Mar 07, 2024 City Council Meetings

THIS IS LORETTA JOHNSON.

I AM A CHILDCARE PROVIDER FOR 25 YEAR.

I AM FROM DISTRICT 20, DISTRICT TWO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST, UM, THAT, UM, CAN WE BENEFIT FROM, UH, CAN WE BENEFIT FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP WITHOUT A MIDDLEMAN WITH THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING THROUGH? AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, EXPRESS MY, UH, FOR THE MINI GRANTS THAT'S COMING THROUGH TO HELP US WITH, UM, INSURANCE FOR HOME PROVIDER IS THAT IS VERY HARD FOR US TO GET.

UM, EVEN IF WE CAN GET, UM, AHEAD AND ACTUALLY COME OFF BRANCH OFF OF THAT, IT TO HELP US WITH OUR INSURANCE FOR OUR MEDICAL INSURANCE IS HARD.

I DON'T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR BEING IN HOME.

CHILDCARE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

EVEN THE OBAMA IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US.

AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TALK ABOUT THE, THE, UM, TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WE HAD WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP HOME.

UM, HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK ON THAT.

UH, EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE HOME PROVIDERS DO NOT HAVE, UM, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, BECAUSE A LOT OF 'EM IS RENT HOMES.

SO WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THEM FOR AS THE TAX EXEMPT FOR HELPING THEM WITH THEIR TAXES.

AND ALSO, WE ARE HAVING A, A CHILD, A CHILDCARE PARADE OF HOMES ALL, UM, APRIL 20TH FROM AT EIGHT, STARTING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME IN TO CHECK OUT THE HOMES THAT WE ARE HAVING FOR THIS.

THIS IS FOR ITEM 21 FOR, UM, YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH, HOW OUR HOMES ARE SET UP FOR AS CHILDCARE FOR HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.

AND THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THANK YOU.

JUST IF I COULD ASK THE SPEAKER TO PLEASE EMAIL US THE INFORMATION FOR THE CHILDCARE TOUR OF HOMES ON APRIL 20TH.

I WOULD, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT EFFORT.

NEEDS GOING FORWARD WITH THE MASSIVE GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING, BUT ALSO, UM, THE EVER PRESENT THREAT OF DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WILL MOVE TO IN PERSON.

WE HAVE ROBERT MACE ON ITEMS TWO AND 37 WITH WILLIAM BUNCH AND DECK.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND PICK UP ONE OF THE SEATS AT THE FRONT SO THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

FOR THE RECORD, UH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND STAFF, MY NAME IS ROBERT MACE.

I SERVE AS, UH, VICE CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMITTEE, MORE PROPERLY KNOWN AS THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE, UM, HERE IN SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM, AS WELL AS ALL THE ITEMS RELATED TO WATER REUSE ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.

UM, WATER REUSE BROADLY IS USING TREATED WASTEWATER, UH, COLLECTING RAINWATER, UH, COLLECTING CONDENSATE HARVESTING TO HELP DEFER USAGE OF OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER, WHICH IS THE COLORADO RIVER.

IT'S A WAY FOR US TO CONSERVE OUR, OUR SOURCE SUPPLY AND BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD.

UM, 20 2008.

2016, AUSTIN SUFFERED A, A NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD, WHICH DECREASED THE RELIABILITY OF THE HIGHLAND LAKES.

UM, IN 2014, THE COUNCIL CREATED THIS TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A PLAN WORKING WITH, UH, AUSTIN WATER TO MEET AUSTIN'S

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FIRST PLAN WAS PUBLISHED IN 2018 AND THE WATER REUSE, UM, STRATEGIES AND ORDINANCES BEFORE YOU, UM, ARE PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT WATER PLAN.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON REVISING THAT PLAN.

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS WITH NEW INFORMATION, NEW POPULATION NUMBERS.

UM, WITH, WITH THE, UM, ITEMS BEFORE YOU, IT'LL SAVE 60 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY BY 2040.

IT'LL SAVE CUSTOMERS $10 MILLION A YEAR WITH ADDITIONAL SAVINGS IN, UM, OF FOLKS THAT SIGN UP TO USE RECLAIMED WATER.

UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM BUNCH ON ITEMS THREE AND 18 WITH GUS PENA.

MONICA GUZMAN DECK.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MAYORS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ATTORNEY FOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO OR POSTPONE ON ITEM 18, UH, WHICH WOULD SEEK A GRANT $32 MILLION GRANT TO DESTROY THE HISTORIC ZILKER PARK BRIDGE, UH, DEMOLISH IT AND REPLACE IT WITH A MUCH BIGGER UGLIER HIGHWAY BRIDGE IN OUR PARK.

UM, THIS PROPOSAL IS BASED ON A GIANT LIE FROM YOUR STAFF AND YOUR CON YOUR CONSULTANTS.

UH, AND I'M GONNA FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON TO MR. ALTER SINCE THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT.

AND ALSO YOU MET WITH STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TOM CAM, WHO SPELLED OUT VERY CLEARLY THAT THE BRIDGE WE HAVE IS, UH, STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR DECADES OR EVEN CENTURIES LIKE THEY DO WITH BRIDGES FROM ANCIENT ROME AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

UM, BUT YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD AND PUSHING THIS TO DESTROY IT AND REPLACE IT, SAYING THAT IT'S CHEAPER TO DO THAT AT A PRICE OF 30.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $40 MILLION WHEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR A HUN, A FEW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UH, EVERY FEW YEARS.

UH, THAT'S OFFENSIVE, UH, TO TAXPAYERS.

IT'S DESTROYING OUR HISTORIC HERITAGE FOR NO REASON.

IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE LOT MORE HARM TO BARTON CREEK.

MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS AND THE SORT OF MINIMAL, UH, SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED CAN BE HANDLED READILY BY A PARALLEL BIKE HIKE AND BIKE BRIDGE FOR A FEW MILLION DOLLARS, A FRACTION OF THE COST, AGAIN, BY EITHER EXPANDING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY JUST DOWNSTREAM, OR BUILDING A SEPARATE ONE THAT WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY TOUCH THIS, UH, HISTORIC BRIDGE.

UM, THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF THIS COUNCIL'S TOTAL DISREGARD FOR INTEGRITY AND OUR STAFF.

THANK YOU, MR. AND FOR THE HERITAGE OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU, MR. BUNCH.

NEXT WE HAVE GUS PENA WITH MONICA GUZMAN AND ILIANA MADANO ON DECK.

UH, GOOD MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS GUSTAVO PENA.

I AM A NATIVE EAST AUSTINITE, 2327 EAST FIFTH STREET, UH, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, UH, VIETNAM ERA VETERAN.

UH, UH, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT YOU, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I I I, I CRIED LIKE A BABY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, SINCE 19, UH, UH, 60 68, RIGHT AFTER THE THREAT OFFENSIVE.

SO, UH, I HAVE, I HAVE, UH, MY LIBRARY FULL OF, UM, THE, THE, THE UNITED STATES MARINES THAT WERE FALLING.

BUT ANYWAY, UH, NUMBER FIVE, AUTHORIZED NE NEGOTIATION AND EXEC EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO THE AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY FOR RECOVERY, FOR HOUSING FOCUSED SUPPORT SERVICES TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE, UH, AGREEMENT FOR 18 MONTHS BEGINNING APRIL 1ST, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH HURT OUT THERE.

I SEE IT EVERY DAY.

CAN YOU HELP ME? YOU SEE, UH, UM, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, I TRY AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I, I'M NOT ABLE TO SPEAK LIKE I USED TO.

I HAVE A BABY GIRL.

SHE'S NOT A BABY, BUT SHE'S, UH, SEVEN YEARS OLD.

SHE COMES FIRST.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND EACH, I KNOW LAST TIME I DID GET OVER THE BRIDGE BECAUSE MY WIFE TOLD ME TO STAY, STAY, STAY.

YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T BE ASKING LIKE , YOU KNOW, I SAID SHE'S, UH, 31 YEARS OF BEING MARRIED, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

BUT JUST REMEMBER THE THREAT OFFENSIVE IN 1968.

AND, UH, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS FROM JOHNSTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE FORMER JOHNSTON HIGH SCHOOL, DIED AT, IN, IN, UH, IN VIETNAM.

I WENT TO LA IN CAMBODIA.

I WENT OVER THERE FOR REASONS THAT I'M

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NOT GONNA TELL YOU.

WELL, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, JUST, JUST, UH, UH, SO THE ENEMY WOULD KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE SHOT AT.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO.

NATASHA, I'M GONNA CALL YOU NATASHA, I LOVE YOU.

YOU OWE ME A HAMBURGER, YOU KNOW, , AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PENA.

NEXT WE HAVE MONICA UZMAN WITH TIME DONATED FROM ILEANA MADANO AND BRAD INGAL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE.

THEY'RE HERE.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GAVA SUPPORTS ITEM SIX.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETION OF A TENANT STUDY.

WE ASK YOU TO INCLUDE DISPLACED TENANTS FROM THE OLD HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS AND OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN THE UNFORTUNATE DISPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE YET A PLACE TO LAND.

THEY'RE RENTING SOMEONE'S ROOM, OR HOPEFULLY NOT THEY'RE UNDER A BRIDGE SOMEWHERE OR A PARK BENCH.

WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN.

ITEM 36 GAVA IS OPPOSED WHILE THE BUTLER HIKING BIKE TRAIL IS NOT IN THE GAVA.

ZIP CODES WE'RE OPPOSED BECAUSE COUNCIL APPROVALS A POTENTIAL FOR SETTING PRECEDENT FOR THE USE OF CONCRETE AT ANY WIDTH INSTEAD OF, OR IN PLACE OF NATURAL CRUSHED DECOMPOSED GRANITE IN PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK FOR FLOODING, LOSS OF URBAN CANOPY AND INCREASE IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, RESULTING IN NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED TO PROTECT THE WATERFRONT.

DURING A HEAVY RAIN, THERE WOULD BE RUSHING WATER COMING OFF OF CONCRETE TRAIL AND INTO THE LAKE, INCREASING THE USE OF CONCRETE INCREASES AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, THE MORE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCES THAT EFFECT THE GREATER THE NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS LIKE THE RUNDBERG AREA IN DISTRICT FOUR AND THE REST OF AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT.

REMEMBER, PEOPLE WANNA PARK RECREATIONAL TRAIL, NOT A CONCRETE TRANSIT CORRIDOR.

UH, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS, UM, IT HAS IN THE PIPELINE.

IT COULD RESULT IN BOARDWALKS OVER THE LAND TO TURN THE TRAIL INTO HALF RECREATIONAL, HALF URBAN CORRIDOR THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

TTC ALREADY HAS THE PARKS, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.

A CODE AMENDMENT IS OVERREACH FOR THEIR CONVENIENCE AND TO GET AROUND THE PUBLIC PROCESS, PLUS THEIR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE.

OOPS, I ALREADY SAID THAT.

GOT IT IN THERE TWICE, .

FINALLY, IT, A PERSONAL NOTE.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, AFTER MEDICAL PROCEDURE, I HAD TO TAKE DAILY WALKS TO FACILITATE THE HEALING PROCESS WHEN TIME AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWED, I WALKED ON THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BECAUSE IT'S EASIER ON THE BODY, ON THE JOINTS.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE WITH INJURIES FACE A MORE DIFFICULT RECOVERY PROCESS WHEN HAVING TO WALK ON CONCRETE INSTEAD OF A NATURAL SURFACE.

AND LET'S SEE HERE, I HAVE A PHOTO TO SHOW YOU FOR THIS LAST PART.

PHOTO GAVA SUBMITTED PROPOSED EDITS ON ITEM 21.

YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE A COPY OF IT BEFORE YOU.

WE UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE IS ABOUT ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND QUALITY TRAINING THROUGH THE PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY.

WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR HER ADDITION OF THOSE LAST FEW LINES, ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEPENDENCES ON CHILDCARE FOR SUCH A PROGRAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT WE WANT TO REMIND YOU, IN ORDER FOR CHILDCARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTMENT IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM.

SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING HOME-BASED, AND PARENTS BEING PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, GAVA AND THE GAVA COMMUNITY HAVE ADVOCATED AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND 2024, THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023, SCREENING THROUGH THE NIGHT.

AND AT THE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023 EC TOWN HALL WHERE MAYOR ADLER, UH, EXCUSE ME, MY, MY PARDON, MAYOR WATSON, UH, WAS A GUEST SPEAKER.

THE REALITIES OF CHILDCARE THAT IS INCLUDED AS A WRAPAROUND SERVICE, SPECIFICALLY SUBSIDY CHILDCARE, IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING ADDRESSING THE MASSIVE WAIT LIST.

BOTTOM LINE, THERE IS NO SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE, NONE FOR OVER 4,300 FAMILIES AT THIS TIME, AS OF TWO DAYS AGO, LET ALONE ANY ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY DEMAND CREATED BY THE ACADEMY.

IT IS BECAUSE OF COUNCIL MEMBER ESSIS LEADERSHIP AND CHAMPIONING CHILDCARE AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT TO ALL OF YOU HOPING THAT WE CAN FINALLY SEE THE INVESTMENT THAT IS SO CRITICALLY NEEDED FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM, FOR OUR EC PROVIDERS AND FOR THE FAMILIES THAT RELY ON THEM.

AS IT SAYS IN THE IMAGE, THEY ARE THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE A ALEXANDER STRINGER ON ITEMS 13, 15, AND 35 WITH CARLOS LEON AND SCOTT JOHNSON ON DECK.

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IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE PREPARED TO SPEAK.

UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I'M HERE SPEAKING OUT IN SUPPORT OF, UM, ITEM 13 AND THE NEED TO GIVE MONEY TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MAYOR, MY WIFE IS A MIGRANT.

OKAY? MY WIFE, SHE'S A MIGRANT FROM COLUMBIA, AND I, I MET HER, UM, ON A DATING SITE CALLED ONLYFANS.

AND SHE ACTUALLY, , IT'S A REALLY SAD STORY, BUT SHE ACTUALLY, SHE CONTRACTED SYPHILIS GOING THROUGH THE DARION GAP THROUGH PANAMA AND COLUMBIA.

AND WE, WE CAN'T CONSUMMATE OUR MARRIAGE.

UM, AND, AND ALSO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE MONEY AND, AND FUND CATHOLIC CHARITIES BECAUSE HOW ELSE IS MY WIFE? HOW ELSE IS MY WIFE? CONSUELA GONNA GET HEALTHCARE KIRK, HOW, HOW? SHE WON'T.

SO PLEASE, YOU GUYS NEED TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS AND, AND WE NEED TO ALSO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING TO THE NGOS LIKE UNICEF, OIM AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, SO THAT WOMEN LIKE MY WIFE CAN CONTINUE, UH, WALKING ACROSS THE BORDER SO THAT THEY CAN COME AND, AND SETTLE IN AUSTIN AND, AND PROVIDE COMPANY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.

YOU KNOW? AND, AND LOOK, I'M GONNA CLOSE WITH THIS, OKAY? , I WAS, UH, I WAS LAST WEEK, I WAS, I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB AT GOOGLE, ALL RIGHT? AND I DID IMPORTANT WORK, OKAY? YOU KNOW, I, UM, I, I CANCELED PEOPLE WHO SPREAD, UH, DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE, AND I ALSO MADE IT A POINT TO ACTIVELY PROTECT MINOR ATTRACTED PERSONS ON THE INTERNET.

AND NOW I GOT FIRED.

AND SO I'M NOT EVEN GONNA BE ABLE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.

MY WIFE, SHE HAS SYPHILIS.

SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET HEALTHCARE.

AND WE NEED TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO GOOD ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES SO THAT VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES LIKE MYSELF, KIRK, CAN AFFORD BASIC NECESSITIES IN HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU CARLOS LEON WITH SCOTT JOHNSON AND LUKE METZGER ON DECK.

GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

UH, ANOTHER EXCELLENT RESOLUTION ON, ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

I'M HERE TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THIS RESOLUTION, BUT FIRST LET ME SHARE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND MY INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC AND WHY I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

IN 1996, I BROUGHT AN IDEA TO WHAT WAS THEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND THEN MET FOLKS AT, AT AUSTIN ENERGY WITH AN IDEA TO TRY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT.

THIS LETTER HERE FROM A RETIRED AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE PRO PROGRAM MANAGER FOR, WE CARE ABOUT OUR AIR, THANKS ME AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA FOR BRINGING THE IDEA AND SCRAPPING IN TWO SALES EVENT DAYS, 500 MOWERS, AND SELLING 520 MOWERS.

AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

AND WHAT I WANNA SHARE IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROGRAM SUCH AS THE ONE THAT'S GOING ON NOW WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, SLIDE NUMBER TWO, PLEASE, I SUPPORT IT.

HOWEVER, THE CURRENT PLAN THAT'S GOING ON NOW IS, IS ONE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO HOME DEPOT.

THERE'S NO SALESMAN THAT'S TAKING THEM TO THE RACK AND SHOWING THEM THE ELECTRIC MOWERS.

AND 75% OF THE MOWERS IN THOSE STORES NOW ARE ELECTRIC MOWERS.

THEY'RE GOING IN THERE, THEY ALMOST ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEY'RE LEAVING.

AND AUSTIN ENERGY IS GIVING THEM A REBATE OF $30 FOR RIDE, FOR WALK BEHIND LAWNMOWERS, AND $15 FOR HANDHELD EQUIPMENT SUCH AS LINE TRIMMERS AND LEAF BLOWERS.

SO THIS PROGRAM, AND I SPOKE TO THE PERSON IN AUSTIN ENERGY YESTERDAY TO TELL HER THAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOT TO CRITICIZE AUSTIN ENERGY FOR THIS, BUT TO ASK THEM AND THE, THE MANAGEMENT OF AUSTIN ENERGY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY TO CONSIDER STOPPING THIS PROGRAM NOW AF AFTER THEY'VE EXPENDED OVER SOME MONTHS AND YEARS, ABOUT $50,000, AND WAIT TILL THIS RESOLUTION HAPPENS AND COMES BACK WITH SOME IDEAS WHERE WE CAN PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER THAN THAT.

SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, THEY, UH, JUST USING ONE FOR A PIECE OF, FOR AN HOUR IS THE EQUIVALENT OF DRIVING FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES.

NEXT, THERE'S LUKE METZKER ON ITEM 20 WITH KATHY HORS AND KAREN CAMPBELL ON DECK.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS LUKE METZKER WITH ENVIRONMENT TEXAS.

UM, GAS POWER LAWN EQUIPMENT LIKE LAWNMOWERS, LEAF BLOWERS, UH, WEED WHACKERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY POLLUTING AND NOISY.

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AND THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF THIS EQUIPMENT AROUND, UH, AUSTIN ADDS UP TO A TON OF POLLUTION.

UH, ACCORDING TO OUR RESEARCH, THE, UH, IN 2020, THEY ADDED, UH, ABOUT 128 TONS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER TO OUR AIR.

UH, THAT'S, UH, THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 1.3 MILLION CARS, UH, OR AS MUCH OF A SMALL OIL REFINERY.

AND OF COURSE, AUSTIN IS NOW SET TO BE IN NON-ATTAINMENT, UH, FOR NEW, UH, EPA STANDARDS FOR FINE PARTICULATE MATTER.

AND SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE POLLUTION FROM, UH, THIS, UH, THIS SOURCE.

AND SO WE'RE, UH, STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF, UH, THE, THE RESOLUTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT, UH, ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT IS, UH, IS AVAILABLE AND, UH, COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF AVAILABILITY.

THE COST AND THE PERFORMANCE IS THE GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT SWITCH.

UH, PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF EMISSIONS, UH, AND, UM, AND A SPECIAL NEED OF, UH, INCENTIVES AND EDUCATION TO, UH, HELP THEM SWITCH OVER TO THE CLEAN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

SO, UH, WE STRONGLY APPRECIATE THIS, UH, MEASURE AND, UH, HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT IT.

KATHY HORS ON ITEM 21 WITH KAREN CAMPBELL AND STACY SCHMECK, MAYORS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.

MY NAME IS KATHY HOR.

I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 21.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE CHILDCARE WILL PLAY FOR THIS ACADEMY TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE EXISTING CHILDCARE SYSTEM DOES NOT CURRENTLY MEET THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 4,300 CHILDREN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES, AND EVEN IF FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, THE SECTOR CANNOT HIRE SUFFICIENT STAFF AT CURRENT WAGES TO MEET THE NEEDS.

CHILDCARE IS A CORE COMPONENT OF THE ACADEMY, IS ESSENTIAL TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR CHILDCARE SO THAT PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AS IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT.

PLEASE PRIORITIZE A DEDICATED STRATEGY AND FUNDING FOR OUR CHILDCARE WORKFORCE PIPELINE AS PART OF OUR ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS SECTOR IS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

THE RECENT TXCP REPORT ON CHILDCARE COMMISSION BY THE CITY ESTIMATES THAT THE REGION'S CHILDCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES RESULT IN BEING UNABLE TO SERVE AN EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN 8,000 CHILDREN.

PLEASE PRIORITIZE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR CHILDCARE SUPPORTS SO THAT THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE CAN EARN A LIVING WAGE, AND THEY TOO CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND WORK IN AUSTIN IN ORDER TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR KEY INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS.

INDUSTRIES SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION PLANNING SHOULD ALSO INCORPORATE STRATEGIES TO BUILD CAPACITY IN OUR CHILDCARE SYSTEM FOR NON-TRADITIONAL HOUR CARE.

ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE, TRAVIS COUNTY CURRENTLY ONLY HAS CAPACITY TO MEET ABOUT 9% OF THE NEED FOR CHILDCARE IN THE EARLY MORNING, EVENING, AND WEEKENDS.

GIVEN STAFF SHORTAGES, CHILDCARE PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY CUTTING THEIR HOURS, ENSURING CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST OF QUALITY WILL BE CRITICAL FOR CHILDCARE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PARENTS IN THESE KEY INDUSTRIES.

IT'S EXCITING TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE LEADERS RECOGNIZE ACCESS TO FORWARDABLE CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR ECONOMY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

THANK YOU, KAREN MCCAMPBELL.

I'M 21.

TO ESTABLISH AUSTIN'S INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY.

MY NAME IS KAREN CAMPBELL, AND I AM AN AUSTIN DISTRICT RESIDENT.

I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT IN DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT I COME HERE TODAY AS THE AUSTIN EXECUTIVE FOR AECOM TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 21.

AECOM IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE FIRMS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF THE LARGEST ARCHITECT ENGINEERING FIRMS HERE IN AUSTIN.

WHILE WE ARE A GLOBAL COMPANY, WE ARE MOST PROUD TO BE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

AT AECOM, WE BELIEVE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS THE POWER TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND AS A COMPANY AND AN INDUSTRY, IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, URBAN PLANNERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, AND DATA SPECIALISTS.

INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE THIS YOUNGER GENERATION THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE NEW HIGH PAYING AND REWARDING CAREERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN AUSTIN, BUT THIS GENERATION ENTERING THE WORKPLACE IDENTIFIED AS THE GREAT DISRUPTORS ARE FIRST GENERATIONAL DIGITAL NATIVES, AND THEY HAVE THE DRIVE TO CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF WORKING AND BUILD A BETTER WORLD.

EDUCATED AND RAISED IN AN ERA OF HUGE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE.

THEY SEE SMART TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AS PART OF THE FABRIC OF DAILY LIFE, AND THEY HAVE A GREATER CONCERN REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCY, DIVERSITY, AND SOCIAL, SOCIAL CULTURAL EQUITY.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A CAREER WITH

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A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY AND PURPOSE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH DELIVERS THE PROMISE OF A BETTER WORLD, CAN GIVE THEM THAT.

