[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE GENERAL REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.IT'S NOVEMBER 15TH, 6:00 PM WE'RE UP AT 63 10.
WIL HEINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 5 2.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
ONE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL, I BELIEVE.UH, MR. SANTIAGO, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, SIR.
UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GET THE, WHEN YOU GET UP AND ROLLING, WE'LL START THE CLOCK AND MAKE SURE, UM, YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE.
THE MIC SHOULD HAVE A BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM.
AND YOU SHOULD SEE A RED LIGHT UP BY THE MIC WHEN IT'S HOT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE HERE.
UM, UH, THIS IS GONNA PROBABLY BE PRETTY BRIEF AND PRETTY ERRATIC.
UH, I'LL PROBABLY TRY TO BE BACK HERE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS OR SO.
I HAVE SHOWED UP HERE TODAY TO, UH, INTRODUCE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERHAPS A WORKING GROUP FOR THIS COMMISSION.
UM, IN PARTICULAR REGARDING, UM, TEXTILES PROPOSAL FOR INTERSTATE 35, UM, THERE IS A PROPOSED OUTFALL, UH, ON THE COLORADO RIVER.
THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THE LOGISTICS OF IT ARE IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING.
UM, THERE'S IN PARTICULAR WHAT'S CALLED A SECTION 10, UM, AND THEN THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ALSO HAS A COUPLE REGIONAL PERMITS AND NATIONWIDE PERMITS, UH, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE LOGISTICALLY.
UM, I KNOW THAT WALLER CREEK IS, UH, CONSERVANCY IS CURRENTLY EXAMINING A SIMILAR, UH, PROPOSAL.
UM, AND IN TERMS OF IMPACTS, UH, I, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COMMISSION MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, SOME OVERSIGHT, UM, THIS PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BREAK GROUND IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.
AND, UM, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A LOT OF CLARITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS OF CITY LAWS.
WITH REGARDS TO, UH, A 16,000 PAGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED IN AUGUST.
UM, COUNSEL HAS MADE SOME, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS TO CAMPO TO, UH, DELAY FUNDING.
UM, AND, UH, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS IN THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN, IF THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, COMMISSIONS, UM, IF ANYONE CAN POINT ME TO ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, UH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING FOR ME AS A CITIZEN.
UH, I'LL BRING SOME MORE JARGON, UH, IN TWO WEEKS IN TERMS OF THE MORE SPECIFICS OF THINGS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN GLARING, UH, OVERSIGHT ISSUES.
UM, SECTION FOUR F IS ONE WITHIN, UM, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, PROCEDURES WITH REGARDS TO, UH, IMPACTS.
UM, AND THEY'RE PRETTY SUSTAINABLE, INCLUDING DEMOLISHING THE ENTIRE BRIDGE OVER LADY BIRD LAKE, UM, AND IMPACTING AT LEAST THE 10TH OF AN ACRE.
UM, AND I KNOW THE STACK IT, UH, RULING, UH, REALLY CREATES A LOT, UM, UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHAT IS CONSIDERED A WETLAND, BUT EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND, UM, IS PRETTY ATROCIOUS.
UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME GUARANTEES IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
UH, JUST FOR SCOPE, UM, THE NORTH, THE NORTH DOWNTOWN IS NEARLY 300 ACRES OF WA OF, UH, RUNOFF.
UM, THEY'RE PROPOSING A 21 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL UNDERNEATH CAESAR CHAVEZ TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO PAST LONGHORN DAM.
THEY ORIGINALLY WERE TO GO INTO, UH, WETLAND, UM, THE, UH, ROY G. GUERRERO PARK, UM, RESERVE.
UM, AND LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WAS IN THERE.
UH, OH, YEAH, THE SOUTH, SOUTH AWESOME ONE IS THE ONE THAT IS REALLY, UH, THE ONE THAT THEY WANNA BREAK GROUND FIRST ON.
AND THEY'RE ALREADY STAGING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AT TOWN LAKE.
UM, AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SEVERAL SITES, INCLUDING SECTION SIX F PARKS, UM, AND, UH, SEVERAL LIKE THE CONFLUENCE THAT IS ALL AROUND B BLEND CREEK AND, UM, WALLER AND A HISTORICAL, WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE WITHOUT GOING TO FALSE HISTORICISM CROSSING OF, UH, A LOW WATER CROSSING, UH, FIRST PEOPLES, UH, TOWARDS THE SACRED LANDS OF THE SPRINGS.
UM, SO YEAH, I DUNNO WHERE I'M AT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[00:05:01]
SIR.IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO, TO KAYLA AND STAFF.
UM, I'D RATHER JUST GET THEIRS AND, UM, FOLLOW UP.
UM, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
REVIEW OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER ONE.UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ANY, UH, COMMENTS ON, UH, THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? NOVEMBER ONE? I'LL SECOND THAT.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE EVERYBODY BUT NICHOLS, ALL THOSE RECUSING OR ABSTAINING, I GUESS.
SO, UH, PASSES, UH, AND WITH NICHOL'S ABSTENTION.
UH, BEFORE THE STAFF BRIEFING, I THINK WE MIGHT SHUFFLE THINGS AROUND HERE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO THE SECRETARY.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO MOVE THE CHAMPIONS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, WHICH IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR UP TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOVING, UH, THE AGENDA ITEM UP TO THE NEXT AND THE AGENDA, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR ME.
I WILL ABSTAIN AND I'M GONNA RECUSE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, SO I'LL COME BACK TO THE DICE WHEN IT'S DONE.
SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE A STAFF BRIEFING, IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA TAKE CHAMPIONS
[4. Make a recommendation regarding the request for Champion Commercial Development (Tract 4) Rezoning (C14-2023-0005) located at 6025 N Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, Texas 78737 (District 10). Presented by Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department]
FIRST AND THEN DO THE STAFF BRIEFING AFTER.SO THEN TECHNICALLY THAT WOULD GO UP TO NUMBER TWO AND NOT NUMBER THREE.
UM, SO WHO IS GOING TO PRESENT FIRST? LIZ? UM, THAT'S THE, THE WRONG, UH, PRESENTATION.
UM, IT'S KIND OF GREENISH BLUE, SO
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND THIS EVENING I WILL BE PRESENTING A REZONING CASE FOR, UH, TRACK FOUR WITHIN THE CHAMPIONS, UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE PROPERTY IS AT 6 0 2 5 NORTH CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY, AND THE CASE NUMBER IS C 14 2 MILLION 23 5.
SO, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PIECE OF PROPERTY IS, IT IS, UH, IT HAS SOME SPECIAL VESTING RIGHTS ON THE PROPERTY THAT GIVE IT, UH, PERMISSION TO COMPLY WITH THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.
NOW, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE FROM 1983 DOES NOT HAVE SEVERAL, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT CURRENT CODE CURRENTLY WOULD APPLY TO ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, INCLUDING, UM, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS CURRENTLY UNDER THE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE THAT, UM, GRANTS THE PROPERTY 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER G UH, GROSS SITE AREA.
UH, THERE ARE NO, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE OR CREEK PROTECTIONS PROVIDED FOR THIS PROPERTY.
AND THERE ARE SIMILAR TREE PROTECTIONS, BUT THERE IS NO HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION SPECIFICALLY.
[00:10:01]
I JUST WANNA MAKE THE POINT OF THE WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS, UH, THAT ARE INCORPORATED IN THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ONLY REQUIRE HALF INCH CAPTURE OF STORMWATER TO BE TREATED AS A PART OF THE PROPERTY'S STORMWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM.SO THESE, UH, VESTED RIGHTS ARE A PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS, UH, ESTABLISHED IN 1996.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON WITH THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THOUGH, IS A ZONING CASE, A ZONING, UH, A ZONING ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO CHANGE AN ENTITLEMENT.
AND THAT PARTICULAR ENTITLEMENT WILL GRANT THE PROPERTY OWNERS THE ABILITY TO, UM, HAVE MORE, UH, BUILDING, BUILDING SPACE ON, UH, THE SITE PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY IN REVIEW.
AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED AND DISCUSSED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS IT RELATES TO THESE AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.
BUT I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE CONDITION AS IT EXISTS TODAY.
THE, THE PROPERTY IS VESTED TO THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.
SO WHERE IS THIS PROPERTY? IT IS RIGHT NORTH OF THE CONFLUENCE OF BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN.
SO IT'S TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE LAKE AUSTIN, UH, WATERSHED, BUT IT'S RIGHT IN BULL CREEK.
UH, IT IS IN THE FULL PURPOSE, UH, ZONING JURISDICTION.
IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ARROW IS POINTING TO.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, RIGHT, RIGHT UP THERE IN NORTH AUSTIN.
UM, THIS SHOWS THE, UH, THE SITE AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SITE.
SO JUST BORDERING THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION TRACK FOUR IS 2222, AND THEN TO THE WEST IS, UH, HIGHWAY 360.
UH, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S IN THE FULL PURPOSE ZONING JURISDICTION.
THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS, UH, ALMOST NINE ACRES, AND IT'S SEPARATED INTO THESE TWO PARCELS, UH, WHICH ARE CALLED TRACK ONE AND TRACK TWO WITHIN TRACK FOUR.
SO TRACK ONE IS ZONED, UH, RURAL RESIDENTIAL CURRENTLY, AND TRACK TWO IS ZONED COMMERCIAL.
UM, THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE UPDATED AS A PART OF THE ZONING, UH, ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT IS A PART OF THE, THE, UH, THE, THE STAFF REPORT.
AND THAT CHANGE IS ALLOWING FOR BOTH PARCELS OF LAND TO COME UNDER THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
UM, SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THE ZONING AMENDMENT.
IT DOES NOT CONFER ANY CHANGES IN ENTITLEMENTS FOR THE PROPERTIES, BUT RATHER PROVIDES, UH, PROTECTIONS FOR BOTH PARCELS EQUALLY.
THIS IS THE EXISTING CONDITIONS TODAY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, RIGHT? SO IT'S PRETTY UNDEVELOPED.
UH, THERE IS SOME SLOPES, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE CONTOURS AND TO THE EAST EDGE OF THE PROPERTY IS BULL CREEK, BUT TECHNICALLY THIS IS RIGHT NORTH OF THE CONFLUENCE OF BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN.
AND THE WAY THAT THE REGULATORY CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS FOR THIS WATERWAY IS THIS IS, UH, LAKE AUSTIN, RIGHT AT ITS NORTHERN BORDER WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH BULL CREEK.
WHAT I HAVE ON THE MAP HERE IS THE A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACK THAT IS CURRENTLY THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WITH CURRENT CODE, AS I MENTIONED THERE AS A PART OF THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE NO CREEK PROTECTIONS, THERE'S NO SETBACKS, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NOTHING REGULATORY ABOUT PROTECTING THE CREEK.
SO THAT'S, SO THERE'S NO PROTECTIONS CURRENTLY REQUIRED ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
UM, THERE ARE, SO THE PROPERTY IS ALSO IN THE WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN WATERSHED.
IT'S NOT IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE OR CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
IT HAS THIS CRITICAL, AND IT ALSO HAS A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE.
AND THERE IS ALSO FLOODPLAIN, UM, ON THE MAJORITY OF THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE SITE.
AND THERE IS A FRINGE CRITICAL ENVIR WETLAND CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE WITHIN BULL CREEK.
THE CURRENT PROJECT, UM, THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS A PART OF A SITE PLAN THAT'S CURRENTLY IN REVIEW CONCURRENT TO THIS ZONING ORDINANCE, UH, AMENDMENT.
AND THIS, THIS SHOWS WHAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE.
IT INCLUDES A, A HOTEL IN THE AMENITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOTEL AND PARKING.
UM, THIS, I, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SEE WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE, THAT IT'S A PART OF THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT WITH THE S SONY ORDINANCE.
AND WHAT YOU CAN ALSO SEE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IS THE FRINGE WETLAND, CEF THAT, UH, EXISTS WITHIN THE, LIKE
[00:15:01]
IN BULL CREEK, THE PROPOSED MODIFIED, UH, CEF SETBACK IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.UM, SO IT'S MODIFIED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IS 150 FEET FROM THE THE CEF.
UH, ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS IS THERE'S A LOT OF HATCHING IN HERE.
THERE'S, UM, THERE'S SOME THINGS SYMBOLIZED IN HERE THAT REPRESENT THE AREAS OF THIS PROJECT THAT ARE BEING RESTORED AND REMAIN IN AN UNDISTURBED CONDITION, UH, JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF LIKE THAT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF ONE OF THE STAFF CONDITIONS OF THE, UH, CONDITIONAL OVER WITH, OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE IS THE AREAS THAT ARE REMAINING UNDISTURBED IN THE AREAS THAT WILL BE RESTORED.
UH, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PROJECT, UM, IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, THIS IS JUST, UM, A QUICK, UH, SHEET FROM THE SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS WHERE THE FLOOD PLAIN IS.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD SENSE THAT THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF FLOODPLAIN ON THIS SITE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS ON THE SITE, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER HOW TO BEST PROTECT THE OTHERWISE UNPROTECTED, UH, SECTIONS OF THIS PROPERTY.
SO THE REZONING CASE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS AN AMENDMENT TO THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT'S SPECIFIC FOR TRACK FOUR.
AND WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE ZONING OVERLAY SAY IS THAT TRACK FOUR IS ABLE TO HAVE 70,000 SQUARE FEET OF A BUILDING FOOTPRINT.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, JUST THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN THAT ENTITLEMENT TO 95,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THE HOTEL.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT INCREASE IN BUILDING SIZE AND BUILDING FOOTPRINT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ARE EIGHT AS LISTED HERE.
THAT IS 40% IMPERVIOUS COVER GROSS SITE AREA.
SO THAT 25% REDUCTION IN, UH, AND IMPERVIOUS COVER, UH, MAXIMUM FOR THE COMMERCIAL, UH, FOR THE COMMERCIAL SITE, THAT'S, UH, 150 FOOT, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
SO THAT'S 50 FEET, UH, FURTHER FROM WHAT IS CURRENTLY REQUIRED BY CODE.
AND IT'S ALSO INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE EXISTING, FROM THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, AND THEN A RESTRICTION ON ANY IMPERVIOUS COVER EVER BEING ALLOWED ON THE IMPERVIOUS ON THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
THE PROJECT IS ALSO AGREEING TO COMPLY WITH WATER QUALITY TREATMENT FOR THE SITE.
UH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, IT'S ADOPTING HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, IT'S COMMITTING TO WETLAND CEF PROTECTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE.
IT IS ALSO COMMITTING TO KEEPING 40% OF THE PROPERTY, UH, IN A CONDITION LIKE THAT'S COM, LIKE THAT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE UNDEVELOPED CONDITION, SO UNDISTURBED OR RESTORED.
UH, AND THERE'S ALSO A RESTRICTION ON ANY WATERCRAFT ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE.
SO NO RENTALS, NO KAYAK DISTRIBUTIONS, NO ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE WITH SMALL OR ANY SMALL OR LARGE WATERCRAFT, PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SO THAT THE CEF, THAT WETLAND CF ON THE SHORELINE IS NOT IMPACTED.
AND THEN LASTLY, THE COMMITMENT OF THE PROJECT IS THE SITE PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY IN REVIEW THAT WILL BE, UM, APPROVED AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
UH, IF THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS APPROVED, THAT ONCE THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETED, THAT THE PROPERTY WILL RELINQUISH ITS VESTING RIGHTS.
SO ITS ABILITY TO, UH, KIND OF DEFER THAT 1983 LAKE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE WOULD NO LONGER BE IN PLACE, AND THAT IT WOULD THEN BE SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS OF, UH, THAT STAFF HAS NEGOTIATED WITH, UH, THE APPLICANT AND THEN THE APPLICANT HAS, UH, COMMITTED TO DOING ON THIS PROJECT.
SO WITH THAT, UH, WATERSHED STAFF RECOMMENDS REZONING OF THE PROPERTY WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE.
THERE WILL BE REMOVAL OF IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, AND TOTAL IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 40% WITH 0% IN THE CRITICAL CURRENT CODE.
PROTECTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, CREEKS AND HERITAGE TREES.
THE RESTRICTIONS TO THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS ON SHORELINE ACCESS AND RESTRICTIONS,
[00:20:01]
UH, ON DEVELOPMENT, SUCH THAT 40% WILL REMAIN IN UNDISTURBED CONDITION.AND LASTLY, THE PROPERTY COMMITS TO THE REMOVAL OF FUTURE VESTED RIGHTS ON THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
UM, I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HAS A, UH, SHORT PRESENTATION AND, UH, WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, MY NAME IS APRIL ROMERO BROWN, REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.
UH, FIRST AS ALWAYS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LESLIE LILLY FOR HER THOROUGH PRESENTATION THAT MAKES MY JOB SO MUCH EASIER.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK SHERRY TIS, WHO'S ONLINE, UH, AND KAYLA CHAMPIN FOR HELPING US GET ALL THE UPDATED MATERIALS TO Y'ALL THIS EVENING.
UH, I WOULD NEXT LIKE TO GIVE US A SHOUT OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS, UM, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US FOR WORKING WITH US AND COLLABORATING ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, THEY MADE SURE WE HAD ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW AHEAD OF TONIGHT SO THINGS COULD GO SMOOTHLY.
UM, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THEIR COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, UH, THIS IS THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THESE UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS GOING IN, UM, WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO THIS JUST GIVES THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM MS. LILY, SO I WON'T, UH, WASTE YOUR TIME GOING BACK OVER THAT.
ONE IS ZONED RR, THAT'S THE LAKEFRONT TRACK.
TRACK TWO IS ZONED GRCO CURRENTLY, THAT'S THE INNERMOST TRACKED HERE AS PART OF TRACK FOUR.
UM, THE POINT I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE POINT OF OUR ZONING APPLICATION, OF COURSE, IS TO UPDATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ON THE SITE AND TO INCREASE THE BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UH, THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE CODIFIED VIA RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS TO DIFFERENT PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, UH, EXECUTING WITH DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
ONE OF THOSE IS IN YOUR BACKUP.
THE OTHER ONE WILL BE PUT INTO THE BACKUP FOR FUTURE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL HEARINGS.
I WANNA TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO OUR REZONING APPLICATION.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME NEW MATERIALS COME THROUGH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
THAT IS BECAUSE AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, WE REALIZED THAT THE CO COMBINING DISTRICT DESIGNATION WAS NOT EVER ADDED TO TRACT ONE, THE RR TRACT.
SO BACK IN 1992, WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY REZONED FROM SSF TWO TO GR AND RR, THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, THE CO IS ONLY PUT ON THE GR TRACT.
SO IN ORDER TO, OF COURSE, HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS AND THESE RESTRICTIONS, AND AS WELL AS THE BUILDING AREA, ALL OF THIS GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
SO THAT IS WHY YOU SAW AN ADDITION OF A TRACK TO THE ZONING APPLICATION.
IT'S REALLY JUST GOING BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY APPLIES.
UM, THE OTHER DETAIL THAT I WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU, AND THIS WAS, UH, ALSO BROUGHT UP BY SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS, IS THERE IS A SLIGHT DISCREPANCY IN THE ACREAGE OF THE PROPERTY, UH, FROM THE 1992 ORDINANCE TO THE APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE IN, UH, IN PROCESS TODAY.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE AFTER THE ORIGINAL ZONING, THERE WAS SOME PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEASTERN SIDE, UH, OF THE SITE THAT WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO TDOT FOR RIDE OF WAY.
SO THAT TOOK OUT ABOUT 0.2, 0.3 ACRES OF THE SITE.
THIS IS THE SAME MAP THAT YOU JUST SAW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NORTHEASTERN CORNER RIGHT UNDER WHERE IT SAYS FM 2222, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE GRAY LINE, WHICH LAYS OUT THE THE TCAD BOUNDARIES, IS A LITTLE BIT BELOW WHERE YOU SEE THE REST OF THE LAND THAT IS ZONED GRCO AND RR.
THAT IS THE LAND I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS, UH, THAT SOLD TO TXDOT AND TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, I, AGAIN, REALLY WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND THE NEIGHBORS FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN, THIS IS THE RESULT OF MANY YEARS OF WORK, UM, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT FROM DENISE.
AND THROUGH THIS WORK, UH, WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT PROUDLY WE CAN STAND UP HERE AND SAY, UH, IS SUPPORTED BY THE NEIGHBORS.
AND WE HAVE OUR TEAM WHO'S HERE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE NEIGHBORS.
MY NAME IS DENISE HOGAN AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE COURTYARD NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, SHEPHERD MOUNTAIN MONTE VISTA, GLEN
[00:25:01]
LAKE LAKE AUSTIN COLLECTIVE IN 2222 KONA.SO, UH, IT'S, UH, A HUGE AMOUNT OF NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS, THIS CURRENT ITERATION OF THE PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND I, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED VERY DEEPLY WITH IT.
AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENTS, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AND THE REASON THAT I'M, UH, WASTING YOUR TIME SPEAKING IN FAVOR IS BECAUSE I, I JUST FELT LIKE YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE SOME CONTEXT FOR WHY I THINK YOU SHOULD IMPROVE, UM, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS ZONING.
UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HOOD OWNS A, A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY ON BULL CREEK, WHICH IS IN THE PORTION BETWEEN THE, THE, UM, THE DEVELOPER'S PROPERTY AND THE MOUTH OF WHERE BULL CREEK DUMPS INTO LAKE AUSTIN.
AND SO WE, UM, AND, AND IT'S ALSO DIRECTLY BELOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO, UM, IT, IT ABUTS US AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF SURROUNDS THIS AREA.
AND, UM, IT'S CURRENTLY HEAVILY WOODED AND IT'S AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT 22, 22 AND 360.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, SPECIFICALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THAT AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK, WE TAKE A REALLY DEEP DIVE AND A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT WAS GONNA BE BUILT THERE.
AND, UM, WE, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE CRAFTED CHANGES AND ADDED, UM, UH, SO MANY PROTECTIONS THAT REALLY ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US AND THAT WILL PROTECT BULL CREEK.
AND I'M, I'M A STAUNCH, YOU KNOW, A PROTECTOR OF BULL CREEK AND I, I'VE SPOKEN ON OTHER ISSUES, UH, THAT PROTECT THAT.
AND SO, UM, WE JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS, WE'VE, WE'VE LANDED ON A GOOD PROJECT AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TONIGHT.
SO LET'S OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS AND UM, WE WILL GO WITH REMOTE PEOPLE FIRST.
COMMISSIONER, SHE NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER EINHORN, NO QUESTIONS.
NOTHING OVER HERE, GOFER, I JUST HAVE CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS ON THE, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES ON THE MAP.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, 'CAUSE WE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT CRITICAL WATER QUALITY PROTECTION ZONE, OR SORRY, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES AND THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONES.
ARE THOSE BOTH SHOWN IN THAT BLUE HATCHED AREA? UM, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION, I DID NOT INCLUDE, UH, THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE ON THE SITE.
I ONLY INCLUDED WHAT WOULD BE THE CODE COMPLIANT CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT OVERLAY.
UM, AND THEN THE WETLAND, CEF PROTECTIONS, ARE THOSE ALSO WITHIN THAT AREA OR IS IT SEPARATE ON THE PROPERTY? IT, IT IS, UH, IT IS WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
IT HAS SHOWN ALL OF THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE SINGLE MAP, BUT IT WAS HARD TO SEE ALL OF THE LINES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
SO I SEPARATED THEM OUT AND HIGHLIGHTED THE CEF ON THE, UH, SITE PLAN MAP.
UM, BUT IT IS, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPOSED 150 FOOT SETBACK THAT IS, THAT THE APPLICANT IS COMMITTING TO.
UH, AND THEN QUICK QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
SORRY, UH, I HAD, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD, UH, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
WHAT IS THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION FOR THIS BUILDING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION IS GOING TO BE 45 FEET AND THREE STORIES, AND THAT IS BOTH IN, UH, A RESOLUTION THAT COUNSEL PASSED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR INDICATING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, IF THAT WERE TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
UH, ENTITLEMENTS AND IS ALSO GOING TO BE, UH, IS IN THE PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH, UH, 2222 KONA THAT'LL BE FILED BEFORE WE GET TO COUNSEL.
UM, YEAH, ONE, I GUESS A QUESTION FOR MS. LILY, THE, UM, REVOCATION OF THE EXISTING OR THE 1983 ENTITLEMENTS, IS THAT A COMMON THING THAT, THAT GOES INTO A, A, UH, CONDITIONAL OVERLAY? SO IT IS, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT I SEE VERY OFTEN AND I THINK MAYBE SHERRY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF ZONING CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS.
BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY SPECIFIC CASE BECAUSE IT HAS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES DON'T ADDITIONALLY HAVE THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
SO, UM, SHERRY, DO YOU WANNA TAKE THIS QUESTION SINCE
[00:30:01]
IT'S A MAYBE A ZONING ORDINANCE QUESTION? HI, THIS IS SHERRY TIS, UM, WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THAT IS NOT USUALLY SOMETHING THAT GOES IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.IT'S USUALLY RESTRICTED TO SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LIMITING USES ON A PROPERTY.
SO I BELIEVE THIS WAS DUE TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THE TIME AS TO WHY THOSE CONDITIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO IS CITY LEGAL THEN, UH, GIVEN THE THUMBS UP ON THIS? UM, SO THE CHANGES ARE TO AN EXISTING CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, SO YES.
AND THIS WAS A RESOLUTION FROM COUNSEL TO INITIATE THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU AND NICE TO SEE YOU.
AND ALSO, JUST TO FURTHER CLARIFY, WE HAVE MET WITH CITY LEGAL ON SEVERAL OF THESE CONDITIONS IN ADVANCE OF THIS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND THE ADDITIONAL, UM, ORDINANCES THAT ARE PART OF THIS.
AND, UH, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO INCORPORATE THAT PARTICULAR, UH, RELINQUISHING OF VESTING RIGHTS IN, UH, THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.
AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT END UP IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OR COME IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT WE'VE MET WITH THEM AHEAD OF TIME TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT SINCE IT IS A UNIQUE REQUEST.
AND IT IS PRESERVED IN THIS, THE VIDEO ARCHIVE OF THIS MEETING.
UM, ONE OTHER THING JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, BUT ON THE EAST SIDE THAT'S A FIRE STATION IN PUBLIC LAND, DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON THAT SIDE WITH REGARD TO BULL CREEK, UH, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE, UM, OF THIS, OF BULL CREEK? YEAH, SO THIS IS JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY.
SO, UM, I AM NOT SURE IF I'M FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS FOR THAT PART OF THE TRACT BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT TRACKS, 'CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S FOR OF THEM AND THEY EACH HAVE SEPARATE ONES.
BUT ALL OF CHAMPIONS TRACKED, UNLESS MODIFIED BY CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS OR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENTS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT HAVE DIFFERENT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR THOSE TRACKS AND PARCELS WITHIN THE TRACKS.
BUT AGAIN, ON THE EAST SIDE OF BULL CREEK, ON THE EAST SIDE OF BULL CREEK, IT ZONED P WHERE THERE'S A FIRE STATION.
YEAH, IT WOULD, DO WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THERE WITH CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE SETBACKS? RIGHT.
THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT, NOT NOT FOR THIS CASE, BUT JUST IN THE NATURE OF PROTECTING BULL CREEK, LIKE WITH CURRENT CODE COMPLIANCE.
YES, THERE WOULD BE CURRENT CODE WOULD PROTECT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK.
MM-HMM?
AND KAYLA, DO I NEED TO CLOSE PUBLIC MEETING OR NO? OKAY, GOOD.
UM, I'M GONNA PUT ON MY OTHER HAT AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, UM, GO FORWARD.
SO, UH, THIS IS NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.
CHAMPIONS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TRACK FOUR REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH ZERO FIVE.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING REZONING WITH CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE PROPERTY.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED, AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE, UM, WITH, UH, THE FOLLOWING CON WITH CONDITIONS.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE, UM, VARIANCE REQUEST.
AND THE STAFF CONDITIONS ARE NUMBER ONE, IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE PROPERTY, BE LIMITED TO 40% GSA, THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE CEF PROTECTIONS COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE THREE.
THE PROPERTY WILL REMOVE ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE CWQZ OF LAKE AUSTIN AS DEFINED BY THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE WATER QUALITY CONTROL CONTROLS COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE FIVE.
THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE SIX AT ALL TIMES.
