LOWER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.
AND BEFORE I LEAVE THE STAND, I WANT TO DIRECT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.
JOSE VELAZQUEZ, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING FROM YESTERDAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK TO THE NEXT GENERATION TO BECOME LEADERS, UM, ADVOCATES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT JOSE VALLA SAYS, PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE OUR VOICE FOR DISTRICT THREE, AND WE NEED, YOU, NEED YOU TO HONOR ACCUSE YOURSELF.
I KNOW IT'S SCARY, BUT WE'RE SCARED TOO, BUT HOPELESS WITHOUT YOU, MAN, YOU ARE A LEADER IN EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING.
I, I JUST WANTED TO, I WANTED TO THANK THESE YOUNG, UH, SCHOLARS FOR, UH, JUSTICE, FOR BEING ABLE TO CHAT WITH THEM, BUT ALSO, UH, YESTERDAY WE CHATTED ABOUT SHOWING UP AND TALKING TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I WAS INSPIRED TO SEE ALL OF THEM TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR SUMMER BREAK TO WORK ON EXTENSIVE PROGRAM WITH ER.
SO JUST THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WINFIELD ON DECK IS MICHAEL MCCOY, MATTHEW MCCOY, UH, UM, SORRY, UH, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM ME TODAY.
UM, MY NAME IS CHE WEINFELD AND I'M FROM CENTRAL AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXPOSED TEXT DOT OR PROPOSED TEXT DOT EXPANSION OF I 35.
UM, AND I WANNA ADDRESS THIS EXPANSION AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LEGACY IN Y'ALL'S LEGACY AS THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.
UM, IT'S BEEN ROUGHLY 50 YEARS, HALF, HALF A CENTURY SINCE THE LAST MAJOR WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON, UM, I 35.
AND THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE IN RESPONSE TO LARGE CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING BOTH, UM, IN POPULATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
UM, AND THE DECISIONS THAT OUR LEADERS MADE AT THAT TIME WAS TO EXPAND HIGHWAYS AND KIND OF PROMOTE A CERTAIN KIND OF, UM, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE COULD NOTE, WHICH IS CALLED SPRAWL.
UM, BASICALLY THIS LED TO THE, IN THE END, THIS REALLY DID NOT HELP OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE GROWTH.
IT LED TO MORE CONGESTION, UM, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING JUST BECAUSE THERE WASN'T, THIS MODEL WASN'T ABLE TO, UM, CONTAIN ENOUGH HOUSING FOR EVERYONE AND BASICALLY A LESS UNIFIED CITY.
I THINK TODAY WE'RE AT A SIMILAR CROSSROADS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAVING SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF POPULATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AS HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO.
UM, WE'RE ALSO LIVING IN A CHANGING WORLD.
UM, WE'RE WITH NEW CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEN ALSO SHIFTS IN THE ECONOMY DUE TO CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH REMOTE WORK AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOBS.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY AS THE CITY COUNCIL,
[02:05:01]
UM, ARE GONNA REALLY DEFINE WHAT AUSTIN'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROJECT, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UM, A MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE THING THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.UM, AND I REALLY WANT Y'ALL TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LEGACY EXPANDING THIS HIGHWAY IS GONNA LEAVE.
UM, I, IT'S BEEN SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN THAT HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS DON'T REALLY SOLVE TRAFFIC.
OFTEN THEY CREATE ACTUALLY MORE TRAFFIC Y THEY ALSO CREATE POLLUTION, UM, REDUCE HOUSING AND, UM, CREATE MORE PEDESTRIAN AND AUTO FATALITIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT EXPANDING I 35 IS THE LEGACY THAT YOU ALL WANNA LEAVE FOR OUR CITY AND FOR MY FUTURE.
I'M 18 RIGHT NOW, SO THIS HIGHWAY WILL PROBABLY BE AROUND FOR MOST OF THE REST OF MY ADULT LIFE.
UM, I THINK THAT Y'ALL HAVE A CHOICE RIGHT NOW TO VOCALLY OR THROUGH PROPOSITION, OPPOSE TEXT DOTS PLAN TO EXPAND THE HIGHWAY AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE BETTER WAYS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CREATE IN THE AUSTIN OF THE FUTURE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS HIGHWAYS THAT EXPANDING I 35 IS RIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
I, I THINK IT'S REPEATING SOME OF THE MISTAKES WE'VE MADE IN THE PAST, AND I JUST URGE Y'ALL TO KIND OF REFLECT ON WHAT YOU THINK AUSTIN SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE, AND WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR ME AND MY GENERATION IN THE FUTURE? UH, I WOULD, UH, THANK EVERYONE, PARTICULARLY NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW MCCOY.
I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY.
MY NAME IS CLOVER AND I'M A STUDENT HERE AT UT AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND OPPOSITION TO THE EXPANSION OF I 35.
TEXAS SCOTTS PLAN TO WIDEN I 35 WILL HAVE AN IRREVERSIBLE NEGATIVE IMPACT BY WIDENING THE WOUND TEARING THROUGH OUR CITY IN AFFECTING AUSTIN NIGHTS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS EXPANSION WILL PUT 107 BUSINESSES IN RESIDENCES UP FOR POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE AIR QUALITY OF AUSTIN.
IT RESULTING IN NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS FOR EVERYONE NEAR NEARBY.
AND DESPITE ALL THIS, IT WILL STILL FAIL TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO TRAFFIC ON 9 35.
IT IS EVIDENT BY THE KATY FREEWAY EXPANSION IN HOUSTON WHOSE IN RUSH HOUR TRAVEL TIME INCREASED BY 55% WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER EXPANDING THE 26 LENGTH.
TO TRULY REDUCE TRAFFIC, WE MUST LOOK TO REDUCE THE CAR DEPENDENCY OF AUSTIN AND PROVIDE COMMUTERS WITH OTHER OPTIONS FOR METHODS.
I HAVEN'T BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR LONG, BUT I HAVE FELT THE EFFECT OF CAR DEPENDENCY SINCE I MOVED TO THE US IN MY LITTLE TOWN GETTING ANYWHERE, ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON CARS.
THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS AND MY FREEDOMS WERE SEVERELY LIMITED.
I WAS VERY HAPPY WHEN I CAME TO AUSTIN AND IT HAS A WONDERFUL BLOOD SYSTEM AND IS RELATIVELY WALKABLE.
I'VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE FREEDOM HERE AS A PEDESTRIAN, YET I'VE ALSO WALKED ACROSS THE I 35 BRIDGE ON MLK BEING BRUSHED BY ONCOMING VEHICLES.
AUSTIN IS STILL VERY HOSTILE TO PEDESTRIANS IN MANY AREAS, AND I'M VERY STILL VERY DEPENDENT ON MY CAR TO EXPLORE A LARGE SWATH OF AUSTIN.
AND PERSONALLY, I DO NOT WISH FOR A CITY TO CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPANSION OF I 35.
IN FACT, I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MY CAR HERE WITH ME, AND THAT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE I CAN BE AFFORDED BY EVERYONE.
MANY STUDENTS HERE AT AT UT AUSTIN DO NOT OWN CARS BECAUSE THEY COME FROM MANY OTHER CORNERS OF WORLD AND MANY OTHER STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES TO OWN A CAR RATHER THAN AN EXPANDING I 35.
IT IS MORE SENSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO DIVERT ITS ATTENTION AND FUNDING TO PROVIDING OPTIONS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THESE PRIVILEGES AND REDUCE THE CAR.
DEPENDENCY OF AUSTIN CITY, INCREASED FUNDING ON BUSES, THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, AND OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THIS EXPANSION PROJECT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AND MANY STUDENTS OF OUR GENERATIONS WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE WANT THE CITY TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT AND TAKE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, ONE THAT IST DOMINATED BY HIGHWAYS AND CARS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND HOOK AND HORNS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLOTTE LEMAY.
MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE LEMAY AND I'M A PHD STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN.
[02:10:01]
TO LIVE ON A GRADUATE STUDENT STIPEND.UH, BUT IT'S A LOT HARDER TO DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO OWN A CAR.
UH, INSURANCE IS EXPENSIVE AND GAS COSTS SPIKE UNPREDICTABLY.
THIS BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY DO I OWN A CAR AT ALL? AND MY BROTHER IN NEW YORK DOES NOT NEED ONE.
BUT IN AUSTIN, UNLIKE NEW YORK, A CAR IS HARD TO DO WITHOUT.
WE HAVE VERY FEW TRAIN LINES ALONG THE ROUTE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TRAVEL, UH, AND BUSES ARE SLOW AND INFREQUENT.
THIS FORCES MANY LIKE ME INTO CAR OWNERSHIP.
WHILE THOSE UNABLE TO DRIVE CARS ARE FORCED INTO LIMITED MOBILITY, UH, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION.
UH, A SURVEY FOUND THAT 55% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS WOULD PREFER TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE CITY WITHOUT A CAR.
AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM? UH, EVEN ASIDE FROM THE COST DRIVING IS DANGEROUS AND WASTEFUL.
UH, A CAR CRASH IS ONE OF THE MOST LIKELY WAYS FOR AN AMERICAN TO DIE.
UH, AND A HIGHWAY FULL OF INDIVIDUAL CARS ALL MOVING THE SAME DIRECTION, BURNS MANY TIMES MORE FUEL THAN A A BUS OR TRAIN, MOVING ALL THOSE SAME PEOPLE.
UH, A FUTURE WITH LESS DRIVING IS THE FUTURE THAT PEOPLE WANT, UH, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME.
UH, THIS IS WHY THE I 35 EXPANSION PROJECT IS A STEP IN PRECISELY THE WRONG DIRECTION.
UM, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EXPAND A HIGHWAY? UH, PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR CHANGES, UH, THEY START TAKING CAR TRIPS THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THE WHOLE ROAD SYSTEM BECOMES EVEN MORE CLOGGED AND OVERBURDENED.
THE DATA IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF EXPANDING HIGHWAYS.
UH, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN, UH, THE, UH, FREEWAY IN KATY, TEXAS.
UH, IT'S TIME TO STOP BEING SURPRISED WHEN EXPANDING HIGHWAYS INCREASES CONGESTION.
SHAME ON ME, ME FOOL ME A FEW DOZEN TIMES.
I SHOULD CONSIDER A CAREER IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, HOW WILL WE RESPOND WHEN THE NEWLY EXPANDED I 35 AND THE WHOLE ROAD SYSTEM CONNECTED TO IT IS EVEN MORE CLOGGED THAN BEFORE? WILL WE, UH, EXPAND MORE ROADS, LEVEL, MORE HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND POUR MORE ASPHALT? WILL WE CONTINUE TO SACRIFICE THE MOST VALUABLE PARTS OF OUR CITY, THE PLACES WE LIVE AND WORK AND EXISTING COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER TO CONTINUE BLOATING THE ROADS WHICH HAVE VALUE ONLY INSOFAR AS THEY GET US TO THOSE PLACES? SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO STOP THE CYCLE AND BUILD A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LIKE A DENSER NETWORK OF TRAINS, WHICH DO THE SAME PEOPLE MOVING JOB, UH, AS A HIGHWAY WITHOUT PEOPLE NEEDING TO OWN CARS AND IN LESS SPACE WITH LESS POLLUTION.
UH, I URGE YOU TO PUT YOUR SUPPORT BEHIND A TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF AUSTIN CITIZENS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CECILY MONTGOMERY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND, UM, MAYOR WATSON.
UM, MY NAME IS CECILY MONTGOMERY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF MY CONCERNS OVER TEXT.
DOTS PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE I 35 FREEWAY.
UM, AS MANY OF MY FELLOW SPEAKERS HAVE POINTED OUT, THE EXPANSION OF I 35 WOULD NOT REDUCE TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF INDUCED DEMAND, BUT I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN IF IT WERE TO REDUCE TRAFFIC, IT WOULD NOT EXPAND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR MANY AUSTINITES.
AND THIS IS BECAUSE CAR DEPENDENT CITIES ARE INHERENTLY INACCESSIBLE.
UM, BECAUSE FOR MANY FOLKS, DRIVING IS JUST NOT AN OPTION.
UM, IN MY LINE OF WORK, I HAVE WITNESSED HOW CHALLENGING IT IS FOR MANY FOLKS TO GET AROUND WHO CANNOT DRIVE.
I WORK IN IMMIGRATION LAW AND MANY OF MY CLIENTS ARE WORKING TOWARDS GETTING LEGAL STATUS IN THE US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PROCESS OFTEN TAKES MANY YEARS.
AND DURING THIS PROCESS, MANY FOLKS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO GET DRIVER'S LICENSES.
MY CLIENTS ARE AT RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SHOW UP TO THEIR COURT, GET COURT DATES OR THEIR APPOINTMENTS, OR NOT BEING ABLE TO HOLD DOWN JOBS BECAUSE THE, THEIR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE JUST SO LIMITED AND IRREGULAR.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
ALSO, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED OR, UM, HAVE IMPAIRED VISIONS, UM, FOR THEM DRIVING ALSO IS NOT AN OPTION.
THE MAIN BUS ROUTE, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR MY HOUSE, I'M HONESTLY PRETTY LUCKY.
I LIVE RELATIVELY CLOSE, MAYBE A HALF MILE WALK AWAY FROM A BUS ROUTE.
THAT'S KIND OF A MAIN ARTERY OF THE CITY.
THAT'S A HALF MILE WALK UP SOME, YOU KNOW, CURVY HILLS FROM ME.
AS AN ABLE-BODIED PERSON, I CAN DO THAT.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR, IF YOU ARE BLIND, THAT IS GONNA BE A REALLY TOUGH WALK TO GET
[02:15:01]
TO THAT BUS ROUTE.SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT TEXTILE WANTS TO POUR INTO EXPANDING I 35 COULD INSTEAD BE USED TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LINES.
IT COULD BERA USED TO, YOU KNOW, ADD BUSES, ADD TRAINS, ADD BIKE LANES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION FOR TRANSPORTATION.
EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND EXPANDING I 35 FREEWAY ONLY EXPANDS OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO DRIVE.
SO AUSTIN NEEDS OPTIONS FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT DRIVE.
AND I AM HERE TO ASK Y'ALL TO SAY NO TO THE I 35 FREEWAY EXPANSION AND INSTEAD USE THOSE FUNDS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR AUSTINITES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RIHANNA TRAN.
I AM A SECOND YEAR STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN AND CALLING ON CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE I 35 EXPANSION.
I GREW UP IN THE SPRAWLING SUBURBS OF HOUSTON AND COMING FROM HOUSTON, AUSTIN'S URBAN PLANNING SEEMED LIKE A DREAM, BUT IT IS A DREAM THAT IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.
IN 1960, THE HOLLY STREET POWER PLANT WAS BUILT IN A PREDOMINANTLY LATINA EAST, EAST, EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I VISITED FOR A CLASS LAST YEAR, WHICH SEEMS WAS UNRELATED TO I 35 UNTIL YOU ADD THAT THE POWER PLANT CAUSED CHEMICAL CELLS, INCREASED CANCER RATES AND AND NOISE POLLUTION, AND THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT TURNED A BLIND EYE IN FAVOR OF THE PETROLEUM COMPANY SUPPLYING THE PLANT UNTIL 2007.
THIS IS THE SAME NEGLIGENT MINDSET THAT SHAPED THE CITY DURING THE REDLINING AND SEGREGATIONIST PLANT OF 1928.
AND IT IS THE SAME MINDSET THAT DRIVES TECH STOPS.
I 35 EXPANSION TODAY, LIVING A FEW MILES FURTHER FROM I 35 COULD PREVENT A CHILD FROM BECOMING ASTHMATIC JUST AS A FEW MILES FROM I 45 COULD HAVE PREVENTED MY ABUELA FROM BECOMING ASTHMATIC.
BUT THERE IS NO COULD HAVE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THE CHILDREN AND ELDER ELDERLY NEAR THESE HIGHWAYS ALREADY HAVE ASTHMA AND THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
AND IT IS PAINFUL TO THINK THAT THE EXISTING DAMAGE IS NOT ENOUGH.
ADDITIONALLY, EIGHT OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES TO BE DISPLACED BY THE EXPANSION INCLUDES SPANISH SPEAKING AND BLACK OWNED LOW INCOME MEDICAL PROVIDERS, BARBERSHOPS AND EMERGING PRESCHOOLS.
THESE ARE BUSINESSES ESSENTIAL TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE BLACK AND BROWN AUSTIN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY SINCE I 35 ALREADY PURPOSEFULLY SEPARATES AND ISOLATES THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM CENTRAL AUSTIN.
IT IS SADDENING TO SEE TEXTILE PLACE PETROLEUM OVER PEOPLE AND COMPANIES OVER THESE COMMUNITIES.
IN REALITY, THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN ARE THE BACKBONE OF O AUSTIN.
THE THE CITY THAT IT IS KNOWN AS NOW.
AND THE EXPANSION OF I 35 WOULD BE THE DEATH OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND BY EXTENSION, THE DEATH OF AUSTIN SPIRIT FITTING IT OF UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ONCE DREW PEOPLE LIKE ME TOWARDS IT.
AND IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT USING BILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENTS FROM OIL AND GAS COMPANIES ARE THE REASON THAT OUR PRESIDENT JAY HARTSEL AGREES TO FUND THE R 35 EXPANSION WHILE THE SCHOOL FAILS.
ITS WORKING CLASS STUDENTS WITH LACK OF FINANCIAL AID.
I'M TIRED OF THE MONEY, THE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING INTO MY EDUCATION BEING WEAPONIZED AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I DO NOT VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.
SO A TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CAN MAKE DECISIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I NOTE THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL TODAY DOES NOT REFLECT THE IDEOLOGIES THAT SHAPE THE WAY AUSTIN WAS BUILT.
I ONCE AGAIN ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST I 35 EXPANSION.
VALUE THE VOICES OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO CORRECT DECADES OF INJUSTICE AND PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE YOUNG DREAMERS THAT STILL SEE AUSTIN AS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GROW AND THRIVE AND WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL TRULY VALUE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT TODAY, URBAN IRVIN TRON.
GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON MY, ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY.
MY NAME IS IRVIN BELTRAN, BORN AND RAISED AUSTIN, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE I 35 EXPANSION THROUGH OUR CITY.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS HAVE SHOWN TO BE DESTRUCTIVE, WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES AS THE WORSEN CONGESTION AND FURTHER DIVIDE OUR CITIES.
I'VE NEVER WORKED FOR KATY FREEWAY AND HAS ONLY MADE THAT CITY'S MOST MEMORABLE TRAIT BECOMES GODAWFUL TRAFFIC.
AND I REALLY DO NOT WANT AUSTIN TO FALL INTO THAT SAME PIPELINE.
CONGESTION IS A SYMPTOM OF A LACK OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR COMMUNITY.
AS FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE IN THE CITY.
IF YOU WANNA GO FROM NORTH AUSTIN TO SOUTH AUSTIN, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE A CAR, YOU WERE PRETTY MUCH SCREWED.
AND AS A RESULT, THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH A SIMPLE DESIRE IS FORCED TO COMMUTE THROUGH THE SAME ARTERY ON THE CAR, IT'S ALREADY DEPRESSING ENOUGH.
WITH I 30 FIVE'S CURRENT STATE IN THIS HIGH EXPANSION WILL ONLY WORSEN IT AND FURTHER DROWN OUR CITY.
AND ASPHALT, YOU'RE IN THE MIDST OF A HOUSING CRISIS AND ANY PROJECT THAT DEMANDS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITIES TO BE VE OPPOSED.
INVESTING IN OUR CITY'S TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES AND WALKABILITY IS HOW YOU TRULY FIGHT CONGESTION AND MAKE OUR CITY SUSTAINABLE FOR US.
AND THE ONES WHO INHERIT IT, THE DEMAND FOR A MORE WALKABLE CITY IS VERY REAL.
AS MORE AUSTIN RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO
[02:20:01]
VOTE FOR PROJECT CONNECT THAN OUR OWN MAYOR IN SEAT, THE TEXAS D L T IS WELL AWARE OF THIS AND HAS COMPLETELY IGNORED OUR REJECTIONS THAT EVERY COMMUNITY OUTREACH THEY'VE HELD, WHICH IS WHY I STAND YOU BEFORE YOU TO URGE YOU TO USE THE POWER OUR VOICES SHOULD HAVE HAD SINCE THE BEGINNING.THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU ACT ON BEHALF OF YOUR PEOPLE AND NOT AN AGENCY IN THE POCKET OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY AS AN ALLY TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE'VE JUST HEARD FROM WHO ARE OPPOSING THE I 35 EXPANSION THROUGH AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO THE MOM OF AN EIGHT YEAR OLD AUSTINITE WHO I DRAGGED HERE TODAY AND IS HAPPILY READING HIS DOGMAN COMIC
UM, SO I'M ASKING YOU TODAY, I'M ASKING OUR CITY LEADERS TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR KIDS BY OPPOSING THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT KIDS AND TEENS AT THE CENTER OF OUR DECISION MAKING ON I 35.
GREATER CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN EAST AND WEST.
AUSTIN CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE FUTURE OF I 35, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS KIDS' RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH AS WELL AS THEIR RIGHT TO A LIVABLE CLIMATE.
TOO OFTEN WE DON'T REALLY CONSIDER KIDS AND TEENS OUTSIDE OF CERTAIN SPECIALIZED AREAS, YOU KNOW, LIKE EDUCATION, BUT THEY ARE ALSO A PART OF THIS CITY'S FABRIC AND THEY ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CHOICES THAT WE ARE MAKING AROUND TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY USE.
WE ALL KNOW, AND THIS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UH, PROXIMITY TO TRAFFIC EMISSIONS AND KIDS RESPIRATORY HEALTH.
THERE ARE OVER 80 SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES CURRENTLY ON THE, ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR, UM, INCLUDING 10 A I S D CAMPUSES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT INEQUITY PLAYS A ROLE IN THESE IMPACTS WITH CHILDREN OF COLOR IN TRAVIS COUNTY, EXPERIENCING MORE SEVERE ASTHMA, MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR ASTHMA AT DOUBLE THE RATE OF WHITE CHILDREN IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH ELEMENT TO THIS OF ADULTS NOT ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
45% OF YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE EXPERIENCING CLIMATE ANXIETY ON A DAILY BASIS, AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE FEELING BETRAYED BY US FOR OUR FAILURE TO ACT WITH THE URGENCY NECESSARY OF A CLIMATE CRISIS.
AND DOUBLING DOWN ON CARBON INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE A HIGHWAY IS SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO OUR KIDS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF POLITICAL COMPLEXITIES HERE, UH, BUT THE FUTURE OF I 35 THROUGH AUSTIN IS NOT JUST A PRACTICAL OR A POLITICAL MATTER, IT'S AN ETHICAL ONE.
WE NEED TO LOOK CLOSELY AT OURSELVES AND AT OUR OWN VALUES AS A CITY WHOSE HEALTH AND WHOSE FUTURE ARE WE INVESTING IN BY ALLOWING TECH.TO EXPAND THE HIGHWAY, ARE WE OKAY WITH SACRIFICING SOME KIDS' HEALTH FOR A HIGHWAY THROUGH THE CENTER OF OUR CITY? AND THAT THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING, THAT'S NOT EVEN AN EXPANDED HIGHWAY RIGHT NOW.
KIDS HEALTH IS BEING HARMED BY I 35 35 THROUGH OUR CITY.
AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE INSTEAD IF WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR URBAN DESIGN, WE PUT AUSTIN KIDS FIRST.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE NOON SPEAKERS, MAYOR.
UH, AS YOU JUST HEARD, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO, UH, THE LIVE MUSIC MEMBERS WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.
UH, IT'S THE INTENTION OF THE CHAIR TO TAKE UP THE ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER, 45, 40 84, 78, 83, 53, 54, 58, 88.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE THE ZONING ITEMS WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM
[Live Music Daniel Fears]
OBJECT.I AM MAYOR PRO TEM PAGE ELLIS, AND I'M JOINED BY MAYOR WATSON AND A HANDFUL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DIAS.
DANIEL FEARS IS A SINGER SONGWRITER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST AND PRODUCER BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
HE GREW UP BELONGING TO DIFFERENT MUSICAL WORLDS, THE CHRISTIAN AND GOSPEL MUSIC.
HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM ON THE R AND B SOUL AND HIPHOP HE LISTENED TO AT FRIENDS AND FAMILY'S HOUSES AND THE CLASSICAL MUSIC HE PLAYED DURING HIS STUDIES AT
[02:25:01]
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND YALE UNIVERSITY.SINCE HIS ARTISTIC DEBUT IN 2020, HE'S PERFORMED AT THE 2023 SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST R AND B.
AT THE 2023 AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS EARNED A 2022 SONIC GUILD GRANT OPENED FOR NATIONALLY TOURING ACTS LIKE MACK AIRS AND GONE ON AN INTERNATIONAL TOUR WITH LATIN GRAMMY NOMINEE GINA CHAVEZ AS PART OF THE AMERICAN MUSIC ABROAD PROGRAM.
THE RULES FOR DANIEL FEARS DAY MAKE A NEW FRIEND OR CALL UP AN OLD ONE, VISIT A NEW PLACE, STEP OUTSIDE YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE AND LET YOURSELF BE SURPRISED.
AND WITH THAT, I GET TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE VIETNAM, THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCE SUPPORT, AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 8TH, 2023 AS DANIEL FEARS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DANIEL FEARS SOMETHING, SOMETHING YOU CAN'T BELIEVE YOU, BUT I CAN'T RUN TOO DISRESPECT.
[02:32:10]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU WANNA COME? LET'S GET A PICTURE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHERE CAN WE SEE YOU? UH, I'M PLAYING TOMORROW NIGHT AT KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL.
UM, I'M ALSO PLAYING, UH, AT GERALDINE'S ON JUNE 20TH, LIKE A LITTLE SOLO GIG, SO YEAH.
AND WHAT'S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA? YEAH, SO, UH, MY SOCIAL MEDIA IS FEARS LIKE MY LAST NAME, F E A R S ON THE INTERNET.
FEARS ON THE INTERNET, YOU CAN FIND THAT.
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, ALL OF THOSE.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER THANK YOU SO MUCH, YO.
AND, UM, WE WERE RECESSED UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
I'M GONNA CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER MOMENTARILY, SO IF YOU, UH, WANT TO PARTICIPATE, THAT'D BE THE TIME.
[02:35:39]
I'LL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.IT'S 1:02 PM UH, THE ORDER THAT WILL GO IN THIS AFTERNOON IS 45 40 84 78 83.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP THE OTHER ITEMS. UH, DEPENDING UPON WHERE WE ARE, I'LL MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT WHETHER WE GO TO THE TWO O'CLOCK TIMES CERTAIN, UM, UH, BEFORE WE TAKE UP OTHER ITEMS. BUT THE FIRST ITEM, THE CHAIR CALLS,
[45. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) to change compatibility requirements.]
UH, UP IS ITEM NUMBER 45.I'LL RECOGNIZE THE AUTHOR OF ITEM NUMBER 45.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MEMBERS, WE ARE GONNA HAVE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS OFFERED THE ORDER I INTEND TO GO ON THE AMENDMENTS OR AS I RECEIVED THEM.
UH, ALISON, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, I'M EXCITED TO, TO BRING THIS, UH, ITEM.
IT IS, UH, A, A BROAD COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
UH, AND I'LL JUST GO THROUGH IT QUICKLY.
I DID POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, DESCRIBING IT IN, UH, IN SOME DETAIL.
AND I ALSO, WE HAVE A, UH, EXPLAINER THAT, UH, MY STAFF AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, TIMOTHY BRAY IN PARTICULAR, WHO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND WHO, UH, DID ALL OF THE, THE HEAVY LIFTING REALLY ON, UH, ON THIS ITEM, UH, GOES THROUGH EACH ELEMENT OF THE, UH, OF THE, UH, UH, OF THE ITEM AND EXPLAINS IT.
UH, BROADLY SPEAKING, IT DIRECTS STAFF TO REDUCE THE, UH, COMPATIBILITY LIMIT TO, UH, A HUNDRED FEET OR LESS, UH, AS, AS THEY'RE, UH, TO BE INFORMED BY THE STUDY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
UM, IT LOOKS AT ADJUSTING THE, UH, THE SETBACKS.
UH, RIGHT NOW, IN PARTICULAR, THAT 25 FOOT, UH, SETBACK IS, UH, IS A BIG CHUNK OF LAND, AND THERE ARE VERY STRONG LIMITATIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN PUT IN THE SETBACK.
UM, STRUCTURES IS A WORD THAT YOU CAN'T PUT ANY STRUCTURES, AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, EVEN A PICNIC TABLE OR, YOU KNOW, WATER DETENTION OR KIND OF ANY, UH, STRUCTURE WHATSOEVER.
UH, AGAIN, LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN, UH, EASILY PUT IN THERE AND WE TAKE A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, MEASURES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE, UH, COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDOR'S PROPOSAL THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED, UH, IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND APPLY THEM CITYWIDE.
UH, THAT'S THE, THE, THE BASICS OF IT.
UH, HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS IT MORE AND, AND, AND GET INTO THE DETAILS DURING THIS, UH, UH, DEBATE.
UM, I DID WANNA SAY THAT JUST IN, IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPEAK TO BOTH NONPROFIT AND, UH, MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS, EVERYBODY IDENTIFIES THE COMPATIBILITY RULES, AUSTIN'S COMPATIBILITY RULES AS, UH, OUR NUMBER ONE BARRIER TO HOUSING.
WE TAKE, YOU KNOW, A 300 UNIT PROJECT, BUT BECAUSE OF COMPATIBILITY RULES, IT BECOMES A, YOU KNOW, A 220 UNIT PROJECT AND, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED UNIT PROJECT BECOMES A 60 UNIT PROJECT.
AND, AND AS WE KIND OF JUST CHIP AWAY, UH, AT, AT THOSE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WITH, UH, THE COMPATIBILITY RULES THAT, YOU KNOW, REDUCES OUR SUPPLY OF HOUSING AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTES TO A TIGHT HOUSING MARKET, UH, THIS MEASURE AIMS TO BRING US IN LINE WITH, UH, OTHER, UH, UH, PEER CITIES SO THAT WE HAVE A, A COMPATIBILITY RULE THAT IS A MORE, YOU KNOW, REASONABLE AND DOESN'T, UM, KILL AS MUCH, UH, HOUSING AS IT'S, UH, CURRENTLY DOING.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 45.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR.
