[00:00:05]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
SIX OH THREE AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.WE'RE HERE UP AT 63 10 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE.
UH, WHY DON'T YOU KICK US OFF HERE.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS? UH, YES WE DO.UM, FIRST UP WE HAVE, UH, DIANA CHER.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMAIL CONVERSATION WITH MR. SCOTT SMILEY, THE PRESIDENT OF MIDCON AND THE ENGINEER WHO SIGNED OFF ON THE PERMANENT GRASS SEEDING OF THE RECENTLY RE-VEGETATED PORTION OF THE BUTLER LANDFILL CAP.
IN A MOMENT, I WILL TELL YOU MY EXACT QUESTION.
I SENT HIM AN EMAIL ON JANUARY 23RD.
I CALLED HIM FIVE DAYS AGO TO ASK IF HE RECEIVED MY EMAIL.
HE SAID HE DID AND HE SENT IT TO RAY AT PARD.
TOGETHER, THEY'RE PREPARING AN ANSWER FOR MY QUESTION.
I SUSPECT THAT MY QUESTION MAY BE HARD FOR THEM TO ANSWER.
THIS IS A PAGE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
IT SHOWS A YHA SUPPORTIVE PERMEABLE MAT DESIGNED TO BE A DRIVEWAY FOR HEAVY VEHICLES.
NEXT, THIS SHOWS HOW ACL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT WERE PARKED OVER THE RE-VEGETATED ZONE LAST SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
HERE IS MY QUESTION TO MR. SMILEY.
COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE STRUCTURAL LOAD MAXIMUM IS INTENDED BY THE DESIGN ON TOP OF THE SUPPORTIVE YS SHAPED MATS? AND ON TOP OF THE REMAINING THE RE-VEGETATED SECTION AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTED WEIGHT OF THE HEAVIEST ACL TRUCKS OR EQUIPMENT? NEXT SLIDE.
HERE YOU SEE THE DAMAGE AFTER ACL STAGING WAS ALLOWED BY PARD ON THE GRASS ZONE.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT THAT, UH, APPROVAL LETTER FROM MIDCON SAID IT WAS PERMANENT GRASS SEED.
THE GRASS SEED WAS NOT PERMANENT.
AND PERHAPS THE HEAVY VEHICLES, IF ALLOWED TO STAND OUTSIDE OF THE MATS ANNUALLY FOR AN EXTENDED NUMBER OF DAYS COULD DISTURB THE LANDFILL CAP.
I ASKED THIS COMMISSION TO DRAFT A RECOMMENDATION FOR PARD AND AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION TO PROHIBIT ACL STAGING ON THE GRASS ZONE OUTSIDE OF THE YS SHAPED MATS IN 2024 AND ALL YEARS FORWARD.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, PROVIDING, UH, ELIZABETH WITH THE, UH, BACKUP FILES THAT YOU HAD SHOWN, UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET ACCESS TO 'EM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ROY WHALEY.
MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB, THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I, I AM GOING TO BE SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, BUT I THINK THE FIRST THING I REALLY WANNA MAKE CERTAIN IS THAT WE KEEP ZILKER PARK AS A PARK AND THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO THE FUTURE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING AS A SOCIETY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE OF US WILL BE GOING NOT IN INDIVIDUAL CARS, WHICH I UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO DO THIS EVENING 'CAUSE I'M STILL RECUPERATING FROM A BICYCLE ACCIDENT.
UM, BUT MORE AND MORE WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING BY MASS TRANSIT, BY BICYCLE AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSIT.
UM, SO LET'S MAKE OUR PREMIER PARK A A FLAG POLE FOR US TO DANCE AROUND ON THAT, THAT WE HAVE TRANSIT THAT TAKES US TO THE PARK.
THAT WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN CARS GOING TO THE PARK AND PARKING IN PARKING GARAGES, WHETHER THEY BE SUBTERRANEAN OR ABOVE GROUND.
WE HAVE WAYS TO GET TO THE PARK AND LET'S HAVE THE OFFSITE PARKING THAT WOULD NOT JUST BE USED FOR ZILKER AND GETTING TO ZILKER BY SHUTTLE, WHICH WE NEED TO DO.
LAST YEAR, I HELPED, I TRIED TO HELP FUND.
[00:05:01]
I CERTAINLY WROTE A CHECK, UH, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SHUTTLE, BUT THE SHUTTLE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.IT, AND, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE PARKS PEOPLE RUN.
AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT OUT AND MAKE THAT A SEPARATE ISSUE.
MAYBE EVEN HIRE A SEPARATE COMPANY TO RUN THE SEASONAL SHUTTLE THAT WE BRING PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR EQUIPMENT TO ZILKER PARK SO THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY THAT AND HELP MAKE IT WHAT A PARK SHOULD BE.
NOT JUST A DELIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT ALSO A CHANCE TO, TO SEQUESTER THE CARBON THAT WE KEEP PUTING OUT INTO THE AIR.
AND INDIVIDUAL CARS WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TOO.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND EMBRACE THE FUTURE INSTEAD OF SAYING WE WANT MORE CARS, WE WANT MORE TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DRIVING, IT'S ABOUT MOVING PEOPLE.
ZILKER PARK WANTS YOU TO COME THERE.
THEY DON'T WANT YOUR CAR TO GO THERE.
YOUR CAR DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO ZILKER PARK.
YOU WANT TO GO TO ZILKER PARK.
AND, UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ADAM SHAKI, OR SHAKI IS ADAM HERE? ALL RIGHT.
MAYBE JUST, UH, AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FIRST.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS, UH, REVIEWING, UH, THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY, UH, 17TH MEETING.HAS ANYONE, UH, HAS JIM HAVE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING MINUTES THAT ELIZABETH PROMULGATED MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
SECOND MOTION BY PERRY AND SECOND BY SULLIVAN.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN, RAISE YOUR HAND.
[2. Sunset Ridge 290 C14-85-288.166(RCA) ]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SUNSET RIDGE TWO 90 C 14 DASH 85 DASH 2 88 1 6 6 RCA.I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION FIRST.
IS THAT RIGHT, LIZ? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THERE SHOULD BE A PRESENTATION AND ALSO, UH, BRING UP A STAFF.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I'M THE DEPUTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT FILLING IN FOR LESLIE, WHO IS BATTLING THIS NASTY FLU GOING AROUND.
BUT, UH, SHE IS PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF NECESSARY.
OKAY, THIS IS SUNSET RIDGE LOCATED AT 84 0 1 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, C 1485, UH, 2 88 1 6 6 RCA.
THIS IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.
ALRIGHT, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT ARE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENTS? UM, THEY ARE, UH, LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT DEFINE RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTIES USUALLY RELATED TO ZONING, BUT ALSO CAN BE, UM, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST, OTHER LAND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
UM, THESE OLDER ONES FROM THE OAK HILL AREA OFTEN SET STANDARDS THAT ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT CURRENT CODE ALLOWS.
UM, AND PARTICULAR, UM, UH, LESS RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS RELATED TO IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, SOME OF THEM HAVE ALSO A LESS WATER QUALITY TREATMENT STANDARD, UM, ALTHOUGH THIS PARTICULAR ONE DID ACTUALLY HAVE CURRENT SOS WATER QUALITY.
UM, AND UH, SO WHEN APPLICANTS WANT TO REVISE OR AMEND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, UM, THAT, UM, TO ALLOW FOR GREATER DENSITY, THAT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, COME CLOSER TO CURRENT CODE OR, UH, UM, ASK FOR GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED.
SO THIS IS THE, UM, LOCATION MAP.
UM, AGAIN, 84 0 1 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY IS THE LOCATION.
IT IS IN THE FULL PURPOSE REGULATORY JURISDICTION.
UM, IT IS IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND THE BARTON SPRING ZONE.
UM, IT IS IN THE WILLIAMSON CREEK AND BARTON CREEK WATERSHED.
UM, THERE ARE NO CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES.
UM, SO NO CREEKS THAT ARE REGULATED, NO FLOODPLAIN AND NO CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES LOCATED ON SITE.
[00:10:01]
THE ORANGE LINES ARE SLOPES GREATER THAN 15%.SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE, UM, JUST A FEW AREAS OF SLOPES GREATER THAN 15%, BUT, UM, BY AND LARGE IT IS A RELATIVELY FLAT SITE.
ALRIGHT, SO OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, SO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, SET OUT 55% GROSS SITE AREA, UM, EXCEPT FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE SITE WILL COMPLY WITH CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CODES, EX INCLUDING THE SOS NONDEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS.
UM, DEVELOPMENT WILL ACHIEVE A ONE STAR AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING RATING A MINIMUM OF FOUR PUBLIC AND EV CHARGING SPACES.
UM, INVASIVE SPECIES WILL BE MANAGED TO RESULT IN LESS THAN 5% COVER OF ANY PARTICULAR SPECIES WITHIN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.
SO BASICALLY THEY'RE GONNA BE MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES, UM, AND THEY ARE GOING TO, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO COMPLY WITH AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING REGARDING LIGHT POLLUTION AND REGARDING BIRD COLLISION DETERRENT CRITERIA.
SO STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE TO PROVIDE SOME FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING, OH, AND I FORGOT TO MENTION, THIS IS A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT.
UM, SO THE RESTRICTED COVENANT AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW THE MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT, UM, TO PROCEED WITH A, UH, HIGHER FAR LIMIT THAN WHAT IS ORIGINALLY ALLOWED.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PRESENTATION? MY NAME IS RICHARD SU.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AND OUR PRESENTATION ISN'T AS GOOD AS THEIRS.
SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU, YOU BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, BACK WHEN THE EARTH WAS STILL COOLING AND BEFORE WE HAD, COS WE DID THINGS IN THE ZONING ARENA WITH RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
AND THIS TRACT HAS TWO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON IT.
ONE THAT WAS DONE IN LIKE 87, AND THEN ONE AMENDED IT IN 2010.
BUT BOTH OF THEM SAY THAT THE ONLY USES YOU CAN DO ARE BASICALLY COMMERCIAL USES.
IT'S ZONED GEO, SO YOU CAN ONLY DO COMMERCIAL USES UNDER THE ZONING.
BUT NOW WE HAVE, IN MODERN TIMES, WE HAVE A SCENARIO WHERE IF YOU DO A DEEP, UH, MIXED INCOME OR AFFORDABLE PROJECT UNDER AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT USE UNDER COMMERCIAL ZONING.
AND WE STARTED DOWN THAT PATH, BUT THEN WE REALIZED THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WAS PLACED ON THERE BACK IN 87 SAYS YOU CAN ONLY DO COMMERCIAL USES.
SO WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS ALLOW US TO HAVE RESIDENTIAL USE ON THIS PROPERTY.
BUT THE SAFETY VALVE IS THE ONLY WAY THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THE ZONING WOULD ONLY ALLOW IT IS IF YOU DO AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, WHICH MEANS DEEP AFFORDABILITY AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING.
SO TONIGHT WE'RE BEFORE YOU JUST ASKING TO BE ABLE TO ADD THAT, KEEP THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THE SAME, DO THE SOS WATER QUALITY AND BUMP UP THE FAR SLIGHTLY TO GET THE NUMBER OF UNITS NEEDED TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT I'LL CLOSE AND BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, MAYBE JUST STICK AROUND AND THERE'S A COUPLE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS WE'LL HAVE, AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS FOR EVERYBODY WITHIN THAT CONTEXT.
AND, UM, IS STUART GOODMAN HERE? IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST COME UP TO THE PODIUM, INTRODUCE YOURSELF ONE MORE TIME AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
SIR, MY NAME IS, UH, STUART GOODMAN.
UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK THE COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR, UH, PROVIDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING I HAVE NO ISSUES AS FAR AS WITH, UH, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER, WITH, AS WITH ANY DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, THAT IT NEEDS TO, I THINK MAKE SENSE AND ALSO I'D SAY BALANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, AUSTIN'S HAD A HISTORY, UH, OF BEING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CITY, AND I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS REPUTATION TO MAINTAIN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY AND ENJOY SHORT TERM, UH, SIGHTED DECISION MAKING.
I THINK THE, THE, THE FIRST POINT IS THIS 50 PLUS INTERESTED PARTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A FORTY FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT MULTIFAMILY UNIT, UH, LOCATED ON TWO PARCELS IN A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
UH, AND I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT AFFECTED RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE.
UH, MY REQUEST IS THAT, UH, PARTIES HAVE PROVIDED NOTIFICATIONS OF ALL HEARINGS PERTAINING TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AND ANOTHER COMMISSION WANTS TO HEAR FROM, UH, FROM RE HAVE RESIDENT INPUT.
AND THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THEY'RE AWARE THAT MEETINGS RELATED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING AS, AS LIKE TONIGHT'S, UH, TONIGHT'S MEETING IMPERVIOUS COVER, I THINK,
[00:15:01]
YOU KNOW, ALL THE REGULATIONS UNDER CODE CONTRIBUTING ZONE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS, HAS AN IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENT OF 25%.IT'S RIGHT ADJOINING TO BARTON CREEK THAT HAS A, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT OF 20% NET.
THESE ARE NET UM, WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED IS A MASSIVE INCREASE, UH, RELATED TO THE CODE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 120%.
UH, AND AGAIN, THIS A HUNDRED, 120 PLUS PERCENT BECAUSE THEY'RE REQUESTING IT ON A GROSS BASIS VERSUS ON A BUILDABLE BASIS, UM, ALSO REQUIRING A, A ZONING CHANGE TO MULTIFAMILY.
AND THEN FINALLY, THEY'RE DOUBLING, UH, THE BUILDING DENSITY AS UNDER THE CURRENT, UH, RESTRICTED COVENANTS.
SO I THINK AS A RESULT OF THIS MASSIVE CHANGE, IT NEEDS TO EVALUATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SUCH A CHANGE.
UM, THIS IS A HEAVILY WOODED AREA.
UH, IT, IT WAS IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S NO, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.
WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S CANYON SPRINGS THAT'S LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, AND I REQUEST THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF CANYON SPRINGS BE CONDUCTED BEFORE ANY POTENTIAL AMENDMENT TO A RESTRICTED COVENANT IS CONSIDERED TREES.
AGAIN, YOU COULD SEE THIS IS A VERY, UH, NATURAL AREA.
IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HAVEN TO THE WILDLIFE AND SOME ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE AREA.
THIS 17 HERITAGE TREES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED ON A A 2015, UH, UH, SURVEY TREE SURVEY ON THIS ONE, UH, LOT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE ON THE OTHER PARCEL THAT'S PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR, GIVEN WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED, A A TREE STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED AND WHAT MITIGATION MEASURES.
LAST SLIDE IS JUST TO CUT AND FILL WHERE THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT IS, UH, IS IN EXCESS OF 15%.
IT'S GONNA REQUIRE ONE MORE SLIDE.
UH, CAN YOU TURN IF YOU, YEAH, THANK YOU.
UH, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT CUT AND FILL AND THAT SHOULD BE ASSESSED AND WHAT THE EN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS UPFRONT, AGAIN, BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE, UH, RE RESTRICTED COVENANTS.
NEXT STEP, WE HAVE, UM, CHANDLER HARRIS.
AND IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND, UM, AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, I LIVE AT 5,700 SUNSET RIDGE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, UH, 7 8 7 3 5.
THE, UH, MY PROPERTY IS BASICALLY ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS PROPERTY, AND I DIDN'T RECEIVE NOTICE ABOUT THIS HEARING, UM, NOR DID ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
WE WERE SOMEHOW NOTIFIED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE HAD BEEN DISCUSSING WITH YESTERDAY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND I NOTIFIED ALL MY NEIGHBORS.
AND THEN PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST THREE HOURS, YOU GUYS PROBABLY GOT 50 EMAILS.
I ASSUME YOU CAN GO THROUGH YOUR INBOX.
ALL THE INTERESTED PARTIES WERE NOTIFIED.
BUT, UH, BY ME PERSONALLY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
I FEEL LIKE MY NEIGHBORS SHOULD BE APPRISED AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON, ESPECIALLY PARTICULARLY WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. GOODMAN NOTED, UM, GOING TO 55% IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT EVER HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THEN IT WAS RESTRICTED TO THE USE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.
WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE KNOWING THAT, UM, BUT THAT'S GOING TO DO A LOT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF GREEN FEATURES TO THAT PROJECT, AND THAT'S GOING TO DO A LOT LESS TO THE, UH, DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAN WHAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO DO HERE.
UM, THEY'RE CHANGING THE DENSITY OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THAT THAT'S, IT'S THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE OVERNIGHT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT TOOK YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO ARRIVE AT.
UM, AS PER TIM JAMEL, THE CURRENT PROPRIETOR WHO I PERSONALLY SPOKE WITH, IT SAID, YOU KNOW, IN 2011, IT TOOK HIM, HE HAD DONE THAT FOR MANY YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO FROM 25% TO 55%.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A PACK OF COYOTES THAT LIVES ON THAT PROPERTY.
I KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THE DEVIL DANCE, WHENEVER THEY CATCH SOMETHING, I COULD GO OUT THERE AND FILM WITH MY CAMERA AND IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THERE'S MINIMUM OF 20 COYOTES ON THAT PROPERTY.
JUSTIN JENSEN, WHO HAS 54 15 TRAVIS COOK ROAD, WHO WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN HERE TONIGHT HAD HE BEEN NOTIFIED, UM, ACTUALLY USES HIS ACREAGE, WHICH IS SHARES A PROPERTY LINE WITH THESE PARCELS, UM, AS A NATURE PRESERVE.
[00:20:01]
HE ACTUALLY TRACKS FOXES, COYOTES, HE HAS ALL THIS FILM.HE, HE HAS BASICALLY THIS FOOTAGE.
HE HAS ALL THESE PICTURES OF THE WILDLIFE THAT ARE ON THIS PROPERTY.
AND I DON'T THINK THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN HERE HAVE EVER SEEN IT.
HIS WILDLIFE, I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND.
BUT I LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET AND IT IS A, LIKE STUART SAID, IT'S A HEAVILY WOODED AREA.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, A PLAN AS TO WHAT EXACTLY IS GONNA BE DONE WITH ANY WILDLIFE THAT WOULD BE DISPLACED.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE A PLACE FOR THEM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE A STUDY DONE ON THE 1,995 CAR TRIPS PER DAY THAT ARE ESTIMATED AND WHAT TYPE OF POLLUTION THAT'S GOING TO ADD TO THE AREA, UM, AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED.
UM, ESPECIALLY, AND PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAD A ST.
JUNE COMPLEX, UH, OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SCOPE THAT WAS JUST PUT IN WITHIN THIS LAST YEAR, WHICH IS GOING TO EXTREMELY AFFECT THE REGION.
AND THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN NO STUDIES AND NO DUE DILIGENCE, UH, DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.
AND I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BE REVISITED.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD SLOW THIS PROJECT DOWN AND, AND GIVE GREAT CONSIDERATION TO THE ACTUAL IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, NEXT UP WE HAVE ROY WHALEY.
UM, CAN I GO IF YOU DON'T, SORRY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK INTO THE MIC SO THE REMOTE COMMISSIONERS CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M STILL COMPOSING MY NOTES AND I WOULD PREFER THAT MR. BOBBY LAVINSKY GO FIRST.
HE HAS MORE PERTINENT, UH, ALLEGATION INFORMATION.
AND NEXT UP WE HAVE BOBBY LAVINSKY.
MY NAME IS BOBBY LEVINSKY WITH THE SAFE AIR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I'M DISTRIBUTING THE ORIGINAL RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT, UM, WAS PASSED BACK IN, UM, THE 85 ZONING CASE FOR THIS MATTER.
I THINK IT'S REALLY RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU'RE HAVING TONIGHT, UM, TO THE COMMISSIONERS ONLINE.
I EMAILED IT TO YOU SHORTLY BEFORE, UM, GETTING UP HERE.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, NEWER MEMBERS.
UM, AND JUST KIND OF LIKE, JUST A REFRESHER FOR ALL OF US TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE O KILL AREA STUDY WHEN, UM, AUSTIN WAS ANNEXING MOST OF OAK HILL.
SO THE 800 ACRES THAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE, WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE PROPERTY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS HAVE BEEN TREATED OVER TIME FOR 800 ACRES OF PROPERTY.
UM, SO WHEN THESE, UH, THE, THAT AREA WAS ANNEXED, THEY WENT THROUGH A ZONING PROCESS WHERE, UM, IF THE OWNER WOULD AGREE TO RESTRICTING THEIR IMPERVIOUS COVER TO MAKE IT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, THEN UM, THEY WOULD GET THE ZONING THAT THEY WERE REQUESTING.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY SUMMARIZING A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF LEGAL TALK THAT, UM, I THINK THAT SOS ALLIANCE HAS BEEN REALLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR POSITION THAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE CITY'S POSITION.
I DON'T WANT TO LITIGATE THAT HERE TODAY, BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT HERE IS WHAT THIS ORIGINAL RESTRICTIVE COVENANT DID.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2010 AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO THIS ORIGINAL RESTRICTIVE COVENANT DIDN'T HAVE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT WAS ADDED IN 2010 WHEN THEY CAME IN NEGOTIATING FOR A CHURCH.
THAT WAS THE TREND AT THE TIME TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A CHURCH, SO IF YOU DON'T GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, WE'LL SUE YOU UNDER THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT.
SO NOW THAT YOUR CURRENT TREND IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.
AND I, I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE LIGHT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHAT WE SHOULD NOT ALSO TAKE LIGHT IS WHAT THE INTENT OF THE SOS ORDINANCE WAS.
AND THAT IS TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF OUR CLEAN AND ABUNDANT WATER SUPPLIES FOR NOT ONLY US, EVERYONE THAT RELIES ON, ON THEIR EQUAL ECOSYSTEMS THAT RELY ON ON OUR URBAN CREEKS.
THESE ARE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT.
AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETTER.
THEY'RE NOT OFFERING VERY MUCH WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS SOME INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL.
YOU'RE SEEING SOME COMMITMENT TO ONE STAR GREEN BUILDING.
NOW THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY EASY STANDARD TO MEET.
UM, AND THERE IS NO ACTUAL COMMITMENT FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED IN WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING TONIGHT, WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING TONIGHT.
SO I WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE US TO GO AHEAD AND POSTPONE THIS.
LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO TREAT THIS SITE.
WE DON'T WANNA GET IN THE WAY, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO START REALLY RESPECTING THE, AN ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER 30 YEARS,
[00:25:01]
AND WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO ENFORCE IT TO THIS DAY.IT HAPPENS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I, I REMEMBER BEING HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE IT WAS A SIMILAR SCENARIO WHERE IT WAS A RELIGION, SER, THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE CITY, THEN THEY WANTED SOMETHING MORE.
WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE, SO PLEASE, UM, POSTPONE IT OR JUST DON'T RECOMMEND IT.
THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
I, HOW DO Y'ALL, I'M STILL ROY WHALEY.
I'M STILL THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE LOCAL SIERRA CLUB.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, FOR SIERRA CLUB.
JOHN MUIR SAYS, IT'S ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT.
THAT'S WHAT, WHAT, THAT'S WHAT NATURE IS.
UM, AND SIERRA CLUB IS FOREIGN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE, WE'RE AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE AMONG THE MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, LOWER INCOME PEOPLE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE FOR THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ALSO.
AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP THIS EVENING THAT I THINK WARRANT THE IDEA OF POSTPONING THIS AND HAVING A DEEPER DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
UM, I'M SURE THAT IT WAS NOT AN INTENTIONAL OVERSIGHT.
UM, BUT THERE ARE ISSUES ON THIS SITE.
WE WANT TO HAVE OUR, OUR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL INCOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE, THE TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, SO FREQUENTLY JUST MEANS SLIGHTLY LESS EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE DIRTY WORK HERE IN AUSTIN THAT HAVE THE, THE JOBS THAT THE REST OF US DEPEND ON.
UM, AND NOT THE, THE OTHER PART OF THE AFFORDABILITY OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, IMPACT IS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE IN FROM AND RISK THEIR LIVES TO DRIVE IN FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME IN FROM BASTROP OR SMITHVILLE TO HAVE THESE JOBS.
WE HAVE TO HELP OUR, OUR LOWER INCOME FOLKS AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE BALANCE IT WITH THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
SO IT'S NOT, WE'RE, SIERRA CLUB IS CERTAINLY NOT A NIMBY ORGANIZATION, BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT A YBI ORGANIZATION EITHER SAYING WE WANT DENSITY EVERYWHERE, ANYWHERE, WHEREVER WE COULD PUT IT.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY FIRST CAME AND TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE, THE REDRAWING OF THE URBAN MAP IN 2017 THAT THE, THE CONSULTANT SAID, WE PUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS IN FIRST AND THEN WE FIT EVERYTHING ELSE IN AROUND THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE.
PUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN FIRST AND STILL HAVE THAT BALANCE OF HAVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED.
UM, SO THAT'S IT FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND AND HAVE QUESTIONS, SO WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE APPLICANT IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, LET'S, LET'S START REMOTELY.
LET'S, UH, BRIER, UH, WHY DON'T YOU START, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, UM, OR THE APPLICANT? IT'S THERE.
I CAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA FIND IT.
WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, UH, KRUEGER WHILE HE'S UNMUTING.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR, UH, STAFF OR APPLICANT? UH, YES.
UH, FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS PRESENTED TONIGHT, UM, TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YES, PROBABLY THE 50 PLUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE EMAILED.
UM, I'VE OPENED EVERY ONE OF THOSE EMAILS AND I APPLAUD YOUR, YOUR ORGANIZING EFFORTS ON THIS MATTER AND THE LEVEL OF CONCERN THIS RAISES.
UM, I ESPECIALLY RESONATED WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE COYOTES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I AM A RENTER IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT THAT BEING SAID, THE LITTLE PATCH OF LAND THAT I STEWARD, I'M WORKING TO
[00:30:01]
PLANT AS MANY NATIVES AS I CAN.UM, I GET EXCITED WHEN A NEIGHBOR SAW A FOX DOWN THE STREET.
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN, IN HARMONY WITH NATURE IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.
SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND INVALIDATE THOSE CONCERNS.
UM, I DO ALSO APPRECIATE THAT MANY SPEAKERS HAVE BROUGHT UP THE NEED FOR BUILDING DENSELY AND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN, UH, IN AUSTIN.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL ACUTELY AS, AS A RENTER.
UM, AND SO I DO WANT TO VALIDATE THOSE CONCERNS.
AND AS SOMEONE REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, WHICH IS EAST AUSTIN ON THIS COMMISSION, UM, I WANT TO BRING UP THAT EAST AUSTIN OFTEN BEARS THE BRUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CITY.
AND SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WEST AUSTIN AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS TO HELP BEAR SOME OF THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY OF, OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.
AND THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN A LOT NEAR WHERE I LIVE THAT HAS TREES, YOU KNOW, GETS CUT DOWN OR DIFFERENT THINGS, OF COURSE I EXPERIENCE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF HEARTBREAK, AS DOES ANYONE.
AND SO I THINK APPROACHING THESE ISSUES WITH, UM, AS MUCH CARE AND UNDERSTANDING AS POSSIBLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
NONE OF THAT WAS A QUESTION, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SAY OFF THE BAT.
UM, SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, I DO THINK THE QUESTIONS OF AFFORDABILITY ARE IMPORTANT.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THE APPLICANT CAN SPEAK TO THE AFFORDABILITY OF, OF THE PLANNED, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
RICHARD SETTLED AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING RULES, DO Y'ALL KNOW, ABIDE BY THE RULE WHERE PRESENTATION, OPPOSITION AND REBUTTAL? OR IS AND I AND, AND I'M OKAY EITHER WAY.
NO, WE, WE HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THAT.
BUT YOU'RE, YOUR, YOUR COUNSEL SAYS NO.
THEN, THEN NEVERMIND, NEVERMIND.
LET JUST ANSWER
LET ME ANSWER THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION FIRST, AND THEN IF SOMEBODY ASKS QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
SO THE ONLY WAY THIS TRACK CAN BE UNDER OUR PROPOSAL, THE ONLY WAY THIS TRACK CAN BE DEVELOPED FOR RESIDENTIAL IS TO DO, DO THE CITY'S PROGRAM OF AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
AND TO DO AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN, UM, INCOME RESTRICTIONS FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS AND SO ON.
FOR ON, ON THIS ONE, FOR INSTANCE, 20% OF THE UNITS WOULD BE AT 50% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
20% WOULD BE AT 60%, 10% WOULD BE 80%, AND 50% WOULD BE AT 120% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
SO FOR A TOTAL OF 438 UNITS, 176 OF 'EM WOULD BE, UH, UNDER AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE, WE'RE NOT ASKING TONIGHT FOR YOU TO INCREASE OUR IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 55%.
THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THIS TRACK IS ALREADY AT 55%.
THERE IS AN OFFICE SITE PLAN APPROVED ON THE SITE AND HAS BEEN, AND IS, HAS A FIVE YEAR LIFE ON IT, I THINK, ON THE SITE TODAY.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING TO DO THAT.
TWO THINGS WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS THE ALLOWANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO ALLOW THE FAR TO GO FROM 0.5 TO ONE, WHICH IS AN INCREASE, BUT KEEP THE IMPERVIOUS COVERED THAT'S THERE TODAY AND DUE TO, UH, THE SOS WATER QUALITY.
COMMISSIONER KRUEGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR APPLICANT OR STAFF? THANK YOU.
YEAH, I JUST, I'M WONDERING IF THE STAFF HAS ANY COMMENTS ON THE PRESENTATION, UM, THAT INCLUDED THE CANYON SPRING, UM, AND THE OTHER FEATURES THAT PERHAPS WEREN'T BROUGHT UP IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
OH, YEAH, LIZ JOHNSTON, WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, STAFF DID GO, UM, AND, UH, INVESTIGATE THE HISTORIC LOCATION OF THE, THE SPRING AND DID NOT, UH, FIND ONE PRESENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOTES THAT YOU HAD FROM THAT, THAT SLIDE ABOUT THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, INCLUDING THE GRADE OF THE SLOPE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU ALL REPORTED? KRUGER, YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE, UM, DRIVEWAY, UH, THE COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, CUT FILL AT
[00:35:01]
THE DRIVEWAY, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.AND THEN ANY OTHER, IT SAYS THAT STAFF WANTS TO TOUCH ON, I FEEL LIKE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT SORT OF HIT ON THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND THERE WERE SOME DISCREPANCIES.
SO THE APPLICANT IS MEETING OR WILL MEET CURRENT CODE, AND AT THAT POINT WE WILL, UM, ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT CUT AND FILL CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES, UM, AND WHATNOT IS MET.
AND IF THEY CAN'T MEET IT, THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE AN, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE LIKE ANY OTHER.
UM, SO THEY WOULD BE MEETING, CUT AND FILL REQUIREMENTS, CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPE REQUIREMENTS, TREES, UH, UH, HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY, I BELIEVE.
UM, SO ALL OF THOSE FEATURES, SO IT'S REALLY JUST THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, AS FAR AS WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS, THAT WOULD NOT BE ADHERED TO.
AND JUST FOR THE EDIFICATION OF EVERYONE PRESENT AND THOSE WHO EMAILED US, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE SET THE HERITAGE TREES ON SITE AND HOW THOSE WILL BE HANDLED? THEY WILL MEET CURRENT CODE FOR HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION.
COMMISSIONER BRAMER, DO YOU, UH, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, I FOUND THE UNMUTE SWITCH ON MY, UH, COMPUTER.
UH, YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE THERE.
UM, I PULLED UP THE 2010, UH, RESTRICTED COVENANT SHEET THAT'S AS FAR BACK I WAS AS I WAS ABLE TO GET.
UH, AND THE, UH, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE ON THERE SEEM TO BE COPIED PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL, UH, TO WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED NOW, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
UH, THE ORIGINAL 2010, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WAS PASSED BY, UH, COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, RESTRICTED ACCESS TO, UH, SUNSET RIDGE IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE, UH, NOT CARRYING THAT OVER THIS TIME AROUND ANYONE.
I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO FIND SUNSET RIDGE ON THE MOUNT.
BUELLER IS THE QUESTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO NOT TAKE ACCESS TO SUNSET RIDGE, CARRY THAT OVER, IS THAT CORRECT? ER, YEAH.
UH, ARE WE, ARE, ARE YOU, WE ARE GONNA CARRY THAT OVER.
OUR ACCESS WILL BE ON SUN, WILL BE ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACCESS BACK THERE ON SUNSET RIDGE, BUT OUR ACCESS WILL BE ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
UH, SO THERE WOULDN'T BE AN, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY OBJECTION TO CARRYING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM FROM 2010 OVER TO THE CURRENT ONE, IS THAT CORRECT? WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU LIMIT? WELL, THE WORDING ON THE 2010 DOCUMENT, UH, SAYS, UH, WELL IT MENTIONED THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDED IN THERE.
YOU MENTIONED IT'S THE ONE TO ONE, SO I'D LIKE TO CARRY THAT OVER AS WELL.
BUT THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY IMPERVIOUS IS COVERED LIMITED TO 55% AND WATER QUALITY PER SOS AND EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS PURPOSES, VEHICLE VEHICULAR ACCESS TO SUN RIDGE IS PROHIBITED.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO CARRY THAT OVER? NO, THAT THAT'D BE FINE TO CARRY THAT OVER.
NOW, UH, IF I UNDERSTAND THIS PROPERLY, UH, I SPOKE TO THE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE, UM, THE, UH, WHATEVER THAT IS THE, UH, AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROGRAM, UH, EARLIER TODAY, UH, THAT PROCESS HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED FOR YOU ALL YET, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THE COUNTY HAS ACTED ON THEIR BOND PORTION OF IT.
WE ANTICIPATE BEING AT THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE 29TH, I BELIEVE.
BUT AGAIN, THE SAFETY VALVE IS, IF IT'S NOT APPROVED, WE DON'T HAVE THE ZONING TO DO RESIDENTIAL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THE ZONING.
YOU'RE GONNA LET THE ZONING REMAIN.
UH, I BELIEVE IT'S GEO NOW, YES.
SO YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW THE, THE ZONING REMAIN THE SAME, BUT YOU'RE GONNA GET AROUND THE ZONING CHANGE BY USING THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, PROCESS.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE GETTING AROUND IT.
IF YOU DO AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, YOU CAN DO IT IN THIS ZONING CATEGORY.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE, THE WORDING, BUT,
[00:40:01]
UH, REGARDLESS, UH, YOU'RE USING THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, PROCESS IN ORDER TO, UH, NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE ZONING.UM, IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, YOU DO THE DEEP AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? OTHERWISE WE COULD ASK FOR A MIXED USE ZONING CASE, BUT THEN YOU, YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE DEEP AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING.
YEAH, NO, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE THING BECAUSE IT'S, UH, RATHER CONVOLUTED.
UM, WHEN I ORIGINALLY WAS GOING THROUGH THIS, I WAS A BIT PERPLEXED WHY YOU DIDN'T GO THROUGH A ZONING CHANGE AS OPPOSED TO THE AFFORDABILITY PROCESS.
UM, SO THE, THE ZONING IS GONNA REMAIN THE SAME.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY, UH, IF THE ZONING'S GONNA REMAIN THE SAME THAT WE PUT IN EXCLUSIONS FOR ALL THE, UH, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT'S PART OF THAT ZONING? I BELIEVE THE COVENANT FROM THE FIRST ROUND ALREADY DOES A LOT OF THAT, ACTUALLY.
AND THEN THERE WAS, THEN THERE WERE SOME MORE EXCLUSIONS IN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE ANY OF THAT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE EXCLUDED IN THE, UH, 2010, UH, DOCUMENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT TOTALLY EXCLUSIVE OF ALL THE ITEMS UNDER GO.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA USE IT EXCLUSIVELY FOR, UH, RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, UH, WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE ALL THE COMMERCIAL STUFF OUT OF THERE IF IT'S GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL.
WELL, IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF FOR SOME REASON WE CAN'T DO THE RESIDENTIAL, THEN WE'VE ALSO LIMITED WHAT THE PROPERTY IS ALLOWED TO DO TODAY AND WE GO BACKWARDS.
SO I, I, I DON'T THINK I CAN AGREE TO FURTHER LIMITING THE USES, UM, JUST BY ADDING A RESIDENTIAL USE.
SO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE COMMERCIAL USE, BUT ADD THE OPTION TO GO RESIDENTIAL? YES.
UH, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT THE, UH, ADDITION OF FOUR, UM, EV CHARGING STATIONS FOR 438, UH, APARTMENT UNITS IS A PRETTY LOW BAR TO SET.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT? I THINK I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TONIGHT TO SAY YES, BUT IF YOU PUT A NUMBER IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD TAKE THAT BACK TO MY CLIENT.
WELL, THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE PASSED, AND THAT'D BE KIND OF THE WAY THAT IT IS.
UH, IF WE GIVE YOU A NUMBER AND THEN WE PASS IT WITH FOUR IN IT, THEN THAT'S ALL YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO DO.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY THAT WORKS.
YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK TO GET A A, YOU KNOW, A DO OVER.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE PUT DOWN 10 AND WE PASS IT WITH 10, THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD GO BACK TO MY CLIENT AND SAY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD PUT 10 ON YOU.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? WELL, I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A, HERE IT IS.
APPRECIATE THE, UH, UH, EFFORT OF EVERYONE.
APPRECIATE THE INPUT OF THE, UH, THE NEIGHBORS AND, UH, OF THE CITY STAFF'S, UH, PRESENTATIONS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR, UH, INPUT.
CHRIS, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEY, Y'ALL, UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION FROM CITY STAFF AND, UH, THE APPLICANT'S LAWYER FOR SHOWING UP.
YOU KNOW, UH, I GREW UP AROUND THE, UH, YOU KNOW, NUTTY BROWN OAK HILL, PART OF TOWN PAST 71.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES OF, UH, GOING TO THE, UH, THE BEST BUY IN THE SERRANOS OFF SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
AND, UH, MY POPS ACTUALLY STILL WORKS AT, UH, IN XP.
SO TO ECHO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER KRUGER SAID, YOU KNOW, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PART TOWN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR AFFORDABILITY IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN IS, IS IMPORTANT.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS, UH, IT SEEMS VERY NICE THAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, DEEP AFFORDABILITY HERE.
[00:45:01]
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE NUMBERS.UM, IS THERE LIKE A TRANSIT LINE NEAR THIS PROPOSED, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX? NO.
OH, WE HAVE AN ANSWER FROM THE CROWD.
IT'S KIND OF WHAT I ASSUMED AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND SOUTHWEST PARKWAY QUITE A BIT IN MY RELATIVELY YOUNG LIFETIME.
UM, JUST A REMINDER, THERE ARE PEOPLE, UM, VIRTUAL WHO CAN'T HEAR UNLESS IT'S SPOKEN FOR THE VIRTUAL COMMISSIONER.
SOMEONE FROM THE AUDIENCE YELLED.
NO, UM, I GUESS I GOT TO ADD COMMENTATING TO MY JOB EXPERIENCE TITLE NOW.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, I DID CHECK IT AND THERE IS NO MASS TRANSIT THERE.
WE GET A COMMISSIONER BACKING UP THE, UH, I'M NOT GONNA CALL Y'ALL PEANUT GALLERY, BUT YOU KNOW, CASHEW GALLERY, IF YOU WILL.
UM, YEAH, THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS MY MAIN QUESTION.
I THINK, UH, TO BORROW A SLOGAN THAT COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN HAS, UH, HAS BROUGHT ON TO THIS PLACE, UH, THIS SEEMS LIKE A CASE OF SMART HOUSING.
UM, AND I DO THINK THAT WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO CREATE AFFORDABLE PARTS OF TOWN IN EVERY PARTS OF TOWN, IT ALSO MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO DO IT NEAR MASS TRANSIT.
UM, AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY ONLY QUESTION AT THIS TIME.
SO THERE'S, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND HOW THE, THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED, AND I WAS WONDERING IF STAFF COULD EXPLAIN HOW THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED AND IF THERE'S A DEFINITION OF INTERESTED PARTY AND WHETHER, WHETHER THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST NOT NOTIFIED.
SO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS, UM, DO NOT HAVE NOTICE SENT OUT.
UM, WE DO HAVE A COURTESY MAILCHIMP FOR FOLKS WHO ARE REGISTERED WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP, UM, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A METHOD TO CONTACT, UM, ANYONE ADDITIONAL TO THAT.
UM, I CAN, UH, NANCY WITH PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS ALSO ONLINE, AND MAYBE SHE CAN ALSO, UH, TALK MORE ABOUT INTERESTED PARTIES.
HI, THIS IS NANCY WITH, UM, THE ZONING DEPARTMENT, AND, UM, IT IS CORRECT FOR AN RC THIS IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ZONING DEPARTMENT.
AND TYPICALLY WITH A, A TYPICAL STANDARD, UM, ZONING CASE, WHEN A CASE IS SUBMITTED, A NOTICE OF FILING WOULD BE SENT OUT WITHIN THE, UM, 14 DAY PERIOD.
BUT SINCE THIS IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT, A NOTICE OF FILING IS NOT REQUIRED.
HOWEVER, WHEN IT MOVES FORWARD TO PUBLIC HEARINGS SUCH AS COMMISSION, THE LAND USE COMMISSION, OR CITY COUNCIL, THEN UM, PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION DOES GO OUT FOR THAT ARE WITHIN 500 FEET OF, UM, THE SUBJECT REZONING AREA.
AND, AND THEN AS THIS PROCESS WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ET CETERA, IS THERE A NOTIFICATION AT THAT POINT? SO, CORRECT.
RIGHT NOW, UM, ONCE THIS, ONCE WE GET THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND, AND THROUGH THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROCESS AND THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT CASE BEGINS TO, UM, CAN AT THAT POINT BE RECOMMENDED OR REVIEWED FOR RECOMMENDATION, THEN ONCE IT'S SCHEDULED FOR COMMISSION, IT WILL BE, UH, PEOPLE WITHIN 500 FEET WILL BE NOTIFIED.
SO THE ZONING DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE, I KNOW, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, SITE PLAN OR, UM, LIKE LISTED SAID, ENVIRONMENTAL, THEY HAVE INTERESTED PARTY LISTS.
UM, WE HAVE A NOTIFICATION DEPARTMENT THAT ACTUALLY, UM, WITH THE GIS DEPARTMENT THAT ACTUALLY SKETCHES OUT EXACTLY 500 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
AND THAT IS, UM, WHO WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IF YOU'RE WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION THEN IS, IS, UM, IS RELATED YOU, SO THE, THE, THE TWO CHANGES THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING ARE TO BE ALLOWABLE USE AND THEN THE FAR, CAN YOU KIND OF, CAN YOU GIVE A LAYPERSON'S EXPLANATION OF WHAT THAT FAR WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE? WELL, THE FAR WILL, UM, IMPACT THE DENSITY OF WHAT IS ALLOWED IN WHAT WAS ALLOWED IN 2010 VERSUS WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED NOW.
SO THAT CHANGES THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO AND IMPACTS THE DENSITY OF A BUILDING.
UM, AND THEN THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRING OR REQUESTING THE MULTI-FAMILY USE.
AND AT THIS POINT, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED, ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT TO, UH, TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS IS JUST IN THE REVIEW PROCESS, UM, AND WE'D BE WORKING WITH
[00:50:01]
OUR, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT.UM, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY REALLY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I GUESS ABOUT THE, THE SWITCH.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU'RE AT 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER WHERE APPLICANT, UH, 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER, WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE, BUT YOU'RE INCREASING THE FAR, IS THE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DECREASE THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER TO CREATE A BALANCE HERE? IWI WISH WE COULD, BUT THEN YOU WOULD, YOU WOULDN'T GET THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT YOU NEED TO GET THE NUMBER OF UNITS YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PROJECT WORK.
SO BASICALLY TO GET THE FEET
SO FOR THIS SPECIFIC ONE, UM, AND THEN ARE THERE ANY RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS? SORRY, GO AHEAD.
THE ANSWER TO RAINWATER COLLECTION, THERE'S NOT, NOT PROPOSED ANY RIGHT NOW.
IT, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING, AND I THINK BOBBY WOULD DISAGREE, BUT UNDER THE OLD ORDINANCES, THERE'S ACTUALLY, THE IMPERVIOUS COVER WAS REDUCED BY THIS COVENANT FROM 65 TO 55 BASED ON THE OLD ORDINANCES PRIOR TO SOS.
SO THE, THE, THERE'S ALREADY A REDUCED IMPERVIOUS COVER BASED ON THIS COVENANT THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT PROPOSING RAINWATER CAPTURE, IN A SENSE WE ARE, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOS WATER QUALITY, WHICH YOU CAPTURE ALL THE RUNOFF AND RE IRRIGATE AND RE IRRIGATE.
I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTION AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
YEAH, SO I MEAN, I MADE A LIST OF ISSUES AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN COVERED.
ONE THING I HAVEN'T HEARD WAS, I GUESS THIS IS FOR STAFF ABOUT DEALING WITH THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ISSUES.
ARE THERE BLACK CAP BARRIER OR GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER HABITAT HERE OR ANY OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES? AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD THE APPLICANT HAVE TO DO TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY? SO ENDANGERED SPECIES IS NOT REGULATED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE, UM, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE OR THE BALCONIES, UM, CANYON LANDS PRESERVE.
UH, LESLIE, DO YOU KNOW IF, UH, LOOKING AT THE SITE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY CONCERN ABOUT EITHER OF THOSE SPECIES, BUT, UM, UH, I'M GONNA ASK IF LESLIE HAS ANY MORE INFORMATION.
AND I'D NOTE THAT COYOTES ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
I DO LOVE COYOTES, ACTUALLY, BUT, UH, LESLIE, HI, UH, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, BASED ON, UM, THE, UH, ASSESSMENT OF THE SITE, UM, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY, UH, OBSERVATION OF AN, UH, ENDANGERED SPECIES, BUT, UM, I CAN CONFIRM.
SORRY, LET ME TURN MY CAMERA ON REALLY QUICK.
CAN Y'ALL SEE MY CAMERA? NO, SORRY.
OKAY, LET'S TRY, CAN YOU SEE MY CAMERA NOW? YEP.
UH, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, SO THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY DONE, UH, ON THE SITE.
AND AT THIS TIME THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY, UH, OBSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, UH, ON THE SITE.
BUT I WILL, UM, CONFIRM WITH OUR, UM, WITH OTHER WATERSHED STAFF REVIEWING THE SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE, UM, IF THERE IS ANY OBSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, THAT THEY'RE REGULATED APPROPRIATELY.
SO IS IT THE CASE THAT STA UH, THAT CITY WOULD LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICANT IS FOLLOWING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FROM FISH AND WILDLIFE? UM, SO YEAH, THERE IS A CODE REQUIREMENT THAT, UH, WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS IN ENDANGERED SPECIES AREA, THAT, UM, REVIEW STAFF WITH A SITE PLAN NOTIFY, UM, APPLICABLE REGULATORY AGENCIES.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS ONE MEETS THAT OR NOT, BUT, UM, IF IT, IF IT DOES MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, UM, IT GOES THROUGH A PROCESS TO BE FOR THE NOTIFICATION TO OCCUR.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MY COLLEAGUE, RICHARD BRIMER, UH, COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
WHAT'S THE REASON FOR PROHIBITING ACCESS TO, UH, SUNSET RIDGE? JUST CONSISTENCY WITH THE, UH, 2010, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
[00:55:01]
OKAY.UM, CAN I ASK THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEN, WHY, WHAT'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE RESTRICTION TO ACCESS TO UBSTANCE SUNSET RIDGE? THE POINT OF VIEW WOULD SPEAK THE MICROPHONE.
I GUESS IF ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES THAT WAS LISTED AS A SPEAKER WOULD, WOULD, WHY WOULD YOU RESTRICT ACCESS THERE? IS THAT THE QUESTION? YES.
AND YEAH, YOU'LL, IF YOU DON'T MIND REITERATE, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE ACCESS, UM, THAT THAT'S EASY, BETTER, NICER ACCESS THAN GOING OUT ONTO SOUTHWEST PARKWAY AND STATE.
THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE BARTON CREEK CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER THERE ON TRAVIS COOK ROAD, WHERE MY THREE AND 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERS GO TO SCHOOL, AS DO A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THIS WOULD DO TO THE TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS TO THE CHILDREN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S GOING TO URBANIZE, UH, WHAT IS OTHERWISE A PARADISE.
YOU KNOW, THE SONG, THEY PAVE PARADISE AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS 10 ACRES.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, IF THEY PUT AN ENTRANCE OR EXIT THERE, THAT ROAD IS GOING TO GET HAMMERED AND DESTROYED.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE BACKED UP TRAFFIC IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD 1,995 TRIPS A DAY, WHICH IS A LOW ESTIMATE.
BECAUSE THEY, ON THE TIA WORKSHEET, THEY KNOCKED THAT DOWN BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THERE'S TRANSIT IN THE AREA, THERE'S NO TRANSIT, IT'S NOT SAFE.
SO IT DOESN'T MEET, MEET THE S IN SMART HOUSING.
