[00:00:05]
[Call to Order]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.UH, IT IS SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023.
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED, UH, IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, AS YOU HAVE LEARNED, UH, IF YOU NEED ME CRY OUT BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE LOOKING UP AT THE SCREEN, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I'M, IF I MISS YOU.
SO MAKE SURE I, I KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
UM, MEMBERS, THE ORDER OF THE DAY WILL BE THAT WE WILL FIRST HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO A CONSENT VOTE WITH BRIEF COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.
WE WILL ALSO HEAR AT SOME POINT FROM THE NON-CONSENT SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON, WE WILL TAKE UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 81 AND 82, 1 0 3, 1 0 4, AND ITEM 1 0 2 IS ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 1 0 3, AND WE WILL TAKE IT UP AFTER ONE.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
UM, ANYONE THAT'S REGISTERED TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, WILL BE HEARD DURING, UH, THE TIME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND NOT WITH THE CONSENT FIGURES THAT WE, AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE.
I'M JUST, WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE REQUESTED OF BEING ABLE TO SPEAK AT THE TIME OF THE ITEM THAT'S UP.
UM, SO YOU WON'T BE CALLED TWICE.
UH, AS TIME ALLOWS, WE HAVE A 10 30 TIME CERTAIN FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING, UH, AND FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.
AS USUAL, WE WILL RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CALL THOSE TO ORDER.
THERE WILL BE A NOON PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSIC MEMBERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 80 IS SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN OF 1:00 PM UH, AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR TWO O'CLOCK, UH, ZONING AND, UH, ZONING ISSUES.
[Consent Agenda]
READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ITEMS 34 AND 56 ARE WITHDRAWN.ITEM 50 IS POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 5TH, 2023.
ITEM 51, INSTEAD OF SAYING DISTRICT THREE, IT SHOULD READ DISTRICT ONE, ITEM 72, WHICH IT SAYS, SHOULD READ, SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER, AND THEN DELETE THE NUMBER THAT'S THERE.
AND IT SHOULD READ 2 0 2 3 0 8 1 6 DASH 0 0 7, AND THEN THE REST OF THE POSTING ITEM NUMBER 67 IS POSTPONED.
ITEM 67 IS POSTPONED BOARDS AND COMMISSION ACTION.
ITEMS ONE AND TWO SHOULD READ, RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A SEVEN TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS BLACKBURN AND BOWEN ABSENT AND TWO VACANCIES.
ALSO, IT SHOULD READ RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
ITEMS NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER SIX, NUMBER SEVEN, NUMBER EIGHT, NUMBER NINE, NUMBER 38, AND NUMBER 40 SHOULD READ SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023, RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A SIX TO ZERO VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, AND FOUR VACANCIES ITEMS. NUMBER 39 41 AND 50 SHOULD READ, NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
MEMBERS, THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
CURRENTLY, I HAVE MEMBERS THAT HAVE INDICATED THEY WISH TO PULL THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, 99, 1 0 1, 53, AND 55.
IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT, IF ANYBODY KNOWS THEY WANNA PULL SOMETHING NOW, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT PULLED.
OTHERWISE, I WILL ASK THIS QUESTION AGAIN AFTER WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP ON THE ITEMS THAT I'VE JUST CALLED 9 9 1 0 1 55 AND 53, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO CALL YOU AT THE TIME THE ITEM COMES UP.
UH, SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW, THOUGH, YOU MAY, IF IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL, UM, UNLESS THERE'S
[00:05:01]
SOMETHING FROM ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE PE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE 10 O'CLOCK SPEAKING.FIRST, WE HAVE KABA WHITE ON ITEM FOUR.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KABA WHITE AND I WORK THE PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, APPLAUD THE CITY STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED HARD ON THE UPDATE TO THE UNIVERSAL RECYCLING ORDINANCE THAT YOU'LL FIND AS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR TODAY.
UH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD TO GIVE EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY ACCESS TO COMPOSTING, AND THIS WILL EXPAND, UH, THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPOSTING SERVICES TO INCLUDE MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP, UH, NOT ONLY FOR WASTE DIVERSION FROM THE LANDFILL, WHICH IS A GOAL THAT OUR CITY HAS ESTABLISHED, BUT ALSO, UH, IN MEETING OUR CLIMATE GOALS, BECAUSE WHEN WE PUT ORGANIC MATERIAL INTO THE LANDFILL, IT DOES CREATE METHANE, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO, JUST WANTED TO THINK ALL OF THE A R R STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED ON THE PILOT AND ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
AND I AM GLAD THAT THIS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I ASSUME WE'LL, UM, BE PASSING WITH NO PROBLEM.
AND JUST WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ALSO THANK THE, THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR HELPING TO INITIATE THAT WITH A RESOLUTION, UH, A FEW YEARS BACK, UH, INDICATING THAT WE SHOULD MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION AND, AND TO JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SIMILAR ACTIONS TO SEND THAT SIGNAL TO STAFF ON VARIOUS UPDATES THAT ARE NEEDED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY SMALL THINGS THAT IS NEEDED TO, TO BE, UH, CHANGED IN ORDINANCE, UH, AND OR PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE PLAN.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, TAKING A STEP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE SUCH ACTIONS.
I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER AT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, AND I'M JUST CALLING TO, UM, ENCOURAGE THE APPROVAL OF THE LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL STEP TO PROTECTING OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES AND MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS FOR THEIR BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT ADDED THE CRUCIAL STAFF POSITION TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON ITEMS 44, 55, 73, AND 99.
MONICA GUZMAN, BEFORE I START, IF I CAN WAIT UNTIL I THINK I HEARD ITEM 55, I CAN SPEAK LATER ON THAT I WILL, UM, I CAN GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT REAL QUICK.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
REGARDING ITEM 44, WHAT AND WHERE ARE THE ASSURANCES ABOUT ROBUST LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE, DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? WHERE'S THE EQUITY IN EAD? WHERE'S AN EQUITY LENS AND ANALYSIS, IF NOT, THROUGH THE EQUITY TOOL, COMMUNITY IS WEARY OF EXPENSIVE CONSULTING AGREEMENTS THAT MAY LEAVE US OUT OF KEY DECISIONS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INVESTMENTS IN CONSULTANTS FOR THESE MAKER ISSUES RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL DELIVERABLES AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR SPONSORING ITEM 99.
NEXT WE HAVE BETHANY CARSON ON ITEMS 56 AND 99.
HI, GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MAYOR, AND, UM, AS 56 WAS WITHDRAWN, I'LL JUST BE LIMITING MY TESTIMONY TO 99 TODAY.
UM, I SUPPORT THE STRENGTH IN POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY CONTAINED IN PROP A AND IN ORDER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO COMPLY WITH THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND THE REVISED CHAPTER TWO DASH 15 OF THE CITY CODE THAT VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED ON MAY 6TH, UH, 2023 IN PROP A, UM, AND THE WILL OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS LAID OUT, UM, BY THE ORDINANCE PASSED IN FEBRUARY, 2023, THE OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT MUST BE UPDATED.
UH, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR, UM, THE CITY MANAGER OR, UM, OTHER UNELECTED OFFICIALS TO
[00:10:01]
BE BLOCKING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS ON THIS ISSUE.AND, UH, IT'S PAST TIME FOR THE CITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE OVERWHELMING WILL OF THE VOTERS AND WHAT THEY PASSED IN PROP A UH, WHAT'S CONTAINED IN THIS PROPOSITION IS STILL EXTREMELY RELEVANT.
UM, THERE ARE, UH, INSTANCES OF, UM, THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED THAT ARE COMING TO OUR ATTENTION EVERY DAY.
SO I ASK THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE, UM, PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
IT, IT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO, UM, ACTUALLY BE IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE VOTERS PASSED.
UM, SO PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE BILL BUNCH ON ITEM 6, 7 76, 8, AND NINE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS CONSERVATION PLAN ITEMS. UH, WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO EXTEND THAT PERMIT AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR CAVES, UH, DWELLING ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THE HABITATS FOR THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER AND OTHER SPECIES, AND ESPECIALLY THE WATERSHEDS WHERE WE FIND THESE ANIMALS.
UM, I WAS ON, I WAS ONE OF FOUR MEMBERS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY THAT SERVED ON THE ORIGINAL, UH, ADVISORY GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE CONSERVATION PLAN UNDER MAYOR TODD.
UM, WE DID A GREAT THING THEN.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, TENS OF THOUSANDS PROTECTED, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
WE'RE NOT COMPLYING WITH OUR CURRENT PERMIT, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR CAVE PROTECTION AND ALSO FOR GOLDEN CHEEK WATER HABITAT.
UM, ALSO THE SCIENTISTS TOLD US WE NEEDED TO PROTECT 120,000 ACRES OF GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER HABITAT IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, THAT NUMBER WAS BASICALLY CUT IN HALF, UH, AND ONLY REQUIRES ABOUT 60,000 ACRES OF PROTECTION.
UM, THAT'S WHERE OUR PARK LANDS COME IN AND OUR, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION LANDS.
WE CAN MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE IF WE MANAGE OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION LANDS AND SOME OF OUR PARK LANDS TO LET THEM GROW INTO MATURE OAK AND ASH UNION FOREST.
AND THAT'S NEEDS TO BE OUR FOCUS.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM SIX, THE AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THAT SPECIFICALLY CALLS FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS.
GIVEN THE HEAT, THE DROUGHT, THE CLIMATE CHANGE, IT IS TIME TO PUT A LONG PAUSE ON ANY MORE PRESCRIBED BURNING BECAUSE THAT ADDS CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.
IT ADDS HEAT, IT DRIES OUT OUR SOILS AND OUR FORESTS, THE FORESTS THAT WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
OKAY, I AM, UH, HERE, GUSTAVO PENA.
I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK ON NUMBER 47.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO ITERATE.
THIS IS MY AREA, SPECIAL AGENT BADGE.
OKAY? YOU CAN LAUGH IF YOU WANT TO.
YOU'RE A COP, YOU'RE A COP OVER HERE.
I'M NOT GONNA CAUSE ANY DESTRUCTION, SO VERY, BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO.
GO FOR IT AND I'LL TAKE YOU ON DOWN.
OKAY, NUMBER 47, UH, AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, ADVOCACY CAST REVIEW, UH, SERVICES WITH END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INTERNATIONAL IN THE AMOUNT OF, WELL, IT SAYS EXCEED, UH, $100,000.
I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT MY SISTER IS A VERY, VERY GOOD, UH, UH, PERSON THAT, UH, SHOULD BE HERE MORE THAN US BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT VIOLENCE TOWARD WOMEN.
I HAVE RESPECT, BUT WHEN THEY SHOW DISRESPECT, I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH Y'ALL.
UH, MRS. MCKENZIE KELLY, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH ME.
[00:15:01]
MAKE, LEMME MAKE IT VERY CREEL.I HAVE TWO F B I AGENTS HERE IN THE BACK, OKAY? I'M NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH THIS CRAP ANYMORE.
I'M NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH PEOPLE PROFILING ME, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN OVER HERE.
THIS COP OVER HERE AND THIS COP OVER HERE, TRY ME.
I WENT TO THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, TECH, UH, THE TEXAS, UH, UH, UH, WHERE YOU, WHERE YOU GO FOR YOUR BADGE.
I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN A P D OKAY? BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
JESUS, WHAT I SAID IN ENGLISH, STRAIGHTEN HIM UP BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE'LL GO FEDERAL.
I HAVE SHOWN RESPECT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN, I HAVE BEEN DISRESPECTED.
THAT'S WHY I, I DON'T, I HAVE A HARD CAP, AND ALL I WANNA DO IS LEMME WRAP UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK.
THEY DO, THE WOMEN, AND THEY DESERVE MORE, BETTER.
ELIZABETH MCGREEVY ON ITEM 53 WITH GREG NASER ON DECK.
I AM, UM, SPEAKING ON ITEM 53.
I AM MOSTLY, I DO SUPPORT THE EFFORT ON THAT WENT INTO PRODUCING THE PARD PLAN, BUT I'M AGAINST, UH, THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT PERTAIN TO THE EDWARDS PLATEAU REGION.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT, UH, PROJECT BEDROCK, AND I HAVE MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON THE EDWARDS PLATEAU AS AN ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANT, THE PARED PLAN DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A WELL-MANAGED UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITIES AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE EDWARDS PLATEAU ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS AND CAVES, FOR EXAMPLE.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S LITTLE TO NO MENTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OR CAVES OR SINK COAL MANAGEMENT IN THE PLAN.
UH, POSSIBLY BECAUSE PARD HAS NO IN-HOUSE CARIOLOGY, HYDROLOGY, OR ENDANGERED SPECIES SPECIALISTS.
ALSO, SEVERAL OF THE PROPOSITIONS TO REDUCE FIRE RISK WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE FIRE RISK FOR EDWARDS PLATEAU, JUNIPER, OAK WOODLANDS, AND ADJACENT URBAN COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN THERE'S THE OVERALL ANTI JUNIPER RHETORIC, ALTHOUGH PERHAPS MORE APPLICABLE FOR THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE PARKS.
THE PLAN IGNORES THE NEW AND UPDATED RESEARCH THAT IS REDEFINING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EDWARDS PLATEAU JUNIPERS THAT THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER RELIES UPON.
IN 2001, MAYOR WATSON AND TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS DRAFTED A RESOLUTION TO MOVE LAND MANAGEMENT OF B C P.
ENDANGERED SPECIES LANDS FROM PARD TO B C P, UH, BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT B C P MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECIALIZED, WOULD DETRACT FROM PARS MISSION TO MANAGE RECREATIONAL AREAS.
THAT WAS 22 YEARS AGO, YET THE TRANSFER STILL HAS NOT HAPPENED.
IT WOULD BE MORE JUDICIOUS USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR AUSTIN WILDLANDS TO MANAGE THESE LANDS, WHICH IS THE B C P PART OF IT, UH, SINCE THEY ALREADY HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE.
MAYOR WATSON, CAN YOU MAKE THIS HAPPEN? CRAIG NASER, ITEM 53.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE STATE CHAPTER OF THE LONE STAR OF THE LONE STAR SIERRA CLUB.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN ITEM 53, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH BAD STUFF IN THERE THAT I TH DON'T THINK WILL BE HELPFUL, THAT I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.
AND BASICALLY, THIS HAS TO DO WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS ELIZABETH MCGREEVY WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS TREES, AND PARTICULARLY ASH JUNIPER AND ITS POSITION IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF HILL COUNTRY.
UH, I HAVE BEEN, UH, PART OF A WATERSHED RESTORATION UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAVE PLANTED HUNDREDS OF NATIVE TREES.
UH, AND I HAVE WATCHED THOSE NATIVE TREES OVER 15 YEARS.
AND THERE'S ONE THING YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT PLANTING A TREE IS TREES GROW IN PLACES BECAUSE OF CERTAIN REASONS WE CAN'T SEE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE UNDERGROUND.
SO THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN COME IN AND PLANT, TAKE OUT A VERY IMPORTANT TREE, AND PLANT A BUNCH OF OTHER TREES, AND THEY'LL DO OKAY AND IT'LL WORK.
[00:20:01]
THAT'S A BIG QUESTION MARK.WE DO KNOW THAT ASH JUNIPER, WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT ASH JUNIPER, THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE ECOSYSTEM.
THERE ARE PROBABLY TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THIS REPORT.
IF YOU READ IT, IT MENTIONS HOW THERE'S THIS BRUSHY GROWTH AND THIS TALL GROWTH.
IT'S PROBABLY TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES, AND THEY SERVE DIFFERENT USES IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE HILL COUNTRY.
AND I DON'T THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH YET TO MAKE WHAT THIS PLANT ASKED TO DO ABOUT THE TREES.
I DON'T THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH YET TO PUT THAT IN A PLAN.
UH, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THE HILL COUNTRY, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF, I USED TO COLLECT OLD CEDAR LOGS FOR USE IN TERRARIUMS BECAUSE THEY LAST VERY LONG.
I NEVER ONCE SAW A CEDAR LOG THAT WAS BURNED.
IF FIRE WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OR EVEN A, A, A COMMON THING IN THE HILL COUNTRY, I THINK THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS, I WOULD'VE FOUND A BURNED CEDAR LOG SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER THAT CAME INTO THE QUEUE.
I'M GONNA CALL THEM AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE, UH, ZIA JOSEPH ON ITEMS 10 27 AND 97.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL ON ZIA JOSEPH.
MY COMMENT SPECIFICALLY REGARDING ITEM 10 AS PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS, I OBJECT TO THE REMOVAL OF THE WORD SOCIAL AS A RELATES TO SOCIAL EQUITY.
IT WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT YOUR CRIMINAL FUNDING IS DEPENDENT ON TITLE SIX.
COMPLIANCE TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGINS.
I WOULD JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS IT RELATES THE ITEMS 97 AND 98, THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT FOR I 35 CAP TO STITCHES, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES BRING SPECIFIED LANGUAGE THAT WOULD CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, FOOD, AND RECREATION.
HOWEVER, CAP REAP JUNE 3RD, 2018 ELIMINATED NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY NORTH OF US, 180 3.
AND I WOULD JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE CONTRACT WITH VOTERS ALSO USES LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, WHILE BLACK PEOPLE STILL WAIT 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST CENTRAL WHITES AND DOVE RANK HISPANICS AS IT RELATES TO ITEMS 27, THAT'S THE $1.7 MILLION CLEANUP CONTRACT.
I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT ON JULY, 2023, YOU ACTUALLY APPROVED $20 MILLION FOR CONTRACTS AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP.
THIS APPEARS TO BE DUPLICATIVE.
AND LASTLY, ABUSE HAPPENS WHEN SOME, THE HAYES IMPROPERLY, UNREASONABLY OR MISUSES THEIR POSITION OR AUTHORITY IN PART TO WRITE THE CONTRACT FOR SOMEONE A FAVOR.
AND THAT IS THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 2017.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO MAKE THE SYSTEM EQUITABLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE DAVID JOHNSON ON ITEM 56 WITH ALICIA TORRES ON DECK, ALICIA TORRES ON ITEMS 56 AND 99 WITH ALEX STRINGER ON DECK.
ALEX STR STRINGER ON ITEM 58 WITH DANIELLA SILVA ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 58 ABOUT, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ADDING FUNDS TO THAT, BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I AM ACTUALLY A SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM.
ON JUNE 14TH, 2003, I WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY RUSSELL BRAND AFTER A NIGHT OUT AT CHEWY'S.
AND YES, WE HAD BEEN DATING FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT BEFORE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT, I ALWAYS MADE HIM USE A CONDOM BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO GET PREGNANT.
MAYOR, AND I TAKE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH VERY SERIOUSLY.
BUT AFTER SEVEN MARGARITAS, WE WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME.
WE WENT BACK TO HIS HOTEL ROOM AT THE W AND HE TOOK MY CLOTHES OFF AND HE, HE, HE PENETRATED ME,
[00:25:01]
AND JUST BECAUSE I, JUST, BECAUSE I E********D THREE TIMES A AFTER A AFTERWARDS, IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT I WASI TOLD HIM I DIDN'T WANNA, I I DIDN'T WANNA DO THAT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST BECAUSE WE MOVED IN TOGETHER, IT DID TWO WEEKS LATER, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T NEGATE WHAT HE DID.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS TRAUMA FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, MAYOR, AND HONESTLY, I WASN'T EVEN GONNA SAY ANYTHING, BUT LISTENING TO HIM SPEW RIGHT WING DISINFORMATION TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE AND THE WAY HE CRITICIZES, UH, SCHWAB IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE ONLY DOING THINGS TO, TO HELP FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING AND SU SUSTAIN THE PLANET AND FIGHT INFECTIOUS DISEASES THE WAY HE'S SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THEM.
BELIEVE ALL WOMEN, UNLESS YOUR NAME IS TARA REOR ON
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT WAS NOT, UM, IN LINE WITH THE DECORUM NO.
UM, AND IF THAT CONTINUES, I THINK WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER NOT INVITING THAT SPEAKER BACK.
WE'VE HEARD FROM REAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THOSE COMMENTS UNDERMINE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A REALLY LONG TIME TO CHANGE HOW WE RESPOND TO SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THEN HE DOESN'T HAVE THE GUTS TO STAY IN THE ROOM.
AND MARY MAYOR, I NOTICED HE LEFT.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING.
HE ISN'T WILLING, HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO STAY IN THE ROOM, SO, AND DOESN'T HAVE THE GUTS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR I LEFT THE ROOM BECAUSE I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT AT ALL EITHER.
AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE COME BEFORE US WHO'VE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND THAT JUST IS NOT OKAY.
I THINK I, I THINK THERE'S UNANIMITY ON THAT AND, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY VOTING ON SEVERAL ITEMS TODAY.
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT IN THAT REGARD.
WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON TUESDAY.
UM, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND, UM, THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR.
UM, I'M GONNA MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, I, I JOINED, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAD ALREADY SPOKEN, WALKING OUT, UM, DISGUSTING.
I, I, I CAN'T, I CAN'T REALLY THINK OF ANY OTHER WORD.
UM, AND IT'S NOT FUNNY TO GO AFTER FOLKS OF, OR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IT'S NOT FUNNY TO MAKE FUN OF FOLKS FROM THE GAY COMMUNITY OR THE TRANS COMMUNITY, OR IMMIGRANTS OR WOMEN OR ANY SORT OF GROUP.
AND IT SEEMS THERE'S A SHTICK THAT KEEPS HAPPENING WHEN CERTAIN PEOPLE COME AND SPEAK.
UH, IT, IT'S BELOW WHO WE ARE AS A CITY, UH, A COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S DISGUSTING.
WE'LL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, AND I THINK IN OUR RULES IS THE INTEREST OF DECORUM AND CIVIC, UH, CIVIL DISCOURSE.
AND THAT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN VIOLATED REPEATEDLY BY THAT PARTICULAR SPEAKER IN THE PAST, AND CERTAINLY TODAY.
MAYOR, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE ACTION TO C NO, THERE WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE ACTION TODAY 'CAUSE IT'S NOT POSTED AS FAR AS TO TAKE ACTION.
UH, THE PRESIDING OFFICER'S GIVEN, UH, AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
UM, I APPRECIATE HAVING THE SUPPORT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL IN, IN WHAT I WILL DO IN THAT REGARD TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND, UH, PLANNED ON DOING IT IN ANY EVENT, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE UNANIMOUS ON THIS.
UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, UH, WELL, EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID AND NEEDS TO BE SAID, MAYOR PRO KIM, EXCEPT WHAT THE MAYOR PROAM SAYS.
COM COMPLETELY DISGUSTING, COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE.
AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT'S RIGHT.
SO IF ANYONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE ON THE BACKEND FINDING FOOTAGE OF WHEN HE WAS BEHAVING HOMOPHOBICALLY AND SAYING OTHER INAPPROPRIATE THINGS ON THIS DAIS, I'M HAPPY TO LEND MY ASSISTANCE.
ALRIGHT, UM, THANK YOU ALL, CITY CLERK.
I'LL GO BACK TO Y'ALL FOR, UM, SPEAKERS AND APOLOGIZE TO WHOEVER GETS TO FOLLOW.
NEXT WE HAVE JERRY FRY ON ITEM 97 WITH KEVIN BROWN ON DECK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 97.
I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 25 YEARS,
[00:30:01]
UH, AS A RESIDENT, AND I'M CURRENTLY A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT AND ALSO A FORMER, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.THE CAP AND STITCH FUNDING, I BELIEVE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE CONNECTIVITY THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR BETWEEN THE WEST AND EAST SIDE OF I 35.
THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS TO BE GAINED FROM THIS, AND I'M NOT GONNA, UH, BE TOO ELABORATE ON IT BECAUSE I, THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA ECHO, UH, MY THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER, BUT, UH, I WISH THE COUNCIL WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, UH, TO APPROVE THE FUNDING, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE CAP AND STITCH PROGRAM, AND IT'S GONNA BE A GENERATIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIVE, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
KEVIN BROWN, ITEM 97 WITH JOEL SHARE ON DECK.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF, UH, THIS IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM.
I AM A DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE BOARD MEMBER.
I'M A LAWYER BY DAY AND AN ARTIST BY, UH, KNIGHT.
AND, UH, FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, A STAUNCH AND MASSIVE PUBLIC REALM ADVOCATE.
ITEM 97, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE HAS BEEN A LEADING PARTNER ON THE KASIT PRO PROJECT FOR MANY YEARS NOW, WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TXDOT, THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT REFLECTS ALL OF AUSTIN.
THIS GRANT WOULD PROVIDE THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY WITH A CRITICAL AND SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT SOMETHING TRULY ICONIC, SOMETHING TRANSFORMATIVE.
THROUGH AUSTIN'S PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION ARTERY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENVISION AND CONSTRUCT A TRULY SPECTACULAR PUBLIC SPACE.
ONE FOCUSED ON GREEN SPACE NECESSARY FOR ALL CENTRAL TEXANS, BUT ALSO ONE FOCUSED ON ARTS AND COMMUNITY THAT IS WELCOMING FOR ALL.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A HISTORICAL MOMENT.
WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'RE RECONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND ENDING THE HISTORICAL DIVISIONS STEMMING FROM THE HIGHWAY'S ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.
THIS FISCAL TRANSFORMATION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COLLECTIVE IMPACT THROUGH HEALING AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS.
THIS TRULY IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME GENERATIONAL LEGACY OPPORTUNITY.
JOEL SCHER, ITEM 97 WITH LARRY GRAHAM ON DECK.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR GREAT CITY.
AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 97.
MY NAME IS JOEL CHER, AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTINITE SINCE ATTENDING GRAD SCHOOL IN 1980.
I MET MY WIFE IN SCHOOL, RAISED OUR FAMILY HERE AND NOW, AND AM NOW A PROUD GRANDPARENT.
WHEN I MOVED HERE, THERE WAS NO PENNY BACKER BRIDGE.
MOPAC ENDED AT FAR WEST WITH NO BRIDGE ACROSS WHAT WAS IN TOWN LAKE, AND THE MUELLER REDEVELOPMENT WAS OUR AIRPORT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE AUSTIN WITHOUT THESE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THESE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS.
I'VE BEEN A DOWNTOWN EMPLOYER FOR OVER 25 YEARS, AND CIVICALLY ACTIVE AS A PAST CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.
DURING THIS TIME, I HAVE WITNESSED MANY TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE PROVIDED BENEFITS TO ALL OUR CITIZENS.
THESE INCLUDE WALLER CREEK TUNNEL LEADING TO THE WATERLOO GREENWAY BRECKENRIDGE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT, LEADING TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL INNOVATION DISTRICT, SOBERING CENTER, AND ULTIMATELY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
REDLINE LED TO REDEVELOPMENT OF PLAZA SALTILLO SEA HOME POWER PLANT REDEVELOPMENT INTO A VIBRANT EMPLOYMENT, RESIDENTIAL, AND RETAIL DESTINATION, INCLUDING OUR INCREDIBLE LIBRARY.
WITH THE LOWERING OF I 35, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RIGHT PAST WRONGS AND RECONNECT DOWNTOWN WITH EAST AUSTIN.
WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION ITEM 97, WE HAVE A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE A CAP THAT WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SPACE WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXISTS.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE ITEM 97 FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
LARRY GRAHAM, ITEM 97 WITH CHERYL S SCION DECK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LARRY GRAHAM, AND I WORK FOR TEXAS GAS SERVICE, AND I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR THE PAST
[00:35:01]
DOZEN YEARS.UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE I'M IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 97.
THIS FEDERAL GRANT WILL HELP TO RECONSTRUCT, RECONNECT EAST AUSTIN AND DOWNTOWN THROUGH A CAP OVER THE REDEVELOPED I 35.
THE PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRULY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF CENTRAL AUSTIN FOR MANY YEARS.
AS SOME OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE STATED, SOME OF THESE CONNECTIONS INCLUDE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CULTURAL CENTER, PALM PARK, AND SCHOOL PLAZA, SALTILLO TRANSIT CONNECTIONS, AND MANY MORE.
FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE COMMUTED TO WORK AT MY OFFICE ON MY BICYCLE ABOUT THREE DAYS A WEEK.
AND WHEN YOU RIDE A BIKE, YOU VIEW THE CITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND YOU CAN EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND HOW HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS CAN DIVIDE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE EXPERIENCE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN BEING IN A CAR TODAY.
CROSSING I 35 DOWNTOWN IS REALLY A NIGHTMARE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS, SO I'M EXCITED NOT ONLY THAT THERE MAY BE A BETTER CONNECTION ACROSS I 35 BETWEEN CAESAR CHAVEZ AND FOURTH STREET WHEN THE CAP IS BUILT, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT CONNECTING THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDES OF I 35 AND REMOVING THE BARRIERS.
THE MISSION OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE IS TO CREATE, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE VI VALLEY VITALITY AND VALUE OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
FOR EVERYONE, A DOWNTOWN, FOR EVERYONE, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS GRANT APPLICATION AND HELP CONTINUE TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A DOWNTOWN FOR EVERYONE.
CHERYL SCULLY WITH ASHLEY KEGLEY WHITEHEAD ON DECK, MS. SCULLY.
UM, I'M TOLD THAT SOME PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS IF AN ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO, WE'VE HAD A, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE TIME THE ITEM'S GOING TO BE TAKEN UP.
SO IN AN EFFORT AND IN DEFERENCE TO THE EFFORT TO MAKE THAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN DO THAT, WE ARE, UH, HAVING PEOPLE SPEAK AT THAT TIME WHEN THE ITEM IS BROUGHT UP.
UH, SO IF THERE'S CONFUSION ABOUT WHY YOUR NAME HADN'T BEEN CALLED, YOU SIGNED UP ON A SPECIFIC ITEM THAT'S BEEN PULLED, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS IS A MORE CONVENIENT TIME, FEEL FREE TO COME UP TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THEY WILL CHECK YOU OFF BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT OPTION OF, OF CONVENIENCE AS WELL.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, MS. SCULLY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, MANY OF US ARE HERE THIS MORNING, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 97 IN SUPPORT OF YOUR APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CAPTAIN FROM CESAR CHAVEZ UP TO FOURTH STREET.
WE ALL COULD NAME MANY CITIES WHERE FREEWAYS, BISECT, AND DISSECT THE COMMUNITIES.
I 35 IS CERTAINLY A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT, UH, WILL ENABLE US TO RECONNECT THE COMMUNITY AS A CAPITAL PROJECT, BUT ALSO AS A SYMBOL THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO RECONNECTING THE COMMUNITY AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL OF AUSTIN.
THERE ARE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S A BIT OF SERENDIPITY HERE, UH, BECAUSE THIS PROJECT COMES AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF PALM PARK PALM SCHOOL, UH, THE REDESIGN AND RECONFIGURATION OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER, WALLER CREEK, AND THE MULTITUDE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS HAPPENING ON THE EAST SIDE.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT AND URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON ITEM 97.
GOT ASH KEGLEY WHITEHEAD ON ITEM 97 WITH MATT GKE ON DECK.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY KEGLEY WHITEHEAD.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE MOM OF TWO, A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT, AND LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
I'VE WORKED ON A NUMBER OF ROAD PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS FROM THE OPENING OF THE TWO 90 TOLL ROAD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOPAC EXPRESS LANES TO THE 180 3 EXPANSION AND A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTY ROAD BOND PROJECTS.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFIT THESE TRANSFORMATIONAL ROAD PROJECTS HAVE AND BRING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE REGION.
BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE MERITS OF A ROAD
[00:40:01]
PROJECT, AND I URGE YOU NOT TO CONFLATE THE ISSUE TODAY IS ABOUT PLACEMAKING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.WE'RE HERE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS IN WRITING AN EIGHT LANE WRONG.
THAT FOR, THAT HAS FOR FAR TOO LONG, DIVIDED OUR GREAT CITY.
ITEM 97 IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN A FINANCING PLAY.
IT IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING A CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE PLACES THAT WE ALL SHARE FROM HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO PUBLIC PARKS AND SCHOOLS.
WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM BETTER CONNECTIVITY.
I'VE HEARD THE PHRASE CAPS, NOT GAPS USED TO DESCRIBE THIS PROJECT.
AND WHILE IT IS CATCHY AND TO ALSO VERY TRUE, I FEAR, IT DIMINISHES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GRANT THAT IS BEFORE YOU.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE IS A MONUMENTAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN.
AND NOT JUST FOR TODAY OR FOR TOMORROW, BUT FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS CHAMPIONS AND ADVOCATES.
WE NEED STRONG LEADERS WITH BIG VISION.
IT'S A TALL ORDER, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE UP FOR IT.
MATT SKE ON ITEMS 97 AND 1 0 1.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF OUR, UM, COLLEAGUES AT THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE ALLIANCE.
UM, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF NINE SEVEN, UH, 1 0 1 AND I THINK 1 0 2 MAY HAVE BEEN PULLED OR 1 0 1, BUT IF I CAN ALL THREE SORT OF TIE TOGETHER.
SO I'LL JUST TALK BRIEFLY ON THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
SO WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THESE ITEMS OR, UH, OR COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT FOR OUR FUTURE 35 ARE CABIN STITCH HEALTH SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT, AND THE PALM DISTRICT VISION.
I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR STAFF AND YOURSELVES FOR MEETING WITH US OVER THESE ITEMS THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.
AND ALSO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND HIS TEAM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE HEALTH SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT AND TO HIS TEAM AS WELL AS FOR WORKING WITH US.
AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH MANY, MANY ITERATIONS, EACH OF THESE THREE ITEMS ARE INTRICATELY LINKED.
AND WHILE THE COMPLETION OF ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, ABSENT THE OTHERS WOULD BE A SUCCESS, IT WOULD, IN OUR OPINION, FALL FAR SHORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL FOR BOTH THE EASTERN SECTION OF DOWNTOWN AND EAST AUSTIN.
FOR YEARS, WE HAVE WORKED WITH CITY STAFF POLICY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ENVISION A NEAR FUTURE THAT INCLUDES A VIBRANT PALM DISTRICT THAT PAIRS NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES, AND PRESERVES THE CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT, UH, VENUES THAT MAKE AUSTIN AUSTIN.
AND WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK, NEW HOUSING AND PUBLIC AMENITIES ON WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS HEALTH SOUTH.
TO TOP IT ALL OFF, PUN INTENDED, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY NEW GREEN SPACE AND OTHER AMENITIES.
AND THEN REAL QUICKLY ON HEALTH SOUTH, WE SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S, UH, LEADERSHIP ON LOOKING AT TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE, UH, TRUE AND BEST USE FOR THAT PROPERTY IS.
UH, WE SUPPORT, UH, THE, UH, THE PROPOSAL TO BIFURCATE THE PARCEL TO LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS HAVING, UH, MIXED USE AMENITIES ON THE OTHER OTHER PIECE.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, WE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS VISION AND BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM THAT BEGAN YEARS AGO, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND STEWARD OF DOWNTOWN'S FUTURE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MAYOR, WE'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
THEY WANNA SPEAK NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE ITEM WAS PULLED, SO I'M GONNA CALL THEM NOW.
UM, ON ITEM 99, WE HAVE MEM STYLES MIMI.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FOR, UM, FOR MAKING SPACE FOR THOSE THAT ARE KIND OF WAITING ON THE PHONE FOR THAT FOR, UM, TO SPEAK.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO CALL UP AND SAY THAT I STRONGLY ENDORSE ITEM 99 AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THE SAME.
UM, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATES TRANSPARENTLY AND UNDER SOLIDS OVERSIGHT FOLLOWING THE WHEEL OF THE VOTERS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOUR MONTHS HAVE PASSED, UM, SINCE PROP A LEGALLY WENT INTO EFFECT.
AND IT'S IN A, IN A WAY, DISHEARTENING TO SEE THIS, THE CURRENT STATE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO ACT SWIFTLY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND TO ENSURE THAT THE REFORMS THAT WERE PROMISED TO US IN CROP A ARE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.
UM, AND AND TO ME IT'S CRUCIAL TO NOTE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MANY TASKS ASSIGNED TO THE, UM, OPOS OFFICE BY THIS RESOLUTION HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN CARRIED OUT WITHOUT SPECIAL PERSONNEL OR TRAINING.
UH, AND SO ANY, ANY ATTEMPT TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROP A BASED ON RESOURCE LIMITATIONS, IT HAS TO BE
[00:45:01]
SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS.IT'S, IT'S LITERALLY EFFORT TO IMPEDE AND INCREASE POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO NOT LET, UM, BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES OR POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, ISSUES IMPEDE THE AIM FOR PROGRESS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SPOKEN RIGHT? AUSTIN HAS SPOKEN, CHOOSING PROP A OVER PROP B, AND SO WE OWE IT TO US, TO ALL OF US, UM, TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS MANDATE AND TO, YOU KNOW, TO CREATE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE TIME, AND AGAIN, MAYOR, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE CALLING IN OF, UM, OF THOSE OF US THAT ARE WAITING, THAT, THAT DEFINITELY SHOWS, UM, SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, YOUR, YOUR ATTENTION IS CRITICAL ON THIS MATTER.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
NEXT WE HAVE LAUREN ORLE ON ITEM 99.
GOOD MORNING, THIS IS LAUREN ORTELL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS I 99.
WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS IN AUSTIN, THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE EACH YEAR, AND TO EVERYONE WHO MAY BE HARMED BY POLICE IN THE FUTURE.
TO PASS THIS AND ENSURE THE A P D RECEIVES STRONG OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, I'M SORRY, BUT IT HAS BECOME EMBARRASSING FOR OUR CITY THAT AUSTINITES HAVE HAD TO VOTE FOR THIS SO MANY TIMES, AND THAT MOST OF YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALSO VOTED FOR THIS BEFORE AND IT STILL HASN'T HAPPENED.
SO PLEASE, WE NEED YOU TO MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE PROP A WAS APPROVED ON MAY 6 23 TO SUPPORT REASONABLE INDEPENDENT FACT FINDING ABOUT POLICE CONDUCT AND GREATER TRANSPARENCY TO DETER MISCONDUCT AND HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE AS A BUSINESS OWNER, HOMEOWNER, COMMUNITY LEADER, HUSBAND, FATHER OF TWO CHILD TO GOD.
AND BEING IN AUSTIN FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW, I'M SPEAKING FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES I WORK WITH AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT PROPPE, BUT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
I'M MERGING YOU ALL TO PASS ITEM 99 THIS WEEK.
SO THOSE HARMED BY POLICE RECEIVE THE INVESTIGATIONS AND FOLLOW UP THAT THEY DESERVE.
ITEM 99 99 IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO SHOW YOU HERE SUPPORT AND ARE CURRENTLY SOLVING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY APPROVING.
ITEM 99 THIS WEEK WILL ALSO SHOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS INTEGRITY, HOLDS EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND SEEKS JUSTICE FOR ALL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ITEM NINE NINE PASSED THIS WEEK TO SUPPORT REASONABLE INDEPENDENT FACT FINDING ABOUT POLICE PROCESSES TO ENCOURAGE GREATER TRANSPARENCY, DETER MISCONDUCT, AND HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I URGE YOU ALL IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE PENDING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, LET'S GO AHEAD AND ACT ON IT BECAUSE THE LONGER THINGS SLOW DOWN, THE MORE FIRES WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT OUT LATER.
SORRY, I URGE YOU ALL TO DO THAT.
BACK TO THOSE WHO SIGNED UP ON CONSENT ITEMS. WE'VE GOT CAROL MAY WILLIAMS ON ITEM 100.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO TAKE UP A LITTLE OF YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
I AM CALLING, I MEAN, I'M HERE THIS MORNING, UH, WITH THE MEIS COMMUNITY AND I SUPPORT I M 100 AND THIS IS ABOUT THE PROPERTY, ADJACENT PROPERTY TO THE MEIS NEGRO SCHOOL.
I AM A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF THE METROPOLIS COMMUNITY.
I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF THE COMMUNITY GROUP, MENTALIS PROUD AND YES, I AM PROUD.
I'M PROUD THAT I GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I AM PROUD ALSO TO BE A MEMBER OF ST.
EDWARDS BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE OLDEST BLACK CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S LOCATED, IT WAS LOCATED AT FOUR EIGHT METROPOLIS DRIVE.
AND ALSO I'M PROUD THAT OUR CHURCH DID DONATE THE PROPERTY FOR THE MENTALIS NEGRO SCHOOL.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'M PROUD THAT WE DID HAVE A BLACK SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE CHILDREN COULD GO AND GET THEIR EDUCATION.
MY MOTHER WENT TO THAT SCHOOL, ALL HER SIBLINGS WENT TO THAT SCHOOL.
MY ELDER SIBLINGS WENT TO THAT SCHOOL.
AND THEN THERE WAS A TIME THAT THE CHURCH WAS MOVED, AND SO THEREFORE WE HAD TO MOVE.
WE HAD TO RELOCATE DOWN THE ROAD AT 7 0 2 OPIS.