TYPICALLY, INFRASTRUCTURE TENDS TO MAKE HEADLINES ONLY WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

BY PROMOTING THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF SMART INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, WE CAN CHANGE THOSE EXISTING VIEWS.

STACY SCHMIDT, ITEM 21, WITH TREY SALINAS AND CHERYL COLE ON DECK.

HELLO, MAYOR WATSON COUNCIL, MR. GARZA.

I'M STACY SCHMIDT WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT OUR INVESTORS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY.

WE ARE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AIMED AT JOB CREATING INVESTMENT THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN REGION AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, NOT ONLY AROUND JOBS AND, AND COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES, BUT TO, TO DRIVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE FOUNDATIONS THAT SUPPORT THIS GROWTH, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IT'S ALSO THE SKILLED WORKFORCE TO FILL THE INDUSTRY NEEDS THAT IS CRITICAL.

THERE'S TENS, MILLIONS, BILLIONS OF INVESTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE MOBILITY OF GOODS AND ACROSS THIS REGION.

AND IT WILL REQUIRE A SPECIAL SKILLSET THAT WE WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN THIS WORKFORCE.

WE BELIEVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY IS AN HUGE STEP FORWARD, ADDRESSING THIS NEED WHILE ALSO PROVIDING GOOD PAYING JOBS TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UM, YOUR CITY LEADERSHIP, THESE AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE AUSTIN THE GREAT PLACE.

IT IS.

RE SALINAS ITEM 21 WITH CHERYL COLE AND MELVIN WHITE ON DECK.

MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TRACE SALINAS AND I'M THE VICE CHAIR FOR LOCAL ADVOCACY FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ON ITEM 21, UH, REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT.

UH, THIS RESOLUTION IS A KEY COMPONENT TO ADDRESSING THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY.

TO MEET THE DEMAND OF IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION, AUSTIN NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 WORKERS ANNUALLY AND TO UPSKILL 4,000 WORKERS EVERY YEAR.

THE AUSTIN INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY WILL BRING THE CURRENT SERVICES OF WORKFORCE PROVIDERS INTO THE NET, INTO THE NETWORK AT SCALE ALTOGETHER, THIS WILL COMPREHENSIVELY DEVELOP A STRONG TALENT PIPELINE BY OFFERING RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND THE ESSENTIAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM.

THIS TRAINING HUB WILL KEEP FUNDS INSIDE OF AUSTIN AND FINANCIALLY BENEFIT LOCAL FAMILIES.

IT IS ALSO, IT WILL ALSO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A CITYWIDE EXPANSION OF PROJECTS WHILE ALSO AVOIDING NEW TAXES.

APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION WILL MAKE AUSTIN STAND OUT FOR EFFECTIVELY PREPARING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND VALUING THE WORKFORCE BEHIND CONSTRUCTION.

UH, PLEASE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT ITEM 21.

THANK YOU, CHERYL COLE, COLE, ITEM 21 WITH MELVIN WHITE AND RYAN POLL DECK.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, I'M HERE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR ITEM NUMBER 21 AND THE FACT THAT IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OFTEN WHEN I SAT HERE.

, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS SORELY NEEDED IN LIGHT OF THE EXPANSION OF THE WORKFORCE IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIRPORT EXPANSION, THE PROJECT CONNECT, AND THE EXPANSION OF 35.

THERE ARE MANY EMPLOYERS HERE WHO NEED TO PREPARE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE UNDERSERVED.

AND I AM ALSO REPRESENTING DIGITAL WORKFORCE ACADEMY, WHO YOU'LL HEAR FROM NEXT.

IT ALLOWS CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM THAT, SAY, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT ALLOWS BUSINESSES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS.

THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MELVIN WHITE, ITEM 21 WITH RYAN P*****K AND MICHELLE MAYOR AND DECK.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.

I JUST WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATE AND THANK THE MAYOR FOR YOUR VISION ON ITEM 21 IN SUPPORT OF IT AS WELL, IF YOU'RE CO-SPONSORS AS WELL.

AND I JUST WANTED YOU, I, I REPRESENT DIGITAL WORKFORCE ACADEMY SINCE 1999 IS WHEN WE STARTED.

AND I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS.

UH, THIS ITEM ALLOWS EQUITY,

[00:35:01]

THEY'RE TALKING THE TALK AND THEY'RE WALKING THE WALK.

AND IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S NOT TRAINING THAT'S BEING DONE IN THIS AREA, BUT IN THE FACET IN HOW YOU'RE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, WHAT IT DOES IS CREATES TRUE PATHWAYS TO CAREERS FOR BOTH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE WELL INTENDED AND THOSE WHO ARE UNDER-SKILLED AS WELL.

UH, AUSTIN HAS BEEN ON A RISING TIDE FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS.

THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WILL ALLOW ALL SHIPS TO, UH, RISE IN TIDES, TO LIFT ALL SHIPS AS WELL AS BOATS.

UH, AND I THINK THAT THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY AND THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, ALL THE ECOSYSTEM, IT CREATES EQUITY AND IT CREATES UPWARD MOBILITY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

UH, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CITIES THAT'S DONE THIS, BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN ON A FEW PROJECTS.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS IN TOTALITY AND BRINGING TOGETHER THE FULL SCALE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST IN THIS WHOLE ECOSYSTEM, BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA BE THE THING THAT'S GONNA ALLOW AUSTIN TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS CITIZENS TO BE A PART OF THE AFFORDABILITY AND BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT CITY AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

RYAN P*****K, ITEM 21.

MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME'S RYAN P*****K.

I'M A UNION JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN, 17 YEAR AUSTINITE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF IBW LOCAL FIVE 20, AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK ON THE INITIATIVE BEHIND THIS ACADEMY.

ITEM 21, I'M, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

UM, IT'S BEEN A VERY DIRE NEED FOR ME AS A WORKER ORGANIZER, AS, AS SOMEBODY TRYING TO ATTRACT, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKERS WITH A LOT OF, UH, UH, POTENTIAL TO BECOME ELECTRICIANS, BECOME UNION ELECTRICIANS, GET IN OUR APPRENTICESHIP.

AND I'VE HAD SO MUCH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SEEING SO MANY OF THESE WORKERS WHO, WHO COULD BE GOOD ELECTRICIANS, WHO CAN'T GET THE CHILDCARE THEY NEED TO BE IN OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO WORK AND THEN AFTER WORK THEY GO TO CLASS.

UH, IT'S A LOT TO ASK.

AND ALSO, WE, WE START OUR WORK VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, SO WE ALSO HAVE HAVE SHIFT NEEDS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM, UH, THE AVERAGE WORKER.

UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE BEING, BEING HEARD AND LOOKING AT, AT WHAT'S IN THIS.

WE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INPUT IN THIS PROCESS.

WE APPRECIATE BEING AT THE TABLE ON THAT.

WE SEE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARD AND THAT OUR, OUR CONCERNS AND OUR INPUT HAS BEEN VALUED AND, AND IMPLEMENTED HERE.

AND SO I ASK THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

UM, THIS IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL THIS FEDERAL INVESTMENT.

WE NEED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND THIS IS, THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF AUSTIN TO SHARE IN THAT, THAT INCOMING PROSPERITY.

THANKS Y'ALL.

MICHELLE MEJIA ON ITEM 21 WITH LAURA OLSON AND GIS SANS ON DECK.

OH, AND DID YOU GET THE LITTLE PIGGIES? LAURA OLSON ON ITEM 21 WITH GISELLA, SANZ AND ROB HEAL ON DECK, ONLY ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM AT A TIME.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE PREPARED TO TESTIFY.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

UH, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY HERE FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UH, MY NAME IS MICHELLE MEJIA AND I'M THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZER WITH, UH, GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.

I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF TWO BOYS WHO KEEP ME GROUNDED AND HAVE SHAPED MY PURPOSE IN ADVOCATING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE, THE, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE AND THE, AND THE FAMILIES THAT THEY SERVE.

I AM GLAD TO SEE C CHILDCARE REFERENCED IN ITEM 21, BUT I AM HERE TO EXPRESS CAUTION AND PLEAD FOR INTEREST AND INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

YOU MIGHT THINK WE ARE HERE OUT OF PLACE.

THAT ITEM 21 HAS NOTHING TO DO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT TYPE, TYPE OF FRAME OF THINKING HAS GOTTEN US TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE 4,300 KIDDOS ON A WAIT LIST, AND THAT'S A MARCH 20, 24 NUMBER.

WHEN WE THINK OF NEW ITEMS AND RESOLUTIONS PROGRAMS AND WE CHOOSE TO TAP INTO RESOURCES, INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS THAT WE ALREADY KNOW ARE NOT FULFILLING THE NEED, WE MUST EXERCISE CAUTION.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT A CHILDCARE INITIATIVE SINCE LAST MARCH, A YEAR TO DATE.

I THINK IT'S OKAY, MAYOR, IF THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BUT CAN THE CITY OR COUNCIL EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS THAT CAN ELEVATE THIS CRISIS WE SAW COMING A MILE AWAY? WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT OUR COUNCIL CAN EXPLORE AND HOW CAN WE LEAN INTO THE EXPERTISE OF THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE AND ADVOCATES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK, MAINTAINING AN ALREADY STRUGGLING WORKFORCE, AND THE CURRENT ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE, CHILDCARE IS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WILL YOU INVEST IN IT? THANK YOU.

[00:40:01]

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LAURA OLSON.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A WORKING MOTHER, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, FORMER EC EDUCATOR SUCCESS BY SIX COORDINATOR AND LONGTIME CHILDCARE AND FAMILY ADVOCATE.

I'M ALSO ORGANIZING DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN BAMO AUSTIN.

FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDCARE WORKERS AND WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING CHILDCARE IN ITEM 20 ONE'S PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY RESOLUTION.

WE THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR YOUR AMENDED CHILDCARE LANGUAGE ON LINE 99 OF DRAFT VERSION TWO.

NEW IMPACTFUL IDEAS LIKE THE PROPOSED ACADEMY ARE EXCITING, BUT WE URGE YOU NOT TO TAKE THE MENTION OF CHILDCARE LIGHTLY.

LET'S BE REAL.

OUR CHILDCARE SUBSIDY SYSTEM IS ALREADY STRETCHED AND STRAINED.

OUR CHILDCARE WORKERS ARE ALREADY STRETCHED AND STRAINED.

OUR WORKING FAMILIES ARE ALREADY STRETCHED AND STRAINED.

SO WE URGE YOU TO STRETCH, STRETCH THIS PROPOSAL TO RELIEVE THE STRAIN AND TO PROVIDE THE INVESTMENT NEEDED TO ENSURE THE CHILDCARE SUPPORTS FOR THE PROPOSED ACADEMY ARE DEVELOPED WITHOUT LEAVING BEHIND ANY WORKERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR CHILDCARE NOR FORGETTING THE NEEDS OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES.

FIVE YEARS AGO, I WAS A SINGLE WORKING MAMA OF FIVE CHILDREN LIVING AT FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, STRETCHING TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER AFTER RENT.

MY NEXT HIGHEST EXPENSE WAS CHILDCARE.

MAYOR WATSON, WHEN YOU SAT WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDER PANELISTS AT OUR NOVEMBER EARLY CHILDHOOD TOWN HALL, YOU HEARD ABOUT THE REALITIES OF SUSTAINING CHILDCARE WITHOUT SUFFICIENT WAGES AND SUPPORT.

YOU HEARD WITH, FROM WORKING PARENTS ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING AND KEEPING AFFORDABLE CARE, YOU PROUDLY APPLAUDED LORETTA JOHNSON SERVICE IN HER ROLE AS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND TO THOSE.

PLEASE FOR SUPPORT.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STRENGTHEN, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME.

I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWO.

WE WERE JUST INFORMED THAT MS. OLSON HAD TIME DONATED.

UM, IT WAS UNDER ITEM 36, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE 21.

WE'RE CHECKING WITH ROBERT HALE AND LORRAINE ATHERTON IF THEY'RE IN HERE.

OKAY, GREAT.

ARE THEY PRESENT? THEY ARE.

YOU HAVE FOUR MORE MINUTES.

WE APPRECIATE, AND REMEMBER THOSE OF YOU ON COUNCIL WHO HAVE CHAMPIONED CHILDCARE SPEAKING AS A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STRENGTHEN THE CHILDCARE COMPONENTS OF ITEM 21.

ONE, AMEND THE PROPOSAL WITH A DIRECTIVE FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO ENLIST THE KNOW-HOW OF WORKING PARENTS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN THE TACTICAL PLANNING FOR THE ACADEMY, AND INCLUDE RESEARCH OF STAKEHOLDERS WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN'S FUNDING PROJECT TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE CHILDCARE SOLUTIONS.

TWO, INVEST IN CHILDREN, INVEST IN THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM, WHO ARE CURRENTLY AMONG THOSE EARNING THE LEAST IN OUR EXPENSIVE, BOOMING CITY.

AS NOTED IN THAT RECENT TXP CHILDCARE REPORT, COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY FUND, A PREVAILING CHILDCARE WAGE SO PROVIDERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

START WITH A SIMPLE CHILDCARE INVESTMENT OF 1.5 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 RECONCILIATION BUDGET.

THREE, ADDRESS THE EXISTING OVERWHELMING NEED FOR AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE THAT OUR CURRENT CHILDCARE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO SUPPORT.

WITH OVER 4,300 CHILDREN ON THE WAIT LIST FOR SUBSIDIES, THE CITY MANAGER MUST BE DIRECTED TO BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES.

PLEASE LEAN INTO US, LEAN INTO LORETTA JAMAI, HEELA, TIMOTHY COLIN, AND MANY MORE WHO ARE READY TO ADVISE ON THE SPECIFICS OF HOW TO FUND CHILDCARE AND GET IT RIGHT.

MAYOR WATSON, I WAS HERE FOR YOUR FIRST TIME AROUND AS MAYOR.

I'M HERE NOW.

I OBSERVED YOUR EFFORT AND INTEREST TO SHOW UP AND STAND BESIDE YOUR CHILDCARE WORKFORCE IN NOVEMBER.

I BELIEVED YOU WHEN YOU SPOKE ABOUT VALUE, PRIORITY, SUPPORT, AND OUTCOMES FOR CHILDCARE AS THINGS YOU ARE ALL IN ON.

YOU YOURSELF SAID THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO UNDOING SYSTEMIC RACISM.

HERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A COURAGEOUS STEP AND UNDOING HISTORIC INEQUITIES BY INVESTING IN CHILDCARE WORKERS AND FAMILIES.

PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN AS A WAY TO CHECK THE BOX ON CHILDCARE.

NO ONE IS.

MAYOR WATSON, WE APPRECIATE AND REMEMBER WHAT YOU SHARED ABOUT YOUR CHILDCARE INITIATIVE WHEN YOU REFLECTED ON YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS AND HOW YOU SPOKE TO THIS AS A PRIORITY AT THE TOWN HALL.

[00:45:01]

WE WILL REMEMBER WHAT EACH OF YOU DO NOW FOR CHILDCARE WHEN WE GO TO THE POLLS NEXT NOVEMBER, AMEND ITEM 21, INVEST IN CHILDCARE ADDRESS ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.

I I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS THAT IS ANTI-CHILD CARE.

AND IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SOME PEOPLE ARE PUSHING AN A, A A STATEMENT THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS ANTI-CHILD CARE.

THIS IS IN, IN MANY WAYS ONE OF THE PILLARS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE ON OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO CHILDCARE.

UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER, FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VE OTHERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, AND THE FACT THAT THE, UH, THE, THE ITEM SPEAKS SO SPECIFICALLY, AND I WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON THE LANGUAGE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS EVEN GREATER CLARITY WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE.

THIS IS A MAJOR STEP BY THIS COUNCIL TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF, OF, OF ASSURING THAT PEOPLE THAT NEED CHILDCARE SO THAT THEY CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS ECONOMY, WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY DESIGN OF MANY ASPECTS OF THIS WILL STILL NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

AND THAT'S, AND, AND ALL OF THIS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, BUT NOBODY IS BACKING AWAY FROM ANY STATEMENT, UH, THAT THEY'VE MADE WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE.

TO THE CONTRARY, THIS IS LIVING UP TO THOSE STATEMENTS.

AND WHEN YOU SAY, DON'T CHECK THE ACT LIKE YOU'RE CHECKING THE BOX, OR HOWEVER YOU PHRASE THAT, NO ONE IS, THIS IS ANOTHER STEP BY THIS COUNCIL, AND I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE MORE STEPS BY THE PEOPLE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO THAT.

SO PLEASE, LET'S NOT TURN THIS INTO A NEGATIVE WHEN SO MUCH POSITIVE, INCLUDING IN THE AREA OF CHILDCARE IS MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GIS SANZ ON ITEM 21 WITH PHIL DEN AND DANIELA SILVA AND DECK PHIL DEN, ITEM 21 WITH DANIELLA SILVA AND ROME JANE ON DECK.

MUCH, UH, MAYOR WATSON, MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS, UH, PHIL ODEN.

HOPE THIS MICROPHONE GOES UP HIGH ENOUGH.

I'LL HAVE TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT PHIL ODEN WITH THE AUSTIN CHAPTER, THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS.

WE ARE A TRADE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDERS WORKING HERE IN AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.

I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY A COMMUNITY OF COMMERCIAL BUILDERS WORKING IN AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.

WE HAVE, UH, 275 COMPANY MEMBERS EMPLOYING ROUGHLY 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HERE.

[00:50:01]

WE HAVE, UH, COMPANIES, LARGE AND SMALL GENERAL CONTRACTORS, SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO THIS, UH, ITEM 21, WE ARE, UH, STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF.

I WAS HONORED TO BE, UH, PART OF THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMIT IN OCTOBER AND THE, UH, THE, THE MEETINGS SURROUNDING THAT.

UM, I, IN THE 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SOLID EFFORTS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, UH, TO HELP DEVELOP THE CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE.

UH, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN A LOT OF THOSE.

OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR ORGANIZATION HAS PARTICIPATED IN THOSE, WHETHER AT AUSTIN SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TECH TECHNOLOGY CENTER DOWN AT CROCKETT.

UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH A-C-C-T-S-T-C, TEXAS, UH, UH, UH, TECHNICAL, UH, TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, UH, GOODWILL AND MANY OTHERS.

AND ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS HAVE HAD A LOT OF MERIT AND HELPED, UH, MOVE THE BALL A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE FIELD.

BUT WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE, AND REALLY I WANTED TO DRILL DOWN ON HERE TODAY IS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A REAL HOLISTIC, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BEING LED BY THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEEDED TO GET US.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS JUST SO FRAGMENTED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, HELPING TO UNITE US.

UH, I DRAW THE ANALOGY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THINK OF LIKE A MARCHING BAND OR AN ORCHESTRA.

YOU HAVE ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND TRYING THEIR BEST.

IT'S A GREAT, SOMETHING FOR THE GREATER GOOD, BUT WHAT THEY REALLY NEED AS A DIRECTOR TO GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, TO GET THAT MARCHING BAND GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND GET TO EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE WITH RESOLUTION 21.

DANIELLA SILVA ON ITEM 21 WITH RAMIR JANE AND ROY WHALEY ON DECK.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

UM, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE IS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE INTERPRETERS ON STAFF AVAILABLE FOR ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS.

YEP.

SO I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT SOMEONE WHO CAME THIS MORNING TO SIGN UP WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.

AND I REALLY HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING Y'ALL LOOK INTO.

UM, BUT ON THE ANOTHER NOTE, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 21.

I'M HERE, UM, ON BEHALF OF WORKERS' DEFENSE.

UM, NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA, DISTRICT THREE, AND WE APPRECIATE THIS RESOLUTION BEING PUT FORWARD AS AN EFFORT TO TRULY INVEST IN PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY MAKE THE CITY WHAT IT IS.

WITHOUT WORKERS, NONE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE USE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WOULD EXIST.

AS A WORKER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, WE ARE CONCERNED WITH ENSURING THAT THIS ACADEMY IS CREATED WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE AND PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, LANGUAGE ACCESS, AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE.

PARTICIPANTS OF THIS ACADEMY SHOULD GRADUATE WITH NOT ONLY THE TOOLS NEEDED TO HAVE A FRUITFUL WELL PAYING CAREER IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN RIGHTS AND CHOOSE PROJECTS TO WORK ON THAT FOLLOW WORKER FRIENDLY PROGRAMS SUCH AS BETTER BUILDER.

SINCE THE RESOLUTION DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO MAXIMIZE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE'D LIKE TO SEE WORKER PROTECTIONS BAKED INTO THE POLICY AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE US AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE FUNDS.

WE ALSO FIND IT IMPERATIVE THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS AND UNIONS BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM AND TRAINING USED IN THE ACADEMY.

WHETHER THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS IN SOMETHING LIKE A WORKING GROUP OR ADVISORY COUNCIL, WORKERS AND ADVOCATES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE MUST HAVE A MEANINGFUL SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WORKERS' DEFENSE LOOKS FORWARDS TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS.

THOSE WERE IMPORTANT COMMENTS.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, MS. SILVA POINTING OUT THE, THE INTERPRETER.

WE DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER.

WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW SOMEONE IS HERE THAT DOESN'T, THAT NEEDS AN INTERPRETER UNLESS THEY LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE.

AND I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT TODAY AND, UM, WE WERE NOT TOLD IN ADVANCE, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INTERPRETER AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT THERE'S NOT AN INTERPRETER HERE JUST IN CASE.

UM, BECAUSE MANY DAYS WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S ASKING FOR AN INTERPRETER.

BUT, SO IN THE, IN THE FUTURE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS AN INTERPRETER OR YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BENEFIT IN TALKING TO THE COUNCIL BY HAVING AN INTERPRETER, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW AND WE'LL, AND WORK WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE'LL MAKE SURE AN INTERPRETER IS PRESENT.

AND IN FACT, THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO THAT, UH, NOT TYPICALLY THE WAY WE DO IT IS WE ADD, WE DOUBLE THE TIME SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME WORKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT AND WE'RE, WE'RE ATTENTIVE TO THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. WHALEY.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT THE MICROPHONE'S YOURS.

NOT AT ALL.

UM, HOW DO Y'ALL,

[00:55:01]

MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.

I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE LOCAL THEATER CLUB CHAPTER, AND I'M WANTING TO SPEAK TODAY ON ITEM 22, WHICH SHOULD BE A SLAM DUNK.

I I LOOK AT THE DON'T MESS IT UP .

WELL, I LOOK AT THE CO-SPONSORS HERE AND, AND, UH, HOW CAN WE GO WRONG WITH EDUCATION ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN SAVE MONEY AND WATER? AND I DO WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT WATER FORWARD LATER WHEN THAT COMES UP.

BUT WATER IS, WELL, ONE THING WE CAN'T MANUFACTURE, UM, YEARS AGO WHEN, WHEN, UH, I STILL REFER TO IT AS WTP FOUR, UH, WAS ON THE AGENDA.

I REMEMBER, UH, ONE GROUP HAD THE MOTTO OF, UH, WE WANT WATER.

WELL, EVERYONE WANTS WATER, BUT WE'RE NOT MANUFACTURING WATER.

SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATER THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS ON HOW THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THE WATER THEY HAVE, AND THAT WE STOP DRAINING OUR WATER BANK.

WHICH, BY THE WAY, LAKE TRAVIS IS AT 38.2% FULL TODAY.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY STRAW IN THAT, IN THAT LAKE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS OUR WATER BUDGET, AND IT'S UNCERTAIN WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REFILL OUR RESERVOIR, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE UNCERTAIN ON HOW WE CAN EDUCATE OUR, OUR PUBLIC ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAMIR JANE ON ITEM 22.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS RAMIR JANE, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE FOUNDER OF LAWNS GO WILD, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

OUR MISSION AT LONSDALE WILDS ALIGNS CLOSELY WITH THE PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN ITEM 22.

IN RECENT YEARS, AUSTIN HAS FACED THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM SEVERE DROUGHT TO HEAT WAVES AND FOREST FIRES.

THESE EVENTS HAVE DEPLETED OUR CITY'S LIFELINE, LAKE TRAVIS, WHICH IS AT A MERE 38% CAPACITY.

THIS SHOWS THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.

IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT AUSTINITES USE BILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER ANNUALLY FOR LANDSCAPING WITH HALF OF THIS VITAL RESOURCE BEING WASTED DUE TO INEFFICIENT IRRIGATION METHODS.

HOWEVER, THROUGH THE USE OF ZEROSCAPING AND NATIVE PLANTS, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE USE OUR WATER USAGE.

THIS WILL REDUCE THE STRAIN ON LAKE TRAVIS AND OUR OTHER LOCAL FRESHWATER RESOURCES.

AFTER OPENING BOOTS AT THE TEXAS FARMER'S MARKET, VOLUNTEERING AT THE UT AUSTIN WILDFIRE CENTER AND JUST CONVERSING WITH RESIDENTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY, IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT THERE IS UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION AND AWARENESS OF THE CURRENT NATIVE BED REBATE ACROSS THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF AUSTIN.

THIS RESOLUTION, HOWEVER, AIMS TO CHANGE THE UNEQUITABLE APPROACHES OF THIS PROGRAM BY EXPANDING THE WATERWISE LANDSCAPE REBATE PROGRAM AND LAUNCHING AN AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

THESE STEPS ARE CRUCIAL FOR PROMOTING THE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING, ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS BY DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

AND BY RECOMMENDING REVISIONS, WE CAN THEREFORE INCENTIVIZE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING.

I'LL TO THANK MACKENZIE KELLY.

RYAN AL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YOUR, YOUR TIME.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

EVOLVE, RECOGNIZING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU OF WESTWOOD WARRIOR, UM, ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT IT.

I I HATE TO, I HATE TO CUT YOU OFF AS YOU START SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT SPOOK SPECIFIC COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK THAT YOUNG MAN FOR COMING HERE TODAY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO APPROACH THAT PODIUM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY HATS OFF TO YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO THAT TODAY.

IT REALLY IS PROBABLY GONNA BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY.

I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ON THE FOREFRONT OF HOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RETHINK HOW WE APPLY THE USE OF, OF A RESOURCE THAT, UM, UM, TO THE SPEAKER'S POINT BEFORE, WE'RE NOT MANUFACTURING WATER.

UM, SO WE HAVE TO USE IT WISELY.

I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ON THE FOREFRONT.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW THAT.

UM, I, I'VE STARTED A, A LITTLE FLOWER COMPANY CALLED ECO CHIC FLORAL WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD, AND I, BUT I WAS TOO EARLY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY WANT THEIR, THEIR DOLLYS WHEN THEY WANT 'EM, THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPACT OF FLORA CULTURE IS ON THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST, NOW THAT I'M WATCHING EVEN FLORA CULTURE

[01:00:01]

I, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WE, WE MIGHT BE ALL RIGHT.

SO THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

I THINK, UM, MAYOR YOUNG MAN, I THINK COUNCILMAN ROBERT MADISON, JUST A, A VOLUNTEER TO WRITE THE NOTE TO GET YOU OUTTA CLASS FOR THIS MORNING.

IF, IF I MAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT ROMERO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM WESTWOOD WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE RETURNING TODAY.

UM, FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN, DISTRICT SIX.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO GIVE TESTIMONY.

IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME IN CHAMBERS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL CONSENT AGENDA SPEAKERS.

MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SPEAKERS.

LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, UH, AFTER THE SPEAKERS? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAIN? I'M, I'M GONNA GET A MOTION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDAS THAT'S BEEN READ? ANYONE WISHING TO SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

UH, I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH MAYOR AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WANNA TALK REAL BRIEFLY ABOUT ITEM 20, WHICH WE HEARD, UH, FROM SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK AS A COMMUNITY ABOUT LAWNMOWERS LEAF BLOWERS, OFTENTIMES WE THINK ABOUT THEM AS JUST A NUISANCE THAT MIGHT WAKE US UP, UH, ON THE WEEKEND.

UH, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS, UH, GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT IS FAR MORE TOXIC.

UH, AS ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS AND TOLD US, USING A GAS LEAF BLOWER FOR JUST ONE HOUR, POLLUTES AS MUCH, UH, IN OUR AIR AS DRIVING 1100 MILES, THAT'S DRIVING FROM HERE TO THE GRAND CANYON WITH ALL THOSE EMISSIONS STAYING RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

AND IN JUST ONE YEAR GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT SPEWS THAT SAME AMOUNT OF POLLUTION AS 234 MILLION CARS.

OUR AIR, OUR LUNGS CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER YEAR OF THIS.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M EXCITED THAT WE PASSED ITEM 20 TODAY TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM DIRTY LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT FASTER.

THIS PROGRAM WILL IMPLEMENT AN EXPANDED REBATE TO TRADE IN GAS POWERED LAWN CARE CARE EQUIPMENT FOR A CLEAN ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVE, UH, A CASH FOR CLUNKERS, IF YOU WILL, BUT FOR LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT.

AND IF DONE RIGHT, WE CAN INCENTIVIZE NOT ONLY RESIDENTIAL USERS, BUT COMMERCIAL USERS WHO ARE RUNNING THIS EQUIPMENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, VELASQUEZ ELLIS AND ALLISON ALTER, AS WELL AS ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING, UH, THIS VITAL WORK.

I ALSO JUST WANNA SAY A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY ITEM, UH, THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD.

MAYOR, I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ARE, UH, SEIZING AND THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING ON AS A COMMUNITY.

WE NEED THE WORKFORCE, BUT WE ALSO, AS YOU IDENTIFIED, HAVE TO GET RID OF THOSE BARRIERS TO THE WORKFORCE COMING AND CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS CHILDCARE.

AND SO I THINK, UH, THAT IS GONNA BE A HUGE ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND LASTLY, ITEM 26, ASKING TO GET MONEY FOR THE TREVINO PARK.

UH, SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET STARTED ON PHASE ONE OF THAT MASTER PLAN.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A HUGE, UH, BENEFIT TO AUSTINITES, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE IN PROXIMITY OF TREVINO PARK.

IT'S A INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE US MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

TO DESIGN THIS WORKFORCE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY.

I WANTED TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE ITEMS. FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITEM TWO, WHICH IS EXTENDING RECLAIMED WATER PIPING TO THE NEW COUNTY CO COURTHOUSE.

UM, AND THIS IS A VALUE FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND, AND WE'RE GONNA BE SHARING THESE COSTS.

AND I WANNA THANK AND RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER SHEA FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND FOR, UM, MAKING THE COUNTY BE, UM, A PARTNER IN OUR EFFORTS, UH, TO CONSERVE OUR WATER.

UH, ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM 20 RELATED TO LAWN CLICK CARE ELECTRIFICATION EFFORTS, AND THE ITEM RELATED TO WATERWISE REBATE INCENTIVES.

SO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I'M PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR THOSE.

UM, I DO WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ITEM 21.

AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE WORKFORCE MOBILITY INDUSTRY SECTOR PARTNERSHIP, UM, TO LAUNCH, UM, THIS PROCESS

[01:05:01]

I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS LAUNCH.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS THAT KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT, UM, WHERE WE WERE GONNA GET THE WORKFORCE FOR.

AND, UM, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU, MAYOR ON THAT.

UM, I DO WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO CAME THIS MORNING TO RAISE THE VOICES OF THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE AND TO ELEVATE THE NEED FOR CHILDCARE.

UM, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE.

I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT TWO THINGS.

ONE, UM, CHILDCARE IS LISTED NUMBER TWO ON A LIST OF SIX OR MORE BULLETS.

IT'S NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

IT IS, IT IS, IS BUILT INTO HERE.

IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR THIS EFFORT TO SUCCEED.

THAT BEING SAID, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR CHILDCARE SYSTEM.

THE INVESTMENTS, IF YOU JUST EXTRAPOLATE, ARE FOR PUBLIC PLACES, WHICH IS 2% TO A BILLION DOLLARS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

UM, GIVES YOU ABOUT 20 MILLION I THINK, OF MONEY.

UM, AND IF YOU TAKE 20% OF THOSE 4,000 WORKERS AND YOU SAY THEY NEED CHILDCARE, AND YOU COST THAT AT $10,000, WE'RE ALREADY AT $8 MILLION.

AND THAT'S ONLY ONE YEAR.

AND THAT BILLION DOLLARS DOESN'T RECUR EVERY YEAR.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CRACK THE NET FOR CHILDCARE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO MORE THAN WHAT MAY BE JUST IN THIS ACADEMY.

FORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE RECOGNIZING MUCH MORE CLEARLY THE NEED TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE.

UM, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ACROSS GOVERNMENT SECTORS WHO ARE WORKING TO FIND A SOLUTION.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE GONNA COME TOGETHER, UM, HOPEFULLY WITH A COUNTY LED INITIATIVE THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO REALLY UP OUR GAME WITH CHILDCARE.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT A ISD IS, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN CHILDCARE WITH THE PEACE CAMPUS.

A CC HAD PART OF THEIR BOND AND CHILDCARE.

UM, WE ALREADY WITH THIS INITIATIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE A TP, WE HAVE CAP METRO, WE HAVE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.

THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS, UM, SOLUTIONS.

AND MAYOR, LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE NEED ALL OF THESE PIECES.

WE'RE DOING BIG AUDACIOUS THINGS WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE NEED THE WORKFORCE, THE WORKFORCE NEEDS CHILDCARE.

CHILDCARE IS A WORKFORCE, UM, ISSUE.

SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOVING FORWARD.

UM, AND AS WE DESIGN IT OUT, GETTING THINGS RIGHT, UM, FOR THE CHILDCARE PIECE AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER PIECES.

YES, MA'AM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

UH, I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN TER ABOUT IT, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS A SPONSOR ON HIS, ON HIS ITEM.

WITH THAT OBJECTION.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WILL BE SHOWN AS A SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND MEMBERS.

UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COUNSEL, CTM POINT PERSON HERE AT CITY HALL.

JJ ON HIS RETIREMENT.

JJ IS OVER HERE IN THE CORNER.

UM, HE SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS HERE AT CITY HALL AND HE'S BEEN AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO ALL OF US.

THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE.

HE'S SHOWN KINDNESS, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONSIVENESS FROM OUR OFFICE AND BEYOND, AND HIS PRESENCE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED.

SO WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS, JJ, GOOD LUCK.

UM, TODAY WE ADDRESSED ITEM 22, WHICH ENTAILS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR AUSTIN WATERS WATERWISE LANDSCAPE REBATE PROGRAM.

THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, WE ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO LAUNCH A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

SHOWCASE THEIR WELDING AND CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOR THAT PART OF THE RESOLUTION.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN WE COLLABORATE, UM, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

THE CAMPAIGN AIMS TO ASSIST O KNIGHTS IN CONSERVING WATER AND REDUCING THEIR WATER BILLS.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT COMPANION FOR THE WATER FORWARD ITEM THAT WE ALSO PASS TODAY.

INSPIRATION FROM THIS ITEM STEMMED FROM A MEETING WITH A REMARKABLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO WE HEARD FROM EARLIER, ROMERO JANE, WHO ATTENDS WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT.

RAMIR IS PRESENT IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY, AND WE HEARD FROM HIM EARLIER.

I ALSO WANNA THANK AUSTIN WATER FOR WORKING WITH ME AND MY OFFICE AT LY IN CRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION INTO MY CO-SPONSORS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER NATASHA MADISON.

FINALLY, UH, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING THAT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY SOON.

RODEO AUSTIN IS MARKING ITS 86TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, AND FESTIVITIES WILL BE RUNNING MARCH 8TH THROUGH 23RD.

OVER THE WEEKEND, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, UM, JUDGING THE , THE JUNIOR PITMASTER CONTEST.

WE HAD KIDS AGES EIGHT TO 12 AND 13 TO 17, GIVING ME NINE DIFFERENT PORK CHOPS TO TRY.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE KIDS CAN COOK.

HOLY MOLY.

I ALSO WITNESSED THE AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS COMPETITION, WHERE TALENTED YOUNGSTERS FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL TEXAS

[01:10:01]

THEY MADE THINGS LIKE CHICKEN COOPS, TRAILERS AND BARBECUE PITS FROM SCRATCH.

WAY BETTER THAN I COULD EVER MAKE.

SO, UM, THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL HERE IN AUSTIN RODEO AUSTIN HAS FOR OVER 86 YEARS, AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SUPPORTING THEM IF YOU CAN.

AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I YIELD.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

AUSTIN HAS EXPERIENCED REMARKABLE GROWTH.

UM, COLLEAGUES, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM 21 AND ALL THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO IT.

THIS ITEM WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A TRANSFORMATIONAL SHIFT TO INVESTMENTS IN OUR WORKFORCE AND COMPLIMENT HOW WE VIEW AND MOVE FORWARD ON AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN.

HOWEVER, IT'S EVIDENT THAT OUR CITY WAS ILL PREPARED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS EXPANSION BY NOT INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE.

AUSTIN HAS MADE, AUSTIN WAS MADE UNAFFORDABLE TO MANY FORCING LONGTIME RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THIS ISN'T A NEW STORY TO ANYBODY HERE OR ANYBODY ON THIS DA.

THIS ONE OF A KIND ACADEMY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CITY'S BOOMING GROWTH AND OUR COMMITMENT AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PREPARING OUR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES TO GROW ALONGSIDE IT, TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND LIVE IN THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE.

WE ARE INVESTING IN CAREERS, NOT JUST JOBS.

AND I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE'RE INVESTING IN CAREERS, NOT JUST JOBS.

YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH DAVID CHICHEN AND HIS TEAM AT WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT, WHOSE TIRELESS ADVOCACY SERVES AS A BEACON FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THEY OFFERED INSIGHT, DIRECTION AND HELP ON THIS PROJECT.

THE MEETING, THE MEETING AND CONVERSATION UNDERSCORED, THE VITAL ROLE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE PLAYED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY IN THE SHAPING OF THIS INITIATIVE.

BECAUSE THIS IS A WORKER CENTERED ENTERPRISE, THIS PROGRAM IS A GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FOR ALL.

AND WE KNOW THAT FROM THIS, FOR THIS PROGRAM TO WORK, IT WILL REQUIRE INPUT FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE CITY AND WILL REQUIRE PRIORITIZATION OF CULTURAL COMPETENCY AT EVERY LEVEL.

WITH 25 BILLION EARMARKS FOR MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WITH MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS TO SHAPE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR CITY'S GROWTH IN A WAY THAT TRULY SERVES THE NEEDS OF ALL.

I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING ME IN TO, IN ON THIS PROJECT FOR HIS VISION, LEADERSHIP, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR PROTE FOR HER INSIGHTS AND DIRECTION, AND TO ALL OF OUR COLLABORATORS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS VISION FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADED.

AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT PEOPLE'S EFFORTS TO NOT DO THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ITEMS FROM OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.

WE TAKE AND ARE TAKING, UH, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN MAKING OUR CITY'S ROADS SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER 17 REGARDING SEVERAL ROADWAY PROJECTS ALONG THE EASTERN CRESCENT OF AUSTIN, IN COLLABORATION WITH TXDOT.

UM, BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH TDOT AND OUR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS, WE CAN ADDRESS SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS AT CRITICAL INTERSECTIONS, INCLUDING FM 9 69, HEFLIN LANE AND SPRINGDALE ROAD.

ANYBODY WHO'S GONE DOWN MLK AND SEEN THAT RANDOM INTERSECTION THERE AT HEFLIN IN SPRINGDALE, UM, AS WELL AS US 180 3, UM, AND MAINOR ROAD SPRINGDALE.

UM, I'LL TAKE THE, THE MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO SAY, AS A PERSON WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN THRICE OVER AFFECTED BY ROAD SAFETY ISSUES, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP TO PREVENT.

AND I THINK THE CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, ADJUSTING THOSE CONCERNS IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE TAKING THAT STEP.

ADDITIONALLY, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR AUSTIN WATERS REBATE PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING OUTREACH TO RESIDENTS ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN SAVE WATER AND MONEY ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS.

UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME DOWN FROM THAT WESTWOOD WARRIOR WHO CAME DOWN FROM NORTHWEST AUSTIN THIS MORNING, UM, BACK IN THOSE DAYS WHEN I WAS WORKING AS A, A SUSTAINABLE FLORIST, I MEAN, EVERYTHING YOU DO IS ABOUT WATER.

AND I REALLY JUST STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN THERE WERE CAMPAIGNS ALONG THE WAY, WHICH HOPEFULLY MAYBE I'LL EMULATE ONE DAY, GROW FOOD, NOT LAWNS.

IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF POTABLE WATER, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FROM THE OTHER DAY, THAT THOUGHT OF PUTTING POTABLE WATER ON GRASS THAT DOES NOTHING, BUT GIVE YOU A HARD TIME.

UM, IF WE CODIFY WAYS, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY ENCOURAGE

[01:15:01]

UM, THAT'S A CULTURE SHIFT.

AND SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I I THINK IN LARGE PART A, A START OF THE CONVERSATION AND REALLY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THOSE RESOURCES THAT EXIST ALREADY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, SUSTAINABILITY IS A LARGE PRIORITY IN THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE.

I'M SO EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR CLIMATE GOALS, AND FRANKLY, TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THOSE CULTURAL SHIFTS THAT WE NEED FOLKS TO REALLY ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN A SUSTAINABLE WAY OF LIFE.

UM, SO THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UH, COLLEAGUES, JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP ON ITEM 21, ESTABLISHING AUSTIN'S INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY.

IT'S SUCH A MILESTONE MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S A VISIONARY MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S ONE THAT IS NEEDED.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS MOBILITY AGE AND MOVING INTO THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AGE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND JUST RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE.

MAYOR, YOUR RECOGNITION OF, OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE IN SUCH A MANNER, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CHILDCARE WITHIN THIS ITEM.

YOU'VE BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION FOR CHILDCARE, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS ITEM PROGRESS AND MOVE FORWARD.

AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER FOR YOUR WORK ON, ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

I'M PLEASED TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM AND JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

TH 33, WHICH IS THE ITEM THAT WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, ASK TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON BOTH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALT ALTER ITEM 20, WHICH I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT ITEM, AND, UH, ADDRESSES A, UH, UH, AN UNDERAPPRECIATED, UH, ISSUE.

AND ON YOUR ITEM, MAYOR ITEM 21.

AGAIN, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD, A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE EFFORT IN, IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED FOR THE MANY, UH, PARTICULAR MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.

NOT TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OTHER PROJECTS, UH, THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IN THE, IN THE COMING, UH, DECADE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILABLE, BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 20 AND 21.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MEMBERS, I'LL WRAP UP THE COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY SPEAKING JUST VERY BRIEFLY WITH REGARD TO ITEM 21.

UM, I, I'VE APPRECIATED ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THAT ITEM, AND I'VE APPRECIATED THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S SUPPORT WITH REGARD TO THAT ITEM.

UH, I ECHO AND HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

UH, IT'S A, AS I'VE SAID, THIS IS A SEIZE THE MOMENT TIME IN AUSTIN, AND I BELIEVE WE ARE NOW SEIZING THE MOMENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ALREADY A NATIONAL MODEL WITH THIS.

UM, AND I KNOW WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OF, OF, OF CENTRAL TEXAS HAS ALREADY RECEIVED AN A, A RECOGNITION AND A NATIONAL AWARD FOR THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT JUST UP TILL NOW.

BUT I BELIEVE WE WILL, WE WILL SET THE PLAYING FIELD WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS ITEM.

SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL AND TO ALL OF THE CO-SPONSORS.

I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE, THE CAREER CREATORS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THE, THE CAREER TRAINERS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE THAT ARE MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE PLAYED A ROLE WITH REGARD TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO TRY TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE WOULD GET TO THIS POINT.

UH, MANY OF YOU ARE IN THE AUDIENCE OR HAVE SPOKEN, AND I WANNA SAY THANKS FOR THAT.

UH, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, UH, EVERY AUSTINITE KNOWS ABOUT, BUT IT PLAYS A PRINCIPLE ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TAMARA ATKINSON IS HERE WITH US TODAY, UM, THE CEO OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO THIS.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE CIVIC SOLUTIONS, UH, FOR THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYED IN DOING THE STUDIES BEHIND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE NOW DOING.

UH, AND, AND STEVEN PETTIGO AND LAURA HUFFMAN ARE THE PRINCIPALS IN THAT, AND, AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY MADE WITH THAT, FOLKS, THIS IS ANOTHER STEP TO OUR VISION AS A COUNCIL AND AS A TEAM TOGETHER TO HAVE A MORE COMPLETE AUSTIN AND A MORE AFFORDABLE CITY.

SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE ON THAT, AND I THANK EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATED.

UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE FUN WORK THAT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO, WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER

[33. Approve an interlocal agreement with Travis County on a planning and implementation partnership for the Northeast Planning District.]

UH, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, TO LAY OUT ITEM NUMBER 33.

SOMETIMES I'M SO LOUD, I FORGET THAT I ACTUALLY DO NEED TO USE THE MICROPHONE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, RECOGNIZING ME.

SO, UM, IF I MAY, UH, TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM,

[01:20:01]

AND, UM, I APPRECIATE PROCESS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE IT.

I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS AND MAKING EXCEPTIONS IN A PROCESS THAT'S SET, YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED TO UNILATERALLY APPLY THE PROCESS.

AND SO I GET IT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM THEM THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT, IF I MAY.

AND IF YOU WOULD JUST TELL ME WHEN THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

WELL, I GUESS NOW, I GUESS NOW WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO DO.

I'M, I'M ASKING, I HAVE SOME, UH, A STATEMENT.

WELL, LET ME LAY IT OUT AND, AND THEN I'LL, YOU KNOW, JUST SORT OF, I THINK BY WAY OF MY COMMENTS, I'LL, I'LL SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF, IF YOU DID, I THINK THAT'D BE THE WAY TO DO THAT.

BELIEVE, LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN NORTHEASTERN AUSTIN AND EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND SPEAK TO WHAT COMMENTS THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD, BUT YEAH.

BUT FOLLOWING THE PROCESS, I THINK IS, IS IMPORTANT.

YES, SIR.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, UM, WE ARE TODAY, SOME FOLKS ARE HERE FROM COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UM, I, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT TODAY.

I, I PUT ON, UH, EAST SIDE PURPLE IS WHAT I CALL IT TODAY.

UM, BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING , ME BEING A JAGUAR AND, AND COLONY PARK AND LAKE SIDE COLORS BEING PURPLE.

UM, BUT I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS WEARING PURPLE TODAY.

I'M JUST GONNA ASSUME THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE IN PASSIVE SUPPORT.

UM, THE COLONY PARK FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY, UM, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO, TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, BUT A PART OF WHY THEY'RE HERE TODAY ON THIS ITEM AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, A REALLY SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TOWARDS CREATING SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES, WHILE FOSTERING EQUITABLE COMMUNITY CENTERED, AMENITY CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY AS IT GROWS.

I AM SO EXCITED.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SITTING STILL TO PASS OUR FORMAL APPROVAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY FOR OUR REGION'S FIRST EVER COLLABORATIVE PLANNING DISTRICT, THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.

THIS AGREEMENT IS MORE THAN JUST A LEGAL DOCUMENT.

IT SIGNIFIES A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

THE AGREEMENT SETS THE TONE FOR OUR LONG-TERM VISION TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THESE COMMUNITIES BY INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCENTIVIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRENGTHENING OUR TRANSPORTATION AND CONNECTIVITY.

THESE COMPONENTS REPRESENT THE SHARED INTENTIONS OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND I, I'D BE REMISS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS HE COMMISSIONER TAVION JOINED US THIS AFTERNOON, THESE COMPONENTS REPRESENT THE SHARED INTENTIONS OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND SET A VALUABLE PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS.

HOWEVER, THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT SIMPLY AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

IT ALSO IS A PROMISE TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS FOR THIS AREA THAT THEY TOO, THAT THEY STARTED, THEY BUILT THE TABLE SO NATURALLY THEY HAVE A SEAT AT IT.

AND I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT THAT GOES WITHOUT QUESTION.

THE VOICES OF OUR RESIDENTS, THEIR VISIONS, THEIR STORIES, AND THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD DIRECTLY REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE CULTURES OF ITS RESIDENTS.

AND THAT IS WHY THIS AGREEMENT ALSO ESTABLISHES A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF CITY AND COUNTY APPOINTEES.

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW CRITICAL THE INTRICATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE IDEA IN ANY WAY.

MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE LAID A PRECIOUS FOUNDATION OF WORK, HARD WORK TO GET US HERE.

SEVERAL WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING AND JOINED US, UM, INCLUDING STATE REP.

CHERYL COLE WAS HERE, UM, AND WHO AS MAYOR, PRETEND BY THE WAY, FOR AUSTIN, SHE HELPED TO FOSTER MANY OF THE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY.

SO, JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, SOMETIMES JUST 'CAUSE YOU DON'T SEE THE DUCK'S FEET PADDLING FURIOUSLY UNDER THE WATER, IT DOES NOT MEAN THE WORK IS NOT GETTING DONE.

IT JUST MEANS THAT CITIES, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS MOVE AT AN EXTRAORDINARILY SLOW PACE.

SO I, SHE, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S TAKING HER LEAVE, BUT I APPRECIATE HER FOR INTRODUCING THESE CONCEPTS.

YOU, OH, YOU'RE STILL HERE, YEARS AGO, .

SO I WANNA EXPRESS ALSO MY GRATITUDE FOR THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER JEFF TREVIAN, FOR TAKING ANOTHER CHANCE ON PARTNERING WITH THE CITY FOR KEEPING HIS EYE ON THE BIG AND ULTIMATE GOAL, THE BIG PICTURE, AND CHALLENGING EACH OF US TO NOT WAIT FOR A COMMUNITY TO GENTRIFY BEFORE WE START PAYING ATTENTION.

WE SHARE THAT PASSION DEEPLY.

AND THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS THE FIRST OF MANY STEPS IN MAKING THIS A STRONGER AND STRONGER PARTNERSHIP THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE.

I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING, AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY, THE AUSTIN AREA IS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT.

AND THIS INITIATIVE, I

[01:25:01]

I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS INNOVATIVE AND COMMUNITY-CENTRIC APPROACH TO PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR OUR FUTURE.

AND I ENCOURAGE US ALL TO RECOGNIZE THE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK, UM, ARE, WE NEED TO DEMYSTIFY FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

I THINK SOMETIMES FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, WHILE THEY REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE, ARE NOT THE SAME ENTITIES.

THEY HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATE STAFF RULES, MEETING ENGAGEMENTS, LIKE IT, IT'S SEPARATE.

SO US WORKING TOGETHER IS CRITICAL.

'CAUSE WE DO REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE.

AND THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY.

I HAVE FOLKS WHO DRIVE IN FROM HARKER HEIGHTS, UM, BASTROP COUNTY, HAYES COUNTY.

IF OUR FOLKS ARE MOVING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CENTER BECAUSE OF LACK OF AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S TWO-PRONGED.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS CITY MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE THINKING REGIONALLY.

SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS, THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SAY AUSTIN, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY PUSHBACK ON CALLING THIS THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN PLAN.

'CAUSE IT'S THE NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT.

IT'S NOT JUST AUSTIN.

IT'S THE PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE ADJACENT TO AUSTIN THAT DON'T GET TO ENGAGE IN BEING A PART OF AUSTIN.

SO THANK YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND YOUR STAFF.

I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

WHEN WE SHOW THE POWER OF LOVE, IT'S ONLY THEN THAT WE OVERCOME THE LOVE OF POWER THAT IS, THAT IS DAMAGING OUR POLITICS TODAY.

UM, OUT OF, AS A COURTESY, I'M GONNA CALL ON COMMISSIONER ILIAN AND ASK HIM TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND, AND BRIEFLY, UM, SPEAK AND WELCOME HIM TO CITY COUNCIL.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I, I NOTICED THAT YOU DID SAY BRIEFLY.

I DID .

I, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

SOMETIMES BRIEF IS BY SIX O'CLOCK.

I'VE NOT YEAH, I'VE KNOWN YOU A LONG TIME AND WE HAVE A RULE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO GET.

FAKE A VOTE IF YOU'RE STILL HERE AT 10 O'CLOCK.

WELL, I, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.

UM, FIRST THING I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY IS THAT THIS IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY AT THE SELMA BRIDGE, AT THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE.

AND I SAID THAT TO SAY, OFTEN THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED IN THIS, IN THIS, AND ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH HAS BEEN PURCHASED WITH BLOOD.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM LEGITIMATE SACRIFICES OF COMMITTEE ME OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER TIME, UH, TO ACHIEVE AN ADEQUATE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PARENTS, FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN.

AND I THINK THE WORK THAT WE DO TODAY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN VERY CHALLENGING TIMES, TIMES WHEN IT IS SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY, UH, REPRESENTATIVES TO WORK TOGETHER.

UH, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING HELP FROM ALL OF THE PLACES THAT WE SHOULD.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE OUR TIME AND, AND STRATEGICALLY PLAN WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

UH, I I'M SO PLEASED THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S, IT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF WHEN OUR ADULTS ARE ARGUING OUR CHILDREN IS SUFFERING.

AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE MUST DO IN COMMUNITY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH BETTER WE ARE TOGETHER, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE ONLY RECENTLY, THAT IT IS THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT GAVE 500,000 SHOTS DURING COVID INTO THE EASTERN CRESCENT, WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THIS BODY.

I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IF WE JUST UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT, THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A PART OF THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT WE DO IS, IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT TODAY.

AND I, AND I JUST WANNA, UH, WANNA 0.1 THING OUT AS, AS I GO TO MY SEAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I TRY TO GUIDE MY ACTION WITH IS A PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF MICAH AND IT SAYS, WE SHOULD BE JUST, WE SHOULD LOVE MERCY AND WE SHOULD WALK HUMBLY TOGETHER BEFORE OUR GOD.

AND WHEN WE DON'T, WE FIND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS IN NAME ONLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS THEIR SERVICE.

AND WHAT THIS COMMISSION, WHAT THIS COURT IS, OR WHAT THIS, UH, COUNCIL HAS SHOWN US TODAY IS THAT WHEN WE SHOW THE POWER OF LOVE TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH GRANDMOTHERS, WORKING WITH MOTHERS, WORKING WITH CHILDREN,

[01:30:01]

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER, TO REASON TOGETHER, TO WALK TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.

IT SHOULD BE US.

WE SHOULD NOT LOOK AT EACH OTHER AS US OR THEM.

IT'S ALL OF US.

AND WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER IN THIS WAY, WHEN WE HAVE LEGITIMATE DISAGREEMENTS AND WE ADDRESS THEM, WHEN WE BRING IN THE COMMUNITY TO TELL US WHAT THEY NEED, RATHER THAN OUR TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED, IT, IT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT I HOPE WE CONTINUE.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON SO MANY THINGS, AND I THINK THE NEXT THING THAT WE WILL WORK, UH, TOGETHER ON IS HOW WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN, UH, ZERO THROUGH THREE, BUT ALSO PRE-K THROUGH 12, A SAFE PLACE TO BE AT THREE O'CLOCK, HELP WITH YOUR HOMEWORK, A THIRD MEAL AND ENRICHMENT.

THAT IS THE WAY WE GET KIDS FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.

AND WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE TO BRING SUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESSES INTO THIS COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AND BUILD TOGETHER, WE CAN ACHIEVE MAGICAL THINGS.

AND, AND AS WE LEARNED ON BLOODY SUNDAY, SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, BUT GREAT DIFFICULTY MET WITH, WITH COMPASSION AND COURAGE CAN LEAD US TO THE PLACE THAT WE NEED TO GO AS COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU CONTINUOUSLY.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR SERVICE, MR. MAY.

SORRY, I, I I KNOW IT, IT WE CAN'T ASK PEOPLE TO SPEAK THAT AREN'T, UH, MEMBER MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF TO SPEAK TO WHAT NEXT STEPS LOOK LIKE, JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS TRANSPIRING TODAY.

UH, SOMEBODY SPECIFIC THAT YOU'D LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I COULD CERTAINLY OFFER SOME SHOUTS, BUT, UM, THERE'S A, A NATIVE EAST AUSTINITE WHO'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THIS AND, UM, MIDDLE, UH, DIRECTOR MIDDLETON PRATT.

UM, THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE FROM THE COUNTY.

UH, YEAH, I'D LOVE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, ONE, JUST SPEAK TO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON AND, UM, WHAT NEXT STEPS LOOK LIKE FOR WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TODAY.

WHERE PLANNING AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT IS LONG OVERDUE.

PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

UM, ICM GARZA AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ISHA JOHNSON.

I AM INDEED A FIFTH GENERATION EAST AUSTINITE.

I AM ALSO A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT LEAD FOR THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.

UM, I AM JOINED HERE AND I WILL JUST ASK MY TEAM MEMBERS TO STAND UP.

UM, THIS IS THE CITY'S FIRST DISTRICT PLANNING TEAM.

IT'S MYSELF, ROMINA OLI AND MERCY OCOEE.

I AM ALSO JOINED BY CHRISTIE MOFFITT, PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR THE, THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE PLANNING AND BUDGET OFFICE.

UM, SO WE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.

WE ARE EXCITED TO FINALLY, UH, GET STARTED ON PLANNING FOR AND WITH THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY ON THIS PLANNING EFFORT.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THAT THIS JOINT PLANNING EFFORT IS GUIDED BY GEERS OR THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE FOR RACE AND EQUITIES EQUITY FRAMEWORK ADOPTED BY THE COUNTY'S PLANNING AND BUDGET OFFICE.

SOME NEXT STEPS FOR US, UM, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, UH, THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL ESTABLISH A CROSS CITY AND CROSS COUNTY WORKING GROUP THAT CONSISTS OF CITY AND COUNTY PROJECT LEADS, AS WELL AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE, LONG RANGE PLANNING, AND OTHERS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THIS COLLABORATIVE PLANNING EFFORT.

WE WILL ALSO WORK TO, UH, DEVELOP A WORK PLAN FOR AND PRODUCE A SUMMARY REPORT OF EXISTING INITIATIVES, PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT, FUNDING, AND UPCOMING IMPLEMENTATION FOR ANY PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES IN THE PLANNING AREA.

WE WILL ALSO WORK TO DEVELOP A WORK PLAN FOR THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL, UH, GROUP TO THIS PLANNING EFFORT AND CONSIDERED THE THIRD ARM, UH, WITH THE CITY, CITY, AND COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP.

UM, AND WE WILL WORK WITH THAT, UH, CAC, THE NORTHEAST, CAC, UH, TO CO-CREATE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.

LASTLY, WE, UH, APPRE WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, UH, THAT THEY HAVE DEDICATED TO ESTABLISHING THIS PARTNERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO PLANNING FOR A COMMUNITY

[01:35:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE.

THAT'S SUFFICIENT FOR ME.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 33.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUE'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS TO WATCH YOU LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO THIS MILESTONE MOMENT OF ENTERING INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY FOR THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT.

UM, I SO APPRECIATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE DID A TOUR A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND WHAT I RECOGNIZE THEN, WHAT WE ALL KNOW IS THAT OUR EAST SIDE COMMUNITIES ARE, ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY SIMILAR ISSUES AND, AND VALUES.

AND SO WHAT I SEE, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE LAID OUT AS A MODEL FOR NORTHEAST, I BELIEVE IS A MODEL FOR SOUTHEAST AS WELL, AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SIMILAR EFFORT DEDICATED TO OUR DELL VALLEY COMMUNITY IN, IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES COMMENTS AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ON THIS.

I, I CAN'T TELL Y'ALL, I MEAN, OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO DO THE, WHEN YOU INVOLVE TWO GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AND TRY TO NAVIGATE BOTH, UH, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE POLITICS AND THE STAFF, THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT.

UH, I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME SHE AND HER STAFF HAVE SPENT ON THIS.

I KNOW, UH, THE, UH, COUNTY AS WELL, UH, COMMISSIONER JEFF, IAN HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT.

I JUST, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S A GREAT, UH, MOVE.

AND, UH, I JUST APPLAUD, UH, EVERYONE FOR, FOR COMING TOGETHER.

BUT IN PARTICULAR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND HER STAFF, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

BOTH SAY NO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ILIAN.

MEMBERS THAT, UH, W WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 11:37 AM AND I'LL IMMEDIATELY CALL TO ORDER AND DO

[10:30 AM Austin Housing Finance Corporation]

CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND IT IS 1137.

WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.

WE ARE MEETING ON, UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND IT IS THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH.

I RECOGNIZE STAFF FOR PRESENTATION.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

MY NAME IS JAMIE MAYE.

HEY, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

IF YOU'RE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PLEASE DO NOT, UM, DISRUPT THE COUNCIL MEETING BY TALKING.

UH, GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

MY NAME IS JAMIE MAY.

I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT YOUR AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.

UH, TODAY YOU HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO PRO, UH, PROVIDE OUR TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

UH, THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY BENEFITING FROM THIS PROGRAM CAN REMAIN ON THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE END OF THE CA OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND I OFFER THIS ON CONSENT MEMBERS.

UH, THAT ONE ITEM IS OFFERED ON CONSENT.

IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND, UH, MOVES APPROVAL OF THE ITEM.

IT IS SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE ITEM IS ADOPTED.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 1138.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER.

I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER AT 11:39 AM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH, THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND THOSE ARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. WE WILL START WITH ITEM NUMBER 26,

[26. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution authorizing and directing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act on the City's behalf to work with the National Park Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in connection with the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program and to apply for an ORLP grant for up to $4,000,000, to be matched by the City, to partially fund the cost of the John Treviño Jr. Metro Park Vision Plan Phase One Implementation project.]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO TELL US ABOUT SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE ROY WHALEY ON ITEM 26.

MR. WHALEY, ARE YOU STILL HERE? DO YOU, DO YOU, DO YOU REALLY NEED TO TALK? UH, THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER.

UM, UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK UP ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 26, AND THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE SOMEONE FOR A MOTION OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 26.

[01:40:01]

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 26 IS ADOPTED.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 27.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 27.

BY THE WAY, ON ITEM NUMBER 26 ON THE VOTE, ON ITEM NUMBER 26, IT WAS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

AND, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, OFF THE DAIS.

ITEM NUMBER 27,

[27. Conduct a public hearing to receive input on community needs for the City's Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Consolidated Plan that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the City's application for federal funding.]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'VE ALREADY OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR ANY PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE WILLIAM BUNCH ON ITEM 27, MR. BUNCH.

UM, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

UM, THERE BEING NO OTHER PEOPLE TO SIGN UP THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 27.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 27, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A MOTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE REMOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 27.

THAT MOTION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 27? HEARING NONE OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 27 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

ITEM NUMBER 28 IS POSTPONED TO MARCH 21ST.

ITEM NUMBER 29 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM NUMBER 37.

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 30.

OBJECTION.

[30. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Exhibit A to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 City Fee and Fine Ordinance (Ordinance No. 20230816-007) to add a dedicated GoPurple component of $0.15 cents per thousand gallons to Austin Water’s water utility and wastewater utility community benefit charges to support reuse strategies in the Water Forward plan; and amending the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Austin Water Community Benefit Charge Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20230816-008) to increase revenue and appropriations by $4,100,000 and the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Austin Water Operating Funds (Ordinance No.20230816-008) to increase transfers in and appropriations by $4,100,000 for reuse strategies 30. in the Water Forward plan.]

UH, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30.

ITEM THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED.

I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 30.

I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 30.

HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UM, MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 30 WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30, AND THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE SOMEONE FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ITEM NUMBER 30, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, WHO BOTH ARE ON A ROLL, UH, MOVES, UH, SECONDS TO THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON ITEM 30.

ITEM NUMBER 30 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE IT.

I'M GONNA SKIP ITEM NUMBER 36, JUST, UM, TO TRY TO KEEP US ON, UH, A SCHEDULE, UH, AND GO TO ITEM NUMBER 37.

[37. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) relating to clarifying requirements for water conservation in the implementation of the Water Forward Plan, including distances for the Reclaimed Water Connection requirement, clarifying definitions, and modifying variances including adding certain affordable housing exemptions for Reclaimed Water Connections and Onsite Water Reuse requirements; and waiving the requirement in City Code Section 25-1-502 (Amendment Review) for Planning Commission review of Land Development Code amendments.]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 37 MEMBERS.

REMEMBER, ITEM NUMBER 37 IS REPLACING ITEM NUMBER 29, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN.

UH, MEMBERS.

THERE'S ALSO TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER 37 BY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

YOU HAVE THOSE AS YELLOW SHEETS.

I WILL CALL THOSE UP AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

FOR NOW, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 37, AND I WILL TURN TO, UH, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE ROY WHALEY ON ITEM 37 WITH BOBBY LEVINSKY AND BRIAN ZEC ON DECK.

ALRIGHT, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE ONE OF THE SEATS AT THE FRONT SO THAT WE MAY CALL ON YOU IN A, AN EFFICIENT MANNER.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, MR. WHALEY, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.

YOU DID REAL GOOD ON THAT OTHER ONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE GOING ON NOW.

HOW DO Y'ALL, MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I AM THE CONSERVATION FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

UM, AND ON ITEM 37, HOPEFULLY THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE ANOTHER SLAM DUNK AGAIN.

UH, 38.2%, UH, CAPACITY IN LAKE TRAVIS RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT IS OUR, UH, OUR WATER BANK ACCOUNT.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT GET TO WITHDRAW FROM THAT ACCOUNT.

SO , WE'RE, WE'RE IN A JOINT ACCOUNT SITUATION THERE.

NOW, THE MAYOR WATSON, UH, MANY YEARS AGO, YOU, UH, SIGNED A DEAL TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE WATER WITH LCRA.

THAT'S GREAT.

I COULD WRITE YOU A CHECK FOR, OH, I DON'T KNOW, $2,000 FOR ANYTHING YOU'D WANT TO.

UH, BUT GOOD LUCK CASHING IT IF I DON'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT IN MY ACCOUNT.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR WATER ACCOUNT.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO STRETCH OUR WATER SUPPLY.

IF ANY OF US COULD BUY ANY ITEM, SAY FOR A DOLLAR, AND THEN GET A REBATE OF 60 CENTS, WE'D ALL DO IT AND WE STILL GET THE ITEM.

THAT'S WHAT REUSE IS.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO EXPANDING OUR PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM.

WE DON'T WANNA SEE THIS FALL ON TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, FAMILIES, UM, THOSE, THOSE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT DOES ADD TO THE COST.

BUT FOR

[01:45:01]

THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD IT, THE COMMERCIAL, THE, UH, UH, MULTI-FAMILIES, WE DO NEED TO DO THAT.

WE DO NEED TO REUSE THAT WATER BECAUSE WATER THAT WE REUSE IS WATER THAT WE HAVE WITHOUT DRAINING OUR LEGS.

WE CAN'T COUNT ON FLOODS.

THANK YOU, MR. BEING OUR SOLUTION.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ANYWAY.

BOBBY LAVINSKY.

BRIAN ICK AND WILL BUN WILLIAM BUNCH ON DECK.

MR. BUNCH, IF YOU'D MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL BOBBY LAVINSKY WOULD SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

WANTED TO THANK THE WATER UTILITY STAFF FOR BRINGING THESE ITEMS FORWARD.

UM, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PASSED BEFORE, SO PLEASE, UM, PASS 'EM TODAY AND GET THEM IN EFFECT.

UM, I DO WISH TO APPLY TO ALL DEVELOPMENTS.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE AND THE CONCERN AROUND, UM, AFFORDABILITY IMPACT.

UM, THIS REALLY IS ABOUT ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY INTO THE FUTURE THOUGH, AND, AND ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY FOR, UM, THE TENANTS AND THE RENTERS AND THE, AND THE, THE FUTURE OWNERS OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT WILL BENEFIT IN THE LONG RUN FROM, UM, HAVING A MORE AFFORDABLE WATER SUPPLY.

UH, THE WATER FORWARD.

UM, TASK FORCE RECENTLY SAW THE, UM, THE STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THAT SHOWED THAT WE'RE GONNA HIT THAT CAP IN SOMEWHERE AROUND 2040.

AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU SAID EARLIER, WE'RE NOT PRODUCING MORE WATER.

UM, WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY AND THIS, UH, THESE PROVISIONS ARE THE WAY THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE CURRENT SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE.

UM, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

UM, HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE APPROVED WITH LIMITED AMENDMENTS.

UM, I I REALLY HOPE THAT, UH, WE DON'T LOSE THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE ALREADY TRIED TO CREATE FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES ON THIS.

HOWDY.

CAN YOU REMIND ME ON THE TIME LIMIT? TWO MINUTES.

MY NAME IS BRIAN ZO.

OBJECT THAT THAT'S SET FOR THE MAYOR'S HEIGHT.

WHAT THAT, THAT'S SET FOR THE MAYOR'S HEIGHT, SO IT DOESN'T GO WELL PROBABLY.

BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION.

UH, MY NAME IS BRIAN IC AND I'M THE ADVOCACY DIRECTOR AT ST.

UH, SBCA WAS FOUNDED IN 1979.

WE HAVE STEADILY, UH, EXPANDED OUR MISSION AREA.

WE NOW WORK TO PROTECT STREAMS AND AQUIFERS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT THE METRO AREA AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.

UH, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN ON WATER QUALITY, BUT WE ARE ALSO TOO STRONGLY INTERESTED IN WATER SUPPLY ISSUES, AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO SPEAK STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S ORDINANCE.

UM, JUST AS A REFRESHER FOR EVERYONE, THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE VERY LARGE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY TO EITHER HOOK UP TO THE CITY'S PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM TO USE RECLAIMED WATER OR TO, UH, INSTALL AN ONSITE WASTEWATER REUSE SYSTEM.

UH, WE AGAIN WANT TO THANK AUSTIN FOR DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SETTING EXAMPLE, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY, BUT OUTSIDE IN THE CITY, NOT JUST WITH THE POLICIES THAT AUSTIN PASSES, BUT WITH THE BUILDINGS THAT IT CONSTRUCTS.

WE WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE CITY'S, UH, PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS, AS FAR AS SBA HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE FIRST BUILDING IN OUR AREA THAT USES ONSITE WASTEWATER INSIDE THE BUILDING, NOT JUST OUTSIDE, BUT INSIDE THE BUILDING.

WE HOPE THAT AUSTIN INCLUDES ONSITE WASTEWATER REUSE AND MORE CITY BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE.

UH, WE WILL ALSO TOO WANNA SUPPRESS OUR VERY, VERY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE WATER FORWARD PLAN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY WERE MADE.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE FORECAST FOR OUR LONG TERM WATER SUPPLY IS NOT ALWAYS ENCOURAGING.

UH, I WAS IN A PRESENTATION, A MEETING, UH, RECENTLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM LCRA AND EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY, AND THEY WERE GIVING SOME LONG RANGE FORECAST FOR THEIR WATER RESOURCES.

UH, IN THE, UH, 2050 TO 2060 WINDOW.

THINGS COULD BE OKAY OR THEY MIGHT BE PRETTY DIRE.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO STICK WITH WATER FORWARD AND ALSO TO Y-S-B-C-A WOULD ENCOURAGE, UH, THE CITY TO GO BEYOND THE WATER, UH, FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM 37.

THANK YOU, UH, MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 37.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER YOU RECOGNIZE, UH, YOU INDICATED YOU WANTED TO GO FOR IT, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 37.

IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.

UH, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

I'M, UH, MEMBERS, WE HAVE, AS I INDICATED, TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS LABELED AMENDMENT ONE CM, VELA DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE

[01:50:01]

UNITS.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

AND THOSE WATER RESERVOIRS ENSURE THAT WE CAN LIVE HERE AND THAT OUR CITY FLOURISHES.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT JUST CLARIFIES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, AUSTIN WATER, WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND WITH VARIOUS, UH, NONPROFIT HOUSING GROUPS TO MORE ACCURATELY DEFINE WHAT, UH, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, DEVELOPMENT IS.

UH, AND THIS JUST KIND OF CLARIFIES THE LANGUAGE AGAIN, IT'S BEEN VETTED ACROSS, UH, MULTIPLE, UH, FOLKS AND EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THIS IS, CAPTURES EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO CAPTURE.

UM, WE WERE TRYING TO, THIS ESSENTIALLY EXEMPTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FROM HAVING TO, UH, USE THE RECLAIMED WATER, HAVING TO, UH, DO THE, THE PURPLE PIPE.

UH, I WOULD RATHER FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THE CITY COULD PAY FOR THE, UH, BOTH THE, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT'S REQUIRED IN THE, UH, UH, APARTMENTS AND THE EXTENSION OF THE PIPE TO THE APARTMENTS.

WERE NOT QUITE THERE YET.

UH, MY SECOND AMENDMENT WILL, WILL ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, BUT THIS IS JUST A BETTER DEFINITION AND, AND CUTS, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT OF THE, THE PURPLE PIPE REQUIREMENTS.

GREAT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF PROPOSED VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO AND IT'S LABELED AMENDMENT TWO CM VELA SIX MONTH STUDY AND ADDITIONAL DIRECTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

AND, AND, AND THANK YOU MAYOR, THAT THIS ONE IS, UH, ASKING FOR REPORTING BACK FROM CITY STAFF REGARDING THE, UH, COST OF, UH, COMPLIANCE ON THE, THE PROJECTS, UH, THE ESTIMATED WATER SAVINGS, THE PARTICIPATION IN COST SHARE AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING, UH, BROADLY SPEAKING AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UH, HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, UH, THE COST TO THOSE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS OF USING THE, THE PURPLE PIPE AND PLUMBING THEIR BUILDINGS FOR THE PURPLE PIPE.

AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

AND I WANNA, UH, ECHO, UH, MR. LEWINSKY'S, UH, COMMENTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, COSTS ARE RELATIVE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE COSTS ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND THE WATER DOES NOT COST THAT MUCH.

THAT COULD CHANGE DRAMATICALLY IN 20 YEARS GIVEN CLIMATE CHANGE, GIVEN MANY SITUATIONS.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK OUR, OUR LAKES ARE AT ABOUT A 40%, UH, LEVEL.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE ALL HOPING FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, SPRING SHOWERS TO, TO FILL THEM UP.

BUT IF WE DON'T GET THOSE AND WE HIT A SUMMER LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT, IT COULD BE A REAL BAD SITUATION.

SO, UH, BUT REGARDLESS, WE STILL DO NEED TO CONSIDER THE IMPACTS ON HOUSING COSTS.

HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY SUBSIDIZE THOSE COSTS IN THE FUTURE TO, UH, UH, ENHANCE THE USE OF THE RECLAIM WATER AND, AND, AND PURPLE PIPE.

SO AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE JUST DIRECTION FOR STAFF TO, UH, CONTINUE, UH, TO MOVE, UH, FORWARD WITH THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, AND, AND THEN WE CAN ADJUST AS NEEDED.

UH, DOWN THE ROAD, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

MAYOR, WE APPRECIATE THE SIX MONTH WINDOW.

, UH, ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, UH, VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS, UH, TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 37 AS AMENDED.

UH, DISCUSSION.

UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, THANKS SO MUCH, MAYOR.

UM, THE REUSE PIECE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TODAY IS, UH, A CRITICAL AND REALLY TIMELY COMPONENT OF OUR WATER FORWARD PLAN.

IT'S ALSO A VERY LONG TIME INCOMING.

I AM SO VERY PLEASED TO TAKE THIS VOTE HERE TODAY.

IT'S, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN YEARS.

I THINK WE FIRST STARTED THIS WORK BACK IN 2017, AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE COMPLEXITIES AND THE, UH, NECESSARY EXPERTISE THAT GOES INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT AND THE CITY, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT THE CITY'S VERY DILIGENT EFFORTS TO BRING US TO THIS POINT.

THIS WATER FORWARD PIECE ALLOWS OUR CITY NOT JUST TO KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH AND DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT ALLOWS US TO STAY A STEP AHEAD.

IT'LL TAKE SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO MAKE A DENT IN THE WATER DEFICIT IN THE HIGHLAND LAKES, WHICH FUNCTION AS OUR WATER RESERVOIRS.

[01:55:02]

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FILL OUR RESERVOIRS, THOUGH.

WE HAVE TO KEEP 'EM FULL.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE EXPERIENCED, UM, LONGTIME DROUGHTS IN THE PAST, AND WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT ONE IN THE TWO THOUSANDS.

SO THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST RODEO, AND WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THE DEPTHS OF A DROUGHT, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE PASS THESE AMENDMENTS TO WATER FORWARD.

TODAY.

WITH PROPOSED CODE CHANGES BY AUSTIN WATER ADDRESSING RECLAIMED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROJECT REQUIREMENTS, WE ARE TAKING A GIANT LEAP TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

EVERY FACET OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERY DROP OF WATER MAYOR IS NOW A KEY PLAYER IN SHAPING THE WATER SUPPLY OF TOMORROW.

I THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DAY.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE.

I JUST WANTED TO REALLY BRIEFLY ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S PURPLE PIPE DAY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS, UM, NOT JUST THIS ONE THAT WE ADOPTED TODAY.

IT'S ALSO EAST SIDE DAY, IT'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TOMORROW, AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE ALL HERE, YOU KNOW, IN PURPLE TODAY, AND IT IS A HISTORIC VOTE TO BE MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH THESE RECLAIMED WATER, UM, REQUIREMENTS.

THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE AS A CITY.

UM, I SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY, BUT I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE ADOPTED THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE, THERE WERE LOTS OF WORRIES ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD COST, AND IT HAS EFFECTIVELY ENDED UP BEING, EVEN AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UM, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE ADOPTED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO EVOLVE AND MAKE THE PROGRAM WORK.

UM, AND IN THAT CASE, FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET INSURANCE WHERE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE LOTS OF THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME, WHERE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH RECLAIMED WATER IS GONNA MAKE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, WHO ADOPT IT.

UM, I WANNA JUST THANK THE STAFF WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED, OUR WATER FORWARD, UM, TASK FORCE.

THIS IS A PRODUCT OF MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND, UH, WE TOOK SOME EXTRA TIME ALREADY AND I THINK, UM, I THINK THE PRODUCT IS BETTER FOR IT AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD AND JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

CORY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK ABOUT AUSTIN'S EXPLOSIVE GROWTH ALL THE TIME.

UH, THE STATISTIC IS WE GROW BY OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

UH, BUT I HAVE YET TO FIND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT WATER WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHILE WE CAN'T MAKE IT RAIN, UH, OR MAKE NEW WATER.

HELLO? YEAH, NOW WE'RE REALLY LOUD.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S SIGNALING ANYTHING TO YOU.

I DON'T THINK SO.

SO I'LL JUST WRAP IT UP BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS ENSURES THAT WE HAVE THE WATER FOR OUR FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

AND IT'S AN EXCITING STEP THAT I'M EXCITED, THAT'S EXCITING STEP THAT WE'RE TAKING TODAY.

AND I APPRECIATE AUSTIN WATER'S HARD WORK ON THIS, AND NOW WE JUST HAVE TO GET THAT PIPE IN THE GROUND.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAST MEMBER CADRE.

YEAH, THANKS MAYOR.

I'LL MAKE THIS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS, UH, AMENDMENTS I THINK WOULD BE GOOD TO GET AN UPDATE PROVIDED AT THE WATER OR RIVERSIDE COMMITTEE MEETING.

UH, AND JUST HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ANALYZE THE AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY CONCERNS.

MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PROAM.

AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, BECAUSE IT CAN BE HARD TO ADD ANOTHER MEETING TO OUR CALENDARS, WE MIGHT LOOK AT ADDING IT TO A WORK SESSION.

GREAT.

AND THEN THAT'LL COVER ALL OF US.

SO CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR TIM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT I, I, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT BRINGING THAT TO THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT, UM, TO THE MAYOR PER TIM'S POINT, IF IT'S A MORE OF A WORK SESSION ITEM, THEN I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT ALSO.

OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF 12 O'CLOCK, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND, UM, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US WITH THAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MOTION BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 37 AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 37 IS ADOPTED.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

THANKS TO STAFF MEMBERS.

IT IS 1159 AND I THOUGHT I HAD

[02:00:01]

DONE WELL.

JUST TURNED 12.

I THOUGHT I HAD A PLAN JUST FOR 12 O'CLOCK AND IT WORKED OUT.

I, I, IT WORKED OUT JUST FINE.

UM, MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ABE AMI WITH M DECK.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

YOU ALL ARE BUSY.

UM, MY NAME IS ABE AMI.

I, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN GAZA.

UH, HER NAME IS HAL AMI.

SHE'S MY SISTER.

SHE'S 70 YEARS OLD.

HALIMA DIED FEW HOURS AFTER HER HOUSE WAS BOMBED.

ACTUALLY, IT WAS HER NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE THAT WAS BOMBED AND AN OLD FRANK.

I SOMEWHAT GET RELIEVED WHEN I HEARD THAT SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T HAVE DEALT WITH THE GRIEF OF LOSING HER DAUGHTER.

HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN.

HER SON AHMED, IS CURRENTLY PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN.

HE WAS IN SHEFA HOSPITAL AND WAS FORCED TO MOVE TO EUROPEAN HOSPITAL IN RAFA, IN IN GAZA.

BUT I HONESTLY DIDN'T COME HERE TO, TO BEG FOR YOUR TEARS OR GET EMOTIONAL.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN ENOUGH AND HEARD ENOUGH, AND I TRY, IN ALL HONESTY, TO PUT MYSELF IN YOUR SHOES AND SAY, WHY AREN'T THEY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE? MAYBE IT'S JUST DIVISIVE.

MAYBE IT'S TOO COMPLICATED.

MAYBE IT'S JUST A BAD POLITICAL MOVE.

WE HAVE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS COMING UP, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GET DISTRACTED WITH LIFE.

BLUE BON ARE OUT THERE, WE GET BUSY SCHEDULE, WE GOT WEEKEND PLANS AND SO ON.

SO I'M NOT HERE TO LECTURE, I'M HERE TRYING, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

BUT TO REALLY ASK YOU, WHEN YOU GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY AND YOU TRY TO SLEEP, YOU PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN IN A PATH.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

WHEN YOU GO MEDITATE IN YOUR YOGA CLASS, YOU GO PRAY IN YOUR CHAPEL OR CHURCH, JUST ASK THE LORD AND ASK YOURSELF IF YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH FOR BOTH CIVILIANS, BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS.

I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT WOULD LIFE MEAN IF WE DON'T FULFILL OUR MISSION AS HUMAN BEINGS, AS MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, OF SHELTERING THE HOMELESS, FEEDING THE HUNGRY, AND PROTECTING THE INNOCENT.

AND SOMEDAY YOU'LL BE ASKED BY THE LORD, YOU'LL BE ASKED SOMEDAY BY YOUR KIDS OR GRANDCHILDREN, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? SEEING ALL THESE VIDEOS AND SEEING ALL THE CHILDREN GET INJURED AND DIE? AND SOMEDAY WE ALL WILL GET OLD AND WE GONNA PONDER ON THE LIST THAT WE WISH WE HAVE DONE.

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE NOT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE ON THIS LIST.

THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ATROCITY ATROCITY, IT'S DISGUSTING, ABHORRENT AND HORRIFYING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LANI MUNOZ WITH KOLBY HAN ON DECK.

HI, MY NAME IS LANI MUNI.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I'M HERE AS NOT ONLY A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, BUT AN INDIGENOUS PERSON TO THESE LANDS WE CALL AUSTIN, WHOSE DAD, GRANDMA, GREAT GRANDMA.

AND GOING BACK OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS, FAMILY BELONGED TO THIS LAND AND I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU OF OUR CITY'S OWN HISTORY OF GENOCIDE, ILLEGAL OCCUPATION, FOREST REMOVAL, AND SETTLER COLONIALISM.

MUCH LIKE WE SEE HAPPENING IN GAZA, AN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION THAT IS 75 YEARS AND 150 DAYS LONG NOW, AND REFLECTS THAT OF OUR OWN HISTORY HERE WITH THE VIOLENT AND BRUTAL INHUMANE, UNJUST REMOVAL, AND KILLING OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FROM THEIR LAND.

MY ANCESTORS LAND THAT WE STAND ON TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IN HISTORY AND OUR ABILITY TO REFLECT AND MOVE FROM AN EDUCATED AND INFORMED PLACE TODAY, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT IN THIS MOMENT AS THE BARE MINIMUM FOR PALESTINIANS BY SIGNING ON THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AS WE STAND HERE.

HERE TODAY.

NOT ONLY ARE MORE INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN GAZA BEING KILLED BY US FUNDED BOMBS, AND I QUOTE AN ARTICLE HEADLINE PUBLISHED BY CNN ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

ISRAELI FORCES USED INDISCRIMINATE FIRE OVER THE COURSE OF ONE HARROWING NIGHT KILLING HALF A FAMILY SHELTERING IN CENTRAL GAZA.

SEE HOW A CHANCE DISCOVERY PARKED SPARKED OUR INVESTIGATION PROCESS AND UNCOVERED A HIDDEN ATROCITY.

[02:05:01]

ISRAEL HAS BEEN PROVEN TO USE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO NEED A DEFINITION, INDISCRIMINATE MEANS A FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CIVILIAN AND MILITARY TARGETS.

THE SIMPLE FACT THAT AUSTINITE CONTRIBUTE NEARLY 14.8 MILLION TOWARD THE TOTAL 3.8 BILLION ANNUAL FEDERAL ALLOCATION OF MILITARY FUNDING TO ISRAEL IMMEDIATELY MAKES IT A LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUE.

I SAY THAT TO THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT THIS IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OR THE WORK OF LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SPEND TIME AND ENERGY ON BECAUSE HONESTLY, THE FACT THAT ANY HUMAN IS SUFFERING AND THERE IS A CHANCE THAT WE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY MAKES IT OUR WORK.

SO AS YOU SIT HERE ON THIS DAIS, UPHOLDING WHAT YOU CALL DEMOCRACY EACH DAY THAT PASSES, WE BECOME WARIER AND WARIER OF ALL THAT, OF, OF THE SYSTEM THAT YOU CLAIM.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL WHAT GENOCIDE LOOKS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE BECAUSE THE LAND WE CALL AUSTIN, TEXAS HOLDS THAT REMINDS US THE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED THAT HAPPENED HERE AND SERVES AS A CLEAR SIGN AS TO WHY WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO STOP THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

IT IS NOT LOST ON ME.

THAT ISSUES YOU BUSY YOURSELVES WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, THAT YOU PRIORITIZE AND CALLED LOCAL ISSUES.

THE WORK YOU PRIDE YOURSELVES WITH EACH DAY TO MAKE THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE ARE THE LASTING CONSEQUENCES OF SETTLER COLONIALISM ON STOLEN LAND.

I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU OF NOT ONLY YOUR JOB, BUT ALSO YOUR HUMANITY AND THE HISTORY OF MY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.

WE SEE YOU AND LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD WITH WHETHER YOU THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS COLBY WITH NO ALMA ON DECK.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS COLBY HAN.

I'M A D ONE RESIDENT, THE STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR OUR SENATE DISTRICT AND ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION, UH, COMMISSION CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

A RESOLUTION THIS COUNCIL HAS IGNORED FOR NEARLY FOUR MONTHS NOW, BUT I'M MAINLY HERE TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN FOR UH, PALESTINE COALITION.

INDIFFERENCE IS A TOOL OF THE OPPRESSOR AND THIS COUNCIL'S COLLECTIVE PASSIVITY AND INDIFFERENCE TO ONE OF THE MOST VISUALLY DOCUMENTED GENOCIDES OF OUR TIME HAS LED ME TO BE MORE ASHAMED OF THIS DAES THAN IN ANY TIME IN MY DECADE PLUS IN POLITICS.

NOW, I WANNA ADDRESS MEMBERS THAT MAY HAVE FEARS OF ELECTORAL OR DONOR BACKLASH THAT AFTER TUESDAY'S DA ELECTION SHOULD ASSURE YOU THAT RIGHT WING DONORS AND THEIR RIGHT WING IDEAS WILL ALWAYS BE SOUNDLY REJECTED.

IN CHALLENGES TO PROGRESSIVES IN OUR CITY POLLS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT A MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES AMERICANS AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT OUR CAUSE.

A RECENT DATA FOR PROGRESS POLL, UH, HAD SUPPORT AT 63% OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE WITH THAT NUMBER SURE TO RISE AS ISRAEL STACKS, CHILDREN'S BODIES HIGHER AND HIGHER WITH US SUPPORT.

I ALSO WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN, PUBLICLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES CADRE AND VELAZQUEZ FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR A CEASEFIRE.

BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T URGE ALL THREE OF YOU TODAY TO, UH, TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY URGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO COME ABOARD AS SPONSORS FOR OUR RESOLUTION.

A RESOLUTION THAT SIX CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE NOW PASSED, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF REPS FROM ALL 10 OF OUR CITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS.

EACH OF YOUR VERY OWN APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS ARE TELLING YOU OVERWHELMINGLY THAT YOUR CONTINUED SILENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NOW, A LOT OF POLITICAL FOLKS HAVE TOLD ME, DON'T BURN ANY BRIDGES OVER THIS IF YOU WANT A POLITICAL FUTURE.

BUT UNLIKE MANY MEMBERS OF THIS DIOCESE, I CARE MORE ABOUT MY MORAL COMPASS THAN MY POLITICAL FUTURE.

SO LET ME BE CLEAR.

NATASHA CHEETO, RYAN MCKENZIE, LESLIE, PAIGE, ALLISON AND KIRK.

SOME OF YOU ARE UNION SIBLINGS.

SOME OF YOU I'VE LONG CONSIDERED FRIENDS.

I FEEL THE WEIGHT OF MY OWN COMPLICITY AND YOUR SILENCE BECAUSE I'VE KNOCKED THOUSANDS OF DOORS AND DIRECTED ORGANIZATIONS, I'VE LED TO DONATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS COLLECTIVELY TO YOUR CAMPAIGNS.

IF YOU CANNOT AT BARE MINIMUM SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE TO THE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENCE, NOT ONLY SHOULD YOU NEVER CALL YOURSELF A PROGRESSIVE, NOT ONLY SHOULD YOU NEVER HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE AGAIN, BUT YOU SHOULD RESIGN NOW.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WISHING TO BE MAD AT ME FOR THIS STATEMENT.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WISHING TO BE MAD AT ME FOR THIS STATEMENT, I SUGGEST FINDING A MIRROR FOR IT IS NOT I WHO HAS LOST THEIR WAY CEASEFIRE NOW NOR ALMADI WITH ROY WOODY ON DECK MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR WATSON, YOU STATED THAT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION HAS DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT ON OCTOBER 8TH, YOU EXPRESSED SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL CONDEMNING TERRORIST ACTS AND EMPHASIZING SUPPORT, PROTECTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITY IN OUR AUSTIN FAMILY.

HOWEVER MANY NOW FEEL VULNERABLE.

IS THIS NOT AN AUSTIN ISSUE

[02:10:01]

CONSIDERING YOUR PRIOR STATEMENTS OR IS IT DISMISSED BECAUSE PALESTINIANS ARE NOT GIVEN THE SAME CONSIDERATION? DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE AARON BUSHNELL, WHO IN AN ACT OF BRAVERY, SELF EMULATED AND PROTEST AGAINST COMPLICITY IN THIS NATION'S GENOCIDE? EVERY DAY WE ARE INUNDATED WITH HEART WRENCHING IMAGES AND VIDEOS, CHILDREN INNOCENT SOULS, BLOODIED, BRUISED, BURNT AND DISCARDED.

WE WITNESSED THESE CHILDREN WITH WORN EYES AND PALE BODIES CRYING OUT FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS WHO MAY NEVER ANSWER.

AS WE NAVIGATE THE TUMULTUOUS SEA OF EMOTIONS ATTEMPTING TO, TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THESE VIVID SCENES, WE FIND SOLACE IN HUGGING OUR OWN SIBLINGS, PARTNERS, PARENTS AND FRIENDS, THE SIMPLE ACT OF A PHONE CALL HEARING A LOVED ONE'S VOICE ON THE OTHER END BECOMES A PROFOUND RELIEF.

GRATITUDE WASHES OVER US, THANKFUL FOR BEING ALIVE AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR DEAR ONES.

BUT HOW DEAR LEADERS DO YOU MANAGE TO SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THESE TRAGEDIES? IS THERE TRULY A BARRIER BETWEEN US AND THE SUFFERING OF THESE FAMILIES? HOW DOES YOUR HEART REMAIN UNBROKEN AND WHAT PREVENTS IT FROM COMPELLING YOU TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION IF YOU CANNOT EM, EM EMPATHIZE WITH ABUSED BODIES OVERSEAS.

HOW ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN AMERICAN ZECHARIAH DEWAR WHO WAS BRUTALLY STABBED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN ON FEBRUARY 4TH? DOES THIS NOT PIERCE THROUGH THE BARRIERS YOU MAY HAVE ERECTED BREAKING YOUR HEARTS AS IT DID OURS? ONE DAY OUR CHILDREN WILL ASK YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF THEIR PARENTS DURING THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

WHAT LEGACY WILL YOU LEAVE? WILL THEY RECOUNT YOUR RESPONSE, DISMISSING IT AS A NON-LOCAL ISSUE? OR WILL THEY WITNESS YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND HUMANITY? SOME AMONG YOU HAVE EXPRESSED SORROW FOR DISTANT DEATHS, BUT CLAIM IT'S NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

CLAIMING THERE ARE TWO SIDES.

CAN YOU NOT PERCEIVE THE INHERENT COWARDICE IN SUCH A STANCE? YOUR CHILDREN MAY ONE DAY LOOK UPON YOU WITH THE SAME HORROR AS THOSE WHO WITNESS THE TRAIL OF TEARS, THE JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS, HIROSHIMA AND THE HOLOCAUST.

AND IF BY CHANCE THEY FORGET, MY CHILDREN AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE THERE TO REMIND THEM THAT YOU CHOSE INACTION.

I TOO, AS A CHILD, WHEN OUR NATION UNLEASHED A REVENGE WAR ON THE MIDDLE EAST, RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS IN HA IRAQ, IT IS NOT OUR RIGHT.

IT IS, IS IT NOT OUR RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT OUR LOCAL LEADERS LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THEIR COMMUNITY? CAN WE NOT IMPLORE YOU TO SAY NO TO YET ANOTHER REVENGE WAR WAGED IN OUR NAME, A STAIN OF SHAME ON OUR COLLECTIVE SOULS? LET HISTORY REMEMBER THAT IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING, WE CHOSE NOT TO TURN AWAY, BUT INSTEAD WE STOOD UNITED DEMANDING JUSTICE AND HUMANITY FROM THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER CEASE FIRE.

NOW ROY WOODY WITH ALEXIA LA CLERK ON DECK.

IF I MIGHT JUST ONE SECOND BEFORE YOU BEGIN, THE RULES OF DECORUM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS DON'T ALLOW FOR YOU TO HOLD UP SIGNS IN YOUR SEATS BECAUSE IT MAY BLOCK SOMEBODY ELSE FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE AND PARTICIPATE.

SO IF YOU HAVE A SIGN THAT YOU'RE HOLDING UP, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU LOWER IT.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

PLEASE TAKE THE MICROPHONE.

ALL RIGHTY.

HELLO, SOMEBODY.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ATTENDEES, AND ANYONE WATCHING ONLINE.

MY NAME IS ROY WOODY AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADDRESS THE GENOCIDE.

CONTINUING IN GAZA, IT'S TIME FOR US TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR CITY'S PROGRESSIVE IMAGE.

FOR 153 DAYS, GAZA HAS BEEN UNDER SIEGE BY ISRAEL AND ALMOST 40,000 PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY THEM.

WE CANNOT TURN THE BLIND EYE ANY LONGER.

WE GOTTA STOP THE CAP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY THAT OUR SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVE CITY IS REALLY PROGRESSIVE.

AUSTIN PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A PROGRESSIVE BASTION, BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW AMONGST THE SE WE ARE NOT EVEN AMONGST THE 70 US CITIES THAT HAVE PASSED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

TRUE PROGRESSIVISM MEANS STANDING UP FOR THE OPPRESSED AND THERE IS NO GREATER EXAMPLE OF THIS THAN TO, TO ACCEPT THE PLIGHT THE PALESTINIANS FACE DAILY AND GAZA AND THE WEST BANK AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

VANESSA, ZOE AND JOSE HOLD.

YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, MAYOR WATSON.

IT IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING THAT YOU CANCELED A MEETING WITH OUR ARAB PALESTINIAN MUSLIM FAMILY.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ATTACK OF THE COMMUNITY BY A WHITE, WHITE SUPREMACIST.

I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS CHEETO AND NATASHA, WHOM I CONSIDER FRIENDS.

I AM DISHEARTENED BY YOUR LACK OF ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.

CHITO YOUR COMMENT, PRETENDING TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR APPLAUSE AND THE DISMISSING OF IT AS A NON-LOCAL ISSUE WAS REALLY A LETDOWN.

NATASHA, YOU HAVE SHOWN COMPASSION FOR THOSE IN NEED, BUT WHERE IS YOUR VOICE WHEN THE CHILDREN OF GAZA NEED IT? WORDS FOR, AS SOMEONE WHO IS STRONGLY ANTI-WAR AND A LOVER OF HUMANITY AND A FATHER, THE SITUATION IN GAZA WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ME WHILE I GET TO TAKE MY SON TO BASKETBALL PRACTICE OR HELP MY DAUGHTER WITH ALGEBRA.

THE THOUGHTS OF THE CHILDREN OF GAZA ARE ALSO ARE CONSTANTLY ON MY MIND.

PALESTINIANS, PALESTINIANS HAVE END ENDURED YEARS OF OPPRESSION, BUT THE SUFFERING THEY ARE CURRENTLY ENDURING IS BEYOND IMAGINATION.

ISRAEL'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TERRORISTIC IN NATURE AND EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE, EVEN BLOCKING ESSENTIALS LIKE FOOD AND WATER.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE IMAGES, GO TO INSTAGRAM AND SEARCH GAZA DAY TO DAY.

IT IS SOMETHING MUCH WORSE THAN YOU'LL SEE THE DAY BEFORE.

I THINK OF AFRO PALESTINIAN LAMA JA MOOSE, THE YOUNGEST REPORTER IN GAZA,

[02:15:01]

DOCUMENTING THE SIEGE THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN WHO JUST WANT TO GO HOME, BE WITH THEIR PARENTS, AND WHO ARE MOURNING MARTYR SIBLINGS.

I THINK OF SIDRA AND SUSANNA HUSANA AND THE HAUNTING IMAGE OF SIDRA SHREDDED LIFELESS BODY HANGING FROM A WALL.

THE HORROR OF THIS BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.

I THINK OF RANIA ABUSA WHO FINALLY HAD TWINS AFTER A DECADE OF TRYING ON TO LOSE THEM AND THEIR FATHER TO ISRAELI AIR, ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES WHILE THEY SLEPT.

HER ANGUISH CRY.

WHY DO THEY DEPRIVE ME OF THE WORD MAMA? WHO'S GOING TO CALL ME MAMA? NOW I ALSO THINK OF AMOS PULLING LOVED ONES FROM BUILDINGS RUBBLE, BUILDING RUBBLE DUE TO US BACKED ISRAELI BOMBS.

WHILE ISRAELI SOLDIERS WEAR MAKE DISPARAGING VIDEOS WEARING WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR, PALESTINIAN WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR.

THE SIEGE IS THE WORST IN DECADES.

IN ORDER TO RECLAIM OUR PROGRESSIVE IDENTITY, YOU MUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT THE CEASE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE AUSTIN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

SHOW THAT YOU STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE VICTIMS IN GAZA.

LET US SEND A RESOUNDING MESSAGE THAT WE CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE AND SEEK A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

TRICKLE, TRICKLE DOWN HOUSING.

ALEXIA LARK WITH MIRANDA.

BEST CAMPOS ON DECK.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY COLLEAGUE, ALEXIA CLERK HAD AN EMERGENCY AND WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.

I AM MIRANDA BEST COMPOST, SORRY.

UM, SO I AM A GRADUATE STUDENT IN SOCIAL WORK AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT UT AUSTIN AND I'M CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE ROOT CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF GENTRIFICATION.

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE CRITICAL INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF GENTRIFICATION.

GENTRIFICATION HAPPENS WHEN LOW INCOME WORKING CLASS PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES IN FAVOR OF WEALTHIER AND USUALLY WHITE PEOPLE.

IT IS AN INTENTIONAL PROCESS DRIVEN BY THE PROFIT SEEKING MARKET.

WE ALL KNOW THAT GENTRIFICATION IS AN ISSUE HERE IN AUSTIN, HOWEVER, MOST FAIL TO RECOGNIZE WHY AND INSTEAD, YOU AS OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS PROMOTED, HAVE PROMOTED POLICIES THAT ARE FRAMED AS A SOLUTION, BUT IN FACT FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ISSUE.

A CURRENT EXAMPLE IS THE HOME INITIATIVE.

GENTRIFICATION OCCURS WHEN THERE'S A HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT IN AN AREA FOLLOWED BY PROFIT SEEKING REINVESTMENT.

EAST AUSTIN HAS EXPERIENCED HISTORICAL NEGLECT DUE TO RACISM.

THE COST OF LAND IS LOWER IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, MAKING IT PRIME FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD LUXURY AND MARKET RATE HOUSING FOR MORE PROFIT.

THIS LEADS TO THE DEREGULATION OF HOUSING MARKET, INCLUDING UPZONING REP POLICIES SUCH AS HOME.

THESE UPZONING POLICIES DESTROY EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DISPLACED LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS, AND SPIKE UP THE PROPERTY TAX SO MUCH THAT EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THEIR HOMES FOR DECADES HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS SLIDE JUST EMPHASIZES THAT AN INCREASE IN DEREGULATION ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO INCREASE THEIR PROFITS, WHICH INCREASES GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.

DISPLACEMENT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE HERE IN AUSTIN, IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, BUT RESEARCH FROM ALL OVER THE NATION SHOWS THAT UPZONING AND FREE MARKET DEREGULATION OF HOUSING IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR COMMUNITIES AND IT CAUSES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

THE PEOPLE IN INDUSTRIES WHO ARE INVESTED IN THESE UPZONING POLICIES AREN'T EVEN FROM TEXAS.

THEY INCLUDE TECH BILLIONAIRES FROM SAN FRANCISCO LIKE LUKE AND NICOLE SEK, WHO CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT HOUSING, BUT THEY OWN A $15.6 MILLION HOME IN WEST TEXAS.

THEY'RE PUSHING FOR THE HOME INITIATIVE BECAUSE THEY WILL PROFIT FROM THE FREE MARKET REGULATION, DEREGULATION OF HOUSING POLICIES THAT BENEFITS DEVELOPERS.

MERCATUS, WHICH IS A RIGHT WING SUPPLY SIDE THINK TANK, FUNDED BY THE NOTORIOUS KOTCH BROTHERS, POOR MILLIONS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE DENIERS AND OPPOSE CLIMATE POLICY.

AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THESE POLICIES, QUOTE UNQUOTE PROGRESSIVE GROUPS LIKE AURA ARE NOT WORKING CLASS AND ARE NOT FROM EAST AUSTIN.

THE YIMBY MOVEMENT, WHICH IS GAINING TRACTION NATIONWIDE STANDS FOR YES, IN MY BACKYARD, FOCUSES ON INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY, PARTICULARLY HIGHER DENSITY.

INFILL HOUSING IS A SOLUTION TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

YIM BISM IS MOSTLY WHITE MIDDLE CLASS MOVEMENT BY WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EARNING GOOD SALARIES IN THE TECH INDUSTRY, BUT FACE SOARING HOUSING COSTS.

THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR INCREASE IN HOUSING, UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE.

IT IS NOT LED BY THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING INITIATIVES.

AND IN FACT, IT SERVES TECH BILLIONAIRES AND INVESTOR BACKED DEVELOPERS.

SPEAKER VOTE.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY BULLARD WITH ELIA SADAN.

NEXT.

WE LEARN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS ARE CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HI, MY NAME IS BECKY BULLARD AND I CONSIDER MANY OF YOU MY FRIENDS.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS NEW TO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, I OFTEN HAVE FELT UNQUALIFIED TO SPEAK UP, BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AS AN ORGANIZER, AND I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING IN SOLIDARITY WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.

I DON'T PERSONALLY BELONG TO THE TRANS COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO'VE NEEDED ABORTIONS, PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED VOTER SUPPRESSION AND DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

IN ORGANIZING,

[02:20:01]

SO I DON'T NEED TO TRY AND BECOME AN EXPERT IN AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS NOT MY OWN.

I ONLY NEED TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM AND UPLIFT THE SOLUTIONS THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE CALLING FOR.

I SIT ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMISSION FOR WOMEN, AND AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, I BROUGHT A RECOMMENDATION IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION ON COMBATING ANTI ANTISEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-ARAB SENTIMENTS AND CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE.

BUT FIRST I LISTENED.

I LISTENED TO THE 12 WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE YOUTH ORGANIZATION IN GAZA, ASKING THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE URGENT NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.

I LISTENED TO THE PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI LEADERS IN THE LAND FOR ALL COALITION WORKING TOWARD A PLAN FOR LASTING PEACE.

THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS ARE BUYING THE BOMBS THAT ISRAEL HAS USED TO KILL MORE THAN 12,000 CHILDREN IN ORPHAN 17,000 MORE, I MUST URGE MY GOVERNMENT TO STOP PROVIDING WEAPONS TO ISRAEL AND TO SUPPORT AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.

THEY SAY IT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD PEACE.

I LISTENED TO THE STORY OF 9-YEAR-OLD YAYA HAMAD, A PALESTINIAN BOY WHO WAS ORPHANED WHEN AN ISRAELI BOMB HIT THE HOME WHERE HE WAS SLEEPING.

ROCKS AND RUBBLE WERE ON TOP OF ME.

THERE WAS A HOLE I WAS BREATHING, BREATHING FROM, AND I PUT MY HAND OUT SO PEOPLE COULD FIND ME.

HE SAID, I HAVE A 9-YEAR-OLD AT HOME LAST NIGHT AS I TUCKED HER INTO BED, I TOLD HER THAT I WAS COMING HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ALL.

I DIDN'T TELL HER WHAT I WAS COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT, BUT I TOLD HER THAT I WAS SCARED.

AND SHE SAID, IS SOMEONE GOING TO HURT YOU? NO.

I SAID, THERE JUST MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE MAD AT ME BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH ME.

WELL, SHE SAID, I KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THERE TO SAY, YOU ARE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT IS WHAT IS RIGHT.

AND IF ANYONE IS MAD AT YOU, THAT IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM.

AND MAYBE THEY'RE MAD BECAUSE DEEP DOWN THEY KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THE SITUATION IN GAZA THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT I DON'T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS PAYING FOR BOMBS THAT KILL AN ORPHAN CHILDREN SAME AGE AS MY BABY.

I WANT THE HOSTAGES RELEASED.

I WANT THE KILLING TO STOP.

AND I'M HEARING FROM THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM THAT A CEASEFIRE IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS.

WHEN I WALKED OUTTA CITY HALL AFTER THAT WOMEN'S COMMISSION MEETING, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAD COME TO TESTIFY WERE WAITING FOR ME.

THEY HUGGED ME AND THANKED ME FOR BRINGING THE RECOMMENDATION.

I WAS SORT OF EMBARRASSED BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING EARTH CHANGING, BUT IT HAD CHANGED SOMETHING FOR THEM.

I URGE YOU TO PASS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.

AS YOU'RE WATCHING TWO THINGS.

DO IT FOR THE KNIGHTS FOR WHOM IT WILL BE EARTH CHANGING S ZAN WITH LAYLA DEBACA ON DECK.

PLEASE CALL THE NAMES AGAIN.

ELIAS ZAN WITH LAYLA DEBACA ON DECK IS NOT HERE TODAY.

OKAY, ONE SECOND.

ALL THE TIME I SPENT TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD AND TRAVELING AROUND THIS COUNTRY THAT FOR ANY GIVEN PROBLEM, SOMEWHERE SOMEONE PROBABLY HAS THE ANSWER OR AT LEAST THE BEGINNING OF AN ANSWER.

AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN A CITY.

IT'S HAPPENING, UH, WITH THE MAYOR BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL PROBLEM SOLVERS.

IT'S THE WONDERFUL THING.

POL POLITICS IS LESS OF A, OF AN ISSUE AT A, UH, AT A SUBNATIONAL LEVEL FIGURING OUT THE ANSWERS TO, UH, TO PROBLEMS. THAT'S JOB NUMBER ONE.

THE MORE WE CAN CONNECT, UH, PEOPLE, INCLUDING CONNECTING YOU WITH US AND CONNECTING YOU WITH CO, WITH WITH COLLEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD, THE MORE I THINK WE CAN SORT OF SHORT CIRCUIT THE PROCESS OF FINDING AN ANSWER TO A GIVEN PROBLEM.

HALAL, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE PASSING ALONE.

YOUR THIS IS WHAT WE SEE ON OUR SCREEN EVERY DAY

[02:25:23]

THE FIRST IS THE UNHINGED, VIOLENT AND SELF VICTIMIZING ZIONISTS SUCH AS APAC, SOME HERE, SOME RIGHT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER THAT SUCKED THE LIFEBLOOD FROM THE US WHILE COMMITTING GENOCIDE.

AN OPEN FACE GENOCIDE ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE, ZIONISTS HAVE TO BUY FAVOR TO LET THAT FLY.

PALESTINIANS.

DO NOT ASK YOURSELVES WHY.

THE SECOND THING IS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, SO-CALLED LIBERALS AND PROGRESSIVES, YOU'RE ALL PEPS, PROGRESSIVE EXCEPT PALESTINE.

OKAY? YOU'RE STRINGING US ALONG WITH THREE OUT OF FOUR TO GET THIS ON AN AGENDA.

DO YOUR DUTY, I'M SORRY.

AND MAKE YOU ALL YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED MEMBERS.

THAT'S ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS RECESSED UNTIL 1 1 10 CITY COUNCIL IS GONNA RECESS.

IT'S 12:26 PM SO THIS IS A SPECIAL TREAT TODAY,

[Live Music Mark Kazanoff and The Texas Horns]

TOMORROW.

READY? OKAY, GOOD.

AS I WAS SAYING, THIS IS A, A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ME TODAY, UM, AS WE MOVE INTO OUR LIVE MUSIC SECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MARK KOFF AND THE TEXAS HORNS AND SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE LISTENED TO ME TALK ABOUT WHEN WE MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WE MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1981 AND PEOPLE KEPT TELLING US, WELL, YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO LEAVE.

YOU'LL NEVER WANNA LEAVE.

GOLLY, I GOTTA START OVER.

NO, I'M TEA.

I'M TEASING.

UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME REAL TRUE, I MEAN WE SAW IT IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, ABOUT NEVER WANTING TO LEAVE, WAS THE MUSIC AND CAZ KASSOFF.

UM, I I KIND OF BECAME A GROUPIE OF HIM.

UM, WELL I GOTTA I GOTTA SAY REAL QUICK.

THERE WAS THIS WEIRD GUY THAT KEPT COMING GIGS TRYING TO BORROW MONEY.

YEAH, WELL, YEAH, , YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER THAT PART, BUT THAT THAT WASN'T YEAH, YEAH.

BUT HE MAY BE RIGHT.

HE MAY BE RIGHT.

BUT I REMEMBER HEARING HIM, UH, AT ANTONE'S, UM, UH, HUTS WITH MARSHA BALL AND I MEAN, I YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND ANGELA RALEY, I MEAN, IT, I I GOT TO WHERE I KIND OF FOLLOWED HIM AROUND.

AND YOU'RE GETTING THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT HAVEN'T HEARD HIS MUSIC, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO HEAR HOW SMART I WAS THAT I WAS FOLLOWING HIM AROUND.

SEE, I WORKED OUT.

GOT THAT WORKED IN THERE, DIDN'T I? SO, UH, SO THIS IS A SPECIAL TREAT TODAY AND LEMME JUST GIVE YOU SOME, UH, BACKGROUND.

MARK CA.

HE GOES BY CAZ.

KOFF IS A JAZZ AND BLUE SAXOPHONIST.

HE'S AN ARRANGER AND HE'S ALSO A PRODUCER.

HE CAZ HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR MULTIPLE AWARDS IN THE CATEGORY OF HORN INSTRUMENTALS, INCLUDING AN AUSTIN MUSIC AWARD IN 1988.

A GRAMMY AWARD FOR BERT MCCLENDON'S LIVE FROM AUSTIN IN 1989.

NUMEROUS BLUES MUSIC AWARDS AND A BLUES FOUNDATION AWARD IN 2016, CAZ JOINED THE HOUSE BAND AT ANTONE'S IN 1982 WHERE HE PLAYED WITH CLASSIC BLUES GREATS.

HE CONTINUES TO PLAY WITH LOCAL TEXAS MUSICIANS, INCLUDING JIMMY VAUGHN, MARSHA BALL, RED YOUNG SEN THUNDERBIRD.

IN 1997, K STARTED A THREE PIECE HORN SECTION, THE TEXAS HORNS WITH AL GOMEZ AND JOHN MILLS.

IN 2015, THE TEXAS HORNS RELEASED THEIR FIRST ALBUM.

BLUES GOT AHOLD OF ME AND HAVE SINCE RELEASED TWO MORE.

GET HERE QUICK AND EVERYBODY LET'S ROLL.

THE TEXAS HORNS HAVE PERFORMED WITH CELEBRITY BANDS SUCH AS ERIC CLAPTON, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, AND ARE FEATURED AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS, INCLUDING THE OTTAWA BLUES FEST, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN HOUSE BANNED FOR OVER 15 YEARS.

I'M GONNA HAVE A PROCLAMATION AFTER WE HEAR FROM 'EM.

THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MARK HASANOV AND THE TEXAS HORNS.

AH, YES, WE ARE THE TEXAS HONK.

[02:30:07]

COME IN TO PLAY YOUR TOWN.

GOT A SONG JUST FOR YOU.

SO COME ON, GATHER ROUND, WE GOING PLAY SOME BLUE.

LET'S ALL HAVE SOME FUN.

WE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE.

LET'S ALL GET IT'S DONE.

EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLLED, EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL EVERYBODY, THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOOT.

SPIN YOUR TROUBLES AWAY.

PICK THAT DEVIL'S HEAD OFF.

EVERYBODY HERE, THE STAGE, NOTHING BUT PARTY TIE, JUMP IN THE SOOTHE YOUR SOUL, BUT YOUR LOVE LIKE CHILD, EVERYBODY.

THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL.

EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL, EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL YOU REMEMBER WHAT? IT FLIES BLACK AND ROLL EVERYWHERE GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHY IT FLY, ROCK AND ROLL EVERYWHERE GOING MAKE YOU FEEL.

ALRIGHT, MUSIC WILL TAKE YOU THERE, EVERYBODY.

LET'S ROLL EVERYBODY.

LET'S ROLL EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL GIVE EVERYBODY THAT'S ROLL.

EVERYBODY THAT ROLL.

THAT'S PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

MARK, MARK KOFF AND THE TEXAS HORNS.

WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME UP HERE, CAST MORE OVER HERE.

BY THE WAY, HE'S AGING BETTER THAN I DO HAVE TOO.

SO, UH, I THINK WE'RE BOTH LOOKING FOR FOR OUR AGE.

WELL, YEAH, THAT'S, BOY, THAT'S FOR TRUE.

UM, ALL RIGHT, SO IT IS REALLY MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE THIS PROCLAMATION ALONG WITH THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE JOINING ME IN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

SO THE PROCLAMATION READS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.

AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC

[02:35:01]

AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ACTUALLY MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL WORLD.

THERE YOU GO.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2024 AS MARK KOFF AND THE TEXAS HORNS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND I DO THIS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

TELL US, TELL US HOW WE CAN HEAR YOU, WHERE, WHERE WE, WHERE WE NEED TO GO AND HOW WE CALL YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WELL, WE WILL BE ON TOUR WITH JIMMY VAUGHN, BUT THAT'S TAKING US OUT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

RIGHT.

UH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING THOUGH? WE'RE GOING WEST YOUNG MAN, AND, UH, WE'LL BE IN CALIFORNIA FOR 10 DATES OR SO.

WE'LL BE OUT FOR THREE WEEKS.

THAT'S GREAT.

WITH JIMMY VAUGHN, THAT'S WITH THE TEXAS HORNS.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND THEN, AND TELL US ABOUT HERE.

UH, WE WILL BE AT SEA BOYS ON SOUTH CONGRESS WITH JIMMY VAUGHN AND MIKE FLANAGAN, AND UH, THAT'S FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND THEN A WEEK FROM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

AND I'M HEARING THAT WE'RE DOING A LIVE RECORDING THERE FOR THAT.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO IF YOU'RE THERE AND YOU'RE SCREAMING, YOU WILL BE ON THE LIVE RECORD.

WELL, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO BE.

, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

36, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

HEY, WHERE'S THE TIP JAR? YEAH, WHERE'S THE TIP JAR? YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU MET TO AUSTIN AND THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO THE TEXAS HORNS.

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE, UM, JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS, AND WE'LL BE IN RECESS UNTIL ONE 10.

THANKS EVERYBODY.

10 ON MARCH 7TH AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, WHAT I ANTICIPATE WE WILL DO IS WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 36 AND THEN WE HAVE A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN WITH OUR ZONING.

SO, UH, WITH THAT I WILL CALL UP ITEM NUMBER

[36. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend City Code Title 25 related to environmental protections at the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.]

WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 36, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE FIRST.

WE HAVE REMOTELY TERRY ADAMS ON ITEM 36 IF THE CLERK'S OFFICE CALLS YOUR NAME.

HI THERE WITH REGARD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

WE CAN HEAR YOU.

I'M SORRY.

WITH REGARDS TO THE CODE AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDED FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL, I ATTENDED BOTH THE PARKS BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE THIS WAS PRESENTED, AND MOST PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE NOT AWARE THIS IS HAPPENING OR WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE.

THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TRANS TRANSPARENCY IN THE WAY THE NONPROFIT PARKS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS UNFOLDING.

I KNOW THIS WAS NOT THE INTENTION WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED THIS FUNDING AND OPERATIONS MODEL BECAUSE SAFEGUARDS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO MONITOR AND AUDIT THESE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THE PARKS DIRECTOR EITHER CANNOT OR WILL NOT CARRY OUT THOSE DUTIES AND PROVIDE THE NEEDED OVERSIGHT.

SO THE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT COMPONENT IS FAILING, AND IT TOOK AN ETHICS COMPLAINT LAST YEAR TO GET EVEN THE MOST BASIC FINANCIAL RECORDS RELEASED FROM THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

THIS IS ONE REASON WHY SO MUCH DISTRESS AND DISCORD IS BEING GENERATED.

NOW, THE PUBLIC IS DENIED INFORMATION ABOUT THE NONPROFITS IN CHARGE OF OUR PUBLIC PARKS.

THEY HAVE DECLINED TO DISCLOSE THEIR MAJOR DONORS AND WHAT PROJECTS THESE DONORS HAVE GIVEN MON MONEY FOR.

AND THIS IS NOT HOW A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER CONDUCTS BUSINESS.

IT WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE UNACKNOWLEDGED DONORS OR PLANS, BUT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND WATERSHED STAFFERS HAVE FRANKLY FAILED TO MAKE THIS CASE.

THE CODE CHANGES ARE ONLY NECESSARY FOR THE FUTURE PLANS OF THE NONPROFIT PARTNER.

WATERSHED PROTECTIONS ARE NOT SOMETHING THE CITY SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE ON BECAUSE IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.

SO PLEASE TAKE ALL MEASURES TO GET TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE ADVISABILITY OF MAKING AN EXCEPTION TO THE, TO TAKE DOWN THE GUARDRAILS, UM, BECAUSE EVERY EXCEPTION BECOMES A PRECEDENT.

AGREEMENT, AND IT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE TRAIL THAT IS ALREADY PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT CODE.

HOLLY REED, ITEM 36, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS HOLLY REED.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 AND I SERVE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

I'M OPPOSED TO THIS CODE AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT WAS INITIATED BY THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ALREADY HAS A COUNCIL APPROVED PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS NO MENTION OF A CODE AMENDMENT IN THIS

[02:40:01]

YET THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY HAS ASKED TO EXEMPT THE BUTLER TRAIL FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE, WHICH LIMITS HARD SURFACE TRAIL IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AROUND LADYBIRD LAKE.

WHY TO EXPEDITE AND FACILITATE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THEIR FUTURE PLANS ON THE TRAIL LISTED IN THEIR SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY OF 2021.

HAS THE COUNCIL READ THIS DOCUMENT? THE PLANS INCLUDE A RAISED CONCRETE LANE OF UNDETERMINED WIDTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TRAIL EXTENDING FROM MOPAC TO CONGRESS.

THE CODE AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW UNLIMITED LENGTH AND WIDTH OF CONCRETE TRAIL WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

IT GIVES NO GUIDANCE TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL SURFACE.

PREFERRED BY RUNNERS, WALKERS, BIKERS, AND PETS.

THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS ONE OF AUSTIN'S OLDEST MOST BELOVED TRAIL ASSETS.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON, ROBERTA CRENSHAW AND MARY ARNOLD HELPED CREATE AND PRESERVE THIS NATURAL PARK TRAIL FOR RECREATION AND AN ESCAPE FROM URBAN LIFE, NOT AS A CONCRETE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR.

TOWN LIKE METROPOLITAN PARK IS FEDERALLY PROTECTED PARKLAND AS A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT RECIPIENT PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS CODE AMENDMENT OR AMEND IT TO INCLUDE GUARDRAILS THAT PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR TRAIL.

AND LADY BIRD LAKE REQUIRE RESTORATION AT A MINIMUM RATIO OF TWO TO ONE RECOMMENDED BY THE PARKS BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

LIMIT THE TRAIL WIDTH TO 2020 FEET FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, REQUIRE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS, UTILIZE THE CURRENT EXISTING SOFT SURFACE MATERIAL AND MAINTAIN THE BUTLER TRAIL IS A PARK TRAIL, NOT URBAN COMMUTER TRAIL.

THAT'S A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT.

SPEAKING OF YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED NOW.

WE WILL START ON IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

IF I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE MOVE TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

WILLIAM BUNCH ON DECK, ROBIN RATHER.

GAIL ROTH AND ROY WHALEY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT UP FRONT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

WE'RE, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGAINST THIS.

I KNOW EACH OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, UH, SUPPORTING OUR POSITION.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR THIS.

UH, IT'S IT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE, UH, THAT THE CONSERVANCY WOULD EVEN ASK, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT NAME TO BE EXEMPTED FROM OUR CRITICAL WATER QUALITIES, THE OWN PROTECTION RULES.

UM, THAT'S NOT WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, GROUPS DO.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE, UH, EMBRACING AND GOING BEYOND THOSE STANDARDS, NOT TRYING TO THROW THEM OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE TRASH CAN.

UM, YOU CAN'T BE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

YOU CAN'T SAY YOU CARE ABOUT THE LAKE.

YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY YOU CARE ABOUT THE TRAIL AND SUPPORT THIS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE USERS OF THE TRAIL WANT THE SHADE.

THEY WANT THE MORE NATURAL FEEL.

UM, THEY WANT, THEY DON'T WANT A HIGH SPEED BIKE, E-BIKE, UH, ELECTRIC SCOOTER PATH.

THEY WILL BE FORCED OFF THE TRAIL AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN.

AND THIS ISN'T JUST THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

THE REACH OF THIS IS UNDEFINED AND COULD APPLY TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO THE TRAIL OR THE CONCESSIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE NOW DELEGATED TO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY THAT DON'T EVEN COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANYMORE.

SO YOU'RE, AND IN FACT, YOU'RE COMPLETELY ELIMINATING PUBLIC OVERSIGHT FOR THESE IF YOU GO FORWARD WITH THIS.

IT'S REALLY, UH, NOT APPROPRIATE AND IT'S A MISLEADING THING TO SAY.

THEY CAN'T REPAIR THE TRAIL OR TAKE CARE OF IT WITHOUT THIS.

UH, THE CODE CLEARLY ALLOWS THAT, UH, RESTORATION TAKE PLACE, UH, IF THERE'S AN EVENT.

UH, AND, AND THE TRACK RECORD HERE IS HORRIBLE.

THOSE GIANT SLUMPS ON THE TRAIL THAT GO STRAIGHT DOWN INTO BARTON CREEK, THOSE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS AND YOU STILL HAVE WATERSHED PROTECTION PARD AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY ALL POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER AS TO WHY THAT HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED IN SIX YEARS.

HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL CITY MANAGER.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ITEM 21 THIS MORNING.

THAT INFRASTRUCTURE ITEM IS INCREDIBLE.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS FOR TALKING ABOUT WATER FORWARD.

UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING DR.

ROBERT MACE HERE.

I WANNA SAY, I'M GONNA MAKE MY COMMENTS UNDER PROTEST.

THERE'S SOMEONE MISSING HERE.

OUR CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, KATIE COYNE, IS NOT IN THE ROOM.

SHE'S NOT SICK, SHE'S NOT TAKING VA VACATION.

SOMEONE HERE ASK HER TO STAY HOME.

THAT'S WRONG.

SHE SHOULD BE HERE.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS DECISION WITHOUT HER.

NEVERTHELESS, UH, TODAY,

[02:45:01]

AND I WANT TO TRY TO BE UPLIFTING.

UM, I WANT TO, I WANNA SAY THESE COMMENTS WITH LOVE AND RESPECT TO EACH OF YOU, BUT TODAY YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A TOTALLY FREE STAND FOR CLIMATE.

SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE CONTEMPLATING ARE BILLION DOLLAR DECISIONS.

THIS IS FREE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO THE TWO TO ONE MITIGATION AND PROTECT THE WETLANDS IN THE WATERSHED THAT WE HOLD SO DEAR AND THAT OUR VERY LIVES DEPEND ON.

I JUST WANNA SAY, IF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY'S BUSINESS MODEL DEPENDS ON WEAKENING OUR WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS, THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR MODEL.

IF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT THAT, THAT THE CITY HAS WITH TTC DEPENDS ON POLLUTING OUR WATER, THEN MAYBE IT SHOULD BE REEVALUATED AND MAYBE IT SHOULD BE REVOKED.

THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT HAS THE HARDEST JOB IN TOWN WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE POLICE AND EMS PROTECTING OUR WATER, PROTECTING US FROM FLOOD, KEEPING US SAFE, ALLOWING US TO HAVE DRINKING WATER.

THAT'S THEIR JOB.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE MUZZLED, THEY SHOULDN'T BE COMPROMISED.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK BASED ON SCIENCE, THE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

ANY OTHER NONPROFIT OR, OR EVEN Y'ALL TO POLITICIZE THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT HERE IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND IT'S REALLY UNETHICAL.

AND I BEG YOU, I REALLY BEG YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL EARLIER TODAY.

YOU SAID EVERY DROP OF WATER COUNTS AND THAT'S FOR SURE.

PLEASE VOTE NO OR PUT THE TWO TO ONE MITIGATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REMIND SPEAKERS TO STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GAIL RODDY.

I'M WITH, UH, REWILD A TX.

MY REQUEST TO YOU TODAY IS THAT YOU ADOPT THE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE THAT OUR GROUP SENT TO YOU EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE MODEST TO EVEN MINIMAL SAFEGUARDS.

THEY WILL PROTECT WATER QUALITY, THE RIPARIAN ZONE, AND THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE TRAIL AS THE LAKEFRONT IS DEVELOPED.

IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO INCLUDE OUR SUGGESTIONS, THEN I ASK YOU TO PROVIDE US WITH A STRAIGHTFORWARD EXPLANATION OF WHY THE CITY, WHY A CONSERVANCY WOULD NOT ACCEPT, WOULD NOT WELCOME THESE MODEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED ONLY THE NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY AND THE NEED TO STREAMLINE PROJECTS.

PLEASE GIVE US A CLEAR EXPLANATION IN WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND TRANSPARENCY ARE NOT IGNORED.

AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THESE AMENDMENTS APPARENTLY OPEN A DOOR TO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TODAY.

THEY SEEM TO OPEN THE SAME DOOR TO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

IN WHATEVER ITERATION THEY MAY BE, THEY APPEAR TO OPEN THE SAME DOOR TO, FOR-PROFITS, TO DEVELOP THE LAKEFRONT WITH THEIR NEEDS, NOT THE PUBLIC NEEDS IN MIND.

THIS ITEM IS LISTED AS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ON THE BUTLER TRAIL, I SUSPECT RELATED TO IS STANDARD LANGUAGE.

HOWEVER, WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS I'M ASKING YOU FOR AN ORDINANCE TO STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, NOT JUST RELATE IT TO.

WITH A, WITH TWO SQUARE FEET.

Q HOW DO Y'ALL, ROY WHALEY, UM, AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

SIERRA CLUB BEING THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.

AND SO THAT MEANS THE WORLD.

UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ARE OUR FIRST CONCERN, OUR FOREMOST CONCERN.

A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT SIERRA CLUB HAS HAD, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, OR AT LEAST WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THEM.

I'M NOT HERE TO VILIFY ANYONE.

I DO WANT TO THANK MY FRIENDS AND REWILD, UH, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY'VE DONE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

UM, AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THERE WITH GOOD INTENT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT'S TODAY WHAT'S GOING TO BE, WE NEED GUARD RAILS ON THIS.

I, I'M, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF BLANK CHECKS.

UM, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE.

AND THEN NO MORE, UH, PUBLIC SCRUTINY TO IT.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THE AIR CLUB WANTS IS THE TWO TO ONE MITIGATION.

AS YOU TAKE OUT ONE SQUARE FOOT OF CARBON SEQUESTERING MATERIAL, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK

[02:50:01]

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE ON WATER FORWARD.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS ALL AUSTINITES.

THIS IMPACTS ALL AUSTINITES ALSO WITH THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION OF THE REMEDIATION, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD ALL AGREE ON THAT.

UM, BUT I KNOW I LIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND THERE AREN'T THAT MANY CASES WHERE WE ALL AGREE ON ANYTHING, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL PUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS IN THERE FIRST.

I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT HAVE WORKED WITH US ON THIS.

I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL RALLY TO YOU.

THANK YOU MR. WILEY.

NEXT WE HAVE TANYA PAYNE ON ITEM 36 WITH ASHLEY FISHER AND KEVIN LONZA ON DECK.

MOVE TO THE PODIUM.

UH, HELLO, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE, AND I GUESS I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT LOWERING OUR STANDARDS FOR FUTURE BUILDING IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE? IT'S TEXAS.

Y'ALL.

WE'RE RUNNING OUTTA WATER.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU GUYS SAID EARLIER, THERE WE'RE NOT MANUFACTURING ANYMORE AND HECK, THE DOGS CAN'T EVEN SWIM IN TOWN LAKE WITHOUT DYING.

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT LOWERING OUR STANDARDS SO THAT A WELL-HEALED NONPROFIT WHO HAS $8 MILLION IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT AND WHOSE CEO MAKES OVER $200,000 AT LEAST SHE DID BEFORE SHE RESIGNED, WHICH IF GOOGLE TELLS ME RIGHT, IS MORE THAN THE PAR DIRECTOR AND MOST OF YOU MAKE, CAN MAKE A, CAN STREAMLINE FUTURE PROJECTS FUNDRAISING AND OFFER BUDGET SURETY.

I'D NEVER HEARD THAT WORD BEFORE, BUT APPARENTLY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR FUNDRAISING.

AND IF, IF THAT ISN'T CONFUSING ENOUGH, WE'RE ALL HERE TALKING ABOUT A WATER, OH, SORRY, .

AND, UH, YEAH, SORRY.

AND IF THAT'S NOT CONFUSING ENOUGH, WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT A WATER FORWARD AND PURPLE PIPE DAY ON ONE HAND.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE CONSIDERING LOWERING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND THE WATER QUALITY, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WITH NO REASONABLE GUARDRAILS.

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

LAST WEEK IN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND CERTAIN COUNCIL WANTS, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE PROFESSIONAL OPINION OF WATERSHED INDEPENDENTLY.

WOULD SOMEONE ON THE DAIS PLEASE ASK FOR WATERSHED'S PROFESSIONAL OPINION REGARDING THE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY FOCUS ON? WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTION INDEPENDENT OF THE ONCE OF ANYONE ON COUNCIL OR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M ASHLEY FISHER HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS PROUD TO BE A PARTNER OF THE CITY TO PROTECT, ENHANCE, AND CONNECT THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, WE SUPPORT ITEM 36 ON AGENDA TODAY AND ASK FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

AS YOU KNOW, THESE CODE AMENDMENTS ARE IN RESPONSE TO A RESOLUTION THAT CITY COUNCIL PASSED LAST SPRING.

THEY'LL HELP BRING THE CURRENT TRAIL ALIGNMENT AND WIDTH INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODE AND ALLOW THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO CONTINUE WITH TRAIL ENHANCEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

WHAT THESE CODE CHANGES DO IS THEY PUT THE CURRENT BUTLER TRAIL IN ALIGNMENT WITH CITY CODE AND THEY FACILITATE CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT OF THE TRAIL IN LINE WITH THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE 2021 SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY.

WHAT THESE CODE CHANGES DO NOT DO, THEY DO NOT ALLOW UNIVERSAL WIDENING OR PAVING OF THE TRAIL.

THEY DO NOT WAIVE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OR PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS ALONG THE TRAIL.

DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IN EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO PAVE THE TRAIL.

THERE WAS ALSO NO PLAN TO REMOVE TREES.

IN FACT, IN 2023, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY PLANTED OVER 9,400 NEW PLANTS AND SAPLINGS ALONG THE SHORELINE OF THE TRAIL IN ORDER TO PROTECT RIPARIAN ZONE FROM NATURAL AND MANMADE EROSION.

AS YOU KNOW, ANY POTENTIAL PROJECTS ON THE TRAIL WOULD INCLUDE COLLABORATION AND APPROVALS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS REQUIRE A FULL NORMAL PERMITTING PROCESS, AND ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WOULD REQUIRE A PARKLAND IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT THAT COMES TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

THIS IS TRUE NOW, AND THIS WILL STILL BE TRUE AFTER THESE CODE CHANGES.

TTC IS PROUD TO BE YOUR PARTNER TO PROTECT, ENHANCE, AND CONNECT THE BUTLER TRAIL FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL.

AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HELP US CONTINUE THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.

HANNAH FER, OUR INTERIM CEO, AND I WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS DURING YOUR DISCUSSION IF NEEDED.

TOM, UH, WATSON AND, UH, COUNCIL KEVIN LONZA HERE.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR

[02:55:01]

I'M A PROFESSOR AT UT HEALTH SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN AUSTIN, AND MY RESEARCH FOCUSES ON PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH AND THOSE THAT IS AN AND NOT AN OR.

IN DOING SO THROUGH A SOCIAL EQUITY LENS IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 36 ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE WHAT IS A PLACE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE TO ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TO CONNECT WITH NATURE.

AND WE BOTH KNOW INDEPENDENTLY, THOSE HAVE A HOST OF WELLBEING AND HEALTH BENEFITS, BUT WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER, THERE'S A SYNERGISTIC EFFECT IN TERMS OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

AND SO WE LOVE THIS TRAIL.

WE LOVE THE GRANITE TRAIL AND THE MATERIAL.

UM, SO DO 5 MILLION OTHER USERS EACH YEAR.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF THAT GRANITE TRAIL MATERIAL INSTEAD, AND WE ARE NOT PAVING OVER THE TRAIL.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE IT AS IT IS AND DO SO, UM, WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDY AUSTIN, WHO HAD TIME DONATED BY MANDY THOMAS AND HANNAH FER.

ARE THEY PRESENT? OKAY, UH, MR. AUSTIN HAS SIX MINUTES.

AFTERNOON.

ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS ANDY AUSTIN, UH, MAYOR WATSON, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I AM, UH, THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

UM, I AM STILL ON THE BOARD AND I, UH, WAS A FEDERAL JUDGE IN AUSTIN FOR 21 YEARS BEFORE I RETIRED.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY, UH, MY PATIENCE HERE.

UH, DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD CODE AMENDMENT.

IT AROSE IN 2017.

THE NEED FOR THIS DID BECAUSE IT, AS PART OF A BIGGER EFFORT UNRELATED TO THESE ISSUES AND AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE WAS MADE THAT AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD THE EFFECT OF REQUIRING THAT THE BUTLER TRAIL BE AT LEAST 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE SHORE OF LADY BIRD LAKE.

IT ALSO HAD THE EFFECT OF CAPPING THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF THE TRAIL AT 12 FEET.

NOW IN 12, IN 2017, THE TRAIL, 85% OF IT WAS WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE LADY BIRD LAKE, AND PROBABLY AT LEAST 85% OF IT WAS MUCH WIDER THAN 12 FEET.

SO WHAT THIS CODE AMENDMENT DOES IS TO FIX THIS MISTAKE, UH, AND TO SAY THAT THIS 50-YEAR-OLD TRAIL THAT AS WE ALL SEEM TO AGREE, IS IN THE, IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF AUSTIN.

IT'S A TRAIL THAT GETS MORE VISITORS ANNUALLY THAN THE GRAND CANYON DOES.

UH, THAT THAT TRAIL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SHRUNK TO 12 FEET AND THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MOVED 50 FEET AWAY FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.

SO WHY ALL THIS CONFUSION? I, I, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT THIS.

THE ONLY REQUEST WE GOT FROM THE GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO YOU TODAY SO FAR WAS AN AN EMAIL THAT'S UP ON THE, UH, THE, THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW FROM, UH, MS. PAYNE'S HUSBAND.

AND AMONG OTHER THINGS HE ASKED IN HIS EMAIL WHETHER WE WOULD SUPPORT PAVING THIS TRAIL.

YOU CAN SEE IN THE ANSWER THAT OUR BOARD CHAIR SAID THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT CHANGING THE SURFACE OR THE WIDTH OF THE TRAIL.

WE SAID WE DON'T WANT MIKE SPEEDING DOWN IT, THAT THAT SCOOTERS AREN'T ALLOWED.

DESPITE THAT WE HAVE BEEN INUNDATED.

Y'ALL HAVE BEEN INUNDATED FOR TWO WEEKS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SAYS THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS GONNA PAVE THE TRAIL.

I'VE HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO RUNNING GROUPS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS TO TRY TO DISABUSE THEM OF THIS NOTION.

THERE'S NO TRUTH WHATSOEVER TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING.

SO THESE AREN'T MISTAKES, THESE AREN'T MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF OUR INTENTION.

THESE ARE NOT TRUE STATEMENTS THAT ARE BEING SENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

NEXT SLIDE.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE WANT TO HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT ON THE TRAIL.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE WANNA DO WITHOUT COUNSEL OVERSIGHT.

NOTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE GIVES US THE RIGHT TO WIDEN THE TRAIL OR TO PAVE THE TRAIL.

YOU CAN PASS THIS TODAY, AND WE CANNOT GO OUT AND DO A THING TO THAT TRAIL WITHOUT COMING BACK TO Y'ALL.

SO IF IN SOME HYPOTHETICAL WORLD WE WANTED TO PAVE THE TRAIL, WHICH IS CRAZY, WE DON'T, WE'D HAVE TO COME WITH A PARK IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT AS PART OF A CAPITAL PROJECT AND GET Y'ALL'S APPROVAL.

THIS HYSTERIA YOU'RE HEARING IS NON-EXISTENT, UH, OR IT'S BASED ON A NON-EXISTENT CONCERN.

NOW, WE ARE PROUD, VERY PROUD TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THIS MISSION, BUT FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP TO BE SUSTAINABLE, IT NEEDS TO BE A TWO-WAY PARTNERSHIP.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TOO.

RESPONDING TO THE MISINFORMATION WE'VE HAD THIS LAST TWO WEEKS HAS TAKEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF OUR STAFF'S TIME AND OF OUR

[03:00:01]

BOARD'S TIME.

AND FRANKLY, IT'S SILLY.

I MEAN, IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT I'VE HAD TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA PAVE THE TRAIL.

UH, AND IT'S A BIT MADDENING, BUT IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF OUR TIME AND MONEY.

THAT'S TIME AND MONEY WE WANNA SPEND ON THE TRAIL.

THAT'S OUR MISSION.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

AND LOOK, WE WELCOME HONEST INPUT ON ANYTHING, ANY CHANGE PROPOSED TO THE BUTLER TRAIL FROM ANYONE IN AUSTIN.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS AND IT'S, UH, OWNED AND THIS IS PART OF OUR MISSION.

IT'S OWNED BY EVERY AUSTINITE.

THAT'S WHAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY BELIEVES AND ALWAYS WILL.

WE DO NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER THE TRAIL AND NOR DO WE WANT IT, BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR A SMALL 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO GETS $0 FROM THE CITY TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGN EVERY SINGLE TIME.

WE WANT TO COME BEFORE Y'ALL AND, AND ADDRESS SOME ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH REGARD TO THE TRAIL.

SO HOW CAN YOU HELP US PLEASE SIGNAL WITH YOUR VOTE HERE TODAY THAT THIS KIND OF APPROACH TO MAKING POLICY IS NOT HOW WE DO THINGS.

TELL SOS TELL REWILD, TELL THESE OTHER FOLKS THAT REASONED DISCUSSIONS WITH ACTUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER BASED ON ACTUAL FACTS THAT ARE TRUE, IS HOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY IS GONNA MAKE PUBLIC POLICY.

WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT TODAY.

NEXT WE HAVE MATT HARRIS, MARK MAY, STEPHAN FERRIS, LORRAINE ATHERTON, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE GO TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN, PLEASE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS MATT HARRIS AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND ALSO ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

I'M ALSO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR ROY AND ANNE BUTLER AND THEIR FAMILY.

AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION FOR 26 YEARS.

IT'S IN THIS LATTER CAPACITY THAT I'M COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE TRAIL IS TO MRS. BUTLER AND THE COLLABORATIVE VISION THAT SHE AND THE MAYOR AND MRS. JOHNSON HAD WHEN THEY FOUNDED THE TRAIL OVER 50 YEARS AGO.

I WORKED CLOSELY WITH MRS. BUTLER THROUGH THE YEARS ON VARIOUS TRAIL ISSUES.

UH, WHEN THE BOARDWALK EXPANSION WAS PROPOSED EAST OF 35 TO COMPLETE THE LOOP, UH, I PASSED ON HER COMMENTS TO CITY STAFF AND TO THE TRAIL FOUNDATION AT THE TIME.

AND THEN I ALSO ENCOURAGED HER TO MAKE THE FINANCIAL DONATION IT WAS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

MRS. BUTLER TRULY LOVES THE TRAIL AND SHE'D BE HERE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER AGE.

AND SHE LOVES IT IN PART BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF THE FEW PROJECTS THAT SHE AND FORMER MAYOR BUTLER COULD WORK ON TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S HOW THIS THING GOT STARTED.

THAT'S HOW THIS GRANITE, THIS IS ICON THAT WE CALL IT, WAS CREATED.

THE MAYOR, FORMER MAYOR BUTLER, USED TO SAY THAT THE TWO GREATEST THINGS THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN HE WAS MAYOR, ONE WAS THE TRAIL AND THE SECOND ONE WAS MOPAC.

AND HE ALSO SAID, DON'T VISION.

THAT WAS BEING ASCRIBED TO HER, TO MRS. BUTLER, TO LADY BIRD JOHNSON, ET CETERA.

UH, MR. BUTLER ASKED ME TO DRAFT A LETTER, UH, FOR HIM TO READ TO HIS MOTHER.

AND YOU HAVE THAT LETTER BEFORE YOU I WROTE IT.

UM, I DRAFTED IT UP LAST NIGHT OR THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST, AND HE TOOK IT BY THE HOUSE AND SIGNED IT.

SO, UH, PLEASE RE PLEASE READ THAT LETTER.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT DOES SUP SHE'S FULL SUPPORT OF THIS, THIS CODE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU KNOWLEDGE.

AND I, I REQUEST MORE TIME TO REBUT THAT.

I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, BUT THERE WAS, THERE WAS AN EARLIER, A PRESENTER THAT HAD AN EMAIL FROM ME THAT WAS SENT IN, IN CONFIDENCE TO MS. HE HEMPHILL THAT WAS SHOWN HERE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I REQUEST MORE TIME TO REBUT IT.

I'M SORRY.

THE RULES DON'T ALLOW FOR YOU TO HAVE.

YOU CAN REBUT, REBUT IT IF YOU WOULD LIKE, IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT TO USE THE REMAINDER.

I UNDERSTAND OF YOUR TIME.

COULD YOU STEP SLIDES, UH, FORWARD UNTIL THE, TO THE PICTURE.

NOW, AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE, YOU KNOW, EARLIER USE OF MY EMAIL, WHICH I THINK IS UNPROFESSIONAL.

THIS IS A, UH, PICTURE OF THE LAKE THAT I TOOK, UH, YESTERDAY.

THIS IS NOT A BODY OF WATER THAT CAN HANDLE LOOSER WATER, UH, QUALITY RULES.

[03:05:01]

THERE WAS A FOLLOW ON EMAIL THAT I SENT TO MS. HE HEMPHILL, WHICH SHE CHOSE NOT TO UH, RESPOND TO, IN WHICH I SAID, I UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF THE TRAIL, A CONSERVANCY TO PAVE THE EXISTING BUTLER TRAIL.

HOWEVER, I'M CURIOUS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

MY READ IS THAT A FUTURE BAD ACTOR COULD IN PRINCIPLE ARGUE THAT PAVING THE TRAIL WOULD BE CODE COMPLIANT WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

UH, CORRECT.

THEY COULD ALSO POINT TO THE BUTLER TRAIL DESIGNATION AS AN URBAN TRAIL TO FURTHER BOLSTER THEIR CASE.

I WOULD THINK THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT URBAN TRAILS ARE WIDE AND PAVED.

THE ISSUE IN MY MIND IS WHAT LIMITS THE SCOPE OF WHAT A FUTURE BAD ACTOR COULD IMPLEMENT ON THE TRAIL? AND I SEE FEW, UH, LIMITS.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW YOU SEE IT? I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON, ON THIS MARK.

NO ANSWER.

UNPROFESSIONAL.

I TRIED TO WORK OUT STUFF IN CONFIDENCE AND THIS IS THE GARBAGE.

MY EMAIL IS OUTTA CONTEXT AND DID NOT SHOW MY FOLLOW ON.

OUTRAGEOUS.

NEXT WE HAVE FELICITY MAXWELL, BRAD MASSENGILL, ROBERT CORBIN, ILEANA MEDRANO, MIKE TI.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MOVE TO THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBERS FELICITY MAXWELL.

D FIVE RESIDENT FRIENDS OF ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBER AND LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BUTLER TRAIL AMENDMENTS.

AS A ZILKER RESIDENT, I HAVE THE JOY OF CLOSE ACCESS TO ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST LOVED AMENITIES, THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL FOR SOUTH AUSTINITES.

IT'S A PLACE OF RESPITE, A PLACE TO SOCIALIZE AND CONNECT, BUT ALSO A KEY PIECE OF, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALLOWING RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF TO ACCESS DOWNTOWN EAST AND WEST AUSTIN WITHOUT USING MY CAR.

BUT AS ANYONE WHO'S BEEN ON THE TRAIL IN A BUSY SPRING DAY, KNOWS THIS MUCH LOVE GYM NEEDS OUR SUPPORT.

WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE TRAIL, PROTECTING ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND SPURRING MUCH NEEDED ENHANCEMENTS SUCH AS BATHROOM AND WATER FOUNTAINS.

THE BUTLER TRAIL AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE THAT MISSION OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY AND ALLOWING THE CONSERVANCY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW PHASE OF MUCH DESIRED TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS.

SADLY, SOME GROUPS HAVE TRAFFICKED IN MISINFORMATION, SOWING UNNECESSARY CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS PERMIT AND WHAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY HAS PLANNED TO HELP ALLEVIATE CONGESTION ON THE HIGH AND BIKE TRAIL.

A DA COMPLIANCE RESTORATION AND, AND EXPANSION OF NATIONAL HIT ENHANCEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL YET.

HERE WE ARE ECHOING THE MANY OTHER ELOQUENT SPEAKERS.

I SINCERELY HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT ITEM 36, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND ITS CITY OF AUSTIN PARTNERS, AND ALLOW OUR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL TO CONTINUE FLOURISH TO FLOURISH IN THE HEART OF CITY, IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

IF YOUR NAME, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED COME FORWARD, JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF BEFORE YOU.

I'M BRAD MASSENGALE WITH FORENSIC MYSTERY CREEK.

UM, I JUST HAD A QUICK, UH, A DA NOTE HERE.

UM, Y'ALL'S NAME PLAQUES ARE SO SMALL.

I MEAN, IT'S A CITY SO BROKE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD SOMETHING THAT WE CAN READ FROM BACK THERE.

I MEAN, I CAN JUST BARELY READ IT FROM HERE.

YOUR YOUR TIME IS RUNNING.

I UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO US PEOPLE.

FAIR ENOUGH.

A DA, UH, I'M JUST TRYING TO REQUIREMENTS.

UM, LADY BIRD LAKE OR TOWN LAKE, AS WE USED TO CALL IT, IS PART OF A LARGER WATERSHED THAT THE ENTIRE AREAS OF OF THAT SURROUNDS THE TOWN LAKE.

THE ENTIRE AREA IS NETWORKED WITH THE SERIES OF EPHEMERAL STREAMS AS WELL AS LARGER CREEKS LIKE BARTON SHOAL AND WALLER AND EPHEMERAL STREAM ONLY FLOWS DURING RAIN EVENT.

ALLOWING TRAILS TO BE MADE IN THIS AREA WITHOUT REGARD TO THESE WATERWAYS IS A MISTAKE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERATIONS MADE FOR THESE WET TIMES ONLY PORTIONS OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM.

WE NEED STANDARDS TO BE EXACTING, YET FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF AUSTIN'S EPHEMERAL STREAMS AND THE NEED TO LEAVE WILD BITS FOR POSTERITY, PARKS AND RECREATION DOESN'T NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THE PARKS.

PART OF THAT RECREATION IS IMPORTANT, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR NATURAL HERITAGE.

THIS AIN'T DISNEYLAND, THIS, IT'S OUR NATURAL HERITAGE AND IT'S PRESENTLY THERE TO BE ENJOYED NOT SPECIFYING WHAT TYPES OF TRAILS REQUIRE CERTAIN WIDTHS MATERIALS AND DRAINAGE FEATURES IS A SETUP FOR A SITUATION WHERE ANY TRAIL IN THE SYSTEM COULD BE WIDENED, PAVED, AND CUT OFF FROM ITS NATURAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS NOT WHAT

[03:10:01]

AUSTIN IS ALL ABOUT.

THANKS.

UH, MY NAME'S ROBERT CORBIN AND AFTER LISTENING TO DIFFERENT TESTIMONIES, I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE SOME GROUP LIKE SAY SAVE OUR SPRINGS, COULD HAVE A CHECK ON THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

AND THAT WAY THINGS COULDN'T GET TOO FAR OUTTA HAND BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCE HERE IN THIS CITY IS THAT EVERYTHING CAN GET OUTTA HAND PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO IF AUSTIN'S MAJOR TRAILS ARE GOING TO BE VISION PLANNED, THEN IN A WORLD SUFFERING FROM SEVERE NATURE DEFICIT, A VISION OF NATURE SHOULD TOP THE LIST.

BUT PRESENTLY RIGHT HERE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AUSTIN, NATURE IS UNDER SEVERE ASSAULT IN EVERY CREEK, EVERY NATURE PRESERVE, EVERY PARK, AND EVERY TRAIL EXACTLY IS ON BUTLER TRAIL.

WHERE WHILE THE TRAIL CONDITIONS IN SOME AREAS ARE CERTAINLY WANTING, THE MAIN CULPRITS OF ASSAULTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL, MALIGNANT, CANCEROUS GROWTH, KNOWN AS CONCESSIONS, EVERY SINGLE ONE, AS BAD AS THEIR PLANNING IS, ONLY ONE MAXIMIZE PROFITS AND DAMN THE LAKE SHORE AND DAMN THE SCENERY.

BUT MY FOCUS TODAY IS NOT ON, NOT THEM, BUT THE RIGHT ON THE TRAIL.

KIND LIKE COMMERCIAL DOG WALKERS, OR EVEN WORSE THAN EVEN THEM.

BIKES.

YES, BIKES.

I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY EXCEPT BIKERS THEMSELVES HAVE GROWN TO HATE THEM.

NOW THAT BIKERS HAVE, I GUESS, WON THE BATTLE TO GET THEIR OWN SPECIAL BIKE LANES ON ALMOST EVERY MAJOR ROAD LIKE THOSE AROUND LADY BIRD LAKE, IT IS TIME TO GET THEM ON THEIR BIKE LANES AND OUT OF OUR PARKS AND GREEN BELTS.

SURE, MOST BIKERS ARE POLITE AND SHOUT A WARNING ON YOUR LEFT, ON YOUR LEFT, ON YOUR LEFT, WHICH SOON YOU AS A PEDESTRIAN WHO SUPPOSEDLY HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY REALIZE IS JUST A POLITE WAY OF SAYING, MOVE YOUR BUTT, MOVE YOUR BUTT, MOVE YOUR BUTT.

SOME POLITENESS, BUT DEFINITELY MORE POLITE THAN THE ONES WEAVING PAST YOU AT EXCESS SPEED.

WELL BLASTING, AMPLIFIED CRAPPY MUSIC AND LEAVING YOU IN THEIR DUST CLOUD SO YOU CAN EAT THEIR DUST.

JUST WATCH ONE AND YOU'LL SEE THE DUST.

I MEAN, AND ANY STUDY MADE, I BELIEVE WOULD FIND BIKES RESPONSIBLE FOR AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN TRAIL EROSION AND DEGRADATION.

BUT IT GETS WORSE BECAUSE NOW WE GOT THANK YOU SIR.

HARLEY BIKES.

GREETINGS MAYOR.

MAYOR POT COUNCIL MEMBER.

MY NAME IS MIKE TY.

I'M DISTRICT 10 RESIDENT AND, UH, BOARD MEMBER OF THE BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY AND THE FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

BUT I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY OF THOSE GROUPS TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AS A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND SUPPORTER OF THE NON-PROFIT PARK NONPROFITS AND A HUGE FAN OF THE BUTLER TRAIL.

I, UH, USED TO RUNNING THE TRAIL IN THE SEVENTIES.

I'M REALLY OLD.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD SOCCER TRAINING THERE.

UH, I ACTUALLY MET LADY BIRD JOHNSON ON THE TRAIL.

UH, SHE WAS ON A ROLL WITH HER MOM ON THE TRAIL.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY.

IT WAS BEFORE WE RENAMED THE LAKE.

UM, AND I HAVE MORE RECENTLY BEEN DOING SOME RUNNING ON THE TRAIL AND HAVE BEEN SEEING HOW BUSY AND BUSTLING THE TRAIL IS NOWADAYS BECAUSE OF ALL THESE CHANGES OF TIME, I HARDLY ENDORSE, ENDORSE THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO YOU.

I WILL HELP KEEP THE TRAIL IN ALIGNMENT AND WIDTH AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE.

UH, AND I THINK IT WILL ALSO HELP THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR IMPORTANT TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS.

I WOULD COMMEND THEM BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN A TRUSTWORTHY AND VALUABLE PARTNER FOR THE CITY AND CARING FOR THE TRAIL.

JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I SAW THEM ORGANIZING A, A PLANTING RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT OF AUSTIN HIGH.

THEY PUT SKIN INTO THE GAME.

THEY HELP MAKE, MAKE THE TRAIL BETTER.

AS IS OFTEN CASE, THERE ARE AGITATORS WHO ARE GENNING UP SOME CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL MAKING FALSE AND UNSUPPORTED ALLEGATIONS.

SOMEHOW THE BUTLER TRAIL WILL BE CONVERTED TO A CONCRETE BIKE COMMUTER PATH.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

THIS IS NOT THE AUSTIN VISION FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL AND IS NOT THE VISION OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY EITHER APPROVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, THE PARKS BOARD, AND THE TRAIL, THE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH CONDITIONS.

THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS PROVIDE A PATHWAY FORWARD TO ALLOW IMPROVEMENTS OF THE TRAIL, UM, WHILE BALANCING THE NEEDS FOR WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION.

MISINFORMATION BASED FEAR MONGERING IS A GREAT WAY TO BUILD MEMBERSHIP AND GENERATE DONATIONS, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A BASIS FOR PUBLIC POLICY.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE BUTLER TRAIL AND ALSO OUR VALUED AND TRUSTED NONPROFIT PARTNERS HELPING MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE BUTLER TRAIL.

AND WHILE I'VE GOT SOME TIME, I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AND PAIGE JEALOUS FOR COMING AND HELP US WITH THAT.

LAST SPEAKER IS BOBBY LAVINSKY ON ITEM 36.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BOBBY LAVINSKY.

I'M WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

I'M HERE TO BRING SOME REAL INFORMATION TO THE TABLE HERE.

SO IN 2022, LADY BIRD LAKE WAS DESIGNATED AS AN IMPAIRED WATERWAY.

THAT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND THIS CODE SECTION IS IN CHAPTER 25 8, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CODE.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO PROTECT THE TRAIL, WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THE WATER.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT SAVE OUR SPRINGS IS HERE FOR AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE RAISING THIS TO

[03:15:01]

YOUR ATTENTION.

THE RIPARIAN ZONE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR FILTERING POLLUTANTS AND PROTECTING THE LAKE.

KEEPING THAT NATURAL FILTRATION IS WHY THIS CODE PROVISION EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IF YOU WANNA MAKE THE CURRENT TRAIL ON CONFORMANCE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PASS SOMETHING THAT SAYS ANY TRAIL BUILT PRIOR TO X STATE, IT SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN CONFORMANCE.

YOU DON'T DELETE THE CODE TO MAKE SOMETHING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

IF I CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THE CODE ACTUALLY SAYS.

A HARD SURFACE TRAIL THAT DOES NOT CROSS THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE MAY BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER WATER QUALITY ZONE.

IF IT IS LIMITED TO 12 FEET IN WIDTH WITH SHOULDERS, UNLESS THE TRAIL IS DE DESIGNATED IN A COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS ALREADY.

WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS CONVERSATION IS THE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, RETAINING THE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT FOR ADOPTING A PLAN.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH WITH WITH THIS EITHER THERE'S TWO WAYS THEY COULD GET AROUND THIS.

THEY COULD DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT AND ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, APPEAL IT POTENTIALLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL OR YOU CAN BRING IT FORWARD.

ANY COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN, THIS DELETES THE CODE.

THAT'S THE CONCERN HERE.

WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO INTERVENE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

AND I WANT TO JUST THANK THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND ALSO POINT OUT THAT THIS CODE DOES NOT JUST APPLY TO THE TRAIL.

CONSERV YOUR TIME, YOUR TIME HAS INCLUDED EXPIRED.

THIS IS REALLY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALL SPEAKERS NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED.

THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 36.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

UM, YOU'VE HEARD THAT IT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 36.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 36.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH A MOTION SO THAT WE HAVE A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION ON THE TABLE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I MOVE APPROVAL AND IF I GET A SECOND, I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 36.

IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.

UH, THAT'LL TAKE US TO DISCUSSION AND I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.

COUNCILMAN ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

MAYOR.

ITEM 36 ORIGINATED FROM A RESOLUTION THAT I SPONSORED IN 2023.

I HAD LENGTHIER NOTES, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE SPEAKERS HAVE, UM, MAJORLY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WERE CLEAR AS WE, AS WE TAKE UP THIS ITEM TODAY.

BUT I DO WANNA SAY WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE OUR PARKS, NONPROFITS PARTNERS ROUTINELY TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO ENHANCE OUR PUBLIC SPACE FOR EVERYBODY.

THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THEIR PROJECTS.

OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT JUST SIMPLY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND ON OUR PARKS BY THEMSELVES.

AND A LARGE NUMBER OF US ON THE DAIS HAVE PRIORITIZED THIS FUNDING EVERY YEAR WHEN WE ADOPT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET, MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO BRING AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF.

THEY'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, BUT WE NEED OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO STEP UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE.

THIS IS A PRESERVATION EFFORT, MAKING SURE THE TRAIL IS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CODE ADJUSTMENT, ALLOWING FOLKS TO GET OUT IN NATURE MORE OFTEN AND ENJOY MORE OF OUR TRAILS.

AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS WHO HAVE MOVED THIS ITEM FORWARD, AS WELL AS OUR CITY STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY.

FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THAT CASE A HEARING.

NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 36 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY OFF THE DIOCESE.

IT'LL BE ADOPTED ON ALL THREE READINGS.

IT'S 2:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH.

UM, THAT WILL TAKE US NOW.

NO, IT WON'T.

UM, I WAS GONNA SAY THAT'LL TAKE US TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, BUT YOU DIDN'T, YOU SHOULD HAVE READ ALL YOUR NOTES.

UM, UH, WE WILL BE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00 PM IT IS 1 52 BACK TO ORDER.

MEMBERS WE'RE AT OUR TWO O'CLOCK

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

TIME CERTAIN WHICH IS RELATED TO ZONING AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN ON THE ZONING AGENDA.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

YOUR FULL, UM, JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM 31 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 3 AND THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 18TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 32 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 23 0 1 5

[03:20:03]

AND THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE REASONS.

MOVING ON TO YOUR UM, ADDENDUM ITEMS. ITEM 38 IS C 1 4 2 2 3 0 0 4 8.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.

AND LASTLY, ITEM 39 C 1 4 20 23 0 0 9 6.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK ON YOUR MARCH 21ST COUNSEL MEETING, UM, FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION.

AND WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND THEN THERE'LL BE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT APPLICANT AND COUNSEL AND ET CETERA.

UM, BUT WE'LL HEAR FROM THAT SPEAKER.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THIS AGENDA.

MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN? IS THAT YOUR DISCRETION? I'LL UH, I WILL UH, ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE SPEAKER ITEM NUMBER 30 ONES A STAFF POSTPONEMENT OF APRIL 18TH.

ITEM NUMBER, NUMBER 32, CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, ITEM NUMBER 38 AND INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT AND ITEM NUMBER 39 FIRST READING ONLY FOR AND BRING IT BACK ON MARCH 21ST.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES APPROVAL.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, LET'S CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM 39.

WE, RAY COLLINS.

LAST SUNDAY NIGHT I MAILED THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR CHIEFS OF STAFF A CASE HISTORY IN OUR EXHIBIT SAY AND B AS YOU CAN SEE FROM, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CASE HISTORY AND EXHIBIT A, THE SUNRISE CHURCH MEMBERS LIVING IN SOUTHWOOD GREATLY INFLUENCED THE CONTACT TEAM DISCUSSION WHICH OCCURRED AFTER OUR MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE LAST AUGUST 2ND AND EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE SUNRISE MEMO.

OUR EXHIBIT B HENCE A LARGE PORTION OF EXHIBIT A IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICANT TO CORRECT OR AT MINIMUM MITIGATE NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES THAT ST.

DAVID'S HCA HEALTHCARE ARE IMPOSING IN OUR MICROCOSM BOUNDED BY BEN WHITE SOUTH FIRST STANE AND MINCHA ROAD.

THOUGH I'LL ADD THAT THESE SAME NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES EXIST THROUGHOUT THE MACROCOSM THAT IS AUSTIN.

AS MENTIONED IN THE CASE HISTORY TO THIS DATE, THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE ANY OF THE ITEMS IN EXHIBIT A.

NEITHER OF THE ONES INTENDED TO CORRECT THE RELEASE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT REFERRAL TO NEARBY RESPITE CARE, COORDINATING RELEASE WITH THE SUNRISE NAVIGATION CENTER, ET CETERA, NOR EVEN THE SMALLEST TO THE LARGEST OF THE REMAINDER, WHICH I REFER TO AS THE SMORGASBORD THAT IS EXHIBIT A, WHICH THE CONTACT TEAM PRODUCED.

LASTLY, I'LL POINT OUT THE CONTACT TEAM HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE UP THE ISSUES RAISED IN THIS CASE HISTORY I PROVIDED YOU BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS ZONING CASE TO PUBLICIZE OUR SITUATION, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE IS GOING TO BE CARRYING IT FORWARD OVER TIME.

THANK YOU SIR.

THIS MEMBERS, THIS IS ON FIRST READING ONLY, SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL CONTACT AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN NOW AND MAR THE MARCH 21ST READING WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IT UP ON SECOND AND THIRD READING MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY NO VOTES TO BE RECORDED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ZONING IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALISON ALTER OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 2:04 PM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH.