[ Call to Order]
[00:00:02]
I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING, A REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, FOLKS, IT'S FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
THE LAST TIME THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MET ON A LEAP DAY, A FEBRUARY 29TH WAS 28 YEARS AGO IN 1996 FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO, UM, PAY ATTENTION TO THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, SO THAT BEING SAID, UH, HAPPY LEAP DAY.
UM, WE WILL, UH, NOW I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 24, INSTEAD OF DISTRICT SEVEN SHOULD READ DISTRICT TWO.
ITEM NUMBER 71 SHOULD READ WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO MARCH 7TH, 2024 MEMBERS.
LET ME ALSO POINT OUT THAT WHILE IT'S NOT LISTED IN YOUR CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS, WHEN WE TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 61, ITEM NUMBER 61, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY, UH, PRIMARILY BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
HE IS ASKED THAT THAT BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE MARCH 21ST, 2024 MEETING AND ADD AGENDA ITEM 100, WHICH IS PRIMARILY SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
HE HAS REQUESTED THAT BE POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 21ST, 2024, UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSION ACTIONS CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS.
ITEMS TWO AND NUMBER FOUR SHOULD READ FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024, RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON AN EIGHT TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER S SCADE ABSENT, AND TWO VACANCIES ITEMS THREE AND FIVE SHOULD READ FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024, RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON A SIX TO TWO VOTE WITH CHAIR STONE AND COMMISSIONER GARY VOTING AGAINST COMMISSIONER S SCADE ABSENT, AND TWO VACANCIES.
ITEM NUMBER 21, WHICH READS FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024, RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A, IT SHOULD DELETE 8 0 3, VOTE AND READ 7 0 1 VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER WHITE ABSTAINING AND THREE VACANCIES.
UM, MEMBERS ALSO PULLED ITEMS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONE PULLED ITEM WE HAVE IS ITEM NUMBER 59.
UH, THE ORDER FOR BUSINESS OF THE DAY WILL BE THAT WE WILL HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT VOTE WITH BRIEF COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS.
UH, WE WILL HEAR THE NON-CONSENT SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON, AND WE WILL THEN TAKE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UH, LET ME RUN THROUGH WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE, THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE REFERRED FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 66, THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, ITEM 67 AND 68, AND PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, ITEMS 72, WELL ITEM 70 THROUGH 73, ALTHOUGH ITEM NUMBER 71 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO MARCH 7TH.
SO IF ANYONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 71, YOU'LL STILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT WILL ONLY BE ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO IF THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT AND YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON IT, UM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO JUST MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND I'LL CLARIFY AGAIN, UH, THAT ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM WILL BE HEARD DURING THAT PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AS A NON-CONSENT SPEAKER, AND NOT WITH THE CONSENT SPEAKERS UNLESS IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU.
AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT WE ASK THAT YOU VISIT WITH THE CLERK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE APPROPRIATELY.
UM, IF TIME ALLOWS, WE HAVE A 10 30, UH, TIME CERTAIN, AND IF TIME WERE ALLOW, IT'S CLOSE TO THAT TIME, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL, AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE WILL HEAR SPEAKERS, IF ANY.
WE WILL ACT AND ADJOURN THE CORPORATION MEETING AT NOON.
WE WILL HEAR NOON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL ALSO, UM, CLOSE OUT WITH A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN OF ZONING.
WE DO HAVE SOME ITEMS POSTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, DEPENDING UPON THE TIME AS IT RELATES TO TIME CERTAINS.
WE MAY, UH, WE MAY GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, BUT WE'LL, I'LL, I'LL DETERMINE
[00:05:01]
THAT AS WE GO FOR FORWARD.UM, I'VE READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, SO MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I WILL TURN TO OUR CITY CLERK TO ASK TO HELP US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME JUST SAY, UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE.
I KNOW THE WHOLE COUNCIL DOES, BUT LET ME JUST REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THE RULES DURING, UH, ANY SORT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WHILE THE COUNCIL IS MEETING, UM, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE IS BEHAVIOR THAT CAN VIOLATE THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE WON'T PERMIT THAT BEHAVIOR.
YOU MAY NOT SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
YOU MAY, UH, CRITICIZE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, BUT YOU MAY NOT USE PERSONALLY DEROGATORY OR DISPARAGING REMARKS.
YOU CANNOT DEFAME ANOTHER PERSON.
USE ABUSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS LIKELY TO INCITE A BREACH OF THE PEACE, MAKE THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON OR OTHERWISE.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, SUCH AS SPEAKING OUT OF TURN AND SCREAMING COMMENTS OR YELLING COMMENTS.
UH, ALSO NOTE THAT COMMENTS FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ON A NUMBERED AGENDA ITEM MUST BE RELEVANT TO THAT ITEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THAT.
UH, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE, UM, ATTEMPT TO USE THAT AS A WAY TO MAKE COMMENTS, BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, COMPLY WITH OUR RULES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RULES.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNS YOU MAY USE, UTILIZE THOSE SIGNS OR BAN, UH, BANNERS OR THINGS OF THE FLAGS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE IN THE BACK, SUBJECT TO THE FIRE MARSHAL, MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE SAFE.
UH, YOU MAY NOT USE THOSE SIGNS IF YOU'RE SEATED IN A SEAT BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BLOCK OTHER PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH COUNSEL.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANY, UH, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, UH, THAT, THAT DIRECTS, UH, PERHAPS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OR JUST IS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT, WE'LL, WE, WE WATCH FOR AND WE WILL, UM, UH, ATTEMPT TO AVOID.
[Public Comment]
I WILL, UH, NOW TURN IT TO THE CLERK AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR HELP.WE DO HAVE ONE SPANISH SPEAKER ON THE LINE, SO I'D ASK FOR THE INTERPRETER TO COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT SEEK ARE SEEKING INTERPRETATION, SO IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD AND HELP US WITH THAT.
MY TESTIMONY IS TO SUPPORT OF, IT'S AN ALLIANCE OF TENANTS WITHOUT HOUSE.
UH, I COME FROM THE APARTMENTS OF HOLLOW, UM, AND, UH, WE WERE DISPLACED, MY NEIGHBORS AND ME, AND WE WERE STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHERE TO LIVE.
UM, IT'S BEEN AROUND A YEAR SINCE WE LEFT THAT PLACE.
SOME OF US, UH, WE FOUND A PLACE TO LIVE AND, UH, OTHER PEOPLE, THEY DIDN'T FIND WHERE TO GO.