IT, IT, IT DOESN'T MEET THE T THERE'S NO TRANSIT.
AND, AND IF THEY PUT A, A ENTRANCE EXIT THERE, TRAVIS COOK ROAD DURING PEAK HOURS RIGHT NOW FROM SOUTHWEST PARKWAY TO OLD BKS ROAD IS ALREADY SAND'S THE 2000 EXTRA TRANSIT.
NOW YOU TAKE, WELL LET ME ASK YOU, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, UHHUH, WOULD YOU BE OPPOSED TO A PEDESTRIAN ONLY ACCESS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
'CAUSE YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT? WE HAVE A GREEN BELT THAT IS EXCLUSIVE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE PAY FOR WITH OUR HOA AND NOW THE ONLY RECREATION IN THE AREA IS ACTUALLY OUR PRIVATE TRAIL, WHICH IS THREE OR FOUR MILES THAT WE MAINTAIN WITH OUR HOA DUES.
AND THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN POLICE IT.
WE CAN'T WALK WITH PEOPLE AND SAY, EXCUSE ME, CAN I SEE SOME ID ORDER, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TRAIL.
I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER REALLY QUICK.
SO, UM, UH, CHAIR BRIAN, I MEAN, UH, CHAIR, UM, BERG BERG, YOU'RE GOOD? YEP.
UM, I, I DON'T THINK THAT THE DEMAND SPEAKING RIGHT NOW IS REPRESENTING, UM, EITHER STAFF OR THE APPLICANT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND WE NORMALLY DON'T HAVE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT COME AND FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE CAN ASK THEM FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
STAFF TELL ME IF I'M GETTING THIS WRONG, BUT WE CAN ASK THEM QUESTIONS.
IF THEY WERE A LISTED SPEAKER ON AN AGENDA ON A, ON AN ITEM, THEY CAN SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.
AND I'M, THAT'S WHAT ELIZABETH'S SAYING, SO THAT'S, SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T NO, I WAS ELECTED THE HEAD TO A SPECIAL COMMITTEE, A SPECIAL COMMITTEE REGARDING, UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE NOBODY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DISCUSSED WITH, NOBODY WAS NOTIFIED.
AND I SAW A LITTLE SIGN ACROSS THE STREET AND WAS LIKE, I CALLED SOME PEOPLE AND THEY SAID, OH, NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND I WAS LIKE, NO, I KNOW HOW TO READ.
AND, UM, SO ACTUALLY THE, I I CAN, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT WOULDN'T LOVE TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW, AND NONE OF THEM KNEW ABOUT THIS UNTIL YESTERDAY.
ALRIGHT, WELL AGAIN, YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER ANSWER YOUR TRAFFIC QUESTION THOUGH.
NO, I MEAN YOU HAVE NO, I HAVEN'T.
YOU ARE OPPOSED TO A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESS AND YOU ARE OPPOSED TO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
BUT ALSO EVEN I'M OPPOSED TO SOUTHWEST PARKWAY ACCESS TOO, BECAUSE IF YOU LEAVE THERE, THERE'S NO LIGHT.
BUT LET'S SAY THEY PUT A LIGHT IN WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO 'CAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS.
WELL, YEAH, I DIDN'T ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE, ELVIN? NO.
SECRETARY BRISTOL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, APPLICANT OR LISTED PUBLIC COMMENTERS? I DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
SO, UM, I SEE IN THE, UM, THE BACKUP MATERIAL HERE THAT, UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTED TO, UM, UH, REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION BY USING DARK SKY, UM, TYPE LIGHTING.
AND SO I WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, MR. SUBTLE ABOUT THAT, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, GOING TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THE BUILDING AS WELL AS THE PARKING AREAS.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL WE DO WHAT WE SAID WE'D DO ON THE DARK SKIES ON, ON THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT? I'M, I'M PARAPHRASING.
[01:00:01]
OKAY.UM, SO THEN, UM, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO AND WITHIN THE, UM, RIGHT UP NEXT TO, UM, THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS WHERE THE GOLDEN SHEEP WARBLERS, UM, LIVE AS WELL AS THE BLACK CAP BARRIOS.
UM, I DO WANNA ECHO, UM, A COUPLE OF Y'ALL'S COMMENTS AS FAR AS, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY MAKING SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, WITH THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, NOT, UM, ACTUALLY BREEDING, UM, AND NESTING, UM, ON THIS, UM, LOCATION, BUT ALSO TO HAVE, MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS THAT AS YOU'RE BUILDING IN THIS AREA, THAT EVERY, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT THEY, THAT ALL THE BIRDS, UM, THAT LIVE IN AND USE THIS AREA, YOU KNOW, HAVE, UH, HAVE SOME HABITAT LEFT.
UM, AND, UM, I I LIKE IT THAT YOU'RE REMOVING THE INVASIVE, UM, PLANTS.
UM, HOPEFULLY THAT ALSO FOLLOWS UP WITH, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF REPLANTING AND LANDSCAPING THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO, UM, USES NATIVE PLANTS AS WELL.
AND, AND AGAIN, REITERATE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND GUIDELINES FOR HAVE AS IDENTIFIED IN OUR ERA, WHATEVER THEY ARE, WE WILL COMPLY WITH.
UM, AND SO THEN MY NEXT QUESTION HERE, UM, AND IT'S REALLY A I'LL, I'LL MAKE A STATEMENT FIRST AND, AND I WANT, I WANT THE NEIGHBORS TO HEAR THAT.
AND THEN CERTAINLY, UM, ANYBODY LISTENING THE PASSION OF THE EMAILS THAT WAS SENT OUT, I, I I, I'M REALLY, UH, MOVED BY THEM AND I'M MOVED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL FEELING IT, WE'RE ALL FEELING THE LOSS OF HABITAT.
WE ARE ALL FEELING THAT, OH, ONE MORE THING IS JUST ONE MORE THING, AND HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED? WELL, WE DO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UM, BUT, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO REALLY TAKE NOTE OF THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO PRESERVE, UM, ANY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE EASTERN CRE IS TO BUY MORE PARKLAND.
AND, AND WE JUST, WE'VE GOTTA DO IT.
AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL HEAR IT AND I HOPE EVERYBODY THAT SENT ON AN EMAIL BUCKLES DOWN AND UNDERSTANDS THAT.
AND WHEN BOND ISSUES COME FORWARD THAT WE, WE SUPPORT THEM SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BUY MORE PARKLAND BECAUSE WE CANNOT EXPECT THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DEVELOP PIECES OF PROPERTY.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHAT'S, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, SO I, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WAITED FOR YOU TO GO SIT BACK DOWN RICHARD AND
UM, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE PARKING.
IS IT, IS THERE A PLAN TO HAVE A PARKING GARAGE OR WILL IT BE SURFACE PARKING? SURFACE IT, IT SURFACE PARKING.
AND ON THAT, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GONNA, UM, UM, PLAN ON HAVING, UH, RAIN CATCHMENT.
DO YOU ALSO PLAN ON HAVING LIKE BIOS SWALES, AND TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN TO CATCH SOME OF THE RUNOFF FROM, UM, THE PARKING TAKE THIS, I'M STARING AT THE ENGINEER TO SEE IF SHE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE GO THROUGH THE, GO THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS AND THE REVIEW WITH THE DRAINAGE FOLKS, IT'S A PRETTY HIGH BAR TO MEET THE SOS WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND, AND HOW YOU GET THERE.
WE'LL USE ALL THE AVAILABLE TOOLS TO GET THERE, BUT, OKAY.
UH, I, I THINK THE, AND I DON'T HAVE THIS COMMITTED EXACTLY MEMORY, BUT IT'S BASICALLY NO, NO, UH, DISCHARGE OF THE AVERAGE ANNUAL POLLUTANTS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BOBBY KNOWS IT BY HEART, BUT IT'S BASICALLY, IT'S, IT'S THE SOS STANDARD.
I THINK ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS WERE, WERE ASKED.
SO, UM, THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU AGAIN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FOR, FOR Y'ALL SHOWING UP AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, SPEAKING YOUR PIECE AS WELL.
I, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT WEREN'T ASKED ALREADY.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES LIKE THE INVASIVES PLANT SPECIES.
IF YOU COULD GO A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE, ON THAT PROCEDURE, LIKE IF, UM, ANY TYPES OF CHEMICALS WOULD BE USED FOR THAT OR WOULD IT BE JUST CUTTING AND CHOPPING AND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT POSSIBLE POLLUTION TO THAT AREA.
AND TO DOVETAIL ON THAT, I HAD A PART OF A QUESTION OF MINE WAS IN ONE OF THE CONDITIONS, IT IS REMOVAL IN SPECIFICALLY WITHIN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR AREAS.
[01:05:01]
OTH EITHER APPLICANT OR STAFF? HAS THAT BEEN DELINEATED ON THE PROPERTY OR A DEFINITION PROVIDED? I'M GONNA ASK IF LESLIE CAN COME OFF CAMERA AND RESPOND.HOPEFULLY YOU WANT ME TO, LET ME, LET ME JUMP IN AND SAY THAT, LET YOU GO THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS.
THE TERM DEVELOPMENT IS DEFINED AS THE CLEARING OF VEGETATION, WHETHER INVASIVE OR NOT.
AND THE MEANS AND METHODS OF THAT HAS ALWAYS, IN MY EXPERIENCE, HAS BEEN HEAVILY REGULATED.
IT IS NOT DONE CHEMICALLY AS MY, BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA.
YOU WOULD GO IN GENERALLY WITH HAND TOOLS AND, AND CUT OUT THE INVASIVES AND IT, IT DOES DEPEND ON WHAT THE INVASIVE SPECIES IS.
UM, I THINK, SORRY, LESLIE'S HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ON HER END, COMPUTER'S HAVING PROBLEMS. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS.
AND I DON'T, I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO THE SITE OR SEEN, UH, UH, THE INVENTORY, UH, ERI TO KNOW WHAT PLANTS ARE OUT THERE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, IF IT'S BAMBOO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OCCASIONALLY YOU DO NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF, UM, TREATMENT WITH HERBICIDE.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BAMBOO AREA, BUT, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD PROMISE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT SPECIFICALLY IS THERE, BUT THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN IPM PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, WHICH IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE ANYWAY WITH THE SOS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE LEAST INVASIVE, UM, TREATMENT OPTION TRIED AT FIRST.
UM, SO, SO THAT YOU'RE ENSURING THAT THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, NO, NO, UH, ADVERSE POLLUTANT LOAD.
HI, UM, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, AS LIZ MENTIONED, UH, THE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, OUTLINES ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT HERBICIDES ARE USED IN ALL HERBICIDES.
UM, HOWEVER THEY'RE USED HAVE TO BE USED BY A CERTIFIED APPLICATOR.
AND THERE, AS LIZ MENTIONED, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF INVASIVE SPECIES THAT ARE MANAGED OR MANAGED IN DIFFERENT, UH, WAYS.
SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THE ARRAY OF INVASIVE SPECIES ARE THAT ARE ON THE SITE.
AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE A FULL SENSE OF EVERY SINGLE TYPE THAT IS AVAILABLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, A A LICENSED APPLICATOR WOULD NOT KIND OF, UH, WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO JUST SPRAY HERBICIDE ACROSS LIKE ALL THE DIFFERENT PLANTS.
THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC, UH, APPLICATION STRATEGIES THAT, UM, CERTIFIED APPLICATORS USE WHEN APPLYING HERBICIDE TO, TO TREAT INVASIVE SPECIES AS IT ALIGNS WITH A, UM, AN IPM PLAN.
HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
AND ANOTHER THING I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT, IF THERE WERE GONNA BE ANY POLLINATORS, UM, POLLINATE, POLLINATING PLANT SPECIES ADDED TO THE VVE REVEGETATION? I THINK THAT'S FOR THE APPLICANT.
AND THE HONEST ANSWER IS, I DON'T KNOW.
IF IT BECOMES PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION, IT'LL BECOME PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
LESLIE, I'VE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU IF, IF, UH, YOU'RE STILL AVAILABLE, AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR BEING AVAILABLE, UH, FOR, FOR THIS, UH, THIS HEARING.
UM, AND THAT IS, I GUESS WHEN STAFF WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE RECOMMENDATIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INVASIVE SPECIES, WHAT DID THEY ENVISION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR AREAS? UM, 'CAUSE THAT'S NEW TO, TO ME, LOOKING AT CONDITIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, UM, THE APPLICANT PROVIDED THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIOR AREAS.
BUT AS IT RELATES TO, UM, THE SITE PLAN THAT IS ALSO CONCURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED, UM, THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL AREAS THAT ARE BEING PRESERVED AS IT RELATES TO, UM, THE HERITAGE TREES ON SITE THAT ARE BEING PRESERVED, AND THEN, UM, AREAS OF, UH, EXISTING VEGETATION THAT ARE BEING PRESERVED AS A PART OF, UM,
[01:10:01]
AREAS THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE RE IRRIGATION COMPONENT OF THE, UM, WATER QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM.UM, AND ALL OF THOSE AREAS ARE ALSO A PART OF, UM, THE AREAS THAT WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH, UH, THE HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY AREA, UM, UH, THE AREAS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AND RESTORED WITH, UH, NATIVE VEGETATION.
UH, AND THOSE INCLUDE THE AREAS THAT HAVE THOSE HERITAGE TREES.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S SOME LANDSCAPING, UH, UH, NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION AREAS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AS A PART OF COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE.
UM, YEAH, I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT THAT, UH, POPPED INTO MY HEAD.
UM, SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OTHER POSSIBLE AMENITIES, UM, ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR SOLAR PANELS ON THIS PROPERTY? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT EITHER.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE ON THE ARCHITECTURAL PIECE OF THIS.
NOT MY, MY QUESTION IS FOR STAFF.
SO AS I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO THIS, YOU KNOW, I, I SUPPORT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST ALSO IN THIS, IN THIS SPECIFIC AREA, BUT ACTUALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE MOST AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES IN, IN THIS CITY.
AND, AND THAT JUST, BUT I AM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE REPEATEDLY FACE THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WITH NO TRANSIT ACCESS, AND THAT IS A BIG RED FLAG FOR ME OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I'M NOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMISSIONER.
FUENTES APPOINTED ME TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AND I AM MINDFUL AND COGNIZANT OF THE HISTORY OF THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE, AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
AND SO MY QUESTION, MY QUESTION FOR STAFF IS, CAN THE APPLICANT 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY PROBABLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT FROM AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERSPECTIVE, BUT NOT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE.
SO CAN THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION? UM, YES.
IF THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE, IS TO, FOR AGAINST THE PROJECT, THEN IT WOULD MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO IT WILL MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO WELL, UM, I IT MOVES FORWARD IN THE PROCESS WHETHER OR NOT THEY GET THE VOTE AT THE END.
I'M JOHN SAYING IT MOVES TO THE NEXT PART OF THE PROCESS.
OVER COMMISSIONER EINHORN ISN'T YOUR, IS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT COULD IT BE DEVELOPED IN ANY MEANS IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS? I'M, I'M, BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT THAT THERE'S AN APPROVED SITE PLAN ALREADY.
YEAH, NO, I'M ASKING IF THEY CAN GET THEIR, THEIR RESTRICTED COVENANT AMENDMENT WITHOUT, OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, FOR STAFF, APPLICANT? YES.
UM, YEAH, I HAVE, UH, CURIOSITY DOVETAILING SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND PERRY'S QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M CURIOUS IF THE APPLICANT WOULD BE OPEN TO WORKING WITH A NEW, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A NONPROFIT STATUS OR IF THEY'RE JUST A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, BUT, UM, THERE'S A GROUP CALLED THE NATIVE PLANT RESCUE PROJECT.
UM, THEY'RE WELL ESTABLISHED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
THEY'RE GETTING ESTABLISHED IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS WORK WITH DEVELOPERS ON SITES OF IMMINENT DEVELOPMENT TO SAVE AS MANY NATIVE PLANT SEEDS AND SPECIES AS POSSIBLE FOR RELOCATION, UM, TO OTHER PUBLIC LANDS OR PRIVATE HOMES TO TRY AND, UM, SAVE SOME OF THE BIODIVERSITY.
SO I'M CURIOUS, I DON'T WANNA PUT THE BURDEN ON THIS GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHEN I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THEM, UM, BUT I'M CURIOUS IF THE APPLICANT WOULD BE OPEN TO PUTTING IN AN EFFORT, UM, WITH THIS GROUP OR A SIMILAR GROUP, UM, SHOULD THE PROJECT MOVE FORWARD, ET CETERA, TO SAVE AS MANY OF THE NATIVE SPECIES AND, UM, SEEDS AS POSSIBLE? THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
THE QUALIFICATION IS IF WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY THAT'LL HELP WORK WITH US AND IT DOESN'T ADD US A BIG COST, THAT WOULD AFFECT THE AFFORDABILITY.
MY MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS GROUP
[01:15:01]
IS THAT THEY, WITH THE DEVELOPER'S PERMISSION GO ONTO THE LAND THEMSELVES TO REMOVE NATIVE PLANTS FROM WHATEVER AREAS YOU LET THEM KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE, ARE SLATED FOR DEMOLITION, SO TO SPEAK.UM, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S OF NO COST TO YOU.
UM, BUT IT'S JUST GRANTING PERMISSION FOR A FEW VOLUNTEERS TO COME WITH BUCKETS, UM, AND SHOVELS TO REMOVE SOME PLANTS, UH, TO RELOCATE THEM.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, LESLIE.
UM, IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HERITAGE TREES.
UH, SHE INDICATED THERE ARE SOME HERITAGE TREES ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MAP OF THOSE AND IF SO, CAN, UH, THAT BE DISTRIBUTED TO, UH, INTERESTED PARTIES LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PERHAPS THE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD? UM, YES, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PRODUCTION, UM, THERE IS A, UM, TREE SURVEY, UH, THAT WAS COMPLETED WITH THE SITE PLAN THAT'S CURRENTLY IN REVIEW.
AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TREE SURVEY AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO YOU ALL.
UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD GET THAT OUT TO US AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAD, UH, EMAILED, YOU KNOW, IN FROM THE, UH, SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA MAKE A COMMENT THAT I THINK IS CORRECT TO, UH, COMMISSIONER EINHORN.
UM, I'M GONNA SAY THAT WE ARE AN ADVISORY BODY TO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL AND TO EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE VOTE ON SOMETHING, WE PROVIDE OUR BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE ON SOMETHING, AND THEN THE COUNCIL GOES OFF AND CONSUMES THAT INFORMATION AND VOTES HOWEVER THEY THINK IS BEST.
SO WE DON'T MAKE POLICY DECISIONS.
SO, CHAIR, CHAIR, YEAH, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, UH, MS. LILY, IN THE, UM, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT, WOULD IT BE USEFUL TO SAY IN, IN THE VERY FIRST STATEMENT IN ONE C, THE PROPERTY MAY BE DEVELOPED UP FLORIDA AREA RATIO ONE TO ONE FOR RESIDENTIAL USE USING AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED REQUIREMENTS? SO THAT WE'RE EXPLICITLY SAYING THAT THIS CAN ONLY BE, I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE THE CASE THAT THAT'S THE INTERPRETATION BY LAW, BUT THIS WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY THAT THIS COULD ONLY BE AFFORD ONLY BE DEVELOPED AS RESIDENTIAL IF IT FOLLOWS AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
UM, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION, I AM GOING TO DEFER THAT QUESTION TO MY COLLEAGUE, NANCY, SINCE THAT IS, UM, A PART OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, UM, REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.
NANCY, WITH ZONING DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ACTUALLY THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT.
UM, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE TYPICALLY WITH A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, ADDITION OF LANGUAGE LIKE THAT, WE WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO RUN THAT BY OUR LAW DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT AN EVERYDAY QUESTION AS FAR AS JUST LIKE BEING ABLE TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE TO THE RC.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
UM, I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, HOLD YOUR HAND UP.
UM, UH, THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS COME, UM, UH, ADJACENT LANDOWNERS, UH, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT IN NUMBERS, IN EMAILS AND IN PERSON.
UM, THIS ISN'T AN EASY PLACE TO GET TO AT SIX O'CLOCK, UM, FROM YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.
UM, ADDITIONAL INTERESTED PARTIES, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UM, STAFF, THANKS FOR BEING HERE, APPLICANT.
UM, UH, LET'S TALK, UM, AND, AND SEE IF WE CAN COME AROUND, UH, TOGETHER TO A, TO A PHYSICIAN, UM, ON A MOTION.
[01:20:01]
ANY COMMENTS TO DISCUSS BEFORE, UM, MAYBE WE KIND OF FRAME UP A, A MOTION? IF SO, RAISE YOUR HAND.I HAVE A MO I HAVE THE MOTION, I HAVE PEOPLE'S NOTES HERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ IT AND SEE IF WE, WE CAN GET A SECOND AND THEN, UH, DISCUSS AFTER.
UM, THE SUBJECT IS SUNSET RIDGE, UM, C 14 DASH 85 DASH 2 88 1 66, UH, LOCATED AT, AT 8 4 0 1 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE WILLIAMSON CREEK AND BARTON CREEK WATERSHEDS AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE AND BARTON SPRINGS RECHARGE ZONE.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE AMENDMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, AND THOSE CONDITIONS ARE LENGTHY AS WELL AS OUR OWN.
AND HERE THEY ARE, UM, DEVELOPMENT, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH C WITH, UH, SUNSET RIDGE, UH, SHALL COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.
A IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITED TO 55% GROSS SITE AREA B EXCEPT, UM, EXCEPT, UH, FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE SITE WILL COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CODE, INCLUDING SOS NONDEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS DEVELOPMENT WILL ACHIEVE A ONE STAR AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING RATING.
UM, A MINIMUM OF FOUR PUBLIC, UH, EV CHARGING STATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED ON SITE AND INVASIVE SPECIES, UH, WILL BE MANAGED, UM, TO RESULT IN LESS THAN 5% COVER OF ANY PARTICULAR SPECIES WITHIN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR AREA DEVELOPMENT WILL COMPLY WITH AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING ST SEVEN.
LIGHT POLLUTION, UH, REDUCTION CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT WILL COMPLY WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, STEL FIVE BIRD COLLISION DETERRENT, UH, CRITERIA.
AND THEN HERE'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS INCREASE.
UM, THE EV CHARGING STATIONS FROM FOUR TO EIGHT.
TWO, UM, REQUEST THE CITY PROVIDE A TRANSIT STOP WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REQUEST.
THE APPLICANT PROVIDE PARKLAND ON SITE OR SIDEWALKS CONNECTING THEIR PROPERTY TO PARKLAND WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE.
UH, FOCUS ON PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS THAT SUPPORT POLLINATORS AND WORK WITH LOCAL GROUPS TO HARVEST NATIVE SEEDS AND PLANTS PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE LISTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? ANYONE? I'LL SECOND.
UM, AND I'LL HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
I WANT TO ADD IN THE, UM, SECTION ONE C THAT THE PROPERTY MAY BE DEVELOPED OUT OF TO A FLORIDA AREA RATIO ONE TO ONE FOR RESIDENTIAL USE USING AFFORDABILITY ON LOCKED REQUIREMENTS.
CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, A LITTLE BIT SLOWER? FOR, FOR ELIZABETH AND FOR THE REST OF US.
SO RESIDENTIAL USE AND THEN ADDING, USING AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT IS IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
THAT IS TO ADD TO SECTION ONE C IN THE AMENDED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.
SO THAT'S ADDING, UH, THAT LANGUAGE TO ONE C UH, BRISTOL.
DID YOU GET THAT? OR LET'S, LET'S SEE IF ANYBODY'S, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT AMENDMENT? UH, IF SO, THEN WE WILL DISCUSS IT.
I, I DON'T, UM, REAL QUICK, I WANNA ASK ELIZABETH IF SHE GOT ALL OF THAT CLEARLY.
ELIZABETH WATERSHED, HONESTLY, I'M GONNA LISTEN BACK IN ON THE RECORDING TO MAKE SURE.
I ONLY ADDED, ADDED FOUR WORDS.
USING AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED REQUIREMENTS, REQUIREMENTS, GOT, OH, OKAY.
THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL YOU'RE ADDING.
I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING AS WELL.
[01:25:01]
RESTRICT ACCESS TO SUNSET RIDGE ROAD TO EMERGENCY ACCESS ONLY.I, I BELIEVE THAT'S ALREADY THE CASE.
UM, BUT I DON'T OPPOSE ADDING THE LANGUAGE IF IT'S REDUNDANT.
UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? WELL, I HAVE A CONCERN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
SO YOUR AMENDMENT BRIER IS TO RESTRICT VEHICULAR ACCESS TO SUNSET, UH, RIDGE EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE? YES.
SEEING NO OPPOSITION, THAT, THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED.
ONE IS IN THE, I THINK IT WAS THE PREAMBLE, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT YOU HAD NOTED IT WAS IN THE BARTON SPRINGS RECHARGE ZONE.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT IN THE, IT'S NOT IN THE RECHARGE ZONE.
BEFORE THAT YOU HAD NOTED CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
IT IS THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE.
HOWEVER, I WILL NOTE IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IT WAS IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.
AND IT IS, I I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE.
LIZ, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT? YES, I BELIEVE IT WAS CONTRIBUTING, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK ON GIS REAL QUICK.
AND, AND THEN BRISTOL, I THINK YOU HAD SAID, AND YOU MAY HAVE WRITTEN IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT I THINK YOU HAD SAID RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT FOR, FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, BULLETS, BUT I BELIEVE YOU MAY HAVE MEANT, OR I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD READ CONDITIONS INSTEAD OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF, IF THAT WAS A CHANGE, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THOSE CHANGES? ALL RIGHT, I GOT ANOTHER ONE.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA GET TO THE HEART OF THIS.
UH, AND I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN AGREE ON THIS IS REALLY WHERE THE ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT COMES, UM, FROM A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
AND THAT'S THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UH, IT'S GONE FROM 50 65 TO 55 ALREADY.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T TAKE IT DOWN TO 45.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S, THEY COME BACK FOR A COUPLE MORE OF THESE CHANGES AND WE'LL GET THERE EVENTUALLY.
WELL, COMMISSIONER FER, I WONDER THOUGH, ANOTHER ITEM ON OUR AGENDA HAS TO DO WITH LOOKING AT GREENER PARKING.
AND IF THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES, THEN MAYBE THAT'S THE DIRECTION TO GO TO.
I MEAN, UNTIL THEY HAVE MASS TRANSIT IN THIS AREA, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE REQUIRED PARKING.
AND SO IF IT COULD BE GREENER PARKING, THEN THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
AND YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S LOOKED AT THAT, SO.
LET, LET'S LET, SO KIND OF GOOD, GOOD, GOOD SUGGESTION AND COMMENT.
UM, AND TRY TO KEEP, I'D LIKE TO, TO SOMETHING IN HERE.
BRENNER, THE COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL WAIVED REQUIREMENT FOR, UH, PARKING BASED UPON, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF UNITS OR THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS OR HOWEVER IT'S SPECIFICALLY WORDED.
SO THEORETICALLY, THEORETICALLY, HE COULD BUILD, YOU KNOW, THE, THE APPLICANT COULD BUILD 450 APARTMENTS AND NO PARKING.
SO THEORETICALLY, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT HE SHOULD DO.
I'M NOT TRYING TO DRIVE HIS BUSINESS.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING.
I'M SAYING THAT THERE'S NO OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE APPLICANT TO BUILD X NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER COULD BE REDUCED.
AND I'M NOT SAYING DOWN TO 45%, MAYBE 50, I DON'T KNOW PICK NUMBER.
BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER COULD BE REDUCED USING THE CITY CODE.
THE COUNCIL HAS JUST PASSED TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SPOTS PROVIDED BY THIS THING.
AND THAT'S A REASONABLE APPROACH TO IT.
AND SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH PARKING THAT TRADITIONALLY, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED, YOU CAN DO AWAY WITH 40 SPOTS, LET'S SAY.
I, I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST GONNA TOSSING RANDOM NUMBERS OUT HERE, BUT WE COULD REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 55 TO 50,
[01:30:01]
DO AWAY WITH 50 PARKING SPOTS, AND WE MEET, UH, COMMISSIONER ER'S, YOU KNOW, GOAL OF REDUCING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.COFER, BRISTOL, I THINK, I THINK, YEAH.
UM, I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE THE APPLICANT OR REQUEST THAT THE APPLICANT, UM, UM, REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, UH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT UP TO THEM HOW THEY REDUCE THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA DICTATE ON WHERE, WHICH PART THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T HAVE THEIR BIG SITE PLAN.
WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING YET.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE OVERALL BIG PLAN OF SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER FER I DO SUPPORT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO A CONDITION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICANT REDUCED IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 55 TO 50%? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE THAT MAKES IT ON ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
UM, BRISTOL, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, JUST LIST OFF THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED ON OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT YOU, YOU STARTED WITH.
FIRST OFF, WE'RE ADDING FORWARDS, UM, USING, UM, AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED REQUIREMENTS.
UM, UH, SECOND, UM, WE'RE, UM, ADDING, UM, RESTRICT VEHICLE ACCESS TO SUNSET RIDGE TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY AND REDUCE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 55% TO 50%.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS IT'S WRITTEN? RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, ALTHOUGH THERE, DO YOU WANT US, DO YOU WANT EIGHT? OKAY, LET'S, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL ROLL CALL.
UM, THIS WILL MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR TOMORROW MORNING FOR ELIZABETH.
UM, UH, BRIER FOUR OR AGAINST, AGAINST BRISTOL FOR, OR AGAINST? FOR, UH, KRUGER? FOR OR AGAINST? FOR QURESHI.
NICHOLS AND SULLIVAN ARE FOUR AS WELL.
UM, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING IN.
LET'S, UH, LET'S ACTUALLY TAKE A BREAK, UM, AND, UH, MAYBE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE.
SO WE'LL, UH, RECONVENE IN, IN, IN FIVE MINUTES.
UH, UM, BUT ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, LET'S, UH, WANDER BACK TOWARDS OUR GENERAL MICROPHONES AND OR VIDEO CAMERAS, PLEASE.
WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
[3. Consider a recommendation requesting that the City of Austin work with a qualified research partner to study the environmental impacts of different vehicle parking options to determine if there are certain levels of parking at which one option might be more environmentally friendly than another. Presenter: Hanna Cofer, Environmental Commission Member]
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION REQUESTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORK WITH A QUALIFIED RESEARCH PARTNER TO STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLE PARKING OPTIONS TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY CERTAIN LEVELS OF PARKING AT WHICH ONE OPTION MIGHT BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN ANOTHER.AND, UM, COMMISSIONER FER, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
DO I DO IT FROM HERE OR DO I HAVE TO GO UP THERE? I THINK YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN STAY THERE.
I DON'T LIKE PODIUMS. UM, OKAY.
I KNOW WE'VE KIND, WELL, OBVIOUSLY PARKING'S JUST BEEN A BIG TOPIC RECENTLY.
UM, IT EVEN HAS COME UP A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.
UM, AND FROM SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE WHY BEHIND THIS.
[01:35:01]
SO I MADE SOME EDITS TO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU ALL HAVE.I HANDED THEM OUT HERE, I'M SORRY.
UM, OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT AREN'T HERE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE THEM, BUT I FEEL LIKE THESE KIND OF ACTUALLY GET TO THE WHY.
UH, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ SOME OF THE RED LINE SECTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, SO I ADDED UNDER THE THIRD, WHEREAS, UH, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MAKING POLICY DECISIONS CONCERNING AMOUNT AND TYPE OF PARKING THAT SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN NEW DEVELOPMENT, UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND HARMS FOR EACH OPTION WOULD BETTER INFORM THESE DECISIONS.
I STRUCK THE SECTION THAT WAS, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UNDERSTANDS THAT HOTELS, HOSPITALS, PARKS, ET CETERA, THAT'S GONE.
UM, THE THEREFORE SECTION, I ALSO, I'LL JUST READ THAT FIRST PART, BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORK WITH A QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PARTNER TO STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLE PARKING OPTIONS.
THIS REPORT WOULD, SHOULD ANALYZE AND DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOALS, INCLUDING ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
SO OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN IS HAVING A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING RIGHT NOW, THE ELIMINATION OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE SORT OF KEEP TALKING ABOUT, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT, AND I WOULD, MY CAR ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO COME HERE TONIGHT.
UM, THIS IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, I FEEL LIKE, BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO REQUIRE PARKING DOESN'T MEAN THAT DEVELOPERS AREN'T GOING TO BUILD PARKING, UM, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NO TRANSIT OPTIONS TO GET TO TWO PLACES.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GONNA STOP COMING TO US.
UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT PARKING IS GONNA BE A QUESTION THAT THIS COMMISSION, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON CONSTANTLY.
WE'RE SEEING, UM, SO FOR WHEN PUDS ARE ASKING FOR SUPERIORITY, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, SO REALLY TRULY UNDERSTANDING AND HAVING A SHARED LANGUAGE AND FACTS AND DATA, UM, AND NOT JUST PERCEPTIONS, UM, AND JINGLES ABOUT WHICH PARKING IS BEST, UM, AND WHAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S TRULY THE BEST, SPECIFICALLY NOT JUST ANY PARKING ANYWHERE, BUT FOR AUSTIN, INCLUDING ON OUR MOST, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SPACES LIKE THE RECHARGE ZONES.
UM, SO THAT'S THE WHY OF THIS.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT I'VE KIND OF ADDRESSED SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD ABOUT SORT OF, UM, WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? YEAH.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND, UM, AND, AND SAY, FIRST OFF, SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO VER COMMISSIONER, UM, COFER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND LETTING ME HELP RUN, UH, OUT WITH IT.
UM, I, I ALSO ECHO, UM, HER SENTIMENT AND THAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE, UM, THE DATA AND THE BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE GOING ON, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CITIES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED THESE TYPES OF THINGS, AND I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT AUSTIN DOES TOO.
AND, UM, FOR US TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS ALSO PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PUZZLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR HOW DO WE HELP DEVELOPERS DO THE BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH EACH AND EVERY DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES FORWARD.
BEFORE WE GO AROUND TO COMMISSIONERS, I'M SORRY, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTERS, UM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, IF, YEAH, THANKS.
UM, FIRST UP, WE HAVE TANYA PAYNE, AND AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES IS ISAN.
UH, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE, AND I'M A MEMBER OF REWILD.
I HAVE TO START OUT BY SAYING I'M CONFUSED HOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CHOSE TO SPEND ITS TIME DISCUSSING, ASKING FOR MONEY, FOR PARKING STUDIES AMONG THE OTHER TOPICS THAT THEY COULD BE DISCUSSING.
IN TODAY'S AUSTIN, FROM WHAT I SEE, THE AUSTIN OF 2024 HAS A CITY COUNCIL THAT REMOVED ALL PARKING REQUIREMENTS, HAS PASSED THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
I BELIEVE STAFF HERE HELPED WITH IT AND IS COMMITTED TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS PLAN.
FURTHER, I SEE A CD THAT IS CHANGING CODES, AT LEAST IN PART, TO INCREASE DENSITY TO BETTER SUPPORT MASS TRANSIT.
AND HONESTLY, HAVE YOU GUYS CHECKED OUT THE COOL Q2 STADIUM STOP? THEY DON'T NEED PAR, THEY DON'T NEED PARKING STUDIES.
AUSTIN HAS SOME REAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT I WISH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WOULD PRIORITIZE SPENDING TIME ON, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, SOIL, CARBON CAPTURE, TREE CANOPY, DROUGHT MITIGATION, FLOODING, AIR AND WATER QUALITY.
[01:40:01]
VOTE AGAINST GIVING MORE FUNDING TO PARKING STUDIES THAT COULD BE DONE IN A SIMPLE LITERATURE SEARCH AND SPEND YOUR TIME INSTEAD FOCUSING ON ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH AUSTIN'S GOALS THAT COULD PREPARE US FOR A BETTER FUTURE.NEXT UP WE HAVE DIANA, UH, I'M SORRY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS COMMISSION REQUIRES A BLANKET STATEMENT UNRELATED TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT.
MY AREA OF STUDY IS ZILKER PARK WITH PHOTO EVIDENCE AND ACTUAL DATA.
LET ME EXPLAIN WHY CAPACITY AND LOCATION ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAN GREEN PARKING FEATURES.
THE WHITE BOXES ON THIS GO GOOGLE MAP SHOW THE NORMAL CAPACITIES OF SURFACE PARKING IN ZILKER PARK AND THEIR LOCATIONS.
BUT ON JULY 2ND, 524 CARS WERE ALSO PARKED ON THE POLO FIELD.
I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT MY ANNOTATED COPY.
I, I PUT THE WRONG ONE IN THERE.
BUT IT SHOWS THAT THE TOTAL PARKED CARS IN THIS FRAGILE ENVIRONMENTAL ZONE BETWEEN BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AND BARTON CREEK WAS 1,018 CARS.
NEXT, THIS IS THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD ON THAT DAY AT 3:41 PM NEXT, THIS IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THAT CAPACITY REPRESENTS GOING INTO THE POOL.
NEXT, THIS IS INSIDE THE POOL GROUNDS.
NEXT, AS COMMISSIONERS FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY INDEX.
FOR EVALUATING THE HEALTH OF WATERSHED RIPARIAN ZONES, CONTACT RECREATION IS CONSIDERED A NEGATIVE FACTOR.
NEXT, HERE YOU SEE TREE ROOT DAMAGE FROM CONTACT RECREATION.
NEXT, HERE YOU SEE THE TRASH PROBLEM, A FACTOR IN THE WATERSHED.
ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY INDEX CAPACITY AND LOCATION MATTERS MOST FOR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING FEATURES.
TO PROPOSE 500 FEWER CARS IN THIS LOCATION WOULD BE A STRATEGY EMPLOYED UNDER THE NAME OF DEMAND MANAGEMENT, A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE CONGESTION.
PLEASE DON'T WASTE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON A REPORT OF GREEN PARKING BEST PRACTICES.
THE PROPOSED CONSULTANT STUDY WILL NOT HELP THIS COMMISSION AVOID THE LARGER ISSUES IN OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE DUE TO LOCATION AND CAPACITY.
HI, UH, SO MY NAME IS MARK MAY.
COULD YOU PLEASE USE THE MICROPHONE? SORRY, I THINK IT'S ON.
JUST MAYBE GET A LITTLE CLOSER.
I AM, UH, I AM COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO THIS, UH, UH, RESOLUTION TO TRY TO, UH, STUDY PARKING.
UM, MY FIRST CONCERN IS, I'M CONCERNED WHO WOULD USE OTHER DATA COMING FROM THIS.
SINCE THE CITY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A, A REQUIREMENT FOR PARKING, I THINK THE MOST LIKELY PEOPLE THAT WOULD USE IT ARE, ARE NOT THE CITY OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT LIKE A BUSINESS INTEREST THAT WANTS TO JUSTIFY THEIR PREFERRED PARKING OPTION AS A ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, SOLUTION.
TRAIL OF LIGHTS, KITE, A FESTIVAL A PF, AND ALL OF THE ZWARE 3, 5 1 MEMBERS COME, COME TO MIND.
THESE BUSINESSES HAVE, UH, GENERATED ENOUGH CASH IN OUR PARKS THAT THEY CAN FUND THEIR OWN, UH, STUDIES.
$30 A CAR AT TRAIL OF LIGHTS CAN FUND A LOT OF STUDIES.
NOW, IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUES WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OTHER NONPROFITS, THAT'S FINE, BUT, UH, BUT I CONSIDER THIS IS A SHOCKING WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY.
THERE'S EXTENSIVE FREE INFORMATION ONLINE, SO WE DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR IT AS JUST A SIMPLE THING.
THERE, THERE IS FREE SOFTWARE CALLED CARBON, UH, CONSCIENCE THAT QUICKLY, UH, CALCULATES THE LIFECYCLE, UH, CO2, COST OF VARIOUS, UH, CONSTRUCTION AND LANDSCAPE TYPES.
THIS IS FREE INFORMATION THAT'S ONLINE NOW.
LASTLY, UH, STUDYING PARKING SHOULD BE A VERY, A VERY LOW PRIORITY, AND IT'S NOT WHERE WE SHOULD SPEND OUR VERY,
[01:45:01]
UH, LIMITED PUBLIC DOLLARS.WHY NOT STUDY HOW TO SAVE OUR WATER, OUR TREES AS, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE GETS, GETS WORSE.
FUND A STUDY THAT'S IN THE BROAD PUBLIC GOOD.
HOW IN THE WORLD DID PARKING BUBBLE UP TO THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR A CITY WITHOUT PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION? OUTRAGEOUS VOTE.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE GAIL ROTH, OR RALPH.
WE ZILKER, I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS RECOMMENDATION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, IT, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS STUDY AND REPORT WOULD BE NOVEL OR NEEDED.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EXISTING RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS WORK, INCLUDING WORK BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS BY THE CITY.
UH, ADMITTEDLY, THIS STUDY AND REPORT MAY REQUIRE ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL BUDGET ASK, BUT WHY ASK IF THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE? UH, MY SECOND POINT IS I'M NOT SURE IT'S STILL RELEVANT SINCE THE SECTION I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS MAY HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, BUT I'M GONNA REPEAT IT ANYWAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT IS TO ASK THAT YOU REMOVE THE WORD PARKS FROM THE THIRD PARAGRAPH.
SO IF THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED, I HOPE THERE'S NO MENTION OF PARKS ANYWHERE IN THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE OUR PARKS ARE THE LUNGS OF THE CITY.
AND EVERY YEAR WE GOING FORWARD, WE WILL NEED HEALTHY LUNGS MORE AND MORE, EVEN GREEN.
CONCRETE IS CONCRETE, AND WE SHOULD NOT IMPOSE THAT SCAR OR THAT POLLUTION ON OUR PARKS.
THE RECOMMENDATION STATES THAT THIS REPORT WILL BE A TOOL TO DETERMINE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR PARKING OPTIONS.
MY QUESTION IS SUPERIOR TO WHAT? IT'S SUPERIOR TO THE EXISTING PARKING GARAGES, RIGHT? BUT IT IS NOT AND WILL NEVER BE SUPERIOR TO THE GRASS AND TREES AND NATURAL AREAS THAT ARE OUR PARKS AND THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
SO DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO PARKING GARAGES IN OUR CITY'S PARK LANDS.
PLEASE CLOSE THIS DOOR AND KEEP IT CLOSED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MENTION OF PARKS IN THIS RECOMMENDATION.
NEXT UP WE HAVE MIKE TI AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UH, SUBMIT IT DIGITALLY AS WELL, WHEN YOU KNOW, SO IT CAN BE PROMULGATED TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
HI, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONERS.
I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT 10, AND I WORK WITH A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFITS IN THE CITY, BUT I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY OF THEM HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THIS IDEA OF STUDYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT PARKING SOLUTIONS.
UM, I'VE READ A NUMBER OF OPTIONS THAT COULD BE EVALUATED IN TERMS OF REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER, WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, POLLUTION TREATMENT OPTIONS, WATER CAPTURE OPTIONS, INCREASING GREEN SPACE, STORM WATER DETENTION, DOWNSTREAM, REUSE OF STRUCTURES, AND EVEN, UH, PRESERVING TREE CANOPY.
THESE MIGHT BE BENEFITS THAT A STUDY WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN COMPARING DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRUCTURE, PARKING.
AND, UM, JUST IN SUPPORT, WHAT I HANDED OUT TO YOU WAS A, AN EXCERPT FROM THE GREATER, UM, THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE.
THEY HAD A LETTER IN FEBRUARY OF 2023 LAST YEAR, AND THEY WERE IDENTIFYING THAT SOME CERTAIN TYPES OF PARKING STRUCTURES LIKE VERTICAL PARKING, CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IN SPACE AND OPEN UP GREEN SPACE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT ANY STUDY WOULD NECESSARILY CONCLUDE, BUT THERE CAN BE BENEFITS THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.
AND I HOPE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SUPPORTS EXPLORING THOSE SO THAT WE HAVE BEST PRACTICES TO FOLLOW IN THE CITY.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE CEDAR STEVENS.
HOWDY COMMISSIONER, THANKS FOR LETTING US SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.
I'M WITH EARTH FIRST AUSTIN, AND I'M HERE
[01:50:01]
TO REGISTER MY OPPOSITION TO THIS, UH, MOTION AND ASK YOU TO VOTE NO.UH, I DID COME OUT HERE BECAUSE I WAS EXTREMELY ALARMED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THIS BEING A STUDY LEADING TO THE, UH, PLACEMENT OF PARKING GARAGES IN OUR PARKS.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THAT IS HOPEFULLY NO LONGER THE CASE.
HOWEVER, UH, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED, THE NECESSITY FOR THIS STUDY, UH, IS, UH, BEWILDERING.
AND, UH, I COULD THINK OF IMMEDIATELY ONE OTHER STUDY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY, UH, HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE BENEFIT TO THE CITY AND NOT BE REDUNDANT, IS IF WE COULD STUDY HOW TO USE EXISTING PARKING GARAGES IN PEAK TIMES TO MINIMIZE THE NEED TO BUILD ANY NEW PARKING GARAGES ON PARKS OR NOT.
I ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO, IT WAS ONLY SIX MONTHS AGO THAT WE, UM, VANQUISH THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN BECAUSE CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF ROSE UP AND FOUGHT AGAINST IT.
MANY OF THOSE CITIZENS, IF NOT MOST, WERE MOST OPPOSED TO ONE OF THE MOST UNPOPULAR PARTS OF THAT PLAN.
AND THAT WAS THE IDEA OF THREE PARKING GARAGES POTENTIALLY IN ZILKER PARK.
SO WE BEAT THAT DOWN, AND WHEN WE HEARD THAT IT WAS COMING UP AGAIN, WE START FEELING LIKE WE'RE PLAYING A VERY FUTILE WHACK-A-MOLE GAME.
SO I AM AFRAID THAT IF YOU, UM, UH, COMMISSION THIS STUDY, THEN THERE'S JUST GONNA BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT UGLY MOLE OF PARKING GARAGES IN THE PARKS TO COME UP.
LET'S BECOME AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN AUSTIN WHERE PEOPLE LOVE OUR PARKS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE PARKS USING LESS OF THEIR AUTO TRANSPORTATION, MORE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND MORE OF THE USE OF THE ALREADY EXISTING PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE, UH,
SO, UH, THANKS AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL VOTE NO ON THIS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE PATRICIA BOBAK.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PROVIDE MY INPUT THIS EVENING.
I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE RECOMMENDATION.
I FIND, FIRST OF ALL, THAT IT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THAT THIS INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE THROUGH ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURAL LITERATURE.
AND THAT, AS A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, A LITERATURE SURVEY WOULD FIND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND OR, UH, A SEARCH ONLINE.
AND SINCE SOMEONE ELSE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED THE, THE PARKS, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN IMPRESS UPON YOU, UM, THE FOLLY OF EVEN CONSIDERING CONSTRUCTION OF PARKING GARAGES ANYWHERE NEAR BARTON SPRINGS.
THE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS ARE THE RESULT OF KART GEOLOGY AND ANY DISRUPTION NOISE THAT SORT OF STUFF AROUND THE SPRINGS COULD EASILY CAUSE THE SPRINGS, WHICH ARE THE NUMBER FOUR LARGEST SPRING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DRY UP.
THAT'S THE CHEAPEST AND BEST ADVICE FROM A PHD HYDROGEOLOGIST THAT YOU WILL EVER GET.
AND, UH, ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION THAT I READ, IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, ON THE SECOND PAGE THERE IS WHAT TIME, WHAT TYPES OF PARKING OPTIONS PEOPLE PREFER.
THE IDEA OF CONSULTING THE PEOPLE, UH, SEEMS TO BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT SINCE I FIND IT IN LIKE, WHAT PARAGRAPH NINE OR 10.
I'D PREFER TO HAVE WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK BE A LARGER CONTRIBUTION TO THE, UH, TO THE PARKING CONVERSATION.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE PHILLIP THOMAS.
[01:55:07]
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, CHAIR, STAFF AND CITIZENS.I'M PHILLIP THOMAS, 68 MILDRED STREET, DISTRICT THREE, THE DEEP HOLLY ADVOCATES PART OF THE FREEZE IKER COALITION.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE US BACK TO THE JURASSIC PERIOD.
I'M GOING TO KEEP US IN THE HERE AND NOW.
IF IT ISN'T BUILT, THERE WON'T BE ANY HAND RINGING OVER IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THERE WON'T BE ANY WAITING FOR MOSS TO COVER A MONOLITHIC WALL.
OCEANS OF PAINT AND STRIPING PAINT WON'T BE USED.
THERE WILL BE NO DISTURBANCE OF THE SURFACE OR CAST.
MONEY WON'T HAVE TO BE SPENT ON MITIGATING RUNOFF.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE PUT A MASS OF SOLID CONCRETE IN OUR PARK WHEN PARKS ARE A VITAL HEDGE AGAINST A GROWING HEAT ISLAND? IN WHAT UNIVERSE DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? THE VERY BOARD THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CANNOT FALL FOR THIS THINLY VEILED PLOY.
I OPPOSE USE OF FUNDS FOR PARKING OPTIONS.
