[00:00:04]
[Call to Order]
MAY 2ND, 2024 AT, AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS ON 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
UH, LET ME WALK EVERYBODY THROUGH THE, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO FIRST IS READ CORRECTIONS, UH, INTO THE, INTO THE, AND CHANGES INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN I'LL REVIEW THE ORDER FOR THE DAY ON ITEM NUMBER THREE THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 49 IS POSTPONED TO MAY 16TH, 2024.
ITEM 57 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ADDEND.
ITEM NUMBER 92, ITEM NUMBER 73, THE PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER 73 IS TO BE TAKEN UP AFTER ZONING.
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, UH, THAT NEED TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD FOR THURSDAY, MAY 2ND, 2024.
UH, THE, THE ORDER OF BUSINESS THAT WE'LL FOLLOW TODAY IS THAT WE WILL TAKE UP OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL THEN, UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, AS I POINTED OUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY, PEOPLE WILL BE ENTITLED TO THREE MINUTES PER ITEM THAT THEY SPOKE UP ON.
AND THE, THE CITY CLERK WILL HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, HAVE A, A RECORD OF THAT AND PROVIDE YOU WITH NOTICE OF HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE.
WE WILL THEN HAVE COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL, AND WE WILL VOTE ON, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THAT TIME.
WE WILL THEN GO TO NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND WE WILL HEAR THE, WE WILL TAKE THE NON-CONSENT SPEAKERS AT THAT TIME.
HOWEVER, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT IF IT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO SPEAK DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA ON AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON CONSENT, UM, PLEASE LET THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE KNOW THAT AND WE'LL, WE'LL ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH THE TIME THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION WILL BE.
ON THE NON NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UH, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ITEMS THOSE ARE.
ITEM NUMBER 69, WE WILL HAVE A, A PRESENTATION BY STAFF AND A DISCUSSION, AND PEOPLE MAY ARE IN A POSITION TO SPEAK ON THAT.
HOWEVER, UH, AFTER THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, I ANTICIPATE THAT WHAT WE WILL DO IS HAVE ITEM 69, UH, POSTPONED FOR A VOTE SO THAT COUNCIL WILL HAVE TIME, UH, TO TAKE IN ALL THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. UH, TO MAY 30TH, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 71 THROUGH 7 77, AND AN ITEM THAT'S REFERRED FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 99.
UH, ON ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE WILL TAKE AN IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THOSE.
UH, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT ANYONE REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.
YOU WILL BE HEARD DURING THAT PUBLIC HEARING WHEN WE CALL THAT, AND NOT WITH THE CONSENT SPEAKERS, UNLESS IT'S MORE CONVENIENT AND YOU WANT TO, UH, LET THE CLERK'S OFFICE KNOW THAT.
UM, AT, AT, WE WILL ALL, WE TYPICALLY WILL HAVE HAVE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND I KNOW PEOPLE GET ACCUSTOMED TO THAT, UH, MEETING AT AROUND 10 30.
IT'S POSTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN WE CAN GET TO IT IN THE MORNING, WE USUALLY GO TO IT.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST BY STAFF THAT WE TAKE THAT UP IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO COUNSEL, WE WILL TAKE UP A HFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IN THE AFTERNOON.
UM, BUT THE WAY WE'LL DO THAT IS THAT WE TYPICALLY DO IT AND WE WILL RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE HFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
THEN WE WILL ADJOURN IT AND WE'LL GO BACK INTO, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL MEETING AT SOME POINT, DEPENDING UPON HOW THE CALENDAR AND THE SCHEDULE WORKS OUT, WE WILL ALSO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL GO INTO, UM, A, A, A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 12 O'CLOCK.
WE HAVE SCHEDULED A TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UH, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THAT RIGHT AT 12 O'CLOCK.
AND THEN AT TWO O'CLOCK WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN SCHEDULED FOR ZONING.
AND, UM, WE WILL, WE WILL TAKE THAT UP AS CLOSE TO TWO O'CLOCK AS WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE, AND WE DO HAVE ONE ZONING ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.
SO MEMBERS, THAT IS THE ORDER OF BUSINESS THAT WE WILL GO THROUGH, UH, TODAY, UH, THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING PULLED FROM
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO, SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS, AND AT[00:05:01]
THIS POINT, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.MATT MATSON, ITEM 64, 3 MINUTES.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK THIS MORNING ABOUT TRANS HEALTHCARE IN AUSTIN, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A VITAL LIFE SAVING AND LIFE-AFFIRMING ISSUE FOR A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, INTERFERING WITH THE, THE WORK OF PEOPLE AND THEIR DOCTORS AND INFRINGING ON THEIR FREEDOM IN THAT WAY, IN WAYS THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING AND CAN, CAN CHASE MANY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AWAY FROM AN AMAZING CITY LIKE AUSTIN, UM, SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK UP ON THIS, AND I THINK THAT, I HOPE THAT, UM, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT CHOOSES TO ALLOCATE ITS PRECIOUS RESOURCES TOWARDS, UM, HURTING THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THIS, THIS WONDERFUL CITY.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 64.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT NO ONE IS BORN IN THE WRONG BODY, AND WE REALLY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, UM, HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY AROUND THE WORLD.
UM, THERE'S A RISE IN GENDER DYSPHORIA AND MEDICATIONS AND SURGERY ARE JUST ADDING TO THE PROBLEM.
SO I JUST WOULD SPEAK AGAINST, UM, MAKING AUSTIN BASICALLY A SANCTUARY CITY FOR, UM, ANY KIND OF GENDER PROCEDURES, AND WE REALLY, TRULY NEED TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
UM, THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS A LAW PASSED JUST RECENTLY IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO REALIZE THAT, UM, DOCTORS WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING, UH, ANY PROCEDURES OR GIVING MEDICATIONS TO CHILDREN THAT, UM, CHANGE THEIR GENDER.
HOKI, FREEDOM 64, 94, 98 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
YEAH, I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SHORT AND SIMPLE.
UH, FIRST, I, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64.
I BELIEVE THAT, UM, GIVING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, UM, SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY TO LIKE, YEAH, YEAH, FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF OUR POPULATION IN ORDER TO HELP THEM FEEL, UM, AT HOME IN THEIR BODIES AND HELP THEM PROGRESS IN THEIR TRANSITION ON THEIR JOURNEY.
UM, I, I FEEL LIKE IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
UM, IN TERMS OF ITEM THE BUILDING CODE REFORMS. UM, I HOPE THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO ADD, UM, SINGLE STA UH, REP BUILDINGS, UH, TO THAT.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS MAKES IT MORE POSSIBLE TO CREATE, UM, JUST A VARIETY OF HOUSING, LIKE THE KIND, LIKE SMALLER MULTIFAMILY HOUSING UNITS THAT BUILDINGS THAT, UM, MIGHT FIT ON SOME OF THE NEW, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, REDEVELOPED PLANNED PARCELS.
UM, AND LASTLY, UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, OF HEARING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT AS A, UM, RESIDENT OF SOUTH AUSTIN.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES THAT, UM, THIS NEW WATERFRONT DISTRICT ENTAIL.
LIKE, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT COME TO FRUITION, AND I, UM, YEAH, I, I'M SUPER EXCITED,
ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU COUNSEL.
SCRE NALU, ITEM 64 94, 6 MINUTES.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 64 AND 94.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE FIRST ONE, UH, MY WHOLE FAMILY IS, UH, COMPOSED OF A LOT OF DOCTORS, AND I BELIEVE CULTURES LIKE THAT ARE BEST ANSWERED BY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES STUDYING MEDICAL SCIENCE.
AND SO I, I, I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD, UH, IMPOSE ON IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
SO, UH, I SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ANY MEASURE TO LET LET THE DOCTORS DECIDE THAT.
UH, AND THEN FOR THE SECOND ITEM, UM, AS WAS JUST SAID RIGHT BEFORE ME, UH, I THINK,
[00:10:01]
YOU KNOW, MODERNIZING OUR BUILDING CODE TO KIND OF MATCH THE BEST STANDARDS AROUND THE WORLD WILL REALLY LIKE, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO, UH, LIVE IN SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.SO, UH, YEAH, PLEASE, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THESE ITEMS. MICHELLE TAYLOR, ITEM 64, 3 MINUTES.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY, MY HEART REALLY GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA.
OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT THEY REALLY NEED OUR ABOVE ATTENTION AND STABILITY.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, RECENT STUDIES AND REVIEWS HAVE SHOWN THAT FAST TRACKING A CHILD TRANSITIONING DOES ANYTHING.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ADDRESS EVERY ASPECT OF TRANSITIONING.
SO I'LL FOCUS ON THE FIRST PHARMACEUTICAL STEP, WHICH IS PUBERTY BLOCKERS.
PUBERTY BLOCKERS WERE CREATED AND TESTED IN THE EIGHTIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TEMPORARILY STOPPING PUBERTY AND CHILDREN WITH PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE USED FOR YEARS ON END, IT WAS JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET THE CHILD THROUGH TO A NORMAL AGE FOR PUBERTY.
THESE DRUGS AREN'T TESTED NOR FDA APPROVED FOR USE IN GENDER DYSPHORIA.
FURTHERMORE, THESE DRUGS COME WITH A HOST OF COMPLICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS THAT YOU DON'T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH ONES AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'LL END UP WITH.
UM, THAT CAN CAUSE LONG-TERM BODILY HARM.
SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE SIDE EFFECTS, AND THIS ISN'T BY ANY MEANS A COMPLETE LIST 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE TIME ARE HEADACHES, MOOD CHANGES, NEWER, INCREASED MENTAL ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, WEIGHT GAIN, CHRONIC PAIN, LOWER BONE DENSITY, OSTEOPOROSIS, SLEEP ISSUES, S STUNT GROWTH AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON.
THESE TREATMENTS CAN CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD, UNDERMINING LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
FINLAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND EVEN THE INFAMOUS TAVISTOCK CLINIC IN LONDON ARE TAKING A STEP BACK TO REEVALUATE IN REVERSE COURSE.
SINCE WHEN OUR CHILDREN UNDER 18 MATURE ENOUGH TO MAKE SUCH SERIOUS LIFELONG DECISIONS AND GIVE CONSENT WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN VOTE, DRINK, GAMBLE, GET A TATTOO OR CONSENT FOR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A ROOT CANAL, THE STATE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ITS BEST INTEREST.
AND FOR THE INTEREST OF THIS, OF THESE CHILDREN, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS THAT COULD GROW THE NUMBER OF DISABLED OR CHRONICALLY ILL ADULTS IN THE NEXT DECADE? WHEN THE DOCTORS LEFT DELL CHILDREN'S TO AVOID INVESTIGATION, IT'S BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE IN THE WRONG ON SOME THINGS OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
THIS IS ABOUT MONEY FOR THEM BECAUSE ONCE A CHILD STARTS DOWN THIS PATH, THEY'LL NEED MEDICATIONS OR OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR LIFE.
AND WHO IS LEFT PICKING UP ALL THE PIECES? THE FAMILIES ARE, BUT WHO KNOWS? BECAUSE AS IS THE CASE IN LONDON, MANY LAWSUITS ARE POPPING UP FROM PEOPLE THAT TRANSITIONED.
IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN BECOMES A SANCTUARY CITY, NOT ONLY IS IT GREEN LIGHTING PRACTITIONERS TO RUN ROUGHSHOD AND DO WHATEVER IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST IGNORING THEIR HIPPOCRATIC OATH, IT COULD ALSO OPEN THE CITY UP TO LAWSUITS FOR DEFUND, FOR DEFYING THE STATE LAW AND ALLOWING IT.
SO I CLOSE IN SAYING, PLEASE LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, FOLLOW THE MONEY AND CONSIDER OUR FUTURE.
AND PARENTS, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH AND EVALUATE THE PROS AND CONS OF ANY MEDICATION THAT IS PRESCRIBED FOR YOUR CHILD BEFORE YOU GIVE IT TO THEM.
AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THE DOCTOR'S QUESTIONS OR ASK.
ARE Y'ALL ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES, I APOLOGIZE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, UH, ON VIRTUAL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I FIRST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF AND THE CLERK AND APOLOGIZE AS I EMAILED EARLIER THIS MORNING TRYING TO ADD SOME ITEMS ONTO MY SUPPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I EMAILED TOO LATE, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 64, 73, 89 AND 94.
UM, FIRST ON ITEM 64, I THINK STANDING WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS A RIGHTEOUS THING TO DO.
AND AS, UM, FRANKLY, THE RIGHT THING TO DO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUR LEGISLATURE SAYS IS THEIR OPINION.
UM, SECONDLY, FOR ITEM 73 AND 89 ON SUNSET RIDGE, I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY, IT'S, UH, DEVELOPMENT WITH OVER 150 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
THESE ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED ACROSS OUR CITY AND IN DISTRICT EIGHT AS WELL.
AND ON 9 94, WE HAVE TO REFORM OUR BUILDING CODES TO PROPEL US FORWARD, UH, AND ENABLE ESSENTIAL VARIETY IN OUR BUILDINGS.
[00:15:02]
SPECIFICALLY.I THINK WE NEED TO ENABLE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS TO USE SINGLE STAIR EGRESS UP TO SIX STORIES, AND THAT'S SEEN IN MANY OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD AND IN THE UNITED STATES.
I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.
I HOPE Y'ALL ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL MORNING AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A WONDERFUL COUNCIL MEETING.
SUN NOIA JOSEPH, ITEM 38, 41, 44, 45, 55, 59, 60 65 FOR TOTAL 24 MINUTES.
COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE SPEAKING 24 MINUTES, BUT I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
I WOULD JUST PREFACE MAYOR BY SAYING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCUSSION AS IT RELATES TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
YOU ADD LAID BAKE BACKUP MATERIALS AT EVERY MEETING, SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME PARITY WHERE THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE REMOTE AND EVEN THOSE IN PERSON ARE ABLE TO ADD THEIR ITEMS LATE AS WELL.
UM, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 45, THAT'S THE ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION, IT IS, UH, $24.8 MILLION FOR COLLINWOOD.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT COLLINWOOD IS ACTUALLY ON ROUTE 3 92, JUNE 3RD, 2018.
CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED THE SERVICE.
THIS IS A SPECIFIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT THAT IS FOR OUR ELDERS.
SO IT'S CONSIDERED 55 PLUS 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HALF A MILE BUS STOP THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS IS ONE THAT I ACTUALLY GOT THEM TO PUT THERE BECAUSE WHEN QT WAS BEING BUILT, IT ACTUALLY, UH, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WERE WALKING WITH THE TRAFFIC AND I SAID THAT THEY COULD GET KILLED ACROSS FROM THERE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A BLACK MAN THAT IS ACTUALLY AT THE BUS STOP.
THERE'S ONLY ONE SHELTER IN THAT AREA AND HE HAS RETURNED.
SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE INEQUITIES AND SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO 65, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT.
I WANT YOU TO, TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU APOLOGIZE, NOT YOU SPECIFICALLY, BUT COUNSEL APOLOGIZED TO AFRICAN AMERICANS MARCH 1ST, MARCH 4TH, EXCUSE ME, 2021.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY TO THE MEMBERS WHO ARE WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN TIME ON MORE OUTREACH AT JUST THE LAST MEETING, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE MINUTES, YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU APPROVED OUTREACH.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHY, UH, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND DISTRICT FOUR AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF COLOR ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
I WOULD JUST SAY SINCE IT'S POETRY MONTH THAT YOUR PREDATORY POLITICIANS PIMPING POOR PEOPLE'S PAIN.
SO A LITTLE ALLITERATION THIS MORNING.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS IN CRAIG WOOD AND COL COLONY PARK.
THAT'S ROUTE 3 39, WHICH IS INNER LINE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FORMALLY UNHOUSED ON ROUTE 2 37 AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, THAT WHEN THEY ELIMINATE ONE OF THE BLOCKS, YOU HAVE HAVE PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS PLUS ANOTHER 60 MINUTES.
SO TWO HOURS 60 MINUTES IS 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL WHITE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO SEE YOU GIVE THE PROCLAMATION DURING THE SECOND DAY OF THE FAIR HOUSING SUMMIT ON, UH, OR NOT THE SUMMIT, BUT CONFERENCE APRIL 17TH.
AND WE, THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE MINORITIES WERE FORCED TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 45 MINUTES BECAUSE THE RAIL WENT DOWN AND THE BUS WAS TAKEN OFF THE ROUTE TO SERVE THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS AT HOWARD STATION.
SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS DISCRIMINATORY AND I WOULD POINT YOU TO YOUR OWN 2023.
IT WAS IN OCTOBER THAT YOU SUBMITTED THE PRO HOUSING GRANT, UM, PATHWAYS TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING THROUGH THE THROUGH HUD.
AND UH, SPECIFICALLY IT SAYS IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE PUT LESS THAN 10 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN WEST AUSTIN AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE I 35 ITEMS. NUMBER 38 IS THE $1.4 MILLION FROM NELSON NIGAR, AND IT'S THE IH 35 CAP AND STITCH CONNECTING AUSTIN EQUITABLY MOBILITY STUDY.
AGAIN, THAT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THE $206.5 MILLION, SPECIFICALLY THE MULTIMODAL PROJECT DISCRETIONARY GRANT BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMISSION RATHER, AND, UH, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE GOT SUPPORT FOR THE $1 MILLION GRANT, THE EQUITABLE GRANT SUPPOSEDLY CONNECTING COMMUNITIES.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT CAPITAL METRO USED THE 2010 CENSUS, THAT DATA AND SAID THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE ACTUALLY CONNECTED TO GOOD TRANSIT IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN.
[00:20:01]
2020 CENSUS DATA CAME UP JUST SHORTLY AFTER THEY SUBMITTED THEIR TITLE SIX SERVICE EQUITY ANALYSIS AND THE TRIANNUAL TRIANNUAL REVIEW.SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE USING BLACK PEOPLE TO GET THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND WHEN YOU RECEIVE THEM RESPECTFULLY, YOU DO NOT IMPROVE SERVICE FOR US AND IT'S GENTRIFIED IN THAT AREA.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE THANKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND I PUT IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.
I GOT A REPLY BACK NOVEMBER 27TH, 2023 FROM KAREN HILLIS, THAT'S THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THAT'S THE SPECIFICALLY HIS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND SAID HE HAD NOTHING RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUEST.
O OOG, PIR NUMBER 4 4 7 DASH 23.
BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY, UH, A PRESENTATION SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2023 TO THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE THAT SAID THAT CAMP ESPERANZA WAS MITIGATION FOR THE I 35, UH, PROJECT.
AND SO I THEN WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO AND THAT'S, I GOT NO INFORMATION.
SO I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS, UH, PROJECT WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT 700 MORE PEOPLE, THAT $65 MILLION DEAL THAT YOU MADE WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING.
THEREFORE, IT ACTUALLY VIOLATES THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 AS WELL.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU MUST COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL LAW.
AND SO WHILE I GET THAT MR. GOODE PUT IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS THAT YOUR I 35 FUNDING, UH, APPLICATION IS DUE ON MONDAY AND HE PLANS TO SUBMIT IT TOMORROW, I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE SYSTEM AS IT IS PRESENTED IS NOT EQUITABLE.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO MORE TO HELP OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE NORTH OF US 180 3 AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I JUST WANNA ASK YOU, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE TRASH PICKED UP AT STOP ID 4 5 5 0 NEXT TO WALNUT CREEK ELEMENTARY IN YOUR AREA AS IT RELATES.
LASTLY, UH, TO THE FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, IT'S EXPANDING THE FOOD ACCESS FOR PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, BUT THE CRESCENT IS NOT THE ONLY PART OF DISTRICT ONE THAT NEEDS FOOD.
THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR SENIORS OVER AT HARRIS BRANCH SENIOR LIVING, AND THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION ON PALMER LANE FOR HARRIS BRANCH OR FOR THE PEOPLE, UM, THAT LIVE IN PIONEER CROSSING.
THERE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE THAT WALK ONE TO FIVE MILES FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEY NEED FOOD TOO ON PALMER LANE FM NINE, UH, FM 7 34.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO EXPAND IT SO THAT THEY GET SERVICE AS WELL.
AND AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THESE HOOD, I ACTUALLY AM IN NEUTRAL ON THAT AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO DISAGGREGATE THE DATA AND FIND OUT HOW MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY AREA AND SPECIFICALLY I KNOW THERE'S AN A FARMER, NANCY THAT'S ON KAZI AT TIMES YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET INPUT FROM HER AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT HILLTOP URBAN GARDENS.
THEY ACTUALLY DO THESE MICRO GARDENS WITH THE, IN THE COMMUNITIES AND THEN THEY SHARE THE PRODUCE, BUT THEY'RE ADDING SOMETHING IN 2024 SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF ECONOMIC STABILITY AS IT RELATES TO THE, UH, FARMER'S MARKET.
SO GOOD IDEA, BUT I LOOKED AT THE HOUSING AND PLANNING, UH, PRESENTATION AND THERE WERE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES TO GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITIES TO DO BETTER.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY, I KNOW THAT WE COULDN'T SIGN ON 78, THAT'S THE PROJECT CONNECT LAWSUIT, BUT I ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE PLAINTIFFS AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ON THE SIDE OF THE PLAINTIFF BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM IS DISCRIMINATORY.
MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY, I NEED TO REMIND YOU AGAIN, UM, THAT NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER WAS DEVELOPED IN 1985 AND IT TOOK ABOUT 30 YEARS JUST TO GET A SIDEWALK FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY ON ROUTE 2 7 5, WHICH IS NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD.
AND SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO SIMPLY, UH, WORDSMITH THE DOCUMENT SO THAT YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRING SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE 50% FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
AND SO, UM, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, BUT I ACTUALLY, UM, I GUESS I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT EAGLE'S LANDING.
UM, IT'S JUST, UM, THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION IS REALLY JUST A LOOPHOLE.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE REHABILITATION WILL BE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO STOP GIVING THE DEVELOPERS THESE TAX, UM, THESE TAX BENEFITS WITH NO BENEFIT OR COMMUNITY BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE DEVELOPMENTS.
THIS IS NOT ONE WITH VERRON, WHICH IS THE SAN FRANCISCO DEAL THAT THEY KEEP DOING.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT DEVELOPER.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, YOU WILL SEE PRETTY PICTURES OF THE STAFF, THE CONSULTANTS,
[00:25:01]
BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO REHAB.IT'S APPROXIMATELY 240 UNITS OVER THERE OFF OF DECKER LANE.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TO RECOGNIZE I APPRECIATE MR. BUNCH ACTUALLY FILING THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEAK.
BUT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
IT ONLY SPEAKS TO THE APRIL 4TH IN-PERSON EXCHANGE THAT THE TWO OF YOU HAD.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL OF MY COMMENTS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE, BUT IF YOU TELL ME, I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.
YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 14 MINUTES.
IS THERE
OKAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT'S A LOT OF TIME THERE,
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY YES MA'AM.
THAT'S KIND OF BEEN MY POSITION FROM THE BEGINNING.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY AS IT RELATES TO THE BUNGALOWS, I DO RECOGNIZE YOU NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
UM, BUT RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, THIS IS SEGREGATED HOUSING.
IF YOU ARE POOR, I'M POOR, WE'RE ALL POOR AND WE'RE ALL LIVING TOGETHER AND WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING, THEN HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET OUT OF THE POORNESS
THEY'RE SEGREGATED, AND SO THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE IN THIS SPACE TOGETHER.
UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UM, AND LAST TIME YOU MET, I ACTUALLY, UH, TEST, WANTED TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE MARSHALING YARD.
I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT CONCENTRATING POVERTY AGAIN DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING AND THE BUNGALOWS TO, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, ONCE AGAIN, SHE HAS NOT FOUND A WAY TO PUT ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED ON THE WEST SIDE OF LOOP ONE.
AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF LAND THERE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT CONVIC HILL WHERE THERE WAS ACTUALLY A, A BUILDING, AND YOU CAN REVISIT THIS.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S LESS DISCRIMINATORY THAN CONCENTRATING POVERTY IN THE FAR NORTHEAST AND NORTH AND SOUTHEAST CORNERS OF THE CITY.
UM, AND IT IS VERY DISTURBING THERE.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, UM, AS IT RELATES TO 59, THAT'S THE, THE ROAD SAFETY, UM, THE $22.9 MILLION.
I'M ACTUALLY NEUTRAL ON THE THAT ITEM AS WELL.
I SUPPORT THE SAFETY, BUT I HAVE ASKED, AND I'VE TESTIFIED BEFORE, THERE NEEDS TO BE PRIORITY PLACED AT CHINATOWN, CLOSE, THE MID-BLOCK STOP, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A SIDEWALK.
IF YOU CAN IMPROVE THE SIDEWALK AREA FOR PEOPLE GOING TO THE SOCCER STADIUM, THEN SURELY PEOPLE IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS AND CANES AND MOTHERS WITH THEIR BABIES AND STROLLERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FROM CHINATOWN, WHICH CHEETO VELA PROMISED ON KAZI AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CLOSE THAT STOP TO BREAKER LANE.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE PATH WITH SOME PEBBLES, SOME ROCKS, AND THEY CAN'T GET THERE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT EITHER BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS HAVE TO THEN CROSS THOSE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS, FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC TWO TIMES.
THERE ARE OVER 39,000 VEHICLES PER DAY IN THAT AREA, MAYOR.
AND SO YOU CAN'T SAY YOU'RE ALL ABOUT SAFETY AND THEN LEAVE THAT STOP OPEN.
THE LANDING PAD IS STILL AT KRAMER AND NORTH LAMAR, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY MOVE THE STOP DOWN THE CVS PHARMACY AT BREAKER AND NORTH LAMAR AND CAPITAL METRO HAS HEARD ME SAY THIS MANY TIMES, BUT YOU HAVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH THEM, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, UM, TO ACTUALLY GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, THAT'S A WHOLE LOT AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME I'M LOOKING AT MY LIST HERE.
UM, AND I'M NOT REAL SURE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO RUN THE, UM, WHEN WE, WE CALL IN FOR EXAMPLE, BUT THEN IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER TO CALL BACK AGAIN.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC TIME, THERE'S NO, UH, NUMBER FROM THE CLERK.
UM, I CALLED BACK, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING AND THEN GOT THROUGH TWICE AND THEN THE SYSTEM DISCONNECTED ME.
UM, AND SO THERE'S JUST A LACK OF CLARITY, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THAT, UM, AS WELL.
UM, AND I COULD, I COULD SAY MORE.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY I'LL JUST TELL YOU, UM, THE REFERENCE THAT I USE, JUST SO YOU HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE, IS THE TITLE SIX LEGAL MANUAL, WHICH IS UPDATED, UM, THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST REMIND COUNSEL THAT ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, THAT IS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, UM, USED IMMINENT DOMAIN IN THE BREAKER EAST BREAKER AREA OFF OF PALMER LANE TO RELIEVE CONGESTION IN THE SAMSUNG AREA.
AND THE 2014 PROJECT CONNECT NORTH CORRIDOR LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SAID
[00:30:01]
THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE JOBS WOULD BE IN THE TWO MOST POPULATED COUNTIES, UM, WHICH IS SAMSUNG TO APPLE, UM, SERVING WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, BY 2035.AND SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO PUSH, UM, PROJECT CONNECT AND, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, UM, WHEN IN FACT YOU HAVE EXERCISED EMINENT DOMAIN.
AND FOR CONTEXT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T FOLLOW YOU THAT MUCH, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT IS IN THE DECEMBER 8TH, 2022 BOARD PACKET AS WELL.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT MAYOR ADLER DID BEFORE HE LEFT.
AND I JUST WILL REMIND YOU THAT, UM, IT WAS AUSTIN CHRONICLE THAT DOVE, PETE BUTTIGIEG QUOTE, THE MAYORAL BFF.
SO THE FUNDING KEEPS FLOWING TO AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THESE INCESTUOUS FRIENDSHIPS.
AND I WILL LASTLY JUST TELL YOU THAT BEFORE URI FERNANDEZ, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR WAS ACTUALLY CONFIRMED, UM, SHE DID THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SUPPORT FOR, UH, THE PROJECT CONNECT AND THE THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS HERE IN AUSTIN THROUGH THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND SHE WAS FRIENDS OR IS FRIENDS, UH, WITH THE FORMER CEO, UM, OF CAPITAL METRO, WHO RANDY CLARK SAID HE'S KNOWN
AND SO IT IS GOING TO TAKE US TO, UM, HAVE THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR SOME OTHER ENTITY, UH, REVIEW THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS DISCRIMINATORY.
AND I WOULD JUST LASTLY SAY THIS, WE HAVE OVER 2000 UNITS WITHIN ABOUT A MILE FROM SAMSUNG AT PALMER AND DESHAW.
WE HAVE ABOUT 2000 UNITS AT TECH RIDGE BOULEVARD AND YEAGER LANE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DEVELOPER GOT ENTITLEMENTS TO BUILD DENSITY AND SAID THAT 3 92 WAS A FREQUENT BUS ROUTE.
IN FACT, THAT WAS A LIE IN THE BOARD PACKET OF FALSEHOOD.
IT'S A 45 MINUTE ROUTE, AND THERE ARE NO SHELTERS IN THAT AREA.
SO I WAS JUST ASKING YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN IS UNDERGIRDED BY PROJECT CON PROJECT CONNECT BY THESE, UM, CAP REMAP, THE BUS ROUTES, THE 52 ROUTES THAT CHANGED JUNE 3RD, 2018.
UM, AND SO I TESTIFIED BEFORE THE JOINT, UH, SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, AND THEY, UM, DON'T HAVE THE DATA THAT THEY NEED, BUT IT'S WRITTEN IN THE 2017 CAPITAL METRO FINANCIAL PLAN.
AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CONSULTANT SAID IN 2016, UM, THEY DID THE OPPOSITE.
HE TOLD THEM THAT SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DID NOT HAVE THE DENSITY, BUT YET THE BUS RUNS FREQUENTLY THERE.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE EQUITABLE.
I WOULD ASK PAIGE ELLIS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE BUS IS RUNNING EMPTY, THE 40 FOOT BUS IS RUNNING THE CONVICT HILL EVERY OTHER LAP.
IT'S 15 MINUTES ON WILLIAM CANNON AND 30 MINUTES FOR 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR.
AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GROW RIDERSHIP THERE BECAUSE IT'S THE WATERSHED RESTRICTED AREA.
AND SO IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING YOUR WAREHOUSING OUR BLACK PEOPLE IN THE MARSHALING YARD.
AND WHEN YOU GET UPDATES IN THE FUTURE, MAYOR, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO GET THE DISAGGREGATED DATA.
YOU PRAISED MR. GRAY, BUT MR. GRAY NEVER ONCE GAVE YOU ANY DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.
SO THE ONLY POINT OF REFERENCE I CAN GIVE YOU IS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS OF CARD.
AND THE ECHO ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION 2022 REPORT ON OR ABOUT JULY 1ST IS WHEN IT CAME OUT.
AND SO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SELL THAT, THEY ARE GETTING THREE SQUARE MEALS A DAY IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE BLACK PEOPLE, I THINK YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE WAREHOUSING THEM.
THAT'S 300, WHICH IS 200 WITHIN TWO MILES OF CAM ESPERANZA WITH 200 PEOPLE THERE.
AND THEN THE DEAL YOU MADE WITH THE STATE FOR $65 MILLION IS TO EXPAND 700 MORE.
YOU'RE PUTTING THESE PEOPLE OUT OF SIGHT OUTTA MIND AND THEY CAN'T EVEN GET TODAY LABOR, I'M SORRY, THEY DO HAVE VANS ABOUT THREE, BUT THREE VANS FOR 300 PEOPLE.
AND LASTLY, TO THESE ADVOCATES ABOUT THE, THE, THE LITTLE PICKUP SERVICE THAT IS NOT THE LEAST DISCRIMINATORY ALTERNATIVE, IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE UBER OR LYFT.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CALL, YOU WAIT ON HOLD FIVE TO 60 MINUTES, AND THEN AFTER YOU'RE ON HOLD, THEN DISPATCH GETS TO YOUR, TELLS THE DRIVER TO COME PICK YOU UP.
ONCE YOU'RE EN ROUTE, IT'S A SHARED ROUTE.
SO IF SOMEBODY ELSE CALLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WANTS TO GET PICKED UP, THEY PICK YOU UP.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ABOUT BRANDING AND THERE'S ONE ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA THAT I ACTUALLY OPPOSED AS IT RELATES TO BRANDING.
AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT BRANDING THE CITY, UM, REALISTICALLY, YOU'RE BRANDING THE CITY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT APPEAR THAT YOU ARE COMPLYING WITH TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO RENAME THE AIRPORT AFTER
[00:35:01]
LBJ BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT, UM, DEMONSTRATING A COMMITMENT TO CIVIL RIGHTS.INSTEAD, YOU ARE SIMPLY CIRCUMVENTING FEDERAL LAW.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I JUST NEED YOU TO TELL ME HOW YOU'RE GOING TO OPERATE THE REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
I THINK THAT IS THE ONLY OTHER ITEM I HAVE LEFT, UNLESS YOU WANNA CALL BACK FOR THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, WHAT I'LL, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE WILL BRING IT UP IN, IN DUE ORDER.
THERE'S NOT MUCH WAY, UH, FOR ME TO, UH, ORGANIZE AND CALCULATE WHEN WE MIGHT BRING IT UP WHEN SOME SPEAKERS, UH, HAVE THE LENGTH OF TIME TO SPEAK.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE, UM, IN THIS CASE, UH, CLOSE TO 21 MINUTES.
SO IT'LL BE SOMETIME THIS AFTERNOON.
I'D ASK THAT YOU PLEASE IF YOU, IF YOU CAN'T, SO I'LL PLEASE WA PLEASE WATCH, AND I WILL TRY TO, UH, AS I ALWAYS DO, I WILL TRY TO GIVE NOTICE ABOUT WHAT THE ORDER OF THE COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE.
AND MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND I WILL JUST CALL, I'LL JUST CALL BACK ON THE NUMBER THAT I HAVE, UNLESS THE CLERK SENDS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO BE SO EXPENSIVE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'LL JUST ASK YOU TO TAKE THIS ITEM OF PUBLIC INPUT, UM, UPON AN AGENDA ITEM.
I KNOW YOU POSTPONED IT INDEFINITELY, BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T, THE LAWSUIT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
I'M SENDING YOU BACK INTO THE QUEUE.
NEXT SPEAKER, JEANIE RAMIREZ, FRIDAY, 9 55 64 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
HI, COUNSEL AND, AND MAYOR WATSON.
UH, I, UM, I'M AGAINST THE SOBERING HOUSE ON NUMBER NINE.
I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA AND TRANSPARENCY WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.
LIKE HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SOBER HOUSE PER MONTH AND THEN HOW MANY END UP GOING TO JAIL OR HOW MANY REPEATS, UH, GOING ON TO 55.
THE, UM, UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS MOBILE UNIT FOR, UH, THE FOOD LIKE PANTRY, BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
THERE WAS JUST ONE ADDRESS AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER ADDRESSES HERE THAT NEED THIS MOBILE UNIT.
I THINK THE CITY CAN AFFORD THIS.
Y'ALL PUT MONEY INTO EVERYTHING, UH, OF ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES.
AND, UM, I JUST DON'T, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW DO YOU JUST HAVE IT ON THE ONE EAST SIDE, EAST SIDE THOUGHT THE ONLY ONE HURTING YEARS AGO, I WAS IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION AND, UM, I WAS HAVING TO GO TO THE FOOD PANTRY OFF HERE AT MANCHAC.
IT WAS A CHURCH THAT WAS DOING IT, UH, OFF MANCHAC AND WAYNE CANNON.
UM, AND, AND THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH HELP THERE.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I IT'S JUST NOT ON THE EAST SIDE, OKAY? SO I, I AM APPROVING THAT, BUT I WANT MORE LOCATIONS, PLEASE.
UM, ALSO, UM, 64, UM, UH, HANG ON, 64 IS, LISTEN, UM, I AM AGAINST ANY MEDICATION SURGERY GOING FOR, UH, CHILDREN UNDER 18, I THINK TRANSGENDER FOR THE TRANSGENDER.
I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING GAY COMMUNITIES IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN IT, IT WASN'T POPULAR AND WHEN, UM, IT WAS DANGEROUS TO SUPPORT THEM.
YOU KNOW, I'M 60 YEARS OLD HERE, SO ANYWAY, UM, BUT I WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
WE, WE DON'T LET A 12-YEAR-OLD GET TATTOOS AND DON'T, AND, AND CHEETO BELLA WAS SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY, IT COULD CAUSE UH, SUICIDES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I DON'T THINK THESE PEOPLE HAVE THE DATA.
I DON'T EVEN THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH DATA ON THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
ONE CHILD LOST A SUICIDE, IT WAS TOO MANY.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A THREAT, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.
PARENTS, MY CHILD'S GONNA COMMIT SUICIDE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, I'M A SURVIVOR.
SOME OF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, I SPEAK, I'VE BEEN SPEAKING OUT FOR 23 YEARS, SO, UM, BUT, BUT SOME OF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW.
THIS NEW, THIS NEW CITY COUNCIL, UH, I'M A SURVIVOR, STAGE THREE BREAST CANCER.
UH, AND I'VE HAD MY BREAST CUT OFF AT 50, AND I, IT'S STILL TRAUMATIC.
I LOOK LIKE FRANKENSTEIN'S BRIDE UNDERNEATH MY CLOTHES.
AND IT'S STILL, EVEN WITH BREAST RECONSTRUCTION, I, THIS, YOU CANNOT TELL ME A ATTEND A NINE, 8-YEAR-OLD, WHATEVER, 15-YEAR-OLD CAN, UH, GET THE BREAST CUT OFF.
THEY WANNA BE A BOY ONE MINUTE, AND THEN, AND THEN WHAT? TWO YEARS LATER, I, I THINK I WANNA BE MY GIRL AGAIN.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS? THE BLOCKERS CAUSE UH, UH, GIRLS TO NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, PRODUCE, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE
[00:40:01]
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM TO HAVE BABIES LATER ALSO, UM, THERE'S NO GOING BACK ON THIS.THAT CAN CAUSE SUICIDE RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, OR A MALE GETTING HIS PENIS CUT ON.
Y'ALL ARE EVEN SAYING SHE A BELLA.
I'M GONNA TELL Y'ALL RIGHT NOW, ALL THE HISPANICS ON THIS CITY COUNCIL, SHAME ON YOU.
I I HAVE NOT BEEN IMPRESSED WITH ANY OF Y'ALL.
NOW HAVE, HAVE I AGREED WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS? UH, YEAH, BUT BARELY THIS CITY COUNCIL IS ONE THAT I'VE NOTICED.
70% OF PEOPLE WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST SOMETHING.
HEY, WHAT DO Y'ALL DO? YOU DO IT FOR? IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
SO ALL OF Y'ALL ARE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR TERMS. YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR TERMS AND, AND, AND WASHINGTON, YOU HAVE BEEN A CAREER POLITICIAN.
I WISH YOU WOULD NOT RUN FOR MAYOR AGAIN.
LIKE GO OFF INTO THE SUNSET AND RETIRE AND JOIN LIFE.
THANK YOU, ZACHARY FADI 64 94 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
MY NAME IS ZACH FADI AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I WISH TO LIVE IN AN AUSTIN THAT CAN BE A BASTION AND SAFE HARBOR FOR ALL TO FLOCK TO THE WEIRD QUEER TRANS OR THOSE WHO JUST DON'T FEEL AT EASE IN THEIR HOMETOWN.
I WANT AUSTIN TO BE THE PLACE THAT GIVES NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDES THE NOURISHING ENVIRONMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO THRIVE.
THIS IS WHY I AM IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64, 73 AND 94.
IN ORDER TO BE THE WELCOMING CITY WE ASPIRE TO BE, WE MUST FIRST PROVIDE NEWCOMERS WITH HOUSING THAT THEY CAN AFFORD, AND THEN WE MUST ENSURE THAT THEY CAN SLEEP SAFELY AND LY IN THAT HOME SECURING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE LAWS AND THEIR CITY HAVE, HAVE THEIR BACKS, AND NO ONE WILL COME AFTER THEM PURSUING THE HEALTHCARE THEY FEEL THEY NEED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO MAKE THIS DECISION A REALITY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS I HAVE FOR CONSENT.
SO I'M GONNA SHIFT TO IN PERSON.
I'M GONNA, YOU WERE THE MEMBERS OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE AT CAPACITY IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
SO THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY'S NAME THAT IS CALLED, UM, WHO'S HERE TO SPEAK, UH, AS PART OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE CHAMBER.
SO IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL GO ON TO SOME, TO THE NEXT PERSON.
BUT IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY WERE EXCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE CAPACITY SITUATION, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THEM UP AT THAT TIME.
OR IF WE SEE SOMEBODY TRYING TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS AND GET IN HERE, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL WAIT ON THEM AND LET THEM DO THAT.
THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS, MEYER, BAX, BRAXTON, MICHAEL WAYLAN, T EDWARDS, BOTH, ALL SIGNED UP FOR ITEM THREE EACH HAVING THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME ON DOWN, QUEUE UP, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE PODIUM.
YEAH, ITEM NUMBER THREE WAS WITHDRAWN.
IF SOMEBODY'S HERE ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, UM, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO THERE'S NOT A NEED TO, UH, COMMENT ON THAT TODAY.
SHE, SHE WILL PROBABLY STILL CALL YOUR NAME AND, AND SAY THAT IT WAS ITEM THREE, BUT IF WE HEAR IT'S ITEM THREE, WE'RE GONNA ASSUME THAT YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING ON THAT UNLESS YOU STAND UP.
AND, UH, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH IT AT THAT TIME, BUT THERE'S NO REASON TO COMMENT ON IT.
CRAIG NASER, ITEM 3, 4, 5, 6 FOR A TOTAL OF 12 MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY PAUL ROBIN.
THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE NINE MINUTES BECAUSE ITEM THREE'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.
MAYOR CRAIG NASER, YOU HERE? NO.
OKAY, THEN PAUL ROBBINS FOR ITEM 4, 5, 6, TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
I KNOW PAUL'S HERE ON DECK, BOBBY LAVINSKY 4, 5, 6, 9 MINUTES AS WELL.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PLEASE GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT THREE NAMES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET READY, UM, AND MOVE THEIR WAY DOWN TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBERS.
AND FOLKS, THE REASON WE DO THAT IS OUTTA RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO TESTIFY.
THAT WAY PEOPLE ARE READY AND, AND, UH, WE, WE WILL GET TO YOU A LITTLE MORE RAPIDLY.
UM, I WON'T BE TAKING ALL THE TIME.
UH, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AND I SERVE ON THE CITY'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT AUSTIN'S CONSERVATION PLAN.
WHAT IS IN THE CONSERVATION PLAN IS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE THE DAY AFTER YOU PASS IT.
AUSTIN CAN ESTABLISH STRATEGIES IN PROGRAMS TO INCREASE WATER SAVINGS BY MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE VOLUMES, BUT SYMBOL SYMBOLISM ACCOUNTS FOR SOMETHING AS
[00:45:01]
OF 8:00 AM THIS MORNING.THE HIGHLAND LAKES WERE ONLY 43% FULL.
WE NEED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC A MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY.
IN AT LEAST FOUR LARGE TEXAS CITIES LANDSCAPE, IRRIGATION RATES FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN REGULAR COMMERCIAL WATER RATES.
YET AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE A COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION RATE.
UH, ALL WE HAVE IS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN VOLUME RATES IN FOUR SUMMER MONTHS.
HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECK THE STATISTICS, AUSTIN COMMERCIAL BILLS PER THOUSAND GALLONS ACTUALLY FALL IN THE SUMMER DUE TO WATER VOLUME IN THESE MONTHS DIVIDED INTO THE FIXED MONTHLY CHARGE, WE ARE GIVING A SLIGHT DISCOUNT FOR LUXURY, THE LUXURY OF WATERING GRASS, WHILE SAN ANTONIO'S WATER UTILITY APPEARS TO BE CHARGING MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS NORMAL COMMERCIAL WATER RATE FOR IRRIGATION.
UH, ONE OTHER, UH, OBSERVATION ON A SIMILAR NOTE IS THAT AS OF A WEEK AGO, THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT WATER CONSUMPTION OR CONSERVATION BEING DISCUSSED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY BONDS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BEFORE I GO, AND THIS IS THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE I GO, UH, I WANT TO STATE THAT I'VE NOT BEEN HERE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, SO I'VE NOT SEEN THIS NEW RESTRICTED AREA AROUND THE DAY, UH, DURING MEETINGS.
THIS IS ENTIRELY JUSTIFIED, BUT IT RESTRICTS INFORMAL, UH, CONVEYANCE OF INFORMATION TO COUNSEL WHEN NOT IN SESSION.
THIS NEW RAIL KIND OF SYMBOLIZES LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM US WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN SESSION.
AFTER BOBBY LAVINSKY IS WILLIAM BUNCH.
I'M WITH THE SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD ITEM, UM, TO POINT OUT THAT 90% OF WHAT WE'RE PROBABLY SAYING RIGHT NOW COULD PROBABLY BE RESOLVED IF THIS WERE JUST SENT BACK TO THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE.
THEY DIDN'T GET AN ADEQUATE TIME TO, UH, REVIEW THE ITEMS. AND THAT'S USUALLY WHERE WE CAN, UH, CREATE A LOT OF COMPROMISE AND SAVE YOU GUYS SOME TIME.
BUT IT IS NICE TO ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO MAKE A REAL POINT.
UM, SO FOR THE, UM, THESE ITEMS, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT OUR LAKE STORAGE LEVELS ARE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING ABOUT 42% FOR OUR TWO LAKES.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR THIS SUMMER.
WE'RE GONNA BE HITTING STAGE THREE BY JULY, YOUR WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE, PUT TOGETHER SOME, UM, WORKED WITH THE, UM, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ON VARIOUS SCENARIOS FOR OUR WATER FUTURE.
THEY DID 666 SCENARIOS OF THOSE, 40% OF THEM HAD US HITTING THE, UH, THE WATER, UH, TARGET MARK WHERE WE HAVE TO START PAYING LCRA FOR OUR WATER IN ABOUT 23, 24, 23 TO 30 YEARS, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.
THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS ITEM THAT NEEDS ADEQUATE ATTENTION.
I'M ALSO SERVING ON THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY RIGHT NOW, AND, UM, I I WOULD IMAGINE THAT BECAUSE THE UTILITY'S IN A BAD STATE RIGHT NOW, WE WANNA SELL MORE WATER THAT THAT COUNTERS OUR GOALS.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO INSTEAD IS STOP INVESTING SO MUCH ON LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE, DELAY SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS OUT SO THAT WAY WE CAN NOT HAVE A 22% INCREASE ON OUR LOWEST INCOME, UH, UH, FAMILIES IN, IN THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE PROPOSE ON.
WATER CONSERVATION SAVES MONEY.
IF WE DON'T KEEP SPENDING AND WE INVEST SERIOUSLY IN WATER CONSERVATION, THAT MEANS THAT THE NEXT STEP WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT, IT'S GONNA BE MORE ROUGH.
IT'S GONNA BE ASKING THOSE COMMERCIAL USERS TO STOP WATERING SO MUCH THAT'S CANNOT CONSIDERED A LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT'S NOT IN YOUR DRAFT PLAN RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD JUST ADD.
[00:50:02]
WE COULD GO, WE GO TO THOSE COMMERCIALS AND SAY, WE WANT YOU TO ZERO ESCAPEE AND YOU COULD SAVE A LOT OF WATER JUST BY INSTITUTING THAT.BUT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION NOW WHEN WE, THAT WATER, THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD BY THE WATER FOUR TASK FORCE.
SO LET'S NOT DO THIS TODAY AND JUST AGREE TO POSTPONE IT.
LET THE WATER FOUR TASK FORCE SAVE YOU GUYS SOME TIME AND LET'S GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THIS.
BILL BUNCH HAS SIGNED UP FOR 4 5 6 14 16 22 37 48.
68 98 FOR A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY DELAY, I DID NOT HEAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX ARE STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
AND IS, UH, 16 THE ALL, ALL OF THE ITEMS YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WELL, OKAY, ALL THE ONES.
THAT'S WHY SHE INDICATED YOU HAD 30 MINUTES.
WELL, I'M ACTUALLY, I KNOW I'M SIGNED UP FOR STUFF THAT'S NOT ON THERE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO PULL THIS, UM, OUR WATER CONSERVATION PLAN, DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN.
UH, THOSE ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, Y'ALL SHOULD, THIS SHOULD BE STARTING TO REGISTER WITH Y'ALL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, Y'ALL ARE SLEEPWALKING THROUGH A CRISIS AND YOU'RE SITTING HERE READY TO VOTE ON CONSENT.
NO, NO DISSENT, NO DISCUSSION, NO QUESTIONS ON A PLAN.
THAT LITERALLY GOES BACKWARDS ON OUR CONSERVATION GROWTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LITERALLY THE 19 EARLY EIGHTIES, OUR CITY'S CONSUMPTION OF WATER IS GOING UP.
OUR, OUR CONSERVATION GAINS, OUR REUSE GAINS ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH POPULATION GROWTH.
AND THEY'D DONE THAT SURPRISINGLY AMAZINGLY, UH, WITH WHOLESALE COMMUNITY BUY-IN LITERALLY FOR DECADES.
AND NOW, RIGHT, WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE RELIABLE WATER, WE REALLY DON'T.
UM, AND THIS TIES INTO, UM, ITEM 22, UH, 1.2 MILLION FOR HOFF PAIR CONSULTING.
UM, I'M GUESSING Y'ALL HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT AT ALL EITHER.
UH, I'M, I'M GUESSING ABSOLUTELY NONE OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY READ THE WATER CONSERVATION PLANT.
HAVE ANY OF YOU, MR. ALTER? THANK YOU
I APPRECIATE THE REST OF YOU RECOGNIZING THAT YOU HAVEN'T AND BEING HONEST ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT BECAUSE THE STAFF SPRUNG IT ON THE WATER TASK FORCE TO, THEY WANTED THEM TO VOTE ON IT BY GIVING IT TO 'EM TWO HOURS BEFORE THEIR MEETING AND THEY SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
AND THEY SET A SECOND MEETING, BUT WITH ONE WEEK'S NOTICE, AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ENDORSE THIS, AND Y'ALL SHOULD REFUSE TO ENDORSE THIS.
YOU NEED TO SEND THIS BACK AS MR. LAVINSKY ASKED YOU TO, TO THE TASK FORCE.
AND WE NEED TO SET CONSERVATION GOALS THAT KEEP OUR TOTAL USE OF THE HIGHLAND LAKES AT MINIMUM SUSTAINABLE AND FLAT LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR DECADES.
AND WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO START BEATING POPULATION GROWTH AND REDUCING OUR TOTAL USE BECAUSE WHAT HOF POWER CONSULTING IS TELLING US, AND THEY NEED TO TELL YOU WHAT THEIR PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE ALREADY, BECAUSE I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THEY HAVE THEM.
AND THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER IN THE HIGHLAND LAKES THAT WE'VE BEEN BETTING ON AND PLANNING ON THE FIRM MANUAL YIELD OF THE HIGHLAND LAKES IS GREATLY REDUCED IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE HEATING.
AND WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WHISTLE PAST THE GRAVEYARD ANYMORE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN, BUT IT HADN'T BEEN THAT MUCH RAIN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HIGH LAKES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THEY'VE STAYED FLAT.
THE RUNOFF INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY LAKES HAS KEPT PACE WITH EVAPORATION AND CONSUMPTION,
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BUT THAT'S IT.AND THIS IS OUR WET SEASON AND THE LONG RANGE FORECASTS TELL US WE'RE GOING INTO LA NINA HOTTER AND DRIER, AND WE COULD BE REPEATING THE DROUGHT OF RECORD FROM THE 1950S AS SOON AS A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW.
DID ANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A FACT? ARE ANY OF YOU AWARE OF IT? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THEORETICAL DOWN THE ROAD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE AND NOW, AND YET WE'RE WASTING MORE WATER SITTING HERE TODAY THAN WE DID FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR CONSERVATION GOALS.
SO WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF OUR WATER UTILITY TO BACKSLIDE AND WEAKEN AND VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE CONSERVATION GOALS AND CONCEDE THAT WE'RE GONNA STAY BASICALLY EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE IN THE YEARS AHEAD? THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS DOING THIS.
YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS DOING IT AND CLAIM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR RESPONSIBILITY TO RATE PAYERS.
THIS TIES INTO ITEM 14 AS WELL.
$500 MILLION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER REFUNDING BONDS.
NOW WHAT THE BACKUP SAYS IS THAT, UM, YOU'RE GONNA GET LOWER RATES.
SO ON THE FINANCE SIDE, HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? I MEAN, THE LAST I CHECKED, WE'RE AT A TIME OF WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS HIGH OF BORROWING RATES IN YEARS.
IS THAT REALLY TRUE? I MEAN, MAYBE IT IS.
DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM YOUR STAFF THAT CAN GET UP HERE AND TELL YOU HOW WE'RE GONNA GET LOWER REFINANCING RATES NOW THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN PREVIOUS, UH, YEARS? AND BURIED IN THERE IS 50 MILLION BUCKS, NOT JUST FOR REFUNDING, BUT FOR FUNDING THE EXPANSION AND MAJOR CAPITAL WORK TO WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR WHICH IS WHOLLY UNNECESSARY.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT UTILITIES, YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT UTILITY RATES.
THAT WHOLE THING COULD BE SET ASIDE.
IN FACT, YOU COULD MOTHBALL WHAT A TREATMENT PLANT FOR AND WE'D BE FINE AND WE'D SAVE A TON OF MONEY DOING SO FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T HERE.
YOUR UTILITY, YOUR UTILITY TOLD US WE HAD TO HAVE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR, UM, BECAUSE OF RISK MANAGEMENT, A THREAT OF TERRORISM, AND THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TWO, ONLY TWO WATER PLANTS.
AND WE HAD TO HAVE A THIRD THAT WAS TOTALLY FABRICATED BECAUSE WE ASKED, WHERE'S YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT? WHAT ARE YOUR RISKS? AND THE ONLY THING THEY PRODUCED WAS A SINGLE MEMO FROM AN INTERNAL EXERCISE THAT SAID, THE ONLY REAL DANGER TO OUR RELIABILITY, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE CONSTANT RELIABLE WATER TO THE CITY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ONLY HAVING TWO PLANTS.
WHAT IT HAD TO DO WITH IS WE HAVE TO HAVE BACKUP POWER FOR WHAT OUR, FOR OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, FOR OUR PUMP STATIONS, FOR OUR DELIVERY SYSTEMS. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BIG FREEZE, WE HAD NO BACKUP POWER.
THE ONE THING THAT THEY TOLD US WE HAD TO DO, THEY DIDN'T DO IT.
AND THAT COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND IN EXTREME SUFFERING ACROSS THIS WHOLE CITY.
AND YET WE BUILT A $800 MILLION TREATMENT PLANT WE DON'T NEED AND WE'RE NOT GONNA NEED IT ANYTIME SOON.
WE'VE NEVER COME EVEN CLOSE TO NEEDING THAT CAPACITY.
SO THERE, THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM OF BASIC INTEGRITY, HONESTY IN CITY HALL.
IT'S AT THE WATER UTILITY, IT'S AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, IT'S TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND YOU'VE GOT THESE, ALL OF THESE RELATED WATER ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND YOU'RE READY TO JUST SLIDE 'EM RIGHT THROUGH.
YOU NEED A SPECIAL WORK SESSION OR TWO OR THREE, UM, ON, ON OUR WATER SITUATION RIGHT AWAY.
AND IF YOU DID THAT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE
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GIANT LONG MEETINGS.OUR CHARTER SAYS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.
SO WHAT'S THE RESPONSE OF NOT MEETING? AND THAT'S FROM BACK WHEN PEOPLE, IT WAS A VOLUNTEER JOB OR IT WAS PAID ALMOST NOTHING.
BUT NOW THAT Y'ALL ARE NICELY PAID, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MEET MORE THAN TWICE A MONTH AND, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHEN YOU DO OUR PUBLIC WATER AND OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE NEEDS TO CHANGE.
Y'ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU'RE A PUBLIC RESOURCE THAT SHOULD BE LISTENED TO, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE TELLING YOU SOMETHING THAT YOUR STAFF IS HIDING FROM YOU OR NOT TELLING YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT.
AND THAT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK ON MANY ITEMS. PLEASE SAY NO TO THE, THE, THOSE ISSUES.
WE NEED TO FUND THAT CONSULTING WORK.
WE NEED TO SEE THE, WE NEED TO SEE AND HEAR ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS, UH, RIGHT AWAY AND NOT A YEAR OR TWO FROM NOW.
ON THE ZILKER BRIDGE, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.
YOU KNOW, WHERE OUR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING FIRMS HAVE A HAMMER LOCK ON THE CITY TO BUILD BIG, EXPENSIVE STUFF THAT WE DON'T NEED.
WE CAN SAVE OUR HISTORIC ZILKER PARK BRIDGE, WHICH YOUR POSTING STILL REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A HISTORIC BRIDGE.
IT CAN BE DONE AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.
AND YET HERE YOU ARE PLANNING TO FORGE AHEAD WITH ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, $11.6 MILLION COMMITMENT TO DEMOLISH THIS HISTORIC TREASURE AND BUILD SOMETHING FAR MORE EXPENSIVE.
A BIG, GIANT UGLY HIGHWAY BRIDGE THAT WILL HARM THE CREEK FURTHER PAVED ZILKER PARK, UM, AND ADDRESS A FAKE, UH, SAFETY ISSUE, UH, WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED MUCH MORE READILY WITH A PARALLEL, UH, BIKE PED BRIDGE FOR A TINY FRACTION OF THE COST.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINEERING ON THIS, THAT BRIDGE IS SOLID THAT WE HAVE AND, AND DEMOLISHING IT IS AN ENORMOUS WASTE AND ABUSE OF RESOURCES.
IT CUT PEOPLE OFF FROM THE PARK DURING CONSTRUCTION.
ALL OF THAT COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.
AND THIS IS PART OF A LARGER PIECE.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE LOSING OUR HERITAGE.
WE'RE GONNA, Y'ALL ARE POISED TO SEND TWO TO $3 BILLION INTO A BLACK HOLE OF A CONVENTION CENTER WHEN FOR A ROUNDING ERROR, WE COULD BE SAVING PETER PAN MINI GOLF.
WE COULD HAVE SAVED THE ORIGINAL THREADGILLS, WE COULD HAVE SAVED THREADGILLS WORLD HEADQUARTERS.
WE COULD HAVE SAVED LUCY IN DISGUISE.
DO Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE CITY AT ALL? BILLIONS FOR A CONVENTION CENTER THAT'S GONNA SIT EMPTY AND BLEED MONEY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN OPERATING LOSSES.
AND YET WE COULD BE USING THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR, FOR CULTURAL TOURISM, SAVING OUR HISTORY AND OUR CULTURE INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CARE AND WE SIT AND DO NOTHING.
YOU KNOW, PETER PAN MINI GOLF IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S OUR HERITAGE.
KIDS GROW UP FOR DECADES LOVING PETER PAN MINI GOLF, AND Y'ALL COULD SAVE IT FOR PENNIES.
ALRIGHT, UM, I'M GOING TO CLOSE ON ITEM 99, SETTING THE MEGA UPZONING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT FOR A HEARING ON MAY 30TH.
NOBODY'S SEEN A RED LINE ON THIS THAT I'M AWARE OF.
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UM, THIS IS THROWING THE 2016 SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN INTO THE TRASH CAN AND SETTING IT ON FIRE WHILE PRETENDING THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THAT VISION.WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOSING OUR SETBACKS TO THE LADY BIRD LAKE, LETTING MORE CONSTRUCTION ENCROACH RIGHT UP ON THE SHORELINE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOSING PARKLAND.
THAT WAS CALLED FOR IN THE VISION PLAN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING IMPERVIOUS COVER AND LOSING GREEN SPACE.
GREEN SPACE THAT COULD BE SAVED SIMPLY BY MAINTAINING IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS THAT ARE IN OUR ZONING CODE.
UM, AND NO, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
Y'ALL AREN'T BEING GIVEN THE DETAILS.
UM, IT'S ALL ON THIS VERY RUSH, HIGH LEVEL BASIS, UH, THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE DOWNTOWN SKYSCRAPERS JUMP ACROSS THE LAKE AND OCCUPY, YOU KNOW, OVER A HUNDRED ACRES, MORE SKYSCRAPERS THAT ARE NOT CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLIMATE KILLERS BECAUSE OF THE ADDED STEEL AND, AND, UH, CONCRETE THAT IT TAKES TO BUILD TALL.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL YOU WANT, BUT YOU'RE RUSHING AHEAD WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT THAT LETS THE DEVELOPERS OFF THE HOOK AND IS PROVIDING MINIMAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA TURN AROUND AND ASK THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR IT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A TURS OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WELFARE FOR THE ULTRA RICH, UM, THAT WE HIDE BEHIND SAYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOZENS OF TIMES THAT THAT MEGA ZONING IS NOT READY FOR A MAY 30TH HEARING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
BOY WHALEY ITEMS 4 5 6 16 FOR A TOTAL OF 12 MINUTES.
FOLLOWING ROY IS MONICA GUZMAN, FELICITY MAXWELL, AND IRBY FOSTER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT.
I'M THE CONSERVATION SHERIFF FOR THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB AND I, UH, AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE THREE MINUTES, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO US PER ITEM.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE IN BREVITY AND UH, I WILL, AND I APPRECIATE MR. BUNCH AND EVERY IMPORTANT THING HE SAID.
AND I DO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY ALSO AT A TIME WHEN NATIONWIDE, THERE IS AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM CITIZENS.
UM, AND, AND THAT I'M DONE WITH OWN, I THINK ANYWAY, OWN THE, UH, THE THREE DROUGHT AND WATER ISSUES.
JUST SIMPLY LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS THAT ARE PART OF THE WATER, UH, FORWARD TASK FORCE.
THEY HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
UM, THAT WE HAVE TO STOP SAYING, COME ON TO AUSTIN, WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER FOR YOU.
BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER WITH YOU.
AS OF YESTERDAY, MORNING LAKE TRAVIS WAS AT 37.1%.
I KNOW OUR DRINKING WATER IS BUAN AND TRAVIS TOGETHER, BUT A LOT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BASED ON LAKE TRAVIS ALSO.
AND YEAH, IT RAINED LAST NIGHT AND THERE'S STILL WATER THAT CAME OUTTA MY TAP THIS MORNING.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WATER PROBLEM ANYMORE.
I HOPE Y'ALL DON'T THINK THAT.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN THAT BELIEVE THIS SO LONG AS IT'S RAINING AND WE TURN ON THE TAP, WE DON'T HAVE A WATER PROBLEM.
THAT IS HOW WE DO HAVE PEOPLE MOVED OFTEN, UNFORTUNATELY.
THEN WE HAVE 'EM LEAVE AFTER GIVING THEM A LOT OF TAX, UH, DOLLARS.
UM, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.
SO YES, UM, WE, WE DO WANT TO RETURN THIS, UH, TO THE WATER TASK FORCE AND, AND, UM, THE REUSE, OH MY GOSH, WE HAVE THE WATER.
COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, IF YOU PAID YOUR BILLS AND THEN YOU GOT THAT MONEY BACK, WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO REUSE YOUR MONEY THE WAY WE CAN WITH WATER? WE CAN DO THAT WITH WATER, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.
UM, AND, AND THE PURPLE PIPE IS IMPORTANT.
I WON'T GET INTO THE WHOLE HOME ISSUE
[01:10:01]
ABOUT, UH, LOT SIZES, REUSED, TREE PROTECTIONS, ALL THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THOUGH.BUT THE MAIN THING IS LISTEN TO THE VERY SMART PEOPLE, UH, ON THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE ON ITEM 16.
THAT BRIDGE IS HISTORIC AND IT HAS SOME MINOR REPUTABLE FLAWS AND WE DON'T NEED TO BEEDING BARTON SPRINGS ROAD ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.
AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR KER PARK, HAVING ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AND THEN HAVE THIS BIG BRIDGE I DID AND DO SUPPORT THE BRIDGE OVER, UH, AT THE OTHER END OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
AND I DO THINK THAT'S A GREAT, UH, TOURIST DESTINATION AND A BOON FOR THE FINANCIAL, UH, SITUATION, UH, FOR MANY ON THE EAST SIDE.
UM, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE, REBAR, RUST, WELL, YOU KNOW, I, WHEN I GOT HERE, I WENT IN AND WASHED MY HANDS IN ONE OF THE RESTROOMS. THERE WEREN'T ANY PAPER TOWELS FOR ME TO DRY MY HANDS.
LET'S TEAR DOWN CITY HALL AND REBUILD IT.
I MEAN, IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING.
IT'S AN EASY TO DEAL WITH SITUATION.
SO LIKE I SAY, I DO, UH, RESPECT YOUR TIME.
I HOPE YOU RESPECT THE CITIZENS AND THEIR TIME AND I WILL NO DOUBT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DO MISS, I AGREE.
PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE MEETINGS GOING SO LONG IN THE PAST IS THERE WAS SO MUCH PONTIFICATION FROM THE DAIS.
EVERYONE WANTED TO TALK FOR 10 MINUTES ON, ON SAYING WHY THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT SOMETHING OR WHY THEY WERE.
I I I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SOME OF, OF IT IS POLITICAL THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE ON THE DAIS.
UM, YES, I WAS HERE MANY TIMES AT TWO IN THE MORNING ON SOME OF THOSE LONG MEETINGS.
I DIDN'T WANNA BE HERE, I DIDN'T WANNA BE HERE ANYMORE THAN Y'ALL WANTED TO BE HERE.
I'M NOT REALLY WANTING TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW TO BE HONEST.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE ELECTED TO BE HERE.
I'M ONE OF YOUR BOSSES AND I'VE NEVER KNOWN OF A SITUATION WHERE AN EMPLOYEE COULD TURN AROUND TO THE BOSS AND SAY, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
I WISH Y'ALL WOULD REACH OUT MORE TO SIERRA CLUB AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MONICA OUSMAN, ITEMS 4, 5, 6 38 50, 51, 55, 64, 65, 68, 94, 97 FOR A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.
I DIDN'T CHECK OFF ALL MY THINGS, BUT HOPEFULLY I NAILED THEM ALL IN MY TALKING POINTS.
GOOD MORNING, I'M MONICA GUSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN V. AUSTIN.
THE CONSERVATION PLAN HAS CONSERVATION GOALS MOVING US BACKWARDS AND LACKS A LIST OF SPECIFIC STRATEGIES WITH SAVINGS ESTIMATES FOR EACH STRATEGY.
AUSTIN WATER IS IN A RUSH TO PUSH THIS THROUGH, EVEN THOUGH THE TASK FORCE WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE.
THE APRIL 29TH, KU UT STORY, AUSTIN WATER SENDS CONSERVATION PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL WITH SUPPORT OF KEY TASK FORCE STATES.
THE UTILITIES GOALS WERE NOT AMBITIOUS ENOUGH FOR MANY ON THE CITY ADVISORY PANEL.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS ALSO COMPLAINED AT A MID-APRIL MEETING THAT THEY WERE ONLY GIVEN HOURS TO READ THE PROPOSALS BEFORE BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT THEM.
I SUPPORT OR WE SUPPORT WHAT BILL BUNCH AND BOBBY LAVINSKY SAID ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
YOU APPOINTED THEM, ALLOWED THEM THE TIME TO REVIEW TO MAKE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE IT GOES TO YOU FOR A VOTE.
WE ARE NEUTRAL ON 68, EXCUSE ME, 68 97.
SINCE THERE ARE NO POSTED DRAFT ORDINANCES, WE ASK COUNSEL TO POST THE DRAFT ORDINANCES MORE THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO ALLOW US THE COMMUNITY TIME TO REVIEW.
ITEM 38, THERE'S INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO BE CLEAR ON WHETHER THE STUDY INCLUDES ENGAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE IMPACTED
[01:15:01]
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT.WE URGE YOU TO ENSURE INCLUSION OF PUBLIC INPUT VIA AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
ITEM 65, WE SUPPORT THE CITY TAKING FORWARD POSITIVE STEPS TO ENSURE GREATER INCLUSIVITY OF AND WITH AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
WE REQUEST COUNSEL TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE WORKING WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND ADDING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS INFORMATION RESOURCES AND STAKEHOLDERS.
ITEM 94, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL DANGER WITH USE OF SINGLE STAIRS AND MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES WHEN THERE'S A NEED FOR AN EMERGENCY EXIT AS WELL AS A DA COMPLIANCE.
THE REST OF MY COMMENTS ARE AS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT WITH NO REFLECTION ON GAVA OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION I REPRESENT AND OR AM A CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER OF.
TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I STAND ON IT FOR TWO REASONS.
MY CAR WAS BROKEN INTO LAST WEEK.
I CALL 3 1 1 AND WAS ADVISED REPORTING ONLINE HAS A FASTER RESPONSE.
THEN I HAD TO SWITCH TO CALLING 9 1 1.
THE ONLINE REPORTING PLATFORM NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.
I HAD A YES OR NO QUESTION, BUT MY ANSWER WAS I DON'T KNOW THE, IT WOULDN'T ACCEPT, UH, THAT THE PLATFORM WOULD NOT, SO I CALLED 9 1 1 WHEN I DID.
I FOUND OUT OFFICERS RESPOND TO PROPERTY CRIME FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM PROPERTY CRIME DOESN'T OPERATE DURING BUSINESS HOURS.
WHEN I RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM A LIEUTENANT, I WAS ADVISED MY CASE WAS STILL PENDING DUE TO LACK OF OFFICER AVAILABILITY, THEY WERE RESPONDING TO THE PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST AT UTE.
THESE ARE PEACEFUL CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED PROTEST OCCURRING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
A PD NEEDS TO STOP SUPPORTING UT'S OPPRESSION OF OUR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS TO ASSEMBLE AND FREE SPEECH.
I AM OPPOSED TO ITEM 50 AND 69.
ITEM 50, AUSTIN IS A SANCTUARY CITY AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE WORKING WITH ERIC, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SB FOUR.
ITEM 69, NO ONE, NO ONE SHOULD SUPPORT CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CONTINUE CLOSED DOOR DEALS.
INCREASE CITY MANAGER DISCRETIONARY FUNDING TO LEGALIZE A CONTRACT THAT ACCORDING TO THE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023 AUSTIN CHRONICLE STORY CONSULTANTS GIVEN LUCRATIVE CITY CONTRACT CON CONTRACTS WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL WAS NOT COMPETITIVE AND WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY COUNCIL AND CONTINUED TO DENY US OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
TO ADDRESS YOU HERE IN CHAMBERS OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC VENUE USED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, I AM FOUR ITEMS 55 AND 64.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES SINCE A MOBILE FOOD PANTRY WILL REACH MANY CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING LIMITED OR LACK OF ACCESS.
ITEM 64, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER OR NON-BINARY PERSONS RIGHTS, DETERMINING THEIR HEALTHCARE NEEDS AS WELL AS THE RESOURCES THEY SEEK FOR THE SAME.
FINALLY, I AND MANY OTHERS THANK BILL BUNCH AND THE SOS ALLIANCE FOR THE LAWSUIT TO ENSURE WE ARE INSURED OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK ON EACH ITEM WE NEED TO SPEAK ON AS A REMINDER TO COUNSEL ALL THOSE PRESENT HERE IN CITY HALL AND ALL TUNED IN VIA A TXN OR CSI.
REGISTERING FOR MORE ITEM FOR MORE THAN ONE ITEM DOES NOT EQUATE ABUSING INCREASED SPEAKING TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
ITEM 16 64 94 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES AFTER FELICITY IRBY FOSTER, JENNIFER PRESCOTT AND DAWN ZIMMERMAN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SO YOU'LL BE PREPARED WHEN UM, YOUR TIME COMES UP.
MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS FELICITY MAXWELL, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT OR A BOARD MEMBER HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16 AND ITEM 94 REGARDING ITEM 16.
AS A LONGTIME ZILKER RESIDENT, I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE ADDITIONAL FUNDING RELATED TO THE BARTON SPRINGS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS BRIDGE HAS BEEN AN URGENT NEED OF REPAIR FOR OVER A DECADE AS NOTED BY CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF WHO WERE QUOTED IN THE AUSTIN MONITORS LAST FALL SAYING ONE REASON FOR THE CURRENT URGENCY IS THAT ENGINEERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT REINFORCING STEEL WITHIN THE CONCRETE OF THE BRIDGE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION AT A MINIMUM, ERIC BAILEY WITH CAPITAL DEVELOP DELIVERY SERVICES SAID THE EXISTING BRIDGE DECK AND SPANS BETWEEN THE SUPPORTS NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE BRIDGE LIFE.
THANK THANKFULLY OUR APPROVED BRIDGE DESIGN, WHICH WAS WIDELY SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC AND WHICH THIS CONTRACT SUPPORTS DOES MUCH MORE THAN THAT ADDING CRITICAL NEW BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FEATURES AND VASELINE IMPROVING ACCESS TO ZILKER PARK.
TO QUOTE COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS.
FROM THAT SAME HONORED ARTICLE, WE ARE CREATING A NEW BRIDGE THAT IS SAFE FOR DRIVERS, BIKERS, WALKERS, AND PEOPLE USING WHEELCHAIRS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BRIDGE IS SAFE AND WELL-MAINTAINED AND FUNCTIONAL FOR THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT FOR AN ESSENTIAL CITY PROJECT.
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ARE AS IN STRONG SUPPORTIVE UPDATES AND REVISIONS TO OUR TECHNICAL BUILDING CODE UPDATES, WHICH WILL UNLOCK NEW FORM BUILDING FORMS AND ALLOW FOR BETTER UTILIZATION OF EXISTING LOTS.IN AUSTIN'S URBAN CORE SPECIFICALLY WE ARE DI DELIGHTED TO SEE UM, RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SINGLE POINT ACCESS BUILDINGS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SINGLE STAIR.
THESE ARE EXTREMELY SAFE ROW, LOW-RISE, SMALL FOOTPRINT BUILDINGS THAT ALLOW FOR FAMILY-SIZED UNITS AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN SISTER CITIES LIKE SEATTLE.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO SUPPORT CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, ALLOWING US TO SAFELY BUILD MORE UNITS IN THE SAME PROJECTS AT VERY HIGH RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AS MAINTAINED BY OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BOTH OF THESE PROPOSALS REQUIRE MODIFICATIONS TO OUR BUILDING CODES WHICH FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, BUT ARE REVIEWED BY THE CITY ON A SPECIFIC SCHEDULE.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND BROADLY SUPPORTED BY HIS FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THE TIME FOR ACTION ON THESE ISSUES IS NOW AND NOT THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE CODES WILL NEXT BE REVIEWED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
IRBY FOSTER 59 64 FOR SIX MINUTES, THEN JENNIFER PRESCOTT AT DAWN ZIMMERMAN AND MADELINE ASBELL, HONORABLE MAYOR, HONORABLE COUNCILOR ZERBE FOSTER DISTRICT THREE.
UH, I WROTE MAYOR, UH, MANAGER GARZA TO BRING HIS ATTENTION THAT THOUSANDS OF STREETLIGHTS ARE OUT ON OUR FREEWAYS.
FURTHER, THE 3 1 1 STREET LIGHTING REPORTING PROCESS MANY TIMES AUSTIN ENERGY AND PWT CLOSED THOSE REPORTS.
THE 3 1 1 PROCESS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND FINALLY MORE NEEDS TO BE BUDGETED FOR STREETLIGHT REPAIR ON THE FREEWAYS FOR FISCAL 25.
IT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS OUT WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE NINE MAJOR FREEWAYS, STREETLIGHTS, UNDERPASS LIGHTS AND HIGH MASS TOWERS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE MILES OF STREETLIGHTS OUT ON THE FREEWAYS IN DISTRICTS FOUR, NINE AND THREE.
THIS IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RESPONSIBILITY.
TXDOT INSTALLS THE LIGHTS BUT THE CITY MAINTAINS FREEWAY LIGHTING THROUGH INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO DEMAND THE CITY MANAGER TAKE, MAKE CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT POLICIES AT AUSTIN ENERGY AND PWT.
THEY HAVE NOT PRIORITIZED THIS DEADLY SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
THE CITY ALSO IN FISCAL 25 NEEDS TO HIRE A STREETLIGHT MANAGER AND FUND MILLIONS MORE FOR FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING REPAIR.
THE 3 1 1 PROCESS ALSO NEEDS TO BE RE REPAIRED.
IT'S BROKE WITHOUT AN INTERSTATE ADDRESS AND INTERSTATE ADDRESS.
CITIZENS CAN'T REPORT FREEWAY STREETLIGHTS THROUGH THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM.
MOST CITIES ADD A GPS LOCATION TO THE STREET LIGHTING AUSTIN DOES NOT ROUTINELY AUSTIN ENERGY AND PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION CLOSES MY OUTAGE REPORTS WITHOUT ACTION.
I HAVE NUMEROUS 3 1 1 REPORTS.
THEY EITHER SAY NO ACTION OR PARTS WILL BE ORDERED, BUT WHAT THIS DOES, IT ALLOWS MANAGERS AT PWT TO KEEP THEIR KPIS REALLY HIGH FOR YOU WHEN IN REALITY THEY'RE NOT REPAIRING THE STREETLIGHTS.
THIS IS AN UNETHICAL PRACTICE AND I ASK COUNSEL TO STOP IT.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE FREEWAY LIGHTING IS A QUALITY OF LIFE AND A SAFETY ISSUE.
BETWEEN 2020 AND 23, TRAVIS COUNTY SAW ROADWAY FATALITIES INCREASE BY 15%.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY SAW IN DISTRICT SIX SAW THOSE FATALITIES INCREASE BY 35%.
50% OF THE ACCIDENTS ON OUR FREEWAYS ARE AT NIGHT.
LARGE PORTIONS OF ELEVATED FREEWAYS AND CITY STREETS IN DISTRICT THREE NINE AND FOUR ARE OUT.
I'VE HEARD PW T'S EXCUSES FOR NOT MAKING REPAIRS.
LAYING CLOSURES ARE EXPENSIVE.
TEXT DOTS GONNA WORK AT NEW LIGHTS NEXT YEAR.
THEY'RE EXCUSES AND THEY'RE NOT IMPROVING OUR MOTORIST SAFETY NOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I ASK YOU TO, TO MAKE A CHANGE, UM, I ASK COUNSEL TO DEMAND A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO REPAIR ALL UNDERPASS AND FREEWAY STREETLIGHT OUTING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THEN ON ITEM 64, HONORABLE COUNSELORS, TOUGH CROWD.
I KNOW COUNSELORS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY.
AND IN FACT, NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY SUPPORT THIS WOKE AGENDA FOR TRANSITIONING OUR CHILDREN'S GENDER WITH COUNSELING, HORMONES, MEDICATION AND GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERIES.
THIS RESOLUTION ASKED CITY EMPLOYEES TO BREAK LAW, BUT MANY CITY EMPLOYEES LIKE ME ARE GAY AND ARE TAXPAYERS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS, MUSLIMS, AND OR OTHERS WHO IDENTIFY AS GAY.
THERE ARE GAY MEN AND WOMEN IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THIS WOKE AGENDA.
WELL, WE DESIRE TO PROTECT ALL CHILDREN FROM HARM LIKE BULLYING.
WE ALSO KNOW IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO WAIT UNTIL MOST OF THE AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE BE PUSHED ON THEM.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE PUSHED ON THEM AS CHILD CHILDREN.
SCIENCE SIMPLY DOESN'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THESE EFFECTS.
MOST ADULTS AGREE WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE REACHED AN AGE OF APPROPRIATELY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR RESOLUTION INCLUDES MINORS OF ANY AGE WISHING TO CHANGE THEIR GENDER.
WHOSE EGOS ARE WE STROKING HERE? THE CHILDREN WHO SAY WHO WE SAY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR GENDER OR THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM WHO ARE PUSHING IT, NO MINOR HAS ENOUGH WORLD EXPERIENCE TO MAKE AN ADULT DECISION ABOUT THEIR GENDER.
THE RESOLUTION SAYS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS PROVEN TO BE EVIDENCE-BASED.
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THE A A MC SAYS IN A GENDER AFFIRMING CARE QUOTE HAS LIMITATIONS INCLUDING THAT THERE WAS LIKELY SELECTION BIAS IN THE SUBJECTS WITH SUPPORTIVE CAREGIVERS WHO HAD RESOURCES TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE UNQUOTE.ALSO, THEY ALSO NOTE THAT THERE'S NOT SOLID EVIDENCE QUOTE TO UNDERSTAND.
SOME KIDS ARE MORE CONCRETE AND SOME ARE MORE AB ABSTRACT UNQUOTE TO CONTINUE MY QUOTE, KIDS MAY BE COMING AT THIS FROM DIFFERENT COGNITIVE ANGLES OR UNDERSTANDINGS AND CAPACITIES UNQUOTE.
THAT'S THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
THE RESOLUTION SAYS THE MAJORITY OF ADULTS AGREE THAT TRANSGENDER MINORS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO CARE.
THE PURE RESEARCH STUDY YOU REFERENCED SAYS 65% OF ADULTS AGREE THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS.
HOWEVER, 46% OF ADULTS IN TEXAS FAVOR MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE SOMEONE YOUNGER THAN 18.
FOR GENDER TRANSITION COUNSELORS, I ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS RESOLUTION, LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION AND ASK YOU WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF GENDER REASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR TWO GRANDCHILDREN, AURORA ATTICUS ALL STAR, JOSE PERLA KALO, YOUR TWO YOUNGER SISTERS AND YOUR BROTHERS OR YOUR IMMIGRANT MOTHER, MS. FUENTES WHO ALSO MADE THESE DECISIONS.
MR. MAYOR, CAN I HAVE MY COMMENTS ADDED TO THE RECORD? YOUR COMMENTS ARE ALREADY PART OF THE RECORD.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR JENNIFER PRESCOTT.
ITEM 63, 3 MINUTES GOOD MORNING ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER PRESCOTT AND I'M AN RN FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND THE OWNER OF BLUE BLUEWATER HOME CARE AND HOSPICE AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CAPITAL AREA, PARKINSON'S SOCIETY AND ALSO ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.
TODAY I BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT CRUCIAL ISSUE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
YOUTH CAREGIVING DIVINE IS YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WHO PROVIDE CARE AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE DUE TO CHRONIC ILLNESS, AGE-RELATED DECLINE, DISABILITY OR OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THESE CAREGIVING YOUTH ARE UNSUNG HEROES IN OUR SOCIETY.
CAREGIVING FOR A LOVED ONE IS AMONG THE MOST DEMANDING, CHALLENGING, AND RE REWARDING HUMAN ACTIVITIES, YET CHILDREN WORLDWIDE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN CAREGIVING EVERY DAY.
SHOCKINGLY, THE UNITED STATES LACKS FORMAL, LACKS FORMAL POLICIES OR SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THESE YOUNG CAREGIVERS UNLIKE THOSE IN PLACE FOR ADULT CAREGIVERS.
FURTHERMORE, SCHOOLS OFTEN FAIL TO IDENTIFY OR PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVING YOUTH, PUTTING THEM AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES.
THE STATISTICS ARE STAGGERING.
IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, OVER 5.4 MILLION YOUTH ARE CAREGIVING WITH MORE THAN 70% ASSISTING A PARENT GRANDPARENT OR GREAT-GRANDPARENT.
MANY CARE FOR DISABLED SIBLINGS OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND 34% NEED HELP MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE HAIR HOUSEHOLD.
ACCORDING TO CAREGIVING U US 2020 REPORT AND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON CAREGIVING AND A A RP, THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE SUPPORT CAREGIVING YOUTH PROVIDE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
A 2020 AR ARTICLE ESTIMATES THEIR UNPAID LABOR TO BE AROUND $8.5 MILLION AND THE ESTIMATE TODAY WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE MUCH HIGHER.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THESE YOUNG CAREGIVERS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT NETWORKS TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS, WE CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BURDENS THEY CARRY AND ENSURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY SUCCEED BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY.
I URGE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDERING ALLOCATING RESOURCES AND FUNDINGS TO SUPPORT YOUTH CAREGIVING INITIATIVES IN OUR CITY AND IDENTIFYING THE IMPACT OF YOUTH CAREGIVING SPECIFICALLY IN AUSTIN BY INVESTIGATING IN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESPITE CARE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CAREGIVERS, WE CAN EMPOWER THEM TO THRIVE AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL WHILE CONTINUING TO CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES AND CONTINUE WITH THEIR OWN EDUCATION.
WE ARE HOPING ALL OF YOU WILL SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, CONDUCT A SURVEY ON YOUTH CAREGIVERS THAT SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS OR GUARDIANS AND SUPPORT UPDATES AND FINAL RESULTS.
TOGETHER LET'S PLEDGE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY YOUNG CAREGIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVES THE SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.
I'M DON ZIMMERMAN, THE FIRST DISTRICT SIX AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTED IN 2014.
MY REMARKS AGAINST ITEM 64, THE TRANSGENDER SANCTUARY RESOLUTION ARE TARGETED AT THE FOUR
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RELIGIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS SPONSORING THIS DESPICABLE RESOLUTION AND THE RADICAL RELIGIOUS LGBT SANTS PUSHING THE ABOMINATION OF SEXUALIZING CHILDREN.MY INTENT IS TO MOCK YOUR RELIGIOUS GOD WHO I WILL QUANTIFY AS THE LGBT UNICORN UNDER THE RAINBOW.
YOU MARCH IN LGBT PRIDE PARADES CELEBRATING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE UNICORNS IMMORAL PROCLIVITIES WHERE ANY PROCLIVITY IS RELIGIOUSLY SANCTIFIED MERELY BY ADDING ANOTHER LETTER TO THE ALPHABET.
I MARCH IN RESURRECTION PRIDE PARADES CELEBRATING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE WORLD'S ONLY PERFECT MAN DEMONSTRATED BY HIS VICTORY OVER EVERY TEMPTATION AND OVER DEATH ITSELF.
THE POINT IS ALL OF US, ALL OF US ARE RELIGIOUS BECAUSE ALL OF US MUST HAVE A GOD OR A MORAL STANDARD OUTSIDE OF AND WITH HIGHER AUTHORITY THAN MERELY OURSELVES.
FINALLY, FRANKLY, YOUR UNICORN RELIGION IS BASED ON INSULTINGLY, STUPID LIES AND DECEITFUL LANGUAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE RESOLUTION WHEREAS PROCLAIMS GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE EVIDENCE-BASED, MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND LIFESAVING.
BUT IN TRUTH POISONING AND BUTCHERING CHILDREN IS GENDER DENYING MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.
IT'S PROVEN TO PERMANENTLY STERILIZE CHILDREN TO MAKE THEM DEPENDENT ON UNAFFORDABLE BIG PHARMA DRUGS AND ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF COMMITTING MURDER AND SUICIDE.
AS WE SAW LAST YEAR IN THE NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTING, FINALLY THE WORLD'S GREATEST TEACHER WHO IS UNLAWFULLY EXCLUDED FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS UNDER THE SPECIOUS BANNER OF QUOTE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION HAS ALREADY WARNED YOU THAT IT, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR YOU TO DROWN IN A DEEP LAKE THAN TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION WHICH SANCTIFIES AND DEFENDS THE BARBARIC AND DEMONIC DESTRUCTION OF CHILDREN.
AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MOVING COMMENTS EARLIER IN THE DAY SO THAT WE DON'T WAIT OUR EIGHT HOURS TO BE HEARD FOR THREE MINUTES.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
MADELINE ASBO, ITEM 63, 3 MINUTES FOLLOWING MADELINE IS MICHELLE EVANS, GABRIELLE CLARK, SOREN AL DACO MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY I BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT PRESSING ISSUE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY YOUTH CAREGIVING MY NAME.
I WANTED YOU TO SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS MADELINE GRACE ASBELL AND I'M 15 YEARS OLD.
I AM ALSO MISS TEXAS ROLE MODEL JUNIOR TEEN.
I REPRESENT THE NUMEROUS YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY SERVING AS CAREGIVERS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH ILLNESSES, DISABILITIES AND OTHER NEEDS.
AMONG THESE CAREGIVERS IS JAMES A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO FACED A DIFFICULT DECISION WHEN JAMES' MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS REQUIRING ROUND THE CLOCK CARE, JAMES HAD TO MAKE SACRIFICES DESPITE THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR EDUCATION.
JAMES HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO PROVIDING ESSENTIAL CARE FOR HIS MOTHER.
JAMES'S STORY SHEDS A LIGHT ON THE HARSH REALITIES FACED BY MANY YOUTH CAREGIVERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR JAMES, THE DECISION, THE DECISION TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL WAS NOT MADE LIGHTLY.
IT WAS A HEARTBREAKING CHOICE MADE OUT OF NECESSITY, DRIVEN BY THE PROFOUND LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITIES HE FELT TOWARDS HIS MOTHER.
JAMES' SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE.
MANY YOUTH CAREGIVERS ARE FORCED TO PUT THEIR EDUCATION ON HOLD TO FULFILL THEIR CAREGIVING DUTIES.
ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES, 22% OF TEENS WHO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL DUE SO DUE TO CARING RESPONSIBILITIES.
THESE YOUNG CAREGIVERS ARE FACED WITH IMMENSE CHALLENGES, BALANCING DEMANDS OF CAREGIVING WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC GOALS.
YET THEY OFTEN GO UNRECOGNIZED AND UNSUPPORTED, LACKING THE RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THESE YOUNG CAREGIVERS LIKE JAMES.
BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT NETWORK TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT YOUTH CAREGIVERS HAVE THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
I URGE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING RESOURCES AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT YOUTH CAREGIVING INITIATIVES IN OUR CITY.
BY INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT OFFER EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, COUNSELING, SERV SERVICES AND RESPITE CARE, WE CAN EMPOWER YOUTH CAREGIVERS
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LIKE JAMES TO PURSUE HIS DREAMS WHILE CONTINUING TO CARE FOR HIS MOTHER.WE ARE HOPING ALL THAT ALL OF YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT A SURVEY ON YOUTH CAREGIVERS THAT SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS OR GUARDIANS AND REPORT UPDATES AND FINAL RESULTS.
TOGETHER LET'S ENSURE THAT NO YOUTH CAREGIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY FEELS ALONE OR UNSUPPORTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST THANK MADDIE FOR COMING.
IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICK THANK YOU MADDIE FOR BEING HERE AND FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO MY ATTENTION SO THAT WE COULD BRING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD TODAY.
THE NEXT SEVERAL SPEAKERS ARE SPEAKING ON ITEM 64, SO THREE MINUTES EACH.
MICHELLE EVANS, GABRIEL CLARK, SOREN ALCO, AND THEN GRANT MILLER.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
I'M HERE TO READ A STATEMENT BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HARRISON.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS SHOWN CONTINUAL DISREGARD FOR BOTH THE LAWS OF THE STATE AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR CITIZENS.
THIS COUNCIL SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE CITY IS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND DERIVES ITS AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE.
THERE'S ALREADY GROWING MOMENTUM IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FOR THE STATE TO STRIP THE CITY OF AUSTIN OF ITS AUTONOMY AND TAKE OVER CITY GOVERNANCE ACTIONS LIKE THE ONE BEING PROPOSED TODAY.
IF PASSED MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THIS COUNCIL IS UNFIT TO MANAGE THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE GREATEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES, THE STATE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER ENACTING LEGISLATION TO MAKE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTES FOR RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AND HARMS RESULTING FROM THE DEFACTO SANCTIONING AND FACILITATION OF THESE ILLEGAL PROCEDURES WHICH RESULT IN THE MUTILATION OF CHILDREN AND CAUSE THEM TO NEEDLESSLY BECOME LIFELONG MEDICAL PATIENTS.
IN SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION, YOU'LL DEMONSTRATE YOUR HATRED OF CHILDREN OPPOSITION TO LAW AND ORDER, WILLINGNESS TO PUT POLITICS OVER SCIENCE AND A PRIORITIZATION OF PROFITS AT THE EXPENSE OF PATIENTS.
IF YOU VOTE FOR IT, YOU DISGRACE.
THE OFFICE YOU HOLD ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FORFEIT ANY MORAL AUTHORITY TO GOVERN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE GO OUT TO THE PODIUM AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME, ENTER THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS GABRIELLE CLARK AND I AM A A TEXAN.
I'VE BEEN A TEXAN MY WHOLE LIFE.
NEVER, NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE BUT TEXAS.
ASIDE FROM A BRIEF STINT IN LAS VEGAS WHERE I GOT TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOUR ENTIRE SOCIETY HAS A BREAKDOWN BECAUSE OF IDEOLOGY, LIKE GENDER, IDEOLOGY AND WOKE IS OUR WHOLE, OUR WHOLE STATE IS LOOKING TO AUSTIN TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
TRANSITIONING CHILDREN HERE IS ILLEGAL AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT VOTES TO DO THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE STATE.
I MADE THEM AWARE OF THIS RESOLUTION YESTERDAY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BECAUSE NOBODY IS GOING TO HARM TEXAS CHILDREN ANYMORE.
AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS NOT GOING TO TOLERATE ANY KIND OF NONSENSE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
TRANS PEOPLE AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
TRANS PEOPLE CAN STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT INTACT, FULLY INTACT WITHOUT MEDICALIZATION.
AS CHILDREN, YOU COULD GROW UP AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO, BUT AS CHILDREN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE.
FREE FROM MEDICATIONS, FREE FROM LIES, FREE FROM IDEOLOGIES BEING PUSHED ON YOU BY SOCIETY, BY YOUR GOVERNMENT, BY BIG PHARMA.
WHY AREN'T Y'ALL STUDYING DESISTENCE? IF YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT KIDS, WHY AREN'T YOU STUDYING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY DETRANSITION AND DEED? YOU THINK THEY'RE NOT WORTH IT.
YOU THINK LEARNING ABOUT THAT STUFF IS NOT WORTH IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN MY LIFE OR OR ANYBODY ELSE'S LIFE HERE, BUT YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO AND YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS CITY
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AND FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE.I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE GOVERNOR FINDS OUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
YOU KNOW, OUR REPUBLICANS DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON STUFF, BUT THEY AGREED ON SB 14.
GRANT MILLER ATHER DIXON MORGAN SCHER, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
I'M AN HONOR STUDENT AT UT, A SEVENTH GENERATION TEXAN AND A CURRENT CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I BEGAN IDENTIFYING AS TRANS AT AGE 11, WAS OUTED AS TRANS AT AGE 15.
STARTED TESTOSTERONE AT AGE 17 AND UNDERWENT A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY THAT ALMOST KILLED ME A MONTH AFTER MY 19TH BIRTHDAY.
LESS THAN HALF A YEAR LATER, AFTER EXPERIENCING NO DEARTH OF COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THESE TREATMENTS, I CHOSE TO MAKE PEACE WITH MY SEX INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IT.
I NOW HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST LAWSUITS OF ITS KIND DESIGNED TO HOLD THE PRACTITIONERS WHO TRANSITIONED ME ACCOUNTABLE.
I WAS AN AUTISTIC GENDER NON-CONFORMING WEIRD GIRL.
I NEEDED COMPETENT THERAPY AND LOVE NOT DRUGS AND PLASTIC SURGERY.
AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THIS PROPOSAL IS ENTIRELY ORNAMENTAL.
GIVEN THAT SB 14 IS NOT ENFORCED CRIMINALLY AND INTENTIONALLY.
SO THIS PROPOSAL SERVES ONE PURPOSE TO ENDORSE EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE THAT PATHOLOGIZES GENDER NON-CONFORMITY AND TEACHES CHILDREN TO INTERNALIZE SEXIST STEREOTYPES.
INSTEAD OF UPROOTING THEM, THE SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS LIKE THE UK'S CAST REVIEW MAKE THIS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR DESPITE WHAT CERTAIN ACTIVISTS HAVE TO SAY, THE A MA, THE A PA AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS YOU'VE REFERENCED IN YOUR PROPOSAL, WERE FOUNDED TO PROTECT THE PRACTITIONERS BEHIND THIS MEDICINE, NOT THE PATIENTS RECEIVING IT AND FRANKLY, AMERICA'S FALLING BEHIND THE PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
THINK FINLAND, DENMARK, NORWAY, AND SWEDEN HAVE STARTED SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES.
I'M HERE TO ASK THAT LIGHT THAT YOU LIKE THEM.
LET'S ENCOURAGE RESILIENCE INSTEAD OF THROWING AROUND SUICIDE AGAINST SAMARITAN'S GUIDELINES AND INSINUATING THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.
WHERE WILL YOU BE IN 20 YEARS WHEN THE CHILDREN WHO WERE SHUTTLED DOWN THE GENDER AFFIRMING PIPELINE BY YOUR HAND, WHO WOULD'VE LIKELY OTHERWISE GROWN UP TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND GAY, END UP DEPRESSED, STERILIZED AND MEDICALLY ENIGMATIC.
DO NOT IMPLICATE YOURSELVES IN ONE OF THE LARGEST MEDICAL SCANDALS TO DATE.
WAIT IT OUT AND LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE CAREFULLY SAY NO TO ITEM 64.
HI, THIS GO? YES, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR AT UT AUSTIN AND THE CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SCREAMS AT MY CONSCIENCE.
I WAS A TRANS WOMAN IDENTIFYING THAT WAY FROM JUNE, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
BEFORE DESISTING, I USED TRANSITION AS A WAY TO ESCAPE MY LONGSTANDING FEARS OF MASCULINITY AND TO ESCAPE MY OWN SELF-HATRED.
I WAS ALWAYS A VERY SOFT EFFEMINATE BOY.
I LIKED MERMAIDS AND TUTU IN MY LE PONY AND DRESSED UP AS A BUTTERFLY FOR HALLOWEEN.
WHEN I HIT PUBERTY, I STARTED TO FEEL INCREASINGLY AND COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN.
IT DIDN'T HELP THAT MY MOM AND MANY OF THE WOMEN IN HER FAMILY SUFFERED FROM SEXUAL TRAUMA.
THE PRIEST, THE STEPDAD, THE UNCLE, THE EX-BOYFRIEND, ALL ABUSIVE MEN WHO LEFT PERMANENT GENERATIONAL SCARS ON US.
OVER THE YEARS, MY SHOULDERS BROADENED MY VOICE DEEP AND I BEGAN TO TO TOWER OF MY PETITE MOTHER.
I BELIEVE THAT I, BECAUSE I WAS BECOMING A MAN, I WAS BECOMING AN ABUSER.
PUBERTY IS NOT A DISEASE, BUT AS A CHILD, THE IDEA OF LIVING IN AN ADULT BODY TERRIFIED ME.
I COULDN'T FATHOM WALKING THE EARTH AS A MAN.
IF I HAD TOLD AS A CHILD THAT I COULD SIMPLY PAUSE PUBERTY OR CHANGE MY SEX TO BE A GIRL I, I HAVE NO DOUBT I WOULD'VE TAKEN IT UP IMMEDIATELY.
IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO COME TO TERMS WITH MYSELF AND TO CLAIM MY OWN VERSION OF MASCULINITY AND TO FULLY EMBRACE MYSELF AS A MAN.
THE CULMINATION OF MY TRAUMAS LED ME TO IDENTIFY AS A TRANS FOR HALF OF LAST YEAR AND START SIGN UP TO START HORMONES.
MY SPIRAL OF AFFIRMATION AND SELF-DESTRUCTION WAS SELF TRAUMATIC, BUT I WAS AN ADULT.
THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.
SO-CALLED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR ONLY MINORS.
MAKE NO MISTAKE YOUR DRAFT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGES MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN.
I SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 64 TO DEFEND THESE CHILDREN, SPECIFICALLY BOYS AND YOUNG MEN LIKE MYSELF AND THE RIGHT TO GROW UP ABOUT PERMANENT ADULT INTERVENTION.
YOU'RE MEDICALIZING A TIME OF LIFE THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT ESPECIALLY SO FOR NEURODIVERGENT, GENDER NONCONFORMING AND SAME SEX ATTRACTED CHILDREN LIKE MYSELF.
IF YOU PUT THEM ON PUBERTY BLOCKERS, IF YOU PUT THEM ON HORMONES, YOU'RE ROBBING THEM OF THE RIGHTS TO LIFE.
CHILDREN ARE SMART BUT NOT WISE.
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THEY CANNOT CONSENT AND WE DON'T EVEN LET ANYONE UNDER 18 GET A TATTOO.WHY? WE STERILIZING THEM WITH EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE.
DOCTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE PUTTING CHILDREN ON BLOCKERS AND HORMONES.
THEY ARE CHOPPING OFF CHILDREN'S BREASTS AND THEY'RE EVEN MUTILATING CHILDREN WITH SO-CALLED BOTTOM OF SURGERY.
THEY'RE PLACED THEM ON HARD DRUGS, TURNING 'EM INTO LIFELONG PATIENTS.
THE DOCTORS BEHIND THESE CASTRATION DESERVE JAIL, BUT TEXAS MERELY SEEKS TO TAKE AWAY THEIR LICENSES.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GENDERED SOUL OR A TRANS CHILD BECAUSE NO CHILD IS BORN IN THE WRONG BODY.
ANY BELIEF A CHILD NEEDS TO CHANGE THEIR BODIES IS AN INHERENTLY RELIGIOUS ONE AND SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS WORLDWIDE IS FINALLY TURNING AGAINST THIS NEW RELIGION.
I CALL UPON YOU TODAY TO REJECT ITEM 64 AND THUS MAKE A BOLD SET FOR PROGRESS.
ETHER DIXON, MORGAN CHER, CRAIG PASZKOWSKI, MERCEDES CHANDLER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME THERE.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS ETHER DIXON.
I LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN'S THIRD DISTRICT AND I EXPERIENCED EXTREME GENDER DYSPHORIA FROM A YOUNG AGE LEADING TO ME COMING OUT AS TRANSGENDER.
AT 13, I BEGAN BEGGING FOR HORMONE BLOCKERS AND TESTOSTERONE, CONSTANTLY SLEPT AND SOMETIMES SHOWERED IN UNSAFE CHEST BINDERS.
STARTED SELF-HARMING AND CUTTING BODY PARTS THAT MADE ME LOOK FEMININE.
ALL BEFORE I STARTED SEEING A GENDER THERAPIST AS A MID-TEEN WHO HELPED MOVE MY FAMILY TO ACCEPT MY IDENTITY.
USING THE PHRASE, DO YOU WANT A DEAD DAUGHTER OR A LIVING SON? AFTER A ROUTINE FIGHT AND BREAKDOWN, I WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO START CROSS-SEX HORMONES.
JUST AFTER TURNING 17, ONE VISIT LATER I RODE THE HIGH A GENDER EUPHORIA.
FINALLY GETTING TO FURTHER THE TRANSITION.
I HAD BEEN WORKING ALL OF MY LIFE.
FOR MONTHS INTO STARTING TI WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CARDIOVASCULAR INTOLERANCE, HAVING CONSTANT ISSUES WITH HEART REGULATION AND PASSING OUT.
I CONTINUED TAKING THE TESTOSTERONE CAUSING CONSTANT MOOD SWINGS AND LATER EXCRUCIATING JOINT PAIN.
STILL, I BELIEVE THESE DRUGS WERE SAVING MY LIFE DESPITE SO CLEARLY DISABLING IT.
A STRAY THOUGHT, ULTIMATELY ASKING WHY AM I SO DISTRESSED IN MYSELF AND HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE ME IS WHAT BEGAN TO UNRAVEL MY WORLD AT 19.
I AM NOW 21 STILL UNPACKING THE TRAUMA THAT MADE ME WANT TO CUT OFF BODY PARTS.
DEALING WITH COMPLICATIONS OF STEROID USE, LIKE VAGINAL ATROPHY, EXTREME JOINT PAIN AND DISCOMFORT FROM PERMANENTLY CHANGING MY SEX CHARACTERISTICS, ALL FOR HOW I IDENTIFIED AND WAS AFFIRMED IN MY TRAUMA FROM A CHILD TO ADULT.
THE LEGISLATION THIS ITEM IS AGAINST IS NOT TAKING AWAY RIGHTS OR ANATOMY.
IT IS REGULATING EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE ON CHILDREN IN A NON-CRIMINAL WAY.
SAVE EVERY KID FROM THE UNNECESSARY HORMONE COMPLICATION AND LOST BODY PARTS.
QUESTION WHY KIDS AND ADULTS ARE REJECTING THEIR SEXES AND GIVE THESE KIDS THE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS THEY NEED AND DESERVE TO LOVE AND ACCEPT THEIRSELVES AND BODIES.
MY NAME IS MORGAN, A SHEER CHRIS PRATT ONCE SAID, BE THE LIGHT.
THAT'S ALL I AM STANDING HERE TO BE TODAY.
A LIGHT THAT SHINES ON POTENTIALLY OVERLOOKED FACTS ABOUT REALITY.
IF THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY WHO WOULD'VE BEEN THE LIGHT AND SHINED ON ALL THE FACTS THAT THE CHALLENGER SHUTTLE WAS MATHEMATICALLY UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN COLD WEATHER, WE WOULD'VE SIX MORE ASTRONAUTS TODAY.
CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL WOULD HAVE NOT LOST THEIR BEST ENGLISH TEACHER, AND SEVEN FAMILIES WOULD STILL HAVE THEIR FATHER OR MOTHER, THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND MR. MAYER, I AM SIMPLY STANDING HERE TO HUMBLY DO WHAT THE BOARDROOM OF KENNEDY'S ADVISORS WOULD NOT DO BE LIGHT BECAUSE TRUTH AND REALITY EXCEED POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
SO WHAT ARE THE REALITIES OF GENDER MUTILATION? WELL, THE TRUTH IS IT STARTS IN THE DEFINITION OF GENDER, WHICH HAS BEEN DEFINITIONALLY, DEFINITIONALLY, MUTILATED.
THE FIRST CUT WAS THE SEPARATION OF GENDER FROM SEX BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME WHO ARGUE THAT VIEWING THESE AS BINARY AS A MISUNDERSTANDING.
THE SECOND CUT WAS TO SEPARATE SEX INTO FOUR BASIC PARTS, CHROMOSOMAL, HORMONAL, NON REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS BEING TAUGHT IN TEXTBOOKS.
THESE PHILOSOPHIES ARE EXTREMELY UNDER-RESEARCHED, UNPROVEN, AND TO BE FRANK, TOO YOUNG TO TRUST.
NOW CONSIDER GENDER FROM THE GROUNDING TRUTH OF REALITY WRITTEN IN 2021 IN A MOMENT OF PRAYER FOR MANKIND TO LOOK AT THEIR CREATOR AND PROCLAIM DEED, YOUR CREATION WASN'T RIGHT.
GOOD ENOUGH OR FINAL IS JUST TO REPEAT THE FIRST SIN.
ADAM AND EVE IN IGNORANT UNCON CONTENTEDNESS SAID, INDEED THE TREE OF LIFE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
SO WHEN THE SERPENT GAVE A REASON TO EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT FROM THE ONLY TREE WITH A DECLARATION OF DEATH ATTACHED TO IT, HE SPOKE TO WHAT THEIR DISCONTENT WAS ALREADY WHISPERING.
GOD IS KEEPING SOMETHING GOOD BETTER FROM YOU.
[01:50:01]
IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT WHEN IT WAS GOD WHO KNIT EACH PERSON TOGETHER IN THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB IS AN EXTENSION OF DISCONTENT EXPRESSION.THAT GOD HAS WITHHELD SOMETHING GOOD AND BETTER FROM US AND WE MUST ACQUIRE IT NO MATTER THE COST.
IT IS A GOD-LIKE ACTION THAT IS ROOTED IN SELF IDLE TREE AND DOES NOT LOVE GOD WITH MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH, NOR DOES IT LOVE OTHERS AS IT BRINGS CREATED REALITY INTO QUESTION, TO A LIFE ALTERING POINT THAT CAN CAUSE A LIFETIME OF CONFUSION FOR ANYONE UNGROUNDED, THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, ANYONE UNGROUNDED UPON THE ROCK OF AGES, JESUS CHRIST.
IF GOD CREATED NATURE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, WHAT CAN EVER BE? THANK YOU MA'AM.
UH, MEMBERS COUNCIL IN IN PUBLIC, WE'RE AT 1150.
UH, WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN AT NOON WHEN WE TAKE UP PUBLIC COMMENT AND WHAT I, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL TAKE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT UP, UH, THE TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT UP AT NOON.
UH, WE WILL RESET WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED AND THAT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 30 TO, UM, 35 MINUTES.
WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE 10 AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE WITH, UM, THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU SIR, IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AS A PASTOR IN THE AREA, IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT TRANSGENDERISM AND OUR YOUTH TODAY.
SO I GREW UP IN MASSACHUSETTS AND I WAS BULLIED AS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER.
IT WAS SUCH A PAINFUL AND IMPACTFUL TIME FOR ME THAT AS AN ADULT I WOULD RETURN TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN SCHOOL COUNSELING AT THE AGE OF 30 AND WORK AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN EIGHT MORE YEARS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL JUST TO BE ABLE TO COME ALONGSIDE YOUNG PEOPLE IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME OF LIFE.
SO I WANT YOU TO HEAR MY HEART OF COMPASSION TODAY.
COMPASSION FOR ALL PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY LEARN TO NAVIGATE LIFE HEALTHFULLY.
HOW HAVE YOU ALL COPED WITH THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE? WE ALL COPE IN SOME WAY WITH THE SENSE THAT SOMETHING'S NOT QUITE RIGHT IN THE WORLD, DON'T WE? DEVELOPMENTALLY, THIS BEGINS AROUND THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH GRADE WHEN WE START TO REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE OUTSIDE THE SMALL WORLD OF BEING A SON OR DAUGHTER OF A PARTICULAR FAMILY UNIT.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS DISSONANCE? THE SENSE THAT SOMETHING'S BROKEN IN THE WORLD.
AS A PASTOR, I'M CONVINCED THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH GIVES THE MOST COMPELLING EXPLANATION FOR WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD AND HOW RESTORATION AND WHOLENESS CAN RETURN TO SELF AND TO FAMILY AND TO COMMUNITY.
WE CALL IT RESTORING SHALOM, RESTORING PEACE AND WHOLENESS AND FULLNESS TO ONE'S SOUL.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS CLEAR THAT THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE ONE WAY, AND THAT IS BY DESIRING TO KNOW IF JESUS IS TRULY GOD AND THEN TO ALLOW JESUS AND HIS TRUTH IN THE BIBLE TO SHAPE YOU.
GOD'S TRUTH IS ALSO VERY CLEAR FROM THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE THAT GOD MADE HUMAN BEINGS MALE AND FEMALE.
SO GOD'S WORD AFFIRMS WHAT SCIENCE WITH XX AND XY CHROMOSOMES AS WELL AS HUMAN ANATOMY CONFIRMS TO US, BUT WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS DISSONANCE? THE SENSE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG IN THE WORLD.
IS IT ME? IS IT THE WAY OTHERS THINK? DO I JUST NEED MORE EDUCATION? MAYBE I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG BODY.
AS LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE LOOK TO PROVIDE HEALTHY LIFE-GIVING NOURISHING POLICIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN TO TRULY FLOURISH THEY'RE HEALTHY LIFE-GIVING ANSWERS TO LIFE'S PAIN, COMPASSION AND LOVE COMPEL ME TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION TO ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE BRAINS ARE NOT EVEN FULLY FORMED YET SO DESPERATE TO FIND REST FOR THEIR SOULS TO COME TO AUSTIN AND RECEIVE SUCH FOREVER BODY SCARRING AND SOUL SCARRING PROCEDURES.
OUR CHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON US TO LEAD THEM WELL, TO LEAD THEM IN TRUTH AND WHOLENESS, TO HELP THEM RESTORE TRUE SHALL LONG.
AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GUIDE YOUR WORK AND SERVICE TO AUSTIN AND THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M A MEMBER OF GAYS AGAINST GROOMERS AND I LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GAY COMMUNITY.
GROWING UP, I ONLY PLAYED WITH BOY TOYS.
I ONLY WORE BOY, BOY CARGO SHORTS AND POLO SHIRTS.
[01:55:01]
I WAS THE EPITOME OF A BOY.I KNEW I WAS DIFFERENT FROM A YOUNG AGE.
BEFORE ANY OF MY BIRTHDAY PARTIES, MY MOTHER WOULD GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL THE OTHER PARENTS TO TELL THEM TO ONLY BUY ME BOY TOYS.
SHE SUPPORTED ME AS A MASCULINE CHILD.
WHAT SHE DIDN'T DO IS TALK ABOUT GENDER IDEOLOGY, SOMETHING THAT WOULD'VE CONFUSED ME GROWING UP, SOMETHING THAT WOULD'VE MADE ME QUESTION MY VERY EXISTENCE.
INSTEAD, SHE LET ME GROW UP TO BE ME.
SHE LET ME KNOW, OR SHE LET ME GROW UP KNOWING THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE A TOMBOY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I LOOK BACK AND THANK HER EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IF I WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE THESE IRREVERSIBLE CHANGES TO MY BODY AS A CHILD, I WOULD'VE HATED WHO I AM TODAY.
INSTEAD, I GREW UP TO BE A PROUD MASCULINE LESBIAN WHO IS EVER SO GRATEFUL TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY WITHOUT ANY IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES.
WHY SHOULD BEING A TOMBOY COME WITH LIFELONG SIDE EFFECTS? IF I WERE GROWING UP IN TODAY'S AGE, I WOULD'VE NOT BEEN SO FORTUNATE.
I WOULD'VE BEEN ALLOWED AND ENCOURAGED TO UNDERGO MEDICALIZATION THAT COULD HAVE IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED MY BODY INSTEAD AS A CHILD OR A DECISION THAT AS A CHILD I WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY TOO YOUNG TO MAKE.
KIDS ARE UNABLE TO GRASP THE CONCEPT OF WHAT LIFELONG MEANS.
HOW COULD THEY ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HASN'T LIVED VERY LONG IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEREFORE, G AGAINST GROOMERS URGES THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON PROP 64 BECAUSE OF KIDS LIKE ME WHO WOULD'VE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY IT GROWING UP TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE CALLED SO FAR.
DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL ONE MORE OR YES, PLEASE.
MARY CASTLE, SOPHIA SEPULVEDA.
WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND YOU'LL BE, UM, OUR, OUR FINAL SPEAKER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA PRIOR TO US GOING TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME, SIR.
PLEASE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND IT'S ALL YOURS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MARY ELIZABETH CASTLE AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR TEXAS VALUES, BUT I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AND LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO AGENDA ITEM 64, WHICH IS ILLEGAL, ILLOGICAL AND JUST DOWNRIGHT IRRESPONSIBLE EVERY TIME THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE PASSES PUBLIC POLICY ON ISSUES THAT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH OR A SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T AGREE WITH.
BECAUSE OF PERSONAL BELIEFS, THE CITY COUNCIL RETALIATES WITH RESOLUTIONS TO MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND SIMPLY DO NOT WANT TO COMPLY.
IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE PASSING OF THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT LAW AND EVEN THE PASSAGE OF SB 22.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL THUMBING THEIR NOSES, THAT LAWS THAT PROTECT PEOPLE HAS BECOME SO SEVERE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS EVEN CONSIDERED PASSING LAWS TO ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
BUT TODAY'S RESOLUTION IN AGENDA ITEM 64 IS THE MOST SEVERE EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW.
YOU ARE GREEN LIGHTING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE OF CHILDREN THROUGH SEX CHANGE OPERATIONS.
FIRST, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, IS ILLEGAL.
THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED.
SECONDLY, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ILLOGICAL.
YOUR RESOLUTION SEEKS TO HAVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IGNORE ENFORCEMENT OF SB 14.
BUT DID YOU EVEN READ THE LAW VIOLATION OF THE LAW TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM HARMFUL SEX CHANGE OPERATIONS RESULTS IN A DOCTOR LOSING HIS MEDICAL LICENSE THROUGH THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD.
YOU SEEK TO HAVE POWER IN A PLACE WHERE POWER WAS NOT GIVEN TO YOU.
LASTLY, YOUR RESOLUTION IS DOWNRIGHT IRRESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS TO UNDERMINE PRO-LIFE LAWS.
YOU AS A COUNCIL HAVE ALREADY SHOWN YOUR DISREGARD FOR THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.
SEX CHANGE OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES PUBERTY, BLOCKERS, CROSS-EX HORMONES, AND REMOVAL OF HEALTHY BODY PARTS ONLY RUIN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.
THESE PROCEDURES RESULT IN SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND EVEN DEATH.
MOREOVER, THEY WERE IRREVERSIBLE.
AS A CITY COUNCIL, YOU CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE, BUT YOU ARE NOT EVEN OFFERING THIS TO THESE KIDS.
COUNSELING IS WHAT THEY NEED AND IT IS A PROVEN METHOD TO ADDRESS KIDS DEALING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA.
IF THE COUNCIL PASSES THIS RESOLUTION, I CAN DEFINITIVELY SAY THAT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE KIDS ARE NOT.
I'M THE FIELD DIRECTOR WITH THE QUALITY OF TEXAS AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 64.
OUR, OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY FACES CHALLENGES, SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION WHO HAS NO LEGAL TEETH EXCEPT TO SAY THAT AUSTIN
[02:00:01]
SUPPORTS TRANS PEOPLE.I KNEW WHO I WAS WHEN I WAS, WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, WHICH I WOULD MADE ME A TRANS KID THEN.
UM, AND AGAIN, I'M VERY HAPPY WHO I AM.
MY BONES ARE REALLY OKAY PER MY DOCTOR, AND THE ONLY REASON, THE ONLY THING THAT CAUSES ME DEPRESSION IS THE BIGGEST WHO WERE
ALSO, NO TRANS KIDS ARE HAVING SURGERY, BUT I TELL YOU WHO IS 13-YEAR-OLD GIRLS GETTING BREAST IMPLANTS OR 10-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRLS BEING FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH, BUT THEY'RE ALL QUIET ABOUT IT, AREN'T THEY? LET'S BE HONEST HERE.
THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE RESOLUTION DO NOT CARE ABOUT CHILDREN.
IF THEY DID, THEY INVESTIGATE CHURCHES AND PASTORS WHO'VE BEEN ARRESTED ALMOST DAILY ON THE CHARGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IF THEY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN, THEY WILL COME WITH US TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN TEXAS, IN TEXAS HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF UNINSURED CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF THEY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN, THEY WILL FIGHT TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE.
SO LOW INCOME FAMILIES CAN TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
IF THEY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN, THEY CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE IN HAS THAT NOW.
NOW THE CAST REPORT WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THIS RUN, THE DOCTOR IS LITERALLY BACKTRACKING THE REPORT.
HILLARY KRAS HERSELF HAS STATED IN INTERVIEWS THAT PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONE THERAPY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AT DIFFERENT AGES BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEED.
AS WELL STATED PUBERTY BLOCKERS AT 15 IS TOO LATE TO HAVE THE DESIRE AFFECTING YOUNG KIDS.
SAYING THIS, THEY KNEW THIS IS THE ONLY READ, BUT THEY ARE TOO BUSY BANNING BOOKS TO ACTUALLY READ THEM.
WOULD, UH, WITHOUT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, I WOULD NOT BE HERE.
JUST SHOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE HIGHER REGRET OF HAVING CHILDREN OR NEED SURGERY THAN HAVING ACCESS TO HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.
I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION, PROTECTING THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY IN TEXAS, ESPECIALLY IN AUSTIN, AND AN URGE YOU TO VOTE JUST ON ITEM 64.
WE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA WANT TO TESTIFY ON A NUMBER OF THINGS AND SO IF YOU, IF YOU CAN HELP US MAINTAIN SOME ORDER, WE'LL GET TO PEOPLE, UH, IN A MORE TIMELY FASHION.
AND I, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, GET TO EVERYBODY IN THE ORDER THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THEM.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND WE WILL, UH, HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WHEN THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS COMPLETED.
MEMBERS, WHAT I WILL DO AT THAT TIME IS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL ONE 10.
UM, AND WE'LL COME BACK IN AT ONE 10 AND WE WILL, UH, BEGIN AGAIN WITH OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
ASK THAT YOU PLEASE START CALLING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME, CERTAIN GABRIELA ZADEN.PLEASE CALL THREE NAMES, FOLKS.
UM, IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS, FOLKS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE THE CHAMBERS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY AFTER GABRIELA IS LAO AMAR AND LEONORA SHARK, WHEN YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBERS.
I, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.
SHE'S SAYING THE SPEAKERS, THE SPEAKERS ARE NOT BEING LET IN RIGHT NOW.
WELL, WHEN, WHEN SOME, WHEN SOME, I HEAR YOU.
SO IF AS PEOPLE LEAVE, OTHERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO COME IN.
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE CAN'T HAVE YOU BLOCKING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS GABRIELA ROSA IDAN.
I AM HERE AS ONE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS THAT BROUGHT TO YOU THE RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE AND GAZA.
I'M HERE TO REAFFIRM THE NEED FOR A CALL THAT BRINGS OUR CITY TOGETHER NOW MORE THAN EVER IN THE RECOMMENDATION WE CALLED UPON THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR AN EXPLICIT CEASEFIRE.
DEMAND THE RELEASE OF CIVILIAN HOSTAGES, THE ASSUMPTION OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES AND THE URGENT INITIATION OF A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT PRIORITIZES TRUTH, RECONCILIATION, RESTITUTION, AND A FUTURE WHERE THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ARE EQUALLY SAFE AND FREE OF OPPRESSION.
THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO CALLED ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROMOTE VALUES OF TOLERANCE AND COUNTER ANTISEMITISM,
[02:05:01]
ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-ARAB, AND ANTI PALESTINIAN SEDIMENTS.DID WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION HAD A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN POLICY? I AM NOT UNDER SUCH A FALSE ILLUSION, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT NOT STANDING AND WALLING OURSELVES INTO SILENCE AND NOT TAKING ACTION IS DIVISIVE IN OUR AUSTIN CITY AND ALSO MAKES US COMPLICIT IN MOVING FORWARD TO CHANGE.
OUR CITY'S FAILURE TO CALL FOR PEACE IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY TO A YOUNGER GENERATION THAT IS PROTESTING HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES AGAINST OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS.
UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DEEMED A GENOCIDE, A MORAL STANCE.
A PREVIOUS GENERATIONS THAT PROTESTED, UM, OUR PROTESTED OUR COUNTRY'S FOREIGN INHUMANE WARS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND AGAINST OUR COUNTRY'S LONG HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
BIO ACCUSATIONS OF ANTISEMITISM FOR PROTESTING THE KILLING AND THE STARVING OF A POPULATION.
I AM LEBANESE ARAB AMERICAN AND CHRISTIAN.
I AM ONE IDENTITY OVERLOOKED IN OUR COUNTRY.
CENSUS AND DISCUSSIONS OF BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE LEFT OUT AN IDENTITY, UM, THAT HAS, THAT MUSTAFA BI YUMI STATED IS DIFFERENT ENOUGH TO HATE, NOT ENOUGH TO COUNT, BUT THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE.
WE HAVE ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING, MANY OF US ENDURING THE AGONY OF LOSING LOVED ONES IN OUR HOMES AND BOMBARDMENTS IN REAL TIME.
AND DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF OUR CAUSE ON THE AGENDA, YET WE SHOW UP AND WE SPEAK BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE.
OUR IDENTITIES MATTER, OUR HISTORY, AND OUR CULTURE IN A WAY THAT WE REPRESENT OURSELVES THAT MATTERS AND THAT WILL NOT BE IGNORED.
SO BECAUSE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, IT GAVE US ACCESS TO THE SPACE THAT WE WILL NOT LEAVE IN A CITY THAT WE CALL HOME.
THE RECOMMENDATION MEETS THE ASPIRATIONS OF ALL INVOLVED THE ARAB AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY'S PAIN.
WHEN WE SAY NOT TO OUR PEOPLE, THE JEWISH VOICES THAT SHOUT NOT IN OUR NAME AND THE CALL FOR COMMUNITY SAYING BRING THEIR LOVED ONES HOME.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME SIR.
OKAY, MAYOR, I WISH YOU WERE HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LO AARA.
I'M AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, ORIGINALLY PALESTINIAN.
I AM A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AND A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.
AND SOMEONE WHO LOST FIVE MEMBERS OF HIS EXTENDED FAMILY IN GAZA.
I CAME TO SPEAK TO YOU BACK ON BREW FIRST.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SPEECHES AND NOTICE THAT PRO-ISIS, ISRAELI SPEAKERS HAVE CONCENTRATED ON VILIFYING THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES IN A PATTERN THAT IS ESCALATING IN OTHER CITIES.
WHERE THE EXAMPLE FOR PRO-ISIS, ISRAEL MOBS HAVE DESCENDED ON ENCAMPMENTS IN UCLA AND SHOWED VICIOUSNESS THAT EMBOLDENED BY ISRAEL'S IMPUNITY.
IN A VIDEO, A LADY TOLD PROTESTORS TO GO TO PALESTINE AND HOPING THAT THEY WOULD GET RAPED, WHICH TIES TO SPEECHES UTTERED IN THIS VERY CHAMBER CALLING US RAPE APOLOGISTS.
AND ONE SPEAKER ACCUSING US OF DISTRIBUTING STICKERS SAYING RAPE IS RESISTANCE.
THIS IS DESPICABLE AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY WOULD DISTANCE ITSELF FROM SUCH HATE FOR RHETORIC AS A PALESTINIAN.
THE BEST SAYING THAT I CAN APPLY TO THIS IS EVERY ACCUSATION IS A CONFESSION.
RELATING TO THE ACCUSATIONS OF SYSTEMATIC RAPE ON OCTOBER 7TH, I SUGGEST YOU WATCH AMY GOODMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH STAFF OF THE INTERCEPT ON MARCH 1ST, 2024, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE AND YOUTUBE AND IT'S AN EYEOPENER DEBUNKS THE WHOLE ORDEAL, JUST LIKE THE LIES ABOUT 40 BEHEADED BABIES AND BABIES PUT IN OVENS.
HOWEVER, ISRAEL'S HISTORY, HOWEVER, ISRAEL'S HISTORY OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS, OUTRAGEOUS TO SAY THE LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND A DOCUMENTARY CALLED CONTURA ABOUT THE INCEPTION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL IN 1948, MIN AS OLD AS MY GRANDFATHER BOASTING AND DIVING ABOUT RAPING GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 16 YEARS OLD.
SINCE THEN UNTIL NOW, THERE ARE COUNTLESS REPORTS FROM THE UN AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIANS, ESPECIALLY MEN THAT WERE IGNORED AND BLIND SUPPORT OF ISRAEL.
THE WASHINGTON POST CODED US DIPLOMATS AS EARLY AS IN 1979, DESCRIBING ISRAELI TORTURE TO MEN AS EXTREME FORM OF SEXUAL SADISM.
JOSH PAUL AND SAVED THE CHILDREN TALKED OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING RAPE OF BOYS AS YOUNG AS 13 YEARS OLD.
HARES JUST PRODUCED AN ARTICLE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO RECOUNTING FORMS OF TORTURE EXERCISED ON PALESTINIAN MEN, INCLUDING PILING MEN NAKED ON TOP
[02:10:01]
OF EACH OTHER AND VIOLATING THEM, PUTTING ABOVE GRAPE TO SHAME.YOU CAN READ THE ARTICLE FOR YOURSELF AND FOR MORE DETAILS, TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
THERE'S A ROGUE ENTITY THAT'S COMMITTING SOME OF THE WORST HYPOTHESIS KNOWN TO MEN.
THEY ARE TALKING OF FLITTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN OUT OF RAFA SO THEY CAN GO IN AND MASSACRE THE MEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO THINK THAT OUR MEN ARE ANIMALS.
SO APPIAH STATE CAN HAVE ITS PHONY VICTORY.
IF YOU DO NOT ACT THIS REGIME AND ITS HOOLIGANS IN THE US WILL GET MORE EMBOLDENED.
UCLA IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
ABIGAIL MALLICK, ELLIOT LAMAR.
SPEAKERS, IF YOU WILL COME UP TO THE FRONT OF THE FRONT ROW, THE NAMES.
CAN YOU, UH, CALL THE ADDITIONAL TWO ADDITIONAL NAMES, PLEASE? YES, LENORA SHARP, ABIGAIL MALICK, ELIOR, AMAR ON DECK, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.
AND IF THOSE THREE FOLKS ON DECK COULD COME TO THE FRONT, UH, UH, LINE HERE, THE FRONT ROW.
AND MA'AM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF LEORA SHAR AS SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL.
COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME, PLEASE? KIM PULLMAN.
I'M SORRY YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REPLACE SOMEONE WHO'S REGISTERED TO SPEAK WE'LL TAKE THE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, A UT GRADUATE, A THERAPIST AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I'M A DESCENDANT OF SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST IN GERMANY AND THE POGROMS IN RUSSIA.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A JEWISH MOTHER.
JEWISH SAFETY IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND, ESPECIALLY AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN.
AND I REMEMBER THE UPTICK IN ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENCES IN TRAVIS COUNTY WHEN HE RAN THE FIRST TIME.
AND ELON MUSK, ONE OF THE RICHEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, IS PRAISING HARMFUL CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT JEWISH PEOPLE.
TRUMP AND MUSK'S RHETORIC, EMBOLDENS HATE GROUPS, WHICH MAKES MY FAMILY AND ALL JEWISH PEOPLE LESS SAFE.
ANTISEMITISM IS REAL AND IT'S SCARY AND IT'S ALIVE AND WELL IN TEXAS.
BUT IN ORDER TO TRACK AND CURTAIL ANTISEMITISM, WE MUST GET CLEAR ABOUT WHAT ANTISEMITISM ACTUALLY IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T.
THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OR A DL IS SPREADING THE IDEA THAT CRITICISM OF ISRAEL IS HATE SPEECH AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE, BUT WE WOULD NEVER CONSIDER THAT A VALID ARGUMENT FOR ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
WE WOULD NEVER SAY THAT CRITICISM OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS HATE SPEECH AGAINST ALL LATINOS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WE WOULD NEVER SAY THAT CRITICISM OF IRAN IS HATE SPEECH AGAINST ALL MUSLIMS IN EVERY COUNTRY.
SO WHY DO WE HOLD ISRAEL UP ON THAT BIZARRE PEDESTAL CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENTS? IS POLITICAL SPEECH PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT, NOT HATE SPEECH? THE ADL'S ATTEMPT TO PAINT CRITICISM OF ISRAEL AS HATE SPEECH MAKES IT HARDER TO TRACK ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENCES.
AND WHEN ANY GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING ISRAEL IS BOMBING HOSPITALS, BOMBING REFUGEE CAMPS, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND CROWDED MARKETPLACES, MY JEWISH VALUES DEMAND THAT I SPEAK OUT AGAINST THOSE HORRIFIC WAR CRIMES.
STUDENTS WHO ARE PROTESTING AGAINST WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE ARE NOT AN ANTISEMITIC THREAT.
THEY ARE AS HEROIC AS THE STUDENTS WHO ONCE PROTESTED AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR AND APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA.
FURTHERMORE, THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORTH BY THE AUSTIN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDES RETURN OF ALL HOSTAGES, COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND IN ANTI HOSTILITIES IS SOMETHING THAT CAN PROMOTE SAFETY AND PEACE BOTH HERE AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
RETURNING HOSTAGES, COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WAR CRIMES ARE THINGS THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PROUDLY STAND BEHIND.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
SPEAKER AMAR KELLEN GILDERSLEEVE, SARU ADE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE MICROPHONE.
WHERE'S THE BEAR? HI, MY NAME IS ELIOR MAR, UM, MAYOR WATSON.
DISTINGUISHED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING FIRM SO FAR AND, UH, OFFER MY PERSPECTIVE AND MAKE A REQUEST.
[02:15:01]
I'M THE SON OF A JEWISH IMMIGRANT FROM MOROCCO AND THE GRANDSON OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS FROM POLAND AND ROMANIA.THIS ODD MIX OF GENES AND SPICES CAME TO LIFE IN HAIFA, A BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINOUS CITY ON THE COASTLINE OF ISRAEL, ALSO A MIXED CITY WHERE JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, BAHAIS, AND JEWS HAVE COEXISTED FOR GENERATIONS GROWING UP.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW ISRAEL WORKS TO PROTECT ITS MINORITIES AND THEIR RIGHTS.
I'VE ALSO SEEN, UH, WITNESS THE CRUELTY OF OUR ENEMIES WHEN BUSES, RESTAURANTS, AND SHOPPING CENTERS PACKED WITH INNOCENT ISRAELIS WERE BLOWN UP BY PALESTINIAN SUICIDE BOMBERS AND LOST PEOPLE.
I KNEW PERSONALLY WHEN I CAME TO THE US AS AN ADULT, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT MY HISTORY HAD BEEN REWRITTEN AND THE TRUTH COMPLETELY TWISTED.
THE MIND BOGGLES AT THE LIES AND I CANNOT STAY SILENT.
I WORKED ON A US COLLEGE CAMPUS FOR THREE YEARS AND SAW HOW OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, WILL ALLOW TERRORISTS AND RADICALIZED MINDS LIKE THE ONES WE JUST LISTENED TO, TO HIJACK THE PUBLIC SPACE.
COLLEGE KIDS ARE BEING MANIPULATED INTO HATING THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND ITS CLOSEST ALLY ISRAEL UNDER THE FALSE SKIES OF CRITICAL THINKING OR PSEUDO RESEARCH.
BUT WHAT SCARES ME EVEN MORE IS THE LACK OF MORAL CLARITY AMONG THEIR PROFESSORS AND ACADEMIC STAFF.
THEY SHOWED US IN THEIR OWN TESTIMONIES THAT THEY SIMPLY CANNOT TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG.
AND SO AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE BURDEN OF GUIDING THE WAY AND SETTING THE TONE RESTS ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO UPHOLD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE BRAINWASHED ISRAEL.
US HATERS BELONG TO ONE OF THREE GROUPS, THOSE WHO ARE PAINFULLY UNEDUCATED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ORIGIN OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THOSE WHO IGNORE THE FACTS THAT DON'T FIT WITH THE LIES THEY BELIEVE IN OUT OF FEAR OF HAVING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TRUTH AND CHANGE THEIR MIND.
AND FINALLY, THOSE WHO ARE DRIVEN BY HATE AND VIOLENCE SO MUCH THAT THEY LOST THEIR MORAL COMPASS IN ALL REASON ENTIRELY.
SOME FALL UNDER ALL THREE CATEGORIES.
THEY ALSO TEND TO BE THE LOUDEST.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO ASK YOU TO OPPOSE OR SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE.
I'VE COME TO ASK YOU TO STOP THIS MADNESS.
PASS THE RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL NOT RELEASE ANY STATEMENTS ON A FOREIGN COUNTRY'S POLICY.
I'M THE SON OF MOROCCAN IMMIGRANT AND THE GRANDSON OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND I OWE IT TO THEM.
I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN AMERICA AND PAY MY DUES TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY STRONG AND OUR BEST STAYS AHEAD OF US.
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU TO FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT TRULY AFFECT US HERE, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION.
I OWE IT TO MY ANCESTORS LIKE YOU OWE IT TO YOUR FAMILIES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND PROSPERING.
PASS THE RESOLUTION TO STAY OUT OF THIS AND PUT AN END TO THIS WASTE OF TIME THAT FUELS MORE HATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME MAN AND IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M KELLEN GILDER.
I'M KELLEN GILDER, SLEEP FROM DISTRICT ONE.
I HAVE SERVED ON OUR CITY AS A REGISTERED NURSE FOR THE PAST DECADE.
MY VALUES AS AN RN BRING ME HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
HEALTHCARE IS SACRED AND PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW.
DESPITE THIS, DOCTORS AND NURSES IN GAZA ARE UNDER ATTACK WITH NEARLY 500 HEALTHCARE WORKERS KILLED SINCE OCTOBER.
THIS SURPASSES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEDICAL WORKER DEATHS IN ALL GLOBAL CONFLICTS IN 2021 AND 2022.
COMBINED THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THERE HAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED AND 32 OUT OF THE 36 HOSPITALS IN THE STRIP HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
AS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, A PEDIATRICIAN RECENT, RECENTLY WENT ON A MEDICAL ASSIGNMENT TO GAZA.
SHE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE SHE ENTERED, THEY TOLD HER AT THE BORDER THAT SHE WAS ENTERING AT HER OWN RISK.
AS THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY TARGETED, A PEDIATRICIAN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE DEPLOYED TO AREAS OF CONFLICT.
SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE WHICH PREEMIE TO RESUSCITATE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE VENTILATOR AVAILABLE.
CHILDREN ARE A PROTECTED CLASS IN WAR.
ACCORDING TO THE UN CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD.
ISRAEL'S INHUMANE BLOCKADE ON MEDICAL SUPPLIES HAS DECIMATED THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR KIDS THERE.
LIKE CHILDREN, PREGNANT PATIENTS HAVE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARE THAT PRESERVES THEIR HEALTH AND DIGNITY.
HERE IN AUSTIN, OUR PATIENTS CAN LARGELY CHOOSE LOW PAYING BIRTHS THAT ARE SAFE FOR BOTH MOM AND BABY.
BUT IN GAZA DELIVERIES, EVEN C-SECTIONS ARE BEING PERFORMED WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.
TRAGICALLY, THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF POSTMORTEM C-SECTIONS ON MOTHERS WHO HAVE DIED BY AIRSTRIKE.
[02:20:01]
INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL AND ESPECIALLY BY OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS.I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY RESPOND TO THE DEEPLY UNSERIOUS CLAIMS THAT ANTI GENOCIDE ACTIVISTS ARE RAPE APOLOGISTS.
DURING MY TIME AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER, I WITNESSED HOW MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT.
ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGNS INEVITABLY PERPETUATE INEQUALITY AND DEHUMANIZATION BREEDING CONDITIONS.
PALESTINIANS OF ALL GENDERS ARE SUBJECTED TO SEXUAL ATTACKS AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI MILITARY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
ONE YEAR AGO, YOU COUNSEL PASSED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MEDICARE FOR ALL.
AFFIRMING THAT HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
TODAY I ASK WHAT IMPEDES YOUR SUPPORT FOR GAZA'S MEDICAL WORKERS FUNDING THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL HERE AT HOME IS INSTEAD PAYING FOR BOMBS THAT ARE BEING DROPPED ON HOSPITALS.
PLEASE USE THIS MOMENT TO DISPLAY MORAL LEADERSHIP AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY AS A QUEER GENDER FLUID AUSTINITE, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT ITEM 64.
NEXT SADE DREW DOGGETT, CLIFF CLIVE, BRIAN WELDON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND THEN JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE MICROPHONE.
I'VE COME HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME ALARMING INSIGHTS ON TRENDING PUBLIC SENTIMENT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, UH, SPECIFICALLY HERE IN AUSTIN AS IT PERTAINS TO INDIVIDUAL STANCES ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.
WITH THE HELP OF TOOLS LIKE GOOGLE KEYWORD PLANNER AND SOCIAL LISTENING TECHNOLOGY, I SCANNED POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AS WELL AS GOOGLE SEARCH AND WAS QUITE SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THE DEGREE OF IMPACT THAT AN ISSUE ACROSS THE WORLD HAD ON A GROUP OF UNKNOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS IN LITTLE OLD AUSTIN, TEXAS.
SO I WANTED TO START FROM THE TOP.
THIS CHART HERE SHOWS AN AGGREGATED COMBINED SOCIAL MEDIA SEARCHES FOR EACH OF YOU AND WHAT YOU'LL, WHAT WHAT WHAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING IS THE SUBSTANTIAL SPIKE THAT YOU'LL NOTICE IN IN MID-OCTOBER.
NOW, IF WE FURTHER BREAK THIS DOWN, YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THE SENTIMENT ACROSS THAT VOLUME IN BOTH SEARCH AND SOCIAL USING GEOFENCE FILTERED JUST FOR AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND YOU'LL AGAIN NOTICE A SHARP RISE IN NEGATIVE SENTIMENT TOWARDS COUNCIL MEMBERS JUXTAPOSED AGAINST DECLINING POSITIVE MENTIONS.
UM, AGAIN, THIS REPRESENTS A COLLECTIVE SENTIMENT OF THE WHOLE GANG.
SO I WAS MOST INTERESTED TO KNOW WHO WAS HOLDING THE TEAM DOWN.
UM, I THINK WITH MY TIME, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE TO SHOW ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS AND WITH, WITH LIMITED TIME, I'LL START WITH OUR MAIN KIRK, WHICH MIGHT BE IN THE BACK ROOM OF SORTS.
YOU'LL NOTICE KEY WORDS HERE LIKE OVERDOSE INCIDENTS, BRIEF MARRIAGE HATES PALESTINE, UH, CEASES FIRE CALL 30,000 CHILDREN APAC FUNDS, AND Y PRO ISRAEL.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU LOOK INTO YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE IS PARTICULARLY ALARMING.
UM, IT A LITTLE BIT MORE MINIMAL, LARGELY PASSIONATE.
IT RESEMBLES THAT OF KIRK'S PLUS A FEW ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS THAT INCLUDE OPPONENT AND REELECTION DATE.
UM, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE THE BEGINNING OF EVEN NEWER TRENDS THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF.
UH, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, LESLIE POOLE AND VANESSA FUENTES, UH, FLYING FAIRLY UNDER THE RADAR, AT LEAST, AT LEAST AS IT PERTAINS TO NEGATIVE ATTENTION.
ZOE HABE ALSO FAIRLY UNDER THE RADAR EXCEPT FOR THE MOST RECENT 45 DAYS, WHICH SHOWS A SPIKE IN KEYWORDS LIKE ZHI, ZIONIST, UNDERCOVER, A DL AS WELL AS REELECTION DATES.
SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IS BREWING, BUT JUST SINCE THIS MORNING IT HAS STRENGTHENED.
UM, IT SEEMS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE, CARE ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS, AND ARE ACTIVELY MONITORING YOUR STANCE.
ON ONE HAND, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FACT THAT YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, REMEMBER THAT WHAT MAY BE GOING ON HERE IS ALARMING AND THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET.
I HOPE YOU DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT YOU BEFORE YOU DON'T.
DREW DOGGETT FOLLOWED BY CLIFF CLIVE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
[02:25:01]
THE POLICY MAKERS WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BRAVE STUDENTS AND FACULTY WHO PEACEFULLY EXERCISED THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BOTH ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE NATION OVER THE PAST WEEK.UH, MY NAME IS DREW DOGGETT AND I HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT THREE FOR THREE YEARS.
ON FEBRUARY 1ST, JUST AFTER 8:00 PM I TOOK A WALK OUTSIDE OF MY APARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET TO GO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM MY DOOR.
A STRANGER ATTACKED ME AND STABBED ME IN THE ARM.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, FOR MY AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SHOWED UP WITHIN MINUTES OF CALLING 9 1 1.
WHILE I HAVE PROCESSED THIS EVENT, MANY INDIVIDUALS IN MY APARTMENT AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE CITED THIS VERY INCIDENT FOR A REASON FOR MOVING AWAY TO A DIFFERENT DISTRICT OR A DIFFERENT CITY.
I'M NOT HERE TO END VIOLENT CRIME, GENTRIFICATION, OR HOMELESSNESS, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN TAKING MEASURES TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.
I PROPOSED THE COUNCIL ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TOWARD ENHANCED PUBLIC LIGHTING.
A NEW YORK STUDY FOUND THAT INCREASED STREET AND PARK LED LIGHTS LED TO A 36% REDUCTION IN NIGHTTIME CRIMES.
THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH SHOWING HOW LIGHTING ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO BE OUTSIDE, INCREASES INFORMAL SURVEILLANCE AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECOGNIZING ANY OFFENDERS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN CAR BREAK-INS THIS YEAR.
VEHICLE AND BICYCLE THEFTS ARE MORE PRONE IN DARKER AREAS IN WINTER MONTHS.
IT COULD START BEFORE 6:00 PM HERE IN AUSTIN.
OUR PERCEPTION OF COMFORT AND FREEDOM IS AFFECTED BY OUR IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CRIMES.
IN YOUR HANDOUTS, I'VE PROVIDED SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW WE CAN EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY ILLUMINATE WALKWAYS, BIKE PATHS AND ENTRANCES VIA COST EFFECTIVE LED FIXTURES.
BUT WHAT COMES AFTER THIS IMPLEMENTATION IS A FEELING, A FEELING OF SECURITY TO WALK YOUR DOG THE COMFORT TO FINISH YOUR RUN AT DESK OR DAWN, AND THE ABILITY TO JOIN A WIDER COMMUNITY WITHOUT THIS FEELING OF SAFETY.
WE ISOLATE BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL TREES ARE PLANTED OR BENCHES ARE INSTALLED.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THESE SAFETY MEASURES.
FIRST, PRIORITIZING WALLET PARKS ALIGNS WITH THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
NO ONE SHOULD FEEL AFRAID IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS BUT ONE STEP IN CREATING A SAFER PUBLIC SPACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO ENJOY.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS INVESTMENT, CLIFF CLIVE AND THEN BRIAN WELDON.
MY NAME IS CLIFF CLIVE, DISTRICT EIGHT.
THIS PAST WEEK HAS SEEN HEAVILY MILITARIZED POLICE CRACKDOWNS ON UNARMED COLLEGE STUDENTS AT UT AUSTIN AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
STUDENTS ARE DEMANDING THEIR SCHOOL'S FINANCIAL DIVESTMENT FROM COMPANIES PROFITING FROM ISRAEL'S ILLEGAL MILITARY OCCUPATION.
IN PALESTINE, THERE WERE NONVIOLENT ACTS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MET WITH AN UNNECESSARY DISPLAY OF BRUTALITY.
THE PHOTOS WILL BE AMONG THE MOST ICONIC RECORDED FROM AUSTIN DURING THIS COUNCIL'S TENURE.
SO HOW DID WE GET HERE? THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUES 2023 ANTISEMITISM AUDIT MATCHED THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IN THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS COMBINED, BUT RALLIES WERE INCLUDED SIMPLY IF A CHANT LIKE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREE WAS HEARD.
THE A DL FALSELY CLAIMS THIS IS A CALL FOR GENOCIDE, BUT IT IS EXPLICITLY A CALL FOR AN END TO APARTHEID AND RECOGNITION OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HISTORIC TERRITORY OF PALESTINE.
IT IS ABSURD TO SUGGEST THAT THE PROTESTED CRIMES OF GENOCIDE, APARTHEID, AND OCCUPATION ARE INHERENTLY CONNECTED TO JUDAISM.
THESE SLOGANS ARE NOT ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS CRITICISMS. THEY ARE POLITICAL.
THEY CONDEMN ISRAEL'S HUMANITARIAN CRIMES.
WELL-DOCUMENTED IN A LONG LIST OF UN RESOLUTIONS GOING BACK TO 1948.
I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE BRAVE STUDENTS CAN FREELY RAISE THEIR VOICES AND CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
FOR MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA.
WE KNOW THE COUNCIL CAN'T ENFORCE IT STILL.
FIRST, RECOGNIZE THAT ISRAEL HAS NO VIABLE MILITARY SOLUTION FOR ITS GOAL OF ELIMINATING HAMAS WITHOUT THE SLAUGHTER OF TENS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MORE CIVILIANS, MORE THAN HALF OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN.
THIS IS NOT AN ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVE IN GORILLA WARFARE, IN A DENSELY POPULATED URBAN AREA.
THE COUNCIL'S RECOGNITION OF THIS WILL ENCOURAGE US AS A COMMUNITY TO FOCUS OUR DISCUSSION ON POLITICAL RESOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT BASED ON INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN
[02:30:01]
LAW.SECOND, WE CALL FOR A RETURN TO AUSTIN'S PROGRESSIVE VALUES AS YOU LEAD OUR MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES RECKONING WITH THIS CRISIS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, A TEAM OF LAWYERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND IRELAND TOOK ISRAEL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ON CHARGES OF COMMITTING GENOCIDE.
THESE TWO COUNTRIES ROLE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF THEIR WELL-KNOWN SUFFERING UNDER COLONIZATION AND APARTHEID, THE OPPRESSED, NO OPPRESSION WHEN THEY SEE IT.
YOUR CONTINUED AVOIDANCE OF THIS ISSUE BETRAYS A PREFERENCE FOR THE ABSENCE OF TENSION OVER THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE.
AND THAT SAME CYNICAL MORAL COMPASS HAS BROUGHT
SIR, YOUR TIME HAS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE THANK YOU BRIAN WELDON.
BRIAN, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE THE PODIUM.
MY NAME IS BRIAN WELDON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
THE PAIN, DEATH, DEHUMANIZATION AND OUTRAGE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO BEAR AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS IS WHAT COMPELS ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE IDENTITY OF OUR CITY AS A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE PLACE THAT STANDS UP AND DOES THE RIGHT THING IN THE FACE OF OUTSIDE PRESSURE.
AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU ARE THE STEWARDS OF THAT IDENTITY.
YOU MAKE THE CHOICES THAT DETERMINE WHAT OUR CITY IS AND WHAT IT WILL BE.
I ASK YOU TODAY TO MAKE SUCH A CHOICE, PUT THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION DEVELOPED BY THE CITY'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON THE AGENDA AND COMMIT TO JOINING THE 70 OTHER AMERICAN CITIES WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, MORE THAN A HUNDRED STUDENTS AND ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, PEPPER SPRAYED OR BEATEN FOR THE HEINOUS ACT OF HANGING OUT ON THE SOUTH MALL LAWN, HOLDING A FEW SIGNS TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ATROCITIES HAPPENING IN PALESTINE AND HOW THEY CAN HELP A MODEL OF PEACEFUL PROTEST.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, THESE ACTIONS BY A-P-D-U-T-P-D AND DPS FILL ME WITH A MIXTURE OF RAGE AT THE VIOLENCE INFLICTED UPON THESE KIDS, SADNESS ABOUT THE EXAMPLE WE'RE SETTING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH AND FREE ASSEMBLY IN THIS CITY AND EVERY OTHER PLACE WHERE THE SAME SCENE IS PLAYED OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
I'M FILLED WITH LOVE AND ADMIRATION FOR THESE BRAVE ACTIONS STANDING UP FOR THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO YOU PROBABLY WILL NEVER MEET UNDER.
THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST NOBLE AND COURAGEOUS THINGS A PERSON CAN DO.
THESE KIDS ARE DOING WHAT COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MONTHS, ANYTHING WITHIN THEIR POWER TO BRING AN END TO THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
LIKE IT OR NOT, THE DEMAND FOR AN END TO THIS GENOCIDE HAS BECOME A LOCAL ISSUE BY VIRTUE OF THESE EVENTS.
AND IF BEARING WITNESS TO THESE STUDENTS', CONVICTION AND SUFFERING DOESN'T CONVINCE YOU OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY HERE, CONSIDER THE PRAGMATIC ANGLE.
IS THIS HOW WE WANNA USE OUR CITY RESOURCES AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS? BRUTALIZING A BUNCH OF HARMLESS COLLEGE KIDS.
WE'VE BEEN COMING BEFORE YOU IN THIS CHAMBER SINCE NOVEMBER, 2023, AND IN ATTEMPTS TO GET THE HRCS CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION PUT ON THE AGENDA AND PASSED BY COUNCIL IN THESE MONTHS, INDEED IN THIS VERY CHAMBER, I'VE WITNESSED THE INCREDIBLE PAIN, SADNESS, AND ANGER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE HAD TO BEAR WHILE THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN RUTHLESSLY SYSTEMICALLY DISPLACED AND EXTERMINATED.
LIKE ALL OF YOU, I'VE SEEN THE SAME PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF CHILDREN BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE, HANDS OUT, STRETCHED FOR HELP THAT WILL NEVER COME.
MOTHERS CLUTCHING THEIR BABIES AS THEY PICK THROUGH THE RUBBLE OF THEIR BURNT DOWN HOMES.
COUNTLESS HUMAN BEINGS CRYING OUT IN THE ANGUISH OF STARVATION AND GRIEVOUS INJURY FACES COVERED IN TEARS AND BLOOD.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO STAND WITH THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORT AN END TO THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE.
FLIP PALESTINIANS HERE AND ABROAD KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
IF YOU ARE UNMOVED BY THE PROSPECT OF STANDING UP AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO CONSIDER THE PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE.
ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF ALL REGISTERED VOTERS SUPPORT A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND DEESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN GAZA.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE REMEMBERED AS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
DON'T LET YOUR COMMUNITY DOWN.
FREE PALESTINE TRANS RIGHTS NOW.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:10 PM IT IS 12:34 PM WE ARE IN RECESS.
[Live Music Chief Cleopatra]
JESSE.UH, SHE'S AN AUSTIN, TEXAS BASED SOUL ROCK MUSICIAN AND SONGWRITER.
ORIGINALLY FROM THE BIG CITY OF CORSA CAN OF TEXAS
UH, SHE BEGAN HER CAREER HERE, HER HER MUSICAL JOURNEY AT A VERY EARLY AGE.
SHE WAS SINGING AND PLAYING SNARE IN HER HIGH SCHOOL'S DRUM LINE AND EVENTUALLY SHE BEGAN TO WRITE HER OWN SONGS.
AFTER BRIEFLY STEPPING AWAY FROM MUSIC,
[02:35:01]
CLEO MOVED TO AUSTIN AND TEAMED UP WITH COLLABORATOR AND GUITARIST LEONARD MARTINEZ TO RELEASE THE ACOUSTIC EP LESS LESSER.OR LISA, LISA, LISA AND LENNY, VOLUME ONE IN FEBRUARY, 2019, KICKING OFF THEIR PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CAREER.
SHE WAS QUICKLY NOTICED BY AND FEATURED IN THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE AND ON KUTX PERFORMING AT THE STATION SHOWED THE BREAKS IN 2019 AND BECOMING THE STATION'S ARTIST OF THE MONTH IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.
SINCE THEN, CLEO HAS REIGNED AS A FIVE TIME SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST OFFICIAL ARTIST SUPPORTED ACTS SUCH AS THE WHALERS GIRL TALK.
DURAN JONES, ADRIAN QUESADA, THE BLACK PUMA BECAME A MEMBER OF THE RECORDING ACADEMY AND RECEIVED A BEST NEW ARTIST NOMINATION BY THE AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS.
HER THIRD EP COLD DANCER IS SLATED FOR RELEASE IN THE SPRING OF 2024.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CHIEF CLEOPATRA.
YOU KNOW, I HOPE THEY DON'T SAY, I HOPE THEY DON'T, I HOPE THEY DON'T.
I HOPE THEY DON'T LIKE MY HEAD IN.
PUSH DOWN, PUSH DOWN AND THEY WON'T STICK AROUND KNEE.
I HOPE THEY DON'T SAY, I HOPE THEY DON'T.
I HOPE THEY DON'T LEAVE YOU LIKE YOU LIKE ME, AND I HOPE THAT ONE DAY YOU WON'T.
[02:40:13]
THANK YOU GUYS.STEP OVER HERE AND LET ME, UH, FEEL FREE FOR BOTH OF YOU TO COME OVER, ALTHOUGH I MESSED THIS UP.
HANG ON A SECOND NOW WE'LL FIX IT IN A MINUTE.
I WANT YOU TO HANG ON TO THAT, HOLD THAT UP AND LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE, WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC THAT'S MADE BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2ND, 2024 AS CHIEF CLEOPATRA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
LET, LET'S, UH, LET'S STEP OVER.
LET'S MOVE THIS MICROPHONE AND WE'LL OVER.
IT'S 1:10 PM ON THURSDAY, MAY 2ND AND I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT AND, UH, WE ARE STILL MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CONSENT
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
AGENDA.AND WE ARE, WE WERE, WHEN WE MOVED ON TO A A TIME CERTAIN ITEM, WE WERE TALK, UH, LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK AGAIN THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE OUR WAY THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 64.
THEY'RE EACH GONNA GET THREE MINUTES.
I'LL CALL SEVERAL NAMES IN A ROW.
WHEN YOU HEAR A NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT AND THEN STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE PODIUM.
ALEX STRINGER, JILL FERRIS, JOAQUIN EVANS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SPEAKING AFTER YOU SO THAT WE CAN GET, GET TO THEIR TESTIMONY AS WELL.
SO, AND IF THE MICROPHONE IS EMPTY, EVEN IF YOUR NAME IS NOT THE FIRST ONE CALLED, FEEL FREE TO STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, BUT JUST SAY YOUR NAME AS YOU BEGIN YOUR SPEAKING AND PLEASE SPEAK.
SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 64 BECAUSE THE STATE IS TRYING TO ERASE MY IDENTITY AS A FEMALE.
AND JUST LIKE MY COMRADES IN PALESTINE, I AM ALSO A VICTIM OF GENOCIDE.
I'M A BEAUTIFUL TRANS WOMAN AND THE STATE IS TRYING TO INVALIDATE MY EXISTENCE BECAUSE GREG ABBOTT IS AN ACTUAL NAZI.
HE EVEN HAD THE NERVE TO SAY THAT WOMEN LIKE ME SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO TEACH CHILDREN IN A ISD.
I AM A DRAG QUEEN AND A TRANS SEX WORKER.
AND I HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A RIGHT TO TEACH KINDERGARTEN AS ANYBODY ELSE, KIRK, BECAUSE I'M A ROLE MODEL FOR CHILDREN AND MORE PEOPLE SHOULD GROW UP TO BE JUST LIKE ME.
AND, AND WE'VE BEEN BRAINWASHED BY THE PATRIARCHY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PEAK FEMININITY LOOKS LIKE.
I AM JUST AS MUCH OF A WOMAN AS EVERY SINGLE FEMALE.
YOU DON'T, YOU RARELY COME DOWN HERE TO PROVIDE ANYTHING SERIOUS.
MY IDENTITY IS BEING THREATENED BY FASCISM.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BECAUSE MY, PLEASE, PLEASE, IDENTITY AS A WOMAN IS JUST AS VALID.
AND I'M JUST AS MUCH OF A WOMAN AS EVERY SINGLE FEMALE ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND HONESTLY, AFTER THIS OUTBURST AGAINST ME, KIRK, I WOULD FEEL SAFER MOVING TO THE GAZA STRIP BECAUSE TEXAS IS A FASCIST HELLSCAPE AND AT LEAST HAMAS WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SAFE AND ACCEPTED BECAUSE THEY ARE FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND BESIDES THEY THROW THE BEST ROOFTOP PARTIES FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
FREE PALESTINE, ARE YOU DONE? I I AM DONE NOW.
BUT I'LL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, RIGHT? I'LL NOT BE ERASED.
[02:45:01]
WOMAN JILL, JILL FERRIS, JOAQUIN EVANS, BRIDGET BANDIT.PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
IF YOUR, IF YOUR NAME, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TOWARD THE FRONT.
AND PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR.
UM, MY WIFE AND I PASTOR A CHURCH IN, UH, SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, DISTRICT TWO, UH, 800, UH, CONGREGANTS.
SO I REPRESENT THE VOICE OF MANY, NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT I'M IN OPPOSITION OF AGENDA ITEM 64.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MORAL, UH, ISSUE AND AGENDA HERE, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO SHOUT THAT AT THIS TIME.
UM, I'D LOVE TO HAVE, UH, CIVIL DISCOURSE WITH ANYONE WHO WOULD, UH, LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH ME, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CIVIL, UM, AND LEGAL, UH, ISSUE AT PLAY AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR SOCIAL CONSCIENCE OF HOW WE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IS THE REAL ISSUE HERE.
AND WHILE I BELIEVE THAT ADULTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD LEGAL PRECEDENCE IN PLACE TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE 18 TO VOTE, TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE, UH, EVEN TO GET A TATTOO OR SIMPLY A BODY PIERCING.
AND WHILE PARENTAL CONSENT CAN CHANGE SOME OF THAT ON A MINOR LEVEL, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE ABILITY TO VOTE TO DRINK ALCOHOL OR TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE.
AND THESE LAWS ARE IN PLACE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT MINORS ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO HAVE POTENTIALLY LIFE ALTERING DECISIONS PLACED ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
AND WE PROTECT THEM AS A SOCIETY AS WE SHOULD, AND IT'S OUR PLACE TO DO SO.
AGAIN, AS ADULTS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AGAIN, I HAVE GENUINE LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT MINORS SHOULD NOT BE PLACED WITH A RESPONSIBILITY AS PEOPLE HAVE TESTIFIED HERE TODAY.
NOT EVERYONE WHO UNDERGOES, UH, GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT OR ALTERATIONS ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR TREATMENT OR ULTIMATELY HAPPY WITH THAT DECISION AS AGAIN, HAS BEEN TESTIFIED HERE TODAY.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT MINORS IN THEIR MOST VULNERABLE AND FORMATIVE STATES, ADULTS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT MINORS SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT DECISION LEVIED UPON THEM.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT AND I PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU FOR CLARITY AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS.
MY NAME IS BRIDGET BANDE AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64.
I AM A LOCAL DRAG PERFORMER, NON-BINARY PERSON AND LIFELONG TEXAN IN AUSTINITE.
I'VE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT SIX AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING YEAR TO BE OPENLY QUEER HERE IN MY HOMETOWN, ESPECIALLY AS A DRAG QUEEN.
DUE TO THE MISINFORMATION SPREAD BY FAR RIGHT HATE GROUPS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT OF IN THIS MEETING TODAY, WE SEE THE EFFECTS OF THEIR BLATANT LIES AND DECEIT IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS LED TO THE NEED FOR THIS MEASURE WE HAVE BEFORE US TO HELP PROTECT OUR LOCAL TRANS COMMUNITY.
GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE IS LIFESAVING.
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
TRANS KIDS DESERVE TO GROW INTO HEALTHY ADULTS.
TRANS PEOPLE NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY THEIR COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. WE SHOULD TRUST SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS AND PARENTS TO MAKE THE CORRECT HEALTHCARE DECISIONS FOR OUR YOUTH.
AND WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COMBAT THE INCREASING HATEFUL ATTACKS OF OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.
THE STATE OF TEXAS MAY LET US DOWN, BUT I BELIEVE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAVE THE WAY IN LEADING TEXAS INTO A MORE PROGRESSIVE INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR ALL THANK Y'ALL.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME ON DOWN TOWARDS THE FRONT AND THEN JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE GO AHEAD MA'AM.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS ANN ELDER AND I AM IN FAVOR OF, UH, RESOLUTION
[02:50:01]
64.I HAVE A TRANSGENDER SON AND ALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, HE IS GOING TO BE ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THIS COMING FALL.
HE AND SEVERAL OF HIS FRIENDS WHO ARE ALSO TRANSGENDER OR NON-BINARY WILL BE ATTENDING U OF UM, UT SINCE MY CHILD CAME OUT WHEN HE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, I HAVE BEEN TO THE CAPITOL EVERY SINGLE LEGISLATIVE YEAR, MULTIPLE TIMES TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE ANTI LGBT UH, LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED AND IT HAS BEEN A HARD JOURNEY.
IT HAS STRESSED ME, MY FAMILY, MY SON, UM, AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET BY AND BE A SUPPORTIVE PARENT.
SO WHAT I AM HERE TO DO IS TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE PASS RESOLUTION 64 AND SO THAT AUSTIN CAN STAY WEIRD AND NOT BECOME CRUEL.
HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS MADDIE WATKINS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST PROP 64.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN AND WHILE GROWING, GROWING UP HERE FROM THE MOMENT I STARTED PUBERTY, I FELT THE WEIGHT OF MALE ENTITLEMENT TO MY BODY.
BOYS AND GROWN MEN BELIEVE THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO SEE, COMMENT ON AND TOUCH MY BODY AS THEY WOULD.
AS THE WORLD AROUND ME REACTED TO MY BODY, I HAD A DESPERATE NEED TO TRY AND CONTROL THAT REACTION.
I RESORTED TO BINDING MY CHEST, CUTTING MY HAIR, WEARING MALE CLOTHES, TAKING ON A MALE NAME, AND EVEN CONSIDERED DRASTIC SURGICAL MEASURES.
ALL TO EVADE THE ALL TO EVADE THE RELENTLESS SCRUTINY AND EXPECTATIONS OF MEN.
I WAS A, I WAS, IT WAS A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO RECLAIM AGENCY IN A WORLD THAT BASED MY WORTH ON MY APPEARANCE AND COMPLIANCE.
WHEN I EXPERIENCED WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS GENDER DYSPHORIA, THE CONCEPT WAS NOT PART OF THE ADOLESCENT ZEITGEIST.
BY THE TIME IT HAD BECOME POPULAR, I WAS A MOTHER BREASTFEEDING A NEWBORN, AND THOSE FEELINGS, FEARS, AND HATRED OF MY BODY WERE THE FURTHEST FROM MY MIND.
IT TAKES TIME TO REALIZE THE PROBLEM ISN'T YOU, THAT IT ISN'T YOUR BODY.
WHAT I WAS FEELING IN MY TEENS WAS A REACTION TO MY OBSERVATIONS BEING FEMALE FELT LIMITING SO AND SO AND I WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MALE ATTENTION.
TO ME, THE SIMPLEST EXPLANATION WAS THAT MY BODY WAS THE PROBLEM, THAT MY BODY WAS IN THE WAY HOLDING MY FIRSTBORN SON TAUGHT ME THAT MY BODY IS PRETTY AMAZING.
THIS PROP TELLS YOUNG KIDS THAT THEIR DISTRESS AND THEIR OBSERVATION OF GENDER ROLES IS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT YOU ARE TELLING THEM THAT THEIR REACTIONARY EMOTIONS TO A WORLD THAT THEY ARE JUST STARTING TO SEE DEFINES THEM.
WHEN THESE KIDS WAKE UP IN THEIR MID TWENTIES WITH REGRETS AND REALIZE, I WAS JUST A KID, WILL THEY FIND YOUR NAME ALONG THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO PUT THEM ON AND REINFORCE THIS PATH? WHEN A WOMAN WHO REMOVED HER BREAST BEFORE SHE COULD EVEN IMAGINE HAVING CHILDREN FINDS HERSELF HOLDING A NEWBORN TO HER CHEST, UNABLE TO FEED OR EVEN TRY TO FEED THEM, WILL YOU FEEL THAT PAIN? WHO PAYS THE PRICE WHEN YOU LOOK AWAY? WE KNOW DETRANSITION LAWSUITS HAVE BEGUN AROUND THE WORLD.
WHO WILL PAY WHEN THESE CHILDREN HOLD THE CITY LIABLE FOR NOT PROVIDING ITS CITIZENS EQUAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW, YOU OR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN? OVERWHELMINGLY, THE NATURAL COURSE OF GENDER DYSPHORIA IN ADOLESCENCE IS DESISTENCE.
THEY GROW UP, FIND CONTEXT AND RESILIENCE.
I DID AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAD THE TIME TO REALIZE THAT I LOVE BEING A WOMAN AND A MOTHER.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE GOOGLE THE CS REPORT, WHICH WAS RECENTLY RELEASED IN THE UK, WHO ARE NOW COMPLETELY WALKING BACK THEIR PRACTICE OF MEDICAL TRANSITION FOR CHILDREN, HAVING FOUND THAT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE BASE TO SUPPORT ITS SAFETY OR EFFICACY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS PULLING BACK ON PRACTICES THAT PERMANENTLY HARM KIDS.
DOES THE CITY OF AUSTIN REALLY WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN FIX YOUR ROADS? THANK YOU.
JILL FERRIS, ASHLEY WILSON, CHLOE WILKINSON, DENISE SABER, JESSICA COHEN.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK TODAY ON ITEM 64 ABOUT WHAT RELIGION DICTATES IS APPROPRIATE FOR US.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CASE, A DIFFERENT LENS THROUGH WHICH WE CAN VIEW THE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
[02:55:01]
BUT I AM ALSO JEWISH AND I'M PROUD OF MY RELIGION.I BELIEVE THAT MY RELIGION TEACHES ME THAT I WAS BUILT IN GOD'S IMAGE AND THAT TRANSNESS IS A PART OF MY DIVINE SPARK.
LIKE LEIA'S CHILD, DIANA, WHO SHE PRAYED FOR TO BE A GIRL SO THAT HER SISTER RACHEL COULD HAVE A SECOND BOY IS AN IMAGE OF TRANSNESS THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS.
AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT WE ARE NOT FLAWED HUMANS, BUT THAT TRANSNESS IS A PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
IT IS A DIVINE SPARK JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
AND THE UNIQUENESS IS AN EMBODIMENT OF THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS, AND I REALLY, REALLY AM PRAYING THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE YES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CARE FOR OUR FELLOW HUMAN 'CAUSE.
WE TOO, WERE ONE STRANGERS IN A FOREIGN LAND.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE FREEDOM TO BE HEARD TODAY BECAUSE WHAT ALL OF YOU DO HERE TODAY AFFECTS WHERE I LIVE.
YOU ALL THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THE BREAKING OF LAW BY NOT UPHOLDING THE LAW THAT AFFECTS ALL TEXANS BECAUSE NOW ALL CAN PICK WHAT LAWS THEY FOLLOW OR DON'T FOLLOW.
I CALL THAT LAWLESSNESS AND NOBODY IS ABOVE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
NOBODY ESPECIALLY CHOOSING NOT TO PROTECT MINORS FROM IRREVERSIBLE PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THEIR BODIES.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT.
BILL PROTECTS A CHILD, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE.
IT PROHIBITS PROVISION OF GENDER TRANSITIONING OR GENDER REASSIGNMENT PROCEDURES AND TREATMENTS TO CERTAIN CHILDREN BY NOT PERFORMING A SURGERY THAT STERILIZES THE CHILD OR PROVIDES ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT INDUCE TRANSIENT OR PERMANENT, PERMANENT INFERTILITY SUCH AS PUBERTY SUPPRESSION OR BLOCKING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
TO STOP THE DELAY OF NORMAL PUBERTY, GOD CREATED US MALE AND FEMALE.
REMEMBER ALL OF COVID WE WERE TOLD TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.
SEX IS IMMUTABLE, NOT CHANGEABLE.
IMMUTABLE IN THE DICTIONARY SAYS UNCHANGING OVER TIME AND UNABLE TO BE CHANGED.
THESE DRUGS AND UNNECESSARY SURGERIES MUTILATE AND MAY PERMANENTLY DAMAGE OR ALTER A CHILD'S NORMAL PUBERTY OR BODY DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE IRREVERSIBLE EFFECTS ON THAT CHILD FOR THEIR LIFE AND HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PHYSICALLY.
A CHILD'S MIND CANNOT COMPREHEND THE LIFELONG DAMAGE TRANSITIONING HAS ON THEM.
GENESIS 1 27, AND GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED HIM.
MALE AND FEMALE, HE CREATED THEM.
WE CANNOT RECREATE OUR SEX THROUGH SURGERIES OR DRUGS.
TRANSITIONING IS THE LIE YOU TELL THE CHILDREN, I ADVOCATE TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
THESE PROCEDURES ON A CHILD ARE DEVASTATING FOR LIFE.
DO NO HARM UPHOLD SB 14, STOP THE GENDER AGENDA.
I'M AGAINST THE RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE USE OF CITY RESOURCES FOR REGULATION OF GENDER RELATED HEALTHCARE.
YOU'RE MAKING LIFE CHOICES, NOT JUST LIFESTYLE CHOICES, BUT QUALITY OF LIFE CHOICES FOR CHILDREN.
JESSICA COHEN, MORGAN DAVIS, LEONARDO GARCIA.
WHEN YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN AND IF THERE'S NO ONE AT THE PODIUM, FEEL FREE TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOU CAN BEGIN.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF KNOWING YOU, MANY OF YOU AS MY FRIEND AND COUNCILWOMAN POOL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR NOMINATING ME TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
[03:00:01]
THE VERY COMMISSION THAT VOTED.PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I'M NERVOUS.
MY STORY GOES BACK TO I WAS A INVESTIGATOR FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
I WAS ASKED TO GO INTO A HOME AFTER IT WAS GOVERNOR ABBOTT SENT HIS LETTER ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
I LOVED MY JOB, I LOVED WHAT I DID, AND I TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
I CAN TELL YOU AS AN INVESTIGATOR, EVERYBODY WOULD TALK TO ME.
DELL CHILDREN'S, A MA, EVERYBODY WOULD TALK TO ME AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME EXACT THING.
THEY SAID, THE ONLY CHILD ABUSE WOULD'VE OCCURRED IF A PARENT HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO THIS.
I PROMISE YOU THE INVESTIGATION WE'VE DONE BY THE BOOK.
I TALKED TO EVERYBODY, EVEN TESTIFYING GOOD PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT MORALLY CONTINUE.
I SAID, I HAD ONE OF MY SUPERVISORS 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ASKED HER WHY SHE, WHY SHE CAME FORWARD AND SHE JUST HAD A BABY BOY.
AND SHE SAID, SOMEDAY I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK HIM IN THE FACE.
BY THE END, WE LOST 50% OF OUR PERSONNEL BECAUSE THEN COULD NOT MORALLY CONTINUE THE SAME.
PLEASE EXCUSE ME, THESE ARE GOOD PARENTS.
THE FACTS THAT WE KNOW NOT A SINGLE SURGERY HAS BEEN PERFORMED IN A CHILD DID TRANSITION THOUGH NOT A SINGLE SURGERY.
EVERYBODY HERE TODAY, I CAN TELL YOU HAS VOTED CAN YOU, IMA CALL YOU.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT THE TEXAS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS BOARD OF MEDICINE CAME FORWARD AND WE CALLED HIM BRAVE.
HE WAS BECAUSE HE SAID, THIS IS SAFE.
I HAVE SEEN IT BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
I GOLLY, I DON'T KNOW THE ALL THE, BUT I'VE SEEN IT BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WHAT IT DOES, THIS SAVES LIVES.
I TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
PLEASE HELP ME KEEP THAT OATH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
LEONARDO GARCIA, DEBBIE LUMAN, CECILIA WOOD, PLEASE READ THOSE NAMES AGAIN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST GO STRAIGHT UP TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE JUST GO TO THE PODIUM.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD.
GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN, IN AN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
MALE AND FEMALE, HE CREATED THEM.
IF ANYONE CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES, THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO STUMBLE, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THEM TO HAVE A LARGE MILLSTONE HUNG AROUND THEIR NECK AND TO BE DROWNED IN THE DEPTHS OF THE CE.
SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DESPISE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES FOR I TELL YOU THAT THEIR ANGELS IN HEAVEN ALWAYS SEE THE FACE OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 1810, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.
HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH, HE, HE THAT BELIEVETH IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION THAT LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD AND MEN HAVE LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.
JOHN THREE 16 THROUGH 19, I HOPE YOU MAKE A RIGHTEOUS DECISION.
LEONARDO GARCIA, CECILIA WOOD, MARISSA LANA CON, SARAH NEWMAN, SPARKLE WILLIAMS, DANIEL SKIDMORE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS GLENN AND SUE
[03:05:01]
WILLIAMS. THAT HAS ONLY BEEN MY LEGAL NAME SINCE DECEMBER OF 2023.MY ORIGINAL NAME WAS GLENN HIGBY WILLIAMS. I'M A LICENSED ATTORNEY SINCE 1976.
NOVEMBER 1ST AS A CISGENDERED PRESENTING AS A CISGENDERED MALE ATTORNEY.
I WAS A REGIONAL ATTORNEY FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR 28 YEARS.
DURING THAT TIME, I SAW DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS, THAT WE WERE DOING A TERRIBLE JOB TAKING CARE OF TRANS INDIVIDUALS.
IN FACT, WE HAD TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE BOTH TRANS IN THE YEAR OF 2017 WHO WERE IN, WERE IN THE CPS TERMINOLOGY, CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT.
THIS MEANT THEY WERE GUARDED BY CASEWORKERS IN A HOTEL ROOM.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
THEY WERE THERE FOR 60 DAYS FOR NO FAULT OTHER THAN THEY WOULD BE TRUE TO THEIR AGENDA.
IN 2017, I LEFT CPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE, SENATE DISTRICT FIVE, HOPING TO, TO CREATE A MORE RESPONSIVE AND MORE, MORE RESPONSIBLE AGENCY BY HAVING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I FAILED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION AND BECAME A, UH, PRIVATE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CHILDREN IN PARENTS IN CPS CASES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SITUATION HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
THERE WAS A TEXAS TRIBUNE ARTICLE WHICH TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN LE UH, LEFT CARE TRANS ISOLATED WITHOUT FAMILY, VERY OFTEN WITHOUT FRIENDS, OFTEN UNEMPLOYABLE.
IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONCEIVE, BUT IT IS THE CASE THAT THIS VERY AGENCY IN THIS STATE WHICH TREATS TRANS CHILDREN SO POORLY.
AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT TRANS CHILDREN, I THINK NONE OF US WANT TO SEE PEOPLE TREATED CRUELLY AND INHUMANELY.
BUT THAT SAME STATE THAT WOULD TREAT THESE CHILDREN SO, SO TERRIBLY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROSECUTE SOMEBODY WHO JUST LENT A SYMPATHETIC EAR TO A TRANS CHILD.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT PROPOSITION 64.
IT IS TRUE TO AUSTIN VALUES 1981.
THERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO AMEND THE FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS.
THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN REJECTED THE ARGUMENTS AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY GROSS.
I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO 'EM, BUT THE CONFIDENT REFERENCE TO FAIRIES AND FAGGOTS AND HOW THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE HERE IN AUSTIN.
THEY CAN GO BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO, BUT WE ROSE AS A COMMUNITY AND VOTED 63 TO 37% TO REJECT THAT AMENDMENT.
DANIELLE SKIDMORE, CECILIA WOOD, MARISSA LANCON, SARAH NEWMAN, MAYOR COUNSEL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64.
WE CHAN TRANSGENDER TEXANS LIVE IN A STATE WHERE SADLY, THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AT THE CAPITOL HAS MADE IT THEIR PRIORITY TO ELIMINATE US FROM PUBLIC LIFE.
IT IS LITERALLY IN THEIR PARTY PLATFORM.
THE PLATFORM ITEM STATES WE OPPOSE ALL EFFORTS TO VALIDATE TRANSGENDER IDENTITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ACTUAL TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.
I AM PROUD TO CALL AUSTIN HOME.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT EASY.
DEVY BENJ, CHRISTIAN AGUIAR, CHARLES SOTO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN AGUIRE AND I AM THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE L-G-B-T-Q QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT TODAY.
STAND BEFORE YOU AND MY PERSONAL CAPACITY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 64, THE RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF GENDER RELATED HEALTHCARE.
AS AN AUSTINITE AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE TO ACCESS AN INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE FOR
[03:10:01]
ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF GENDER IDENTITY.GROWING UP QUEER AND UNDOCUMENTED, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND HOW POLICY OR LACK THEREOF AT CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS CAN DEPRIVE OUR COMMUNITIES OF ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
YES, AS A CHILD, I OFTEN CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE BECAUSE OF THE HOMOPHOBIA TRANSPHOBIA THAT EXISTED AND STILL EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU, CO-DEVELOPED WITH OUR TRANS COMMUNITY, ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY AND INCLUSION, ENSURING ACCESSIBLE AND SUPPORTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
IT ALSO SETS A POWERFUL PRECEDENT BY AFFIRMING THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
TODAY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 64 TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64.
I'M A TRANS WOMAN LIVING IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M A PARENT OF A VIBRANT YOUNG CHILD.
BEING A TRANS MOTHER DID NOT MAKE MY CHILD TRANSGENDER.
THEY ARE, HOWEVER, SOMETHING I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN.
SHE BELIEVES IN GOD AND IN JESUS CHRIST.
THIS INFLUENCE DID NOT COME WITHIN MY HOME, BUT I WELCOME IT ALL THE SAME.
AS A PARENT, IT'S MY JOB TO BUILD MY CHILD NOT IN MY OWN IMAGE, BUT TO GUIDE THEM AS THEY DISCOVER AND BUILD THEMSELVES.
IT'S MY JOB TO SHOW THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN, A FOLLOWER AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS, TO STAND WITH THE POWERLESS AND THE PERSECUTED, THE PEACEMAKERS AND THE HUNGRY.
I TEACH HER THAT JESUS STOOD FOR WHAT WE NEED HERE TODAY.
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ATTEMPTS TO HYPOTHETICALLY PROTECT CHILDREN FROM GENDER AFFIRMING CARE ACKNOWLEDGES THE HARM OF GENDER DYSPHORIA.
BUT IS IT IS ONLY A CONCERN FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT TRANSGENDER.
THEY ALL ALONE DESERVE PROTECTION FROM EXPERIENCING IT.
AND AT THE COST OF TRANSGENDER TEXANS FOR WHOM DYSPHORIA COMES FROM WITHIN, IT IS VERY REAL AND EXISTS FROM AN EARLY AGE.
IT'S UP TO PARENTS, CHILDREN, THEIR PHYSICIANS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE.
SURGERIES ARE NOT HAPPENING ON YOUNG CHILDREN.
THE TYPE OF TRANSITION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FOR KIDS IS SIMPLY CHANGING A NAME, CLOTHES OR PRONOUNS.
PUBE BLOCKERS MAY ALSO BE PRESCRIBED, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS DESIRED AND THEY'RE REVERSIBLE.
IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLACE TO DETERMINE INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICAL TREATMENT, WHAT A PERSON WEARS, WHAT A PERSON CALLS THEMSELVES, OR HOW THEY ALLOWED TO RELATE TO THEMSELVES.
IT MUST BE DISREGARDED AND THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR DOING SO ALL AROUND US RIGHT NOW.
IN PARTS OF TEXAS, IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRINK BEER WHILE STANDING UP.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL CERTAIN KINDS OF OF CHEESES ON SUNDAY.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK BAREFOOT IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A PERMIT.
LIKEWISE, THERE ARE LARGE PORTIONS OF THE BIBLE, WHICH WE IGNORE.
WE NO LONGER SACRIFICE ANIMALS.
WE DO NOT STONE PEOPLE TO DEATH.
WE DO NOT SELL OUR DAUGHTERS INTO SLAVERY.
SB 14 SHOULD BE IGNORED AS EQUALLY UNSERIOUS AND HARMFUL PUSH DISHONESTLY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.
MAKING AUSTIN A SANCTUARY CITY WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
IT'LL KEEP TOGETHER TEXAS'S MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES.
THE CITY MUST UPHOLD ITS LEGACY AS A WELCOMING REFUGE TO VULNERABLE TEXANS FROM THE WIDESPREAD INTOLERANCE AND JUDGMENT FELT ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF, UH, RESOLUTION 64.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 35 YEARS.
UM, WHILE I WASN'T BORN HERE, UH, I AM RAISING A FAMILY HERE AND I FIRST WANT TO THANK, UH, THE, THE EMPLOYEES AND, UH, OUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY AND ALSO, UH, REALLY THANK THE TRAVIS COUNTY, PARTICULARLY THE COURT, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT THEY'VE SHOWN FAMILIES.
UH, IT'S DIFFICULT ENOUGH RAISING A FAMILY.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH, UH, THE THROW ON TOP OF THAT, ALL OF THE LIES AND HATE THAT ARE, THAT ARE SPREAD, UM, TO SOME OF US.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I BRINGING IN MY FAITH, MY DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS.
I'M A POST MINISTER AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, ANY COMMANDMENTS, BUT WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE'D REALLY WISH YOU WOULDN'T.
AND IT BASICALLY BOILS DOWN TO TRY TO BE LESS OF A JERK.
AND, UM, THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER WOULD 100% AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS RESOLUTION.
IT, UM, GET, AND IT ULTIMATELY GETS THE RESOLUTION, UH, THAT WE CAN ALL STAND BY, WHICH IS BE NICE TO EACH OTHER, LOVE EACH OTHER.
UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TURN FOR A MINUTE TO, TO ADDRESS THE, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO I WANNA SAY, UH, IF YOU'RE RAISING A FAMILY LIKE
[03:15:01]
I AM, IF YOU ARE, YOU'VE BEEN ATTACKED BY THE HATE LONGER, SOME OF WHICH ARE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US.WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS AND WE WILL DEFEND YOU WITH EVERY OUNCE OF OUR STRENGTH.
STEVIE DEBE ACHE OR AK CHLOE GOODMAN.
I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, I'M THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES MANAGER FOR QUALITY TEXAS, AN LMSW.
AND I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
AND CONTRARY TO, I GUESS, POPULAR BELIEF, UM, I'M NEITHER RELIGIOUS, NOR DO I HATE MYSELF, AND I'M NOT SORRY FOR EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, THE RESOLUTION ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE BECAUSE QUEER TEXANS ARE LIVING IN A STATE THAT IS TRYING TO ERADICATE US BY DENYING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, RIPPING TRANS KIDS FROM THEIR FAMILIES CENSORSHIP IN SCHOOLS.
AND NOW ABBOTT'S PROPOSED BAN ON TRANS PEOPLE BECOMING TEACHERS AND ALSO ERASURE OF OUR CULTURE.
LIKE DRAG STATE OFFICIALS NOW ARE TOO BUSY SQUABBLING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER MINIMUM PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE.
SO FRANKLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT.
THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DEDICATION TO MAKING AUSTIN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE.
AND IT IS A REFUSAL TO TREAT LGBTQ PLUS TEXANS AS POLITICAL PAWNS BECAUSE WE ARE IN FACT JUST PEOPLE AND ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO RISING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.
AND BECAUSE I CONDUCTED INTAKE ON 311 ANTI L-G-B-T-Q, UH, INCIDENTS ACROSS TEXAS IN 2023 FOR REFERENCE.
IN 2022, WE HAD AN AVERAGE OF 12.9 CASES PER MONTH WITH A SPIKE OF 25 CASES DURING PRIDE IN 2023, WE HAD 25.9 CASES PER MONTH ON AVERAGE WITH A SPIKE OF 46 IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS WHEN CHILDREN WERE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND I KEEP HEARING FROM PARENTS OF GENDER EXPANSIVE CHILDREN WHO ARE SCARED BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN KEEP GETTING ATTACKED AND NO ONE WILL HELP.
AND THE TREVOR PROJECT'S 2024 SURVEY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF QUEER YOUTH TELLS US THAT 46% OF GENDER EXPANSIVE YOUTH REPORTED THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED LEAVING THEIR HOME IN ORDER TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION.
I HEAR FROM THESE FAMILIES ALL THE TIME, REALLY, THIS RESOLUTION, YOUR DECISION, YOUR VOTE, THIS IS ALL WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMETOWNS AND KEEP PEOPLE FEELING SAFE.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL PASS THE RESOLUTION TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.
I AM A PROUD TRANS WOMAN LOCAL DRAG ENTERTAINER AND A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
I AM HERE TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 64.
I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF DISSENTING COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE, SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANS YOUTH.
AND WHILE I AM HERE TO TODAY, I WANT TO SET A REMINDER THAT WE LIVE IN A SECULAR NATION WITH A SECULAR GOVERNMENT, RELIGION, AND BIBLE VERSES SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON YOUR DECISION HERE TODAY.
I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION TO THE PUBLIC HERE WITH ME, WHO GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE ENTIRETY OF A COMMUNITY THAT A MAJORITY OF YOU ARE NOT EVEN A PART OF? I'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS TODAY SPEAKING ON HOW OUR CHILDREN AREN'T DEVELOPED ENOUGH MENTALLY TO MAKE MEDICAL
[03:20:01]
DECISIONS THAT CAN HAVE PERMANENT EFFECTS.FIRST OF ALL, TRANS KIDS ARE NOT GETTING SURGERIES.
THEY ARE NOT CHOPPING OFF BODY PARTS OR GETTING IMPLANTS AT AGE 13 WITH THE EFFECT OF SENATE BILL 14 IN TEXAS.
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PERSONAL FRIENDS, SOME OF WHO ARE PARENTS, OF TRANS KIDS HAVING TO FLEE THIS STATE IN SEARCH OF SAFETY.
NOW, I HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT US BEING PROUD TEXANS, ALL OF US HERE TODAY.
YET HERE WE ARE FORCING OUR OWN CITIZENS OUT OF THE STATE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SPREAD FEAR ABOUT TRANS HEALTHCARE.
IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT KIDS IN TEXAS, LET THE PARENTS OF THESE KIDS BE THE ONES TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
LET AUSTIN BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR MY COMMUNITY.
HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS JESSICA COHEN.
I THINK MOST Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW ME TODAY.
I AM SPEAKING AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S L-G-B-T-Q CAUCUS.
THIS MORNING OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MET AND WE WANTED TO GO ON THE RECORD AS SAYING WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
I, MYSELF, AS A TRANS WOMAN, HAVING SERVED ON CITY BOARDS FOR FIVE YEARS AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS, I I WANTED TO BRIEFLY, UH, TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO MENTION HERE.
ONE, A LOT OF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN TALKING TO Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES OVER THE PAST 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 YEARS.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU I HAVE BEEN TRANS FOR MORE THAN THAT.
I'VE BEEN TRANS FOR 30 AND NONE OF THEM KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MY LIVED EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME TO THE PEOPLE I'VE MET WHO HAVE BECOME TRANSITIONED OR WHO HAVE CONSIDERED TRANSITIONED THAT MOST OF THE TIME, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ACTUAL REAL NUMBER TO IT, BUT AT LEAST 95% OF THE TIME FROM THE FOLKS I'VE MET, NO ONE REGRETS IT.
THE ONE REGRET I DO HEAR MORE OFTEN THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF 25 SAYING, I WISH I HAD STARTED SOONER.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY, PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING NOW SO THAT OTHERS DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT REGRET AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SUSAN SPATARO, SKYLAR, CORGI, TEXAS, LAMAR, PERLA, HOPKINS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF REALLY COMPELLING TESTIMONY TODAY, AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND CAN'T TESTIFY TO THAT.
WHAT I, WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS MORE AND MORE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO GO AROUND THE LAW.
AND I THINK IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WHEN YOU ALL TOOK OFFICE, YOU, YOU SWORE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE LAWS IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.
YOU SWORE TO IT, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN, WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST KIND OF A COOL THING.
AND THEN YOU GO AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T LIKE THE LAWS INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE STATE.
AND THERE, WHEN I WAS THE AUDITOR, I DIDN'T LIKE SOME OF THE LAWS EITHER, TO BE HONEST.
AND I WENT TO THE STATE AND TRIED TO GET THEM CHANGED.
SOME WERE CHANGED, SOME WERE NOT.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO, TO JUST DECIDE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAWS FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND WE'RE SEEING A REAL FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE CITIZENS HAVE TO GATHER MONEY TO HIRE LAWYERS TO SUE THEIR GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.
AND THEN FURTHERMORE, THE GOVERNMENT IS CHARGING CITIZENS FOR LAWYERS TO FIGHT AGAINST THEM.
AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I MEAN THE BASIS OF GOVERNMENT ARE LAWS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE PUBLIC MONEY, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE LAW WITH THE EXPENDITURE OF THAT MONEY.
AND I THINK THIS IS A CLEVER WAY, AGAIN, TO ESCAPE THE LAW.
IF YOU, EVERYONE ALWAYS LIKES TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.
I I'VE TESTIFIED THERE A LOT OF TIMES, AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IT MANY OF THEM ARE TIRED OF US.
[03:25:01]
SESSION BEFORE LAST, I WAS TESTIFYING ON AN ISSUE WITH TWO OTHER WOMEN FROM AUSTIN, AND THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME TURNS OUT, ARE YOU FROM AUSTIN? AND WE SAID, YEAH.AND THEY GO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO SICK OF YOU PEOPLE.
ALL YOU DO IS MESS UP STUFF AND THEN WE HAVE TO PAY MONEY.
WE GOTTA COME UP HERE AND CHANGE THINGS.
IT'S NOT GOOD TO, TO NOT HAVE OTHERS IN THE STATE SUPPORT OR LOOK POSITIVELY ON AUSTIN, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IT, UH, RECENTLY, BUT THE INDEPENDENT CAME OUT.
UH, IT'S A NEWSLETTER, UM, BY DARRELL SLUSHER WHO WAS A COUNCIL PERSON.
AND THERE'S A LONG LIST OF WHERE AUSTIN HAS JUST BROKEN THE LAW AND CITIZENS HAD TO SUE AND THE CITY WAS FOUND WRONG.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO KEEP DOING THAT AS A CITIZEN, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE LAW.
I WANT YOU TO OBEY THE LAW, SPEND THE MONEY IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAW, GO TO THE LEGISLATURE.
SO I VERY STRONGLY THINK THAT YOU SHOULD VOTE NO.
AND, AND I AM AGAINST, UM, THIS RESOLUTION.
SKYLAR CORGI, TEXAS, LAMAR PERLA HOPKINS.
AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME ON THE PODIUM PLEASE.
UM, I LIVE IN D ONE AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF, UH, ITEM 64.
GIVES AUSTIN THE ABILITY TO LEAD WHERE THE STATE IS NOT ONLY FAILING, BUT VILIFYING OUR RESIDENTS IN TEXAS.
UM, AUSTIN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT AND REASSURE OUR VIBRANT TRANS COMMUNITY, UM, THAT THE HEALTHCARE, UH, AND THE HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THEM, THAT AUSTIN'S A PLACE FOR THEM.
UM, AUSTIN HAS FOR, FOR DECADES, BEEN KNOWN AS AN OASIS FOR THE QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY IN TEXAS, UM, WHERE WE CAN REMAIN CLOSE TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE REMAINING IN THE STATE THAT WE LOVE.
UM, EVEN SOME OF US WILL TRY TO MAKE THE STATE BETTER.
UM, AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF AGENDA ITEM, WE CAN PRE PRESERVE THAT PART OF OUR CUL OF OUR CULTURAL COMMUNITY IDENTITY.
UM, AT A TIME WHEN WHEN TRANS PEOPLE ARE SCARED AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ARE SCARED FOR THEM, PROVIDERS ARE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE SCARED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THEM, UM, WE CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THERE'S RESOLUTION THAT AUSTIN IS THEIR HOME AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT TO OUR, PROTECT THE QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY.
UM, AS, UH, WORKING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WORKING FOR AN AUSTIN DELEGATION, UM, AS PART OF THE DELEGATION HELPING TO PROTECT AUSTIN AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TRYING TO PROTECT AUSTIN, UM, HERE AND ALSO STANDING UP TO THE LEGISLATURE WHERE YOU CAN.
UM, AND NEXT SESSION, WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, IT'S ALREADY NOT LOOKING GOOD, BUT THIS IS A GREAT PROACTIVE STEP THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE, UM, TO PROTECT ALL THE AUTONOMY AND THE FREEDOM OF OUR, OF OUR, UM, CITIZENS TO GET THE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY DESERVE AND BE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE AND DESERVE TO BE.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 64.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, A PROUD AUSTINITE AND OBVIOUSLY A PROUD TEXAN.
THIS IS MY REAL NAME,
THE DEDICATION OF ANY CITY FUNDS OR PERSONNEL TO THE PROSECUTION OF TRANS PEOPLE SEEKING HEALTHCARE IS A GARBAGE USE OF MY TAX DOLLARS.
SINCE MONDAY, THIS CITY HAS EXPERIENCED AN OPIOID OUTBREAK CAUSING ROUGHLY 80 PEOPLE TO OVERDOSE, OVERDOSE, AND FOUR PEOPLE TO DIE.
THIS CITY NEEDS TO DEDICATE OUR RESOURCES TO ACTUAL REAL HEALTH CRISES LIKE THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, NOT TO DECRIMINALIZING LIFE-SAVING CARE.
PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND PROTECT TRANS AUSTINITES AND ESPECIALLY OUR TRANS CHILDREN FROM THE CRUEL POLITICIANS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
BEFORE SHE BEGINS, MEMBERS AND, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UM, WE HAVE A A, AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S SET FOR A TWO O'CLOCK TIME.
CERTAIN, UH, I, I'M SORRY, BUT, BUT WE WE'RE SO FAR INTO THIS.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE, UH, TAKE UP THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, I JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW.
UM, AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL TAKE THAT I, WE WILL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO TO THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, TAKE
[03:30:01]
IT UP, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS PERLA HOPKINS AND I AM SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL MOM AND TEACHER.
AND I HAVE BEEN A TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENT FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AS A TEACHER AND A PARENT OF STUDENTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I AM MORE THAN DEVASTATED BY THE CAUSE THAT THIS GENDER IDEOLOGY AND PUTTING PARTY OVER CHILDREN HAS DONE TO OUR STUDENTS.
IN JULY OF 2022, THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WHEN ASKED IF PORNOGRAPHY WAS BEING ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS IN THE WAY OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND IF INDEED THEY WERE BEING GROOMED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE COMMISSIONER AND I WANT TO QUOTE ADMITTED TO THIS BY STATING, YES, WE HAVE COMPLAINTS THAT WOULD APPEAR TO SUBSTANTIATE PERIODIC INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS PROBLEMS IN THOSE AREAS.
ARGUABLY, WE HAVE REVIEWED IN SOME CASES MATERIALS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THAT WOULD, I THINK THE COMMON CITIZEN WOULD AGREE WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
SO WHEN YOU ARE HEARING FROM PARENTS IN THIS VERY ROOM, WE ARE VOUCHING AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN, MORE THAN 81% OF ALL TEXAS LESSONS ARE BEING TAUGHT BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT WAS SENT TO ME AS THE AGENDA AS A WHOLE BY MEMBERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY.
I TOLD 'EM THAT I WOULD LOOK INTO IT.
AND WHEN I SEE THE TWO MEMBERS AT THE END HERE CHUCKLING AND SMILING ABOUT DURING THE OUTBURSTS, IT CONFIRMS TO ME THAT THIS HAS VERY MUCH TO DO WITH KIDS.
THE AGE 25 WAS BROUGHT UP JUST NOW UNTIL AGE 25.
CHILDREN CAN OR ADULTS CAN START THINKING CRITICALLY, NOT PUTTING THEIR EMOTIONS BEHIND THEM.
THEIR EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DOES NOT DEVELOP UNTIL AGE 25.
SO WE CANNOT BE MAKING CHOICES FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE THOSE ARE CRIMES AGAINST KIDS.
SO TO ELABORATE ON THE SPEAKER THAT SPOKE REMOTELY, IT WILL BE WE HAVE A CULTURAL PROBLEM.
HERE AGAIN, YOU'RE HEARING FROM A PARENT, ALL THE NEGATIVITY CAN BE STOPPED WITH YOUR POLITICS.
OUR ISDS HAVE BECOME A CIRCUS.
THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE BECOME A CIRCUS.
OUR HOUSE GALLERY HAS BECOME A SUR A CIRCUS.
CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON, LYNDON MERRICK, CARRIE SMITH, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND SERVE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF TEXAS HEALTH ACTION.
A COMMUNITY INFORMED NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO CULTURALLY AFFIRMING QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH AN EXPERTISE IN SERVING LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HIV.
TEXAS HEALTH ACTION SUPPORTS PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 64 REGARDING THE USE OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES FOR THE REGULATION OF GENDER RELATED HEALTHCARE.
WE SEE FIRSTHAND THE BENEFITS AND IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES OF TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY ADULTS WHO ACCESS HEALTHCARE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM'S KIND CLINIC AND WATERLOO COUNSELING CENTER EFFORTS TO RESTRICT HEALTHCARE ACCESS TO SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE PURELY AND BLATANTLY DISCRIMINATORY AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF TRANS AND NON-BINARY AUSTINITES HEALTH AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ARE VITAL COMPONENTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
AS A HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION WITH AN EXPERTISE IN SERVING LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HIV, WE SUPPORT AND AFFIRM BEST PRACTICE MEDICAL CARE AS FUNDAMENTAL TO QUALITY OF LIFE.
TEXAS HEALTH ACTION SUPPORTS THE CITY IN ITS APPROACH TO USING ITS LIMITED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF ITS RESIDENTS, WHICH TYPICALLY DOES NOT INCLUDE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING OR PROVIDING LEGALLY AVAILABLE HEALTHCARE.
WE ARE HEARTENED BY THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO LGBTQI
[03:35:01]
PLUS PEOPLE AND AFFIRMING PROVIDERS AND HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.AND HELLO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON.
UM, I'M GONNA GET A LITTLE ANECDOTAL IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS IS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024.
UH, HE IS A LITTLE BROTHER TO ME.
GROWING UP, WE BOTH STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BUT HE HAD THE ADDED WEIGHT OF BEING BORN IN THE WRONG SKIN.
HE RECEIVED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SINCE HE WAS NEARLY 17, AS HIS MOTHER HAD THE RIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF HER SON AND SUPPORTED HIM STARTING HHRT TREATMENT.
THE IMPACT ON HIS LIFE WAS TANGIBLE.
HE HAD NEVER BEEN SO COMFORTABLE IN AT HOME IN HIS BODY, AND IT WAS THE HAPPIEST I'D EVER SEEN HIM
HIS GROWTH WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE IN MY LIFE, AND I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.
IN MAY OF 2023, SENATE BILL 14 PASSED AND IN SEPTEMBER HE LOST ACCESS TO THE CARE HE NEEDED FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE HE TURNED 18.
THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A REALLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT WATCHING HIM LOSE ACCESS TO THE CARE AND THE DOCTORS THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF WAS HEARTBREAKING.
I WISHED AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO STOP THE WEIGHT FALLING BACK ON HIM AGAIN.
UH, I CANNOT BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY KIDS HAVE STRUGGLED AND HOW MANY PARENTS HAVE HAD TO WATCH THEIR KIDS STRUGGLE SINCE THE PAST OF BILL 14.
ITEM 64 IS A GREAT STEP TOWARDS PROTECTING THESE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS' RIGHTS TO CARE FOR THEM ONCE MORE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
CARRIE SMITH ON DECK, SARAH COHEN, AND THEN SD WARNING, YOU MAY, WARNER.
MY NAME IS CARRIE SMITH AND I LIVE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF LAW IS TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US FROM HARM.
AS A SOCIETY, WE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY THE SAME AS ADULTS.
AS SUCH, OUR LAWS DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO CONSENT TO SEX WITH ADULTS, TO DRINKING, TO SMOKING, TO GETTING A TATTOO, TO DRIVING A CAR OR BUYING A GUN.
BUT SOMEHOW IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE ALL COLLECTIVELY LOST OUR MINDS AND DECIDED THAT CHILDREN ARE CAPABLE OF CONSENTING TO STERILIZING THEMSELVES FOR LIFE AND TO HAVING THEIR BREASTS AND GENITALS CUT OFF AND MUTILATED.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ AND LISTEN TO ALL OF THE LEAKED WPATH FILES WHILE THE WHERE THE VERY DOCTORS WHO ARE CHEMICALLY CASTRATING AND GENERALLY MUTILATING CHILDREN ARE CAUGHT ON VIDEO ADMITTING THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY'RE CONSENTING TO.
THE PRESIDENT OF WPATH MARCY BOWERS IS EVEN ON VIDEO ADMITTING THAT 100% OF LITTLE BOYS IN TANNER STAGE TWO, THAT'S AROUND AGE 11, WHO THEY'VE GIVEN PUBERTY BLOCKERS TO ARE NEVER ABLE TO ACHIEVE ORGASM IN ADULTHOOD.
YOU CAN WATCH HER SAY THIS ON CAMERA.
CHEMICALLY CASTRATING, PUBERTY BLOCKERS ARE NOT REVERSIBLE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THE MUTILATED CHILDREN, SOME OF WHOM WERE HERE TODAY.
VOICES OF PEOPLE LIKE CHLOE COLE AND LAYLA JANE, BOTH WHO HAD DOUBLE MASTECTOMIES WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN WHO WERE NOW IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD SUING THE BUTCHERS WHO DID THIS TO THEM WHEN THEY WERE KIDS.
EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY THAT HAS DONE A SYSTEMATIC MEDICAL REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE HAS BANNED THIS BARBARISM AGAINST CHILDREN.
AND WE ARE GONNA FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES LIKE THE UK, NORWAY, SWEDEN, DENMARK, AND FINLAND.
AND WE'RE GONNA BAN IT IN ALL 50 STATES HERE IN THE US THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH FOR DOCTORS SAYS, TO FIRST DO NO HARM.
IT IS A LIE THAT STERILIZING AND MUTILATING CHILDREN DOES NO HARM.
IN THE WORDS OF ALEXANDER SOL NISSEN, LET THE LIE COME INTO THE WORLD, LET IT EVEN PROSPER, BUT NOT THROUGH ME.
I URGE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NOT TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY ON THIS, THE GREATEST MEDICAL SCANDAL AND ATROCITY AGAINST CHILDREN IN OUR LIFETIME.
LET THE LIE COME INTO THE WORLD, LET IT EVEN PROSPER, BUT NOT THROUGH TEXAS.
MA'AM, CAN I ASK YOU TO GET THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOUR MOUTH? MAYOR.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
[03:40:02]
I STAND BEFORE YOU REMINDING YOU THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU REPRESENT US, THE CITIZENS, YOUR WORK YOU SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF US, THE PEOPLE.SO AS CITY COUNCIL, THE AFFAIRS OF THE CITY SHOULD BE YOUR MAIN FOCUS.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUSINESS IS THE CITY AFFAIRS GIVEN MORE TIME.
I COULD POINT OUT AS EARLIER THIS MORNING, YOU WERE REPRIMANDED ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES THAT YOU MAYBE HAVE NEGLECTED AND I DON'T WANNA GO THERE, BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY ISSUES THAT NEED TENDING TO.
BUT TODAY OUR FOCUS IS OUR CHILDREN.
AND THIS IS WHY I CAME FORTH TODAY.
OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION.
THIS RESOLUTION YOU ARE CONSIDERING IS NOT YOUR JOB ASSIGNMENT.
YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO BE ACTING ON OUR CHILDREN'S BEHALFS.
AND CERTAINLY MAKING OUR CITY A SANCTUARY CITY TO PROTECT THOSE THAT YOU THINK YOU ARE PROTECTING IS NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
PLEASE STOP POLITICIZING THIS CONFUSION THAT HAS ARISEN FOR IT CERTAINLY IS A CONFUSION GOD MADE EACH OF US MALE OR FEMALE, NO CONFUSION THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND CITY COUNCIL ONCE AGAIN TO STAY OUT OF OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES.
LET THE CHILDREN BE CHILDREN, KEEPING THEIR INNOCENCE TO LIVE AS GOD CREATED THEM FOR HIS GLORY.
I ASK YOU TO CHOOSE WISELY AND CAREFULLY WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING.
THESE, THESE CHILDREN ARE TAMARA'S LEADERS.
AND WE DO NOT WANT OUR CHILDREN LIVING WITH IRREPARABLE DAMAGE, NOT IN THEIR BODIES, NOT IN THEIR MINDS, NOT IN THEIR SOULS, AND NOT IN THEIR SPIRITS.
I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN, THINK WISELY.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 64 93, ADAM POWELL WILL BE SIX MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY EDGAR HANDEL.
HEY Y'ALL, MY NAME IS ADAM POWELL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 64, THE TRANSP PROTECTION RESOLUTION.
MY REASONING FOR THIS IS REALLY SIMPLE.
YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS. YEAH, YEAH.
I'LL GET TO 93 LATER, DON'T WORRY.
WELL, OKAY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR, BECAUSE YOU GET SIX MINUTES.
BUT SO WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK ON THE TWO ITEMS. YES, YES.
I'LL GET TO 93 IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, IT'LL BE WAY LESS THAN SIX MINUTES TOO.
BUT YOU KNOW, MY REASONING FOR SUPPORTING ITEM 64 IS VERY SIMPLE, WHICH IS JUST THAT I LOVE OUR TRANS COMMUNITY.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY PAINFUL TO SEE SO MANY OF MY TRANS FRIENDS MOVE NOT JUST OUT OF THE, NOT JUST OUT OF OUR CITY, BUT OUT OF THE STATE ENTIRELY.
AND MANY, MANY MORE TRANS FOLKS I KNOW WHO ARE CONSIDERING THAT VERY SAME OPTION.
AND I BELIEVE IN AUSTIN THAT IS TRULY WELCOMING NO MATTER WHAT OUR STATE THROWS AT US.
AND THIS ITEM IS THAT MEANINGFUL, IMPORTANT WAY TO SHOW OUR TRANS COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE LOVED HERE.
SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON ITEM 64.
AND THEN IN REGARDS TO ITEMS 93, I WANNA JUST QUICKLY SAY I SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF A POET LAUREATE PROGRAM HERE IN AUSTIN.
IT'S A GREAT NO-BRAINER WAY TO SUPPORT ARTISTS, THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN JUST THE TITLE ALONE CAN DO SO MUCH FOR SOMEONE'S CAREER.
UM, AND GIVEN THAT SO MANY OF OUR PEER CITIES, LARGE CITIES HERE IN TEXAS ALREADY HAVE THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND DO.
SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME AS ALWAYS.
UM, MY NAME IS AN ANUSH IAN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, I'M COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE WELLBEING AND DIGNITY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS.
AND I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORTIVE ITEM 64 TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH TO ACCESS GENDER PERFORMING CARE, GENDER FORMING CARE.
GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS LIFESAVING FOR MANY.
BY MAKING IT AVAILABLE, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE TRANSGENDER YOUTH'S, MENTAL HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH TO ACCESS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS A MATTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
[03:45:01]
WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AND ENSURE OUR YOUTH HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY AND THRIVE.THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS ITEM.
I HOPE THAT COUNCIL CAN PASS THIS TO ENSURE THE WELLBEING OF ALL RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS EDGAR HANDEL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT, DISTRICT THREE AND A BOARD MEMBER OF AURA.
UM, I DIDN'T GET TO SIGN UP FOR THIS ITEM OR FOR, UM, ONE ITEM 73, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION IT BRIEFLY THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, WE NEED MORE IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT WE HAVE, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP ON THE ITEM, WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY ON THE ITEMS YOU SIGNED UP.
UM, WELL, I DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK IN ITEMS IN FAVOR OF ITEM 64 AND 94.
UM, UPDATING THE BUILDING CODE TO ALLOW SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS UP TO AT LEAST FIVE STORIES.
I'VE LIVED IN QUITE A FEW APARTMENTS, BOTH AS A CHILD BEFORE MY FAMILY WAS ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON FINANCIAL AID.
AND AS YOUNG ADULTS, MANY, IF MOST OF THESE APARTMENTS HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO SUNLIGHT, FOR SUNLIGHT, FRESH AIR, AND HAD CONSTRAINED FLOOR PLANS BEFORE OUR CURRENT HOME.
MY WIFE AND I LIVED IN AN APARTMENT IN EAST AUSTIN OF THE FOUR WALLS.
ONE WAS SHARED WITH THE HALLWAY, TWO WITH NEIGHBORING UNITS AND ONE SMALL SIDE TO LIGHT AND LIGHT AND AIR.
THIS OF COURSE, IS A PRETTY TYPICAL LAYOUT OF APARTMENTS IN AUSTIN, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
SINGLE STAIR APARTMENTS ARE EASIER TO DESIGN WITH MORE SUNLIGHT, FRESH AIR, AND A VARIETY OF MORE LIVABLE FLOOR PLANS.
I SOMETIMES HEAR PEOPLE ASK WHY WE DON'T HAVE MORE MULTI BEDROOM APARTMENTS FIT FOR FAMILIES.
AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD THOSE TWO, NEARLY THE WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD ALLOWS THESE SINGLE, UH, SEATTLE AND NEW YORK CITY HAVE IT TOO, AND MANY STATES ARE WORKING ON IT.
THIS IS JUST COMMON SENSE POLICY.
IT FITS IN REALLY WELL WITH HOW WE'RE WORKING TO CURB THE RISE OF WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS TO IMPROVE EFFORTS TO LEGALIZE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING TYPES AND END EXCLUSIONARY ZONE ZONING, LIKE THE HOME INITIATIVE AND EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
MAKING SURE AUSTINITE HAVE LIVABLE APARTMENTS WITH WINDOWS BEDROOMS AND ACCESS TO SUNLIGHT AND FRESH AIR IS IMPORTANT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 64, PROTECTING THOSE WHO PROTECTING THOSE, PROVIDING AND SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
THIS KIND OF CARE IS POTENTIALLY LIFESAVING.
WE SHOULD RESPECT THE DECISIONS AND RIGHTS OF THOSE SEEKING CARE, THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR CARE PROVIDERS.
I PERSONALLY KNOW SOME WHO ARE AFRAID TO LIVE OR EVEN VISIT TEXAS BECAUSE OF POLICIES THAT WORK AGAINST THEIR SAFETY AND FREEDOM.
IF WE WANNA RESPECT PERSONAL SAFETY AND FREEDOM AS WELL AS PARENTAL CHOICE, THEN WE SHOULD PROTECT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY THAT HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN MIND THAN I DO IN MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL CARE, AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN.
AND THEY, THERE'S JUST BEEN SO MUCH SAID THAT I THINK THAT REALLY SHOULD MAKE THIS CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP.
COULD I PLEASE ASK THE SPEAKER, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON 73 AND THAT PERTAINS TO MY DISTRICT.
COULD YOU SEND US AN EMAIL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE WE TAKE THAT ITEM UP? OKAY, GREAT.
AND YOU GOT A BIG FAN CLUB THERE,
SIX MINUTES ON DECK IS BARBARA BUCKLIN AND THEN KB BROOKINS.
UH, I WAS MEANT TO SPEAK IN THE MORNING.
UM, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HOPE Y'ALL HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY.
MENTALLY IT'S STILL 10:00 AM FOR ME, THAT RIGHT? I AM, UH, LUIS LUGA.
I'M A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.
UM, AND I'M HERE, UH, MAINLY SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF FAMILY SIZED DEPARTMENTS AND, UH, HOPEFULLY AN OPEN COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'LL SPEAK ON 94 FIRST 'CAUSE IT'S RATHER SIMPLE.
I GREW UP IN, WELL IN DEAD SEPARATE COUNTRY, UH, VENEZUELA, UH, TO A WORKING CLASS FAMILY WHO WAS STILL ABLE TO LIVE NEAR A REALLY HIGH HUMIDITY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY BECAUSE IT WAS A POINT ACCESS BLOCK THAT WAS A NICE THREE BEDROOM.
UM, FOR WHAT, BASED ON THE MATH I WAS ABLE TO DO WHEN YOU DO, UH, UH, PURCHASE POWER PARITY WOULD BE THE COST OF IT, UH, WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO WHAT A ONE BEDROOM GOES FOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
SINGLE, SINGLE STAY APARTMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM SIX STORIES LIKE SEATTLE DOES TO 11 IN BARCELONA ALLOWS FAMILIES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WORKING CLASS, WHO GOT BIG FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE IN THE CENTRAL CITY AND, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF MISS OF AUSTIN INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, IN, UM, MUCH, MUCH FURTHER OUT LIKE ROUND ROCK AND, AND HU AND OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S A VERY SIMPLE ONE, UH, ON 64.
FOR, FOR ME IT'S RATHER SIMPLE.
UH, MY OLDER BROTHER, UM, IS A, A, A TRANS
[03:50:01]
MAN AND HAD A VERY LONG JOURNEY, VERY PAINFUL JOURNEY TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE.UM, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY, VERY HARD AT TIMES BEFORE THEY REALIZED, YOU KNOW, WHO THEY WERE AND, AND WHAT THEY NEEDED.
AND WE WERE VERY PRIVILEGED AND VERY LUCKY THAT OUR FAMILY WAS ABLE TO GET HIM THE SUPPORT THAT HE NEEDED AND THE SUPPORT THAT HE GOT.
AND IS NOW GOING TO DELL MEDICAL AS A, AS A DOCTOR FOR THEIR RESIDENCY.
UM, ULTIMATELY ITEM 64 IS JUST ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A FAIR SHOT AT LIFE.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M BARBARA BUCKLAND AND, UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST, UH, THE, UH, 64 AGENDA.
UM, AND I'D LIKE YOU TO START WITH, UH, COUPLE VERSES OUT OF SCRIPTURE.
UH, IT SAYS, THE WORD SAYS FOR GOD, UM, FOR GOD IS, UH, A HOLY GOD.
AND, UH, HE, HE OPPOSES PEOPLE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH BY THEIR WICKEDNESS.
THEY KNOW THE TRUTH ALSO BECAUSE GOD IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM AND WHO CARES FOR THEM.
AND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD, GOD CREATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWN THE EARTH AND THE SKY.
THEY SEE EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS MADE.
THEY KNOW HE IS AN INVIABLE QUALITIES.
HE HAS ETERNAL POWER, AND HE HAS DIVINE NATURE.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE THAT SUPPRESS THE TRUTH WHEN THEY KNOW IT.
AND WHAT I BELIEVE GOD SAYS VERY CLEARLY, WHICH WE'VE HEARD HERE BEFORE, THAT GOD CREATED PEOPLE, HUMANS, BEINGS IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
HE CREATED THEM, MALE AND FEMALE, HE CREATED THEM.
SO WISDOM TELLS US NOT TO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH.
WISDOM WOULD TELL US TO LINE UP WITH THE, UH, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS.
HE CREATED, MAN AND WOMAN IN HIS IMAGE, FOR HIS PURPOSES TO REPRODUCE AND TO MULTIPLY FOR THIS REASON.
AND FOR OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED HERE TODAY, I'M AGAINST THIS AGENDA.
AND I NOTICED HOW THE NARRATIVE IS SO CHANGED THIS AFTERNOON, PARTICULARLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADULT CARE, WHERE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ACTUALLY CHILDCARE AND CHILD TRANSFORMATION DONE THROUGH SURGERY BLOCKERS, HORMONE BLOCKERS.
UH, I I RAN OFF SOME COPIES, WHICH WE'VE MADE A COPY FOR EACH OF YOU.
AND THIS IS TESTIMONY THAT WAS GIVEN IN THE HOUSE SENATE COMMITTEE RECENTLY.
UH, IT'S FULL OF RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, UH, THAT IS VERIFIED.
THAT'S FROM DOCTORS ASSOCIATIONS, VARIOUS EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHAT THEY, WHAT TOLD THE HOUSE COMMITTEE WAS THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS PROCEDURE THAT WAS EXPERIMENTAL, UH, ON CHILDREN, EXPERIMENTS ON CHILDREN.
AND THAT, UH, THEY WERE NOT ADVISING IT IN ANY CASE.
SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF HEALTHCARE FOR ADULTS, IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR CHILDREN.
AND I KNOW YOU CARE FOR AND LOVE THE CHILDREN OF AUSTIN AND HOPE YOU'LL MAKE THAT DECISION.
NO, FOLKS, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
WHAT'S GOOD, EVERYBODY, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL EACH OTHER NAMES.
WE ARE HERE, WE ARE AT A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE MIGHT NOT ALL BE THE SAME AND WE MIGHT COME AT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS AT THAT SORT OF HEARING CALL PEOPLE NAMES AND, AND DEGRADE.
SO WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA DO THAT.
SO WHOEVER WAS DOING THAT, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE STOP.
THAT'S NOT PART OF MY TIME, RIGHT? NOPE.
BUT IT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR YOUR TIME, SO NO, NO, I'M TEASING.
WE, YOU, YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FULL TIME, UH,
WHAT'S GOOD? UH, MY NAME IS KB BROOKINS.
I'M A WRITER, CULTURAL WORKER, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 93.
UM, SINCE THE 16 HUNDREDS POET LAUREATE POSITIONS HAVE EXISTED IN CITIES, STATES, AND COUNTRIES TO BE STEWARDS OF POETRY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT, RIGHT, THE GENERAL PUBLIC,
[03:55:01]
I'M OF THE BELIEF THAT AUSTIN COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM A POET LAWYER PROGRAM.ACCORDING TO THE LITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL TEXAS, 121,000 ADULTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS EITHER CANNOT READ OR STRUGGLE WITH READING.
AND FOR DECADES, MANY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOOKSTORES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE NURTURED AUSTIN'S POETRY SCENE WITH LITTLE TO NO BUDGET AND NO CITYWIDE RECOGNITION.
YET, UT AUSTIN HAS ONE OF THE MOST NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MFA PROGRAMS, RIGHT? AND YET, AUSTIN POETRY SLAM IS TIED WITH DALLAS AS THE LONGEST RUNNING POETRY SLAM IN TEXAS.
MANY COMPARABLE CITIES, INCLUDING DALLAS, HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SEATTLE, ALL HAVE ADULT LAUREATE PROGRAMS. AND WE DO NOT YET AUSTIN MARKETS ITSELF AS THE MECCA FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN TEXAS.
SO HAVING A LAURIA PROGRAM WOULD SIMPLY KEEP AUSTIN ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS PROMISE OF BEING THAT ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER, AND IT WOULD ASSIST WITH IMPROVING AUSTIN'S UNSATISFACTORY LITERACY RATE.
I'VE CREATED A PETITION FOR THE AUSTIN LAUREATE PROGRAM, WHICH AS OF THIS MORNING HAS 260 PLUS SIGNATURES, INCLUDING ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMISSION, SEVEN CITY, TEXAS CITY AND STATE POET LAUREATES, THE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN POETRY SOCIETY, AND THE FOUNDER OF AUSTIN POETRY SLAM, WHICH Y'ALL WE ARE WILL HEAR FROM TODAY.
UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS ALSO AGREED TO RUN THE PROGRAM.
THE ONLY MISSING PIECE IS Y'ALL.
SO THANK YOU TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OF VANESSA FUENTES AND ALL CO-SPONSORS OF THIS ITEM TO YOU, OTHERS.
I IMPLORE YOU TO SUPPORT AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND SHOW AUSTIN THAT YOU CARE ABOUT POETRY, LITERACY, AND UPLIFTING AUSTIN'S HISTORY AND CULTURE.
PS I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE ON THE DAY THAT, UM, ITEM 64 IS BEING TALKED ABOUT.
UM, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THAT AS A PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN SCIENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND A FORMER, UM, TRANS KID WHO IS NOW A THRIVING TRANS ADULT.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 93, MIKE HENRY, THEN CHRIS GANNON AND DANIEL KELMAN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND AND BE PREPARED TO SPEAK.
AND FEEL FREE TO TAKE THE MICROPHONE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HEY, EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS MIKE HENRY.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF AUSTIN POETRY SLAM.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 93, WHICH WOULD CREATE AN AUSTIN POET LAUREATE POSITION.
NOW, A GREAT CITY DESERVES A POET LAUREATE.
THIS IS CONSISTENT AROUND THE GLOBE.
IT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE US AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S CONSISTENT RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS.
AS KB POINTED OUT, HOUSTON HAS A POET LAUREATE, SAN ANTONIO HAS A POET, LAUREATE DALLAS HAS A POET LAUREATE.
THE LACK OF A POET LAUREATE IN AUSTIN IS JUST SIMPLY INCONSISTENT WITH OUR GOALS AS A CITY AND WITH OUR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AND FOR ARTISTS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO CREATE SOME CEREMONIAL POSITION WHERE SOMEBODY JUST GETS TO PUT SOMETHING FANCY ON THEIR EMAIL SIGNATURE AND, YOU KNOW, GO TO A BANQUET, RIGHT? THIS IS A POET LAUREATE.
THIS PERSON WILL WORK TIRELESSLY AS AN ARTIST, AS A TEACHER, AS A MENTOR, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR LITERACY HERE IN OUR CITY.
THEY'LL BE IN OUR SCHOOLS, THEY'LL BE AT OUR EVENTS.
THEY'LL BE HERE FOR ANY CITIZEN OF AUSTIN THAT WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM.
AND THEY WILL DO THE JOB THAT A POET DOES, THAT POETS HAVE ALWAYS DONE.
AND THAT'S TELL THE TRUTH AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.
NOW, SITTING HERE TODAY, Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO, UH, JOUST WITH AND TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND.
AND YOU HAVE A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO REPRESENT.
WE NEED LEADERS, WE NEED SCIENCE, WE NEED YOU, WE NEED GOVERNMENT.
I THINK, I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE AN ITEM AS LOVELY AS 93.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, I'M DANIEL KAMAN.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ITEM 94.
I'LL KEEP THIS EXTREMELY BRIEF TO RESPECT YOUR TIME, UH, AND EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE.
UH, I LIVE IN A APARTMENT BUILDING THAT IS A DOUBLE LOADED CORRIDOR, AND I JUST, FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT THAT MUCH.
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT THAT HAS ONLY NORTH FACING WINDOWS AND IT'S REALLY SAD AND DARK IN THERE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME REALLY EXCITING, INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN FROM, UM, AN UPDATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND HOW WE FOLLOW IT IN AUSTIN.
UM, THERE'S SOME COOL PROJECTS YOU SEE ON TWITTER, PEOPLE'S SHARING ALL THE TIME ABOUT LIKE A BUNCH OF LIKE MODERATELY PRICED APARTMENTS THAT HAVE WINDOWS ON THREE SIDES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE TO THINK ABOUT IN THIS CITY BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE IT, UH, BARELY AT ALL.
SO, UH, I REALLY ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THAT.
UM, ANOTHER THING, I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT I'M SAYING GOOD AFTERNOON AND NOT GOOD MORNING IS A PROBLEM.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING, TAKING A LOT OF TIME, AND
[04:00:01]
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL RESPECT EACH OTHER'S TIME HERE.AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT ITEM 94, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY, I HOPE WE ALL CAN MOVE TO A POINT IN WHICH EVERYBODY HAS A AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IS REASONABLE AND THAT WE CAN KEEP THESE MEETINGS, UM, WITHIN REASON AND TO RESPECT EVERYBODY'S TIME.
BECAUSE I WORK FULL TIME AND I SLOT THE MORNING TO COME TO COUNCIL, NOT ALL DAY.
AND SO I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
CHRIS GANNON, MICHAEL RHODES, CONNOR KENNY.
IF YOUR NAME, YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
CHRIS GANNON, MICHAEL RHODES, CONNOR KENNY.
UM, CONNOR KENNY, A PRINCIPAL AT CAPITAL A HOUSING, UM, HERE TO SPEAK ON SINGLE STA PRIMARILY, UH, A LOT OF THE REFORMS THAT Y'ALL HAVE APPROVED, LIKE COMPATIBILITY AND PARKING ARE DOING GREAT THINGS FOR MEDIUM AND LARGE SITES.
SINGLE STAIR IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO UNLOCK SMALL SITES.
UM, AT CAPITAL A, WE REALLY THINK THAT THE STARTER HOMES AND MIDDLE CLASS HOMES AND AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP HOMES OF THE NEXT 50 YEARS ARE ACTUALLY STACKED UNIT, SMALL SCALE APARTMENTS THAT ARE GREAT ON QUIET, SMALL STREETS WITH THREE TO FOUR BEDROOMS AND WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE.
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BUILD THOSE IS SINGLE STAIR.
UM, SO IT REALLY IS A, UH, A CRITICAL, UH, REFORM FOR BUILDING A MORE LIVABLE COMMUNITY FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS.
UM, SO THAT IS IT EXCEPT TO SAY, UH, ITEM 90 NINES AWESOME.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, SUNSET RIDGE.
AS AN AUSTIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH TIME I'VE SPENT LOOKING FOR SITES IN WEST AUSTIN.
IT COULD BE ANOTHER DECADE BEFORE YOU GET ANOTHER ONE.
UH, I'M VERY JEALOUS OF THAT SITE.
UH, AND THEN FINALLY, MY WIFE WORKS WITH A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH TRANS KIDS.
AND THE PAIN THAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS THEY'VE BECOME SUBJECT TO THIS POLITICAL CRUSADE IS, IS REALLY AWFUL.
AND SO, UH, GRATITUDE FOR Y'ALL SITTING THROUGH SOME OF THIS STUFF TODAY.
AND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME HERE IN KINDNESS.
UM, A LOT OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE, ARE HURTING AND, UH, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP 'EM OUT I THINK IS A GOOD THING.
I'VE CALLED ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS.
I HAVE CALLED ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M GONNA NOW INVITE, UM, UH, MEGAN RILEY TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE SO THAT SHE CAN SPEAK TO TWO OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I AM HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $194,000 TO RESOLVE THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY JUANITA LOPEZ AND CHRISTINA GOMEZ AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AS WE DISCUSSED IN A RECENT, UH, COMMUNICATION FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT, THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED AS A RESULT OF AN APRIL 22ND, 2022 CAR WRECK, UH, WHERE THE PLAINTIFF SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, THE PLAINTIFFS WILL EXECUTE A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE AND WILL DISMISS THE LAWSUIT THAT'S ON FILE IN TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
SECONDLY, ON ITEM NUMBER 47, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO RESOLVE A LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN BY THE CASILLAS FAMILY.
AS WE DISCUSSED IN A RECENT COMMUNICATION, UH, FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT, THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED AS A RESULT OF A JUNE 30TH, 2023 CAR ACCIDENT FACE FATALITY, WHERE MS. CASILLAS PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF THE INJURY SHE SUSTAINED.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, UH, THE PLAINTIFFS WILL EXECUTE A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE AND WILL DISMISS THE LAWSUIT THAT THEY BROUGHT AGAINST THE CITY IN TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. RILEY.
UM, MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YOU'VE HEARD THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT, EXCUSE ME, RELATED TO IT.
RECALL AND REMEMBER THAT ITEM NUMBER 49 IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT IT'S BEEN POSTPONED.
SO THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE, UH, REGARDING THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER 49.
LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT ANY MEMBERS WISH TO PULL? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UM, MAYOR, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WANNA PULL IT OR JUST, UM, ALLOW ME FIVE MINUTES WITH AUSTIN WATER.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOUR THROUGH SIX QUICKLY TO HEAR OR TO, OR, OR HEAR FROM THEM WHICHEVER YOU WOULD PREFER FOR YOUR ORDER, UM, SO THAT THE STAFF DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY ALL AFTERNOON IF POSSIBLE.
I'M, I'M WITH YOU ON THAT AND I AGREE.
LET, LET'S, LET'S HAVE A VOTE ON, LET'S PULL THEM AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS HAVE THEM COME UP AND DO THE FIVE MINUTES AS YOU SUGGEST THEN.
IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT ANYBODY WISHES TO PULL? NOT TO PULL, BUT I, I WANNA SPEAK ON, UH, THE AUSTIN WATER ITEMS AS WELL.
YEAH, WELL WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BRING THOSE UP AS THEY'VE
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BEEN PULLED, SO WE'LL BRING THEM UP SEPARATELY 'CAUSE I FIGURED THAT'S WHAT WAS WOULD HAPPEN.THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE 'EM PULL ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED.
THEN I WILL, UM, ASK FOR, UH, I'M GONNA GET A MOTION, AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE A MOTION, I WILL ASK FOR COMMENTS, UM, IN ADVANCE OF THE VOTE AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A VOTE.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL GO, WE GO TO THE POOL ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX IMMEDIATELY BEFORE WE GO TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
UM, SO ON COMMENTS I'LL RECOGNIZE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, UH, MEMBER TIM POOLE.
AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND ESPECIALLY THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME BEFORE US TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 63, MADDIE AND JENNIFER, WHO CAME BY TO BRING THIS TO MY ATTENTION, WHICH TURNED INTO A RESOLUTION.
UM, TODAY WITH THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 63, WE WILL HAVE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING ONE OF THE MOST OVERLOOKED GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR YOUTH CAREGIVERS, YOUTH CAREGIVERS AREN'T JUST CHILDREN.
THEY'RE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS TAKING ON ADULT SIZED RESPONSIBILITIES, OFTEN SACRIFICING THEIR OWN NEEDS TO CARE FOR AGING, DISABLED, OR HEALTH COMPROMISED FAMILY MEMBERS.
THIS RESOLUTION THAT WILL PASS TODAY HOPEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE DAILY BY DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.
OUR COUNCIL WILL BE PAVING THE WAY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
UM, RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO RESOLUTION 64.
UM, IT REALLY DIRECTS CITY PERSONNEL TO ONCE AGAIN FLAUNT STATE LAW BY DEPRIORITIZING ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN LAWS GOING SO FAR AS TO STIFLE INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MORALE IS LOW.
WE STRUGGLE TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT OFFICERS.
TO ME, THIS RESOLUTION SENDS AN EXPLICIT YET CONFUSING MESSAGE TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ACT IN CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW.
AND I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A MOMENT AND REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
HOW, HOW IT COULD BROADLY AFFECT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS IN THE CITY.
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ENACTED LAWS THAT WHETHER ONE AGREES WITH THEM OR NOT HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE LAWFUL AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND REFLECT THE LEGISLATIVE WILL OF TEXANS STATEWIDE.
AS A HOME RULE, CITY AUSTIN DOES INDEED HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
HOWEVER, AS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OUR AUTONOMY SHOULD NOT BE CONS CONSTRUED AS A LICENSE TO CONTINUALLY UNDERMINE STATE LAW.
REPEATED ACTIONS LIKE THIS BY OUR COUNCIL, NOT ONLY UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW, BUT ALSO INVITE SIGNIFICANT COST OF LITIGATION, WHICH DIVERTS VALUABLE AND LIMITED CITY RESOURCES AWAY FROM OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES.
I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR FINANCIAL STAFF THAT WE'RE EVEN PROJECTING A BUDGET SHORTFALL THIS YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, WHILE I EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING CERTAIN MEDICAL ISSUES, THOSE MATTERS ARE SIMPLY NOT WITHIN THE POWERS WE'RE GRANTED AS A CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHILE I STAND FIRM IN MY OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION, I FULLY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN OR COMMUNITY MEMBER TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND ADVOCATE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
THE ISSUES SURROUNDING GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL AND DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
THEY DESERVE ROBUST PUBLIC DEBATE AND THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE, WHETHER IN SUPPORT OR AGAINST IT, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES OR EVEN RUN FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
WHILE I RESPECT THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THIS RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED IN TERMS OF LEGAL AUTHORITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I, I, I JUMPED TO SPEAKERS AND DID NOT GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
KELLY, I I APOLOGIZE FOR CALLING YOU OUT OF ORDER, BUT UH, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT AGAIN? I THOUGHT SO.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY HONOR.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCIL VELA FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 64.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AS LOCAL LEADERS STAND UP AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING AND PROVIDING A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR OUR TRANS AND GBT Q PLUS COMMUNITY.
UH, COLLEAGUES ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE KB BROOKINS, WHO IS A POET AND A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO CREATE THE PROPOSAL TO BRING A POET LAUREATE PROGRAM TO AUSTIN.
AUSTIN'S THE ONLY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS WITHOUT A POET
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LAUREATE PROGRAM.AND SINCE THE 16 HUNDREDS POET LAUREATE, UH, PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS HAVE EXISTED IN CITIES, STATES, AND COUNTRIES TO BE STEWARDS OF POETRY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH READINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND PROJECTS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AUSTIN WILL BENEFIT FROM A SOCIOPOLITICALLY ENGAGED POET WILLING TO USE POETRY AS A WAY TO INVIGORATE AUSTIN'S ARTS AND CULTURE AND AS A WAY TO PROMOTE LITERACY ACROSS OUR CITY.
THIS PROGRAM HAS THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 260 AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIBRARY COMMISSION ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER MADISON VELASQUEZ CADRE AND ALLISON ALTER FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES VOTING FOR TRADING THIS PROGRAM HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TIM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL WE BRING THE ITEMS FOUR FIVE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANNA COMMENT ON? YES, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL RIVERA AS WELL FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM, UH, 64.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD, UH, TO SPONSOR.
UH, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT'S FOR OUR CITY TO PASS THIS ITEM.
UM, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION, UH, HOW INCREDIBLY TOUCHED I WAS, UH, BY, UH, THE STORY FROM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER MORGAN DAVIS.
THEIR TESTIMONY, UM, JUST INCREDIBLY TOUCHED AT, AT, AT THEIR, UH, THEIR, THEIR LEADERSHIP.
UM, AND THOSE OF YOU ESPECIALLY WHO BRAVELY SHARED YOUR PERSONAL STORIES.
UH, WHILE THE STATE HAS CHOSEN TO BULLY OUR TRANS FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL NOT, UH, TO THE TRANS COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, UH, YOU ARE WELCOMED HERE.
YOU ARE LOVED, AND YOU, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A CITY TO HELP PROTECT YOU, UH, FROM BIGOTRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY HARPER MADISON.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
UM, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 64.
UH, I AM HONORED TO BE A CO-SPONSOR AND TO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH HIS OFFICE ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY STEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIGOTRY THAT WE'RE SEEING AT OUR STATE.
THANK YOU TO OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT INPUT AND COLLABORATION ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED BRAVERY AND PERSEVERANCE DURING THIS VERY DARK TIME AND THROUGH REPEATED AGGRESSIONS, SOME OF THEM HERE TODAY, YOU REMAIN LIGHT AND YOU REMAIN AN INSPIRATION.
I'M PROUD TO BE AN ALLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND THE HEALTHCARE RIGHTS OF ALL AUSTIN KNIGHTS.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE TODAY, THAT AS A LATINO, I SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR BEING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I, UH, I WANTED TO LAUGH WHEN MY ACTUAL VERY FIRST REALTOR, MR. ROY WHALEY SOLD ME MY FIRST HOUSE.
UM, WHEN HE SAID, UH, A PART OF A, A PART OF HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE ABILITY TO SPEAK AS LONG AS IT TAKES FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO GET THEIR POINTS ACROSS, UM, WAS UH, HE ESSENTIALLY ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THIS SPACE AND TIME IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR Y'ALL.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SIT UP HERE AND YAMMER ON.
AND THAT USED TO DRIVE ME CRAZY IN THE EARLY DAYS THAT WE WERE IN HERE ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
AND MOSTLY IT'S 'CAUSE WE TALK TOO MUCH.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REALLY WEIGH IN SUBSTANTIVELY AND THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECALIBRATE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE.
I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THE THING THAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.
'CAUSE IT WAS IMPLIED THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU OUT.
AND I JUST, FIRST OF ALL, I CATEGORICALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AND AT THE RISK I SOUNDED LIKE, YOU KNOW, BE ON BEYONCE, WHICH I'M CLEARLY NOT.
WE ARE THE STARS OF THIS SHOW.
SO WHEN WE GET HERE, WE ARE THE TALENT.
WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT Y'ALL NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE HOW LONG WE'RE HERE, WHO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO RUN THESE CAMERAS.
ALL OUR AUDIO EQUIPMENT, THE JANITORIAL STAFF, SECURITY GUARDS.
IF WE ARE HERE TO DO THIS, WHICH IT'S OUR JOB, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, Y'ALL KEEP US HERE AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO.
I JUST THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, THERE'S NEVER A TIME WHERE THERE'S A LACK OF COMPLEXITY.
A PART OF THE COMPLEXITY WITH HAVING VERY LONG COUNCIL MEETINGS IS THAT EVERY MEMBER
[04:15:01]
OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF, WHICH MEANS EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS BUILDING, WE'RE THE STARS THAT THEY SHOW.THEY DON'T START TILL WE GET HERE.
EVERYBODY ELSE THOUGH, THEY DON'T, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE LOOKING AT THIS, THESE THINGS AND, AND RECOGNIZING IT'S NOT QUITE CALIBRATED PERFECTLY, BUT NONE OF US HAVE A PERFECTLY CALIBRATED EYE.
SO I HOPE WE'RE ALL TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO US BEING HERE LATE.
UM, AND SO I WILL STOP TALKING THERE AND GO INTO, I'M SUPER PLEASED TO SEE THAT AS WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND I 35, AGAIN WITH THE COMPLEXITIES, I HAVE NOT BEEN A SINGLE SOLITARY STRANGER TO KNOW WHITE OR NO HIGHER BEING MY PERSPECTIVE ON OUR HIGHWAY.
UM, THAT THAT SAID THOUGH, UM, OFTENTIMES AS A COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST KNOW WHEN YOU GOTTA TAKE THE L AND STOP PUSHING.
'CAUSE NOW YOU'RE JUST MAKING A BUNCH OF NOISE AND NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE.
IN WHICH CASE MY FOCUS IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
EAST AND WEST OF I 35 WILL BE TRULY CONNECTED.
AS WE'RE CONTINUING THESE CONVERSATIONS, LIKE NOW WE HAVE THIS GREAT TRAIL THAT'S RUNNING UP TO MAINOR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE TRAILS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
THEN, YOU KNOW, OVER, UM, ON MY SIDE WE HAVE WALNUT CREEK.
WE ARE EVENTUALLY GONNA ACTUALLY BE A CONNECTED CITY, WHICH BRINGS ME GREAT JOY.
SO AS WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CAPS FOR I 35, I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD THERE AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE INSIGHTS THAT ARE GONNA COME OUT OF THE CONNECTING AUSTIN EQU UH, CONNECTING AUSTIN EQUITABLY MOBILITY STUDY.
I THINK THIS STUDY IS REALLY GONNA CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIVE SUBSTANTIVELY TO OUR VISION AROUND WHAT THE CAPS MEAN.
IN MY MIND'S EYE CAPS MEAN GREATER CONNECTIVITY, GREATER MOBILITY, GREATER ACCESSIBILITY.
AND THEN WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, IT REALLY MEANS GREATER OPPORTUNITIES BOTH AROUND COMMERCE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY CONNECTIONS.
UM, CONNECTIONS DON'T HAPPEN JUST 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME ROOM, RIGHT? PEOPLE HAVE THINGS THAT THEY, UM, THAT THEY SEE EYE TO EYE ON IDEOLOGICALLY OR THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMMATICALLY THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THAT WE DON'T ASSUME THAT WE GET A DIVERSE COMMUNITY BY GETTING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES AND SMOOSHING THEM TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT PROGRAMMING.
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH THIS CAP AND STITCH OPPORTUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY, ITEM NUMBER 65, REGARDING FURTHER EXPLORATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, UM, UH, LED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO THIS INITIATIVE THAT I WANTED TO BRING FORWARD, I'M MOSTLY BRINGING FORWARD, UM, AT LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD AS OF LATE.
IT'S A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.
I STARTED HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BACK IN 2018 WHEN I WAS A CIVILIAN THAT SAID, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN COSTS TOO MUCH AND TAKE TOO LONG.
AND I WASN'T WRONG BY THE WAY.
AND SO, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALIZED THEN AS I MADE THE TRANSITION FROM CIVILIAN TO POLICYMAKER, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MOST OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING UP HERE.
AND SOMETIMES I STILL DON'T ENTIRELY UNDERSTAND.
BUT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING DIRECT ACCESS TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO GET CLARITY AND OTHER SUPPORTERS AND STAFF.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS THAT SAME THING FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO THIS ITEM WAS INTENDED TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THAT I, FROM START, I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING INHERENTLY FLAWED, UM, WHICH DIDN'T GET BETTER.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND DISTANCING, THERE WAS SOMETHING INHERENTLY FLAWED WITH, UM, OUR COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE UNIQUE AND SHOULD RESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CUSTOMIZE OUR OUTREACH.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING BEING LEFT BEHIND.
WHEN WE DON'T TAKE LIKE A REALLY ROBUST OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH DISTRICT CONSTITUENTS, UM, THEY'RE NOT BEING A STANDARD, SORT OF UNIVERSAL, UNILATERAL, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT, JUST IN CASE Y'ALL DON'T KNOW, EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL DISTRICTS UP HERE, WE ALL FIGURE OUT WHEN WE'RE GONNA DO A TOWN HALL, WHEN WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, HOW WE DO.
SO, WHETHER OR NOT WE DO A NEWSLETTER, WHAT THAT CONTAINS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE WAY OF UNIFORMITY.
AND I THINK US NOT HAVING A STANDARD TEMPLATE PROTOCOL, CPIO, THAT'S THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HELP US PUT OUT INFORMATION FROM THE CITY.
THEIR JOB IS TO DO X, Y, ZI THINK A PART OF THAT.
AND NOT TO INCREASE THEIR WORKLOAD, CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT EXPLORING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO INCREASE SUPPORTS FOR THEM, BUT I THINK ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE RELEASING THEIR NEWSLETTERS WITH THE SAME CADENCE, THE SAME FREQUENCY, THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONTENT ASIDE FROM WHAT'S UNIFORM TO YOUR DISTRICT.
I THINK TOWN HALLS, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING, I CAME IN HERE
[04:20:01]
SO OPTIMISTIC THAT WE ALL WANTED TO MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER AND BE NICE TO EACH OTHER UNTIL I GOT YELLED AT AND SOMEBODY THREW SOMETHING AT ME.TURNS OUT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY THINK DEMOCRACY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE UGLY.
THEY ABSOLUTELY TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO JUST THROW BOMBS AND START STUFF.
THERE WAS ANOTHER WORD I WAS GONNA USE, BUT MY MOM'S WATCHING.
AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY, I THINK IF WE MAKE IT UNIFORM AND DON'T MAKE IT A TOWN HALL WHERE THE FORMULA IS, YOU GUYS ALL SIT OUT THERE.
I SIT UP ON A STAGE AND YOU SCREAM AT ME AND OVER ONE ANOTHER TO THE POINT WHERE NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE.
WE JUST WASTED AN HOUR AND A HALF ON A THURSDAY NIGHT FOR NO REASON.
MY SHOW IS ON WHY ARE WE HERE IF WE'RE NOT GONNA ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING? SO THAT SAID, I HOPE THAT THE CITY WITH SO MANY MORE RESOURCES, THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
I KNOW I'M GOING LONG, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UM, WITH SO FEW RESOURCES AS COUNCIL OFFICES, WE HAVE SMALL STAFF, A LIMITED BUDGET AND LIMITED CAPACITY.
IT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE EXPECTATION FOR ALL OF US TO, IN ADDITION, FIGURE OUT HOW TO ANSWER YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST AND ANSWER YOUR CALLS AND ANSWER YOUR EMAILS AND BE CON, YOU KNOW, REALLY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT DIGGING INTO THE AGENDA AND ALL THE, WE CAN'T DO ALL OF THAT.
AND IN ADDITION TO PLAN TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND PLAN OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH Y'ALL INDIVIDUALLY, I HAVE OVER A HUNDRED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN MY 46 SQUARE MILES THAT I REPRESENT, BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WANTS TO MEET WITH ME ONCE A WEEK.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR THE CITY TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE MORE PRESENT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT Y'ALL DON'T HAVE MORE ACCESS TO US, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND WHEN YOU'RE ONE HUMAN WITH 97,000 PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT.
AND IT'S JUST TOO FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THEM.
WHERE PEOPLE'S IDEOLOGICAL POSITION IS THE SAME, IN WHICH CASE THERE'S NO BACK AND FORTH.
THERE'S ALWAYS BACK AND FORTH IN DEMOCRACY.
BUT WE CAN'T GO BACK AND FORTH TO THE DETRIMENT OF PEOPLE WHO SIT QUIETLY IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND NEVER GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
WE CAN'T DO SO AT THE RISK OF ASKING PEOPLE TO GET CHILDCARE, THESE EVENTS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WE PROVIDE CHILDCARE AND FOOD AND AGE APPROPRIATE ENTERTAINMENT AND MAKE THIS ACTUALLY FUN.
DON'T LIE TO ME, Y'ALL TOWN HALLS ARE NOT FUN.
YOU'RE EITHER THE ONE YELLING, THE ONE GETTING YELLED AT, OR THE ONE LISTENING TO THE PERSON GETTING YELLED AT, AND YOUR QUESTIONS NEVER GET ANSWERED.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS FOR US TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO YOU AND FOR SOMETHING TO GET DONE IN A WAY THAT WE COLLABORATIVELY MOVE TOGETHER.
SO THAT WAS THE POINT OF THIS ITEM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY ONE IN A SERIES OF ITEMS THAT MAKE CITY HALL MORE ACCESSIBLE.
WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE TOURS OF CITY HALL.
I CALLED IT SNACKS STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR, I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT THE ACRONYM WAS, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S LIKE PEOPLE NEED TO COME TO CITY HOME.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THIS IS Y'ALL'S BUILDING.
YOU, YOU, IT'S YOUR TAX DOLLARS THAT COVER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS INSIDE THIS BUILDING, BUT NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH HOW IT WORKS, WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS, WHAT THE TERMINOLOGY IS.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'RE LOSING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING THIS AS A US AND Y'ALL TOGETHER DOING IT.
IT'S US UP HERE BEHIND THE BULLETPROOF DAYS AND YOU DOWN THERE.
AND THAT'S NOT HOW GOOD COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WORKS.
WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER.
UM, I'LL LEAVE YOU OUT WITH THIS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE AS A TOP PRIORITY IS US MOVING THROUGH, UM, WITH SOME DEGREE OF HUMANITY IN EVERY EXCHANGE THAT WE HAVE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I'M NOT A STRANGER TO GETTING CUSSED OUT, SO I'M NOT SCARED OF IT, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE WHEN WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.
SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS LIKE THIS WHERE IDEOLOGICALLY WE'RE NOT ALL ALIGNED, I I, YOU DON'T NEED ME TO BE PATERNALISTIC ABOUT IT, BUT I I REALLY DO.
SO AS THE PARENT OF A TRANS KID, MY NINTH GRADER IS AT MCCALLUM HIGH SCHOOL, WATCHING US AND LISTENING TO US AND HOW WE TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, AND I MOST ESPECIALLY WANNA POSE THIS TO THE PEOPLE WHO PROCLAIM TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME, THAT DIVERSITY AND HUMANITY IS A PART OF THE BEAUTY OF IT, AND WE ALL GET TO HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A SITUATION LIKE THIS, THIS ROOM, THOSE KIDS WATCHING US, HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BECOME POLICYMAKERS OF THE FUTURE? IF YOU'RE SO TERRIFIED THAT YOU CAN'T SIT UP HERE AS JUST, I'M JUST YOUR NEIGHBOR, NATASHA, THAT'S IT.
I HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T SPEAK TO ME BECAUSE OF MY JOB, WHO WALK PAST MY HOUSE AND WON'T LOOK AT ME.
I'M JUST YOUR NEIGHBOR, NATASHA.
[04:25:01]
TO EACH OTHER.AND I REALLY, I CAN'T PUT ENOUGH EMPHASIS ON IT, ESPECIALLY AS A PERSON WHO DEALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THIS IS THE LAST THING YOU NEED.
ADDING TO THAT PUBLIC DISCOURSE SHOULDN'T BE THE REASON THAT YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK TODAY.
BUT DON'T BE UGLY AND DON'T YOU EVER DO IT IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER, GOD, PLEASE, I'LL END WITH THIS.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR OUTGOING INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
HE TOOK ON SOMETHING, BOY DID HE EVER
HE CAME IN AND TOOK ON A HERCULEAN TASK.
WE ASKED HIM, UM, TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS BIG AND HE ANSWERED THE MIGHTY CALL WITH ZEAL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO HIS ABILITY TO REALLY SEAMLESSLY CARRY US THROUGH THIS TRANSITION.
AND I'D SAY WE ARE INDEBTED TO HIS TIRELESS EFFORT.
UM, AND SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND TEAM D ONE AND ALL OF DISTRICT ONE, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY RE RETIREMENT.
UM, AND WELCOME OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AS HE'S COMING ON WITH HIS NEXT MEETING MONDAY.
AND THEN I WANT TO, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPENT THE DAY WITH US HERE.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICES, UM, AND YOUR PASSION.
AND, UM, IT, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO, TO HEAR YOU AND, AND TO TAKE OUR VOTES ACCORDINGLY.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT THOUGH AT THE MOMENT.
UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, DR.
ESCOT AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENT, DR. LAUREN MEYERS, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE PROJECT.
I WANNA EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. MYERS AS THE, AS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ON THE LARGER AWARD FOR A PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS CENTER.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE NATION'S FIRST NATIONAL NETWORK FOR OUTBREAK RESPONSE AND DISEASE FORECASTING, AND IT'S GONNA BE HOUSED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN AT UT.
I WANNA THANK AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECMO FOR THEIR TERRIFIC WORK THAT HAS CULMINATED IN THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THAT WORK IS GOING TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS POISED TO RESPOND TO DISEASE OUTBREAKS AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
I ALSO WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM 93, WATCHING AN AUSTIN POET LAUREATE PROGRAM.
I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM MOVE FORWARD.
I BELIEVE THAT POETRY ADDS HUMANITY.
POETRY CAN SET THE SCENE AND ALTER THE COURSE OF CONVERSATIONS POETRY ENRICHES.
I DO, HOWEVER, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AUSTIN DOES HAVE A YOUTH POET LAUREATE.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY SON WAS CHOSEN AS THE YOUTH POET LAUREATE, UM, IN THE FALL OF 2022.
AND I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENJOY THE WAY THAT POETRY ADDED TO MANY EVENTS AND ENRICHED THE EXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENTS WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAMMING AS PART OF THE LAUREATE COHORT OR AS PART OF THE GROUP THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO.
THE YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM WILL BE A WONDERFUL PARTNER FOR THE AUSTIN POET LAUREATE PROGRAM, AND, AND I TRUST THAT THE LIBRARY WILL WORK, UH, WITH THEM.
UH, MY SON IS NOW A FRESHMAN AT YALE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF FINALS.
UM, OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE ASKED HIM TO SHARE A POEM WITH US TODAY.
UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR LITTLE POEM.
I THINK, I THINK I THINK WE NEEDED, WE NEEDED A LITTLE POETRY, UM, TODAY, UM, IN 2023, THOUGH THROUGH THE COURSE OF HIS TIME AS AN AUSTIN YOUTH POET LAUREATE, I, I DID SPEAK WITH THE THEN STATE POET LAUREATE ABOUT THIS.
SO I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UM, AND THE WRITER'S COMMUNITY CAME FORWARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
IT WAS ON MY BUCKET LIST OF GETTING DONE BEFORE I LEAVE, AND SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED, UM, TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER VA TO CLOSE.
AND IT'S, UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO ADD YOU AS A CO-SPONSOR TO, UH, ITEM 64.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND IF THE RECORD MAY REFLECT, UH, I'M PROUD TO BRING FORWARD MY OFFICE'S TRANSGENDER PROTECTION RESOLUTION TODAY, THANKS TO ALL OF THE BRAVE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INTIMIDATION TACTICS USED BY SOME OPPONENT OPPONENTS THIS MORNING.
UH, OPPONENTS OF THE MEASURE APPARENTLY SENT ARMED INDIVIDUAL TO INTIMIDATE SUPPORTERS AS THEY ENTERED CITY HALL.
THAT'S A VERY DISAPPOINTING AND TROUBLING, UH, WE GUNS JUST DON'T BELONG AT CITY HALL.
AND VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF, OR EVEN THREATS OF VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE.
TRANS PEOPLE DESERVE THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.
OUR STATE HAS FORCED THEM AND THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDERS INTO HIDING, AND THAT IS WRONG.
AUSTIN SHOULD NOT BE A PARTY TO THAT ANYMORE THAN WE LEGALLY HAVE TO BE.
AUSTIN KNIGHTS DO NOT PRIORITIZE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT OF RULES THAT LIMIT MEDICAL DECISIONS MADE BETWEEN FAMILIES AND
[04:30:01]
THEIR DOCTORS.WHETHER THAT'S A DECISION TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY OR HOW TO TREAT A CHILD STRUGGLING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA.
TRANS PEOPLE HAVE EXISTED SINCE PEOPLE HAVE EXISTED AND HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN PRACTICALLY EVERY CULTURE.
I SINCERELY HOPE THIS RESOLUTION WILL PROVIDE SOME SMALL COMFORT TO THE TRANS RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
WE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE TRAMPLING OF YOUR RIGHTS, AND WE ARE PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE IN AUSTIN WITH US.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE, ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 64.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NO VOTES THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN? UH, VOTING NO.
IN THAT CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 64.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NOW WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL
[Items 4 - 6]
TAKE UP ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF COME FORWARD AND MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS.
MY NAME IS SHAY RAW ROLSON AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WATER.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY OF ITEMS, UH, ON YOUR AGENDA FOR THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN, DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN UPDATES, AND THE CODE CHANGES THAT SUPPORT THOSE UPDATES.
I'D LIKE TO START BY ASSURING ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THAT AUSTIN WATER IS COMMITTED TO WATER CONSERVATION.
OUR HIGHEST VALUE WATER IS THE WATER WE DON'T USE.
AND AS WE CONVEY TO CITY COUNCIL, WHEN YOU ADOPTED THE RECENT RECLAIMED WATER REQUIREMENTS, OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO WATER CONSERVATION IS FOUNDATIONAL TO EVERYTHING WE DO IN NEAR AND LONG-TERM WATER RESOURCES PLANNING.
WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS FROM OUR WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS FROM 190 GALLONS PER PERSON PER DAY IN 2006, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 124 GALLONS PER PERSON PER DAY IN 2022.
CONSERVATION IS WHY WE HAVEN'T YET HIT THE TRIGGER FOR ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO LCRA ON THE 1999 WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.
WE HAVE COMMITTED SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE DIVISION OF STAFF FOCUSED ON WATER CONSERVATION.
WE'RE INDUSTRY LEADERS RECOGNIZED BY THE TEXAS LIVING WATERS PROJECT.
AS THE TOP RANKED LARGE CITY IN TEXAS FOR WATER CONSERVATION, WE CONTINUE TO RAMP UP OUR OUTREACH.
OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR WATER CONSERVATION COMMUNICATION IS $800,000.
UH, AND WE'VE ALSO RAMPED UP ENFORCEMENT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THOSE EFFORTS.
ON THE COMMUNICATION SIDE, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE JD POWER US WATER UTILITY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY, WHICH FOUND LAST YEAR THAT WE RANKED NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION FOR UTILITIES OF A SIMILAR SIZE FOR THE AWARENESS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, OF OUR WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM AND FOR OUR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.
WE CONTINUE TO RAMP UP OUR EFFORTS, UH, ROLLING OUT OUR AUTOMATED METERS, WHICH HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT WATER SAVINGS, AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT CONSERVATION.
SINCE 2020, WE ESTIMATE THAT THOSE LEAK ALERTS AND DIRECT TO CUSTOMER MESSAGES HAS RESULTED IN A SAVINGS OF 720 MILLION GALLONS, AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON REDUCING OUR WATER LOSS ON THE UTILITY SIDE.
AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR GOALS FOR WATER CONSERVATION, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BASE THOSE GOALS ON OUR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.
THOSE GOALS FEED INTO OUR WATER FORWARD PLAN, SO THEY MUST BE BOTH FORWARD THINKING AND ACHIEVABLE.
IF WE SET GOALS WE CAN'T MEET, WE RUN THE RISK OF CREATING A GAP IN OUR WATER SUPPLY PLAN.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO ENGAGEMENT AND WE WILL REVISE THOSE PLANS ALONGSIDE THE WATER FORWARD 2024 PLAN.
AND WHEN WATER FORWARD COMES TO COUNCIL AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE WILL ALSO BRING YOU UPDATED WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE THOSE PLANS AS ROBUST AS THEY CAN BE.
UM, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER WHO PULLED THE ITEM AND THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP POOL.
UM, SO PART OF THE REASON I WANTED TO PULL THIS WAS FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE COMMITMENT,
[04:35:01]
UM, TO CONSERVATION, UM, AND THESE EFFORTS, UM, BY AUSTIN WATER.UM, CAN YOU SPEAK ALSO TO THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THIS CONDENSED TIMEFRAME? WATER UTILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND A DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO THOSE PLANS ACROSS THE STATE ARE DUE NOW.
UM, AS A FIRM CUSTOMER OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY, OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN MUST BE AT LEAST AS RESTRICTIVE AS RA'S PLAN.
THEY UPDATED THEIR PLAN LAST MONTH, UH, AND SO WE NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR PLAN, UM, TO REFLECT THE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, A, A NEW STAGE, UM, SO A NEW DROUGHT STAGE THREE THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT WHEN THE COMBINED STORAGE OF LAKES, TRAVIS AND BUCHANAN IS AT 750,000 ACRE FEET.
TODAY, THE STORAGE IS AT 848,000 ACRE FEET.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADOPT THESE PLANS NOW SO THAT, UM, IN, IN THE NEXT LIKELY COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO STAGE THREE WHEN LCRA GOES TO STAGE THREE.
UM, WE ALSO CURRENTLY HAVE FUNDING FOR OUR, UM, MY A TX WATER SMART METER PROGRAM IN FRONT OF THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
AND THAT THE, THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD REQUIRES US TO HAVE A CURRENT WATER CONSERVATION PLAN IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
SO THERE, THERE IS A TIME SENSITIVITY OF SUBMITTING THESE PLANS AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO THE STATE.
UM, BOTH SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INVOKE STAGE THREE THIS SUMMER IF NECESSARY, AND SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FINISH, UM, OUR A TX WATER METER PROGRAM THAT'S HELPING US TO, TO ADDRESS THE LEAKS.
UM, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, WE ALSO DISCUSSED BRIEFLY THE COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION, UM, RATE, UM, IDEA THAT WAS BROUGHT UP THIS MORNING AND, AND, UM, YOU HAD SOME COMMENTS ON THAT.
CAN YOU SHARE WHAT AUSTIN WATER IS PLANNING WITH REGARDS TO THAT? WE ARE, UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A COST OF SERVICE STUDY AND, UH, AND WHICH WE WILL EVALUATE OUR RATE DESIGN, AND WE WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH PROPOSED RATES IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND, UH, OUR RATE STRATEGY INCLUDES, UH, A NEW IRRIGATION RATE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, JUST AS WAS RECOMMENDED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.
UM, AND WE'VE HAD A, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS OVER OUR WATER FUTURE BETWEEN WATER FORWARD AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I CREATED THE AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
AND, AND I THINK WHAT I, WHAT I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH AS WE, AS WE VOTE ON THESE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME TIME SENSITIVITY HERE.
UM, YOU HAVE PROMISED THAT YOU'LL AMEND THESE PLANS BASED ON FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE.
I, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH VALUE THE OPINIONS AND THE THOUGHTS AND THE IDEAS THAT COME FORWARD FROM THAT TASK FORCE.
AS DO I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND PART OF THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS JUST TO UNDERSCORE WHAT I THINK YOU ALREADY RECOGNIZED THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REITERATE THAT THIS DIOCESE IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
WE ARE, ARE COMMITTED TO FURTHERING CONSERVATION AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT AUSTIN WATER IS GONNA MOVE, UM, IN THAT DIRECTION.
WE HAVE IN MOTION THE UPDATE TO WATER FORWARD.
UM, WE HAVE IN MOTION THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS, ESPECIALLY THE TASK FORCE TO WEIGH IN.
UM, AND WE, IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT WELL, WE NEED TO PLAN BASED ON MAYBE CONSERVATIVE GOALS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING STEPS THAT MIGHT ALLOW US TO OVERSHOOT THOSE GOALS, UM, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE DROUGHT, UM, VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, MAYBE WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT IT EVEN AS A COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE WATER FORWARD PROCESS IS ABOUT.
UM, SO DON'T WANNA JUMP AHEAD TO THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT AUSTIN WATER IS TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHO OVER THE YEARS HAVE HELPED TO PUSH FORWARD PROGRAMS LIKE THE ORIGINAL WATER FORWARD, OR TO HELP US TO BE A PLACE THAT CAN SERVES MORE THAN AVERAGE, UM, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY JUST NEEDED US TO PAUSE A LITTLE BIT THIS AFTERNOON AND REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT BOTH AS A DAIS AND TO COMMIT TO COMMUNICATE OUR EXPECTATIONS, UM, TO AUSTIN WATER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT TO YOU ALL AND TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, THAT WE ARE HEAVILY INVESTED IN WATER CONSERVATION AND WE ARE INVESTED IN OUR, UH, OUR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
AND, UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE PORTFOLIOS OF STRATEGIES THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE WATER FORWARD 2024 UPDATE.
AND SO WE HAVE A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS AND CON CONVERSATIONS PLANNED WITH OUR WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE ON ALL OF THE STRATEGIES INCLUDING WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY.
AND AS THOSE DISCUSSIONS YIELD ADDITIONAL CHANGES WE CAN MAKE TO OUR PLANS, UH, WE WILL INCORPORATE THEM.
SO WE WILL BRING THE REVISED, UH, PLANS
[04:40:01]
WITH THE UPDATED WATER FORWARD PLAN TO YOU AND, AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND I ASSUME THAT THERE'LL BE A STOP AT THE AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ALONG THE WAY FOR DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY OF THE DROUGHT AND CONSERVATION PLAN UPDATES AND ALSO WATER FORWARD.AND I, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM YOU ALL HAD MADE PRESENTATIONS TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND THE WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION.
SO THESE, UM, THE, THE PLANS WERE, UH, WERE VOTING ITEMS AT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, UM, WHICH VOTED TO, UM, APPROVE BOTH PLANS EIGHT TO ZERO WITH ONE ABSTENTION, AND THEN AT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION.
UM, THEY APPROVED THE WATER CONSERVATION, THEY RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR APPROVAL, THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN, UM, SEVEN TO ONE, AND THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN EIGHT TO ZERO.
UM, I KNOW THAT WATER FORWARD IS AN ADAPTIVE PLAN, AND OUR STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AS YOU REITERATED AND EMPHASIZED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN, UH, THE PLANS.
UM, MAYOR, IF, IF THAT'S IT, I I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
I, I'LL TAKE THAT MOTION AND THERE'S A MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM TO APPROVE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, BUT I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU'LL BE, UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ON THE ITEMS IF THEY WISH TO SPEAK.
AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT ONE ELEMENT OF THIS THAT I THINK IN, IN THE, HOW WE GOT HERE, YOU KNOW, HAVE HEARD CONCERNS BOTH FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY, AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE TALKED TO ME, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARRIVED FIVE YEARS AFTER OUR 2019 GOALS TO WHERE WE WERE TODAY AND, AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WENT RIGHT AND WHAT DIDN'T.
AND SO THAT WHEN WE DO OUR NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN, UH, WE POSITION OURSELVES FOR SUCCESS SO THAT WE DO MEET THOSE GOALS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS UP HERE ABOUT SETTING GOALS AND, AND INVESTING AND ABLE TO MEET THEM.
AND SO, UH, I WOULD JUST, UH, ASK AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE LOOK AT, UH, NOT ONLY WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE, BUT REALLY ALSO THAT, THAT LOOK BACK OF, OF HOW DID WE GET HERE TODAY, JUST SO THAT WE CAN, UH, DOUBLE DOWN ON THE THINGS THAT WENT RIGHT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT THOUGH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX ARE ADOPTED.
ALRIGHT, THAT COMPLETES, UH, THAT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WHAT I PROMISE WE WOULD DO IS GO TO OUR TWO
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, FOR THOSE, UH, THAT ARE KEEPING TRACK, IT'S THREE 11, UM, SOME, SOME DAYS.I WAS TAKING A DIFFERENT MOTION AT THIS POINT.
BUT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, WHAT, WHAT IS IT YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED ON? UM, I JUST ACTUALLY WANTED TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO CAME SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK TO, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE THEM A GENERAL IDEA OF WHEN THAT MIGHT COME UP.
WE HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE ANY CLUE WHATSOEVER, IT WOULD BE NICE TO OFFER THEM THAT.
WELL, THE ONLY, WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON BOTH THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA AND THE ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PULLED.
AND IF THAT NUMBER IS HERE OR ROUGHLY IS HERE, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST AN HOUR.
AND THEN WE CAN, UH, WE CAN TAKE, UH, WELL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ITEM UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
UM, IF THERE'S, WHAT I WAS GONNA DO IS I WAS GONNA TAKE IT UP BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAD PER ITEM AFTER THAT, SO THAT WE WOULD, UH, HIT THE MOST SPEAKERS AND THEN GO ON THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, A HFC HAS THREE SPEAKERS.
UM, I'M ALSO, AS YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR COMMENTS, UM, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, I'M ALSO COGNIZANT OF THE NUMBER OF STAFF WE HAVE HERE FOR DIFFERENT ITEMS. I UNDERSTAND.
AND THAT ALLOW TO TRY TO ALLOW THEM TO GO.
SO I'M TRYING TO MANAGE SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THIS AGENDA UNDER THESE, UM, UH, UNDER THESE RULES.
SO THAT TAKES US TO THE ZONING ITEMS AND, UM, MS. HARDEN, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON YOU ALL DAY.
SO MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 80 C 4 20 22 0 0 9 0.
UM, THIS IS A STAFF REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT, UM, TO YOUR MAY 30TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 81 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 5 0.04.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MAY 30TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 82 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 7.
AGAIN, APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 30TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 84 C ONE FOUR H 20 23 0 1 37.
[04:45:01]
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ITEM 85 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 23 1 36.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 86 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 5 0.2.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 87 C 1 4 20 23 0 0 5 6.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
AND, UM, YOUR FINAL ITEM IS ITEM 89 C 4 8 5 2 8 8 6 2.
THIS ITEM WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA.
AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
WHAT I'LL DO IS I'M GONNA READ THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ASK FOR A MOTION BASED UPON WHAT I READ.
ITEM NUMBER 89 WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A SEPARATE ITEM, AND WE WILL ALSO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ITEM 89, TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 73 BECAUSE IT'S A RELATED ITEM, BUT THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ON ITEM NUMBER 80, A POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 30TH, 81, A POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 30TH, 82, POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 30TH, 83.
CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 84, CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, 85, CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 86 CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED ITEM TO 86 IS 87, CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
AND ITEM 88, ALL THREE READINGS.
IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HALL ALTER.
I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF THERE ARE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ.
YES, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE SOME IN PERSON.
I'VE GOT ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR NUMBER 80, PAT GRINE, FOLLOWED BY JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, AND THEN MEGAN KING ON 84 85.
ON ITEMS THAT ARE BEING POSTPONED, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THE SPEAKERS.
WE INVITE YOU TO, TO, TO SAY YOUR, WHAT YOU WANNA SAY, BUT IT WILL BE TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT AND NOT THE I MERITS OF THE ITEM ITSELF.
WOULD YOU CALL THE NAMES AGAIN? YES, PAT, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 80? OKAY.
THEN I HAVE JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, MEGAN KING, BOTH SPEAKING ON 84 AND 85 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES EACH.
I'M SORRY, I, I HAD TROUBLE HERE.
THEY'RE SPEAKING ON WHAT ITEMS? 84 AND 85.
I DO HAVE SOMEONE ON THE LINE FOR ITEM 84.
IS EVERYONE ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES.
UM, I, I'M, I'M JUST HERE AS I'M, I'M WATCHING THIS GET PUSHED THROUGH.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE NOTE AGAIN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION MADE TO THIS PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE OWNER'S WISHES ON THE HISTORIC ZONING.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP THE CHARACTER.
UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS HOME IS IN SUCH FAR DISREPAIR.
IT, IT REALLY DOES NOT MAKE ANY FINANCIAL SENSE TO REPAIR, UH, THIS HOME OTHER THAN RAISE IT OR MOVE IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS JUST KIND OF DONE OFF THE WHIM WITHOUT HAVING ANYBODY COME OUT AND WALK THE PROPERTY OR SEE THE CONDITION THAT'S IN BUCKLED FLOORS.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE CHARACTER OF THE HOME IS SO FAR GONE WITH, YOU KNOW, NEW T ONE 11 SIDING, BUT, UM, NOT GONNA BEAT A DEAD HORSE.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT TURNING BACK, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, UM, THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY AGAINST, UM, THE OWNER'S WISHES, UM, AND A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WENT THIS PATH.
UM, MA MATTHEW MEDINA, ALSO ON 85.
MAYOR, THAT'S ALL THE CONSENT SPEAK ZONING SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS, THOSE, THOSE ARE ALL, WHOOP, IS THERE SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE? OKAY.
UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I HAD A QUESTION.
SORRY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO PULL UP THE INFORMATION.
I THINK THE SPEAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT 85.
IS THAT THE HISTORIC ZONING THAT HAS A VALID PETITION FROM THE OWNER? THEY INDICATED 84, BUT IT'S 85.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION IS ITEM 84 AND OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I THINK WE WOULD NEED A SUPER MAJORITY ON THIS ITEM.
UM, THIS DID PASS FIRST READING WITH A SUPER MAJORITY AND, UM, WE'RE BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD.
[04:50:01]
YOU.I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON 84.
UM, ANYONE ANYONE WISHING TO SHOWN BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE? ON I ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? YES.
NO ONE, ANY FOUR CAST MEMBER RYAN ALTER OR YOU? THERE YOU ARE.
UM, I'M NOT CALLING YOU OUT, IT'S JUST THAT THE RULES REQUIRE THAT I CAN SEE YOU IF, IF YOU'RE GONNA VOTE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MEDICINE? I, I'LL JOIN ON 84.
ALRIGHT, WELL THEN WE'VE GOT MAY I'LL JOIN ON 84 AS WELL.
UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW I GOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAD TWO SPEAKERS AS THIS WAS GOING ON CONSENT, UM, ON 84.
WE'RE GONNA, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS ITEM 84, UM, BY THE SUPERMARKET WORK BY LONG SHOT
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA PULL, WE'RE GONNA PULL ITEM 84 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL REVISIT WHAT WE MIGHT DO WITH REGARD TO ITEM 84, UM, AFTER, AFTER WE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
ITEM NUMBER 84 IS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON MOVES, UH, MOVES TO AMEND THE MOTION BY WHICH, UH, THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ.
SO THAT WE WOULD PULL ITEM NUMBER 84 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEM NUMBER 84.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 84.
WHAT WERE YOU WANTING TO TELL ME, MS. HARDEN? YEAH, I JUST, YES, MAYOR, FIRST WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
THEY THOUGHT THIS ITEM WAS GOING ON CONSENT AS I READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
SO WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD THEY AND THEY WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND THEN CALLEN WILL, UM, LAY THIS ITEM OUT, A HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE, UH, BEFORE WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE PRESENTATION BY STAFF AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR A MOTION.
AND IF IT GETS A MOTION, THEN WE WILL HAVE THE SPEAKERS.
ITEM 84 C 14 H 20 23 0 1 3 7 MS. STON HOUSE, THIS IS DISTRICT THREE AT 1100 EAST SECOND STREET, UNIT A.
THIS IS AN OWNER OPPOSED REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING INITIATED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
UM, AFTER THEIR RECEIPT OF A DEMOLITION PERMIT, UH, APPLICATION FOR THE PROPERTY, THE HLC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BUILDING ON THE LOT MET THE CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.
UM, IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVED EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE HISTORIC PORTION OF THE HOMES FOOTPRINT ONLY.
MA'AM, I CAN'T BELIEVE THESE WORDS ARE COMING OUTTA MY MOUTH, BUT COULD YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE
AND THIS ITEM PASSED ON FIRST READING ON JANUARY 18TH OF THIS YEAR.
UM, 10 TO ONE ELLIS VOTING NAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAS A QUESTION.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MASON HAS A QUESTION.
I GUESS I, I I, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE, UH, OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING DESIGNATION.
HISTORICALLY, I, I DON'T LIKE TO VOTE FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION WHEN THE OWNER IS OPPOSED TO THE DESIGNATION.
SO I GUESS THE, THE QUESTION I DID HAVE THOUGH WAS WHEN YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING WHICH PART OF IT WAS DESIGNATED HISTORIC, CAN YOU DO THAT ONE MORE TIME AND THEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE USE OF THE ASSET? CERTAINLY.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, UM, THIS WAS KIND OF A, A COMPROMISE WHERE THE HISTORIC PORTION OF THE BUILDING,
[04:55:01]
THAT SMALL FOOTPRINT IS THE ONLY PART OF THIS LOT AND THIS STRUCTURE, UM, THAT WILL HAVE THE AGE ZONING APPLIED TO IT.SO THE REAR HALF OF THE BUILDING, UM, THE REST OF THE LOT, WHICH INCLUDES ANOTHER SMALL STRUCTURE, NONE OF THAT WILL BE, UH, ZONED HISTORIC.
IT WILL JUST BE THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THAT FRONT BUILDING ON THE LOT.
SO A FOOTPRINT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING, I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL.
BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO ENVISION IS HISTORICALLY WHEN I'VE, WHEN WE'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION AND FOLKS DON'T WANT THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY POST DESIGNATION.
I GUESS I, I SHOULDN'T ASK YOU TO SPEAK FOR THE APPLICANT, BUT CAN I WONDER IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE APPLICANT TO TELL US LIKE WHAT THEIR CONCERN IS WITH THIS TO YOUR DESCRIPTION? SMALL PART? IS IT, DOES IT MAKE THE REST OF IT NOT DEVELOPABLE OR, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT MEANS.
CERTAINLY, UM, THE PART OF THIS LOT, UM, WHICH IS EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING, UM, WILL NOT FALL UNDER HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS BECAUSE IT WON'T HAVE THAT H ZONING THAT REQUIRES, UM, THE, UH, THE MORE RESTRICTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
SO THE RESTRICTIONS WILL ONLY APPLY TO THE FOOTPRINT THAT'S ORIGINAL, UM, OF THE HOUSE.
WAS, TO FOLLOW UP ON HER QUESTION, WAS THE PERSON THAT SPOKE THE, WAS THE PERSON THAT SPOKE THE OWNER, YES.
I I, I'M, I THINK OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE HAD QUESTIONS, BUT THAT DIDN'T QUITE GET TO MY, TO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, WHICH IS I'M, I'M CONCERN OR I'M, I'M CURIOUS WHAT THEIR CONCERN IS WHERE THE SMALL PORTION BEING DESIGNATED H IF THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE TO ADHERE TO DESIGN STANDARDS BASED ON THE HI GUESS I'M JUST, I'M, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM THE OWNER OR THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, IS GO AHEAD AND, AND HAVE THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANNA TAKE A MOTION AT THAT POINT.
SO PLEASE COME, PLEASE CALL THE NAMES OF THE TWO, TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS JUAN AND HANG ON ONE SECOND.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR 84.
YES, IT WAS JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO AND THEN MEGAN KING.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND GO FOR IT.
MY NAME'S JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, MEMBER OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN, AND A MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TODAY EXPRESSING MY PERSONAL VIEWS, OBVIOUSLY NOT THOSE OF THE COMMISSION.
I'LL START OFF BY WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY PRESERVATION MONTH.
AS POLICYMAKERS OF THE CITY, YOU ALL HAVE THE CHANCE TO DIRECTLY IMPACT PRESERVATION EFFORTS THAT ARE WIDELY SUPPORTED ACROSS THIS CITY.
THE SEN HOUSE IS RELEVANT BECAUSE IT'S REACHED AN EXTREMELY HIGH BAR FOR LOCAL HISTORIC ZONING AGAINST AN OWNER'S WISHES.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE TAKE LIGHTLY AT ANY COMMISSION LEVEL.
OUR OUTDATED LOCAL ORDINANCES AND EXTREME STATE LAWS HAVE MADE PRESERVATION EFFORTS HARDER FOR THE CITY AND OTHERS ALIKE.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT TODAY OUR HOME HAS A REPUTATION OF BETRAYING ITS OLD SOUL.
PAST COUNCILS HAVE NEGLECTED WHAT THE HISTORIC COMMISSION DEEMS WORTHY OF SAVING SO MUCH SO THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION ARE OFTEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR VOICES BEING REJECTED AND EVEN CHASTISED FOR CLOGGING UP VIABLE COUNCIL AGENDA.
TIME PRESERVATION IS ALIVE IN AUSTIN, BUT IT'S NOT EXTREMELY WELL AS A HLC MEMBER, I HEAR FROM HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WHO ARE BEGGING THE CITY TO STOP TEARING DOWN REASONABLY PRICE PRICED HOUSING UNITS.
70 CITIZENS THREATENED TO ATTEND A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING LAST NIGHT BECAUSE THE CITY ALMOST ALLOWED DEMOLITION OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY BY A PREMIER AUSTIN ARCHITECT.
DOZENS MORE HAVE REACHED OUT TO US CONTINUALLY BECAUSE THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT CANNOT GET IT TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE HOUSE FROM FIRE, NOR A COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE ON CONGRESS AVENUE.
THIS INACTION IS ACROSS THE CITY.
AUSTINITES WILL KEEP EXPRESSING THEIR FRUSTRATIONS UNTIL THOSE IN POWER USE THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE.
WILL THIS DAIS HELP US BY CREATING LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS AGAINST AND OWNERS' WISHES WITH THIS FULL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, I ASK YOU TO RETHINK YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS AND ACT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL HAS LITTLE HESITATIONS TO WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS TO, TO ALLOW THEM MORE RIGHTS AND PROPERTY.
WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THE COMMUNITY? WE DO NEED YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THIS, UH, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ZONING.
A WELL-KNOWN CHILDREN'S BOOK SAYS IT BETTER THAN I CAN.
I SAT HERE WORRIED AND WORRIED AWAY THROUGH THE YEARS, WHILE MY BUILDINGS HAVE FALLEN APART.
I'VE WORRIED ABOUT IT WITH ALL MY HEART, BUT NOW SAYS THE LER.
[05:00:01]
YOU'RE HERE, THE WORD OF THE LORAX SEEMS PERFECTLY CLEAR.UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER.
ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? UM, UNLESS MEGAN KING.
I'M MEGAN KING, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE HOUSE AS A CITY OF AUSTIN HISTORIC LANDMARK.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE BUILDING AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND INDIVIDUAL LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE CASE IDENTIFIED ITS FOLK VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION WITH THE CARPENTER AND BUILDER CHARLES AS SIG IN AS THE BASIS FOR RECOMMEND ITS RECOMMENDATION.
FURTHERMORE, BOTH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION OVERWHELMINGLY RECOMMENDED THIS PROPERTY FOR DESIGNATION.
WE'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THE CITY MUST TAKE ITS SURVEYS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR COMMISSIONS SERIOUSLY.
SURVEYS TELL US ABOUT OUR CITY, WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE MUST PROTECT.
AND IF WE ARE NOT ACTING ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ARE FAILING TO STEWARD OUR RAPIDLY VAN VANISHING HISTORY, PARTICULARLY IN EAST AUSTIN.
PROPERTIES LIKE THIS HOUSE HAVE HOUSED EAST AUSTIN'S WORKING CLASS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS FOR DECADES.
WITH EACH OLDER AND HISTORIC HOME, WE LOSE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE COMMUNITIES IS CEMENTED.
FURTHERMORE, IN THE WAKE OF THE PASSAGE OF THE PRESERVATION BONUS, THIS PROPERTY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW IN AUSTIN'S HOUSING MARKET OF TODAY, A HOME LIKE THIS COULD BE PRESERVED, RETAINING THE INTEGRAL HISTORIC CHARACTER OF EAST AUSTIN, WHILE ALSO PRESERVING THE INHERENT AFFORDABILITY OF OLDER HOMES.
WE NEED A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE PRESERVATION BONUS THAT MAKES PROJECTS LIKE THIS VIABLE AND WE APPRECIATE THIS COUNCIL'S EFFORT IN MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
NOT EVERY HOME THAT ACCESSES THE BONUS NEEDS TO BE A LANDMARK, BUT THIS ONE IS ONE SUCH PROPERTY THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS WORTHINESS FOR DESIGNATION BY THE CRITERIA SET OUT IN OUR OWN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE NEED TO ACT URGENTLY WITH THE TOOLS THAT WE DO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT WHAT STILL REMAINS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON IT.
THIS, THIS ITEM REQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S, WELL, THIS ITEM REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY TO EVEN PASS ON SECOND READING.
SO, UM, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE'LL JUST, WE'LL JUST VOTE THIS OUT.
UM, UNLESS MS. HARDEN HAS SOMETHING ELSE SHE WANTS TO SAY.
SO ON SECOND READING, IT COULD PASS BY SIX VOTES ON THIRD READING.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'VE BEEN JUST ADVISED BY COUNSEL, BUT THEN AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHAT THIRD, NO, WE, WE, WE NOW HAVE THESE MEETINGS WHERE EVERYBODY'S GOT AN OPINION.
SO, UM, TELL US YOUR OPINION, COUNSEL.
WELL, I DID TOO, BUT I WAS JUST TOLD BY COUNSEL I NEEDED TO HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS IT ON SECOND READING.
SO I'M, I'M GOING TO LET COUNSEL EXPLAIN HERSELF.
I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION BEING ASKED AND THAT AS, AS THE MAYOR IS MINE, AS MAYOR WAS CORRECT IN THAT YOU TOLD HIM THAT, RIGHT? YES, THE MAYOR IS CORRECT THAT I TOLD HIM THAT I MISUNDERSTANDING THE QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, WELL THEN IN THAT CASE WE MAY SQUEAK OUT A SECOND.
READING
UM, SECOND READING ONLY ON SECOND.
THE MOTION IS ON SECOND READING ONLY.
TH THOSE, THOSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING.
WE HAVE SECOND, SECOND READING ONLY.
HE'S, HE'S GOT, HE'S SAYING A, UM, YEAH, THOSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
THE MOTION PASSES ON A VOTE OF NINE TO TWO WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, ELLIS AND KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 84 PASSES ON SECOND READING ONLY.
UM, AND WHEN WE BRING THIS ITEM BACK, WE'LL HAVE SOME VISUALS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO BETTER EXPLAIN AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR QUESTION AND PROBABLY TO THE OTHERS.
UM, ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 89.
UM, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEM 89.
WE WILL FINISH WITH ITEM NUMBER 89, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO BRING UP ITEM NUMBER 73.
[05:05:02]
UM, AFTER WE DO THAT, WE WILL PROBABLY, UH, GO TO, UH, THE ITEM THAT WAS ASKED ABOUT BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.SO, UH, STAFF WILL YOU LAY OUT, AND HERE'S THE, THE ROUTE WE'RE GONNA TAKE.
UH, AS, AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST ON CONTESTED ITEMS LIKE THIS, UH, WE WILL HAVE STAFF, UH, HAVE STAFF LAY OUT THE ITEM.
THEN WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE PROPONENT FOR FIVE MINUTES.
WE WILL HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OPPONENT MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM, AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR CLOSING.
AND WE'LL, UH, THEN TAKE UP THE ITEM, UH, AS, AS A COUNSEL.
SO WITH THAT MS. HARDEN, IT'S ALL YOURS.
JOY HARDIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ITEM 89 ON YOUR AGENDA.
THE SUNSET RIDGE APARTMENT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT LOCATED AT 84 0 1 AND 84 0 1 AND A HALF SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
THE APPLICANT REQUEST TO AMEND THE COVENANT TO ADD THE MULTIFAMILY USE AS A PERMITTED USE AND INCREASE THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO TO ONE TO ONE, WHICH IS THE PERMITTED FLORIDA AREA RATIO ALLOWED IN GEO.
AND THAT IS GEO IS THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR THIS PROPERTY.
THE APPLICANT HAS STATED THAT THEY ARE MAKING THESE REQUESTS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROGRAM.
THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSING AN IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 55%.
THE COVENANT TODAY STATES THAT OFFICE USE HAS AN IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 55%, BUT ALL OTHER USES HAVE AN IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 65%.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO MAKE, MAINTAIN THE SAME IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT IS ALLOWED FOR THE OFFICE USE, WHICH IS AGAIN, 55%.
STAFF DOES RECOMMEND ALLOWING THE MULTIFAMILY USE AND AN INCREASE IN THE FAR.
THE SITE IS AN APPROPRIATE SITE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT IN 2017.
IN THE LAST ANNUAL REPORT, 2022 HOUSING WORKS, AUSTIN IDENTIFIED THAT COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT HAD ONLY ATTAINED 2% OF THE DISTRICT'S 10 YEAR GOAL FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
APPROVING THIS RESTRICTED COVENANT AGREEMENT WOULD HELP ADD ADDITIONAL INCOME, RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT FURTHERING THIS ADOPTED GOLD.
AGAIN, THE SONY ON THIS PROPERTY IS G-O-C-O-N-P, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE APPLICANT, AGAIN, DOES PLAN ON BUILDING UNDER AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED AND HAS RECEIVED A CERTIFICATION LETTER FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WHICH YOU CAN FIND IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION.
UM, DID, UM, THE APPLICANT'S GONNA COME UP AND IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS FOR ME, THE APPLICANT WILL DO THIS FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WELL, LET'S DO THAT.
MAYOR PROAM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT IN THE SPIRIT OF TODAY.
I'LL SAY TO BE OR NOT TO BE, NOT JUST NUMBER 93, BUT AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S THE BEST I COULD COME UP WITH.
WHAT THIS IS TONIGHT IS, IS ASKING FOR THE ALLOWANCE TO DO AN AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROJECT.
UM, IT'S TO AMEND AN OLD RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT, THAT IN, IN 87 DIDN'T ANTICIPATE OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
IT'S NOT A ZONING CASE, IT IS NOT A SITE PLAN CASE.
IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO AN OLD RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WILL ALLOW AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED ON A PROPERTY THAT'S NOT ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY, BUT IS ZONED APPROPRIATELY FOR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
IT ALSO, IT ALSO LIMITS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 55% WHEN, WHEN IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT IT WOULD BE 65% AND IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR A ONE-TO-ONE FLORIDA AREA RATIO.
WHAT THE RESULT OF AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE TONIGHT WOULD MEAN IS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED FOR 444 MORE UNITS.
222 OF THEM WOULD BE AFFORDABLE, 101 OF THEM AT 50% MFI, 77% OF THEM, OR 77 OF THEM AT 60% MFI AND 44 AT 80% AND THE REST OF 'EM AT MARKET.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE FOUR OR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY'RE NOT HERE TODAY, BUT COMMON SENSE WOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE AND TELL YOU IT'S, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE CASE TONIGHT.
[05:10:01]
WE WOULD TAKE THE OPPOSITION AT THIS POINT FOR FIVE MINUTES.I WAS ALSO 33 MINUTES BY SOMEBODY HERE.
THE WAY WE DO THIS, YOU CAN MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR FIVE OR YOU CAN WAIT AND, AND TAKE YOUR THREE MINUTES IN THE THREE MINUTES.
BUT WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND THEN FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE GO TO SPEAKERS.
SO YOU CAN EITHER BE ONE OF THE REGULAR SPEAKERS OR YOU CAN TAKE FIVE MINUTES NOW, MAKES IT FOR THE FIVE.
OKAY COUNSEL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
YOU GET THE SLIDE DECK FOR US.
YOU'RE NOT COUNTING MY TIME RIGHT NOW.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY, WEST HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF, UH, ACTUALLY AN OPPOSITION TO THIS FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS THAT'LL COME BEHIND ME AND YOU'LL HEAR IT LATER.
I'LL MAKE IT REALLY SIMPLE THOUGH.
IT'S AFFORDABILITY IS A KNOWN THING IN THIS CITY.
THIS IS NOT AN OPPOSITION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
BUT NOTE THAT, CAN YOU PULL THROUGH THE SLIDES PLEASE? UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, MORE THAN A THOUSAND HOMEOWNERS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THIS.
THEY'RE IN OPPOSITION TO IT, NOT BECAUSE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THE PLAN.
FOR OAK HILL NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST, HOA, WE HAVE THE ESCARA, HOA, BARTON CREEK, SOUTHWEST, HO AANA, HOA, ESCAL, HOA, OAK HILL ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, WHO ARE ALL IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.
IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PUT A VALID PETITION ON FILE WITH ALMOST 90% OF THE HOMEOWNERS THAN 2020, EXCUSE ME, 200 FEET OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHAT AM I DOING STANDING UP HERE? FOR THOSE OF YOU MIGHT BE GOING, OH, IT'S A WHITE GUY FROM WEST AUSTIN.
OF COURSE HE DOESN'T WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOR CONTEXT, ME AND MY WIFE BOTH GREW UP HERE IN EAST AUSTIN, DELL VALLEY.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT KNEW THAT IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES, THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU.
MY WIFE IS AN EDUCATOR AT OAK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT SERVES THIS AREA.
I AM WELL AWARE OF THE NEED OF AFFORDABILITY IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THIS TOWN IS NOT ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY MUCH MORE IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS BEHIND IT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRACKS REAL QUICK.
YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE, NEXT SLIDE.
HUGE, 48.21 SQUARE MILES, PRETTY LARGE.
THE LITTLE BLUE SECTION YOU SEE ON THE LEFT THERE IS A LITTLE BITTY TRACT.
Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE ALL SEEN THIS IN YOUR EMAIL 'CAUSE I'VE EMAILED YOU ALL THIS INFORMATION MULTIPLE TIMES.
TRACK 1920 IS MERELY 3.8 MILES.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT DISTRICT EIGHT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE BLUE DOTS REPRESENT THE EXISTING DEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT EXIST IN TRACK 19 POINT 20.
THE RED DOT REPRESENTS SUNSET RIDGE.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, THE THE LITTLE SQUIGGLY ONE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ON THE DOCKET FOR YOU GUYS FOR 60 ACRES TO GET DEVELOPED INTO MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEEPLY, UH, UH, DEEP DENSITY AT 36 TO 54 UNITS PER ACRE.
ANOTHER LAYER OUT THE OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS MAY NOT BE IN 1920, BUT THEY'RE A STONE'S THROW AWAY.
YOU CAN 0.33 MILES AWAY, ALL OF THE DENSITY OF MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND DISTRICT EIGHT, YOU'RE CRAMMING INTO ONE AREA.
WHAT'S THE EFFECT OF THAT? LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
WHAT IT'S REALLY IS, IS A CONSOLIDATION OF POVERTY.
THIS HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY, THIS ATTRACTIVE LAND WE'RE PROPOSING MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE 50% MFI IS 19.2%, 19.3% POVERTY VERSUS 3.3% DISTRICT AVERAGE.
IT'S A CONSOLIDATION OF MINORITIES.
65% OF THIS ATTRACTIVE LAND IS MINORITIES VERSUS 27.7% IN THE ENTIRE REST OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
IT'S A CONSOLIDATION OF LOW HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THIS TRACT OF LAND IS 64 GRAND VERSUS 147 GRAND FOR THE REST OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
IT'S A CONSOLIDATION OF OUR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
OAK HILL ELEMENTARY HAS ALMOST 50%, ALMOST 50% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED KIDS.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE STATISTICS.
THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE REMAINING AVERAGE OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
IT'S ALSO A CONSOLIDATION OF STUDENTS THAT ARE BEHIND IN THEIR PEERS, RIGHT? IT'S THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOL IN ALL OF DISTRICT EIGHT ELEMENTARIES.
SO I'M FAILING TO SEE HOW NOBLE AS IT MAY BE, AND AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TAKING POOR, DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND SHOVING THEM INTO A DISADVANTAGED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THERE'S THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY IN THE AREA, MAKES ANY SENSE? I SUPPORT IT.
LET'S FIND IT AREAS WHERE IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO BUILD IT, WHERE THERE'S TRANSIT, WHERE IT'S NOT TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVER AND A MILLION OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR ABOUT.
SO IN SUMMARY, THIS IS NOT A VOTE AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WOULD NEVER WANT YOU GUYS TO GO ON A VOTE.
GO ON THE RECORD VOTING AGAINST THAT.
I WANT YOU TO VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S A VOTE AGAINST SOCIOECONOMIC AND RACIAL SEGREGATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
[05:15:01]
DISTRICT.IT'S AGAINST CONFINING FAMILIES WHO ARE AT OR NEAR POVERTY TO THE SAME GEOGRAPHY.
IT'S AGAINST CONSOLIDATING ALREADY VULNERABLE KIDS INTO AN OVERCROWDED, DISADVANTAGED, AND LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL.
AND IT'S AN AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF LOW EARNERS AND FAILURE TO SET THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A WHOLE LOT OF ARGUMENTS IN A MOMENT THAT SHOW YOU ALL OF THE OTHER REASONS YOU'RE SETTING UP THESE FAMILIES.
AND IT'S NOT SETTING 'EM UP FOR SUCCESS, WE'RE GONNA FAIL THEM.
SO UNLESS YOU SUPPORT THE IDEALS ABOVE, THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE WOULD BE FOR YOU GUYS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, AGAINST THE SITE PLAN AND AGAINST THE WHOLE PROJECT.
CAN I, CAN I ASK YOU TO GO BACK? YES.
AND I JUST START, GO TO THE SLIDES AND FLIP THROUGH 'EM REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO GO, GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
UM, GO BACK TO THE ONE JUST BEFORE THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT, UM, THAT, AND I, I'VE SEEN THE EMAILS ABOUT REFERRING TO THIS AS REDLINING.
YOU'RE MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE ARE ALL GONNA BE MINORITY, RIGHT? NO, I I'M SAYING THAT THE TRACT ALREADY HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, MINORITY.
I'M SAYING, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS A CONSOLIDATION OF MINORITIES INTO AN AREA SO THAT YOU'RE CALLING IT REDLINING.
AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY'RE GONNA BE MINORITY? WELL, REDLINING, ACTUALLY, I, I PROBABLY MISUSED THAT TERM 'CAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY MORE REFERRED TO IN THE MORTGAGE LENDING SPACE IN TERMS OF THAT RIGHT.
YEAH, BUT I, I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY,
I THINK THAT WOULD ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
STATISTICALLY AND HISTORICALLY, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE, HAVE HAD A LOWER INCOME, SO YOU JUST MAKING THAT ASSUMPTION ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT YOU'RE THEN IN A POSITION TO TAKE THAT IPSO FACTO THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF REDLINING OCCURRING.
SO I'M, I'M RETRACTING THE REDLINING STATEMENT OF IT.
AGAIN, THAT'S RELATED TO, TO MORTGAGE LENDING THAT WAS MISUSED.
I'M SAYING THAT THERE'S ALREADY A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MINORITIES IN THE AREA, AND HISTORICALLY OR STATISTICALLY MINORITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN THAT, THAT AUDIENCE.
AND SO THERE IS A, A REASONABLE ASSUMPTION OR A REASONABLE CONCLUSION SOMEONE COULD DRAW THAT SAYS WE, WE MIGHT BE ADDING TO THAT, WHICH IS UNFAIR TO THOSE FAMILIES.
THE, THE, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT YOUR PRESENTATION IS, UM, THE IDEA THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA THAT HOUSES PEOPLE BELOW THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, THAT WE SHOULD REJECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AGAIN, JUST OUT OF, OUT OF SIGHT, WE, WE OUGHT TO JUST SAY NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEARBY.
HELP ME WITH THAT ARGUMENT BECAUSE, UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, THAT AT A TIME WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MM-HMM.
SO TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT A, A FIGHT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS AGAINST ANY, ANY STRUCTURE OF THIS SIZE, SCOPE, AND DENSITY ON THIS PIECE OF LAND.
IF YOU WANNA GET IT TO A 25% AND IMPERVIOUS COVER AND LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER AVER SPRINGS, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT, AND HAVE A 2.25 TO ONE FAR LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, EVERY OTHER MULTI-FAMILY IN THE AREA ADHERES THOSE STANDARDS.
BRING IT ON, LET'S BRING THEM IN.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THIS MONSTROSITY THAT BELONGS IN AN URBAN DISTRICT AND SHOVING IT OUT IN THE CORNER AWAY FROM, EXCEPT THE WAY YOU'VE ARGUED.
YOUR CASE HAS NOT THAT WHAT THE, THE WHOLE PRESENTATION HAS BEEN ABOUT.
LET'S DO AWAY WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE VERY FIRST SLIDE ACTUALLY ARTICULATED WE'RE AGAINST ANYTHING OF THIS SIZE, SCOPE, AND DENSITY ON THIS PARCEL LAND.
IF YOU WANNA GO BACK TO SLIDE ONE.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.
WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM THE PROPONENTS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
UM, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES APIECE.
CASSIE, LINDEN, CASSIE, LINDEN.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE I HAVE LISTED FOR FOUR.
MY NAME IS CASSIE LEIDEN AND I'M A PARAMEDIC WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I ACTUALLY LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSITION.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND CAN'T AFFORD TO DO SO CURRENTLY.
[05:20:01]
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE EMS SYSTEM, OR SORRY, THREE EMS STATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN DISTRICT EIGHT AND, UM, OUR NEW EMPLOYEES, IT'S JUST OUT OF THEIR REACH TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK THAT CLOSE TOGETHER.UH, FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, ONE OF OUR MEDICS WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH US FOR OVER 10 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE AREA FOR THE MOST PART.
UH, MY MOM IS ALSO A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER.
SHE MOVED TO THE AREA, SHE'S ON A FIXED INCOME AND IT TOOK US, EXCUSE ME, A VERY LONG TIME TO BE ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE.
AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA.
ALSO, IT'S CLOSE TO THE CAP METRO PICKUP ZONE AND THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED UNITS, UH, MANY OF THEM WOULD BE AT THE AFFORDABLE RATE AND SO THAT WOULD BE HUGE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I DO HAVE ONE MORE THAT JUST NOTIFIED US TO BE IN FOUR LUIS OLUGO.
HEY AARON, NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN.
LUIS OLUGO, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.
UM, UM, I'LL BE CRAIG KAPA SINCE I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.
UM, I AM, UH, A, UH, I LIVE JUST NORTH OF UH, UH, BARN CREEK MALL.
IT'S A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GOT GREAT SCHOOLS AND IT'S A WONDERFUL AREA, BUT AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE, UH, HAUNTING THIS AREA OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT, UM, DESPITE WHAT THEY CLAIM ABOUT, OH, IT'S ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALISM, IT'S ABOUT THE SCHOOL, IT'S, IT'S, THEY'LL COME UP WITH EVERY SINGLE EXCUSE TO BLOCK AND, AND BAN ANY SINGLE PROJECT THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HARM IT CAUSES TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NO MATTER HOW, UH, SO MUCH STRAIN, HOW GOES THROUGH THE SCHOOLS, GETTING A TEACHER INTO ANY SCHOOL IN, IN THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT OR THIS ENTIRE AREA IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMMUTING FROM SAN MARCOS TO COME WORK IN OUR DISTRICT AND OUR AREAS BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY BY FEW LOUD VOICES WHO MUST EITHER NOT HAVE JOBS OR NOT HAVE FAMILY THAT CAN TEND TO, OR HERE INSTEAD TO BLOCK AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE NONSENSE THING TO DO.
UM, I REALLY HOPE, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ACTUALLY THE GUY PRESENTED THAT WE SHOULDN'T JUST HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS TRACK.
I HOPE TO HAVE IT, UH, RIGHT BY WHERE I LIVE.
YOU KNOW, WALSH CHARLTON'S A WONDERFUL AREA FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SPY GLASS, OAK HILL, EVERY SINGLE PART OF DISTRICT EIGHT SHOULD GET BOTH MARKET RATE AND NON-MARKET RATE HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CITY NEEDS.
AND IF IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE STOPPED, WE STOPPED LETTING BUSY BODIES WHO DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BETTER THAN TO DO, THAN TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES WORSE AND TO MAKE THE CITY, UH, UH, CAUSE THE CITY TO BE UNDER MORE STRAIN ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY AND CULTURALLY.
IT SIMPLY HAS NO BUSINESS IN THIS ENTIRE CITY.
AND IT'S THAT KIND OF LIFE THAT CAUSES SAN FRANCISCO TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH, UH, DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION, EVICTIONS, HOMELESSNESS, A FISCAL CRISIS THAT IT SIMPLY CANNOT HANDLE.
UM, AND SO YEAH, SO I'M ALL FOR MAKING ANY REGULATIONS AND CHANGES TO MAKE PROJECTS LIKE THIS A COMMON EVERYWHERE IN OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT.
AND I WOULD BE LOVE TO SEE SOME LIKE THIS COME UP IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S TROUBLE SAD TO SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE TRY TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME CANCELING ONES IN THEIRS.
SO THAT'S EVERYTHING I GOTTA SAY ABOUT THAT.
MAYOR, SHOULD I CALL THOSE THAT ARE AGAINST NOW? YES.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVINA DOE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST.
I'M CURRENTLY OUTTA STATE AND APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN FAITH MEETING, BUT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER.
MY HOME IS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE ZERO CONFIDENCE AND MANY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AND THE LACK OF EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS PERFORMED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE TOPICS MY NEIGHBORS ARE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY, BUT THE TOPIC I AM BRINGING FORTH TO YOU IS RELATED TO CANYON SPRING, WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS A SPRING BY THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
THIS SPRING IS LOCATED ON THE PARCEL OF LAND WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY.
UM, ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE MY FIRST SLIDE? IT, UH, NOT SURE IF IT'S IN ORDER.
CANYON SPRING AND CARS FORMATIONS ON LAND PARCEL.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS SPRING IS IN AN EDWARDS AQUIFER.
BARTON CREEK WATERSHED CONTRIBUTING ZONE CANYON SPRING IS LOCATED ON LAND PARCEL REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER.
[05:25:01]
INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NO CRITICAL OR UNDESIRABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.THE 2024 SURVEY SHOWS A CLEAR LACK OF CREDIBILITY AS IT RELIES HEAVILY ON INACCURATE SURVEY FINDINGS FROM 2002 IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS CAR FORMATIONS, A A KNOWN SINKHOLE IS ON THIS LAND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT CONTACTING THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES TO INVESTIGATE THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY BALANCE BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THIS IMPORTANT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THAT SHOWS POSSIBLE SPRING THEY'VE DONE IT.
SO HERE THERE ARE, OKAY, GREAT.
THERE ARE TWO PHOTOS EXTRACTED FROM, UH, THE 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT IDENTIFICATION OF CANON SPRING LOCATED IN THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CITING A POSSIBLE, UH, SPRING IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND AN EXPERT EFFORT SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY NICO HORT AND THE BALCONES CANYON MAN'S CONSERVATION PLAN ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SINKHOLE WITH CARS FEATURE THEY HAVE SHOWN.
OKAY, SHOWN HERE ARE TWO MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY.
THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT SHOWS A SINKHOLE DESCRIBED AS A PIT.
THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS A CAR FEATURE DESCRIBED AS A VOID.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SINKHOLE AND THE MANY CAR FEATURES ON THIS PROPERTY.
AGAIN, THIS REQUIRES AN EXPERT EFFORT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ADDRESS THESE INADEQUACIES.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE REGARDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT'S REVIEW OF CANYON SPRING AFTER INSPECTION IS 2014 AND AGAIN JANUARY 20, 24.
THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
SO I WILL GO INTO IN PERSON AND THE NEXT SEVERAL WE HAVE REQUESTED SPEAK IN A SPECIFIC ORDER, SO I WILL CALL ON THAT ORDER.
UH, JUSTIN JENSEN, FOLLOWED BY STUART GOODMAN, CHRIS NEWPORT, EACH WITH THREE MINUTES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JUSTIN JENSEN.
I'M THE STEWARD OF 11 ACRES AT 54 15 CHAVIS COOK ROAD.
I MANAGE THIS PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO MY NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND TO THE PRAIRIE BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI TRIBE, WITH WHICH I HAVE DEEP ROOTS.
THE TP IN THE IMAGE IS ON MY PROPERTY AND THE FOREST BEHIND IT IS THE SUNSET RIDGE DEVELOPMENT SITE.
THE LOTS THAT I OVERSEE ARE SHOWN IN ORANGE AND SHARE A BORDER ON THE WEST OF THE PROPOSED SUNSET RIDGE DEVELOPMENT.
WE CALL THE PROPERTY
THE LAND WAS ACQUIRED WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF SURROUNDING BUILDING REGULATIONS.
THE PROPERTY IS AN OPERATING HU HONEYBEE FARM, AND DESPITE DEDICATED EFFORTS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP HIVES ALIVE.
NEARLY HALF OF US BEEHIVES ARE LOST EVERY YEAR DUE TO LOSS OF FORGING AREA.
WE ALSO TREAT THE LAND AS A WILDLIFE REFUGE.
THE FLOOR AREA RATIO IS 50 TIMES LESS THAN THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DENSE FOREST EAST OF OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE I WALK ALONGSIDE IT DAILY.
IT'S INHABITED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF WILDLIFE.
I PLACED A TRAIL CAMERA ALONG THE FENCE LINE AT THE LOCATION INDICATED BY THE WHITE CIRCLES OVER TWO MONTHS.
THE CAMERA CAPTURED 548 ANIMAL IMAGES.
A SAMPLE OF THE PHOTOS ARE SHOWN HERE.
FOXES, COYOTES, AND BOBCATS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ANIMALS THAT HAPPENED TO WALK BY MY CAMERA.
I ALSO RECORDED BIRDS FOR JUST AN HOUR AND ANALYZED THEM USING CORNELL'S MERLIN ENGINE, WHICH REVEALED 26 DIFFERENT BIRDS SPECIES.
I RECENTLY RETRIEVED THE PHOTO OF THE CAT SHOWN ON THE LEFT FROM THE SAME TRAIL CAMERA.
THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT IS AN OCELOT FROM A SOUTH TEXAS WILDLIFE REFUGE.
I'M AWAITING ANALYSIS FROM THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE RESEMBLANCE IS UNDENIABLE.
THE AREA IS ALSO A HABITAT ZONE FOR THE GOLDEN SHEIK WARBLER.
BOTH SPECIES ARE IN DANGER DUE TO HABITAT LOSS AND WARRANT FURTHER EVALUATION BEFORE ANY DEVELOPMENT IS APPROVED.
THE CITY'S FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME OF THE MEETINGS REGARDING THIS DEVELOPMENT MUST ALSO BE NOTED AS WELL AS THE DENIAL FOR ME TO VIEW THE SITE PLAN.
I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE SITE PLAN IN A RECORDING OF A MEETING THAT I WAS NOT INVITED TO, AND I SEE WHY NO ONE WAS EAGER TO SHARE IT WITH ME.
THE PLAN CLEAR CUTS THE FOREST BORDERING OUR PROPERTY PROPERTY AND LEAVES A SINGLE TREE BETWEEN US.
440 UNITS IS TOO MANY FOR THIS PROPERTY.
PLEASE VOTE NO TO CLEAR CUTTING OIL GROWTH FOREST TO DESTROYING WILDLIFE HABITAT, TO CHANGING
[05:30:01]
BUILDING REGULATIONS WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED RESTRICTIVE COVERED AMENDMENT.
UH, THIS PROPOSED LAND PARCEL IS LOCATED IN THE DELICATE ECOSYSTEM OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE THAT SERVES AS A HABITAT FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, AS WELL AS IMPORTANTLY FEEDING THE SHORT SPRINGS BRANCH.
IT'S ALSO LOCATED ON HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY WITH VISTAS THAT ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST POINTS IN THE AREA WITH COURSE FORMATIONS THROUGHOUT, THEREBY A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA BY ANY STANDARD, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS TO ALLOW FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND AN IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 55% OF THE GROSS SITE AREA, FAR EXCEEDING THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE.
THAT LIMITS A DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA TO 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER BASED ON NET SIDE AREA.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE WAS INITIATED BY CITI, THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AND ENACTED IN 1992 TO PROTECT OUR SPRINGS FROM AN SUCH ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS SIZE, SCOPE, AND DENSITY.
THE POSITION AND DESIRES OF THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS CANNOT BE DISREGARDED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS NOT AN OPPOSITION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL BE 4.4 TIMES AS DENSE AS A RECENTLY COMPLETED APARTMENT COMPLEX ACROSS THE STREET.
BY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE, THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST AND MOST DENSE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT ANYWHERE IN THE AREA AND IN AN EXTREMELY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA WHERE THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN HAVE EXPRESSLY VOICED THAT THEY WANT PROTECTED FROM ANY MASSIVELY SIZED AND DENSE DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THIS ONE AS LOCATED ON A HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY.
IT IS ALREADY DEFINED AS A LOW INTENSITY ZONE BY THE CITY.
NO PERMITTING OF THIS PROPERTY WAS INITIATED PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE IN 1992.
THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS LI THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE.
LIMITING IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 25% OF NET SIDE AREA APPLIES TO THIS PROPERTY.
FOR THIS PROPERTY, WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR LEGAL BASIS FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE, ALONG WITH A LEGAL PRECEDENT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS AND THEIR STAFF.
SHOULD ANY SITE BE APPROVED THAT EXCEEDS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT OF 25% NET SITE AREA IS DEFINED UNDER SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE.
AS PER CITY CODE, WE PLAN TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE APPLICANT.
AFTER CHRIS NEWPORT, WE HAVE KRISTEN JACOBS, PATRICIA GIBSON, AND SHEILA ANDERSON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY, COUNTRY WEST.
UH, THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROGRAM INCENTIVIZES DEVELOPERS TO STACK AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, EVEN IF IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, EVEN IF IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A 400% INCREASE IN THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO, THE FAR FROM 0.25 TO 1.0.
UH, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER, LAND LAND, THIS PARCEL IS LOCATED IN A LOW INTENSITY ZONE ON A HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY.
BUT A CHANGE IN THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO WOULD RESULT IN A HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND THE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES IN A LOW INTENSITY AREA, GENERALLY I'M AT THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO TO 0.20.
UM, IF THE SLOPE GRADIENT IS, IS UNDER 15%, THIS PROPERTY HAS A SLOPE GRADIENT OF OVER 15%, WHICH WOULD, THE GUIDELINES WOULD, WOULD PRESCRIBE A 0.08 FAR.
THEY DON'T WANT 0.08, THEY DON'T WANT 0.25, THEY WANT ONE TO ONE.
JUNE APARTMENT COMPLEX, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA IN TERMS OF THE SCALE, THEY PUT 182 UNITS ON 36 ACRES.
UH, THIS DEVELOPER IS ASKING YOU TO PUT 440 UNITS ON HALF OF THE SIZE OF PROPERTY.
UH, THAT TYPE OF DENSITY IS INCREDIBLY DESTRUCTIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, I LOOKED AT THE SIX RECENT DEVELOPMENTS UP SOUTH DOWN ALONG SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
UH, ALL SIX OF THE PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS, UH, PRESCRIBED TO A 0.25 TO ONE RATIO RELATIVELY, UH, I'M NOT SURE, BUT SEEMS LIKE A ONE-TO-ONE RATIO IS FAR OUT OF PLACE.
BUT ONE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IS THAT THE PROPOSED INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, ACCORDING TO THE TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP MAP, UH, RATER THAT A 15% GRADE, UH, IS GONNA REQUIRE
[05:35:01]
A LOT OF CUT AND FILL, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE WILL REQUIRE THAT, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE AN AWFUL LOT OF EARTH TO TRY TO MAKE THE ENTRANCE WORK OFF OF SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.UM, I WOULD, WE WOULD SAY THIS, THAT, THAT THIS, WE WOULD, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AS TO THE MAGNITUDE OF ANY REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL CO VARIANCES AND THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE THAT THEY MAY CAUSE.
THE LAST STUDY WAS IN 2002, UH, AT THE END OF A DROUGHT, DROUGHT, UH, AND THEY SAID THERE AT THAT TIME THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME RUNNING WATER ON THE LAND.
THERE MIGHT, THE CANYON SPRINGS MIGHT STILL BE ACTIVE.
I WOULD ASK THIS, WHY WOULD WE, WHY WOULD WE GUESS, LET'S MAKE SURE WHAT'S UNDER THE LAND.
LET'S FIND OUT IF THERE'S WATER THAT'S RUNNING UNDER THAT PROPERTY BEFORE WE GO BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS.
UH, SO REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, UH, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THAT THERE ARE LIMESTONE DEPOSITS ON THE LAND THAT SHOW SIGNIFICANT WATER FLOW.
WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPERTY SO WE CAN KNOW THAT THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CUT AND FILL ACTIVITIES.
MANY OF YOU HAVE CAMPAIGNED ON PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A COMMITMENT TO YOUR CONSTITUENCIES.
IF YOU VALUE CITY ORDINANCES, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS IMPLEMENTED BY YOUR PREDECESSORS, WHICH HAVE RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED HISTORICAL PRECEDENT, THEN YOU WILL NOT APPROVE THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SOUTHWEST PARKWAY IS ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC ROADS IN ALL OF AUSTIN AND IS ENJOYED BY THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS AND COMMUTERS FROM WESTERN TRAVIS AND BURNETT COUNTY'S DAILY.
IN 1986, THE CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE AND PROTECT HILL COUNTRY ROADWAYS OF WHICH SOUTHWEST PARKWAY IS CONSIDERED.
THERE ARE VERY CLEAR REGULATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT.
THESE PROTECTIONS ARE BEING DISREGARDED BY THE SUNSET RIDGE DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT.
THE FOLLOWING ARE REQUIREMENTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY OVERLAY TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES, ALL OF WHICH WOULD BE VIOLATED AND SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT IF THE SUNSET RIDGE APARTMENTS PROJECT IS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
HERE ARE A FEW OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE ENHANCES NATURAL BEAUTY TO ENCOURAGE SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG HILL COUNTRY ROADWAYS TO PRESERVE THE SCENIC CHARACTER OF HILL COUNTRY ROADWAYS AND WERE POSSIBLE SCENIC VISTAS FROM THE ROADWAYS TO ENCOURAGE AN ORDERLY AND SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AS APPROPRIATE IN THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE WATERSHEDS TO ACCOMPLISH THE PRECEDING GOALS THROUGH THOUGHTFUL AND COOPERATIVE PLANNING.
THE SUNSET RIDGE DEVELOPMENT IS PLANNED TO BE BUILT ON THE HIGHEST TOPOGRAPHICAL POINT ALONG SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
A MASSIVE AND DENSE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS KIND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED ALONG A DEDICATED HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY OF ADDITIONAL CONCERN IS THAT PROPERTIES LOCATED ON A HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY REQUIRE 40%.
EXCLUDING THE DEDICATED RIGHT OF WAY 40% OF THE PROPERTY TO BE LEFT IN A NATURAL STATE, A 55% GROSS IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE LIMITATION WILL NOT ENABLE 40% OF THE PROPERTY TO REMAIN IN A NATURAL STATE.
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TREES WILL BE REMOVED AND THE REQUIRE AND THE REQUIREMENT TO PROTECT THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONES OF THE REMAINING TREES WILL BE JEOPARDIZED.
ON BEHALF OF AREA HOAS AND INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE VISIT THIS LOCATION BEFORE MAKING A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
ASIDE FROM THE ROAD SAFETY CONCERNS, THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS, THE ISOLATION FROM BASIC AMENITIES SUCH AS GROCERY STORES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, ET CETERA, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS LOCATION IS COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE AND SCOPE.
AND IF APPROVED, NOT ONLY WOULD DISREGARD HILL COUNTRY ROADWAY PROTECTION, BUT WOULD FOREVER ALTER THE BEAUTY OF THE HIGHEST TOPOGRAPHICAL POINT ALONG SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, WHICH MANY HAVE FOUGHT TO PRESERVE FOR DECADES.
NEXT SLIDE COULD ADVANCE IT PLEASE.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA GIBSON AND I LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT I AM OPPOSED TO A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE, SCOPE, AND DENSITY IN THIS PARCEL OF LAND.
THE PROPOSED LAND PARCEL FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT IS A BEAUTIFUL URBAN FOREST.
IT CONTAINS 53 PROTECTED AND HERITAGE TREES, 32 OF WHICH ARE
[05:40:01]
PROTECTED.16 ARE HERITAGE TREES AND FIVE ARE LARGE HERITAGE TREES.
THESE TREES PROVIDE A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENT TO LOCAL WILDLIFE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE MARCH 8TH MASTER COMMENT REPORT FOR THIS PROJECT WAS A KEY RESOURCE TO UNDERSTAND THE APPLICANT'S INITIAL PLANS AND ASSOCIATED COMMENTS BY YOUR CITY ARBORIST KAITLYN CAMPBELL.
A PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE THE 21 HERITAGE TREES, THE 16 HERITAGE TREES ABOVE, ALONG WITH THE FIVE HERITAGE TREES THAT ARE LARGER AND THE RESULTS ARE CONCERNING.
EIGHT OUT OF 21 OR 38% OF HERITAGE TREES WERE INITIALLY PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT TO BE REMOVED BY THE CITY.
HOWEVER, THE CITY ARBORIST REQUESTED REDESIGN TO PRESERVE THE TREES.
THIS ITEM IS STILL OUTSTANDING AND IN THE REBUTTAL.
IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO ENLIGHTEN US ALL ON THE STATUS OF TREES 55 48, 50 45, 69, 46, 5, 46, 55, 46, 67, 46, 68, 46, 69, AND 54 92, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
TWO OUT OF 21 OR 10% OF HERITAGE TREES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE APPLICANT TO REMAIN THREE OUT OF 2021.
HERITAGE TREES OR 14% HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS DEAD, DISEASED OR INJURED, SEVEN OUT OF 21 OR 33% OF HERITAGE TREES.
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT THE STATUSES REGARDING THESE TREES AND IT IS STILL OUTSTANDING.
SO IF THE APPLICANT WOULD, UH, BE ABLE TO ENLIGHTEN US IN THEIR REBUTTAL ON THE STATUS OF TREES 46 71 47, 44, 47, 48 49, 40 54, 94, 47, 11 47 13 TODAY, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AND FINALLY, ONE OUT OF 21 OR 5% OF HERITAGE TREES WERE PROPOSED TO BE REMOVED AND NOT, UM, OVERRULED BY THE CITY ARBORIST.
SO TO SUMMARIZE THE STATUS OF FIVE LARGE, UM, HERITAGE TREES HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO DATE.
TWO LARGE HERITAGE TREES WILL REMAIN AND ONE LARGE HERITAGE TREE AND TWO HERITAGE TREES ARE DEAD, DISEASED OR INJURED, LEAVING A POTENTIAL FOR 16.
THAT'S 76% OF HERITAGE TREES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE REMOVED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
A DEVELOPMENT, UH, UH, OF THIS SIZE, SCOPE, AND DENSITY SHOULD NOT BE ON A PARCEL OF THIS SIZE WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES AND I SUGGEST YOU DO NOT AND, UM, DO NOT GO ALONG WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE RCA.
AFTER SHEILA, KAREN DALMAN, DAVID ARNOLD, DON GIBSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
I'M WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LAST YEAR ON JULY 27TH, FOR A FIRST TIME EVER IN OUR BACKYARD, I OBSERVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED A GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
MY IDENTIFICATION WAS CONFIRMED BY A FIELD BIOLOGIST AND IT WAS REPORTED IN EBIRD.
THIS BIRD IS PROTECTED UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
THE ESA AND UH, TO REMOVE THEIR HABITAT IS ILLEGAL WITHOUT PROPER PERMITS.
THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS CONSERVATION PLAN COMPRISES A 10 A ONE B PERMIT ISSUED JOINTLY TO TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT APPROVED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
ACCORDING TO THE BCCP HABITAT MAP, THIS PARCEL IS DESIGNATED GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
MITIGATION PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT IS REQUIRED.
A-B-C-C-P INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT MUST BE ISSUED FOR THE APPLICANT TO BREAK GROUND.
ONLY THEN IS THE PERMIT HE FREED TO BEGIN CLEARING FOR CONSTRUCTION.
ANY PERMITS MUST BE POSTED AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE.
YOU CAN GO ONE MORE AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE FROM THE TIME THE CLEARING BEGINS UNTIL CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT THAT THE UM, IT HAS NOT BEEN MITIGATED ACCORDING TO THE BCCP MAP.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS FOUR IMMATERIAL CONCESSIONS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT FOR THE RC CHANGES SECTION 1 6 9 3 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL STORMWATER POLLUTANT LOAD HAS A NONDEGRADATION REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEVELOPER IS CONCEDING.
THEY WILL COMPLY WITH, UH, A ONE STAR RATING OF POSSIBLE FIVE STARS UNDER THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM.
WHILE APPLICANT'S REALLY PROUD OF THEIR WORK, PROVIDE FOUR PUBLIC EV STATIONS, AUSTIN CODE ALREADY REQUIRES INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A MINIMUM OF 40% EV CAPABLE PARKING SPACES, PLUS THEY'LL RECEIVE UP TO A $2,500 REBATE
[05:45:02]
PER STATION FROM AUSTIN ENERGY AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT.THIS IS AN UNDEVELOPED, BEAUTIFUL NATURAL TRACT WITH MINIMAL INVASIVE SPECIES AT 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER, THE PROVISION WOULD ENABLE 11% COVER OF ANY ONE OF HUNDREDS OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE TINY NON IMPERVIOUS AREAS.
A COVENANT TO MANAGE INVASIVE SPECIES BELOW 11% IS A NON-ISSUE.
HI, I'M KAREN DALMAN AND I LIVE ON SUNSET RIDGE IN TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST.
ALTHOUGH THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBIT VEHICULAR ACCESS TO SUNSET RIDGE EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS PRIVILEGES, PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IS NOT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITED.
THE 438 OR 4,440 UNITS PROPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A MINIMUM OF ADDITIONAL 1300 PEOPLE ACCESSING THE TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST ROADWAYS PER DAY.
THIS WILL CREATE A 150% INCREASE OF PEOPLE USING OUR GREEN SPACES, SMALL PLACE SCAPE AND NATURE TRAILS AS PEDESTRIANS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY AND SUBJECT TO TRESPASSING CHARGES.
EACH RESIDENT IN TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST PAYS HOA DUES TO INVEST IN THE GREEN SPACES, NATURE, TRAILS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS NEARLY TWICE THE SIZE OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH A FRACTION OF THE SPACE AN AMENITIES.
THIS LARGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE USING TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST ROADWAYS POSES AN UNACCEPTABLE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY RISK AND INCURSION INTO AN ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY.
CURRENTLY, SUNSET RIDGE IS USED AS A CUT THROUGH STREET BY NUMEROUS COMMUTERS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, CREATING CONGESTION AND CHILD SAFETY RISKS.
CAN I HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE? ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO CONSIDER IS THAT THE LAND PARCEL IN QUESTION IS THE HIGHEST TOPOGRAPHICAL POINT OF OUR REGION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, WATER FLOWS DOWNWARD AND THE DEVELOPMENTS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY SHOWS THAT THE DEVELOPER'S PLAN IS FOR THE WATER TO FLOW INTO TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE, IF THE CITY APPROVES THIS AMENDMENT WITH THE REQUESTED IMPERVIOUS COVER AND INCREASED DENSITY, THEN THE CITY WILL ALSO BE IMPROVING THE FLOODING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND WILL CREATE FUTURE ISSUES THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS NOT PROPOSED A PLAN TO ADDRESS.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS STATED TODAY, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO APPROVE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.
PLEASE DO NOT JUST CHECK THE BOX TO SATISFY CITY GOALS WITHOUT MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PLEASE DO NOT CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE.
WE ARE IN FAVOR OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE RIGHT LOCATION, BUT THIS IS NOT A LOGICAL OR SAFE LOCATION FOR OUR KIDS.
MY NAME IS DAVID ARNOLD AND I'M AN INTERESTED PARTY TO THE SUNSET RIDGE APARTMENTS PLAN AND A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST AND I ALSO LIVE ON SUNSET RIDGE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE SUNSET RIDGE APARTMENT'S RESTRICTED COVENANT AS PROPOSED.
SLIDE 43 TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST SUBMITTED SITE PLAN INDICATED ACCOUNT OF 428 DISTINCT APARTMENT UNITS YIELDING A CALCULATION OF 1,995 TRIPS PER DAY, WHICH CURIOUSLY FALLS JUST FIVE TRIPS BELOW THE 2000 TRIPS PER DAY.
THAT WOULD'VE TRIGGERED THE MANDATORY ANALYSIS THRESHOLD ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THEREFORE, NO TRAFFIC STUDY WAS PLANNED IN ITS EFFORT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE A DUTY TO BASIS DECISIONS UPON ACCURATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION.
RECENTLY, UPDATED UNIT COUNTS SHOW BOTH 440 AND 444 UNITS.
THIS IS A RECALCULATION THAT SHOULD TRIGGER A NEW TRAFFIC STUDY PLAN.
FOR THIS REASON ALONE, IT SHOULD ALSO PROMPT REJECTION TO AMENDING THE RESTRICTED COVENANT WHICH RIDES ON THE ACCURACY OF KEY DATA.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT LOCATED IN AN AREA WITH UNDESIRABLE SITE FEATURES.
CITY STAFF SITES, HILL COUNTRY ROAD RAY, FEATURES OF CONCERN SUCH AS INGRESS, EGRESS ROADS TO THE SITE ON THE INSIDE OF A CURVE ON A 15% GRADE.
AND WITH SITE DISTANCES BELOW 500 FEET.
THIS PUTS EXISTING APARTMENT TRAFFIC IN SUBSTANTIAL DANGER TURNING EAST BLIND ONTO THE SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
TRAFFIC SUBJECT TO THE RISK OF VEHICLES SPEEDING AROUND THE CURVE, WHICH LATELY IS RAMPANT
[05:50:01]
ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.IF YOU'VE DRIVEN IT RECENTLY, MINIMUM SPEEDS ARE RUNNING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MILES AN HOUR.
THE SAME RISK APPLIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS EXITING.
THE COMPLEX HISTORY HAS SHOWN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THE ST.
JUNE PROPERTY, THAT INATTENTION TO THIS FACTOR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN POTENTIALLY DEADLY TRAFFIC INCIDENTS THAT ARE TOTALLY AVOIDABLE.
THEREFORE, BASED ON THE APPLICANT'S OWN SUBMITTAL, IT APPEARS THAT CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL HAVE NOT BEEN USING CORRECT UNIT DATA, WHICH WOULD COMPEL CITY PLANNERS TO CONDUCT A NEW TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS DETERMINATION WORKSHEET AS DIRECTED.
I IMPLORE YOU FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME FOR AN UPDATED TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS TO BE CONDUCTED FOR THESE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE AMENDING THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH APPROPRIATE ROADWAY RISK UPDATES.
AFTER DON GIBSON IS MATTHIAS BROSSARD AND CHANDLER HARRIS.
MR. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME'S DON GIBSON.
I'M A 10 YEAR RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST.
UH, I LIVE WITHIN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FEET OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND AM AN INTERESTED PARTY.
I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD TODAY, BUT, UH, MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC.
UH, THE FIRST, THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN OUR AREA AT ALL EX AND NO STORES OR SERVICES THAT CAN BE WALKED TO THE NEAREST LARGE GROCERY STORE.
THE OAK HILL HEB IS 3.3 MILES AWAY.
THE CLOSEST BUS BUS STOP IS 1.4 MILES AWAY, A 29 MINUTE WALK WITH NO SIDEWALKS.
THERE ARE NO CLOSER BUS STOPS IN ANY LONG-TERM APPROVED CAP METRO PLAN, AND THERE ARE NO LONG-TERM PLANS TO WIDEN OR BUILD SIDEWALKS IN THIS AREA FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
UH, CAP METRO PICKUP, THOUGH ADEQUATE FOR SOME NEEDS IS NOT WHAT MOST WOULD CONSIDER FULL FLEDGED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A LIMITED SERVICE AREA.
IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE EVENINGS OR EARLY MORNINGS, AND IT'S NOT AVAILABLE ON WEEKENDS.
THIRD SOUTHWEST PARKWAY IS A DEATH TRAP AND GETS MORE CLOGGED BY THE WEEK.
IT'S A SIX LANE ROAD WITH NO FRONTAGE ROAD.
NUMEROUS DRIVEWAYS AND LIMITED OR NON-EXISTENT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN DRIVING 50 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS A TOTAL WHITE KNUCKLE EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE ON IT.
AND AS MY AS PRIOR SPEAKER MENTIONED, THE SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH THE SPEED LIMIT IS 50, THE REALITY IS IT'S ABOUT 65.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE CITY'S VISION ZERO INITIATIVE TO REDUCE PE, PEDESTRIAN AND MOTORIST INJURIES AND FATALITIES DESIGNATED SOUTHWEST PARKWAY AS PART OF A HIGH INJURY NETWORK OF AUSTIN STREETS.
AUSTIN'S HIGH INJURY NETWORK INCLUDES JUST 8% OF THE CITY STREETS, BUT CONTAINS NEARLY 70% OF ALL CITIES IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES.
DOES ADDING ANOTHER 2000 CAR TRIPS TO PER DAY TO THIS ROAD SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA? NO, IT DOESN'T.
I SUGGEST YOU DRIVE THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND VIEW SOME OF THE SIDE, UH, THE ROADSIDE MEMORIALS TO LOVED ONES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES ON THAT ROAD.
FINALLY, WHILE WE ALL AGREE ON THE NEED FOR, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE ACRONYM SMART, HOW THE ACRONYM SMART HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY AS IT APPLIES TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE T IN SMART STANDS FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED.
THIS PROPOSAL IS ANYTHING BUT I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT.
MR. MAYOR, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, I LIVE IN TR CONCERN WEST IN DISTRICT EIGHT, AND LIKE MANY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME AT NIGHTS, UH, LOOKING AT SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, WHY DO WE CARE? WHY ARE WE HERE? UM, I I'M TELL PERSONALLY OR WHAT I'M CARING ABOUT, THE SIZE OF THIS PROJECT AFFECTS US, OBVIOUSLY THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO THE INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF POLLUTED WATER RUNOFF IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR LAND.
THERE'S AN INCREASED NUMBER OF CARS THAT ARE GONNA COME AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE OUR KIDS PLAY.
THERE ARE LIMITED PATHWAYS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT WITHIN THIS, THE PROJECT.
[05:55:01]
SO THEY WILL, AS MENTIONED, IT WILL BE TRESPASSING ON OUR PATHWAYS.THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A, A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
UH, NOT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REASON IN CASE, BUT THIS IS, UH, UH, RESTRICTED COVENANT AMENDMENT.
THE BEFORE THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE IT'S OCA TWO.
THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT BUILDING OFFICE OR A CHURCH.
THE RESTRICT
THIS IS GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE ADD WE'RE ADDING RESIDENTS, BUT MAYBE, MAYBE THE PROJECT WILL NOT HAPPEN AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE CAN BUILD A A, A UNITS THAT ARE NOT AFFORDABLE CAN HAPPEN.
SO WHAT I, WE WENT HERE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THIS REQUESTED THAT WE ADD THE WORDING FOR UNLOCKED AND TIE IT TO THE, SO CURRENTLY THE RCA HAS PROPOSED DOES NOT SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLY.
I THINK THE STAFF WILL SAY THAT THEY, THEY, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SAY LEGALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, AFFORDABLE UNLOCKED, THEY, THEY COULD HAVE ADDED ANY KIND OF WORD.
THEY SAY, YES, YOU CAN ADD THAT, BUT ONLY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALSO, UH, IN THE REEF SHEET SAYS, IT MENTIONED THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ASKED FOR EIGHT, UH, WEEK, UH, CHARGING STATION AND NOT FOUR.
THAT'S NOT PRESENT IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS PRODUCT IS NOT JUST ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE ONE OF THE REASON IT'S SO DENSE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDING ALSO 100% ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT ARE MARKET RATE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT MANIFOLD'S WEBSITE, THERE ARE LUXURY RESIDENTIAL, UH, IN CLASS A INFILL OFFICE SPECIALISTS.
SO WHICH THING, WHICH PART OF THE PRODUCT DO YOU THINK THEY ARE INTERESTED IN? IS IT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONE OR IS IT THE ONE THAT HAS THE BETTER VIEWS? THAT IS WHERE THE PARKING IS CLOSER TO THE ROAD.
AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY LEE ZIEGLER, ARE YOU HERE? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE IN SIX MINUTES FOLLOWING CHANDLER IS BOBBY LEVINSKY AND THEN JARED KIRK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS.
AS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THESE PROCESSES, I'VE BECOME VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND IT'S EXTREMELY INTERESTING.
UM, I'M GONNA PIVOT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND YOU GUYS HAVE IT IN YOUR BACKUP.
UM, SO THE FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS MAY THE, THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART FALL ELOQUENTLY ON YOU IN THIS MOMENT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY I'M DRESSED THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, I SAW THE CHANGE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 73 THIS MORNING.
I WAS ON A WALK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN BELT WHEN I RECEIVED WORD THAT WE MAY NEED TO SHOW UP AT 10 AFTER THE INITIAL SWITCH.
I'VE BEEN HERE WITH YOU SINCE THAT TIME.
UM, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 27TH.
UM, IT WAS INDEED POSTPONED, BUT WE WERE TOLD TO SHOW UP AFTER WE WERE TOLD NOT TO SHOW UP.
AND SO WE SHOWED UP, BUT THEN IT WAS POSTPONED.
UM, MAYOR, I WANNA CLARIFY THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DRAWN A CORRELATION BETWEEN BROWN SKIN COLOR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HONESTLY WAS NEVER CONVINCED THAT WAS TRUE, BUT AFTER SEEING THE TRACK 19.20 STATISTIC SOURCE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN WEBSITE, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE CITY TODAY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR BEING CALLED TO THESE CHAMBERS EARLY THIS MORNING AS I WAS HUMBLED AND COMPELLED BY THE CONVICTION EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE EXPRESSED IN THE 21 MINUTE SEGREGATION COMMENTARY THAT WAS OFFERED BY MS. JOSEPH.
SHE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED OUR DISTRICT EIGHT HOUSING POLICIES.
IN THAT MOMENT, I GENUINELY FELT LIKE I WAS A PART OF HISTORY AND, AND, AND MAYBE WE ALL ARE THIS MORNING, MS. JOSEPH SO APPROPRIATELY INQUIRED.
SHE SAID, IF YOU'RE POOR AND I'M POOR AND WE'RE POOR, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF POVERTY? THIS STATEMENT IS A CLEAR QUANDARY EXPERIENCED BY MANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES LACKING IN RESOURCES.
AND THIS IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY IN WHICH WE'VE PROGRESSED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
FOR OVER 15 YEARS, I'VE MENTORED CHILDREN AS A CAREER.
I'VE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE POOREST AND MOST ADVERSELY AFFECTED CHILDREN, PRO BONO AND SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST CHILDREN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD AT THE HIGHEST PREMIUMS.
[06:00:01]
AND I MEAN THAT SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST CHILDREN IN THE WORLD I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH AND I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH CHILDREN WHOSE ONE PARENT MURDERED THE OTHER.AND I CHARGED ONE A LOT AND ONE I DID FOR FREE.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHEN MS. JOSEPH ECHOED THE SAME EXACT SENTIMENTS THAT MR. EK ECHOED, WHY DID YOU NOT QUESTION HER IN THE SAME MANNER? MAYOR WATSON, I'M, I'M I, WE I'M GONNA LET YOU USE YOUR TIME TO PRESENT TO US.
YOU'RE NOT WELCOME TO USE MY TIME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE DON'T, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS OPERATES.
THERE'S A REASON I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CONTINUE WITH MY TIME.
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE WAY THAT WE GOT HERE TODAY IS THIS WAS A ZONING CASE SLIDE AS PER THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON DECEMBER 8TH, THERE WAS A ZONING CHANGE SIGN THAT WAS POSTED.
UM, WHAT WE'VE COME TO FIND OUT IS THAT THE CASE HAS EVOLVED AND IT'S BECOME DEEPLY AFFORDABLE WHEN INITIALLY IT WAS NOT THIS, THIS WAS A, THIS WAS MEANT TO BE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
AND AS THAT STARTED TO GET STRUCK DOWN, I KNOW THE ATTORNEYS ON THE PANEL UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPLICANT HAD THIS LAND UNDER LEASE AND THEN HAD TO PIVOT REASONABLY.
IT, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED.
IT'S, IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT I KNOW CHILDREN, UM, AND I KNOW STATISTICS AND I, AND I KNOW, I KNOW THE TRUTH AND, AND THE TRUTH IS WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN, GIVEN FAIR NOTIFICATION OR SHAKES AS, AS EVIDENCE BY THIS MORNING.
UM, WITH THIS PROCESS, IT'S INTERESTING.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VALID PETITION, EVEN THOUGH 85% OF THE RESIDENTS WITHIN 200 FEET HAVE SIGNED A VALID PETITION.
UM, IT'S AN RCA YOU SHOULD NOT DECIDE ON THIS TODAY.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU COULD VOTE ON THIS TODAY.
ZONING CASES REQUIRE THREE READINGS BEFORE A VOTE.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF NOTIFICATIONS.
IT WAS GONNA BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED.
UH, IT HAD A DEADLINE OF JANUARY 10TH.
AND WHEN WE CALLED THE CITY, EVERYBODY WAS TOLD THIS PROJECT'S YEARS OUT.
AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY SEEN THE APPLICATION FROM MANIFOLD INVESTMENTS THAT, THAT INDICATED THEY WANTED TO BREAK GROUND IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
AND EVERY INTERESTED PARTY THAT CALLED IN, THEY WERE ON OUR FACEBOOK NEIGHBORHOOD PAGE.
IT'S ALL A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
THEY WERE LIKE, OH, DON'T WORRY.
THE CITY SAID THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR YEARS.
I HAVE A RECORDED CONVERSATION WITH MACE CONE WITH THE SITE PLAN FROM JANUARY 3RD WITH DAVID ARNOLD, AND HE TOLD ME I COULD RECORD THAT CONVERSATION AND I HAMMERED HIM SIX TIMES BEFORE HE RELENTED AND SAID, YEAH, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES SIGNED UP.
UM, AND I SAID, THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU'RE DISCOURAGING INTEREST IN PARTIES FROM HAVING A VOICE IN THIS MATTER.
SO SLIDE NUMEROUS CITY CODES AND ORDINANCES ARE BEING A TRUMP BEING TRUMPED BY AFFORDABILITY UNLOCK, WHICH WAS THE ONE CASE THAT WAS NOT STRUCK DOWN IN THE FOUR RECENT CASES.
UM, IN DECEMBER OF 2023, THE APPLICANT CLEARLY SAW THAT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THEN NOW THEY'RE LATCHING ONTO AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED BECAUSE IT'S ALL THROUGHOUT OUR MASTER COMMENT REPORT.
IT MUST BE 20 TIMES IT'S IMPRESSIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR HOW HE'S PULLING UP A DOCUMENT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE CASE, BUT I'M TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
UM, AND REALLY WHAT I'M GONNA TRY TO SPEAK TO IS TRUTH IN ADVERTISING.
SO THIS IS BEING SOLD AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, SO I'M JUST WANTING TO GIVE YOU SOME LANGUAGE.
CAN WE GET TO THE SECOND PAGE? IS THERE A WAY TO CLICK THAT? YEAH, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU SOME LANGUAGE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS A, SORRY, I I LOST MY VOICE LAST NIGHT.
MY, MY, I'VE BEEN UP ALL NIGHT.
UM, BUT UH, ON THIS CASE, THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT YOU COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COLLECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL WILL DO.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT, THAT LANGUAGE THAT YOU COULD USE RIGHT NOW.
THE RESTRICTED COVENANT WOULD ALLOW OTHER USES, INCLUDING OFFICE.
SO IF THIS SITE PLAN WENT AWAY, THEY COULD COME BACK AND BUILD AN OFFICE AND NOT RESPECT TO THE CITY'S CURRENT CODE.
SO IF YOU JUST TIE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TO RESIDENTIAL ONLY,
[06:05:02]
THEY COULD STILL DO OTHER USES UNDER THEIR ZONING.THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO BUILD UNDER THEIR CURRENT CODE.
IF THEY WANT TO DO AFFORDABILITY ON LOCK THOUGH, THEY CAN USE THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
SO TIE IT ONLY TO RESIDENTIAL.
THAT'S WHAT GETS YOU THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS PROJECT THAT GUARANTEES IT.
OTHERWISE, YOU MIGHT GET AN OFFICE OR SOME OTHER USE OR SOME OTHER LOOPHOLE THAT'S BEEN DRAFTED INTO THE RES, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS THAT WE DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME WITH THESE, THERE'S 800 ACRES IN THE OAK HILL STUDY AREA SUBJECT TO THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED.
THEY'RE ALMOST AS OLD AS I AM.
THEY ACCIDENTALLY ARE AS OLD AS I AM.
THEY'RE NOT THE CONTINUATION OF A PROJECT.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE OUR CODE.
Y'ALL WANNA DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO LET'S MAKE A WIN-WIN HERE AND REQUIRE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT KEEP GIVING THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
I LIVE NEAR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL FOR INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I DO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE SCOPE AND DENSITY OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND THE LOCATION SELECTED.
UH, I I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS ADEQUATELY ENGAGED WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL OF WHICH OPPOSED THE DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE SUITABILITY OF THIS LOCATION, GIVEN THE DENSITY OF THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS SITUATED ALONG A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST PARKWAY WITH A STEEP GRADE AND A CURVE IMPAIRING VISIBILITY RESULTING IN DECREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, WILLIAM CANNON DRIVE IS LOCATED NOT FAR FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ROAD HAS BECOME MORE DANGEROUS, DRIVEN BY INCREASED TRAFFIC FROM DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA AND CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE ROAD.
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON ADDING TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THAT CORNERS OF RIALTO AND VEGA FOR A YEAR.
AND THE COMPLETION OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
THEIR REGULAR ACCIDENTS ON THE CORNER OF WILLIAM CANNON AND RIALTO.
BUT THE CITY HAS FAILED TO CONSTRUCT SIMPLE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, IMPROVE SAFETY, YET IS ABLE TO FAST TRACK APPROVAL FOR AN ALLOCATION OF ALMOST 9 MILLION OF FUNDS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I'M CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS IF OVER 2000 TRIPS PER DAY ARE ADDED TO SOUTHWEST PARKWAY AND THE SURROUNDING ROADS.
FURTHERMORE, THIS IS NOT A SAFE LOCATION FOR THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS, SHOULDERS, OR PEDESTRIAN PASS.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OUR GROCERY STORES NEARBY.
THERE IS NO DEVELOP EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN A SAFE WALKING DISTANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE FACTORS, IMPAIR THE SAFETY AND MAKE THIS SITE UNSUITABLE.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS BY VOTING NO.
UM, AND, AND SUPPORTING THE, THE, THE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY AND KEEPING, KEEPING THE ROAD SAFE.
UM, I DO, I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD PUT A STRAIN ON OAK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EITHER GRADUATED FROM CURRENTLY ATTEND OR, OR WILL ATTEND OAK HILL.
AND WE HAVE ENROLLED OUR CHILDREN IN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
WE LOVE THE, THE VALUED ADVERSITY OF THIS SCHOOL.
UH, MY OLDEST SON IS ALSO ATTENDING LIVELY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AS WELL.
MY FAMILY HAS OBSERVED THAT OAK KL HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE STRAINED AS DEVELOPMENT HAS INCREASED.
AND, UH, WE'VE OBSERVED A DECLINE IN THE ACADEMIC RIGOR AND, AND THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SCHOOL OF THE STUDENTS.
AND, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION OUR CHILDREN HAS RECEIVED AS TEACHERS ARE FOCUSED ON BRINGING MANY STUDENTS UP TO GRADE LEVEL.
I BELIEVE THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL PUT STRAIN ON THE SCHOOL AND THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
I THINK THAT, UH, THAT THE CITY'S RESOURCES COULD BE USED.
THERE'S, THERE'S A DECISION ON, ON SOME FUNDING FOR THIS, FINANCING, THIS PROJECT TO BE USED TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BETTER SUITED LOCATIONS WITHIN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 89.
ALRIGHT THEN, UM, THE WAY WE'LL CLOSE THIS OUT, UH, THE WAY WE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS IS SIR, SINCE YOU OPENED ON BEHALF OF THE OPPONENTS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO CLOSE AND THEN WE'LL CALL UPON, UH, THE APPLICANT TO HAVE THREE MINUTES.
JUST MAKE FOR THE HEADS UP, I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROCESS, SO I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING IT TO ME.
JASON EK, TRAVIS COUNTRY, SHOA.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED FOR THIS.
I THINK REALLY WHAT YOU BOIL IT DOWN TO IS COVE.
[06:10:01]
CASE.YOU ASKED ME EARLIER, MAYOR, ABOUT THE TRACK AND WHETHER IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC TO HAVE THAT MANY THAT CLOSE.
I WOULD GO BACK TO YOU AND SAY THE DISTRICT IS 42, 48 0.2 MILES.
WHY ARE WE TAKING THE TIME? PUT SO MUCH ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO CONCENTRATING INTO ONE TEENY TINY AREA.
THAT IS NOT THE GOAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT SHOULD BE DIVERSIFICATION TO PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CHILDREN'S, TO OUR FAMILIES, TO ALLOW DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE AMONGST OTHER INDIVIDUALS.
NOT CONSOLIDATING 'EM ALL INTO THE AREA WHERE THE BROWN PEOPLE ARE SO THAT OTHER WHITE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
THAT'S RESPECTIVELY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
IN ADDITION TO IF THIS IS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, I KNOW THE 80% MFI, THOSE GUYS, THEY MIGHT HAVE CARS WHEN YOU START TALKING IN THE 50% MFI, I THINK PUBLIC TRANSIT, BEING ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STREET SAFELY TO TAKE YOUR KID TO SCHOOL OR TO A BUS STOP OR THAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN THOSE ROADS, THEY ARE TREACHEROUS TWO LANES WIDE, NO SHOULDERS AND NOTHING BUT TREES LINING IT.
I MEAN, I, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE ALMOST ACCIDENTALLY HIT SOMEBODY COMING DOWN OUTTA THE BACK OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE IS SOMEONE WALKING IT.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD BE ASSESSED AND UNDERSTOOD.
AND THOSE, IF WE ARE GONNA BUILD IT, THOSE COSTS SHOULD BE BORN BY THE DEVELOPER, NOT AFTER THE FACT BY TAXPAYERS.
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL NUANCES AND IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT'S COMING HERE.
WE HAVE RAM ROTTED THIS THROUGH AS FAST AS YOU COULD HUMANLY DO IT.
THIS WAS INITIALLY MEANT TO COME FROM PLANNING COMMISSION TO COUNCIL IN 10 DAYS.
SENT ME A COUPLE OTHER PROJECTS THAT I'VE DONE THAT.
AND FRANKLY, I, I'LL BE CANDID, BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN KIND OF RESPONSE TODAY, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THIS WAS ALL PRE-BAKED AND DEALS WERE DONE BEFORE WE SHOWED UP.
I THINK WE GAVE OUR BEST EFFORT.
BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD REALLY LOOK BACK AND BE ABLE TO LOOK AT YOUR CONSTITUENCY AFTER THIS AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I VOTED AGAINST ALL OF THESE OTHER TERRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY BAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE GONNA WORK HARD WITH YOU.
WE'LL SUPPORT YOU IN FINDING AN APPROPRIATE USE, AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION, OR AN APPROPRIATE DENSITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I TOLD YOU EARLIER, I COME FROM THE BACKGROUND OF THIS.
I PROBABLY COULDN'T LIVE IN THE AREA I LIVE NOW IF I HADN'T LUCKILY BOUGHT THERE 15 YEARS AGO.
I KNOW THE TEACHERS THAT DRIVE FROM KYLE AND BUTTA TO MY WIFE'S SCHOOL.
LET'S FIND THE RIGHT LOCATION WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY SERVING THE FAMILIES.
WE INTEND TO HELP NOT HANDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO A FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION HOPING THEY FIGURE IT OUT.
THANK YOU MAYOR MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL.
RICHARD SU UM, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON THE PROJECT TONIGHT.
WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON THE SITE PLAN.
YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON ZONING.
YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO AN AMEND AND A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WILL ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN APPLICATION TO COME IN UNDER AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
THIS TRACK IS ZONED GO IT'S OFFICE.
GO NORMALLY HAS A ONE-TO-ONE, UH, FAR.
THIS ONE'S LIMITED BY THE COVENANT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR GO FAR SO THAT WE CAN DO THE, THE DEEP AFFORDABILITY THAT IS REQUIRED UNDER AFFORDABILITY LOCK.
I THINK ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAYS, UH, YOU, YOU NEED TO GUARANTEE IT'S GONNA BE AFFORDABILITY.
UNLOCK IT IS GUARANTEED BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO MULTI-FAMILY UNDER GEO IS TO DO AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
UM, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ZONING, THERE IS NO VALID PETITION ISSUE.
UM, THERE WAS ONE PERSON THAT TALKED ABOUT, UM, CONSOLIDATING POVERTY, YOU KNOW, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IN TWO, IN 2023, I THINK 50% MFI.
THE, THE SALARY I THINK WAS LIKE 40 OR $41,000 FOR A FAMILY OF ONE.
WE'RE TALKING, LOTS OF PEOPLE CAN USE THIS KIND OF HOUSING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THE 50% MFI.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS.
WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
UM, AND THE ISSUES YOU HEARD TONIGHT WERE MOSTLY SITE PLAN AND, AND BUILDING PERMIT ISSUES.
I WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORHOODS AGAIN, AS WE DID AT PLANNING COMMISSION.
ALTHOUGH WE DIFFER ON THIS PROJECT, THEY HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
UM, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT SORT OF DISCUSSION AS WE, AS THIS PROJECT HAS GONE ON.
COUNCILOR VALA, UH, MR. SETTLE OR STAFF ACTUALLY, BUT BY THE WAY, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE RESTRICTED COVENANT.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE DOING, IN OTHER WORDS, ALL OF THE BUILDING RIGHTS THAT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND THE ZONING GRANTS, THE PROPERTY, UH, ARE
[06:15:01]
ALREADY THERE.THEY ARE JUST, THEY HAVE TO CURRENTLY BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING IN ORDER TO GET THE 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER AND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE DOING THEN IS INSTEAD OF SAYING YOU CAN ONLY BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING, UH, WITH THOSE LIMITATIONS, WE'RE SAYING YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUILD RESIDENTIAL WITH THOSE SAME LIMITATIONS IN OTHER, THAT THAT'S, IS THAT, IS THAT THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING? ESSENTIALLY IT YOU, YOU'RE ADDING A USE, YOU'RE ADDING RESIDENTIAL USE TO IT AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GONNA, INSTEAD OF DOING 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER, WHICH FOR OTHER USES, THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAWS, WE'RE RATCHETING THAT DOWN TO 55 AND YOU'RE GIVING US A ONE-TO-ONE FLORIDA AREA RATIO AND, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS, UH, ORDINANCE STILL APPLIES TO THE AREA.
ALL THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH REGARD, UH, TO THE OTHER CITY CODES AND ORDINANCE THAT STILL APPLY THIS PROPERTY PREDATES SOS.
SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING ON THIS SITE IS, ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T MEET THE SOS IMPERVIOUS COVER, WE'RE PROPOSING TO MEET SOS WATER QUALITY ON THIS SITE.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS PER THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WAS SIGNED, UH, THOSE RESTRICTIONS WOULD, UH, WERE PART OF THE PRIOR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT? WELL, SOME OF THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOUR LAW DEPARTMENT ABOUT.
AND, AND I, I SEE THE STAFF APPROACHING ACTUALLY, IF THEY COULD, UH, CLARIFY RIGHT QUICK, GOOD AFTERNOON.
LIZ JOHNSTON INTERIM, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
SO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT DOES.
SO THIS WAS, UM, A DIFFERENT SET OF REGULATIONS THAT WERE, UM, SET FORTH PRIOR TO THE SOS UM, ORDINANCE.
AND SO WHAT THIS DOES IS REQUIRE CURRENT CODE ON, UM, FOR EVERYTHING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO IT WILL BE PROVIDING SOS WATER QUALITY TREATMENT STANDARDS, WHICH IS A, A PRIORITY FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND MEETING ALL OF THE OTHER CURRENT CODE.
ALRIGHT, SO THE, SO IN OTHER WORDS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WAS SIGNED PRIOR TO THE SOS ORDINANCE? CORRECT.
SO THEY HAVE GRANDFATHERED RIGHTS THAT WOULD GO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SOS UH, UH, ORDINANCE.
THEY HAVE, UH, DIFFERENT UM, APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD ASK A QUICK QUESTION OF DSD KEITH MORRIS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UH, A COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT THE TREES AND WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND NOT PROPOSED.
AS, UH, MR. SETTLE MENTIONED, WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH SITE PLANS.
SO, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HERITAGE TREES OR WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE CAN PROPOSE ELIMINATING ALL THE HERITAGE TREES, BUT WE HAVE OUR RULES IN PLACE THAT MIGHT REQUIRE EITHER A REDESIGN OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE PROPOSED IT, I GUESS MY QUESTION DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE BECAUSE OF OUR REGULATIONS.
UNDER CURRENT CODE, THE HERITAGE TREE WE'RE PROTECTED AND THE HERITAGE ASSURANCES WOULD APPLY AND THERE ARE PROVISIONS OF CODE OF HOW, UH, HOW REMOVAL WILL BE GRANTED.
AND THEN THE LARGEST TREES AS MENTIONED, UH, AND AGAIN, UNDER CURRENT CODE, WILL HAVE A PUBLIC PROCESS, THE REQUEST REMOVAL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE, UH, IN THAT CASE, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR COMMENTS AND A MOTION AND SO THAT I DON'T MAKE A WALKING MOTION, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM AS PROPOSED BY STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THEN I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
VERY GOOD, THEN I'LL, I'LL SECONDED BACK.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL OF THE ITEM.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR COMMENTS.
I WANNA START BY THANKING THE NEIGHBORS AND CITY STAFF AND THE APPLICANT FOR GIVING US SOME TIME TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND AT LEAST TALK ABOUT THEM AND UNDERSTAND THE REALITY THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS, WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
UM, THERE'S BEEN MANY CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND I WANNA EXTEND MY GRATITUDE FOR THE TIME COMMITMENT AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT FOLKS HAVE REALLY PUT INTO THIS.
I CAN TELL THE NEIGHBORS CARE A LOT ABOUT, UM, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE FAMILIES THAT THEY LIVE NEAR, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PASSION.
THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS FROM 19 85, 19 86.
UH, IT CONTAINS MANY TRACKS OF LAND THAT ALLOWS THAT ALLOWANCES GRANTED AT THE TIME PREDATE THE SOS ORDINANCE.
MANY OF THESE REGULATIONS COVER SOUTHWEST AUSTIN AND THEY'RE THE RESULT OF LONGSTANDING LEGAL SETTLEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS.
MUCH LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER RULES AROUND CITY GOVERNANCE, UH, WE MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THEM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENTS
[06:20:01]
AND THERE'S JUST SOME NUANCE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN THAT, UM, MAKES, MAKES OUR LAND USE REGULATIONS AND PROJECTS VERY TRICKY TO, TO ADDRESS.CITY STAFF, AS YOU CAN TELL, IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.
THIS PARTICULAR SITE WAS SLATED TO BE AN OFFICE BUILDING WITH THE 55% IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
AND IN FACT, THERE WAS ALREADY A SITE PLAN FILED WITH THE CITY PREVIOUSLY.
THE AMENDMENT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER TODAY DOES NOT WANT US TO WEIGH IN ON THE ISSUES OF IMPERVIOUS COVER OR OTHER, UH, ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
BUT THE AMENDMENT ONLY ASKS US TO CONSIDER WHETHER RESIDENTIAL USE CAN BE ALLOWED AND THAT THAT GO ALLOWANCES WITH THE FAR CAN BE MET.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO UTILIZE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. AND IT MEANS 107 UNITS AT 50% MFI 69 UNITS AT 60% AND 44 UNITS AT 80% MFI.
THIS TRACT LAND, AS YOU COULD SEE IN BACKUP, IS ALREADY WITHIN THE CAP METRO PICKUP ZONE FOR NORTH OAK HILL.
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT PICKUP SERVICE ZONE AND WHAT THEY MEAN THEIR ON DEMAND SHUTTLE SERVICE, THAT CAN TAKE CUSTOMERS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PICKUP ZONE, LIKE THE BRAND NEW H-E-B-A-C-C PINNACLE WHEN IT OPENS BACK UP THE PARK AND RIDE LOCATED THERE AT A-C-C-Y-M-C-A AND COUNTY OFFICES AND A A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PLACES.
IF THE OWNER WERE TO DECIDE TO DO MULTIFAMILY IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT A ZONING CASE.
BUT FOR TODAY, THIS IS AMENDING THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
THIS REQUEST HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF DISTRICT EIGHT ROUTINELY RANKS LAST IN THE CITY AND AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
NOW I WANT DISTRICT EIGHT TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN WELCOMING MORE TEACHERS, NURSES, AND MEDICS INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WANT MORE PLACES FOR SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE NEAR THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY HAVE BUILT THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK.
AND I WANT CARETAKERS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE NEAR THE FAMILIES THAT THEY SERVE.
AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE NEIGHBORS OUTREACH.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOME MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND THEIR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ENERGY AND PERSONAL TIME AND RESOURCES INVESTED INTO THIS CASE, AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO GO UN KNOWLEDGE UNACKNOWLEDGED.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK STAFF'S DILIGENCE ON THEIR WORK WITH MY OFFICE AND WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT ISSUES ARE AHEAD OF US AND WHAT, UH, THE OPTIONS ARE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS CASE TODAY.
I BELIEVE IT'S OUR FIRST AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROJECT THAT'S EVER BEEN PROPOSED IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE AS A COMMUNITY EXACTLY WHERE THE BEST PLACE IS TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE ALL OF THE NEEDS OF SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
BUT THE REALITY IS, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY, I REALLY WANNA BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IN AND I THINK I CAN DO IT ON ATTRACTIVE LAND IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY DON'T PENCIL OUT AND THEY GET PULLED OFF THE TABLE BEFORE ANYTHING IS EVER ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M IN A POSITION TO, TO SAY NO TO THESE WHEN THEY CAN PENCIL OUT.
UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY AND THE PASSION THAT HAS GONE INTO TRYING TO MAKE A PROJECT LIKE THIS WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DIRECT, TO DIRECT AND ADDRESS ANY SORT OF TRAFFIC IMPACTS, ANY SORT OF LIGHT, SIGNALIZATION, SIDEWALKS, OTHER SORTS OF SAFETY, UM, AND ROAD ISSUES THAT, THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE OUT THERE.
'CAUSE I DO AGREE THAT SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, UM, IS KIND OF ITS OWN BEAST FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AND, AND HAVE TO DRIVE THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.
UM, SO I, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE OVER, OVER THIS LENGTH OF TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I'LL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE TODAY, UM, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO IT, COMING BACK WITH A SITE PLAN TO COUNSEL AND, AND FURTHER APPROVAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I DON'T KNOW THAT NOW IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OR IF, UM, AS OPPOSED TO UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE WALKING, UM, MOTIONS.
WAIT, WAIT, SO ARE WE TALKING ON THIS ONE OR WHEN SHE DOES THE, WE'RE WE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 89.
SO I'M CALLING FOR DISCUSSION ON ITEM 89.
I, I THOUGHT THERE WAS GONNA BE SOME ADDITIONAL MEASURE PLACED TOWARDS ITEM 89, BUT IS THAT NOT THE CASE? THANK YOU.
I YOU MAY BE THINKING OF 73, UM, WHICH WILL BE TAKEN UP AFTER.
SO, UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS IF THIS, IF THIS HAPPENS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THIS IS THE FOURTH EVER, UH, IN DISTRICT EIGHT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, WHICH I THINK IS PRETTY AMAZING.
I ALSO JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT ON THE SAME AGENDA WHERE DISTRICT ONE
[06:25:01]
IS RECEIVING $50 MILLION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS AND HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN MY TERMS IN OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE GET THAT, THAT DOCUMENT WHERE THEY SHOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY DISTRICT.AND IT'S A PRETTY UNFORTUNATE WAY TO, TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION 'CAUSE IT'S A LINE GRAPH AND THE LINE FOR D ONE IS ALWAYS THIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT HERE.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT ARE FLATLINED.
UM, SO I PERSONALLY, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO, TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR FIVE PLUS YEARS, YOU AND I, ALL PARTS OF TOWN, FOR ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES, ALL HOUSING TYPES IS WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD GO.
UM, AND SO AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS THE DISTINCT HONOR OF HAVING THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY SINGLE YEAR PRODUCING THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PERSONALLY, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE GET TO, AS A BODY START TALKING ABOUT BEING A MORE DIVERSE AND LESS, UM, ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED CITY.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION EARLIER.
I, I, I'M GONNA RESIST THE URGE TO DIG IN TOO MUCH, BUT I DO WANNA SAY, I DON'T THINK MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE ASSUMPTION IS SOMEHOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BROWNNESS ARE UNFORTUNATELY MADE SYNONYMOUS.
I THINK POVERTY AND BROWNNESS ARE MADE SYNONYMOUS AND, AND THAT IS, UM, THAT'S TOO BAD FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION 'CAUSE WE NEVER ACTUALLY GET TO START TALKING ABOUT, UM, CANDID WAYS THAT WE CAN APPRECIATE WHERE ONE ANOTHER IS COMING FROM AND HOW WE CAN, UM, RECOGNIZE WHEN WE'RE IN THE SAME SPOT AND DON'T LOOK ANYTHING ALIKE, BUT HAVE THE SAME NEEDS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S, UH, I'LL, I'LL STOP THERE.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR STEP IS THAT I, I HAVE HAD THE DISTINCT, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS SO MANY TIMES WHERE IT'S LIKE, IF WE DO NOTHING, GUESS WHAT HAPPENS? SOMETHING 10 TIMES WORSE THAN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ANTICIPATED COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN IF WE DO THIS THEN, YOU KNOW, SO, SO FREQUENTLY THIS JOB IS ABOUT MAKING THE MOST DIFFICULT POSSIBLE DECISIONS.
AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN FOLKS ARE UPSET WITH THE DECISION YOU HAD TO MAKE, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU MADE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISION, IT MAKES YOU SECOND GUESS YOURSELF.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOUR LEADERSHIP ON TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE, THE, THE ONE LEAD IN THE CHARGE ON US PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH.
SO I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, PRO TIM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
UM, FIRST, I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORS COMING TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH US TODAY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WROTE IN AND SPOKE WITH THEIR SUPPORT.
I AM REMINDED WITH THIS CASE OF ANOTHER IMPORTANT ZONING CASE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, THERE WERE QUITE A FEW SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT WERE VOICED ABOUT A VARIETY OF CAR FEATURES AND A CREEK, AS WELL AS ABOUT INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT FOR THE MOST PART, MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MULTIFAMILY AND AS A HOUSING TYPE HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED AND THE VALUE OF HOUSING CHOICE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE CITY IS RECOGNIZED.
AS YOU CAN PROBABLY PREDICT, THE DEVELOPMENT FROM 2017 IN DISTRICT SEVEN WAS BUILT, FAMILIES MOVED IN AT ALL INCOME LEVELS AND WITH TIME THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORS BEGAN TO SEE THAT COMPLEX, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND AS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT IT TRULY IS.
WE'RE FORTUNATE IN DISTRICT SEVEN THAT WE HAVE GAINED HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS SINCE THAT TIME, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE CITY.
LAND COST AND OTHER FACTORS PRESENT MAJOR OBSTACLES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY WEST OF MOPAC.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES DON'T COME UP EVERY DAY AS, AS HAS BEEN NOTED HERE TODAY.
AND WHEN THEY DO, I DO HOPE THAT WE ALL WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION AND THE SECOND TO ADOPT ITEM TO APPROVE ITEM 89.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 89 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING, UH, MEMBERS.
I'M GOING TO TAKE US NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 73, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73 AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANYONE REMOTE, BUT I HAVE SEVERAL IN PERSON.
FIRST UP IS RICHARD SUTTLE, KRISTEN JACOBS, KAREN DALLMAN,
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YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AND THIS CASE IS RELATED TO THE ONE WE PREVIOUSLY DEALT WITH.
AND I'LL JUST SAY WE'RE IN FAVOR.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE AND UM, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW CAN WE APPROVE FUNDING WITHOUT HAVING AN IDEA OF WHAT THE SITE PLAN LOOKS LIKE? SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME OUT TO SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, COME OUT TO THIS TRACK OF LAND BEFORE ANY MONEY IS ALLOCATED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I'M KAREN DALMAN AND IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S TOPICS, UM, OH, WHAT A PITY IT WOULD BE TO GRANT TAX CREDITS FOR ITEM NUMBER 73.
FOR WITHOUT A SITE PLAN, HOW CAN WE PROCEED? T'S A MISTAKE TO UTILIZE TAXPAYER DOLLARS WITHOUT HEED.
STUART GOODMAN, FOLLOWED BY JASON'S EK CHANDLER HARRIS AND THEN DAVID ARNOLD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MY NAME'S STUART GOODMAN.
I'M AN INTERESTED PARTY IN THE PROPOSED, UH, SUNSET RIDGE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE'LL HAVE OTHER PRESENTERS, UH, SUBSEQUENTLY SPEAK ON SERIOUS CONCERNS WE HAVE REGARDING THE EXEMPTION TO THE, THE, UH, CONCENTRATION PROVISION OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 2024 QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN.
FIRST, I WANNA FOCUS ON A BROADER ISSUE AND DEFECT OF THE DRAFT AMENDMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE APPLICANT ARE SEEKING AN EXCEPTION OF THE D UH, CONCENTRATION PROVISION BASED ON SECTION 11.3 D TWO G OF THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN TO QUALIFY FOR SUCH AN EXEMPTION AND BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE PLAN, THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED.
THE GOVERNING BODY WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED HAS BY VOTE, SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT LOCATED WITHIN ONE LINEAR MILE OR LESS.
AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO HOLD A HEARING AT WHICH PUBLIC COMMENT CAN BE MADE OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S CRITICAL TO NOTE THAT ON APRIL 12TH, THE APPLICANT WITHDREW THE SUNSET RIDGE PLAN.
UH, TO DATE NO SUBSEQUENT PLAN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE APPLICANT'S STATUS, UH, THE APPLICATION STATUS IS SHOWN IS WITHDRAWN.
THIS CAN BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, UH, ON THE TEXT, UH, THE AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV WEBSITE.
ADDITIONALLY, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, UH, NO NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN FILED AND CERTAINLY NO NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS REQUIRED TO AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS OF A NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
NO CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD OR EITHER PREVIOUSLY, UH, OF, OF ON EITHER THE PREVIOUSLY FILED PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OR NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, IT WAS ONLY THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND NOT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
AS MR. SU MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, UH, THEREBY THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO THE SUNSET RIDGE TAX CREDIT SIMPLY HAS NOT MEANT THE MINIMUM LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME.
ONLY AFTER A PLAN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS PROPERLY NOTIFIED AND SUFFICIENT TIME BEEN PROVIDED TO AFFECTED RESIDENTS TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
CAN SUCH AMENDMENT BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL? THANK YOU.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE.
THE MORE I GET UP HERE, THE MORE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TALK IN GENERAL ABOUT THIS CONSOLIDATION THING.
ALL OF HIS POINTS ARE RIGHT, THE CITY CAN'T MOVE FORWARD ON THIS AGENDA TODAY 'CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T MET THE LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS OF IT.
THAT'S FINE, WE CAN PUNT IT DOWN THE ROAD.
I JUST GOT THINKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WOULD LEGISLATORS PUT SUCH A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT PREVENTS THE VERY CONSOLIDATION THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS FOR.
THE ONE, ONE MILE THREE YEAR RULE IS YOU SHOULDN'T BE PLACING ALL OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE EXACT SAME ZONE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
IT DOESN'T BREED GOOD THINGS WHEN YOU DO THAT.
THE IDEAL IS, AGAIN, HOW DO WE SPREAD THIS OUT? HOW DO WE BETTER UTILIZE THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT THE TAXPAYERS GENEROUSLY DONATE TO THE CITY EVERY YEAR TO THE RIGHT CAUSES? AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS WHEN THIS IS IGNORED IS EXACTLY WHAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER.
YOU RUN INTO INSTANCES OF POVERTY AND SEGREGATION, DISCRIMINATION SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T PERFORMING UP TO STANDARD AND THERE'S NO PLAN TO EXPAND.
BY THE WAY, OOLA ELEMENTARY IS AT FULL
[06:35:01]
CAPACITY AND, UH, ALL THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WENT THERE IN THE BOND ARE JUST SECURITY MEASURES, NOT ALL THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE OTHER WHITE SCHOOLS ENJOYED.SO I THINK THESE, YOUR GUYS SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THAT NEXT TIME THIS COMES AROUND ABOUT THE THE ONE YEAR OR ONE MILE THREE YEAR PLAN, BECAUSE IT'S THE REAL DEAL.
UM, I ROSE EARLIER TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC AND SAFETY.
AND I WILL ONLY SPEAK TO THIS ITEM TO SAY THAT AS A TAXPAYER, I WANT MY MONEY TO BE MANAGED BY THE STATE TO GO TO PROJECTS THAT ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT, WELL MANAGED AND APPROVED BASED ON ACCURATE DATA AND FACTS.
I FIND THE WHOLE PROCESS SINCE BEING FIRST NOTIFIED BACK IN DECEMBER, UH, AS AN INTERESTED PARTY TO BE CONFUSING, FILLED WITH MISSING DATA AND GENERALLY RUSHED TO BYPASS REQUIRED PROCEDURES IN CITY PROCESSES.
I DO KNOW THAT I WANT DUE PROCESS, ADEQUATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION FROM MY REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT EIGHT MORE FREQUENTLY.
MY NAME IS NOT VANESSA FUENTES.
IS, IS IT MY TURN TO SPEAK? IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHO IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
UM, I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT I GREW UP IN A WELL-TO-DO FAMILY.
UM, IT WASN'T ALL THAT ALWAYS THAT WAY, UM, WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD, BUT MY FATHER WAS AMONG THE FIRST IN, UH, HIS FAMILY, UH, HIS GENERATION TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, AND HE WENT ON TO BECOME A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND IT DEFINITELY SAVED ME NUMEROUS TIMES.
IF YOU'RE POOR AND I'M POOR AND WE'RE POOR, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF POVERTY? UM, I WOULD SAY WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
UM, I'M PROUD TO SAY IN APRIL OF 1968, MY MOTHER'S MOTHER, PATRICIA BOWMAN, CHOSE TO MARCH WITH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
IN THE NAME OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE GARBAGE WORKERS ON STRIKE.
THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED, SHE MARSHED WITH HER HUSBAND.
AT THE TIME, I NEVER KNEW HIM.
CAROL WAS A PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AND A PASTOR WHO SPENT TIME HELPING AFRICAN AMERICANS REGISTER AS VOTERS IN MISSISSIPPI.
TODAY, I WANT MY TWO DAUGHTERS WHO ARE SLATED TO ATTEND OAK HILL ELEMENTARY TO KNOW THAT I'M CARRYING ON A TRADITION OF SUPPORTING ADVERSELY, ADVERSELY AFFECTED PEOPLE AND POPULATIONS RELATIONS.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
ANY VOTE TO FUND THE PROPOSED SUNSET RIDGE APARTMENTS DISCUSSED IN AGENDA ITEM 89 WOULD NOT BE A VOTE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT WOULD BE A VOTE AGAINST THE INTENDED MERITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 73.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 73.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 73.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 73.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 73.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I THINK I'LL JUST ASK, I'M NOT SURE IF, UH, MANDY OR BRENDAN KENNEDY MAY WANNA COME AND JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY, BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT IS THIS ITEM AND HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK? UM, I KNOW THAT THESE ARE FOR THE HOUSING TAX CREDITS THROUGH THE STATE, AND SO I THINK THERE MAY JUST BE SOME CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING APPROVED TODAY OR WHAT ARE WE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE TODAY.
UH, MANDY DE MAYO, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND I MAY PHONE A FRIEND, WHICH IS BRENDAN KENNEDY AND I SEE HIM IN THE BACK.
UM, YES, THIS IS, THE DEVELOPER HAS SUBMITTED OR WILL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A 4% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT, UM, PROJECT, UH, THAT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ISSUED BY TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UM, AS A COMPONENT OF THE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION, THE, THE GOVERNING JURISDICTION NEEDS TO PROVIDE THIS RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGES VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE TRUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF WHICH IS THAT WE HAVE TWO TIMES THE STATE AVERAGE, UM, OF TAX CREDITS.
WE DO THAT WITH EVERY SINGLE, THIS LANGUAGE IS STANDARD, UM, THAT WE PROVIDE TO APPLICANTS PROVIDED YOU ALL, UM, SUPPORT THE PROJECT, WE SUBMIT THAT, PROVIDE IT BACK TO THE APPLICANT, AND THEY SUBMIT IT AS PART OF THEIR ACTUAL APPLICATION.
[06:40:02]
THANK YOU FOR THAT.AND SO ONE OF THE SPEAKERS HAD SAID THAT WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD TODAY.
IS THAT NOT STAFF'S INTERPRETATION? THAT IS NOT OUR INTERPRETATION AT ALL, NOR LAWS, UM, WHAT IS REQUIRED IS A, UM, PUBLIC HEARING WHICH YOU ALL ARE CONDUCTING NOW ARE JUST COMPLETED, UM, CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE RESOLUTION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 73 MEMBERS MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 73 WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 73 IS ADOPTED.
SO, UH, FOLKS, HERE'S THE WAY I THINK THAT WE WILL GO, UH, FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING.
AND I, AGAIN, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, I WOULD DO, I'M TRYING TO BASE THIS ON WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
SO THE ORDER WE WILL GO IN IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 99.
WHEN WE CONCLUDE ITEM NUMBER 99, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 76.
THEN WE WILL RECESS FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD MEETING, THEN 69, 74, 77, 71, 72, AND 75.
SO 99 76 A HFC, 69, 74, 77, 71, 72, AND 75 UNLESS SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENS.
THAT'S THE WHAT I, I'LL I'LL TRY TO DO.
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
AND WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 99.
[99. Approve a resolution related to policies that support single-family, multifamily, or mixed-use communities built with a working farm or community garden as a focus (also known as an “agrihood”) and recommended by the Housing and Planning Committee. 9]
ITEM NUMBER NINE NINE.I'LL RECOGNIZE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IF SHE'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY LAY IT OUT AND THEN YOU, MR. WE'LL CALL THE SPEAKERS.
YES, UH, I I'D LOVE TO THANK YOU.
SO ITEM NUMBER 99 IS AN ITEM, UM, UH, WE'RE CALLING HOODS, UH, FOR LACK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO CALL IT BECAUSE IT IS IN FACT CALLED AN NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS APPROVE A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE POLICIES SUPPORTING, UM, SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE COMMUNITIES BUILT WITH A WORKING FARM OR COMMUNITY GARDEN AS THE FOCUS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN AGRI HOOD.
UM, WE RECOMMENDED IT AT THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE AND, AND ARE BRINGING IT BEFORE THE BODY TODAY.
UM, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO, UH, START, UH, RECOGNIZING THOSE THAT WE, UH, THEY HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
NO ONE IS CALLED IN REMOTELY, SO I WILL BEGIN WITH IN PERSON.
FIRST UP IS TIFFANY WASHINGTON, THEN PLINY FISK, ATISA WHEELER.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY WASHINGTON.
I'M YOUR LOCAL BLACK FARMER HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I'M BROUGHT WITH ME TODAY A PROFESSIONAL BASKET OF CARROTS THAT I DID HARVEST FOR MY FARM IN THE EAST AUSTIN ON THE CORNER OF MAYNARD ROAD AND ROCKY LANE, WHERE THEY DO CALL THE COMMUNITY WHERE MURDER CORNER.
UM, IT PAINS ME TO EVEN HAVE TO STAND HERE IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL TO SAY AND LET YOU KNOW HOW OFFENSIVE THE TERM IS TO MARGINALIZE COMMUNITIES OF BLACK FARMERS, GROWERS AND PRODUCERS WHO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERSERVED IN AUSTIN FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IN 2021, RESOLUTION ITEM NUMBER 20 21 0 3 0 4 67 STATED, WHICH YOU SPONSORED, THAT THE CITY WAS BUILT ON BLACK AGRICULTURE.
IT IS TIME THAT THE CITY STOP USING TRENDY CALIFORNIA TERMS SUCH AS AGRI HOODS AS AN EXCUSE TO NEGLECT ITS DUTIES, TO COMPENSATE BLACK AGRICULTURALISTS, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LAND FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT IN OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST CALL IT A AGRO GHETTO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
I DON'T, I DID NOT HEAR ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL SPACES WITH THEIR NATIVE HERITAGE TREES ONCE WITH THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AGRI.
I DON'T THINK THAT MS. PAIGE ELLIS, YOU'RE GONNA SAY TO MY FACE, HEY, COME OVER HERE AND FARM THIS AGRI IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I DON'T THINK, MAYOR, THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AGRI HOOD THAT I FARM EVERY DAY OR THE FARM WHERE I HAVE PEOPLE GETTING SHOT AT.
I MY HOUSE HAS BEEN SHOT AT BULLETS HAVE GONE INTO MY HOME WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE GREEN GATE FARM.
UM, THAT IS THIS COMMUNITY'S VILLAGE, TINY HOME.
[06:45:01]
OFFENSIVE.I THINK IT'S DISRESPECTFUL AND I THINK IT IS THE MOST RACIST THING THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS CITY DO WHEN THEY HAVE NOT EVEN ADDRESSED WHAT HOODS ARE.
SO TO CALL IT A AGRI HOOD, CALL IT A AGRO GHETTO, JUST PICK SOME PEOPLE FROM OFF THE STREET TO GO FARM IT.
WHO ARE GONNA FARM THESE AGRI HOODS? WHO ARE WE CREATING A GREEN WORKFORCE FROM? WHO, WHAT PEOPLE? ARE THERE ANY OTHER BLACK FARMERS WHO OWN A FARM IN THIS CITY THAT THE MAYOR PRO THAT THAT, THAT NATASHA HARPER MADISON, I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAVE COME TO MY FARM WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
SO I WASN'T EVEN INVITED TO SAY THAT I'M OFFENDED BY THE WORD EVEN BEING USED.
UM, I'M, I'M REALLY AGAINST IT, BUT I'M REALLY NEUTRAL TO IT AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND GIVING BLACK PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE FARMING WAS, WAS GENOCIDED.
IF YOU CALL PLINY PLINY FISK, COME ON UP AND THEN TISA WHEELER AND THEN SKIP CONNET.
GOOD DAY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I CO-DIRECT THE OLDEST NONPROFIT IN THE COUNTRY DOING SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING AND POLICY.
AND WE ARE ON THE CORNER OF DECKER LANE AND 9 69 JUST BELOW GREEN GATE FARMS. AND GREEN GATE FARMS STARTED AT OUR PLACE ON THAT CORNER, WHAT, 20 YEARS AGO? WE SKIP ERRAND.
SO TO GIVE THAT BACKGROUND IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE MANY PROJECTS THAT IN ESSENCE HAVE GIVEN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE HIRED BY THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DO THE STATE DEMONSTRATION FARM.
THAT FARM IN LAREDO, BY THE WAY, WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IT TOOK OVER, WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT CANNOT BE CALLED AN BECAUSE NOBODY LIVED THERE, BUT THEY LIVED ALL AROUND IT AND USED IT EXTENSIVELY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
THE UNBELIEVABLE THING ALSO IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE REACHING INTO POLICY.
SO THIS BUILDING DID THE AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM.
WE DID THE RATING SYSTEM FOR HERE.
WE DID THE RATING SYSTEM DOWN THE STREET FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE HAVE DONE MANY BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AREA.
UM, WE'VE ALSO, BY THE WAY, DONE MANY AIS, SDS.
AND THE FACT IS THAT WHAT IS BEING HANDED OUT HERE IS ONE PROJECT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR OUR OWN NON-PROFIT SITTING ON THAT CORNER THAT IS IN COOPERATION WITH SKIP AND AARON AND OTHERHOOD EFFORTS IN OUR REGION.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN DAYTO TERMS IS THAT WE HAVE 1% OF ALL OUR FOOD PRODUCED HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS THAT WE EAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL IS 35 TIMES ANY OTHER LAND USE CATEGORY THAT HUMANS DELVE IN.
WE SORT OF DO OUR RATING SYSTEMS, WE DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THAT ALL THE WAY TO THE US PENTAGON.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT IF I LOOK AT WHAT TRIGGERS ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS, JOBS, COMMUNITY, WATER HEALTH COULD BE A SIMPLE THING CALLED AN HOOD.
AND AGRI HOOD'S EXISTED A LONG TIME AND IT BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MANY PLACES.
FEW TIMES HAS IT EVER BEEN PROPOSED IN A PLACE LIKE EAST AUSTIN.
SO WE ARE TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EFFORT IN ANY WAY WE CAN BE.
HELLO, I'M TESSA WHEELER AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EDUCATE YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO LIVES AT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN ALSO, UM, MY EXPERIENCES SINCE I'M A RESIDENT THERE CURRENTLY.
SO FIRST I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT WHY I CHOSE TO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WAS LIVING IN A FLUENT NORTH DALLAS AREA IN PLANO, TEXAS.
AND AS A WORK AT HOME EMPLOYEE EXECUTIVE, I DECIDED I WANTED TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE AND I SPENT A GOOD SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS RESEARCHING ACROSS THE WHOLE UNITED STATES WHERE I WANTED TO LIVE.
I WENT TO NORTH CAROLINA, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, COLORADO.
I KEPT COMING BACK TO WHAT AUSTIN, TEXAS HAD TO OFFER, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE AGRI HOOD THAT'S IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I MEAN, NO OFFENSE WHEN I SAY THAT WORD.
SO I WOULD APOLOGIZE IF IT'S OFFENSIVE IN ABSENCE OF KNOWING WHAT THE WORD TO CALL IT.
I'LL CALL IT AN AGRI HOOD TODAY UNTIL
[06:50:01]
WE DECIDE WHAT OTHER NAME WE CAN CALL, WE CAN, UH, CALL IT.BUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT LIFESTYLE I WANTED, IT WAS ONLY THAT ONE PLACE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HERE THAT'S SO SPECIAL.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, YOU NEED TO COME SIT WITH YOUR OWN EYES IS 20 MINUTES AWAY.
THAT'S WHERE I CHOSE TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THE KEPT DRAWING ME THERE.
WHERE DO I WANT TO SPEND MY TIME WITH MY COMMUNITY, WHERE I WANNA GIVE MY TIME TO MY COMMUNITY? SO I JUST WANNA KIND OF LET YOU KNOW, UM, FIRST I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND THAT IS THE COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND HEALTH.
SINCE MOVING TO VILLAGE FARM IN OCTOBER, I FOUND A SENSE OF BELONGING AND A CONNECTION THAT I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SHARING SPACE, IT'S ABOUT SHARING OUR LIVES, OUR DREAMS, AND OUR VALUES.
WE GATHER FOR MEALS, WE PLANT TREES TOGETHER, WE GO TAKE CARE OF THE DUCKS AND THE GEESE.
WE HAVE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES.
AND LIVING HERE HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING.
MY STRESS LOVER HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED.
I HAVE MANY DAYS LIKE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TODAY.
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WALK OUT INTO A FARM AND YOU CAN BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE UP THERE, THAT'S WHERE THE AGRI HOOD THAT I WALK MY DOGS IN EVERY DAY.
FIRST WEEK THERE I STARTED TAKING PICTURES BECAUSE I WANTED THAT PICTURE IN MY HOME BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT WARMS MY HEART AND THE STRESS GO GUT GOES AWAY.
SECONDLY, VILLAGE FARMS HAS OFFERED ME A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE THAT I DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.
WHILE TODAY WE DON'T GROW OUR OWN FOOD.
WE HAVE THE FARMERS WHO HAVE ORGANIC FOOD THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US.
WE DO HAVE SOME POPUP GARDENS WHERE WE GET FOOD FOR FREE.
AND SOON WE'LL HAVE OUR OWN GARDEN BEDS WHERE WE CAN START GROWING OUR OWN FOOD.
THIS NOT ONLY SAVES MONEY, BUT IT FOSTERS A SENSE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCE.
LIVING SUSTAINABLY ISN'T ABOUT SAVING THE PLANET, IT'S ALSO ABOUT SAVING MONEY AND LIVING A MORE FULFILLING LIFE.
AND LAST I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE FREEDOM AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM I HAVE AS A 56-YEAR-OLD EMPTY NESTER.
I'VE LIVED IN MANY PLACES AND KNOW WHERE HAVE I FOUND A SENSE OF FINANCIAL SECURITY COUPLED WITH COMMUNITY LIVING, LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOOD HAS HAS REDUCED MY LIVING EXPENSES.
NEXT WEEK AFTER SKIP CONNET, WE HAVE LISA APPLEBERG, AARON FLYNN, AND THEN KATIE GAY MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF GREENGATE FARMS AND I'VE HELPED CREATE THE VILLAGE FARM IN AGRI HOOD IN EAST AUSTIN.
FIRST I WANT COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER OF MADISON HARPER FOR HARPER MADISON FOR HER INSIGHT AND FORESIGHT ON THE NEEDS FOR HAVING AGRI HOODS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
VILLAGE FARMS IS ONE OF THE AUSTIN'S BEST KEPT SECRETS.
IT'S A MODERN, ORGANIC HYBRID OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL GO A LONG WAY IN MAKING SURE THAT AGRI HOODS HAVE THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE AND ASSURING THAT THEY TAKE ROOT HERE.
20 YEARS AGO I HAD A DREAM JOB IN ATLANTA WRITING SPEECHES FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC.
MY WIFE, ERIN ACROSS THE STREET, WAS DOING HIGH LEVEL PR FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
WE WATCHED WITH INCREASING ALARM AT HOW OUR NATION'S HEALTH WAS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
AND HOW MUCH OF THE RISE IN PREVENTABLE DISEASES COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO TWO INTERLINKING RISK FACTORS.
OUR DIET AND A BUILT ENVIRONMENT I FELT CALLED TO DO MORE THAN JUST WRITE ABOUT THIS EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.
I NEEDED TO GET OUT INTO THE FIELD LITERALLY WITH THE MISSION OF GROWING, NOT JUST CLEAN, FRESH FOOD, BUT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY TO REAP ITS BENEFITS.
WE GAVE UP OUR CAREERS, WE SAID GOODBYE TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND IN 2005, WE RETURNED TO AUSTIN WITH VISIONS OF GREEN FIELDS.
THE MAKING OF VILLAGE FARMS IS A RESULT OF MANY HANDS WORKING LONG AND HARD.
GREENGATE FARMS, ROBERT COMMUNITIES, TBG PARTNERS AND AUSTIN'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
VILLAGE FARMS IS FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT IT'S A GOOD FIRST START.
AND A START I SHOULD ADD, THERE'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS IN THE MAKING THAT SAID WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT THAT LONG FOR OTHER HAGGER HOODS TO DEVELOP HERE.
THIS RESOLUTION LIKE VILLAGE FARMS IS GROUNDBREAKING AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
THIS IS THE KIND OF INNOVATION THAT WILL PUT AUSTIN OUT FRONT IN MEETING TWO OF OUR MOST URGENT CHALLENGES, HOW TO MAKE HOUSING AND LOCAL FOOD MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS TIMELY SUCCESS STORY.
HI, MY NAME IS LISA ELLBERG AND I AM MOVED TO VILLAGE FARM AUSTIN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MOVING TO THE VILLAGE FARM AGRI.
AND I AGREE WITH TISA THAT IF WE WANT A NEW NAME TO BE LESS OFFENSIVE, I WOULD SUPPORT
[06:55:01]
THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE MADE IN OUR LIVES.NOT ONLY AM I PARTICIPATING IN AND LEARNING HOW TO FARM AND GROW MY OWN FOOD, WHICH IS A LIFELONG GOAL THAT IS HARD TO ACHIEVE IN THIS DAY WHEN WE'RE SO REMOVED FROM FOOD PRODUCTION.
BUT IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, I CHALLENGED MYSELF TO EAT FOOD EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE FARM.
AND BY MY ESTIMATES, I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE HAVING 70% OF OUR MEALS COME FROM THE ROWS OF CROPS.
NOT MORE THAN 12 FEET FROM MY FRONT DOOR.
ONE OTHER THING I'LL ADD IS THAT I WAS RECENTLY WATCHING THE BLUE ZONES DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX.
BLUE ZONES, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, ARE A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE ARE ORGANICALLY LIVING FOR DECADES LONGER THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
AND THEIR FINAL DECADES ARE FILLED WITH, ARE VERY HEALTHY AND ACTIVE AND NOT FILLED WITH DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND MEDICAL VISITS LIKE WE SO FREQUENTLY SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT OUR AGRI HOOD ALREADY HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE A BLUE ZONE.
WE HAVE THE FRESH PRODUCE, WE HAVE THE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY WHERE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE.
AND WE HAVE TRAILS FOR WALKING AND REGULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE YOGA ON THE FARM.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE OURS HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND COMBAT THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS THAT CAN PREVAIL IN OUR BUSY LIVES.
MY NAME IS ERIN FLYNN AND I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF EAST AUSTIN'S GREENGATE FARMS, WHICH IS IN D ONE AND A CONSULTANT FOR THE VILLAGE FARM AGRI HOOD.
I COULDN'T ENCOURAGE YOU MORE TO SUPPORT THE AGRI CONCEPT AND THE ISSUE.
ITEM 99 TODAY WHEN I SPOKE HERE LAST WEEK, I SHARED HOWS OR FARM CENTERED COMMUNITIES FOSTER HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIVING FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE JUST MENTIONED THAT.
BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS.
WE NEED MORE FARMERS AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE DESIGN THAT CAN FACILITATE THAT.
TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE WIDER RIPPLE EFFECT OF A WELL-DESIGNED AGRI HOOD.
NOT ONLY DO RESIDENTS BENEFIT, BUT SO DOES THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.
OUR AGRI HOOD HAS BECOME A HUB THAT PRODUCES MUCH MORE THAN FOOD.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORS VOLUNTEER TO LEARN HOW TO GARDEN AND WHERE NEW FARMERS ARE MENTORED.
IT'S ALSO AN INCUBATOR AND A FUNDER FOR MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, MICROENTERPRISES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND IT'S A LIVING LAB FOR RESEARCHERS AND, AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS.
TYPICALLY, AGRI HOOD FARM STANDS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE AND VILLAGE FARM IS NO EXCEPTION.
OUR FARM STAND AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE SHARES OF FOOD AND FLOWERS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE BEING PREPARED IN THESE PICTURES.
UH, THIS FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.
AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT THIS IS WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT IN AN ORCHARD AND THE RESIDENTS HELPED PUT THAT IN IN FRONT OF THE TINY HOMES.
UM, SO BECAUSE OUR FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO ALL NEIGHBORS, THIS HAS INCREASED ACCESS TO ORGANIC FOOD IN A PART OF TOWN THAT DOES NOT HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH FRESH FOOD, GROCERY STORES OR RESTAURANTS.
BECAUSE WE MAKE THE FARM STAND AVAILABLE TO OTHERS, NEW BUSINESSES HAVE BLOSSOMED.
OUR BEEKEEPER NOW HAS THE PLACE TO SELL US HONEY AND TINY HOME RESIDENTS SELL EVERYTHING FROM BAKED GOODS TO GIFTS AND NATURAL BUG SPRAY.
ADDITIONAL INCOME ALSO FLOWS TO CHEFS TEACHING COOKING CLASSES, HEALTH COACHES LEADING SEMINARS, AND YOGA INSTRUCTORS LEADING WEEKLY CLASSES.
HAVING A COMMUNITY FARM STAND ALSO MEANS THAT LARGER BUSINESSES LIKE COYOTE CREEK, FEED MILL AND CALLAHAN'S FEED STORE BENEFIT AS WE PURCHASE EGGS AND MEAT AND OTHER SUPPLIES WEEKLY.
BECAUSE OUR AGRI FARM ALSO PROVIDES A WELCOMING SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER.
WE REGULARLY HOST NUMEROUS CULTURAL EVENTS.
THIS INCLUDES THE MONTH LONG EAST SIDE EVENT SERIES THAT WE CREATED, WHICH FEATURED THE SIDE KINGS AND OTHER LOCAL GOSPEL AND BLUES MUSICIANS.
WE'VE ALSO SHOWCASED ARTISTS BY BEING A DESTINATION DURING THE AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR, HOSTING REGULAR ARTISAN FAIRS AND MAKING THE FARMHOUSE AVAILABLE AS A GALLERY SPACE.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROUPS LIKE THE TINKERING SCHOOL ALSO GENERATE REVENUE FOR CREATIVE NONPROFITS.
AFTER KATIE GAY IS ZIA JOSEPH AND THEN BOBBY LEVINSKY.
ENOVIA JOSEPH AND BOBBY LAVINSKY.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S OFFICE REACHED
[07:00:01]
OUT TO US ON THIS ITEM TO TO BE A STAKEHOLDER.UM, CAN'T SAY THAT I KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ON IT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GREAT IDEA.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IT.
UM, I COME FROM A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONSERVATION WORLD, UM, ON A PART OF THE PRIVATE SIDE TOO, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME INNOVATIVE TAX INCENTIVE, UM, STRUCTURES THAT COULD HELP SUPPORT THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.
SO, UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, JUST REACH OUT AND WE'LL, UH, WE'LL LOVE TO BE INVOLVED.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MR. LEBINSKI
UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU YESTERDAY AS, UH, WE WERE, UM, TALKING ABOUT WATER SPECIFICALLY.
SO TODAY, SOME OF THE COMMENTARY ABOUT ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA, IT WAS SUPER TIMELY.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 99 HAVE BEEN CALLED.
UM, UH, MEMBERS, ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE, HAVE COMPLETED ON ITEM NUMBER 99.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON TO MAKE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM ITEM NUMBER 99.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE BRING ITEM NUMBER 99 FORWARD FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO HELP US BECOME THE BIGGEST, MOST PROLIFIC AGRI DEVELOPER IN THE COUNTRY.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ SECONDS THAT MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 99 IS ADOPTED.
CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR MEMBERS.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 76, WHICH IS POSTED.
IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE AND I'M VERY HAPPY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW REMARKS BECAUSE I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND REALLY SEEING A CREATIVE IDEA, SEEING SOMETHING WORKING AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION FOR HOUSING AND PLANNING WHEN WE DID OUR JOINT, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING ON APRIL 23RD.
IF YOU WANNA SEE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED.
UH, THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[76. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing a temporary change in use of dedicated parkland, known as the Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt, 8020 Spicewood Springs Road, to allow the Watershed Protection Department to use 15,246 square feet of parkland for a temporary storage and staging area during construction of the Old Lampasas Dam Modernization project. ]
76, WHICH IS POSTED AS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, TO HELP US WITH THE SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR 76 IS SHARON BLYTHE.
SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY SUSAN RO.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SUSAN'S HERE.
I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, WHERE THIS, UH, DAM PROJECT IS GONNA BE TAKING PLACE.
THE, UH, AS WELL AS THIS, UH, STAGING AREA THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO USE FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, TO BUILD THIS PROJECT IN THE VALLEY BEHIND MY HOUSE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TAKE DOWN THOUSANDS OF TREES, INCLUDING 13 HERITAGE TREES.
WE HAVE NEVER, EVER HAD A PUBLIC HEARING FROM WATERSHED ABOUT THIS.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OUT 13 TREES, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT CITY ORDINANCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO AS A COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR, OUR HORROR OF THIS, UH, PROJECT.
UH, THIS IS A VIEW FOR MY BACKYARD.
IF THEY BUILD THIS PROJECT, MY BACKYARD WILL BECOME LAKEFRONT PROPERTY WITH NO TREES IN BEHIND IT.
AND, UH, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, EXCEPT THEY PUT A BUNCH OF CEMENT DOWN THERE AND BUILD BASICALLY A, A PUBLIC SKATE PARK.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS, UH, HABITAT RESTORATION SIGN SHOWED UP, DOWN, DOWN THERE, AND THEY SAY, NO, NO CUTTING OF VEGETATION.
WELL, HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN THE CITY'S GONNA TAKE OUT THOUSANDS OF TREES PLUS 13 HERITAGE TREES? IT'S YOUR REALLY CONTRADICTORY.
UM, IN YOUR BACKUP, THERE WAS AN INCORRECT MAP SHOWING THAT BULL CREEK RANCH, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE PROJECT, UM, IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
THAT BULL CREEK RANCH, ACCORDING TO THE AUSTIN FLOODPLAIN MAPS IS NOT IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
IT'S NOT BULL CREEK DOES NOT RUN THROUGH THAT VALLEY.
[07:05:02]
THERE IS NO FLOOD FLOOD RISK IN THAT VALLEY AT ALL.OUR CANYON WILL BE DESTROYED, BUT THE PROJECT GOES FORWARD.
UM, KENYON HAS LITTLE FLOOD RISK, DAMAGE, UM, RISK, LITTLE FLOOD RISK.
UM, THIS IS A PICTURE I TOOK ON JANUARY 22ND OF THIS YEAR WHEN WE HAD A MAJOR RAIN RAINSTORM, WHICH IS A SMALL, SMALL TRICKLE OF WATER THROUGH THE CANYON.
THERE'S NO NO PROBLEM WITH THAT CANYON.
THE PLANNED RESTORATION WILL DESTROY ENDANGERED SPECIES, HABITAT SPRINGS, OR ENT, WHERE THIS JOLLYVILLE SALAMANDER LIVES.
MOST RUNOFF IS FROM THE SPRINGS.
BULL CREEK DOES NOT RUN THROUGH THE CANYON.
THE CANYON HAS CAVES WHERE THE OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES LIVE.
UH, THE BACKUP WATER WILL DESTROY THE NATURAL HABITAT BY COVERING THE SPRINGS.
THE ACTUAL GREATEST FLOOD RISK IS, IS IN THE CANYON.
NEXT, NEXT DOOR UP SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD.
WHERE IT BULL CREEK IS, DOES FLOW.
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN ADDRESSING THAT AT ALL.
WE'RE ASKING THAT OUR WATERSHED CHANGE THE DAM RESTORATION PLAN TO NOT DESTROY THE CANYON.
AND, UM, ADDRESS THE TRIANGLE STAGING AREA.
THE TRIANGLE STAGING AREA FOR THE DAM IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS THE VERY SAME PROPERTY WHERE THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOUR TUNNEL RUNS THROUGH THE SHAFT SIDE IS ON TOP OF IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING BIG TRUCKS OVER THERE TRYING TO PUT ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION ON THE SHAFT SITE.
IT'S A GREAT POSSIBILITY THAT SHAFT SITE WILL, UH, IMPLODE INTO THE TUNNEL AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH WORSE PROBLEM OVER THERE BECAUSE OF THIS SHAFT SITE.
UH, MY NEIGHBORS AND I AND SOS SUED THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WE WON ON THE THIRD COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS IN 2010.
UNKNOWN SHAFT SITE, WE HAVE UNKNOWN.
UH, THERE'S UNKNOWN SAFEGUARDS THAT, UM, UH, THAT THEY'LL DESTROY THAT SHAFT SITE.
AND, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S JUST UNKNOWN RISK FOR THIS SHAFT SITE BECAUSE OF THE WATER TREATMENT.
PLANT TUNNEL RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
IF YOU HAD ONE ONE'S, UM, PROOF OF THAT LAWSUIT.
THIS IS, THIS IS THE FRONT PAGE OF IT WHERE WE SUED THE CITY.
UH, THERE WAS A NEW MOU, UM, AGREED TO BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS WATERSHED WHERE THEY'RE GONNA PLAY.
UH, THE PARK WATERSHED IS GONNA PLAY PARKS DEPARTMENT $70,000 TO TAKE OUR TREES DOWN TREES TO THE DECKER LAKE AREA SO CHILDREN CAN PLAY ON THAT WOOD.
THE, IT IS WRONG TO TEAR UP OUR CANYON AND PARKLAND AND USE THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO EAST SIDE CAN USE THE DOWN TREES.
THE, THE TRIANGLE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A STAGING AREA OVER A SENSITIVE WATER TREATMENT, UH, WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR SHAFT.
THE TRA TRUCKS COULD COLLAPSE THE SHAFT AND THERE'S GONNA BE TOO MUCH TRAFFIC ALONG SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD ENDANGERING THE CARS AND THE SCHOOL SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
MAYOR, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 76.
CAN I GET, UH, WATERSHED TO COME DOWN REAL QUICK BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.
UM, YOU JUST HEARD THE TESTIMONY CO FIRST OF ALL, THIS ITEM DOES NOT ADDRESS THE BUILDING OF THE DAM.
IT ADDRESSES A STAGING AREA AND THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
SO JORGE MORALES, THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS A, AN ITEM THAT WE NEED TO BRING BEFORE, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF USING THAT SLIVER OF THE PARKLAND.
AND WE DO HAVE STAFF FROM PARKLAND THAT CAN SPEAK TO THAT PROCESS.
UH, THIS PROJECT IS A DAM REPAIR PROJECT FROM DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED IN 2010 THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AND WE CAN SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU WELL, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHERE YOU ANTICIPATED WHERE I WAS HEADED.
[07:10:01]
EVEN THOUGH THIS DOESN'T RELATE TO THE SPECIFIC DAM PROCESS AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT, UM, THAT WAS, WERE JUST MENTIONED, TELL US WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE A STAGING AREA.WHY IS, WHAT IS THE REASON THAT WATERSHED IS DOING WORK ON THE DAM? SO THE REASON FOR THE, THE WORK IS IN 2010 DURING THE, UH, TROPICAL STORM HERMINE, THIS, THIS DAM WAS DAMAGED.
IT'S LISTED ON THE TCEQ LIST, I THINK IT'S NUMBER THREE OF PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TO DO REPAIRS TO IT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROJECT.
WE NEED A STAGING AREA, AND THIS IS AREA IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE.
SO WE DO, UH, WE ARE ASKING TO USE THIS SITE TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE DID HEAR THE CONCERNS AND WE ARE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SITE.
AND HAVE YOU, AND, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, THE SPEAKER HAS BEEN AT MEETINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
UM, HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE SPEAKER ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS? OUR STAFF HAS, NOT ME DIRECTLY.
AND YES, WE'VE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS AND, UH, AND SO THE, THE THE SECOND YES, WE HAVE I'LL AT THAT, THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS, ARE WE IN VIOLATION OF ANY COURT ORDER AS A RESULT OF USING THIS STRIP OF LAND IN THE PARKLAND? I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT, UH, MAYOR.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY FROM LAW CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
DID YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT? DO WE? YEAH.
WELL, YOU HEARD WHAT SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT THE, THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT CASE APPLIES HERE OR, BUT HAVE YOU TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHETHER OR NOT THE STAGING AREA IS OVER THE SHAFT SITE? THERE IS A SHAFT, THERE'S, AND YES, WE'VE TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND OUR PARTNERS CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERIES SERVICES WILL, WILL HELP US WITH THIS PROJECT MANAGING IT AND THEY ACTUALLY HELP MANAGE THAT PROJECT AS WELL, SO THAT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SHAFT AND THE LOCATION, AND WE'LL BE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? C COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? UH, I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS.
I JUST HAVE AN AMENDMENT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD.
YEAH, WE WE'RE GONNA DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE A MOTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76 AND, UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 76.
IS THERE A MOTION I I'LL MOTION TO PASS 76.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 76.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UH, MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AND IT'S BEEN HANDED OUT EARLIER TODAY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 76 AND IT'S LABELED, UH, AMENDMENT ONE.
I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR A MOTION TO AMEND.
I MOTION TO AMEND LINE 25 TO READ AS FOLLOWS.
IT'S UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT ONCE I GET A SECOND.
AND IT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 76 BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEL, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON YOUR MOTION.
UM, BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY, I JUST WANNA THANK WATERSHED, UM, AND THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO'VE COME OUT TO MY DISTRICT TO HOLD MEETINGS WITH OUR PUBLIC AND TO REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THIS, UM, DAM MODERNIZATION PROJECT.
OUR COMMUNITY RISKS 30 DIFFERENT HOMES IN BULL CREEK RANCH FLOODING AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE DAM.
AND UM, AS I MENTIONED AT TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION, THERE ARE A LOT OF SCARS IN THE COMMUNITY BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE LIFT STATION AT THE SITE OF THAT PARK WHERE THE STAGING EQUIPMENT WILL BE.
THEY, THEY ARE VERY BIG IN THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVEN'T JUST HEARD FROM MS. BLYTHE, MY PARENTS WHO LIVE NEARBY, REMEMBER THAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION AT DINNER OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT IT.
UM, NEIGHBORS HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT.
THEY'VE BROUGHT THOSE CONCERNS TO US AT THESE MEETINGS.
UM, AND SO I PLAN TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS WITH THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH IS VIEWABLE ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD.
HAS TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY ON THE PARKLAND AS WELL AS, UH, TRAFFIC CONTROL DURING PICKUP TIMES AT THE SCHOOL.
BECAUSE IT IS A SMALL ROAD, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT TRAFFIC ISN'T IMPACTED WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
UM, WITH THE LIFT STATION I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I VIVIDLY RECALL RIDING THE BUS HOME AND BEING IMPACTED BY THAT TRAFFIC.
I KNOW THERE ARE PARENTS WHO WORRY ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
NOW ON TUESDAY I LAID OUT AN AMENDMENT, BUT THERE WAS A PIECE OF IT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION BECAUSE I DID TALK TO STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHANGES WERE OKAY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE.
HOWEVER, I DO PLAN ON BRINGING FORWARD AN IFC ON MAY 30TH TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH A COST ESTIMATE FOR AMENITIES IN THAT PARK SO THAT I CAN MOVE FORWARD TO REQUEST THAT IN THE BUDGET PERHAPS.
SO THAT IS THE ONLY PART THAT'S MISSING FROM WHAT I LAID OUT ON TUESDAY THAT WE ARE REVIEWING TODAY.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY?
[07:15:02]
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 76, WHICH IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 76 AS AMENDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 76 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AT 5:44 PM AND I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 5 44.WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, ON MAY 2ND, LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT, UM, 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MANDY DEMA AND OUR DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
YOU HAVE THREE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM, UH, FOUR PREVIOUS FEBRUARY 1ST, 29TH, MARCH 7TH AND MARCH 21ST FOR PRIOR MEETINGS.
UH, THE SECOND IS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH DMA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 69 0 9 RYAN DRIVE.
AND THE THIRD IS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATION, UM, TO SELL A PARCEL OF LAND APPROXIMATELY 2.5 ACRES ON TILLERY TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I DO WANNA NOTE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SPEAKERS AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BECAUSE NUMBER TWO IS AN ITEM, UM, OF HIGH INTEREST.
UM, THIS IS THE RYAN DRIVE SOLICITATION, UM, THAT AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TOOK ON THE RECOMMENDED.
UM, PROPOSER IS DMA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.
WE HAVE DIANA MCIVER, UH, THE PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF DMA DEVELOPMENT AND JANINE CSEC, WHO IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DMA DEVELOPMENT.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, ABOUT, UM, THEIR PROPOSAL.
MEMBERS, RIGHT NOW DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IN THAT CASE, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON WHAT WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON REMOTE MAGDALENA DELA.
THANK YOU MAYOR KIRK AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, I AM MAGGIE AND I AND DISTRICT FIVE, UH, I VOTE NO ON DMA DEVELOPMENT AND ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE PINROSE LLC BECAUSE PINROSE, LLC IS AN EXPERIENCED DEVELOPER AND IS WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF AREA RESIDENTS AND OTHERS AFFECTED, UH, BY THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE 50 UNITS OF SHARED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.
HOUSING HAS BECOME MORE LIMITED FOR SENIORS.
MANY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING CONTRIBUTORS TO AUSTIN FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO BE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
AND I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF BOOMERS COLLABORATIVE TO WORK WITH PINROSE LLC, TO OBTAIN THOSE 50 UNITS OF SHARED HOUSING, UH, FOR SENIORS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THAT Y'ALL HAVE HAD A LONG DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THAT'S THE ONLY REMOTE SPEAKER I HAVE.
SO I'LL MOVE TO IN PERSON, STARTING WITH CAROL LILY, FOLLOWED BY ANNA BUCHANAN AND THEN CHAD WALLACE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME IN, FIND A SEAT HERE ON THE FRONT ROW.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, IT'S ALL YOURS.
YES, BOTH CHAD AND ANNA HAD TO LEAVE.
UH, I'M PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF BOOMERS COLLABORATIVE FOUNDATION.
UH, REGRETTABLY, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR PLANNED HOUSING COOPERATIVE COULD NOT JOIN ME TODAY.
UH, MANY OF US ARE SENIOR WOMEN.
IF WE STILL DRIVE, WE ARE SIMPLY NOT UP FOR NAVIGATING DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC AND PARKING, AT LEAST NOT ON OUR OWN.
SO, AND OTHERS OF US HAD SOME CONFLICTING, UH, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.
SO I AM HERE AS OUR PRIMARY SPOKESPERSON.
WE ARE NOW IN YEAR 11 OF SEEKING A LOCATION FOR OUR BOOMERS COLLABORATIVE LIMITED EQUITY COOPERATIVE HOUSING MODEL.
UH, AND PENROSE, LLC IS THE ONLY DEVELOPER IN THE RECENT COHORT READY AND WILLING TO COLLABORATE WITH US TWICE.
THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPERS HAVE INCLUDED US IN THEIR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
THE GROVE AT SHOAL CREEK, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS DELAY, UH, TURNED OUT TO BE UNAFFORDABLE.
[07:20:01]
SUMMER, CRESTVIEW VILLAGE FELL APART FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US.NOW, JUST AS WE HAVE ANOTHER DEVELOPER WILLING TO WORK WITH US, WE AGAIN FIND OURSELVES FACING DISAPPOINTMENT.
TODS AND ETS ARE IDEAL RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR A POPULATION GROUP THAT INCREASINGLY CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT DRIVE, BUT WHO STILL NEED TO RUN ERRANDS AND ATTEND DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.
WE WANT, NEED AND SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH OTHER SENIORS TO LIVE AND, UM, AGE IN PLACE TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY THE ONE IN FIVE OF US WHO WILL EVENTUALLY IDENTIFY AS ELDER ORPHANS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW, AN ELDER ORPHAN IS AN, IS A SENIOR, SINGLE SENIOR WITH NO SUPPORTIVE FAMILY TO COUNT ON.
WE WANT A SHARED HOUSING MODEL FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT AND WELLBEING.
AND BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME A BURDEN, AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN TO SOCIETY, AND IT SHOULD BE NEAR DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION.
IN 2018, THE CITY'S COMMISSION ON SENIORS NOW THAT A COMMISSION ON AGING PASSED A RESOLUTION ENDORSING OUR MODEL.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN, UM, WE HAVE A RECENT INVITATION FROM THEM TO, TO DELIVER AN UPDATE.
UH, WE CANNOT DELIVER AN UPDATE THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY WANT US TO HAVE A COMMITTED SITE BEFORE WE GO AND MAKE OUR PRESENTATION.
UM, WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER OUR NEEDS AND THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY BY SELECTING THE ONLY DEVELOPER READY TO BUILD WITHOUT TAX CREDIT FINANCING BETTER SUITED FOR LIMITED EQUITY COOPERATIVE HOUSING.
PLEASE PICK PENROSE'S, LLC AND THEIR VISION FOR A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CRESTVIEW TODA NEW VISION FOR AUSTIN.
THAT INCLUDES A HOUSING SET ASIDE FOR OUR 50 UNITS, A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND OTHER INTERGENERATIONAL AMENITIES, ESPECIALLY A MAKERSPACE AND RETAIL GALLERY FOR WIDER COMMUNITY USE UNDER OUR SEPARATE COLLABORATION WITH THE AUSTIN CREATIVE ALLIANCE.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS I HAVE.
UM, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A HFC.
UM, CAN YOU ADDRESS THE, THE ITEM NUMBER TWO AND THE TWO COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT A DIFFERENT DEVELOPER? UM, SURE.
SO WE RECEIVED, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA BE CLEAR, UH, THE SOLICITATION WAS ACTUALLY A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
AND THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE, UM, OFTENTIMES AND HISTORICALLY, A HFC HAS DONE, UH, AS WELL AS OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR RFPS OR DEVELOPERS BRING THEIR ACTUAL IDEA AND YOU SEE WHAT THE PROJECT IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
UM, ONE THING WE HAVE FOUND AT A HFC IS SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO UNREALISTIC, UM, EXPECTATIONS AMONGST THE COMMUNITY, UM, BECAUSE THESE ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPER.
SO OUR LAST FEW SOLICITATIONS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN RF QS OR REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS.
UM, WE SEE MULTIPLE ADVANTAGES FROM THAT.
UH, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPER'S TRACK RECORD WHERE THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE IN DOING WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO.
UM, AND THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARD A, UM, JOINT VISION.
UM, I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT WHEN WE PUT OUT THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, IT WAS VERY CLEAR AND ALL OF THE PROPOSERS AGREED TO THIS, THAT THERE WAS MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS.
AND THOSE MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS, UM, INCLUDED 300 UNITS, UM, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDED, UH, THE, UH, PARK SPACE THAT WAS, UH, EXPECTED AND WAS, UM, SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS, UH, A TRANSIT, UM, UH, AREA TRANSIT STATION, BECAUSE OF COURSE IT IS IN, RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO THE CRESTVIEW STATION.
ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS PROMISE THAT THAT IS THE FLOOR.
WE WILL MEET OR EXCEED THAT REGARDLESS OF THE DEVELOPER WHO IS CHOSEN.
UM, WE STAFF, UM, PULLED TOGETHER A PANEL OF, UH, BOTH A HFC AND CITY STAFF TO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS.
AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED 13 PROPOSALS.
UM, THREE OF THE APPLICANTS WERE INVITED TO GO, UH, WITH, FOR AN INTERVIEW.
UM, THOSE WERE THE THREE THAT ROSE TO THE TOP.
AFTER THAT, UM, STAGE IN THE, THE PROCESS, EVERY APPLICANT, ALL THREE WERE SCORED.
AND DMA DEVELOPMENT, UH, CAME OUT.
I THINK IT WAS 103 POINTS, DMA DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OTHER TWO WERE
[07:25:01]
LESS THAN A HUNDRED POINTS.UM, WE THEN PUT OUT, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, WHICH WE HAVE DONE WITH REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED WITH REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS NOT RESPONDING TO AN ACTUAL PROJECT.
UM, WE RECEIVED A VARIETY OF COMMENTS.
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT, UM, FOR ACTUALLY ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, BUT THE, THE BULK OF THE SUPPORT WAS, UM, FOR THE APPLICANT THAT CAME IN.
THIRD, FROM A QUANTITATIVE PERSPECTIVE, UM, WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO BECOME A POPULARITY CONTEST.
UH, WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE IS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE KNOW FROM, UH, REVIEWING ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE SELECTED DEVELOPER WE CAN INCORPORATE MOVING FORWARD.
WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH DMA DEVELOPMENT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS TO STAFF? MAYOR TIM? I, UH, OR VICE PRESIDENT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL MOTIONS MADE, UH, THE BOARD MEMBER VELA SECONDS THE MOTION, A DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.
UH, I AM REALLY, REALLY PLEASED, UH, THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RYAN DRIVE PARCEL IN MY DISTRICT.
I THINK I FIRST STARTED, UH, IMAGINING WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE BACK IN 2014 WHEN I WAS, BUT A CANDIDATE FOR COUNCIL.
SO HERE WE ARE 10 YEARS LATER.
UH, REALLY WORKING VERY HARD AT THE STAFF LEVEL IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE RYAN DRIVE, UH, WORKING GROUP, UH, WHICH HAS DONE AMAZING WORK TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT FOR THIS SITE.
A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A NEED TO REGROUP AND COME BACK.
BUT WE HAVE MOVED EXPEDITIOUSLY THIS YEAR FORWARD WITH A HFC, UH, MAYOR.
I'M, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE.
THIS IS A 5.4 ACRE FORMER LAY DOWN YARD FOR AUSTIN ENERGY, CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE CRESTVIEW, TOD, ADJACENT TO THE REDLINE STATION.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
CRESTVIEW STATION SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT TRANSIT HUB FOR MY DISTRICT AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPANDED WITH THE EXTENSION OF PROJECT CONNECT'S BLUE LINE.
THERE'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES, NEW NEIGHBORS.
THEY ARE WELCOMED BY THE CRESTVIEW AREA ON BOTH SIDES OF LAMAR BOULEVARD, WHICH INCLUDES SOME DISTRICT FOUR.
SO, MY THANKS TO A HFC LEADERSHIP, THE RYAN DRIVE TEAM FOR YOUR QUICK WORK IN TURNING THIS AROUND, GETTING THE RFQ OUT THERE AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO US TODAY.
I, I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THE CHOICE THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE STAFF AND OUR ACTION MOVING FORWARD, MAYOR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, IS ANYONE WISHING TO PULL SOMETHING OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE, UH, SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM ANY SPECIFIC ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA OF ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND THREE IS ADOPTED.
UH, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 5:57 PM ON MAY 2ND.
I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 5:57 PM AND WE WILL TAKE UP
[69. Discussion and possible action related to placing proposed City Charter amendments on the ballot for a November 2024 special election. ]
ITEM NUMBER 69 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 69 IS, UH, RELATED TO THE CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS, UH, BEING PLACED ON THE BALLOT.
UH, HAVING, UH, HAVING HEARD OF THE WORK SESSION, UH, THE SUGGESTION HAS BEEN THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WANTS TO BE ON THAT.
SO THE, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE, THE MOTION THAT, THAT I WOULD ACCEPT WOULD BE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO ITEM NUMBER TO ITEM NUMBER 69 TO MAY 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
BUT WHAT WE'LL DO IS FIRST SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ANYBODY THAT IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM IF COUNSEL WISHES TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
NOW, UH, ALL I WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU RECALL THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS LEFT, AND WE WILL BE POSTPONING THIS FOR FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
COUNCILMAN, MORALE AND ALTER? UM, SO I'LL BE QUICK AND IT'S SORT OF A QUESTION, COMMENT.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BY ORDINANCE RATHER THAN A CHARTER RECOMMENDATION.
[07:30:01]
AND IN THE BACKUP, YOU SHARED THAT FOR WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS 1, 3, 5, AND SIX.UH, NEIL
WE'VE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF POLICY, UH, OBJECTIVES THAT YOU COULD ACHIEVE THROUGH EITHER, UH, AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION WITHOUT A CHARTER AMENDMENT.
UM, SO COLLEAGUES, UM, JUST AS A SUGGESTION FOR WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD, OF, OF HOW TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES AND OUR CONVERSATIONS, I PERSONALLY THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THERE ARE MECHANISMS THAT WE CAN USE TO NOT DO A CHARTER AMENDMENT, UM, THAT WE DO THOSE BY ORDINANCE.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, MY SENSE IS THAT AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOUR HAVE NO CONTROVERSY, AND TWO OF THEM WE MIGHT WANNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONVERSATION OVER.
UM, BUT WE SHOULD PLAN TO TRY TO DO THOSE BY ORDINANCE, WHICH DON'T HAVE THE TIME CRUNCH OF, UM, BEING PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR AUGUST.
AND THEN THERE ARE THREE THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT, AND, AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR DISCUSSION ON THOSE THREE.
UM, AND THEN WE NEED TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S ANY OF THE SUBSTANTIVE STAFF AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT.
UM, AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IN TERMS OF, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US TO, TO LIMIT WHAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D BENEFIT FROM SOME CONVERSATIONS OVER THERE, OVER THOSE.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARTER COMMISSION.
THEY'VE RECOMMENDED THEM, BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF, UM, SUPPORT.
ALONG THOSE LINES, MEMBERS, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT, THAT IF, IF WE IN FACT POSTPONE THIS TO MAY 30TH, THAT THAT SORT OF, UM, UH, DESCRIPTION AND THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WE, WE PUT, WE START DOING THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND GIVE, GIVE OUR A BACK AND FORTH WITH REGARD TO THOSE THOUGHTS SO THAT WE CAN COMMENT ON, ON, UH, WHEN SHE, WHEN SHE INDICATES THERE ARE THREE, UM, I, AND I, I KNOW WHAT THREE SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
BUT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS LET'S PUT THAT UP THERE AND THEN HAVE ANY DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN HAVE PRIOR TO THE MAY 30TH MEETING WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, TO DO SOMETHING DEFINITIVE WITH IT.
THIS, AND, AND I'M NOT, AND I'M NOT SURE ON HOW MUCH TIME WE WOULD HAVE ON THE 14TH, UM, BETWEEN THE WORK SESSION FOR LDC AND OTHER POSSIBLE BRIEFINGS, BUT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A SHORT CONVERSATION ON THAT DAY.
UM, WELL, WE, WE WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW FULL THAT AGENDA IS.
AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS WELL.
I JUST SAYING IF IT'S NOT TOTALLY FULL, THEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND MAYOR, WE HAVE PLAN TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL ON MAY 30TH ANYWAY, SO THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THAT.
WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THE COUNCIL OFFICES INDIVIDUALLY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS.
DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES.
LET'S HEAR FROM HIM SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
UH, BILL BUNCH, JOE RIDDLE, MONICA GUZMAN, BOBBY LEVINSKY, IF IT'S JUST THAT MERIT POSTPONEMENT POSTPONE.
MS. RIDDELL, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA POSTPONE IT, STATE YOUR, YEAH, SORRY.
UH, IF YOU'RE GONNA POSTPONE IT TO THE 30TH, I WISH YOU WOULD SET IT AS A PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T COME HERE AT 9:10 AM IN THE MORNING AND WAIT ALL DAY.
THERE, YOU HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE OR AFTER YOU PASSED THE RESOLUTION A YEAR AGO, WHETHER YOU COULD HEAR THE PUBLIC'S IDEAS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE ON A CHARTER REVIEW.
UM, JUST SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW IF WE'RE VOTING ON AN ITEM THERE, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO IF THIS IS POSTED, THERE'LL BE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO GUARANTEE, PARTICULARLY NOW WHAT TIME OF DAY THAT MIGHT OCCUR.
BUT I'M, BUT I'M SAYING IF, IF ON THE 30TH YOU'D SET A PUBLIC HEARING, I'D AT LEAST HAVE AN IDEA WHEN I SHOULD COME.
WELL, NO, MAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA GET TO TALK ABOUT THIS TODAY, BUT, UH, SORRY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I ATTENDED ALL THE PERIOD, ALL THE MEETINGS THIS YEAR OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
I'VE HEARD ALL THE PROS AND CONS.
THESE ARE, YOU HAVE DIRECTED THEM.
AND THEY DID, THEY FOLLOWED THROUGH TO COME UP WITH SOME BAD PROPOSALS, SOME ANTI-DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS.
THEY'D MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE PERSONAL POLITICAL RIGHTS.
AND I, I CAN'T GO INTO THE DETAILS.
[07:35:01]
I SENT YOU A MEMO THIS MORNING.THE CRITIQUING FOUR OF THE PARTICULAR, UH, UM, PROPOSALS.
UM, I WOULD SAY THE PROCESS HAS REALLY, UH, BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME.
THE, UM, THERE WAS LIMITED PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
THEY DID DO A SURVEY AND SURE ENOUGH, ONLY 22% OF THE SURVEYORS, UH, RESPONDENT, UH, AGREED THAT THERE WAS, UH, SOME NEED, UH, THAT IT, IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLDS FOR THE PETITIONS.
UH, PEOPLE COMMENTED THEY WERE ALLOWED TO COMMENT, AND THOSE 33 43 COMMENTS WERE OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST MAKING HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.
UM, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ONE THING AT THE WORK SESSION THE OTHER DAY.
MR. ALTER SAID THAT HISTORICALLY THERE HAD BEEN A 25% THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT.
IT'S NOT 25% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS.
IT WAS 25% OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE CAST THE MOST VOTES FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND BACK THEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ALL ELECTED AT LARGE.
SO THAT I DID THE NUMBERS TOOK AN ELECTION AND THAT 25% OF THE HIGHEST VOTES WORKED OUT TO BE ABOUT 10% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS EVEN BACK THEN.
UH, AS TO PROPOSAL NUMBER FOUR, THE PETITION, HAVING THE PETITION ELECTIONS ONLY IN NOVEMBER OF EVEN NUMBER YEARS.
DID YOUR QUESTIONS COUNT ON MY TIME? PROBABLY DID.
HOW MUCH TIME YOU GOT LEFT? UH, LESS THAN A MINUTE.
HAVING THEM ONLY IN EVEN NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT FROM READING THE, THE PROPOSITION, BECAUSE IT'S SP SPOKEN IN TIMES OF MUNICIPAL, MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATES.
THIS, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD DELAY ELECTIONS FROM SIX TO 18 MONTHS RIGHT NOW.
AND IT COULD MEAN FOUR YEARS BETWEEN CHARTER ELECTIONS RATHER THAN TWO.
AND I'VE CITED IN THE DOCUMENT I SENT YOU A, A STATE COURT CASE AND TWO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S, UH, OPINIONS THAT SAY TWO YEARS MEANS FULL TWO YEARS, OKAY? AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET AROUND THAT.
IT'S PART OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT TWO YEARS.
UM, THE LAW DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO STEP UP AND SHOW US THE WORDING FOR THESE PROPOSITIONS.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT'S ON, WHAT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE, PARTICULARLY FROM THE COMMISSION, IS NOT PRECISE.
IT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE LAW WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THINGS.
DOES THAT TELL YOU WHAT IT IS NOW SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEW WAY WOULD BE? WE GAVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE, SO, OKAY.
WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU ANOTHER MINUTE.
WELL, I DIDN'T GET TO SAY I'D ASK YOU TO PUT ON THE BALLOT.
WELL, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO, SO HAVING TWO, THANK YOU.
ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 69 HAVE BEEN CALLED.
MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 69.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 69 TO MAY 30TH, MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 69 IS POSTPONED TO MAY 30TH.
[74. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by 1000 Collinwood West Drive (TX) Owner, LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for an acquisition and rehabilitation of a multifamily development, to be financed through the private activity bond program, known as Village at Collinwood, located within the City at or near 1000 Collinwood West Drive, Austin, Texas 78753. ]
TO ITEM NUMBER 74.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74.
I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR, UH, HELPING US GET THROUGH THAT.
UH, THE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER DID NOT CALL IN, SO I JUST HAVE ZA NOIA JOSEPH FOR 74.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR 74 MAYOR MEMBERS.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 74.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74, AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THAT ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? IT MAY BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN.
ALTER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[77. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) relating to the North Burnet/Gateway Regulating Plan to change the expiration date for approved preliminary plans for property subject to the North Burnet/Gateway Regulating Plan. ]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 77, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.I HAVE ONE SPEAKER, DAVE ANDERSON.
THAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU'VE DONE INTO ALL DAY
UM, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 77 TO SPEAK WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 77.
MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, UH, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 77 IS ADOPTED UNLESS YOU ARE OPPOSED TO IT.
[07:40:01]
UM, THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[71. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by 8000 Decker Lane (TX) Owner, LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multifamily development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Eagle’s Landing Family Apartments, located at or near 8000 Decker Lane, Austin, Texas 78724, within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. ]
71 MEMBERS.JUST AS A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY I'M JUMPING AROUND, IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO DO THIS IN THE ORDER OF PEOPLE THAT I, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE I THOUGHT WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND, AND, UH, THERE WAS, THERE WAS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 71 AND I'LL LOOK TO THE CITY CLERK.
I HAVE NO SPEAKERS FOR 71 MEMBERS.
THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 71.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 71.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[72. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by AMTEX Multi-Housing LLC, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Manor Apartments, located at or near 6705 Manor Road, Austin, Texas 78723. ]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72.UM, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 72 TO SPEAK.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 72 IS ADOPTED.
[75. Conduct a public hearing to be administered in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 to consider a resolution authorizing a permanent change in use of dedicated parkland, located north of Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park and northwest of Lindell Lane and Blue Bluff Road, to allow the Transportation and Public Works Department to use approximately 7,818 square feet of parkland for right-of-way, drainage, and utility purposes in connection with the East Braker Lane extension project. ]
WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE'LL OPEN THE, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 75 AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
I HAVE NO SPEAKERS FOR 75 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 75.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM 75, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 75 SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 75 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN AND SOMEBODY CRIES OUT REAL FAST, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AND MAKING SURE.
[Executive Session]
THE UH, CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS. PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 78 IN RAY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AL CAUSE NUMBER D ONE GN 7 24 0 0 164 IN THE 53RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS CONSOLIDATED WITH DIRTY MARTINS ED AL V VERSUS MAYOR KIRK WATSON, ED AL CAUSE NUMBER D ONE GN TWENTY THREE EIGHT TEN FIVE IN THE 455TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS.AND ITEM 100 THE CONFIDE CONFIDENTIALITY OF POLICE OFFICER PERSONNEL FILES.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED? HEARING NONE.
THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:11 PM FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WHEN THE COUNCIL, UM, FINISHES THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WILL COME OUT IN OPEN SESSION AND ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED THE EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION.
AND IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
WE ARE NOW GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:11 PM I'LL CALL, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AT 7:04 PM WE'VE BEEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE'VE INCLUDED, WE'VE CONCLUDED OUR LEGAL DISCUSSIONS IN THE CLOSED SESSION ON ITEM 78 AND 100.
AND, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ADJOURNED ON MAY 2ND, 2024 AT 7:04 PM I APPRECIATE YOU HANGING OUT WITH.