Nov 02, 2023 City Council Meetings

[00:00:03]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

[Call to Order]

IT'S NOVEMBER 2ND, 2023.

IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

WE ARE MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, PRESENT.

UM, MEMBERS, THE ORDER THAT WE WILL FOLLOW TODAY IS WE WILL HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AFTER I READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE AGENDA, WE WILL HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.

UH, THEN WE WILL GO TO A CONSENT VOTE WITH BRIEF COMMENTS FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE WILL THEN GO TO THE NON-CONSENT SPEAKERS, AGAIN, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.

WE HAVE ONE ITEM THAT'S RELATED TO IMMINENT DOMAIN, AND WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP, UH, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS ON WHICH ARE REALLY 28 AND 20 ITEMS, 28 AND 29.

UH, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM WILL BE HEARD, UH, EITHER WITH THE, NOT, WITH, WITH THE CONSENT SPEAKERS OR AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

UH, IF, DEPENDING UPON WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU, IF YOU'VE ALREADY REGISTERED, UM, IF YOU'VE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A CONSENT AND A NON-CONSENT ITEM, UH, THEN WE WILL CALL YOU UP.

AS, AS EXPECTED, WE WILL HEAR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE LIVE MUSIC.

WE WILL, UH, CLOSE OUT THE AGENDA WITH THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON ZONING ITEMS. LET ME READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2023.

ITEMS NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FOUR ARE POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023.

ITEM NUMBER 15 IS WITHDRAWN.

ITEM NUMBER 22 IS WITHDRAWN.

ITEM NUMBER 27 IS WITHDRAWN MEMBERS.

WE WILL

[Consent Agenda ( Part 1 of 2 )]

BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO CALL UP, UH, THE LAW DEPARTMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 19.

ITEM NUMBER 19 WILL REMAIN ON CONSENT, BUT THE LAW DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION PRIOR TO OUR SPEAKERS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, MEGAN RILEY ON BEHALF OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT, I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND, UH, THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $110,000 TO SETTLE THE MAEU VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.

UH, THIS LAWSUIT IS RELATED TO A MARCH, 2021 CAR WRECK, UH, WHERE PLAINTIFF GREGORIA MAEU, UH, SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HER INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, THE CITY WILL OBTAIN A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE, UH, FROM MS. MACIAS THAT INCLUDES THE CITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES FROM ANY CLAIMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OR COULD BE ASSERTED AS PART OF THE LAWSUIT.

AND MS. MASIAS WILL DISMISS A LAWSUIT.

BASED ON THOSE TERMS, WE RECOMMEND, UH, THAT YOU APPROVE THE PAYMENT.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CON, UH,

[ Public Comment ]

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH IN PERSON FOR ITEM 20.

ZIA JOSEPH, FOLLOWED BY LUCIA BRIMMER AND LAKEISHA HARDING.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, COULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT? LUCIA BRIMMER.

LAKEISHA HARDING, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.

GOOD.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M LAKEISHA HARDING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK? OH, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED EVERYBODY TO SAY NAMES.

NO, NO, NO.

JUST FEEL FREE TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THINKERY.

I'M OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, AND I'M SPEAKING, UM, ON THE RESOLUTION DRAFT, UH, FOR THE ECLIPSE PLANNING.

UH, WE HAVE RECENTLY CONVENED OVER 20 NONPROFITS AND SEVERAL AISD AND DELL VALLEY SCHOOLS, UH, TO GET EVERYBODY READY FOR JOYFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES RELATED TO THE ECLIPSE.

UM, I SEE THAT IN THE DRAFT THERE, UM, IS A MOVE TO HAVE A PLAN THAT IS SET BY ABOUT FEBRUARY 1ST.

UH, THE, THE ASK THAT WE HAVE IS THAT SOME OF THAT TIMELINE HAS MOVED UP.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CONVENING AT, UH, AS AN AUSTIN AREA ECLIPSE TASK FORCE, WHICH, WHICH LUCIA WILL, UM, SPEAK TO IN JUST A MOMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

[00:05:01]

OUR NEXT ONE BEING IN DECEMBER WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE PLACE AND SPACE, HOW TO HOST EVENTS, WHAT ACCESSIBILITY LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THE CITY IS SAYING.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ALIGN THAT LANGUAGE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN TIME IF I DON'T HAVE LANGUAGE TO GIVE.

THAT WON'T BE GIVEN UNTIL FEBRUARY MARCH.

UM, BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH SEVERAL SCHOOLS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS, UM, HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PLAN AND PREP.

WE, WE DO KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL THAT DAY.

UM, SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SUPPORTS ARE, ARE IN PLACE AND TIMELY.

UM, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF, IF THAT IS NOT HAPPENING UNTIL FEBRUARY OR MARCH.

SO THE REQUEST IS THAT YES, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 23, BUT IF WE COULD WORK TO HAVE, UH, MORE IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATIONS THAT HAPPEN A LITTLE BIT SOONER, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

UM, AND IF WE COULD WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NONPROFITS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH AND THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE'RE WORKING WITH ARE WELL PREPARED WITH TIMELY COMMUNICATIONS AND PLANNING, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL.

LETICIA, I JUST, LETICIA SEE MANAGER? YEAH, MA'AM.

MA'AM, MA'AM, MA'AM.

YEAH.

WE, UH, KIM MC, KIMBERLY MCNEELY IS IN THE, AT THE BACK OF THE, UH, RIGHT OVER THERE.

SHE'S OUR PARKS DIRECTOR.

SHE'S THE ONE THAT IS IN PART LEADING THE EFFORT ON OUR SIDE TO GET OURSELVES READY FOR THAT.

AS WELL AS KEN SNIPES, I'D URGE YOU TO TALK TO THEM.

WE WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT ANYBODY CAN, EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY FOR SOMETHING THAT WON'T HAPPEN FOR ANOTHER, I'M TOLD FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE AFTER THE, AFTER THE GLS, AFTER THIS APRIL.

SO PLEASE GO VISIT WITH HER.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED FOR IT ON THIS.

OKAY.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IF IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE AUTHOR OF ITEM 23, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER AND TO THE DIET, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ABSOLUTELY.

WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION.

I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND LETICIA.

UM, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR.

I'M THE SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION, AND IF YOU WANNA BE IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE, WE'D LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU AS WELL.

AND IF WE CAN ASSIST AT ALL, UM, WE WILL.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION IS, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS THAT HAVE, UM, EMERGED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WHICH REALLY JUST UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR US TO HAVE SOME COORDINATION AND FACILITATION SO THAT WE CAN REALLY MAKE THIS BE, UM, UP TO ITS POTENTIAL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

THANK YOU.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE ANY DOCUMENTATIONS THAT WE HAVE RUNNING WITH YOU ALL AS WELL, AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

THAT'S GREAT.

THANKS FOR PARTNERING WITH US.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND, HELLO, MY NAME IS LUCIA BRIMER.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.

UM, I'M ASTRONOMY EDUCATOR, UH, CO-OWNER OF STARS AND SCIENCE AUSTIN, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE AUSTIN AREA SOLAR ECLIPSE TASK FORCE.

UM, WE'VE BEEN MEETING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

UM, WE'RE A GROUP OF LOCAL ASTRONOMERS, EDUCATORS, UM, PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR, UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONTACTS WITH NASA.

UM, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

UM, IT WILL BE A VERY BIG EVENT.

UM, ECLIPSE, UH, TOTAL ECLIPSES ARE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT HAPPEN ABOVE YOU, AROUND YOU AND WITHIN YOU.

UM, THE SKY GETS DARK, UM, ENOUGH TO SEE SOME PLANETS IN, UM, IN THE SKY, AND YOU WILL SEE THE SUN DISAPPEAR BEHIND THIS BIG BLACK MOON.

IT'S AMAZING.

UM, THE LANDSCAPE DARKENS ALL AROUND.

THE TEMPERATURE DROPS.

UM, YOU CAN HEAR CRICKETS CHIRPING AND THE BIRDS WILL STOP SINGING.

AND THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND IT'S JUST WITHIN YOU IS A FEELING OF WONDER.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE DECLARED IT TO BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.

UM, WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS RESOLVED TO CREATE A PLAN TO SUPPORT A POSITIVE, SAFE, AND INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR VIEWING THE TOTAL ECLIPSE.

AND, UM, WE'RE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.

IT ADDRESSES ALL THE IMPORTANT ISSUES, UM, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL.

UM, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED, AS LAKEISHA MENTIONED, WITH THE TIMELINE OF CREATING A PLAN BY FEBRUARY 1ST.

WE WOULD LIKE TO, WE RECOMMEND A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE IN ORDER TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE ONES THAT, UM, LAKEISHA HAS BEEN PLANNING.

UM, ALSO THINGS FOR, UM, SCHOOLS NEED TO PREPARE WELL IN ADVANCE, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO PLAN.

THEY CAN'T BE TOLD, OH, TOMORROW YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, IT, IT WON'T WORK.

UM, AND THEY HAVE, UM, EXAMS, UH, THE STAR EXAMS ARE COMING UP THAT SAME WEEK TOO.

UM, ENGAGING EXPERTS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MENTIONED AT YOUR KEY SITES.

UM, MOST ASTRONOMY EXPERTS WILL ALREADY HAVE HAD PLANS MADE WELL BEFORE THEN.

IS THAT MY 32ND WARNING OR SOMETHING THAT, THAT NO, THAT INDICATES YOUR TIME IS UP.

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

ANYWAY, SO

[00:10:01]

EVERYONE WILL TOWARDS DOING IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH DISPATCH AND YES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

YES.

OH, AND WE ALSO HAVE, UM, OUR GROUP IS GOOD, SO, YEAH, I'M SORRY.

AND QUESTIONS.

I GUESS IF, IF YOU HAVE MORE THAT YOU WANNA SAY, IF YOU WANNA GET IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE.

OKAY, I'LL DO THAT.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

WE, WE, WE SEEK YOUR INPUT, SO THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND IT'S, YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH MS. MCNEELY IN THE BACK AS WELL.

YEAH.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU CAN ALSO SPEAK WITH DIRECTOR MCNEELY, WHO IS IN THE BACK.

OKAY.

UM, BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

NEXT SPEAKER FOR ITEM.

I THINK IT'S GREAT HOW AISD SCHEDULED THE STAR EXAM FOR THE WEEK OF THE ECLIPSE.

YEAH, I KNOW IT SAYS THAT.

I THINK THAT'D BE THE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T SAY THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST GOOD PLANNING.