UH, I WANT TO ASK YOU THOUGH, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU, WHICH YOU HAVE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PREFER TO GO FIRST? UM, ACTUALLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FIRST, BUT, UM, I, MOTION SHEET ONE WAS ADOPTED INTO THE BASE MOTION, SO I DON'T NEED TO MOVE THAT ONE.
UM, THEN LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR JUST QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
UM, SO FIRST I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR HOUSING STAFF REGARDING OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING
[02:40:01]
BLUEPRINT AND THE LANDSCAPE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW AND POLICY.SO THAT MAY REQUIRE LAW DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
UM, SO FIRST I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR ON WHAT THE LANDSCAPE IS FOR, HOW WE CAN OBTAIN INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN DEVELOPMENTS.
VERY OFTEN IN THIS DEBATE, WE COMPARE OUR LAND USE RULES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ACROSS OUR NATION, CITIES ARE ABLE TO ADOPT INCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES, WHICH ALLOW THEM TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE UNITS WITHIN DEVELOPMENTS AS MANDATES.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IN TEXAS.
UM, CAN STAFF SPEAK TO THAT? IS IT LEGAL FOR US TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE OF A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM? NO, IT IS NOT.
DO OTHER CITIES OUTSIDE OF TEXAS HAVE THAT RIGHT? OR CITIES OUTSIDE OF TEXAS ALLOWED TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE UNITS AS A MANDATE WITHOUT NEEDING TO SET UP SOMETHING LIKE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM? THAT IS CORRECT.
IT VARIES, BUT YES, OUTSIDE OF TEXAS, YOU CAN, THANK YOU.
SO WITHIN TEXAS, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR US TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE UNITS WITHIN DEVELOPMENT UNLESS THEY VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
SO ROSIE, OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT INCLUDES DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AS A RECOMMENDATION, AND IT ALSO LISTS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF WHAT STAFF CALL STRATEGIES WITH HIGHEST POTENTIAL IMPACT.
CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO WHY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT? WE HAVE FOUND, UH, THAT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A GOOD WAY OF GETTING, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS ACROSS AUSTIN, AND IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THEY WERE LISTED AS THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL IMPACT.
YOU KNOW, WHY THEY WERE LISTED AS THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS WITH A NUMBER OF OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. GREAT, THANK YOU.
SO THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT SPECIFICALLY STATES THE REVISED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SHOULD IMPLEMENT A CONSISTENT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CENTERS AND CORRIDORS, AND GOES ON TO STATE THAT ANY INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY WILL BE TIED TO AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
WHY IS THAT? IN OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT? A AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE FOUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN AUSTIN TO ACHIEVE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND THEN THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, WE'VE BEEN REMINDED THAT STAFF DID NOT RECOMMEND THE COMPATIBILITY REFORMS THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED LAST YEAR.
DID STAFF NOT RECOMMEND THOSE REFORMS BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS? I'VE NOT MEN READ ANY MENTION OF THAT BEING STAFF'S REASONS IN YOUR STAFF REPORT THERE WERE, EXCUSE ME, THERE WERE A VARIETY OF REASONS THAT WE DID NOT RECOMMEND, BUT WE DID NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE WERE INTENDED TO.
AND THAT WAS OVERLY BURDENSOME, UH, AND COMPLICATED ADDITION TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT IS ALREADY QUITE COMPLICATED.
SO I'M GONNA JUST SUMMARIZE AND THEN IF YOU CAN JUST TELL ME IF I HAVE THIS, UH, WRONG.
SO, CITIES IN OTHER STATES ARE ALLOWED TO SIMPLY MANDATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT CREATING VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS LIKE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS IN TEXAS, WE CANNOT DO THAT.
WE CAN ONLY ENFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS IF SOMEONE VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATES IN SOMETHING LIKE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
AND IN OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT, THAT THERE FOR QUARTERS AND CENTERS, WE SHOULD HAVE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WHERE ANY INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY WILL BE TIED TO AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
UM, SO COLLEAGUES, I BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE ALL SEEN MY AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS DISTRIBUTED AND POSTED YESTERDAY.
AS I STATED, I BELIEVE WE CAN DEBATE THE DISTANCES AND TRIGGERS OF COMPATIBILITY.
UM, AND I TRIED TO ADVANCE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN I CO-SPONSORED WITH MAYOR ADLER AND OTHERS ON THIS DIOCESE.
LAST YEAR'S COMPATIBILITY REFORMS, WHICH EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE WAS SERVING, MEN VOTED TO ADOPT.
I BELIEVE, UM, THAT ITEM MADE AFFORDABILITY A KEY REQUIREMENT OF THE COMPATIBILITY RELAXATION.
IT RECOGNIZED THAT WE CAN INCREASE MARKET RATE HOUSING SUPPLY WHILE ALSO CREATING INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE MARKET ALONE WILL NEVER CREATE INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY TO MEET THE NEED.
I'M NOT SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN TRICKLE DOWN THEORIES, WHICH ASSUME THAT SIMPLY TRUSTING IN GROWTH AND THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE FREE MARKET WILL ALLOW US TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.
I THINK OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT CONFIRMS THAT IT LISTS A MYRIAD OF STRATEGIES THAT DETAIL WHY THE MARKET ALONE, WHY INCREASING DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO ADVANCE AFFORDABILITY.
IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN WE WOULDN'T NEED A STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN WE WOULDN'T NEED A HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
WE COULD SIMPLY UPZONE THE ENTIRE CITY.
INSTEAD, WE ADOPTED THE CITY'S STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, OUR 10 YEAR PLAN TO HELP ALIGN RESOURCES AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AROUND A SINGLE STRATEGIC VISION, INCLUDING THE GOAL OF CREATING 60,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THOSE MAKING LESS THAN 80% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND ENSURE THAT THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE CITY'S STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT STATES DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS
[02:45:01]
ARE ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS THE CITY HAS TO CREATE.INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE UNITS WITHOUT MONETARY SUBSIDY, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOSTER PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATIONS THAT YIELD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC SUBSIDIES.
THE BLUEPRINT SPECIFICALLY CALLS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONSISTENT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDORS AND CENTERS A STRATEGY WITH THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR THE CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE BLUEPRINT STATES, THE REVISED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SHOULD IMPLEMENT A CONSISTENT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITIES AND CORRIDORS.
UM, WHERE LARGER BUILDINGS ARE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE, THESE CENTERS AND CORRIDORS ALLOW PEOPLE TO RESIDE, WORKSHOP ACCESS SERVICES, AND RECREATE WITHOUT TRAVELING FAR DISTANCES.
ANY INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY WILL BE TIED TO AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
THE CITY SHOULD INCENTIVIZE AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING UNITS WITH TWO BEDROOMS OR MORE, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
THE EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS HAVE RESULTED IN INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE UNITS IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS WITH NO SUBSIDY BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THAT IS A QUOTE FROM THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
UM, AND WHILE I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE INDICATING THAT HE AGREES A MARKET BASED APPROACH ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT, I'M OFFERING MY AMENDMENT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE ALTERNATIVE MOTION OFFERED BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR WILL WORK IF WE IMMEDIATELY DIRECT THE STAFF TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS.
AND ONLY AFTER DOING SO OFFER A BONUS ON A FURTHER RELAXATION.
I THINK IT FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERMINES HOW BONUSES ARE INTENDED TO WORK.
I'M UNAWARE OF ANY DENSITY BONUS THAT WAS CREATED IN THIS WAY.
FIRST OFFERING MORE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WITHOUT REQUIRING ANYTHING, AND THEN SAYING, WE WILL GIVE YOU EVEN MORE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, WHATEVER LITTLE LESS WE HAVE TO GRANT IF YOU CONTRIBUTE TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS.
WHEN YOU ALREADY REDUCE COMPATIBILITY TO A HUNDRED FEET OR EVEN POSSIBLY 75 OR 50 FEET OF DISTANCE, THERE'S VERY LITTLE LEFT TO GIVE.
AND I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT AFTER A DEVELOPER'S HAD SO MUCH GIVEN TO THEM FOR FREE, THAT THEY WOULD TAKE PART IN WHAT WOULD BE AT THAT POINT AN EXTREMELY MARGINAL ADDITIONAL GAIN IN EXCHANGE FOR OFFERING INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE PASSAGE OF MY MOTION SHEET.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER IT IS TO, UH, APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT IS LABELED IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UH, CAN I ASK THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT A COUPLE QUESTIONS? RIGHT QUICK THINKING BACK TO DECEMBER OF, UH, 22, UH, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT'S WHEN WE PASSED THE COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM CONVERSATIONS WAS HAP AND I'M SORRY, LET ME STEP BACK JUST A SECOND.
WE ALSO PASSED THE RESIDENTIAL IN, UH, COMMERCIAL, UH, BONUS PROGRAM, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AT THAT SAME TIME.
IS IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME MEETING, YES.
IT WAS MY, UM, THAT WAS MY AMEND, MY EMO MY ITEM THAT WAS THE SAME.
UH, IN SPEAKING WITH STAFF, THEY TOLD ME THAT NO ONE HAS APPLIED FOR THE COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDOR'S BONUS PROGRAM.
IS, IS THAT CORRECT? AS OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE, UH, NO APPLICATIONS FOR COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL? UH, FOR THIS YEAR WE HAVE SIX MM-HMM.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE GOAL OF DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING ALONG WITH MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS.
BUT ULTIMATELY, AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD ON THIS DIAS MANY TIMES, THEY HAVE TO BE CALIBRATED APPROPRIATELY.
THE FACT THAT WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM SIX MONTHS AGO, UH, AT THE SAME TIME AS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, AND THAT WE HAVE AT THIS 0.0 APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM, TELLS ME THAT COMPATIBILITY IN CORRIDORS WAS NOT PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PROVIDE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT DUPLICATING THAT SAME APPROACH IS GOING TO BE ANY MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE, THAN THE PRIOR, UH, UH, ATTEMPT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AND AGAIN, COMPATIBILITY IS NOT A BASE ZONING, COMPATIBILITY IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM ZONING, THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, WE TIE TO THE BASE ZONING, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED IS A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE GOOD DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, BUT TYING THEM TO COMPATIBILITY, FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY COMMUNITY IN THE NATION THAT HAS DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY.
AND SECOND OF ALL, IN OUR FIRST ATTEMPT AT IT, WE HAVE NOT GENERATED ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A WORKABLE
[02:50:01]
APPROACH.UH, THEIR STAFF DID NOT RECOMMEND THIS APPROACH BECAUSE OF ITS COMPLEXITY AND BECAUSE OF ITS MINIMAL IMPACT AND STAFF WAS RIGHT.
UH, SO I WOULD, UH, URGE Y'ALL TO VOTE THIS, UH, AMENDMENT DOWN.
UH, I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER HAS, UH, WE ARE GONNA INCORPORATE AND WE DO WANT TO INCORPORATE, UH, A BONUS PROGRAM, UH, FOR A COMPATIBILITY WAIVER.
BUT BEFORE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO A REASONABLE COMPATIBILITY LIMIT AND THEN BONUS IT, UH, FURTHER.
UH, I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S JUST A CONTINGENT COMPATIBILITY BONUS PROGRAM IS, IS GOING TO WORK FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MENTIONED THAT IN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THERE WERE ZERO APPLICANTS AND I'M, I THINK I MISSED HOW LONG THAT TIMELINE WAS FOR THAT THEY AVAILABLE THIS CALENDAR YEAR FOR ONE YEAR? YEAH, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
AND, UH, COMPATIBILITY ON QUARTERS WERE PASSED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, SO IT'S ONLY BEEN SINCE THEY'VE BEEN PASSED.
SO THEN I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IN YOUR OPINION OR PROFESSIONALLY, WOULD YOU SAY THAT A YEAR TIMELINE FOR A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS IS LONG ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH WHETHER OR NOT IT'S EFFECTIVE? I THINK AFTER, I THINK WHEN A PROGRAM'S BEEN IN EFFECT FOR A YEAR, WE HAVE, WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT, WHEN IT WAS USED AND, AND REALLY WHEN IT WASN'T USED AND, AND TRY TO GAIN SOME INSIGHT FROM THAT.
THAT'S HOW WE WOULD LOOK AT, UH, ASSESSING OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. KIND OF BY AND LARGE IS TAKING AN AN THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE AN ANNUAL LOOK BACK.
AND SO WHILE YOU HAD ZERO APPLICANTS, WAS THERE ANYONE WHO SHOWED ANY INTEREST WHATSOEVER AND MAYBE JUST DIDN'T APPLY? ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO CLOSE ON THE AMENDMENT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T CUT ANYBODY OFF.
SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN A YEAR, IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE IT WAS THE ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED.
UM, SO, AND WE'VE REALLY DONE NOTHING TO PROMOTE IT.
IS THAT YOUR CLOSE? I THINK I'VE, I'VE MADE MY COMMITTEE.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER HAS BEEN MOVED IN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
UH, LET ME RECORD YOUR VOTE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MAYOR, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM, BUT I THINK YOU NEED ME TO BE, YOU NEED ME TO BE VISIBLE TO MAKE MY VOTE.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING ME JUST A MOMENT, I'M GONNA CALL A MOTION AND YEAH.
I'M, I'M OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT VOTING.
NO, THERE'RE BEING THREE AYES AND SEVEN NAYS.
THE MOTION TO AMEND, UH, FAILS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE NEXT PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND THAT IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ ON THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 45.
UM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ABVE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
UH, MY ITEM DIRECT CITY STAFF TO SIMPLY ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A, UM, AN AVENUE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO WAIVE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT NORMALLY TRIGGER SETBACKS AND HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
JUST LAST WEEK, UH, A POSTPONED ZONING CASE IN DISTRICT THREE WAS REQUESTING, WAS REQUESTING DOWN ZONING TO SF THREE THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY RESTRICT THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER'S ABILITY TO BUILD A RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX.
THIS PROPERTY OWNER EXPRESSES WILLINGNESS TO WAIVE COMPATIBILITY, BE IF THE AVENUE EXISTED.
UM, AND I JUST BELIEVE WE NEED TO EXPLORE EVERY OPTION WE HAVE TO MAKE, UH, SURE THAT COMPATIBILITY ISN'T NEEDLESSLY RESTRICTING OUR CITY'S MUCH NEEDED.
HOUSING STOCK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES ADOPTION OF THE VELASQUEZ'S MOTION TO AMEND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT AMENDMENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, COMPATIBILITY, SOME PEOPLE WANT IT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T.
UH, IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT REALLY DOES NOT MIND HAVING A LARGE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, NEXT TO THEM, OR A HANDFUL OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT DON'T MIND HAVING THE, THE LARGE BUILDING, UH, UH, NEXT TO THEM AND THEY WANNA WAVE IT.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT, UH, TO HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN EVERYBODY HAS AGREED.
[02:55:01]
AHEAD AND LET THEM ALL MOVE FORWARD.AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT ADDITION COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO KIM, UH, WANNA APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT.
I THINK THIS IS JUST A REALLY CREATIVE SOLUTION.
WE'VE HAD FOLKS COME AND SPEAK TO US COMMONLY SAYING, I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD SO MUCH, I WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GET TO ENJOY IT.
I THINK WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS, WE HAVE GREAT RETAIL SPACES.
WE REALLY WANT TO EMBRACE FOLKS WHO WANNA COME LIVE CLOSER TO US.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY CREATIVE SOLUTION AND HOPE STAFF CAN, CAN TAKE IT AND RUN WITH IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELOZ, UNLESS SOME, UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELOZ, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE.
UM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO AMEND BY VELASQUEZ? I OBJECT.
IS THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE? YES, YOU, UH, THE MOTION PASSES WITH ONE NO.
UH, AND ONE PERSON COUNCIL MEMBER POOL OFF THE DIOCESE HAS BEEN INDICATED BEFORE.
AND, UH, SO WHEN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS SHOWN VOTING NO.
SO MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE NEXT PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER ON HIS PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND.
THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS US TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION THAT WILL MAXIMIZE OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY GOALS.
COMPATIBILITY DRAMATICALLY IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING, INCLUDING BOTH SUBSIDIZED AND NATURALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY AMENDMENT MAKES TWO CHANGES FIRST, RATHER THAN PICKING AN ARBITRARY COMPATIBILITY STANDARD THAT WILL APPLY BY RIGHT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS DECISION BE INFORMED BY DATA.
THIS CHANGE WOULD INSTRUCT THE MANAGER TO LOWER OUR COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS TO BE IN LINE WITH PEER CITIES, WHILE ALSO INFORMING THIS DECISION BASED ON AN ACTUAL STUDY THAT IS INFORMED ITSELF BY DATA.
SECONDLY, TO MAXIMIZE OUR AFFORDABILITY GOALS, THIS AMENDMENT ASKED THE MANAGER TO FURTHER CONSIDER A TWO-TIERED APPROACH.
ONCE AGAIN, INFORMED BY DATA WITH THE SECOND TIER BEING AN ADDITIONAL COMPATIBILITY REDUCTION FOR SOMETHING LIKE A NEW POTENTIAL COMPATIBILITY REDUCTION DENSITY BONUS OR EXISTING BONUSES LIKE WE HAVE WITH B M U.
I KNOW PICKING A NUMBER TODAY FEELS GOOD.
IT CERTAINLY FITS A LOT BETTER ON A TWEET THAN WE INSTRUCTED THE MANAGER TO GO STUDY THIS ITEM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST NUMBER IS.
BUT I THINK THIS CRITICAL DECISION NEEDS TO BE BASED ON DETAILED ANALYSIS BY STAFF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIMITS.
AND THAT MIGHT BE 50 FEET, THAT MIGHT BE 75 FEET.
IT, I VIEW THAT TO BE VERY CRITICAL.
AND SO I THINK BY DOING SO AND EXPLORING THIS TWO-TIER APPROACH, WE ARE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE OUR AFFORDABILITY GOALS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF AL ALTER PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 45.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I THINK IT'S A, A GOOD AMENDMENT BOTH FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST CHANGE TO JUST LOOK AT OUR, OUR PEER CITIES.
I THINK STAFF HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS ITEM, STARTING FROM WHEN WE WERE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH BMU TWO AND IT CAME UP ABOUT HOW MUCH COMPATIBILITY, AND Y'ALL HAD AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION WITH THE MAPPING SHOWING EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE EFFECTS ARE.
UH, THE, THE, THE WORK THAT YOU DID ON THE, THE COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS WAS EXCELLENT.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER STUDY.
I'M HAPPY TO PUT THIS IN STAFF'S HANDS.
LET THEM TAKE A, A DETAILED LOOK AT IT AND GET BACK TO US WITH, UH, UH, A GOOD NUMBER.
AND I THINK THAT THE, THE FURTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT LET'S GET A GOOD BUY RIGHT NUMBER, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND INCENTIVIZE OUR, UH, AF UH, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS EVEN MORE, UH, BY, YOU KNOW, WAVING OR, OR REDUCING, UH, COMPATIBILITY FOR, UH, PROJECTS THAT, UH, HAVE, UH, DENSITY BONUSES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN SOME KIND OF DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
I THINK WE'RE ESSENTIALLY SUPERCHARGING THOSE, UH, PROJECTS AND THAT WILL HELP US GET MORE OF THE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING THAT WE NEED.
SO I, I THINK THERE'S A GOOD AMENDMENT.
UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YES.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN TER FOR BRINGING THIS BOARD AND TO BUILD OFF OF COUNCIL RIVERA'S REMARKS.
UM, CITY MANAGER, I WANTED TO FLAG FOR YOU AS PART OF OUR WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, WE DISCUSSED, UH, THE REVIEW OF OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AS PART OF THE WORK THAT IS NEEDED.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNSEL FOR, UH, KEEPING MY AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED EXPANSION ITEM ON CONSENT WAS VERY HAPPY
[03:00:01]
AND PLEASED TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD EARLIER THIS MORNING.I, I THINK COUNCIL ELLA, WHAT YOU OUTLINED IN HAVING US REVIEW OUR COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AS PART OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND HAVING THAT CALIBRATION ALSO INCLUDED, UH, WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT, UH, PROJECT TO INCLUDE, UH, WITH OUR, WITH, WITH OUTSIDE HELP AS WELL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
SO I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THE MARKET ALONE IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER TO CLOSE ON HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT STAFF HAS TO SAY AND CAN'T WAIT TO, TO REVISIT THIS WHEN THE TIME COMES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCK KELLY IS VOTING.
IS THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, MAYOR? NOT AN OBJECTION, JUST TO POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
MAYOR PROTO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAD AN AMENDMENT TO THIS.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU'RE THE SAME SHEET, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CALLING THAT TO MY ATTENTION.
UM, THERE, HOLD YOUR OBJECTION, COUNCILMAN MCC.
I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND SHOT AT IT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION HERE.
THE CHAIR DOES RECOGNIZE, UH, AND I APOLOGIZE.
UH, COUNCILMAN MCC CADRE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT BY RYAN AL ALTER.
WELL, I APPRECIATE MAYOR PER TIM FOR CATCHING THAT.
AND THE MAYOR, I, I DON'T ENVIED YOUR JOB, SO IT IS, IT IS OKAY THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT.
UM, BUT I HAVE PASSED OUT OUR AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S AMENDMENT.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE ADDITION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER TO INCLUDE A DENSITY BONUSES IN THE CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WITH EVERY ADDITION TO DEVELOPMENT AND ENTITLEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS, AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE INCREASED PROPORTIONALLY, UH, WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH THE SUCCESS OF AFFORDABILITY, UH, UNLOCKED.
AND IF WE KNOW WHAT WORKS, I THINK WE SHOULD GO FROM THERE.
UH, SO I OFFER MY AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S AMENDMENT MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO AMEND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 45.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO.
TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THIS.
I, I APPRECIATE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND I SHARE THE, THE ZEAL AND EAGERNESS TO, UH, DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THIS.
THE, THE ONE REASON WHY I WILL BE VOTING NO IS BECAUSE, AS I MENTIONED ON MY AMENDMENT, I THINK THESE DECISIONS SHOULD BE FULLY INFORMED BY THE DATA THAT WE GET FROM STAFF.
I THINK IF STAFF COMES BACK AND SAYS THAT AT 50 FEET, YOU KNOW, 95% OF THESE PROPERTIES, WHETHER DENSITY, BONUS OR NOT, UH, ARE NO LONGER IMPACTED BY COMPATIBILITY, I THINK THAT THAT INFORMS HOW WE MAKE A DECISION.
AND SO BY STRIKING, REDUCING, AND JUST ALLOWING FOR ELIMINATION, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY CALIBRATE AND LOOK AT WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
SO I I FULLY APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I JUST THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US WHEN WE ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DECISION AND GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF COUNCIL VELA, I, I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER IS COMING FROM, UH, THAT SAID, ARE TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL, UH, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS. AND PLEASE STAFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED AND THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY, UH, BOTH WAVE COMPATIBILITY IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
AND SO I, I THINK AGAIN, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CITY OVER THESE PAST 10 YEARS HAS KIND OF POINTED US IN THE, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND IF WE WANT TO GENERATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, BOTH MARKET RATE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH A BONUS, UH, PROGRAM, I, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO, UH, UH, GO RIGHT AFTER, UH, COMPATIBILITY.
I, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S KIND OF A BINARY CHOICE THERE OF, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT COMPATIBILITY OR DO WE WANT, UH, UH, AFFORDABILITY.
SO I I I I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD AMENDMENT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH MAYOR PRO TIM? YEAH, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE BRINGING US FORWARD AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT MOSTLY BECAUSE IT SAYS CONSIDER ELIMINATING AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT SETS THAT WE ARE OPEN TO CONSIDERING, UM, THE ELIMINATION OF THEM, EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T TIE STAFF REALLY HARD INTO THAT NUMBER.
SO I'LL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT THAT I SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WOULD BE STAFF'S INTERPRETATION.
SHOULD THIS AMENDMENT PASS THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER THE ELIMINATION BUT WOULD
[03:05:01]
ALSO CONSIDER OTHER, WE, WE WOULD CONSIDER THE ELIMINATION IF IT, IF IT DIDN'T AFFECT, AND IF IT DOES AFFECT IT WOULDN'T, IT MEANS, OKAY.SO YOU'RE, IT'S NOT MANDATING US TO DO IT, JUST ASKING US TO CONSIDER IT.
CAN, DID I GET THAT RIGHT ROSIE? THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WAS, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M PLEASE.
NO, NO, WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOOK AT IT AND, AND SEE WHAT EFFECT IT HAD AND MAKE A TURN AGAINST ME.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY THOUGH, AS IT'S ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, THE QUESTION WAS FOR, TO HAVE YOU CONSIDER ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE COMPATIBILITY.
THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE CLAUSE THERE.
IT'S TO DO IT FOR PROJECTS IN A NEWER EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
AND SO IF YOU CONSIDER THE ELIMINATION AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REDUCTION, NOT A ELIMINATION.
ARE YOU AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT HERE BY, IF WE REMOVE AND ARE EXPLICITLY TELLING YOU THAT A REDUCTION IS NOT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE'RE SCRATCHING IT OUT, HAVE A SMART LAWYER NEXT TO ME AND SHE'S GONNA TELL ME THINGS
CHURCH LINK WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S MOTION TO REMO REMOVE OR ELIMINATING.
SO IT WOULD BE JUST CONSIDER REDUCING NO, IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.
IT WOULD READ CONSIDER INSTEAD OF CONSI, THE WAY IT CURRENTLY READS IS CONSIDER REDUCING OR ELIMINATING.
HE WOULD REMOVE REDUCING OR SO THAT IT WOULD READ CONSIDER ELIMINATING.
NO, IT'S KEEPING THAT, IT'S REMOVING THE REDUCTION.
SO TO BE CLEAR, WE'LL READ, IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE AFFORDABILITY, CONSIDER ELIMINATING COMPATIBILITY LIMITS.
THAT WOULD ALLOW STAFF TO CONSIDER THAT.
BUT WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO CONSIDER A REDUCTION THAT'S NOT AN ELIMINATION? I THINK IF THEY CONSIDER ELIMINATING IT, THEY WOULD CONSIDER WHAT THE REDUCTION WOULD LOOK LIKE, JUST AS A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF CONSIDERING ELIMINATION.
WELL, AND AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I WOULD ASK IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO CONSIDER REDUCTION, THEN WHY NOT LEAVE THAT LANGUAGE IN HERE GIVEN THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING AND GIVING THEM THE LATITUDE TO DO SO.
IF YOU'RE SOLELY SAYING THIS IS OKAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA CONSIDER THAT ANYWAYS AND YOU WANT THEM TO CONSIDER THAT ANYWAYS, THEN WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT LANGUAGE IN AND NOT SCRATCH IT HERE.
BUT THAT'S ANY FURTHER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE I CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO CLOSE ON HIS MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST WANNA ADD, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE'VE PROVIDED A, A THRESHOLD IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION BASED ON PURE CITY DATA AND, AND I REALLY DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SO I, I, UH, UM, MOTION TO, I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, YOU'VE ALREADY, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT MEMBERS.
THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO AMEND THE RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 45.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ARE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER? HARPER MADISON, DO YOU VOTE FOR I, I DO, YES.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THE VOTE BEING FIVE TO FIVE WITH ONE PERSON OFF THE DIAS, THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT FAILS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER
IF, IF, IF I CAN MAYOR, UM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE, TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS, UH, AMENDMENT ONE TO TAKE THE TWO SECTIONS OF THIS, OF THIS, OF HIS AMENDMENT SEPARATELY? WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? WELL, I SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHOW ANYBODY? NO, I DON'T MEAN, I'M JUST, I MEAN OKAY.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WE, WELL, THAT WE VOTE ON? UH, HIS FIRST PART, I MOVED TO AMEND ITEM 45, VERSION TWO.
BY REPLACING THAT WOULD NOT, NO, THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROPER MOTION.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
YEAH, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT, THAT WOULD NOT BE, BUT WE HAVE TO, WE NEED TO VOTE ON THEM.
THE VOTE MEMBERS IS ON THE RYAN ALTAR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 45.
[03:10:01]
IS THERE? OBJECTION AND I OBJECT.KELLY, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, HEARING NONE.
UH, THE RYAN ALTAR AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT TAKES US TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE LAST AMENDMENT.
IT WAS JUST HANDED OUT TO YOU.
AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER ON WHAT HAS BEEN LABELED, UH, SHEET NUMBER THREE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TRISH SOME QUESTIONS IF I COULD PLEASE LINK.
SO THIS ITEM STATES THAT WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.
UM, CAN YOU CLARIFY, WOULD THIS ITEM RELAXED COMPATIBILITY EVEN FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS EXCLUSIVELY A PARKING GARAGE? LET ME, LET ME PULL UP THE LANGUAGE REAL FAST.
SO THE WAY THAT THE RESOLUTION IS DRAFTED, THE DIRECTION TO THE MANAGER WOULD BE TO TRIGGER COMPAT.
SO A DEVELOPMENT HAS TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS IF THEY HAVE A NON-RESIDENTIAL USE.
SO IF IT'S JUST A SINGLE RESIDENTIAL USE, I'M SORRY, COMMERCIAL USE, LET ME START OVER.
APPARENTLY I DID HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE THIS, THIS MORNING.
SO THAT WOULD BE A MIXED USE OR A SOLID, UM, NON JUST ONE USE.
MAYBE AN OFFICE BUILDING OR A PARKING GARAGE THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY.
I THOUGHT IT SAID IF THERE WAS A NON-RESIDENTIAL, SO IF IT'S AN OFFICE BUILDING MM-HMM.
IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RESIDENTIAL.
SO IF IT'S JUST A, IF IT WAS JUST A PARKING LOT, YES, IT WOULD HAVE, IF IT WAS A VERTICAL PARKING LOT, THEN YES, IT WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY.
LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING, BUT IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE RELAXATION OF COMPATIBILITY.
SO I'M ASKING IF LIKE YOU RELAXED COMPATIBILITY DOWN TO 50 FEET, THEN I COULD BUILD NOW BUILD A PARKING GARAGE 50 FEET FROM SOMETHING ELSE, CORRECT? YES.
