[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
I'M GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH IS LO THERE.
THOSE ARE LOCATED IN AUSTIN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN.
UM, MEMBERS WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS LAY OUT THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE DAY, UH, AND, AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL FIRST HEAR THE CONSENT AGENDA ON THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL HEAR FROM CONSENT AGENDA, SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL IN PERSON.
EACH PERSON WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES ON EACH ITEM FOR WHICH THEY SIGNED UP.
WE WILL THEN HEAR NON-CONSENT SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON.
ITEM NUMBER 34 IS THE ONLY ITEM THAT HAS CURRENTLY BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, BUT NON-CONSENT ITEMS ALSO INCLUDE ITEMS REFERRED FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES, WHICH ARE ITEMS 56 AND 57 ITEMS RELATED TO IMMINENT DOMAIN.
AND PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, WHICH ARE ITEMS 60 THROUGH 64.
WHEN WE TAKE UP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE WILL THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM WILL BE HEARD DURING THAT ITEM WHEN THAT ITEM IS CALLED UP.
AND NOT WITH THE CONSENT SPEAKERS, UNLESS IT JUST WORKS BEST FOR YOUR, YOUR SCHEDULE AND YOUR CALENDAR, WE'RE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LET THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE KNOW THAT SO THAT, UM, IF YOU'RE REGISTERED ON A CONSENT AND A NON-CONSENT ITEM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THAT AND, AND, AND DO THAT, UM, IN A WAY THAT ACCOMMODATES THE, THE, THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UM, AT THAT TIME, IF THINGS ALLOW WHERE WE, WHEREVER WE ARE IN TERMS OF TIMING, IF IT'S 10 30 OR AFTER, I WILL CALL TO, UH, I'LL RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CALL TO ORDER THE A-H-P-F-C MEETING, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THAT ENTITY.
THEN WE WILL, WHEN WE FINISH THAT, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE HAVE A 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, AND THAT IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSIC.
AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE TWO O'CLOCK IS THE TIME CERTAIN RELATED TO ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
UM, I'M GONNA READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 72 SHOULD READ A VALID PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REZONING CASE.
ITEM NUMBER 76, WE SHOULD ADD AS A SPONSOR TO THAT ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UH, MEMBERS, ITEM 34, AS I INDICATED, IS THE ONLY CONSENT ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL TAKE THAT UP AS A PULLED ITEM.
I, UH, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE, UH, RECEIVED THE KIND OF CONTACT THAT I'VE RECEIVED WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM AND THE, THE, UH, DISCUSSION, THE PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS OCCURRED SINCE TUESDAY WHEN IT, WE HAD THE, UH, BRIEFING ON IT.
I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM SO THAT THERE'LL BE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO, UM, UH, REACH OUT TO US, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE, IT'S, IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL, UH, TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT BASICALLY FOR TWO DAYS.
SO WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, JUST BE PREPARED.
I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE, UM, BEFORE WE GOT STARTED.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO, UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY WANTING TO PULL SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT IS WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS, THE, WE, THEN WE WILL, UH, HAVE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Public Comment]
WILL DO IS ALSO TAKE UP A COMMENT, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT, AT THE CONCLUSION, CONCLUSION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.AS I INDICATED, UH, SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES ON EACH ITEM FOR WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US NAVIGATE, UH, THOSE SPEAKERS.
YOU, YOU MENTIONED CONSENT REMARKS.
AFTER WE VOTE, OR BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE, I'M SORRY.
AFTER WE VOTE THE WAY WE, WE NORMALLY DO IT, I'M JUST TRYING TO LAY OUT THE WAY WE NORMALLY DO IT.
I WAS WONDERING IF PERHAPS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE CONSENT REMARKS BEFORE WE ALL INDICATE HOW WE VOTE.
THAT'D BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST, BUT IF, IF THAT'S YOUR REQUEST, WE'LL DO THAT.
I JUST APPRECIATE INPUT FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM BEFORE WE VOTE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT.
APPARENTLY I DIDN'T READ THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ACTIONS.
[00:05:02]
HANG ON, I APOLOGIZE.UM, LET ME READ THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ACTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER, UH, TWO APRIL 16TH, 2024.
IT SHOULD READ APRIL 16TH, 2024, RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON A SEVEN TO ONE VOTE WITH CHAIR STONE VOTING AGAINST COMMISSIONERS TI OFF THE DAAS COMMISSIONER STY ABSENT AND WON VACANCY.
IT SHOULD ALSO READ APRIL 15TH, 2024 EC RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A 10 TO ZERO VOTE WITH ONE VACANCY.
ITEMS NUMBER FOUR, FIVE, AND 17 SHOULD READ APRIL 17TH, 2024, RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON A NINE TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS NAVARRO AND RIETTA.
ABSENT ITEMS 28 AND 32, SHOULD READ APRIL 10TH, 2024 RECOMMENDED BY THE AUSTIN AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION ON A 9 0 0 2 VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS TODD AND MAD ABSENT.
ITEM 63 AND 64 SHOULD READ APRIL 9TH, 2024.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON A 12 TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ OFF THE DAAS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT OMISSION.
FIRST SPEAKER IS TRACY WITT, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I LIVED IN SWEET HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CENTRAL EAST PLANNING AREA FOR 23 YEARS AND FOLLOWED LAND USE ISSUES SINCE ABOUT 2007.
CENTRAL TO THE INTEREST IN THIS AREA IS THE STAGNATION ALONG EAST 12TH STREET.
REALLY A HIJACKING OF THE PLAN FOR URBAN RENEWAL USHERED IN BY AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THE PLAN WAS ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STREET TO DELIVER A MIX OF DAILY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EXISTING AND NEW BUILDINGS.
IN MY OPINION, LACK OF PROGRESS IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AMALGAMATION OF SO MUCH PROPERTY BY ONE HOLDING COMPANY.
IN THE 15 PLUS YEARS, EUREKA HAS BEEN ACQUIRING PROPERTY IN THE RENEWAL AREA, AND AS FAR EAST AS AIRPORT BOULEVARD NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE MET WITH THE SUCCESSION OF THEIR LOBBYISTS TO EACH TURN AND OF TELLING US NO PLANS, NO PLANS AT THIS TIME.
THEN IN SEPTEMBER, 2019, EUREKA PRESENTED AT AN URBAN RENEWAL BOARD MEETING ITS CONCEPTUAL VISION PLAN DUB EAST AUSTIN FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENTIRE STREET.
IT APPEARED TO ME TO CONTAIN LITTLE SUBSTANCE, BUT THE IMPRESSION WAS AN INTENT TO SUPPLANT THE COMMUNITY VISION IN THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, AND PERHAPS EVEN THE PLAN ITSELF.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CENTRALIST CONTACT TEAM MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON TO ASK FOR HER TAKE ON THE STATUS AND RELEVANCE OF EUREKA'S PLAN.
SHE SAID SHE HAD MET WITH EUREKA MANY TIMES, BUT YET WE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE EUREKA PLAN.
SHE WASN'T SURE IT WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
AND NOW HERE IT IS CITED IN RESOLUTION 76 AS A BEACON FOR 7 8 7 0 2 VISION.
IT'S LAUDABLE TO FORMALIZE A LIST OF HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ASSETS THAT SHOULD SURVIVE IH 35, NEWEST AND MOST BRUTAL ASSAULTS ON EAST AUSTIN TO FLOURISH AND SUSTAIN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IF THE ZIP PLAN ENDS UP BEING AN ASSAULT ON ALL THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, AND CTDS AND CODS OF 7 7 0 2, IT WILL CONFIRM THE WARNINGS OF THOSE WHO SEE SO MUCH PRETENSE IN THE NOTION THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS BENIGN AND INTENDED TO PROTECT THIS AREA FROM DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES NEARLY EVERY MEETING, THIS COUNCIL AMPS UP PRESSURE AND APPROVES EGREGIOUS ENTITLEMENTS VIA THE PPA TOOL ALL OVER EAST AUSTIN, WHICH ALLOWS OPPORTUNISTS TO WALK AWAY WITH HUNDREDS OF FEET OF ADDITIONAL SITES AND THE COMMUNITY WITH VIRTUALLY NO BENEFITS OF ITEM 67 TODAY.
THAT ASSAULT YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IMMEDIATELY IF ONLY YOU WOULD.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU OFTEN NOTE THAT YOU'RE PLANNING AND VOTING FOR RESIDENTS 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
SOMEONE ELSE WAS SUPPOSED TO PLAN FOR US RESPECTFULLY.
THE COMMUNITY DID PLAN AND WORK TO SUSTAIN THOSE PLANS FOR OURSELVES AND THOSE WHO COME LATER, AND GOD WILLING, MANY OF US WILL BE HERE TO FILL THOSE NEW, NEW FOLKS IN ON WHETHER THEY AND THEIR PLANS MATTER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL KETTE ON ITEM 77.
HI, I I'M, I AM ASKING YOU A COUNCIL MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTE YES FOR ITEM 77.
UH, UNO, THE PROGRAM WE HAVE IN WEST CAMPUS HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE SHINING STARS SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, UH, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT HAS CREATED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, A VAST NETWORK OF BEAUTIFUL, REALLY NICE TO USE SIDEWALKS WITH, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, NICE STREET LIGHTING, UH, TREES LINING, UH, TREES, LINING ALL THE STREETS, UM, WIDE SIDEWALKS, BENCHES.
UM, IT, IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL PLACE AND WE, IT'S MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR WEST CAMPUS.
[00:10:01]
THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, TIME TO BOTH LOOK AT, CAN WE IMPROVE ON THIS? CAN WE MAKE IT, UH, BIGGER? UH, YOU KNOW, CAN WE MAKE IT HELP MORE PEOPLE AND CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER? CAN WE IDENTIFY THE THINGS THAT, UH, HAVEN'T GONE WELL? AND I THINK THAT, UH, THE ITEM 77 IS A REALLY GREAT START AT LOOKING INTO THOSE QUESTIONS.NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING ON ITEM 76.
HELLO, MY NAME'S GRAYSON AND I LIVE IN MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVEN'T PREPARED ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME I SPEND PREPARING COMMENTS, NOT REALLY HEARD AT COUNCIL, I DEFINITELY THINK 7 8, 7 0 2 NEEDS TO SOME TYPE OF PRESERVATION ACT.
UM, AND I'M, I'M WONDERING HOW THIS PRESERVATION WILL WORK IN THE FACE OF ALL OF THE, THAT HAS HAPPENED ALREADY WITHIN THE CITY AND 7 8, 7 0 2.
HOW DO WE PRESERVE WITH DB 90? HOW DO WE PRESERVE WITH HOME AND HOME? TWO, I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE INITIAL PART OF DB 90, HOME AND HOME.
TWO, THE PRESERVATION OF CURRENT HOMES AND CURRENT NEIGHBORS RESIDENTS VERSUS ALLOWING ALL THE UP ZONING, GIVING OUT ENTITLEMENTS, AND THEN THINKING ABOUT PRESERVATION BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO ROLL THOSE THINGS BACK.
UM, SO YES, I HAVE A LEGITIMATE QUESTION FOR YOU OF HOW WILL YOU ALL SOLVE THIS WITHOUT DEVELOPERS INPUT AND SPEAKING AND LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.
AND THAT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.
SO I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM MY COUNCIL PERSON, NATASHA HARPER MADISON.
PLENTY OF TIMES I COME TO COUNCIL AND I ASK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE NEVER GIVEN, AND THIS IS A REAL ONE.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? AND WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ALERT US? I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PRESERVATION 7 8, 7 0 2, BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE LATE.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO IN-PERSON, SPEAKERS.
FIRST SPEAK IN-PERSON, SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN, WHO REGISTERED FOR ITEMS 4 25, 30, 35, 36, 43, 48, 49, 50, 51, 75, 76, AND 77 FOR A TOTAL OF 39 MINUTES.
AND TRUST ME, I WILL NOT BE SPEAKING THAT LONG, BUT I DO THANK BILL BUNCH AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS FOR WHAT HE DID BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OUR RIGHTS TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES ON EACH ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.
I'M MONICA GOSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN, BAMO AUSTIN.
TODAY YOU'RE SCHEDULED TO APPROVE ITEM FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A SWIFT LOAN TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AUSTIN'S WATER ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD THING TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT IT.
GABA'S POSITION IS, YES, WE SUPPORT IT AND WE ALSO URGE YOU TO APPLY FOR A SWIFT LOAN TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION IMPROVEMENTS MENTIONED IN GABA'S CALL TO, EXCUSE ME, ACTION REGARDING LOCAL FLOODING AND MITIGATION.
OUR CALL TO ACTION STATE, SPECIFICALLY FLOODING AND OTHER CLIMATE EMERGENCIES ARE AFFECTING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES TODAY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS WE CAN TAKE ACTION TO MITIGATE RISK, SAVE LIVES, AND IMPROVE OUR HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE INFO.
AND, WHOOPS, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT FOR Y'ALL.
THAT WAS INFO AND SAMPLE LETTERS BELOW.
AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPLY FOR THAT SWIFT LOAN.
GAVA GAVA STAFF GAVA COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MONEY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING, ESPECIALLY IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS SUCH AS DISTRICT TWO TO ADDRESS ISSUES.
THAT'S LOT TO LOT FLOODING DUE TO THE OVER APPROVAL OF OVERDEVELOPMENT.
BASICALLY, WE NEED YOU TO STEP UP, GET THAT LOAN AND PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIVES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS GUS PENA, REGISTERED FOR ITEMS 8 35 36 37 38 39, 40 45 FOR A TOTAL OF 24 MINUTES.
WOULD YOU STATE THE NAME AGAIN, PLEASE? I'M ON MY WAY, GUS PENA.
[00:15:11]
SAY THAT FIRST ONE AGAIN.OKAY, WHAT ITEMS? UH, ITEMS 8 35.
UH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, GUSTAVO PENA FROM THE EAST SIDE, EAST FIFTH STREET, THE, THE, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE, UH, BEEN, UH, UM, IN THE, IN THAT AREA.
NOW, WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS NUMBER ONE IRS, SPECIAL AGENT.
SO THERE'S NO, SO THERE WILL BE A STINK BETWEEN ME AND ALSO SOME TROUBLEMAKERS OVER HERE, UH, AT THE POLICE OFFICERS.
SO ANYWAY, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING, UH, INTERESTING FOR Y'ALL.
UH, ALL THESE ITEMS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO ALL THAT IN, IN 30 MINUTES OR WHATEVER.
I JUST WANNA WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW I APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH, EVEN THOUGH I'M TOUGH ON Y'ALL.
ONE, ONE THING AND AND THEN I'M GONNA LEAVE WHEN I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
PLEASE, I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY, BUT I'M BUSY ALSO.
I'M RUNNING FOR ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL POSITION.
UH, OUR GOVERNOR WANTED ME TO BE UN ESTABLISHED.
BUT THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT THESE, ALL THESE, UH, ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT OFF.
I GOTTA GO PICK UP MY, MY BABY GIRL AT SIX.
SHE'S SIX YEARS OLD AND SLAUGHTER.
BUT, UH, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
I KNOW I'M TOUGH ON Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, JESUS, WHEN I NEED, UH, TO SEE YOU.
IT IS BECAUSE IT'S VERY CATASTROPHIC.
AND I NEED FOR YOU TO SET UP A MEETING WITH ME AND YOU, AND, UH, I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IT, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1968, AND I APPRECIATE THE APPRECIATION THAT WHEN Y'ALL, UH, CLAPPED FOR ME.
AND, BUT WE FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 19 69, 19 68 WHEN I, UH, I LEFT FOR THE MARINE CORPS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR YOU, FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO.
I KNOW YOU SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT WITH THE FAMILY, BUT, UH, BE WITH THE FAMILY BECAUSE THEY GROW UP QUICK AND THEY MOVE OUT, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, UH, I HAVE TO GO, UH, UH, TO, TO PICK UP MY BABY GIRL EVERY, EVERY TIME AT THREE O'CLOCK.
SO I NEED TO GO, I JUST WANT TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL.
WE STILL NEED SOME MORE HELP OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, JESUS GARZA, UH, SET UP A MEETING FOR FORWARD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH, REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 30 36, 43, 51, AND 76 FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES.
MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO AUSTIN.
UH, BILL BUNCH WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I WILL, UH, START WITH NUMBER 30.
THE LONGHORN DAM UPGRADES $22.8 MILLION.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THERE.
I HOPE Y'ALL INSIST THAT THIS GET INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT.
UM, IT REFERS TO WIDENING AN UNDERPASS, UH, SOUTH OF THE DAM.
AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S REFERRING TO THE UNDERPASS THAT ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH THE DAM.
IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED FOR THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THAT I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO ADD TO THIS PROJECT THAT WOULD COST ALMOST NOTHING IS A PORTAGE ACCESS JUST BELOW THE DAM TO FACILITATE PEOPLE WHO ARE CANOEING, KAYAKING, UH, ON THE LAKE, WHO WANT TO CONTINUE DOWN RIVER, OR THEY'RE ON THE RIVER AND WANT TO GO UPSTREAM.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE GARBAGE AND OLD CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS TO NAVIGATE THE BANK OF THE RIVER JUST BELOW THE DAM.
SO WE NEED THAT CONNECTIVITY FOR PEOPLE ENJOYING THE RIVER BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE DAM.
[00:20:01]
THAT.UM, ON NUMBER FOUR, THE WATER METER LOAN, $25 MILLION, UH, FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A GOOD THING.
UH, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR VIRTUALLY ZERO BACKUP TELLING YOU WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PROGRAM.
IT REFERENCES THAT THIS IS AN ADD-ON TO AN $80 MILLION LOAN FROM 2016 FOR THIS, UH, WATER METERING PROGRAM.
UH, WHERE ARE WE? WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO? WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT MONEY? UM, YES, WE WANT METER READING BE AUTOMATIC SO WE'RE NOT SENDING PEOPLE OUT.
AND IT REFERENCES SORT OF GAINS IN, YOU KNOW, REDUCING TRAFFIC, PEOPLE TRAVELING AROUND TO MEASURE IT 'CAUSE IT'S NOW, UH, ELECTRONIC.
UM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT DETECTING LEAKS, BUT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE WORD HERE IN YOUR RESOLUTION ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS METER AUTOMATIC METERING PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE PUSHING AND INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR WATER USE AND HOW THEY CAN REDUCE IT AND TELLING THEM WHEN THEY'RE USING TOO MUCH.
UM, THIS SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR WATER CONSERVATION PLANNING.
IT'S NOT, AND IN FACT, WHAT YOUR WATER UTILITIES DOING IS THEY'VE BASICALLY ABANDONED ANY MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT TO WATER CONSERVATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO UPDATE FOR THE, FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE WATER TASK FORCE THIS WEEK, IT'S CALLING FOR IMPROVING WATER CONSERVATION BY, UM, 0.075% PER YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT'S ABOUT AS MINIMAL OF A GOAL, UH, AS YOU CAN SET WITHOUT SAYING YOUR GOAL IS TO DO NOTHING.
AND THIS IN THE FACE OF OUR WORST WATER DROUGHT, POTENTIALLY RIGHT UPON US, IN THE FACE OF WHAT YOUR WATER UTILITY'S.
ALSO NOT TELLING YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER AVAILABILITY IN THE HIGH LAKES BEING A FRACTION OF WHAT IT'S BEEN COMPUTED TO BE FOR, UH, FOR THE PAST DECADES BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY MEASURED AND SEEN THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS, UM, WE SHOULD BE GOING DOUBLE TIME ON CONSERVATION AND INSTEAD WE'RE BACKSLIDING.
UM, THERE'S, FOR THE FIRST TIME, LITERALLY SINCE THE SEVENTIES, OUR CONSERVATION GAINS, UH, HAVE PLATEAUED.
WHEREAS BEFORE, FOR THESE DECADES, SINCE THE SEVENTIES OR EIGHTIES WE'VE BEEN, OUR, OUR, UH, CONSERVATION GAINS HAVE MATCHED POPULATION GROWTH.
SO OUR TOTAL WATER USE HAS BEEN ROUGHLY FLAT, AND NOW IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOW IT'S GOING BACK UP FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER TO ALLOW THAT TO BE, AND THIS METERING PROGRAM SHOULD BE PART OF THAT.
UM, NUMBER 51, THE TREE INVENTORY.
OF COURSE, THIS IS A GREAT THING.
IT'S CALLED FOR TREE INVENTORY, TREE PLANTING.
IT CALLS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TREE INVENTORY, BUT IF YOU READ THE RESOLUTION, IT SAYS PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY, EVERY PLACE THAT IT SAYS PUBLIC, THAT NEEDS TO BE EITHER STRICKEN OR IT NEEDS TO SAY A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREE INVENTORY.
UM, THERE'S NO WAY OUR TREE INVENTORY IS COMPREHENSIVE OR EVEN PARTICULARLY THAT HELPFUL OR MEANINGFUL WHEN YOU'RE NOT INVENTORYING OUR, UH, PRI TREE CANOPY ON PRIVATE LAND.
UH, THAT SHOULD BE FUNDAMENTAL TO THIS.
AND IT SHOULD DOCUMENT RIGHT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE START GETTING BULLDOZING OUR, UH, URBAN TREE CANOPY ON PRIVATE LAND BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE WITH HOME PHASE ONE AND WHAT YOU'RE COMP, UH, PROPOSING TO DO WITH HOME PHASE TWO.
UH, IF WE'RE GONNA REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR TREE CANOPY, WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS.
IT DOES COUGH FOR A MAINTENANCE PLAN.
ALSO, THE MAINTENANCE PLAN NEEDS TO START TOMORROW BY, UH, DOCUMENTING ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE TREES IN OUR PUBLIC PARKS THAT ARE DONE BY THE MOWERS.
UM, WE NEED TO BE CUTTING WAY BACK ON OUR MOWING.
UM, IT'S WASTE OF GAS, IT'S NOISY.
UM, WHEN YOU CUT IT TOO SHORT, THEN EVERYTHING DRIES OUT.
WE'RE GROSSLY OVER MOWING OUR, OUR PARKLAND AND PROBABLY OUR OTHER PUBLIC LANDS.
AND IF YOU WALK IN ANY PARK AND LOOK AT THE BASE OF THE TREES, YOU SEE SCARS FROM THE MOWERS ON ALMOST EVERY TREE
[00:25:01]
THAT NEEDS TO STOP, UH, TOMORROW.SO PLEASE ADDRESS THIS, MAKE IT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO SA FOR SAVE AND PROTECT THE TREES.
WE HAVE, UM, LET'S SEE, UH, MENTION THE LONGHORN DAM UPGRADES, REPETITIVE LOSS RESOLUTION NUMBER 43 FOR FLOODING.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IN THERE THAT IT INCLUDES SURVEYS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE'RE HAVING FLOODING OF HOMES AND OTHER STRUCTURES OUTSIDE OF DESIGNATED FLOOD ZONES, AND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON, UH, LOCALIZED LOT TO LOT FLOODING BECAUSE WE'RE PAVING MORE THAN WE SHOULD BE.
UM, AND YET THE MITIGATION THAT IS CALLED FOR IS TO FLOOD PROOF.
THE, THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEING HARMED BY THE FLOODING FROM THE PAVEMENT THAT'S ON SURROUNDING PROPERTIES THAT'S ABSOLUTELY BACKWARDS, THAT'S MAKING THE VICTIM PAY FOR ABUSE AND LACK OF ENFORCEMENT, QUITE FRANKLY, FROM THE CITY STATE LAW RE PROHIBITS A PROPERTY FROM HARMING A DOWNSTREAM PROPERTY FROM OVERLAND FLOW.
WE NEED TO BE ENFORCING THAT AND HOLDING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUSING THE DAMAGE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THAT SHOULD BE FEATURED, UM, NOT COMPLETELY LEFT OUT WHERE WE'RE FORCING THE VICTIMS TO PAY FOR THAT LOT TO LOT FLOODING.
UM, MY LAST TOPIC I'LL ADDRESS IS THE RESOLUTION TO INITIATE A COMPREHENSIVE, AND YOU'RE CALLING IT HOLISTIC PLANNING FOR THE ENTIRE AREA CODE OF 7 8 7 0 2, RIGHT AT THE TOP, YOU LIST A BUNCH OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS EAST AUSTIN ZIP CODE.
UM, IT'S A REAL SLAP IN THE FACE TO NOT NAME, UH, PODER AND GAVA IN THAT LIST.
I THINK THE WORK THEY'VE DONE IN THE ZIP CODE IS PHENOMENAL.
AND, UM, AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHOULD BE LISTED THERE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, AND, AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY EMBRACES COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SEVEN, BE IT RESOLVED STATEMENTS, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF 'EM IS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN 7 8 7 0 2, LIKE CONFERRING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THESE INITIAL FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION.
THAT'S A, UH, THAT'S A QUOTE FROM THE FINAL BE IT RESOLVED.
THERE'S NO DIRECTION HERE TO ACTUALLY INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY IN DEVELOPING THIS PLANNING PROCESS AT THE OUTSET.
THAT SHOULD BE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE LIST TELLING THE CITY MANAGER TO GO, YOU KNOW, IN HIS HIDE HOLE AND COME OUT WITH SOMETHING.
AND, UH, NEXT FEBRUARY IS PLANNING BACKWARDS AND UPSIDE DOWN.
UH, BUT IT'S INDICATIVE OF THE WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR PLANNING PROCESSES.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AND THE ZILKER PARK PLANNING FIASCO IS, IS EXHIBIT A.
UH, THERE WAS PUBLIC INPUT, BUT THEN YOUR STAFF TOTALLY DIS DISRESPECTED AND MISREPRESENTED THE PUBLIC INPUT THEY WERE GETTING AND TRIED TO SAY THAT PUBLIC INPUT WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR PLAN, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST, UH, ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THAT PLAN.
UH, AND CERTAINLY EVERYTHING THAT COSTS MONEY AND CALLED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO LET, LET'S START BEING HONEST AND, AND DECENT AND HAVE SOME FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY AT CITY HALL.
AND LET'S KICK OFF THIS 7 8 7 0 2 STUDY, RIGHT BY REWRITING THIS RESOLUTION AND PUTTING IT POINT BLANK THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, NOT JUST, UH, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE WHO HAVE MONEY PARKED IN 7 8, 7 0 2, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY GROUPS, UM, NOT JUST LIST THEM AND SAY, OH, WE'RE GLAD THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE STILL HANGING ON, BUT THERE'S NOTHING SAYING YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE.
REGISTERED ON ITEMS 30 49 AND 51 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
HOW TO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB, UM, 37.4%.
[00:30:01]
THE CAPACITY IN LAKE TRAVIS TODAY.THAT IS OUR WATER, THAT IS OUR WATER SUPPLY, THAT IS OUR BANK.
IF YOU HAD YOUR BUDGET, WHICH YOU DO AHEAD OF YOU, AND A BUDGET SHORTFALL, WHICH YOU DO HAVE, AND YOU LOOK AT THIS AS OUR WATER SAVINGS, AND THEN LOOK AT OUR WATER BUDGET, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
SO PLEASE FACTOR WATER SUPPLY INTO EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE.
ALSO FACTOR IN LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS COMING UP AND YOU NEED TO BE ONLINE AND LOOKING AT THOSE, BUT IT FEELS KIND OF SILLY TO STAND UP HERE AND TALK TO TWO PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, AND I'M SURE THAT THE OTHER SPEAKERS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
UM, AND I'M GLAD WE'VE GOTTA RETURN TO DEMOCRACY.
I HOPE WE WON'T BE HERE UNTIL TWO IN THE MORNING, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN BEFORE, AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU WON'T BE HOME IN TIME FOR DINNER, BUT YOU CAN CALL OUT AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST.
UM, LET ME ADDRESS IF I COULD, UM, ITEM 30 AND SAY THANK YOU.
UH, SIERRA CLUB ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THIS, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, BUT ALSO THE PLAZA THAT IS PLANNED IN THE MIDDLE THAT WILL BE A BOON FOR EVERYONE USING THE TRAIL, BUT HOPEFULLY AN ECONOMIC BOON FOR THE AREA THERE.
AND SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT.
AND, AND, UH, ALSO THANKS TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GREG CASAR.
NOW CONGRESSMAN GREG CASAR FOR BRINGING 4.1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP US FINISH THAT PROJECT.
UM, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
I I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH HOME, THAT THE INCREASED, INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND YES, I KNOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO STAY THE SAME, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO.
AND THE POTENTIAL, UH, TREE LOSS IS FACTORED INTO WHAT FLOODS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN AUSTIN AND THAT WE HAVE FLOOD, UH, WATER RETENTION THAT CAN BE USED AS POCKET PARTS.
THAT'S FOR MENTAL HEALTH ALSO.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN.
DOES CHILDREN A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD.
OH BOY, IT'S A THRILL NOT TO HAVE THE BUZZER GOING OFF ON ME ALREADY.
AND THEN 51 ON I BILL STOLE MY THUNDER AGAIN.
UM, YES, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT BE A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, TREE SURVEY SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT SORT OF TREE LOSS WE MIGHT BE FACING AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH, WITH INCREASED DENSIFICATION THROUGH HOME.
UM, I WISH IT WAS INCREASED AFFORDABILITY, BUT IT WON'T BE, IT'S JUST GONNA BE SLIGHTLY LESS EXPENSIVE.
AND WITH THE ADDITION OF A, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR A THIRD BEDROOM, THAT WILL MAKE IT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, UH, HAS A STUDY SHOWING THAT THE TARGET FOR THIS, UH, THESE, THIS KIND OF HOUSING, THEY'RE YOUNGER AND THEY REALLY DON'T WANT THAT THIRD BEDROOM.
THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS AFFORDABILITY AND THEY DON'T WANT THE THIRD BEDROOM.
AND SO THAT KIND OF FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE MARKET.
UM, AND WITH THAT, DON'T HIT THAT BUZZER YET, MR. MAYOR.
BE SURE TO BRING YOUR UMBRELLAS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JJ RAMIREZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 34.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LORRAINE ATHERTON SPEAKING ON ITEM 36, AND YOU WILL GET THREE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, ITEM 36 WOULD ALLOW A PROJECT IN PLAZA SALTILLO TO PAY A FEE IN LIEU INSTEAD OF PROVIDING ON ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND THEY ALSO WANT TO, UH, UH, UH, BASE THE FEE ON FEE IN LIE ON A BONUS AREA ONLY,
[00:35:01]
LIKE THE AWFUL, AWFUL PUD FORMULA.I'M, UH, UH, HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATION AGAINST THE FEE IN LIEU, AND I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE FEE IN LIEU AND ALSO NOT GET SUCKED BACK INTO THE AWFUL BONUS AREA CALCULATIONS.
STICK WITH THE, THE VERY HIGH STANDARD THAT YOU'VE SET FOR THE, UH, PLAZA SALTILLO, UM, UM, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS FELICITY MAXWELL SPEAKING ON ITEMS 48 51 AND 77 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, MAYORS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS FELICITY MAXWELL, D FIVE RESIDENT AND AURA BOARD MEMBER OF AURA.
I'M HERE PRIMARILY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 77 TODAY, AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
IN FAVOR SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 77 REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY NE NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY OR UNO.
LAST SPRING, AURA WAS PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE UT AUSTIN D DEMS IN DRAFTING A LETTER REGARDING STUDENT HOUSING TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO CADRE, IN THAT LETTER WE HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL LONGSTANDING ISSUES WITH THE UNO POLICY THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE DESIRE FOR MORE HOLISTIC HOUSING SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
SINCE THEN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN DELIVER STAFF DELIVERED A STUDENT SPECIFIC HOUSING SURVEY.
WE RECEIVED AN IN-DEPTH REPORT ON THE SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES OF THE OVERLAY IN WEST CAMPUS.
AND TODAY WE SEE THE INITIATION OF A BROAD SET OF REFORMS THAT ARE THE FIRST STEP SINCE THAT LETTER LAST SPRING.
DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM MANY, MANY UT STUDENTS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE WHEN COMING TO AUSTIN.
LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATION, COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRI HOST SEVERAL LISTENING SESSIONS AND BEEN JOINED BY MAYOR WATSON TO ENSURE THAT THIS VERSION OF UNO LOOKS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER.
HOW AS A CITY CAN WE BEST ADDRESS THE HOUSING NEEDS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE UT AUSTIN UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE STUDENT POPULATIONS? I'M HARDENED THAT THESE SAME QUESTIONS AND NEED A DIALOGUE ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED.
MORE BROADLY, HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE THE HOUSING NEEDS OF STUDENTS AT ST.
EDWARDS HOUSTON TILSON AND OUR NUMEROUS A CC CAMPUSES? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOOD STUDENT HOUSING POLICIES CITYWIDE ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME TO AUSTIN TO WORK AND LEARN IN AUSTIN, AND TO STAY IN AUSTIN, ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND CULTURALLY.
AS A HOUSING ADVOCATE, I CAN DEFINITIVELY STATE OUR CITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROACTIVELY PLANNING AND ADDRESSING FOR THE ACCOMMODATION NEEDS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
THE DIRECTION TODAY FOR UNO 3.0 CONTINUES THAT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I LOOK FORWARD TO SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING LOCAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BEYOND WEST CAMPUS SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS TEXAS AND AROUND THE WORLD KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A HOME WAITING FOR THEM HERE IN AUSTIN.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THIS HARDWORKING D NINE STAFF, THE ADVOCACY OF DAN KESHET, RYAN NE ISABELLE.
WE CAREY, AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY FORMED UT STUDENT ATTENDANCE UNION WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH PAT PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED CITIZENS WHO CARE ABOUT GETTING UNO RIGHT FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE UT STUDENTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS NEEVA FERNANDEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 50 ON DECK IS CHRISTOPHER PAGE SPEAKING ON ITEM 76, YOU'LL GET THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS NEVA FERNANDEZ, I'M THE DIVISION DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL.
UM, THAT INITIATIVE IS A MODEL FOR HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I CAN'T THINK OF HONESTLY ANOTHER GROUP THAT HAS WORKED SO COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES.
IT'S WELL WORTH OUR TIME AND WE SURE DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTOPHER PAGE.
ISABEL WEBB CAREY SPEAKING ON ITEM 77.
RYAN NIL SPEAKING ON ITEM 77 ON DECK, JOAN SALANA.
[00:40:12]
HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.I WORK WITH BOTH OF THE WEST CAMPUS STUDENT HOUSING COOPERATIVES, THE COLLEGE HOUSES, AND THE ICC AUSTIN AND I WORK WITH THEM ON REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS SUPPORTING ITEM 77.
THE UNO RESOLUTION STUDENT CO-OPS HAVE EXISTED IN AUSTIN SINCE THE 1940S.
THE FIRST ONE, THE GUILD WAS BUILT BY HAND BY ITS MEMBERS.
THE THE FIRST ONES THAT MOVED INTO IT IN THEIR 80 YEAR HISTORY.
UM, THEY'VE SEEN MANY CHANGES.
THE EARLIEST CO-OPS HOUSED MEMBERS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION AND THEN THEIR KIDS FROM THE COUNTERCULTURE GENERATION.
AND THEN IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES, AFTER SOME NEW HUD PROGRAMS AND THE NATIONAL CO-OP BANK, THEY WERE ABLE TO GREATLY EXPAND THAT EXPANSION THAT STOPPED IN THE LATE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES DUE TO A SAVINGS AND LOAN CRISIS.
AND THEN WITH THE UNO ESTABLISHED IN 2004, YOU BEGIN TO SEE CO-OP GROWTH AGAIN AND CHANGES IN THE CO-OP COMMUNITY.
UH, WHEN I LIVED IN WEST CAMPUS, I STARTED IN 2007 AND I GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE EARLIEST UNO BUILDINGS AND WAS EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THE NEW BODEGA JUST DOWN THE STREET.
ADDITIONALLY, THE UNO TRUST FUND, UH, WHICH FUNDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WEST CAMPUS, UH, WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT AND RESTART THE GROWTH FOR CO-OPS IN WEST CAMPUS.
UH, THE TRUST FUND HAS ONLY BEEN USED FOR THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN ITS 20 YEAR HISTORY.
AND ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE FOR HOUSING CO-OPS.
SO THE CO-OPS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE UNO RESOLUTION.
WE HOPE Y'ALL WILL VOTE FOR IT TOO.
IT'LL DEFINITELY MAKE WEST CAMPUS A MORE LIVABLE PLACE.
THAT BODEGA WAS NICE, BUT WE STILL HAD TO HAVE A MEMBER DRIVE TO HEB OR RESTAURANT DEPOT TO BUY FOOD FOR ALL OF MY 20 HOUSEMATES.
A LOCAL GROCERY STORE WOULD HELP IMMENSELY AS MOST STUDENTS DON'T NEED OR OWN CARS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED WILL LEAD TO MORE FUNDING INTO THAT TRUST FUND AS I WORK WITH THE CO-OPS AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE CO-OPS IN WEST CAMPUS.
ISABEL WEBB CAREY SPEAKING ON ITEM 77.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING ITEM 77 YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO I AM A STUDENT, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL, I LIVE ON 21ST STREET, CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR THE CO-OP MUSIC AS WAS JUST MENTIONED, UH, EXPERIMENTAL DJ MUSIC MOST NIGHTS, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO CAMPUS TO KNOW THAT IT'S ABOUT A 10 MINUTE WALK OR A FIVE MINUTE ONE RUN WHEN I'M RUNNING A LITTLE LATE TO CLASS
I AM NOT FROM HERE, BUT I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE FOUND COMMUNITY IN WEST CAMPUS.
SURE, IT'S SMELLY, IT'S FULL OF STUDENTS AND PROBABLY NOT THE IDEAL CONDITIONS.
THERE IS A FAMILY, BUT TO ME IT IS HOME.
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE FRIENDS AND THE REAL CHOSEN FAMILY I HAVE FOUND THERE.
LIVING SO CAMP CLOSE TO CAMPUS HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO WELL IN CLASSES.
IT'S ALLOWED ME TO TAKE ON JOBS AND TAKE PART IN EXTRACURRICULARS AND AGAIN, FIND THOSE COLLEGE FRIENDS AND LIVE THAT EXPERIENCE, WHICH I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS OTHERWISE.
AS CO-FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION, I'VE HELD MANY A TOWN HALL WITH PEOPLE ACROSS WEST CAMPUS WHO HAVE COME TO US WITH ISSUES AND TOLD STORIES THAT SHOW THAT WEST CAMPUS ISN'T ALL THAT IT COULD BE.
THERE ARE LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHOUT WINDOWS OR CAN'T AFFORD FOOD BECAUSE THE NEAREST GROCERY STORE IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET TO THE WITHOUT A CAR.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS AND CAN'T GET ACROSS STREETS AND HAVE HAD TO PHYSICALLY GET OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS AND DRAG THEMSELVES BECAUSE THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT.
THIS RESOLUTION OPENS UP POSSIBILITIES AND I THANK EVERYONE IN DISTRICT NINE AND ALL OTHER COLLABORATORS FOR THIS PORT, THIS ISSUE.
GO AHEAD AND, UM, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY TODAY.
I, I'M, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, SPEAKING IN REGARD TO ITEM 76 ABOUT, UH, THE, THE PLANNING REVISIONS FOR 7 8 7 0 2, UH, THE RESOLUTION IS KIND OF OVERLY VAGUE AND THE AMBIGUITY RAISES SOME CONCERNS THAT IT COULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR UNWARRANTED DEVIATION FROM DEFINED PLANNING AND ZONING PRACTICES IN A WAY THAT EXCLUDES OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY IMPACTS CONSTITUENTS LIVING IN 7 8 7 0 2.
[00:45:01]
UM, I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF A LOT OF THE INTENT BEHIND IT.UH, AS YOU KNOW, THROUGH A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT I'VE SET UP HERE IN PAST DAYS, UH, THE PROBLEMS THAT IT SEEKS TO ADDRESS, AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE ARE VERY REAL.
UM, AT A MINIMUM I'D LIKE TO OFFER THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
LINE NINE THROUGH 16 SHOULD INCLUDE, UH, PEOPLE ORGANIZING IN DEFENSE OF EARTH AND HER RESOURCES, ALSO KNOWN AS PODER.
IT'S BEEN A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR EAST AUSTIN, PARTICULARLY FOR SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN OH TWO.
UM, ORDINANCE SHOULD CALL OUT ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT ARE HOLLOWING OUT THE COMMUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY SPECULATION SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND DISCRIMINATORY APPRAISAL PRACTICES.
IT'S UNCLEAR AFTER REDEVELOPMENT OF BLOCKS 16 AND 18 SUPPORT DEVIATION FROM DEFINED PLANNING AND ZONING PRACTICES.
THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 1999, AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE BLOCKS HAS, HAS SPAN NEARLY A DECADE.
IT'S ALSO UNCLEAR, UH, WHAT VISION PLAN LINES 1 0 5 THROUGH, UH, 1 0 8 IS REFERRING TO.
IF IT'S THIS THAT'S, THAT'S A PRIVATE DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED, UH, BY A SPECULATIVE HOLDING COMPANY THAT'S BOUGHT UP A WHOLE LOT OF PROPERTY ON 12TH STREET.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESSES WRITING OUR PUBLIC POLICY EXCEEDS THEIR AUTHORITY AND IT USURPS YOURS.
UM, LAST THING REGARDING, UH, LINES ONE 12 THROUGH ONE 19.
THE CAP IS OBVIOUSLY A WELCOME IMPROVEMENT OVER JUST TO UNMITIGATED EXPANSION BY 35, BUT IT ALSO DOESN'T CREATE A SEA TIDE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE INFLUENCE OVER LAND USE UP TO TWO MILES AWAY.
UM, SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THIS RESOLUTION IF IT HASN'T ALREADY PASSED.
I'M SORRY I GOT HERE LATE TODAY.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT 7 8 7 0 2.
IF YOU'VE HEARD, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
YOU GET THREE MINUTES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT DOWN.
YOU CAN USE THE ONE AT THE PODIUM IF YOU'D LIKE.
MY NAME IS EDMOND BATISTA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BOTH LIVED AND RIGOROUSLY RESEARCHED THE DYNAMICS OF WEST CAMPUS AS A FORMER UT STUDENT AND DEEPLY INTEGRATED INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
THROUGH MY ADVOCACY, I FIND IT NECESSARY TO ADDRESS SOME OVERLOOKED ASPECTS OF THE RESOLUTION.
THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY HAS UNDOUBTEDLY SHAPED THE LANDSCAPE OF WEST CAMPUS, BRINGING BOTH GROWTH AND CHALLENGES.
HOWEVER, THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY STILL LOOMS LARGE IMPACTING STUDENTS AND ALIKE STUDENTIFICATION, MUCH LIKE GENTRIFICATION TRANSFORMS NE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT CAN LEAD TO A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO DISPLACEMENT AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION.
THE STORY OF WEST CAMPUS IS NOT JUST ONE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ALSO A NARRATIVE OF COMMUNITY EVOLUTION AND DIVERSITY.
MUCH LIKE THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT PROVIDED BY WHEATVILLE WHEATVILLE, ONE OF THE FIRST FREEDMAN TOWNS IN TEXAS REPRESENTS A CRUCIAL CHAPTER IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
THE AREA'S TRANSFORMATION FROM A VIBRANT AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO A STUDENT DOMINATED NEIGHBORHOOD ATE ENCAPSULATES THE BROADER THEMES OF GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT THAT WE SEE TODAY.
THE NARRATIVE OF WHEATVILLE PROVIDES A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNCHECKED DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE WITHIN OUR PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES.
THE RESOLUTION WHILE AIMED AT ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR STUDENTS IN WEST CAMPUS, SIDESTEPS A CRITICAL DIALOGUE ABOUT THESE BROADER IMPACTS.
IT FOCUSES ON STRUCTURAL AND AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF DISPLACEMENT AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
AS A FORMER DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION IN 2021, I ADVOCATED FOR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT REFLECTED THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO MARKET FLUCTUATIONS.
THE CURRENT RESOLUTION WHILE FORWARD THINKING IN AREAS SUCH AS MOBILITY AND DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRES A MORE ROBUST FRAMEWORK FOR AFFORDABILITY THAT TRANSCENDS CONVENTIONAL HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT MODELS.
THEREFORE, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT STRONGER MEASURES TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY, AVAILABILITY OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING UNITS SIGNIFICANTLY COMMIT TO POLICIES THAT PREVENT THE COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF STUDENT HOUSING, AND ENSURE THAT AFFORDABILITY IS NOT SACRIFICED FOR PROFITABILITY, SUPPORT, HOUSING, COOPERATIVES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED MODELS.
BY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, WE CAN DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT NOT ONLY IMPROVES THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE, BUT ALSO PRESERVES THE SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY
[00:50:01]
AND VIBRANCY OF WEST CAMPUS.THIS APPROACH WILL BENEFIT NOT JUST CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS, BUT ALL RESIDENTS, AND ENSURE THAT WEST CAMPUS REMAINS A DYNAMIC AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR TIME.
HANG ON MR. WILEY, WILL YOU MAKE SURE THAT SCREEN? THERE YOU GO.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE MORE PRECISELY, UM, DOWNTOWN, LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM UNO.
I'M HERE TO TALK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 77 IN, UM, ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF ITEM 77.
UM, UNO IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TODD IN IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S ARGUABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TODD IN THE THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE'VE, UH, WE HAVE WELL OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WHO USED TO HAVE TO GET TO WORK, WHICH FOR THEM MEANS SCHOOL, BUT THEY USED TO HAVE TO GET TO WORK OTHER WAYS THAN WALKING.
AND IF THE CITY WANTS TO REALLY TAKE TO HEART THE GOAL OF 50 50 MODE SHARE BY 2039, WE NEED TO BE REALLY BOLD.
WE NEED TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 'EM WHEN THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN JANUARY VOTED, UH, TO, THEY RECOMMENDED TO YOU ALL TO REMOVE THE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, UH, IN, UM, INNER WEST CAMPUS.
AND THE VOTE WAS 10 TO ZERO WITH THE MOTION MAKER NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE MEETING.
I'M GONNA COUNT THAT AS 11 TO ZERO.
HOW MANY THINGS CAN YOU GET 11 TO ZERO ON IN THIS CITY WHEN IT COMES TO ZONING? UM, PART OF THE PROP, UH, PROPOSAL IS TO EXPAND, UM, THE BORDERS FOR INNER WEST CAMPUS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS IN REAL ESTATE IS WHEN YOU SET A BORDER AND PEOPLE KNOW IT'S GONNA CHANGE, UM, THINGS START TO CHANGE THERE.
WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE AREAS ON IN WEST WEST CAMPUS THAT COULD REALLY USE A FACELIFT.
UM, THEY COULD PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING TO, TO MORE PEOPLE.
I, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, AND IN, IN ADVANCE, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ICC AUSTIN AND I SHAMELESSLY WORE OUR T-SHIRT.
SO YOU CAN SEE OUR LOGO, LET IT BURN INTO YOUR BRAIN.
UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE PROPERTIES ON WEST CAMPUS, EIGHT OF THEM, WHICH WOULD BE AFFECTED BY, UM, ARTICLE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 77.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY WE ALL KNOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IMPORTANT FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS.
UH, BUT EXISTENTIALLY, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF COOPERATIVE LIVING HOUSING IS, UH, REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING THAT ALAN GRAHAM MENTIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS WRITINGS.
HE BELIEVES THAT ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE CONTRIBUTORS TO HOMELESSNESS IS THE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
COOPERATIVE LIVING PROVIDES A FAMILY SETTING WHERE 15 TO 35 MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE, THEY SHARE THE KITCHEN, THEY SHARE THE LABOR, THE CHORES, TAKING CARE OF THE HOUSE, TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, UM, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, WHICH IS A HUGE MISSING COMPONENT IN UNITED STATES WESTERN CULTURE.
WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO, UM, PRACTICING COMMUNAL LIVING AND SUPPORTING IT.
AND WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 200 BEDS THAT WE HAVE IN, IN, UM, WEST CAMPUS.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP US EXPAND TO 1500 BEDS.
SO FROM 200 TO 1500 BEDS, A THOUSAND PERCENT INCREASE.
THIS IS GONNA ALLOW US NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH YOUNG ADULTS HOW TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, THEIR FRIENDS, AND THE PEOPLE IN THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT'S, UM, I AM A PRODUCT OF STUDENT HOUSING, AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING.
I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GAIN UPWARD MOBILITY FROM GENERATIONAL POVERTY WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH MY COLLEGE CAREER.
[00:55:01]
VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THANK YOU QUADRI FOR MAKING THAT A PASSION OF YOURS.IT'S, IT'S VERY PERSONAL AND VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE, UM, CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UH, MADAM CLERK MEMBERS YOU HEARD, JUST HEARD.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
LET ME ASK THE COUNCIL IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS THAT WISH TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, I'LL, I'LL POINT OUT THAT ITEM NUMBER 77, YOU HAVE A VERSION TWO OF THAT ITEM.
SO THAT WOULD BE, THE ITEM THAT WOULD BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 77, VERSION TWO.
WHAT I'LL DO IS ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE WILL GO TO COMMENTS, AND THEN I WILL ASK FOR ABSTENTIONS, RECUSALS OR NO VOTES.
SO, UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THE MAYOR PRO TIM? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VALA, WE HAVE A MOTION.
UH, THE FIRST THING THAT WE WILL DO IS I WILL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I HAVE YOU.
UM, SO I'LL, I'LL PUT YOU DOWN.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS, UH, TEE UP A VIDEO THAT, UH, OUR CONGRESSMAN CASAR HAS SENT AND ASKED US TO PLAY, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM THAT HE BROUGHT, UH, UH, $4.1 MILLION TO US.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT HIT GO MAYOR, MANAGER COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S CONGRESSMAN GREG CASAR, AND I WANT TO START OUT BY THANKING EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I KNOW SO MUCH OF THE WORK OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY HARD AND CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING, BUT TODAY YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON YOUR AGENDA THAT IS SO WORTH CELEBRATING THAT I WANTED TO SEND YOU THIS MESSAGE, THE LONGHORN DAM BRIDGE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE WISHBONE BRIDGE THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH BY COMMUNITIES ON THE EAST SIDE AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
EVER SINCE I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THIS BEING ON YOUR AGENDA TO FINALLY GO INTO CONSTRUCTION IS SUCH AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU AND THE STAFF FOR GETTING US THIS FAR.
THIS WISHBONE SHAPE BRIDGE IS GONNA CONNECT ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR CITY, FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE NORTH SIDE, WITH AN AMAZING PLAZA RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER.
AND IT'S REALLY GONNA CREATE THE KIND OF PUBLIC SPACE THAT AUSTINITES DESERVE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN TRULY ENJOY.
WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE WORK SO MANY HOURS AND WORK SO HARD TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RISING COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN, BUT HAVING AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER AND CROSS AND EXERCISE AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER REMINDS US WHY IT'S WORTH LIVING IN.
AUSTIN REMINDS US ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND CAN CREATE THE KIND OF ICONIC PUBLIC SPACE THAT GENERATIONS TO COME OR REMEMBER AND BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PASSING THIS ITEM.
UH, AND THANK YOU TO YOU ALL AND TO YOUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, AND MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND THE MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH ME TO DELIVER THE $4 MILLION GRANT DIRECTLY THROUGH MY OFFICE, UH, TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE KIND OF BRIDGE IN THIS LOCATION THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE THRILLED ABOUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PO RENTER, WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, I'LL NEVER FORGET HIM SAYING, MAN, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE DESIGN FOR THIS BRIDGE.
NOBODY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO FORGET BEING ON THIS BRIDGE.
BUT MAN, I, I WONDER IF WE'RE EVER GONNA HAVE THE MONEY TO REALLY BUILD OUT THE COMMUNITY VISION.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALONGSIDE MY OFFICE, ALONGSIDE, UH, YOUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A, ONE OF A KIND ICONIC BRIDGE THAT EAST AUSTIN DESERVES.
UH, I KNOW THAT'S UNUSUAL, BUT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, UH, THAT GOT US THAT EARMARK FOR THAT, UM, WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A NICE WAY TO DO THAT AND HEAR FROM HIM.
AND, UM, UH, AS I, I'M ANTICIPATING THAT, UH, THE VOTE'S GOING TO GO.
I HAD BEFORE WE WERE GONNA DO THAT AFTER THE VOTE, BUT, UM, UH, I ANTICIPATE THAT VOTE'S GONNA GO.
UM, AND SO, UH, THAT VOTE WILL BE A RESOUNDING EXCLAMATION MARK ON OUR THANKS TO THE CONGRESSMAN FOR WORKING TO GET THAT MONEY, UH, EARMARKED FOR THIS.
AND IT WILL BE AN ICONIC BRIDGE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU TO CONGRESSMAN CASSAR.
I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TIM POOL.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UM, YOU HAVE AN ITEM, I THINK IT'S A FEE WAIVER FOR MAY FEST, AND THERE WAS A BIT OF A, A GAP IN THE FUNDING AND I WANTED TO ADD $500 TO THAT.
IT'S ITEM 45, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE, TO THE ITEM.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON ITEM 77, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU HAD ME AT WINDOWS
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I, I DO WANNA BRING EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO ITEM 48.IT'S AN ITEM THAT I'M BRINGING TODAY.
UH, IT'S A RESOLUTION THAT ASKS THE CITY MANAGER TO LAUNCH A PASSIVE BUILDING PILOT PROGRAM.
PASSIVE BUILDING USES INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENT AND RESILIENT BUILDINGS, UH, THAT REDUCE ENERGY AND REDUCE THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE AUSTIN ENERGY RESOURCE GENERATION PLAN UPDATE IS COMING SOON, AND A KEY STRATEGY WITHIN THAT PLAN IS TO REDUCE THE NEED ON DEMAND OR USER SIDE.
THESE KIND OF BUILDING TECHNIQUES, PASSIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES, CAN HELP IN THAT REGARD.
AND IF PROVEN SUCCESSFUL, THIS PILOT COULD BE EXPANDED TO IMPROVE BUILDING EFFICIENCY STANDARDS CITYWIDE.
I, UH, BIG WANNA OFFER A BIG THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELA ELLIS CADRE, AND RYAN AL ALTER.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR EARTH DAY.
IT'S IN ITS 54TH YEAR AND HAPPENING THIS YEAR ON MONDAY, APRIL 22.
I ALSO WANNA MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF AN EARTH DAY EVENT HAPPENING ON SATURDAY, APRIL 20 FROM NOON TO 5:00 PM AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALLISON ALTER FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 50, WHICH ASKS THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE UNMET NEEDS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SEX CRIMES UNIT.
UM, SEVERAL OF US HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THIS DIS DIVISION AND THEIR WORK IS ESSENTIAL IN A LARGE CITY OF OURS.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THE CHANGES MADE IN VERSION TWO OF ITEM 77, SPECIFICALLY LISTING OUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, WHICH I ASKED THROUGH THE Q AND A, AND I'M JUST VERY PLEASED THAT YOU INCORPORATED THAT INTO VERSION TWO AS VERY THOUGHTFUL OF YOU.
AS OUR CITY GROWS AND WE CONSIDER MORE DENSE HOUSING POLICIES, IT'S VITAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PARTNERS TO FIND COMPROMISE AND UNDERSTANDING.
AND FINALLY, IT IS WITH A MIX OF GRATITUDE AND SADNESS THAT I ANNOUNCED THE DEPARTURE OF THOMAS MCGREGOR, MY CHIEF OF STAFF.
OVER THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, MR. MCGREGOR HAS BEEN AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO OUR TEAM AND AN INVALUABLE ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
HIS LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY, CONSISTENTLY GUIDING US THROUGH CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS ALIKE.
MR. MCGREGOR'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE COMPLEXITIES, PRIORITIZE EFFECTIVELY, AND FOSTER POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DISTRICT SIX, ACHIEVING OUR SHARED GOALS AND PROPELLING OUR CITY FORWARD.
AS THOMAS MOVES ON TO NEW ADVENTURES, WE'RE FILLED WITH APPRECIATION FOR HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND HIS GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
HIS ABSENCE WILL BE FELT AND WE WILL MISS HIS ENTHUSIASM, CREATIVITY, AND METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN EVERYTHING HE UNDERTAKES.
THERE WILL BE A HOLE IN DISTRICT SIX AS TODAY IS HIS LAST DAY WITH US, AND WE WILL MISS HIM.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE, UH, YESTERDAY.
THE LORD AND MY BODY REMINDED ME THAT I'M NO LONGER 23 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS AT THE GYM.
UH, SO I WILL BE OUT THE REST OF THE DAY, SO APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
UM, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON ITEM 36.
NORMALLY THAT ITEM WOULD GIVE ME PAUSE, UH, BUT HAVING ENGAGED, GET ENGAGED WITH PERSONALLY AND MET WITH PERSONALLY THE ISSA CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND CONTACT TEAM, THE SAME GROUPS THAT ORIGINALLY ORGAN, UH, UM, ORGANIZED AND NEGOTIATED THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AROUND THIS, UH, PROJECT.
I WANTED TO RESPECT THE COMMUNITY'S WISHES TO SUPPORT THE FEE IN LIEU FOR CENTRAL EAST.
UH, ON THIS OCCASION, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH HOUSING STAFF AND BEEN ASSURED THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE REINVESTED IN THE PLAZA, D-O-T-O-D, WITHIN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.
OUR OFFICE, UM, OUR FOCUS IN MY OFFICE REMAINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UM, BEFORE I MAKE MY REMARKS, I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THAT I BELIEVE THERE WAS A VERSION TWO FOR 76 AS WELL.
I WANNA, THERE WA THERE WAS, AND, AND I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP.
SO THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
UH, MEMBERS, THE VERSION TWO ON 76 IS THE VERSION THAT WE ARE VOTING ON, ON THE MOTION FOR THE, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, SO FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, REGISTER OF A NO VOTE ON ITEM 36.
I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UM, BY VOTING.
I'M IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOW FEE IN LIEU.
UM, IN THIS CASE FOR THAT ONE.
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OVER OVERALL, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AGENDA, IT'S REALLY A PACKED AGENDA WITH MANY, MANY GREAT ITEMS THAT MANY OF US HAVE WORKED ON OVER THE YEARS.THERE'S INCREASED FUNDING FOR PRIMETIME AND VICTORY TUTORIAL PROGRAMS AT A-I-S-D-S-T-I TESTING, ELIMINATING WINDOWLESS ROOMS, OUR TREE CANOPY.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THREE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY THOUGH.
FIRST, MY RESOLUTION ITEM 49 DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PILOT OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE AQUATIC FEES AND INCREASE POOL ACCESS THIS SUMMER.
THIS BUILDS OFF OUR EXPERIENCE LAST SUMMER WHEN PARD EXTENDED THE SWIM SEASON AND WAIVE FEES AT CERTAIN POOLS DURING A HEAT WAVE.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT FURTHER EXPLORATION THIS SUMMER WILL ALLOW US TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY SURVIVE THE HEAT AND MAKE SOME POLICY DECISIONS ON POOL FEES DURING THIS UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE.
I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS, VELA VELAZQUEZ, AND RYAN ALTER, AS WELL AS PART STAFF.
ADDITIONALLY, ITEM 50 BUILDS ON THIS BODY'S LONGSTANDING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO REFORMING OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE'VE MADE REALLY GOOD PROGRESS IN THIS AREA, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD TO GO.
ITEM 50 DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR UNMET NEEDS AT EPD FOR THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
AND I WANNA THANK, UM, NEVA FOR SPEAKING AND TESTIFYING TODAY FROM THE COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
AND WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELA, FUENTES VELASQUEZ, AND KELLY, THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, WHICH PASSED, UM, MOTION IN SUPPORT AND THE DOZENS OF CITY AND COUNTY STAFF AND ADVOCATES WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE COLLABORATIVE COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL PROJECT.
WITH THIS PROJECT, WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO GO FROM FAILING OUR SURVIVORS TO CREATING A NATIONAL MODEL OF COMPASSIONATE AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE.
FINALLY, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM EIGHT AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RAISIN AND THE SUN AND THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
THIS PROJECT FURTHERS OUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED MY RESOLUTION BACK IN 2020 DURING THE PANDEMIC TO CREATE THE AC CC, MY INTENTION WAS THAT IT FILL NEEDS FOR THE CITY AND FOR AUSTINITES WHO ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
THIS ART PROJECT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IT ECHOES THE ARTWORK THAT GREW OUT OF FDRS ORIGINAL CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING NOT JUST WHAT I EXPECT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING ART PIECES, BUT ALSO THE CONTINUATION OF HOW THESE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LINK FOLKS TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR OUR LOCAL ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.
THANK YOU TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AC CC LEADERSHIP, AND THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR COLLABORATION ON THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TER, UM, THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR, UH, PATIENCE AND GRACE.
UH, WITH ME WORKING OUT OF MY OFFICE, I FIGURED I KEEP MY COLD TO MYSELF.
UM, I AM ALWAYS PLEASED TO SEE IT COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND A ISD.
UH, I ECHO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WHO HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF, OF SMALL HUMANS, UH, THAT INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDCARE AND PRE-K AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING IS EXACTLY HOW WE SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, AND FRANKLY OUR WORKFORCE.
UM, I WAS TOUCHED BY SOME OF THE WORKFORCE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND JUST RECOGNIZING HOW WE'RE SHORT AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN AN EFFORT TO OVERCOME THOSE SHORTAGES, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, INCLUDING CHILDCARE AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING.
UH, I'M JUST REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND HER OFFICE'S INITIATIVE, UM, TO WORK ON PRIORITIZING MORE RESOURCES TOWARDS CITY'S SEX CRIME RESPONSE WITH ITEM NUMBER 50.
AND IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT.
ITEM NUMBER 50, UM, WITH, WITHOUT, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 50.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ITEM NUMBER 76 REGARDING THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE PLANNING PRESERVATION.
AND, UM, UH, REALLY JUST RECOGNIZING, UH, THAT WE NEED TO HONOR, UH, FRANKLY, THE HISTORY OF 7 8 7 0 2.
I PERSONALLY, AND MAYBE SELFISHLY, THIS IS, UH, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I GREW UP IN THE MOST AS A TRANSIENT KID IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO, UH, I'M JUST FORTUNATE THAT I HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO GROW UP AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE 7 8 7 0 2 AREA HAS DEEP HISTORIC ROOTS, UM, PARTICULARLY WITHIN AUSTIN'S BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, FIRST START BY SAYING THAT I HAVE
[01:10:01]
A, A DEEP PROFESSIONAL, BUT ALSO A PERSONAL COMMITMENT.I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND MY CONSTITUENTS OF THE FACT THAT I AM A PRODUCT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT IT AS A STEWARD, UM, THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS IS WHERE MY FAMILY LIVES AND MY MY FRIENDS LIVE AND WHERE I GREW UP.
SO MY, MY COMMITMENT IS CLEAR, CRYSTAL CLEAR.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS CRUCIAL, UM, THAT AS WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT PRESERVING THE LANDMARKS, SUPPORTING CULTURAL INITIATIVES, AND RECONCILING FRANKLY, THE, THE IMPACTS OF PAST INJUSTICES, UM, THAT THIS PART OF TOWN HAS EXPERIENCED, UM, IN OUR REVISED VERSION TOO.
THANK YOU, UM, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND FOR RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, MR. MAYOR IN OUR REVISED VERSION TWO, UM, WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ON FURTHERING THAT WE ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, UM, UH, EXPECTATIONS, OUR ENGAGEMENT, RATHER EXPECTATIONS FOR THE INITIATIVE, UH, WILL BE POSTED ONLINE TODAY.
AND THAT'S JUST IN GENERAL AND ALSO IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTARY FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY.
THIS RESOLUTION GOES BEYOND PRESERVATION AND UPKEEP, THOUGH IT'S ABOUT EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE OUR ASSETS TO BRING MORE ATTENTION AND VISIBILITY TO THEM.
UM, JUST LAST MONTH, EAST 11TH STREET WAS NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 30 STREETS IN THE WORLD TO VISIT RIGHT NOW.
SO THE 7 8 7 0 2 AREAS NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE NOW.
UM, IT'S UNIVERSALLY CHERISHED AND A MEMORABLE PLACE FOR ALL OF AUSTIN AND OUR VISITORS.
SO THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP THIS AREA AND THESE FACILITIES ALIVE.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO US POURING, YOU KNOW, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF CARE, CONCERN AND ATTENTION TO THIS HISTORIC AREA AND, UM, AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ALL AS A COMMUNITY RECOGNIZE ITS IMPORTANCE.
SO, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 30, WHICH IS THE LONGHORN DAM BRIDGE AS PART OF THE 2020 SAFE AND ACTIVE MOBILITY BOND.
THE WISH PHONE BRIDGE AT LONGHORN DAM INCLUDES KEY FEATURES THAT WILL ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY OF THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL PARKLAND TO THE EAST.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS THAT STAFF HAD IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THAT VOTER APPROVED BOND.
IT WAS DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WILL ADD A NECESSARY CONNECTION FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTH EMBANKMENTS OF THE TRAIL ON THE EAST SIDE.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN KASSAR.
AS YOU SAW EARLIER, WE'VE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT CONGRESSMAN KASSAR, WHEN HE WAS ON THIS DAAS, WAS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF OUR MOBILITY BOND.
SO I KNOW HE CARES A LOT ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
THESE MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS CAN TAKE MANY YEARS TO FINALIZE THE DESIGN AND MOVE THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES.
WHEN I SPONSORED THE $460 MILLION SAFE AND ACTIVE MOBILITY BOND IN 2020, THIS WAS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF PROJECT THAT WE HOPED TO BUILD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE AIMED IN THAT EFFORT TO GAIN FUNDING FOR PREVIOUSLY PLANNED PROJECTS THAT WERE JUST WAITING FOR THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT TO BE, TO BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND.
SO I'M VERY EAGER TO SEE THIS BRIDGE MOVE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND TO SEE IT BECOME AN ICONIC PART OF AUSTIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON, UH, AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UH, ON ITEM 77, Y'ALL HAVE THE YELLOW COPY IN FRONT OF YOU OF VERSION TWO.
UH, AND IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, LAST NIGHT, UH, THIS RESOLUTIONS TO BEGIN THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY REVISION.
UH, I WANNA TAKE SOME TIME TO LAY OUT THIS ITEM FOR EVERYONE.
UH, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE WERE PLANNING TO DO A LOT FOR THE FOLKS IN WEST CAMPUS, BUT BECAUSE WE'VE MADE, UH, SOME MINOR CHANGES SINCE FILING AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK, UH, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE GOTTEN VERSION TWO, UH, IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
UH, AS I COVER THIS ITEM, I JUST WANNA UNDERLINE THAT THIS IS JUST THE RESOLUTION TO KICK OFF THE PROCESS, SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WE FULLY INTEND TO USE FOR FUTURE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ANY RELEVANT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UH, ITEM 77 IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THOUSANDS OF DISTRICT NINE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST STUDENTS.
UH, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE TO KEEP, UH, WEST CAMPUS AS VIBRANT OF A COMMUNITY AS IT IS, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYONE IN MIND.
UH, IT INITIATES AMENDMENTS TO UNO AS WE CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF IT FIRST BEING ENACTED BACK IN 2004, UM, A LONG WHILE AGO, I LIVED IN WEST CAMPUS.
I, I KNOW IT TO BE A, A GREAT COMMUNITY, UH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER, INCLUDING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO CALL IT HOME.
UNO WAS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED IN 2014 AND
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2019, AND NOW WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME AND GATHERED ENOUGH DATA TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OFFICE SUCCESSES.SO AS WE WORK TO UPDATE AND STREAMLINE OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, IT IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO ALIGN UNO WITH EAD AND PROJECT CONNECT GOALS.
BUT THIS RESOLUTION GOES BEYOND JUST IMPLEMENTING THOSE GOALS IN WEST CAMPUS.
SO I WANNA GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF, OF WHAT WE ALL TOUCH ON.
UH, THE RESOLUTION COMES FOLLOWING A CASE STUDY RELEASED LAST MONTH IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALDER, STUDENT HOUSING RESOLUTION, CONFIRMING THAT UNO HAS BEEN THE MOST, UH, EFFECTIVE DENSITY, UH, BONUS PROGRAM, UH, IN THE CITY.
UM, IT ALSO FOLLOWS OUR EFFORTS TO SEVERAL LISTENING SESSIONS AND MEETINGS WITH STUDENTS, STAFF ADVOCATES, UH, AND OTHER AREA STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, BUSINESS OWNERS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES.
UH, I THINK IT WAS SAID PREVIOUSLY, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK ONCE AGAIN, UH, ISABEL WEBB, CAREY, RYAN NEIL AND DAN KESHET FOR ALL THEIR WORK.
UH, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE ONGOING BUY-IN AND COOPERATION, UH, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE I BELIEVE, AND AS AN OFFICE, WE BELIEVE THAT UNO WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL, UH, WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER, BOTH AS A CITY AND AND THE UNIVERSITY.
UH, THE STUDENT-CENTERED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROPOSAL FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY, HOUSING JUSTICE, MOBILITY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY WITH IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS FURTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDOWS AND BEDROOMS, EXAMINING, EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF UNO, EXPANDING, UH, AMENDING HEIGHT LIMITS, EXPLORING COMMERCIAL OPTIONS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND ACCESSIBLE GROCERY OPTIONS, AND WORKING TO END THE WEST CAMPUS FOOD DESERT, FIXING A DA COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH SIDEWALKS AND RAMPS WHILE FURTHER EXPANDING SIDEWALKS IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE TOO SMALL TO SAFELY HANDLE THE FOOT TRAFFIC THAT THEY GET IN PEAK TIMES AND MANY MORE ITEMS WE'VE HEARD, AND WE EXPECT OTHER MINOR CHANGES TO BE REQUESTED, UH, WITH FURTHER ENGAGEMENT.
LASTLY, I WANT TO COVER THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO GET ON THE VERSION TWO THAT IT'S IN FRONT OF EVERYONE TODAY, UH, WHICH WE INCLUDED, BASED ON FEEDBACK RECEIVED SINCE FILING, UH, WE CLARIFIED POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS NEEDED FOR CO-OPS.
WE ADDED EXPLORATION OF POCKET PARKS AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE, AND, AND WE CLARIFIED STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS TO ENSURE THAT IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO A FUTURE ORDINANCE.
UH, TO WRAP UP, I JUST WANNA SAY I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT, UH, OF MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, JOSE VELASQUEZ, UH, RYAN ALTER, I BELIEVE COUNCILOR MARVELLA WANTS TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR
SO I DO, WITHOUT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCILOR MARLA, UH, WILL, INCLUDING HIS OBJECTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARLA WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILOR MARVELLA.
UM, AND I, I ALSO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE KIND WORDS FOR MAYOR PROTON POOL, UH, COUNCILOR KELLEY AND COUNCILMAN ALLISON ULTRA'S MESSAGE WERE POST, UH, LAST NIGHT.
UH, AND I ALSO WELCOME ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO JOIN AS A CO-SPONSOR, UH, AS WE, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT HOUSING MOBILITY, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE STUDENTS AT OUR FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY.
UH, I THINK I WENT OVER THREE MINUTES, BUT, UH,
COUNCIL MEMBER CAD, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES WILL BE SHOWN AS CO-SPONSOR AS WELL.
UH, THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT ITEM 51.
UH, IT'S RELATED TO DOING A COMPREHENSIVE TREE SURVEY FOR THE CITY, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE TREES ARE A CRITICAL PART OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST LIKE ROADS, PIPES, UH, AND THE ENERGY GRID.
AND JUST AS WE WOULDN'T OPERATE OUR WATER UTILITY WITHOUT A PIPE MAP, WE NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR TREE INFRASTRUCTURE TO KNOW WHERE OUR NEEDS ARE AND WHERE TO FOCUS OUR PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE.
UH, LUCKILY THERE ARE RECENT INNOVATIONS LIKE LIDAR AND AI THAT ALLOW US TO DO THIS QUICKLY, RELIABLY, AND CHEAPLY.
UH, THROW THROUGH A TREE SURVEY LIKE THIS AND CREATION OF A TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE PLAN, WE CAN GET OURSELVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO OUR AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN OF 50% TREE COVER BY 2050.
SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, ALL OF MY CO-SPONSORS, CITY STAFF, UH, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED WITH THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, JOIN THE, UH, ON 77 AND, AND JUST EMPHASIZE THAT REPORT WAS EXCELLENT AND, UH, HAD SHOWED HOW SUCCESSFUL THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY HAS BEEN.
IT IS OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PROGRAM, AND, UM, EXCITED TO SEE US MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL, UH, EXPANSIONS OF THAT PROGRAM.
UH, AND NOT ONLY IS IT SUCCESSFUL IN ITS CORE GOAL OF ADDING HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WEST CAMPUS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF, UH, OF TRIPS, IT REDUCES IT, IT REDUCED TRAFFIC ON I 35.
[01:20:01]
EMISSIONS, AND IT'S JUST BEEN SUCH AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM, UH, AND, UH, I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT, UH, CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER 76.
AS, AS WE INDICATED EARLIER, THERE WAS A VERSION TWO, BUT IN THE NAME OF BEING, UH, SAFE, I WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN FIND VERSION TWO.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN VERSION TWO SO THAT WE HAVE THAT IN THE RECORD, AND THERE'S NO LACK OF CLARITY ABOUT WHAT THE MOTION IS, AND THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THIS.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'LL READ THE PAGE IN THE LINE NUMBER OF THE CHANGES ON PAGE THREE.
THERE WILL BE AT LINE 59, THE ADDITION OF PLAZA SALTILLO ON PAGE FOUR AT LINE 83, IT WILL SAY HUDSPETH CORNER, AND THEN LINE 84 WILL SAY OVERTON HOUSE ON PAGE EIGHT, BEGINNING AT LINE 75, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO RECOMMEND AN ITERATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION PLAN FOR CONTINUING COLLABORATIVE, CONSIDERATE DRIVEN PLANNING EFFORTS OF THE INITIATIVE.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE PARTNERSHIP AND FEEDBACK FROM EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, COMMUNITY NETWORKS WITH A HISTORY OF ADVOCACY IN THE AREA, PROPERTY OWNERS AND MULTIFAMILY TENANTS.
AND THEN ON PAGE NINE, BEGINNING AT LINE 82, THE NEXT BULLET POINT, INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH THE CLEAR AND DISTINCT GOAL OF INCREASING DIVERSE PARTICIPATION BY THOSE CURRENTLY HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED OR NEGLECTED BY CITY CODE OR PROCESSES IN PLANNING FOR THE AREA, SMALL BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS GROUPS AND ARTS, CULTURAL MUSIC AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS.
ON PAGE NINE, IT WILL ALSO HAVE A FURTHER RESULT RESOLUTION.
AND AT LINE 80, BEGINNING, AT LINE 88, IT WILL SAY THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION SHOULD INCLUDE DELETE THE IDENTIFICATION OF A, AND SO IT WILL READ SHOULD INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT COMBINING EXISTING ADVISORY BOARDS AND STRATEGIES TO COALESCE THEIR EFFORTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ONGOING DIRECTION FOR HOLISTIC STEWARDSHIP ACTIVATION, AND SUPPORT OF PUBLICLY HELD ASSETS AND INITIATIVES WITHIN THE GREATER 7 8 7 0 2 AREA PERIOD.
AND DELETE THE, DELETE THE REMAINING SENTENCE THERE.
THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE CHANGES IN THAT VERSION.
AND THAT'S JUST THAT AS, AS A MATTER OF CAUTION TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COMPLETE MOTION, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ON ITEM 36.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I, I WAS WATCHING, BUT I JUST WANNA DOUBLE CHECK.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ABSTAIN, RECUSE, OR VOTE NO ON? UH, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN.
UM, BEFORE WE MOVE TO A HFC, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE, UM, US BEING ABLE TO VOTE AFTER THE CONSENT REMARKS.
IT ALLOWS US TO HEAR FROM OTHER FOLKS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
WELL, WE'LL JUST DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, ALRIGHT, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 11:24 AM AND I WILL
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Public Facility Corporation Meeting]
CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING AT 11:24 AM UH, THERE IS A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.WE ARE MEETING AT CITY HALL IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AND THE MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED, UM, ON, UH, ON APRIL 18TH, 2024.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT TO, UH, STAFF.
AND I'M VICE PRESIDENT, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[01:25:01]
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.I'M, UH, HERE TO BRING YOUR, UH, AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION.
UH, MEETING OF TODAY, APRIL 18TH.
UH, YOU HAVE ONE ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA.
IT IS A, UH, UM, PUBLIC HEARING FOR A, UH, ISSUANCE OF PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS FOR ESQUELA.
EVA, UH, THIS IS, UH, PROPERTY DEVELOPED BY GENERAL, UH, GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
UM, AND, UH, THIS WILL BE, UH, FOR A $35 MILLION, I BELIEVE, UH, ISSUANCE OF PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I, I WOULD REQUEST YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING MEMBERS ARE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? WITH THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AGENDA ITEM, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
FIRST SPEAKER IS RACHEL STONE.
ARE RACHEL OR SUSIE HERE? I SEE THEM RUNNING IN
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
I AM THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UM, THANKS TO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR HEARING MY COMMENTS.
I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 60, WHICH IS OUR SQUA NEVA PROJECT.
IT'LL BE 114 UNITS OF MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A FIRST FLOOR PRESCHOOL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ASLA MONTESSORI DE MONTOPOLIS.
AND WE ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE 2018, AND OUR, UH, EXCITED TO WORK WITH AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE STATE TO MOVE THE TAX CREDITS FORWARD AND GET SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT.
SO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS HERE AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT WE'VE HAD FROM THE CITY.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS SUSIE GU PLYLER, AND I'M A BORN AND RAISED NATIVE AUSTINITE.
I'M HERE TODAY ALSO TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE ASLAN WVA PARTNERSHIP PROJECT.
I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER OF ASLA FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THAT COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND, UH, DISPLACEMENT OF FAMILIES IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ADDRESSES BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.
UH, OUR SCHOOL WILL REMAIN, IF THIS GOES THROUGH, WILL REMAIN WITHOUT DISRUPTION OF CHILDCARE SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF THIS PROJECT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL ALSO NOT ONLY GIVE THE SCHOOL A NEW STATE OF THE ART BUILDING, BUT ALSO ALSO, UH, PROVIDE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR, UH, YOUNG FAMILIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS ALL THE WAY UP THE GAMUT.
SO, UM, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, THE SUPPORT FROM THE PARTNERS, AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, UM, ON THE LOAN AGENDA ITEM, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, THIS ITEM.
YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, SIR, PLEASE.
UM, UH, WHEN, UH, MS. STONE SPOKE, SHE, UH, MENTIONED ITEM NUMBER 60.
THAT IS A COMPANION ITEM TO THIS.
UH, AGENDA ITEM, UH, THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION TO BE HEARD LATER.
AND, AND WE WILL TAKE THAT UP, UM, AFTER WE GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, FROM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, SO, UH, BOARD MEMBER AL RYAN ALTER MOVES ADOPTION IS SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE ITEM IS ADOPTED.
AND, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION MEETING AT 11:30 AM I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 11:30 AM UH, MEMBERS, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IN TRYING TO, UH,
[01:30:01]
MANAGE THE AGENDA, LOOKING FOR, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN IS I'M GOING TO, UH, GO A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER, BUT I'LL TRY TO GIVE, GIVE YOU ADVANCE NOTICE.I'M GONNA GO TO ITEMS 56, 57 AND 58.
NOW, THOSE ARE ITEMS REFERRED FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES, AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES THEM NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE, I WILL FIRST BRING UP ITEM NUMBER 56
[56. Approve a resolution appointing Eliza May to the Central Health Board of Managers to fill a vacancy.]
AND ASK IS, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP ON ITEM 56? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 56.
THIS CAME FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
I WILL LET RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING ELISA MAY TO THE BOARD OF CENTRAL HEALTH TO FILL THE VACANCY.
THE, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 56.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 56 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[57. Approve a resolution re-appointing Anwar Sophy to the Sobering Center Local Government Corporation Board of Directors.]
NUMBER 57.UH, THAT IS ALSO AN ITEM THAT CAME FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
BUT BEFORE I TAKE A MOTION, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 57? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 57 MEMBERS.
ON ITEM NUMBER 57, I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR A MOTION.
THIS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ANWAR SOPHIE TO THE SOBER SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND SHE MOVED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES APPROVAL IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
ITEM NUMBER 57 IS APPROVED MEMBERS.
[58. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the Upper Harris Branch Wastewater Interceptor - Phase 2 project for the public use of installing wastewater infrastructure, requiring the acquisition of one wastewater easement being approximately 0.7589 acre of land (33,058 square feet), and one temporary working space easement being approximately 0.109 acre of land (4,748 square feet, consisting of two parts of approximately 3,067 and 1,681 square feet) being out of and a part of Lot 1, Block E, Dessau Park II, a subdivision in the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas, according to the plat thereof, recorded in Document No. 200100244, of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas and being out of and a part of the Samuel Cushing Survey Number 70, Abstract 164, Travis County, Texas; conveyed to Kunik QOZB, LLC in that certain Special Warranty Deed executed December 9, 2021, filed and recorded in Document No. 2021270556, Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas, currently appraised at $44,426 subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals or a Special Commissioner’s award. The owner of the needed property is Kunik QOZB, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The property is located at 1900 East Howard Lane, Pflugerville, Texas 78660. The general route of the project is in the Upper Harris Branch from Dessau Road to Harris Branch Parkway.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 58.UH, ITEM NUMBER 58 IS A NON-CONSENT ITEM BECAUSE IT'S AN IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEM.
LET ME ASK, UH, IF THERE IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 58.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 58 MEMBERS.
ITEM 58 HAS NO SPEAKERS ON IT.
SO WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER 58, WHICH IS A BE, IT'S A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM, THE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USE THAT'S DESCRIBED THEREIN.
THE MAYOR PRO 10 MOVES ADOPTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 58 WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 58 IS ADOPTED.
OH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, LET ME ASK, DO YOU WISH TO BE SHOWN VOTING ON THAT ITEM? HE, HE IS SHOWN VOTING AYE MEMBERS, LET'S NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER
[60. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Escuela Nueva LLC, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program to be known as Escuela Nueva located within the city of Austin at or near 2013 Montopolis Drive, Austin, Texas 78741.]
60.UH, THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AND IT'S ONE RELATED TO THE ONE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS JUST UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AT THE A-H-P-F-C MEETING.
SO LET'S TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 60.
UM, AND I WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60 AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
RACHEL, ARE YOU HERE? THAT IS THE ONLY SPEAKER.
UM, I THINK SHE TESTIFIED AT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE NO PUBLIC NO FURTHER, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 60.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT.
ITEM NUMBER 60, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 60.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 60 IS ADOPTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET'S GO
[63. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a Land Development Standards Interlocal Agreement with Pflugerville Independent School District.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 63, WHICH IS CONDUCT, UH, CONDUCTING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63, AND I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS REGISTERED FOR SIX MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
SO I'LL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 63, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 63.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 63 IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 64,
[64. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a Land Development Standards Interlocal Agreement with Del Valle Independent School District.]
WHICH IS THE CONDUCT OF ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING[01:35:01]
MEMBERS.I WILL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 64.
AND, UM, I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO TELL US ABOUT WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IF ANY.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE ARE ANY SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 64.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 64.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 64.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 64 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending the local amendments to the International Building Code in City Code Section 25-12-3 (Land Development) relating to the provision of natural light for sleeping rooms in new commercial buildings with residential occupancy. ]
GO TO ITEM NUMBER 62 AND I, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.FIRST SPEAKER IS JASON HASKINS.
MONICA GUZMAN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS JASON HASKINS AND I AM AN ARCHITECT.
AS A REGISTERED ARCHITECT, MY PRIMARY PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE IN AND AROUND BUILDINGS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE A LICENSED PROFESSION.
BUILDING CODES EXIST TO CREATE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF HEALTH, SELF SAFETY, AND WELFARE.
THEY'RE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
THEY INCORPORATE STANDARDS AND TESTING THAT WE CAN RELY ON VERIFIED BEST PRACTICES AND ASSEMBLIES AND CODE PROTECTIONS ARE ESPECIALLY CRITICAL IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE MARKET FORCES CONVENTIONAL PRACTICE AND GREED MOTIVATE AND INCENTIVIZE UNSAFE OR OPPRESSIVE PRACTICES.
WE PARTICULARLY NEED CODES IN CASES WHERE A SEVERE POWER IMBALANCE EXISTS BETWEEN THOSE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THEM.
AS WITH ALL SAFETY STANDARDS, THERE IS A CONSTANT PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN THE PERFECT AND THE GOOD BETWEEN BURDEN AND PROTECTION.
AND ULTIMATELY, IT IS FOR THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION THE CITY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND MANY DRAFTS OF POTENTIAL CODE LANGUAGE.
UH, MANY DISCUSSIONS AT THE A I A, UH, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS LOCALLY, UH, WE THINK THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE PROPOSED CODE LANGUAGE SUPPORTS THE HEALTH, SELF SAFETY AND WELFARE OF BUILDING OCCUPANTS IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR CITY.
THERE'S A WEALTH OF RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCING, UH, EXPERIENCE OUTLINING HEALTH BENEFITS OF DAYLIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO SLEEP CYCLES, CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, AND LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH WHERE BEDROOMS HAVE AN OUTSIZED IMPACT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR OTHERS, DISCOUNT CONCERNS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE VALUE OF STUDENTS.
BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, AS SOMEONE TRAINED IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH, WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER, INCLUDING FREQUENT SUICIDAL IDEATION, ACCESS TO VIEW IN DAYLIGHT WITHIN ONE'S PRIMARY, PERSONAL, PERSONAL SPACE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO MENTAL HEALTH.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A SUICIDE PREVENTION MEASURE.
AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARCHITECT, I AM ALREADY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE WINDOWS IN ALL BEDROOMS. T-D-H-C-A, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEFINITION OF A BEDROOM INCLUDES A WINDOW AND HUD GOES FURTHER AND REQUIRES WINDOWS AND LIVING ROOMS AS WELL, WHICH THIS CODE DOES NOT DO.
NOW, THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THIS ITEM WAS, UH, A BIT UNDERWHELMING, UM, AND DOES NOT FULFILL THE SMART HOUSING ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS AND WAS PROVIDED LATE AFTER THE START OF PUBLIC INPUT.
BUT I AGREE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT COSTS, ANY DEVELOPMENT COST IMPACTS ARE TO BE DISREGARDED.
JUST AS WE CANNOT OBJECT TO THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS OR A DA COMPLIANCE, THIS IS PROVIDING A BARE MINIMUM OCCUPANCY STANDARD ALREADY RECOGNIZED BY MANY STATE, FEDERAL, AND EVEN INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT AND EVEN ACCELERATING IT AHEAD OF THE 2024, UH, CODE ADOPTION CYCLE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS IRBY FOSTER, FOLLOWED BY MONICA GUZMAN.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM AND YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
UH, GARY BABBITT, DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING, UH, NEUTRAL ON THE ITEM OF WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS. UM, ON THIS ITEM, AS WITH ANY ITEM, UH, THERE ARE GOOD ARGUMENTS, UH, CAN BE MADE IN GOOD FAITH ON EITHER SIDE.
UM, WHEN THIS ITEM WAS INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER, I HEARD TALK ON THE DAIS, UH, USING THE WORD COERCION AND SUGGESTING THAT DEVELOPERS WERE COERCING COULD OR ALMOST COERCING PEOPLE TO LIVE IN A WINDOWLESS BEDROOM.
UM, I JUST WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THAT AND MAKE CLEAR THAT, UM,
[01:40:02]
IN LIFE THERE ARE MANY DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE AND IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING COERCED.UM, BUT TRUE COERCION THAT IS BEING FORCED TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST YOUR WILL, UNDER THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS PRETTY RARE.
UH, THERE'S A FEW AREAS IN LIFE WHERE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
UM, ONE WOULD BE PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
ANOTHER WOULD BE VIOLENT CRIMINALS TAKING OR LYING, CHEATING, AND STEALING FROM PEOPLE.
BUT BY AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, THE LARGEST NEXUS OF COERCION IN THE WORLD IS THE GOVERNMENT.
IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT IS DEFINED AS THE BODY WITH A MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE, A MONOPOLY ON COERCION.
SO, UM, I HAVE HEARD SINCE 2013, I HAVE HEARD ON AND ON THAT LANGUAGE MATTERS THAT WORDS MATTER.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT DOES NEED A GOVERNMENT.
WE DO NEED COERCION SOMETIMES.
UM, WE DON'T LIVE IN SOME ANARCHICAL CAPITALISTS, RANDY AND RONALD, IAN SPACE FAIRING COWBOY PARADISE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE F THE FLAG OF TEXAS HAS NOT BEEN PLANTED ON MARS.
STREAMED LIVE ON X, AT LEAST NOT YET.
BUT HERE IN THIS UNIVERSE, IN THIS WORLD, IN THIS REGION OF SPACE AND TIME, WHEN WE ARE DRAWING THE LINES BETWEEN FREEDOM AND COERCION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO IS COERCING WHO.
UH, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS IN MY EARLIER TIME, BUT, UM, I'M MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT, STRICTLY SPEAKING IN THAT CAPACITY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
WHILE, UM, I NEVER HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO BEING IN A ROOM OR EVEN A, A HOME WITHOUT A WINDOW, I CAN ONLY TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO A PERSON, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, LACK OF NATURAL LIGHT THAT CERTAINLY INCREASE THEIR ELECTRIC BILL WITH WHATEVER LIGHTING THEY WOULD NEED TO PUT IN THERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE RULES ABOUT BUILDING IN TERMS OF RESIDENTIAL BEYOND THAT UNIVERSITY AREA, BUT I HOPE THAT NOBODY THINKS OF OR THOUGHT OF BUILDING ANY KIND OF, UH, RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE.
EVEN SOMETHING LIKE A EFFICIENCY UNIT WITH NO WINDOWS.
I DID ONCE LIVE IN A VERY SMALL EFFICIENCY.
ME AND MY INFANT SON, WE HAD ONE WINDOW.
IT WASN'T VERY BIG AND I WANTED SOME LIGHT, SO I MADE SURE MY BED WAS UNDER IT, BUT IT DIDN'T PROVIDE MUCH LIGHT BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTION IT FACED.
THE MORE WINDOW NATURAL LIGHT, THE LESS USE OF ELECTRICITY, AND THE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH.
I AM MAYOR AND COUNSEL TO BE HERE ON THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF SMART HOUSING TO TALK ABOUT THIS CODE AMENDMENT.
NORMALLY I WOULD SHOW UP AND SAY, THIS IS THE BEST PRACTICE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, BUT THE STAFF GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME IN SAYING IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, I WAS A STUDENT LIVING IN A BEDROOM WITH NO WINDOWS.
AND THE WAY THAT THE LANDLORDS GOT AROUND THE MAXIMUM RENTS WAS TO CUT THE MASTER BEDROOM BY A THIRD, PUT IN FRENCH DOORS AND KEEP ANY VENTILATION FROM REACHING THE FOURTH BEDROOM UNIT IN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A RENT CONTROL THREE BEDROOM UNIT.
THE NEXT YEAR I LIVED IN BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS AND THE LANDLORD IN THAT CASE TOOK THE ATTIC SPACE AND CREATED WHAT WERE CALLED DORMERS, BUT THEY HAD NO WINDOWS.
SO THE RESULT WAS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED UP THERE IN THE ATTIC, UH, UH, WERE ABLE TO ADD TO THE RENT THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER RENT CONTROL.
IN AUSTIN, SINCE 1977, WINDOWS HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HOUSING CODES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY MIGHT SUPPLY LIGHT VENTILATION, AND IN THE CASE OF FIRE, IF THE FIRE WAS RACING ACROSS THE DOOR TO OUR APARTMENT UNIT,
[01:45:01]
THEY WOULD PROVIDE EMERGENCY EGRESS FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUE.THANK GOD, IN 2024, WE HAVE A CODE THAT REQUIRES ALL, UH, APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH THREE OR MORE UNITS TO BE SPRINKLED.
SO I PROUDLY COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SAY THE STAFF IS RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS SHOULD HAVE HAD AN AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT BEFORE IT STARTED.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN IN THIS TOWN.
'CAUSE IT WAS PART OF WHAT MAYOR WAS WHEN SMART HOUSING WAS ADOPTED.
MAYOR WATSON WAS MAYOR, MR. GARZA WAS THE CITY MANAGER.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY ON THIS.
SO I URGE YOU TO DO WHAT THE CURRENT STUDENT BODIES, UH, IN WEST CAMPUS HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO, WHICH IS APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS RECOMME BY THE CITY STAFF.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM COUNCIL.
MEMBER CADRE REMOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 62.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I'LL MAKE IT REALLY QUICK.
I'M, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S STAFF, UH, FOR BATTING THIS REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE WEST CAMPUS STUDENT COMMUNITY.
I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO, UH, JUST CAME AND SPOKE.
UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE U2 STUDENT AND FACULTY COMMUNITY ALONG WITH A I A, UH, WHO HELPED CHAMPION THESE CHANGES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WINLESS BEDROOMS ARE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE VOTING ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[61. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting additional floor-to-area ratio entitlements to the project at 506, 508, and 508 1/2 West Avenue in accordance with the Downtown Density Bonus Program under City Code Section 25-2-586(B)(6).]
GONNA TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 61.UH, I'M, I'M TRYING TO, UH, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M TRYING TO, UH, COORDINATE THIS, THIS WITH THE SCHEDULE.
UM, BUT I, I THINK WE, WE, WE HAVE 15 MINUTES, OR 12, 13 MINUTES.
LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 61, AND I WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
UH, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
FIRST SPEAKER FOR ITEM 61 IS RICHARD SUTTLE, FOLLOWED BY CONNIE TEMPLE ON DECK WITH AMY N. STONE.
UM, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 61, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
CONNIE TEMPLE, AMY N. STONE, JOHN LONG, IAN INGLIS, MIRIAM SMITH, MARY MAN SMITH, AND PHILIP WILEY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
UM, THAT WAS THE RUMOR IS IT WAS, WAS HAPPENING OUT THERE.
UM, THE REASON I DIDN'T GO TO THAT BEFORE I WENT TO 62, I, I CAN DO THE MATH ON THAT 61 FOLLOWED BY 62 WAS THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE MORE SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM, BUT APPARENTLY SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN THAT REGARD.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WE WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61, AND I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE.
UM, I JUST WANNA ADD, UM, I, I, I WAS GONNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS, BUT NO ONE, YEAH, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
WILL YOU MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 61? OH, YEAH, I, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 61.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, I JUST WANNA ADD THAT AFTER MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORS OF THE PROJECT, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME CONCERNS REGARDING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AS AN OFFICE OF WORKING WITH TPW ON SOLUTIONS FOR THIS AREA AND JUST DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 61 IN THAT CASE? UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I, I'D ASK YOU IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE THERE TO, UH, LET US SEE YOU SO YOU CAN VOTE.
UM, IF WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 61 IS ADOPTED.
UM, MEMBERS THAT PUTS US, UM, 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM OUR NOON TIME CERTAIN, AND THE ONLY OTHER ITEM WE HAVE, I WORRY, UM, IS LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES.
AND SO THAT WE CAN, UH, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON, UH, AT OUR NOON TIME, CERTAIN WE ARE NOON TIME CERTAIN WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL PROMPTLY AT NOON, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
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ON APRIL 18TH.WE ARE, UH, STILL IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT, UH, 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
UM, MEMBERS, IF I COULD, UH, UH, PUBLIC, IF I COULD GET YOUR ATTENTION, WE WILL BEGIN.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, I, I WANNA MENTION A FEW, UH, RULES REGARDING BEHAVIOR THAT COULD VIOLATE THE, THE, THE COUNCIL RULES AND ARE NOT PERMITTED.YOU MAY NOT SPEAK OUT OF TURN, YOU MAY NOT DEFAME ANOTHER PERSON OR USE OBSCENE LANGUAGE OR USE ABUSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS LIKELY TO, UH, CREATE A PROBLEM OR INCITE A BREACH OF THE PEACE.
YOU MAY NOT MAKE THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ANY OTHER PERSON.
YOU MAY NOT OTHERWISE DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, SUCH AS SPEAKING OUT OF TURN, WHICH I'VE ALREADY INDICATED OR STANDING UP AND YELLING, UH, OR SCREAMING COMMENTS.
UM, IF YOU VIOLATE THOSE RULES, YOUR TIME MAY BE CUT SHORT AND YOU MAY BE REFUTE, MUTE, MOVED FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, UH, HAVE A SAFE, UH, MEETING AND HAVE EFFICIENT ACCESS TO HEARING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
AND TO THE COUNCIL'S DELIBERATIONS, YOU CAN'T SIT OR STAND IN THE AISLES OR OTHERWISE OBSTRUCT THE EXITS OR EMERGENCY EXITS.
IF YOU WISH TO DISPLAY A SIGN, A FLAG OR ANOTHER OBJECT LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO DO THAT IN THE DESIGNATED DESIGNATED AREA AT THE BACK OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND NOT IN YOUR SEATS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY NOT TO DO IS OBSTRUCT OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEW, UH, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND SOMETIMES YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT, BUT, BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, WE TRY TO ENFORCE THAT RULE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM UNLESS THERE'S AN INTERPRETATION OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GROUP AT THE PODIUM.
UM, I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY OF THOSE THINGS WILL HAPPEN TODAY, BUT, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S CLEAR WITH REGARD TO THE RULES.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, LOOK TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO CALL ON OUR SPEAKERS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS SARAH, SARAH BANI, FOLLOWED BY Z ZAB HYDER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH BANI AND I'M HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO AN ORGANIZATION.
MANY IN THIS ROOM AND ESPECIALLY ON THE DIOCESE, MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OR A DL HAS BRANDED ITSELF AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, CHAMPIONING ITSELF AS AN ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
MANY HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTIN AND AROUND THE COUNTRY PREVIOUSLY PARTNERED WITH THE A DL AS DOES THIS COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, AS INCREDIBLE AS THE A DL SOUNDS FROM ITS MISSION AND ON THE OUTSIDE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE GROWING FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
IT IS CAUSED BY ALIGNING ITSELF WITH RIGHT-WING POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES.
INSTEAD OF BEING THE CHAMPION FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY, IT CLAIMS TO BE THE A DL HAS CAUSED DIRECT HARM TO AND UNDERMINED THE RIGHTS OF BLACK IMMIGRANT, QUEER MUSLIM ARAB, AND THE GROWING NUMBER OF ANTI-ZIONIST JEWS, AS WELL AS OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN THE US ALL WHILE CLAIMING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
AT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IS THE HATEFUL AND RACIST CEO OF A DL JONATHAN GREENBLATT, WHO RECENTLY COMPARED THE PALESTINIAN KAFI TO A NAZI SWASTIKA.
THE KAFI SCARF, WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DAWNING SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, IS A CULTURAL SYMBOL FOR THE ARAB WORLD, BUT HAS COME TO REPRESENT PALESTINE OVER TIME.
FOR MANY PALESTINIANS, THE KAFI A SYMBOLIZES THEIR YEARNING FOR FREEDOM, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE STILL GROWING DEATH TOLL IN ZA OF OVER 40,000 CIVILIANS.
FOR NON PALESTINIANS, IT IS A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY TO COMPARE THIS SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND FREEDOM TO A SWASTIKA AS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDAL VITRIOL WHEN IT IS TAKING PLACE BECAUSE THEY KNOW ALL TOO WELL WHAT IT IS LIKE ONLY TO HAVE A GROUP CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THEM, CALL THEM ANTISEMITIC.
FURTHERMORE, JONATHAN GREENBLATT HAS REPEATEDLY ATTACKED MUSLIM AND JEWISH ACTIVISTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVOKING DOXING ATTACKS AND ISLAMOPHOBIC HATE CRIMES.
HE HAS CALLED PROGRESSIVE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE HATE GROUPS, DESPITE THE INCREASE IN THE ANTI-ZIONIST JEWISH MOVEMENT IN THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT IS MORE ANTI-SEMITIC THAN THAT? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DESPITE CLAIMING TO BE A PROGRESSIVE AND ALLY OF LEFTIST ORGANIZATIONS, THE A DL WAS INVESTIGATED IN PREVIOUS YEARS PER COLLECTING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON NEARLY 10,000 ACTIVISTS AND AT LEAST 700 ORGANIZATIONS.
THE A DL HAS ILLEGALLY INFILTRATED SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN AT LEAST SEVEN CITIES.
SPIED ON THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT OF BOTH SOUTH AFRICA AND PALESTINE IN THE 1980S, BEING GIVEN CONFIDENTIAL POLICE RECORDS FROM THE INSIDE.
HOW IS THIS RELEVANCE? WELL, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF A DL PARTNERED WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN THE WE ALL BELONG CAMPAIGN.
IN JULY, 2023, LAUNCHED AFRO, A LOCAL SYNAGOGUE WAS LIT ON FIRE IN 2021, CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, VERONICA ZENIO SAYS WE ALL BELONG AS MUCH MORE THAN A SLOGAN.
[01:55:01]
IS A BOLD AND CLEAR AFFIRMATION THAT THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT AUSTIN REMAINS A PLACE WHERE DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED AND HATE IS NOT TOLERATED.AGAIN, ALL RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT INITIATIVES IN THEORY, HOWEVER, DESPITE ITS SEEMINGLY POWERFUL LANGUAGE, IT IS CLEAR THAT NOT ALL AUSTINITES DO BELONG.
THE CITY HAS YET TO BE THOSE SAME CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE AFTER THE STABBING OF ZACHARIA DOAR, A PALESTINIAN MUSLIM STUDENTS OR OF THE UT MUSLIM STUDENTS THAT WERE ACCOSTED IN A HATE CRIME.
AFTER LEAVING THE MAJA JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, GIVEN ADL'S RACIST HISTORY, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS TYPE OF CAMPAIGN IS ONLY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF JEWS, NOT ONLY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF JEWS, BUT ALSO NOT FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF MINORITIES.
IF YOU SIMILARLY, WE DEMAND THAT AUSTIN, THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER FOLLOWED BY HANNAH BARCO.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
IF YOUR MAYOR, I'M SORRY, OUR, OUR COLLEAGUE WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
I WAS JUST GONNA CLEAR SOMETHING UP THAT THE SPEAKER HAD MENTIONED.
OUR OFFICE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH AND IT DROPPED ALL THIS WATER JUST NOW.
UH, OUR OFFICE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH NOIS MOSQUE, THE IMAM AT NOIS MOSQUE, UH, THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GREATER AUSTIN BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GREATER AUSTIN ON THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AROUND THE UT AREA.
UH, IT WAS BY THEIR REQUEST FOR OUR OFFICE AND US AS A WHOLE, NOT TO MAKE A COMMENT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION IS DONE WITH A PD, UH, AND THE HATE CRIMES TASK COMMITTEE OR FORCE, I FORGOT THE EXACT NAME OF IT, UH, BUT WE'RE AWARE OF IT.
I'VE BEEN CHECKING WITH A PD DAILY IF THEY HAD ANY UPDATES ON IT, SO AND I, YEAH, THANKS.
WHAT, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, SIR? ZAINA, Z-A-I-N-A.
CAN I START? HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I SPOKE TO YOU LAST ON NOVEMBER 2ND, AND THE FIRST PERSON TO COME AND ASK YOU FOR BASIC HUMAN COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA.
AT THAT TIME, THE DEATH TOLL WAS AN UNIMAGINABLE 8,000 CIVILIANS.
TODAY IT IS MORE THAN 34,000 CIVILIANS.
JEWS, PALESTINIANS, AND COUNTLESS OTHER ALLIES HAVE BEEN HERE AT ALMOST ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL SESSIONS SINCE NOVEMBER 2ND, ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
THE LAST FEW SESSIONS HAVE SEEN ANTI PEACE AUSTINITES ASSOCIATED WITH HATE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE FINALLY SHOWING UP TO SPEAK.
AND WHAT DID THEY SPEAK ABOUT WHILE WE TALKED ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS? THEY CALLED US TERRORISTS WHILE WE SPOKE ABOUT THE HATE CRIMES.
WHILE WE SPOKE ABOUT ORPHANS, THEY OPENLY INCITED RACIST TROPES AGAINST US.
WHILE PALESTINIANS SPOKE ABOUT LOSING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY MISREPRESENTED PHRASES LIKE INTIFADA AND FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, AS IF THEY WERE INCITING VIOLENCE.
THEY HAVE TRIED TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AS THE VICTIMS, AND IT IS APPALLING.
I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT GO, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
ON FEBRUARY 29TH, A WHITE WOMAN FROM THE A DL COURTNEY TOTO CAME HERE AND SHARED THAT WHILE SHE WAS TALKING ON FACETIME, SOMEONE WALKED PAST HER WEARING A PALESTINE FLAG ON HIS SHIRT, AND SO SHE LOWERED HER VOICE OUT OF FEAR SO HE WOULDN'T HEAR HER SPEAK HEBREW.
THIS WOMAN ADMITTED TO PROFILING AND FEARING AN INNOCENT PERSON WALKING BY HER ON THE STREET WHO MADE NO INDICATION OF THREAT.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE THERE, WHAT COLOR THAT PERSON'S SKIN WAS.
DESPITE AN ACTUAL STABBING OF A PALESTINIAN MAN IN AUSTIN, WE STILL MUST SYMPATHIZE WITH WHITE TEARS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMAGES SHARED BY A MISS MAYA AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL.
SHE SHARED TWO SIDE BY SIDE IMAGES, ONE OF HAMAS MILITANTS IN TRUCKS AND THE OTHER OF UT STUDENTS, MY FRIENDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO I AM CON CONTINUOUSLY INSPIRED BY SITTING IN A TRUCK LEADING A PROTEST HERE IN AUSTIN.
THESE TWO IMAGES ONLY HAVE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON, A TRUCK, A PALESTINIAN FLAG, AND BROWN PEOPLE.
THEN THERE IS THIS IMAGE WHICH SHOWS TWO PROTESTS.
YOU ARE MEANT TO FEEL THREATENED BY THE SECOND PICTURE WITH ALL OF THE PALESTINIAN COLORS, WHY YOU ARE MEANT TO COMPARE THE INNOCENT LOOKING WHITE LADIES ON THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT AND SCARY BROWN, BEARDED MAN ON THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT.
MISS MAYA WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS IMAGE AND FEEL THE FEAR THAT THE MEDIA HAS INDOCTRINATED YOU TO FEEL.
BROWN BEARDED MEN ARE SO SCARY.
DID WE REALLY ALLOW THIS RACIST WOMAN TO COME UP HERE AND CALL A BUNCH OF 18 AND 19-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS? TERRORISTS ARE YOU ALL JUST SAT THERE.
IT IS THIS VERY DEHUMANIZATION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DISREGARD THE 14,000 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO VERY FAR TO FIND EXAMPLES OF THE A DL AND THESE ZIONISTS BEING RACIST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RIGHT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.
SOME OF THESE PICTURE PEOPLE ALSO TOOK PICTURES OF US.
ONE OF THEM POSTED IT TO A TWITTER PAGE WITH MANY THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS AND TRIED TO DOX ONE OF OUR SUPPORTERS' IDENTITIES.
IN THIS TWEET REPLIES HUNDREDS OF REPLIES, MOCK HER APPEARANCE, MISQUOTE HER WORDS, THREATEN TO RUIN HER LIFE AND FIND HER.
SHE'S GETTING CYBER BULLIED BY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
SO WHILE THEY PRETEND TO FEEL UNSAFE, WE ARE
[02:00:02]
NEXT SPEAKER IS, DO YOU HAVE THE VIDEO? HANNAH BARRACA.CAN YOU START IT OVER PLEASE? PLEASE BEGIN.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, CADRE, YOU'RE LYING.
I WANNA CALL YOU OUT ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THINGS THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE SAID YOU'RE LOOKING INTO, BUT YOU HAVE NOT.
CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, YOUR SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF BEGGING YOU TO FIND YOUR HUMANITY AND HAVING THOSE PLEAS FALL ON DEAF EARS HAS LED YOUR COMMUNITY DOWN A VERY DANGEROUS PATH.
YOU'VE SOWN DIVISION AND HATE ALL WHILE DEMANDING POLITE POLITICS IN YOUR PRESENCE DURING AN ACT OF GENOCIDE.
YOUR SILENCE HAS SPOKEN VOLUMES.
JUST LOOK AT THE DIVISION IN THIS ROOM BEHIND ME.
RIGHT NOW, MUSLIM AND PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.
WHILE AN ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ZIONISTS.
ON APRIL 5TH, NEAR THE GUADALUPE AND WEST 21ST STREET, TWO UT STUDENTS WERE PHYSICALLY AND VERBALLY ASSAULTED BY THREE YOUNG MEN IN A CONFIRMED HATE CRIME.
AND YES, IT IS CONFIRMED THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HATE CRIME REVIEW BOARD DEEMED THIS VICIOUS CRIME, A HATE CRIME ON MONDAY.
I LIKE THAT CADRE LEFT THE ROOM.
WHEN I SAY THAT IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
THE THREE PERPETRATORS TARGETED THESE STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.
AS ONE STUDENT WAS DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL MUSLIM CULTURAL ATTIRE, HAVING RECENTLY COME FROM A EVENING PRAYER AT HIS LOCAL MOSQUE, HOW WOULD THIS COMMUNITY RESPOND IF THIS HAPPENED TO CHRISTIANS COMING OUT OF A CHURCH OR JEWISH PEOPLE COMING OUT OF A SYNAGOGUE? UPON SPEAKING IN DEPTH WITH THE MUSLIM VICTIM MYSELF AND SEEING IMAGES OF HIS INJURIES, I CALLED YOU MAYOR WATSON TO ASK FOR A MEETING WITH MYSELF AND THESE TWO STUDENTS, FOR THEM TO BE HEARD, OFFERED SUPPORT AND RESOURCES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE MAYOR TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE CRIMES IN THIS CITY.
AFTER ALL THESE ACTS, ISLAMIC, ISLAMOPHOBIC AND ANTI-ARAB IN NATURE MUST BE ADDRESSED AND STRONGLY CONDEMNED.
EVERYONE DESERVES EQUAL PROTECTION.
REMEMBER, CITY COUNCIL, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROTECT CIV.
CIVIL RIGHTS AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION, PROTECT ALL EQUALLY ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL.
IN CASE YOU FORGOT, YOU'VE MADE NO RESPONSE, NO STATEMENT, NOTHING THAT VERY SAME DAY, A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS AND MYSELF EMAILED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, INVITING YOU TO THE CARES PRESS CONFERENCE HELD HERE AT CITY HALL, SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY TO ADDRESS THIS HATE CRIME.
WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE? EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, DEAD SILENCE.
YOU'VE FAILED IN YOUR ROLES ON THIS, ON THIS COUNCIL TO REPRESENT, PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT AND IN YOUR CITY.
YOU ARE AN ELECTED BODY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR VOICES.
I WANT YOU ALL TO HEAR THAT YOU FAILED.
PROGRAM HAS PROVEN TO BE A FARCE AND SUSPECT PRECISELY BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED SO CLOSELY WITH THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.
IT'S ESTABLISHED TO PLACATE YOUR MOST MARGINALIZED CITIZENS.
THE TRUTH IS YOU DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
YOU DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO US, ARABS AND MUSLIMS. YOU BELIEVE WE ARE LESS WORTHY OF PROTECTION AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
YOU HAVE FAILED THESE STUDENT VICTIMS AND MY COMMUNITY.
SOME EXAMPLES, FIRST BY IGNORING CALLS AND EMAILS FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION TO PROTECT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
TWO, BY IGNORING THE HATE CRIME AGAINST ZACHARIA DURING IN FEBRUARY, AND I'M SORRY MA'AM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
GOOD MORNING IS TEAM MEMBERS OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FELLOW CITIZENS.
MY NAME IS HAM DEBAS AND I'M A LONG TIME AUSTIN RESIDENT HERE TO ADDRESS AN URGENT MATTER OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AS A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT AND A PROUD LONGHORN, I COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO CALL MYSELF A TEXAN AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS AFFORDED ME.
BUT TODAY, I DON'T FEEL PROUD TO CALL MYSELF A TEXAN.
I FEEL ASHAMED AND DEVASTATED BY THE ATROCITIES OUR POLICIES HAVE ENABLED IN GAZA AND THE UNDENIABLE MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST SACRED VALUES AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ONGOING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ONGOING AS WE SPEAK, I SACRIFICED A LOT TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM, BUT TODAY, THE AMERICAN DREAM FEELS LIKE A LIE.
NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO, THIS COUNCIL EXHIBITED REMARKABLE FORESIGHT AND MORAL CLARITY BY PASSING A RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BUSH AGAINST THE USE OF EXCESSIVE MILITARY FORCE IN IRAQ.
[02:05:01]
1 MILLION PEOPLE DIE IN THAT INVASION.TODAY WE FACED ANOTHER URGENT CHALLENGE THAT COMPELS US TO ACT AND STOP THESE PERPETUAL CYCLES OF VIOLENCE.
WHY THEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE YOU NOT FOUND THE COURAGE TO UPHOLD YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND ACT? AFTER SIX ENTIRE MONTHS, SIX ENTIRE MONTHS OF SEEING 15,000 CHILDREN KILLED AND 19,000 ORPHANED, EVEN AFTER 70 US CITIES HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS, CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE, ESPECIALLY DISILLUSIONING, IS THAT TEXAS CONTRIBUTES ALMOST 10% OF $4 BILLION IN ANNUAL MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.
WHILE WE HAVE A CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH INSURMOUNTABLE FUNDING GAPS BACK HOME, I ADDRESS YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS A HUMAN BEING AND DESCENDANT OF FAMILY, MARKED BY FORCED DISPLACEMENT AND ETHNIC CLEANSING, BUT ALSO AS A CIVIL ENGINEER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WHO SEES DAILY THE OVERWHELMING OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF FUNDING FOREVER WARS ON OUR ABILITY TO FUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL IN ATTENDANCE THAT WE ARE MISSING $15 BILLION FOR HIGHWAYS AND ROADS, 4 BILLION FOR BRIDGES, HUNDREDS OF WHICH ARE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT AND HOLD A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD, 2 BILLION FOR FLOOD RISK MITIGATION, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
INSTEAD, WE CONTINUE TO FUNNEL HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS TO SPONSOR WHAT IS UNMISTAKABLY A GENOCIDE.
I'LL REPEAT UNMISTAKABLY A GENOCIDE WITH NOT ONLY THE INDISCRIMINATE BUT INTENTIONAL KILLING OF CHILDREN, INNOCENT CIVILIANS, JOURNALISTS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HUMANITARIAN VOLUNTEERS ON A SCALE NOT SEEN IN GLOBAL CONFLICT SINCE MEDIEVAL TIMES.
THE URGENCY TO ACT IS PARAMOUNT.
AND SEVERAL CITY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE ACTION TO DRAFT AND ADOPT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
THE COST OF AN ACTION IS MEASURED IN HUMAN LIVES, AND EVERY DAY WE DELAY MORE LIVES ARE LOST.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, I THINK THIS ISSUE IS JUST, UH, IS REALLY A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK WHAT WE SEE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU GUYS SEE AND UH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PERSPECTIVE.
'CAUSE FROM OUR, FROM WHAT WE SEE, IT'S VERY, VERY PAINFULLY OBVIOUS.
THE TERRORISM THAT WE PERCEIVE FROM ISRAEL.
WE'VE HEARD BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TALKING ABOUT HAMAS IS AN EXCUSE TO EXPAND APARTHEID.
WE SEE VILLAGE MASSACRES ISRAEL IS, WAS LITERALLY CAUGHT DIRECTLY FUNDING ISIS.
THIS IS A FACT, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.
LEBANON'S A UM, THERE'S A QUOTE, THE PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAYING, THE THREAT TO ISRAEL IS THE PALESTINIAN WOMB.
DEMOGRAPHICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR, UH, COLONIAL, COLONIAL BODIES.
UH, THE US AND CANADA DID THIS TO THE NATIVES, AUSTRALIA DID TO OTHER ABORIGINES, AND ISRAEL ENDED ITS FORCED STERILIZATIONS.
IN 2013, UH, THERE WAS A GAZA RESETTLEMENT MEETING.
UH, 75% OF JOURNALISTS, UM, IN THE YEAR OF 2023 WERE KILLED IN PALESTINE, NOT UKRAINE, NOT NORTH KOREA.
PALESTINE, WE HEAR THAT PALESTINE REJECTS DEALS, BUT WE READ THE DEALS WHEN WE REALIZE THEY'RE NOT DEALS AT ALL.
THIS IS JUST A NARRATIVE CONTROLLED BY ISRAEL.
SO TO US, THIS IS VERY, VERY OBVIOUS.
AND I THINK TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, THIS IS VERY, VERY OBVIOUS.
AND IT'S, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS OFFICIALS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT HAS BECAUSE IT BRINGS INTO QUESTION NOT ONLY INTELLIGENCE AND CAPABILITIES, BUT ALSO YOUR CREDIBILITY AS LEADERS.
AND I THINK IF THAT'S NOT INTERNALIZED SOON ENOUGH, THEN RUNNING FOR REELECTION IS NOT EXACTLY, UM, A GOOD IDEA.
I MEAN, I HATE TO BE FRANK, BUT THIS REALLY, REALLY DOES BRING INTO QUESTION YOUR CREDIBILITY.
AND, UM, IF YOU THINK THAT AUSTIN IS NOT GONNA JUST SIT BY IT IS JUST GONNA SIT BY AND ALLOW YOU GUYS TO GET ELECTED AFTER YOU'VE BEEN SILENT, THEN I THINK YOU'RE BADLY MISTAKEN.
I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU GUYS WERE SEEING THAT I'M NOT SEEING, BUT THE REALITY IS YOU GUYS ARE NOT SEEING SOMETHING VERY PAINFULLY OBVIOUS AND IT'S A MATTER OF CREDIBILITY.
YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
[02:10:01]
YOU MAY BEGIN.I CAME ACROSS A POSTER THE OTHER DAY THAT MADE ME FEEL UNEASY IN EVERY WAY.
IT MADE ME FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH TO EVEN COMPREHEND AS I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I NEED TO DO TO DEFEND MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTERS.
GOD FORBID I MEET THIS FACE TO FACE OR IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE MISUSING THE TERM RACE, THE POSTER READ A MESSAGE THAT WAS TRULY HORRIFYING.
DON'T YOU FIND THAT TERRIFYING? WALKING THE STREETS OF THIS MARVELOUS CITY ARE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE WITH NO SHAME AND NO PITY THAT RAPING A GIRL IS A LIT, LEGIT, LEGITIMATE ACT OF RESISTANCE.
SO NOW I'M LEFT FEELING LIKE I NEED TO KEEP MY DISTANCE.
BUT WHY? YOU SEE SOME, WE'RE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SOME 7,000 MILES AWAY, AND NOTHING WE DO AND NOTHING WE SAY WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE OCCURRENCE OUT THERE.
AS MUCH AS I'D LOVE IT TO, TO BE HONESTLY FAIR BY HAVING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, I ASSURE YOU THAT WILL NOT BE THE SOLUTION.
BUT I ALSO ASSURE YOU SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
BY CAVING INTO DISRESPECTFUL, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, THE PLUNGE WILL BE STEEPER.
THE RESULT OF YIELDING TO PRESSURE OF BULLYING AND VIOLENCE WILL BE LIKE WATCHING ABUSE WHEN RESPONDING WITH SILENCE.
AND WORSE THAN THAT, IT'LL BE, IT WILL SET A PRECEDENT WHERE FROM NOW ON FORWARD, IT WILL BE QUITE EVIDENT THAT CITIZENS ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE WHAT THEY DESIRE WILL DEMONSTRATE AGGRESSIVELY AND ESCALATE HIGHER.
IS THAT HOW YOU WISH YOUR CITIZENS TO BE WIRED? I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS A TEAM PLAYER.
I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS WELL, A TAXPAYER.
MY IDENTITY AND MY SPACE ARE PART OF MY KINGDOM.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY KNOWN FOR ITS FREEDOM? THIS YOUNG GENERATION SITTING BEHIND ME HAVE BEEN POISONED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO REMIND ME OF SUFFERING OF PEOPLE THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
BUT IF IT'S SHOWN ON TIKTOK, IT'S SURELY TRUE WITH NO DOUBT.
WE, WE SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD ALL HOLD THE RIGHT TO LIVE WITH NO FEAR.
THAT IS A BELIEF I HOLD CLOSE AND I HOLD DEAR.
THEY SCREAM ZIONIST AND COLONIZER AND RACIST WHILE ROAMING THE STREETS, LEGITIMIZING RAPISTS.
THIS REALITY IS PAINFUL AND HARSH.
WE'RE WITNESSING A DESTRUCTION OF A GENERATION WHO IN THE FUTURE ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAD THE NATION, BUT INSTEAD ARE FOCUSING ON HATE AND SEGREGATION AND WHITE.
YOU KNOW, THE TIME IS NOW TO REPAIR THE HIGHER EDUCATION BECAUSE IN THE CITY WHERE SPRAY PAINTING SWASTIKAS IS NORMAL, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE LOST ALL CONSCIOUS MORAL.
SO ONE MORE TIME AND LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK.
WE WILL NOT STAND HERE BEING UNDER ATTACK.
THE ONLY WAY TO END THIS IS TO BRING THEM BACK.
SO IF YOU TRULY WANNA HELP, AND IF YOU TRULY CARE, SUPPORT THE SURRENDER OF TERRORISTS AND THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES.
NOTHING ELSE IS FAIR, MAYOR, ROTTEN AND HONORABLE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'LL END WITH A CHOKED THROAT AND S GLISTENING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I AM CHRIS ABIAN FOR A GAZA CEASEFIRE.
MR. MAYOR, I REMEMBER YOU CAME TO UT SCHOOL OF NURSING, SPEAKING OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE.
I SEE THAT FOR YOU, EQUITY AND JUSTICE ARE RELATIVE.
SURELY YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AGGRIEVED ABOUT ISRAELI PRISONERS AND PRIVATELY ABOUT THE GAZA GENOCIDE.
WHAT MATTERS IS THE POLITICAL PRICE FOR SPEAKING UP THOSE AGAINST DECEASED FIRE WILL CALL YOU ANTISEMITES SAYING, CRITICIZING ISRAEL IS A CRIME, THAT THEY HAVE POLITICAL CLOUT MONEY FOR YOUR ELECTIONS AND WILL FLOOD YOU WITH LETTERS, PHONE CALLS, AND NOT VOTE FOR YOU.
WE PRO PALESTINIANS ARE ORGANIZING, JOINING COALITIONS AND NO MORE AUSTINITES WANT TO CEASEFIRE? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
BY THE WAY, ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SUPPORTING PALESTINE PALESTINIANS ARE 107 ARTISTS BOYCOTTING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
A CEASEFIRE IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE.
PRISONERS ARE RELEASED, HUMANITARIAN AID FLOWS, AND APOL CREATED FOR THE HARD WORK OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE.
AND LET ME, LET US BE CLEAR ABOUT THE ANTECEDENTS TO THIS DEBACLE.
ISRAEL SETTLER COLONIAL PROJECT ESPOUSED A LAND WITHOUT PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT A LAND.
BUT THE LAND HAD PEOPLE, ISRAELI COLONIES SQUEEZED INDIGENOUS PALESTINIANS INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER SPACES.
ALEM, THE LARGEST ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CALLS IT A REGIME OF JEWISH SUPREMACY FROM THE JORDAN RIVER TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA APARTHEID.
ISRAEL'S THE ONLY NATION ROUTINELY ROUNDING UP CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, PULLING THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN INCARCERATING THEM WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
THE ISRAELI COMMITTEE AGAINST HOUSE DEMOLITIONS HAS DOCUMENTED OVER 173,000 PALESTINIAN HOMES DESTROYED PLUS 70% IN GAZA.
ACCORDING TO SATELLITE IMAGES, GAZA HAS BEEN UNDER SIEGE FOR 17 YEARS.
NOTHING IN NOTHING OUT WITHOUT ISRAELI
[02:15:01]
PERMISSION.ISRAEL HAS LAWS AND REGULATIONS RESTRICTING EVERY ASPECT OF PALESTINIAN LIFE.
PLEASE IMAGINE BEING A CHRISTIAN FROM BETHLEHEM, A DESCENDANT OF THOSE WHO WALKED AND TALKED WITH JESUS, AND BEING DENIED A PERMIT TO CELEBRATE EASTERN JERUSALEM.
SEPARATE LAWS FOR SEPARATE PEOPLE.
SOUTH AFRICA CALLS IT AN APARTHEID WORSE THAN THEIRS FUNDED BY US.
SO WOULD YOU BE ANGRY IF YOU WERE A PALESTINIAN? MY PALESTINIAN B BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO ATTENDS CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY, ASKED ME, WHY DO YOU AMERICANS HATE US SO MUCH? ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS, SORRY, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.
CHRISTIANS TALK ABOUT WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS.
MY CHALLENGE IS I WILL FUND YOU GOING AND WALKING IN PALESTINIAN FOOTSTEPS.
THEN COME AND EXPLAIN HOW PURCHASING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ISRAELI BONDS AND SENDING TAXPAYER MONEY TO ISRAEL FURTHERS EQUITY AND JUSTICE.
IT DOESN'T, IT SIMPLY GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO APARTHEID IN GENOCIDE.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, I GET IT MORALLY AND ETHICALLY.
THE POLITICAL PRICE IS TOO HIGH.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I SAY, WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE BALLOT BOX.
IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE AMERICANS SUPPORTING HAMAS AND THINKING THAT HAMAS IS A COOL THING.
HAMAS WOULD TORTURE THEM AND MASSACRE THEM.
HE DOESN'T SHOW, HE DOESN'T SHOW THE VIDEO.
IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE AMERICANS SUPPORTING HAMAS.
CAN WE START ALL OVER? HAMA? IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE AMERICANS SUPPORTING HAMAS AND THINKING THAT HAMAS IS A COOL THING.
HAMAS WOULD TORTURE THEM AND MASSACRE THEM.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LISTENING.
RE REGARD, REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL STANCE IN THE CONFLICT, MY NAME IS ANAT BAR AND MY GRANDPARENTS ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ISRAEL.
I GREW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF SUICIDE BOMBING ON PUBLIC BUSES, IN RESTAURANTS, MARKETS, TERRORIST STABBING IN THE STREETS, HOPEFUL, HATEFUL VIOLENCE LED BY HAMAS AND HIS SUPPORTERS WISHING TO DIE AS MARTI AS SHAHI.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN WITH MY FAMILY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
I'M STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, FEELING THE TERROR FROM MY CHILDHOOD ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE I'M SEEING VIOLENCE HERE THAT CAN EASILY ESCALATE.
I'M SEEING AUSTIN EVOLVE AND CHANGE.
AND THIS IS NOT FOR THE BETTER.
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN IS IN OUR HANDS.
WE WANT TO SURROUND THEM WITH LOVE, NOT HATE WHAT YOU FEED AND NURTURE WILL GROW.
WHAT VALUES ARE WE TRYING TO FEED IN OUR COMMUNITY? BEHIND THOSE PEOPLE IS ONLY LANGUAGE IS HATE AND VIOLENCE STAND.
THEIR CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER WAY THEY EMULATE THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND BRING VIOLENCE INTO THE SCHOOLS AND CLAIM THIS IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
OUR FOREFATHERS COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED HOW QUICKLY THE VALUE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH WILL BE FREEDOM OF HATE SPEECH.
OUR LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY IS BEING REPEATEDLY TARGETED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, INCLUDING THE ARSON AS CONGREGATION BE ISRAEL, MULTIPLY INCIDENTS OF HATEFUL GRAFFITI ON PAC DOWNTOWN AND ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN SCHOOL.
WE WANNA KEEP AUSTIN SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HATE HERE.
NOT IN THE SCHOOL, WORKPLACE, GOVERNMENT, OR PUBLIC SPACES.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE CEASEFIRE.
THESE PROTESTS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE VERY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA IS AT STAKE.
WE CAN NOT REMEMBER, CANNOT FORGET THAT NINE 11 HAPPENED WITH ONLY 19 ALQAEDA TERRORISTS.
THAT THE SAME AGENDA AS HAMAS.
THE FOUNDATION OF BELIEF IS NOT JUST ANTI-SEMITIC, THIS IS ANTI-AMERICAN AS WELL.
THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK CAN BE THE ACL OVER HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE MUST KEEP PEACE IN AUSTIN BY TAKING CARE OF AUSTIN AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO NURTURE THE PRINCIPLE THAT AMERICA IS A MELTING POT WHERE ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ASIAN AND GENDER, HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
AALIYAH JACOBSON, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MEMBERS BEFORE THE, BEFORE THE BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER BEGINS, UH, I WANT TO REMIND, UH, THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER AND, AND YOU'LL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
UM, MEMBERS, WHAT WE WILL DO IS AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE WILL BE IN RECESS AND, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION UNTIL ONE 15, CAN YOU PULL UP MY PRESENTATION?
[02:20:01]
UM, BUT, BUT WE WILL HAVE THE, THE LIVE MUSIC.THIS IS, HELLO, I'M ALIA JACOBSON, A JEWISH NATIVE OF AUSTIN.
AND, UH, THIS IS MY FRIEND NOAH ARGA.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO OPEN IT RIGHT THERE.
SOME OF MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I DUNNO IF THIS IS ONE, BUT SOMETIMES INSTAGRAM, I KNOW WE'RE NOT ABLE TO OPEN MM-HMM.
BUT I SENT HIM THE VIDEO TO OPEN.
SO IT SHOWS NOAH BEING, UM, BEING KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS CIVILIANS.
UM, SHE WAS ON THE BACK OF, UH, MOTORCYCLES WITH HER ARMS OUTSTRETCHED, SCREAMING OUT, PLEASE DON'T KILL ME WITH ABBY NATAN, WHOM SHE'S ENGAGED TO.
WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY ARE ALIVE OR, OR DEAD.
UM, IN THE END OF THE VIDEO, NOAH'S MOM WHO HAS STAGE FOUR CANCER IS CRYING OUT, PLEASE BRING BACK MY ONLY DAUGHTER.
IT'S HER LAST WISH TO SAY GOODBYE.
UM, SO I LIVED IN ISRAEL WHEN I WAS 24.
I SERVED, UM, TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN, UM, UM, UNDER PR COMMUNITIES.
UM, THAT'S WHERE WE MET AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL.
UM, I HEARD OF THE NUBA FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS A RAVE FOR PEACE AND KNEW THAT IF I WAS IN ISRAEL AT THAT TIME, I WOULD'VE BEEN AT THE FESTIVAL AND COULD BE ONE OF THE HOSTAGES.
TODAY, LIKE NOAH, I'M IN CONTACT WITH HER BEST FRIEND AND HER MOTHER, LEORA, WHO HAVE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN UP HOPE RESOLUTION SUPPORTERS SAY THEY'RE A MOVEMENT FOR PEACE, YET THEY'RE INCREASINGLY TARGETING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
A RESOLUTION FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW WOULD LEAVE NOAH AND GAZA FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG.
I AM ACTIVE AT RALLIES SUPPORTING ISRAEL HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THE BRING THEM HOME CRIES AND EVENTS.
I WAS TOLD BY A PALESTINIAN SUPPORTER WHO'S HERE TODAY, WHO YELLED AT ALL OF US LAST WEEK WHEN I WALKED UP TO THE, TO THE ISRAELI BLOC PARTY THAT THEY KNEW WHO I WAS.
THE THREATS LIKE THAT ACCOMPLISH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
SHE, I AM, THE UDRA THAT I'M WEARING NOW IS, WAS WARNED BY THE ANCIENT ISRAELITES, THE ANCIENT JUDEANS, AND THEY SAID, I'M APPROPRIATING, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY WAS OURS.
FIRST, IF THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE CLAIM TO BE SEEKING PEACE, WERE ACTUALLY, THEY WOULD WANT TO BE MEETING TO BUILD BRIDGES AND TO BRING ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES AND THE SURRENDER OF HAMAS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SUSTAINED CEASEFIRE.
BUT THE OTHER SIDE ONLY WANTS TO SPEW HATE.
THEY WANT YOU TO DENY IN ONE MOUTH THAT HAMAS EVEN DID THE ACTIONS THEY DID ON OCTOBER 7TH WHEN HAMAS THEMSELVES TOOK VIDEOS FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.
AND THEN THEY COULD SAY, OH, IT WAS JUSTIFIED.
INSTEAD OF TERRIFYING THE AUSTIN JEWISH COMMUNITY AND CLAIMING IN THEIR MOUTHS THE RESISTANCE OF HAMAS WAS JUSTIFIED.
THE PALESTINIANS AND THOSE SPEAKING ABOUT COULD WORK ON DOING INTERFAITH GATHERINGS.
AND WE COULD LEARN ODD WORK ON TEACHING US ABOUT EID.
WE TEACH YOU ABOUT PASSOVER, AND WE COULD BRING ABOUT PEACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH THEY, WE HAVE DONE IN NEW YORK, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY TIMES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR.
ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED, ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL ONE 15.
IT IS 12:33 PM WE'RE IN, WE ARE IN RECESS.
[Live Music Conjunto Los Pinkys7]
BECAUSE, UM, I, I KNOW THIS BAND AND IN FACT, WHEN I WAS IN THE TEXAS SENATE, UH, I USED TO SPONSOR EVENTS AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS AND DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS THAT WE WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO.AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP AND THIS GROUP PLAYED, UH, AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN THE ROTUNDA.
SO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM AND ENJOY THEIR MUSIC SO VERY MUCH.
AND THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING JUNTO MUSIC IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR OVER THREE DECADES.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, CONJUNTO IS A TEXAS MEXICAN STYLE DANCE MUSIC, WHICH FEATURES THE BUTTON ACCORDION AND BAJA SEXTO ACCORDING TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.
MANY INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL MUSIC STYLES ARE REPRESENTED IN CONJUNTO MUSIC, INCLUDING THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPANISH, GERMAN, POLISH, AND CZECH AND AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC.
UH, ME, MEXICAN NORTENO, RANCHERA, COLOMBIAN CUMBIA WALTZ, UH, SHADISH, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC.
AND OF COURSE, WHEN YOU HEAR IT, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO JUNTO, YOU'LL ALSO HEAR COUNTRY TWO STEP IN THERE.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'LL HAVE A PROCLAMATION AFTER WE GET TO HEAR THIS GREAT MUSIC, BUT I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU JUNTO LOS
[02:30:01]
RIGHT[02:30:01]
COUNCIL MEMBERS.WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE WITH ME? UH, I'M GOING TO, CAN I BORROW YOUR MICROPHONE? ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA COME OVER HERE.
I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CHITO VELA FUENTES.
AND I WANNA MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION TO, TO, TO YOU ALL BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS LIKE WE'VE HAD TODAY, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AGAIN, LIKE WE'VE HAD TODAY AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 18TH, 2024 AS JUNTO LOS PINKY'S DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
TELL US, TELL US WHERE WE CAN HEAR YOU AND, AND, AND KEEP UP WITH YOU.
WELL, UH, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND US ON INSTAGRAM TO FOLLOW WHERE WE'RE AT.
THAT'S A GOOD SPOT TO FIND US.
UH, WE'RE AT SAGEBRUSH EVERY 1, 1 1 SATURDAY A MONTH.
IT'S A FREE DANCE FROM THREE TO 6:00 PM WE'RE GONNA BE THERE ON THE 20TH.
WE'RE DOING A BENEFIT, A BARBECUE BENEFIT FOR ONE OF OUR BAND MEMBERS FAMILY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT US, AND IT'S A GREAT TIME.
IT IS, UH, APRIL 18TH, 2024 1:16 PM MEMBERS, UH, THE ORDER THAT WILL GO IN IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM
[34. Authorize negotiation and execution of Amendment No. 2 to the agreement with Family Endeavors, Inc. d/b/a Endeavors to operate a temporary emergency homeless shelter located at a City-owned facility to add one eight-month extension option in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $10,140,000.]
NUMBER 34 AND ONCE, ONCE WE COMPLETE ITEM NUMBER 34, IF 34 IS COMPLETED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WE'LL RECESS UNTIL OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME.CERTAIN IF, UH, WE, IT TAKES US IN TO THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE'LL TAKE UP TWO O'CLOCK.
UH, THOSE THAT I, THOSE ITEMS, UH, AT THE COMPLETION OF ITEM NUMBER 34.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ITEM COMING FROM STAFF, I'M GONNA CALL ON, UH, THE MANAGER AND, AND MR. GRAY, UH, TO SET UP THE ITEM.
YEAH, DAVID, JUST, JUST GO AHEAD.
I THINK, UH, YOU'VE GOT, YOU GOT THE BALL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
DAVID GRAY, HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR ITEM THAT WE'RE BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS IN REGARDS TO EXTENDING OUR, UH, TIME OF OPERATING THE MARCHING YARD EMERGENCY SHELTER.
I DO JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING BIG PICTURE.
OUR LOCAL HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH BEDS TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN THIS REGARD.
IN FACT, WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 160 BEDS OPEN AT THE NEW H STREET WOMEN'S SHELTER.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 150 BEDS AT THAT FACILITY.
HOWEVER, THE GAP IN EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS HIGH WITH MORE THAN 600 PERMANENT BEDS STILL NEEDED.
AND THAT IS WHY THE MARLINE YARD IS SUCH A CRITICAL SUPPORT.
IT PROVIDES CRITICAL ASSISTANCE TO HUNDREDS OF AUSTIN KNIGHTS EVERY YEAR WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
OUR BED UTILIZATION RATE AT MARSHALL YARD REMAINS HIGH.
UH, THE NIGHTLY AVERAGE USE IS 95% OF BEDS WITH THE UNUSED BEDS BEING RESERVED FOR OTHER CRITICAL SYSTEM NEEDS, INCLUDING RESPITE CARE.
YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR OUTREACH STAFF BROUGHT IN AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN INTO THE MARSHALLING YARD.
LIKE MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND FACE A MULTITUDE OF PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, THIS 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WILL NOW BENEFIT FROM CASE MANAGEMENT ACCESS TO THREE HEALTHY MEALS A DAY, ACCESS TO CLEAN BATHROOMS, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP HER SECURE HOUSING.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF MANY CASES, UH, AT THE MARCHING YARD AND EXEMPLIFIES
[02:35:01]
HOW WE'RE WORKING TO PROVIDE CRITICAL, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, TRULY LIFE-SAVING MEASURES TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE'RE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE UPSTREAM FACTORS THAT LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS THROUGH TARGETED PREVENTION AND DIVERSION SERVICES.
WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING THE LACK OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THE SOON TO LAUNCH $1.5 MILLION LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PERMANENT SHELTER BEDS.
BUT THESE INVESTMENTS TAKE TIME TO MATERIALIZE, AND THAT'S WHY STAFF IS COMING TO YOU TODAY WITH THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE EIGHTH MONTH EXTENSION.
UM, SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'LL YIELD MY TIME BACK TO YOU.
WELL, THE, THE QUESTION I'VE GOT IS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND, AND WE MEMBERS, YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED A, A DIFFERENT DRAFT.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN LABELED CM RYAN ALTER TWO ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THAT AND BEFORE WE THEN OPEN IT UP.
SO THIS MOST RECENT MOTION FROM, HANG ON A SECOND.
IN THE MEANTIME, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RECITE IT? PLEASE TALK, TALK ABOUT, TALK ABOUT WHERE, WHAT IT DOES AND, AND FROM FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDS SUPPORTING THIS MOST RECENT MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN, UH, RYAN ALTER, COUNCILMAN ALTER.
WE THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US, UH, TO, TO COME TO THIS COMPROMISE.
WHAT THIS MOTION ENTAILS IS AUTHORIZING US TO, UH, EXTEND THE MARSHALING YARD TO THE DATE THAT WE REQUESTED, WHICH IS THAT MARCH 30TH, 2025 DATE.
AND ADDING $500,000 IN CAPACITY, CONTRACT CAPACITY FOR THAT.
UH, THAT IS A DEVIATION FROM THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE REQUESTED.
THE MOTION ALSO DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE THE USE OF THESE FUNDS TO CONTRACT FOR LOCAL CASE MANAGERS WITH A FOCUS ON HOUSING PLACEMENTS.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT WORKING WITH LOCAL CASE MANAGERS WILL HELP US INCREASE OUR POSITIVE EXIT RATE AND CONTINUE TO HELP CONNECT CLIENTS TO, TO VITAL HOUSING RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THE MOTION ALSO DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO PROVIDE A RAMP DOWN PLAN FOR THE MARSHAL YARD, AS WELL AS REGULAR UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD ASSIST IN SERVING OUR CURRENT SHELTER CLIENTS WITH HOUSING RESOURCES.
THE RAMP DOWN PLAN SHOULD IDENTIFY AND WILL IDENTIFY WHEN INTAKES TO THE MARSHAL YARD WILL CEASE.
AN ESTIMATED CENSUS COUNTS OVER THE PERIOD OF THE RAMP DOWN AND THE TYPES OF PLACEMENTS ENUMERATED FOR THE CURRENT CLIENTS AT THE MARSHAL YARD.
FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, WE FEEL LIKE THIS MOTION IS REASONABLE.
UH, WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO EXECUTE OUR PLANS FOR THE MARSHAL YARD, UH, UNDER THE, THE TERMS IN THIS MOTION.
UH, MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY, YOU HAVE SOMETHING? WELL, IJ AND, UH, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE ONLY, AND I THINK DAVID'S EXACTLY RIGHT, HE'S SPOT ON.
UH, AND THIS WILL BE A, UH, A FUTURE DISCUSSION FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.
UH, THERE WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE NEED FOR SHELTER BEDS.
SO WHEN THIS, THESE 300 CYCLE OUT OF THE SYSTEM, WE'LL NEED TO IDENTIFY, CONSTRUCT, AND DEVELOP, UH, ADDITIONAL BEDS SO THAT WHEN WE, UH, WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE TO GO, A PLACE TO HAVE FACILITIES WHERE THEIR HEALTHCARE CAN BE PROVIDED FOR.
UH, SO THAT'S STILL A PENDING ISSUE.
WE DON'T, UH, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE IT RESOLVED WITH THE MARCHING YARD EITHER.
WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS A FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND, AND THE, AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE GONNA HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PRESENT YOU SOME INFORMATION SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN DEBATE THAT QUESTION AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS AT THAT TIME.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE I RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER? YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE POPULATION THAT CONTINUES TO EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY? WHEN WE RAMP DOWN THE MARSHALING YARD? WE NEED TO HAVE MULTIPLE LAYERS AND MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS SO THAT WE CAN MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
NOT EVERYBODY FRANKLY, WANTS TO GO INTO ESTABLISHED HOMES.
THEY WANT A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
THEY WANT A DIFFERENT SITUATION FOR THEMSELVES WHERE THEY KIND OF GET THEMSELVES ORGANIZED.
HOW ARE WE MEETING? 'CAUSE WE NEED TO MEET.
IT'S, IT'S THE FULL SPECTRUM AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE ARE LOSING A SIGNIFICANT APPROACH, WHICH I ALWAYS HAD
[02:40:01]
A PROBLEM WITH IN THE HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE WERE MISSING THAT SEGMENT THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED BY HOUSING FIRST PEOPLE WHO SAID NO.WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THIS PLAN, UM, WITH THE RAMP DOWN FOR THAT SEGMENT? SURE.
SO MAYOR
UNDER OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH ENDEAVORS, THAT CURRENT CONTRACT CALLS FOR US TO CLOSE THE MARSHALING YARD BY THE END OF JULY.
IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT COURSE, UH, WE WILL HAVE TO STOP INTAKE AT ALL THE OTHER SHELTERS IN OUR SYSTEM.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ANY NEW CLIENTS.
UH, AND THAT LEAVES PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE UNSHELTERED, UH, TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE STREETS.
AND MIND YOU, THERE ARE TWO CAMPING BANDS IN AUSTIN RIGHT.
THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO ENFORCE THOSE, THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
AND SO WE'D BE ENFORCING WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH ANY MEASURE OF HOUSING UNTIL THE SHELTER BEDS EVENTUALLY OPENED UP, OR THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OPENED UP UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ENTRY THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE HEAL.
IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR STREET MEDICINE AND OUR STREET OUTREACH WORK.
UH, AND IT GIVES US THAT LONGER TIME HORIZON TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLIENTS WHO ARE IN OUR CARE TODAY GET POSITIVELY EXITED THAN ANY OTHER CLIENTS WE BRING IN, CAN ALSO GET POSITIVELY EXITED.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THE INITIAL PROPOSAL WAS, RIGHT? WASN'T THAT, UM, AND SO HOW DOES THIS MOTION SHEET CHANGE WHAT THE INITIAL, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS? THIS? THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THE INITIAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION WOULD'VE ALLOCATED A MILLION.
AND THIS IS HALF FUNDS AND THIS IS HALF OF THAT.
AND SO DID, IS THERE A, A SENSE THAT 500,000 ISN'T NEEDED? OR HOW, HOW DID THAT NUMBER GET REDUCED? WE, WE BELIEVE THAT 500,000 IS PROBABLY THE FLOOR.
UH, BUT WE COULD MAKE THAT WORK WITH OUR CONTRACTOR SINCE WE HAVE UNTIL MARCH TO, TO EXECUTE, UH, THIS CONTRACT.
UH, WE COULD FIND WAYS TO ABSORB THE COSTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR.
AND SO YOU ARE, YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT? YES, MA'AM.
THIS MOTION AND CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE VETTED THIS AS WELL? I AM.
I AM CONCERNED THAT WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO MEET PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE, UM, AND HAVE BEEN HOPING THAT WE WOULD HAVE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MARSHALING YARD AT, AT SOME, AT SOME POINT.
AND, UH, AND COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TIM, I THINK, UH, UH, GIVEN THE EXTENSION, WE, WE REALIZED THAT THE MARSHING YARD WAS NOT A PERMANENT LOCATION, RIGHT? SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO IDENTIFY SITES SITE, DEPENDING ON WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DAVID AND HIS STAFF DETERMINE WE NEED.
AND THEN WE'LL NEED TO, UH, DEVELOP A PROCESS BY WHICH WE, UH, BUILD OR ACQUIRE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HELP PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.
IN ADDITION, I THINK, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, DAVID HAS GOT AS PART OF THE PROGRAM WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS THE STRATEGY OFFICER, IS HIS STAFF IS RAMPING UP PHILANTHROPY.
BECAUSE IN A WAY, YOU'RE GONNA NEED PRIVATE DOLLARS TO HELP US SORT THROUGH THIS ISSUE, GIVEN THE FISCAL CLIFF THAT WE'LL HAVE WITH RESPECT TO ARPA EXPIRING AT SOME POINT.
BUT I, I THINK IT AS A COMPROMISE, WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE WILLING TO MAKE THIS WORK.
UH, WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? AND THAT RECOMMENDATION RAN INTO DISCUSSION.
AND SO THIS IS THE, AS A RESULT OF THAT POLICY DISCUSSION, IS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
UH, AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE, MAKE THIS WORK.
WE, THE, THE MAIN THING THAT I THINK DAVID HAS INDICATED A MINUTE AGO IS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TURN ANYONE OUT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA NOT NOT START RAMPING DOWN SOONER THAN WE NEED TO.
IT ALLOWS US ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE PLAN THAT HE'S ARTICULATED.
AND, UH, AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, UH, WE'LL NEED TO COME BACK TO COUNSEL TO HAVE A FULLER DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES OF SHELTER.
BECAUSE IN THE END, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T, THAT DON'T THAT RIGHT.
SEEM TO THINK THAT THAT'S NOT A, UH, UH, THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES, AS I EXPLAINED, UH, LAST TUESDAY, IS THAT IF YOU TREAT THIS AS HEALTH SYSTEM, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED ALL THESE COMPONENTS BECAUSE NOT EVERY PATIENT OR NOT EVERY PERSON HAS THE SAME NEED.
AND WE HAVE TO SORT THROUGH THAT.
WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THE DATA SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN ADEQUATELY SERVE THE COMMUNITY ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
MAYOR, I, UM, CAME TO THE MEETING TODAY FULLY INTENDING TO VOTE FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ITEM.
AND WAS, UM, A LITTLE CONCERN TO SEE THAT THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BEING PROPOSED TO IT, PARTICULARLY TO SHUT IT DOWN WITHOUT ANY REAL ASSURANCES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP.
AND I, I AGREE, CITY MANAGER WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF HOW WE MEET PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT PLACES
[02:45:01]
AND ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.AND IT, IT, IT REQUIRES A LOT OF INSPIRATION AND CREATIVITY AND TENACITY ON THE STAFF'S PART TO KEEP AT IT.
UM, BUT IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM DAVID AND FROM YOU CITY MANAGER, UM, ABOUT THIS, THIS MOTION AND THE COMPROMISE, THEN I MAY, OR I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ASK FOR A MOTION ON, SO THAT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
SO, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GET A MOTION ON, ON THE FLOOR, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE SIGN THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, AND SO I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, ARE WE LOOKING FOR THE BASE MOTION HERE? YEAH, SO I'LL, I'LL MOVE TO TAKE UP ITEM 34.
I'LL MOVE TO, TO PASS ITEM 34, TAKE UP ITEM 34 AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
WITH THAT, UM, THANK YOU MR. GRAY.
I'M GONNA TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR HER TO CALL ON.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
FIRST SPEAKER IS JJ RAMIREZ, FOLLOWED BY BARRY JONES AND LILY HUGHES ON DECK.
WHEN YOUR NAME, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IF YOU'D PLEASE COME DOWN FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY WHEN, UM, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER FINISHES.
I'M AN ORGANIZER AT VOCAL TEXAS.
UM, AND AT VOCAL TEXAS, WE BELIEVE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING NEUTRAL ON THIS MARSHALING YARD CONTRACT EXTENSION.
UM, WE'RE COMING UP AT THE END OF THIS CURRENT CONTRACT, AND LIKE, UH, YOU MENTIONED, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THREE MONTHS AWAY.
THERE'S NO PLAN TO HOUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY STAYING THERE, NOR IS THERE NEAR NO SHELTER BEDS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED TO, UH, PUT THOSE PEOPLE IN IF IT COMES CLOSED THIS SUMMER.
AND, UH, BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE, WE, UH, TESTIFIED AT A PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CONCERNS THAT WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT THE MARSHALING YARDS.
AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES, UH, THAT HAPPENED.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE H UH, HSLS OFFICE AND LEADERSHIP TO LIKE IMPROVING THE FOOD CONDITIONS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING FULLY ADDRESSED.
AND, UH, WE HAD ORGANIZED PEOPLE TO COME HERE TODAY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE, THE PUSHBACK AND THE REMOVEMENT, THEY HAD TO HANDLE THEIR OWN.
UH, SO SOME OF THE LEADERS THAT YOU WOULD'VE HEARD HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT.
UM, BUT LIKE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND BELIEVE THEIR, THEIR STORIES AND BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE MARSHALING YARD, UM, THEIR, THEIR STORIES ARE TRUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING IT OR, OR WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN OR WHERE THEY SHOULD GO AND, AND HOW THEY'RE NOT HERE.
RIGHT? THEY'RE, YOU'RE NOT REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE STAYING THERE, RIGHT? THE MARSHALING YARD WAS FUNDED FROM A PROPOSAL THAT PROMISED A 70, A 70% SUCCESS TO HOUSING.
UM, AND THAT'S HOW THEY SOLICITED FOR THIS CONTRACT.
BUT WE LEARNED THAT ONLY 10% HAVE BEEN POSITIVELY EXITED.
UH, BUT MAYBE IT'S DOUBLE TO 20.
UM, BUT THAT'S STILL WOEFULLY SHORT OF THE 70%.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA EXTEND THIS CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, NOW'S THE TIME TO PUT IN IMPLICATIONS THAT ENSURE THAT WE GET IN, UH, WE GET CLOSER TO THAT ORIGINAL PROMISE KICKING THIS CAN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
LIKE IT DOESN'T, IT, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A HOUSING PLAN LIKE EXTENDING IT, PUTTING PEOPLE IN, LIKE SHELTER'S IMPORTANT.
NOBODY'S SAYING THAT SHELTER'S NOT IMPORTANT, BUT WE, WE'VE HAD THIS TIME TO, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF TEMPORARINESS TEMPORARINESS OF IT BEING TEMPORARY.
IT'S, IF, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TODAY, IT IT, IT'S CLOSED IN THREE MONTHS.
IS HOMELESSNESS A BACK BURNER ISSUE? RIGHT? WE HAD A LOT, WE HAVE ALMOST A WHOLE YEAR TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS TO ENSURE AN ACTUAL PLAN TO HOUSE THE PEOPLE STAYING THERE.
NOT A RAMP DOWN PERIOD THAT WE'LL THINK ABOUT ON THE BACK END.
THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT UPFRONT AND CENTERED THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING AND EXPERIENCING THESE PROGRAMS. LIKE WE NEED REAL PERMANENT PLANS FOR HOUSING, NOT JUST TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS THAT CAN, THAT COULD POSSIBLY PUT PEOPLE BACK ON THE STREET.
IT HAS TO BE ON THE FRONT BURNER.
PEOPLE'S STORIES HAVE TO BE ON THE FRONT BURNER, CANNOT BE A SECONDARY THOUGHT THAT WE WAIT TILL THE VERY LAST MINUTE TO THEN CONTEMPLATE WHETHER WE SHOULD EXTEND AN ALREADY VERY TEMPORARY, VERY EXPENSIVE PROGRAM.
BARRY JONES, FOLLOWED BY LILY HUGHES.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME WAS HERE.
I'M THE OUTREACH TEAM LEAD AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
I AM HERE AND I HAVE A NEUTRAL STANCE ON THIS EXTENSION.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS, I'M NOT ANTI SHELTER.
THERE IS A NEED FOR SHELTER THOUGH
[02:50:01]
THIS SHELTER IS FRAUGHT WITH ISSUES, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT THE STREET FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.RATHER THAN WORKING TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT ARE HARMING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, THE CITY HAS CHOSEN TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A SHELTER WITH NO PLAN, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, AND NO ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR SOLUTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED A PLAN THAT WILL NOT PUT PEOPLE BACK ONTO THE STREET WHERE THEY WILL EXPERIENCE RELENTLESS SWEEPS THAT DO NOTHING BUT RETRAUMATIZE OUR NEIGHBORS AND FURTHER ENTRENCH THEM INTO THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS WHERE THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN PLACE FOR GUESTS IN THE SHELTERS.
THE VOICES OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN CREATING THE SOLUTION.
I IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT EXITED INTO HOMELESSNESS.
WE MUST WORK TO EXPAND HOUSING FIRST OPTIONS IN THIS CITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE EXITING SHELTER.
WE CONTINUE TO PUT MONEY INTO SYSTEMS THAT DON'T WORK.
WE NEED TO CREATE H HOUSING THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER PEOPLE INSTEAD OF COERCING THEM INTO SPACES THAT ARE INCAPABLE OF MEETING THEIR NEEDS.
AS YOU VOTE, I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE THAT YOU'VE BEEN LIVING OUTSIDE IN AUSTIN, IGNORED BY YOUR NEIGHBORS, HARASSED BY POLICE, PUT INTO SHELTER THAT'S NOT SAFE AND DENIED YOUR HUMANITY.
IMAGINE THE TRAUMA, IMAGINE THE ISOLATION AND THE PAIN OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE IN THIS CYCLE OR ARE YOU READY TO CREATE HUMANE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP PEOPLE, HELP US, HELP OUR NEIGHBORS BY PUTTING OR BY CREATING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SHELTERS HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS, AND INCLUDING THE PRINCIPLES OF HARM REDUCTION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CREATE COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE AND WORK WITH AND SEE HAVING SOME OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC AND DIFFICULT TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.
J SMITH, FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA MARSHALL.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M JAY SMITH WITH TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES TODAY.
WHEN THE MARSHALING YARD CLOSES, WE MUST MAKE SURE THEY EXIT INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH LIFE SKILLS AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, PEOPLE WILL KEEP DYING ON A REGULAR BASIS ON THE STREETS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE HOUSING AND SHELTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, EACH AND EVERY SHELTER NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THERE, INCLUDING OVERDOSES, ACCIDENTS AND MISTREATMENT OF GUESTS.
THAT IS WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL FOR HARM REDUCTION TO BE SET IN PLACE AT EVERY SHELTER, EVERY STAFF MEMBER MUST BE OR HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINED UP ON HARM REDUCTION.
IF THE STAFF HAS NO LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH OVERDOSE, REVERSIBLE, PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO DIE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN OVERDOSE? I HAVE MORE TIMES THAN I'D LIKE TO COUNT.
PEOPLE FREEZE UP AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY HAVE NO LIVED EXPERIENCE.
HARM REDUCTION HAS SAVED MY LIFE A DOZEN TIMES.
HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE GO HAND IN HAND.
THAT IS WHY HARM REDUCTION IS ESSENTIAL INSIDE THE HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE CARE INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO PREVENT DEATHS ONCE PEOPLE ARE HOUSED.
I'VE LIVED HARM REDUCTION MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I KNOW ADDICTION, PAIN, AND HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE AND WHAT MY COMMUNITY NEEDS.
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND HARM REDUCTION WILL SAVE LIVES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS VICTORIA MARSHALL.
SUSIE BEESON, ELI CORTEZ PENA.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
WE WILL VOTE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
IF IT PASSES, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AND THEN I'LL CALL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MO.
WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT OF COURSE, BUT THEN I'LL, WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE, UH, MAIN MOTION AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I, I, I THINK MR. GRAY, UH, LAID OUT PRETTY
[02:55:01]
CLEARLY WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES.UM, YOU KNOW, I I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS ITEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, KNOWING WHERE WE WERE HEADED WITH THIS IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW WE ADDRESS THIS ELEMENT OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.
AND, AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO SHELTER, TO EMERGENCY SHELTER.
IT IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF OUR SYSTEM, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A, AN ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT IS ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS, AS WE JUST HEARD, UM, FROM THE BEGINNING ALL THE WAY THROUGH HOUSING.
AND WE CAN'T JUST INVEST IN HOUSING.
IT'S WE TO THE MARI PRO TEMPS POINT.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO, UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY SO CHOOSE, DON'T, DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THEIR, UM, ULTIMATE SOLUTION.
AND SO AT LOOKING AT THIS, I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE OF, OF MAKING SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS THERE, AND I WENT ON WEDNESDAY AND I, I APPLAUD THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, UH, THE MENU OF FOOD NOW AVAILABLE.
UH, IT IS FOOD THAT WE WOULD ALL WANT TO EAT.
IT'S HEALTHY, IT'S HIGH QUALITY, AND IT SHOWS PEOPLE ARE, ARE, THERE ARE, ARE FEW PLATES LEFT OVER.
AND SO WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND HAVING POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
AND SO WHAT I WANNA SEE IS HOW CAN WE INCREASE THOSE? AND THAT'S WHY THE, THE FOCUS ON LOCAL CASE MANAGEMENT, I THINK WILL HELP WITH THAT.
UH, GO EXACTLY WHERE, WHERE YOU WANNA GO.
AND SO ALL'S THAT TO SAY, UM, I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE FOR RIGHT NOW, WE, IT, IT ALLOWS US TO, UH, PRESERVE A, A, A PIECE OF OUR VERY PRECIOUS ARPA DOLLARS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT USE THOSE DOLLARS MIGHT HAVE TO HELP, UH, WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
AND SO I APPRECIATE DAVID, YOUR CONTINUED WORK WITH US.
'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S, IT'S BEEN A, A SLOG THE PAST LITTLE WHILE.
BUT, UM, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AMENDMENT CM RYAN ALTER NUMBER TWO, UM, MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER HAS, UH, OFFERED UP AN AMENDMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO AMENDMENT.
UM, WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ITEM INITIALLY, I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR CITY UNSHELTERED.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE STORIES BEHIND THEIR NAMES AND THAT THEY BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THE MARSHALLING YARD AND ITS SERVICES TO HELP SOLVE OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF OPTIONS TO BEST FIT THE NEEDS OF EACH PERSON.
THE MARSHALING YARD, WHILE IT WAS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, I BELIEVE IS PART OF THE LARGER PUZZLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN AUSTIN UNTIL WE HAVE MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.
THE VERSION TWO OF THIS MOTION SHEET IS SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE PLAN IN PLACE TO REPLACE THE MARSHALING YARD, I STILL HAVE PAUSE OVER SUPPORT.
I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF CLOSING THE MARSHALING YARD ARE VERY REAL AND VERY CONCERNING.
THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WILL NEED TO PAUSE ENTRY TO ALL CITY OWNED SHELTERS IF WE WERE TO CLOSE THE MARSHALING YARD.
AND NON-CITY SHELTERS ARE CURRENTLY FULL, WHICH MEANS THAT UNSHELTERED CLIENTS WILL HAVE NO RECOURSE TO CURE THEIR VIOLATIONS FOR TWO SEPARATE VIOLATIONS THEY COULD RECEIVE BY BEING OUT ON OUR STREETS WITH PROP B AND HB 1925.
SO I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE A SOLUTION OR A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MARSHALING YARD.
WELL BEFORE OPERATIONS ARE RAMPED DOWN, I WILL AGAIN, SUPPORT THIS NEW MOTION SHEET.
BUT THE CLOSING, THE REALITY IS THIS, THE CLOSING OF THE MARSHALING YARD WILL HAVE REAL EFFECTS ON REAL PEOPLE.
AND OUR CITY WANTS TO SUPPORT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNSHELTERED TO ENSURE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING.
AND SO I HOPE THAT THAT SOLUTION COMES SOONER THAN LATER.
FURTHER DECISION MAYOR PRO TIM? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY JUST SAID.
UM, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE, IF WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE MARSHALING YARD, WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PIECE TO FIT IN THAT SAME FUNCTION.
AND I WOULD GO FURTHER TO SAY THAT IF WE DON'T FIND IT, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT CONTINUING AT THE MARSHALING YARD.
BUT I WILL SUPPORT THIS HERE TODAY.
I THINK STAFF IS REALLY CLEAR AND FULLY COMMITTED TO THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORTH.
IN FACT, WE ARE MAKING THE PROGRESS, WE'RE MAKING CITY MANAGER IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE HUGE COMMITMENT THAT OUR STAFF BRING TO THIS DIFFICULT,
[03:00:01]
UM, TOPIC EV EVERY DAY.SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING THROUGH, UM, THE, THE COMPETING, UH, POLICY POSITIONS.
I'M MORE ON THE SIDE OF CONTINUING THE MARSHALING YARD, BUT IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT IS EVEN BETTER TO REPLACE IT, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD GO FOR THAT.
UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CERTAINTY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT PARTICULAR LAYER OF SUPPORT THAT WE DO HAVE AT THIS POINT.
UH, I SUPPORT THE ITEM, SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
UH, WHEN WE FIRST OPENED THE MARSHALING YARD, THERE WAS KIND OF AN OPEN QUESTION AS TO IS THERE ENOUGH DEMAND? WHAT IS THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER OUT THERE? AND JUST THE REALITY OF IT BEING FULL ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT IT OPENED AND 95%, 97% CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THESE, UH, SIX MONTHS AVERAGE STAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A HUNDRED DAYS OR A LITTLE BIT ABOVE A HUNDRED DAYS.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTION PRETTY CONCLUSIVELY THAT THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND NEED REALLY FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER OUT THERE.
UM, I AM WELL AWARE OF THE BALANCE THAT WE HAVE TO STRIKE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, MONEY THAT GOES TO EMERGENCY SHELTER IS NOT GOING TO LONG-TERM SHELTER.
UH, BUT WE ALLEVIATE A LOT OF VERY BAD THINGS WHEN, UH, WE HAVE A CONGREGATE SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING FED, WHERE PEOPLE ARE, UH, ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE AND SOME CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, AND AIR CONDITIONING, UH, IN THE SUMMER AND, AND HEATING IN THE WINTER.
UH, SO, UH, AGAIN, THIS COMPLEX QUESTION.
WE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO, I MEAN, WE'VE INVESTED IN THE A STREET SHELTER.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE, THERE IS THAT DEMAND FOR, UH, UH, EMERGENCY SHELTER AND, AND WE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE.
BUT I WOULD SUPPORT AT THIS POINT, KEEPING THE MARSHALING YARD OPEN AS LONG AS WE CAN.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, STAFF, IT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SHELTER THAT WE HAVE ON A PER PERSON PER NIGHT BASIS.
UH, SO THAT REALLY KIND OF HELPS ME LEAN IN FAVOR OF, UH, OF KEEPING IT OPEN AS LONG AS WE CAN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS GONNA BE NEEDED BY THE CONVENTION CENTER AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, BUT, UH, MY, MY FIRST BLUSH REACTION WOULD BE, UH, UNTIL WE HAVE A A, A REPLACEMENT, UH, I, I DO NOT WANT TO FORCE ANYBODY OUT OF EVEN CONGREGATE SHELTER.
AND, YOU KNOW, BACK INTO THE, THE, THE CREEKS AND, AND, AND UNDER THE BRIDGES.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I, I CERTAINLY, UM, APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY OUR COLLEAGUES THAT THE REALITY THAT WE'RE IN, IN OUR CITIES, THAT WE HAVE A LOCAL PUBLIC CAMPING BAN AND WE HAVE A STATEWIDE CAMPING BAN.
SO I'M REALLY PROUD THAT OUR CITY MOVED QUICKLY TO ESTABLISH THIS EMERGENCY SHELTER OPERATIONS.
UM, TO CUSTOMER RIVERA'S POINT.
UH, THIS EMERGENCY SHELTER OPERATIONS HAS PROVED EFFECTIVE IN MEETING A NEED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTERING.
UH, CERTAINLY I WANNA THANK OUR, OUR ADVOCATES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT TO LIGHT SOME ISSUES THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING AT THE MARSHING YARD AND TO THE CREDIT OF OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF.
THOSE WERE QUICKLY ADDRESSED AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO VISIT THE MARSHING YARD THIS WEEK.
AND WE GOT TO SEE, UM, THOSE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH ALLOWING PETS ON SITE WITH THE CHANGES IN THE HEALTHY FOOD THEY'RE BEING OFFERED AND PROGRAMMING.
UH, SO CERTAINLY THE, THE WAY THAT WE APPROACH OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS IS ONE THAT I THINK, UM, HAS, HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY AND HAS VALUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT THE MARSHING YARD IS PARTICULARLY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THEIR SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES IS, IS HEARTBREAKING.
UH, AND KNOWING THAT WE ARE HAVING MORE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO HAVE EMERGENCY SHELTERS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE SHELTER OPERATIONS.
NOW AS POLICYMAKERS, IT'S ON US TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PROPER OVERSIGHT.
AND I THINK THE QUESTION THAT MANY OF US HAD IS WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE RAMP DOWN WHEN WE DECOMMISSION THE SHELTER AT THE MARSHING YARD? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT AND INCLUDING THE PRIORITIZATION OF US UTILIZING THE FUNDS, UM, THAT ARE BEING ASKED OF US TO COMMIT TO AS PART OF THIS ITEM, PRIORITIZING THOSE DOLLARS TO GO TOWARDS HOUSING PLACEMENTS AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE BRIEFINGS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, UM, WHAT YIELDS WHAT HELPS US HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT IS THE CONNECTION TO HOUSING.
AND SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS OF WHAT DOES THE INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING, EITHER RAPID REHOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND SO, YOU KNOW, COME BUDGET TIME COLLEAGUES, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
[03:05:01]
OF WHAT OUR INVESTMENTS ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO SCALE AND, AND WHAT OUR PARTNERS COMMITMENTS IN OUR HOMELESSNESS ECOSYSTEM LOOK LIKE.AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THEIR INCREASED SUPPORT.
UH, SO CERTAINLY, UM, MORE TO COME, BUT WITH THIS ITEM, I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCILOR RYAN ALTER FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS ITEM.
UM, AND JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT UPDATES WILL CONTINUE TO COME BEFORE US AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR CADRE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO DAVID AND HIS TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND THOUGHTFULNESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON, ON THE AMENDMENT.
IT'S COMES FROM A PLACE OF, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE DO RIGHT BY THE FOLKS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AS, AS IT'S BEING AMENDED.
UM, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AS A DAIS EXACTLY WHERE WE THINK THE PROPORTIONS OF THIS HOUSING CONVERSATION NEED TO BE.
HOW MUCH OF IT SHOULD BE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS? HOW MUCH IS EMERGENCY SHELTER? AND THEN MOVING INTO THE LONGER TERM PLANS OF VOUCHER PROGRAMS, UM, SUCH AS WHAT CARITAS PROVIDES AND OTHER SORTS OF PROGRAMMING THAT HELP PEOPLE, UM, BE ABLE NOT TO HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREETS.
AND SO I'LL SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
I'M ALSO LEERY OF WINDING DOWN ANY SECTION OF THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE FULL DIVISION OF THE PIPELINE.
HOW DO WE REALLY GET PEOPLE BACK INTO HOUSING? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'VE CONNECTED THEM WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES, THE JOB SKILLS TRAINING, THE, THE PAPERWORK AND DOCUMENTATION TO HAVE THEIR IDEAS, THEIR IDS WITH THEM AS THEY, AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THIS SYSTEM? AND SO I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL DEFINITELY BE PICKING UP VERY SHORTLY, UM, AS WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A NEW MANAGER JOINING US SHORTLY.
AND SO I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THIS CONVERSATION CAN BE FURTHERED AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THIS EXACT MOMENT AND WHERE WE NEED TO GET IN THE NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR SYSTEM IS FULLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THE VOTE IS ON THE RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 34 AS AMENDED DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 34 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
MR. GRAY, LET ME JUST SAY ON BEHALF, I THINK YOU HEARD IT IN IN THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENTS, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE A COUNCIL THAT IS VERY PROUD OF, UH, THE WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS REGARD.
UH, EVERYBODY I, I THINK, RECOGNIZES THAT IT'S DIFFICULT WORK THAT DOESN'T RESULT IN IMMEDIATE RESULTS.
AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE SETBACKS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT I THINK THE CITY MANAGER WHEN HE, UH, IN HIS WISDOM DECIDED TO SET UP A SPECIFIC STRATEGY OFFICE, UH, THAT WAS ONE STEP THAT WAS, THAT SHOWED THAT A GOOD JUDGMENT.
THE OTHER WAS PUTTING YOU IN THAT POSITION AND YOUR DEEP CARING, UM, I THINK PART OF THE CARE THAT YOU BRING TO IT, AND PART OF THE PASSION YOU BRING TO IT IS THAT YOU ALSO ARE CAREFUL ABOUT US LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM AND HOW WE ADDRESS THAT ENTIRE CONTINUUM.
AND, UM, I I DON'T THINK I WOULD GET ANY OBJECTION, UH, FROM ANY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL OR ANYBODY THAT GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, UH, WHEN I SAY YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, A GREAT JOB, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT JOB AND WE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE.
UH, UH, JUST TO A KIND OF A FUN, FUN FACT, UH, DAVID GRAY, LIKE MANY PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION IS A FAN OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND I ASKED HIM TODAY TO WEAR HIS PRESIDENT KENNEDY APPAREL TO HELP HIM THROUGH THIS, UH, THROUGH THIS EFFORT.
SO DAVID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT, UH, IT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF PRESIDENT.
MEMBERS, UM, I TRIED TO TALK LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE US TO TWO, UH, BUT I FAILED.
UM, ACTUALLY IT'S, SO IT'S 1 53.
UM, WE'RE GONNA STAND DOWN FOR, UH, SEVEN MINUTES.
THE LAST THING WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
UM, AND SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK.
IT IS 1:53 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.
ALL RIGHT FOLKS, IT'S TWO O'CLOCK.
SO, UH, I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S TWO O'CLOCK ON APRIL 18TH, AND WE ARE STILL IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, MEMBERS THAT TAKES US TO A, TO OUR, TAKES US TO
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments]
OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN.UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I AM JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING
[03:10:01]
DEPARTMENT.YOUR SIGNING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 66 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 3.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 67 IS C 1 4 2 2 3 0 1 29.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 68 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 0 1.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 69 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 2 6.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 70 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 0 3.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 71 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 3 8.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 72 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 4.
THIS ITEM HAS A VALID PETITION AND WILL REQUIRE NON VOTES FOR PASSAGE.
UH, THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK, UM, AND, UM, STAFF AND COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THIS REQUEST AND STAFF IS OFFERING THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 73 IS C FOUR H 20 23 0 1 45.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 74, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 2ND COUNCIL MEETING.
AND MOVING ON TO THE ADDENDUM, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 80 C 1 4 20 23, 0 1, 3 3.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA AND OF COURSE THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD, UH, MS. HARD.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, TO TAKE THESE ITEMS UP.
ON CONSENT ITEM 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, AND 71 ARE CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AS IS 72.
HOWEVER, IT HAS A VALID PETITION AND WE WANNA CALL THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
ITEM NUMBER 74 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 2ND, AND ITEM NUMBER 80 WOULD BE CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
I'M SORRY, I DID SKIP OVER 73.
73 IS ALSO CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALT ALTER MOVES APPROVAL.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO, UH, CALL UP ANY SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ.
HI, MY NAME IS ABIGAIL OV, UH, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 69.
I, I REPRESENT THE SPICEWOOD GREEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UH, AS WELL AS SOME NEIGHBORS FROM NEELY CANYON AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS WITHIN 200 ZONING, UM, WHO SIGNED A PETITION AGAINST ANY CHANGES TO THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO CONFIRM, WE ARE NOT OPPOSING THE ZONING CHANGE, BUT WE ARE OPPOSING ANY CHANGES TO, YOU KNOW, IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, HEIGHT OR SIZE LIMITATION.
WE WOULD ARGUE THAT 32% IMPERVIOUS COVER IS TOO MUCH NOW THAT THE 12,000 SQUARE FOOT LIMIT ON THE BUILDING IS BEING CONSIDERED TO BE REMOVED.
UM, IN AN EMAIL BETWEEN, UH, AMANDA SWORE TO COUNCILWOMAN BETSY GREENBERG, UM, SHE HAD STATED, QUOTE THAT THE PROJECT COULD BE BUILT WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVERED, UM, THAT WAS PRELIMINARILY 22,200 SQUARE FEET.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE PREVIOUS ZONING, BUT INSTEAD SUPPORTING AND PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED RESIDENTIAL END QUOTE.
UM, THAT STATED AMOUNT WOULD'VE BEEN ABOUT 12% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THE LOWER AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WE FEEL IT'S NEEDED ON SUCH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SITE.
UM, AND PREVIOUSLY THIS IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATION WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE BUILDING SIZE LIMIT WOULD'VE ADEQUATELY RESTRICTED WHAT COULD BE BUILT.
THOSE SUMMARIZE, I GUESS, ARE COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LORRAINE ATHERTON SPEAKING ON ITEM 72 AND 74 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
UH, HELLO, I'M LORRAINE ATHERTON, UH, LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE.
UH, ON, UH, ITEM 72 IS THE RE REZONING OF 1725 TO ME ON THE, UH, UH, BUTLER SHORES, UH, UH, SECTION OF THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
[03:15:01]
THE, UH, UH, THIS PROPERTY IS ALREADY WAS TWO YEARS AGO, REZONED TO MF SIX.YET THE STAFF REPORT, UH, UH, STAFF REPORTS JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 FEET OF HEIGHT.
UH, DESCRIBES IT AS REZONING THIS PROPERTY TO MF SIX, UH, UH, WOULD PROVIDE INCREASED RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES NEAR SIGNI SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SPACES, AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF EXISTING AND PLANNED TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
IT'S ALREADY ZONED MF SIX TWO YEARS AGO WITH AN EXTRA 15 FEET OF HEIGHT, 15 FEET MORE THAN ANY OF THE SURROUNDING MULTIFAMILY, UH, UH, AND, UH, THAT WAS TO ACCOMMODATE 215 HOUSING UNITS.
THE REQUEST TODAY IS FOR YET ANOTHER 15 FEET OF HEIGHT TO BUILD 203 HOUSING UNITS.
THE STAFF REPORT DOES POINT OUT THAT 203 IS LESS THAN 215, YET IT CONTINUES TO SAY THAT THIS, THIS, UH, UH, WILL INCREASE RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, THEY ARE ACTUALLY, UH, ASKING FOR A, UH, ANOTHER FLOOR OF, OF, UH, PENTHOUSE LUXURY CONDOS.
UM, THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT ERROR IN THE STAFF REPORT, UH, IT CONCERNS THE, UH, THE ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
UM, UH, THE SITE IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF, OF, UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT STOPS OR LIGHT RAIL.
UH, THE, UH, UH, UH, THERE IS A, UH, THE, THE STRAIGHT SHOT ALONG TO ME TO SOUTH LAMAR IS ACTUALLY 0.3 MILES AND THERE IS NO BUS STOP THERE.
THERE WAS ONE PLANNED, BUT IT'S BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SOUTH LAMAR CORRIDOR PLAN.
THE WALKING DISTANCE TO THE SOUTHBOUND STOP AT LAMAR AND BARTON SPRINGS ROAD IS 0.37 MILES TO THE NORTH NORTHBOUND STARBUCKS STOP.
IT IS 0.42 MILES TO THE PROPOSED, BUT APPARENTLY NOW CANCELED SOUTHBOUND STOP AT LAMAR AND RIVERSIDE IS 0.39 MILES.
UH, AND THE ONE PATHETIC BUS STOP ON THIS PART OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD IS ALSO MORE THAN A QUARTER MILE AWAY.
THE, UH, UH, DISTANCE TO THE PFLUGER PEDESTRIAN BILL BRIDGE IS MORE THAN 0.3 MILES AS THIS CROW FLIES AND ACTUALLY 0.43 MILES WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALKS.
UH, UM, THIS, THIS REQUEST FOR AN EXTRA 15 FEET OF, OF, UH, UH, PENTHOUSE LUXURY CONDO DOES NOT EXPAND THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND HOUSING CHOICE.
UH, IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE IMAGINE AUSTIN AND STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
IT SIMPLY ADDS ANOTHER FLOOR FOR PENTHOUSE LUXURY CONDOS TO A SATURATED MARKET WHILE DESTROYING 40 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS.
THE NUMBER OF YESES IN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN MATRIX IS ACTUALLY FOUR AT MOST.
THE STAFF REPORT DOESN'T EVEN ADDRESS THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY, UH, REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THIS TRACT IS IN THE BUTLER SHORES WATERFRONT OVERLAY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY IS BALANCING USES.
THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO BALANCE USES, UH, UH, TO PROMOTE THE HARMONIOUS INTERACTION AND TRANSITION BETWEEN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE PARKLAND AND SHORELINE.
IT ALSO MUST RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THE WATERFRONT AS AN OPEN SPACE CONNECTOR FORM SHAPER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND FOCAL POINT FOR LIVELY PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED MIXED USES.
[03:20:02]
THAT'S ABOVE ALL OF THE OTHER MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WITH NO AFFORDABILITY, NOTHING, UH, UH, IT DOESN'T MEET, IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, OR THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY.AND, UH, UH, AND THE REPORT ALSO SAYS THAT TOMI ROAD HAS SUFFICIENT RIGHT OF WAY TO COMPLY WITH THE AUSTIN STRATEG STRATEGICALLY MO MOBILITY THERE.
THANK, THANK YOU, YOU, YOUR TIME'S UP.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH, REGISTERED FOR 72 AND 74 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
JASON HASKINS ON ITEM 74, YOU GET THREE MINUTES, AND ON DECK IS MONICA GUZMAN FOR ITEM 80.
SO THIS IS ADDRESSING THE, UM, THE ZONING CHANGE FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
I AM AN ECONOMICALLY DISPLACED FORMER AUSTIN RESIDENT, A PATENT ELEMENTARY ALUMNUS, AND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARCHITECT WITH NO PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION TO THIS PROJECT.
UH, I AM HERE FIRST TO REMIND YOU OF WITHOUT CLAIMING TO SPEAK FOR THE HUNDREDS OF VOICES WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, THE FUTURE RESIDENTS OF THIS PROJECT.
PRECIOUS AND BELOVED REAL FRIENDS AND REAL NEIGHBORS WHO DESERVE A PLACE IN OUR CITY NO LESS THAN THOSE WHO HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN AN $800,000 HOUSE NEXT DOOR.
THESE VOICES ARE EXCLUDED, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS EVEN HAPPENING TODAY AND WILL IMPACT THEIR LIVES FAR MORE FUNDAMENTALLY THAN ANY OF THOSE WHO ARE TO SPEAK AGAINST IT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE VARIOUS SITUATION THAT MEANS THEY QUALIFY FOR THIS HOUSING, DEPRIVES THEM OF THE LUXURY AND PRIVILEGE OF BEING OF THOSE OF US WHO CAN TAKE THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
UH, I'M SPEAKING BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS SAID AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
UH, THE DEHUMANIZING, BIGOTED RHETORIC WE HEAR AT PLANNING.
WE HEARD AT PLANNING COMMISSION, AND AT EVERY SINGLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CASE, BLINDLY REPEATS FEARS OF MULTI-UNIT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ARE NOT ONLY CONTRADICTED BY OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE, THEY'RE BUILT ON DEEP-SEATED PATTERNS OF RACISM, CLASSISM, AND SELFISHNESS THAT WE MUST CONTINUALLY WORK TO CHECK IN OURSELVES AND IN OUR REGULATIONS.
TO MY FELLOW HOMEOWNERS, I BEG YOU TO STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM.
IF YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED WITH A NEGATIVE IMPACT OF UNSCRUPULOUS DEVELOPERS, AS I VERY MUCH AM, PLEASE STOP FIGHTING ACCESS TO HOUSING OPTIONS AND INSTEAD JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THE ONES WHO ARE DOING IT RIGHT.
I CANNOT VOUCH FOR THE LANDOWNER HERE, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF RED FLAGS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TRUST.
BUT I AM HERE TO VOUCH FOR DMA FOR DIANA AND JANINE AND THEIR TEAM.
THEY HAVE A HUGE TRACK RECORD OF DOING THIS RIGHT.
UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN BEGGING THIS COUNCIL TO DO MORE, TO INCREASE TENANT RIGHTS AND TO DO THEIR JOB OF ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE BAD ACTOR LANDLORDS TERRORIZING OUR CITY.
UH, SECOND MORE GENERALLY, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THE CITY MUST STOP PERPETUATING THE VILE NOTION THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THE SUPPOSEDLY SU THE SUPPOSED SUPERIORITY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS AND SAVING OUR SPRAWL.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO ENFORCE SOCIOECONOMIC AND RACIAL PURITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT AS RULINGS AGAINST HOUSING SEGREGATION CAME OUT, AUSTIN RESPONDED NOT ONLY WITH THE 1928 PLAN, BUT WITH INCREASING MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND ABOVE ALL, THE INCREASED USE OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS WITH VERY FEW EX EXCEPTIONS, RESTRICT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, ENFORCE STANDARDS AND LIFESTYLES THAT ARE NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE WIDER COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE INTENTIONAL ACTS OF SABOTAGE OF OTHERS' PROPERTY TO PROTECT THE, THE SUBJECTIVE INTERESTS OF A PRIVILEGED VIEW.
RESTRICTIONS LIKE THIS AGAINST MULTIFAMILY ARE AKIN TO SALTING THE EARTH.
PLEASE TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DISMANTLE THIS TOXIC POISONING OF OUR COMMON HOME BY ROOTING OUT ALL RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVERY CHANCE YOU GET.
THANK YOU, MONICA GUZMAN, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE, UH, ANY MEMBER THAT WISHES TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO I'LL CALL FOR DISCUSSION.
I HAD YOU DOWN WANTING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 80.
IS NUMBER 80 IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO, IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, THEN I'M, I'M SORRY, MARY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, JUST, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
AND ITEM 80, UH, IS, UH, THE HALF PRICE BOOKS GOODWILL PROPERTY THERE ON THE CORNER OF, UH, NORTH LAMAR.
AND, UH, KANIG, UH, IT'S ABOUT A 14 ACRE PROPERTY.
IT'S, UH, 14 ACRES OF IMPERVIOUS COVER RIGHT NOW.
UH, SO ANY REDEVELOPMENT OF IT THAT IS GOING TO, UH, IMPLEMENT MODERN WATER CONTROLS WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THE, UH, DOWNSTREAM NEIGHBORHOODS TO WALL CREEK.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK THE APPLICANTS.
[03:25:01]
MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.THEY HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT, ALTHOUGH IN A LITTLE UNUSUAL SITUATION, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, TRADITIONALLY I SHOULD SAY, TRY TO RATCHET PROJECTS DOWN, UH, AND HAVE LESS HEIGHT AND LESS UNITS.
THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UH, A LARGER MORE, UH, SIGNATURE TYPE, UH, PROJECT ON THAT PROPERTY.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN GOOD SPEAKING WITH APPLICANTS.
THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF OUR, UH, E TODD DISCUSSIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BE TAKING UP, UH, SOON ENOUGH, AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT, AT, AT THOSE, UH, WHEN THE TIME COMES.
BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, UH, ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT, UH, WILL BE, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED.
UM, AND JUST SAY THAT I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING, UH, WITH, UH, BOTH, UH, MY CONSTITUENTS AND WITH APPLICANTS ON THE, ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS VERY LARGE PROPERTY ON, UH, NORTH LAMAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABS? EXCUSE ME.
UH, ABSTAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDAS THAT WAS READ, ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
IN THAT CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA ON OUR ZONING ITEMS AS WAS READ, IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE, AND WE DO HAVE NINE VOTES ON ITEM NUMBER 72.
SO IT IS ALSO, UH, PASSED ON ALL THREE READINGS, UH, MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S, IT'S THIS MEETING, UH, HOWEVER, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE IN A MOMENT OF TRANSITION.
UH, AS WE KNOW, UH, WE HAVE, UH, A NEW CITY MANAGER COMING ON.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER WHO STEPPED IN FOR THIS COUNCIL, UM, YOU KNOW, 14 MONTHS AGO OR WHATEVER IT WAS, UH, THIS IS HIS LAST MEETING, UH, HE, HIS LAST DAY IS THE THIRD, BUT, AND, BUT HE WILL, UM, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING THAT HE'LL PARTICIPATE IN.
AND SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING AND APPROPRIATE THAT, UM, WE RECOGNIZE, UH, AND, AND A LOT MORE IS GONNA GET SAID ABOUT JESUS GARZA AND THE GOOD JOB HE'S DONE AND THE HELP THAT HE'S PROVIDED US, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THAT HE ACTUALLY, UH, UH, DOES LEAVE THE POSITION.
BUT HERE AT THIS LAST MEETING, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO SAY IN THE BIGGEST WAY, WE KNOW HOW.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR, UH, THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS COUNCIL AND EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY.
UH, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS, AND WE'RE ALL VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WITH YOU.
UM, AND BASED UPON THE LENGTH OF THAT SPEECH, WE, UH, AT TWO 18, NO, THERE'LL BE, THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE SAID, BUT IT, IT'S TWO 18 AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.