40% OF THE PROPERTY WILL REMAIN UNDISTURBED OR RESTORED TO THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS.
SEVEN WATERCRAFT SALES RENTAL LEASE LENDING AND, UM, DISTRIBUTION IS PROHIBITED ON THE PROPERTY.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT, ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE SUBJECT, SUBJECT TO CURRENT CITY CODE.
AND THERE'S A NOTE ON HERE TOO THAT SAYS ALL CONDITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO LEGAL REVIEW.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY ABSTAINING OR NICHOLS ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF OR ABSTAIN? ABSTAINING IN FAVOR.
[00:35:01]
WAM BACK IN HERE.THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS AND THOROUGHNESS ON THIS PROJECT.
[2. Staff briefing regarding equity efforts within the City of Austin—Kye Tavernier, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department]
ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE STAFF BRIEFING ON THE EQUITY EFFORTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP THERE AND PUSH THE BUTTON UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNS RED.
I'M THE EQUITY INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, I FIRST WANNA THANK YOU FOR, FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THIS, THIS PRESENTATION IN THIS BODY OF WORK, UM, AS A MESSENGER.
THERE'S A, A VERY, VERY LARGE AND ROBUST, UM, AMOUNT OF EQUITY WORK GOING ON IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
AND I, I, I TREATED THIS VERY MUCH LIKE A RESEARCH PROJECT, SO I WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO MY COLLEAGUES AND A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CITY THAT ARE DOING THIS AMAZING WORK, UM, AND COME FORWARD TO KIND OF BRING A HIGH LEVEL REPORT OUT OF JUST ALL, UM, SOME OF THE GREAT OPERATIONS AND, AND, AND GREAT EFFORTS THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD.
UM, SO YES, BEFORE I START, I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE EQUITY OFFICE, HOUSING PLANNING, RESILIENCE, SUSTAINABILITY, WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND JUST ALL THE FOLKS ALONG THE WAY THAT HELPED ME PREPARE FOR TODAY.
UM, SO THIS IS KIND OF A OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT I PLAN TO, TO TOUCH ON TODAY.
UM, AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO START EVERY PRESENTATION WITH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
UH, SO MUCH ABOUT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS ABOUT BRINGING HUMANITY IN THIS SPACE.
SO I ALWAYS TRY TO START WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
I'M THE EQUITY INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I STARTED WITH WATERSHED AND ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO IN MARCH OF 2022, UH, I CAME FROM PUBLIC HEALTH.
I DID FIVE AND A HALF YEARS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION, SO WORKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
UH, SO I LOVE ALL THINGS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY, SO THIS IS VERY, VERY TRUE AND ORGANIC TO ME.
UM, I LIKE TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE LENS OF WHY I DO THE WORK THAT I DO, AND IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THOSE FOLKS ON THE SCREEN.
I HAVE A 94 YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER AND, UH, OH, THEY'RE ALMOST FIVE, FIVE YEAR OLD NIECE AND NEPHEW.
UM, AND I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE HAD IN HIS LIFE UP TO NOW AND THE LIFE THAT I WANT THEM TO HAVE, AND I LET THAT DRIVE THE, THE KIND OF WORK THAT I DO.
UM, SO THEY ARE THE REASON I DO THE WORK THAT I DO.
UM, SO I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LIKE TO START WITH IS THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS KIND OF BEEN A STANDALONE OFFICE FOR THE CITY FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, AND THEY ARE VERY SMALL BUT MIGHTY, AND WE LOVE THEM VERY DEARLY.
BUT OVER THE LAST TWO TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS, THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT BUILDING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO PART OF THAT IS, UM, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS OVER THE LAST TWO TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS, UH, IT'S SOON TO BE 12 THAT WE HAVE, UH, FTES.
UH, SO WE HAVE EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGERS, OR PROGRAM COORDINATORS, COORDINATORS EMBEDDED IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF EQUITY WORK GROUPS.
WE HAVE THE AC CC GROUP THROUGH PARD, WHICH IS AMAZING, THE CONNECTING CHILDREN IN NATURE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE EQUITY COORDINATION TEAMS, DEPARTMENTAL WORK GROUPS, UH, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITIES OR IDEA GROUPS.
UM, AND THEY ARE BRINGING FORTH EFFORTS INTER INTERDEPARTMENTALLY TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND THEN FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, THE EQUITY OFFICE HOSTS EQUITY ACTION TEAM MEETINGS EVERY MONTH, WHICH IS A GREAT SPACE WHERE COMMUNITY CAN COME IN AND WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, BREAK BREAD, THEY HAVE FOOD, AND WE TALK AND THEY BRING FORTH CONCERNS AND THEY HAVE PRESENTATIONS, UM, ABOUT DIFFERENT CONCERNS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO THAT'S AN AMAZING SPACE AS WELL.
SO, YES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I INCLUDED SOME, UH, AN ORG CHART FOR THE EQUITY OFFICE, UM, JUST TO KIND OF SHOW HOW THEIR STRUCTURE IS AND HOW THEY SUPPORT US, UM, AND THE, AND THE STAFF THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH THE EQUITY OFFICE.
I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 11, SOON TO BE 12 DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, UH, EQUITY PROGRAM MANAGERS OR PROGRAM COORDINATORS.
SO AUSTIN ENERGY POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, SOON TO BE AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, AUSTIN WATER, UH, DSD, AUSTIN CODE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, PARKS AND REC, TRANSPORTATION, AND OF COURSE, WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, SO YES, THIS DOESN'T ALS THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THEIR FULL TEAM.
SOME HAVE TRAINING SPECIALISTS AS WELL AS, UM, HR ADVISORS.
SO REALLY LOOKING AT HIRING PRACTICES,
[00:40:01]
HOW WE TRAIN, HOW WE EXPERIENCE, HOW WE LEARN.SO I DEFINITELY THINK THOSE ARE, UH, AMAZING.
YOU KNOW, AN AMAZING POINT TO IDENTIFY.
SO, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS EQUITY? SO WE ALWAYS, WE HEAR THAT WORD, AND A BIG PART OF IT IS, UH, IN ITS MOST BASIC FRAMEWORK, UH, EQUITY IS THE DESIRE TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS AND OUTCOMES.
AND WE SEE DIFFERENT VISUALS OF THIS TYPE.
UM, AND, AND THEY KIND OF GUIDE WHAT WE DO.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE EQUITY OFFICE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY, UM, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOUR RACE OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, UH, DOESN'T PREDICT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES.
UM, WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PRESENCE AND THE STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES WHEN IN, IN MOST, MOST IRONICALLY OR MOST ORGANIC TO AUSTIN.
WE TALK ABOUT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN, AND WE TALK ABOUT BEING IN THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT MASTER PLAN EVEN TODAY IN SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WE, THAT WE ARE IN, UM, AND THE INTENTION AND ATTENTION THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY, THERE'S THE MOMENT WHERE WE SAY WE'RE RACE EXPLICIT, BUT NOT RACE EXCLUSIVE.
SO THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTERSECTIONALITY IN, IN HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS WORLD, AND HOW DO WE BEGIN TO, TO BREAK THOSE APART.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT DISPARITY AND YOU BREAK IT OUT, OR DISAGGREGATED BY RACE, YOU SEE OVERREPRESENTATION OR, UH, YOU KNOW, OVERREPRESENTATION OR DISPARATE OUTCOMES IN OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR OR BLACK COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND SO I ALWAYS LIKE TRY TO GO HEAD ON WITH THE QUESTION.
WHY LEAVE WITH RACE? UH, RACE IS THE NUMBER ONE PREDICTOR OF QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES.
SO FOR ME, THIS IS HOW YOU LIVE, HOW LONG YOU LIVE, UM, AND HOW YOU MAY DIE.
UM, HISTORICALLY, IT'S ALSO DETERMINED WHERE YOU CAN LIVE, WHERE YOU CAN WORK, UH, YOUR ACCESS TO EDUCATION, AND WHERE YOU CAN RECREATE, HOW YOU CAN PLAY.
UM, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN EFFORT AND INTENTION IS PUT IN INVESTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE OUTCOMES FOR ALL IMPROVE, I ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND, AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE PIONEERS, JOYCE JAMES.
SHE CAME OUT OF CHILD WELFARE AND SHE DID AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK, UM, IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR BLACK CHILDREN AND CHILD WELFARE.
UM, AND THIS WAS AUTHORIZED THROUGH A SENATE, UH, TEXAS STATE BILL SIX, MANY YEARS AGO.
AND THEY PUT PROGRAMS THAT CENTERED AROUND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR BLACK CHILDREN.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND THAT AFTER THEY DID THIS WORK, AND THEY LOOKED AT THE DATA, THEY SAW THAT OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN GOT BETTER.
SO THEN THEY KIND OF BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIGH TIDE RAISES ALL BOATS.
SO IF WE, IF WE POUR INTO OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THEN WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE, BECAUSE OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE IMPROVE.
SO HOW WE DO THE WORK THAT WE DO, THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT THEY USE, UM, AND IT'S NORMALIZED, ORGANIZED, OPERATIONALIZED, SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST.
UM, SO NORMALIZE IS ABOUT HAVING THAT SHARED ANA ANALYSIS AND DEFINITION, UM, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHERE WE ARE, UM, HAVING SHARED DEFINITIONS, AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION REGULARLY.
IT ALSO NAMES THE HISTORY OF THE EXPERIENCE, AND IT, IT, IT KIND OF PRIORITIZES URGENCY, UM, AND KIND OF IDENTIFIES IT.
ORGANIZING IS OUR DEDICATION TO TRANSFORMATION, TRANSFORMATION.
IT'S OUR ABILITY TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS VERSUS, UH, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
AND THEN OPERATIONALIZING ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE USE, THE DATA WE DEVELOP IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE IMPLEMENT.
AND I'M GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO THIS WHEN I TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT EFFORTS TO KIND OF SHOW THAT IN ACTION.
AND SO, I THINK ABOUT KIND OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, OF WHAT ARE THE, JUST KIND OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT CRITICAL LOVE AND PRACTICE.
SO THIS IS, UM, BEING CRITICAL LOVERS OF OUR SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS, BEING ABLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE DO THE WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, KEEPING HISTORY IN THE FOREFRONT.
UM, I PUT A LINK TO THE, THE GEAR MODEL GARRIS, THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE EQUITY.
AND THEY HAVE A TOOLKIT WHERE THEY HAVE STEPS ABOUT IF YOU HAVE PROGRAMS, PROCESS, PROCEDURES, IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN TO EXPLORE RACIAL EQUITY.
IN THAT, IN THAT CONCEPT, IT'S START, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS NAMING THE HISTORY.
SO TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD, UH, THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR PROGRAM HAS HAD, IS THERE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY AND, AND THE PEOPLE THAT IT AFFECTS TO CONSIDER, UM, ACCESS IN OUR DECISION MAKING.
THIS IS A HUGE THING THAT I ALWAYS TRY TO ASK WHEN WE'RE WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT EQUITY ASSESSMENTS, IS, WHO'S OUR CUSTOMER? OR WHO IS THE UN WHO CARRIES THE UNINTENDED BENEFIT OR BURDEN OF OUR ACTIONS? AND SOMETIMES JUST THAT SIMPLE QUESTION CAN GIVE US A PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING? AND THEN I'LL BRING THIS UP AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC TOOL, NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS ABOUT HAVING FOLKS AT THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
UM, I MEAN, MEANINGFUL INPUT ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON, ON HOW THEY LIVE.
SO AS I KIND OF JUMP INTO TO TALKING ABOUT
[00:45:01]
SOME OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT I ALWAYS WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT IN, IN MY RESEARCH AND DOING THIS IN THE FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO, I WAS VERY AMAZED AND VERY EXCITED THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO HAD VERY SIMILAR THEMES THAT CAME OUTTA THAT.BUT I WANTED TO START WITH COMMUNITY BECAUSE COMMUNITY'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO IN THIS SPACE AND OF THE HEART OF WHAT THE EQUITY OFFICE SEEKS TO, TO ACHIEVE.
UM, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HIGHLIGHTED THAT THESE, THIS WAS CONSULTATION THAT WAS DONE IN COMMUNITY, I DIDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
YES, I HAD, DID HAVE TOOK SOME TIME TO DEFINITELY SPOKE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEM AS WELL.
UM, SO UNDERSTANDING HISTORY, AGAIN, HISTORIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS, HISTORIES OF, OF, OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR, OUR CITY, WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, WITH ME WEARING THIS SEAL AND BADGE THAT I LOVE VERY MUCH, UM, THE COMMUNICATION, HOW WE COMMUNICATE ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES TO IDENTIFIED CONCERNS, HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUT DURING DISASTER AND RESPONSE ACCURACY AND SCHEDULING.
IF WE ARE GONNA SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT, UM, ENGAGING COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, DOING IT PROACTIVELY AND NOT REACTIVELY OR FOR, LIKE WE SAID, TO CHECK A BOX AND SAY THAT WE DID IT.
UM, BUT MEANINGFULLY BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT IS CRITICAL FOR THEM AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, JUST GENERAL CONCERNS AROUND GENTRIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT, DISPLACEMENT.
UM, HOW DO WE INCREASE PERMANENCE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE WE GIVING SPACE TO THAT? UM, ACCOUNTABILITY OF LEADERSHIP.
UH, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HISTORIES, PARTICULARLY AROUND CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND POLLUTION AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THAT AND HOW WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND, AND HOW, WHERE DO WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES? AND BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING THEM OUT OF THE DISCUSSION AGAIN.
AND THEN LEVERAGES OF THE COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE, ADVOCATE, AND CHALLENGE.
IF, IF THINGS HAVE A RISK OF DISPARATE OUTCOME OR PUBLIC HEALTH RISK, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY AND THE, AND THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LEVERAGE TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT WILL HELP KEEP US SAFE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WHOLE.
I, I, I, I, I, WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH A LOT OF THIS, I, I WAS TRYING TO JUST EMBODY THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS WANNA KEEP IN MIND.
MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, UM, ARE STILL FIGHTING.
IT'S A, IT'S AN ONGOING FIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLE, THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION BEHIND IT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT SAY THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING STRUGGLE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE VERY, UH, FEEL VERY EMBATTLED WITH.
UM, MISTRUST OCCURS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR SYSTEMS, AND IT IS UP TO US AS A SYSTEM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT AND, AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS ABOUT DENSITY IS, IS DENSITY.
THE ONLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IS, IS IT THE ONLY OPTION? ARE THERE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS TO BUILDING THEIR HIGHWAYS? ARE WE REALLY TAKING TIME OF HOW LONG PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE SPACES AND WHAT IT CAN DO TO THEM PROTECTING THE COLORADO RIVER? THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL OF THE CREEKS AND THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT WE LIVE IN.
UM, AND THEN JUST MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANNA UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT CONTINUED ACCOUNTABILITY.
SOME FOLKS, YOU KNOW, KNOW OF THESE SPACES, THEY VISIT THESE SPACES, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE, ARE STILL LARGELY UNAWARE THAT THESE SPACES TO BE HEARD ARE, ARE THERE FOR THEM.
AND HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE CREATE THOSE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR CONCERN? I WANT TO KIND OF TIE THIS UP, UH, WITH SOME VISUALS BECAUSE, UH, THE POINTS OF AWARENESS ARE THREE GREAT, UM, WEBSITES FOR LIKE EPA MAPS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOOLS THAT I HAD A LOT OF FUN POKING AROUND WITH.
AND SO I WANTED TO SHOW A COUPLE OF VISUALS OF WHAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE WHEN I KIND OF LEVERAGED THEM.
SO THIS IS, UH, THE EPA, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOOL.
AND I, I TOOK A MINUTE AND I LOOKED AT IT, ALLOWED ME TO OVERLAY A FEW THINGS.
UH, SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS AN OVERLAID MAP OF PUBLIC AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, FOOD DESERTS, HOUSING BURDEN, LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY, HAZARDOUS WASTE, PROXIMITY AND WASTEWATER DISCHARGE.
UM, AND THIS IS, UH, SPECIFICALLY IS OF THE, THE 7 8 7 2 3 CENSUS TRACTED.
UM, AND SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THINGS KIND OF GET A LITTLE COLORFUL.
I THINK YOU, YOU KNOW, I, I, I LOOKED AT THIS AND I, I GOTTA TRY.
I RESISTED GETTING A LITTLE PICTURE HEAVY.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GRAPHICS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS.
UM, ANYWHERE FROM LIFE EXPECTANCY AND ALSO POVERTY, UM, THAT'S A MORE OF A ZONE OUT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, SO YOU CAN KIND OF DEFINITELY SURELY SEE THE EAST WEST DISPARITY THAT WE HEAR SO OFTEN, BUT WE'RE STILL FEELING THE IMPACTS OF THAT.
AND, UH, AGAIN, ZOOMED A LITTLE FURTHER OUT.
I WAS KIND OF TRYING TO PICK CERTAIN AREAS AND I PUT A PIN ON THE LAKEWAY, SO THAT'S THE LITTLE PIN YOU SEE OUT THERE.
SO YOU DEFINITELY SEE WHERE THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF DISPARITY THAT WE STILL HAVE TO BEGIN TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
UH, THERE WASN'T A PIN FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
UM, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS, IS VERY MUCH IN THE FOREFRONT.
UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE, OUR NETWORK
[00:50:01]
MEMBERS, WE, WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO WANNA BRING EQUITY OPERATIONALIZATION INTO THESE SPACES.UM, FOR RESILIENCE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PARTICULARLY DURING DISASTER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, UH, WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY EXPERIENCES DISASTER THE SAME WAY.
NOT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE RECOVERY THE SAME WAY.
UM, AND SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEVER RECOVER.
UM, AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE PREPARE FOR THIS.
UM, WITHIN WATERSHED, UH, VERY PROUDLY, WE HAVE A HUGE ADVOCATE ADVOCACY IN OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, AND THEY ADDED, UM, AN EQUITY, AN EQUITY COMPONENT TO OUR INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE AS WE PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES.
UM, AND SO THIS WAS PURPOSELY DESIGNED TO, TO EMBED US IN TO FIND OPERATIONAL BLIND SPOTS AS WE GO THROUGH A DISASTER AND NOT AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW, QUALITY LIFE TENDS TO COME UP AFTER PRESERVATION OF LIFE, BUT REALLY AS WE GO THROUGH AN EMERGENCY ACKNOWLEDGING WHERE WE CAN, UM, IDENTIFY ANY BLIND SPOTS TO GETTING RESOURCES OR, OR HELP TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED.
UM, SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT EFFORT.
UM, THERE'S A PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, UH, THAT I WAS HOPING WE WOULD HAVE BEFORE I CAME HERE TODAY,
UM, SO I COULD HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTED POINTS OF THAT, BUT IT GOT PUSHED BACK.
SO I JUST WANNA ALSO, UH, DRIVE TO ALIGN THAT, THAT THAT IS HAPPENING IN, IN THAT, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO GET REALLY SPECIFICS ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON.
INTERSECTIONS, RIGHT, SO THIS COMMISSION AND A LOT OF COMMISSIONS INTERSECT WITH A LOT OF PRIORITIES.
LAND USE, HOMELESSNESS, CLIMATE RECOVERY, FOOD ACCESS, HOUSING AND DISPLACEMENT, GREEN SPACES, GREEN SPACES AND WATERWAYS.
UM, AND ACROSS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE OF COLOR TEND TO HAVE THE WORST OUTCOMES.
UM, SO WHEN WE CONSIDER OUR VARIANCES, OUR CODE AMENDMENTS, ARE WE CONSIDERING WHETHER THESE CHANGES ARE IMPACTING CERTAIN AREAS, CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, OR ARE WE OVERBURDENING CERTAIN SPACES WITH THESE, THESE AMENDMENTS THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE OR THESE CHANGES THAT WE WANNA MAKE? CAN, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT JUST DIFFERENT POINTS OF DISCUSSION.
CAN, CAN THE COMMISSIONS CHALLENGE MORE IF COMMUNITY CONCERNS ARE IDENTIFIED, HOW DO WE FIND THAT OUT? IS THERE A PROACTIVE WAY TO DO THAT? OR, YOU KNOW, VERSUS JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BRING THAT CONCERN TO ME.
UM, ARE THERE OTHER INSTRUMENTS THAT WE CAN USE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE? UM, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE PRACTICE? I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO THIS WORK, IT, IT CAUSES US TO PAUSE AND WE GET INTO THE, THE, THE URGENCY TO PRODUCE AND PERFORM.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF, IF WE IDENTIFY A CONCERN AND WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH IT FROM THERE? AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND ADVOCATES? THE EQUITY ACTION TEAM MEETING AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND THOUGHT BUILDING AND, AND INPUT IS BROUGHT IN FROM THOSE SPACES.
AND SO ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO INTERSECT WITH THE WORK OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO JUST GENERAL POINTS OF AWA, POINTS OF AWARENESS.
UM, THIS IS VERY HARD, BUT CHOOSING INTENTIONAL SOLUTIONS OVER QUICK FIXES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS, AGAIN, SIMILAR THINGS WE WERE TALK, UH, I WAS TALKING TO OF COURSE, HOUSING AND PLANNING AND THOSE FOLKS AND, AND THEY SAID, YES, WE NEED MORE HOUSING, BUT FOR WHO ARE WE BUILDING AND ARE WE MAKING HOUSING THAT'S ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO FEEL DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES THE MOST THAT CAME UP WITH COMMUNITY, IT CAME UP IN, IN MULTIPLE SPACES AND MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE BUILDING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IS IT, IS IT, YOU KNOW, MEDIUM OR IS IT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, IS DENSITY ALWAYS THE ANSWER? ARE WE EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS? UM, SO THESE ARE NOT QUICK FIXES.
YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A, IN A SPACE OF METRICS AND KEEP PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BUT ARE WE REALLY SERVING? UM, AND WHAT DOES THAT DO? AND HOW DO WE, IS THERE PLACES WHERE WE CAN TAKE THAT EXTRA MOMENT? UM, THE RACIAL EQUITY ANTI DISPLACEMENT TOOL WAS A, A GREAT, UM, TOOL THAT CAME OUT OF THE PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, IT WAS A GOOD WAY, IT WAS A GREAT WAY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT HOW THEY SPENT ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND NAVIGATE HOW, UH, HOW THEIR POLICIES OR HOW THEIR DIFFERENT EFFORTS COULD BE.
IS IT, IS IT GUIDED WITH COMMUNITY IN MIND? SO I WAS ABLE TO LINK THAT IN AS WELL.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT RESOURCE TO JUST KIND OF ENCOURAGE SOME THOUGHT, ENCOURAGE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME CURIOSITY.
UM, AND SO THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT A, A LOT OF WHERE WE SIT WITH THAT IS JUST REALLY THINKING ABOUT THOSE INTENTIONAL SOLUTIONS.
SO
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK IF THERE'S MORE INTEREST, IF THERE'S MORE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU WANT.
I WAS HOPING TO JUST COME AND GIVE A REALLY GREAT OVERVIEW.
UM, BUT I KNOW THAT I, I, THERE'S NO WAY THAT I CAN REALLY EMBODY ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT THESE FOLKS ARE DOING.
UM, BUT WE START WITH NORMALIZING THE CONVERSATION.
UM, SO ALL OF THOSE FOLKS I MENTIONED IS ABOUT 40 TO 41 OF US TOTAL BETWEEN OUR EQUITY WORK GROUPS AND
[00:55:01]
OUR DIFFERENT, OUR AND OUR TITLE POSITIONS.UM, AND A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS NORMALIZE THE CONVERSATION AND THOSE ARE TRAININGS.
UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE HOSTS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF TRAININGS, UM, FROM THE PEOPLE'S INSTITUTE, CAMBIO INTEGRAL, AND THEN THEY HAVE A, A, A TRAINING THAT THEY, THEY PUT ON CALLED EQUITY 1 0 1.
SO I'M DOING RACISM, THE LATINX CHALLENGE, EQUITY 1 0 1, AND THEN THE EQUITY NEWSLETTER.
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION COMES OUTTA THERE.
I ALSO INCLUDED THE LINK FOR THEIR INTEREST FORM, IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN ANY, ANY OF THOSE TRAININGS.
UM, BUT ALSO IN THIS, UH, I WANNA GIVE, UH, A GREAT SPACE TO NORMALIZING IN JUST THE POWER OF INFLUENCE.
UM, SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO QU, HARD TO QUANTIFY.
UM, BUT, UM, THE AMOUNT OF TIME, IF WE'RE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINING THIS ARE, ARE IN LEADERSHIP, THEY'RE TALKING TO LEADERSHIP, THEY'RE A PART OF LONG RANGE PLANNING, THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN INTERVIEWS, THEY'RE SPEAKING OUT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND SO HOPEFULLY IN THOSE SPACES, THE TRAINING THAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS CARRYING FORTH THE MESSAGE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE CURIOUS.
UM, BUT WE STRUGGLE TOGETHER, WE STRATEGIZE TOGETHER SO THAT THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE SO MUCH OF WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO BE CURIOUS AND ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN TOGETHER.
UM, ORGANIZING, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER, AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING AND I LOVE IT.
UM, THE EQUITY ACTION TEAMS, AGAIN, THEY'RE A MONTHLY MEETING THAT WE HAVE WITH COMMUNITY AND OUR NETWORK TO BE ABLE TO TALK AND STRATEGIZE.
UH, WE HAVE EQUITY INCLUSION NETWORK MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE ALSO, AGAIN, OPPORTUNITIES.
THE JOINT INCLUSION COUNCIL CONNECTS THE JOIN, UH, THE, THOSE COUNCIL OR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH THE STAFF AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE EQUITY COORDINATION TEAMS, WORK GROUPS, UM, AND IDEA COMMITTEES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, UH, SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EQUITY WORK GROUPS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE A TITLE POSITION.
SO AGAIN, SOMETIMES THIS IS BIGGER EVEN THAN THE, THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE LEADING THE DEPARTMENTS IN, IN, IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, SO YES, THESE ARE SOME OF THE AMAZING, AMAZING EFFORTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE WORK THAT THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS CHAMPIONED IN SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.
AND THIS IS JUST BY NO MEANS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST.
THERE'S SO MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY HAVE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THEM MORE IN DEPTH.
UH, BUT THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARDS, THAT WAS AN AMAZING EFFORT, UM, TO HELPING FOLKS THAT NEED MORE IDENTIFICATION.
UM, UPDATING OUR DEPARTMENT EQUITY ASSESSMENTS.
EVERY DEPARTMENT INITIALLY CREATED AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT, AND MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING THROUGH AND DOING IT AGAIN.
NOW THAT THERE'S MORE, THERE'S MORE DEPTH, THERE'S MORE KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S MORE EXPERIENCE, THERE'S PROGRESS.
THE NEEDLE HAS MOVED, SO WE'RE DOING THOSE AGAIN.
UM, THEY HAD A, A CITIZENSHIP CLINIC.
THE EQUITY OFFICE WAS PART OF THE CITIZENSHIP CLINIC, AMAZING EFFORT.
UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS AN ENTIRE EQUITY ACADEMY, WHICH IS A TRAINING, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY FOR TRAINING THEIR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND MICROAGGRESSIONS AND RACE AND RACISM AND, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND EMBEDDING EQUITY, AND SO THAT THEIR STAFF CAN REALLY HAVE AN EQUITY LENS WHEN THEY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE AND FINALIZE AN EQUITY CHARTER, WHICH REALLY PUTS IT IN THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND REALLY GIVES OUR, OUR, OUR FOUNDATION THAT WE EMPHASIZE EQUITY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WE HAVE 12 TITLED POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH IS AMAZING.
UM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ACCC IS AN AMAZING YOUTH PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THEY'RE GETTING KIDS, THEY'RE GETTING YOUNG ADULTS, I WON'T CALL THEM KIDS, YOUNG ADULTS, OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO TRAIN AND TO BE ABLE TO, UM, WORK IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND GIVE THEM, PUT THEM IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR BETTER JOBS.
I MEAN, AND, AND THIS IS ALL WITH EQUITY IN MIND.
AND THEN JUST EQUITY AND LONG RANGE PLANNING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND OF COURSE, A SHOUT OUT TO RAIN THE RIVER THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS AN AMAZING PRODUCT.
UM, PRO WHAT IS AMAZING STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, THAT THAT EMBEDS EQUITY ALL THROUGH IT.
AND THEN JUST PRIORITIZATION, EQUITY AND, AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE THE WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, BUT I LOVE THIS BECAUSE SOMEONE IN OUR DEPARTMENT POSTED IT IN A TEAMS CHAT BECAUSE THEY SAW IT AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
UM, AND I, THIS IS A PERFECT GLIMPSE OF HOW ALL THE, HOW NORMALIZED, ORGANIZED, AND OPERATIONALIZED CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THIS IS A, A CARD, UM, THAT IS IN EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THIS CITY.
UM, IT WAS PART OF A WORK GROUP THAT, THAT INCLUDED, UH, CARMELITA WILLIAMS, WHO IS THEIR EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER, UM, IN A, IN A WORK GROUP.
AND JEREMY GARZA WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE.
AND IT, IT TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO NAME THE HISTORY THAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM ACKNOWLEDGES, UM, THE HISTORY THAT WE HAVE WITH SYSTEMIC RACISM.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN.
IT DEFINES EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION.
AND IT, AND IT GIVES A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A SPACE TO BE CURIOUS.
UM, AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN ACTION.
AND SO IT, IT OFFERS FOR PEOPLE TO BE CURIOUS, ASK QUESTIONS, BE PRESENT, UM, AND LEARN.
[01:00:01]
MY PERSONAL MOTTO, 'CAUSE I JUST, YOU KNOW, HAD TO GIVE, IT'S NOT AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT WHY WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.SO I THINK ABOUT THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE WORK WE DO, THE ENERGY WE HAVE, THE WHO WE'RE PRIORITIZING AND, AND WHAT OUR GOAL IS WHEN WE WALK INTO A PROJECT THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT PROJECT.
AND SO, YES, I, I'M, I AM KAI.
THIS IS MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
I DID PUT A, UH, A LINKS PAGE FOR EASY ACCESS TO ALL OF THOSE LINKS, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK WE'LL MAYBE GO AROUND THE HORN HERE AND SEE IF, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, UH, HAVE QUESTIONS.
UM, SHERA, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
NO QUESTIONS FOR ME EITHER, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION.
SSH, YOU WERE COMING AROUND THE HORN FROM YOU.
UH, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
I WAS AT THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH, UH, GOT CANCELED FOR LACK OF QUORUM, WHICH WAS COOL BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE THING THAT I ACTUALLY DID WANNA CATCH.
THAT CAUGHT A LITTLE OF IT, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, BEING FROM DISTRICT ONE, I LIVE IN TWO THREE, SO I LIKE THE, UH, THE SHOUT OUT THERE.
WELL, I GUESS I WOULD'VE LIKED THE SHOUT IF IT WAS FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES OVER TIME, BUT HEY, WHATEVER, WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER EXPOSURE WE CAN GET, I SUPPOSE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, TO BE MORE EXACT, I LIVE OFF ROCKY AND MAINOR, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW THE EAST SIDE, IT'S A, UH, IT'S A FUN PART OF TOWN.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTING THAT KIND STUFF IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE SUPER COOL TO GET YOU TO PRESENT, UH, TO THE JSC AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN TRY TO PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE THERE TO TRY AND GET ON THEIR AGENDA AND, UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK, SO JUST APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'M, I'M, I JUST ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT THIS PRESENTATION RIGHT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE HOMELAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS, SO THANK YOU.
YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING, AND YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT SPOKESPERSON, AND I LOVE THE OVERVIEW THAT YOU GAVE, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THE TRAININGS THAT YOU ALL DO AS WELL.
AND I'M CURIOUS, ARE THOSE TRAININGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR IS IT JUST FOR PEOPLE AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY? NO, THEY ARE, UM, THEY, THEY ARE OPEN.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THE LINK TO THE FORM IS A INTEREST FORM THAT YOU CAN REFER TO FOR THE EQUITY OFFICE.
SO YES, THEY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO, TO EXPERIENCE THE TRAINING.
YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE SPOKESPERSON AND I HAVE A LOT OF THESE THAT ARE NOW BOOKMARKED TO
SO THANK YOU FOR FITTING SO MUCH INTO THIS.
I WANNA OFFER JUST ONE IDEA ABOUT A CHALLENGE THAT I FACE ON THIS PANEL.
THE NEXT CASE THAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR IS FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT'S THREE MILES TO THE NEAREST BUS STOP.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HEAR AN ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE ON IT, BUT AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IT COSTS LIKE $10,000 OR MORE FOR OWN, FOR AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP.
AND WE'RE FORCING AUTOMOBILE, AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP ON PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME AT THIS, AT THIS LOCATION.
WHY DOES THE CITY DO THAT? I EMAILED THE PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS OVER THE WEEKEND OR LAST FRIDAY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED COMMUNICATING WITH THEM OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
BUT IT'S LIKE, I, I CAN'T TURN IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR HOUSING.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M HELPING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PUT PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE UP IN FAR NORTH AUSTIN.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ON A BOARD LIKE THIS.
I THINK YOU ADD THE QUOTE ABOUT SMART VERSUS SMART.
SO IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SMART HOUSING, BUT THE T IS, IT'S SAFE, MIXED INCOME ACCESSIBLE, REASONABLY, REASONABLY PRICED AND TRANSIT ORIENTED, BUT IT'S NOT TRANSIT ORIENTED, SO IT'S SMAR INSTEAD OF SMART.
THANK YOU THOUGH VERY MUCH THOUGH.
WELL, APPARENTLY I'M PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, OR MY MIC IS, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND, UH, BUT I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, ANYTHING AND I'LL PLAY WITH MY MIC.
UM, THIS WAS ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS WE WANTED TO TRY TO GET IN THIS LAST QUARTER, SO, UM, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM US ABOUT MORE OF THESE, BUT PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT AND PUSH MORE INFORMATION TO US.
THIS IS A, IT WAS A VERY WELL ORGANIZED PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO WAS YEAH, CHOCK FULL OF INFO, SO THANK YOU.
FEEL FREE TO USE ME AS A RESOURCE.
[01:05:04]
ALRIGHT, UM, FOLLOWING SULLIVAN SEGWAY WE'RE GONNA MOVING ON TO, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER[3. Make a recommendation regarding the following requests to vary from the Land Development Code. Name: Northwind Apartments (SP-2021-0384C.SH)]
THREE, WHICH IS THE NORTH WIND APARTMENT'S.SP 2021 DASH 0 3 8 4 C SH, UM, AT 1 1 2 1 6 CAMERON ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 4 6.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET STAFF PRESENTATION FIRST.
PAMELA AB TALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT NORTH WIND APARTMENT.
IT IS, UH, AT 11 2 1 6 CAMERON ROAD, 7 8 7 5 4.
THE CASE NUMBER IS SP 2 2 1 0 3 8 4 C SH.
UH, IT'S IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF TOWN THERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN THE SUBURBAN WATERSHED.
OR IN A SUBURBAN WATERSHED RATHER
UM, AND, UH, IT'S IN YELLOW THERE.
UH, IT'S A IN THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
AND, UM, SO HERE'S AN AERIAL OF IT.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, ON CAMERON ROAD, UH, NEAR SAMSUNG ROAD.
SO IT'S IN, AS I SAID, THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
IT'S IN WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS SUBURBAN.
IT IS THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
IT IS NOT LOCATED OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
IT, UH, DOES HAVE A MINOR WATERWAY CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE BY DISSECTING IT, UH, IT HAS NO CRITICAL WA UH, ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND IT'S IN COUNCIL DISTRICT.
SO THE REQUESTED VARIANCES ARE THREE, ONE VARIANCE TO 25 8 3 41, UH, CUT REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW CUT TO 12 FEET.
NUMBER TWO, VARIANCE TO 25 8, 3 42 FILL REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW FILL TO 17 FEET.
AND, UH, NUMBER THREE, VARIANCE TO 25 8, 2 61 WATER QUALITY ZONE, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW A DRIVEWAY ACROSS A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
SO THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE SITE.
THE, UH, FIRST OF ALL, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE THAT GOES ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF IT.
UM, AND, UH, THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL SMALL DRAINAGES IN THIS HIGHLY EROSIVE SOIL, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN ALL OF THOSE.
UH, THE ORANGE, UH, PLACES ARE ALL, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE SLOPES OVER 15%, BETWEEN 15 AND 60.
AND, UM, THAT'S AS A RESULT OF THERE BEING A LOT OF EROSION ON THE SITE FROM SMALLER DRAINAGES.
UH, AND THERE'S PHOTOGRAPH OF THE, THE MAIN WATERWAY, WHICH WE'LL COME BACK TO AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE, HIGHLY ERODED.
SO SOME OF THE PROJECT CONSTRAINTS ARE THAT, UH, THE PROJECT ELEVATIONS ARE DICTATED BY THE NEED TO, UM, EXCUSE ME, PROVIDE, UH, ADA ACCESSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE SITE, UH, WHICH DROPS 40 FEET FROM THE, THE EAST AND WEST SIDES DOWN TOWARDS THAT, UH, WATERWAY IN THE MIDDLE.
AND, UM, TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLE USE OF THE PROPERTY.
SINCE THAT CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE GOES ACROSS KIND OF THE MIDDLE THERE, UH, THEY HAVE TO, UH, CROSS IT IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE BACK HALF OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THERE IS AN ACCESS TO THE NORTH, THE NORTHEAST CORNER THERE.
IT'S, UH, ANYWAY, UM, BUT THAT IS INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT IS ONLY AN EMERGENCY ACCESS.
SO HERE IS THE EXHIBIT THAT SHOWS THE, UH, GRADING AND THE EXISTING SLOPES.
THE EXISTING SLOPES ARE IN SHADES OF, OF GRAY.
AND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, THE CHANNEL THROUGH THERE, UH, AND WITH THE DRIVEWAY ACROSS IT.
AND THEN THE ACCESS POINT FOR, UH, OFF OF CAMERON ROAD.
UH, FOR THE SITES, THE, UH, DARK GREEN AND DARK RED ARE YOUR, UH, CUT AND FILL OVER EIGHT FEET.
UM, AND, UH, THE LIGHTER GREEN AND THE PINK ARE CUT AND FILL OVER RIGHT FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FEET.
[01:10:01]
SO, UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.SO STAFF FINDS THAT THE VARIANCES ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE BASIC PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCESS ACROSS THE SITE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, UH, ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD.
UH, ON, ON CAMERON OFF CAMERON ROAD, UH, THAT'S NECESSARY TO PROVIDE BASIC PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCESS THROUGH THE SITE, ACROSS THE, UH, WATERWAY, ACROSS THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND THE, UH, EROSION HAZARD ZONE.
AND, UM, NECESSARY TO PROVIDE REASONABLE USE OF THE SITE STAFF ALSO FINDS THE VARIANCES WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT OR WATER QUALITY.
SO STAFF FINDS THE, UH, IN CONCLUSION FINDS THE FINDINGS OF FACT TO HAVE BEEN MET AND RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
FIRST, THAT THE APPLICANT WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED PERMANENT EROSION CONTROL VIA A BURIED BURIED GRADE CONTROLS IN THE CHANNEL TO ESTABLISH THE CHANNEL AND DISCOURAGE FURTHER, UH, TO STABILIZE THE CHANNEL AND, UH, DISCOURAGE FURTHER IN SIZING.
AND I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE CROSSING, WE'LL USE THE OPEN BOTTOM CULVERTS, UH, AND REVEGETATION ON THE SLOPES WILL BE WITH NATIVE SEEDING AND PLANTING MIX PER THE STANDARD SPECIFICATION 6 0 9 X.
THIS MIX INCLUDES GRASSES, WILD FLOWERS, TREES, AND SHRUBS.
SO, THE FIRST CONDITION, THE ENHANCED PERMANENT EROSION CONTROLS.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, AGAIN, I BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE EXISTING SLOPES THERE IN THE HIGHLY INCISED CHANNEL.
THE WAY THIS INCISING WORKS IS OVER TIME, IT GOES UP THE CHANNEL WITH, WITH EVERY RAINFALL EVENT YOU GET, UH, UH, UM, THE, THE SOIL WASHING AWAY, HIGHER UP THE UP THE CHANNEL.
AND, UM, AND OF COURSE, UH, PUTTING IN THE BRIDGE, IT WON'T, COULD, COULD POSSIBLY, UH, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF, OF EROSION.
AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ADDRESSING HERE, AGAIN, THIS PHOTOGRAPH OR THESE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE, THE WAY THE CHANNEL LOOKS NOW.
UM, SO, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE GONNA DO IS TO PUT THIS CONTROL, UH, ON, THERE'S A LITTLE TRIBUTARY THAT COMES IN THERE.
THE, THE, FROM THE LEFT THERE, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS IN THE SAME PLACE IT WAS ON THE, ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
AND THEN THIS, UH, TRIBUTARY COMES IN.
SO YOU'LL SLOW THE EROSION ON THE TRIBUTARY COMING IN FROM THE LEFT.
AND THEN THERE WILL BE THIS GRADE CONTROL IN THE CHANNEL, IT'S LIKE UNDER THE BRIDGE.
UM, AND, UH, IT WILL ALLOW THE, SORRY, THE FLOW TO STEP DOWN AND TO BE, UH, UH, SLOWED IN THE STILL A STILLING BASIN, UH, BE AND BEFORE IT HEADS ON DOWN THE CREEK.
SO IT'LL SLOW THE VELOCITY, UM, AND, UH, AND SPREAD IT OUT AND, AND SO FORTH TO TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER EROSION OF THE CHANNEL.
THE SECOND CONDITION, CONDITION B, IS USING THE OPEN BOTTOM CULVERTS, UH, FOR THE CREEK CROSSING.
SO THAT, THAT'S A, JUST A DIAGRAM OF HOW THAT WILL LOOK.
UM, SO THESE ARE IN PLACE OF HAVING A CULVERT THAT'S A BOX CULVERT WITH A CONCRETE BOTTOM.
CONCRETE BOTTOM IS JUST GONNA SPEED UP THE WATER GOING THROUGH IT.
SO THIS IS, THESE ARE OPEN BO OPEN BOTTOM, SO THAT THEY'RE ON THE WATER CONTINUES TO BE OVER THE GROUND WHERE IT WILL NOT, UH, BE SPED UP AT ALL.
THE FINAL CONDITION, THIS CONDITION C, IS TO USE, UH, REVEGETATION WITH 6 0 9 S ON ALL OF THE SLOPES THAT ARE GONNA BE CREATED WITH THIS PROJECT.
6 0 9 S UH, PROVIDES, UM, UH, GRASSES, INSTEAD OF BEING A A MONOCULTURE OF BERMUDA, YOU GET A, A BIODIVERSE MIX OF GRASSES AND FORBES.
FORBES ARE BASICALLY WILDFLOWERS.
AND, UM, THEY ARE, UH, THE, THE, THE LIST OF, OF PLANTS IS, UM, MATCH IS, UH, ADJUSTED FOR MOISTURE AND, UH, MOISTURE CONDITIONS AND SUN CONDITIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE CHOSEN APPROPRIATELY.
UM, AND, UH, INCLUDES OF COURSE SEEDING RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOUR 6 0 9 S IS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE.
UH, CAN YOU, I LEFT OFF THE THANK
[01:15:01]
YOU.AND DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? SLIDE.
THEN DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
UM, DO WE HAVE, UH, APPLICANT PRESENTATION? WE DO, WE DO HAVE AN APPLICANT PRESENTATION.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR THAT AND THEN, UM, WE'LL TRY TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO BOTH YOU GUYS.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP THERE AND THEY'LL PULL UP THE SLIDES IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS PROJECT AND MOST, UH, CERTAINLY TO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HELP IN GETTING US, UH, HERE THIS EVENING.
WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE, WE CERTAIN CERTAINLY, UH, WOULD NOT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
PRESENTATION WILL BE, UH, RELATIVELY BRIEF, AND I DO AGREE WITH THE EARLIER COMMENTS THAT IT IS A GOOD, UH, COMPLIMENT TO THE EARLIER, UH, EQUITY PRESENTATION BY KAI, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
I WANT YOU TO PUT TOGETHER ALL OF MY NEXT PRESENTATIONS FOR ME, PLEASE.
I MIGHT NEED TO SEE IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
UM, BUT BASICALLY IS, IS IT ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT SHE HIT ON WAS THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT.
AND ONE OF THE, THE KEY THINGS, AND I APOLOGIES, I DON'T BELIEVE I, I GAVE MY NAME AND, AND TITLE, UH, STEVE CRAVER WITH, UH, KITTLE PROPERTY GROUP.
THE, UH, DEVELOPER OF THIS PROJECT WE'RE, UH, PRIMARILY A, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER BASED OUT OF INDIANAPOLIS.
BUT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PROJECT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, INCLUDING ONE THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN AUSTIN CURRENTLY.
UH, BUT THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT IS 240 UNITS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A BIT DIFFERENT FOR THIS PROJECT THAN MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE PROJECTS I'VE DONE IS WE HAVE A WIDE, UH, RANGE OF INCOMES TO ADJUST SORT OF THE MIXED INCOME POSITION THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TO WHERE WE HAVE UNITS THAT, UH, COVER EVERYTHING FROM THE 30, 50, 60 AND 70% INCOME LEVELS, WHERE IN A TYPICAL AFFORDABLE PROJECT MAY ONLY BE AT THE 60% INCOME LEVEL.
WHERE THIS ONE WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIVERSITY THAT ALLOWS TO, UH, SERVE A GREATER PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS TOO THAT WE CAN ALSO SEE FROM THE SLIDE IS THAT WE DO HAVE A FULL SERVICE, UH, PROJECT IN TERMS OF THAT WE OFFER COMMUNITY ROOM, FITNESS CENTER, ACTIVITY ROOM, SWIMMING, POOL, PLAYGROUND.
THIS WILL BE, UH, A FAMILY ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT.
WE DO SENIOR AS WELL AS FAMILY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT SINCE WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR BEDROOMS, WE DO, UH, SEE THIS AS A, AS A FAMILY, UH, PROPERTY.
SO WE INCLUDE A PLAYGROUND FOR THAT BICYCLE PARKING WASHERS AND DRYERS AND ALL THE UNIT.
SO IT'S VERY, IT'S A VERY NICE QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, QUITE HONESTLY.
COULD, COULD BE A MARKET RATE PRODUCT.
'CAUSE IT BASICALLY, THE PRODUCT TYPE THAT WE DEVELOP IS EFFECTIVELY A MARKET RATE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO, UH, BUILDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SOME OF THE, UH, OTHER ITEMS WE OFFER ARE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SUCH AS A ONSITE FOOD PANTRY, ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR.
WE DO PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE ALSO OFFER, UH, TAX, UH, PREP FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED AS WELL AS DIFFERENT, UH, SOCIAL EVENTS INCLUDING CRAFT FAIRS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, EMPHASIZE AND GREAT POINT, UH, COMMISSIONER ABOUT ON THE, UH, SMART, AND I THINK THE SMART COMMENT THAT YOU MADE EARLIER IS THAT THIS PROJECT, AS YOU NOTED, IS, UH, A, HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE CITY AS A SMART HOUSING PROJECT.
UH, WE DID CHECK ALL THE ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTIONS.
YOU MENTIONED TRANSIT ORIENTED.
IRONICALLY, WE DID NEED TO RECEIVE A WAIVER FOR THE TRANSIT ORIENTED PIECE, BUT WE HAVE HAD, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH CAP METRO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PROJECT IS IN THEIRS, UH, PLANS FOR THE SERVICE AREA IN THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN.
NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.
THAT'S A CAP, METRO CAP, EXCUSE ME, CAP METRO, UH, PROGRAM.
BUT WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND OUR PRO PROJECT SITE IS IN THE SERVICE AREA FOR THE EVENT THAT THEY DO WANNA HAVE A BUS STOP IN FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY THAT IS, BECOMES AN OPTION FOR THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS, THESE, UH, LARGE FAMILY ORDERED PROJECTS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE HAVE VEHICLES.
WE DO KNOW THAT IN OUR SENIOR PROJECTS THAT WE DO, WE DO TRY TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WITH A SHUTTLE SERVICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS OR, OR ALL SENIOR PROPERTIES.
BUT THIS BEING AN AFFORDABLE PROPERTY, UH, WE, UH, BEING A FAMILY PROPERTY, WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, THAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AUTOMOBILES.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, DEAN CARDWELL WITH OUR CIVIL ENGINEER, WHO IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS YOU CAN, I COULD SPEAK ON ALL THOSE FANCY LITTLE FACTS.
DEAN CAN ADDRESS THE, UH, TECHNICAL ITEMS ON THE DESIGN SIDE.
SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER TO, UH, BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND TO ADDRESS ANY TECHNICAL COMMENTS.
UM, YEAH, I GUESS WE'LL MAYBE JUST GO AROUND AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FOR THE APPLICANT.
UM, UH, NICHOLS, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE SMALL QUESTION.
[01:20:01]
AT THE, UH, THE MIX OF, UH, UNITS YOU HAD THERE ON THE, UH, ON THE SLIDES, IS THIS A, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT DEAL SET CURIOSITY? IT IS.IT IS A BOND FINANCE DEAL UTILIZING LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
SHERA, YOU GOT ANYTHING? YEAH, UM, YOU KNOW, I I, HOW, HOW LONG DOES THE LOW TAX, UM, THE LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT AND, UH, CONTRACT LA LAST? WELL, THE, IT'S CODE IS ON, IN ITS FEDERAL, UH, TAX CODE.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPERS TO EXTEND THAT, BUT IN ADDITION, SO WE HAVE A BASE PERIOD OF 15 YEARS FROM THE TIME THE PROPERTY IS FIRST PLACED IN SERVICE.
AND THEN ALSO, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THAT 15 YEAR PERIOD, WE'RE ALREADY UNDER SMART HOUSING ALSO REQUIRES A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE BEYOND THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD BECAUSE WE'RE COVERED BY THE 15 YEARS THAT'S UNDER THE, UH, FEDERAL TAX CODE.
CAN YOU ALSO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SECURITY ON THIS PROPERTY? YEAH, IT WILL BE A GATED PROPERTY.
WE WILL BE, WE DO HAVE, UH, SECURITY, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, WE MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT'S MONITORED AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, RECORDING CAPABILITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SOUND LIKE THE OLD GUY THAT'S BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOREVER, BUT THE, WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY WE WERE USING EVEN 20 YEARS AGO VERSUS WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO WITH, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND WIFI AND ALL THAT STUFF TODAY IS AMAZING.
BUT YEAH, WE WILL HAVE A FULL SECURITY AS WELL.
AND CAN YOU ALSO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY? WHAT, WHAT LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY YOU HAVE SET UP FOR THIS PROPERTY AND IN ANY SORT OF MAINTENANCE POINT? CERTAINLY, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
MY, UH, I FEEL BAD FOR NOT ADDRESSING THAT EARLIER.
UH, KITTLE PROPERTIES, WE ARE A FULL SERVICE, UH, DEVELOPER.
NOT ONLY DO WE DO DEVELOPMENT, WE SERVE AS OUR OWN GENERAL CONTRACTOR, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ARM.
SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, FULLY 100% VESTED IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT.
UH, FROM ALL SIDES, FROM DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION TO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY WE HIRE LOCAL STAFF.
UH, WE'VE GOT OUR PROJECT IN, UH, THAT'S IN AUSTIN.
IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE ALREADY LE HAVE ALREADY STAFFED THAT UP FROM A PRE-LEASING STANDPOINT.
UH, SO WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY WE TAKE A TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN IN THESE PROJECTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED FOR THE LONG HAUL.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT, WE'RE OUR NAME'S ON IT FOR 15 PLUS YEARS.
DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE? I MEAN, YEAH, I, I DO WANT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN PROPERTIES HERE IN AUSTIN WHERE THERE IS NO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE PROPERLY TAKING CARE OF THESE APARTMENTS.
UM, SO MY CONCERN IS, IS MORE ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN ENTIRELY AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, BUT IT IS.
NO, IT'S A, IT'S A FAIR POINT AND CERTAINLY AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT, UH, WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE, ON THE REVIEWS THAT WE GET.
I MEAN, THAT IS CONCERNING AS WELL, WHICH EVERYBODY CAN GIVE US FIVE OUT OF FIVE OR WHATEVER THE STANDARD IS.
UH, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, THAT IT IS FULL-TIME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A, UH, A PROPERTY MANAGER AS WELL AS ONE ASSISTANT AND MULTIPLE, UH, LEASING AGENTS DURING THE LEASE UP PERIOD.
AND THEN AS WE START TO OCCUPY THE PROPERTY, AND MAYBE A LEASING AGENT WILL, UH, MOVE ON TO ANOTHER PROPERTY, AND THEN WE'LL, AND THEN THE, THE MAINTENANCE STAFF WILL BE FULLY STAFFED.
SO AS YOU HAVE, OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED MORE STAFF ON SITE FOR A 240 UNIT FULLY OCCUPIED PROPERTY THAN YOU WOULD SAY A PROPERTY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GOT THE FIRST 50 UNITS, UH, ON.
AND THEN PLUS, AS YOU START WITH TURNS, I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT AS A PART OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSING, UH, TENANT CONCERNS.
AND MAKING SURE THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR, UM, CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.
WELL, I, I'LL CERTAINLY RELAY THAT TO, TO OUR FOLKS.
I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A, AN ACTIVE, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WORKING ON THE MARKETING SIDE.
AND WHICH SITE WERE YOU LOOKING? WERE YOU ON, UH, GOOGLE REVIEWS, OR WHICH, WHICH SITE WERE YOU AT? YES, GOOGLE.
YOU GOT ANYTHING? HEY, UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, Y'ALL.
[01:25:01]
KNOW, YOU KNOW, NORTHEAST AUSTIN IS BOOMING, UH, THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, VILLE AUSTIN SORT OF ROUND ROCK AREA, UH, MAINOR.UH, A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THERE.
UH, I THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NECESSARY, BUT I'LL ECHO, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, AFFORDABLE TRANSIT, MASS TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE LIVING THERE.
SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, CAP METRO ABOUT THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMMON QUESTION THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS ASK, UH, DEVELOPERS FOR THESE TYPES OF PROPERTIES.
BUT ARE Y'ALL LOOKING TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, UH, SOLAR PANELS OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE EV CHARGING STATION FACILITIES? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? YEAH, THAT IS A GREAT POINT.
AND ONE THING, AS PART OF THE SMART HOUSING PROGRAM, THERE IS THE AUSTIN GREEN, UH, BUILDING INITIATIVE.
SO WE ARE, I APOLOGIES, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS IN FRONT OF ME FOR WHAT WE QUALIFY FOR, BUT WE ARE, AS PART OF, TO QUALIFY FOR THE SMART HOUSING, WE ARE HAVING TO GO WITH THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING.
AND NATIONALLY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE OF A NEED FOR MORE OF A REQUEST FOR EV CHARGERS 'CAUSE OF THE COST OF EVS.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING AS MUCH OF THAT IN AN ALL AFFORDABLE PROJECT AT THIS POINT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT'S COMING, THE FUTURE IS COMING, SO WE'RE PLANNING OUR PROPERTIES ACCORDINGLY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY EV CHARGES IN THE INITIAL, UH, IN THE INITIAL PLAN.
YEAH, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE SEE SO MANY THAT AREN'T, SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
CAN YOU DEFINE FOR ME AFFORDABLE, LIKE WHAT STARTING RENT IS GOING TO BE OR WHAT PERCENT MFI YOU'RE TARGETING WITH THIS PROJECT? CERTAINLY WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE.
ARE WE STILL HAVE THE SLIDE OR DO YOU HAVE, DID YOU HAPPEN TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE SLIDE? MY APOLOGIES.
I DIDN'T BRING PRINTOUT, BUT I BELIEVE IT, I MIGHT HAVE DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONICALLY.
APOLOGIES I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT, BUT, SO AS, AS AN EXAMPLE, SO JUST TO BE ABLE TO THROW SOME NUMBERS AT, UH, OUT FOR SOME CONTEXT SO THAT, THAT THE, WHAT'S USED IS CALLED THE AREA OF FAMILY MEDIAN INCOME FOR THE ALL STREET ROUND ROCK AREA IS JUST OVER $122,000 A YEAR, BASICALLY.
UH, THAT'S FOR, CONSIDERED FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
SO IT'S KIND OF, IT'S ALSO SCALED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
BUT THE RULE OF THUMB FOR THAT SIZE, AS YOU ASSUME THAT BASICALLY AT A A 70% INCOME LEVEL WOULD BE AT ABOUT ROUGHLY 70 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS, ROUGHLY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
AND SO IF YOU WERE TO GO, SO FOR A, A ONE BEDROOM UNIT, IF THE 30% AMI LEVEL, SO THEY'RE MAKING 30% OF THE $122,000, THEY WOULD PAY A NET RENT OF 5 51, MEANING THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD PAY TO US.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT ARE, OR IN THE CALCULATION OF UTILITY ALLOWANCE TO COVER THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE ELECTRICITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THEN, SO, SO THAT'S ON THE, THE LOW END THIRD, UH, UH, SOMEONE IN A 30% ONE BEDROOM UNIT.
THEN YOU GO TO THE EX TO THE LARGEST END.
SO IF YOU HAD A FOUR BEDROOM, TWO BATH UNIT OCCUPIED BY A HOUSEHOLD WITH 70% INCOME LEVEL, THEIR RENT WOULD BE 2080 $3 A MONTH.
SO THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE RENT WE HAVE ON OUR PROPERTY.
NO, I, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HANDOUTS.
UM, AND THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THE SCOPE OF YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK IN ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF THE, THE COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, I'M CURIOUS HOW YOUR COMPANY GOES ABOUT SELECTING PROPERTIES IN TERMS OF TARGETING THEM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
LIKE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT IS FURTHER AWAY FROM TRANSIT SURE.
VERSUS ANOTHER, WHAT GOES INTO THAT DECISION MAKING? IT'S, UH, I'M FROM THE NEW ORLEANS AREA, SO IT'S QUITE A GUMBO FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT WILL GET THAT, GET THAT REFERENCE.
BUT, UH, IT IS, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT.
AND AS REFERENCED EARLIER, THIS IS A LITECH PROJECT.
AND SO THE STATE ADMINISTERS THE LITECH PROGRAM THROUGH AN ANNUAL QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN.
AND SO THERE CAN BE CERTAIN POINTS WITHIN THAT QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN OR QAP THAT DRIVE SITE SELECTION.
SO WHAT MAY NOT BE AN IDEAL SITE OR PREFERRED SITE FOR SOME C FOR SOME INSTANCES OR CIRCUMSTANCES FOR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT MATCHES THE POINTS THAT THE STATE, FOR WHATEVER REASON WOULD LIKE TO INCENTIVIZE.
AND SO IT CAN, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A BALANCE BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOLKS.
THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T ALL HAVE CARS OR SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF CARS FOR THE, FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THEIR, IN THEIR FAMILY.
BUT IT'S SO THAT IT'S A BALANCE.
AND LIKE ONE OF THE, I DON'T THINK CAP METRO USED THIS EXACT PHRASE, BUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION IS KIND OF A CHICKEN IN THE EGG PROGRAM.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION.
'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE HEADS OUT THERE, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE.
BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE TRANSPORTATION'S NOT THERE.
SO SOMETHING'S GOTTA MOVE FIRST.
AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE HOUSING MOVE FIRST, THAT THE FOLKS THAT FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND
[01:30:01]
HAVE EXPERIENCED BEFORE, PREDOMINANTLY HAVE VEHICLES OR AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD SO THEY'RE NOT STRANDED.AND THEN THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE THE SNOWBALL THAT ALLOWS OTHER, THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET OUT THERE AND ENCOURAGE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT, FOR THOSE THAT EITHER CHOOSE TO HAVE A VEHICLE OR NOT HAVE A VEHICLE MM-HMM.
UM, SO I MEAN THAT IT'S THOSE KIND OF, IT'S FACTORS NEXT TO JOB LOCATIONS, NEXT TO RETAIL, NEXT TO MEDICAL, YOU WOULDN'T BE CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOUR GROCERY STORE, YOU WOULDN'T BE CLOSE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, PHARMACY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THERE'S VARIOUS FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY, NOT JUST TRADITIONAL SORT OF MARKET RATE, REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS.
BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO LAYER IN WHAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE THIS, THESE, UH, BONDS, THESE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
YOU FAIL AN APPLICATION AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU, IT'S A COMPETITION.
AND YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WIN.
SO IT, SO YOU GOTTA KEEP THAT IN MIND.
SO YOU GOTTA GET SO MANY POINTS AS YOU CAN.
LAST THING I'LL ADD, I'M GRATEFUL THAT COMMISSIONER QURESHI BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, EV CHARGING STATIONS MM-HMM.
AUSTIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IS CREATING A FOOD PLAN, WHICH I THINK REALLY INTEGRATES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN THE CITY.
AND SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF IN OUR DEVELOPMENTS ARE RAISED BEDS FOR PLANTING MM-HMM.
UM, AND SO WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN ON THIS PROJECT OR NOT, I JUST, WHILE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF ME, WANT TO EXPRESS ALL OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS THAT CAN COME MM-HMM.
SO SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED ON A FEW PROJECTS THAT HAD THAT.
AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS A WAY TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED AND YOU GET HIS, ACTUALLY GET THEIR HANDS IN SOME DIRT FOR A CHANGE.
IT'S INTERGENERATIONAL, RIGHT? YEAH.
WE'LL CERTAINLY PASS THAT ALONG.
GOT ANYTHING? UM, YEAH, YOU ALREADY HEARD MY GRIPE ABOUT THE NO BUS SERVICE WITHIN THREE MILES.
UM, ANOTHER POINT TOO IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT, UH, CAMERON ROAD IS ONLY TWO LANES UNIMPROVED THERE.
NO SIDEWALK, NO CURB, SIMPLY TWO LANES OF BLACKTOP.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER BARRIER TO HAVING A GOOD MASS TRANSIT GO OUT THERE.
AND THEN ALSO WE, AS PART OF THE, UH, PROJECT, UH, REVIEWS AND APPROVALS BY THE COUNTY THAT IS BEING A COUNTY ROAD, WE WERE REQUIRED TO DO A, A TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
AND AS PART OF THAT, UH, WE, THEY ARE RECOGNIZING THE FUTURE IMPACT OF THE TRAFFIC THAT'S GONNA BE THERE.
AND SO AS PART OF OUR PROJECT, WE ARE PAYING A RATHER HEFTY, UH, TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING BOTH DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY AS WELL AS FURTHER UP AT THE INTERSECTIONS.
AND SIDEWALKS WILL BE AJA UH, WILL BE ON YOUR SIDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, UH, AND YOUR GREAT PRESENTATION ON BOTH STAFF AND THE, UM, APPLICANT.
UM, SO, UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CREEK BED, UM, QUITE A BIT.
AND THIS GOES A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT SHERA, UH, WAS BRINGING UP.
AND I, I'M, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THIS BRIDGE THAT GOES OVER, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS CREEK BED.
UH, AND THEN, AND HAVING, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS SORT OF, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE TERM FOR IT, BUT THIS BARRIER SET UP, UH, TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, THE FLOW THAT COMES THROUGH, UM, DISTRIBUTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THE WATER, UH, DOESN'T CAUSE MORE EROSION ON THE BANKS.
UM, IF, IF Y'ALL ARE INVOLVED FOR 15 YEARS, WHAT'S THE MANAGEMENT PLAN AFTER 15 YEARS? WELL, TO HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION, LET ME ASK MY, UH, COLLEAGUE, UH, DEAN TO COME UP, WHO'S ON THE, AGAIN, HE DEAN IS WITH BOWLER ENGINEERING, OUR SYMBOL ENGINEER.
SO HE CAN HELP ADDRESS THINGS FROM A TECHNICAL MERIT STANDPOINT.
DEAN, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND YES.
JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF WHEN YOU, UM, START SPEAKING.
DEAN CARDWELL, BULLER ENGINEERING.
SO TO KIND OF BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THAT, SO THE INCISING AND THE EXISTING CHANNEL, IT'S BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S SOME AREAS WHERE THE EROSION'S HAPPENING.
IT'S A SMALL WATERFALL IN THE CHANNEL ITSELF.
AND SO IN TALKING WITH THE CITY AND THE OFFICIALS IN THE WATERSHED GROUP, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS YOU LOOK AT WHERE THAT'S AT AND OVER TIME, EVERY TIME YOU GET A STORM EVENT, IT CUTS BACK FURTHER.
AND SO THAT INCISING TRAVELS UPSTREAM.
'CAUSE AS IT CONTINUES TO ERODE, JUST CONTINUES TO TRAVEL UP.
SO WHAT WE'VE ENDED UP DOING IS WE'VE PLACED ALONG THAT BRIDGE, AND
[01:35:01]
YOU SAW IT IN THE, IN THE PICTURE UP THERE EARLIER, IS WORKED WITH THE CITY ON WHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE.AND THE ELEVATION NEEDS TO BE AT, IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT 12 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EXISTING CHANNEL.
SO THAT RIP WRAPS GONNA EXTEND QUITE A WAYS DOWN, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE CALCULATION THAT WE RAN WITH THEM, WHICH IS A HALF PERCENT FROM WHERE THE CURRENT INCISION'S AT UPSTREAM TO THAT BRIDGE TO MORE OR LESS ENSURE AND MITIGATE THAT BRIDGE BEING COMPROMISED IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO IT'S THE RIP WRAP ITSELF UNDERNEATH, IS THERE A, TO PROTECT THE EXISTING CHANNEL BED TODAY, BUT IT'S ALSO THERE TO PROTECT THE CHANNEL BED IN THE FUTURE.
THEN THE BANKS THEMSELVES, THE RIP WRAP WILL EXTEND UP THE BANKS TO THE A HUNDRED YEAR WATER SURFACE ELEVATION, THE FLOOD ELEVATION.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING IS, YOU KNOW, A PAMELA DESCRIBED WE'RE WE'RE ADDING TREES, SHRUBS, GRASSES, FLOWERS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS WITHIN THERE TO HELP SHORE THE BANK UP EVEN MORE THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.
SO WE'RE INCREASING AND HELPING THE SYSTEM NOW.
UM, I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ABOUT GREAT CONTROLS IN GENERAL.
THIS IS, THESE ARE, UM, UH, FEATURES THAT, UM, WATERSHED ENGINEERING STAFF, UM, YOU TYPICALLY LIKE TO USE ON THE EAST SIDE, ON THE WEST SIDE.
TYPICALLY WHEN AS CREEKS ARE ROAD, THEY HIT LIMESTONE AND YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S KIND OF A NATURAL WAVE KEEPING THAT FROM HAPPENING, UH, IN THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE.
THE SOILS ARE SO DEEP, THOSE, THE INCISION AND THE EROSION CAN JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING.
UM, AND SO THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ASK, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO, BUT IS BETTER BECAUSE IT HELPS THE EXISTING CONDITIONS TODAY.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, OUR STAFF RECOMMEND IN, UH, A LOT OF PLACES ON THE EAST SIDE.
BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING, IS THERE A MANAGEMENT OR A MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR IT? IF, IF IT DOESN'T GO WELL, UM, OR STARTS TO, UH, LOSE ITS INTEGRITY IN THE FUTURE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, I'M NOT APOLOGIES, BUT I'M NOT IN POSITION TO SPEAK TO THE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF IT, OF THE PROJECT.
BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THE FACT AGAIN, THAT OF, OF OUR INVOLVEMENT FOR 15 YEARS AND NEEDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE PROJECT THAT WE HONOR AND RESPECT WHAT IT SAYS WE WERE GONNA DO FOR THE PROJECT, BOTH FOR THE CITIES, UH, AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO, WE'LL CERTAINLY WE, WE ARE PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT.
AGAIN, IT'S OUR, IT'S OUR NAME ON IT, BOTH AS DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
SO I COULD JUST, I, I DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS.
I CAN CERTAINLY REACH BACK OUT TO YOU, UH, AT A LATER DATE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME SPECIFICS.
I CAN GIVE THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GROUP, BUT I, THIS, THAT, UH, WE WILL DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN IT PROPERLY SO THAT IT PERFORMS AS IT'S INTENDED.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.
UM, SO I, I I GUESS THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS, UM, I PERSONALLY AM NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT CONVINCED, UM, THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.
SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS BRIDGE TO CONNECT THE TWO PROPERTIES TOGETHER IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR EXIT, UH, ENTRY AND EXITS AND ESCAPE ROUTES AND FIRE AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ON IT.
WHY WOULDN'T THESE TWO BE SEPARATED? NO BRIDGE AND HAVE THE ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS TO THE EXISTING ROADS? NOT QUITE SURE.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING? I THINK SO A LITTLE BIT.
SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WONDERING WHY WE'RE PUTTING THE BRIDGE IN AND NOT HAVING TWO SEPARATE ENTRANCE AND EXIT POINTS ON EITHER SIDE? SO THE CHALLENGE THERE IS IF YOU TALK WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES, THEY NEED TWO ENTRANCE AND EXITS TO EVERY PROPERTY.
SO IF WE HAVE ONE-ON-ONE SIDE, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE FOR THAT SIDE.
AND SO IF THAT'S BLOCKED BY A FIRE OR SOME EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY HAVE NO WAY IN TO HELP THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S BLOCKED.
AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SIDES SO THAT THEY CAN COME IN ON ONE SIDE IF THAT'S BLOCKED, THEY HAVE THE OTHER SIDE THAT THEY CAN COME INTO IF THEY NEED TO.
BUT WOULDN'T YOU, I MEAN, YOU COULD ALSO PUT TWO ENTRY AND EXITS ON, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NORTHEAST, UH, OR SOUTH OR WEST HERE, BUT YOU COULD HAVE, UM, LET'S JUST CALL IT A AND B COULD CONNECT INTO THIS, UM, THIS FEEDER ROAD HERE.
AND THEN BI THINK GOES OVER TO CAMERON TAK, I THINK, AND YOU COULD HAVE TWO ENTRY AND EXITS ON THAT SIDE AS WELL.
TBE IS A, T IS A DEAD END STREET THAT'S ON THE WEST SIDE.
TIEBACK WE'RE TYING INTO THAT.
NO, I THINK SHE'S STUCK IN TWO ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR OTHER ROAD GOING, UM,
[01:40:01]
A IF YOU'RE CREATING A SECOND POINT INTO TIEBACK TIEBACK ROAD THAT COMES OUT OF THERE, YOU COULD DO THAT OR YOU COULD UM, PUT IT INTO, WHAT IS THIS ONE DOWN HERE? RELIANCE.SO THESE ARE BOTH ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY INTO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, IS THAT CORRECT? ON THE, ON THE WEST SIDE, BUT OH, SORRY, WEST SIDE.
YEAH, WEST SIDE INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
AND I, IF, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THE GRADES ARE LIKE OVER THERE.
'CAUSE I THINK THE CHALLENGE BECAME, WE ALSO HAVE THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL AREA AND IF WE TRY TO THEN MAKE ANOTHER ACCESS POINT OVER THERE, IT'S GONNA CAUSE A LOT MORE GRADING AND DISRUPTION OF THE EXISTING CHANNEL BECAUSE OF WHERE THAT THE, UH, FLOODPLAIN EXTENDS OUT TOWARDS THOSE HOMES IN THAT AREA.
YEAH, IT'S JACKSON IS THERE, CAN HERE, YEAH, I CAN SEE.
I'M SORRY, I WASN'T, HAD TO PULL UP GOOGLE MAPS SO I WASN'T VISUALIZING WHAT YOU WERE REFERENCING.
BRING IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY HERE, JACKSON.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD PULL UP PAMELA'S PRESENTATION AND PUT IT ON SLIDE EIGHT, THE STAFF PRESENTATION AND PUT ON SLIDE EIGHT? I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP US ALL BE LOOKING AT THE SAME MAP.
AND PAMELA, WAS THAT SOMETHING Y'ALL CONSIDERED WHEN Y'ALL, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THAT? YES.
SO PAMELA AB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO WHENEVER THERE ARE ISSUES OF, UM, HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, ENTRANCES DO YOU NEED, HOW MANY ENTRANCES ARE, ARE YOU ASKING FOR AND THAT KIND OF THING, WE ALWAYS, UH, CHECK WITH THE, UM, I CHECK WITH FIRE TO MAKE SURE TO, TO SEE THAT FOR SURE THIS, THESE ARE THE EXITS THAT THEY, THAT THEY, UH, ARE REQUIRING.
AND UM, AND THEN IF NECESSARY WE WOULD TALK TO THE TRANSPORTATION REVIEWERS TO SEE IF THEY WERE LIKE, IN THIS CASE, LIKE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE YOU'RE SUGGESTING ON CAMERA THAT THEY COULD HAVE TWO ENTRANCES THERE.
I DID DISCUSS THAT WITH THE APPLICANTS AND THERE ARE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE GRADE.
UM, BUT UH, IF IT HAD, IF THERE HAD BEEN OTHER THINGS GOING ON, I, I OFTEN CHECK WITH TRANSPORTATION TO SEE WHAT THEIR TAKE IS.
SOMETIMES THERE, THERE'S A HILL THERE AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ANYWAY, I DO CHECK WITH OTHER REVIEWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE THE APPLICANTS ARE ASKING FOR IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY IN OUR TERMS, THE TERMS OF THE CITY.
AND UM, BUT I, I JUST FEEL LIKE MAYBE GOING UP A HILL IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PRUDENT THAN GOING THROUGH YET ANOTHER CREEK BED ON THE EASTERN QUADRANT.
SO KIND OF TO SPEAK TO PAMELA'S POINT ON THE VISIBILITY, LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC OUT ON CAMERA ROAD, THAT WAS WHERE THE ENTRANCE IS AT.
WE ACTUALLY HAD IT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT WAS FURTHER SOUTH.
WE PUSHED IT TO THE LOCATION IT'S IN BECAUSE IT'S AS FAR NORTH ON THAT ROAD AS WE CAN GET IT FOR SITE VISIBILITY ISSUES.
BECAUSE IF IT'S FURTHER SOUTH THE WAY THE HILLS SIT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO SEE OUT AND BECOMES AN UNSAFE INTERSECTION.
AND SO IF WE SET, IF WE ADDED A SECOND ENTRANCE ON CAMERON ROAD, THAT WOULD BE A, HONESTLY A SAFETY ISSUE.
AND SO IT'S A LIFE SAFETY THING THAT WE RAN INTO, WHICH IS WHY WE PUSHED IT WHERE IT IS NOW.
SECONDARILY, YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THE WEST SIDE, AND I THINK THIS PICTURE ACTUALLY HELPS AND SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO THAT CONNECTION AND RELIANCE RIGHT THERE AT THE, KIND OF THE RIGHT WHERE THE TABLE'S AT ON THE SIDE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CREEK BENDS AND TURNS AND GOES RIGHT OUT THAT ROAD.
THE FLOODPLAIN IS MORE OR LESS EXTENDED RIGHT UP AGAINST OUR PROPERTY LINE RIGHT THERE.
SO IF WE WERE TO TURN AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION, IT WOULD PROBABLY DISRUPT A MUCH GREATER LENGTH OF THE CHANNEL THAN WHAT THE BRIDGE IS DOING.
'CAUSE THE BRIDGE IS THE NARROWEST POINT.
THAT'S WHY WE SELECTED THAT LOCATION.
SO WHEN WE CROSS IT, WE'RE DOING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE HAVE VERTICAL WALL WALLS ON EITHER SIDE, SO IT'S NOT GRADING OUT INTO THE CHANNEL, IT'S LITERALLY A VERTICAL WALL.
AND THEN THE OPEN-ENDED CULVERTS ON THE BOTTOM.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION, UM, LET'S SEE, I GOT TO THAT ONE.
I, UM, I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN ASKED ABOUT SIDEWALKS.
ARE THERE, ARE THERE ANY PLANNED TRAILS? ARE THERE PLANNED WALKING AREAS WITHIN THIS PROJECT? UH, WE DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE A DESIGN.
WE DO HAVE AREAS FOR, YOU KNOW, PLAY AMENITIES FOR PLAYGROUNDS AND SUCH OF THAT NATURE, BUT THERE'S NOT A DESIGNATED WALKING TRAIL PER SE OTHER THAN THE, ONE OF THE FEATURES, AND I THINK PAM WILL HIT THIS ON THE, IN HER PRESENTATION, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, THAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO WITH THE SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND WALKABILITY FOR, FOR EVERYONE.
UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC TRAILS
[01:45:01]
UH, DESIGNATED AT THIS POINT.UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT DARK SKY LIGHTING, UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT QUITE A BIT IN THIS, UM, COMMISSION.
UM, ARE Y'ALL PLANNING ON USING ANY DARK SKY, UM, LIGHTING FOR YOUR EXTERIOR, UM, LIGHTING OR THE, I MUST'VE BEEN, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S IN OUR LIGHTING PACKAGE AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAY FALL UNDER, DOES, DOES THAT FALL SOMETHING UNDER PERHAPS THE GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS THAT WE MAY BE DOING AS PART OF THAT INITIATIVE? UH, LIZ JOHNSTON, THERE IS A GREEN BUILDING STANDARD THAT YOU COULD OPT FOR THAT WOULD BE, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, UH, DESCRIBED THAT YOU COULD, YOU COULD CHOOSE.
I MAY HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
I CAN'T, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
UM, I THINK IT WAS ALLUDED TO EARLIER, BUT I DON'T THINK, UM, I DON'T THINK YOU WENT FARTHER ON IT.
UM, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO USE ANY KIND OF, UM, SOLAR OR CAPTURE ANY KIND OF SOLAR OR NOT AT THIS POINT, NO.
UM, AND THEN, UM, GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER RESI, UM, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE EV CHARGING STATIONS AND EV CHARGING STATIONS.
WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT CARS UNLESS OF COURSE YOU'RE DAVID SULLIVAN AND THEN YOU THINK ABOUT BIKES.
SO, UM, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
I KNOW THAT, UH, THAT SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE MOTORIZED ON THE BIKE SIDE.
UM, AND I THINK, OH, I'LL, I'LL GO.
UM, ONE MORE I'M GONNA GO TO, UM, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, WE'VE ALSO, UM, RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS FROM, UM, FROM WATERSHED ABOUT THE TRASH THAT BUILDS UP IN CREEKS AND HOW IT GETS THERE.
AND, UM, AND A LOT OF THAT, UM, COMES FROM, UM, DUMPSTERS THAT ARE NOT SECURE, UM, ON PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY MULTI-FAMILY UNIT, UM, TYPE PROPERTIES SUCH AS THIS ONE WHERE THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY SECURED AND, AND TRASH BLOWS OUT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE, UM, BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT.
YOU DO HAVE A CREEK GOING THROUGH YOUR PROPERTY.
TRASH IS SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS.
'CAUSE WE ALL MAKE OUR OWN SHARE OF TRASH.
UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CHALLENGE ON A MULTI-FAMILY SITE JUST BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH OF IT.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE FOUND IS THAT WE, WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON STAFF WHO'S EFFECTIVELY, HE'S ATRA, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT POSITION IS PORTER WHOSE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THE SITE'S CLEAR, YOU KNOW, ON A, ON A DAILY BASIS ON, YOU KNOW, TO SOME DEGREE, ALMOST ON AN HOURLY BASIS JUST DOING ROTATIONS AROUND THE PROPERTY.
UM, WE ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH, WITH TRASH CANS AND RECEPTACLES AND SUCH.
BUT THEN THAT'S IN WHERE YOU, YOU'VE GOTTA BALANCE THAT WITH WHAT THE CAPABILITIES ARE OF WHOEVER IT IS USING FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
AND THEN EDUCATING THE RESIDENTS AS WELL ON HOW TO USE.
SO SOME OF IT'S RESIDENT EDUCATION, SOME OF IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER STAFF AND PLAN IN PLACE TO, TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL.
AND WILL THERE BE IN THAT, WILL THERE BE RECYCLING AS WELL? WE DO, UH, DO SOME RECYCLING EFFORTS AS WELL.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE FULL DETAILS, BUT I KNOW THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE INCENTIVIZE, I REALLY, THAT WE ENCOURAGE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UM, FLOODPLAIN STRUCTURE.
I THINK AFTER I LOOKED AT IT ENOUGH, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE SLIDE 14.
JACKSON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WE PUT IT UP TO SLIDE 14.
THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE GREAT CONTROL STRUCTURE.
UM, BUT THERE'S LIKE A SCOUR POOL BELOW, I GUESS WHERE THE, THE ELEVATION OF THE, OF THE, OF CONS SPAN BRIDGE.
BUT UM, I GUESS THAT'S THE ELEVATION WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT GETTING A HEADWATER CUT UP PAST THAT POINT.
AND SO IT BASICALLY, YOU'RE CREATING A PLACE WHERE THAT WATER CAN MORE OR LESS SETTLE AND IT CREATES A POOL TO HELP BASICALLY DISPERSE SOME OF THE ENERGY SO THAT IT'S NOT ERODING.
AND IS THERE A, A SPEC OR REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF, I MEAN, FOR SEDIMENT REMOVAL IN THERE? OR, UH, IS IT DESIGNED IN A WAY TO WHERE IT DOESN'T CATCH AND HOLD SEDIMENT, YOU KNOW, WOULD COMING DOWNSTREAM IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED OVER TIME? YES.
AND BUT THAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD DO? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THE CITY WOULD DO? UH, IS THAT IN WHO, WHO'S GONNA MAINTAIN THAT? WELL, THAT WOULD BE, I'M ASSUMING WE WOULD SINCE IT'S ON OUR PROPERTY.
SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER.
BUT THE, THERE ISN'T A, I GUESS THERE ISN'T, OR PAMELA, IS THERE ANY DETAILS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT? NO, UH, MAINTENANCE
[01:50:01]
WOULD BE UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT.
AND I GUESS IS THERE A, BASED ON THE DESIGN, IT WOULD JUST BE MAIN, I MEAN, FROM A DESIGNER STANDPOINT, IT WOULD BE REMOVED WHEN IT'S BECOME MORE OR LESS, NO LONGER IS PROVIDING THAT ENERGY DISSIPATION.
SO MORE OR LESS, ONCE, ONCE IT BECOMES INEFFECTIVE OR LESS EFFECTIVE, THEN YOU'VE GOTTA START LOOKING AT REPLACEMENT.
UM, AND THEN FOR, FOR STAFF, WAS THERE, ARE THERE ANY FLOODPLAIN IMPACTS? IS THERE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN ON THE PROPERTY? WERE THERE FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS? UM, THERE WERE, UH, I THINK THEY ENDED UP, YOU GUYS ENDED UP NOT DOING, I KNOW THAT YOU WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH HANK A LONG TIME ON THAT.
UM, AND I THINK THERE ARE NOT OFFICIAL FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS HAPPENING, BUT THERE WILL NONETHELESS BE REVEGETATION, UH, AS THERE WOULD'VE BEEN IF, IF THEY HAD BEEN DOING FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS.
SO THROUGHOUT THE AREA OF THE CHANNEL, THEN THEY'LL BE WORKING ON THAT WITH THE WETLAND BIOLOGIST REVIEWER.
SO, SO THAT'S, I GUESS THE 6 0 9 S PLANTINGS WILL, WILL NOT BE 6 0 9 S IS MORE FOR WHERE THE, UH, WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A, LIKE A HILL THAT'S CUT DOWN.
SO ALL THE, THE SLOPES THAT THEY'RE CREATING WITH THEIR FILL AND THEIR CUT, THAT'S FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE, UH, THERE'LL BE SPECIAL, UH, WETLAND PLANTS, UH, SELECTED BY THE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WETLAND BIOLOGIST REVIEWER.
AND THEY'LL DO FOR REMEDIATION TO HELP HOLD THE, THE YEAH.
TO, TO DIMINISH THE CHANCES OF, UH, FURTHER EROSION.
AND THAT WILL BE ALONG THE WHOLE CHANNEL OR WE KNOW? YES, I BELIEVE SO.
IT'S THE ENTIRE CHANNEL THROUGH THE PROPERTY, YES.
IT'S A REPAIRING, UH, RESTORATION PLAN WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING TOGETHER FOR THE ENTIRE CHANNEL.
AND I GUESS THAT WILL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY CITY STAFF? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S, THAT THOSE AREN'T, THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY COMPLETE YET, BUT IT WILL BE.
IT'S PARTIALLY COMPLETE AND IT WILL BE REVIEWED.
LAST ONE YOU THINK? I THINK IT'LL BE MY LAST ONE.
I CAN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES THOUGH FOR THIS ONE.
UM, SO ON THE, ON THE RIPARIAN AREAS AND FOR THE SLOPES, IS THERE A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THAT? I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PLANTING, UM, WILDFLOWERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD ASSUME THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, UM, A, A PLAN TO MAINTAIN THOSE THINGS.
AND WHEN I SAY MAINTENANCE, I MEAN HOPEFULLY NOT MOWING THEM ALL THE TIME.
SO THE RIPARIAN RESTORATION PLAN, IT'S INTENDED.
SO THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THAT IS THEY WENT THROUGH AND THEY DID AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHANNEL AND THEY GRADED IT AND THEY GRADED IT.
I BELIEVE THE RATINGS ARE POOR AS THE LOWEST FAIR AND THEN GOOD.
SO THIS CHANNEL WAS RATED AS FAIR AND THE RIPARIAN RESTORATION HAS TO BRING IT UP TO A LEVEL OF GOOD.
SO WE'RE INCREASING THE QUALITY OF THE CHANNEL REALLY.
MAINTENANCE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE BY THE PROPERTY ORDER, THEY'LL GO THROUGH AND DO THEIR THING, BUT IT'S THE NATIVE GRASSES AND, AND PLANTINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.
THERE ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE MAINTAINED IN MOWED.
THEY'RE INTENDED TO BE BASICALLY LOOK LIKE NATURAL GRASSES IN A NATURAL AREA.
WE COULD ALSO, UM, ASK FOR, UH, NO MO SIGNS, UM, SIMILAR TO OUR GROW ZONE PROGRAM.
SO WILL, WOULD THE EMERGENCY EXIT ON TIEBACK OR BECK? MM-HMM.
'CAUSE THERE IS AN ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL THAT'S BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THERE WILL BE A PEDESTRIAN ACCESS OPEN, UH, AT ALL TIMES OR CONTROLLED A, IT'LL BE A CONTROLLED ACCESS AS PART OF THE SECURITY THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER, BUT YES, THERE WILL BE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
ANYBODY ELSE GOT ONE LAST QUESTION? ALL RIGHT.
YOU, I, I WANNA, UM, TOUCH BASE WITH RESI COMMISSIONER QURESHI.
DO YOU WANT, IN THE CONDITIONS, ARE YOU, WERE YOU WANTING TO HAVE EV CHARGING STATIONS AS A CONDITION OR, I MEAN, WE CAN, UH, I WAS GONNA STAY SILENT.
I WAS WONDERING, UH, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BECK, UH, TO GET TO A SCHOOL, WOULD, UH, IS SOMEONE GONNA BE PUTTING BIKE LANES IN THAT TOO? UM, JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, THE QUESTIONS ON THE, THE DRIVEWAY OR I GUESS THE INTERNAL ROADS LEADING TO EK.
YEAH, WELL 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN WINDSOR PARK AND, UH, THE WINDSOR VILLAGE, THERE'S A REDEVELOPMENT THAT WAS HAPPENING AND PART OF THAT REDEVELOPMENT, UH, INVOLVED, YOU KNOW,
[01:55:01]
UM, TIAS BASICALLY LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A SCHOOL CLOSE TO THERE, YOU KNOW, ADDING BIKE LANES OR STUFF LIKE THAT.SO, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE, UH, TO ADD PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO A SCHOOL.
UM, I WAS WONDERING IF BIKE LANES WERE JUST A PART OF THAT AT THIS POINT.
IT'S NOT, UH, IT IS JUST SIMPLY PEDESTRIAN ACCESS SIDEWALKS.
GENERALLY BIKE LANES DON'T GO ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE, AND NONE OF THOSE STREETS ARE LIKE COLLECTOR STREETS OR ANYTHING.
THEY'RE JUST RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOR STREETS.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE TY BACK HAS SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF IT AND THEN UP AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION.
IT'S GOT SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES.
BUT YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE A KIND OF JUST A RESIDENTIAL COLLECTOR.
I WOULD SAY BASED ON THE EV STUFF, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE FOR, FOR PUDS OR OTHER VARIANCES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US IS TO PRE-WIRE, LIKE TO PUT THE CONDUITS IN.
UM, THAT MIGHT BE, THAT'S USUALLY A, A, A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE OF NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE STATION OF TWO YEARS FROM NOW OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW LOOKS LIKE, BUT PRE, PRE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE CONDUITS IN UNDERGROUND IS USUALLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK HAS BEEN PRETTY, UH, APPROVABLE FROM THE COMMISSION.
BUT ANYBODY HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S, THERE'S PEOPLE OVER THERE TOO.
DO YOU HAVE, DO WE HAVE A DRAFT MOTION? I DO.
THE NORTH WINDS APARTMENT SP DASH 2 0 21 DASH 0 3 8 4 CS SH WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTING A VARIANCE AS FOLLOWS TO VARY FROM LDC 25 DASH 8 3 41 TO ALLOW CUT, UM, TO 12 FEET VARY FROM LDC 2 5 8 3 4 2 TO ALLOW FILL OF 17 FEET.
A LOT OF FEET VARY FROM LDC 2 5 8 2 6 1 TO ALLOW A DRIVEWAY IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED AND IS CLASSIFIED SUBURBAN.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE, UM, HAVING DETERMINED THAT THE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACTS HAVE BEEN MET.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING.
AND THESE ARE THE STAFF CONDITIONS.
THE APPLICANT WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED PERMANENT EROSION CONTROL VIA BURIED GRADE CONTROLS IN THE CHANNEL TO STABILIZE THE CHANNEL AND DISCOURAGE FURTHER IN SIZING.
TWO, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE CROSSING, WE'LL USE OPEN BOTTOM CULVERTS AND THREE RE-VEGETATION ON SLOPES WILL BE WITH NATIVE SEEDING AND PLANT MIX PER STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS 6 0 9 S FIVE.
THIS MIX INCLUDES THE NATIVE GRASS MIX, WILDFLOWERS AND TREES AND SHRUBS.
AND THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS INCLUDE, UM, UH, WORK WITH CITY, CITY STAFF TO ESTABLISH A MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, FOR THE NATURAL AREAS, UH, WHICH INCLUDE NO MO ZONES OR GROW ZONES.
TWO, SECURE ALL DUMPSTERS, UM, TO REDUCE WASTE IN THE STREAM BED AND ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
NUMBER THREE, CONSIDER A FOOD FOREST AND COMMUNITY GARDEN SPACE AND POLLINATOR GARDENS.
NUMBER FOUR, UTILIZE DARK SKY LIGHTING BEST PRACTICES FOR A MULTI-FAMILY.
UM, HOUSING FIVE INSTALL EV CHARGING STATIONS, OR AT MINIMUM PRE-WIRE FOR EV.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UM, MAYBE TWO MORE CONDITIONS TO THAT.
WE, WE NEED TO GET A, A SECOND FIRST.
I EVEN BEAT KAYLA AT THAT ONE, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE CREDIT.
I WAS GONNA SAY I'LL SECOND NOW.
UM, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE? I, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND A 20% INCREASE IN TREE PLANTINGS OVER THE EXISTING, UM, FROM WHAT'S IN THE EXISTING SITE PLAN.
I'LL SECOND IS THAT AGREE AGREEABLE? ANYBODY WILL, THE, THE, IF DOES ANYONE OBJECT TO THAT? IF SO, THEN WE WILL, WE'LL VOTE ON IT.
OTHERWISE IT MAKES ITS WAY IN CHAIR.
I WOULD HAVE TO ASK WHETHER ADDING ON THESE ADDITIONAL, UH, CONDITIONS WOULD PREVENT THE PROJECT FROM PENCILING OUT.
OH, LET'S, WE DON'T HAVE A HEARING SO WE CAN KEEP HEARING FROM PEOPLE.
[02:00:03]
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PENCILING, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IN 6 0 9 S UH, TREES AND SHRUBS ARE REQUIRED, BE DOING MORE TREES THAN IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE PLAN RIGHT NOW.SO IF YOU SEE THE WHOLE PLAN RIGHT NOW, YOU'D SEE THE LANDSCAPE PLAN AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN THERE WITH THE, FOR PARKING TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THERE WILL BE MORE THAN THAT, UH, PLANTED.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST GIVING US SOME CONTEXT ON, I GUESS THE STA NOT SO MUCH THE STAFF CONDITIONS, BUT THE ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE DRAFTED.
UH, WE'LL SAY THAT I THINK, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE MORE MANAGEMENT, UH, RELATED.
AND OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT ABLE TO SATISFACTORILY ADDRESS THE CONCERN FOR LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE, AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT.
SO I'M NOT CON AS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S NOT TO, UH, MINIMIZE YOUR CONCERN, BUT THAT IS AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE ITEM THAT I'M COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND HANDLE GOING FORWARD.
WHERE SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS ARE MORE UPFRONT COSTS, LIKE, UH, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, I THINK WE COULD, COULD, COULD MANAGE THAT AND FIND A PLACE FOR THAT.
I'M SIMPLY NOT UP TO SPEED ON EXACTLY WHAT ALL THAT WOULD REQUIRE.
AND ON THE EV CHARGING, I CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT WE COULD ACCOMMODATE THE, THE RUNNING OF THE CONDUIT AHEAD OF, UH, TIME JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE OUT THERE, WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE GONNA BE.
EVERYBODY'S NOW GOING TO TESLA, WHICH THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE CASE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS A MOVING, THAT'S A BIT OF A MOVING TARGET.
SO I THINK WE COULD MAKE THOSE WORK.
WE CERTAINLY COULD NOT MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL.
AND THANK YOU PAMELA, FOR COMMENTING ON THE TREES BECAUSE OUR, WHERE OUR SITE PLAN IS, WE CAN'T MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ANYTHING ABOVE WHAT'S ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED AND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY, UM, SHOWN HAD APPROVED BY STAFF ON THAT BECAUSE OF, UH, OF SITE PLAN LIMITATIONS FROM THE TREE PLANTING PERSPECTIVE.
SHERA, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I, I THINK JUST AS WHAT WE SEE IN THE SITE PLAN CURRENTLY, IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL, BUT I'LL TRUST THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL TREE PLANTINGS THAN WHAT WE SEE.
I, AND I HAD A, AN ADDITION THAT MAY ADDRESS SOME OF THAT CONCERN, BUT I SUGGEST THAT WE ADD, UM, THAT THE APPLICANT WORK WITH STAFF, UH, AND TO, TO A POINT OF SEEKING STAFF APPROVAL FOR A RIPARIAN RESTORATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, SURVIVAL CRITERIA FOR THOSE PLANTS.
UM, UH, I THINK THAT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS, BUT I'D LIKE IT TO KIND OF BE ON PAPER IF POSSIBLE.
COULD I ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON SURVIVAL OF WHAT, WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? SO THE, LIKE IN OTHER PLANS THAT I'VE SEEN, THERE'S A CERTAIN CRITERIA WHERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THOSE PLANTS ARE SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE.
SO A CERTAIN DURATION AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
NOT, UH, THE PLANT SURVIVAL, NOT THE CONTRACTUAL, UH, RIGHT, RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CURRENT, UM, PLANTING REGIME IS IT.
UM, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT A SURVIVAL RATE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
JUST SOMETHING THAT STAFF WOULD APPROVE.
ANY THOUGHTS ON, ON THAT? UM, COMMISSIONERS? I'LL SECOND.
PERHAPS FOR STAFF AS OPPOSED TO THIS.
I REMEMBER LAST MEETING, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE ITEM WE WERE DISCUSSING, BUT I BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF MAKING SOME MODIFICATIONS TO WHATEVER THE THING WAS.
AND I BELIEVE, KATIE, YOU BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE ITEM BEING DISCUSSED BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT WAS A MINOR THING.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, UH, SOME CUT AND FILL ITEMS AND A, UH, YOU KNOW, A CHANGE TO, YOU KNOW, A DRIVEWAY, YOU KNOW, IN, IN A WATER QUALITY ZONE.
AND, UH, I DON'T RECALL THE DETAILS AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT, UH, WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR AT THE TIME, BUT I DO REMEMBER THE FACT THAT YOU, UH, OBJECTED TO ME MAKING THOSE SUGGESTIONS 'CAUSE I WAS DRIVING OUTSIDE OF MY LANE.
AND SO IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M KIND OF WONDERING WHY WE ARE LOADING UP THIS LITTLE THING WHERE ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS DIG A HOLE IN THE GROUND AND PUT A DRIVEWAY IN WHILE WE'RE LOADING UP ALL THIS WITH THIS.
IT'S NOT THAT I OPPOSE THESE THINGS.
I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE.
I, YOU KNOW, LIKE DARK SKIES, LET'S HAVE BIRD PROTECTION, ALL THIS SORT OF STUFF.
BUT I'M A LITTLE PERPLEXED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT I WAS ASKING BEFORE AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING NOW.
'CAUSE I'M EASILY CONFUSED BY THIS KATIE COY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
[02:05:01]
WE SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT OF THE LANE OF WHAT IS TIED TO THE CONDITION OR THE WHAT SHOULD BE MITIGATED FOR BASED ON THE VARIANCE THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.AND I THINK HISTORICALLY WE'VE PUT THOSE IN INSTEAD OF CONDITIONS.
WE'VE SAID, I THINK THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, WE SAID WE PUT IT MAYBE IN THERE FOUR THERE OR IN THE WHEREASES MM-HMM.
BUT I, I MEAN, DON'T WANNA SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD UP HERE.
I I'M VERY, YOU'RE BRINGING, WELL, YOU SAID LEGAL UP WOULD BE ALL DOWN ON US, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL, ALL DOWN ON US.
IF WE PUT THOSE IN THERE, IT'S TECHNICALLY NOT, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT IT'S NOT LEGAL TO CONDITION A VARIANCE.
WELL, AND THINGS THAT ARE UNRELATED TO THE, THE CONDITION THAT THE VARIANCE PRE DOWN, I'M GONNA CALL POINT OF ORDER REALLY QUICK HERE.
UM, THESE ARE RELATED TO THE VARIANCE BECAUSE THEY DO DEAL WITH THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE AND THE CREEK IS THERE.
RIGHT? SO EVERYTHING THAT'S HAS TO DO WITH THE CONDITIONS FOR, UM, SECURING THE WASTE, HAVING A MAINTENANCE PLAN, UM, KEEPING THINGS, UH, OUT OF THE, UM, UH, HAVING THE, UH, THE FOOD GARDEN AND POLLINATOR GARDEN THAT COULD GO OUTSIDE OF THAT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF THIS PROJECT.
SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT THESE ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND, AND I WILL TRY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHEN I PIPE UP ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP US WITHIN THE REALM OF, OF WHAT'S REASONABLE.
BUT I, ALL THAT YOU'VE JUST MENTIONED, I WOULD AGREE IS, IS ALIGNED WITH THE IMPACT OF THE, THE VARIANCE THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
I THINK IN THE PAST, MAYBE WE TRIED TO TIE LIKE EV CHARGING OR SOME OTHER THINGS THAT FELT A LITTLE BIT MORE TANGENTIALLY RELATED TO WHATEVER THE VARIANCES THAT WE WERE CONSIDERING.
AND I CAN'T RECALL THE DETAILS OF THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE COULD ARGUE THAT THERE'S A MILLION THINGS RELATED TO ALL THINGS 'CAUSE SYSTEMS ARE INTERCONNECTED.
UM, BUT I TWO, UM, COMMISSIONER BRISTOL'S COMMENTS, I THINK THOSE, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, IN MY OPINION, ARE RELATED.
WELL, AND LET ME RESTATE THAT.
I'M NOT IN OPPOSITION TO ANY OF THESE THINGS.
I'M JUST SEEKING CLARIFICATION BECAUSE COMMISSIONER QURESHI WAS TALKING ABOUT EV STATIONS AND THEN YOU BROUGHT UP, UH, EV STATIONS FOR MOTORCYCLES.
AND I, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN DOWN TO THE FINAL WORDING OF, OF THE, THE THING.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GONNA BE IN THERE.
BUT AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY THINGS SO THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, AND I SAY EV STATIONS, THERE'S A CONSISTENCY BETWEEN EV STATIONS FOR WHAT I MENTIONED LAST TIME AND EV STATIONS THAT WE'RE MENTIONING THIS TIME WHERE ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DIGGING A HOLE IN THE GROUND, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
I KINDA LIKE CONSISTENCY BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO DEAL WITH.
YOU KNOW, MY MAN BRIER SOUNDED LIKE A BASKETBALL COACH.
HE SAID, IF YOU'RE GONNA CALL IT ONE WAY, CALL IT BOTH WAYS.
WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY? JIMBO FISHER'S UNEMPLOYED, BUT WHAT CAN I SAY? RIGHT? I'M SURE AGGIES ARE ALL JUST CLAMORING FOR DIONNE AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS MILLION, SO, OKAY, HERE WE GO.
UM, OKAY, SO, UM, I, I, I HEAR YOU.
UM, LET'S, LET ME RE WANDER THROUGH THESE AGAIN.
I WAS GONNA SAY, ON THAT NOTE, CAN I STILL SAY MY SECOND CONDITION? CONDITION? YES.
SO WAIT, SO I, I, I KIND OF, WE, UH, REWORDED YOURS OR REFOCUSED IT ON THE RIPARIAN RESTORATION PLAN OF THEM HAVING A RIPARIAN RESTORATION PLAN TO THE LEVEL OF SAP APPROVAL, WHICH INCLUDES SURVIVAL CRITERIA FOR THE PLANTINGS.
DOES ANYONE OBJECT TO THAT? OR IS IT, IF SO, THEN WE'LL VOTE ON IT, BUT IF NOBODY OBJECTS, THEN IT'S, THEN IT'S ON.
HAVING HEARD NO OBJECTION, WE'RE MOVING ON.
SHERA, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ADD THAT'S RELATED TO THE VARIANCES THAT ARE REQUESTED YES.
TO PROVIDE A DAILY ONSITE PROPERTY MANAGER FOR THE PREVENTION AND CARE OF, UH, TRASH IN THE CREEK BEDS.
I, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, THE, UM, APPLICANT, UM, ADDRESSED THAT AND HE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO'S SPECIFICALLY ON SITE AND THAT'S THEIR COM THAT'S THEIR DUTY, CORRECT.
THEY NODDING APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
SO DO WE WANT IT, DO WE NOT WANT IT? ANYBODY OBJECT TO ADDING IT AS A CONDITION.
LIZ, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? UM, SO THIS IS A SITE PLAN AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATIONS.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY WAY OF ENFORCING OPERATIONS THROUGH A SITE PLAN PROCESS.
[02:10:02]
ALRIGHT.ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR CONDITIONS? HOR, YOU'RE HONOR, I DON'T HAVE ANY, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONDITIONS.
I JUST, I WANT TO, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN SAID ABOUT TRANSIT.
I UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEVELOPER PUT THIS PROJECT OUT HERE.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW.
UH, IT'S IT'S CHEAP LAND WHERE THE, WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THE FINANCIALS ON AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT PENCIL, IT'S TO A SCHOOL, IT'S CLOSE TO A SCHOOL.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, HUD HAS SOME GUIDANCE AROUND WHERE YOU SHOULD BE CITING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
THEY, THEY DO NOT PRIORITIZE LOW OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
I'D BE SURPRISED IF THIS AREA IS EVEN A MEDIUM OPPORTUNITY AREA.
I GET THAT IT WILL BE, BUT WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE 15 YEARS OF AFFORDABILITY LOCKED IN ON A PROJECT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE A MEDIUM OPPORTUNITY AREA WITHIN 15 YEARS.
SO I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND I THINK IT CHECKS THE BOXES ON THAT.
BUT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT DOES NOT.
AND I MIGHT ACTUALLY SAY THAT WE SHOULD GET A PRESENTATION FROM CITY STAFF ON THE SMART PROGRAM BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE SMART PROJECTS, I, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I I, I, WELL LET ME JUST MENTION TOO, THAT I SERVE ON THE CITY'S HOUSING INVESTMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND PART OF MY CORRESPONDENCE WAS I WANT TO TAKE UP THIS DEFINITION OF SMART AND I PROBABLY CAN GET SOMEBODY FROM THAT DEPARTMENT TO COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
THIS IS THE SECOND CASE RECENTLY THAT WE'VE HAD QUOTE SMART HOUSING AT A REMOTE LOCATION ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE.
SO, YOU KNOW, FROM AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED IT.
ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S, UH, ONE OF YOU TWO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THE AGENDA OF FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN TALK THEN AS WELL.
UM, ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION JUST BASED ON THE RIP REPAIRING RESTORATION PLAN.
SO IS THIS REPAIRING RESTORATION PLAN DUE TO THE VARIANCE OR WOULD THEY HAVE TO DO THAT OTHERWISE? UM, THE GREAT CONTROL WAS A CONDITION OF THE VARIANCE THAT THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO DO OTHERWISE.
SO AS FAR AS REQUESTING SURVIVAL CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, GETTING FROM FAIR TO GOOD IS ONE THING, BUT ENSURING GOOD, UH, WITH THOSE SORT OF SEVEN PARAMETERS THAT ARE IN THE ECM, IS THERE ANY STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO DO THAT WITHOUT TYING MANAGEMENT TO IT? I'M GONNA MAYBE ASK JOHN TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME?
THERE'S, THERE'S TWO ASPECTS TO THAT.
ONE IS THAT WE'LL HAVE, UH, SO JOHN DON, IF YOU DON'T MIND INTRODUCING THAT'S RIGHT.
JOHN CLEMENT WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UH, YEAH, THERE'S TWO ASPECTS.
THEY'LL HAVE SIGNAGE ON SITE AND ALSO THE SITE PLAN.
UH, WHILE IT DOESN'T HAVE NOTES, UH, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING MAINTENANCE, UH, THERE'S THE PLANTING PLAN AND SO FORTH.
AND IF THEY DEVIATE FROM THAT OVER TIME, THEN THERE, UH, UH, THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO BE RED TAGGED AND IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING TO RESTORE THEIR PLANTING TO THEIR PREVIOUS CONDITION.
SO, WAS THERE FOLLOW UP AFTER THAT SORT OF FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT'S MADE AND THE, THE MITIGATION PLAN IS LAID OUT, UH, ONLY THROUGH, UH, CONSTRUCTION AND, UH, FINAL INSPECTION THAT DETERMINES IF THE PLANTINGS OF SURVIVAL.
THAT'S WHEN SURVIVALSHIP COMES INTO IT.
AND TYPICALLY IT WAS 6 0 9 SI THINK FOR THE PLANTINGS.
UH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 100% SURVIVAL, SO YOU REPLACE ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.
AND THEN, UH, SEEDING CITY SPEC IS 90% COVERAGE.
IS THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT SURVIVAL CRITERIA COULD STAY IN THERE WITHOUT IT BEING A MANAGEMENT ISSUE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S VOTE.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS IT'S WRITTEN, INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CRI COMMISSION CRITERIA OR CONDITIONS.
I, I DO WANNA, UM, I DO WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID EARLIER BY COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
UM, AND, AND YOU WERE ASKING WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT SO MANY THINGS ON THIS PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, WE, UM, AND THIS IS JUST ME PERSONALLY.
I'M, I'M REALLY GROWING WEARY OF ALL OF THE CUT AND FILL, UM, ON
[02:15:01]
THE EAST AUSTIN AREA ON ALONG OUR CREEKS.AND ESPECIALLY AS THEY IMPACT ANY KIND OF WATER, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE SEEN ONE AFTER THE NEXT, AFTER THE NEXT OF THESE, AND WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE.
AND IF WE DON'T REALLY START, UM, REQUIRING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THOSE WATERWAYS, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET IT BACK.
AND I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO ANY OF THIS STUFF.
MY QUESTION WAS REALLY TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT, UH, KATIE COYNE HAD MENTIONED EARLIER.
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THERE, WHICH IS WHY I VOTED FOR IT.
I HAVE NO, NO PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THAT AT ALL.
UM, LET'S TAKE A QUICK RECESS, UM, AND COME BACK.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE THINGS TO GO THROUGH, BUT, UM, IT'S EIGHT 17.
UM, WE'LL RECONVENE AT 8 22, HOPEFULLY COMMISSIONERS.
LET'S WANDER IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF OUR CAMERAS AND OR, UH, NAME TAGS,
I'M GOING TO RECONVENE THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AND WE ARE GOING
[5. Consider a recommendation regarding the “HOME” Land Development Code Amendments—Dave Sullivan, Environmental Commission member]
TO NEXT TALK ABOUT DISCUSSION, UH, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. CONSIDER RECOMMENDING A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE QUOTE UNQUOTE HOME LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS.UM, COMMISSIONER, SO I'M GONNA LET YOU INTRODUCE IT, AND THEN I WANT TO TALK REAL BRIEFLY BEFORE YOU GO TOO, TOO DEEP INTO KIND OF THE, THE, WHAT I DREAMED UP FOR THE WORKING GROUP AND, AND HOW THAT CAME TO PASS AND, AND WHERE WE ARE.
WELL, UH, EARLIER, UM, WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY BILL MCKINLEY, UH, AND A GRADUATE STUDENT, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE HER NAME.
ABOUT, UM, THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING NEAR, UH, THE TRANSIT ROUTES THAT ARE PLANNED FOR PROJECT CONNECT IN ORDER TO GET THE FEDERAL GRANT.
AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT MASS TRANSIT IS A BETTER FORM OF, OR MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAN, UH, DRIVING INDIVIDUAL MOTOR VEHICLES.
AND SO, UH, THE HOME, UM, HOME ONE WAS PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE, AND IT WOULD ALLOW THREE HOUSING UNITS ON ANY SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
RIGHT NOW, UH, IF YOU HAVE SSF THREE ZONING, YOU CAN HAVE A DUPLEX.
UM, I BELIEVE IN, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL HAD PLANNED TO MAKE ANY, UH, SINGLE FAMILY, UH, ZONING AVAILABLE FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY FULFILLED THAT, BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED AN SSF THREE AS WELL AS HAVING A DUPLEX.
BUT NOW SHE'S GONE EVEN FARTHER TO SAY THAT UP TO THREE UNITS WOULD BE ALLOWED ON ANY SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
WELL, THAT FITS IN WITH THE PLAN TO GET MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY FOR AFFORDABILITY, FOR, UH, THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, SLOW DOWN URBAN SPRAWL.
AND ALSO TO BACK UP OUR NEED FOR, UH, GETTING THE FEDERAL GRANT FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND SO I PUT TOGETHER A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF WHAT SHE DID, MAINLY BECAUSE WE CAN SLOW DOWN URBAN SPRAWL IF WE PUT MORE HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY, AND THAT CAN PRESERVE OUR WATER QUALITY LANDS TO THE WEST AND OUR FARMLANDS TO THE EAST.
AND THAT, UM, WE CAN ALSO HELP TO SUPPORT THE, UH, APPLICATION THAT GOES IN FOR FEDERAL MONEY FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER REASONS ABOUT TOO, THAT, UM, IF YOU PUT IN, UM, SAY A TRIPLEX, YOU CAN SHARE WALLS AND THEREFORE SAVE ENERGY, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE INSULATION PROVIDED BY THE SHARE WALL SHARED WALLS.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT IF YOU HAVE, UM, MORE HOUSING IN AN AREA, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET MORE, SAY, UM, COFFEE SHOPS, GROCERY STORES, ET CETERA, COME IN BECAUSE DEVELOPERS LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF ROOFTOPS BEFORE THEY PUT IN THE RETAIL.
AND THAT COULD CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH DRIVING PEOPLE DO.
AND, UM, AND SO THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS THAT COME FROM HAVING MORE HOUSING IN A, IN A GIVEN AREA.
UH, AND I HAVE A RESOLUTION PREPARED.
LET'S, I, I, WE'VE GOT A, A, A, OUR ESTEEMS, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, COMMISSIONER AGUIRE HAS BEEN, UH, HAS FORMER, UH, COMMISSIONER, HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN WAITING VERY PATIENTLY.
UM, UH, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.
THERE'S A, THERE SHOULD BE A BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM AND A RED RING.
[02:20:01]
UH, COMMISSIONER CHAIR BERG AND COMMISSIONERS.I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
THE AMC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTED, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT.
THE RESOLUTION IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
THE PLAN IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PROVISIONS REQUIRING AFFORDABILITY, MUCH LESS LOW INCOME, RESTRICTED AFFORDABILITY.
IT IS DEFINITELY NOT ABOUT EQUITY.
THIS PLAN WILL EFFECTIVELY GENTRIFY THE REMAINING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BLACK, HISPANIC, AND LATINO RESIDENTS OR RENTERS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THIS WILL BE KNOWN AS THE 2024 MASTER PLAN.
REMEMBER THE 1928 MASTER PLAN.
I'M STARTING TO CALL THIS PLAN THE HISPANICS OUT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
PLAN THIS TO SAY THE LEAST, IS AN INTERESTING PLAN AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
AGAIN, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY AFFORDABILITY OPTIONS.
AND, OH, THERE'S MORE TO COME IN PHASE TWO.
THIS PLAN IS ABOUT THE VALUE OF DIRT, AND IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE VALUE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON IT.
THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS REGARDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS SUMMER, WE WERE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO LIMIT OUR ELECTRICITY, TO USE ELECTRICITY USE TO AVOID A BLACKOUT, WE LOSE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER DUE TO LEAKING PIPES.
WE SUSTAINED AN EXTENSIVE LOSS OF TREE CANOPY DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER RELATED DISASTERS.
THIS PLAN IS ABOUT DEREGULATION.
WHAT ABOUT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN? WHAT ABOUT THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT? AUSTIN IS ALSO NA, UH, KNOWN AS NOT NATIONALLY AS FLASH FLOOD ALLEY.
I LIVE IN DOVE SPRINGS WHERE ONION CREEK AND WILLIAMSON CREEK CONVERGED, AND WHERE HOMES WERE BUILT IN A FLOOD PLAIN.
WE LOST OVER A THOUSAND HOMES, AND PEOPLE DIED IN 2013 AND 2015.
WE KNOW MORE ROOFTOPS WILL RESULT IN MORE RUNOFF.
I AM ALSO THE IMMEDIATE PASTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
AND THERE, UH, WE SENT THE ANC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SENT, UM, THE RESOLUTION TO YOU.
WE HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU.
PRIMARILY HAVING TO DO WITH FLOODING, PROHIBITING ANY NEW DENSITY IN AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CREEK FLOODING, LOCALIZED FLOODING, STREAM BANK EROSION, OR DESIGNATED TO BE WITHIN THE ATLAS 14 FLOOD PLAIN.
THE ATLAS 14 FLOODPLAIN IS NOT PART OF FEMA.
WHEN PEOPLE BUY A HOME, AND IT'S NOT IN THE FEMA MAP, PEOPLE WILL FIND, BUY A HOME, NOT KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BOUGHT A HOME IN THE ATLAS 14 FLOODPLAIN.
WE ARE SETTING YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO FAIL.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY BOUGHT A HOME IN THE ATLAS FOR ATLAS 14 PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT UNTIL THE NEIGHBORS TELL THEM, GET INSURANCE AND GET A BACKPACK THAT HAS YOUR EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY ITEMS AND CRITICAL DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO PRESERVE.
WE ALSO HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT
I NEED TO CLOSE WITH THIS 'CAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
IN 2013, WE LOST THESE PEOPLE.
EDWARD JACKSON, 72 ONION CREEK, JOSEFINA RODRIGUEZ, 31, AND JAY, HER EIGHT MONTH OLD SON, ONION CREEK, TWO UNIDENTIFIED MALES IN ONION CREEK.
200 STUDENTS WERE SUDDENLY HOMELESS IN 2015.
WE LOST JORGE AGUILAR, TORRES 50 DEL VALLEY, EDWARD HERNANDEZ, JR.
HE WAS WITH TWO OTHER MALES AND THEY WERE RESCUED.
AND LAST THERE WAS INES ORTIZ, GARZA, 67 SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.
SHE WAS WITH HER HUSBAND WHO WAS RESCUED, BUT THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT.
PLEASE KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
PLEASE KEEP THIS RESIDENCE SAFE.
UM, UH, WELL, LET ME, UH, SO I WANTED TO SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE WORKING GROUP, UM, AND THE FRAMEWORK THAT IT, UH, CAME UP, UH, OR, OR DEVELOPED.
UM, WE KNEW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE, WELL, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN AND EINHORN BROUGHT IT, UH, AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
WE KNEW IF IT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO SPEAK TO.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO BE VERY TIMELY IN THAT.
UM, I TALKED TO THE OTHER OFFICERS AND IN, IN, IN A, IN AN EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN VETTED BY A SMALLER GROUP AND NOT CREATING ROLLING QUORUM ISSUES.
I SUGGESTED TO SULLIVAN THAT HE HAVE A WORKING GROUP.
[02:25:01]
TALKED, WORKING GROUPS HAVE HAPPENED ON AND OFF, UM, OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION.UM, AND USUALLY THERE'S MORE TIME TO CONDUCT THE, THE, THE BUSINESS THAT A WORKING GROUP WOULD DO.
UM, AND, UH, I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE COMMISSIONERS, UM, ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS HAPPENED AND, UM, AND THAT THAT'S THE SITUATION WE HAVE.
THERE ARE NO DEFINITIVE RULES FOR HOW WE'D SET UP WORKING GROUPS.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT COMMUNICATING THE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE, AND IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, YOU GOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO SO, UH, IS IMPORTANT.
UM, SO I'M GONNA TALK TO, TO, UH, THE VICE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY, AND WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH SOME GUIDELINES AND MAYBE HOW WE DO THIS FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND SEE IF IT WORKS.
UM, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS RELATED TO COMMUNICATION.
UM, I JUST, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAVE OTHER THINGS GOING ON OTHER THAN MY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS EMAILS.
SO, UH, I DON'T ALWAYS CHECK THEM, YOU KNOW, HOURLY.
UM, BUT, UM, WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO ANOTHER WAY TO WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING INFORMATION OUT.
AND IF PEOPLE NEED TO CHECK EMAILS, HEY, GO CHECK YOUR EMAILS.
UM, THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT, THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW ABOUT A, UH, UH, QUORUM.
BUT, UM, I WANTED TO GET SOMETHING TO THE COMMISSION THAT HAD SOME, UH, BENEFIT OF DISCUSSION AT A SMALLER GROUP BEFORE, BEFORE WE CAME TO HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER AGUIRE IS, IS RAISING CLEAR POINTS THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND A VERY, UM, SIGNIFICANT TOPIC FOR US TO DISCUSS.
UM, SO WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, WE FORMED A WORKING, OR, OR I, I ASKED SULLIVAN TO FORM A WORKING GROUP.
UM, AND THERE'S BEEN, BEEN SOME DISCUSSION, BUT, UM, MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANTED TO MOVE QUICKLY SO WE COULD HAVE DIALOGUE BEFORE COUNCIL OR SO, SO OUR VOICE COULD BE HEARD, UM, WITH THAT CONTEXT.
UH, SULLIVAN, WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH, I THINK YOU FRAMED UP KIND OF AN INTRO OF, OF THE, THE PURPOSE.
UM, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WALK US THROUGH THE, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU HAVE, AND THEN IF WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON, ON POINTS SPECIFICALLY IN THAT.
LET'S, LET'S TRY TO, LET'S TRY TO MOVE FORWARD AND SEE IF WE CAN GET TO SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN'T HAVE A VOICE.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK THERE WOULD BE SOME BENEFIT FOR US HAVING A VOICE FOR COUNSEL AND FROM PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS MATTER.
WELL, AND COUNSEL WILL TAKE THIS UP ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
UM, WE HAVE A MEETING ON NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 7TH.
WE HAVE A MEETING ON DECEMBER 6TH.
SO IF WE DID HAVE TO POSTPONE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THIS TILL THEN WE COULD TAKE IT UP THE DAY BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING.
MY MAIN POINT WAS TO TRY TO REBUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, PUSHBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN ON THIS, UH, BY POINTING OUT SOME OF THE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS OF ALLOWING THREE UNITS ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
UM, AND PART OF WHAT I HAD PLANNED ON WAS THAT WE WOULD STATE CLEARLY THAT TREE PROTECTIONS WOULD STILL BE IN, IN PLACE, AND THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER RULES FOR THE WATERSHED WOULD STILL BE IN PLACE.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A POPULAR POSITION WITH A LOT OF DEVELOPERS WHO WANNA SEE MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, BUT STILL, IF YOU HAD THREE 800 SQUARE FOOT UNITS ON A 24 57 50, UH, SQUARE FOOT LOT, THAT WOULD ONLY BE 41% IMPERVIOUS COVER, WHERE THE RULE IS 45%.
SO YEAH, I WOULDN'T LEAVE ROOM FOR A DRIVEWAY, BUT YOU COULD PARK IN THE STREET NOW BECAUSE PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE, ARE DONE AWAY WITH.
SO, UM, SO ANYWAY, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE ANY RISK TO FLOODING OVER WHAT'S ALLOWED RIGHT NOW WITH A 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER, SINGLE DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
UM, BUT IT DOES OFFER UP TO THREE UNITS, WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN, UH, ONE LARGE HOUSE.
UH, AND, AND AS WITH REGARD TO THE WORK GROUP, UM, UH, AN EMAIL DID GO OUT TO ALL THE MEMBERS, BUT WE GOT NO RESPONSE.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ME AND EINHORN AND, UH, BRIER CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE, UH, DEAL.
E AND SO IF YOU DO WANT TO FORM A WORK GROUP NOW, WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT.
HAVE A, HAVE FOUR OF US TALK ABOUT, OR FIVE OF US TALK ABOUT IT BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 6TH, UM, AND STILL BE IN TIME TO DELIVER SOMETHING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
[02:30:01]
GO FOR IT.BREMMER, WE HAVE, I'D LIKE TO TOSS SOMETHING OUT.
I CHECKED THE COUNCIL SCHEDULE, I BELIEVE THE DECEMBER 7TH MEETING'S CANCELED IN FAVOR OF DECEMBER 14TH.
AND THE REASON I MENTION IT IS THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR NEED FOR SENSE OF URGENCY, RIGHT? YEAH.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M NOT DENYING THAT, BUT IT GIVES US A LITTLE MORE FUN TIME BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA MEET ON THE SIXTH, THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME FUN TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING, RIGHT? AND THEN WE CAN MEET ON THE SIXTH AND DO WHATEVER WE DO, AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAND A SHEET OF PAPER OVER TO COUNSEL AND SAY, GUESS WHAT? OR WE CAN DO IT NOW.
I MEAN, I'M PREPARED TO WITH MY STUFF NOW, BUT WHATEVER.
UH, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? REMEMBER? SO, UM, IN, CAN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT MEETING IS, AND TELL US HOW FULL THAT IS TOO, JUST JUST SO I GET A SENSE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, SO YEAH, UH, I DID JUST DOUBLE CHECK.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE DECEMBER 7TH IS CANCELED.
UH, NOT SURE WHEN THAT HAPPENED, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE DECEMBER 14TH WOULD BE THE NEXT ONE.
UM, DECEMBER 6TH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS PRETTY FULL.
THERE IS AN SOS AMENDMENT, UM, A VARIANCE, UH, POSSIBLY A PUD.
UM, SOMETHING ELSE CONFIRMED PUD AND A CONFIRMED PUD.
AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING.
WELL, I, I WOULD SAY LET'S DIALOGUE HERE IF WE CAN.
UH, UM, AND, AND IF WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE, CAN MAKE SOME CONSERVATIVE COMMENTS, LET'S DO IT.
UM, IF NOT, THEN, THEN MAYBE WE PUSH AND HAVE THE WORKING GROUP HASH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT, HAVE THEIR FUN TIME.
UM, SORRY, I HAD TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
UM, EVERY TIME WITH BRI, IT'S FUN TIME.
UM, UH, BUT LET'S, LET, LET'S, I, I GUESS IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO KIND OF MAKE PUBLICLY NOW ABOUT CONCERNS WITH THE, THE DRAFT MOTION THAT, THAT, UH, SULLIVAN PRESENTED OR, YOU KNOW, HAS, HAS PROMULGATED OR, UM, OR OTHERWISE.
UH, LET'S, LET'S SEE IF WE GOT ANY COMMENTS TO, TO KIND OF HASH THROUGH NOW, JUST TO KIND OF WORK, WORK FORWARD, GO YOU IF YOU GOT HERE.
UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE JSC, IT KIND OF JUST BECOMES A STANDSTILL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ALSO RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED ABOUT EQUITY, SPECIFICALLY AS FORMER COMMISSIONER GERE POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE EAST SIDE, UM, WHERE HOMEOWNERS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT BY INVESTORS OR OUTSIDE HOMEOWNERS, UH, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE OF A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT I DON'T NEED TO DESCRIBE.
BUT WE'RE ALL ADULTS HERE WHO HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN HOPEFULLY FOR A WHILE, AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, SO YEAH, I MEAN, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT RECENT ELECTIONS IN AUSTIN, THEY'RE HEAVILY DRIVEN BY HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY AND DENSITY.
THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY CRITICAL BUZZWORDS.
AS YOU KNOW, AUSTIN CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND ITS GROWTH AS A CITY, AND THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND THEN ALSO ECONOMIC E EQUITY ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WELL, ESPECIALLY, AGAIN, CONSIDERING AUSTIN'S PAST.
AND, UH, THESE ARE ALL REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUES.
THERE ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO RESOLVING AN HOUR OR TWO HOURS.
SO, UM, LET THE DEBATES BEGIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE FOCUSED THOUGHTS.
UM, I, I HEAR THE, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE PRESENTATION WE RECEIVED FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE, AND PARTICULARLY, I'M, LOOK, I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THIS SLIDE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE THAT THE, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M A, I'M AN ECONOMIST BY TRAINING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MICROECONOMICS 1 0 1 TEACHES YOU SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I WAS, UH, I SAW PRESENTATION RECENTLY WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF JOBS TO THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS, UM, AND HOW THEY'RE COMING ONLINE AND WE'RE JUST NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE NUMBER OF JOBS.
[02:35:01]
THE HOUSING UNITS JUST AREN'T THERE.WE CAN'T MAKE, WE CAN'T BUILD THEM FAST ENOUGH.
UM, I AGREED TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I WANTED TO WORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE STUFF.
I DON'T EVER GET TO USE THOSE WORDS IN THAT ORDER EVER INSIDE THAT BUILDING.
SO I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE I CAN TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, UM, THAT THE MAJOR DRIVERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS AND OUR ELECTRIC GRID, UM, MORE DENSITY FOR, TO REDUCES TAILPIPE EMISSIONS.
THAT'S JUST NOT A DEBATABLE FACT.
UM, I, I READ WITH INTEREST THE RESOLUTION FROM THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, IT RAISES SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY OF THESE CLAIMS ARE ACTUALLY SUBSTANTIATED BY THE FACTS ON THE GROUND.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
WE NEED HOUSING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD THE TRANSPORTATION GRID TO THOSE AREAS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD THE OPEN SPACE AMENITIES IN THOSE AREAS WE CAN'T AFFORD.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
DO I THINK THAT THEY'VE DONE IT PERFECTLY? NO, I DO NOT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE CITY MEANINGFULLY CHANGED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CITY STAFF? WHEN WAS THE, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE CITY MEANINGFULLY REWROTE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE? 1984.
I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR FACE AND I HEARD HIS VOICE
IT'S VERY, VERY AUTHORITATIVE, SAY.
AND I, I DO ALSO WANNA SAY, SO THERE MAY BE LIKE THE DECEMBER 7TH MAY BE A SPECIAL CALL BECAUSE THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN THAT HAS THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS CODE AMENDMENT DOES SAY THAT THE DECEMBER 7TH MEETING WILL BE WHERE THIS IS DISCUSSED.
SO IT MAY BE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING THAT'S NOT ON THE CALEND, THE, THE CALENDAR.
UM, SO IT'S THE, THE INFORMATION PAGE FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE PROPOSAL ON PUBLIC INPUT.COM ALSO HAS THE SEVENTH.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND UM, I APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I HAVE A MIGRAINE.
SO MY WORDS ARE, ARE TOUGH FOR ME TONIGHT.
AND SO I WROTE A LIST SO I COULD READ IT OUT LOUD.
BUT IN CONSIDERING THIS, I TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE I KNOW WHO LIVE IN D THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AURA AND EQUITY ACTION.
AND THERE IS A DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS.
AND SO I TAKE MY ROLE HERE AND RESPONSIBILITY HERE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND I ALWAYS WANT TO TRY AND GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM PEOPLE I TRUST ON ISSUES LIKE THIS.
UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIVERSITY OF OPINION.
UM, AND SO THE URBANISTS I KNOW SAY YES, THE, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS I KNOW SAY NO.
AND THEN THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAY YES.
AND, AND I THINK I'M IN THE YES AND CATEGORY RIGHT NOW, WHERE AS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, WE NEED MORE DENSITY IN AUSTIN, PERIOD.
AND THAT IS, I BELIEVE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, UM, IN ORDER TO CONSERVE MORE OF OUR WILD LAND AND CREATE A MORE WALKABLE, BIKEABLE CITY, ET CETERA.
HOWEVER, IT SHOULDN'T COME AT THE COST OF DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED FOR GENERATIONS IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND SO TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT, AND AGAIN, CONSULTING WITH DEAR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, I'VE COME UP WITH A LIST, UM, OF AMENDMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT UNFORTUNATELY AREN'T ADDRESSED IN THE HOME INITIATIVE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR WHEREAS CLAUSE IN THIS RESOLUTION, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M GONNA READ THEM OUT LOUD NONETHELESS.
SO, IF COUNCIL WERE TO PASS THE HOME INITIATIVE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD HOPE TO SEE ARE THAT THEY TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND CREATE MITIGATION ME MEASURES SUCH AS FUNDS TO PURCHASE UNDEVELOPED LOTS TO CREATE POCKET PARTS, POCKET PARKS ALSO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING BELOW 50% MFI TO LIVE IN THESE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNITS, INCLUDING THROUGH COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS AND OR HOUSING COOPERATIVES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TEETH AND ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BEEF UP RENTAL, UH, RENT CONTROL LAWS, AND DEVELOP A RENTER'S BILL OF RIGHTS.
I DON'T BELIEVE ONE EXISTS IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
UM, LIMIT OR CREATE RESTRICTIONS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
CREATE MORE RESTRICTIONS AROUND CORPORATE
[02:40:01]
INVESTORS BUYING PROPERTY SUCH AS RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSING COOPERATIVES.UM, AND LASTLY, SUPPORT NON-CORPORATE HOMEOWNERS AND HOME BUYERS IN NAVIGATING THE COMPLICATED BUILDING PROCESS IF THEY WANT TO BUILD ADDITIONAL UNITS ON THEIR LOT.
AND THEN I GUESS I WILL ADD ALSO FUNDS FOR, UM, WHAT'S THE WORD, MAINTENANCE AND, AND FLOOD CONTROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS AND MY COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS IN A NUTSHELL.
SO I, I DO WANNA VOICE THEM HERE.
UM, AS THIS RECOMMENDATION IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD SUPPORT IT WITHOUT AT LEAST MENTION OF SOME OF THESE ITEMS. SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND AND I'M OPEN TO TALKING FURTHER ABOUT THAT.
ANY COMMENTS SPECIFIC TO THAT INFORMATION BEFORE WE KIND OF KEEP RAMBLING FORWARD? I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THOSE MYSELF THOUGH.
I THINK SOME OF THEM WILL RUN SQUARELY INTO STATE LAW AND SOME OF THEM WILL PROVOKE A STATE RESPONSE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WORKING WHERE I WORK HAPPENS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST TALKING TO MICHAEL WHALEN DURING THE BREAK ABOUT, ABOUT THE LOT SIZES.
I MEAN, WE HAD TO FIGHT LEGISLATION IN THE, IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE LEGISLATURE FROM ACTING LAKE SUPER CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ADDRESS MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WE DON'T WANT THOSE DECISIONS MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE WANT THEM MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A STATE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT A PARTNER OF MUNICIPALITIES IN DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I I, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO THOSE IDEAS, BUT WE KIND OF HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT NOT PROVOKING A RESPONSE FROM THE STATE.
I, I, I HEARD KRUGER VOLUNTEER FOR THE WORK GROUP.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF LIVING THE WORK GROUP RIGHT NOW, BUT YES.
UM, I, I, I, I ALSO HEARD THAT, UM, ANY OTHER RESPONSE OR CONVERSATION RELATED TO KRUEGER STUFF, OR WE CAN KEEP GOING WITH OTHER CONCERNS OR COMMENTS? WELL, I, I WANNA RAISE ONE POINT.
UM, WHEN WE WORKED ON CODE NEXT, AND I WASTED FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE ON THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DELIA GARZA PUSHED, I BELIEVE IT WAS, SHE PUSHED THROUGH AN ITEM THAT WOULD EXEMPT THE EASTERN CRESCENT FROM MANY OF THE NEW RULES THAT WERE GOING TO BE IN CODE NEXT TO, TO TRY TO DENSIFY THE CITY.
AND I WAS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO BRING THAT UP.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE HOME CAME OUT ABOUT SOMEBODY TO BRING THAT UP AND NOBODY HAS IS OKAY,
I MEAN, I THINK THIS WILL MOSTLY BE AN ECHO HERE, BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE NEED A MODEST BLEND OF PRO DENSITY HOUSING AND TRANSIT POLICIES TO ACTUALLY GROW AS A GREEN CITY.
AND OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, UM, I THINK THE UNSPOKEN, IF WE DON'T BUILD IT, THEY WON'T COME, ISN'T WORKING, UH, OR IF WE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO BUILD IT, THEY WON'T COME, ISN'T WORKING, THEY'RE HERE.
UM, AND WE'RE MOVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FURTHER AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, CREATING THESE CRUSHING COMMUTES IS UNDERMINING OUR, OUR CLIMATE GOALS.
AND I WASN'T HERE FOR THAT EARLY OCTOBER PRESENTATION, BUT LOOKING AT THE GOALS THERE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GET TO ANY OF THEM WITHOUT, UM, BETTER DENSITY POLICIES.
UM, I SEE THIS AS THIS INITIATIVE AS GIVING PRIORITY TO THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY TO PUBLIC AFFLUENCE OVER PRIVATE WEALTH.
THAT BEING SAID, AS OUR, UM, I'M LOOKING AT HER TITLE, I'M TRYING TO FIND IT, UH, THE EQUITY INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER POINTED OUT, UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, UM, SITUATIONS.
YOU KNOW, IT'D BE INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, THE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING OUR ATTENTION BY EMAIL TO THAT STAFF'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE IN AUSTIN.
UM, ALL OF THIS TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
UM, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, HAS BEEN DISCUSSING ON THIS TODAY AND YESTERDAY BEFORE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE A RESPONSE TO THIS.
UM, BUT I DO SUPPORT, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S EFFORTS TO REALLY OUTLINE AND UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THIS IS NEEDED FOR, UH, A GROWING GREEN CITY.
AND I'LL, I'LL POINT OUT TOO, THAT DESPITE STAFF'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT HOUSING WORKS, AND THE, UH, HOUSING COALITION AS WELL AS AARP HAVE ALL SUPPORTED THIS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE NEED SMALLER UNITS, UH, WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN LARGE UNITS DA, AND THAT THAT'S THEIR BASIS FOR SUPPORT.
UH, AND AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
[02:45:01]
I DON'T KNOW, AND, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT MAKING IT MORE AFFORDABLE IS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THIS IS RESULTING IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF OWNER RENTER OCCUPIED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND NOT NECESSARILY AFFORDABILITY.ONE THING THAT CAME OUT IN THE STAFF AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT, JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, IS, UH, THEY LOOKED AT THE RULES FOR MCMANSION AND WITH AND WITHOUT THOSE RULES BEING APPLIED, AND THEY SHOWED HOW YOU COULD HAVE THREE LARGE HOUSES ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT AND, UM, UNDER ONE SET OF CONDITIONS, BUT IF YOU KEPT IT AT 0.4 FLORIDA AREA RATIO, YOU WOULD HAVE THREE SMALL HOUSES.
SO THEY WEREN'T THERE, THERE WERE NO DIRECTION GIVEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO THAT.
AND SO NOW THAT, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS CHEWING THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO THE, AND I'M, I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY'RE MEETING ABOUT THAT NOW WITH PRESUMPTION TO HAVE SOME MOTION OR SOME, SOME ACTION OR RIGHT.
THEY MET YESTERDAY, THEY MEET ON TUESDAYS WITH THE ABILITY TO, UH, CONTINUE A MEETING TO THE FOLLOWING DAY.
THEY MET TILL 1:00 AM TODAY IE LAST NIGHT, AND THEN THEY STARTED UP AT 5:30 PM TONIGHT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS.
YEAH, PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THAT.
THE JSC, THEY WERE JOKING THAT THEY WERE GONNA HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION WATCH PARTY IF THE JSC MEETING WAS CANCELED.
I'M SURE THERE'S MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WATCH PARTIES THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
UM, UH, NICHOLS SHERA, YOU GUYS GOT ANYTHING? CHAIR, DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? SURE, I'LL GO FIRST.
UM, OVERALL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I DO THINK THAT BEING PRO DENSITY IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND I THINK BEING PRO DENSITY IS BEING PRO-HOUSING, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY AM PRO-HOUSING, PRO-HOUSING.
AND I, I ALSO THINK IT IS PRO EQUITY.
IF I'M BEING, UH, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING, THEN I, THEN I'M PROVIDING, UH, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY, UM, ACCESS, HAVE TRANSPORTATION, BETTER TRANSPORTATION ACCESS.
SO OVERALL, I, I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE.
UM, I WOULD, I APPRECIATE PRIMER'S, UM, GOALS HERE BY TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN OF, UH, OF HOUSING.
UH, AND SO I THINK THAT IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS AS WELL.
AND NOT TO, UH, JUST BEAT A DEAD HORSE AND BE AN ADDITIONAL ECHO, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE HOUSING SUPPLY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR US IN'S, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSEQUENT PROSPERITY AND THESE HOME AMENDMENTS HELP US ACHIEVE THAT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A NET POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO I WILL BE VOTING ON THIS MOTION IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
I RECOGNIZE THAT CHANGE IS DIFFICULT FOR SOME, BUT I WOULD RATHER LIVE IN A CITY WITH GROWING PAINS INSTEAD OF DYING PAINS.
COMMISSIONER BRAMER, DO YOU WANNA GO INTO SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS AND, AND ELEMENTS THAT YOU'VE YEAH, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT SOME THINGS OUT.
MR. SHERA REFERENCED SOMETHING THAT THIS EMAIL, UH, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO GET ON A MIC FOR COMMISSIONER SHERA TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
SO THAT WAS
YEAH, I'M, I'M CARDIO UNTIL I DROP.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE, UH, HOLD ON, HOLD YOUR COMMENTS UNTIL YOU'RE ON THE MIC, PLEASE.
UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION GOT A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND JUST SO YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THOSE, I PRINTED OUT THE FIRST FIVE PAGES OF THOSE.
I DIDN'T CHERRY PICK, I JUST DID THE FIRST FIVE PAGES.
SO TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE FIRST FIVE PAGES, I'M GONNA HAND THEM OUT.
NOW, WHAT COMMISSIONER SHERA WAS REFERENCING WAS SOMETHING I HAD SENT OUT TO, UH, THE CHAIR AND ALSO TO, UH, THE SECRETARY JENNIFER, UH, WHICH WAS AN ADDITION
[02:50:01]
SUPPORTING, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S PROPOSAL.AND BASICALLY THE PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO REINFORCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS THAT HE PROPOSED.
NOW, PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS DEEPLY FLAWED, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA HAND OUT TO REINFORCE THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.
SO ANYWAY, LET ME FINISH HANDING THESE OUT AND I'LL JUST, THEN I'LL GO BACK.
DO I GIVE YOU ONE OF THOSE? MAYBE NOT.
JUST WATCH YOUR FEET ON THOSE CORDS.
I'VE TRIPPED ON THEM MANY TIMES.
EVERYONE'S, I'M SURE YOURS, I'M SURE YOURS INSURED.
THIS IS REALLY JUST A GRAND SCHEME BY BRIER TO GET PAID OUT BY ACC.
YEAH, RIGHT? OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
I, AS I SAID, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS.
I FEEL THE WHOLE THING IS DEEPLY FLAWED ON MANY LEVELS.
I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA WIND UP PASSING COUNSEL BECAUSE IT'S A FREIGHT TRAIN THAT CANNOT BE STOPPED.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT? SO I WROTE UP SOME SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE IT.
NOW, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S PROPOSAL ADDRESSES STRICTLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
SO THE MODIFICATIONS I HAVE ADDRESS STRICTLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
AND THE IDEA IS THAT IF WE'RE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA ALLOW THESE THINGS DONE UNDER THE GUISE OF IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT, THEN LET'S GO WHOLE HOG ON THIS.
NOW, MUCH WAS MADE OF THE FACT THAT IF WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE ATTACHED TOGETHER, THEN THERE'S GONNA BE THIS GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL SAVINGS.
HOWEVER, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO DO THIS.
SO THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE STRUCTURES IN THE YARD, AND THESE ENVIRONMENTAL SAVINGS ARE EVAPORATE.
THERE'S NO STUDY THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED THAT SHOWS HOW MANY ARE GOING TO BE INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURES VERSUS TRIPLEXES OR DUPLEXES.
SO THERE'S NO PROOF THAT THIS IS GONNA GENERATE ANY SAVINGS ENVIRONMENTALLY AT ALL.
THE PROPOSALS I PUT FORTH, GENERATE THOSE SAVINGS.
NOW AT THE BOTTOM OF MY THING IS A CHART THAT COMES FROM THE LINK AT THE TOP OF HIS PROPOSAL.
THAT CHART SHOWS WHERE YOU CAN GET ADDITIONAL SAVINGS.
THIS IS FROM THE LINK THAT HE HAD IN HIS THING.
YOU GO IN THERE AND YOU CLICK ON SOME OF THE PAPERS THAT ARE IN THERE.
THIS CHART KIND OF, UH, SHOWS YOU WHERE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS CAN BE OBTAINED AND YOU CAN OBTAIN THINGS BY, YOU KNOW, BY USING SOLAR POWER, YOU CAN DO THINGS BY IMPROVING WATER USAGE.
YOU CAN IMPROVE THINGS BY A NUMBER OF THINGS.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO, IF THE PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THEN LET'S IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
OTHERWISE, LET'S PACK UP AND GO HOME.
NOW, PART OF THE REASON I ASKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ADD STUFF ON THAT ARE THAT ADDRESS OTHER THINGS WAS, THE LAST THING I PUT ON HERE WAS THE FAYETTE POWER PLANT.
THAT IS THE 10TH WORST CARBON POLLUTING POWER PLANT IN THE COUNTRY BY THE EPA 10TH WORST IN THE COUNTRY, NOT THE 10TH WORST IN TEXAS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT AND WE DON'T ADDRESS THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
NOW PEOPLE SAY WE CAN'T SELL IT.
WELL, IN 2011, LEFFINGWELL HAD A PROPOSAL FROM NRG TO, TO BUY THE PLANT.
[02:55:01]
LET'S, LET'S FORGET ALL THIS MANURE.OKAY? THERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY, THE CITY HAD TO SELL IT AND WE DIDN'T DO IT.
BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH SOME OF THE PROPOSALS I MADE TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THIS TYPE OF THING.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO TAKE COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S PROPOSAL AND IMPROVE IT BY ATTACHING THESE, THESE ITEMS TO IT.
NOW, I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE AND SAY, OKAY, ONE OR TWO, AND LET'S DO NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FIVE, BECAUSE IT'S TOO TEDIOUS AND TIME CONSUMING TO VOTE ON EACH ONE.
AND IT'S KIND OF A WORTHLESS TYPE OF THING.
WHAT I WOULD PREFER TO DO IS DO A THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN AND GO FROM THERE.
WILL YOU, WILL YOU READ, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING, THE CONDITIONS AND THEREFORE THE LAST YEAH, BASICALLY THE, UH, GO AHEAD AND READ ALL THOSE, JUST TO KIND OF READ 'EM INTO THE RECORDS.
'CAUSE WELL, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, ALL CONSTRUCTION MUST BE MEET AUSTIN ENERGY'S GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM GUIDELINES.
ALL CONSTRUCTION MUST BE PRE-WIRED FOR SOLAR POWER OR FOR MULTI-FAMILY, SOLAR POWER AND EV CHARGING CATCHMENT WATER SYSTEMS MUST BE INSTALLED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
FOR RESID RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION USE ZONING GUIDELINES FOR MULTI-FAMILY AND LIMITED DENSITY APPLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
'CAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE DEAL IS THE LOT SIZE THING.
NEW CONSTRUCTION MUST BE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WATERSHED MASTER, UH, PROTECT OR WATERSHED PROTECTION MASTER PLAN, CURRENT PROTECTION FOR HERITAGE TREES MUST BE MAINTAINED.
HE MENTIONS THAT IN THERE, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MORE CLEARLY STATED.
UH, BED AND BREAKFAST RESIDENTIAL USE MUST BE PROHIBITED.
WE'RE CREATING RESONANCES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT ZONING, IT ALLOWS FOR AIRBNBS AND BED AND BREAKFAST IN THESE THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IN THIS STUFF, IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS STUFF FOR RESIDENCES REAL QUICK, UM, COURT OF ORDER, YOU'RE READING THESE INTO THE, OKAY, SO YOU HAVE TO READ 'EM IN AND THEN YOU CAN MOVE.
SO BED AND BREAKFAST, SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE PROHIBITED.
AND ALSO, UH, CIVIC USES FOR THOSE PROPERTIES ARE ALSO PROHIBITED.
IF YOU LOOK INTO ZONING SF ONE AND FFF MULTIFAMILY, YOU CAN'T HAVE CIVIC USES.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED.
NOW, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
OKAY, RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF PROPERTIES, ZONE MULTIFAMILY ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AND FINALLY RECOMMEND THE, THE COUNCIL DIRECT AUSTIN ENERGY TO SELL ITS SHARE OF THE FAYETTE COAL PLANT BY THE END OF 2026.
IT WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE SOLD BY THE END OF 2022 AND IT WASN'T.
SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I THINK WE NEED TO PUT IN COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY ITS BONAFIDES AS A ENVIRONMENTAL THING.
I'M JUST GONNA READ IN THE LAST PART OF THAT, WHICH WAS TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL DIRECT AUSTIN ENERGY TO SELL THE, SHARE THE FAYETTE COAL PLANT BY THE END OF 2026 IN ORDER TO MEET THE CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN ADOPTED BY AUSTIN ENERGY IN 2020.
YEAH, I MEAN THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A REAL DOCUMENT.
I HAVE THE HOT LINKS IN HERE THAT YOU CAN, THAT REFERENCES ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. SO IF I WERE TO SEND YOU THE ELECTRONIC VERSION, YOU COULD CLICK ON THOSE AND FIND THE DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL THAT STUFF IN THERE.
UH, SOMEONE HAD EARLIER REFERENCED THE FACT THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION TO WHAT IS SAID, SURPRISE, THERE'S THE DOCUMENTATION.
SULLIVAN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE FIRST AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF KEEP TALKING FROM THERE.
UM, FIRST OFF, WE CANNOT BAN ALL CIVIC USES AS RELIGIOUS USES ARE EXEMPT.
SO YOU COULD EDIT THAT TO SAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RELIGIOUS USES.
UM, AGAIN, I FELT THAT THE RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT, IS ABOUT HOUSING AND NOT THE FAYETTE POWER PLANT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.
UH, MF ONE ZONING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ALLOW 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER AND 40 FOOT HEIGHT AS OPPOSED TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING, WHICH IS 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER AND 35 FOOT HEIGHT.
SO I DON'T SEE WHY THE REFERENCE, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO MF ONE ZONING.
UM, NOT ALL THREE UNIT LOTS WILL BE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
[03:00:01]
WILL BE CONVERSION OF LARGE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES INTO THREE UNITS.SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT, WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.
UM, I, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A UPSTAIRS, HAS A HOUSE, AN UPSTAIRS ADU, AND A DOWNSTAIRS GARAGE WHO'S TALKING ABOUT CONVERTING HER DOWNSTAIRS GARAGE INTO ANOTHER ADU.
SO NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, JUST, YOU KNOW, REWORKING IT.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT WE'RE REQUIRING REQUIREMENTS FOR A TRIPLEX THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRING FOR A DUPLEX OR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT SPECIFICALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, I MEAN ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS CATCHMENTS, THE RAINWATER CATCHMENT FOR THE REWIRING, FOR EV, FOR, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE RESTRICTIONS ON USES AND WHATNOT, IF WE'RE GONNA DO IT FOR THE THIRD UNIT ADDED TO A, A, A, OUR EXISTING DUPLEX, THEN WE SHOULD DO IT FOR THE DUPLEX.
WE SHOULD DO IT FOR EVERY CITY HOUSE IN THE CITY.
I MEAN, I DON'T SEE PICKING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, A TRIPLEX FOR THESE REQUIREMENTS IF WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT FOR EVERY UNIT IN THE CITY.
WELL, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS IS A SPECIAL CASE THAT THE COUNCIL'S BRINGING UP.
AND YOUR ARGUMENT IS THAT WE'RE SAVE WE'RE WE'RE SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT OR PARTS OF IT BY ENACTING THIS.
SO I'M SAYING, WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE ARE, WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.
LET'S INSIST THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY INSULATION AND ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS THAT YOU REFERENCE IN HERE, THEN WHAT'S THE HARM IN PRE-WIRING THESE NEW FACILITIES FOR EV AND FOR BATTERIES AND FOR OTHER THINGS.
WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH USING CATCHMENT WATER FOR IRRIGATION? SO YOU TAKE LESS PRESSURE OFF OF THE EXISTING LAKES AND AQUIFERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HELP IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN LET'S STOP FOOLING OURSELVES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THE PLANET AND LET'S JUST GET ON WITH IT.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, WHY DON'T WE ADD THESE REQUIREMENTS TO ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE, BECAUSE, UH, WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
YOU CAN, YOU, YOU BRING A RESOLUTION SAYING WE WILL APPLY THIS TO ALL, WE CAN APPLY THAT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN THE NEXT AGENDA.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM.
WELL, THEN IF YOU DO IT, IF YOU DO IT IN THE NEXT AGENDA, IT WOULD COVER THIS.
WELL, NO, WE'RE, TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
IN, IN, IN YOUR LIVELY DEBATE.
SO, UM, MR. SULLIVAN, ARE YOU SAYING THAT INSTEAD OF ADDING THE VERBIAGE IN HERE THAT SAYS, UM, ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELED UNITS MUST MEET AND THEN WHATEVER IS AFTER THAT, YOU DON'T WANNA PUT REMODELED UNITS IN THERE? I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY OF THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS ON A TRIPLEX THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING ON A DUPLEX OR A DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
WHICH BY THE WAY, IS THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER THAT THE HUMAN RACE HAS CREATED.
THE DUPLEX? NO, THE DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
I'M EXPOSED AS THE ENEMY OF DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT THE ENEMY OF DUPLEXES.
'CAUSE THE ADU PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO COME FOR YOUR HEAD.
COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN? NO, I'M ALL, I'M DOWN WITH DUPLEXES.
I'M DOWN WITH ANYTHING THAT'S MORE BETTER USE OF PROPERTY THAN 3000 SQUARE FOOT DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
REAL, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GET, SO, SO TO KIND OF TRY TO MOVE FORWARD PRODUCTIVELY, UM, YOU HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE CONDITIONS, THE, THE CONDITIONS RELATED TO, UM, MORE OR LESS REQUIREMENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION.
UM, DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS WITH, UH, THE ZONE? I MEAN, I'M, I'M JUST GOING DOWN THE LIST HERE.
ZONING GUIDELINES FROM MF ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, APPLY TO THE EXCEPTION OF MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WELL, YOU NEED, YOU, YOU NEED 8,000 SQUARE FEET TO BUILD MULTIFAMILY.
YOU ONLY NEED 57 50 FOR SINGLE FAMILY, OR THREE THOU, OR 3,600 IF IT'S SSF FOUR A, BUT GENERALLY
[03:05:01]
IT'S 57 50 FOR SINGLE FAMILY, 55,750 SQUARE FEET.SO YOU HAD ALREADY HAD THE TREE PROTECTIONS IN THERE.
UM, I HAVE THE TREE PROTECTIONS IN THERE AND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WHAT ARE YOUR, I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT AND I APOLOGIZE.
WHICH BY THE WAY, I'M GETTING PUSHBACK FROM PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WHO WANNA RELAX THE IMPERVIOUS COVER BED AND BREAKFAST SHORT-TERM RENTALS ABOLISH THEM.
AGAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD APPLY THE SAME RULES THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL OTHER SINGLE FAMILY USES.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THOSE? 'CAUSE I'M WONDERING WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF, OF THOSE ARE.
I GET THAT THERE, I GET THAT THERE'S NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER ISSUES WITH THEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT I THINK THAT THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH THEM.
I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY, UM, YOU KNOW, EQUITY CONCERNS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, THE STR ESPECIALLY, WE JUST TALK ABOUT LIKE THE O TWO OR THE O FOUR.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY INVESTORS TURNING THEM INTO, INTO AIRBNBS.
RIGHT? UM, WHICH AGAIN, JUST DRIVES UP HOUSING COSTS.
UM, BECAUSE THESE ARE, THIS IS HOUSING STOCK THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE USED BY FAMILIES OR BY ACTUAL RESIDENTS INSTEAD OF PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY JUST DODGING HOT TAXES.
IT'S FROM LIKE AN INVESTOR STANDPOINT.
UM, NOW AGAIN, LIKE EINHORN POINTED OUT, THERE'S GONNA BE, UM, SOME BLOWBACK FROM THE STATE FOR SURE.
AND BY SOME, I MEAN ALL BLOWBACK.
UM, 'CAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO ENFORCE THESE.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, PERSONALLY, IF YOU ASKED ME ALL THESE AIRBNB OWNERS THAT HAVE ALL THESE BACHELOR PARTIES AND BACHELORETTE PARTIES COME THROUGH, UM, IF WE BURNED THEM ALL AT THE STAKE, I'D PROBABLY BE HAPPY.
I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING CHRIS, YOU JUST JUST SAID ABOUT, ABOUT, ABOUT, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT THAT'S NOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.
I MEAN, THERE ARE NO, BUT THERE NEIGHBORHOOD DID YOU, BUT HOLD ON, COMMISSIONER BARBER, YOU SAID, LET'S MAKE IT MOW BETTER FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.
AND I DON'T SEE, I, AND I MAY BE MISSING SOMETHING.
I DON'T SEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
WELL, I, OKAY, THESE ARE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS, BUT YOU ALSO MENTIONED WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT COSTS, YOU BROUGHT UP THE, THE COST THING, WHICH I HEARD VERY CAREFULLY.
NOW, COMMISSIONER QURESHI BROUGHT UP THE AIRBNB THING.
THE WHARTON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS DID A STUDY WHERE THEY SAID, FOR EVERY, UH, INCREASE A ONE 10TH OF AN PERCENT IN, OR I'M SORRY, FOR EVERY 1% INCREASE IN AIRBNBS IN A ZIP CODE, THERE WAS A ONE 10TH PERCENT INCREASE IN THE RENT.
AND A 0.18% INCREASE IN THE SALE PRICE OF HOUSES.
SO WHAT YOU GET IS, WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THESE MULTI-UNITS ON A PROPERTY, AND ONE OF THEM TURNS TO AIRBNB AND IT'S, YOU CROSS A CERTAIN POINT IN A, IN A ZIP CODE, THE RENTS IN THAT AREA GO UP AS WELL AS THE SALES PRICE OF THE HOUSE, WHICH UNDERMINES THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF, UH, AFFORDABILITY.
NOW, I WANT YOU TO DO, SO EVERYONE HERE MOSTLY HAS COMPUTERS.
I WANT YOU TO PULL UP, UH, OH, SHOOT, WHERE IS HERE.
I WANT YOU TO PULL UP AN ADDRESS ON, UH, UH, HERE WE GO.
PULL THAT UP AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT HOUSE.
AND WHEN YOU PULL THAT UP, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND IS YOU'RE GONNA FIND A THREE BEDROOM, TWO AND A HALF BATH HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT PROBABLY IN THE LATE FIFTIES, OR, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE, IN THE FIFTIES.
WELL, THAT'S THE ESTIMATED PRICE BY ZILLOW.
BUT IF YOU, UH, ALSO GO OVER TO THE CITY OF, UH, IF TRAVIS COUNTY TCAD, UH, IT, THEY APPRAISE IT AT $1.2 MILLION.
NOW, IF YOU GO OVER TO ANOTHER ADDRESS, LET ME FIND OUT WHERE THAT, UH, RUNS OFF TO, UH, 2002 EAST SEVENTH STREET.
UNIT 2 1 6 IS A ONE BEDROOM, TWO BATH CONDO.
SO IT'S IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW I NEED TO UNDERSTAND AFFORDABILITY AND THE DEFINITION OF THAT.
SO WHAT A DEVELOPER DID WAS HE CAME IN AND BOUGHT LIKE X NUMBER OF LOTS OF THOSE LITTLE HOUSES.
BY THE WAY, THAT HOUSE THAT'S SELLING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS NOW IN 2018,
[03:10:01]
THAT HOUSE WAS $156,000.NOW I UNDERSTAND ALL THE PRICE IN AUSTIN'S GO UP.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY OF THAT $156,000 HOUSE IS NOW $1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT DENSITY HOUSING DOES TO EAST AUSTIN.
IT DOESN'T IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY.
SO LET'S QUIT TRYING TO FOOL OURSELVES THAT THIS APPROVES AFFORDABILITY.
THIS IS THROWING OUT ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND THIS, THIS
WE'RE JUST DOING THE SAME THING.
ONLY WE'RE PAYING 'EM A MILLION DOLLARS TO LEAVE TOWN.
AND WE'RE DOING IT UNDER THE GUISE OF, OH, WELL, WE'RE CREATING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR $570,000.
YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE UPPER 7% OF THE INCOME BRACKET OF THIS COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.
NOW, THIS WORKS AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF YOU WORK FOR ORACLE OR GOOGLE OR ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, TELL 'EM AGAIN.
SO LET'S, YOU KNOW, LET'S BE REAL ABOUT ALL THIS, OKAY? AND YES, MA'AM, YOU HELD UP YOUR FINGERS, SO I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
KEEP GOING, BREMMER, GET, GET, OKAY.
SO ANYWAY, THE PAYBACK TIME, WHICH IS DONE BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE OF THIS TYPE OF THING FOR INFILL HOUSING IS THREE TO NINE YEARS TO BEGIN TO GET PAYBACK ON THIS TYPE OF THING.
AND THEY SEE THAT THE INCREASE IN HOUSING ON ALL THIS IS ONLY 0.8%.
AND IT'S VERY INEFFICIENT BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF INFILL HOUSING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY DOES IT ON A LOT BY LOT BASIS.
IT DOESN'T DO IT BY DEVELOPMENT.
FURTHERMORE, THE CITY HAD A NICE 23 ACRE LOT OF LAND THAT IN 2014, THAT IT IDENTIFIED AS BEING IDEAL FOR MULTIFAMILY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEY WERE GOING TO USE THAT AS BEING A MODEL AREA FOR THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
YOU KNOW, WALKABLE, ALL THIS SORT OF STUFF.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID WITH IT? THEY TURNED IT INTO A SOCCER STADIUM.
SO IF THE CITY WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I MEAN REALLY INTERESTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY WOULD HAVE NOT GIVEN 23 ACRES TO PEOPLE WHO COULD AFFORD TO BUY IT, AND THEY WOULD'VE TURNED IT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, WELL, WELL, I, I, I THINK SO THIS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH NOW MY ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THIS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IS TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE FACT THAT THIS IS REALLY TERRIBLE POLICY, BUT BY MITIGATING IT IN SOME WAY, I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE BUILDINGS ON THE THING.
DOES THERE HAVE ADEQUATE FIRE ACCESS? BECAUSE A FIRETRUCK HAS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL THE STUFF IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE CARS ANYMORE, RIGHT? SO IF YOU HAVE A STRUCTURE IN THE BACK OF THE PLACE THAT'S ON FIRE, HOW DOES THE FIRETRUCK GET TO THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, I, I'M, I'M GONNA PULL PULL YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT THERE.
'CAUSE I THINK I IRON OWN YOU HAD THE COMMENT ABOUT CONNECTING THIS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I, AND I DO THINK, I MEAN, RESH, YOU, YOU, YOUR, YOUR COMMENT WAS, WAS ROOTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENTS OF, OF THE PLAN AS IT'S KIND OF LAID OUT NOW.
SO I, I DO THINK THERE'S A THREAD THERE THAT'S IN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION.
AND IT'S HONESTLY THE, THE MAIN STRUGGLE THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ON, ON A LOT OF ELEMENTS OVER THIS PAST YEAR, AND PRESUMABLY WILL OVER THIS NEXT YEAR OF, OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VERSUS THE, THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OR THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND, UM, SO I, I THINK THERE'S A THREAD THERE THAT CONNECTS THEM.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR IF THAT THREAD GOES ALL THE WAY TO FAYETTEVILLE, UM, OR THE FAYETTE, UH, COAL PLANT.
BUT, UM, I, I THINK THERE'S ELEMENTS THERE THAT, THAT DO CONNECT SOME OF, AT LEAST THE AIRBNB ELEMENTS, UM, TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF IT.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT, AND, AND WE CAN KEEP GOING.
COMMISSIONER BRIER REALLY QUICK HERE.
UM, I, UM, AND NOT BRIER, I'M SORRY.
[03:15:01]
YOU, UM,UM, WE DIDN'T REALLY COMPLETE BEFORE WE GOT INTO SOME OF THE MOTIONS, WE DIDN'T REALLY COMPLETE GOING AROUND THE HORN.
UM, SO YOU DIDN'T GET TO KIND OF SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP THAT PART UP.
SO THAT THEN, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET OUR ARMS AROUND EXACTLY WHAT THE MOTION IS BECAUSE, UM, COMMISSIONER KRUEGER'S HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, SALIENT AND, AND GOOD, UM, THINGS, AND WE KIND OF NEED TO ALL START PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER IN, UM, IN ONE THING.
SO LET'S MAKE THE SOUP IN A SECOND.
UM, DOES THAT SOUND OKAY? THAT SOUNDS, YEAH.
SO, UM, MY, MY CONCERN AND MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, AND FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO, UH, FORMER COMMISSIONER, UH, AGUIRE FOR BEING HERE AND, AND BRINGING FORWARD THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL'S, UM, THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND ECHO A LOT OF THOSE.
UM, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THIS FEELS REALLY RUSHED.
IT IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN IN AUSTIN, A RESIDENT IN AUSTIN WHO CURRENTLY, UM, OWNS A HOME, UM, OR RENTS A HOME, UM, IN THIS AREA.
SO IN THAT REGARD, IT'S, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, IF, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON WAS HERE, SHE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, WE, WE, WE NEED TO DO THESE THINGS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE THE VOICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE VOICE FOR THE THING THAT CANNOT SPEAK.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CHARGED HERE TO DO.
UM, THE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC, UTILITIES, ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS AS WELL AS WASTEWATER RUNOFF, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONAL THINGS, UM, THAT, THAT COME WITH INCREASED DENSITY, UH, LIGHT POLLUTION NOISE.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A, A, A LOT OF ACTIVE, UM, DISCUSSION ON THIS.
MUCH LIKE, UM, COMMISSIONER KRUEGER'S, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO ME.
UM, THERE'S BEEN SO LITTLE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM, THAT THIS DID NOT GO OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY DID NOT, YOU KNOW, BRING IN.
UM, IT WAS SORT OF LIKE, OH, HEY, IF YOU CAN MAKE IT AT TWO O'CLOCK ON A TUESDAY, COME ON DOWN.
AND SO I HAVE A REAL, REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT, WITH THE CITY OF NOT, NOT GOING OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND REALLY TALKING TO THEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ON THAT.
UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT, ABOUT HOW DO, HOW ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS REALLY AND TRULY INVOLVED? HOW IS THE PUBLIC REALLY AND TRULY INVOLVED WITH CRAFTING WHAT IMPACTS THEM? AND THEN, UM, I I DO SEE, UH, A REAL, A REAL BLACK HOLE IN THE EQUITY, UH, CREDABILITY OF THIS, UM, AS I FEEL LIKE IT DOES NOT IMPROVE OUR LOW INCOME FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA PUT ALL OF THESE REGULATIONS ON THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, UH, INCREASED, UM, THE, UM, UM, THE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD SOMETHING OR, OR REMODEL YOUR HOME.
SO, SO THE, YOU KNOW, SO I WRESTLE WITH, WITH ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS, UM, A SOLUTION IS NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION GO DUPLEXES, UM, IN, IN, IN THIS TOOLKIT.
UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON A, ON A TIPPING POINT OF WHAT DO WE DO WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
IN, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, WE HAD A CODE AMENDMENT, UH, THAT WENT FORWARD TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE, UM, TRANSITION SHOPPING CENTERS AND, UM, UH, OFFICE SPACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT INTO MORE HOUSING.
I FEEL LIKE WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON CRAFTING SOME LANGUAGE AROUND THAT, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT.
WHERE DID THAT GO? CAN ONE OF ONE OF Y'ALL TALK US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? UM, NO, I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT THIS EVENING.
WE CAN LOOK INTO IT AND SEND YOU INFORMATION AND, AND THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE, UM, KATIE, I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
IF WE HAD, IF WE HAD THIS CODE, HERE'S HOW MANY TYPES OF HOUSING, HERE'S THE, HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REALLY EXPAND AFFORDABILITY, UM, IN THOSE ZONES.
YOU REMEMBER THAT
TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT TOPIC YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT WAS THE LAST CODE AMENDMENT YEP.
UH, DISCUSSIONS WE HAD ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE WORKING GROUP.
AND IT WAS, AND SOME OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ROLLED INTO THAT.
UM, BUT IT WAS ABOUT, IT WAS LIKE LATE SUMMER.
[03:20:01]
I MEAN, WATERSHED DID BRING FORWARD A CODE AMENDMENT THAT HAD REQUIREMENTS FOR GSI GREEN FORM WATER.BUT THAT WHAT COMMISSIONER BRISTOL WAS DISCUSSING WAS NOT PART OF THAT CODE AMENDMENT? NO, IT WAS, IT WAS, UM, WE LOOKED AT, UM, ALL OF THE SPACES AROUND AUSTIN THAT HAD SHOPPING CENTERS OR OFFICE SPACE THAT COULD BE REZONED INTO, UM, UM, MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, USE, UH, MULTI-USE.
UM, SO YOU COULD HAVE OFFICES AND RETAIL AND STUFF, BUT THEN YOU COULD ALSO HAVE HOUSING UNITS ON IT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING MULTI-FAMILY UNITS IN COMMERCIAL SPACES, COMMERCIAL ZONING FOR THAT.
AND THAT WAS PASSED IN NOVEMBER OF 22.
I'M NOT CRAZY AS IT RELATES TO THIS ITEM THAT YOU HAVE DISCUSSED AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AS A FULL AFFIRMATION OF MY MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, SO YEAH, I MEAN, IF, IF THAT WAS PASSED, THEN, THEN, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW'S THAT GOING? ARE WE DOING THAT? ARE WE UTILIZING THAT, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT A, A JUDGE FOUND AGAINST THE CITY RECENTLY BECAUSE OF THE LAWSUIT FILED BY, UM, CNC COMMUNITIES, NOT COMMODITIES AND WHATNOT.
WAS THAT JUST LIKE, LIKE SUPER RECENT? YES, TWO DAYS AGO.
WELL, THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS, AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING THEM.
UM, YEAH, I, I, I KIND OF SAID A LITTLE BIT OF MY PIECE WITH THE NATURAL, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, UH, COMMENT I JUST MADE PREVIOUSLY.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A, UH, UH, SIMPLE ONE SIZE FITS ALL, UM, KIND OF WAVE OUR WAND IN A COUPLE WEEKS SOLUTION.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, 1984, WHAT WAS THE LAST TIME THE LA OLYMPIC LA OLYMPICS ARE, ARE COMING ALL THE WAY BACK TO LA AGAIN.
AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO DO SOME KIND OF A CHANGE BEFORE 2028.
AND, AND SO, UH, I, I TOO AM KIND OF TORN, UM, WITH, UH, THE, THE, THE NEED THAT IS THERE.
AND, AND WE, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES IN THIS COMMISSION, WE AREN'T GIVEN THE BEST TOOLS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME FORWARD PROGRESS.
UM, I, I THINK THAT'S IN THE THEME OF, OF, OF MANY OF YOUR COMMENTS PRIMER, UM, OF MAKE, MAKE BETTER, BETTER.
UM, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE SOLUTIONS.
I I HONESTLY DON'T THINK ANY OF US DO, UM, YET.
UH, BUT, UM, BUT I THINK US WALKING THROUGH THIS AND MAKING SOME KIND OF A VOICE WILL HAVE BENEFIT, I GUESS WOULD BE THE MAIN COMMENT I WOULD MAKE.
AND AGAIN, PART OF MY MO MOTIVATION CHAIRMAN IS THAT THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK FROM SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TREE LOSS, CONCERNED ABOUT FLOODING, UM, WHICH ARE TWO THINGS THAT I TRIED TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY IN THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, AND SO I WANTED TO BASICALLY REBUT THOSE CRITICISMS BECAUSE THEY OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT UNDER HIGHER DENSITY, YOU GENERALLY GET LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE TREES.
UH, EVEN THOUGH I MENTIONED IN THERE THE PROTECTION FOR THE HERITAGE TREES CALL IT OUT SPECIFICALLY.
AND COMMISSIONER, UH, SULLIVAN DID SOMETHING, DID IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CIRCUMSPECT, BUT HE STILL ADDRESSED IT.
97% OF THE TREES IN AUSTIN DON'T MEET THE HERITAGE TREE CRITERIA.
SO 97% OF THE TREES ARE AT RISK IN DOING THIS.
NOW, THERE IS NOT A STUDY THAT SAYS, OKAY, IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS, WHAT IS THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM RISK OF TREES BEING CUT DOWN THEORETICAL.
AND THEN WHAT'S THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO? OKAY, SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
THE CITY HAS PROMISED TO BE 50 OR A 50% TREE CANOPY BY 2050.
SO WE'RE RISKING THAT PERHAPS.
SO BEFORE WE GO OUT AND DECIDE WE'RE GONNA PUT ALL THIS AT RISK, IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW FROM SOMEONE TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THESE 97% OF THE TREES THAT AREN'T HERITAGE, THAT ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE CITY ARE AT RISK.
AND THEREFORE WE MAY NOT MAKE THE 2050 GOAL OF CANOPY PROTECTION.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER PART THAT KIND OF SLIPS UNDER THE RADAR HERE, WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, EXCEPT FOR,
[03:25:01]
WE'RE KIND OF LIKE, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA PROTECT THIS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT, REALLY.UM, WHAT I SUGGEST WE DO IS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER KIND OF INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS, MAKE 'EM RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, IF NOT, UM, THEN I SUGGEST SULLIVAN, YOU READ YOUR MOTION OR YOUR RECOMMENDATION IN, AND THEN WE SEE IF IT GETS A SECOND.
AND IF IT DOES, THEN WE SEE IF WE WANT TO AMEND IT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED BY OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
UM, AND SEE IF WE CAN WANDER FORWARD BEFORE 1:00 AM UM, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WANNA MAKE ANY OTHER.
I HAVE A FINAL COMMENT AND THEN A QUESTION.
THERE'S A QUOTE THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL OF TONIGHT AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING, AND IT'S FROM CHICO MENDEZ, WHO WAS A LABORER, TURNED, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST.
AND HE SAID, ENVIRONMENTALISM WITHOUT CLASS STRUGGLE IS GARDENING.
SO I THINK ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE INCREDIBLY INTERWOVEN AND RELEVANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF A QUESTION, UM, I'M WONDERING, I FEEL LIKE A WORKING GROUP COULD BE A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO SORT OUT SOME OF THESE REMAINING ISSUES.
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT STILL TO DISCUSS.
UM, IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, COULD COMMUNITY MEMBERS JOIN THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL OR WOULD IT JUST BE A WORKING GROUP WITH COMMISSIONERS? WHAT ARE THE OFFICIAL RULES ON THAT STUFF THAT THEY, KAYLA CHI OF WATERSHED PROTECTION, YOU MAY INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE MEETING, BUT WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, UM, CAN ONLY CONSIST OF FIVE OR LESS COMMISSION MEMBERS.
AND THEY'RE NOT POSTED PUBLICLY, LIKE, UM, LIKE COMMITTEE, UH, SORRY.
I CANNOT COMMUNICATE LIKE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE RIGHT.
YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING? WELL, YEAH, ONE POINT IS I WOULD PROBABLY EXPLICITLY TRY TO GET SOMEBODY FROM DISTRICT ONE.
UM, WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS? 3, 2, 3 AND FOUR.
TWO, THREE AND 1, 2, 3 AND FOUR.
WELL, Y'ALL, I'M NOT ON THE EAST SIDE FAM.
AND WE JUST FORMED A WORKING GROUP AND SPECIFICALLY OUR RECRUITING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO IT CAN BE, BE COMPOSED OF BOTH.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT DESIGNATION OR ROLES.
NO, I THINK PRETTY MUCH ALL WORKING GROUPS CAN HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THEM.
AND NOT JUST TO LIKE SIT AND WATCH, BUT TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
WITH JSC, WE'VE HAD A BUNCH OF WORKING GROUPS FOR THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND, UH, WE'VE INCORPORATED, YOU KNOW, UH, CITY STAFF, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, SO YOU GET, YOU CAN HAVE A WIDER, UM, ARRAY OF PEOPLE THAN YOU WOULD GET AS JUST LIKE A REGULAR COMMISSION.
PEOPLE TALKING NOTHING AGAINST MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
WE'RE ALL SUPER COOL, YOU KNOW? OKAY.
I JUST KNOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I CARE ABOUT.
AND REALISTICALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE TIME TO DEVOTE TO A WORKING GROUP, BUT I DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE EXCELLENT AND HAVE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO SAY.
AND TO SOME OF THE POINTS BROUGHT UP TODAY, LIKE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS HAVEN'T BEEN VERY MANY.
SO I CAN SEE THAT AS A WAY TO BRING IN MORE PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE MOST AFFECTED, UM, TO HOPEFULLY WORK OUT SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE COULD FORMULATE INTO A RECOMMENDATION.
BECAUSE I DO THINK A LOT OF THE CITY WILL BE LOOKING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
I'M, I'M HEARING A LOT OF THE SAME SENTIMENTS, PRO DENSITY AND PRO-ENVIRONMENT, AND HOW DO WE DO THIS? AND I'M JUST WONDERING, AT THIS POINT IN THE NIGHT, IF WE'RE GOING TO ARRIVE AT OUR BEST WORK, THAT WILL THEN BE PUT OUT TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ADVOCATING FOR A WORKING GROUP THAT INVITES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL, UM, FOR US TO ARRIVE AT A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE COULD PUT FORTH BY THE DECEMBER 7TH MEETING, WHICH I KNOW IS A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND TIME.
BUT IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE ONE OR TWO MEETINGS BEFORE OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING ON THE SIXTH.
SIXTH, OUR NEXT WOULD BE ON THE SIXTH.
I'M GONNA, I'M LOOKING AT COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN'S FACE AND I WANT, I WANNA JUST MAKE SURE, FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY THAT'S MY POKER FACE, ISN'T IT?
UM, UH, I, FIRST OFF, I REALLY WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN AND TO BRIER FOR BRINGING THESE THINGS FORWARD AND KRIEGER, YOU KNOW, YOU BRINGING, UM, AS WELL.
UM, I'M ALL FOR THE WORKING GROUP.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT GIVES US REALLY, AND TRULY FEELS LIKE IT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME
[03:30:01]
TO PUT SOMETHING BEFORE COUNSEL.UM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE GETTING IT THE DAY BEFORE THEIR MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
WELL, AGAIN, IT, IT'S MAINLY JUST TO, TO SHOW THEM THAT THERE IS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FOR THIS.
WELL, I THINK PEOPLE WHO GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO THAT AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE, YOU KNOW, JUST DON'T, DON'T WANNA SEE A TRIPLEX BUILT NEXT DOOR TO THEM, LIZ OR STAFF.
WILL Y'ALL WALK ME THROUGH WHAT, THERE MIGHT BE A MEETING ON THE SEVENTH THERE, THERE, IT'S ON THE 14TH, BUT IT MIGHT ALSO BE ON THE SEVENTH OR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE SEVENTH AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE 14TH.
IT'S A, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THE SEVENTH.
AND IT HAS BEEN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEETING IS POSTED FOR OR IS IT POSTED FOR THIS? IT IS, IT WOULD, IT IS TO DISCUSS THIS.
YES, AND I WOULD, AND, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, AND IF WE PASS A MOTION ON THE SIXTH, I WOULD APPEAR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UNLESS YOU CHOSE TO DO A CHAIRPERSON ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONSIDERED THIS, AND I WILL READ THIS RESOLUTION, UM, GO, YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? BREMMER OR I MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACT ON THE BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, BUT YOU CAN PRESENT THE RESOLUTION.
I MEAN, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY ACTED.
I WOULD SIMPLY VOLUNTEER TO BE THERE TO READ THE RESOLUTION.
UM, MY INCLINATION IS IF WE, IF THAT COULD BE A PRODUCTIVE USE, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON THE SECOND HALF OF THANKSGIVING ISH MONTH ALSO HERE, SO THAT'S 1, 2, 3 WEEKS, BUT IT'S WILL GONNA COME UP QUICK.
UM, IF THAT WOULD BE A PRODUCTIVE USE OF PEOPLE'S TIME, THEN LET'S DO IT.
UM, IT'S KIND OF MY, NOT NOT WAS SIM SIMILARLY WHAT, WHAT I ENVISIONED WITH HAVING THE WORKING GROUP, UH, ALBEIT RUSH TO GET TO TODAY, BUT, UM, DO, DO, UH, SULLIVAN EINHORN, DO YOU GUYS WANNA DO THAT? UM, YES, I'M WILLING TO AS WELL.
I'D LIKE SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM US TO BE THERE AS WELL.
YOU CLEARLY HAVE THE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS ON THAT WORKING GROUP, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT SUFFICIENT.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
WELL WE, WE NEED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE EAST SIDE.
I COULD DEFINITELY PUT THE WORD OUT FOR SURE.
WE CAN GET SOME ANGRY MOBS SHOWING UP AT, UH, THE URBANIST DOORSTEPS.
PERHAPS FORMER COMMISSIONER AGUIRE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW UP.
WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEBODY'S HERE.
YOU, YOU, YOU KEEP SHOWING UP HERE, YOU'RE GONNA KEEP GETTING VOLUNTOLD DO WHAT TO DO, BUT YES.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE HERE, UH, SITTING HERE OR, OR STANDING UP THERE.
WELL, UH, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, I GUESS FORMALIZE THE WORKING GROUP, UH, AND TRY TO GET A COUPLE MEMBERS OF VARIOUS VIEWS FROM VARIOUS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTS, UH, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE DIALOGUE WE'VE BEEN HAVING AND COME BACK TO THIS, UH, COMMISSION ON THE SIXTH WITH A PRETTY WELL COOKED UP MOTION THAT, UM, WE HOPE WE CAN, UH, GET SOME RESOLUTION ON AND, AND BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT TO COUNSEL IN THE NEXT DAY.
LET ME ASK, UH, KIND OF A QUESTION.
WHAT THE GOAL OF A WORKING GROUP IS, ARE, ARE WE WORKING TOWARDS REACHING A UNANIMOUS DECISION OR A CONSENSUS? IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR UNANIMOUS PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE, YOU'RE GOT BETTER LUCK FINDING LERE, COBS AND UNICORNS, MY FRIEND.
WELL, CONSENSUS I BELIEVE IS THE ANSWER.
WELL, I, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE END GOAL OF THE WHOLE THING.
YEAH, THE WHOLE PROCESS IS, YOU KNOW, IT IT, LET'S SAY THERE'S FIVE PEOPLE ON IT IS THREE TO TWO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
ARE WE LOOKING FOR FOUR TO ONE? I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE THAT HELPS UNDERSTAND HOW WE DISCUSS THE TOPICS AND WHAT WE NEGOTIATE TOWARDS THE FINAL THING, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND, AND SO IF I HAVE A CLEARER GOAL THAT WAY, THEN THAT TELLS ME HOW THINGS UNFOLD.
UH, I, I WOULD SAY, IN MY OPINION, THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKING GROUP IN THE NEXT THREE
[03:35:01]
WEEKS IS TO FIND CONSENSUS WHERE CON WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND, UM, AND COME HAVING HASHED OUT SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS.AND THERE MAY BE ELEMENTS THAT, THAT, THAT FOR INSTANCE, YOU REALLY THINK IS IMPORTANT AND SULLIVAN THINKS IS NOT, DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO RIGHT.
SOME OF THE STUFF WE WALKED THROUGH, AND Y'ALL CAN JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THOSE ELEMENTS.
UM, BUT Y'ALL HAVE WORKED THROUGH SIX OF THE EIGHT AND THEN KIND OF TELL US THAT STORY AND THEN WE, AS A, AS A GROUP, IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE CAME TO THE THING THAT WE COULD HAVE CONSENSUS ON AND CAN SPEAK AS A BODY TO COUNSEL ON.
UM, AND, AND MAYBE THERE'LL BE SOME, WHEREAS ELEMENTS IN THERE ABOUT WHERE WE, WHERE WE COULDN'T COME TO CONSENSUS, BUT WE KNOW WE, WE NEEDED TO SAY SOMETHING AS A BODY.
SO WITH THIS ALSO, UH, AND I'M, I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF, OF THE GROUP.
SO I, I DON'T CARE IN A WAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY.
SO LET'S SAY WE GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND WE SAY, OKAY, THERE'S 10 ITEMS AND WE DISCUSS 'EM, WE SAY, OKAY, WE AGREE ON FIVE, WE DECIDE TWO OF THEM ARE IRRELEVANT, BUT THE LAST THREE WE HAVE STRONG DISAGREEMENT ON.
IS THERE LIKE A MINORITY REPORT ALTERNATIVE THING? LIKE YEAH.
I, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY YES, WE'LL COME AND HAVE THIS SAME DISCUSSION HERE WHERE ANYONE WHO, WHO, IF YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT D DIFFERS FROM THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME OUT AND THIS IS WHAT I DIFFER ON, BUT, BUT I AGREE WITH ENOUGH ELEMENTS TO VOTE FOR IT.
BUT I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE BAD OR THAT I THINK NEED TO BE ADDED, THEN I, I THINK THAT'S FINE.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA SOLVE IT IN THREE WEEKS.
UH, UM, BUT I DO THINK IF WE CAN AT LEAST SPEAK TO SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE AGREE ON, AND MAYBE EVEN SPEAK TO THE ONES THAT WE DON'T AGREE ON AND WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT AND WE'RE TELLING THE COUNCIL THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR EYES ON, THAT'S FINE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT TRYING TO HASH IT OUT IN THE NEXT 12 MINUTES, UM, NO, I UNDERSTAND.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE.
SO I MAKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT'S THE WAY THE, THE, THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO HAVE SOME OF THIS DIALOGUE WITH SOME VARYING PERSPECTIVES AND PARTIES OF, OF DIFFERING OPINIONS AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ELEMENTS OF CONSENSUS, I THINK.
SO I'VE GOT A MOTION OUT THERE.
DOES ANYBODY WANNA SECOND IT? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF LETTING THE WORKING GROUP WORK THROUGH WHAT THEY CAN AGREE ON, WHAT THEY CAN'T AGREE ON, AND COME BACK AND PRESENT TO US MAYBE A REVISED OR, UH, SHINIER, UH, MORE FORMALIZED, UH, MOTION ON OR, OR RESOLUTION I GUESS ON THE SIXTH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT HE BE IN CHARGE SULLIVAN? YEAH.
I JUST DIDN'T WELL, SOMEONE HAS TO BE IN CHARGE.
UM, SO FROM A, FROM A OPERATION STANDPOINT, UM, IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE WORKING GROUP OR YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD IF YOU WERE THERE.
UM, UH, PLEASE TELL KAYLA, TELL TELL SULLIVAN.
KAYLA, YOU DON'T WANNA BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
ILLUMINATI IS KEEPING HER SILENT PROTECTION.
I'M GONNA BE OUT OF THE OFFICE ALL NEXT WEEK.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE A, I WOULD RECOMMEND, UNLESS WE CAN COORDINATE, WE GET MAYBE LIKE A, A HAND COUNT TONIGHT WHO'S INTERESTED SINCE EVERYONE IS HERE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND.
AND THEN THAT WAY THAT'S A STARTING PLACE FOR DAVE.
I THINK IN, IN, IN TERMS OF STAFF SUPPORT, WE CAN SUPPORT TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR BANDWIDTH ALLOWS, BUT ULTIMATELY WORKING GROUPS ARE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT WILL BE BEST IF Y'ALL HAVE A COMMISSIONER.
WHO IS THE, THE MAIN POINT? OKAY.
OUR POLICY IS TYPICALLY THAT STAFF DON'T PARTICIPATE IN WORKING GROUPS UNLESS IT'S, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU NEED US TO BE THERE.
AND IT'S IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, IF STAFF ARE REQUIRED, THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE SCHEDULING ASPECTS.
BUT IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO GET MEETING SPACE, SOMETHING, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP COORDINATE, BUT JUST LET YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY BE ON VACATION ALSO, SO WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THEN TO GET THINGS ORGANIZED.
CALEB, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, SINCE THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE, THERE'S NOT A QUORUM ISSUE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO IF WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE AND DAVE IS IN CHARGE, HE COULD DIRECTLY EMAIL ALL THE FIVE PEOPLE WITHOUT A QUORUM ISSUE.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, BUT THEY COULD NOT TALK TO ANY
[03:40:01]
OTHER MEMBER BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A WALK-IN QUORUM.WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS DOCUMENTS, UM, WHATNOT WITHIN THE WORKING GROUP TO AVOID DOCUMENTS BEING PASSED AROUND BY EMAIL, WHICH COULD CREATE A WALKING QUORUM.
UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED ON, ON THIS MATTER.
AND THEN, BUT AS FAR AS LOGISTICAL, SETTING UP MEETINGS AND COORDINATING THINGS, THAT'S FINE.
DAVE COULD CORRECT EMAIL PEOPLE AND SAY, LET'S MEET TUESDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK AT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS.
AND THAT WOULDN'T CREATE A, A QUORUM ISSUE.
SO JUST MAKE SURE YOU BLIND COPY COMMISSION MEMBERS WILL THERE, BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING THIS TO A PACKED AGENDA AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
WILL THERE BE STAFF AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS OR IS THIS JUST US? WE'RE SMITHING OUR OWN RESOLUTION.
I MEAN WE'VE, ASIDE FROM THIS WATERSHED CREW, UH, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE STAFF THAT ARE LEADING THE HOME AMENDMENTS AND, AND THEY JUST ARE COM THEIR, UM, SCHEDULE IS COMPLETELY PACKED.
THE EARLIEST THEY COULD COME WAS MID-JANUARY, THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
WELL, I HAVE FRIENDS, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY.
I DON'T WANNA BRAG ABOUT IT, BUT
I DO HAVE A FRIEND, HIS NEIGHBOR IS COL 45.
I MEAN, IF THERE ARE CITY STAFF THAT ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE THIS PAST, THEN THEY MAY BE WILLING TO SPEND AN HOUR HELPING.
SO I WOULD SAY AFTER THIS, IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, GO AND CONNECT WITH DAVE AND, UH, YOU'RE IN CHARGE.
UM, AND UH, YEAH, IT'LL BE A BUSY, BUSY DECEMBER.
OH YEAH, WE GOT OTHER STUFF HERE TOO.
[WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES]
WORKING GROUPS, COMMITTEE UPDATES.UH, WE'RE BACK TO BACK TO SEVEN MINUTES HERE.
UM, ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING IN 30 SECONDS? 30 SECONDS.
UM, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, SMART IDEAS.
YEAH, I HAVE, OH, SORRY, I DID KIND OF, KIND OF SKIP OVER THAT DIDN'T RAISE ANY FAST ENOUGH, BUT I DID WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT THE NATIVE LANDSCAPING WORKING GROUP.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN AND I ATTENDED THE FUNCTIONAL GREEN WORKING GROUP.
UM, THE WORKING GROUP WAS REQUESTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT, THE GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE PRO PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE, THE DRAFT FUNCTIONAL GREEN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE CRITERIA FOR, UM, SITES OF AUSTIN WITHIN, WITH ALLOWABLE 80% OR MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, WHEN WE WENT TO THE MEETING, THERE WAS ALREADY AT LEAST ONE OR TWO MEETINGS PREVIOUSLY WHERE THE SCORING SYSTEM HAD ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED.
THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WERE TRYING TO, UM, GET THEIR CURRENT PROJECTS TO MEET THE SCORING MINIMUM AND ALSO HAD THREE CASE STUDIES PROVIDED TO THEM TO REVIEW TO SEE IF THEY CAN MEET THAT MINIMUM SCORE.
UM, SO THE SCORING SYSTEM IS BASED ON LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS, INSIGHT PLANS SUCH AS EXISTING TREES, NEWLY PLANTED TREES, GREEN ROOFS, RAIN GARDENS, CISTERNS, VEGETATED WALLS, GROUND COVER, AND THE ELEMENTS MAY BE LAYERED IN ORDER TO COMPOUND THE FUNCTION AND THE SCORE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDED WHAT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WERE AND THEY WERE TO ACTUALLY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ITEMS IN THE SCORING SYSTEM, SHADE STRUCTURES, PLANTERS, NON-REFLECTIVE BUILDING GLASS SOLAR PANELS.
AND THERE WERE, UH, I THINK THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS, BUT SOME OF THESE, UH, ITEMS OBVIOUSLY FALL UNDERNEATH THE LEAD CERTIFICATION.
AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU KNOW FROM CITY STAFF IF THEY THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE LEGALLY POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE THOSE LEAD CERTIFICATION ITEMS IN THE DRAFT CODE FOR THIS.
UM, THE ATTENDEES HAD CONCERNS THAT CERTAIN SITES WITH ALREADY EXISTING TREES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MEET THE MINIMUM CRITERIA AS A MINIMUM SCORE OR, AND THEN THEY WOULD THEREFORE NOT BE INCENTIVIZED TO IMPROVE UPON THE
[03:45:01]
ECOLOGICAL, UM, CONDITIONS OF THE SITE.SO THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO POTENTIALLY HAVE TWO SCORING SYSTEMS AND THEN ATTENDEES ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT CURRENT SITE PLANS ALREADY, UM, WITH THE PLANTING OF NEW TREES AND THAT TREES ARE NOT SURVIVING A YEAR LATER.
THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE, WE KIND OF ASK ABOUT A LOT AND WE, WE DEFINITELY PUSH FOR MORE TREES.
UM, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY MORE DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
BUT IF CURRENT SITE PLAN INSPECTIONS OCCUR THREE MONTHS AFTERWARDS AND THEN THE TREES ARE DYING A YEAR LATER, UM, I I DO THINK THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERING THAT.
UM, SHE SHERA I'M GONNA INTERRUPT REAL QUICK AND MOVE THAT WE EXTEND TO 10 0 5 SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO, UM, I THINK OVERALL OUR CONCERN SHOULD BE WHEN WE'RE REVIEWING THE, THE DRAFT CODE IS, UH, THE FOCUS ON THE INSPECTION AND THE AUDITING OF THE SUCCESS OF THE LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS AND TRYING TO PUSH FOR THOSE KIND OF MORE LIKE LEAD CERTIFICATION ELEMENTS I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I AM ALSO CURIOUS WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO REVIEW THE, THE DRAFT CODE, UH, LIZ JOHNSTON, I CAN GIVE A BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT POSTED TO DISCUSS THIS AND SO I, I WOULD, UH, ENCOURAGE YOU TO, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS LIKE RELATED TO THE LEAD TO, TO SEND THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE STAFF WHO ARE WORKING ON IT, UM, MATT HOLLAND IN WATERSHED, AND PAMELA ABBY WHO WAS HERE EARLIER, UM, CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
UM, UH, AS FAR AS TIMING, UM, THE HOPE IS TO BRING THIS TO CITY COUNCIL BY, I THINK IN MAY.
AND SO, UM, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE STAKEHOLDER AND, UM, ARE CONSIDERING, UM, THEIR DATES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A DATE YET, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETIME LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING PROBABLY IS MY GUESS.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ITEMS? I HAVE ONE.UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY.
UH, I BELIEVE YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS THEN, OR START THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, STARTING TO THINK ABOUT IT
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THROW SOMETHING INTO THE MIX THEN HAS TO DO WITH, UH, REMEDIATION OF THE POLO FIELD IN ER PARK AND FUNDING TO DO THAT.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT AS AN ITEM IN JANUARY JUST TO, SOMETHING TO THROW IN THE BUDGET, DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL RE RESTORATION OF THE POLO FIELD.
I WAS JUST GONNA HAVE A SECOND, IS THERE A SECOND COMMISSIONER THAT SUPPORTS THAT ITEM? I'LL SECOND THAT.
AND IS THIS AN ITEM THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING STAFF SUPPORT ON FROM PARD? OR, UM, SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE BRINGING FORTH ON YOUR OWN? WELL, I, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST DISCUSS AND SEE IF IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO START A DIALOGUE IS WHAT IT IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER, THEN IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON HERE.
BUT I'M, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT NECESSARY.
I, I'M NOT QUITE, THE REASON I'M A LITTLE BIT VAGUE IS I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THIS WHOLE BUDGET DEAL WORKS 'CAUSE WE'VE NEVER, I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE WHILE WE'VE DONE THIS, SO I'M JUST KIND OF THROWING THIS OUT THERE.
MAYBE BRIMER IF YOU COULD MAYBE TRY TO EMAIL TO, TO LIZ AND, AND KATIE, UH, YOU CAN CC ME IF YOU WANT, UM, KIND OF WHAT YOUR VISION OF THE, THE, THE, THE ITEM WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE REMEDIATION, THE COSTS AND, AND IF THERE'S ELEMENTS OF WHO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COST IS OR WHATEVER.
I'M FOR REHABILITATING COMPLETELY DEGRADED OPEN GREEN SPACE SO I CAN COME UP WITH COST WITHOUT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
UM, BUT YEAH, PUT PUT IT TO WORDS IN AN EMAIL AND THEN THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A STAFF IF THERE'S STAFF THAT, UH, THAT, THAT HAS THAT, UH, EXPERTISE.
BUT YEAH, I CAN PUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN PUT THE INTENT TOGETHER AND OKAY.
RIGHT, AND, AND DIDN'T WE ALREADY PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THIS IN THE FY 25 BUDGET? YEAH, I DON'T REMEMBER
[03:50:01]
DOING THAT, BUT SURE.WELL THEN THERE'S, THEN THEY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A NUMBER FOR THAT, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.
BUT WE HAVE, WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN, WE'VE GIVEN DIRECTION ON THAT MATTER.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT'S GONNA BE, RIGHT.
UM, DOES ANY SMAR SMART, UH, DISCUSSIONS? Y'ALL ALREADY TALKED EARLIER ABOUT SMART VERSUS SMART.
OH YEAH, WE CAN, I CAN TRY TO GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT, BUT, BUT DO YOU WANNA RAISE THAT AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM? YES.
DO YOU WANT SECOND, SECOND STATE EINHORN NOTE? THUMBS UP FOR EINHORN SECOND.
OKAY, WELL, YEAH, SOMETIME AT THE END OF JANUARY, LATE JANUARY, AND WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO PRESENT HERE.
WE, UM, KAYLA, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PARTY, A CHRISTMAS PARTY, A HOLIDAY PARTY ON, UM, DECEMBER 7TH.
UM, ON, NO, THAT'S NOVEMBER, SORRY, 6:00 PM THANK YOU.
I WAS IN NOVEMBER, SO AT 6:00 PM NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 4TH AT 6:00 PM AT MY HOUSE.
A LITTLE BIRD MAY HAVE SENT OUT AN INVITATION THIS EVENING.
SO NOW IS THIS IN LIEU OF, I JUMPED, I JUMPED IN FRONT OF KATIE.
THIS IS, THIS IS THE EVENT, BUT YEAH, SHE'S GONNA SHOW ME UP THIS YEAR.
I DON'T THINK I CAN SHOW YOU UP, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL BE THERE.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I NEED TO, LIKE, WHAT? YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION? WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT POT LOT? IT'S ALL SORTED.
UM, 10 0 3, WE STAND ADJOURNED.
CURRENT AND PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS FOR BEING HERE.