[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:32]
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
ARE UP FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS THAT ARE ON THANK YOU.
WE HAVE THREE, TWO REMOTE AND ONE, TWO REMOTES.
OUR, UM, THREE SPEAKERS WILL GO IN ORDER OF REMOTE.
JOSEPH, YOU'LL BE ALLOTTED TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UH, TURN ON YOUR MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU WELL,
I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THREE MINUTES.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, S I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU BASED ON A, A, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT COUNCIL JUST PASSED AS RELATED TO THE, I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW TO WORD IT.
LET ME JUST MOVE ON TO CAPITAL METRO FOR A SECOND, AND THEN MENTALLY I WILL
SO THERE'S THE 10:00 AM IS FINANCE, AND THEN NOON IS ACTUALLY THE JANUARY, 2024 SERVICE CHANGES.
AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT BUS ROUTES TO ACTUALLY TUNE IN OR CALL IN.
YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP BY NINE O'CLOCK.
WELL, ACTUALLY, UH, IT VACILLATES I WAS TOLD TWO HOURS BEFORE THE FIRST MEETING.
SO IF YOU WANNA MAKE COMMENTS, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST YOU EMAIL ED DOT EASTON@CAPMETRO.ORG, UH, TONIGHT.
THAT WAY YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD.
AND THEN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETS AT 1230 AFTER THAT.
AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET AN UPDATE ON WOULD BE THE ST.
ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE COUNCIL ACTUALLY PASSED, UH, AN ITEM.
IT WAS ITEM NUMBER TWO LAST THURSDAY, SPECIFICALLY, IT'S 60 YEARS AFFORDABILITY.
BUT ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, WHEN THEY PASSED THAT ITEM AGAIN WITH, UH, MAYOR ADLER, THE LAST MEETING THAT HE, UM, HELD, IT WAS 99 YEARS.
AND THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS ARE GENERALLY 99 YEARS.
THE SOCO TWO PROJECT, WHICH IS SOUTH CONGRESS.
THERE'S ALSO THE VEGA PROPERTY THAT'S 99 YEARS.
AND THE HIGHLAND VILLAGE IS 99 YEARS.
THOSE ARE ALL UNDER THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I KNOW THEY BRIEFED YOU ON ROSEWOOD AND SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE.
AND SO IT IS DISTURBING TO ME BECAUSE THE AFTER 60 YEARS LAPSES, THERE'S LANGUAGE FOR OPTION THREE, WHICH SPECIFIES THAT IT CAN GO TO MARKET RATE WITH NO AFFORDABILITY.
AND IT IS, UH, SUPPOSED TO BE A PROJECT THAT IS RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
IT MENTIONS THE HISPANICS AS WELL.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONCE UPON A TIME, 300 ACRES IN THE ST.
JOHN'S AREA, WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS ONCE OCCUPIED, AND THE NEGRO DISTRICT, UH, THAT AREA WHERE THE ORPHANAGE USED TO BE, THE OLD HIGHLAND MALL IS A 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND JUST A POINT OF REFERENCE, ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2020, MIKE GERBER ACTUALLY BRIEFED THE HAKA BOARD AND SAID THAT THE INTEREST IN THE AREA DIDN'T WANNA SERVE LOWER INCOME.
AND SO THAT IS WHERE I START TO SAY THAT, UH, RE CODIFIES THE 1928 CITY PLAN, BECAUSE WEST OF I 35 IS 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
NOW, ACCORDING TO THE NOVEMBER, 2020 REPORT THAT THE MINORITY CHAMBERS DID, AFRICAN AMERICANS EARN APPROXIMATELY 42,000 AND HISPANICS EARN ABOUT $50,000.
SO WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT MEANS THAT IT'S INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE THE STAFF IS NOT USING THE DATA TO INFORM THEIR DECISIONS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
[00:05:01]
YOU'RE WELCOME.UM, FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND, UM, THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC, UM, COMMUNICATIONS, UM, SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS THAT ARE REGISTERED.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.WE DO HAVE THE SEPTEMBER 12TH, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING.
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT? AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ONCE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 12TH MEETING? ADAM, CHAIR, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER TOLLIVER FOR YOUR MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER TOLIVER HAS MOVED TO APPROVE.
DO I HEAR A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, CHAIR.
UM, WE NEED CAMERAS ON WHEN THEY VOTE.
THEY CAN TURN THEIR CAMERAS ON.
FOR COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE REMOTE, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN QUORUM FOR THIS PURPOSE.
ORTIZ, CAN WE GET A LITTLE VIDEO, DELGADO, A LITTLE VIDEO FROM YOU AS WELL.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR VIDEO IS NOT SHOWING AT THE MOMENT, EVEN IF WE JUST SEE YOUR HANDS.
COMMISSIONER ORTIZ AND COMMISSIONER DELGADO, CAN YOU RESPOND? PLEASE? PLEASE RESPOND.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TURN ON YOUR VIDEO? APOLOGIES.
COMMISSIONER DELGADO, ANY RESPONSE FROM YOU? I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE BECAUSE COMMISSIONER DELGADO, ARE YOU HAVING ANY, ARE YOU ABLE TO RESPOND TO US AT ALL? I STAFF I WILL ALLOW FOR ANOTHER 60 SECONDS, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE WILL NOT HAVE QUORUM.
IS THAT NOT JUST FOR THE VOTE? JUST FOR THE VOTE FOR NOW.
IT'S JUST FOR, IS IT ONLY JUST FOR A VOTE? IF WE LOST FOR THE VOTE? WE JUST LOST HER.
UM, I GUESS WE CAN GIVE HER A FEW MINUTES TO GET BACK ON.
WE'LL GIVE HER, I'LL GIVE HER A FEW MORE MINUTES.
AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE REMOTE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT.
[00:10:25]
THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T MAKE AS MUCH SENSE TO ME.I HEAR YOUR WORDS, BUT I'M THINKING IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUO FOR A VOTE, WE DON'T HAVE QUO FOR, WE DON'T HAVE A FORM PERIOD, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS CHAIR, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THAT IF, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
LETICIA, I SEE YOU ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU LOSE A PERSON, WE'VE ACTUALLY LOST DORM.
WE, WE HAD IT AS LONG AS THEY WERE THERE.
AND THEN WHEN THEY, UH, VOTED, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TURN ON THE CAMERA TO SEE THEM VOTE.
AND THEN THEY'RE OKAY TO GO OFFLINE.
BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY DROPPED HER NOW.
SO WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE QUORUM.
SO IN THIS INSTANCE, LIKE, WE HAVE QUORUM NOW, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
OH, WE JUST CAN'T VOTE UNTIL SHE'S ON CAMERA.
COMMISSIONER DELGADO, ARE YOU ABLE TO TURN YOUR VIDEO ON? THANK YOU FOR REJOINING US A CELL PHONE NUMBER FOR AM I ABLE TO PROCEED WITHOUT THE, UH, UM, YEAH, WE, WE CAN MOVE PAST THE MINUTES AND MAYBE COME CIRCLE BACK TO IT.
UM, BUT AS LONG AS SHE'S ON, WE, WE HAVE QUORUM.
LET'S GO ON AND GET MR. WE JUST CAN'T VOTE ON ANYTHING DATO'S STUFF DONE.
SO MAYBE SHE'LL FIGURE THE CAMERA OUT.
AT THIS TIME, UM, COMMISSIONERS, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE VIEWING, UM, WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE, OH, THERE WE GO.
UH, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER TOLIVER, UH, INDICATING THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER ORTIZ HAS SECONDED.
DO WE HAVE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MEETING? UM, MINUTES BEING APPROVED.
OR RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE REMOTE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR BEING, UM, PRESENT.
UM, VERY MUCH MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
UM, CAN I TAKE 'EM OUT OF ORDER? YES.
[3. Briefing, discussion, and possible action on the draft application for the Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) to Housing Grant (Housing Department Staff)]
TAKE, UM, BRIEFING NUMBER THREE, UM, WITH, UM, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UM, MANDY DE DE, PLEASE.THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ALL.
ARE YOU HAVING, CAN YOU HEAR OKAY.
UH, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ALL.
WE GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW AT THE LAST C D C MEETING ABOUT, UH, AN APPLICATION TO HUD, THE US DEPARTMENT OF
[00:15:01]
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PLANNING ON SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.DUE DATE IS OCTOBER 30TH, AND WE ACTUALLY, UM, RECEIVED THE NO FOE THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FROM HUD, UM, ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.
IT IS A REALLY SHORT TURNAROUND TIME, AND ONE OF THE REQUIRED, UM, ITEMS AS PART OF THIS GRANT APPLICATION IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO RIGHT AFTER I, UH, FINISH UP, AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT REALLY BRIEF, UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, WHICH I AM EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT.
UM, CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THANK YOU.
WE HAD HEARD IN THE SPRING OF 2023 THAT HUD WAS INTERESTED IN, UM, REWARDING CITIES THAT HAD IDENTIFIED, UH, BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAD BEEN DOING CREATIVE THINGS, UH, TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS.
SO, IDENTIFYING THE BARRIERS TO FAIR HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION, AND THEN CREATING PATHWAYS, UH, TO INCREASE BOTH AFFORDABLE, UM, AND, UH, UH, HOUSING THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO, HUD RELEASED THIS NOFO NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ON, UH, SEPTEMBER 7TH.
AS I MENTIONED, ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, OUR MUNICIPAL, LOCAL, AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, UM, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, OR MPOS AND MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ENTITIES.
THERE IS PRIORITY THAT IS GIVEN TO TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS, BOTH OF WHICH THE CITY OF AUSTIN MEETS IT'S APPLICANTS SINCE APPLICANTS WHO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT AND PROGRESS TOWARD OVERCOMING LOCAL BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND NUMBER TWO IS APPLICANTS THAT DEMONSTRATE AN ACUTE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HUD CREATED, UM, UH, REALLY SOME, UH, QUANTIFIABLE, UH, ASPECTS THAT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A CITY OR A LOCAL JURISDICTION, UH, DEMONSTRATED AN ACUTE NEED.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, QUALIFIES AS THAT PRIORITY GEOGRAPHY.
SO WE WERE, UM, PLEASED THAT WE WOULD BE PRIORITIZED IN OUR APPLICATION.
IT WILL BE A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.
THE MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT IS 1 MILLION, THE MAXIMUM IS 10 MILLION.
SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE GRANT ARE ELEVATING AND ENABLING PROMISING PRACTICES FOR REMOVING BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROTECTION, INSTITUTIONALIZING STATE AND LOCAL ANALYSIS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT APPROACHES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP COMMUNITIES FULFILL THEIR CONSOLIDATED PLAN REQUIREMENT OF IDENTIFYING BARRIERS, UH, TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FACILITATING COLLABORATION AND HARNESSING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES.
AND THEN FINALLY, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING BY ADDRESSING AND REMOVING BARRIERS THAT PERPETUATES SEGREGATION AND HAVE INHIBIT ACCESS TO AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PROTECTED CLASS GROUPS AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND CONCENTRATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS.
IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, WE HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE FULL NOFO.
UM, IT IS ON THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN PAGE, WHICH I'LL SPEAK TO YOU AT THE VERY END OF THIS PRESENTATION.
BUT BASED ON THOSE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES, WE AS A CITY HAVE IDENTIFIED, UM, FIVE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE WITH THIS HUD FUNDING.
FIRST IS UPDATING THE CITY OF AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, WHICH WAS A 10 YEAR PLAN THAT IS BASED ON 2016 DATA, BUT WAS ULTIMATELY PASSED BY, UH, CITY COUNCIL IN 2017.
UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES TO THE DOCUMENT, NAMELY, OUR CITY IS CHANGING SO QUICKLY, IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE A PLANNING DOC DOCUMENT THAT DOESN'T GROW AND CHANGE WITH IT.
IN ADDITION, UH, WE WANNA ALIGN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT WITH OUR CURRENT UPDATE OF IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE SECOND, UH, ACTIVITY IS RECONFIGURING AUSTIN'S DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SMART HOUSING, WHICH IS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD, AND WAS DESIGNED TO INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, IT CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE RE-LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD, AND A LOT HAS CHANGED OVER THOSE 20 YEARS, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN FACT, ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION.
THE THIRD PIECE WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS RESEARCHING AND DEPLOYING OPPORTUNITY MAPPING.
WE'VE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME LOOKING AT AREAS THAT, UH, WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, LOOKING AT AREAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING VARIOUS FORMS OF GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
WHAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IS REALLY GET A NUANCED LOOK
[00:20:01]
AT WHAT WE CALL OPPORTUNITY.SO ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, ACCESS TO GOOD SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES.
UM, WE HAVEN'T FOUND A MAPPING TOOL, UH, THAT WILL HELP US DIRECT OUR INVESTMENTS APPROPRIATELY.
AND SO WE ARE EAGER, WE KNOW THOSE TOOLS EXIST.
WE ARE EAGER, UM, TO GET THAT DATA AND INCORPORATE IT INTO ALL OUR PROGRAMS SO WE CAN REALLY TARGET OUR FUNDING.
THE FOURTH PIECE, UH, AGAIN, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS UPDATING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLINE SEARCH TOOL OR A HOST.
THIS IS A MECHANISM THAT WE CREATED.
WE USED TO HAVE, UM, A PAPER DIRECTORY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE PUT THAT ONLINE, BUT IT'S A STATIC TOOL, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, WHEN LOW INCOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EASILY CONNECT THEM TO CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS OR OUR SUBSIDY PROGRAMS, OR ONE OF OUR PARTNERS LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE HAVE VERY, A LOT OF PARTNERS.
WE WANNA DISTILL THAT INFORMATION DOWN AND MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE IS PARTNERING WITH A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, OR A C D F I THAT'S A COMMUNITY-BASED BANK, UM, TO PROVIDE FINANCING TO MARGINALIZED, UM, DEVELOPERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SMALL DEVELOPERS, INCLUDING DEVELOPERS OF COLOR.
THIS DOVETAILS ON A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, SMALL DEVELOPER TRAINING IN CONCERT WITH, UM, CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS AND HOUSING WORKS, WHERE WE'VE TAKEN A COHORT OF 20 DEVELOPERS, UM, EACH WITH DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE, BUT WE'VE PUT THEM THROUGH A FOUR MONTH BOOTCAMP.
UM, AND OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS TO FINANCING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, WHEN THEY COME OUT ON THE OTHER END OF THE TRAINING.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE, UM, MAIN PRIORITY PROJECTS WE'RE SOLICITING, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THOSE PROJECTS.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE, UM, TIMELINE.
WE KICKED OFF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE COULD GET ON THE C D C AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE MET WITH THE BOARD OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE OF HOUSING WORKS, AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION.
WE ARE MEETING THIS WEEK, THURSDAY WITH OUR COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS GRANTEES, INCLUDING EL BUEN, UM, AND BASTA, A TENANT-BASED ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO PRESENTING ON THURSDAY TO THE, UM, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JOINT COMMITTEE, UM, BECAUSE THIS TIES WITH IMAGINE AUSTIN, WE'RE DOING THAT ON THURSDAY AS WELL.
AT THE SAME TIME, UH, ACTUALLY LAST WEEK WE OPENED UP A SPEAK UP AUSTIN PAGE.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON WHAT THE ACTIVITIES ARE, WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
THIS IS ALL POSTED ONLINE, UM, THAT TECHNICALLY TODAY IS THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OCTOBER, UM, 12TH IS WHEN, SO THURSDAY IS WHEN THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS END, BUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
SO SPEAK UP, AUSTIN GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH OCTOBER 25TH, AND THEN WE SUBMIT THE APPLICATION ON OCTOBER 30TH.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, WHICH IS THE FINAL PAGE, THIS IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH OF COURSE THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK BELOW, AND THIS IS ALL LINKED WITHIN YOUR, UM, C D C MATERIALS IS THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN, UH, WEBSITE, WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE COMPLETE NOFO ON, UM, THE PRO HOUSING GRANT.
YOU'LL PROVI FIND A SUMMARY, UM, OF THE APPLICATION THUS FAR.
WE'RE DRAFTING IT AS WE SPEAK, UM, BUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE PLAN TO ASK FOR FROM HUD, UM, AND THEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT VIA SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
SO THAT WILL BE OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 25TH.
WE ARE MONITORING THE COMMENTS AS THEY COME IN, AND WE ARE, UH, WE'LL BE RESPONDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS AS WELL TO SEE HOW, UH, WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, UM, INTO THE GRANT APPLICATION.
SHOULD THERE BE ANY, UH, IF NOT, I WILL TURN IT OVER, UH, FOR THE CHAIR TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONE PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
UM, DAMATO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, FROM THE, I'LL START WITH THE GRANT GOALS AND OBJECT, UH, OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE.
[00:25:01]
WE TALK ABOUT, UM, ADDRESSING AND REMOVING BARRIERS THAT PERPETUATE SEGREGATION MM-HMM.AND THEN THE LAST CLAUSE SEEMS TO SAY, CONCENTRATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN UNDER SOURCED AREAS.
WOULD THAT NOT, ARE, AREN'T, ARE THOSE CONTRADICTORY? UM, IF WE'RE UNDER SOURCED AREAS, WOULD THAT NOT TURN INTO, SO HELP ME.
SO WHAT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING MM-HMM.
WE HAVE TO, EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE DO, AS PART OF OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN PROCESS, UM, AN ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING AS A COMMUNITY, WE IDENTIFY ALL OF THE IMPEDIMENTS AND PLAN WAYS TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS.
ONE OF THE BARRIERS THAT IS CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FRANKLY, IS THE CONCENTRATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHAT WE CALL UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS.
SO WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITY MAPPING MM-HMM.
WE WANT IT TO BE CONNECTED TO OPPORTUNITY.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN A HIGH INCOME AREA.
IT MEANS AN AREA THAT HAS ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
IT MEANS AN AREA THAT HAS ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, UH, DECENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS ARE TYPICALLY THINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO HENCE, ONE OF OUR ACTIVITIES REALLY IS OPPORTUNITY MAPPING.
SO WE CAN LAYER, UM, ON TOP OF OUR CITY OF AUSTIN MAP, AND IT HELPS US AS A DEPARTMENT REALLY DRIVE OUR INVESTMENT INTO THOSE STRATEGIC AREAS.
DOES THAT, I'M GONNA ACCEPT THAT.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I'LL, I'LL PROCESS, UM, THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, I, I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD THAT, UM, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THAT, WE, WE WANT TO REMOVE THE SEGREGATION, BUT YET WE ALSO ARE CONCENTRATING IN UNDER RESOURCED AREAS TO ME.
I, I, THAT SEEMS TO BE, UM, A CONFLICT THERE OF SOME SORT, BUT, OH, I'M SORRY.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT, MAY BE THE WAY THAT THIS IS WORDED.
AND I THINK THIS IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE NOFO, WE ARE STRIVING TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT CONCENTRATE.
SO BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF BARRIERS, IT COULD BE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE WANNA REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND THEN THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES.
ABOUT HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THIS, THESE PROPOSED ACT, I KNOW THAT THE GRANT IS A MINIMUM OF 1 MILLION UP TO 10 MILLION.
ABOUT HOW MANY MILLIONS DO YOU THINK THIS IS? I THINK WE'RE GONNA COME PRETTY CLOSE TO 10 MILLION.
WE ARE WORKING ON THE BUDGET TODAY.
IT IS OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD, I WANNA BE CLEAR.
UM, SO OVER THESE SIX YEARS, UM, WE ARE PLANNING ON, UH, ADDING TWO STAFF MEMBERS MM-HMM.
WE WANT TO HAVE AN APP ON, UH, THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS ON THEIR PHONES, ON THE WEB, OR THAT IF THEY WORK WITH A CASEWORKER, THEY CAN ACCESS IT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME TECHNOLOGY TO, UH, CREATE THAT TOOL, REAL, REAL-TIME DATABASE OF VACANCIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, OPPORTUNITY MAPPING IS ACTUALLY PURCHASING AN EXISTING, UM, TOOL.
THERE ARE TOOLS OUT THERE THAT ARE OFF THE SHELF, BUT WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO, UM, UH, TAILOR IT TO OUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
AND THEN THE C D F I, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, WE HAVE SOME FUNDING RIGHT NOW FROM PROJECT CONNECT.
WE ARE ASKING HUD FOR $3 MILLION, AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT $10 MILLION AND, AND WORK WITH A LOCAL C D F I.
SO IT'S A NONPROFIT BANK TO, UH, UH, FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PROXIMITY OF PROJECT CONNECT LINES, BUT WORKING WITH MARGINALIZED DEVELOPERS.
AND WE'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE THESE, UM, ACTIVITIES BASED ON THE AWARD OF THE GRANT, IF WE GET IT.
HUD HAS ASKED US TO DO, TO SAY, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT? IT'S
[00:30:01]
ONLY $85 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.SO WE'RE GONNA ASK WHAT WE THINK WE CAN USE OVER SIX YEARS, WHICH AGAIN, MY GUESS IS WE'LL GET PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT 10 MILLION, BUT THEN THEY'VE ASKED EVERYBODY TO SCALE IT BACK BY 50%.
IF WE ONLY GET 50%, WHAT WOULD WE DO? AND FRANKLY, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD SCALE BACK ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
WE STILL WANNA DO ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL NECESSARY TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE MAYBE WOULDN'T GET AS MANY BELLS AND WHISTLES ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SHOULD HUD BE ABLE TO FUND US FOR THE FULL 10 MILLION.
AND THE VERY LAST PART IS, SO YOU'RE GETTING THIS FEEDBACK.
YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT YOU'VE VISITED THUS FAR MM-HMM.
AND, UM, I TAKE IT YOU'RE HEARING YOU'RE ARE, ARE YOU PRESENTING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK OR IS IT JUST A PRE, UH, IT'S JUST A ONE WAY YOU'RE JUST MEETING AND JUST TELLING THEM WHAT YOU'RE DOING? OR ARE YOU GATHERING FEEDBACK? SO, INTERESTINGLY, WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, WHICH WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE END OF SEPTEMBER MM-HMM.
AND THEN AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS MM-HMM.
AND WE STARTED TALKING THROUGH WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, THEY MENTIONED WORKING WITH A C D F I, WHICH IS THAT COMMUNITY BANK.
UH, WE REACHED OUT TO A C D F I, TEXAS COMMUNITY CAPITAL.
WE STARTED TALKING IT THROUGH AND WE REALIZED THIS COULD BE A VIABLE PROGRAM AND IT'S AN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.
SO, WHEREAS WE STARTED WITH FOUR ACTIVITIES, WE HAVE ENDED UP WITH FIVE AS A RESULT OF STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, WISHES, DESIRES, UM, BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL TAKE ALL OF THEM INTO CONSIDERATION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UM, I HEAR YOU TO BE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU'RE COMING AND GIVING INFORMATION.
YOU ARE ACTUALLY SEEKING GENUINE FEEDBACK AND YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THOSE STAKEHOLDERS AND, UM, UH, ADJUST, UH, AND ADAPT ACCORDINGLY.
EAGER, WE ARE EAGER FOR FEEDBACK.
UM, AND THEN, UM, YOU BROUGHT UP THE FOLLOW UP WOULD BE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD BE REAL INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY THESE MARGINALIZED DEVELOPERS.
SO THAT IN FACT, THAT IN THE MARGINALIZED DEVELOPERS, THAT WE STILL HAVE SOME EQUITY, UH, IN TERMS OF ALL PARTIES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF AUSTIN ARE BEING REPRESENTED WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? COMMISSIONER LAGO? UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON, UH, WHAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED AS THE BARRIERS.
SO I WAS JUST LOOKING AT OUR MOST CURRENT ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING.
UM, THERE WERE SOME LEGAL BARRIERS, SOME BARRIERS, UH, EMBEDDED WITHIN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT, UM, UH, INHIBITED, UH, THE WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN.
UM, OUR LAST ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, BASED ON DATA THAT WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
UH, WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES SINCE THEN.
WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES WITHIN OUR CODE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A WHOLE SLEW OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE DENSITY WITH AFFORDABILITY, PARTICULARLY IN PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT.
SO I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING ON A TRACK AS IT WERE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL RESULT IN SOME INCREASED AFFORDABILITY AROUND TRANSIT OR IN PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT.
UM, OTHER EXAMPLES, UH, WERE DEED RESTRICTIONS, WHICH WE HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER.
UM, THESE WOULD BE PRIVATELY ENFORCED DEEDED RESTRICTIONS THAT REALLY INHIBIT, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR MULTIPLE HOUSING UNITS.
UH, THERE WERE, UH, OTHER IDENTIFIED BARRIERS AROUND DISPLACEMENT, UH, OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE, BARRIERS AROUND FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED HEAD ON THROUGH OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND OTHER FUNDING FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, BARRIERS RELATED TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
BARRIERS RELATED TO DISCRIMINATION, OUTRIGHT DISCRIMINATION, UH, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON WITH OUR OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, AS WELL AS WITH SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS
[00:35:01]
LIKE TEXAS, RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID, AND AUSTIN TENANTS COUNSEL, WHICH IS NOW A PROGRAM OF, UH, TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID.SO ALL OF THE BARRIERS HAD, THEY WERE LAID OUT, THEY HAD SOME PROGRESS.
AND, AND I DON'T THINK, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SOLVE THEM WITHIN FIVE YEARS, BUT IT FELT LIKE WE WERE ON A PATH TOWARD CREATING SOME SOLUTIONS.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.
AND, UM, SO THESE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, THEY WOULD HELP, I GUESS, REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS? CORRECT.
UM, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO, UH, MAYBE, UH, NEW STRATEGIES, UM, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, UM, UH, BETTER ALIGNMENT.
UM, IT SEEMS, UM, SO AS AN EXAMPLE, A HOST, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLINE SEARCH TOOL, IT IS A WEB-BASED PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN GO ON NOW, YOU CAN GO ONTO OUR WEBSITE.
IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
OUR VISION IS TO MAKE IT REAL TIME, REALLY TO PROVIDE SOMEBODY, TYPICALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HOUSING, YOU ARE OFTEN IN CRISIS.
SO HANDING SOMEBODY A LIST OF PLACES TO CALL IS LESS USEFUL THAN HANDING SOMEBODY A MAP WITH, HERE ARE SOME VACANCIES RIGHT HERE, HERE, AND HERE'S AN ONLINE APPLICATION THAT WE CAN HELP YOU FILL OUT.
AND YOU CAN SEE IF THAT IS IN FACT AVAILABLE AND THIS IS WHAT THE RENT WILL BE, AND IT'S INCOME RESTRICTED AND IT'S NOT GONNA INCREASE EXORBITANTLY YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO WE SEE THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO BETTER CONNECT LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE PLAN TO DO IS FOCUS GROUPS WITH LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, SHOWING THEM, HAVING THEM WORK THROUGH AND TEST AND TRUE UP WHAT THESE APPS ARE.
ARE THEY ANSWERING THE QUE, DO THEY CLEARLY ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN INPUT THE INFORMATION THAT WILL LEAD THEM DIRECTLY TO AN AFFORDABLE HOME? WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, I JUST, UM, A REALLY INTERESTING STRATEGY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT REMOVING ACCESS TO BARRIERS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, BUT THIS HAS TO DO MORE WITH LIKE A, A CITYWIDE EFFORT.
AND, UH, IT IS A MACRO APPROACH.
BUT HOPEFULLY BY ADDRESSING THOSE BARRIERS HEAD ON, WE ARE REMOVING THE BARRIERS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT SEEMS GREAT.
UM, ALSO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND IT'S OVER A, A SIX MM-HMM.
AND I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION IS THAT IF THERE, IS THERE GONNA BE ANY SORT OF REPORTING ON HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT THROUGHOUT THOSE LAWSUIT? ABSOLUTELY.
IF WE ARE AWARDED THE FUNDING, WE CAN DO REGULAR REPORTING TO THIS BODY.
UM, BUT YES, WE WOULD ALL OF THE HUD GRANTS, THIS IS IN, UM, ALIGNMENT WITH C D B G, WHICH I KNOW WE REPORT BACK TO YOU ALL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, HOW OUR C D B G FUNDS ARE SPENT.
AND IT'S THE SAME PROGRAM RULES.
SO WE WOULD BE SPENDING MONEY, IT WOULD BE A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS FROM HUD.
AND YES, WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT BACK.
HUD IS SAYING IN JANUARY, THEY'LL NOTIFY APPLICANTS, I WOULD SAY EARLY 20, 24 IS WHEN WE SHOULD FIND OUT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE DO HEAR YOU CONTINUE, PLEASE.
SO, UM, MANDY, I JUST, I, I WROTE DOWN A COUPLE OF NOTES AND, UH, I, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN.
SO, UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE MAPPING TOOLS, UH, THE, THE ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT WHEN YOU SAID ONLINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIST ON THAT, A HOST MM-HMM.
I, I REMEMBER YOU ALL CREATING SOMETHING ONLINE THROUGH THE PORTAL, THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WEBSITE MM-HMM.
[00:40:01]
TOOL THAT WAS INITIATED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, AS AN EXPERIMENT, UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO.IF YOU CAN PLEASE PROVIDE ME THAT, BECAUSE I WANNA SEE WHEN THAT TOOL WAS CREATED.
UH, KIND OF SIMILAR, SIMILAR TO THE TOOL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE CREATING AGAIN, OR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE ADVANCED AND CREATE CREATING FROM THAT TOOL.
UH, I, I WANNA SEE, DID THAT TOOL EVEN WORK? I KNOW WHEN WE USED IT, I KNOW WHEN OTHER RESIDENTS USED IT, IT DIDN'T WORK.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE ONLINE NAVIGATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOL.
THE, THE LIST OF GETTING NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS ARE NOT EVEN EITHER, SOME OF THE NUMBERS ARE NOT WORKING, OR SOME OF THE PEOPLE DON'T ANSWER, OR YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE NEVER GETS RETURNED.
OR THERE'S SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, NON CORRESPONDENCE.
I, I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL PURCHASING AND USING THESE DOLLARS AND, AND THESE TYPE OF TOOLS THAT ARE NOT WORKING.
UM, WE NEED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS.
I, I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE DO GO TO ONLY TWO HOUSING AUTHORITIES IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS A TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND THIS ENTIRE CITY, UM, THAT ONLY HAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LISTS OUT THERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIST THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT SO EXISTS, DOESN'T EXIST AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, TARGET FUNDING.
OKAY, WHAT IS THE FIVE PRIORITIES? I DID HEAR THAT.
BUT THE BARRIER, I DON'T HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT.
WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE IS PEOPLE ARE NOT GET BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THESE APARTMENTS FOR THESE HOUSES BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND RECORDS.
IF THEY HAVE A TICKET, IF THEY HAVE A MISDEMEANOR, IF THEY HAVE A FELONY, EVEN IF THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO, UH, RENT AND HOUSING AT ALL.
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER AT ALL.
SO I I, I WANNA BE, I WANNA, I WANT YOU TO HELP ME AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS UNDERSTAND WHAT BARRIERS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I DO SEE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO SET THE FOUNDATION MM-HMM.
HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE OF POOR OR LOW INCOME WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN SIX YEARS? THE ECONOMY HERE IN AUSTIN HAS TRIPLED.
IF YOU DON'T MAKE A $75,000 SALARY INCOME A YEAR, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND HOW LONG IT'S TAKING TO, TO BUILD, DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS WHAT IS HERE AND WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE.
I, I, I DON'T SEE US TALKING ABOUT THE REAL BARRIERS.
THE BARRIERS ARE THE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
THE BARRIERS ARE NOT HAVING A CREDIT SCORE OF 600.
YOU KNOW, THE BARRIERS ARE, UM, NOT HAVE MAKING THREE TIMES THE RENT AMOUNT WHILE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING JOBS.
I MEAN, THE JOBS ARE NOT OFFERING OUR PEOPLE, UH, UH, AN INCOME BASE THAT WILL KEEP THEM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO WE HAVE A, A, A WHOLE ISSUE HERE, AND I JUST KIND OF SEE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS HERE AS WE HAVE, AS THIS BOARD HAS THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL.
AND YOU ALL CAN TAILOR IT AND, YOU KNOW, FINESSE IT, YOU KNOW, AND PRESENT IT WELL.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO DO OUR JUSTICE BY MAKING SURE THAT THE M F I OF SOME KIND GETS LOOKED AT, BECAUSE MODERN FAMILY INCOMES OF 80% IS VERY HIGH FOR LOW INCOME AND POOR PEOPLE.
SO WE, WE, WE HAVE A WHOLE CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANNA BRING IT UP WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT $20 MILLION IN, IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
AND THAT DID REMIND ME, UM, WHEN COMMISSIONER LONGORIA ASKED ABOUT, UH, THE BARRIERS, ONE OF THE BARRIERS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING FIVE YEARS AGO, UH, WAS IN FACT, UH, EXTENSIVE SCREENING, TENANT SCREENING CRITERIA THAT WAS OVERLY BURDENSOME AND ESSENTIALLY SCREENED OUT PEOPLE WITH OFTENTIMES NOMINAL CRIMINAL HISTORIES.
AND I WILL SAY ONE THING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT IS TWO YEARS AGO, WE UPDATED OUR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES.
SO ANYTIME WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO A DEVELOPER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO OUR UPDATED TENANT SCREENING CRITERIA, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN CONCERT.
IT WAS A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT INCLUDED THE, UH, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY REENTRY ROUNDTABLE, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE, UH, REENTERING SOCIETY FROM, UH, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
[00:45:01]
ENORMOUS STRIDES.HUD HAS RECOGNIZED IT, SAN ANTONIO, HUD HAS ASKED US FOR OUR SCREENING CRITERIA BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS BROKEN DOWN SOME BARRIERS.
UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT WORK REGARDING THE ONLINE NAVIGATION.
OUR INTEREST IS ENSURING THAT THE TOOL IS USABLE FOR THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY.
IF IT IS NOT, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED.
WE WANT A TOOL THAT WORKS, THAT IS USER FRIENDLY, THAT DELIVERS REAL TIME DATA, AND THAT OUR HOUSING COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS AND MANAGERS KEEP THEIR INFORMATION UP TO DATE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE INCENTIVIZED TO CONNECT WITH LOW INCOME QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO RENT THEIR HOUSING UNITS.
SO WE'RE KIND OF NAVIGATING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, THERE AND ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, UM, HAVE INPUT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOOL.
BUT WE'RE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
WE HAVE THE BASICS OF A, THE AHO IS A GOOD TOOL, IT'S NOT A GREAT TOOL.
UM, BUT IT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF THE DATA FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES OF BOTH CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, ALL OF OUR NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
SO IT REALLY IS BUILDING ON THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND MAKING IT BETTER.
UM, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, COME ON, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
SO, UM, WHEN WE GET TO THE PART WHERE WE'RE UPDATING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT AND THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, UH, HOW MUCH INFLUENCE WILL WE AS, UM, A COMMISSION HAVE ON THAT? UM, I GUESS MY THINKING ON THAT IS THAT, UM, I KNOW THERE'S GOALS FOR, UH, LIKE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, FAMILY HOUSING, AND, UH, DEFINITELY DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, YOU WILL BE, AS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER COMMISSION WILL BE IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
UM, THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, WHEN WE INITIATED IT BACK IN 2016, IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2017.
IT WAS A TWO PLUS YEAR PROCESS.
UM, WE BROUGHT BACK MULTIPLE ITERATIONS THROUGH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
UM, WE ALSO HAD FOCUS GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS THAT REALLY HELPED US HONE IN BOTH OUR GOALS AND OUR STRATEGIES.
YOU ARE RIGHT THAT, UM, SOME OF THE GOALS ARE OUTDATED.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE BLUEPRINT, UM, AND OUR GOAL FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WAS 50 UNITS A YEAR.
WE NEED HUNDREDS OF UNITS A YEAR.
UM, AND WE NEED, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED TO UPDATE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO UPDATE THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THERE.
IT'S ONE THING TO CREATE A PIE IN THE SKY GOAL BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED IT.
BUT WHAT ARE THE EXISTING TOOLS AND WHAT ARE THE PLAN TOOLS FOR US TO GET THERE? AND, AND THAT WOULD BE WHAT THE STAKEHOLDER CONVERSATION WOULD INVOLVE YOU DID.
AND SO BEYOND, UM, I GUESS YOU COMING AND TAKING OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR INPUT OR OUR, OUR IDEAS, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONERS FOR US TO SPEAK ON THAT AND COME UP WITH GOALS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IN THOSE, UM, IN THE BLUEPRINT.
AND I KNOW THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AS WELL, BECAUSE, UH, WE HAD A PRESENTATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY BEING BUILT AND WHAT THE M F I AND ALL OF THAT.
SO, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SSS FOR THAT.
UM, AND THAT KIND OF PIGGYBACKS ON.
UM, WELL, I'M GONNA PIGGYBACK ON YOU.
UM, WERE YOU COMPLETELY FINISHED? YES.
UM, I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT WILL BE THE ONGOING EVALUATION.
UM, WHAT KIND OF, AND I KNOW I'M, THAT'S MORE RHETORICAL AT THIS TIME.
I'M INTERESTED IN, UM, AT SOME POINT FINDING OUT WHAT CAN YOU ALL PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD BE AN ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE PROCESS.
I, I, IF WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, GETTING THIS GRANT WE NEED, IT NEEDS TO BE FLUID AND IT NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS, UM, IN, I WOULDN'T SAY IN REAL TIME, BUT AS CLOSE TO PO AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I'M REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN US COMING UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, PRETTY
[00:50:01]
MUCH ENGRAVED IN STONE AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO IMPLEMENT IT OVER THE SIX YEARS AND MAKE, YOU KNOW, A A BIG OLD FOOT FIT INTO A CINDERELLA SLIPPER.UM, THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA WORK.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS.
AND SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDER-RESOURCED, UM, AREAS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT JUST AROUND THE AREAS WHERE THE TRAIN RUNS OR WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN'T GET TO THOSE PARTICULAR PLACES FOR WHATEVER REASONS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT FRONT AND CENTER.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY, AS STAFF TRYING TO BALANCE, WE CAN'T PUT ALL OUR INVESTMENT NEXT TO RAIL LINES BECAUSE IT WOULD EXCLUDE, THANK YOU, A CHUNK OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT, THAT CHUNK OF AFFORD OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS JOBS AND LOW WAGE JOBS, AND PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO THOSE JOBS AND HAS A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.
UM, TRANSIT WOULD NOT IN AND OF ITSELF BE THE, THE ONLY FACTOR.
SO I WANTED TO ADD TO, UM, THE UNDER SOURCED AREAS.
UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE HUD WEBSITE AND IT TALKS ABOUT ONE OF THE BARRIERS IS LACK OF NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES, UHHUH,
YOU KNOW, THEY WOULDN'T BE UNDER SOURCED ANYMORE.
IF WE COULD, UM, ONE OF OUR GOALS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE THOSE NEEDED AMENITIES IN THOSE AREAS.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS COMMISSIONERS, UM, REMOTE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ.
UM, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, I'M, I MEAN DEPUTY, UH, DIRECTOR.
I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, SPOKE TO THAT.
WE DO HAVE A, UM, MS. DENOIA, JO JOSEPH WANTS TO SPEAK ON, UH, THAT, AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO INVITE HER UP.
YOU NEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE.
OFFICIALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER THAT IS REGISTERED.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, SHE SENT SOMETHING AHEAD TO THE COMMISSION, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
MR. BLAKE HAS A ONE PAGER, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR MAILBOXES.
I JUST WANNA PREFACE BY A READING FROM PAGE 37 OF THE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS SOUNDNESS OF APPROACH.
IT ASKS THE QUESTION, DOES YOUR PROPOSAL TARGET NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN AREAS THAT ALLOW CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS TO ACCESS PUBLIC TRANSIT JOBS, PUBLIC SERVICES, OR OTHER AMENITIES? AND I JUST WANNA REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2019, COUNCIL REZONED RIVERSIDE, EAST RIVERSIDE, 1,308 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS.
AND SO IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR THE STAFF NOT TO ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE CREATED BARRIERS FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY OCTOBER 23RD, 2020 19.
HEATHER WAY, WHO IS A LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, A CO-AUTHOR OF THE UPROOTED STUDY SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.
BASICALLY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN DID NOT TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE UPROOTED STUDY GAVE THEM, BUT THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY QUOTED THAT DOCUMENT, I WANNA CALL IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL, THAT IN 2017, WHEN CAPITOL METRO WAS CONSIDERING CONNECTIONS 2025,
[00:55:01]
WHICH WAS REBRANDED AS CAP REMAP, THE RESERVE AT SPRINGDALE IS A HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPERTY.10 OF THE 21 ACRES IS WHERE THE PROPERTY EXISTS TODAY.
THERE WERE A PAIR, THERE WAS A PAIRED BUS STOP THERE, AND THE DEVELOPER RYAN COMPANIES ACTUALLY TESTIFIED TWICE ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2017 AT THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND CAPITOL METRO MOVED THE BUS STOP.
AND MR. UH, THE RYAN COMPANIES REPRESENTATIVE, MR. NOEL ACTUALLY SAID, IF YOU MOVE THE BUS STOP, THAT WILL KILL ANY MIXED USE IN THAT AREA.
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE CAFE THERE.
AND WHY DID THEY CLOSE THAT BUS STOP TO SERVE THE, THE PEOPLE ON 51ST STREET, THE PEOPLE IN THE $1 MILLION HOMES, THE WHITE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT GETTING ON THE BUS.
SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THESE IMPEDIMENTS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE CREATED THESE BARRIERS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE.
AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE DOCUMENT THAT I GAVE YOU, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE INFORMATION FOR YOU.
HUD WILL PRIORITIZE APPLICANTS WHO COMMIT TO OVERCOMING LOCAL BARRIERS.
AND SPECIFICALLY, IT STATES THAT THEY WANT HUD SAYS, FURTHER ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO OUTLINE AND DISCUSS HOW THEIR PROPOSED ACTIVITIES WILL ADVANCE EQUITY, LOCATE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT, AND BOLSTER ACCESS TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT CAPITAL METRO HAS A FLEET OF THE LITTLE CUTAWAY VEHICLES, THE PICKUP SERVICE VEHICLES.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY USE THAT TO CREATE SOME TYPE OF TRANSIT ON PARMER LANE BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE, WHERE YOU HAVE THREE HEBS, THE 425 ACRE EAST VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT.
AND RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
IT'S A THREE MILE WALK FROM ROUTE 3 92.
IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO SAY THESE THINGS TO YOU.
AND I WILL RESPECTFULLY BE TRANSPARENT AND SAY THAT I WILL WRITE TO HUD AGAIN, AND I WILL OPPOSE THE $10 MILLION IF THEY DON'T DO MORE THAN THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU TODAY.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UM, MS. JOSEPH, UM, YOU GO ON.
'CAUSE I I'M GONNA GO ON COMMISSIONER SS.
UH, WOULD YOU, UH, EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THAT? UM, I KNOW THE PROPERTY ON RIVERSIDE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW DOES THAT, UH, CREATE MORE BARRIERS OR, I MEAN, NOT JUST THAT PROPERTY, BUT ANY PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE, I GUESS, UP ZONE OR CHANGE THE ZONING CHANGES.
HOW DOES THAT CREATE MORE BARRIERS FOR, UH, LOW INCOME COMMUNITY? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WHEN YOU REMOVE, IN THIS CASE, OCTOBER 17TH, 2019, IT WAS 1,308 UNITS.
WHEN THEY REPLACED THOSE UNITS, THEY DO NOT PUT BACK THE SAME AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT THEY TOOK AWAY.
SO ONCE THEY RE REMOVED THOSE UNITS, IT WAS IN 2021.
SO APPROXIMATELY APRIL, 2021 IS WHEN NEFERTITI JACKMAN, THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT OFFICER, WAS ACTUALLY HIRED.
SO THEN YOU DISPLACE THE INDIVIDUALS, YOU THEN PUT $300 MILLION IN THE COFFERS FOR PROJECT CONNECT, FOR ANTI DISPLACEMENT, BUT YOU HAVE REMOVED THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
SO THE BARRIER IS THAT EVEN IF YOU SAY YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN, UNLESS YOU'RE GUARANTEEING THAT THAT AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THAT AREA, YOU ARE ACTUALLY REMOVING THEM FROM THE CORE WHERE THE TRANSIT IS.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BARRIERS.
I WILL TELL YOU AS WELL, IN HYDE PARK SPECIFICALLY, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE BAKER SCHOOL, THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IT CAPITAL, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACTUALLY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
UH, ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE WAS GONNA PUT IT, BUT THEN THE CITY DECIDED MARCH 12TH, 2020 TO PUT A $3.8 MILLION DETENTION POND ON ONE ACRE.
SO THAT KILLED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WOULD'VE BEEN IN THAT HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREA.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THE BARRIER, UH, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT ACTUALLY EXISTS WITH SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES IS THAT YOU HAVE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THEY HAVE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION, AND THEIR PARTICULAR, UH, DEVELOPMENTS ARE 60 TO 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME LIKE COMMISSIONER DELGADO ASKED ABOUT.
AND THAT IS OVER THE AMOUNT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS EARN.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THESE PROPERTIES ARE PRIMARILY IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PUT THE TRANSIT WHERE THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE.
BUT INSTEAD, THOSE PROPERTIES FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UNDER THEIR PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION ARE PREDOMINANTLY FOR PEOPLE WHO EARN NOW, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $65,000.
AND THAT IS NOT GONNA INCREASE THE HOUSING STOCK.
[01:00:01]
OF THOSE UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS ARE IN FOUR NORTHEAST AUSTIN, OR FOUR SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE LONG-WINDED, BUT I JUST NEED YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE MARSHALING YARD.
THE CITY JUST GOT THAT $65 MILLION FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ON OR ABOUT JULY 25TH.
AND INSTEAD OF DOING SCATTERED SITE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR FINDING A, A CITY OWNED FACILITY WEST OF MOPAC, OR EVEN SOUTHWEST WHERE THE BUS RUNS FREQUENTLY, THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WANT TO PUT 700 MORE UNITS WHERE THERE ARE ALREADY 200 UNITS, UH, FOR THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A MILE AWAY FROM THE MARSHALING YARD, WHICH WILL HOUSE 300 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS TOO.
THAT IS WHAT CONCENTRATING POVERTY LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THERE IS, THAT'S AN INDUSTRIAL ZONED AREA WITH WAREHOUSES.
IT IS NOT GOING TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES EVEN WITH THE VAN.
YOU CAN'T RELY ON THAT TO GET YOUR, GET YOU TO WORK.
AND SO THAT IS WHY WE NEED, IN THIS PROPOSAL, A COMMITMENT TO PUT SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN WEST AUSTIN AS WELL, AND WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF DENSITY.
AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT THOSE RIVERSIDE APARTMENTS ARE STILL VACANT.
A LOT OF, UM, OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AROUND THEIR LOST POPULATION BECAUSE OF THOSE, UM, THOSE FAMILIES WERE DISPLACED.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY ONE LAST THING, BECAUSE YOU DID ASK ME ABOUT RIVERSIDE, AND I WENT OFF ON A TANGENT, AND I,
BUT WITH RIVERSIDE, IF YOU GO TO THE, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, IT WAS ABOUT LESS THAN A YEAR.
THE DEVELOPER PRESIDIUM THEN WENT BEFORE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND ASKED FOR ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THOSE UNITS TO BE AT ABOUT 80% TO 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO EVEN IF THE CITY SAID, WELL, WE WANT YOU TO COME BACK, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN IF YOU FOLLOW WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS DOING, AND YOU RECOGNIZE THAT, OKAY, THEY REZONED THIS PROPERTY, THE 1,308 UNITS ARE GONE.
AND THEN LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, HERE COMES A DEVELOPER AND THEY DON'T SAY, WE WANT TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO EARN 50% AREA MEDIA INCOME.
THEY THEN SAY, WE WANT TO HAVE THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO EARN ABOUT $96,000.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT GENTRIFICATION LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEY'RE MOVING PIECES BECAUSE THESE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WORK TOGETHER.
YOU MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING AT THE CITY, BUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY GETS PERMISSION FROM THE CITY AND THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.
AND MANY OF THESE UNITS WHERE WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ARE AN FM 9 69 ON A 60 MINUTE BUS ROUTE, ARE, THEY'RE IN AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR.
SO YES, YOU ARE GONNA BE BURDENED, UH, TRYING TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST, I MEAN, YOUR EXPERTISE AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU CARRY TODAY AND, AND HAVE SHARED WITH THIS COMMISSION AND THIS DIOCESE, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING IN AND BEING THAT ADVOCATE, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR AND THE FIGHT FOR, YOU KNOW, AGAINST GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT, UH, IN EAST OF 35, NOT WEST OF 35, BUT EAST OF 35, HAVE BEEN, UM, REALLY AFFECTED AND TRAUMATIZED.
UM, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, HUNDREDS OF LOW INCOME, MEXICAN, UH, AND BLACK MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE RIVERSIDE AREA ARE NO LONGER THERE.
UM, WE, WE, WE, I I FEEL LIKE WE, WE KEEP COMING.
LIKE WE'RE LIKE REINVENTING THE WHEEL AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT 2017, WE'RE IN 2023 NOW.
UM, IF WE LOOK BACK AT 2017, THE FIGHT OF, UH, NOT WANTING ORACLE, WHICH IS A, UM, GLOBAL, UH, TECHNOLOGY COMPANY TO COME IN AND NEGOTIATE THAT LAND, UM, WITH OUR CITY AND, AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TIME, UM, HAS REALLY, REALLY PUT US IN, IN A VERY BAD BIND, UH, TO LIKE THE WAY COMMISSIONER LEAH SAID, THOSE APARTMENTS ARE VACANT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING SO, SO LONG, BUT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR.
SO THE ENCROACHMENT THAT SURROUNDS OUR AREA IN DISTRICT THREE, WHICH IS, UH, THE, THE AREAS THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH IS AT 7 8 7 0 2, HAS REALLY, REALLY, UM, REALLY BEEN A, A BARRIER FOR US.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, ON THE BUS LINE OR PROJECT CONNECT, UH, I'M SORRY, MY BABY, MY GRANDBABY'S CRYING.
[01:05:01]
UH, AND IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, UM, DO WE HAVE AGREEMENTS, UH, AND DO WE HAVE CLAUSE THAT SHOW THAT FAMILIES ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS? THANK YOU.
MAY I JUST SAY THANK YOU TO, UH, COMMISSIONER DELGADO, MADAM CHAIR, UH, AND I, I JUST WILL MAKE ONE POINT TO WHAT SHE HAS JUST BROUGHT FORTH.
AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT ON THOSE RAIL LINES, OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE SMALLER UNITS, AND I'LL JUST REFER YOU TO PLAZA SALTILLO, MARCH 2ND, 2017 WAS AN ALL-NIGHTER.
AND THE CITY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO PUT SIX TWO BEDROOM UNITS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AT THE TIME WAS TRYING TO PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT.
AND MAYOR ADLER HAD THE DEVELOPER GET ON THE FLOOR TO SAY WHAT THE DEVELOPER WANTED.
AND IN THE END, I REMEMBER BEING HERE AND A LADY IN THE RESTROOM SAYING, WE LOST.
BUT IT IS BECAUSE THAT IS A STRATEGIC WAY TO EXCLUDE FAMILIES AND TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO, UH, ARE UNFORTUNATELY MAY NEED MORE THAN TWO UNITS.
SO EVEN IF YOU SAY, UH, WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL OVER THE CITY, IF YOU BUILD ONLY THESE ONE BEDROOMS OR STUDIO APARTMENTS, THEN YOU ARE DICTATING WHO CAN STAY THERE.
AND WHEN YOU SAY, OUR SCHOOLS HAVE LOST POPULATION MM-HMM.
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
JOHN'S PROJECT, 526 UNITS, 19 ACRES, NO HOME OWNERSHIP, AND ONLY EIGHT OF THOSE UNITS WERE THERE.
BUT WHEN THAT DEVELOPER WENT BEFORE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2022, HE EXPLAINED THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
IF HE BUILT ONE THREE BEDROOM UNIT, THAT MEANT THAT HE COULDN'T BUILD THREE STUDIOS.
SO THE CHAIR AT THE TIME, ELAINE FOWLER, WHO'S STILL THERE, ASK, WELL, IF FAMILIES ARE SUPPOSED TO COME BACK, IF AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE COMING BACK, HOW, HOW CAN THEY MOVE BACK TO THE AREA? AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE LESSONS TO LEARN FROM CABRINI GREEN IN CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY PROMISED THEM THAT THEY HAD A RIGHT TO RETURN.
BUT IN THE END, THAT CLAUSE THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER WHEN I TESTIFIED, IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
A PRIVATE DEVELOPER GOT THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MIXED INCOME, VERY FEW OF THOSE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO LIVE THERE CAN NOW GO BACK TO WHERE CABRINI GREEN IS NICE.
AND THERE'S A RIVER WALK AND ALL OF THOSE NICE AMENITIES.
AND WHEN I SAW THAT LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY, UH, FOR THE ST.
JOHN'S PROJECT WHERE IT WENT FROM 99 YEARS TO 60 YEARS, AND THEN IT HAS SPECIFICALLY NO AFFORDABILITY.
WELL, WHY IS THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE? WHO PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE BETWEEN DECEMBER 8TH, 2022? AND WHEN COUNCIL VOTED ON THAT ITEM JUST LAST WEEK, YOU SEE THAT THAT'S WHERE THE TRUST FACTOR, UM, IS NOT THERE WITH THE, THE HOUSING, UM, STAFF, BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE THAT DECISION AND SOMEBODY PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
BUT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION WHEN I ASKED THEM TO STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE.
WHY DID IT GO FROM 99? IT'S NOT 90, IT'S STILL 99 YEARS AT ST.
ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL FOR THE N X P PEOPLE.
AND IT'S 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME WITH A NICE VIEW OF THE CAPITAL, BUT IT'S 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND HISPANICS WERE NOT LIKELY TO LIVE THERE 99 YEARS, AND THEY DIDN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THAT TO 60, NEITHER DID THEY DO THAT FOR SOCO OR FOR THE HIGHLAND VILLAGE.
SO WHY WAS THAT CHANGE MADE? AND SO WE JUST NEED TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST WHAT THEY SAY.
IT'S JUST A TEXTBOOK RESPONSE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, RESPECTFULLY, UM, THEIR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. JOSEPH.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? COMMISSIONERS ON THE DAIS.
UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DID YOU SEE THE INFORMATION THAT, UM, THAT MS. JOSEPH FORWARDED TO US, THE ONE PAGER? IF NOT, THEN WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO GET IT.
I, THAT'S THE ONE WITH THE COLORS.
I WILL ASK MR. BLAKE TO FORWARD, FORWARD IT TO YOU, FORWARD IT TO ME'S GOOD'S.
I'LL ALSO ASK MS. JOSEPH TO, UH, UH, GO TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN AND PROVIDE THAT INPUT, UM, AND JUST UPLOAD, UH, THAT RESPONSE.
AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS, AS PART OF OUR GRANT APPLICATION, WE ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVE, AND I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AND IN REFERENCE.
[01:10:01]
WOULD YOU PLEASE, UM, UH, ADHERE TO THAT REQUEST AS WELL TO, UH, UPLOAD THE INFORMATION TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN? AND, UM, DO I GET A COMMITMENT FROM YOU, MS. JOSEPH ON THAT? IS THERE AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR IS IT, JUST SPEAK UP AUSTIN AND YOU CAN UPLOAD THE DOCUMENT.IT'S SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG/PRO HOUSING GRANT.
BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, AM I ABLE TO SUBMIT A MEMORANDUM OR IS THAT JUST A TEXT BOX WHERE YOU PUT THE INFORMATION? THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION, AND IF YOU CANNOT IN FACT UPLOAD IT, YOU CAN FORWARD TO ME DIRECTLY.
SO MADAM CHAIR, I WILL TYPE A MEMO,
JUST AS A MATTER OF TRANSPARENCY, DON'T COUNT AGAINST THE 40 PAGE LIMIT THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE APPLICATION.
SO I WILL BE EXTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE, AND I WILL MAKE THOSE POINTS AND UPLOAD 'EM OR SEND IT BY EMAIL IF THERE'S AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC TOO.
THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE PRO HOUSING GRANT.
IT IS ON SPEAKUP AUSTIN UH, DOT ORG.
AND LASTLY, MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY JUST SAY THIS, I WANNA, I HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS COMMISSION OVER THE YEARS 20 20, 20 21, AND MY COMMENTS ARE EXTENSIVE, SO THEY DON'T USUALLY FIT IN A BOX.
AND I HAVE BEEN SAID, I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE ABOUT SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK, UH, DEPUTY, UH, DEO, UH, TO BE AT LEAST OPEN AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR A VARIETY OF WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY LASTLY, THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS.
BUT THE, THE LITTLE P S A THAT I HEARD, THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ON K U T, NOT K A Z I 88.7 FM, WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS LISTEN REPEATEDLY EVERY DAY.
AND YOU CAN CALL IN SEVEN 30 TO 10 EVERY DAY AND IT COSTS NOTHING.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, ASK THAT YOU DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER OUTREACH, AND I GET THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, AND, BUT MAYBE LETTING THEM KNOW TO PUT SOME INFORMATION AND SPEAK UP AUSTIN, HOWEVER YOU PREFER TO RECEIVE IT, WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.
AND AS MS. JOSEPH KNOWS, I RESPOND TO HER EMAILS.
UM, AND I WILL SAY, I WILL CHECK WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS, BUT WE DID DO A COMPREHENSIVE OUTREACH PLAN THAT I BELIEVE INCLUDES K A Z I.
WE DO HAVE, UM, ADVERTISEMENTS CURRENTLY ON K U T RIGHT NOW AS WELL, BUT I'LL CONFIRM WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS.
AND I HAVE TO SPEAK UP, AUSTIN, UM, I HAD QUEUED IT UP A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AND, UM, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, IN REFERENCE TO PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SPEAKING, SO THIS COUNTS AS COMMENTS THAT EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T GO INTO THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN, THEY ARE STILL BEING COUNTED AS PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S, THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE DOING STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH, SO WE'RE MEETING WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS ONE-ON-ONE.
UM, WE'RE DOING TWO DIFFERENT, UM, UH, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MM-HMM.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
SO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES AND WE WELCOME ALL INPUT.
AND THE LAST THING, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THE VERY LAST THING IS TO SPEAK UP, AUSTIN, SINCE YOU SAY SPEAK UP AUSTIN, IS THERE A WAY FOR ONE TO CALL AND JUST SPEAK AND LIKE SHARE THEIR COMMENTS? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS.
IT IS AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
ALL OF OUR MATERIALS HAVE, SO THIS IS REALLY RIGHT UP, RIGHT UP AUSTIN, IT, IT, IT IS RIGHT UP AUSTIN.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WASN'T, WE WEREN'T SPEAKING, WE'RE ACTUALLY TYPING THIS, WE'RE TYPING UP AUSTIN.
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP.
THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH AND MADAM CHAIR, YOU MENTIONED HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, AND I WOULD JUST BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT HIGH, HIGH OPPORTUNITY IS ACTUALLY IN THE DOCUMENT AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
AND THERE IS, UH, EMPHASIS BY, UH, MARSHA FUDGE, THE SECRETARY OF HUD.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE CONSIDER PUTTING THOSE UNITS THERE.
AND JUST LASTLY, WE'LL SAY THAT THE $260 MILLION THAT WE GOT FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, NONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE ACTUALLY, UH, WEST OF LOOP ONE, UH, THAT I KNOW OF.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY WE DON'T NEED NECESSARILY A TOOL.
TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS A SUCCINCT CHART THAT LISTS ALL OF THE PROPERTIES
[01:15:01]
THAT THEY HAD UP TO THAT POINT.AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE, UH, BUS STOP DISTANCE AND THEY HAVE WHERE THAT SITE IS LOCATED.
I GET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VACANCY, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START IF WE HAVE TO STREAMLINE WHERE THESE DOLLARS GO.
WE DEFINITELY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE SO EXTENSIVE.
THANK, WE APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
MAY I REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN, UH, COMMENTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OCTOBER 25TH AND THEN IT CLOSES.
OCTOBER 25TH, THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING, OCTOBER 25TH, PLEASE SPEAK UP, WRITE UP AUSTIN
AND, UM, AND WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR, UH, SCHOOLS THAT ARE LOSING, UH, TITLE ONE FUNDING, ET CETERA, BECAUSE, UM, WE ARE GOING TO STUDIO APARTMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE FAMILIES, AND IT IS IN FACT IMPACTING OUR, UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL, UM, UH, MAKEUP.
THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, YOU'VE BEEN FABULOUS TO, UH, QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WE TOOK CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WE WILL MOVE TO THE SECOND ONE IF AN ANGEL IS STILL AROUND.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING BOOTED, AND WE NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, REGARDING THE, UM, PRO, UH, HOUSING GRANT THAT, UM, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, DE MAY, UH, PRESENTED.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
[2. Presentation on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) (Angel Zambrano, Neighborhood Services Unit, Austin Public Health)]
GO BACK TO OUR BRIEFINGS AND WE'RE GONNA PICK UP WITH ITEM TWO, WHICH WAS OUT OF ORDER.AND AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, FLEXIBILITY.
MR. ZAMBRANO, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
WELL, THIS IS, UH, AN ZAMBRANO FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME FOR THE MONTHLY REPORT ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT, I'M GONNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FUNDS THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO LOW INCOME TEXANS RESIDENTS IN ALL 254 COUNTIES, INCLUDING OURS.
OUR MISSION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT IMPROVES THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY BY PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DO IT THROUGH A VARIETY OF, OF, UM, SERVICES, BASIC NEEDS, PREVENTIVE HEALTH, THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH, NURSING SERVICES THAT ARE FREE CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE GET BACK INTO THE WORLD OF WORK AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS.
I'LL BE PRETTY BRIEF TO TONIGHT.
UH, ON THE BOTTOM PART OF THE FIRST PAGE, YOU'LL SEE OUR, OUR, UH, BUDGET, ALMOST $400,000 EXPENDED THROUGH AUGUST.
IF YOU GO TO PAGE TWO AND SOME DATA POINTS HERE FOR YOU ALL, IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR PACKET.
UH, OUR TRANSITIONS OUTTA POVERTY GOAL OF 43 FOR THE YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE ONLY ACHIEVED NINE.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT NINE MORE IN THE WORKS, SO I'LL BE REPORTING ON THAT AS THE YEAR ENDS.
UH, WE'VE HAD SOME VACANCIES IN OUR SOCIAL WORK POSITIONS.
UH, IT'S BEEN TOUGH IN TERMS OF HELPING PEOPLE MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR UP TO 90 DAYS, BUT WE CONTINUE TO, TO, UH, WORK WITH FOLKS AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL DEFINITELY MEET THAT GOAL.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, I'LL JUST FOCUS ON A FEW THINGS.
OUR, UH, F M P I FOUR E, THE HOUSEHOLDS WHO AVOIDED EVICTION.
OUR TARGET FOR THIS YEAR WAS 400.
WE'RE AT 389 HOUSEHOLDS WHO AVOIDED EVICTION DUE TO OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT UTILITY PAYMENTS, WE HAVE A SMALL PLUS ONE PROGRAM.
WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP 165 FOLKS, UH, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
UH, A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO IS, UH, HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, SO FAR THIS YEAR, OUR FIVE JJ SERVICE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, ALMOST 50,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVED OUT OF VARIOUS, UM, FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS LIKE HOPE FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES, MARKET FOOD PANTRY, ALL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK AND SOME FOOD RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS.
GO TO THE PROGRAMMATIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME.
JUST REMINDING YOU OF WHAT WE DO OVERALL.
[01:20:03]
GO TO THE THIRD PAGE.WE CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK THROUGH OUR FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM.
UH, NUMBER THREE, THE C OVID 19 TEST KITS.
AS YOU KNOW, COVID IS STILL AROUND, SO I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UM, FOLKS CAN ORDER THOSE ONLINE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THEY GET UP TO FOUR FREE TESTS.
UH, THERE'S ALSO FREE RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS AVAILABLE AT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
PEOPLE JUST NEED TO CALL AND, AND, UH, NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY, BUT JUST CALL AHEAD AND LET US, LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING.
OUR HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE VERY ROBUST.
JUST IN AUGUST, WE SERVED ALMOST 2000 HOUSEHOLDS, 5,700 PEOPLE WITH, UH, FOOD STABLE FOODS DELIVERED TO THEIR DOOR.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK AND AMAZON, WE CONTINUED TO BUILD UP OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICES.
AS I REMINDED YOU ALL BEFORE, OUR NURSES WERE, UM, REASSIGNED THROUGH THE END OF LAST YEAR.
THEY CAME BACK AROUND JANUARY AND ARE BUILDING UP THEIR PROGRAM AGAIN.
SO, PLEASE, UH, LET YOUR COMMUNITIES KNOW.
I THINK I'VE SENT YOU ALL OUR MAIN FLYER, BUT ALSO, UM, WE ARE DOING FLU CLINICS THIS MONTH AND IN NOVEMBER THEY ARE FREE AND THEY'RE FOR LOW INCOME AND UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.
THE LAST PIECE HERE, I CAN JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE NURSING SUCCESS STORY ON YOUR OWN TIME.
I THINK I'M GONNA TRY TO INCLUDE SOME OF THESE STORIES, LIKE I SAID LAST MONTH, TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF AN ACTUAL STORY AND THE FACE BEHIND THE NUMBERS THAT I REPORT HERE EVERY MONTH.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IS IT FOR THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. ZAMBRANO.
I'M SORRY THAT WE HELD YOU UP FOR SUCH A BRIEF
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING FOR, UH, MR. ZAMBRANO? ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ FOR ACKNOWLEDGING NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER TOLIVER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
ANGELA, I NEED TO ASK, ARE Y'ALL STILL PASSING OUT THE, UH, NASAL SPRAY FOR THE ONES THAT, UH, TRYING TO STAY WELL WITHOUT GETTING FENTANYL? HEY, IS THAT THE NARCAN? MM-HMM.
WE ARE ACTUALLY, OUR UNIT IS IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT THAT POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
UM, THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT UNDER COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE ARE PLANNING TO ROLL THAT OUT AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
WE SEE THE NEED AT ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY LIKE THE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND THERE, A LOT OF MULTIPLE FOLKS.
UM, AND WE WANNA BE READY FOR THAT.
AND I'LL REPORT ON THAT ONCE WE GET THAT, UH, OFF THE GROUND.
THANK YOU, MR. ANGEL QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER TOVER, UM, FOR BRINGING THAT QUESTION UP.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE BRIEFING FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT IS, UM, COMPLETE.
UM, AND, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE, YOU MAY BE EXCUSED.
I'M GONNA LEAVE THE FLYER WITH OUR SERVICES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND THE FLU CLINICS.
I'LL JUST LEAVE 'EM BACK HERE FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE ON YOUR WAY OUT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE FINISHED WITH OUR BRIEFING, DR.
UH, ANGEL, CAN YOU SEND THAT, UH, THE FLYER ALSO THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE EMAIL, PLEASE, SO WE CAN SHARE ON ONLINE? I WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR BRIEFINGS ARE, UH, WE'LL BE MOVING ON.
WE'RE FINISHED WITH ALL OF OUR, OUR TWO BRIEFINGS.
WE'RE COMING NOW UP TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE DO HAVE ONE, UM, THAT WE'LL BE DEALING WITH THE PATHWAYS TO REMOVING THE OBSTACLES.
OH, WE, THAT'S ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT ONE.
UM, WE'RE GOING OUR, UH, DISCUSSIONS.
[5. Discuss and approve the 2024 CDC Meeting Schedule (Housing Department Staff)]
AND ACTION ITEMS WE HAVE TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE OUR, UM, CALENDAR, OUR TWO 2024 C D C MEETING SCHEDULE.IT IS, UH, AFFIXED TO THE LAST PAGE OF OUR, UM, PACKET IF YOU HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY.
[01:25:01]
REVIEWED BY STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANTICIPATED CONFLICTS WITH, UM, OTHER, UM, ACTIVITIES GOING ON WITH THE CITY PARTICULAR ELECTIONS.AND SO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE ALL CLEAR WITH THESE DATES.
UM, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, WE JUST NEED TO ADOPT IT.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, TAKE A LOOK.
SEE IF ANYTHING JUMPS OUT AT YOU.
OTHERWISE, WHERE'S MY THING? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE DATES? NOW? I WILL SAY THIS AS CHAIR.
I'LL TAKE LIBERTY TO SAY, COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE MARK THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDARS AND, AND DO OUR, I WANT ALL OF US TO DO OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TO BE PRESENT ON THESE DATES.
WE WE'RE HAVING A FAIR NOTICE AS TO THE DATES.
AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT REALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, I'M ASKING PERSONALLY IF WE WOULD ALL MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE PRESENT FOR THE REMAINING MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE, UH, CONSIDERED FOR NEXT YEAR.
LIBERTY, I WANT TO APPROVED ALSO.
WE'LL SEND THAT OUT CALENDAR INVITE TO, SO YOU CAN MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL SEND 'EM TO YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMISSIONER EMAIL ADDRESS.
DISCUSSION? WHO'S SPEAKING? COME ON.
UH, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY, SAY IT NOW.
JUNE 11 IS MY BIRTHDAY, SO PROBABLY I WON'T BE THERE ON JUNE 11TH.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA WISH YOU AN EARLY BIRTHDAY RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S FINE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS, ANYTHING? OKAY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, I, UM, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR 2024 CALENDAR.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CALENDAR.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS MADE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE IT.
CAN I GET A SECOND? ENTERTAIN IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK IT? I THINK YOU NEED TO SPEAK.
HE NEEDS, UM, YEAH, I SECOND THAT.
I LOVE ACKNOWLEDGING THE HAND, BUT FOR RECORDS, WE NEED IT SPOKEN.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, WE NEED, UM, VIDEO FOR OUR VOTE.
DO WE HAVE VIDEO FOR, ARE WE ALL GOOD? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA? UH, THOSE IN FAVOR? I NEED COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE VIDEO THIS ONE LAST TIME? THERE WE GO.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF OUR OUR 2024 CALENDAR.
WE ARE, UH, IT'S ACCEPTED AND ADOPTED.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE STAFF, PARTICULARLY MR. BLAKE, FOR HIS, UM, WORK IN THAT AREA.
UM, MOVING ON QUICKLY, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO, UM, ADD IN? WE DO HAVE ITEMS FROM LAST TIME THAT ALREADY FUTURE ADDEND ITEMS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANYTHING THIS TIME.COMMISSIONERS HEARING NONE? WE'RE MOVING ON.
THEY'LL BE AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE FUJI FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON, UM, PAGE THREE OF THE, UM, UH, DRAFT MINUTES, UM, THAT ARE, ARE THERE.
AND SO IT DOES SEEM, SEEM LIKE WE DO HAVE COMMISSIONER DELGADO'S REQUEST FOR A PRESENTATION FOR MEALS ON WHEELS.
AND IT DOES, LIKE THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO BEING AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THEM.
HEARING NO OTHER FOR, UH, AGENDA ITEMS? WE'LL, MOVING ON.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, WELL, THAT'S IT ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK STAFF, UM, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REQUEST? UH, THE PAST AGENDA ITEM REQUEST FOR, UH, ECHO.
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I, I THINK I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MONTH THAT WAS, BUT I HAD REQUESTED TO, UH, DO AN AUDIT ON ECHO AND HAVING ECHO COME TO THE BOARD.WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT? MM-HMM.
I SENT YOU TWO EMAILS, UH, COMMISSIONER DELGADO ASKING SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT WAS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, UH, FROM ECHO.
I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS AN UPDATE ON PERFORMANCE OR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE, UH, UH, SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.
SO IF YOU GIVE US CLARITY NOW WE KNOW WHAT TO ASK ECHO TO COME AND PRESENT ON.
UM, LETICIA? YEAH, I I, I DIDN'T GET YOUR EMAILS.
UM, BUT IF WE CAN JUST CLARIFY IT NOW FOR THE RECORD.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT REQUEST WAS MONTHS AGO.
UM, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT, UH, TO FIND OUT HOW MANY OF, UH, HOMELESS, UM, PEOPLE THEY HAVE SERVED IN, UH, PROVIDING, UH, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, TEMPORARY HOUSING.
UM, I, I WANNA SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
I ALSO WANTED TO SEE THE AUDIT WAS, WAS TO BE SPECIFIC BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OWNING, NAVIGATING SYSTEM THAT WE'RE USING AS A TOOL, UH, FOR OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE.
AND ALL OF THE DOLLARS ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH THERE.
AND IF YOU WANT A COORDINATING ASSESSMENT DONE IN ORDER TO GET ANY TYPE OF HOMELESS VOUCHER, SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER OR EVEN BE HOUSED, UH, INTO TRANSITION HOUSING, UH, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ECHO.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DATA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE WENT INTO CONTRACT, WHICH I HAD ASKED STAFF TO GIVE ME A CLARIFICATION ON THE DATE THAT WE WENT INTO CONTRACT WITH ECHO AND YOU STARTED USING ECHO AS OUR MAIN HUB.
UH, 'CAUSE Y'ALL COULDN'T PROVIDE ME THAT DATE AT THAT TIME.
Y'ALL SAID Y'ALL WOULD GET THAT BACK TO ME.
THAT NEVER HAS BEEN RESPONDED.
SO THE DATE OF WHEN ECHO CONTRACTED WITH THE CITY TO BE IN CHARGE OF OFF THE CITY HOMELESS IN INITIATIVE PROGRAM, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE DATA IS FOR ECHO, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOUSED, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED VOUCHERS? WHAT IS THE WAITING LIST ON ECHO? AND WHAT ARE OUR DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN ECHO? WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THEIR INFORMATION.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME.
UH, I, IF YOU CAN GIVE ME THE LAST TIME A REQUEST, UH, FOR WHEN THEY CAME TO THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS TO TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE AND ALL OF THE MONEY THAT, THAT'S FILTERING THROUGH THEM.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION AND WE'LL GET THAT AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHEN THEY CAN COME AND PRESENT.
AND COMMISSIONER DELGADO, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE ALSO HAVE THE PROJECT CONNECT IS ON THE FUTURE ADDENDA ITEMS TOO.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT'S MY TIME? OKAY.
UM, IF THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONERS, STAFF, ANYTHING ELSE? WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPRESS AN APPRECIATION TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE IN FACT LOST THREE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS IN THE LAST, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS.
A COMMISSIONER ECK, UM, UH, ERHART, WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF US FOR, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS.
I DO BELIEVE COMMISSIONER SLOAN AND COMMISSIONER HAN.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND, UH, WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR TIME, UH, THAT YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.
AND, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE APPRECIATE THOSE THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US, UH, AS FAR AS THE BODY.
BUT WE DO, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S HERE AS WELL AS STAFF.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE STAND ADJOURNED.
THE TIME NOW IS 8 28 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.