JUST GOOD PLANNING.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

I'M SORRY, MADAM CLERK.

THANKS, MAIR.

UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER ON ITEM 23 IS DAWN DAVIES, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY PETER BRENTON AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, IF SHE'S CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DAWN DAVIES.

I'M THE NIGHT SKY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE HILL COUNTRY.

I ALSO LEAD THE ECLIPSE TEAM FOR THE HILL COUNTRY, AND WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION OF OVER 600 VOLUNTEERS FROM THROUGHOUT 23 COUNTIES AND OVER 50 CITIES.

WE HAVE BEEN CONVENING SINCE OCTOBER OF 2020, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDER HAS, UH, PUT FORTH THIS, UH, RESOLUTION AND THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE A RESOUNDING, UH, POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT IN YOUR SUPPORT OF IT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE REGION.

UM, ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PARD AS THEY'RE PLANNING MANY EVENTS.

UM, AND ALSO THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.

UH, WE HAVE THE INTENTION OF HOSTING INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MITIGATE, UH, TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THIS WONDERFUL PHENOMENON.

SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, FROM THE AUSTIN AREA ECLIPSE TASK FORCE FROM THE HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE, AND ESPECIALLY FROM THE HILL COUNTRY ECLIPSE TEAM FOR YOUR PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION AND YOUR SUPPORT, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BROUGHT SOME, UH, ECLIPSE CLASSES HERE FOR YOU TODAY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED IN ADVANCE.

EXCELLENT.

UM, AND WELCOME ANY COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR OFFICES OR PARTNERS TO BETTER FURTHER OUR SUCCESS IN, UH, PROCEEDING WITH THIS EVENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YES, MAYOR PRO TEM DON, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE APPRECIATED SEEING YOU LAST MONTH FOR HILL COUNTRY NIGHT SKY PROCLAMATION THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES JOINED ME FOR.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

THANK YOU.

FOUNDING LOOK.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

PETER, GO AHEAD.

YES, HI THERE.

I AM PETER BRETON, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.

I THINK I WAS CALLED UP FOR 23, ALTHOUGH I AM ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON 28, UH, PARKING MINIMUMS. I WAS, I I WON'T LIE, I HAVE NOT WRITTEN MY TESTIMONY.

I WAS HOPING THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD COME AND SPEAK IN SUPPORT, SO I COULD JUST SAY WHAT THEY SAID, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM HAPPY THAT THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO REMOVE PARKING MINIMUMS. I THINK THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AUSTIN.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I'LL SAY IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL SPEND SOME TIME THIS WEEK TO GO OUTSIDE AND ENJOY, UH, YOUR LOCAL PARK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THE LAST WEEK I HAVE IS ENOVIA JOSEPH, RIGHT? 20 XENOBI I YOU HERE? YES.

OH, THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL.

I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.

ITEM 20 SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS YOUR $4,377,000, UH, ITEM FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE THROUGH THE CENTERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.

SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE TITLE SIX ASSURANCES.

TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

AND AS YOU MAY BE AWARE OR PERHAPS NOT, THERE'S NO NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER NORTH OF US, 180 3.

AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THE, WHAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU ARE THE TREASURY GUIDELINES, AND SPECIFICALLY, IT ALLOWS YOU TO PAY THE TENANT DIRECTLY.

AND I CAN'T

[00:15:01]

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2022, I ACTUALLY HAD A CASE THAT WAS NON-SUITED.

AND ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2022, I THANKED BUTLER SNOW.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS CONVOLUTED.

THE PROCESS IS, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO ALIGN YOUR POLICIES WITH THE FEDERAL LAW.

AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, MAYOR FEDERAL LAW TRUMPS STATE LAW AND ALSO THE LOCAL ORDINANCES, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THIS IS A BARRIER.

SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT TENANTS HAVE TO ACTUALLY CALL ON MONDAYS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.

IT'S LIKE A LOTTERY.

AND THEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THEN ACTUALLY PRIORITIZE WOMEN WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND OTHERS BEFORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY BEING EVICTED.

AND BECAUSE THEY, YOU HAVE TO PERFECT THE, YOUR CASE WITHIN ABOUT FIVE DAYS, YOU LITERALLY NEED THE MONEY TWICE THE AMOUNT OF THE RENT.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN DALLAS COUNTY, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE LAWYERS STAFFING THE DOCKETS IN EVICTION COURT.

AND SO IF YOU COULD PERHAPS HAVE A WORK SESSION WHERE YOU HAVE TEXAS REAL GRANDE LEGAL AID COME BEFORE YOU IN THE VOLUNTARY LEGAL SERVICES, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

MAYOR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MEMBERS.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION,

[Consent Agenda ( Part 2 of 2 )]

MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UH, MEMBERS, UH, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM AN ITEM ON 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 AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ABSENT, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAAS.

I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR BRIEF COMMENTS RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

THANKS MAYOR.

AND THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR BRINGING, UH, FORTH ITEM 24.

I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE MY STAFF WORK ON THIS ITEM WITH YOUR STAFF, WITH YOUR TEAM, AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AS THE HOME INITIATIVE MOVES FORWARD.

I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE OPTIONS FOR EXISTING STRUCTURES.

EXISTING HOMES HAVE VALUE, AND RELOCATING A HOUSE EITHER ON SITE OR ELSEWHERE SHOULD BE EASIER THAN GETTING A DEMOLITION PERMIT.

OTHERWISE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS COULD BE INCENTIVIZING DEMOLITIONS, DIVERTING CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS FROM LANDFILLS BY SAVING A STRUCTURE OR BY EXPANDING OUR DECONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS WILL HELP THE CITY MEET ITS FAST APPROACHING CLIMATE GOALS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ITEM 24 AND THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.

I NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, I TOO, JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEM 24, WHICH WILL PROMOTE PRESERVATION, AFFORDABILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.

UH, THIS ITEM WILL RAISE, WILL RAISE AWARENESS AND MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO RELOCATING A HOUSE BY INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT THE OPTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING DEMOLITION, STREAMLINING THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT CHEAPER AND FASTER IN FACILITATING A MARKET FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO BUY OR SELL THESE HOMES WITH CONCERNS THAT INCREASED DENSITY WILL RESULT IN THE DEMOLITION OF OLDER, SMALLER HOMES.

HOUSE RELOCATION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE EXISTING HOUSING.

HOMES CAN BE RELOCATED WITHIN A LOT OR TO A SEPARATE LOT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP OPTIONS.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE MENTIONED, RELOCATION HELPS DIVERT WASTE TO OUR LANDFILLS.

I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT 25% OF THE WASTE IN OUR LANDFILLS IS A RESULT OF DEMOLITIONS.

AND SO WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, BUT OUR CLIMATE CRISIS.

AND THAT'S WHY THIS ITEM IS A TRUE WIN-WIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CONEY.

THANK YOU.

I WANNA START BY EXTENDING MY APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO THE STAFF WHO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD THE AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER TWO.

THIS IS A PLAN THAT'S GONNA HELP US ADVANCE AND DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY AND ZERO WASTE GOALS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENORMOUS EFFORTS ON THAT, UM, AND BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

UM, I WANT TO ALSO,

[00:20:01]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

AND AS THE CITY MANAGER INDICATED, UM, HE WILL ACCELERATE THE PIECES THAT NEED TO BE ACCELERATED TO MAKE, UM, THIS WHOLE PROCESS A SUCCESS.

WE OFTEN GIVE A DEADLINE, AND IT'S A DEADLINE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE DONE SOONER.

UM, SO TODAY WITH ITEM 23, WE ARE DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO SUPPORT A POSITIVE, SAFE, AND INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR VIEWING THE TOTAL ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8TH, 2024, RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.

UM, THIS RESOLUTION LOOKS AHEAD TO APRIL 8TH, 2024, WHEN WE WILL EXPERIENCE ONE OF NATURE'S WONDERS, A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

WITH THIS DIRECTION, THE COUNCIL IS INVITING AUSTIN TO ENJOY THIS WONDER OF NATURE.

TOGETHER, WE ARE A CREATIVE CITY THAT VALUES THE NATURAL WORLD, AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS DREAMING UP WAYS TO HELP ENHANCE THE ECLIPSE EXPERIENCE.

WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THEM, UM, THIS MORNING, THERE ARE DEVELOPING PLANS OF THE SIMONS FOUNDATION, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, UM, TO LEAD A IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY INITIATIVE, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY, UM, ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN ONES WHO ARE HERE TODAY, UM, HOSTED AT THE LONG CENTER AND AT WATERLOO GREENWAY.

WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THAT INITIATIVE OR THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HEARD ABOUT, UM, FROM OUR SPEAKERS FROM VISIT AUSTIN, UT AUSTIN, THE LIBRARY, OUR PARKS, AISD OR A BELOVED HILL COUNTRY WINERY OR BREWERY, THERE ARE GONNA BE MANY, MANY WAYS THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE AND LEARN DURING THE SPECIAL TIME WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

WE ARE ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO CONNECT AND FACILITATE THESE EFFORTS IN AN INCLUSIVE AND SAFE MANNER FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND TO HELP US WELCOME THE WORLD TO CENTRAL TEXAS CONFIDENTLY AND WITH WIDE OPEN ARMS. WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE AN EVENT CITY, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET NAVIGATED AN EVENT WHERE THE SKY WILL TURN BLACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND WE MUST PREPARE OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR REGION, AND OUR RESIDENTS ALREADY, WE ARE HEARING REPORTS THAT HOTELS ARE BOOKED AND THAT THE VISITORS WILL BE ON THE ORDER OF F ONE OR MORE.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE LONGEST PERIODS OF TOTALITY, UM, ARE GONNA TAKE PLACE WEST, IN WEST AUSTIN, WEST CENTRAL TEXAS, CONCENTRATED IN AREAS THAT ARE OF HIGH WILDFIRE RISK.

THE WEEKEND BEFORE, WE WILL HOST THE CAP 10 K AND THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

AND THERE ARE THUS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE CELEBRATIONS FOR AUSTINITES AND OUR VISITORS ALIKE.

MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, BAYLA KELLY MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

AND I WANT THE CITY TO CONVENE THE FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE IN THE ROOM.

AND WE WANT THE CITY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THIS TOTAL ECLIPSE EVENT WILL AND MAY MEAN, AND WHAT IT RE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE IT SAFE AND INCLUSIVE.

THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES ARE REAL, AND AS WE'VE BEEN PREPARING THIS, WE LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER IMAGINE, UM, THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR.

UM, SO I KNOW THAT WE CAN MEET THEM WITH SOME FORETHOUGHT AND PRESENT PREPARATION.

I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION WHO HAVE BEGUN TO THINK ABOUT THEM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S HAPPENING IN SILOS.

AND WHAT THIS IS REALLY INVITING YOU TO DO IS TO CREATE AND FACILITATE, UH, A LARGER CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.

THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8TH IS NOT ONLY A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH OF US, IT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE IT IN OUR OWN SPECIAL AUSTIN WAY, TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD AND TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT REALLY, UM, HELPS US ALL ENJOY THE AWE AND THE WONDER OF THIS NATURAL PHENOMENON.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

THANK YOU.

I WANNA START TODAY'S REMARKS BY THANKING THE NONPROFIT DIVINE CANINES, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF, CITY STAFF, AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED ME THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUABLE AND CRUCIAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DIVINE CANINES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY SERVE THOSE WHO SERVE US.

IT WAS DELIGHTFUL GETTING TO MEET ALL THOSE THERAPY DOGS IN CITY HALL THIS MORNING, AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO COLLABORATE WITH HER AND HER TEAM ON ITEM 23, THE ECLIPSE, THE RESOLUTION THAT SHE JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

ECLIPSES ARE NOT JUST AWE-INSPIRING CELESTIAL EVENTS.

THEY ALSO SERVE AS VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

EXPLORING ECLIPSES ENCOURAGES SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY AND FOSTERS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ASTRONOMY AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

THESE RARE OCCURRENCES INSPIRE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE THE PRINCIPLES OF CELESTIAL MECHANICS, SPACE SCIENCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECISE OBSERVATIONS.

EDUCATION ABOUT ECLIPSES SPARKS A SENSE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY THAT CAN IGNITE A LIFELONG PASSION FOR SCIENCE, MAKING IT AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE.

SO I'D LIKE TO, AGAIN, THANK MY DISTRICT 10 COLLEAGUE FOR THIS EFFORT FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESS OF DRAFTING THE ITEM, THE INCORPORATION OF

[00:25:01]

AND MRS. BREMER, I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL IN HERE SOMEWHERE.

HI, IT'S BEEN A DELIGHT GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AS THE DISTRICT LINES HAVE CHANGED AND YOU'VE BECOME PART OF MY DISTRICT.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AT A MEETING AT OUR FIELD OFFICE.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT AND THE WORK OF OTHERS IN THIS SPACE.

AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I YIELD BACK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN TER AND HIS STAFF FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 24.

UH, AND IF POSSIBLE, I'D LOVE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON THE ITEM.

UH, AND THEN WANT TO QUICKLY, UH, SPEAK ON ITEM 28, WHICH IS PARKING MANDATES.

I'M WANNA THANK EVERYONE ON THE DAIS, UH, AND ALL THE ADVOCATES AND JUST EVERYONE WHO'S COME IN AND, AND SPOKEN ON THE, ON THE MATTER.

UH, BUT IT'S AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR ME AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN AUSTIN TODAY.

UH, AS WE LOOK TO PASS ITEM 28, UH, WE'RE NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST, IF NOT THE LARGEST AMERICAN CITY TO JOIN A GROWING TREND OF ELIMINATING, UH, LOCAL PARKING MANDATES.

UH, IF WE TRULY WANT TO ACHIEVE OUR PROGRESSIVE GOALS OF MAKING AUSTIN A LESS, A LESS CAR DEPENDENT CITY, WE CANNOT BE FORCING DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE CAR STORAGE ON EVERY SINGLE NEW PROJECT THAT GOES UP IN OUR CITY LIMITS.

IT GOBBLES OBS SCARCE LAND.

IT ADDS BURDENSOME COSTS, DEVELOPMENTS THAT GET PASSED ONTO RENTERS AND BUYERS.

IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET OFF THE GROUND, AND IT HARMS WALKABILITY AND ACTIVELY WORKS AGAINST OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND TRANSIT BIKE LANES, TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS.

AND ONCE AGAIN, TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING PARKING.

WE'RE SIMPLY FREEING UP PROPERTY OWNERS FROM RED TAPE RESTRICTIONS AND LETTING THEM DECIDE HOW MUCH PARKING THEY NEED TO PROVIDE.

AND WE KNOW FROM THE RECENT RECORD THAT THE MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD SPACE FOR CARS.

THIS IS AN INCREMENTAL STEP TOWARDS A LESS ICENTRIC CITY.

WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO, AND AS I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, MY OFFICE AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE WORKING ON THE NEXT PHASE.

THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE HAS CONVENED A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS.

WE'LL GET A FINAL REPORT SOON, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, UH, ARE DECOUPLING PARKING, SO SPACES AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED IN LEASES, AND TENANTS CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANT TO PAY FOR THAT EXTRA REAL ESTATE.

ALSO, POSSIBLY MAKING ABOVE GROUND PARKING DOWNTOWN COUNT AGAINST FLORIDA AREA RATIOS, WHICH WOULD DISCOURAGE THESE 12 AND 15 FLOOR PARKING PODIUMS THAT SIT AROUND TOO MANY TOWERS ALONG OUR BUSIEST TRANSIT QUARTERS.

I'M ALSO PROUD OF THE WORK OUR STAFF HAS DONE TO ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN AND EVEN STRENGTHEN OUR ACCESSIBLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S OFTEN TOO EASY FOR MANY OF US TO OVERLOOK THE NEEDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE DIFFERENTLY ABLED, BUT THEIR NEED SHOULD ALWAYS BE AT THE FOREFRONT WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING HOW PEOPLE MOVE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

I APPRECIATE THE INPUT THAT ADVOCATES FROM ADAPTIVE CENTRAL TEXAS HAVE PROVIDED TO MY OFFICE AND STAFF, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS NECESSARY AND PRODUCTIVE COLLABORATION ON FUTURE INITIATIVES.

WE GOT HERE TODAY WITH A BUNCH OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE, FROM BOTH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES WHO WANT A MORE SUSTAINABLE CITY.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY.

HE SPENT, NO, HE SPENT HIS TIME ON THE DIOCESE SPEARHEADING POLICIES THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS ACTION TODAY, AND HE'S ALSO BEEN A TIRELESS CHAMPION SINCE, FOR MAKING AUSTIN A SAFER, MORE, MORE MOBILE PLACE FOR PEOPLE ON BIKES, SCOOTERS, AND ON AND ON FOOT.

SO MY STAFF AND I DEDICATE THIS ACTION TODAY, UH, TO COUNCILMAN RILEY AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON HIS LEGACY AND HIS LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN CADRE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE, UH, TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, IS HERE AND PRESENT.

UH, HE HAS REQUESTED THAT HE BE SHOWN VOTING, AYE, IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WOULD MOVE THAT HE BE SH WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.

I WOULD MOVE THAT HE BE SHOWN VOTING.

AYE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ MEMBERS

[26. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the Upper Harris Branch Wastewater Interceptor - Phase 1 Project for the public use of installing wastewater infrastructure requiring the acquisition of one wastewater easement consisting of approximately 2.551 acres (111,098 square feet) and one temporary working space easement consisting of approximately 1.086 acres (47,323 square feet), out of the Mariquita Castro Survey, Abstract Number 160, Section 50, Travis County, Texas, being a portion of the remainder of a called 78.516-acre tract, described to Eton Meadows, LP recorded in Document No. 2003006187 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas, currently appraised at $270,580, subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals or a Special Commissioner’s award. The owner of the needed property is Eton Meadows, LP. The property is located at 00 Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas 78653. The general route of the project is the Upper Harris Branch wastewater basin from Dessau Road to Harris Branch Parkway.]

ITEM NUMBER 27, UH, WAS PULLED OR HAS WITH, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, BUT ITEM NUMBER 26, WE WILL NOW TAKE UP AND I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

AND LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

NO, MAYOR.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR 26.

ALL RIGHT.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 26 MEMBERS.

WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER 26 BEING A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM.

UH, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN.

IS THERE

[00:30:01]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 26 IS ADOPTED AND, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BEING ABSENT.

AS I INDICATED, ITEM NUMBER 27 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

UH, MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE

[28. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to eliminate minimum parking space requirements, except for accessible parking spaces.]

I, I, I, I REALIZED I MISREAD MY NOTES.

I DUNNO WHY I HAD IT AS A CONSENT ITEM, BUT I ALREADY SAID WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY, SO.

WELL, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU IF YOU WANTED TO REPEAT YOURSELF, BUT I IF YOU, IF YOU WANT ME TO, I'M MORE AND I PROBABLY WASN'T GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU FOR IT, MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.

NO, NO, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR LAYING IT OUT FOR US.

UM, SO I'LL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 28, AND I'LL CALL ON THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US.

YES, MAYOR, WE HAVE TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS.

I WILL CALL THEM FIRST ITEM 28.

FIRST IS TY HOKI.

THANK YOU.

HI, I AM, UH, TY HOKI, UH, HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE.

UM, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 28.

UM, YEAH, WHENEVER, I GUESS SEVERAL POINTS I HAVE TO MAKE.

SO LIKE WHENEVER AMERICANS TALK ABOUT HOW WE DON'T HAVE THINGS LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, ET CETERA, THE COMMON REPLY IS JUST THAT, OH, IT'S TOO BIG HERE.

WE HAVE TOO MUCH LAND.

YES, AND I THINK OUR COUNTRY HAS WASTED, UM, IT'S, IT'S USED AS LAND WASTEFULLY, LIKE A DRUNK LOTTERY WINNER THAT SQUANDERED THEIR NEW FOUND WEALTH, THE USE OF LAND FOR UNNECESSARY PARKING SPACES.

AS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT, UH, WE LITERALLY PAVE PARADISE AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT.

UM, WHEN LAND IS SCARCE BECAUSE OF WASTEFUL USE, THAT MEANS THERE'S LESS LAND AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING, FOR PARKS, BUSINESSES, ET CETERA.

AND THAT MEANS THAT IT'S COST CLEAR TO BUY THAT LAND AND DEVELOP PROPERTIES ON IT, WHICH THEN LEADS TO COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO THE HOME BUYERS, THE RENTERS, ET CETERA.

ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER, EVERY LONG TIME AUSTINITE HAS COMPLAINED AT SOME POINT ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANT OR BAR CLOSING DOWN WHILE MOANING ALL THESE NEW UPSCALE, YOU KNOW, HIPSTER RESTAURANTS.

IF THE LAND AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF SCARCE BECAUSE SO MUCH WAS USED FOR PARKING LOTS, WELL, THAT MEANS THAT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN JACK UP THEIR RENT LEADING TO YOUR FAVORITE SMALL BUSINESS BEING DRIVEN OUT.

AND THEN SOME NATIONAL MILLENNIALS, HIPSTER FRANCHISE OR SOME BIG BOX STORE THAT HAS ENOUGH CAPITAL, THEY CAN THEN MOVE IN TO THAT SAME SPOT.

SUCH PARKING MANDATES ALSO MAKE IT HARDER FOR NEW HOMEGROWN SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE CREATED BECAUSE THE MANDATES DRIVE UP THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS.

IF YOU WANNA KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD, REMOVING THESE PARKING MANDATES, OBVIOUSLY NOT A CURE ALL IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON ELIMINATING THE MANDATES.

UM, IT HAS WORKED WELL IN EVERY OTHER CITY THAT IT HAS BEEN TRIED IN.

AND, UH, YEAH, LET BUSINESS OWNERS AND BUILDERS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES, UH, HOW MUCH PARKING IS NECESSARY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

KAYLA REESE? KAYLA, ARE YOU THERE? HI, YES, THIS IS KAYLA.

GOOD.

I WAS ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 29.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW, I CAN GO NOW OR IF I SHOULD WAIT.

WELL, WHAT, WHAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON 29 AND THE COUNCIL NOTES THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 29.

UM, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S DO, JUST SO THAT WE DO THIS CLOSE TO CORRECT, I'LL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 29 AS WELL AS ITEM NUMBER 28.

AND, UH, MS. REESE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE US YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS.

YES, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT CONFUSION.

NO PROBLEM.

UM, I'M, UH, THE ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH AUSTIN, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

UM, AND I WAS JUST CALLING, UM, TO SAY THAT WHILE WE'RE DEVASTATED ABOUT THE NEW LAW WITH, UH, PARKLAND DE, UH, PARKLAND DEDICATION CHANGES AND HOW IT'LL BEST MAKE THE LEVEL OF PARK SERVICE THAT OUR CITY HAS COME TO EXPECT, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPT GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES THAT MAXIMIZE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION THAT THE CITY CAN COLLECT WHILE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW.

UM, WE ARE AS DETERMINED AS EVER TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE FUNDING CHALLENGES THAT WE'LL FACE IN THE FUTURE FROM THE LAW THAT THIS PARKLAND DEDICATION.

UM, AND ALSO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT'S OUR 20TH, IT'S MY PARK DAY ON THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH.

SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING.

OKAY.

THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE THIS TIME.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD IN PERSON FOR ITEM 28.

FIRST IS BILL MCKINLEY, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL CAMAN AND JAY CROSSLEY.

IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT AND PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

THANK YOU, MR. SAM, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BILL MCKINLEY.

I REPRESENT TRANSIT FORWARD AND AUSTIN 5 0 1

[00:35:01]

UH, BACK IN JANUARY, WE WERE PART OF A PANEL HERE IN CITY COUNCIL, UH, PRESENTING ON BEST PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ON HOW TO DO DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT CORRIDORS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT WAS REMOVING PARKING MINIMUMS FROM CODE CHANGES.

SO WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS TODAY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS WONDERFUL NEW ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

Y'ALL STAY WARM OUT THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DANIEL CAVEMAN.

I'M THE PROJECTS AND POLICY MANAGER FOR SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY, A MEMBER OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.

TODAY, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY CAPACITY AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION, WHICH HAS WORKED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF COSTLY PARKING MANDATES AND OPEN UP MORE LAND IN OUR CITY TO BETTER AND MORE DESIRABLE LAND USES OTHER THAN CAR STORAGE.

I AM THRILLED TODAY THAT WE WILL BE ACTING ON ITEM 28, WHICH WILL FINALLY END THE OUTDATED PRACTICE OF PRESCRIBING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES PER BUILDING, REGARDLESS OF CONTEXT, COST, IMPERVIOUS COVER, OR ANY OTHER FEASIBILITY CONCERNS.

AUSTIN IS CHANGING AND THIS IS GOOD, AND IT IS A HEALTHY THING FOR A LARGE CITY.

UH, WE ARE A DYNAMIC CITY THAT IS HOME TO MANY FORWARD-LOOKING INDUSTRIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS.

THIS REFORM TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE HELPS ALIGN OUR CITY RULES WITH THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN.

WITH THIS CHANGE, WE CAN ALLOW DEVELOPMENT THAT WELCOMES NEWCOMERS, RESPECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN LAND AS THEY SEE FIT.

IT WILL ALLOW MORE HOMES TO BE BUILT, ALLOW MORE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, AND ALLOW MORE AUSTINITES TO TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY BY WHICHEVER MODE THEY DESIRE AND CAN AFFORD.

THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL STAFF, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO DAN HENNESSY AND TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AND LISTEN TO ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE ALWAYS TO HELP YOU CREATE A CITY AND A CITY CODE THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

UM, HELLO MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UH, JAY BELIEVES IT CROSSLEY RESIDENT OF D SEVEN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FARM AND CITY.

AND JUST WANTED TO ADD A COUPLE POINTS.

UM, THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE DRIVE IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO INCOME AND LOWER INCOME.

PEOPLE DRIVE LESS THAN HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE.

SO TO WHATEVER EXTENT OUR GOVERNMENTS SUBSIDIZE AND MANDATE CAR DEPENDENCY, IT HURTS LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AND HELPS HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE.

UM, AND SO I THINK THIS IS A TERRIFIC MOVE TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE CITY.

UH, AND JUST WANNA SAY THAT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW, MANDATING PARKING IS ONE OF THE MOST CLEAR, TERRIBLE THINGS YOU CAN DO, , AND THERE'S NOT A, NOT ANOTHER POLICY THAT'S SO SIMPLY WRONG THAN THIS.

AND SO, UM, AND, AND THE FINAL POINT IS THE REASON THAT BANKS, UH, ARE AFRAID OF SUPPORTING A PROJECT DOWNTOWN OR IN AN EQUITABLE TRANS ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WITHOUT ENOUGH PARKING IS BECAUSE THE 2 MILLION RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE PARKING AT THEIR HOME .

AND WE'RE REQUIRING ALL OF OUR PARTNER CITIES IN THE REGION ARE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO HAVE CARS OR PLACES TO STORE CARS.

AND IF OUR WHOLE REGION COULD STOP DOING THAT TERRIBLE THING, IT ALSO WILL HELP US DEVELOP, UH, WALKABLE, EQUITABLE, TRANS ORIENTED PLACES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS ROGER KAVIN, FOLLOWED BY ADAM GREENFIELD AND THEN ADAM POWELL.

IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

I'M ROGER COLVIN.

UH, I LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I'M HERE REPRESENTING FRIENDS OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS, A COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS.

RECLAIMING THE WORD NEIGHBORHOOD TO INCLUDE THE FULL DIVERSITY OF VOICES MOVING BEYOND NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONISM.

PARKING MANDATES ARE BAD FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

PARKING MANDATES REDUCE THE ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF HOUSING THAT PEOPLE MAY BUILD WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THEIR LAND MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LESS INCLUSIVE.

PARKING MANDATES ARE BAD FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE VAST SURFACE PARKING LOTS THAT RESULT FROM PARKING MANDATES MAKE SHOPS, OFFICES AND SERVICES LESS ACCESSIBLE TO NEIGHBORS WHO WALK BIKE, WHEEL AND TAKE TRANSIT.

PARKING

[00:40:01]

PARKING MANDATES INDUCE TRAFFIC AND INCREASE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED.

THE RESULTING EMISSIONS ACCELERATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND REDUCE AIR QUALITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

PARKING MANDATES ARE BAD FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

PARKING MANDATES ADD UNNECESSARY IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT INCREASES RUNOFF IN THE RISK OF FLOODING AND THAT POLLUTES OUR LAKES AND STREAMS. PARKING MANDATES ARE BAD FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN 2017, THE MEMBERSHIP OF FRIENDS OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS VOTED TO SUPPORT CITYWIDE ELIMINATION OF COSTLY PARKING MANDATES.

WE APPLAUD STAFF'S WORK AND COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

IF SHE'S CALLED YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE UP FRONT, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

I, UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

MAYOR, MAYOR PROAM AND COUNCIL ADAM GREENFIELD WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN.

UM, I AM HERE TO, UH, JOYFULLY SPEAK IN, UH, SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 28.

UH, THE EVIDENCE FROM OUR PEER CITIES IS, IS CLEAR.

WHEN YOU GET RID OF PARKING MANDATES, HOUSING PRODUCTION GOES UP AND YOU MOVE MORE IN THE DIRECTION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.

UM, THIS IS A REALLY AMAZING MOMENT FOR OUR CITY, UH, JUST ON HOUSING.

IMAGINE ONE FAMILY BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE, WHO COULDN'T HAVE LIVED HERE OTHERWISE.

NOW IMAGINE THAT SPREAD OVER THIS ENTIRE CITY FOR DECADES TO COME.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION, THAT CITIES ACROSS TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE WATCHING AUSTIN.

THIS IS GONNA BE ON THE NEWS TODAY IF THIS PASSES.

AND THOSE CITIES ARE AS INSPIRED BY US AS WE WERE INSPIRED BY OUR PEERS.

SO THE EFFECTS OF YOUR VOTE TODAY FOR AGENDA ITEM 28 CANNOT BE OVERESTIMATED.

THIS IS A REALLY AMAZING MOMENT FOR EVERY GOAL THAT THIS CITY HAS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER KDRY FOR, FOR LEADING THIS AND FOR THE REST OF COUNCIL TOO.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO INVITE YOU ALL TO A CELEBRATION.

UM, SHOULD THIS PASS AT 6:00 PM TODAY, UPSTAIRS AT CAROLINE ON SEVENTH AND CONGRESS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

IF YOU ARE THERE, WE'LL INVITE YOU TO SPEAK IF YOU LIKE.

WE'LL HAVE SOME PHOTOS AND, UM, LET'S CELEBRATE.

THIS IS A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL BE DONE BY SIX .

HEY, ALL, MY NAME IS ADAM POWELL.

I'M A DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT AND SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 28, ELIMINATING PARKING MANDATES OR MOVING TOWARDS THAT.

UM, SPECIFICALLY I WANNA SPEAK ON THE FLEXIBILITIES AND BENEFITS THIS, THAT THIS COULD HAVE TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND FUTURE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.