SO PLEASE DON'T ENDORSE THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ROY WHALEY.
ROY WHALEY CONSERVATION CHAIR.
AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF SIERRA, SIERRA CLUB.
NOBODY'S CAR WANTS TO GO TO THE PARK.
PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO THE PARK.
SO WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE.
WE'RE MOVING TO A TRANSIT SOCIETY.
UM, EVEN I AM MOVING TO A TRANSIT SOCIETY, BUT PEOPLE MUCH YOUNGER THAN I AM, THEY ARE DEFINITELY MOVING TO TRANSIT AND LESS LIKELY TO USE SINGLE OCCUPANCY CARS.
AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO USE CARS, THEY'LL USUALLY CARPOOL OR TAKE AN UBER AND BE DROPPED OFF.
TRANSIT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
UM, AND WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON ZILKER.
UM, BUT WE CARE ABOUT ALL OF THE PARKS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO A PARK.
UM, ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE CHILDREN, ALL THE PETS.
UM, AND SO TRANSIT NEEDS TO BE THE ANSWER TO THIS, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE NUMBER 30 RUNS RIGHT BY THEIR, UM, WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXISTING PARKING GARAGES.
AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO HAVE A SEASONAL SHUTTLE.
UH, 'CAUSE WHEN WE LOOK OUT THERE, WE SEE, UH, DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, OCEANS OF CARS, AND THEN OTHER TIMES JUST OCEANS OF EMPTY PARKING SPOTS.
SO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE SHUTTLE FOR A SEASONAL WAY TO GET TO ZILKER PARK AND THE OTHER PARKS.
CAMP METRO IS NOT GOING TO DO IT ALONE.
THAT'S THE REASON I HAD TO DRIVE HERE TONIGHT.
SINCE I COULDN'T RIDE MY BICYCLE, IT WOULD'VE TAKEN ME THREE WEEKS TO GET HERE.
BUT LET'S FOCUS ON GETTING A SHUTTLE SET UP.
NOT ASK PAR TO RUN IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE.
WHAT WE NEED IS TO SUGGEST AND RECOMMEND IN WRITING THAT WE HAVE THIS ALTERNATIVE, THAT WE HAVE OFFSITE PARKING AND A SEASONAL SHUTTLE THAT WILL MOVE PEOPLE NOT CARS TO OUR PARKS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE TERRY ADAMS. OH, NOT HERE.
UH, COMMENTERS, UM, ON BOTH SIDES.
UM, ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UM, QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER FER OR DISCUSSION? UH, ABOUT THE MOTION, THE AMENDED MOTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US? YEAH.
SULLIVAN, GO FOR COMMISSIONER FER.
I, I I DON'T SEE ZILKER PARK MENTIONED IN YOUR MOTION.
NO PARKS IN THE MOTION AND NO PARKS AT ALL ARE
[02:00:01]
LISTED IN YOUR MOTION.I GOT, MAN, ALL THIS C3 Y, YADA, YADA.
AND I LOOK AT THIS AND I'M LIKE, OH, IT SAYS PARKS IN HERE ONCE.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S GOT PTSD FROM THE VISION PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, LIKE MR. WHALEY SAID, I REALLY WOULD LIKE IT IF EVERYBODY SHOWS UP FOR ALL THE OTHER PARKS, NOT JUST ALL THE PARKS IN THE OH FOUR, BUT I JUST LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE.
SO THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
UM, I'M ALSO ON THE, UH, SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS COMMITTEE FOR THE, UH, OR WORKING GROUP RATHER, THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS WORKING GROUP FOR THE, UH, JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
UM, SO I THINK THIS KIND OF HAS SORT OF SIMILAR BENT, RIGHT? UM, WE CAN TRY TO JUST PUT OUR EARS, OUR FINGERS IN OUR EARS AND GO LA LA LA LA LA.
WE GOT RID OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THERE WILL NEVER BE A SINGLE PARKING GARAGE EVER CONSTRUCTED IN AUSTIN AGAIN.
UM, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE THE CASE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS OR WHATEVER, RIGHT, THAT WE ASK THESE DEVELOPERS TO ADHERE TO.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE FOR PARKING, UM, IS PROBABLY A DECENT IDEA.
I DO AGREE THAT, UH, WE GIVE CONSULTANTS PLENTY OF MONEY ALREADY.
UM, SO WHATEVER INFORMATION IS ALREADY OUT THERE FOR FREE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY CIRCULATE IT TO THE, THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS WORKING GROUP FOR THE JSE.
UM, BUT YEAH, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO TELLING THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S SO FOCUSED ON PARKS AND DOWNTOWN, AND I GET IT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE URBAN CENTERS, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT MUELLER ON THE EAST SIDE, REALLY DON'T SEE ANYONE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE BUILDING PLENTY OF PARKING GARAGES, GETTING RID OF ALL THE FIELDS.
UM, THE DOMAIN, WE JUST GOT RID OF OUR HEIGHT RESTRICTION THERE.
THAT'S ALL GONNA BE REDEVELOPED.
IF YOU DON'T THINK A SINGLE PARKING GARAGE IS GONNA GO THERE, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME BRIDGES YOU COULD, YOU COULD EASILY BUY.
UM, SO YEAH, I THINK IN GENERAL I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA.
I THINK, AGAIN, COULD WE FIND THE INFORMATION FOR FREE? THAT WOULD BE NICE.
BUT, UH, I THINK HAVING THE COMMISSION AND CITY STAFF MORE EDUCATED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN GET DEVELOPERS TO AGREE TO FOR THINGS THAT ARE BETTER FOR THE PLAN IN THE LONG RUN, IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
UM, AND, AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN, UM, FOR ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKS, UM, CONSIDERING YOU THERE.
THIS, THE STUDY IS NOT ABOUT PARKS.
AND WHEN, UH, MY HUSBAND, UM, HAD HEART ISSUES EARLIER THIS YEAR, UM, AND I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH HIM.
UM, I COULDN'T TAKE A BUS TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND I WAS VERY GLAD ON THE FOLLOWING EIGHT DAYS WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL THAT I HAD A PARKING GARAGE AND A PLACE TO PARK TO GET THERE, TO GET TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE WITH HIM.
WE WERE ASKED TO DO A VARIANCE FOR SETON HOSPITAL, SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR PARKING GARAGE.
AND WHEN WE DID THAT, WE WERE WOEFULLY, WOEFULLY INEPT TO BE ABLE TO ASK FOR THOSE DEVELOPERS TO ENHANCE OR DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE WITH THAT PARKING STRUCTURE SO THAT IT WAS THE GREENEST THAT WE COULD GET OUT OF THEM.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE TOOLS AND THE TOOLKIT, IF YOU WILL.
AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY STARTED THINKING ABOUT, WOW, HOW DO WE ASK FOR EACH ONE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT COMES FORWARD TO DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY ARE REDUCING HEAT ISLAND EFFECT BY HAVING GREEN ROOFS SO THAT THEY ARE USING SOLAR, UH, WHEN AND WHERE POSSIBLE ON THE WALLS OR UP ON THE DECKING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS REALLY STARTING TO GET THIS IDEA.
IT CAME FROM A HOSPITAL
UM, COMMISSIONER BRISTOL, UM, COMMISSIONER QURESHI FOR ADDING SOME CONTEXT TO THIS RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WHAT I'M HEARING IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND READING IN MY EMAILS IS A
[02:05:01]
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AROUND THIS RECOMMENDATION IN PARTICULAR AND WHAT THIS COMMISSION DOES.UM, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID TONIGHT IN PUBLIC COMMENT, FRANKLY, ARE THINGS THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF US ON THE COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, WOULD AGREE WITH MOST OF THE TIME.
BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT IS THIS RECOMMENDATION TALKING ABOUT? IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT INCREASING PARKING.
IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING THAT IS INEVITABLY GOING TO BE COMING OUR WAY.
HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GREENEST POSSIBLE? UM, THAT BEING SAID, I DO APPRECIATE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AROUND, UM, LIKE WHY DOES THIS ISSUE RISE TO THE TOP OF OUR AGENDA? I THINK JUST TO ANSWER THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN AT THIS MEETING TONIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SECOND ITEM ON OUR AGENDA DID HAVE TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENTS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND ACTUALLY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COMES UP A LOT FOR US.
AND SO I'M PICTURING THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR US AS A WAY TO THEN ATTACH CERTAIN SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FOR DEVELOPERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SAYING, OKAY, WE WANT THE LIGHTING TO BE A CERTAIN WAY, WE WANT NATIVE PLANTING.
AND IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A PARKING LOT, HERE'S HOW IT NEEDS TO BE BUILT.
UM, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T, WE ARE NOT EMPOWERED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, YOU CANNOT PARK HERE
AND I THINK TO ALL OF OUR FRUSTRATION, UM, WE ALSO ARE NOT EMPOWERED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, YOU CAN ONLY DEVELOP NEAR, YOU KNOW, TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN MASS TRANSPORTATION.
I'VE HEARD THAT FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US ON THE COMMISSION.
UM, AND SO I DON'T SEE THIS RECOMMENDATION AS BEING COUNTER TO THAT PRINCIPLE AT ALL.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT RESEARCH IS EXISTING OUT THERE.
UM, AND I'M CURIOUS IF COMMISSIONER FER CAN TALK TO, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO ANY NONPROFITS IN THE AREA? I'M THINKING OF ENVIRONMENT.
TEXAS IN PARTICULAR, I BELIEVE HAS DONE SOME SIMILAR WORK TO THIS.
UM, 'CAUSE I DO THINK THE ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE PUBLIC FUNDS GO IS ONE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY.
SO I AM I'M CURIOUS WHAT INSIGHT YOU HAVE, WHAT RESEARCH YOU'VE DONE, WHOM YOU'VE TALKED TO, AND IF YOU COULD REALLY LAY OUT FOR US LIKE THE NEED THAT YOU SEE AND THE GAP IN THE KNOWLEDGE AROUND THIS.
UM, I REALLY JUST WAS COMBING THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WAS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, MOSTLY WHEN THESE THINGS STARTED COMING BEFORE THIS COMMISSION MORE RAPIDLY.
UM, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WASN'T REALLY IN A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT IS THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.
UM, SO EXTENSIVE GOOGLE SEARCHES.
UM, AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, THERE IS INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR VERY SPECIFIC PIECES OF THIS.
THAT'S WHY I'M HOPING THAT THIS WOULDN'T ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE A BIG LIFT, UM, AS FAR AS A FISCAL NEED.
UM, BUT NOTHING THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN AND AS, AS COMPREHENSIVE AS WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR HERE.
UM, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE LIFESTYLE LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF THOSE PUZZLE PIECES ARE OUT THERE.
UM, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN PULLING THAT TOGETHER IF THERE ARE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, INSIGHT, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW IT PERTAINS TO AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY.
YEAH, I'M CURIOUS IF THE STAFF HAS A RESPONSE TO THAT.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT YOU DO KNOW A LOT.
SO WHAT, WHAT INSIGHT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE ON THIS TOPIC AND WHAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO YOU ALL WORKING AT THE CITY ON THIS MATTER? UM, LIZ JOHNSTON, WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD AN SPEAK TO THAT THIS EVENING.
UM, THERE ARE STAFF IN WATERSHED IN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WHO MAY, AND SO SHOULD THIS GET PASSED, WE WILL CERTAINLY PASS IT ON TO THEM, UM, AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THEIR INPUT, UM, AND, UH, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
WE WILL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE IT, BUT, UM, OF COURSE, WE NEED TO RUN IT UP THE CHAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS BOTH BANDWIDTH AND BUDGET TO, UH, DO SUCH A STUDY.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST SAY MY, MY CURRENT FEELING IS ONE OF CURIOSITY AROUND THIS.
I DO SEE A UTILITY FOR THIS INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
MY PREFERRED APPROACH WOULD BE TO FIRST GO THROUGH THE, THE CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OUR STAFF SUPPORT AND THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT THROUGH LOCAL NONPROFITS TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION THEY HAVE.
AND PERHAPS WE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE
[02:10:02]
SPECIFIC PERHAPS FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION.UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THIS WOULD BE GREAT INFORMATION TO HAVE.
UM, IT'S MORE JUST DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE ASK THE CITY TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SURE THAT NONE OF THE LOCAL NONPROFITS OR EVEN OUR OWN CITY DEPARTMENTS ALREADY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
AND I'LL PASS IT TO THE NEXT PERSON.
HORNE, DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER KRUEGER.
AND I WOULD ADD THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HAS A SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE THAT HAS AN EXCELLENT PLANNING PROGRAM.
THERE ARE LOTS OF REALLY SMART GRAD STUDENTS IN THERE AT, AT THAT, IN THAT PROGRAM WHO COULD HELP.
I'M NOT A ALUMNI OF THAT, SO I'M NOT, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT SELF-SERVING AT ALL.
UH, BUT, UH, I WOULD ADD THE UT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE TO THE LIST OF, OF ADVOCATES OR A, UH, SORT OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, I, I AGREE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, THE REASON TO PULL IT TOGETHER SO THAT WE, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID PRETTY ACCURATELY.
WE ARE OFTEN ON THE, ON THE, ON OUR HEELS WHEN DEVELOPERS COME IN.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA RELY ON DEVELOPERS TO, TO, TO PAY FOR THIS OR TELL US BECAUSE WE WANNA BE EMPOWERED WITH THE ABILITY TO SAY, HOLD ON, YOU NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU WANT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
UM, AND SO I, I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE REASON WHY WE, YOU PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING I'LL, I'LL JUST THROW IN THERE, I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THIS CITY HAS A LOT OF UNDERUTILIZED PARKING RESOURCES.
THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT SUGGESTION.
I THINK WE SHOULD ADD SOMETHING TO THIS RESOLUTION TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR, THEIR, YOU KNOW, APPS AND VARIOUS TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE USED TO HELP US BETTER UTILIZE THE PARKING THAT WE DO HAVE.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN A, WHEN A PROJECT THAT COMES IN THAT ISN'T ON TRANSIT, BUT MAYBE IS CLOSE TO SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT, NOT THESE GREENFIELD PROJECTS NECESSARILY, BUT MAYBE SOME BETTER INFIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, WE COULD SAY, DO YOU NEED THAT MUCH PARKING? BECAUSE HEY, YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY THEIR STREET PARKING, THERE'S, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE YOUR IMPERVIOUS COVER, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY ADD ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, PARKS AMENITIES TO YOUR PROJECT.
SO I, I THINK WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY ADD SOMETHING TO THE RESOLUTION TO TALK ABOUT BETTER USE OF EXISTING PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THAT, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT PRIMER.
UM, YEAH, THANKS, UH, COMMISSIONER KOPER FOR INTRODUCING THIS.
I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TIME TO, UH, BRING THIS UP, BUT I, I WENT THROUGH IT AND I, I'VE GOT SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP AT SOME POINT.
IF THIS IS THE, THE TIME TO DO THAT, GREAT.
IF, IF IT'S LATER ON, THAT'S FINE TOO.
UH, BRIER, I, I WOULD SAY IF LIKE THE CONCEPTS OR THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE ELEMENTS KIND OF LIKE WHAT EINHORN JUST WALKED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE, THE, THE THEMES OF THOSE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE DISCUSSION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A POINT KIND OF GETTING DOWN INTO THE, THE PENMANSHIP QUITE YET, BUT OKAY.
I THINK WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE, THE CONCEPTS OR WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE GENERALLY THINKING.
GENERALLY WHAT I'M THINKING IS, UH, I, I HAVE, OKAY, I HAVE ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONER COFER.
UM, I WOULD, BECAUSE THIS, I, I UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF WHAT THE DOCUMENT SAYS, BUT MY FIRST REACTION WHEN I READ THIS WAS, THIS REALLY SHOULD HAVE STARTED IN THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, SHOULD WE NOT, UH, WORK THROUGH THAT COMMISSION FIRST BECAUSE THEY'RE TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED AND THIS IS A TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION RELATED ITEM, AND THEN HAVE THEM PASS IT ALONG TO US FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.
SO THAT, THAT'S MY FIRST, MY FIRST GENERAL THING.
AND THEN THE, ALL THE REST OF THE COMMENTS I HAVE KIND OF GET TO, UH, CHAIR BERG'S THING OF WHERE I'M KIND OF LIKE DOTTING THE I'S AND CROSSING THE T'S ON STUFF.
UH, SO THAT'S THE ONLY, THE ONLY KIND OF REAL, UH, BROAD TYPE OF THING THAT I'VE GOT.
[02:15:03]
I MEAN, I THINK I CAN JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS AS MUCH AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AS IT IS A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.SO I DON'T SEE ANY, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW OFTEN THESE TYPES OF ISSUES ARE COMING BEFORE US, I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY PERTINENT PLACE FOR THIS TO COME FROM.
WOULD YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO, UH, US TAKING THIS TO THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION FOLKS AND ASKING THEM TO JOINTLY, I, AND I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT WORD BECAUSE I DON'T TO JOINTLY SPONSOR OR WHATEVER THE WORD IS, TO, TO REVIEW SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SUPPORT.
I KNEW THE RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I KNEW THERE'S A SCIENTIFIC TERM FOR THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UH, OBVIOUSLY I THINK IF WE GET MORE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU CAN GET MORE SUPPORT, IT WILL BE MORE BETTER.
YOU KNOW, I WILL POINT OUT THAT, UH, SPEAKING OF JOINT, I AM ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AND I LOVE JOINTS, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
SO I THINK THAT, UH, I'M CERTAINLY AMENABLE TO BRING IT UP THERE AND SEEING WHAT RESPONSE WE GET.
BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU POINTED OUT, COMMISSIONER BRIMER, THIS IS SORT OF A, A MULTI, I MEAN, MULTIMODAL IS KIND OF A PUN, BUT I GUESS, UH, CROSS DIMENSIONAL, WHATEVER THE WORD IS, RIGHT? IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE NIGHT, BUT, UH, YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO I'M CERTAINLY, UH, OPEN TO, TO BRINGING IT UP THERE AS WELL.
'CAUSE I'M SURE PEOPLE THERE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE TRANSPORTATION, THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IS ONE OF THE, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT'S REPRESENTED ON THERE.
WELL, IT'S, AND YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER BERG WOULD, OR CHAIR BERG WOULD NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DO THAT TYPE OF THING.
'CAUSE HE'S THE, YOU KNOW, BIG CHIEF.
I'M, I'M, YEAH, I'LL JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT STATEMENT WAS MADE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND THE HORN SULLIVAN? GO FOR IT.
WELL, I THINK WHAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE RAISED IS ABOUT COST.
AND WHEN WE HAVE A STATEMENT ABOUT THIS REQUESTED CITY WORK WITH A QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PARTNER, BEING A UT STAFF PERSON WHO'S A RESEARCHER, I CAN TELL YOU WE DON'T COME CHEAP.
SO ANYWAY, THOUGH, UM, MAYBE IT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUEST THE CITY TO WORK WITHIN THE STAFF OR WITH A QUALIFIED, INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PARTNER, BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S AN EASY, AN EASY, UH, ISSUE FOR CITY STAFF TO DEAL WITH.
I THINK THERE WAS JUST, THERE WAS A REAL REASON THAT I PUT INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PARTNER, AND THAT'S TO BUILD THE TRUST AROUND WHERE THIS DATA'S COMING FROM.
UM, NOT THAT WE DON'T TRUST STAFF, WE LOVE STAFF, UM, BUT KIND OF HAVING THIS BE AN OUTSIDE ENTITY THAT MM-HMM.
I I'M JUST THINKING THAT IT, IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT BIG A LIFT THAT SOMEBODY IN A TD COULDN'T ALREADY ADDRESS IT.
SO I'M SAYING HAVE AN OR IN THERE, AND, AND I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SPEAK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER KRUGER WAS SAYING, AND, UH, UH, WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY, SULLIVAN IS MAYBE A LITTLE, UH, MORE OF A LITERATURE SEARCH TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC OF WHERE, WHERE ARE THESE DATA GAPS OR, OR HOW, WHAT, WHAT'S THE GENERAL INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND HOW, AND, AND MAYBE STAFF CAN DO THAT.
MAYBE THAT'S WATERSHED PROTECTION.
IT MAYBE SOME STAFF ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN SILOS SOME OF THAT INFORMATION AND THEN DETERMINE ITS APPLICABILITY TO THE LANDSCAPE HERE, YOU KNOW, BEING CARS WEST OR, OR, UH, BLACKLAND PRAIRIE EAST, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM.
AND, UM, AND THEN MAYBE THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC RESEARCH DESIGNS THAT ARE NEEDED TO, TO SEE IF IT KIND OF GROUND TRUTH IT HERE.
I, I, I, I, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING IS IT'S, YEAH.
MAYBE IT'S NOT AS, AS BROAD OF AN UMBRELLA, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RESEARCH HOMEWORK PROCESS BOOK, YOU KNOW, BOOK REPORT TO START, RIGHT.
AND THEN, AND THEN KIND OF IF THERE ARE GAPS DIALING IN ON THOSE.
THOUGHTS ON THAT? KOFA? I DON'T, I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT WAS A QUESTION, BUT I APOLOGIZE.
UH, NO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE, WHATEVER WAY WE CAN DO THIS, THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE, AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DIAL IN ON THOSE PIECES THAT AREN'T
[02:20:01]
MISSING, IF WE, YOU KNOW, POST A BOOK REPORT, REALIZE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING, I WOULDN'T WANNA LIMIT US, UM, IN SCOPE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT CAN KIND OF JUST BE A PROJECT.OTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? I, I GUESS I JUST WANNA ADD TO THAT, OR, OR REITERATE WHAT I SAID, UH, EARLIER, WHICH IS THAT I WOULD LOVE THIS INFORMATION.
I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY UTILITY TO IT.
AND, UM, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ADDS MORE TIME AND WORK FOR COMMISSIONER FER AND POTENTIALLY CITY STAFF, BUT WOULD, WOULD BE TO DO AN INVENTORY, OR AT LEAST A CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFITS IN, IN THE AUSTIN AREA, WHO MAY HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS RESEARCH, NONPROFITS AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, WHOMEVER, THOSE, THOSE PARTNERS ARE.
UM, AND COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION.
PERHAPS YOU COULD EVEN HAVE, UM, A NOT DEMONSTRATION, WHAT'S THE WORD? WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE COME AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT THIS TOPIC SO THAT WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT IF IN OUR, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH OR ATTEMPT TO MAKE CONTACTS WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS, WE FIND THAT THERE IS INDEED A DATA GAP, THEN WE RETURN TO THIS RESOLUTION AND SAY, OKAY, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
YOU KNOW, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGAN ORGANIZATIONS AND A RESEARCH INSTITUTION.
HOWEVER, NONE HAVE LOOKED SPECIFICALLY INTO, YOU KNOW, THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL OPTIONS FOR PARKING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT BRISTOL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY THAT HAS SERVED ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UM, AS WELL AS NOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, AND, AND, AND LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL LIKE THE DATA IS JUST MISSING, YOU KNOW? AND, AND I APPRECIATE, YES.
LIKE, LET'S GO GET THE PARTNERS AND LET'S FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS.
AND I, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S OUT THERE.
UM, I THINK THE END RESULT IS TO GIVE OURSELVES THE TOOLS, BUT ALSO GIVE STAFF THE TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN GRASP DEVELOPERS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO REALLY DO THE BEST THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUSINESS AND THEY WANT X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO SHOW UP, THEY STILL NEED PARKING.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TRANSIT'S ONLY GONNA GET X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS EACH AND EVERY HOUR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOTTA HAVE THAT TURNOVER.
THEY'VE GOTTA HAVE THAT OPTION.
AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR, FOR THEM.
UM, BUT I AM, I AM, UH, WORKING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF OUR REALITY AND, AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE SEE COME FORWARD THROUGH THIS COMMISSION ALL THE TIME.
AND IN THOSE YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS CONCEPT THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THESE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX.
AND WE'VE ASKED STAFF AND WE'VE ASKED, YOU KNOW, DILIGENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? WHAT ELSE CAN WE ASK FOR? AND WE SORT OF KEEP ON COMING UP A LITTLE EMPTY HANDED WITH SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE I COME FROM, UM, WITH, WITH SUPPORTING THIS, UM, AND REALLY HAVING A, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE CAN DO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE KIND OF MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP? ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, GO FOR, UH, AT LEAST, I GUESS I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO READ IT
UM, BUT YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, READ READING IT IN FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF WE GET A SECOND AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES AS AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING METROPOLITAN REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WHEREAS THE MOST COMMON TRANSPORTATION MEANS REMAINS TO BE MOTOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES EITHER PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL, WHICH REQUIRE VEHICLE PARKING AT END DESTINATIONS.
AND WHEREAS AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MAKING POLICY DECISIONS CONCERNING THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF PARKING THAT SHOULD BE UTILIZED IN NEW DEVELOPMENT, UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND HARMS FOR EACH OPTION WOULD BETTER INFORM THESE DECISIONS.
AND WHEREAS CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE TURNING TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PARKING.
AND WHEREAS TECHNOLOGY REGARDING SUSTAINABLE PARKING OPTIONS HAS ADVANCED SIGNIFICANTLY IN VERTICAL PARKING STRUCTURES, WHICH REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER
[02:25:01]
FOOTPRINT, SOME OF THOSE ADVANCEMENTS, GREEN ROOFS, GREEN ROOFS AND WALLS, SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOFER WALLS, RAIN CATCHMENT SYSTEMS AND RAIN GARDENS, DOWNCAST LIGHTING TO REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION AND SHADE SAILS, WHICH CAN HELP REDUCE THE HEAT.AND WHEREAS THERE ARE IMPROVED SURFACE PARKING STRUCTURE PRACTICES THAT INCLUDE BIOSWELLS TO REDUCE RUNOFF AND RETAIN THE WATER FOR ONSITE TREES AND VEGETATION, SOLAR PANELS THAT PRODUCE ENERGY AND OFFER SHADE DOWNCAST LIGHTING THAT REDUCES LIGHT POLLUTION TREE AND VEGETATION CONFIGURATION THAT REDUCES HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS SOUND AND LIGHT POLLUTION.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE ALSO ADVANCEMENTS IN RECYCLING CEMENT FROM OLDER PARKING STRUCTURES OR PARKING LOTS TO BE CONSIDERED.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUESTS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORK WITH THE QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PARTNER TO STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLE PARKING OPTIONS IN AUSTIN.
THE REPORT SHOULD ANALYZE AND DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOALS, INCLUDING ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN WHEN ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
THE COMMISSION ASKS THAT THE STUDY INCLUDE A LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT THAT CONSIDERS ALL NECESSARY RAW MATERIAL EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, USE, AND FINAL DISPOSAL OF MATERIALS, AS WELL AS OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ITS ABILITY TO CAPTURE AND TREAT STORM WATER, ASSOCIATED HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, LIGHT POLLUTION, AND ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
THIS STUDY SHOULD ALSO REFLECT WHAT TYPES OF PARKING OPTIONS PEOPLE PREFER.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DESIRES THIS REPORT TO BE A TOOL FOR CITY STAFF, PUBLIC SPACE PLANNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO DETER, TO DETERMINE WHAT PARKING OPTIONS ARE, ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIOR IN REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER, REDUCING POLLUTION FROM RUNOFF DURING RAIN EVENTS, REDUCING HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION, AND INCREASING SOLAR ENERGY USE THE COMMISSION REQUESTED THE STUDY BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 20, 24.
UM, SO, UH, I GUESS BRIER, I, I, I TOLD YOU TO HOLD, HOLD YOUR PENCIL SO YOU GET TO GO FIRST.
UM, WHAT, UH, WHAT AMENDMENTS, UH, TO THE MOTION DO YOU HAVE AS WRITTEN? AND WE'LL SEE IF WE GET ANY OPPOSITION AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
UH, THE FIRST CHANGE I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS WITH THE DUE DATE.
UM, MY ASSUMPTION IS THIS IS GONNA GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMPETITIVE BID, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH THE CITY AND GETTING BACK A, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMETHING, THE, THE SCOPE, UH, AND WE'RE DOING COMPETITIVE BID, UH, I THINK DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR IS KIND OF, UH, AGGRESSIVE.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO PUSH THAT OUT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REPHRASE THAT TO SAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUEST THE STUDY BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO.
OH, AND, AND THE OTHER THING IS, SINCE WE'RE REQUESTING IT, I'D LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO BE IN ON THE EXCITEMENT.
SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE REPHRASED, SAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUEST THIS STUDY BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER OF 2024 FOR REVIEW.
UH, I'M, I'M SORRY, SEPTEMBER, 2025 FOR REVIEW AT A REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION, AND A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN DECEMBER, 2025.
AND I SAY NO LATER THAN, I DON'T MIND IF IT'S DONE EARLIER, YOU CAN GET IT DONE.
BUT THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUFF THAT, THAT COMMISSIONER CULVER'S LISTED IN THERE, UH, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, FAITH THAT WE CAN DO THIS BY GOOGLE SEARCH AND, AND A LOT OF THAT.
AND IF WE CAN, THEN IT CAN BE DONE, YOU KNOW, IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO PUT THIS UP FOR OPEN BID, AND I DON'T WANNA DO A, YOU KNOW, A HALF AS JOB ON THIS.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, VENDOR, WHOEVER THAT IS, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT CORRECTLY.
SO THAT'S MY RATIONALE BEHIND THE CHANGE IN THAT PARAGRAPH.
SO I'VE GOT, UH, COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
SEPT, NO, NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 25.
THEN THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS, AND THEN COMMISSION, AND THEN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 25.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT AMENDMENT? CAN WE THROW THE JSC IN THERE FOR, UH, STUFF AND GIGGLES? I'M, I'M ALL FOR IT.
I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE F THE, THE UTILITY OF THROWING THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION INTO THIS PROCESS
[02:30:01]
WHEN THEY HAVEN'T ASKED TO BE, AND, AND I ALMOST THINK THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MIGHT BE BETTER.WELL, AGAIN, THE, THE REASON I PUT THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN THERE IS, UH, I BELIEVE PARKING IS PART OF URBAN TRANSPORTATION.
AND I, YEAH, IT JUST CROSSED MY, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.
IT'S JUST THEY HAVEN'T ASKED FOR IN, I MEAN, IF THEY WANT A PRESENTATION, LET THEM ASK FOR IT.
I'M, I DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD, THEY'RE, WELL, THEY UNAWARE OF IT ACTUALLY.
SO THEY CAN'T ASK FOR SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO BE LEFT OUT, THEN THEY CAN SAY, WE DON'T WANNA PARTY WITH YOU.
BUT THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THIS PROCESS, SO THEY CAN'T, UH, OPT IN TO A PROCESS FOR WHICH THEY DON'T KNOW IT'S GOING ON.
HOW ABOUT, UH, IF REQUESTED PRESENTATIONS TO URBAN TRANSPORTATION AND SURE.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? I DON'T REALLY WANNA PUSH IT A WHOLE YEAR.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH THAT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE BUDGETING SESSION.
SO WHEN WE PUT 20 DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, I DID CONSIDER THAT THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC BID PROCESS.
UM, I'D BE OKAY PUSHING IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO I WOULD WANNA PUSH THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, WE CAN GOOD TO MEET THE MIDDLE.
I FINE WITH ENDING IT IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT, 2025, UH, IT'S SEPTEMBER, 2025 IS WHEN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS.
SO LET'S MOVE IT UP BY THREE MONTHS.
I, I THINK JUNE IS REALLY, REALLY AGGRESSIVE FOR A COMPETITIVE BID AND A THOROUGH STUDY.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, I DON'T WANT A REALLY SKETCHY JOB DONE ON THIS.
I WANT A PROFESSIONAL, WELL THOUGHT OUT, THOROUGH JOB DONE THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PULL THIS OUT OF A DESK DRAWER AND WAVE IT AROUND ANYTIME THAT WE NEED THE DATA.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN IT BECAUSE IT WAS DONE RIGHT.
AND IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE A HAPHAZARD TYPE OF JOB.
SO, I'M, I'M OKAY TO MOVE IT AS LONG AS IT'S IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
TO US AND THEN SEPTEMBER TO COUNCIL TO COUNCIL, YEAH.
MOVE IT UP BY THREE MONTHS OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER THAT IS.
SO IT'S, I REALLY WANT JUNE, JUNE TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THEN THE OTHERS THAT IF THEY WANT TO HEAR IT AND THEN COUNSEL BY NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER OF 25.
AND, UH, FORGIVE ME, COMMISSIONER FER, I, THE YOU REWORDED STUFF.
SO THIS MAY NOT, I, I, I'VE MADE THIS CHANGE BASED UPON THE ORIGINAL WORDING.
SO, UM, WHAT I'D LIKE, WHICH, WHICH PARAGRAPH? 'CAUSE THERE WERE THE, THE THIRD, WHEREAS, UM, COMMISSIONER YEAH, I KNOW I'M, I'M REFERRING TO THE ORIGINAL ONE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE ONE NOW THAT, UH, THAT SHE ALTERED.
THIS SAYS, UH, WITH THE RED IN THERE THAT SAID, THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE CITY GOALS, INCLUDING ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UH, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO PHRASE THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT REFERENCES TO, UH, THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, UH, AND, UH, THE GREEN BUILDING POLICY AND, UH, REFERENCE THE ELIMINATION OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMMERCIAL PARKING IN THERE.
AND THE POINT OF THIS IS REALLY KIND OF TO CIRCLE AROUND AND MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THE CURRENT CITY POLICIES AND CODES THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PASSED IN THE NEXT, IN THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS, LET'S SAY THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ER'S ADDING THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IN THERE.
'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES I HAD MENTIONED, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO CIRCLE AROUND WITH THOSE IN THERE.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? ALRIGHT.
WALK, WALK, WALK ME THROUGH THOSE FEW.
IT WAS, UH, CITY'S STRATEGIC ORDINANCE TO REMOVE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEN WHAT WERE THE OTHER TWO? UH, OKAY.
THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE.
UH, I'M TRYING TO DOUBLE CHECK, MAKE SURE I DON'T DOUBLE DIP ON HERS.
UH, UH, AND THE ELIMINATION OF,
[02:35:01]
UH, PARKING FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS.SO YOU'RE ADDING THAT AMENDMENT IS TO ADD THAT TO THE END OF THE CLAUSE, UM, WHICH IS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THEREFORE DA DA, DA DA, THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOALS, INCLUDING ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CLIMATE EQU PLAN, THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, OR, UH, SOS ORDINANCE AND THEN THE CITY ORDINANCE REMOVING THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT LOOKS, YEAH, THAT LOOKS, LOOKS GOOD.
ANY, ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT ADDITION? ALL RIGHT, KEEP GOING, BREMMER.
THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE, AND LET ME AGAIN, I'M KIND OF GOING THROUGH HER THING HERE.
UH, SO BE BE PATIENT WITH ME HERE, UH OH.
UH, AND IF YOU COULD OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
UH, I THINK SH I'M GONNA ASK YOU COMMISSIONER FER, BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THERE THAN I HAVE.
I THINK WHEN YOU READ IT, THERE WAS A WORD, A PHRASE IN THERE, UH, THAT YOU HAD THAT SAID, UM, MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS.
DID YOU NOT USE THAT PHRASE IN THERE? YEAH.
AND THE, THE BEGINNING OF, THEREFORE, THE SECOND SENTENCE IN THERE, SOMEWHERE IN THERE, AND THE SECOND SENTENCE, AND THEREFORE, CLAUSE REPORT, YOU ANALYZE AND DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOALS.
SOMETIMES I LOSE TRACK OF STUFF IN THERE.
THERE'S A THING DOWN AT THE, TOWARD THE BOTTOM HERE, SO, OH, OKAY.
THE LAST SENTENCE WHERE IT SAYS, THE STUDY SHOULD ALSO REFLECT WHAT TYPES OF PARKING OPTIONS PEOPLE PREFER.
AND I'D LIKE TO ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
AND WITH A, UH, WITH A SENTENCE THAT READS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS RECOMMEND, UH, NO WRONG, WRONG THING.
OH, PUBLIC INPUT SHOULD BE GATHERED BY A WELL-PUBLICIZED PUBLIC MEETING USING, USING BROADLY RECOGNIZED SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO ENSURE THE DATA IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
IF, IF THIS AMENDMENT GETS ADDED, UM, WILL YOU PLEASE EMAIL THAT LANGUAGE TO BRISTOL AND ELIZABETH, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE IT COMPLETELY? YEAH.
AND THE INTENT IS THIS, UM, AND I DON'T WANT TO WHIP A DEAD HORSE HERE, UH, BUT, UH, THE ZIL, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAD WITH REGARD TO THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN, AND WHETHER IT'S VALID OR NOT, IS NOT REALLY THE POINT.
THE POINT IS PEOPLE FELT THAT THE PUBLIC DATA THAT WAS CAPTURED WAS NOT ACCURATE OR VALID.
AND IN THIS TYPE OF THING THAT WE'RE DOING HERE, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A STUDY, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT BOUNCING BACK SAYING THAT, WELL, YOU GATHERED ALL THIS DATA AND IT WAS BOGUS.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO THIS TIME IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING WELL-DEFINED METHODS USING, YOU KNOW, TO GATHER THE DATA, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE GALLOP OR, I DON'T KNOW, WHOEVER DOES THIS, DOES IT, AND THAT IT CAN BE DUPLICATOR, I, WHATEVER IT IS.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH SIDE.
WE'RE USING THE, THE BEST AVAILABLE METHODOLOGY FOR THAT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS PART OF IT SO THAT IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHO READS IT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS REALLY DILIGENTLY AND CAREFULLY.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING WHERE WE HAVE A PEOPLE STANDING BY AN AMY'S AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO, FIRST OFF, I VOLUNTEER TO STAND BY AMY'S, UM, OKAY.
WELL THEN, THEN THAT MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BUYING, UM,
SO, UH, I, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAYBE, SO YES, THE RESIDENTS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE VISITORS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WHAT IS IT, OVER A MILLION PEOPLE A MONTH FLYING
[02:40:01]
INTO, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN AND, AND VISITING, UM, OUR CITY AND, AND PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, ECONOMY OF THIS GREAT, UM, PLACE THAT WE LIVE IN.SO, IS THERE, DO YOU THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR SOMEHOW THAT BEING, UM, THAT WE WANNA CAPTURE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION ABOUT LIKE, WHAT ARE THE VISITORS USING? WHAT DO THEY PREFER? WHAT DO THEY PREFER? WHAT HELPS THEM, YOU KNOW, UH, ENJOY THE CITY, BUT ALSO WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT IMPACT? YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT IT JUST FEELS LIKE THAT'S A HUGE POPULATION THAT, THAT COMES HERE AND USES AND UTILIZES PARKING AS WELL.
WELL, I MEAN, I'M AMBIVALENT TO THAT.
I THINK YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT.
AND VISITORS, THAT'S KIND OF WHY I MADE, I MENTIONED TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT VISIT AUSTIN ARE NOT FROM AUSTIN.
THEY'RE FROM COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND AUSTIN.
AND SO I MENTIONED TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THAT PEOPLE COME IN FROM HAYES COUNTY OR WILLIAMSON COUNTY OR WHEREVER, BUT THEY ALSO COME IN FROM NEW YORK OR LA OR I DON'T DUNNO, WHEREVER.
SO, I'M, I'M AMBIVALENT TO YOUR REQUEST.
SO BY GOLLY, PUT THAT SUCKER INTO, ALRIGHT.
SO, UH, IS ANYONE OPPOSED TO BRIBERS LANGUAGE ABOUT MORE OR LESS, UH, REITERATING THE, UM, SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY OF THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS? AND IN ADDITION TO BRISTOL'S NOTE OF INCLUDING NOT ONLY RESIDENTS, BUT VISITORS AS IT RELATES TO TYPES OF PARKING OPTIONS, THEY PREFER ANYBODY AGAINST THAT? I'M NOT AGAINST IT, I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.
UM, WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE FROM LIKE OTHER CITIES OR OTHER STATES.
I MEAN, I SEE THE PARK, IT'S LIKE, IT, IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD.
WHOEVER WANTS TO GO TO THE PARK, IT'S THEIR PARK TOO.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE, I MEAN, THIS IS, WE'RE STILL IN THE, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE OUTTA THE PARK.
THERE'S NO PARK, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PARKING.
SO YEAH,
WE WELCOME OTHER PEOPLE TO COME.
UH, SO I, I I WOULD SAY THIS IS RELATED TO, UM, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PARKING ANALYSIS SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN WAS THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OF WHAT'S THE PREFERRED COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THAT ELEVATING A LITTLE BIT.
SO I THINK EXPANDING THAT AND OR MAKING SURE IT'S, UH, REPLICABLE, UM, OR USING THE BEST AVAILABLE METHODS, I THINK, WELL, IT'S GOOD.
LET ME, LET ME, IF I INTERPRETED WHAT COMMISSIONER BRISTOL SAID, IT IS NOT LIKE WE'RE GONNA GO TO NEW YORK CITY AND DO A SURVEY.
IT'S AS IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN THAT ARE FROM NEW YORK CITY AND WE'RE ASKING THEM.
SO CAPTURING THAT IN THE PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC OUTREACH.
SO I, I DON'T SEE US SENDING A SURVEY TEAM TO, YOU KNOW, PARIS AND, AND ALTHOUGH I'LL BE WILLING TO GO WITH COMMISSIONER BRISTOL AND GET HER AMY'S ICE CREAM, BUT, UM, OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE OUT THERE.
BUT, UH, REGARDLESS, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND RATHER THAN US.
THERE'S ONE THING I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY HERE.
BEFORE WE SWITCH GEARS, LET, LET'S GET A, GET A NOD OR NO NOD ON, ON THAT.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT ADDITIONAL? ALRIGHT, THAT ONE'S IN.
YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT ONE, YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE? UH, I DON'T WANT ONE MORE.
I'M DONE ALL, HOWEVER, I WANNA REVISIT ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY AGREED TO, TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT I MAY HAVE GOTTEN LOST ON.
UM, WHEN I CHANGED THE DATE, THIS IS ON THE FIRST ONE I PUT DECEMBER, 2025 AND WE CHANGED THE DATE ON THAT.
NOW I THOUGHT THE CHANGE OF THE DATE WAS BACK TO SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
IT'S, IT'S TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION JUNE 25 TO, UH, THE, THE OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT, THAT MAY WANT TO HEAR IT AND TO, UH, COUNSEL NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
I JUST WANTED TO, I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[02:45:01]
OR DISCUSSION? I, I HAVE SOME LANGUAGE AND I'LL, I'LL HAND THE PAPER DOWN WHEN I'M DONE, DONE READING IT VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.I WOULD JUST ADD, WHEREAS IT SAYS, WHEREAS THERE IS EXISTING PARKING FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAVE EXCESS CAPACITY OR UNDERUTILIZED, OR ARE UNDERUTILIZED DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY, THE MAXIMALLY EFFICIENT USE OF THESE RESOURCES SHOULD BE STUDIED.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT, WHEREAS IT WILL BE RECEIVED APPRECIATIVELY.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING THIS UP, BUT, UM, CAPITAL METRO COULD DO A MUCH BETTER JOB IN ATTRACTING RIDERS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GHOST BUSES.
DO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY A GHOST BUS? YES.
BUT JUST IN CASE THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T, WELL, THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T RIDE CAPITAL METRO OFTEN ENOUGH USING THE APP.
THAT'S WHEN YOUR APP TELLS YOU THAT A BUS IS COMING AND NO BUS COMES.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.
SO ANYWAY, BETTER SERVICE BY MASS TRANSIT WOULD ALSO HELP TO REDUCE PARKING NEEDS.
IF WE CAN FIND OUT WHOEVER MADE CAP METRO'S APP AND, UH, I'M ON IT.
TAKE TORCHES AND PITCHFORKS TO THEIR PLACE.
I'M ON THE FINANCING RISK COMMITTEE COMMITTEE FOR AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
I DEFINITELY USE THE GOOGLE APP WAY MORE THAN CAP METRO OUTTA CURIOSITY.
IS THERE LIKE A, A REASON WHY THAT HAPPENS? IS IT LIKE THE BUS IS ON SCHEDULE? WELL, LIKE, AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND SO IT, IT'S LOW BID.
REALLY? I, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN USE UBER OR LYFT AND WHATNOT AND SEE THE VEHICLES MOVING, BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT ON THE GOOGLE TOO, RIGHT? GOOGLE MAPS AND THEY NOW HAVE A FEATURE, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT PERFECT ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU HAVE LIKE A LITTLE ICON THAT REPRESENTS LIKE THE BUS AND, UH, YEAH.
'CAUSE MY CAR WAS AT COMMISSION FOR A LITTLE BIT, SO I WAS USING CAB METRO, LIKE SUPER HEAVY AND, UH, YEAH.
AND JUST FROM, AND THEN NO BUS SHOWS UP.
AND THEN JUST FROM READING, SHOWING AS MOVING ON THE APP AND YET NO BUS SHOWS UP.
UH, UH, I MAY, MAYBE THAT WILL BE A, UH, AT THE END OF THE MEETING, UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS IF YOU CAN GET A SECOND.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DIRECTLY IN OUR LANE.
AND OR PARKING SPOT IN THIS, UH, UH, IT'S COOL.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, GOT A MOTION.
AS IT'S WRITTEN, WE'VE GOT THREE, UH, PRIMER ADDITIONS, UM, RELATED TO, UH, THE ADDITIONAL CITY ORDINANCES THAT IT SHOULD PERTAIN TO OR BE CONSISTENT WITH PUBLIC INPUT EXPANSION AND THE DATES CHANGING.
AND WE'VE GOT EINHORNS, UM, RELATED TO UNDERUTILIZED PARKING.
UM, LET'S VOTE, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS IT'S WRITTEN AND AMENDED.
I SEE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED? WE'VE GOT ONE, NINE.
YOU'VE GOT NINE AND THEN ONE OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU PUBLIC FOR COMING AND COMMENTING.
[4. Consider a recommendation requesting funds to restore the Polo Field at Zilker Park. Presenter: Richard Brimer, Environmental Commission Member ]
ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER FOUR.UH, CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION REQUESTING FUNDS TO RESTORE THE POLO FIELDS AT ZILKER PARK.
UM, THIS ONE IS YOURS, COMMISSIONER BRIMER, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR.
OKAY, WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, UH, ENTHUSIASM ON THIS WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN.
UH, SO THAT, UH, WE ALL TAKE, UH, ALL THE CREDIT THAT'S DUE.
UM, THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION WAS EMAILED OUT TO EVERYONE, UH, PRIOR TO THE MEETING, AND SO I'M NOT GONNA READ IT OFF TO ANYONE, ALTHOUGH, UM, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN HAS, UH, UH, A COUPLE OF, UH, UH, A COUPLE OF, UH, ADDITIONS OR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT? UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN? THAT IS CORRECT, YES.
SO WOULD YOU READ THOSE OFF? AND THEN WE WILL, REAL, REAL QUICK, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, THE DRAFT MOTION WAS POSTED IN THE BACKUP, AND IS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? PRIMER? SO THE, THE ONE THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING IS THE ONE THAT WAS POSTED IN THE BACKUP WITH ADDITIONS FROM SULLIVAN, IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OKAY.
[02:50:01]
UM, YEAH, THE, I I HAVE TO LOG IN HERE JUST FOR A SECOND.I'M SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN, BUT, UH, YEAH.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T PRINT IT OUT, BUT I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT FOR, UH, MY RECOMMENDATION TOO.
SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY LOGGED IN AFTER THIS ONE'S DONE.
ALRIGHT, WELL, JUST, THE POINT IS THIS WOULD ADD A, A SE A STATEMENT TO SAY, REQUIRE THAT ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE NEAR, UH, UH YEAH.
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE NEAR ZILKER PARK.
SO IT WOULD BE A, IT WOULD BE A RAZ THAT SAYS, UM, REQUIRE, NO, IT WOULD BE A THEREFORE, THEREFORE REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE NEAR ZILKER PARK AND ALLOW SOME WAIVERS TO RESTRICTIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, CONDITIONAL ON MEANS TO REMEDIATE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO PARKLAND.
IN ADDITION, SUGGEST THE CITY ALLOCATE SOME PARKING WITHIN THE PARK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY DISABILITIES ABOVE THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS.
SO THAT'S A ANOTHER THAT'S AFTER THE, THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS AUSTIN PARKS AND REC AND PARKS AND REC BOARD REQUEST FUNDING FOR YES.
YEAH, AND THIS, THE, THE RATIONALE OF THIS IS IT COMES FROM BOTH THE ZILKER PARK WORK GROUP AND THE PARKS, UH, BOARD PARKS COMMISSION OR PARKS BOARD, I FORGET WHAT IT IS.
UM, ALL HAD THAT AND IT'S PART OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS OKAY.
FOR THE POLO FIELDS AND PARK CHANGING PARKING WITHIN ZILKER PARK.
AND I'D LIKE TO TOSS IN ONE THING.
UH, I'VE GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR THIS AT $1.2 MILLION AN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE, THE RESTORATION THAT'S PROPOSED IN THE MOTION.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I GOT YESTERDAY.
SO IT'S A TAD DATED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PARKS OR, OR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAME UP WITH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEY SAID.
AND KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE TERM POLO FIELD IS, IS RATHER VAGUE, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, THERE'S SECTIONS OF IT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET OUT THERE, SOME PEOPLE DEFINE IT AS BEING THIS SIZE AND OTHER PEOPLE DEFINE IT THIS SIZE.
SO THERE IS SOME AMBIGUITY IN WHAT THE TERM POLO FIELD IS, BUT THE TERM THAT WAS USED BY PAR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS ESTIMATED AT $1.2 MILLION TO COMPLETELY RESTORE IT BACK TO WHERE MY POLO PONY AND I CAN A POLO FIELD FOLKS, IIB BEFORE WE GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS, I GUESS, UH, BRAMER OR, OR SULLIVAN, I MAY ASK THAT YOU GUYS JUST KIND OF PULL BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UM, THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING LIVE AND OR LATER, LIKE SURE.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU PROPOSING AND MAYBE HOW IS IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT, ABOUT THIS TOPIC OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, YEARS? OKAY.
DAVE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OR DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT? YEAH, I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE DO IT, COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
I MEAN, WE DID, WE DID PASS SOMETHING ABOUT CALLING FOR, IN THE FY 25 BUDGET, YOU KNOW, DOING SOME TOP SOIL WORK.
BUT THIS GOES DEEPER AND I'LL LET COMMISSIONER BRIMER TALK ABOUT THAT.
WELL, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THE POLO FIELD'S BEEN USED FOR PARKING FOR ALMOST FOREVER.
I'VE BEEN PARKING ON IT MYSELF FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS.
UH, AND ALTHOUGH PERIODICALLY IT'S BEEN PARTIALLY RESTORED, UH, THROUGH PLANTINGS AND AERATION AND THAT SORT OF THING, UH, NO ONE CAN EVER SAY THAT IT'S BEEN TOTALLY RESTORED SO THAT IT IS, UH, WHAT YOU MIGHT LOOSELY CALL PRISTINE.
SO THE GOAL OF THIS EFFORT IS TO RESTORE IT TO A, UH, QUOTE, PRISTINE UNQUOTE STATE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GROUND'S SOFT, IT, IT WILL ABSORB SOIL OR WATER FROM RAIN, IT WON'T RUN OFF.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF THING THAT WHEN YOU FALL DOWN ON IT, YOU WON'T BRUISE YOUR KNEE, THAT SORT OF THING.
UH, AND THEN IT BE RE-VEGETATED WITH NATIVE GRASSES AND PLANTS AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER MIGHT HAPPEN TO BE THERE OR WHATEVER IS PLANTED WHENEVER THEY DO THE
[02:55:01]
RESTORATION.AND BY, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED SOMETHING BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, UH, A RECOMMENDATION TO PROHIBIT FURTHER PARKING ON THE FIELD.
SO THE IDEA IS YOU RESTORE IT ONCE AND FOR ALL, YOU PROHIBIT PARKING ON THE FIELD FOREVER, AND THEN IT'S BACK TO ITS NAVY STATE TO USED AS AN OPEN FIELD FOR PARK ACTIVITIES, WHATEVER THOSE MIGHT BE.
UH, AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD THE GREAT LAWN BECAUSE THAT'S USED AND ABUSED IN MANY WAYS, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT IT'S A BIG OPEN FIELD THAT PEOPLE CAN USE AND ENJOY FOR, YOU KNOW, PARK ACTIVITIES AND NOT AS A PARKING LOT.
SO, BROADLY SPEAKING, WITHOUT GOING INTO THE DETAILS, UH, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.
AND, AND I'LL TELL YOU TOO, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH, UH, OUR FRIEND MIKE KANATI ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHER PART, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP HERE TONIGHT, OTHER PARKING GARAGES AROUND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WRANGLE THINGS LIKE INSURANCE AND WHEN YOU CAN USE IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM ARE VACANT ON WEEKENDS, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE PEAK TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE USING ON A REGULAR, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF FESTIVAL SEASON, JUST REGULAR, UH, WEEKENDS IS WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEAK USE OF THE ZILKER PARK.
AND SO FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, GET A CONTRACT TO USE THOSE PARKING GARAGES IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OUGHT TO LOOK INTO.
BUT THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE FIRST STEP IS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GET THE COUNCIL TO BUY INTO THE CONCEPT THAT WE ARE GOING TO RESTORE THE P FIELD AND IT'S GONNA BE PERMANENTLY RESTORED.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE USED FOR PARKING ANYMORE.
AND AT THAT POINT, THEY'LL BE INCENTIVIZED TO LOOK FOR OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T INCLUDE PARKING ON POLO FIELD THAT USE NEARBY, UH, COMMERCIAL PARKING OR SHUTTLES OR SOME OTHER SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PARKING ON THE POLO FIELD.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT PARKING IN ZILKER IS EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL, AND THERE'S A TENDENCY TO START WITH ONE ITEM AND THEN EXTRAPOLATE THIS TO MAKE IT VERY LARGE.
AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS A VERY SMALL THING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT RESTORING THE POLO FIELD.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT SOLVING THE PARKING PROBLEM FOR ER, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT SOLVING THE PARKING PROBLEM FOR AUSTIN.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT NEW BUS LINES, TRANSIT ROUTES, ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT IN ORDER TO SOLVE TRANSIT PROBLEMS OR GETTING PEOPLE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ZILKER AND THAT SORT OF THING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT RESTORING A SECTION OF THE PARK THAT HAS BEEN HORRIBLY ABUSED FOR 20 YEARS AND RESTORING IT TO THE WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN ON A HISTORICAL BASIS BACK INTO THE EARLY SEVENTIES, LATE SIXTIES, THE FIFTIES, THAT SORT OF THING, WHEN PEOPLE USED IT AS PARK SPACE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND I, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO KEEP THE PHRASING OF THE RECOMMENDATION SIMPLE, FOCUSED AND NARROW SO THAT WE DIDN'T GET MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT HAD TO BE.
UH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER CULVER'S THING, YOU KNOW, HER RECOMMENDATION EARLIER DOES, IS IT WANTS TO TAKE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT PARKING.
FINE, LET'S TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT PARKING AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL DO THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, TODAY WITH THIS ITEM, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO RESTORE AND SAVE THE POLO FIELD.
AND THAT'S WHAT DAVE AND I ARE REQUESTING SUPPORT ON, IS SAVING THE POLO FIELD.
BUT JUST FOR MYSELF, I ALSO WANNA SAY, I DON'T WANT US TO APPEAR AS THOUGH WE ARE RESTRICTING ACCESS TO ZILKER PARK, WHICH IS WHY WE WANNA FIND OTHER PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO PARK, OR EASIER, EASIER WAYS TO USE CAP METRO OR, YOU KNOW, A WAY TO PARK AT AUSTIN HIGH AND CROSS THE FOOTBRIDGE UNDERNEATH MOPAC OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT IT.
AND ALSO RESERVE SPACE WITHIN THE PARK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
LIKE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, SENIORS, UM, WHATEVER.
WE, WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I WANT TO, I WANNA TAKE THOSE NOW BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR INTO THE DISCUSSION.
'CAUSE THERE MAY BE PARTS OF WHAT WE HEAR THAT WEAVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
UM, UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE TANYA PAYNE, THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US AND STICKING AROUND FOR THIS AGENDA.
[03:00:01]
I LIVE IN D FIVE AND A MEMBER OF REWW ZILKER.UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING A ASKING TO RESTORE THE POLO FIELDS AT ZILKER PARK.
RESTORING THE POLO FIELD SUPPORTS BOTH RECREATIONAL USES AND OF THE PARK AND CLIMATE NEEDS FOR AUSTIN.
THE CI IN THE CITY DOCUMENT, OUR PARKS ARE FUTURES LONG RANGE PLANS FOR AUSTIN'S PARKS.
IN APPENDIX B, THE CITY PUBLISHED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY SHOWING WHAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WANT FROM THEIR PARKS.
AND THE FIRST THREE WERE BEAUTY PLACES TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND CLEANLINESS.
RESTORING THE POLO FIELDS IS ALIGNED WITH THESE GOALS.
THE AUSTIN PUBLIC CAS FOR ITS PARKS, ALSO GREEN SPACE'S CRITICAL TO OUR CITY THAT IS CONTINUING TO GET DENSER AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT IT AMONG OTHER THINGS, GREEN SPACE HELPS WITH HEAT, ISLAND EFFECTS, SOIL, CARBON, CAR CAPTURE, AIR AND WATER QUALITY AND MORE.
SO PLEASE VOTE TO REQUEST FUNDING TO RESTORE THE POLO FIELDS.
AND AS A RESPONSE TO, UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT EAST AUSTIN PARKS, ACTUALLY REWILD HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE RENDON PARK, AND WE INVITE YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THEM AS WELL AS THEY TRY TO PROTECT THEIR GREEN SPACE.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE DIANA PROCTOR.
I HAVE A SENSE OF INCREASING URGENCY TO STOP PARKING ON THE POLO FIELD, BUT INSTEAD OF OUTRAGE, I'D LIKE TO OFFER A PARKING ALTERNATIVE.
FIRST, THE POLO FIELD, IT IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE VALUE IF YOU HAD TO PAY FOR SEVEN ACRES OF NEW GREEN PARKLAND IN THE URBAN CORE? THE CURRENT PARD AUTHORIZED USAGE IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
EVEN THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS WAS FORCED TO CANCEL AND REFUND PREPAID PARKING HERE ON DECEMBER 21ST.
DUE TO A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAIN IN ITS CURRENT STATE, IT WILL REMAIN UNRELIABLE AS A PARKING SURFACE ON RAINY DAYS, ALL THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2024.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS COMMISSION TO HELP RESTORE THIS FIELD TO A GRASSY SURFACE.
AND YET THERE ARE MANY WHO DESIRE BETTER PARKING OPTIONS AS WELL AS A RESTORED POLO FIELD.
THE BUTLER LANDFILL GRAVEL SURFACE APPEARS TO ME TO BE NEAR ITS END OF LIFE.
VISITORS TO THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN AND THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER DESERVE A PARKING SURFACE THAT FEELS CLEAN AND WELCOMING IN ZILKER PARK, NOT THE DUST BOWL AND MUD OF THE BUTLER LANDFILL GRAVEL LOT.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH HANNAH KO'S EXPRESSED GENERAL INTEREST IN GREEN PARKING OPTIONS.
I WOULD SUPPORT HER INTEREST IF IT WAS A SPECIFIC LOCATION AND CAPACITY.
THE BUTLER LANDFILL BONEYARD, BY MY ESTIMATE, IT MIGHT HOLD ABOUT 500 CARS.
IT COULD BE DESIGNED TO ALLOW GRASS TO GROW, AS WE SEE APPROVED BY THE TCEQ ON THE LANDFILL'S EAST SIDE.
IT IS ADJACENT TO THE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER WHERE FAMILIES AND SCHOOL BUSES ARRIVE REGULARLY AND CONVENIENT ENOUGH WITH A NEW SIDEWALK TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS.
I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD ON BUDGETING THE RE THE REMEDIATION OF THE POLO FIELD.
PLEASE CONSIDER DRAFTING A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A GREEN SURFACE PARKING LOT ON THE CURRENT BUTLER BONEYARD.
SINCE IT IS IN THE WATERSHED ZONE AND A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TO LEAD WITH THEIR PRE-APPROVAL FOR PARD OR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO CONSTRUCT A GREEN SURFACE PARKING LOT ON THE RESTORED BUTLER BONE FIELD.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS MARK MAY AND I LIVE IN, UM, D FIVE.
I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE, UH, RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE PARKING FROM THE, UH, FROM THE, UH, Z PARK POLO FIELDS.
[03:05:01]
PRIME PARK LAND AND, AND IT SHOULD NOT NOT BE USED AS A NOW AND THEN PARKING LOT.I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE, MORE IMPORTANT THAT YOU, THAT YOU PASS THIS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY MONTHS THAT THE GREAT LAWN IS CLOSED, WE LOSE IT A COMPLETELY FOR TWO MONTHS DUE TO, DUE TO ACL.
AND THEN WE LOSE ALL BUT THE VERY TOP OF IT FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS.
UH, UH, THIS YEAR, THE LAWN OF RESTORATION, UH, CONTINUED AND ALL OF THE METAL POSTS WERE ONLY FINALLY REMOVED FROM THE GREAT LAWN THIS LAST WEEK.
THAT'S OVER FOUR MONTHS OF A REDUCED ACCESS TO THE GREAT LAWN.
THEREFORE, WHEN YOU PASS THIS RECOMMENDATION, IT WILL, UH, MAKE A LOT OF ALTERNATIVE SPACE FOR PARK USERS TO USE DURING THE TIMES THAT THE NON, UH, PROFITS ARE ON THE GREAT GREAT LAWN.
THE POLO FIELD IS SO LARGE, IT WILL COME CLOSE TO DOUBLING THE FUNCTIONAL OPEN SPACE IN THE PARK THAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN CAN USE FROM THE MIDDLE OF, UH, SEPTEMBER THROUGH THE END OF UH, JANUARY.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE GAL, UH, ROADIE.
UM, YES, I ALSO SUPPORT, UH, THIS EFFORT TO FUND THE RESTORATION OF, OF THE POLO FIELD.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CLARIFY, I I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT ONLY RESTORING THAT SPACE, BUT I THINK IT CURRENTLY DOESN'T MEET CITY CODE FOR THE USE.
SO IT'S ABOUT COMING INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODE AS WELL AS RESTORING IT.
SO I THINK IT'S, UH, HIGH TIME.
WE DID THIS, I WAS PART OF THE ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP IN 2018, 2019.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THIS.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW RESTORATION OF THIS, UH, SPACE WOULD REDUCE PARKING.
BUT WE CONSTANTLY PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE IDEA THAT ACCESS TO THE PARK WAS ALWAYS PARKING, AND WE PUSHED BACK AGAINST CONFLATING THOSE TWO IDEAS.
SO WE SUPPORTED CONTINUED ACCESS AND WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE PARK, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THEIR CAR OR OTHERWISE, BUT WE FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING CARS INTO THIS SPACE.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE MIKE K UH, KDI, SORRY, THE REGULAR CAST OF CHARACTERS HERE.
AGAIN, NOT REPRESENTING ANY OF THE NONPROFITS I WORK WITH, BUT I DID WANT TO SPEAK, UH, MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY OFFER QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF RESTORING THE POLO FIELD.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATION YOU HAVE, UNLESS IT'S BEEN AMENDED TO BAN REGULAR PARKING IN THE POLO FIELD, MAKES NO ALLOWANCE WHATSOEVER FOR THE PARKING, TRANSPORTATION, AND SPECIAL EVENT CHALLENGES AT ZILKER.
EVEN THOUGH THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF CITY COUNCIL'S EFFORTS IN THIS SPACE, STARTING WITH THEIR 2018 RESOLUTION, IT ALSO CONTINUED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RESOLUTION IN 2018.
THE 2019 ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP WAS ALSO TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BALANCE REDUCING THE POLO FIELD PARKING, AND STILL MAINTAINING ACCESS.
AND EVEN LAST SEPTEMBER'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UH, RESOLUTION IN THIS REGARD WAS ALSO IMPORTANT IN, IN TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE THINGS.
UM, WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE 2023 RESOLUTION IS IT'S ALMOST DUPLICATIVE OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, EXCEPT THERE'S ONE IMPORTANT KEY PROVISION MISSING FROM THE 2023 RESOLUTION.
AND THAT WAS THAT THERE WILL BE A REQUIREMENT TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE WITHIN OR NEAR Z PARK, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE REDUCING THE POLO FIELD PARKING.
AND I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT REQUIREMENT.
AND PERHAPS COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN IS GETTING AT THAT.
BUT THAT'S A WAY TO BALANCE HOW THIS IS A PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCE, BUT ONE THAT'S LOVED BY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TOWN.
AND JUST AS A BRIEF PLUG FOR WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE RIGHT, IN THIS RESPECT, I WANTED TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY BEEN SHRINKING THE PARKING PROFILE IN THE POLO FIELD, IT HAS ALSO BEEN SHRINKING THE PROFILE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BOTTLE LANDFILL.
AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING OTHER SAFETY AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR VISITORS TO MOVE AROUND THE PARK.
THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT IN, IN GETTING TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GREEN AND PROTECTIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THAT WITH YOUR RESOLUTION.
[03:10:01]
THANK YOU.UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE PATRICIA BOBAK.
I'M A HYDROGEOLOGIST AND TAXPAYER, AND I'M HERE TO THANK COMM, BRIMER AND SULLIVAN FOR PUSHING THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK IT WOULD BE $101.2 MILLION WELL SPENT.
AND AS A GEOLOGIST, I CAN TELL YOU THE BEST SOIL IS TOPSOIL.
AND ONCE IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE.
IF IT WERE STILL THERE, THE TOPSOIL FROM 20, 30 YEARS AGO, WE WOULD HAVE A MUCH BETTER, A MUCH, MUCH BETTER LAWN, AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN EASIER TO KEEP IT GROWING.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, TO, THAT'S KEEP GOING, THAT TO ENCOURAGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD TO PROMOTE PRACTICES TO PERPETUATE PROTECTION FOR THE, UM, FOR THE POLO FIELD, AND TO PREVENT THE RETURN OF EROSIVE PRACTICES.
IT WOULD ALSO BE A BIG STEP FORWARD IN ENGENDERING RESPECT FOR OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE TO SEE ONCE, UH, PARKING IS NO LONGER ALLOWED ON OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW $1.2 MILLION LAWN, I WOULD HOPE TO SEE SOME ENFORCEMENT SO THAT, UH, THE PARK POLICE WOULD SHOW UP EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND REMOVE ANYONE WHO HAS DECIDED TO THAT THE RULES JUST DON'T APPLY TO HIM OR HER AND PARK ON THE LAWN.
I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE TO SEE SOME, UM, SOME ENFORCEMENT.
UH, IT WILL MAKE A WONDERFUL LAWN FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE CEDAR STEVENS.
UH, WHAT ABOUT ROY WHALEY? OH, HE LEFT TOO.
UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UH, STICKING AROUND AND COMMENTING.
UM, LET'S, LET'S KEEP, LET'S KEEP GOING HERE, UH, INTERNALLY.
UM, UH, SULLIVAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WILL YOU READ THAT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE AGAIN, UH, IN, IN CONTEXT OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED? UM, 'CAUSE I THINK IT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.
AND WHILE YOU'RE PRI TEEING THAT UP, I'LL KIND OF BUY SOME TIME FOR YOU.
UM, UH, I MEAN, THAT WAS, SOME OF MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS IN SEPTEMBER WERE RELATED TO, UM, NOT ONLY IF WE, IF WE CLOSE THAT OFF WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ARE COMING TO THE PARK.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT THEY'RE GONNA NEED SOMEWHERE TO PARK IN, IN THE INTERIM OF THIS TRANSITION AWAY FROM MORE OR LESS, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO PARK.
UM, AND, UH, AND I, I THINK YOUR ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE SPEAKS TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, WE DID, UM, FROM THE RECOMMENDATION WE PASSED BEFORE, IT WOULD BE, UM, FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET.
SO IT COULD BE, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN FOR THIS.
UM, MY POINT WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE A SECOND, THEREFORE, THAT SAYS IN THE RESOLUTION, IT, IT JUST HAS A LINE THERE THAT SAYS, UM, ALTERNATIVE PARKING SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING FREE SHUTTLES, MANAGED BY PAR, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND ESTABLISHED LOADING AND BLAH, BLAH BLAH, CAN BE USED.
AND ALSO, UM, I ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE WITHIN OR NEAR ZILKER PARK, UH, THAT PROTECTS THE NATURAL ASSETS OF THE PARK.
WELL, RICHARD AND I TALKED ABOUT MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T BE WITHIN THE PARK, BUT NEAR THE PARK.
AND SO I WROTE A THEREFORE SAYING, UM, SEEK ADDITIONAL PARKING, THEREFORE SEEK ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE NEAR ZILKER PARK AND ALLOW SOME WAIVERS TO RESTRICTIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, CONDITIONAL ON MEANS TO REMEDIATE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO PARKLAND.
SO IF ONCE THE GRASS IS ESTABLISHED, IF THERE IS PARKING ON
[03:15:01]
IT ONE OR TWO DAYS A YEAR, IT WOULDN'T DESTROY IT.BUT WHOEVER DID THAT, LIKE THE KITE FESTIVAL OR WHATNOT, WOULD HAVE TO REMEDIATE IT ANY DAMAGE, AND THEN ALLOW, IN ADDITION, ALLOCATE PARKING WITHIN THE PARK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BEYOND THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT MUST PARK WITHIN SER PARK BECAUSE OF THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
CAN, UM, LIZ, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE.
UH, UM, AND TELL ME IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IT'S FINE, UM, BUT FROM THE BONEYARD PERSPECTIVE, IS THAT IF IT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN, CAN WE, I MEAN, IT'S, I GUESS IT'S NO MORE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN THAN BUTLER LANDFILL IS CURRENTLY OR UNDERNEATH MOPAC, BUT IS THAT AVAILABLE TO CODE COMPLIANT PARKING WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO THE KER PARK? UM, LIZ JOHNSON WATERSHED PROTECTION, I, SO THERE ARE FLOOD PLAIN REQUIREMENTS FROM A HEALTH SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WHICH I THINK WOULD POSSIBLY BE ALLOWED WITH, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATE SIGNAGE, BUT THERE'S ALSO FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE A LOT OF THAT AREA IS IN A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE.
SO WE'D HAVE TO LOOK, I THINK IMPERIOUS COVER WOULD BE LIMITED.
SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME, BUT, UM, IT WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH OF THE AREA, UM, ALLOWED UNDER CODE, UM, FROM BECAUSE OF WATER QUALITY, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT ASSUME IS THERE.
UM, AND, AND, AND AS WE TALK MORE, ONE POINT I KIND OF WANTED TO MAKE AS WE'RE TALKING IS, UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN, WHICH POLO FIELD CONVERSATION THIS WAS FROM, UH, WHEN WE WERE MEETING, BUT, UM, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF AVAILABLE PARKING UNDERNEATH MOPAC.
UM, AND I'M, I'M NOT GONNA BRING UP, UH, WHERE THAT CAME FROM, BUT, UM, BUT I DO THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S TEXT OUT RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S NOT PARKLAND, BUT THAT MAY BE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PARKING, UM, VERY NEAR, NOT ONLY, UH, UNDER THE BRIDGE DOWN BY THE PED BRIDGE TO AUSTIN HIGH, BUT, UM, UP, UH, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN BY THE, BY THE DISC GOLF COURSE TOO.
UM, SO JUST THOUGHTS FOR THE DISCUSSION, BUT, UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR PRIMER SULLIVAN AND OR DISCUSSION, UM, ON THE MATTER? UM, YEAH, KRUEGER, PLEASE.
UM, I JUST AM CURIOUS, SOMEONE MENTIONED THIS IS SEVEN ACRES.
IS THAT ACCURATE? IS THAT ABOUT THE SIZE WE'RE LOOKING AT? WHERE DID BRI, WHERE DID BRIER GO? UM, WELL, HE'S PROBABLY DRIVING HERE TO SHOW UP IN PERSON TO BE THAT MUCH MORE PERSUASIVE.
ELIZABETH FUNK, UM, WATERSHED PROTECTION, UH, COMMISSIONER BRIMER DROPPED OUT.
UM, I JUST, HE'S, HE'S NOT, IT'S NOT IN THE RESOLUTION.
I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE SIZE OF THE AREA OF THE POLO FIELD IS.
I'M GONNA CALL ON ONE OF THE COMMENTERS.
I SHOULD REMEMBER YOUR LAST NAME, MA'AM.
BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
DIANA PROCTOR AGAIN, I MEASURED ON A GOOGLE MAP USING SATELLITE VIEW.
THE, UM, POLO FIELD VISUAL IS A LITTLE OVER SEVEN ACRES, AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THAT, THAT, UM, THERE ARE ALSO PROBABLY ANOTHER ACRE OR TWO, THREE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF INFORMAL PATHWAYS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.
UM, YEAH, AND, AND THIS MIGHT BE BEYOND THE, THE PURVIEW OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, BUT, UH, FIRST OFF, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE FOR US TO DO.
FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID TONIGHT.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT LIKE, MAINTAINING IT IN THIS, UM, RESTORED STATE AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO HAVE LIKE A WALKING PATH OR SOMETHING THROUGH IT SO THAT FOLKS AREN'T TRAMPLING DOWN, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER AND KIND OF RE I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE SAME AS LIKE CARS PARKING ON IT FOR SURE.
UM, BUT I GUESS THAT'S JUST A CURIOSITY I HAVE ONCE RESTORATION HAPPENS IS LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN IT AND HAVE IT BE A PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS GOOD FOR PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND HUMANS FOR A LONG TIME? SO NOT NECESSARILY SUGGESTING AN AMENDMENT, BUT THAT'S JUST A CURIOSITY THAT I HAVE.
I MEAN, MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM LOOKING AT WARREN PASS AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUSES, YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHERE STUDENTS WALK OR WHERE
[03:20:01]
HOMOSAPIENS, TRAPES, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO TELL.IT'S HARD TO PREDICT, ESPECIALLY UNDERGRADS.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO KNOW IN ADVANCE, BUT IT'S A GOOD POINT.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IF WE, IF WE MADE A WALKING PATH SO THAT PEOPLE WERE GUIDED, HEY, WALKING HERE, DON'T WALK ALL OVER THE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? RIGHT.
IT MIGHT HELP PROTECT MORE OF IT IF, RIGHT.
I, I CAN, I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE TOO, THAT ON THE JOHNSON CREEK TRAIL, THERE WAS A POINT WHERE, UM, THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE S AND SO A LOT OF USERS HAD CUT THROUGH THAT S AND THEN THE CITY PUT IN COULD HAVE RAISED, UM, BOUNDARIES.
AND NOW NOBODY DOES THAT ANYMORE.
SO, UM, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU KIND OF DIRECT PEOPLE, BUT I, I, I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO DO THAT.
UM, SO, UH, SO COMMISSIONER, UH, BRIMER UNAVAILABLE.
THE INTERNET HAS GOSH, TOLD HIM NO.
UM, BUT, UH, SO YOU'RE THE, THE LONE, THE LONE HORSEMAN ON THE POLO FIELD.
UM, SULLIVAN, UM, WE'LL WE'LL KEEP GOING, BUT YOU MAY NEED TO READ THE MOTION INTO TO RECORD, SO OKAY.
EMOTIONALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THAT.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? I'M SORRY, BRISTOL, YOU WERE, YOU HAD A QUESTION? UH, OH, NO.
UH, AND I THINK IT, IT WAS, UM, RELATING, UH, TO, TO YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, KRUEGER, I WAS KIND OF THINKING ABOUT, UM, THAT LAST PIECE OF THE DISCUSSION.
I, AND I, I FEEL LIKE THIS MOTION REALLY JUST SAYS WHAT WE WANT TO DO, UM, WHAT WE, THAT WE WANNA SEE, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING STOPPED.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A VISION OF WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SPEECH PROPERTY AFTER THAT.
SO THAT KIND OF IS LIKE ON DOWN THE LINE.
SO I, I, I FEEL LIKE, UM, KEEPING IT WHERE THE MOTION IS RIGHT NOW FEELS PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD KIND OF REITERATE THAT.
WE'LL SEE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND THEN PARK PARKS CAN PUT DOWN SOME MULCH IN THOSE AREAS AND, YOU KNOW, SEE WHERE THE MAIN AVENUES ARE AFTER.
BUT YEAH, WE DON'T MICRO, UM, DIRECT IT.
SO, SHALL I READ IT? UH, WELL, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S KEEP GOING ON QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN YOU CAN READ IT IN AND SEE IF YOU GET A SECOND AND THEN SEE WHAT WE GO AFTER THAT.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERN THAT I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED ACTUALLY TO HEAR SAID OUT LOUD, UH, IS THAT THE ISN'T JUST AROUND PARKING ON THE PULL FIELD.
IT'S THAT, THAT THERE'S A SENSE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ZILKER.
UM, IT IS NO LONGER THE AUSTIN OF THE FIFTIES, SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.
AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO WRAP THAT IN AMBER.
UM, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HERE NOW, AND THIS IS APART FOR ALL OF AUSTIN AND I DO MM-HMM.
AND IT IS TRYING TO BE AN INCLUSIVE, UM, LANGUAGE.
SO THIS, THIS ADDITION IS, IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME.
UM, I FRANKLY, THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO ME ECHOING AS I TEND TO DO A LOT, UH, COMMISSIONER OF BRISTOL, UM, OF, I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO HELP ZILKER IS TO INVEST IN OTHER PARKS, UH, AND TO BUY MORE PARKS.
UM, SO IF EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A ZILKER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEIR CARS WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO ZILKER PARK.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, THE SITE DOESN'T COMPLY WITH EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
SO OF COURSE I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
UM, MY ONE QUESTION TO YOU, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN IS, UH, SEEK TO ME SEEMS A LITTLE, UM, MAY, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SOFT, LIKE THEY COULD REMEDIATE THE POLO FIELDS, BUT THEN GENERALLY BE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR OFFSITE AND, UM, I DO WANNA SAY THANK THE PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO WAS PART OF THE ZILKER PARK WORKING GROUP.
BUT HAVING THAT LANGUAGE OF, YOU KNOW, AFTER SECURING AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF VIABLE, PREFERABLY OFFSITE PARKING ALTERNATIVES, UM, DO YOU, I MEAN, JUST THOUGHTS ON OTHER LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT BE MORE WELL, WHAT I, AGAIN, WHAT I SAID WAS THEREFORE, UM, CITY SHALL LOOK, SEEK A, UH, SEEK ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE NEAR ZILKER PARK AND ALLOW SOME WAIVERS TO RESTRICTIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS CONDITIONAL ON THE MEANS TO REMEDIATE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO PARKLAND.
UM, SO, BUT IDEAS INCLUDE, UH, JUST SOUTH OF ZILKER PARK ON, UH, THE MOPAC ACCESS ROAD.
THERE IS AN OFFICE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I HAD VISITED FOR CNI
[03:25:01]
DOCTOR THERE, UM, THAT HAS PARKING GARAGES.WELL, THEY'RE EMPTY ON WEEKENDS, BUT AGAIN, PART OF THE ISSUE IS IF THE CITY WAS GOING TO USE THEM, THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR INSURANCE FOR ANYBODY WHO USED THEM BECAUSE THERE'S LIABILITY WHEN YOU'RE USING SOMEBODY'S PARKING GARAGE OR PARKING LOT, WHATEVER.
SO, UM, SO THERE'S COST INVOLVED.
AND THEN, UM, THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT ADDING MORE PARKING, EITHER SURFACE PARKING OR MAYBE, UM, PARKING GARAGE AT AUSTIN HIGH, AND THEN MAKING IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GET ACROSS THE FOOTBRIDGE THAT GOES UNDERNEATH MOPAC TO GET TO ZILKER PARK.
AND THEN, UM, I'VE LOOKED, I, EVERY TIME I GO DOWN BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, I THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHERE COULD WE PUT MORE PARKING ALONG BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BETWEEN SAY, JESSE STREET AND, AND SOUTH LAMAR, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF EMPTY SPACE THAT COULD BE A NEW PARKING GARAGE OR, UM, SURFACE PARKING.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN AGAIN, HAVING A MORE FREQUENT SHUTTLE FROM THE, UH, ONE TEXAS CENTER OR, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S AT THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
UM, THOSE COULD BE OTHER OPTIONS ALSO.
AND THEN PARACHUTING OFF OF, UH, MOPAC MANY PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE, HANG GLIDING DOWN INTO THE PARK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORD ENSURE INSTEAD OF SEEK? THAT'D BE FINE.
I GUESS WE CAN, AGAIN, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT BE EX EXCLUDE, I DON'T WANT THIS TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE FROM USING ZILKER PARK.
AND ALSO ADDING SOME PROTECTIONS SO THAT PE ELDERLY PEOPLE, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING PARKING NEAR BARTON SPRINGS OR NEAR WHATEVER THEIR DESTINATION IS IN ZILKER PARK.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION RIGHT HERE? OH, SORRY, SIR.
WELL, AGAIN, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NOT A PARKING CZAR WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE OUGHT TO BE SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARKS ARE AS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO VISIT THEM BY PERSONAL MOTOR VEHICLE.
UM, MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE OUR KEY RECOMMENDATION, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE NOT THE PARKS, UM, COMMISSION OR PARKS BOARD, WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD HELP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE, BUT AGAIN, THE POINT SHOULD BE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE THAT PERSONS WHO NEED TO PARK IN SILK PARK BECAUSE THEY'RE ATTENDING AN EVENT THAT THEY'VE LONG GONE TO, AND NOW IT'S HARDER TO GET THERE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED POPULATION OF THE CITY AND WHATNOT CAN GET THERE.
AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, RIDE THEIR BIKE, RIDE A SCOOTER, RIDE AN UBER RIDE CAPITAL METRO, DO THAT.
AND ALSO, LIKE I WAS THINKING OR WALK A FARTHER DISTANCE FROM A PARKING GARAGE.
AND ALSO I WAS THINKING ABOUT LIKE THE SHUTTLE IDEA BECAUSE LIKE CURRENTLY I THINK THE SHUTTLES THAT WE HAVE THAT GO TO ZILKER ONLY OPERATE IN THE SUMMER AND THERE'S ONLY LIKE THREE MONTHS AND ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUT OF THAT, THAT'S 27 DAYS THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A SHUTTLE TOZIER.
AND I'M LIKE, WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE THE WEATHER IS.
BUT ALSO WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE THE TEMPERATURES ARE MORE TEMPERATE, SO IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE PARK IN SPRING RIGHT.
AND FALL AND WINTER SOMETIMES.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHY WOULDN'T, IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE THE SHUTTLES OPERATE MORE, TO BRING IN TO OFFSET THE PARK? WELL, AND AN ALTERNATIVE IS TO PARK FOR FREE AT, UM, I GUESS ONE TEXAS CENTER AND THEN TAKE THE NUMBER 30 BUS AND THAT RUNS ALL YEAR, UM, EVERY DAY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW LATE IN THE DAY IT GOES, BUT RIGHT.
IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT LIKE IT RUNS EVERY 10 MINUTES.
BUT IT HAS SEVERAL DROP OFF POINTS WITHIN ZILKER PARK.
AND THEN LIKE ANOTHER THING THAT I WAS THINKING OF, OKAY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE THE PARK ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE.
SO WE NEED SHUTTLES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE ACCESSIBILITY TO PEOPLE.
I'M USED TO LIKE, A LOT OF TIMES THE SHUTTLES ARE LIKE SCHOOL BUSES.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE SCHOOL BUSES DON'T NORMALLY HAVE LIKE SOMETHING TO UPLIFT LIKE A WHEELCHAIR OR RIGHT.
IT'S, AND IT'S LIKE NARROW WALKWAYS OR, AND SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, RIGHT.
BUT THAT THIS IS EXPLICITLY WHY I ADDED THE LANGUAGE
[03:30:01]
ABOUT IN ADDITION, ALLOCATE PARKING WITHIN THE PARK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BEYOND WHAT THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS ARE.SO MAYBE ONE THIRD OF THE PARKING WITHIN ZILKER PARK SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR EITHER FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, SENIOR CITIZENS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
BUT AGAIN, SOMEBODY IN, SOMEBODY IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OUGHT TO BE A PARKING EXPERT TO LOOK AT THE DEMAND AND SEE WHAT WE NEED.
BRING BACK THE DILLOW BUS FOR ZILKER
I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THE POLO FIELD.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE EXCLUSIONARY BY TAKING AWAY THE PARKING SPACES AT THE POLO FIELD.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WRESTLING IS IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOES BEYOND US.
BECAUSE LIKE, THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS LIKE DISENFRANCHISING MORE PEOPLE TO GOING TO THE PARK.
I AM, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I AM DOING THIS.
I DO NOT WANT THIS TO APPEAR TO BE AN EXCLUSIONARY ELITIST THING THAT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR ZILKER PARK YET TO USE IT.
DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON THE AMOUNT OF PARKING SPOTS THAT THE POLO FIELDS REPRESENT? BECAUSE I'M, I'M PRE I THINK I REMEMBER LIKE THE NUMBERS BEING SHOWN DURING IT'S LIKE 400.
SO THEN WE WOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT A PERCENTAGE OF THAT.
THAT IS THEN, I GUESS LIKE REDISTRIBUTED NEAR OR IN OR AROUND THE PARK THAT, UH, IS FOR, UH, ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES.
RIGHT? WELL AGAIN, NO, THEY, WE, IT COULD BE SOME OF THE SURFACE PARKING OR EXISTING PARKING SPACES, NOT ON THE POLO FIELD.
IT COULD GO FOR PER BE RESERVED FOR PERSONS WITH DISABIL DISABILITIES.
JUST LIKE IN OR AROUND SENIORS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
AND THEN NEW PARKING AT THE BONE YARD, NEW PARKING AT AUSTIN HIGH NEW PARKING ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BETWEEN JESSE AND SOUTH LAMAR.
PARKING AT ONE TEXAS CENTER PARKING AT THE PARKING GARAGES.
JUST SOUTH OF THE, UH, MACBETH REC CENTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE ARE, THERE ARE OPTIONS AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY, YOU'D COME UP WITH 400 PARKING SPACES IN LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
BUT AGAIN, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO LOOK AT IT.
WE NEED, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS QUESTION, UH, FOR YOU SULLIVAN ABOUT MM-HMM.
UH, IN THE FIRST, THEREFORE NOT THE, THE NEW ONE, BUT, UH, THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS A AUSTIN PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND REC BOARD REQUEST FUNDING AUSTIN COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE POLO FIELDS, ADDING DA DA DA DA, SORRY.
UM, AND THE FIELD BAN REGULAR PARKING.
WHAT IS YOUR DEF WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF REGULAR PARKING? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW, UM, PARKING, YOU CAN PARK ON THE POLO FIELDS, NOT, NOT RELATED UP, UP ABOVE HERE IN ONE OF THE WAREHOUSES WE HAVE THE RA PARK POLO FIELD WITH EXCEPTION FOR OVERFLOW, FOR ADVANCED SCHEDULE EVENTS LIKE THE KITE FESTIVAL AND THOSE THINGS.
SO ARE IS YOUR, IS THE LANGUAGE YOU HAVE IN THERE, THE INTENT OF THAT LANGUAGE TO BE THAT IT'S THE SEASONAL PARKING THAT IS OPEN MORE OR LESS THE OVERFLOW DURING THE SUMMER FOR PARKING SPRING? TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW ON, ON HOW MANY DAYS OF THE YEAR.
UM, WHEN I'VE BEEN THERE, IT'S BEEN EMPTY WHEN I'VE GONE TO LOOK AT THE, BUT IT'S GENERALLY LIKE EARLY ON SUNDAY, WHEN I RIDE, WHEN I RIDE MY BIKE.
UM, SO THE, UM, THE IDEA IS TO RESTORE IT AND THEN IF WE DO ALLOW PARKING FOR EVENTS, WHOEVER, IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE THAT PARTY THAT USED, IT WOULD HAVE TO REMEDIATE THAT DAMAGE.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT SIMILAR HOW, UH, ACL HAS TO RESTORE THE GREAT LAWN, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND THE IDEA IS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT, AND AS A RESULT NOW WE JUST HAVE A BIG FLAT MUD FIELD.
SO IF WE CAN RESTORE IT WITH GREEN, WITH GREEN GRASS AND LET THAT, YOU KNOW, BE THERE, UM, THEN IF SOMEBODY DOES PARK ON IT, IT WON'T DESTROY IT.
IT MIGHT BE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME RUTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND PATCH IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, GUYS? YES, BRISTOL.
UM, I JUST WANNA, UM, UH, MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON, UM, ON, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN.
[03:35:01]
KIND OF THE PROPER TERM, UH, INSTEAD OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IT'S PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY.AND, UM, I JUST ALSO WANNA BE THE TIMEKEEPER AND SAY WE HAVE 12 MINUTES UNLESS WE EXTEND IT.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE BIG SIGN THAT ELIZABETH'S HOLDING UP, DID SHE? SHE, SHE, SHE CHANGES IT EVERY MINUTE.
UM, OKAY, WELL, IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT COMMENT, UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION OR SHOULD WE, UH, HEAR THIS MOTION AND THEN, UH, AND VOTE? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST PART AND YOU'RE GONNA HIT THE REST OF IT.
UM, UH, SUBJECT Z PARK POLO FIELDS RESTORATION, WHEREAS THE PARKS AND REC, PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD PASSED, RECOMMENDATION 20 23 0 7 24 DASH FIVE ON JULY 24TH, 2023 TO ELIMINATE PERMANENT PARKING IN THE ZOCOR POLO FIELDS, WITH THE EXCEPTION FOR OVERFLOW FOR ADVANCED SCHEDULE EVENTS AND RECOMMENDED THE AUSTIN COUNCIL APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE POLO FIELD RESTORATION.
ALTERNATIVE PARKING SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING FREE SHUTTLES MANAGED BY PARD MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND ESTABLISHED LOADING AND NON AND NO LOADING ZONES FOR SHUTTLE AND PARK USERS, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PASSED.
RECOMMENDATION 20 23 0 9 2 0 DASH 0 0 4 REQUESTING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ADD MONEY TO PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, BUDGET FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE KER PARK POLO FIELD.
BAN REGULAR PARKING ON THE KER PARK POLO FIELD, AND ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE NEAR, WITHIN OR NEAR ZORA PARK THAT PROTECTS THAT NATURAL ASSETS OF ZORA PARK, SORRY, IN ZORA PARK.
WHEREAS THE ENVIR, THE AUSTIN, UH, CITY COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE 20 23 11 0 2 DASH 0 2 8 AMENDING THE CITY CODE TITLE 25 TO ELIMINATE MINIMUM MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING SPACES REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT FOR ACCESSIBILITY, ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACE PARKING.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE AUSTIN PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REQUEST FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE ZILKER PARK POLO FIELD BY ADDING TOPSOIL, PLANTING NATIVE GRASSES, PROVIDING FOR STORMWATER DIVERSION, AND ANY OTHER STEPS TO PREVENT FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE ZILKER PARK POLO FIELD FIELD, UH, FIELD AND BAN REGULAR PARKING ON THE ZILKER PARK POLO FIELD, BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN ADDITION.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, OR, UH, REQUIRE THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT ADDITIONAL PARKING ELSEWHERE EXI IS FOUND NEAR ZILKER PARK AND ALLOW SOME WAIVERS TO RESTRICTIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
CONDITIONAL ON MEANS TO REMEDIATE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO PARK LAND.
IN ADDITION, ALLOCATE PARKING WITHIN THE PARK WITHIN ZILKER PARK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH LIMITED ABILITIES.
IS THERE A SECOND? LIMITED MOBILITY.
OKAY, LET'S VOTE ALL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS WRITTEN.
I SEE ALL BUT TWO, UM, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ONE IN OPPOSITION AND ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.
ALRIGHT, SO BY MY MATH IT PASSES.
THANK YOU PUBLIC FOR COMING AND SPEAKING, UM, AND BEING PRESENT.
RESI, YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY EIGHT MINUTES.
[5. Consider a recommendation concerning updates to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Climate Equity Plan, and Austin Equity Plan related to City Council’s resolution 20231109-029 regarding telework policies and resolution 20231102-002 regarding disposal rate goals. Presenter: Haris Qureshi, Environmental Commission Member ]
UM, DO WE WANT TO TABLE THIS FOR ANOTHER MEETING? DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS NOW? WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO? I, I'M, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE IT'S PRETTY SHORT AND I'M PRETTY QUICK READER, BUT I'M TOTALLY DOWN TO DO IT LATER AS WELL.IT'S, UH, LET'S TRY TO GET IT IN.
THE ONLY QUICK FEEDBACK I HAVE, ELIZABETH FUNK, UH, THIS IS ON COUNCIL'S AGENDA BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.
CORRECT? SO IF YOU WANNA DO IT, YOU SHOULD DO THAT.
SEE, I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON THAT, UH, I WANTED TO DO IT.
ALRIGHT, I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL, UM, 10 TEN SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? EXTEND THE MEETING TO 10 10.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT ONE ABSTENTION VEHEMENTLY ABSTAINING.
[03:40:01]
IT'S YOURS.SO HERE IS THE MOTION WHERE AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 1 9 0 8 0 8 DASH SEVEN EIGHT DECLARING CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WERE ASKED THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 1 9 0 4 1 1 0 3.
I FEEL LIKE THE, THE GUISE AT THE AUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WERE ASKED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE ADOPTION OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH SETS THE NEW COMMUNITY WIDE GOAL OF EQUITABLY REACHING NET ZERO COMMUNITY.
WED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2040.
AND WERE ASKED ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2023, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED AN ACTION MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL TO INITIATE AMENDMENTS TO THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN RELATED TO THE CITY'S TELEWORK POLICIES.
AND WHEREAS JSC APPROVED RECOMMENDATION 2 0 2 4 1 2 4 DASH 0 0 2 TO ADD EXPLICIT LANGUAGE SUPPORTING TELEWORK POLICIES, ENSURING THAT WHENEVER APPROPRIATE ALL CITY OF AUSTIN TELEWORK AND REMOTE WORK POLICIES CONTRIBUTE TO TOWARDS THE GOAL OF ACHIEVING 25% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS WORKING FROM HOME BY 2039 AND INCLUDE A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT A CITY OF AUSTIN TELEWORK POLICY OF NO LESS THAN 85% OF ELIGIBLE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES CHOOSE TO WORK FROM HOME.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REPRESENTS REPRIMANDS, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE JSC.
UM, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN BROUGHT A VERY GOOD POINT THAT, UH, WE ALL HATE WORKING AND WE WOULD RATHER DO IT IN OUR HOME WHERE WE CAN JUST GOOF OFF, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY TRY TO ALSO PRIORITIZE, UH, GREEN, UH, TRANSIT OPTIONS AS WELL.
UH, SO I THINK HE MADE A VERY GOOD POINT, RIGHT? SO I'LL SECOND, UM, SECOND.
SO WHAT I SAID, WHAT I, WHAT I, UH, SENT TO, UH, COMMISSIONER QURESHI WAS, UM, THAT WE SHOULD INCREASE THE SHARE OF CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AT HOME USE MASS TRANSIT TO TRAVEL TO WORK, BICYCLE TO WORK, OR WALK TO WORK INSTEAD OF DRIVING TO WORK.
ENSURE THAT WHENEVER APPROPRIATE CITY TELEWORK REMOTE WORK IN GREEN COMMUTING POLICIES CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THE GOAL OF ACHIEVING 25% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS NOT DRIVING A LOAN TO WORK BY 2039.
ADDITIONALLY, TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, IMPLEMENT A CITY TELEWORK POLICY OF NO LESS THAN 85% OF ELIGIBLE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES ARE ALLOWED TO WORK FROM HOME.
ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A, AN AMENDMENT.
ANY OPPOSITION TO ADDING THAT LANGUAGE? I WOULD, I WOULD MAYBE JUST ADD TO THAT LIST MICRO MOBILITY THAT YEAH.
UM, AND ASSISTED MOBILITY DEVICES OR DID YOU HAVE THAT IN THERE? WELL, NO, I SAID, UH, MASS TRANSIT, BICYCLE WALK BUT, OR OTHER FORMS OF MICRO MOBILITY WOULD BE GOOD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SCOOT, RIGHT? AND I WAS THINKING ASSISTED MOBILITY DEVICES AS WELL.
SO JUST TO COVER MORE BASES, BUT RIGHT.
SO IT SHOULD SAY USE MASS TRANSIT TO TRAVEL TO WORK, BICYCLE TO WORK.
WALK TO WORK, USE MICRO MOBILITY OR ASSISTED MOBILITY TO, UM, INSTEAD OF DRIVING TO WORK.
ASSISTED MOBILITY DEVICES, I WOULD SAY.
JUST SULLIVAN PLUS ASSISTED MOBILITY DEVICES.
I'LL LISTEN BACK TO GET EXACT WORDING, BUT I'VE GOT THE GIST.
I'LL YEAH, I HAVE THIS IN AN EMAIL THAT I EXCHANGE WITH COMMISSIONER QURESHI AND MY PHONE'S OUT 1%, SO PLEASE EXCUSE THE, UH, YEAH.
SO ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT AMENDMENT? ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK IHORN WANTS TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.
WE CAN, WE CAN GO FOR HOURS, BUT YOU KNOW.
ALRIGHT, I GOT, I GOTTA GO CATCH DRINKS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS READ AND AMENDED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE ALL BUT ONE, UM, ALL THOSE OPPOSED WITH ONE OPPOSITION.
AND THAT WAS THE FASTEST MOTION OF THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW.
IF ONLY THEY COULD ALL BE THIS QUICK.
WE DON'T NEED TO USE ALL 13 OF OUR AVAILABLE MINUTES, BUT, UM, WORKING GROUPS, COMMITTEE UPDATES.
ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT.
UM, ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, HEARING NONE.
WE ARE CLOSING UP SHOP AT 9 58 MEETINGS ADJOURNED.
[03:45:01]
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN GUYS.