AND, UH, OTHER OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE STILL LIKE HOMELESS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE WHERE TO LIVE.
[00:10:14]
WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE SAME ABILITIES OR CAPABILITIES, UH, TO FIND A JOB, TO ALLOW US TO FIND A PLACE WHERE TO LIVE.AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT AS, AS, UH, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT AS A HUMAN BEINGS, WE ALL DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE GOOD.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT THE PLACE THAT WE WERE DISPLACED FOR, UH, IT'S GONNA BUILD, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND FIRST WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE GONNA BUILD VERY EXPENSIVE APARTMENTS, BUT NOW WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO ASK IS, UH, FOR YOU TO GIVE PRIORITY TO PEOPLE WHO WAS LIVING THERE BEFORE, UH, WITHOUT ASKING FOR IDENTIFICATION SINCE WE ALREADY HAD A LEASE THERE.
AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE D BEING ID LAW.
THANK, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
THIS IS REGARDING THE OLD HOMESTEAD I, THE APARTMENT THAT THE GENTLEMAN OH, THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, IF, IF I MAY, MAY, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SAY THAT THE, THE DEVELOPER DID PROMISE THAT THE TENANTS WOULD HAVE A RIGHT OF RETURN.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THE, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECT, WHICH IS NOT ASSURED, BUT WE HOPE THAT IT, IT DOES GET BUILT, AND THEY HAVE ALSO AGREED TO GIVE THE FORMER TENANTS AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD A PRIORITY IN LEASING THOSE APARTMENTS.
SO WE, WE WILL, AND I WILL MAKE SURE TO, UH, TO, TO PUSH THEM TO KEEP THOSE PROMISES.
LET'S HAVE HIS OFFICE GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SPEAKER.
LET'S, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT, PLEASE.
THAT'S THE ONLY SPANISH SPEAKER WE HAVE ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU DON'T MIND WAITING JUST A MINUTE IN CASE THEY JOIN.
BUT I WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER, MARK TOUSI SPEAKING ON ITEM 59.
MARK, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE, PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING, ITEM 16 AND 63.
MY COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ITEM IS THAT I OPPOSE, UH, REPLACING ROSIE TRULOVE WITH MANDY DE MAYO.
SPECIFICALLY, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT SHE DID MENTION IN THE 2023 PRO HOUSING $10 MILLION HUD APPLICATION, THE SCARCITY OF UNITS THAT ARE IN WEST AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY FEWER THAN 10 AFFORDABLE HOMES WERE BUILT IN
[00:15:01]
DISTRICTS 5, 6, 8, AND 10.HOWEVER, SHE HAS NOT BROUGHT BEFORE YOU ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL IN THE WAY OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, NOR HAS SHE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU THE 20 YEAR OUTDATED SMART POLICY, WHICH IS ALSO STATED IN THAT APPLICATION.
AND SO, RESPECTFULLY, I'VE NOT SEEN HER DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OPPOSED HER NOMINATION AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 63.
THAT'S THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ITEM, WHICH SUGGESTS PUTTING A DATE ON THE CALENDAR MAY 30TH, 2024 FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM INDEFINITELY AND CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT ON MAY 7TH, 20, UH, 2019, COUNSEL ACTUALLY DECIDED TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY THE SMALL AREA PLANNING FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER TO TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE.
AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, MAYOR, DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, YOU TESTIFIED FOR PROJECT CONNECT, THE LONG RANGE VISION PLAN AT CAPITAL METRO EXCLUDED NORTH LAMAR, BECAUSE THAT AREA AT NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER IS OWNED BY TDOT.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT IN YOUR 2023, UM, WALK BIKE ROLL POLICY, IT ACTUALLY SPECIFIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AUSTIN'S DISCRIMINATORY HISTORY AND PRACTICES.
AND THAT ACTUALLY MENTIONS NORTH LAMAR.
I HAVE ASKED A CHEETO VILLA TO CLOSE THE MID-BLOCK STOP AT CHINATOWN, AND IT'S STILL OPEN.
THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN A DA COMPLIANT SIDEWALK.
AND MS. CRUZ, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED, SO YOUR TESTIMONY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CATALINA CRUZ.
I'M A WORKER AT YOUTUBE MUSIC AND A MEMBER OF THE ALPHABET WORKERS UNION.
UM, TODAY I'M CURRENTLY SURROUNDED BY MY COWORKERS.
UM, WE ARE COMPRISED OF MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, AND MUSIC INDUSTRY WORKERS WORKING OUR BEST TO EARN SUSTAINABLE WAGE AS WE PUSH THROUGH OUR PASSIONS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DESPITE THE DELAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR RESOLUTION BEING VOTED ON, JUST AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO COGNIZANT IN GOOGLE MEETING US AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE WANNA SAY HELLO VERY QUICKLY.
MY NAME IS MARK TUCCI, UH, OWNER OF THE AUSTIN SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, AUSTIN, SSC KIDS, YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES AND SPORTS FOR ALL.
UH, REASON FOR, UH, MY COMMENTS IS JUST TO SHOW SOME SUPPORT FOR THE, UH, FINDING AND, UH, SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROVIDE MORE ATHLETIC, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, UH, FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR ADULTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY HAS BECOME, UH, FAR TOO DEFICIENT IN COMPARED TO OTHER METROPOLITAN AREAS, NOT JUST IN TEXAS, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND THE, UH, HOPE TO FIND MORE PLACES THAT OUR KIDS AND ADULTS CAN PLAY, UH, WOULD BE, UH, MUCH NEEDED FOR THE POPULATION GROWTH AND SOMETHING THAT AS RECREATION IS, UH, BECOMING SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH, UH, KNOWING THAT HAVING THOSE PROPER SPACES WOULD REALLY, UM, AID THE BETTERMENT OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
THAT WAS ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.
SO I'LL GO TO IN PERSON, UH, GUS PENA SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO AND THREE, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM BUNCH, AND THEN PAUL ROBBINS BOTH ON ITEM 23.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM AS MR. PENA APPROACHES, UM, I WANNA THANK HIM FOR ALL OF HIS YEARS OF ADVOCACY IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MR. PENA, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WERE HERE WHEN I CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND, AND POINTED OUT THAT IT'S BEEN SINCE 1996 THAT WE'VE HAD A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON A LEAP DAY, BUT WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF LOOKING AND YOU HOLD THE DISTINCTION TODAY OF BEING THE ONLY SPEAKER WE HAD THAT SPOKE IN 1996
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT.
[00:20:01]
YEAH, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO, MAYOR, UH, NUMBER ONE, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S A HECK OF DAY TO DAY, BUT HEY, NUMBER THREE, AS HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, KEN SING 10 APARTMENTS FOR INSTALLATION OF A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM.I THINK THAT'S, UH, APPROPRIATE.
UH, I'M, I'M NOT TOO SURE IF I DROVE OR WENT UP ABOVE, BUT, UH, CAN, CAN I SPEAK ON NUMBER FOUR REAL QUICKLY? YES.
APPROVE, UH, ISSUANCE OF AN INCENTIVE TO THE TEXAS SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION FOR ITS PATHWAY PILOT PROGRAM.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND, UH, UH, FOR, UH, THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
UH, IT'S A GOOD GO TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE RENOVATING THIS, THEY TORE IT DOWN AND EVERYTHING.
AND SO I'M PROUD OF WHAT, UH, THE PENA FAMILY HAS, UH, BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE A BIG, WE'RE A BIG, YOU THINK, UH, THE OTHER, UH, PEOPLE ARE A BIGGER, UH, UH, MOMS, DADS AND, AND UHUH.
AND, UH, NATASHA, I'M GONNA SAY, NATASHA, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE I REMEMBER YOU WORKING ON YOUR CAMPAIGN AND, UH, ALSO A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT, UH, MCKENZIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALSO FOR SAYING HELLO.
YOU KNOW, UH, I'M STILL, UM, HURTING FROM THE, UH, HELICOPTER CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN, UH, IN VIETNAM IN 1968, AND THEN THE TED OFFENSIVE IN 1969.
AND THEN WE WERE IN LAOS IN CAMBODIA WHEN RICHARD NICKON SAID, WE'RE NOT IN LAOS IN CAMBODIA.
AND I WAS LE LEFT AND EVERYBODY WAS EITHER, UH, UH, DRINKING BEER OR SMOKING EY DOOBIE, I
I PROMISE YOU, I PROMISE YOU, YOU, THE LIMITATIONS WILL PROBABLY RUN, YOU'RE PROBABLY SAFE ON THAT.
AND THIS IS FOR MY WIFE CARMEN, WHO HAS PUT UP WITH ME FOR 38 YEARS OF UN MEXICANA AND THE CHICANO FROM EAST FIFTH STREET AREA.
I'M FROM THE EAST FIFTH AREA, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO, UH, MAYOR, BECAUSE, UH, IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO, TO NOT JUST TO SAY HELLO, DO THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER, BUT THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO, THE HARD WORK TO THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY DO.
COME OVER HERE TO LISTEN TO FOR Y'ALL TO LISTEN TO THE, THE ACHES AND PAINS.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, HERE TO ASK YOU TO, TO HIT PAUSE ON SPENDING $8.9 MILLION WITH COROLLA ENGINEERING ON THE HANCOCKS WATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, ALSO KNOWN AS WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER FOUR.
UM, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, BUT PROBABLY MANY OF YOU DON'T.
UH, THIS COMMUNITY WAS SOLD A BILL OF GOODS ON THIS PLANT, AND IT ENDED UP COSTING US A BILLION DOLLARS FOR A MERE 50 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF CAPACITY, UH, ADDITION, UM, BACK WHEN IT WAS BUILT.
WHEN YOU THROW IN, YOU KNOW, INTEREST, PAYMENTS AND OPERATIONS AND WHATNOT, YOU'RE NOW BEING ASKED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A 220 TO $250 MILLION, UH, PROJECT THAT SHOULD NEVER BE NEEDED FOR A PLANT THAT'S ONLY 10 YEARS OLD.
APPARENTLY, UH, THEY'RE HIDING THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS 8.9 MILLION IS GOING TO THE VERY COMPANY THAT BUILT IT THE FIRST TIME.
WE NEED A, A, WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND WE NEED SOME FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
I WOULD HOPE THAT SHE WOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED THIS CAPACITY.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR NEEDING THIS CAPACITY.
IT'S BEEN A PHENOMENAL WASTE FROM DAY ONE.
WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED IT FOR REDUNDANCY AND SECURITY PURPOSES.
WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE RISK MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS, WHAT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS ON THERE WAS WE NEED BACKUP POWER SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE PUMPING CAPACITY.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, 2021, OUR CITY WAS DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MAYBE EVEN BILLIONS OF DAMAGES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO WHAT THE WATER UTILITIES OWN, UH, RISK ASSESSMENT SAID WE HAD TO DO.
WE BUILT A PLANT WE DIDN'T NEED.
NOW WE'RE GONNA EXPAND IT, UPGRADE IT WITHOUT A FAIR REVIEW.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY TO TESTIFY, UM, AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
AFTER PAUL, WE HAVE KELLY JOHNSON AND THEN EMILY LEBLANC.
I STARTED MY ALLEGED CAREER AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST IN 1977,
[00:25:01]
OPPOSING THE SOUTH TEXAS NUCLEAR PROJECT.IT EXPERIENCED A NET OVERRUN OF $4.6 BILLION AND WAS AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS BEHIND IN COMPLETION.
UH, I LEARNED REAL QUICK THAT EVEN THOUGH STAFF MAY HAVE GOOD DAY-TO-DAY KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORKING UTILITY, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS GOOD AT LONG-TERM PLANNING OR EXECUTING IT.
UH, TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS, UH, WE HAVE AT OUR HIGHEST PEAK IN HISTORY, USED 228 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 335 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF CAPACITY WITH THE EXPANSION OF, UH, HANCOCK'S, UH, WATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, WHERE I MORE AFFECTIONATELY, UH, VIEW IT AS WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR, WE WILL HAVE 360 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
UH, WHAT DO WE NEED THIS FOR? UH, I URGE YOU TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THERE IS MORE TO THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN AUSTIN THAN HOUSING.
UH, I WILL, UM, I HAVE ONE FINAL POINT TO MAKE, WHICH IS THAT TOO OFTEN I SEE THIS COUNCIL BULLIED BY STAFF.
WELL, AS I GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL INITIATION INTO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT IN 1977, THE EXPERTS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. ROBBINS, KELLY JOHNSON.
ITEM 32, FOLLOWED BY EMILY LEBLANC AND THEN SHELLY EDGER.
UM, AS THE OWNER OF IRE LLC, I AM SIMPLY HERE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE CITY FOR ITS CONSIDERATION OF A LOCAL WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY ONE WHOSE MISSION IS IN HARMONY WITH THE ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE CHAMPIONED BY THE CITY.
RECOGNIZING THE BURGEONING GROWTH OF THE RESALE INDUSTRY PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 21% ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE ENDEAVOR BY THE CITY TO RECYCLE AND REPURPOSE BULK ITEMS INSTEAD OF SUBJECTING THEM TO COMPACT OR TRUCK CRUSHING REPRESENTS A COMMENDABLE APPROACH.
AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU.
EMILY LEBLANC, SHELLY EDGER, AND THEN ROBERT CORBIN.
EMILY LEBLANC IS NOT HERE, BUT I AM SHELLY EDGAR, AND I AM HERE FOR THE BOTH OF US.
WAS YOUR NAME, I'M SORRY? WAS YOUR NAME CALLED SHELL EDGAR? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UM, I AM CO-CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, SEXUAL ASSAULT RE RESPONSE AND RESOURCE TEAM, AUSTIN SART.
AND WE ARE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, WHO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM RESPONSE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, WE APPLAUD THE RESOURCES OF THE SART, UH, THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN PUTTING TOWARDS RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF THE PAST AND ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN AUSTIN ARE BELIEVED AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
AS SUCH, WE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 38, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER THAT THIS IS ONE OF MANY PIECES IN THE SYSTEM THAT WILL NEED ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS AS, UH, WE ARE MAKING IN FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE SUSTAINED.
SPECIFICALLY, WE WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO HELP SUFFICIENTLY FUND FORENSIC EXAMS. DATA FOR, UM, 2023 SHOWS THAT 144 SURVIVORS WERE TURNED AWAY WHILE ANOTHER 56 EXPERIENCED LONG WAIT TIMES FUNDING AND STAFFING OF FORENSIC LAB FOR ANALYSIS DOES US NO GOOD IF WE DON'T HAVE SKILLED AND TRAINED NURSES COLLECTING THE EVIDENCE AT THE, AT THE OUTSET, THE SART IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR PARTNERS AT SAFE AND GETTING BACK TO A MODEL WHERE ALL SURVIVORS CAN BE SERVED WITH MINIMAL WAIT TIMES.
WE'VE SEEN THE PROGRAM AT ELOISE HOUSE, UH, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR SURVIVORS WHEN IT IS STAFFED APPROPRIATELY.
WE ARE PROUD THAT THAT MODEL HAS BEEN REPLICATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND WE URGE THE CITY TO FUND THE SALARIES NEEDED TO GET BACK TO THOSE BEST PRACTICES, ENSURING THAT NO EVIDENCE IS LOST, AND NOTE THAT NO VICTIMS ARE FORCED TO ENDURE LONG WAIT TIMES IS A CRITICAL STEP IN INCREASING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS AND OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
WE ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS ONE OF MANY ONGOING INVESTMENTS WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD ON THE PROMISES THE CITY HAS MADE TO SURVIVORS.
AND THE START IS HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY IN THOSE EFFORTS.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER AND VELAZQUEZ FOR HELPING US TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE,
[00:30:01]
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION AND IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCES THAT CAN HELP ENSURE THAT OUR FORENSIC EXAMS ARE FULLY STAFFED AS WELL.THANK YOU ROBERT CORBIN FOR ITEM 46, AND THEN FOR ITEM 58, ROY WHALEY AND SCOTT JOHNSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE ONE OF THE SEATS UP FRONT, OR IF THERE'S AN EMPTY MICROPHONE, MR. JOHNSON, YOU CAN JUST WALK RIGHT UP TO IT.
STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF ITEM 58.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR AN EXCELLENT RESOLUTION.
THE ISSUE OF CONCRETE AND HOW MUCH CARBON AND OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT'S CREATED BY IT DURING THE PROCESS IS GRAVE.
IN THE LATE TWO THOUSANDS, I WAS PASTORING THE CITY ABOUT CONCRETE AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS.
IN THIS MEMO CAME OUT FROM FORMER DIRECTOR OF WHAT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
WHILE WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN USE OR CONTRACT FOR SUSTAINABLE CONTRACTING, LOW EMBODIED CARBON CEMENT, WE WANNA LOOK AND SEE AND MAKE SURE ALL THE PROVIDERS, SUCH AS LAUREN CONCRETE, WHICH ONE OF THE LARGEST IS CERTIFIED IN DOING ALL THEY CAN TO USE THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING IT AND DELIVERING IT TO MAKE THAT PROCESS AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M HERE MORE, THOUGH, TO SPEAK ABOUT HOT MIX ASPHALT, ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT THE CITY USES A LOT OF, AND THAT IS NOT PART OF A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
AND I WANNA BE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL KNOWS ABOUT IT, THE STAFF DOES KNOW ABOUT IT IN THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUT THE PROCESS OF MAKING HOT MIX ASPHALT AND WARM MIX ASPHALT INVOLVES PORTLAND CEMENT, HIGHLY CARBON INTENSIVE.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT IS VERY HIGH IN OZONE FORMING EMISSIONS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, PERHAPS IS IT'S VERY HIGH IN PARTICULATE MATTER WHAT ARE CALLED SECOND DOOR SECONDARY AEROSOLS.
SO NOT IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING IT SPECIFICALLY, BUT AS IT'S LAID, AND THEN AS IT VAPORIZES AND COMES UP.
SO FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT, CITY STAFF OR CONTRACTORS, IT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEAR IT, WHICH IS ALL OF US BECAUSE THE ROADWAY SYSTEM IN MANY CITIES OCCUPIES MORE THAN 35 OR 40% OF THE TOTAL AREA.
SO WHEN THAT'S PUT DOWN THE, THE AGGREGATE OR THE BINDER, THE, THE LIQUID, AND THEN THE ROCKS PUT ON IT, THAT'S A DIRTY PROCESS.
HOW DO Y'ALL, MY NAME'S ROY WHALEY, I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB AND SIERRA CLUB STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UM, MR. JOHNSON JUST GAVE YOU A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
UM, WE DEFINITELY, THIS WILL HELP US MOVE TO A, A MORE CARBON FREE ENVIRONMENT, SO WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL SUPPORT THAT.
AS A SIDE NOTE ON THIS BEING LEAP DATE, I, UH, IT WOULD BE MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IF I HAD STAYED MARRIED
AND, UH, THAT MIGHT SURPRISE SOME OF YOU, EITHER THAT IT DIDN'T LAST LONGER OR THAT IT LASTED THAT LONG,
UM, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU, UH, THE SPECIAL NOTICE YOU GAVE TO MR. PENA, A LONG TIME ADVOCATE AND, UH, SOME CONSIDERING A HERO HERE IN AUSTIN.
PLEASE VOTE FOR 58, AND I WILL LEAP OUTTA HERE, I GUESS.
ANTHONY CARDONE SIGNED UP FOR 59, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA SPEAK NOW, ANTHONY.
MR. CARDONE, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD OR YOU CAN SPEAK WHEN WE TAKE UP ITEM 59, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NEXT SPEAKER, ITEM 60, NICOLE CDO, FOLLOWED BY ZENOBIA JOSEPH FOR 63.
OH, SHE ALREADY SPOKE, MY APOLOGIES.
AND THEN ITEM 100 ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT, KATIE MARIE MARNER AND JACK BENEDICT.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED NICOLE CLIP, CLIP ALDO.
KATIE MARIE MESNER AND JACK BENEDICT.
[00:35:01]
I'M THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60.WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AS A LOCAL CULTURAL DISTRICT AND STATE.
AND IT STRENGTHENS OUR ROLE AS A DEDICATED PARTNER AND EFFECTIVE STEWARD OF THE LIVE MUSIC AND ARTS COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW, RED RIVER STANDS AT THE FOREFRONT OF NUMEROUS TRANSFORMATIONS THAT REALLY COULD IMPACT SIGNIFICANT ASSETS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR BRAND AND CULTURE, AND IMPORTANTLY, OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
OUR REQUEST IS THAT THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT RECEIVES FUNDING THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER TWO CULTURAL DISTRICTS, AND WE REALLY STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR CITYWIDE POLICY, AIMING FOR EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ALL DISTRICTS, AND A FAIR FUNDING MODEL.
THE EXPEDITED DELIVERY OF THE RESOLUTION ITEMS REGARDING INCENTIVES AND TOOLS ARE PRETTY CRITICAL TO OUR LIVE MUSIC ECONOMY AT THIS TIME.
UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PARTNER IN THIS OFFER, THE EX.
UH, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY OF SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND EMPOWER YOU TO CONTINUE INVESTING THROUGH ACTION.
AND ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE PARTNERS OF THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE AS RECOGNIZED IN THE PROCLAMATION TODAY.
THIS IS AN EXACT TYPE OF PROJECT THAT IS POWERFUL THROUGH CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND THE MICROPHONE'S FREE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HI, UH, MY NAME'S KATIE MARIE MARNER.
UM, MY NAME'S KATIE MARIE MARNER.
UM, I WORK FOR YOUTUBE MUSIC IN AUSTIN, AND I'M A FORM AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE ALPHABET WORKERS UNION, CWA LOCAL 9,009.
AS MY COLLEAGUE CATALINA CRUZ MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR OFFICE IS COMPRISED OF ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND MUSIC AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
EVEN THOUGH WE WORK FOR TWO FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES, WE ARE PAID JUST $19 AN HOUR AT A JOB THAT REQUIRES A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM CAN AGREE THAT THAT IS NOT A LIVABLE WAGE IN THIS CITY UNTIL NINE 50 THIS MORNING.
I HAD A SPEECH WRITTEN OUT WHERE I INTENDED TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE PASSAGE OF AGENDA ITEM 100 IS TO OUR UNION.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT YESTERDAY GOOGLE REACHED OUT TO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL REQUESTING THAT THE VOTE ON AGENDA ITEM 100 BE DELAYED.
IN FACT, GOOGLE HAS ATTEMPTED TO DELAY BARGAINING WITH US AT EVERY TURN IN THIS CAMPAIGN, GOOGLE AND THEIR TRUMPED UP JONES DAY LAWYERS CAN TRY TO DELAY ALL THEY WANT, BUT WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING, AND WE WILL NOT STOP WINNING AS WE HAVE IN EVERY FIGHT WITH THEM.
THUS FAR, THE NLRB HAS RULED ON TWO OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE JOINT EMPLOYERS OF ME AND MY COWORKERS, AND THAT THEY MUST BARGAIN WITH US.
INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE LAW, GOOGLE REFUSED TO BARGAIN WITH US, INSTEAD OPTING TO WASTE MORE OF OUR TIME TO HAVE THIS FIGHT IN THE DC CIRCUIT COURT.
FOR ITS PART, COGNIZANT ALSO HAS VIOLATED LABOR LAW BY REFUSING TO BARGAIN AND BY IMPLEMENTING VARIOUS UNION BUSTING POLICIES IN OUR OFFICE, SUCH AS THE CLEAN ROOM POLICY THAT LEAVES US UNABLE TO BRING OUR PHONES, PERSONAL COMPUTERS, PENS, OR PAPERS INTO THE OFFICE.
UNDER THIS NEW POLICY, OUR UNION IS NOT EVEN ABLE TO CIRCULATE PETITIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.
IF THE VOTE ON AGENDA ITEM 100 WAS DELAYED BECAUSE CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, I ASK THAT EACH MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL REACHES OUT TO US, THE UNION, NOT GOOGLE EXECUTIVES WHO ARE NOT CONSTITUENTS OF YOURS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.
WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING IN OUR WORKPLACE.
THIS PA THE PASSAGE OF THE YOUTUBE MUSIC RESOLUTION IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO WORKERS AT YOUTUBE MUSIC, BUT TO ALL WORKERS IN AUSTIN FIGHTING FOR A FAIR UNION CONTRACT.
CONFESS, I FEEL A LITTLE BIT UNDERDRESSED, BUT I WANTED TO REPRESENT OUR UNION.
UM, WE'RE A SMALL TEAM, BUT WE'RE VERY MIGHTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR YOUTUBE MUSIC HERE IN AUSTIN.
PART OF THE ALPHABET WORK IS UNION, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION AND ALL THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE WE FIRST WENT ON STRIKE OVER OUR EMPLOYER'S RETURN TO OFFICE POLICY.
NOW, THIS ISN'T BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T WANNA GO INTO AN OFFICE, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT WAS A LAYOFF AGAINST A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR TEAM WHO DIDN'T LIVE IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE WENT ON STRIKE OVER OUR EMPLOYER'S REFUSAL TO BARGAIN WITH OUR UNION.
TO THIS DAY, THEY REFUSE TO COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, AND GOOGLE STILL REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE US AS THEIR EMPLOYEES, EVEN AFTER COUNTLESS LOSSES IN COURT, WHICH SAY THE CONTRARY.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG FIGHT.
WE'VE HAD MANY VICTORIES, SUCH AS UNANIMOUSLY WINNING OUR UNION ELECTION AND HAVING THE NLRB DECLARE GOOGLE AND COGNIZANT AS JOINT EMPLOYERS.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT THIS, UH, RESOLUTION HAS BEEN DELAYED.
UM, BUT WE CAN WAIT ANOTHER MONTH.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS FIGHT FOR A LONG TIME, AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE HAVE THE
[00:40:01]
COUNCIL SUPPORT AND WE HAVE ALREADY WON.SO THE PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION IS YET ANOTHER VICTORY AND ANOTHER STEP IN PRESSURING OUR EMPLOYERS TO COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH.
THERE ARE LESS THAN 50 OF US AT YOUTUBE MUSIC, AND WE'RE TAKING ON TWO OF THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD.
SO TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALSO OUR ALLIES IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY GIVE US THE MOTIVATION TO KEEP THIS FIGHT IN.
NOT TO DRIP, BUT THEY JUST LAID US ALL OFF.
THEY, THEY JUST LAID US ALL OFF.
WE JUST, ALL, I GUESS WE JUST ALL GOT OFF.
OUR JOBS ARE ENDED TODAY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
UM, I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THIS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
[Consent Agenda]
HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS, AS I PRE PREVIOUSLY INDICATED WITH ITEM NUMBER 59 BEING THE ONLY ONE THAT'S BEEN PULLED.IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, MAYOR, I DON'T NEED TO PULL IT, BUT I DO HAVE, UH, A SMALL AMENDMENT TO ITEM 66, WHICH I'VE DISTRIBUTED ON THE DS.
ITEM 66 IS REFERRED FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
SO IT'S NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES APPROVAL.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY ONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? THANK YOU.
UM, THAT BEING THE CASE, ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ, IS ADOPTED, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAIS.
UH, MEMBERS I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER TO MAKE BRIEF COMMENTS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE AND ALTER TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE BRIEF COMMENTS ON ITEM 58.
UH, AT OUR LAST MEETING, UH, WE PASSED THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT PLAN TO IDENTIFY NEW RESOURCES, UH, THAT ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS OUR CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
AND WHILE THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE CERTAINLY NEEDED TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, SO IS MAKING BETTER CHOICES WITH THE MONEY THAT WE ARE ALREADY SPENDING AS A CITY.
WE BUY GOODS AND SERVICES THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE OWE IT TO AUSTINITES TO MINIMIZE THIS IMPACT.
BEING MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR PURCHASING CHOICES WAS IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AS A REAL WAY TO REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
THIS RESOLUTION TAKES THAT NEXT STEP BY USING OUR PURCHASING POWER TO PRIORITIZE SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AND TO CREATE A MARKET FOR INDUSTRIES IN TRANSITION.
SINCE WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE, THIS RESOLUTION PRIORITIZES TWO AREAS, CONCRETE AND LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT DUE TO THEIR DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND COMMON USAGE BOTH BY THE CITY AND OTHER CONTRACTORS IN OUR REGION.
IT BUILDS ON THE GREAT WORK DONE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND CALLING ATTENTION TO THE CLIMATE IMPACTS OF CONCRETE AND RECOGNIZES THAT GAS POWERED LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT POLLUTES OUR AIR AND CAUSES ASTHMA OR OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.
SO ON THIS FEBRUARY 29TH, I AM GLAD WE ARE TAKING THIS LEAP TO ENSURING OUR CONTRACTING DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WITH THE LOWEST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR PRO TEM POOL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ELLIS AND ALISON ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE AND ALTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO ITEM NUMBER 41.
THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THE, THE CREATION OF A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE REFERRING TO AS RAIN TO RIVER.
THE CURRENT WATERSHED PROTECTION STRATEGIC PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN 2001 AND HAS GUIDED MOST OF THE PROGRAM'S, LARGE SCALE PROJECTS AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS.
SO THE 2001 PLAN DOES NOT ADDRESS CURRENT MAJOR CHALLENGES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND RACIAL INEQUITIES.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF'S FORWARD THINKING INTO MAKING SURE THAT OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR POLICIES ARE CONTINUALLY BEING RIGHT SIZED FOR IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY
[00:45:01]
AND MAKING SURE, UM, THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS IN AN EQUITABLE WAY AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RIGHT SIZED FOR THE FUTURE TO COME.SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS ITEM GETTING MOVING TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAES.
UH, SHE IS ASKED THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ, HER VOTE BEING ADDED WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.
I, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BEING SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR.
IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO SHOW HER AS VOTING IN FAVOR.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BEING SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? NO.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SHE'LL BE SHOWN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED FOR REMARKS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, COULD COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR COULD COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER GO.
AND THEN WE JUST SWITCH THIS UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.
YOU'RE, UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I WANNA BRIEFLY TO ITEM 38, WHICH EXTENDS OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR EXTERNAL PARTNER WHO HANDLES OUR DNA TESTING.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONTRACT, AND IT HAS MY FULL SUPPORT, BUT I DO WANNA DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE RELATED NEEDS THAT MAKE OUR DNA TESTING RELEVANT.
THE FORENSIC EXAMS, AS MS. IGER IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE AND RESOURCE TEAM.
SART MENTIONED DATA FOR 2023, SHOW THAT 144 SURVIVORS WERE TURNED AWAY WHILE ANOTHER 56 EXPERIENCED LONG WAIT TIMES.
WE NEED TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE SALARIES FOR THE NURSING POSITIONS THAT HANDLE THESE EXAMS SO THAT WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO PROVIDE HEALING AND JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS WITHOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING.
THE SALARIES ARE UNCOMPETITIVE AND APPEAR TO RESULT IN STAFFING CHALLENGES, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE LEAVE WITHOUT A FORENSIC EXAM.
THIS IS ONE OF MANY ONGOING INVESTMENTS WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD ON THE PROMISES THE CITY HAS MADE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.
I AM AWARE OF A NUMBER OF OTHER RELATED FUNDING NEEDS FOR ONGOING TRAINING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND DETECTIVE STAFFING IN THE SAME AREA.
