[00:00:05]
[ Call to Order]
I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 31ST.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.
I WILL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
UH, THE FIRST THING I WILL DO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS I WILL GO THROUGH
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, AND I'LL READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD.ITEM NUMBER 29 IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023.
ITEM 38, POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2023.
ITEMS 59 64, 71, 73, 75, 1 0 6, AND 1 0 7 WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ADDENDUM ITEMS. ITEM 76, POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023.
NOW, MEMBERS ON YOUR SHEET THAT'S BEEN HANDED OUT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 78 IS NOT LISTED, BUT ITEM NUMBER 78 IS COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S ITEM THAT HE INDICATED AT THE WORK SESSION WAS WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 86, WHILE NOT IN RED ON YOUR SHEET, IS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S.
ITEM THAT HE INDICATED WAS WITHDRAWN.
IT SHOULD READ PUBLIC HEARING ITEM TO BE TAKEN UP WITH ZONING ITEMS NUMBER 1 0 8 AND 1 0 9.
THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
UH, THE ORDER FOR THE DAY IS THAT WE WILL START WITH, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, WE WILL THEN VOTE ON THE CONSENT ITEMS WITH BRIEF REMARKS FROM COUNSEL MEMBERS.
WE WILL HEAR SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND A H F C WHEN THE ITEM IS TAKEN UP.
UH, EXCEPT FOR THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS THAT I JUST, ME BECAU, UH, MENTIONED BECAUSE THOSE ARE, THERE'S JUST A LIMITED NUMBER OF THOSE, UH, THE TIME.
I'M GOING TO EXPERIMENT WITH TIME BEING DONATED FOR UP TO FOUR MINUTES FOR A SIX MINUTE TOTAL.
SPEAKERS THAT ARE WISHING TO DONATE TIME NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO BEING CALLED ALL PARTIES.
AND THAT MEANS SPEAKERS AND THOSE THAT ARE DONATING TIME MUST BE PRESENT IN PERSON TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DONATION OF TIME.
UM, SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE IN IN THAT WAY.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DO IT, WE WILL CONDUCT THE A H F C MEETING AS CLOSE TO 10 30 AS WE CAN.
IT CAN'T BE BEFORE 10 30, BUT WE'LL DO THAT AS CLOSE TO 10 30 AS WE CAN.
UM, ON ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, UH, THAT ARE PULLED, I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, THAT THE WAY WE APPROACH THESE, SO I THINK WE CAN HAVE A BETTER DISCUSSION AND BETTER, UM, MAYBE GIVE THE PUBLIC A BETTER FEEL FOR WHAT IT IS THEY'RE COMMENTING ON, IS IF IT'S A STAFF ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT'S BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, OR IF IT'S AN AN ITEM FROM COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO FIRST ASK THE STAFF OR THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO, TO BRIEFLY LAY OUT THEIR ITEM AND SAY WHAT THE ITEM ACTUALLY DOES SOME, BECAUSE I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES THERE'S CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMING TO GIVE THE COMMENT ON, UH, BECAUSE THEY, THEY THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S THE ITEM'S ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT.
SO I'M GONNA ASK THAT COUNSEL, UH, LAY THOSE OUT IF WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE TODAY.
UH, I WILL COORDINATE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT SOME POINT, UH, IN HERE.
UM, AND, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ZONING AT TWO.
OF COURSE, AT NOON, WE WILL HAVE OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL HAVE MUSIC.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO OUR 10 O'CLOCK,
[Public Comment (Part 1 of 2)]
UH, CONSENT ITEMS AND, UM, NON-CONSENT ITEMS FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON.AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL ON, UH, THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO BE RECOGNIZED.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK CLARIFICATION JUST FOR ABUNDANCE OF PUBLIC, UH, AWARENESS FOR ITEM 86, THE RESIDENT COMMERCIAL.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT TO THE COMMITTEE, HAVE A DISCUSSION THERE, AND THEN WE WILL, UH,
[00:05:01]
ASSUMING THAT THAT DISCUSSION GOES WELL, UH, THEN REPOST IT FOR A LATER MEETING.SO I, 'CAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE WHO SIGNED UP FOR THAT, SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS THERE.
SO, SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE? OKAY, ONE SECOND.
UM, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, WHAT WAS SAID AT THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY WAS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER WAS GONNA TAKE THAT ITEM.
IT WAS GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND WORK THROUGH THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.
AND ONCE THAT'S DONE IT WILL BE RESET.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S EXPLAINING.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE ON THAT ITEM, THAT'S THE WAY THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME CLARIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF WHY 82 WAS WITHDRAWN.
THAT WAS TO PRIORITIZE STAFFING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE AERIAL FIRE TRUCK.
UM, IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER CONVERSATIONS AND REVIEWING TRANSCRIPTS THAT WE HAD GIVEN DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER DURING THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
THEREFORE, THE RESOLUTION WAS NOT NEEDED.
AND CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT? UH, YES.
UH, THAT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT DIRECTION WAS PROVIDED TO US.
AND SO AS, UH, TIMING OF THAT TRUCK AND DELIVERY, WE'LL NEED TO ASSESS THE, THE, THE STAFFING NEEDS AT THAT POINT AND WHERE THE, WHERE THE AREA WILL BE DEPLOYED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THE TIME.
NO, THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR REMINDING ME.
I, I TOLD YOU WE WOULD DO THAT AND I, AND HAVE HIM COMMENT ON THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
ALRIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THOSE TO SPEAK.
FIRST SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON ITEMS 77 78, 86, 88, 1 0 3, AND 1 0 4.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA UZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA.
ZA, THANK YOU FOR WITHDRAWING ITEM 77 AND 78.
THANK YOU FOR POSTPONING ITEM 86, MOVING IT TO THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
OCTOBER AGENDA, ALLOWING MORE TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND THE COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD.
ITEM 88 SOUNDS GOOD TO SUPPORT, BUT IT IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE LACKING TEETH FOR ENFORCEMENT.
WILL IT APPLY ONLY TO RECCO PROPERTIES? IF SO, DOES THAT INCLUDE MOBILE HOMES? A D HOW WILL THE CITY HOLD SLUMLORDS ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE AND AREN'T PUTTING THE ONUS ON TENANTS? AVA SUPPORTS ITEM 1 0 3 AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FOLLOWING EDIT CHANGE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY SIZE DOWN TO THREE PLUS UNITS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF SLUMLORDS.
INCLUDE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES INCLUDE MOTELS, EXTENDED DAY LODGING WHERE THERE'S EVIDENCE THE PROPERTY IS SOMEBODY'S HOME VERSUS JUST TEMPORARY LODGING FOR PEOPLE VISITING AUSTIN.
I'M NOT SURE THE BEST WAY TO WORD IT, BUT I KNOW IT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN DISTRICT FOUR GOVE OPPOSED TO ITEM 84.
IT'S CLEAR FOR THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
IT ONLY BENEFITS THE DEVELOPERS AND THERE ARE NO ASSURANCES OF AFFORDABILITY FOR RESIDENTS.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT IT'S TAKING DEVELOPERS INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT NOT VOLUNTEER CONTACT TEAMS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS TO A LATER DATE, ALLOWING TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND COLLABORATION WITH ALL CONTACT TEAMS. IF YOU AREN'T WILLING TO DO THAT, THEN AT LEAST PULL IT FOR DISCUSSION AND CALL ON ANY CONTACT TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT IN CHAMBERS THIS MORNING, OR THOSE OF US WHO HAPPEN TO BE ON THE PHONE, ALLOW US TO CALL BACK IN FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA EPSTEIN.
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86.
HELLO? UM, I'M BARBARA EPSTEIN AND I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86, BUT SINCE IT'S BEEN POSTPONED, I DON'T NEED TO MAKE MY COMMENTS TODAY UNLESS YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR THEM.
OKAY, WELL, OKAY, WELL, I I CAN GO AHEAD AND GET IT 'CAUSE I'VE GOT IT HERE AND I CAN GO AHEAD AND PRESENT IT.
JUST GIMME A SEC TO GET TO IT.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD AND GIVE MY COMMENT.
MS. S EPSTEIN, BEFORE YOU CODIFY ITEM 86.
TO ACHIEVE AFFORDABILITY THROUGH DENSITY, PLEASE REPEAL THE ORDINANCES THAT STILL MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT, DETACH SINGLE STORY GARAGES AND LARGE LOT GUEST COTTAGES TO ADUS.
I'M BEING TOLD THAT'S WORKED ON, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING PUBLICLY ABOUT IT.
ALSO, AT LEAST FINE AUSTIN'S 19,757, VACANT HOUSE OWNERS, OTHER CITIES DO DO
[00:10:01]
TIMELY CODE ENFORCEMENT, NOT THE 19 YEARS OF NOTICES.TWO HOUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GOT FIX AGING WATER, SEWER, AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE YOU CRAM MORE DENSITY ONTO IT.
REMEMBER, WE LOST 6.9 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER FROM LEAKS IN 2022.
BLAND APARTMENTS, BARS, NO TREE CANOPY, STRAIGHT LINE, PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT DOESN'T REDUCE CONGESTION OR AIR POLLUTION OR GET PEOPLE TO RIDE.
IT WON'T ATTRACT LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND WORKERS.
IT WILL OBLITERATE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CITY WE'VE LOVED.
FINALLY, I HOPE THAT YOUR RESPONSE TO ME ISN'T OKAY.
WE LET HER SPEAK NOW, LET'S DO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYWAY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TRANSITION TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX, FOLLOWED BY JIAO PAOLO JIAO.
PAOLO CONNOLLY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
UM, TAYLOR JACKSON, ITEM 26, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE PUBLIC.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M TAYLOR JACKSON, THE C E O FOR THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 23.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MCKINSEY REPORT IS KEY TO MODERNIZING OUR SITE PLAN PROCESS AND RESPONDING TO AUSTIN'S BOOMING HOUSING DEMAND.
IT TAKES ABOUT 18 MONTHS FOR A SITE PLAN TO BE APPROVED, AND THAT'S JUST FOR A FOUR UNIT PROJECT.
ONCE YOU ADD CONSTRUCTION TIME, IT COULD BE UP TO EIGHT 30 MONTHS TO FINISH A PROJECT AND HAVE FOUR FAMILIES A PLACE HAVE FOUR FAMILIES CALL PLACE HOME.
THESE EXCESSIVE TIMELINES RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER OVERHEAD COST FOR A PROJECT AND IMPACT THE FINAL COST OF A HOME.
WE KNOW THAT AS COSTS INCREASE, MORE FAMILIES WILL BE PRICED OUT.
IN FACT, EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS A HOME INCREASES IN GREATER AUSTIN, OVER A THOUSAND FAMILIES ARE PRICED OUT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME.
REDUCING OVERHEAD COSTS DUE TO A LENGTHY SITE PLAN PROCESS WILL REDUCE THE COST PASSED TO ON TO FUTURE HOMEOWNERS WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORT.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT TIMELINES ARE CLEARLY SET WITH THE END GOAL OF SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING TIMELINES.
WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT STAFF HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION WORK.
AFTER MCKINSEY'S CONTRACT ENDS IN SIX MONTHS, WE WISH TO SEE CONSULTING SERVICES EXTEND THROUGH THE LIFESPAN OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR ROY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SINO AND THEIR TEAMS FOR BEING SO DILIGENT AND OPEN TO STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.
AND AS STAKE STAKEHOLDERS, WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO ASSISTING IN ANY WAY THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR WORK TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING NEEDS HERE IN AUSTIN.
ROY WHALEY, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 88 BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I WORK FOR REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL COLE, AS AND LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR.
IN THE PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
OUR OFFICE FILED HOUSE BILL 25 92, WHICH WOULD'VE GUARANTEED AIR CONDITIONING TO EVERY APARTMENT UNIT IN TEXAS, ALONG WITH SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS FOR A LANDLORD TO FIX SLASH REMEDY AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FROM THE ALREADY REQUIRED SEVEN DAYS TO FIVE DAYS.
AS BILL WAS INSPIRED BY A CONSTITUENT OF OURS WHO REACHED OUT TO ME LAST SUMMER WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING FOR A FULL WEEK IN THE MONTH OF JULY, THANKS TO OUR OFFICE IN A K X A N INVESTIGATION INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, THE CONSTITUENTS AIR CONDITIONING WAS FIXED, BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN THIS WAY, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH EASIER FOR THE TENANT TO GET THEIR AIR CONDITIONING FIXED BY THEIR LANDLORD INSTEAD OF HAVING TO CALL THEIR, THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE LOCAL MEDIA TO PUT PRESSURE UPON THAT LANDLORD.
WHILE OUR BILL DID NOT MAKE IT VERY FAR IN THE PROCESS, AND WE KNOW THIS WAS IN PART DUE TO OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL FROM THE TEXAS APARTMENT
[00:15:01]
ASSOCIATION, THIS IS AN ISSUE OUR OFFICE IS STILL WORKING DILIGENTLY ON AT THE STATE LEVEL.AIR CONDITIONING IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT UTILITY WE CAN HAVE HERE IN TEXAS, AND IT'LL BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AS OUR SUMMERS CONTINUE GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER.
THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP TO HAVE IN A MEASURE LIKE THIS IN AUSTIN, AND FOR THE CITY TO JOIN HOUSTON AND DALLAS, WHICH HAVE SIMILAR ORDINANCES IN PLACE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AND ON A QUICK SIDE NOTE, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PROTO ELLIS AND HER OFFICE, UH, FOR THEIR WORK, UM, IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WITH HELPING MY MOTHER WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH AIR CONDITIONING AT HER APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UM, I ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE, FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FOR THIS ITEM.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
MY NAME'S MARIO CANTU, I'M CHAIR OF THE SOUTH CONGRESS CONTACT TEAM.
UH, ITEM 1 0 4, UH, IS, HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AT, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION AND I DID ASK FOR SOME INSIGHT, FEEDBACK AND PROS AND CONS IN REGARDS TO THAT ITEM.
UH, BEING OUT OF TAKING THE OUT OF CYCLE PART OF 1 0 4 AND ALLOWING APPLICANTS JUST TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, SUBMIT WHENEVER THEY WANT.
UH, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, AS CONTACT TEAMS WITHOUT, WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE MANY CONTACT TEAMS THAT IMPACT THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IN EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISTRICT.
UH, SO WE SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHY THIS WAS BEING CHANGED, UH, WHO INITIATED IT, UH, WHAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT, AND THE PROS AND CONS FOR US AS A CONTACT TEAM IN SOUTH CONGRESS.
THE APPLICATIONS COME IN FOR US IN FEBRUARY, UH, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE SUBMITTED IN FEBRUARY, WE RECEIVE THEM THROUGHOUT THAT TIME OF THE, OF THE YEAR, AND WE GO AHEAD AND WORK OFF OF THOSE APPLICANTS THAT SUBMIT THAT, UH, APPLICATIONS AT THAT TIME.
IT MAKES THINGS REALLY EASIER.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE'VE HAD OUT OF CYCLE WHERE AN APPLICANT HAS COME OVER TO US AND ASKED US, CAN I SUBMIT, UH, AN APPLICATION.
AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM AND THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE WE HAVE NOT, UH, HONORED THAT.
AND THE REASON FOR NOT HONORING IT IS BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, CURRENTLY, LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX CASES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE.
AND SO IF WE KEEP ADDING TWO OR THREE OR MORE AT A TIME, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.
I I CAN FORESEE THAT IF THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF, UH, APPLICATIONS COMING IN, UH, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TEAM.
BUT THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER AS WELL IS THAT WHAT, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT'S A CONTACT TEAM AREA.
IT'S JUST THAT AREA FOR THE CONTACT TEAM.
IT'S NOT THE BROAD AREA OF ALL OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN OR NORTH AUSTIN OR EAST AUSTIN.
IT'S FOR THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS CONTACT TEAM AREAS.
SO I ASK TO PULL THAT IF YOU CAN AND LET US, UH, KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
MAYOR, I'M JUST GONNA CALL THE NAMES AGAIN, JUST IN CASE.
UM, A FEW OF THEM HAVE SINCE ARRIVED.
MA'AM, HAVE YOU, DID YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK? YEAH, I WAS CALLED, BUT I DIDN'T GO TO
DEBORAH MILLER, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL HELP YOU MS. PATE, WOULD YOU PLEASE GO OVER AND, AND MOVE ONE OF THOSE CHAIRS AND THAT WAY YOU CAN SPEAK AT THE MICROPHONE WITHOUT HAVING TO BE AT THAT ONE.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU.
WELL, WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY TOO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, MA'AM.
MY NAME IS DEBORAH HARMON MILLER.
I'M AN AUTHOR AND A COLUMNIST FOR THE CHALLENGER THE STREET NEWSPAPER.
FOR THE LAST YEAR, I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AUSTIN BY WHEELCHAIR.
MY NEW BOOK CALLED, IT'S GONNA BE CALLED DEBBIE DOES AUSTIN BY WHEELCHAIR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT HAVING AN ESCORT SERVICE, WHICH IS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE LEARN TO GET OUTTA THE HOUSE AND USE THEIR WHEELCHAIRS TO GO TO CHURCH, TO SHOPPING AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU A JOKE.
DO YOU KNOW WHY OLD BLUE HAIRED LADIES WEAR LONG SKIRTS? IS BECAUSE ALL THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE PORTA-POTTIES ARE IN ROUND ROCK? UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UM, THE CHARGING STATION HERE, IF WE HAD A THREE-PRONG OUTLET, WE COULD ACCESS OUR WHEELCHAIRS AND CHARGE 'EM.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS THAT MEDICARE AND OUR INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY FOR BATTERIES.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO HELP ME WITH A WHEELCHAIR, UH, RECORD PROGRAM WHERE WE TEACH PEOPLE, UH, AND WE EMPLOY PEOPLE WHO HA WHO DRIVE WHEELCHAIRS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
IF WE WANT TO GO TO ZERO EMISSIONS, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE A GAS POWERED VEHICLE DRIVE
[00:20:01]
AROUND AN ELECTRIC POWER VEHICLE THAT CAN BE SELF-DRIVEN.ALREADY THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE.
IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR AND KNOW ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE AND THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
UM, I WANNA, THE REASON I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THIS ISSUE, I'M IN DISTRICT SIX.
I LIVE IN THE ONLY DRIVE-IN SHOWER FOR A WHEELCHAIR, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MY AREA OF TOWN.
I'M VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN HOPING THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR A D A APARTMENTS IN THESE NEW APARTMENTS.
ALL OF THE NEW LOW INCOME HOUSING WILL NOT ALLOW SENIOR TO MOVE IN EVEN TO A STUDIO APARTMENT.
THE AMOUNT THAT A PERSON MAKES ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR SS S D I IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE MINIMUM RE INCOME REQUIREMENT TO LIVE IN AUSTIN AND LOW INCOME HOUSING, YOU'RE MAKING ALL OF THE SENIORS BE HOMELESS.
AND I REALLY WISH THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT OTHER PROGRAMS AND WAYS TO ADD THE PRAC EIGHT 11 PROGRAM INSIDE THESE OTHER PROGRAMS TO HELP US SENIORS.
RECOVERY IN THE PARK IS THE WEEK AFTER NEXT NINE, NINE.
I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE, MR. KIRK.
I'M GONNA JUMP BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
UH, WE HAVE ENOVIA JOSEPH ON THE LINE.
SHE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 49, 50, 55, 59, 62, 73.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL ON ENOVIA.
JOSEPH, AS A TECHNICALITY MAYOR, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT BROADCASTING ON K A Z I AT THE MOMENT.
THERE'S A $600,000 CONTRACT WITH THE CITY TO BROADCAST THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 59 AND 1 34.
THAT'S WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CHILDCARE.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION OCTOBER 25TH, 2022, C E O, TAMARA ATKINSON, WHO, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT SHE HAS $54 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE.
AND SHE SAID, QUOTE, YES, THE 54 MILLION THAT WE HAVE FOR CHILDCARE IS AN INCREASE OVER YEARS PAST.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND TO ACTUALLY GET STAFF TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH MONEY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALREADY HAS IN ITS COFFERS.
I WOULD ALSO CALL YOUR ATTENTION, THERE ARE ABOUT 10 ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AS IT RELATES TO CHILDCARE.
IF COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES CAN CLARIFY IF THESE ITEMS ARE THE INCREASE IN PAY FOR THOSE WORKERS OR IF IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT FROM TUESDAY, WHICH THE LIVING WAGE, I WOULD ASK THAT BEFORE YOU INCREASE THE WAGES, THE CHILDCARE WORKERS THAT YOU CONSIDER THE CONSERVATION CORPS WORKERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY CLEANING THE HELM ENCAMPMENTS, SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES, THEY'RE ONLY MAKING $15 AN HOUR, NOT THE LIVING WAGE AS THE PROVISION STATES.
AND THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND THAT IS, UH, MS. MCNEELY IS THE ONE WHO'S ACTUALLY, UM, PAYING THEM THROUGH THE HUNGRY, HUNGRY HILL FOUNDATION AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 50 AND $400,000 FOR ASIANS, PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND LATINO WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND TO BE EQUITABLE IN YOUR DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
FOR ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY YOU'RE DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDS.
CR COMPLAINTS@TREASURY.GOV IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE, AND I THINK THERE WAS ONE.
OH, SPECIFICALLY THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH.
I WAS JUST GONNA, IF YOU HAVE ANY YEAH, IF, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA JUMP BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ALEXANDER STRINGER.
GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF, UH, ITEM, UH, 62 AND THE NEED TO EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE VACCINES.
I SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT HONESTLY, WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE VACCINES MANDATORY FOR EVERYBODY.
THERE'S A LITERAL NEW COVID VACCINE ON THE RISE.
AND, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I'M TRIPLE VACCINATED.
I'VE GOTTEN C O V, I'VE GOTTEN COVID TWICE ALREADY THIS YEAR.
AND EVERY TIME I'VE GOTTEN IT, IT'S BEEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
AND LOOK, HERE'S THE THING, LIKE I STRUGGLE WITH, UH, SELF-INDUCED TYPE TWO DI DIABETES.
I'M ON A COCKTAIL OF MULTIPLE PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICATIONS TO
[00:25:01]
MANAGE MY ANXIETY.YOU KNOW, UM, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WE NEED TO TAKE THIS NEW WAVE OF COVID SERIOUSLY.
UM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD ARE MANDATORY IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN, IN SOCIETY.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IF YOU DON'T WANNA WEAR A MASK, AND IF YOU DON'T WANNA GET VACCINATED, YOU ARE A LITTER, LITERAL DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH, OKAY? YOU ARE A DANGER.
IF YOU DON'T WANNA GET VACCINATED FOR THIS NEWAND OF C OVID 19 AND THAT SOMEBODY'S BEEN TRIPLE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED FOUR TIMES, I'M WORRIED THAT I'M LITERALLY GOING TO DIE FROM THIS VIRUS.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE IT, PLEASE MAKE, MAKE THESE VACCINES MANDATORY.
PLEASE, IF NOT FOR ME, THEN JUST DO IT FOR THE HELP AND WELLBEING OF OTHERS.
MAYOR, I HAD A, A QUICK COMMENT FOR, UH, MS. ANOVIA, JOSEPH'S QUESTION WHEN SHE ASKED ABOUT THE FOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CONTRACTS, I GOT CONFIRMATION FROM MY TEAM THAT THOSE FOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CONTRACTS DO INCLUDE A ADJUSTMENT FOR THE COST OF LIVING.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, JEN RAMOS, JAKE SALINAS, HE, HE PREVIOUSLY SPOKE.
AND MAYOR, WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS, BUT THEY'RE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX, WHICH IS GOING TO BE COLD PULLED.
SO I'LL CALL THEIR NAMES WHEN IT'S TAKEN UP.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR NOW.
UH, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS.
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
I HAVE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WERE, THAT I HAVE LISTED AS BEING PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE 6 19, 1 0 3, AND 1 37.ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN ADDED, UH, HANDED, UM, A MOTION WITH REGARD, UH, WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 35.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES IS ITEM 35 IS, IS THIS MOTION, UH, AN AMENDMENT OR JUST DIRECTION WITH RE RELATION TO ITEM 35? DIRECTION FOR ITEM 35? ALL RIGHT.
DO ONE WITH, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE IS 1 0 3 A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THAT WOULDN'T BE PULLED, I GUESS.
WELL, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, IS, IS WE WILL PULL IT AND HAVE IT AS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN, I MEAN, IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL HAVE IT AS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT'S WHY'S, IS THAT OKAY? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, THEN WHAT WE'LL DO WITHOUT OBJECTION ON 35 IS, UM, I WILL ASK FOR THIS MOTION TO BE THE, THE, THE MOTION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH IS, UH, INDICATED AS, AS FUENTES MOTION ITEM NUMBER 35.
MOTION NUMBER ONE, THAT WE TAKE THAT, UH, AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I WANT THERE TO BE CLARITY AMONG THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
COUNCIL MEMBER AVELA, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT OR HAVE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE, OKAY, VERY GOOD.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON ITEM 23, THE MCKINSEY CONTRACT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO PULL IT, BUT JUST WANTED TO GET ON THE RECORD WITH A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, I, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARVARD MADISON'S OFFICE ON 1 37.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE JUST SENT OUT AS A VERSION TWO.
UH, WELL, EXCEPT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE VERSION TWO.
I'M HAPPY TO, AND I KNEW Y'ALL HAD BEEN WORKING ON THAT, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A VERSION TWO, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL IT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE AMENDMENT AND HAVE CLARITY.
SO MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH FOR THAT ITEM TO NOT BE PULLED.
CAN WE OFFER COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER HAVE HIS STAFF POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD OR FOR SOMETHING TO BE DISTRIBUTED? I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE FOR THAT ITEM TO NOT BE POSTED.
AND, AND THE, THE, THE, THE DIFFICULTY, OF COURSE, IS THAT IF A MEMBER HAS A MOTION, HAS AN AMENDMENT THAT THEY WANNA MAKE TO YOUR PRIMARY MOTION, AND THEY DON'T BRING IT UP AS A VERSION TWO SO THAT WE HAVE IT, THEN
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THEY HAVE TO BRING IT UP AS AN AMENDMENT IN SOME WAY.OTHERWISE, UH, WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO, TO, TO DEAL WITH IT IN A, IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THERE'S A, A DIFFICULTY HERE IS A PROPOSED LATE LAST MINUTE AMENDMENT.
IT'S FINE TO J I I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I RE RESPECT WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO WITH THIS.
SO LET'S JUST LEAVE IT ON CONSENT AS IS.
AND I THINK WITH NO AMENDMENT IT CAN BE FINE.
WE'LL JUST TALK TO THE MANAGER ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THEN FOR PURPOSES OF, UH, OF OUR RECORD, 1 37 WILL GO BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO ITEM SIX 19 AND 1 0 3 ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
GOING BACK ON NOW, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, NOW REMEMBER ON ITEM NUMBER 35, THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES ITEM NUMBER 35.
WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE DIRECTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 35 THAT HAS BEEN SUPPLIED TO COUNCIL BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON THE YELLOW SHEET.
EVERYBODY COOL WITH THAT IN THE LATE AND IT'S POSTED IN THE LATE BACKUP.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF ITEM.
AND THERE'S ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO CALL TO ATTENTION, BUT I'LL DO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT I WANNA GET A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
UH, MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, WHICH INCLUDES THE ITEM ON ITEM NUMBER 35.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN FROM ITEM 87 ABSTENTION ON ITEM NUMBER 87 BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER.
I'LL SPEAK TO THIS IN A A MINUTE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN UPSTANDING ON 1 36 PLEASE.
A UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM AN ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
TIM, CAN I ASK MY QUESTION BEFORE WE YES.
I WAS GONNA GO TO THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS NEXT, IF ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO COMMENTS, UH, BRIEF COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL OR QUESTIONS.
MAYOR PRO TIMM HAS INDICATED SHE HAS A QUESTION.
AND I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO KEEP THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, WE HAD STARTED THE DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY AT OUR WORK SESSION BRIEFING ABOUT THE MCKINSEY, UM, AUTHORIZATION NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF THEIR NEW CONTRACT.
AND IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT ANY SORTS OF CONFLICTS OR AMBIGUITIES WITHIN THE CODE WERE NOT NECESSARILY PART OF WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED FOR MCKINSEY TO HANDLE.
SO I JUST WANTED CONFIRMATION FROM EITHER THE CITY MANAGER OR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT IF THOSE COME UP, THAT THE CODE CABINET OF CITY STAFF OR THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY REVIEW PANEL, UM, WOULD BE ABLE TO EITHER ADDRESS THOSE OR BRING THEM TO US FOR CLARIFICATION.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN SPEAK TO MARION COUNSEL? VERONICA REIO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER? ABSOLUTELY.
WE COULD USE THE, UH, CODE CABINET AND THE, THE TARP TO REVIEW ANY INCONSISTENCIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ON THAT SAME ITEM FOR THE MCKINSEY, UM, STUDY OR, OR ASSISTANCE.
JUST WANNA CHECK IF WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WILL WE BE GETTING REGULAR UPDATES FROM THE COUNCIL AND THERE WERE YES, YOU WILL.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME WHEN A SISTER CITY VISITS AUSTIN, AND I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS.
THIS IS THE FEE WAIVER FOR THE, UM, UH, CITY OF OTA, UH, SISTER CITY, UH, CELEBRATION HERE IN AUSTIN.
CO-SPONSORS CMSS, ALLISON ALTER, VELAZQUEZ, VELA AND CADRE.
I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CELEBRATION ON THE DAY AS I'LL BE TRAVELING ON CITY BUSINESS AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BALANCE LIFT, UH, FOR THE WAIVER.
AND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS, I WANTED TO HAVE THE RECORD SHOW THAT I WILL COVER THE REMAINING BALANCE OF $1,525 IN FEES.
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HARPER MADISON.UM, I REALLY AM EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS WILLING TO LET THIS ITEM MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND CURRENT COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON.
SO I'M THRILLED TO BE SUPPORTING TODAY AND EFFORT THAT MY OFFICE AND MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND I SEE A FEW OF THEM IN THE ROOM TODAY, MR. REN AND MR. BERBA ARE HERE.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE BOTH AT THE COMMUNITY COURT AND HERE IN CHAMBERS TODAY.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 1 37 WILL KICK OFF THE FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT OF A COLLABORATIVE CITY, COUNTY NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, UH, COLLABORATIVE ENTITY BETWEEN THE CITY, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND EXISTING IN FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN AREA.
THIS RESOLUTION IS PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL TO A RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON TUESDAY.
I ATTENDED THAT MEETING TO MARK THIS CRITICAL FIRST STEP WITH OUR INCREDIBLE PLANNING DIRECTOR, LAUREN MIDDLETON PRATT ASHTON CUMBERBATCH OF EKI, DOD, GREG SMITH OF THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY, MY STAFF, AND OF COURSE, WITH A LETTER OF SUPPORT IN HAND FROM THE COMMUNITY COMMANDER, MS. BARBARA SCOTT OF THE COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
ALONG WITH THAT RESOLUTION WAS AN INITIAL $250,000 INVESTMENT AND THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THIS INVESTMENT PAIRED WITH OUR $1 MILLION INVESTMENT AND OUR OWN BUDGET WILL MEAN THE COMMUNITIES OF NORTHEAST AUSTIN, WHICH IF I MAY, I'LL GIVE A QUICK EAST SIDE 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM, WILL HAVE A SHARED FUND OF OVER 1.3 MILLION DIRECT DOLLARS AND COUNTY STAFF ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS COLLECTIVE VISION FOR THE AREA.
BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JUST HERE A YEAR AGO, UM, YOU KNOW HOW FAR AND WHAT THE COUNTY AND I HAVE DRAFTED FROM WORKING TOGETHER IN THIS AREA, A CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED, DISINVESTED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE WE ARE THIS WEEK, KICKING OFF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PUT IN THEIR MONEY, WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR GREAT LIMITLESS WORK.
NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PART OF TOWN, DON'T WORRY.
MY STAFF IS SHARING AN OUTLINE FOR THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.
UM, AS YOU WILL ALL NOTICE, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATION OF PUBLICLY OWNED MAJOR CORRIDORS AND THE PLANNED GREEN LINE FOR OUR COMMUTER RAIL.
I'VE LONG HELD THE BELIEF THAT THIS PART OF TOWN IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST AND FRANKLY, LAST REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO BRIDGE THE HISTORIC COMMUNITIES OF EAST AUSTIN WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF COLONY PARK, LAKESIDE AND MAYNARD.
THESE PARTS OF OUR COUNTY THAT MANY RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT TO BY WAY OF GENTRIFICATION AND A LACK OF AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT, FRANKLY, HAVE RUN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE CITY'S SUPPOSED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS EFFORT IS NOT AND WAS NOT FRANKLY, A SIMPLE PLANNING EFFORT.
THIS COLLABORATIVE ENTITY IS INTENDED TO FINALLY PROVIDE THE LONG TIME AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF FAR EAST AUSTIN, THE CHANCE TO DIRECT THEIR FUTURE RATHER THAN ALLOW THE INTEREST AND POWER OF OTHER COMMUNITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO DI DICTATE THE FUTURE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO STAFF GETTING RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS NEXT WEEK WITH COUNTY STAFF AND CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DRAFT THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
THAT FRAMEWORK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ALIGN OUR MANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES IN THE AREA AND SET US DOWN FOR MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY LED PATH.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO TRUSTED US WITH THIS IDEA.
THANK YOU TO MY STAFF BOTH PAST AND PRESENT FOR
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THE MANY LONG DAYS OF STITCHING TOGETHER THE IDEA INTO A REALITY.AND THANK YOU TO MY ALLIES AND FRIENDS, AND MAYBE MOST ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER ILIAN FOR BELIEVING, FOR BELIEVING IN THE CITY, FOR BELIEVING IN THIS EFFORT AND FOR BELIEVING IN US TO GET HERE TODAY.
I AM SUPER PROUD AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION THERE.
UM, COLLEAGUES, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING MY ITEM, UM, RELATED TO, WELL, IT'S ITEM 83, RELATED TO, UM, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FROM NON-PROFIT ENTITIES FOR THE PLAY FOR ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.
UM, AS YOU MAY RECALL, I PASSED THE PLAYGROUND IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, BUT IT DOES LACK FUNDING.
AND SO THIS PLAYGROUND IS A PLACE THAT GOES BEYOND MINIMUM ACCESSIBILITY TO CREATE PLAY EXPERIENCES THAT MEET VARIOUS NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE PLAYGROUND.
CHILDREN AND ADULTS, UM, OF ALL ABILITIES CAN INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND ENJOY ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE EDUCATION, PHYSICAL PLAY, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THIS PROJECT AND THE RESOLUTION ITSELF ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM THE CITY MANAGER, UM, TO SEE THIS VISION TO COMPLETION.
AND, UM, FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK CHIEF CHACON FOR HIS WORK AT THE CITY AND WITH MY OFFICE DURING HIS, HIS TENURE.
TOGETHER, WE'VE MADE CRUCIAL STRIDES IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I WISH HIM THE VERY BEST IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
FURTHER, I WELCOME THE COLLABORATION WITH CHIEF ROBIN HENDERSON AS SHE STEPS INTO HER ROLE AS INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND TAKES THE HELM TODAY WITH THE PASSAGE OF ONE 30.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OTHER COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO CONS? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
I JUST WANNA MAKE TWO BRIEF COMMENTS.
ONE, ON ITEM 88, THE AIR CONDITIONING ITEM.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES BROUGHT FORWARD, AS I MENTIONED IN THE WORK SESSION, UH, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER SETTING EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR AIR CONDITIONERS DURING PEAK CONDITIONS.
HALF OF ENERGY USAGE ACROSS THE STATE COMES FROM AIR CONDITIONERS AND MAKING ACS MORE EFFICIENT, NOT ONLY REDUCES C O TWO EMISSIONS, UH, BUT IT LOWERS CUSTOMERS ENERGY BILLS.
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S FAIRLY COMPLEX, RATHER THAN OFFER AN AMENDMENT, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS, HOPEFULLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, JUST TO ENSURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND WE GET IT RIGHT.
UM, SECONDLY, ON ITEM 1 36, AN ITEM I SPONSORING, CREATING, UH, WHAT WE ARE CALLING THE HOW'S OUR PEOPLE ENDOWMENT OR HOPE FUND.
AND, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BED EVERY NIGHT ON THE HOT SIDEWALK INSTEAD OF A BED.
AND WE ALL KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS, BUILD THE HOUSING PEOPLE NEED, AND PAIR IT WITH THE SUPPORTS NECESSARY FOR THEIR SUCCESS.
TODAY, WE ARE TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP TO DO THAT.
THE HOPE FUND WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
THIS FUND WILL GENERATE NEW ONGOING FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY SPEAK ON ITEM 87, UH, AND THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I JUST, I, I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY, UH, THAT OUR OFFICE WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE A SERVICE AWARD, UH, TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD, WAS PROTESTING THE CAPITOL, UM, DURING THE, UH, THE HORRIBLE SESSION THAT WAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, TRANS FOLKS AND THEIR RIGHTS, UH, WERE ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BEING TAKEN AWAY.
UH, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL LEFT, UH, TEXAS BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE HERE.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY THIS, YOU KNOW, TODAY WASN'T THE DAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THIS SERVICE AWARD FOR, FOR THEIR ADVOCACY.
YOU KNOW, TEXAS IS A PLACE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AT TIMES DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOSE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT FOLKS AND FAMILIES.
SO I WANNA THANK, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS ON THIS, THAT EVEN WHEN TEXAS FAILS, UH, OUR STATE, UH, SORRY, WHEN TEXAS FAILS, ITS PEOPLE THAT AUSTIN IS A, IS A, IS A CITY THAT, THAT PROTECTS ITS OWN AND STANDS UP FOR ITS OWN.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 30, WHICH IS THE GREEN JOB ACCELERATOR.
I'M REALLY THRILLED TO SEE THIS CONTRACT WITH BLUE SKY INCUBATORS.
UM, THIS CONTRACT IS GONNA HELP US EXPAND AUSTIN'S GREEN JOB ECONOMY, WHICH IS GONNA HAVE A CASCADING ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT TO OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
JOBS THAT IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES ARE GROWING FASTER THAN OVERALL EMPLOYMENT NATIONWIDE.
AUSTIN IS POSITIONED TO LEAD IN GREEN WORKFORCE GROWTH
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WHEN WE ACT STRATEGICALLY LIKE INVESTING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH EMPHASIZES THIS NEED TO CONNECT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WITH THE CITY'S ECONOMIC INITIATIVES.TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WE MUST CREATE ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS TO WELL-PAYING GREEN CAREERS.
AND THIS ITEM BEFORE US IS A GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
I WANNA EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE INNOVATION OFFICE AS WELL AS YASSIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS GOOD WORK.
ITEM 42, UM, IS A ITEM THAT WAIVES EMISSION FEES FOR ALL CITY POOLS EXCEPT FOR BARTON SPRINGS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE IMPLEMENTED EARLIER THIS MONTH, BUT, UM, BY PROCEDURE WE NEED TO ACTUALLY WAIVE THE FEES TODAY.
UM, THIS ACTION GREW OUT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN, AND MY WORK WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH.
I WANNA, AGAIN, THANK, UH, PAR DIRECTOR KIMBERLY MCNEELY AND THE AQUATIC STAFF FOR ACTING QUICKLY ON THIS.
I KNOW MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE HEAT THIS SUMMER, AND I HOPE THAT BY WAIVING THESE FEES, WE ARE PROVIDING SOME RELIEF.
UM, I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT SIX SEASONAL CITY POOLS HAVE EXTENDED THEIR OPERATIONS THROUGH OCTOBER 1ST.
UM, SO FOR ANY MEDIA WHO ARE HERE, PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD, THESE POOLS AND OUR YEAR-ROUND POOLS.
UM, THAT MEANS THERE'S 11 OPEN POOLS.
UM, SO TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, PLEASE ENJOY THE POOLS.
UM, I ALSO WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUE IN CONGRATULATING IN OUR CHIEF HENDERSON.
UM, WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO SPEAK TO MY ABSTENTION ON ITEM 1 36, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S ITEM.
WHILE I'VE SUPPORTED MANY OF OUR IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THIS ITEM WAS A LATE ADDITION TO THE AGENDA.
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME EXACTLY HOW THIS WILL IMPROVE OUR SERVICE DELIVERY OR OUR RESPONSE, BECAUSE I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE WHETHER AND HOW THIS ACTION WOULD IMPROVE WORK IN THIS AREA.
I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ITEM IN.
FINALLY, UM, THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE HAD A APPOINTMENT THROUGH AUDIT AND FINANCE TO SOMEBODY, TO THE ACE BOARD, UM, WHICH DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO THE AGENDA AS A SEPARATE AUDIT AND FINANCE, UM, ITEM.
I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN PUT THAT NAME ON THE ITEM 1 38 OR IF WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 14TH MEETING FOR THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UM, THEY NEED TO ADD A MEMBER TO THE ACE BOARD.
UM, IT WAS ADOPTED AT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
TYPICALLY, IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ITEM FROM AUDIT AND FINANCE 'CAUSE IT WAS A COMMITTEE VOTE.
SO I JUST WANNA CHECK IF WE COULD PUT IT ON 1 38 AND IF NOT, I WOULD ASK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT ON OUR SEPTEMBER 14TH AGENDA.
WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO DO THAT THIS TIME.
I DON'T, I, I NEED TO FIRST SEE IF IT'S EVEN LEGAL TO DO IT.
'CAUSE WE HAD A COMMITTEE, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
SO IT MAY NOT WORK TO DO AN AMENDMENT.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE A BOARD SPECIFICALLY, BUT NORMALLY YOU COULD PUT IT ON THIS ITEM IF YOU PUT AN, IF YOU AMEND THE GENERAL ONE FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
BUT IT'S NOT A BOARD AND COMMISSION.
IT'S, IT COVERS THE LANGUAGE, COVERS EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, DO I NEED TO PULL 1 38 TO DO THAT OR CAN I ADD HIS NAME? YOU WOULD NEED TO PULL 1 38.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, UH, ACTUALLY WE HAVE A MOTION THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TABLE.
SO, UH, SOME REMARKS, HUH? I KNOW YOU DO.
I'VE BEEN, I'VE GOTTA NOW DEAL WITH AN AMENDMENT TO A MOTION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO, UH, THE WITHDRAWING OF HIS MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE NOW MOVES TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MOVED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 1 38 BEING REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UH, WE ARE NOW BACK TO THE MOTION, UH, TO A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THAT ARE ON TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION.
I WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP ON ITEM 87.
THIS IS A, A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY TO DISPLAY THE PRIDE FLAG DURING PRIDE MONTH AT CITY FACILITIES.
UM, AND THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR PICKS UP A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, UH, COMMUNITY COMMISSION
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BOARD.AND, UH, THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
AND IT CAME AT A TIME RIGHT AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HAVE FACED AND CONTINUED TO FACE, UH, DISCRIMINATION, UH, HATE HATEFUL RHETORIC, INTOLERANCE, AND A NUMBER OF THINGS.
AND SO THEY HAD RECOMMENDED A, A POLICY TO COUNSEL FOR US TO, TO GIVE A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
AND SO BY DISPLAYING THE PRIDE FLAG AT CITY FACILITIES, WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY A PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UH, WE ARE SHOWING THAT HERE IN AUSTIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BY EVERY SINGLE AUSTINITE.
UM, SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CO-SPONSORSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE COUNCIL.
MARVELLA COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, YOU ALSO WANTED TO JOIN IN AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THIS ITEM, I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT ITEM 88, WHICH IS THE AC COOLING REQUIREMENT.
UH, I THINK ANYONE WHO CAN STEPS OUTSIDE UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW HOT IT IS AND HOW WE'VE HAD A, UH, A REALLY TOUGH SUMMER THIS YEAR AND WE CAN ONLY EXPECT, UM, MORE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AS WELL AS MORE EXTREME HEAT MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WORSENING CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND SO WHAT THIS ITEM SEEKS TO DO IS TO, UM, CODIFY AND REALLY BRING UP OUR, OUR, UH, LANGUAGE TO ENSURE THAT JUST LIKE WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS AROUND HEATING, THAT WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS AROUND AC UNITS.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL, I WANNA THANK REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL COLE FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND, UH, AND REALLY I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES.
'CAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND ITEM THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON WHERE SHE, UM, HAS LED ON BOTH THE AC REQUIREMENT AND THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD MUNICIPAL ID CARD.
SO, UH, I GREATLY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP IN WORKING WITH HER.
ON THAT ITEM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS, CADRE.
VELA AND VELASQUEZ WERE THEIR SUPPORT AND CO-SPONSORSHIP.
AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY I THINK THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN, IN EDUCATING AUSTINITES ON THEIR RIGHTS.
AND THE LAST ITEM I WANTED TO SPEAK TO IS ITEM 48.
UM, I'VE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE, TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK BOARD.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE BOARD THAT BRINGS TOGETHER NONPROFITS, OUR INSTITUTE, OUR UNIVERSITIES, UM, OUR PUBLIC SECTOR INSTITUTIONS, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, NONPROFITS, AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I, UH, ALONG WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, HAVE LED AN INITIATIVE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, BACK IN MAY DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, WE LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVE TO TRAIN 1000 AUSTINITES WITH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, UM, WHICH WILL HELP EQUIP AUSTINITES WITH THE TOOLS AND UNDERSTANDING NEEDED TO, UM, HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND, AND UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO RESPOND AND HOW TO HELP.
AND THIS IS ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF, OF BEING BETTER NEIGHBORS AND, AND HAVING MORE EMPATHY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
AND SO OUR CHALLENGE THAT WE ANNOUNCED WAS TO TRAIN 1000 AUSTINITES.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT AS OF JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THE LAST UPDATE I GOT IS THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY TRAINED 515 AUSTINITES ON MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE MOMENTUM BUILDING, UH, FOR THIS EFFORT AND, AND THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH OUR GOAL IN NO TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MAYOR PRO TIM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO THE APPRECIATION FOR ITEM ONE 30, UH, HAVING A NEW INTERIM POLICE CHIEF ROBIN HENDERSON.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF, UH, CHIEF CHACON.
UM, I APPRECIATED GETTING TO WORK WITH HIM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND, AND WISH HIM WELL AND HIS HIS NEXT ADVENTURE.
UM, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE ROBIN HENDERSON CAN INTERRUPT YOU.
YEAH, IT'S A ROBIN, A GOOD IF ROBIN HENDERSON WOULD COME DOWN HERE, I, I WAS GOING TO DO THAT AND I'M, I THINK, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, IS, IS RIGHT TO SAY WHAT SHE SAID, BUT IF YOU COME DOWN, WE GOT A LOT OF, AS AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE'VE HAD COMMENT ABOUT IT.
BUT, UM, UH, NONE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FACT THAT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL, UH, BE RATIFYING THE, THE APPOINTMENT AS THE, AS OUR INTERIM CHIEF.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING YOU, AND I'LL TURN, TURN IT BACK TO YOU MEMBER.
I, I DIDN'T WANT THE MOMENT TO GO BY JUST WITH CONSENT AGENDA.
SOMETIMES THIS WHOLE STACK OF A HUNDRED ITEMS ENDS UP MOVING FORWARD.
BUT WE APPRECIATE GETTING TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY AND WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR SERVICE IN THIS ROLE.
UM, AND APPRECIATE THE OTHER, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AND AND CHIEFS THAT HAVE COME TO JOIN YOU TODAY.
DO YOU WANNA SAY HELLO
MAYOR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DAIS.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF JONE AND ALSO TELL HIM THANK YOU FOR PUTTING MY NAME FORWARD TO STEP IN TO SERVE AS INTERIM CHIEF.
SO I VALUE THE TRUST THAT HE HAS PUT IN ME TO MOVE THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION,
[00:55:01]
UH, TO CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MILLS.I JUST WANNA TELL THEM THANK YOU.
UM, UNDERSTAND, I, I I AM TRULY HONORED, HUMBLED, AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR INTERIM CHIEF, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, UM, WITH REGARD TO, WE JUST, YOU STAY THERE TILL WE VOTE
SHE'S ALREADY THE NEXT, DID SHE? YEAH.
WATCH, DON'T YOU WATCH, DON'T YOU HANG AROUND A SECOND.
YOU SEE WHY, WHY YOU, YOU, YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF DOING THAT IN UNDER TWO MINUTES, SO THAT WAS GREAT.
BUT, BUT YOU, SORRY, I HAD HANG AROUND FOR THE VOTE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENTED AGENDA AS READ IS THERE, AND THERE WAS A SECOND.
ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED AND CONGRATULATIONS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WHAT I WILL DO IS, UH, WE'LL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 10:56 AM AND I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE RECESSED AT TEN FIFTY SEVEN.
I CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 10 57.
UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, UH, AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IF I COULD ASK EVERYBODY TO, UH, TAKE YOUR CONGRATULATIONS OUTSIDE, THAT WILL HELP US MOVE MORE EFFICIENTLY HERE, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU, UH, FOR A PRESENTATION.
MORNING IS PRESIDENT MADAM VICE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT YOUR AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING AGENDA.
YOU HAVE FIVE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA.
FIRST IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 20TH.
THE SECOND IS THE APPROVAL OF THE, UH, ONE YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO MANAGE AND OPERATE, UH, APPROXIMATELY $112 MILLION, UH, DURING FISCAL YEAR 20 23 24.
THIRD IS THE APPROVAL OF AN AUTHORIZATION AND AN EXECUTION OF A LOAN TO, UH, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR APPROXIMATELY $752,000.
UH, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL, UH, $752,000, UH, ON TOP OF THE FUNDS THAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN THIS PROPERTY FOR HA UH, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FI.
UH, NEXT YOU HAVE A $5.5 MILLION LOAN TO, UH, THE PARK, THE ARAZ PARKSIDE LP.
THIS IS AN AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PARTNERSHIP.
UH, THAT IS A SECOND, UH, PHASE DEVELOPMENT FROM A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU HAVE A, UH, REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE NE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A LOAN AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY $6.8 MILLION, UH, TO THE GROVE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN D M A DEVELOPMENT AND SAFE HOUSING ALLIANCE.
UH, THIS IS THE SASHA AND I OFFER ALL FIVE OF THESE ITEMS, UH, ON CONSENT.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE OFFERED AS A CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, ENOVIA JOSEPH SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM TWO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DIRECTORS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH COMMENTING ON THE $112.7 MILLION AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS USING FEDERAL AND LOCAL FUNDS.
I APPRECIATE DIANA GRAY'S RESIGNATION AND WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE FEDERAL REGISTER, MAY 17TH, 2021, SPECIFIED AN ELIGIBLE USE OF THE FUNDS COULD BE FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HELP RESIDENTS INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND HIGH LEVELS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT NONE OF THE FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE ALLOCATED THUS FOR CONSIDER ANY HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS WEST OF MOPAC.
I WOULD ALSO MENTION AS IT RELATED TO 1 37, THAT, UH, SPECIFICALLY SAMSUNG, THERE'S 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT AND THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION.
SO IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE, UH, THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
[01:00:01]
FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD ASK YOU TO REVISIT THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE.AND SO TO COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA MADISON, IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO PRAISE PROJECT CONNECT AND YOUR RESOLUTION.
ON JUNE 20TH, 2017, JOE CLEMENS TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS THE GREEN LINE WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE LOCALLY FUNDED, AND IT SHOULD BE NO SECRET.
TODD HEMINGSON SAID ON APRIL 3RD, 2018.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT COULD BE DONE FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICANS, THE MALES IN PARTICULAR, AND THAT THEY'RE STILL WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL AUSTIN, AND DOES SPRING HISPANIC.
AND I WILL LASTLY ASK YOU TO RECALL THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, ARTICLE 13 TAX MATTERS AND THE SOLUTION THAT YOU ARE OBLIGED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 5 1 1 C THREE OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER USING THESE FUNDS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND TO PLEASE STOP SEGREGATING THE CITY AND RE CODIFYING THE 1928 PLAN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND ASK YOU TO COMPLY WITH TITLE SIX ASSURANCES AS YOU ARE USING THESE FEDERAL FUNDS, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THE COLOR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND DIRECTORS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL, UH, MESS THEM AT THIS TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
MOTION IS MADE BY DIRECTOR FUENTES, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR HARPER MEDICINE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
LET ME ASK IF THERE IS, UH, ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS RECUSING THEMSELVES ON ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISH TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON ITEMS. 2, 3, 4, AND FIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, DIRECTOR KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 2, 3, 4, AND FIVE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO CON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DIRECTOR FUENTES.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR WATSON, I WANTED TO THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU AND I WERE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN SOUTHEAST, AND I WANNA THANK OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY, UM, FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
THIS, UH, PROJECT WILL BRING 126 AFFORDABLE HOMES TO SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, AND SO WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD, AND I THINK IT, IT'S REALLY GONNA GO A LONG WAY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? HEARING NONE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS ADJOURNED AT 1103.
AM I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING
[6. Approve the draft service plan and draft petition language for the creation of a proposed Austin Tourism Public Improvement District.]
OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.UH, IT'S 1103 THURSDAY, AUGUST 31ST.
THE, UH, ORDER THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GO IN COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE 6 19, 1 0 3, AND 1 38.
ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE, UH, THAT WERE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
FIRST SPEAKER IS NADE KY, FOLLOWED BY JIA PAUL CONNERY.
I'M NINA PERSKY, GENERAL MANAGER OF FAIRMONT AUSTIN, AND CURRENT CHAIRPERSON OF AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION.
MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE AND, AND LUCKY ENOUGH TO CALL OURSELVES AUSTINITES FOR THE PAST SEVEN PLUS YEARS.
IN FACT, OUR YOUNGEST SON WAS BORN HERE IN AUSTIN.
HE'S BORN AUSTINITE AND A PROUD TEXAN AS WELL.
TODAY, I NOT ONLY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, BUT MORE THAN 64,000 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DIRECTLY EMPLOYED IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
UM, IN 2022, WE REPRESENT, BY THE WAY, THE THIRD LARGEST, UH, INDUSTRY IN THE CITY.
AND IN 2022, HOSPITALITY HAD A DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, THROUGH, UH, VISITOR SPENDING OF $8.9 BILLION.
AND THAT OF $10.2 BILLION OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 146,000 JOBS.
UM, SO THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING, AND AS SUCH, WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT APPROVING TODAY THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OR TID IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE THAT OUR INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND, UH, THEREFORE CONTINUE TO INCREASE HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX COLLECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL AUSTINITES, UH, TID WILL PROVIDE VITAL FUNDING AND HELP US, UH, MARKET OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY DURING THE CLOSURE OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UPON THE REOPENING OF THE CENTER WITH A BEAUTIFUL NEW FACILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE, THE, THE REVENUES COMING IN AFTER, AFTER THE PROPOSED REOPENING IN 2029.
[01:05:01]
UM, WE WORKED VERY HARD FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE CITY OFFICIALS TO PRESENT TO YOU THE, THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.AND WE KINDLY ASK YOU, MATTER OF FACT, URGE YOU TO, INSTEAD OF POSTPONING THE ITEM TODAY, TO VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THIS CRUCIAL POINT IN THE PROCESS.
LAST THING I WILL SAY, I'LL ASK ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE TOPIC TO STAND UP, OR IF YOU'RE STANDING, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND TO TAKE ANOTHER MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, UH, ON CONSIDERING THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, ITEM FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
THANK YOU, JOE, PAUL CONNOLLY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE Y'ALL A LITTLE BREAK AFTER THE BUDGET, BUT I GUESS I'M BACK.
UM,
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THIS PLAN.
TAKE THE TIME TO NEGOTIATE, TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, GET ANSWERS TO THE MANY, MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TPI AND TRY TO GET THIS POLICY RIGHT.
ONCE YOU GIVE AWAY 2% OF THE CITY'S HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, YOU DON'T GET ANY FUTURE SAY ON HOW THAT MONEY GETS SPENT, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT MONEY, AND WHETHER ANY OF THAT MONEY WILL EVER BE A SOURCE OF DIRECT REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOURISM, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE MANY THINGS DRIVE TOURISM TO AUSTIN.
IT'S NOT JUST THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, OUR MUSICIANS, OUR SMALL MUSIC VENUES, UH, MANY HOTELS THAT AREN'T THE SORT OF WEALTHIEST AND MOST POWERFUL HOTELS DOWNTOWN.
AND MANY OF THEM JUST SIMPLY WOULDN'T SEE BENEFIT FROM THIS.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT IS, WHAT IS IT THAT REALLY DRIVES PEOPLE TO AUSTIN? AND IT'S AUSTIN'S UNIQUE CULTURE THAT IS DYING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST VALUE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THIS TPI YOU KNOW, ONCE UPON A TIME,
IT WAS PITCHED TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AS THE WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND TO ADDRESS THE MANY OTHER CHALLENGES FACING DOWNTOWN TO MAKE DOWNTOWN APPEALING FOR TOURISM.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYTHING CHANGED.
AND THE DEAL THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN FRONT OF YOU IS NOTHING LIKE THE DEAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
AND THE ANSWERS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN TO YOU ABOUT HOW THE BUY DOWN MECHANISMS WORK FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER DOLLARS ARE EXTREMELY OPAQUE.
THE COMMUNITY DESERVES TRANSPARENT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THESE BUY DOWNS ACTUALLY ARE, HOW THEY WORK, HOW MUCH PROJECTED REVENUE THEY'RE GONNA CREATE.
THE, THE STATISTICS OF THE LODGING ASSOCIATION SHOW THAT THE PROJECTED REVENUE FROM THE CITY'S HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY ALREADY AS IS WITHOUT THIS TPI.
SO GET IT RIGHT, TAKE THE TIME, POSTPONE THIS ITEM TODAY AND MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY HAS TIME TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, WHAT I WOULD DO IS FIRST ACCEPT A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE, UH, COUNCIL DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO WHATEVER MOTION IS PUT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM.
DO YOU HAVE A DATE THAT YOU WISH TO HAVE IT PUT MOVED? UH, TO, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 14TH.
THE MOTION MEMBERS IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER SIX UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14TH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AS THE MAKER OF THE MAIN MOTION, UH, TO BEGIN DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.
WE BEGAN THIS DISCUSSION AT WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
UM, WE RECEIVED THE SERVICE PLAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
IT WAS SHARED TO THE TOURISM COMMISSION ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IN JULY.
AND GIVEN THAT WE JUST GOT THROUGH OUR BUDGET CYCLE, THERE ARE STILL CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE, UH, REGARDING THIS PROPOSED AGREEMENT.
I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TERMS LAID OUT IN THIS PROPOSED AGREEMENT, I STILL HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT.
UH, SO I ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, UM, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, I'D LIKE THE CITY MANAGER TO SPEAK TO ANY POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS OR, UM, CONSIDERATIONS PERHAPS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE PRIOR TO, UM, CONSIDERING A POSTPONEMENT.
LET ME, UH, ASK, UH, VANESSA, I, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THAT, UH, THE WEEK MIGHT CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE IN TERMS OF, UH, TOURISM, BUT LET ME SEE IF SHE'S GOT SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL THAT VERONICA
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO NEGOTIATE, UM,
[01:10:01]
WHAT IS BEFORE YOU AND WE'RE CONCERNED THAT, UH, WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD TODAY, THAT WE MAY LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN AGREED UPON, UH, WORK PLAN.IS, IS THAT YOUR ONLY CONCERN RELATED TO THE POSTPONEMENT? YOU SAID SOME CONCERNS, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS THE MAIN CONCERN.
COUNCIL, DO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IF I MAY, UM, UH, A C M CEIA.
SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TERM LENGTH AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING DISTRIBUTION.
I WONDER IF, UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED CAN BE ASSUAGED SOMEHOW, MA NOW SURE.
WHAT I MIGHT DO IS YIELD TO OUR CONVENTION CENTER STAFF TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
OUR DIRECTOR, UH, TRICIA TARO.
UH, TRICIA TATRO, DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
AGAIN, THE, THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO ME ARE TERM LENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
UM, SO I THINK I WOULD SUPPORT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN, UH, SUPPORTING A POSTPONEMENT AND FOR NO OTHER REASON, WE ARE RECEIVING A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I JUST WONDER IF SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER KATIE MESNICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, SO THE 10 YEAR TPI, WHILE IT IS TYPICAL OF ALL PIDS, UM, KIND OF WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS 10 YEAR PIT IS TO GIVE THAT CERTAINTY THROUGH THE CLOSURE PERIOD.
UM, SO WE WILL BE ENCUMBERING FUNDS AGAINST EVENTS THAT WILL BE OCCURRING AFTER WE REOPEN THE FACILITY IN 2029.
AND SO THAT GIVES US THAT RUNWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EXPENDING ALL OF THOSE FUNDS, UM, THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD, AND SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF INCENTIVES THROUGH THE SERVICE PLAN IN THAT 10 YEAR PERIOD THAT WILL ULTIMATELY THEN FLOW AS UNRESTRICTED REVENUE TO THE CITY.