SO THIS CHANGE WOULD THEN MEAN THAT YOU COULD HAVE A PARKING STORAGE WITHIN THE 50 FEET IF THAT WAS THE LEVEL THAT WAS LANDED ON? CORRECT.
AND WHAT ABOUT A STORAGE FACILITY ON A TRANSIT CORRIDOR? I BELIEVE THAT WOULD FALL INTO THE SAME.
SO A PROJECT THAT CREATES NO HOUSING WHATSOEVER ON A TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND CREATES SELF STORAGE OR A PARKING GARAGE AND A CORRIDOR WOULD HAVE RELAXED COMPATIBILITY? CORRECT.
THIS WOULD, UH, RELAX IT CITYWIDE.
SO, SO COLLEAGUES, UM, I AM, AM CONCERNED WHEN WE DID THE COMPATIBILITY RELAXATION BEFORE, IT DIDN'T APPLY TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES BECAUSE THE GOAL WAS TO INCENTIVIZE THE HOUSING.
UM, SO IF THIS IS ABOUT MAKING MORE MARKET RATE HOUSING WITHOUT REQUIRING ANY AFFORDABLE UNITS, THIS DOESN'T EVEN FOCUS ON THAT.
IT WOULD ALLOW ALL THIS RELAXATION.
IF A DEVELOPER CHOOSES TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE LIKE THE PARKING GARAGE AT BURNETT ROAD, IT WOULD ALLOW THIS RELAXATION.
IF SOMEONE BUILT A SELF STORAGE BUILDING ON THE MAR, THIS ITEM RELAXES COMPATIBILITY, EVEN IF IT CREATES ZERO MARKET RATE UNITS.
UM, SO THEREFORE I AM MOTIONING, UM, MY MOTION SHEET NUMBER THREE, UM, WHICH REMOVES LINE THREE C AND AMENDS THE END OF THE BE IT RESOLVE CLAUSE THAT BEGINS ON LINE 41 TO ADD LANGUAGE THAT READS THE AMENDMENTS INITIATED IN THIS RESOLUTION SHOULD NOT CHANGE EXISTING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO A DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDES ONLY COMMERCIAL USES AND THE COMP COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DAY THIS RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED SHOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 45 AS INDICATED ON, UM, HER MOTION SHEET NUMBER THREE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS THEIR DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER AVELA, ONE OF THE, THE RECURRING THEMES AND PROBLEMS IN AUSTIN WITH OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS ITS COMPLEXITY.
AND I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF JUST WE NEED SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD RULES AND NOT KIND OF THESE, YOU KNOW, EXCEPTION AFTER EXCEPTION AND CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AFTER CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, WHICH MAKES IT VERY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS, UH, GOING ON WITHIN THE COAT.
[03:15:01]
APPLY TO, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RELAXATIONS IN TERMS OF, UH, RIGHT NOW CIVIC USES TRIGGER, UM, UH, COMPATIBILITY.A LOT OF LIKE THOSE, UH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED THE CAT MABRY, UH, TRIGGERS COMPATIBILITY.
ARE WE ALSO SAYING THAT THOSE USES ARE STILL GOING TO CAST COMPATIBILITY ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, ON HOSPITALS, ON WHATEVER OTHER TYPE OF, UH, BUILDING, UH, FIRE STATIONS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHATEVER, UH, USE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, WE, WE DECIDE TO PUT IN A PARTICULAR LOCATION.
I GUESS THAT WHAT OUTSIDE OF, OF, OF STAFF, IN OTHER WORDS, ARE WE SAYING, IS THIS GONNA GUT ALL COMPATIBILITY, YOU KNOW, RELIEF INCLUDING THOSE, UH, WHERE WE'RE, UH, IDENTIFYING, UH, THOSE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DISCREET, MORE DISCREET CHANGES, NOT NECESSARILY THE COMPATIBILITY LINE PER SE, BUT ALSO THE SMALLER, MORE DISCREET CHANGES.
SO IF I, I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
ARE YOU ASKING IF A CIVIC USE, LIKE A HOSPITAL OR CAMP MABRY WOULD TRIGGER COMPATI WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY OR REQUIRES SOMEONE ELSE TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THIS AMENDMENT ADDS THEN THE LIMITS ON TRIGGERING COMPATIBILITY THAT ARE IN THE RESOLUTION, WOULD THEY NOT APPLY TO ANY OTHER STRUCTURE AS WELL? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LIKE, I, I, IN OTHER WORDS, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THE, THE KIND OF THE LINE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHATEVER LINE WE DRAW A HUNDRED FEET, YOU KNOW, 75 FEET, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, A, A CHURCH THAT IS OWNED SF THREE WOULD STILL TRIGGER COMPATIBILITY FOR THE OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT, UNDER THIS AMENDMENT.
SO UNDER THIS AMENDMENT, THE FOCUS IS COMMERCIAL USES.
SO IF THERE IS A COMMERCIAL USE, IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.
IN OTHER WORDS, YES, THE CAT MABRY WOULD STILL TRIGGER COMPATIBILITY FOR PURPOSES OF COMMERCIAL.
YOU KNOW, A A, A CIVIC USE OR AN EMPTY LOT ZONED, UH, SF THREE WOOD STILL TRIGGER, UH, UH, COMPATIBILITY FOR AREAS AROUND IT.
UM, EXCEPT THAT UNDER YOUR RESOLUTION, YOU HAVE REDEFINED TRIGGERING PROPERTY TO BE MM-HMM.
SO YOU HAVE REDEFINED WHAT TRIGGERING PROPERTY IS.
SO IF WE WANT TO KEEP TRIGGERING PROPERTY THE SAME TO APPLY TO THE COMMERCIAL USES, THEN YOU ARE CORRECT.
IF TRIGGERING PROPERTY IS REDEFINED ACROSS THE BOARD, WE WOULD NOT, IT WOULD NOT BE TRIGGERED.
THE, THE SING THE CHURCH AND SF TWO WOULD NOT TRIGGER.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY OUR CODE.
WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT MORE COMPLEX.
I THINK THIS ADDS MORE COMPLEXITY DIFFICULTY TO AN ALREADY VERY DIFFICULT AND ONEROUS CODE.
NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN ADDITION TO THE COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS AND ALL THE, NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, GOING UP TO WHAT, EIGHT, NINE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF COMPATIBILITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY IT.
UH, UM, I WOULD, UH, I, I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST IT.
UH, I THINK LET'S KEEP THINGS AS SIMPLE AND AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS POSSIBLE.
MAYOR PRO KIM, I JUST HAD A, A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, IT SAYS ON NUMBER ONE, TO REMOVE LINE THREE C, AND I DIDN'T SEE A THREE C, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THREE B THAT TALKS ABOUT NON-RESIDENTIAL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS WHAT I WAS SEEING, OR AM I ABOVE OFF? IT IS, YOU ARE CORRECT.
IT IS THREE B UNDER VERSION TWO IT WOULD BE THREE C UNDER VERSION ONE.
YEAH, SO MY MOTION MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED FOR, FOR VERSION TWO ON THAT.
UM, IF THERE WAS A DESIRE WE COULD EASILY AMEND MINE TO, TO HAVE THE TRIGGERING PROPERTIES, UM, DEFINED IN THE SAME WAY FOR ALL PROPERTIES, BECAUSE, UM, THAT WOULD BE EASY TO DO.
AND THAT IS A, A CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAD BEFORE WHEN WE DID THE OTHER THAT WE SHOULD REVISIT THAT.
AND I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRIGGERING PROPERTIES REDEFINITION, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD SATISFY YOU MR. VELA.
BUT IF OTHERS WOULD PREFER THAT, WE COULD CERTAINLY, UM, DO THAT.
I, I SHARE THAT DESIRE FOR THAT PIECE OF IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE THE ELEMENTS THAT, THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT FOLLOW THE WORK THAT WE DID ON COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS WHERE WE HAD SAID, WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS AND SEE HOW IT WORKS AND, AND SEE HOW IT LANDS THAT I WOULD BE OKAY WITH.
BUT, AND WE COULD CERTAINLY KEEP THAT DEFINITION OF THE TRIGGERING PROPERTIES FOR IT AND JUST CHANGE THE OTHER PORTION.
[03:20:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, I, I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I, I WOULD, UH, UH, SUPPORT THAT CHANGE.AS YOU NOTED, I'M STILL GONNA VOTE AGAINST IT, BUT I THINK THAT MAKES IT A, A, A BETTER AMENDMENT AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT, UH, CLEARER IN ITS, UH, IN ITS APPLICATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR TRISH, AND I'M, I'M SORRY IF I'M JUST, I NEED SOME ADDRESS.
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING BEFORE IS, DOES THIS AMENDMENT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE TRIGGERING PROPERTY ITSELF OR IS IT JUST WHAT CAN BE BUILT ONCE COMPATIBILITY IS TRIGGERED? SO FOR INSTANCE, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IS THE TRIGGERING PROPERTY.
IS THIS SAYING THAT YOU, A IF IT'S PURELY COMMERCIAL, IT STILL NEEDS TO HAVE THE COMPATIBILITY RULES IN PLACE, BUT IF IT'S SOME FORM OF RESIDENTIAL, THEN IT DOESN'T.
SO THE MOTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER'S MOTION WOULD ALLOW FOR, OR WOULD ALLOW FOR THE RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE TODAY THAT APPLY TO A COMMERCIAL USE WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRED AS A COMMERCIAL USE TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY, THAT WOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD.
UM, THE MOTION OR THE AMENDMENT THAT, UH, COUNCIL ROTOR MENTIONED WOULD MODIFY IT SLIGHTLY SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE NECESSARILY THE EXACT SAME TRIGGERING PROPERTY DEFINITION.
SO THERE'S THE COMMERCIAL USE PIECE IS THE PROPERTY THAT HAS TO COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY, AND THAT IS WHAT SHE IS, UM, ASKING TO HAVE CARRIED OVER.
SO, SO THE END RESULT THOUGH IS THAT WE WOULD ONLY HAVE LIMITATIONS ON PURELY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
SO IT'D BE THE 540 FEET THAT WOULD APPLY TODAY.
AND THEN I'M GONNA ASK A QUESTION HERE BEFORE WE TAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH I THINK WOULD REQUIRE US TO PROBABLY TABLE THIS UNTIL A TIME CERTAIN SO THAT WE COULD GET IT DRAFTED WHERE PEOPLE WOULD KNOW PRECISELY WHAT IT IS THEY'RE VOTING ON.
WHAT I WOULD ASK IS FOR SOME DISCUSSION TO TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DELAY THIS IF THE AMENDMENT STILL WOULD FAIL.
SO SOMEBODY LET ME KNOW IF CHANGING AMENDING THIS AMENDMENT SO THE TRIGGERING IS THE SAME, WOULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE.
I'LL ASK THAT AS PART OF DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, ARE YOU OKAY NOT AMENDING THE AMENDMENT? WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE PEOPLE'S VOTES ARE AT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY CHANGE THAT AFTERWARDS IF IT WERE TO PREVAIL.
RIGHT? BUT IT, I MEAN, IF THERE, IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYBODY'S VOTE, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHATEVER.
SO MAYOR PRO TEM DOES VOLUNTEER.
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME HERE, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA ON THIS, JUST GIVEN THAT'S HIS ORIGINAL, UM, ARTICLE AND HIS PROFESSION ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 45.
UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I, I, I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE NUANCE AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THE GOAL OF, OF SIMPLICITY HERE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL FOLLOW, SUCH AS THE STORAGE FACILITIES AND THE, UM, PARKING GARAGES THAT WILL BE BUILT VERY CLOSE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.
UM, AND I JUST, WE DON'T WANT TO BE ENCOURAGING MORE OF THOSE.
WE WANNA BE ENCOURAGING HOUSING.
UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANNA BE ENCOURAGING HOUSING ON THE CORRIDORS.
I THINK THAT THIS WOULD, UM, ALSO HELP US WITH THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, UM, PROJECT THAT WE HAVE, UM, THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, MORE USE OF THAT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL, WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION ON CO COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER'S MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 45.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER AND THE MAYOR ARE SHOWN VOTING.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND FOR THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA VELAZQUEZ AND HARPER MADISON ARE SHOWN VOTING NO.
THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS MEMBERS.
THIS TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED IT ALL.
I'LL LET, UH, I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILABLE TO CLOSE, BRIEFLY MOVE PASSAGE.
[03:25:01]
THAT'S WELL SAID.UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT MIGHT ARISE OUT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
I UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION BEHIND IT AND I APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS HERE.
AND AS YOU'VE SEEN, I VOTED NO ON A LOT OF AMENDMENTS.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? UH, YES, MAYOR.
UM, I WOULD LIKE, UH, TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO.
I APPRECIATED THE, THE DIALOGUE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE HERE ON, ON THESE TOPICS.
UM, I'LL REITERATE WHAT I HAD SAID IN WORK SESSION, WHICH IS THAT I'M VERY WELL AWARE THAT NOT EVERY TYPE OF POLICY IS GONNA WORK IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS A DISTRICT THAT'S LARGELY WEST OF MOPAC, THAT WHATEVER WE LAND ON DOES INCENTIVIZE, INCENTIVIZE MORE HOUSING AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT DAY.
CUZ I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE USUALLY SECOND TO LAST ON THE LIST OF, OF AIMING HIGH ON THAT BLUEPRINT.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES WEST OF MOPAC ARE ABSOLUTELY STEPPING UP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DOING OUR PART TO MAKE LIVE, WORK PLAY HAPPEN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ADOPT.
UH, COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ARE SHOWN VOTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ARE SHOWN VOTING NO.
UM, THE MOTION PASSES ON ITEM NUMBER 45 AS AMENDED.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, WHAT? I WANNA TAKE SOMETHING OUTTA ORDER.
I SAID 45, 40 84, 78 AND 83, BUT IT'S COME TO MY
[46. Approve a resolution initiating a code amendment regarding mandatory pet microchipping and directing the City Manager to conduct a review of Animal Services Office policies to facilitate and implement citywide microchipping and animal welfare services.]
ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE IN THE DRAFTING OF ITEM NUMBER 46.WE BEING ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OF THE VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 46, I MOVE THAT WE RECONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 46, AND IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN REVELLA MEMBERS, YOU'VE HA BEEN HANDED OUT A DOCUMENT THAT CHANGES, UH, LINES 19 AND 20, UH, SO THAT IT WOULD READ THE, THE WAY IT CURRENTLY READS IS BY 19 SAYS, BY IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT INCLUDES THE MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING, ALL PETS, THEREBY ENHANCING SUCCESSFUL PET OWNERSHIP.
THE CHANGE WOULD SAY BY IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT INCLUDES THE GOAL OF MICROCHIPPING ALL LOCAL PETS, THEREBY ENHANCING SUCCESSFUL PET OWNERSHIP.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS THAT A LOT OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AREN'T ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND IN FACT, IT'S FELT BY EXPERTS THAT IF YOU MADE IT MANDATORY, IT ACTUALLY MIGHT WORK COUNTERINTUITIVELY AND AND HAVE LESS MICROCHIPPING.
SO THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS, I'VE GIVEN YOU AN EXPLANATION, IS THERE, AND THE VOTE WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE IS ON A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
IS THERE ANY, UM, MORE DISCUSSION ON, ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS, UH, WAS, UH, AGREED TO LANGUAGE.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE, UH, A DRAFTING ERROR AND WE'RE, UH, FIXING IT.
UH, AND I, I SHARE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT, UH, TO GET PENALTIES OR PUNISHMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS WITH THE GOAL OF, UH, ENCOURAGING AND REALLY PUSHING, UH, THE MICROCHIPPING OF ANIMALS AGAIN SO WE CAN GET LOST ANIMALS BACK TO THEIR HOMES.
SO THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS ADOPTED.
NOW I MOVE THAT WE AMEND ITEM NUMBER 46 AS I'VE READ INTO THE RECORD AND, AND THE SHEET THAT'S BEEN HANDED OUT TO YOU.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND? HEARING NONE.
THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 46 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 46 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 46 AS IT'S BEEN RECONSIDERED AND AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 46 IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THE SHARP EYE.
UM, THAT WILL TAKE US NOW TO ITEM NUMBER, HANG ON A SECOND.
UM, MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IT'S 1 57.
[03:30:02]
UH, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS, UH, WE SHOULD HAVE DEBATED THAT MICROCHIPPING THING A LITTLE LONGER.UH, WHAT, WHAT I SUGGEST WE DO IS RECESS BECAUSE IF WE START ANY OF THESE OTHER ITEMS, WE'RE GOING TO DELAY THE ZONING ITEMS AND ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE HERE TO, TO, UH, GIVE TESTIMONY.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 2:00 PM I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, IT'S 2:02 PM WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT MEMBERS, WHAT
[ 2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WITH REGARD TO ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE, UM, STAFF, WE'VE GOT SIX IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE STANDING THERE COUNTING, I'VE GOT SIX.BUT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT,
SHE WASN'T GONNA TALK UNTIL SHE COUNTED TO SIX
UM, UH, MAYOR COUNSEL JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 60 N P 20 22 0 0 2 1 0.02.
THERE'S A STAFF POST MOMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 20TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 20TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 62 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 0 49.
THIS ITEM HAS BE WITHDRAWN BY THE OWNER AND NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.
ITEM 63 IS C 14 20 23 0 0 0 2.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 65 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 1 75.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 66 IS C 14, 20 22, 0 1, 0 2.
THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 20TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE APPLICANT IS OPPOSED BUT WILL NOT CONTEST.
SO I AM ABLE TO OFFER THIS ITEM FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT ON CONSENT FOR JULY 20TH.
UM, ITEM 67 C 14 20 20 0 1 64.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND THAT IS FOR THE REZONING OF CS, M U C O N P.
ITEM 68 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 0 9 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 69, UM, C 14 20 22 0 1 49, AGAIN OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ITEM 70 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 1 4 0.05.
THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THE RELATED REZONINGS ARE ITEM 71 AND 72.
AND ITEM 72 IS C 1 14, 20 22 0 1 46.
AGAIN, ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS ARE RELATED AND THEY'RE OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION BECAUSE STAFF DOES HAVE OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST.
AND THEN MOVING ON TO YOUR ADDENDUM ITEMS, UM, I JUST WANNA STATE MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UM, ALL THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED AT YOUR LAST COUNSEL MEETING.
UM, AND IT WAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT THESE ITEMS WOULD BE RETURNED, UM, FOR THIS AGENDA.
SO ITEM NUMBER 90 IS C 1 14, 20 22, 1 33.
THERE IS A VALID PETITION, MORE SIGNATURES WERE ADDED, SO THE VALID PETITION IS OVER 65%.
UM, AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS, UM, SIGNED IN TO SPEAK TO THIS.
UM, I AM OFFERING THIS FOR, UM, CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS BECAUSE THE, UM, DISCUSSION HAPPENED LAST WEEK, BUT OF COURSE I'LL DEFER TO THE COUNCIL.
ITEM 91 IS C 14 20 22 0 2, 0 5, AND I, UM, OH, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS WITH THIS, UM, MOTION TO READ, AMEND THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS, PART FOUR A, B, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE IS 230 FEET EX ACCEPTING THE 50 FEET PARALLEL TO THE MEASURED FROM EAST 16TH STREET FRONTAGE WHERE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE IS 40 FEET.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN OFFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 92 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 1 6 0 2.
AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 93 C 1 14, 20 22, 0 1, 21.
AND AGAIN, UH, MAYOR COUNSEL, THERE ARE NUMBER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
THIS WAS, UM, DISCUSSED LAST WEEK.
UM, I'M OFFERING IT FOR CONSENT SECOND OR THIRD, BUT OF COURSE I'LL DEFER TO THE COUNCIL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES YOUR ZONING
[03:35:01]
AGENDA.CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND GO BACK AND REMIND WHICH ONES OTHER THAN 90 OR UM, REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY? UH, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE.
UH, MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 90, WHICH IS BEING OFFERED ON CONSENT, THAT REQUIRES AT LEAST NINE VOTES MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS HAVE COMMENT, I'M, YOU'VE HEARD WHAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS.
I WILL HAVE COMMENT AND THEN I WILL ASK FOR AS I TYPICALLY DO, WHETHER ANYBODY WANTS TO PULL SOMETHING ELSE OFF, UH, WANT OR RECUSE OR ABSTAIN OR VOTE NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, UM, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT I ALREADY KNOW THAT I WANNA PULL FOR DISCUSSION THE BOARD IN CASE.
SO YOU'RE GONNA PULL PULL 92 AND 93.
WE WILL NOW GO TO, UM, WE'LL GO TO OUR, OUR SPEAKERS.
SINCE ITEMS 70, 71 AND 72 ARE BEING OFFERED ON CONSENT AND REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 70, 71 AND 72.
UM, MADAM CLERK, I'LL LOOK TO YOU TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF, UH, CALLING TESTIMONY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
FIRST SPEAKER IS ANNA AGUIRE SPEAKING ON 70 71, 92 AND 93.
IF I'M SPEAKING ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO SPEAK IF I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON ITEM 92, 93? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANNA AGUIRE AND I'M A D TWO RESIDENT.
I'M THE IMMEDIATE PASTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMPANY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN
I AM SPEAKING ON ITEM 70 71 AND 72.
THE CONTACT TEAM VOTED IN, SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT AND APPRECIATED THE APPLICANT AND OWNER AGREEING TO OUR CONDITIONS, WHICH INCLUDED PROVISION FOR MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUED WORKING RELATIONSHIP ON THIS PROJECT AS AN INTERESTED PARTY DURING THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS IN REGARDS TO I 72 93, I AM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS HAVE CONTINUED TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
THESE CONCERNS ARE ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
THEIR DISCREPANCIES REGARDING EQUITABLE TREATMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE PROJECTS DEPEND ON THEIR LOCATION, EAST VERSUS WEST AUSTIN.
THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY PROTECTS ONLY CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WATERFRONT.
THESE RULES DO NOT APPLY TO THE BOARD AND TRACK AS IT WAS CARVED OUT UNDER THE ORDINANCE DECADES AGO.
IK COUNSEL TO EXPAND THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY AND PROTECT THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION AND ENSURE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE INCLUDED IN AFFORDED THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS OTHER COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, PROPERTIES WITHED BY 35 HAVE THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, A VISION PLAN, AND THE SOUTH-CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.
THIS PROCESS HAS DONE OUT PROJECTS WITHIN THESE PROPERTIES TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PARK RECREATION BOARD, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AND OF COURSE, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD TO ENSURE IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE ELEMENTS.
THESE, THOSE OF US IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED THESE SAME EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS TO A LONG, A LONG TIME, A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THERE'S THE CLEAR AND DEMONSTRATED DISCREPANCY ON HOW THE EASTERN CRESCENT PROPERTIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE BEING TREATED COMPARED TO WEST AUSTIN.
ALL AUSTIN RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF US IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, DESERVE TO BE TREATED BETTER THAN THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JIM TRUK SPEAKING ON 71.
HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF SAFETY IN AUSTIN AND SUPPORT OF THE USE OF ALPR.
BEFORE COMING TO THE CAPITAL TEXAS, 10 YEARS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE OVERSEAS IN CAPITAL CITIES OF CHINA, KOREA, AND GERMANY.
AND THESE CITIES HAVE POPULATIONS 10 TO 20 TIMES OUT OF AUSTIN, YET THEY'RE VERY CIVIL AND SAFE PLACES TO DRIVE AND
[03:40:01]
WALK THROUGH THE USE OF CANNABIS TO PROVIDE POLICE PRESENCE WITHOUT THE ADDED MANPOWER.YEAH, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AUSTIN HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS PLACE.
MORE PEOPLE, LESS POLICE PRESENCE, DRIVING HABITS ESPECIALLY, ARE CONTINUALLY BECOMING MORE AGGRESSIVE, BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS NOW.
I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED SO MANY INCIDENTS OF PEOPLE DRIVING RIGHT THROUGH RED LIGHTS.
SAFETY NEEDS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN AUSTIN FOR SOCIETY TO FUNCTION.
SO I ASK THAT AUSTIN BEING A HIGH TECH CITY, PURSUE THE SOLUTION OF USING AAL IN THEIR FULL FORCE TO HELP THE POLICE WATCH TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY HERE IN AUSTIN.
DUSTIN VEJAS SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90.
HI, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN MY, UH, ADVISORS SHOWN? SURE.
UH, SO THE FIRST SLIDE HERE, I'M JUST POINTING OUT, I'M SPEAKING ON TEN SEVEN OH ONE DEPO ROAD.
UH, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE IMAGE WE'VE GOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ESSENTIALLY ALL AROUND.
Y'ALL ARE AWARE THE NORTH IS SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BUT IT'S A ZONING IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A CHURCH.
I'M SPECIFICALLY HERE TODAY JUST TO SPEAK ON, ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THEIR PROPOSED, UH, 25 FOOT SETBACK OFF THE LINE, WHICH IS SHOWN IN GREEN.
UM, I FEEL THIS IS TERRIBLY UNUSABLE.
ALSO, I DON'T BELIEVE, UH, I WAS READING YOUR COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU SET FORTH IN JANUARY.
I FEEL THERE'S STILL THE, STILL THE LATEST.
UM, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY ASK FOR AN MF FOUR TO BUILD THE MAXIMUM ABOVE 40 FOOT HEIGHT WITH THE MF, UH, ABOVE THE MF THREE DESIGNATION.
AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE ORDINANCE FROM JANUARY CORRECTLY, BY APPROVING THIS MF FOUR REON WILL ALLOW FOR A 35 FOOT POLY LEFT TO BE BUILT WITH ONLY A 25 FOOT SETBACK.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THEY WERE ASKING FOR AN MF FOUR TO BUILD HIGHER THAN THAT.
SO I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY HOW, WHY THEY'RE ASKING.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, YEAH, I'M, I'M, I'M REALLY ASKING, UH, THAT IF YOU DO APPROVE, THEN YOU PUT A OVERLAY, UH, IN LINE WITH YOUR ORDINANCE 20 22, 12 0 1 0 5 6, UH, 25 2 76, 9 0 4, SECTION F ITEM FOUR.
UH, IT'S REALLY WHAT I'M SHOWN IN, RIGHT? I'M, I'M ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO BASICALLY, UM, APPROVE IT WITH THAT YOU DO APPROVE BUT REQUIRE A MINIMUM 50 FOOT SETBACK.
YOU KNOW, UH, I KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY APPROVE, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AT ALL, OR SORRY, THE, UH, THE ZONING AREAS, IF YOU WILL, THE MEDIUM IN, IN, IN HIGH, UH, TRAFFIC AREAS LIKE IN WEST AUSTIN AND ALL.
SO REALLY WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO, UM, I'M ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO BE, UM, CONSIDERATE WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THIS AREA.
THANK YOU, SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OH, NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL KKI ON 89 AND 90.
I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS.
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN BECAUSE FROM ALL I CAN SEE, NOBODY'S INTERESTED IN LISTENING.
BUT DURING THE LAST MEETING, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MADISON POSED A QUESTION, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO? WHICH MY RESPONSE IS, WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME? I'M NOT A CITY PLANNER.
FOR 20 YEARS, I'VE SEEN THE EFFORTS OF AUSTIN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE.
SO AS A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN, I'M ASKING YOU WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO? THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT DON'T WANT THIS ZONING CHANGE.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES FOR THE CHANGE, THEN IT'LL GO THROUGH, BUT THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS VOTE ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THAT'S YOUR JOB FOR DECADES, THAT PROPERTY IS IN ZONE.
SF TWO, THIS IS THE ESTABLISHED CITY PLAN.
HOMEOWNERS IN THE WOODCLIFF NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE MADE INVESTMENT DECISIONS BASED ON THAT PLAN.
NOW THIS BUILDER CAN MAKE THEIR INVESTMENT DECISIONS BASED ON THAT PLAN.
A PROFIT CAN BE MADE BUILDING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IF THEY DON'T LIKE THAT AMOUNT OF PROFIT, THE BUILDER CAN MOVE ON TO A DIFFERENT PROPERTY AND ANOTHER BUILDER WILL COME ALONG AND BUILD SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
ESTABLISHED ZONING SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE IT HELPS THIS BUILDER MAKE MORE MONEY.
OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN EXPLAINING THE LOGISTICAL REASONS WHY THE ZONING SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED.
I HOPE THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
[03:45:01]
WAS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ON HIS ZONING CHANGE.CATHERINE HORTON SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
AS YOU WILL HEAR TODAY AND HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE REZONING AT ONE SALL ROAD, THE MOTION AND CONCERNS YOU HERE LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND COLORS, HOW YOU INTERPRETATE INTERPRET THEIR COMMUNICATION.
WOODCLIFF NEIGHBORS RECOGNIZED THE NATURE FOR HOUSING, BUT WANT THIS COUNCIL TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF COMPATIBLE ZONING, RESPECT APPROVED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, AND PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, WE'RE ASKING FOR COLLABORATION AND A CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING OF THE MINE THAT INCLUDES HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS THAT LIMIT TO THREE STORIES FOR COMPATIBILITY.
ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS ON DESAL ROAD, ADDRESS THE REAL ENVIRONMENT CONCERNS FOR FLOODING AND CREEK STABILITY ALONG WALNUT CREEK SWITCHES PROPERTY BACK AND PROVIDE FOR THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE YOUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE.
WHETHER THAT IS INCREASING FIRST RESPONDERS DUE TO THE GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY OR REALLY ADDRESSING THE ABSOLUTE LACK OF TRANSFER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THIS AREA.
IT SAID THAT GROWTH IS INEVITABLE AND DESIRABLE, BUT THE DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY CHARACTER IS NOT.
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER YOU'RE PART OF THE WORLD IS GOING TO CHANGE.
AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN MF FOUR AND TO LOOK FOR REASONABLE SOLUTIONS THAT BRIDGE THE NEEDS OF CURRENT RESIDENTS.
WITH THOSE OF THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN, WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO WORK AND COLLABORATE, UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR HOUSING AND GROWTH IN AUSTIN, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SAFETY WELLBEING AND THOSE THAT LIVE IN THIS CURRENT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THE VOICES AND OPINIONS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO COME BEFORE YOU.
ROSS ROBERTSON SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET MY VOICE BE HEARD.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S INVITATION TO DIALOGUE ISSUED AT LAST THURSDAY MEETING WHERE SHE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHERE WILL THEY ALL GO? MY RESPONSE IS TWOFOLD.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE QUESTION HAS NO MEANINGFUL ANSWER.
IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT UNDER DISCUSSION, THEN YES, THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO GO.
BUT AFTERWARD, WHEN NEW APARTMENTS, WHEN THE NEW APARTMENTS ARE AT CAPACITY, THE QUESTION CIRCLES BACK AGAIN.
HOWEVER MANY TIMES WE REPEAT THE CYCLE, THE QUESTION REALLY NEVER GOES AWAY.
LIFE ALTERING ENVIRONMENTAL HARM IS DONE AT EACH PHASE, BUT THE QUESTION RESURFACES EACH TIME UNTIL EVEN THE MOST ADVENTUROUS AND CREATIVE MINDS MUST ADMIT THAT THE CUP IS FULL AND NOTHING MORE CAN BE ADDED.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHO ARE THEY? THEY ARE NOT REAL AND DO NOT EXIST IN THE SAME MANNER AS THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRESENT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE YEARS AND DECADES INVESTED.
WE LIVE IN AN OPEN AND INCLUSIVE AREA AND WE WELCOME ALL THOSE WHO COME TO US TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND RESPECT OUR WAY OF LIFE AND THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS SPIRIT.
WHEN WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPER, I ASKED HIM DIRECTLY HOW HE EXPECTS THIS PROJECT TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND INVESTED HERE.
THE QUESTION WAS INITIALLY MET WITH A BLANK STARE AND THEN SOME LANGUAGES OFFERED ABOUT GROWTH AND DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC STIMULUS, SIDESTEPPING ALL OF OUR CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC, SAFETY, ECOLOGY, SOCIAL COHESION, AND SO ON.
I COME HERE HOPING TO HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE SPIRIT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TRULY WORKS.
I ASK YOU ALL TO REJECT THIS REJO REZONING PROPOSAL.
THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS THE DEVELOPER HIMSELF CHARACTERIZES IT AS A LUXURY PROJECT.
PLEASE RECOGNIZE THIS REZONING IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE GUIDELINES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE AIMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCOMPATIBLE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S CAMPAIGN PLATFORM INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE ESTABLISHED AND CHERISHED CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT VARIANCE WITH THE VALID PETITION AND NUMEROUS OTHER CONCERNED VOICES IN APO IN OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN.
THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND BE REPRESENTED FOR OUR QUAL SYNOVIA JOSEPHS SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90.
I'M ZNO JOSEPH SPEAKING ON 89 91, 8 89 AND 90.
FIRST LET ME PRESS PREFACE BY THANKING, UH, COUNCIL
[03:50:01]
MEMBER FOR WHAT FUENTEZ FOR, UH, MAKING COMMENTS RELATED TO, UH, WHAT I SAID EARLIER THIS MORNING AS IT RELATES TO TITLE SIX.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I DID TESTIFY MARCH 23RD, 2023 ON THE HUD ITEM.
IT IS RELEVANT AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE SAID ON JUNE 1ST THAT THE POLICIES THAT YOU CREATE ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE LEASE.
AMONG THESE, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT DESSAU ROAD LITERALLY AT DESSAU AND PALMER, OVER 2000 UNITS, NO BUS EAST VILLAGE ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG WILL HAVE 2000 APARTMENTS, 450 HOMES.
YOU ALREADY HAVE PIONEER CROSSING IN THIS AREA IN HARRIS BRANCH, NO BUS.
IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO PROJECT CONNECT AND YOU WANT US TO BUY INTO TRANSIT, THEN PLEASE PUT BUS STOPS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR, PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM.
THESE ARE NOT BUS STOPS IN PLACE LIKE M L K AND ALEXANDER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UM, MAYOR PRO.
TIM, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WANNA LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AND THAT YOU WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEST OF MOPAC.
I DO TOO, BUT IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, THEN PLEASE GIVE US THE BUS THAT'S RUNNING EMPTY, 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR IN YOUR AREA.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON CALLS THIS AREA FAR FLOW SAMSUNG WHEN SHE SPOKE, UM, IN 2019.
BUT PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT WE VOTE AND WE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE NEAREST BUS STOP IS AT GRAHAM ELEMENTARY, 0.8 MILES AWAY.
I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY COMMENTS.
AND WOULD LASTLY JUST REMIND YOU THAT 58% OF THE, UH, JOBS WILL BE IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR BY 2035, A PARTNER PROJECT CONNECT 2014 PLAN.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
GINA GRAND SPEAKING ON 92 AND 93.
UH, MARY WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SPEAKING ON THE BOARD AND PLANT REZONING.
UH, LAST WEEK'S VOTE WAS DISAPPOINTING AT BEST.
AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU TO PRESS PAUSE ON THE REZONING OF THE BOARD AND PLANT TWO WORDS, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.
SOME OF YOU SITTING ON COUNCIL CURRENTLY ARE KNOWN AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTORS.
SO HOW WILL YOU PROCEED? NOW, THE COLORADO RIVER ROY GUERRERO PARK AND THE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ARE AUSTIN TREASURES, NOT JUST EAST AUSTIN, BUT ALL OF AUSTIN.
AND THEO VALLEY JOHNSON TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS OUR VISION FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
MAYOR WATSON, YOU ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US PUSH OUR VISION THROUGH.
PLEASE DON'T DEGRADE IT FOR THE SAKE OF BIG DEVELOPERS.
YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE IT FROM AN INDUSTRIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO A PREMIUM DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH EFFECTIVELY PUSHES OUT THE CURRENT RE RESIDENTS.
THIS PROJECT, AS IT STANDS, IS INCOMPATIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA CHEW UP EVERYTHING THAT MAKES AUSTIN DESIRABLE AND A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
OPPOSE THE ZONING CHANGE OR AT THE VERY LEAST, POSTPONE UNTIL FURTHER STUDIES CAN HAPPEN.
THANK YOU FRANCIS AK SPEAKING ON 92 AND 93.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS FRANCIS AYA.
I'M AGAINST ITEM 92 AND 93 ON THE BOARDING TRACK WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.
MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER WILL AFFECT AIR QUALITY TREE CANOPY, OUR HEALTH EROSION ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER AND DISPLACEMENT TO THE LONGTIME RESIDENTS THAT STILL LIVE THERE.
IT'LL ALSO HARM AND AND OR DISPLACED THE ANIMALS AT THE WILD FLAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY RUN OF WATER WILL GO DIRECTLY INTO THE COLORADO RIVER CAUSING EROSION AS THE WATER GOES IN THE RIVER AND IT WILL CAUSE CONTAMINATION FROM DAILY CONTAMINANTS.
YOU'LL HAVE LIFE THREATENED CONSEQUENCES TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS.
WE HAVE CHILDREN SWIMMING IN THE RIVER, WE HAVE ANIMALS DRINKING THAT WATER.
AND BY THE TIME CHILDREN, YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWN, THERE WILL BE NO MORE WATER.
CHRONIC ILLNESSES WILL BE HIGHER IN SURVIVABILITY, WILL BE, WILL NOT BE SUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED ANIMALS FOR FREE FOR TREE PRESERVATION, TREES FOR CLEAN WATER AND AIR QUALITY TREES CAN HOLD THE GROUND TOGETHER, MITIGATING EROSION AND THEIR ROOTS.
OBSERVE THE WATER, MITIGATING FLOODING.
PROTECTING OUR ECOSYSTEM SHOULD BE OUR PR PRIORITY.
I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT YOUR SON AND DECISIONS HOLISTICALLY THINK OF, OF HOW THE DEVELOPMENT MIGHT IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HUMANS IN A HOLISTIC WAY.
MENTAL HEALTH, CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND CANCER ARE A HUGE PART
[03:55:01]
OF THE ISSUES THAT COME FROM THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.YOU WANT A GOVERNMENT THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND ONE THAT WE CAN WALK PROUD OF BEING PART OF.
LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND LEARN FROM IT.
YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH YOU CAN ACHIEVE BY NOT MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
LOOK AT THE BOOKS ARE GOOD, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT A VOICE OF A HUMAN BEING CAN HAVE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE REMOTE SPEAKER.
SO WE'LL GO TO IN PERSON MATTHEW COMERFORD FOR 89 90.
AND JUST SO THAT Y'ALL KNOW, THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS, AS I INDICATED A MINUTE AGO, BUT I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THE SPEAKERS ARE SPEAKING ON THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF THE ITEM WAS PULLED OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TAKE UP AT THE TIME WE TAKE UP THAT ITEM.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED AND YOU KNEW YOU SIGNED UP, THAT MIGHT BE THE REASON.
TODAY WE HAVE A SIMPLE REQUEST.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? UH, MATTHEW C****R FORD, UH, WOODCLIFF NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE A SIMPLE REQUEST.
BE REASONABLE WHEN COMPROMISE GOES WELL.
EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THE LAW, SOMETHING.
THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MADISON FROM THE DECEMBER AUSTIN MON MONITOR ARTICLE.
I'M ALSO FOND OF ANOTHER QUOTE, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE THE REASONABLE ASK FOR A 40 FOOT HEIGHT RESTRICTION ON THIS MF FOUR PROPOSAL THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE 60 FEET, WHICH IS DOUBLE ANY NEARBY STRUCTURE.
IDEALLY IN MF THREE, WHICH THERE ARE EXAMPLES FURTHER NORTH ON DECILE WITH APPROPRIATE ADJACENCIES VERSUS THIS AB ABRUPT TRANSITION FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
I'LL USE SOME WORDS FROM A ZONING COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS ON ANOTHER CASE ENDING IN 0 1 14, IN WHICH CITING REASONS WHY HEIGHTENED RESTRICTION SHOULD BE APPLIED.
THESE I ASSUME ARE TYPICAL AUSTIN POLICY AND ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THIS PLAN.
NUMBER ONE, ZONING CHANGES SHOULD PROMOTE COMPATIBILITY WITH ADJACENT NEARBY USES.
NUMBER TWO, ZONING SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH APPROVED AND EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
UH, DENSITIES THREE ZONING SHOULD PROMOTE A TRANSITION BETWEEN ADJACENT AND NEARBY ZONING DISTRICTS.
LAND USES AND DEVELOPMENT INTENSITIES ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
THESE ARE REASONABLE POINTS IN AN MF THREE OR A 45TH.
HEIGHT RESTRICTION REPRESENTS A REASONABLE COMMUNITY COMING FAR MORE THAN HALFWAY.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS TO ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY.
THIS ALLOWS FOR A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AND DENSITY.
AS OUR CITY COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PUT ACTION TO THE WORDS OF WHEN COMPROMISE GOES WELL, EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY LOST SOMETHING.
PLEASE BE MORE THAN A VERBAL STAMP FOR DEVELOPERS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BERT CARPENTER.
HI, MY NAME IS BERT CARPENTER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER 90, REZONE 1 0 7 0 1 DESSAU ROAD FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO MF FOUR.
YOU'VE HEARD US SPEAK ON SEVERAL PRIOR OCCASIONS.
WE FULLY SUPPORT HOUSING, UH, INCREASING THE HOUSING SUPPLY IN AUSTIN WITH THE APPROPRIATE ZONING.
HOWEVER, MF FOUR DOES NOT BELONG IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO CINCO FAMILY HOUSING PER THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OWN ZONING GUIDE, MF FOUR IS APPROPRIATE FOR MODERATE FAMILY DENSITY HOUSING IN CENTURY LOCATED AREAS NEAR COMMERCIAL FACILITIES IN AREAS ADJOINING DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AND MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT CENTERS.
THAT'D BE A FOUR STORY APARTMENT NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SEVERAL TIMES I'VE HEARD THE, THE, UH, PHRASE THE QUOTE, THE CITY STAFF IN ZAP COMMISSION RECOMMENDED MF FOUR.
I WAS AT THAT COMMISSION HEARING WELL CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES.
MF FOUR, ONE OF OUR COMMI, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED THE APPLICANT QUOTE, DO YOU NEED MF FOUR TO BUILD YOUR PRODUCT? AFTER THE APPLICANT REPLIED, YES, THE COMMISSIONER WAS SATISFIED.
THIS IS NOT A REASON INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT.
THIS IS A RUBBER STAMP ON THE DEVELOPER'S WISHES.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARGUMENT APPLIED HERE AS ARBITRARY.
IT IS TOO GENERAL AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CASE.
MS FOUR, WHY MS FOUR? WHY NOT A STORY? WHY NOT BUILD A STORIES ANYWHERE? TERRYTOWN CAT MOUNTAIN? WHY JUST BUILD A STORIES EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY? THIS IS NOT SPECIFIC.
THE ARGUMENT DOESN'T HOLD TO OUR DISTRICT ONE ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, I WAS SURPRISED AT YOUR COMMENTS DURING LAST WEEK'S MEETING.
FIRST, YOUR RESPONSE DID NOT ADDRESS THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
[04:00:01]
IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU.WE'VE HAD OVER, UH, HALF A DOZEN MEETINGS WITH YOUR AGE, JOHN LAWLER.
AND, UM, EACH TIME YOU'VE BEEN TOO BUSY TO ATTEND.
IF YOU HAD ATTENDED, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD THE DIALOGUE YOU DESIRE A FINAL APPEAL TO THE, TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
I THINK IT'S CLEAR MF FOUR IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING, UH, SINGLE FAMILY.
AMY HAYES SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90 WITH MATT HORTON ON DECK COUNCIL.
MAYOR, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, TEN SEVEN OH ONE DESAL ROAD REZONING CASE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, UM, HOLDING THE TENSION BETWEEN THE FUTURE WELLBEING OF THE CITY PRIVATE DEVELOPER INTERESTS AND THE CONCERNS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO MAKE UP THE COMMUNITY IS SEEMINGLY AN IMPOSSIBLE JOB.
I KNOW THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE I, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE IT'S BEEN MY JOB TO BUY, UH, LAND UNDER THE THREAT OF IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR ANOTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND BALANCING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
UH, JEFF'S COMPENSATION FOR LANDOWNERS AND SERVING THE PUBLIC GOOD WITH THE PROJECTS WE BUILD MOST DAYS FEELS LIKE THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE.
I'M NO STRANGER TO THE ANGER PEOPLE EXPRESS WHEN FACED WITH CHANGES THAT AFFECT THE PLACES THEY CHERISH AND CALL HOME.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED, AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE TO, IS TO SEE WHAT LIES BENEATH THAT ANGER.
AND I'VE FOUND THAT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S FEAR, FEAR OF LOSING SOMETHING PRECIOUS, LOSING WHAT WE HAVE BUILT AND WHAT WE LOVE THE MOST ABOUT THE PLACES THAT HOLD OUR LIVES.
WE DO NOT LIVE IN A WEALTHY PART OF THE CITY BY ANY STRETCH.
MANY OF US HAVE SCRAPED OUR WAY TO HOME.
OWNERSHIP IN A FAST-CHANGING AUSTIN THAT OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT HAS LEFT US BEHIND THIS AREA HAS IS NOTORIOUSLY UNDERSERVED BY INFRASTRUCTURE HOME TO AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE POPULATION AND HAS SHOULDERED ITS FAIR SHARE AND THEN SOME OF MULTIFAMILY RE RENTAL PROPERTY.
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE WELCOMED THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW RESIDENTS.
THE DEVELOPER OF THIS SITE HAS STATED THAT HE INTENDS TO BUILD 330 UNITS.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HOLD THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT PROMISE AND TO TRANSPARENCY.
OUR ASK IS MORE THAN REASONABLE ZONE THE SITE TO ONE CATEGORY, LOWER MF THREE, LIMITING THE HEIGHT TO THREE STORIES IN LINE WITH ALL SURROUNDING APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THE AREA.
THE DEVELOPER ALREADY DOES NOT INTEND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 432 UNITS ALLOWED UNDER MF FOUR.
AND MUCH OF THE SITE IS RESTRICTED BY COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS SO THAT ONLY A VERY SMALL PORTION CAN BE BUILT TO 60 FOOT HEIGHT.
MF THREE WOULD LIKELY NOT RESULT.
IN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN UNITS BUILT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT HORTON SPEAKING ON ITEMS 89 AND 90 ON DECK IS TWO AND TRAN THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN THE WOODCLIFF NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I WAS HERE LAST WEEK IN SPEAKING TO, UH, TO YOU AND UM, AND I RAISED A CONCERN.
I JUST HAVE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
THERE WAS A QUESTION BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK AS TO, UM, WHERE ARE THEY, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY, UH, NEIGHBORS AND OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE OFFERED AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
UM, BUT THE ACTUAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THIS IS THEY'RE GONNA BE LIVING IN $2,000 A MONTH, FOUR STORY WALKUP, YOU KNOW, FOUR STORY WALKUP RENTALS BECAUSE THE ELEVATORS NEVER WORK IN THESE THINGS.
WHEN YOU'RE TAKING, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE TAKING HOME OWNERSHIP OFF OF THE TABLE, OFF OF WIPING IT OFF OF THE MAP IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT SPECIFICALLY IN EAST AUSTIN, IT FEELS A VERY PERSONAL ACTUALLY TO THOSE OF US THAT LIVE THERE.
I, UM, YOU KNOW, A FUNNY THING HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUY A HOME.
YOUR MORTGAGE DOESN'T CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR.
IT'S THE SAME FOR THE 30 YEARS THAT YOU OWN THAT, THAT YOU HAVE THAT PROP OR THAT YOU HAVE THAT, UH, MORTGAGE.
IT'S THE SAME YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
ANYONE IN THIS ROOM OR ANYONE THAT'S OWNED AN OR THAT'S LIVED IN AN APARTMENT CAN TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS.
AT THE END OF THAT, AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR WHEN YOUR, WHEN YOUR LEASE TURN IS UP, THE RENT GOES UP.
SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DOOM EAST AUSTIN TO JUST BEING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OWNING OR FOR NOT OWNING HOMES, BUT FOR ONLY, IF THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE IS RENTAL, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY, WHOEVER IT IS THAT MS. HARPER'S TALKING ABOUT IS GONNA HAVE TO LIVE IS IN RENTALS.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP OFF OF THE TABLE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH.
AND WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WANTING TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND HOW DO PEOPLE DO, HOW DO MOST PEOPLE DO THAT? WHEN WE DO, WHEN WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE SUBJECT OF VAST INHERITANCES AS, AS SOME FOLKS ARE IS WE GET TO IS, IS WE WORK HARD, WE OWN A HOME, WE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND WE, AND WE PAY OUR TAXES THAT, AND THEN WE PASS THAT ON TO OUR CHILDREN.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME OFF OF THE TABLE, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE DOING IN EAST AUSTIN, IT FEELS VERY, VERY PUNITIVE.
UM, ONE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY.
I ALWAYS GOT TO SEE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WIFE
[04:05:01]
OFF WITH THE PLANET THE OTHER DAY WHEN A CALL, SIR? YES.WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING.
YOUR TIME TRAN SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90 ON DECK IS SUSAN MORGAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO HIGHLIGHT MY CONCERN OF ITEM 90 REGARDING THE PROPOSAL OF REZONING THE THIS PROPERTY ON DESAL TO MF FOUR.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO OUR SINGLE FAMILY COMMUNITY.
LAST WEEK I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT EXCESSIVE, UH, TRAFFIC CONGESTION VIOLATIONS AND ACCIDENTS ON DESAL.
BUT TODAY I WILL EMPHASIZE ON THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF THIS PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.
IF APPROVED, THIS DEVELOPER WILL HAVE FOUR STORY HIGH APARTMENTS NEXT TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES THAT ARE ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY.
AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST WITHIN THE FIVE MILE STRETCH OF DESAL BETWEEN HIGHWAY 180 3 AND EAST PALM LANE.
I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO RECONSIDER THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THIS PROPERTY IN ORDER TO KEEP IN CHARACTER WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREA.
DESTRUCTURE PROPERTY SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS MF TWO OR MF THREE AT MOST, BUT NOT MF FOUR SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE ASKING FOR A 40 FOOT HIGH RESTRICTION INSTEAD OF THE 60 FOOT PROPOSAL.
TO BE CLEAR, WE SUPPORT AUSTIN'S GOALS OF INCREASING HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT NOT BE DONE WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE IMPACT TO THE EXISTING SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS FROM ANOTHER CASE ENDING IN 0 1 0 4.
THE ZONING COMMITTEES HAS CITED THE FOLLOWING REASONS AS TO WHY A HEIGHT RESTRICTION SHOULD BE APPLIED.
FIRST ZONING CHANGES SHOULD PROMOTE COMPATIBILITY WITH ADJACENT AND NEARBY USERS.
TWO, ZONING SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH APPROVED AND EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES.
AND THREE ZONING SHOULD PROMOTE A TRANSITION BETWEEN ADJACENT AND NEARBY ZONING DISTRICTS.
PLEASE OPPOSE A ZONING CHANGE IN SITE WITH THE EXISTING CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS AND SUPPORT THIS COMPROMISE THAT IS VERY REASONABLE FROM THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY TO APPROVE A 40 FOOT HEIGHT RESTRICTION INSIDE OF A 60 FOOT HEIGHT MONSTER IN OUR BACKYARDS.
SUSAN MORGAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 90.
I SENT A LETTER EARLIER IN THE WEEK THAT COVERS MORE OF MY CONCERNS, BUT TODAY I WANT TO MENTION JUST ONE BECAUSE TIME IS SO SHORT, THERE SHOULD BE A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO REFERENCE.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON TOP OF A HILL AT 700 FEET ELEVATION.
MY WOODCLIFFE SUBDIVISION AS WELL AS OTHERS ALMOST IN A CIRCLE AROUND IT, ARE LOWER AND SLOPING AWAY.
OUR CLOSEST STREET TO THE PROPERTY WANDERING WAY HAS ELEVATIONS FROM 23 TO 55 FEET LOWER THAN THAT PROPERTY WITH THE ENTIRE REMAINDER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SLOPING DOWNHILL.
PIONEER HILL, COLLINGWOOD WEST, THE NORTH END OF WINDSOR HILLS AND WOODCLIFF ARE ALL LOWER WITH AN APPROVED ZONING OF MF FOUR AND HOUSING AT 60 FEET.
IT WILL BE A MONOLITH ABOVE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL APPEAR 80 TO 110 FEET TALL OVER SHATTERING THE HOUSES.
THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR REAL LOSS OF PRIVACY.
PLEASE CONSIDER MF THREE OR MF TWO AND THE OTHER ISSUES I BROUGHT TO YOU IN THE LETTER I WROTE.
MIKE TOLSON, ITEM 91 MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AS PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, SWEET HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER THAT'S IN LINE TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY UPON REZONING.
UH, THIS AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO, UH, TO SUPPORT THE REZONING BECAUSE IT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF OBLIGATIONS ON THE PART OF THE DEVELOPER AS WELL AS, UH, COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND, UH, O CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THE STAFF IS PREPARED.
SO WE, UM, WE ENCOURAGE THE AND STATE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS REZONING.
THAT CONCLUDES THE, UM, CONSENT ZONING SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK MEMBERS.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 70, 71 AND 72.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED ON THOSE, THOSE THREE ITEMS. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PULL.
IS THERE ANY, UH, ABSTENTIONS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER
[04:10:01]
IS, UH, UH, YOU WANNA SPEAK BUT YOU'RE, YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 91.ITEM NUMBER 92 AND 93 HAVE BEEN PULLED.
AND SO WE'LL SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ ABSTAINING ON THOSE WHEN WE GO TO THEM.
BUT I, I WANNA BE CLEAR, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S A RECUSAL, NOT AN ABSTENTION.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WANNA BE SHOWN ABSTAINING OR RECUSING THEMSELVES? FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 89.
ITEM NUMBER 90 NEEDED TO BE PASSED BEFORE ITEM 89 COULD BE TAKEN UP.
HOW'D YOU COUNT
HOW, HOW MADE DID YOU COUNT? DID YOU GET 'EM ALL? I GOT 'EM ALL.
DID YOU COUNT THE PERSON UP ON THE SCREEN?
SO SO WE WE DID IT RIGHT? WE DID IT.
COULD YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY? THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING READY TO DO.
WHEN, WHEN I CAUGHT YOU COUNTING
[89. Conduct a public hearing and 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.]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 89.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED ON 9 89.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? OH, UH, UH, YES, MAYOR, THIS IS JUST, UM, A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE.
ALL THREE READINGS, UM, RELATED TO THE VOLUNTARY FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 11.9 ACRES LOCATED AT TEN SEVEN OH ONE DESAL ROAD.
SO IT'S JUST RELATED TO THE, UH, RE RESUMING CASE.
THANK YOU MEMBERS AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE SPOKE TO US WITH REGARD TO NUMBER 80, UH, ITEM NUMBER 89 DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD.
BUT I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK HER IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
MAYOR, EVERYONE HAS BEEN CALLED MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NUMBER ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT NUMBER ITEM NUMBER 89.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA MOVES TO, UH, ADOPT 89 AND IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TE IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 89? WITHOUT OBJECTION, NUM.
[Items 70 - 72]
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEMS NUMBER 70, 71 AND 72.UH, MAYOR COUNSEL, UM, THIS IS THREE ITEMS. UM, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A VERY QUICK DISCUSSION AS THERE'S, UM, NO OPPOSITION OTHER THAN STAFF AND, UM, IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION, BUT I, I DEFINITELY WANNA LAY THIS OUT.
UM, THIS IS ITEM 70, 71 AND 72 ON YOUR AGENDA.
CASE NUMBER NPA 20 22 0 0 1 4.
UM, 0.05 AND THAT'S THE BERGSTROM TRAIL MIX USE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE RELATED REZONINGS, WHICH ARE C1 14 20 22 0 1 46 BESHAM, TRAIL AREA INFIELD AND THAT'S THE WESTERN TRACT.
AND CASE NUMBER C1 14 20 22 0 1 4 8.
AND THAT'S THE BERGSTROM TRAIL AREA, INFIELD EASTERN TRACT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT SITE IS LOCATED AT SIXTY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR TEN BURLESON ROAD.
THE WESTERN TRACT IS LOCATED AT 6,300 BURLESON ROAD AND THE EASTERN TRACT IS LOCATED AT 64 10 BURLESON ROAD.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE LAND USE DESIGNATION ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP PLUM FROM INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION TO MIXED USE TO MIXED YOUTH LAND USE.
AND BOTH TRACKS ARE CURRENTLY ZONED LI NP AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING CS M U V N P AND STAFF DOES NOT SUPPORT THESE REQUEST.
UM, THE SUBJECT REZONING AREA IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GARSON ROAD AND MONOLO DRIVE.
IT IS COMPOSED OF TWO TRACKS OF LAND SEPARATED BY RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO HAVE THE TWO SEPARATE REZONING CASES.
UM, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ZONING CASES, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT AND IS REQUESTING C CSM U V NP COMBINING DISTRICTS FOR A POSSIBLE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD INCLUDE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
THE REST WESTERN TRACT IS APPROXIMATELY 2.7 ACRES AND HAS A HYDRAULIC PARTS SHOP AND AN AUTO BODY SHOP CURRENTLY LOCATED ON THE TRACT.
AND THE EASTERN TRACT IS 1.2 ACRES AND IT'S UNDEVELOPED.
[04:15:01]
THE SUBJECT TRACT IS SURROUNDED BY INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PARK WAREHOUSES CONTAINING DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY COMPANIES, MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, CONSTRUCTION SALES AND SERVICE BUSINESSES, OUTSIDE STORAGE USES AND A FUEL STATION AND A CAR RENTAL COMPANY.ALL ARE ZONED EITHER LI NP, L I C O, NP, OR L I P D A NP.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION DELIBERATION, STAFF IS UNABLE TO RECOMMEND THE APPLICANT TREE OWNER REQUEST AND RECOMMENDS MAINTAINING THE L I N P FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
RESIDENTIAL USES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE SINCE IT'S PREDOMINANTLY AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN IMAGINED AUSTIN JOB CENTER AND INDUSTRIAL USES GENERALLY DO NOT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL USES.
SAFETY ISSUES CONTRIBUTE TO RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL USES BEING NOT COMPATIBLE.
AND THEN, UM, THE NORTH SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN SUPPORTS MAINTAINING THE INDUSTRIAL USES AND ENCOURAGING NEW INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL USES, WHICH WILL ALLOW SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WAREHOUSE AND MANUFACTURING AND BLUE COLLAR JOBS.
OF COURSE, IN GENERAL THIS AREA DOES NOT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL U USES.
MIXED USE AND PERMANENT RESIDENTIAL ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
AND FINALLY, THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE INDICATES THAT THIS AREA IS NOT TRANSITIONING TO RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
OH, AND THE APPLICANT IS UM, HERE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
MEMBERS, UM, WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE OPENED AND CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ALREADY ON THIS.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE.
UH, I'M MOVE ADOPTION OF THIS REZONING CASE AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE SOME REMARKS ON IT.
UH, MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES ADOPTION IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR DISCUSSION.
AS JOY MENTIONED, THIS AREA IS LARGELY ZONED INDUSTRIAL, BUT IT IS TRANSITIONING.
UH, THIS SOUTHEAST CONTACT TEAM HAS PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS AND PREFERS HOUSING VERSUS FURTHER INDUSTRIAL USES IN THIS AREA.
WE ALSO HAVE TEXT DOTS, BRAND NEW HEADQUARTERS IN THIS VICINITY AS WELL AS TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IS ALSO HEADQUARTERED IN THE AREA.
SO, UM, SO THE COMMUNITY WOULD RATHER HAVE HOMES, UH, INSTEAD OF INDUSTRIAL.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 70, 71 AND 72? THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THOSE ITEMS. IS THERE ANY, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I HAD ONE MORE THING I NEEDED TO SAY.
UH, THE SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN AN INTERESTED PARTY, UH, AS THIS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSES.
AND I, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR CONTACT TEAM AND KEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP.
I SEE THEM NODDING THEIR HEAD YES.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM 70, 71 AND 72? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THOSE THREE ITEMS ARE ADOPTED.
[Items 92 & 93]
AND 93 MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD.LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ON ITEMS NUMBER NUMBERS 92 AND 93.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS ABSTAINING FROM THOSE TWO MATTERS.
ACCUSING ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HE'S RECUSING HIMSELF ON THOSE TWO MATTERS.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL AGAIN, JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, MANY OF YOU HEARD THIS, UM, LAST WEEK.
UM, THIS IS ITEM 92 ON YOUR AGENDA.
CASE NUMBER NPA 20 22 0 0 1 6 0.02.
THE BOARD TRACK THE REQUEST IS FROM INDUSTRY TO MIXED USE.
THE SITE IS LOCATED AT 21, 21 AND A HALF.
41 IS 71 STRATHAM COVE AND 11 21 41 AND 41 AND A HALF.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN MEMBER REQUEST TO MIX USE.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 93 ON YOUR AGENDA, CASE NUMBER C 14 20 22 0 1 21 BOARD TRACK, ALSO LOCATED AT 21 21 1 A, 2 41, AND 71 STRATON COVE AND 11 21 41 AND 41 1 A TWO JULIANA CO.
THE SITE IS OVER 21 ACRES AND DEVELOPED WITH THE BORDEN DAIRY FACILITY.
THE SITE IS CURRENTLY ZONED L I C O IN PETE, AND THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST IS L I P D A M P.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS L I P D A AND P COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING.
UM, THE PDA WILL, UM, PROHIBIT SEVERAL USES WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND THE APPLICANT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
THE REASON FOR SUPPORT IS THAT THE REZONING WOULD PROVIDE FOR A MIX OF USES.
THE AREA STANDARDS WILL ADD TO RESIDENTIAL USES, WHICH ARE THE CONDOMINIUM, RESIDENTIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
AND IT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR A COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE SUBJECT TO THE 15,000 SQUARE FOOT LIMITATION.
THE PROPOSED PDA DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS MODIFY SETBACKS, BUILDING HEIGHTS, BUILDING COVERAGE, AND F A R TO CREATE DENSE MIXED
[04:20:01]
USE DEVELOPMENT THAT, UM, IS CONSISTENT TO GROWTH TRENDS.THE BIGGEST ASKS WOULD BE THE PROPOSED HEIGHT OF ONE 20 FEET, WHICH, UM, THE EXISTING, UM, ZONING ALLOWS FOR 60 FEET.
HOWEVER, THE SITE IS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY IS PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHWAY, AND THE LOWER AND IS LOWER IN ELEVATION MAKES THE HEIGHT AND REQUEST THE MIXED USES APPROPRIATE AT THIS LOCATION.
THE APPLICANT'S, UM, REQUEST WAS SUPPORTED BY PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE 120 FEET IN THE HEIGHT.
THEY DID, UH, LOWER THE IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUEST TO 75% AT HEIGHT AND REQUIRED A 60 FOOT WIDE BUILDING SETBACK ALONG THE SOUTH PROPERTY LINE.
AND THAT IS THE, UM, REQUEST THAT IS MOVING FORWARD, UM, FOR, UH, SECOND OR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE DEFINITELY HAVE SPEAKERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO THROUGH THE RULES HERE.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
SO I WILL FIRST CALL ON THE APPLICANT TO MAKE A A PRESENTATION.
THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE SPEAKERS IN FAVOR AND THEN SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TO OFFER TODAY IN THE WAY OF PRESENTATION OTHER THAN TO SAY WE STILL AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T GET TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME IS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS AND BECAUSE OF YOUR INABILITY TO EXTRACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNLESS THERE IS A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, IS WE TOOK THE INITIATIVE ON THIS CASE AND WENT TO THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR GROUP WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS, WE CAME UP WITH A, AN AGREEMENT THAT WE NOW HAVE ASSIGNED AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVANCY.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY SPELLS OUT SEVERAL THINGS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IS WE ADOPTED THE 10% AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
10% OF THE UNITS THAT ARE BUILT HERE WILL BE AFFORDABLE EITHER TO 10% AT 60 OR 10% AT 80% OR A COMBINATION THEREOF.
IN ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT THAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO, THERE ARE ALSO FUNDS BEING INVESTED IN THE CONSERVANCY FOR THE MARKET RATE UNITS.
SO FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A HUNDRED UNITS THAT GO ON THAT GET BUILT, 10% OF THOSE WILL EITHER BE AT 60 OR 80, AND THEN THE 90 UNITS THAT ARE LEFT OVER WILL PAY OR MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE CONSERVANCY OF EITHER $500 A MARKET RATE UNIT, IF IT'S AT 60% MFI OR A THOUSAND DOLLARS UNIT AT 80% MFI AND THOSE FUNDS GOING TO THE CONSERVANCY.
AND THEN THE CONSERVANCY COMMITS TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR HELPING FOLKS OUT THAT CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GET IN A BIND OR NEED SOME HELP EITHER WITH TAXES OR REPAIRS OR SOME OTHER EMERGENCY.
SO OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVANCY, UM, DOES TWOFOLD.
IT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THOSE THAT ALREADY LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER ALLISON AL ALTER, UH, SHOWED TO ME JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL SETBACK.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE, THE PRESERVE BEHIND US REQUESTED A 60 FOOT BUILDING SETBACK, AND WE AGREED TO THAT.
WE THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE SETBACK, UM, BUT ARE WILLING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IF SOMEBODY THINKS IT, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
UM, I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAD ASKED US TO DO DARK SKIES DESIGN, AND I BELIEVE WE STOOD UP AND SAID WE WOULD DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT UNDER THE DARK SKIES PROVISIONS OF OUR CODE, I THINK IT'S MENTIONED IN SUB CHAPTER E, WE ARE PREPARED TO DO DARK SKIES.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS A SITE THAT'S AN INDUSTRIAL SITE.
IT IS NOT DISPLACING ANYBODY THAT CURRENTLY LIVES THERE.
IT IS ON AVERAGE MORE THAN A THOUSAND FEET AWAY FROM THE RIVER.
IT IS MORE THAN 600 FEET FROM THE CLOSEST SINGLE FAMILY.
COMPATIBILITY IS NOT AN ISSUE.
AGAIN, I I SAID THIS AT PLANNING COMMISSION, IF NOT HERE, THEN WHERE, AND THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WE ENTERED INTO WITH CON CONSERVANCY WILL HOPE THAT YOU'LL SEE FIT.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING TODAY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER ON THAT SETBACK, THAT IS THE BUFFER, AS IT WERE WITH THE PRESERVE.
IS THE PLAN THERE FOR THAT TO BE A, A CONNECTION TO THE PRESERVE? IS THAT THAT WHERE THAT WOULD BE LOCATED OR WHAT IT, WHAT'S THE THINKING THERE? REASONABLE MINDS CAN DIFFER AND WE DON'T
[04:25:01]
HAVE A POSITION ON CONNECTION TO THE PRESERVE.SOME PEOPLE WANT CONNECTION, SOME PEOPLE DON'T.
WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON IT.
WE DID AN EARLY DETERMINATION WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS A CONCEPT SITE PLAN EARLY ON LAST YEAR, AND WE GOT A COMMENT BACK THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS DOWN TO THE PRESERVE.
AND IF IT WHERE THE ACCESS THEY ASKED FOR IT DUMPED INTO A C E F, THEY WANTED IT ALONG OUR REAR LINE WITHIN THIS 60 FOOT, WE ARE AGNOSTIC TO THAT WITHIN THAT 60 FEET.
IF THAT'S WHERE THE TRAIL NEEDS TO BE, WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE PLAYING WITH, UH, KIND OF SHIFTING SANDS A LITTLE BIT AS WE APPROACH SEPTEMBER AND, AND STATE LAW, UH, CHANGING.
I, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, AND AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AT THIS STAGE OR NOT, SO SOMEONE COULD STOP ME IF IT'S NOT, UM, BUT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN Y'ALL ARE DISCUSSING WITH PAR WHAT THAT, UH, CONNECTION WILL LOOK LIKE AND, AND HOW MUCH LAND THAT IS.
AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT THAT COULD RESULT IN THE CITY HAVING TO PAY YOU FOR THAT CONNECTION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UNDERSTAND IF, IF YOU HAVE THE WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW THAT CONNECTION TO CONTINUE REGARDLESS OF THAT, UH, POTENTIAL.
LET ME JUMP TO THE ASSUMPTION.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE LAW THAT PASSED DEALING WITH CITY'S ABILITY TO EXTRACT PARKLAND FROM FOLKS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT AND, AND YOU GOTTA BE A SMARTER PERSON THAN ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT FORMULA.
WE DO NOT AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PAY US IF WHAT YOU TAKE FROM US IS, IS WORTH MORE.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT, THAT CLAUSE IS STRANGE.
AND IF FOR EVERYBODY HERE GO READ IT, IT'LL PUT YOU TO SLEEP.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM WHAT PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN US, IS WHAT THEY WANT.
IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT, NO MATTER WHAT THE CALCULATION IS, WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CITY.
AND, UH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE SECOND AND THIRD TODAY, I JUST WANT TO HAVE A PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF DOING JUST SECOND OR SECOND AND THIRD WHERE Y'ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS.
JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THAT.
WHEN I AM UNDER A SEVERE DEADLINE AND IT'S GOING TO KILL A DEAL, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I NEED SEC HAVE TO HAVE SECOND THIRD TODAY.
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CASES.
WHAT SECOND, THIRD DOES IS IT ENABLES US TO NOW TURN LOOSE OF THE DESIGN TEAM TO START DESIGNING FOR EVERY MONTH OF DELAY OF DESIGN.
IS A MONTH OF DELAY OF DELIVERING HOUSING, DO WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION THAT BLOWS UP BETWEEN NOW AND JULY 20TH? NO.
WOULD WE PREFER TO GO SECOND, THIRD TODAY? YES.
BECAUSE THEN WE CAN TURN DESIGN LOOSE AND WE'RE MOVING TIME KILLS DEALS AND WE'RE JUST READY TO GO.
BUT I DON'T, I WISH I DID, BUT I DON'T HAVE A, A DEADLINE THAT SAYS IT HAS TO GO TODAY, BUT WE PREFER IT.
AND ARE Y'ALL, YOU'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGNS STAGE OF THINGS.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE PRELIMINARY.
WE'VE, WE'VE DONE SPATIAL DIAGRAMS UNTIL YOU GET YOUR ZONING AND, AND GET YOUR CONTRACT FIRMED UP, YOU GENERALLY DON'T START SPENDING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A PLAN.
AND I, I WATCHED Y'ALL WRESTLE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CODE.
AND I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE CODE WAS FIRST CREATED.
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THE EARTH WAS STILL COOLING.
WHAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US IS WE JUST KEEP BOLTING STUFF ON TO AN EXISTING CODE.
AND THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CODE.
IT, IT'S A FRANKENSTEIN, UM, EVERY COMPLEXITY THAT GETS ADDED ON.
AND SO, UM, WHEN WE START ADDING ON SETBACKS AND PARK STUFF AND DA, THAT AFFECTS TIME AND IT TAKES, AFFECTS AFFORDABILITY.
SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A 60 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE COLORADO WILDERNESS PRESERVE, WHICH THAT'S THE AREA THERE BETWEEN, UH, YOUR PROPERTY AND, AND THE RIVER.
IS THAT HOW IT'S, IT'S LAID OUT THERE? YES.
SO YOU HAVE RIVER PRESERVE OUR PROPERTY, UHHUH
AND FROM THE PRESERVE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WANTED AN ADDITIONAL US TO SET BACK AN ADDITIONAL 60 FEET FROM THE PRESERVE.
SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE, UH, UH, THE PLANT THAT IS IN THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY.
AND THEN THE DARK SKIES AS YOU, YOU MENTIONED, I GUESS YOU HAD DISCUSSED THIS WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, BUT THAT THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM YOU'RE ANTICIPATING, UH, UH, COMPLYING WITH THE DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROJECT.
[04:30:01]
AS I RECALL, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE SAID, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? AND WE NODDED, AND ALL THE COUNCIL NODDED.AND IF THAT'S THE WISH OF THE COUNCIL, WE'RE OKAY WITH DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS.
AND, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD SIDE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD SPOT FOR, UM, UH, FOR, FOR HOUSING.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF THE, UH, WATER QUALITY, UH, KIND OF ELEMENTS AND ALL THAT, I KNOW THAT, THAT WE'RE RIGHT NOW IN THE PROCESS OF, OF, UH, GETTING KIND OF THAT THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN AND, AND THOSE OTHER KIND OF, UH, UH, THINGS, WHAT, WHAT IS THE CURRENT KIND OF WATER QUALITY, UH, UH, ELEMENTS OF, OF THE PROJECT? WELL, WE START WITH A SITE THAT WAS BUILT WITH NO WATER QUALITY.
WE INTEND TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE ON ANYTHING WE BUILD WITH NEW WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
AND ANY THOUGHTS? AND THIS TAKES ME BACK TO THE, THE STATEMENT BUD, UH, UH, DISCUSSION, BUT, UH, THE BIRD STRIKE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS, AGAIN, I AM WAY OUTTA MY ELEMENT WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT BIRDS AND GLAZING LEVELS OF GLAZING.
UH, BUT, UH, UH, JUST AGAIN, ANY KIND OF, UH, THOUGHTS, UH, OF, YOU KNOW, OF OPINIONS ON MAKING SURE THAT, THAT, UH, OUR, OUR FLYING FEATHERED FRIENDS, UH, AREN'T, UH, SLAMMING INTO A TO A GLASS.
MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIRD STRIKE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH TALLER BILL ALL GLASS BUILDINGS BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTIVITY ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS WITH THE LOWER DENSITY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU DON'T END UP WITH THAT MUCH GLAZING.
YOU DON'T END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUES THAT YOU DO WITH HIGH RISE AND GLASS BUILDINGS.
SO, UM, THERE'S NOT A STANDARD THAT WE COULD SAY, WE'LL MEET THIS STANDARD, BUT WE CAN BE, OF COURSE, UH, COGNIZANT OF, OF THE BIRD STRIKE ISSUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A WAY IN A PDA TO STITCH IT IN AS A DEVELOPMENT STANDARD.
UH, MR. SETTLE, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE, YOU WEREN'T SURE IF THE DARK SKY'S ELEMENT WAS IN THE ORDINANCE? I DON'T BELIEVE IT MADE IT INTO THE, IT'S NOT IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, BUT WE WILL DO IT.
AND, AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE AN AMENDMENT FROM THE DAY AS TODAY, ADD DARK SKY REQUIREMENT FOR LAING, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.
WE THOUGHT IT GOT ADDED LAST TIME.
AND, AND WHAT WAS THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS? SO IT'S, IT'S 10% OF THE UNITS BUILT WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
IF THEY'RE AT 60%, THERE'S A $500 FEE PER MARKET RATE.
IF IT'S 80%, THERE'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER UNIT MARKET RATE PER PER MARKET RATE UNIT.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A 10% AT 60 OR 10, 10% AT 80.
IT CAN BE A SLIDING SCALE, BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS, MORE MONEY GOES INTO THE CONSERVANCY.
YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES ON THIS, AND I KNOW WE HAVEN'T HEARD TESTIMONY JUST YET, BUT I AM A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT ON BOTH SECOND AND THIRD READING.
I THINK WE NEED, UH, TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THAT THERE'S ELEMENTS THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDED INTO THE ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT MORE SO, YOU KNOW, THIS PROCESS OF NOT HAVING COUNCIL VELAZQUEZ BEING ABLE TO, TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST HAS MADE ME, OR HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF PAUSE.
AND IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
I SUPPORT THAT THERE IS GONNA BE WATER QUALITY AND THAT THERE'S GONNA BE HOUSING AND ADDITIONAL USES, UH, THAT ARE NOT INDUSTRIAL ON THIS SITE, AND THAT THERE IS THE 60 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE PRESERVE.
AND THAT THROUGH, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PARCEL WILL HAVE, UH, A BETTER PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S MORE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS AREA IS NOT ABLE TO WEIGH IN TO, TO HELP, UH, ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT, UH, FOR CONVERSATION.
IT'S THE LITTLE STRANGE SPOT WHERE KIND OF THE, THE, THE PERSON THAT WOULD NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, DO KIND OF THE, THE DUE DILIGENCE AND, AND RIDE LEAD ON THE PROJECT HAS BEEN, UH, UH, HAS HAD TO, UH, RECUSE HIMSELF.
AND, AND HONESTLY, I I, I JUST HAVE NOT PUT IN THE, THE KIND OF THE, THE TIME AND THE DUE DILIGENCE.
I, LIKE I SAID, IT LOOKS LIKE GREAT PROJECT.
I'M PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT ON ON SECOND READING RIGHT NOW.
AND JUST TO GIVE IT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, REVIEWED JUST TO GIVE US A, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
I KNOW I HAD A LOT OF MY PLATE, UH, TODAY TOO, AND I WASN'T ABLE TO LOOK AT IT IN, IN, IN THE DETAILS.
SO I, I WOULD, UH, AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHERE IF WE COULD PASS THIS ON SECOND READING, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CATCH OUR BREATH AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT, UH, THINGS AND THEN, UH, UH, TAKE
[04:35:01]
IT UP ON, UH, ON THIRD READING.UH, I, I, I THINK THAT'S, UH, A GOOD IDEA.
LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR TESTIMONY HERE TOO.
AND I WANT TO GET TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON AL ALTER.
I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUES, WHICH IS WHY I HAD, UH, PUT FORWARD A MOTION THAT WOULD ONLY MOVE IT FORWARD ON SECOND READING.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AND YOU KNOW, THIS PAST LAST WEEK I WAS AT GRADUATION AND UNABLE TO BE HERE.
AND I'M STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP TO EXACTLY HOW WE LANDED WHERE WE ARE TODAY ON CERTAIN ASPECTS.
UM, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUFFERING BETWEEN THE PRESERVE AND THE BUILDING, AND, AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR MORE OF THAT.
AND AFTER WE HAVE OTHER TESTIMONY, I WILL, UM, ASK SOME MORE OF STAFF.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT BUILDING SETBACK AND A VEGETATIVE SETBACK ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ANALYSIS, RIGHT, OR THE, THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW TALKS ABOUT A BUILDING SETBACK, BUT NOT A VEGETATIVE SETBACK.
UM, WOULD YOU BE, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF TO GET THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE FOR A VEGETATIVE SETBACK THAT WOULD ALLOW THE, ALLOW THE APPROPRIATE PARK AND TRAIL AMENITIES TO BE IN IT? BUT THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY OVERLAP WITH THE, THE BUILDING SETBACK.
AND, AND I CAN'T ASK, PART OF THE CHALLENGE I HAVE IS TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE LITTLE PIECES RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO, TO ACCOMPLISH.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE GOAL.
UM, AND I DON'T WANNA PUT IN THE LANGUAGE THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE TODAY, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WE CAN WORK FORWARD TO? SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS, IS TO ONLY DO SECOND READING.
WE, WE WILL LOOK AT THAT AS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE SAYING BUILDING SETBACK MEANS THAT WE COULD PUT THINGS LIKE TRAILS, WATER QUALITY, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IN THAT 60 FOOT.
AND WE HAD, WE HADN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR.
WE KIND OF COUNTED ON BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IN THERE.
WE KNOW THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S PROBABLY GONNA WANT A TRAIL BACK THERE.
WE'D PREFER TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR WATER QUALITY.
BUT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SLIDE OUT, IT, IT, AGAIN, IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE MORE YOU EAT UP OF THIS SITE, LESS UNITS, LESS AFFORDABILITY, LESS INTO THE STUFF.
BUT, BUT YES, THE ANSWERS WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CONCERN IS WHETHER WE HAVE THE RIGHT BUFFER FOR THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RELATIVE TO THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES RELATIVE TO THE PRESERVE.
UM, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO PARKLAND DEDICATION? UM, WHATEVER THE, TODAY, THE CURRENT CITY ORDINANCE IS, IS THE REQUIREMENT.
NOW, WE WENT UNDER THE, UNDER THE CURRENT CITY ORDINANCE, WE'RE ALLOWED TO GO GET AN EARLY DETERMINATION LETTER, WHICH WE DID.
I THINK IT MAY BE IN YOUR BACKUP.
I BROUGHT A COPY JUST IN CASE, BUT WE ARE NOT IN A PARKS DEFICIENT AREA.
WHAT THE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT WE ARE NOT IN A PARKS DEFICIENT AREA, AND THEY REFERENCE 25 1 605 AS THE DEDICATION THAT THEY'RE GONNA LOOK TO US.
NOW, THAT IS THE FEE AND LIEU SECTION.
UM, THEY'VE NOT ASKED US FOR ACREAGE.
THEY'VE ASKED US FOR ACCESS DOWN TO THE PRESERVE AND FEE AND LIEU.
WE ALSO TURNED IN A CONCEPT SITE PLAN WHERE THEY SHOWED WHERE THEY THOUGHT THAT IS NOW UNDER OUR, UNDER OUR SCENARIO.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO AND THAT'S WHAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND BETWEEN NOW AND THIRD READING IS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ASKED YOU.
CAUSE I READ THAT SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY.
UM, TERMS, WHAT, WHAT DID YOU HEAR? I READ THAT THEY WERE REQUIRING DEDICATION OF THE TRAIL AREA, ET CETERA.
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A WHOLE SEPARATE PARK CUZ THERE'S ALREADY A PARK THERE.
UM, BUT THAT THE LAND WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE YOU WERE PROPOSING A DEVELOPMENT THAT NORMALLY UNDER OUR RULES.
IF IT WASN'T, UM, IT WOULD REQUIRE SIX ACRES OF LAND.
YOU'RE IN THE, YOU'RE IN THE URBAN CORE, SO IT GOES DOWN TO THREE.
BUT ONCE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE SIX, BEFORE YOU GET THAT CAP, YOU HAVE TO DEDICATE THE LAND.
IF YOU'RE IN A PARKS DEFICIENT AREA, I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE IN A PARKS DEFICIENT AREA.
SO WE NEED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT IT SAYS, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN THAT MANY PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO SERVE THOSE PEOPLE, UM, IS HOW IT'S DESIGNED AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHEN WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE PARKED DEFICIENT.
UM, BUT I, I DON'T HAVE FULL CLARITY ON THAT AND I'M, I I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY CLARITY WE HAVE IS THAT WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS FOR EARLY DETERMINATION AND THIS LETTER ON CITY PARK'S LETTERHEAD SPELLS OUT 25,000 1 605.
AND THE CONCEPT SITE PLAN NOTE SHOWS WHAT THE ACREAGE THEY WANT
[04:40:01]
AND THE FEE AND LIE.AND, AND I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S, SO, SO I HAVE THE SAME LETTER, I BELIEVE, AND IT SAYS, PARK WILL REQUIRE LAND DEDICATION CONSISTENT WITH CITY CODE DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PROPOSED UNITS, LARGE AMOUNT OF PARKLAND OWED AND LOCATION ADJACENT TO EXISTING PARKLAND WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTIONS.
THAT SEEMS TO SAY YOU OWE PARKLAND.
YOU SKIPPED, YOU SKIPPED CITY CODE 25 1 DASH 6 0 5 IF YOU GO TO HOW ABOUT, HOW ABOUT WE TAKE THIS OUTSIDE? THERE WE GO.
HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AS WE GO FORWARD, UM, INSTEAD OF DEBATING THE LAW, THAT'D BE RIGHT NOW.
ARE Y'ALL DONE WITH ME FOR A WHILE,
THE WAY OUR OUR PROCEDURES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK IS THAT I NOW CALL ON THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION AND WE FOLLOW THE REGULAR TIME THAT IS GIVEN DURING THAT.
AND THEN I CALL ON THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION AND THEY RECEIVE THE REGULAR TIME.
SO LET ME ASK THE CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP INDICATING THEY WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THESE ITEMS? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS IN FAVOR.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION? SURE.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DANIELS, WHO IS REPRESENTING THE GROUP.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS VERY, VERY DISTASTEFUL.
UH, UM, I'M HERE AGAIN TO ASK YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MINDS AND SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
UH, YOU ARE TURNING THE CHARACTER OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT THE WORLD IS ATTRACTED TO AND COMING TO EACH AND EVERY DAY WANTING TO COME IN HERE.
YOU'RE TURNING THE CHARACTER OF, OF AUSTIN'S UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS, CULTURAL AND NATURAL BEAUTY INTO ANYWHERE USA I'M ASKING YOU TO REJECT THE L I P D A AND HAVE THEM DEVELOP UNDER CS M U UNDER C S M U.
THIS PROJECT WILL INTEGRATE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER L LAP, P D I.
IT WILL SIT ON TOP OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH, UH, UH, BUSINESS AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT LIVE HERE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING.
BECAUSE OF WHAT MR. SU SAID LAST NIGHT, I SPOKE WITH RAUL ALVAREZ, THE HEAD OF THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY, AND HE TOLD ME THAT DO NOT HAVE A DEAL.
AND FURTHER THE IDEA THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TO, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ HAS TO RECUSE HIMSELF IS FICTITIOUS.
THERE IS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
I WANT YOU TO SHOW WHAT, WHAT IS THE PAPERWORK? WHY ARE YOU RECUSING YOURSELF? WE WANNA SEE THAT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD.
NOW, MR. SU JUST SAID TO YOU THAT HE HAS A WRITTEN AGREEMENT.
HE SHOWED ME SOME SIGNATURES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU LAST NIGHT, UH, UH, UH, RAUL AVAREZ, THE HEAD OF EAST AUSTINSON CONSERVANCY, SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ANY DEAL SUBTLE CAME TO HIM AND HE TOLD SUBTLE THAT HE WOULDN'T DEAL WITH HIM UNTIL AFTER THE CONTACT TEAM MADE ITS NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I HANDED YOU ALL, UH, A, A, UH, A DOCUMENT, UH, DATED NOVEMBER 22ND.
THAT'S, THAT SHOWS ALL THE, ALL THE CRITERIA THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
AND IT SHOWED THE LIST OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT TARGETS THAT THE CONTACT TEAM WAS REQUESTING.
AUSTIN, UH, EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY IS NOT ON THAT LIST.
THIS IS SOMETHING VERY WEIRD HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE LAST MEETING THAT WE WERE HERE, I GOT SEVERAL TEXTS FROM PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE THE DEVELOPERS CONTROL CITY COUNCIL.
ARE THEY CONTROLLING YOU? ARE THEY CONTROLLING THE REST OF YOU? NOT ONE SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF THIS.
SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION YOU'VE HAD, AND I KNOW SINCE I WAS HERE LAST, I'VE HAD 23 CCS OF LETTERS TO YOU ALL OPPOSING THIS PROJECT.
YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE 1%.
YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE DEVELOPERS.
SO ARE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN,
[04:45:01]
OF EVERYBODY OR ARE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE DEVELOPERS? WOO MAYOR.WHEN WE HAD OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CITY STAFF WANTED US TO RUBBER STAMP IT.
WE FILED ETHICS AND RACISM COMPLAINTS AGAINST AUSTIN LE BROCK AND NUMBER TWO AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
NINE MONTHS LATER, YOU CONTACTED US, YOU GOT RID OF THOSE GUYS, YOU SAID FRIENDLY STAFF.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WAS MADE BY OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THREE YEARS.
NOT CITY STAFF, NOT DEVELOPERS.
AND LIKE I'M SAYING TO YOU NOW, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS OUR VISION.
THIS USED TO BE THE EDGE OF TOWN WITH THE TANK FARMS WITH HOLLY, WITH BOARDS
I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD THAT IT'S REDEVELOPED.
DO IT UNDER C S M U AND TAKE US INTO ACCOUNT WHO LIVE HERE NOW.
OTHERWISE, I DON'T KNOW WHY I, I'M GONNA BE WASTING MY TIME.
COME IN AND TALK TO Y'ALL BECAUSE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU HAD OUR YOUTH COME TO YOU AND TELL YOU TO PROTECT US.
I WAS FLABBERGASTED THAT SHE MOTIONED TO APPROVE 120 FEET.
SHE IS, LOOKS LIKE SHE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UH, PROTECTOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER PROTECT MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT MY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELAZQUEZ.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE NOT SAYING NO TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE IN SCALE AND IN PROPORTION.
IT'S AMAZING THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF.
THIS IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES BOER IS THAT WE INCLUDE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL EQUATION.
I WANTED TO COVER OVER FOUR THINGS WITH YOU.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBER ONE MONEY MAKING IN THE WORLD IS DRUG TRAFFICKING, ARMS TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND NUMBER FOUR IS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A NEW THING, BUT IT'S A BIG GROWING ONE.
IT'S WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING, WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING, UH, TRAFFICKING.
IF YOU TAKE A, A SNAKE, A REPTILE, A BIRD, UH, A RHINO, A TUSK FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, IT COSTS OVER 2 TRILLION JU A YEAR JUST TO FIX THAT ECOSYSTEM.
WE HAVE A ECOSYSTEM THAT'S JUST RIGHT OVER HERE.
WE HAVE ONE RIGHT BEHIND US, AND THERE'S NO CONSIDERATION INTO THE ECOSYSTEM IMPACT THAT WE GONNA HAVE AT THE LATER TIME OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE.
CAN WE GO BACK AND FIX IT? AND IF WE WANNA GO BACK AND FIX IT, WHAT'S THE COST GONNA BE? WELL, ASIDE FROM THAT IS THE AFFORDABILITY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY AFFORDABILITY FUNCTION OR ANY AFFORDABILITY THAT'S GI BEING GIVEN FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN GOING ON AND ON ABOUT, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND ABOUT HOUSING IN THIS, UH, CITY, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE VANESSA, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST STANDING UP AND, AND, AND TAKING A LITTLE BIT OVER HERE FOR, UH, JOSE, AND I EXPECT SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO HELP HER AS WELL AND HELP EACH OTHER AND MAKING REALLY GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
IF THIS IS THE THING IS YOU, SOMEONE CAN WALK UP HERE AND, AND, AND GET YOU ALL JUICE STUFF ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
UH, BUT I KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, AND LAWYERS KNOW THAT IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
OKAY? UH, JUST A WHILE AGO, I JUST SAW SOMEBODY WALK UP HERE AND THEY HAD A PIECE OF PAPER FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT PAPER THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE PROMISES ABOUT.
CHRISTOPHER BROWN ON DECK IS NO.
SO I'M, I'M, UH, HERE AS A CO-FOUNDER OF
[04:50:01]
THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY AND IS THE NEAREST IMPACTED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.I GUESS I'M THE ONE WHO'S 600 FEET AWAY FROM THE SITE.
UM, WHEN THIS PROJECT CAME UP LAST SUMMER, THE CONTACT TEAM ASKED ME TO GET INVOLVED BASED ON MY FAMILIARITY WITH THE SITE AND THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER.
AND I JUST WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT PROCESS ISSUES, NOT ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE.
I TALKED ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE LAST WEEK, AND I HAVE TO SAY WE SPENT MANY, UH, MONTHS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER WORKING ON A DEAL IN GOOD FAITH.
WE GOT VERY CLOSE WITH THE STOUT PACKAGE OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $750,000 TO GO TO TWO DIFFERENT, NOT THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DARK SKIES AND EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD TALKED ABOUT HERE, THE TALKS ULTIMATELY BROKE DOWN OVER HEIGHT AND DENSITY BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, UNLIKE ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK OUT ALONG THE RIVER CORRIDOR, THIS IS CONTRARY TO WHAT STAFF SAID LAST WEEK, THE ONLY ONE WHERE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS GOING TO BE LARGER THAN THE EXISTING LAND USE, WHILE CODE MAY PERMIT 80% ON THE BOARD AND SITE, THE BOARD PLANT TAKES UP HALF THE LAND.
THE REST IS AN UNOFFICIAL ANNEX TO THE WILDLIFE PRESERVE.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S AT AT STAKE HERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? SO WE WENT TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, AS WE UNDERSTOOD WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WE EXPLAINED IT TO HIM.
HE WAS OPEN AND BALANCED ABOUT IT AND WORKING WITH US ON WORKING OUT A DEAL.
AND THEN WE SHOW UP HERE LAST WEEK AND FIND OUT ABOUT THIS RECUSAL BASED ON A PURPORTED DEAL.
THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE DEAL WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH VERY DIFFERENT CONSERVANCIES THAT HAS THEN BEEN USED TO CAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ TO RECUSE HIMSELF BASED ON HIS PRIOR SERVICE ON THE NONPROFIT, UH, UH, UH, BOARD OF THAT, OF THAT CONSERVANCY.
UM, AS A LAWYER, I HAVE TO SAY, IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE DIRTY TRICKS FROM A, FROM A PROCESS POINT OF VIEW.
UM, MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT DIRTY TRICKS.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO ASK THAT THERE'D BE MORE TIME TO ATTEND TO BOTH THE PROCESS ISSUES AND TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Y'ALL HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
JONATHAN DAVIDSON ON DECK IS NOAH ALIAS.
I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE POINTS ON THIS BOARD AND TRACK.
ONE IS THE DARK SKY ORDINANCE REALLY WOULDN'T BE THAT HELPFUL CONSIDERING THE LITERALLY 20 LANES OF TOLL ROAD RIGHT NEXT TO THIS ARE SHINING DOWN MASSIVE L E D SPOTLIGHTS INTO THIS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A FAKE BENEFIT.
IN ESSENCE, ACCESS, THERE'S ALREADY ACCESS FROM THE RIVERSIDE AND THE C T R PARK THAT THEY BUILT UNDERNEATH THERE, THAT'S WALKABLE FROM THERE.
THAT'S A FAKE COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
UH, WATER DETENTION, THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE SO GREAT AND ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT REALLY IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A PARKING LOT WITHOUT CARS IN IT.
FI AND LOU IS LIKE INDULGENCES FROM THE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE WHERE YOU CAN BUY YOUR WAY OUT OF A PROMISE.
UH, THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK, BUT THEY, THEY MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S MAYBE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVANCY.
UM, THE DOMAIN ON RIVERSIDE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GUERRERO PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER WAS REZONED A FEW YEARS AGO WITH LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT, SIMILAR KIND OF THING.
EVERYONE'S BEEN EVICTED FROM THOSE APARTMENTS.
THEY'RE EMPTY, THEY'RE DERELICT, THEY'RE BURNING OUT.
UM, THERE'S NOW THEY THAT DEVELOPMENT ONCE PART OF GUERRO PARK TO PUT A ROAD.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GIVEN THEM GIVE THEM AN INCH, THEY'LL TAKE A MILE SITUATION HERE.
AND THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE ONLY WILD POINT OF THE RIVER, BASICALLY IN TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MINERAL EXTRACTION AND WATER TREATMENT DOWNSTREAM FROM HERE.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY UNIQUE SITUATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND ALL OF YOU ARE ACTING LIKE THE STATE OF TEXAS HERE, NOT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BY CONSIDERING BUILDING SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT NIMBY OR NOT IN MY BACKYARD.
THIS IS THE ONLY POINT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE THERE IS WILD RIVER.
AND LIMITING THE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS LOT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
TO, TO MAINTAIN THIS TREASURE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS NOE ALIAS ON DECK IS BOBBY LAVINSKY.
UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 92, THE BOARDING TRACK.
UM, AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, UH, THIS AGREEMENT, UH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PAPER, UH, SO WE DON'T CONSIDER IT DONE.
SO I'M SPEAKING, UH, ON THIS AGAINST THIS ITEM BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE COLORADO RIVER AND FOR THE WILDLIFE PRESERVE.
[04:55:01]
FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS SUCH AS, UH, HOUSING FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES, UH, THOSE WORKING FAMILIES THAT MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR.I KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPED DEVELOPER TALKED ABOUT, UM, AFFORDABILITY AT 60 AND 80% MFI.
UH, THAT WOULD NOT HELP, UH, OUR FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU APPROVE THIS DEVELOPMENT, UH, OUR WORKING FAMILIES WHO WILL NOT GAIN ANYTHING FROM THIS, UH, IMAGINE THOSE WORKERS FROM THE BOARDING PLANT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE LAID OFF IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, WHEN THE PLANT CLOSES, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO AFFORD SOMETHING IN THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT? I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MAKE, UH, THEY MAKE BELOW 50% MFI.
AND WILL THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES STILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE COLORADO RIVER AND THE NATURE PER SERVE AROUND THERE? I DON'T THINK SO.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT AND VOTE NO ON THIS CASE.
BOBBY LEVINSKY ON DECK IS MEGAN MEISENBACH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BOBBY LEVINSKY.
I'M WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE AND WE ARE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS CASE.
UM, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT THIS CASE, IT REMINDED ME OF A 2006 CASE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO USE, UM, SORRY, THE CLICKER WASN'T WORKING.
UH, L I P D A ZONING ON EAST RIVERSIDE.
UM, IT WAS TO MODIFY THE CODE REGULATIONS FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT.
THE STAFF AT THE TIME RECOMMENDED DENIAL BASED OFF OF THE CRITERIA THAT'S IN THE CODE.
THEY SAID SPECIFICALLY THE REQUEST IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT'S SOUGHT.
UM, SO THAT IS THE L I ALLY ZONING.
AND IF YOU NOTICE THE SECOND PARAGRAPH THERE THAT IS REFERENCING THE PDA TOOL, WHICH IS, UH, DESCRIBING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR FOR INDUSTRIAL USES AND COMMERCIAL USES, AND TO INCORPORATE THE TERMS OF A PLAN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS ASSOCIATED WITH ANNEXATION.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHILE THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HAVE BROAD DISCRETION WITH ZONING, IT DOES NOT HAVE ABSOLUTE DISCRETION AND YOU ARE CONFINED TO THE ZONING CODE THAT IS ADOPTED.
ONE THING THAT WAS KIND OF BROUGHT UP IN THE DISCUSSION TODAY THAT I HAD A THOUGHT, UM, THIS, THIS PROPERTY WAS REMOVED FROM THE WATERFRONT, AN OVERLAY IN 1986.
THEY HAS A UNIQUE DISTINCTION WITH THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN TOWN, BUT IT HAPPENED HERE FOR AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY.
NOW THAT FACILITY'S LEAVING, ADD IT BACK INTO THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY, IT HAS A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, SALT, THEN WE CAN HAVE ENFORCING, WE CAN HAVE ENFORCEABLE PROVISIONS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I WANNA CAUTION THE COUNCIL HERE BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT YOU ARE SUSCEPTIBLE HERE AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR ATTORNEYS.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO ON OUR END.
UM, THERE'S, UH, SEVERAL CONCERNS HERE AND REALLY, WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS PROCESS WITH CURE.
WE REMOVED KIRA DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WE CAN'T ENFORCE PRIVATE AGREEMENTS.
MEGAN MEISENBACH ON DECK IS MARY ENGEL.
I'M MEGAN MEISENBACH AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND MY FRIENDS.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE BOARD AND TRACK AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN HAVING TO DO WITH PUDS.
THIS IS A PUT RIGHT? OKAY, SO, UM, IT SHOULD PROTECT NO, NOT A POD THAT'S A THE PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT A, WELL, THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN DOES ENCOURAGE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS BE MET WITH THE PROJECTS OF THE STAFF.
DID PUT NO ANSWER IN THIS, BUT WE NEED TO PROTECT THE COLORADO RIVER, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SENS, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS AND PROTECT AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.
AND THE WAY WE COULD DO THIS IS TO REQUIRE A STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE AREA.
IT WOULD BE USEFUL ALSO TO HAVE A STUDY OF WHAT IS UNDERNEATH THE BOARD AND TRACT.
MAYBE IT'S JUST A LITTLE SPILLED MILK, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOME OTHER THINGS TOO.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AUSTIN AND THOSE DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS PROJECT.
MARY ENGEL ON DECK IS BARBARA MACARTHUR FOLLOWING WITH ROY WHALEY.
I THINK I'M ALLOWED AND THAT WILL COME UP LATER.
I'M IN, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE, THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS PROJECT IS TOO MUCH.
IT'S, IT'S TOO MUCH IN SCOPE AND SCALE.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE COLORADO RIVER
[05:00:01]
AND THE DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAT ARE APPLYING.IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT ON THE RACISM SIDE.
I OPPOS I I DO NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING LESS THAN A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACK BUFFER FROM THE PRESERVE.
AND I DO THINK BOBBY LAVINSKY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THIS NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED BECAUSE THERE ARE DENSITY BONUSES, UH, FOR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
WHY WAS THIS PROPERTY TAKEN OUT? IT'S THE SAME COLORADO RIVER.
BARBARA MACARTHUR FOLLOWING ROY WHALEY.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO DONATE TIME TO BOBBY LAVINSKY, BUT THERE WERE NO DONATIONS.
I'VE GUESSED THE AGENDA'S TOO LONG AND WE CAN'T SPEAK.
SO I WANTED TO READ YOU PROCEDURES FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS.
A PERSON MAY DONATE THE PERSON SPEAKING TIME ON AN AGENDA ITEM OR AT A PUBLIC HEARING TO ANOTHER SPEAKER IF THE PERSON DONATING THE TIME IS PRESENT WHEN THE SPEAKER BEGINS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T THINK YOU'VE CHANGED THAT YET.
YOU'RE SAVING THAT FOR JULY 20TH.
I WANT TO SUPPORT BOBBY LEWINSKY'S IDEA TO PUT THIS PROPERTY BACK IN THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
EAST AUSTIN AREAS NEED THE EQUITY THAT THE REST OF THE CITY HAS.
I THINK I'LL TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME.
AND OF COURSE, SIERRA CLUB IS THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.
UM, AND WE, SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE WANT REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE'RE NOT SPEAKING AGAINST THAT ASPECT.
WE DO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF OUR FRIENDS AT PODER AND AT GAVA AND WE SUPPORT THEIR POSITION TODAY AND, AND ON THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, ROY GUERRERO PARK IS RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER FROM THIS.
AND WHILE ACL ENJOYS HAVING THE AUSTIN SKYLINE IN THE BACKGROUND AT ZILKER, I DON'T THINK ANYONE ENJOYS SEEING THE, ANY KIND OF SKYLINE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
AND THERE IS A PRESERVE, NATURE PRESERVE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THIS, UH, AS A BORDER.
BUT ROBERT, UH, CORBIN CROCODILE CORBIN FOR ALL OF HIS GOOD AND ALL OF HIS BAD, HE HAS COLLECTED MOUNTAINS OF TRASH FROM THIS PRESERVE.
IT'S MORE LIKE A LANDFILL THAN A PRESERVE.
BUT EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED TO CANOE THAT OUT OF THERE, THERE'S NO WAY TO GET IT OUT OF THERE.
SO RICHARD, UM, LET'S GO OUT THERE AND PICK UP SOME TRASH AND, AND, UH, MAKE THAT KIND OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF NOTHING ELSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE BIRD GLAZING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR THE STATESMAN, UM, WE ONLY GOT IT UP TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT.
NOW THE BUILDINGS ARE SO LOW THAT BIRDS DON'T BOTHER.
NO, WE STILL WANT THAT GLAZING THERE AND WE DO WANT TO SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS IN EAST AUSTIN.
MY FRIEND, UH, DANIELLE GIANNIS.
AND I'M GLAD THIS IS SECOND READING ONLY.
NEEDS THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT WASN'T DONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MARION COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
AUSTIN BA AUSTIN GAVA STANDS WITH THE RIVER BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS OPPOSED TO ITEMS 92 AND 93 REGARDING THE PROPOSED BOARD AND TRACK DEVELOPMENT.
WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE ABOUT THE LAST TIME YOU VISITED THIS RIVERFRONT AND AS TRIBUTARIES LIKE COUNTRY CLUB CREEK SHARE ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF NATURE, ABOUT THE WILDLIFE YOU'VE SEEN.
IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED, WE INVITE YOU TO DO SO.
WHILE THE EAGLE AND BLUE HERON ARE NOT ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST, THERE ARE FOUR SPECIES OF EAGLES AND 14 SPECIES OF HERONS PROTECTED BY THE MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT OF 1918, INCLUDING THE BALD EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE AND BLUE HERON, ALL OF WHICH ARE IN THE COLORADO RIVER
[05:05:01]
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY.OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, THERE HAS BEEN EROSION ON THE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
MANY FOUGHT TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S WATER QUALITY AS A CITY POPULATION INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.
EAST AUSTIN FOUGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND LED TO CREATION OF THE COLORADO RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WHICH ARE DECISION WILL SERVE TO DESTROY.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ZONING CASES WHERE STUDIES WERE DONE BEFORE BEING PLACED ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
INSTEAD OF BEING PART OF THE PROBLEM, BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR DECISION, ALLOW TIME NEEDED FOR CRITICAL STUDIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAFFIC IMPACT AND WATER QUALITY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
UM, MAY MEMBERS THAT TAKES US TO, UM, WE'RE GONNA NEED A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEMS NUMBER 92 AND 93.
ONCE I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE, WHAT WE WILL DO IS, UM, I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER ON THE MOTION, UH, TO AMEND THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
IS THERE, UM, SO I'M NOT ACTUALLY SURE I WANNA MOVE THIS ON SECOND READING YET.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IF I COULD ASK THOSE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. LEVINSKY DOWN AND SEE IF THERE WAS OTHER INFORMATION YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH US THAT YOU WERE UNABLE TO SHARE WITH US.
UH, NO COUNCIL MEMBER, I BELIEVE YOU'RE RESPONDING TO AN EMAIL THAT SAID THAT WE'D BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE MINUTE.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK, UH, A QUESTION OF MR. SUBTLE.
UM, SO WHILE WE WERE ON THE DIAS, I WAS CHECKING WITH OUR STAFF, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WERE TOLD THAT YOU NEEDED TO DEDICATE LAND FOR CONNECTIVITY PURPOSES.
I READ THE LETTER IS SAYING THAT WERE YOU TOLD IN MEETINGS WITH PAR THAT YOU WERE REQUIRED TO DEDICATE LAND FOR CONNECTIVITY PURPOSES? YES.
SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO DEDICATE PARKLAND.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR STAFF IF THEY CAN EXPLAIN, UM, WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE.
IF IT WAS CS M U INSTEAD OF L I P D A.
I'M, I'M GENERALLY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS USE OF L I P D A AND, AND I'M CURIOUS IF WE CAN GET SOME CLARITY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S YOU JOY OR, OR LEGAL, BUT, UM, THAT WOULD BE ME.
I THINK THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE I WOULD SAY FROM CST, L I PDA THE PDA ALLOWS YOU TO MODIFY SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
SO THE PDA, THE BIGGEST ASK IS THE 120 FEET, WHICH YOU CAN DO UNDER LI PDA, UM, AND UNDER CS, UM, IF YOU HAD CSV, THE UM, HIGHEST YOU COULD GO IS 90 FEET IF YOU DEVELOPED INTO THE V AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE V I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY, THEY SAID CSM U BUT IF YOU DID HAVE CSV, YOU COULD DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GO UP TO 90 FEET IN HEIGHT.
SO THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE I WOULD SAY WOULD BE NI THE 90, THE HEIGHT.
UM, AND THAT'S, UM, A LARGE CONCERN, NOT THE ONLY CONCERN FROM THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT A VERY LARGE CONCERN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.
I, UM, THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS HIGHER ONLY BECAUSE IN THE PDA YOU CAN MODIFY THE APPLICANT'S ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS OVER, I THINK 95.
I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO 75 AND OF COURSE YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, AMEND THAT WITH CS.
BUT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE I THINK WOULD BE THE HEIGHT AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AFFORDABILITY IF YOU DEVELOPED WITH THE V AND, UM, IF YOU WERE ADDING THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY TO EITHER OF THOSE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE HEIGHT? OH MY GOSH.
I, I DON'T, I MEAN THAT, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THOSE WATERFRONT REGULATIONS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, THAT WOULD BE A CODE AMENDMENT, UM, TO PUT THIS PROPERTY INTO THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T JUST, I, YOU CAN'T, STAFF JUST CANNOT, COUNSEL JUST CANNOT, OR, OR STAFF CANNOT JUST ADD IT.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO WHAT THAT ENTAILS AND THEN WHAT THOSE REGULATIONS WOULD BE WITH THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE, UH, CALL FOR A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS NUMBER 92 AND 93? I'LL MOVE IT.
READING A SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN AL ALTER ANY DISCUSSION?
[05:10:02]
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT MOTION THE SECOND PART THAT WAS ON MY MOTION SHEET.UM, WITH ONE CHANGE SO THAT IT REFLECTS THE VEGETATIVE PORTION.
SO IT WOULD READ, EVALUATE THE NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL WE DELETE BUILDING AND THEN WE WOULD SAY SETBACKS.
AND THEN IN PARENTHESES WE WOULD SAY VEGETATIVE OR OTHERWISE.
THAT'S THE MAIN CHANGE OR INCREASED MINIMUM SETBACKS.
CONSIDERING THIS REDEVELOPMENT PROXIMITY TO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND THE CHANGES SOUGHT TO THE BASE ZONING ENTITLEMENT IN THIS PDA RETURNING WITH ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ON THIRD READING MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER HAS MOVED TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION SO THAT IT WILL READ, EVALUATE THE NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL SETBACKS, PARENTHESES, VEGETATIVE OR OTHERWISE CLOSED PARENTHESES OR INCREASED MINIMUM SETBACKS CONSIDERING THIS REDEVELOPMENT PROXIMITY TO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND THE CHANGES SOUGHT TO THE BASE ZONING ENTITLEMENT IN THIS PDA RETURNING WITH ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ON THIRD READING.
IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? YES SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVE, UH, SECONDS.
THE MOTION, UH, MEMBERS IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON YES.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT RIGHT AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR THE AUTHOR OR FOR STAFF, BUT WERE THERE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN UP AT PLANNING COMMISSION? IS THERE SOMETHING WE THINK THEY'VE MISSED? SO I'M, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES, WHICH IS WHY IT'S A SORT OF A GENERAL DIRECTION TO LOOK AT IT.
ONE ELEMENT THAT IS NOT IN THERE CURRENTLY IS A VEGETATIVE SETBACK, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN A BUILDING SETBACK.
UM, AND, AND STAFF CAN PROBABLY EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE TO YOU BETTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER HERE AND SHE CAN SPEAK TO THAT, UM, I THINK BETTER THAN I CAN.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A TRAIL POTENTIALLY, OR WATER QUALITY, SO I JUST HAD IMAGINED PLANNING COMMISSION PROBABLY DISCUSSED IT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE ASPECTS? UH, KATIE COIN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UM, I THINK THAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S AMENDMENT, THE, UH, THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD JUST CLARIFY WHAT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT COULD OCCUR IN A SETBACK.
YOU COULD STILL HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPED.
THERE JUST ISN'T A LOT OF CLARITY ABOUT WHAT MIGHT OCCUR THERE.
UH, FROM PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I KNOW THAT THE DESIRE IS TO HAVE MORE OF A BUFFER, UH, FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PRESERVE.
UH, AND SO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT WOULD OCCUR IN A VEGETATIVE BUFFER VERSUS, UH, A BUFFER BETWEEN THE, THE BUILDING AND THE, THE SETBACK AS, UH, ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
UH, I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT NEGOTIATING WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
AND IS THE APPLICANT OKAY WITH AT LEAST STARTING THOSE DISCUSSIONS? WHAT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID HERE IS THAT IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH A PROCESS GETS UP TO THE DIAS, AND THEN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN HAD.
DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M GETTING AT? YES.
AND WE'RE UNCLEAR THAT THE, THE AMENDMENT WAS SHOWN TO US AS THE HEARING WAS STARTED AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.
CUZ RIGHT NOW THERE'S, THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER THERE'S ANY SETBACK UNDER LA OR MAYBE IT'S 10 FOOT.
WE AGREE TO THE 60 FOOT MM-HMM.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S MORE THAN NORMAL.
SO WE DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR THE AMENDMENT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH CAGE GROUP AS WE ALWAYS DO IN THE SITE PLAN PROCESS, BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T SEE THE AMENDMENT CONFUS.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE PART.
THE DISCUSSION COUNT COUNCILWOMAN.
AND MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND AGAIN, I'M PREFACE THAT WITH, WITH I'M, I'M LATE TO, TO THIS, UH, DISCUSSION, UH, IS THAT THE 60 FOOT SETBACK THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, PUT IN WAS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE, THE, UH, 50 FOOT SETBACK THAT STAFF WAS ASKING FOR.
AGAIN, I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON, ON WHAT, UH, WHAT THE, THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS ARE.
SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M JUST NOT CERTAIN WHERE I, I WOULD I SUPPORT SECOND READING, YOU KNOW, THAT SECOND READING ONLY.
I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING
[05:15:01]
THE, THE, THE SETBACKS AND, AND KIND OF THE, THE NEED TO REVIEW THIS AGAIN OR, OR, OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.I MEAN, JUST TO BE, JUST TO BE FRANK.
UM, SO, UH, ANYWAY, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE, WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND BEFORE I ASK COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER TO CLOSE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HOUSE MEMBER ALISON ALTERED TO CLOSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M REALLY ASKING IS FOR THERE TO BE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN STAFF AND THE APPLICANT TO CLARIFY WHAT CAN BE BUILT IN THAT SETBACK.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A LARGER SETBACK, BUT I HONESTLY HAVEN'T HAD BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE HAD ONE WEEK BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING AND ONLY JUST THEN LEARNED THAT THERE WAS THE RECUSAL.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME WITH EVERYTHING ELSE ON OUR AGENDA TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE.
AND SO I'M ASKING, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN MY GOING OFF AND DOING IT AND WHATNOT, I'M, I'M ASKING STAFF TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT WHETHER THERE WERE ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT WOULD MATTER FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IN THAT BUFFER SPACE.
UM, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT THEY FELT LIKE WE MIGHT NEED TO CLARIFY.
UM, BUT I, WE'RE NOT AT A POINT WHERE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT THOSE ARE.
UM, AND, AND SO WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THEM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, UM, OVER WHAT, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
UM, AND IT WILL HAVE TO COME, YOU KNOW, BACK TO US TO VOTE ON A THIRD READING IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN AGREE ON.
AND IF THEY CAN'T AGREE, OUR STAFF WILL HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT THEY WANT AND WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER WE WANNA ADD SOMETHING, UM, DIFFERENT FROM WHAT, UM, THE APPLICANT HAS SAID.
UM, BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A BUTTS RIGHT UP TO A WILDLIFE PRESERVE.
UM, AND THERE'S POTENTIALLY VERY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE SETBACK IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
THERE'S A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF PART OF THAT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME UNCERTAINTY THERE AS TO HOW THIS WOULD PLAY OUT.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THE FULL ANSWER AND, AND YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE IT BECAUSE WE WERE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON IN THE VERY LIMITED TIME THAT WE HAVE AND, AND, UM, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE, UM, THE APPLICANT CHOSE TO INVEST IN A, AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOUR STAR COLLEAGUE TO RECUSE.
SO I, I THINK IT IS MORE THAN FAIR TO ASK THEM TO EVALUATE IT.
OTHERWISE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WAITING FOR THE THIRD READING.
THE MOTION ON THE PA ON THE FLOOR IS THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA VOTE IN FAVOR.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
WHO ARE WE MISSING? MR. I WAS, I WAS, OH, DID YOU RATE, HOW'D YOU VOTE? FOUR.
SO, AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HOW'D YOU VOTE ON THE AGAINST SIDE? I, I, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER BOTH ALTERS VOTED IN FAVOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA VOTED IN FAVOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES VOTED IN FAVOR.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER IN FAVOR? THERE'RE BEING FOUR IN FAVOR AND FOUR OPPOSED? ONE RECUSAL AND ONE, UH, NOT PRESENT.
THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO PASS THIS 92 AND 93 ON SECOND READING.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I SHOULD ASK FOR DISCUSSION.
DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? YES.
WELL THEN I IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED RIGHT THEN.
WHILE I SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE AND I SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF HOUSING AND CHANGE OF USE, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS READING.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE APPLICANT WORKS WITH THE NEIGHBORS ON THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE RAISED.
YOU KNOW, PERHAPS AS CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE, MAYBE EVEN A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT COULD BE SIGNED.
UM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNKNOWN VARIABLES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN WORKED OUT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT GIVEN THE CONTRIBUTION TO EASTSIDE CONSERVANCY, IT HAS CAUSED OUR COLLEAGUE TO HAVE TO, TO BE FORCED TO RECUSE HIMSELF.
UM, AGAIN, THIS NO VOTE IS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR.
SO I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THIS CASE.
I WAS HOPING WE COULD FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF MY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT
[05:20:01]
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THE BUFFERS.UM, BUT SINCE MY AMENDMENT WAS REJECTED, I, I WANNA MAKE SOMETHING ELSE CLEAR.
UM, THIS CASE HAS TROUBLED ME BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND BECAUSE THE APPLICANT CHOSE TO ENTER INTO PRIVATE AGREEMENT WITH A THIRD PARTY, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS THIS AREA IS RECUSED ON THE CASE.
TYPICALLY, I STRIVE TO BE ATTENTIVE TO THE VOICE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON LAND USE AND DECISIONS IN THEIR DISTRICT.
I MAY NOT ALWAYS DEFER, BUT I LARGELY TRUST EACH OF US TO BE STORED.
FOR THE CONSTITUENTS WE WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
10, ONE WAS ESTABLISHED PRECISELY TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITY VOICE AND REPRESENTATION, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO FELT THEIR VOICES HADN'T BEEN HEARD UNDER OUR OLD SYSTEM.
IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME THAT A ZONING APPLICANT CAN CHOOSE TO ENTER INTO A DISCRETIONARY AGREEMENT WITH A THIRD PARTY THAT RESULTS IN REPRESENTATIVE VOICES BEING SILENCED.
THIS DISCRETIONARY CHOICE BY THE APPLICANT ISN'T ONE THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONTROL, BUT THE RESULTS ARE DISTURBING.
ALTHOUGH I WELCOME THE BENEFITS THAT THE PRIVATE AGREEMENT PROMISES, AND I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION, THIS SEEMS TO OPEN UP A DOOR THAT ANY APPLICANT COULD CHOOSE TO ENTER INTO A PRIVATE AGREEMENT WITH A THIRD PARTY IN ANY PART OF TOWN WITHOUT ANY CONSENT BY THE COUNCIL OR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEREBY LEAD TO A RECUSAL BY ONE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DEEPLY CONCERNS ME, AND I HOPE WE DON'T CONTINUE TO SEE A PRACTICE THAT RESULTS IN THAT TYPE OF OUTCOME.
I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT I HAVE REALLY DEEP RESERVATIONS ABOUT US CONTINUING TO ALLOW MULTI-USE IN L I P D A, UM, SITUATIONS.
I DON'T THINK IT GIVES US THE, UM, THE LEVERAGE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, THE PLANNING AUTHORITY AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UM, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THE MAYOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM FOR MADISON.
UH, THERE BEING SEVEN IN FAVOR OF ALL THOSE INDICATING, UH, THEY'RE VOTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER WITH ONE RECUSAL AND ONE A.
UM, ABSENT THE MOTION PASSES, UH, ITEMS NUMBER 92 AND 93 PASSED THE SECOND READING MEMBERS, WE WILL NOW GO BACK.
MS. HARDEN, HAVE WE COVERED ALL YOUR BUSINESS? I WAS HOPING THAT WAS THE CASE.
[40. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) to create a new density bonus program for residential developments that include income-restricted housing units.]
BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 40.I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER THE SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 40.
AND, AND THEN I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, UH, WHO PULLED THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
WELL, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW THE MOMENT THAT IT'S, UH, MY COMPUTER LOCKS ME OUT, SO I'M, WELL, THAT MAY MEAN SOMETHING.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ITEM.
UH, I, I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 40.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? UH, DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER YOU PULLED, I'M SORRY.
OH, I WAS JUST GONNA LAY IT OUT REAL QUICK.
SO TODAY I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO BRING FORWARD A PLAN I HAVE CALLED OPPORTUNITY UNLOCKED, EVEN THOUGH THE ACRONYM MIGHT BE OU
I MIGHT HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE NEED IT IN ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS ITEM WILL DO.
WE CANNOT BUY OUR WAY OUT OF OUR AFFORDABILITY.
CRISIS OPPORTUNITY UNLOCKED CREATES A SUBSIDY FREE PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE AFFORDABILITY EVERYWHERE.
THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO UNIQUE, AND IT IS GOING TO BE BASED ON AFFORDABLE BEDROOMS, NOT UNITS.
TOO OFTEN WE SEE PROJECTS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS JUST BUILD STUDIOS OR ONE BEDROOM UNITS.
BUT BY TAKING A BEDROOM APPROACH, WE ARE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO SATISFY THEIR AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS THROUGH MULTI BEDROOM FAMILY FRIENDLY HOMES.
WE KNOW DENSITY PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL, AND I'M CONFIDENT WITH THIS PROGRAM AND THE NEW TIER OF AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PASSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES EARLIER TODAY.
UH, WE CAN UNLOCK OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTIN KNIGHTS EVERYWHERE.
AND WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS.
UM, BROADLY SPEAKING, I DO SUPPORT CREATING A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER F FUENTES ADVANCED
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RELATED TO ANOTHER TIER FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ITEM TODAY, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WILL COME BACK, BUT BECAUSE IT TRULY SEEMS TO ME AN INCOHERENT APPROACH TO WALK BACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS FOR MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS ON OUR CORRIDORS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO CREATE A SINGLE FAMILY PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED THE TWO IN OPPOSITION.
ONE IN OPPOSITION IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND ONE ABSTENTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER THE, UH, ITEM PASSES.
[84. Approve a resolution related to authorizing the Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) to exercise its powers within the City.]
ITEM NUMBER 84, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 84.IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR.
I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR LAYOUT OR COMMENTS.
UH, THIS IS THE REVISITATION OF THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO A PUBLIC FINANCE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.
UH, WE HAVE THE FAMILY ELDER CARE PROJECT BEFORE US TODAY.
AND WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS, UH, STAFF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS WEEK, AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
I KNOW MANDY WAS TIRELESSLY POURING OVER A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, AND PLEASURE.
WAS EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ARRIVE IN A SPOT TO BE COMFORTABLE MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND BRING MUCH NEEDED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY AND, AND GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
SO WITH THAT, UH, OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SURE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR AN AMENDMENT.
MR. MERRI, I AM REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THAT THIS, UH, THAT THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT BACK.
WE WERE ADDING, UH, I WANT THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN ALTAR FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AND THANKS TO COUNCILMAN CADRE FOR WORKING AND SUPPORTING US ON THIS AMENDMENT.
UH, COLLEAGUE, THIS AMENDMENT THAT I'M ADDING ADDS THE FRONTIER VALLEY PROJECT LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE AS AN ADDITIONALLY APPROVED DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THIS BECAUSE THE AMENDMENT GIVES STAFF UNTIL JUNE 23RD TO REVIEW AND MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT MEETS CITY STANDARDS.
IF NOT APPROVED BY THIS AGENDA, IT LOSES PRIVATE MONEY AND THE PROJECT DIES.
THIS IS AN APPROVED AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROJECT THAT WILL HELP D THREE REACH ITS HOUSING BLUEPRINT GOALS.
ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED ARE THERE.
UH, TENANT PROTECTIONS, VOUCHERS, DEEP AFFORDABILITY, ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
THAT, AND HAS A LONGER TERM OF AFFORDABILITY, 75 YEARS THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED, UH, FOR, UH, FCS.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 101 UNITS, HALF OF WHICH ARE INCOME RESTRICTED WITH VARIOUS MFI LEVELS, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS, SIX AT 30%, AND 21 AT 50%.
MFI COLLEAGUES ASKED THAT YOU JOIN ME IN APPROVING THIS AMENDMENT TO PREVENT THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FROM LOSING THE FUNDING AND NOT COMING TO FRUITION.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A PROCESS TO REVIEW THESE PROJECTS, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF COMING TO THE TABLE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH ME AND MY TEAM.
UH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD LET A PROJECT WITH THIS SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABILITY, THIS MUCH OF A SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT, UM, FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, NOT ITEM NUMBER 84.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YES, SIR.
COUNT, UH, CHAIR ORGANIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY'S HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REMAIN ON TRACK.
AND, AND I REALLY DO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALT ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THE WORK THAT HIS STAFF HAS PUT INTO IT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A MORE, MORE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND OUR COUNTERPARTS AT TRAVIS COUNTY.
IN THE PROCESS OF THIS RESOLUTION, IT WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT A CLEAR ISSUE, UH, WITH AUTHORIZING DEVELOPMENT, SEEKING A TAX EXEMPTION FROM HE C AND I SHARE THE CONCERNS THAT OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DIOCESE HAVE SHARED.
AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE ARE NEVER PUT IN THIS POSITION TO APPROVE PATSY PFC
[05:30:01]
PROJECTS LIKE THIS.AGAIN, BECAUSE OF MY CONCERNS, I'VE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT, UH, ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS BEING ADDED TO THIS RESOLUTION.
HOWEVER, HOWEVER, UH, MY OFFICE HAS PUT IN THE WORK, UH, TO UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT BROUGHT FORTH BY COUNCIL RIVER VELASQUEZ.
AND I THANK HIM AND HIS STAFF FOR, FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON THIS.
AND, AND, AND THIS IS SPECIFIC AMENDMENT AND HOW THE PROJECT MEANS OUR HIGH STANDARD FOR TAX TAX EXEMPTIONS.
SINCE THIS, SINCE THIS IS AN AFFORDABILITY UNLOCK PROJECT, IT HAS DEEP AFFORDABILITY AND RENTER PROTECTIONS THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE ANY PFC PROJECT TO HAVE.
AND WE HAVE, WE ALSO WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD WILL MATCH THE FULL PERIOD OF THE TAX EXEMPTION.
SO FOR THIS REASON, UH, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT MOVING FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
UH, AND, AND I, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, MELISSA BULER FROM OUR OFFICE OF KIND OF STEERING US THROUGH THIS, THIS STORE, OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT SUPER FAST.
JUST, UH, IF I MAY, WELL, LET'S GO TO COUNCIL.
I'M FIRST, UM, I DON'T CARE WHAT ORDER I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
UM, YEAH, I'LL, HE SITS RIGHT HERE.
HE MAKES SURE I KNOW HE WANTS TO TALK
UM, LET ME JUST SAY PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TODAY, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SAYING ANYTHING.
I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT.
I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MAIN MOTION.
AND I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND I THINK MY VOTES INDICATE I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF HOUSING, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GENERAL, BUT THE ENDS DON'T JUSTIFY THE MEANS.
AND JUST BECAUSE WE ATTACH THE WORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO IT, OR WE ATTACH THE WORDS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T STILL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SCRUTINIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND IT WAS EVEN SUGGESTED TODAY THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD'VE TAKEN ANY TIME TO SCRUTINIZE.
UM, AND WE OUGHT TO BE SCRUTINIZING AT THE VERY SAME TIME BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY.
AND IF WE'RE WASTING MONEY OR WE'RE INVESTING IN SOMETHING, OR ALLOWING FOR SOMETHING, UH, THAT COSTS THE TAXPAYER MONEY, WE GET LESS OF WHAT IT IS WE SAY WE WANT.
SO I'M GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO PUT A PROCESS IN PLACE BEFORE I RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE.
UH, UH, I'LL, I'LL COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I'LL, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY MANAGER.
WELL, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I WAS, UH, I, MY NOTES ARE ABOUT THE, THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, NOT THE AMENDMENT, BUT I THINK SOME OF MY COMMENTS WILL APPLY TO THIS ITEM AS WELL.
UH, WHEN THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK, UH, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE PFCS, HOW THEY WORK AND HOW THEY BENEFIT THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO HOW THEY BENEFIT THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
AND IN GENERAL, WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED IS THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT THAT COMES FROM THESE VEHICLES.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE ATTENDANT PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE FOR THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT.
WITH RESPECT TO ELDER CARE, UH, THERE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY A LOT OF WORK DONE.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A ONE TIME THERE.
UH, THE, AS IT'S PROPOSED, IT WOULD BE A ONE-TIME TRANSFER OF 1.2 MILLION IN TAX SALES, TAX EXEMPTIONS, $300,000 ANNUAL PAYMENT IN EXEMPTIONS OF PROPERTY TAX.
AND, UH, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER, UH, WOULD DONATE THE LAND AND THERE WOULD BE 60 UNITS FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
OUT OF 320% WOULD BE PUB UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
BUT, BUT BECAUSE THAT WORK HAS BEEN STARTED, AND BECAUSE IT IS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE, UH, WE WANT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS, BUT DUR BUT CERTAINLY MOVING FORWARD, WE WOULD WANT A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN WE USED THIS TIME SO THAT WE COULD GET TO THE ANALYSIS THAT THE STAFF IS PAID TO DO, SO THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD ENACT THESE ITEMS. IT UNDERSTANDS FULL WELL WHAT IT, WHAT IT IS APPROVING THE CONCERNS WITH THIS PRO UH, ELDER CARE, THIS PROJECT.
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS DONE WAS THAT THERE'S A, AGAIN, A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT THAT ACCRUES TO THE DEVELOPER.
UH, IT IS IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
UH, AND IT WOULD, UH, AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE, UH, SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT DEALS IN THE, IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY FOR PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
UH, AND WE WOULD NOT WANT THE ACTION TODAY TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR HOW WE WANT TO DO THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE, AS YOU GOT HIM A MEMBER THIS MORNING, IS THAT BECAUSE THE COLLABORATIVE IS A COMPELLING, UH, A COMPELLING WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, WE WOULD, UH, SUPPORT, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE REAL, UH, REAL STREET DEVELOPMENT.
THE THREE, UH, THE THREE TRAVIS COUNTY SUPPORTIVE, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE ALSO IN
[05:35:01]
THE QUEUE ARE VERY SIMILAR.UH, THE D THE STAFF, HOWEVER, DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE, THIS TYPE OF PROCESS SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE NON-COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, WHICH IS ONE OF, ONE OF THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEEN PUT ON THE TABLE TODAY.
UH, WHILE, WHILE WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT, WE THINK ADDITIONAL WORK IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT THE DEAL IS.
AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE AMENDMENT'S BEEN MADE.
WE WANT, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE PROJECT THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA, PLUS THE TWO THAT, UH, WHICH WOULD BE LIFEWORKS AND URBAN LEAGUE, WHICH WE THINK ARE SIMILAR TO THE ELDER CARE.
AND FINALLY, LEMME SAY FOR NEXT STEPS, I THINK WE, WE'VE LEARNED A LESSON IN THAT WE NEED TO WORK, UH, A LITTLE CLOSER WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, THE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROCESS FOR REVIEW FOR THESE P UH, FCS.
AND JUST AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THAT WE WOULD WANT THE, AS WE DO THIS EVALUATION, IT'S WITH THE LENS THAT THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC, UH, UH, HOUSING BLUEPRINT, TENANT PROTECTIONS, ASSIGNMENT OF OWNERSHIP INTEREST AND THE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND STAFF IS GOING TO BE REVIEWING THE GUIDELINES IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WHEN THESE PROJECTS COME FORWARD, WE HAVE A STANDARDIZED PROCESS.
THE LAST THING I'D SAY IS FOR THESE ITEMS THAT ARE, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE COLLABORATIVE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE DOING IMMEDIATELY IS WE'LL BE ENGAGING AN OUTSIDE IN, UH, ORGANIZATION TO DO THESE REVIEWS SO THAT IT'S, UH, SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN BE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING AN UNBIASED AND UNBRIDLED VIEW OF HOW THESE WORK AND HOW THE PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM THAT RESULT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE MANAGER? WHAT ARE YOU POINTING AT? OH, UH, COUNCIL, NO, I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I WOULD ACTUALLY JUST LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF.
UM, I, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AM ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, MY THREE TOP POLICY PRIORITIES ARE HOUSING, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY.
SO I'M NEVER IN OPPOSITION TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THIS ONE, THIS AMENDMENT HAD ME SORT OF GENERALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE I ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE REAL COSTS, AND I NEVER REALLY GOT A CLEAR ANSWER.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, JUST SORT OF GENERALLY, IF STAFF CAN HELP ME BREAK DOWN, HOW MUCH WILL THIS TAX BREAK COST FOR THIS ADDITIONAL PROJECT? MANDY, UH, MANDY DE MAYO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
SO FOR THE ITEM ON THE AMENDMENT, THE 1418 FRONTIER VALLEY, UM, WE DID LEARN ABOUT THIS PROJECT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE, UH, DIRECTION WE GOT FROM COUNCIL WAS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE COLLABORATIVE TRAVIS COUNTY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS.
SO WE SPECIFICALLY PRIORITIZED, UH, THOSE PROJECTS.
WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO DIG INTO, FRANKLY, WHAT THE, UH, TAX, UH, BENEFIT WOULD BE.
AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THE, FOR THE REAL STREET PROJECT, FOR THE FAMILY ELDER CARE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD BE 300 UNITS, UM, IN THE MLK TODD AREA, UM, IN PRESENT DAY DOLLARS, THE TAX BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE ACCRUING TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER IN, UM, TODAY'S DOLLARS E EXCEEDS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO TAKE.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE AND HIS JUDGMENT, BUT I, I HAVE VERY DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY HERE.
I I HOPE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME DIALOGUE HERE THAT I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH THAT MEANS.
LET ME, UH, I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS ITEM, WE LEARNED ABOUT IT EARLIER THIS WEEK.
UH, AS I UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT, IT IS ASKING US TO DO THE REVIEW TO DETERMINE WHETHER IN FACT IT WOULD MEET THE STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD, UH, WANT TO ESTABLISH FOR OURSELVES.
IN TERMS OF PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
IT GIVES US A DEADLINE OF JUNE 23RD, AS I UNDERSTAND, WHICH IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY.
THE, THE DIRECTION WE GOT LAST WEEK WAS ELDER CARE WOULD BE THE ONE YOU'D WANT US TO LOOK AT FOR THIS WEEK, AND THEN GAVE US TILL JULY THE 20TH WHEN WE COME BACK FROM RECESS TO LOOK AT THESE OTHER PROJECTS.
THE REASON WE SAY THAT URBAN LEAGUE AND, UH, LIFEWORKS, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SAME BUCKET AS ELDER CARE, AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WE'RE GONNA ARRIVE AT THE SAME CONCLUSION.
BUT THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH TRAVIS COUNTY PLUS.
AND TRAVIS COUNTY IS BEING A GOOD PARTNER IN THAT THEY'VE PUT IN 50 MILLION FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE WE THINK THIS IS A, A GOOD, UH, SIGN FROM THEM IN TERMS OF HELPING US OUT WITH THIS ISSUE.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION YET, BUT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A TIMEFRAME IN WHICH TO LOOK AT IT.
I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF COUNSEL, IF WE DETERMINE THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED LONGER THAN JUNE 23RD, I'M SURE WE CAN SEND A NOTE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA FINISH WITH OUR ANALYSIS BY THEN.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT DEADLINES THEY'RE FACING.
[05:40:01]
UH, THE, THE, THE DEADLINE THAT YOU MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO, MR. VELASQUEZ OR COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, WE DON'T WANNA BE AGAINST PERMITS FOR HOUSING, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THOSE DECISIONS GET MADE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE, THE, THE NATURE OF THE COMMITMENT IS THAT WE'RE MAKING MR. CITY MANAGER.WELL, I, I JUST, IF I, IF I MAY JUST OFFER JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY ABOUT MY HESITATION, IT REALLY JUST HAS TO DO WITH, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CLARITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE FROM A TAX BREAK PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ALL DAY ABOUT DEVELOPMENT TAX BREAKS AND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE ULTIMATELY TO US AS A CITY AND TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE IF YOU DON'T KNOW, AND THE MAYOR DOESN'T KNOW, AND SETH DOESN'T KNOW, THEN WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MY HESITATION IS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, I'M, YOU AND I, GENERALLY SPEAKING HERE, ALMOST ALWAYS IN DIRECT ALIGNMENT, MY SINGULAR CONCERN IS I DIDN'T GET ANY REAL NUMBERS AND NOT WORKING WITH REAL NUMBERS IS CRITICAL.
IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS AND THE TAX BREAKS, WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND ANSWER FOR THAT.
SO IF IT TURNS OUT THAT, TO THE POINT OF SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS EARLIER, WHICH THEY WERE HEAVILY CRITICAL, UM, RIGHTFULLY SO.
I, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS MOVING FORWARD AND FEEL PROUD OF THE DECISION WE MADE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, AGAIN, MR. MAYOR, I, I'D JUST REITERATE THAT, THAT WE DID, UH, WE DID SPECIFICALLY WRITE INTO THERE THAT, UH, THAT STAFF WILL HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY THE THE TIMES REVIEW, BUT ALSO THE, THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER ITUNE GONNA BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
I THINK IT'S, IT IS, UH, MERITORIOUS.
I KNOW THIS KIND OF STARTS TO RISE TO THE QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO GRAPPLE WITH AS A, A DIOCESE THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER BROUGHT UP ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE THIS PFC TOOL FITS INTO OUR BROADER AFFORDABILITY GOALS AND DISCUSSIONS.
MY QUESTION, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MANDY OR A ROSIE QUESTION, BUT WE HAD A DISCUSSION AT ONE POINT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, AND, AND I ASKED YOU ABOUT AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED BEING POSSIBLE WITHOUT A SUBSIDY.
AND, AND YOU SAID THAT IT WAS DESIGNED NOT TO BE.
AND I WANTED TO, FIRST, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT PARAPHRASING YOU, THAT THAT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT.
UM, SO WHEN AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED WAS CREATED AS A PROGRAM, IT WAS REALLY DESIGNED TO ENHANCE, TO INCREASE THE ENTITLEMENTS TO PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY RECEIVING A SUBSIDY, TYPICALLY THROUGH THE LITECH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
UM, AND MAYBE WITH SOME GAP FINANCING FROM, UH, THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER.
UM, IT WAS NOT ANTICIPATED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UH, THAT THE TAX BREAK WOULD BE THE ACTUAL SUBSIDY.
UH, SO THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT THERE, THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CHEW ON.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE 77 TO DATE.
WE'VE HAD 77 AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED APPLICATIONS.
ARE WE COLLECTIVELY WILLING AND ABLE TO OFFER EVERYBODY, UM, UH, A TAX EXEMPTION ON ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS? UM, IT, IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S PART OF THAT LARGER POLICY CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE.
UM, I WILL SAY WITH THIS PROJECT, IT IS, UH, OFFERING THAT IT MEETS THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED REQUIREMENTS.
AND IT CERTAINLY OFFERS A, A RANGE.
UM, THERE IS NO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO BE CLEAR, BUT IT OFFERS A RANGE OF AFFORDABILITY ON HALF OF THE UNITS.
IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
UM, THEY ALSO HAVE SUBMITTED A RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE APPLICATION, UM, TO FURTHER SUBSIDIZE THE PROJECT.
UM, WE NEED TO ANSWER INTERNALLY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL WHEN THESE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, WHETHER IT'S A TAX BREAKTHROUGH, A, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A SUBSIDY OR DIRECT SUBSIDY OR INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS.
LIKE WHEN IS ABSOLUTELY TOO MUCH.
AND, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I AM ULTIMATELY WANTING TO SUPPORT THIS IS, AND I THINK THE APPLICANT CAN SPEAK TO IT IF WE WANT, BUT THEY DO HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR RHODA APPLICATION IN THAT THEY ARE NOT, THEY'RE GONNA PULL BACK.
I APPRECIATE THAT SUBSIDY FREE, BUT FOR THE PFC, LET'S NOT, I'M NOT GONNA CHARACTERIZE THAT THAT'S NOT A SUBSIDY.
IT IS THAT, THAT IS THE SUBSIDY IN THE GAIN HERE.
SO I THINK AS WE DISCUSS THIS POLICY, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE
[05:45:01]
CLASS OF DEALS THAT DO HAVE LITECH OR BOND DOLLARS OR SOME OTHER VERY HEAVY, HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED IN, IN THAT FORM.OR WHAT DO WE GET OUTTA DEALS THAT ARE COMING WITH NO PUBLIC DOLLAR EXCEPT FOR THE PFC, WHICH IS A, A RICH PUBLIC DOLLAR.
LET'S, I'M NOT, UH, TRYING TO, TO SAY OTHERWISE.
AND SO WHAT, WHAT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY DO WE NEED? YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK IT'S MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A, A VERY RICH, UH, BENEFIT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING 30% UNITS IN HERE, WHICH YOU ALMOST, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE WITHOUT A SUBSIDY.
SOME, SOME FIFTIES, SOME SIXTIES.
SO, UM, I JUST, I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
AND HOPEFULLY SINCE Y'ALL HAVE DONE THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED AND SMART HOUSING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT, YOU DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEAD START, A RUNNING START.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT ALL THE DETAILS OF THE DEAL YOU WANT, BUT, BUT IT'S, UH, NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE EVER SEEN IT.
AND SO, WELL, I THINK, LET ME, I, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE, THE, THE ISSUE ON, AND NOT JUST, NOT TO PICK ON THIS PROJECT, BUT IT'S REALLY THIS, THE, THE WAY THIS, UH, WHOLE THE, ALL THIS ISSUE HAS UNFOLDED.
UH, THERE IS, THERE IS A, THE REASON WE HAVE A HOUSING STAFF THAT IS, IS KIND OF SCHOOLED IN THESE PROGRAMS IS MY PREFERENCE WOULD'VE BEEN FOR WEEKS AGO, MAYBE EVEN MONTHS AGO, FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN SITTING DOWN WITH THEM AND SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE SOME ISSUES HERE.
HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO GET DONE.
HERE'S HOW THE TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY IS WORKING.
HERE'S HOW THE COLLABORATIVE'S DOING.
HERE'S HOW THESE THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE COLLABORATIVE ARE WANTING TO GET DONE.
UH, WE WANT TO USE THE VEHICLE OF, UH, PUBLIC FACILITY, UH, FCS AND I, AND SO, SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT PUTS THE STAFF IN A REALLY DIFFICULT POSITION, UH, RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S ROLL WITH SOME OF THESE.
AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO BE FLEXIBLE AS WE CAN ON THE ON, AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO SHOW ON THIS MEMO THAT WENT OUT THIS MORNING.
BUT I REALLY WOULD URGE ALL OF US, AND WE, AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS A STAFF TOO, TO RAISE OUR HANDS AND ASK THE COUNCIL, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND US THE FILES SO WE CAN GO TO WORK ON IT? AND, AND IF WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THAT, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF DOES COME TO YOU.
IF THEY'RE COMING TO YOU, SEND 'EM TO US SO WE CAN START WORKING WITH THEM AS SOON AS WE CAN.
AND, UH, AND ON THIS ITEM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S BEEN, YOU'VE GIVEN US SOME FLEXIBILITY OF THE 23RD THAT'S JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY.
THAT'S GONNA BE A REAL TOUGH TIMELINE.
BUT IF WE'VE GOTTEN THE COMPLETE, IF WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORITY TO SAY NO, THEN, THEN, ALRIGHT.
I MEAN, WE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, AND I, I'M A LITTLE, I'M UNEASY ABOUT THAT, BUT I, BUT I'M OKAY DOING THAT.
AND SO, UH, SO WE CAN, SO WE CAN PROCEED THAT WAY.
BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF AVOID HAVING THE STAFF BE PUT KIND OF IN THIS, UH, IN THIS REAL, IN THIS REAL UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION BECAUSE WE WANNA SUPPORT YOU GUYS FOR THE POLICY DIRECTIONS THAT YOU WANT AND NOT SEEM TO BE THAT WE WANNA BE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET ACHIEVED.
I GO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE MAYOR PRO TEAM, I THINK HEADS YOUR HAND UP.
AM I WRONG? I THINK I DID, BUT MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
ALRIGHT, YOU CAN TAKE ME OFF THE LIST.
I AS UP THERE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE ME.
I, I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES, BUT MY HAND IS UP.
CITY MANAGER FOR YOUR COMMENTS THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD STILL LEAVE THE AUTHORITY WITH STAFF BECAUSE AS WE WERE, UH, CONSIDERING COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S RESOLUTION LAST WEEK, THERE WERE SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT CAME UP AS PART OF THAT RESOLUTION, INCLUDING ONE IN MY DISTRICT AND ONE IN COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOL'S DISTRICT.
I HEARD FROM SEVERAL HOUSING JUSTICE ADVOCATES WITH A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT OUR PFC PROCESS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE COUNTY AUTHORITY.
THERE'S A LOT THERE TO UNPACK.
UM, AND OUT OF CONSIDERATION OF WHERE STAFF WAS AT WITH THEIR WORKLOAD AND CITY MANAGER.
WHAT I HAVE ASKED, AND I GUESS I WANT SOME ASSURANCE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE 7,800 BURLESON CASE WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT JULY 20TH TIMEFRAME.
AND THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S SMART HOUSING THAT HA THAT IS LOOKING FOR A CONSENT FROM THE CITY.
UM, THEY HAVE A SITE PLAN COMING IN AUGUST AND WANT TO BREAK GROUND SHORTLY AFTER.
SO THEY ARE PRETTY FAR ALONG IN THE PROCESS.
AND I WILL ASK, UH, LEAH BOJO HERE, THE APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, HERE SHORTLY TO COME UP TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS, FEELS LIKE A ZONING CASE, BUT SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, SO CITY MANAGER OR, UH, YEAH, MAY I, THE, AS LONG AS WE CAN GET ALL THE INFORMA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON ELDER CARE AND, UH, AND IT MAY BE IN ANOTHER ONE, WE GOT A PIECE OF INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR HOUSING PROGRAM, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL PICTURE MM-HMM.
NOW OUR APPLICATION DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT IT DOES.
NOW THAT IS, WE ARE NOT GONNA GO FORWARD WITH ANYTHING TILL WE UNDERSTAND THE FULL MAGNITUDE OF WHAT IS TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA FIX THAT PROCESS SO THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT HAP SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
[05:50:01]
EIGHT AT THE SOUP TO NUTS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.THEY WOULD NEED TO COME IN AND SIT DOWN WITH, UH, WITH ROSIE AND HER STAFF AND JUST LAY ALL THE, GET ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE.
AND SO WHEN WE MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS, DOES IT MAKE SENSE? AND I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL, UH, HAS TO CONSIDER IS WHEN, WHEN YOU DO HAVE A, UH, PUBLIC RESOURCES BEING USED MM-HMM.
UH, SO SOME OF THESE, AT LEAST AS I REMEMBER IT WAS 25% PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING AND THE BALANCE WAS ALMOST MARKET-BASED HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ONE COULD ARGUE THAT WHETHER WE'RE REALLY HAVING THE ATTENDANT PUBLIC BENEFIT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND I THINK, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO SCRUTINIZE IT.
WE HAVE TO EVALUATE IT AND WE'LL BE AS FAIR AS WE CAN.
I GUESS I'M, WHAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE A PRECEDENT IS BEING SET WITH THIS AMENDMENT, AND I DID NOT ADD MY AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE REVIEW OF 7,800 BURLESON.
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THAT COULD BE HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
BUT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PRECEDENT BEING SENT, I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE 7,800 BURLESON CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THAT JULY 20TH TIME PERIOD.
AND I, AND I, BECAUSE I, I, I FORGOT SUBMIT, WE ARE GONNA HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THESE EVALUATIONS SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE STAFF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN MEET SOME TIMELINES.
AND CERTAINLY THOSE COME, BUT WE, THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND START VISITING WITH US ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD, 7,800 BURLESON IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO HAVE CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED, UM, THAT ARE IN NEED OF AN, AN IMMEDIATE REVIEW.
UM, SO IT IS ONE OF THE FOUR THAT, UM, THAT I KNOW OF THAT WOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR THE 20TH.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT? YES.
MAY YOU RECOGNIZE ME? REMEMBER? YEP, I DID.
DIRECTOR TRULOVE, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GOT THE RED MEMO
UM, I WANTED TO ASK, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, IT BRINGS ME EVEN GREATER CONCERN.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S ONE THAT I THINK I HAVE IN MIND THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS DENIED THIS GAP FUNDING IN DISTRICT ONE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS IN DISTRICT ONE THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT I NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR IN THAT NEXT MEETING? I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE I'M LOOKING AT MANDY.
I'M, THERE'S NOT ONE IN DISTRICT ONE THAT WAS A P F C DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN DENIED TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
UM, SO I MIGHT NEED BIG AUSTIN TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
THAT WAS NOT, THAT WAS NOT A P F C DEAL THAT WAS DENIED.
THAT WAS, UH, A RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.
I'VE MET WITH YOUR STAFF ON THIS.
UM, WE ABOUT, WE DIDN'T IN FACT DENY IT OUTRIGHT.
WE SAID THAT WE NEEDED, UH, THAT IT, IT WASN'T AT THE RIGHT POINT FOR US TO COME IN WITH OUR INVESTMENT.
WE TRIED TO, WE TRIED TO AUTHORIZE INVESTMENTS ON, UH, RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS AT THE RIGHT POINT FOR THE, THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
AND AFTER CONSULTATION AND, AND REVIEW OF THAT PARTICULAR PACKAGE, IT WAS NOT, WE'RE NOT AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY FOR OUR DOLLARS YET.
UM, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT JUST MAKING REFERENCE TO PFC DOLLARS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ANY GAP FINANCING THAT GOT DENIED THAT COULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM TAX BREAKS LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, THI THIS, I THINK IT OPENS UP THE CONVERSATION WAY WIDER FOR ME.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD ON THIS? YEAH.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE LARGER POLICY CONVERSATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, PERHAPS THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE IS THE APPROPRIATE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT TOOL IS RIGHT AT THE RIGHT TIME IS DIRECT SUBSIDY.
RIGHT? FOR THIS PROJECT IS A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION, RIGHT.
FOR THIS PROJECT, OR INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS.
A LOT OF THESE, UH, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO STAND ON THEIR OWN MM-HMM.
BUT THE IMPACT IS BEING FROM A TAX PERSPECTIVE IS BEING FELT BY OUR TAX PAYERS.
SO FOR WHAT IS WORTH MANAGER, IF I MAY, UM, AND ONE OF OUR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS, I'D LOVE TO, UM, FOLLOW UP ON THIS.
IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, LIKE I'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY, I FIND IT PROBLEMATIC THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE CONTINUED EDUCATION WHERE WE ARE SPECIFICALLY BEING EDUCATED ON THESE ITEMS. THERE ARE OTHER TWO CITIES THAT ARE DRAWN BETWEEN SIX AND 12 HOURS OF REQUIRED LEARNING AROUND THESE KINDS OF ITEMS. I THINK BECAUSE IT IS SO TRICKY, AND TO DIRECTOR TRU LOVE'S
[05:55:01]
POINT AND TO AMANDA DE MAYO'S POINT, I, I THINK SOME OF THIS STUFF IS SO COMPLEX THAT IF WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTIVELY COMPREHENSIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALOGUE, I THINK TO SOME DEGREE WE MIGHT BE OFFERING OUR CONSTITUENTS A DISSERVICE BY JUST NOT KNOWING MORE.I, I CONSISTENTLY WANT US TO DEFER TO STAFF.
THOSE ARE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE HIRED TO DO THE WORK, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR ACTIONS ARE.
AND SO I'LL JUST REMIND US OF THAT.
I I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ALONG THESE LINES.
BUT THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, THAT, AND MAYBE IT'S JUST ME, MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO'S RAISING MY HAND SAYING, I NEED MORE TUTELAGE CUZ I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
I WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND JUST GET A BETTER IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS TO MY DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS ARE HERE.
CLEARLY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE.
CAUSE IT HIT THE WAY IT HIT, WHICH CAN BE ARGUED AS NOT THE WAY THINGS OUGHT TO HIT US IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER OF HARVARD MEDICINE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE DETAILS AND CERTAINLY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DETAILS OF THE DEALS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED.
UH, YOU, YOU MIGHT EVEN ARGUE THAT THINGS THAT ARE OFFERED WHERE YOU DON'T GET TIME TO LOOK AT 'EM OR THINK ABOUT 'EM ARE NOT DEALS WE OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED IN.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THIS IN, IN ANY EVENT, BUT THE, THE, YOUR COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARVARD MADISON IS A GOOD VEHICLE.
HAVING AT SOME POINT, MAYBE, UM, A WORK SESSION THAT DEALS WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY AFTER STAFF HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE THE VERY SPECIFIC DEALS THAT WE'RE NOW BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON.
I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, AND I'M GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE ITEMS. OKAY.
UH, CAN WE HAVE LEAH BOJO PLEASE, UM, COME TO THE FRONT.
MY QUESTIONS ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXACTLY IS AT STAKE WITH THIS PROJECT.
THAT REQUIRES A A TWO WEEK REVIEW KNOWING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CITY HAS COMMITTED TO REVIEWING THE OTHER CASES BY JULY 20TH.
WHAT PARTICULAR, WHAT ARE THE DYNAMICS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE DYNAMICS OF THIS PROJECT, OF THIS PROCESS ARE THAT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL TO, TO AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZATION THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND STAFF APPROVAL BY THE END OF JUNE, WE CANNOT CLOSE ON THE PRIVATE FINANCING THAT MAKES THE PROJECT POSSIBLE.
SO, UM, WE DO HAVE A SMALL RHODA APPLICATION IN FOR GAP FUNDING, WHICH WE HAVE COMMITTED TO STAFF AND, AND SEVERAL OF YOU THAT WE CAN PULL DOWN, WE DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
BUT THE TAX EXEMPTION THAT COMES WITH THE P FFC IS THE SUBSIDY FOR THE RENTS.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT ASSURANCE, WE CANNOT, THE LENDER WILL NOT CLOSE AND THE CLOSE HAS TO HAPPEN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
AND SO THAT IS WHY THE VERY FIRST QUESTION WE WERE ASKED WAS, CAN YOU WAIT UNTIL JULY 20TH? I WISH WE COULD BECAUSE THAT WOULD'VE MADE ALL OF THIS MUCH, MUCH EASIER.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IN THIS SITUATION, WE CANNOT.
AND SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU AT THIS MEETING TO MAKE THIS APPROVAL CONDITIONAL UPON STAFF REVIEW.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH, AND ONLY JUST UNTIL THE 23RD SO THAT WE HAVE TIME TO CLOSE ON THE PRIVATE MONEY, WHICH IS THE FINANCING FOR THE DEAL, SO THAT THIS PROJECT CAN BUILT, CAN GET BUILT.
IT IS HAS A SITE PLAN APPROVED, IT HAS CONSTRUCTION PERMITS, IT IS READY TO MOVE DIRT.
UM, WE JUST HAVE TO CLOSE ON THE LAND AND, AND GET THESE LAST COUPLE OF PIECES.
IT IS A, IT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE, UM, TIMING ISSUE, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS PROJECT COMPLETED.
AND ABSENT THIS AMENDMENT PROPOSAL, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE TO SECURE THE FINANCING? I MEAN, THE, THE PROJECT DIES.
WHO, WHO'S YOUR, WHO'S PROVIDING YOUR FINANCING, YOUR PRIVATE FINANCING? ONE YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S PROVIDING YOUR FINANCING? MY, MY CLIENT IS RIGHT HERE,
MARION COUNCIL MEMBERS? UM, WE ARE, WHO, WHO ARE YOU? I'M SORRY.
MY NAME IS CHRIS ATO, I'M WITH HEARTWOOD REAL ESTATE GROUP.
UM, I'M THE DEVELOPER THAT WOULD BE, UM, BUILDING THIS PROJECT.
WHO, WHO'S PROVIDING YOUR FINANCING? YOUR PRIVATE? WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOAN FROM HAPPY STATE BANK, WHICH IS A LOCAL BANK, AND THAT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER HALF OF IT.
AND THE BALANCE IS FROM, IT'S THE LOCAL BRANCH OF A, OF A, OF A BANK IN HAPPY TEXAS.
AND, UH, AND AND THE BALANCE OF THAT IS FROM PRIVATE EQUITY OUT OF A GROUP FROM, UM, OUTSIDE OF
[06:00:01]
PHILADELPHIA.WHEN DID YOU FIRST APPLY FOR THE PRIVATE FINANCING WITH HAPPY BANK? UH, BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
AND SO, AS FAR BACK AS SEPTEMBER, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE GONNA NEED SOME, A SUBSIDY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN BEFORE YOU COULD CLOSE ON THAT PRIVATE FINANCING? UH, WE WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR A SUBSIDY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT THAT POINT.
WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, SSY AT THAT POINT.
SO IF I COULD, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SSY FOR, FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, I KNOW THAT I DON'T, THERE'S A LOT, I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANNA, UM, TRY TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHO OR WHERE, UM, THINGS STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A WHILE.
HATS E HAS BEEN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS MEETING WITH CITY STAFF.
I DON'T, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE PARTICULARS OF PROJECTS WERE GOTTEN INTO, BUT, UM, WE, WE FELT WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS THAT WE HAD THE TIME.
UM, AND THEN BASICALLY THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT NOW.
AND SO THAT, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T, IT'S NOT THAT WE STARTED LATE OR, YOU KNOW, OR INTENDED TO, TO TRY TO DO THIS, UH, UH, AT THE END.
IT'S THAT WE STARTED IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE A TIMELY MANNER.
MA'AM, THE MOTION IS, UH, TO AMEND.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITH TAKE YOUR HONOR.
UH, PLEASE SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER ABSTAINING.
UH, AND THE AMENDMENT, UH, IS ADOPTED.
THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ON ITEM AT NUMBER 84.
IS THERE, I'M SORRY, MAY I ASK THE QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU BEFORE? PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, SO THERE WERE SOME RECENT STATE, UM, LEGISLATION TRYING TO ADDRESS ABUSES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT LEGISLATION WAS ABOUT AND WHAT IT DOES? SURE.
UM, FCS OR PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, THEY HAVE IN RECENT YEARS BECOME VERY POPULAR, UH, BECAUSE OF FRANKLY, UH, ABUSES, UH, ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, WHERE, UM, PFCS ARE, UH, GIVING AWAY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS.
UM, FOR LITTLE TO KNOW, FRANKLY, COMMUNITY RETURN.
UM, WE HAD, UH, A, A PROFESSOR, UH, AT THE UT COMMUNITY LAW CLINIC, UH, DID A REPORT ON FCS, UH, THAT REALLY STIRRED THE LEGISLATURE TO CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE AND TIGHTEN THE PFC LEGISLATION.
THE REPORT CAME OUT, I THINK, TWO YEARS AGO, RIGHT AFTER THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UM, THE LEGISLATION ACTUALLY PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS, UM, UH, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
UH, AND IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO BE SIGNED, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SEEING, UM, A LOT OF THIS, UH, ACTIVITY, UM, AROUND, UH, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT A LOT OF PFC PROJECTS THAT WE HAD NO IDEA WERE ACTUALLY IN THE WORKS.
SO FROM WHAT YOU KNOW OF THIS LEGISLATION, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A LAWYER, WOULD, WOULD THESE PROJECTS QUALIFY UNDER THE LEGISLATION? SO SEVERAL OF THE PROJECTS HAVE CHANGED.
THEIR, UM, UH, UH, HAVE ASSURED US THAT THEY WILL MEET THE NEW LEGISLATION, THE PRIMARY, THERE'S MULTIPLE, UH, ASPECTS OF THE NEW LEGISLATION.
BUT ONE, AS AN EXAMPLE, THE OLD PFC STATUTE ONLY SAID THAT 50% OF THE UNITS NEEDED TO BE AFFORDABLE AT OR BELOW 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
AND THE REST COULD BE MARKET RATE.
WELL, AS YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE, ACROSS A CHUNK OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, 80% MFI RENTS ARE EFFECTIVELY MARKET RENTS.
SO WE WERE GIVING AWAY, UNBEKNOWNST TO US, UH, TAX EXEMPTION FOR EFFECTIVELY A MARKET RATE DEVELOPER.
THE NEW PFC LEGISLATION, UM, REQUIRES THAT 10% OF THE UNITS, UH, BE IT 60% MFI.
UM, AND I WILL SAY WE WERE APPROACHED COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, THERE IS A DEVELOPER WHO IS INTERESTED IN, UH, OR IS FAR ALONG IN A DEVELOPMENT, 7,800 BURLESON.
WHEN THEY FIRST APPROACHED US, THEY HAD A STANDARD PFC, UM, THE 50% AT 80%.
UM, ONCE THE PFC LEGISLATION, UH, PASSED, THEY ADJUSTED THEIR, UM, MFIS AND NOW IT'S 10% AT 60% TO CONFORM, UH, WITH THE NEW PFC LEGISLATION, 40%, UH, AT 80%.
AND IF THEY DO 10% AT 60%, THEY GET PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ON ALL A HUNDRED PERCENT.
ONLY IF, BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, IT NEEDS AUTHORIZATION SPECIFICALLY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR HAKA.
AND I SHOULD SAY MIKE GERBER, WHO'S THE CEO OF HAKA, IS HERE, UH, SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HAKA.
BUT IN ORDER TO PROCEED, THEY NEED THAT EXPLICIT AUTHORIZATION.
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POSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY RECENTLY THESE HAVE COME TO LIGHT, UM, WHERE IT HASN'T FOLLOWED A, A, A PROCESS THAT, UH, UH, IS HELPFUL TO STAFF.UH, CUZ IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REVIEW THE DETAILS OF THE DEAL AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND, AND IT, IT, IT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR ME, AND I HOPE THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE'RE GONNA GET MORE CLARITY ON THIS.
UM, I HAVE WAY MORE QUESTIONS THAN WE CAN GET TO TODAY, SO I'M GONNA ABSTAIN.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT I AM NOT IN, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE, UM, MOVING FORWARD TODAY.
AND, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, MY VOTE DOESN'T MATTER.
UM, BUT I, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED AND AS CHAIR OF AUDIT AND FINANCE, I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, UM, VOTING IN FAVOR OF THAT TODAY WITHOUT THOSE QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.
UH, IT MAY END UP BEING MORE THAN ONE NO.
OF, OF, OF LEAH THE APPLICANT.
DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOUR CLIENT HAS A CONTRACT TO SELL THIS PROPERTY? NO.
MY CLIENT IS, DO YOU NOT KNOW? NO, NO.
SORRY, MY CLIENT DOES NOT HAVE A CONTRACT TO SELL.
HAS YOUR CON HAS YOUR CLIENT BEEN TALKING WITH ANYBODY TO TALK ABOUT FLIPPING THE PROPERTY BUSINESS PARTNER? MM-HMM.
THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY IS OWNED BY MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I, UH, AND WE WILL BE TRANSFERRING IT TO A JOINT VENTURE WITH OUR EQUITY PARTNERS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SELLING IT TO TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND SO WE'RE NOT FLIPPING IT, WE'RE DEVELOPING IT.
THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED IS BEFORE US.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, SHOW COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA CADRE, UH, FUENTES AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM VOTING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE YOU SEE ME BETTER.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO.
UM, ALRIGHT, THAT HANDLES ITEM NUMBER 84.
[78. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) related to deadlines and submittal dates for zoning and rezoning applications.]
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ALSO HAD HER HAND UP.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SHE NEEDED.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON? YES, PLEASE, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO HESITANTLY, UM, MAKING MY YES VOTE.
I STILL HAVE DEEP CONCERNS AND I UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE.
I STILL HAVE SOME VERY DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT I, I APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, IT, IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON ITEM 78.
UM, I, I PULL THIS ITEM JUST TO ASK A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS FROM STAFF, UH, AS AN OFFICE RE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CONCERNS FROM PLANNING, UH, AND ZONING STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS ITEM LATE YESTERDAY.
SO IF, IF STAFF COULD COME UP, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UH, TO ASK.
UM, HOW IS THE FIRST BE IT RESOLVED, UM, DIFFERENT OR SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL JUST INITIATED FOR FLA AMENDMENTS, WHICH ALLOWED FLA AMENDMENTS TO BE FILED YEAR ROUND? THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A CONCERN AROUND WHETHER ACCEPTING ZONING REQUEST ON STARTING DAYS WILL EXTEND THE PROCESS OF REVIEW.
SO IF WE COULD GET CLARITY ON THAT.
VERONICA RISO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UH, SO THE FIRST VIEW RESOLVED, I BELIEVE SPEAKS TO THE RECEIPT OF ZONING APPLICATIONS ONE DAY A WEEK.
UH, OR I APOLOGIZE, IT DOES NOT SPEAK TO THAT.
AN APPLIC CAN PROVIDE THEIR APPLICATION ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
HOWEVER, ONE DAY OF THE WEEK WE WILL PROVIDE AN INTAKE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND MAKING STAFF ASSIGNMENTS.
IT SIMPLY IS, UH, A PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT FORWARD, UH, TO ADDRESS WORKLOAD ISSUES.
AS WE HAVE TALKED MANY TIMES BEFORE THE DIAS, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT STAFFING, UM, VACANCY RATE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND WE HAVE, AND I WILL LEAN TO OUR DIRECTOR ON PLANNING TO JUMP UP AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT OUR STAFF ARE AVERAGING ABOUT 50, UH, ZONING CASES.
A PERSON THAT'S A VERY HEAVY WORKLOAD AND NOT RECOMMENDED AS A,
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UH, THE RIGHT WORKLOAD.SO OUR HOPE IS, IS IF AS A MANAGER, IF THE MANAGER'S ABLE TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ZONING CASES AND DIVVY THEM UP IN A EQUITABLE WAY, THAT WILL HELP WITH STAFF WORKLOAD AND STAFF WILL KNOW TO PREDICT THAT ON THAT DAY OF THE WEEK IS WHEN THEY'RE GONNA RECEIVE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AS OPPOSED TO RECEIVING AN ASSIGNMENT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
BUT AN APPLICANT CAN SUBMIT A ZONING, UH, APPLICATION ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND THEN WE, WE RECEIVED CONCERN FROM IN OUR OFFICE ABOVE THE THIRD DEADLINE UN UNDER THE PILOT PROGRAM REGARDING AN APPLICATION EXPIRING.
IF A COMMISSION HEARING HAS NOT BEEN FILED, HOW WILL, HOW WILL THAT WORK? UM, YOU KNOW, I, THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT, AND I THINK ANYONE OF US WOULD WANT IS OUR COMMISSIONERS TO FEEL PRESSURE TO SUPPORT OR MOVE ON A PROJECT, UH, THAT IS NOT READY OR NOT GOOD JUST BECAUSE THE APPLICATION WILL EXPIRE.
IT IS ACTUALLY THE, THE OPPOSITE.
SO RIGHT NOW, OUR CONCERN, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF OUR SHORT STAFF, THERE IS A, UM, THERE'S TIMELINES IN THE CODE FOR ITEMS TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COME BEFORE COUNCIL.
WE ARE NOT MEETING THOSE DEADLINES BECAUSE WE ARE JUST, FRANKLY SHORT STAFFED.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MEET SO THAT THEY DON'T EXPIRE AND THE ZONING CASE CAN GO ON, WE'RE PLACING IT ON A, UH, AN AGENDA AND THEN POSTPONING IT.
THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE APPLICANT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWING FOR ENOUGH TIME FOR THE FULL PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, AND THEN WE CAN BE VERY UPFRONT WITH EVERYBODY ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
SO WE'RE EXTENDING THE PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
I'VE GOT TWO MORE QUESTIONS THEN, I'M SURE.
UM, SO I IMAGINE WE'LL RECEIVE A FULL PRESENTATION IN, IN DETAILED EVALUATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
IS THAT, IS THAT SAFE TO SAY? ABSOLUTELY.
AND IF I COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT, THE, THE REASON WHY WE'RE PROPOSING A PILOT PROGRAM YEAH.
SO THAT GIVES US TIME TO STAFF UP TO DO THINGS LIKE WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE.
UH, INCLUDING HIRING CONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH OUR BACKLOG.
WE HAVE A, AN EXISTING BACKLOG OF ZONING CASES RIGHT NOW THAT NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED, FRANKLY.
UM, SO THAT YEAR PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
AND IN THE YEAR ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL GIVE YOU A FULL EVALUATION AND THE DECISION MOST LIKELY WILL BE TO, TO, TO STEP OUT OF THAT PILOT PROGRAM.
IT MAY NOT, MAY BE, BUT WE WOULD DO THAT WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO THE, THE EVALUATION AND THE PRESENTATION WOULD JUST HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION, UH, WILL ANY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT BE DONE, UH, DURING OR AFTER THE PILOT? UH, YES.
WE CAN CERTAINLY, WE HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD THE INTEREST IN HAVING STAKEHOLDER, UH, INPUT.
WE WILL DO THAT, WE CAN DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE, THE PROGRAM AND WE ALSO WILL DO IT, UM, AT THE END.
AND I, I HAVE COMMITTED TO SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS THAT IF AT ANY POINT WE SEE THIS AS NOT REALLY WORKING TOWARDS THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT, WHICH IS REALLY TO ALLEVIATE STAFF'S, WELL, NOT ALLEVIATE THE WORKLOAD, BUT REALLY GIVE THEM A GOOD SENSE OF THEIR, SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR WORKLOAD.
IF THAT IS NOT THE OBJECTIVE MET, THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A, AS A DI ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO AND STAFF DOES.
I MEAN, STAFF DOESN'T GET DONE IN THIS BUILDING WITHOUT OUR STAFF AND THEN CITY STAFF AS A WHOLE.
SO, UH, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? OH, YES, SIR.
UH, I, I A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT 78 TO, TO ADOPT ITEM 78.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 78.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 78? I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO OBJECT.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 78 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[83. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to identify shortages in shelter bed capacity and navigation services by population served and geographical location, identify cost scenarios to increase shelter capacity and navigation services, utilize the Homeless Strategy Division’s findings and recommendations from its assessment of the general homeless shelter system when identifying shortages and cost scenarios, and report back to Council.]
83.I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, UH, AS THE MEMBER WHO PULLED ITEM NUMBER 83.
AND I WILL MAKE THIS SUPER QUICK.
I JUST WANTED TO PULL IT AND I THINK EVERYONE HAS OUR VERSION TOO, IN FRONT OF THEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES, THE INTENTION OF THIS, IF C AROSE, UH, FOR MANY COMMUNITY PROVIDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, NOTING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF FAMILIES BEING EVICTED AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OVER THE PAST YEAR, URGING FOR SERVICES FOR THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY AND THE TREND OF INCREASING DISBURSEMENT OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SHOWN BY THEIR RECENT POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA.
NOT ONLY WILL IT ASSESS GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS AND POPULATIONS SERVED IN NEED OF INCREASED SHELTER CAPACITY, BUT ALSO LOOK AT NAVIGATION CENTERS.
THIS RESOLUTION IS REALLY TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICERS SHELTER ASSESSMENT REPORT THAT WILL BE RELEASED THIS MONTH AND GET COST SCENARIOS FOR THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPORT.
AS I SAID, VERSION TWO WAS DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING, AND I JUST SAID IT HAD TWO MINOR CHANGES.
THE FIRST WAS TO INCLUDE POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES TO THE COST SCENARIOS, AND THE SECOND WAS TO HAVE A WORK SESSION STATUS BRIEFING ON JULY 18TH.
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UH, I JUST WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL PUENTES, COUNCIL VELASQUEZ COUNCIL, MARLA COUNCIL RYAN ALTER.UH, AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MARK FUENTEZ, WHO BROUGHT FORWARD A BUDGET WRITER LAST YEAR TO INITIATE THE SHELTER ASSESSMENT, UH, REPORT.
UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, I, I, UH, YEAH, I PUT IN A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 83.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY MOVES TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 83 IN VERSION TWO THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 83? WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 83 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEMS 53 AND 54.
[53. Consider a recommendation related to prioritizing initiated amendments to the City’s Land Development Code.]
53 CAME FROM THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ON ITEM NUMBER 53.
I, UH, ALMOST, UH,
UM, COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD THE VERSION TWO OF THE MOTION SHEET THAT MY STAFF DISTRIBUTED ON THE DAIS.
HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE A COPY.
IF YOU DON'T, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
UM, WE MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH THE PRIORITIZATION AS OUTLINED IN THE JUNE 5TH MEMO TITLED, UPDATE ON THE TIMING OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS, AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIZING AND ORGANIZING CURRENT AND FUTURE POTENTIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS FOR THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HOUSING.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO, IF I MAY, JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I REALLY JUST WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK WITH OUR COMMITTEE.
I'M EXCITED AND HOPEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT WE WILL GET DONE TOGETHER THIS FALL AND NEXT YEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 53 AS SET FORTH IN VERSION TWO, WHICH WAS HANDED OUT IN AS PART OF THE BACKUP.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER? I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TIM.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM IN WORK SESSION WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE MORE GENERIC SPREADSHEET THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER HAD CIRCULATED BEING THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO BE USING.
UM, THIS SEEMS TO REFERENCE THE MEMO, SO HOW ARE WE GONNA BALANCE, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REFLECT EACH OTHER, BUT HOW, WHICH DOCUMENT ARE WE GONNA BE TAKING UP IN HOUSING AND PLANNING MOVING FORWARD? IT, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, I'LL LET HER ANSWER, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT THIS ACTUALLY HELPS DO IS USES THE MEMO AS THE STARTING POINT FOR WHERE WE GO.
AND SO WHEN WE TAKE THIS UP POTENTIALLY IN HOUSING AND PLANNING, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT, THE GANTT CHART THAT WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT ON TUESDAY, UM, AS OUR WAY OF PRIORITIZING COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YOU DID.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ARTICULATION AND I ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS, UH, YOU TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW WHAT A GANTT CHART IS,
I THINK THAT WAS A VERY APPROPRIATE AND IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THAT DIALOGUE.
BUT YES, MAYOR, YOU ARTICULATED PERFECTLY EXACTLY WHAT MY INTENTION IS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT IF, IF, UH, VICE CHAIR AL ALTER HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, UM, HE CERTAINLY CAN BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE IN ALIGNMENT THERE.
FOR THE RECORD, HE IS SHAKING HIS HEAD, INDICATING HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY DISPUTE.
UH, IS THERE ANY, UH, OTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER? UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THERE YET, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE, SO I'M JUST GONNA ABSTAIN ON THIS.
UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ON ITEM NUMBER 53, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 53? WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 53 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING.
[54. Approve a resolution relating to the Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative and initiating changes to the existing Colony Park Planned Unit Development that is generally located in the vicinity north of Loyola Lane between Johnny Morris Road and Decker Lane.]
54, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.I'M BEING, I AM BEING VERY 46 TODAY, UH, AND NOT FINDING MY ON MUTE BUTTON.
SO COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD THAT THE MOTION THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD, THAT MY STAFF HAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE DAY IS THE MOTION SHEET SAYS THAT I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION AND BACKUP.
I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT WE ARE FINALLY TAKING THIS BIG STEP TO PROVIDE THE LONG PROMISE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES.
THE COLONY PARK AND LAKESIDE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN PROMISED.
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THIS PUT AMENDMENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THANKS TO THE COMMITMENT FROM OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE STRIKE TEAM THAT HE ESTABLISHED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR MO, UH, SECONDS.
THE MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 54 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE THAT IS LOCATED IN YOUR BACKUP.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION? THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.
[58. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance repealing City Code Section 9-4-41 relating to barbed wire fences, amending City Code Chapter 25-2-899 (Fences as Accessory Uses) relating to fence design, and creating an offense.]
ITEM NUMBER 58 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, ON THIS ITEM, WE WILL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL CALL ON STAFF TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
DO WE NEED A STAFF PRESENTATION? I DON'T THINK SO.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, PLEASE.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, UNLESS THE MAYOR, OR UNLESS THE COUNCIL DESIRES, I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL COMPELLED TO GIVE YOU A FULL PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL DIRECT YOU TO THE STAFF MEMO THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE BACK UP YES.
TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, IS I'LL TURN TO THE, UH, CITY CLERK AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE BEING NO ONE TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I JUST WANTED TO MOVE MY MOTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
CAN I, YEAH, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE'RE GONNA COME TO THE ACTION ITEM.
UH, THERE BEING NO ONE TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 58, THE MAYOR PRO TIM IS RECOGNIZED ON ITEM NUMBER 58.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION VERSION TWO WITH THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDED IN WHAT I HAD POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND WHAT'S BEEN CIRCULATED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO TIM HAS MOVED.
WE ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 58 IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION VERSION TWO WITH THE, UH, CHANGES THAT WERE MADE ON THE SHEET THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED, UH, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL.
ALTER CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 58.
I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT KELLY AMENDMENT ONE, AND THEN I CAN SPEAK TO IT IF I GET A SECOND.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE, UH, BEEN PROVIDED KELLY AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, UH, AND YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MAYOR PRO TIM, I'LL JUST FLAG THAT IN.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S ABSENCE, SHE HAD LED ON THIS INITIATIVE ORIGINALLY YEAH.
AND HAS PROVIDED SOME CONTENT AND, AND BACKUP FOR FOLKS WHO WISH TO, TO SEE MORE OF IT THERE.
THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 58 AS AS PROPOSED? YOU, YOU'RE OBJECTING
UH, I WOULD, UH, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE, UH, HOUSING, UH, OR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT, UH, BEING CONSIDERED.
UM, WE'LL DO THAT BEFORE WE VOTE, PLEASE.
I WISH YOU HAD SAID THAT IN THE OFFICIAL COMMENT.
UH, JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT ON THE RECORD WHILE WE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
UH, FROM A HISTORIC PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE, THE PROPOSED REVISION COULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT SUBSET OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
UM, AND IT'LL DENY THEM THE ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL SIX MONTHS AGO.
UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, NUMBER ONE, CONSIDERS THE SAFETY OF A VAST MAJORITY OF PROPERTIES WHILE ALSO ALLOWING, UM, HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONTINUE MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTY'S HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
UM, I'LL VO WELL, I'LL, I'LL NOT COMMENT COUNCILMAN MORALE AND ALTER.
NO, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY STAFF BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL THIS.
THAT'S, UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF, RIGHT? I THINK WE CAN EITHER GO INTO THIS OR WE CAN, UM, PASS IT ON FIRST READING THE WAY WE HAVE IT AND TAKE IT UP IN JULY IF WE WANNA, IS THIS COUNCIL MEMBER POOL YEAH.
ITEM THAT WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD,
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AND I THINK SHE HAS THE DEEPEST AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE ON IT.UM, AND SHE'S NOT HERE, SO MAY, MAY APPROACH HIM.
AND MIGHT JUST OFFER THAT WE COULD STILL MOVE FORWARD TODAY KNOWING THAT THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE, YOU KNOW, A COMMISSION FROM TAKING UP THESE NICHE CONVERSATIONS IN IT.
UM, I KNOW THE INTENT WAS JUST TO GET THE SAFETY PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED.
NOW, UM, IF IT GETS TOO CONVOLUTED, WE COULD DO FIRST READING OR POSTPONEMENT, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN INTENT THAT IF OTHER FOLKS NEEDED TO TAKE UP PIECES OF THIS, THAT NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED IN A MORE METICULOUS MANNER, THAT THAT DID NOT PRECLUDE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER FOR THAT, I, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE HAVING COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AVAILABLE SINCE SHE DOES HAVE THAT VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND WE CAN LEAN INTO THAT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO POSTPONE TO JULY 20TH, UH, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, AND THAT IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 58 UNTIL THE JULY 20TH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? NO.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? ANY DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND OPPOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU'RE OPPOSED? UH, SHOW COUNCILMAN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I'M SORRY.
HOW DO YOU VOTE? COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.
I DID IT AGAIN THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY.
MY KIDS ARE GONNA MAKE SO MUCH FUN OF ME.
UM, THE, THE MOTION, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 58 TO JULY 20TH, 2023 IS ADOPTED WITH THE MAYOR PRO 10 BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
[88. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20221201-056 (Corridor Overlay District) to incorporate the full extent of the roadways described in Resolution No. 20220609-066.]
EIGHT.WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, BUT I WANT TO INVITE ERICA LEAK UP, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 88, PLEASE.
UH, ERIC LEE, PLANNING DEPARTMENT JUST VERY QUICKLY, UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE.
WELL, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ABOUT CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 1 2 0 1 DASH OH FIVE SIX QUARTER OVERLAY DISTRICT TO INCORPORATE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE ROADWAYS DESCRIBED IN RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 22 0 6 OH 9,066.
AND THESE CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED TO CORRECT ROAD SEGMENTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFIED OR NOTICED THE FIRST TIME, UH, THIS ORDINANCE WAS CONSIDERED.
DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. LEE? I'LL CALL ON THE CITY CLERK TO LET US KNOW WHETHER ANYONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 88.
THERE ARE NOT ANY SPEAKERS, MAYOR, THERE BEING NO SPEAKERS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 88.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT.
I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 88.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO.
TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 88? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 88? HEARING NONE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION MEMBERS, I BELIEVE THAT COVERS EVERYTHING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA.
UNLESS SOMEBODY OBJECTS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
OH, BY THE WAY, FOR THE RECORD, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK.