Dec 07, 2023 Special City Council

[Call to Order]

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GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

UH, CALL TO ORDER THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS DECEMBER 7TH, 2023, AND IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

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

AGAIN, I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.

UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION.

AS I INDICATED THIS IS A SPECIAL COLD MEETING.

IT IS A SPECIAL COLD MEETING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHAT HAS BEEN GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS THE PROPOSED HOME ORDINANCE.

LET ME EXPLAIN HOW WE'LL PROCEED DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

FIRST, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE AUSTIN CITY STAFF, UH, FOR QUICK REMARKS BY CITY STAFF ON THE AGENDA ITEM THAT'S BEFORE US.

THEN I WILL ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LAY OUT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT THEY MAY BE PROPOSING LATER IN THE DAY, OR, UH, WHEN WE TAKE UP THE ITEM.

UH, WE'RE DOING THAT SO THAT THOSE OF YOU IN THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE TRANSPARENCY OF KNOW WHAT, KNOWING WHAT WE WILL BE CONSIDERING, UH, IN TOTO AS BEST WE CAN AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MEANING BOTH THE, OR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

UH, WE'LL JUST LAY THOSE OUT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEM.

UM, I WOULD ALSO INDICATE THAT TO, TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL, IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY TOLD STAFF, UH, WHAT THOSE, WHAT YOU MAY NEED, WHO YOU MAY NEED TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE'S HERE, UH, TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE.

ONCE WE LAY OUT THOSE AMENDMENTS, WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE WISHING TO SPEAK.

EACH PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, AS I INDICATED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

PEOPLE MAY DONATE TIME TO SOMEONE SO THAT A SINGLE SPEAKER CAN SPEAK UP TO SIX MINUTES.

IF YOU'RE DONATING TIME, PLEASE SEE THE CITY CLERK OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT, TO YOUR LEFT, TO COMPLETE A TIME DONATION FORM IN ADVANCE SO THAT WE CAN BE ORGANIZED.

THE DONORS OF TIME MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE TIME.

UH, THE PERSON TO WHOM THEY'VE DONATED TIME IS, UH, GOING TO BE SPEAKING AGAIN, DUE TO, I, I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE I CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER, BUT LET'S, LET'S GO OVER A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, UH, WHICH IS ACROSS THE ATRIUM HERE, IT WILL BE USED AS AN OVERFLOW ROOM.

SO IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN, UH, PEOPLE CAN BE THERE, UH, AND WATCH AND, AND, AND KNOW WHAT ORDER WE'RE GOING IN.

A TXN WILL BE STREAMING THE MEETING IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, AS WELL AS, UM, SO THAT YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP.

SPEAKERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THE ORDER OF UPCOMING SPEAKERS AT THE KIOSK OUTSIDE THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

BUT I DO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE SYSTEM.

DUE TO THE VOLUME OF SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF LAG TIME.

WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS THAT ARE SET UP, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN ACT IN A, A, AN EFFICIENT MANNER AND, UH, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK LATER IN THE DAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.

UH, AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL CALL NAMES, UH, MORE THAN ONE NAME AT A TIME WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, NOT WHEN YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BE YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, BECAUSE WE, WE, AGAIN, WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE FOLLOWING YOU, AND WE WANNA MOVE WITH SOME EFFICIENCY.

AND THE REASON WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO, WHICH IS JUST ONE PODIUM, IS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ALTERNATE AND BY ALTERNATING, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR SPEAKERS, UH, IN A MORE ROUTINE FASHION.

A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

ONE IS, I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I WANNA SAY IT AGAIN.

OUR RULES ALLOW FOR SIGNS, UH, AND IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, AS I INDICATED, WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE LAX ON THAT IN THE, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BUT THE REASON WE DO THAT, PARTICULARLY ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHERE WE HAVE, UH, A FULL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO SEE AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

AND IF SIGNS ARE HELD UP, UH, SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, AND WE

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SO I WOULD ASK THAT AND, AND WE'LL ENFORCE, PLEASE DON'T PUT SIGNS IN SEATS WHERE YOU'RE BLOCKING A SEAT FROM SOMEBODY, AND PLEASE DON'T HOLD SIGNS IN A WAY THAT YOU'RE BLOCKING SOMEONE'S VIEW OF THE DAIS AS THEY ARE HERE ALSO TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING.

WE'RE ALSO, UH, ASKING THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALL COME UP AND GATHER BEHIND THE PODIUM.

IF SOMEONE IS CALLED ON TO SPEAK, LET THAT PERSON COME FORWARD AND LET THAT PERSON SPEAK.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE MAY BE SOME, UM, UH, EXCEPTIONS TO THAT.

IF, IF SOMEONE COMES UP AND THEY HAVE A, A CHILD WITH THEM OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, OR DEMONSTRATIONS AROUND THE PODIUM AREN'T GOING TO BE ALLOWED BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY IN AN EFFICIENT AND ROUTINE MANNER.

UH, IF YOU ARE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING, UH, YOU HAVE SPOKEN AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPEN UP A SEAT FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO SPEAK AFTER YOU, UH, I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU BE COURTEOUS TO THE SPEAKERS FOLLOWING YOU, AND YOU OPEN UP THAT SEAT SO THAT OTHERS MAY MOVE INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT COVERS EVERYTHING.

I WILL, UM, UH, MAKE A FEW COMMENTS JUST BEFORE WE START THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PART, BUT I WILL NOW CALL UPON,

[1. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) that would allow up to three housing units, including tiny homes, on single-family (SF) zoned property; revise regulations that apply to a property with two housing units; and remove restrictions on the number of unrelated adults living in a housing unit.]

UH, MAYOR COUNSEL, WE HAVE, UH, VERONICA ENO, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT'S IN, UH, CHARGE OF THIS ITEM, AND SHE WILL BE MAKING A BRIEF PRESENTATION, THEN TURN IT OVER TO THE STAFF FOR ADDITIONAL DETAIL.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

THANK YOU.

VERONICA ENO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

I FIRST WANNA START BY THANKING STAFF.

I DID THIS LAST TIME AT WORK SESSION, BUT I WANNA ECHO THAT.

THANKS.

STAFF HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO GET TO THIS POINT.

THEY HAVE WORKED THROUGH A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE TO GET ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND SO FORTH.

SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF OUR STAFF HERE TODAY, BUT THEY'RE STANDING BEFORE MANY BEHIND US, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR STAFF.

TODAY IS THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO RESIDENTIAL USES AND STANDARDS IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, INCLUDING PHASE ONE OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.

THE POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BEGAN THIS PAST SUMMER WHEN COUNSEL ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS THAT CALLED FOR THE CODE AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU TODAY, COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON OCTOBER 26TH.

ON NOVEMBER 14TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE PROPOSAL WITH A VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS.

TWO, THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO SET A, A MAXIMUM FLORIDA AREA RATIO OR FAR FOR TWO AND THREE UNIT DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE MCMA MCMANSION AREA TO REDUCE THE SIZE UNITS AND TO CREATE THE PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY BONUSES TO ENCOURAGE HOMEOWNERS TO KEEP ALL OR PART OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE ON A LOT.

STAFF DESCRIBED THESE AND OTHER PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS DURING A WORK SESSION LAST WEEK ON NOVEMBER 28TH, OVER THE WEEKEND, STAFF PROVIDED A MEMO WITH INFORMATION AND OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

I WON'T DESCRIBE THOSE IN DETAIL NOW, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF NEEDED.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS PLAN TO OFFER AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSAL.

STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS YOU DISCUSS OPTIONS TO IMPROVE THE, THE PROPOSAL.

WE HAVE STAFF HERE FROM PLANNING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AUSTIN, FIRE WATERSHED PROTECTION, AUSTIN WATER, AND AUSTIN ENERGY.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ANY DEPARTMENTS THAT I HAVEN'T NAMED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT STAFF ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THESE IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? OKAY.

WHAT I WILL DO NEXT IS, AS I INDICATED SO THAT WE WILL HAVE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT ALL IS BEING CONSIDERED AND THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW AS WE GO FORWARD ON THOSE MEMBERS.

I'M GOING TO CALL UPON INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS THAT I KNOW HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SO THAT YOU CAN JUST LAY OUT THE AMENDMENT SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW WHAT THAT PROPOSED AMENDMENT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE BASIS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS.

AND, UM, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UM, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, I JUST OPENED MY, MY NOTEBOOK.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD PUT THOSE AMENDMENTS UP ON THE SCREEN SO THAT THOSE AT HOME COULD SEE THEM IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY, AND THEN THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE COULD AS WELL.

WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, THANKS.

AND SO WE CAN EITHER NOT PUT 'EM UP OR WE CAN DO 'EM LATER WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE.

UH, BUT I, SO WHAT I'LL, WHAT I'LL DO IS I WILL ASK STAFF TO WORK ON,

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AND FOR NOW, JUST ASK THAT COUNCIL, LAY OUT THE AMENDMENTS.

DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU.

GOOD, GOOD.

UH, AND MAYBE WE REMIND THEM THEY'RE ALSO ON THE MESSAGE BOARD SO THAT THEY CAN VIEW THEM THERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, YOU MAYOR.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD REMINDER.

UM, YEAH, I'M SITTING UP HERE.

I'M NOT GONNA FOLLOW YOUR RULE FAULT.

WELL, I'M SORRY.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO THE DEAL.

THIS DUDE, DANIEL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SORRY, SIR.

YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

BUILD THE HOUSE.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

AND I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU BE EXCUSED FROM THE, THE CHAMBERS.

WE'RE NOT GONNA START THIS WAY, SIR.

PAUL, PLEASE, PLEASE ESCORT HIM.

YOU DON'T GET THAT THOUGH.

YOU DON'T GET THAT.

I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

A PROBLEM.

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE HURT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

PLEASE.

THAT'S GOING, MAN.

THIS THING IS WRONG, MAN.

PLEASE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

I'M SORRY.

PLEASE ENFORCE OUR RULES AND THAT'S F****D UP.

PLEASE.

I'M GOING.

COME ON FOLKS.

YOU MESSED UP.

THAT'S THE DEAL.

AND THAT'S THE DEAL ON YOU, MAN.

Y'ALL ME LAYING OUT.

DON'T COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GONNA ASK YOU, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO LAY OUT YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU.

MAYOR CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I, I HAVE, UH, THREE AMENDMENTS.

ALL I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS KIND OF TWEAKS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, VERSION, UM, THE AMENDMENT, UH, ONE MOTION SHEET NUMBER ONE, WHICH HAS BEEN, UH, PASSED OUT TO EVERYONE.

UH, CHANGES THE, I'D SAY SIMPLIFIES THE, UH, UH, FLOOR AREA RATIO.

THE FAR CALCULATIONS, UH, THE CURRENT FAR CALCULATIONS INCLUDE, UH, A SERIES OF COMPLICATED, UH, EXCEPTIONS AND ARE KIND OF DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER.

THIS PROVIDES JUST A SIMPLE AND CLEAN DEFINITION FOR FLORAL AREA, UH, RATIO.

UH, IT ALSO DOES, UH, IT PUSHES UP THE, UH, MAXIMUM FAR FOR A 0.65 UNIT, UH, TO, UH, 43 50, OR I SHOULD SAY THE MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE FROM, UH, 37 50 SQUARE FEET TOTAL TO 43 50 SQUARE FEET TOTAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THREE UNIT CONFIGURATIONS ON SMALLER LOTS HAVE, UH, ENOUGH, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE.

UH, AND THEN IT, UH, AND THEN IT ADJUSTS THE, UH, TWO EXISTING DWELLING UNITS.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A DISTINCTION IN, UH, THE CURRENT VERSION WHERE, UH, THE TWO, UH, UNIT FORMATION, THE DUPLEX FORMATION GETS 0.5 FAR IN ONE, UH, PORTION OF THE, UH, ORDINANCE AND 0.55 IN THE OTHER.

AND WE JUST, UH, MAKE BOTH OF THOSE 0.55.

SO IF YOU'RE DOING TWO UNITS, REGARDLESS OF OF OF WHAT THE HISTORY OR, OR OR SITUATION IS, YOU GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF, UH, FAR.

THAT'S, UH, MOTION SHEET NUMBER ONE.

UH, MOTION SHEET NUMBER TWO DEALS WITH THE MINIMUM FRONT YARD SETBACK.

UM, CURRENTLY, UH, CITYWIDE IT'S, UH, 25 FOOT SETBACK FOR THE MCMANSION AREA.

IT IS A COMPLICATED CALCULATION WHERE YOU, IT'S THE AVERAGE OF A MULTIPLE UNITS.

THAT'S, AGAIN, A VERY DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER.

FOLKS HAVE TO HIRE A SURVEYOR, GO OUT AND MEASURE THE, THE FRONT, UH, SETBACKS ON THE, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY THE BLOCK.

AND THEN TAKE THE AVERAGE, WE, UH, CHANGE IT TO A STANDARD 15 FOOT, UH, SET MINIMUM FRONT YARD SETBACK.

UH, THAT WAY THE HOUSES CAN BE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE CURB.

AND THAT GIVES PEOPLE, AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGNING, UH,

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UM, I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT ON, UH, REDUCING THE, UH, FRONT YARD SETBACK, UH, WE WILL REDUCE IMPERVIOUS COVER.

UH, A BIG CHUNK OF IMPERVIOUS COVER IS THE DRIVEWAY, YOU KNOW, THE DRIVEWAY, THE FARTHER BACK THE DRIVEWAY HAS TO GO TO THE HOUSE.

THE MORE CONCRETE WE HAVE TO, UH, POUR IN ORDER FOR THAT DRIVEWAY TO REACH THE, THE, THE HOUSE.

SAME THING WITH THE, UH, THE SIDEWALK.

SO BY MOVING THE HOUSES UP CLOSER TO THE FRONT OF THE STREET, THERE'S GONNA BE LESS DRIVEWAY AND THUS, UH, LESS, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER, THE LAST ONE IS ALSO INVOLVES A, UH, A, UH, SETBACK.

ALTHOUGH THIS ONE IS, UH, CHANGING THE SETBACKS FOR A STREET SIDE, UH, A STREET SIDE YARD SETBACK, MEANING WHERE A HOUSE FRONT IS A CORNER HOUSE WHERE IT FRONTS THE, UH, STREET, BUT THEN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE FRONTS A SIDE STREET.

UH, RIGHT NOW THE, UH, SETBACK ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE THAT IS ON THE SIDE STREET IS 15 FEET.

UH, WE ARE REDUCING IT TO FIVE FEET.

UM, THIS AMENDMENT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW CORNER, LOTS TO HAVE FRONT FACING TO IN, TO HAVE, ESSENTIALLY, WHEN YOU DO THREE UNITS ON A CORNER LOT, YOU WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO HAVE THREE STREET FACING UNITS.

IF WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO GET A CLOSER TO THE, UH, SIDE STREET SETBACK, BASICALLY ON CERTAIN LOTS, IT WILL HELP THAT ALIGNMENT SO THAT ALL THE HOUSES HAVE SOME, UH, STREET, UH, FRONTAGE.

THOSE ARE MY THREE AMENDMENTS.

MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MAYOR, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ON AMENDMENTS, WHEN DO YOU WANT US TO TAKE THOSE? WHEN WE BRING 'EM UP? OKAY.

UM, I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MAYOR.

THANKS.

UM, I AM BRINGING ONE AMENDMENT THAT MAINTAINS OUR STANDARD ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT GIVES STAFF 60 DAYS, THE 60 DAYS THEY NEED TO SHAPE THEIR PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATIONS.

AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

I POSTED THIS AMENDMENT AND AN UPDATE FROM LEGAL TO THE MESSAGE BOARD.

THE AMENDMENT IS RELATED TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE HOME ORDINANCE, GIVING CITY DEPARTMENTS ENOUGH TIME TO DEVELOP THEIR PROCESSES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

I MAKE MINE REALLY QUICK.

UH, WE'RE BRINGING A HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, MY AMENDMENT ENSURE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF.

UM, ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRESERVATION BONUS, IT ADDRESSES STAFF'S MEMO OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT IT WAS RELEASED LAST FRIDAY.

AND I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW VALUABLE THIS PRESERVATION BONUSES TO OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT NINE, PRESERVING EXISTING STRUCTURES FURTHERS THE CITY'S AFFORDABILITY, UM, CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND CLIMATE GOALS BY DIVERTING CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS FROM THE LANDFILL.

SO I BELIEVE THIS AMENDMENT WILL HELP ENSURE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT THIS MORNING TO HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD.

UM, I POSTED ONE AMENDMENT, UM, RELATED TO SHORT, SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

UH, VERSION TWO HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED WITH SOME ADDITIONAL EDITS FROM LAW, UM, AS POSTED, UH, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD EXPAND SHORT-TERM RENTALS BEYOND OUR EXISTING LIMITS AND ALLOW A HUNDRED PERCENT OF NEWLY DEVELOPED SITE UNDER THIS USE TO BE A MULTI-UNIT.

SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

WHILE I BELIEVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN CREATING THE VIBRANT AND HOSPITABLE CITY THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE, I DON'T TYPICALLY HEAR THE CONCERN RAISED IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE TOO FEW SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

GIVEN THAT I WOULD PREFER THAT ANY EXPANSION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS BE CONSIDERED MORE COMPREHENSIVELY, RATHER THAN USING THIS ITEM AS A VEHICLE TO CHANGE OUR EXISTING LIMITS ON THIS USE, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH INCOME INVESTOR DRIVEN USE OF OUR LIMITED HOUSING STOCK DOES NOT, IN MY ESTIMATION FURTHER OUR HOUSING SUPPLY GOALS.

UM, WHAT WE ASKED LAW TO DRAFT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD KEEP, UM, THE SDR RULES, UM, THE SAME AS WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS IN YOUR BACKUP.

UM, SECONDLY, I HAD REALLY HOPED THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD PUT FORWARD SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT OUR STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED THAT WOULD IMPROVE, UM, THE PROPOSAL.

UM, SEEING THAT THOSE ARE NOT ON OFFER, I'LL BE WORKING WITH STAFF TO PREPARE, UM, SOME OF THOSE AMENDMENTS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, UM, ONE THAT DOES ALTERNATIVE ONE WITH RESPECT TO THE FAR THAT EXEMPTS, UM, GARAGES, UM, WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE TO THE FAR, UM, WE, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE DO THAT.

IT HAS A BIG

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UM, AND ALSO FOR THE FRONT SETBACK FOLLOWING WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDED WITH RESPECT TO THE PORCH.

UM, I ALSO WILL HAVE AN AMENDMENT ADDING, UM, SOME REQUESTS FOR DATA TO WATSON'S AMENDMENT FOR THE STUDY, UM, RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT SIZE UNITS WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING FROM, UM, THIS PROPOSAL.

UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAY, UM, SINCE WE'LL HAVE A LONG TIME, MAY FASHION SOME OTHER AMENDMENTS ALONG THE WAY THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

OH, LET'S SEE.

THERE WE GO.

SORRY, I GET A HELPER TODAY.

THERE YOU ARE.

UM, .

OH, SO I HAVE AN AMENDMENT RELATED TO TREE PRESERVATION.

SO WHAT THIS WILL DO IS LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT TREES ON A LOT ARE PRESERVED THROUGH A VARIETY OF, OF OPTIONS, WHETHER IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE OR POTENTIALLY ALLOWING SOMEBODY TO BUILD A LITTLE BIT INTO THE SETBACK.

IF THEY'RE AVOIDING A TREE, UH, STAFF'S GOING TO MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND COME BACK TO US IN MARCH SO THAT WE CAN PRESERVE OUR TREE CANOPY.

THAT'S IT.

THANK, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK Y'ALL.

UH, MEMBERS, UH, I'LL END THIS PART OF OUR PROGRAM WITH, UM, LAYING OUT AN AMENDMENT THAT I WILL OFFER.

UH, I PUT THIS UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND, UH, PUT UP A RED LINE VERSION.

BUT, UH, WITH A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STUDYING THE DATA AND THE EFFECTS AND IMPACTS OF SUCH AN AN ACTION.

AND SO MY, UH, MOTION TO AMEND WOULD INCLUDE THAT WE RECEIVE AT A MINIMUM THE FOLLOWING THINGS IN A REPORT STARTING THREE MONTHS, AND THEN SIX MONTHS, AND THEN A, UH, THREE, I'M SORRY, SIX MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS AND A YEAR.

AND THEN, UH, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS, DATA METRICS FOR ENACTING THE INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE NUMBER OF PERMITS APPLIED FOR AND REQUESTED.

UNDER THIS, THE NUMBER OF DEMOLITION PERMITS, MARKETING ANALYSIS RELATED TO HOUSING PRICES AND THE PRICE OF THE VARIOUS, UH, TYPES OF UNITS.

ALSO RELATED TO GEOGRAPHIC IMPACT OF THIS ORDINANCE, DOING AN ANALYSIS OF THE GEOGRAPHIC IMPACT, A ANALYSIS, AND PROVIDING DATA ON WITH REGARD TO POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND UTILIZING DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.

UH, IT WILL ALSO SEEK AN ANALYSIS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND THEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT VARIOUS PLANS OF THE, THE CITY, SUCH AS THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, THE WATER FORWARD PLAN, AND FORWARD, AS I INDICATED.

UM, IT WOULD ALSO DO A COMPARISON OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS SO THAT THE DATA ALLOWS FOR A COMPARISON, UH, WHERE WE CAN MAKE DETERMINATIONS ABOUT ACTUAL IMPACT.

WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE, UH, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO ASK, UH, FOR HELP IN NAVIGATING THAT.

UH, THE FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, UH, WANTING SPANISH TRANSLATION TRANSLATION FROM, UH, SPANISH.

SO WE WILL HEAR THOSE, UH, FOLKS FIRST.

THEN WE WILL GO TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE IN-PERSON.

SPEAKERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR HELPING US OUT.

OKAY, MAYOR, THE FIRST SPEAKER, UM, IS REMOTE, BUT HE HAS NOT, UM, CALLED IN.

SO I WILL GO TO IN PERSON M RODRIGUEZ.

TONYA VASQUEZ FOLLOWING IS AMANDA CARILLO.

YOU WANT HER EITHER WAY? YES, I'M SORRY.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

MM-HMM? VASQUEZ.

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE HERE.

MY NAME IS ANTONIO VASQUEZ.

I'VE LIVED IN, IN THE EAST AUSTIN FOR OVER 60 YEARS.

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I, I MOVE SLOWLY, BUT HERE I AM.

MM-HMM, .

I WORK FOR AUSTIN SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND I'M BEING RETIRED FOR THREE YEARS, AND I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE RESTING NOW, BUT, UH, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

YEAH.

AND I WANT YOU, SO HERE I AM, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT EVERY TIME THAT I COME HERE TO SPEAK UP, THIS IS THE HEART THAT I HAVE WITH ME.

UH, THIS IS THE COLOR OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WHERE YOU WILL BE ROLL OVER AND WILL BE DISPLACED, AND, AND YOU WILL CON GO ON, UH, IN ANY CASE, RIGHT? MM-HMM, , MY FAMILY HAS A PROPERTY AND A HOUSE AND A PROPERTY THERE.

AND NOW WE'RE FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THE MONEY TO REALLY SPREAD AND COVER THE BASIC NEEDS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HOME IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE, THE HOUSING CRISIS AND IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, UH, FOR MIDDLE CLASS HOME SOLO, AS HOME WILL ONLY DE UH, ACCELERATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS.

UH, LOW INCOME PROPERTY OWNERS, HOME PRE COST, UH, HOME WILL INCREASE, UH, OR, OR, OR TAXES, UH, THE RENT.

AND IT WILL ALSO, UH, PROFIT, UH, THE DEVELOPERS THAT WILL BE, UH, BUILDING FOR, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY WEALTHY, HOME DOESN'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THERE IS, UH, UH, IT IS SUCCESSFUL FOR LOW INCOME, UH, UH, FOR LOW, FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

MAYOR.

MAYOR, JUST A MOMENT.

UH, JUST, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS THE DELAY WITH THE TRANSLATION, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE HER THOUGHT.

WELL, SHE WAS GIVEN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS IF THERE'S TRANSLATION, THEY'RE GIVEN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TIME, SO SHE GOT THE ADDITIONAL THANK YOU.

SO YES.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

RODRIGUEZ.

OH, AMANDA CARILLO.

THAT'S GOOD.

SUSANNA, IF WE, IF YOU CAN REMAIN HERE IN CASE, UM, THE REMOTE SPEAKER CALLS IN.

THANK YOU.

UM, I'LL PROCEED TO, IN, I MEAN, UH, REMOTE SPEAKERS.

RUTH LAUER.

THERE IS A DELAY WITH THE, HELLO? I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M GONNA TURN PHONE OFF.

SORRY.

OKAY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS RUTH LAUER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.

I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE HOME INITIATIVE.

I SUPPORT EFFORTS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT AUSTIN.

HOWEVER, THE HOME INITIATIVE WILL DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.

[00:30:01]

SOME TOWNS HAVE TRIED SIMILAR INITIATIVES.

MINNEAPOLIS, BASTROP, PORTLAND, HOUSTON.

THEY'VE FOUND THAT, UM, THIS INCREASES THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASES EXPENSIVE HOUSING FOR NEW PEOPLE WITH MORE MONEY MOVING INTO THE AREA, BUT DOES NOTHING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ALSO KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE TRIED TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN, AND HIS PROJECT ENDED UP, UM, BEING SOLD ON THE COUNTY STEPS.

UH, I THINK THAT THIS WILL DO A LOT FOR DEVELOPERS.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE MONEY.

I CAN, WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR HOUSING IN AUSTIN.

I CAN SEE MAYBE DOING SOMETHING IN THE CENTER OF TOWN LIKE THIS OR WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF TRANSPORT CORRIDORS.

BUT OTHERWISE, I THINK THIS IS JUST GONNA CREATE A BIG MESS.

I'M SORRY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THE HOUSING MARKET IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF MARKETS.

IT'S DRIVEN BY COSTS, AND AS LONG AS PEOPLE HAVE MONEY, THEY'RE GONNA OUTBID EVERY, ALL THE AFFORDABLE, UH, THINGS.

I REALLY REQUEST THE CITY TO STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING FOR OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS, OUR RETAIL WORKERS, AND OTHERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I DO, I TOTALLY OPPOSE THIS INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ALEXANDRIA MAYOR.

HELLO, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, IT'S GOOD TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.

I'M SPEAKING IN, IN FAVOR OF THE HOME INITIATIVE WHERE AUSTIN, I'VE BEEN SEEING AUSTIN'S HOUSING CRISIS GROW MORE SEVERE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS.

HOME.

I, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, WILL BE ABLE TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK, WELL TURN BACK THE PROGRESS OF AN, OF GROWING HOUSING PRICES.

IT ISN'T A GOOD STEP TOWARDS ACTUALLY MAKING THINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANI KIZZY, PLEASE UNMUTE.

LYNN SPROG.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, LYNN HERE.

I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT, AND I AM CALLING IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE HOME INITIATIVE.

UM, I FEEL VERY CLEARLY THAT THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THE, UM, HOUSING CRISIS IN AUSTIN, AND THAT WE NEED SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY CENTERING OUR MOST AT RISK NEIGHBORS, UM, FOR DISPLACEMENT AND NOT SOLUTIONS THAT WILL JUST BE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO DEVELOPERS' POCKETS.

SO I URGE YOU TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.

UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU ALSO, IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR THE COUNCIL TO ISSUE A RESOLUTION, UM, FOR THE CEASEFIRE AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I BELIEVE THIS IS AMANDA CARILLO.

GOOD MORNING.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? DO LET ME ASK A QUESTION.

ARE ARE, DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU NEED A WANT TRANSLATION? NO.

OKAY.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT, YES.

SO THAT THE, THE SPANISH SPEAKER COMMUNITY CAN UNDERSTAND.

YES.

OKAY.

YES.

SO I'M GONNA SPEAK IN ENGLISH IF YOU CAN TRANSLATE FOR ME, PLEASE.

NO, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE THEN.

I DON'T NEED TRANSLATION THEN.

IS SHE THEN SHE'S OUT OF ORDER.

I'M SORRY.

YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

WE, WE HAD, YOUR NAME WAS CALLED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE YOU, YOU NEEDED OR WANTED A SPANISH TRANSLATOR SO THAT YOU COULD SPEAK SPANISH.

OH, NO, SIR.

I DO NOT NEED, SO WE'LL CALL ON YOU, UH, WHEN WE GET TO PEOPLE IN PERSON.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JEREMY HENDRICKS.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

I'M JEREMY HENDRICKS WITH THE LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION.

I REPRESENT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO BUILD THIS BOOMING CITY, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M ALSO A RECENTLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE WINDSOR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HOME ACT THAT WILL HELP CREATE MORE HOUSING

[00:35:01]

AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING TERRIBLY WITH RISING RENTS AND MORTGAGES, SADLY.

AND I'M ALSO LEADER WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADES, THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, WHICH HAVE BOTH ENDORSED ITS IMPORTANT MEASURE BECAUSE OUR MEMBERS NEED IT.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS.

BUT SADLY, OUR MEMBERS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

THEY PROUDLY WORK TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FOR THEIR AGING PARENTS.

AND SADLY, THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS MAKING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND THE SKILLED WORKERS NEEDED TO KEEP OUR BUILDING BOOM GOING.

SO THE NEED FOR THE THE PASSAGE OF THE HOME ACT IS CRITICAL AND URGENT.

TO ADDRESS THIS SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOME IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN MAKING OWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE AND REVERSING THE RISING COST OF HOUSING.

THE PRICES OUR MEMBERS OUT OF THIS MARKET.

WE IN LABOR, ARE ALARMED BY THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE AVERAGE SALARY AND THE COST OF HOMES, WHICH THREATENS THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH OF OUR CITY.

WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT AS MORE MEMBERS ARE FORCED TO MOVE FURTHER OUT OF AUSTIN, THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE AND CHOOSE THE LEADERS AND POLICIES, POLICIES THAT ACCURATELY REFLECT THEIR VALUES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE LOSING THE BEATING HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE LOSE OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR EMS WORKERS, OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, OUR CITY WORKERS, OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AND OTHERS WHO SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN, IN, OR NEAR AUSTIN.

THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE AND THRIVE HERE AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AS NEIGHBORS, AS HOMEOWNERS.

AND WE MUST TAKE THIS ACTION, UH, BY PASSING THE HOME ACT.

SO PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO GIVE THE HOME ACT YOUR FULL SUPPORT AND WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION TO MAKE THIS CITY, UH, A CITY FOR EVERYONE.

AND I ALSO APPRECIATE MAYOR ADLER, OR EXCUSE ME, MAYOR WATSON'S ADDITIONAL, UH, AMENDMENT TO ADD, UH, THE, UM, THE RESEARCH ALONG THE WAY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THIS IS WORKING FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS M SHAW.

YES, I OPPOSE THE HOME PLAN, WHICH WILL CAUSE NOT DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND SHRUGS IN A GREEDY RUSH TO MAKE PILES OF MONEY WHERE AMERICAN FOR GREEDY, I GREEDY PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY AS THEY CAN.

AND THIS IS A BIG BOONDOGGLE FOR ALL OF US WHO OWN PROPERTY.

RIGHT NOW.

ALL THIS DESTRUCTION WILL ALSO INCREASE FLOODING.

YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER FLOOD PLAIN DESIGNATIONS, BUT HUH AT LEAST WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE MOST LITIGIOUS PEOPLE.

AMERICAN, WELL, WHITE AMERICANS ARE THE MOST LITIGIOUS PEOPLE ON EARTH.

AND EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS EVER RECEIVED A FLOOD CLAIM DESIGNATION WHO DOES NOT LIVE ON THE COAST, HAS SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THAT, INCLUDING PEOPLE IN UNIVERSITY HILLS, WHICH IS WHERE I OWN A PROPERTY AND HAVE OWNED IT FOR 30 YEARS.

THAT PROPERTY IS A HAVEN FOR BIRDS, TREES, WILD FLOWERS.

I THOUGHT THE CITY SUCCESSFULLY THIS SUMMER TO BE ALLOWED TO KEEP A YARD FULL OF WILD FLOWERS OUT FRONT BURDEN.

THESE ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR SURVIVAL AS SPECIES.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS FLOODING AND UNIVERSITY HILL.

WHAT THERE HAS BEEN STANDING WATER 18 INCHES DEEP AT LEAST 200 TIMES IN 30 YEARS IN MY BACKYARD.

IN THIS PARTICULAR DROUGHTY CENTURY, I'VE HAD LITTLE WALNUT CREEK 15 FEET UP THE INCLINE IN MY FRONT YARD.

THE CREEK BOTH FLOWED OVER THE BRIDGE BY WILLAMETTE AND MISPRONOUNCED WILLAMETTE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FLOWED UP THROUGH STORM DRAINS.

STILL, I'M NOT IN THE FLOODPLAIN IN THE LATE NINETIES.

I KNOW ONE HOUSE.

WELL, I I'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT.

PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FLOODPLAIN DESIGNATION IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SAYING THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THE FLOODPLAIN DESIGNATION IS COMPLETELY DISINGENUOUS, MEANINGLESS.

WE ARE SLASH FLOOD ALLEY AND ALL OF AUSTIN THANK YOU IS DOWNSTREAM FROM SOMETHING.

THANK YOU.

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THAT ARE DRY MOST OF THE TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA CURRY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

I'M AGAINST THIS INITIATIVE IN ITS CURRENT FORM AS IT OFFERS NO PROTECTIONS TO CURRENT HOMEOWNERS AND WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE HOMEOWNER'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES, HURTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AND LOWEST INCOME PROPERTY OWNERS BY PUSHING THEM OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THE WORKPLACES OF THE POPULATION TO WHICH YOU CLAIM TO BE TRYING TO PROVIDE ADDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS ARE ALL OVER THE CITY.

SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL OFFICES SERVE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THIS INITIATIVE HAS TO INCLUDE LIMITS TO INCREASE DENSITY PER BLOCK, SQUARE MILE A NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THOSE LIMITS SHOULD NOT BE EXCEEDED IN ANY AREA UNTIL REED

[00:40:01]

ADDED DEVELOPMENTS ON THE SIDE, UM, WITHOUT ONSITE PARKING SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY AT NO COST.

ALLOW THAT BLOCK TO ENROLL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING PROGRAM AND PERMITS ISSUES TIED TO STREET FRONTAGE OF EACH LOT ISSUES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD HALT NEW PERMITS UNTIL ISSUE RESOLVED.

AUSTIN ENERGY IS YEARS BEHIND ON SERVICE LINE UPGRADES TO SERVE CURRENT DEMAND.

AUSTIN ENERGY JUST REMOVED THE PAGE ON UPGRADING.

NORTH AUSTIN'S 50-YEAR-OLD LINES THAT RUN OVER MY HOME.

I PRESUME TO AVOID ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ATTENTION TO A PROJECT THAT MORE THAN DOUBLES THE TRANSMISSION CAPACITY, BUT IS YEARS BEHIND IN COMPLETING.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OFTEN NEEDS TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM APPRAISAL VALUES ON LOSS BEING RAISED BASED ON POTENTIAL HIGHEST AND BEST USE WHEN A HOMEOWNER IS NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF UP ZONING.

POTENTIAL VALUE ON SPECULATIVE USE SHOULD NOT INCREASE TAXATION ON A PROPERTY UNTIL OR IF EVER REALIZED THE TAXABLE VALUE OF A SINGLE FAMILY LOT SHOULD NOT INCREASE BASED ON UNREALIZED POTENTIAL USE.

AND CHASE HOMEOWNERS OUT OF AUSTIN BY RAISING THEIR TAXES BEYOND THEIR MEANS.

STRUGGLING.

HOMEOWNERS CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UPZONING ENTITLEMENTS TO ADD AN A DU OR DUPLEX TO THEIR HOME.

THEY WILL JUST BE TAXED OUTTA THEIR HOME, POTENTIALLY THE ONLY GENERATIONAL WEALTH THEIR FAMILY HAS.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SIGNED BAFFLED BY THE CONCENTRATION ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS TO MEET THIS MIDDLE HOUSING NEED.

USING HOUSTON AS A MODEL OR EXAMPLE, HOUSTON AT LEAST MADE AN ALLOWANCE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS TO OPT OUT BLOCK BY BOX.

AND IN THE END, THANK YOU SPEAKER.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED USED BY MANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEY DID LEAST MAYOR.

IF I MAY MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

WE ARE RECEIVING PHONE CALLS FROM PHONE NUMBERS THAT ARE NOT ON OUR, UH, FINAL SPEAKER LIST, UM, THAT WE ARE NOT ADMITTING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DENY.

SO IF YOU DID NOT REGISTER AND SOMEONE IS DISTRIBUTING THE CALLING NUMBER, YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE REGISTERED.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT CALLER IS JEANNIE RAMIREZ.

HI, COUNSEL.

I'M JEAN LA I'M A RESIDENT OF GRADUATE 82.

OKAY.

I'M AGAINST THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE REASON I'M AGAINST THIS, 'CAUSE I DON'T, I DO NOT TRUST THIS COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR TO OVERSEE TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE OF ACTIONS OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, EVEN IN THE HOMELESS BUDGET.

SO WE DON'T NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING BEING ROLLED OUT ON ANY OF THE AGENDAS ON THIS.

UM, AND, AND ALSO NO ONE'S THINKING ABOUT THE WATER HERE.

NO ONE IS THINKING ABOUT WATER.

NO ONE IS THINKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE GONNA BE SHADING OVER SOMEONE'S YARD.

UH, GARDENING EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THE HIGH, THE HIGH STRUCTURE.

UM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE 20 TO 30-YEAR-OLD THAT SPOKE OUT THE FIRST MEETING, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING? YOU WANNA STAY HERE BECAUSE YOU GRADUATE FROM UT AND GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THE MONEY YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IF YOU DON'T MOVE WHERE THE JOB IS.

AND THEN YOU EXPECT US TO ALSO PAY FOR STUDENT LOANS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

WE, ME AND MY HUSBAND, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO BUY OUR HOUSE.

WE WERE WAY OLD AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA GET PRICED OUT HERE IN AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW THAT, THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

AND ALSO THIS COUNCIL APPROVED FOR APARTMENTS AND CONDOS RIGHT THERE ON TOWN LAKES.

AND GUESS WHAT? THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA MAKE THE BUILDER HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

WHERE ARE THOSE? I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

UM, ALSO, THIS IS A LAND GRAPH.

EVERY MONTH WE GET LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THOSE BUYERS HAVE MONEY.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY THEY HAVE, THEY WANT TO BUYERS OUR HOUSE.

AND, AND, AND YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA SELL IT FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE? THIS IS RIDICULOUS, MAN.

UM, AND OH, OH, BUT ALL THE SINGLE PEOPLE WHO WANNA BUY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LATER WHEN THEY DO GET MARRIED, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE OUTTA AUSTIN TO GET THAT.

'CAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THAT IF THIS PASSES.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA BLACKWELL.

WELL, HELLO COUNSEL.

MY NAME'S LAURA BLACKWELL, A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M SPEAKING OUT TODAY AGAINST THE HOME INITIATIVE AND URGING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT AND ACCELERATION OF AUSTIN'S HOUSING CRISIS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING.

UM, FIRST WE WOULD LIKE A POSTPONEMENT, UH, FOR A LESS BUSY TIME WHEN THE COMMUNI COMMUNITY CAN BE MORE INVOLVED, UM, IN THESE PROPOSITIONS.

AND OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO.

UM, SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT PORE AUSTIN IS ASKING FOR, UM, THAT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ARE PERMITTING ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS ON ALL SINGLE FAMILY LOTS WITH CREATIVE FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE FORGIVABLE LOANS FOR MID AND LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS, AND, UM, CREATING DENSITY BONUSES, UM, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OVERLAY THAT PROTECTS SOME OF AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE

[00:45:01]

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD MORNING.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA BEATTY.

YES, HELLO, I'M A TRUSTEE FOR THE TEXAS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUB'S HEADQUARTERS, A 92-YEAR-OLD HISTORIC LANDMARK IN THE OLD WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE OPPOSE THE PROPOSED HOME PLAN AS WE LIVE WITHIN THE OVERDEVELOPED WEST CAMPUS AND ALREADY SUFFER FROM TOO MUCH TRAFFIC AND TOO FEW STREET PARKING OPTIONS.

THE IDEA OF TRIPLING HOUSING AND PARKING WILL MAKE THE ROADS EVEN MORE OF A NIGHTMARE AND A HEAVILY PEDESTRIAN AND BIKING AREA.

THE UNTESTED REAL ESTATE MODEL OF HOPES AND DREAMS, BENEFITS NEWLY ARRIVED INVESTORS, DEVELOPERS, AND LANDOWNERS.

INSTEAD OF THE DECADES LONG EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS, BASIC SUPPLY AND DEMAND ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES DICTATE THAT AUSTIN DOES NOT, WILL NOT EVER HAVE ROOM FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE HERE BY RADICALLY CHANGING THE ZONING RULES.

FOR OVER 700,000 CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS, OUR PROPERTY VALUES WILL IMMEDIATELY DECREASE WHILE TAXES WILL INCREASE DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND FOR CITY SERVICES.

THIS UNPROVEN UNTESTED GAME OF AUSTIN REAL ESTATE POKER IS TOO IMPORTANT TO FAST TRACK WITHOUT MORE COMMUNITY CONSIDERATION AND COMMENTARY.

THE TIMING OF THESE ZONING CHANGES WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING ALL THE FINAL DETAILS AND IMPACT BEING KNOWN AT THIS TIME.

AS ZONING HAS MENTIONED, THESE PROPOSALS ARE BEING RUSHED INTO EXISTENCE WITH FEW CITIZENS BEING INVOLVED DURING THE BUSIEST HOLIDAY AND FAMILY TIME OF THE YEAR.

TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT, MORE OPEN HOUSES SHOULD BE HELD IN THE 10, UM, COUNCIL DISTRICTS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE.

AND AGAIN, WE OPPOSE THIS BECAUSE IT IS A NIGHTMARE IN THE MAKING.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLYN KRUM CREW.

GOOD MORNING.

I, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE HOME AMENDMENTS, PARTLY BECAUSE CHANGES WOULD BE IN TWO PHASES.

SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO EVALUATE THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS FIRST PHASE ALONE.

PLEASE POSTPONE VOTING TO A FUTURE DATE TO INCORPORATE IDEAS TO IMPROVE BOTH AFFORDABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND TO COMBINE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO INTO ONE SET OF AMENDMENTS SO THAT THE POTENTIAL CHANGES CAN BE EVALUATED AS A WHOLE.

ONE SET OF SUGGESTIONS TO STRENGTHEN HOME THAT RECENTLY CAME OUT THAT IS WORTH EVALUATING TO IMPROVE DWELLING, AFFORDABILITY AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IS FROM COMMUNITY POWERED A TX.

THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THESE IDEAS AND OTHERS.

HOME WOULD BE SUCH A BIG OVERHAUL THAT AUSTIN NEEDS THE TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.

PHASE TWO WOULD ADD EVEN MORE DENSITY AND MAKE CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER SETBACKS AND TREE REGULATIONS SO THAT THAT PHASE COULD BE VERY DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER, INCREASED LOCALIZED FLOODING, INCREASED URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND A REDUCTION IN OUR TREE CANOPY.

IN AUSTIN, SINGLE FAMILY LOTS ARE THE SECOND LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CANOPY COVERAGE.

TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE URBAN FOREST, REDUCING FLOODING, REDUCING HEAT, REDUCING WATER POLLUTION, AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE 2021 CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN HAS A GOAL OF ACHIEVING A 50% CITYWIDE TREE CANOPY COVER BY 2050.

PRESENTLY, THE CITY HAS ABOUT 40% COVER AND WITH HOME THAT GOAL WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

PLEASE POSTPONE VOTING UNTIL BOTH PHASES HAVE BEEN COMBINED INTO ONE SET OF AMENDMENTS.

HOME CAN BE EVALUATED IN A DEMOCRATIC AND FAIR MANNER.

THIS WILL ALSO GIVE TIME TO PROPERLY EVALUATE IDEAS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN PROPOSED.

THANK YOU.

DIANA.

DEAN? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

HELLO.

YES, WE CAN.

OKAY.

HELLO, UH, TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO OUR OUR MAYOR.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT MY NAME IS DIANA DEAN.

UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN D ONE, UH, IN OUR 2002 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WITH THE OCCUPANT HOUSING OCCUP OCCUPANCY.

IT STATED THAT HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN OUTPACED BY RENTERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE, UH, SENIOR HOUSING, WE HAVE RVS, WE HAVE $400,000 HOMES, $600,000 HOMES, $800,000 HOMES, A HOME BEHIND A HOME, A MILLION DOLLAR HOME.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT THAT IS UP AND COMING, WE ALSO HAVE FIVE STORY, UH, LUXURY UNITS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS ANOTHER LAYER OF DENSITY.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT

[00:50:01]

SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STAFFERS OUT TO CONTACT TEAMS, CITYWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE UPDATES, INPUT, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND MOST OF ALL TO BUILD TRUST AT THIS PHASE ONE OF THE HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT.

AND ALSO WITH SO MUCH DENSITY IN MY AREA, WE DO RUN THE RISK OF MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON LARGE LOTS TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE IT CHANGED THE CHARACTER OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

LEILA LEVINSON.

HELLO.

I HAVE THREE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOME ORDINANCE.

THE FIRST ONE IS WHAT THE EFFECT WILL BE ON PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE I KNOW VERY WELL FROM MY PAST EXPERIENCE IN MY MANY YEARS IN AUSTIN THAT WHEN UM, MORE BUILDINGS ARE ALLOWED TO GO UP ON A LOT, WHEN THE VALUE OF THE LOT INCREASES, THEN THAT TRANSLATES INTO HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES.