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[CALL TO ORDER]
TONIGHT'S DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.AND, UM, CALLING US INTO ORDER.
FIRST ITEM IN BUSINESS IS THE CALL OF THE ROLE.
CHRISTINE, WOULD YOU ASSIST WITH THAT, PLEASE? HI, CHAIR HARRIS.
CHRISTINE ASKED FOR ME TO CALL THE ROLE TODAY.
AND FINALLY, ANN CHARLOTTE PATTERSON.
UM, NOW, UH, COMMISSIONER KOAL, WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE US AN UPDATE ON YOUR YEAH.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE, PLEASE? YES.
UM, SO I'M PREGNANT AND MY BABY IS DUE, UM, EARLY MIDDLE APRIL.
SO I WILL BE MISSING THE APRIL.
UM, UPCOMING COMMISSION HEARING.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE ON THE, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
SO JUST A REQUEST TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, UM, TO PLEASE BE HERE IN MY ABSENCE SO WE CAN, WE CAN ACHIEVE QUORUM.
I AM PLANNING ON ATTENDING IN MAY.
WE'LL LIKELY BE REMOTE, BUT THEN EVERYTHING SHOULD RESUME AFTER THAT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? NO, SIR.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission February 21, 2024 meeting.]
THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.I HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE? NO.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
[2. Approve a recommendation to City Council for immediate and future funding that is consistent with other Cultural Districts to support activities in the Red River Cultural District through its management entity, the Red River Merchants Association. Presentation by Nicole Klepadlo, Interim Executive Director, Red River Cultural District. ]
RIGHT, NOW MOVING INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FUNDING THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CU CULTURAL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT, UH, ACTIVITIES IN THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT THROUGH ITS MANAGEMENT ENTITY, THE RED RIVER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, UH, PRESENTATION BY NICOLECAN YOU NAVIGATE THE SLIDES FOR ME? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, UM, WHO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT IS, WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES AUSTIN EXPERIENCES THROUGH DIVERSE LOCAL MUSIC, ART, AND FOOD.
UM, AND AN EVER-CHANGING AUSTIN, OUR NONPROFIT REALLY SEEKS TO PRESERVE WHAT RED RIVER'S CREATIVE BUSINESS AND MUSIC SCENE IS, UM, WHERE A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, PERFORMERS, MUSIC VENUES, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND SMALL BUSINESS.
AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT OUR DISTRICT EMBODIES THE SOUL AND HEART OF AUSTIN.
OUR BOUNDARIES EXTEND FROM FOURTH STREET TO 15TH STREET ALONG RED RIVER, AND WE ACTUALLY KIND OF GO A BLOCK EAST AND WEST IN BOTH LOCATIONS.
SO WE DO ENCOMPASS A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, UM, HEADED WEST.
OUR MA OUR DISTRICT IS MANAGED BY A MERCHANTS ASSOCI ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A COALITION OF 50 PLUS BUSINESSES, WHICH DOES INCLUDE FOLKS LIKE THE AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, THE GERMAN TEXAN HERITAGE SOCIETY, AND WATERLOO GREENWAY.
UM, FOR HISTORY HERE, WE WERE DESIGNATED A LOCAL CULTURAL DISTRICT IN 2013, AND THEN IN 2020 WE ACHIEVED A STATE CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION.
SO, OUR IMPACT AS A CULTURAL DISTRICT IS THAT UNIQUELY WE ARE A HUB, A WALKABLE, LIVE MUSIC HUB OF OVER A DOZEN INDEPENDENT LIVE MUSIC VENUES.
UM, IT'D BE REALLY HARD TO FIND THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, WE SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF LOCAL MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS ANNUALLY THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION.
WE FOSTER OVER A THOUSAND PLUS MUSIC AND SERVICE INDUSTRY JOBS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND WE REALLY ARE A BACKBONE TO SOME OF THE MAJOR TOURISM AND ECONOMIC GENERATORS, INCLUDING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WHICH JUST ENDED ACL FEST, LEVITATION
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OBLIVION ACCESS, AND THEN THE GERMAN TEXT HERITAGE SOCIETY HOSTS AN OCTOBER FEST AND SEVERAL OTHER FESTIVALS.UM, OUR ORGANIZATION REALLY, UM, MANAGES A LOT OF HATS IN TERMS OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY ADVOCACY FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM AND ALSO SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT.
WE ARE A CREATIVE ECONOMY HUB FOR FOLKS LIKE PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEO PRODUCTION DESIGNERS, FASHION AND ARTISTS, AND DEFINITELY A DESTINATION FOR LOCAL AND TEXAS MUSIC HERITAGE.
FURTHER, WE ARE ALSO AN INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT INCUBATOR.
UM, YOU WILL SEE MUSICIANS THAT KIND OF CLIMB THEIR WAY THROUGH SOME OF THE SMALLER CLUBS WITH SMALLER AUDIENCES TO SOME OF THE LARGER STAGES AND AUDIENCES.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE PARTNERED WITH HEB AND SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER OVER $200,000 IN DIRECT PANDEMIC RELIEF TO 3000 INDIVIDUALS.
AND THOSE WERE FOLKS IN THE MUSIC AND SERVICE INDUSTRY THAT WERE OUT OF A JOB BECAUSE VENUES WERE CLOSED.
AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE CITY ON SOME REALLY GREAT CURB APPEAL ENHANCEMENTS, UM, OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.
UM, THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, GAVE OUR DISTRICTS AND DISTRICT IDENTITY AS WELL AS SOME SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS.
WE HAVE TWO SIGNATURE FREE MUSIC FESTIVALS.
UM, THESE ARE FREE WEEK AND HOT SUMMER NIGHTS.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, FREE WEEK HAPPENS IN JANUARY, WHICH IS OUR DEAD OF WINTER, AND IT'S A REALLY, REALLY SLOW TIME FOR THE INDUSTRY.
AND THEN THE NEXT EVENT THAT WE HAVE, UM, UNFORTUNATELY IS IN JULY, WHICH IS OUR DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.
AND THAT IS ALSO A REALLY TOUGH TIME FOR THE INDUSTRY.
EACH OF THESE FESTIVALS IS THREE DAYS LONG.
WE SUPPORT DIRECT PAYMENTS TO OVER 500 MUSICIANS, UM, ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS.
UM, WE AVERAGE 15,000 PEOPLE OVER THREE DAYS, AND THOSE ARE LOCALS AND VISITORS THAT WE'VE SEEN COME IN FROM AS FAR AS GALVESTON, EL PASO, SAN MARCOS.
UM, AND THEN WE LOOK AT WAYS TO SUPPORT INDUSTRY CAUSES AND EVENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS.
THE COOL THING ABOUT THESE EVENTS IS THAT EVERY TIME WE HOST AN EVENT, 15 TO 25% OF MUSICIANS THAT ARE TAKING THE STAGES ARE FIRST TIME PERFORMERS AT EITHER OF THESE FESTIVALS OR AT ONE OF THE MUSIC VENUES IN ON RED RIVER.
SO JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM HOT SUMMER NIGHTS, WHICH WAS IN JULY, WE HAD OVER 30 MILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS.
THE COOL THING ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS ACTUALLY, UM, NEWS OUTLETS THAT ARE CAPTURING THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING DOWN IN THE DISTRICT HERE IN AUSTIN.
THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN SAN ANTONIO OR HOUSTON.
WE ACTUALLY GOT SOME COVERAGE IN A SOUTHWEST, UM, FLY MAGAZINE, WHICH WAS REALLY UNIQUE.
UM, WE HAD OUR LARGEST VENUES PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS 14 TOTAL.
UM, AND WE HAD 130 BANDS ACTUALLY PLAY HOT SUMMER NIGHTS, WHICH EQUATED TO OVER 400 MUSICIANS.
UM, OUR ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE FOR THAT EVENT WAS 10,000 PEOPLE, AND WE HAD SOME CRE UM, CREATIVE MEDIA PARTNERS, AS WELL AS SOME STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL.
SO OUR DISTRICT IS REALLY SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN THE EASTERN EDGE, AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF HORIZON ISSUES.
UM, MOST RECENTLY WE DID APPLY FOR SOME CITY OF AUSTIN HOT FUND HOT FUNDS THROUGH THE ELEVATE PROGRAM AND WERE DECLINED.
UM, IT WAS UNFORTUNATE WE WERE GOING TO USE THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS SOME OF OUR FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES.
ALSO, SOME OF THE, UM, NEW TRENDS ARE THAT GENERAL AND LIQUOR LIABILITY INSURANCE TAXES HAVE INCREASED, UM, FOR OUR MUSIC VENUE.
SO THIS IS AN ADDING ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL COSTS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE ON THE HORIZON THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT IS DUE TO LAUNCH IN APRIL OF 2024.
UM, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE OFFERING TO THE MUSIC VENUE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE FIRST GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL ACTUALLY SUPPORT VENUES WITH SOME MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE.
UM, STREAM REALTY, UM, IS, IS LIVE AND ACTIVE ON SIXTH AND RED RIVER.
THEY OWN THE FULL BLOCK OF SIXTH TO SEVENTH.
UM, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM REGULARLY ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE RETAIN THOSE VENUE SPACES AND ACTUALLY IMPROVE THAT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE ALSO ACHIEVING SOME OF THEIR BUSINESS GOALS.
UM, WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY IS PLANNING TO TAKE, UM, CONSTRUCTION ACTION ON THAT REFUGE AREA.
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'LL TAKE, UM, SOME CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WITH SOME MUCH NEEDED EASEMENTS, BUT WILL IMPACT PROPERTY, UM, SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THE BACKSIDE.
SO WE'VE ASKED, ASKED COUNSEL THROUGH THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN TO PLEASE LOOK AT THOSE IMPACTS TO THOSE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE WOULD HATE TO SEE PROPERTY OWNERS LOSE STAGE, YOU KNOW, STAGE CAPACITY OR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY JUST FOR ANOTHER CITY PROJECT.
UM, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST PRESENT AND FUTURE, WE'VE SEEN THIS FESTIVAL GROW.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, GETTING IT GETTING ITSELF BACK UP TO SPEED, BUT NOT WITHOUT THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE LOSING A CONVENTION CENTER IN 2025.
UM, AND A LOT OF OUR CONVENTION TRAFFIC DOES FIND ITS WAY DOWN TO RED RIVER DURING THOSE TIMES THAT THEY'RE HERE VISITING.
UM, THE EXPANSION OF THE MEDICAL
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DISTRICT CAMPUS PROJECT CONNECT I 35 CABIN STITCH AND CERTAINLY, UM, UH, AFFORDABLE PARKING PROGRAM THAT WE JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT, UM, BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE STILL HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME BEING, FINDING AFFORDABLE SPACES TO PARK IN SAFE SPACES TO PARK DOWNTOWN.SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS ACTIVELY AT THE TABLE TRYING TO NAVIGATE TO ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT CAN REMAIN WHOLE AS WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF THESE CHANGES.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY, UM, TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THE CITY COUNCIL DID TAKE ACTION ON FEBRUARY 29TH APPROVING A RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH AN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK AND IDENTIFY FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING VARIOUS POLICY TOPICS THAT WOULD SUPPORT NEW AND EXISTING CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICTS IN THAT RESOLUTION, IT WAS SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A CONTRACT WITH THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT BY MAY 2ND.
UM, AND SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING AND HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT HERE SOON TO SEE WHAT THAT CONTRACT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UM, FOR IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ENTITY, WHICH IS THE RED RIVER MERCHANT ASSOCIATION THAT IS FINANCIALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE FUNDING ALLOCATION GIVEN TO OTHER CITY DESIGNATED CULTURAL AND HERITAGE DISTRICTS.
AND JUST FOR INFORMATION, THERE'S TWO OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AT A LOCAL LEVEL.
AND THOSE ARE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT AND THE FIFTH STREET MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, OUR UNDERSTANDING RECEIVES $300,000 ANNUALLY AND THE FIFTH STREET MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR WE UNDERSTAND HAS RECEIVED $120,000.
SO WE ARE JUST ASKING TO BE GIVEN THE SAME FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS AS THOSE CULTURAL DISTRICTS, UM, SO THAT WE CONTINUE THE GOOD HARD WORK THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO AS A DISTRICT.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM.
SO THERE IS A BACKLOG OF RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE EXISTED, UM, FOR SOME TIME.
THIS IS A LIST AND I WON'T GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL, BUT IF, UM, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT SEVERAL OF THESE, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT WITH THAT.
BUT THESE ARE BULLETS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GREATLY SUPPORT VENUES, VENUE OPERATIONS, AND THE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST ON RED RIVER.
SO WE CERTAINLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL WERE AWARE OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
THE FIRST ONE IS THERE IS A CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE WORKS TO SUPPORT RENT SUPPORT AND GAP FINANCING AND INTERIOR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN INSURANCES FOR CREATIVE SPACES.
AND VENUES HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.
AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION THAT THAT PROGRAM WOULD BE DISCONTINUED AND WE REALLY WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT, THAT PROGRAM TO CONTINUE GOING FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A RESOLUTION FROM 2022, UM, THAT WAS TO CREATE A CREATION OF A BONUS AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR LIVE MUSIC.
THE GOAL HERE WAS TO WORK WITH PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ACTUALLY OWN SPACES THAT HAVE LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN THEM AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SORT OF INCENTIVES COULD THE CITY PROVIDE THAT WOULD ENTICE THEM TO RETAIN THE USE AS A MUSIC VENUE.
WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH, UM, REBATES OR UTILITY REBATES OR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS TO SEE HOW WE CAN RETAIN OUR MUSIC VENUE COMMUNITY HERE, JUST WITH AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES AND THE NEED FOR RETAINING LONGER TERM LEASES.
THE PRIORITIZATION AND COMMITMENT TO A 2018 RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS A LOCATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A GAP FINANCING PROGRAM THAT WOULD RETAIN, UM, IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS SUCH AS BENEFITS LIKE A MUSIC VENUE OR A CREATIVE SPACE THAT WOULD GENERATE TOURISM AND ECONOMICS.
UM, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE ICONIC VENUE FUND THAT SUPPORTED THE HOLE ON THE WALL.
UM, THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY TARGETED TO HOPEFULLY RECEIVE FUNDING ANNUALLY.
AND WE SEE THAT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VENUES ACROSS THE CITY.
THE CITY HAS A, UM, CHAPTER THREE 80 POLICY THAT IN MY OPINION IS VERY MINIMALLY USED.
UM, THERE'S CITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE USING THEIR THREE 80 POLICIES TO REALLY DO SOME CREATIVE STUFF AS IT RELATES TO RETAINING CREATIVE, UM, SPACES AS WELL AS SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO, UM, WE WOULD RECOMMEND, AND IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY COUNCIL TO REVISIT THIS POLICY.
THERE'S ALSO IN THE WORKS A DISTRICT FRAMEWORK POLICY, WHICH ACTUALLY FOR ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS, CULTURAL AND BUSINESS LIKE SOUTH CONGRESS, THERE REALLY IS NO POLICY DIRECTING COUNCIL HOW TO SUPPORT THESE DISTRICTS, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH FINANCIAL OR POLICY OR REGULATORY OR PROGRAMMATIC.
AND WE REALLY SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DOES THE CITY WORK TOGETHER TO INVEST IN THESE
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SPACES.AND THEN LASTLY, IS THIS IMPACT ASSESSMENT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EVALUATING ECONOMIC LAND AND OPERATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE TITLE 25 AND THE ADOPTION OF WATERLOO GREENWAY DESIGN STANDARDS AND THOSE SETBACKS.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE VENUES ARE STILL WHOLE, ONCE THAT TRAIL IS IN NEXT SLIDE.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE QUOTES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM VARIOUS MEDIA SOURCES ABOUT WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
WE JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, BUT I WILL TAKE THIS TIME TO ASK, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MAY HAVE.
COMMISSIONER FEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
UM, I'M A HUGE ENJOYER OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
MY QUESTION IS, LET ME PULL IT UP AROUND YOUR CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I'M GONNA SHARE SOMETHING TOTALLY ANECDOTAL, BUT I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, TRIP CHARLIE'S HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THEIR RENT, I BELIEVE.
UM, SO FOR A VENUE LIKE THEIRS THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPPLIES AUSTIN, WHICH WITH SUCH A GREAT INCLUSIVE VENUE AND CULTURAL SPACE, LIKE THEY'RE PERFECT WITHIN YOUR PROGRAM, IF THEY NEEDED SUPPORT, HOW QUICKLY WOULD A, WOULD A SPACE LIKE THAT RECEIVE FUNDING? LIKE WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE IF THEY NEEDED SUPPORT FOR APRIL'S RENT AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST MAKING THIS UP.
UM, HOW QUICKLY WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS? SO THE CURRENT CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOT ACTIVE.
THE ONLY FUNDING THAT I KNOW OF THAT, UM, WILL BE ACTIVE IS THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, WHICH IS DUE TO LAUNCH IN 2024 THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY THROUGH THAT FUND TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDINGS THROUGH AN APPLICATION BASED PROCESS.
SO THAT, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WASN'T CLEAR IS IF THE CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS DEFUNCT, WHICH IT IS AND WE WANNA RE-UP IT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS RIGHT NOW THEY'RE EVALUATING THAT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF THEY WILL LAUNCH IT AGAIN AND WHAT OUR MESSAGE HERE TODAY IS, PLEASE CONSIDER TO, WHETHER IT'S FUNDING OR PROGRAMMATICALLY, IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT NOT ONLY SERVICES MUSIC VENUES, BUT IT ALSO SERVES CREATIVE SPACES.
SO IT HAS HELPED, UM, THEATERS IN THE PAST.
AND WE DO SEE THAT AS A, AS A BENEFIT.
SO WITHIN THIS ASK THEN, HOW MUCH FUNDING ARE YOU ASKING FOR IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL? SO WE ARE ASKING FOR FUNDING THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS ARE RECEIVING.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT RANGE IS 120,000 TO 300,000.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A DOLLAR AMOUNT SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT WE WOULD USE.
THE FUNDING FOR THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO CONVEY IS THAT WITH EVERY LOSS OF A VENUE ON RED RIVER, THERE IS AN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL LOSS THAT THIS COMMUNITY WILL, WILL END UP FEELING AND BE IMPACTED BY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, CREATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS TO GET THOSE NUMBERS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE.
SECONDLY, WE'D LIKE TO USE THE FUNDING TO ACTUALLY START TELLING THE LIVE MUSIC STORY, UM, THAT AUSTIN HAS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
IF YOU GO TO OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE NASHVILLE OR MEMPHIS OR COLOR OR DENVER, COLORADO, THEY ACTUALLY DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF HERITAGE STORYTELLING AS TO WHAT SOME OF THESE VENUES USED TO BE, WHO PLAYED IN THEM, WHO ARE ICONIC ARTISTS.
THOSE ARE A MAJOR TOUR ATTRACTION.
AND IF WE CAN FIND WAYS TO KIND OF DEVELOP OUR INDUSTRY STRONGER HERE, OTHER THAN JUST LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES, THAT WILL GENERATE MORE FOLKS TO COME HERE.
SO WE, WE SEE OURSELVES AS BEING A LEADER AND BEING ABLE TO GENERATE THAT, THAT HISTORY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE.
UM, WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR FESTIVALS WITH THE MARKETING SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, AND ALSO TO HIRE OUR, UM, PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM AND OUR, UM, GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.
IT'S A REALLY BIG PART OF OUR EVENT, UM, AND HELPS US MAKE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, JUST SOME OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.
WE ARE A VERY, VERY SMALL LEAN NON-PROFIT.
UM, I'M THEIR ONLY STAFF PERSON.
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS RECEIVE FUNDING, UM, AND THAT FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR THAT REASON, BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE OUR ONLY SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT WOULD BE USED.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY AGAIN, FOR, FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST LISTED, YOU'RE ASKING FOR $300,000.
WE ARE ASKING TODAY FOR THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT A FUNDING ALLOCATION OF 120 TO 300,000.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO MONEY.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR THIS.
UM, AND SO AT THIS POINT WE'RE ASKING FOR IMMEDIATE
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ALLOCATION WITHIN THAT RANGE, SO IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS.AND THEN SECONDLY, WE DO KNOW THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK THAT THEY PLAN TO BRING BACK IN JULY, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE COUNSEL WITH MORE DIRECTION ON WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ON FUNDING THAT SHOULD GO TO COUNT, UH, CULTURAL DISTRICTS, UM, ANNUALLY.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD BE DETERMINED AT THAT TIME.
UH, ONE THING I THINK, UH, BEFORE I FORGET TO BEAR IN MIND.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEFING IN A LITTLE WHILE ON THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND WITHIN THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT UP 10 YEARS AGO, UH, AND ADVOCATED FOR, IT'S CALLED TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
BECAUSE IT'S A FAIRLY COMPLEX ISSUE, BUT IT HAS THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE SOME BENEFITS THAT WOULD HELP WITH THIS.
IT ALSO HAS, THERE IS A METHOD THERE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED TO PRESERVE SOME OF OUR PERFORMANCE SPACE.
SO I, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, IN THIS CONVERSATION BE VERY COGNIZANT OF GOING FORWARD.
THERE HAVE BEEN STUDY UPON STUDY UPON REPORT UPON REPORT FOR THE LAST DECADE AND TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS HAVE, HAVE BEEN A TOOL IN THERE.
AND I'LL JUST SAY LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S TOOLBOX, WHETHER IT'S FOR MUSIC VENUES OR JUST BUSINESS IN GENERAL, IS VERY, VERY SLIM.
SO THE IDEA HERE IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE, I KEEP POINTING THIS OUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT IF WE LOOK AT TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OR DENSITY BONUS OR INCENTIVES AT CERTAIN LEVELS, THOSE ARE ALSO TOOLS THAT CAN BE TRANSFERABLE WHEN WE HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE PROJECT CONNECT RAIL STATION OR WHEN WE HAVE TO NAVIGATE I 35 CAP AND STITCH.
WHATEVER TOOLS WE START DEVELOPING AS A RESPONSE TO SUPPORTING THIS INDUSTRY WILL BE HELPFUL IN THE FUTURE TO HELP OTHER PROJECTS.
AND RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE A VERY EMPTY TOOLBOX.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD APPLIED FOR HOT FUNDS AND THEY WERE DECLINED.
WHAT A, WHAT WERE YOU ASKING FOR TO USE IT AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS DECLINED? WE APPLIED FOR THE ELEVATE GRANT.
UM, WE ASKED FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUR HOT SUMMER NIGHTS FESTIVAL.
UM, WE APPLIED FOR THE APPEAL AND THE APPEAL WAS DECLINED.
UM, THE ONLY COMMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DIGEST FROM THE PANELISTS, SEVEN MINUTE COMMENTS WAS THAT THEY WANTED MORE INFORMATION ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHAT OUR BOARD MAKEUP WAS, THE DEMOGRAPHICS ON WHAT, UM, WHO WE SERVED AND WHO OUR AUDIENCE WAS.
BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE QUESTION IN THE APPLICATION THAT ASKED US TO SUPPORT OR TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.
AND HAVE YOU BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE COMING FORWARD FOR ACTIVATING SPACES? YEAH, WE'RE DEFINITELY IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ONLINE THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS? YES, WE'VE GOT, UM, LET'S SEE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT, UM, THIS TYPE OF FUNDING FOR MUSIC.
I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO THINK OF IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MUSIC HERE IS A HUGE TOURISM DRIVER AND THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT IS A UNIQUE CLUSTER OF VENUES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE GRANT.
I MEAN, IT IS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS LIKE IT'S A GRANT FUNDING, BUT REALLY TO ME IT'S, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE TOURISM ECONOMY AS WELL.
AND, UM, WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER IS GONNA BE CLOSED FOR FOUR PLUS YEARS.
SO I THINKS MANY OF THESE SPACES THAT ARE SO CLOSE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT IS A BLOCK AWAY AND THESE ARE GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT SPACES DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, UM, WHICH CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, USES LOTS OF CONVENTION CENTER SPACE.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TO, LIKE, THAT WE WANNA PRESERVE THESE VENUES, NOT JUST FOR THEIR CULTURAL VALUE, BUT ALSO FOR THEIR ECONOMIC VALUE.
WE HAVE BEFORE US THIS EVENING A, UH, RESOLUTION, UM, FOR RE IT'S RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 3 2 0 0 2, UH, TITLED IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FUNDING FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
UH, WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH AN ECONOMIC AND
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CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK IDENTIFYING FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.AND WHEREAS THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DIS DISTRICT IS THE, IS AUSTIN'S LARGEST GEOGRAPHICALLY CONTIGUOUS COLLECTION OF LIVE MUSIC VENUES, HOSTING LOCAL AND TOURING ARTISTS FROM A DIVERSE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS AND A WEALTH OF GENRES FROM HIP HOP TO LATIN TO LBT QIA PLUS TO INDEPENDENT ROCK AND MORE.
AND WHEREAS OTHER DESIGNATED AUSTIN CULTURAL DISTRICTS HAVE RECEIVED RECENT FUNDING IN AMOUNTS RANGING FROM $120,000 TO $300,000.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS A PRIMARY DRIVER OF TOURISM, AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC VENUES FACE DRAMATICALLY ESCALATING RENT AND OPERATING COSTS.
AND WHEREAS THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT PRODUCES TWO ANNUAL FESTIVALS, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2024, CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INVESTIGATE WAYS TO PRESERVE ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVENTS, AND TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATE IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FUNDING TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT CONSISTENT WITH AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS THROUGH ITS MANAGING ENTITY, RED RIVER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED THAT WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
UM, SO I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
IS THIS INTENDED TO BE A, A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION OR JUST A SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION? WELL, THE, THEY WILL HAVE TO BUDGET FOR IT, BUT, SO THE, THE REASON I ASK, I GUESS I, I SHOULD JUST CUT TO THE POINT.
UM, UH, I, I HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANOTHER BOARD OF COMMISSION A WHILE AGO, BUT, UM, IF YOU WANT IT TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE BUDGET PERFORMANCE DIVISION, UM, SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T PUT LIKE FY 25 OR 24 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION ON THERE, WHEN THEY SCRAPE BCIC FOR BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY DON'T, SOMETIMES THEY MISS SOME.
UM, SO IT, IT MAY BE WORTH CLARIFYING THAT THIS IS A EXPLICIT RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FY UM, 24 25 BUDGET.
COMMISSIONER PATTERSON HAS HER HAND UP AND IT MAY RELATE TO THIS.
MUSIC COMMISSIONER, YOU JUST WENT OFF.
AV OR WE TRYING TO, WE CAN'T, DID EVERYBODY'S GO OFF? I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING OFF ON, YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY REMOTE.
ALL OF THEIR MICS GOT TURNED OFF.
COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, WE'LL BE BACK TO YOU IN THE MEANTIME.
I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME AFTER COMMISSIONER PATTERSON HAS HER OPPORTUNITY, IT MIGHT BE WORTH HAVING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO SPECIFY THAT IT'S FOR THE FY 24 25 FISCAL YEAR.
ALTHOUGH IT DOES IT WITHIN THE TEXT, IT DOES SAY IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE.
IT DOES SAY IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE.
I THINK WE WOULD JUST, WHAT IS THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR DATES? UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
JULY, THEY USUALLY ADOPT THE BUDGET JULY.
ARE THEY BACK ON OR JUNE? UH, THEY'LL ADOPT THE BUDGET IN AUGUST.
ARE THEY WORKING NOW OR NOT? CORRECT.
AND OUR DEADLINE FOR MAKING BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS IS REALLY THIS COMMISSION MEETING.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON TONIGHT.
SO IT MAKES IT INTO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.
COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, CAN YOU SAY HI TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU? NO, NO.
WOULD YOU CHECK AND SEE IF YOU'RE MUTED ON YOUR END? NOW? I, OKAY.
SO IF WE MADE THIS RECOMMENDATION, THEY WOULDN'T SEE ANY MONEY UNTIL SEPTEMBER? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
[00:30:01]
WERE TO HAVE ANY AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT HADN'T BEEN COMMITTED OR HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM ANOTHER PROJECT, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO REALLOCATE IT, I THINK.BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
DO YOU RECEIVE ANY, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT YOU RECEIVE? THAT WE RECEIVE? YEAH, WE DO RECEIVE, UM, FUNDING FROM DONORS.
UM, THAT CAN BE AS SMALL AS $5 A MONTH TO AN ANNUAL DONATION OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.
WE ALSO RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS.
SO THROUGH OUR EVENTS WE HAVE A LOT OF SPONSORED PARTNERS THAT HELP SUPPORT THAT.
AND THEN, UM, THOSE PAY FOR OUR MUSICIANS AND THE COST OF THOSE EVENTS.
UM, WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH GRANTS.
SO WE'VE RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE AND SOME, UM, TEXAS COMMISSION OF THE ARTS AND ALSO SOME PRIVATE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
I GUESS IT'S OKAY TO ASK QUESTIONS WHILE EVERYBODY'S OFFLINE.
WELL, THIS IS, WELL, WE JUST, WE JUST LOST QUORUM.
WHICH GIVES US A CHANCE TO FIGURE OUT THE WORDING ON THIS CHAIR.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING A 10 MINUTE RECESS SO WE CAN WORK OUT THE TECHNICAL ISSUES.
UH, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION STANDS IN RECESS FOR TECHNICAL ISSUES FOR THE NEXT 10 MINUTES, WE'LL RECONVENE AT 6:13 PM TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
THERE WERE NO VOTES TAKEN DURING RECESS.
UH, SO IT IS SIX 15 AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE MEETING AS, AS SCHEDULED.
SO BEFORE US WAS A RECOMMENDATION, UH, AND, UM, THERE WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WAS GOING TO BE MADE REGARDING THE ADDITION OF LANGUAGE, UM, THAT, UH, READS, UH, IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATE IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FUNDING TO INCLUDE FISCAL, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25 BUDGET TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT CONSISTENT WITH AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO OTHER CULTURAL DISTRICTS THROUGH ITS MANAGING ENTITY, RED RIVER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
I WILL MAKE THAT AMENDMENT, OR I HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE AMENDMENT IS MOVED.
UM, IT'S, I'LL ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT.
SO I THINK WE DID THAT IN FAIRLY CORRECT ORDER.
WELL, LET'S JUST DO A MUL AGAIN IF WE CAN.
ARE WE AMENDING TO PUT FY IN THERE OR WHAT ARE WE ARE AMENDING TO ADD FISCAL YEAR 24 25.
AND I'M LOOKING AT CHRISTIE WHO'S GOING TO KEEP US ALL COPACETIC HERE AND WITHIN THE BOUND.
SO PRIOR TO THE RECESS, THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
RIGHT? SO NOW YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE ON THE, UH, MOTION TO AMEND.
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN MOVE BACK TO MAIN MOTION.
WE'LL, BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
I READ MY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
UH, WE NEED THE MOTION IS SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE.
NOW WE GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
UH, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? UH, HEARING NONE? DO I HAVE, UH, WELL, HOLD QUESTION.
AND JUST TO CONFIRM, DID COMMISSIONER LEVINE VOTE? I VOTED.
UM, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ITEM BEFORE YOU REGARDING A CULTURAL DISTRICT OVERLAY PRESENTED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN A FEW WEEKS, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
UM, WE HAVE NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT ITEM YET, BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE SOME MORE, UM, BACKGROUND ON THAT.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY.
[3. Approve a recommendation to City Council to appropriate funding during the FY 2025 Budget to equip the Austin Police Department and Transportation and Public Works Department with sufficient barricades to enhance pedestrian safety for Downtown activities and events.]
ITEM IS TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING DURING THE FY UH, 2025 BUDGET YEAR TO EQUIP THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH SUFFICIENT BARRICADES TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FOR DOWNTOWN ACTIVITIES IN EVENTS.UH, AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE SPONSORING THAT MOTION.
WOULD YOU PRESENT IT TO THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATION BY THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.
THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $518,291
[00:35:03]
AND 19 CENTS TO PURCHASE 65 MERIDIAN ARCHER MOVABLE STREET BARRICADES AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING AS SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED QUOTE FROM THE MERIDIAN RAPID DEFENSE GROUP SALES LLC AND THEREBY EQUIP THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH SUFFICIENT BARRICADES TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FOR DOWNTOWN ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? UH, I'LL MOVE IT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND DISCUSSION.
I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS REALLY NECESSARY.
THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UH, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO ONE OF THE OFFICERS AFTER THE LAST TIME, WE DISCUSSED THIS HERE AT THE MEETING AFTER, UM, AFTER SOUTH BAYO WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO ONE OF THE OFFICERS, UH, AFTER THE CAPITOL MARATHON.
THERE WAS ALMOST A FATAL ACCIDENT AFTER THE CAPITOL MARATHON BECAUSE SOMEBODY, UH, DROVE ONTO SOUTH CONGRESS AND RF AND SPUN OUT AND HIT A HOLE.
AND LUCKILY THE MAIN BODY OF PEOPLE HAD GONE THROUGH ALREADY.
SO NOBODY THAT WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE MARATHON GOT HURT.
BUT, UM, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO BLOCK THIS MAJOR INTERSECTION OFF PROPERLY HAD THEY HAD THESE BARRICADES.
NOT HAVING THEM MEANT THAT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT, AND IT WAS JUST GOOD LUCK THAT NOBODY GOT KILLED.
BUT IT'S BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT HAPPENED AT SOUTH BY, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE, AND THAT THEY BE, HAVING THEM BE OWNING THEM MEANS WE CAN USE THEM FOR MORE EVENTS THAN JUST THE COUPLE A YEAR THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO RENT THEM FOR.
SO IT'S JUST, UH, TO ME IS A HUGE, BOTH COST AND LIFESAVER.
I, I SEE THE EFFICACY OF THIS AND OBVIOUSLY THE MORE IT'S USED, THE MORE COST EFFECTIVE IT IS.
BUT I DO THINK THAT AFTER THEY DEMONSTRATE THEIR VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THESE VERY EVENT, VARIOUS EVENTS, I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR FOLKS FROM TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY COME BACK AND SAY, LISTEN, THEY'RE WORKING SO WELL.
WE HAVE SO MANY EVENTS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE LARGER THAN JUST AROUND SIXTH STREET.
TO, TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT MORE OF THEM, MORE OF MORE OF THE EVENTS, MORE OF THE PUBLIC.
AS I COMMENTED TO SOMEBODY TODAY, UH, FOLKS ARE SAFE WITHIN THE BARRICADES.
THEY ARE, BUT THAT ONLY COVERS A LIMITED AREA.
AND WE HAVE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT OR FOR ANY GIVEN EVENT, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WANDERING AROUND A MUCH BIGGER PART OF THE DOWNTOWN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRAGEDY THAT UNFOLDED THE OTHER EVENING WAS OUTSIDE THE BARRIERS.
AND SO IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO MITIGATE THE, UM, MISBEHAVIORS NO.
THAT MIGHT OCCUR BEYOND THOSE.
BUT IF, IF THESE WORK AS WE BELIEVE THEY WILL FOR A MERE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT, UH, THEY COME BACK AND SAY, LET'S EXPAND THE PROGRAM, LET'S EXPAND IT, GET SOME MORE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR PUBLIC SAFE AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, COMMISSIONER SCHUMACHER? UH, YEAH.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION FOR BRINGING THIS AND ALSO FLAG FOR YOU THAT, UH, THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN OUR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS, UH, BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, UH, QUOTE, WORK WITH A PD TO PURCHASE 65 MERIDIAN ARCH REMOVABLE STREET BARRICADES INTO AN TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
AND THEN WE PUT SEED DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20 23 0 6 2 1 AND ANY SUBSEQUENT 24 25 RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, SO THE UTC HAS, UH, PROACTIVELY SUPPORTED THIS RECOMMENDATION.
UH, AND, UM, I ALSO THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A JOINT EFFORT OF TPW, UM, AND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, IN TALKING WITH TPW STAFF, THEY HAVE, UH, I THINK A LOT OF CREATIVE USES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN USE THIS, UM, YEAR ROUND, UH, AND, UH, REALLY ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, UH, BEYOND JUST EVENTS, YOU KNOW, FOR THINGS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES.
UM, AND THIS CAN REALLY BE AN ASSET FOR THE WHOLE CITY, UH, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR DOWNTOWN.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.
UH, OR NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.
[4. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding Downtown graffiti policy with updated information presented by Chair Harris, Downtown Commission.]
IS FROM ME.[00:40:01]
UH, IT REGARDS THE, UH, GRAFFITI GRAFFITI POLICY THAT, UH, WE AS A DOWNTOWN COMMISSION APPROVED LAST YEAR, UH, IT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL DIDN'T ACT ON IT.UH, IN THE INTERIM, ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE NOTICED IT AS MUCH AS I HAVE, BUT GRAFFITI SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE ACROSS TOWN.
AND, AND THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST AFFECTS DOWNTOWN, ALTHOUGH IT, IT HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S SPREADING ACROSS THE CITY.
AND IT'S, UH, IT COSTS TAXPAYERS, IT COSTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE NUMBERS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DRAMATICALLY AFFECTS THIS CITY.
AND IT IS SPIRALING, SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.
AND, UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND FROM THE WORKING GROUP LAST YEAR IS THAT THERE IS NOT A STRUCTURED, COHESIVE PROCESS FOR, UH, TAKING CALLS ON GRAFFITI.
UH, WHICH SEEMS A BIT STRANGE, BUT THAT'S WHERE IT GOES.
AND THEY HAVE A PERIOD OF TIME TO EVALUATE IT.
UH, AND THEN AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IF IT'S ON CITY PROPERTY, A A CITY DEPARTMENT MAY DEAL WITH IT.
UM, IF IT IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT BECOMES A WHOLE DIFFERENT MATTER.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY, UNLESS THERE IS A CODE VIOLATION OF ANOTHER SORT, CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL JUST PROVIDE A NOTICE, A NOTICE OF CONVENIENCE THAT YOUR BUILDING HAS BEEN TAGGED.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
UH, I HAD ASKED THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ENGAGED WITH DURING THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, UH, THAT WHO HAD PROVIDED US WITH SOME DATA.
UH, AND YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THAT DATA IN THE RESOLUTION FROM LAST YEAR IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, TXDOT OVER THE LAST YEAR HAS EXPERIENCED A 146 OR 46% INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF, UH, VANDALISM THAT, OF GRAFFITI THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH 46% IN ONE YEAR.
I SAW ONE SIGN THAT HAD GOTTEN TAGGED AND THEY FINALLY, YOU KNOW, CHANGED IT OUT FOR A NEW SIGN.
AND LITERALLY 24 HOURS LATER, IT WAS TIME TOGETHER.
UM, WELL, AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT THAT I'LL GET BACK TO C-T-R-M-A THAT HANDLES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, MOPAC, MOST OF THIS VANDALISM HAPPENS WITHIN THE CORE PART OF MOPAC.
UH, AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S AN, THERE WAS A MOPAC SIGN THERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT THAT'S THAT'S COME ON LATELY, BUT IT'S GONE UP 129% SINCE LAST YEAR.
AND THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES.
DAA, UH, THEY HAD, UH, 5,900 INCIDENTS, UH, WHERE THAT, THAT THEY ACTUALLY DID THE ABATEMENT, BUT IT WAS MORE THAN THAT, THAT WERE REPORTED.
UM, THEY SPENT NEARLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ABATING IN THE DOWNTOWN PIT ALONE.
AND THEY'RE, WITHOUT GOING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, UM, SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING UP ON TOP OF BUILDINGS AND DEFACING THE BUILDINGS FROM THE TOP.
AND THAT IS AN EX INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS COST.
WELL, IT'S DANGEROUS FOR THEM.
IT'S DANGEROUS FOR THE PUBLIC BELOW.
AND SO, UM, I WISH I HAD PARS INFORMATION LAST YEAR OR, UM, 2023 OR 2022.
PARD SPENT OVER $600,000 IN THEIR PRECIOUS FUNDS, ABATING VANDALISM THROUGHOUT OUR PARKS.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE.
UH, SO ANYWAY, UM, THE INTENT OF THIS WAS TO, AND I, AGAIN, I WISH I HAD, UH, BUILDING SERVICES, UH, WITH THE CITY SPENT ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION.
UM, BUT WE HAD REQUESTED A MINIMUM BUDGET AMOUNT TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD FOCUS SOLELY ON GRAFFITI.
AND YOU, YOU CAN READ THROUGH THE RESOLUTION, WE CAN TRY TO MAKE IT AS THOROUGH, THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE ARE COMING UP TO BUDGET AGAIN.
WE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT ANOTHER RESOLUTION WAS NECESSARY.
[00:45:01]
MEAN, REQUEST WAS OUT THERE.WE JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU TO SAY THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID LAST YEAR THAT WE, THAT THE COUNCIL HAS YET TO ACT ON.
I KNOW THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT WITHIN, UH, AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THEIR DISTRICT AND WANNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS CYCLE WILL SEND A GENERAL REMINDER THAT THIS IS STILL OUTSTANDING, PROBABLY UNDERFUNDED AT THIS POINT.
UH, YOU KNOW, 4 MILLION MIGHT BE MORE OPERATIVE OR BETTER THAN TWO TWO, BUT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT I WAS IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, AND NOT NECESSARILY TO GO INTO A RESOLUTION, BUT AT ONE POINT IN TIME, UH, AEROSOL CANS HAD TO BE BEHIND CAGES AT, AT LIKE THE, THE BOX CONSTRUCTION STORES AND WHATNOT.
BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE USING THE PAINT THE AEROSOL FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AND, UM, RATHER THAN GO TO THAT EXTREME AND TO PUT BUSINESSES UNDER, UH, SOME BURDEN THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE.
ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I CAME UP WITH WAS TO HAVE THE CITY PLACE SIGNAGE AT IN FRONT OF ANY DISPLAY OF AEROSOL PAINT CANS, UH, THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE PENALTIES AND THEY ARE OUTLINED IN STATE STATUTE.
AND, UH, PERHAPS IF FOLKS KNOW THAT THERE CAN BE CONSEQUENCES, AND SOME OF THEM ARE FAIRLY EXTREME, I MEAN, IT CAN RISE TO A FELONY, UH, THAT, UM, THEY PERHAPS MAY MAKE ANOTHER DECISION AND IT WOULD BE FAIRLY IN INOBTRUSIVE, FAIRLY COST EFFECTIVE, BUT HOPEFULLY DO SOME GOOD IN THE PROCESS.
ANYHOW, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOODLING OVER RIGHT NOW.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS? YES, MA'AM.
BUT, UH, COMMISSIONER LEVINE JUST STEPPED OFF THE DAIS, SO WE'VE LOST QUORUM.
SO I JUST ASK IF COMMISSIONER LEVINE, UM, CAN PUT HIS CAMERA BACK ON AND STEP BACK INTO THE MEETING.
WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A RECESS.
SO COMMISSIONER LEVINE, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, UM, PLEASE PUT BACK, UH, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU TO COME BACK INTO QUORUM, UM, BY TURNING YOUR CAMERA ON.
I DON'T HAVE HIS INFO, SO I CAN'T, I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND LISTENING.
WE ARE, WE HAVE MOMENTARILY FALLEN OUT OF QUORUM BECAUSE OF, UH, REQUIREMENTS WITH REMOTE ATTENDEES.
WE'LL RESUME THE MEETING, HOPEFULLY MOMENTARILY.
CHAIR HARRIS, MAYBE WE COULD TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS WHILE WE WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER LEVINE TO RETURN.
I APOLOGIZE YOU TO LISTEN TO ME DRONE ON AND ON ABOUT GRAFFITI.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST WANTED TO ADD A COMMENT AND THAT IS, IT'S NOT JUST A VISUAL BLIGHT AND IT'S NOT THE COST OF PROPERTY DAMAGE, IT LOWERS PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.
WELL, AND ONE THING, UH, THAT COMMISSIONER LEVINSON ME MENTIONED WAS, UH, DAMAGE TO STREET SIGNS.
[00:50:01]
UH, AND IF YOU'VE NOTICED, UH, ON THE HIGHWAY SIGNS YEP.ON FRONT AND ON BACK, UH, THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE OVER THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH SPRAY CANS.
AND AS I MENTIONED LAST YEAR, NOTHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN IF SOMETHING FALLS, UH, WHETHER IT'S A PERSON FALLING ON A CAR OR IN THE ROADWAY OR A CAN FALLING ON THE CAR ON THE ROADWAY, BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
AND, UM, SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THAT IS, IS GOOD.
BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LEARNED LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTIVE COATINGS ON THESE SIGNS, THEY CAN'T BE CLEANED.
SO EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMEBODY THAT'S HAD A GREAT TIME SPRAYING ALL OVER A STOP SIGN, THAT STOP SIGN IS RUINED.
UM, A MOPAC I 35 SIGN, THINK ABOUT THE COST BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET OVER THE RIGHT OF WAY TO REPLACE THAT SIGN.
SO IT IS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN AND, AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLIMBING ON TOP OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE CLIMBING ON ABANDONED BUILDINGS, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD HAVE TRES THOSE TRESPASS SIGNS UP, BUT THAT'S CRIMINAL TRESPASS, BUT BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN THERE.
UH, AND IT DOES, IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LESS SAFE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
NOW THEY'RE GETTING MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN USE.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UH, AND UH, I THINK IT NEEDS TO, IT, WE NEED TO PRESS COUNSEL ONCE AGAIN SAYING THIS WAS OUT HERE.
THE SITUATION, IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE BECAUSE, UH, UH, THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD ADD IS THAT, UH, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND IT GOING THROUGH 3 1 1 GOING PUBLIC HEALTH, THEN BEING DISPENSED OUT TO WHOEVER WOULD, WOULD GO THROUGH THE ABATEMENT PROCESS, BEST PRACTICE SAYS THAT GRAFFITI HAS TO BE REMEDIATED WITHIN 48 HOURS.
AND IF, IF PUB, IF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS TO REVIEW IT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELL BEYOND WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
THERE ARE, WE HAVE PEER CITY, SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT ONE.
THERE ARE PEER CITIES THAT ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
AND THIS IS NOT TO FAULT TO ANYBODY AT THE CITY.
THERE JUST IS NO STRUCTURE IN PLACE.
AND IT WOULD, WE, WE TALK ABOUT UNDERSTAFFED FOLKS AT AT THREE ONE ONE AT OUR CALL CENTER, UH, IF THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS, RATHER THAN HAVING A DEDICATED, UH, TEAM RESPONDING TO THIS, IF, YOU KNOW, FREES UP SOME, SOME RESOURCES FOR, FOR THOSE SORTS OF CALLS.
ANYHOW, I DID WANNA BRING IT BACK TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED, BUT, UH, IF, IF WE FEEL LIKE, UH, THERE'S A ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION.
SO, DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY ANYWHERE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IN TERMS OF, UM, IT SAYS ESTABLISH AN OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE ANTI GRAFFITI UNIT OF NO LESS THAN 2 MILLION ANNUALLY TO FUND, UH, FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.
ANY THIRD PARTY GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, SERVICE CONTRACTS.
DO WE KNOW IF COUNSEL APPROVED THAT FUNDING? THEY DID NOT.
BUT IF THEY WERE TO, WHAT DEPARTMENT WOULD THE ANTI GRAFFITI UNIT LIVE WITHIN, HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED? THAT'S, THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
AND I DON'T THINK ANY DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS, UH, SPOKEN UP THAT THEY WANT TO BE THE OWNERS OF THIS.
I WAS GONNA SAY, BECAUSE POTENTIAL IDEA, IF NO DEPARTMENT WANTS TO OWN THIS, IS THAT THAT FUNDING COULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO DIFFERENT, UM, LIKE, UM, LIKE NOT NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE AT LIKE PUDS OR PIS POTENTIALLY, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO DISTRIBUTE IT, LIKE IF THERE WAS OTHER CREATIVE WORKAROUNDS.
WELL, PART OF THIS IS TO CONSOLIDATE THE EFFORT MM-HMM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW EACH DEPARTMENT PART BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE, UM, TAKES CARE OF THEIR OWN PROPERTIES AND, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S NO RELIABLE CONSISTENT REPORTING BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
THERE'S, AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO US, IF, IF, LET'S SAY A SIGNAL BOX IS TAGGED, UM, TRANSPORTATION OR STREET BRIDGE OR SOMEBODY MM-HMM.
[00:55:01]
THEY GO AND PAINT IT OVER, THEY MAY NOT REPORT THAT AS AN INCIDENT.SO THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE FROM 3 1 1 AND FROM THESE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ARE PROBABLY GROSSLY UNDER REPORTED IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO.
BUT IT ALSO, WE, WE CAN'T, UM, WE CAN'T DEFINE HOW EXTENSIVE THE COST IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE METRICS.
UM, I, THE, ONE OF THE METRICS THAT WAS IN THE, THE, THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST YEAR WAS THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THIS WAS A $12 BILLION PROBLEM VANDALISM PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT'S ONLY GOTTEN MORE SINCE THEN.
SO I GUESS LIKE, JUST TO, TO OUTLINE IT, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS NOT JUST THE FUNDING, BUT ALSO WHO THE SPONSOR WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY.
SO WHERE, WHERE IT WOULD, COULD HAVE SUGGEST THAT BASICALLY WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO, AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY THING IT HANDLES, IT NEEDS TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT OF NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
AND, AND THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO LIVE UNDER SAY A BUILDING SERVICES TYPE OF AREA.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED IS THEY NEED A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT OF NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
AND IT WOULD INVOLVE THIS, AND IT MIGHT INVOLVE OTHER THINGS TOO.
UM, BUT THAT WAY YOU WOULD HAVE THEM CONSOLIDATED IN ONE AREA AND IF YOU GAVE THEM A DECENT BUDGET, UH, YOU MIGHT FIND THAT SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE WILLING TO OVERSEE THEM.
WELL, AND IT CODE ENFORCEMENT MIGHT BE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO OVERSEE THEM.
SO IF YOU MADE A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT OF NUIS AND ABATEMENT UNDER CODE ENFORCEMENT, THAT SEEMS TO BE A LOGICAL PLACE TO PUT THEM.
WHEN WE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE ASKED THEM WHERE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS BEST THAT IT RESIDE.
AND I THINK THERE WERE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
SO AGAIN, THIS, THE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO REPORT FROM, UH, THE YEAR THAT'S GONE BY, UM, THE MONEY THAT WAS REQUESTED IN THE LAST BUDGET OR IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION LAST YEAR WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING.
546,000 FROM PARKS AND REC, 437,000 FROM BUILDING SERVICES.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TDOT AND MM-HMM.
WELL, AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DAA SPENDS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DA SPENDS, WHICH IS ANOTHER A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND, THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ON THOSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO.
IT, YEAH, WE CONSOLIDATE THE EFFORT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO ADDRESS IT.
AND THEN THAT'S 500 K THAT DEPARTMENT ISN'T HAVING TO SPEND.
WELL, AND IN PARKS CASE, EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO SPEND TO MAKE GRAFFITI IN OUR PARKS GOES TO MAYBE MAKING OUR PARKS BETTER.
BUT I, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.
AGAIN, IF, IF ANYBODY ON THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO, TO SEE COME FORWARD IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTION, I MAY ACTUALLY PLAY AROUND WITH THIS AND COME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION, UH, FOR NEXT MONTH.
SO, OKAY,
[5. Presentation on the Downtown Historic Survey by Emily Payne with HHM, Inc., on behalf of the Planning Department, Historic Preservation Division. ]
THE NEXT ITEM IS, UH, PRESENTATION ON THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC SURVEY.UH, AND UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I'M AN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN WITH HHM AND ASSOCIATES HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE CITY ON A SERIES OF HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS OVER THE YEARS.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING TO SURVEY, UM, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, UM, BROADLY SPEAKING, UM, ROUGHLY FROM I 35 TO MOPAC AND LADYBIRD LAKE TO MLK.
SO TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SURVEY BOUNDARY, THE PROJECT SCHEDULE AND STATUS, UM, OUR SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY FOR THE SURVEY, BECAUSE I'M FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT WE GET ASKED ABOUT HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS IN GENERAL, AND THEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT, UM, AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE.
SO THE SURVEY BOUNDARY, UM, AS I MENTIONED, IS ROUGHLY LADYBIRD LAKE TO MLK AND MOPAC TO I 35.
UM, THAT EXCLUDES, UM, RECENTLY SURVEYED AREAS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE COMPLETED 2019 TO 2020, UM, A SURVEY OF WEST DOWNTOWN AUSTIN THAT, UM, RESULTED IN A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT WAS JUST LISTED.
AND THERE ARE ANOTHER, UM, COUPLE OF RECENTLY SURVEYED AREAS, RECENT, UM, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS THAT ARE EXCLUDED AND WILL REUSE
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THAT PRIOR SURVEY AND DESIGNATION DATA TO KIND OF KNIT TOGETHER A DATA SET FOR THIS WHOLE AREA.SO IT'S ABOUT, UM, 1,553 PARCELS THAT WE ESTIMATED, UM, IN THE AREA.
SO OUR SCHEDULE AND STATUS, UM, WE KICKED OFF IN OCTOBER.
UM, WE WORKED WITH THE CITY TO DEVELOP THE FIELD WORK METHODOLOGY COLLABORATIVELY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN OUR FIELD WORK AND COMMUNITY COORDINATION PHASE.
SO WE ARE RIGHT HERE, UM, BASED ON OUR SCHEDULE.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT COMMUNITY COORDINATION A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL UNTIL MAY.
WE'RE GONNA, UM, TRY TO ADD AN EXTRA PUBLIC MEETING SINCE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UM, AREA FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND THEN WE'LL, UH, HAVE OUR RESEARCH DESIGN AND BEGIN OUR RESEARCH THROUGH THE SUMMER, UM, ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY INPUT AND DELIVER A FIRST DRAFT IN OCTOBER.
UM, ANOTHER DRAFT THAT WILL GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN JANUARY AND THEN TRY TO FINISH UP AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
SO OUR CURRENT STATUS, WE'VE, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR RESOURCES LEFT THAT WE HAVE TO GO SURVEY THAT ARE ALL THOSE HARD ONES WHEN YOU NEED NO TRAFFIC TO, TO SURVEY BRIDGES.
UM, AND WE'VE, THERE ARE ABOUT, UM, 1,989 RESOURCES SURVEYED TO DATE.
UM, WE ARE ALSO, UH, COMPLETING CITY DIRECTORY RESEARCH FOR, UM, EVERY HISTORIC AGE ALMOST, UH, FRIDAY, THAT IT RETAINS A DECENT DEGREE OF PHYSICAL INTEGRITY.
UM, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY COMPLETE.
AND WE'RE NOW, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OCCUPANT RESEARCH, LOOKING FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OCCUPANTS FOR ALL OF THESE HOUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALSO CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THAT EVALUATION STAGE.
WE'VE DONE THE SURVEY, WE'VE DONE THE FIRST CHUNK OF RESEARCH, WE'RE NOW DOING ANALYSIS AND TRYING TO, UM, SET PRIORITIES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE SURVEY.
SO WE USED A GIS, UM, UH, FIELD MAPS.
UM, SO WE USED GIS IN THE FIELD.
SO BEFORE GOING OUT TO THE FIELD, WE PRE-POPULATE ALL OF THE PRIOR DESIGNATIONS, THE CAD DATA, UM, EVERYTHING WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON BASICALLY.
SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY ACTIVELY SURVEYED AND DESIGNATED DISTRICT FULL OF LOTS OF PRIOR DESIGNATIONS, UM, PRIOR RESEARCH.
SO A BIG PART OF THIS PROCESS IS KIND OF LOOKING AT THE OLDER DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY THE REALLY OLD DISTRICTS LIKE SIXTH STREET IN CONGRESS, LOOKING AT WHAT MAKES SENSE, WHAT HA RETAINS INTEGRITY, WHAT'S LOST INTEGRITY, WHAT HAS BECOME HISTORIC, UM, HAS REACHED 50 YEARS OF AGE SINCE THESE OLD DISTRICTS WERE, UM, LISTED.
AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE UPDATED, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAKE SENSE WITHIN, UM, WHAT'S 50-YEAR-OLD, YEARS OLD TODAY.
AND ALSO NEW UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT ELIGIBILITY MEANS IN TERMS OF, UM, INTEGRITY THRESHOLDS THAT RESPOND TO CULTURAL, UH, CONTEXT, UM, AND LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE ALMOST 50-YEAR-OLD, YEARS OLD THEMSELVES, AND THE STANDARDS THAT WERE USED FOR EVALUATION ARE VERY DIFFERENT NOW THAN THEY WERE WHEN THE DISTRICTS WERE FIRST LISTED.
SO, UM, WE WE'RE DOING HISTORIC RECONNAISSANCE LEVEL DOCUMENTATION.
SO WE BASICALLY LOOK AT THE TYPE OF THE HOUSE, THE STYLE, THE CONSTRUCTION DATE, UM, AND THEN WE DO THE OCCUPANT HISTORY AND WE LOOK AT THE INTEGRITY, THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO THE BUILDING.
UM, AND THEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY, BOTH UNDER THE LOCAL CITY OF AUSTIN, HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE AND UNDER THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, TRYING, AND ALSO IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS PROJECT, WE'RE FUNDED BY HOT TAX, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERITAGE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TRYING TO WORK WITH THE THEMES THAT ARE SET UP FOR HERITAGE TOURISM AND UM, IDENTIFYING RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH MUSIC, WITH THE ARTS, WITH WOMEN, WITH L-G-B-T-Q-I-A HISTORY SO THAT WE ARE GIVING THE CITY DATA THAT THEY CAN USE FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT WAS TALKING ABOUT TO DEVELOP, UM, STORY MAPS, WALKING TOURS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY PULL IN THIS RICH DATA NOT ONLY FOR DESIGNATION, BUT ALSO HERITAGE TOURISM AND JUST PUBLIC OUTREACH.
UM, AND THEN FOR, UH, OUR HIGH PRIORITIES, THE BUILDINGS THAT WE THINK ARE ELIGIBLE, WE PULL IN, UH, WE DO AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DOCUMENTATION AND RESEARCH.
SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GIVE A PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS A ELIGIBLE RESOURCE, THE CHUNK OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO, UM, COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FOR A LANDMARK SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FRONT LOAD THE WORK TO MAKE IT A MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE PROCESS FOR, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRY TO REALLY, UM, SET THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT EQUITY PIECE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DO.
UM, AND THEN WHEN WE DO THE SAME THING FOR THE, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT ANALYSIS.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT UPDATED DISTRICTS FOR THE DISTRICTS WE LOOK AT.
WE'RE, UM, LOOKING AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL BUILDING, BUT ALSO THE PLANNING PATTERNS AS A WHOLE.
AND THEN WE PULLED TOGETHER THE INVENTORY AND HISTORIC CONTEXT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR THE GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD NEED TO COMPLETE A HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATION OR NATIONAL NATIONAL REGISTER OR LOCAL.
[01:05:01]
UM, SO THIS IS KIND OF, UH, AN EXAMPLE FROM, UM, OUR RECENT HISTORIC SURVEY, UM, USING SWEDISH HILL AND EAST AUSTIN.SO WE PULL THE HISTORIC PLATS, WE HAVE A FULL INVENTORY TABLE, WHICH THEY CAN ALL PLUG STRAIGHT INTO AN APPLICATION IF THEY'RE INTERESTED.
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT, THAT WE GET FROM PROPERTY OWNERS.
BUT WHEN YOU GO OUT AND TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW THAT THEY'LL ASK YOU, WILL THIS PROJECT CHANGE THE ZONING ON MY PROPERTY? NO, WE ARE ONLY RECOMMEND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
WILL THIS CHANGE MY PROPERTY TAXES? NO.
WE ARE JUST MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, AND IF I WANNA DESIGNATE MY PROPERTY BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW WILL THAT WORK? SO WE ARE JUST MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT'S A OWNER INITIATED PROCESS TO, UM, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON A, ON A PROPERTY.
SO THE CITY WOULD GUIDE AN OWNER THROUGH THE LOCAL LANDMARK OR LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT PROCESS.
AND THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION WOULD HELP WITH THE NATIONAL REGISTER PROCESS.
UM, AND IF I CHOOSE TO DESIGNATE MY PROPERTY WHEN MY TAXES CHANGED, I'M SURE YOU ALL, YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT LANDMARK TAX ABATEMENT, BUT MAYBE, UM, THERE IS THIS VERY GENEROUS LANDMARK TAX ABATEMENT CURRENTLY.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A VERY GENEROUS, GENEROUS, UM, STATE AND FEDERAL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR, UM, INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTIES AND NONPROFITS.
SO I CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
CARE CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT OFFLINE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND IF I CHOOSE TO DESIGNATE MY PROPERTY, WILL THE PROCESS FOR REVIEW AND ALTERATIONS CHANGE AND IT'S, THAT'S ALSO A MAYBE, SO YES, IF IT'S A LOCAL DESIGNATION, THERE WOULD BE A REVIEW PROCESS THROUGH THE, UM, CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IF IT'S NATIONAL REGISTER, THAT'S A PURELY INCENTIVE BASED PROCESS.
SO UNLESS A PROPERTY OWNER CHOOSES TO DO, UM, A TAX CREDIT APPLICATION THAT'S REVIEWED BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY, WELL, THERE'S AN ADVISORY REVIEW BY THE CITY, BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, PERMITTING, THERE'S NO CHANGE.
WHERE ARE WE GOING? SO WE HAD OUR FIRST PUBLIC MEETING, UM, IN DECEMBER 18TH, 2023, SO THAT WE HAD KXAN THERE.
UM, AND THERE WAS A PRESS FOR RELEASE AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ADVANCE, UM, OOPS.
AND, UH, AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS HOLIDAY SEASON AND WE, WE GOT GOOD PUBLICITY, BUT NOT AS MUCH ATTENDANCE AS WE WANT.
AND WE REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT PROJECT.
UM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S GOOD ATTENDANCE.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO PLAN ANOTHER MEETING.
MID-MAY WE'LL BE BACK WITH, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE THIS, UM, YOU CAN FILL OUT AND WE'LL, UM, TRY TO COLLABORATIVELY FILL THAT OUT DURING THE MEETING, GIVEN IT TO PROPERTY OWNERS AS THEY COME UP TO US IN THE FIELD AND ASK TO PROVIDE INPUT.
UM, AND WE'LL USE THAT QUESTIONNAIRE TO, UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE ASK FOR IS SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE ORAL HISTORY? DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVED IN THIS HOUSE? THAT KIND OF, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY EPHEMERA THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO SCAN? UM, THAT KIND OF THING TO, TO ASK FOR PROJECT INPUT, BUT ALSO FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.
ANY QUESTIONS? I COMMISSIONERS? IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
UH, YOU GUYS HAVE CLEARLY BEEN DOING A HECK OF A LOT OF WORK.
AND AS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT, I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE ALL THE END END RESULTS OF IT.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN, IN THAT WORLD, AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, IT'S A SHAME THAT IT'S TAKEN AS LONG TO GET HERE BECAUSE WE'VE LOST SO MUCH OF OUR HISTORIC FABRIC.
UH, AND, UH, I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK PRODUCT.
UM, IS THE FALL LIBRARY, HAS THAT BEEN CONVERTED TO THE NEW HISTORY CENTER OR NOT? THE FALL LIBRARY, I BELIEVE IS IN THE PROCESS STILL OF BEING CONVERTED TO THE NEW HISTORY CENTER, BUT THAT'S ALSO WAS IN THE WEST DOWNTOWN SURVEY AREA.
IT IS NOT IN THE RECENTLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY DESIGNATED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THAT'S NOT, TECHNICALLY NOT PART OF THIS SURVEY BECAUSE WE SURVEYED IT IN 2019.
WELL, THE REASON I ASKED WAS MORE ABOUT FACILITY AND RESOURCES, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, IN TERMS OF, UM, GETTING PEOPLE TO ATTEND, MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THAT SPACE, UH, FOR SOME, FOR YOUR MEETINGS AND EXPOSE FOLKS.
MAKES SUGGESTION TO THE INCREDIBLE RESOURCES THAT ARE AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
THERE'S SO MUCH THERE, SO MUCH TO LEARN.
THE FALK IS A, A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH, BUT THERE IS SUCH A WEALTH OF MID-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PART BETWEEN, OF DOWNTOWN, BETWEEN CONGRESS AND I 35, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED, UM, OR, UH, GIVEN THE INCENTIVES THAT IT SHOULD BE TO DATE.
SO WE'VE LOST A LOT, BUT WE DO REALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES
[01:10:01]
TO GAIN A LOT TO, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR INVENTORY THAT WE ARE INCENTIVIZING AND PROTECTING AND, UM, BRINGING PUBLICITY TOO.WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER REPORT.
AND, UM, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN MID-MAY.
SO TELL, TELL EVERYBODY TO COME.
[6. Presentation on the Equity-Based Preservation Plan by Cara Bertron, Planning Department. ]
IS RELATED THE PRESENTATION ON THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN BY KARA TON WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, KARA TON WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, I'LL BE CO-PRESENTING THIS EVENING WITH JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, WHO WILL LEAD OFF.
MY NAME'S JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, UM, ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
CURRENTLY, ALTHOUGH MY VIEWS OBVIOUSLY ARE JUST, UH, MYSELF, I'M NOT PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE FULL COMMISSION.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, THANKS FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PLAN.
CITY STAFF HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS.
UH, SO NEXT SLIDE IS GOING TO BE OUR VISION.
UH, THIS VISION WAS DEVELOPED FROM A COMMUNITY HERITAGE SURVEY.
THE VISION IS THIS, THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION AUSTIN ACTIVELY ENGAGES COMMUNITIES IN PROTECTING AND SHARING IMPORTANT PLACES AND STORIES.
PRESERVATION USES THE PAST TO CREATE A SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING AND TO SHAPE AND EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ECONOMICALLY VITAL FUTURE FOR ALL.
AS A PRESERVATION PROFESSIONAL MYSELF, I LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS PLAN.
I LEARNED A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY PROCESS THAT CITY STAFF WAS ABLE TO, UH, ACHIEVE THROUGH THIS PLAN.
IT'S SUPER EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SPACES AND PHYSICAL PLACES, RIGHT? ALTHOUGH THAT'S GONNA BE THE CORE OF IT THAT PLACES THE CENTER OF THIS VISION.
IT'S, IT'S PEOPLE, IT'S STORYTELLING, IT'S COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING, UH, TO KIND OF SEE THAT PRESERVATION STEP INTO THIS KIND OF NEWER DEFINITION THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADER.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW THIS PLAN CAME ABOUT.
IT IS, UH, IT TOOK A LOT OF CITY STAFF TIME TO GET ALL THESE GROUPS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER.
UH, THE DRAFT REALLY COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH REALLY, UM, HIGHLY, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CITY STAFF THAT MADE THESE PLANS, UH, OR THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLINE THEM, UH, WITH THE GROUP'S HELP.
SO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION CREATED THIS, UH, WORKING GROUP, WHICH YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A LITTLE BIT OF DEMONSTRATION THERE.
IT'S ABOUT 26 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THE WORKING GROUP.
UM, THEY CREATED THIS DRAFT WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR'S TIME.
IN TOTAL, YOU HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS THROUGH SURVEYS, ULI, TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUPS, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER COMMITTEES, UH, AS WELL IN FOCUS GROUPS.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS, UH, A LITTLE PICTURE OF THE PHASE ONE FROM THE WORKING GROUP.
IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE PRESERVATION PLAN, I HOPE YOU ALL REALLY DO READ IT AND DIVE INTO IT.
UH, IT'S DEMOGRAPHICS REALLY DO LINE UP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL TO SEE THAT.
AND SO THIS IS, UH, PHASE ONE WORKING GROUP, UH, TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A BIG RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE CITY AND COME ACROSS FROM 19 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES IN THE CITY.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THESE PEOPLE ARE RENTERS THAT SERVE ON THE GROUP.
SO, UM, IT'S AGAIN, JUST AN IMPORTANT THING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND SO NEXT, KARA, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DRAFT PLAN ITSELF.
JUAN RAYMOND, UM, AND JUAN RAYMOND GAVE A LOT OF, UM, KARA BERTRAN, AGAIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
RON, WE WOULD GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO CITY STAFF.
SO IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK FOR CITY STAFF, BUT THE PLAN WAS REALLY DEVELOPED BY THAT 26 MEMBER COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP.
SO WE DID FACILITATION, BUT IT WAS THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HEARD THE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND PUT THE, PUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS KIND OF ON, ON PAPER, SO INTO THE DRAFT PLAN.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO DETAILS OF THE DRAFT PLAN.
IT INCLUDES 108 DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS, UNORGANIZED UNDER 14 GOALS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THE GOALS ARE VERY BROAD.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH ALL 14, BUT THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE ONLINE.
AND, AND, UM, I'LL ECHO JUAN RAYMOND'S, HOPE THAT YOU READ THE PLAN.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO ON THE PLAN WEBSITE, JUST JUMP TO GOALS THAT ARE INTERESTING TO YOU.
IT, IT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO DO THAT TONIGHT.
I WANNA TALK, UH, ABOUT THREE THEMES THAT THESE GOALS ARE ORGANIZED UNDER, UH, AND GIVE YOU KINDA A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF, OF WHAT'S, WHAT'S IN THE PLAN.
SO THE FIRST THEME IS WHAT WE PRESERVE.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE GIST HERE IS, OR THE KIND OF CHARGE IS TO THINK BROADLY ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO REC BETTER RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S RICH AND COM, LIKE COMP, A VERY COMPLICATED HISTORY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO, TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
UM, TO BETTER LISTEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO DO MORE INCLUSIVE RESEARCH, TO SHARE BACK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE, UH, LEARNED AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD
[01:15:01]
THROUGH, UM, MECHANISMS THAT, UH, REACH PEOPLE WHO DON'T COME TO LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETINGS OR READ STAFF REPORTS, WHICH INCLUDE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION BUT ARE NOT LIKE, UH, UH, NOT LIGHT READING, NOT LIGHT READING, NOT AS POPULAR AS MAYBE IT SHOULD BE.UM, TO BETTER RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE, LIKE LEGACY BUSINESSES LIKE MURALS TO BETTER PROTECT ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES.
UM, AND FINALLY, TO USE PRESERVATION TOOLS TO SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES LIKE, UH, COMMUNITY STABILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
THE SECOND THEME IS WHO PRESERVES AND LOOKING AT WHO'S DOING THE WORK? WHO'S DOING THE WORK? HANDS-ON WHO'S, UH, LOOKING AT DESIGNATING PROPERTIES, WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN STORY SHARING EVENTS? WHO'S MAKING DECISIONS? SO THIS, UH, INCLUDES A RANGE OF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE TO ACCESS KNOWLEDGE, HELPING THEM TO GET TO THAT, UH, SORT OF AGENCY, YOU KNOW, UM, MAKING, SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE.
UM, POTENTIALLY HAVING COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS TO TO BE KIND PAID, UH, UH, PART VERY, LIKE, VERY PART-TIME, BUT TO HELP, UH, GATHER STORIES FROM OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, THIS ALSO INCLUDES STREAMLINING AND, UM, MAKE AND BETTER EXPLAINING OUR HISTORIC REVIEW AND DESIGNATION PROCESSES.
ALWAYS A CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF.
AND FINALLY, TO ENGAGE NEW PARTNERS AND AUDIENCES, UM, RECOGNIZING THAT WE, WE KNOW HOW TO REACH, UH, A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF FOLKS WHO KIND OF ARE IN THE PRESERVATION CAMP.
BUT IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL CAMP.
IT'S PRETTY GEOGRAPHICALLY LIMITED AT THIS POINT, UM, OR GEOGRAPHICALLY CONCENTRATED AND, UH, AND NOT AS DIVERSE AS THE CITY.
SO TRYING TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO, TO BROADEN THAT CONVERSATION AND ACTIVITY.
THE LAST THEME IS HOW WE PRESERVE, AND THIS REALLY LOOKS AT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW WE DO, HOW WE DO PRESERVATION.
SO, SO, UM, WE WANT TO BE MORE STRATEGIC AND MORE EFFECTIVE WITH WHAT WILL ALWAYS BE LIMITED RESOURCES.
UM, UH, WE WANT TO ALSO MODERNIZE THE PROGRAM.
OUR EXISTING PRESERVATION PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 1981, WHICH IS NOT QUITE HISTORIC AGE ITSELF, BUT IS GETTING, GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THAT 50 YEAR MARK.
SO, UM, UPDATING DESIGNATION CRITERIA, UH, SUPPORTING THE STEWARDS OF OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, MOSTLY HIS, MOSTLY PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGH AN EXPANDED SUITE OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, BETTER INFORMATION AND REDUCED FEES TO BE STRATEGIC WITH WHAT WE WERE REVIEWING, AGAIN, WITH THAT LIMITED STAFF TIME TO IMPROVE OUR ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES, WHICH TO DATE HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION AND MORE ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND FINALLY, TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN COLLABORATIVELY.
THE, THE PROCESS OF, OF, UH, OF CREATING IT AS ONE RAYMOND SAID IS, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COLLABORATIVE.
SO WE WANT TO CARRY THAT THROUGH.
SO HERE IS A HANDFUL OF ESPECIALLY RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I WANTED TO, UH, WE WANTED TO PULL OUT FOR, FOR Y'ALL.
AGAIN, THERE ARE 108 RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, SOME OF WHICH, UH, SO THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT, UM, THESE ARE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT ICONIC LEGACY BUSINESSES TO, UH, AND, AND, AND THAT WOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A WAY TO DESIGNATE EXTERIOR MURALS FOR HISTORICAL OR, OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE TO LOOK AT VARIOUS DISTRICT DESIGNATIONS.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT EDD IS EXPLORING, UH, ACTIVELY RIGHT NOW TO EXPLORE INTERIOR DESIGNATION OF PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SPACES, INCLUDING INCENTIVES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS RECOMMENDATION SPECIFICALLY SAYS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT THE CITY WOULD TRY TO DO AGAINST A PROPERTY OWNER'S WILL, BUT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING TO EXPLORE, TO LOOK AT A TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS PROGRAM.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT TOOL, BUT IT IS A WAY TO SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE VERY SMALL BUILDINGS, VERY SMALL HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN AN AREA WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IS VERY GRAND, THAT SUCH AS DOWNTOWN, THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IS
SO, UM, SETTING UP A WAY TO ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO SELL THOSE AIR RIGHTS, BASICALLY TO SAY, I'M NOT GONNA DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, THIS MUCH AND, AND SEND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO RAISE AS A WAY TO RAISE REVENUE FOR, UM, MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION, UM, FOR OTHER, OTHER PURPOSES.
SO THAT'S AN IDEA, THAT'S A BIG IDEA IN THE PLAN.
AND FINALLY, TO STOP REQUIRING REVIEW OF CHANGES TO PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTIES AND NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICTS.
THAT FALLS UNDER THE BEING STRATEGIC WITH REVIEW CATEGORY.
UM, IT IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY OTHER CITIES DO IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BOTH, UH, RECOMMEND AGAINST.
SO THIS, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD AFFECT THE DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES, UM, THAT ARE NOT ALSO LOCALLY DESIGNATED AS LANDMARKS OR IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I'M GONNA CLOSE OUT BY TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN HAPPY TO TAKE
[01:20:01]
ANY QUESTIONS.SO WE ARE DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE DRAFT PLAN THROUGH THE END OF MAY.
WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR, WE REALLY WANNA HEAR FROM PEOPLE, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS ONLINE, FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAYBE BE LISTENING.
UH, WE ARE HOSTING A MONTHLY EVENT.
UM, NEXT WEEK WE ARE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE BAKER SCHOOL IN HYDE PARK TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE NUTS AND BOLTS RECOMMENDATIONS.
REALLY TRYING TO, UM, ESPECIALLY ANYONE'S WELCOME, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ESPECIALLY INVITE HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS TO COME OUT, UM, AND LEARN ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT YOU.
ASK QUESTIONS, WE CAN WANT TO HEAR WHAT Y'ALL THINK.
UH, AND THEN IN APRIL AND MAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BLOCK PARTY AND THEN A, A MORE COMMUNITY ORIENTED OPEN HOUSE RESPECTIVELY.
WE'RE DOING PRESENTATIONS AT MEETINGS LIKE THIS ONE, UM, SPEAKING TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS TO LOOK AT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT THEM AND GET DIRECT FEEDBACK.
AND ALSO WORKING WITH AIS D'S PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT.
AND WE ALSO DOING, UM, THREE OR FOUR, UM, I WOULD SAY THREE TO FIVE IN A POPUP, UH, TABLING EVENTS AT, AT COMMUNITY EVENTS TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THE PLAN AND INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE.
SO WE ARE EX LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THIS OUTREACH EFFORT.
WE HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT THAT'S DOING A LOT.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH 10 PAID COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS WHO ARE REACHING OUT TO THEIR NETWORKS.
AND WE'VE AWARDED, UH, FIVE COMPETITIVE MINI GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DO OUTREACH TO THEIR NETWORKS AND HAVE SMALL GROUP CONVERSATIONS AND ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS TO GET FEEDBACK.
AND THE WORK OF THE AMBASSADORS AND THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, WHICH THE PLAN DEFINES AS, UM, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND RENTERS.
SO NOT, UH, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, TO PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INTO, INTO REACHING THOSE COMMUNITIES.
SO, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO GIVE FEEDBACK.
I'M GONNA, WE'RE COMING UP TO A SLIDE WHERE I WILL GIVE THE WEBSITE AND I HOPE, AND, AND THERE'S A QR CODE.
UM, SO YOU CAN REVIEW IT ONLINE.
THERE ARE PAPER COPIES AT BRANCH LIBRARIES AND ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR IF, IF FOLKS WOULD PREFER THAT.
UM, WE HAVE PAPER COPIES AT OUR OUTREACH EVENTS.
UM, IT'S ALSO ONLINE, OF COURSE, AND THAT TAKES FIVE MINUTES.
UM, SOMEONE, UH, RECENTLY TOLD ME HE HAD A LOT OF FUN FILLING IT OUT.
SO MAYBE TRY IT FOR YOURSELF, SEE WHAT YOU SEE, WHAT YOU THINK.
UM, UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A, I THINK A MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY TO, TO SHARE YOUR PRIORITIES WITHOUT GOING INTO THE, THE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS.
ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE WE, WE WANT TO HEAR THOSE TOO.
UM, AND, UH, FOLKS CAN ALSO COME TO EVENTS FROM HOSTED BY THE CITY OR BY THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
OH, ACTUALLY, CAN YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE? SORRY.
ONE THING THAT IS, IS REALLY NEAT ABOUT THE WEBSITE, WHICH IS HOSTED, UM, ON THE SPEAK OF AUSTIN SITE IS THAT WE ARE, UM, I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY.
YOU CAN OF COURSE DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THE PLAN AND READ IT, BUT AS I MENTIONED, YOU CAN ALSO JUMP TO INDIVIDUAL GOALS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IN THE MIDDLE THERE'S A SLIDER.
AND SO THAT IS ALSO HOW THE PLAN IS STRUCTURED.
SO YOU CAN GO TO A GOAL THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AND SAY, I REALLY SUPPORT THIS, I REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS.
AND THEN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO, UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO READ THE WHOLE PLAN AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ANSWER 20 QUESTIONS.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR FOLKS TO, TO DIVE IN WHERE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, GIVE US FEEDBACK.
SO, UM, WE'RE DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MAY.
AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP, AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION TO REVISE THE PLAN OVER THE SUMMER.
WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AND OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL IN THE FALL.
UM, AND THEN HOPING TO TAKE IT TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER FOR ADOPTION.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS, UH, WOULD AGAIN, PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE THIS PLAN.
WE'RE HOPING IT WILL BE ADOPT OR IT WILL BE, UM, UH, UPDATED WITHIN 10 YEARS AFTER ITS ADOPTION.
BUT WHO KNOWS, THIS COULD BE A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, SO DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE.
UM, YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I, I'M GONNA START.
I, I DID GO ONLINE AND DO THE SURVEY, AND IT SEEMED TO GO ON FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.
IT WAS JUST EPICALLY HISTORIC
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE, THE PLAN, UM, THAT I REALLY LIKE SEEING WAS THE RECOMMENDATION TO BRING AN ARCHEOLOGIST ON STAFF.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS A, AS A CITY HAVE FAILED AT.
AND WE HAVE LOST COUNTLESS HISTORIC RESOURCES BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE AN ARCHEOLOGIST ON STAFF.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES THERE.
UM, THERE ANY OF A NUMBER OF THINGS I COULD POINT TO.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALWAYS STRUCK ME, FOR
[01:25:01]
THOSE THAT WERE IN AUSTIN IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, 3 0 1 CONGRESS, WHEN THEY BEGAN THE PROCESS, PROCESS OF EXCAVATION, THEY DISCOVERED MASTODON BONES AND IT WAS CAUSING THE MASTODON BUILDING FOREVER.AND THEY HAD 'EM ALL DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL THERE OR NOT, UH, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ME WITH ALL OF THE EXCAVATION DOWNTOWN THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE CITY BLOCK THAT HAD ANY DINOSAUR BONES IN IT.
UH, THOSE ALL WENT TO, UH, WHEREVER EXCAVATED DIRT GOES TO.
UH, BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, AND THIS WAS A CITY PROJECT, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN TRANSPORTATION WAS BUILDING THE WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, THEY CRUISED RIGHT THROUGH A BUNCH OF INDIAN MIDDENS.
AND I, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THOSE WERE LOOTED, UH, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ARCHEOLOGY DONE ALONG WALNUT CREEK BEFORE THEY BEGAN THE WORK.
AND THAT RESOURCE IS NOW GONE FOREVER.
AND THE ABILITY TO TELL THE STORY OF THE, UH, OH, I APOLOGIZE.
THE TONKA, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, LIVED ALONG WALNUT CREEK, AND THAT'S GONE BECAUSE THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE AN ARCHEOLOGIST, AND A TD WAS IN A HURRY TO BUILD THEIR TRAIL.
AND THERE ARE SITES LIKE THAT ALL OVER AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND IF WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR AN ARCHEOLOGIST AND FOR, AND WE'RE COGNIZANT OF THAT PROCESS GOING FORWARD, FORWARD, THAT, UH, WE MIGHT NOT LOSE SOME OF THE FEW BITS THAT ARE LEFT.
I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSION FOLKS.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT, I GUESS, AND A QUESTION.
SO, UM, I HAVE NOTICED THAT AT TIMES THERE ARE PROPERTIES, RESIDENCES, THE ONES THAT I'VE ACTUALLY, UM, KNOWN ABOUT THAT HAVE BEEN IN DISREPAIR FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS FALLING DOWN.
UM, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FAMILY DECIDES THEY WANT TO SELL THE PROPERTY AND THEY SELL THE PROPERTY.
AND A DEVELOPER BROKER COMES IN AND THEY WANT TO ACTUALLY EITHER, WELL, GENERALLY THEY WOULD WANT TO SCRAPE THE PROPERTY.
THEY'VE HAD ENGINEERS GO IN THAT SAY, THIS IS NOT EVEN SALVAGEABLE.
THEY TRY TO GET A DEMOLITION PERMIT TO SCRAPE THE PROPERTY, AND THEN THE CITY STOPS THEM AND SAYS, THIS IS HISTORIC OR POTENTIALLY HISTORIC.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, IN THOSE INSTANCES, WHY HAS THERE NEVER BEEN FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY TO STEP IN PRIOR TO THESE STRUCTURES FALLING DOWN? UM, DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, I GUESS IS ONE OF THE WAY, ONE OF THE WAYS TO SAY IT.
UM, IT JUST SEEMS UNFAIR TO ME THAT NEITHER THE FAMILY NOR THE COMMUNITY NOR THE CITY BOTHERED TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE HOUSES.
THEY'RE FALLING DOWN AND THE THE FAMILY DECIDES TO SELL, AND THEN THE CITY STEPS IN AND SAYS, OH, WELL, DEVELOPER, YOU CAN'T TEAR THIS HOUSE DOWN.
WELL, YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YEARS TO HELP.
SO WHY DO YOU THEN STEP IN AND TRY TO FORCE THIS DEVELOPER TO REHAB THIS HOUSE THAT ENGINEERS HAVE SAID IS FALLING DOWN? YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO IF THE, AND I THINK YOU ASKED ABOUT ONE SITUATION, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SITUATION FIRST.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE PROPERTY IS LOCALLY DESIGNATED, THERE, DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT IS A TERM IN CODE THAT THE LANDMARK COMMISSION CAN INITIATE MM-HMM.
AND IT'S BEEN REALLY PROBLEMATIC TO ENFORCE THAT AT WHATEVER, AT WHATEVER STAGE THE BUILDING IS OF, IS IN, OF NEGLECT.
SO THAT EXISTS AND THAT THE, UM, DRAFT PLAN DOES RECOMMEND FIGURING OUT, UM, ALONG WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT, HOW TO, UM, HAVE MORE TEETH WITH THAT PROVISION TO HOPEFULLY KEEP DESIGNATED BUILDINGS FROM GETTING TO THAT POINT OF, OF NEEDING TO BE TORN DOWN.
UM, AND FOR, FOR OTHER BUILDINGS, FOR NON HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT DETERIORATE AND THEN IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT ARE IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC, UM, THEY'RE BOTH COMPLICATED SITUATIONS.
I THINK THE, UM, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IS, AS YOU KNOW, UH, OR AS YOU'VE SEEN, DOES NOT LIKE PROPERTY CONDITION IS NOT, UH, A CONSIDERATION WHEN LOOKING AT WHETHER BUILDING A SIGNIFICANT, WHETHER BUILDING A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MEET THE HISTORIC LANDMARK, UM, ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD.
[01:30:01]
TYPICAL, THAT IS A TYPICAL THING FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.IT, WE, UM, WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE BUILDING CONDITION, BUT THAT DOESN'T DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO, TO PRESERVE.
UM, I, I THINK SOMETIMES SOME CITIES HAVE RECEIVERSHIP PROGRAMS, UM, WHERE A THIRD PARTY CAN TAKE, CAN COME IN AND, AND TAKE OWNERSHIP AND MAKE THE, THE REPAIRS, UM, KIND OF TAKE AN INTERIM OWNERSHIP.
I WOULD, I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF IT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT PLAN.
RECEIVERSHIP TYPICALLY IS MORE NEEDED IN, IN CITIES THAT HAVE A SLOWER REAL ESTATE MARKET THAN AUSTIN DOES.
UM, SO I THINK, I THINK ONE THING, AND I DON'T, I I DON'T THINK THIS IS IN THE PLAN RIGHT NOW, BUT ONE THING WOULD BE TO TRY TO, UM, ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SELL BEFORE THEIR BUILDING IS SO STILL UPDATED THAT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE THAT IS, WE ARE IN FOR BETTER OR WORSE IN A REAL, IN A REAL ESTATE MARKET WHERE, UM, PROPERTIES OFTEN DO SELL.
UM, AND IDEALLY BEFORE THEY'RE TO THAT THE POINT WHERE, WHERE SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT THAT DEMOLITION IS THE ONLY RECOURSE.
SO A QUESTION I HAVE, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, SO LET'S SAY A FAMILY HAS LIVED, UM, IN AUSTIN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THEY'VE HAD THE PROPERTY THROUGH MANY GENERATIONS AND, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KEEP THE HOUSE UP.
OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT'S WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY AND SALVAGE.
AND THE CITY, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S HARD TO ENFORCE, BUT LET'S ASSUME THE CITY DOES STEP IN AND SAY, THIS IS DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN? 'CAUSE THE FAMILY DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE MONEY TO MM-HMM.
YOU SAID RECEIVERSHIP IS AN OPTION OR IN SOME CITIES IT IS A TOOL THAT IS USED SOMETIMES IN THE SITUATION IN OTHER PLACES.
IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT IMPLY, UH, INTENT.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT CASE THAT'S MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE CITY SYSTEM NOW, WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNER WANTED TO TEAR IT DOWN.
AND WE'VE HAD THESE CASES BEFORE, THEY'VE REMOVED DOORS AND WINDOWS TO ALLOW, UH, RAIN TO COME IN AND FERMENT TO COME IN DELIBERATELY TO DEGRADE THE PROPERTY.
THIS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT IS NOT SOMETHING THE COMMISSION REALLY USES VERY OFTEN BECAUSE OF ITS TABOO.
KIND OF LIKE CAR CARA MENTIONED EARLIER.
AND SO THAT ENFORCEMENT IS NOT THERE, AND THAT'S IN THE PLAN.
HOW DO WE ENFORCE THIS BETTER? HOW DO WE MAKE THIS MORE, YOU KNOW, OF AN ACCESSIBLE TOOL THAT WE CAN USE IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE, THE COUNTRY? SO THAT'S A BIG THING.
UM, WHEN, WHEN CASES COME TO US, WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, IS LIKE 1860S HOUSE, AND, AND THEY'RE TELLING ME I'M A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTIN.
MY MOTHER DIDN'T PROTECT IT, MY GRANDMOTHER DIDN'T FIX IT UP.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT A SECTION HERE, PRESERVATION'S ABOUT STABILIZING COMMUNITIES.
SO WE WANNA FIND WAYS, HOW DO WE GET THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE IT IS MORE AFFORDABLE.
AND SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS HOW DO WE TAKE SOME OF THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY AND DIRECT IT MORE TOWARDS STABILIZING THEIR, THEIR, THOSE LONG TIME INHABITANTS? RIGHT.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM IS NOT AS BIG AS WE'D LIKE FOR IT TO BE AND NOT AS ROBUST AS SOMETHING LIKE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE CAN PUT MORE MONEY THERE SO PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY, HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR HOME SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING DISPLACED AND THERE'S NOT A GENTRIFICATION ISSUE WHERE NOW YOU HAVE TO PUSH THEM OUT AND, UH, NOW YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WHOLE EQUITY ISSUE, RIGHT.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS IN THE MOVING PIECES.
SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN STUFF IN THE PLAN TO HOPEFULLY GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I THINK YOU ON RAYMOND, I THINK, I THINK YEAH.
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO HELP, HOW TO HELP FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE RESOURCES.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
I DON'T THINK INTENT IS REQUIRED FOR DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
I'LL CHECK THE ORDINANCE, BUT, BUT I DON'T THINK, WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, I MEAN, IT'S DIFFICULT TO PROVE INTENT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IF SOMEBODY PULLS A DEMOLITION PERMIT AND THE HOUSE IS FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE MISSING.
YOU THINK WE, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE WELL-DOCUMENTED CASES OF THAT, AND THEIR INTENT WAS THEY WANTED IT TORN DOWN AND THEY WOULD DO IT.
THEY HAD TO, TO MAKE SURE IT WAS UNIN APPLICABLE.
COMMISSIONER KOVAL, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BOTH OF YOU.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE PLAN YET, SO APOLOGIES IF THIS IS ADDRESSED IN THE PLAN.
MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS PRESERVING? YEAH.
[01:35:01]
THAT STABILIZING COMMUNITY SECTION, IT TALKS ABOUT BUILDING ON THE HOME INITIATIVES PRESERVATION BONUS, UM, AND LOOKING AT WAYS TO ADD UNITS TO ADD DENSITY IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.UM, IT DE DEFINITELY, UM, LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR THAT AND, AND SUPPORTS IT AND, AND, UM, ALSO ADVOCATES KEEPING OLDER HOUSES OLDER AND AND HISTORIC.
SO BOTH OF THOSE, UM, THAT ARE, UH, ARE MOST OFTEN CHEAPER THAN, UM, AND LESS, LESS EXPENSIVE TO, TO REHAB MM-HMM.
THAT'S PARTLY 'CAUSE THEY'RE OLD, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALL, PARTLY BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION'S EXPENSIVE.
UM, BUT KEEPING THOSE AND ADDING, UM, ADDING ADDITIONAL DENSITY, COULD YOU THEORETICALLY, UH, HAVE A HISTORIC HOME ON A SMALL HISTORIC HOME ON A LOT, HAVE THAT DESIGNATED AND THEN BUILD A DUPLEX BEHIND IT AND IT WOULD STILL, IT WOULDN'T RUIN THEIR HISTORIC STATUS.
NO, THAT WOULD NEED, IT WOULD GO THROUGH HISTORIC REVIEW.
THERE'D BE PROCESSES, BUT, BUT IT HAPPENS.
UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY, THERE'S A A, THERE SORT OF A REDEVELOPMENT HAPPENING NOW IN THE SMOOT TERRACE PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT WHERE I THINK THEY, THEY'RE KEEPING I THINK THREE OR FOUR OF THE FRONT HISTORIC HOUSES RIGHT.
AND PUTTING ON SOMETHING LIKE ANOTHER 14 OR 15 UNITS, LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF DENSITY GOING IN MM-HMM.
I DO WANNA ADD, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, SOME FELT THAT THE PRESERVATION BONUS DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO HELP CITIZENS BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE A DU, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
THEN HOW AM I AS A THIRD GENERATION AUSTIN, I GONNA GET THAT LOAN IF I DON'T HAVE THE CREDIT? I DON'T KNOW HOW EQUITY TO DO THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS WERE ASKING FOR, HEY, CAN YOU ACTUALLY PUT THIS SO THAT NOW YOU CAN CREATE A MECHANISM FOR US TO GET LOANS TO DO THAT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO AGREEMENT AND EASILY EDUCATE US HOW DO WE DO THAT SO THAT SOMEONE CAN BUILD IT IN THE BACK OF OUR HOUSE? RIGHT.
AND WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT, BUT THERE'S NO KNOWLEDGE THERE.
AND SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? AND I THINK THAT WAS IN CITY COUNCIL.
UM, ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION.
SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN IMP YOU KNOW, TRY TO RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO CITY COUNCIL ON THAT TO SAY, HEY, HERE'S HOW THAT PRESERVATION BONUS OR HOME PART TWO COULD BE BETTER TO STABILIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND TAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRESERVATION TOGETHER.
SO, SO TO READ IT BACK TO YOU, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY HAS LIVED ON THE EAST SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LED REDLINED GENERATIONS AGO BECAUSE OF THIS.
UM, THIS ORDINANCE WERE ABLE TO GET LOANS.
WOULD IT BE LIKE, WOULD THEY HAVE TO SELL HALF OF THEIR PROPERTY? 'CAUSE I KNOW THOSE EAST SIDE LOTS ARE REALLY BIG.
WOULD THEY HAVE TO SELL HALF OF THEIR PROPERTY AND BUILD ON IT? OR WOULD THEY KEEP THE PROPERTY BUILD ON IT AND RENT IT? OR IS IT BOTH? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK THERE'S OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR ABILITY, I THINK SOON, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE THESE LOTS.
THAT'S A POSSIBILITY WHERE THEY CAN SELL A PIECE OF THEIR LOT.
I WAS GONNA SAY, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TOO.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK, I MEAN, LONG TERM, YOU, YOU, YOU WANNA HOLD ONTO THAT TO BUILD THAT.
UM, HOWEVER THEY, THEY NEED THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, AND HOW CAN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE NONPROFITS TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S TRAIN AND LET'S TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO DO THIS YEAH.
EFFICIENTLY SO WE CAN STABILIZE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND KEEP THEM HERE AND GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THAT.
WHAT DO THOSE LOANS LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
AND I THINK THE, THE PRESENTER OF MY QUESTION WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF LEGACY FAMILIES ON THE EAST SIDE WHO WANNA KEEP THEIR HOME FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU JUST LAID OUT.
THEIR LOTS ARE REALLY, REALLY BIG.
SO MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM IF THEY CHOSE TO MM-HMM.
THIS, I WAS LITERALLY JUST TALKING WITH LESLIE POOLS, UM, GREAT
ABOUT HOW THEY'RE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING NOT ONLY, UM, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR LOTS, BUT MAKING THE PROCESS A LOT FASTER AND EASIER.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO SUBDIVIDE A LOT, EVEN IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT, IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING THAT'S NOT OKAY.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD BE $10,000 AND A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT TOO.
JUST GIVING LEGACY FAMILIES OTHER OPTIONS.
SO IS THAT JUST, JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP, IS THAT PIECE OF THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE HOME TOO RIGHT NOW? IT'S GOING, IT'S GONNA BE IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND UH, THAT'S GREAT.
AND SO EVEN IF IT'S NOT PART OF YOUR PLAN, IT'S STILL HAPPENING OVER HERE.
IT COULD MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.
IT IS MENTIONED ALSO AS ONE OF THE TOOLS FOR, UM,
[01:40:01]
FLEXIBLE ZONING AS A WAY TO SUPPORT PRESERVATION GOALS.I'M NOT A WELL, AND THE HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN SEE.
IF, IF, IF WE'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PRESERVATION BONUS, THEN WILL WE SEE SOME COMMUNITIES, SOME STREETS WANT MORE LOCAL DISTRICTS, LOCAL LANDMARK DISTRICTS TO PREVENT THE ACCELERATION OF THOSE DEMOLITIONS? THAT'S A QUESTION, RIGHT.
THAT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
'CAUSE SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND STREETS WILL SAY, WE DON'T WANT THIS DENSITY.
WE DON'T WANT ADUS IN OUR BACKYARD AND WE QUALIFY FOR LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
CAN WE NOW APPLY? WELL, AND I, I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, AND IT'S BROUGHT UP WITHIN THE DOCUMENT, BUT, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
IT'S A TOOL THAT'S BEEN USED AROUND THE COUNTRY VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
WE WERE VERY LATE IN THE GAME.
LIKE WE WERE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO BEGIN WITH 1974.
BUT, UM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE X NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.
CAN YOU PUT A COHERENT DISTRICT TOGETHER TO CREATE A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT? CAN YOU GET AN, THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE? THERE ARE SOME GREAT ADVANTAGES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT MECHANISM THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
BUT THERE IS A TRADE OFF THERE, AND I, I, I THINK IT'S GREAT.
I WISH WE HAD DONE THIS 25, 30 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE OF A HISTORIC FABRIC THAN WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING NOW.
BUT, UM, I, I AM WORRIED THAT THAT'S, UH, RED HERRING ISN'T THE RIGHT TERM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR US TO SEE ANOTHER LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I'VE SEEN SO MANY ATTEMPTED AND SO MANY FAIL JAIL NOT TO BE DOOM.
IT'S, UH,
BUT, YOU KNOW, BEING MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT IT, HOW DO WE TAKE A BLOCK AT A TIME? I THINK ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS CAN WE HAVE, UM, NON CONTI CONTIGUOUS, YOU KNOW, LOCAL LANDMARK DISTRICTS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THESE HOMEOWNERS THAT WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.
UM, INSTEAD OF HAVING IT A FULL BLOCK WITH EVERYBODY AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO WANT IT.
SO WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK THE NON-CONTIGUOUS THEMATIC DISTRICTS IS REALLY INTERESTING IDEA FOR, FOR BUILDINGS THAT TELL A STORY AMONG THEMSELVES OF ARCHITECTURE OR OF A COMMUNITY, BUT AREN'T RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON A SINGLE BLOCK.
IN RECENT STATE LEGISLATION, I THINK HAS MADE LOCAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION MUCH, MUCH HARDER BY TRIGGERING A SUPER MAJORITY IF, IF, UM, IF EVEN ONE PROPERTY OWNER DISSENTS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN, THAN THE, UM, 20%, UM, THAT IS THAT MOST ZONING CASES TRIGGER.
I DID WANNA SAY, I WANTED TO MAYBE JUMP BACK JUST A FEW MINUTES AND SAY, LOCAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION DOES NOT PRECLUDE ADDING DENSITY.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS, UM, IN, IN PROHIBITED IN THE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS OR DISCOURAGED IN THE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, WANTED TO, TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THAT.
I THINK SOMETIMES PROPERTY OWNERS THINK ABOUT IT AS A WAY TO STOP CHANGE, BUT IT IS REALLY MUCH MORE OF A WAY TO STEWARD CHANGE.
WELL, IT ALSO DOESN'T IMPACT, UH, NON-CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.
UH, THE PLAN ACTUALLY RECOMMENDS BEGINNING, BEGINNING REVIEW OF NON-CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES IN LOCAL DISTRICTS WITH, WITH A, A MORE RELAXED SET OF STANDARDS, MOSTLY FOR MASSING, UM, AND MORE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
BUT IT IS A MUCH, IT, THEY DIDN'T, THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY REVIEWED.
AND EVEN UNDER THE, IF THE PLAN WERE ADOPTED AND THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE VERY LIGHT.
OH, UH, COMMISSIONER LEVINE, THANKS.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF ANY OF THESE REPORTS, UM, HIGHLIGHT LIKE THE EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ENCOURAGING THE DEMOLITION OF OUR EXISTING, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE VERY FAR DOWN MY BLOCK TO SEE THE IMPACT ON THE LANDFILL AND THE ROLLOUT DUMPSTERS EVERYWHERE.
UM, JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY RECOGNITION OF THAT, IF THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE PRETEND DOESN'T HAPPEN WHILE WE GO ON IN THE ZEALOT HUNT FOR DENSITY.
SO THE, ONE OF THE 14 GOALS IS TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
AND THERE ARE FOUR GOALS UNDER OR FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER THAT, UNDER THAT GOAL ABOUT FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO DEMOLITION, IDEALLY KEEPING THOSE OLDER HOUSES THAT ARE OFTEN MORE AFFORDABLE
UM, IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO RELOCATE THEM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER HAD, UH, SPONSORED A RESOLUTION LAST FALL THAT, THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH DSD ON A RESPONSE TO.
UM, AND IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE THEN TO, UH, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DECONSTRUCT, UM, BUILD OLDER BUILDINGS AND, AND REUSE THOSE MATERIALS.
SO REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEMOLITION IN, IN ALONG A SPECTRUM OF WAYS.
WELL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU BEFORE YOU ALLOW SOMEBODY TO TEAR A HOUSE DOWN IN, IN A MONTH RATHER THAN A YEAR AND $10,000 RATHER THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT IN, IN A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WAY THAN WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE DAMAGE WE'RE DOING TO OUR ENVIRONMENT FAR OUTSTRIPS WHATEVER BENEFIT THAT,
[01:45:01]
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ZEALOTS LIKE TO SAY, WE'RE GETTING OUT OF SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW, INCREASED DENSITY, UM, CLEARLY ISN'T THE CASE.I MEAN, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE CAR TRIP IS EQUAL TO TEARING DOWN A HOUSE OR WHATEVER THIS THEIR MAP CLAIMS TO BE.
'CAUSE IT'S, YOU CAN JUST LOOK IN PRACTICE, IT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC.
AND WE CAN'T, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
SO JUST TEAR DOWN WHAT'S LEFT IN AUSTIN IN THE NAME OF WHATEVER WOKE THING YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
AND I GOTTA SAY LIKE, MY NEIGHBORS DON'T LIKE IT AND IT TEARS UP EVERYTHING.
AND WE GOTTA REPAVE THESE STREETS SO OFTEN 'CAUSE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND, UH, NOT TO MENTION THE AMOUNT OF TIRES I GO THROUGH PERSONALLY,
BECAUSE OF ITS, EM, I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WE ARE, AND I THINK THE PLAN DOES WITH THIS IDEA ABOUT PRESERVING THOSE OLDER HOUSES, UM, ADDING DENSITY WHERE IT'S POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK I THINK IT COULD BE A BOTH AND NOT JUST, UH, IT'S EASIER, IT'S FASTER TO, TO TEAR, TO SCRAPE A LOT AND BUILD NEW.
AND I THINK FIGURING OUT THAT EASY AND FAST, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE HOW, HOW CAN WE AT LEAST THROUGH THE CITY, IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION AND ALSO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES SO THAT WE'RE NOT, WE ARE NOT PUTTING OUR, OUR THUMB ON THE SCALE TOWARDS DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE, BUT WE HAVE TO ALL ADMIT FIRST THAT IN PRACTICE IT'S CURRENTLY NOT.
UM, RECENTLY, I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN ALTER'S OFFICE THAT, UH, PUSHED FOR THIS, UH, SUSTAINABILITY, UH, PLAN TO KIND OF MOVE FORWARD.
AND I THINK THERE'S A TASK FORCE THAT JUST HAPPENED WITH THE, I FORGOT SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE.
UM, BUT I THINK THEY'RE GONNA CITY COUNCIL IN MAY.
AND I, UM, ONE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR PLAN DOES HAVE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, IT'D BE NICE, UM, I'M WORKING WITH OUR COMMISSION TO TRY TO GET A LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES SPECIFICALLY.
SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOUR COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WORTH MENTIONING TO CITY COUNCIL JUST TO HAVE THAT VOICE AND A LETTER OFFICIALLY ON PAPER FOR, HEY, HERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT THE DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN COMMISSION SEE SUSTAINABILITY AND WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS? AND I KNOW WE HAVE OUR OWN COMING FROM A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION FROM THE PLAN, BUT YOU ALL MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL THINGS ON SUSTAINABILITY TO ADD TO THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S AN EXTENSIVE DOCUMENT AND THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK PUT INTO IT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT, HOW IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE.
UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT.
[7. Update and discussion regarding actions related to the Downtown Commission taken at the last Music Commission meeting and on short-term rental opportunities to support Hotel Occupancy Tax from music support in Downtown.]
AN UPDATE AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ACTIONS RELATED TO THE, EXCUSE ME, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION TAKING AT THE LAST TAKEN AT THE LAST MUSIC COMMISSION MEETING AND ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FROM MUSIC SUPPORT IN DOWNTOWN.AND SO DO WE HAVE, IS THIS JUST A, UH, A DISCUSSION ITEM CHAIR? UH, THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, BASED ON I GUESS MY, UH, GARBLED UNDERSTANDING ABOUT, UH, FOR COMMISSIONER, UH, AND CHARLOTTE PATTERSON WHO MENTIONED MAYBE AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING I COULD HAVE GARBLED IT.
UM, SO, UH, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, UH, THROWN A HELPLINE TO YOU, BUT I TRIED TO, UH, DO A WORD SALAD HERE TO HOPE THAT IT ACTUALLY MET SOME INTENT OF YOUR DESIRE.
UH, SO I DID, UM, GIVE A PREVIEW OF THIS IN THE LAST MEETING.
UM, SO I, I'LL TRY NOT TO DUPLICATE THAT INFORMATION TOO MUCH, BUT JUST A BROAD OVERVIEW.
UM, MUSIC, UH, COMMISSION HAS A JOINT WORKING GROUP WITH ARTS AND, UH, AND IT'S THE URBAN CORE LAND USE WORKING GROUP.
AND ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE'VE TACKLED IN THAT IS, UH, THE CHALLENGE OF UNLICENSED SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOSS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES FOR THE CITY ARE NOT CON, ARE NOT COLLECTED BY UNLICENSED RENTALS.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO ISSUES AROUND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, THERE'S NOT INFORMATION, THERE'S COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT IN A CITY'S DATA BASE.
I MEAN, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME, YOU KNOW, WITH BEING UNLICENSED, ESSENTIALLY THE TOURISM COMMISSION, UH, HAS TAKEN, HAD TAKEN THIS UP SEPARATELY AND THEY FORMED A WORKING GROUP SPECIFIC TO UNLICENSED SHORT TERM RENTALS AND, AND HOW THE CITY CAN FORM A BETTER PROCESS.
AND SO THE, OUR, OUR WORKING GROUP HAS WORKED WITH THEIR WORKING GROUP.
AND SO I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK, UM,
[01:50:01]
THIS OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS DOWNTOWN AS WELL AND HAVE THIS COMMISSION TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION IF, IF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE.SO ESSENTIALLY THE BASED, UM, PARTLY ON WORKING WITH PLATFORMS AND, UH, THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE, THE ARTS AND MUSIC WORKING GROUP, THE TOURISM COMMISSION WORKING GROUP ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAS COME FORTH WITH A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THEY ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION AT THE, AT THEIR FEBRUARY MEETING, AND THEY ARE MEETING WITH COUNCIL OFFICES AND THEY'LL BE MEETING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I THINK, UM, NEXT MONTH TO TRY TO GET SUPPORT TO PASS THEIR RESOLUTION.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S, WHAT SORT OF THE PROBLEM AND WHAT THEIR RESOLUTION ADDRESSES.
SO COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY, I HATE TO INTERRUPT COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, BUT I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN, UM, BRING THIS BACK NEXT MONTH.
UH, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON, UH, I KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY, UM, BUT WE HAVE LOST QUORUM AND SO WE ARE, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
THAT'S, UM, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
SO I, I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IS IF YES, WE CAN BRING THIS BACK, UH, TO THE NEXT MEETING POSSIBLY AS AN ACTION ITEM AND WE COULD, SO SOMETHING, SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER CHAIR, BUT I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
UM, AND I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE TOURISM COMMISSION I CAN SHARE WITH CHRISTINE IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THOSE WITH THE COMMISSION.
IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOST QUORUM, UH, IT IS 7:38 PM AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION IS NO LONGER IN SESSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT, AND AS ALWAYS, I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, HAVING TWO EMPTY SEATS KILL.