SO WE WASN'T NEXT TO THE SCHOOL ANYMORE.
WE EVENTUALLY, THE SCHOOL CLOSED.
BUT WHAT I'M MOSTLY PROUD OF TODAY, WE DID GET RELOCATED.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WE ARE CELEBRATING THE DEDICATION OF ADJACENT PROPERTY TO THE MENTALIS SCHOOL.
[00:50:01]
PROUD THAT THERE WERE PROVISIONS THAT WAS MADE THAT THESE PROPERTIES ARE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.SO THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY SHOUTING AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, THE PROVISION TO MAKE THOSE PROVISIONS, TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
UH, I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARK AND RECREATION, THE PLANNING.
THERE'S GONNA BE MORE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEGRO SCHOOL, AND HOPEFULLY IT'S GONNA BE FOR MY, MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST WANNA TELL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SMILE MORE THAN YOU CRY.
GIVE MORE THAN YOU TAKE LOVE MORE THAN YOU HATE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON NON PULLED ITEMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MEMBERS, UH, AGAIN, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE 53, 55, 99 AND 1 0 1.
LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYONE WISHES TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN READ? ALRIGHT, UM, ON ITEM NUMBER MEMBERS, WHEN I READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE, UH, RECORD, I, I READ THAT ITEM NUMBER 67 HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
THAT SHOULD READ POSTPONED UNTIL THE OCTOBER 19TH MEETING.
SO FOR THE RECORD, A CHANGE IN CORRECTION IS ITEM 67 HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THE OCTOBER 19TH MEETING MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, LET ME GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ.
UH, THE MOTION IS MADE TO ADOPT IT BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO.
TIM, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
UH, I HAVE ONE RECUSAL, UH, AND THAT IS COUNCIL MEMBER VELA ON ITEM NUMBER 53.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS? I'M SORRY, DID I GET THE NUMBER WRONG? 63 I BELIEVE.
NO, THAT'S PROBABLY MY MISTAKE.
UM, SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IS SHOWN BEING RECUSED FROM A VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM 74, WHICH I THINK YOU CALLED ABSTENTIONS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER WILL BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 74.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING OR RECUSING? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN MY, UH, ITEM NUMBER 63, UH, GIVES MONEY TO TEXAS GRANDE LEGAL AID, UH, MY WIFE'S EMPLOYER.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M, UH, RECUSING.
ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN READ? ALL RIGHT.
UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE, UNLESS SOMEBODY WISHES TO COMMENT NOW, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
UH, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE UP A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND I'LL ASK, IS THERE ANY, ANY DIS ANY OBJECTION HEARING? NO OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
NOW I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK AND, AND MAKE BRIEF REMARKS WITH REGARD, REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE ORDER I'LL GO IN IS, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM NUMBER FOUR TODAY.
IT'S UPDATING THE UNIVERSAL RECYCLING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE MULTIFAMILY COMPOSTING IN 2021, COMPOSTING HAD FINALLY BEEN EXTENDED TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, BUT APARTMENTS AND CONDOS STILL HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO COMPOSTING.
SO THIS ORDINANCE COMES AFTER A LONG PILOT PROGRAM THAT SPANNED THE DURATION OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND AS AN APARTMENT DWELLER MYSELF, I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLKS WHO LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES, BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM TO HELP DIVERT ORGANIC MATERIALS FROM LANDFILLS.
THE ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS ARE MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PROM, DELIA GARZA, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALISON ALTER AND LESLIE POOLE.
SO I APPRECIATE THEM WORKING WITH ME ON THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
ITEM NUMBER 96, I WANNA APPLAUD THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR SUCCESSFULLY PURSUING A $1 MILLION E P A CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT TO CREATE A REGIONAL AUSTIN M S A PRIORITY CLIMATE PLAN AND A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE PLAN.
OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THESE AIM TO EXPAND OUR PLANNING AND ACTION BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS, PARTNER WITH OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND CITIES, AND PREPARE FOR THE $4.6 BILLION IN COMPETITIVE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION THAT WILL BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS THAT SIGNED ON TO JOIN US IN THIS CRITICAL INITIATIVE.
[00:55:01]
COG, AS WELL AS KYLE BUTTA, SAN MARCUS, LAKEWAY, CEDAR PARK ROUND ROCK, AND PFLUGERVILLE, AND TRAVIS HAYES IN FAST DROP COUNTIES.THEY WILL START WORKING OCTOBER AND BEGIN HIRING STAFF AND ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.
ITEM 97, AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR WORK SESSION ON TUESDAYS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATION TO THE U S D O T RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE I 35 CAP ANDIT FROM CAESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET.
AS WE DISCUSSED ON TUESDAY, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE I 35 EXPANSION FROM FURTHER PHYSICALLY DIVIDING OUR COMMUNITY AND HARMING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND ITEM 98 ACCEPTS U S D O T DOLLARS FOR THE PLANNING EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR THE CAPS AND STITCHES.
OUR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS TEAM HAS BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATIONS.
SO I EXTEND MY THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO KEEP OUR LIMITED DOLLARS TO HELP OUR LIMITED DOLLARS STRETCH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE SAFER TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY OPTIONS FOR ALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, UM, INCLUDING SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO JOINED ME THIS MORNING IN PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS PROCLAMATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION ITEM NUMBER 68.
THE MEASURE THAT WE PASS TODAY IS A RESOLUTION THAT FURTHER EMPOWERS AND EQUIPS THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE BATTLING OFTENTIMES SILENT CHALLENGES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
MY SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOLUTION TODAY WILL EXPRESS A COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO END SUICIDE DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL OUTREACH ON THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDE AND INITIATE AMENDMENTS TO SECTION FOUR DASH THREE DASH FOUR FIVE OF THE CITY CODE RELATED TO DESIGN AND OPERATION REQUIREMENTS OF ARCHERY RANGE OR SHOOTING FACILITY, AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL BY NOVEMBER OF 2023, AND ADDS THE CITY SUPPORT TO END SUICIDE BY ADDING IT TO THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
COLLEAGUES, I, I JUST WANNA SAY I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO'VE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY.
EVEN THIS MORNING, BRAVE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY CAME UP TO ME IN THE ATRIUM TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES SURROUNDING SUICIDE.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WORK, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS BODY AND CITY LEADERSHIP TO COME TOGETHER AND FORTIFY OUR RESOURCES AND OUTREACH FOR A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING WITHOUT US EVEN KNOWING.
IN CLOSING, IN THE UNITED STATES, SUICIDE DEATHS INCREASED IN 2022, RISING FROM 48,183 IN 2021 TO AN ESTIMATED 48,449 IN 2022.
IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL 9 8 8 THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO CALL 9 1 1 AND ASK FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
WITH THAT MAYOR, I YIELD BACK.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I WANTED TO TALK ON ITEMS, UM, RELATING TO THE EXTENSION OF THE FALCON'S LAND CONSERVATION PLAN, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZES THIS SUBMITTAL OF THE APPLICATION TO US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO EXTEND, UH, THE PERMIT FOR A DURATION OF ANOTHER 15 YEARS.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF THIS PERMIT AND, UH, AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE, THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THAT BOARD SINCE 2015.
I WANTED TO REALLY MARK THAT, MARK THIS POINT.
UM, SO ITEM SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE, WHICH EXTEND THE PERMIT FOR 15 YEARS REALLY TAKES US TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN TERMS OF MITIGATING HABITAT AND PROTECTING HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE B C C P IS REALLY ONE OF THE LONGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS THE CITY HAS HAD WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, WITH THE ORIGINAL FEDERAL PERMIT BEING SIGNED IN 1996.
AND SOME OF YOU IN LISTENING RANGE, OR MAYBE IN IN THIS ROOM WILL REMEMBER THOSE, UH, DISCUSSIONS AND THE VOTE THAT WE TOOK IN ORDER TO AGREE TO PRESERVE, UM, TO SUBMIT THAT PERMIT AND TO PRESERVE THAT LAND.
TODAY WE HAVE ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST URBAN PRESERVES IN THE NATION.
THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS PRESERVE RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY, AND IT IS HOME TO SEVEN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND OTHER SPECIES OF CONCERN.
I WANNA THANK KIMBERLY HARVEY AND SHERRY KOOL AND THEIR TEAM.
SHERRY AND KIMBERLY ARE HERE TODAY, AND I THINK KIMBERLY MAY BE, UM, JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
THEY HAVE PUT EXTRAORDINARY WORK
[01:00:01]
INTO THIS PERMIT AND ITS EXTENSION, AND, UH, IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS THAT WE, UH, SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED THAT EXTENSION, UH, APPLICATION.COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY RYAN ALT ALTER.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE US APPROVING ITEMS 47 AND 48, WHICH MOVE FORWARD CONTRACTS FOR AN OUTSIDE REVIEW OF HOW WE HANDLED SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES OPEN BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022, AS WELL AS AN AUDIT OF HOW THE CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PERF COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS WHICH ACCEPT ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING FOR OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AS WE HEARD AT TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION, THESE ITEMS AREN'T JUST CONTRACTS AND GRANTS.
THEY'RE AGREEMENTS, THEY'RE COMMITMENTS THAT STEM FROM HARD COLLABORATIVE WORK AND INVOLVE REAL LIVES, REAL TRAUMAS AND REAL PERSISTENCE ON THE PART OF ADVOCATES AND SURVIVORS WHO ARE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE REAL SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
I'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE INVEST IN OUR VICTIM SERVICES AND SEX CRIMES UNITS SO WE CAN RESPOND TO PAST FAILURES AND LIVE UP TO THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE IN OUR SETTLEMENT WITH SURVIVORS.
BUT THE REAL WORK IS DONE DAY IN AND DAY OUT BY OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT, DETECTIVES AND STAFF, OUR VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELORS, OUR OUTSIDE ADVOCATES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES, MANY, MANY, MANY SURVIVORS.
WE MUST ALL CONTINUE WORKING TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE SEXUAL ASSAULT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND AS WE WORK TO GET THERE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEM DOES RIGHT BY SURVIVORS ON TOTALLY DIFFERENT NOTE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANYON CREEK E M S FIRE STATION AND THE SPICEWOOD SPRINGS MOBILITY PROJECT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE IN DISTRICT 10.
I'M ALSO GLAD THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MULTI-FAMILY COMPOSTING AND ITEM FOUR AND WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MAYOR PROAM ELLIS'S WORK ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH I WAS PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR WHEN IT CAME BEFORE US ORIGINALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I THINK I'M GONNA ECHO QUITE A BIT OF WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD TO SAY.
UH, STARTING WITH ITEM FOUR, I REALLY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM.
UH, I TOO AM REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO BRING COMPOSTING TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
WE HAVE CUT OUT HALF THE CITY AND WILL NEVER MEET OUR GARBAGE DIVERSION GOALS IF WE EXCLUDE 50% OF THE CITY.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR REALLY PUTTING IN THE HARD WORK ON THIS AND, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO SEE WHAT RESULTS THAT YIELDS FOR US.
AND IN THE, THE SAME VEIN, ITEM NUMBER 96 FOR THE REGIONAL, THE REGIONAL PLAN MONEY FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
GREENHOUSE GASES DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR B CAVE OR PFLUGERVILLE.
AND SO THIS WILL HELP US TAKE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH WE JUST HAVE TO DO.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, CAST MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, WE WE'RE EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE PRESENTING ITEM 100 TODAY, DEDICATING 500 METROPOLIS AND, UH, ST.
EDWARDS BAPTIST CHURCH TRACKED AS PARKLAND 500 METROPOLIS IS HOME OF THE HISTORIC METROPOLIS SCHOOL, DESCRIBED AS WHAT WAS ONCE A SAFE HAVEN FOR AUSTIN'S BLACK STUDENTS DURING SEGREGATION.
THE MONIS SCHOOL IS A VITAL HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL LANDMARK TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THE ADJACENT TRACK WAS ONCE HOME TO THE SAINT EDWARDS BAPTIST CHURCH, THE OLDEST BLACK BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE COUNTY.
THE CHURCH EXTENDED ITS ARMS TO MONTOPOLIS SCHOOL BY DONATING LAND IN 1935 WHEN THE SCHOOL'S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS DESTROYED IN A FLOOD AND A NEW HOME WAS NEEDED.
THIS LAND HOLDS CONSIDERABLE SIGNIFICANCE TO THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MAKING ITS PRESERVATION CRUCIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON PROTECTING THESE HISTORIC PROPERTIES, AND THEY COLLECTIVELY AGREE THAT THIS DEDICATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THIS LAND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO MY POLICY ADVISOR, JAYLEN VALERO, FOR ALL HER HARD WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU TO MS. WILLIAMS FOR HER INSPIRING WORDS TODAY AND TO THE MEMBERS OF METROPOLIS PROUD FOR THEIR ADVOCACY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND ITEM NUMBER 68, YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF FOUR AND 68.
[01:05:01]
I HAD TO SAY.ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? UH, I, I'LL, I WANNA MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS ABOUT TWO OF THE ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER 15 AND RELATED ITEMS, UH, RELATE TO THE GREATER AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY REGIONAL RADIO SYSTEM.
AND I, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW WHAT, UH, THE COUNCIL JUST DID.
UH, ONE NIGHT BACK IN DECEMBER OF 96, THERE WAS A SIX ALARM FIRE NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS.
AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE THEIR PATROL CARS OUT OF THE WAY FROM FIRE HYDRANTS.
AND DURING A FLOOD, A TORNADO, A FIRE, OR SOME OTHER EVENT THAT BRINGS IN MULTIPLE AGENCIES, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER USING THEIR RADIOS.
SO WHAT HAPPENED IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY SMART AND IT GREW INTO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT JUST SMART, BUT ALSO VERY USEFUL.
UH, WHAT STARTED WAS A COALITION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND UT AND AUSTIN AND A I S D, BUT THAT GREW INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, WHAT'S PRONOUNCED AS GATORS.
AND IT'S G A T R R S, AS I INDICATED A MINUTE AGO, THAT STANDS FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY REGIONAL RADIO SYSTEM.
GATORS WENT LIVE IN 2003 AND NOW PROVIDES HIGHLY RELIABLE VOICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
AUSTIN IS THE MANAGING PARTNER OF GATOR.
UH, WE OWN AND OPERATE THE BRAINS OF THE SYSTEM AND OTHER AGENCIES ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH AUSTIN TO GET TO USE IT.
IN 2005, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE AUSTIN A $6 MILLION GRANT TO UPGRADE GATORS AS A MASTER SITE THAT CAN BE USED STATEWIDE.
AND NOW GATORS IS BEING USED IN 43 DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND BY NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES LAST YEAR.
EVERYBODY REMEMBERS AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED AT ROB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS.
NEARLY 400 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM 23 DIFFERENT AGENCIES RESPONDED THEY COULDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER, NOR COULD THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE OFFICERS INSIDE THE SCHOOL.
ITEM 15, TODAY IS AN AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT UVALDE COUNTY ACCESS TO GATORS, UVALDE COUNTY AND ITS NEARBY.
SISTER COUNTIES WANT TO IMPROVE THE TWO-WAY RADIO SYSTEM TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS IN A POSITION AND HAS THE ABILITY TO HELP AND IS NOW HELPING.
WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 97, I WANT TO PUT SOME CLARITY ON SOME THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT ON WITH REGARD TO THAT.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD.
A KEY GOAL OF PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING TO GET THIS ROAD I 35 LOWERED, UH, TAKING OUT THE UPPER DECKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WAS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR NOT ONLY REDUCING THE DIVIDE IT CREATED AND THAT IT CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE, BUT SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE CAPS AND STITCHES THAT ALLOW FOR BETTER CONNECTIONS.
TDOT HAS WORKED HARD AS A PARTNER TO WITH US TO DO THAT AS WE CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE ABOUT CAPS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE USED, WHERE THEY SHOULD GO.
WE'VE HAD TRUSTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE POINTED OUT THAT A KEY SPOT, A PLACE THAT IN MANY WAYS COULD BEST REPRESENT RECONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE A CAP AT 11TH AND 12TH STREET IN THAT AREA.
THE FEEDBACK INITIALLY WAS THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT FOR LIFE AND SAFETY REASONS, BECAUSE WITH THE CAPPING FROM THE RIVER TO EIGHTH STREET, YOU'D CREATE A TUNNEL OF SORTS THAT WOULD CREATE ENGINEERING PROBLEMS, GETTING AIRFLOW AND POTENTIALLY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IN THERE IF THEY WERE NEEDED.
SIMPLY PUT, UH, IN NON-ENGINEERING WAYS, YOU NEED A GAP OF SORTS TO MAKE THE ENGINEERING WORK FOR LIFE SAFETY REASONS.
AND THAT GAP UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN IN THE AREA OF 11TH AND 12TH STREET.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT ASSUMES THAT THE CAPS UP TO EIGHTH STREET FROM FOURTH TO EIGHTH STREET ARE THERE.
THAT THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE AND THAT THEY'RE NECESSARY.
THERE MAY BE A BETTER PLACE TO ENGINEER THE GAPS AND AS A RESULT, GET CAPS IN THE BETTER PLACE TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST GOAL OF CAPPING, WHICH APPEARS TO BE IN THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET AREA.
I'VE HAD CONTINUED COMMUNICATIONS WITH TEXDOT MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING.
AND I HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT TDOT'S GOING TO PRIORITIZE THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET CAPS AND IS NECESSARY REMOVE CAPPING FROM FOURTH STREET UP TO THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET AREA.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE GOAL, THEY EMBRACE IT, AND THEY BELIEVE WITH THIS CHANGE IN APPROACH, THEY CAN GET IT DONE.
I'VE SEEN THEIR CREATIVITY IN THE PAST, AND I THINK THEY CAN DO THIS.
I'M THANKFUL AGAIN FOR HOW THEY WANT TO MAKE THIS A
[01:10:01]
TREMENDOUS GENERATIONAL PROJECT.AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE AUSTINITES THAT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INPUT IN A POSITIVE WAY THAT HELP US TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THIS PROJECT.
NOW, AS FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION, WE AREN'T FAR ENOUGH ALONG IN THAT TO MAKE NOT FAR ENOUGH ALONG ON THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET CAP PART OF IT, UH, TO, TO INCLUDE THAT IN PART BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WILL BE DONE, HOW BIG IT MIGHT BE, AND WE DON'T WANNA LOSE THE CHANCE ON ANY OTHER CAPPING THAT WE MIGHT GET.
BUT THE CASE THAT'S BEEN MADE FOR THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET CAP MEANS WE WILL PRIORITIZE IT AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FUND THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
JUST YOUR COMMENTARY INSPIRED SOME, YOU KNOW, REAL APPRECIATION ON MY PART FOR WHAT HAS OTHERWISE BEEN NEGLECTED, ESPECIALLY 12TH STREET.
BUT I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT THAT, UM, THAT CAP AT 12TH STREET WOULD GET FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE OF I 35 RIGHT TO WATERLOO PARK AND THE ONE AT 11TH STREET WOULD TAKE FOLKS RIGHT TO THE CAPITOL.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT YOU PUT SOME, SOME HEAT ON IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 11:11 AM AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
AND FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND I'LL RECOGNIZE STAFF.GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT MADAM VICE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, BEFORE YOU HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA, THREE OF THESE ITEMS ARE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTIONS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND LOTTERY HELD BY THE BOND REVIEW BOARD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UH, THESE APPLICATIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED, THE LOTTERY WILL BE AT THE, IN, UH, LATE OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER.
UM, AND THAT WILL DECIDE WHEN.
HANG ON, HANG ON ONE THESE SETTLEMENTS.
MY APOLOGIES IF YOU'RE TALKING, IF YOU'RE TALKING AND YOU'RE NOT STANDING AT THE PODIUM, YOU SHOULDN'T BE TALKING
UH, THE BOND ACTIVITY, THE BOND REVIEW BOARD LOTTERY WILL DETERMINE WHEN, UH, THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE FUNDED AND THEN ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCTED.
UH, THIS DOES NOT COMMIT, UH, THE CITY, UH, TO ANY FUNDING.
IT JUST, UH, ALLOWS FOR THE APPLICATION OF THESE BONDS.
UH, THE FIRST IS A $26 MILLION PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND APPLICATION FOR THE MARY LEE SQUARE PHASE ONE, UH, LOCATED AT, UH, LAMAR SQUARE DRIVE.
THIS WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 175 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
UH, THE SECOND INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION IS FOR $25 MILLION PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND, UH, FOR PLEASANT VALLEY LP.
UH, THIS IS 5,900 SOUTH PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD AND WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 96 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THE THIRD, UH, INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION IS FOR A $50 MILLION OR, UH, 1.7% OF THE STATE CEILING.
AND THAT IS HOW THE APPLICATION, UH, IS, UH, SUGGESTED TO BE WRITTEN, UH, FOR THE, UH, 4,500 KNUCKLES CROSSING ROAD TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 296 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
YOUR FOURTH ITEM BEFORE YOU IS YOUR, IS AN EXTENSION, UH, AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE, UH, ECHO, UH, CONTRACT, WHICH IS A RE RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CONSULTING CONTRACT, UH, TO GET US THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
UH, THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 FOR THIS CONTRACT.
I OFFER ALL FOUR OF THESE ITEMS ON CONSENT MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.
UH, THANK YOU MR. MAY, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST THAT Y'ALL KIND OF HAVE A, A METRIC OR BENCHMARK THAT YOU USE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBSIDY PER UNIT.
WHAT IS, IF YOU COULD REMIND ME WHAT THAT NUMBER IS? $50,000 IS, IS STANDING OUT IN MY MIND, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT.
WHAT FOR, UH, FOR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WE DO KIND OF SET A BENCHMARK OF AROUND $50,000 NOW THAT BENCHMARK WAS SET BEFORE, UH, WHEN WE WERE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ECONOMY.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT NUMBER IS NOT NECESSARILY OPERATIVE, HOWEVER, IT IS STILL OUR TARGET.
AND IS THAT FOR, AT A CERTAIN AFFORDABILITY LEVEL? IS THAT 80? 60 50? WE'RE FOR THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WE ONLY FUND A, UH, FINANCE PROGRAM, UM, UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE BELOW 50%.
THE, THE REASON WHY I ASK, AND, AND I'M NOT HERE TO TO OBJECT OR STOP ONE OF THESE, BUT ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE, UM, PLEASANT VALLEY APARTMENTS.
THE EXPECTED REQUEST FROM A H F C IS $10.6 MILLION FOR 93 UNITS, WHICH IS $114,000 OF SUBSIDY PER UNIT.
AND THAT JUST STUCK OUT AT ME AS, AS QUITE A BIT HIGH AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH A DEEP SUBSIDY HERE.
SO, UH, THAT IS A DECISION AND A CONVERSATION THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH THE APPLICANT, UH, CONCERNING THE SUBSIDY LEVEL IN THE APPLICATION FOR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
UH, THAT APPLICATION, IF IT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW, WILL
[01:15:01]
BE REVIEWED AS PART OF THE NOVEMBER, UH, A H F C BOARD MEETING.UM, HOWEVER, THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO DISCOVER ULTIMATE ALTERNATE FORMS OF FINANCING AND TO, UH, BASICALLY DO, UH, VALUE ENGINEERING TO ENSURE THAT OUR SUBSIDY PER UNIT IS AT A TARGET THAT WE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF, UH, MEMBERS? UH, IT'S THE INTENTION OF THE CHAIR TO, UH, TO TAKE UP, UH, ITEMS A H F C ONE THROUGH FOUR AS A CONSENT AGENDA IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO PULL ONE OF THESE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.
I I THINK WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
IF NOT, I'D LIKE TO PULL IT SO THAT HE CAN SPEAK.
UH, WELL THEY'RE GOING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SPEAKING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I JUST WANNA, THIS, I'M, I'M SORRY.
I'M I, THE FACES WERE BEING MADE AND I'M NO, YEAH, I APOLOGIZE.
FACES ARE MADE AT ME ALL THE TIME.
YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN REACT.
ARE YOU, UM, I JUST WANNA KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS SOMETHING THEY WANNA PULL RIGHT NOW.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE WILL OPEN, WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENT, UH, ON ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK.
WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER ON ITEM A H F C FOUR ENOVIA JOSEPH.
SO WHOEVER WAS MAKING FACES AT YOU, JUST MAKING FACES AT YOU.
I KNOW SOMEONE TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE IF, AND POTENTIALLY YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP JOSEPH WALTER.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHO I WAS HOPING WE'D HEAR FROM.
HE, HE ALWAYS MAKES FACES AT ME.
IS MS. IS MS. JOSEPH AVAILABLE? I'LL TRY AGAIN.
IN PERSON WE HAVE WALTER MONROE.
I'M WALTER RO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
UH, I KNOW WE'RE ON CONSENT, UH, BUT I DID WANNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION 'CAUSE IT'S SUCH A REMARKABLE PROJECT.
AND THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS IN DECEMBER WHEN THE STATESMAN PUD ZONING CAME UP.
UM, MARY LEE IS A 65 YEAR OLD NONPROFIT THAT HAS FOCUSED ON SERVING VERY SPECIAL NEEDS, UH, FOLKS.
AND THEY HAVE SEVEN ACRES OF LAND, 14 BUILDINGS, JUST A MILE FROM HERE ON SOUTH LAMAR.
IT'S ALL THE LAND BEHIND THE SAXON PUB AND MA'S.
WE'VE, WE'VE COME VERY FAR IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND THE DESIGN TO BASICALLY TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT CAN LIVE IN THIS LOCATION.
INCLUDE MUSICIANS, FAMILIES WITH KIDS THAT CAN WALK TO ZILKER ELEMENTARY.
UM, WE REALLY WANNA SAVE THE HOUSING THAT'S THERE NOW, UH, THAT CAN BE SAVED FOR THE CURRENT RESIDENTS.
WE HAD TWO REALLY WONDERFUL RESIDENT MEETINGS, UH, AND RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT THE VISION.
AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED.
10 OF THE 14 BUILDINGS ARE IN VERY POOR CONDITION AND CRUMBLING, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM REBUILT.
UM, WHAT YOU HAVEN'T, WE NEED THE CITY'S HELP ON A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE.
UH, WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS A PRETTY BASIC REQUEST TO GO INTO THE BOND LOTTERY.
THAT'S JUST LIKE STEP ONE IN GETTING HOUSING CREDITS.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA COME BACK LATER.
WE, LAMAR SQUARE IS A BIG BROAD STREET THAT MAKES US CIRCLE AND OUR PLAN IS TO VACATE THAT STREET WITH THE CITY SO THAT IT CAN BE USED AS A, UM, FOR MORE DENSITY.
UM, THE, UM, THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW IS A HUNDRED PERCENT EXEMPT FROM TAXES.
THE MINUTE WE MAKE A CHANGE, IT GOES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.
SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH STAFF ABOUT SOME KIND OF A STRUCTURE THAT KEEPS THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION SO WE CAN KEEP THE DEEP AFFORDABILITY AT 30% LEVELS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND OUR VISION IS REALLY TO CREATE A INTEGRATED COMMUNITY WHERE FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES CAN LIVE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, BUT IN A COMMUNITY OF FOLKS.
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, UH, WE'RE GONNA NEED HELP.
I'M GONNA MAKE, I'M GONNA MAKE FACES AT YOU.
BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M REALLY, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP.
UM, I THINK EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MONROE.
WE HAVE ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON H C FOUR.
COUNCIL DIRECTORS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.
MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO
[01:20:01]
THE ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION.$100,000, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS DE MINIS.
I WOULD ASK THE MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS TO STRETCH OUR LIMITED DOLLARS TO HELP BLACK PEOPLE.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE JULY 1ST, 2022 ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS REPORTS SPECIFIED THAT BLACKS AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN WHITES TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO HAVE A WORK SESSION HOMELESS STRATEGY UPDATE THAT WOULD INCLUDE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING SALARIES THAT YOU'VE ALLOCATED TO ECHO.
I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO INCLUDE LYNN MEREDITH AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE TO SEE WHERE THE PRIVATE DOLLARS ARE AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO AUDIT FINDINGS OF MCKENZIE KELLY AND LESLIE POOLE.
OUR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED FOR AN AUDIT, WHICH SPECIFIES THAT THE CITY ALONE BUDGETED $179 MILLION IN THREE YEARS.
AND THE AUDIT REPORTS FOUND THE CITY DEPARTMENTS LACK DETAIL INVENTORIES OF AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS SHOWING HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AUDIT ALSO FOUND THAT DEPARTMENTS DO NOT USE DATA TO IMPROVE PROCESSES.
SO HERE YOU HAVE DATA THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS, BUT IN THE HISTORIC $5.5 BILLION BUDGET, YOU'VE NOT ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO ARE LANGUISHING BLACK MEN ARE AT BUS STOPS AND YOU HAVE PUT US IN WAREHOUSES AT THE MARSHALLING YARD.
PLEASE DO BETTER, MAYOR, THIS IS A MATTER WORTHY OF COMPLAINTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME, BUT I DON'T SEE THE OUTCOMES FROM ECHO.
THAT CONCLUDES A H F C SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE, FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO PULL SOMETHING? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN READ.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM OR VICE CHAIR.
I TEND TO LOSE WHAT BOARD MEETING WE'RE HAVING HERE.
UM, IS THERE, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE THIS UP AS A MATTER OF LACK OF OBJECTION.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE CONSENT BOARD MEMBER? UH, KELLY.
UM, I KNOW PLEASE REFLECT, UH, NO VOTE FOR ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR FROM, UM, MEMBER KELLY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WITH BOARD MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
MAYOR, I DIDN'T HEAR WHO SECONDED, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEMP.
UM, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 11:23 AM I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Public Facility Corporation Meeting]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT MADAM VICE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, TODAY ON YOUR A H P F C AGENDA, YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST IS THE APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 1ST AND JUNE 8TH.
AND THE SECOND IS AN INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION JUST LIKE AT THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
THIS IS ONE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION FOR ELA EVA L L C.
THIS IS A $35 MILLION BOND APPLICATION TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 114 NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS LOCATED ON MONTOPOLIS DRIVE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I OFFER THESE ON CONSENT MEMBERS THAT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON EITHER OF THE AGENDA ITEMS. UH, THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE THIS UP AS CONSENT AGENDA BASED UPON LACK OF OBJECTION.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THERE BEING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
IS THERE, UH, ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THAT THE AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FINANCE CORPORATION IS THERE WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE, THE AUSTIN HOUSING, UH, PUBLIC
[01:25:01]
FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING AT 11:25 AM I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 11:25 AM HANG WITH ME JUST A SECOND.I WANNA MAKE SURE WE, LET ME, LET ME ASK THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UM, ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 82 AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON I ITEM 82 OR ONE? YES, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR 82.
AND, UM, HOW ABOUT 1 0 4? YES.
AND WE HAVE ONES FOR 8 2 1 0 2 AS WELL.
UH, I FIGURED WE WOULD ON THAT.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO TO ITEM NUMBER 53 AND THEN, UH, DEPENDING UPON HOW WE MOVE INTO THE NOON HOUR, UH, IF YOU, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'LL, UH, KIND OF BE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER HERE ON TRYING TO MOVE US THROUGH THESE ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM WILL
[53. Approve the Recommended Land Management Strategies and Climate Vulnerability Analysis for Austin Parks and Recreation Department natural areas.]
BE ITEM NUMBER 53.AND, UM, THAT WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR.
UM, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION AND THEN I'LL MAKE SOME COMMENTS AFTER THE MOTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL, UH, TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDED LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS FOR POSSUM PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT NATURAL AREAS.
ITEM 53, TOGETHER WITH THE MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED CA COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MOTION IS MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 53 WITH THE ADDITION OF THE DIRECTION THAT IS SET FORTH IN VERSION TWO, WHICH IS ON THE YELLOW SHEET THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED.
UM, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, I'LL CALL ON THE CITY CLERK TO TELL US, UH, IF WE HAVE SPEAKERS.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REMOTE, SO I'LL GO TO IN PERSON.
WE HAVE LAYLA BELLA ON ITEM 53.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK THERE.
UM, SO I FIND THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROPOSAL, UM, IN THE WORDS OF MATT HIMSELF WHO WORKS FOR THE PROGRAM.
HE HAD SENT AN EMAIL A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHERE HE HIMSELF SAID THAT THESE PRESCRIBED BURNS CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE FIRES AND DON'T NECESSARILY PREVENT THEM.
UM, NOW WHEN THEY KNOW THIS, AND THEY'RE STILL RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO THIS IN THIS STATE OF AUSTIN RIGHT NOW AFTER A DROUGHT, I FIND THAT DANGEROUS.
OUR ASH JUNIPERS ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT A FIRE HAZARD.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST SO MANY TREES TO GO AND DEFOREST ANYMORE RIGHT NOW IS DANGEROUS.
IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY JUST AWFUL FOR AUSTIN.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO EITHER PAUSE AND REALLY LOOK AT THIS PLAN OR WE NEED TO JUST NOT GO FORWARD WITH IT AT THIS TIME.
OUR ASH JUNIPERS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND OUR GEOLOGY'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE GEOLOGY IN THE WEST COAST WHERE PEOPLE TRAIN PEOPLE TO DO THESE PRESCRIBED BURNS.
WE HAVE AN UPLIFT, WE HAVE A, UM, WE HAD EARTHQUAKES THAT CAUSED AQUIFERS.
THAT'S WHY OUR TREES STAY GREEN ALL YEAR.
SO YOU LOOK AT AUSTIN NOW, IT'S EMERALD GREEN.
EVEN AFTER THIS HORRIBLE DROUGHT, THESE TREES HAVE STAYED GREEN BECAUSE THERE'S WATER THAT KEEPS THEM GREEN.
SO WE DON'T NEED TO BE DEFORESTING ANYMORE.
WE NEED TO BE DEFINITELY TAKING CARE OF OUR JUNIPERS, TAKING CARE OF OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES WHO RELY ON THESE JUNIPERS.
AND, UM, ALSO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND SEE WHO'S TRAINING PEOPLE.
ARE THEY TRAINING PEOPLE ACCORDING TO OUR GEOLOGY OR THE GEOLOGY OF THE WEST COAST WHERE THEIR FAULTS SLIDE PAST EACH OTHER.
THEY DON'T CREATE THESE SPACES FOR AQUIFERS.
SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE PAUSE AND REALLY RECONSIDER THIS.
[01:30:01]
ROY W ON ITEM 53 WITH BILL BUNCH ON DECK.HOW DO Y'ALL, MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.
I'M THE CONSERVATION SHERIFF FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP, THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND WITH RESPECT TO OUR FRIENDS AT PARK, UH, WE DISAGREE WITH THIS PLAN, OR AT LEAST PARKS OF IT.
LET ME READ YOU AN EXCERPT FROM A LETTER.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE PROPOSED LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN UTILIZES EARLY PIONEER TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF DEFORESTATION INTENDED TO PROMOTE GRASS FOR LIVESTOCK FORAGING AND PROVIDE WOOD FOR BUILDING AND FIREWOOD TO SUPPLY, UH, RECREATION AND ARTIFICIALLY MADE ECOSYSTEM.
BUT CONTINUES, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, CONTINUES THE DAMAGE TO THE ECOSYSTEM UNDERGOING NATURAL REBUILDING OF SOIL AND FOREST SUCCESSION.
THE PLAN DOES NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH DEFOREST, DEFORESTATION AND SOIL LOSS HISTORICALLY OCCURRED AND WAS A FACTOR IN LAND DEGRADATION, PARK'S LONG LEGACY OF FILLING ENDANGERED SPECIES CAVES, KILLING COYOTES, APPLYING PESTICIDES AND OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS AND CLEARING TREES THAT ARE NOT SUITED FOR RANCH MANAGEMENT.
THEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE PRESERVES.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THE WHOLE IDEA IS BAD, IT JUST DOESN'T FIT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WITH OUR PARKS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT.
I KNOW EXPERTS AND I TRUST THEM.
AND THIS, I HOPE ALL OF Y'ALL HAVE RECEIVED THIS LETTER.
AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IF YOU DON'T AMEND THE PROJECT, THE PLAN, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT OBJECTING TO ALL OF IT, BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DEAL WITH THE ENDANGERED SPECIES AREAS, THE CAVE AREAS THAT PAR LACKS.
WE LOVE PAR SIERRA CLUB LOVES.
PARDON, AND WE RESPECT THE PEOPLE THERE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTS THAT THE B C P DOES.
AND WE THINK IT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE RATHER THAN LAWNMOWERS AND MATCHES.
VERY QUICKLY, UM, AGAIN, A CLARIFICATION ON ITEM 99.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SPEAKERS WHO HAD CALLED IN REMOTELY AND DISCONNECTED.
IF THEY WANT TO RECONNECT THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THEIR EMAIL STATES WHO TO EMAIL, AND WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE CALL-IN NUMBER.
SO PLEASE EMAIL THAT PERSON AND WE WILL GET YOU CONNECTED.
AND THAT'S FOR ITEM 99? FOR 99.
THAT WAS, YES, WE'RE ON 53 99.
WE WILL GO FROM 53 TO 55 DEPENDING UPON WHAT OUR TIME SITUATION IS.
ITEM 99, WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON BEFORE WE BRING IT UP.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE 1 0 1 THAT'S BEEN A PULLED ITEM.
I, I WOULD LIKE FOR MAYBE DIRECTOR MCNEELY TO OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF SPEAKERS ON 53.
THE WAY I'M READING IT, IT SAYS ANALYSIS NOT PLAN.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY.
UH, WE WILL CALL HER UP WITH, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, WE'LL CALL HER UP WHEN WE FINISH WITH THE SPEAKER.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I SENT JOE ALL A LETTER YESTERDAY, UH, ON THIS MATTER ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE FOR A BETTER PROCESS.
UM, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE MAYOR TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC PROCESSES.
I THINK THIS IS AN IDEAL EXAMPLE.
UH, MAYBE IDEAL IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
UH, AN EXAMPLE OF OF A PROCESS THAT FAILED US.
UH, YOU HAVE WORLD-CLASS SCIENTISTS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, AND, AND MANY OF THEM FOR DECADES WHO ARE EXPERTS ON PROTECTING CAVES AND ENDANGERED CAVE SPECIES.
UM, PROTECTING OUR WATERSHEDS, ENHANCING RECHARGE TO OUR AQUIFERS, UH, IMPROVING STREAM FLOW, PROTECTING WATER QUALITY, AND THEN PROTECTING OUR ENDANGERED, UH, GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
UM, THOSE PEOPLE WERE CUT OUT OF THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAN.
THAT'S BEFORE YOU, UH, YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
I SECOND EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN OUR, UM, IN OUR LETTER.
THIS PLAN IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH OUR AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UH, WE HAVE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DECLARED IT.
IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO US ALL.
WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS
[01:35:01]
CUTTING DOWN TREES THAT STORE CARBON BURNING TREES AND SHRUBS THAT STORE CARBON, UH, MAKING OUR FIRE RISK DA, UH, EVEN MORE DANGEROUS, NOT REDUCING FIRE RISK.UM, PLEASE, THIS, THIS NEEDS THE EXPERTISE FROM YOUR STAFF, PHD HYDROLOGIST NICO HOWARD, WHO'S RECOGNIZES THE EXPERT ON CAVES AND PROTECTING THE EDWARDS AQUIFERS.
A FEW OTHERS, UH, THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS A RANCH MANAGEMENT PLAN BEFORE YOU, THIS IS NOT A NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN.
PLEASE, LET'S, LET'S PAY ATTENTION TO THE SCIENCE AND LET'S PAY PAY ATTENTION TO OUR, BOTH OUR LEGAL AND OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO THIS.
THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 53.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL UP THE, THE PARKS DIRECTOR, BUT I'LL START WITH COMMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE, UH, JUST IN ADDITION TO OUR CITY PARKS FOLKS TO RESPOND.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO WORK WITH B C C P, UM, I SEE SHERRY KOOL BACK HERE.
I THINK SHE'S HERE AND SHE'S WILLING, SHE'S ABLE TO COMMENT AS WELL FROM THE, UH, CAMP BALCONES CANYONLAND PRESERVE PERSPECTIVE.
SORRY, KIMBERLY, BUT, BUT BUNCH CHOKED ME UP.
KIMBERLY MCNEELY SERVING AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
SO, UH, TO ANSWER THE SPECIFIC QUESTION, IT IS CALLED AN ANALYSIS AND WE'RE REFERRING TO IT AS A GUIDE.
UH, IT IS NOT A, A PLAN THAT WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, A VISION PLAN WHERE IT HAS PHASES AND THERE'S VERY, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE MORE PRESCRIBED.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, THESE ARE THE DESCRIBING THE SORTS OF LANDS THAT WE HAVE AND THEN DESCRIBING THE TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE.
AND THERE'S A, A LIST OF THEM THAT COULD BE PUT IN A TOOLBOX.
THIS IS COMPLETELY LAYMAN'S TERMS, PLEASE.
SO I DO HAVE EXPERTISE BEHIND ME.
UM, BUT, BUT IT'S A, A BUNCH OF TOOLS IN A TOOLBOX THAT ARE INTERVENTIONS THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND THAT MEETS A SPECIFIC SORT OF CRITERIA.
AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A GUIDE FOR OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AND WE KNOW, UM, AS, AS MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPOKEN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS OR WHAT THE LANDS WILL LOOK LIKE IN, IN 10 YEARS.
AND SO THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA, IS WE HAVE THIS GUIDE, WE HAVE AN ANALYSIS, WE HAVE CRITERIA TO APPLY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS OVER TIME.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT CERTAIN TOOLS THAT ARE, UM, ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE TODAY WILL BE APPROPRIATE IN 10 YEARS.
AND IT'S ALSO NOT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND, WHEN WE'VE SELECTED THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND AS, AS THE, AS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO, UM, MANAGE IN A PARTICULAR WAY WHERE THERE WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS.
WHAT IS THE OUTCOME THAT WE ACTUALLY WANT AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? AND OVER WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME WILL THAT HAPPEN? SO THAT'S IN COMPLETE LAYMAN'S TERMS. IF YOU NEED MORE EXPERTISE, UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY CALL UP MATT MCCALL OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR TEAM.
I OH, AM I ON? YOU ARE STAYING ON.
UM, I JUST WANTED SOME THAT CLARIFICATION AND I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD CONCERNS THAT THIS WAS A FLUID PLANT? AND SO AS CONCERNS ARE RAISED, THAT IT'S NOT SET IN STONE.
BUT I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT.
IS THERE SOMEBODY YOU WOULD LIKE US TO CALL? YEAH, SHERRY POOL.
AND THEN I SEE JOHN KO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TOO.
AND I THINK, UH, JOHN, YOU'RE WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
ARE YOU HERE? UM, TO, UH, OKAY.
I'M THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE OFFICER FOR AUSTIN WATER.
AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BA CANYON LANDS CONSERVATION PLAN SINCE THE BEGINNING.
AND OUR STAFF, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
WE'RE INVOLVED WORKING WITH PART ON THIS PLAN.
WE HAD STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE SCOPING FOR THE CONSULTANTS, AND THEN WE HAD, KIMBERLY HARVEY WAS INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW OF ALL THE, UM, PROPOSALS THAT CAME IN.
OUR STAFF PROVIDED COMMENTS ON THE PLAN THAT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE PLAN.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE COMMENTS, UM, THE, UH, BA CANYON LANDS HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND PERMIT ARE CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE PLAN MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THOSE WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANY LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON THOSE PARTICULAR TRACKS.
UM, THERE'S JUST A HANDFUL OF B C P TRACKS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PLAN THAT ARE MOSTLY PARKS THAT WERE PARKS FIRST, AND THEN WE'RE PUT INTO
[01:40:01]
THE B C P.SO THEY'RE CO-MANAGED WITH, UM, THE AUSTIN WATER AND THE PARD STAFF, AND WE WORKED TOGETHER ON HOW PARTICULAR STRATEGIES FOR THOSE TRACKS.
UM, WE DO TRY TO INCORPORATE, UM, SOME STRATEGIES THAT INCREASE THE MOISTURE BERMS AND SWALES AND, UH, PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES AND TRYING TO, UH, REGENERATE OAK JUNIPER, FOREST, JUNIPER, OAK FOREST.
THAT TAKES A REALLY LONG TIME.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR 20 YEARS AND WE'VE DONE SOME GREAT WORK, BUT IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACREAGE.
SO WE WANNA PARTNER WITH PARD ON LOOKING AT ALL, ALL THE STRATEGIES OUT THERE WITH THE FOCUS, OF COURSE, ALSO ON DECREASING OUR WILDFIRE RISK.
AND MS. KOOL, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE KARST AND CAVE SITUATION, DR.
HOWARD IN PARTICULAR AND HIS EXPERTISE? YES, WE DO HAVE A CAR LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN ALREADY.
IT'S ONE OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE BA CANYON LANDS, UH, LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
HOWARD WAS A PART OF PUTTING THAT CHAPTER TOGETHER.
AND THAT APPLIES TO ALL OF THE B C P LANDS AND ALL OF THE CAVES.
SOME OF THE B C P CAVES ARE ON PARD PARKS.
UM, AND THAT PLAN WILL STILL BE IN PLACE AND ALL THOSE, UM, MEASURES WILL APPLY.
AND MAYOR, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE B C C P, UM, WORK FOR A LONG TIME.
I CAN ABSOLUTELY ASSERT THAT THE STAFF IS, IS ACTIVELY, UH, DAILY MANAGING AND OVERSEEING ALL ASPECTS OF THE PRESERVE AND ITS WELFARE, AND IS KEENLY AWARE OF, UH, THE CONCERNS AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE MADE BIG STRIDES IN, UH, UH, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF NOTIFICATION FOR PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE EDGES OF THE PRESERVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T GO IN AND CUT THINGS DOWN OR CLAIM, UH, THE PARTS OF THE PRESERVE AS THEIR OWN PERSONAL BACKYARDS.
UM, IT'S, UH, DIFFICULT WORK SOMETIMES GETTING THE WORD OUT, BUT IT PERSISTS AND, UH, WILL CONTINUE LONG INTO THE FUTURE.
AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT THE STAFF'S IN COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE AFFECTED FOR 15 YEARS AND FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS, IF NOT LONGER.
I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO CLOSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUBBER MADISON FOR THOSE QUESTIONS AND, AND INTERVENTIONS.
UM, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE RECOMMENDED LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS FOR PAR NATURAL AREAS.
ITEM 53, THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY UNRESOLVED RECOMMENDATION FROM A 2019 WILDFIRE PREVENTION AUDIT, WHICH CALLED FOR A LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE US TAKING THESE NEXT STEPS.
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR WILDFIRE, BUT FOR THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE OF OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES SO THAT WE CAN BE MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THESE NATURAL SPACES.
UM, MOVING FORWARD, I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK OUR PARD STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS ITEM, ESPECIALLY, UH, MATT MCCAW, AMANDA ROSS, JOHN DAVIS, CHRISTINE CHUTE CANOE.
SO SONA SHAW, THE PLANNING DIVISION, GROUNDS MAINTENANCE DIVISION, PARK RANGER DIVISION, AND OBVIOUSLY OUR DIRECTOR, MS. MCNEELY.
UM, THEY WORKED VERY CLOSELY, UM, WITH OUR COMMISSIONS AND ALSO WITH MANY DEPARTMENT STAKEHOLDERS.
AUSTIN WATER, UH, B C P AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WATERSHED PROTECTION, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, OFFICE OF RESILIENCY, THE EQUITY OFFICE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.
UM, THIS PROCESS TOOK A LONG TIME.
COVID INTERVENED, BUT IT ALSO TOOK A LONG TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO GET THIS, UM, CORRECT.
WE KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO FACE EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE CRISIS IMPACTS THAT ARE COMPLEX AND MULTIFACETED AND THAT THE RISKS WE ARE TRYING TO MITIGATE OUR YEAR ROUND AND THAT OFTEN CAN BE VERY SPECIFIC TO VERY PARTICULAR PLACES AND LANDS.
THESE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT IN THIS, UM, ANALYSIS ARE GOING TO HELP US MITIGATE THOSE RISKS IN THE LONG TERM.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.
THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THE PLAN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I THINK IT UNDERSCORED OUR EFFORTS DURING BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD RESOURCES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE STRATEGIC AND EQUITABLE INVESTMENTS IN THESE EFFORTS.
THE MOTION SHEET THAT I, UM, PASSED OUT, UM, IS JUST SLIGHTLY MODIFIED FROM WHAT I, UH, PRESENTED, UM, LAST NIGHT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
UM, THE FIRST THING IT DOES IS IT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THE ANALYSIS, UM, AND TO REPORT BACK TO US ON A REGULAR BASIS SO WE CAN BE MA YOU KNOW, WATCHING THAT.
AND WE WERE EXPECTING IT TO BE RESOURCED
[01:45:01]
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, IN BUDGETS.UM, IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE BY OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
SO IT, IT, UM, COMMITS US TO DEEP AND IT ALSO COMMITS US TO DEEP COLLABORATIONS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, NEIGHBORS AND THE EXPERTISE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN.
UM, CLIMATE COLLABORATION, WHICH IS REALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT CLIMATE ANALYSIS AND MAKE IT, UM, SPECIFIC TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
UM, AND SO TOGETHER, UM, I THINK THAT THIS PLAN, THIS ANALYSIS, THIS PROCESS THAT WE'VE SET FORWARD AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENT, IS GOING TO HELP US BE MORE RESILIENT.
IT IS GOING TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES ARE THERE FOR THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE BEEN REMISS IN OUR INVESTMENTS, UM, AND THIS IS A GUIDE TO HELP US, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THE MOTION SHEET ALSO INCORPORATES, UM, A SMALL CHANGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE ASKED FOR AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN FACE THIS CHALLENGE JUST AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE NEED FOR RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE, UM, TAKING THIS STEP.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, UM, BUT I THINK THIS GIVES US THE ANALYSIS AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL PARKS AND PRESERVES, UM, AND BALANCE OUR RESOURCES APPROPRIATELY.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 53 WITH THE ADDITION BEING THE DIRECTION THAT'S SET FORTH IN VERSION TWO BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 53 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UM, I WOULD, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WE COULD GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A FEW MINUTES ON ITEM NUMBER 99.
AND I'LL, UH, MAKE THAT APPROPRIATELY.
BUT I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO.
UH, WE HAVE A 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE WILL BE BACK IN HERE AS CLOSE TO 12 O'CLOCK AS WE CAN GET.
I ANTICIPATE IT'LL BE VERY CLOSE TO 12 O'CLOCK.
[Executive Session]
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 RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 99, WHICH IS APPROVING A RESOLUTION, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REVISE AND IMPLEMENT CERTAIN POLICIES RELATED TO TRAINING INVESTIGATIONS, REPORTING BY THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE AND CREATION OF A PUBLIC WORK GROUP.
IS THERE AGAIN, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM ANNOUNCED? HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1147 AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE OUT OF, UH, MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE OUT OF A CLOSED SESSION ENCLO SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 99.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
GO TO OUR, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, TO CALL THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR OUR GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS.WE DO NOT HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER IN THE QUEUE JUST YET.
UM, SO I WILL START WITH RICK SHANNON.
MY NAME'S ALICIA BALL AND I WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED AND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED AT MY FORMER PLACE OF WORK.
AND I WAS LET GO FOR REPORTING IT.
I IMMEDIATELY FILED WITH THE E O C IN TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND I CONTACTED OVER 50 DIFFERENT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES AND I HIT DEAD ENDS EVERYWHERE I WENT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, BECAUSE THE WAY THE LAWS WERE WRITTEN IN 19 64, 1 IN FIVE WORKERS IS NOT PROTECTED.
AND I WAS ONE OF THEM UNDER TITLE SEVEN OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AN EMPLOYER IS DEFINED AS AN ENTITY WITH 15 OR MORE EMPLOYEES.
THOSE LIKE MYSELF, WHO WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 15 EMPLOYEES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL PROTECTIONS IN TEXAS.
THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THESE CASES UNDER CHAPTER 21.
HOWEVER, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION REFUSED
[01:50:01]
TO REVIEW MY COMPLAINT BECAUSE AUSTIN QUOTE HAS A WORK SHARE AGREEMENT WITH THE E O C THAT SUPERSEDES ITS JURISDICTION.THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION REFERS THOSE IN AUSTIN WHO EXPERIENCED WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ASSISTANCE.
AND LEMME JUST SAY IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS THAT I'VE EVER HAD TO DO IS DEAL WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
GETTING THROUGH TO THEM WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT.
WHEN THEY FINALLY RESPONDED, I THOUGHT I MIGHT SEE SOME JUSTICE.
INSTEAD, THEY DROPPED THE BALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THEY SENT ME PREDETERMINATION LETTERS, SIGNED AND RETURNED TO ME AHEAD OF FACT FINDING MEETINGS AND DEADLINES.
THE STAFF REFUSED TO ACCEPT CERTAIN FORMS OF DOCUMENTATION.
UM, THEY DEMANDED THAT EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE FULLY TRANSCRIBED UNDER VERY SHORT DEADLINES.
UM, I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS THE HARD WAY.
UM, LONG STORY SHORT, UM, THEY COULDN'T OPEN A LOT OF MY DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T QUOTE, HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT.
THAT WAS REALLY DISTURBING TO ME BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOGLE HERE.
UM, I EVEN HAVE A LETTER WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS CI, AN AWESOME MUNICIPAL CODE THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST WITH REGARD TO MY CASE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE JUSTICE FOR ME.
JUSTICE FOR ME, IF SERVED PROPERLY, WOULD'VE BEEN THE FOLLOWING CONSEQUENCES FOR MY FORMER EMPLOYER.
IF FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, A $500 FINE.
IS THAT WORTH IT? I THINK MAYBE YOU CAN DO BETTER FOR OTHER AUSTINITES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THIS.
IF YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO SUPPORT A WORK SHARE AGREEMENT WITH THE E WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGH THE E E O C, PLEASE MAKE IT THE BEST IT COULD POSSIBLY CAN BE.
WHAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS HAS TAUGHT ME IS THAT IT IS UNDERFUNDED.
IT'S PERSONNEL ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN.
THEY CLEARLY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES OR PERSONNEL TO HANDLE CASES LIKE MINE OR FAR WORSE.
I ASK YOU TO INCREASE FUNDING AND SUPPORT POSITIONS FOR THE OFFICERS OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I ASK YOU TO OVERHAUL THE LOCAL ORDINANCES TO MAXIMIZE THE PENALTY FOR WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN A $500 FINE.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE LOCAL LAWS AND MAYBE YOU CAN CHANGE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A WAVE OF CHANGE HERE THAT COULD RIPPLE TO THE LARGER FABRIC OF OUR STATE IN OUR NATION.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE PROTECT AUSTIN WORKERS.
PLEASE HELP ENSURE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE IN OUR CITY.
I'M JUST GONNA CALL RICK SHANNON AGAIN AND OUR REMOTE SPEAKER IS, UM, NOT IN THE QUEUE.
SO THAT WOULD CONCLUDE OUR NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UM, MEMBERS THAT WOULD TAKE US TO OUR LIVE MUSIC WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I MEAN, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE A ONE O'CLOCK, UH, TIME CERTAIN.
AND, AND WHAT I'LL DO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA RECESS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL RECESS THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC AND THEN, UM, IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK BEFORE THAT, WE'LL DO IT.
OTHERWISE, UH, WE WILL CONVENE AT ONE O'CLOCK.
UH, WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK UNLESS, UH, CALLED TO ORDER EARLIER.
THANK YOU ALL WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
[Live Music David Shabani]
IT'S MY, UH, DISTINCT HONOR TO GET TO INTRODUCE OUR LIVE MUSIC FOR THE DAY.UH, DAVID IS A CONGOLESE CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE HIP HOP ARTIST BASED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN AN AREA WHERE THE MUSIC CULTURE IS EXPANSIVE AND ALL AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATING ALL THE TIME.
HIS SOUND KEEPS PACE BY BLENDING COMPELLINGLY PERSONAL LYRICS.
IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY TO, HEY, IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY TO, UH, TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE, MR. HARRIS, IF I GET Y'ALL TO TAKE 'EM OUTSIDE, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
HE KEEPS PACE BY BLENDING COMPELLINGLY PERSONAL LYRICS WITH HIGH ENERGY BACKBEATS THAT COMBINE TO WORK DOUBLE TIME.
HE'S BEEN INFLUENCED BY KID CUDI CATRIN, LUPE FIASCO AND CHILDISH GAMBINO.
CHOBANI IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THE OUTSIDERS OF HIP HOP.
HIS CATALOG SPANS MORE THAN 50 ORIGINAL SONGS, INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH TEXAS RAPPER AND PRODUCER KID JONES AND GRAMMY WINNER BOBBY SESSIONS.
IN 2023, SHABANI WILL RELEASE NEW WORK PRODUCED BY CODY ACOSTA AND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THAT UP.
HAS THAT HAPPENED OR ALREADY? THAT IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.
WELL YOU'RE LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU JUST MOVE AT A FASTER PACE.
RIGHT? UM, THE INDEPENDENT ARTIST CONTINUES TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF WITH APPEARANCES AT FESTIVALS LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST E S P N X GAMES,
[01:55:01]
THE DROP IN HOT SUMMER NIGHTS.AND SO WHAT MUSIC FESTIVAL AND HE HAS PERFORMANCES AT HOME AND ABROAD SUPPORTING ART ARTISTS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM AND INCLUDING ITS PART OF A TRIBUTE TO HIS CONGOLESE ROOTS.
IT IS MY PLEASURE AS PART OF TODAY TO PROCLAIM BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023 AS DAVID CHOBANI DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DAVID CHOBANI.
THIS IS DANE ERFORD ON THE KEYS.
WE GONNA BUST YOU FOR JUST A FEW SONGS AND UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME IN THIS BUILDING, SO IT'S NICE THAT IT'S HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION.
BUT SOMEHOW MY POPS TOLD MY MAMA THAT HE DIDN'T.
MY COUSINS, I NEVER MET TRYING TO JOIN ME 'CAUSE WE WINNING.
THE PART WE GOTTEN SO FAR HARD TO SEE WHERE IT STARTED.
AS LONG AS IT'S ALL BLOOD THEN IT'S ALL GOOD.
JUDGE UTTER MY GOVERNMENT NAME, THEN WE ALL STOOD.
IT'S BY MY MAMA CRIB TELLING ME THAT THEY ALL GOOD.
MY MOM'S IN THE MANSHIP AS WE ALL SHOULD.
SO THAT WITH THAT FAITH F*****G MY DEBUGGING, I WAS IN MEXICO CITY.
MY DEBUGGING VICTIMS OF OCEAN CAPITAL, RACIST SOCIETIES, BROTHER EDDIE, RACIST, REPLACE INSPIRING NOBODY CARESS ABOUT THE CLASSISM.
MODERNE, FASCISM, KEEP TO CISM.
ATED ON THIS JOURNEY WHILE I MAMA MAMA MONEY FOR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS.
I'M INNOVATIVE LEARNING, INTIMIDATED, BUT YEARNING.
CAN'T SIT AND WAIT TILL I'M 30.
I USED TO BELIEVE IT WAS ARBITRARY EVERY DAY MY MAMA TEXTED ME LIKE, WHY AREN'T YOU MARRIED? I TOLD THE POLICE WHAT UP ON THE RECORD DEAL.
SUMMER, PULL UP WITH A BETTER MEAL.
I WAS THINKING RICE, CHICKEN, NICE AND THICKEN.
REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN WHO DESPISE THE SYSTEM AND THEY STILL PROSPER IN THE STATUS QUO.
NOT THE TYPE TO POST THE IG WITH THE STATUS QUOS.
I USED TO REC HIS COATS
SO PLEASE DON'T LET THE FOOLISH SYSTEM.
BOBBY BROWN WITHOUT THE SNIPING.
SO LODO FOR LAMAR ODOM AND DRUG DEALERS.
TWO, WE ALL OWE THEM BECAUSE CHOSE TO EXPOSE LIFESTYLE.
SELF CRACK WHILE HERE JUST THROWN AT WHILE TRIALS LEGALIZED, WE BUT NEVER LEGALIZED PEOPLE.
THEY SAID WE GOT FREEHOLD LEGALIZED PEOPLE WE GOTTA DO BEHIND BACK.
I'M LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WINDOWS ON MY, JUST GAVE MY COUSIN P ANOTHER THREE.
BUT HE AIN'T EVEN MAKE IT AFTER THAT MOTHER FOR FREE, MY HOMIE DIED IN PRISON.
MAMA NEVER GOT TO SEE THE SUN.
AND WITHOUT THE SHACKLES TALKING ON HIS FEET, THEY JUST GAVE MY COUSIN P ANOTHER THREE.
SO EVERY TIME I'M CHILLING AT THE CRIB, I'M ABOUT TO SLEEP.
I THANK GOD HIS SISTER NEVER REALLY ME.
I HAD TO TELL MY BROTHER DREAM, DREAM OF REGIME CHANGES, NEEDED CLEAN THINGS FOR BROTHERS WHO NEVER SEEN CHANGES, NEVER SEEN HOPE, CLIMB BUT NEVER SEEN ROPE.
SO WE NEED FOLKS TO FIND A WAY TO, BECAUSE WE NEED TO SWIM OUT TO SEE REDEMPTION LIKE SHA BUSH.
WE NEED TO MENTION, I'M TRYING TO FREE MEN LIKE MORGAN.
I SEEN INFORMANTS AND TOO MANY SNAKES.
I SEEN CROOKED TROOPS THAT'S STORMING THAT IF YOU GIVE HIM CASH AND THEY GUNS, THE DOLLARS OF THE EUROS, YOU'RE THE SUMS POOR AND IN THE SONS NOR AND AIN'T NOTHING NEW ON THE SUCH.
YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST DUDE TO SEE HER NUDE OR TO TOUCH.
SO WHEN SHE TOLD YOU SHE AIN'T DUDE WITH THE STUFF, SHE HAD ANOTHER DUDE ON A HUSH AND THEY JUST GAVE MY COUSIN P ANOTHER THREE.
BUT HE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT AT THAT FREE.
MAMA NEVER GOT TO SEE THE STOMACH AND WITHOUT THE SHACKLES TUGGING ON HIS FEET, THEY JUST GAVE MY COUSIN P ANOTHER THREE.
BUT HE AIN'T EVEN MAKING IT OUT THAT MOTHER FREE.
SO EVERY TIME I'M CHILLING AT THE CRIB, I'M ABOUT TO SLEEP.
I THANK GOD A SYSTEM NEVER REALLY GOT TO ME.
I HAD TO TELL MY BROTHER, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM, DREAM.
[02:00:01]
THANK YOU.SO THIS SONG TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT MY MOVES TO TEXAS AND THEN EVENTUALLY MY MOVE TO US.
SO THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME.
I'M A YOUNG BLACK ILLEGAL ALIEN.
SUBSAHARAN, BUT CANADIAN RACING, TEXAS WHERE THE CLIMATE IS MORE MEDITERRANEAN DREAMS ARE SELLING OUT THE STADIUM SKATING HEART SPIT IN, THEN IT'S GETTING MUDDY.
SO WOULD DIE FOR ME FASTER THAN MY OWN 10.
MAYBE THE BLOOD HAS LEARNED TO GROW BEND, MAYBE THE WATER STICK BECAUSE LIKE LIFE IS GETTING HARD TO SWALLOW.
I CAN'T STAND IT AND THE SHALLOW ARE RUNNING FROM THE GALLOWS.
BUT I STILL GOTTA HANG, ASK MYSELF IF I STILL GOT A PLAN, GIVE A SPEECH, SHOUT OUT HOMIES WEDDING.
HIS WIFE'S TEARS STARTED SHED, I THEN I THEN BEGAN REGRETTING MY LACK OF LOVE GETTING, RENTING WOMEN.
NOT MY CRIB IN MY DEAD LANE, LIKE A SUBLET.
BUT I'M THE LANDLORD BACHELOR'S BOARD.
A FEELING THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T FORCE.
I USED TO PLAN FOR, AIM FOR SOMETHING YOU STAND FOR WHAT WOULD AND OR IT TURN INTO A MAYBE.
SO WORKING BESIDES MYSELF STILL CHASING THESE GOALS, WHICH TO BE GOAL DON'T.
I CAME OUT BY, SHE SAID I SHOULD VOTE FOR TOO LONG AND CAME OUT BLIND.
I'M TOO BRIGHT FOR THIS DARK WALL THAT I CANNOT FIND A LIGHT THAT I CAN OUT SHINE MADE FOR THE STAGE LIGHTS MADE FOR THE STUDIO LAMPS.
IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES AND JU DAN AND JERRY, I USED TO FEAR THEM.
MILITARY, THEY USED TO COME INTO THE CRI.
WE WERE YOUNG CLASS FAMILY IN LOWER CLASS COUNTRIES MADE ME LOWER CLASS HUNGRY.
I KNEW THE PATH AND I HAD TO SET IT.
IT'S WORKING OUT LIKE IT'S ATHLETIC.
I DON'T LOVE FUNNY, BUT I GOTTA GET IT.
PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE LIKE A LINE OF CREDIT BECAUSE IT'S PAY SEASON.
WHEN I BOUNCED AND DISAPPEARED, DON'T ASK ME FOR MY STAYBACK REASON.
I'M GIVING UP ON PARTNERSHIPS I KNOW GOING THROUGH HARDER.
MY HOMIE LUTHER GOT ARRESTED FOR A D N E COULD HAVE BEEN 10, BUT BECAUSE HIS D N A AND NOW HE'S DOING 30.
HOW CAN YOU STAND IT? HOW YOU STURDY? HE SAY, YO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M BY MYSELF AND NOBODY ELSE WORTHY OF YOUR TIME, OF YOUR SPACE, YOUR ATTENTION PLACES.
I'VE NEVER BEEN WHERE MY NAME IS GETTING MENTIONED.
SO ONE OF YOUR OTHER CHOBANI GONNA SAY, MY ININ, YOU'RE GOING SMOKE TRYING TO GET MY FLAME.
YOU DON'T DESERVE TO SAY A WORD TO ME.
SOME GO THROUGH SKIPPING ZS AND I'M STILL SKIPPING XS TWO Y.
WHY WOULD I EVER BE CAUGHT NEXT TO YOU? NAH, Y'ALL IN MY PAST LIFE, I'M STILL TRYING GRASP LIFE.
BUT I'M STILL AFTER THE FAST LIFE AND I'M JUST GONE FOR GOOD.
AND I GOT LONG, I GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
AUSTIN, TEXAS CITY HALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME MAYOR KIRK ONCE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HEY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET'S COME UP AND LET'S GET A A FIXTURE WITH DAVID.
[02:05:01]
FOR ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL AUSTIN, TEXAS LOCALS.I WILL BE AT EMPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO FEEL FREE TO COME OUT AND CHECK OUT THE MYSELF WITH THE WHOLE BAND AND UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
APPRECIATE AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
IT'S YOUR DAY ORDER OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT AND WE WILL GO TO OUR ONE O'CLOCK
[80. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance authorizing the negotiation and execution of an economic development agreement with NXP USA, Inc., under the City of Austin Chapter 380 Economic Development Policy]
TIME CERTAIN AND I'LL CALL UP STAFF MEMBERS.ANOVIA HOLT, DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
TODAY WE ARE HERE FOR OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AS PRESCRIBED IN OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 GUIDELINES.
WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH N X P AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK IF YOU'LL PLEASE.
UH, WELL WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
IT'S ITEM NUMBER 80 AND WITH THE, THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AT THIS TIME.
WE DO NOT HAVE REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE, SO I'LL START WITH IN PERSON.
WE HAVE RAO SHIO WITH MERV JOHNSON ON DECK.
I'M AN ENGINEERING MANAGER, UH, AT ONE OF NX P'S AUSTIN WAFER FABS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, LAST WEEK I SPOKE REMOTELY IN SUPPORT OF CHAPTER THREE 80, UH, FUNDING FOR, UH, AN AGREEMENT WITH N X P AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN PERSON TO RE ATTEST, UH, MY SUPPORT HERE WITH MY WIFE, WHO IS AN EX, UH, N X P EMPLOYEE AS WELL.
UH, AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL LIMIT MY REMARKS TO THAT AND, UH, GO ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
MERV JOHNSON WITH TODD MCKAY ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M AN XP EMPLOYEE FOR CLOSE TO NINE YEARS.
RIGHT NOW I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN OSTA FOR 15 YEARS AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I'D LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR, UH, CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH AN XP IN AND FOR TIME SAKE, I'M GONNA KEEP MY REMARKS FOR THAT.
TODD MCKAY WITH STACY SCHMIDT ONDECK.
UH, I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT NX P'S APPLICATION.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 34 YEARS AND I'VE WORKED FOR THE COMPANY FOR 32 YEARS AND I CAN ATTEST THAT IT'S A VERY GOOD COMPANY THAT'S VERY FAMILY ORIENTED AND IT TAKES CARE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
AND PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION.
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I YIELD BACK.
STACY SCHMIDT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL STACEY SCHMIDT WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT, UH, PROPOSAL WITH N X P.
THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY NXP SEMICONDUCTORS, A LONG TIME COMPANY, 50 YEARS WILL PROVIDE A REGION, OUR REGION, A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND US SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
THIS COMPANY HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CITY, UM, PARTICIPATING IN LOTS OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, REALLY EDUCATING OUR YOUTH, UM, OF TOMORROW.
SO I ASK AND URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND A CONSTITUENT IN MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS'S DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO THE C E O OF GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR NX P'S LIVE OAK PROJECT.
NX P HAS BEEN A MULTI-YEAR SUPPORTER OF GIRL SCOUTS, HELPING THOUSANDS OF GIRLS IN CENTRAL TEXAS BUILD COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER.
AND FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, N X P HAS ALLOWED GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS TO USE THEIR FACILITIES AS A POPUP DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.
[02:10:01]
FOR THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER, HELPING TRIBUTE OVER 300,000 BOXES OF COOKIES EACH YEAR TO GIRL SCOUTS AND VOLUNTEERS.THESE COOKIE BOXES GO ON TO FUEL GIRL SCOUT'S LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.
WE SUPPORT N XP PROJECT LIVE BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS.
N X P HAS ALREADY BROUGHT THE CITY OF BOSTON AND FOR THE POTENTIAL THEY BRING TO AUSTIN WITH A PATHWAY TO CHIPS ACT FUNDS, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ADVANCE ARE IMMENSE, ATTRACTING FURTHER INVESTMENT AND TALENT TO AUSTIN.
WE APPRECIATE NX P'S FOCUS ON WORKFORCE TRAINING, A CRUCIAL ELEMENT THAT STRONGLY RESONATES WITH OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF BUILDING GIRLS' CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
WE ALSO SUPPORT NX P'S COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN THE WORKFORCE.
AS PERFECTLY ALIGNS WITH GIRL SCOUTS CORE OBJECTIVES OF PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY AND INSPIRING GIRLS TO PURSUE REWARDING CAREERS IN STEM FIELDS.
GIRL SCOUTS LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH NXP TO CLOSE EDUCATIONAL GAPS FOR GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE FOR CENTRAL TEXAS.
IN CONCLUSION, I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT NX P'S PROJECT LIVE OAK.
THE BENEFITS IT OFFERS OUR CITY BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY ARE INVALUABLE.
ON BEHALF OF GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR CONSIDERING THE POSITIVE IMPACT THIS PROJECT CAN HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL FLOYD AND I'M WITH CENTRAL TEXAS.
INTERFAITH, I ASK YOU TO DELAY THE VOTE ON THE INDEX P CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT.
THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION HAS EMPHASIZED THAT APPROVING SUCH AN AGREEMENT WOULD MAKE XP ELIGIBLE FOR A CHIP GRANT.
IT HAS NOT BEEN WIDELY NOTED THAT CHIP GRANTS ARE CONTINGENT ON THE KIND OF JOBS THAT WILL BE OFFERED.
THE CHIP ACT EXPLICITLY SAYS THAT PROPOSED PROJECTS SHOULD BE, QUOTE, CAPABLE OF CREATING SPILLOVER BENEFITS THAT IMPROVE REGIONAL ECONOMIC RESILIENCE BEYOND ASSISTING A SINGLE COMPANY AND INCENTIVES WILL FUND JOBS QUOTE DESIGNED TO BENEFIT BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
BUT THE ELIGIBILITY FOR CHIP GRANTS IS THUS DEPENDENT ON WHETHER THE JOBS THEY FUND COME WITH A LIVING WAGE BENEFITS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND WORKER SAFETY PROVISIONS.
IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE INDEX P PROPOSAL MEETS THESE CRITERIA.
WE REQUEST THAT THE VOTE BE DELAYED UNTIL IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBES HOW THE PROPOSALS IMPLEMENTATION WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITH THESE KINDS OF JOBS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE TAXPAYERS WILL BE FOOTING THE BILL.
THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JESSICA KANE AND I SERVE AS THE PASTOR OF MOVING WORD LUTHERAN CHURCH IN BUDDA.
BUT MANY OF MY CONGREGATION MEMBERS LIVE AND PAY TAXES IN AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO A LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE.
I'M ALSO HERE TO URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THE POTENTIAL VOTE ON N X P TAX BREAK UNTIL ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEAL HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
YOU OWE IT TO THE TAXPAYERS TO ENSURE THAT THIS DEAL, WHICH YOU FACILITATE, BUT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THEIR MONEY, IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
AS PEOPLE OF FAITH WE'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO JUST LABOR PRACTICES, WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS DEAL WILL PROVIDE LIVING WAGES, WORKER PROTECTIONS, LONGEVITY, AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE KINDS OF GUARANTEES ARE REQUIRED FOR OUR SUPPORT OF ANY SUCH DEAL.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT EMPLOYEES TO COME FROM THE LOCAL AREA SUPPORTING AUSTINITE SPECIFICALLY AND TEXAS MORE GENERALLY.
WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO DEALS LIKE THIS AS LONG AS THEY INCLUDE THESE PARAMETERS AS WELL AS COMPLETE STEPS TO ENFORCEMENT WITH THE COMPANY.
WE'VE SEEN TOO MANY BUSINESS SUBSIDIES TURN SOUR FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AS PROMISES ARE BROKEN AND NO RECOURSE IS AVAILABLE, PLEASE POSTPONE YOUR VOTE UNTIL THE TAXPAYERS CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS IS A DEAL THAT BENEFITS AUSTIN, NOT JUST N X P.
I AM FANNIE AKING BALA, A MEMBER OF EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE.
I AM REQUESTING THAT THE VOTE ON THE AU OUS, UH, APPROVING THE AGREEMENT WITH N X P BE DELAYED.
I APPEARED IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LAST THURSDAY, C T I HAD REQUE HAD QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT PROPOSED LIVING WAGES.
THIS HAS SINCE BEEN SATISFACTORILY
[02:15:01]
ADDRESSED.HOWEVER, QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENTS.
BEYOND THE 40% OF WORKERS CLARIFICATION ON HEALTH BENEFITS, NXP COMPLIANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT HAVE NOT YET BEEN FULLY ANSWERED.
WHILE WE DO NOT LIKE TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO PRIVATE COOPERATIONS, WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THESE PROGRAMS. IF IT IS SHOWN THAT THEY MEET OUR HIGH COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND INVOLVE ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE ARE NOT YET CONVINCED THIS IS SUCH AN AGREEMENT.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT ON TODAY'S ACTION.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND WORKING WITH US IN GOOD FAITH TO MAKE THIS AGREEMENT THE BEST IT CAN BE FOR ALL INVOLVED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL ENRIQUE OKAYS.
I AM ALSO A LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT MY CONCERNS WITH THE N X P APPLICATION.
I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO POSTPONE THE APPLICATION VOTE TO GET MORE CLARITY AROUND THE APPLICATION.
ONE OF OUR CONCERNS IS THAT WE, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE RAISED BUT NOT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A FIRM ANSWER IS TO THE QUESTION, WHEN YOU COMBINE CITY OF AUSTIN AND POTENTIAL FEDERAL CHIPS FUNDING, THE COMPANY WOULD RECEIVE ABOUT $15,565,332 IN TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR CREATING 53 NEW JOBS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A HIGH COST PER JOB.
CAN THE COMPANY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS PROMISED? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES A CAREER LADDER FOR AT LEAST 40% OF THE PROJECTS AUSTIN-BASED EMPLOYEES.
WE BELIEVE A MAJORITY OF JOBS CREATED SHOULD BE CAREER LADDER JOBS.
RODNEY AHART, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTO ELLIS AND MEMBERS OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I AM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY IN FAVOR OF NX P'S PROJECT LIVE OAK, UH, KEEP.
AUSTIN BEAUTIFULS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE ALL AUSTINITES TO VOLUNTEER TOGETHER BEAUTIFY GREEN SPACES, CLEAN WATERWAYS, AND REDUCE WASTE EVERY DAY.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT NX P'S PROJECT ALIGNS SEAMLESSLY WITH OUR CORE VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS FOR A CLEANER, GREENER, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE.
SINCE 1974, N X P HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR CITY.
UM, THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY REASONS, UH, THAT WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF OF PROJECT LIVE OAK.
ONE IS NX P'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT.
UH, NX P HAS BEEN A VALUED COMMUNITY PARTNER AND COLLABORATOR WITH KIPA AND BEAUTIFUL FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
THEY PLAYED A SUBSTANTIAL ROLE IN, UH, OUR CREATION OF OUR 10 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SECONDLY, THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
UH, N X P HAS A WELL ESTABLISHED TRACK RECORD OF RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP.
THEIR AMBITIOUS GOAL OF ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2035 UNDERSCORES, UH, THAT COMMITMENT.
AND LASTLY, COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, N X P TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL DAY CLEAN LADY BIRD LAKE.
UH, A GROUP OF 30 OF THEIR TEAM MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERING TO CLEAN LADY BIRD LAKE ON SEPTEMBER 27TH.
UH, KIPA AND BEAUTIFUL STANDS FIRMLY BEHIND N X P U S A INC'S CHAPTER 30 APPLICATION.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROJECT LIVE OAK.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE AUSTIN A EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL AND PROSPEROUS PLACE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE TIME AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION.
MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND A LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS.
[02:20:01]
INTERFAITH, I AM ASKING THAT WE DELAY THE VOTES.WHILE N X P HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND A VALUED ONE, THERE ARE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DEAL AND INSUFFICIENT TIME TO PROCESS THE ANSWERS GIVEN.
IN PARTICULAR, THE ISSUES OF OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN DETAILED.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE TAXPAYERS, TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE OVER $15 MILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THE 53 JOBS ALLOCATED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, ED CLARK.
I'M ED CLARK, LEADER WITH CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE FROM WALLER CHURCH AND DISTRICT NINE.
WE HELP SHAPE CITY POLICY ON INCENTIVES WITH HIGH STANDARDS THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS.
WE REVIEWED THE PROPOSED NXP REQUEST CAREFULLY AND FOUND THE LANGUAGE VAGUE ON SEVERAL POINTS.
WE POST SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND EMAIL, BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO DIRECT RESPONSE FROM THE COUNCIL.
ANSWERS TO SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS WERE PRINTED IN THE Q AND A, BUT RESPONSES ARE INCOMPLETE OR COPY PASTE FROM OUR PREVIOUS UH, QUESTIONS.
HEALTHCARE'S A BIG EXPENSE FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES.
THE CONTRACT STATES NXP WILL PROVIDE IN-HOUSE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS OR AN EQUIVALENT STIPEND TO ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
WHAT'S THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE STIPEND? DOES IT COVER MOST OR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEE'S INSURANCE? WE DON'T KNOW.
COMMUNITY INPUT AND TRUST MATTERS.
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE A VOTE UNTIL THIS AND ALL QUESTIONS C T I HAS POSED ARE ANSWERED.
THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE'VE GOT MITCHELL GRUMBLE WITH DARREN LEWIS ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MITCH GUMMEL AND I LIVE IN MCKENZIE KELLY'S DISTRICT SIX.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND I'VE WORKED FOR NXP AT THE TWO DIFFERENT AUSTIN LOCATIONS FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS.
I'M HOPING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT NX P'S LIVE OAK PROJECT AND THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT IT BRINGS TO THIS CITY.
THIS WILL PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR THE CHIPS ACT FUNDING AND CONTINUE TO SET AUSTIN APART AS A TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
FOR ME, NX P HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON MY LIFE GROWING UP WITH A SINGLE MOM WHO WORKED TWO TO THREE JOBS.
AND I REMEMBER MOVING AROUND FROM DUPLEX TO DUPLEX.
I HAD A DREAM THAT I WOULD ONE DAY BE ABLE TO BUY A HOME.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT WORKING FOR A GREAT COMPANY SUCH AS N X P, THAT ALLOWED ME TO MAKE THAT DREAM A REALITY.
ALSO, N X P FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, AS I WENT BACK TO NIGHT SCHOOL TO GET MY M B A N X P HAS HELPED FOSTER MY CAREER DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS FROM STARTING AS AN ENGINEER AND MOVING THROUGH VARIOUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ACROSS THE TWO SITES HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT YOUR SUPPORT OF NX P'S LIVE OAK PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE AUSTINITES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MEANING A MEANINGFUL CAREER AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES LIKE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
DARREN LEWIS WITH JESSICA ADAMS ON DECK.
HELLO, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M, UH, HERE TO SHOW MY FAVORITE, UH, IN SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
I STARTED WORKING WITH MOTOROLA IN 2000 AND, UM, SINCE THEN I'VE HAD MANY DIFFERENT ROLES AND JOBS AND I'M CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION AT ONE OF OUR FACTORIES HERE AT ED BLUESTEIN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I'VE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH ARMA AND, UH, THE AUSTIN REGIONAL MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THEIR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ENGAGE WITH ENTITIES LIKE SKILL POINT ALLIANCE, A C C AND OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO REALLY HELP DEVELOP CURRICULUMS AND PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT JUST NOT ONLY JUST THE INDUSTRY'S NEEDS, BUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT N X P IS A FOUNDING CORNERSTONE MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF ARM.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, UH, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE AND EMBRACE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERING, PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND MANUFACTURING PARTNERS HERE IN AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO, I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON BEHALF OF N X P WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
WHAT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT REALLY WORKS HARD TO SERVE, PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES AS YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION, BUT I'M ALSO PROUD THAT N X P SUPPORTS ME TO DO SO BECAUSE THEY VALUE AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE TO HELP SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, THESE CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE BARRIERS INTO
[02:25:01]
THE WORKFORCE.YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE DAYCARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, OF COURSE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND UPSKILLING, RIGHT? I WEAR THIS.
THAT'S THE SLOGAN I THINK WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR DECADES, RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN BEATING THE ODDS WHEN ALL THE OTHER COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE AREAS HAVE MOVED OVERSEAS.
WE'RE STILL HERE, RIGHT? SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING'S NOT EASY.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, IT'S A GRIND.
UM, BUT WE DO IT EVERY DAY AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ITSELF.
IT'S THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE CULTURE OF THE WORKFORCE, THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE KEY INGREDIENTS, UH, THE KEEP MANUFACTURING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND, UH, BY SUPPORTING PROJECT LIVE OAK, I KNOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO.
JESSICA ADAMS WITH RUDY GARZA ON DECK.
THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS JESSICA ADAMS. I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M A UNICORN, MEANING THAT I WAS BORN HERE.
I JUST CELEBRATED MY 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH N X P SEMICONDUCTORS, AND I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT.
MY CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT UNDER THE BLUE SKIES OF SHEE PARK, WHERE I LEARNED TO FLY A KITE AND TOOK MY FIRST SWIM.
BUT IN 1980, MY FATHER, A CONSTRUCTION WORKER, WAS UNABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND WE HAD TO MOVE TO HOUSTON, UM, AND SELL OUR HOUSE IN HYDE PARK.
I, BUT I STILL FELT MOST AT HOME WHEN VISITING FAMILY HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO I WAS THRILLED TO COME BACK AND STUDY ENGINEERING AT UT WHILE AT UT, THE VERY MANUFACTURING PLANT I WORK AT TODAY OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1996 TO THE WOMEN ENGINEERING PROGRAM.
THROUGH THAT TOUR, I WAS EXPOSED TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF, UH, MANUFACTURING CHIPS AND LEARNED AMONG ANY MANY THINGS THAT WE SAVE LIVES WITH THE CHIPS THAT WE MAKE.
N X P HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN N X P ENGINEER WHO CARRIES ON THAT TRADITION AND NOW GIVES TOURS OF OUR FACILITY TO STUDENTS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS LIKE GIRL SCOUTS, GIRL START AUSTIN WOMEN IN TECH.
TODAY I AM A TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WHERE WE HELP PEOPLE LIKE MY FATHER EARN A LIVING WAGE, ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS TO GROW THEIR CAREER, AND ULTIMATELY STAY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE I CALL HOME.
PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT.
RUDY GARZA WITH PATRICIA ALVAREZ ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND, UM, UH, THE CHAIR ELECT FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH N X P.
I GUESS WHAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION TODAY IS, IS TO REMIND US THAT AUSTIN IS NOT IMMUNE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY BASED ON THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
JUST IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THIS YEAR IN AUSTIN, 3,200 JOBS WERE ELIMINATED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR THE CITY COUNCILOR TO TAKE THE LEAD AND HELPING RESTORE SOME OF THOSE.
UH, AND, AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THESE JOBS, BUT THE ONES THAT WILL GROW FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT.
AND 3,200 MAY NOT SIGN A LOT, BUT IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE 3,200, IT'S A BIG NUMBER.
AND, UM, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
PATRICIA ALVAREZ WITH AJ BINGHAM ON DECK.
HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICIA ALVAREZ.
I'M A DISTRICT FIVE, A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I AM HERE IN HOPES THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS N X P LIVE OAK PROJECT AND THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY IT BRINGS TO THE CITY.
I HAVE WORKED AT N X P FOR 26 YEARS, AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT I'VE GROWN UP THERE.
UH, I STARTED AS AN ASSOCIATE, UH, AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE POTENTIAL TO BUILD A CAREER.
THE COMPANY HAS PROVIDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME, UH, WITH THEIR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I WAS ABLE TO ADVANCE IN MY CAREER AND DEVELOPMENT THERE AND BUILD A HOME FOR MY FAMILY.
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO WORK THERE.
THE POTENTIAL IT BRINGS IS A WAY FOR THE CHIPS ACT, UM, MONEY TO ASSERT AUSTIN AS A TECHNOLOGY HUB.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TO SUPPORT NX P'S LIFE OAK.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AJ BINGHAM WITH MILES BRANDON ON DECK MAYOR.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M REP.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN REGIONAL MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION OR ARMA.
UM, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ARM'S, NEARLY 300 MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF N XP SEMICONDUCTORS.
[02:30:01]
AGREEMENT WHERE PROJECT LIVE OAK N X P IS COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN BOTH ITS AUSTIN SITES, WHICH ALREADY EMPLOY NEARLY 3000 RESIDENTS, AUSTIN RESIDENTS.THIS $291 MILLION INVESTMENT PROVIDES OUR REGION WITH A POTENTIAL ONCE IN GENERATION OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL HELP STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE US SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, N X P HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY TO CREATE AN AGREEMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY AND COMPANY EMPLOYEES.
NX P'S CORPORATE HISTORY IN AUSTIN GOES BACK 50 YEARS AND THIS INVESTMENT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY, LOCAL ECONOMY, AND PROVIDE AUSTIN EYES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
HONOR, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF ITEM 80, CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT.
NEXT WE HAVE MILES BRANDON, THERE WERE TWO FOLKS WHO DONATED THEIR TIME TO MR. BRANDON CATHERINE WICKER AND JAMAR REYES.
COULD YOU STILL ACKNOWLEDGE OR COULD YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US AND PRESENT? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
I PROMISE NOT TO USE ALL OF IT.
UM, MAYOR WATSON AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHILE WEARING A COLLAR, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU TO THAT.
UH, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM THE REVEREND MILES BRANDON PASTOR OF ST.
JULIAN OF NORWICH EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
I'M A CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENT LIVING IN DISTRICT 10, AND I AM A LEADER IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
INTERFAITH, I ALSO JUST COME DIRECTLY FROM A GATHERING OF ABOUT 20 OF OUR, OUR, OUR CLERGY, UH, WHO ARE MEETING TO WORK ON OUR ISSUES TODAY.
UH, I'M A CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENT LIVING IN DISTRICT 10, LEADER IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
INTERFAITH, C T I SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE HELP CREATE, UH, ONE OF THE PREEMINENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NONPROFITS IN CENTRAL TEXAS CAPITAL IDEA.
AND WE WANT THE CREATION OF GOOD JOBS WITH UPWARD MOBILITY THAT PAY LIVING WAGES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WORSHIP AMONG US.
AND, AND WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT SPENDING TAX DOLLARS DIRECTLY ON THINGS LIKE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CHILDCARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY POLICING, AND HEALTHCARE, RATHER THAN TAX BREAKS FOR PROFITABLE PRIVATE COMPANIES IS THE BEST WAY TO SPUR ON ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILE ALSO DOING THE MOST GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
AND THIS OPINION IS BACKED UP BY MANY STUDIES THAT SUGGEST THE SAME.
HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT INCENTIVES LIKE THREE 80 AGREEMENTS REMAIN A PART OF THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.
AND WE ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT CATEGORI CATEGORICALLY OPPOSED TO THEM, INCLUDING THE CURRENT CONTRACT BEING CONSIDERED WITH N X P, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH STANDARDS THAT ASSURE US THAT OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS ARE DOING THE VERY MOST PUBLIC GOOD FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS IS WHY WE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE CITY LEADERS FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS TO CREATE POLICY THAT REQUIRES AGREEMENTS LIKE THE CONTRACT WITH N X P HAVE AGAIN, EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH STANDARDS IN AREAS LIKE JOB CREATION, CAREER ADVANCEMENT, LIVING WAGES, BENEFITS, LOCAL HIRING AND WORKER SAFETY.
THOUGH THE CURRENT CONTRACT BEING CONSIDERED WITH N X P VERY WELL MAY EVENTUALLY ACHIEVE THOSE HIGH STANDARDS.
AT THIS POINT, WE BELIEVE THERE REMAIN CRUCIAL QUESTIONS THAT MUST FIRST BE ANSWERED BEFORE THAT DETERMINATION CAN BE MADE.
WE OUTLINE THOSE QUESTIONS IN WRITING TO COUNCIL AND THOSE QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED TO CITY STAFF TO WHICH WE RECEIVED ANSWERS LATE LAST NIGHT WITH LITTLE TIME TO LOOK AT THEM THAT WERE INCOMPLETE AND UNCLEAR IN, IN UNCLEAR.
IN FACT, SOME SEEM TO BE CUT AND PASTED FROM THE PREVIOUS ANSWER.
THERE WAS NO CLARITY AROUND DOLLAR AMOUNT OF AN INSURANCE STIPEND AND WHAT PERCENT OF FULFILLMENT OF THE CONTRACT BY N X P IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THEIR COMPLETE TAX CREDIT.
MOREOVER, WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR CAREER LETTER JOB SHOULD BE MUCH HIGHER THAN 40% THE CAPITAL IDEA.
WE PREPARE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS FOR UPWARD MOBILITY CAREER PATH JOBS, AND THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN 53.
THAT'S $300,000 PER JOB WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER LOCAL INCENTIVES AND FEDERAL INCENTIVES.
THUS, WE SIMPLY AND STRONGLY URGE YOU TO POSTPONE A VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT UNTIL ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED IN YOUR MIND AND IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND, AND THAT IT CAN BE FULLY DETERMINED THAT THE MOST PUBLIC GOOD WILL BE ACHIEVED FOR THE POSSIBLE $15.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL AND LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL COST ALL OF US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOU REMAIN IN MY PRAYERS.
[02:35:01]
WE HAVE BRIAN CASSIDY WITH ASANGA WI ON DECK.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BRIAN CASSIDY.
I'M APPEARING ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BETTER KNOWN AS OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN.
ON BEHALF OF THAT GROUP, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 80 AND THE EXECUTION OF A CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH N X P.
THE POTENTIAL FOR A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF THE MAGNITUDE XP IS TALKING ABOUT 291 MILLION.
PROVIDES OUR REGION WITH, AS YOU'VE HEARD, A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL HELP STRENGTHEN, EXPAND US SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THIS INVESTMENT WOULD ALLOW, UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WOULD ALLOW, UH, AN XP TO PURSUE FUNDING FROM THE US CHIPS ACT.
BUT SIMPLY PUT, WITHOUT THE INCENTIVE SUPPORT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS ITEM, THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BE A REALITY IN AUSTIN.
AND THAT WILL RESULT IN TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP AND EXPAND WELL-PAYING JOBS AND OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS OFF THE TABLE.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WE SHOULD NOT PASS ON AN INVESTMENT LIKE THIS WILL HELP AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS CONTINUE TO THRIVE AS A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY HUB AND WILL HELP US REGAIN TO HELP THE UNITED STATES REGAIN ITS LEADERSHIP IN GLOBAL SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING WHILE KEEPING AND EXPANDING JOBS AVAILABLE TO AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS RESIDENTS.
AMONG THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AS PART OF THIS TRANSACTION IS THAT N X P WILL PARTNER WITH THIS, THE CITY TO DEVELOP NEW IMPROVED WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR ITS FUTURE EMPLOYEES.
YOU'VE HEARD CONCERN AND, AND EMPHASIS OVER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT POINT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR REGION'S TALENT PIPELINE AND WORKFORCE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
IT'S THE LIFEBLOOD OF WHAT MAKES CENTRAL TEXAS ATTRACTIVE TO COMPANIES LOOKING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
N X P IS THE TYPE OF CORPORATE CITIZEN WE SHOULD ALL HOPE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN AND CELEBRATE OUR BUSINESS.
AND POLITICAL ECOSYSTEMS NEED COMPANIES THAT BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
N X P IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF A CONTRIBUTOR THAT HAS HELPED AUSTIN'S ECONOMY BECOME MORE DIVERSE, VIBRANT, RESILIENT, AND FORWARD-LOOKING.
WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT N X P HAS 50 YEARS OF BEING DEEPLY ROOTED IN AUSTIN AND HAS HAD A RICH HISTORY OF ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY IN MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
WITH PROJECT LIVE OAK AND XP IS COMMITTED TO INVESTING AT BOTH OF ITS AUSTIN SITES, WHICH ALREADY EMPLOY NEARLY 3000 AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THESE JOBS MEAN MORE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAN JUST A BOTTOM LINE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH N X P.
MY NAME IS RA COHN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I LEAD THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY FOR N X P.
I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1982 AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WHAT IS NOW N X P FOR 41 YEARS.
I GOT MARRIED IN AUSTIN AND I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT ALL GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND WENT TO A I S D SCHOOLS.
UH, WHEN I STARTED RIGHT OUTTA COLLEGE, I WAS PART OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT HELPED BUILD THE N X P FACILITY AT OAK HILL RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE INCORPORATED EXTRA ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY FEATURES AS WE BUILT THE SITE.
N X P O KILL FACILITY WAS THE FIRST WAFER FAB IN THE US TO BECOME A OSHA VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PLAN.
LAST SITE, THE STATUS OSHA GIVES TO COMPANIES THAT HAVE STELLAR SAFETY RECORDS.
OUR HONEST INSIGHT TODAY CONTINUES TO BE OSHA V P P STAR SITE AND X P HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND IS COMMITTING TO BEING A COMPANY WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH NX P'S PARTICIPATION IN KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL, AUSTIN CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE, THE AUSTIN MARATHONS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND VERY OTHER INTERESTING AND LOCALLY AND IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
MY DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO PROVIDED MANY WORK OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS TO AUSTIN AREA STUDENTS.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO SUPPORT CHAPTER THREE 80.
PHILIP MONETTE WITH MARK KROGER ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AGAIN, FLEET MONIER FROM DISTRICT SIX.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND ESPECIALLY TO THE CITY STAFF FOR BEING GREAT PARTNERS IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY BEING THE FIRST HOPEFULLY AMONG MANY.
UM, I ALSO HOPE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO LIVING WAGES, OUR BENEFITS, AND OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I'M HOPING TO AS WELL THAT THESE TESTIMONIES THAT IT'S NOT ONLY IS A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO, BUT WE HAVE A LEGACY OF DOING THESE AND LIVING UP TO THIS HIGH STANDARD THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME.
MARK CROKER WITH BILL BUNCH ON DECK.
MY NAME IS MARK ROKER AND I LEAD US REGULATORY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR N X P.
I'VE BEEN AT N X P FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR FOR ABOUT 30.
LAST WEEK YOU HEARD FROM A VARIETY OF N X P EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING
[02:40:01]
OUR TWO MOST SENIOR US EXECUTIVES AND AUSTINITES, JENNIFER WALM AND CHRIS JENSEN.I WANT TO ADDRESS THREE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY REGARDING PROJECT LIVE OAK SINCE LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL SESSION.
FIRST, OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT REQUIRES N X P TO PAY CITY APPROVED LIVING WAGES TO ALL OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF AUSTIN.
WHAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF IS THAT THESE LIVING WAGES ARE IN ADDITION TO THE TOP-NOTCH BENEFITS WE OFFER TO ALL OF OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND VALUE AT ABOUT 50% MORE PER HOUR THAN THE CITY'S PROPOSED LIVING WAGE, APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MORE PER YEAR.
SECOND, OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT CLEARLY REQUIRES THAT N X P FULFILL ITS JOB OBLIGATIONS, JOB CREATION OBLIGATIONS BY OVERWHELMINGLY HIRING LOCAL AUSTIN AREA RESIDENTS.
FINALLY, THE ESSENTIAL INCENTIVE SUPPORT N X P IS SEEKING FROM THE CITY IS LESS THAN 1% OF NPS PROPOSED CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
WE ESTIMATE THAT OVER THE FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT, THIS WOULD BE ABOUT $3,800 PER EMPLOYEE PER YEAR FOR EACH NEW JOB THE PROJECT WILL CREATE.
BUT THIS DOESN'T SHOW THE WHOLE PICTURE.
NX P'S INVESTMENT IN ITS AUSTIN FACILITIES WILL UPDATE AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE FABS.
WE WELL OVER 1000 OF OUR MANUFACTURING FOCUSED EMPLOYEES WORK AND WILL CREATE LONGEVITY AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF AUSTINITES.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL TODAY IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT LIVE OAK.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT.
BILL BUNCH WITH GARRETT EVANSON ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS S BILL BUNCH WITH
UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK.
UM, OUR MAIN CONCERN WAS IF YOU WERE SUBSIDIZING A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARTON SPRINGS WATERSHED.
UM, IF IT'S NOT CLEARLY ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UH, TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, THAT THIS SUBSIDY IS ATTACHED TO IMPROVING JUST THE EQUIPMENT INSIDE THE BUILDINGS AND WON'T ADD ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARTON SPRINGS WATERSHED.
UM, AND I'M, I'M IF, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY, THE SAME IS TRUE ON THE EAST SIDE AT THE ED BLUESTEIN FACILITY.
UM, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT CONFIRMED ON THE RECORD THAT THEY WILL BE REDUCING THEIR WATER USE, UH, AT THESE SITES.
GARRETT EVANSON WITH MARCY BOOKER ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON CITY COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME'S GARRETT EVANSON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'VE BEEN AN N X P EMPLOYEE FOR THREE YEARS SINCE GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
UM, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR CHAPTER THREE 80 FUNDING OF NX P'S LIVE OAK PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO MARCY BOOKER TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS.
I WANNA START BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS MARCY BOOKER AND I'M A FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM WORK.
UH, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT FOR THE LIVE OAK PROJECT.
UM, SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY HAVE GRADUATED FROM AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL.
MY GRANDMOTHER BUILT HER RETIREMENT HOME IN OAK HILL.
UM, MY UNCLE BILL WAS BURIED IN THE TEXAS STATE CEMETERY.
HE SERVED WITH THE TEXAS WATER COMMISSION AND T N R C C, PROTECTING OUR WATER AND OUR WATERSHED.
IT WAS PART OF MY EDUCATION GROWING UP THROUGH HIM.
UH, SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND SO WORKING AT A PLACE LIKE MOTOROLA NOW N X P SINCE I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, MEANT SOMETHING TO ME, UM, THAT THEY'RE DEDICATED TO OUR CITY AND OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE, UM, MEANS, MEANS A LOT TO ME.
UH, WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WAS PUT INTO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED.
MY EDUCATION WAS ENCOURAGED AND PAID FOR.
UH, I WAS EXPOSED TO SO MANY CULTURES AND PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLES.
IT MADE ME A BETTER PERSON AND I THINK IT MADE ME A BETTER CITIZEN.
I BENEFITED FROM THE ENGINEERING REVIEW BOARD THERE TO FURTHER MY CAREER.
THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE MENTORS AND LEADERS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH.
UH, FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, I'VE
[02:45:01]
BEEN INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEER SERVICE, UH, IN MY COMMUNITY WITH MEALS ON WHEELS, UNITED WAY, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND MANY CHRISTMAS DRIVES FOR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UM, WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COMPANY, UH, WITH THEIR PARTNERSHIP.AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, THAT'S MEANT THE MOST TO ME AS WE'VE GONE FROM MOTOROLA TO FREESCALE TO N X P, THAT THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY HAS NEVER BEEN LOST.
I KNOW EVERYBODY THAT'S COME UP TO SPEAK
I'VE KNOWN SOME OF THEM MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE, AND THEY ALL CARE ABOUT AUSTIN AS MUCH AS I DO.
UM, IN R AND D AND MANUFACTURING, I WATCHED TECHNOLOGY THAT WE MADE, UM, TRY TO REPLICATE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER COMPANIES.
UM, THEY FAILED AND PLEASE SUPPORT.
THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 80.
UH, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 80.
UM, I'LL, THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO NUMBER ITEM NUMBER 80.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE MOVES ADOPTION OF, UH, ITEM NUMBER 80.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU.
IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND STAFF? IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE, YES.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AGREEMENT.
I AM PLEASED THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO INCORPORATE A CHILDCARE COMPONENT INTO THIS PROPOSAL.
SINCE LAST WEEK, MY STAFF AND XP, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THANK YOU, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FURTHER REFINE THE CHILDCARE COMPONENT TO ENSURE THAT THIS EXPANSION NOT ONLY BENEFITS OUR CITY AND THE EMPLOYEES OF N X P, BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY SURROUND THEIR FACILITIES.
UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT NOT ONLY DID THIS ORGANIZATION DIRECTLY POSITIVELY IMPACT NEARLY A HUNDRED A I S D STUDENTS WITH DIRECT FUNDS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO ASSIST BEYOND THE ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD, I THINK THAT IT SAYS SOMETHING, HOW MANY PEOPLE WALKED UP HERE AND SAID THEIR LIVES WERE CHANGED BY EMPLOYMENT WITH THIS ORGANIZATION AND HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STAFF AT N X P HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AGREE TO WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A CITYWIDE CHILDCARE FUND.
UM, AND A RE THE D ONE OFFICE REQUESTED THAT IT BE GEOGRAPHICALLY BOUND SURROUNDING THEIR EXPANSION SITES.
UM, OH, YOU'RE ALREADY UP HERE.
WOULD YOU MIND PROVIDING SOME CLARITY AND CONFIRMATION THERE? SO, NOVIA HOLT, LAB DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YES, IT IS OUR, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT N X P IS IN AGREEMENT TO HAVE THAT, UM, CITYWIDE CHILDCARE FUND SURROUND.
I'M NOT SURE WHO ELSE HAS ONE, BUT I KNOW D ONE HAS ONE AND DH H D EIGHT.
YEAH, I MIGHT JUST SAY CUSTOMER HARBOR MEDICINE IN RESPONSE TO THAT, THAT, UM, N X P HAS REAFFIRMED, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THE AREA OF CHILDCARE AND HAVE BEEN VERY, UH, AMENABLE TO ALL ASPECTS AND, AND, AND REQUESTS THAT WE'VE MADE.
UH, IT'S BEEN SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES IN, IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND THEN IT WAS REITERATED TODAY THAT, UM, SINCE IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE CITY'S DONE A, AN AGREEMENT LIKE THIS, THAT THEY ARE IN ESSENCE THE FIRST.
AND THERE'S, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE IT, IT SAID THEY, THEY'VE SET AN EXAMPLE.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO INVITE THEM UP TO OFFER SOME CONFIRMATION? SURE.
I DUNNO WHICH ONE ON THAT REFINEMENT.
THE, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT IN THE, THE CHILDCARE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT, UH, IT WOULD FOCUS, PART OF IT WILL BE WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, PART OF IT WILL BE WITH YOU.
THAT GETS US TO UP TO 10% OF THE, WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL BASE, BUT THE PART THAT YOU WOULD BE ADMINISTERING.
OF COURSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN DO THAT AND, AND WILL DO THAT.
BUT THAT IT WILL BE FOCUSED, UH, IN AND AROUND THE SITES, UH, OF, OF THE FACILITIES.
WE HAVE NO OBJECTION, UH, AND ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY, UH, DISTRIBUTING THE CHILDCARE FUNDS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO FOR AUSTIN IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
AND WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA THAT THIS IS ALSO GONNA SUPPORT CHILDCARE AROUND THE FACILITIES WHERE WE OPERATE.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION OF PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE
[02:50:01]
DISTRICTS, BUT WE STRONGLY SUPPORT ANY EQUITABLE, UH, DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDCARE FUNDS.ALRIGHT, I WAS GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I HAD SUBMITTED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS IN THE Q AND A.
I WANTED TO INVITE STAFF TO, UH, TO COME SPEAK TO QUESTIONS TWO AND SIX THAT WERE INCLUDED.
THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WERE COMING FROM THE CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH GROUP.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME ANSWERS ON THE RECORD.
UH, IT SEEMS LIKE INADVERTENTLY STAFF, UM, INCLUDED PREVIOUS RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO I WANTED TO, UM, HAVE THEM COME SPEAK TO THE, UH, THE APPROPRIATE AND ACCURATE RESPONSE.
AND SO THE SECOND QUESTION IS, THERE IS A HEALTH INSURANCE PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES IN-HOUSE BENEFITS OR STIPEND EQUIVALENT TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE DOLLAR.
THOUGH THE DOLLAR VALUE IS NOT STATED, WHAT IS THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE BENEFIT AND STIPEND? DOES THIS COVER MOST ALL OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS INSURANCE? I'M GONNA ASK N X P TO COME, UM, GIVE YOU THE SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT PER OUR AGREEMENT, IT IS REQUIRED THAT, UH, HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
I WAS HOPING I'D BE RESCUED BY THE HR TEAM, BUT, UM, NO.
SO AS I NOTED IN MY COMMENTS, WHICH WE ATTEMPTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP.
SO WE OFFER, IN ADDITION TO THE LIVING WAGE, WE'VE COMMITTED TO OUR, UH, ROBUST SET OF, UH, BENEFITS TO OUR, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, ALL OF OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
AND THESE INCLUDE HEALTH INSURANCE AS WELL.
UH, WHICH IS THE SAME INSURANCE I MYSELF HAVE, AND, UH, COVERS THE MAJORITY OF THE COST OF, UH, OF THE INSURANCE AND MEDICAL CARE.
IS THAT ENOUGH DETAIL OR, AND THERE'S ALSO, UH, ON OUR WEBSITE, ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE, OUR BENEFITS PACKAGES ARE THERE.
I GUESS THE RESPONSE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO FROM STAFF THAT'S GONNA BE INCLUDED IN THE BACK OF, DID IT HAVE A SPECIFIC VALUE DOLLAR AMOUNT LISTED? IT DID NOT, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
I MEAN, NO, IT, NO, IT DID NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT WE CAN GET THAT UPDATED AND WORK WITH THE COMPANY TO GET THAT UPDATED.
YES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION INCLUDED.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON MY END.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK, UM, THIS IS, IS YOUR MIC ON? IS IT ON? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I THINK YOU CAN HEAR ME.
NO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I CAN HEAR YOU.
NO, I, IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WAS ON.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK THE CITY STAFF WHO WORKED SO HARD AND DILIGENTLY ON THIS.
I KNOW IT WAS NO EASY LIFT AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN SEVEN YEARS REALLY IS A TESTAMENT LIKE THE MAYOR SAID TO, TO HOW WONDERFUL THIS IS GOING TO BE AND HOW RARE IT IS FOR THE CITY TO DO.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FROM N X P WHO SHOWED UP TODAY AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE US WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR THIS AGREEMENT.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF N X P IN AUSTIN AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT.
SO JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO EVERYONE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? YES, MAYOR TEMP, PLEASE.
I ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TOUR THE NXB FACILITY IN DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, QUITE QUITE A WHILE AGO.
UM, THEY DIDN'T LET ME PLAY WITH ANY MACHINES, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I HAD, I HAD A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING HOW, UM, HOW PROFESSIONAL THEY ARE, HOW MUCH THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR WORK PRODUCT, HOW MUCH THEY WANNA BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PLAYER.
AND I HAD SEEN THEM ALL AROUND TOWN BEFORE I EVER WORKED IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
AND SO I JUST KNOW THEY'VE BEEN A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS AND I'M GLAD THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT DISTRICT EIGHT, IT'S ABOUT DISTRICT ONE TWO AND REALLY HIRING OUR LOCAL TALENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD A LIFE HERE.
ALRIGHT, WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 80.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 80 AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT IS APPROVED.
THANK YOU'ALL AND THANK YOU TO N X P.
THANK YOU TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR MAKING CHILDCARE A PRIORITY AND, AND APPROACHING IT AS A PRIORITY.
WE, WE, UH, WE VALUE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO, UH, TO TRY TO KEEP US ON SCHEDULE OR, OR CLOSE TO ON
[02:55:01]
SCHEDULE, IS GO TO ITEM NUMBER 82 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 81 IS LISTED AS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT, UH, NEEDS TO FOLLOW ZONING CASES 83 AND 84.
SO WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO IS GO TO ITEM NUMBER, UH, 82 AND THEN 1 0 4.
THEN WE WOULD GO TO ZONING AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED SO THAT WE, WE MAINTAIN CLOSE TO OUR TIME CERTAIN.
[82. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 to remove the prohibition of illuminated signs in the University Neighborhood Overlay (“UNO”).]
SO ITEM, UH, CHAIR CALLS UP ITEM NUMBER 82.IF I COULD ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE CELEBRATIONS, WHATEVER IT IS, UH, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
ITEM NUMBER 82, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82 AND I WILL, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNSEL.
I'M MARK WALTERS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, RIGHT, GIVE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT.
IT IS BASICALLY TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION OF ILLUMINATED SIGNS IN THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY.
UH, IN 2000 AND IN 2019 NOVEMBER, COUNCIL PASSED A, A SIGNIFICANT, UH, CHANGES TO THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY AMONGST THOSE CHANGES WERE SIGNS.
THIS, UH, PROHIBITION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REMOVED AT THAT TIME, BUT, UH, DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT, IT WASN'T.
AND THIS ALSO AFFECTS, UH, THE NORTH BURN GATEWAY REGULATING PLAN AS WELL AS ALL THE, UH, RED LINE REGULATING PLANS BECAUSE THEY POINT BACK TO THE UNO SIGN REGULATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? THANK YOU.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE, UH, THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
YES, WE HAVE JESSICA COHEN, WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 82.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, NOT SPEAKING IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITOR DAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
PLEASE TAKE THIS OFF OUR PLATE.
WE'VE HAD EIGHT SIGN CASES THIS PAST YEAR ON GUADALUPE, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE UNIVERSITY ON THE DRAG WHERE WE'VE HAD TO SAY, OH, YOU CAN'T PUT LIGHTS ON IT, SO PLEASE JUST GET IT DONE.
AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY MUCH IN FAVOR SINCE YOU'VE SAID PLEASE
THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS ON 82.
VERY EFFECTIVE SPEAKING THERE TOO.
UM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82 IS CLOSED.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 82.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 82.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 82 IS ADOPTED NOW.
[104. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding a site-specific amendment to City Code Chapter 25-8, Subchapter A, Article 13 (Save Our Springs Initiative) to address development related to the proposed Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project (2012-0104D(R6)). This action concerns land located in the Barton Springs Zone.]
UP ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 1 0 4.IS THERE A STAFF PRESENTATION ON ITEM 1 0 4? ALL RIGHT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.
WE HAVE BILL BUNCH ON ITEM 1 0 4.
THAT'S THE BEST TESTIMONY YOU'VE DONE IN A WHILE.
I, I, YOU KNOW, I'M TEASING YOU.
THAT IS, THAT'S ALL SPEAKERS ON 1 0 4 MEMBERS.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.
IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 IS APPROVED.
WELL, WE MOVE QUICKER THAN I INTENDED ON THOSE WELL MEMBERS.
[55. Approve an ordinance relating to a joint public hearing between the City Council and the Planning Commission for certain changes to City Code Chapter 25-2 (Zoning), establishing the notice requirements for the joint public hearing, and waiving City Code Sections 25-1-501 (Initiation of Amendment) and 25-1-502 (Amendment and Review). (Part 1 of 2)]
TO ITEM NUMBER 55.THE CHAIR LAYS OUT ITEM NUMBER 55, UH, MEMBERS YOU'LL RECALL.
THIS IS THE ONE RELATED TO, UH, NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND ESTABLISHING, UH, A HEARING.
LET ME ASK YOU IF STAFF HAS ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE, UH, HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER PULLED THE ITEM.
SO I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I, UM, WANTED TO GET SOME GREATER CLARITY ON THIS ITEM AND WHAT'S PROPOSED.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, I THINK FOR STAFF.
I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN THANK YOU MS. LINK.
UM, SO WE GOT EXHIBIT A ON I THINK TUESDAY.
[03:00:01]
UM, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY THE TIMING OF THE JOINT HEARING.UM, DO YOU HAVE A INTENTION FOR WHEN THAT HEARING MIGHT BE? B YOU'VE SAID IT WOULD BE THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE AIMING FOR THIS YEAR, BUT, UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE LIAISON FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, TO SET UP THE DATE.
AND IT, EXHIBIT A DOESN'T SPECIFY THE TIMING BETWEEN THE JOINT HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNSEL HEARINGS.
WHAT IS THE INTENTION IN THAT REGARD? IT DEPENDS WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO SET THE JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AND WHEN THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION, WHEN MEETING WOULD BE AND WHEN THE NEXT COUNCIL, SO IT'S ALL KIND OF DRIVEN BY THE FIRST DATE IN THE SERIES.
SO I'VE HEARD, UM, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE BEING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.
I HAVE NOT, IT'S ARE YOU ASKING IF I HAVE, I'M SORRY.
NO, I'M SAYING I HAVE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE BEING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS THAT RIGHT.
THAT STATES HOW CLOSE TOGETHER THOSE ARE.
AND, AND SO I, I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THE INTENTION WAS AND WHAT THE GOAL WAS GONNA BE IN THAT PART.
WELL, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, AND IT'S JUST MY SUGGESTION IS THAT, AND I'VE HEARD THE SAME CONCERN THAT THEY WILL BE SET TOO CLOSE TOGETHER ONCE SET.
AND I THINK WHAT WE JUST NEED TO DO IS WE MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT AS WE SET THESE, IF IF THIS PASSES, IT IS A CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THIS COUNCIL OF ITS INTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S APPROPRIATE NOTICE AND APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ON THESE ITEMS. HAVING THEM TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, HAVING A JOINT MEETING AND THEN PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, UH, I AGREE, RUNS A FOUL OF THAT STATEMENT OF INTENTION.
SO AS WE'RE GOING, AS AS STAFF IS GOING FORWARD AND ATTEMPTING TO SET THESE, UH, I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS PASSES, IT WILL BE A STATEMENT THAT WE DO NOT WANT THOSE SET SO CLOSELY TOGETHER THAT THEY, THEY, UM, VIOLATE WHAT IT IS WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE AFTER, RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER? YEAH, I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GET QUESTIONS ON THAT OR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THAT, UM, HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT WITHOUT, THERE'S JUST, THERE'S NO DETAIL IN EXHIBIT A.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S, WE, I THINK THE GOAL WAS TO GET IT PASSED AND THEN WE WOULD WORK WITH THE VARIOUS ENTITIES TO GET IT SET.
IF WE DECIDE WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE SET THAT THEY'RE INAPPROPRIATELY SET, WE CAN RESET THOSE OR WE CAN, WE CAN BRING IT BACK AND, AND DO THAT.
SO IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF TIMING AND NOT EVERY T CAN BE CROSSED AND EVERY I DOTTED BEFORE WE GIVE THE DIRECTION ON WHERE TO GO, DO WE VOTE ON IT AGAIN TO SET THOSE HEARINGS? NO, THE, BASED ON THE ORDINANCE, ONCE COUNSEL, COUNSEL AUTHORIZES IT, YOU'RE THEN DIRECTING THE MANAGER AND THE CLERK TO WORK TO GET THOSE DATES AND THEY WILL SET THE DATES AND COME BACK TO, WELL, WE CAN ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE DATES LOOK LIKE.
AND IF THERE IS AN OBJECTION THEN, YOU KNOW, COUNSEL CAN GIVE US DIRECTION OTHERWISE.
JUST SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SET THE PUBLIC, I MEAN, MOST OF THE TIME, ONCE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAVE TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING BY ANOTHER VOTE FOR A PARTICULAR DATE.
SO I, I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH A PROCESS WHERE WE'RE SETTING A, A PUBLIC HEARING WITH NO DATE.
I MEAN, WE'RE CHANGING THE RULES, BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT SETTING A DATE.
WE UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CHALLENGE FOR US, UM, AND I'LL LET THE A C M SPEAK AS WELL, BUT WE ARE COORDINATING TWO BODIES THAT ARE, ARE WITH SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MEMBERS.
SO WE WANT TO TRY TO ONE, GET THE OKAY FROM THIS BODY TO DO THIS AND THEN GET THOSE PIECES IN PLACE.
AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF COORDINATING IT AND KEEPING ON SCHEDULE ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT DATE IS.
AND I, TRISH, I ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.
WHY WOULDN'T CITY COUNCIL SET THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR, ON ANOTHER COUNCIL AGENDA AND THEN HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT A FOLLOWING MEETING? COUNSEL COULD DO THAT.
IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S, WHY DON'T THE WILL OF ADVISE, WHY DON'T JUST DO THAT IF THERE'S ANY OBJECT, AGAIN, IF WE WANNA MAKE, IF WE'RE GOING TO SCREW SOMETHING UP, LET'S SCREW IT UP.
LET GOING OUT OF OUR WAY TO GET AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR NOTICE AND CREDIBILITY IN THIS PROCESS AS CAN BE BUILT IN THE PROCESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS RAISED AN ISSUE THAT THE PUBLIC IS RAISING.
LET'S GET A LOOK AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT IT AND SAY THAT IS TOO LITTLE TIME BETWEEN THESE MEETINGS AND, AND IT JUST, IT WILL ADD TO WHAT WE DO, BUT IT WILL ADD TO HOPEFULLY TO THE CREDIBILITY WE HEARING COUNSEL ONLY WILL
[03:05:01]
DO THAT.UM, AND THEN I'M NOT, I'M NOT DONE YET.
UM, SO ITEM 55 WAS POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, BUT EXHIBIT A WAS NOT POSTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 19TH.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT DELAY? I KNOW THAT HAPPENS ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT HERE THE WHOLE POINT, I MEAN, IT SAYS IN THE ITEM THAT THE GOAL IS TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE NOTICE AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE EXHIBIT UNTIL A DAY OR TWO BEFORE.
SO I, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE DELAYED IN THAT WE PLACED THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND WE NEEDED TO WORK THROUGH AS WITH STAFF ON WHAT THAT RECOMMENDATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, AND ON TUESDAY WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THAT THIS NOTICE IS CONTEMPLATED TO COVER ONLY A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF COUNCILS INITIATED BY WAY OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO FOR INSTANCE, THE CHANGE TO LOT SIZE WOULD INTERACT DRAMATICALLY WITH THE THREE UNIT LOT ITEM.
UM, BUT THE LOT SIZE CHANGES ARE NOT BEING CONTEMPLATED TO BE TAKEN UP WITH THIS NOTICE.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UM, WHY THERE WAS THAT SPLIT AND WHAT STAFF'S INTENTION IS WITH RESPECT TO THE LOT SIZE CHANGE MOVING FORWARD? SO THE LOT SIZE WE'VE LOOKED AT AS DOING PART OF PHASE TWO BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WHEN WE CHANGE THE LOT SIZE.
UM, AND THE TABLE THAT WE HAVE IN CITY CODE, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ALL OF THE LAYERS OF THE LOT SIZE, IMPERVIOUS COVER, ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BRING FORWARD FIRST IS THE THREE UNITS BY RIGHT.
AND THAT WOULD BE BASED ON THE EXISTING LOT SIZES TODAY THAT WE HAVE IN THE CODE.
AND THEN AS PART OF THAT AS WELL IS TO CREATE THE PARAMETERS FOR A THREE UNIT USE.
AND WITH THOSE, UM, THAT WOULD STILL BE BASED RIGHT NOW ON WHAT CURRENT CODE HAS FOR OUR LOT SIZES.
AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS SPECIFIC TO THAT.
AND THEN AF IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO APPROVE THOSE AT THAT TIME, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK WITH FOR PHASE TWO AND BRING FORWARD THE MORE SPECIFIC, UM, LIKE UNIVERSAL LOT SIZE CHANGES THAT ARE CONTEMPLATED BY THE RESOLUTION ALONG WITH THE, UH, NECESSARY IMPERVIOUS COVER AND OR BUILDING COVERAGE OR WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO, TO MAKE THAT WORK.
SO STAFF IS PLANNING TO COME WITH THE SECOND PART, WHICH INTERACTS A LOT WITH THAT AS CONTEMPLATED IN THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN BY THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
SO WE WOULD BE BRINGING THAT SECOND THOUGH, NOT UNTIL THE COUNCIL VOTES.
ON THE WAY WE'RE PROPOSING IT IS FOR THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THE DWELLING, THE CHANGING THE MAX NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS, SO THREE UNITS BY RIGHT.
AND THEN IF COUNCIL, UM, PASSES THAT, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK WITH PHASE TWO THAT WOULD ADDRESS IT.
UM, ON A MORE, IT'S A, IT'S A BROADER SCALE CHANGE IF WE GO TO CHANGE THE LOT SIZE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR SSF ZONES.
BUT THAT'S MORE OF A, A, A PROCEDURAL, HOW DO WE DO IT THAN A STAFF SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING IT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
SO, SO I GUESS I, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOTICING, UH, FOR INCREASING THE UNITS ON THE LOT AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO CHANGE THE LOT SIZE OR THAT THE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL IS GIVEN DIRECTION TO DO THAT AND, BUT YOU'RE NOT REALLY NOTICING PEOPLE FOR WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S COMING LATER.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO COME LATER.
AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IS IT COMING LATER SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE LEGALESE OR IS THERE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO BE SAYING THAT THEY, THAT THEY'RE UM, GONNA BE MODIFYING THAT FROM WHAT COUNCIL DIRECTED? SO THE TIMING THAT WE NEED, THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW IS, IS TO HAVE THOSE TWO PHASES.
WE HAVE THE SECOND PHASE AFTER WE LATER ONCE BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE UNIVERSAL, THEY'RE BROADER CHANGES.
AND SO IT'S IF, BUT IF WE GOT, IF WE COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE COME WITH THE THREE UNITS BY RIGHT AND THE THREE UNIT USE AND THE COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT US TO PROCEED ANY FURTHER, THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE THAT DIRECTION AT THAT TIME.
UM, AND THEN IF THAT, IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN TO HYPOTHETICALLY THEN EVERYTHING WOULD BE BASED OFF OF WHAT OUR LOT SIZE IS TODAY AND OUR PREVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS TODAY.
SO AS MUCH AS I WOULD PREFER THAT THE MAJORITY OF COUNCILS ALREADY SAID THEY WANTED THE OTHER, AND AGAIN, I'M JUST GONNA SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT THERE'S SOMETHING, UM, OFF TO ME IN NOTICING AND SORT OF ONLY NOTICING FOR, FOR, FOR A PIECE OF THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY, UM,
[03:10:02]
WHEN YOU SAY THE LAND USE PIECE OF THAT, THERE'S ALSO THE TINY HOME ITEM.IS THAT CAPTURED SOMEHOW IN THAT, LIKE, BECAUSE WE ARE USING A LOT OF DIFFERENT TERMS HERE AND, AND I NOT SURE WHERE THE USE PIECE CAME INTO OUR DISCUSSION EXACTLY.
SO THE THREE UNIT USE PIECE COULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE THE TINY HOME OR AN RV.
UM, BUT COUNCIL WOULD ALSO NEED TO MAKE THE RV AND TINY HOME CHANGES.
UM, SO THEY COULD COME, THEY'RE NOT, UM, THE THREE UNIT USE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD BE WORKING TOWARDS IS, IS HOW DO WE PUT IT ON, HOW DO WE, WHAT ARE THE SETBACKS, WHAT ARE THE HEIGHT LIMITATIONS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THAT USE.
UM, AND IF THAT USE INCLUDES AUTHORIZES SOMEONE TO PUT AN RV OR A TINY HOME ON THE PROPERTY, THEN THAT WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THAT.
I KNOW I'M NOT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, I GUESS.
I'M TRYING UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF I'VE BEEN ON THE DAIS AND DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE NOTICING FOR OR HOW THAT NOTICE IMPACTS FROM WHAT IS IN HERE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IF WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE NOTICING PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THESE CHANGES FOR THEIR HOMES.
AND, AND COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE INCLUDING TINY HOMES IN THIS, AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS NOTICE TELLS PEOPLE THAT THE WORK THAT WAS IN THAT ITEM IS REFLECTED IN THIS NOTICE.
UM, SO THE NOTICE THAT WE, WE SEND OUT AND THAT WHAT GETS POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE WILL DESCRIBE THE ORDINANCES THAT WE WANT COUNSEL TO CONTEMPLATE AT THAT TIME.
SO IT WILL BE THE DESCRIPTION OF THREE UNITS BY RIGHT.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO IN HERE THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
SO WE WILL DESCRIBE WHAT COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING AND WHAT, UM, AND REALLY THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE JOINT HEARING AND THEN WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON AND WHAT COUNCIL WOULD BE VOTING ON.
SO WE WOULD DESCRIBE THAT, UM, AS WE DO WITH OTHER CODE AMENDMENTS.
BUT IS IT JUST GONNA SAY CREATING A NEW LAND USE SPECIFIC TO THREE DWELLING UNITS? THAT'S NOT GONNA TELL ANYBODY WHO'S READING IT, WHETHER IT ALLOWS FOR TINY HOMES AND RVS WHERE THEY COULDN'T HAVE IT.
I MEAN, I, I JUST LIKE, IF WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, I I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CHANGING.
AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE INCORPORATE TINY HOMES AND RVS INTO THE USE OR ANYWHERE INTO THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING RIGHT NOW, WE WILL INCLUDE THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE NOTICE.
BUT YOU NEED TO DO THAT, YOU NEED TO DO THAT PART ABOUT THE USE TO, TO MAKE THE THREE HOMES, THE THREE UNITS ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT HAPPEN ANYWAY.
Y YES, WE DO NEED TO HAVE THE USE.
'CAUSE IF YOU GIVE IT BY RIGHT THEN WE DON'T HAVE PARAMETERS FOR THAT.
I WILL ADD TO THAT ONE THING THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS OTHER WAYS OF COMMUNICATION.
SO WE WILL, WE WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA, WE WILL USE OUR WEBSITE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND COMMUNICATING AN EASY AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE.
UM, AND THEN WILL THE WEBSITE DISCUSS THE LARGER SET OF AMENDMENTS? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE NOTICE IS GONNA SEND PEOPLE TO SOME WEBSITE.
I'M SURE THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, THERE'S A COURT CASE THAT'S ONGOING THAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT NEXT WEEK.
ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IS NOTICE, UM, WHAT IS OUR PLAN DEPENDING ON THAT RULING TO MODIFY THIS, THIS ACTION THAT YOU WOULD BE SETTING TODAY.
THE DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY IS INDEPENDENT OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S, THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COURTHOUSE RIGHT NOW.
UM, THIS IS TO SET WHAT IS AN OPTION AVAILABLE TO THE CITY IN THIS, IN STATE LAW IS TO SET THIS JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AND TO ESTABLISH THE NOTICE.
I WILL SAY THE NOTICE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED, THAT WE'VE DESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE EXCEEDS WHAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO DO UNDER STATE LAW.
IF WE FOLLOW JUST THE STANDARD FORMAT, WHETHER IT'S INDIVIDUAL OR PUBLISHED.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT NOTICING UTILITY ACCOUNT HOLDERS, WHICH STATE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO DO.
WE'RE GOING BEYOND THE 200 FEET, WHICH STATE LAW REQUIRES.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE GONNA BE POSTING ON OUR WEBSITE AND AT THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, WHICH STATE LAW DOESN'T YET RECOGNIZED AS A WAY TO NECESSARILY GIVE FOLKS NOTICE.
BUT WE WILL BE DOING THAT AS WELL.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT THE INTENTION IS TO DO MORE NOTICE, BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN THROUGH MANY OF THESE WAVES THAT NOT EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN ON OUR, I I WANNA ANTICIPATE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA COME UP,
[03:15:01]
UM, AND RAISE THEM SO THAT, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THEM.I DON'T KNOW IF DIRECTOR MIDDLETON PRATT IS HERE OR NOT.
UM, SO THIS IS NOT, THIS IS RELATED TO 55.
UM, I HAVE A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HA IN MY DISTRICT WHO HAVE BEEN WANTING TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, WILL YOU COMMIT TO WORKING WITH ME IN MY OFFICE TO ENSURE SOMEONE FROM PLANNING CAN HAVE A MEETING WITH A GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENTS? YES, MA'AM.
UM, MY SENSE IS THAT, THANK YOU.
UM, MY SENSE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS ITEM IS GONNA MOVE FORWARD AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THE INTENTION, I'M GOING TO BE, UM, ABSTAINING ON THIS ITEM, UM, THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
I APPRECIATE THE INTENTIONS BEHIND THE ITEM AND APPROVING OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND PUBLIC INPUT, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ACTUAL DETAILS FOUND IN THE EXHIBIT WERE NOT DISTRIBUTED UNTIL TUESDAY.
GIVING NOT ONLY ME, BUT ALSO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LESS THAN 48 HOURS TO ACTUALLY REVIEW THE SPECIFICS.
UM, AND BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A LIMITED TIME FOR THAT TO BE REVIEWED ON SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW HAS CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST, I'M GONNA EXPLAIN ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT EVERY RESIDENT IN THE CITY DESERVES TO BE NOTIFIED OF CHANGES THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, UH, THEIR PROPERTY AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTIVATE AND INVITE MORE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR RESPONSE TO THIS HOUSING EMERGENCY.
I'VE SPOKEN, UH, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY AND EXTENSIVELY ABOUT CERTAINLY MY INTENTIONS WITH, UH, THE RE-ENGAGEMENT ON CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, UH, HAVING, UH, EXTENSIVE PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A JOINT MEETING OF THIS COUNCIL.
DS WITH THE APPOINTEES OF, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A, A SIGNIFICANT, UM, EVENT.
I HOPE YOU ALL WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
COME AND GIVE US YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEETING WILL BE FOR.
THERE WILL BE THE STANDARD PUBLIC HEARING IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WOULD'VE HAPPENED ANYWAY, AND WE WILL OF COURSE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IN, UH, AT THE COUNCIL WHEN WE TAKE UP THE CHANGES FROM STAFF, UH, LATER THIS YEAR.
SO WE ARE INCREASING TWO PUBLIC HEARING OPPORTUNITIES, MAY OR BY A THIRD, IT'S A 50% INCREASE.
AND AGAIN, IT'S UNPRECEDENTED, BUT THE ISSUES REQUIRE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION FROM THIS DIOCESE.
I DO THINK WE WERE, WE ARE ALL UNITED IN WANTING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT MYSELF FOR, FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, INCLUDING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC INTERRUPTED ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD AND I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS, UH, THAT STAFF, UM, HAVE BROUGHT TO TRY TO FIND THE DATES THAT WORK.
IT'S NOT EASY FINDING, UH, A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE DATE FOR THE 11 OF US HERE, MUCH LESS THE 13 ADDITIONAL, UH, APPOINTEES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A HEAVY BURDEN TO FIND THAT DATE, BUT I FEEL CERTAIN THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THAT WE WILL PROCEED.
AND I JUST INVITE EVERYONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPEN DOOR FOR THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE INITIATED.
AND THIS ISN'T THE LAST CONVER PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT BECAUSE THIS STUFF REALLY MATTERS AND YOUR VOICES REALLY MATTER.
AND THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO TO THE SPEAKERS, UM, AND I'LL, OR I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE SPEAKERS.
UM, MS. LINK LAST, WELL TUESDAY I ASKED, UH, HOW MUCH THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR THE NOTIFICATION, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU KNEW THAT OR IF YOU KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND WHEN WE MIGHT KNOW AS COUNSEL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVER SINCE I OPENED UP MY BIG MOUTH AND ASK THAT QUESTION, NOW I'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ASKING ME, SO I UNDERSTAND ACTUALLY AC THE A C M CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS THANK YOU.
UM, SO THE WAY WE DERIVED THIS ESTIMATE, WE LOOKED AT HOW MANY NOTICES WERE SENT THROUGH THE A I S D IN OUR LOCAL.
THERE WAS 28,000 NOTICES, UH, SENT FOR THAT.
[03:20:01]
ABOUT 600,000 NOTICES THAT WILL NEED TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO HOUSEHOLDS AND, UH, UTILITY ACCOUNT HOLDERS.WE ARE WORKING WITH C T M TO, TO PULL THAT NUMBER DOWN OR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE CORRECT NUMBER.
UH, BASED ON THE, UH, THAT INFORMATION, A VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE IS $320,000 FOR A CITYWIDE NOTICE.
WE ARE WORKING, UM, WITH D S D AND THEY, THEY'RE A CONTRACTOR ON THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS AND, UH, AND, AND IDENTIFYING THE, THE FUNDS AND THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING THAT.
UM, AND THAT IS JUST FOR THE MAIL NOTICES, THAT'S NOT FOR THE ADDITIONAL NOTICE THAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO OR OUTREACH VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OR THE NEWSPAPER.
NOTICE THAT IS THE ADDITIONAL MAIL.
NOTICE THE OUTREACH THAT WE'RE DOING THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS. I DON'T, I DON'T ANTICIPATE, AND I'M LOOKING TO THE DIRECTORS IN THE AUDIENCE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISSPEAK, BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE, UH, AN A LARGE ADDITIONAL COST BECAUSE THIS IS OUR NORMAL OPERATIONS TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
WELL ACTUALLY, DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 55? COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE ADOPT MOVES TO ADOPT ITEM 55.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WE HAVE, UM, MONICA GUZMAN ON ITEM 55.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ARIAN COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GOZA.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER FOR THE QUESTIONS YOU RAISED DURING THE WORK SESSION ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU AND MAYOR WATSON FOR YOUR REMARKS ABOUT MEETINGS BEING SCHEDULED TO CLOSE TOGETHER.
COUNCIL YOUR VOTE TODAY STARTS THE PROCESS FOR A CITYWIDE ZONING CHANGES.
IT IS CLEAR YOUR INTENT TO CLICK THROUGH TWO MAJOR CITYWIDE ZONING CHANGES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ENSURE A CREDIBLE PROCESS AND AN ADHERENCE TO JUDGE BOYER'S 2020 RULING.
THIS ITEM REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE FOR APPROVAL.
WHILE IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE CITY IS DOING BETTER THAN THE STATE LAW NOTICE REQUIREMENTS BY ALSO MAILING ENGLISH SPANISH NOTIFICATION TO AUSTIN ENERGY ACCOUNT HOLDERS, THERE ARE STILL MANY WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OR WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN THEIR OWN.
WHILE COST IS ALWAYS A CONSIDERATION IN ORDER TO ENSURE CITYWIDE INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION AS POSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL NOTIFICATION NEEDS TO BE MAILED TO EVERY ADDRESS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL PAGE BRIEFLY EXPLAINING WHAT WAS SENT AND HOW TO REQUEST IT IN VIETNAMESE, KOREAN, ARABIC, ET CETERA, AS WAS DONE FOR CODE NEXTS.
ALSO, INSTEAD OF REQUIRING A REQUEST AHEAD OF TIME, INTERPRETATION NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE IN AT LEAST NING AND A S L FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS, ONLINE NOTIFICATION AND UPDATES IN ANY LANGUAGE WILL NEVER BE ACCESSIBLE TO ROUGHLY 10% OF AUTHORS COMMUNITY LIKE DIGITAL LITERACY OR ACCESS.
IN CLOSING, ON A PERSONAL NOTE AND AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, MAYOR WATSON AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE SPEAKER THIS MORNING.
WHO SHALL BELIEVE ANYONE? THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TWO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, UM, BETSY GREENBERG WITH ANN DANGLER ON DECK.
BETSY GREENBERG, ANN DINKLER, ANN DINKLER.
THAT IS ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS ON ITEM 55.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 55.
UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 55.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 55 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE.
WHAT? MISSING? OH, HUH, I'M SORRY.
UH, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T CONNECT WITH WHAT YOU WERE TELLING ME.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 55 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY OFF THE DAIS MEMBERS, THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH ARE ZONING ITEMS. OKAY.YES, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I'M JOEY HARDIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 83 C ONE FOUR R 8 1 0 3 3 R C A.
[03:25:01]
THE BRODY OAKS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 84 C 814 20 21 0 0 9 9.
THAT'S BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT PED.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
AND THEN THERE'S, UH, NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER 81 UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH IS THE S O SS AMENDMENT.
AND THESE ARE ALL RELATED ITEMS. AND AGAIN, THAT ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIRD, READING, AND LET ME JUST SAY, THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THESE ITEMS ON FIRST READING AND APPROVED THE AMENDMENTS BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
THESE ITEMS WERE THEN OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION AT SECOND READING AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE AMENDMENTS OUTLINED AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S MOTION SHEET.
UM, THOSE AMENDMENTS, UM, HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE ORDINANCE.
MOST OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE RELATED TO PARTS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE STAFF HERE FROM A APPLICABLE DEPARTMENTS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE WITH THERE'S QUESTIONS, BUT WE ARE READY, UM, FOR THIRD READING, AND THAT'S THE FINAL READING.
UM, WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS, BUT AGAIN, UM, WE'RE OFFERING THIS, UM, ITEM FOR CONSENT.
WELL CONSENT THIRD, READING AND CONSENT.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE'VE DISCUSSED THESE ITEMS PREVIOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO 85 N P A 20 21 0 0 2 5 0.01 GREYSTAR TWO 90.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND, THIRD, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 86 C 14 20 22 0 1 6.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT SECOND AND THIRD.
AND THE RELATED R C A IS ITEM 87 C 14 85, 2 88 0.79 R C A.
I DO BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE AN OPPOSITIONAL SPEAKER.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE R C A.
THIS R C A WAS CREATED PRIOR TO S O S AND THIS WILL BRING THE DEVELOPMENT UP TO, UH, STANDARDS CURRENT CODE EXCEPT FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, ITEM 88 IS N P A 20 22 0 0 0 5 0.02.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS THROUGH, UM, RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 89 C 1 4 20 22 0 1 1 4.
UM, THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE YOU.
OH, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED, OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE YOU ON YOUR AUGUST 31ST COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU APPROVED THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UM, OF SSF THREE OF FIRST READING.
UM, THIS REZONING DOWN ZONES THE PROPERTY, SO IT WOULD TRIGGER COMPATIBILITY ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER AND THE PETITIONER IS HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS REZONING REQUEST.
ITEM 90 IS N P A 2 2 2 0 0 8 0.01.
THIS IS EAST 12TH STREET CASE.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED, OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 91 C 14 20 22 0 1 5 0.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UM, I THINK THE CLERK JUST PASSED OUT INFORMATION THAT THE NEIGHBOR COULD, UM, ASK FOR YOU TO REVIEW.
UM, I WILL FIRST READING TO THE RECORD THE MOTION SHEET, WHICH, UH, THE APPLICANT IS, UM, PROPOSING TO DO.
THE MOTION SHEET READS AT THE FOLLOWING CONDITION TO PART TWO.
NUMBER THREE, DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY MAY NOT EXCEED AN IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 90%.
NUMBER FOUR, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT EXCEED 80 FEET.
AGAIN, THESE AMENDMENTS OR THIS AMENDMENT, UM, OR PROPOSED, IS PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT AND WOULD BE ADDED TO THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
AND STAFF IS IN AGREEMENT TO THESE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA STATE, I JUST MENTIONED THAT THE CLERK PASSED OUT INFORMATION FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I ALSO WANNA STATE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUBMITTED A PETITION THAT IS NOT VALID.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION FORM.
THE CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION FORM PROVIDES A SIGNER OF THE PETITION AUTHORITY TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY IN YOUR PACKET THERE IS A SHEET THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS A SIGNER THAT IS AN OFFICER WITH THE CITY IS REQUESTING THAT A OFFICER CAN SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
WE REQUEST THAT FOR EVERY PETITION IF THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION.
SO THIS ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT, BUT YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN, MAY BE REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT TO GET, UH, AUTHORIZATION FORM, BUT I'LL LET THEM SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT JUST TO NOTE THAT COUNSEL DID POSTPONE THEM AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST AT THE JULY 20TH MEETING ON AUGUST 31ST.
THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED AND THE COUNSEL SUPPORTED THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
AND AGAIN, STAFF IS OFFERING THIS AS CONSENT SECOND AND THIRD, BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S UP TO YOUR DISCRETION AND THERE ARE SPEAKERS TO THIS ITEM.
UM, SO, UM, NOW ITEM 92 IS ITPA
[03:30:01]
20 23 0 0 1, 8 0.04.THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
ITEM 93 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 0 2 9.
THAT'S THE RELATED REZONING CASE.
UM, AND THIS, AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READING.
UM, AND THEN THAT WE MOVE TO YOUR ADDENDUM.
AND THAT'S ITEM 1 0 5 C 1 4 20 22 0 1 4 0.
THIS IS BRENTWOOD MULTIFAMILY AND THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA.
AND THESE ITEMS MOVE FORWARD AGAIN AT YOUR DISCRETION.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? OF COURSE FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE I SPEAK OF, OF COURSE.
UM, ON ITEMS 88 AND 89 UHHUH
BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, BUT IT'S BEING OFFERED ON CONSENT.
THE MOTION THAT THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN WILL BE A MOTION TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 83 WILL BE ON CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 84 WILL BE CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 81 WILL BE ON ALL THREE READINGS OR ON THIRD READING, I'M SORRY.
ITEM 86, CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
ITEM NUMBER 87, THE R C A TO ITEM 86 IS ON CONSENT.
ITEM 88, CONSENT SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
ITEM 89, CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING WITH A VALID PETITION.
ITEM NUMBER 90, CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
ITEM 91, CONSENT SECOND AND THIRD READING.
ITEM NUMBER 92, ALL THREE READINGS, ITEM NUMBER THREE, SECOND AND THIRD READING.
AND THEN AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID, ITEM 1 0 5 IS BEING PULLED.
I WOULD JUST SAY, UM, 92 WAS CONSENT, SECOND, THIRD, AND I THINK YOU, UM, SAID BEFORE THE R C A, NOT THE R C A, THE SS O S AMENDMENT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT P OR CONSENT THIRD READING.
ITEM ITEM, WHICH ONE WERE YOU CORRECTING ME ON? UM, 84 IS CONSENT.
THIRD READING, AND THEN 92 IS CONSENT.
WE HAVE SPEAKERS, BUT I'LL, THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AT SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'LL NOW, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN ANY PUBLIC HEARING THAT NEEDS TO BE OPENED WITH REGARD TO THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM AND IDENTIFY THE ITEM ON WHICH YOU ARE TESTIFYING.
WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON ITEMS 90 93.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.
MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM 90, THE ROSEWOOD PROJECT.
IT SPECIFIES 10% OF PROPOSED 80 TO 110 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS AT 60% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME UNDER D M U ON PAGE SIX OF THE STAFF REPORT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU HAVE SUCH AN AVERSION TO BLACK PEOPLE, BUT I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS EARN APPROXIMATELY $42,422.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO YOUR CITY OF BOSTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, EQUITABLE CHAMBER FUNDING MODEL NOVEMBER, 2020.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU SET 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, IT IS EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
YOU ARE EXCLUDING AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE JULY 25TH, 2023 AUDIT FINDINGS SPECIFIED THAT DEPARTMENTS DO NOT USE THE DATA TO IMPROVE PROCESSES.
THAT WAS UNDER ALLISON ALTERED FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UH, AUDITOR WAS FRANCIS RILEY.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE A SAFE, SAFE, UH, SMART, SMART POLICY, SAFE, MIXED INCOME, ACCESSIBLE, REASONABLY PRICED, TRANSIT ORIENTED POLICY, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE JUNE 20TH, 2008.
[03:35:01]
FOR DEVELOPERS BUT NOT AS RELATES TO THE INCOME LEVEL.AND I WOULD JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TITLE SIX IN DIFFERENT IMPACTS OR SPECIFIES THAT IT REFERS TO A FACIALLY NEUTRAL POLICY OR PRACTICE THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS MEMBERS OF A GROUP BY RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
WHERE THERE IS, UH, RECIPIENTS ARE RECEIVING FINANCING BENEFITS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO IT IS FRUSTRATING, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT 50% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS EXCLUSIONARY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER 50%, WHICH IS FOUR 40,900 ACCORDING TO THE 2023 INCOME LEVELS PRODUCED BY HUD, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CHART.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE'VE GOT JEAN WILKINS ON ITEMS 81, 83 AND 84 WITH GEORGE FER ON DECK.
MY NAME IS GENE WILKINS AND I LIVE IN THE BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I OPPOSE THE BRODY P O D AS PLANNED.
THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLANS RELIES HEAVILY ON THE 8 0 3, UH, RAPID BUS ROUTE.
THE SITE ITSELF IS VERY PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE GOOD IF YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, BUT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS DO NOT ADDRESS EXISTING MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS AROUND THE SITE.
THEY'RE CONSIDERED BELOW AVERAGE AND UNSAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS.
IT IS UNSAFE TO WALK OR BIKE TO THE SITE.
THIS STATEMENT IS FROM THE THIRD READ SUMMARY SHEET, AND THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS ONLY SERVE IF YOU ARE ADJACENT TO THE SITE, NOT IF YOU'RE ENCLOSED.
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WHERE I LIVE, PRETTY MUCH MOST OF SOUTH AUSTIN.
SO, UM, THIS IS THE ACTUAL DRILLING LOG FOR THE, UM, BUILD OVER AIRMAN'S CAVE.
THE 275 FOOT BUILDINGS IN THE 80 FOOT BELOW GROUND PARKING GARAGES AND RETENTION PONDS ARE ABOVE AIRMAN'S CAVE.
UM, THE DRILL LOG SHOWS IT BECOMES HIGHLY FRACTURED AT 80 FEET.
THE ACTUAL DRILL AND LOG THAT'S REPRESENTED IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION THAT, UH, YOU'LL BE VOTING ON FOR THE ORDINANCE TODAY IS ACTUALLY NOT ACCURATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S DONE THEIR HOMEWORK ON THIS.
I KNOW ALTER IS VERY AWARE OF IT.
UM, I'VE PRESENTED THIS DOCUMENTATION.
UM, THERE ARE TOO MANY UNRESOLVED ISSUES FOR THIS PUD TO RESPONSIBLY PASS.
THERE IS A RESTRICTED COVENANT FOR THE CONDITIONS OF THE VERY GENEROUS TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS, STATING THAT IF IT DOES NOT PROVE TO BE ACCURATE AND THE CALCULATION OF INCREASED TRAFFIC GENERATED, A SITE PLAN WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
THERE IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT MORE ANALYSIS AND MODELING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY CAN DENY THE FACT THAT THIS IS GONNA INCREASE GREATLY THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S ALREADY AT A VERY CONGESTED AREA.
GEORGE COFER WITH GREG ANDERSON ON DECK.
GEORGE FER SPEAKING ON 81 83 84.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I'M GEORGE FER, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND NO ORGANIZATION OR GROUP.
I SUPPORT THE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIRD READING MY OPINION AND WITH VERY DUE RESPECT TO THE POINT YOU JUST HEARD.
I'LL SAY IT VERY SIMPLISTICALLY ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO, I GAVE MYSELF A TALKING TO AND SAID, IF WE'RE GONNA BUILD A GREAT CITY, LET'S BUILD A GREAT CITY.
IN MY OPINION, THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL HELP US GET THE KIND OF PROJECTS ON THE GROUND THAT WE NEED TO FACILITATE HOUSING, PARKS, TRAILS, SAFE TRANSPORTATION IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.
IT, I GREW UP ABOUT A MILE FROM HERE.
UM, SECONDLY, AND I'LL CONCLUDE AGAIN, MY OPINION, HAVING LIVED FOR ALL MY LIFE, I KNOW THE DEVELOPERS, I KNOW 'EM WELL.
I SHOP AT ONE OF THEIR RETAIL CENTERS ON BK ROAD AND THEY STILL OWN IT AND MANAGE IT.
AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS WELL OF THE COMPANY.
I KNOW THEIR ATTORNEYS, I KNOW THEIR TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS.
[03:40:01]
THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST.THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS I'VE SEEN.
I THINK THEY'LL DO THIS RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
GREG ANDERSON, ITEMS 81 83 84 WITH INGRID MORDEN ON DECK.
INGRID MORDEN ON ITEMS 81 83 84 WITH ANDRE CRONEY ON DECK.
UM, MY NAME'S INGRID MORTON AND I'M AN OFFICER OF THE BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I THINK ONCE AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, THE COUNCIL SEEMS TO BE PUTTING THE CAR BEFORE THE HORSE ON THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
THE IDEA THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FOLKS ARE GONNA TAKE THE BUS IS LUDICROUS.
AUSTIN STILL HAS NO VIABLE MASS TRANSIT AND WON'T FOR YEARS.
THERE'S NO WAY FOR A PEDESTRIAN FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET TO THE PROPERTY EITHER WESTBOUND, BEN WHITE OR TRAVELING 360.
THE ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT IS GONNA TAKE FOR THIS PROJECT HAVE NOT BEEN FIRMED UP, AND IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER SUCH A LARGE PROJECT CAN EVEN BE SUPPORTED BY THE CAVE THAT IS DIRECTLY BELOW IT.
ALL THE DEVELOPERS SEEMS TO HAVE IN PLACE ARE REQUESTS FOR VARIANCES, NOT ACTUAL PLANS JUST PAST THIS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.
THEY SAY, WELL, WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT BEFORE AND IT NEVER TURNS OUT WELL.
I URGE YOU NOT TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT IN ITS PRESENT FORM.
ANDRE CRONEY ON ITEMS 81 83 84 WITH BILL BUNCH ON DECK.
UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
WE CONTINUE TO POSE THIS PUD UM, BECAUSE, UH, FOR THREE BASIC REASONS.
UH, IT DOES NOT COME EVEN CLOSE TO COMPLYING WITH IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, THAT PLAN SHOWS A GROWTH NODE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS AT THIS LOCATION, BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE PLAN THAT THAT'S A MID-RISE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A MUCH HIGHER DENSITY, UH, TALL BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, UH, A FORM OF SATELLITE DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS OVER 200 FEET, UH, THAT VIOLATES THE PLAN.
UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT, UM, SKYSCRAPERS ARE NEITHER AFFORDABLE NOR CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
ADDITIONAL CONCRETE AND STEEL THAT IT TAKES TO GO UP THAT HIGH, UH, GENERATES AND REQUIRES ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF CARBON TO, UH, PRODUCE THAT ENHANCED STEEL AND, UH, INCREASE, UH, CONCRETE LEVELS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS RELATIVELY NEW SCIENCE, BUT WE NEED TO INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR PLANNING.
UH, AND IF WE CARE ABOUT THE CLIMATE, WE'LL BE IN, UH, PUSHING FOLKS TO DO MORE MID-RISE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, FINALLY, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL REDUCE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM CURRENT CONDITIONS AND IT WILL ADD SOME WATER QUALITY TREATMENT.
UM, BUT IT'S STILL GONNA BE WAY HIGHER THAN THE, UH, S O S IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS OF 15%.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY OFFSITE MITIGATION LAND, WHICH WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
UH, THEY COULD DO THAT WITH A ROUNDING ERROR TO, UH, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA MAKE OFF THIS PROJECT.
UM, TO BE CLEAR, THE CURRENT ON THE GROUND SQUARE FOOTAGE AT BRODY OAKS IS ABOUT 360,000 SQUARE FEET.
UH, WHERE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD INCREASE THAT ALMOST TENFOLD TO OVER 3.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET.
WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN DENSITY, BUT THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH FOR THIS LOCATION.
STEVEN RENI ON ITEMS 85 86 87 WITH SARAH SOUR BRION DECK.
I LIVE AT 86 15 THUNDERBIRD ROAD.
UH, I RESIDE RIGHT BESIDE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, A RETIRED A I S C, UH, CAREER IN TECH TEACHER AND OUR CAT AND DOG, COWBOY
[03:45:01]
AND RASCAL.I'M ALSO THE CITY CONTACT FOR OUR LITTLE ORGANIZATION WE'VE DEVELOPED CALLED THUNDERBIRD TWO 90.
WE AT THUNDERBIRD TWO 90 STAND TO OPPOSE THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WELL, I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT ALL THE CREATURES THAT WOULD, UH, THAT THIS 49, 39 ACRE DEVELOPMENT WOULD, UH, DISPLACE THE SKUNKS, THE ARMADILLOS, THE DEERS, THE FOXES, THE POSSUMS, THE RACCOONS, THE PORCUPINES, RATTLESNAKES, CORAL SNAKES, BULLSNAKES RATS, SNAKES, FALCONS HAWKS, HORNED DIALS, SCREECH CHILDS, WESTERN SPINY LISTER AND STRIPE BLIZZARD.
I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE ON OR AROUND THESE PROPERTIES.
AND ALSO THE INNUMERABLE, UH, MIGRATORY FOUL THAT COME THROUGH, INCLUDING THE, UH, GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE.
UH, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU ABOUT THE 2000 TREES TAGGED TREES THAT ARE ON THIS PROPERTY.
UM, THIS IS THE PICTURES YOU SEE HERE ARE SOME OF THE TREES WHICH WERE, UH, DESTROYED WHEN THEY PUT IN THEIR, UH, UH, TECHNICAL TRUCK, THEIR SOIL TRUCK.
THAT RIGHT THERE, THAT LAST ONE RIGHT THERE, PICTURE IS OF A PLOW, WHICH A BULLDOZER WENT THROUGH AND DID.
I GUESS FOR JUST EXPERIMENTAL PURPOSES, UH, ALL THESE TREES THAT THEY MOVED ARE STILL THERE.
IT SHOWS THE IRRESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER TO ALLOW THIS, UH, FIRE HAZARD TO BE CREATED AND STAY.
WELL, THANK YOU AND LOOK AT YOUR PETITION.
SARAH SERRE ON ITEMS 88 AND 89 WITH CHRISTOPHER PAGE ON DECK.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH SERRY.
I'M A SMALL WOMAN-OWNED INDEPENDENT DEVELOPER SPEAKING AGAINST 88 AND 89.
I OWN THE COMMERCIAL LOTS NEXT TO THIS COMMERCIAL LOT THAT IS REQUESTED FOR DOWN ZONING FROM CSS TO CSS.
THIS ZONING MEANS THAT MY ENTIRE PROPERTY WILL BE ENGULFED BY COMPATIBILITY, RE SETBACK, TRIGGERED SETBACKS, SEVERELY LIMITING MY ABILITY TO USE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AND CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FROM EVERYTHING I UNDERSTAND, MY PROJECT IS IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S VESTED HOUSING GOALS.
AS A VALID PETITION HOLDER, I ONLY NEED THREE OF YOU TO VOTE AND FOR ME AND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A CITYWIDE ISSUE FOR ALL OF YOU.
I'M ASKING EACH OF YOU TO VOTE NO TODAY.
VOTE NO AGAINST THE DOWNSIZING THAT PROVIDES ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING VOTE NO.
SO THERE CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
VOTE NO TO SHOW YOU ARE PRO HOUSING AND PRO AFFORDABILITY.
VOTE NO FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE AND TO BE CONSISTENT WITH AUSTIN'S HOUSING GOALS.
PEOPLE ARE POINTING TO A WAIVER THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ITS FINAL FORM WILL BE.
OR THEY'RE INDICATING THAT THERE ARE PROPOSED COMPATIBILITY REVISIONS COMING.
THESE ARE GOING TO HURT MY PROPERTY.
IF YOU DO NOT VOTE NO TODAY AGAINST THIS DOWN ZONING THAT PROVIDES ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEN WOULD YOU AT LEAST CONSIDER COUNSEL POSTPONING THIS APPLICANT'S ITEM UNTIL THE WAIVER IS ACTUALLY COMPLETED AND IN PLACE? I'M HEARING IT WON'T BE VERY LONG, EARLY SPRING OR EARLIER.
I'M NOT TRYING TO STOP THE APPLICANT'S PROJECT.
THERE ARE ONLY O THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR HIM TO DO WHAT HE WANTS.
STANDARD SINGLE FAMILY LAWS, BUT MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE ON MY PROPERTY.
THIS CASE SEEMS TO GO AGAINST THE BIGGER PICTURE IN AUSTIN AND IS SAYING THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOWARD THIS CASE WOULD RE WOULD BE REDUCING HOUSING UNITS.
PLEASE, I'M PLEADING WITH YOU TO VOTE NO, OTHERWISE YOU'RE KILLING THE FEASIBILITY OF MY PROJECT AND THE HOUSING IN GENERAL.
SO THAT'S MY TWO MINUTES THAT I'VE BEEN ALLOWED DISCUSS MY HOUSING PROJECT.
A VERY IMPORTANT VOTE THAT COULD FINANCIALLY AND VIABLY KILL MY ENTIRE PROJECT INSTEAD OF PRODUCING HOUSING FOR AUSTIN.
CHRISTOPHER PAGE ON ITEMS 90 91 WITH JENNY GRAYSON ON DECK.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE? IS THAT YOU? SO YOU GET FOUR MINUTES IF YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING DONATED.
WE'RE WORKING OUT SOME TIME DONATION RIGHT NOW.
HAVE, HAVE I STARTED OR NOW? I'LL START.
CHRIS PAGE, PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, MYSELF, UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, JANE RIVERA OF THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM.
GILBERT RIVERA, PRESIDENT OF THE ROSEWOOD GLEN OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
JENNY GRAYSON, PRESIDENT OF THE MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, CLIFFORD SANCHEZ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE UNIFORMLY OPPOSED THIS ACTION BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING NOTHING OUT OF THE APPLICANT.
[03:50:01]
NOTHING.THERE IS NO ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT.
THERE'S SIMPLY ASSURANCES AND THINGS THAT WILL EASILY GET WIPED OUT IF THEY SELL IT TO ANY OTHER PARTY.
YOU'RE ADDING A DASH V TO A HALF ACRE AND WHAT YOU'RE GIVING UP IS THE ABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE BLOCK TO NEGOTIATE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW THAT 60% IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
YOU KNOW THAT NEW HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE AND YOU ALSO KNOW THAT IT INCENTIVIZES THE ACQUISITION AND DEMOLITION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA.
THERE IS A VALID PETITION WHICH THE CITY REFUSES TO ACCEPT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO SO BY LAW AND BY REFUSING THAT IT'S A SANCTIONABLE ACTION.
YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE ADDING INAPPROPRIATE DENSITY.
IT GOES AGAINST ALL ZONING POLICY THAT YOU'VE COME UP WITH.
YOU'RE ARBITRARILY SPOT ZONING TO ENRICH A CAMPAIGN DONOR THAT OWNS A A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF LAND IN THIS AREA.
AND ALL WE'RE DOING IS GIVING THEM DOUBLE THE ENTITLEMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR NOTHING.
WE CAN GET MORE THAN THIS AND WE ARE NOT GETTING IT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BEING BACKED UP MEANINGFULLY IN A NEGOTIATION.
WE HAVE THREE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN FACILITATED NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE, BUT THEY STARTED WITH THE PRESUMPTION THAT THIS WOULD BE APPROVED.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
NEXT WE HAVE JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING FOR SIX MINUTES.
AMBER ORR AND MISSILE RAMOS BOTH CONFIRMED TO BE PRESENT, HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME.
YOU CAN PRESS, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A UNIFORM ZONING ACROSS A ONE ACRE SITE.
YOU CAN GO AND TO AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY STRIPPING OUT THE HEIGHT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
I'M SORRY, WHAT? WHAT'S WRONG? UNIFORM ZONING WILL INCLUDE VM E I'M PLAYING, THIS IS MY PRESENTATION.
YOU NEED TO TESTIFY THE, WE, WE DON'T ALLOW FOR A PRESENTATION TO BE DONE THAT WAY.
I CALLED BEFOREHAND AND THEY SAID IF YOU HAVE A VIDEO PRESENTATION, YOU CAN JUST DROP OFF A U S B.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD YOU THAT, BUT WE'LL DO IT THIS TIME.
BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, BUT OKAY.
THERE'S LOTS OF UNCLEAR ITEMS AROUND THOSE.
I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US DO IT.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A UNIFORM ZONING ACROSS A ONE ACRE SITE AND TO AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY STRIPPING OUT THE HEIGHT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
UNIFORM ZONING WILL INCLUDE V M U.
THE APPLICANT HAS STATED V M U IS SUCCESSFUL ON AIRPORT AND SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARDS.
BUT EAST 12TH STREET IS NOT A BOULEVARD.
IT'S A LEVEL TWO A S M P STREET, PRIMARILY FILLED WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
INCREASING ZONING ON THE SITE WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT WALKABILITY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND IS LIKELY TO DISPLACE RESIDENTS.
THE APPLICANT SAYS LAND IS RESTRICTED BY COMPATIBILITY, BUT WE ALL KNOW THESE STANDARDS WILL CHANGE IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.
THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY CURRENTLY PRESERVES NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG EAST 12TH AND RESIDENTS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO KEEP IT IN PLACE.
BUT THE APPLICANT'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO REMOVE THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
UH, IF YOU REMOVE THAT OVERLAY, I WOULD REALLY GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED FROM AN R O I PERSPECTIVE ON THIS BUDGET.
NO, I MEAN THE, THE, THE PRIMARY OF OUR, OF OUR, SO THE CASES TO REMOVE OVER JUST CLEAR, BUT RESIDENTS DON'T SUPPORT THIS.
WE'VE MET WITH THE APPLICANT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAVE OBTAINED NO ENFORCEABLE BENEFITS.
IN FACT, THEY'VE OPENLY REFUSED TO DISCUSS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
AND MANY OF THE MEETINGS FACILITATED BY THE D ONE OFFICE, THE APPLICANT BOUGHT THE ENTITLEMENTS THEY HAVE.
THEY WANT ENTITLEMENTS THEY DIDN'T BUY, BUT THEY'RE UNWILLING TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN HIGHER ENTITLEMENTS.
SO THEN WHY DID THEY BUY IT? IS IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE LAND? ONE OF OUR TOWN HOME PROJECTS THAT I MENTIONED, THE LOCATION ON TODAY, UH, WE REZONED THE LAND AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND BY REZONING THE LAND, WE REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE VALUE OF IT.
COULD IT BE BECAUSE ENTITLEMENT CHANGES ATTRACT BETTER FINANCING? IT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR US TO LIMIT OURSELVES IN THAT RESPECT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT HARDER TO GET SOMETHING.
FOR FINANCING OR IS IT BECAUSE THEY WANNA SELL THE PROPERTY AFTER INCREASING ITS VALUE IN PERSON? THEY CRY ABOUT POOR MARKET CONDITIONS.
YEAH, THE CONDITIONS ARE POOR RIGHT
[03:55:01]
NOW FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS.YET THEY OPENLY BROADCAST RECENT RECORD SETTING MARKET PERFORMANCE ON YOUTUBE BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021, MEDIAN RENTS INCREASED OVER, UH, 35% WHERE YOU HAD RENTS GOING UP RAPIDLY AND THE VACANCY RATE DROPPING.
UM, SO REALLY STRONG PERFORMANCE ON THAT SIDE.
REMOVING THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY REMOVES OUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE ENFORCEABLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE IMPLIED PASSING OF THE ORDINANCE DEVALUES RESIDENTS VOICE AND POWER.
ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE THEY WILL DEVELOP.
THEY'VE ADMITTED CONDITIONS ARE NOT FAVORABLE TO BUILD.
THEY'VE REFUSED TO DISCUSS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
THEY'VE ADMITTED TO CHANGING LAND ENTITLEMENTS TO INCREASE VALUE AND THEY'VE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTED REQUESTS.
COUNCIL IS POISED TO APPROVE THESE ORDINANCES WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
OUR NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN STIFLED AND OUR CONCERNS MET WITH INDIFFERENCE.
NOTHING THEY'VE SAID IS ENFORCEABLE.
NOTHING THEY'VE SAID TRANSFERS WITH THE LAND IF IT'S SOLD AND THEIR DE MINIMIS CONCESSIONS ARE IN FACT MANDATED CITY REQUIREMENTS.
THIS IS A PRECEDENT SETTING CASE THAT DESERVES MORE THOUGHT PLANNING AND COMMUNITY INPUT THAN OUR CITY HAS DONE.
WE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE ITEMS 90 AND 91 AND HAVE FILED A VALID PETITION AGAINST THEM.
EVEN IF Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DENY IT ON A TECHNICALITY, WE'VE COUNTERED WITH LEGITIMATE STATE CERTIFIED DOCUMENTS.
AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS HAS BEEN A GRUELING PROCESS FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
MAYBE AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A FREE THOUGHT AND GOODWILL ON THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT'S HARD TO SEE TODAY IF WE'VE RAISED A QUESTION THAT'S PIQUED YOUR INTEREST.
DON'T VOTE IN FAVOR SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU BY YOUR COLLEAGUES VOTE AGAINST OR REQUEST TO POSTPONE TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
THIS MIGHT BE A GAME TO SOME OF Y'ALL WHO LINE YOUR POCKETS WITH DEVELOPER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT THIS IS NOT A GAME TO US.
THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE ASKING YOU TO JOIN YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND VOTE NO.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REGARDING REGARDING THE FILED PETITION.
THE SIGNEES ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF TOWN AND UNABLE TO SIGN THE NEW DOCUMENTS.
WE'VE PROVIDED LEGAL SECRETARY OF STATE DOCUMENTS SHOWING THE AUTHORITY OF THE SIGNEES ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESS PROVIDED IN THIS PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU.
BUT THIS AS WELL AS THE DIGITAL SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN REFUSED.
EVEN THOUGH TEXAS CODE 3 2 2 0 0 7 STATES A RECORD OR SIGNATURE MAY NOT BE DENIED LEGAL EFFECT OR ENFORCEABILITY SOLELY BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRONIC FORM AS SEEN IN THE A KUNA CASE.
CURRENTLY, THERE'S NO DOCUMENTATION IN THE CITY'S PACKET PETITION PACKET ABOUT BUSINESS SIGNATURES AND THAT FAULT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON US.
PLEASE POSTPONE SO WE CAN COMPLY WITH THE NEW REQUEST.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE CLARITY.
IF Y'ALL SEE US LOOKING DOWN AT OUR SCREENS, IT'S 'CAUSE WE HAVE THE OPTION TO PUSH THE ROOM.
AND SO WE CAN SEE YOUR PRESENTATION ON OUR COMPUTERS.
IT'S NOT A LACK OF CARE CONCERN.
NEXT WE HAVE SETH WILKERSON ON ITEMS 90 91 WITH MICHAEL BERNSTEIN ON DECK.
HEY, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I'M THE HOMEOWNER AT, UH, ON 13TH STREET.
MY HOME FALLS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPERTY WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY.
UH, MY PRIMARY CONCERNS WITH THIS ARE THE BUILDING'S PROPOSED HEIGHT AS WELL AS THE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON AN ALREADY BUSY AND NARROW 12TH STREET.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT GROWTH IS INEVITABLE AND THERE'S GONNA BE A, THERE'S A DIRE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRAFFIC RELIEF IN THIS CITY, BUT I'M FAILING TO SEE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH.
UM, THERE'S CURRENTLY NO PLANS FOR WHAT BE WHAT WILL BECOME OF THIS PROPERTY.
UH, AND IF THIS VARIANCE IS APPROVED AND PROPERTY GETS SOLD WELL, THERE'S STILL NO PLANS.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE PUSHED THROUGH TODAY.
WHILE MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THE LARGER ROSEWOOD NEIGHBOR, UH, ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ARE STILL UNAWARE OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED HERE TODAY, UH, AND WHAT IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE ON THEM IN THE FUTURE.
UH, AN EIGHT OR NINE STORY BUILDING ALONG 12TH STREET IS GOING TO SET A PRECEDENT, UH, THAT WILL SHAPE THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS AREA AND WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE.
UM, LONG AFTER WE'RE ALL GONE.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERABLE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH WHAT WE WANT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
GENERALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT LISTS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT AT 40 FEET, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANY LONGER.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE GIVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS MORE TIME TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THIS AND ORGANIZE.
MICHAEL BERNSTEIN ON ITEMS 90 91 WITH EMAD AHMAD ON DECK.
[04:00:03]
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.MY NAME IS MICHAEL BERNSTEIN AND I'M WITH THE GEYSER GROUP.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND LIVE ABOUT A MILE FROM THE SITE OFF OF 12TH STREET THAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF OUR APPLICATION TO REZONE.
FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND HER STAFF FOR HELPING US FACILITATE NEGOTIATIONS AND PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS, UH, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, I THINK THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS A MORE COMPLETE PROJECT, UH, BY MAKING SOME, UH, CONCESSIONS.
I'D LIKE TO READ OUT TODAY, UH, A FEW OF THE CONCESSIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
FIRST OFF, WE'VE DEDICATED THAT AT LEAST 15% OF THE UNITS WILL BE MULTI BEDROOM.
THIS IS GREATER THAN THE RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED, NEARBY EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT, SPECIFICALLY 8% AT ONE PROPERTY AND 10% AT ANOTHER.
THE NEXT IS THAT WE PLAN TO USE, UTILIZE NATIVE VEGETATION FOR LANDSCAPING CONSISTENT WITH SITE CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE OVERHEAD LINES, AND THAT'S GONNA LIMIT THE VARIETY OF PLANTS FROM WHICH WE CAN SELECT.
UM, THE NEXT IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, PROMISED TO REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE FROM THE ALLOWED 95% DOWN TO 90%.
AND THIS WE'RE REQUESTING TO BE CODIFIED IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT WOULD RUN WITH THE LAND AND BE ENFORCEABLE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, NEXT WE ARE, UH, ENGAGING IN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
REGARDING SCREENING, UH, THE AREAS OF THE PROPERTY THAT ARE USED FOR REFUSE COLLECTION, WE HAVE, UH, PROMISE TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATIONS MODEL, LIGHTING ORDINANCE AND FI.
AND, UM, WE HAVE ALSO VOLUNTARILY OPTED INTO CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM, INCLUDING TREES ALONG THE FRONTAGE, UH, A BENCH AND A BIKE RACK.
AND FINALLY, WE'VE AGREED TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO 80 FEET.
AGAIN, CODIFIED IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT WILL RUN WITH THE LAND, UH, AND WILL BE A HEIGHT REDUCTION REGARDLESS OF WHAT MAY COME WITH CHANGING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS IN THE CITY.
ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HER STAFF AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
EMAD AHMED ON ITEMS 90 91 WITH MICHAEL WHALEN ON DECK.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 90 AND 91.
MY NAME IS AHMAD AHMED AND I LIVE IN THE MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE REZONING, UH, REQUESTED BY THE DEVELOPER.
12TH STREET IS CURRENTLY LITTERED WITH EMPTY LOTS AND DILAPIDATED PROPERTIES.
RELAXED ZONING WILL INCENTIVIZE DE DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP ON THESE PROPERTIES.
MOREOVER, DENSER TALLER CONSTRUCTION ON A MAJOR EAST WEST URBAN CORRIDOR LIKE 12TH STREET ALLOWS FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS.
ONE, MORE HOUSING SUPPLY, WHICH HELPS ALLEVIATE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES IN EAST AUSTIN.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THIS DEVELOPER IS COMMITTED TO FURTHER HELPS.
NUMBER TWO, MORE LIFESTYLE RETAIL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, BARBER SHOPS AND COFFEE SHOPS.
DENSER CONSTRUCTION ON 12TH STREET WILL LEAD TO MORE WALKABILITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND NUMBER THREE, MORE USE OF EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE AREA, INCLUDING A BUS STOP RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN THE M L K RAIL STATION.
IN WALKING DISTANCE, DENSER POPULATION WILL ALSO HELP ROUTE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO THIS AREA TO FURTHER IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF, I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW LOUD VOICES PROTESTING THE CHANGE ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER, THE RESIDENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN POLLED ON THEIR OPINION AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HASN'T HAD AN ELECTION SINCE PRE COVID TIMES.
THEREFORE, NO ONE CAN TRULY REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THIS ISSUE.
I CAN SAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEIGHBORS I HAVE SPOKEN TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE.
I BELIEVE THE SILENT MAJORITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT AND ZONING CHANGE HAPPEN AND WANNA SEE THE PROGRESS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DENSER NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MUELLER AND SAT HAVE ALREADY ENJOYED.
MICHAEL WHALEN ON ITEMS 90 91 WITH DICK HALL ON DECK.
UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UH, I TOO WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND THE DISTRICT ONE STAFF FOR FACILITATING SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROPOSING A RESIDENTIALLY FOCUSED PROJECT WITH ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 60% M F I PURSUANT TO THE VERTICAL MIXED USE PROGRAM.
AND WE RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOLLOWING, UH, THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH NEIGHBORS WHICH TOOK PLACE AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ARE OFFERING SEVERAL ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND VOLUNTARY SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN A LETTER THAT THE APPLICANT SENT TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE.
UM, AND IF THAT'S NOT IN BACKUP, I CAN HAND IT TO THE
[04:05:01]
CLERK TO, UH, CIRCULATE SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UH, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT WE'VE OFFERED, UH, MR. BERNSTEIN ALREADY, UH, REVIEWED AND WENT THROUGH.UH, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO IN PARTICULAR CAN BE, WE'VE BEEN TOLD, CAN BE CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS IN PARTICULAR, REDUCTION OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND, UH, A HEIGHT CAP, UH, UH, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE CODIFIED.
IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE LATE BACKUP, WHICH INCLUDES A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM MR. LEWIS HERRERA, WHO I THINK REPRESENTS SOME OF THAT SILENT MAJORITY.
UH, MR. HERRERA'S FAMILY HAS LIVED IN ROSEWOOD FOR OVER 70 YEARS AND HE HELPED CREATE THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN 2001.
AS WE ALL KNOW, AND AS YOU'LL READ IN MR. HERRERA'S LETTER, THE AREA HAS CHANGED AND PROGRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY.
I THINK YOU JUST HEARD THAT, UH, FROM MR. UH, UH, ACHMED IN THE 20 PLUS YEARS SINCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WAS ADOPTED.
AND THOSE CHANGES ALONG WITH THE ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOALS MAKE THIS AN APPROPRIATE SITE FOR ADDING HOUSING CAPACITY WITH ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT CHANGES INCLUDE MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, ACCESS, AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, THE SITE IS LOCATED LESS THAN 400 FEET FROM AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH IS A, WHICH IS AN AS M P TRANSIT PRIORITY NETWORK ROADWAY, AND AN IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR.
IT'S ALSO NEAR FOUR CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT ROUTES, INCLUDING THE RED LINE METRO STATION.
DICK HALL ON ITEMS 90 AND 91 COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DICK HALL AND I WORK FOR THE GEYSER GROUP OWNER OF THE PROPERTIES AT 31 21 EAST 12TH.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 90 AND 91.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HER OFFICE, AND THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS FOR ENGAGING IN A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WE IMAGINE HOW TO CRAFT A PROJECT THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE MY TIME TO READ MR. HERRERA'S LETTER REFERENCED BY, UM, MICHAEL JUST BEFORE.
DEAR CITY COUNCIL, I SUBMIT THIS LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE REZONING APPLICATION FOR 31 17 31 21 EAST 12TH STREET.
I LIVE CLOSE BY IN DISTRICT ONE AT 28 0 2 OAK SPRINGS DRIVE.
THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP AND MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR THE PAST 80 YEARS.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT.
IN FACT, I WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT CRAFTED THE THE CURRENT ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
I PERSONALLY MET WITH THE APPLICANT AND I AGREE THAT THEIR PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY IS BETTER THAN WHAT COULD BE DONE TODAY UNDER CURRENT ZONING.
THE 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION THAT WE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO, IS NO LONGER PROPER FOR THAT SITE.
I BELIEVE THE 12TH STREET CORRIDOR IS AN AREA WELL SUITED FOR A PROJECT WITH MORE HEIGHT.
I ALSO AM A FAN OF THE PROJECT'S PLAN TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THEIR REZONING REQUEST.
SINCERE, SINCERELY, LOUIS RERA 28 0 2 OAK STRINGS DRIVE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEMS 90 AND 91.
THE ONLY REMAINING SPEAKERS ARE FOR ITEM 1 0 5, WHICH WAS PULLED.
SHOULD I HOLD OFF ON THOSE? OKAY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE ZONING CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UH, MEMBERS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ANY ITEMS THAT WERE REQUIRE IN PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WERE LISTED AS PART OF THE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS NOTED, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING, RECUSING THEMSELVES, OR VOTING NO ON ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAYOR PRO TEM? UH, YES, I'M GONNA BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON 88 AND 89, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES, BUT I RESPECT, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TO CONSENSUS ON IT.
UH, IT'S A BRIEF, UH, COMMENT.
I, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE, UH, THE OWNER AND THE AGENT ON ITEM 93.
WE DELAYED THEM A LITTLE BIT, UH, BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR AN EASEMENT TO CONNECT THE HOLLA NEIGHBORHOOD PARK OVER TO GUADALUPE.
UH, DIDN'T WORK OUT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT, UH, I KNOW WE HAD TO PULL THE ITEM LAST TIME AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND THEIR, UH, AND, AND FOR WORKING WITH US.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING, RECUSING THEMSELVES OR VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ WITH THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, THE MOTION CARRIES AND, UH, UNANIMOUSLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH MEANS
[04:10:01]
ON THE ITEMS THAT REQUIRED, UM, MORE THAN, UH, A REGULAR MAJORITY.AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT, UH, THE BRODY OAKS DEVELOPMENT.
YEAH, I KNOW, UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GO BACK AND, AND POUND THE PAVEMENT AND KNOCK ON SOME DOORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REALLY HEAR FROM, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ADJACENT TO THIS AREA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, WHAT THEY'RE FEELING.
AND BY AND LARGE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND, UH, JUST REALLY IMPROVE WHAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.
THE ONE THING WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY ASK ME, WELL, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BARTON CREEK AND BARTON SPRINGS? AND WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT HOW RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE RUNOFF THAT IS GOING FROM THIS BASICALLY PURE ASPHALT SITE INTO THE CREEK, AND NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE S O S LEVEL WATER QUALITY ON SITE AND ALLOW, NOT HAVE THAT RUNOFF THAT THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND FELT THAT WAS A, A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, UH, BECAUSE THE CREEK IS REALLY VITAL AND IT'S REALLY A SPECIAL THING FOR THAT AREA.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, BY REDUCING SPRAWL AND ALLOWING FOR US TO GROW RESPONSIBLY AS A CITY, THAT IS GOING TO ALSO IMPROVE, UH, AND LIMIT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO MENTION, UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE OUT OF THIS.
THE DEVELOPERS HAVE GONE BEYOND WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE AS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
AND, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE WALTER HERE AT THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, WHO IS GONNA BE A PARTNER IN BRINGING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO DISTRICT FIVE, WHICH WE WANT AND NEED.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THAT MOMENT TODAY, UH, TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN, UH, A LONG TIME COMING AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK, UH, AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS WE HAD.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE VERY RESPONSIBLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
I WANNA APPLAUD THE DEVELOPERS, UH, FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS POD ON THE BRODY OAKS POD AS WELL IN IMAGINE AUSTIN.
THIS PROJECT IS IDENTIFIED AS AN ACTIVITY CENTER FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
AND I THINK THIS P THOUGHTFULLY DEALS WITH COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A PROJECT THAT IS APPROPRIATELY DENSE IN THIS AREA.
SO, IN MY OPINION, IT SETS THE BAR FOR FUTURE PUDS GOING FORWARD.
IT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARKLAND.
IT INTEGRATES THE GOAL, THE GOALS OF WATER FORWARD, AND MANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
AND THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS PUD, IS THAT IT DID NOT ASK FOR PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO I THANK YOU, UH, TO ALL FOR A GREAT EFFORT AND A GREAT PROJECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARVARD MEDICINE.
I'LL START BY SAYING IF ANY OF THE DEVELOPERS OR BANKERS IN THE ROOM STILL STOP THANKING ME.
SO PLEASE DON'T STEP UP THERE AND THANK ME YOU ALREADY HEARD WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT ME.
SHE APPARENTLY, WHICH I'M NOT.
I'M A HOMETOWN GIRL, AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO RUNS FROM OFFICE WHO DOESN'T TAKE MONEY FROM DEVELOPERS.
AT SOME POINT, CAMPAIGNS RUN ON MONEY.
ALSO, UM, COLLEAGUES THAT WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON OUR EAST 12TH STREET ZONING REZONING AS THIS STAYS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY COMMUNITY KNOWS I'VE BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF INCREASING ACCESS TO HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WILL BE INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS ON SITE.
THE PROPERTY IS NEAR TRANSIT AND THERE ARE NO EXISTING RESIDENTS.
I REPEAT, THERE ARE NO EXISTING RESIDENTS BEING DISPLACED BY THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THIS REZONING ALLOWS FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT MY HARD WORK AND STAFF AND FRANKLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN THOSE IN OPPOSITION.
I KNOW Y'ALL WORKED HARD AND ARE ADVOCATING FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION AND
[04:15:01]
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS DEDICATED TO FINDING SOME COMMON GROUND ON THIS ZONING GROUND.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BY THE WAY, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE THIS REZONING WITH NO CONDITIONS, I ENCOURAGE AND MY STAFF ENCOURAGED THE APPLICANT TO MEET WITH AND DISCUSS PROPOSED CHANGES THAT COULD BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS.
I DID THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION, EVEN AMONGST THOSE WHO DISAGREE, IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
AS A RESULT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS, HEIGHT REDUCTION OF THE BUILDING, MULTI BEDROOM UNITS, ONSITE PARKING, GREAT STREETS IMPROVEMENTS, REDUCTION IN IMPERVIOUS COVER AND COMPLIANCE WITH DARK SKY'S, MODEL LIGHTING.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DISAGREE WITH THIS REZONING.
I JUST THINK THAT GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVE, THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS THAT IT SITS THERE AND IT LANGUISHES.
I'M FROM THE 12TH STREET AREA.
AND IF I AGREE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND MY FAMILY THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA, I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION.
RESPECTFULLY, MY OFFICE REMAINS DEDICATED TO ASSISTING YOU AND OTHERS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS MOVING FORWARD.
I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS MORE THAT WE AGREE ON THAN WE DISAGREE ON, AND THAT WE CAN DO GOOD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE.
ANYONE ELSE WISH? YES, MEMBER PRO TIM.
I'M GONNA BRING IT BACK TO THE BRODY OAKS PUD.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAD DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS, UH, BEFORE HER TERM EXPIRED.
AND SO I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER COMING INTO THIS AND, AND NEEDING TO GET UP TO SPEED, UM, WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE HIS WORK ON THAT.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO HAS SOME OF THOSE GREEN BLOBS THAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, UM, CORRIDORS AND CENTERS IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT ROBUST CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO BALANCE TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND STILL CHAMPION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ALONG THE WAY.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, I'M, I GUESS I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND I'M JUST PROUD THAT, UM, WE FINALLY GOT THROUGH THIRD READING.
UM, THAT WILL TAKE US, THE CHAIR WILL NOW CALL UP ITEM ONE OH FIVE, ZONING ITEM 1 0 5 MEMBERS.
THE, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF SCHEDULE, UH, MY PLAN WOULD BE TO GO 1 0 5, 1 0 3, 1 0 1, AND THEN 99, WE DO NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND, UM, UH, THAT WILL BE BEFORE WE TAKE UP ITEM 99.
UH, I I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
1 1 0 3 IS BROUGHT UP, UM, ONE, WILL 1 0 2 BE BROUGHT UP? SORRY.
MAY I ASK WHAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IT'S RELATED TO ITEM 99.
UH, JOY HARDIN AGAIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 ON YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA, CASE NUMBER C 14 2 2 2 0 1 4 0.
THE REQUEST IS FROM C S M U V C O N P C S M U C S M U C O, NMP AND M F THREE NMP TO C S M U V C O NMP ON THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE TRACK AND MF SIX NMP ON THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE TRACK.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMEND THIS REQUEST.
THE REZONING, UM, CARRIES FORWARD ALL THE EXISTING PROHIBITED USES ON THE CS ON TRACK, WHICH ARE AGRICULTURAL SALES AND SERVICES CAMPGROUND, COMMERCIAL BLOOD PLASMA CENTER, DROP OFF RECYCLING COMPLEXION, FACILITY EQUIPMENT REPAIR SERVICES, EQUIPMENT CELLS, KENNELS, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, OUTDOOR SPORTS, AND RECREATION, AND VEHICLE STORAGE.
AGAIN, THOSE WILL BE PROHIBITED USES.
THERE ARE PROHIBITED USES ON THE SITE NOW AND THEY WILL REMAIN.
AND CONSTRUCTION SALES AND SERVICES IS A CONDITIONAL USE.
THE PARCEL IS APPROXIMATELY 2.4 ACRES.
AGAIN, THIS, UH, REQUEST WAS RECOMMENDED BY PLAN, COMMISSION, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS REZONING REQUEST.
THE SITE IS SERVED BY MULTIPLE BUS ROUTES, STOPS INCLUDING METRO RAPID, AND THE SITE IS LOCATED LESS THAN A MILE FROM
[04:20:01]
TWO IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS.AND IT'S NEAR THE PROPOSED PROJECT CONNECT CEX STATION.
ALSO HOUSTON STREET, CLAY AVENUE, WILLIAM HOLLAND AVENUE, ALL HAVE SIDEWALK GAPS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SITE AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE GAPS IN THE SIDEWALK NETWORK AND ADHERE TO A S M P STANDARDS.
THE APPLICANT IS HERE, AND WE ALSO HAVE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF HERE TO ADDRESS ANY TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFINITELY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACTS THIS REZONING HAS ON TRAFFIC THAT, SO THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED.
AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, WHAT WE'LL DO THE ORDER WILL GO IN IS WE'LL HAVE THE APPLICANT MAKE A PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OPPOSITION.
THEN WE WILL GO TO THE SPEAKERS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE FIVE SPEAKERS.
WE WILL GO WITH THOSE INOP, UH, IN, IN FAVOR, AND THEN AN OPPOSITION.
AND THEN WE WILL ALLOW A, A REBUTTAL AND SUMMARY, UH, TO CLOSE.
SO IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO FIVE MINUTES AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
DAVID HARTMAN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
WE HAVE OUR, AS A TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER, CIVIL ENGINEER AND DEVELOPERS', REPRESENTATIVES AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION ON THE SLIDES HAS BEEN COVERED.
I'LL SUMMARIZE THIS ZONING CASE BY IT'S, UH, VMU TWO AND MF SIX, UH, ZONING CASE FOR A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT WITH ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN A TRANSIT RICH AREA AND WITH ROBUST MULTIMODAL ACCESS AND A PROPOSED PARK PARK, UH, TO JUMP TO THE CHART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLIDE, UM, OR JUST DEMONSTRATES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING C S V M U ON THE WESTERN FOUR LOTS N MF SIX ON THE EASTERN FOUR LOTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 350 UNITS, UM, FOR A V M U TWO PROJECT, WHICH WILL HAVE 12% OF, UH, UNITS AT 60% M F I ON THE WESTERN PORTION.
AND WE'RE PARTNERING, PARTNERING WITH HOME BASE OR HABITAT TO DO A VOLUNTARY PRIVATE RESTRICTED COVENANT, UH, THAT IS SIGNED AND READY TO BE RECORDED.
THERE'S NO EXISTING WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION, BUT WE'RE COMING, BRINGING THAT UP TO CURRENT CODE, INCLUDING ATLAS 14.
WE'RE REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER, AGAIN, THE ONSITE PARK PARK OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE'S A PUBLIC RE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT TIES US TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC ANALYSIS WHERE WE'RE, THAT OBLIGATES US TO PROVIDE ROUGHLY A QUARTER MILE OF OFFSITE SIDEWALK MITIGATION THAT AGAIN, THAT SIGNED AND READY TO RECORDED PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT OR REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY.
AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IT AS WELL.
THIS JUST SO SHOWS THE LOCATION SOUTH OF CANA LANE, UM, BASICALLY BURN ROAD.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IN HOUSTON STREET TO THE NORTH, THE WESTERN LOTS.
AGAIN, WERE REZONING TO V M U, THE EASTERN LOTS WERE REZONING TO M F THREE.
YOU SEE V M U TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST.
UH, THEN THIS AGAIN SHOWS ALONG THIS CORRIDOR, PLENTY OF V M U PROJECTS UP AND DOWN THE CORRIDOR.
WE'RE LEAVING THE, THE MULTI-FAMILY FLU AS IS AND MIXED USE FLU AS IS.
UH, THIS HAS, UH, VACANT MEDICAL OFFICES ON THE WEST AND VACANT APARTMENTS ON THE EAST.
AND AGAIN, THE V M U PROJECT, APARTMENT PROJECT, UH, TO THE WEST.
UH, TWO IMAGINE AUSTIN, UH, CENTERS WITHIN, UH, LESS THAN A HALF MILE.
AND THEN BURNETT ROAD IS AN IMAGINE AUSTIN CORRIDOR.
IT'S A LEVEL THREE A S AND P STREET.
AND THEN THIS HAS MULTIPLE, UH, CAP METRO BUS ROUTES AND STOPS, INCLUDING METRO RAPID, IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE SITE WITH BIKE ROUTES.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE PROVIDING, UM, A SIDEWALK MITIGATION ALONG HOUSTON STREET TOWARDS THE, UH, PROPOSED CAN STATION PROJECT CONNECT STATION.
UH, WANTED TO SHOW THIS, UH, CONCEPT PLAN PRIMARILY TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONSITE PARKLAND THAT'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU SEE UP ON THE UPPER, UPPER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN THIS JUST DEMONSTRATES OF THE MOST RECENT, UH, PROJECTS,
THIS PROJECT BASICALLY FALLS RIGHT IN LINE IN TERMS OF DENSITY AND HEIGHT.
AND THEN, UH, OUR TRANSPORTATION, UH, CONSULTANT CAN SPEAK TO THE, AS M P, EXCUSE ME, THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION.
BASICALLY WE'RE PROVIDING SIDEWALKS ALL ALONG, OR EXCUSE ME, UP AND DOWN HOUSTON STREET, ALSO TO THE SOUTH.
UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD INPUT, OR THE NEIGHBORS HAD INPUT ON, ON THE WHAT STREETS WE PROVIDED SIDEWALKS WE PROVIDED, OR COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE SIDEWALK TO THE SOUTH.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT TEAM, THANK THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND CONTACT TEAM AND LEADERSHIP, WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND THEY, THEY, WE COME UP WITH THESE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT BASICALLY, UH, DEFINITELY IMPROVED THE PROJECT AND WE'RE A BETTER PLACE THAN WHERE WE STARTED.
[04:25:01]
WITH HOODING SHIELDING, UH, SCREENING FROM, UH, ADJACENT RESIDENCE.WE'RE PROVIDING THE ONSITE DE PARKLAND DEDICATION AND COMPLYING WITH THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE, AND OF COURSE, COMPLETING THE GAPS IN THE SIDEWALK NETWORK.
THIS FINAL SLIDE JUST SUMMARIZES ALL THE REASONS TO SUPPORT THIS, PROVIDING MORE HOUSING, UM, IN ALL AGES, NEAR TRANSIT, AGAIN SERVED BY MOST MULTIPLE BUS ROUTES AND STOPS, UM, OR, OR 350 UNITS WILL RESULT IN STREET, STREET IMPACT FEES THAT CAN GO TOWARDS THINGS IN THE ROADWAY CAPACITY PLANS, SUCH AS AT TIME OF SITE PLAN, POSSIBLY A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
UH, AGAIN, THAT'LL BE D DETERMINED AT TI OF TIME OF SITE PLAN.
AND THEN AS SHOWN AT THE BOTTOM ON ONSITE PARK, PER PARK, POCKET PARK, PARTNERING WITH HOME BASE, UM, ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND AGAIN, WE, UH, WE REALLY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM BRENTWOOD NEIGHBOR ASSOCIATION AND OUR PROJECT TEAM IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
DO YOU WANNA ASK QUESTIONS NOW OR ANYTIME YOU WANT TO.
IS THERE, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK AS A REPRESENTATIVE IN OPPOSITION, UH, TO THIS ITEM? GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONTACT TEAM.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING REQUEST.
UM, BUT LET ME START BY SAYING THIS IS NOT A NIMBY ISSUE FOR A BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE HAVE MET REPEATEDLY WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE DEVELOPER'S REPRESENTATIVES, DAVID HARTMAN, WHO WAS JUST SPEAKING TO YOU.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN GENERAL HAS, UH, EMBRACED MANY ASPECTS OF WHAT THE DEVELOPER PLANS.
UM, BUT THE CAVEAT BEING THERE IS ONE MAJOR FACTOR THAT IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC, UH, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEN I SAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M TALKING ABOUT A DIVERSE GROUP OF, UH, CONSTITUENTS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS THAT, UH, RUN THE GAMUT FROM A VERY MODEST INCOME, UM, TO, UH, YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST MOVED TO THE AREA FROM TENANTS TO HOMEOWNERS WHO'VE LIVED THERE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY DECADES.
THE ISSUE THAT IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC, UH, AND THAT REALLY WARRANTS ATTENTION AND ASSISTANCE FROM YOU AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT STAFF, IS SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE MAJOR TRAFFIC IMPACT FROM THIS PROPOSED PROJECT.
THE PRIMARY, UM, SOLUTION, IF YOU WILL, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD AND HAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY, WITH CITY STAFF BRIEFLY, ALBEIT, UM, BUT ALSO WITH THE DEVELOPER IS, UH, SOME WAY IN WHICH THE INGRESS AND EGRESS TO THE, UM, UH, PARKING GARAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LARGE DEVELOPMENT BE ASSOCIATED WITH CLAY AVENUE.
UH, SO THAT THE TRAFFIC WILL BE ON BURNETT ROAD, WHICH IS THE CORRIDOR.
THE THREE ADJACENT, UH, ABUTTING SURROUNDING STREETS, CLAY, UH, OTHER THAN CLAY ARE HOUSTON.
THE OTHER TWO ARE HOUSTON AND WILLIAM HOLLAND AND, UH, WILLIAM HOLLAND AND, UM, HOUSTON STREET ARE ALREADY, UM, UNDER THREAT, IF YOU WILL, FOR, UM, EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY HOUSTON STREET.
AND THE DEVELOPERS, UH, PRELIMINARY PLANS CALL FOR, UM, SIGNIFICANT, I DON'T KNOW, DOUBLING OR MORE, I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS, BUT, UH, MAJOR TRAFFIC INCREASES ON WHAT ARE SMALL RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
AND THAT'S WHAT, UH, WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN WORKING WITH AND DIRECTING THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THE DEVELOPER, UH, YOU KNOW, ON, ON PAPER OR PURPORTEDLY IS, UH, AGREEABLE TO SOME KIND OF MODIFICATION OF THE SITE PLAN.
BUT ONCE YOU APPROVE THE ZONING, THE, UH, CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG, IF YOU WILL.
AND SO WE ARE, UM, IMPLORING THE, UM, YOU MAYOR AND THE COUNTY, I MEAN, UH, CITY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UH, WORK WITH OR DIRECT AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO, UM, DEVELOP, UH, UH, SYSTEM, OR A MEANS BY WHICH TRAFFIC CAN BE DIRECTED TO CLAY SOUTH OF HOUSTON ONLY, AND TO BURNETT ROAD TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS THAT, UM, ARE AT GREAT RISK.
[04:30:01]
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.ALRIGHT, I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF YOU'LL CALL PEOPLE, UH, IN THE ORDER OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICANT AND APPLICATION, AND THEN THOSE OPPOSED, AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW FOR A REBUTTAL.
WE HAVE KATHY SMITH FOR ITEM 1 0 5.
SHE INDICATES, UH, FOR THE RECORD THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK, SO SHE WINS THE PRIZE FOR THE DAY.
NEXT, WE HAVE THREE AGAINST, UM, WILLIAM SPACEMAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
I'M, I AM BILL SPEEDMAN, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, I AM HERE TO SAY THAT, UH, THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS, UH, RECENTLY SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND UNITS IN THE, UH, SECTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF CA AND G LANE, WHERE THIS PROPERTY, UH, EXISTS.
UM, AND WE NOMINALLY SUPPORT THIS, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT, UM, UH, WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT THE, UH, APPLICANT HAS, UH, GENERALLY AGREED TO.
UH, BUT WE NEED THE CITY'S HELP HELP TO MITIGATE THE ADDED TRAFFIC.
UH, THE BASIS FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS ITS SUPPOSED LOCATION ON BURNETT ROAD.
UH, HOWEVER, THE CITY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO THAT THAT WAS AN ERROR.
THE PROPERTY, UM, IS NEAR BURNETT ROAD, BUT IT IS NOT ON BURNETT ROAD, AND IT HAS NO DIRECT ACCESS TO BURNETT ROAD.
UM, NOW WE STILL SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT WITH THE REWORK DIRECT, UH, ACCESS TO BURNETT ROAD VIA THE SOUTH FEW HUNDRED FEET OF CLAY AVENUE, UM, THERE'S ALREADY A HYBRID PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC LIGHT, UH, AT, AT THAT LOCATION.
UH, AND THE CITY CAN SOLVE THE TRAFFIC GENERATION PROBLEM BY BROUGHT BLOCKING, UH, THE SOUTHERN SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET OF CLAY AVENUE AND, UH, UPGRADING THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL TO A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR EXCLUSIVE USE BY THE RESIDENTS OF THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE FURTHER REQUEST THAT THE, UH, SECOND AND THIRD READING, UH, BE POSTPONED, UM, UH, UH, TODAY, UH, TO ALLOW FOR, UH, TIME FOR A TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN, UH, SIMILAR TO WHAT I'VE PROPOSED HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.
ALSO AGAINST, WE HAVE BARBARA MACARTHUR WITH TO MARK TOBY ON DECK.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS NOT AGAINST THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE REZONING, BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
LAST WEEK, THIS WAS ON YOUR AGENDA, AND IT WAS LISTED TO BE ON BURNETT ROAD.
THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROJECT IS ALL BASED ON ITS BEING ON BURNETT ROAD.
THIS PROJECT ABUTS THREE STREETS, 26 FEET WIDE.
IT WILL PRODUCE 2000 CAR TRIPS A DAY, HOUSTON STREET AND, AND STREETS LESS THAN 31 FEET WIDE.
THE BEST OPERATING IS 1200 CARS PER DAY.
HOUSTON STREET, WHICH REACHES SEVERAL DAYCARES, MCCALLUM HIGH SCHOOL, AND ALSO IN CLOSE, UM, LOCATION TO A SCHOOL FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN, IS NOW CARRYING OVER 3000 CAR TRIPS A DAY.
WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS ON THE STREETS.
UM, LEVEL ONE STREETS ARE SUPPOSED TO JUST BE SERVING LOCAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
WE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AND OUR SOLUTION WAS, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS TRIED TO PURCHASE CLAY AVENUE TO MAKE IT PART OF THEIR PROJECT, BUT THE CITY'S NOT RESPONDING.
WE TALKED TO THE CITY A LOT, AND IN, EVEN IN 2016, THE CITY BLOCKED OFF THAT PART OF CLAY AVENUE TO DEMONSTRATE IT WASN'T SAFE.
THEY CLOSED IT AND SHOWED HOW MUCH BETTER IT WOULD BE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE CITY SAYS THERE'S NO WAY WE WILL DO THIS.
WE HAVE THREE VERY NARROW STREETS, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HIGH RISES ON BURNETT ROAD WALK THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THEIR DOGS.
ALLS WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A TRAFFIC SOLUTION, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD.
AGAINST ITEM 1 0 5, MARK TOBY,
[04:35:05]
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.I LIVE ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY.
WE MOVED THERE IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.
I I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ONE SENTENCE IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THAT SENTENCE SAYS, DETAILS SUCH AS INGRESS OR EGRESS FOR TRAFFIC WILL BE IRONED OUT THROUGH THE SITE PLANNING PROCESS AFTER REZONING, INGRESS, AND EGRESS IS THE WHOLE ENCHILADA, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT A SOLUTION.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THIS PROPERTY IS BOUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
THAT DISCUSSION AFTER REZONING IS GONNA BE, WELL, HOW BIG IS THE ENTRANCE GONNA BE ON HOUSTON STREET? AND HOW BIG IS THE ENTRANCE GONNA BE ON WILLIAM HOLLAND STREETS THAT CANNOT TAKE THIS ADDITIONAL, UH, TRAFFIC? AND THE DEVELOPER HAS INDICATED SOME WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE TRAFFIC ISSUES, BUT THE APPROVAL PROCESS, I APPLAUD THE EFFICIENCY.
THE APPROVAL PROCESS IS SO FAST THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM ON MAKING ANY OF THESE CHANGES.
SO MY, UH, PLEA TO, TO THE COUNCIL IS TO DELAY THE APPROVAL OF REZONING BECAUSE I, AS A BUSINESS LAWYER, THINK THAT THAT MAY, UH, ELIMINATE ANY INCENTIVES THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS TO PERHAPS LOOK AT PURCHASING ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES TO GIVE TRUE ACCESS TO BURNETT ROAD.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 1 0 5.
BEFORE YOU COME UP FOR REBUTTAL, THE WAY WE'VE, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THOSE IN OPPOSITION FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD IS IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ANY REBUTTAL IN OPPOSITION, THEN I'LL HAVE YOU CLOSE.
MR. HARTMAN, BOTH OF YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UM, HAS, HAS HAS BEEN LAID OUT BEFORE YOU, THE, THE PARTIES INVOLVED, THE DEVELOPER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S REALLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR HELP FROM CITY STAFF AND THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO RESOLVE WHAT IS A VERY BASIC FUNDAMENTAL, AND IT REQUIRES WORK AND CREATIVITY, BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
THANK YOU, MR. HARTMAN, IF YOU'LL CLOSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON GROUND.
UM, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REALLY ADDRESS HAVE BEEN, UH, FRANKLY, A LOT OF SITE PLAN ISSUES.
I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT THIS PROJECT IS ADJACENT TO BUS STOPS, BUS ROUTES, UM, MULTIMODAL ACCESS.
WE HAVE ON ONSITE AFFORDABILITY ON ONSITE PORT POCKET PARK, 270 THOU, $7,000 WORTH OF STREET IMPACT FEES BASED ON 3 350, 350 UNITS.
AND, UM, OFFSITE, UH, SIDEWALK MITIGATION THAT WE'RE OFFERING.
AND, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR, UH, HOPE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM 1 0 5, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
UM, I'LL BE MAKING THE MOTION ON THIS ONE, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I, I DID WANT TO JUST SAY A COUPLE THINGS AND THEN ASK FOR SOME STAFF CLARIFICATION.
UM, THE PROJECT IMPROVES THE CURRENT STATE OF WHAT'S ON THE GROUND IN TERMS OF WATER QUALITY DETENTION, LOTS OF NEW SIDEWALKS AND A PUBLIC PARK.
AND I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEVELOPER WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH CONSENSUS.
THERE MAY BE SOME DISAGREEMENT ABOUT TRAFFIC ACCESS ON THE DIAGONAL LANE OF CLAY AVENUE, BUT I KNOW BOTH PARTIES ARE CONTINUING TO TALK, AS WE HAVE HEARD HERE TODAY.
AND THERE MAY BE A REMEDY COMING DOWN THE LINE.
I DID WANT TO ASK CURTIS BADY TO COME UP AND JUST EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT THE, THE CADENCE IS, WHAT THE SEQUENCE IS, UH, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
WE DO ZONING, WE MAKE CHANGES, UH, TO ZONING.
AND THEN AS A RESULT OF APPROVALS ON ZONING, THEN YOU MOVE INTO THE TRAFFIC, UH, MITIGATION PLANNING DURING SITE PLANNING.
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THE ZONING PIECE FIRST.
COULD YOU JUST KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT THAT SEQUENCE IS FOR EVERYBODY SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE HAPPENING? YES.
I'M WITH AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC COURTS DEPARTMENT.
UH, YES, THIS IS A ZONING AT TIME OF ZONING.
WE JUST LOOK AT THE GENERAL, IS THE LAND USE AND THE INTENSITIES BEING PROPOSED FROM A TRANSPORTATION
[04:40:01]
STANDPOINT? IS THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE SURROUNDING THAT ADEQUATE FOR SUCH A DEVELOPMENT? WE REALLY DON'T LOOK AT ACCESS POINTS AT THIS TIME.UH, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY TRIPS A DEVELOPMENT HAS, THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ANALYSIS THAT HAS TO OCCUR.
THIS CASE, A NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS WAS TRIGGERED, UH, THAT IS PART OF THE BACKUP OF IT HERE.
UH, RIGHT NOW, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS LOOKING AT ROUGHLY 1600 DAILY TRIPS WILL BE GENERATED FROM THE SITE.
UH, WE HAVE JUST DISTRIBUTED THAT ONTO THE NETWORK TO SEE HOW THIS NETWORK WORK IS GOING TO BE, BE IMPACTED.
WE ALSO LOOK FOR DEFICIENCIES IN THE NETWORK, SUCH AS MISSING SIDEWALKS, DO ROADS THAT HAVE FUTURE BIKE LANES, DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO ADD THOSE BIKE LANES IN THE FUTURE? SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S BEING DETERMINED AT TIME OF ZONING, AT TIME OF SITE PLAN.
THAT'S WHEN WE GET INTO THE DETAILS.
WHERE WILL YOU HAVE YOUR DRIVEWAYS? WHAT IS THE SPACING FROM ADJACENT DRIVEWAYS? WHAT IS THE SPACING FROM INTERSECTIONS? UH, WHAT IS THE SPACING FROM DRIVEWAYS AND STREETS ACROSS THIS, UH, THIS YOUR, YOUR ROADWAYS? UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF CRITERIA WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL THAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF THIS DEVELOPER, UH, TO MEET.
UH, AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF EXACTLY WHERE THE DRIVEWAYS NEED TO GO, HOW MANY DRIVEWAYS, I WILL SAY, BECAUSE OF LAND, OF THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED HERE.
A F D AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION WITH TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS SO THAT THEY MEET THEIR FIRE AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS TO SERVICE THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
MIGHT THOSE, UH, REQUIREMENTS HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHERE THE INGRESS EGRESS, UM, PIECES, UH, AREAS ARE? IT COULD, IT DEPENDS REALLY ON THE APPLICANT THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY CHOOSE TO DESIGN THEIR PROPERTY.
IF FOR FIRE LANES, DO THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT SEPARATE OR DO THEY WANT TO HAVE CONCURRENT DRIVES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS RESIDENCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WITH THE FIRE LANES? SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DESIGN THEY PROPOSE.
AND THE DESIGN IS GONNA COME AFTER WE APPROVE WHAT THE LEVEL OF ZONING IS FOR THIS SITE? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE REALLY ARE LOOKING AT THIS PIECE HAS TO HAPPEN FIRST, THEN THIS PIECE WILL SUCCEED AND THEN COME NEXT AND THEN SO FORTH.
AND AS FAR AS, UH, POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS BESIDES LOCATIONS AND ACCESS OF DRIVEWAYS, WE WILL LOOK LIKE, LOOK AT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON BURNETT ROAD.
UM, THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL OTHER PIECES IN PLAY WITH THIS DEVELOPER AS THEY LOOK AT THE LAND AND CONSIDER ASSEMBLING ADJACENT PIECES OF LAND, UH, THAT COULD IMPACT WHERE DRIVEWAYS GO.
IT COULD ALSO IMPACT THE POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THEY NEED TO MAKE, SUCH AS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON BURNETT ROAD IN HOUSTON, OR SOME OTHER LOCATION THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR OPERATIONS.
AND THEN ALSO TO FACILITATE PEDESTRIAN BIKE CROSSING SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE MULTIPLE BUS STOPS IN THIS AREA.
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STANDS READY TO CONTINUE.
ITS, UM, ITS WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND, UH, AGENT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THIS PROJECT.
AND MR. HARTMAN, WE HAVE YOUR COMMITMENTS AS WELL ALONG THOSE LINES.
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR COLLABORATIVE AND COOPERATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT TIME OF SITE PLAN.
YOU, YOU HAVE, UM, ACTED THAT WAY, UH, IN THE PAST IN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN IN THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AS I KNOW THE NEIGHBORS DO.
UM, MAYOR, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I I HAD TO SAY.
I'LL WAIT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ONE.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THAT'S BEFORE I TAKE A MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 1 0 5? THANKS, MAYOR.
AND I MOVE APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS FOR ITEM 1 0 5.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE DISCUSSION.
IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 ON ALL THREE READINGS WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM 1 0 5 IS APPROVED ON ALL THREE READINGS.
UH, MEMBERS, I'LL NOW LAY THE, THE PLAN WOULD BE TO LAY OUT ITEMS 1 0 3, AND THEN FOLLOW THAT UP WITH 1 0 2, AND THEN GO TO ITEM 1 0 1, THEN GO TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN COME BACK OUT ON ITEM NUMBER 99.
MAY I, AS I WROTE IT DOWN, YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO 1 0 5, 1 0 3, 1 0 1.
THEY'RE BOTH PALM SCHOOL AND, AND THAT'S, UH, IF I MI I MISSPOKE PREVIOUSLY, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I APPRECIATE SOMEBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION.
[103. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adopting the Palm District Plan as an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan.]
SO WITH THAT, THE CHAIR CALLS UP ITEM 1 0 3,[04:45:01]
WHICH IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING.SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3, AND I'LL, UM, ASK THE CITY CLERK TO RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE JESSICA COHEN, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA RA ON ITEM 1 0 3.
JESSICA COHEN, MARTHA RA WITH MATT GASKY ON DECK.
IS JESSICA HERE? APPARENTLY NOT.
UH, I THINK I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE OVER HERE.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, AND ALSO BELOVED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARTHA CORTA, DISTRICT 5 5 5.
UH, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM 1 0 3 WITH RESERVATIONS, BECAUSE I ALWAYS RUN OUT OF TIME.
I'M GONNA DO THE LAST PART FIRST.
UM, BEFORE ANY PALM PLAN REC IS IMPLEMENTED, WE ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE PLANNING STAFF TO HOST WORK SESSIONS WITH EAST, UH, SIDE AND RAINY REPRESENTATIVES SO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WE WORKED ON FOR AT LEAST A SIX MONTH PERIOD.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT MY CHRONICLE, I MEAN, CHRONO CHRONOLOGICAL CHRONOLOGY, UH, OVER A 30 YEAR PERIOD, ACTUALLY.
UH, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCORPORATED ACCURATELY AND COMPLETELY INTO THE PLAN.
UH, HISTORICALLY AND AS DECADES LONG PARTICIPANTS IN THIS DISTRICT'S DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WHICH I HAVE CHRONICLED AND PARTICIPATED IN, WE ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE GREATEST INSIGHT ON THE DISTRICT.
AND IN FACT, WE, WE ARE THE ONES THAT RECOMMENDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITY FOR THE DISTRICT.
SINCE WE HAVE SEEN HOW PAST INITIATIVES THERE, UH, HAVE BEEN DENIED, YOU KNOW, AFTER, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN PROMISED TO US AS WELL AS REVENUE FROM THE DISTRICT THAT WAS PROMISED TO US, UH, DECADES AGO WHEN WE STARTED THE TUNNEL PROJECT.
SO, HAVING DONE THIS LAST PART, UH, NOW I CAN GO TO MY OTHER PARTS.
UH, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE ON A HEARING? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND TWO MINUTES.
THE, THE MAY 3RD, UH, RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON MEXICAN AMERICANS FOR THE VERY SAME REASON, BECAUSE WE'RE THE LONGEST SURVIVING RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT, THE MOST ADVERSELY IMPACTED.
SO I WILL SUBMIT MY COMMENTS TO YOU.
AND I HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPORT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WAITING TODAY AND FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.
UM, IMPORTANT ITEM WE HAVE MATT GASKY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 0 3 MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 1 0 3.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM 1 0 3, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 1 0 3.
FOR ITEM 1 0 3, UH, OUR OFFICE IS ABOUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT, UH, THAT WOULD AMEND THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN TO INCORPORATE, UH, MARTHA RA'S FINAL REPORT ON ENGAGEMENT, UH, OF EAST AUSTIN.
UH, THOUGHT LEADERS AS AN APPENDIX TO THE DOCUMENT, UH, MS. RA IS A PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AN TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN AUSTIN.
UH, AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER, UM, DURING THE LITTLE INTERMISSION AFTER THE MUSIC BREAK.
UH, AND HER, HER HUSBAND JUAN, UH, HELPED DESIGN THE CITY HALL YES.
BUILDING THAT I REMEMBER WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, HER AND HER HUSBAND AND HER FAMILY, YOU KNOW, FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
UH, AND I, AND I SO APPRECIATE, UH, HER DILIGENT EFFORTS, ALONG WITH OTHER ADVOCATES TO KEEP THE RICH HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS IN EASTERN DOWNTOWN.
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PALM DISTRICT PLANNING PROCESS.
IN THE 1960S AND SEVENTIES, THE CITY LIQUIDATED AN ENTIRE WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF 11TH STREET TO CREATE WATERLOO PARK IN BRECKENRIDGE HOSPITAL.
AND IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, WE, U U UPSELL THE RAINING AREA AND TRANSFORMED A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MAY ADD WAS HISTORICALLY A MEXICAN NEIGHBORHOOD INTO A FOREST OF HIGH RISES.
THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS FELL HEAVILY ON MEXICAN AMERICAN AUSTINITES WHO HAD DEEP ROOTS IN THIS SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
IT IS, IT IS THE, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME THAT WE UPLIFT AND SUPPORT MEXICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCES AND CULTURE AND THIS DISTRICT, AND WORK TOGETHER AND WORK TOWARD DOING RIGHT BY THIS COMMUNITY.
AS THE EAST SIDE OF OUR DOWNTOWN EVOLVES, MS. RA'S REPORT CAN ASSIST IN HIGHLIGHTING
[04:50:01]
THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT THROUGH CREATIVE, IMPACTFUL PLACEMAKING THAT ALIGNS WITH THE PLAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS.SO, AGAIN, I, I THANK HER FOR HER WORK, UH, AND, AND ON THIS REPORT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORK BEYOND TODAY'S AGENDA, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES TO BETTER HIGHLIGHT AND CELEBRATE, UH, THE RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE PASSAGE OF THE AMENDMENT.
UH, WELL, BEFORE WE GET TO THE AMENDMENT, I'M, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, GOOD SPEECH AND HONORING OF, UH, MS. TER AS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 3.
I ALSO MOVE TO IS, IS, YEAH, IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOTION.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, NOW YOU'RE RECOGNIZED AND, AND I RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, AND I ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE NOW MOVED.
TO AMEND, UH, ITEM 1 0 3 MEMBERS.
HE IS, UH, MOVING TO AMEND ITEM 1 1 0 3 WITH WHAT IS LABELED AS VERSION ONE, MOTION ONE ON 1 0 3.
AND AS HE POINTED OUT, IS TO AMEND THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN AND TABLE OF CONTENTS TO INCORPORATE THE FINAL REPORT ON ENGAGEMENT OF EAST AUSTIN THOUGHT LEADERS RELATED TO THE PALM DISTRICT AS APPENDIX FIVE, A FIVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE FOR ITEM 1 0 3 IS ADOPTED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 0 3 AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE WITHOUT, I'M SORRY.
DO THE OTHER AMENDMENTS, ARE WE ROLLING THOSE IN, OR THOSE, THOSE ARE IN 1 0 2.
I'M, I THOUGHT YOU SAID 1 0 2.
YOU NEED TO TALK JUST A QUE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
CCB GRADE HOUSE DIVISION MANAGER, UM, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, PALM DISTRICT PLAN PROJECT MANAGER.
JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM WHICH VERSION OF EXHIBIT A IS PART OF THE MOTION.
UM, THERE'S A, A STAFF RECOMMENDED VERSION, WHICH IS VERSION TWO.
I SURE DIDN'T, NOR DID I, I APPRECIATE IT.
NO, I'M, I'M PLEASED YOU CAME UP AND, AND CLARIFIED THAT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN, I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO 1 0 2 NEXT AFTER WE'VE DONE 1 0 3, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE DO THINGS SOMETIMES, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 1 0 3 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
[102. Approve a resolution relating to the Palm District Plan and initiating amendments to the Downtown Austin Plan and to City Code Title 25.]
1 0 2.UM, ITEM 1 0 2 IS A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN AND INITIATING AMENDMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN AND TO CITY CODE TITLE 25.
I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU ON ITEM 1 0 2.
AND I'M GONNA NOT DO MY WHOLE SPIEL FIRST, SO I, I MOVE PASSAGE FOR, FOR THE ITEM.
UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO ADOPT ITEM 1 0 2, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST ON AMENDMENT ONE.
VERSION ONE IS THE, THE, WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME MEMBERS.
IT WOULD BE AMEND LINE 61 TO 64 TO REMOVE QUOTE AND TWO AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE TITLE 25 PERIN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, CODE CLOSE PERIN TO IMPLEMENT THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN, INCLUDING TARGETED AMENDMENTS RELATING TO SETBACKS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO WALLER CREEK.
IS THAT THE ONE YOU WANNA DO? YES, SIR.
UM, AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK, I'M GONNA GET A MOTION OUT HERE AND THEN ASK YOU TO SPEAK IS THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
UM, MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE TO ITEM 1 0 2.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT? ONE, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED.
THAT'LL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM 1 0 2.
IT'S AMENDMENT TWO, VERSION ONE.
IT'S LABELED MOTION SHEET TWO TO AMEND LINES 81 THROUGH 85.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TWO TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO TO ITEM 1 0 2.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MAYOR, CAN YOU JUST GO A LITTLE SLOWER? I SOMEWHERE MISSED ALL OF THESE VERSIONS, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP HERE FOR ITEM, PARTICULAR ITEM.
TELL ME, TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM 1 0 2 IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL NOW GO TO AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, VERSION ONE.
[04:55:01]
IT'S LABELED MOTION SHEET THREE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.IT IS TO ADD A RESOLUTION AFTER LINE NUMBER 85.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER IS THE, WE'LL TAKE A MINUTE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S UP TO SPEED.
AND I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
CAN I JUST ASK IF STAFF HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ANY OF THESE? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY DON'T, BUT, UM, NO CONCERNS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO BY CADRE TO ITEM 1 0 2 IS ADOPTED.
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE IS LABELED AMENDMENT FOUR, VERSION ONE TO ITEM 1 0 2.
IT'S ON MOTION SHEET FOUR IN YOUR BACKUP.
IT ADDS, MAKES AN ADDITION, UH, AFTER LINE 56 AND AN ADDITION AFTER LINE 85.
THE ADDITION AFTER LINE 56 IS WHEREAS, AND AFTER LINE 85 IS A RESOLUTION LINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT AS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
SO IF I CAN SEE SOMEBODY'S FOUR, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO ITEM 1 0 2? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO ITEM 1 0 2 BY CADRE IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
IT BE ACTUALLY BE THE FIFTH AMENDMENT, BUT IT'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
THIS ONE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A MOMENT TO LOOK AT IT.
IT, IT IS A, ON THE MOTION SHEET, HE MOVES TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 1 0 2, BEGINNING AT LINE 57, AND THEN AT LINE 86, HE MAKES AN ADDITION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ARE NOT IN CONFLICT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES THAT WE ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY RYAN ALTER.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, SO I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION HERE.
WHEN YOU SAY DEVELOP P PLANS FOR THE LOCATION AND PROPOSED USES FOR CASTLEMAN BULL HOUSE, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MADE ANY DECISIONS TO STAY OR GO OR ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST SAYING FIGURE OUT A PLAN FORWARD COMMEND IT'S RIGHT FOR, FOR IN THE FUTURE, TAKE A LOOK AND, AND MAKE THAT AS PART OF FUTURE PLANNING.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, RYAN.
ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM 1 0 2 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
WE WILL NOW HAVE COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEM 1 0 2 AS AMENDED.
WE HAVE JESSICA COHEN, WHO I BELIEVE IS NOT HERE, AND MARTHA RA ON ITEM 1 0 2, JESSICA COHEN.
MS. RA, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
UM, I DO WANT TO COMMENT AND CONGRATULATE STEVIE GREATHOUSE AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN REACHING OUT TO DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, AND AGAIN, MY ONLY RESERVATION WAS THAT OUR SUBSTANTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS DID NOT APPARENTLY GET TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT REPRESENT, UH, SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES AND PRIMARILY DEALING WITH PALM PARK.
ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THAT THE CITY ASSUME CONTROL THE PART, ASSUME CONTROL THE PALM PARK BECAUSE THAT WILL ENABLE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NOT A NONPROFIT ENTITY, UH, TO WORK ON ITS DEVELOPMENT.
ALONG WITH WHAT HAPPENS WITH PALM SCHOOL AS WE SPEAK.
UH, THE PARK INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS HISTORIC IS BEING DESTROYED BY WATERLOO GREENWAY, UH, GREENWAY.
UM, AND I, I THINK, UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION THAT, UH, THE CITY NEVER LISTENED TO US ABOUT, UH, AT LEAST KEEPING ONE VICTORIAN, UH, STRUCTURE IN RAINY.
AND SO WE HAVE ONE LITTLE HOUSE REMAINING, AND I THINK THE HOMEOWNER WANTS LIKE $10 MILLION FOR IT.
WHEN THE CITY REMOVED STRUCTURES
[05:00:01]
FROM RAINY, WE BEGGED THEM TO KEEP ONE HOUSE, WHICH THEY PROMISED AT LEAST ONE HOUSE, AND THEY NEVER DID THAT.SO NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
UH, WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATIVE, UH, ARCHITECTURE FROM THE VICTORIAN ERA, AND THEN ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO CHICANO HOUSING IN RAINEY.
UH, I JUST TRAVELED ALL OVER IRELAND AND WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED THAT WE DESTROY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMAGES, UH, THAT MAKE OUR CITY GREAT.
ANYWAY, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT, AND, UM, I HOPE WE FOLLOW UP ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOUR WORK ON PALM IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AND I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS ALL OF THEM.
LASTLY, MATT GUKE FOR 1 0 2, MR. SKE, AKI, THAT CONCLUDES 1 0 2 SPEAKERS.
UM, YOU HAVE A MOTION AS AMENDED ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION, A I FOR TO ADOPT ITEM 1 0 2 AS AMENDED? YES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAD PUT INTO THIS PLAN AND THIS PLANNING PROCESS, UM, OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.
UM, I WILL ALSO GIVE THANKS, UH, COUNCIL MOR TOVO, UH, FOR HER WORK ON THIS.
UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, MY STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND, AND MUCH THANKS TO MARTHA, UM, FOR, FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND JUST EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE FOR EVERY CITY.
UM, ALL RIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
LET ME ASK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE ON ITEM 1 0 1 5.
[101. Approve a resolution directing further exploration of on-site affordable housing at 1215 Red River Street and 606 East 12th Street, formerly known as HealthSouth.]
NUMBER 1 0 1, UM, MEMBERS.ITEM 1 0 1, UH, THE VERSION THAT I BELIEVE WE'RE ON IS VERSION THREE BY CADRE, AND I'M LOOKING DOWN AT HIM TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, VERSION THREE, UH, IS A FOUR.
UH, AND IT'S A RED LINE VERSION.
WE ALSO HAVE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT IS LABELED VERSION TWO.
AND IT IS, UH, PROPOSED TO BE, IT APPEARS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY THIS RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTER IT APPEARS TO BE, UH, A COMMITTEE SUB, IF YOU WILL, A, A, A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE, THE, IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT LINE BY LINE.
IT IS INSTEAD A SUBSTITUTE IN EFFECTIVE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
ALTHOUGH I AM, UH, NOT GOING TO BE OFFERING THAT AMENDMENT, I DO PLAN TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND, UH, BASED ON THOSE ANSWERS, HAVE A MUCH BRIEFER FORWARD AMENDMENT.
UM, HAS THAT BEEN DISTRIBUTED? I, IT DEPENDS ON THE ANSWERS FROM STAFF.
SO I, I'LL I CAN HAND IT OUT, BUT, UH, OKAY.
WELL THEN, THEN LET'S DO THIS, UM, SINCE THAT'S THE CASE AND IT HOPEFULLY SIMPLIFIES THINGS.
INSTEAD, WHAT I'LL DO IS ASK THAT OUR SPEAKER SPEAK, AND THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE WAY I NORMALLY DO IT, BUT I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING AND BEING FAIR IF, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION TO ME DOING IT THAT WAY.
WITH THAT, UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM ONE OH ONE? YES, WE HAVE GREG ANDERSON WITH CONNOR KENNY ON DECK.
GREG ANDERSON, CONNOR KENNY WITH MICHAEL WAYLAN ON DECK.
CONNOR KENNY, MICHAEL WAYLAN WITH ROB GRITS ON DECK.
MICHAEL WAYLAN PASSES MR. GRITS, HE ALSO PASSES.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE DANIELLA SILVA, IF SHE'S STILL INTERESTED ON SPEAKING.
ALRIGHT, UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS ON 1 0 1.
THAT, THAT WAS, THAT'S SOME GOOD SPEAKING.
[05:05:02]
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT THEN, WHAT I WILL DO, UM, FOR I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER SO HE CAN ASK HIS QUESTIONS SO I CAN FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S EFFICIENCY TO THE UPCOMING MOTIONS.AND YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW MY LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS HAS BEEN COLD TO THREE.
SO, UH, WELL, UM, THAT COULD STILL BE AN HOUR AND A HALF.
OH, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR AC AND ZENIO, UH, ON THIS.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT TO, UH, CONFIRM THAT ON WHAT IS LINE 55, UM, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT, IT SAYS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO UNDER THAT STAFF WILL LOOK AT ALL KINDS OF, UH, OTHER OPTIONS ASIDE FROM JUST THESE THREE, WHICH ARE, ARE GOOD PROGRAMS. BUT I BELIEVE, UH, THERE IS A, A BROADER, THERE'S, THERE'S A BROADER WAY THAT WE HAVE, UM, FEE IN LIEU DONE.
AND, AND SO JUST WANTED TO, TO CONFIRM THAT WHILE THESE ARE ENUMERATED, WE WILL LOOK AT ALL, ALL THE OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ON AND OFFSITE P AND LIEU OPTIONS.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS THAT THE, THE LIKELY WHAT WE'LL WILL LIKELY HAPPEN HERE IS THAT WE WILL ENGAGE WITH A CONSULTANT, UH, WHO WILL DO MOST OF THIS WORK.
AND SO, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION WHEN THAT COMES BACK FROM THE CONSULTANT? I ASSUME WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME THOUGHT AND ANALYSIS, UH, OF A E D C ALSO BEING INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF JUST A H F C.
WE, UM, MY INTENTION IS TO LOOK AT, UH, WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT AND, AND ABSOLUTELY WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ADCS, UH, PARTICIPATION IN THIS, IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A H F C.
WELL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS.
AND I, I THINK MY STEPH HAS IT HERE.
ALL IT, ALL IT SAYS IS WHEREVER YOU SEE A H F C, WHICH IS ON LINE 46 AND ON LINE 71, IT ADDS AND A E D C, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UH, START OFF BY SAYING, UH, I WANT TO, TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
WE WERE UNFORTUNATELY LIMITED IN OUR ABILITY TO TALK DIRECTLY TO EACH OTHER.
BUT, UM, I THINK THAT I, I, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, WITH WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF GETTING INFORMATION AND THAT WE, I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE, UH, ALL THE INFORMATION POSSIBLE.
AND SO BY, UH, INCLUDING SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT I POSTED LAST NIGHT, I THINK, UH, WE HAVE REALLY GOTTEN THERE.
AND SO I, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO WORK WITH ME INDIRECTLY HERE.
AND, UH, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE GET COME JANUARY.
SO DO I NEED TO MAKE THE MOTION NOW OR SHOULD I WAIT? YOU NEED TO WAIT TILL WE GET A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.
COULD I, COULD I ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER A QUESTION OR JUDGE? SURE.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, US NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE UNTIL, WELL, YOU DIDN'T COMMUNICATE, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR MOTION.
UH, WOULD THIS HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT FOR THE CITY TO WORK WITH A E D C IN ANY WAY AT THIS TIME? OR IF, WHETHER IT'S RYAN OR, OR A C M? MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE A E D C WOULD REQUIRE FUNDING TO DO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ESTIMATE WOULD BE.
UM, AND I THINK WE CERTAINLY COULD ENGAGE WITH THEM IN A, IN AN INFORMAL CAPACITY TO JUST LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT BEFORE WE DISCUSS FUNDING.
SO I, UM, GUESS WE'LL KIND OF TALK THROUGH THIS AND, AND CALL FOR, FOR ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMAN MCC CADRY TO ADOPT ITEM 1 0 1.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UH, BEFORE I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A PROPOSAL, A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 1, UH, AS I MENTIONED, AND AS, UH, A C M ZENIO OUTLINED, WE DO PLAN ON, ON UTILIZING A A D C, BUT I, UH, JUST WANNA FORMALIZE THAT IN THE LANGUAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES TO ADOPT, UH, MOVES TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 3 WITH WHAT IS LABELED COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOTION TWO ITEM 1 0 1 VERSION THREE.
AND AS HE'S POINTED OUT, IT ADDS IN TWO SEPARATE SECTIONS, THE WORDS AND
[05:10:01]
A E D C.IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.
THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ON ITEM 1 0 1 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 1 0 1 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
DO, DO YOU MIND IF I DO A, A QUICK LITTLE SPEECH? PLEASE TALK.
WELL, I, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY HARD PROCESS, A LONG AND, AND HARD PROCESS, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE ANNOUNCED THIS RESOLUTION WITH A PRAGMATIC VISION GROUNDED AND COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
UH, OUR DIRECTION, UH, WAS BASED ON LONGSTANDING GOALS FOR INCLUSIVITY IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF DOWNTOWN.
AND AS A RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN, UH, I CAN TELL YOU DOWNTOWN IS NOT THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WE WANT IT TO BE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND AND, AND I SEE EVERY DAY THAT YOU NEED A LEVEL OF PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN.
UH, AND, AND THAT'S NOT HOW I, I I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
I I WANT A DOWNTOWN WHERE OUR SERVICE WORKERS, OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, UH, OUR STAFFERS IN THIS BUILDING, UH, YOU KNOW, CAN, CAN LIVE, UH, AND WORK, UH, IN DOWNTOWN.
AND, AND, AND REGARDLESS OF, OF EVEN BEING A MILE AWAY, UH, FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND HAVING TO TAKE A BUS HERE, TO ME, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
UH, AND I THINK OUR CITY, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS A, HAS A HISTORY OF SEGREGATION AND PUSHING CERTAIN TYPES OF, OF PEOPLE OUT, UH, AND NOT BEING AT TIMES A WELCOMING CITY.
UH, AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, THAT PATH.
I BELIEVE IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I, I, I'M COMMITTED TO THAT VISION.
OUR VERSION TWO OF THE ITEM ADDED FURTHER CLARIFICATION BASED ON OUR DISCUSSIONS AT TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION AND ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.
THE AIM WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE EXPLORE OPTIONS TO INCLUDE BOTH ONSITE AND SOME OFFSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN THE LATEST VERSION, WHICH WE JUST PASSED IN VERSION THREE, UH, INCLUDED FURTHER CLARITY TO STOP ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO GET OUTTA THIS EXPLORATION.
UH, IT INCORPORATES A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT COUNCILOR RYAN ALTER I WAS LOOKING FOR IN AN ANALYSIS TO TRY TO REACH MORE COMMON GOOD.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NONE OF THE VERSIONS OF MY RESOLUTION HAD CLOSED THE DOOR ON A FEE IN LIEU OPTION, RATHER THAN REQUIRING ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE, UH, WHOSE BOUNDARIES USED TO INCLUDE THIS SECTION OF DOWNTOWN.
AND I AND I THANK THEIR OFFICE SO MUCH, UM, WORKING WITH, UH, WITH JOHN AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, OUR STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE A CLEAR AND ACHIEVABLE YIELD ANALYSIS OF ONSITE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE TO MAXIMIZE ONSITE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHILE BALANCING THE OTHER INTERESTS OF THIS COUNCIL, BOTH ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND HOUSING OVERALL, ARE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS REDEVELOPMENT.
ONCE STAFF RETURNS WITH THIS INFORMATION, WE CAN FURTHER REFINE AND DISCUSS FEASIBILITY OF OTHER ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS SUCH AS CHILDCARE AND OTHER GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL USES.
THEN I HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A REASONABLE R F THREE PROCESS TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE IN A TIME WHEN THE MARKET IS BETTER.
AS RECOMMENDED BY CITY STAFF, WE STAND BEHIND THE EXTENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE STAND BEHIND OUR AREA STAKEHOLDERS IN ACHIEVING THIS VISION, AND I'M CONFIDENT WE'VE CHARTED A CLEAR PATH FORWARD ALONGSIDE STAFF.
UH, SO I JUST WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE ON THE DAIS, UH, ALL OUR CO-SPONSORS.
VERY MUCH WANT TO THANK, UH, STAFF AND, AND THE D NINE OFFICE AND WANT TO THANK EVERYTHING THAT, THAT D ONE DID WHEN, WHEN THIS PART USED TO BE, UH, A PART OF THEIR DISTRICT.
UM, THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 99 AND MEMBERS, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE CITY COUNCIL, WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM, UH, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO WEIGH IN ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.
UM, PLEASE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
SO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1, I JUST HAVE A FEW TALKING POINTS.
UM, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THIS DAY FOR FOUR YEARS NOW, AND DURING THAT TIME, ACTUALLY, I GUESS OVER FOUR YEARS AT THAT TIME, I HAVE HEARD MANY PROMISES MADE, MANY GOALS SET, AND FRANKLY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT OUR CITY HAS BECOME LESS DIVERSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S POINT AND MORE EXCLUSIVE.
ONE OF THOSE PROMISES I'VE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IS ALL TYPES OF HOUSING AND ALL PARTS OF TOWN FOR ALL PEOPLE.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THIS PARCEL OF LAND MAY BE ONE OF OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
I THINK THIS PARCEL OF LAND MAY ALLOW MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO DON'T HAVE A SIX FIGURE SALARY TO
[05:15:01]
LIVE IN DOWNTOWN.I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT, UM, WELL, I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE, I JUST THINK I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FURTHER ANALYSIS.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT OURSELVES.
I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT ALL THE SPONSORS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CORICK, PLEASE, LET'S GIVE OUR STAFF CLEAR, CLEAR DIRECTION AND LET'S NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THIS IN THE PAST, AND I'M NO MA NO BRAINIAC, BUT SOMETHING TOLD ME IN MY HEAD THOSE NUMBERS WERE NOT GONNA PENCIL.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING.
SO I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.
I WOULD LOVE, LOVE, LOVE FOR US TO ALL MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPPING AND STITCHING.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA REALLY BRING MORE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
AND I, I JUST, I WANT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR STEPPING ON YOU, UH, AND MOVING TOO QUICK.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SAY ANYTHING ON 1 0 1? OKAY, THANK YOU.
[Executive Session]
THE CITY WILL, COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION.UH, WE WILL, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 99, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REVISE AND IMPLEMENT CERTAIN POLICIES RELATED TO TRAINING INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTING BY THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, EXCUSE ME, PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND CREATION OF A PUBLIC WORK GROUP.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION FROM THE COUNCIL TO GOING INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM ANNOUNCED WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE LONG.
UH, WE'LL BE BACK OUT HERE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, AND WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 99 AND THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THAT TIME.
WE ARE IN THE EXECUTIVE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT IS 4:11 PM IT'S 4:50 PM AND I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.
WE'RE GOING TO NOW TAKE UP, UH, MEMBERS.
WE HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC, WE HAVE BEEN IN A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
UH, WE ENGAGED IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION RELATED TO ONE AGENDA ITEM.
IT WAS A LEGAL CONSULTATION RELATED TO, UH, ITEM 99.
AND WE ARE NOW IN OPEN SESSION AT 4:51 PM UH, MEMBERS, THE CHAIR CALLS UP ITEM NUMBER
[99. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to revise and implement certain policies related to training, investigations, and reporting by the Office of Police Oversight, provide updates to the Public Safety Committee, and creation of a public workgroup.]
99.AND LET ME JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, AS WE BEGIN, UH, TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 99, AND I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO, UH, LAY IT OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA HEAR AND DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER 99.
UM, MY ANTICIPATION, AND I DON'T WANNA PREJUDGE ANYTHING, BUT MY ANTICIPATION IS THAT, UH, COUNCILS HERE ARE PREPARED TO, UH, VOTE ON AND PASS ITEM NUMBER 99.
UH, ITEM 99 IS BASED UPON, UH, THE UNDERSTAND THE, THE STATUS OF, UH, STATE LAW AND A LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF THAT LAW.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT BETWEEN THE TIME WE HAD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION EARLIER TODAY ON ITEM 99, AND BEFORE WE GOT TO ITEM 99 99, WE HAVE A NEW OPINION THAT CAME OUT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BASED UPON A PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST.
UM, AND IT WAS, UH, RES THE, THE, IT WAS RECEIVED JUST TODAY.
AND LIKE I SAY, UH, AT A TIME WHEN BEFORE WE COULD GET TO 90 ITEM 99 AND AFTER THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, THERE'S SOME NEED FOR CLARITY.
THERE'S, UH, TO BE OBTAINED, AND WE'RE GOING TO OBTAIN THAT CLARITY.
AND SOON, UM, IF 99 PASSES TODAY, UH, I ANTICIPATE AND BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE BACK.
WE'LL BRING BACK ANOTHER RESOLUTION VERY SOON ONCE WE HAVE CLARITY ON THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO DO MORE THAN IS ANTICIP THAN WAS ANTICIPATED WHEN WE STARTED TODAY IN THE NINE, THE ITEM 99 THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE IN THE POSITION WE HOPE TO BE AND WANT TO BE AND DESIRE TO BE, WHICH IS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROP A AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE.
SO, WHILE 99, AS IT'S WRITTEN MAY PASS TODAY, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT ONCE THERE'S CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING, UM, AND, UH, WELL CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING, WE WOULD BE BACK, UH,
[05:20:01]
WITH AN ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT GOES FURTHER THAN, THAN, THAN WHAT THIS IS.I, I, UH, IT'S, IT'S YOUR ITEM, BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER, AND I'LL SEE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY AT THIS POINT.
UM, I'M GONNA, I JUST WANNA LAY OUT SOME STUFF BEFORE I, I MOVE FOR ADOPTION, BUT WHAT A, WHAT A DATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO LET THE VOTERS WEIGH IN ON THE FUTURE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
UH, ON MAY 6TH OF THIS YEAR, THOSE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED PROP A OVER AN ALTERNATIVE MEASURE, PROP B.
UH, SINCE THAT TIME, OUR, OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS EXPIRED AND COUNCIL PASSED IN SPRING OF 2023 IN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SET PAY AND BENEFITS, UH, FOR A P D TO EXTEND FOR, FOR ONE YEAR.
UH, IN THE PAST, MANY PROVISIONS OF OVERSIGHT HAVE BEEN DEFINED THROUGH POLICE CONTRACTS, BUT BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT, UH, WE MUST ABIDE BY STATE LAW IN ENACTING PROVISIONS OF PROP A.
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF PROP A, THE CITY HAS BEEN PARSING THROUGH HOW TO ENACT PROVISIONS OF PROP A LEGALLY WITHOUT ANY CONTRACT.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, UH, SEEKING CLARIFICATION ON THIS PROCESS AND THE REASONS WHY FULL IMPLE AND, AND THE REASONS WHY FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PROP A, UM, HAS NOT YET OCCURRED.
THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY SERVE AS A PURPOSE OF DETAILING AND IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS OF PROP A THAT CAN BE LEGALLY DONE.
AND I WANNA STRESS THE WORD LEGALLY DONE WITHOUT A MEETING CONFERRING AGREEMENT, SPECIFICALLY VERSION TWO, WHICH WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON TODAY.
UM, AND THAT, THAT WAS POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY, DIRECTS THE FOLLOWING, UH, O P O TO, UH, OBTAIN CGIS CERTIFICATION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR DIRECT AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE, AND WILL EXPEDITE PRE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY O P O O P O TO MAINTAIN AND MANAGE THEIR OWN RECORDS.
CONDUCT PRELIMINARY, PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS, REGARDLESS IF A SWORN AFFIDAVIT IS COMPLETED.
POST DATA CONCERNING ALL COMPLAINTS TO OPOS WEBSITE O P O TO SERVE AS A LIAISON TO COM COMPLIANT COMPLAINANTS, UH, AND THEN CREATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS FOR O P O TO REPORT ON COMPLAINANT DATA AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE ABOUT THE COMPLAINT PROCESS.
UH, WE DISPLAY, WE PLACED THIS DECISION IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS IN MAY, AND THEY OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED PROP A.
IT IS NOW OUR OBLIGATION AS THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO PUT THE, THEIR WILL INTO ACTION.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK THE CO-SPONSORS ON THIS, COUNCILOR RIVERA, RYAN ALTER, UH, AND, AND, AND COUNCIL FUENTES, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO HELPED US REACH THIS POINT.
AND I, I'M EXCITED TO BRING THAT ITEM FORWARD.
I VERY MUCH WANNA, UH, ALSO THANK, UH, STAFF, AND I WANNA THANK NEIL FROM LEGAL FOR, FOR ALL, ALL HIS WORK ON ALL THIS.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE FORWARD ADOPTION.
THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT, I, I'M SORRY, THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
WITH THAT, I'LL CALL ON THE CITY CLERK TO, UM, CALL OUR SPEAKERS.
FIRST SPEAKER IS BEVERLY LAZAR.
MY NAME IS BEVERLY LAZAR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I SUPPORT ITEM 9 99.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN CADRE FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND I WA WANT TO ALSO THANK RYAN ALTER, VANESSA FUENTES AND JOSE VELA.
PROP A, AS WE ALL KNOW NOW, WENT INTO EFFECT FOUR MONTHS AGO AND HAS YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY FUNCTIONS MORE LIKE FAILED PROP B, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS MUST BE ENFORCED.
IMMEDIATELY IN MAY, AUSTIN VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS TO DEFINE THE FUTURE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
PROP A WAS BACKED BY PRACTICALLY EVERY COMMUNITY GROUP IN AUSTIN.
IT PASSED, AND PROP B WAS DEFEATED.
WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS AND TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE EACH YEAR, AND TO EVERYONE THAT MAY BE HARMED IN THE FUTURE.
TO PASS ITEM 99 AND FOLLOW THROUGH TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUBJECT TO STRONG OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, THE O P O THANKS TO INTERIM CITY MANAGER IN VIOLATION OF THE VOTER'S APPROVED LAW IS COMPLETELY IMPOTENT AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN VOTED FOR.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[05:25:02]
KATHY MITCHELL.I WANNA START BY SAYING THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER ZO AND HIS CHIEF SARAH BARGE.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT HAS FINALLY AFFIRMED TO THEM WHAT PEOPLE WITH COMPLAINTS RELATED TO OFFICER CONDUCT HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG THAT THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT IS NOT CONDUCTING ANY INVESTIGATIONS INDEPENDENT OF A P D.
THE O P O HAS NO INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR INDEPENDENT FACT FINDINGS.
INSTEAD, EVERYTHING GOES TO A P D AND O P O ONLY HAS ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS.
IF INTERNAL AFFAIRS DECIDES TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION WITHOUT INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO INFORMATION, THE O P O IS NOT MAKING ANY INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE VERACITY OF A RESIDENT STORY OR THE POSSIBILITY OF A POLICY VIOLATION.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ROLES UNDER THE VOTER APPROVED ORDINANCE AND ONE THAT HELPED FAMILIES AND A P D BY CREDIBLY ELIMINATING UNVERIFIABLE COMPLAINTS UPFRONT.
MEANWHILE, THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT GAP UP IN THE PAST BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THE O P O BELIEVED SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AND THE NUMBER IA BELIEVED SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
THAT BEING FAR FEWER FIGHTING FOR FAMILIES TO GET APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATION IS THE JOB OF THE O P O INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION IS THE HEART OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT AND THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF ITEM 99.
LET US NOT FORGET THAT POLICE ACTION HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
YOU ALL, JUST THIS WEEK RECEIVES AN IMPASSIONED LETTER FROM VIRGINIA RAYMOND RELATED TO THE QUESTIONABLE ARREST OF A PERSON PROBABLY EXPERIENCING A HEAT RELATED HEALTH CRISIS WHO SUBSEQUENTLY DIED IN JAIL.
I HAD HOPED SHE COULD TESTIFY TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THIS CASE, BUT SHE COULDN'T BE HERE IN PERSON THIS AFTERNOON.
I VERY MUCH HOPE THIS CASE GETS A FULL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE O P O AND WITHOUT A YES VOTE TODAY.
OF THE 1100 RESIDENT CONTACTS SINCE APRIL 72 WERE COMPLIMENTS PRESUMABLY THEN 1028.
WERE NOT COMPLIMENTS O P O FOR REASONS THAT HAVE YET TO BE CLARIFIED.
THANK MS. MITCHELL CATEGORIZED TO, I'M SORRY.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, AS WELL AS MAYOR SAY, WE ARE AT A PREES.
WILL WE ACTIVELY RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS OR LOOK THE OTHER WAY BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT.
IN MAY OF 2023, VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY ASKED FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY SO MUCH.
IN FACT, THAT PROP A PASSED WITH A VOTE MARGIN OF 38,822 VOTES.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JESUS GPA WAS APPOINTED TO HIS ROLE BY A MAYOR WHO WAS ELECTED BY THE DECIDEDLY MUCH SMALLER VOTE MARGIN OF 700 PEOPLE IN DECEMBER, 2022 WE'RE FOUR MONTHS IN AND NOWHERE NEAR IMPLEMENTED PROPERTY.
IT'S TIME OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER STARTS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ANSWERS TO WHY OUR POLICE FORCE HAS REACHED THIS POINT.
THAT MEANS LOOKING INTO THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIZED CONDUCT, AT MINIMUM, A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION FOR ALL COMPLAINTS ACTING AS LIAISON TO PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN TO HELP 'EM THROUGH THE PROCESS, MANAGING THEIR OWN RECORDS AND REPORTING PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND BEING GRANTED THE DIRECT AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RESPECT THE VOTES OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OVERWHELMINGLY SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO VOTE YES FOR ITEM 99.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ERICA HOWARD.
HI, MY NAME IS ERICA HOWARD CORMIER.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE, A GRADUATE OF MARTIN JUNIOR HIGH AND OF AUSTIN HIGH, JUST LIKE MY FATHER, I'M A STUDENT AT THE L B J SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
I'M A HOMEOWNER AND A PROUD CONS CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I USED TO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS CALLED INGREDIENTS GROCERS ON MAINOR ROAD.
WE WERE OPEN FOR SIX YEARS, AND I WAS A FUNDING, UH, FOUNDING, UH, BOARD MEMBER FOR THE MAINOR ROAD MERCHANT ASSOCIATION.
I'M A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, AGES 16, 11, AND TWO YEARS OLD.
I AM TESTIFYING TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR ITEM 99.
THE OCCURRENCES LEADING UP TO THE VOTE ON PROPOSITIONS A AND B ARE QUITE FRANKLY EMBARRASSING.
THE DECEPTIVE CONDUCT ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION LEADING UP TO THIS VOTE WAS SHAMEFUL AND HARMFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE HAD FALSE PETITIONS, SCRAMBLES TO HAVE DECEPTIVELY COLLECTED, SIGNATURES REMOVED, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PEOPLE, MY COMMUNITY HAS MADE THEIR VOICE CLEAR.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP SHOWING UP IN THIS WAY, BUT WE WILL.
AS A WHITE WOMAN RAISING CHILDREN IN EAST AUSTIN, I HAVE REPEATEDLY SEEN THE POLICE TREAT MY NEIGHBORS OF COLOR AND THEIR CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY THAN MY OWN FAMILY.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THIS
[05:30:01]
UNETHICAL, IMMORAL, AND POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL RACIAL PROFILING, WHICH WE HEAR ABOUT ON THE MEDIA, AND WHICH OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN WAYS WHOSE HARMS CAN NEVER BE CALCULATED, BE GIVEN TACIT APPROVAL BY THIS ELECTED BODY AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.THE DECEPTIVE CONDUCT THAT HAS OCCURRED BY AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION IS ONLY FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE NEED FOR EXTERNAL POLICE OVERSIGHT.
THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO TRUST THE VOTERS.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO BE RESPONSIVE.
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS CLEAR.
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU, AND YOU HAVE A MANDATE.
UM, AS I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE, THE ISSUE MOST DEEPLY AFFECTS THE DAILY LIVES OF THOSE WHO, AT LEAST, WHO WERE LEAST LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO DE TO DEDICATE AN ENTIRE DAY TO WAIT TO SPEAK AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS YOU.
AND IT SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AT LEAST SOME POLICY TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW, DESPITE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.
PASSING PROP A WAS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE MY SON, RAJAN AND MY WHOLE FAMILY EXPERIENCED THE WORST FROM AUSTIN POLICE.
RAJAN WAS A BUSINESSMAN IN AUSTIN AND ENTREPRENEUR A PHILANTHROPIST.
POLICE SHOT MY SON RATHER THAN SPEAK WITH HIM.
WHEN OTHER OFFICERS TRIED TO GET THE OTHERS TO UNHANDCUFF HIM AND RENDER AID, THAT OFFICER WAS IGNORED AND MY SON FLED OUT LIES AND MISINTERPRETATION IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH, AMPLIFIED LATER, THE POLICE WHO SPOKE WITH US WERE NEVER FOCUSED ON JUSTICE FOR OUR SON.
JUST A TRANSPARENT EFFORT TO EXONERATE THE OFFICERS.
SO WE DECIDED PROPPE WAS IMPORTANT AND FOUGHT FOR IT.
MY HUSBAND, MY SON AND I VISITED THE LEGISLATORS.
NOT ONCE, BUT DOZENS OF TIMES.
WE WENT TO LEADERSHIP OFFICERS AT THE CAPITOL TOO.
AND DURING THE ELECTION, WE VISITED WITH OUR NEIGHBOR TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
POLICE CANNOT DO THEIR JOB WITHOUT THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE.
AND RIGHT NOW, IT MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT INDEED, DESPITE ALL THE WORK, THE CLEAR MANDATE BY THE VOTERS AND THE FAILURE OF BAD LEGISLATION TO PREEMPT PROP A, THE CITY IS YET TO IMPLEMENT PROP A, MAYBE PROP A WOULD HAVE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON.
MAYBE NOT, BUT PROP PROPPE WILL ENSURE THAT OTHER FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND MAYBE WOULD'VE PRODUCED BETTER POLICY ABOUT THE DUTY TO RENDER AID.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING, YOUR TESTIFYING THOUGH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS YASMINE SMITH.
YASMINE SMITH, VICE PRESIDENT OF JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY OF THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
UM, I THINK, UM, COMING AFTER A WOMAN WHO LOST HER SON, UM, TO THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR POLICING, UH, SPEAKS VOLUME AND, AND THAT SHE ONLY HAD SO LITTLE TO SPEAK, UM, COMPOUNDS THE NECESSITY OF ITEM 99.
I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THOUGH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE DIOCESE.
UM, IT IS A MANDATE, UM, AND IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SIMPLY DO YOUR JOB AND, AND FOLLOW THAT MANDATE, UH, PROPOSITION A AS WAS SAID BY MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND WILL BE SAID BY MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, WHO WE, AS THE ALL SENIOR URBAN LEAGUE STAND WITH IN PARTNERSHIP TODAY, WAS PASSED.
OVERWHELMINGLY, WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS, TO THE S THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UM, UH, TO UPHOLD THAT MANDATE.
UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOUGH, UH, REMARKED, UM, THIS IS ABOUT THE LEGAL PARTS OF THAT, UH, UH, OF THAT, UH, MANDATE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK US NOT TO USE, UM, ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALITY, UM, AS A, UH, TROJAN FORCE TO MITIGATE DEMOCRACY.
IT IS TIME TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO
[05:35:01]
DO.IT HAS BEEN, IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO DO AS THE VOTERS HAVE INSTRUCTED.
SIMPLY PUT, IT IS TIME TO DO YOUR JOB.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME AND MAYBE WE CAN GIVE IT TO THE MOTHER WHO LITERALLY LOST HER CHILD.
OKAY, I WILL NOW MOVE TO, UM, IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
REBECCA WEBER ON DECK IS ANGELINA ALANIS.
DANIELLA SILVA FOLLOWING IS ALICIA CASTILLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER ARI BY BRINGING FORTH THIS ITEM.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S PAST TIME THAT CITY, UM, IMPLEMENTS OVER THE, WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, VOICED THROUGH, UM, VOTING ON PROP A IN ORDER FOR CITY OF AUSTIN TO COMPLY WITH THE REVISED CHAPTER TWO 15 OF THE CITY CODE THAT VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED ON MAY 6TH, 2023, AND THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL AS LAID OUT AN ORDINANCE 2 0 2 3 0 2 2 3 0 6 1 PASSED IN FEBRUARY, 2023.
THE OPERATIONS OF O P O MUST BE UPDATED.
WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS, TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE EACH YEAR, AND TO EVERYONE THAT MAY BE HARMED IN THE FUTURE.
TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUBJECT TO STRONG OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
THE CHANGES TO O P O OUTLINED IN THIS RESOLUTION INCLUDE ONLY THOSE THAT CAN BE MADE UNDER EXISTING STATE LAW WITHOUT A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT WITH THE A P A.
WHILE NOT ALL OF PROP A CAN BE IMPLEMENTED OUTSIDE OF A CONTRACT WITH POLICE ASSOCIATION.
THE UPDATES DESCRIBED IN THIS RESOLUTION ARE NOT ONLY LEGAL, BUT IT'S ILLEGAL NOT TO PUT THEM IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY.
MANY OF THE TASKS ASSIGNED TO O P O BY THIS RESOLUTION HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DONE WITHOUT ANY SPECIAL TRAINING OR PERSONNEL.
AND PASSING THIS RESOLUTION IS ESSENTIAL TO SHOWING COUNSEL SUPPORT FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND FRANKLY, I'M FRUSTRATED THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO BE HERE.
I WOULD EXPECT THE STATE LEDGE NOT TO REPRESENT ME OR MAKE DECISIONS IN MY BEST INTEREST.
THAT'S KIND OF THE STATUS QUO AT THIS POINT.
BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT AT LEAST AUSTIN WOULD HAVE MY BEST INTEREST IN MIND THAT AUSTIN WOULD BE THE SAFE PLACE WHERE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT LISTENS TO ITS PEOPLE.
BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE LEDGE HAS INFILTRATED CITY HALL.
AND HERE WE ARE AS AVERAGE RESIDENTS URGING COUNSEL TO DO THEIR JOB AND FOLLOW THE LAW.
I URGE YOU TO PASS ITEM 99 TODAY AS A FIRST STEP IN FULL A P O A IMPLEMENTATION.
NEXT IS ALICIA CASTILLO, JIAO CONLEY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ALMOST GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS YOU CAN SEE.
AND AS WE CAN ALL SEE A GREAT NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE DUE TO THE MANY, MANY DELAY TACTICS AND STALL TACTICS THAT HAVE NOT ONLY MADE IT SO THAT SO MANY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SIGNED UP TO VOICE THEIR, THEIR, TO BRING THEIR VOICES HERE IN A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE DUE TO THE MANY GAMES AND CHI CANARIES THAT WERE PLAYED TODAY WITH THE FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND I WILL SAY ONE THING, THOUGH, ONE THING IS CLEAR AT THIS POINT, THE VERY FACT THAT WE HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION PROVES TO US THAT A CITY MANAGER WHO HAS RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED HIS TREMENDOUS DISREGARD FOR THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THIS COUNCIL SHOWS AN EVEN GREATER DISREGARD FOR THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY IF THIS CITY MANAGER TOOK SERIOUSLY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN IN MAY, WHEN OVER 80% OF THIS COMMUNITY PASSED PROP A.
WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FULLY STAFF THE DEPARTMENT, TO REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY ON HOW PROP A IS BEING IMPLEMENTED TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT ALL THE POWER AND AUTHORITY IT NEEDS.
AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, BUT WE WILL COME BACK AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS MANY TIMES AS IS NECESSARY UNTIL THE DAY WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER THAT ACTUALLY RESPECTS THE VOICE OF AUSTIN'S VOTERS AND THAT RESPECTS DEMOCRACY IN AUSTIN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY, AND I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR RESPECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND, AND LAYS FORWARD A PROCESS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, GOING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MULTIPLE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS SUCH THAT MANY OF THE ALMOST A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY WERE NOT ABLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS DUE TO GAMES THAT WERE
[05:40:01]
PLAYED HERE TODAY.SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ITEM PASS, AND I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
BUT BOY, HAVE WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN SHOWING OUR RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND IN, IN LIVING UP TO THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE CLAIMED TO MAKE AND TO UPHOLD IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ON DECK IS EVELYN BUTLER AND THOMAS DOWNING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, THE CITY MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS, THE EFFORTS TO SERVE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UH, I'M HERE AS A FELLOW WITH A J C AUSTIN JUSTICE COLLEGE AS A PART OF P F P PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM, UH, AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM BY THE US DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A GLOBAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM, UH, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, ENHANCED LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AS A LEADER AND, UH, A SOCIAL WORKER IN ALGERIA WITH ASSOCIA ASSOCIATION FUTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT A J C AND BRAVE COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR FIGHT FOR, UH, POLICE OVERSIGHT TO HAVE REAL ACCESS TO DATA AND THE POWER TO INVESTIGATE POLICE CONDUCT TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFE.
FIRST ONE, WHO DOES THE POLICING OF THE POLICE? NUMBER TWO, WHO WHAT TOOLS DO PEOPLE HAVE TO HOLD THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS EVELYN BUTLER ON DECK, UM, THOMAS DOWNING, FRAN TATTOO, IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M TOM DOWNING, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE CO-CHAIR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE OF UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
DEMOCRACIES ARE LIKE MOUNTAINS ARE NOT PERMANENT UNSEEN FORCES AND CURRENTS CAN QUIETLY ERODE THEM TILL NO ONE LIVING REMEMBERS THAT THEY WERE THERE.
RIGHT NOW, TWO CURRENTS THREATENING DEMOCRACY SEEM TO BE SEEPING QUIETLY INTO OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE FIRST ONE IGNORES THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, THE SECOND LEAVES POLICE UNACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
LAST MAY, THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR PROPOSITION A TO STRENGTHEN POLICE OVERSIGHT.
NOT ONLY HAS PROPOSITION A NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT ACTIONS BY THE CITY HAVE CAUSED THERE TO BE LESS OVERSIGHT THAN THERE WERE BEFORE.
IT APPEARS THE O P O HAS BEEN MOSTLY REDUCED TO FOLLOWING POLICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS AROUND HOPING TO BE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THOSE BEING INVESTIGATED.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED POLICE DEPARTMENT RAISES RECRUITMENT AND RETIREMENT INCENTIVES AND MOST OF WHAT THE POLICE UNION REQUESTED IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT THE CITY NEVER SIGNED COUNCIL DID THIS IN THE NAME OF STABILIZING THE DEPARTMENT UNTIL A NEW POLICE CONTRACT COULD BE NEGOTIATED.
I SAT IN ON THE LAST POLICE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND I WONDER WHY SHOULD THE POLICE UNION NEGOTIATE NOW WHEN THEY ALREADY HAVE MOST OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR.
WITHOUT OVERSIGHT, THE VOTERS INSISTED ON EQUITY ACTION.
LAWYERS TELL US THAT EVEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT, ENOUGH OF PROPOSITION A CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO RETURN THE OFFICE OF POLICE, OVERSIZED TO AN EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE BODY CAPABLE OF REPORTING, RECOMMENDING APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO THE CITY CONCERNING ALLEGED POLICE MISCONDUCT.
BUT REMEMBER, POLICING WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY LEADS TO OPPRESSION AND DEMOCRACY.
ALICIA TORRES EDMUND DAVIS ON DECK IS DAVID JOHNSON AND MAGGIE LUNA.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
ALL GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
I'M GONNA TAKE THE EXECUTIVE ACTION HERE AND, UH, ASSUME THAT I'M NEXT
UH, MY NAME FOR THE RECORD, MR. MAYOR IS EDMUND SKIP DAVIS.
I'VE BEEN, UH, LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 25 GOOD YEARS AND I'VE, UH, ENJOYED THE SUCCESSES OF UH, BEING A RESIDENT IN AUSTIN AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE COURTS TO SEEK REDRESS, UH, FOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED, UH, BY UM, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, UH, BRUTAL
[05:45:01]
PRACTICES OVER THE YEARS.UM, ASHTON CUMBERBATCH WAS HERE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND HE WOULD'VE HAD SOMETHING INTERESTING TO SAY TO THIS AUGUST GROUP.
UM, SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, I WAS ALSO HERE AS THE, UH, RUNNER UP FOR THE FIRST, UH, CITY MANAGERS.
I'M SORRY FOR THE FIRST, UH, O P M THAT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER MR. GARZA.
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN BY THE WAY.
AND I WILL NOT CHASTISE THIS, THIS AUGUST GROUP FOR THE EFFORTS THAT YOU WENT THROUGH TODAY AND MACHINATIONS TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY TO VOTE.
YES, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD THAT LEVEL OF DELIBERATION AMONGST YOU.
AND I WILL REMIND YOU THOUGH WE ARE WATCHING, BUT I ALSO AM COGNIZANT, MR. MAYOR, THAT THE 700 VOTES THAT DID GET YOU OVER THE TOP, THEY WERE QUALITY VOTES.
UM, I REPRESENTED GENE VILLA SHOT IN HIS OWN HOUSE BY THE POLICE.
I REPRESENTED GWEN DANIELS SHOT ON SIXTH STREET AS SHE WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE A MOB THAT ATTACKED HER.
I REPRESENTED TYLER HARRELL, A BOTCHED, UM, A A BOTCHED A SWAT RAID.
LANDON NOBLES WAS THE CASE THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.
THAT WAS A $67 MILLION VERDICT.
THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THOSE AWAITING TO BE HEARD BY JURIES THAT SHOULD STRIKE FEAR IN YOU.
THE CITY IS NO LONGER GOING TO STAND IDLY BY.
THE THING ABOUT ALL THESE CASES THAT I'VE JUST RECENTLY MENTIONED IS THAT WE HAD THE OFFICE OF POLICE MANAGE POLICE.
AH, CAN I HAVE A APPRECIATE IT? OKAY, VERY GOOD.
I WILL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THEN.
THERE'S A LEGAL SYSTEM AND THERE'S AN A, AN INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
LET'S MAKE SURE THE INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS SERVES OUR CLIENTS BETTER THAN THE LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.
MAGGIE LUNA, ELIZABETH GONZALEZ ON DECK IS CERITA FINI WITH LUIS OLUGO.
I MEAN, UM, I'M OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I AM EMBARRASSED OF Y'ALL UP THERE BECAUSE Y'ALL SHOULD BE FOR THE PEOPLE.
REMEMBER WHO PUT YOU UP THERE.
REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY 'CAUSE YOU WERE ONCE LIKE US.
ONCE YOU GET UP THERE AND YOU START THINKING ABOUT MONEY AND ALL THAT, Y'ALL FORGET ABOUT US, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY.
THERE MIGHT NOT BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BACKING US UP ON THIS PROP A NOW LIKE THIS BULL CRAP THAT Y'ALL JUST THINKING ABOUT.
IT NEEDS TO PASS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T PASS, THIS IS WHAT Y'ALL DOING TO THE COMMUNITY.
Y'ALL SPITTING ON US LIKE WE, OUR VOICES DON'T COUNT.
I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT PROBABLY COULD BE AS RAW AS ANYTHING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
'CAUSE I AIN'T GONNA SUGARCOAT NOTHING.
I'M OUT THERE WITH VOICES OF WHAT I HEAR, WHAT PEOPLE CAN'T SPEAK.
AND WHAT Y'ALL DID TODAY, I'M VERY, VERY SURPRISED AT Y'ALL SERIOUSLY TRYING TO DO THIS ON PURPOSE.
BUT THERE'S STILL SOME OF US HERE.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT ALREADY MAKES ME THINK THAT Y'ALL ALREADY GONNA SAY NO, WHERE Y'ALL OFFICERS THAT ARE ALWAYS HERE AT EVERY MEETING, THEY'RE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY, WE GOT THIS REALLY? SO LIKE, THINK AGAIN.
THE NEXT TIME THAT Y'ALL VOTE, Y'ALL SAY NO.
WHY ARE Y'ALL ASKING FOR OUR VOTES FOR? REMEMBER WE PUT Y'ALL UP THERE, THERE Y'ALL GONNA GET, THERE'LL BE A TIME WHERE IT'S GONNA COME AGAIN AND WE'LL SEE IF YOU'LL GET BACK UP THERE AGAIN.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU LIE TO THE PEOPLE, LIE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
WE'RE NOT ALL PERFECT, BUT AT LEAST STICK TO YOUR WORD AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR ME, FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND WHAT Y'ALL DID WAS EMBARRASSING THAT I'M JUST SO BROKEN BY THIS BECAUSE TO ME, LIKE I SAID, Y'ALL ALREADY SPIT ON ME 'CAUSE I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE OFFICERS HERE.
'CAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS SOMEBODY HERE SAYING SOMETHING, BUT I GUESS NOT BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW THEY ONE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MAKE US? AND Y'ALL WONDER WHY WE DON'T, WE DON'T DEPEND ON THE POLICE.
'CAUSE THEY KEPT, THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK TO US THAT.
SO HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO COMMUNICATE? TELL ME.
'CAUSE Y'ALL DON'T LIVE IN THE HOOD.
Y'ALL GOT A SILVER SPOON ON YOUR MOUTH.
NOT EVERYBODY'S LUCKY LIKE Y'ALL.
IF Y'ALL SAY NO, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE COMMUNITY SPITTING ON US THAT OUR WORDS DON'T MEAN NOTHING AND THEY DO MEAN SOMETHING.
HANNAH ALEXANDER, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU APPROACH THE DAAS THANK CLERK.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, LUIS LUGO.
[05:50:01]
I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL.I WANTED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK COUNCILOR QUADRI.
COUNCILOR RYAN AL ALTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ENT, UH, FUENTES IS NOT HERE.
AND UH, COUNCILMAN VELA FOR ACTUALLY TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY FUNNY.
I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM MY PARTNER SAYING, UM, THAT THE MAYOR MAY OWE ME, UH, MAYO HER, UH, LUNCH AFTER I WAS NOT THERE TO BE ABLE TO COOK IT FOR HER.
SO I MAY, UH, TEXT YOU HER DIETARY PREFERENCES AFTER, AFTER THIS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA HAVE A WHOLE THING ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GROW UP A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP VERY POOR THERE.
AND THE POLICE THERE BASICALLY GET TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
KILL YOU, KIDNAP YOU, BRIBE YOU SHAKE YOU DOWN.
AND GOD KNOWS, 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
'CAUSE THEY'RE ONLY ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME FAR OFF BUREAUCRAT, LOYAL PARTY MAN WHO CAN DO WHATEVER HE POLICES WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES.
UM, AND I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING NICE.
IT'S GOOD THAT WE LIVE IN AMERICA AND NOT A SOCIALISTIC LEADERSHIP WHERE PEOPLE HAVE FREEDOMS, RIGHTS WHERE DEMOCRACY REALLY MATTERS.
WHERE 80% OF THE PEOPLE VOTING FOR SOMETHING MEANS THAT IT HAPPENS.
UM, AND IT'S JUST KIND OF UNBELIEVABLY INFURIATING THAT WE BRING THE KIND OF INSANE PETTY SHENANIGANS, ANTI-DEMOCRATIC SHENANIGANS THAT OUGHT TO BELONG IN SOME FAR DICTATORSHIP OR MAYBE IN THE STATE LEDGE INTO THE, THE CITY HALL, YOU KNOW, THE BRIGHT BLUE GEM OF TEXAS, RIGHT? IT'S UNBELIEVABLE ON THE KIND OF THING THAT I WOULD HOPE WE'VE LEAVE TO OTHER PEOPLE, WORSE, PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE THE WAY I KNOW.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE CARES, OR AT LEAST SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUENCY, ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ACTUALLY SERVE THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, NOBODY TAKES THE HARD JOB OF PUBLIC SERVICE FOR MONEY.
DEPEND, YOU KNOW, THE PARTS OR WHATEVER SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, OR FOR GLORY.
'CAUSE YOU'RE DOING, WE NOT GET MUCH OF THAT, RIGHT? YOU SHOULD DO.
AND I KNOW EVERYONE HERE DOES IT FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY, MAYOR, I, I'M SURE YOU MEANT WELL, BUT WAS THE KIND OF LIKE UNBELIEVABLE DISRESPECTFUL, DISPERSIVE BEHAVIOR THAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN POWER IN VENEZUELA OR AT THE LEDGE.
SO I HOPE YOU DO BETTER 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU MEAN WELL.
I'VE DECIDED, UM, IT IS NOW EVENING.
HOPEFULLY MY FELLOW SPEAKERS WILL ALSO THINK IT'S EVENING.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
UM, BUT MY NAME IS HANNAH ALEXANDER.
I AM THE AUSTIN STAFF ATTORNEY WITH WORKERS' DEFENSE.
UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE NOVEMBER OF 2021, INSTEAD OF PROPERLY SERVING A SUBPOENA, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED THEY SHOULD EXECUTE A SEARCH WARRANT AT OUR NONPROFIT OFFICE TO OBTAIN VIDEO FOOTAGE, UM, OF AN ATTEMPTED ALLEGED ASSAULT THAT OCCURRED IN OUR PARKING LOT.
THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS WAS EGREGIOUS AT VARIOUS POINTS.
THEY DECIDED IT WAS NECESSARY TO PULL OUT THEIR GUNS AND DO A SEARCH SWEEP OF OUR NONPROFIT OFFICE.
UM, THEY ACCUSED MY COWORKERS OF DESTROYING EVIDENCE.
AND SO WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT THING TO FILE AND A COMPLAINT WITH THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
OUR EXPERIENCE THERE WAS, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT WAS USELESS, IT WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN USELESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE FAITH THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD WORK, UM, AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT IN THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I'VE ACCEPTED THAT I'M GONNA DIE MAD THAT THIS HAPPENED AND THAT THERE ISN'T GONNA BE ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT I, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE WAY IT IS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, THIS IS REALLY JUST KIND OF A SIMPLE THING ABOUT DEMOCRACY.
YOU KNOW, Y'ALL, MAYBE NOT EVERYONE HERE 'CAUSE I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS CHANGED, BUT THEY, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE HAD PAST OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT AN OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS TO OVERSEE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, AT FIRST WE WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE DIDN'T WANNA PASS IT LAST FALL.
UM, AND SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST A BASIC DEMOCRACY THAT THE WILL OF VOTERS SHOULD BE REFLECTED.
AND ALSO, IF THERE IS HESITANCY TO NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THE PEOPLE WHO CARRY GUNS AND WE TRUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.
SO I HOPE YOU DO VOTE FOR THIS, UM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL WILL.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CLARIN WILLIAMS. ON DECK IS SUSAN SPATARO.
THEN BRIAN MCGIVEN, FOLLOWED BY VIRGINIA RAYMOND.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
SUSAN SPIRO AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND I, I WANNA SAY THE KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT I'M REPRESENTING TODAY.
OUR PEOPLE WHO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY FOLLOW THE LAW, DON'T USE DRUGS, PAY THEIR TAXES.
WHEN THEY RUN OUTTA MONEY, THEY TAKE A
[05:55:01]
SECOND JOB.THEY CALL 9 1 1 WHEN THEY'RE AFRAID AND, AND HOPE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY TAKES CARE OF THEM.
SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HEAR THAT VOICE.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN, IN FACT, THE PETITION THAT STARTED OUT AND THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE PETITION ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
BUT IT, IT CONTAINED SECTIONS THAT WERE ILLEGAL AS FAR AS 1 43.
THEN IT CAME TO COUNCIL TO PUT IT ON THE, THE BALLOT.
AND EVEN THOUGH YOUR OWN ATTORNEY SAID THERE ARE ILLEGAL PARTS OF THAT, IT WENT ON THE BALLOT ANYWAY WITH THOSE LEGAL PARTS.
THEN PEOPLE VOTED, AND NOW IT COMES TO YOU.
AND WITH ILLEGAL PARTS, I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TAKES OUR MONEY, YOU OWE IT TO US TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
CITIZENS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO SUE YOU.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT HAPPENS.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF POLICE SHOULD BE TREATING PEOPLE WELL, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THEY NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED.
I, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THIS TOWN SINCE 2020, WHEN WE DECIDED TO HAVE A VERY SMALL GROUP, NOT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE, WHICH WAS HAPPENED, RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY CRIME WENT UP.
YOU WANNA HEAR SOME REALLY HORRIBLE THINGS.
TRAVIS COUNTY LEAD ALL THE COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE IN FENTANYL RELATED DEATHS.
MORE THAN FIVE DEATHS FOR EVERY 100,000 PEOPLE.
EL PASO WAS THE NEXT, WITH JUST UNDER THREE.
THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THAT CAR THEFTS.
ANYWAY, I WILL STOP THERE, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE LAW.
NEXT SPEAKER, CHRIS HARRIS, FOLLOWED BY SARAH RODRIGUEZ AND MICIAH RAMOS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING, UH, EQUITY ACTION.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING, UH, THE CO-SPONSORS, UH, FOR, FOR THIS ITEM.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MARVELLA FOR YOUR LEGAL ACUMEN THAT YOU BRING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR, UH, YOUR REALLY CLOSE READ OF THE LAW.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR YOUR HEART, YOUR HUMANITY.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU'VE SUPPORTED POLICE OVERSIGHT, PARTICULARLY AS REPRESENTED BOB PROPPE FROM THE BEGINNING.
UH, AND THAT SCENE, OF COURSE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BA CADRE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM AND DEDICATION TO, TO SEEING THIS THROUGH.
UM, REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU, UH, IN SUPPORT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I I THINK, UM, YOU, WE, IT'S THE MAIN THING OF, OF COURSE, OF NOTE ABOUT THIS IS JUST UNFORTUNATELY WHY, WHY WE HAVE TO BE HERE.
UH, BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T.
AND I THINK, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU HEARD FROM SOMEONE EARLIER DURING CITIZEN COMMUNICATION ABOUT, UH, THEIR POOR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, UH, MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE'S POOR EXPERIENCE WITH POLICE OVERSIGHT IN THE LAST MONTHS, UH, DIRECT EXPERIENCE FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THESE OFFICES.
AND, AND I THINK, UM, IT'S, IT'S, AND OBVIOUSLY WE, WE HAD THE WHOLE FIGHT OVER THE EQUITY OFFICE DURING THE BUDGET.
AND I, AND I, AND I, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD NOT TO SEE THE PATTERN OF THE OFFICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT PEOPLE, UH, PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE STATUS QUO, PROTECT PEOPLE FROM, UH, BIG BUSINESS, FROM DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, UH, SYSTEMATICALLY BEING UNDERMINED AND, AND, AND, AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, UH, UNDER THIS CURRENT CITY LEADERSHIP.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT Y'ALL STEPPING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US BOTH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO'S GOING TO SUPPORT THAT ITEM.
UH, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE TO QUESTION WHY
NEXT IS SARAH RODRIGUEZ, FOLLOWED BY MISAEL.
IS IT OKAY TO SIT DOWN HERE? YES, PLEASE.
BE SURE YOU PUSH THE BUTTON SO THAT THE MICROPHONE COME.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY ON YOU GOT IT.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE HERE AND THANK EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PASS THIS.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS.
UM, I'LL SAY FOR ME, THE THING THAT'S EVEN MORE HEARTBREAKING AND EVEN MORE SCARY IS THAT I'VE WORKED AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FIVE YEARS WITH THE OFFICE THAT HELPED TO TURN THE O P M INTO O P O TO HELP GET THE, UH, COMPLAINT FORM AND THANK YOU FORM ONLINE AND ALSO WITH O P O ITSELF.
[06:00:01]
SO I KNOW HOW DEDICATED THESE PEOPLE ARE.AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR THINGS LIKE THAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD BAD EXPERIENCE, THAT'S NOT THE STAFF.
AND SO IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE MISMANAGEMENT, THE LACK OF RESOURCES, THE LACK OF SUPPORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO MANY THINGS THAT O P O DID, LIKE PUBLISHING, UPDATES ON THEIR RESEARCH, UM, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT A LACK OF CARING.
YOU KNOW, YOUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, THEY CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THEY COULD WORK ANYWHERE FOR 25, $50,000 MORE SALARY, BUT THEY'RE STAYING HERE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND SO I JUST ASK THAT IN THIS IMPLEMENTATION, IT'S NOT JUST AN IMPLEMENTATION, IT'S SOME IMPLEMENTATION THAT'S FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITY.
I SHARED, I THINK, AND THE CONTRACTS, UM, ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE AROUND THE ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM, UNDER THE CURRENT VERSION, THE ANONYMOUS, FORGIVE MY LANGUAGE, THE B******T ANONYMOUS STATUS.
HOW CAN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO GIVE THEIR NAME WHEN THEY'RE AFRAID, WHEN THIS IS THE ONLY AVENUE THEY HAVE? AND SO IT'S ANONYMOUS AND IT MEETS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT DOESN'T SERVE RESIDENTS, IT HARMS THEM.
AND SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU VOTE THIS THROUGH, AS YOU IMPLEMENT THIS THROUGH THAT YOU THINK OF RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY IT, AND WHO WOULD BE MOST AFRAID TO COME IN AND WHO ARE GOING TO SUFFER THE MOST IF IT THAT ISN'T DONE RIGHT.
MY NAME IS MISA RAMOS AND I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 99 FOR IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN POLICIES THAT EXPAND POLICE OVERSIGHT, PROVIDING IN TIME UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC AND CREATING PUBLIC WORK GROUP TO HELP INFORM OUR CITY ON WHAT OUR POLICE FORCE IS DOING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR CITY PASSED PROP A RECENTLY THOUGH THERE WAS A TON OF MONEY THROWN AT OPPOSING IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING ANY ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT IS A POSITIVE THING, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THE POLICE.
I COME HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY FAMILY'S EXPERIENCES WITH POLICING.
IN 2021, MY COUSIN ASHTON PINKY WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY MESQUITE PD.
THE HEALING JOURNEY FROM THE MURDER OF MY COUSIN HAS BEEN A TOUGH ROAD FOR ME AND ALL OF MY FAMILY, BUT WE'VE BEEN GETTING THROUGH IT BY CELEBRATING AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER.
NO OTHER FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS YET IN OUR OWN CITY, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE SEE THIS HAPPENING.
PROP A AND THE POLICIES THAT COME WITH IT IS A POSITIVE STEP THAT OUR CITY SHOULD BE TAKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENSURE THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S TIME FOR OUR CITY TO LEAD THE STATE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE CITIZENS HAVE PROPER OVERSIGHT AND INPUT ON POLICING.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND IMPLEMENT PROP A AS IT WAS DRAFTED WHEN THE CITY WAS ASKED TO VOTE ON IT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA AND ALL OTHER SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS ITEM, AND ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MADISON, FOR HER UNWAVERING STANCE ON THIS.
I URGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THIS FULLY.
UM, I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF, UM, AGENDA ITEM 99.
MOSTLY I AM HERE TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU ARE ALL WORKING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND BACK IN MAY, THE COMMUNITY SAID THAT POLICE OVERSIGHT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CARED ABOUT THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND MATTERED TO US.
SO I'M HERE JUST TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO UPHOLD THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THE FOLKS THAT YOU ALL REPRESENT AND ULTIMATELY WORK FOR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS.
UH, A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 99.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE RECOGNITION.
I'M SORRY, I NEED TO PULL UP MY NOTES HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT ITEM AND IN LIGHT OF THE NEW INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED, AND BECAUSE VERSION TWO CAME OUT YESTERDAY, VERY LATE IN THE DAY, I'VE NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO SPEAK
[06:05:01]
TO MY CONSTITUENTS FULLY REGARDING THIS ITEM.I WAS JUST AT A H O A MEETING ON MONDAY AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP AS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH.
UM, I CANNOT IN GOOD FAITH VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT WITH SUCH LITTLE TIME TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS.
SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANNA BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THE ITEM.
ALRIGHT, YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR ON ITEM NUMBER 99.
OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE I CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR AND JUST WANNA DEEPLY APPRECIATE AFTER THE WORK THAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, UH, THAT A BRAND NEW COUNCIL MEMBER IS DIVING IN HEAD FIRST INTO THE, THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M PROUD OF YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL BE SHOWN AS A, A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 99.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, I'LL CALL ON YOU TO CLOSE.
UM, I WANNA THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO WERE ABLE TO SPEAK AND THOSE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK.
UH, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY ANYONE WHO'S COMING TO CITY HALL TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE DEEPLY CARES ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AS A DAIS.
UH, AND, AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT AGAIN BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE SAID ENOUGH.
PROP A PASSED WITH ALMOST 80% OF THE VOTE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT IS LEGAL.
I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S OFTEN BEEN STUFF SAID BOTH ON, UH, BOTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AND IN THIS, IN THIS ROOM AT TIMES, UH, WITH SOME SPEAKERS THAT IT'S, IT'S ILLEGAL.
IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, IMPLEMENT IS LEGAL.
SO I WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL OUR CO-SPONSORS.
COUNCILOR ALTER, COUNCILOR MARVELLA, SORRY, COUNCILOR MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCILOR RIVERA, COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, HARPER MADISON.
UH, AND THEN I, I, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, AND I KNOW WE STILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS, BUT WITH THE NEW AG RULING, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES.
SO OUR OFFICE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, BRING FORWARD ANOTHER ITEM WHEN WE GET MORE CLARITY, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE COMING WEEKS OR COMING MONTHS, I'M NOT SURE.
UM, IT'S A EVOLVING SITUATION, BUT WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO SEE THIS THROUGH.
SO WITH THAT, I MOVE, UH, FOR ADOPTION.
UH, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND IT'S, UH, BEEN SECONDED WITHOUT, WELL, WE HAVE ONE VOTING NO.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
WITH THAT, WITH, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 99 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
UM, SO THAT, THAT TAKE, THAT HANDLES 99.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THE CO-SPONSORS MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WAS INADVERTENTLY OFF THE DAIS WHEN WE TOOK UP ITEM NUMBER 55.
UH, SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING ON THAT ITEM, VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT.
[55. Approve an ordinance relating to a joint public hearing between the City Council and the Planning Commission for certain changes to City Code Chapter 25-2 (Zoning), establishing the notice requirements for the joint public hearing, and waiving City Code Sections 25-1-501 (Initiation of Amendment) and 25-1-502 (Amendment and Review). (Part 2 of 2)]
WE AS A MEMBER OF THE, UH, SIDE THAT PREVAILED ON ITEM NUMBER 55.UH, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CAN RECONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 55 SO THAT WE MAY TAKE ANOTHER VOTE ON THAT ITEM.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT IT PASSED ON A VOTE OF NINE TO ZERO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER ABSTAINING AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAAS, UH, I MOVE TO RECONSIDER.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITH ITEM OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 55 IS RECONSIDERED AND I CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 55.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 55? COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE MOVES TO ADOPT FIF ITEM NUMBER 55.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 55 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING.
UM, MEMBERS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BECOME, TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 5:42 PM THANK YOU ALL.