UM, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT IF, UM, WE HAVE A SHORTER TIMEFRAME THAT WE WILL BE ESSENTIALLY LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE, UM, WITH A SHORTER, WITH A SHORTER BID TIMEFRAME, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE DISTRIBUTION, UM, AS WE'VE, AS WE WALK THROUGH COUNCIL ON, UM, TUESDAY, THE CONVENTION CENTER AND, AND THUS THE CITY HAS ACCESS UP TO THAT 40% NUMBER, UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING AND ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANY OF THE COUNCIL AND WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH SOUTH BY, IN ORDER TO GET REALLY CREATIVE WITH OUR INCENTIVES AND, AND HOW MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING ALL OF THE, UM, BUY DOWNS THAT WE CAN OUT OF THE T ID IN ORDER TO AGAIN, MAXIMIZE THE FLOW THAT ULTIMATELY COMES TO THE CITY.
UM, I DO ALSO WANNA SPEAK TO THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SERVICE PLAN.
UM, AS WE NOTED ON TUESDAY, THAT 7.5% GROWTH, UM, THAT IS A REALLY ROSY PICTURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE TYPICALLY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER BUDGET ABOUT BETWEEN ONE AND 3% FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX PROJECTIONS, JUST BECAUSE WE, WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE TO ENSURE WE HIT OUR TARGET SO IT TURN, YOU KNOW, SO IF IT MIGHT NOT BE FIVE AND A HALF MILLION, MAYBE WE, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT LESS THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING ALL THOSE DOLLARS AND ALL, ALL THOSE DOLLARS.
AND SO WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE REVENUES COME IN A LITTLE BIT LOWER, THEN WE WILL BE GETTING MORE THAN 20% OF, OF WHAT WE WERE THINKING WE WERE INITIALLY GETTING.
SO THAT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION MIGHT ACTUALLY BE 30% OF WHAT ACTUAL COLLECTIONS WERE.
UM, SO WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER SAID ON TUESDAY WE HAVE PLAYED REALLY HARD IN THE SANDBOX.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET TO THAT MAXIMUM 40%, UM, OF THESE BUY DOWNS OF THIS 2%.
AND, AND IT'S REALLY WHAT IS ALLOWABLE UNDER STATE LAW.
UM, AND THERE'S NOT, WE'VE, WE'VE KIND OF LOOKED AT IT FROM EVERY ANGLE WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, AND THIS IS SORT OF WHAT WE FEEL IS REALLY THE BEST AND, AND WE'RE COMMITTED.
WE WANNA HELP GET THE CITY AS MUCH MONEY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, UM, FOR THOSE COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I COULD ALSO ADD, UM, 'CAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS, UH, ISSUES OF TERM, UH, 10 YEARS AND WAS THERE, WAS THERE A A, A MINIMUM, I MEAN A MINIMUM NUMBER, WHICH WOULD BE, IF YOU WENT BELOW, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
AND I WAS TOLD THIS MORNING IT'S BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT YEARS.
I MEAN, IT, IT'S, OTHERWISE, IT'S, IT'S A, A NOTE, A NON-STARTER.
THE SECOND ISSUE IS ONE OF THE WAIVERS FOR THE, UH, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST OTHER ZONE.
I THINK THE STAFF IS COMMITTED TO TRY FIND WAYS TO MI TO MINIMIZE WHAT IT IS THE, THE COST IS TO THE CITY, THAT WE CAN USE SOME OF THESE FUNDS FOR THAT, OR THE FUNDS FROM THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE.
THE FINAL THING IS, IS THAT IF, TO THE DEGREE THAT THERE'S MONEY THAT FALLS INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THE STAFF'S POSITION CONTINUES TO BE THAT SHOULD THOSE DOLLARS FALL, UH, FROM A WATERFALL FALL INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THAT THAT IS THE MONEY THAT THE COUNCIL THEN DURING THE APPROPRIATE SESSION, DURING BUDGETS, DISCUSSIONS TO DECIDE HOW YOU APPROPRIATE THOSE DOLLARS.
AS YOU, AS I'VE TOLD THE COUNCIL, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS AS WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET, THERE ARE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS
[01:15:01]
THAT THE COUNCIL IS HAVING TO, TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT ADOPTS A BUDGET, UH, FROM POOR SERVICES TO SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT CORE SERVICES.SO I WOULD JUST, UH, AGAIN, MY RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCIL RETAIN TOTAL FLEXIBILITY OF HOW TO USE THE GENERAL FUNDS IN A WAY THAT YOU SEE FIT AT THE TIME YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU SAID SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WE INTEND TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MUCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAPPENED ON THE FRONT END.
SO WHAT I, I MEANT THE CITY COUNCIL AND SO ENSURING THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING THOSE INCENTIVES AND WORKING, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME CREATIVE IDEAS ON THIS DAIS ABOUT WHAT THOSE INCENTIVES COULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE THROUGH THESE FUNDS.
AND SO, UM, WE WANNA MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE WORKING ON MAXIMIZING THOSE INCENTIVES AND REITERATE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL ON ANY IDEAS THAT MAY COME AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SERVICE PLAN.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE COUNCIL DOES APPROVE THIS BUDGET.
EVERY YEAR THE, THE TPI MANAGEMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BRING IT FORWARD AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL BRING THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND AT THAT POINT, THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON IT AS WELL.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WANNA MAKE SURE TO BE CLEAR, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT OUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE HAVE OVER 360,000 PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS CITY MAKING YOUR CREPES IN THE MORNING, MAKING THEIR WAY HERE FROM MAINOR, TEXAS, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS GENERALLY SPEAKING ABOUT HOW WE ALLOCATE FUNDING, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY DISDAIN OR ANY LACK OF SUPPORT FOR OUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR CITY AND I SUPPORT EVERYBODY WHO STOOD UP IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
BUT I DO THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS CONTINUED QUESTIONS AND OUR JOB IS SUPPOSED TO BE TO SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND IF MY CONSTITUENTS STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE, A C M ZENIO ABOUT THE RISK FOR POSTPONEMENT, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SOME INHERENT RISK BY NOT SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT THERE'S NO, UM, HARD FEELINGS AT THE END OF THIS DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.
OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE STAFF.
UM, THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF THE, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND, AND THE, UM, PLAN AND PROPOSAL THAT YOU BROUGHT, UH, TOGETHER THAT STRUCK ME AS UNIQUE AND WHERE AUSTIN IS KIND OF A STANDOUT, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, WITH THE DEAL.
AND SO COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER ANY OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT GOING TO A GENERAL FUND LIKE THIS PROPOSAL? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO, UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S AN INDIRECT, I I WANNA CLARIFY, WE'RE, WE'RE IN AN INDIRECT SITUATION NOW, BUT UM, THE ONLY OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ANYTHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
UM, THEY HAVE, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S 7.5% THAT GO TOWARD ARTS MARKETING FOR EVENTS THAT DRAW OVERNIGHT VISITORS.
SO THEY HAVE FORMS ONLINE THAT YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THAT SHOWS HOW MANY VISITORS YOU BROUGHT IN.
UM, AND SO THAT'S AN INDIRECT PAYMENT TO THE CITY, BUT SOLELY FOR ARTS MARKETING THAT BRINGS OVERNIGHT VISITORS.
AND SO NO OTHER CITY IS DOING CERTAINLY NOT THIS LEVEL OF, OF, UM, ALLOCATION, UM, AND NOT IN THIS WAY.
AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, COLLEAGUES, THAT THAT IS, THAT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS THAT I HOPE, UM, IS GIVEN REALLY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
THANKS MAYOR PRO TIM, I APPRECIATE US HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, FOR FOLKS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSING T PIDS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS, LIKE SOME OF US HAVE, I WANNA REMIND FOLKS THIS IS A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THIS DEMANDS THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR, OUR HOTEL INDUSTRY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL CAN JUST SAY, WE'RE GONNA LEVY A 2% TAX AND WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT WITH ALL OF THE DOLLARS.
THIS TAKES THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING, WE ACTUALLY WANT TO LEVY THIS ON OURSELVES, AND THEY HAVE TO GO GET SIGNATURES FROM ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THIS.
IT WORKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE DOWNTOWN PI THAT WE HAD ADOPTED, I THINK ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO OR, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE VERY SIMILAR METHODS OF, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS COMING AND SAYING, I WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
WE WANT OUR, UM, PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO GET DOLLARS THROUGH
[01:20:01]
THE GENERAL FUND FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT, UH, WE MIGHT WANNA DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, UM, OUR INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO AUSTIN AND SPEND THEIR MONEY IN AUSTIN AND CONTRIBUTE TO SALES TAX.YOU KNOW, A A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS.
AND SO I, I WANNA BE MINDFUL 'CAUSE I THINK THIS MAY BE THE SECOND POSTPONEMENT AND I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT IT FOR TODAY, BUT FOR FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING AND MAY NOT, UM, TALK ABOUT T PIDS VERY COMMONLY, I JUST WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT, UM, THERE'S GOTTA BE A BALANCE TO THIS.
THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME SONG AND DANCE IN WHAT ARE THEY WILLING TO GIVE, WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE? AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE THE CITY'S GOING TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE COMING TO THE CITY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS AGREEMENT.
AND SO I'LL, I'LL SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SORT OUT SOME OF THESE DETAILS AND, UM, HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO COME TO SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE I APPEAL TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO CLOSE ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALE ALTER? SO I THINK, UM, WE'VE BEEN, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION SINCE 2019 AND, AND I DO RESPECT THAT OTHERS ON THE DAAS HAVE NOT BEEN HAVING IT THAT LONG.
AND IF A COLLEAGUE WOULD LIKE A POSTPONEMENT FOR TWO WEEKS ON THIS ITEM, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED ON OUR, OUR SIDE.
I, I THINK THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I WILL JUST PAUSE ALSO AND APPRECIATE, UM, OUR STAFF AND, AND WHAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PURSUE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT I RAISED AND MAYBE MY COLLEAGUES RAISED AS WELL EARLIER.
I THINK YOU JUST RAISED ANOTHER ONE THOUGH, WITH THE ARTS COMMUNITY THAT WE HADN'T, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT OF.
I MEAN, I THINK OUR CONCERN IS WE STARTED WITH A PROPOSAL THAT WAS 40%, UM, AND NOW THERE'S 20%, YES, THERE'S AN OPTION TO GO TO 40%, BUT THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THAT HAPPENS ARE VERY UNLIKELY, UM, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER WAYS AND, AND IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO LEAN IN AND, AND SEE WHERE WE CAN LAND THERE TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THIS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IF WE CAN INVEST THAT MONEY, UM, IN THINGS THAT BRING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING OVERNIGHT, THAT ALSO BENEFIT THE CITY, UM, IN SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, THAT WOULD ALSO BE A WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
IT MAY NOT ALL GO INTO, UM, INCENTIVES AND THEN GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT IF WE CAN SUPPORT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY OR WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE, UM, WE ALL CAME OFF A BUDGET, I THINK WE JUST, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO ABSORB AND THINK THROUGH CREATIVELY TO SEE IF THERE'S A, A WIN-WIN THAT ACCOMPLISHES ALL THE GOALS, THE GOALS THAT THE, YOU KNOW, I WANNA, YOU KNOW, ALSO, UM, ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GOALS THAT ARE LAID OUT HERE BY OUR STAFF AND BY, UM, THE HOTELIERS AND THE NEEDS, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER ARE VERY REAL AND WE NEED, WE NEED TO ADDRESS 'EM.
UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO SEE IF THERE IS A CREATIVE WAY FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES TO CLOSE.
UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE FOR YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE DIRECT CONTRIBUTION.
'CAUSE I THINK YOU'RE REMEMBERING BACK TO 2019 WHEN THAT WAS THE VERY PUBLIC PROPOSAL WAS THE DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL FUND.
FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATURE, SO THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.
NOW WE'RE, UH, TALKING ABOUT THESE MORE ROUNDABOUT WAYS.
UM, SO I THINK, UH, COLLEAGUES, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD FROM, FROM STAFF, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT WORK SESSION.
I ASK, UH, FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT BALANCE AND WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION MEMBERS.
THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER SIX UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14TH.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, THERE BEING THREE, THREE NOS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE AND THE MAYOR.
IT'S POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14TH.
THAT WILL THEN TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 19.
[19. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for facility rental and related services with Hyatt Corporation as agent for Austin TRS LLC d/b/a Hyatt Regency Austin, for up to five years for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,062,500.]
MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AS, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT PULLED THAT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.THIS ITEM IS A, UH, A CONTRACT FOR MEETING SERVICES AND, UM, WE ONLY HAD ONE RESPONSE ON THIS CONTRACT, AND SO I WOULD LIKE, UH, TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE A DATE YOU WISH TO POSTPONE IT TO SEPTEMBER 14TH.
MOTION IS MADE ON ITEM NUMBER 19 TO POSTPONE IT TO SEPTEMBER 14TH.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER QUEZ.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM? ANY OBJECT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER
[01:25:01]
MADISON? UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK CITY STAFF TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT FOR AN ITEM WITH THIS MUCH OF AN ALLOCATION, THE POSTPONEMENT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION? HEARING NONE AND WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED AND IT IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 14TH.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS NOW GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, AND THAT'S WHEN WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 1 0 3 AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[Items 97 - 105]
I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ITEMS 97 98, 99, 100, 1 0 1, 1 0 2, 1 0 3, 1 0 4, AND 1 0 5.WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THOSE ITEMS. I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THERE ARE NOT ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, MAYOR MEMBERS.
THERE BEING NO PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
YOU GETTING READY TO TELL ME SOMETHING? UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 97 98 9 101 0 1, 1 0 2, 1 0 3, 1 0 4, AND 1 0 5.
UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 97, IS THERE A MOTION TO, TO, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING, IS THERE A MOTION I'LL MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 97.
IS THERE ANYBODY GONNA SECOND THAT FOR ME? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN.
IS THERE ANY, UH, DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 97 IS ADOPTED ON FIRST READING ITEM NUMBER 98.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THAT ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING? UH, MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES TO ADOPT THE ITEM NUMBER 98.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 98 IS ADOPTED ON FIRST READING.
ITEM NUMBER 99 IS TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ON, TAKE IT AS 1 0 8 AND 1 0 9 THAT IT GOES WITH, UH, ZONING.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM? THE ORDINANCE ON ITEM NUMBER 100 MAY BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL, BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 100 IS ADOPTED.
ITEM ITEM 99 IS POSTPONE BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO THE BROWN.
IS THERE AN MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES ADOPTION.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE EMOTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM 1 0 1 IS ADOPTED.
IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2? MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION ON ITEM 1 0 2? HEARING NONE.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 IS THERE.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I DO HAVE A MOTION SHEET FOR ITEM 1 0 3.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT.
UM, DO I NEED TO READ THIS OUT OR NO? MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3, WHICH, UM, PROVIDES DIRECTION.
IF YOU, UM, RECALL THIS IS THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, WE ARE CODIFYING THIS CHANGE FROM A RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD LAST YEAR.
AND THIS WAS REGARDING TENANT RELOCATION AND NOTIFICATION.
AND, UH, OUR INTENT WAS TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOWED DEVELOPERS TO AVOID NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND FEES WHEN REDEVELOPING A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND DISPLACING EXISTING TENANTS.
[01:30:01]
THIS REALLY IS ABOUT, UM, CLOSING THOSE LOOPHOLES AND ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS AMPLE NOTICE ABOUT ANY REDEVELOPMENT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE THAT WOULD CAUSE DISPLACEMENT SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE, UH, TO RELOCATE.AND THIS BUILDS OFF OF THE TENANT RELOCATION FUND THAT WE FUNDED DURING BUDGET.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY MOVED OUT OF THE PROPERTY, UM, HAVE, ARE NOTIFIED AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUND AS SUCH.
UM, SO MEMBERS, THE, THE MOTION INCLUDES, UH, THE ITEM THAT HAS JUST JUST BEEN DESCRIBED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 WITH, WITH THAT DIRECTION TO MANAGER THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 1 0 4, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THAT ORDINANCE? MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THERE BEING NO DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 IS ADOPTED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5? MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES ADOPTION.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES.
UM, SO THIS IS AN ITEM TO ADOPT, UH, BUILDING CODES.
UM, AND I WANNA FLAG THAT, WELL THIS ITEM ITSELF DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT BUILDINGS BE EQUIPPED TO HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AUSTIN ENERGY HAS INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT WORK TO BE READY FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL IN 2024.
I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THAT ACTION AS I KNOW MANY OF YOU DO AS WELL.
IT IS AN ESTABLISHED GOAL OF THIS COUNCIL TO ELECTRIFY AS MUCH OF OUR COMMUNITY'S VEHICLES AS POSSIBLE AND THAT WILL BE A CRITICAL STEP.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 IS ADOPTED, UH, MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER 99 THAT IS TIED AND LINKED TO ZONING ITEMS 1 0 8 AND 1 0 9, WHICH ARE NOT GOING TO BE HEARD TODAY.
SO WE WILL, UH, NOT BE, UH, VOTING ON ITEM NUMBER 99 TODAY.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND
[Items 141 & 142]
POSSIBLE ACTIONS ON ITEMS 1 41 AND 1 42.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 1 41 AND 1 42.
I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK TO LET US KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 41 AND 1 42.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE'S BEING NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM THE HEAR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ITEMS NUMBER 1 41 AND 1 42.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. ON ITEM NUMBER 1 41, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE, UH, LISTED IN ITEM NUMBER 1 41.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THERE BEING NO DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 42.
IT IS MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 42 IS ALSO ADOPTED.
MAYOR, WE CAN TAKE UP 1 38 A DAY.
OKAY, DO WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT? THERE'S NO AMENDMENT.
[138. Approve appointments and certain related waivers to citizen boards and commissions, to Council committees and other intergovernmental bodies, and to public facility corporations; removal and replacement of members; and amendments to board and commission bylaws and approve an ordinance waiving Subsections (B) and (C) of City Code Section 2-1-22 (Membership Term and Limitation) for the individuals specified in the ordinance. ]
NUMBER 1 38.SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF 1 38 AS IN THE BACKUP.
UM, WE DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE A BOARD.
IT WILL BE ON THE SEPTEMBER 14TH AGENDA.
THE CLERK HAS CLARIFIED THAT IT HAS TO COME FORWARD, UM, VIA RESOLUTION AND CANNOT BE ADDED, UM, TO 1 38.
AND IF I HAVE A SECOND THEN THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 38.
IT'S SECONDED BY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 1 38 IS ADOPTED.
[Executive Session]
WE WILL, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELA RELATED TO TEXAS HOUSE BILL 2127.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM ANNOUNCED WITHOUT OBJECT HEARING NONE THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL BE BACK AT NOON, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND LIVE MUSIC.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW, UH, RECESSED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1135, AUGUST 31ST.
[Public Comment (Part 2 of 2) (*A portion of this video is without audio*)]
[01:35:34]
AUSTIN, UM, CAN I GET THE SLIDE, THE FIRST SLIDE PLEASE? YEAH, SORRY I DIDN'T LET YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME.THE FIRST, THE SLIDE SHOWS, UH, SO IT SHOWS GRAYSTONE DRIVE, IT RUNS EAST AND WEST FROM MOPAC TO VALBERG DRIVE AND IT HAS FOUR, FOUR-WAY STOPS ALONG THE WAY.
EACH BLUE LINE IS A SPEED HUMP THAT WAS JUST INSTALLED.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE FOUR SPEED STUDY MEASUREMENTS IN BLACK TWO ON THE LEFT WEST OF MESA DRIVE ARE BOTH 34.6 MILES PER HOUR, THEN EAST OF MESA ON THE RIGHT, 33.7 AND 39.5 MILES PER HOUR.
A T D TOOK THIS 1 39 MILE PER HOUR SPEED MEASUREMENT AND USED IT TO JUSTIFY SPEED HUMPS, NOT JUST FOR THAT PART OF GRAYSTONE, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE ROAD.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR SPEED HUMPS ON THE FASTER PART OF GRAYSTONE, THEY INSTALLED FIVE MORE ON THE SLOWER, NARROWER PART OF GRAYSTONE WEST OF MESA DRIVE, WHERE 85% OF THE TRAFFIC IS ALREADY BELOW 34.6 MILES PER HOUR.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ACCORDING TO AUSTIN'S OWN VISION ZERO CRASH DATA WEBSITE, GRAYSTONE DRIVE HAS HAD NO SPEED RELATED ACCIDENTS GOING BACK FIVE YEARS.
UH, THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM AUSTIN TRAFFIC ENGINEER.
UH, SHE SAYS, QUOTE, THE COMMUNITY AND CRASH SCORE IS VERY LOW FOR GRAYSTONE DRIVE IN THIS SECTION.
IN FACT, I HAD INCLUDED GRAYSTONE DRIVE BETWEEN WEST ROOM DRIVE AND WIRELINE ROAD AS ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL STREETS FOR SPEED DATA COLLECTION.
THE 85TH PERCENTILE SPEED IN THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND DIRECTIONS WAS 34.6 MILES PER HOUR.
SO BY ATDS OWN DATA, WE HAVE A STREET WITH A LOW CRASH SCORE WHERE 85% OF TRAFFIC IS ALREADY BELOW 35 MILES PER HOUR.
AND YET THIS IS WHERE A T D JUST INSTALLED FIVE SPEED HUMPS.
THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY MOBILITY BONDS.
SURELY THIS ISN'T THE INTENT OF MOBILITY BONDS THAT WE VOTED FOR.
TO PUT SPEED BUMPS WHERE THE DATA SHOWS THEY'RE NOT NEEDED IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS, TO VOTE AGAINST MOBILITY BONDS.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF 650 RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED THIS PETITION AGAINST THESE SPEED BUMPS ON GRAYSTONE.
I'M ASKING YOU THE CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
PLEASE HELP US WORK WITH A T D TO REMOVE THESE FIVE UNNECESSARY SPEED BUMPS.
SPEED HUMPS WEST OF MESA DRIVE A T D CLAIMS TO BE DATA-DRIVEN, BUT EVEN BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS.
THE DATA HERE DOES NOT JUSTIFY THESE FIVE SPEED BUMPS.
AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE, JUST GO DRIVE DOWN GRAYSTONE DRIVE TODAY AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
JESSE DENIER, FOLLOWED BY DAVID AUDI.
UH, MY NAME IS JESSE
I'M HERE WITH MY PARTNER NATALIE BECKER.
BACK THERE ON BEHALF OF PETER PAN MINI GOLF.
BEEN THERE FOR 75 YEARS, A LOT LONGER THAN ME.
UH, THE NEWS CYCLES WITH K X A N K U, FOX SEVEN.
THE STATESMEN ALL AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, UM, STATED THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN, UH, THE TRUSTEE WHO'S OVERSEEING THAT LAND.
UM, AND IF THERE'S THE POTENTIAL WE WILL BE LOSING PETER PAN MINI GOLF IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE LAND IS MANAGED BY STATE TRUST THROUGH THE, UH, TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT RECENT STATE REVIEWS HAS APPOINTED A NEW TRUSTEE TO OVERSEE THAT LEASE.
UM, THE AGENCY HAS INDICATED THAT DISCUSSION OF RENEWING THE LEASE WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE NEW TRUSTEE IS PUT IN PLACE.
UM, BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THE LEASE IS UP MARCH 31ST, 2024.
SO I'M COMING, UM, UH, TO ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WORK WITH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND WITH THE OWNERS OF PETER PAN MINI GOLF TO PUSH IT THROUGH AND GET IT HISTORICAL LANDMARK STATUS SO THAT IT CAN BE SAFE AND WE CAN PRESERVE IT FOR GENERATIONS.
UH, MY MOM HAD HER FIRST DATE AT PETER PAN.
[01:40:01]
I'M WILLING TO BET MOST OF YOU GUYS HAVE PLAYED A COURSE OR TWO AT PETER PAN AND IT WOULD SUCK TO LOSE ANOTHER AUSTIN STAPLE TO THE CHANGE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SO GREAT IN THAT MOVE.UM, WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE HERE? IT DOES MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDMARK STATUS.
IT HAS A 50 PLUS YEAR OLD STRUCTURE, UH, RETAINING ITS HISTORICAL INTEGRITY.
IT OBVIOUSLY BRINGS COMMUNITY VALUE THROUGH AFFORDABLE FAMILY FUN.
UH, LANDSCAPE FEATURES ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS.
UM, MARGARET AND JULIO, UH, DE MOSSAD ARE THE OWNERS AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH BEN HEIM AT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION OF AUSTIN TO FILL OUT THE FORMS. BUT THESE FORMS ARE VERY CONFUSING AND CHALLENGING, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T OWN THE LAND AND IS LEASING IT.
SO IF SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN WHERE THE CITY COULD STEP IN AND HELP OUT OR ASSIST IN ANY WAY SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE BROKEN SPOKE A FEW YEARS AGO, I THINK ALL OF AUSTIN WOULD BE ON BOARD AND ENJOY THAT.
THANK NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID ANGELO.
ARE YOU HERE DAVID? UH, FOLLOWING DAVID IS KAITLYN NAGAR.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT FIVE TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AT THE JULY 10TH AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ESSENTIALLY LIMIT PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AT FOR-PROFIT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. ALTHOUGH A LARGE PORTION OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM POTENTIAL DISEASES AND INJURIES, WE MUST REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO EVEN COME ABOUT ANIMALS SPECIFICALLY AT AUSTIN AQUARIUM HAVE BEEN SUBJECTS OF IMPRISONMENT SUFFERING IN UNWANTED ENFORCED PUBLIC ATTENTION.
ANIMALS THAT ARE IMPRISONED SUFFER FROM ZOONOSIS, WHICH IS A FORM OF PSYCHOSIS THAT DEVELOPS AS A RESULT OF CAPTIVITY.
THIS CAN PRESENT IN NUMEROUS WAYS, SUCH AS BITING THE CAGES THEY'RE KEPT IN PACING AND CIRCLING SELF-MUTILATION AND INHERITING MEDICAL ISSUES.
THIS WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF US BEING HELD IN SOLI SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR OUR ENTIRE LIVES.
THE ANIMALS AT THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM BASED ON AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION WERE DENIED VETERINARY CARE WHEN THEY DESPERATELY NEEDED IT.
SOME ANIMALS WERE LEFT TO SUFFER AND DIE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE OWNERS AMAN AND CHRISTIE COVINO DIDN'T WANT TO DIP INTO THEIR PROFITS TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AMAN COVINO HAS BEEN IN PRISON FOR ILLEGAL WILD WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND BROKE HIS PROBATION ONCE RELEASED, A LOOPHOLE EXISTED WHERE IF THE AQUARIUM WAS PLACED UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF HIS WIFE, INSTEAD THEY COULD STILL OPERATE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID.
SKIRTING AROUND THE RULES AND DOING LESS THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED IS NOT NEW TO THE COVINO FAMILY.
THAT IS WHY WE MUST PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT IS CLEAR AND NOT DILUTED ANYMORE THAN IT ALREADY IS.
PLEASE ASK YOURSELVES IF YOU WERE IN THE ANIMAL'S POSITION, THE VICTIM'S POSITION, WOULD YOU RATHER SOMEONE DILUTE THE POTENTIAL PROTECTIONS WHICH WOULD NULLIFY ITS PURPOSE? OR WOULD YOU RATHER SOMEONE STAND FIRM ON THE FACT THAT YOU DESERVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CARE? AND ANY INJUSTICE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE OURSELVES IN THE OPPRESSED POINT OF VIEW.
WE STAND UP FOR THE OPPRESSED BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND NOT OURS.
JUST LIKE YOU OR I, THESE VICTIMS EXPERIENCE REALITY AND ARE SENTIENT.
THESE ANIMALS DESERVE MORE PROTECTIONS AND FRANKLY, THEY DESERVE TO BE LEFT ALONE ENTIRELY.
BUT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE FORCED TO ENDURE CURRENTLY, WHICH IS WHY I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE PLACE YOURSELVES IN THEIR SHOES AND CONSIDER PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
ONCE IT IS PROPOSED, THE ANIMALS WILL THANK YOU AND SO WILL WE.
UM, THANK KELLY JUST FOR THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM IS LOCATED IN MY DISTRICT AND I AM AWARE OF SOME OF THE, UH, INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THERE.
WE INITIALLY WERE CONSIDERING BRINGING FORWARD DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT HAVE PURSUED A DIFFERENT AVENUE FOR THAT, INCLUDING TALKING WITH, UM, INDIVIDUALS AT THE STATE, UM, ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND, AND THE ANIMALS IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON MITCHELL, UH, SPEAKING REMOTELY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I AM ALSO SPEAKING TO ASK THE MAYOR IN CITY COUNCIL TO
[01:45:01]
REVIEW AS AN AGENDA ITEM THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD BE IN PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AT FOR-PROFIT SUSAN AQUARIUMS, UNLESS THEY HAVE ACCREDITATION BY A Z A, THAT ACCREDITATION IS THE NATIONAL STANDARD.ACCORDING TO THE U S D A AND OSHA, THE THE INSPECTIONS AND PERFORMANCE BASED EVALUATIONS THAT IT REQUIRES ARE REALLY THE BARE MINIMUM AND THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT SENTIENT BEINGS, THE ANIMALS THAT ARE FORCED TO ENDURE LIVING THERE.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPEARS TO LEAVE SOME CONCERNING LOOPHOLES IN THE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED A FOR-PROFIT ZOO OR AQUARIUM.
AND THE DEFINITION OF A WILD ANIMAL DOES NOT INCLUDE FISH.
I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE TO CLOSE THESE HOLES SO THAT ALL THE ANIMALS HAVE THE FULLEST PROTECTION.
FISH ARE VERY INTELLIGENT ANIMALS WHO FORM BONDS WITH OTHER FISH AND THEY'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN MAMMALS AND THEIR CAPACITY TO FEEL PAIN AND SUFFER.
AS CAITLIN MENTIONED, THE AUSTIN AERIUM IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INVESTIGATIONS SHOWING THE BLATANT NEGLECT AND ABUSE OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN CONFINEMENT.
THERE'VE ALSO BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF VISITORS, INCLUDING CHILDREN BEING ATTACKED AND INJURED BY THE ANIMALS THERE.
WITHOUT THIS ORDINANCE, THE PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN.
THE ANIMALS AT THE AQUARIUM AND SIMILAR BUSINESSES ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN AN EXTREMELY CONFINING AND VERY UNNATURAL HABITAT.
ANIMALS AT THE AQUARIUM SUFFER CLEAR PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND THEY DO NOT RECEIVE THE MEDICAL CARE WHEN IT IS NEEDED.
AND CONSIDERING THIS ORDINANCE, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ASK YOURSELF, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULD NOT WANT THIS BARE MINIMUM STANDARD OF PROTECTION FOR THESE BELOVED ANIMALS? PLEASE PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR POSITION.
AUSTIN IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE KNOWN FOR COMPASSION TOWARD ANIMALS.
IT'S TIME TO PUT THE GOOD INTENTIONS INTO ACTION AND PUT THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND SAFETY OF THOSE ANIMALS AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC ABOVE THE PROFITS OF THE BUSINESSES THAT EXPLOIT THE ANIMALS.
THE ANIMALS ARE INNOCENT AND VULNERABLE AND IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO BE THEIR VOICE AND PROTECT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
IT IS A VERY SMALL STEP TO SHOW THAT WE TRULY CARE ABOUT ANIMALS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLANN ROSE KENNEDY.
SHE SAID THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK WATSON ON THE WATER, A LITTLE WHITE DUCK DO IN WHAT SHE OUGHT TO.
SHE JUMPS RIGHT OFF OF A LILY WHITE PAD, FLIPS HER WINGS AND SHE SAYS, I'M BAD.
THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK WALTZ ON THE WATER OR ACT.
THERE'S A LITTLE BROWN MAN HANGING AT THE BORDER, A LITTLE BROWN MAN WAITING FOR AN ORDER.
THE KIDS AND THEIR MOM SCREAMED AND CRIED ALL NIGHT 'CAUSE HE PACKED HIS BAGS AND HE PICKED ANOTHER FIGHT.
THERE'S A HIGH WHITE TOWER BUILT INSIDE A BOARDROOM, A HIGH WHITE TOWER WAITING FOR A QUORUM.
THEY ATE AND THEY DRANK AND THEY LEFT AND PLAYED WHILE THE PEONS WORKED AND BECAME THEIR SLAVES.
THERE'S A BIG WHITE DRUNK HEADING OFF TO WAR AND A SMART BLACK HUNK ON ANOTHER SHORE.
THE BATTLES THEY FIGHT, THEY BELONG TO YOU.
THERE'S A LONG HORN BOWL WAITING AT THE MARKET.
[01:50:01]
KNOW WHERE TO PARK IT.THEY ALL TOUCHED DOWN AND THEY THROW IT UP.
THERE'S A BIG BLACK BEAR WAITING AT THE MARKET.
LOOK AT THE AMERICAN LIFE WE MADE.
THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE GIRL CLIMBING UP A TREE AND A LITTLE BLACK BOY FELL FROM MAMA'S KNEE.
THEY'RE HUNGRY, TIRED AND THEY'RE SO CONFUSED.
LOOK AT THE LITTLE WE, THE PEOPLE BEING USED.
THERE'S A LITTLE YELLOW GIRL BORN TO SERVE A MAN.
A LITTLE YELLOW GIRL DOING WHAT SHE CAN.
SHE REACHES UP BUDDY SLAPS HER DOWN AND NOW SHE'S WORKING FOR A PARTY CLOWN.
THERE'S A LITTLE BROWN BOY ON THE RESERVATION WONDERING WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE NATION.
HE DRINKS, SEND PRAISE ON THE CITY BUS, DREAMING ABOUT WHAT BELONGS TO US.
THERE'S A BIG WHITE DUCK FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER.
A BIG WHITE DUCK GOT A WASTED LIVER.
SHE LAYS HER EGGS IN, SHE CRIES ALL NIGHT HOPING THAT A MAN WILL PICK UP THE FIGHT.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PETE RYMAN, FOLLOWED BY NATALIE BECKER.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED ME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
AND LASTLY, ROBERT CORBIN BECKER.
JUST PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND I'M A CURRENT LOCAL RESIDENT.
I'M HERE WITH MY PARTNER, JESSE DENE, WHO SPOKE EARLIER, UM, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF SAVING AUSTIN'S PETER PAN MINI GOLF.
UM, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PETER PAN IS GROWING UP IN AUSTIN, GOING THERE OVER THE YEARS.
MY MOM TOLD ME I'VE BEEN PLAYING AT PETER PAN SINCE I WAS IN UTERO AND STILL MY BROTHER LIVES OUT OF TOWN NOW AND WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE COME AND VISIT, WE GO THERE EVERY SINGLE TIME.
UM, IN RESPONSE TO THE NEWS CYCLE, BEGINNING TO STATE THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE OF PETER PAN, I CREATED A PETITION ON AUGUST 2ND.
AND TO DATE THIS PETITION HAS OVER 10,500 SIGNATURES, PRIMARILY FROM LOCAL CONSTITUENTS WHO SUPPORT PETER PAN REMAINING A PART OF AUSTIN FOR YEARS TO COME.
UM, HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS WOULD ENSURE THE FUTURE OF PETER PAN.
PEOPLE ON THE PETITION COMMENTS NOTE THEIR DISMAY AT THE NUMBER OF OLD AUSTIN ESTABLISHMENTS LOST OVER THE YEARS IN FAVOR OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.
COULD YOU BRING UP THE, UM, SLIDE? SO ON THE SECOND PAGE THERE'S A SCREENSHOT, THE THIRD PAGE
THERE IS A SCREENSHOT OF THE PETITION AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
THE FOLLOWING PAGE SHOWS A SAMPLE PAGE OF SIGNATURES.
THAT SIGNATURE LIST, AS YOU CAN SEE CONTINUES FOR 226 PAGES.
SAVING PETER PAN WOULD BE A HUGE WIN FOR CITIZENS AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO DEMONSTRATE A VESTED INTEREST IN PRESERVING THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF AUSTIN.
EVEN AS IT GROWS, MANY CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN IS BEING LOST IN FAVOR OF PROFIT AND NEW DEVELOPMENT AND SAVING PETER PAN AS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THEY CARE ABOUT AND WILL ACTIVELY ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
ASSISTANCE FROM CITY COUNCIL AND DESIGNATING PETER PAN AS AN AUSTIN HISTORIC LANDMARK WOULD BENEFIT COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITIZENS AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS CASE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE COME TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THEIR LOCAL BUSINESS.
UM, COVERAGE OF THE PETITION DRIVE WAS RUN IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH.
AND THERE'S A LINK IN THE, UM, THING THAT I SENT THAT INCLUDES THE LINK TO THAT, THAT ARTICLE.
UM, THE STORY WAS BUMPED TO THE FRONT PAGE OF THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN ON MONDAY, EIGHT SEVEN.
THE SUPPORT FROM HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION CHAIRMAN BEN HEIM WAS QUOTED IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN ARTICLE NOTING THAT PETER PAN MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS AND WE BE A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR THE TOURISM GRANT ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORIC LANDMARK.
[01:55:01]
THE COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LANDMARK STATUS ARE ON, I BELIEVE NOW I'M ON MIXED UP PAGE TWO OF THE, UM, PAMPHLET THAT I SENT.UM, REQUIREMENTS BEING THAT IT'S A 50 PLUS YEAR OLD STRUCTURE RETAINING HISTORIC INTEGRITY WITH COMMUNITY VALUE AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES.
MYSELF AND JESSE AND THE OWNERS WILL BE SPEAKING TO THESE POINTS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AUSTIN HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ON NINE SIX.
NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, ALICE FRANK, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT CORBIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALICE FRANK.
I'VE BEEN A A, A CITY, A CITY RESIDENT FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
AND I ORIGINALLY CAME HERE TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT ANY SPEED BUMPS TO BE INSTALLED ON GRAYSTONE.
BUT IN JUST ONE DAY LAST WEEK, THE CITY WENT AHEAD AND INSTALLED NINE SPEED BUMPS WITH NO INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS.
I DON'T WANT NINE SPEED BUMPS ON GRAYSTONE.
I'VE LIVED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 30 YEARS AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER SEEING AN ACCIDENT ON GRAYSTONE.
IT IS ONE OF THE SAFEST STREETS IN AUSTIN.
SO WHO REQUESTED THESE SPEED BUMPS? I KNOW THAT CLOSE TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE SIGNED A PETITION TO NOT INSTALL SPEED HUMPS, BUT I NEVER SAW ANY PETITION REQUESTING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE HUMPS ARE HARD ON OUR BACKS AND THEY'RE HARD ON OUR CAR SUSPENSION.
THE RECENT INSTALLATION OF THE SPEED HUMPS ESSENTIALLY MADE THE SP SPEED LIMIT 2020 MILES PER HOUR.
IN REALITY, THOUGH, YOU CAN'T HIT THE SPEED HUMPS AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.
EVERY TIME I APPROACH ONE OF THE NINE HUMPS I HAVE TO STOP TO GO OVER THE HUMP AND THEN ACCELERATE TO GET TO THE NEXT HUMP.
THIS PROCESS OF STOPPING AND ACCELERATING IS WASTING A LOT OF GASOLINE, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE FOR EVERYONE AND BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU REMOVE THE EXISTING 30 MILE PER HOUR SIGNS AND SELL THEM TO PURCHASE 20 MILE PER HOUR SIGNS.
STAVE MONEY ALSO ON REPURPOSING THE SCHOOL ZONE SIGNS.
JUST MOVE THEM TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF GRAYSTONE.
CHANGE THE THE WORD SCHOOL ZONE AND SAY SLOW ZONE AND MAKE THE SPEED LIMIT 20 MILES ALONG THE, THE PERMIT WITH, ALONG WITH PERMANENT BLINKING LIGHTS.
THEN REMOVE THE RECENTLY INSTALLED SPEED HUMPS AND REUSE THE ASPHALT TO REPAIR THE MANY POTHOLES IN THE AREA SUCH AS THE LARGE POT, LARGE POTHOLE AT THE CORNER OF MESA AND GRAYSTONE AND LARGE MISSING ROAD PIECE IN FRONT OF THE WALGREENS ON MESA, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL TO TRY TO SAVE MONEY AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO SPEND MONEY.
WHO RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE ELSE? WHY NOT? WHY CAN'T THE POLICE JUST TICKET THE PEOPLE WHO SPEED ON GRAYSTONE? OH WAIT, THE CITY COUNCIL WERE THE ONES WHO DEFUNDED THE POLICE.
UM, WE HAVE FOLKS FROM TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS WHO ARE HERE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, I THINK THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UH, ROBERT CORBIN IS MY NAME AND I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING SOMETHING I WASN'T GONNA SAY.
AND IT'S IN REGARDS TO THE AQUARIUM.
AND I'VE OWNED DOGS, I'VE OWNED CATS, I'VE OWNED FISH, I'VE OWNED TURTLES IN MY LIFE, BEARDED DRAGONS, DIFFERENT THINGS AT DIFFERENT AGES.
AND I'VE PRETTY MUCH COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE WHOLE PET THING IS CRUELTY.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE ABOUT COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF.
SO MY TALK AUSTIN'S NO KILL POLICIES I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ASSERTED TO BE SILLY, HUGE WASTE OF MONIES AND COMPASSION THAT HAS TWISTED OUR CITY'S PRIORITIES.
NEXT TIME YOU'LL HEAR ALL THE NEGATIVES DOG CULTURE AS INFLICTED UPON OUR CITY.
BUT TODAY I WILL TELL YOU RECENT STORIES SO YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW I GOT TO THE POINT ON THAT.
FOR STARTERS, I HAVE SEEN DOCTORS FOR THREE INJURIES INFLICTED UPON ME BY OFF-LEASH DOGS.
ONE INJURY JUST BEFORE MY 75TH BIRTHDAY IS PERMANENT AND WILL AFFECT MY MOVEMENTS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AND I AM FAR FROM ALONE AS INJURIES INFLICTED UPON OUR POPULATION, OUR EPIDEMIC IN THIS CITY.
SO OTHER STORIES, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT.
AT MY BEGINNING OF THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I'M SITTING ON A ROCK AFTER A SWIM WHEN THE WATER WAS FLOWING, PUTTING
[02:00:01]
ON MY SHOES PIT BULL HITS ME IN THE SHOULDER SO HARD THAT MY WHOLE BODY BENDS OVER.I TURN AROUND THE DOG'S BACK THERE.
I SAY TO THE OWNER, I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR DOG.
WAMP HIM IN THE BACK LIKE THAT.
HE HOOKS HIS THUMB OVER HIS SHOULDER AND HE TELLS ME, YOU NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE.
THEN SINCE THEN, I FOUND THAT THAT'S NORMAL FOR DOG OWNERS.
THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THEY OFTEN CARRY ALONG WITH THEM.
IF IT HAD HIT JUST ANOTHER TWO OR THREE INCHES HIGHER UP, IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE SHATTERED MY VERTEBRAE.
I'D BEEN A CRIPPLE THE REST OF MY LIFE.
BARTON CREEK GREEN BELT AGAIN.
I MET A WOMAN WHO TOLD ME SHE HAS A WOMAN FRIEND WHO LOVES THE GREEN BELT SO MUCH SHE WOULD LIVE ON IT, BUT SHE WON'T GO ON IT AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE OFF LEASH DOGS.
AGAIN, BARTON CREEK GREENBELT.
I MEET A PRESCHOOL GROUP WHERE THEY'RE LIKE AGES FOUR AND SEVEN.
THEY HAVE DRILLS BEFORE THEY GO TO THE GREEN BELT, HOW THEY'RE GONNA REACT WHEN A DOG APPROACHES THEM, HOW THEY'RE GONNA BALL UP TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
MY STREET, MY OWN STREET WHERE I LIVED, THERE'S A BIG MUSCULAR GUY WHO RUNS HIS DOG OFF LEASH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE HE RIDES HIS BIKE, EVEN DOG RUNS INTO MY PROPERTY.
I'VE ASKED HIM POLITELY AS I COULD PLEASE HAVE YOUR DOG ON A LEASH IN THE HOOD.
SO WHAT HE DOES NOW, WHEN HE SEES ME AND HE'S RIDING HIS BIKE, HE RACES SPEEDING AND AT THE LAST MINUTE HE VEERS AWAY.
HE'LL DO CIRCLES AROUND ME, CALL ME NAMES, VULGAR NAMES.
IS THAT MY THREE MINUTES UP ALREADY? YES IT IS.
YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE OVER.
BUT YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE AGAIN.
UH, MEMBERS FROM YOU AGAIN, UH, MEMBERS THAT'S, UH, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO BE PART OF OUR NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL RECESS UNTIL OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA RIGHT NOW START HAVING PEOPLE SET UP FOR OUR, UH, MUSIC AND, AND SO, UH, EVERYBODY HANG AROUND AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHY, UH, A BUNCH OF FOLKS HAVE JUST SHOWN UP.
AND SO YOU'RE WELCOME AND, UH, WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET THE STARTING THE MUSIC HERE JUST VERY SOON.
UH, I THINK THEY HEARD YOU WERE GONNA BE FREESTYLE RAPPING, SO THAT'S WHY THE FOLKS SHOWED UP TODAY.
I, I I'M, I I I DO THAT VERY FREQUENTLY, BUT I'M, I'M I I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR A LONG TIME TODAY.
WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK.
BUT PLEASE STAY FOR THE MUSIC.
IT SOUNDS LIKE HE DOESN'T NEED ANY INTRODUCTION.
[Live Music]
THE BREAKMASTER DJ TWO TWO DQ TWO DQ HAS BEEN AUSTIN'S FAVORITE AND INFLUENTIAL MIX DJ IN OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP AND R AND B MUSIC.
NOW AS WE SEE, HE'S A HOUSEHOLD NAME.
HE HAS THE MOST ON-AIR EXPERIENCE OF ANY OTHER MIXED DJ ON COMMERCIAL RADIO, UH, OF ANY RADIO STATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
HE STARTED MIXING ON K Q B T BEAT 1 0 4 0.3 IN EARLY 2000.
AND SINCE THEN, HE'S WORKED IN AUSTIN RADIO FOR 17 YEARS UP AND DOWN THE DIAL, KNOWN FOR THE RECORDS THAT HE PLAYS A DISTINCT REPERTOIRE OF HITS THAT IDENTIFY HIM ON THE TURNTABLES.
DJ TWO DQ HAS BECOME KNOWN FOR HIS INNOVATIVE MIXES THROUGH HIS TRADEMARK QUICK MIX STYLE IN AND OUTTA RECORDS QUICKLY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FIVE O'CLOCK MIX BEING THE MOST LISTENED TO MIXED SHOW ON K Q B T AT CLUBS AND PARTIES.
HE'S KNOWN FOR BEING ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY DANCING, DRINKING, AND PARTNERING THROUGHOUT HIS MUSIC SETS.
WHAT Y'ALL PICKED UP ON THAT DID YOU MATT? I KNOW HOW TO GET APPLAUSE FROM THIS CROWD.
HE'S HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH VARIOUS ON-AIR PERSONALITIES, ARTISTS, DJS, MCS, RAPPERS, SINGERS, AND GRAPHIC DESIGNERS TO PUT OUT THE BEST PRODUCT YOU CAN CATCH HIM ON HOT.
THE HOT MIX AT SIX, AIRING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, SIX TO 7:00 PM AND SATURDAY NIGHT HOT MIX AIRING SATURDAY NIGHTS FROM 8:00 PM TO 12:00 AM LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S HEAR FROM THE BREAKMASTER.
CAN YOU TURN ME UP JUST A LITTLE BIT? I'M REALLY LOW ALL THE TIME.
CHECK ONCE YOU, ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOOD.
[02:05:02]
IN THE HOUSE.HI, SO SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, EVERYBODY.
COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT YOU'RE HERE WITH ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND EVERYBODY WATCHING.
SO THEY ASKED ME TO MIX FOR FIVE MINUTES AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME PLAY BEFORE, WHAT CAN I DO IN FIVE MINUTES? AND I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LEMME TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY.
THE REASON WHY I'M HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU.
ALRIGHT, SO BACK IN THE DAY, I USED TO WORK ON BREAK MASTER, DJ, FOODIE Q ON THE BEAT 1 0 4 0.3 20 YEARS AGO IN 2000 WE USED TO PLAY SONGS LIKE THIS IS HOW WE DO STRAIGHT UP.
YOU'RE IN THE MIX WITH MY DADDY.
FAST FORWARD, I WENT DOWN THE DOW UNDER, I WENT DOWN THE DOW 93 3.
YOU'RE IN THE MIX WITH MY DADDY.
I JUST WANNA PLAY THAT BECAUSE I LOVE SO MUCH DQ.
I, I WENT DOWN THE DOW, I WAS AT DJ TWO DQ IN THE MIX.
HOW WE USED TO PLAY SONGS LIKE EIGHT BOY JOHN AND YOU IN THE MIDDLE WITH THE HOMEBOY TWO DQ.
ALRIGHT, SO, SO THEN I WORK TO WORK FOR THIS STATION IN THE MIX 1 0 2 3, THE BEAT WITH DJ TWO DQ.
ALRIGHT? AND WE USED TO PLAY SONGS LIKE START FROM THE BOTTOM.
NOW MY OLD TEAM HERE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM.
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW TEAM HERE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM AND NOW WE ARE HERE.
ALRIGHT, SO I KNOW WE TO WANT TO GO WORK FOR WORK FOR THIS STATION.
IT'S THE LATINO STREET MIX CON DJ, ALL LATINO.
HI, THAT WAS UH, HEY, THIS IS GEORGE LOPEZ.
THAT'S MY MAN WHO YOU'RE LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW.
SO THEN I WORK TO WORK FOR MY CURRENT STATION WHERE I'M AT.
YOU CAN CATCH ME MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAYS MY, HEY THIS IS IT.
100% THROWBACKS WITH AUSTIN'S FAVORITE DJ.
DJ TWO DQ, THE NEW HOT 95 9 ALL DAY, EVERY DAY PLAY SONGS LIKE THIS.
WHOA, Y'ALL GONNA MAKE ME DO MY, Y'ALL MAKE ME GO ALL OUT HERE.
WHAT UP GUYS? IT'S BRUNO MARS HANGING OUT WITH DJ TWO DQ.
WHERE YOUR HANDS AT? COME ON, WE HERE, LET'S GO.
WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY? I'M GARY CLARK JR.
AND RIGHT NOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO MY FAVORITE DJ, DJ TOOTIE.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
YO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IT'S GARY CLARK JR.
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO MY FAVORITE DJ EVER IN THE WORLD.
THE DUDE WHO INSPIRED ME, WHO PUT ME ON TO THE DOPEST OF THE DOPE
[02:10:01]
AND THE GREATEST OF THE GREATEST.I WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS DUDE.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
LET'S YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AUSTIN, TEXAS, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALWAYS SHOWING ME LOVE.
MY DAUGHTER STAR AND MY GRANDKIDS.
AND THANK ALL Y'ALL CELEBRATION.
PUT YOUR HANDS UP, MAKE SOME NOISE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AMERICA WATCHING JOSE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DJ'S FAVORITE CELEBRATION.
LET'S CELEBRATE YOU ALL MY OLD AND NEW FRIENDS BEING HERE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME TONIGHT.
GOT SOME MORENOS IN THE BUILDING.
LET'S CELEBRATE BLACK, WHITE, PUERTO RICAN, DOMINICAN, ITALIAN IN THE BUILDING.
WHAT UP TONIGHT? SOMEBODY SAID EAST SIDE.
WHAT UP WEST SIDE? WHAT UP SOUTH SIDE? AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
Y'ALL COULD'VE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE.
COULD YOU HERE MY NAME IS DJ TUMAS.
FAVORITE DJ AND LEMME SAY THIS REAL QUICK.
IF I WAS A MILLIONAIRE, I WOULD DO THIS FOR FREE 'CAUSE I LOVE Y'ALL.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY KEEPS STANDING UP 'CAUSE WE GOT A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION.
I GOT A, I WANT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE.
I'M SORRY I GOT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS COME ON UP HERE.
YEAH, WE GOT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.
GOT A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
ALONG WITH ALL THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANNA MAKE A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXTEND TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN 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 CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 31ST, 2023 AS DJ TWO DQ DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS ON BEHALF OF SAFETY WORD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE REALLY SERIOUSLY ON THE PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, UH, SOMEBODY TOLD ME, ONE OF MY DJS SAID, MAN, YOU REPRESENT FOR THE OGS, MAN.
I WANNA REPRESENT FOR ALL THE DJS.
AND I HAVE NO HATE ON NO DJS UP AND COMING THE OGS, UH, BUT SWALLOW ONE LOVE.
AND SERIOUSLY, IT'S ALL LOVE IN THIS BUILDING TODAY FROM BEHIND ME TO IN FRONT OF ME.
[02:15:04]
KEEP KEEP IT UP.THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING AUSTIN THE WAY YOU DO.
WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD AND VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS GROUP.
THIS HAS BEEN THE, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FUN OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WE'VE HAD IN A WHILE.
CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING PLEASE? PLEASE.
CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? IS THIS, CAN WE TURN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT? I WANNA SAY ONE MORE THING.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I DO.
LIKE I SAID, IF I WAS A MILLIONAIRE, I WOULD DO THIS FOR FREE.
IF I OWN MY LITTLE BAR, I'M GONNA DO IT.
I'M GONNA DO IT, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO IT.
BUT WHEN I DIE, Y'ALL BETTER COME BACK AND GET ME RIGHT NEXT TO STEVIE RAYON.
I WANT A STATUE RIGHT NEXT TO STEVE RAYON.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I'M GONNA CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
IT'S 2:00 PM AND IT'S AUGUST 31ST.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO MEET IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 2 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
AND SO WE WILL TAKE UP OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS RELATED TO ZONING AND I SEE SOMEBODY AT THE PODIUM, SO LET'S SEE IF SHE CAN KICK US OFF.THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8 C ONE FOUR R R 8 1 0 33 R C A.
THIS IS THE BRODY OAKS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT AND THIS IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THE APPLICANT IS STILL AWAITING SIGNATURES ON A DOCUMENT THAT, UH, IS NEEDED TO FINALIZE THIS ITEM.
SO WE ARE POSTPONING IT AGAIN TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9 C 8 14 20 21 0 0 9 9.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM ONE 10 IS N P A 20 22 0 0 0 5 0.02.
UM, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM ONE 11 C 14, 20 22 0 0 0 1 1 4, EXCUSE ME, 0 1 1 4.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING, AND I JUST WANNA STATE, UM, THAT THERE IS A VALID PETITION ON THIS CASE AND THE SPEAKER IS HERE TO SPEAK TO THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DOWN ZONING TRIGGERING COMPATIBILITY.
UM, THIS ITEM, UM, IS SUPPORTED BY STAFF, BUT IT WAS FORWARDED, UM, WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE'RE JUST HERE FOR FIRST READING.
IT WILL REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF SIX VOTES TODAY.
IT WHEN THIS ITEM RETURNS BACK ON YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING, UM, IT WILL NEED NINE VOTES FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.
ITEM ONE 12 IS C 1 4 20 20 0 1 4 3.
UM, THE BALLOT PETITION ON THIS ITEM HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND WE ARE READY TO
[02:20:01]
OFFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.ITEM ONE 13, IT'S N P A 20 22 0 0 0 8 0.01.
THIS IS THE EAST 12TH STREET CASE.
THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
UM, STAFF WAS, UM, READY TO OFFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT FIRST READING AND BRING THIS BACK ON YOUR, UH, SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING.
AND THAT'S THE SAME DATE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REQUESTING THEIR POSTPONEMENT.
I WILL JUST SAY WE HAVE SPEAKERS HERE FOR AND AGAINST THIS ITEM.
UM, THE SPEAKERS CAN SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF, UM, THEIR OPPOSITION, THE OPPOSITION, AND, UM, THEIR REASON FOR THEIR POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
AND THEN COUNSEL, YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION FOR CONSENT FIRST READING OR THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO SEPTEMBER 21ST.
UM, AGAIN, UM, THE ONE 14 IS C 1 4 20 22 0 1 5 0.
THIS IS THE RELATED REZONING TO THE ITEM THAT I JUST SPOKE TO AND AGAIN, STAFF IS OFFERING FOR CONSENT FIRST READING, BUT, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REQUESTING A SECOND POSTPONEMENT.
UM, ONE 15 A C 1 4 20 23 0 0 3 9.
THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THERE ARE TWO OPPOSITION SPEAKERS HERE TO SPEAK TO THEIR CONCERNS.
UM, ONE 16 A C 8 1 4 0 6 0 1 7 5 0.04.
THIS CASE IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM ONE 17 IS N P A 20 23 0 0 1 8 0.04.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THE RELATED REZONING ITEM IS ONE 18 C 1 4 20 23 0 0 2 9.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON FIRST READING.
ITEM ONE 19 IS N P A 20 21 0 0 2 5 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM ONE 20 C 1 4 20 22 0 1 6 0.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING AND THE RELATED R C A IS 1 21 C 1 4 85 2 8 8 0.79 R C A.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 21ST, UM, MEETING.
THE TWO CASES BEFORE, UM, WERE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING, THIS IS POSTPONED 'CAUSE RCAS JUST HAVE ONE READING AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THESE ITEMS BACK ON SEPTEMBER 21ST.
UM, ITEM 1 22 IS C 14 20 22 0 1 6 9.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 23 IS C 14 20 23 0 0 1 4.
UM, THERE'S A VALID PETITION ON THIS ITEM.
NON VOTES ARE REQUIRED, BUT THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 24 C 1 4 20 23 0 0 3 0.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 25 IS C 14 20 23 0 0 2 6 AND THERE'S THAT APPLICANT POSTPONE REQUEST TO YOUR OCTOBER 19TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 1 26 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 0 2 3.
THE SIGN IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED, OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED, OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
AND 9 1 1 29 IS C 8 1 4 97 1 5.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED, OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA, THE ZONING AGENDA ON, UH, ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS.
UM, YES, UM, WE HAD BRODY SPEAKERS, BUT THAT ITEM IS BEING POSTPONED.
AND, UM, JUST TO NOTE, ONE 11, WELL, ONE 10 AND ONE 11.
WE HAVE THE OPPOSITION SPEAKER THAT HAS THE VALID PETITION, BUT IT'S A SINGLE SPEAKER, BUT IT'S A SINGLE SPEAKER.
MAYOR, UH, ONE 13 AND ONE 14 IS THE ONLY ITEM MOVING FORWARD, UH, WITH MULTIPLE SPEAKERS.
UH, COUNCIL, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE STAFF? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE TAKE UP ONE 13 AND ONE 14 FIRST.
UM, I'M, I'M NOT FEELING WELL.
UM, THE, THE, THE OTHER ONES ARE CONSENT, BUT, UM, WHAT I'LL, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT AREN'T ON 1 13, 1 14? MADAM CLERK, I'LL TRY TO BE ACCOMMODATING HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IN PERSON SPEAKERS WE HAVE ABOUT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
AND AND HOW MANY ON ONE 13 AND ONE 14.
THEN HOW MANY O OTHER SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP? UH, WE HAVE SIX OTHER SPEAKERS FOR IN PERSON AND OKAY.
THEN, THEN, UM, THEN TO ACCOMMODATE THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT
[02:25:01]
I'LL, WHAT I'LL DO, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS WE WILL TAKE UP, UH, ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14, UH, FIRST AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO BACK TO A CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU WILL.UM, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO ON ONE 13 AND ONE 14 IS AS I INDICATED I WOULD DO IN, UM, THE MESSAGE BOARD POST.
AND I SAID THAT BEGINNING TODAY WE WILL HAVE THE APPLICANT MAKE A PRESENTATION.
THEN WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE OPPOSITION, MAKE A REP, UH, A PRESENTATION.
THEN WE'LL GO THOSE IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED, AND THEN A CLOSE AND WE'LL TAKE UP ONE 13 AND ONE 14 THAT WAY.
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO A CONSENT AGENDA UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, I CAN SEE I'M CREATING SOME CONSTERNATION, BUT I TEND TO DO THAT.
SO I'LL JUST LAY OUT ONE 13 AND ONE THAT'S I ASK.
THANK, UM, AGAIN, JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ITEM ONE 13 ON YOUR AGENDA CASE N P A 20 22 0 0 0 8 0.01.
LOCATED AT 3 3 1 1 7 AND 3 1 2 1 EAST 12TH STREET.
THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM COMMERCIAL TO MIXED USE LAND USE.
ITEM ONE 14 ON YOUR AGENDA IS CASE NUMBER C 1 4 2 2 2 0 1 5.
ALSO LOCATED, LOCATED AT 3 1 1 7 AND 3 1 2 1 EAST 12TH STREET.
THE PARCEL IS APPROXIMATELY ONE ACRE.
THE REQUEST IS TO GO FROM CS ONE C O N P C S C O N P AND C S M U V C O N P TO C S M U V C O N P STAFF RECOMMENDS C S M U V C MP'S ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO BUILD 110 MULTIFAMILY DWELLING UNITS WITH, UM, 1,500 SQUARE FEET OF STREET LEVEL RETAIL STAFF.
DOES NOT RECOMMEND CARING FOR THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION OF 40 FEET FOR THESE TRACKS.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THE RE THE ZONING CURRENTLY IS CS, IT DOES HAVE A CO OF LIMITING THE HEIGHT OF 40 FEET AND STAFF DOES NOT RECOMMEND CARRYING THAT OVER.
THE SITE IS LOCATED AROUND THE CAPITAL METRO RAIL STATION, A LEVEL TWO A S M P ROADWAY AND IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
MAINTAINING THIS HEIGHT RESTRICTION COULD RESTRICT THE AREA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ADDITIONAL STREET LEVEL RETAIL.
THE BASIS OF THIS RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES A CHANGE OF CONDITIONS HAS OCCURRED WITHIN THE AREA, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A BASIS FOR CHANGING THE ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED ZONING AND OR DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY.
ZONING CHANGES SHOULD PROMOTE COMPATIBILITY WITH ADJACENT, NEARBY USES ZONING SHOULD PROMOTE THE POLICY OF LOCATING RETAIL AND MORE INTENSIVE ZONING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ARTERIAL ROADWAYS AND OR INTERSECTIONS OF ARTERIALS AND MAJOR COLLECTORS AND ZONING SHOULD PROMOTE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY GOALS SUCH AS CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 21ST.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT IT BE PASSED ON FIRST READING.
AND OF COURSE I KNOW THAT DECISION BELONGS TO YOU, BUT YES.
WELL OF COURSE, BUT THAT'S NOT YES, BUT WE'RE OFFERING IT FOR YES, YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THEIR SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
THEY HAD ONE AND IT WAS A SIX WEEK PO IT TURNED OUT TO BE SIX WEEKS 'CAUSE THIS WAS YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
NOW THE WAY, UH, THE WAY WE'LL DO THIS IS FIVE MINUTES FOR THE PROPONENT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OPPOSITION.
WE'LL GET FIVE MINUTES, THEN WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS IF, UH, AND WITH THE, THE TWO MINUTES A PIECE.
AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW FOR A CLOSING BY THE OPPOSITION AND THEN BY THE PROPONENT.
SO MR. WAYLON, IF YOU'RE THE PROPONENT'S REPRESENTATIVE, I'D ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE.
UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, AS YOU HEARD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST POSTPONEMENT WAS ON JULY 20TH.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, UH, WITH NEIGHBORING, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS BEFORE AND SINCE THEN, ALONG WITH THE, UH, TWO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES AND IN YOUR BACKUP, YOU'RE GONNA FIND SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE REZONING.
I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE SOME PEOPLE LIVE HERE TO SPEAK AND ON THE PHONE, OUR CASE INCLUDES A FLUME AMENDMENT MODIFYING A 2001 THAT'S, I GOT THAT RIGHT, 2001 ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
SINCE THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS HAVE EXPANDED NEAR THE SITE TO INCLUDE FOUR BUS ROUTES, INCLUDING A WEEKDAY HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTE INTO DOWNTOWN.
AND SIGNIFICANTLY, THE M L K JUNIOR RAIL STATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE 2001.
IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORS, WE ALSO HAVE STAFF SUPPORT AS WELL AS A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THIS PROJECT WOULD ADD NEEDED HOUSING, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
[02:30:01]
AT 60% M F I WITHIN 400 FEET OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH AS YOU HEARD, IS DESIGNATED AS AN IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AND AS AN A S M P TRANSIT PRIORITY NETWORK ROADWAY, IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE GROUND FLOOR PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED USES.THIS COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY HAS PLACED A CLEAR EMPHASIS ON THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE UNITS VIA THE V M U PROGRAM AND THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADVANCE THOSE GOALS WITH THE COMMITMENT OF ONSITE AFFORDABILITY.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR TIME.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. WAYLON? ALRIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OPPOSITION THAT WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SPEAKERS.
MIND IF I SIT, IT'S UP TO YOU.
IS THIS REGARDING THE POSTPONEMENT OR IS IT YOU CHARITY? WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING UP THE, THE ITEM, SO HOWEVER YOU WANT TO.
UM, I GUESS, UH, A COUPLE THINGS THAT I'D HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT MR. WHEELIN SAID THE 110 UNIT NUMBER IS KIND OF FLUFF, UH, IN SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT THEY SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL AS OTHER OTHERS.
IT SUGGESTS SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 80 OR SEVENTIES, LOW SEVENTIES, UM, AND THERE'S BEEN NO INDICATION FROM THE APPLICANT WHATSOEVER THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY PLANNING TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT ANYTHING.
UH, IT DOESN'T EVEN APPEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN FINANCING SECURED.
UH, THAT'S FROM THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD WITH THE APPLICANT.
UM, IN TERMS OF ITS APPROPRIATENESS IN THIS AREA, UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY INAPPROPRIATE.
UH, THE CONDITIONAL OVER OVERLAY OF, UH, 40 FOOT HEIGHT REGULATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO COUNTERBALANCE DISPROPORTIONATELY INTENSE ZONING THAT WAS PUT INTO EAST AUSTIN AND INTO THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, UH, BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION AND, UH, DISPARATE ZONING PRACTICES.
UH, THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM DID EXTENSIVE WORK IN 2002, I THINK IS WHEN IT CONCLUDED.
UM, BUT FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD, A PURELY VOLUNTARY, UH, SET OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WORKED TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, WHICH ITSELF IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMMODATING AND, UH, I GUESS MULTIFAMILY AND AFFORDABLE FRIENDLY PLANS THAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE CITY.
UM, UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SMALL LOT AMNESTY.
I KNOW THAT, UM, WE ALLOW, UH, MULTIFAMILY IN DIRECT PROXIMITY WITH, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UH, WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST, UH, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA, UH, INCLUDING 130, UH, APARTMENT UNIT THAT EXISTS AT THE CORNER OF AIRPORT AND 12TH.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE INCREDIBLY CONSTRAINED ROADWAYS IN THIS AREA.
IT'S, AS MICHAEL SAID, LEVEL TWO A S M P.
THE M L K RAIL STATION IS ABOUT A MILE WALK AWAY, WHICH FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS OR NOT HAVE AN EASY WAY OF GOING THROUGH 105 OR 110 DEGREES, UH, IT'S NOT EASY TO WALK A MILE THERE.
AND WHEN YOU DO GET THERE, IT WILL USUALLY TAKE YOU TO EITHER VARI, VARI STADIUM STADIUM OR THE CONVENTION CENTER AND LITTLE ELSEWHERE.
THERE'S NO WALKABLE, UH, RETAIL.
THERE'S ONE RESTAURANT, UH, AND A DRIVE THROUGH LIQUOR STORE, WHICH THE STAFF IN ITS STAFF REPORT CALLED A GROCERY STORE THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY.
UM, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS IN THIS PROJECT THAT, UH, ARE WRONG IN TERMS OF FUNCTIONALITY.
IT'S, IT'S LIKE TRANSPLANTING A WHALE HEART INTO A PERSON.
IT WILL JUST BURST THE ARTERIES IN EVERY PLACE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE A TRAFFIC PATTERN.
THE THE BUS STOPS WILL BE, SOME OF THOSE WILL BE ELIMINATED.
UH, WITH A RECENT UPDATE TO THE 12TH STREET MOBILITY UPGRADES.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S STRONG INDICATIONS FROM EVERY COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THIS.
THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM, THE MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE HOME HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS 30 REGISTERED OPPONENTS TO THIS FOR TODAY'S READING.
UM, THEY MIGHT HAVE DRUMMED UP A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE FRIENDS WITH TO COME OUT AND TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF, AND MAYBE THEY DO HAVE GENUINE, UH, SUPPORT FOR IT.
BUT SURVEYS THAT WE'VE TAKEN, UNANIMOUS VOTES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, MEETINGS HAVE ALL INDICATED THAT WE ARE STRONGLY IN OPPOSITION.
AND IT'S NOT SIMPLY TO OPPOSE DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT DEEPER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.
WE WANT GREATER LEVELS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY.
WE WANT THOUGHTFUL COMMUNITY INFORMED DEVELOPMENT.
[02:35:01]
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS IS NOT, I MEAN, IT'S PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN THE BARE MINIMUM OF WHAT IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED OF THEM.UH, THERE'S BEEN NO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
THERE'S BEEN NO, UH, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATION OF COMMUNITY INTEREST INTO WHAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED.
AND THAT IS AFTER MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE, THERE'S BEEN A SIMPLE REJECTION OF ALL INPUT WITH NO COUNTERPOINTS OR OFFERINGS OF, OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
UM, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS NOT EVEN GO THROUGH FIRST READING, UH, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE UNPRODUCTIVE SIT DOWNS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE APPLICANT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE MAJORITY OF AUGUST.
WE HAD ONE SIT DOWN MEETING, WHICH WE EXPECTED TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND ALLOW FOR REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS AFTERWARDS, AND THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE CASE.
UH, ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S BEEN ILLNESS BY SOME INDIVIDUALS ON THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM THAT WERE DIRECT AUTHORS OF THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO INCORPORATE THEM IN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS VERY COMPLICATED AND WELL-BALANCED DOCUMENT GETS, UH, MODIFIED.
MEMBERS WILL NOW GO TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL START WITH THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, THE REMOTE SPEAKER.
JARED COVEY IN FAVOR? MR. COY, MR. CHAIR COBY, GO AHEAD.
I'M A HOMESTEAD HOMEOWNER RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
UH, TODAY MY ENDORSEMENT FOR THE 12TH STREET PROJECT, HAVING DISCUSSED IT WITH THE DEVELOPER, I STAND BEHIND THEIR VISION.
UH, THEY'VE DONE THIS IN, IN NORTH OF DOWNTOWN AND IN ACCOMMODATED, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WELL, UH, JUST WANNA SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR PRE THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA JUMP TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT, CHARLES D PIZA, FOLLOWED BY ZACH ZACHARY FRAGA AND MICHAEL BERNSTEIN.
IF SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SIT ON THE FRONT ROW THERE SO THAT UM, WE CAN BE EFFICIENT AND RESPECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BEHIND YOU.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CHARLES DIP PIAZZA AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE REZONING APPLICATION FOR 3 1 1 7 3 1 21 EAST 12TH STREET.
I LIVE CLOSE BY ON EAST 17TH STREET.
THE OWNER HAS TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THEIR APPROACH.
I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE BECAUSE I AM AN ARCHITECT AND I AM ALSO AN ADJUNCT FACULTY AT THE UT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, AND I WORK IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.
HAVING MET WITH THE OWNER, I AGREE THAT THEIR PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY IS BETTER THAN WHAT COULD BE DONE TODAY.
ON THE CURRENT ZONING, THE 12TH STREET CORRIDOR IS AN AREA THAT IS SUITABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT THAT THEY ARE PURSUING.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ADDITIONAL RETAIL IN THE AREA.
I BELIEVE MORE VERTICAL, DENSER RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED USE CONSTRUCTION IN ROSEWOOD WILL INDEED INCREASE WALKABILITY.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THEIR REZONING REQUEST.
I AM I A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THAT THIS PROJECT IS RELATED TO AND IN, UH, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE APPLICANT, UH, THE DEVELOPER AND I HAVE REVIEWED THE PLAN, AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.
I, I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE EAST SIDE.
UH, PLEASE DON'T POSTPONE THIS CASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHAEL BERNSTEIN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE REZONING APPLICATION.
UH, I'M THE C E O OF THE DEVELOPER SEEKING THE REZONE.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I LIVE ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY VACANT, UH, AND WITH A SMALL VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING, THERE ARE NO RESIDENTS LIVING AT THIS SITE CURRENTLY.
SO OUR PROJECT WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY DISPLACEMENT.
[02:40:01]
TRANSFORM THE PROPERTY INTO A MIXED USE BUILDING THAT WILL BRING MORE HOUSING, INCLUDING SORELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE AREA.THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED JUST 400 FEET AWAY FROM AIRPORT BOULEVARD, A ROADWAY DESIGNATED AS AN A S M P ACTIVITY CORRIDOR.
IT IS WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE M L K JUNIOR RAIL STATION AND AT LEAST FOUR BUS ROUTES.
THE APPLICATION SEEKS TO REZONE INTO THE V M U ZONING CATEGORY THAT THE CITY AMENDED LAST YEAR TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE HOUSING WITH ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT CHANGE, WHICH IMPROVED OUR ABILITY TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY.
IN SEEKING TO OPERATE UNDER THIS NEW ORDINANCE, WE ARE HOPING TO DO OUR PART IN ALLEVIATING THE CITY'S HOUSING CRISIS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY MET WITH NUMEROUS RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE OPPOSITIONS.
UH, ONE OF THE OPPOSITIONS POINTS ABOUT, UM, SEEING NO PLANS TO BUILD THE PROJECT.
MY COMPANY IS ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW ON A 363 UNIT PROJECT THAT IS LOCATED ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THIS SITE THAT INCLUDES 10% OF THE UNITS AS AFFORDABLE.
AND WE HAVE ALSO JUST COMPLETED A 76 UNIT PROJECT, UM, AND THE NORTH LAMAR AREA THAT INCLUDES 25% OF ITS UNITS AS AFFORDABLE.
OUR INTENT IS TO MOVE FORWARD AND DEVELOP THIS PROJECT AND DO WHAT WE SAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND BRING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE AREA.
I ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL NOT GRANT THE POSTPONEMENT.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE POSTPONEMENT BACK IN JULY THAT RESULTED IN A SIX WEEK POSTPONEMENT.
UM, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME OF WHOM YOU'VE HEARD FROM TODAY AND HAD HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE OPPOSITION.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS IN SUPPORT.
I'M GONNA JUMP TO BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
SPEAKING AGAINST FIRST SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
I'LL START BY READING AN EXCERPT EXCERPT FROM A STATEMENT MADE AT A MAY, 2023 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING TO NEGOTIATE A MORE COMMUNITY INFORMED DEVELOPMENT, DEEPER AND MORE LOCALIZED AFFORDABILITY, INCLUSION OF RETAIL THAT MEETS A BROAD COMMUNITY, NEED, SAFE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, ET CETERA.
TODAY, THE DEVELOPER HAS REFUSED ALL CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY OUR COMMUNITIES AND SIGNALED NO RELIABLE INTENT TO BUILD.
THE CITY'S ADOPTION OF THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GAVE THEIR COMMUNITY THE RIGHT TO COME TOGETHER, REVIEW, AMEND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
THE IMBALANCE THAT DEVELOPERS ADVOCATING FOR HAS NEVER BEEN SOUGHT BY THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THROUGH OFFICIAL VOTES AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED UNDIVIDED OPPOSITION.
GAVA IS OPPOSED TO THE EASTERN CRESCENT ZONING CASES, SPECIFICALLY ITEMS 1 13 0 1 14.
WHILE THE EAST 12TH STREET ZONING CASES ARE NOT IN THE GAVA ZIP CODES OF FOCUS, WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ADJACENT EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING RAPID GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF DEEPLY ROOTED RESIDENTS.
BUT GAVA AGREES WITH AND STANDS IN SUPPORT REGARDING OPPOSITION TO REMOVAL OF THE HEIGHT RESTRICTED OVERLAYING CONCERNS REGARDING DISPLACEMENT OF THE BIPO RESIDENTS EXPECTATION THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS, UH, SHOULD COME WITH STRONGER LONG-TERM COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND ANTI DISPLACEMENT MEASURES.
GAVA URGES YOU TO SUPPORT THE HOMEWOOD AND MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
ROSEWOOD CONTACT TEAM GRANTS THE POSTPONEMENT AND URGE YOU TO DIRECT THE DEVELOPER TO NEGOTIATE BETTER DEALS WITH GREATER COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
ALSO I'M POSITION OF THIS, UH, THIS, UH, AMENDMENT.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT.
UH, THIS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED SO THE COMMUNITY CAN KEEP WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER AROUND OUTLINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, THE NUMBER OF UNITS, UH, THAT THAT WERE STATED, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE TRUE DEFINITION OF WHAT THOSE MFIS FOR EACH UNIT, UH, WOULD BE AS WELL.
UM, WE DEFINITELY, I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING MORE MFIS, UH, THAT ARE OUTLINED TOWARDS THE ACTUAL HISTORICAL CENSUS DATA TRACK, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY STAY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND CAN GROW WITH THEIR, WITH THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WAS CONSTRUCTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, TO ENSURE THE GROWTH OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY NEGOTIATION ON THAT BEHALF.
[02:45:01]
SO, UH, AS I STAND HERE, I REQUEST THAT THERE BE A POSTPONEMENT AND MORE ACTUAL NEGOTIATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT TYPE OF BENEFITS CAN COME BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACTUALLY, UH, HELP THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO REPRESENT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE AREA, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THOSE VALUES OF EAST AUSTIN.I'M GONNA JUMP BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
JENNIFER GRAYSON, ARE YOU HERE? PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING CHANGE IS NOT OPPOSITION TO GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT.
I WANNA BE CLEAR IN SAYING THAT.
OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING CHANGE ISN'T OPPOSITION TO GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT.
AS THE PRESIDENT OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, I'M SPEAKING ON THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF MORE AFFORDABILITY, MORE AFFORDABLE MULTI BEDROOM UNITS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS, DARK SKIES INITIATIVES AND USEFUL RETAIL SPACE, AND PRESERVING THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, ENCOURAGING MODERATELY PACED DEVELOPMENT.
AND TO BE CLEAR, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, 75% OF POLLED RESIDENTS OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS WANT TO PRESERVE THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND LIMIT HEIGHT AT 40 FEET.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE OR ACHIEVE ANY OF OUR GOALS BECAUSE THE REAL OR PERCEIVED RUBBER STAMPING OF THIS ZONING PROPOSITION BY THE APPLICANT, THE APPLICANT IS DISINCENTIVIZED TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS.
WHEN WE ASKED THE PREVIOUS, WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, MICHAEL BERNSTEIN, C E O OF GEISER GROUP RESPONDED BY SAYING, WE, WE ARE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH ALL CURRENT CITY RULES AND REGULATIONS, BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR REQUESTS AS THEY WOULD BE UNDULY BURDENSOME TO THE PROJECT END QUOTE.
THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO US OR WORK WITH US BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A REASON TO.
I'M HONESTLY CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE NO REAL PLANS TO DEVELOP AND THAT THE AND DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT.
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WANT IT, WE ALL WANT IT.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY TO SIT VACANT AFTER THE ZONING CHANGES.
AT A RECENT MEETING WITH GEISER GROUP, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PLANS.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE DETAILS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNITS, TYPE OF RETAIL SPACE, PROPOSED PARKING ENTRANCES AND EXITS, OR GIVE ANY SPECIFICS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
MICHAEL BERNSTEIN HAS VERBALLY STATED THAT MARK MARKET CONDITIONS ARE NOT FAVORABLE FOR THEM TO BUILD RIGHT NOW, SO THEY DO NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE PLANS TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE OR IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
THIS CASE SET SETS PRECEDENT FOR THE ENTIRE 12TH STREET CORRIDOR.
SO LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT.
LET'S DO MORE THAN THE CURRENT CITY RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'LL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR THE OPPOSITION TO CLOSE AND TWO MINUTES FOR THE APPLICANT TO CLOSE.
SIR, IF YOU WANT TO CLOSE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE AND THEN IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE APPLICANT.
UM, WHAT JENNIFER JUST UH, DESCRIBED ABOUT MARKET CONDITIONS, AND THESE ARE MACROECONOMIC PERSISTENT MARKET CONDITIONS, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE C E O OF THIS COMPANY AS PROHIBITIVE FOR ANY KIND OF CONSTRUCTION.
AND FRANKLY, HAVING PUT DOWN THE INVESTMENT OF ACQUIRING THIS LAND, THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST SOME HOMEWORK DONE AS TO WHAT THEY WERE GONNA DO.
UM, IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, UH, WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT OUR CENSUS TRACT WOULD CONSIDER AFFORDABLE.
60% CITYWIDE AVERAGED MFIS FAR OUTSIDE THE REACH OF MOST OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISPLACEMENT IN THIS AREA.
IN TERMS OF ADDING AFFORDABILITY, YOU'D GET AT MOST SEVEN UNITS.
THAT'S IF IT GETS TO THEIR ROSY 70, YOU KNOW, UH, PROJECTED OR FORECASTED RANGE, YOU GET AT MOST SEVEN UNITS AT SIX 60% M F I, WHICH IS FUNDAMENTALLY GENTRIFYING THE AREA IN IN COMPLETE CONTRADICTION TO WHAT THE UT UPROOTED STUDY SUGGESTED.
AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF VOTES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT THIS, THIS AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE HAD.
UM, WE WANT TO SEE THIS WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DO WANNA SEE INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS A PLAN THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD OR THAT'S A GOAL OUTLINED IN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
WE WANT INFILL DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE, WE WANT IT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANT IT TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DISPLACEMENT.
WE WANT MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
WE WANT MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UM, AND, AND WE WANT THIS TO LEGITIMATELY SERVE THE NEED OF WALKABLE
[02:50:01]
RETAIL FOR THIS COMPACT, UH, YOU KNOW, MID-RANGE DENSITY, UH, WALKABLE COMMUNITY THAT SO MUCH OF, UH, PLANNING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS HAS ASPIRED TO, UM, PLEASE GIVE THE COMMUNITIES MORE STRENGTH IN NEGOTIATING A BETTER OUTCOME.MR. WAYLAN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO CLOSE.
UH, MICHAEL WAYLAN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, UH, THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOALS THREE IN PARTICULAR PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS WHILE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF VACANT LOTS.
TWO, PROMOTE INFILL DEVELOPMENT ON VACANT COMMERCIAL LOTS.
THREE, PROMOTE COMMERCIAL USES THAT SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING WE'RE SEEKING OBVIOUSLY IS V M U ZONING.
10% OF THE UNITS WILL BE ONSITE AT DEVELOPERS' COST 60% M F I.
IT'S INTERESTING 'CAUSE THEIR PROPOSAL THAT THEY KEEP REFERENCING IS ONE OF THEIR THINGS WAS QUOTE, MAINTAIN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN'S, 40 FOOT HEIGHT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULD SHRINK FURTHER THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WOULD BE THERE.
THE, UH, APPROXIMATELY 80 UNITS THAT WOULD BE THERE.
SECOND AS I, THIS IS, AS I'VE ALREADY NOTED, A VACANT COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY, NOBODY WOULD BE DISPLACED.
AND THEN FINALLY WE WOULD HAVE GROUND FLOOR, UH, COMMERCIAL USES.
WE ARE PAYING A STREET IMPACT FEE.
AND, UH, I WOULD NOTE INTERESTINGLY, ONE OF THEIR CONDITIONS OF NEGOTIATION WAS QUOTE, DIVERT HIGH DENSITY TRAFFIC OFF INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS BY A ROUTING ALL VEHICLE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO AIRPORT BOULEVARD VIA HARVEY STREET USING WHOEVER THE OWNER IS THERE, THE PRIVATE OWNER IN THE, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO GO THROUGH PUBLIC SPACE AND TWO CONSTRUCT VEHICLE BARRIERS ON THE EAST END OF SAUL WILSON AVENUE WHERE SOME OF THE, UH, OPPOSITION LIVES.
SO I, I THINK WE DO HAVE TWO WEEKS WITH PASSING THIS ON.
FIRST READING TO TRY AGAIN TO HAVE A MORE REALISTIC DISCUSSION AND WE'RE OPEN TO SOME IDEAS.
UH, IT'S JUST, UH, HARD WHEN THE ABSOLUTES WOULD SHRINK THE BUILDING IN HALF AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO HAVE SOME HOUSING AND, AND ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, WITH REGARD TO ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14.
THANK YOU MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
AND LET ME, UM, GO FIRST AND I'D LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK BOTH IN OPPOSITION AND IN SUPPORT COLLEAGUES.
I'VE ASKED CITY STAFF THAT WE NOT APPROVE ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 ON ALL THREE READINGS AND INSTEAD ONLY ON FIRST READING FOR TODAY.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF INCREASED HOUSING, ESPECIALLY INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING WHERE IT MAY NOT OCCUR OTHERWISE.
UM, I THINK HOUSING THAT IS CONNECTED TO OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO NEARBY JOBS IS IMPERATIVE.
BUT THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR CASE AND ITS LOCATION WARRANT ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THAT THE APPLICANT CAN CONSIDER AND INCORPORATE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROJECT THAT MAKE IT THE BEST POSSIBLE WHILE STILL FEASIBLE AND, UH, SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE AND WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 ON FIRST READING ONLY.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE DISCUSSION OF THE ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 ARE APPROVED ON FIRST READING ONLY.
THANK YOU MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO WHAT WILL TAKE UP AS A CONSENT AGENDA AND MS. HARDEN, I'M GONNA READ THIS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLARITY OR, AND I HOPE I DON'T CREATE LACK OF CLARITY, BUT I WANNA READ THROUGH HERE AND THIS WILL BE THE MOTION THAT THE CHAIR WOULD HEAR.
THEN WE WILL, UH, HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON, ON THESE ITEMS AND, UH, HAVE A VOTE FOLLOWING THAT.
UH, ITEM 1 0 8 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 21ST.
ITEM 1 0 9 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 21ST.
ITEM ONE 10 WOULD BE CONSENT ON FIRST READING ONLY.
ITEM ONE 11 WOULD BE, UH, ON FIRST READING ONLY, BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE SIX VOTES.
ITEM ONE 12 CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WE HAVE HANDLED ONE
[02:55:01]
13 AND ONE 14.ITEM ONE 15 WOULD BE CONSENT, UH, ON FIRST READING ONLY.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, ONE 15 CONSENT.
THAT'S SPEAKERS ARE HERE, THAT'S WHY.
ITEM ONE 16, CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ONE 17.
CONSENT ON FIRST 1 21 A POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 21ST, 1 22.
CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
1 23, CONSENT ON THREE READINGS, BUT WOULD REQUIRE NINE VOTES.
1 24, A CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
1 25 POSTPONEMENT TO OCTOBER 19TH.
ITEM 1 26, CONSENT ON THREE READINGS, 1 27, CONSENT ON 3 1 28.
CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
MAYOR PRO TIM, ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION PLEASE.
ON 1 25, I'M NOT SURE IF I JUST MISHEARD.
DID IT SAY POSTPONED OCTOBER 10TH? UH OH, THAT'S JOY'S GUESSES.
UH, SO IT SHOULD BE OCTOBER 19TH.
THAT'S THE COUNCIL MEETING DATE.
SO, UM, I DO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE MOVES, UH, ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS I READ IT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? ALRIGHT, SPEAKERS.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? I HAVE A COMMENT TO OFFER FOR BEFORE SPEAKERS? NO, NOT BEFORE SPEAKERS.
HOW ABOUT THAT
I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK, UH, THAT YOU HELP US WITH THE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR SPEAKERS ANOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE 12.
COUNSEL, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 1 12 1 2 1 2 1 NORTH IH 35.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AND LET ME JUST PREFACE BY SAYING THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK HER FOR THE CHILDCARE COST OF LIVING CLARIFICATION EARLIER.
AND MAYOR, BEFORE I STOP MY COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU TO GIVE THE NEW RULES TO THE CLERK SO SHE COULD POST IT WITH THE SPEAKER REGISTRATION IN THE FUTURE AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE ITEM I JUST WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, THE MAY 4TH, 2023 STAFF REPORT SPECIFIED THAT MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS IN THE AREA ARE BELOW AVERAGE AND ALL TRIPS WOULD BE BY CAR.
THIS IS A CAR-CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT, 330 UNITS.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL THAT IT VIOLATES YOUR PROJECT CONNECT CONTRACT WITH VOTERS AUGUST 7, 20, 20, 50, 50 MODE SHARE GOALS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, AS I JUST MENTIONED, THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE HERE, IT INCREASES CONGESTION AND IT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE 220 VEHICLES THAT CAPITAL METRO PLANS TO PARK BEHIND SAMSUNG ABOUT THREE MILES.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON JUNE 10TH, 2020, CAPITAL METRO IN THE JOINT PROJECT CONNECT MEETING ACTUALLY VOTED TO MAINTAIN THIS INEQUITABLE SYSTEM STATING FALSELY THAT IT BETTER CONNECTS PEOPLE SO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, AND FOR THE MEMBERS WHO WEREN'T THERE, TO GO BACK TO THE JUNE 10TH, 2020 PROJECT CONNECT MEETING, AND YOU WILL HEAR NATASHA HARPER MADISON SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.
AND SHE WAS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT CONNECT, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT SHE MENTIONED DIRTY AIR, DEADLY ROADS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES AS WELL AS 60 MINUTES PLUS ROUTES ARE ONCE AN HOUR.
THIS AREA, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE HAS ABOUT 1763 UNITS OVER 1,763 AT YEAGER AND RIDGE BOULEVARD.
IT IS A CONCRETE JUNGLE AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH ARE RAISED WHEN THE BUILD THESE PROJECT.
THANK YOU SPEAKER, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
NEXT SPEAKERS, NICK PE CHODO SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE 18.
UM, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE HIGHLAND SKYVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
UM, I, THE CONTACT TEAM HAS VOTED TO SUPPORT THE, UM, UH, REZONING, UM, OF 7,009 GUADALUPE WITH THE CAVEAT THAT A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY BE PROVIDED, UM, VIA THE
[03:00:01]
PROPERTY FROM GUADALUPE TO THE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION HIGHLAND, A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH THE, UM, PROPERTY 7,009 GUADALUPE BACKS UP TO.UM, THE PARK HAS BEEN A MAJOR, UM, UH, A MAJOR PART OF THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD'S, UM, AGENDA FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
AND, UM, AFTER LOTS OF MEETINGS, UM, ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PARK HAS BEEN A, A MAJOR, UM, ISSUE FOR, UM, NEIGHBORS THAT, UH, WE WANTED TO INCREASE AND KIND OF GET AS MUCH ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PARK AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THE LOCATION OF THE PARK IS KIND OF INTERESTING IN THAT IT'S LANDLOCKED AND THERE'S ONLY ONE, UH, ENTRANCE, UM, AND EXIT TO THE PARK CURRENTLY.
SO, UM, WE'VE TALKED TO THE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE AMENABLE TO THIS AND, UM, UH, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UM, COUNCILMAN UH, BELLA'S SUPPORT, UM, AND HIS STAFF SUPPORT IN FACILITATING THIS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN FERNANDEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 1 23.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KAREN FERNANDEZ AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MATTHEWS LANE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR COMING OUT TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH US TO SEE FIRSTHAND OUR TOTAL LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE STAFF CO LIMITING THE NUMBER TO SEVEN UNITS, BUT STILL BELIEVE FOUR UNITS PER ACRES.
THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER GIVEN OUR LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 30 HOUSEHOLDS ON ALBERT ROAD, WHICH IS A NARROW RURAL STREET WITH NO SIDEWALKS, CURVES, OR DRAINAGE.
AND THE WATER PRESSURE IS SUBSTANDARD WITH THE CURRENT APPROVED REZONES AND THE TWO CASES COMING UP NEXT MONTH, THAT WILL BRING US TO 63 NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PRIORITIZE OUR NEEDED UPGRADES BEFORE THEY ARE BUILT.
WE ALSO ASK FOR A CO PROHIBITING ST WITH THE NEW UNITS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO JUMP TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE MELISSA HAWTHORNE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 99, 1 0 8, AND 1 0 9.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
GENE WILKINS, INGRID MORTON, ANDRE BISI, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM? UH, LORRAINE ATHERTON, FOLLOWED BY SARAH SEBE.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A, UH, HANDOUT, UH, THAT YOU CAN DISPLAY FOR ITEM ONE 15? DID YOU BRING A HANDOUT? I I SUBMITTED ONE.
UH, I'M LORRAINE ATHERTON HERE TO OPPOSE.
ITEM ONE 15, THE COMMERCIAL REZONING OF 1705 EVERGREEN.
THE HANDOUT IS A LIST OF ALL THE COMMERCIAL USES PROHIBITED ON EVERGREEN OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
AT THE BOTTOM IS A LIST OF USES, NOT PROHIBITED, WHICH ARE ALL GENERAL OFFICE USES.
THIS COMPROMISE WAS WORKED OUT BY BETTY BAKER PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR 25 YEARS AGO, AND ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER MAYOR KIRK WATSON, THE Z N A ZONING CHAIR WROTE IN 2004.
WE FEAR THAT CSS ZONING WITH NO RESTRICTIONS ON UNDESIRABLE USES WILL ENDANGER THE EXISTING MIX OF SMALL RETAIL AND OFFICE USES AND ELIMINATE ANY PROSPECT TO INCORPORATE RESIDENTIAL USES.
MERELY AFFIXING THE LABEL MU TO THE ZONING CATEGORY
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DOES NOT ENSURE MIXED USE.TODAY'S QUESTION IS IF WE ALL WANNA SEE MORE TOWNHOUSES, COTTAGE COURTS, AND LIVE WORK HOUSING HERE, WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT REZONING A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR CONVENIENCE STORAGE, LARGE OFFICE BUILDINGS, AND HIGH TURNOVER RESTAURANTS? PLEASE REZONE THIS FOR SSF FIVE OR SSF SIX, OR A MULTI-FAMILY ZONE, ANYTHING BUT CSS.
THE LAST SPEAKER IS DREW ECKLEY SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE 15.
ARE YOU HERE? YES, DREW, IS DREW HERE? YES.
I DO HAVE A, UH, VISUAL PRESENTATION TO SHOW.
UM, AND IT'S ON YOUR, DID YOU SUBMIT IT OR IT'S, IS THAT IT? IT, IT IS, THAT'S, THAT'S KELS WHO IS OKAY FOR THE LANDOWNER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M A LITTLE BIT OUTTA MY ELEMENT HERE, BUT, UM, I AM, UH, OPPOSING THIS ZONING MATTER, UH, THAT'S ON EVERGREEN STREET.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? OH, FOR SURE.
AND WHICH ITEM YOU'RE TALKING ON.
UM, HERE OPPOSING, UH, THE UP ZONE TO, TO C S M U.
AND YOUR NAME IS, IS DREW ECKY.
UM, AND LET'S SEE IF YOU COULD, UH, TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE, UH, CAN YOU DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT LINK AND START PLAYING FROM 10 SECONDS? YOU'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF TIME REAL SOON.
SO, OKAY,
UM, IF YOU GO BACK TO 10 SECONDS, I'M SORRY FOR BOSSING EVERYONE AROUND HERE.
SO THAT'S THE STREET WHERE, UM, THE LANDOWNER HAS HIS, UH, IS, IS TRYING TO UP ZONE.
UM, AND IF YOU CAN STOP THAT NOW AND WE CAN JUST, UH, UH, GO THROUGH THE REGULAR PRESENTATION.
BUT, UH, THAT'S THERE FOR YOU ON THE RECORD SHOULD YOU WANT IT.
UM, THAT'S ANOTHER PICTURE OF JUST KIND OF LIKE STATUS, UH, STATUS QUO OF THE INTERSECTION.
AND THAT'S FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF MY HOUSE WHERE I, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.
SO, UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
UM, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT I SEE HERE IS THAT WE'VE GOT SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO DO THIS, RIGHT? UM, TO ME THIS PICTURE SHOWS THAT, UH, ON EVERGREEN THERE CAN BE VAST IMPROVEMENT.
UH, AND THESE USES, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME WHAT THE USE IS.
IS IT C SS S F? UM, THE IMPORTANT PART IS, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA REALIZE USES OCCUR IN PHYSICAL REALITY.
I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S WHY I TRIED TO WARN YOU ABOUT ALL YOUR 10 SECONDS BACK AND FORTH.
UM, CAN I JUST, UH, REALLY YOUR TIME IS UP.
AND YEAH, SO MEMBERS, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU HAD TOLD ME WHY? YEAH, I, I WONDERED WHY YOU STOOD UP A MINUTE AGO AND HADN'T MADE IT TO THE PODIUM.
AND, AND SHE, HER NAME WAS CALLED, YEAH.
MAKE IT TO THE, AND I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.
I THOUGHT I HAD FIVE MINUTES 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS ON DISCUSSION, NOT CONSENT AGENDA.
SO MY APOLOGIES FOR SPEAKING QUICKLY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH SERRY.
I, UM, AM SPEAKING AGAINST ONE 10 AND ONE 11.
I OWN THE TWO COMMERCIAL LOTS NEXT TO THE COMMERCIAL
[03:10:01]
LOT THAT'S BEING REQUESTED TO BE ZONED, UM, FROM CSS TO SSF THREE.UM, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS REZONING.
I DIDN'T OBJECT WHEN THEY WENT AFTER C S M U.
I DIDN'T OBJECT WHEN THEY WENT AFTER SSF SIX.
I HAVE TO OBJECT WHEN IT'S SSF THREE BECAUSE IT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS MY LAND.
I AM, UM, I, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I WANT TO BE HERE IN PERSON TO SHARE THAT.
I AM TRYING TO DO A, EXCUSE ME, I'M TAKING A BREATH.
UM, A MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT AND I BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY IN 2018.
I LEANED IN POST COVID, BROUGHT MORE PROPERTY OVER THERE TO DO A PROJECT.
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, OPPOSING OF THIS.
AND THIS IS WHY THIS GENTLEMAN IS GOING FOR SF THREE AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND, UM, I HAVE BEEN WAITING AND TRYING TO GET SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO, I EXPECTED TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU FOR C S M U.
THEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CAME INTO PLAY AND MY PROJECT WAS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROCEED AND NOW I'M FORCED TO SPEND MY TIME WORKING ON OPPOSING THIS, UM, OTHER BUILDER'S, UM, SF THREE PROJECT.
I AM TRYING NOT TO OPPOSE HIS PROJECT IN GENERAL.
I'M JUST TRYING TO STOP THE PROJECT FROM AFFECTING MINE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES.
HE COULD DO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
HE COULD DO, UM, SSF SIX, WHICH PERMITS SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.
UM, I KNOW THAT HE HAS SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE COULD THEN DO SF SIX AND STILL DO A CAVEAT TO REDUCE, UM, IT TO THE NUMBER OF UNITS THEY AGREED UPON, UM, WHICH THEN WOULD NOT AFFECT MY PROPERTY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS OUT THERE.
THERE'S REZONING, UM, FOR SSSS THREE THAT COULD DO, UM, A, UM, A LEGAL BINDING DOCUMENT THAT WOULD DISCUSS THE WAIVER THAT COMES, UM, INTO PLAY.
SORRY, AND I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS WOULD NOT BE ONE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORK.
DOES THAT GET EVERYBODY? YES, MA'AM.
UM, MEMBERS, A MOTION IS ON THE, UH, TABLE.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE CLOSED.
MEMBERS, UH, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO.
OKAY, GOT IT AWAY FROM, OKAY, GOT IT.
UM, MEMBERS, THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN READ.
I'LL ASK IS THERE ANY ITEM THAT ANYBODY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT IF THERE'S ANY ITEM THAT ANYONE WISHES TO PULL OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE'LL RECONSIDER THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN IS RECUSING THEMSELVES.
UH, ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS READ, NO.
AND THEN I'LL, I'LL, I'LL COME TO YOU MEMBER.
TIM, SORRY, I JUST, I HAD A COMMENT AND I WASN'T SURE.
UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT ONE 11 FOR FIRST READING TODAY, BUT, UM, WHAT WE HAD HEARD ABOUT JUST SOME OF THE CHANGES IN ZONING AND IMPLICATIONS OF COMPATIBILITY ON SOME OF THE ADJACENT LOTS, I WANNA UNPACK THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO I'M NOT COMMITTING TO SUPPORTING IT ON SECOND OR THIRD, BUT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE.
UM, WE OFTENTIMES GET ZONING CASES THAT COME TO US WHERE EITHER THE PROPERTY OWNER IS UM, NOT IN SUPPORT OF IT, LIKE HISTORIC ZONING CASES OR WE END UP WITH NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.
BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ONE WHERE ONE PROPERTIES ZONING CAN IMPACT COMPATIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING AROUND IT.
AND I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER READINGS, BUT I'M SUPPORTING IT TODAY.
THANK YOU CAPTAIN MAYOR PROAM.
UM, THIS IS IN DISTRICT FOUR AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY FOR THE ZONING CASES.
HE ASKED ME TO CONVEY THE FOLLOWING ON THESE TWO ITEMS. 7,009 GUADALUPE IS PASSING ON.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND HIS STAFF ARE WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT, THE HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
TO GET A CONNECTION BETWEEN GUADALUPE STREET AND THE HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, A CONNECTION BETWEEN GUADALUPE AND THE PARK WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE TO THE PARK AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE NEW GROWTH IN THE CRESTVIEW T O D.
THEY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE BETWEEN FIRST READING, WHICH WE HOPE, WHICH WE KNOW WILL PASS TODAY ON CONSENT AND SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
[03:15:01]
FOR THE RECORD, THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS, UM, NINE VOTES IN FAVOR.THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNT OF THE VOTES ON ITEMS ONE 11 AND 1 23.
COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAAS.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE RECORD ON ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14, UH, THAT WAS A VOTE OF 10 IN FAVOR ON THOSE ITEMS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELA OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS.
WE NOW NEED TO GO BACK TO ITEM 99.
ITEM 99 WAS, UH, THE S O S AMENDMENT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE TWO BRODY OAKS ITEMS 1 0 8 AND 1 0 9.
UM, YOU FEEL THE NEED TO TALK? UH, YES MA'AM.
IF YOU COULD JUST POSTPONE 99, THAT'S FINE.
HERE WE, WE POSTPONED ITEMS 1 0 8 AND 1 0 9.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN NOW A MOTION TO POSTPONE IF CHAIR'S.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES TO POSTPONE.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 99 IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 21ST.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 2:58 PM IT IS STILL AUGUST 31ST.
WE ARE CYBER SAVVY, MORAL ANDREW AND ZEN ORGANIC.