TO THAT END, I AM WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TO BRING A RESOLUTION IN APRIL, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR THESE NEEDS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND I INVITE ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US ON THIS ISSUE TO LET MY OFFICE OR COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFFICES KNOW AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE NOT ADOPT OUR NEXT BUDGET, THAT WE ESTABLISH ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THESE NEEDS, WHICH WE HAVE PROMISED THESE SURVIVORS.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS, ALONG WITH OUR A PD STAFF, OUR C-S-C-R-M, MS. EGGERS SAFE, AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SART FOR THEIR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK.
I ALSO, COLLEAGUES WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 52, WHICH IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY OWNED AND OPERATED BY WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, PROVIDE A CRITICAL RESOURCE TO WORKING FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO WORK SHIFT WORK, WHO WORK IN THE EARLY HOURS OR LATE EVENINGS, OR WHO SEE WHO ARE SEEKING CULTURALLY COMPETENT CHILDCARE IN THE LANGUAGES THAT THEY SPEAK AT HOME.
I WANNA EXTEND MY THANKS TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE PURSUIT OF THIS GRANT AND THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS WORK IS GOING TO ALIGN VERY NICELY WITH AN EFFORT I AND OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THEAS AND WITH THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN PURSUING.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION ON THAT WITH YOU SOON.
LASTLY, AS A REMINDER, WE ARE STILL AWAITING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER AS TO HOW WE CAN PROVIDE TAX LEAVE TO HOME-BASED PROVIDERS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE PROVIDED, UM, THROUGH PROPOSITION TO, UM, IN JANUARY.
THIS WORK IS STILL ON TRACK TO COME BACK TO US IN MAY, AND I, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL RELIEF TO THESE PROVIDERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, I, I WANNA QUICKLY TALK ABOUT ITEM 100, WHICH WE HAD, UH, PULLED.
AND, UH, I, I DO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO HAD COME IN PERSON AND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SPOKEN, WHO SPOKE VIRTUALLY.
I MEAN, I JUST WANNA SAY SHAME ON GOOGLE FOR FIRING WORKERS THAT WORKED REALLY HARD, UH, THAT WERE UNDERPAID, THAT WERE TREATED BADLY, THAT ACTED IN GOOD FAITH.
UH, AND THEN WERE LET GO, UH, THIS MORNING.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
UM, I, I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT ITEM 60 MORE IN LENGTH THAT WAS ABLE TO PASS, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, I'M HONORED TO BRING THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR CITY SUPPORT, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
UH, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T, WHO DON'T KNOW, UH, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT IS AN 11 BLOCK STRETCH ON, UH, YOU
[00:50:01]
GUESSED AT RED RIVER, UH, FROM FOURTH TO 15TH STREET IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.UH, AND BROADLY FOR A FRAMEWORK THAT RECOMMENDS HOW WE CAN SUPPORT ALL OUR UNIQUE CULTURAL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AS I MENTIONED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING AROUND THIS ISSUE.
NOT ONLY IS THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT A CRITICAL PART OF AUSTIN'S VIBRANT, UH, CULTURAL MUSIC AND ART SCENE, BUT IT ALSO HAS A SIZABLE ROLE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT IS A CR, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT THEM AND ALL OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND HERITAGE DISTRICTS.
UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE IN PLACES THAT MAKE AUSTIN THE CITY THAT WE, THAT SO MANY OF US CALL HOME.
AND BY MAKING INVEST INVESTMENTS INTO OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY, WE CAN TRULY LIVE UP TO OUR TITLE AS A LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON THIS.
UH, I AGREE I GREATLY APPRECIATE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTIME POOL COUNCIL FUENTES AND COUNCILLOR RYAN ALTER FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT.
UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK AND CHECKING THROUGHOUT THE P PROCESS UNTIL ADEQUATE FUNDING AND SUPPORT IS, IS, UH, ALLOCATED, UH, TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
UH, AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, IT'S NOT ONLY THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, UH, AND ITS PHYSICAL BEING, UH, BUT ALSO THE CREATIVES WHO CALL AUSTIN HOME CREATIVES, WHO WOR, WHO WORRY ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING AND WORKING IN AUSTIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, SHOWING ME AS VOTING YES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WANTED TO CATCH THE, UM, GOOGLE FORMER EMPLOYEE, UM, BEFORE SHE LEFT THE BUILDING.
UM, I, I HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I'M JUST GONNA, UM, BE ECHOING WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO BE, UM, TO BE SEEING ON THERE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, UM, AS WE CLOSE OUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS MORNING THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF THAT.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH BLACK EXECUTIVES, UM, ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DISCOVERED DURING THE COURSE OF US, UH, UH, TALKING THIS MORNING WAS THAT IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
UM, THERE WERE FOLKS IN THAT ROOM THAT HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS AND NOT ONE BLOOD HISTORY MONTH THAT WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM ALL TOGETHER AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AUSTIN AT LARGE.
UM, AND FOR BEING REALLY AWESOME EXAMPLES OF BLACK EXCELLENCE HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO, I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT IT STARTED.
MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE IT.
UM, AND SO THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WE GOT TO DO THIS MORNING THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
WE ALSO GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A HOUSE.
IT'S AT THE CORNER OF 12TH AND KOMAL.
UM, YOU PROBABLY HAVE PASSED BY IT.
IF YOU'VE EVER GONE EASTBOUND ON 12TH STREET, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
UM, IT'S CALLED THE SOUTH GATE LOUIS HOUSE.
IT'S OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
AND IT WAS, UH, UH, SWEDISH FOLKS LIVED THERE BACK, YOU KNOW, HENCE THE NAME SWEET HILL BACK WHEN THAT AREA WAS, UH, WAS PRIMARILY SWEDISH FOLKS.
AND THEN IT, IT CHANGED HANDS AS THE COMMUNITY CHANGED HANDS.
AND WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE, UH, 1928 MASTER PLAN THAT REALLY SORT OF SEMI PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED, UH, PEOPLE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENT HOME ON, ON THE EAST SIDE OF I 35.
UM, AND SO IT STANDS AS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT HAS THE BANNERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF, UH, INFLUENTIAL BLACK FOLKS THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
UM, BUT YOU'VE NEVER BEEN INSIDE MORE, UH, MORE THAN LIKELY.
UM, AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE START TO PAY ATTENTION TO PLACES AND SPACES LIKE THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MORE PEOPLE GET TO REALLY GET FAMILIAR, UM, WITH YOUR CITY AND, AND GYMS LIKE IT.
UM, SO THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, UH, AS WE HAVE, UH, PLACED SOME SPOTLIGHTS ON DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IT HAS REALLY BEEN A GREAT REMINDER THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND RECOGNIZED.
UM, IT, I, I KIND OF WISH THAT THERE WAS A PRIZE ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING ACKNOWLEDGED THEM.
'CAUSE ALL THE COMMENTS, UH, EVERYBODY'S SO EXCITED, CONGRATULATIONS, THAT WAS MY TEACHER.
OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE THING IS, IT'S, ESPECIALLY DURING A POLITICAL CLIMATE LIKE THE ONE WE'RE IN, IT IS REALLY REFRESHING TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY JUST APPRECIATE BEING SEEN AND VALIDATED IN THEIR EFFORTS BEING APPRECIATED AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATING THEM AS WELL.
IT WAS, UM, IT WAS A REALLY LOVELY WAY TO CELEBRATE BLACKISH HISTORY MONTHS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF, UH, OF BLACK FOLKS, UH, TO THIS COUNTRY.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PART STAFF AND ANY MEMBERS, ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO GOT ORGANIZED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS.
UM, IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING MONTH FOR THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE AND THE DILIGENCE AND HARD WORK OF OUR CITY STAFF AND, UM, STAKEHOLDERS, UH, ON SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA,
[00:55:01]
UH, ARE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ALSO PAY SOME ATTENTION TO AND GIVE SOME HIGHLIGHT TO SOLAR ENERGY COMING TO FRUITION ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.I REMEMBER HAVING BEEN APPOINTED TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION SEVERAL YEARS BACK, PRECO.
UM, AND ONE OF THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WAS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO HAVE SOLAR ON INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IS STILL SORT OF LIKE A PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION MEANS THAT JUST LIKE YOU ALL THINK, EVERYTHING GOES REAL SLOW ONCE YOU INTRODUCE A BUREAU BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM LIKE THIS ONE.
SO SEEING IT COME TO FRUITION ACTUALLY IS, UM, PROGRESS.
AND SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, THIS KIND OF PROGRAMMATIC EFFORT THAT WE APPLY IT TO MORE DEVELOPMENTS.
I MEAN, EVERY TIME I FLY BACK INTO AUSTIN FROM SOMEPLACE, I CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK DOWN AND WONDER WHAT IT WOULD, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THOSE ROOFS WERE COVERED IN SOLAR PANELS OR GARDENS.
UM, JUST SOMETHING HAS TO BE NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT MUCH CEMENT,
SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS IS A PART OF A BROADER CONVERSATION.
AND THEN LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY EXCITEMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 60, UM, THE EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS IN THE LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL ART SPACES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI, I'D LIKE, I'D LOVE TO, UM, SORT OF ECHO YOUR SUPPORT AND OFFER OUR AS WELL CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THE AREA.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE SUPPORT EACH OF OUR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE DISTRICTS, UM, IN AN EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE MATTER, UM, MANNER.
I, I THINK THAT ALSO RE HAS TO REMIND US HISTORICALLY HOW WE, UH, PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY.
I HOPE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THIS SPACE FEEL WELCOME TO THE TABLE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT AND MOMENTUM BEHIND THE RETURN OF BLUES ON THE GREEN.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CONTINUE WITH THAT ENERGY AND SUPPORT OUR ENTIRE LIVE MUSIC AND ARTS ECOSYSTEMS. SO REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT MOMENTUM.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UH, ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, UH, IF I COULD BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO HIS, UH, ITEM 100.
A HUNDRED, WHICH HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
SO YES, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER AVAIL WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
WHILE I'M DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA ALSO EXPRESS MY SOLIDARITY WITH THE, UH, YOUTUBE WORKERS THAT WERE WITH US THIS MORNING, SHARING THEIR, THEIR THOUGHTS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, THAT WE STAND STRONG WITH WORKERS HERE IN AUSTIN AS THEY FIGHT FOR A LIVABLE WAGE, AS THEY FIGHT FOR A FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS AND STANDARDS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND, UH, AND SHAME ON GOOGLE FOR WHAT THEY DID THIS MORNING AND LAYING OFF THE TEAM.
UH, BUT HERE IN AUSTIN, WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR WORKERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE, UH, MEMBERS THAT HAVE INDICATED THEY WISH TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 10:58 AM WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, I'LL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.IT'S 10 58 ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING AT CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
I'LL RECOGNIZE STAFF TO DISCUSS THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR A HFC.
GOOD MORNING, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO, UH, PRESENT YOUR AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
UH, UNLIKE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, $50 MILLION OF, UH, AWARDS, UH, TO GO OVER.
AND, UH, THAT EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 1000 NEW OR PRESERVED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, UH, IN THE CITY.
WE WERE ALSO, UH, RECOMMENDING AWARDING, UH, DEVELOPMENTS IN SIX DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
THAT'S COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND 7, 8, 9.
UM, I'LL GO OVER THE, UH, NINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARDS.
UH, FIRST, THE FIRST ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE MEETINGS FROM JANUARY 18TH.
APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 18TH.
THE SECOND ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA IS, UH, FOR THE FUNDING OF B'S, UH, SORRY, FUNDING OF, UH, BALCONES TERRACE.
UH, THIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
IT IS TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN CDBG FUNDS OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, UH, TO SUPPORT THE 123 UNITS UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
[01:00:01]
CURRENTLY, THAT IS 123 UNITS, UH, DEDICATED TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.50 OF THOSE UNITS HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
SECOND, YOU HAVE A SQUA, UH, MON CARE POINT AT MONTOPOLIS.
UH, CARE POINT AT MONIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING A $6 MILLION AWARD IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THIS PROPERTY.
IT IS 150 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
50 UNITS OF THAT, UH, DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THE LAN NOVELLA, UH, NUEVA, UH, PROPERTY LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, IS, UH, ALSO BEING, UH, RECOMMENDED FOR $9.7 MILLION.
UH, THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT, UH, SPONSORED BY GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
IT IS A, UH, 114 UNIT PROPERTY, 20 UNITS BELOW 30%, AND 66 UNITS BELOW 50% MFI.
NEXT WE HAVE THE MARY LEE SQUARE, UH, WHICH IS A PROPERTY LOCATED IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, THIS IS MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, ON A CIRCLE.
UH, IT'S JUST SOUTH OF THE, UH, ALAMO ON SOUTH LAMAR.
UH, THIS IS A, UH, APPLICATION TO, UH, APPROVE SUBS, UH, SUBSIDY FOR THE APP FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY BY FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
UM, OF THE MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENTS ON SITE 88 UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 30% MEDIAN